San Francisco Bay Times - May 17, 2018

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2018) May 17–June 6, 2018 | sfbaytimes.com

CELEBRATING NCLR’S EVERYDAY HEROES SEE PAGES 11–15

In the News Compiled by Dennis McMillan Im m ig ra nt LGBT Yout h a nd Supporters Rally Outside DACA Court Hearing On May 15, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments concerning President Donald Trump’s decision to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). The program has protected at least 700,000 individuals since it began accepting applications on August 15, 2012. As the court hearing this week took place, dozens of LGBT immigrant youth from across the state and supporters, including members of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), rallied outside of the courthouse in Pasadena. Some held up signs that read: “Unidos, No Divididos. Immigración Es Un Tema LGBT.” (United Not Divided. Immigration Is An LGBT Issue) According to the Williams Institute, the vast majority of LGBT DACA participants are in not only California, but also Texas, Illinois, New York and Florida. Many legal experts believe that the DACA decision will eventually end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. As the legal battles wage on, San Francisco continues to offer numerous immigrant resources. For a comprehensive listing, go to: http://www.bbbsba.org/atf/ cf/%7B3eb1ab8a-574b-4874-b950db56e8b3e473%7D/SAN%20FRANCISCO%20IMMIGRANT%20RESOURCES.PDF Debate Over Sanctuary City Law Heats Up San Francisco Mayoral Race Mayoral candidate Angela Alioto authored San Francisco’s original sanctuary law in 1991 when she was a member of the Board of Supervisors. She has now introduced a ballot measure to have violent felons exempted from the law’s protections. Mayor Mark Farrell and mayoral candidates Mark Leno and Jane Kim immediately fired back. Mayor Farrell told KTVU: “I would say don’t attack our community, don’t attack our immigrants here in San Francisco, don’t buy into the Donald Trump rhetoric. In San Francisco we support our immigrant community. We always have and we always will.” Leno tweeted, “I’m disappointed to see this step in the wrong direction.

Now is the time to fiercely protect our sanctuary status, not weaken it. Sanctuary keeps our neighborhoods safer, our families together, and our communities free of fear and distrust.” Alioto, in turn, told ABC 7 that when the original sanctuary city law was written, the intention was that “if you are convicted by a jury of a violent felony, rape, murder, mayhem or a crime punishable by death, then you will not be protected by the city’s sanctuary law. It’s just that simple.” The code was later amended in 2013 and 2016. Alioto needs more than 9,400 signatures by mid-July in order to get the measure on the November ballot. This debate will therefore go well beyond the June 5 special election for mayor. The present Sanctuary Ordinance may be read in full at http://sfgov.org/oceia/sites/default/files/Documents/SF%20Admin%20Code%20 12H-12I.pdf Jane Kim and Mark Leno Alliance Highlights Importance of Ranked Choice Voting In an historic announcement, San Francisco mayoral candidates Jane Kim and Mark Leno released a joint campaign ad “Standing Together” on May 10, urging voters to rank them as their first and second choices in the City’s ranked choice voting system.

Proponents of ranked choice voting hold that it eliminates the need for runoff elections and offers other benefits.

In an editorial, the San Francisco Chronicle—which previously endorsed London Breed—holds that Kim and Leno are “gaming the city’s ranked-choice

election rules in an unprecedented way.” (https://www.sfchronicle.com/ opinion/editorials/article/EditorialJane-Kim-Mark-Leno-try-to-gamethe-12904997.php%0Ahttps://www. sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Jane-Kim-Mark-Lenotry-to-game-the-12904997.php) Conversely, Vox argues: “All politicians ‘game’ whatever system they operate in.” (https://www.vox.com/polyarchy/2018/5/14/17352208/rankedchoice-voting-san-francisco) Flags Flown at Half-Staff Following Passing of Police Commissioner Julius Turman On May 13, the former president of the San Francisco Police Commission, Julius Turman, was found deceased inside of his home. Close friends have indicated that he was battling an illness, which likely led to his resignation from the Commission on May 4. Turman, a proudly openly gay man, was a defender of human rights and a fierce advocate for equality and justice. Mayor Mark Farrell said, “As a longtime member of the Police Commission, Julius Turman provided honest candor and oversight, working tirelessly to make this City safe and secure for everyone. He was a voice of leadership who helped build trust and camaraderie between the men and women of the police department and San Francisco residents.” As a mark of respect for the memory of Turman, Mayor Farrell directed flags to be flown at half-staff on Monday, May 14, from sunrise to sunset at City Hall and San Francisco Police Department buildings. (See “In Memoriam” on page 18.) www.sfgov.org Bill to Establish June as Pride Month Passes Assembly Legislation to establish June as Pride Month in statute passed the Assembly on May 14 by a bipartisan vote of 59– 0. Assembly Bill 2969 is authored by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley), Chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, and co-authored by all members of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus. AB 2969 is supported by Equality California and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The month of June is historically significant for the LGBT community. The Stonewall Riots occurred in New York in June 1969 to protest police targeting of the city’s LGBT population. These riots and the swift political organization that followed are widely considered to be the commencement of the modern LGBT civil rights movement. The California Legislative LGBT Caucus was established in 2002. Its role is to present a forum for the California Legislature to discuss issues that affect LGBT Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all people. The formation of the LGBT Caucus made California the first state in the country to recognize an official caucus of openly-LGBT state legislators. Historically, the LGBT Caucus Chair introduces a resolution each June during a formal ceremony to declare June as Pride month. AB 2969 will codify in statute every June as LGBT Pride Month. AB 2969 now heads to the Senate. www.assembly.ca.gov Doris Ward’s Life and Legacy to Be Celebrated Doris Ward, the first African American president of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors, died on April 14 following a brief illness. She was 86. A celebration of her life and legacy will be held on May 19 at the Delancey Street Foundation. Featuring music and speakers, the event will take place from 1 pm to 3:30 pm. Private services were (continued on page 22) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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Celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Beginning of California Marriage Equality

Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis This week marks the tenth anniversary of the California Supreme Court’s historic May 15, 2008, ruling establishing marriage equality in California before Proposition 8. As one of the plaintiff couples in the case, we remember joining the other plaintiffs and hundreds of LGBTIQ supporters on the steps of the California Supreme Court that morning when at 10 am—the hour state Supreme Court opinions are announced—Kate Kendall, Esq., of the National Center for Lesbian Rights bounded out the doors of the Court proclaiming that justice had prevailed.

Cries of joy rang out and carried all the way to the top floor of the Supreme Court building, where the opinion’s author Chief Justice Ronald George could even hear them as he recalled in an interview later. As we hugged each other and all of those around us, Stuart’s cell phone suddenly rang. It was his mother, and she had just one question: “When’s the wedding?!”

That night, as we made our way home through the Castro, we joined thousands of people, celebrating in the streets until the wee hours.

Every LGBTIQ person, regardless of which initial described them, could marry the person they chose because the state was not in the business of excluding couples from marriage based on who they are or whom they love. The state did not even ask marriage license applicants their gender. All LGBTIQ Americans now have this fundamental right by virtue of the United States Supreme Court’s 2015 decision.

The California Supreme Court led the way.

As if that weren’t enough, those celebrating on May 15, 2008, had something of even broader importance to cheer in the Supreme Court’s opinion. The California Supreme Court did not just make a narrow ruling as to marriage equality (as the Massachusetts Supreme Court had done four years before). It made a sweeping declaration that lesbian, gay and bisexual people, just like other groups who have historically faced discrimination, are entitled to the highest degree of protection under the state constitution. State and local laws that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation are presumptively unconstitutional and can stand only if the state demonstrates a most compelling reason, narrowly tailored, for the law— just like laws that discriminate on the basis of race, religion or gender.

This ruling applies to every way in which California state and local governments and their officials and employees relate to lesbian, gay and bisexual people, and the Court recognized that marriage was just the particular example of discrimination before it. The Court held that, under state law, excluding same-sex couples from marriage “marks” lesbian, gay, and bisexual people as “second-class citizens.” The same would be true of any law that unjustifiably treats lesbian, gay, and bisexual people differently from everyone else. This aspect of the Court’s ruling protects lesbian and gay people if a public school, police department, or any other California state or local governmental entity discriminates against them.

The status of being a protected class under the state constitution is an invaluable protection—something for which the community had fought for decades. Just as the California Supreme Court ten years ago became the first state supreme court to declare that LGBTIQ people had a fundamental right to marry, it was the first to recognize sexual orientation as a protected class. Establishing this status at a federal level for all LGBTIQ people is a top legal priority. The United States Supreme Court in its 2015 marriage equality decision laid the groundwork for such a future decision, but it did not go that far.

In reflecting on the decade since the California decision, we realized we have become accustomed to having our state constitutional rights, and it feels good. It affects the way we are able to live our lives, and it feels natural to embody that dignity.

We are not complacent. We know there are ongoing threats to our rights, and much more remains to be done in California, across the nation and around the world.

PHOTO COURTESY OF STUART GAFFNEY & JOHN LEWIS

6/26 and Beyond

The victory for the dignity of all LGBTIQ people when it comes to marriage was huge.

Thanks to that ruling, all Californians enjoyed a fundamental state constitutional right to marry the person they loved—regardless of their race, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity. A person’s fundamental right to marry and to have the highest state recognition and protection for their relationship depended upon their humanity—and their humanity alone— and not on any external factor as to the class of people to which they could be categorized.

Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis speaking in front of the U.S. Supreme Court

The California Supreme Court wrote ten years ago that every Californian should have the “opportunity to live a happy, meaningful, and satisfying life as a full member of society” and the state constitution “guarantee[s] this basic civil right to all individuals and couples, without regard to their sexual orientation.” Everyone everywhere should be able to live their lives with this dignity and hope. The Supreme Court’s decision will remain an important legal precedent and continue to inspire us as we move forward together to realize that dream.

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.

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A One-Day Quest to Try All Shared Scooters and Bikes Available in SF tween scooter-riders and scooter-haters. In response, the Board of Supervisors enacted legislation to create a permit system with a cap on the number of scooters (500 per company, maximum of 2500). Anti-scooter activists applauded the regulations; proscooter folks shrugged.

Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History Louise “Lou” Fischer If you live or work in San Francisco, you’ve probably encountered the latest so-called scourge on our sidewalks.

Not just open drug use, discarded syringes, or piles of garbage; according to our City leaders, the latest plague upon our City comes equipped with 2 wheels—dreaded electric scooters and dockless bicycles.

I am an electric scooter aficionado.

I still have my clunky Zappy Classic from 20 years ago and I ride a Citybug2 to work on days that I don’t ride my bike. Scooters and shared bicycles are good for San Francisco. They don’t create more traff ic or spew emissions, they are easy to use, pretty cheap and are more convenient and reliable than Muni. Recent studies showed that Uber and Lyft account for an extra 45,000 cars per day in San Francisco. Last week, when I drove to work to return a company car, it felt like all 45,000 of those cars were clogging my route. It is not supposed to take 46 minutes to drive 3 miles.

In San Francisco, the cycle of technological innovation is as follows: well-funded startup company moves fast and doesn’t wait for permission, which leads to unintended consequences that result in shock and outrage and the inevitable over-reaction by lawmakers. At least this time, we got the cycle down to 2 weeks; it took over a year with Uber and Lyft and a good 2–3 years with Airbnb.

I decided to do a one-day quest and try all shared scooters and bicycles available in San Francisco: Lime, Spin, Bird, JumpBike and Ford GoBike. Armed with a notebook, bike helmet, cell phone and 2 portable cell phone chargers (the apps use GPS, which is a battery killer), I set out to “tag team” from one scooter or bicycle to another. The goal was to measure the convenience factor: are there enough available and are they easy to find?

So, what is #Scootergate? In midMarch, three electric scooter companies—Bird, Spin and LimeBike—legally exploited a giant loophole and placed approximately 4000 batterypowered scooters around San Francisco to provide a convenient way for people to move efficiently through the City. Controversy ensued be-

I started with Lime. Their scooter was designed in-house and is considered more reliable, however, the one I found had a loose throttle that wouldn’t engage. I figured I’d roll it to my garage and fix it. I didn’t want to “unlock” it and pay the $0.15 per minute, but when I moved it, a disembodied voice from the onboard speak-

er boomed, “Please don’t walk me or I’ll call the Police.” Yeah, like the SFPD is going to rush out to arrest me, but I guess it discourages theft.

I ended up paying Lime an extra buck while I repaired their scooter (you’re welcome, Lime). In general, the scooter is robust and well-built. The app says how much range is available.

Mine said 18 miles, which might be the range on the moon with no gravity or atmosphere, but certainly not in San Francisco. After about 2 miles, I got a “low scooter battery” notification on my phone, so maybe the 18 miles is a logarithmic measurement, but I live in the linear world. I rode the scooter to Noe Valley for the next leg of my trip with a Ford Bike.

I’m not a fan of the Ford Bikes, but I’m a stickler for the experimental process and wanted to test all variables. Unless you live or work near one dock and your destination is near another dock, you’re out of luck. Currently there are 262 Ford GoBike stations in SF (farewell to 524+ parking spaces!) with approximately 2600 bikes. Ford intends to increase that to 540 stations with 7000 bikes. People love these bikes, I see them all over town, but I think they suck. They are heavy, the interface is terrible and the electric bike I rented died after 10 blocks, which derailed my plan of tag-teaming from one mode of transportation directly to another. I wanted an electric bike to ride up the steep hills of Noe Valley, but I ended up returning it to the same dock—thanks for nothing, Ford.

I spent a frustrating 30 minutes looking for another vehicle. The free “Transit” app includes all shared services, but it’s not accurate, so you still have to use the individual companies’ (continued on page 22)

The LGBT Dementia Care Summit: Response to a Crisis in Care Four years ago, the blueprint for the LGBT Dementia Project was just one of 13 recommendations offered in the final report of the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force (LGBT Aging at the Golden Gate: San Francisco Policy Issues and Recommendation, 2014).

The Task Force report identified significant under-utilization of dementia services by LGBT people and their caregivers. At the time of the study, very few LGBT people were out in San Francisco and in Bay Area dementia services. One provider estimated that less than 1% of dementia support group participants in the Bay Area are LGBT and out.

Aging in Community Dr. Marcy Adelman “LGBT older adults face difficulties and limited choices as they age. Dementia only makes it more difficult whether the LGBT person with dementia is living alone or has a care person.” –Edie Yau, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Alzheimer’s Association Northern California and Northern Nevada (AANCNN) and LGBT Dementia Care Project Director.

On June 8, a team of experts from the AANCNN, Openhouse and the Family Caregivers Alliance—Edie Yau, Michelle Alcedo and Leah Eskenazi—are holding a community summit to share the progress of their joint program, the LGBT Dementia Project, an innovative program to increase access to dementia-capable care for LGBT seniors and adults with disabilities.

I joined the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force specifically to work on LGBT dementia care issues. Tom Nolan and Bill Haskell, who worked for the Department of Aging and Adult Services, volunteered to work with me.

The three of us expected that there would be a need for LGBT affirming services based on the lack of LGBT targeted programs mentioned in the thorough 2009 city report, San Francisco’s Strategy for Excellence in Dementia Care. Still, I vividly remember how alarmed and deeply disturbed I felt when the interviews I conducted clearly indicated what little help LGBT people with dementia and their caregivers were receiving.

My mother, who passed away in 2007, had been challenged by vascular dementia for the last 7 years of her life.

So, I knew firsthand what resources, emotional and financial, it takes for a family to care for a loved one at home. It is a huge and profoundly meaningful undertaking that touches every part of your life. After my father died, my four siblings and I saw to my mother’s care. My mother had five adult children to lovingly manage her care. By the time she passed, she was blind, unable to walk, feed or bath herself. My mother died peacefully in her home surrounded by family and caregivers.

One of my f irst thoughts after my mother died was about the LGBT community—there is no way anyone should ever have do this alone. By alone I mean care for a loved one with dementia or live with dementia without the support and help of others.

I knew from my advocacy work that most LGBT older adults live alone and do not have adult children to support them. I knew something needed to be done, but at the time I didn’t know exactly the what, where or when. The Task Force was my opportunity to finally do that something.

The Task Force dementia report identified two primary barriers to accessing dementia care: fear on the part of LGBT older adults that they would not be treated with respect if their sexual orientation was known, and the lack of cultural competency expertise on the part of mainstream (continued on page 22)

Alegre Home Care is proud to support Dr. Marcy Adelman’s Aging in Community column in the San Francisco Bay Times.

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Ode to Fitness, Family & Our Father

The KiAi Way Jamie Leno Zimron My brother Mark, sister Jan and I recently lost our father, on April 6, 2018, exactly two weeks short of his 98th birthday. Through our grief, we know how fortunate we were to have had so many years to enjoy and learn from such a wonderful man, Manuel David Leno. I’d like to share this tribute to him here in my health & fitness column, because he provided a great model of what it takes to live such a long and good life.

Dad was a true gentleman and gem of a human being. Amongst his many legacies to us was a clear commitment to physical and mental fitness. Born in 1920, he was still a boy when he tragically lost his own father to The Great Depression in 1930. He began working hard from a young age to make a living, and to help shore up his family’s meager finances. From our own childhood days and literally through to the days before he died, he taught us by his own tireless example to exercise our bodies, cultivate and maintain a positive outlook and to keep our spirits strong.

Dad was a big fan of Jack LaLanne, the f itness guru of his generation.

LaLanne was born in San Francisco in 1914 and died at the age of 96.

As a young man he was able to turn around his own poor health and destructive habits and became a pioneer extolling the virtues of good nutrition and regular exercise. He opened the first health clubs and spas, performed dramatic feats of strength and came to be regarded as the “Godfather of Fitness.” Manny discovered his health hero Jack LaLanne in the 1950s. Full of inspiration, and well

Dad also devoted himself to emotional and mental well-being. After serving in the Military Police in World War II, he put himself through school, borrowed $300 to start a sales distribution business, worked as a team with his wife, and took Dale Carnegie courses to overcome his social anxieties and fear of public speaking. “PMA All the Way!”—Positive Mental Attitude—became Manny’s mantra, to pull himself up by every bootstrap and lift up his kids, family, friends and the sales force that he was able to build and lead in the Midwest.

Along with positivity, daily exercise and healthy eating, Dad made integrity, generosity and care for others his trademark practices. We still have his Eagle Scout sash with all of the medals he earned, and he was always happy to recite the oath he took as a teenager that he made the foundation for his life: “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.” Dad’s values and humility spoke volumes, and we have been humbled for decades to discover all of the ways he quietly gave support to people, communities and organizations in need.

During his 80s we were amazed, and educated, watching our father keep up his vitality, improve at golf, build a building from blueprint and lovingly care for our mother who had begun a long slow decline from Alzheimer’s disease. Then one day at age 89, Dad broke his hip—when he fell as

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Photos courtesy of Jamie Leno Zimron

before such things became common or popular, Dad started jogging, stopped eating red meat, cut down on sugar, loathed smoking, had only an occasional drink and insisted on fresh foods.

he lost his balance trying to answer his cell phone on a bicycle ride! Recovery wasn’t easy, but his underlying strength, and his willingness to exercise and work on his “mental game,” got him through what too often becomes “the beginning of the end” for older people.

Well into his 90s, Dad was concocting fruit & protein smoothies, reading biographies of exemplary people and cutting out relevant health and busi(continued on page 23)

CELEBRATING NCLR’S EVERYDAY HEROES

The Job of a Lifetime

e Director A Letter from NCLR’s Outgoing Executiv Kate Kendell letter written by Kate Kendell, pub(Editor’s Note: This is a repr int of a 2018 —the day she announced her de15, lished on NCL R’s blog on March year.) parture from NCL R at the end of this ian Rights (NCLR) has been the job Lead ing the National Center for Lesb to have held this position and priv iof a lifetime. I feel extremely honored tless moments of joy and awe that forev leged to have experienced the coun and full a viduals. After 22 years, with er changed our lives as LGBTQ indi Executive Director of NCL R at the the as n dow grateful hear t, I will step end of this year.

I never imag ined I wou ld live in San Francisco or lead an organization at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ civil rights. I grew up Mor mon in Ogden, Utah, was the eldest of three and the first to go to college in my family.

Growing up, my parents never talked polit ics or current events. I never ssaw my Dad read ing a book or new the of out paper. We never traveled country or even east of Colorado. We went on an airplane once. I could only dream of one day being a lawyer, and I was sure that my sexual orientation wou ld make it impossible for me to get a job. I most certainly never dreamed I wou ld be the executive director of NCL R, nor that I wou ld hold such a role for 22 years.

But I did and I have.

I came to NCL R as Lega l Director in 1994 and became Executive Director in 1996. In my first week s as Executive Director, I took a call from Mar y Ward, a lesbian mom in Flor ida who had lost custody of her 8-year-old daughter based solely on t her sexual orientation. Nothing abou tless coun facts e sam the d t in the conversation; I had hear Mar y’s story was unusual at this poin n for murdering his ex-husband had served 8 years in priso y’s Mar times. Then came the kicker: more fit for custody of a e. An abusive murderer was deemed first wife. I almost dropped the phon ida Supreme Court, Flor Whi le our case was on appeal to the young girl than her lesbian mot her. t her deat h as if it abou call the er where I was when I got Mar y died of a hear t attack. I rememb were yesterday. l parent to her lin means she is a fully recognized lega Our recent victory for Suzan McL augh their child in 2011. to birth gave wife Her . ried ner were mar 7-year-old. Suzan and her former part to have Susued We . wou ld not allow Suzan to see her child ionship After they separated in 2013 her ex relat her that ing hear won. In an e-mail to us upon burst!!” zan recognized as a parent and we to g goin I’m k thin I now t righ y e: “I am so happ with her child was secure, Suzan wrot . President to stop his 42-year history, we sued a sitting U.S And last year, for the first time in our ndbreaking litigation tary serv ice. At ever y stage of this grou ban on transgender sold iers from mili tary. mili trans recr uits began enlisting in our we’ve won, and January 1 of this year ing, are a snapshot of and the others very recently and ongo These cases, one early in my tenure work is. I have inthis l far we have come and how powerfu our work. They illustrate both how Francisco SuperiSan ed retir now NCL R has made. When numerable such stories of the impact imag ined the impact ded NCL R in 1977 she could not have or Court Judge Donna Hitchens foun re me, has allowed befo cy, nurtured by several other leaders she and NCL R wou ld make. Her lega work is not done. our know all entically. Nevertheless, we LGBTQ people to live open ly and auth ements that impact LGise and chal lenge for the mult iple mov At a moment filled with both prom e of our prog ress, I phas next more important. To lead this BTQ people, NCL R has never been t and lead a bold and a new generation of leadership to char believe it is the right time to welcome fierce future. at the center of enorvistas and laid open my hear t. I’ve been My time at NCL R has widened my to mar ry, a fight om . Supreme Court, including the freed mous NCL R victories, four at the U.S so many. I wou ld by up held Most importantly, I have been that was fanciful to me 22 years ago. and by the many work this by ked mar bly I have been una ltera not be who I am without all of you. so much joy. relat ionships that have brought me the history of the fight, a part of the NCL R legacy, part of I feel enor mous grat itude to have been lden to you all for makall LGBTQ people. I am forever beho still ongoing, for full lived justice for been all mine. ing me better. The honor, truly, has forever indebted for the generous supporters of NCL R, I am Dearest staff, board, colleagues and your stead fast supfor you k than a full to bursting hear t, opportunity you have given me. From will be both chald ahea road The be. what the world can port of me, NCL R and our vision of pressing and comneeds of our community will be both leng ing and filled with possibilit y. The as we have for 41 ent mom R will be here, rising to the plex. But you can rest assured that NCL on. We have much head e leng chal y assure that we meet ever years. Your cont inued support will e. more to do and more history to mak With mad love and respect,

Kate Kendell’s Legacy of Inspired Leadership at the National Center for Lesbian Rights T he Nat iona l C enter for Lesbian Rights ( NCL R) has a team unlike any other, with each member being passionate, hard-working, thoughtful and fully driven to achieve LGBTQ equality goals. At the helm is Kate Kendell, Esq., who is one of our community’s—and arguably the world’s— most effective and inspiring leaders.

During her more than 22 years at NCLR, the organization became central to the fight for LGBTQ equality, including marriage equality, protections for LGBTQ families and youth, and the ongoing fight to stop Trump’s transgender military ban.

It speaks volumes that during Kendell’s tenure, NCLR’s budget has grown from $500,000 to more than $5 million, the number of staff members has increased by five times, and NCLR now has both West Coast and East Coast offices in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Just a few months ago, Kendell announced that she is stepping down from her role as NCLR’s Executive Director. We share her letter from that memorable day, which stopped many of us in our tracks. Now that NCLR is holding its well-deserved Anniversary Celebration, we will be thinking of Kendell all the more and sharing heartfelt gratitude for all that she and her team have accomplished over the years.

We are also looking to the organization’s future, knowing that the pioneering spirit of not only Kendell, but also Donna Hitchens, Roberta Achtenberg and many others will be illuminating the path of NCLR’s leaders to come.

As musician and composer Margie Adam sang in her lesbian feminist anthem We Shall Go Forth (now in the Political History archives in the Smithsonian Museum): We shall go forth from this place Proud of the things we’ve done Sharing the things we’ve won We shall not fail. We shall go forth from this place Willing to open wide Sharing the light inside We shall not fail.

“My Generation Lives in the World That She Created”

Reflections on the Leadership and Legacy of NCLR’s Outgoing Executive Director Kate Kendell

At the end of this year, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Executive Director Kate Kendell will step down after 22 years. For more than two decades, she has positioned NCLR at the forefront of the national fight for LGBTQ equality.

Kate has inspired countless LGBTQ community members, including many of her own staff: The Honorable Donna Hitchens, NCLR Founder “Kate Kendell’s charisma, passion, and vision have resulted in NCLR becoming one of the most creative and effective advocacy organizations in this country. Every LGBTQ person has benefited because of her incredible leadership.”

Shannon Minter, Legal Director “Working with a leader of such fierce intellect and unfailing compassion has been the greatest privilege of my professional life. I speak for all of NCLR’s staff in saying that we are more dedicated than ever to fulfilling Kate’s vision of a world in which no one is left behind.”

Cathy Sakimura, Deputy Director and Family Law Director “The first time I met Kate I had just started as a law clerk intern at NCLR in 2004. We had just finished an event at City Hall and loaded our extra materials into her car. She insisted we squeeze in, telling us stories and making us laugh during the short trip back to the office. Kate is a person who you can never forget meeting. As anyone on staff will tell you, wherever we go, there is always someone who says, ‘Oh I love Kate!’ when we say we are from NCLR. No matter how brief the encounter, everyone who meets her is touched by her, and she has reached and impacted so many lives.”

Amy Whelan, Senior Staff Attorney “Here is a secret about Kate—people might think that such a dynamic speaker and leader must have flaws hidden from public view. Nothing could be further (continued on page 15)

Kate

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CELEBRATING NCLR’S EVERYDAY HEROES What to Expect at NCLR’s 41st Anniversary Celebration The Dinner that inspires. The Party that explodes.

Glamour It’s called the LGBTQ Party of the Year for a reason. Suits. Gowns.

Glitter. Style. NCLR trendsetters make their own rules.

Imagine reading an email from a friend that said how sorry she was and asked if there was anything she could do. But you didn’t know what she was talking about— until you checked the news. And then you saw that the President of the United States had just tweeted that you are a “burden” and a “disruption.” And in less than 1,000 characters, everything that you had been successfully working toward for nearly your entire life was taken away from you, for no reason other than who you are.

Emotion After 22 years, NCLR’s Kate Kendell has announced she will be stepping down from her role as executive director at the end of this year. She’ll be leaving NCLR’s office but never our hearts.

That’s what happened to NCLR honoree and transgender military ban plaintiff Regan Kibby.

Relive our movement’s greatest moments under her leadership— winning marriage equality in California and then nationwide, expanding LGBTQ families’ adoption and parental rights, igniting the Born Perfect Campaign’s movement to end conversion therapy, and fighting back against attacks on our immigrant community.

Kate will leave an organization that is stronger, louder, and more determined than ever to rise up and defend the rights of all LGBTQ people—and she will be leaving a movement that has now been forever changed by her leadership.

Thank her. Hug her. Introduce yourself to her for the first time or share your favorite memory with her. But whatever you do, don’t miss this important opportunity to celebrate this moment in time.

Inspiration Our movement is full of everyday heroes: ordinary people with extraordinary stories of how they stood up to discrimination, fought like hell for their families, crossed countries to find safety and security, and in some cases, challenged a president.

You’ll meet Naval Academy Midshipman Regan Kibby, one of NCLR's brave plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Trump fighting the Trump-Pence transgender military ban. His father served in the Navy, and Kibby spent his early years in San Diego, where he was fascinated by the Navy and grew up wanting to serve. While in high school in North Carolina, Kibby spent years preparing for military service by participating in his school’s JROTC program.

But after successfully completing two full years at the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy, President Trump tweeted his ban—and Kibby’s life changed in an instant.

Hear the stories and meet the people shaping the future of our movement. You’ll never feel prouder of our community.

The Details

Saturday, May 19 5 pm: Welcome Dinner *Special dinner ticket required 8:30 pm: Party The Palace of Fine Arts 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco *To buy a party ticket, go to http://bit.ly/NCLR2018party

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Celebrating NCLR’s Everyday Heroes Our 2018 honorees are fighting with us to stop the TrumpPence transgender military ban

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But he didn’t give up. Instead, he demonstrated the same strength and leadership that helped secure him a spot as a Midshipman at the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy—and he joined our lawsuit challenging the ban. So did NCLR plaintiff Dylan Kohere, and so did many others, fighting for their futures and against the stigma and stereotypes fueling the ban.

The stakes here could not be higher. If this ban were allowed to stand, that precedent would be used against transgender people in every context you can imagine, from family law, to immigration, to employment law and beyond. This is an extreme threat to our LGBTQ community.

Read more about NCLR's courageous plaintiffs: Regan Kibby Midshipman Kibby has completed two years of education at the United States Naval Academy with a double major in English and history. He was inspired to serve both by his father, a Navy veteran, and his early childhood years in San Diego, a military town with a large Navy base, before moving to North Carolina with his family. He stated that he has always felt that he has a duty to serve.

In high school, he enrolled in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps ( JROTC) and by junior year dreamed of attending a military service academy. Military service academies are extremely competitive and accept fewer than 10 percent of applicants. The Naval Academy, as do many other service academies, requires a Congressional nomination. After a competitive application process, Midshipman Kibby was accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy.

During his first year at the U.S. Naval Academy, Midshipman Kibby came out as transgender, shortly after the time that then Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter issued an order announcing that transgender people could serve openly in the military. He followed protocol, informing his peers and his chain of command. If President Trump’s transgender military ban is implemented, Midshipman Kibby will not be permitted to complete the degree he has spent two years working toward or the career that he has spent a lifetime dreaming of and preparing for through years of JROTC. Midshipman Kibby said that President Trump’s transgender military ban “ruins transgender servicemembers’ lives and ends the careers of trained, qualified members of our military for no reason other than who they are. After a lifetime of feeling a sense of duty and (continued on page 15)

Photos courtesy of NCLR

REFLECTIONS (continued from page 11) from the truth. Working with her the past seven years has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Kate is an incredible person who brings out the best in those around her. In the office, she is just as hilarious and down-to-earth as she is during public appearances. Leaders like Kate come around once in a lifetime and her incredible impact will shape NCLR’s work for years to come.”

Noemi Calonje, Immigration Project Director “I arrived at NCLR in mid-1994, and Kate came on board approximately three months later. Twenty-two years of leadership is no easy task. Kate has been a friend, mentor, leader, and co-worker for most of my time at NCLR. I am thankful for the immense support of our work with our immigration community, our transgender community, our brothers and sisters who are challenged for their very existence.

When my father passed away 3 years ago, I notified the office about his funeral. The day we were to bury him, things just felt extremely overwhelming to me. I went outside the funeral home for a moment, and then I saw Kate walking across the parking lot. I walked toward her, and she just held me and let me cry. No words were needed. I will never forget that moment. And that is what makes Kate special.”

mainstream issues for the LGBTQ movement, but at the time seemed (to borrow a sports metaphor) out of left field.

And for somebody so incredibly smart and celebrated, Kate also has a great sense of selfdeprecating humor.”

Darren Arquero, Butler Koshland Fellow “I remember the NCLR staff meeting when Kate announced she was stepping down as Executive Director after 22 years. After hearing the news, my mind immediately f lashed back to Kate on the steps of San Francisco City Hall in 2008, and again in 2015, and then to her rallying the crowd at SF Pride 2016. She has been such a cornerstone for our movement for so many years.

To see the tremendous outpouring of love and support from LGBTQ leaders and organizations across the United States is a testament to the impact Kate has had on the movement, as well as the impact she’s had on people’s hearts.”

Ming Wong, Supervising Helpline Attorney

Alexander Chen, Equal Justice Works Fellow

“What a privilege it has been to work with Kate!

“Kate began her work at NCLR when I was five years old. Growing up, I never imagined I could live the open, free, and authentic life I do now. Through all those tumultuous and eventful years, Kate has been at the center of driving the unimaginable progress that LGBT people have experienced in this country. My generation lives in the world that she created.”

The things I love most about her are her vision and integrity. Because of her vision, we were able to create the sports project and immigration project, both of which have now become

EVERYDAY HEROES (continued from page 14) preparing to serve, reading Trump’s tweets was painful, and I saw my future crumbling.”

Dylan Kohere Dylan Kohere is an eighteen-year-old first-year student at the University of New Haven in West Haven, CT. Kohere grew up in New Jersey and was inspired to serve by his grandfathers’ military service. His goal is to spend his entire career in the military. Kohere came out as transgender during his freshman year of high school, where he was supported by friends and family members and served as president of his school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. After President Trump’s announcement of a ban on transgender people serving in the military, he was barred from joining the ROTC Program, including being denied the ability to partake in physical training or ROTC labs. While Plaintiff Kohere has continued to take ROTC academic classes, he never enrolled in the ROTC Program because of the ban.

Dylan Kohere said, “A big part of the reason I was comfortable coming out as transgender to the ROTC was the announcement in the summer of 2016 that transgender people would be able to serve openly in the military. I was so excited that I would be able to achieve my goal of serving while remaining true to who I am.”

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How the Tax Changes Impact Your Business to pay taxes on 20% of your business’ earnings. That’s a pretty sweet benefit.

Money Matters Brandon Miller If you’re a business owner like me, you probably dread adding anything else to your plate. But it might be worthwhile to spend a moment seeing how the recently passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 will affect your tax bill.

You might even like what you learn!

The much-vaunted drop in the corporate tax rate—it’s now a flat rate of 21% versus ranging from 15–35%— is great if your business is a C-Corporation. But it’s more likely that your company is structured as an S-Corp, Limited Liability Company (LLC) or sole proprietorship. So this tax cut probably doesn’t help you.

But here are some changes that may actually work in your favor: Pass-through Deduction Before telling you how great this benefit is, let’s first look at who is eligible for it. A pass-through entity means that the profits and losses of the business flow through to the owner, who reports it as personal income. Accountants, consultants and mom-andpop shops are all perfect examples of pass-through entities.

If your company falls into this category, the new law says you don’t have

And you don’t even have to itemize your taxes to get this deduction. Your taxable income just has to be below $157,500 if you’re a single filer and $315,000 if married, filing jointly. If you earn more than that, you can’t claim this 20% deduction if your business consists of professional services from one individual. (Think doctors and lawyers.) There may be ways to defer some of your income, though, so you can qualify for the deduction. If you don’t offer professional services— you sell products, for example—you qualify for the deduction no matter how much money you make.

Large Expense Write-offs This one is good news if your company needs to purchase vehicles, furniture, machinery or even computers. You can now deduct 100% of the cost—it used to be only 50%—in the year you buy the equipment instead of having to depreciate it over several years. You can also take the deduction over five years versus the old law that only let you take the deduction in the year the equipment was put into service.

Corporate AMT Repeal The Alternative Minimum Tax has been eliminated for businesses, leaving you with one less potential headache.

Of course, not everything about the new law will benefit your business.

There are several business deductions that the new law eliminates altogether or makes harder to take advantage of.

You can no longer write off your expenses for entertaining business clients. But don’t worry, office parties are still fully deductible.

If you offer transportation benefits to your employees, such as a public transportation pass or parking fee reimbursement, that’s no longer deductible either.

The Net Operating Loss (NOL) deduction, which used to be unrestricted, is now limited to 80% of a business’ taxable income. In years past, if your business sustained a loss, you had the option of using those losses to reduce any taxes paid in the past two tax years or to reduce any future taxable income for the next 20 years. Now you can only carry the NOL forward.

But wait, it gets better. You can write off up to $1 million, which is a significant jump from the previous threshold of $510,000. And, it’s not just new equipment that’s eligible. You can also write off used or old equipment that you purchase for your business.

And there’s also bad news if your business carries a lot of debt. Previously, there were no restrictions on the amount of interest you could write off for small business loans. But the new law reduces the deductible amount to 30%.

Accounting Method Changes If you deal with a lot of inventory, you’ll like this part of the new tax law. Previously, if your company made more than $5 million, you were forced to use the accrual accounting method. The threshold has now been bumped up to $25 million. So, if you make less than that, you now have the option to use a cash accounting method. Why is that good news? Because cash accounting lets you deduct the cost of inventory when your business pays for it, instead of when you sell it.

The main takeaway is that there are some great opportunities to leverage and some pitfalls to avoid. Consulting with your tax or financial professional early on (especially this year) could translate into a significant break on your taxes.

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

Comparing Cars with Automotive Muscle The same is true of these two recent testers, a Ford Mustang GT Premium and Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400. Both the Mustang and Q50 had a significant refresh for 2018, and so both are ultimate refinements of vehicles that have been tweaked over a long period of many model years. Both succeed as remarkably undistilled delivery systems for serious driving fun.

Auto Philip Ruth Muscles come in different shapes and forms, and that’s also true of muscle cars. And if you’re not dependent on a car to be practical, then you can pick and choose between the diverse variety of vehicles that offer leg it i m ate sporting credentials.

The Dodge Durango R/T I’m dr iv ing at the moment is the big-SUV expression of automotive muscle, with blackout graphics, a Hemi V8 and a growly exhaust. There’s no m ist a k ing it for a mainstream family hauler, as its presence is defined by aggression.

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That’s especially noteworthy because new cars as a whole are becoming more appliance-like, as they evolve further into the role of the smooth supplicant. Both this Ford and Infiniti are indeed smooth, and they’ll do what you want. They’ll also let you know all along the way that they are ready, at a moment’s notice, to triple your speed.

Of course, it’s not usually safe or wise to take up either car on that invitation.

The real value is the confidence engendered by such a deep bench of performance abilities in this Ford coupe and Infiniti sedan. Helming a car with barely-contained mightiness has a way of lifting your spirits every time you engage, even if on brief errands.

Neither this 460-horsepower Mustang GT nor the 400-horsepower Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 (yep, that’s partly how this new-for-2018 special edition got its name) demand that you rip up the speed limits to enjoy them.

Each has plentiful torque for strong launches and compliant transmissions for effortless passing. The Mustang’s six-speed manual shifted with pleasing heft, and the Q50’s seven-speed automatic was sharply responsive.

And that’s where the personalities of these two muscle cars diverge. The Mustang’s 5.0-liter V8 gives the car a broadly powerful feel, where you gather speed in such a relaxed fashion

Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400

Ford Mustang GT Premium

that you’re surprised to find the scenery whipping by.

In comparison, the Q50 Red Sport 400’s 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6 seems much more drawn to a point. Here the expansive burble of the Mustang is concentrated into a finer channel of focused brawn. The Mustang is assuredly faster, but traffic’s cut-and-thrust can have the Q50 Red Sport 400 feeling lighter on its feet.

These command performances are backed up by striking looks and supple interiors. The pinpoint highlights in Ford’s “Orange Fury Metallic TriCoat” and Infiniti’s “Dynamic Sunstone Red” kept both cars looking activated, even in San Francisco’s foggy afternoons. Both have a lot going on inside, with the Mustang’s shiny metal-styled instrument panel answered by the Q50 Red Sport 400’s festive diamond-pattern stitching.

Overall, both are satisfying expressions of automotive musculature, translated into different forms.

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

My Boyfriend Abandoned Me worse and worse. He stopped having sex with me, and then he shut down completely. When we were together, he would hardly talk.

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

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

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

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

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

Beth Greene Michael Delgado Abby Zimberg Design & Production

Kate Laws Business Manager Blake Dillon Calendar Editor

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT From a reader: “I was wildly attracted to Cal from the moment we met. I took it slowly because I’ve had bad experiences rushing into things in the past, but after two and a half years of spending almost all our time with one another, I was ready to live together and work toward getting married. He was for that as much as I was, but suddenly he started to act withdrawn and unresponsive. He told me that there was nothing wrong between us but that he was depressed about work and family problems. He got a therapist and started taking antidepressants, but his mood just got

Then one day he told me in writing that he was putting our whole relationship ‘on the back burner’ until further notice. I knew he was hurting, so I tried to be patient, hoping he would eventually snap out of it. I tried to keep my contact with him to occasional phone calls and texts, as he requested. But after more than six months of essentially being ignored, I finally lost my patience. I told him that I wasn’t going to wait any longer and that I wasn’t going to be in a relationship going forward unless he was willing to have at least some face-toface contact with me. His answer was an email titled, 'So be it,' in which he said that he would always love me and remember me, but that he had nothing more to give and we were done.

It’s been another six months, and I haven’t heard from him again. Some mutual acquaintances tell me that he’s still in a deep depression.

I was sympathetic and patient for a long time, but now I’m just angry. Did all his ‘I love you’ talk mean nothing at all? I know he’s depressed, but why couldn’t he let me help and sup-

Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence

port him in getting through it? How is he going to better his life if he responds to his problems by throwing away what brought a lot of happiness to him? He abandoned me in such a cold way. I’ve seen him out a few times from a distance, and I’ve honored his wishes and stayed away, but I’m thinking I might be able to free myself from him if next time I see him I just go up to him and tell him off.

Can you give me some advice?”

Answer: I can empathize with your hurt and anger, but I don’t think you’ll free yourself from your pain through acting with hostility toward a man you once loved deeply and must still care for. A better approach might be to learn more about depression, including reading some personal accounts of what the experience of severe depression feels like.

That might make the depth of Cal’s suffering more real to you, and also help you to take what he did less personally. It may seem strange to talk about not taking something “personally” that wounded you so deeply, but what I mean is that the way he treated you was no commentary on your worth or lovability; it was his response to the depth of his own pain.

If you have to let go of your dreams of a future with him, that doesn’t mean that you have to evict him from your heart. Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh once wrote, “Understanding is love’s other name.” It is when people we care about hurt and disappoint us that we have the opportunity to learn what this statement means.

The first stages of romantic love are really the easiest forms of love, because they feel so good and meet so many of our needs. It’s when those we love hurt us that we can access the deeper dimensions of our love—the parts that are less about our personal desires and more about experiencing empathy, compassion, and forgiveness for someone else, regardless of what that person can do for us. Going forward, when you think about Cal, don’t just dwell on your own hurt and anger. Remember that you’re both suffering. Be as kind to yourself as you can, but mentally send him wellwishes and kind thoughts through the space that separates you.

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

In Memoriam: Julius Turman

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Hailing from Michigan, Julius arrived in San Francisco nearly two decades ago. He was a former assistant U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey and practiced as a labor and employment attorney.

Julius was a respected leader in the African American and LGBT communities, and was a highly regarded friend and advisor to numerous City leaders and officials. A former co-chair of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, he also occasionally contributed to the San Francisco Bay Times.

Julius became widely known when he was appointed to the San Francisco Police Commission in 2012. As its President, he led the Commission and SFPD through various challenges and reforms, including the implementation of President Obama’s U.S. Department of Justice’s recommendations for reforms following a string of police shootings, such as the shooting of Mario Woods. He also led the crafting of poli-

cies for body-worn cameras, use-of-force policies and the use of electroshock weapons. He presided over the Commission until his recent retirement on May 4, 2018, a little over a week before his death.

PHOTO BY RINK

On Sunday, May 13, San Francisco lost one of its most dedicated City leaders with the passing of Julius Turman. He was 52.

A Potrero Hill resident, Julius enjoyed hosting holiday gatherings for friends and family.

I look forward to presenting a more detailed bi- Julius Turman enjoying a 2009 holiday party with Andrea Shorter ography and celebration of the life of my friend and brother, Julius Turman, in a future issue of the San Francisco Bay Times.

Andrea Shorter is President of the historic San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women. She is a longtime advocate for criminal and juvenile justice reform, voter rights, and marriage equality. A Co-founder of the Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, she was a 2009 David Bohnett LGBT Leadership Fellow at the Harvard Ken- Julius Turman with John Newsome at the nedy School of Government. Community United Against Violence party where Julius was honored in 2008

PHOTO BY RINK

Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Morgan Shidler

By Andrea Shorter

Julius Turman with Rebecca Prozan and Alex Randolph at the AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP) reception in 2009

PHOTO BY RINK

Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Patrick Carney, Kate Kendell, Alex Randolph, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Tim Seelig, Cinder Ernst, John Chen Rafael Mandelman, Jewelle Gomez, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Bill Lipsky, Karen Williams, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron Michele Karlsberg Lyndsey Schlax, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Howard Steiermann, Andrea Shorter, Scott Tsui, Tom Temprano, Lou Fischer, Frankie Bashan, Karin Jaffie, Brett Andrews

PHOTO BY RINK

CONTRIBUTORS

Julius Turman with John Weber at a Krewe de Kinque Mardi Gras party at the Edge in 2017

Commissioners Julius Turman and Thomas Mazzucco were panelists at a San Francisco Police Commission meeting held at Everett Jr. High School.

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Julius Turman presented the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club's Unsung Hero Award to Positive Resource Center's executive director Brett Andrews.

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

© 2018 Bay Times Media Company Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas

Julius Turman was among those volunteering on Folsom Street during the Up Your Alley Fair in 2015.

GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow

Am I a Bad Person?

Readers, I have to ask myself a serious question.

I have to face myself in the mirror and ask if in some way I am enjoying the political chaos that erupts each week. Each morning I check the news on my phone, feeling a small sense of disappointment when I see that nothing new has happened in the world of Trump. Oh, an earthquake, a scandal in some far-flung country, the Nobel prize for literature will be delayed or skipped, it’s raining bullets in Gaza.

Who cares? I want to see a blunder, an investigative report, an unexpected legal twist. The whole Rusher Thing with Trump and Rusher was interesting enough. Throw in Stormy and Michael and it’s all starting to thrill me. Which is not good. Not patriotic. Not right.

This is not a Netf lix binge series; it is real. It is history. We are being damaged. You know how people talk about a generation leaving the world a better place? I have never really thought about it, but I am witnessing my personal (baby boom) generation undermining decades of hard fought democratic progress. Just a few years ago, we elected one of the most brilliant and inspiring presidents in our history and now we find ourselves here? How did this happen? What the hell, Americans?! And what kind of person am I for my sick fascination?

(Do you think we can blame Trump for GenX?) I see, from the most cursory glances, that Trumpians have initiated yet another religious freedom policy, that the EPA has sidelined a report that sheds light on industrial water pollution affecting millions of Americans, that one of the many unqualif ied 20-something bro-types that skulk around the executive branch has been spending his time illegally spying on his fellow government employees, trying to catch them leaking to the press.

Just imagine if I took a closer look.

Fired for Fish Photo Meanwhile, what’s been going on in the exciting world of GLBT news, you might ask? (I hear you!)

Well, did you read, for example, about Stacy Bailey, the elementary school art teacher near Dallas, who basically lost her job after she showed her class a number of pictures, including one of herself and her future wife dressed as cartoon characters from Finding Nemo?

A parent complained about the sixyear veteran, who was introducing herself to her class last August with a power point presentation. The very mention of a “future wife” (they have since married) was considered an age-inappropriate discussion of sexual orientation, and according to The New York Times, the complaining parent managed to convince others to join the protest. In October, Bailey was asked to resign, but refused. Supportive parents came to her rescue, and she was reinstated in April before being transferred to a high school against her will. She is now suing the Manchester Independent School District for sexual orientation discrimination in federal court.

Some of you with your hands waving in the air are going to point out that sexual orientation discrimination is not a violation of any federal law. Then again, as we’ve discussed in these pages on many occasions, courts are starting to recognize that gay bias is a form of sex discrimination. And sex discrimination is indeed a violation of federal law—many federal laws, in fact.

Oh, and speaking of public schools, here’s a deceptive CNN headline: “A school district in Oregon is accused of

forcing LGBTQ students to read the Bible as punishment.” Sounds bad, but as far as I can tell, the kids aren’t necessarily being punished for being gay. They’re being punished for whatever naughty thing they did, and all bad kids are given the Bible treatment by one particular disciplinarian. It’s not clear. That said, it’s not constitutional to force the Bible down someone’s throat, gay or straight.

At any rate, there’s more than a whiff of homophobia at this school, where one teacher said gay marriage was like marrying a dog, and another said homosexuality is a choice. I see that an investigation is underway and a hearing is scheduled May 24.

Across the Pond I just listened to the Eurovision winner, the contestant from Israel.

This year, the Irish entry was a gay guy, and his performance included dreamy dancing between two men.

Since Ireland reached the semifinals, and since Eurovision is such a major event, all those antigay countries (we’re looking at you, Russia) were obliged to broadcast the gay-positive scenes. Hah! Eurovision is like the World Cup, if you ask me. An incredibly popular European thing with next to no entertainment value for the average American. I’m not speaking of pretentious Europhiles who refer to “American football,” and claim to root for Manchester United. I’m talking about us regular Yanks who have no idea where Lithuania might be located, and don’t care.

It’s between Latvia and Poland. I had to look it up.

And speaking of posh happenings in Europe, it is time again for the Cannes Film Festival, where a coming of age lesbian film from Kenya called Rafiki is getting rave reviews.

Back in Kenya, however, the film is not so popular. Director Wanuri Kahiu told the press that her government might have her arrested once she returns from the Riviera. I’m not sure what law Kahiu may have broken, but homosexuality itself, or should we say “carnal knowledge against the order of nature,” is a felony in Kenya with a jail term of 14 years. This state of affairs may change depending on a lawsuit now before Kenya’s highest court.

The last time a lesbian f ilm made waves in Cannes was when Blue Is the Warmest Color won the Palme D’Or in 2013. That was a film with an extraordinary ability to make its most avid viewers become bored with graphic lesbian sex. Seriously! I had to fast forward through a large part of the film because of the five and tenminute blocks of repetitive whatever. I later read that the actresses accused the director of emotional abuse on set; it was complicated.

Also, our beloved community member Kristen Stewart took off her spike heels to walk up the red carpeted staircase on her way to judge one of the movies. According to Variety, women have been obligated to wear very high heels to the Cannes festivities, although French officials say that there is no official rule on female footwear.

Happy Ending Ahead So. There’s nothing like ranting and raving over an injustice, only to see the whole business resolved after you’ve written several hundred words on the matter. But, of course, it’s all worth it in the end.

In this case, I had been writing about an army chaplain, Tim Brown, based in Fort Bragg. Brown married his Honduras-born husband in January of 2017, and yet Sergio Avila-Rodriguez was detained by immigration after reporting for a hearing as previously instructed. Immigration authorities said his status as the spouse

of a citizen did not trump the fact that he failed to report for an immigration court date in 2002 and that he was charged with driving under the influence in 2015.

Since Avila-Rodriguez was seven years old in 2002, he is hardly culpable of some kind of court date infraction. As for the DUI, that’s not grounds for deporting the husband of an American service member. Happily, the ICE agents released Sergio after five days in the immigration slammer, and he is no longer under threat of immediate deportation. He and Tim have already spent thousands trying to line up the paperwork for his marriage-based green card. It should not be this difficult.

Die Well, Readers!

Before we continue, may I just say how annoying it is that TV commentators no longer use adverbs? I don’t mean to be a pedant, but it hurts my ears when some sports person says, “He played aggressive,” or, “She really hit that clean.” It’s “aggressively,” “cleanly.” Speak clearly, guys!

One of the reasons my mind is flittering around like a bumblebee is that my wife is talking to me as I type.

My subject, in theory, is GLBT legal and political news. Mel’s subject is the shortage of immigrants to work the crab season in Maryland. Yes, I managed the first paragraph about bad grammar on TV, but in general, Mel is winning. She is distracting me. She’s been on this subject for a while and I assume she is reading a long form feature article.

There’s nothing that can really compare to soft shell crabs from the Chesapeake Bay, is there? Lightly battered and pan fried over high heat.

A squeeze of lemon. A dab of tartar sauce. You can make sandwiches with them too. The juxtaposition of Trump’s xenophobic immigration policies and their impact on such a fragile American delicacy is sobering.

But enough said.

By the way, am I the only one alarmed by the notion that huge asteroids seem to appear out of the blue and zip pretty close to Earth? As I write, a “lost” asteroid the size of the Statue of Liberty is about to pass within 126,000 miles of us, half the distance to the moon. This asteroid was “lost” for many years until it was rediscovered last week!

Didn’t you have the impression that we could see these dangers well in advance and maybe shoot something at the ones that come too close? If they’re going to pop up on the radar with no notice, we could be obliterated at any time. Kind of puts the crab industry crisis into perspective, n’estce pas?

The New Orange We will not escape the current state legislative sessions without the passage of any antigay legislation, but for the moment, our defeats are just two. Just after the last issue went to press, Oklahoma and Kansas both passed laws allowing adoption and foster parenting groups to discriminate based on their religious beliefs.

In other words, the Sooners and the Sunflowers gave the green light to rejecting gay and lesbian putative parents out of hand.

I know that Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed her bill, and if Kansas’s Jeff Colyer hasn’t done so, he will soon, I guess. Shame on both of you. It bears repeating that dislike of gay men and women is not a tenet of Christian faith. You’ve got the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, all the various things Jesus said (marked in red) and the list goes on. Christianity says nothing about dissing gay people or preventing them from (continued on page 23) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

M AY 17, 2018

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Weddings, Occasions & Relationships 'Little Gay Book' Brings Women Together es, their work is too demanding to allow time to search for a match, they’ve been single for a period of time and want some professional assistance, or they simply want to widen their social network.

Whatever the circumstances, these women tell me the same thing—regardless of their identity, they all want the exact same attributes in a partner:

The Lesbian Love Doctor Dr. Frankie Bashan (Editor’s Note: To coincide with the launch of our new dating service (https://baytimesdating.com/) we are introducing two new columnists with extensive expertise in matchmaking. Recently we told you about Scott Tsui, whose second article in his column series “Lonely No More” is featured in this issue. This issue also marks the start of Dr. Frankie Bashan’s new column, “Dr. Frankie: The Lesbian Love Doctor.” Whether you are seeking new friends or your soul mate—or maybe both—Scott, Dr. Frankie and Bay Times Dating can help.)

As a lesbian matchmaker and psychologist, I talk to a lot of women. Whether it’s at a speed dating event, during a consultation or as a matchmaking client, these women are successful, funny, talented, healthy and lacking one thing: a partner. They hail from a variety of situations. In many instanc-

“She should have a sense of humor, a sense of fun, be healthy, have passion about something in her life, be able to go out and do things, but also be happy staying home and watching movies. She should be a superb conversationalist, have emotional intelligence, be financially secure, not have a drug problem and enjoy a glass of wine from time to time.”

Sound like your perfect match?

She is! Nearly all of the women I talk to describe their perfect match as this person.

The good news? She exists! She’s right in front of you. She’s the woman at the bar with long hair, waiting patiently for you to pick her up. She’s the quiet nerdy girl at the cafe, typing furiously on her computer, or she’s the professional on the bus, sitting next to you reading the newspaper. She’s right here, where you are standing. She wants to meet you just as much as you want to meet her.

I therefore founded Little Gay

Book with one mission: to bring women together.

In 2001, I started my private psychology practice and noticed a pattern. Single lesbian/bi women and lesbian couples faced an array of challenges in their personal lives and yearned for solid, practical solutions to attain their relationship goals. I knew I was good at reading people and I wanted to do more for the community.

Little Gay Book brings women together through full-service matchmaking. As we say: “We find the woman of your dreams, so you don’t have to.” We also provide Single Mingles for Lesbian & Bi Women in several U.S. cities, and offer individual therapy or coaching sessions focused on an individual’s specific needs and situation. My team of matchmakers are all over the U.S. and put considerable effort into arranging matches for our matchmaking clients. We take on only 10– 15 women a year because we want to nurture our client relationships and truly get to know the women we work with so that we can effectively introduce them to highquality matches whom they might never have met without our intervention.

Our “Lesbian/Bi Single Mingles” are particularly successful because dating is a numbers game.

While that might sound harsh in (continued on page 23)

Natural, Learner or Blamer: Knowing Your ‘Relational’ Type f lict and heartache in our relationships?

Lonely No More Scott Tsui Recently, I had an interesting conversation over dinner with 3 single gay men in the Castro. One was a pharmaceutical researcher, one a dentist and the other an accountant. All were in their 30s, attractive and successful.

When the topic of relationships came up, one of them mentioned that he found it challenging to comprehend the intricacies associated with establishing and maintaining a relationship. I responded by asking two questions. Firstly, how many years and how much money had each invested in advancing their professional lives?

Not unexpectedly, the answer was “quite a lot.” When I asked the second question regarding the amount of time and money they had allocated to educating themselves in learning about how relationships work, there was silence.

Let’s think about this second question for a moment. For a satisfying quality of life, understanding people, including ourselves, is a key component in building a happy life with longstanding relationships. Take this a step further. How do we connect with the right partner to minimize con20

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Very few are taught how to find or attract our perfect partner, let alone how to date with a view to cultivating a lasting, satisfying and fulf illing relationship. We just expect a relationship to happen based on the people we meet and past experiences. We rely on intuition without any forethought whatsoever.

While we have spent years in school, and many more engaged in further studies to gain expertise in making our professional life easier, very few have spent time studying how to build intimacy with another person, and learn how to love, and to be loved, which incidentally also includes understanding and loving ourselves.

You might be asking: Is it necessary to learn about love and relationships? How come some couples have healthy, fulfilling and joyous relationships without any kind of training? How can you explain that? Sometimes couples work through their challenges, later in the relationship, and invest in counseling.

When it comes to dating, each may be unique due to many factors. Based on my observations and experience, in the world of relationships we can consider three broad personality types as a general guideline.

The first are the “Naturals.” Naturals are born with traits that made them “relationship ready.”

They tend to be more compassionate, caring, loving, forgiving, trusting and patient toward

their partner; that’s just who they are. Their attitude toward relationships is positive and they have a high level of adaptability and emotional maturity. Naturals are rare, so if you are fortunate enough to meet and recognize a “Natural,” hang on to them, and have the awareness to reciprocate.

Then there are the “Learners.”

Learners take time to ref lect on situations and past experiences to minimize costly mistakes.

People can become Learners at any stage of their life. What matters is that they eventfully develop self-awareness and ask themselves questions like: What do I need to change to avoid making the same mistakes? How can I do better next time? Who can I learn from?

Learners go through learning curves and generally find solutions to overcome their challenges. Learners can be recognized because they are curious, openminded, often have a certain vulnerability and are not afraid to ask questions. Learners also make good companions.

The last type is the “Blamer.”

Blamers like to point the finger at others rather than taking responsibility for their own actions.

They often keep trying to change their partner rather than look internally and change themselves and their perspective. Others play the role of victim and refuse to make the effort to create new opportunities to move forward in their relationship. Some Blamers are constantly criticizing others or making negative comments about relationship-life in general.

Blamers typically refuse to admit (continued on page 23)

NEWS (continued from page 3) port and resources. Both Amanda’s and Jessica’s families have had to face heartbreaking discrimination while being stationed in places that weren’t as welcoming to LGBT military kids as they should be, and they know firsthand why this program is so important. We are so grateful for their vision, passion, and leadership, and we’re excited to have them on the AMPA team.” www.militarypartners.org

already held in Gary, Indiana, where Ward grew up. We expect that more celebrations of Ward’s achievements will be announced, given her groundbreaking work, particularly on issues of racial and economic equality. https://www.lmtonline.com American Military Partner Association Launches New Program Focused on Families with LGBT Kids On May 12, at the organization’s 5th annual national gala, the American Military Partner Association (AMPA), one of the nation’s largest organizations of LGBT military spouses, families, and allies, launched a new program focused on education, advocacy, and support for military families with LGBT children. The new program, called MilPride, will be led by Jessica Girven and Amanda Brewer, military mothers of transgender youth who have had to face challenges and discrimination in navigating the military system. “We are so excited to launch this new program focused on supporting our nation’s military families with LGBT youth,” said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack. “Military families already have to face extraordinary sacrifices and challenges in their service to our country, and those families with LGBT children face even greater barriers due to a lack of sup-

‘Bigbelly’ High Tech Trash Bins Have Been Installed in the Castro Brand new high-tech trash bins called “Bigbelly containers” have automatic compacters inside, allowing them to hold five times more waste than a regular receptacle, and they are outfitted with wireless automated real-time technology that immediately alerts collectors when they are full. Mayor Mark Farrell and the City’s FixIt Team have installed five Bigbelly containers in the Castro District, and are set to add five more each in the Central Market, Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods, as part of a partnership with local Community Benefit Districts. “These trash receptacles have a proven track record of success,” said Mayor Farrell. “They are efficient, smart answers to our cleanliness problems. Our neighbors, families and business owners deserve

FISCHER (continued from page 8) apps, which again are huge battery drains, so bring a charger. I found a JumpBike, but it was “out of service.”

I located a Bird scooter, but someone else grabbed it before I could. JumpBike has a system to reserve a bike in advance, but none of the scooters companies do.

When I finally found a Bird, I “unlocked” it, scanned my driver’s license (Bird and Spin require a license), but the scooter was broken.

Someone had cut the throttle cable, so while the battery had 95% capacity, it wasn’t going anywhere. Come on, people. Don’t vandalize! I reported the damaged scooter and was refunded $1.60. At least the refund came quickly.

I was stranded and the only vehicles I could find were Lime scooters. I deviated from my “no repeats” plan and took one to Dolores Park to rent a JumpBike. The first few I tried to rent were “reserved.” That function sure comes in handy for other people. I finally found one and set off for Duboce Park.

JumpBikes are great: only $2 for 30 minutes—scooters are $1 to start and $0.15 per minute, so $9–10 per hour—and the electric assist kicks in when you pedal and makes mincemeat of our San Francisco hills. After 8 minutes I arrived at my destination, but since I paid for 30 minutes and enjoyed the bike so much, I decided to ride until I used up all the time. I ended the ride in the Upper Haight and used the included Ubolt to lock the bike to a rack. It’s a great design. You’re not restricted to docking stations and the bike must be locked to something (rack, pole, parking meter) so it keeps the bikes from being dumped haphazardly.

I purposely parked near 2 Bird scooters, but the previous users chose to stop for pizza and not “end” their ride, so I couldn’t “unlock” them in the app (millennials, sheesh). At this point I wanted either a Bird or a Spin, but all I could find were Lime scooters, so I took one to an area that showed 2 Bird scooters. Either Bird has a problem with their scooter-to-

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to live in communities that are clean and safe, and these bins will help us reach that goal.” Because of their smart use technology systems, Bigbelly receptacles reduce unnecessary waste collection services, while eliminating windblown litter and trash f lows. The bins accommodate landfill, recycling and compost streams at a single location, and they operate on solar power. “The Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District is excited to be partnering with the City on the Bigbelly project,” said Andrea Aiello, Executive Director of the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District. “The Bigbelly cans in the Castro have been placed in very high trafficked areas and we are hopeful they will help keep these corners clean.” www.sfgov.org Women’s Building Now Listed on the National Register of Historic Places As of April 30, the Women’s Building in San Francisco, 3543 18th Street, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and

private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources. The Women’s Building (TWB) in San Francisco’s Mission District represents a powerful physical embodiment of the values and achievements of second wave feminism during the mid to late twentieth century, and the movement’s efforts to secure social justice and gender equality for women and other minorities (LGBTQ/racial/ethnic).

As one of the first and longest tenured women-owned and women-operated women’s centers in the U.S., TWB represents a significant, high-profile model for the establishment and operation of similar facilities nationwide. www.nps.gov Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza Hold Final Community Meeting The community is getting close to a new design for Harvey Milk Plaza. After three community meetings and online feedback, Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza (FHMP) showed the proposed design to the community on May 15 at Sanchez Elementary School. The ultimate new design will honor Harvey Milk, be built with the goal of universal access, will take some important steps to ensure more access to the MUNI station and to the memorial exhibits, and will increase

safety by closing the station at night at the top of the stairs. www.castrocbd.org San Francisco Pride Announces Celebrity Grand Marshals and Special Guests San Francisco Pride will welcome writer and producer Our Lady J and dancers Jose Gutierrez and Luis Camacho as Celebrity Grand Marshals for the 48th Annual LGBT Pride Parade and March. In addition, transgender activist Gavin Grimm will be a Special Guest in the Parade, as well as one of the speakers on the Main Stage of the Celebration and Rally in Civic Center Plaza. “We are thrilled to welcome these talented and inspiring individuals into our extended Pride family,” said George F. Ridgely, Jr., San Francisco Pride Executive Director. “Our theme this year, Generations of Strength, encourages us to celebrate not only the decades of art and activism that have led up to present day, but to showcase the brave work of today and tomorrow.” Jose & Luis, members of The Legendary House of Xtravaganza, provided a breakthrough window into the world of ballroom culture.

Together, they choreographed the video for Madonna’s “Vogue.” www.sfpride.org

ADELMAN (continued from page 8) GPS interface or the 2 Birds were stashed inside a building (which is getting common, I hear). I went up and down the same block 10 times and never found either Bird, so I continued on my trusty Lime scooter.

I f inally found my “white whale” Spin scooter in the Castro. The Spin interface required advanced loading of $5.00 instead of “pay as you go”— I’ll never get that money back because I’m more likely to find the actual white whale, Moby Dick, than another Spin scooter anytime soon.

Spin has a very small footprint that is poorly delineated in the app. I had picked up the unit outside the area and subsequently returned it outof-area. When I got home I had an email from Spin asking me to return the scooter to the service area ... oops.

To finish my quest, I needed a Bird.

I found one in the Mission that had 39% of battery capacity remaining. I thought that would be enough to get me home to Bernal Heights. Nope, but it did get me to another Bird that I used to get all the way home.

In summary, JumpBike beats FordBike. In the scooter world, Lime wins the “overall” award for design, ease of use, availability and features, but I have to give an honorable mention to Spin; the scooter I had was pretty zippy.

If you are a rider, use the bike lanes or the side of the road. Don’t ride on the sidewalk. No one wants to get mowed down by a careless rider.

Wear a helmet, put your toys away and be kind to pedestrians. If you are not a rider, don’t hate us. We’re reducing the number of cars in the City. Let’s try to get along.

Louise “Lou” Fischer is the Immediate Past Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and has served as an appointed and elected Delegate for the State Democratic Party. She is a San Francisco Commissioner and has served in leadership positions in multiple non-profit and community-based organizations.

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service providers and organizations to make LGBT older adults feel aff irmed and welcomed. As recommended by the Task force, the LGBT Dementia Project, funded by the Department of Aging and Adult Services in 2016, developed and implemented an LGBT dementia capable training module for senior service providers and senior serving agencies and organizations, both LGBT and non-LGBT, as well as first responders and community members.

The provision of training has succeeded in creating LGBT welcoming and culturally competent dementia services where there had been little to none. There are now services where LGBT people can feel comfortable being out about themselves and their loved ones. The project has also created more dementia expertise in LGBT senior serving organizations and more awareness about Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the community at large. The trainings have been successful, but they are just the foundation for creating change. I asked Yau about the goals of the Summit.

“There are two goals: first to identify challenges in implementing LGBT inclusive strategies in aging and adult services in order to develop solutions, and second, [to] understand and address the concerns and unique challenges faced by LGBT caregivers and persons with a diagnosis from their personal experience,” Yau said.

So where does the project go from here? “The project is up for renewal,” Yau said. “We hope San Francisco supports this project for another year to begin developing a network of support services with the LGBT community in mind. Overall, this project has been welcomed with open arms in San Francisco. The response to the training has been positive with many anecdotal stories of change in heart and attitude towards LGBT people. The challenge is developing

long term change in policies by integrating LGBT inclusive values within organizations.”

According to a recent UCSF report, there are 18,440 people 65 years of age and older diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in San Francisco.

That number is projected to increase to 25,546 by 2030. The risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other dementias increases with advancing age.

As more people live longer, we can expect an increase in the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Today there are 25,000 LGBT older adults and people living with disabilities in San Francisco and that number is expected to double in the next two decades. Because of the lack of sexual orientation and gender identity data, we have no accurate estimates of the number of LGBT people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

The LGBT Dementia Care Summit will have a presentation by Dr. Jason Flatt on the latest LGBT dementia research, a speaker on living with Alzheimer’s, panel presentations on care partners and promising practices, a project progress report, free lunch and break out groups for an interactive dialogue about the challenges and solutions going forward.

Come be a part of making dementia services LGBT inclusive. You will have an opportunity to meet, speak and work with the three inspiring experts who developed the training, and who are poised to take this project to the next level.

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.

LGBT RESOURCES FOR SENIORS • Openhouse: 415-296-8995 openhouse-sf.org/ • Family Caregiver Alliance: 415-434-3388 www.caregiver.org • Institute on Aging: 415-750-4111 www.ioaging.org/ • National Resource Center on LGBT Aging www.lgbtagingcenter.org/ • Project Open Hand San Francisco: Nutrition Services, 415-447-2300 www.openhand.org/ • SAGE: 212-741-2247 www.sageusa.org/about/ • Shanti Project, Inc: HIV Services and Life Threatening Illnesses, 415-674-4700 www.shanti.org/ ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: • 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-2723900, (www.alz.org/norcal/); Online Community: www. alzheimersblog.org/lgbt-forum • Memory Clinic, Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center: 408-5306900, https://thrive.kaiserpermanente.org/care-nearyou/northern-california/ santaclara/departments/ memory-center/

LGBT DEMENTIA CARE SUMMIT Thursday, June 7 The Milton Marks Conference Center Hiram W. Johnson State Office Building, Lower Level, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco Free Lunch Included Register: https://action.alz.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Default.aspx?TabID=1357&productId=38029263 Or call 800-272-3900

DR. FRANKIE (continued from page 20)

LENO (continued from page 10) ness articles to snail mail to each of us. He wrote emails, checked his stocks and forwarded jokes on his iPad. Even after another fall at age 94, which fractured his leg and wrist and landed him in rehab again for 3 months, Dad did his best to walk, swim or ride his stationary bike every day.

He started meditating and going to yoga and balance classes. Until only a few weeks before he passed, Dad got up every morning, spent an hour exercising, then showered, dressed and came out to start his day with an orange and The New York Times.

Less than 3 days before he died, lying in his death bed, he somehow had the will to do arm and leg exercises with the home hospice therapist!

Whenever I asked Dad the secret to his longevity, he’d laugh and say: “I just keep breathing!”

With the joke, he knew how integral breathing was to managing our minds and emotions, and the stresses of life. When Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff was first published, Dad gave us all copies.

He enjoyed and went regularly for massages until his last weeks.

I got my love of bodywork from him, and he was always one of my favorite and most appreciative clients!

To the end, Dad practiced PMA and didn’t want us to worry. His answer to “How are you?” was always his signature, “Great!” or an “A-Okay” hand sign with his beautiful look and loving smile.

It was so surreal, yet all too real, to be holding our father’s two hands, sitting in sacred silence, with whispers of more love and more gratitude, as Mark, Jan and I waited for this remarkable man to take his last breath. And then he did.

And then something amazing happened. We sat wordlessly, just watching, and sensing something very lovely going on that we all agreed was Dad taking his time to engage every moment of his transitioning experience! He always loved adventures and learning, and simply seemed to be continuing on his way and enjoying the new trip he was just beginning. He was living his dying and didn’t want to miss a thing.

Through our tears, we know that Dad’s experience is truly a celebration of life, and that we should all be able to move on in wholeness and peace, leaving such abundant legacies of goodness and love. As our sister said so well, we always knew that he was there for us—behind us, sometimes out in front of us, and always, always beside us. Such unfailing, caring presence has made all the difference, and left an indelible impression for what we can all offer to those with whom we are sharing this world and life.

We have been inspired and changed forever by Dad’s myriad examples of love and how to live. Though he left us two weeks shy of his 98th birthday, I will always say Dad was 98. He’d act offended when I’d say I was counting on him to 100, because he was shooting for 105 or 120!

Length of life is a great gift— and we also have input. Quality is certainly achieved. If there is indeed a measure of a man, it must be the immeasurable measure of Manny Leno. He lives on through these great lessons that we are able to share, with others and with unending thanks.

regard to matters of the heart, it’s a simple reminder: If you want to find a partner, you have to kiss a lot of frogs. You have to go on a lot of dates with people you might not necessarily be attracted to or don’t know much about. We use a very basic, yet effective, texting technology that matches you with more women who fit your preferences.

The truth is, we all want the same thing in life: to love and be loved. We all want to come home to a person who might hate our music but still loves our heart. Humans have an infinite capacity for love and it’s my job is to guide you on the right path—via speed dating, coaching, matchmaking or simply advice on my website.

For example, if you’re a woman in her 40s wanting to meet other women in her 40s, our system will have you meeting those women first, before it puts you on dates with women in their 30s. We’ve found there’s a lot of fun in the awkwardness of meeting strangers. You meet someone new, listen to her story and maybe walk out with a new friend. Or, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a second date and the rest is up to you.

If we allow ourselves to be truly present to the dating process—to grow and understand that we all want the same things—we become less guarded, more aware, more open, and, ultimately, more loving. I am your Lesbian Love Dr.

I’ve found that many women have been “educated in romance,” and have a bad routine of believing dating should be an “organic” experience that “ just happens,” without any effort or intention. That’s a delusional view and one that I work hard to dispel. Lesbians spend more time finding a compatible vehicle to drive than a compatible partner to love.

Dr. Frankie Bashan is a psychologist, matchmaker and relationship guru who has been using her psychology background combined with technology and personalized algorithms to successfully match lesbian couples nationwide.

As the founder of Little Gay Book, the only exclusively lesbian/bi matchmaking agency in the U.S., she helps women in every state to find authentic, healthy, righteous, fullblown love and she knows what makes relationships tick.

For more info: https://www.littlegaybook.com/

San Francisco Ballet - Unbound Nite Out Photos by Rink Nite Out at the Ballet returned this season on the evening of Friday, May 4, featuring the program Unbound: A Festival of New Works. Hosted by dancer/choreographer Myles Thatcher and dancer Solomon Golding, the evening included a special LGBT reception in the Dress Circle on the 3rd floor of the War Memorial Opera House. Included were a complimentary signature cocktail, light refreshments and music by DJ Will Magid.

Jamie Leno Zimron is a Corporate Speaker, Executive Trainer, LPGA Golf Pro, and 6th Degree Aikido Black Belt. Check

ROSTOW (continued from page 19) opening their hearts and homes to orphan children. I think it might even disapprove of such disapproval.

Meanwhile, the latest battle in the ongoing war between Trump and Trans comes in the context of federal prisons, which will no longer place transwomen in the female prison population. Rewriting Obama era rules that gave gender identity a strong role in determining where a person would be placed, the new regulations look first to sex at birth. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis if a convict has made significant progress towards a transition.

The manual of standards originally was designed to “ensure the Bureau of Prisons properly identifies, tracks, and provides services to the transgender population.” Now, Trumpsters have added a concluding clause to that sentence: “ ... consistent with maintaining security and good order in Federal prisons.” Since maintaining good order and security in prison is taken for granted and need not be spelled out in manuals, one wonders why the extra language was tacked on.

In essence, it adds a big, bold “if we feel like it” to the commitment we make to transgender prisoners.

Can you imagine what it would be like to be a transwoman housed in the general male population of a federal prison? arostow@aol.com

TSUI (continued from page 20) that they are wrong. Dating or being in a relationship with a Blamer can be emotionally draining and is probably best avoided. In some cases, the dynamics in this type of relationship could be classified as emotional abuse.

With the realization that there are many subcategories of these, take a moment and think about your past or current relationships. Can you identify with, or place others you know, into any of these categories?

In my next column, I will relate the story of a Natural couple who spent forty years together. I was fortunate to interview them and to learn their insights and perspectives, which I will share with you.

Scott Tsui is the author of “Lonely No More – 8 Steps to Find Your Gay Husband” and the creator of the world’s first online gay relationship training: Gay Men Relationship Blueprint. Tsui works to help gay men find their compatible companion or to build lasting friendships for fun and adventure. For more information: http:// scotttsui.com/ S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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Photos from Oakland A's Pride Nights in previous years. Photos Courtesy of Oakland Athletics

MLB Inclusion Ambassador Billy Bean with Oakland A's fans

As of this writing, at least 23 Major League Baseball teams will be hosting LGBT Pride events this year. According to Outsports, they are as follows: AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL Minnesota Twins Chicago White Sox Kansas City Royals (Fans such as Scott Switzer have made this possible with a grassroots effort. Switzer plays in the Heart of America Softball League, an LGBT softball league in Kansas City. His inaugural “Gay Day at the K” a few years ago has grown into a well-attended event that is advertised via large organizations, LGBT businesses and more. While we will be cheering for the A’s on their Pride Night, we will also be thinking of Switzer and his “Forever Proud, Forever Royal” efforts.)

Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays San Francisco Giants San Diego Padres (This event in April was a great success. The Padres played the New York Mets.)

Los Angeles Dodgers Colorado Rockies Arizona Diamondbacks (They are playing San Francisco on June 29, so if you are a baseball fan, consider heading out to Arizona and attending this event. It will take place on the Friday after the SF Pride Parade, when the calendar often slows down a bit in the Bay Area.)

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL Chicago Cubs (The Cubs deserve extra kudos as they will not only host a Pride Day, but also Out at Wrigley on Sunday, August 26.)

Cincinnati Reds Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST Atlanta Braves New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Washington Nationals The MLB teams not mentioned still have time to organize Pride events, so hopefully more will be added to the list—if not this year, then next. In the meantime, note that the National League West is the only division at this point where all five of its teams will be holding a Pride event in 2018. Way to go, NL West!

MLB Pride events are important for a number of different reasons. Per the A’s Pride Night, many serve as fundraisers for LGBTQ organizations. They bring members of our community together with allies and fellow sports fans in a welcoming environment. They are incredibly fun—and we speak from experience on this! But most of all, they signal a shift toward inclusiveness. Our fan base is large, vo-

PINTEREST.COM L.G.B.T. NETWORK

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

cal and comes with $ to spend, helping to boost the business of baseball that spills over into the many associated businesses handling parking, transportation, souvenirs, stadium concessions, hotels, nearby restaurants and so much more.

Sports culture has been slow to evolve in terms of out LGBTQ players, however. It is not just baseball. There are zero openly gay male athletes in the MLB as well as the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS—North America’s five largest pro sports team leagues. There are some up and coming talented players in collegiate sports, so the next generation is poised to change that glaring “zero” statistic.

SEATTLEMARINERS.COM

Before we do that, we should say that for more than a decade, “Betty’s List” and the San Francisco Bay Times have also been invited to participate in the San Francisco Giants’ LGBT Night. Castro resident Dr. Betty Sullivan is a major sports fan (hand her a basketball and you will see why she was a star b-ball player in high school) and is once again organizing a group to attend this always great event, which this year will take place on Thursday, June 21.

Those who purchase a special ticket will receive a limitededition SF Giants Pride expandable backpack and access to the pre-game party. If you would like to join us, please contact Betty at 415-601-2113 or via e-mail (bettysnie@ aol.com). The Giants will be taking on the San Diego Padres, who already enjoyed their Pride Night on April 27— the earliest of all such events.

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

PHOTO CREDIT: BOSTON.COM

The Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, established in September 2017, is the first and only such center serving the diverse and vibrant LGBTQ community in Oakland.

Spectrum Queer Media, founded by 2018 San Francisco Pride Community Grand Marshal Kin Folkz/Monica Anderson, is an internationally recognized Oaklandbased social justice community engagement and media literacy/advocacy group that works to empower our community. Tickets to the A’s Pride Night are now for sale online (https://groupmatics.events/event/Sanfrancisco4).

Don’t miss out! The A’s will be playing the Kansas City Royals. We will mention more about the Royals later.

Billy Bean with the Phillie Phanatic

CNSNEWS.COM

The San Francisco Bay Times is extremely proud to be the media sponsor for the Oakland A’s Pride Night on Friday, June 8. Please join us! All participants who purchase a special ticket for this event will receive an exclusive A’s Pride Night wearable f lag and access to the pre-game Pride Night Party in Championship Plaza. What’s more, our affiliated Use the News Foundation is the non-profit sponsor of the event, in conjunction with the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center and Spectrum Queer Media, so you will be helping out these important organizations, too.

EPGN.COM

Pride Nights Pave Way for Inclusiveness in Major League Baseball

You can help to make the change, by attending sports Pride events and demonstrating LGBTQ visibility. Should pro players have the courage to come out, they and associated others will then know that fans like you have their back and will continue to support their team—perhaps with even more enthusiasm than ever.

For more information: Tickets to A’s Pride Night: https://groupmatics.events/event/Sanfrancisco4 Tickets to the San Francisco Bay Times/”Betty’s List” group at SF Giants Pride Night: contact Betty at 415-601-2113 or via e-mail at bettysnie@aol.com Oakland LGBTQ Community Center: https://www.oaklandlgbtqcenter.org/ Spectrum Queer Media: http://www.spectrumqueermedia.com/

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Pioneering Gay Male Baseball Heroes The fact that there are zero out gay men on MLB teams now shows how intense the pressure is for such players to stay in the closet. LGBTQ sports professionals often must look to retired players for role models, but even then, they may find individuals who experienced overwhelming difficulties—some of which proved to be insurmountable. We therefore honor the following players, not just for their baseball skills, but also for their courage to come out, speak the truth, live authentically and help others to do the same. Some are up and coming younger players with careers that we look forward to following for years to come.

Matthew Barker Colorado Rockies (draft pick)* Denver Browns

Ben Larison

Chandler Whitney

Tyler Dunnington Gulf Coast League Cardinals State College Spikes of the New York– Pennsylvania League

Billy Bean Detroit Tigers Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres Kintetsu Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball

Mark Johnson University of Tampa Coach Matt Kaplon Drew University

Jason Burch Bowie Baysox: an AA Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles Glenn Burke Los Angeles Dodgers Oakland Athletics Sean Conroy Sonoma Stompers of the Pacific Association David Denson Milwaukee Brewers (draft pick) Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Class A Midwest League Helena Brewers Brevard County Manatees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League John Dillinger Pittsburgh Pirates (draft pick) Gulf Coast Pirates Carolina Mudcats Syracuse SkyChiefs

Ben Larison Coe College Tyson Lusk University of South Carolina Director of Baseball Operations

Jason Burch

Matthew Barker

Kevin McClatchy Former Owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates Dave Pallone MLB National League Umpire Ryan Jordan Santana Azusa Pacific University Golden Grove Dodgers in Adelaide, Australia

Billy Bean

Dale Scott MLB American League Umpire Chandler Whitney Mitchell College Walla Walla Community College

Matt Kaplon

*The mentioned teams often reflect only some of those for which the listed men were drafted to and/or played. In many cases, the players were part of numerous other teams. John Dillinger, for example, played for well over a dozen teams during just a decade of his impressive sports career.

Sean Conroy

Tyler Dunnington

Dave Denson

Mark Johnson

Ryan Jordan Santana

Dale Scott Tyson Lusk

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Gay Director Makes Auspicious Debut with On Chesil Beach you talk about your visual approach to the story?

Film Gary M. Kramer Out gay filmmaker Dominic Cooke’s directorial debut, On Chesil Beach, is a stunning adaptation of Ian McEwan’s eponymous novel. The story, which is set in 1962, unfolds at a seaside hotel where Edward (Billy Howle) and Florence (Saoirse Ronan) are spending their wedding night. As they awkwardly prepare to consummate their marriage, the past, present and future of their relationship unfolds. On the phone from the U.K., Cooke chatted with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about On Chesil Beach, which opens May 25 at the Embarcadero Center Cinema 5.

Gary M. Kramer: You are primarily known for directing theater. What struck you about this story that you wanted to bring it to the screen for your film debut?

Dominic Cooke: The f irst thing was the quality of the writing and how complex it was. How delightful those central characters are. There was amazing empathy for their situation and struggle and that world.

I was born four years after the film was set. I remember that uptight formal repressed English world McEwan brings to life so vividly. I had not seen that moment in film. It was refreshing to make a film about sex and intimacy.

Gary M. Kramer: What struck me about the film was your concentration on details like Florence’s shoe, her fist, or other close-ups that signified something possibly ominous. Can

Dominic Cooke: Those close-up shots and details were their bodies telling the truth. They were (revealing) from the characters’ nervous systems and they draw the audience’s eyes. We wanted to do something more sustained and in keeping with the period of the 60s; to use the camera to tell the story more than the editing.

Gary M. Kramer: There’s a line Edward has that is very telling.

He says, “I wasn’t my family, I was me. Life had just begun.” I understood that in the context of the film, but it also sounds like something a young man might think having come out as gay. What observations do you have about creating one’s individuality?

Dominic Cooke: I think the idea of living other people’s lives is something you understand as a young person—you conform to an idea of doing what’s right. They are trying to find their own truth and who they really are in a world that won’t allow them—rather than their parents’ expectation of who they should be.

They are caught up in being what’s expected of them, and they don’t really know who they are.

Gary M. Kramer: You use f lashbacks to f lesh out the characters and provide background on their lives. Can you talk about creating the narrative?

Dominic Cooke: You start with two people in a hotel room and what’s led to the situation and the awkwardness that’s there. We wanted to unfold that like a jigsaw. One thing that’s really important in the f lashback is that the couple is incredibly well suited to one another. And when they don’t have the pressure to be in bed together, there is a lot of harmony. But they live with a lot of ghosts and history that have been handed to them, and you need a sense of all of that.

Gary M. Kramer: The film has a wonderful sense of claustrophobia—even on the beach! Can

you describe how you created the film’s mood and tone? We feel every awkward moment in that bedroom.

Dominic Cooke: One of the ideas we worked with was this idea of two people in the wrong place at the wrong time. They are living in their parents’ and grandparents’ world.

The interior spaces were 30–40 years old. They were in the wrong environments. The beach is hemmed in by water on all sides, so they have pressure in that space. We contrasted them in nature, their own world, without pressure and connection and relaxation in nature. We used oppressive colors to make them feel hemmed in the world created by their parents.

In 1962, the sixties revolution hadn’t kicked in. They are in postwar austerity and Edwardian values.

Dominic Cooke: Same-sex relationships don’t abide by conventional ideas.

LGBT folks make their own stories and are not defined by mainstream society’s expectations of what they should be. © 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

Gary M. Kramer: There is also a plea for the couple to “live by their own rules.” (Florence references a gay couple her mother knows that does this). Can you talk about the theme of going against society?

Dominic Cooke: I think the film is very much on that side. Florence says that their marriage doesn’t have to be defined by what the outside world says.

Gary M. Kramer: Why is it still important to be as individualistic today?

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ

MAMA ROSIE How many children does Rosie O’Donnell have?

A) 6

B) 4

C) 5

D) 3

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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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Lesbian Supernatural Thriller Sodom Road Exit Poses Thought-Provoking Question

Words Michele Karlsberg Michele K arlsberg: For this issue of t he San F ranc i sco Bay Times I spoke with A mber Dawn, a Canadian writer who has already won multiple awards, such as the 2010 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Debut Fiction. Her newest novel is the lesbian thriller Sodom Road Exit.

Michele Karlsberg: Can you tell us about the title of the book?

Amber Dawn: Growing up, I was well aware of the big Sodom Road Exit sign off the QEW highway. To get to Crystal Beach you follow Sodom Road all the way to the shores of Lake Erie. I remember the literal Sodom Road Exit sign inspiring jokes and tittering among locals and visitors, but it wasn’t until I moved away and came out as a particularly outspoken and salacious queer femme that the sign took on a figurative meaning. It’s become an ironic delight to exit on Sodom whenever I return to my hometown. I wanted my protagonist, Starla, to feel a similar irony as she returns home.

Michele Karlsberg: The book is written from two points of view: Starla’s first-person voice, set in the 90s, as well as a voice we learn is that of Etta’s, who died in the early 40s. Can you talk about how you came to use this structure? Did you always know the story would be told in first person from more than one perspective?

Amber Dawn: My first novel, Sub Rosa, was written in first person, and I’ve been very forthcoming about using that point of view because Sub Rosa’s protagonist was based on my own experiences. Again, I’ve drawn upon the personal in writing Sodom Road Exit and the first-person voice came easily to me. Because much of Starla’s journey is traversed through her inner thoughts and personal “ah-ha” moments, I needed to stay fixed inside her head.

But Starla is in her early 20s and in a rather narcissistic phase of her personal growth and healing. Starla’s character is limited in what she can understand and act upon. I needed to employ a second speaker. Etta, the ghost, is a different kind of speaker and knowledge holder. She lived during a pivotal historic time for Crystal Beach, and I decided she deserved to share her knowledge, first-hand, with the reader. Beyond her historic perspective, Etta is a villain, and who doesn’t want to read a villain’s character from the first person?

Michele Karlsberg: This book explores trauma and survival in many layers and configurations—at the level of individual characters, their relationships to each other and their relationships to place and the past. Crystal Beach itself is a site of class trauma as well as colonial violence. What kind of conversations do you hope that the book will start and create space for?

Amber Dawn: The book is disguised as a horror thriller, but ultimately, it’s an exploration of how different survivors—of both individual and systemic trauma—cope and strategize together, and also how they fail one another. The characters in Sodom Road Exit are initially brought together because of their shared location and their working class/poor economic backgrounds. Proximity brings them together, not a sense of community or shared skills and values.

What happens when a group of very different people are put into crisis

together? This is the question that most interested and informed me as I wrote. I hope my readers reflect on this question too. How do we function—and perhaps even thrive—together during times of crisis?

Amber Dawn is a writer and creative facilitator living on unceded Coast Salish Territories of Vancouver, Canada. She is the author of four books and the editor of two anthologies. For more information: http://www.amberdawnwrites.com/ Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBT community. This year, Karlsberg celebrates thirty years of successful book campaigns.

SF Sketch Randy Coleman Randy Coleman hails from New York, but has lived in San Francisco since 1975. Coleman shares that before moving to the Bay Area, he studied Art History and Architecture at Boston University while working as a resident artist for architectural rendering at a Massachusetts historical society. “All of my life I’ve been an artist,” Coleman says. “To know me is to know that I have a passion for art and architecture. I love this project for the San Francisco Bay Times, and hope that you enjoy my sketches.”

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Round About - Spring Galas, Benefits & More

Photos by Rink

Rink has been keeping a very busy schedule attending activities and events. Be sure to say “Hello!” when you see him with his camera, capturing images in the Castro and all over town.

Baseball players from the SF Crush team welcomed guests to the grand opening of Papi Rico restaurant, sponsor of the team, on May 6.

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or this issue highlighting NCLR’s Anniversary Celebration we look back at three moments in lesbian history. The black and white photo, dating to 1978, shows a group of lesbians from rural parts of Northern California who traveled to be a part of what was then called the Gay Freedom Day Parade in San Francisco.

Many of the women feared being “outed” to their families, friends and co-workers due to the backlash they would likely face. They bravely came and marched, however, serving as role models for future generations.

LGBT activist Lisa Williams (left) was on hand with other volunteers, at the intersection of Market and Van Ness on May 7, supporting London Breed’s campaign for Mayor of San Francisco.

NCLR itself is highlighted in a 2015 photo, showing the organization’s San Francisco Pride Parade contingent. It was led by supporters who dressed in costume—not to hide, but to celebrate the then recent U.S. Supreme Court decision announced on June 26, 2015, requiring all states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

In 2016, Rink photographed Dykes on Bikes founding member Soni Wolf, shown here with her prized wheels at the San Francisco Pride Parade. Wolf died on April 25 this year, but her legacy looms large. At this year’s San Francisco Pride Parade, friends will be carrying the historic and beautifully painted gas tank from the motorcycle Wolf rode in the first Dykes on Bikes contingent in San Francisco. Just one week prior to her passing, Wolf was named a Community Grand Marshal by SF Pride.

A voter registration table was staffed by volunteers during the Earth Day activities at Civic Center.

San Francisco Crush baseball team players Eric Dolan and Tim Bundy welcomed guests to the grand opening of Papi Rico restaurant on Castro Street on May 6.

Georgia General Assemblyman Samuel Park (center), who was in town to speak at the EQCA Dinner held on May 12, enjoyed a tour of the Castro led by Community College Board member Alex Randolph (left) and El Cerrito Mayor Gabriel Quinto (right).

Costumed festival goers enjoyed Earth Day at Civic Center on April 21.

2015

Thoth and Lila’Angelique of Tribal Baroque performed at the Art Saves Lives Gallery opening reception on May 11.

Artist Gabriel Garbow displayed his watercolors at the Art Saves Lives Gallery on A sidewalk sign outside the Art May 11.

Saves Lives Gallery on May 11

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Art Saves Lives artist and gallery coordinator Thomasina DeMaio presented her new painting of Harvey Milk at an exhibit opening reception held on May 11.

As Heard on the Street . . . What is your favorite sport to watch? What is your favorite sport to play?

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compiled by Rink

Dawn Ackerman

Carl Lockhardt

Hugh Hutchinson

Leslie Katz

Element Eclipse

“I watch all sports, especially basketball. I play bocce ball, basketball, and water polo.”

“I like to watch basketball.”

“I watch and play football.”

“I watch basketball. I play kickball, soccer, and volleyball.”

“I watch basketball. I like to wrestle.”

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Emcee Tita Aida (center) welcomed guests attending the 20th Anniversary Party at Asia SF on April 17.

A model wearing a dress created from recycled materials was on hand for the fashion show held during the San Francisco Earth Day 2018 Festival & Climate Rally at Civic Center.

sfbaytimes.com During Earth Day activities at Civic Center, California Academy of Sciences provided information about current and upcoming exhibits, including Giants of Land and Sea that will open on June 15 at the CAS location in Golden Gate Park.

Asia SF owners Skip Young and Larry Hashbarger accepted a proclamation from SF Commissioner Nya during the 20th Anniversary Party on April 17.

items of the week

A performer entertained guests at Asia SF’s 20th Anniversary Party on April 17.

Harper + Ari Dessert for your skin 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!).

Clair Farley and API Wellness Project’s Lance Toma at the 20th Anniversary of Asia SF on April 17.

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.

Four new “Bigbelly” trash cans, such as this one installed at Harvey Milk Plaza, have been installed at select locations in the Castro. Castro Benefit District is sponsoring the new high tech trash receptacles.

Vanessa Lovato, owner of Polk Street Flowers, prepares for Mothers Day 2018.

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Greeters welcomed guests to LYRIC’s 30th Anniversary Open House on April 26.

Volunteer server Ben presented a tamale to Emperor Leandro Gonzalez at the Annual Cinco De Meow Party at Cinch Bar

Guests attending LYRIC’s 30th Anniversary Party were invited to write their initials on a mirrored poster.

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!

SF School Board member and LYRIC volunteer Mark Sanchez joined greeter Gary Keener in welcoming guests to the 30th Anniversary Party on April 26.

Remember the Bay Times Personals?

As they do every year during LYRIC’s annual Open House, guests lined the outside staircase at the organization’s location in the Castro.

Volunteers invited guests to write their life stories on a wall during LYRIC’s 30th Anniversary Open House.

Server Keith from Slurp restaurant on Castro Street offered sushi and other hors d’oeuvres during LYRIC’s 30th Anniversary Open House.

They’re back and better than ever!

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DE YOUNG AND LEGION OF HONOR

Julian Schnabel

An exhibit of his works through August 5 at the Legion of Honor

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) recently announced their contemporary art program through summer 2018. It includes a major exhibition by Julian Schnabel. The program as a whole creates dialogues between living artists and the unique buildings and locations of the de Young and Legion of Honor, and works in FAMSF’s encyclopedic collection, revealing new meanings and juxtapositions across decades and genres.

“The response to our program launch has been fierce and we will continue to broaden the discourse with multifaceted projects conceived for the de Young and Legion of Honor in the coming year,” said Max Hollein, former Director and CEO of the FAMSF. He added that a new series of outdoor paintings by Schnabel transforms “the Legion of Honor’s courtyard into a temporary gallery.”

Schnabel is one of the most important painters of our time, according to Hollein and his team. Schnabel’s artistic attitude is embodied in audaciously scaled and shaped paintings, incorporating classical pictorial elements, oscillating between figuration and abstraction.

Julian Schnabel’s studio in Montauk, 2017. Photo by Tom Powel Imaging, copyright Julian Schnabel Studio Image courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Mining a vast array of sources and materials, composed and distributed across surface and support in defiance of notions of moderation, rationality, and order, his approach to the use of materials is highly experimental.

The new exhibit features not only the significantly sized, sculptural paintings in the iconic Court of Honor, but also three other distinct bodies of new work in the galleries dedicated to Auguste Rodin’s sculptures. These all mark the artist’s response to the physical space of the Legion of Honor and eternal themes in its collection.

“These paintings might be the culmination of my entire painterly practice since 1977, as they epitomize so much of what had been the essential characteristics of the smallest and most nascent proposals of how imagery drawing and material could be called a painting,” said Schnabel. “It seems to me this is as far as I could go and as far as I can currently take painting—this week.” www.famsf.org

Writing Children’s Books to Educate Future Generations About Diversity

By Lyndsey Schlax (Editor’s Note: Teacher Lyndsey Schlax of the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (SOTA) launched the nation’s f irst on-site high school LGBT course in 2015.

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, students from grades 10– 12 discuss their class as well as their latest project: writing children’s books to educate generations to come about diversity.)

We are proud to be nationally recognized by our peers and the media as the first national firm to launch a LGBT practice ‒ we make it our business to understand our clients’ unique needs.

www.marcumllp.com Nanette Lee Miller 415.432.6200 I nanettelee.miller@marcumllp.com International Member of Leading Edge Alliance

ASSURANCE

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1. This semester’s final project in LGBTQ/Ethnic Studies is writing a children’s book about a topic we have discussed this year. All week, we have been learning how to include personal narrative, causality & agency, and hegemony/counterhegemony into a book designed for 5–12-year-olds.

The truth is children understand a lot more than they’re given credit for.

Oftentimes, matters of race, gender, and privilege are dumbed down for young children. But kids, and especially those of a racial minority, have been exposed to these issues since birth and are sometimes more open to talking about them than full-grown adults.

In general, there is a lack of children’s books that are inspirational for children of color and children within the LGBTQ community. The guideline we were given at the beginning of the writing process was to “write a book that you wish would have existed when you were young.” That is why I am writing a book about a young boy who does not fit in with the hypermasculine social norms in elementary school. It is important for me that

young boys know that it is not necessary for them to play sports and to like trucks. It is okay to have friends who are girls as well as to have friends who are boys. That is why I am excited for the end of the project, when we will get to read our books to a class of second graders, and to share the invaluable information that we have learned this year in this amazing class.

2. The LGBTQ/Ethnic Studies class here at Ruth Asawa SOTA has taught me so much more about the world and what should be done to fix the systems put into place. This country specifically has many issues that people do not know about, that people should be educated on. If anything, this class should be a requirement for students to take since it is important to understand all of the issues that come into play in this country. It is also due to the fact that history books in everyday education do not go into depth about the histories of anyone who is a part of the LGBTQ community, as well as people of color. In order to make a more sustained and united society, people have to learn about the underlying histories that were never told.

Other than this class opening up my eyes, it has engaged me to want to attend more walkouts or anything that has to do with activism and problems that arise from the wrongdoings of the government. Attending and helping to lead the national walkout on gun violence was a great experience for me. Overall, this class has made me feel more conf ident in myself in wanting to move forward and to change the world. This class itself has been a great opportunity for me since it is not a class that is allowed in many places, so I have my school, and my teacher Ms. Schlax, to thank for that.

3. In our Ethnic Studies class, we read articles regarding intercultural education through children’s books and

STUDENT VOICES the authors’ approach to an audience of 7–10-year-olds. Passing on histories of race through children’s books requires attention to boundaries, language, and the audience’s reading level. When it comes to race and LGBTQ lenses, authors with young audiences focus their themes on multicultural children’s literature, elements of social justice, and heterosexual/queerness.

Writers not only ask themselves questions like, “What is good?” and, “What is my goal with writing this?” but they also apply the queer theory lens, social action ideas, representation and humanization, awareness and more, all within appropriate boundaries. Authors tell untold histories and share social movements and changes in their children’s books to provide the young readers with a per(continued on page 38) 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.

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun We also found out that Development Director Toni Newman would be moving on to become Executive Director of St. James Infirmary. They then screened a video of staff and clients speaking about what Maitri meant to them personally and as a whole. Auctioneer and host was actor Dale Johannes.

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “How ironic that First Lady Melania Trump is rallying her ‘Be Best’ campaign against online bullying, while First Ogre President Trump has posted over 450 (and counting) bullying tweets since declaring for that stolen office!

Yikes!”

The BRIDGEMEN, a part of SAN FRANCISCO AIDS FOUNDATION and STRUT, the home of health and wellness in the Castro, held a night out on Cinco de Mayo to find out what the Bridgemen do for the community. We were encouraged by Community Organizer Baruch Porras-Hernandez to join the organization as volunteers, and we enjoyed SpeedFriending (which is like SpeedDating, but not for hookups but rather to meet queer men as friends). The Bridgemen has collaborated with Gay Men in SF to put on this event several times before.

We participated in several ice-breaker exercises including a scavenger hunt and other getting-to-knowyou games. Then we went to the third floor where a bunch of board games awaited our pleasure. My favorite was Cards Against Humanity, the most un-politically correct game imaginable. But tons ‘o fun, and a great way with humor to play with new friends.

MAITRI presented BLISS 2018 (their 31st Year Anniversary) in the Julia Morgan Ballroom, raising $210,000 in total. Maitri says no one should have to suffer or die alone.

Maitri provides compassionate residential care to men and women in need of hospice or 24-hour care and cultivates the deepest respect and love for life among its residents and caregivers. Maitri honored former Executive Director Bill Musick for his 20 years of service, and Kirsten Havrehed for 20 years of supporting Maitri with her time and donations. Musick had all the past and present board members stand to receive applause. He then introduced the relatively new executive director (the first female Maitri E.D. ever), Anne Gimbel, to speak about the long process of moving from the tiny, underserved Hartford Street headquarters to the now spacious space at Duboce. She summed it all up, saying, “Maitri is good karma.” Amen!

Special Guest was Grammy Winning vocalist and original Dreamgirl Jennifer Holliday, who spoke of the early days of AIDS and losing so many of her dear friends in the entertainment industry to this “new virus.” Then she belted out her more than famous Dreamgirls number, “And I Am Telling You” to the shouts and screams of the audience.

Also entertaining were guitarist/ vocalist Jonny Zywiciel, hysterical comedian Jason Stuart (addressing the yeas and woes of being gay and Jewish), pianist Tammy Hall accompanying vocalist Frenchie Davis (who will be joining the cast of Dreamgirls) who sang Otis Redding’s “The Dock of the (San Francisco) Bay” and Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.” We all got to sing the “Happy Birthday Song” to Ms. Davis. This truly was a night of Bliss! http://www.maitrisf.org/ Each year Juanita MORE!’s annual nonprofit event focuses on supporting some of SF’s most needy organizations. This year Juanita has chosen TRUTH (TRans yoUTH), a joint program between TRANSGENDER LAW CENTER and GSA NETWORK. This program seeks to amplify the voices of trans and gender non-conforming young people by offering a safe place to share struggles, learn empathy, and build public understanding. These youth have attempted suicide, experienced harassment or discrimination in school— some so severe, they had to leave elementary or high school. TRUTH is allowing these youth to lead the way to end the isolation and stigma that trans youth face so these statistics can reach zero. These are the youth of our future and they have the power to change both minds and policies through their stories. Juanita held a fundraiser for TRUTH, QUEER LENS, an art reception at Ian Stallings Design, 1100 Sutter Street, which will be open through Pride month.

PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS

In her 25-year drag history, Juanita has collaborated with artists from San Francisco to New York, working as both muse and art director, to address issues within the community and shine and highlight the talent of some the country’s most talented artists. Featured at “Queer Lens” is a caricature of Juanita by artist Koak, who lives and works in SF. I see a resemblance in this cartoon to the drawings of Al Hirschfield depicting Hollywood stars in the 50s. In the window one can see a sizeable, elaborate gown that is an art piece in itself designed by Mr. David Couture. Mr. David has been a prolific costumer and couturier for over four decades.

One of my fave artists, Davy Fiveash, has a fresh, contemporary look at the Dutch still life genre of paintings. They are also a bit erotic, if you have a pervy outlook on life.

Another is David King with an exploration of the profound interest in the metaphysical using intricate collage on paper. The artist duo, BLECHMEKI, is a portmanteau derived from their last names of Max Blechman & Kazu Umeki with a new way of looking at ordinary objects consisting of vintage American pottery. One of the white porcelain Deco ladies I do believe I have in my home.

Daniel Samaniego has hyDennis McMillan (aka Sister Dana) with mayoral candidate Mark Leno at the PAWS Petchitecture Gala at the per-detailed graphite installaFairmont Hotel on May 9. tions of a meditation on queer

persona—melding the beautiful with the grotesque. You have to see these queer masterpieces to really appreciate what genius Juanita has assembled! Now through June Pride. www.juanitamore.com Celebrating 31 years of maintaining the human-animal bond for our most vulnerable neighbors was PETS ARE WONDERFUL SUPPORT (PAWS)’ signature event, PETCHITECTURE! This event, held at the Fairmont SF on May 9, was 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 (which was available for bidding).

There were passed dog treats for the canine guests and hors d’oeuvres for their humans, plus a buffet supper, followed by a formal program and awards presentation. We wore our classy cat or top dog attire, many being accompanied by licensed and vaccinated pups (on leash). Alas, cats were not allowed (and my black & grey tabby Panther will be bringing a lawsuit for feline discrimination). Proceeds from the event funded the critical support services PAWS provides to the community. Through the generous support of individual donors, private foundation grants, corporate grants, and business supporters, as well as the annual Petchitecture fundraiser, PAWS is able to provide needed companion animal services to hundreds of low-income San Franciscans so they continue to benefit from the healing power and unconditional love of their beloved pets. Former State Senator Mark Leno (and my next SF mayor) held his dog while giving a blessing to the evening's awardee, Shireen McSpadden. She is honored to lead the City of SF in providing landmark supportive community services specifically to LGBT seniors and their pets. McSpadden has more than 25 years of experience providing services to people with disabilities and seniors, in both the nonprofit and public sectors. She received the Dede Wilsey Champion of the HumanAnimal Bond Award from Dede Wilsey herself. Wilsey is president of the board of trustees of the Fine Arts Museums, among her many titles (including proud owner of outgoing dog idols Twinkle, Dazzle, and Eliza Wilsey). PAWS screened a video of the many thankful ill clients and their beloved animals that helped make life a lot more endurable. Executive Director Kaushik Roy noted that PAWS has been by the side of those in need to ensure that no person had to choose between the care of themselves or their pet.

And 31 years later, they are proud to serve more than 600 clients and 800 companion animals annually. Openly proud and gay auctioneer Lenny Broberg had the crowd laughing and giving donations: first for a cat owner to have his fabulous feline become 2018 Petchitecture Cat Idol (the owner gave $4,900 for that honor) and second to be 2018 Petchitecture Dog Idol (whose owner gave $6,700 for that coveted title). Lenny also drew raffle prize winners for specially designed habitats for birds, cats, and dogs. Lenny also auctioned the Fund-A-Need portion for audience members to pledge various levels of donations, while cheerleaders from SF Cheer encouraged the crowd. Doggone it, that was fun! www.shanti.org Castro Street ARTSAVESLIVES Studio and Gallery presented the MAY SHOW OF 15 LOCAL ARTISTS at 518 Castro Street on May 11. Lively live entertainment was courtesy of Thoth and Lila Angelique of TRIBAL BAROQUE, with contemporary dancer Kyra. It was a tribal dance beat with tango overtones on dual violins. Lila hit the (continued on page 38) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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This Month at the Castro Farmers’ Market Photos by Rink

Cherries Jubilee Northern California is famous for its sweet cherries that are grown near Sacramento, Lodi, Stockton, and as far south as the lower San Joaquin Valley. The Castro Farmers’ Market has loads of these luscious red orbs for you to enjoy from May to June.

Yes, the season for sweet cherries is very short, so stock up now and savor the sweet taste of spring in a delicious little package.

You will find these tasty ruby rounds at the market from Rodin Farms out of Oakdale, Arata Fruits from Byron, and Allard Farms of Westley.

Purchasing cherries and other produce from the farmers’ market ensures that what you buy is grown by the farmers who sell them. You cannot get better than cherries that have been picked just before the market.

You might ask yourself why these gorgeous globes of sweetness are so expensive. Sweet cherries, usually meant to be eaten fresh, are picked by hand to avoid bruising and damage. When labor-intensive products are priced, the cost is passed to the consumer. But you will find that cherries fresh from the farmers’ market are well worth the price. You will also find varieties that are not found in grocery stores. Bing, Burlat, Brooks, Rainier, Royal Anne, Coral Champagne and Vans are just some of the kinds you will see, and all with slightly different flavors and colors.

PSICLES FRESH CHERRY PO d cherries 2 cups fresh frozen pitte 1 cup water ave, 1–2 teaspoons honey, ag maple syrup or sugar 1 lime, juiced (optional)

Cinder Ernst Low back pain gets in the way of so much: your workout, your day and your fun, just to name a few. In this article we are going to look at nonacute low back pain and how to interrupt the pain before it ruins your day or your activity. If you have an acute back injury, such as when reaching for something in your trunk and “pow” you feel intense pain, get some help from a medical professional as soon as possible.

The hacks you will learn in this article are for those of you who experience pain in your low back when you stand for a bit, or feel stiffness in your legs or outer hips when you walk a certain distance or when you are sitting or when you first stand up. If you have everyday situations where your low back nags you it becomes pretty oppressive and chips away at your well-being.

The small movements that are presented here can make a tremendous difference. I just got off the phone with a client, Julie, who recently returned from an amazing three-week trip to London and Scotland. Julie came to me in January this year after a really rough year caring for, and then burying, her father.

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Kelly McMahon and his mother presented cartons filled with colorful eggs that were for sale at the Shelly Farm booth.

high-speed blender and Mix all ingredients in a p mold. then place into an ice po urs or overnight .

Freeze ice pops for 4 ho

Arlette Constantino and Rick Kellner presented bread and pastries at the Feel Good Bakery booth.

MA Recipe: Debra Morris, PCF

Enjoy cherries while you can—out of hand, in pies or cobblers, made into sauces, tossed in salads or via a myriad of other ways. Buy fresh from your local farmers’ market and you can be assured that you are getting the best cherries available.

Low Back Pain Relief Hacks

Easy Fitness

Ly Thau Nyia Yi with his display of produce at the Nyia Yi Farms booth

At the time that she contacted me, she was out of town helping a friend with three children to survive the loss of her husband. Julie was therefore experiencing so much heartache and drama in a short time span.

She was unable to stand for more than a minute without low back pain and was unable to walk even a block comfortably. We began her program with the following small strengthening and pain-soothing exercises. Three months later, she walked 18,000 steps on a sunny day in London! (She rested for the next couple of days.)

The trick with these low back pain hacks is to implement them at the first sign of trouble, or better yet, if you know your current limits, implement the hacks to avoid the pain.

Do a sitting exercise.

If your legs feel wooden or your outer hips hurt or your low back is achy, sit for a minute. Consciously breathe in and breathe out. Sit at the first sign of trouble and you will only need a minute or even 30 seconds. If you keep going and do not rest, your pain will likely worsen and then become harder to soothe or resolve. Search for me on YouTube to find a great sitting exercise called a Tush Tilt that will ease low back pain while you build core strength.

Lean against a wall or tree.

If there is no place to sit, lean against a wall or a tree. Consciously take a few restorative breaths.

Perform a “Leaning Tilt.”

Here is a specific way to lean that will add soothing motion and build core strength. Place your feet shoulder width apart about 2 feet from the wall. Let your butt settle against the wall and bend your knees a little.

MAY 1 7 , 2 0 1 8

Take Me Home with You! Sally

Breathe in and lift your ribcage, then exhale as you press your low back towards the wall and squeeze your butt.

Be gentle about this. Just let your body move while you think “motion is lotion.”

Do a “Flop Over.”

If you are not shy, find a bench or low wall and do a supported forward bend (hands or forearms on the bench) to stretch your hamstring and calf muscles and release your low back. I do not recommend bending forward and reaching for your toes without support.

Perform a “Football Huddle.”

If there is no place to sit or lean, try this. Take a wide stance, stick your butt out and bend your knees with your hands on your thighs. Keep your eyes forward. You will look like the guys in the football huddle. In that position you can squeeze your butt and do some pelvic tilts, both of which are soothing. It is important to squeeze your butt and push off your thighs as you return to an upright position.

Do “Standing Fidgets.”

If you are standing for a time, fidget. Shift your weight from leg to leg, squeezing your butt on the leg you are shifting to. Inhale and lift your ribcage; exhale and squeeze your butt. If you are not shy, do some hip circles to loosen up. Start fidgeting right away to avoid the standing stiffness.

“I’m Sally! I’m a country girl at heart, and I’m looking for a quieter neighborhood that will feel more like where I’m from. I was born with an abnormal eye, but it doesn’t slow me down—it just helps make me a unique little pirate pup! My ideal home is somewhere I can take long naps in my comfy bed, sunbathe, and get gentle affection from the people I love.”

Sally 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 Sally.

To meet Sally 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 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!

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions Take time to try out these moves so you can experience less low back pain and not let it limit your life.

Cinder Ernst, Medical Exercise Specialist and Life Coach Extraordinaire, helps reluctant exercisers get moving with safe, effective and fun programs.

Her book, “Easy Fitness for the Reluctant Exerciser” (http://cinderernst. com/easy-fitness-book/), 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

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

Compiled by Blake Dillon

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS sfbaytimes.com

17: Thursday

sketch comedy group. 8pm. Continues through May 19. pianofight.com

Windows for Harvey @ Multiple Castro area locations. The annual neighborhood-wide celebration features window installations inspired by Harvey and his legacy.

Continues through May 27. windowsforharvey.com

2018 Walking Distance Dance Festival @ ODC Theater, 3153 17th Street. The multi-day festival includes varying works from Latin disco-pop to improvisers and solo acts. odc.dance/wddf

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 LFBTQ teens and young adults in the two countries were shaped in the past decades. 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 HardHitting Songs.” 8pm. thefreight.org One Night at the Ramada Opening Night @PianoFight, 144 Taylor Street. The world premiere show from a long-standing all female

18: Friday

ley Pride, San Jose Women’s Softball Party! @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. and the Billy DeFrank Center. 6-9pm. A reading and party celebrating sfpride.com the wrap-up of the nine-month Bay to Barkers Cocktail Paw- long writing program for queer and transgender people 18-24 and the ty @ SFSPCA, 250 Florida Street. clsoing of the Queer Ancestors The annual spring cocktail pawty at SFSPCA’s Mission Campus featuring Project print exhibition. 7-9:30pm. cuddles, cocktails and The Companion strutsf.org Chronicles. Pets are welcome and you can adopt animals for the weekend.

6-9pm. sfspca.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. Continues Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm through June 1. harveymilkphotocenter.org

Not One of Us Is Dispensable @ Tenderloin National Forest, 500 Block of Leavenworth Near Hyde Street. The event will include a celebration, resistance, opulence and future-visioning through the performances of visual works by members of the Skywatchers Ensemble. A press conference will precede the performance. 6-8pm. dancersgroup.org

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

Swagger Like Us @ White Horse Bar, 6551 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland. Dancing with DJs Jibbz, Dree, Glo and davomakesbeats.

9pm-2am. swaggersf.com

Silicon Valley Ladies Night @ SoFa Market, 387 South 1st Street, San Jose. The event is a mixer for women co-sponsored by Silicon Val-

19: Saturday Castro Merchants Sidewalk Sale @ Castro Street on the sidewalk in front of businesses. The annual sale featuring special deals from many Castro area merchants.

All day. castromerchants.com Harvey Milk Day Celebration @ Harvey Milk Plaza, Castro and Market. The celebration will feature the SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, SF Gay Men’s Chorus and speeches by civic leaders, activists and more.

11am.

SF Crawfest @ Fort Mason Great Meadow, Bay Street. The annual Louisiana crawfish boil, benefitting Larkin Street Youth Services, returns with the taste of a Cajun family recipe.

1-6pm. larkinstreetyouth.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.

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 NCLR Anniversary Celebration @ Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon Street. The annual gala dinner and party hosted by the National Center for Lesbian Rights. 5pm12am. nclrights.org Queer Ancestors Project Anthology Release + Closing

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

SAVE THESE DATES THURSDAY, MAY 18-20

38th Russian River Women’s Weekend SATURDAY, MAY 19

NCLR Anniversary Celebration SUNDAY, JUNE 3-9

AIDS/LifeCycle

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

FRIDAY, JUNE 8

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. elbo.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 24

20: Sunday

Oakland A’s Night Out THURSDAY, JUNE 21

SF Giants Night Out SATURDAY, JUNE 23

Pride Brunch SF Pride Parade SUNDAY, JULY 15

AIDS Walk San Francisco AUGUST 2-5

Lazy Bear Weekend SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

Oakland Pride

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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6

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

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24

Made in America Community Women’s Orchestra Concert @ Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Avenue.

The program features music by Aaron Copland, Antonin Dvorak and Joan Tower’s Made in America. 4pm. communitywomensorchestra.org Kim Novak Tribute @ The Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street.

Kim Novak will be on stage for a live interview, Paula West will perform, and an anniversary screening of Vertigo is also included. 7pm. castrotheatre.com Bad Ass Boots Country Soul Band @ Main Street Bistro & Piano Bar, 16280 Main Street, Guerneville.

The event is one of a weekend long

Horizons Annual Gala SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7

Castro Street Fair SFGMC Home for the Holidays

line-up in the annual Guerneville Women’s Weekend. Bad Ass Boots on Facebook.

21: Monday Strut Book Club Reads The Angel of History @ Strut, 470 Castro Street, 2nd Floor. The monthly book club will read author Rabih Alameddine’s new work.

7:30-8pm. strutsf.org

22: Tuesday 47th Annual Happy Birthday Harvey! Screening of Times of Harvey Milk @ Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street. The event is an annual celebration hosted by the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic

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Club. 6pm reception/7pm program and film. castrotheatre.com Got Harvey Milk? @ Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street, Rm 406. Co-sponsored by the GLBT Historical Society, Friends of DADA Bar and Mechanics’ Institute, the event will celebrate Harvey Milk Day with the launch of a major new biography, Harvey Milk: His Lives and Death, with author Lillian Faderman in conversation with activist Cleve Jones. 6:30pm program followed by post-event book-signing at DADA Bar. milibrary.org/events Lucy Jane Bledsoe in conversation with Rabih Alameddine @ Booksmith at The Bindery, 1727 Haight Street. Author Lucy Jane Bledsoe will discuss her new novel The Evolution of Love. 7:30-9pm. booksmith.com

23: 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 Dyke March Committee Meeting @ Qulture Collective, 1714 Franklin Street, Oakland. The meeting is open to all who wish to join committees and hear updates and plans for upcoming meetings alternating between East Bay and SF locations. 7-9pm. thedykemarch.org

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

Grab ‘Em by the Songs @ Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Albany.

Kim Lembo, Chelsea Coleman and Madeline Tasquin present the monthly songwriting series featuring women sharing songs in the round on 4th Wednesdays. 7:30pm. ivyroom.com 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 networking. Early Bird: 6:30pm/Regular Game: 7pm. defrankcenter.org Tapata Trivia Round UP! @ Wild Side West, 424 Courtland Avenue. Kit Tapata hosts the weeklyon-Wednesdays trivia competition mixed with music and live improv at the popular Bernal Heights location.

7–9pm. tapatatwins.com

24: Thursday Gays Against Guns SF @ MCC Church, 1300 Polk Street. Meetings of the new organization are held on 2nd and 4th Thursdays. 6pm. gaysagainstguns.net Bones NightLife @ California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive.

The evening’s activities, paying tribute to Ray “Bones” Bandar, long-time friend of the Academy and legendary collector, include a make your own skull workshop, discussions on how humans have used bones across cultures, samplings of bone broth from Broth Baby and music by DJ Omar.

6-10pm. calacademy.org Luna Merbruja Reads from Heal Your Love @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street.

Mexican-Athabaskan writer and artist Merbruja, who has written about gender, sexuality healing, feminism and more, will read from her new book of poetry. 7pm. dogearedbooks.com Balinese Dance Performance @ San Leandro Main Library,300 Estudillo Avenue, San Leandro. The performance, featuring the Gadung Kasturi Dancers, will celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 7-8pm. sanleadrolibrary.org

25: Friday Fighting Back: Queer News vs. Fake News @ GLBT History 36

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Museum, 4127 18th Street. The latest in the Museum’s “Fighting Back” series, this event will include a discussion about the role of media outlets and online platforms in discerning facts from falsehoods and how this activity has affected LGBTQ people historically and more. 7-9pm. glbthistory.org

26: Saturday United States Gay Open 2018 @ Golden Gate Park, 100 John F. Kennedy Drive. The annual tournament includes multiple levels and divisions. Continues May 27 and 28. Welcome and opening party on Friday, May 2 @ Anchor Steam Tap Room. gltf.org Live in the Castro! @ Jane Warner Plaza, 17th & Castro Street.

Robert Dehlinger’s Alpha Rhythm Kings perform. 1-2pm. parlortricksmusic.com Art and Activism in the Bay Area: Conversations with LGBTQIA Artists and Activists @ San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, 3rd Floor. A panel discussion, featuring Valentin “Tina” Aguirre, Cathy Arellano and Lenore Chinn, will include personal accounts of LGBTQIA residents of the Bay Area who were active during the 1970s-1990s. 2-4pm. sfpl.org Mango T-Dance @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street. This longstanding T-dance for women and their friends continues every 4th Saturday with DJs Olga, Edaj, Marcella and La Coqui plus drink specials and free bbq.

2-8pm. elriosf.com Priscilla, Queen of the Desert @ Theatre Rhinoceros 215 Jackson Street. The hit musical returns for a limited engagement through June, presenting the classic story about drag shows “Down Under” and what we will do for love. Multiple start times. therhino.org

27: Sunday 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 Irene Young’s Glass Half Full Benefit for Breast Cancer Prevention @ Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley.

The benefit features emcee Sharon Washington with Holly Near, Terry Garthwait, Laurie Lewis, Tammy Hall, Jennifer Berezan, Robin Flower & Libby McLaren, Deidre McCalla, Shelley Doty and more. 7pm. thefreight.org 40th Annual Carnaval San Francisco Grand Parade @ 24th & Bryant Street Start Point. The annual celebration returns for its 40th year. 9:30am. carnavalsanfrancisco.org UHAUL SF @ The Stud, 399 9th Street. An ongoing party for girls who love girls. 9pm-2am. studsf.com

28: Monday Robin Roth with Misisipi Mike @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street.

The LGBT community percussionist will perform at your favorite dive bar. 5-7pm. robinroth.com

29: Tuesday Whatever Happened to Susan Jane? Screening @ San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, Koret Auditorium. The screening of Marc Huestis’ underground cult classic will be in memory of Francesca Rosa, a lead actress in the film.

5-7pm. sfpl.org

30: Wednesday Pride Month Kick-Off: Making History at The Stud @ The Stud, 399 9th Street. An inaugural fundraiser hosted by QUIP, the event benefits the GLBT Historical Society and includes a display of original materials from the GLBT Historical Society archives plus an open bar and catered buffet. 5-8pm. sfstud.com We Are All Dragons in Drag World Premiere @ Fort Mason Center Firehouse, 2 Marina Blvd. A San Francisco International Arts Festival feature produced by Dandelion/ Bandelion, this new work is based on the myth that all humans have ancient dragon spirits hidden inside.

Continues through June 3. sfiaf.org

31: Thursday World Literature Book Club: The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas @ San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin, 3rd Floor. The event will include a discussion of Gertrude Stein’s biography of her companion Alice B. Toklas. 6-7:30pm. sfpl.org Queering My Lobster @ PianoFight, 144 Taylor Street. Director Michael Phillips and writer Sean Owens’ work presenting the gay agenda live and on stage. 8pm continuing through June 9. pianofight.com

1: Friday Sonoma County Pride @ Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa.

“Together We Rise” is the theme of this three-day festival featuring a full calendar of performances. sonomacountypride.org 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, and menu items by El Sabrosito ES. 5pm. Queer First Fridays on Facebook. temescalbrewing.com MAX’s May TGIF @ Hyatt Embarcadero Eclipse Lounge, Gay men and friends meet for the monthly first Friday networking evening.

Limited to 150 and RSVP required.

6–8pm. concierge@masxf.org Bayview First Friday - Pride Edition @ Laughing Monk Brewing, 1439 Egbert Avenue, Unit A. A benefit to support the District 10 Pride Parade float, the event will include karaoke with Eileen Murphy and tacos. 6-10pm.

D10 Pride on Facebook Introducing the Dyke March Oral History Project @ GLBT History Museum, 417 18th Street.

The event is a fundraiser to support the newly created audiovisual collaboration between the GBLT Historical Society and the SF Dyke March. 7-9pm. glbthistory.org TRANSCEND Art Opening for Rae Senarighi! @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. The opening reception marks the start of Strut’s Pride Month presentation of Rae Senarighi’s work for Pride Month.

8-10pm. strutsf.org

2: Saturday Country Nights - Women’s Partner Dancing @ Lake Merritt Dance Center, 200 Grand Avenue.

Oakland. Lessons for two-step, waltz, line dancing, Latin, swing and more will be offered and all ages are welcome with no partner necessary. 7–8pm lessons/8–10pm dance. countrynightsdance.com America is Not the Heart @ Laurel Bookstore, 1423 Broadway, Oakland. Author Elaine Castillo will discuss her new novel, America is Not the Heart. 6:30-8pm. laurelbookstore.com

3: Sunday AIDS/LifeCycle @ San Francisco to Los Angeles 545-mile bike ride benefiting San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. LGBT Center. aidslifecycle.org Sunday’s A Drag @ The Starlight Room, Powell Street. Hosted by Donna Sachet, the event features a brunch and a troupe of entertainers. It is described as “The Greatest Drag Show in San Francisco,” and we agree that it is great! Two shows every Sunday at 11am and 2pm. starlightroomsf.com

4: Monday NERT (Neighborhood Emergency Response Training) with SFFD @ St. Teresa’s Church Potrero Hill, 1490 19th Street. San Francisco Fire Department staff will launch a new series of sessions designed to get you ready for any emergency. 6:30-10pm. sf-fire.org First Monday’s - 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 1st Mondays - 40 Plus Men’s Group @ Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, 3207 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland. A new monthly (1st Monday) multi-ethnic support group for men 40+. 7-8:30pm. oaklandlgbtqcenter.org Voices from the Edge @ Theatre Rhinoceros, 215 Jackson Street. Hosted by The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women/ HIV Circle and Theatre Rhino, the play explores the lives of women living with HIV who are incarcerated.

7pm continuing through June 12. therhino.org

5: Tuesday The Doctor Is In: Ideas for Easy and Nutritious Meals @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. Positive Force and NIV specialist Dr. Neal Sheran from Mission Neighborhood Health Center and Executive Chef Adrian Barrow from Project Open Hand will present an evening of conversation and activities. 6:30-8:30pm. strutsf.org

6: Wednesday Occupella Sings! Book Event @ Laurel Book Store, 1423 Broadway Street, Oakland. Author Nancy Schimmel will present a reading and singalong with her new book, Singing in the Lifeboats. 6:30-8pm. laurelbooks.com

7: Thursday LGBT Dementia Care Summit @ Milton Marks Conference Center, 455 Golden Gate Avenue. A free event with lunch included bringing together service providers, community members and policy makers to discuss LGBT dementia care, sponsored by Alzheimer’s Association, Openhouse, Family Caregiver Alliance and the City and County of San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services. 9am-2pm.

800-272-3900 Sonoma LGBT Pride Celebration Social/Tea Dance @ Vintage House Senior Housing, 264 First Street, East Sonoma. DJ Olga T will spin tunes at this event for residents and friends. 4-7pm. 415-6008-5792 First Thursday - 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 at Facebook S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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STUDENT VOICES (continued from page 32)

SISTER DANA (continued from page 33)

spective that they can use in the outside world.

highest notes imaginable—reminiscent of the late great Amy Camus aka Yma Sumac (her real name spelled backwards).

There are many ways to approach telling a story, especially with children, although many parents do not want their kids reading truthful and accurate stories. They want to protect their children at a young age, but is that really protecting them? Some things should be made more general and less graphic for kids, but there must be some truth, and especially for kids 8 and older who are starting to become aware of things in the real world. Books for them should slowly ease into the truth. It should not be exaggerated and make anything, or anyone, seem less human, but should fit the shade of actual humanity.

4. Recently our class has been exploring the impact of pop culture, media, and literature among the younger generation. Through read ing chi ldren’s books and watching music videos that today’s youth can access, we have discussed the different ways that these resources can be helpful tools for children.

Without searching deep into the web to explore history and topics of identity, children can form an understanding and openness towards identities and different cultures from an early age. Throughout our research time, we have concluded that children cannot consistently be “protected” or kept “innocent” with their parents’ supervision, since children will hear or see something that will trigger their interest to know more about sexuality, gender, culture, race, and the appropriation around these identities.

For example, Childish Gambino recently released his video “This is America,” and within three days the video has already received 51 million views. Throughout the video, Childish Gambino covers multiple topics that have affected the Black/A frican American community, such as gun violence, police brutality, and mass shootings.

Most people I talk to believe that music and videos offer one of the few ways that others are willing to listen to, allowing them to better understand what we as African Americans go through.

For more information about the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, please visit http:// www.sfsota.org/

Fifteen artists’ works will be on display throughout May. In the window is ArtSavesLives curator Thomasina De Maio’s impressive, large black and white oil painting of Harvey Milk. Inside the walls are covered with art. Gordon Silveria (http:// www.gordonsilveria.com/) has bigger than life, cut-out comic cartoons, as well as nude drawings from his class at Eros every Wednesday from 7–9 pm.

By the way, he is really cute, folks. Ciel James has a series of humorous female pen and ink prints. Lance Scott has framed nude males from De Maio’s figure drawing class held every Thursday at her studio from 1–4 pm. Smithy Blackwell has black and white watercolor figures. Marvin Lehrman displays matted color botanical photography. Paisha Rochlin has framed watercolors of either nature or peoples’ faces. Carl Linkhart has a series of clever colorful oils, “Broken Dreams,” with my favorite being “The Fetid Inauguration” with Trump on his throne in hell, surrounded by demons. Perfect! Rene Capone depicts young gay boys in love in his beautiful paintings. I am so fortunate to have received that night as a gift from him a lovely framed “Archer No. 2.” Adam Eisendrath has framed photos.

Toby Wiggin either goes big or goes small, with tiny boxed miniatures or large modern art pieces (my favorite being “Bozo on Black” with Bozo the clown featured). Chelsea Zhu, originally from Shanghai, China, displays digital animated illustrations.

Gabriel Garbow has a series of attractive men in watercolor. Bonita Cohn has a display of pottery, “63 Bowls, 63 Years.” I really prefer her gorgeous oils, but she has taken a break to work with clay. All of these talented artists’ pieces should be enjoyed in person all month long at ArtSavesLives studio, 518 Castro and 18th Streets.

Each year EQUALITY CALIFORNIA presents EQUALITY AWARDS to honor the inspirational leaders and organizations whose selfless work helps create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. The ceremony was

held at the Westin St. Francis on May 12 with event co-chairs Hon. Bevan Dufty, Kristen Kavanaugh, Hon. Rebecca Saltzman, Hon. Scott Wiener, and Laura Zagar. The always hilarious Dana Goldberg was emcee, using lesbian Jewish humor to comment on politics with scathing remarks against Trump. Introducing award recipients were Kavanaugh and Zagar.

Congressman Mark Takano, the first openly LGBTQ person of color elected to Congress, was presented with the Amplify Equality Award by Honorable Evan Low. Congressman Takano urged everyone to “ join the resistance” and especially to get out the vote. EQCA screened several videos showing past victories and present challenges. Former State Senator Mark Leno lauded the importance of EQCA to keep the movement for equality for all moving forward. LaVerda Allen and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) received the Equality Trailblazer Awards for their inspiring work prioritizing local, small, disadvantaged, and women-run businesses and the historic recent expansion of this program to LGBTQ businesses.

EQCA Executive Director Rick Zbur gave accolades as successor to former E.D. Geoff Kors to how much Kors accomplished on his watch and emphasized that equality for all does not mean just LGBTQ rights, but rather to all human civil rights. Senator Scott Wiener proudly honored Senator Tammy Baldwin, the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the Senate who consistently fights for equality for all. She urged everyone to speak the truth to power in a time when truth is scarce in Congress and the Administration. “It’s about freedom and opportunity for all.” And she warned not to be overly concerned with past progress but to press forward for victory. “This election is our chance to turn things around,” she concluded.

Sister Dana sez, "MAY I suggest these great events for the month of MAY? And don’t forget that May 22 is statewide Harvey Milk Day!" STRUT is featuring the art of Anand Vedawala in his show titled "HOT CHACHAS.” His recent work highlights South Asians, a group that isn’t really talked about in any media when-

ever the topic of queerness is mentioned, making them seem nonexistent or invisible. He depicts “chachas” (i.e, “uncles” or “daddies”) in his work so that other people of color can see they’re not alone. The art is beautiful, but so is the clever, delightfully verbose verbiage he writes with each piece of art as vivid, witty illustration. These are on display on the second floor all month long. https://strutsf.org/ Sister Dana sez, "Monday, May 21, is a critical deadline for registering to vote or updating your voter registration for California’s June 5 primary elections. Let's make a difference and Queer the Vote!"

NCLR is celebrating its 41ST ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION which includes a threecourse dinner and a fabulous after party for 2,000 guests at the Innovation Hangar at Palace of Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon Street on May 19, 8:30 pm. Welcoming and dinner at 5 pm with party at 8:30 pm. After a tenure marked by unimaginable leaps of progress—legalization of same-sex marriage, expansion of LGBTQ adoption and parental rights—executive director Kate Kendell will leave an organization that is stronger, louder, and more determined than ever to rise up to defend the rights of all LGBTQ people. http://www.nclrights.org/ Sister Dana sez, “May 15 marked the tenth anniversary of the California Supreme Court’s historic ruling in "In re Marriage Cases," which recognized the freedom to marry for same-sex couples.

(See page 7 for more information.)

The 7th annual DRAGATHON fundraiser, SCREAM QUEENS, is sinful fun with lipsyncs, fashion, and death-drops that you can’t miss. Dragathon is bringing you some queens that will truly slay the runway, brought to you by the SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS DIVAS. Featuring TV’s RuPaul Dragrace Superstar, Sasha Velour. Some of these guys will be their first time in drag. Personally, I will be rooting for my good friend Ammy Thest (Edwin Bautista) from the House of Split Ends. She is going for her title of third top fundraiser in a row. Be a part of this killer fundraiser by donating to your favorite queen and celebrate their success with a fierce competition on May 19, 7–10 pm at SF Oasis, 298 11th Street. All proceeds go towards Ryan’s Fund: the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus financial assistance network helping Cho-

rus members who can’t afford to participate with the ability to do so. Free, but suggest a donation at the door. https://www.sfstation.com/ sfgmcs-dragathon-scream-queens The 6th annual LGBTQ Community Connection Fair, ATMOSQUEER, will take place on Sunday, May 20, from 1 to 5 pm at STRUT, 470 Castro Street. AtmosQueer connects members of the San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ community to organizations, groups, and events that provide them with personal enrichment, fulfillment, and an opportunity to give back to, and be personally involved in, the community. There will be complimentary food and beverages, a live DJ, raffle prizes, and more. https://strutsf.org/ Legendary screen goddess Kim Novak will be queried by the TCM TV's "Czar of Noir" Eddie Muller on the making of the Alfred Hitchcock classic VERTIGO (filmed here in EssEff and celebrating its 60th Anniversary) and more. This gala event on Sunday, May 20, 7 pm at the Castro Theatre also features legendary Kim Novak video clips, tribute performances by some of SF's finest talent, a screening of VERTIGO, and an after event “nosh & mingle” dessert reception with Ms. Novak (no autographs or photos). This once-in-a-lifetime Castro event is produced by MARC HUESTIS PRESENTS. Partial proceeds benefit SF SUICIDE PREVENTION. As of this writing there are just a few balcony seats left. https://www.ticketfly.com/event/1645627 BACK TO THE PICTURE at 934 Valencia Street has an opening reception for TASTE OF THE WORLD on May 26, 6–9 pm.

Bringing you some of the best emerging artists from around the world, the exhibit will take you on a tour showcasing original, contemporary paintings alongside the artists’ stories, collected during their visits to their studios. http://www.backtothepicture.com/ 23RD SAN FRANCISCO SILENT FILM FESTIVAL will screen at the Castro Theatre, May 30–June 3. The festival will begin on Wednesday, May 30, with a special presentation of Universal Pictures’ new restoration of Paul Leni’s 1928 The Man Who Laughs. Leni’s adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1869 novel about a man disfigured from childhood stands with the great masterworks of the silent era.

This presentation also marks the world premiere of a commissioned score by Berklee College of Music’s Silent Film Orchestra. Complete information is available at www.silentfilm.org THEATRE RHINOCEROS presents the return of last year’s hit after a 2017 Sold-Out Run, an encore production of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT - THE MUSICAL with book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, directed by John Fisher in a limited engagement of 5 weeks, May 26–June 30. Opening night: Thursday, May 31, 8 pm (reception to follow). This way gay drag play ABBAriffic and more is at Gateway Theatre, 215 Jackson Street at Battery. www.therhino.org Sister Dana sez, “As all these T-rump butt-kissing Repugnicans are saying the Mueller investigation has gone on too long, let us reflect back on Nixon the crook stating in 1974: ‘One year of Watergate [investigation] is enough.’ Yep. Crooks of a feather flock together!”

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on pg 27) B) 5 Rosie O'Donnell's five children are Parker Jaren O'Donnell, Chelsea Belle O'Donnell, Blake Christopher O'Donnell, Vivienne Rose O'Donnell and Dakota "Dax" O'Donnell.

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