San Francisco Bay Times - February 7, 2019

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2019) February 7–20, 2019 | http://sfbaytimes.com

Team Mandelman Goes High

PHOTOS BY KYLE SMEALLIE

Outlook for 2019: See Pages 2–3

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2019)

PHOTO BY KYLE SMEALLIE

Team Mandelman Goes High

Report from City Hall

By Supervisor Rafael Mandelman

There Goes the Gayborhood?

It is a tremendous honor to represent a district with such a rich queer history. This past November we marked the 40th anniversary of the assassinations of Milk and Moscone. In addition to commemorating the lives of those two great men, the anniversary presented an opportunity for our community to reflect on what we have gained and lost over those four decades. Today LGBT people have political representation and protections under law that Milk and his contemporaries could only dream of.

At the same time, historically queer neighborhoods like the Castro have been hit hard by gentrification and displacement, causing many to wonder if there will even be any gayborhoods in our future. The most recent Housing Balance Report shows District 8 with the second-highest rate of no-fault evictions citywide.

Building and preserving affordable housing is one of my top priorities, so that the people who helped to make today’s San Francisco can continue to live here and don’t get priced out. Recently I joined Mayor Breed at a ceremony to rededicate 90 affordable housing units at 25 Sanchez Street, rehabilitated as part of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. And at 95 Laguna, 79 LGBTQ-welcoming affordable senior housing units will be opening in April at the Marcy Adelman and Jeanette Gurevitch Openhouse Community. These are desperately needed units, and I am committed to pushing for thousands more in our district and tens of thousands more citywide.

Championing Small Business The Castro is also facing tremendous challenges with retail vacancies and the closure of longtime beloved small businesses. Part of the problem of filling vacancies in Upper Market may be that there are more planning and zoning hurdles for businesses trying to open there than for businesses in Hayes Valley, Valencia or other commercial corridors.

To help solve this, our office is developing a package of zoning changes for Upper Market that will make it easier to fill a storefront in the neighborhood—especially for restaurants, arts organizations and nonprofits. This should help more businesses to join a growing list of new arrivals to the neighborhood like Fig and Thistle, Gai, Stag and Manor and Pho 335.

Celebrating Queer Culture I have also been working with neighborhood leaders to establish the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District.

Cultural Districts are a tool to help neighborhoods honor and preserve the people, small businesses and cultural assets that make them unique and vibrant.

The Castro LGBTQ Cultural District will help the neighborhood access new city funds to invest in arts and culture initiatives, assist LGBTQ owned and serving small businesses and nonprofits, and share the rich history of our neighborhood.

One of the best parts of my job is getting to honor longstanding creators and culture-makers in the LGBTQ community. The San Francisco Lesbian/ Gay Freedom Band marched with Harvey Milk and represented our city at multiple presidential inaugurations, and this past December, I introduced an ordinance to make them the official band of San Francisco. Our office was ecstatic to learn that the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus was able to secure a permanent home in District 8, at the former Baha’i Temple, a gorgeous Art Deco building at 170 Valencia Street. For the Chorus to use the property as they intend, however, requires a rezoning, a project my office was happy to take up.

PHOTO BY KYLE SMEALLIE

Happy February, Bay Times readers! As a former columnist for this fine publication, it is a special treat to be able to report back on some of what my office has accomplished in our first few months under the dome and our plans for the year ahead.

Supervisor Mandelman making a special visit to Sutro Tower on Twin Peaks

Pushing for Homelessness Solutions Every day I and my office receive calls, texts and emails from District 8 residents concerned about one or another aspect of homelessness. Whether requesting help with an encampment outside their door, seeking help for a seriously ill individual decompensating in plain sight, or simply expressing concern for the impact of a growing street population on the vitality of neighborhood businesses, my constituents are agreed that the status quo on our streets is unacceptable. I have been working every day since I was sworn in to improve the city’s response to the neighborhood impacts of homelessness, as well as to improve the city’s overall response to the mental health and addiction crises contributing to the city’s homelessness challenges.

Working with the Mayor’s office, I introduced legislation this past November to modestly expand our conservatorship program, following up on Senator Scott Wiener’s SB1045 legislation. Since then, we have been meeting with advocates and city departments to fine-tune the details. These conservatorships will only apply to some of the highest users of city services.

They are historically the most vulnerable and also the most difficult to get into care. Even if we are only able to move a few of these folks indoors, however, that will be an improvement on the status quo. Meanwhile, I will continue to push relentlessly for additional resources and legal tools to get folks the care that they need.

The televised Oath of Office ceremony at SF City Hall on January 8, 2019

At SF City Hall, speaking at a rally sponsored by IFPTE Local 21

PHOTO BY KYLE SMEALLIE

The challenges confronting the city are signif icant, but I am grateful every day that the voters of District 8 have entrusted me to represent them in finding solutions to those challenges.

Team Mandelman at Sutro Tower 2

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S upe r visor Rafael Mandelman represents District 8 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

At the District 8 offices in City Hall

For more information: https://sfbos.org/supervisor-mandelman-district-8

Photos courtesy of Rafael Mandelman

Celebrating the reopening of 25 Sanchez with 90 units of affordable housing for seniors and people with disabilities

With Cleve Jones on Labor Day protesting at the St. Francis Hotel

With activist Roma Guy attending the third annual Women’s March in San Francisco

With Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, David Campos and Hillary Ronen

Get 20% OFF when you use the code BayTimes on GA tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/academy-of-friends-2019-gala-tickets-54074033891 Serving as a featured speaker at the Chinatown Community Banquet on January 9

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ADEM Election Results and New Co-Chair at Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club

Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History Louise “Lou” Fischer It’s February, so while the California Black Bears are hibernating in Yosemite and the Bears of the Castro and SoMa are hibernating at 440 Castro and the SF Eagle, the political nerds in the Bay Area are going through a short hibernation until the California Democratic Convention in May, conveniently (and rarely) located in San Francisco. Here’s what happened recently.

ADEM Election Results In last month’s column, I covered the little-known and obscure Assembly Delegate Election for Districts 17 and 19 in San Francisco. As expected, the Election in Phil Ting’s District 19 was a genial affair, which could have easily been mistaken for a proper Sunday Church Ladies Tea Party had they served tea and finger sandwiches with a few lace doilies tossed in for decoration. Assemblymember Ting’s “consensus slate” prevailed; there was

In comparison, the ADEM Election in District 17 was the antithesis of calm and cordial—more “Boston Tea Party” than proper Ladies Tea Party. I half expected a modern version of the “Sons of Liberty” to storm in, grab 342 boxes of ballots and toss them into Eric Lukoff, Gina Simi and Lou Fischer at the Women’s the harbor. The event was de- March San Francisco 2019 scribed as “a total s--t-show with over 2000 people outside in the Chiu’s slate won handily by capturing pouring rain in a line that stretched 14 out of 15 delegate spots.

3 blocks, a wait of 2–3 hours to get in to a jam-packed, stuffy room to wait If you missed out on the chance to in another long line just to turn in the be a delegate and still want to be inballot.” That statement is an exagger- volved, the Democratic Party is all ation; it didn’t rain. Depending on about inclusion, not exclusion. We how you look at it, it was Democracy don’t build walls; we knock them at its best or at its worst. No one was down. Kimberly Ellis, the former voting on the issues or the individuals. Emerge California Executive DirecIt was a Hunger Games competition of tor and current candidate for Chair of pure numbers; whichever side turns the Democratic Party, is running on the message: “You’re Not Just Wantout more people wins. ed; You’re Needed,” with the added, As a dedicated Democrat with an “You don’t have to be a delegate to undiagnosed masochistic streak, I participate and we need you because agreed to help check voters in and it’s all of us together.” I’m one of Kimgive out ballots. Along with my tri- berly’s biggest fans and will be suplingual “day job” co-worker Cha- porting her in this race even if I have sel, I was assigned to the “Chinese to convince people to stand in line for language assistance table.” I think 2 hours in the pouring rain. Informasomeone overheard me say that I had tion about the upcoming Convention Chinese food on Christmas Eve, so is on the CADEM website: apparently that made me qualified. www.cadem.org I did a lot of smiling, pointing and transcribing name/address informa- New Male Co-Chair at Alice B. tion onto forms while Chasel some- Toklas LGBT Democratic Club how managed to carry on 3 simul- In other news, my term as Immediate taneous conversations in Cantonese, Past Co-Chair of the Alice B. Toklas Mandarin and English—a feat he re- LGBT Club and Eric Lukoff’s 2-year peated over and over for 2+ hours. I term as male Co-Chair ended on was awestruck by his talent and pa(continued on page 26) tience. In the end, Assemblymember

The President Can’t Handle the Truth that really gets me. It’s the lies—the unabashed, unchecked lies. The lies that are generating hundreds of thousands of retweets that then, like the old school game of telephone, eventually spread into repeated lies, twisted lies, and worst of all, believable lies.

To the Left, To the Left Peter Gallotta Recently I did something that I’m not very proud of. The funny thing is, I can’t quite recall exactly how it happened. But on a recent Saturday afternoon, I found myself, out of nowhere, on my phone, on Twitter, scrolling through ... Donald Trump’s tweets. @realDonaldTrump is, in ever y sense, peak American decline. It’s like watching a WWF match in digital form: lots of chest beating, big swipes that don’t really hit their mark, and all while knowing that 99% of what you’re seeing is fake.

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After scrolling through the many all caps declarations to “BUILD THE WALL” and repeated mentions of the “Humanitarian, Criminal, and Drug Crisis” at our border and how “WE WILL WIN BIG,” I went deeper into the depths of the surreal, past the climate change denial, past the “Democrats are to blame for the shutdown” denial. I then came to a stop at a video tweeted by the White House, and retweeted by Trump, on January 20th announcing the “historic results of President Donald J. Trump’s first two years in office.” The video, however, mentions not a single one of Trump’s accomplishments while in office. It is, much like his Twitter feed, a pile of hollow rhetoric.

I know what you’re thinking. Peter, where have you been the past 741 days since Trump took office? Of course, Trump’s tweets have been the subject of great media debate and public outrage (by some) even before he was elected. But as a relatively inactive Twitter user (my New Year’s resolution is to try to tweet more), it’s been the kind of dumpster fire that I’ve intentionally stayed miles away from.

That is, until a few weeks ago, when I fell victim to a brief scroll through this land of unhinged untruths.

What is actually historic here is the level of desperate self-mythologizing and lying to cover up the actual truth: this presidency is a complete and utter failure. But the problem is bigger than that fact alone. A lot of what Trump says is never fully refuted by members of his own Party, his staff, or even the media, even when it is blatantly untrue. White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, recently claimed that “God wanted Donald Trump to be President.” Could you imagine if President Obama’s press secretary had said that? It is yet another example of how this administration, and its supporters, have been emboldened and protected by white privilege. It proves that a white male Republican President can say and do anything in this country without much, if any, consequence.

It’s not just the ludicrousness of his tweets or the grating tone of a fiveyear-old having a temper tantrum

While Democrats won’t ever win over the die-hard re-tweeting Trump fan base in 2020, we must deal in the cur-

rency of truth. Democratic leaders cannot let the Republicans continue to flip the script on Democrats, especially when the President and Mitch McConnell are to blame (e.g. the shutdown). We can’t let Republicans take the mantle of moral superiority or fiscal responsibility as they continue to chip away at core American values while supporting a $5 billion wall and huge tax breaks for the wealthy.

So, as the pool of Democratic presidential candidates begins to take shape (who isn’t running?), there must be a willingness to present a strong, hard-hitting and honest counterpoint. As California Senator Kamala Harris said at her presidential campaign kick-off in Oakland in January, this is an “inflection point” in our history “and we need to speak that truth so we can deal with it.”

Let me just say this (and I will surely be elaborating on my thoughts in future columns), I like Kamala Harris. I like Julian Castro. I like Bernie Sanders. If a potted plant were running as a Democrat for President, I’d probably support it at this point.

I’ll take any Democrat for President who doesn’t tweet out a daily dumpster fire of self-righteous bile. I may not agree on every vote some of these candidates have taken or past policy positions they’ve held, but I do want to be able to agree with them on one thing: the truth.

Peter Gallotta is a 30-something LGBT political activist holding on to the city that he loves thanks to rent control and two-for-one happy hour specials. He is a former President of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club and currently serves as an appointed member of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee and an elected delegate to the California Democratic Party.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LOU FISCHER

dancing and celebration in the streets and the villagers rejoiced. https://bit.ly/2H50h3l

Tidying Up the 2020 Democratic Field in the Race for President

COMING UP at Manny’s in February

curated stack of non-fiction titles and dated (read: vintage) home decor magazines teetering on the far end of my coffee table. It works for me.

Immigration Reform, The Future of the Tenderloin, and Food Waste!

As the 2020 presidential race gets underway, perhaps Ms. Kondo’s methods can help us to declutter and tidy up our choices from what is bound to be a cluttered and clunky field of candidates vying for the top job. There will be a lot of clamor to cut through and sort out, which could be as overwhelming as finally going through those closets, pantries, garages and cubicles perilously spilling over with stuff we don’t really need, use or even love (sad emoji face) anymore. Breaking up can be so hard to do.

Andrea Shorter I confess: I am a bit mesmerized by Marie Kondo. You know Marie Kondo? The author and YouTube sensation turned Netflix pied piper of tidying up cluttered households in search of sparks of joy? I’ve watched episodes of the streaming series, and it’s oddly addictive. Who knew that watching other people cleaning up their sock drawers could be so satisfying, inspiring and life changing.

Admittedly, I have yet to read either of her books introducing her trademark lifestyle brand to western civilization, as we so desperately need a guiding hand to help us to organize and graciously part ways with the pileup of soul and space sucking amass of clothing, appliances, toys, computers and so on cramming our humble dwellings and office spaces.

Not to worry, though. Her books are on my must-read list before 2020, after I finally finish (throat clear) the pile of must-read books and periodicals from 2017, or maybe 2015. Meanwhile, I still feel sparks of joy (or is that an anxiety attack?) from my carefully

Bets as of this writing remain heavily hedged on the entries of former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders into the gallery sooner rather than later. Whatever the complex or not-socomplex categories of criteria by which we ultimately determine the best bet of the lot to win back the White House, it is too soon to say who will be just the right amount of left or centrist, will win middle and southern states’ appeal, and reflect new power generation or tried and true. It is therefore too early to predict who we will want to save or send off with a nice “thank you for your service” as we move on to the end game.

Meanwhile, whoever enters the race, LGBT equality must be a clear, present and definitive part of their platform—otherwise, he or she has no business running for President as a Democrat. How’s that for a first step at tidying up the field and sparking a little joy?

Andrea Shorter is a Commissioner and the former 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 CoFounder of the Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, she was a 2009 David Bohnett LGBT Leadership Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Join the community of Bay Area folks interested in urban sustainability.

Monday, February 11: Latinas in NonProfit Gathering and Happy Hour Come join a night of love and community at Manny’s specifically for Latinas who work in the nonprofit sector.

PHOTO BY RINK

Cross Currents

With the Democratic field of at least 20 predicted heavy, middle and bantam weight contenders either exploring or actually having entered the ring, we still have a long way to go before anyone actually claims the primary nomination in July 2020. The lineup so far boasts of a mix of declared and thinking of declaring hopefuls, including U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker and now Kamala Harris (yes, that was me you saw in the crowd cheering on my friend Senator Harris at her announcement rally in Oakland), Former Secretary of HUD Julian Castro, and Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg—the only openly LGBT person exploring a bid. Right on.

Thursday, February 7: Meeting of the Minds Urban Sustainability Happy Hour

Tuesday, February 12: Progressive Change in the Trump Era with Jessica Jackson Join the American Constitution Society and #Cut50 National Director and Co-Founder Jessica Jackson, who will discuss the long, winding, and successful road to passage of the First Step Act.

Wednesday, February 13: Regulatory Hacking Join a Code for America conversation with Evan Burfield and Tim O’Reilly about how to take on challenges in sectors like healthcare, infrastructure, and education, where inefficiencies are hurting the average Americans.

Thursday, February 14: Local Leaders Series: City Controller Ben Rosenfeld As a part of our monthly local leaders series we are bringing San Francisco’s Controller to Manny’s to answer your questions about the finances and budget of the City.

Tuesday, February 19: The Future of the Tenderloin Join Supervisor Matt Haney and the unofficial “Mayor” of the Tenderloin Del Seymour in a conversation about the future of one of San Francisco’s richest and most troubled neighborhoods. We will be adding 1-2 more panelists to the conversation as well.

Manny’s, located at 3092 16th Street, is a civic social gathering space in the heart of San Francisco. http://www.welcometomannys.com

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6/26 and Beyond Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis We awakened the morning of Februar y 12, 2004, like any other morning. Stuart had a busy day ahead at his office. John had nothing unusual on tap, except for attending a midday rally on the steps of San Francisco City Hall to mark national Freedom to Marry Day. We had recently decided to get involved in the burgeoning marriage equality movement, and to begin, John would go to the rally and report back to Stuart that evening.

At that time 15 years ago, no samesex couple had yet been able to marry legally in the United States.

When John arrived at the rally and asked co-organizer Molly McKay what the plan for the rally was, she responded in the most extraordinary and unexpected way: “You can go into City Hall right now and get married!”

“What?!” John exclaimed. “We could get married, right now, today?!” McKay then described how San Francisco Mayor (and now California Governor) Gavin Newsom and the city had decided to open the doors of City Hall to same-sex couples to be able to marry.

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After hearing President George Bush’s attack on same-sex couples in the State of the Union Address three weeks before, Newsom had decided to take action of his own.

But he had to keep his plans quiet because he knew opponents would try to stop the marriages. Lesbian rights icons Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin became the first couple to marry, just minutes before John arrived at the rally.

But John had a problem—a big problem.

He was by himself.

And he feared that the opposition could be in court that very m inute, t r y ing to stop the marr iages. He didn’t own a cell phone, and neither did Stuart. And Stuart quite possibly had already left his office for lunch.

As he was starting to panic, a reporter noticed his demeanor, took pity on him and lent him his phone. John frantically punched in Stuart’s number.

St uar t was for t unately still at his desk and will never forget hearing John shouting into the pho ne: “ G E T HERE NOW!!!

WE CAN GET MARRIED!”— perhaps the most urgent marriage proposal ever. Stuart dropped everything and bolted to City Hall.

When he arrived, we entered City Hall and got married—newlyweds after 17 years together. When we heard the words, “By virtue of the power in me vested by the State of California, I now pronounce you spouses for life,” we felt something transform within us. John felt chills go up and down his body. He felt those parts of him where he had unknowingly been holding the idea that he would always be “less than equal” as a gay person and that our love would always be “less than equal” dissolve and fall away.

We realized that this moment was the first time in our lives that we had experienced our government treating us as equal human beings as gay people and fully embracing and celebrating our bond of love.

We kissed for what a San Francisco Chronicle reporter described as “for a long time,” and we held each other tightly.

During the next month, San Francisco’s “Winter of Love,” over 8,000

Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis celebrating on the steps of San Francisco City Hall

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN LEWIS

Happy 15th Anniversary of San Francisco’s ‘Winter of Love’

LGBTIQ people, their friends and families came to City Hall from across the country and around the world to get married. Many camped out in the rain and waited in long lines to marry.

Eventually, the California Supreme Court halted the marriages, and six months later invalidated them because the city had not gone to the high court first. It would take 11 years for marriage equality to become the law of the land nationwide.

Why should we still celebrate the Winter of Love now fifteen years later?

For one, because it was a magical, spontaneous celebration of love, joy and equality. It instilled in those who participated the tangible hope that “dreams that you dare to dream” really do come true. It was a unique manifestation of the adage: “be the change you want to see in the world.” It was righteous, political “direct action,” bathed in contagious happiness, love, generosity, friendship and family. (continued on page 26)

Grant Colfax, Former Obama AIDS Policymaker, Appointed Director of SF Department of Public Health During her State of the its challenges, and he is City address on Januready to get to work. And ary 30 before a cheerhe knows that we need to ing crowd at 170 Valenget to zero HIV infections cia Street (the new home in San Francisco.” for the San Francisco Gay Explaining his interest in Men’s Chorus and a Nafighting HIV/AIDS, Dr. tional LGBTQ Center for Colfax previously told the Arts), Mayor London the San Francisco AIDS Breed announced the apFoundation (SFAF) that pointment of Dr. Grant Grant Colfax, MD “there was no one specifColfax as the new Director of the ic moment” when the effort became San Francisco Department of Public important in his life. He continued, Health (SFDPH).

“As a gay man coming of age in the Dr. Colfax, a Harvard College grad- mid 1980s, HIV/AIDS was the deuate who did his residency at UCSF, fining issue in the community. My previously worked at SFDPH as Di- decision to attend medical school rector of HIV Prevention and Re- and focus professionally on HIV research before leaving to join the search and prevention emerged not Obama White House as the Direc- only from the experience of having tor of National AIDS Policy. Current- lost so many friends to the disease, but ly the Director of Marin Health and also because it was clear that there Human Services, Dr. Colfax will as- was so much more we needed to know sume his new position in mid-Febru- and do to effectively combat the epiary. demic.”

During the address, Mayor Breed said of Dr. Colfax: “He knows our city and 6

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Dr. Colfax has also been a leader in addressing problems related to f la-

vored tobacco and vaping products, which often are marketed toward and used by youth. In November of last year, with the urging of Dr. Colfax and many of his colleagues, the Marin County Board of Supervisors passed a ban on such products. It will take effect for most retailers on July 1. (Specialty tobacco stores in Marin County have until January 1, 2020, to implement the ban.)

But the f ight to end the threat of HIV/AIDS will clearly be a focus of Dr. Colfax’s work in San Francisco.

There is often overlap with other diseases, such that numerous treatments for cancer, hepatitis, heart disease and more have arisen from HIV/ AIDS research. As Dr. Colfax told the SFAF: “My hope is that we will live to see the day where HIV is rare, when it does occur is readily treated and cured, and that the lessons learned from this epidemic will be applied to addressing other epidemics and health disparities.”

How to Find True Love ... with a Financial Adviser people to do things like sell when the market is tanking and buy when it’s on the upswing—the exact opposite of a sound strategy.

An adviser is there to steer you toward more rational decisions, helping you to invest with a purpose and strategy in mind. They offer a wealth of knowledge that you can access as you work towards saving for your goals.

Money Matters Brandon Miller Maybe it was the wild highs and lows of the stock market last year, or a realization that you don’t have the time— or desire—to research investments and strategies on your own. It could be that you just inherited a boatload of money. (Call me!) Or you’re ready to make that thing that you’ve been talking about for years finally happen.

Whatever your motivation, hiring a professional to manage your money is a good decision. At a minimum, a financial adviser’s job is to help you save, invest and grow your money, but it’s so much more than that. A really good financial adviser is a coach and a cheerleader. The voice of reason. A trusted confidant. And a professional at managing money, of course.

A financial adviser is there to help you set and prioritize goals, plan out the steps needed to achieve your dreams, and keep you disciplined when a yearend bonus slated for your retirement account threatens to become a spontaneous getaway to Puerto Vallarta.

A financial pro brings objectivity to decision-making that you likely can’t achieve on your own because, well, it’s your money. And your money means your retirement, or your kids’ education, or your own home or any number of other dreams you have. It’s natural to act emotionally about money, but that kind of thinking drives

• investment philosophy; • type of clients they specialize in; • how much contact they have with clients and how quickly they respond to them; • who takes over during vacations or if the adviser becomes incapacitated; • how they handle complaints.

So how do you find an adviser who will become a trusted partner? A person to guide you through your most important decisions? To keep you from making costly mistakes when you’re buying a house, questioning whether you can afford surrogacy (or children at all), navigating a job loss or divorce, starting a business, deciding when to retire or any other major thing that happens in your life?

Then there’s the big question: how much do they charge? Fee-based advisers may be preferred over those who charge commissions, as the latter may be tempted to recommend investments that benefit them more than you. Fees can be charged hourly, for a specific service (such as creating a financial plan), or as a percentage of the assets the adviser manages for you. Be sure you understand and are comfortable with the cost structure.

Start by asking friends, family and co-workers for recommendations— especially people whose stage of life or financial needs are similar to yours.

Online searches and financial professional registries are other good sources. And check the background of anyone who makes your shortlist.

BrokerCheck is a helpful site for that. https://brokercheck.finra.org/

In fact, make sure that you’re comfortable with everything about the financial professional whom you decide to settle down with. Remember, this is someone you want to be able to trust with intimate details of your life. Take the time to find someone who really gets you, and the two of you can make beautiful money together for years to come.

You may find an alphabet soup of designations after the person’s name. An important one is CFP, which stands for Certified Financial Planner. CFPs are licensed and regulated and must take ongoing education and ethics classes to maintain their certification.

Brio Financial Group is a registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of Brio Financial Group by the SEC nor does it indicate that Brio Financial Group has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Brio Financial Group and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Brio Financial Group unless a client service agreement is in place.

Fiduciary is another thing to look for in your research because it means the adviser is legally obligated to act in your best interests.

Once you’re done swiping left or right through potential advisers, it’s time to actually meet. Most professionals offer a complimentary initial consultation to see if the two of you click. Be sure to ask lots of questions, including: • background, professional designations and years in business; • services provided;

Brandon Miller, CFP® is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.

When Bigger Isn’t Better few blocks in San Francisco without seeing at least one X1.

The QX50 beats the X1’s familiarity with a bold style that got lots of looks.

I tend not to notice silver cars, and the tester’s Graphite Shadow paint blended into the Bay Area’s foggy days of January. Heads still swiveled, though, wherever we went. Crossovers are common enough to seem like a dime a dozen, and so it is significant that Infiniti made one so provocative.

Auto Philip Ruth The city can be tough for size queens.

Especially in terms of cars.

This came into focus after a succession of full-sized SUV and pickuptruck press vehicles. It was a subsequent relief to slip through traffic in either of the crossovers we’re examining this week: the BMW X1 and Infiniti QX50.

Though they start at about the same pr ice —the BM W X1 x Dr ive28i starts a mere $1,400 less than the $38,350 Infiniti QX50 Pure AWD— the BMW is a size class smaller, with a compact overall length of 175.1 inches.

That makes the BMW 9.4 inches shorter than the Infiniti, and in the suburbs where you have your own driveway, you might feel like you’re accepting less car in exchange for that vaunted BMW brand status. But in the city, the QX50’s almost extra foot of length can really test your parking karma, and it’s why you can’t drive a 8

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Inside, the respective sizes of these two crossovers become less distinct.

The BMW is notably roomy, with only one less cubic foot of passenger space than the Infiniti. Taller drivers will like the smaller model’s greater front legroom. Width is the Infiniti’s main advantage: the QX50 is more than three inches wider, which translates into 2.3 inches more shoulder room and makes the larger model’s proportions feel more relaxed.

Despite the deluxe accommodations in both of these premium crossovers, I couldn’t get comfortable in either.

The BMW’s driver seat is cut wide enough that my torso never contacted the side bolsters, and so the main touch points were under the fronts of my thighs and behind my shoulder blades. This was enough to hold me upright, but not enough to fend off the fidgets.

The QX50’s perch had the usual toolow lumbar support for those of long torso, and the invasive headrest had my head tap-tap-tapping against it until I reclined the backrest to an awkward angle. These seats fit somebody, and that somebody isn’t me.

BMW X1

Infiniti QX50

Over the road, the f lavors of each of these brands become clear. The BMW is a little slow off the line but loves to romp around, with firm steering and an athletic suspension. The Infiniti is very nearly the polar opposite, with authoritative acceleration coupled with feather-like steering at lower speeds. The BMW cavorts, while the Infiniti encourages you to sit back and rocket forth.

So if urban living keeps you from indulging your size desires, either the X1 and QX50 could compensate with their own compelling interpretations of crossover style and performance.

Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant ( www.gaycarguy.com ). Check out his automotive staging service at www.carstaging.com

GGBA’s Power Lunch V - Bridges A standing room only crowd joined officers and board members of GGBA (Golden Gate Business Association) for the fifth annual luncheon in the organization’s popular Power Lunch series. Held this year at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, the event included a prelunch reception and expo followed by the luncheon and program. Opera singer Breanna Sinclairé, who sang selections from West Side Story and Porgy and Bess, received a standing ovation, as did Mayor London Breed, who made a surprise visit to the luncheon.

Photos by Rink and JP Lor

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Commissioner Ricardo Lara, California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Juan Novello, and Granite Solutions Groupe’s John Henning.

Former San Francisco supervisor Bevan Dufty, who is now President of the BART Board of Directors, interviewed Stonewall Bar owner Stacy Lentz. She made a special visit from New York City, where preparations are underway for the Stonewall 50 Celebration.

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PHOTO BY JP LOR

PHOTO BY RINK PHOTO BY JP LOR

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District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, featured on the cover of this issue, was on hand with a proclamation for GGBA from the Additional speakers included Fabrice Houdart of the United Nations Board of Supervisors. All of us at the San Francisco Bay Times extend Human Rights Office, Mexican Federation of LGBT Business’ congratulations to GGBA Board President Audry deLucia and the César Casas Ferrer, Jacqui Egan of Gap Inc., California Insurance entire board and volunteer team on this very successful event.

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tect ourselves from experiencing their pain, but that also means that we can’t experience compassion.

Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

2261 Market Street, No. 309 San Francisco CA 94114 Phone: 415-601-2113 525 Bellevue Avenue Oakland CA 94610 E-mail: editor@sfbaytimes.com www.sfbaytimes.com The Bay Times was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men.

We honor our history and the paper’s ability to build and strengthen unity in our community.

The Bay Times is proud to be the only newspaper for the LGBT community in San Francisco that is 100% owned and operated by LGBT individuals.

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

Beth Greene Michael Delgado Abby Zimberg Design & Production

Kate Laws Business Manager Blake Dillon Calendar Editor

Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence J.H. Herren

Technology Director

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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, Kin Folkz, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Peter Gallotta, Bill Lipsky, Karen Williams, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron Michele Karlsberg Lyndsey Schlax, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Howard Steiermann, Andrea Shorter, Scott Tsui, Lou Fischer, Frankie Bashan, Karin Jaffie, Brett Andrews, Karen E. Bardsley, David Landis Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Morgan Shidler, JP Lor ADVERTISING Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards http://sfbaytimes.com/ or 415-503-1375 Custom ad sizes are available. Ads are reviewed by 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.

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT Can we intentionally learn to be less self-critical and more self-compassionate? Based on her pioneering research, psychologist Kristin Neff has concluded that we can. She has identif ied three basic components of self-compassion: self-kindness vs. self-criticism, common humanity vs. isolation, and mindfulness vs. overidentif ication. She has developed practices for teaching and learning each of them. This week I’ll discuss the first of these.

The word “compassion” literally means “to suffer with.” The significance is that, in order to experience compassion, we must first be aware of the presence of pain. When we reflexively tune out the presence of the homeless person on the street, we pro-

Most of us have no trouble seeing compassion for others as thoroughly commendable. It involves many qualities such as kindness, tenderness, generosity, the desire to help and so on. But, in our culture, we’re not so sure when it comes to compassion for oneself. For many, that connotes negative qualities such as self-pity, selfpreoccupation and just plain selfishness.

Even many generations removed from the Puritans, we still seem to believe that if we aren’t constantly blaming and punishing ourselves, we’ll become complacent and lose all motivation to reach our goals. This attitude is far from the Buddhist traditions, which teach practitioners to begin their lovingkindness meditations by evoking compassion toward themselves first, and then to extend it outward to others.

Neff ’s work suggests that the Buddhists have it right. First, she found that self-compassion is actually an antidote to self-pity, because it involves accepting, experiencing and acknowledging difficult feelings with kindness—which paradoxically helps us to process and let go of them more fully.

She writes, “Research shows that selfcompassionate people are less like-

So, the first step in cultivating selfcompassion is to understand that this quality helps rather than harms us.

The second step is to form the intention to turn toward our suffering rather than away from it. When we don’t succumb to the temptation to deny our suffering, or to numb ourselves to it, and just face it head on, we’re liable to get what Neff calls a “backdraft,” a moment when our suffering actually seems to become more acute.

But that is also the moment when selfcompassion can arise. This is the moment to pause, breathe deeply and acknowledge to ourselves that we are experiencing suffering. It can be very helpful to place your hand over your heart as you do this. It’s a gesture that many find instantly evokes self-compassion.

Since so many of us find it easier to be compassionate toward others than toward ourselves, Neff recommends that when we’re suffering, we think about times when a close friend feels really bad about him or herself or is struggling in some way. Ask yourself

SF Pride Announces Public Voting for 2019 Community Grand Marshals The San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee invites the public to vote on the 2019 slate of nominees for Community Grand Marshal. Each year, both an individual and an organization selected by the public are honored at the Parade and Celebration, held on the last full weekend in June. Voting now is underway, and will continue until Noon on Tuesday, March 5.

Chosen from suggestions made by the community, members of San Francisco Pride and the Pride Board of Directors, the 2019 nominees for Community Grand Marshal are trailblazers and leaders in and around the nine-county Bay Area.

“Our community grand marshals are the soul of our event. It is a privilege to showcase the contributions of this year’s nominees for Grand Marshal,” said SF Pride Executive Director, George F. Ridgely, Jr. “Through their exemplary work, tireless advocacy, provocative art and compassionate volunteerism,

our LGBTQ communities are strengthened and made richer.”

The 2019 San Francisco Pride Celebration & Parade is scheduled for the weekend of June 29 and 30.

The theme for this year’s Pride event is Generations of Resistance.

“Our theme for 2019 is in recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall Riots,” according to Ridgely. “The rights we enjoy here and around the world are built on the hard work of previous generations. In San Francisco, Pride is an opportunity to emphasize our rich history of activism, as well as encourage tomorrow’s leaders. We look forward to our own fiftieth anniversary in 2020, when we can celebrate San Francisco’s rich LGBTQ history with the world.”

The San Francisco Pride Parade/ March will take place in downtown San Francisco along Market Street on Sunday, June 30. The Celebration, a rally and festival at Civic Center Plaza, will take

2019 Community Grand Marshal Nominees - Individuals

place on Saturday and Sunday, June 29 and 30. The Celebration features multiple stages of local and international talent that include speakers, performances, live entertainment, DJs, and more than twenty community-programmed stages and venues. While an admission fee is not mandatory for the Celebration, organizers do request a donation from everyone who attends.

Vince Crisostomo

Cheryl Dunye

Shenaaz Sampson Janmohamed McCormick

Online: Go to the SF Pride website ( https://bit.ly/28LqlNd ) and cast your votes.

In Person: You can vote in person at the SF Pride office, 30 Pearl Street, 4th Floor. Please note that access to the Pride offices is by appointment only. Contact info@sfpride.org to schedule an appointment.

Lyon-Martin Health Services

NIA Collective Donna Personna

China Silk

Mrs. Vera of Verasphere

Cristal Veronica

Zwazzi Sowö Radical Faeries/Nomenus

Find out more about each nominee: http://www.sfpride.org The San Francisco Bay Times congratulates all of the nominees, and we look forward to honoring their achievements at the Pride events this coming June.

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Next, think about times when you feel bad about yourself or are struggling. How do you typically respond to yourself in these situations? Do you notice a difference? If so, ask yourself why. What factors or fears come into play that lead you to treat yourself and others so differently? Consider how you think things might change if, when you are suffering, you responded to yourself in the same way that you typically respond to a close friend.

Along the same lines, you can do a meditation in which you focus your attention on your suffering, and then imagine that people (or even pets) who have loved you in your life are also able to feel your pain and are sending love in the form of compassion into the center of it—not to make it go away, or change it in any way, but simply to be with you in it. Doing this exercise is calming, and will evoke a warm self-compassion that makes it more possible to respond to your suffering in a clearheaded and wise manner.

Next time: Common Humanity vs.

Isolation.

Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. For more information, please visit his website http://tommoon.net/

Stacey Abrams’ Rebuttal to Trump’s State of the Union Address Mentions LGBTQ Community

There are a few ways to cast your ballot for Community Grand Marshal:

API Equality – Northern California (APIENC)

Ms. Billie Cooper

how you would respond to your friend in this situation.

How to Cast Your Ballot for Community Grand Marshal

2019 Community Grand Marshal Nominees - Organizations

CALENDAR Submit events for consideration by e-mail to: calendar@sfbaytimes.com © 2019 Bay Times Media Company Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas

ly to get swallowed up by self-pitying thoughts about how bad things are.

That’s one of the reasons self-compassionate people have better mental health.” She also found that “there’s now a good deal of research clearly showing that self-compassion is a far more effective force for personal motivation than self-punishment.”

The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation

SOURCE: FACEBOOK.COM

Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor 1978

The Three Components of Self Compassion: 1 - Self-Kindness vs. Self-Criticism

The Democratic Party rebuttal to President Trump’s State of the Union Address was delivered by Stacey Abrams (D-Georgia) on February 5.

It included the following: “America achieved a measure of reproductive justice in Roe v. Wade, but we must never forget it is immoral to allow politicians to harm women and families to advance a political agenda. We affirmed marriage equality, and yet, the LGBTQ community remains under attack.

So even as I am very disappointed by the President’s approach to our problems—I still don’t want him to fail.

But we need him to tell the truth, and to respect his duties and the extraordinary diversity that defines America.”

She added, “Our progress has always found refuge in the basic instinct of the American experiment— to do right by our people. And with a renewed commitment to social and economic justice, we will create a stronger America, together. Because America wins by fighting for our shared values against all enemies: foreign and domestic. That is who we are—and when we do so, never wavering—the state of our union will always be strong.”

GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow Open Wide Someone on TV said that discussing the 2020 election was like predicting the World Series during spring training. True enough, and I totally agree, but it’s getting hard to resist, don’t you think?

Should we stick to the center in order to fence in Trump? Should we energize the progressive base? Should we try to attract the white working class?

Should we inspire the Millennial voter? Is it risky to nominate a woman?

What about a Black woman? Or is it riskier to send another old white guy out to challenge the one in the White House? How about the young white guy with the Robert Kennedy-esque style and the magic talent for fundraising? What should we do with the coffee billionaire who threatens to split the electorate? Maybe he’ll take votes from Trump. Maybe not.

Then there’s the back and forth over “identity politics,” which seems to be a shorthand for “the political opinions of people of color, women or LGBTs.” Have you noticed that the only voices complaining about identity politics are straight white men? I liked Stacey Abrams’s takedown of their objections in her Foreign Affairs essay. Oh, and while we’re on the subject, white non-college educated working class is no less an “identity” than Black suburban lesbian Mom or what have you.

Most of us are not looking to be catered to. We are looking to be included.

And finally, I really hated Beto’s trip to the dentist. Loyal readers know how I feel about public displays relating to personal hygiene, in particular the declining modesty of TV commercials. So, I didn’t need to see that.

In the same vein, I also can’t watch the ad with the close-up of everyone’s mouth and teeth. Nor can I stomach the toothbrush ad that uses a dirty ear of corn to illustrate gunk on your teeth. Gross!

If You’re Happy and You’re Gay, Clap Your Hands Conversion therapy is in the news this week, as the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has filed a lawsuit against the City of New York, while a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Tampa has issued a recommendation in support of a couple of therapists who are challenging that city’s ban on the practice.

Both the ADF and Judge Amanda Sansone seem to believe that conversion therapy is a harmless series of friendly chats between well-meaning practitioners and clients who are looking to improve their lives and selfesteem by crushing a few tiny seeds of unwelcome gayness (exaggeration mine).

While other courts have noted that bans on conversion therapy are, in fact, restrictions on dangerous, and often fraudulent, commercial practices that are well within the regulatory authority of city or state lawmakers, our adversaries see them as unconstitutional violations of free speech, or in the case of the ADF’s orthodox Jewish therapist from Brooklyn, an impermissible curb on religious freedom.

Alert readers will notice that we recently reported that the state of New York banned conversion therapy, and they may wonder why the ADF is instead focused on the City of New York’s ordinance. According to Professor Art Leonard of the New York Law School, the state law applies to minors, while the city law is one of the broadest bans on conversion therapy in the country. As such, it’s a fatter target for our friends at the ADF, who are aiming for legal precedents.

Professor Leonard goes into impressive detail on both of these cases on his blog.

While we’re on this subject, I think I’ve wondered aloud before how Jay

Sekulow wound up on the President’s legal team. Sekulow is the head of the American Center for Law and Justice, another one of these ADF-like antigay operations parading obnoxiously through our court system. It’s as if Shannon Minter turned up in court to represent Hillary Clinton on a DUI charge, or Evan Wolfson appeared as Jeff Bezos’s divorce lawyer. It’s odd.

It’s That Time Again We are witnessing the start of state legislative sessions around the country, a harrowing time when our valiant community feels momentarily inundated with hateful proposals.

I say “momentarily,” but that’s only because I’ve experienced so many of these sessions that they seem, in retrospect, to have come and gone in a flash—most of them orchestrated by players on a stage, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Except, of course, for the relative handful that survive the process every year. Sometimes it’s only one or two, out of several hundred anti-LGBT bills introduced. Often, whatever survives the process winds up in court. But whatever happens, it’s frustrating to write news story after news story about one of these insidious projects, only to see the thing killed off and then be brought back to life, only to see it shelved in committee, and then to be tacked onto some unrelated piece of legislation, ultimately to have the whole thing die in the end after three or six months of pointless machinations.

In my early days, I would lament the wasted emotional and intellectual investments I had made in pursuit of the fine points of said legislation and in furtherance of subtle insights into the strategic aims of this or that lawmaker. Why had I bothered? And then another session would start and I’d do the same thing all over again, but with a slightly jaded attitude, until I finally decided to just wait until the last days of all of these sessions and see what horrors were still in play.

This tactic allows me to ignore dozens of scary emails with headlines like: “Tennessee aims to incarcerate unmarried lesbians!” or, “Triple property taxes ahead for transgender Alabamans?” In the end, we usually wind up with something out of Mississippi, like the new proposal to defend teachers when they deliberately default to the birth sex of transgender students.

And we get in trouble for advocating “identity politics?” Is this really one of the early priorities for legislators in the state that wins the award for most bottom of the barrel rankings in the U.S.? The bill, now titled HB 1176, also restates Mississippi’s most recent antigay law, the 2016 measure that allows anyone to refuse services based on their sincere religious beliefs (or some such sanctimonious language).

That law managed to escape any real court scrutiny after the High Court left it alone based on a standing technicality. I guess no plaintiffs had been actually injured by the law, so no one had grounds to sue.

We will no doubt encounter a raft of bathroom bills and “religious freedom” bills and the whole kit and caboodle before we’re through. We’ll ignore most of them for as long as we can, starting with the anti-trans birth certificate bill out of Utah and a trio of anti-trans proposals out of South Dakota.

Randy Brits Must Pay for Public Sexcapades Now here’s some grist for our mill.

Check out this headline from the London tabloid The Sun: “Gay porn star fined £1,000 for late night orgy on London Underground train in front of shocked passengers!” (continued on page 26) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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Weddings, Occasions & Relationships Accept the Reality of Aging and Dating: You Are Good Enough When searching for a partner, it’s then easy for some to have a lack of confidence in themselves as they mature in age. “I’m not young and pretty anymore,” says Dan.

Lonely No More Scott Tsui Recently, I encountered a gay man named Dan, who had just turned sixty. His partner Pete passed away a year ago. Pete initially was married to a woman and had three children.

When he met Dan, he fell in love and gave up everything to be with him. Even though they had their ups and downs, they stayed together for thirty-eight lovely years. Dan took care of Pete though his battle with cancer until the very end. Their relationship is a great example that gay men can have meaningful and enduring relationships.

Dan’s been holding up well and is now considering dating again. He’s skeptical about attracting interest in the dating arena because of his age. He lacks confidence in his appearance, especially because of his hair loss. During our conversations, he often compares himself to younger men, highlighting his own lack of desirable traits.

Dan’s not alone in these uncertainties. It’s common for youth and beauty to be highly glorified in the gay community: it’s evident in advertisements, movies and clubs. Countless gay men think it’s the end of the world when they’ve turned thirty, and others admit to feeling “old” when hitting forty.

Why is it that some gay men can view life positively? They accept growing older as beautiful and embrace it. They age gracefully and welcome all that comes with maturity. These men, whether single or in relationships, possess a “beautiful” state of mind and a positive perspective. They appreciate life as being a gift. There’s a major psychological distinction between the two groups of men: one lives in a “suffering, scarcity” state, while the other has a “beautiful, abundance” state of mind.

According to Tony Robbins, an expert in human behavior, “Suffering happens when you’re obsessing about yourself.” Focusing on the negativities and the lack in life, as well as on growing old and losing one’s looks, can lead to increased depression and dissatisfaction. The antidote to suffering, according to Robbins, is appreciation.

He explains that the human brain isn’t designed to make us happy, but to strive to survive. Its ancient survival software is constantly geared for our built-in fight or flight reflex.

We worry needlessly about how people perceive us, and about our jobs, and it pains us when we don’t meet our own expectations.

By trading our expectations for appreciation and gratitude, our focus shifts from the gap of what we don’t have and want to appreciating what we already have. We often tend to forget just how far we’ve come in terms of health, education, advancing our career, providing a roof over our heads, and enjoying friends and family.

There’s so much to appreciate in life. It’s important to take a moment out of our busy lives on a regular basis and just think about all of the wonderful things that we have to appreciate and feel grateful for.

Create a routine of gratitude, maybe before you go to bed at night, while brushing your teeth, just to think about your day and what you can be grateful for.

Some gay men I’ve encountered often want what they cannot get, and wind up living a life of fantasy by focusing on men who are unavailable and who would not even be good for them. They put too much emphasis on looks and body image, instead of connecting with someone’s heart and soul. They confuse fantasy with reality. In short, they live in a world of Photoshop!

As for Dan, he appreciates the thirty-eight years he spent with Pete and the beautiful home they built together. But he now puts too much emphasis on his own outside appearance and age. He compares himself to those much younger than him, instead of embracing his value, experience, understanding of love and big heart—qualities that others would be drawn to.

Once he learns to appreciate all of his positive inner attributes, he will likely find a man who will embrace them too, thereby enabling him to connect with another at a much more fulfilling, deeper level.

Scott Tsui is the Relationship Results Coach, author of “Lonely No More – 8 Steps to Find Your Gay Husband” and the creator of the world’s first online gay relationship training: Gay Men Relationship Blueprint. Tsui works to help gay men find, attract and sustain meaning ful relationships. For more information: http://scotttsui.com/

Queer Ancestors Project Art Exhibition 2019: Prints by Queer and Trans Emerging Artists Strut welcomes the Queer Ancestors Project back to its Seasonal Art Show space for a display of prints by queer and trans emerging artists Chirstine Abiba, Samantha Espinoza, Benny Bordon-Murer, Lia, Maya, Fernando Miguel, Sho Nakashima, Hidhi Patel, Shannon Prasad and Queen Sen Sen with artistic director Katie Gilmartin and others.

To launch the exhibit, on Saturday, February 9, an Artists Panel (7–7:30 pm) followed by a Reception and Print Sale (7:30–9:30 pm) will celebrate the opening at Strut, 470 Castro Street.

Bayard Rustin by Alan Guttirez James Baldwin by Joan Chen

To learn more, visit Strut online ( http://www.strutsf.org ) and the Queer Ancestors Project Exhibition 2019 page on Facebook.

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Nina Simone by Amman Desai

Zora Neale Hurston by Anna Robinson

Happy Valentines Day!

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Cruising Beyond the Castro and a book. The truth is, I filled two entire suitcases with island wear— no Speedo or thong to be found! The week leading up to the cruise was very exciting, counting down the hours.

Then there was the flight. Then we finally got to board a stunningly beautiful, floating city. The first day was one of simply figuring out what is forward, aft, berth, disembark, leeward and gangplank. Even with a map, we still got lost for several days.

TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation Dr. Tim Seelig Now that we are heading into Valentine’s Day, my husband Dan and I believe that it is the perfect time to share our personal ref lections concerning our recent romance on the high seas. We celebrated a number of things all at once: anniversary, birthday and early Valentine’s. But first, a little set-up.

The downward psychological slide for most of us started with the election of November, 2016. It was rough in those first days. We thought the related concerns would surely abate soon.

We thought things couldn’t get worse.

This shows you what we knew. Having no viable options for changing the course in the short term, we just kept going. Since then, we have been searching for coping mechanisms. We found some diversions such as music, family and disengaging from news and social media.

Then there were activities to take our minds off of the 2016 election results. In January 2017, for example, Dan and I took a Caribbean cruise to ponder the state of the world! While on the cruise, we thought, “This is a great way to detox (mentally). Let’s reserve another one in two years on the layaway plan.” Boy, was that fortuitous. We needed this second cruise, at this time, more than we could have ever imagined.

So, off we went this year on Sunday, January 6, leaving from Fort Lauderdale. It was a Celebrity Cruise. I actually took my first cruise on Celebrity in 2000, and have been a loyal fan ever since. It is known for upscale, amazing food and catering to adults.

Not a water slide or Disney character to be found. We love it.

At that moment, the magic of cruising hit home. We had absolutely nothing—nothing—to do for the next seven days. Did I say there was nothing we had to do?!

Taking a cruise means many things to us. Most of all, it is a time away from the stress of our jobs. It is a time when we can connect with each other and disconnect from everything else.

It is a time just for us. Yes, in addition to the unlimited drink package, we purchased the unlimited internet package. We both love our work and agreed to spend one hour a day just to check in back home.

This time around, the cruise had very special meaning. Our daughter, Corianna, loved water from the day it broke and she popped out! She spent most of her life near water or getting to it one way or the other. Being surrounded by water for seven days helped with the knowledge that we already had—she is everywhere.

She was especially present as we began to unwind, relax and enjoy all of the things she loved so dearly. It was amazingly cathartic in that way.

I’ll get to the “Travel Agent Tim” spiel in a bit. First, I want to share the personal view of what the cruise meant to Dan and me specifically. Well, it provided months (in this case, 2 years) of anticipation, planning, dreaming and building up stress so we could let it all go! The planning and research are part of the fun—for Dan!

Best of all, it was seven days with very few decisions. And, if you play your cards right, someone will even make those few for you! One of the difficult decisions was, “Where should we eat?” We were on the brand-new Celebrity Edge that proports to have redefined cruising. And, for the most part, they have. One reason is that there is no longer a huge dining room the size of a football field. There are no longer two dinner seatings with the possibility of being seated by Ralph and Wanda from Pfulgerville, Texas, who are on their first cruise. In their mind, the cruise was paid for by 45’s tax cuts, and they just love him.

They even wear their MAGA hats on formal night! That does not happen anymore. Choices abound.

I am a planner in my career, so I’m more than happy to arrive with a small bag with a Speedo, sunscreen

For Dan, there was a fabulous gym with one of his new loves, Pelleton.

For me, there was a Solarium. It is

Now, cruising (on a boat) is not everyone’s cup of tea—or piña colada.

For us, it is the perfect vacation experience. It has everything we enjoy— all in one—and very few of the things that are “not our very favorite,” as my late mother taught me to say!

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We got to our stateroom, and our bags had been delivered. We completely unpacked by 3 pm. At that point, it seemed as though every single person on board came to gathering places for the “Muster.” This is an incredibly boring presentation to learn what to do in case of an iceberg in the Caribbean! It leaves you knowing nothing about how to save yourself while the string quartet plays “Nearer My God to Thee.” Once that was over, we made our way to the upper deck, got a drink and toasted as the ship left the port, gliding past Miami against a stunning sunset.

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a huge room with a pool that is covered with glass and has views of the ocean all around. It is air-conditioned and plays soft, soothing music. Oh, did I mention the servers who bring fruity frozen drinks all day, beverages that are paid for by the unlimited drinks package? The Solarium was my place to read, sleep, sit in the hot tub and collect umbrellas from the refreshments. Heaven.

The other diff icult choices concerned what to do when you actually wanted to get up from the chaise lounge (if you did). Everyone gets to do their own thing, from lazy to zealous! Dan and I did a mix.

I promised to do at least one “physical activity” in return for going to every show, cabaret, disco and karaoke event. The physical event ranged from snorkeling, touching sting rays in the ocean, kayaking and sitting on a beautiful beach collecting more umbrellas from the beverages. Oh, and there was shopping at each port, of course.

Celebrity EDGE

There is a difference in peoples’ ideas about vacation. Many like touring lots of countries, cities, museums, churches, etc. This is fabulous, of course. In my experience, I tend to return home from those touring vacations more exhausted than when I left. Then there is cruising. There is no excuse to return home tired. If you do, you just did it wrong!

For Dan and me, cruising (the ocean) always results in romance on the high seas.

We came home refreshed, connected to each other and still disgusted with 45! We’ll be done with him by the time we take our next cruise in 2 years!

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone. It is the perfect time to focus on the ones you love. Of course, it is a silly holiday made up by the chocolate, flower and greeting card industry.

This matters not. Let them make their money.

At the end of the day, it reminds us that love is really all that counts.

The wonderful song by the Flirtations, “Everything Possible,” ends with, “the only measure of your words and your deeds will be the love you leave behind when you’re gone.”

Amen.

Dr. Tim Seelig is the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.

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Photos courtesy of Tim See

Happy Valentines Day! A Perfect Place to Celebrate Valentine’s Day: San Francisco’s Iconic Cliff House a time to honor San Francisco’s laudable activism and values—and is an important reminder that love does conquer all. That means—it’s time to celebrate! The really hard question is: where?

San Francisco arguably has perhaps the greatest number of restaurants per capita in the country, so choosing a Valentine’s Day venue can be challenging. For us, there’s one that stands head and shoulders above the rest: the 155-yearold historic Sutro’s at the Cliff House on Ocean Beach in San Francisco.

The Gay Gourmet David Landis (Editor’s Note: In this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times we welcome David Landis as a new food columnist! We have admired David’s work over the years—his namesake business Landis Communications, Inc., has won numerous awards. A few members of our team, however, virtually bonded more recently with David after watching him appear as a guest on an episode of the popular and binge-worthy PBS program Check Please, Bay Area.

The show, now in its 13th season and hosted by wine expert Leslie Sbrocco, has also featured drag queens Bebe Sweetbriar and Sister Roma, as well as other noteworthy and talented members of our LGBTQ community.

You can see the episode with David here: https://bit.ly/2N5h5WB The equally entertaining and informative one with Bebe and Sister Roma is at https://bit.ly/2G75eaJ We were still hungry for more, so we invited David to elaborate on his fantastic Check Please restaurant pick, Sutro’s at the Cliff House. The result is the first article for his new column, “The Gay Gourmet.” Enjoy, or as Julia Child would have said in her plunging falsetto, “Bon appétit!”)

It seems like yesterday, but February 12 marks the 15th anniversary of love blooming at San Francisco City Hall. (See page 6 for more about SF’s “Winter of Love.”) Then Mayor (now Governor) Gavin Newsom decided to buck state law as well as then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to marry same-sex couples.

What motivated him? Newsom attended President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address, where Bush stated unequivocally that “marriage should be between a man and a woman.” At that point, it became clear to Newsom that this was a matter of human rights, which flew in the face of California’s constitution. He subsequently took action.

My then partner (now husband), Sean Dowdall, and I were among those waiting in line who unfortunately missed the first matrimonial goround that day. But we went back to City Hall on Monday, February 16, and tied the knot, along with around 3,200 other couples in that wedding frenzy. We’ve been together now for a total of 30 years and are so thankful to live in a community that embraces rights and dignity for all.

So, it goes without saying that in our household, Valentine’s Day is something of a national holiday. It’s also 16

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At Sutro’s, one thinks immedi- Cliff House’s Chef Ralph Burgin shared culinary tips with San Francisco Bay Times columnist ately of the magnificent ocean David Landis. views: the dramatic waves, the stirring sunsets, the views of Ocean Beach that seemingly stretch to infinity, and, of course, the vantage point overlooking the breathtaking Seal Rocks. But here’s a big secret: the food also matches—and surpasses—that stunning oceanfront setting.

“We pretend we don’t have a view,” Chef Ralph Burgin, who has been at the Cliff House for 20 years but for the last 4 years has overseen the kitchen at Sutro’s, told me for the San Francisco Bay Times. “You can’t relax your standards because of the view,” he added. “We are here to prove that you can have a world class view with great food and service.”

The menu changes seasonally. (Keep an eye out for Chef Ralph’s famous tomatoes; he grows them himself in the summer season.) “We always have chicken, steak, salmon and halibut,” said Chef Ralph, “but we’re more flexible seasonally with soup, salads and desserts.”

As a self-described foodie snob, I am here to attest to the restaurant’s quality. In my humble opinion, Sutro’s deserves a Michelin star. One of the standouts on the superb menu is the fresh Crab Louie, a modern take on the traditional San Francisco salad. See the recipe in this issue, available in a slightly different form at both the Bistro at the Cliff House and Sutro’s.

Another popular item on the menu—and a mainstay since the Cliff House’s re-opening 14 years ago—is the perfectly fresh bacon-crusted Scottish salmon in a savory umami-rich mustard sauce, served on a bed of creamy potato purée with rainbow chard and pink lady apple. “I could never take that dish off the menu,” Chef Ralph said. Yet another favorite is the pistachio-crusted pork chop with broccolini and baby carrots.

It is cooked crepinette-style, with a soupcon of pork fat to keep the chop juicy and flavorful.

Since Sutro’s visits always merit celebration, the restaurant delivers with an inventive, artisanal cocktail menu. A personal favorite is the “Caribbean Passion” rum drink with passionfruit, if the latter is in season. The wine list is primarily California-driven—“except for the bubblies,” according to Chef Ralph— because, as he said, “San Francisco is where the wine country starts.” Here’s a tip: on Tuesdays, every bottle of wine is half price, all day long. That’s way better than a happy hour!

The Cliff House actually comprises Sutro’s, the more casual Bistro upstairs, the Zinc Bar and Balcony Lounge, Sunday Champagne Brunch Buffets and the Terrace Room—which, as it turns out, is perfect for weddings, and they, of course, include same-sex couples who are welcomed with open arms.

“Our wedding package includes a (set-up) on the outdoor terrace with a red carpet, and seating inside with the ocean view for up to 120, said Chef Ralph. The Terrace Room can actually accommodate up to 150 in a stand-up setting. He continued,” “We have a separate kitchen, right next to the Terrace Room, so it’s not like a hotel. Everything is delivered fresh and hot.”

One lucky couple who got married at the Cliff House is Lawrence Kumar and Harry Vanderlooi. “The reason we chose the Cliff House,” Kumar told me, “was because of its location. The staff went out of their way to make us feel like royalty. They paid attention to every detail. After the wedding ceremony, my husband took me to the bar and all the customers had a toast with us!”

If you want to take such a festive experience home, Clif f House products include the famous Bloody Mary Mix and Popover Mix. They are available at the gift shop on site, at the Cliff House website and at select retailers throughout the Bay Area.

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Cliff House Famous Crab Louis

By Chef Ralph Burgin Spelled either Crab Louis or Crab Louie, but always pronounced LOO-ey, this iconic salad boasts countless versions. Most historians agree that it first appeared early in the 20th century, although no one agrees on who created it. Cliff House diners were ordering Crab Louis around the early 1900s, but since the 1970s, the restaurant has been serving this version of the classic.

Serves 4 Dressing: 1 cup mayonnaise Getting to Sutro’s couldn’t be easier: they often have valet parking and street parking is nearby. If you cannot find a space out front on Point Lobos Avenue, there is a lot up the hill just past the Cliff House with free parking. You can also take Muni to various nearby stops—bus lines 18, 38R or 5R—and enjoy the 10 or so minute scenic walk. Sutro’s is additionally listed on the convenient service OpenTable. https://www.opentable.com So, for Valentine’s Day this year, will Sutro’s be offering something special? “Well,” said Chef Ralph, “we’ll be offering passionfruit vinaigrette for our seasonal salad that day!”

1/4 cup quality ketchup 2 teaspoons sriracha (hot sauce) 1/2 cup pickle relish 1/3 cup of BBQ sauce (For this recipe, the Cliff House recommends a balanced BBQ sauce that is not too smoky and not too acidic, meaning that it should contain a limited amount of vinegar.)

Mix ketchup with mayonnaise and whisk until smooth. Once fully blended, stir in the rest of the dressing ingredients.

Other Ingredients for the Dish: 1-pound Dungeness crab meat, picked and with shells carefully removed mixed greens 2 heads white or red Belgian endive, trimmed and separated into leaves 2 peeled and pitted ripe but firm avocados, quartered and sprinkled with a little sea salt and freshly ground black pepper just before serving 4 eggs, cooked nearly through and then halved and seasoned as for the avocados 12 cherry tomatoes, halved and seasoned per the above

We’re in.

2 radishes, julienned (cut into thin strips)

For information and reservations, visit the Cliff House online: https://cliffhouse.com/

To Finish:

David Landis is a proud LGBT citizen of San Francisco, a PR executive, a freelance writer, a big believer in Valentine’s Day and, of course, a foodie.

Follow him @david_landis or email him at david@ landispr.com

Toss salad greens with dressing. Place in the center of a deep, chilled plate.

Arrange endive leaves, halved eggs and quartered avocados decoratively all around the salad greens.

Top the greens with crab meat. Arrange halved cherry tomatoes on the plate.

Sprinkle with julienned radishes.

Variations: 1-pound cooked shrimp can be used instead of the crab meat.

If desired, pink grapefruit or orange segments can be added to the salad.

Citrus often pairs well with seafood and can cut through the richness of the dressing.

At the Cliff House: The Crab Louis is available to order at Sutro’s (lunch only) and in the Bistro.

A good commercial BBQ sauce is fine for home cooks who prepare this dish, but the restaurant makes BBQ sauce from scratch. (“The recipe for it is a trade secret,” notes Chef Burgin.)

For this and other recipes, see the book The San Francisco Cliff House by Mary Germain Hountalas (Ten Speed Press, 2009).

Ralph Burgin is a Chef at the Cliff House, and also serves as General Manager. Born in the Rhine Valley of Germany, he previously worked in restaurants throughout Europe and the U.S. He carries the esteemed title of Certified Master Chef and has won numerous awards over the decades.

A part-time farmer, Chef Burgin grows tomatoes for the Cliff House in Sonoma County. The tomatoes—some of the best that we have ever tasted— are available in certain dishes from July until fall’s first frost.

Lawrence Kumar and Harry Vanderlooi celebrated their marriage at the Cliff House in May of 2017.

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Happy Valentines Day!

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Romantic LGBTQ Films to Put You in the Mood for Valentine’s Day cas Near-Verbrugghe) is a Los Angeles-based graphic designer with the titular ocular problem. One day, out of the blue, he gets an email from Alex (Aaron Costa Ganis), his ex from 15 years ago. After some email exchanges, the pair arrange to meet in Dean’s Joshua Tree home for sex, true confessions, and a possible second chance at their relationship. The f ilm, basically a two-hander, pivots on the dynamics between the attractive leads as they reveal secrets and lies, reflect on memories, and experience loneliness, honesty and maturation. But what will catch the eyes, and hearts, of viewers is Near-Verbrugghe’s sensitive performance—he makes Dean’s despair palpable—and Costa Ganis’ seductive turn as Alex.

Film Gary M. Kramer With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, there are a number of LGBTQ films that couples (or singles, or threesomes) can cuddle up and watch for a romantic evening at home. Here are some personal favorites.

For a classic lesbian film, Donna Deitch’s landmark 1985 feature Desert Hearts is a must to watch or rewatch. Set in 1959 Reno, the film respectfully depicts the love that develops between Vivian (Helen Shaver), an English professor waiting out a divorce, and Cay (Patricia Charbonneau, in a remarkable debut), who works at a casino and lives on the ranch where Vivian is staying.

Vivian is prim and proper and wants to “be free of who I’ve been,” while Cay is reckless; the sexy young woman is seen driving backward when she first meets Vivian. Their slowburn attraction heats up when the women kiss in the rain, but their relationship soon has tongues wagging.

And the film’s sensual love scene is why the film still melts hearts decades later.

Another sexy, sweet—and bittersweet—film is the romantic drama About Us, which stars and was written and directed by out gay filmmaker Thiago Cazado. This Brazilian import depicts the intimate relationship between Diego (Cazado), a photographer/filmmaker, and Matheus (Rodrigo Bittes), an architecture student. The couple is very much in love until a situation arises that threatens their happiness. Cazado’s low-budget debut may seem slight at first, but it becomes quite emotional as the lovers grapple with their possible separation.

Also from Brazil is the sweet and sunny romance The Way He Looks. Leonardo (Ghilherme Lobo) is a blind teenager, who develops feelings for Gabriel (Fabio Audi), a new kid at his school.

When a class assignment forces Gabriel and Leo to work together, the guys quickly form an intimate bond, which causes Leo’s best friend Giovana (Tess Amorim) to become jealous. Scenes of the guys together shows how these two teenagers fall in love. Ribeiro’s warm approach to telling Leo’s story prompts viewers to want the boys to couple up. Of course, there are subplots that try to keep the guys apart, but in Ribeiro’s highly enjoyable film, they never feel forced.

Another charmer featuring schoolboys is Handsome Devil, written and directed by out gay Irish filmmaker John Butler. Two boarding school roommates—the gay outsider Ned (Fionn O’Shea) and the closeted athlete, Conner (Nicholas Galitzine)—connect as friends, not lovers. Although there is more teenage angst than actual romance, Handsome Devil is a magical film that is sure to leave a smile in viewers’ hearts.

For something more erotic, the Canadian romance Below Her Mouth features sex scenes that are as hot as the two female protagonists. Dallas (Erika Linder) is a love ‘em and leave ‘em type, who catches sight of the fetching Jasmine (Natalie Krill), a fashion magazine editor who is engaged to Rile (Sebastian Pigott). The frisson between the beauty and the butch is palpable. Below Her Mouth may feature a f limsy script, but the film is best when the actresses are engaging their mouths on each other, not the dialogue.

Feeling polyamorous? Argentine writer/director Rodrigo Guerrero deftly explores the connections between three gay men in his sexy and revealing romance The Third One. Fede (Emiliano Dionisi) is a cute college student who flirts online with Franco (Nicolás Armengol). He meets Franco and his partner Hernán (Carlos Echevarría) for dinner in their apartment, and eventually—in a virtuoso sequence, shot in real time— the trio end up in bed together. The Third One is erotic and satisfying.

A queer-inclusive film from a few years back that deserves a look is Romeos, from Germany. This tender drama is about Lukas (cisgender actor Rick Okon), who is transitioning from female to male and is fearful of making his gender identity known. Housed in a girls’ dormitory against his wishes, he leans on his lesbian best friend Ine (Liv Lisa Fries) for support. When Lukas meets the hunky lothario Fabio (Maximillian Befort), the guys are attracted to each other. The sexual tension builds as they tease and compete with each other. But will Fabio accept Lukas when he knows his truth? There is plenty of heartache for the film’s gay, lesbian and trans characters before a happy-for-now ending.

In Tim Kirkman’s poignant, romantic drama Lazy Eye, Dean (Lu-

© 2019 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

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NEOLOGISM KNOWLEDGE “Enby” refers to a person who identifies as: A) non-binary

C) a bisexual male

B) someone who is in between gender reassignment surgeries

D) a bisexual female

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Karin Jaffie, aka Kit/Kitty Tapata, won the title of Mr. Gay San Francisco in 2011 and has earned many other honors since.

Connect with Jaffie via Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pg/ktapata

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Donna’s Chronicles

“United we stand; divided, they get us one by one.

By Donna Sachet

– José Sarria

he Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation once again delivered on their promise of providing top notch entertainment while raising funds for great causes when they tried a new event called Sexy Circus Cabaret. Last Monday, we entered the Great Northern Club, 119 Utah Street, and were immediately dazzled by the Art Deco architectural details and design motifs. As the cocktail reception wound down, sheer Austrian curtains rose to reveal the central room with high ceilings, cabaret seating and rows of chairs. From the moment Vladessa introduced herself as our hostess accompanied by a studly escort, we were captured by a variety show of acrobatic and aerodynamic acts, musical and comedy numbers, and a flirtatious story line. Unfortunately, there was no printed program, making it impossible to acknowledge each performer, but they were gathered from the cast of Kinky Boots, The Seven Fingers, various circus shows, and alumni of École Nationale de Cirque and DECCA, L’ecole. Sight lines were limited, but breathtaking feats and graceful movements riveted the audience’s attention. One performer rose above all the rest; a young woman emerged skillfully playing violin, but eventually also singing simultaneously in a compelling original composition. What a talent! Sprinkled amidst the evening were several live auctions, resulting in generous bids. The crowd represented REAF’s loyal followers, including Doug Waggener, Richard Sablatura, Jeff Doney, Mark Calvano, Joel Goodrich, and Skye Paterson, as well as many new faces. It was a fresh engaging presentation and a wonderful success!

Last Friday we were clued into an unusual evening with the SF Urban Film Fest called The Stories We Will Tell: Interactive Media and Placemaking. Supporters of historic preservation and creative multi-dimensional experiences gathered to see various works in progress, many shared through 360-degree virtual reality oculi headsets. Program Director Robin Abad met us at the door of SOMArts Center and quickly introduced us to Susie Smith, curator of the evening.

Individual creators shared projects ranging from the historic and now closed Gangway bar in the Tenderloin by Keith Wilson to Vero Majano’s reflection on the San Francisco Mission’s Los Siete and Adam Osfield Snell’s telling of Heather Escandon’s personal journey at City of Hope. A panel discussion at the end revealed a bit more about these creators and their inspiration. Our own unfamiliarity with, and understanding of, some of the technical aspects of that night’s presentations limits the scope and depth of this report, but suffice it to say, our curiosity was piqued and we’ll be watching for further developments. We were especially delighted to see so many young faces at an event concerning historic preservation and thank Coy Meza for inviting us.

Regrettable circumstances prevented us from attending Power Lunch V: Bridges, the Golden Gate Business Association’s annual event at the Marriott Marquis, but with an incredible lineup of speakers including Stacey Lentz, part owner of New York’s historic Stonewall Inn, Juan P. Novello of the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Fabrice Houdart, Human Rights Officer of the United Nations, and Cesar Casas Ferrer from the Mexican Federation of LGBT Businesses, how could you go wrong?

We understand that the attendance was record-breaking.

As you can see from the adjacent schedule of events, we’ll soon be consumed by all things Imperial. Perhaps a short lesson in the history of the Imperial Court is appropriate. Life as a person who didn’t fit into the mainstream mold was quite different in the 1960s and as many minority populations were stretching their limbs and embracing their true nature, so the LGBTQ Community began to emerge. San Francisco led the way on many fronts, including the formation of the Tavern Guild in 1963, uniting Gay club owners, employees and patrons in a common cause to fight police intimidation, raids, and corruption. At their Beaux Arts Ball in 1964, they crowned José Sarria, a popular entertainer at the Black Cat, as Queen of the Ball. He famously said that he was already a queen, so he became an empress. In true San Francisco style, he later claimed to be the widow of Emperor Joshua Norton, a historical figure of some notoriety from decades earlier, but the titles worked and it created an inspired historical connection. Although José Sarria’s title was by most accounts meant to be merely ceremonial and symbolic, his political and organizational background led him to use this position to unify and solidify the nascent LGBTQ community. The next year, he created the Imperial Court of San Francisco with a new Empress publicly elected every year, surrounded by courtiers, pomp and circumstance. The title’s meaning has evolved over the ensuing 50 some years with an Emperor being added about 7 years later, but remarkably, new Monarchs have been publicly elected in San Francisco every year since.

That is the tradition that continues today with upcoming Voting Day, Imperial Coronation and all of the surrounding events. We are proud to have served as the 30th elected Empress and we’ve watched this loosely organized, largely ceremonial organization grow into the International Court System with over 65 chapters across the United States, Canada and Mexico, successfully leading the campaign to get a U.S. Postage stamp honoring Harvey Milk, a U.S. Navy ship named after him, and currently working hard to get José Sarria included in the California Hall of Fame, in addition to raising charitable funds for a variety of worthy causes. Representatives from many of those chapters will visit San Francisco for Imperial Coronation week, including Queen Mother of the Americas Nicole the Great, the current organizational head of the International Court System. Few groups can claim such a rich past, broad membership and current importance in our movement. Come celebrate with us this month!

Please note that information missing from the last issue’s Imperial Court calendar is now up to date. We apologize for several omissions, but as with any event this complex, there were last minute challenges, now mostly settled. We hope to see you at these annual events, many of them free and open to the public, as the Imperial Court of San Francisco celebrates its fifty-third year of fund-raising and fun-raising!

Finally, we have been so touched at the many public remembrances of the late Carol Channing. Personal stories and photographs have appeared in the San Francisco Bay Times and many other places as a true testament to her magical connection with other people. She certainly made us feel special each time we met, encouraging my PHOTO BY SHAWN NORTHCUTT

Calendar a/la Sachet Every Sunday Sunday’s a Drag!

10:30 am Brunch, 11:30 am Show The Starlight Room Sir Francis Drake Hotel $75 inclusive https://bit.ly/2OB4Gur Saturday, February 16 Emperor & Empress Voting Day Project Open Hand: 11 am–4 pm Powerhouse: 1 pm–5 pm Harvey Milk Plaza: Noon–6 pm https://www.imperialcouncilsf.org Sunday, February 17 The Earthquake Party 4 pm–7 pm Aunt Charlie’s Lounge 133 Turk Street Free Wednesday, February 20 In Town Show Hamburger Mary’s 531 Castro Street Free Thursday, February 21 Anniversary Monarchs’ Reception 6 pm–8 pm HA-RA Club 875 Geary Street Free Friday, February 22 Out of Town Show Details TBD Saturday, February 23 Imperial Coronation 54: Under the Sea 6 pm SF Design Center Galleria 101 Henry Adams Street $70 https://bit.ly/2Bjl26q Sunday, February 24 Annual Pilgrimage to Colma Cemetery Host Hotel Bus: 8 am José Sarria Plaque at Castro & Market: 8:30 am Free Sunday, February 24 Victory Brunch 11:30 am Holiday Inn Golden Gateway 1500 Van Ness Avenue $30 https://bit.ly/2Bjl26q

entertainment goals and sharing a love for all things theatrical. May Carol Channing long be remembered for the tremendous talent and amazing heart she possessed.

Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco.

Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com

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This Month at the Farmers’ Market We Love Fresh-Baked Goods from the Farmers’ Market

By Debra Morris We’re expressing our love for farmers’ markets this month! Share what you love about your farmers’ market on Facebook and Instagram ( https://www.pcfma.org/ ) while we share what we love: our local farmers, the amazing produce our farmers provide, and the local community that supports the farmers’ market. Bring on the love for your market this month!

One of the things that we love about farmers’ markets is biting into a just-baked slice of artisan sourdough or munching a soft buttery croissant, or treating ourselves to a sweet f laky pastry from the bakeries that participate in your farmers’ market. They offer everything from dinner rolls and breadsticks to cookies, pastries and loaf breads, all in a variety of artisan flavors and textures.

Bread, considered the “staff of life” and one of the oldest prepared foods, has provided sustenance for mankind from the dawn of time.

Rye, corn, wheat, millet and rice have all been used to make bread.

A simple mixture of grain or cereal flours and water with a leavening agent (yeast) can create the simplest and most delicious concoctions. Add a bit of this and a bit of that—nuts, cheese, olives, honey, herbs—and you have over-the top goodness.

A large variety of bread can be found these days, depending on the inventiveness of the baker and the history behind its shape and taste. Historically, f latbreads, pita and naan came from India and the Middle East; focaccia and bag uettes from Europe and It a ly; loa f breads, challah, breadsticks and an array of buns and rolls came to our shores from a variety of other countries in every conceivable flavor and texture imaginable.

Farmers’ markets are the perfect place to get a taste of all of the wonderful baked goods that can be found in your neighborhood.

Try a simple breadstick or a loaf of crusty sourdough and you’re hooked on what these bakers create from simple, local ingredients.

Beckmann’s Old World Bakery at the Divisadero Farmers’ Market offers a wide array of breads, pastries, dinner rolls, baguettes, pies and more. The bakery was founded

by Peter Beckmann in November 1985. Son of a craftsman family, he apprenticed in bread-making in Heidelberg, Germany. After moving to the United States in 1982, Peter had a longing for the traditional breads of his home country. He baked the first commer-

cial loaves in his kitchen oven and hand-delivered those first samples on his bicycle to four local Santa Cruz grocery stores. This was the start of a bakery that, to this day, has been honoring the German commitment to traditional artisan bread making.

You’ll find market favorites like the cheesy breadsticks, whole grain loaf breads, asiago sourdough and Francese rolls. There is focaccia, rye breads and sandwich rolls to round out their selection. Stop by and pick up some of their fantastic breads.

Debra Morris is a spokesperson for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA).

Check out the PCFMA website for recipes, information about farmers’ markets throughout the region and for much more: https://www.pcfma.org/

SF Sketch Randy Coleman 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.”

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Tips for an Easy Joint Replacement medical provider will advise you about all of the devices that will make your life easier. I bought a recliner before my surgery, and I’m really glad I did. For hip or knee replacements, you will also need a raised toilet seat and a walker.

Easy Fitness Cinder Ernst In past columns, I’ve told you about how I managed along the way toward getting my new hip. I’ve written about keeping my physical strength, staying as mobile as possible and purposefully feeling hopeful and positive. Following my own advice paved the way for an easy recovery from my hip replacement surgery. If you are heading toward a hip or knee replacement, keeping your fitness level as strong as possible and your heart hopeful will bring you your best outcome.

Today I’m going to give you the lessons I’ve learned since having my hip replaced. Did you know that a total hip surgery is considered an outpatient procedure? Amazing! At my care facility, the physical therapists come as soon as patients wake up. If you can walk with the walker, manage any stairs to get home and have someone to be with you, you can go home. If you feel unsafe or nauseous, they will keep you.

In my case, I was totally planning on going right home. As it turned out, my surgery was late in the day and the PT staff was already gone so I stayed overnight after my anterior hip replacement. This procedure required the surgeon to make his entry cut in the front of my thigh, just below my hip bone. Anterior hip replacement has a much faster and easier rehab and recovery because you are able to move around more freely after surgery.

Once home, I was able to move around easily with a walker. Your

You can purchase a “hip kit” or a “knee kit” online that will have a grabber, a long shoehorn, a long handle clothes hook, a sock putter-onner and even a device that helps you to lift your leg into and out of bed. Because I had kept up my strength and flexibility, I was able to get my leg in and out of bed.

Not everyone is a candidate for an anterior hip replacement, so the other option is to undergo a posterior hip replacement. For this procedure, the surgeon cuts in the back of the hip. The results are reliably good, but the rehab time takes longer because there are more movement restrictions. Imagine not being able to bend forward, and then consider all of the activities that you would need help with. This is where a sock putteronner, a long shoehorn and a dressing hook are essential.

K nee replacement generally requires a more involved recovery/rehab, but the same rule applies—the more strength, mobility and stamina you have going in, the better your outcome will be. Stay positive and hopeful. Trust your care team. They handle these procedures all of the time.

Follow all instructions and you’ll likely be back to your life in no time.

The most amazing experience right out of surgery for most who have a hip or a knee replacement is the realization that “I no longer have that awful pain.” Yes, I had discomfort from the surgery itself, but it was nothing compared to what I had been living with beforehand. I did not even need to take major painkillers after the surgery. A strong anti-inflammatory and Tylenol were enough pain relief for me.

The advantage to not needing/taking narcotics was being more stable, so I came off of my walker quicker. Without narcotics, you will be cleared to drive sooner, too. I also noticed right away that having my hamstrings and lower back flexible made it much easier for me to maneuver and to take care of myself.

The worst part of the rehab for me was doing less than I wanted to.

Walking is restricted after a hip replacement. Stairs are better avoided.

I think the hardest thing for me was boredom and being a little lonely. My friends were wonderful, but there is only so much sitting around that is enjoyable. As a result, I’m so glad that I’m on the other side! The hip pain is gone and I feel like a curtain has opened and brought light back into my life.

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”, is available in paperback and E-book. https://bit.ly/2D6itYo 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

Take Me Home with You!

Macaw

“My name is Macaw! I’ve been told that my pretty coat is just as dramatic as that of the colorful rainforest parrots who share my name. I’m an adventurous cat who is happiest when I’m exploring the world around me or making my way to the highest perch in the room. After playing and exploring, I love to snuggle up with my favorite people for a session of petting and purring. Come and meet me!”

Macaw 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 Macaw.

To meet Macaw, as well as other pets seeking their forever homes, please visit: SF SPCA’s “Welcome to the Jungle” Pop Up and Cat Café One Embarcadero Center Monday through Friday, 11 am–7 pm, until February 14 Still other pets are available for adoption at the main SF SPCA facility: Mission Campus 250 Florida Street San Francisco, CA 94103 415-522-3500 Aside from major holidays, the Mission Campus 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!

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

For more information: https://popup.sfspca.org/ https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Trans (But Were Afraid to Ask)

Words Michele Karlsberg Michele Karlsberg: In trans activist, writer and former naval aviator Brynn Tannehill’s new book, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Trans (But Were Afraid to Ask), she breaks down deeply held misconceptions about trans people across all aspects of life.

The book, released by Jessica K ingsley Publishers a few months ago, has been hailed by reviewers as “thoroughly researched,” “beautifully written,” and “one-of-a-kind.”

It is a i med at a l l aud ienc es, from those who identify as transgender to those with little knowledge of the community who are looking to learn more.

In this excerpt from the chapter titled “Politics,” Tannehill expounds on how the transgender bathroom bill has affected trans youth.

In 2015, the South Dakota legislature passed a law banning transgender students from bathrooms, enacting part of the FRC’s plan to make life nearly impossible for transgender people.

While Governor Daugaard vetoed the bill, North Carolina followed with a bathroom bill (which mostly targeted students) shortly thereafter.

While these bills called for “reasonable accommodations,” this has resulted in separate and unequal situations for transgender students, wherein inconvenient facilities are offered as a false compromise. The result is students who either miss class, are punished for being tardy, or suffer kidney and urinary tract infections as a result of “holding it” or deliberately dehydrating themselves.

Other students have suffered the humiliation of being treated like potential sex offenders, being followed around by school staff to make sure they use a separate bathroom, or even faced plans to issue them wrist bands identifying them as transgender so other students can report them.

These consequences of “separate but equal” facilities have been observed in North Carolina and across the country where transgender students are banned from facilities.

The South Dakota bill, as was written, considered it a reasonable accommodation to make a transgender child “hold it” until a teacher is available to escort them to a single-stall bathroom like some sort of suspected 7-year-old sex offender. Where similar policies were implemented, younger students suffered the humiliation of urinating all over themselves because the teacher was too busy to escort them to the bathroom. If a school principal decided he simply did not want to have a transgender student at school, many of these laws would legally protect them if they told the student, “There are no bathrooms here that you are allowed to use, so you will have to leave school permanently.”

This will cause a student to choose between losing access to education or attempting to conceal and repress their gender identity at school. One South Dakota state senator cited the desistance myth in his support of the bill, remarking that these kids are probably just going to change their minds anyway, so why not encourage them not to be transgender?

Never mind that rejection and isolation didn’t work out so well for Leelah Alcorn, and the 57 percent of trans kids who attempt suicide in unsupportive environments, according to one study. Chapter 4 describes the close relationship between discrimination, stigma, minority stress, abuse, and suicide attempts in transgender youth.

If anyone thinks for a moment that very few adults would do such horrible things to transgender kids, try watching the 14-year-old transgender teen Jazz Jennings read the parade of online threats from adults to torture and murder her. Talk to most parents of transgender children and they can share all about the threats they receive from community members threatening to kill a transgender child if the parents or their chil-

Art at Strut Features Matthew Lam

dren find the transgender child in the “wrong” bathroom. Other parents of transgender youth have told me how parents and students have told their child they should kill themselves.

Now consider again, how far of a stretch of the imagination is it to envision a social conservative school administrator forcing a child to leave school in comparison?

It is time to stop calling these “bathroom bills” and anti-transgender bills. Instead, call them what they are: an attempt to make it impossible to be a transgender student in America.

Brynn Tannehill is a leading trans activist and essayist, and has written for “The New York Times,” The Huffington Post, Bilerico, Slate, Salon, “USA Today,” “The Advocate,” LGBTQ Nation and The New Civil Rights Movement, as a blogger and featured columnist.

A leader in Gender Diversity books, Jessica Kingsley Publishers publishes informative guides for professionals, parents, children, teens and the general reader. For more information, visit https://www.jkp.com/index.php?uk Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBTQI community. This year, Karlsberg celebrates 31 years of successful book campaigns.

Photos by Paul Margolis

Artist Matthew Lam, a painter based in the East Bay, was celebrated on Friday, February 1, with an exhibit opening reception. He enjoys painting the human figure, capturing the LGBTQ+ experience, and presenting a lighthearted and positive narrative about what it means to be a queer person of color. The exhibit will continue through February 23. http://www.strutsf.org

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Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “Why do we make such a fuss over Valentine’s Day? A day named after Saint Valentine, a 15th century martyr, who on February 14th was beaten to a pulp with clubs, then stoned, finally beheaded and buried. How romantic?!

Puhleeeze!”

On January 23, ACADEMY OF FRIENDS hosted A TOAST TO THE OSCARS party at Christian Loubitin store on Maiden Lane. It was lovely, but let’s make something quite clear: I may be a Christian, but the only part of Loubitin is “bit”— as in “I can’t afford one bit for these shoes!”—where the men’s shoes started at a thou each. That’s $500+ for one shoe. Board Vice Chair Michael R. Myers spoke about the upcoming 36th annual Oscars fundraising party with Academy of Friends, A GATHERING OF ROYALS, on Oscar Night, February 28, at the San Francisco Design Center Galleria. http://www.academyoffriends.org/ It was a bittersweet event, a reception for the final days of the venerable CENTER FOR SEX & CULTURE in the humble SOMA at 1349 Mission warehouse. There have been so many occasions when this nun has participated there over the decades. Supervisor Raphael Mandelman presented a Certificate of Honor to executive directors Carol Queen & Robert Lawrence & the Center signed unanimously by the SF Board of Supervisors for the pair’s work supporting the LGBTQ/ Str8 community. The CSC entity will continue to exist but without a physical home. They couldn’t find an affordable place in SF or the East Bay. But they intend to do pop-up events and such ( https://bit.ly/2GbWArA ). The room was still hung with the amazing works of the last artist to exhibit there, Jack Davis's Faggots.

Live entertainment at the closing party was provided by a handsome older nude man and possibly his partner in the form of a clothed in fur woman doing a very emotional improv being slowly discovered to them (and us in the audience) what “I want” as a repeating, almost liturgical theme. It turned out, after all this negotiating, he wanted a kiss but settled for getting a long held hand-holding. Riveting!

RICHMOND/ERMET AID FOUNDATION presented a fabulous fundraiser, A SEXY CIRCUS CABARET, part of a world tour, on January 28 at The Great Northern Club. This One Night Only benefit cabaret featured artists from Kinky Boots on Broadway, Paramour, The Seven Fingers, and various circus shows and alumni of École Nationale de Cirque and DECCA, L’ecole. Vladessa, the Goddess of Virginity, took us on a journey to show us how she uses her powers to make people lose their virginity. She boasted that she can remove your clothes with a snap of her finger, which is why the slogan of the event was: “If you have it, you’ll lose it.” It was sexy, it was daring, and it was like no other show I’ve recently seen!

Before the show started, co-emcee Philippe Belanger (barechested, buffed, and very handsome) approached me and wrapped our heads together with the big, long, fake pearl necklace I was wearing. He joked, “Oh look, we›re both wearing a pearl necklace!” Then co-emcee 24

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Vladessa (a very voluptuous woman with Philippe on a leash) joked back, “I know where you can shove that jewelry!” It really set the tone for a humorous and clever show —not to mention highly skilled circus performers. Dancing goddesses in Greek costume joined Greek gods to introduce the cast. There were amazing, eyepopping performances with each one executing their special skill: such as gravity-defying trapeze work high up on a suspended ring or hanging fabric, or awesome acrobatics, or unbelievable unicycle tricks, or juggling high in the air with six balls at a time; or inspirational contemporary couples dancing while holding glasses of wine and flipping over and over without spilling a drop. The show closed with the entire cast receiving a welldeserved stomping, screaming, handclapping standing ovation from the audience. You might say, “We lost it!”

On January 27, in downtown Oakland, in front of more than 20,000 people, SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS officially kicked off her campaign for president. In her speech she said, “It was just a couple blocks from this rally that, nearly 30 years ago, as a young district attorney, I walked into the courtroom for the very first time and said five words that would guide my life’s work: “Kamala Harris, for The People.” And that is her campaign slogan. Hoorah!

MAYOR LONDON N. BREED delivered the STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS on January 30 at the National LGBTQ Center for the Arts, the first permanent headquarters of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. She opened commenting, “What I love about this new center is that the Chorus has invested their time and resources creating something beautiful, not just for themselves, but for the entire LGBTQ and arts communities around the country. This is a place that celebrates the best of San Francisco, and that is what I want to talk about today.” Members of the Chorus sang “Singing for Our Lives.” The Mayor addressed the usual concerns of SF residents, including affordable housing, homelessness, dirty city streets and crime. She called for San Francisco to rise to the challenges facing our city, announced an ambitious ballot measure to streamline affordable and teacher housing, set a goal to create 4,000 new placements over the next four years for homeless individuals, and named Dr. Grant Colfax as the new Director of the Department of Public Health. Colfax is a national leader on HIV prevention and was trained at UCSF. He currently serves as Director of Marin County Health and Human Services. (See page 6 for more information.)

ous James Jeske (who we joyfully booed for his evil real estate takeover plans). The second half of the show was devoted entirely to Queen of the Tenderloin, Bambi, and her jazzy bluesy tunes about the ‹loin. I SINcerely hope this revue runs again!

MAYOR LONDON BREED, as San Francisco’s first African American woman mayor, kicked off BLACK HISTORY MONTH on February 1 in the City Hall Rotunda.

“As we celebrate the past, let us rededicate ourselves to the challenges of the present, be it income inequality, closing the achievement gap in our public schools, or reforming our criminal justice system,” she said.

“Every day I am inspired by those who came before and committed to continuing their work for a more fair and equitable society.”

On February 1, STRUT held a reception at their 470 Castro HQ to feature the art of Matthew Lam in his show entitled “OUR SHAPES AND COLORS.” Lam says he enjoys capturing the LGBTQ+ experience of excellence through his artwork, and he believes in empowering queer and trans people through representation.

Lam commented, “As a queer person of color, I strive to share a lighthearted and positive narrative about what it means to be a young and queer person of color.” His 11 colorful pieces, with background color highlighting each figure, will be on display all month long. My faves are “Studious Sapphire” (reminding me of my college days carrying all these books around), “Authentic Apricot” (an activist protesting with a sign: “Power to the People”), and “Virtuous Violet” (a woman or a drag queen holding a fan in one hand and a microphone in the other. https://www.strutsf.org/ Update on DarnOld Trump’s prevarications: “WaPo” tells us the Blunderer-in-Chief has made 8,158 false or misleading claims in his first two years. Unbelievable! Literally.

Sister Dana sez, “These events coming sometime around Valentine’s Day will surely warm your heart!”

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, the Queen biopic, has become the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, winning Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture and Best Actor. Now, the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro, invites you to the release of the new sing-along version. Costume contest!

Goody bags! They will rock you! February 8, 9, 10. https://bit.ly/2MRm3H3 FRIENDS LIVE is playing all month long at the Oasis, 298 11th and Folsom, Thursdays at 8, Fridays and Saturdays at 7. This is a hilarious adaptation of the classic TV sitcom, with which you will immediately recognize and clap along. Somehow, they have the same familiar couch of the series. Much of the time is spent in the Central Perk coffee house. Friends Live features SF drag stars as Friends characters: Nancy French, Sue Casa, Steven LeMay, Melanie Marshall, Caleb Haven Draper and Carol Walker.

It is directed by Nancy French. Act I is the very first time the show premiered when Rachel is a runaway bride, Monica is a frightening neat freak, and Joey is a butt double— (continued on page 26)

We took a trip back to old San Francisco on January 30. Punk rock, trans legend and sultry chanteuse Bambi Lake and Cockettes songster Scrumbly Koldewyn premiered their new musical revue “TENDER IS MY LOIN” produced by Dan Karkoska at PianoFight in the Tenderloin. This sleazy, seedy, sensational show featured new songs PLUS all my old faves.

This homage to the Tenderloin included classic singers Birdie Bob Watt (occasionally on piano), Kitten on the Keys (Suzanne Beignet Ramsey sometimes doing a piano duet and other times on the accordion), sexy Steven Satyricon, Hypnodrome favorite Earl Alfred Paus, the Dennis McMillan (aka Sister Dana) with Adam Sandler at the Academy buxom Ruby Vix- of Friends (AOF) fundraiser at the Christian Laboutin shop on Maiden Lane enn, and villain-

Two-Spirit Powwow 2019 Photos by Rink and Paul Margolis

PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS PHOTO BY RINK PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS

PHOTO BY RINK

The Bay Area American Indians Two Spirits (BAAITS) organization hosted its colorful annual Powwow event on Saturday, February 2, at Fort Mason’s Festival Pavilion. A large crowd of spectators, vendors and supporters were on hand to join in the processionals and dancing or to cheer for those who did. Congratulations to leaders Amelia Vigil and Derek Smith and the entire lineup of program participants and volunteers for another outstanding event. http://www.baaits.org

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FISCHER (continued from page 4) January 14. In 2017, I served as CoChair with Eric for “365 days of pure joy, rapture and sleep deprivation.”

Last year, together with his “second CoChair wife,” Gina Simi, Eric deftly led the club through so many elections that we actually lost count. His technical skills brought the club to new levels of efficiency, and his dedication and work ethic were unwavering.

I worried about the long hours he put in writing bylaws, policy platforms and opinion pieces, not to mention coding complex spreadsheets and forms while leading 50+ diverse and opinionated Board Members. But how do you stop a genius, and why would you? Thank you, Eric, for all of your hard work. You were the yin to my yang. You balanced me out—no small task! Together, we were two opposites who complemented each other and made each other whole.

Your 2nd year with Gina was a symphony to behold. The two of you were so in synch. Enjoy your new role as Im-

SISTER DANA (continued from page 24) mediate Past Co-Chair, and get some sleep!

Taking over for Eric is David Fujimoto, Alice’s first male Co-Chair of Asian and Pacif ic Islander descent. David and Gina are ending the run of consecutive Jewish Co-Chairs that goes back to 2015. While it is more an item of trivia than diversity, at least Brian Leubitz, Eric and I never accidentally scheduled meetings on Jewish holidays! I have a sentimental connection to David; he was my first Alice “husband”; we joined the Alice Board the same year, and then served as Field CoChairs in 2010.

Together, we pushed the boundaries of field visibility and political activism by dressing up like the movie characters from Men in Black while doing field outreach or by bending a few rules, such as sneaking the bed sheet-sized Alice banner into places where it did not belong—specifically behind the Mayor’s podium during a nationally televised

news event! I have immense respect— and a whole lot of love—for David. He has been a leader at Alice for many years, and will bring strong organizing skills, legal experience and a calm, cool demeanor to the role. Congratulations to David, and continued thanks to Gina for her hard work last year and for providing Alice with leadership, brilliance and a healthy sense of humor for another year.

Louise (Lou) Fischer is a Former CoChair of the Board of Directors for the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and has served as an appointed and elected Delegate for the State Democratic Party. She is a proud graduate of the Emerge California Women’s Democratic Leadership program, was a San Francisco Commissioner and has served in leadership positions in multiple nonprofit and community-based organizations.

STUART & JOHN (continued from page 6)

ROSTOW (continued from page 11)

County Recorder Mabel Teng described San Francisco as the “happiest place on Earth.” We felt so euphoric that a friend had to remind us: “remember, homophobia has not come to an end.” But it kind of felt like it had; for that month, San Francisco was over the rainbow.

In July of 2017, porn star George Mason and his sexy pal Nicholas Mullen put on quite the show on the Northern Line between Leicester Square and London Waterloo, filming themselves and managing to pack “an array of sexual activity” into the short trip. According to The Sun, Mason later posted the film on Twitter and boasted: “It is outrageously horny we could not stop ourselves.”

He and Mullen have recently pleaded guilty to “outraging public decency” at the Westminster Magistrates Court.

During the Winter of Love, things were just as they should be at San Francisco City Hall. All that LGBTIQ couples had to do was to walk through the doors of City Hall and we’d be treated equally. We didn’t have to file a lawsuit, lobby for legislation, appeal to voters or otherwise prove ourselves worthy. We just had to be ourselves.

We and others who joined the marriage equality movement at that time experienced something rare in a civil rights movement: a taste of the victory, the end goal, at the very beginning, for us the very first hour. For us, it meant our personal advocacy that lay ahead focused on how we wanted the world to be, not what was wrong with those in opposition.

We know that not all people experienced such joy during the Winter of Love—for example, couples denied the ability to marry when the California Supreme Court stopped the marriages and people who rejected marriage for any number of reasons. Years later, as we had told our wedding story at a public forum in Palo Alto, a crusty, elder French person in the audience responded: “I was married years ago, and I can tell you that marriage is for the birds.”

Ironically, the French person’s response underscored for us the most important aspect of the Winter of Love—our experience of equal dignity under the law as gay people. That heterosexual French person, who now rejected marriage, had had the freedom to get married and to decide for themselves, something long denied LGBTIQ people.

For us, the Winter of Love and the marriage equality movement was, and is, first and foremost about our dignity as LGBTIQ people, our common humanity, and the love, joy and self-realization that we all should be able to experience in our lives.

Happy 15th Anniversary of the Winter of Love, San Francisco. Happy anniversary to all.

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.

According to the prosecutor in the case, Mason’s porn website, where he had hoped to profit from the naughty romp, “is not for the vicar’s tea party.” The magistrate, Lucinda Lubbock, who examined still photos of the scandalous display, called the whole affair “a very unpleasant and serious offense.”

I don’t know, dear readers. There’s something very British about the whole thing. And I mean that in a good way.

Oh, and speaking of porn stars, did you read that Stormy Daniels is bisexual? That means she is officially part of our LGBT alphabet soup, although I think there should be a special category for women who have sex with Donald Trump. And, no, that designation is not getting lumped in with our community.

Phoenix Rising I suppose we should all get ready for the next version of the Masterpiece Cakeshop debate, although it’s not clear in what form it will slither its way back up to the top court. You recall that the florist out of Washington is still litigating her resistance to serving a gay wedding.

among other quirky revelations. Act II is years later with the whole Rachel/Ross breakup drama with Julie, and overly enthusiastic Monica helping Chandler to lose weight. Be ready with Phoebe to sing along with her notorious “Smelly Cat” song. Of course, the clever script has been “gayified” to the max. https://sfoasis.com/ STRUT is exhibiting the QUEER ANCESTORS PROJECT again in their Seasonal Art Show space on the third floor, 470 Castro Street. A discussion and reception will be held on February 9, 7 pm.

Queer and trans emerging artists are Christine Abiba, Samantha Espinoza, Benny Gordon-Murer, Lia, Maya, Fernando Miguel, Sho Nakashima, Nidhi Patel, Shannon Prasad and Queen Sen Sen, with artistic director Katie Gilmartin. https://bit.ly/2UF7Q jp The perfect Valentine’s gift for yourself is SOMEBODY HOLD ME: the Single Person’s Guide to Nurturing Human Touch by Epiphany Jordan. This guide will give you tools to improve your communication and negotiation skills, and get your touch needs met. While these things could help you in your quest to find a mate, that’s not her focus. Still, there are nuggets of wisdom aplenty in there for people who are in romantic or sexual relationships, and this information just might contribute to more harmonious partnerships. https://amzn.to/2UDdUc7 Sister Dana sez, “Please don’t give me flowers or candy for Valentine’s Day. Make my heart glad and give me Trump impeachment and removal!”

And Masterpiece Cakeshop baker Jack Phillips is fighting another case against Colorado’s gay rights ordinance; this time he’s in conflict with a transgender client who wanted a blue and pink cake to symbolize her transition.

Meanwhile, the A rizona Supreme Court has just heard arguments from the owners of “Brush and Nib Studios,” a printing company that refuses to make invitations for same-sex weddings. In a quirk of the case that I have not bothered to figure out, the two women who own this business are looking for a declaration from the court, a carte blanche if you will to ignore a Phoenix ordinance that forbids LGBT discrimination in public accommodation. Usually, courts do not weigh in on theoretical debates, restricting themselves to actual cases and controversies. But here, the women have not actually confronted a gay customer.

Putting that mystery aside for now, the lower courts have ruled in favor of Phoenix. It was noteworthy that the state appellate court ruled for Phoenix a short time after the Supreme Court handed down their murky decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop, in a series of opinions that rested in the end on a technicality that favored the bad baker. The bulk of the main Masterpiece opinion seemed to support the legitimacy of civil rights laws like the one in Colorado, and the one in Phoenix. But it’s far from clear, which is why all of these similar cases are still bubbling up to the surface.

Meanwhile, friendly state lawmakers have introduced gay rights bills in both the house and the senate in an effort to make Arizona the 21st state to protect us from discrimination. We will see.

Hog Wild In other state supreme court news, the Arkansas top court has dismantled a lower court injunction that had allowed Fayetteville’s gay rights ordinance to stay in effect despite the fact that it conflicts with an insidious state statute that prevents local entities from extending civil rights beyond the scope of state

laws. Got that? Trust me, it was not a ruling in our favor.

And as for the main state law involved here, it’s a half-brother to the Colorado Amendment that was struck down in Romer v Evans. That amendment barred localities from protecting gays from discrimination. This law has the same effect, but it does so without mentioning “gay” or “sexual orientation.”

Since LGBTs are the only category not covered under state law that would logically be covered under a local ordinance, the law effectively writes us out of the political process without naming us specifically.

The Hog Court did not determine whether or not the state law is constitutional, because that question was not at issue in this particular litigation. I assume that the ACLU will bring another lawsuit to address the legal fundamentals here, because I can’t imagine that a semantic sleight of hand is enough to finesse what looks like a major breach of constitutional rights.

Finally, in unrelated news, ousted Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis could be on the hook for some $225,000 in legal bills stemming from her failed effort to flout the Supreme Court’s marriage equality ruling in 2015. I know you remember the obnoxious publicity hound who refused to fill out marriage paperwork for two men in Rowan County.

After jail time and litigation conducted by the ACLU, the civil libertarians won their constitutional case and their attorney’s fees, as is always the way with the victors of civil rights lawsuits. The state of Kentucky insists that the legal fees should be paid by Davis, not by the state. She, in turn, believes the opposite. The matter was wrangled before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on January 31, and guess what?

Someone, either Davis or Kentucky, is also going to be on the hook for whatever it’s costing the ACLU to argue on appeal. Ka ching, ka ching. We’ll keep you posted. arostow@aol.com

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on page 18)

A) non-binary Enby is a short form of “non-binary.” Some individuals who identify as non-binary are uncomfortable with the word “enby,” however, so many people will ask before using the word to refer to someone.

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Professional Services

N ewPer spec ti ves Center for Counseling

A full service catering company serving the greater Bay Area

PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2019)

COMING UP

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On Wednesday, February 20, 7pm, the 30th Anniversary of Marlon Riggs’ groundbreaking film “Tongues Untied” will be celebrated at the Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street, with a screening co-hosted by Signifyin’ Works and Frameline. http://www.roxie.com,

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS http://sfbaytimes.com/

7 Thursday Chamber Business After Hours @ SnB Party Rentals, 1098 San Mateo Avenue #6, South San Francisco. Golden Gate Business Association and the Rainbow Chambers of Commerce will bring together hundreds of professionals to network and have fun at SnB Party Rental’s new location. 5-9pm. http://www.snbpartyrentals.com February Castro Art Walk @ Multiple Castro Locations. For this First Thursday event, local merchants host arts and cultural activities with a lineup of participating artists and performers. 6-9pm. http://www.castroartwalk.com The Graying of Gay @ SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street.

The Gay Gray Writers, a group of mature male writers will present an evening of evocative and thoughtful readings of their own work. http://www.sfcenter.org

8 Friday Prissy @ The STUD, 399 9th Street. Billed as the “evolution of nightlife,” the event will include artful performance, dJs and a catwalk to show off sassy fashions and a positive atmosphere where all are welcome. 10pm-3am. http://www.studsf.com

Platform with Joe Goode Performance Group @ Joe Goode Annex, 401 Alabama Street. An evening-length duet choreographed and performed by Liane Burns and Charles SlenderWhite, the work is set to Holly Herndon’s album by the same name and investigates the relationships between people, the digital spaces they occupy, and the attendant homogeneity that arises from their echo-chamber-creating algorithms.

8pm and continues on Feb 9. http://www.factsf.org

Toronto DJ Bambii joins resident DJ JiBBZ and Bay Area DJ La Frida for this popular party. 9pm-2pm. http;//www.jolenessf.com

10 Sunday

9 Saturday

Perspectives on Gauguin: Returning the Gaze @ de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park. A panel discussion will consider the art and life of one of history’s most controversial artists, including a conversation on recent DNA analysis of Gauguin’s teeth by one of Gauguin’s great grandchildren. 1-3:30pm. https://bit.ly/2Bnn8Ce

Lips & Lashes Drag Brunch @ Lookout, 3600 16th Street.

Benefiting the Imperial Council of San Francisco, the event is one in the continuing series of Lips and Lashes Drag Brunch Imperial Takeover events, with entertainment hosted by Carnie Asada and music

by DJ Becky Knox. 12noon-4pm. lookoutdragbrunch@gmail.com

Dot’s Sunday Hoedown: Crying Time @ The Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Albany. The every 2nd Sunday showcase of the Bay Area’s best live country, Americana, rockabilly and roots will feature Tremolo Saints, Kate Burkart Band, Sean O’Brien and his Drooling Angels. 4pm. http:/www.ivyroom.com

Bad Ass Boots @ The Fireside Lounge, 1453 Webster Street, Alameda. The popular dance band will perform and a room full of dancing is assured. 8pm. http://www.thefiresidelounge.com Swagger Like Us Presents Bambii @ Jolene’s Bar and Restaurant, 2700 16th Street.

11 Monday Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club @ 518 Valencia Street, 6:30pm. Co-chairs Gina Simi and David Fujimoto will moderate a discussion featuring a panel of San Francisco supervisors, including Rafael Mandelman.

6:30pm. http://www.alicebtoklas.org Sacred Table: We’re Designing @ The Sausage Factory, 517 Castro Street. Companions of Dorothy the Worker will host a group discussion about designing one’s own memorial service. 6:307:30pm. http://www.companionsofdorothy.org Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir @ Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison, Berkeley. Join Emmy winner Terrance Kelly as he directs the Choir in its celebration of diversity among races, cultures and faiths plus a passion for music. 7pm. http://www.thefreight.org

12 Tuesday Managing Credit & Debt @ SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street.

The event will present information on the origins of credit and FICO scores, how to establish and repair credit scores, how to pay off debt, the connection between credit and loans and more. 6-8pm. http://www.sfcenter.org Lesbian Love Stories @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street. The Perfectly Queer 28

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Compiled by Blake Dillon book group welcomes MB Austin, Giovanna Capone, Kathy Knowles and Cat Sellars with free red wine and chocolate plus door prizes.

7-8:30pm. http://www.dogearedbooks.com

13 Wednesday Judy, Oz and the Need for a Shared History @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street.

Dee Michel, author of Friends of Dorothy:Why Gay Boys and Gay Men Love the Wizard of Oz, will discuss the strong connection between The Wizard of Oz film from 1939 and Anglo-American Gay male culture.

7-9pm. http://www.glbthistory.org The LGBT Book Club: Marriage of a Thousand Lies @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street. The group will discuss SJ Sindu’s novel Marriage of a Thousand Lies. http://www.dogearedbooks.com Crys Matthews Dillbilly @ Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue.

Matthews, is a gender-queer American roots singer-songwriter based in Oakland who is a prolific lyricist and composer blending Americana, folk, jazz, blues, bluegrass and funk. 8pm. http://www.ivyroom.com

14 Thursday La Misa Negra @ Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison, Berkeley. The dance floor will be open as this seven-piece band from Oakland, known for their unique blend of cumbia and high-energy Afro-Latin music, takes the stage. 8pm. http://www.thefreight.org Valentine’s Day Comedy: Love Thy Neighbor @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, 1317 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley.

Featuring comedians Sampson McCormick, Clara Bijl, Nicole Tran and Lisa Geduldig, the event will benefit the Alameda Country Food Bank. 8pm. http://www.ashkenez.com Heart Wrench: A Valentine’s Edition of The Infinite Wrench @ The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley. The San Francisco Neo-Futurists return to Shotgun Players for a special performance of their award-winning show.

8pm. http://www.shotgunplayers.org Rice Rockettes Present: Meryl Streep Does Pop! @ Lookout, 3600 16th Street. The Rice Rockettes will pay tribute to Streep through drag and pop music.

9:30pm-12am. http://lookoutsf.com

15 Friday Magnificent Magnolias @ San Francisco Botanical Garden, 1199 9th Avenue. Nearly 100 magnolias, many rare and historic, will present this annual budding of pink and white blossoms and visitors can take a docent-led tour.

7:30am-4pm through March 7. http://www.sfbg.org Drag Alive - Happy Hour Variety Show @ The STUD, 399 9th Street. Every Friday the STUD presents this variety show for everyone where all are welcome.

7-8pm. http://www.studsf.com Edward Albee’s Seascape @ American Conservatory Theater, 415 Geary Street. A.C.T. brings Albee back to The Geary after a decade’s absence with this sparkling fantasy about growing up and growing old, fear and adventure, love and laughter. 8pm. Continues through February 17. http://www.act-sf.org

16 Saturday Monet: The Late Years / Opening Day Curator Lecture @ de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park. The event is a special guest lecture by George Shackelford, co-curator of the upcoming Monet exhibit. 2-3pm. https://tinyurl.com/y8rrrotj SOMA Nights: The Queer Club Photography of Melissa Hawkins Exhibit Opening @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street. The event will celebrate the opening of a new exhibit highlighting the vitality of queer nightlife in San Franisco’s South of Market district during the darkest years of the AIDS crisis.7-9pm. http://www.glbthistory.org

17 Sunday AE41 Galilea’s Annual Earthquake Party @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge, 133 Turk Street.

Hosted by Empress Galilea, the party includes an open show, food and an opportunity to support the New Imperial Monarch’s Travel Fund.

4-7pm. http://www.auntcharlieslounge.com Ruby’s In Town @ The Ivy Room, 860 Pablo Avenue, Albany.

Put on your dancing shoes for the band’s lesbian-friendly old soul and R&B with a little disco thrown in performance. 4-7pm. http://www.ivyroom.com

18 Monday Central SF - Monthly Neighborhood Meeting @ Location provided with RSVP. Hosted by Sister District San Francisco, the meeting brings together those who live or work in the Castro Duboce Triangle, Lower Haight, Hayes Valley, Western Addition, Alamo Square and NOPA to discuss issues and topics such as the upcoming Get Out the Vote campaign. 6-9pm. http://bit.ly/ Epic Karaoke Night @ White Horse Bar, 6551 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland. Come out and sing or just cheer for your friends at this fun event featuring the largest karaoke library in the Bay Area. 8pm-1am. http://www.whitehorsebar.com

19 Tuesday Golden Hour: A Full Moon Sunset Drag Parade @ Secret Location, 69 Haight Street. This moving drag show will straddle both sides of the sunset and moonrise with performances by Hellla Degenerate, Major Hammy and Papa Cherry. 5:23-6:23pm. bit.ly/2GH2019

20 Wednesday Stonewall: Damn, Daddy! @ Strut, 3rd Floor, 470 Castro Street.

The event is a discussion group featuring real talk about getting older as a gay man and how to make the most of it. 2-3:30pm. http://www.strutsf.org Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District Community Meeting @ SF Catalyst, 1060 Folsom. All are welcome to attend and join in the discussion as the new nonprofit is crafted to manage this designated south of Market neighborhood and cultural district. 7-9pm. http://sflcd.org Mr. & Miss Golden Gate Gayme Night @ Brewcade SF, 2200 Market Street #B. This monthly benefit for Strut will be hosted by Robert Rushin and Tye with food and drink specials, arcade games, drag performances and prizes.

7-10pm. http://www.brewcadesf.com

21 Thursday When ‘POC’ is not Enough: Anti-Blackness in LGBTQ Communities @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. A panel discussion will discuss the threat faced by Black queer and trans people and how anti-Blackness shapes these queer and trans experiences. 5-8pm. http://www.strutsf.org

22 Friday Lunar New Year 2019: Celebrate the Year of the Pig! @ Ronald M. George State Office Complex, 455 Golden Gate Avenue. Assemblymember David Chiu will co-host a celebration with light refreshments, tea and entertainment. 2-4 pm.

Daivd Chiu on Facebook Our Love Is Here to Stay with Holly Near, Jan Martinelli and Friends @ Ner Shalom’s New Cotati Cabaret, 85 LaPlaza, Cotati. A lineup of performers, including Linda Hirschhorn, Francisco Herrera, Nancy Vogl and more, will present an evening of standards and show tunes. 5:30-7pm. http://www.nershalom.org Friday Nights at The Ho’ @ White Horse Bar, 6551 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland. All are welcome at this landmark gay and lesbian bar.

9pm-2am. http://www.whitehorsebar.com

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his epic photo of singer Sylvester (1947– 1988) was taken by San Francisco Bay Times lead photographer Rink at the first major benefit for AIDS research in the city. The show, which took place at Davies Symphony Hall on June 23, 1983, also featured Sharon McNight, Margaret Whiting, George Kirby and Morgana King.

The headliner was film and stage star Debbie Reynolds (1932–2016), one of only a few mainstream celebrities at the time who donated significant personal effort and money toward the fight against AIDS. Dancers Randy Val Clupp, Thomas Anthony and Steve Lane added their talents to the show, which was called “An Evening with Debbie Reynolds and Friends.”

Valentine’s window display at the L’Occitane in Provence store on Upper Fillmore Street

Valentine’s window decorations at Orphan Andy’s

AOF (Academy of Friends) board member J. David Flynn (left) along with Hao Anh Le, Christopher Goodwin, Rob Parrish, Michael Robb, Michael Myers and Aiden Yildirim at the AOF Toast the Nominees party held at the Christian Louboutin store on Maiden Lane on January 23

Reynolds had other surprises up her sleeves (and dress), too.

As journalist Randy Shilts (1951–1994) shared in his best-selling book And the Band Played On: “The fundraiser for the National KS/AIDS foundation had all the raciness of a true San Francisco event. When host Debbie Reynolds introduced the surprise guest, actress Shirley MacLaine, with the comment that MacLaine had great legs, MacLaine responded by pulling down the top of her long strapless gown, demonstrating that she had other equipment to match. The crowd cheered enthusiastically: ‘We love you, Shirley!’ Not to be outdone, Reynolds lifted the rear of her slitted gown to reveal her brief black underwear.

‘Debbie’s Tammy image is blown forever,’ sighed one realtor in the audience.”

Even with such star power, including Sylvester’s magnetic performance, the event did not sell out, with many seats in the Hall remaining empty. Nevertheless, it raised $43,000 for the AIDS/Kaposi’s Sarcoma Research and Education Foundation—later named the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. It was at the time the most successful benefit in San Francisco LGBT history.

Sylvester, who died of HIV/AIDS just 5 years later, in his will stated that all royalties from the future sales of his music be devoted to Project Open Hand and the AIDS Emergency Fund. This Black History Month, or any month, we therefore encourage you to enjoy his many recordings beyond the fabulous disco-iconic “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).”

Yes, Sylvester was an unforgettable disco queen, but this legendary performer was also an accomplished gospel artist, jazz musician and so much more.

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Customers, neighbors and friends of Aardvark Bookstore made their final visits to the store, which has lost its lease, before the closing on January 25.

A large crowd of participants joined author Mattilda Sycamore Bernstein for a reading and book signing event at the Hormel Center of the SF Library on January 24, for Bernstein’s new novel entitled Sketchtasy.

Signs on the door at Aardvark Bookstore announced the store’s closing.

Guests in period dress at the Noir City Film Festival’s Opening Night at the Castro Theatre

Poet and novelist Trebor Healey joined author Mattilda Sycamore Bernstein (right) during the reading and book signing event at the James C. Hormel LGBTQI Center of the SF Public Library held on January 24 to celebrate Bernstein’s new novel Sketchtasy.

Opening Night of the annual Noir City Film Festival was held on January 25 at the Castro Theatre.

Guests at the Opening Night reception for the Noir City Film Festival

The Castro Theatre’s marquee announced the Opening Night screening of Trapped on January 25.

Volunteers sold Noir Film Festival merch at the Noir City Film Festival’s Opening Night at the Castro Theatre.

Guests enjoyed refreshments during the reception held in conjunction with Opening Night at the Noir City Film Festival on January 25.

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The windows at Local Take decorated for Valentine’s Day

Graphic artist Eric Holiday painted a Valentine’s mural at PO Plus on Castro Street.

The Valentine’s window at Good Vibrations on Polk Street

The window at Terasol gift shop on Polk Street decorated for Valentine’s Day

Writers Bruce Boone and Bob Gluck with editor and poet James Mitchell at the book event for Gay Sunrise: Writing Gay Liberation in San Francisco 1968-1972

http://sfbaytimes.com/

(Left to Right) San Francisco Bay Times founding editor Randy Alfred, Daniel Bao and the GBLT Historical Society’s Terry Beswick at the Two Spirit Voices: Returning to the Circle exhibit event.

items of the week Dog & Cat Valentines Fun Valentines for all your besties!

Wacky Dog & Cat Valentines from Peaceable Kingdom.

Love Spells

Girl Scouts, who were selling cookies at Market and 4th Street on February 1, reported that their best-selling cookie is the thin mint.

Author Helen Zia (left) with her wife Lisa Shigemura displayed Helen’s new book Last Boat Out of Shanghai at an event held at the Chinese Cultural Center on January 24, in celebration of the book’s release.

The Boombox gym, a new boutique fitness center near the Church and Market Street MUNI stop, specializes in high energy workouts, small classes with varied exercises, and personal attention by professional trainers.

Chinese Cultural Center executive director Mabel Teng, Susan Shain, Roberta Achtenberg and Lisa Shigemura at the book release event on January 24 celebrating Helen Zia’s Last Boat Out of Shanghai.

Landa Lakes and exhibit curator Roger Kuhn at the “Two Spirit Voices: Returning to the Circle” exhibition event at the James C. Hormel LGBTQI Center of the SF Public Library on January 31.

Landa Lakes, accompanied by other featured guests, spoke during the event celebrating the Two Spirit Voices: Returning to the Circle exhibit event at the GLBT History Museum on January 31.

Jump start your romantic life with Semra Haksever’s Love Spells, Rituals, Spells and Potions to Spark Your Romantic Life.

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anuary was a very busy month for our buyers. We have been to Atlanta to buy Christmas (yes, Christmas!), to Phoenix to find fun new crafting items, to New Orleans for Halloween and to Las Vegas for toys and gifts. We hope you will enjoy some of the treasures we found.

As Heard on the Street . . . What are your fitness goals for the year?

compiled by Rink

Alexandra Mogannam

Daivya Allmond

Jim Oerther

Ibbi Mogannam

Jamal Mogannam

“To build more muscle and get buff”

“Improve posture and flexibility”

“To increase strength and build bulk, I will be making a commitment to hit the weights and bike as often as I can. ”

“To gain strength as I age”

“To build strength and flexibility in my muscles”

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