San Francisco Bay Times - October 19, 2017

October 19 - November 1, 2017 | sfbaytimes.com

“We aren’t breathing ‘particulate matter.’ We are breathing the collective sorrow and loss of countless neighbors.”

–Joanie Juster, LGBT and Civil Rights Activist

About Our Cover IMAGE STILL FROM YOUTUBE.COM

Helicopters and planes of all sizes have led the assault from the air, working in tandem with firefighters on the ground.

Fountaingrove Lodge Survives the North Bay Fires: An Interview with Resident Bill Baird

On October 8, the residents at Santa Rosa’s Fountaingrove Lodge went to bed smelling smoke. The smell of smoke was a concern, but it was not alarming. After all, the staff and residents were well practiced in emergency drills. If there was an emergency, they would be alerted. Then suddenly, early the next morning at 2:00 am, the alert came: “Emergency! Evacuate now!”

Residents made their way down from their apartments on the second and third floors to the large living room, the designated emergency room, on the first f loor. Some, like Bill Baird and John Kennedy, had thought to bring their cell phones, prescription medications, car keys and wallets. Others arrived with only their bathrobe and pajamas. The staff explained that this was serious, and that everyone had to evacuate immediately. There was no going back to their apartments to retrieve any items.

I recently spoke with Baird about the evacuation. He described how staff and residents calmly helped each other to their cars or onto the Fountaingrove vans parked at the front door, motors running, ready to transport them to safety. Baird helped another Fountaingrove couple—Matile Rothschild, age 82, former Openhouse board member, and Joanie Zimmerman, age 71—to their car. Baird carried Zimmerman’s walker down the stairs to the garage, and made sure they got safely in their car. He said, “We were concerned, but relaxed. We had not yet realized just how intense and widespread the fires were.”

The caravan drove south through the smoke and away from the fire to the north. They stopped and parked at a Costco parking lot until they received directions to take shelter at the New Vintage Church on Sonoma Avenue in Santa Rosa. Baird was very grateful for the care that he and others received at the church.

They call it ‘particulate matter,’ and warn us to stay inside, windows closed.

But there is no avoiding it. 50 miles south of the fires, in our homes, in our work places, we breathe it in. We taste it in our mouths, feel the grit on our teeth. It makes our eyes burn, our throats scratch, our lungs ache.

But mostly it makes our hearts ache. We are reminded of the devastation up north with every breath.

We aren’t breathing ‘particulate matter.’ We are breathing the collective sorrow and loss of countless neighbors. We are breathing bits of blankets that used to keep them warm.

Family photographs. Favorite jackets. Baby toys. Books of poetry. Homework. Dog leashes. Grandma’s recipes. Art projects. Love letters.

Baird was in awe of what he witnessed.

“The degree of care was amazing,” he said. “There may have been more than Bill Baird 20 staff people helping people.” Taura Anderson, another Fountaingrove resident, was there at the church and in charge of checking evacuees to a residents’ list.

We are, quite literally, breathing in the tiny remains of people’s lives.

Our hearts and lungs ache for what they have lost, even as we dedicate ourselves to helping them rebuild.

Baird and Kennedy were relieved to know that everyone was safe. At the time, however, it was uncertain if their home still existed, or if it had burned down. It was easy to assume that the fire was getting worse. The red glow to the north of the church continued to get brighter. There were increasingly more fire engines, and the blare of more and more sirens.

How to Help Victims of the North Bay Fires

At noon on Monday, after being served breakfast, the Fountaingrove residents were evacuated again, this time only two blocks south of the church. The staff then arranged the evacuation of the residents to two different facilities: one in Concord and the other in Berkeley. Baird and Kennedy decided that it was time to drive to their apartment in San Francisco. Other residents chose to relocate to the homes of friends and family members who lived a safe distance from the fire.

I shared with Baird that early that Monday morning, I started receiving texts, emails and phone calls from LGBT community members and concerned friends who wanted to know about Rothschild and Zimmerman, the safety of all of the residents at the Lodge, and the status of Lodge itself.

Bay Area community members took to Facebook and email to express their concern, and to share whatever information people had about the fire, the building and the safety of the Fountaingrove residents.

Fountaingrove residents Matile Rothschild & Joan Zimmerman: “We are hopeful. One day we’ll see our living room again. For now we are so grateful for our friends in Petaluma and Rossmoore–so much love and care. Today we bought socks , bras and underwear. Gotta start someplace! Thanks for texts, calls, emails. Your caring messages warm our hearts.”

The San Francisco LGBT Openhouse community and the Lodge have a special relationship. Both provide housing and services welcoming to LGBT older adults.

Although they serve different parts of the community in very different locations, they are sister communities that share a history of mutual respect and support. As previously indicated, the two communities also share former Openhouse board member and friend to many in the community, Rothschild, as well as her partner Zimmerman. Openhouse’s Excutive Director Karyn Skultety sent out alerts about the couple to keep everyone updated on their status until there was confidence about their safety.

Slowly, the news about the Lodge began to trickle in. As of this writing, and according to a statement issued by Oakmont Senior Living—the company that owns and operates Varenna, Fountaingrove Lodge, The Terraces and Oakmont of Villa Capri—all of the residents “are accounted for and safe.” Oakmont of Villa Capri unfortunately was destroyed by the fire, and Varenna sustained damage that is still being assessed. Extensive smoke damage is anticipated at Fountaingrove Lodge and The Terraces, but the management expects to be able to reopen them in 3–5 weeks.

All things considered, and in the midst of mind-numbing loss, we could not have wished for better news about the residents of the Oakmont Senior Living properties.

I said to Baird, “You and the other residents of the Lodge are a part of us. We could not rest until we knew you were all safe.” He responded, “Please let the Fountaingrove community know about this. It will mean a lot to them to know much you all care, to know how much we care for each other.”

IMAGE SOURCE: BROKEN INAGLORY

Heavy smoke over the Bay Area has created hazy sunrises and sunsets.

To support the larger recovery and healing efforts, please consider doing the following: • Donate to The Press Democrat, Petaluma Argus-Courier and Sonoma Index-Tribune in partnership with the Redwood Credit Union at www.redwoodcu.org/northbayfirerelief According to the website, “100% of your tax-deductible donations will go directly to support those affected.”

• The Salvation Army at 721 South McDowell Blvd. in Petaluma is accepting ready-to-eat, nonperishable food donations. They also need volunteers. Call between 9 am and 5 pm at 707-769-0716.

There was little information at first. Then the photographs and news reports confirmed our worst nightmares. The fire was more than a fire; it was an uncontained inferno on speed taking lives, devouring homes, schools and businesses—whole communities burned to the ground—and hundreds of thousands of people were forced to f lee for their lives. The scale of the devastation and loss was hard to take in. It still is.

“John and I were fortunate to have grabbed some things, but not much when we left,” he said. “Others only had the clothes they were wearing. It was wonderful for us and others to receive the hospitality of the people who took us in. They provided us with donated clothing and toiletry. They were much needed and appreciated.”

The vans transported about 200 residents from all four of the Fountaingrove facilities to the church. They

Both within and outside of the fire zone, air quality has been extremely poor. This was particularly true during the days following October 8. Many remarked on the “apocalyptic” sunrises of that week, unlike any that those of us who have been here for decades have ever seen. The blood-red orb shone through dark haze, reminding onlookers of the devastation to the north.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FOUNTAINGROVE LODGE

Dr. Marcy Adelman

Our state will never be the same.

Below and on our cover, we share the words of longtime LGBT and civil rights activist Joanie Juster:

were met at the church by more Fountaingrove staff, who brought water and snacks. The residents of The Terraces, the memory care community, were gently taken to another, quieter building where staff could better comfort them and keep them from becoming agitated and confused.

Aging in Community

The October 2017 Northern California fires in Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Solano counties are the deadliest wildfires in California history. As the death toll climbs, so too do the number of structures and acres burned. As of this writing, an estimated 5,700 homes, wineries and more have been destroyed, while 210,244 acres have been reduced to ash. At least 42 people lost their lives in the inferno.

Although Oakmont Senior Living plans to rebuild Oakmont of Villa Capri and to repair Varenna, full recovery may take many months, and maybe even years. The community is lucky in so many ways. There was no loss of life, and unlike thousands of their neighbors, they still have their home and community to go back to when possible. But the evacuation was a challenging experience, and the continued relocation can be especially difficult for frail elders and older adults.

I believe that the Fountaingrove Lodge residents and staff, and the people of Sonoma and Napa counties, re-

• The Redwood Empire Food Bank is accepting packaged, readyto-eat, non-perishable food donations at 3990 Brickway Blvd., Santa Rosa. Cash donations are also welcome. refb.org • Host an evacuated individual or family member in your home for a few days, a few weeks or a few months. Contact the Petaluma People’s Services Center SHARE Sonoma County at SHAREfire@ petalumapeople.org An information sheet and application will be sent to you.

• Donate to Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County https://www.habitatsoco.org/ sponded to a hellish natural disaster with courage, kindness and community. We need to continue to support them and to hold them in our hearts and minds. You may follow news concerning all of the Oakmont Senior Living residences in Santa Rosa at https://oakmontseniorliving.com/ Marcy Adelman, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in private practice, is co-founder of the non-profit organization Openhouse. She is also a leading advocate and educator in LGBT affirming dementia care and is a member of the Advisory Council to the Aging and Adult Services Commission as well as the California Commission on Aging.

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In the News Governor Brown Signs SB 179, the Gender Recognition Act Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) met at the SF LGBT Community Center, joining advocates of a series of bills that expanded the rights of LGBT people in California. These included SB 179, the Gender Recognition Act, co-authored by Wiener and Atkins, which Governor Brown signed on October 15, as well as SB 219, the LGBT Senior Bill of Rights, and SB 239, which modernizes HIV criminalization laws. The Gender Recognition Act makes California the second state in the nation—following Oregon—to allow residents to be identified by a gender marker other than “F” or “M” on their driver’s license and the first to allow a third gender marker on birth certificates.

It also makes it easier for residents to receive a gender change from state agencies and the courts. For example, it removes the requirement that applicants obtain a physician’s letter stating that they have undergone appropriate medical treatment and replaces it with self-attestation. “With the passage of SB 179, California continues its fight for a more inclusive society, even as some in Washington continue to try to take away rights from LGBT people,” said Senator Wiener. sen.ca.gov Rainbow World Fund Responds to the Fires in Northern California Rainbow World Fund has partnered with a number of local LGBTQ groups that are mobilizing to provide front-line aid to victims of the fires in Northern California.

They are raising funds and collecting needed supplies to deliver to the affected areas. According to the organization, RWF is the world’s first and only all-volunteer humanitarian aid agency based in the LGBT community. Their mission is to promote peace, unity and hope by leading the LGBTQ movement in participating in humanitarian relief efforts.

RWF has donated over $4.4 million dollars of life-saving aid throughout the years. On October 15, the colorful RWF Bus of Hope was parked at Jane Warner Plaza in the Castro neighborhood, collecting both monetary and in-kind donations. To donate online, visit rainbowfund.org #MeToo Floods Social Media with Stories of Sexual Harassment, Including in the LGBT Community Revelations about decades of sexual abuse inflicted by individuals such as Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and even President Donald Trump have led to many individuals sharing personal stories of sexual assault using the rallying cry #MeToo. For example, event producer and filmmaker Marc Huestis, who produced many shows at the Castro Theatre, wrote at Facebook: “I once was raped by a very beloved independent SF filmmaker in the early 80s … He was known as a sexual outlaw/enfant terrible so he probably felt he could get away with it. He later died of AIDS.” Huestis added, “I know what pain these women (victims of sexual abuse) go through in exposing these male violations, and just to know it happens with gay men as well.” According to HRC, LGBT women are especially affected by the problem, with 44 percent of lesbians and 61 percent of bisexual women experiencing rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner, compared to 35 percent of heterosexual women. For more information, see Andrea Shorter’s related story on page 5 of this issue.

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sionate Care, an organization that provides residential care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Gimbel is Maitri’s first female ED in 31 years.

Her official start date is October 30. For the past five years, Anne was the Regional Director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Coachella Valley that includes Palm Springs. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has worked in both Chicago, her hometown, and Los Angeles. Anne had prior experience as the Executive Director of Lawyers for the Creative Arts, a nonprofit that covered the entire state of Illinois for many years, and served as the Director of Development at Make-A-Wish Foundation in Century City and Geffen Playhouse during the fourteen years that she and her husband lived in Santa Monica. Bill Musick, Maitri’s Board President, served as the organization’s interim leader before Gimbel’s selection. Musick said, “With Anne’s leadership, the community can look forward to many more years of Maitri serving as a beacon of hope and nurture to those who otherwise might fall between the cracks of our health and social Anne Gimbel systems.” maitrisf.org PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS

Compiled by Dennis McMillan

Openhouse and Mercy Housing California Celebrate Groundbreaking at 75/95 Laguna Street A groundbreaking ceremony for The Marcy Adelman and Jeanette Gurevitch Openhouse Community took place on Tuesday, October 17. The new housing at 95 Laguna adds 79 LGBT-welcoming senior living apartments to the community complex. In addition, the building includes a new community center at 75 Laguna that will showcase Openhouse programming with over 7000 square feet over two floors. Speakers at the history-making event included Adelman, who is also a San Francisco Bay Times columnist; Openhouse Executive Director Karyn Skultety; Mercy Housing California President Doug Shoemaker; Wells Fargo SF Region President Greg Morgan and Bruce Prescott, the Project Architect who is with the firm Santos Prescott and Associates. State and local elected officials, including the Honorable Mark Leno and State Senator Scott Wiener, attended the event as well.

Stream Over 30,000 Movies for Free with Your SF Public Library Card This week, the streaming service Kanopy announced that it is teaming up with the San Francisco Library to offer its Netflix-like offerings for no additional charges to San Francisco Public Library card holders. The on-demand video platform “allows users to experience a curated collection of more than 30,000 of the world’s best films,” including movies and documentaries from awardwinning filmmakers, film-fest picks, indies, classics, world cinema, rare and hard to find titles, and critical favorites, SFist reported. It even includes films from the prestigious Criterion Collection, as well as many San Francisco-centric flicks. A quick search reveals several LGBT-related titles, such as The Times of Harvey Milk and We Were Here: The AIDS Years in San Francisco. Kanopy may be accessed via Roku, iOS, Android and, soon, Apple TV. kanopystreaming.com Dolores Park Security Cameras to be Installed After a series of violent crimes occurring in Mission Dolores Park in recent months, the City is having security cameras installed there. The first cameras will be placed in the next few weeks and will cost approximately $250,000 for installation. This will be financed by the City’s general fund. The incident on August 3, when three people suffering from gunshot wounds were found near the park’s footbridge, helped to push forward the project. Along with other organizations, including the Dolores Heights Improvement Club, Dolores Park Works urged the City to improve security, such as by the installation of cameras. The park has also added two full-time rangers since July. hoodline.com Maitri Compassionate Care Announces First Female Executive Director in Three Decades Anne Gimbel, M.A., LMFT, has been announced as the new Executive Director of Maitri Compas-

Trump Is First U.S. President to Speak at Hate Group Gathering President Trump addressed the Values Voters Summit in Washington, D.C., becoming the first president to address the gathering of white supremacists, far right activists and religious zealots. Trump shared the stage with former Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson, who has said he wants to “rid the earth” of “wicked” gays. Also appearing was Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who has said he doesn’t know whether or not gays and lesbians should be put to death, and was recently removed as a state supreme court justice for instructing state employees to ignore the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality.

Also appearing was House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, who was recently wounded in a mass shooting in D.C. Scalise’s life had been saved by a lesbian police officer who shot and killed the attacker. Scalise has said the incident did not change his mind about gun control or LGBT rights. lgbtqnation.com Rainbow Crosswalk Installed Near Pulse Gay Nightclub in Orlando Crews have completed a rainbowcolored crosswalk near Pulse, the site of a gay nightclub in Florida where a gunman killed 49 people. Omar Mateen had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State during a threehour standoff at the nightclub before he was killed in a shoot-out with police officers in June 2016. It was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history until October 1, when Stephen Paddock killed 58 people and himself at a country music festival in Las Vegas.​Thousands of people had earlier signed a petition asking the city of Orlando for a colorful memorial to the victims on the street just south of Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

This is reportedly just the first step in the memorializing process. edgemedianetwork.com

Diversity on Company Boards Could Affect How the Next Sexual Abuse Case Is Handled ward off any threat to their own status by often demeaning the status of accusers or victims.

No matter the implications, the sum of complicity serves to enable and reinforce each of the predator’s self-constructed delusions that they can, and will, get away with it—at least until someone does speak up.

Cross Currents Andrea Shorter #HereWeGoAgain.

The recent reports of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein’s series of sexual assaults against women have put the issue of powerful male predatory conduct back into the national spotlight. An ever-widening constellation of Weinsteinproduced powerhouse A-list Oscarwinning stars, including Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and George Clooney, is now stepping forward and over each other to denounce his offenses and to conf irm or deny their personal awareness of Weinstein’s apparent ly decades-long rumored “old school casting couch” manners of abuse. Questions concerning who knew what and for how long, and how Weinstein was able to behave as he did for decades, remain largely unanswered, troublesome and all too familiar.

Bill Cosby (by the way—who is it that is still watching The Cosby Show reruns on TV One? Really?), the late Fox Media chief Roger Ailes (and mentor to POTUS President Donald “Grab ‘em by the p#$%y” Trump), and Harvey Weinstein collectively are responsible for at least 120 reported incidents of sexual assault. Yes, just one victim is enough. Still, you cannot deny that 120 is a grossly staggering number of known survivors of four mega-mogul powerhouse predators.

What makes men of wealth, power, and acclaim think it is okay to sexually harass and assault women? I will leave it to qualified mental health professionals to assess, but it appears safe to presume that there is clearly something terribly askew about whatever goes on in their minds and trousers for them to engage in—as a privilege, a right, or victorious spoil of their status and achievements— repeated assaults upon women.

The complicity of associates, brosquads, and under-staff might be a factor. These are individuals whose own livelihoods, status, or promise of reward are tied to the success and power of exceptionally privileged masters of their own universes. As a result, they could give a pass to clearly abusive conduct in exchange for not being let go, retaliated against, or themselves made a victim of other forms of abuse by the predator. Arsenals of in-house PR machinery serving entertainment, media, political, tech, and sports titans help to

When that someone speaks up and dares to pull back the curtain to expose the cruel offenses, we have become painfully prone to revisit such episodes through queasy tabloid spectacles. A just moments ago thought-to-be-impenetrable fortress can quickly tumble like a house of cards. While the drama of it all might capture the imagination of cursory onlookers, the real impact of these offensives can be more far reaching than meets the eye.

Of course, not all who are employed by, or are associated with, the empires led by such persons are aware, least of all complicit, with the gross misconduct. In the case of large companies, there are likely to be far more innocent employees who are indirectly or directly injured. When company stocks fall, contracts dry up, and bad publicity as well as other types of regressive responses to offensive liabilities ensue, these can present very real consequences for all concerned.

In Harvey Weinstein’s case, he was eventually fired by a small, close-knit Board of Directors of the very company he created with his brother. It is hard to believe that the Weinstein Company board members did not know of the multiple incidents of sexual assaults and the pursuant settlements incurred

by Weinstein. In fact, it has been confirmed as improbable by Weinstein’s attorney, who stated that the Board was consulted in an assault settlement. After all, it is very small Board. According to S&P Global/Bloomberg INSIDERS on Board Members as of October 12, the Weinstein Company had a small, 4-member board of cisgender men— including Harvey and Robert Weinstein—but no people of color and no women.

Diversity on boards of directors of companies and corporations matters. When women, people of color, and LGBT people are on boards, companies’ accountability to their employees, shareholders, consumers and the public is enhanced.

While it might seem a stretch in reason to some, I cannot help but wonder if there had been at least one woman on that board, policies concerning sexual misconduct, harassment, or assault might have made some difference in response to Weinstein’s repeated offenses.

It could be wishful thinking for a variety of reasons—how the company started, who started it, it’s an entertainment industry company, etc.—but it does warrant some pause.

PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS

According to Catalyst, a leading nonprofit that works to increase the representation of women in the workplace as well as on boards of directors, women hold 15 percent of company board seats globally, with only 4 percent of company board chair positions held by women. Some debate exists over the correlation between women and minority presence on boards and their impact on overall diversity and inclusion, as well as how they afAndrea Shorter (back row, second to left), on behalf of the SF fect personnel conduct polNAACP, joined activist Cleve Jones, entertainer Juanita MORE! icies within a company. and representatives of nonprofit organizations implementing the Arguably, however, their recently established No Hate SF project to receive a contribution supporting the project announced at the Horizons Foundation Gala on Saturday, October 7. nohatesf.org

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When Is Enough, Enough?

Assemblymember Phil Ting It was the worst mass shooting in modern history—that’s what we heard last year after the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre. Just over a year later, with 59 people dead and more than 500 wounded, Las Vegas now has this heartbreaking historical distinction.

This tragic and unnecessary loss of life is part of an unfortunate pattern where mass shootings have become routine, and the lack of national gun safety laws is to blame. While gun control opponents argue that it’s people who kill people, not guns, shooters choose automatic weapons simply because they can kill as many people as quickly as possible. No one can provide a sufficient reason for why civilians would need an automatic weapon, yet people can spend a small amount of money to convert their semi-automatic weapon into an automatic weapon.

In California, we have some of the nation’s strongest gun control laws. Inspired to act by the shooting in San Bernardino two years ago where 14 people were killed, the California State Legislature enacted a range of gun safety reforms to prohibit and restrict assault-weapon technologies sales in the state. Many of these solutions have been raised nationally in the wake of Las Vegas. While we proudly lead, California cannot have comprehensive gun safety laws simply by going it alone.

ATF has previously evaluated them as legal.

When will other states learn? When will Congress learn? When is enough, enough?

Whether or not Congress will finally pass gun control legislation while thousands of Americans die due to of gun violence remains unknown, but we must hold them accountable.

Many of us thought that this lack of gun control wouldn’t persist after Sandy Hook, or San Bernardino, or Orlando—yet here we are.

More has to be done, and the best way to prevent future mass shootings is at the federal level. After the Las Vegas massacre, Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the vote for the Sportsman Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act, which would make it easier to purchase gun silencers. He has not, however, ruled out a vote on the bill at a future date. Entertaining a bill that would make mass shootings even more destructive shows a shocking lack of common sense.

Fortunately, California’s Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced a bipartisan bill to ban “bump stocks” and other similar accessories that can convert semi-automatic weapons.

While the National Rifle Association has announced that they support the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reviewing regulations on bump stocks, the

Gun homicides in the U.S. occur more than 25 times the average of other developed nations. Ninetythree people die from gun violence each day. A review is insufficient for the 12,000 people that die from gun violence each year. Legislation must be passed to address this deficiency in gun control policy. Call Senator Feinstein’s office (415-393-0707) to vocalize your support of the bill.

How many more people need to die before action is taken?

We cannot become numb to mass murder. Having compassion for the victims of the Las Vegas shooting demands more than an offering of condolences. That won’t prevent future tragedies. It’s time to demand more from our national leaders so that we may all live our lives safer from harm.

Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the Westside of San Francisco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma, Daly City, and parts of South San Francisco.

Cannabis Tax Presents Opportunity to Fund Vital Public Services es cannot produce or sell recreational marijuana unless they get permits from both the state and their local city.

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As Oakland’s Councilmember At-Large, I authored the nation’s first cannabis tax—https://ballotpedia.org/City_of_Oakland_Marijuana_Tax,_ Measure_F_( July_2009)—in 2009. The proposal, to create a special (higher) tax rate for cannabis in the City of Oakland, through the creation of a dedicated business license tax, was placed on the ballot and passed overwhelmingly by Oakland voters.

Out of the Closet and into City Hall Oakland Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan In November 2016, the voters of California passed Proposition 64, legalizing cannabis for adult use. It passed by 57 percent of the vote statewide, and in Oakland, by a whopping 77 percent. Under Proposition 64, state officials will begin issuing permits on Jan. 1, 2018, allowing businesses to sell cannabis to Californians age 21 and over.

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But as other media outlets have reported, unlike in Colorado and Washington, where the first days of legalization were met with fanfare and created long lines at pot dispensaries, that date won’t mean much in California unless cities act quickly. This is because, under Prop 64, business-

Now, as the State of California prepares for recreational cannabis sales for adults next year, and as the City of Oakland struggles to pay for vitally needed services including for the homeless, and to remedy illegal dumping and other threats to the community, I am calling for the City of Oakland to act to tax, and permit, cannabis sales for adults age 21+ through Oakland-permitted dispensaries. I am also calling on the Administration to implement my Resolution (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4k7eaDkAjFzQ2pWSWxjQkJRUE0/ view) that City Council passed last year, which devotes a portion of new cannabis tax revenues to vital public needs, including homeless services, illegal dumping remediation, job training, and more.

Oakland needs to fund expansion of vital public services, including homeless solutions and to remedy illegal dumping, which threatens public health. We should not miss an opportunity to bring in vitally needed tax dollars, by harnessing California’s coming legalization of cannabis for adult use.

The people of Oakland voted overwhelmingly to support the legalization, taxation, and regulation of cannabis, and our city has successfully provided permitted medical cannabis dispensaries for over a decade—leading the nation in this effort. Now, as Adult Use cannabis sales are about to become legal in California, Oakland can, and should, build on this work by providing for adult use sales, including by allowing Oakland cannabis facilities to conduct both medical and adult use sales in compliance with state and local laws.

As many other cities throughout our region do not expect to be ready by January 1, 2018, Oakland has the opportunity both to show moral leadership in ending the racist and wasteful “war on marijuana,” and to harness revenue to help fund local jobs and vital public needs.

Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan was elected in 2008 to serve as Oakland’s citywide Councilmember; she was re-elected in 2016.

She also serves on the Board of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and as the Chair of the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC).

David Chiu, Debra Walker, London Breed and Scott Wiener attended a recent event at Developing Environments, an artist live/work community in San Francisco that is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. All of these community leaders have been at the forefront of supporting artists and making safe, affordable space for them. Walker, a member of the City and County of San Francisco Building Inspection Commission, is herself a professional artist.

LGBT Life in China: Obstacles and Inspiration (Part 2 of 2)

portunity to express love and support for LGBT people. The stress of all of this can take an emotional toll on participants.

6/26 and Beyond Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis In Part 1, published in the prior issue of the San Francisco Bay Times, we discussed our recent trip to China and our impressions concerning the struggles gay people face over coming out, and the obstacles the community faces with the current broader government crackdown.

Here, in Part 2, we share some different experiences of other Chinese LGBT people, and talk about some of the activism taking place around the country.

During our visit, a short film we made screened as part of a queer f ilm series, and we got to know members of China’s film and arts scene, many of whom have created and run LGBT-themed f ilm and arts organizations that bring much sought-after queer content to LGBT audiences. Many seemed to be living life full tilt and are leading very international lives, coming and going as they attend overseas film festivals, and at times, living

our biggest conf lict? How did we resolve differences? Have we ever considered breaking up? We ended up telling audiences things we had previously only shared with close friends.

In discussion groups, participants gave each other the opportunity to be heard and to witness each other’s struggles and aspirations. In setting up one of our presentations and discussion groups, we worked closely with wonderful people who lead Chinese groups of radical faeries.

This type of sharing and support are the core of faerie heart circles.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STUART GAFFNEY AND JOHN LEWIS

Chinese LGBT people shared very different stories, with people’s lives seeming to differ widely based on where they lived, their education and employment, and their access to international travel and media.

For example, a middle-aged gay man who had been married to a lesbian for years to please their parents told us he had finally come out to his sibling and moved in together with his boyfriend.

Still others described family coming out experiences that sounded very similar to successful American coming out stories.

Another man and his partner, for instance, were anticipating the birth of their first child through a surrogate in America, and would soon be traveling to the States to marry when the child was born, although China would not recognize the marriage. His parents were looking forward to having a grandchild, and he seemed unconcerned about what his neighbors might think. In fact, we met the founder of a Chinese business that arranges for couples, both gay and straight, to have children through surrogates living outside of the country.

We also met with members of PFLAG China, a vibrant nationw ide organization w ith active groups in big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, as well as in more remote areas of the country. Earlier this year, hundreds of LGBT people and their parents took part in the 10th Annual PFLAG China National Conference—held on an ocean cruise between China and Japan—that featured many colorful and meaningful events, including the marriage of nine LGBT couples.

Eleven brave PFLAG moms earlier this year also came to Shanghai’s famous “marriage market,” where every weekend parents of heterosexual children gather in a famous park with photos and résumés in hand to match-make. The PFLAG moms decided to come to try to find mates of the same sex for their gay children. Other parents started a contentious argument, causing security to come and force the PFLAG moms to leave, but it was an amazing act of bravery and LGBT visibility through the power of parental love and acceptance.

We met another activist who had been held by the police because he was leading a public event where people were simply offered the op-

Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis with Beijing LGBT Community Center leaders and local activists

abroad for arts fellowships or higher education.

One person—far from fearing not conforming to his parents’ expectations—emancipated himself from them overseas. Another spoke of the need to explode marriage and most other societal institutions, perhaps not surprisingly given how oppressive they currently can be to LGBT people in China. Another artist had the guts to sue the government when his LGBT public education film had been removed from the internet a couple years ago. The entire film program in which our film was screened needed to be reviewed by the government before it could be shown. Additionally, a number of artists and activists were actively seeking to leave China because of the oppression.

Above all, we treasure the human connections, mutual support and camaraderie we built with the people we met. Unlike other places where we have given presentations, groups in China were particularly interested in hearing how we have kept our relationship together for three decades: What was

The current nationalistic policies of the American and Chinese governments may tend to separate its citizens, but what we share as LGBT people connects us across o cea n s a nd n at ion a l boundaries. We feel part of one movement. Chinese activists told us that the marriage equality victory in America and the gains for LGBT rights here were helping to change things in China.

As we witnessed firsthand the dedication, energy, courage, creativity and intelligence of Chinese LGBT activists in the face of government repression, we left inspired by what they have achieved, and were convinced more than ever that we in the LGBT community in America must use our freedom to the utmost.

Their work is testament to the power of grassroots, person-to-person education and community building. In the end, we educated and inspired each other—which is exactly what the LGBT community can do when it is at its best.

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for over three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. Their leadership in the grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed in 2015 to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.

The Martin 2051 Third St. l San Francisco, CA 94107 http://www.themartinsf.com 415-713-5608 TheMartinSFBMR@Greystar.com 4 Studios at $1063 a month; 3 One Bedrooms at $1214 per month; 5 Two Bedrooms at $1353 per month. Ten parking spaces available to BMR renters for an additional $100 a month and will be offered to households in lottery rank order. Must be income eligible and must not own a home. Households must earn no more than a maximum income levels below: 55% of Area Median Income 1 Person

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Below Market Rate (BMR) Rental Units Available Applications available Sept. 18, 2017 - Oct. 16, 2017 Applications must be received by 5pm on October 16. Postmarks will not be considered. Apply online through DAHLIA, the SF Housing Postal at https://housing.sfgov.org or mail in a paper application with a self-addressed stamped envelope to The Martin, P.O. Box 420847, San Francisco, CA 94142. Paper applications can be downloaded from https://housing.sfgov.org or picked up from one of the housing counseling agencies listed at http:// housing.sfgov.org/housing.counselors. Please contact the VENMOA leasing team for more information at (415) 713-5608 or TheMartinSFBMR@greystar.com.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Units available through the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and are subject to monitoring and other restrictions. visit www.sfmohcd.org for program information.

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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The Great Secret to Successful Negotiation whether it is to release hostages, close a business deal, or agree about where to go to dinner, we make the same elementary mistake of focusing on making our own case instead of trying to understand the other person’s point of view.

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

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Examined Life 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.

Tom Moon, MFT

Kate Laws Business Manager

If you are having a hard time resolving a disagreement or a conflict with someone in your life, you might want to take some advice from Christopher Voss. He spent 24 years working in hostage negotiation, with four of them as the FBI’s chief international hostage and kidnapping negotiator. Now retired, he teaches the FBI’s negotiating secrets to businesses. There is one technique he emphasizes above all others for successful completion of any negotiation. What is that one sure-fire secret negotiation technique?

Blake Dillon

Shut up and listen.

Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence

Most of the time when we’re trying to convince someone to do something,

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

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“If while you’re making your argument,” Voss points out, “the only time the other side is silent is because they’re thinking about their own argument, they’ve got a voice in their head that’s talking to them. They’re not listening to you. When they’re making their argument to you, you’re thinking about your argument, that’s the voice in your head that’s talking to you.”

“So, it’s very much like dealing with a schizophrenic, he continues. “If your first objective in the negotiation, instead of making your argument, is to hear the other side out, that’s the only way you can quiet the voice in the other guy’s mind. But most people don’t do that. They don’t walk into a negotiation wanting to hear what the other side has to say. They walk into a negotiation wanting to make an argument. They don’t pay attention to emotions and they don’t listen.”

The very first step in the FBI negotiation guidelines is active listening, which just happens to be the same technique that couple’s therapists

have been using for decades. In active listening, you put your goals for the outcome on the back burner, and focus instead on listening to the other person. You also work on making sure that person knows you are listening by facing him or her, making eye contact, and not allowing yourself to be distracted. Be attentive, but as relaxed as possible.

Since your only purpose at this point is to understand the other person’s point of view, do not disagree, or argue. Do not plan what you are going to say when it is your turn to speak.

Nod your head, and make brief comments (‘yes’) to signal that you are hearing what is being said. Do not interrupt, as that will convey negative messages, such as, “I’m more important than you are,” or, “I don’t care what you think.”

Pay close attention to what the speaker’s body language is conveying. Remember that words convey only a fraction of the message. Speak only when the speaker stops or pauses, and then repeat back the gist of what he or she said. Let the speaker correct you if you got something wrong. Ask questions, but only for the purpose of eliciting more information about the other person’s point of view.

The second step is to empathize— that is, to try to feel what the oth-

er person is feeling, and convey that through facial expressions and body language. This is crucial. Empathy is the heart of good listening. The third step is achieved when you arrive at some level of rapport with the other person, that is, when the other person starts to empathize with you, too.

Only after you have listened, empathized with the other person, and arrived at some level of rapport, does the work of negotiating mutually agreeable solutions begin.

In hostage negotiation, of course, the desired outcome—such as not shooting a hostage—is clear and does not change. But when couples negotiate, an important fourth step is to keep an open mind, which means not to assume that your desired outcome is the only right one. If you have first achieved empathy and rapport in a negotiation with your partner, you also almost automatically avoid devaluing your partner’s point of view, which, in turn, means that you are more willing to allow yourself to be inf luenced by your partner. This open-mindedness will make it more likely that you will be able to arrive at a mutually satisfying outcome.

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

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

In Memoriam Memorial Fund Established for Beloved Castro Police Officer John Fitzinger Our community is mourning the loss of San Francisco Patrol Special Police Officer John Fitzinger, who died on Saturday, October 7, just a day before his 62nd birthday. He was in charge of the Castro beat as a Patrol Special Policeman for 15 years, following Officer Jane Warner’s work in that position.

Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg ADVERTISING Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards are available online at sfbaytimes.com or calling: 415-503-1375

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As San Francisco Bay Times columnist photographer Rink shared concerning his many conversations with Officer Fitzinger, “We spoke about the Castro’s ups and downs a couple of times a month.

Some of my favorite moments with John were watching him remove AIDS denialists who were trying to disrupt meetings, two at a time.”

Greg Carey, Chief of Patrol wrote: “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Patrol Special Police Officer John Fitzinger, who worked the Castro beat. John was a friend, an outstanding and compassionate person, and a truly 10–8 Police Officer. He will be greatly missed by all. Castro Patrol worked closely with John and his officers for several years. We often had each other’s backs in a variety of events and responses to various medical and criminal situations.”

“John was a fixture in the Castro/Upper Market community,” Carey continued. “He devoted his life to this neighborhood, always concerned, always willing to help and caring for all. A firm hand when necessary and a caring heart when called for. We will all miss John very much. Our hearts go out to his family.”

“10–8” is a police code referring to officers who are in service, so Officer Fitzinger was greatly valued as someone who was always ready and willing to help others with great compassion and empathy.

A memorial fund has been established to help defray the cost of his funeral: https://www.gofundme.com/bsf8y6-memorial-fund-for-john-fitzinger Services for Officer Fitzinger will be held at 11 am on Friday, October 20, at St. Paul’s Church (221 Valley Street) in Noe Valley. A reception will follow at 531 Castro Street (The Patio Cafe).

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Memorial Service Scheduled for Kevin Metzger, aka Kendra Monroe When Kendra Monroe took the stage of Sunday’s a Drag at the Starlight Room, all eyes riveted to this dynamic, sexy and styli s h per for mer who made everyone in the audience —men and women, straight and gay—feel special and welcome. In such moments, audiences could forget their troubles and become fully absorbed in the mesmerizing show.

In hindsight, Kendra must have been transformed by such moments too, having suffered from ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Kevin Metzger, the heart and soul who was Kendra, passed away due to a sudden illness and complications related to ALS on September 21, according to Metzger’s husband Geoffrey Gamble.

The couple had just returned from a recent trip to Maui and were planning for Metzger’s hospice care.

The first California-based memorial celebration of Metzger’s life will be held as follows: Memorial Services for Kevin P. Metzger January 31, 1972–September 21, 2017 Sunday, October 22, 2017 Windmill Ridge Winery 8350 West Linne Road, Tracy CA 95304 4 pm–6 pm: Invited Family and Friends (private ceremony) 6 pm–9 pm: All other friends and acquaintances (public) Gamble wrote, “We ask that everyone attending please bring a 4×6 photograph of you and Kevin/Kendra for inclusion in a special photo album we’ll be creating. Please choose a picture that has special meaning to you, and write a brief description of your fondest memory of the time you shared with him on the back.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to help cover final medical expenses and memorial costs.

GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow Standing Together I’ve always liked the fact that under U.S. law, you can’t file a civil case on theoretical grounds. You must always have a concrete claim, and you can’t bring a lawsuit unless the court’s decision can resolve your dispute.

Without the rules on standing, as it’s called, anyone and her brother could file suit willy-nilly, complaining about the slightest thing. Courts could be called on to adjudicate hypothetical interpretations of law, taking on an all-powerful role. It would be chaos!

Our side (the crazy wacky wonderful GLBTLMNOP community and our loyal allies) got tripped up on standing laws when we fought state statutes banning sodomy. Most plaintiffs, or would-be plaintiffs, objected to sodomy laws on principle. It’s not as if they had been personally arrested and thrown in the clink. Thus, our court opponents would point out that we lacked standing to sue, and we, in turn, would argue that it was difficult to conduct ourselves as responsible citizens in a state where making love to our partners was considered a criminal act. Isn’t that in itself a concrete hardship?

Sometimes we won that sub-argument and sometimes we lost, but as you recall, we subsequently found a case where a guy actually did wind up in jail after cops burst into his apartment and caught him having sex, so the question of standing never arose as the Supreme Court considered the fate of sodomy laws in Lawrence v Texas.

I’m getting into this column, Rachel Maddow style, because issues of “standing” are in the GLBT news twice this week. And I ask your forgiveness in advance, because it often annoys me when our beloved Rachel leads us through a tangled thicket of arcane back stories prior to coming forward with a relatively straightforward piece of new intelligence.

First, Lambda Legal is continuing the fight against Mississippi’s HB 1523, a religious freedom bill on steroids that gives every bozo in the Yahoo State the right to discriminate against gay couples and a range of other malfeasants without consequence. We attacked the bill in court and won the first round, getting HB 1523 put on hold while the state of Mississippi appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

The Fifth Circuit ruled that we lacked standing to challenge the law, because none of the plaintiffs had yet to suffer a discriminatory act. As such, the panel threw out our lower court victory, reinstated the law, and refused to reconsider this decision as a full court. And I think most of our readers know what we do when we’ve lost at the appellate level: Supreme Court Bayyyy Beeee!

Because the Fifth Circuit did not review the underlying law, HB 1523, our petition to the High Court asks the Court simply to consider the matter of standing. No, we have not been thrown out of the clerk’s office or rejected by the wedding planner in Jackson or another one of the handful of cities in the state that protect us against GLBT bias. But like the sodomy laws of yore, we have been singled out for discrimination in the future. The Mississippi legislature has put targets on our backs. They are big and orange and there are lots of hunters out there taking aim. Isn’t that grounds for a concrete injury?

Second, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLAD are leading the charge against Trump’s gratuitous attack on transgender soldiers. In an unexpected Twitter message last July, Trump announced a blanket ban on transgenders in the military based, ostensibly, on health budget concerns.

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attempt to resolve some debate in the House, Trump appeared unaware of the fact that many hundreds of transgender men and women have long been in uniform, and his financial excuses were instantly dismissed by actual numbers; transgender medical bills cost the military less than $10 million a year, versus $85 million annually for Viagra-type drugs.

Oh, and let’s not forget that President Obama issued an order clearing the way for transgender soldiers to serve openly back in June of 2016. As a result, everyone came forward only to be tweeted into limbo out of the blue a year later.

Into the breach came Defense Secretary Mattis, with a vague set of “guidelines” that appeared to put the brakes on the anti-trans train. But the guidelines aren’t that vague. Transgender soldiers and sailors won’t be kicked out today or tomorrow, but they are still likely to be ousted starting March 23, 2018. Because of this brief delay, the U.S. government has the nerve to argue in court that transgender plaintiffs lack standing to sue because no one has done anything to them … yet.

These men and women have been excoriated by the Commander in Chief and told that they will be kicked out of the service in a few months. Isn’t that in itself a travesty? Isn’t that a controversy? Isn’t that a concrete blow?

The NCLR just filed a reply to the government in D.C. federal court, meanwhile another federal case against the transgender ban continues in California, led by Equality California.

Jeff Sessions: Infuriating Little Munchkin Let’s stick with the transgender community for another section, because it was a little nauseating to see these headlines praising Jeff Sessions for sending a federal lawyer to pursue hate crime charges against a man who murdered a gender bending gay teen.

Oooooo! Put your hands together for Attorney General Sessions! He’s against people murdering sixteenyear-old kids. Even transgender kids.

He’s not so bad!

Yes, he is, people!

I’m not even getting into the story of the Iowa victim, Kedarie Johnson, a gay kid who did not consider himself transgender, but gender f luid. Nor will I point out that adding a federal hate crime charge to a murder rap is basically a symbolic act. I’ll just suggest to you that, regardless of this hate crime prosecution, Jeff Sessions remains one of the cruelest, narrowest, meanest little curs this side of Gaybash, U.S.A. And while Trump is spending his time in a bumbling effort to undo the Obama legacy, Mr. Sessions is actually doing a fairly good job of reversing the GLBTfriendly policies we enjoyed under the Obama Justice Department.

Last week, we saw some headlines claiming Sessions had reversed or repealed transgender protections under federal law. In truth, he just changed the interpretation of Title VII and Title IX from one that believes sexual orientation and gender identity are protected under laws that ban sex discrimination, to one that insists these federal laws do not cover GLBT workers or students under any circumstances.

Happily, for us (I hope), it will be up to the Supreme Court to determine which interpretation holds sway in the future. Here’s hoping as well that the High Court takes up these issues sooner rather than later.

Take the Case!

Speaking of those cases, Lambda Legal is still waiting for the Supremes to

decide whether to hear the Title VII case of a Georgia lesbian who lost her job as a security guard for a hospital.

Last week, 76 major U.S. Corporations added their names to a brief in support of Lambda’s petition. In another supporting brief, 17 states plus the District of Columbia urged the Court to accept review.

The question of how we define “sex discrimination” is pressing on the Court now. First, just think about the reversal we’ve seen from one Justice Department to the next. It’s not healthy for the nation to flip flop on fundamental aspects of civil rights law from one political election to the next.

Second, the appellate courts are split on the question. The full Seventh Circuit recently ruled that a community college in Indiana could be liable for firing a lesbian plaintiff under Title VII’s ban on sex discrimination.

The Eleventh Circuit ruled otherwise in the Georgia case just mentioned.

The full bench of the Second Circuit is about to rule on another Title VII sex discrimination case involving the estate of a gay skydiving instructor.

Third, we need some clarity on gay law. It’s all over the map these days with rogue rulings, far right justice department policies, and the f lood of bigotry that may have begun with white supremacy, but now contains all the diseased f lotsam and jetsam that those dark waters have collected along their path. Without bashing Justice Kennedy’s deliberate ambiguity once again, I just pray he will put a stamp on his legacy as a champion of gay civil rights by writing one more opinion that puts every doubt to rest and answers the questions he has wriggled out from under so far: Is sexual orientation a neutral human feature? Are we equal?

Can he just say, “Yes”? Can he put that in writing?

Jabberwocky Here is Jeff Sessions’ Justice Department, writing another hateful missive to us all, this time articulating the theory that religious freedom takes precedent over every other constitutional right you might raise: “As James Madison explained in his Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, the free exercise of religion ‘is in its nature an unalienable right’ because the duty owed to one’s Creator ‘is precedent, both in order of time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society.’”

You know, I’m not bothering to look up the writings of James Madison to see if the man actually wrote that and/or in what context. I just have to say that it is wrong. Period. If everyone decided that religious duty could outweigh the claims of civil society, we would have no more civil society.

Does anyone out there believe Islamic terrorists have a legitimate right to put their Jihad obligations above the rule of law and let’s say, plant a giant bomb in Madison Square Garden? No. This comment, Madisonian or not, is patently not just false, but nonsensical.

Yet it sort of sounds okay if you don’t think about it too hard, doesn’t it?

Sessions’ Justice Department has filled several pages of a recent memorandum on “religious freedom” with this kind of verbal horse pucky, and with few exceptions, no one has pointed out that it’s not just wrong, but senseless.

This is true of the antigay briefs coming out of Justice, and the various other pronouncements and pontif ications discussed earlier and in previous columns. Like Trump, Jeff Sessions is (continued on page 26)

44th Annual Castro Street Fair

Photos by Rink and Paul Margolis

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CASTRO STREET FAIR

Harvey Milk would have been proud to see the street fair he founded going full throttle on Sunday, October 1. Castro Street was chock full of entertainers, vendors, nonprofit representatives, volunteers, dancers and participants just taking it all in. Thanks to all who stopped by to spin our prize wheel, pick up a copy of the San Francisco Bay Times and meet our booth manager Juan Davila.

Don We Now Our Ghoul Apparel

Photos courtesy of Bill Lipsky

queen and giving the traditional send-off for the night’s activities. ‘This is your night—you run it.’ For that one night, the police let homosexuals roam the city freely, even if they wore dresses. But when the hours shifted from October 31 to November 1, the iron fist of Lilly Law would fall again.”

Dr. Bill Lipsky Before Pride, before the Castro or Folsom Street fairs, before the Dyke March, or any of the other major celebrations on LGBT San Francisco’s crowded social and cultural calendar, there was Halloween. Seventy-five years ago, when the “fruiters” were not allowed to congregate in public places or appear on city streets in attire “not belonging to his or her sex,” even the police recognized Halloween as our holiday.

As the journalist and historian Randy Shilts described it, the Chief of Police himself drove female illusionist José Sarria “to the center of North Beach that night, opening the car door politely for the elegantly gowned drag

Halloween on Polk Street, 1976

The Black Cat closed forever in February 1964, but it was not forgotten. For many years, the City’s gay community grieved its demise with a memorial procession on Halloween from Romeo’s in the Haight, where Sarria sometimes performed, to the bar’s former location, where they placed a wreath of remembrance. Gays continued to celebrate Halloween in North Beach, especially along upper Grant Avenue. By the end of the decade, however, the neighborhood was overwhelmed by tourists and topless bars, so the festivities moved to Polk Street.

In the two decades since the Nob Hill Club, Polk Street’s first gay bar, opened in 1950—it was raided and closed in 1959—what became known as Polk Strasse, or Polk Gulch, on the Tenderloin’s western border had become San Francisco’s first “gay downtown,” with numerous clubs, restaurants, retail stores, travel agencies, and other businesses specifically serving the LBGT community.

The neighborhood’s annual Halloween celebrations began in 1970, the same year a group of 30 or so self-proclaimed “hair fairies” marched along Polk Street to commemorate the first an-

Tutu dance corps, 1970s

niversary of the Stonewall Riots. By 1976, the year that the Pride parade moved from Polk to Market Street, more than 70,000 partygoers and lookie-loos were coming to the neighborhood for Halloween.

The sheer size of the crowd, in both fancy dress and suburban drab, finally forced the police to close Polk Street to automobile traffic until revelers vanished into the dawn’s early light. The national interest that followed embarrassed some on the Board of Supervisors. They voted not to close the street for 1977’s Halloween celebration, but when both merchants and the po lice protested, Mayor George Moscone got the Board to reverse its decision.

Masked Ball, 1894

An effort to keep Polk Street open to automobile traffic on Halloween in 1978 also failed. Unfortunately, that year’s ever larger crowd included not only the usual

partygoers and on simply to drink a were arrested for in st ch

PHOTO BY MARIE UEDA

Faces from Our LGBT Past

The center of the festivities in North Beach was the Black Cat Cafe, where Sarria performed his famous opera parodies. Using incessant threats, raids, and cancelled liquor permits, the police and the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Board tried for years to shut the club. On October 30, 1963, barely a day before the annual Halloween party, the Board once again suspended its liquor license. The Halloween party went on the next night anyway, with nonalcoholic beverages, but the end was in sight.

Halloween on Polk Street, 1979

B C cu im P le m sa ag ti

A H ov th

As Heard on the Street . . . Where are you going to celebrate Halloween? compiled b

Chris Bransford-Young

Deana Dawn

Mocha Fappalatte

Karin Jaffie

“The Dream Project Halloween Dance at Strut”

“The Halloween Party at the Churchill Lounge at Church and Market Streets”

“I will be at the Game Boy Halloween Freak Show at the Rickshaw Shop on Oct. 21 and the Halloween Vampire Ball at the White Horse Bar in Oakland on Oct. 22.”

“I will be at the Halloween Party at the Wild Side West Bar.”

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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Eric Berchto

“I am the manager of Bar on Polk Street, wh hosting a Halloween Oct. 28.”

Coneheads in the Castro, 1980s

nlookers, but also a large number of people who came and to cause trouble. By night’s end, some 60 people drunk and disorderly behavior, petty theft, gay bashng, smashing store windows, and looting a clothing tore. The next year, Polk Street stayed open to cars, a hange that shattered the party forever.

By then, the center of the festivities had moved to the Castro, where Halloween became a major social and ultural event. Revelers appeared in costumes of every magination. These included Star Whores R U 1 2, Princess Letus, Hand Solo, C3JO, Tutu Fabulous Balet Corps—whose lovely ballerinas all sported clone mustaches—Cone Heads, closets, enormous condoms, atyrs, fairies with gossamer wings, debutants of all ges in taffeta ball gowns, cowardly lions, scarecrows, inmen and Totos, too.

After word got out about how wonderful the Castro’s Halloween party was, more and more people from all ver the Bay Area travelled into the neighborhood for he spectacle. What became by 2007 an annual en-

by Rink

old

the Cinch here we are Party on

deavor to see how many men and women—costumed or other wise— could crowd onto two city blocks unfortunately was attracting the same type of vandalism and violence that ended the festivities on Polk Street almost two decades before.

COMING UP Halloween Calendar

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26

Remembering those earlier days, the City used the same strategy in the Castro to stop the outdoor revelry and the disorder that now came with it: in 2008, Castro Street stayed open for cars and busses. The great gatherings there for Halloween were no more. Fortunately, the merrymaking and joyousness of the holiday remain. Whether you celebrate as ghoulie, ghostie or long-leggedy beastie, look marvelous, be fabulous, and party on!

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

Photos by R

The Rocky Horror Show @ Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street. Frank N. Furter and friends return for four special nights. Continues October 27, 28 & 31; November 1, 2, 3 & 4. victoriatheatre.org Peaches Christ & “Stranger Queens” at Creatures of the Nightlife @ Cal Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park. Creatures come out as the museum is transformed into a spine-tingling, supernatural tribute to ‘80s horror movies that will be stranger than life. calacademy.org/nightlifew Halloween Comedy Special: After Party + Costume Contest @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street.

An evening of laughs, music, costumes and prizes, feautring Butch Escobar, David Roth, Krista Fatka, Joey Avery, Samantha Gilweit, and host Paco Romane. 8:30pm-2am. elriosf.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27

UHAUL: SF’s Circus Halloween Party @ Calle11sf, 1501 Folsom Street. A circus dress up party for girls who love girls + their friends with DJs China G and Jibbz, go gos, carnaval games, prizes, food, photo booth, kissing and candy booths. uhaulsf.com A Nightmare on Polk Street @ First Congregational Church of San Francisco, 1300 Polk Street.

The annual fall concert of the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco with costumes encouraged. 7:30pm.

Also on October 28. lgcsf.org

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28 Halloween Theater: One-Night Stand at Mz. Pat’s House @ La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. Dress in 1930s costumes for a brothel setting (Mz. Pat’s House) during the Great Depression when Mz. Pat’s was a safe-haven for anyone who was disenfranchised, women fleeing domestic violence, gay and queer folks and well-known gangsters on the run. 7:30pm. lapena.org Backyard Women’s Dance @ 6454 Brann Street, Oakland. Don your creepiest costume for the byob women’s dance with two bands Ruby’s In Town (R&B, funk, Motown) and Bad Ass Boots (country). 8pm. themustangs1987@aol.com Night at the Opera: A Halloween Fundraiser @ Bayview Opera House, 4705 3rd Street. Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and The Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theater present an evening of art, contests, prizes, crafted drinks and music by DJ Casanova to benefit the Bayview Opera House.

8pm-12am. bvoh.org ShangriLa Halloween Weekend Party @ ShangriLa SF, 401 6th Street. DJs Martin Fry and Christopher B will be spinning tunes for this two-day party with a spooky mansion theme and costume celebration. 10pm-6am. shangrilasf.net

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29

Halloweenie @ Jane Warner Plaza, 17th and Castro. A Live in the Catsro! event presented by the Castro Business Development District. castrocbd.org

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31

Mad Hatter Tea Party @ The Center, 548 Fillmore Street. A silly night of fun and festivities where costumes are highly encouraged. 7-10pm. thecentersf.com More events in the Calendar pages 24 & 25.

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Horizons Foundation Gala 2017

Photos by Rink and Paul Margolis

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An elegant evening was enjoyed by all attending Horizons Foundation’s Gala on Saturday evening, October 7, at the Fairmont Hotel San Francisco atop Nob Hill. Honored were activist Cleve Jones for his more than 40 years as a champion of the LGBTQ community and the Transgender Law Center for its groundbreaking work and leadership.

Our team at the San Francisco Bay Times extends congratulations to the staff, board, supporters and volunteers on another fabulous evening in one of our favorite venues, and a very special thanks to Horizons’ Scott Walton.

From the Coming Up Events Calendar See page 24 Friday, October 20 - 21 Years of Art for AIDS @ City View at Metreon, 135 Fourth Street. UCSF Alliance Health Project’s popular annual art sale and auction. 6pm. artforaids.org

Saturday, October 21 - Margaret Cho: Fresh Off the Bloat @ Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street. The “Fabulous Cho” brings her humor on coming off drugs, drinking, being on the brink of suicide and coming back to life. 7pm & 9pm. castrotheatre.com

Nahuel Pérez Biscayart Talks About Making the French ACT UP Drama BPM

Film Gary M. Kramer Sean (Nahuel Pérez Biscayart), the lead character in BPM, opening October 27, is a radical and positive guy in the French contingent of ACT UP. He is arguably the group’s most charismatic member: passionate, vocal, and fearless. He demands more from everyone because his life, along with that of so many others infected with AIDS, is at stake.

In co-writer/director Robin Campillo’s remarkable drama, Sean captures the attention of Nathan (Arnaud Valois), an HIV-negative gay man who joins ACT UP as the film opens. As they participate in actions, from passing out condoms at a high school, to getting arrested demanding needle exchange programs, Sean and Nathan start to fall in love.

They negotiate sex with condoms, after which Sean explains how he contracted AIDS at 16 during his first gay sexual experience. This is one of many moving scenes in Campillo’s film, and the Argentine-born Biscayart gives an exceptional performance.

The actor spoke with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about making BPM. Gary M. Kramer: What interested you in playing an HIVpositive character in BPM? Nahuel Pérez Biscayart: I felt right away that Robin was trying to capture intimate moments and details of this gang. We were not trying to make an epic film about martyrs.

The approach was centered in the characters and their relationships, regardless of the weight the story might carry.

Gary M. Kramer: You were three years old at the time this film takes place. What research did you do on ACT UP, and how aware were you of the organization?

Nahuel Pérez Biscayart: I was in Argentina then, and there was no ACT UP there. I had a vague memory of the pink triangles. The first time I heard about (ACT UP) was when I read the script and spoke to Robin about the film. I was impressed and engrossed by the spectacular actions they carried out. They were supposed to be victims, but they took the power over the sickness and the conflicts.

They were key in taking charge of their destiny.

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ

Gary M. Kramer: Sean “lives politics in the first person.” What can you say about committing to a cause that you are willing to risk your life for?

Nahuel Pérez Biscayart: Wow—that’s a big thing. In personal terms, I’m always trying to change things I don’t like. When I feel anguished, I try to see why and resolve the conflict. I don’t have the power to change everything around me, so I try to have empathy towards others. Growing up in Ar-

LESBIAN STRENGTH This double-edged hatchet or axe is a symbol of strength and unity for the lesbian community: A) labret B) labrys C) Libra D) labia ANSWER ON PAGE 25

gentina, which is such a politicized society, when people didn’t please us we would go out in the street with strikes, riots, and demonstrations. I used to go to demonstrations against the dictatorship with my family every year, and I did some things in high school. We can change things if we want. The reason why the world is the way it is, is because we oppose things we don’t like.

Gary M. Kramer: What was it like to (re) create the “actions” in the film?

Nahuel Pérez Biscayart: It was fun to play.

I never approach acting as a dramatic voyage.

They were radical actions and extreme; it never got (continued on page 26)

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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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DE YOUNG AND LEGION OF HONOR

KLIMT & RODIN: An Artistic Encounter At the Legion of Honor through January 28, 2018 The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are proud to present KLIMT & RODIN: An Artistic Encounter, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the deaths of Auguste Rodin in November 1917 and Gustav Klimt in February 1918. The exhibition celebrates the legacies of these two pioneers, who each broke the reigning aesthetic boundaries of the time to find new vocabularies and create powerful agendas for modern painting and sculpture. Arranged in dialogue with the Legion of Honor’s acclaimed collection of Rodin works, KLIMT & RODIN provides an incredibly rare opportunity for American audiences to see a range of signature works by the Austrian master Klimt, many of which traveled to the U.S. for the first time.

“This will be an exceptional and breathtaking opportunity to experience the art of Gustav Klimt in San Francisco,” says Max Hollein, Director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. “And as a native Viennese, I am especially proud that we are able to present the beloved works by Klimt at the Legion of Honor. With our important Rodin collection, we are perfectly situated to engage Klimt’s masterpieces in dialogue with Rodin’s oeuvre.”

This first major Klimt exhibition on the West Coast surveys the span of the artist’s practice. Among the 30 works

by Klimt that will be exhibited are iconic paintings, such as Nuda Veritas (1899), Klimt’s response to the conservative views of the art establishment, on loan from the Österreichisches Theatermuseum; Upper Austrian Farmhouse (1911), in his landscape style, loaned by the Belvedere in Vienna; Portrait of Ria Munk III (1917) from the Lewis Collection; and The Virgin (1913), loaned from the National Gallery in Prague, in which Klimt’s use of color is on full display.

“This exhibition will provide an insight into leading art developments in Europe at the turn of the century through the lens of two of its most important artists,” adds curator Tobias G. Natter. “It marks the very first time a survey of Klimt’s works with some of his most outstanding masterpieces will be exhibited in California.”

Setting the context for the exhibition are two seven-foottall panels reproduced from one of Klimt’s most celebrated works, the Beethoven Frieze (1902). The exhibition copy of the frieze gives American audiences a special opportunity to experience the iconic work outside of Vienna. Widely regarded as the start of Klimt’s “golden period,” the frieze was painted for the 14th Vienna Secessionist exhibition in celebration of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and illustrates the human desire for happiness in a tempestuous world marked by suffering.

Gustav Klimt, "Portrait of Ria Munk III (Bildnis Ria Munk III)," 1917 (unfinished). Oil on canvas, 180 x 90 cm. The Lewis Collection. Image courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

A key moment of the exhibition is the meeting between Klimt and Rodin in 1902. While Klimt, the president of the Vienna Secession, was still developing his signature style, Rodin was at the peak of his international fame. Vienna was honored to welcome the sculptor, who had exhibited several key works at the Vienna Secession—one of the most innovative manifestations of Viennese Modernism—the year prior. Rodin visited the exhibition in person and was fascinated by its temple-like space and the groundbreaking Beethoven Frieze, which led to a meeting between the two artists. KLIMT & RODIN stages another encounter between the two artists for the first time in more than a century.

“Rodin’s work represents modernity in sculpture and the rejection of the academic tradition, and has inspired admirers and followers all over the world.” states Martin Chapman, curator in charge of European decorative arts and sculpture at the Fine Arts Museums. “It’s a great pleasure to be able to show our extraordinary holdings with a rich trove of paintings and sketches by Klimt from significant collections around the world.”

Approximately 25 sculptures and works on paper by Rodin from the Fine Arts Museums’ collection provide visual dialogues with the works by Klimt. The exhibition is thematically arranged around the Vienna Secession, Rodin’s 1901 exhibition in Vienna, Rodin’s 1902 visit to Vienna, Klimt’s landscapes and Rodin’s surfaces, and the depiction of women—for both artists an eternal source of inspiration—exploring shared touch points and developments in the two artists’ practices throughout.

Klimt’s portrait style is represented through his modern paintings of society women, such as Portrait of Sonja Knips (1898), Johanna Staude (1917–18), and The Black Feathered Hat (1910), the latter from a period when the French inf luence in Klimt’s work was particularly strong. Also on view will be a number of erotic drawings, highlighting his preoccupation with the female body. Klimt’s landscape paintings, revealing his independence of form, represent another significant genre in the exhibition, as seen 18

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Auguste Rodin, "The Kiss," 1881–1882 (reduced 1904 [no. 4], cast ca.

1914). Bronze, 23 1/4 x 14 1/4 x 14 7/8 in. (59.1 x 36.2 x 37.9 cm). Inscribed: Rodin. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, 1941.34.8. Image courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

in Italian Garden Landscape (1913), with its expressive brushwork and color.

The Legion of Honor is the sole venue for the exhibition, so see it while you can! The exhibition is guest curated by Dr. Tobias G. Natter; leading Klimt scholar, previous director of the Leopold Museum and former curator in chief at the Belvedere in Vienna, with contribution from Martin Chapman, curator in charge of European decorative arts and sculpture at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

For more information: https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/

Gustav Klimt, "Nuda Veritas," 1899. Oil on canvas, 99 1/4 x 22 1/8 in. (252 x 56.2 cm). Österreichisches Theatermuseum, inv. O-3556. Courtesy Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien. Image Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

The Privilege of Passing as Straight

By Lyndsey Schlax (Editor’s Note: Teacher Lyndsey Schlax of the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts launched the nation’s first onsite high school LGBT course in 2015. She has resumed teaching that groundbreaking class. In this column, her students share their thoughts about LGBT-related matters, including their concerns, what they have learned in class and more. The below three stories were written by students in Grade 11.)

The Privilege of Passing as Straight Recently, my class was honored to have Kate Kendell, Esq., the current Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, speak to us. Among the many things she addressed in her amazing talk, she brought up a topic that I found to be very interesting. Kendell began speaking of the privilege that many members of the LGBTQ community have in that a lot of them “pass,” meaning that, in simply seeing them on the street, one would assume that they f it into heteronormativity or gender normativity.

This means that, if needed, many of these “passing” people could f ly under the radar if they chose to, for whatever reasons they have. Kendell then compared this to the experience that people of color have. People of color can generally not pass. There is no way of hiding your ethnicity, for example, to get a job, while someone who was lesbian could potentially pass as straight in order to avoid any potential disadvantage.

Kendell discussed how people who can “pass” have a certain responsibility to advocate for those who can’t, by using their “passing” platform. This resonated with me tremendously.

I am half white and half Mexican.

I grew up in a household rich with my Mexican culture. Even my (white) father celebrated Latino culture far more than most. I am biracial, and this means that I have physical traits of both my ethnicities. Therefore, I pass. Sure, many people tend to see some Latino influence in my features, but ultimately, if I said I was white, I would be 100% believed. I am among the few who can “pass” ethnically.

Because of this, I believe that I have a certain responsibility to use my privilege to speak about racial inequality, especially in a time when immigrants face more hate than I have ever seen before. I encourage everyone around me to evaluate the “passing” privileges they have, as well as any other privilege(s), and to use these to advocate for those who can’t, especially in a time when it is crucial to communicate the voices of those at the bottom.

Transgender Timeline When does a transgender person decide their gender? The answer is never. Huh? What? Then are they trans-

Play on the Bay Photos by Jo-Lynn Otto

gender? Yes, they are, and they always have been. It’s not a decision; it’s not a lifestyle choice. Whether they’ve always known it, they’ve been transgender.

When I came out to my parents as transgender, my father said to my mother, “I’m losing a son.” My mom responded, “You never had one.”

That was the biggest part of helping my father to come to terms with my identity.

In my LGBTQ and Ethnic Studies class, we listened to a podcast called “How to be a Girl,” about a mother raising her transgender daughter. In the podcast, the mother talked about how she missed her son, and wondered where he was. Her daughter responds, saying that she never had a son, she had a daughter all along. In the mother’s eyes, her son was being replaced by a daughter, which was absolutely not the case. Whether she wants to believe it or not, her child has been the same person since the day she was born.

Being transgender is an extremely complicated concept that a lot of people struggle to understand. What’s funny about that is a transgender three-year-old can fully understand it, despite what they’ve been told by their parents or anyone else. The world is slowly, but surely moving towards understanding what’s going on.

My Sister Learning about how gender is f luid has not been that much of a surprise to me. I’ve always just accepted that gender is determined by the individual, and that pronouns can change.

I’ve always thought that I was so accepting of everyone, as I have been with all of my friends who came out as transgender or nonbinary. Even with all of this knowledge, about what it means to be non-binary, I still have trouble sometimes coming to terms with it when it comes to my sister She told me she was bisexual a few years ago. Then, she told me she was lesbian. Last year, she said she was pansexual. None of these changes really surprised me. But when she told me that she did not know if she was a girl, I did not know how to feel. Even though she had never struck me as feminine, I had never imagined that she was not a girl. She was my sister. We had played with dolls when we were kids. We had watched all of the Disney princess movies hundreds of times over, and dressed up in costumes from the Disney store for fun.

Then I remembered that it had been me who went to school in the Disney princess dresses. She had gone to school in a Spiderman onesie. When we played with our dolls, she would always play the male characters. She had enjoyed watching the TV shows like Ben 10. She always hated wearing dresses, wearing makeup, going shopping and all of the stereotypical things “girls” do.

STUDENT VOICES When she told me, I said nothing for a few moments, then replied with, “Okay.” I told her I didn’t care, because I still loved her. I asked her if I should use different pronouns, and if she still wanted me to call her by her birth name. She said yes, using she/her pronouns was fine. We left it at that, but in the deepest part of my mind, I secretly did not believe that she was not a “girl.” I felt like it was just a phase and that, because she had changed her mind about her sexuality so many times, this would just blow over. Then, it crept into my mind that she might want to be called a “boy” name and go by he/him pronouns.

It made me uncomfortable. She was my sister.

Six months later, she still uses she/her pronouns. She still goes by her birth name. She still hates going shopping.

She still hates watching romantic comedies with my mom and me, and nothing has really changed. I am trying to come to terms with who she is, and who she may decide to be. I know it is not my place to decide her gender, and I would love her if she decides to use different pronouns.

If she were to be a boy, then she would still be the same annoying sibling who lives in the room across the hall. I would still think that all of her friends are irritating and invasive of my privacy, and I would still love who she is as a person. Because of her, I am learning to stop assigning gender based on appearance. I am unlearning what it means to be a “boy and a girl.” I am learning to accept who she is, because she will always be my sister.

For more information about the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, please visit http://www. sfsota.org/ Lyndsey Schlax has been a teacher in the San Francisco Unified School District since 2008.

She is uniquely qualified to address multiple areas of LGBT studies, having also specialized in subjects such as Modern World History, Government, Economics and U.S. Politics. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, and earned her M.A. in Teaching at the University of San Francisco.

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DJ Rockaway hosted a full capacity Play on the Bay dance for women on Saturday, September 30. Watch for announcements of the next Play on the Bay coming soon.

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12 Tips for Saving Time, Money and Headaches When Working with a Wedding Venue

By Jim Bruels

8. Lighting is key.

Below are a dozen tips that can save you time and money, not to mention headaches and other problems, when working with a venue for a wedding or other special event:

Lighting adds a completely different dimension to your design. Do not skimp on it. Have a technician onsite during the big day so that all of the lighting changes are seamless.

1. Look for your venue before picking your wedding dates.

If you can be flexible on the date, it will be more likely that you will be able to book your favorite venue.

2. Book a venue that can accommodate more people than you think will attend.

You can always pair down the number of guests, but you cannot create more space once the venue is booked.

3. Pick a venue that speaks to your vision.

Choose a space that already has the look and feel of your dream wedding, instead of trying to mold the space into what you want.

4. Go with the venue’s preferred list. There is a reason why they have one!

The venue’s in-house team has curated this list of vendors who know the ins and outs of the venue and how best to utilize the space.

5. Discuss any DIY projects with your venue manager first.

Talk about what you are planning and how it will be displayed, as it may not be possible or permissible at the venue.

6. Be sure to thoroughly review the contract.

It is easy to overlook the fine print, but make sure to familiarize yourself on the rules and regulations so you and your planner know what is required from the vendors, what time you have the venue, and what is/is not permitted.

7. Have a departure plan.

Many couples forget that everything must be removed from the venue after the party is over. Arrange in advance for removal of everything in order to avoid charges.

9. Consider how the elements of the space may be different during the actual time of your wedding.

For example, if you visit during the summer and it is sunny, but your wedding will be in the winter, will it be dark at that time?

10. Get a professional planner or a day-of coordinator.

A lot of couples think they can do it on their own, but it is truly the best money spent.

11. Book your rehearsal time when you book the venue.

Do not be caught off guard at the last minute to find out that your venue is not available for your rehearsal.

12. Breathe!

Be in the moment. Do not get caught up in the small details, and keep the bigger picture in mind. It goes by so fast!

Jim Bruels is the Director of Events & Sales at The Bently Reserve, which is one of San Francisco’s most prestigious event venues. It is ideal for meetings, special occasions, and weddings.

With more than 14,000 square feet of meeting and event space, this state of the art LEED certified building features a visually stimulating fusion of contemporary and classic San Francisco. Deeply influenced by Greco-Roman architecture, this 1924 Beaux-Arts “Banking Temple” boasts opulent marble, grand staircases, ornate molding and original colorful murals. Contemporary furnishings and state-of-thea r t t ech n olog y c o m pl e ment the space. Steeped in a rich and vibrant history, the Bently Reserve building once housed the Federal Reserve Bank from 1924–1983.

For more information, call 415-294-2226 or visit www. bentlyreserve.com

Frederick Sullivan and Jaime Botello, who oversee the Weddings & Occasions page for the “San Francisco Bay Times,” are the talented wizards behind Sullivan-Botello Events (http://sullivanbotelloevents. com) and SnB Party Rentals (650-877-0840, www.snbpartyrentals.com). Both are Certified Wedding Planners with extensive experience in creating memorable, personalized events for special occasions. Their rental service is incredible, offering everything from beautiful gold Chiavari chairs to LED dance floors, and all at competitive prices. They are the creators of the Gay Vanity Wedding Show and are longstanding members of the Golden Gate Business Association, which is the nation’s first LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

Cleve Jones’ Birthday Fundraiser

Photos by Bill Wilson and Rink

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Community activist Cleve Jones celebrated his birthday on October 11 with a benefit, supporting relief efforts for Puerto Rico and Mexico, at the Mix bar and other Castro locations. Our entire San Francisco Bay Times team wishes Cleve all the best!

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “What will it finally take for the Repugnicans to dump Trump? World War III? God forbid!!!”

THE GLBT HISTORICAL MUSEUM held a special opening reception at their museum in the Castro for their newest exhibition, OUT/ LOOK & the Birth of the Queer.

“OUT/LOOK & the Birth of the Queer” explores the story of OUT/ LOOK, a groundbreaking national queer quarterly published in San Francisco from 1988 to 1992. Embracing gender and racial diversity and bridging academic and community perspectives, the magazine developed an avid readership. The show and its associated programs, publication, and website are designed to spark intergenerational conversations about the legacy of OUT/LOOK and its era. Curated by E.G. Crichton, the exhibit features new works by 38 culture-makers, each asked to find inspiration in one of the 17 issues of the magazine. This diverse group includes writers, visual artists, performers, curators, activists and representatives of two organizations, all belonging to the two generations of queers who have grown up since the five-year lifespan of the magazine. “The last issue of OUT/ LOOK was published 25 years ago, yet people still tell me they miss it,” Crichton said. “Members of younger generations I speak to—including the participants in this project—express surprise that we were already wrangling back then with intersectional identities, marriage equality, the politics of respectability, who decides our tactics for resistance, and other contemporary concerns.”

Some of my favorite magazine headlines: “Summer of 1991: Art Against AIDS”; “Tom of Finland: the Gay Norman Rockwell”; “Lesbian Separatism”; “Legalizing Gay Marriage: a Must of a Bust?” and “Jody Foster Hugged Me.” The exhibition runs now through January 29, 2018, at the GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street and Castro.

Wednesday, October 11, was NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY (NCOD) and was coincidentally the birthday of our beloved aforementioned veteran activist Cleve Jones.

Three of us Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence with Cleve and RAINBOW WORLD FUND helped to host a bar crawl fundraiser for hurricane relief. It kicked off at the MIX in the Castro and travelled to other Castro bars. We worked for six hours shaking our buckets to receive truly generous donations from very caring customers.

Sister Dana sez, “It’s official.

We are living in a kakistocracy, which is a system of government that is run by the worst, least qualified, most unscrupulous citizens!”

POSITIVE RESOURCE CENTER (PRC) presented their fundraiser, MIGHTY REAL GALA, at the Four Seasons Hotel. This year marked PRC’s 30th anniversary, a major milestone in their history.

They commemorated this achievement as they merged with two other nonprofits, AIDS EMERGENCY FUND and BAKER PLACES, to form a new $20 million integrated service agency for critical HIV/ AIDS, mental health, and substance use services and programs— all of which was elaborated upon by PRC Board President Kent Roger and PRC Chief Executive Officer Brett Andrews. Among their Honorary Hosts were San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader, and Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom. Award honorees included Project Open Hand Former Executive Director Tom Nolan, biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, Inc., and star of the original Dreamgirls and founder of the D.I.V.A. Foundation, Sheryl Lee Ralph.

The D.I.V.A., Divinely Inspired Victoriously Aware, Foundation is a national nonprofit charitable organization founded by actress and honored AIDS activist Ralph in 1990 as a memorial to the many friends she lost to HIV/AIDS. The foundation stems from her deep concern for the lack of attention given to AIDS in the early years, and its potential to become a health risk not only for men, but also for women and children. After dinner, PRC hosted a festive after-party with music by DJ Lamont and dancing until midnight.

May I say congratulations to the new Mr. Gay San Francisco 2017–2018 Cesar Ayala and Miss Gay San Francisco 2017–2018 Ruby Red Munro!

PHOTO BY RINK

HORIZONS FOUNDATION held its ANNUAL GALA DINNER & AFTER PARTY at the Fairmont Hotel as an evening of celebrating our fabulous community and honoring those whose significant contributions have helped us to achieve so much progress in the LGBTQ movement. Board Chair of Horizons Richard Davis-Lowell welcomed everyone after an opening performance by The Singing Bois. The Leadership Award was presented to The Transgender Law Center, the Bay Area civil rights organization that advocates for transgender com-

munities. The Visionary Award was presented to Cleve Jones by Roma Guy, longtime activist and old friend of Jones. He joined the gay liberation movement in the early ‘70s—mentored by pioneer LGBT activist Harvey Milk. Jones’ latest achievement was authoring his memoir, When We Rise, which was then turned into the ABC TV miniseries. He was most recently one of the driving forces behind “No Hate SF,” a rally and fundraiser created in response to white nationalist demonstrations in the Bay Area. Horizons’ President Roger Doughty spoke of how the organization has joined with other vulnerable communities “to resist the drive to take this country backward.”

Gathering contributions to support Rainbow World Fund’s recovery efforts for Puerto Rico, Sister Dana (aka Dennis McMillan) received a donation from Emperor Kevin Lisle during the party celebrating Cleve Jones’ birthday at the Mix bar on October 11.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. The 33rd Annual HRC year-

ly fundraiser, BAY AREA GALA DINNER & SILENT AUCTION, was held at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. Nearly 1,000 of the Bay Area’s most influential citizens gathered at this event to celebrate the strides HRC has made toward achieving equality for our community this past year, while preparing for the work ahead in the year to come. The SF Bay Area chapter of HRC was proud to present the admirable winners of three local awards. Lyft received the HRC Corporate Equality Award for their exceptional commitment to equality for the LGBTQ community.

The HRC Visibility Award was given to Billy Eichner, proudly open actor, comedian, and writer, a multifaceted force to be reckoned with.

Eichner can currently be seen in a recurring role on the seventh season of Ryan Murphy’s FX anthology series, American Horror Story: Cult. Eichner stars alongside Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters, and has received rave reviews for his performance. The Ally for Equality Award was presented to Jeffery Wright, Tony, Emmy, AFI, and Golden Globe Award-winning actor who has enjoyed an illustrious career that has spanned the worlds of theatre, film, and television.

Wright will soon be seen playing Bernard Lowe, in HBO’s reimagining of Michael Crichton’s 1973 film Westworld. The Charles M. Holmes Community Service Award was given to Linda Scaparotti, a stalwart advocate and strong voice for our community. As a Former HRC Board of Directors member, lifelong LGBTQ activist, and attorney for the community, she has been a tireless activist in the fight for equality. She is an energetic, visible leader for several LGBTQ organizations in the Bay Area including NCLR, Equality California, Horizons Foundation, Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom, Spectrum Center, Our Family Coalition, and Open House. The whole wonderful evening turned into a rousing anti-Trump rally—including the president. Since joining HRC as president in 2012, Chad Griffin has steered the organization into an exciting new era in the fight for equality. From spearheading record-breaking investment in the 2012 elections that enabled unprecedented victories from coast to coast, to historic advocacy around the Supreme Court’s rulings striking down Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act in June of 2013, Griffin has brought renewed passion and energy to a fight that is inspiring Americans—LGBTQ and straight—all around the country.

Syesha Mercado provided live entertainment singing “We Will Rise,” which was also the theme of the evening. Syesha ended the 7th season of American Idol as second runner-up (and the last female standing), creating many memorable moments, like her stirring rendition of the classic “A Change Is Gonna Come.” She has been touring the U.S. and Japan in Dreamgirls in the role of Deena Jones since the newly conceived production of the stage musical opened at the Apollo Theater in Harlem in November 2009. There were dual after-parties on the Westin’s 32nd floor.

Sister Dana sez, “It would be awfully scary and spooky if you didn’t go to at least one of these pre-Halloween events!”

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: LIVE! is playing (and slaying) live at the Oasis. In every generation, there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the slayer and will strike a blow for laughter. D’Arcy Drollinger presents the drag send-up of the beloved sci-fi television series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was known for its groundbreaking themes and smart quips. D’Arcy’s direction is superb— (continued on page 26) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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Speaking to Your Soul ARIES (March 21–April 19) You’re driven to go deeper with lovers. Your need for deep soulful intimacy becomes a priority. Circumstances could shift, making way for these more soulfully-aligned partnerships.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20) You are just entering a period where you’ll have opportunities to be transformed by relationships. You’ve been settling for too little. Clarify your vision of the kind of relationship you deeply desire and create more of that. It starts with you.

Astrology Elisa Quinzi How many lessons have we each learned about the gifts that often come in the wake of loss? There is freedom to be gained as we unearth previously hidden truths about ourselves. There is joy on the other side of grief. There are wings to fly with out of the still-burning embers of the destruction of what keeps us trapped. Sitting in a pitch-dark room, our eyes will seek out the source of light. We have just entered a period of focusing more on depth and substance, and we will be richer for it. We are each called to rise from the flames like the phoenix.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Reprioritize how you spend your time on a daily basis. Believe in yourself more and devote time and effort toward your dreams and desires. Humble yourself to improve.

CANCER ( June 21–July 22) The life force, creativity, and sexual yearning are all connected as a driving principle called eros. Yours gets a boost now, also increasing your confidence. Express your deeper self to attract those with whom you have authentic chemistry.

LEO ( July 23–August 22) Delve into your deeper motives and explore which family patterns and myths you are ready to split from. Gather new “family” members based on who you have become today. Creating a home that fulfills you becomes more central.

VIRGO (August 23–September 22) You’re encouraged to widen your curiosities and expand your body of knowledge. Say yes now to gathering direct experiences through which you will come to know yourself more deeply.

Your thoughts create your reality more obviously now.

LIBRA (September 23–October 22) The celestial spotlight is on your personal resources and sense of security in life. Make a list of your gifts and skills, and also a list of your values, and see where you can combine them. Get clear on your finances and you will magnetize opportunities for greater earning. Show up for yourself and the universe shows up for you.

SCORPIO (October 23–November 21) While Scorpio is naturally wired for transformation and the detective work of discovering one’s deeper motives, these matters take priority starting now. There is great energy supporting your total rebirth now. Be willing to seek the truth, starting with yourself.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21) Always the truth seeker, your exploration takes you inward now. The most unknown parts of you need attention. Your focus will be more on spiritual matters and letting go of ties that are finished. It’s a time of space-clearing, largely of the internal variety.

CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19) Have more faith in the future. Expand your vision of what’s possible. Say yes to opportunities to contribute to the collective consciousness. Gather tribe members to fight the good fight with.

AQUARIUS ( January 20–February 18) Possibilities open up for your career. It’s time to take up more space, to be bigger and to shine brighter.

This isn’t about engaging in a battle of egos, but rather having more confidence in yourself and in what’s possible. You might want to realign your goals with the fresh, expanded awareness you will be gaining now.

PISCES (February 19–March 20) You’ve grown too big for your comfort zone. The universe is ready to expand your world. Step away from the familiar storyline to take full advantage of what’s possible for you. Say yes to new experiences and explore more optimistic philosophies. The potential for manifestation increases considerably.

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

Fitness SF Trainer Tip of the Month Christina Barreto,

Exercises to Relieve a Stiff Neck

Fitness SF SOMA Free Weight Floor Exercise

der Rolls. Make the roll itself as small and gentle as you need to, so it feels good. You are trying to get a little motion into the area. At Easy Fitness, we love to say, “Motion is lotion.” The “motion is lotion” concept is like the Tin Man and his oil can.

“I love to switch things up and to create my own exercises. Begin by crouching on the floor with free weights in hand. Then, pop up to the squat position and do 4 repetitions of biceps curls on each side. Go back down to the crouching position, and quickly pop up to the full standing position and do 8 more reps. Repeat 5 times with a 20-second break between sets. This will work your glutes and biceps!”

Easy Fitness Cinder Ernst In the past several columns, we have been looking at posture and how to adjust yours so you look better, feel better and have an easier time working out. Today I’m going to give you a couple of things you can do to help soothe a stiff neck. I’d like to make a distinction between having a stiff neck and neck pain. At some point the line is crossed from stiff to pain, with the latter best evaluated by a doctor, especially if you have pain that travels down your arm or if you have numbness in your arm or fingers.

Neck stiffness is pretty common, though, and especially if you take into consideration the positions we use in life, like looking down at our phones all of the time. One of the best ways to soothe a stiff neck is to do Shoulder Rolls. Gently roll your shoulders up, back and around a few times. If Shoulder Rolls make you feel worse, stop, or try rolling one shoulder at a time. Try it now. Do some Shoulder Rolls as well as some Single Shoul-

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

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In our other posture articles, we always beg i n post u re adjustments with Shoulder Rolls. They are the perfect way to warm up the area. If Shoulder Rolls feel okay on your neck then try a few gentle Head Turns. Look to the right, slowly. Then come back to center. Now look to the left. Go slowly, pay attention, and stay away from a stretch. Just look right to left and see how far you can go without really feeling any pain or tension. Repeat a few times and notice if your range of motion improves. Alternate careful Shoulder Rolls with Head Turns and see if you can get the “motion is lotion” effect to help soothe the stiffness.

Another option after your Shoulder Rolls is to do Chin Drops. Drop you chin slowly to your chest without forcing it to go lower than it wants to do so. In other words, stay in a range that does not stretch or cause pain. Bring your head back up to a bit above neutral. I don’t recommend tipping your head back. Repeat the Chin Drop slowly, and see if your range of motion improves.

If Shoulder Rolls, Head Turns and Chin Drops feel good, try a little Ear to Shoulder. Keeping your eyes straight ahead, let your right ear move towards your right shoulder. All the same parameters apply: stay in a comfortable range of motion, go slowly, and pay attention. You can do a few on the right, then try the left, or alternate. Most folks feel different on the left and right sides. It is normal for one side to be looser than the other.

You can use the above movements to soothe a stiff neck, to avoid a stiff neck, or to warm up for a workout.

Use the exercises throughout your day to keep those neck and shoulder muscles supple and comfortable. Have fun and take care of yourself.

Cinder Ernst, Medical Exercise Specialist and Life Coach Extraordinaire, helps reluctant exercisers get moving with safe, effective and fun programs. Find out more at http:// cinderernst.com

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COMING UP

Compiled by Blake Dillon

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS sfbaytimes.com

19 : Thursday MAX SF’s Third Thursday Happy Hour @ Beaux, 2344 Market Street. Gay men and their friends meet to socialize and enjoy the scene at Beaux. 5-8pm. maxsf.org Rafael Mandelman’s Big Gay Birthday Fundraiser @ Blackbird, 2124 Market Street. A birthday celebration in support of candidate Rafael Mandelman’s campaign for Supervisor of District 8.

6-9pm. rafaelmandelman.com Spark! 15th Anniversary Celebration @ Bently Reserve, 301 Battery Street. Transgender Law Center marks fifteen years of advocacy with its annual celebration. 6-10pm. transgenderlawcenter.org Autumn Lights Festival @ The Gardens at Lake Merritt, 666 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland. A unique Oakland tradition presenting a three night art and light event where local artists create gigantic and small works of art using light to benefit the Gardens at Lake Merritt. 6-11pm Oct. 19, 20 and 21. gardensatlakemerritt.org LGBT Alumni Mixer @ Infusion, 124 Ellis Street. Hosted by Berkeley and Princeton BTGALA, the monthly mixer welcomes all alumni and friends. 6:30–9pm. btgala.tigernet.princeton.edu The Lavender Scare @ Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street. A Frameline Encore free screening of the documentary based on the book by David K. Johnson looking at the legacy of Eisenhower’s executive order in 1953 banning homosexuals and other sexual perverts from working in the federal government. 7pm. frameline.org After Hours Social @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street. An evening of witchiness and occult thrills with Tarot readings, ouija board, scavenger hunt and boo-ze party till the wee hours with readers, writers and denizens of the Castro. 10pm. dogearedbooks.com

20 : Friday Safe and Sound: Smart Choices for Savvy Women @ The Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street. MARCUM’s first ever Women’s Forum event to be held on the West Coast welcomes executive women to enjoy breakfast and hear nationally prominent speakers on topics essential to 24

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women’s personal and professional well-being. 949-236-5674 Inside Job: 8 Secrets to Loving Your Work and Thriving @ Career Wisdom Institute, 1036 Country Club Dr., Moraga. The Institute presents a workshop designed to help you become happier in your job. 9:30-4:30pm. careerwisdominstitute.com 21 Years of Art for AIDS @ City View at Metreon, 135 Fourth Street. UCSF Alliance Health Project’s popular annual benefit bringing together artists, galleries, art donors and patrons, sponsors and media for an art sale and auction.

6pm. artforaids.org MECCA 2.0 OctoberFest Happy Hour @ Dirty Habit, 12 4th Street. The legend continues for the famed mix and mingle night for ladies. 6:30-9:30pm.

MECCA 2.0 on Facebook The Art and Science of Pinball Exhibition @ Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. A unique exhibit featuring 35 interactive elements and programs celebrating the 200 years of pinball evolution.

10am-5pm, extended through October 22, Wednesday–Sunday. chabotspace.org

21 : Saturday Krewe de Kinque’s Monthly Benefit @ The Edge, 4149 18th Street. Join the fun with DJ Jack Rojo and KDK members for a Castro afternoon benefiting Bal Masque VX and supporting Larkin Street Youth Services. 4-7pm. qbarsf.com/edge/ SF Open Studios 2017 Weekend Two: West Side @ Presidio, Richmond, Sunset, West Portal and Ocean View locations.

The nation’s oldest and largest open studios program continues its month-long art event showcasing established SF artists in their studios. 11am. Also on Sunday, October 22. artspan.org Margaret Cho: Fresh Off the Bloat @ Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street. The “Fabulous Cho” says that her latest show is her “sickest to date” and that she’ll be talking about coming off drugs, drinking, being on the brink of suicide and coming back to life. 7pm & 9pm. castrotheatre.com Théâtre de la Ville: State of Siege @ Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley. Cal Performances presents the Parisian troupe on their return to Berkeley presenting a new production based on Albert Camus’ fanO C TO B E R 1 9 , 2 0 1 7

tastical and frightening political allegory about the necessity of resistance in the face of authoritarianism. 8pm and 3pm on October 22. calperformances.org Not A Genuine Black Man @ The Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia Street. Extended through October 21 on Saturdays, the show is written and performed by Brian Copeland about his struggles growing up in what he believes was one of the most racist suburbs in America. 8:30pm. themarsh.org

22 : Sunday Kayaking & Picnic for Women @Sausalito Marina and Dunphy Park. “Betty’s List” and Blue Water Ventures present a paddle and picnic for women of all skill levels with veteran guide Kim Powell. 10am. bluewaterventuressc@gmail.com Days of the Dead Community Celebration @ Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street. The 23rd annual celebration honoring Days of the Dead traditions with craft activities, food, dance and music, ceremonies and more. 12-4:30pm. museumca.org Cleve Jones Speaks to DignitySF @ 7th Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1329 7th Avenue. LGBT Catholics and allies welcome activist Cleve Jones as the featured speaker. 3:30pm. dignitysanfrancisco.org SF Ducal Investiture: The Pimp & Princess Ball @ SF Oasis, 298 11th Street. The Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco’s annual Investiture hosted by Grand Duke Madd-Dogg 20/20 and Grand Duchess Miss Shugana. 5pm. sfducal.org

23 : Monday Stonewall Project: Abstinence Skills Enhancement @ Strut, Room 1, 470 Castro Street. A support group helping participants remain abstinent from drugs and alcohol with a non-judgmental approach to relapse or slips. 7:30-9pm. strutsf.org Nightly Illuminated Scenes in Golden Gate Park Inspired

by Rare Tropical Flowers @ Conservatory of Flowers, 100 JF Kennedy Drive. Final days for the public display of a light art installation every night through October at approximately 9:15pm. conservatoryofflowers.org

24 : Tuesday Sister Circle @ Openhouse, 55 Laguna. A monthly 4th Tuesday event for women-identified LGBTQ community members to make new connections in a luncheon setting. 12-1:30pm. sylvia@openhouse-sf.org Queer Youth Meal Night @ San Francisco LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street. Dinner is served every Tuesday evening for LGBTQ youth ages 18-24 with drop-in mental health and HIV testing services available and opportunities to connect with community service providers from LYRIC, Larkin Street, HRTC and Street Soccer USA. 5-7pm. sfcenter.org Art as Resistance: 30th Anniversary of the AIDS Quilt @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street. The “Fighting Back” series presents a multigenerational conversation on the role of art in promoting social justice with a focus on the history of radical and public art in the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS movements and its legacy on the 30th anniversary of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. 7-9pm. glbthistory.org Mary Lambert @ Café du Nord, 2174 Market Street. The Grammy-nominated artist and songwriter, noted for penning the Macklemore and Lewis hit “Same Love,” will perform a program of songs, including tunes from her latest CD entitled Bold. 8pm. swedishamericanhall.com

25 : Wednesday Walter Isaacson: Cracking Leonardo da Vinci @ The Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero. The author will discuss his new biography of da Vinci and explain how humanism can inspire scientific achievement and how da Vinci’s varied interests intersect in a larger project. 12-1pm. commonwealthclub.org Castro Farmers’ Market @ Noe & Market Streets. On-going outdoor market in the Castro featuring fresh and organic foods from local vendors. 4pm-8pm, every Wednesday through Nov. 4-8pm. pcfma.org An Evening with Tech Ladies @ Slack HQ, 155 5th Street.

Mingle during the happy hour with lightning talks by top ladies at Slack on a range of topics from navigating career transitions and managing teams to finding mentors and creating inclusive workspaces. 6-8pm. hiretechladies.com

Estate Planning for Singles and Same-Sex Couples @ SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street.

Legal expert Deb Kinney, Esq., will lead a workshop designed to help create a plan tailored to your own life and priorities. 6-7:30pm. hospicebythebay.org LGBTQ Night on Warriors Ground! @ Oracle Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland. Join the San Francisco Bay Times and “Betty’s List” group for the first official LGBTQ night with the Golden State Warriors. 7-10pm. 415-601-2113 or publisher@sfbaytimes.com

26 : Thursday LGBTQ Career Fair @ Linkedin, 222 2nd Street. SF LGBT Center’s Employment Services & Trans Employment Program staff and representatives from leading Bay Area employers will be on hand for the nation’s largest LGBTQ Career Fair. 1-4pm. sfcenter.org RAWdance Double Exposure @ ODC Theater, 3153 17th Street. A program of 13 duets performed by RAWdance’s Ryan T. Smith and Wendy Rein. The show was created by 16 choreographers. It presents a snapshot of the current American contemporary dance landscape. 8pm. Also on October 27 and 28. odc.dance/rawdance Bad Habits at Bruno’s @ Bruno’s, 2389 Mission Street. Party with a “wear all black” theme, the evening is a mixer for LGBTQ queers, ladies, queens and unicorns where it’s never just a party—it’s a lifestyle. 9:30pm-2am. Every 3rd Thursday.

27 : Friday The Seed Public Art Unveiling @ Jane Warner Plaza, 18th and Castro Street. Castro Benefit Development District will unveil a new art installation with music by the Strings Quartet. 6:30pm. castrocbd.org Bey, Bae, Bay Screening of Lemonade @ Brava, 2781 24th Street. A benefit screening of Beyoncé’s hit visual album hosted by Rupaul’s Drag Race phenom Honey Mahogany and DJ Pluma Consentida. 8-11pm. brava.org Multiverse: Beyond the Broken Universe @ The Flight Deck, 1540 Broadway, Oakland. A multidisciplinary performance piece by Ragged Wing Ensemble about two scientists-turned-astronauts looking to escape the cruelty and destruction of the current world. Fridays,

Saturdays and Sundays through November 11. raggedwing.org

28 : Saturday Queer-Street Marketplace @ SF LFBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street. A showcase of local LGBTQIA owned or operated small businesses (makers and service providers) including brunch, information booths and workshops. 10am-2pm. sfcenter.org Buffy The Vampire Slayer Live! @ Oasis, 298 Eleventh Street.

The final weekend for D’Arcy Drollinger’s drag send up of the beloved sci-fi TV supernatural series of the 90s. 7pm. sfoasis.com Book Party for author Michael Genhart celebrating his forthcoming picture books for young people coming out this fall (2pm) and talk by author Laurie Kahn (4pm) on her book Baffled by Love: Stories of the Lasting Impact of Childhood Trauma Inflicted by Loved Ones @ Laurel Bookstore, 1423 Broadway, Oakland. laurelbookstore.com

1 : Wednesday The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin! @ The Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street.

Director Jennifer Kroot’s documentary about the creator of Tales of the City taking a look at his evolution from a conservative son of the Old South into a gay rights pioneer and featuring Neil Gaiman, Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis, Sir Ian McKellen and Amy Tan. 3, 5, 7 and 9pm. castrotheatre.com Tapata Trivia Round UP! @ Wild Side West, 424 Courtland Avenue. Kit Tapata hosts the weekly trivia competition on Wednesdays with music and live improv at the popular Bernal Heights location. 7-9pm. tapatatwins.com Wednesdays at Feinstein’s @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko,

222 Mason. A rotating series of events presented each month on Wednesdays, including Broadway Bingo at the Nikko with host Katya Smirnoff-Skyy and musical director Joe Wicht. 7pm. feinsteinsatthenikko.com

2 : Thursday Game Changers Book Launch Party @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street. Epochalips’ Robin Lowey will presents the new book on lesbians you should know about, along with friends providing comedy, dancing and guacamole. 5-8pm. elriosf.com Castro Art Walk @ Castro District Locations. A neighborhood art walk held monthly on the first Thursday of each month at multiple hosting locations. 6-9pm.

Castro Art Walk on Facebook.com

29 : Sunday Sunday’s A Drag @ The Starlight Room, Powell Street. Hosted by Donna Sachet, the event features a brunch and a troupe of entertainers.

The event is described as being “The Greatest Drag Show in San Francisco.” Two shows every Sunday at 11am and 2pm. starlightroomsf.com Drag Queen Story Hour @ San Francisco Public Library, Arts & Special Collections, 100 Larkin Street.

RADAR Productions and the SF Library with special guest Grace Towers present this lively event for children and their families.

11-12:30pm. sfpl.org

30 : Monday Question Bridge: Black Males @ Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland. A selection of videos featuring more than 160 black men from across the U.S., answering each other’s questions on family, love, interracial relationships, community, education and wisdom. Wednesdays through Sundays through February 25. museumca.org The Seen: What You Would Have Seen on Haight Street in 1967 @ SF Public Library Park Branch, 1833 Page Street. An exhibit of then and now photos providing a walk down memory lane of the Haight-Ashbury scene from 1967.

Through December 7. sfpl.org Strut Book Club Reads Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe @ Strut, 2nd Floor, 470 Castro Street.

The group will discuss the story about Aristotle, an angry teen, and Dante, a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world.

6-7:30pm. strutsf.org

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ

31 : Tuesday The B-52s @ The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Boulevard. Known as the “World’s Greatest Party Band,” the group continues its forty-year run as one of rock music’s most beloved and enduring bands. 7pm. thefillmore.com Velvet Rage Book Club @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. The weekly Tuesday book club of the SF AIDS Foundation’s Stonewall Project, with facilitators Wade Smith and Christopher Zepeda, explores the complexity of gay identify and culture, HIV, substance use, healing relationship and more. 4-5:30pm. strutsf.org

ANSWER (Question on page 17) B) labrys A labrys is a symmetrical double-bitted axe that originated in ancient Greece. Long associated with female divinities, it is an historic goddess movement symbol representing the memory of pre-patriarchal matristic societies. Since the 1970s, it has also been used as a lesbian and feminist symbol said to represent women’s strength and self-sufficiency.

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SHORTER (continued from page 5)

ROSTOW (continued from page 10) an emperor with no clothes. Not just conservative, but incompetent and dangerous. I can’t stand him.

a flag that is raised when she is at Buckingham Palace.

The Zinke Is In

I bring this pompous puffball to your attention because the other day, October 11, we held a ceremony at the new Stonewall National Monument, a 7-acre space near the famous Stonewall bar and encompassing Christopher Park. Like other national monuments, the Stonewall site is governed by the Federal Park Service, under the auspices of the Department of the Interior.

Now that it’s clear this will be a rant column, let me finish by dumping a big pile of [deleted] on Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, the horse’s arse who I believe was nominated after Don Junior met and liked him because they both hunt or something.

Zinke, as you might recall, is one of those Trump cabinet members who has been accused of excessive expense accounts and frequent f lying. In Zinke’s case, he flew to Caribbean islands and ski resorts for GOP fundraising trips, which are not supposed to be conflated with public duties. He’s also the one that recently earned headlines for flying a personal flag on top of the headquarters of the Interior Department whenever he was in his office. Apparently, the ridiculous pennant would be lowered when Zinke went home for the day.

Keep in mind that no other cabinet secretary does anything like this, nor does the President of the United States, although I read that Queen Elizabeth has

Take Me Home with You!

At the last minute before the Park Service was set to raise the Rainbow Flag, however, the federal government dropped out of the event, removed their representative from the speakers’ slate and insisted that they “ just learned” that the monument’s flagpole was not actually on federal lands. In a strange press release, the park service distanced itself from the whole thing and ceded the rainbow flagpole to New York City in an effort, it seemed, to avoid having a rainbow flag raised on federal property.

Make of it all what you will. I’m having a drink. arostow@aol.com

presences create slow, but eventually impactful, changes in company cultural climate, including intolerance of cultural and gender offensive behaviors.

At the very least, it is significant to note that certain consumer-driven sectors with at least three or more women on boards can create a “critical mass” of women. These more gender-balanced boards can change boardroom dynamics, and thus their work substantially “enhances the likelihood that women’s voices and ideas can be heard.”

To those critical ends, efforts like the Women Lead Initiative present forums to engage men and women in national conversations about increasing board diversity. One such forum, the 2020 Women on Boards Annual Breakfast, will be held in San Francisco on November 15 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. The past 20 years have seen significant development regarding various forums and organizations, such as Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. They work toward similar goals of creating LGBT diversity and inclusion, not only in the workplace, but also on boards of directors.

No one can guarantee that a more diverse board of directors would have prevented a Harvey Weinstein from serial sexual assault against women. What gender, LGBT and racial diversity could have done was increase the probability of more voices and experiences, which would have at least spoken up against entitlement and abuse, and held Weinstein or other agents of the organization accountable much sooner for probably known or suspected harmful offenses.

Andrea Shorter is President of the historic San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women. She is a longtime advocate for criminal and juvenile justice reform, voter rights, and marriage equality. A co-founder of the Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, she was a 2009 David Bohnett LGBT Leadership Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

KRAMER (continued from page 17) solemn. I enjoyed those scenes and used them as a way to go through different emotions.

Matt Cain

“My name is Matt Cain! Yes, just like the famous Giants’ player. I’m a social butterfly who loves learning about the world. I’m also blind, but that doesn’t slow me down or stop me from enjoying life one bit! My sense of smell and hearing are both great, and that’s how I learn training commands. One of the adoption counselors can tell you all about it. I’d love to meet you!”

Matt Cain 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 Matt Cain.

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

Nahuel Pérez Biscayart: Sean was impassioned to live through sex and actions, and that’s the power of these people. They were fighting so they could live better and longer. I don’t see any other way of approaching the character if not through the body. We’re talking about sickness. They were making a health issue visible to the world.

It was crucial, and it was natural. Everything was very physical. I can’t imagine the film without physicality. The characters talk a lot, but it’s a film where words and discourses are in the direction of actions.

Gary M. Kramer: You have some erotic scenes.

Can you talk about creating that intimacy and vulnerability on-screen?

especially with the beautifully choreographed fight scenes with sound effects. The cast is stellar and appropriately campy. With admission, you even get a free set of vampire teeth to be used for your safety at one point in the show. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, now through Halloween, October 31. Stake it out! sfoasis.com Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

Join AHP (UCSF ALLIANCE HEALTH PROJECT) staff and volunteers on Friday, October 20, for the 21st annual ART FOR AIDS, starting at 6 pm at the City View at Metreon. Energetic bidding ensures that our HIV and LGBTQ community members, particularly those at greatest risk, can benefit from AHP’s behavioral and mental health care.

Saturday, October 21, from 7–10 pm, COMFORT & JOY will be bringing some radical queer fashion realness into the heart of the Castro with FREAK CHIC at the ArtSavesLives Gallery at 518 Castro. This oneof-a-kind fashion show will feature jaw-dropping, fabulously freaky looks by Bryce Rider, Bruce Beaudette, Jacob Perkins and Salamander, as well as divine dance and drag performances by Larissa and Llano, in a safe, inclusive space freed from constraints. Comfort & Joy is delighted to offer you this free event to help support local queer designers, spark inspiration, and share community, while you mix and mingle with classy refreshments.

Presenting the 2nd Annual MR. INTERNATIONAL

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© 2017 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

SISTER DANA (continued from page 21)

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

For more information: sfspca.org/adopt

Gary M. Kramer: There were both emotional and physical demands in your role. Can you talk about how you got into the character’s body and mindset?

Nahuel Pérez Biscayart: I think what’s exciting about how we shot the sex scenes is that they were not idealized sex scenes, which have nothing to do with reality.

Having sex is what we see in the film. The awkwardness (was) the opportunity to open up to someone you don’t know. It makes you vulnerable, of course. Arnaud [Valois] and I spent time to see if we felt comfortable together. I felt he was like a brother and that was important. The sex scene was a bit choreographed, so we could move, open, breathe, and play. The characters open up in that scene too. It is about the emotion. Sex scenes are complex and interesting because of the emotion.

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FREEDOM CONTEST! This playful event celebrates international men as it benefits THE LGBT ASYLUM PROJECT, the nonprofit organization that provides pro-bono legal representation for LGBT immigrants who are fleeing persecution and seeking asylum in the United States. This year’s international contestants will represent Russia, China, Uganda, Morocco, Mexico, and the United States. Hosted by San Francisco nightlife legends Donna Sachet and Cip Cipriano, the event will be held on Sunday, October 22, from 7–11 pm at DNA Lounge, 375 11th Street. It will feature a musical performance by Russian pop singer and successful asylum seeker Igor Chudak, and an exotic dance by last year’s Mr. Colombia, Juliano Wade. San Francisco drag legend Juanita More will be presented with the first ever Person of the Year Award, in honor of her efforts that raised more than $38,000 for The LGBT Asylum Project this year. cipsf.org Jason Brock presents his second annual HALLOWEEN SHOW! He’ll be singing songs that everyone associates with Halloween like “Thriller,” “Monster Mash,” Ursula the Sea Witch’s “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and an original song that Jason wrote just for this show, “As Long as Halloween’s with You.” Esteemed composer/performer Dee Spencer will be playing piano, and the talented duo the Coker Sisters will be guest vocalists.

Martuni’s, 4 Valencia Street, October 25, 28, 29, 7 pm. jasonbrockvocals.com Carve out some time to join Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, President of the San Francisco Board of Education Shamann Walton, the San Francisco Parent PAC, and celebrity Drag Queen judges Mercedez Munro and BeBe Sweetbriar for a PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST. The first 100 RSVPs will receive a pumpkin to carve. Saturday, October 28, 11 am–2 pm, Noe Valley Courts, 24th Street. eventbrite.com/e/senator-scott-wieners-pumpkin-carvingcontest-tickets Sister Dana sez, “Hey, Trump, maybe you’re not smart enough to know that an IQ test stands for Intelligence Quotient—not Idiot Quality—the latter of which gives you extremely high marks!”

Round About - All Over Town

Photos by Rink

Who do you recognize in this issue’s collection of images by Rink from his travels all about town?

The Blue Angels flying over Nob Hill on October 7 during Fleet Week

Old Glory flying on October 2 at half mast on the Mayor’s Balcony at San Francisco City Hall in memory of those lost in the Las Vegas tragedy.

A percussion troupe performs during the unveiling of the memorial to Japanese “Comfort Women.”

The dome of San Francisco City Hall lit in purple to commemorate Domestic Abuse Awareness Week

Sailors visiting San Francisco while on leave during Fleet Week

Former State Senator Mark Leno spoke at the unveiling of the “Comfort Women” memorial acknowledging the connection to continuing widespread sex trafficking.

A Warhol-style poster on October 9 in the window of the First Congregational Church on Polk Street

A performer at the unveiling of a memorial at St. Mary’s Park to Japanese “Comfort Women” who were forced into prostitution during WWII

The statue memorializing “Comfort Women” unveiled at St. Mary’s Park

Ryan Shriver (center) with friends at the Cinch bar during a benefit organized for relief efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Irma

Activists Tre Allen, Ken Jones, Pam Jones, Gabriel Haaland, Lito Sandoval and Alex U Inn at the GLBT Historical Society Museum in the Castro for a panel discussion commemorating the 30th anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights

Members of the San Francisco Freedom Band taking a break during intermission of the Pictures at an Exhibition concert held at Everett Jr. Middle School.

A Chinese dragon escorts the couple playing Moon God and Goddess at the Autumn Moon Festival press conference at the new China Live restaurant

A protestor in the crowd that marched from the tenderloin site where Anthony “Bubbles” Torres was murdered to the stops of San Franicisco City Hall

Emperor NIc Hunter, Coco Butter, Gary Virigina and Phil Walker at the Midnight Sun bar during the “Mother Earth” beneifit

(left) Signs were displayed by protestors at City Hall after the march from the Tenderloin location where Anthony “Bubbles” Torres was murdered.

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