San Francisco Bay Times - May 3, 2018

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2018) May 3–16, 2018 | sfbaytimes.com

Mother’s Day

the LGBT Father’s Way

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAVIN LODGE

In the News Compiled by Dennis McMillan SF Board of Supervisors Approves Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District On May 1, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved the Leather Cultural District Resolution calling for the establishment of an LGBTQ Cultural District in the South of Market area. As the resolution holds, SoMa “has been a local and world capital for Leather culture since the 1960s, as well as one of the city’s most significant and distinctive LGBTQ neighborhoods since the 1950s, with a unique concentration of businesses, institutions, organizations, events, individuals and artists that has been an integral part of the City’s cultural richness, economic prosperity, and historical significance ... .”

San Francisco already has four cultural districts, and city leaders desire to have this new one and even more in order to protect and promote businesses, cultures and affordable housing. It is expected that the new Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District will gain negotiating rights in future development as well as access to public funds. ap.org Give OUT Day, National LGBTQ Online Fundraiser, Shatters Records Give OUT Day, the only national LGBTQ day of giving, had record-breaking success during its sixth annual event. 2018’s Give OUT Day, held on April 19, raised more than $932,000 for over 400 participating organizations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, the effort broke its previous record for number of donations made in 24 hours: 12,500. The total marked a 28.2% increase over last

year’s fundraising total and a 32.9% increase in number of donors participating. Give OUT Day is a program of San Francisco’s Horizons Foundation. “In these days of challenges on many fronts, it is encouraging to see Give OUT Day demonstrate the power of our communities rallying around so many important organizations,” stated Horizons Foundation President Roger Doughty. “In the past year, our community has faced enormous opposition politically and through a simple act of giving, we’ve stood up to adversity and hatred and strengthened the resistance,” stated Give OUT Day Program Manager Nikole Pagan. “It is thrilling to watch Give OUT Day bring our community and allies together.” horizonsfoundation.org First of Its Kind San Francisco Mayoral Candidate Town Hall Held The Dignity Fund Coalition, cosponsored by the SCAN Foundation and the San Francisco Bay Times, hosted the f irst San Francisco cit y-w ide mayoral candidates town hall regarding seniors and people with disabilities.

Members of one of the fastest growing populations in San Francisco, seniors and people with disabilities asked San Francisco mayoral candidates Angela A lioto, London Breed, Jane K im and Mark Leno where they stood on issues affecting the dignity and quality of life for the 25% of San Francisco residents who are seniors and/or disabled. Representatives from more (continued on page 29)

Soni Wolf A founding member of San Francisco Dykes on Bikes®, Soni Wolf helped entire generations of women to feel proud and empowered. Wolf was one of a small group of women motorcyclists who, when they grew tired of their motorcycles overheating because they had to ride at the end of Pride parades, rode to the front in 1976 and never looked back. In an interview with the San Francisco Bay Times two years ago, Wolf told us that she had a “dream and vision for this group of wonderful women.” She desired that LGBT women, and particularly butch lesbians, should have freedom and courage to express their true selves without feeling diminished.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DYKES ON BIKES

In Memoriam

Wolf was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force who moved to the Bay Area in the 1970s. Once Dykes on Bikes became established as a trademark and 501(c)(3) non-profit—something that she relentlessly fought for all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court—she helped to lead philanthropic endeavors to benefit LGBTQ communities. For decades of such work, she was named a 2018 Community Grand Marshal by SF Pride’s Board of Directors. We are heartbroken that she will not be able to ride in that position of honor in June’s parade, but know that her inspirational legacy will live on with every bike rev, sisterhood fist pump and victory in the fight for gender equality. She will be represented in this year’s Pride Parade by her closest friends carrying the historic and beautifully painted gas tank from the motorcycle Wolf rode in the first Dykes on Bikes contingent in San Francisco.

Burning Man co-founder Larry Harvey was the driving force behind the now-revered weeklong festival that takes place annually in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. Begun 32 years ago on San Francisco’s Baker Beach, Burning Man has grown to include 70,000+ participants. Rooted in the anti-establishment, anti-consumerist beliefs of groups like the Diggers in the 1960s, the event is well-known for what Harvey called a “gift culture” economy where nearly everything is free and corporate logos are absent.

PHOTOS: JOURNAL.BURNINGMAN.ORG

Larry Harvey

The festival became especially meaningful to the LGBT community, which during Burning Man’s earliest years was devastated by HIV/AIDS. Countering the resulting despair, Harvey helped to forge a liberating, transformative environment that is part spiritual retreat, living performance art piece, music festival and celebration of individual uniqueness. Harvey thought of it as a regathering of “the tribe of mankind,” he told The New York Times. The 2018 festival is still scheduled for August 3–September 3. As the organization shared in a recent statement: “If there’s one thing we know for sure, Larry wants us to burn the man.”

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Cross Currents Andrea Shorter At a birthday celebration a few days ago, I was overjoyed to see a mutual friend who had the privilege of working in the Obama administration throughout the entirety of his two terms as President. It was so wonderful to see her. We have always taken great pride in her as just an allaround terrif ic person, no matter where her talents and skills would have been put to great use. We were admittedly prouder and more thankful of her service in and about the White House. After all, she was one of the historic record-breaking LGBTQ appointees in that administration. The plentiful hugs, smiles, and cheers at this reunion could not have been more sincere and buoyant at an already joyous occasion.

As we trudge through the turbulence and tabloid of the Trump administration, we can hardly afford nostalgia and to reminisce about better days gone by. It’s been less than two years since the begrudged formal transition of power took place at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and it al-

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ready feels like a lifetime ago. In some quarters, the debate continues per the gross impact, pace, and far enough reach of the gains made for the LGBTQ community under Obama’s watch. Still, those gains were undeniably epic. According to the Victory Institute, Obama appointed over 300 LGBTQ staffers and professionals, more than all previous administrations combined. Several came through gateways such as the Presidential Appointments Initiative that worked with LGBTQ leaders and “pro equality presidential administrations to ensure LGBT people are included in government.”

BTQ immigrants, women and people of color. The initiative is premised on a theory of change that LGBTQ people empowered in decision-making roles can influence leaders to push forward equality. Unfortunately, the current administration through its cabinet appointees and rhetoric have made clear their opposition to full equality for all LGBTQ people—effectively disempowering any potential LGBTQ appointee from moving forward inclusive policies. Therefore, the Presidential Appointees Initiative is not actively recruiting or placing LGBTQ leaders in the administration at this time.”

LGBTQ appointees at every level of government provided the talent, tenacity, and tenure to advance record gains. Beyond the brightly lit marquee achievements of doing away with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and former President Obama’s eventual evolution to embrace and advocate for same sex marriage equality, a top line summary of other marked gains includes: preventing bullying and hate crimes against LGBT Americans, supporting LGBT health inclusion in the Affordable Care Act, ensuring LGBT equality in housing and crime prevention, and protecting the rights of LGBT people globally through Department of State, USAID and other U.S. government agencies initiatives.

For a deeper dive and review of such achievements, it is encouraging to see that a historic account still exists online (obamawhitehous.archives.gov).

What a tremendous loss to our movement this forced resignation of sorts represents. The writing on the wall is made painfully clear by even the most casual, yet telling, representations of a glaring lack of racial, ethnic, and gender diversity portrayed in the eye-popping photos of White House interns, cabinet, and revolving door of senior advisors, and loyal sycophants (or is that now spelled psycho-phants?) the President demands being surrounded and accessorized with daily.

Sadly, the Victory Institute has put its key Presidential Appointments Initiative on hiatus. As it states, “The Presidential Appointments Initiative exists to advance equality for the entire LGBTQ community—including LG-

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A fter two long years of wading through the muck and mire of this deeply entrenched anti-LGBTQ Trump swamp, the President finally saw f it to appoint the now Senate-confirmed Mr. Richard Grenell as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany. This makes Mr. Grenell the highest-ranking LGBTQ person in his administration, and the only openly gay ambassador. In keeping score, President Obama appointed at least six openly-gay ambassadors during his two terms.

Hooray? Aside from the Log Cabin Republican’s froth over this pick, the parade and rallies have been slow to embrace and celebrate this not so monumental bone throw to our majority progressive ranks. Out of the Fox News pen, from which Trump is prone to select his “best of the best” appointees, and as former Mitt Romney designated talker for the gays, Grenell also brings with him the added distinction of being a blatant sexist.

An avid tweeter, he seems to Richard Grenell, then a Trump nominee for Ambassador take delight in hurling insults at to Germany, testified before the Senate Foreign Relations openly LGBTQ MSNBC An- Committee in September, 2017.

Within the context of an already dechor Rachel Maddow (whom he says, “needs to take a breath and clarative sexist, ill-fated administraput on a necklace”), Hillary Clin- tion, Grenell may very well be the ton (whom he says is “starting to look “best of the best” to be selected as the like Madeleine Albright”—whatever nation’s highest-ranking openly-gay that’s supposed to mean)—and other official. women of note and notoriety.

One can hardly wait, however, for Grenell’s remarks are so offensive that the tides to turn toward the next prothey prompted Senate Democrats to equality administration that welpointedly address his tweeted misogy- comes back the recruitment, vetting, ny during his confirmation. After all, and placement of women-positive gay he will be Ambassador to Germany, officials to be ushered in by the muchan ally headed by Chancellor Ange- needed Presidential Appointments la Merkel, perhaps the most powerful Initiative. Maybe the June Primaries leader—much less woman leader— and November elections will help to in Europe. Chalking up his remarks start resurrecting hopes for the initiaat attempts to be funny, not insult- tive’s eventual dust-off from the shelf. ing, Grenell managed to feign conAndrea Shorter is President of the trite—contrite but, of course, never historic San Francisco Commission apologetic. on the Status of Women. She is a We will soon see if Ambassador Gren- longtime advocate for criminal and ell can execute his duties as envoy juvenile justice reform, voter rights, without public issue of further sex- and marriage equality. A Co-foundist insult and assault. From all ac- er of the Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalicounts, he managed to contain him- tion, she was a 2009 David Bohnett self from taking to Twitter the day LGBT Leadership Fellow at the Harafter his confirmation when Chancel- vard Kennedy School of Governlor Merkel visited the White House. ment.

PHOTO: NEWNOWNEXT.COM

No Fanfare for President’s Confirmed Highest-Ranking LGBT Official

Shared Bicycle and Scooter Services Can Benefit Bay Area Cities If Responsibly Regulated

Out of the Closet and into City Hall Oakland City Councilmember At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan As Oakland’s citywide elected Councilmember, who also serves on the countywide Transportation Commission, I recently proposed that Oakland adopt regulations for shared bicycle and scooter services. These services, which often involve bicycles or scooters being made available by being placed in public locations, can be a benefit to the community and help with health and mobility if done correctly. However, if done incorrectly, these bicycles and scooters can have negative impacts by blocking wheelchairs and pedestrians, cluttering sidewalks, and becoming blight.

San Francisco is struggling with unregulated scooter rentals crowding

sidewalks as well, and the Board of Supervisors’ Land Use and Transportation Committee recently heard regulations that would prohibit dockless powered scooter rental companies from operating in San Francisco without a permit. If approved by the Board, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency would develop a permitting program similar to the one approved last year for dockless electric bicycles.

In order to make sure that we can have good mobility options for everyone in our community, it is important that these new share services be properly regulated, provide affordable rates, include local jobs and reliable local maintenance teams, and be regulated to benefit the public. We can have useful, affordable shared mobility for our community, with local jobs, without blocking sidewalks or encouraging chaos, by having responsible regulations, which are what I am proposing for Oakland.

Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan was elected in 2008 to serve as Oakland’s citywide Councilmember; she was re-elected in 2016. She also serves on the Board of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and as the Chair of the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC).

Apologizing to the LGBT Community

Assemblymember Phil Ting California has some of the best legal protections in the country today for the LGBT community, but the road to get to this point hasn’t been without pain. It is time for the state to apologize for its past policies and actions that discriminated, oppressed and persecuted our lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and queer residents.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 172 apologizes for the injustices brought upon the LGBT community through state laws, many of which allowed criminal charges against people based solely on their sexuality or gender identity. Spearheaded by Assemblyman Evan Low of Silicon Valley, Chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, I am proud to join him as co-author of the resolution and happy to report that the Assembly approved the Apolo-

gy Resolution last month. ACR 172 is now working its way through the state Senate.

erties and constitutional rights during the period of illegal deportation and coerced emigration.

The recognition of historical prejudice is a necessary step in order for our state to move forward. It’s also an important part of the healing process. In addition to making homosexuality illegal, some of the shameful legislation that mars the Golden State’s past includes forced sterilization, involuntary psychiatric incarceration and the prohibition of same-sex marriage. Thankfully, that is not the California we know today.

In 2009, the state also apologized to the Chinese community for discriminatory laws enacted against Chinese Americans living in California during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were prohibited from owning property, working in the public sector, testifying in court and marrying white Americans. They were also forced to pay unfair taxes at both the state and local levels and could not become naturalized citizens.

More recently, we’ve seen Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologize to Canada’s LGBT community for government-sponsored discrimination. And before the Obama administration left in early 2017, former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry formally apologized to gay, lesbian and other State Department employees who were fired, or otherwise discriminated against in the past, because of their sexual orientation.

California has a chance to say that we were wrong in our historical treatment of the LGBT community. While we cannot take away the hurt and damage done by our previous policies, ACR 172 is a great step to ensure discriminatory laws stay in our past. If it clears the remaining legislative hurdles, we would be the first state in the nation to express remorse for unjust actions taken against the LGBT community.

California, too, has issued apologies to certain communities. In 2005, for example, the Apology Act for the 1930s Mexican Repatriation Program became official. It acknowledged the suffering of tens of thousands of Latino families unjustly forced out of California, which was their home. The act also apologized for violations of their basic civil lib-

The resolution concludes with a commitment to ensuring our state remains an inclusive one, preserving the rights of all people. That is the California we want.

Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes th e Westside of San F ranc i sco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma and Daly City.

SAVE THE DATE! Monday, September 17, for a very special LGBT benefit hosted by Celebrity Cruises. Watch for more info coming soon!

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‘Chinese Stuart’ and ‘Chinese Tom’: Every Label Tells a Story remain “Chinese” without regard to his actual racial or ethnic identity. The camp counselors and adults did nothing to intervene when the other kids started calling us “Chinese.” Ironically, this all took place at a camp where we were often asked to pretend we were “Indians,” even though there were no Native Americans among us.

6/26 and Beyond Stuart Gaffney May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and this year I’ve been reflecting on what it was like to attend summer camp in Wisconsin in the early 1970s. A friend and I were the only two kids of color at camp, and the other kids began calling me “Chinese Stuart” and my friend “Chinese Tom.” Singling us out in this way was strange and alienating, but it was particularly confusing for Tom. I am mixed race Chinese and English/ Irish, but Tom wasn’t Chinese at all.

He was Mexican American.

Although I was not a very “cool” kid, the other kids decided after a while that I was OK when I won the camp knot-tying contest. They stopped calling me “Chinese Stuart”—they started simply calling me Stuart. But Tom, who never gained acceptance, remained “Chinese Tom” to the bitter end—much to his bewilderment.

It was at that point I realized that, to the other kids at camp, the word “Chinese” just meant we were outsiders, that as kids of color we were “other”—which is how Tom could

Fast forward 40 years, and my husband John and I decided to try a cozy little European restaurant near our neighborhood, which is heavily Asian American. As the owner welcomed us to his restaurant, he was particularly delighted when we told him we lived in the neighborhood nearby because he lived here too, just a few blocks away from us. He exclaimed, “It’s really great to meet neighbors who are not Chinese!”

As we greeted his excitement with silence and disturbed looks of surprise on our faces, he quickly added: “Nothing against the Chinese— I’m just excited to meet neighbors I can talk to.”

This caused me to think back on what it had been like growing up in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin—a Milwaukee suburb that was sometimes nicknamed “Whitefolks Bay.” I was only one of the three kids of color in elementary school, and even though I was mixed race, the other students thought I looked incredibly Asian. Later, when I moved to California during high school, our school was much more diverse, and to my surprise, the other students often did not realize I was half Chinese—just as the restaurant owner did not recognize that I was part Asian when he made his pronouncement.

Dining Out for Life 2018

As a boy, I think what I took from being labeled “Chinese Stuart” at camp was that I wanted to be just Stuart—with no labels or identifications. Being “other” hurt. But as an adult, I want to be just Stuart and I want people to know my story—my “labels”—so that they can understand and appreciate the many aspects of my background and experience that contribute to who I am. I want the restaurant owner to know that I am one of “them” after he makes a blanket statement against Chinese people.

When labels are not used to divide, they can be the means by which we learn each other’s stories so that we can find connection and community with others who share our experiences, as well as bring richness and diversity to the broader community.

I am delighted to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage month this May, and LGBTQ Pride next month in June. And this May, John and I salute the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA) as it celebrates its 30th anniversary as a cornerstone of the community.

I am both simply Stuart, and am proudly gay Stuart and Chinese Stuart. Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage month!

Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, 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.

Photos by Paul Margolis

This year’s top three teams were from Catch, August (1) Five and Lookout with some $12,000 raised by these three combined. The top individuals included Paul B. Tan, David Guzman and Peter Ohm, whose combined amount was more than $21,000.

With more than 80 restaurants in the Bay Area participating along with thousands of diners, the total raised is expected to top $200,000.

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PHOTO BY RINK

Now in its 18th year in San Francisco, Dining Out For Life has become an annual event that many look forward to for the food, beverages and camaraderie as well as the opportunity to support the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Diners choose to participate as singles, couples, part of a loosely organized group, or in a team created to compete against other teams in raising funds.

Current Legislation That Could Impact Your Business The Golden Gate Business Association works with our partners in Sacramento (Small Business California and California Small Business Association) to monitor and track legislation that could impact our member businesses and those of our community and allied partners. Below is a roster of current legislation before the California Assembly and Senate that might be of interest to you.

Assembly Bill: 2131 – Minimum Franchise Tax Author: Melendez (R) Current law, generally, imposes a minimum franchise tax of $800, except as provided, on every corporation incorporated in this state, qualified to transact intrastate business in this state, or doing business in this state. This bill would reduce the minimum franchise tax to $400 for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2019.

Assembly Bill: 2182 – Privacy Author: Levine (D) Current law requires a business that owns, licenses, or maintains personal information about a California resident to implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and practices appropriate to the nature of the information, and to protect the personal information from unauthorized access, destruction, use, modification or disclosure. This bill would require the Department of Consumer Affairs to establish the California Data Protection Authority to regulate Californians’ personal data on the internet.

Assembly Bill: 2211 – California Green Business Program Author: Limón (D) This bill would establish the California Green Business Program within the California Environmental Protection Agency to provide support and assistance to green business certification programs operated by local governments that certify small- and medium-sized businesses that voluntarily adopt environmentally preferable business practices, including, but not limited to, increased energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, water conservation, and waste reduction, as specified. The bill would repeal an existing authorization for the Department of Toxic Substances Control to create a similar program. (continued on page 30)

GGBA CALENDAR City Hall PopUp Shop Tuesday, May 8 11 am to 6 pm San Francisco City Hall Rotunda 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place Shop and support over 40 local vendors as San Francisco celebrates SFMade Week.

Admission is free!

Equality California – Equality Awards Friday, May 12 6 pm to 11 pm Westin St. Francis Hotel 335 Powell Street, San Francisco Honoring BART and LaVerda Allen of The Allen Group for their historic inclusion of LGBT certified businesses For more details: https://www. eqca.org/equality-awards/ San Francisco Small Business Week – InspireSF Kickoff to the largest Small Business Week in the U.S. Monday, May 14 5 pm to 8 pm $35 per ticket City View at Metreon 135 4th Street, Fourth Floor, San Francisco To purchase tickets, go to: sfsmallbusinessweek.com

MEGA Make Contact Tuesday, May 15 5:30 pm to 8 pm BMW of San Francisco 1675 Howard Street (at South Van Ness) Join the GGBA, Castro Merchants, StartOUT and Rainbow Chamber Silicon Valley Special appearance: SF’s gay rugby team, the San Francisco Fog, and reps from the World Rugby Cup RSVP: ggba.com/events Stand Up & Speak OUT Bi-weekly workshop on how to be a more effective speaker and communicator Featuring national awardwinning speaker, Gina Grahame Wednesday, May 16 8 am to 9:30 am Offices of the U.S. Small Business Administration 455 Market Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco RSVP: president@ggba.com

GGBA Monthly Report

Cracks in the Cement Ceiling

By Paul Pendergast

On Friday, May 12, Equality California is going to be honoring Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and LaVerda Allen for the historic inclusion of LGBT-certified businesses in BART’s competitive bidding processes.

Of course, everyone knows about BART, but few people in the LGBTQ community know LaVerda. She has been a champion of economic equality for minority and women businesses for over five decades. When the GGBA and BART Directors Bevan Dufty and Rebecca Saltzman set out to change the way BART does business so that it includes LGBT-owned businesses, the first person to voice her support for this initiative was LaVerda.

Having known her for over 25 years, I have always been struck by her ability to cut to the very heart of an issue. I watched her stand her ground against large, international contractors who saw little value to including small, minority and women contractors in their projects. Truth be told—they wanted to self-perform all of the work and to take the local dollars back with them to their home offices in places like Texas, Nevada and Arizona.

It was LaVerda’s knowledge of the construction industry and her respect from within the ranks of elected officials and government agencies that started to turn things around in San Francisco, the Bay Area and California. With special thanks to LaVerda, public contracting is changing to better ref lect the faces, and families, of those who are the ones paying for these key and much-needed public infrastructure projects.

Bevan Dufty and Paul Pendergast with LaVerda Allen at the Lake Chalet in Oakland where Allen was honored for her more than 40 years of service.

It is LaVerda’s heart-felt belief that all minority businesses deserve a place at the table. If you can perform the tasks, you deserve to be able to competitively bid on the work. As LaVerda holds, we must all work together to fight discrimination of any kind. The GGBA is proud to stand with her, and BART, in their commitment to inclusion and economic equality.

The pipeline of opportunities for LGBTQ-owned and certified businesses in construction is expanding. In the professional service sectors like Communications, Marketing, Architecture, Engineering, and Environmental Services—while it hasn’t always been easy for (continued on page 30)

GGBA Member Spotlight

A Conversation with Perform for Life’s Founders, Bryant and Justine Sharifi

By Magdalena Rodríguez and Rosario Monteverdi Perform for Life is a boutique personal training studio in San Francisco conveniently located in the Mission/Castro and most recently in Hayes Valley. Perform for Life’s mission is forged upon principles of building trust and creating a community where clients feel appreciated and valued, and an environment for personal trainers to establish careers in which they are supported and encouraged in their professional endeavors. Founders Bryant and Justine Sharifi are passionate about helping others to perform better in sports, recreation, and most importantly: life.

We interviewed Bryant and Justine, who spoke about their business, their advice for new entrepreneurs, and how businesses like theirs can make the most out of membership in the GGBA. Why did you decide to create your business?

Justine Sharifi: Bryant was in the big box corporate industry. As someone with a background in exercise science, he was passionate about continuing his education and the philosophy that you should never stop learning. He saw that a lot of the culture of the industry was based on really heavy sales and that a lot of talented technicians were unable to thrive in the training industry because of that pressure. It wears a lot of wonderful practitioners out, and they end up leaving the fitness industry. He wanted a place that could push education and service over sales for the trainers to excel in that way and to create a place with stricter requirements for trainers. At Perform for Life, all trainers have exercise science degrees to create consistency and security for our clients. It was more important to have a valuable professional who exemplified good customer service over the pressure of being a salesman on the gym floor.

Do you have any specific policies in place regarding workplace equality?

GGBA.COM

Business Tips from GGBA

Bryant Sharifi: We’re an equal opportunity employer. As stated on our careers page, “Perform for Life provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by state, federal or local law. Further, the company takes affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during employment without regard to any of these characteristics. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.”

Why did you decide to join the GGBA? Bryant Sharifi: For one, we have a large LGBTQ+ community at our Mission/Castro location. Without their love and support over the years, we wouldn’t be where we are today. In addition, we also wanted to be more aware of the issues they are facing as a community and how we can be a better advocate for them. For us, the GGBA has been a constant source of inspiration, connections, and clients. (continued on page 30) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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Harvey Milk Plaza Community-Selected Design Approach to Be Revealed on May 15 At the third in a series of four community meetings on April 14, Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza (FHMP) in partnership with the architecture firm Perkins Eastman presented four preliminary drawings for the future design of Harvey Milk Plaza located at the corner of Market and Castro Streets. Public comment on the proposals occurred through April 30.

Building on an SFMTA accessibility improvements project, the four proposals are designed to ensure a safe and efficient transit station and a public space that truly honors the legacy of San Francisco icon Harvey Milk, according to FHMP. The designs presented to the community are shown below.

Meeting attendees were invited and encouraged to provide feedback and suggestions for changes and design adaptations. All four designs are now available on the FHMP website (https://www.friendsof harveymilkplaza.org/) as well as on Neighborland (https://neighborland.com/harveymilk), to enable further community input from individuals who were unable to attend the meeting.

“This was a pivotal meeting for the Harvey Milk Plaza project. After so much community input and collaboration, we were finally able to present visual possibilities for a hub that many consider the heart of the Castro ... and San Francisco, really,” said FHMP Pres-

ident Andrea Aiello. “The importance and magnitude of this project has never been underestimated, and once we get a design that people can wrap their arms around, we can initiate the fundraising efforts. It truly does take a village to pull something like this off.”

From these four design approaches, one consolidated approach blending the elements that the community found most compelling and viable for Harvey Milk Plaza will be revealed at the next community meeting on May 15 from 6–8 pm at Sanchez Elementary School in San Francisco. Updates will be posted on the FHMP website as well as via social media: https://www.facebook.com/friendsofharveymilkplaza/

Design 1

Design 2

Simplifying the landscape of the plaza, this proposal raises it to street level to create more public space in areas that are currently below ground level. The entrance to the Muni station is enclosed in a glass structure that can be secured at night. A memorial timeline winds through the pathway from Castro Street toward Collingwood.

A large glass-enclosed room encloses the station entrance and provides gathering space in the form of stepped seating. Overhead is a smooth mirrored ceiling that reflects the image of the community back to itself. This ceiling is punctuated by a circular opening through which the large Rainbow Flag can be seen overhead.

BIRD’S EYE VIEW

BIRD’S EYE VIEW

Design 3

Design 4

A new rectangular shape embedded in the ground raises upward near Castro Street to create a cover over the entrance to the Muni station below. Atop this raised end is a winding memorial timeline and, at the opposite end, is terraced seating and new open space. At the concourse level is a community room and additional memorial elements, including a mural.

Organic forms rise from the ground to create additional gathering space in the plaza. Winding through the entire site is an infinity loop timeline that invites movement throughout the plaza. A glass-enclosed metal chime rings and lighting effects illuminate when a button is pressed, creating an interactive memorial experience.

BIRD’S EYE VIEW

BIRD’S EYE VIEW

As Heard on the Street . . . What would you like to see as an improvement for Harvey Milk Plaza?

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compiled by Rink

Aja Monet

Alexandra Escobar

Charles Sands

Cleve Jones

Lisa McHenry

“A coffee kiosk so that people could step from a train and buy a cup of coffee. ”

“Straighten out the layout of the plaza, with more of an historical Harvey Milk presence.”

“A permanent stage for events, and more of a presence of Harvey Milk in the plaza.”

“More of a representation of Harvey Milk in the plaza with a large megaphone as a symbol of Harvey’s activism.”

“Communications boxes: chambers where people could speak with other people on other continents.”

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MarcoMania: Turning Pounds into Hope

One of my favorite songs is “I Come from Good People.” I do come from good people. I also come from fat people—hearty stock, as we call it.

My entire family is big-boned. I remember all too well the blue jeans I had to wear throughout my school years were emblazoned with HUSKY on the tag on the back. My mother, a sturdy Texas woman, was one of the first members of Weight Watchers after it started in 1963. We were among the f irst to deliriously welcome each weight loss miracle: TAB (diet cola), Sego (diet shake), and Ayds (diet candy). Oh, yes. Ayds of the 60s was guaranteed to help with weight loss. Check out the YouTube ads. I wasn’t just fat. I was the perfect storm of chubby, glasses, braces and acne.

Ok, a little nelly, too.

My husband Dan and I still fight the weight demons daily. He does AIDS/ Lifecycle (11th time this year). I go to the gym—once a month—to drop off my check. He’s in Weight Watchers.

I’m in the Ladies Who Lunch. He has muscles. I have a sense of humor. Life is about balance, after all.

This story is not about Ayds, but AIDS. It’s not about pounds, but purpose. It’s not about me, but an everyday hero. It is about a young man who changed his life completely and is turning pounds into hope for others.

About two years ago, we met Marco.

His smile lit the entire room. It was hiding years of insecurity brought on by his weight. Born in 1983, he grew up in the East Bay to parents from Peru. He and his brother were mostly raised by their mother and sister.

They loved him unconditionally and showed that by cooking delicious Peruvian food—lots of corn, rice and beans—and not much green. He was a big boy from the get go.

Moby Dick became his home away from home and his logical family. “I began to meet people who were HIV+ and people who have seroconverted since we’ve been friends,” Marco said.

“I’ve heard about the horrors and the fear. I cannot imagine it. I always wondered: what I could do?” Moby Dick occupied all of Marco’s time outside his rising career in the mortgage industry.

Being overweight and working in a gay bar was a mixed bag. Almost everyone was friendly. But they were also cruel and judgmental. “I could see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices,” Marco explained. “More than once, I heard comments like, ‘You’re cute. If you lost weight, you’d be hot,” or, “Excuse me, I can’t squeeze past you.” He just stored these comments away, knowing one day he would somehow have the last laugh.

On March 8, 2017, Marco walked into his first Weight Watchers meeting. He had not been on scales in a very long time. When he got up the courage to weigh himself, the scales screamed 323 lbs. He burst into tears. “I couldn’t tell anyone. I had no idea I weighed that much.” That very day, he set a goal of losing 100 lbs.

It has taken a village. He had lots of help along the way from his family, his trainer Metal Bob, friends like Mark and Bill and Gerald, Grace Towers and a bevy of drag queens and, of course, the entire staff at Moby Dick. But as

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARCO

His personality was big too, with a f lair for the dramatic. At three, he would stand on a stool and recite lines for the family. At four, he fell in love— with My Little Pony. His mom put him in acting at the local Community Center. His first role? Maleficent. His

Watching the movie Milk changed Marco and instilled a desire to immerse himself in the LGBT community. He had a long-held secret goal of working at a gay bar in the Castro. In 2015, that dream came true with a part-time job at Moby Dick. Since then, he has filled many roles from DJ to barback, but mostly as all around hostess with the mostest. Insert class clown.

Senior Prom 2002

The more he thought about it, all of his life experiences began to fall into place: passion about AIDS awareness, theater, the bar, countless friends, wrestling, drag. And now, his body was beginning to fall into place, too. That little boy standing on the stool at the age of three was perhaps ready for a wider audience. It all brought him to bravely accepting the challenge to join the contest to be on next year’s calendar. “Even now, if I have to be shirtless, I imagine I am a pro wrestler ... . I trick myself. I just become the person behind the name my friends gave me: MarcoMania!”

Where is he today? At the top of the leader board—in Weight Watchers and the Bare Chest Calendar. That insecure, shy young man, full of body shame, is now shirtless and adorning all manner of media in his quest to secure a spot on the 2019 calendar and raise as much money as he can to help PRC. It has been a remarkable journey. It is truly a profile in courage. Marco has turned those taunts and slurs into a life with purpose. Who is taunting now?

No one!

And now, the numbers. Drum roll, please!

Marco has lost 110 lbs and, at publication date, raised over $7,000 for PRC. And it’s not over yet! Marco is still losing weight and raising money.

GARETH GOOCH PHOTOGRAPHY

Dr. Tim Seelig

Marco told me for the San Francisco Bay Times: “My brother and I got into a lot of fights. People called us spics or wetbacks. It did no good to yell, ‘But we’re Peruvian!’ I knew I was fat. I enjoyed food and eating it. I couldn’t talk to people about my feelings. I just used food as a drug to feel better. I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror, so I just bought bigger clothes. The worst was enrolling in Catholic School. None of the school uniforms fit. All I heard was, ‘You’re fat, you’re fat.’”

GARETH GOOCH PHOTOGRAPHY

TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation

A s he st a r ted losi ng t he weight, one of the 2017 Bare Chest Calendar models randomly quipped, “You should try out for the calendar. It benefits Positive Resource Center (PRC).” His response was, “No way. I won’t even look in the mirror and I’m certainly not comfortable being shirtless in public. That’s not going to happen.” But the seed was planted.

weight loss to transmasculine top surgery. But, the best part of all is the brotherhood that develops among the men. It’s like a new family who will love and support you.”

Those who know him are all inspired by Marco’s journey.

There is a life lesson there for all of us. He took what had been a very difficult situation for 34 years and said, “No, I will not allow this to control me any longer.” The 110+ pounds he lost have been turned into hope. Hope for me and everyone continuing to live with HIV. Thank you, Marco. One of those pounds was for me!

How to donate to PRC or to Marco:

Donations to Bare Chest Calendar men’s fundraising efforts, including Marco, can be made online (classy.org/campaign/ bare-chest-calendar-2019/ c168291). Alternatively, donations for the calendar in general can be made at givedirect. org/donate/?cid=12536 To show your support for the Bare Chest Calendar: Attend the Bare Chest Finals at DNA Lounge on Saturday, May 19, starting at 3 pm. You can follow the Bare Chest Men on Facebook, too (facebook. com/barechestcalendar/).

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

According to Demetri Moshoyannis, Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships at PRC, “Marco’s story is a fairly familiar one to us at the Bare Chest Calendar. Over the years, we’ve seen many men who have engaged Bare Chest as a way to establish or reestablish a positive body image. This includes body transformations from

GARETH GOOCH PHOTOGRAPHY

Even though watching pro wrestling was forbidden by his mom, the boys watched anyway. Marco was smitten with everything about it. It was theater.

It was fit men dressing up (drag). What could go wrong? One day, his brother attempted a dramatic leap from the back of the sofa and broke Marco’s arm! His wrestling career was put on hold!

we all know, at the end of the day, there is only one person that can make this happen. Only one person shuts off the alarm at 5 am and actually gets up to train before work. Only one person makes good meal choices when the world around you is gorging itself. Only one person faces the daily days and the temptation to give up. That one person is Marco.

GARETH GOOCH PHOTOGRAPHY

friends made fun of him for all of it. He already knew he was somehow different. In school, he countered that by becoming the class clown.

Bare Chest Calendar Finalist 2018 S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

M AY 3, 2018

9

What Really Causes Depression?

Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor 1978 Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

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Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT In the late 1980s, when the Prozac family of anti-depressants became available, I saw the new drugs make dramatic changes in the lives of many people. Patients who had been lost for years in the black hole of deep depression suddenly found a new buoyancy and a re-awakened capacity for pleasure. They re-discovered hope and the ability to take risks and explore new opportunities. To many, it seemed as if the cure for depression had finally arrived. And the cause seemed clear, as well. Depression was a chemical imbalance in the brain, which involved chronically low-levels of neurotransmitters. Raise the levels, and the depression would evaporate.

Journalist Johann Hari, who has himself struggled with depression since his teens, recently wrote an excellent book called Lost Connections: Understanding the Real Causes of Depression and the Unexpected Solutions (Bloomsbury, 2018), which is the result of years of examination of what research from around the world actually shows about the many factors that create depression.

Hari points out that it has long been recognized that the experience of severe depression is very similar to what people experience when they grieve the loss of an important relationship.

Is it then possible that depression is

actually a form of grief for other forms of lost connection?

He writes, “When I interviewed social scientists all over the world ... I started to see an unexpected picture emerge. We all know that every human being has basic physical needs: for food, for water, for shelter, for clean air. It turns out that, in the same way, all humans have certain basic psychological needs ... . And there is growing evidence that our culture isn’t meeting those psychological needs for many—perhaps most— people. I kept learning that, in very different ways, we have become disconnected from things we really need, and this deep disconnection is driving this epidemic of depression and anxiety all around us.”

When people are depressed, Hari writes, they are grieving lost connections in at least one of seven areas of vital human need. He urges depressed people to remember, “You aren’t a machine with broken parts. You are an animal whose needs are not being met. You need to have a community. You need to have meaningful values ... . You need the natural world.

You need to have meaningful work.

You need to feel respected. You need a secure future ... . You need to release any shame you might feel for having been mistreated.” You aren’t depressed because your brain is mal-

functioning or because you are suffering from a mental illness. “You are suffering from a social and spiritual imbalance in how we live.”

Take the area of work, for instance.

Human beings need to feel that their lives are meaningful, and that they are doing something that matters. But between 2011 and 2012, Gallup conducted the most detailed study ever carried out of how people feel about their jobs. They found that 13% of people say they are “engaged” in their work—they find it meaningful and look forward to it. Some 63% say they are “not engaged,” which is defined as “sleepwalking through their workday.” And 24% are “actively disengaged”; they hate it. When 87% of the work force dislike what they do all day, is it any wonder that depression is rampant in our society?

The epidemic of depression is not due to a mass outbreak of brain disorders, but to the fact that so much about modern life is soul-killing.

Hari’s book is a meditation on the reality that when we are mired in sadness and grief, we are getting a wakeup call that we have some very basic needs that aren’t being met. We need to pay attention.

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

An Uncomfortable Art

By David Perry The hypnotic music from my D.C. days—my 20s, the 80s—drew me across the expanse of galleries at L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA): Bronski Beat’s “Small Town Boy,” a melancholic anthem for a generation of young gay men seeking love amid the loneliness of AIDS in that dark ruin of a Reaganesque era.

I walked closer until a red curtain warning of “graphic content” stopped me from instant entry. Once behind the curtain, a wizard of MoCA’s permanent collection confronted me: the 42-minute-long photo-with-music montage that is Nan Goldin’s “The Ballad of Sexual Dependency” (1983–2008). I stayed for every minute, for every often disturbingly, yet always intimate, image. I kept wondering how she got these images—these brutally honest, often ugly, but somehow hypnotically beautiful snapshots of gritty humanity. The soundtrack rolled on and I was left strangely moved.

In another gallery, there was an even more unsettling display: “Chromatic Fire” (2005) by Swiss artist Thomas Hirschhorn. Forty-two minutes in front of this millennial “Guernica” was impossible for me. I had to view it in stages, and at that, sometimes with half-averted eyes. Like Picasso’s monumental scream against the horrors of war, Hirschhorn’s work is a howling witness to the endless cycle of violence that wracks our world. It is a suicide bomber of a sculpture. It acts on the senses like shrapnel. A docent warns everyone who enters.

After these two, I retreated to a gallery of healing Mark Rothko’s—all swashes of color and texture—for my own emotional health; a visual cocktail after artistic violence.

When I come again, I will return to both of these assaultive works, as I have returned again and again to view the “Guernica” whenever travel finds me in Madrid.

My gallery tour today was punctuation to my mental meanderings since

watching April 28’s “comedic” presentation by Michelle Wolf at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Wolf, too, is an artist of the assaultive variety, and her presentation was a controversial case in point.

Afterward, people and pundits and postings (herein, a case in point) dissected Wolf’s diatribe—easily the sharp- Michelle Wolf speaking at the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner est satirical knife yet poised at the jugular of our current political weekend served as an epiphany: art is reality. It out Lennied Lenny Bruce. not always lovely. Art is often meant It trumped Kathy’s Griffin. At times to make us uncomfortable.

I laughed. Sometimes I gasped. Several times I shook my head at Wolf’s Michelle Wolf made a lot of people—in the media, the White House, stand-up in sheep’s clothing. and both sides of the Congressional I did not approve of some of her lan- aisle—extremely uncomfortable. guage or material, but that was exactly the point. Like the Medieval jest- Good. er only allowed to taunt the king, or We are living in uncomfortable times. the slave holding a laurel above the Sometimes, we need to be reminded. head of triumphant Roman conquerors whispering in their ear a warn- David Perry is the CEO and Founding that “all glory is fleeting,” this tri- er of David Perry & Associates, Inc. umvirate of expressions from my past (davidperry.com).

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10

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

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.”

MAY 3 , 2 0 1 8

© Randy Coleman, 2018

PHOTO: YOUTUBE.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.

Unfortunately, with the passage of time, it became clear that depression isn’t that simple. It has no single cause.

Thinking of it as a biological disorder helped many overcome stigma and self-blame, and the healthcare industry was happy to fund a cheaper treatment than psychotherapy, but the downside of that idea was that it made it easier to avoid any examination of the deeper life issues that are always present in depression. Over time, the initial excitement faded as the limitations of anti-depressants became clearer: they don’t work for everyone; for others, they only work partially or temporarily, and when they do work, they seem to work best in combination with psychotherapy.

GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow

Caution: Children at Work The “deep state,” as I understand it, refers to career civil servants, deeply embedded in the D.C. bureaucracy, who bolster American values and prop up the institutions of government behind the scenes. Operating in patriotic anonymity through leaks and tweaks, these agents are protecting us from the worst offenses of the Trump administration. We thank them!

But what of the “shallow state?” These are the mid-level Trump appointees, maybe in Justice, maybe in HHS, who scuttle around below the radar revising policies and deleting protocols. They don’t make news unless you happen upon some lengthy feature in the Atlantic or the New Yorker that explains (let’s say) how some recent college graduate just managed to sell the breeding grounds of the endangered dingle mouse to an asphalt storage company. Oh, and in case you’d like to do something about it, it’s too late. There’s a photo of the industrial backhoes at work accompanying the article, along with a really sweet archival shot of dingle mice at play.

(Did I mention the storage company is owned by the kid’s uncle?)

I bring this up to warn you that Obama-era lang uage protecting transgender Americans against discrimination in health care is in the process of being rewritten by some evil minion as you read this. While Obama and company treated trans discrimination as a form of sex discrimination, the Trump gang is methodically disconnecting the two, leaving sex discrimination illegal but restoring transgender bias to an unrestricted limbo where employers or hospitals have every right to turn their backs on trans workers or patients.

We saw this in education last year, when Trump appointees withdrew Obama-era guidance warning public schools that discrimination against transgender students was a form of sex discrimination illegal under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Although we have yet to see a new policy, the fact that the friendly Obama stance was retracted sends a pretty clear green light to schools that might want to keep trans-kids out of the lockers or send trans-boys to the girls’ bathroom.

And the worst part is that no one cares. Why? Because everyone is too busy caring about the insane developments that are right there in the middle of the radar screen. Beep beep beep beep.

“Hey Jim, does that look to you like Qantas 9234 is heading on an intercept course for that Korean Air jet?

Isn’t it supposed to be at 35,000 feet?”

“Yeah, well, Kathy was in charge of that one and I think she left us last week after Sandy told Riley that she called the boss a turnip ... .”

“Wha?” “ ... and Ivanka overheard it ... .”

“Qantas 9234, this is the White House. Please descend to 35,000 feet immediately, do you copy? Over.”

“White House, this is Qantas 9234.

Confirm you are overriding Kathy’s directive. Over.”

Berlin Daze The U.S. Senate has f inally confirmed Ric Grenell, a fifty-something gay conservative, to be Ambassador to Germany. I suppose that twenty or thirty years ago, I would have been so thrilled with the notion of a gay ambassador that any criticism would feel churlish. Now, however, in the post-

gay age recently bemoaned by Frank Bruni (more later), I am free to point out that the guy’s a misogynist par excellence, known for catty comments he’s made about everyone from Hillary Clinton to Madeleine Albright to Callista Gingrich to Rachel Maddow.

If you’ll pardon the stereotype, he sounds like a certain type of gay man from my (baby boom) generation who exclusively prefers the company of other males and finds women at once ridiculous and repellent. Conservative gays were often of this ilk, and although Grenell is Gen X, it seems the insecurities that permeated my cohort have leached under his skin.

He likes dogs, so that’s good.

starts out with Etta announcing, “I am Jackie Chan’s daughter.”

“I don’t even understand,” Ng says in a plaintiff voice. “We’ve gone to the police, we’ve gone to the hospital, the food banks, LGBTQ community shelters and all of them just don’t give a s---. Two people in love that share love are trying not to get split apart and they’re trying to f--- us over just because—I don’t understand it ... .”

“At this point, we have nowhere to go because the friend of Andi’s that is helping, can no longer house us. We understand people who are busy but this is a bit much.”

Hey, find the book by Erik Larson, In the Garden of Beasts, about the experience of the Ambassador to Germany, William Dodd, and his family in 1933. It’s a stunning snapshot of Hitler’s rise to power, insidious because of the many people who did not take Hitler seriously or think he’d last.

Call me cold, but there’s something wrong here. The teenager is one thing, but the 30-year-old woman cannot make us believe that she is incapable of finding a job that can support them both because of “homophobia.” Nor can they seriously expect us to swallow the notion that they needed to write down their YouTube script because of “PTSD.”

I grew up assuming that were I alive in Germany during Hitler’s reign, I’d fight and join the underground and hide Jews in the attic and so forth and so forth. I am coming to recognize that I probably wouldn’t take him seriously, would dismiss him as an aberration, and meanwhile I’d read trashy novels, drink wine and go out to eat.

Then, after a few years, I’d look in the mirror and what would I see? Flawed human being? Nazi sympathizer?

Mindless lemming? That’s the question.

I mean really! Soldiers are killing themselves in record numbers because of PTSD from the battlefield.

People with mental illness and disabilities are homeless through no fault of their own. Working families living on the edge survive through food banks. So, watching these confused people wringing their hands at the harshness of the world without a hint of irony makes me wonder if I missed something over the last couple years.

Perhaps I have not spent enough time on social media.

Scared New World

The Party’s Over

Mov ing a long, I just spent too much time checking out Etta Ng, an 18-year-old girl who seems to be having an affair with a 30-year-old Canadian “social media inf luencer” named Andi Autumn. Being an aforementioned baby boomer, my initial tendency is to dismiss the category of “social media inf luencer” as self-indulgent piffle. However, I also understand that anyone who has a serious impact on a large audience in any medium has created a profit center for themselves. The key is whether or not the person is actually influencing social media, or simply trying and failing.

So, as I indicated, Frank Bruni wrote a lengthy essay in The New York Times about the demise of gay culture, the end of the bars, the parties, the codes, the fashions, the secrets, the fun. You know what I mean. Lesbians have their own lost history; stories of special knocks, an evening at the “bridge club,” the Duchess, Orient Point. Towards the turn of the century as the AIDS crisis ebbed, the culture took on what seems in retrospect almost a magical cast. As the legal and political barriers to entry into American society began to buckle and fall away, the pride parades turned glorious, the parties got wilder, the music grew louder—and suddenly, it was sort of over.

Setting this aside, Etta Ng is the love child of Jackie Chan, although in previous posts and videos she has dismissed him and said she wants nothing to do with him. He, in turn, has never had a role in her life. Chan and Ng’s mother had a fling while Chan was married to someone else.

Last fall, Etta made a grand coming out announcement as teenagers are wont to do, and also announced that she was in love, quitting school and moving in with Andi Autumn.

“People all over the world have been rooting us on as Hong Kong media continues to mock,” she wrote on Instagram. “I’ve grown up in a world of negativity and closed-mindedness but I am at that point where I realize that I can use my experience to tell my truths and help others just like me.”

Fast forward a few months to late April, and you can watch Etta and Andi’s latest YouTube video, a bizarre claim that they are destitute, have nowhere to stay, and can’t get any help due to their homophobic parents. Reading from something they wrote down on paper, the two insist that they can’t go to shelters because they’d be separated. They’ve asked at the police station and the hospital, but no one will help. Ng’s mother says they should get a job, and their friends recommend shelters or hostels.

Oh, and after wanting nothing to do with her famous father, the video

The bookstores closed. The bars emptied out. Parade committees grew fractious. Without the surrounding sea of hostility, the notion of secret safe places lost meaning. Still, the older generation would not exchange the acceptance we now enjoy for a few more nights at the bar. And nor would Frank Bruni.

But younger generations sometimes cry about it. Even in my generation, a group that had to stay closeted until our 20s or 30s or forever, we only felt the back end of the pervasive hatred that was taken for granted for decades. Gen X got the tail end, and Millennials got some remnants of it or saw it in their rearview mirror. Take it from me, kids. It wasn’t worth it.

As for the post-Millennial gang, they seem a promising generation indeed, notwithstanding Etta Ng and maybe a few others who project sexual orientation discrimination on the generic and surmountable difficulties that everyone faces in life.

Taking the Cake Don’t make the mistake of conf lating the gay marriage cake case in the United Kingdom with our own Supreme Court Masterpiece Cakeshop litigation. The British case, which is being heard and judged in early May in Belfast, concerns a Christian baker who refused to make a cake that said (continued on page 30) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

M AY 3, 2018

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BAY TIMES S

Mother’s Day the LGBT Father’s Way

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2018)

Gay Dad Fights Challenges of Modern LGBT Fatherhood

Photos courtesy of Gavin Lodge

Actor Gavin Lodge has received praise in San Francisco for his performances in musicals such as Head Over Heels and television shows like The Blacklist, but his biography begins: “Gavin Lodge is a father.” Parenting means the world to him and to his partner Todd Ellison, who is a sought-after musical director and composer. Together, they are raising sons Ellison and Colton. The children’s happiness and sense of freedom are very evident, with Ellison joyfully dancing around without a care in a Sleeping Beauty dress and sparkling The Wizard of Oz ruby red shoes as curious Colton surveys the scene.

Gavin and Todd work hard, though, to create such a safe, loving and nonjudgmental environment for their sons. While national public opinion on LGBT marriage and families has shifted dramatically since the landmark 2015 Supreme Court decision that made gay marriage a right across the U.S., numerous challenges still exist, and especially for LGBT fathers.

Consider changing tables in bathrooms. In 2016, former President Obama signed into law the Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation Act, aka the BABIES Act. The legislation requires that baby changing tables be in both men’s and women’s restrooms in publicly accessible federal buildings. This was followed by legislation in California, based on Assembly Bill No. 1127, requiring state or local agency-owned buildings to make similar changes.

Such “potty parity” is still uncommon in commercial businesses nationwide, though.

In 2011, Gavin also noted another disparity facing gay dads. As he and Todd were preparing for the birth of their first child, they created a registry listing necessities like crib sheets and baby bottles. They also scoured stores for other items, such as diaper bags. They were surprised to find that all of the bags

multiple pockets, where this versatile style can also be worn as a messenger bag or backpack.

BRUCE GLIKAS/BROADWAY.COM

First and foremost, many people have a hard time accepting that there is sometimes no mother in the family picture. After adoption or surrogacy (Gavin and Todd chose surrogacy) couples consisting of two dads often take on all of the necessary duties—diaper changes, potty training, school meetings and much more. Unless Mother’s Day celebrates a beloved female relative, the holiday for such couples is often a well-deserved celebration of surviving the bills, sleepless nights, worries and other typical challenges of parenthood, not to mention the added minefield of still-prevalent closedmindedness concerning families with two dads and no mom.

Gavin with Ellison and Colton

Gavin Lodge and Todd Ellison attending Opening Night of Cabaret on Broadway

had color schemes and patterns that manufacturers clearly tied to female stereotypes. This inspired Gavin to create a company called E.C. KNOX (“E” for “Ellison” and “C” for “Colton”) that makes baby gear for dads: https://www.ecknox.com/ “I founded my fashion start-up when I was frustrated with the lack of stylish, masculine diaper gear when my first son was born,” Gavin told the San Francisco Bay Times. “Though I had zero fashion or entrepreneurial experience—but was a f ierce tap dancer!—I figured way dumber people than I have done this.”

The resulting collection, available at Barneys (https://www.barneys. com/), includes a navy-hued ballistic nylon Ellison diaper bag that is equipped with a fold-out changing flap and mat, bottle holders, and an easy-access pocket for wipes. A sophisticated style with black leather trim features, the Ellison diaper bag includes a padded laptop sleeve and

Gavin says, “E.C. KNOX looks to tap into a market with a product that can transition from baby wear to everyday wear—a product that truly embraces masculine stylishness and a strong sense of daddy empowerment, while never compromising style, even after the young ones grow up.”

A percentage of the profits will go to the It Gets Better Project (https://itgetsbetter.org/) and Live Out Loud (https://www.liveoutloud.info/).

Both organizations work to uplift and empower LGBT youth so that they can live full, authentic lives and not feel isolated. Live Out Loud additionally connects queer youth with successful LGBT professionals in their communities.

The effort goes well beyond the gay community. Many dutiful heterosexual fathers can likely relate to Gavin when he says, “I love having parenting responsibilities and nurturing my children. I want to proudly don the identity of a stylish dad.”

You might then ask: Why not just celebrate these dads on Father’s Day? Keep in mind that Mother’s Day is still a bigger deal all around the globe. Father’s Day is often unfortunately a literal and figurative afterthought. It was not until 1972—58 years after then President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official—that Father’s Day became a national U.S. holiday. When the date was finally established, it was placed right in the heart of hectic June Pride (which was set in June to commemorate the Stonewall

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riots at the end of June 1969). Studies show that Americans and Europeans spend 75% more on Mother’s Day than they do on Father’s Day. Hopefully that will change in future, and particularly with Gavin setting his sights on a new line of baby blankets, travel bags, swaddlers and even a dad-centric clothing line. The movement goes far beyond selling cool products, though. He hopes to change the view that men are not as capable as women when it comes to parenting. He says, “There is a ‘dumb dad’ stereotype.” Many LGBT fathers have to deal with low expectations, with even close friends and family members subtly, or sometimes not so subtly, expressing shock and dismay when the kids turn out great.

On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, we therefore choose to celebrate all loving families, and think of those

of the cast of Gavin Lodge with members Wash.

Priscilla and singer Matha

Find more about E.C. Knox: https://www.ecknox.com/

who are in states like Oklahoma, Georgia, Michigan, Alabama, Texas and South Dakota, where antiLGBT adoption laws have recently been proposed. By practicing what they preach, rock star gay dads like Gavin and Todd are helping to erase stereotypes and to open minds, but they cannot do it alone. We look forward to seeing all of you LGBT fathers and mothers out on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and every day.

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The Great Emperor and the Last God of the Romans

Faces from Our LGBT Past Dr. Bill Lipsky It would have been the trial of the century, had there been a trial. In 130 A.D., attendants found the body of Antinous, the handsome young lover of Hadrian, the Emperor of Rome, drowned in the Nile River. Murder?

Suicide? Accident? Sacrifice? Conspiracy? There was endless speculation, but no suspects of wrongdoing.

Almost certainly we will never know.

What did his subjects think about their emperor having a male lover?

Not very much. Same-sex relations for them were both common and unremarkable. The Romans had no word for homosexuality because another person’s gender was unimportant to them. What concerned them was masculinity and authority. They discouraged intimacy between freeborn men because, once they reached maturity, men had to be the penetrating partner in any sexual encounter or risk being ridiculed as cinaedi (effeminate) or pathici (sexually unnatural).

We do not know if the sexual relationship between Hadrian and Antinous followed these rules.

Being 19 or 20 when he died, Antinous was perilously close to being considered an adult. Probably Hadrian, whose masculinity was never questioned, would have ignored them and kept his lover close, watching the character come into Antinous’ face, seeing him progress from adolescence to manhood, from beautiful to handsome.

Very little is known about Antinous in life. He was born in Claudiopolis in the Roman province of Bithynia, (now Bolu, Turkey) around 110 A.D. No one knows when or where he first met Hadrian. Possibly he was introduced to the Emperor in 123, during his f irst visit to his eastern territories, or in 128, during his second tour of the area. There is no mention of Antinous in the ancient chronicles until 130, when he is described as a member of Hadrian’s personal retinue.

We know much more about Hadrian.

He ruled a mighty dominion across three continents. An avid huntsman,

soldier, general, builder, able administrator, and ruthless suppressor of civil disobedience, he also was an admirer of all things Greek, even adopting the Greek fashion of wearing a beard, the first Roman emperor to do so.

Regardless of his sexual orientation, Hadrian remained deeply respected by Rome’s citizens, perhaps because he spent so little time in the capitol.

Accord ing to t he h istor ian Suetonius, who once was his secretary, most of Hadrian’s predecessors also enjoyed same-sex intimacy. Domitian’s beloved was Earinos, and their Bas relief of Antinous from the Villa Albani relationship compared at the time to that of Jupiter and Ganymede, his cup-bearer.

Trajan, devoted to his pages at the imperial court, also found love with two male dancers, Pylades and Apolaustus, specifically named by his biographers, who in addition considered him a model family man.

After learning of Antinous’ death, Hadrian’s anguish was uncontrollable, its intensity without precedent. The Scriptores Historiae Augustae, probably written in the late 4th or the early 5th century and which may or may not be entirely reliable, states that the Emperor “wept like a woman.”

Someone else might have gone out on a three-day drinking binge or covered the mirrors with crepe. Statue of Antinous as Agathodemon Not Hadrian. He proclaimed his dearly beloved to be a new god risen from the Nile. Emperors and their relatives were often deified—as was Hadrian after his death—but for a commoner to be declared divine was unprecedented. It had never happened before. It never happened again.

Polytheism, being a particularly tol- Roman Mosaic, 1st Century erant religion, had no problem accepting Antinous as a god, even though he had enjoyed a male lover in life. His story especially appealed to a pagan world that embraced a belief in resurrection and salvation.

Worship of Antinous spread to all parts of the Roman Empire, with temples and shrines dedicated to him everywhere from Br itannia to North Africa.

The center of the new god’s worship was the city of Antinoöpolis, Ruins of Antinoöpolis which Hadrian declared of his sinful relationship with Hadribe built on the east bank of an, but also because his glorification the Nile at the site where his beand the belief in his death and salvaloved’s body was recovered. Two magnificent avenues, flanked by hun- tion were seen as a spiritual rival to dreds of columns, each topped with a their religious message. Even so, he bust of the new god, crossed the settle- was adored in the ancient world for ment. His image was found through- hundreds of years. out the city.

Hadrian never stopped mourning Much of the community’s prestige and prosperity came from it being “a holy city,” a center of religious devotion that attracted pilgrims from throughout the Empire. Antinoöpolis also hosted a great festival, established by Hadrian to honor his beloved’s memory. It was held annually at least until Christianity became an official Roman religion around 392. The city itself survived into the mid-12th century, when it was abandoned.

Almost certainly it was Christianity that extinguished the worship of Antinous. Early Christian writers vehemently condemned Bust of Hadrian his veneration, not only because 14

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Photos courtesy of Dr. Bill Lipsky

and cherishing his beloved. In 1998, the ruins of what some claim was a great shrine to his lost love were discovered at the Villa Tivoli, the palace where the Emperor spent his final years, although others doubt the memorial had that purpose. No matter.

Empires rise and fall, but love is eternal. Hadrian’s love for Antinous has continued to live on in memory for more than 1800 years.

Bill Lipsky, Ph.D., author of “Gay and Lesbian San Francisco” (2006), is a member of the Rainbow Honor Walk board of directors.

June 5 Special Election Coverage

LGBT Community Leaders Explain Their SF Mayoral Can London Breed

By Roma Guy and Debra Walker London Breed is the exact person we need to lead San Francisco. All of us supporting her have long recognized her ability to identify problems and bring together people around solutions. As she took the reins of the city, none of us were surprised by her grace and dignity as she led our city through mourning.

We’ve seen her advocate on behalf of tenants to improve conditions in affordable housing across our city. We have all supported her efforts to bring compassion into the solutions for those without homes who are looking to our city leaders for help. And we have applauded her efforts to reform a challenged law enforcement community while working to keep our streets safe for us all.

None of us are surprised at Breed’s amazing leadership abilities as President of the Board of Supervisors—exactly what our city needs right now in the face of the bigotry and sexism that permeate our country, including here in San Francisco.

When the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to remove London Breed as Acting Mayor and replace her with Supervisor Mark Farrell, the most obvious beneficiary was Mark Leno. Two of his key endorsers for Mayor were behind the move to replace an African-American woman Mayor with a conservative, Caucasian male venture capitalist. Supervisor Aaron Peskin orchestrated the maneuver and Supervisor Norman Yee made the motion.

Significantly, women and African-Americans were particularly upset about the move and were surprised by the vote. More startling were the comments from Leno, who called the women defending Breed “disgusting” and sent out an email to his supporters on February 6 saying “they should be ashamed” of their support for the city’s first female mayor in 30 years! But anyone familiar with Leno’s history with women should not have been surprised. Leno has a long history of overthe-top political attacks against women.

After being appointed by then Mayor Willie L. Brown, Leno ran a negative campaign against Eileen Hansen, a progressive stalwart who later served on the city’s Ethics Commission. Leno’s team relentlessly attacked Hansen for being a pro-Palestinian extremist who associated with left-wing, fringe Jewish groups. It worked.

He now says he wants to make history as the city’s first LGBTQ chief executive, but he refused to support Roberta Achtenberg, an out lesbian, when she ran for mayor in 1995, declining even to take her calls to discuss the race.

Leno demonized incumbent State Senator Carole Migden, who had successfully passed major HIV/AIDS legislation and helped set the table for marriage equality with her lesbian colleagues Sheila Kuehl, Christine Kehoe and Jackie Goldberg.

Leno and his campaign team relentlessly attacked Migden in what became one of San Francisco’s most negative races. It worked.

Recently, Leno sent out a campaign video touting that he was the “first gay man” elected to the California State Senate, conveniently ignoring the pioneering women who came before him. Rendering women to invisibility in politics is just another version of “women should be seen, but not heard.”

We will be heard in this election. It is time that we return a woman to the Mayor’s office in San Francisco City Hall. It is so time for this strong woman, London Breed, to represent all San Franciscans.

Roma Guy is a longtime activist for social justice and Debra Walker is an artist, city Commissioner and Past President of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club.

(Editor’s Note: Leno’s use of the word “disgusting” was in reference to an It’s Our Time ad (https://itsourtimesf.com/). To learn more, see a KPIX news report (http://cbslocal.com/2018/02/06/san-francisco-tv-ad-mayoral-race/) that presents both sides of the matter.)

In both of those role could reach for thei help guide them alo

Jane Kim gets this. strengthening educ town Community D ple to help them giv

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Her dedication and pushed for more res stay on the right tra music classes to help

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I strongly support Ja

Tom Ammiano is a Caucus and served and San Francisco

The Dignity Fund Coalition hosted the Mayoral Candidates Town Hall for Seniors and Peo and Leno spoke and answered questions from the audience both online and in person at H

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ndidate Endorsements Jane Kim

By Tom Ammiano To improve our city, we don’t need leaders who talk a good game—we need a leader who gets things done.

On the key issues of expanding opportunity and giving kids their best start, there is no candidate who will lead like Jane Kim.

I served on the San Francisco Board of Education and then on our Board of Supervisors. es, I worked to make sure all children felt they ir dreams, with the tools and teachers that would ong the way.

She has dedicated much of her public service to ation. She was a youth organizer for the ChinaDevelopment Center and mentored young peove back to their communities.

ed to the Board of Education, not because she minent political figures, but because she went k to voters about what was happening in local

d hard work were apparent to all of us as she sources to help students at risk of not graduating ack. She worked to get more funding for arts and p students learn and keep them engaged.

understood that our schools need to help prohis is very important to me—when I was on the n, I was able to include a gay and lesbian sensitivall students. Later, Jane Kim carried on the torch milar ethnic studies program to help promote he diverse background of our students. And, bet students of color—and particularly black and uffered disproportionately under existing susion policies, she worked to reform in-school disze keeping students in school and helping them pact of their choices.

or, she has not forgotten her education roots. ful effort to make City College free for all resiage or income. Today, she’s leading the charge ation for ages 0–5 affordable for every family in

y we need a Mayor who has an education backit’s because an education background is an opund. One of the biggest challenges we’re facing is Soon it won’t matter if San Francisco is a symd diversity because diverse communities won’t be he people who came to San Francisco because rom prejudice and hatred will be priced out of

er opportunities for everyone—from age 0 on orking to make San Francisco a city for everyDonald Trump, we need a leader with those val.

ane Kim and I hope you do too.

a member of the California Legislative LGBT d on the California State Assembly (2008–2014) Board of Supervisors (1994–2008).

Mark Leno

By Jewelle Gomez, Susan Leal and Dr. Marcy Adelman This mayoral election is historic for so many of San Francisco’s communities. Each of the leading candidates is a glass-ceiling breaker in his or her own right.

That is something we all can be proud of.

We are voting for Mark Leno because, of all these candidates, no one has done more to champion San Francisco’s working people and families, small businesses, LGBTQ communities and environment protection than Mark Leno.

Mark Leno’s demonstrated commitment to equality and justice for all Californians is unmatched by any other candidate in the race. For the past fourteen years, Mark has represented the city of San Francisco with great distinction—first as Supervisor, then as Assemblyman and lastly as Senator. He passed the first marriage equality law in America, secured San Francisco’s first LGBTQ youth homeless shelter, championed fair wages and universal health care and authored the landmark Older Californians Equality and Protection Act that mandated state and local aging agency planning include the needs of, and provide programming for, LGBTQ elders.

Mark has consistently fought the root causes of homelessness—our city’s affordability and mental health crises— and protected renters by paving a path to building more affordable housing and punishing speculators. He is also recognized as the only member of California State Legislature to successfully reform the Ellis Act. The fact is that Mark has what few politicians have: a commitment to bringing people together, no matter how great the divide, in the interest of leaving this world a better place than we found it. The landmark accomplishments Mark has achieved were won by his tireless dedication to building broad coalitions, creating consensus across the aisle on issues that impact us all, and not ever giving up on the hardest fought battles until the job was done. Mark’s years of service both here, in San Francisco, and Sacramento have provided him with the unique lens of understanding our city’s problems and the solutions to those problems on both a regional and local level. Mark Leno is a win for San Francisco.

San Franciscans, vote Mark Leno for Mayor.

Activist and critically acclaimed writer Jewelle Gomez is the former Director of Grants and Community Initiatives for Horizons Foundation and the former President of the San Francisco Library Commission. Water utility consultant Susan Leal is a former San Francisco Treasurer and Supervisor. Dr. Marcy Adelman is the Co-founder of Openhouse, a Commissioner on the California Commission on Aging, a member of the San Francisco Dignity Fund Oversight and Advisory Committee, and a leading expert on LGBTQ dementia care and policy issues.

ople with Disabilities on Thursday, April 26. Candidates Alioto, Breed, Kim Herbst Theater. Photos by Rink

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From the Coming Up Events Calendar See page 26 Tuesday, May 8 - Overlooked Latinas @ Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th Street. A staged reading of the work about two gender non-conforming queer Latinx best friends, 7-8pm. brava.org

Thursday, May 17 - Barbara Dane & the Tammy Hall Trio 91st Birthday Celebration @ Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison, Berkeley. Barbara Dane and friends celebrate her 91st birthday and new cd set from the Smithsonian Folkways. 8pm. thefreight.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF GARY KRAMER

New Engaging STARZ Drama Vida Chronicles the Lives of Three Latinx Women

Film Gary M. Kramer

In a recent phone interview, Ser Anzoategui chatted with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about Vida.

Ser Anzoategui: Eddy finds a home in the bar and by creating a safe space.

Eddy would take people in and provide a sense of love that they didn’t have. Eddy gives back because of her privilege in this physical space. And it’s important that there are generations—older immigrant men go there.

It’s a community. The show asks: How do the characters all live together?

Gary M. Kramer: Eddy impresses Lyn by cooking. What can you say about the magic of flan?

Ser Anzoategui: Flan can make any heart melt. One spoon ... . You can get to the heart through the stomach. It’s how Eddy softens up Emma.

I grew up with my mom being a flan queen. But there are other kinds of flan, so on set, I was like, “Wait! I’ve got to explore all of these different kinds in the show.”

Gary M. Kramer: Eddy has a minor meltdown in the first episode and gets into a bar fight.

Have you been in a bar fight?

Ser Anzoategui: [Laughs] No. Gary M. Kramer: Family is at the heart of Vida. As a queer Latinx, what observations do you have about family?

Gary M. Kramer: Two episodes of the series are directed by the great Latina lesbian filmmaker Rose Troche. What can you say about working with her and her vision for the show?

PHOTO COURTESY OF STARZ

Gary M. Kramer: How did you connect with Eddy?

Gary M. Kramer: What do you think Vida can do for Latinx queer representation and visibility?

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ

PHOTO COURTESY OF STARZ

Vida, which is both the name of Lyn and Emma’s mother as well as the Spanish word for “lifetime,” shows how these three very different Latinx women cope emotionally, financially and sexually after the death of the matriarch. Lyn, Emma and Eddy each inherit a third of the bar that Vida owned, and the sisters consider selling the LGBTQ neighborhood space to pay off mounting debt. How the relationship between these three Latinx characters unfolds forms the basis of this engaging drama.

Ser Anzoategui: I don’t want to talk about that; I’ll start to cry [Ser changes the subject]. It’s about property— whose got the rights? There are supposed to be three equal shares, but because of how it is—the resentment [the sisters have toward Eddy]—the sisters feel they have more rights, automatically. It’s important to show that. Each character has different experiences of gender, sexual orientation and identification. There is a lot of machismo/a in the Latina community. Women contribute to it, too.

The show is a reflection—this is real.

Sometimes we’re machisma and racist. Vida reflects it back.

Ser Anzoategui: I connected instantly with Eddy. I could understand Eddy’s suffering and her love and the need to connect. We have that need to bring people together in common.

I also knew the area and personalities through my lived experience.

Ser Anzoategui: Holy Flan! Working with Rose Troche—she’s ahead of her time in her execution as a director and what stories are important and how to tell them and ways of shooting them. It was beautiful to watch her work. As an actor, watching her solve problems was so cool. What you see in her head and the choices she makes ... . She has all of this experience and shoots with non-traditional storytelling. She’s directing the sex scenes, well, that’s exciting—I know

it’s a sex scene—but it’s done well by a Latina queer woman!

Gary M. Kramer: What are your beliefs regarding religion and ritual? Eddy feels strongly about both.

Ser Anzoategui: Ritual is important to Eddy. It’s a survival thing. It keeps Eddy thriving and it’s healing, even though it’s done in non-traditional ways. I think that Eddy does it in different ways—heal through food, and this unwavering love, and being a pillar in the community. Eddy has faith—even though religion can reject the queer community—but there is an acceptance. Eddy is spiritual, and intuitive, and communicates to Vida.

Gary M. Kramer: In one of my favorite scenes, Eddy smokes a cigar. Are you a cigar smoker?

Ser Anzoategui: No. I watched a video to see how to look like I’ve done this for a while. They gave me a natural cigar. It was spicy and itchy. I had

GOING GREEK Which Greek letter is often associated with the LGBTQ community?

A) Alpha B) Delta C) Gamma D) Lambda ANSWER ON PAGE 30

PHOTO BY PETER VIRTH

In the fabulous new TV show Vida, debuting May 6 on STARZ, two estranged sisters, the sexpot Lyn (Melissa Barrera) and the uptight Emma (Mishel Prada), are reunited when their mother passes. They soon discover mom had a “roommate,” Eddy (the gender non-binary Ser Anzoategui). They also discover that the women were more than just roommates— Eddy and Vida were married.

Ser Anzoategui

to scrape my tongue after every take!

It was disgusting. I needed a real one.

I couldn’t eat for the rest of the night! © 2018 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @ garymkramer

Karin Jaffie as Kitty Tapata hosts Miss Kitty’s Original Trivia Nights at The Wild Side West on Wednesday nights from 8 pm–11 pm, 424 Cortland Avenue in San Francisco. As Tapata says, “It’s free, fun and friendly! To play is to win!”

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San Francisco Bay Times cofounder Bill Hartman (left) and Theatre Rhinoceros co-founder Allan Estes were captured in a playful, intimate moment in 1978. The photo was taken during the year that our paper was founded and a year after Estes and his partner Lanny Baugniet created their pioneering theater company. Theatre Rhino was the first LGBT theater company to employ actors under a professional seasonal agreement.

Theatre Rhino’s first play, The West Street Gang

by Doric Wilson, was staged in the South of Market leather bar called The Black and Blue. Those of us, like Rink, who remember the bar fondly recall the motorcycle that hung from its ceiling. The play, described by Upworthy.com as “a queer bar farce about sitting down for drinks and standing up to oppression” was a success and provided further impetus for a theater dedicated to works by and for queer people.

Estes was just 29 years old when he died of AIDS in 1984. He was even working on a play called “The AIDS Show” at the time but passed before the production was completed. The play was updated in 1985 with its name changed to “Unfinished Business.”

Round About - All Over Town Spring 2018 Continues!

Rink goes to events and activities all around town, so watch for him and be sure to wave or say, “Hello!” when you see him with his camera.

Emperors Leandro Gonzalez and John Weber at the Bears of San Francisco Beer Bust on April 22

San Francisco Bay Times columnist and Commissioner Andrea Shorter was all smiles on April 16 heading home with her canine companions who were fresh from the Mudpuppy Spa on Castro Street.

Benjamin and Desmond served jambalaya during the Bears of San Francisco beer bust at the Eagle Tavern on April 22.

Larry Rivera and Jack Sugrue staffed the welcome table at the Eagle Tavern on April 22 for the San Francisco Bears beer bust.

The legacies left behind by these visionary men live on, however. Theatre Rhino is now the longest-running queer theatre in the world! Starting May 25 and continuing through June 20, the company will open a new run of the revival of Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical at Gateway Theatre.

2017

Photos by Rink

Juliet Viray and a friend enjoyed the refreshments at GGBA’s monthly Make Contact held on April 10 at Sennheiser “The Future of Audio” location in downtown San Francisco.

Theatre Rhino artistic director John Fisher (right) with choreographer AeJay Mitchell at the Opening Night Champagne Reception for the initial Rhino production run of Priscilla in June 2017.

Entertainers who performed on a float in the annual Cherry Blossom Parade in Japantown on April 22

Entertainer Aja Monet received a tribute from a fan during his performance at the Edge bar on April 21 at the Krewe de Kinque benefit.

Mardi Gras Queen Miss Chief sold raffle tickets at the Krewe de Kinque benefit at the Edge bar on April 21.

A sign acknowledging April as National Poetry Month was included in the window display at Dog Eared Books on Castro on April 25.

Julie Nice, Clair Farley, Andrea Shorter, Ruth Mahaney and Tommi Avicolli Mecca served as panelists on April 25 at the GLBT Historical Society’s event entitled Fighting Back: Queers & the Class Divide.

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CASTRO STREETCAM presented by

sfbaytimes.com Bare Chest Calendar finalists stood together at Harvey Milk Plaza for a group photo with the Castro Theatre as their backdrop on April 25.

City officials and guests, dressed in 1906 period costumes, placed a commemorative wreath at Lotta’s Fountain in an early morning ceremony on April 19 in remembrance of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire.

items of the week Harper + Ari Dessert for your skin

Servers David and Juan at Grubstake diner poured wine for a guest during the Polk Street Spring Wine Walk on April 12.

These luxurious exfoliating sugar cubes come in outrageously delicious scents like Blue Raspberry, Apricot and Peach. They smell good enough to eat (but please don’t!).

Spark Arts Gallery co-owners Aviva Kanoff and Angie Sticher with mayoral candidate Mark Leno at a fundraiser hosted by Tommy Salami at the gallery on April 25.

Gusalo from Berry Licous Family Farms displays the strawberries at the Castro Farmers’ Market on April 25.

Pinky Up Seattle based and woman founded, Pinky Up Teas is all about guilt-free indulgence. The tea collection runs the gamut from traditional green teas to dessert like flavors such as Lavender Sorbet and Earl Grey Macaron.

Recology’s Minna Tao with Cynthia Pino at the Openhouse Spring Fling on April 8 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Host Tommy Salami (center) with friends at the fundraiser supporting the Leno for Jesus from Rodin Farms displays the popular Mayor campaign held at Spark Arts Gal- almond butter at their booth during the Castro Farmers’ Market on April 25. lery on April 24

Lambda Literary executive director Tony Valenzuela with the Hormel Center’s Dee Dee Kramer at the 30th Annual Lambda Literary Bay Area Finalists Reading on April 24.

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ur buyers have been going to trade shows and finding new, fun and sometimes even practical things to make these cold days worth leaving the house. Over the next couple of weeks, lots of new products will be popping up all over the store. We hope you will find something that you just can’t live without !

Melisa Hanson and Jorge Vega from the Pacific Coast Farmer’s Market Association staffed their booth at the Castro Farmers’ Market on April 25.

Author Maggie Shen King displays her book entitled An Excess Male at the 30th Annual Literary Awards Bay Area Finalists Reading on April 24.

Writer Juliana Delgado Lopera read at the 30th Annual Lambda Literary Awards Bay Area Finalists event at the SF Library on April 24.

Remember the Bay Times Personals?

They’re back and better than ever!

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Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

Sister Dana sez, “Trump calls FBI’s James Comey a ‘slime ball.’ Yeah, well, people in glass White Houses shouldn’t throw stones!”

In 1998, Larry Hashbarger and Skip Young opened AsiaSF. This restaurant-lounge-dance club quickly became a San Francisco entertainment landmark and a true celebration of diversity. Its world famous transgender stars, the beautiful and talented Ladies of AsiaSF, have always been the focal point of the AsiaSF experience. This positive, trans-awareness experience to guests of all ages from everywhere in the U.S. and the world is celebrating its 20th year, so naturally they had to throw an anniversary party on April 17. It started with a red-carpet welcome and paparazzi snapping photos. Inside was an open bar, including signature cocktails, and some of the Ladies of AsiaSF served canapés. Larry and Skip spoke of the history of AsiaSF, reminisced, and informed us of the summer renovation plans, including possibly expanding to another similar venue in Palm Springs. They introduced show director and choreographer Ronnie Reddick, who is responsible for the lively floor show (or rather top of the bar runway show) with the Ladies of AsiaSF giving us life in dancing up a storm to both old and new tunes.

Emcee and longtime performer Tita Aida brought on the girls, including two veteran dancers. By the way, the Mayor proclaimed it was officially AsiaSF Day in San Francisco, and the Senate sent a certificate of recognition. For the encore of the evening, the ladies and attendees sang along to Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family,” because we truly felt like family that night. To top it all off, we were each given fancy souvenir inscribed champagne glasses to take home.

The RICHMOND/ERMET AID FOUNDATION presented DONNA SACHET’S SONGS FOR NO REASON, The Big Gay Comedy Extravaganza, at The Russian Center for an evening of stellar standup and musical comedy. It was a benefit for POSITIVE RESOURCE CENTER and REAF produced by directors Ken Henderson & Joe Seiler. Donna (unusually gold this time, and not yet in her traditional red for the second half) took the stage, dragging behind her a fabric train that reached halfway as long as the stage. We laughed, we cried and we peed our pants over these talented performers, who are also good friends: Bruce Vilanch (TV, Broadway star); Shawn Ryan (America’s Got Talent finalist) Ronn Vigh (TV star Comedy Central)/comedian); Brian Kent (singer, recording artist); Jessica Coker (cabaret star/actress); and Kit Tipata (San Francisco Bay Times columnist and comedienne).

You are invited to join the San Francisco Bay Times' Award-Winning Contingent in the San Francisco Pride Parade on Sunday, June 24 Inquire to publisher@sfbaytimes.com or 415-601-2113 22

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D’Arcy Drollinger is presenting San Francisco’s living legend, Matthew Martin, as Joan Crawford in the delicious drag parody of the 1970 British science fiction horror film, TROG! It is not a requirement to know every single movie La Crawford has ever made, but at least having enjoyed the Mommie Dearest bio movie send-up is helpful. Also, a little Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? viewing will be a bonus.

But just keep in mind that Joan was a total ham in so many of her flicks when realizing how well Martin perfectly portrays her on stage. Arguably one of the “worst/best” movies ever

We joined Queen XV Miss Chief and King XV Gooch of KREWE DE KINQUE as we hosted our monthly $10 Beer/Soda Bust at the EDGE. People won fabulous raffle prizes including 2 tickets to Heklina’s “Mother” at Oasis, champagne, California Wines, a $15 Starbucks gift card and a Haircut at Fellow Barbers.

Folks supported our fundraising efforts and bought Jell-O shots for friends and family. We had some of the best Drag and Live entertainers in the City in this open show, such as Aja MonetAshton and Kelly Rose, with tips going to our next beneficiary via our Bal Masque Fund. As ever, Queen VII Sister Dana was “door whore” collecting all of the generous $$$ donation$ for charity. Come join us every third Saturday at the Edge, 4–7 pm for more Mardi-Gras themed Krewe de Kinque fun! Let the good times roll!

I caught the closing week of MEGABYTES! THE MUSICAL in its world premiere at Shelton Theater. The show took a really humorous look at how we navigate technology in our lives. It was all about the frustrations, anxieties, annoyances, and occasional joys we encounter as we all struggle to cope with the frustrating challenges created by technology. Some of my fave moments addressed such frustrations as: butt dialing; twitter trending; finding a suitable password with the right combinations of letters (lower case and caps), numbers, underlines, hyphens, and ampersands; and the agony of being on hold forever and ever with horrendous background music.

The tremendously talented ensemble cast of four, Deborah Russo, David Goodwin, Lisa McHenry & Kim Larsen, addressed all of that and more. Now through May 5 at 533 Sutter Street. megabytesthemusical.com

IC envisions a diverse society where LGBTQQ youth are embraced for who they are and encouraged to be who they want to be. By working towards social justice and supporting young leaders, their families and allies, LYRIC is building a world that honors, respects and appreciates LGBTQQ youth and their contributions.

I was given a tour of all three floors by Chad and Kelsey, where I learned the reason their HQ was painted lavender and their first name was “Lavender” was because of the historic time of the “Lavender Scare” in the early 50s when federal and state governments investigated and fired thousands of employees who were suspected of being gay or lesbian, claiming that they were “security risks” who were vulnerable to Soviet blackmail. As historian David Johnson explained, “Many politicians, journalists, and citizens thought that lesbians and gay men posed more of a threat to national security than Communists.” Ironically, this government persecution of gay men and lesbians brought more visibility to LGBT people, which led them to seek each other out and form communities and political consciousness.

In celebration of their 30 years, LYRIC honored their alumni for their leadership, contributions to LYRIC’s past, current, future, and ongoing commitment to community, especially to LGBTQQ youth. They were excited to honor LYRIC Star Leaders Marvin Matamoros, Tracy Zhu, and Luis Gutierrez-Mock that Thursday.

State Asssemblyman Phil Ting presented a Certificate of Recognition, and Supervisor Jeff Sheehy also sent a Certificate.

THE VINE, our Wednesday night (6:30 pm) contemporary worship community, was inspired by the Grace Cathedral YEAR OF TRUTH theme and initiated a preaching series specifically to raise up the voices of women. Last week they focused on Mary Magdalene. For their April 25 Vine worship service at Grace, the Rev. Yolanda Norton, Assistant Professor of Old Testament at San Francisco Theological Seminary, was preaching.

Rev. Norton created a “BEYONCÉ AND THE HEBREW BIBLE” class at the Seminary that draws on Beyoncé’s music to raise awareness about the spiritual experience of Black women and the issues they face in our society. We sang many of the Queen B’s classics such as “Survivor,” “Listen,” “Freedom,” “All the Single Ladies,” and “I Was Here.” As supporters of the Cathedral, how important it is for us to be involved in the public life of our City and the world. A longing for justice lies at the heart of our identity. Grace Cathedral has a tradition of engaging popular culture on issues of social justice that stretches back long before their controversial Duke Ellington Jazz Service in the mid-1960s. People who feel this is sacrilegious might want to note that God is in all the world, and that Beyoncé is

LYRIC (LAVENDER YOUTH (continued on page 29) RECREATION AND INFORMATION CENTER) turned 30, and they celebrated with a night of community and LYRIC youth creativity. We looked back on 30 years of cultivating leadership, strength and solidarity. The theme was UNITY IS RESILIENCE. LYRIC’s 30th anniversary party was on April 26 at their headquarters on 127 Collingwood Street in the heart of the Castro. I was thrilled when Executive Director Jodi L. Schwartz told me they did not rent the space but owned it and were close to paying off the mortgage. This means that they are not subject to ridiculous rent increases in the Castro. LYRIC’s mission is to build community and inspire positive social change through education enhancement, career trainings, health promotion, and leadership development with LGBTQQ youth, their fam- Serving as a greeter at the Krewe De Kinque benefit at the ilies, and allies of all races, class- Edge bar on April 21, Sister Dana welcomed entertainer Aja Monet, who performed at the event. es, genders, and abilities. LYR-

PHOTO BY RINK

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

made, and Joan Crawford’s last film, it follows anthropologist Dr. Brockton (Martin) and her discovery of a living troglodyte (an Ice Age “missing link” half-caveman, half-ape, one quarter vaudevillian). The doc manages to domesticate him—until he’s let loose by an irate land developer to go on a killing rampage. Also, for no reason at all but to the joy of all, they suddenly break into a musical production number. On opening night, Sister Dana got a shout-out as one of the paparazzi journalists in the audience haranguing Doc Brocton. By the way, I was quite fortunate to catch this live show 12 years ago with Martin and Heklina in equally humorous starring roles. But this update is even more fabulous. Trog! features drag star Heklina along with a hilarious cast that includes queens, comedians, and clowns: Sue Casa, Adam Roy, Michael Phillis, Rory Davis and special guest appearance

by Sara Moore. Directed by Cindy Goldfield. Don’t be prehistoric and miss this hysterical hissstory in the mis-making! Now through May 12 at Oasis, 298 11th Street. sfoasis.com

Donna Sachet’s Songs for No Reason The Big Gay Comedy Extrvaganza

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The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF) presented the first ever Songs for No Reason on Friday, April 19, at the Russian Center in San Francisco. The show marked the return of legendary Bay Area entertainer Donna Sachet to the stage following the close of Sachet’s longstanding and beloved Songs of the Season benefit that was held annually for 25 years.

For the many admirers who looked forward to that show, it heralded a glistening start of fundraisers happening during the winter holiday season.

Billed as a “blend of stand up and musical comedy,” the new Songs for No Reason production did not disappoint. The lineup of special guests brought the house to its feet more than once, resulting in laughter, tears and applause. Performers included Bruce Vilanch, Shawn Ryan, Ronn Vigh, Kim Nalley, Chann Carr, Brian Kent, Kitty Tapata and Jessica Coker.

As the first Songs for No Reason benefiting REAF and Positive Resource Center came to a close, the prevailing questions—both in the audience and behind the curtain—were: “How soon is the next one?” and, “Will this become another of Donna’s spectacular ongoing series?” We shall have to wait and see!

Congratulations to Donna, Joe, Ken and to all of the performers and volunteers on what we hope will be a new annual San Francisco tradition.

OLIS PHOTO BY PAUL MARG

PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS

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PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS

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PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS

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http://www.reaf.org

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DE YOUNG AND LEGION OF HONOR

Cult of the Machine: Precisionism and American Art At the de Young through August 12 Layered, complex, and deeply personal, the still lifes Gerald Murphy produced between 1921 and 1929 reflect the tensions between surface and depth, exterior and interior that plagued the psyche of this talented figure whose “Watch” is featured in the exhibit Cult of the Machine: Precisionism and American Art at the de Young.

“Watch,” created in 1925, seems to contain subtle references to the artist’s difficult personal life. Measuring six and a half feet square and rendered in stunningly precise detail, the painting presents a close-up view of a watch in which the mechanisms are based on those of two timepieces that had particular meaning for Murphy—in the center of the composition, we see the workings of a railroad watch designed by Mark W. Cross & Company (the luxury goods business owned by Murphy’s father), and at upper right, those of a favorite gold pocket watch that his wife Sara Wiborg had given to him when they were engaged.

The three Roman numerals of the latter may allude to the couple’s three children, and the inverted “F” and “S” below them could indicate “fast and slow” while simultaneously representing Fred, the artist’s recently deceased brother, and Sara. Most interestingly, horology experts have confirmed that while the various cogs, wheels, levers, and springs in the painting are generally pictured with a startling degree of verisimilitude, the watch features a broken mainspring, and is fundamentally inoperative.

Scholars have speculated that this painstakingly accurate, large-scale rendering of an object that seems on the surface to be impressively reliable, but is in reality completely nonfunctional, served as a veiled metaphor for Murphy’s deep-seated insecurity about his repressed sexuality. Comparing his emotional core to

Gerald Murphy “Watch,” 1925. de Young Museum FAMSF

a flawed timepiece, Murphy wrote in 1931, “After all these years ... I awaken to find that I have apparently never had one real relationship ... . My subsequent life has been a process of concealment of the personal realities ... . The effect on my heart has been evident. It is now a faulty instrument de précision.”

Murphy stopped painting permanently in 1929. After living in France for many years, he and Sara returned to the U.S. to run the family business, and subsequently weathered the tragic early deaths of their two sons. Murphy in 1964 died just two days after the death of his close friend, gay noted composer and songwriter Cole Porter. https://deyoung.famsf.org/

Dolores Huerta’s Life and Achievements Should Be Taught More in Schools

By Lyndsey Schlax (Editor’s Note: It has just been announced that teacher Lyndsey Schlax of the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, along with Sonya Mehta and Sarah La Due, will receive the New Leaders Council 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award! They are being honored for founding and growing Teachers Take Action Against Gun Violence (https://www.facebook. com/TeachersTakeAction/). Please join us in congratulating them on this well-deserved honor. The awards will be presented at the event “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: A Celebration of a Progressive Community” on May 10 at 111 Minna Gallery.

For more information, go to the NLC website (http://sf.newleaderscouncil. org/2018standinggiants?utm_cam paign=2018chapterfundraiser_424 2018&utm_medium=email&utm_ source=sanfrancisco). In 2015, Schlax launched the nation’s f irst on-site high school LGBT course. She still offers that groundbreaking class but is teaching Ethnic Studies this semester. The two subjects often intersect, so in this column her students share their thoughts about both Ethnic Studies and LGBT-related matters, including their concerns, what they have learned in class and more.

Here, two twelfth graders write about labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, who recently turned 88. We were honored to spend time with Huerta when she gravitated to our San Francisco Bay Times Pride Parade contingent assembly area a few years ago. Some of our talented contingent members broke out in a spontaneous Latin dance on that festive Sunday morning, and Huerta was so happy and captivated by their impressive moves. She is one soulful woman.

Long live Dolores Huerta!)

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1. Recently we watched the documentar y f i lm Dolores about Dolores Huerta and her role as cofounder of the National Farmworker s A s so ciat ion. W hen Dolores Huerta C es a r Ch avez Photo by Gage started the farm- Skidmore workers movement to gain respect and rights for these individuals, he was accompanied by Huerta. Although she made most of the decisions, and even sacrificed time with her family to restore the civil rights of her community, she is left out of the dominant narrative. This documentary showcased her achievements and reminded me of all women in the past and present who have not been credited for their hard work and involvement.

2. For most of my life, all I knew about the farmworkers movement was that: a) farmworkers were being treated unfairly and needed to protest; and b) Cesar Chavez led the movement.

I’ve grown up surrounded by paintings of, and tributes to, Chavez. I’ve been taught about him countless times in my elementary school classrooms, middle school classrooms, and high school classrooms. There are murals, portraits, children’s books, statues and even entire buildings immortalizing Chavez. As for Dolores Huerta, her name was always thrown in as an aside at the end. The world has largely stayed silent on her.

The documentary Dolores, released last year and directed by Peter Bratt, may change that. It includes interviews of high prof ile activists and politicians as well as Huerta herself, along with footage from the years that she led the farmworkers movement,

STUDENT VOICES footage of Chavez himself praising her and more. Together, these images paint a pretty clear picture of the kind of person Huerta is. A fiery activist and leader, she negotiated with businesses—or wore them out until they were ready to negotiate—led marches, recruited people to join the cause of the farmworkers, helped to join the farmworkers movement with other movements, gave up her comfortable life in the name of equality and that is all just for a start.

Chavez and Huerta were both amazing activists that were truly able to change our nation. Still, I didn’t know who Huerta was until a week ago.

Why is Chavez the only one getting the credit?

For more information about the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, please visit http://www.sfsota.org/ Lyndsey Schlax has been a teacher in the San Francisco Unified School District since 2008. She is uniquely qualified to address multiple areas of LGBT studies, having also specialized in subjects such as Modern World History, Government, Economics and U.S. Politics. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, and earned her M.A. in Teaching at the University of San Francisco.

The Shavings of an Almost Olympian

Sports John Chen Did you know that competitive swimmers shave their bodies? Many of them are not naturally smooth like me and many of my Asian brethren.

And yes, they shave pretty much almost everything, almost. And no, swimmers don’t prefer having smooth bodies unless they are competing where their smooth skin creates seamless friction caressing along velvety water canals ultimately achieving the intimacy of oneness. In other words, smooth skin reduces drag and enables maximum efficiency and speed gliding through water.

Meet Mike Reilly, a former Olympic caliber swimmer who shared the importance of shaving, his experience with elite competition, and his foray as a supporter of our LGBT community. Mike grew up in a championship pedigree family in Long Island, New York, where his Irish parents and siblings earned All American status in various collegiate sports and academics. As a youngster, Mike loved being in, around and under water. Swimming became a natural and perfect match for this active child and provided structure—a consistent regimen of daily practices and weekend meets. By age 12, Mike was a veteran of swimming competitions and boasted elite times and finishes in the backstroke and the butterfly.

With great hopes of making the U.S. National Team and eventually repre-

senting our nation in the Olympics, Mike ran into several obstacles, one of them named Michael Phelps, winner of an Olympic record 23 gold medals in swimming. Back then, the U.S. swimming program sported a log jam of elite talent making Mike’s Olympic road extremely challenging. Wanting to make his mark and his parents proud, Mike turned to his Irish roots and made the Irish National Team on track to represent Ireland in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Sunny and warm Southern California was a natural fit for Mike who boasts golden blond hair, handsome surfer looks and a “Valley” intonation. Mike wanted to continue to swim competitively in college, but not be consumed by the sport. At the University of Redlands, close to Los Angeles, Mike carved out a great balance between swimming on his college team, his studies and campus life. College was also where Mike discovered the vitality and strength of the LGBT community.

Although the swim team had a few openly gay athletes, Mike noted that the issue of sexuality never really came up or was a concern for the team. Competitive athletics in individual sports such as swimming is very much merit based, and sexual orientation and identity don’t really come into play. In addition, having a gay but conservative roommate

ther you bend your knees, the more knee strain occurs. Sitting in that position for more than a minute can really lead to painful knees. You may or may not feel the knee pain at the time, but it accumulates.

Cinder Ernst When your knee(s) hurt, it’s hard to stay active. Loss of mobility is no fun and can lead to poor health and decreased well-being. I write about knee pain a lot. I’ve been a personal trainer for thirty years. Over those three decades, I’ve seen quite a bit of knee pain and I’ve learned how to help people to feel better. I have a “Heal Your Knee” starter kit available as a free opt in online (lesskneepain.com).

There are everyday positions that you probably find yourself in that can hurt your knees. With just a little adjustment in these activities/positions, you may find your knee pain diminishes or goes away. Bonus: the adjustments themselves are not only pain relief hacks, but they also help to improve mobility and increase strength.

First, let’s talk about sitting at your desk. Tucking your legs up under your chair for any length of time can lead to sore knees. Many people sit like this, even crossing their ankles under the chair. The problem is that the fur-

Francisco his permanent home. His philosophy also parlayed into forming a strong bond with the LGBT community. You can often find Mike working out, socializing and doing community work in the Castro, in particular for Impulse SF, a group dedicated to educating sexual health because, guess what, Mike believes very much in being safe, no matter who you are.

Life as an elite swimmer in Ireland was a lonely one. Mike trained all day and faced the prospect of being home schooled. A once gregarious and social teenager, Mike felt isolated while staring at the bottom of the pool for hours on end. This kind of solitary life was not what Mike wanted and had intended. That first summer in Ireland, Mike ventured out and discovered a whole world beyond swimming, a world where kids could just be kids and have fun. The lure of living versus suffocating became an easy choice and Mike quit competitive swimming, but not entirely.

Knee Pain Relief Hacks

Easy Fitness

Photos courtesy of John Chen

Fortunately, all you need to do is undo the position following what I call the “90-degree rule.” The 90-degree rule means sitting with your ankles directly under your knees so that your thighs and lower legs create a 90-degree angle. It’s also fine and good to have your legs straighter than 90. You may catch yourself in the tuck position frequently and then make the adjustment. The movement itself— going from tucked under to 90 degrees—is friendly for two reasons: the first is because you are staying for a shorter length of time in the strained position, and the second is because motion is lotion to your joints and you are moving your knee joints.

Sitting for too long in any position, 90 degrees or otherwise, is not easy on your body. It’s best to get up frequently, as much as every 20 minutes or so. If you find that you have been sitting for a while and you are about to get up, fidget first. Straighten and bend your knees, squeeze your butt and stretch your spine. Then stand up. Your knees will thank you and your butt muscles will get stronger.

Driving can be hard on your right knee. My right knee is pretty trashed, so I use cruise control whenever possible. I notice that when I’m driving without cruise control, my knee will fall out, putting my knee, foot and ankle out of alignment. To correct that I bring my knee back so it’s over

From an almost Olympian to an ally of the LGBT community, Mike certainly represents the positive chang-

ing landscape of people’s views on self-identity. Proud to sport a natural hairy coat, although a bit sparse, Mike chooses to celebrate who he is.

Nowadays, Mike parlays his competitive focus and discipline into a successful career and swims at community pools in San Francisco. Although he doesn’t really need to shave, Mike may do so if it is for a worthy cause.

John Chen, a UCLA alumnus and an avid sports fan, has competed as well as coached tennis, volleyball, softball and football teams.

Fitness SF Trainer Tip of the Month helped Mike to understand some of the struggles and challenges of coming to terms with one’s identity and coming out.

In his senior year, Mike—in support of his roommate finally coming out— went with him on a tour of West Hollywood, which Mike affectionately called a fun “outing parade” for his friend. The first timers to “Boys Town” were promptly introduced to what Mike described as an incredibly positive vibe of the LGBT community where people “celebrated who they are rather than whom they have sex with.”

Fast forward to the present, when Mike’s affinity for celebration of who individuals are led him to make San

my ankle, and then I try to straighten my foot. I notice this happening all of the time and so I correct it repeatedly. I am also aware of my left knee alignment, but it is not as critical for me. See what you notice about this for yourself and make any needed corrections. Just for fun, you can also do butt squeezes (in good alignment) while you are driving.

One more knee pain relief hack is your sleeping position. I had a friend with chronic knee pain and I gave her this tip and her knee pain improved dramatically. If you sleep on your side in the fetal position, open your knees to the 90-degree rule or try an “L” position with your legs straight. The bottom line is to notice any sustained positions where your knees are out of alignment (not over your toes) or bent a lot, and then try something else instead. Everybody is different, so pay attention to your body and how it feels. Be easy about this. Simply notice and correct when you think it’s a good idea to do so.

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” (http:// cinderernst.com/easy-fitnessbook/), is available in paperback and E-book. She specializes in fitness and rehab for plus-size clients, but her stress-free approach is suitable for all. Find out more at http://cinderernst.com

Elliot Q ,

Fitness SF Embarcadero “The Dead-lift is my all-time favorite exercise.

It’s great for working your back, legs, and glutes. Try pausing right before reaching your upward position, and then pause again before the weights hit the floor.

It definitely increases the difficulty and demands more from your muscles.”

Tore Kelly, Director of Creative & Social Media for Fitness SF, provides monthly tips that he has learned from professional trainers. For more information: https://fitnesssf.com/

Take Me Home with You! Pumpkin

“My name is Pumpkin! I’m a sweet and social lady who enjoys showing my affection by snuggling. I just celebrated my 14th birthday and I’m looking for a loving home where I can enjoy my golden years. Do you like afternoon naps in the sunshine? How about mellow evenings cuddling on the couch? If so, I’d love to meet you!”

Pumpkin 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 Pumpkin.

To meet Pumpkin as well as other pets seeking their forever homes, please visit: San Francisco SPCA Mission Campus 250 Florida Street San Francisco, CA 94103 415-522-3500

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

Aside from major holidays, the adoption center is open Mon–Fri: 1–6 pm and Sat–Sun: 10 am–5 pm. Free parking is available for those wishing to adopt!

For more info, please visit https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/cats S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2018)

COMING UP

Compiled by Blake Dillon

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS sfbaytimes.com

3 : Thursday Eleventh Annual Lesbian Summer Camp @ Pinnacles National Monument, Paicines. This fun weekend for women, including camping, hiking, swimming, and music by the campfire, will sell out. May 3–6. jamyrson@gmail.com Castro Art Walk @ Castro District Locations. A neighborhood art walk held monthly on the first Thursday of each month at multiple hosting locations. 6–7pm. Castro Art Walk on Facebook Art Tech NightLife @ California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive. The evening in the Academy’s ongoing Thursday NightLife series features art, music, performances and ideas inspired by the future of life in space and shared with experts. 6–10pm. calacademy.org Rock of Ages @ Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Palo Alto Players’ production of the musical set in the Reagan Era. 8pm Fridays & Saturdays; 2pm Sundays through May 13. paplayers.org

4 : Friday Queer First Fridays @ Temescal Brewing, 4115 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland. The event, described as an evening of “beers, beats and babes in Oakland,” continues on first Fridays with resident and guest DJs spinning

tunes. Menu items by El Sabrosito ES. 5pm. Queer First Fridays on Facebook. temescalbrewing.com MAX’s May TGIF @ Hyatt Embarcadero Eclipse Lounge 5 Embarcadero Center. Gay men and friends meet for the monthly first Friday networking evening. Limited to 150 and RSVP required. 6–8pm. concierge@masxf.org EBabes @ The Terrace Room, Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison Street, Oakland. Now in its tenth year, the popular first Friday social networking event for women will continue with representatives from Olivia Travel as this month’s featured guests. 6–8pm. Ebabes TGIF on Facebook Cabaret, The Musical @ Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Road, Kensington.

The classic musical is presented by Theatre of the Blue Moon. Fridays & Saturdays 8pm and Sundays 3pm May 4–13. uucb.org Prism @ Qube Bar and Grill, 4000 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo. The new all-inclusive “gay bar” will be open on Fridays in the Qube Bar and Grill location. 8pm–11:30pm. Prism Bar on Facebook and qubebargrill.com Desperate Living SF Dyke March Benefit @ The Stud, 399 9th Street. A monthly benefit event hosted by Sgt. Die Wies and guest performers with an absurd raffle including a drag queen pie-in-theface. 10pm–3am. studsf.com

5 : Saturday

6 : Sunday

SF Cinco De Mayo @ 21st & 24th Streets. The annual familyfriendly cultural celebration. 10am– 6pm. cincodemayosf.org

2018 Year of the Dog Photo Exhibit @ McLaren Lodge, 501 Stanyan Street. The exhibit, presented jointly by the Harvey Milk Photo Center and the McLaren Lodge, features photos from the oldest and largest outdoor event of its kind in the world. harveymilkphotocenter.org

Cinco de Mayo Dance Festival @ Jack London Square, Oakland. The first ever Cinco de Mayo Dance Festival will include turf battles hosted by featured emcees and DJs with live performances, dancing horses, live painting, prize giveaways and more. 12 Noon–7pm. jacklondonsquare.com Elixir’s 15th Anniversary Year Party Series: Cinco de Derby 2018 @ Elixir, 3200 16th Street. San Francisco’s second oldest saloon continues celebrating its 160-year-old tradition with drink specials, free snacks, hat contest and more. 1pm–2am. elixirsf.com Peaches Christ’s “Steel Dragnolia” with Alaska, Coco Peru & More @ Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street. Peaches Christ will host a parody stage show followed by a screening of the 1989 classic Steel Magnolias. 3pm & 8pm. peacheschrist.com The Annual Cinco De Meow @ The Cinch, 1723 Polk Street. Emperor 32 Fernando’s Annual Cinco de Meow fundraising benefit, hosted by Empress 49 China Silk, will include raffles, grab bags, show and the crowing of a new Chico and Chica Chulo 2018. 4–7pm chinchsf.com Hey Girl Hey Mingle @ Era Art Bar, 19 Grand Avenue, Oakland. Hosted

by Dr. Frankie, the event will provide opportunities to mix and mingle for singles and couples. 5pm. littlegaybook.com Funny Girlz! Lisa Koch, Vickie Shaw & Roxanna Ward @ Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison, Berkeley. Three stars in the world of lesbian comedy on stage together. 8pm. thefreight.org The GuerneVegas Review @ r3 Hotel, 16390 4th Street, Guerneville. The Purple Stardust Productions team presents a multimedia drag variety show featuring an all women rock band, amazing wigs and costumes and compelling visuals. 8–11pm. ther3hotel.com Saturday Night Soul Party @ The Elbow Room, 647 Valencia. Held every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at the Elbo Room San Francisco, the event is hosted by DJs Lucky, Phengren Oswald, and Special Lord B. aka DJ Paul Paul.10pm. elboromsf.com

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Queericulum @ The Center SF, 548 Fillmore Street. An all-day, queer-centered educational, artistic and social urban retreat with playshops and a community dinner theatre. 11am–10pm. Queericulum at Facebook 19th Annual How Weird Street Faire @ The Disco Ball Inferno, Howard and 2nd Streets. A wide array of dance will be presented on 10 stages. 12–8pm. howweird.org The Waiting Period @ The Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia Street. Recommended for anyone struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts; general admission is free or buy your ticket for a reservation. 2pm on Sundays through July 29. themarsh.org Swagger Like Us @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street. Hosted by Kelly Lovemonster, the event, described as a party, a vibe and a culture, will feature performer Shug and a lineup of DJs, photos by Takeover Tokyo and free BBQ. 3–8pm. swaggersf.com Vandana’s “Forever 29” Birthday Concert + Cake @ Martuni’s Piano Bar, 4 Valencia Street. The classically trained vocalist will perform selections from her recent show at Feinstein’s at the Nikko, including hits from awardwinning Broadway musicals. 5pm. vandana.net Mary Lou’s Apartment @ Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley. The all-women band’s maiden voyage featuring music of African American musical geniuses Mary Lou Williams and Melba Liston. 7pm. thefreight.org

7 : Monday Sacred Cocktails @ The Lookout Bar, 16th and Market Streets.

The monthly (First Monday) event features a selected conversation topic and guest speakers. 6:30–8pm. lookoutsf.com 40 Plus Men’s Group @ Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, 3207 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland.

A new monthly (1st Monday) multiethnic support group for men 40+.

7–8:30pm. oaklandlgbtqcenter.org Bingo @ Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Community Center, 938 The Alameda San Jose. Gay Bingo every Wednesday and Drag Queen Bingo every 3rd Wednesday each month bring you bingo, snacks and net-

SAVE THESE DATES SUNDAY, MAY 6 Maitri’s BLISS WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 PAWS Petchitecture FRIDAY, MAY 11 Our Family Coalition Gala MAY 18-20 38th Russian River Women’s Weekend SATURDAY, MAY 19 NCLR Anniversary Celebration SUNDAY, JUNE 3-9 AIDS/LifeCycle FRIDAY, JUNE 8 Oakland A’s Night Out WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20 SFLGFB 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner THURSDAY, JUNE 21 SF Giants Night Out SATURDAY, JUNE 23 Pride Brunch SUNDAY, JUNE 23-24 SF Pride Parade & Festival SUNDAY, JULY 15 AIDS Walk San Francisco AUGUST 2-5 Lazy Bear Weekend SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Oakland Pride AUGUST 25-26 Silicon Valley Pride SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 Horizons Annual Gala SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7 Castro Street Fair MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 SFGMC Home for the Holidays working. Early Bird: 6:30pm / Regular Game: 7pm. defrankcenter.org

8 : Tuesday Poetic Tuesday @ Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, 760 Howard. Litquake will host some of the Bay Area’s best poets and musicians outdoors where you can enjoy your lunch. 12:30–1:30pm. bgfestival.org Pioneers at the Theatre: The Color Purple @ SHN Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market Street. Cal State East Bay Alumni present a spe-

cial evening to enjoy the show, networking and cocktails. 6:30pm reception / 8pm performance. csueastbay.edu Habeas Data Book Launch with Author Cyrus Farivar @ Laurel Book Store, 1423 Broadway, Oakland.

The author will discuss and read from his newest book. 7pm. laurelbookstore.com Overlooked Latinas @ Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th Street. Brava presents a staged reading of Overlooked Latinas, a story of two gender nonconforming queer Latinx best friends.

7–8pm. brava.org Perfectly Queer @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street.

Novelists Anne Raeff (Winter Kept Us Warm) and Rob Rosen (And God Belched) will read with poets Susan Dambroff (Conversations With Trees) and David Hathwell (Between Dog and Wolf). 7pm. dogearedboks.com

9 : Wednesday Castro Farmers’ Market @ 16th and Beaver Streets. The Castro neighborhood’s Farmers’ Market has begun a new season with fresh veggies, fruits, crafts and artisan-made goodies. 4–8pm. Castro Farmers’ Market on Facebook NERT (Neighborhood Emergency Response Training) with SFFD @ St. Francis Memorial Hospital, 900 Hyde Street. San Francisco Fire Department staff will instruct the session designed to get you ready for any emergency. 6:30–10pm. bit.ly/2GMxCuY SF Pride Membership Meeting @ SF Pride Office, 1841 Market Street, 4th Floor. One in the ongoing series of meetings for members of the SF Pride Committee. 7pm sfpride.org Tapata Trivia Round UP! @ Wild Side West, 424 Courtland Avenue.

Kit Tapata hosts the weekly-onWednesdays trivia competition mixed with music and live improv at the popular Bernal Heights location. 7–9pm. tapatatwins.com

10 : Thursday Book Passages Presents Pete Souza @ Curran Theater, 445 Geary Street. Former presidential photographer Souza will discuss his book Obama: An Intimate Portrait. 7pm. sfcurran.com

Check Out the New Personals Section for LGBTQ Singles: BayTimesDating.com

Big Bang Gala @ California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive. Big Bang is the Academy’s annual event bringing together supporters and friends for thought-provoking conversation with great minds on the importance of science and the Academy’s mission to explore, explain and sustain life on Earth.

6–8:30pm / Dance Party After Dark: 8:30pm–12am. calacademy.org Comedy at Ashkenaz! @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Center, 1317 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley. Hosted by comedy producer Lisa Geduldig of Kung Pao Kosher Comedy, the 2nd Thursday comedy series in May has the theme Comics Over 50 (with Bad Backs) and features Ian Williams, Bridget Schwartz, Judi Leff and Geduldig. 8pm. koshercomedy.com

11 : Friday Visit with Senior Dogs @ Muttville, 255 Alabama Street. The event is a monthly group visit with dogs seven years and older. Every second Friday and organized by Openhouse. 2pm. ariel@openhouse-sf.org Making Queer Zines: Do-ItYourself Empowerment in Print @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street. Center for Sex and Culture’s Dorian Katz and Miss Ian will S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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share favorite local queer zines and review the basics of zine-making while assisting attendees in creating their own zines. 7–9pm. glbthistory.org Free Range Fridays Bluegrass Pride @ La Promenade Café, 3643 Balboa. Benefiting the California Bluegrass Association’s SF Pride Parade contingent, the event will include a line-up of artists with hosts Jeanie and Chuck.

7–9:30pm. cbaweb.org One Night at the Ramada Opening Night @PianoFight, 144 Taylor Street. The evening is a world premiere of a show produced by the long-standing female sketch comedy group PianoFight. 8pm.

Continues through May 19. pianofight.com

12 : Saturday Help Keep the Castro Safe @ Castro Community on Patrol, 400 Castro Street. You can learn about the role of the citizen in community safety and consider the option of joining the Walking Safety Patrols. 1–4pm. castropatrol.org Saturday Sing-along! @ Strawberry Creek Lodge, 1320 Addison Street, Berkeley. Organizers of the event, hosted by OLOC (Old Lesbians Organizing for Change), encourage you to bring your voice, a percussion instrument if you wish, snacks and good energy. 415-8261629 or vinicoff@hotmail.com The Evolution of Love with Author Lucy Jane Bledsoe @ Laurel Book Store, 1423 Broadway, Oakland. One of the favorites among local lesbian authors, Bledsoe will read from her latest novel about what happens when a devastating earthquake his the Bay Area.

5pm. laurelbookstore.com Rufus Wainwright @ Uptown Theatre, 1350 Third Street, Napa.

The acclaimed singer/songwriter will appear in Napa as part of his current national tour. 8pm. uptowntheatrenapa.com

13 : Sunday MOTHER’S DAY South Bay Youth Pride Festival @ Family & Children Services of Silicon Valley, 950 West Julian Street, San Jose. The LGBTQ Youth Space and local LGBTQ+ leaders will host the first ever Pride Festival for youth in the South Bay with music, entertainment, food, games, a resource fair, guest speakers and more. 12–4pm. youthspace.org Ruby’s In Town with Stephanie Teel @ The Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Albany. The group known as “Your favorite lesbian R&B cover band” performs with their special guest rocker Stephanie Teel. 4-8pm. rubysintown.com Mommy Dearest - The Resurrection of Joan Crawford @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge, 133 Turk Street. Grand Duchess 32 Sophilya Leggz hosts a Mother’s Day fundraiser not meant for the squeamish. 4–5pm. Sophilya Leggz on Facebook

14 : Monday Strut Book Club @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. Less by Andrew Sean Greer is the selection for April.

7:30–9pm. strutsf.org Milk at Munros At Midnight @ Midnight Sun, 4067 18th Street.

Miss Big & Milky, Milk Queen will join Paju Munro, Mercedez Munro and Ruby Red Munro for a midnight show. 9pm–Closing. midnightsunsf.com

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15 : Tuesday GGBA MEGA Make Contact @ BMW of San Francisco, 1675 Howard Street. GGBA’s annual event during SF Small Business Week brings together hundreds of entrepreneurs, business owners and friends. 5:30pm. ggba.com Castro Rotary Club @ The Sausage Factory, 517 Castro Street.

Join LGBT Rotarians on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays and learn about current projects and volunteer opportunities. 6:30–8pm. portal.clubrunner.ca/13807 You Sa Ho Bingo with Holotta & Saki @ Club 1220, 1220 Pine Street, Walnut Creek.

Drag Bingo hosted by Holotta Tymes and Saki Samora, every 3rd Tuesday. 7pm. club1220.com

16 : Wednesday Michelle Tea Book Event @ City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus Avenue. The event celebrates the release of Tea’s new book Against Memoir: Complaints, Confessions & Criticisms. 7pm. citylights.com Michael Feinstein @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko, 222 Mason Street.

Michael Feinstein, the Ambassador of the Great American Songbook, returns to San Francisco to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Feinstein’s with a selection of beloved standards and some contemporary surprises. Continues through May 20. feinsteinsathtenikko.com

17 : Thursday Presidio Twilight @ The Presidio’s Main Parade Ground. Returning for its 5th season, the event, cosponsored by the Presidio Trust and Off the Grid Markets, has been called San Francisco’s largest campfire where groups and families bring their blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the fire-pits, cabanas, yoga, live music and more. 5–9pm. presidio.gov LGBTQ Youth in France & the U.S.: Looking Back, Looking Forward @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street. A panel of distinguished scholars and non-profit execs will discuss how the lives of LGBTQ teens and young adults in the two countries were shaped in the past decades and more. 7–9pm. glbthistory.org Barbara Dane & the Tammy Hall Trio 91st Birthday Celebration @ Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison, Berkeley. Barbara Dane, in a special concert with the Tammy Hall Trio, celebrates her 91st birthday and the release of the Smithsonian Folkways two cd set “Barbara Dane: Hot Jazz, Cool Blues and Hard-Hitting Songs.” 8pm. thefreight.org Way Bay Exhibit @ BAMPFA (UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive), 2155 Center Street, Berkeley. The exhibit is a sweeping exploration of creativity through art, film, poetry and performance as expressed in diverse communities of the Bay Area during the past two centuries. Thursday– Sunday through June 3. bampfa.org

Silicon Valley Ladies Night @ SoFa Market, 387 South 1st Street, San Jose. The event is a mixer for women co-sponsored by Silicon Valley Pride, San Jose Women’s Softball and the Billy DeFrank Center. 6-9pm. sfpride.com P!nk Beautiful Trauma World Tour @ Oracle Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland. The pop icon, known for her entertaining shows, launches her new tour.

Continues on May 19. 8pm. oraclearena.com Russian River Women’s Weekend 2018 @ Multiple locations, Guerneville. The premiere women’s event for Northern California continues with a welcome party (Rainbow Cattle Company) on Friday and poolside DJ’s, burlesque and king shows, dance parties and more (R3 Resort). Continues May 19 and 20. womensweekendrussianriver.com

19 : Saturday HARVEY MILK DAY Harvey Milk Day Celebration @ Harvey Milk Plaza, Castro and Market. 11am. friendsofharveymilkplaza.org Live! In The Castro @ Jane Warner Plaza, 17th and Market Streets. Opening Day for the series’ season with Donna Sachet, Greganelo’s Velocity Circus and Kippy Marks. 12pm. castrocbd.org SF Crawfest @ Fort Mason Great Meadow, Bay Street. The event is an annual Louisiana crawfish boil, featuring the tastes of an authentic Cajun family recipe, and benefiting Larkin Youth Services.

1–6pm. larkinstreetyouth.org Oaklash - The Bay Area Drag Festival @ Classic Cars West, 411 26th Street, Oakland.

Hosted by Classic Cars and Oaklash, the festival features punk, subversive, and filthy drag styles.

4–10pm. Oaklash on Facebook Boogie on the Avenue with Rainbow Chamber @ Downtown, Campbell. The 40th Annual Boogie Music Festival in Campbell has gone gay and you can visit or volunteer with the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce. 10am-6pm. Also on Sunday, May 20th. rainbowchamber.org We Are All Connected Rainbow Women’s Chorus @ Campbell United Church of Christ, 400 West Campbell Avenue, Campbell. The Chorus will present two concerts during the annual Boogie Music Festival. 7:30pm.

Continues on Sunday at 2pm. rainbowwomen.org

20 : Sunday Atmosqueer LGBTQ Community Connection Fair @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. The event will present ways you can get involved in athletics, heath, lifestyle, arts and culture activities and more.

1–5pm. strutsf.org

18 : Friday

Wine & Friends @ Sunce Winery and Vineyard, 1839 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa GayDar presents an afternoon of wine tasting, bocce ball, strolling the vineyard and more. 1pm. suncewinery.com

Rally for Viral Hepatitis Awareness and Testing @ San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. A rally, featuring speakers including Barbara Garcia, Tom Ammiano and more will gather on the steps of City Hall in recognition of Hepatitis Testing Day. 12– 1pm. projectinform.org

This Radical Land: A Natural History of American Dissent @ Point Reyes Books, 11315 Highway 1, Point Reyes Station. Author Daegan Miller will discuss his new book on the history of interplay between environmentalism, empire and social justice. 2–4pm. ptreyesbooks.com

NEWS (continued from page 3) than 40 San Francisco nonprof it and community organizations also attended the event at Herbst Theatre on April 26. The moderator was Yomi Wrong, Community Activist. sfdignityfund.org New Filing Fires Back at Trump Administration Request to Move Forward with Trans Military Ban The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) filed their opposition on April 26 to a Trump-Pence Administration request to dissolve the nationwide preliminary injunction that U.S. District Court Judge Jesus G. Bernal issued December 22, 2017, in Equality California’s lawsuit, Stockman v.

Trump. There are currently four separate preliminary injunctions issued by four separate federal courts, blocking Trump’s ban from moving forward while the cases are being heard by the courts. On March 23, the Trump administration had filed a motion to dissolve the injunction, claiming to issue a “new policy” on transgender military service. However, as NCLR and GLAD demonstrate in the opposition filing, that policy merely details the steps the military plans to take to implement the ban that Judge Bernal and three other federal court judges have already blocked from taking effect. “No matter what the White House calls it, this is the same unpatriotic and discriminatory ban that four federal courts have already blocked from moving forward,” said Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur. “At a time when our nation faces serious threats around the world, it’s baffling that President Trump remains focused on undermining our military by ripping thousands of distinguished service members from their posts.” nclrights.org

Thousands Marched on May Day in the Bay Area for Immigrant and Worker Rights Participants on both sides of the Bay marched for immigrant and worker rights on May 1, which is International Workers’ Day. ILWU Local 10 led the Oakland march, which was co-organized by numerous groups such as the Anti-Police Terror Project and Critical Resistance. They mobilized around a theme of “No Ban, No Raids, No Wall: Sanctuary for All,” demonstrating the communities’ commitment to defending immigrants, people of color and working-class people against the increased attacks they face from the Trump administration and local law enforcement. The San Francisco rally, led by the Progressive Workers Alliance, included organizers such as the Black Workers Center, Mujeres Unidas y Activas and Young Workers United. The gathering at 16th Street and Mission included speakers who called for an end to ICE raids, displacement and violence. criticalresistance.org SF Pride to Bestow Jewelle Gomez with Lifetime Achievement Award Jewelle Gomez has been selected by the SF Pride Board of Directors to be Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal in the June 24 Parade. Gomez is the author of seven books including the double Lambda Literary Awardwinning vampire novel The Gilda Stories. She has taught creative writing and popular culture at institutions of higher learning from San Francisco State University to Hunter College (NYC). She has written for numerous publications and is playwright in residence at New Conservatory Theatre Center. She was the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Literature and two California Arts Council Artist in Residence grants. In 2017, Gomez received the Barbary Coast Trailblazer Award from LitQuake. She was on the found-

SISTER DANA (continued from page 22) nonprofit event focuses on supporting made in God’s image. The church has not treated women of color fairly, and it some of EssEff’s most needy organizais time to face this truth. And sing out! tions. This year Juanita chose TRUTH gracecathedral.org (TRans yoUTH), a joint program between Transgender Law Center Sister Dana sez, “And while we’re and GSA Network. This program talkin’ ‘bout truth, let’s give a seeks to amplify the voices of trans and great big hand (SLAP across their gender non-conforming young people two-faced faces) for both the Senby offering a safe place to share strugate and the House Congressiogles, learn empathy and build public nal Repugnicans spending our tax understanding. These youth have atmoney to conclude there was no tempted suicide, experienced harasscollusion with the Russians.Oh ment or discrimination in school— puh-leeeeze. You lie. Pants on fire, some so severe, they had to leave liars!” elementary or high school. TRUTH is Donna devotees celebrated A BIRTHallowing these youth to lead the way to DAY AFFAIR WITH DONNA SAend the isolation and stigma that trans CHET at The Edge bar with the youth face so these statistics can reach theme of XANADU on April 26. Xanzero. These are the youth of our future adu is defined as “an idyllic, exotand they have the power to change ic, or luxurious place”; or any place both minds and policies through their when Donna Sachet enters the stories. room! It was an awesome affair as we Sister Dana sez, “Did all my close friends (including fabulous hosts ‘buds’ out there properly celeGary Virginia, James Holloway brate 4/20 Day? Pot is finally le& Deana Dawn) honored the birthgal in EssEff. But please do not day of community icon Donna Sabe obnoxiously high at these upchet! Festive attire was encouraged. coming high-level events!”

So, of course, Sister Dana wore a red sequined habit in honor of Donna, who For the merry month of May, STRUT donned her most festive red outfit. The is exhibiting the work of Anand Vered theme continued with red strawdawala, titled “HOT CHACHAS!” berry birthday cupcakes and strawCome celebrate and support queer berry cheesecake and candles. After artists at Strut, 470 Castro Street, 8 to we sang to her the traditional “Happy 10 pm on May 4 for a party that will Birthday Song,” Donna then jumped take place on all three floors. The Art up onto the bar to twirl and swirl and at Strut program has been exhibiting hang from the rafters doing the clasthe work of local Gay or Queer artists sic “Xanadu.” The joint utterly eruptonce a month for over 14 years, and I ed into tremendous applause and hootam very much looking forward to this ing. Later on, we stuck around for the upcoming exhibition! “Chacha” is a weekly MONSTER SHOW at 10 pm Hindi word that translates to “uncle” hosted by marvelous Miss Sugar Bein English. So “hot chachas,” obvites and her incredible crew of DQs. ously, means hot uncles, but then, are there really any other kind? Growing We let our May 1 May Day night up in the U.S. since age 10, and lookcome into focus with Juaniing up bear/daddy porn since age 16, ta MORE’S 2018 Pre-Pride event: Vedawala realized only last year that QUEER LENS at Ian Stallings DeIndian websites refer to older men as sign at 1100 Sutter Street. We came to uncles rather than daddies. Come visgaze, muse, discuss, and ponder artisit your uncles! Free drinks and light tic works from our queer community. snacks provided. And I just cannot reEach year, Juanita MORE!’s annual

ing boards of GLAAD, The Astraea Lesbian Foundation, and the Open Meadows Foundation. sfpride.org Equality California Seeks Public Vote on Its Pride Slogan It may be May, but Pride season is just around the corner. EQCA Communications Director Samuel Garrett-Pate says, “Pride is so much more than a day, a weekend or a month of celebrating inclusion. It’s a positive stance against discrimination and in support of full equality and social justice for the LGBTQ community.”

Last Pride, EQCA marched in resistance to the Trump-Pence administration’s attempts to roll back queer civil rights. But after a year of fighting back and standing our ground, EQCA wants this year’s Pride to be about the future. So, they are asking the public to pick via online vote one of six slogans: “Love Persists,” “The Future is Fearless,” “Pride is Power,” “Forward Together,” “United for Equality” or “Power in Pride.” The online voting site is action.eqca.org/ page/s/vote-for-pride Mayor Mark Farrell and Cork, Ireland’s Mayor Tony Fitzgerald Reach New Cooperative Agreement to Strengthen LGBTQ Rights San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell and Lord Mayor Tony Fitzgerald of Cork, Ireland, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on April 23 that will enhance ties and establish new relationships between the two cities’ LGBTQ communities.

“San Francisco’s LGBTQ community has long been on the forefront of advancing critical civil rights issues— we are proud to partner with Cork to share and advance these ideals,” said Farrell. “Compassion, empathy and inclusion are universal values, regardless of which side of the Atlantic you reside. By working with Cork and Lord Mayor Fitzgerald we can strengthen our collective LGBTQ

sist the awful Star Wars pun: “May the 4th be with you.” Gag. strutsf.org The award-winning musical revue Howard Crabtree’s WHEN PIGS FLY will premiere at NCTC starting May 10. Don’t miss this “good oldfashioned revue given a gay new-fashioned twist” that follows Howard as he ignores his high school counselor who told him that he’d only be big in show biz “when pigs fly” and creates the musical revue of his dreams. Save on tickets with the discount code “Oasis” at nctcsf.org MAY DAY was on May 1. Celebrations on May 1 have long had two seemingly contradictory meanings.

On one hand, May Day is known for maypoles, flowers and welcoming spring. On the other hand, it’s a day of worker solidarity and protest. So, always do your thing (whatever that May be) on May Day. CINCO DE MAYO is May 5, the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War; so, let’s please por favor just have one stinking day that we don’t talk about Trump’s stupid WALL! MOTHER’S DAY is May 13. Be sure to celebrate your mother (and that includes drag mothers!). And by the way, May is also Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. There’s a lot to celebrate in May! STEEL MAGNOLIAS, the tearjerker of a drama adapted into a film starring Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, and Dolly Parton, is required viewing for gay men and others. It’s only natural then that PEACHES CHRIST PRODUCTIONS would flip the script into drag parody called Steel DRAGnolias.

It’s a gender-bending tale of friendship, love, loss, and wigs set in steamy Chinquapin, Louisiana. Six southern “ladies” come together to trade advice and hairspray in this raucous take on one of the classics of the American stage. See the Southern-fried play at

communities while sharing our messages of hope with other cities across the globe.” San Francisco and Cork, which are Sister Cities, will be working together to exchange best practices, programs and policies regarding critical LGBTQ issues. Additionally, the cities are partnering on a joint application for membership of the International Rainbow Cities Network. A successful application would result in San Francisco becoming the first U.S. city and Cork the first city of Ireland to secure membership. San Francisco has long been recognized for its support and commitment to LGBTQ residents, and the City has encouraged other cities across the world to follow suit. In 2013, San Francisco gifted Cork a Rainbow Flag, and as a result, Cork became the first city in Ireland to fly the Rainbow Flag from a civic building. Cork was the only city in Ireland to include LGBTQ community members in their development plans to combat transphobia and homophobia and to host LGBT community celebrations. sfgov.org LGBTQ Community Leaders Appointed to California Complete Count Committee California Governor Jerry Brown has formed the California Complete Count Committee, a statewide panel of community members that will guide the state’s outreach for the 2020 federal census. Three LGBTQ people were among the appointees: Kate Kendell (executive director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights since 1994 and a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah from 1990 to 1994); Nicholas Hatten (executive director at the San Joaquin Pride Center since 2011); and John Joanino (senior communications associate at Advancement Project California since 2017). “It is vitally important for California to do everything it can to ensure that every Californian is counted in the upcoming census,” said Governor Brown. The 25 Com-

the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street in San Francisco, where it will be followed by a screening of the beloved 1989 film. Saturday, May 5, at 3 pm and 8 pm. store.peacheschrist.com/ products/204-steel-dragnolias MAITRI is presenting its annual BLISS 2018 (31st Year Anniversary) on Sunday, May 6, 4:30–8 pm at Julia Morgan Ballroom, 465 California Street. Maitri will be honoring former Executive Director Bill Musick and super volunteer Kirsten Havrehed for 20 years of service to the Maitri family. Special guest Grammy winning vocalist and original Dreamgirl Jennifer Holliday. Don’t miss Bliss! maitrisf.org Please join PAWS (PETS ARE WONDERFUL SUPPORT) in celebrating 31 years of maintaining the human-animal bond for our most vulnerable neighbors at PAWS’ signature event, PETCHITECTURE. This event is unlike any other in San Francisco—bringing together humans, animals, and premier Bay Area architects to create a spectacular evening of fun, fundraising, and pet-friendly architecture (available for bidding). Held at the Fairmont Hotel, Wednesday May 9, 6–8:30 pm with Reception and Silent Auction, passed dog treats for our canine guests and hors d’oeuvres for their humans. Includes Formal Program, Awards Presentation, and Pet Idol Contest. Attire: Your Classy Cat and Top Dog best. Full licensed and vaccinated pups (on leash) are most welcome! shanti.org Each year EQCA (EQUALITY CALIFORNIA) presents the EQUALITY AWARDS to honor the inspirational leaders and outstanding allied organizations whose selfless work helps to create a more fair and just society. These are special times to celebrate community achievements while renewing the commitment to the fight for equality. Among California’s premier gala events, attendants

mittee members represent a diverse cross-section of the state with participants from both the public and private sectors. Governor Brown appointed 23 individuals to the Committee, and openly lesbian Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon each appointed one member to the Committee. gov.ca.gov AB 2943 Bill, Declaring Conversion Therapy a Fraudulent Practice, Passes in State Assembly Assembly Bill 2943, drafted by openly gay Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley), Chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, declares conversion therapy a fraudulent practice in the state of California.

The bill passed the Assembly on April 19 by a bipartisan vote of 50–18. Although conversion therapy with minors is illegal in the state, there are no such protections for adults. In 2009, an American Psychological Association task force issued a report declaring that the practice “poses critical health risks” and contributes to anti-LGBT stigma. “The pain and fear suffered by those who have been subjected to conversion therapy are something that I can personally identify with,” said Assemblymember Low. “This legislation finally creates accountability for those who claim to provide therapy but are in fact peddling an unfounded and destructive practice.” The American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the American Medical Association all oppose the practice on the basis that it is not evidence-based and is potentially harmful to the patient’s mental health.

The practice also contributes to social stigma by characterizing homosexuality as a mental illness, a view that has been discredited for decades. AB 2943 now heads to the Senate. asm.ca.gov

regularly include leaders of the LGBT equality movement, and leaders from the business, nonprofit, civic and political landscapes. This year the event will be held at the Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell Street on Saturday, May 12 at 6 pm. Among those honored: Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI), the first LGBTQ member of the United States Senate; Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41), the first and only openly LGBTQ person of color to serve in Congress; and Bay Area icon LaVerda Allen and BART, for their inspiring work to support local small businesses run by women and members of the LGBTQ community.

(See story on page 7.) eqca.org GAY ASIAN PACIFIC ALLIANCE presents LEGACY: GAPA’s 30th Anniversary Banquet & Gala Celebration on Saturday, May 12, 6 pm at Century Club of California, 1355 Franklin Street. Featuring Keynote Speaker Sam Park, Emcee Tita Aida with Community Award Presentations and Performances by GAPA Men’s Chorus, GAPA Theater, Mr. GAPA 2017 Danny Chung, and special guests.

Over the past three decades, GAPA has been a vanguard for the LGBT Asian and Pacific Islander community, actively promoting the visibility and awareness of queer Asians and Pacific Islanders and helping to forge an unprecedented sense of community. The Banquet is GAPA’s major fundraiser of the year, and provides support for its many social, political and cultural activities. As GAPA commemorates 30 years of achievement and looks toward a continuing legacy of advocacy and activism, it is an auspicious time to join in celebrating its enduring impact on the community.

Sister Dana sez, “Why does Presi-dense Dotard Trump have to resort to offensive, nasty namecalling all of the time? Whoops, uh-oh, there I go acting all Trumpishly presidential!”

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GGBA Business Tips (continued from page 7)

GGBA Monthly Report (continued from page 7)

GGBA Member Spotlight (continued from page 7)

Assembly Bill: 2758 – Income Taxes: Credits; Qualified Small Businesses Author: Burke (D) The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law allow various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws. This bill would allow a credit against those taxes for each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2020, and before January 1, 2030, in an amount equal to 5% of the amount paid or incurred by an angel investor, as defined, for investing in a qualified small business, as defined, for the taxable year in which the Franchise Tax Board issues a credit certificate.

LGBTQ entrepreneurs to step forward without the fear of losing clients because of unacceptance— we’ve seen some great firms winning work on public works projects. The same cannot be said of the construction industry.

How has the GGBA helped your business so far?

Senate Bill: 1343 – Employers: Sexual Harassment Training Requirements Author: Mitchell (D) The bill would require an employer with 5 or more employees to provide each with at least 2 hours of sexual harassment training by January 1, 2020, and once every 2 years after that, as specified. The bill would require the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to develop a 2-hour video training course on the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace and to post it on the department’s website. The bill would also require the department to provide existing informational posters and information regarding sexual harassment prevention, available to employers, in alternate languages.

The GGBA invites LGBTQ individuals to join us in our efforts to build the economic vitality of businesses in the entire ecosystem of the construction industry. The GGBA’s Public Policy Committee is actively seeking those in the Architectural, Engineering, Construction Management, Construction and Transportation industries to meet on Thursday, May 10, from 8:30 am to 10 am to discuss effective strategies for building this key segment of our community. RSVP to me (paul@pendergastconsultinggroup.com) for additional details.

For more information on each of the above referenced bills, please go to: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billSearchClient.xhtml

We need to support those in the LGBTQ business community who are contractors, construction managers, material suppliers, heavy equipment operators and laborers in the construction industry.

The opportunities are there for those who are qualified and can navigate the competitive bidding process. We need to support these businesses in their efforts to create sustainable jobs that will, in turn, empower our community from the ground up.

Thank you, BART, and thank you, LaVerda Allen, for your important contributions to putting some substantial “cracks” in the “cement ceiling.”

Paul Pendergast is the current Vice President, Public Policy, and former President of GGBA. He is also the Project Director and Owner/Founder of Pendergast Consulting Group (http://www. pendergastconsultinggroup.com/index.html).

Bryant Sharif i: We appreciate the community, and we wanted to find a community of other business owners. We’ve met so many people that we’ve been able to collaborate with and refer our clients to. In addition, we also met our chiropractor Dr. Krystal Drwencke through the GGBA and partnered with her to help with Ascent Sports Chiro’s debut at our Hayes Valley location.

What has been your biggest reward/satisfaction during your journey as an entrepreneur? And your biggest disappointment/ nerve-wracking situation?

Bryant Sharifi: One of the biggest rewards and satisfaction we get is being out in the industry or going to events and being recognized as educated, fun, and community-focused. The second accomplishment is being able to employ and take care of our employees. We’re able to offer 401k match and health insurance after being in business for only 3 years. As for disappointments, we don’t have the attitude of having disappointments. Everything is a lesson, and we strive to be resilient. Nothing is the worst thing. We always must adapt. I think the reality is as beautiful as

ROSTOW (continued from page 11) “support gay marriage.” I’m not versed on U.K. speech laws, but I see that this baker has lost in two lower courts. In the U.S., this baker might possibly win, because the customer is possibly forcing speech on the unwilling baker.

I said possibly.

The important point is that the American case does not really involve speech at all. Denver baker Jack Phillips flatly refused to do any business with two gay men, not even allowing them to select a ready-made cake. His action arguably violated the Colorado civil rights law that bans sexual orientation discrimination in public accommodations—unless you think that selling even a crumb to two gay men constitutes forced participation in their wedding.

The Supreme Court has about 40 more opinions to release in

the next two months, including this one.

Gals and Dolls Finally, Mel and I avoided the news for an entire week, spending an idyllic five days in Acapulco with some wild girlz we know. On our last evening, one friend, let’s call her NM as we would have done back in the bad old days, told us about Joe Carstairs, an eccentric lesbian race car driver who spent some of her oil fortune by buying an island in the Caribbean.

Born in 1900, Carstairs dressed as a man, drove ambulances in World War I, and had affairs with (or hung out with) Marlene Dietrich, Tallulah Bankhead and Greta Garbo. At some point, one of her many girlfriends gave her a one-foot tall Steiff-made male doll. Carstairs named him Lord Tod Wadley and had suits and outfits tailor

sewn for him on Saville Row. She carried him everywhere until she died and called him her best friend.

San Francisco is; it’s tough for small businesses to make it. You want to be able to provide a life for your staff.

What’s the most important lesson that you’ve learned being an entrepreneur?

Justine Sharifi: The most important thing that I’ve learned is to adapt. I think one reason people quit in business is because they need a growth mindset. When something fails, it’s easy to want to give up and be discouraged. You must be flexible, adapt, and reinvent yourself. You can’t dwell on it. You always have to problem solve. At that point, there’s nothing you can do about it, so what can you do about it? Resilience is important. People often fail because they get discouraged, they don’t adapt, and they don’t problem solve. The thing that makes us different from other people is that others dwell on it and they can’t move forward with it. They don’t reinvent themselves or adapt.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own business?

Justine Sharifi: You should always operate with integrity and the big picture in mind. You can’t just think of the quick buck right now. You must really value your clients, because they are choosing you. You must be transparent with people. We always try to put things in writing and try to make it wellknown, because trust is so important to us. You must take people’s trust seriously. You really have to say what you do and do what you say.

Magdalena Rodriguez and Rosario Monteverdi are the founders of the LGBT social network GPSGAY (gpsgay.com/pages/loginsocial).

At one point, she commissioned a photo book featuring Lord Wadley pursuing activities like picnicking and sailing. She had several companion dolls for Wadley, and her estate included Wadley’s Cartier calling cards, stationery, and a miniature cigarette case and lighter. When she died in 1993, Wadley was cremated with her.

Oh, and I read that once, some tourists landed on her island and she and her guests put on pirate gear, tied them up and left them overnight in a lighthouse, letting them go the next day.

Say what!? Makes you feel a bit humdrum, don’t you think? arostow@aol.com

Photos courtesy of Perform for Life

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on pg 19) D) Lambda Initially the symbol for the New York City-based organization Gay Activists Alliance/GAA, the Lambda in December 1974 was officially declared the international symbol for gay and lesbian rights by the International Gay Rights Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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