San Francisco Bay Times - October 3, 2024

About Our Cover

The preface to the Cleve Jones autobiography When We Rise: My Life in the Movement (Hachette Books, 2016) begins, “The movement saved my life.” He, in turn, has saved countless lives through his HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ activism, his work at the major labor union UNITE HERE, and his personal efforts that continue to have such a meaningful impact on many individuals, especially here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Special thanks to Serge Gay, Jr. www.sergegayjr.com

On October 11, 2024, Jones will turn 70, a milestone that as a longtime HIV/AIDS survivor he never thought he would reach. To mark that occasion, this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times shares stories from just some of those who have known and/or worked with Jones, and looks back at his achievements over the decades.

1960s: Jones in When We Rise shares, “I signed up in ‘68 (for the movement), when I was 14 years old. Like other young people across the United States, I wanted to do my part to end the war in Vietnam. My family had just moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona and when Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers came to organize the grape pickers, my friends and I knew right away that it was part of the bigger picture and signed up for picket duty and walked in the marches.”

1970s: Jones moved to San Francisco and, while studying political science at San Francisco State University, worked as a student intern in Harvey Milk’s office. Jones became more involved in LGBTQ+ activism, and was a founding contributor of the San Francisco Bay Times

1980s: The San Francisco AIDS Foundation was cofounded by Jones, initially as the Kaposi’s Sarcoma Research and Education Foundation. In 1985, he announced on the television program 60 Minutes that he was HIV positive; this was at a time when treatments were very limited. Jones conceived the AIDS Memorial Quilt at a candlelight memorial for Milk. It has since become the world’s largest community arts project.

1990s: Even while Jones suffered from the effects of HIV/ AIDS, coming close to death before the development of antiretroviral therapy, he remained a staunch activist and ran for a position on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He helped make possible the display of the then entire AIDS Memorial Quilt on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., giving national and international attention to the disease and its toll.

2000s: Jones began to work for UNITE HERE as a lecturer, organizer, and author. The union represents more than 250,000 workers throughout the U.S. and Canada who work in the hospitality, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, laundry, and airport industries.

2010s: He wrote When We Rise, which was made into a television series of the same name broadcast in February and March of 2017 on ABC.

2024: To mark his 70th birthday, Jones established the Cleve Jones Community Fund, hosted by the Horizons Foundation.

This is, of course, just a small number of his many achievements

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Cleve

and Me

By Hank Trout

In the summer of 2016, I read an advance copy of Cleve’s memoir When We Rise in order to review it for A&U (Art and Understanding) Magazine, and wrote a praiseheavy review, lauding the book as an invaluable addition to queer movement history.

When the time came to meet for an interview, I started getting really nervous. This was a major interview, and the story would be my first on the cover of the magazine. As if that weren’t enough, I could hardly believe that I was going to meet and interview a genuine icon, one of my heroes. I kept thinking, “He’s Cleve Freaking Jones and I’m ... not.” No pressure, right?

Memories of Cleve Jones

There are people who change your life from the very moment you meet them. Cleve Jones is one of those people.

We met at Café Flore for the interview, and Cleve arrived just a few minutes after I did. As soon as I stood up to greet him, we started talking. Before the waiter arrived to take our orders, we were completely at ease with each other, laughing and chatting like a couple of old school chums who hadn’t seen each other in ages.

We talked about his book, marriage equality, Barnie Frank, the queer movement, the upcoming election, living through the AIDS crisis, Harvey Milk, and seeing himself portrayed by Emile Hirsh in the film Milk. (“Emile was my first ...” he said coquettishly.) Cleve’s enthusiasm and

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By Joanie Juster

Mind you, he was already “the” Cleve Jones the night I met him, and I was just an overwhelmed, grief-stricken newbie volunteer at the Quilt workshop on Market Street. It was September something-or-other, 1988, around 3 am, and we had all been up for far too many hours, stitching together individual Quilt panels into the 12’x12’ blocks that are the modular units for the Quilt.

Night after night, the staff and volunteers stayed long into the night, trying to assemble the hundreds of new panels that had poured in by the deadline to prepare for the second big display of the Quilt in Washington, D.C., just a couple of weeks away.

After turning in a panel I had made, I stayed into the wee hours each night, after my day job, trying to be useful, trying to process all the grief and passion and colors and disco music that swirled around the workshop. That night, I had reached my limit. As I hunched over a stubborn sewing machine with a recalcitrant bobbin, my shoulders

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Cleve Jones with Hank Trout walking on the rainbow crosswalk at the 18th and Castro Streets intersection

Cleve Jones with Joanie Juster at Harvey Milk Plaza

The AIDS Memorial Quilt display in Washington, D.C.

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus to Present World Premiere of Song Based on the Words of Cleve Jones

TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation

Dr. Tim Seelig

How do you honor an LGBTQ+ hero who has had books and articles written about him, movies and documentaries made about his life, and more plaques and awards than he could ever fit on his walls or shelves? Two things answer that question. First, a huge 70th birthday extravaganza benefiting three amazing organizations, two of which he founded. Second, a world premiere song based on his words performed by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC). Yowza!

There is no way to measure the impact Cleve has had on our world. His words have inspired and motivated countless thousands into action. His political acumen and verbal eloquence have once again created that impetus to do and be better. It’s high time a song was based on his words.

The story began December 16, 2023, when Cleve spoke at a holiday performance by SFGMC at the Greene Music Center in Sonoma. Speaking is nothing new to Cleve, of course, but he remembers this one as out of the ordinary. He was with the chorus, in a spectacular venue and benefiting a cause to which he has given his life: AIDS. His speech included a powerful phrase: “If you take it for granted, they’ll take it away.” Amen up in there! It deeply affected singing member Joseph Shapiro. He thought it should be a song. The rest of this article is about how musical sausage is made. Commissioning a new piece of music can take years. That was not OK with Joseph, and besides, Cleve’s birthday was around the corner. He got to work.

• That night, he asked Cleve if he could turn that phrase into a song. Cleve said “yes.”

• He and his daughter completed the lyrics in only two weeks. Cleve loved them.

• SFGMC Artistic Director Jake Stensburg gave his blessing to proceed “full speed ahead.”

• He contacted me to help guide him through the process. I was thrilled. I’ve commissioned scores of scores. See what I did there?

• Later in February, he sent the lyrics to Holly Near. She was so inspired, she sent back a recording of her singing the song one week later.

• In March, he sent the work to arranger J. David Moore to turn it into a choral piece.

incredible 50+ years of musical activism. She has composed some of our most iconic anthems such as “Singing for our Lives.” Joseph shared, “I first met Holly when she performed with the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus in 1998. Years later, while singing with the Madison Chamber Choir, I arranged for the group to sing “The Great Peace March” with Holly in concert. I love her music.”

• By the end of May, it was ready to be sung.

People, this is a land speed record. More about each of the ingredients in the sausage.

In addition to singing in SFGMC, Joseph is the Director of Administration for a New York-based international law firm that has always been on the forefront of fighting for civil rights. Writing is his passion. He was named an “Emerging LGBTQ Author” by the Lambda Literary Foundation. He got his MFA in Creative Writing and has completed his memoire.

Amy is an award-winning lyricist graduate of the BMI Musical Theater Workshop in NYC. She was also the second-ever female performing member of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus. She and her dad have worked on several writing projects together.

Once the lyrics were done, Joseph and I discussed a wide array of composers. Holly was always at the top of the list, considering her 46+ year relationship with Cleve and her

Holly worked with her musical collaborator, Jan Martinelli, to create the song. Cleve is a self-described fanatic of women’s music throughout the 1970s and beyond. When he first heard Holly singing the new song on a simple recording, the sound and style immediately took him back to those days. Full circle.

J. David Moore was an obvious choice for the arranger. David said, “’Don’t Take It for Granted’ is the 12th Holly Near song I’ve arranged since the early 1990s. The message, the words, and the song were full of strength before I touched it. I doubled the refrain, emphasized the call for action to balance the warning message, and brought back the phrase ‘love is what overcomes fear’ to remember the fuel that powers the struggle.”

When the arrangement was finished, Holly wrote: “Cleve held a seed in his open hand. Joseph planted the seed with love and expectation. Jan and I watered it so it might become a flower and then David turned it into a wild and wonderful garden so that the singers might celebrate spring. How lovely. I’m honored and happy to have been part of this flowering.”

The final puzzle piece fell into place when Jake agreed to have members of the SFGMC perform the piece at Cleve’s huge 70th birthday celebration on October 11, 2024. The evening benefits The Cleve Jones Community Fund. It is a partnership among three organizations, two of which Cleve helped found: the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Horizons is the third partner organization. For tickets and more information about the event: https://bit.ly/4dqyzrN Joseph said, “It’s my hope and aspiration that this song will be published and LGBTQ+ choruses around the country will be delivering the message of this civil rights anthem in the years to come. I can’t think of a better use of my time, energy, and resources than protecting the future of our community.”

Now, a few words from one of the workers at the sausage factory. This process has been incredible. Everyone involved has given their lives to changing the world through activism and art. We are all grateful to Joseph for his vision and generosity. His dream is coming true as Hal Leonard Corporation, the world’s largest sheet music distributer, has agreed to publish “Don’t Take It for Granted”! I am honored that it will be included in my choral series.

We are facing a dangerous time when we can take absolutely nothing for granted. We’ve done that too many times before. May this music help remind and inspire us never to do it again.

Dr. Tim Seelig is the Conductor Laureate of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. http://www.timseelig.com/

Singer/songwriter Holly Near joined Artistic Director/Conductor Dr. Tim Seelig and members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus for a performance of her historic song, “Singing for Our Lives,” at Davies Symphony Hall on March 29, 2018.

Cleve Jones joined members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus on stage at the chorus’ Holiday Gala performed on December 16, 2023, at Greene Music Center, Sonoma.

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus member Joseph Shapiro and his daughter Amy

October

11, 1987

My name is Gert McMullin. My official title at the Quilt would be Quilt Production Coordinator and Conservation but I think of myself as a panel maker. That’s how it all began for me some 36 plus years ago.

My friends were the first to get sick and die from what we called in the early 1980s GRID (Gay Related Immune Deficiency). Trying to explain the horror of those days is really difficult for me, if not impossible. One reason is that bringing myself back to that moment is, frankly, terrifying. All the pain comes rushing in. All the faces of my beautiful friends who died such horrible, horrible painful deaths.

How do you tell someone what that feels like?

How do you describe what it is like to, day after day, month after month, year after year sit at your friends’ bedsides watching them die, knowing you (nor anyone else) can help them? And how do you tell them that nobody cares?

It was 1987, and for the last several years that was my life. I truly was losing my mind. I frankly do not know how I managed to survive those years. By the time I found The NAMES Project, I had lost close to 50 of my friends with no end in sight.

When asked how I found The NAMES Project I always answer ... it found me. All I really remember is someone telling me that I should call Cleve Jones. That he was starting a project of a quilt in memory of those who

By Gert McMullin

had died from AIDS. This person knew I could sew and gave me Cleve’s number. Cleve had not yet begun the project and was surprised I had heard anything about it.

He told me there was going to be the first meeting in around six weeks and that I should come to that. I did go to that meeting and I brought with me my first two panels. They were for my friends, David Calgaro and AIDS activist and friend Roger Lyon. Within a few weeks, Cleve had somehow talked someone into giving us a large storefront space in the heart of the Castro on Market Street.

So, on an evening in late May of 1987, I went down to 2362 Market Street to meet up with 6 other volunteers to discuss how we would go about and let the community know of our idea. That evening I met Cleve Jones, Mike Smith, Jack Caster, Ron Cordova, Larkin Mayo, and Gary Yuschalk.

We now had a workshop, but more than that, I had a place I could go to get out what was essentially eating me alive. The pain, the fear, the horror, the emptiness, the loss, and the anger—the overwhelming anger of watching all of my friends die ... over and over again ... our government doing nothing. Turning their backs and just letting them all die. Cleve Jones gave me that space. He gave me

a place to focus my anger and, in turn, saved me. I couldn’t love him more for that. He gave me a place where I didn’t feel alone in my anger. There were others who hurt as I did and needed to fight. As odd as this might sound, these people would soon become more like family than my family. I was home. We opened up shop and began to sew. I had a full-time job during the day at Macy’s but would show up every evening and stay late. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the time I was spending there was only going to increase. Within a few weeks to a month, I had quit my job of ten years so that I could volunteer 16 hours a day sewing a quilt.

It was not easy those first few months before our display in Washington, D.C., October 1987. Getting the community to see Cleve’s vision and start to create panels for the Quilt took some convincing. We sewed day and night for months and by October had 1920 individual panels that would go to Washington, D.C., and lay on the National Mall.

It was October 11, 1987 (Cleve’s birthday), and we all met at some god-awful time in the morning to be ready by sunrise for our opening of the Quilt. Right before sun up we stood in a circle and held hands. Cleve’s only words to us were, “We did it.” As we stood there, we sang “Happy Birthday” to Cleve and then got ready for the unfolding ceremony.

Four teams of eight would unfold the Quilt blocks as a reader (who was on a small stage facing The White House) would slowly read the names of those on the sections that were being opened at that moment. There were no speeches; only the names were spoken (and sometimes shouted) towards The White House. Cleve would read first. Then volunteers, politicians, celebrities, lovers, mothers, fathers, and friends would read the list given to them. It took over two hours to unfold that Quilt. I was one of the unfolders that day and it will remain one of the most emotional moments in my life. And also one of, if not the, most beautiful and proudest moments I will ever be a part of.

As Cleve said, “We did it.” We brought our dead friends to Washington, D.C., to show the world and to force our government to take action and stop this epidemic now. We believed we would go to D.C. and save the world. We were wrong.

But it did fuel us and others to keep on fighting. Soon we had people from all over the country and the world who had to be a part of what we were doing and wanted us to bring the Quilt to their communities. Through the next 35 plus years we would bring the Quilt to cities and all over the world and back. We still have hundreds of displays of the Quilt every year all over the country. Panels still come in on a daily basis and the Quilt continues to grow.

I am still sewing the Quilt. It has been my honor to do so and I truly can’t imagine my life without it. I owe my life to it. That first day with the Quilt has only made me want to be near it more. Every day that I go through those doors of the warehouse, I do so to thank it. Every day.

And Cleve Jones, your anger is what got me through the most unimaginable horror of my time. Your anger gave strength to my anger and I will love you forever for that.

The Quilt was born out of anger towards a government that chose to turn its back on us during one of the worst epidemics of our time. The message of the Quilt has always been of love and compassion. At first it was made mostly by the gay community, but Cleve’s intent was, and has always been, to reach outside of our community and bring the power of the Quilt wherever it was needed.

Mothers, fathers, friends, and lovers by the tens of thousands have experienced and benefited from the love, compassion, and gift of healing and remembrance that the Quilt brings each time it is displayed, each time a panel is made for a loved one.

Gert McMullin is the Quilt Production Coordinator and Panel Maker for The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt.

Known as the “Mother of the AIDS Quilt,” Gert McMullin is a beloved founder of the Quilt project who is the only person to have caressed and/or had a hand in sewing every panel created since 1987.

Mother of the AIDS Quilt image by Serge Gay, Jr.

Cleve Jones Changed My Life

By Edward Wright

Cleve Jones was already a hero of mine when we sat down at Café Flore. He was interviewing me to work as his assistant at UNITE HERE and trying to tease out my politics, and I was wondering what I was doing with my life. Trump had just become president, and I felt useless and desperate to make a difference. So, I abandoned a career in marketing to work for Cleve.

He taught me how to organize, how to build coalitions and practice solidarity, and how to be disciplined and strategic. He was patient and persistent, and saw something in me I didn’t see in myself. I didn’t know it then, but my life changed that day at Café Flore, and I’ve never looked back. Together, Cleve and I organized marches and rallies and raised money to combat white supremacists. We led a 12-hour protest to cancel the only ICE contract in the Bay Area. My last and most rewarding project as Cleve’s assistant was finalizing the deal to loan Harvey Milk’s bullhorn to the Smithsonian.

I took what I learned from Cleve to keep organizing—with Women’s March San Francisco, the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, and many others. I managed successful campaigns, and went on to work for three legislators. I’m particularly proud of my work legislating Oakland’s first LGBTQ Cultural District, funding HIV services, and advancing transportation in San Francisco.

Today I work on transit strategy for Muni, and I’m running for the BART Board of Directors.

Knowing the shoulders I stand on, I announced my campaign on Harvey Milk Day. Cleve and

Cleve Jones, Representative John Lewis, and the Quilt

By Michael Bongiorni

The Quilt was invited to be displayed in the rotunda of the Atlanta, Georgia, City Hall. The event focused on the impact of AIDS on the African American community in the early 2000s. The speakers included Atlantans living with AIDS, Coretta Scott King, Representative John Lewis, and Cleve Jones.

At the time, I was serving as director of operations. The event went off flawlessly. Cleve and I stepped outside. We got into one of our very animated “discussions” about some future strategy for the Quilt. We were both strongly stating our positions. Suddenly, I felt an embrace.

Cleve was young and precocious when he met Harvey Milk, and his life changed. So was I when Cleve changed mine.

Edward Wright is a transit professional, policymaker, and community organizer running for BART Board District 9.

As Cleve and I turned, John Lewis was hugging us. He said to both of us, “I know love and passion when I see it.”

He gave us another squeeze and moved on.

Michael Bongiorni is an HIV/AIDS longtime survivor and volunteer organizer for the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt who previously served as the Interim Director of Quilt Operations for the nonprofit.

Cleve Jones and Edward Wright at the “Come Together” Rally and March, Saturday, August 26, 2017

Cleve Jones with Edward Wright at the Wright for BART campaign kickoff at El Rio (2024)

Historic Photos by Rink

Cleve Jones listens in as Harvey Milk responds to reporters in San Francisco about Anita Bryant’s campaign to repeal a Witchita, Kansas, antidiscrimination law. (1978)

Cleve Jones at 19 with boyfirend James Holloway (1978)

Harvey Milk and friends celebrating Cleve Jones’ birthday at the Elephant Walk on October 11, 1978 (colorized)

Cleve Jones, alongside activist Sally Gearhart, at a street party celebrating Harvey Milk’s birthday one night after the White Night Riots (1979)

Cleve Jones speaking at a “No on 6” rally at Castro and Market Streets (1977)

Cleve Jones speaking at the 2016 Milk/Moscone Memorial Vigil held annually at Harvey Milk Plaza (2016)

Harvey are both known for many things. Their generosity in mentoring those who want to follow their footsteps should be among them.

Photos courtesy of Edward Wright

Rep. John Lewis hugging former president Barack Obama during a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches, March 7, 2015.

Countdown to Election Day

In

Election Day is right around the corner, and we are all on edge. The clock is ticking, the email requests from campaigns are becoming more frequent and more urgent, the rhetoric is ratcheting up, and the stakes are getting higher day by day. The daily news cycle is frightening and exhausting. How are you holding up?

It is all too easy to get caught up in the election frenzy. So, do yourself a favor and stop doom scrolling. Step away from your screens periodically and take a walk outside. Go look at some flowers. Lay on the grass and just gaze at the sky for a while. Breathe deeply. Reflect on what you care about most in life, why it is worth protecting, and why it is worth fighting for. Refresh your soul so you can return to the fray with renewed energy and purpose, and help others keep their

heads above water as well. Be the grown-up in the room, and help lower the temperature so we can all think more clearly and be more effective. We have serious work to do.

Common Cause

The next question then is, what are you doing to help make sure our democracy survives this election cycle? It is clear that this will not be just another election as there are serious attempts to undermine both the safety and the integrity of our election systems. Election officials around the country are being threatened with physical harm, and extreme right-wing groups are trying every conceivable trick to bend, break, or rewrite the rules to make sure that they cannot possibly lose. They are committed not to helping the American people, but to holding on to power at all costs.

We must all speak out against attacks on our democracy, but there are also concrete ways you can help. One organization at the forefront of this fight is Common Cause, a nonprofit that leads the largest election protection program in the country. They train and mobilize thousands of nonpartisan volunteers to ensure that every vote is protected. At a time when local election departments are facing serious threats, and bad actors are working overtime to undermine public confidence in our election systems, this work is crucial. You can donate to support their work, or sign up to be an election protector or digital activist here: https://www.commoncause.org/

Road Trip! Let’s Flip Nevada Blue

Say you’ve been donating to campaigns, writing postcards to voters, and maybe even text banking and phone banking. And now you’re ready to level up your engagement. What’s next?

Glad you asked. Manny’s, the uberengaged space that acts as a hub for all things political and civic in San Francisco, is taking busloads of volunteers to Reno every weekend until Election Day to knock on thousands of doors in a massive effort to flip Nevada blue. You could be on one of those buses. You could be knocking on those doors. You could make a real difference.

Sign up for the Reno campaign here: https://tinyurl.com/RenoKnock

Don’t Forget Your Local Elections

Manny Yekutiel has set up a GoFundMe to bankroll this ambitious volunteer campaign. They will be providing transportation, lodging, and meals for up to 100 volunteers per weekend. I wish I could go, but I cannot, so I am encouraging all of you to sign up. Everyone I know who has ever gone to other states to knock on doors for campaigns has told me it is a life-changing, empowering experience. Every expert out there agrees that the very best way to change hearts and minds, and get out the vote, is to have in-person, genuine conversations with people. Don’t miss this opportunity.

Learn about the campaign, and support it: https://tinyurl.com/RenoGoFundMe

There is so much noise at the national level that it can be easy to overlook all the important local candidates and issues that need your support. Every dollar you donate and every hour you volunteer on local issues carries extra weight and can make a real difference in your own neighborhood and your daily life. Civic engagement is good for you, and for all of us. Thanks for helping.

The Party You Won’t Want to Miss: Cleve Jones’ 70th Birthday Bash

Since the day he arrived in San Francisco as a young gay man, Cleve Jones has been at

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Case You Missed It

Joanie Juster

2280 Market Street Identified as Site for Future Home of GLBT Historical Society Museum and Archives

Mayor London Breed on September 27, 2024, announced that the City of San Francisco and the GLBT Historical Society have identified 2280 Market Street as the site for the future home of the GLBT Historical Society museum and archives. The city has confirmed plans of purchasing the 14,640-squarefoot lot at the site that once housed Tower Records and currently is the location of Barry’s Castro.

Roberto Ordeñana, Executive Director of the GLBT Historical Society, said, in part, “It’s been a labor of love for so many people working together for decades.”

In addition to Ordeñana and Mayor Breed, others who spoke at the event included Supervisor Rafael Mandelman and State Senator Scott Wiener. Also participating in the event were the Society’s partners at the Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST), the leadership of SF Pride, Honey Mahogany, and other community leaders. Members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performed.

The decision to purchase the building was described by the organizers as “the first step towards creating a permanent home for the first museum, and its archives of LGBT History and Culture in the United States.

This new endeavor will celebrate our past, inform our present, and ensure that our stories and contributions help build a brighter future.” Efforts to make this happen have been in the works for years. In 2021, Mayor Breed’s administration committed $12.5 million for the building acquisition. Senator Wiener, in turn, secured another $5.5 million in funding from the state. Presently, the GLBT Historical Society Museum is at 4127 18th Street in San Francisco, while the archives are at 989 Market Street. More information about the plans for the recently announced site is at https://bit.ly/3N5Tgyw

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTOS BY BILL WILSON

Election Day Is November 6Register to Vote

No doubt the political influence of the LGBTQ+ community is increasing. Two years ago, the Human Rights Campaign and Bowling Green State University projected that this category will be one of the fast-growing voting blocs in the country and could fundamentally reshape the American electorate landscape. The report estimates one in seven voters will identify as LGBTQ+ by 2030, a sharp increase from 2022 when it was one in ten. In just a few weeks, you can contribute to the momentum by casting your vote.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. We will be electing a president and leaders at both the state and local levels. We will also be deciding on issues that impact us, such as housing, children’s programs, climate

change, and more.

Considering what’s at stake locally and nationally, be sure your voice is heard and vote. Counties will begin to send out vote-bymail ballots the week of October 7 to all Californians who are registered to vote. In order to receive a ballot in the mail, you must register to vote by October 21.

After voting, your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day. You can also bring it to a Voting Center or any of the 37 official drop boxes through 8 pm November 7. Locations can be found, under the “General Information” tab, at https://bit.ly/484gui

Since 2020, California voters have been able to track their ballot. To make sure it gets to its destination, just go to: https://bit.ly/47Jy8YB

If you have not registered to vote, there are three ways to do so:

• Online: Visit https://registertovote.ca.gov/

• Paper Application: Forms are available at U.S. Post Offices and your local public libraries. Once the application is filled out, just mail it in.

• In-Person: Drop by San Francisco’s Election Department in City Hall to fill out a voter registration form.

Note that it takes two to three days to (continued on page 20)

Oakland Honors Martial Arts and Film Legend Bruce Lee With Commemorative Street Renaming

by Kimberly S. Jones

Out of the Closet and into City Hall

Oakland City Councilmember At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan

On Monday, September 23, 2024, the City of Oakland honored film and martial arts legend Bruce Lee with a commemorative street renaming. The ceremony occurred at the Broadway and Garnet Street intersection, near the martial arts school that Lee founded and ran with Jimmy Yung Lee (no relation). The school was notable for the martial arts skill taught, Jeet Kune Do, and its inclusive philosophy regarding its students. Well-known personalities such

We honor and uplift the history of Bruce Lee in Oakland. We honor his dedication and commitment and

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Assemblymember Phil Ting

as Kareem Abdul Jabbar and the late Ron Dellums were students.

Photos

Bruce Lee’s daughter, Shannon Lee, with Councilmember Kaplan

Walking in the Steps of Our Trancestors Fighting for Liberation

Trans women of color and queer women have always been at the forefront of LGBTQ liberation. Back before it was called the Gay Liberation Front, it was Black and Brown trans women, drag queens, and lesbians who led the way and threw those first bricks at Stonewall. People like Stormé DeLarverie, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Sylvia Rivera, and Marsha P Johnson who were much abused, and perhaps had not much more to lose, fought back and helped launch a movement that continues to this day, and is remembered annually at Pride celebrations across the globe.

Queer and trans people have come a long way in this country over the last fifty years; however, today, we are seeing many of the rights and safety measures we have fought so hard for rolled back in an unprecedented legislative onslaught. And as we saw several

decades ago, we continue to see queer and trans people of color and women coming together to fight back.

On Saturday, September 14, 2024, thousands of protestors gathered at Columbus Circle to kick-off a Gender Liberation March. The March was organized by a group of queer and trans activists and advocates for bodily autonomy including Raquel Willis, Monica Simpson of SisterSong, Renee Bracey Sherman of WeTestify, Bamby Salcedo of the Trans Latina Coalition, Oluchi Omeoga of the Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project, Junior Mintt, Qween Jean, Devin-Norelle, and many, many more.

After the speaking program, protestors led by NYC-based activist Qween Jean took to the streets and marched to the steps of the Supreme Court where the march paused and more speakers were heard.

The march continued on proudly, moving through the streets of D.C. before reaching its next stop: the Heritage Foundation. It was there that the throng of protesters encountered a truck with speakers and a large sound system set up, and as we arrived, the music began to play, and a vogue and dance battle materialized.

The event began with a speaking program that focused on calls for bodily autonomy and a rejection of authoritarianism and government overreach. Activists spoke out and made demands for solidarity and a return to evidence-based practices and policies, and called out the fear-mongering and gaslighting that scapegoated our communities for political gain.

This expression of queer defiance, resilience, and joy on the steps of the Heritage Foundation, an institution that has targeted us and seeks to erase us from history and existence, was incredibly moving. It was powerful and healing and demonstrated that no matter what they throw at us, we will always fight back with everything that we are because ... we are not going back. We can never go back. We will not give up those rights that we have fought so hard for. We will not accept a future where the next generation of queer and trans folks are forced to deny who they are. And with little more than a month left until the upcoming election, we all need to bring this same energy to the streets to ensure that we win.

Honey Mahogany, a San Francisco native with a Master’s in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley, is a performer, small business owner, and activist. Her work has earned recognition from the City of San Francisco and various organizations. Mahogany cofounded the San Francisco Transgender District, is a founding queen of Drag Story Hour, co-owner of the Stud Bar, and a singer with nu-metal group Commando. She currently serves as Director of the Office of Trans Initiatives, Chair-Emerita of the San Francisco Democratic Party, and Delegate to the Democratic National Committee.

Trans Action with Honey Mahogany

Honey Mahogany and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy

Honey Mahogany, Toni Mitchell (Cofounder & Executive Director of SnapCo, a Black trans and queer led organization), and Junior Mintt (Black trans drag artist, and host of The Junior Mintt Show)

Honey Mahogany and Geena Rocero (Filipina trans woman model, pageant queen, and author of Horse Barbie)

Qween Jean, founder of Black Trans Liberation, leading the crowd through the march

Raquel Willis, Black trans author and activist, speaking at the podium

Photos courtesy of Honey Mahogany

See Honey Mahogany’s Community Calendar: Page 22.

Supporting Small Businesses in the Castro & Beyond

Bad Walter’s Bootleg Ice Cream in the Rockridge Neighborhood of Oakland

New to the Rockridge district of Oakland, right on College Avenue across from Zachary’s Pizza and Trader Joe’s, is a creative ice cream shop inspired by a grouchy little dog who hated nearly everyone (except for his owner) and the colorful exaggerated kitsch of the 1990s. The name of the shop is also a standout: Bad Walter’s Bootleg Ice Cream.

“Walter was our 16-year-old Chihuahua,”

owner Sydney Arkin explained to the San Francisco Bay Times. “He was an asshole.”

When pressed why, she said that Walter loved her but nipped and growled at most of her friends. Chihuahuas as a breed are infamous for being highly sensitive, which could help to explain Walter’s ways. Dogs of this breed often keel over at around age 12, but by all accounts, Walter lived a good, long life, despite his testiness.

Arkin herself does not appear to suffer fools gladly. For our impromptu photo shoot, she did not crack a big, phony smile. Like Walter when he was around, she has become a beloved local figure. She first came to prominence in the food world during the pandemic. That is when, stuck at home like most of us, she began an illegal ice cream operation out of her Oakland living room. “Bootleg” pays homage to those rogue days.

Originally from New York, she previously worked for over a decade in advertising. She became an award-winning creative director before desiring more joy in her life. Given that she was raised on a classic diet of Froot Loops, Ben & Jerry’s, and Kraft Mac &

Cheese (shapes only), it never occurred to her that ice cream could be her career.

Word got out about her delicious homemade ice cream—her advertising and social media savvy helped—and customers soon clamored for her scoops of frozen treats. The ice cream is made from “real, regular dairy” yet is lactose-free. Even for those who regularly enjoy dairy products, the lactose in them can still cause some bloating and general malaise, but that’s not so in this case. It is the flavors of Bad Walter’s ice cream, however, that make it a destination for most. Some ingredients, like Ritz Crackers, add a savory/salty note and punch of unexpected texture. Others are cultural mashups, such as Manilla Dreams, which features ube frozen custard with banana milk caramel and Nilla Wafers. The take on s’mores, with toasted marshmallows swirled in, is supposed to be incredible. Our intrepid reporters learned that from several now-regulars while standing in line to get in, but that flavor was not available then.

The customers add to the fun: numerous happy kids with ice cream smeared on their faces, parents and other adults eager for the indulgence, and a collection of dogs whom Walter probably would have hated. The staff could not have been

The Supporting Small Businesses in the Castro & Beyond page is sponsored by Anne Sterling Dorman

more friendly and welcoming. A kind fellow dished out our scoops. We chatted with his colleague Kiana, who sported a cool pop art Astro Boy shirt, before Arkin herself joined in the conversation.

The location is also a plus. The shop is just a block away from the Rockridge BART Station. There are many other great small businesses nearby, and the shop offers both indoor and outdoor seating.

Ice cream connoisseurs will note that there are other worthwhile stops down College Avenue, including Tara’s Ice Cream and Humphrey Slocombe, but those are much farther down the Avenue. Venerable Fenton’s is also just a short drive away, and Baker & Commons in the Elmwood district now offers Straus soft serve.

Bad Walter’s is a welcome addition to Rockridge, especially after Smitten Ice Cream closed there a while back. (Smitten still has its Valencia Street location in San Francisco.) As a side note, many dogs are lactose-intolerant, so some of the flavors at Bad Walter’s—such as those without chocolate—are canine friendly, or at least more so than most ice creams. And there is a warning at the website for humans drawn to the shop’s “maximalist flavors”: “You’ll clear the whole pint in one sitting.”

Bad Walter’s Bootleg Ice Cream 5800 College Avenue, Oakland https://www.badwalters.com/

Bad Walter the Chihuahua

Sydney Arkin, “Founder and Ice Cream Kingpin” at Bad Walter’s Bootleg Ice Cream

Kiana of Bad Walter’s Bootleg Ice Cream Customers waiting in line outside of Bad Walter’s in Oakland

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A True Victory for Queer Love in Thailand

6/26 and Beyond

Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis

Last week witnessed a milestone in Asian queer history and a tremendous step forward for the global LGBTIQ movement. The King of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn, signed the landmark Thai marriage equality bill marking a breakthrough for LGBTIQ rights in Thailand and in Asia, the world’s most populous continent, which is home to nearly 5 billion people, constituting 62% of the world’s population. Thailand will become the third Asian

country with the freedom to marry (following Taiwan and Nepal) and the first to achieve marriage equality exclusively through the legislative process backed by overwhelming political and public support.

The Thai Senate voted in favor of the freedom to marry earlier this year by a sweeping 130 to 4 vote, a few months after the marriage equality bill sailed through the Thai House of Representatives by a 400 to 10 margin. A government survey, conducted a year ago, showed a staggering 96.6% of the Thai public favored marriage equality.

Last week, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, in office for just over a month, posted on X: “Congratulations on everyone’s love. #LoveWins.” She further expressed her gratitude for “support from all sectors.”

Thai LGBTIQ activists cheered the accomplishment and also embraced the broader implications of the victory beyond marriage equality. Kwankaow Koosakulnirund described to the BBC how the new law “means we are fully accepted and can live our lives without conditions or compromises,” with queer Thais “embracing the sense of pride that this law brings.”

The new marriage equality law replaces gendered terms such as “husband,” “wife,” “man,” and “woman” with gender-neutral terminology, and also provides same-sex couples adoption and inheritance rights. Marriages will begin on January 22, 2025, 120 days from the day the King signed the bill last week. Planning has already begun for a mass wedding that day of over 1,000 LGBTIQ couples, many of whom have been waiting countless years for the opportunity to marry.

One might wonder how and why Thailand achieved this remarkable victory with such extraordinary legislative and popular support. First and foremost, we salute the tireless Thai queer activists for all their hard work that made it all possible.

But we see the roots of last week’s victory stretching back far longer. Thai culture has long recognized gender diversity, including a third gender called kathoey, a somewhat fluid term that includes some transwomen, effeminate gay men, intersex, and other nonbinary people.

Evidence suggests that the traditional Thai understanding of gender beyond a rigid Western binary could be grounded in ancient Buddhist texts dating back millennia, which include a very similar term. Over 90% of Thai people identify as Buddhist today, and the religion has had considerable influence on the development of Thai culture.

Although some Thai Buddhists hold very conservative social views, core Buddhist texts in addition to recognizing a third gender contain no moral condemnation of homosexuality, unlike that widely interpreted to exist in Abrahamic religious texts such as the Bible and Qur’an.

When Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in the 1930s, it rapidly adopted Victorian era notions of the gender binary in an attempt to appear as a supposedly “civilized” nation. But in contrast to the Lavender Scare sweeping across the U.S. government in the 1950s, Thailand in 1956 repealed its law criminalizing same-sex intimacy.

(continued on page 20)

Kwankaow Koosakulnirund

GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow

Random Thoughts, Random Subjects

I can tell what kind of column I’m going to write by my attitude during what I’ll call the “preparation” stage. I almost always write my entire column in one go, and before I start, I will scan story headlines that I have archived in the last week or so, along with other sources. At some point in this process, one of the items will stand out and inspire me to begin writing at once. Sometimes this lead item will be a big court case, or it might be an interesting essay that leads me to rethink some aspect of our complex civil rights movement.

And then there are the weeks, like this one, when I seem to have absolutely no interest in gay, lesbian, or trans news, despite the fact that this is, of course, the raison d’être of my column. This week, my first inspiration came from my wonderful cousin, who forwarded two intriguing snippets; first, the story of a woman who was run over by a large mechanical stuffed animal in a mall, and second, the tragic tale of a man whose penis was clipped and injured by his girlfriend’s IUD.

Yes, I know. I often allow myself to wander into off-topic side streets. But that’s usually when I’ve been traveling down a major GLBT roadway and feel as if we all need a little trim to the wild side to shake up our attention spans. I’m not sure I’ve ever produced a 2,000-word recap without any discussion of gay news whatsoever, and I’m not

sure that’s what I’ll wind up doing today. But let’s just say I’m starting us off in the back alleys.

And I know what you’re thinking. Why would I be writing about the stuffed animal mishap in the mall rather than beginning with the catastrophic IUD incident? Well, it’s because I really want one of the animals, called “Dream Riders,” which are basically mini scooters in the form of furry creatures like elephants, lions, tigers, and pandas.

In July 2023, our mall victim was shopping with her small daughter at a mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, when an eight-yearold on a giant elephant slammed into her from behind, injuring her foot and causing her and her daughter to fall to the ground. She is suing the mall owners for negligence, The New York Post reports. We also learn that at least two other people have been hurt by inept drivers on rented Dream Riders, which are also available for rent at the Mall of America in Minnesota, and the West Edmonton Mall in Canada.

They look like such fun! Can you imagine cruising down Castro Street on a stuffed panda bear at ten miles an hour? I’m not exactly sure how fast they go, but the photos in the Post suggest they are charming in every respect. Maybe if it caught on, some bars could set up hitching posts where you could tie off your Dream Rider while you pause for refreshment.

The website explains that the Dream Rider

company doesn’t actually sell the animals, but rents them at malls for about a dollar a minute. Dream Rider says it’s “the largest provider of plush motorized animal ride-ons that are specifically designed to be a safe, comfortable, and fun entertainment option for kids and families.” Indeed, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were the only provider of plus motorized animal ride-ons, but then again, this is the United States of America and who knows how many entrepreneurs and innovators are serving this niche market under the radar?

They Kill Pit Bulls, Don’t They?

Before we delve into the IUD story, here’s news about Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation and what The Advocate calls “the architect of Project 2025.” Apparently, Roberts beat his neighbor’s noisy dog to death and told several people about it back in 2004. According to The Guardian, one of Roberts’ former colleagues at New Mexico State remembers the event:

“My recollection of [Roberts’] account was that he was discussing in the hallway with various members of the faculty, including me, that a neighbor’s dog had been barking pretty relentlessly and was, you know, keeping the baby and probably the parents awake and that he kind of lost it and took a shovel and killed the dog. End of problem.”

The Guardian said that two other people remember hearing the same story from Roberts at a dinner party he hosted. And the

neighbor said his dog, Loca, vanished during the same time period.

Case closed as far as I’m concerned, and this account makes Kristi Noem look like, um, I can’t think of an appropriate conclusion to that phrase because Noem still looks like a heartless psychopath. But Kevin Roberts looks worse. He’s associated with Opus Dei, the loony toons Catholic club for people who want to impose strict religious rules on everyone else in the country, which makes one wonder how it’s possible for this type of cruelty and violence to coexist with a rigid commitment to faith. Very Old Testament, n’est-ce pas?

Lastly, there was a time when a strong rumor like this one would lead other news organizations to investigate and possibly cause a scandal that would discredit the main perpetrator. These days, it’s just water under the bridge. Republicans either don’t believe it or don’t care. Democrats just feel helpless in the face of hypocrisy and brutality, both implicit in the anecdote and in Project 2025. If the electorate doesn’t understand or react to Project 2025, why would they condemn its author—even when he allegedly beats a pet dog to death with a shovel for barking?

Follow the Money, if You Can

I have a bunch of bits and pieces about the odious gay Republican Log Cabin Club, (continued on page 22)

Catch French Bistro Grand Opening

The Grand Opening of Catch French Bistro in the Castro took place on the evening of Saturday, September 21, 2024. For longtime devotees of Catch under the present and prior ownership, the event offered a rare chance to see former owner Sanjay Gujral together with present owner Mina Habil. Both men clearly admire each other. They praised each other throughout the evening and Habil has kept many of Catch’s favorite dishes on the menu.

Members of the San Francisco Bay Times team attended and were pleased to learn that Gujral is doing well. (He had announced his retirement earlier this year after 22 years at Catch.) He admired some of the new decor at the restaurant, such as the bright umbrellas on the ceiling evoking the French film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Renowned interior designer Bonnie McGregor, who frequents the restaurant, was inspired to help with its redesign and was present at the Grand Opening.

Special guests at the event included Mayor London Breed, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, and Cleve Jones. The restaurant’s location, 2362 Market Street, is steeped in LGBTQ+ history. Significantly, it was where The NAMES Project and AIDS Memorial Quilt began in June 1987. During the year prior, 1986, Jones created what was to become the Quilt’s first panel in memory of his friend Marvin Feldman. The fateful meeting in 1987, described in this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times by Quilt Production Coordi nator and Panel Maker Gert McMullin, was when The NAMES Project was formally organized.

Jones still values the location, not only for its historical significance but also for being an important restaurant in the neighborhood. While he and Mayor Breed had multiple events that evening, they both ordered from the menu and enjoyed a few favorite dishes.

In addition to keeping many of the classic Catch entrées and the restaurant’s famous Brioche and French Pudding (bread pudding with raisins and bourbon whiskey sauce), Habil has kept musician Dr. Dee Spencer. As she has for years, she holds court with her distinctive bright red piano on Fridays and weekends at the restaurant. She served as accompanist during the Grand Opening, with emcee and performer Donna Sachet singing for guests. Glasses of free champagne were offered before Sachet led a toast.

After the end of the official program, former X-Factor finalist and entertainer Jason Brock performed a surprise set. Brock only recently has returned to San Francisco after a lengthy stay in Japan. By the end of the evening, Brock had guests singing along with him.

Catch is now offering a Happy Hour from 3–5 pm and a specially priced three-course meal. Additional special events are in the works. For updates, to check out the menu, and to make reservations, visit http://www.catchfrenchbistro.com

We again congratulate Mina Habil on the opening of Catch French Bistro at the location of the former Catch at Market and Castro. You’ll enjoy so much that is familiar, while absorbing a distinctly French ambiance and delightfully French menu. Their Grand Opening on Saturday, September 21, greeted many elected officials and received the blessing of Cleve Jones, who shared stories of the AIDS Memorial Quilt that will continue to have a display in the entrance hallway. Dee Spencer will be in on the piano every Friday and Saturday night, adding wonderfully to your experience. See you there soon!

By Donna Sachet

September’s Divas & Drinks at The Academy, Flaming, Fabulous, & 50, took place on Thursday, September 26, and celebrated the upcoming 50th Castro Street Fair with a line-dance instruction by Ingu Yun, crowd-pleasing performance by Afrika America, and invitation from Vice President Fred Lopez to join the festivities on Sunday, October 6. This street fair was the brainchild of the late Harvey Milk, representing his love of the neighborhood and his commitment to its ongoing health and vitality and unofficially kicking off the San Francisco Fall Season.

Next at Divas & Drinks we honored outgoing Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson with a cascade of speakers and gifts. SF Police Commissioner Debra Walker, Vice President of the SF Fire Commission Marcy Fraser, and Deputy Chief Shayne Kaialoa all praised her service and commitment. Various gifts were presented by and from The Foodie Chap Liam Mayclem, NCLR, Betty’s List, Cal Performances, SF Opera, SF Symphony, the San Francisco Pride Band, PRC’s upcoming Mighty Real, Elizabeth Seja Min, Co-Chair of Chris Williamson’s 50th Anniversary of The Changer & the Changed, Dykes on Bikes, Beth Schnitzer, Iowayna Pena of the SF Giants, SF Pride, and many more. It was a night that Jeanine will long remember.

We finished off Divas & Drinks with a fun new game, Great Bells of Fire, asking attendees to grab our attention every time DJ Olga T played a song with a reference to fire. Upon my ringing the “fire bell,” winners each received a bottle of wine. What will Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas of the Bay Times think of next to add to the fun of Divas & Drinks? Join us for the next Divas & Drinks, on Halloween Night, to find out.

The following morning, bright and early at 10 am, we joined Mayor London Breed, State Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, and a bevy of city leaders for the announcement of the location of the future home of the GLBT Historical Society Museum. It is tucked into Market and Noe, in the heart of the Castro, where the weekly Farmers’ Market occurs, adjacent to Fish & Flore restaurant and surrounded by queer friendly businesses. This sounds like the perfect place to house the society’s headquarters, extensive archives, and brand-new museum. Speeches by Cleve Jones and Executive Director of the GLBT Historical Society Roberto Ordeñana gave special significance to this historic announcement, positioning our own LGBTQ+ memories as an essential, beautiful, and powerful element of American history. Backed by state and city funding and counting on wide community support, this building promises to be a new landmark in San Francisco in the near future. We can’t wait to walk through those doors!

Suddenly, another event-packed weekend was upon us, starting with the Grand Ducal Coronation 50 on Saturday night at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway. The theme was Four Seasons in St. Petersburg and the Ducals pulled out all the stops with thematic and dramatic costuming, most notably Grand

Duchesses Landa Lakes, Migitte Nielsen, and MGM Grande. Rather than focusing on the regrettably small attendance, we compliment excellent live singing of the national anthems of Mexico, Canada, and the United States by Miss Golden Gate Calliope Solis, empress Emma Peel, and Bebe Sweetbriar, the extraordinary entertainment from Emperor John Weber and Afrika America, anniversary numbers by Grand Duchess Kristy Cruise and Olivia Hart, and Queen Mother Nicole the Great’s presentation to Olivia of the coveted José Sarria Honors statue. Grand Duke RayRay and Grand Duchess Christina Ashton stepped down in style after a year of fundraising, amounting to over $100,000, and La Rosa de los Gallos was crowned the 51st Grand Duchess of San Francisco. After a quick costume change, we headed to SVN where Magnitude, the premier dance party of Folsom Weekend, was in full swing. This event had all the signature details of a fabulous Brian Kent produced party, including DJs Thunderpuss, GSP, and Brian Maier, epic sound, amazing laser and other lighting, and smooth production. Hundreds of celebrants joined the dance well into the early morning hours. We ended our weekend at our annual Pre-Folsom Brunch at the home of Briggs Hawley, whose place looked marvelous, and generously produced by an all-volunteer committee, including Mark Paladini, Ho Tse, Gary Virginia, and Ray Tilton.

Nearly 200 Folsom attendees dropped by to indulge in fabulous brunch selections, free-flowing drinks, and Leather hospitality in sparkling San Francisco summer weather. We are incredibly thankful to all who made this event such a success and happy that so many visitors and locals, titleholders and supporters, and personal friends took the time to come by our brunch. We’ve learned so much from the congeniality and warmth of the Leather Community.

Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com

“You can stand around and throw bricks at Silly Hall or you can take it over.”

—Harvey Milk

Thursday, October 4

Mighty Real Gala: Imagine, Inspire, Act PRC’s annual fundraiser Cocktail reception, seated dinner, awards ceremony, auction Awarding Steven Ames Brown, Dr. Monica Gandhi, Marsh McLennen Agency Three floors w/rooftop deck

The Pearl, 601 19th Street 6:30 pm $250 & up www.prcsf.org

Saturday, October 5

Horizons Gala 2024 Annual fundraiser

Honoring Dr. Marcy Adelman & Suzanne Ford Entertainers criibaby, Emjay Mercury, Golden Girls Live! Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive 7:30 pm $350 & up www.horizonsfoundation

Sunday, October 6

50th Annual Castro Street Fair Castro Neighborhood Entertainment, booths, people 11 am–6 pm Free! (with suggested donation) www.castrostreetfair.org

Friday, October 11 Cleve Jones Birthday Launching Cleve Jones Community Fund Entertainment, tributes The Hibernia SF, 1 Jones Street 8 pm $250 & up www.clevejones70.com

Sunday, October 13

Ruby Red Munro benefit Funds for Alzheimer’s research Beaux, 2344 Market Street 4:30 pm Free! www.beauxsf.com

Thursday, October 31

Divas & Drinks

Bay Times Halloween Party

Emcee Donna Sachet

More info coming soon

The Academy SF 2166 Market Street $15

https://www.academy-sf.com/

over the past several decades. We encourage you to read, or reread, his autobiography, and to attend his 70th birthday party on October 11, appropriately at 1 Jones Street in San Francisco. The party, with Gilead Sciences as the presenting sponsor, will benefit the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the National AIDS Memorial (AIDS Memorial Quilt).

https://bit.ly/4dqyzrN

TROUT (continued from pg 3)

skill as a raconteur made this the easiest and most important interview I’ve ever conducted.

In December, when photographer Sean Black came to San Francisco to shoot photos of Cleve for the magazine, he invited me to come along. After snapping several potential cover portraits, the three of us walked around the Castro in the rain, with Sean taking casual shots of Cleve. We walked into Dog Eared Books, and to our delight, three different customers were buying Cleve’s book.

One of Sean’s best photos caught Cleve in the store, arms crossed, with a mischievous smile, glowing with pride. Another photo, of Cleve and me walking across the rainbow crosswalk at 18th and Castro with the rainbow stripes sparkling in the rain, remains one of my most prized possessions.

Meeting and befriending one of your heroes is a rare occurrence. But in the years since that January 2017 cover feature, Cleve and I have remained chatty friends—which makes me a very lucky, happy man.

Hank Trout, MA, is a longtime HIV/AIDS survivor and journalist who is the Senior Editor for “Art and Understanding Magazine” and has written for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and other nonprofits and publications. He is a six-time Pushcart Prize nominee.

CLEVE/JUSTER (continued from pg 3)

slumped, and I was about to give in. Then I felt a pair of hands on my shoulders, massaging my aching muscles. “Thank you for staying. Thank you for volunteering.”

And that’s how I met Cleve Jones.

So, I stayed that night, and many nights after, and for the next 36 years. That moment of gratitude and encouragement, that acknowledgement of a humble volunteer’s efforts, was enough to bring me back again and again, until I embraced the Quilt family as my own, and they embraced me back. My life was forever changed.

Throughout these past 36 years, I have often had a front-row seat for Cleve’s work. We have marched together in Washington, D.C., and in San Francisco. We have protested injustice, cele-

GAFFNEY/LEWIS (continued from pg 16)

And Thailand was never colonized by a Western nation, such as Great Britain with its notorious colonial sodomy laws, whose legacy continues in many of the countries that still criminalize samesex intimacy today.

The Thai victory will also reverberate across other parts of Asia, such as neighboring Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as Japan, South Korea, and India. It will fuel momentum for those countries’ queer movements and increase pressure for those countries’ governments to act. And significantly, Thai law permits foreigners to marry in Thailand. Thus, binational Thai couples will be able to marry and have the “same rights and privileges as any other married couple” as explained on the Siam Legal law firm’s website. Two foreigners will also be able to come to Thailand, regardless of whether their home countries permit them to marry, and be able to work, live, or retire as a married couple with full equality under the law. When it comes to multinational companies and organizations and universities attracting queer talent, marriage equality will give Thailand a competitive advantage over many other Asian countries that lag behind.

LGBTIQ Asians outside Thailand will also have another country—indeed a dream destination wedding venue—where they can get married,

brated rare victories, held vigils, mourned our losses, laughed, yelled, sung, and cried together. Just about everything I know about being an activist I learned from watching Cleve at work. What always strikes me is the boldness of his vision, the strategic nature of his thinking, and his willingness to mentor and raise up the next generation of leaders. And what keeps me coming back as a friend is his wildly wicked sense of humor, and, under that sometimes gruff exterior, his kind heart.

Despite over 50 years of fighting the good fights, Cleve Jones is not done. And that is worth celebrating.

Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.

further increasing visibility and illuminating the need for change in their home countries, not to mention reminding their home countries of wedding business and tourist money they are missing out on because of discrimination.

Finally, attainment of marriage equality in Thailand is significant globally because Thailand is in Asia, and not the West. The vast majority of countries with marriage equality are in Western Europe and the Americas. The Thai victory provides further proof that LGBTIQ rights and dignity are not just a Western human rights issue, but a global value that transcends culture. Prime Minister Shinawatra characterized the marriage equality movement as “a joint fight for everyone.”

We encourage readers to join in that fight—and the global celebration of victories as well. One helluva party will take place in Bangkok on January 22, the first day of equality. It will be a day that we can all celebrate.

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.

process your registration.

If you’re not sure whether you’re registered to vote, or which address you have on file, you can check your voter status with the Secretary of State’s website: https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/

Among the things you can look up:

• whether or not you are registered to vote;

• where you are registered to vote;

• your political party preference;

• and your language preference forelection materials.

After the October 21 deadline, you must register to vote in person. Just visit San Francisco’s City Hall Voting Center or a local polling place and tell a poll worker that you want to register to vote. You’ll then be able to cast a provisional ballot up until 8 pm on Election Day. If you meet the requirements to be a voter, then your ballot will count. If you live outside San Francisco, check in with your county’s election office for the steps you need to take to be able vote in November.

Help spread the word to your friends and family about the election and the upcoming voter deadlines. Then be sure to start your research early on each candidate and measure. The more people we can get to participate in the election, the better for our democracy.

Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the west side of San Francisco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma, and Daly City, as well as part of South San Francisco and San Bruno.

KAPLAN (continued from pg 10)

how he changed the martial arts and film world. The way he changed the world across racial collaborations, the way he built followers all over the world, who to this day are inspired by what he taught and did.

His impact on several generations was apparent as people from throughout Oakland, the Bay Area, and beyond, including Seattle and Los Angeles, made their way to his street unveiling. People exchanged stories of how they or their loved ones became Bruce Lee fans, while others remembered when they were his students. Shannon Lee, his daughter, accompanied by her mother and daughter, explained that her father chose Oakland because he found his “peers,” likeminded and open-minded people.

“This is such a momentous occasion for celebration, and my father would be thrilled. Oakland is a beautiful and special place in our heart ... my brother was born here. Jeet Kune Do (and) the beginning of my father’s art started here; his film career started here. Oakland is a very significant place for our family,” Shannon Lee said.

The unveiling was a beautiful event full of love for Bruce Lee and the impact he made on Oakland and beyond. The world will never forget him, and Oakland will never forget him. I was honored to introduce and pass the council action to authorize this renaming. May we continue to uplift those who have built community and solidarity in Oakland.

Councilmember At-Large and Council President Rebecca Kaplan, who is the Vice Mayor of Oakland, was elected in 2008 to serve as Oakland’s citywide Councilmember; she was re-elected in 2016 and 2020. She also serves on the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC).

Follow Councilmember Kaplan on Twitter @Kaplan4Oakland ( https://tinyurl.com/2dtjmazc ) and Facebook ( https://tinyurl.com/2p9dd5ta ).

Astrology

Elisa Quinzi

We have a unique opportunity to release our ghosts of the past, and step confidently forward with trust in something bigger. By relaxing our grip, we allow tensions to unwind and dissolve, and we discover that our only real enemy is our mental picture. No longer tense, a higher intelligence flows freely through us unimpeded, and we realize our part in the symphony of the cosmos. No longer clinging to others or to circumstances, we become aware that we are supported by a greater whole, and can act and live with far greater elegance, freedom, and magnanimity.

Elisa Quinzi is a certified professional astrologer who brings a strong spiritual perspective, as well as over 20 years of experience, to her work with clients. Contact her at futureselfnow@gmail.com or at 818-530-3366 with your exact birth time to schedule or to ask questions. For more information: www.elisaquinzi.com

Speaking to Your Soul

ARIES (March 21–April 19)

You were born to express pure creative impulse and you require a certain amount of freedom to do so authentically. The source of your power is good and purposeful, so steer your actions toward fulfilling the greatest needs around you in order to minimize waste and harmonize well with others.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20)

Humans are categorized as animals, and you, Taurus, are the most animalistic of all the signs. Led by your instinct and your physical senses, it is hardest for you, perhaps, to detach from who and what you consider to be yours. But the planets suggest you practice detachment. This can give you not only a clearer picture of reality but also a greater peace in your heart.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Your curious nature and intellectual aptitude keep you hungry for knowledge. Of all the signs, it is you who would suffer most from fear of missing out; you are always ahead of the curve. But all that striving can lead to overwhelm and mental exhaustion. You are encouraged to trust in the process more, and take permission to be still. There is a divine timing to all things and you need not seek so hard. Let the butterflies come to you and they will.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

What complexes have crystalized in you, making you rigid and susceptible to breakage? It is natural for you to want stability, but fear arises from clinging to forms. True stability results from rooting yourself in the depths of your center where no storm or circumstance can knock you over.

LEO (July 23–August 22)

You, Leo, were born to stamp the signature of your personality on all that you do. Your light is meant to shine brightly so that others will be warmed. The danger is in the drama. Drama here means emotional excess or use of force, which can bubble up when you are striving for attention. When you instead know that you are royalty, your natural radiance will attract, and you’ll be less compelled to dance on tabletops.

Take Me Home with You!

Shaggy Senior Robbie Seeks Quiet Forever Home

Robbie, a charming senior dog, has returned to the SF SPCA after several years in a home and is now looking for a fresh start. This lovable snuggler’s perfect adopter would be someone with patience and understanding who can help him feel comfortable around loud noises and other dogs. Robbie might be a little shy at first, but he warms up quickly to people and is known to win hearts with ease.

Currently living in a foster home, Robbie is a great companion for those looking for a couch buddy. Housetrained and quiet, Robbie doesn’t mind spending time alone, as long as you’re there to brighten his day when you return. A quiet neighborhood and a small yard are all this sweet senior needs to thrive in his golden years.

Interested in fostering Robbie to see if you’re the right match? The SF SPCA offers a foster-to-adopt program, allowing you to take him home for a week before making the final decision. Visit the Mission Campus at 201 Alabama Street or contact adoptions@sfspca.org to meet Robbie—he may be the companion you’ve been searching for! https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/

VIRGO (August 23–September 22)

Hidden talents come to the fore to be noticed. Not only can they bring you income, but also as you shape these newly discovered skills you increase your self-esteem and sense of security going forward.

LIBRA (September 23–October 22)

It’s a powerful start to a new year for you, Libra. With a tendency toward orienting yourself to others, you often find yourself sacrificing too much and masking your own needs and desires. The planets are prompting you to lift your gaze to the stars and see yourself within a much grander context. Doing so helps you show up in your relationships with greater ease and inner harmony.

SCORPIO (October 23–November 21)

A cycle is ending and the decks are being cleared to make way for a new dawn. Take this time to harvest the seeds of wisdom that you can carry forward and plant in new soil.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21)

The planets want to ask you if your values support you warmly connecting with the people you live and work with. Or do your values cut you off from heart-centered relatedness? Any values that would distance you from your fellows are likely founded in old beliefs that have crystalized and are keeping you stuck.

CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19)

Insights can arise now that prompt you to make course corrections. Choose to stay in integrity by considering what is best for everyone involved. Trust that a higher plan is unfolding for the good of the whole.

AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18)

Your superpower is your direct access to universal truth. When you offer your perspective to your community or organization, you can do much good. Just be sure to ground your intentions in being of service while detaching from outcomes.

PISCES (February 19–March 20)

Of all the signs, you have the capacity to cut the cords that otherwise bind you to your past. You are here not to gaze longingly or regretfully into your history, but to look expectantly and optimistically to the coming future with the vision that is Pisces’ gift to humanity.

Here are some of the many pets now available for adoption at Oakland Animal Services (OAS):

Bonded Brothers

Bonded brothers Pawcasso and Meowzart are a dynamic duo, with purrsonalities like night and day! Ginger Meowzart is as effusive and energetic as his musical genius namesake (well, at least as portrayed in Amadeus!), greeting visitors with playful affection and seeking attention at every turn. His hauspanther brother Pawcasso, meanwhile, is as mysterious and mercurial as his namesake. Pawcasso can be a bit of a temperamental artist, at times moody and difficult, taking much longer to warm up to human friends and happy to let his brother Meowzart lead the way.

Pizza Hut

Meet Pizza Hut, a sweet 45-pound pup ready for his forever home! Though shy at first, he’s gaining confidence and loves gentle play with

other dogs. He’d do well in a home with a calm dog companion or as a solo pup with social dog friends. Pizza Hut is eager to learn, food motivated, and walks nicely on a leash. If you’re looking for a loving, playful companion, Pizza Hut is the perfect fit!

The OAS adoption process focuses on matching you with a pet who is a good fit for you and your family. Come by during open adoption hours Thursdays 12–7 pm and Fridays/ Saturdays/Sundays 12–3 pm to adopt your new best friend, or to learn more about the OAS adoption process. Please see the OAS website to learn more about how you can help by adopting, fostering, volunteering, and donating: www.oaklandanimalservices.org

Robbie

Pawcasso and Meowzart

Pizza Hut

the forefront of social movements and political change that have shaped our city, our country, and our world. From gay liberation to AIDS, union organizing to political campaigns, Cleve has seen and done it all.

Cleve is turning 70 on Friday, October 11, 2024—a milestone that, as a man living with HIV for decades, he never expected to reach. And, in typical Cleve fashion, he has chosen to commemorate this milestone by raising funds for causes that speak deeply to him. The party, sponsored by Gilead Sciences, will officially launch The Cleve Jones Community Fund, which will be hosted by Horizons Foundation. The fund will support the two organizations he cofounded decades ago: the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the National AIDS Memorial, which is now home to the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

The party will include entertainment by San Francisco DJ Phil B; drag queen and singer Chris Housman; Anthony Wayne, who has electrified audiences by playing iconic disco pioneer Sylvester; and special performances by Our Lady J and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. The big-name entertainers are just one part of the festivities: the evening will begin with a procession of local groups who have worked with Cleve throughout the years: the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, union and political activists, drag performers, flaggers, and more. With Sister Roma and Juanita MORE! on board, you know this is going to be one hell of a party, and a joyful celebration of community. Years from now, be able to say, “I was there!” Tickets and info: https://tinyurl.com/Cleve70th

Castro Street Fair Turns 50!

Happy Fiftieth Birthday to the Castro Street Fair! I am looking forward to celebrating this milestone anniversary with you all on Sunday, October 6. See you there!

Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.

Every Thursday

Gender Youthphoria Support Group

(for TGNCI Youth Ages 16 - 24)

4:30 - 6:30 PM

SF LGBT Center

October 6

Be Infinite LatinX Health & Wellness Fund raiser

11 AM 1955 Broadway, Oakland, CA

Every Tuesday, starting October 8

Trans Thrive’s Non-Binary Support Group

3:30 PM 1460 Pine St.

October 16

Transintentional

Trans Masculine Support Group

6 PM

SF LGBT Center

October 17

Fresh Starts

Trans Feminine Support Group 6 PM SF LGBT Center

October 18

Spark Transgender Law Center Fundraiser 6 PM Terra Gallery 511 Harrison St.

October 25 & 26

Weaving Spirits Festival of Two-Spirit Performance 7 PM Brava Theater

October 26

Translayvania

3

1460 Pine St.

beginning with the essay from President Charles Moran urging GLBT voters to support Trump rather than the “radical sect” that backs Harris. Harris, he explains, is the pawn of “a small but powerful cabal of the LGBT Left, which wants to erase the concept of biological sex from society, expose young children to overtly sexualized and ideological content, and strip parents of their rights to make critical decisions about their children.”

The Log Cabin Club held a fundraising event at Mar-a-Lago back in April, featuring speaker Melania Trump, who was paid some $237,000 for her silver tongue. At the time, the press reported that the fee was paid by the local Log Cabin Club branch, but now we’re learning that the Log Cabin Club had nothing to do with the big bucks. Nor was the outlay listed on Trump-related campaign documents.

The Advocate speculates that gay Trumpophile Richard Grenell might have had something to do with the mystery cash. Grenell was reportedly looking for people to fund another Melania speech, this time at Trump Tower in July. It’s not clear if Melania was paid for that one, but she doesn’t seem like the sort of person who provides free favors for outside groups. The two events were raising cash for the Log Cabin crackpots, not for Trump.

And finally, I see that our gay GOP heroes were in Nashville last Sunday, raising money for Trump this time, rather than themselves. The Red White & Rock event would have cost you $500 at a minimum, but you would have had the chance to see Don Junior, Kid Rock, and Ric Flair!

I wasn’t sure who Ric Flair was so I looked him up and discovered a) he was a wrestler, b) he just split up with his fifth wife, and c) he was signing autographs in Nashville the morning before the party with Pete Rose, who died the next day! And Pete Rose looked okay in the photos. What happened? Warning!

“Warning to all parents” from One Million Moms! “Disney+ will soon release its new Marvel Studios series, Agatha All Along, a spin-off to Wandavision, that will include queer witches.” My curiosity piqued, I googled the movie and breezed past several tepid reviews without encountering the slightest Sapphic sentiment. I had to google: “Agatha All Along lesbian” before I learned that the main character once had a relationship with another witch, while another character was a gay male but not actively so.

The description in The Daily Beast says “recent reports” indicated that Disney writers were told to muffle the lesbian vibes on Inside Out 2, where “Riley” gets a crush on one of her field hockey teammates. This, reportedly, was due to some kind of bad vibes from a same-sex kiss on Lightyear that I missed last year.

“It seems to forever be a one step forward, two steps back situation when it comes to representation with Disney,” wrote Kevin Fallon for The Daily Beast. “The queerness of Agatha All Along suggests there’s a more inclusive light at the end of the MCU tunnel—or, at the very least, at the end of the Witches’ Road.” And no, I have no idea what MCU stands for. (Update: I think it’s “Marvel Cinematic Universe.”)

Meanwhile, here’s one of the rare times when I actually agree with a critique from the One Million Moms. The earlier accord was our mutual disgust with commercials for full body deodorants, with their explicit references to genital hygiene. Keep it off the screens, people!

Now comes a legitimate complaint about Wild Willies “panty dropper” ads, which among other things are just plain stupid. Wild Willies sells beard products, and the ad implies that women who are confronted by a man with a lovely Wild Willie beard can’t help but drop their underwear around their ankles, which is shown in the spot. Say what? Really? Many straight women don’t even like beards (I am told), and the idea that female sexuality is expressed in this manner comes straight out of a frat boy fantasy, not out of actual life.

The Moms were thrilled to announce that the ad has been pulled from several television stations, while the CEO of Wild Willies said some of his critics are “overreacting” and “getting their knickers” in a twist. “Our humor is not for everyone, just like other peoples’ humor is not for us.”

Hey, I’m the first person to take a stand in support of raunchy humor, Buddy, but your ad is not particularly funny and it’s sexist in a way that I can’t precisely put my finger on. Normally, I won’t make that accusation if I can’t explain it to myself, but I feel like saying it anyway. If any of you agree, please tell me why.

Ouch!

Speaking of Project 2025 and Opus Dei, the dog killers over there are not just against abortion, they are against contraception of any sort, including IUDs, the gizmos that (I think) are placed somewhere in or near the uterus in order to impede an egg from implanting.

Well, here’s some ammunition for their campaigns! It comes from an Australian influencer named Hayley Davies, who says her IUD “took a chunk” out of her boyfriend’s penis during sex. Oh, back up a sec. Davies, who had to have the device surgically removed at the hospital, said she “felt bad for the guy,” so he doesn’t really sound like an official boyfriend. Whatever their relationship, I’m thinking this fellow is not going back to Davies for any sexcapades in the future.

Oh, my God. Hold up again!

“It seems neither let the experience impact their relationship, as the model confessed that they did, in fact, see each other again ‘once everything healed,’” The New York Post reports.

“‘You gotta be dedicated to the process,’ she added.”

Thanks again to my dear cousin, whose name will remain a secret out of my concern for her reputation as an erudite intellectual who wouldn’t be caught dead reading the Post. She also gave me a piece about a Halloween company, Yandy, that sells an Ozempic injection costume.

That reminds me that I can’t get the Jardiance song out of my head. (“As time went on, it was easy to see ... I’m lower-ing my A1c!” And just writing that has made it worse.

Sing with me!

arostow@aol.com

FLAMING, FABULOUS & 50!

Thank You, Chief Jeanine Nicholson

By Marcy Fraser

(Editor’s Note: Vice President of the San Francisco Fire Department Commission Marcy Fraser spoke these words at a Divas & Drinks series event co-presented by the San Francisco Bay Times and The Academy SF on September 26, 2024. The event, Flaming, Fabulous & 50, highlighted both the Castro Street Fair and recently retired San Francisco Fire Department Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson.)

Jeanine Nicholson is the first LGBT Chief in the 138-year history of the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD), and was appointed by Mayor London Breed. She gave over 30 years of service, the last five as Chief of the Department. To honor someone is to show respect, admiration, and affection ... in public.

Many of us have had demanding jobs, with lots of long hours. But the job of the SFFD Fire Chief is not many hours; it’s all the hours! And two phones, a radio, lights and sirens. Getting into a vehicle with her was a busy ride with a variety of communication devices going off all the time.

SFFD is a large, diverse, busy, 1800-member organization. The Chief is responsible for protecting the lives and property of all San Franciscans and visitors. This includes the airport, 43 fire stations, 350–400 ambulance calls a day—that’s right, a day—in our city; plus community paramedicine,

Emergency Medical Services, fighting complex fires on narrow streets and steep hills, training, protecting her people from burning toxic batteries and chemicals, and so much more.

Our city is special, our fire department is special, and, you’ll love this: even our engines have to be custom made for our hills. Regular off-the-shelf fire engines can’t handle our geography.

And, our Chief is special. Besides all of the responsibilities she had 24/7, she is held up as a representative of the LGBT community in the department and the wide world of fire departments, firefighting science, and practice across the state and country. That’s a heavy load as well.

As a former paramedic, she brought her own particular compassion to SFFD as Chief, in helping create the street crisis teams, providing services for overdoses and other street level needs and emergencies, as well as large scale events such as Pride, the Superbowl, and others.

The effect on a community of a key leader is many layered and must be appreciated. Her enlightened politics showed up in the leaders she appointed and mentored.

Chief Nicholson committed a significant amount of time and energy to new recruits, building and diversifying the department & creating opportunity for our local youth. She fully appreciates how a career with SFFD can change a life and a family’s life. At the Fire Academy graduations, her delight and connection with the young, new members was energizing to them and their families, and to all of us. She lifted up women and young lesbians and queer people.

As the leader of a diverse organization of 1800, she gave and got respect and love from her people.

I am one of five Fire Commissioners, all reluctant to see her go, but all in agreement. We wish her a robust, healthy retirement. And time. As an old hospice nurse, I learned how precious our time here is. Time away from work, time to explore, and just to live life.

We will miss her, and her humor. For all of us, I can say we are proud of and grateful to our Chief. She leaves the SFFD a better place by leaving her unique mark. She deserves our appreciation, utmost respect, and love.

Marcy Fraser is the Vice President of the San Francisco Fire Department Commission.

Recently retired SFFD Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson (second from right) with Police Commissioner Debra Walker, Deputy Chief Shayne Kaialoa, and VP of the Fire Commission Marcy Fraser

San Francisco Giants’ Iowayna Peña speaking at the celebration for retired Chief Jeanine Nicholson at Divas & Drinks Mayor London Breed and officers of the San Francisco Fire Department welcomed Chief Jeanine Nicholson on the steps of the City Hall Rotunda on her appointment as the first out lesbian to head SFFD. (2019)

San Francisco Bay Times, October 7, 2021

Deputy Chief Shayne Kaialoa, retired Chief Jeanine Nicholson, and Lt. Mariano Elias, SFFD Public Information Officer

FLAMING, FABULOUS

A preview of the Castro Street Fair and a celebration of recently retired San Francisco Fire Department Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson took place at Flaming, Fabulous & 50! on September 26, 2024, as part of the Divas & Drinks @ The Academy event series.

Divas & Drinks emcee Donna Sachet began the evening by introducing Sundance Saloon’s Ingu Yun, who provided line-dance lessons. The line-dancers from Sundance Saloon are a popular attraction at the Castro Street Fair, which this year is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and will take place on Sunday, October 6. Vice President of the fair, Fred Lopez, provided additional information and encouraged guests to attend.

Also from the fair was drag artist and performer Afrika America, who performed a beautiful rendition of “For Good” from the musical Wicked, dedicating it to Nicholson. The moment was captured on video by guest Carol Batte and may be viewed here: https://bit.ly/4gOFJJf

Lopez and fair Board Member Riley Manlapaz made both Yun and Afrika America’s performances possible. The organizers are grateful for their help.

Sharing powerful words of gratitude to Nicholson were San Francisco Police Commissioner Debra Walker, Deputy Chief Shayne Kaialoa, and San Francisco Fire Department Commission Vice President Marcy Fraser. Fraser’s words are included in full in this issue.

A “Parade of Gifts” for Nicholson followed and began with a presentation from San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford and SF Pride President Nguyen Pham. Congratulations were also directed to Pham, who is stepping down from the SF Pride Board due to the end of his allotted term. He was also recently named President of the Mensa Foundation. Pham has long been part of Mensa, which is an international organization for people who score in the top 2% of the general population on a standardized intelligence test. Ford and Pham presented Nicholson with a coveted rainbow flag that flew during Pride.

FLAMING, FABULOUS & 50!

Other gifts for retired Chief Nicholson included:

• items from the San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® presented by Melissa Cherry and Pam Q;

• tickets presented by Beth Schnitzer of SpritzSF to the Mill Valley Film Festival, October 3–13, including Opening Night and Closing Night screenings and parties;

• tickets to a San Francisco Giants game presented by Iowayna Peña, Director of Real Estate and Development for the Giants;

• select gifts from the Castro store Local Take as chosen by the owner, Jenn Meyer, who is also the President of the Castro Street Fair;

• a gift certificate and flowers from Mollie Stone’s Castro presented by Assistant General Manager Yvonne Merzenich (Marketing Director Erika Petyszyn also attended);

• two tickets to a San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) concert presented by SFGMC Board Chair Tom Paulino, who is also the Liaison to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Mayor London Breed;

• tickets to Songs of the Season at Feinstein’s at The Nikko, December 10–11, presented by Donna Sachet;

• a lunch or dinnertime Stroll & Gourmet Experience with “The Foodie Chap,” Liam Mayclem, who is a San Francisco Bay Times columnist and KCBS personality;

• a gift bag from the National Center for Lesbian Rights;

• tickets to Women’s Kayaking at Pillar Point with Blue Water Ventures and “Betty’s List” on Saturday, November 2, 2024;

• Cal Performances tickets to either a performance by Pilobolus (November 30 and December 1) or The Nutcracker Suite with Dorrance Dance (December 14 and 15) at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley;

• San Francisco Opera tickets to either Carmen or Tristan & Isolde ;

• San Francisco Symphony tickets to Holiday Gaiety on December 13 at Davies Symphony Hall;

• San Francisco Pride Band tickets to their upcoming concert on September 29, and also to the Dance-Along Nutcracker 2024 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (Saturday and Sunday, December 7 & 8);

• and tickets to attend Cris Williamson’s 50th Anniversary of The Changer and the Changed concert, as the guest of the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors at Freight & Salvage, Elizabeth Seja Min, on Sunday, January 12, 2025.

DJ Olga T presented by Olivia Travel and Sachet then began a new game created for this event, Great Bells of Fire. Whenever guests heard a fire-themed song, they vied to get the attention of Sachet, who rang the “fire bell” and awarded the winner with a bottle of Napa Cellars wine. There were 10 lucky winners by evening’s end.

The San Francisco Bay Times, which co-presents the Divas & Drinks series, thanks presenting sponsor Comcast, and, in addition to Olivia and The Academy SF, sponsors Extreme Pizza, the San Francisco Federal Credit Union, and Breakthru Beverage Group. Please join us for the next Divas & Drinks —on Halloween Night, October 31, at The Academy SF! Details will be announced soon.

https://www.academy-sf.com/

A Bevy of Queer Shorts and Features at This Year’s Mill Valley Film Festival

Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It is a loving tribute to the late, great, gay (and largely closeted) musician who had remarkable career highs and some very low personal moments. Director Paris Barclay emphasizes the former, showcasing Preston’s astonishing music prowess. As a youth, he played in his church and performed in gospel groups before going on tour at age 16 with Little Richard. He performed with Ray Charles and the Beatles.

Adams), a wise beyond her years 12-year-old. (Her mother claims she was “born looking for trouble.”) Angry that her father Bug (Barry Keoghan) is getting re-married, and combatant towards her mom Payton’s (Jasmine Jobson) abusive boyfriend (James Nelson-Joyce), Bailey befriends

The Mill Valley Film Festival runs October 3–13 at various locations. This year’s program features a dozen features, documentaries, and shorts that are by, for, and about the LGBTQ community, including early chances to see Luca Guadagnino’s Queer and Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door Here is a rundown of six features and four shorts screening at this year’s fest.

The vibrant trans narco musical Emilia Pérez is an operatic story of love, violence, and the power of women. A propulsive audacious experience, director Jacques Audiard’s film has Rita Moro Castro (Zoe Saldana), a lawyer in Mexico City, hired by

the drug kingpin Manitas Del Monte (trans actress Karla Sofia Gascón in a dual role), to help him get a sex change. Four years later, Manitas, now Emilia Pérez, wants Rita to help her get her wife Jessi (Selena Gomez) and kids back. It’s a risky prospect because Jessi and their children are unaware of Emilia’s identity. Moreover, both Jessi and Emilia Pérez develop romantic feelings for other people. As a battle between Emilia and Jessi ensues, with Rita caught in the middle, Emilia Pérez builds to its explosive finale. The musical numbers, which include one about vaginoplasty, are fabulous and Saldana is sensational. While it may not be for all tastes, Emilia Pérez is just like its title character: unique, bold, and uncompromising. Audiard’s film is sensational in every regard. See it on the big screen before it hits Netflix.

explicitly queer—Bird does provide a palpable sensory experience.

But the wealth and fame he achieved was eroded as he succumbed to drug and alcohol addiction. He was arrested multiple times for various crimes and eventually was incarcerated. Barclay’s documentary features Preston’s friends—Ringo Starr and Eric Clapton, among them—recalling their interactions with this musical genius who had difficulty reconciling his sexuality and his religion. The performance clips are electrifying, which only magnifies the tragedy of the troubles Preston experienced.

Bird is writer/director Andrea Arnold’s moody, intense drama about Bailey (Nykiya

a skirt-wearing stranger named Bird (Franz Rogowski), who may be a savant. The bond that develops between Bailey and Bird is kind of a chosen family; they each grapple with their awkward personal situations, which forms the film’s emotional core. Bird unfolds largely through Bailey’s eyes thanks to Andrea’s intimate, handheld camerawork. While the moments of magical realism amid the characters’ hardscrabble lives may be too precious—and the film is not

Griffin Nafly (Everett Blunck), the teenage protagonist of the heartfelt coming-ofage comedy Griffin in Summer, obsesses over staging his latest dramatic production to equity standards. However, Griffin’s aspirations are met with a distraction in the form of Brad (Owen Teague), a bad boy handyman whose loud music breaks Griffin’s concentration. But when Griffin learns that Brad is a failed New York City performance artist, he soon obsesses over the decade-older hunk, plying him with whiskey, as well as texting and meeting him regularly. Brad is oblivious to Griffin’s obvious crush, but he agrees to appear in Griffin’s play—a drama about buying into the idea of love only to discover that it is a black hole of betrayal and despair. Soon, life imitates art and Griffin must confront his desires head-on. Writer/ director Nicholas Colia’s sensitive film features both cringe-inducing moments and scenes of deadpan comedy, along with a pitch-perfect performance from Blunck and a sly supporting turn from Teague.

Out gay writer/director Pedro Freire’s debut feature Malu is an impassioned character study set in 1990s Rio. The headstrong Malu (Yara de Novaes), a once successful actress, hopes to open a theater and cultural center. Malu lives with her mother, Lili (Juliana Carneiro de Cunha), who does not appreciate Malu smoking weed, or hanging out with the queer Tibira (Átila Bee). Lili tries to get the local priest to “help” Malu, but that intervention

(continued on page 28)

Film

Gary M. Kramer

Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia

Malu

ends in a fight where both mother and daughter injure each other. When Malu’s adult daughter, Joana (Carol Duarte), arrives from São Paulo, Malu must navigate another fraught familial relationship. A health issue soon shifts the dynamic between the women. Freire’s film, inspired by his own mother, is like its titular character—tough and tender in equal measure, and de Novaes’ performance is compelling.

The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka, by Bay Area filmmaker Julie Rubio, is a hagiographic documentary that recounts the life and times of the titular bisexual art deco artist. Underappreciated in her lifetime, when her portraits of female nudes were groundbreaking, her work is now highly valued by collectors including Barbra Streisand, Madonna, and others. Rubio shows how de Lempicka reinvented herself as this aristocratic, Jewish, and female artist who was oppressed by patriarchal, social, religious, and political forces throughout the 20th century. Alas, her relationship with Suzy Solidor, who modeled for de Lempicka, is only briefly mentioned. The numerous paintings on display are marvelous, and the series of talking heads—which include San Francisco’s Paula Birbaum and Dr. Furio Rinaldi— make a case for de Lempicka’s importance, Unfortunately, director Rubio does the artist’s fascinating life a disservice by making repetitive if salient points, especially about her being treated unfairly in the art world because she was a woman.

There are some worthwhile LGBTQ shorts screening at the Mill Valley Film Festival. Mother is a terrific observational documentary featuring Malia Spanyol, who bemoans the absence of lesbian bars in San Francisco (they all closed). She soon opens Mother, a queer bar. As she manages everything from the tricky plumbing to the straight men who can upset the vibe, to hosting a “prom” theme night, Malia’s efforts are laudatory. Mother chronicles the development of a much-needed space for the lesbian queer community, and this short will make anyone who sees it want to visit.

Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia is an inspiring and hopeful biographical portrait

of the transman Cal Calamia, who grew up as a young girl and felt “that everything about me was wrong.” Through photos, videos, and a poignant voiceover, Cal recounts his story, which involves depression and anxiety, and how running proved to be lifesaving for him. This short, heartfelt doc emphasizes that transpeople can thrive when they are able to be themselves.

Sixteen is an excellent drama about Yumi (Anel Marat), a religious teen whose friend Helen (Miyu Roberts) unexpectedly outs her. Yumi is suddenly adrift, uncertain about what Helen said, and confronted by her pastor (Seong Park), who told her parents. As Yumi is directed to a support group, she first wants to talk with Helen, who may be ignoring her. Sixteen is a modest but satisfying drama that speaks to the fear some teenagers have around being gay, as well as how Yumi finds a way to recover her sense of self after experiencing powerlessness.

Something Borrowed, Something Pink is a smart short about acceptance as Natalie (Samora La Pérdida), a trans woman, attends both the bachelor party for her best friend, Max (Tristao Darius Azor), as well as the bachelorette party hosted by Max’s fiancé, Jillian (Yadira Guevara). The two very different gatherings help Natalie establish her place in the couple’s lives as the dynamics of love and friendship evolve. The film shifts from a fun space to something more poignant and thoughtful as Natalie tries to bridge the gap between her and Jillian. Moreover, writer/director Nadia Johnson’s short is well-acted and stylishly filmed.

© 2024 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.” He teaches Short Attention Span Cinema at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute and is the moderator for Cinema Salon, a weekly film discussion group. Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer

Emilia Pérez

Reel Delicious

Off the Wahl

Jan Wahl

Danny Kaye serving Chinese dishes he cooked at Madame Wu’s. Mel Brooks holding court at Nate and Al’s. Teen throb Ricky Nelson chowing down burgers at Hamburger Hamlet. Zsa Zsa Gabor making sure everyone could see her in the front booth at Mario’s. Errol Flynn getting ready to pass out at the Cock ‘n Bull bar. Cary Grant always pausing at the top of the steps leading into the dining room at Lawry’s. Sinatra making The Farmers’ Market swing.

Soup, and What’s Cooking right at the top of the list. But how do we forget Chocolat, Ratatouille, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, SOMM (you will never look at your sommelier the same way), Julie & Julia, The Hundred Foot Journey somebody stop me, please!

My most delicious recent experience with food and film was at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in beautiful Napa. In their state-of-the-art movie theatre, I watched The Taste of Things, a lavish French foodie romance starring Juliette Binoche. It was followed by an amazing dinner in the adjoining dining room/display kitchen. Heaven. Now Copia is doing it bigger and better. Dig into this!

It is called Flavors of Film: A Celebration, beginning October 12. You’ll find me there viewing 2004’s Sideways, then a Q and A with director Alexander Payne (The Holdovers, Election) and Virginia Madsen, the sensuous woman who loves wine as art in the film. She falls for Paul Giamatti, a true wine snob.

Hey, the stars had to eat somewhere! These images and more come to mind as I contemplate the connection between food, film, and actors of the Golden Age, especially in West Los Angeles, where I was fortunate to live in my early years. My parents would celebrate a good business week by taking my sisters and I out to eat. I used to wish it was the 1930s and 1940s so I could see the glamorous stars, the ones like Harlow, Gable, and Mae West whom I loved reading about. Seeing Rosalind Russell at Scandia and Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood at the Escoffier Room was the next best thing.

Eventually, real life blended into my obsessive movie life. I particularly watched for movies that showed food and wine. From Kate Hepburn trying to impress Fred MacMurray with a fancy roast in Alice Adams to Sean Connery ordering his martini shaken not stirred, I saw how food scenes could incorporate character, plot, and design.

I take these observations right through to now, with movies like Babette’s Feast, Eat Drink Man Woman, Tortilla

After the Q and A with these true film talents, we will go on to dinner.

To quote the Gershwins: “Who could ask for anything more?” As time goes on, the Copia series will show The Truffle Hunters, Goddesses of Food, Uncorked, Common Ground, and more, combined with filmmaker guests and astounding chefs.

Thomas Bensel is Managing Director of the Culinary Institute of America at Copia. He told me for the San Francisco Bay Times : “We partnered with the Napa Film Festival for the 20th anniversary of Sideways. Netflix came in, and (then) the French Consulate for Goddesses of Food and the Italian Consulate for Truffle Hunters.”

He added, “The film Common Ground is near and dear to me since I served for years on a board with farmers and love behind the scenes portrayals of the actual work from field to prep to dish. Big Night is always a favorite, along with today’s hot TV show The Bear. CIA at Copia is thrilled to celebrate the rich connection of food and film, joining us for this continuous series where culinary art meets cinematic excellence.”

(continued on page 44)

Thomas Bensel

Leave Signs

Jewelle Gomez

I loved Halloween when I was a kid in Boston in the 1950s, especially when I got to “trick or treat” at the Regent where my father, Duke, was the bartender. Ironically, in a place I was not meant to enter, I felt most safe in the arms of community there.

The Regent wasn’t a middle-class cocktail lounge. It was a corner joint; Brits would call it their “local.” Whoever came regularly was a regular, even if they weren’t that regular. The neighborhood guy in his middle years meeting a woman on a date for the first time; the drag queen who stopped by after work at the trucking company before she changed into her heels; the off-duty ladies of the evening; betters and bookies on a time out; the old aunt from upstairs who never left the block. It was a world in miniature. And the white postman sometimes

Jewelle Gomez

The Veil Between the Worlds

stopped for a freely given cup of coffee on his route.

On Halloween, patrons dropped money in my trick or treat bag since people rarely carried around a pocketful of candy apples or chocolate bars. So, before I had any understanding of the history or meaning of All Hallows’ Eve or its relationship to pagan feast days such as Samhain, I always associated the night with friends and elders watching out for me.

It’s supposed to be a time when the veil between the worlds is thinner, meaning the connection between us and our ancestors is stronger. As an adult, I came to like the holiday even more and use it as a time to think about the wonderful experiences and learning I had with my fam-

ily who are now ancestors. As I get older, I also think about the friends I’ve lost along the way.

Diane and I decided to get married (when the law finally allowed it) on the Halloween weekend, feeling like it was a chance for our ancestors to pierce that veil and be with us as we made our commitment official. I rented a wedding gown for my costume to answer the door to trick or treaters, which was worth it for the looks on parents’ faces!

The actual wedding theme was Barbary Coast bordello, so I spruced up in a shiny corset and Diane in a matching vest for the ceremony held in the San Francisco Public Library. That truly enhanced the sense of our dear ones joining us.

Top of your stack

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOOK PASSAGE

This Halloween month, I think of two folks we recently lost and how much I counted on them to ground me in the Bay Area. They will always peak through that veil for me.

Peggy Moore ( https://bit.ly/3zIb0go ) was an Oakland-based politician. I think of her more as a community activist who pulled people together. When she invited me to a lesbian picnic in an Oakland park twenty years ago, I knew I belonged. Bumping into her at an event was like meeting up with sunshine.

Kevin Fisher-Paulson ( https://bit.ly/47TxSX4 ) was a Sheriff’s deputy and a columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle who wrote lovingly about his family—his partner, a dancer, his two adopted (bi-racial) sons, along with his late mother, Nurse Vivian, and Brother X and Brother XX (maintaining their anonymity). He didn’t deliver the Lifetime TV version of his life, but revealed a tough reality for which love seemed to provide a good landing. He, his husband Brian, and the kids could have come trick or treating at Duke’s bar any time.

Jewelle Gomez is a lesbian/feminist activist, novelist, poet, and playwright. She’s written for “The Advocate,” “Ms. Magazine,” “Black Scholar,” “The San Francisco Chronicle,” “The New York Times,” and “The Village Voice.” Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @VampyreVamp

Creation Lake (fiction - hardcover) by Rachel Kushner

Creation Lake follows Sadie Smith, an American secret agent sent to infiltrate a rural commune in France, where she manipulates everyone around her under the orders of shadowy contacts. As she does, she becomes captivated by Bruno Lacombe, a mysterious figure advocating for a return to ancient ways of life, challenging her control and worldview.

Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks From the Stone Age to AI (non-fictionhardcover) by Yuval Noah Harari

In Nexus, Yuval Noah Harari examines how information networks have shaped human history, from the Stone Age to the age of AI, driving both progress and destruction. As we face ecological collapse

and misinformation, he explores the relationship between information, truth, and power, urging us to rethink its role in our shared future.

Colored Television: A Novel (fiction - hardcover) by Danzy Senna

In this sharp dark comedy, a struggling writer, Jane, hopes to turn her life around while housesitting in the hills of Los Angeles. As she juggles her stalled novel and dreams of stability, she turns to Hollywood for a second chance, only to face unexpected setbacks.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, October 9 @ 6 pm (non-ticketed - Corte Madera store) Mirabai Starr, author of Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred Ground

(continued on page 44)

All Fours by Miranda July

We’ve never read a more wild and electrically true story of how it is to be a middle-aged woman but not feel like one. This book is a feral and brilliant adventure, a wild rumpus of transformation, deeply queer, and wickedly, slyly funny. We can’t stop shouting about it.

Queer Horror: A Film

Guide by Sean Abley and Tyler Doupé

With over 900 entries, this exhaustive (but never exhausting!) filmography details and examines the long history of LGBTQIA content in horror films, from the early silents up through today’s megaplex studio releases. Cinéastes will appreciate the book’s playful but erudite essays, and horror fans will discover plenty of titles to add to their watchlists.

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel

The contention that Frog and Toad have become queer, anticapitalistic, cottagecore icons is being bandied about a lot online these days. We won’t try and persuade you one way or the other on this hot topic. Instead, we suggest you read the book and decide for yourself!

https://www.fabulosabooks.com/

Jewelle Gomez and Diane Sabin

Remembering Randy Shilts (1951-1994)

Why Are All Gay Journalists Called Randy? By

“Randy’s inviting us to have lunch with Quentin Crisp.”

The voice on the phone was David Israels, a fellow journalist friend, and himself the friend of fellow journalist Randy Shilts. Randy and I were colleagues, but sometimes rivals and not quite friends.

It was March 1979, four months after Dan White assassinated Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, but before White went on trial. A killer virus was silently spreading among gay men, but we wouldn’t hear the first scary reports for two more years.

Randy, David, and I were each 30, more or less, and each was freelancing. I was producing The Gay Life radio show for rock-and-roll station KSAN-FM and contributing to such diverse publications as the Berkeley Barb, The Book of Lists #2, and the Whole Earth Catalog (The San Francisco Bay Times had started and stopped publishing the year before. It would begin again when co-founders Bill Hartman and Roland Schembari revived it later in 1979 as Coming Up! The name changed back to the San Francisco Bay Times in 1989.)

David was writing about the gay community, television, and videogames for the San Francisco Bay Guardian, one of America’s premier alt-weeklies. Randy was reporting for KQED-TV and KTVU-TV, as well as writing for Christopher Street and Blueboy

I mainly knew Randy from when we were both at the same place and the same time covering the same stories of interest to the growing gay (still a multi-gender umbrella term in those preLGBTQ+ days) population of San Francisco. We overlapped, sometimes working on the same news outlets: The Advocate, New West, San Francisco Focus, and KSAN.

We even lived in the same neighborhood near 16th and Sharon streets for a while, but the only time I can recall either of us visiting the other’s house was a rollicking afternoon with David Israels. The three of us camped it up as Randy showed us some naughties, oddities, and queeriosities from his postcard collection. Like Randy, I too was a postcard collector.

The invitation to have lunch with Quentin Crisp was Randy’s because the event was at KQED, then headquartered at Eighth and Bryant.

It was not my first encounter with Crisp. I’d interviewed him for the Barb several months earlier. Crisp, you may recall, spent 50 years out of the closet as an “obvious” femme male homosexual in London of the 1930s, ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s. Surviving that homophobic era was a miracle of sorts, doing it with panache and good humour (British, you know) an existential triumph.

This icon of English gayness was in town to tout the PBS rebroadcast of The Naked Civil Servant, starring John Hurt in the dramatization of Crisp’s autobiography.

Crisp was accompanied by his tour agent, likely as gay as the man himself. Also present in the conference room were KQED

PR chief Jean Alexander and three journalists I hadn’t met before, all of them gay: Terrence O’Flaherty, longtime TV critic of The San Francisco Chronicle ; Michael Munzell, TV critic of The Peninsula Times Tribune ; and Jack Armstrong, Northern California editor of TV Guide

That was a lot of traditional media power sitting around the luncheon table. Remember: This was before social media, smartphones, flip phones, email, and the World Wide Web.

Randy, David, and I had agreed beforehand to follow the intended mood of the day by generally asking easy “softball” questions of the guest of honor, who was widely admired by straight as well as gay audiences. But as conscientious journalists, we would ask a single “hard” question.

So, after Crisp answered a short series of polite, soft queries (queeries?) dipping into his standard witty repertoire, we threw the verbal bomb: Why had Crisp presumed

to write that all gay men at least secretly desire a heterosexual man as sex partner? Crisp looked surprised by the sudden change of tone, but he gamely began: “It was facetious ... “

Across the table from us, Jack Armstrong interrupted with a harumph: “That’s the trouble with you young gay liberationists, you have no sense of camp!”

Randy, David, and I exchanged glances. This was a generational challenge that could not be ignored.

In short order, more dish was flying over the table than there were dishes set upon it.

Quentin Crisp and six verbally adept Bay Area gay journalists had at it.

Randy was all too happy to let the august assemblage know that he lived on Harlow Street: “Every gay man wants an address like that.”

There was lots of “girl” and “Oh, Mary,” of course, a little mock bitchiness—can I say that?—and at least a soupçon of just plain old nonsense.

Jean Alexander, the only woman (and only straight person, I think) in the room, was flummoxed. The poor PR pro was alternately wondering what was going on, and blushing at the sometimes-risqué remarks. Finally, Crisp called a truce, holding up his hands palm down and lowering them with great ceremony.

The rapid exchange seemed brilliant at the time, but wine had been served, and I could hardly remember any waggish repartee by the next day. The campy froth had collapsed like a fallen soufflé or melted like yesterday’s whipped cream.

O’Flaherty’s Chronicle column a few days later characterized Crisp as “like an English gentlewoman presiding over the tea tray” with “mock solemnity and keen wit.”

The KQED luncheon began my warm— but platonic, if you must know—friendship with Terrence O’Flaherty. He retired from the Chronicle in 1986 and died in 2001, age 83.

Facing an early death from HIV, David Israels retired in the mid-1990s to his college town of Athens, Ohio, but was saved by protease inhibitors. He died at age 69 in 2022.

Michael Munzell went on to become Executive Production Editor at the old Hearstowned San Francisco Examiner, where he hired me on for a big project in 1999. We also worked together on writing the first style guide for NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists. Michael is now retired and living in the East Bay.

Randy Alfred

https://tinyurl.com/972r4297

https://makinggayhistory.org/podcast/randy-shilts/

Jack Armstrong returned to his home state of West Virginia. We recontacted with the help of email in the late 1990s, but eventually lost touch.

I asked KQED where Jean Alexander went after leaving the station, but it was a long time ago. No one knows.

I interviewed Quentin Crisp again later that year for The Gay Life on KSAN. You can listen to it on the GLBT Historical Society website: https://bit.ly/3ZJNzxJ Crisp died in 1999 at nearly 91 years old. Randy Shilts died of AIDS in 1994 at age 42.

How is it then that Randy and I—two early gay male journalists who came out of the closet around the same time, who migrated to San Francisco around the same time, who covered some of the same news stories, who worked for some of the same publications, who shared the hobby of postcard-collecting, and who ran into each other in the Castro many times—were not actually friends?

For the answer to that and many other questions, you can pick up a copy of Michael G. Lee’s new Shilts biography, When the Band Played On (yes, the title’s a riff on Randy’s own 1987 book about AIDS, And the Band Played On). Lee’s deft narrative shows how our careers crisscrossed and intertwined for two tumultuous decades of queer life in San Francisco.

The biography includes an even-handed account of Randy and me competing for the same post at the Chronicle (spoiler

KPIX reporter Wilson Walker’s special report on the forthcoming biography of Randy Shilts was broadcast during Pride Month 2024.

Episode 1 of KQED’s Making Gay History series features journalist Randy Shilts reporting from Sacramento and other settings.

Randy Shilts with Harvey Milk (1978) (continued on page 44)

Randy Alfred

Remembering Randy Shilts (1951-1994)

Excerpt From When the Band Played On: The Life of Randy Shilts

By Michael G. Lee

On August 17, 1981, Randy walked into the [San Francisco Chronicle] newsroom at Fifth and Mission as a full-time reporter for a nationally respected newspaper, and the first openly gay journalist hired to cover a gay beat. He brought along a diary to document any hostile encounters, but instead, he recalled, “Everybody was great. Everybody went out of their way to be nice.”

Others, however, noticed a certain guardedness in the ranks. “There were a bunch of World War II veterans who sat in the back and smoked and played chess and balanced their checkbooks and sometimes did what they called shirt-sleevers,” remembered Katy Butler. “Which is, you sort of sashay out the back door and go to the bar that was in the alley around the block.”

“I would say they were sexually nervous—some of them,” commented colleague Susan Sward. Together with Katy, she and Randy formed a cluster near the city desk. His confidence was immediately apparent, Susan noted, but “I just remember looking at him across the room and thinking, Oh boy. Here comes the flowered tie and the big curly Afro ... I thought, Ooh, I don’t know if the Chronicle is ready for this! ”

Seeing Randy on the outside looking in, Susan took to him like a sympathetic older sister. Over tuna sandwiches at a nearby café, she asked why he’d settled in San Francisco, to which he mischievously answered, “It was a candy store!”

True to his general assignment mandate, Randy’s initial reporting stuck to mundane city matters like public drunkenness. Gay-related features began to noticeably increase, however, from human-interest pieces to reports of gay bashings and muggings that weren’t usually covered outside the gay press. At the Castro Street Fair that fall, Randy bumped into Anne Kronenberg during a break in the entertainment. As they stood talking, an activist took the stage and began warning of an unknown illness, but no one was listening. “People were there to party,” Anne recalled. “He didn’t get booed, but nobody paid any attention. Just, you know, ‘Stop being a downer. We don’t want to hear about this.’”

In early June the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had first raised concerns in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, an announcement that garnered a few ripples in the press. In the Chronicle, David Perlman quickly followed up with his own brief account, while the New York Times entered the fray in early July, after the MMWR reported that Kaposi sarcoma, a rare skin cancer, had been diagnosed in twenty-six gay men in New York and California.

After hearing about it from a friend, Steve came home and asked Randy if he knew anything about a gay cancer. “He took a deep breath,” Steve recalled. “Yeah,” Randy told him, “I have been looking at it.” But when the Chronicle revisited the strange outbreak in midfall, the byline went to one of its science correspondents.

Educator, author, and activist Michael G. Lee has had a passion for storytelling for more than two decades. “When the Band Played On: The Life of Randy Shilts” (Chicago Review Press, 2024) is his first book.

https://bit.ly/3TSKiIG

Randy Shilts, his partner Barry Barbieri, and his dog Dash were featured on their 1992 holiday card.

Michael G. Lee

Photos courtesy of Chicago Review Press

Remembering Randy Shilts (1951-1994)

Faces from Our LGBT Past

Dr. Bill Lipsky

Michael G. Lee has done all of us a great favor. With When the Band Played On, he has written a biography of Randy Shilts, one of the most influential and controversial chroniclers of San Francisco’s gay life in the 1970s and 1980s, that is readable, compelling, and most importantly, insightful. From his difficult childhood to his untimely death, here is Shilts—a complex, enormously talented, hugely ambitious, confident, insecure, arrogant, self-centered, and loving individual—in all his humanity.

When the Band Played On: The Life of Randy Shilts, America’s Trailblazing Gay Journalist

Shilts was the first openly gay journalist to cover the gay community full time for a major American newspaper. He started there by reporting about “mundane city matters,” but thanks to both his efforts and his ego, “gay-related features began to noticeably increase.” Over time, however, writing about his world of young, single, white gay men, he often became more controversial than the stories he filed, especially when he lamented “the ‘gayttoization’ of the Castro,” where “the major common denominators for gays today are the three D’s—dope, dick, and dancing.”

“The paradox of Randy Shilts,” Lee writes, “would always be that in critically covering his community, he became an unacknowledged actor in his own stories.” Explaining the issues and the “lifestyle problems” of his generation of gay men, for example, he apparently never realized that he

was describing what was important and troubling to him personally, seemingly unaware that many gays were in stable relationships and successful careers, members of multiple communities—religious, professional, social—where real progress had allowed them to be themselves without fearing rejection.

Like all of us, Shilts simply got the story wrong sometimes. When he reviewed the first decade of the gay liberation movement in an article for Blueboy in 1979, Lee writes, “He noted that professional activists still had little to show in actual political victories,” which completely overlooked California’s Consenting Adult Sex Act, passed in 1975 after extensive lobbying efforts that showed the gay community had allies at least in State Assemblyman Willie Brown, State Senator George Moscone, and Governor Jerry Brown.

Lee describes a complicated, driven individual with both noble and self-serving objectives. “Even Randy’s most pointed critiques of gay life contained an unmistakable desire for a kinder, more inclusive gay culture,” he notes. Often ignoring the fact that there were other people in the community besides the men in the bars, the bathhouses, and the bushes, he was genuinely concerned that eventually they “will need more than a washboard stomach, a can of Crisco, a bottle of poppers, and an afterhours bar.”

Shilts’ dual complexity becomes apparent with the stories he chose to tell not only because they were important, but also because they could help him personally or professionally. Early in his career, Lee explains, he attended the Democratic National Convention in New York “with two main objectives: find the definitive gay story at the DNC and showcase his abilities to major news organizations.” Writing And the Band Played On, his vitally important and still controversial history of the AIDS epidemic’s early history, he also “was now focused on the Pulitzer Prize.”

Lee enables us to understand how Shilts often made himself controversial by telling readers what to do about the issues he was reporting. Like a chaperone at a make-out party who is always turning on the lights, he was especially adamant about closing San Francisco’s bathhouses, which he believed “are clearly a major problem with

AIDS,” even though he continued to go to them. His taking sides in a divisive argument angered many who believed he was betraying the gay community.

W hen Shilts moved from journalism to biography and history, he made a crucial decision that some later applauded and others deeply criticized: writing to the drama in the scenarios he constructed. With a great talent for finding and featuring enthralling stories, presented in a vivid, cinematic style—“first came the feeling of being different” read the opening line of Chapter One of The Mayor of Castro Street, his first book—he occasionally made choices that sacrificed balance and accuracy to the momentum of his narrative.

No choice was more controversial that his identifying Gaetan Dugas as “Patient O” of the AIDS epidemic in Band. “He knew that Gaetan wasn’t the only carrier [of the infection],” Lee writes, “but he had the most distinguishing features, an unforgettable name, and a charming disposition,” which made him “a compelling pseudo-villain, whose struggles lent credibility to the fears and frustrations of its beleaguered central characters.” He was “a comparatively late addition, woven into a story for which he wasn’t originally intended, for purposes that would be debated for decades.”

There was no debate, however, that Shilts had made very public an extremely important truth: by doing so little for so long, the unmovable indifference of government, medicine, health care, and society to a major—and growing—public health crisis had enabled the disease to spread unrestrained during the first five years after its appearance, the result of loathing of the gay community, petty squabbles, turf wars, scientific jealousies and rivalries, self-serving interests, and failures of political vision, principle, and equity.

Conduct Unbecoming, his third book, continued his examination of institutional and social attitudes toward members of the LGBT communities. Based upon extensive

(continued on page 44)

Sixth Annual SF Pride LGBTQ Golf Tournament Awards Party

The Fairmont Hotel’s Crown Room was the location for the San Francisco Pride LGBTQ Golf Tournament Awards Party on Friday, September 20, 2024. The free evening event honored 2024 SF Pride Excellence in Golf Award winner Tisha Alyn Abrea. The organizers shared that she received it “for her LGBT advocacy and representation as a trailblazer in professional golf and sports media.”

Former San Francisco Pride President Gary Virginia helped with a live auction and raffle, which benefited SF Pride. Items were donated by SF Oasis, the San Francisco Giants, the Golden State Warriors, and more. Among the other notables who attended were Suzanne Ford, SF Pride Executive Director; Nguyen Pham, SF Pride President; actress Ashley Driver; WPGA golfer Jamie Leno, who is a contributor to the San Francisco Bay Times and noted Aikido expert; Patrick Carney, Pink Triangle Founder; and more.

The event—sponsored by BMO U.S. with support from Tourism Ireland— featured wines from La Crema. DJ Newonce Gazelle spun tunes and kept the party going into the night.

The 6th Annual SF Pride Golf Tournament, the first LGBT tournament endorsed by the PGA of America, was held the next day at TPC Harding Park with golf pros and amateurs coming together to promote LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion in the world of golf.

SF Pride shared: “This event continues to grow in stature as it is covered in local and national media, sharing the message and work of San Francisco Pride and our amazing community.” https://sfpride.org/

Lesbian Fanbase Grows for Golden State Valkyries Ahead of Their Inaugural Season at Chase Center

Hey, Valkyrie fans!

Tickets officially go on sale October 7 for the Golden State Valkyries inaugural season at Chase Center. If you signed up early for season tickets (starting in December 2023), you are probably going to get a call from your personal rep to choose your tickets.

There is a lot of interest in having a “Lesbian and Friends Section.”

If this sounds good to you too, then ask them where the Lesbian Section is. We think it is Sections 115–116.

Since the price of tickets has not been released yet, there may be enough excitement to fill those sections and also 215 and 216, which should be at a different price point. No matter what, when they call, ask for the lesbian section. See you at the games! https://valkyries.com/

Deb Kinney, J.D., is Of Counsel at Johnston, Kinney & Zulaica LLP. She is one of the three founders of the firm. She is a longtime supporter of the “San Francisco Bay Times” and is a sports fan who is looking forward to the inaugural season of the Golden State Valkyries.

Jess Smith, Golden State Valkyries President, with Robin Roberts on “Good Morning America” - 5.14.24

By Deb Kinney, J.D.

Community Celebration & Unveiling of Monument Honoring Dr. Maya Angelou

Outside the San Francisco Main Library on Thursday, September 19, 2024, Mayor London Breed—along with other city officials, art community representatives, and family members of Dr. Maya Angelou (1928–2014)—gathered for the unveiling of the Portrait of a Phenomenal Woman monument commemorating Dr. Angelou. Standing 8-feet tall and 6-feet wide, and weighing approximately 6,900 pounds, the artwork sits atop a basalt stone base.

The portrait was created by artist Lava Thomas based on a still image taken from the video recording of a 1973 interview of Dr. Angelou by journalist Bill Moyers. (The interview can be viewed at YouTube: https://bit.ly/3N6FImt )

The monument is the first in San Francisco’s Civic Art Collection commemorating a Black woman, and includes the inscription of an inspiring quote from Dr. Angelou addressing the importance of connecting with others through shared experience.

The San Francisco Public Library has issued a special edition library card featuring the portrait of Dr. Angelou drawn by Thomas for the monument.

During World War II, Angelou, a teenager at the time, briefly worked as a streetcar conductor in San Francisco, collecting fares and ensuring passenger safety. She later had other ties to the city, including befriending former San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus artistic director Dr. Tim Seelig. To read more about her work as a streetcar conductor, go to https://bit.ly/4eHwngG

Bay Times Dines

Mezcal: A Spirit Born of Time and Tradition

Cocktails with Dina

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 until October 15, as a time to celebrate the vibrant diversity and heritage of Latinx culture. And yes, that includes Latinx booze traditions. Everyone already knows about star spirits such as tequila and rum, but for me the real star of the month is mezcal.

No other spirit showcases as much species diversity and geographical influence. No other spirit is as varied and distinct. And as National Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close (and incidentally, National Mezcal Day arrives), it feels appropriate to say that mezcal can be seen as a metaphor that mirrors the culture, vibrancy, and resilience of the Latinx world.

Mezcal, a spirit of modern-day Mexico called the “elixir of the gods,” symbolizes the strength and transcendence of the Latinx identity, grounded in heritage but adaptable to modern contexts. Similarly, Latinx heritage is a story of resilience and transformation. Latinx communities have overcome challenges throughout history, and just like mezcal, have emerged more complex and layered.

One producer who stands out and showcases the diversity of terroir is Mezcal Derrumbes. Mezcal Derrumbes is born from the painstaking process of roasting, fermenting, and distilling site-specific agave and then using distinctive production techniques to feature the unique flavors and expressions of each state. Each bottle highlights and celebrates the master distillers, craftsmanship, and traditions from the region it represents.

T his October, let us celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month and the Latinx community with the drink “La Ofrenda.” This drink, which translates as “The Offering,” takes its name from the altars or ofrendas many have in their homes in remembrance of their ancestors during the Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos. While making this cocktail, let us reflect on the generational ties that shape Latinx culture, and the threads that connect it to San Francisco’s past, present, and future.

San Francisco-based Dina Novarr enjoys sharing her passion for fine wines, spirits, non-alcoholic craft beverages, and more with others.

Ofrenda Mezcal Cocktail

(Recipe developed by mixologist Naiady Porta Oliveira)

Ingredients

2 oz mezcal

1 oz fresh lime juice

3/4 oz agave syrup (adjust to taste)

1/2 oz orange liqueur (like Cointreau or Triple Sec)

1/4 oz pomegranate juice

2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Garnish: Pomegranate seeds and a lime wheel

Instructions

1. Combine Ingredients: In a cocktail shaker, add the mezcal, lime juice, agave syrup, orange liqueur, pomegranate juice, and bitters.

2. Shake: Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.

3. Strain: Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass or a rocks glass filled with ice.

4. Garnish: Garnish with a few pomegranate seeds and a lime wheel on the rim of the glass.

5. Serve: Enjoy this vibrant and smoky cocktail as you celebrate Dia de los Muertos!

France Meets India: Bombay Brasserie Opens With a Splash at Campton Place

The Gay Gourmet

David Landis

Campton Place has a storied history of talented Michelin star chefs who have graced its restaurant: Daniel Humm, Jan Birnbaum, Bradley Ogden, Todd Humphries, Laurent Manrique, and Srijith Gopinathan, to name a few. Now you can add its new chef, Thomas George, to that stellar list of culinary geniuses.

This quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of Union Square has always been a place to relax, imbibe, and revel in a restaurant that is constantly reinventing itself and embracing innovation. Well, the Gay Gourmet is here to tell you, the new incarnation fulfills that promise, a hundred-fold.

Now renamed Bombay Brasserie, the restaurant has an experience that starts with guests entering

conveniently through the adjacent alley (i.e., the literal Campton Place), instead of the former main entrance on Stockton Street. The entryway directly to the restaurant creates an aura that is more welcoming than entering through the unsurprising hotel lobby. My only criticism of the evening is that the blazing neon sign that says “Open” by the door screams that you might be entering a sports bar, instead of an elegant fine dining establishment. (Note to the proprietors: get rid of that sign!)

Once inside, everything speaks luxury: from the modern design, to the comfort, to the service, to the noise level (you can actually talk), and yes, of course, to the food.

One of the things that made me want to try this new restaurant is that it offers up Indian cuisine alongside French cuisine— but doesn’t “fuse” them. Too often, when chefs try to get creative and merge different cuisines, they come up short. At Bombay Brasserie, you can choose Indian selections or French, and they’re both independently delicious.

We started our meal with a “Bombay Aperol Spritz” (a riff on the expected spritz, but with rainwater madeira, orange bitters, and rose citrus mist), and my go-to drink, Hendricks shaken, served up. We recognized our waiter John from the Polaris lounge at SFO, and he couldn’t have been more accommodating. The wine list has a nice selection of both California and French wines, more than enough to satisfy the picky oenophile in the crowd.

The bread course, which arrives without a cost, sets the stage for the marriage of tasty delights. There’s a crispy papadam accompanied by a mild green sauce for dipping. It’s paired with house-baked French bread that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The best part? The rich butter on the side is fresh, and isn’t refrigerator tainted (a pet peeve of mine).

For starters, we were tempted by so many choices on the menu, including: compressed melon with pickled ginger; Dungeness crab and coconut soup; and duck samosas, with apricots and chutney. But for our appetizer, we decided on a corn, green apple Dahi Puri. New to me, this is an Indian snack food (a kind of chaat) that is served in a bite-sized fried cracker rice puff. It was both spicy and creamy, and it whet

our appetites for the dining adventure yet to come.

To wit, the menu has one of my favorites from yesteryear that you rarely see these days: namely, Lobster Thermidor. Chef Thomas’ version modernizes the ingredients, leaving out the cheese. That makes it a lighter and healthier interpretation of that classic. The results? Magnifique!

My husband chose one of the restaurant’s most popular items, the dried Kerala beef with peppers, shallots, and flaky paratha (a type of Indian flatbread). A saffron-infused biryani rice complemented the dish, which he proclaimed, “spicy, somewhat sweet, layered, and complex.” I declared it mouthwatering!

An Indian classic, the butter chicken with saffron and berry pulao (a type of rice pilaf), along with a French-inspired steak au poivre, also were enticing ... but one can only eat so much!!

Of course, there is always a separate stomach for dessert, isn’t there? So, we made

Lobster Thermidor at Bombay Brasserie

Dahi Puri appetizer at Bombay Brasserie

Interior at Bombay Brasserie

Bay Times Dines

room for a yummy Kulfi, a frozen dessert with saffron, pistachio, and Breton crumbs—another great union of India and France.

Campton Place still has retained its more casual (and separated) café, where you can get a slightly different menu at a more affordable price. The café’s menu includes such mainstays as a Caesar salad, classic French fries, and its famous burger on a brioche bun, among many other items.

India and France might not be the likeliest of culinary partners; but when it comes to an edible merger, Bombay Brasserie gets it right—and makes it work beautifully.

Bits and Bites

The eminent bartender extraordinaire Johnny Love (aka Johnny Metheny) has opened a new, rooftop Brazilian bar and restaurant in the Marina called Boto According to its own description, “Boto will showcase the vibrant and diverse flavors of Brazilian cuisine, complemented by an exquisite cocktail menu, and a carefully curated wine list with a highlight on South American offerings.”

Graton Resort & Casino has just hired Hawaiian-born Chef Roy Ellamar to its team. His previous stints included top-rated kitchens in Chicago and Los Angeles, after which he made his mark at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas.

Omakase Restaurant Group just opened its new Southern-inspired fine dining restaurant, Prelude, in San Francisco’s The Jay Hotel in downtown San Francisco. Chef Celtin Hendrickson-Jones (formerly of Niku, Commis, and Morimoto) helms the kitchen. He’s serving dishes that are, according to the restaurant, “at once rooted in California and deeply influenced by his maternal grandmother and great grandmother, who were from Alabama. The menu, presented à la carte, includes small plates like deviled eggs with crispy chicken

skin and dirty rice stuffed chicken wings. Tierra vegetables with hominy grits are a menu staple, always served family style with a rotating array of garnishes. Large plates include Mt. Lassen trout with smoked creamed corn and pole beans, or a dry aged pork chop with stone fruit BBQ.”

The latest expansion to the Napa Valley Vine Trail walking and cycling path has opened. According to locals, it connects “a new section from the Calistoga Depot to Pratt Avenue in St. Helena, making the overall trail under 30 miles. This section has three wineries directly on the path, allowing for trailblazers to unwind amid the majestic oaks and vineyards of Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. For those who want to park their bikes and stay a while, Alila Napa Valley is an ideal place to stay as a launching point. The hotel’s “ride with a winemaker” program allows guests to ride the trail with a skilled winemaker, stopping at major points of the vine trail, and learning about the rich local history. The hotel provides posh bikes with coolers and gourmet packed lunches by Executive Chef Thomas Lents. There also is the opportunity for a custom wine tasting experience at one of the wineries along the way.”

Bombay Brasserie: https://tinyurl.com/5f98vbe2

Boto: http://botosf.com/

Graton Resort & Casino: https://www.gratonresortcasino.com/

Prelude: https://www.preludesf.com/

Alila Napa Valley: https://tinyurl.com/33v6rhas

Napa Valley Vine Trail: https://www.vinetrail.org/

David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a retired PR maven. Follow him on Instagram @GayGourmetSF or email him at: davidlandissf@gmail.com Or visit him online at: www.gaygourmetsf.com

Kulfi dessert at Bombay Brasserie

PHOTO BY DAVID LANDIS

The 2024 Great Crucolo Parade in Oakland

One of the largest wheels of cheese in the world is annually revealed at The Great Crucolo Parade outside Rockridge Market Hall in Oakland. This year’s parade took place on September 28, 2024, and the crucolo—an artisanal Italian cheese from the picturesque Trentino-Alto Adige region—was as creamy and funky as ever.

Market Hall Foods is one of two shops in the United States that sells this cow’s milk cheese that has a maturation of over 60 days. To celebrate the arrival each year of the cruculo wheel weighing hundreds of pounds, expert cheesemongers, dressed in Italian garb, roll a cart carrying the gigantic wheel of cheese down Shafter Avenue to live accordion music, dancing, and fanfare. The parade ends with a ceremonial cheese cutting and plenty of samples to go around.

Among the participants were Sarah Han, Juliana Uruburu, and Alma Avalos of Market Hall Foods, at least one priest who blessed the cheese, food and wine consultant Roberta Klugman who is one of the world’s leading authorities on olive oil, and a large crowd of hungry enthusiasts. This year’s parade appeared to be the largest ever, according to San Francisco Bay Times team members who go every year. With Klugman, they particularly enjoyed dunking chunks of the crucolo in buttery, spicy Laudemio olive oil.

In addition to crucolo and that tasty olive oil, other Italian specialties were available to sample and take home, including Rustichella d’Abruzzo pasta, prosciutto, Italian wine from Paul Marcus Wines, affogato from Highwire Coffee Roasters, Torta della Nonna from Market Hall Bakery, and much more.

https://www.markethallfoods.com/

This Month at the Castro Farmers’ Market

AgritourismEnjoying the Farm Experience

Farmers’ markets are filling with all things fall—pumpkins for jack o’ lanterns, decorative gourds for your porch, hearty winter squash for fall cooking, and juicy pears and apples for scenting the house with fruit-filled baked goods. They’re also a center for fun fall activities like costume contests, booth decorating, and guessing the weight of giant pumpkins!

But far mers’ markets are just a taste of the fall experience. October is one of the finest months to enjoy the rural experience by visiting local farms. Wander through pumpkin patches, take a hayride, lose yourself in a corn maze, and pick up homemade jams. Drive up to Sebastopol or out to Apple Hill in Camino to pick apples at Rainbow Orchards or take a trip to A. Cozzolino Farms in Half Moon Bay to gather pumpkins. Take a walk through a corn maze at Swank Farms in Hollister. Family farms across the state are all about agritourism this time of year. They welcome customers to their farms with exciting fall activities, fresh products, value-added purchases, and educational events.

Beyond direct-to-consumer sales at farmers’ markets, agritourism can significantly supplement a farm’s income. From farm

By Debra Morris

stands and u-pick experiences to elaborate corn mazes, educational workshops, and festive events, the possibilities are endless.

Some far ms even offer unique experiences like farm-to-fork dinners, concert series, or wedding venues. For those seeking a more immersive experience, lodging and camping options may also be available.

According to the latest Census of Agriculture for Agritourism, agritourism has become a significant source of income for farms across the country. In California, this trend is particularly pronounced, with agritourism generating millions of dollars annually. California’s agritourism has primarily been organized on the county and

(continued on page

Crucolo wheel being cut open

After blessing the crucolo, these fellows enjoyed eating it

Juliana Uruburu of Market Hall Foods holding a wedge of crucolo

Bay Area food legend Roberta Klugman holding a wedge of crucolo

Alma Avalos of Market Hall Foods and celebrants with samples of crucolo

Photos by San Francisco Bay Times

45)

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van

SISTER DANA SEZ, “COME ONE, COME ALL TO THE CASTRO STREET FAIR! IT’S ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 11AM–6PM WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND INFO&MERCH BOOTHS GALORE!”

T HE FIFTIETH CASTRO STREET FAIR is rapidly approaching, and the streets will be filled with joy and music. This year, turning the fabulous 50, the Fair will see some of San Francisco’s best DJ talent grace the Castro Stage at Market and Castro. After the buzz of live bands at the Collingwood Stage on Collingwood at 18th, enjoy an afternoon of drag and dance curated by the fabulous Juanita MORE! New in 2024 is a stage coproduced by the Fair’s friends at Q ueer Arts Featured (QAF) in front of the iconic storefront that housed Harvey’s camera shop when the Fair was founded. As in years past, countrystyle dance with the Sundance Saloon crew behind the Castro Theatre, and be amazed by the high-flying acrobatics of CHEER SF

The Castro Street Fair is a community street celebration that was founded by Harvey Milk in 1974. For the last 50 years, on the first weekend of October, the Street Fair has promoted queer-owned businesses and continued Harvey Milk’s legacy. Hundreds of local artists, vendors, craftspeople, and organizations line the streets and celebrate the neighborhood, while stages with live entertainment, DJs, and dance areas are scattered along Castro and Market Streets. Donations are suggested and all proceeds go to charitable causes important to the Castro community.

In an amazing display of racism and ignorance, Portage County, Ohio, Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski, on his Facebook page, instructed county residents to write down the address of anyone displaying a Harris yard sign so they know whom to target if she wins. The local paper The Portager quoted him as saying: “When people ask me ... What’s gonna happen if the Flip–Flopping, Laughing Hyena Wins?? I say ... write down all the addresses of the people who had her signs in their yards! Sooo ... when the Illegal human ‘Locust’ (which she supports!) need places to live ... We’ll already have the addresses of their New families ... who supported their arrival!”

Sister Dana sez, “Yep, this is the same OHIO that JD Vance and Trump

are attacking with vicious, hateful, dangerous lies about legal migrants!”

After a PROJECT 2025 adviser, former Trump aide John McEntee, had mockingly asked someone to “track down” victims of abortion bans, over 17,000 women responded by posting stories of being turned away from emergency rooms in agony, bleeding out in parking lots or public bathrooms or at home—sometimes for months afterward. Others talked about miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and driving across states to get legal treatment. Sister Dana sez, “With Harris at the helm, women will again have a say about their bodies. Get EVERYONE to vote for V.P. Harris!”

A longtime Republican Oklahoma legislator is making waves after he endorsed Kamala Harris. [Mickey] Edwards, whose real name is Marvin H. Edwards, was a Republican U.S. Congressman representing Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district from 1977 to 1993. He was a founding trustee of the Heritage Foundation and national chairman of the American Conservative Union and the Conservative Political Action Conference. He stated, in part, “Harris, in Congress, knew how to work across the aisle; Trump sees members of another party as his personal enemies. That utter disregard for America’s interests and security is shocking. The United States needs someone who will stand up to bullies, not snuggle up to them. Kamala Harris is someone Western leaders will acknowledge as a peer—not a boastful, unread, unserious seeker of applause.”

Sister Dana sez, “Trump—in addition to promoting his brand of bitcoin—is now online-selling ‘Trump silver coins’ for $100 (with just $31 worth of real silver)! What WON’T this conman sell to his stupid supporters?! And now Trump is selling $100,000 GOLD WATCHES!!! MAGA Pimp!”

Ohio’s Republican Governor Mike DeWine has spoken out (sort of) against the Springfield, Ohio, lies about legal migrants eating pets, saying, “This rhetoric hurts the city and its people, and it hurts those who have spent their lives there.” But when asked if he would still endorse Trump, he said yes and explained, “I’m a Republican, and I will support the Republican nominee for President!” Sister Dana sez, “Far too many Republican politicians are putting their party before democracy. They have forgotten that they are AMERICANS before they are Republicans!”

Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia) has vehemently called out North Carolina Gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, a Black man, who has been accused with past commentary by Robinson himself on porn sites that he was “a perv,” peeping tom, and worse yet, “a Black Nazi,” calling for the return of slavery. Senator Warnock said Robinson is “ White Supremacy in Blackface!” Warnock noted that in the very recent past—before this man’s past

was unearthed by CNN news and other sources—Trump has praised Robinson openly. Since four of Robinson’s staff have resigned, this racist is now no longer at Trump’s rallies. Warnock added, “This is not the first time Trump has put forward a Black candidate who is unfit and unqualified to serve.” Sister Dana sez, “In this vital electoral race, now more than ever, the Democratic North Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate, Josh Stein, MUST WIN!”

At his September 23 Indiana, PA, rally, Trump boldly stated, “People should be put in jail —the way they talk about our judges

and our Justices, trying to get them to sway their vote, sway their decisions.” Meanwhile Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Chuck Schumer are trying to introduce the “NO KINGS ACT,” challenging the Supreme Court’s unbelievable decision with this wonderful bill to strip Trump’s SCOTUS presidential immunity. Sister Dana sez, “Does that mean Trump would put Bernie and Chuck in JAIL?!” And at that same terror-filled rally, T-rump ramped up anti-immigrant rhetoric (especially the hateful lies about Haitian legal

(continued on page 44)

Iquity

Enjoying the Gay Games held in San Francisco in 1986 were (left to right) Sister Vish-Knew, a playful visitor from Iowa, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Sister Blanche de Roote, and Sister Luscious Lash.

SISTER DANA (continued from pg 43)

migrants in Ohio) getting his MAGA crowd to chant over and over, “Send Them Back!” Sister Dana sez, “OMG! There are only 33 days until the NATIONAL ELECTION DAY on November 5! Vote early, like this nun, with a mail-in ballot. Or just wait and vote when the polls are open. Get everyone you know to VOTE for Kamala & Tim, and all the blue candidates down the ballot!”

On September 27, Mayor London Breed joined State Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, leaders of the GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, COMMUNITY ARTS STABILIZATION TRUST (CAST), and SF LGBTQ members (minus this mangled-ankle nun) to celebrate the purchase of the property at 2280 Market Street as the future home of the GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES. This will be in the heart of my beloved Castro—just a couple blocks from my little studio apartment!

Join PRC at their signature annual fundraiser, MIGHTY REAL , on October 4, 6:30 pm, at The Pearl, 601 19th Street. They will celebrate and honor their clients’ journey—demonstrated by their ability to imagine the possibility of a better life, inspire the motivation to take the first step, and act to make it a reality. And “Mighty Real” wouldn’t be real without awards honoring exceptional individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS, mental health, and/or substance use issues. All proceeds support PRC’s integrated services that annually help 5,000 clients transform their lives for the better. https://prcsf.org/

To commemorate his 70th birthday, human rights activist, author, and lecturer Cleve Jones is throwing a big party to celebrate his community and benefit organizations that serve it. This is the launch of fundraising for the new CLEVE JONES COMMUNITY FUND to support two organizations that Cleve founded or cofounded and will be administered by the HORIZONS FOUNDATION. Friday, October 11, 8 pm at The Hibernia San Francisco, 1 Jones Street at Market. Lots of celebs! And I am delighted to say we nuns will be proud to participate in a grand procession. I might be using a cane though. https://www.horizonsfoundation.org/

Come enjoy HORIZONS GALA on Saturday, October 5, for a spectacular night at the California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive. I’m excited to announce that The Golden Girls Live!, San Francisco’s wildly popular drag parody of the iconic sitcom, will be the special guest performance. Come share Horizons Foundation’s vision of a world where all LGBTQ people live freely and fully.

We SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE and THE BEARS OF SAN FRANCISCO invite you to join us for the 4th annual BEARRISON STREET FAIR on October 19, 2–6 pm. Bearri-

son seeks to provide an inclusive event for all members of the adult LGBTQ community, which promotes body positivity for all and builds a more supportive, welcoming, and inclusive bear scene by representing a diverse arena of cultures. I will have lots more info in my October 17 article. For now, anyone can join the Bearrison Street Fair volunteers. Many paws make light work, so Bearrison wants to recruit YOU! For instance, several folks will be needed to help us decorate the window at the Castro’s Walgreens on Saturday, October 5, 5 pm. You can also follow @BearrisonSF on Instagram and Facebook for updates. More information and opportunities to get involved are at the Bearrison Street Fair website: https://www.bearrison.org/

TRANSGENDER LAW CENTER

(TLC) is having their annual SPARK event on October 18, 6 pm at Terra Gallery, 511 Harrison Street. TLC will be celebrating trans people thriving and fighting for liberation. TLC works to build power and demand justice. https://transgenderlawcenter.org/

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

(HRC) is hosting its SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA DINNER on October 19, 5 pm at The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square, 335 Powell Street. In this election year, HRC is fighting to protect our democracy by winning back the House of Representatives, holding onto our pro-equality majority in the Senate, and electing the most pro-LGBTQ president and vice president in history. https://www.horizonsfoundation.org/

I’ve some bittersweet news: after three wonderful years, the Castro SCHLOMER HAUS GALLERY is closing the Market Street location of their lovely exhibition space. It was one of my favorite stops at the monthly Castro Art Walk. This decision was not made lightly, but it is the right step as they embark on new creative paths. They created Schlomer Haus as a place to showcase and elevate the unique voices and perspectives of the queer arts community. They have had the privilege of presenting beautiful and thought-provoking work by the next generation of artists. Farewell and thank you, Steffan and Brandon!

President Joe Biden —in his final address as U.S. President to the 79th WUNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY—had called for an end to the escalation in Gaza, saying, “A diplomatic solution is still possible. Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest!” That ve ry day, Israel struck Beirut with over 2,000 bombs killing over 500—including children—and hundreds more injured. These needless deaths continue to add to the rising dead count. Sister Dana sez, “A reminder: October 7 will be the awful anniversary of Hamas first attacking Israel and starting this terrible Middle Eastern War. We must have a CEASEFIRE NOW, as well as a two-state Gaza solution between Israel and Palestine! Depose this war criminal Netanyahu!”

LIPSKY (continued from pg 34)

research that included more than 1000 interviews, it was published in 1993, the year before he died. In it, Shilts documented not only how methodical homophobia led to the mistreatment of gay men and lesbians in the armed services, but also the hypocrisy of an organization that only selectively enforced its ban on homosexuals in uniform. It remains a classic example of investigative journalism.

Our world is different than the one Shilts investigated in his three books. Unlike politicians and other professionals at the time Harvey Milk ran his election campaigns, members of our LGBT communities now can be open about themselves as public office-seekers—or as film stars, newscasters, corporate officers, even professional athletes. AIDS is no longer ignored by public and private institutions. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender Americans can serve openly in the military services.

Social and political progress may seem to make his work dated and irrelevant to the present, but Lee makes it clear that Shilts did more than write the biography of any individual or present the story of any sin-

BOOK PASSAGE (continued from pg 30)

In Ordinary Mysticism, spiritual teacher Mirabai Starr explores how everyday life can be sacred, inviting readers to find the extraordinary in the mundane. With wisdom from spiritual traditions and her personal journey, she reveals how mysticism is a way of being fully present, showing that holiness is not confined to churches but can be found in simple daily moments.

Sunday, October 13 @ 12 pm (non- ticketed - SF Ferry Building store) Michael Mina, author of My Egypt: Cooking From My Roots

In My Egypt, renowned chef Michael Mina returns to his roots, sharing the vibrant flavors and traditions of Egyptian cuisine. After decades as a celebrated California chef, Mina revisits the dishes of his childhood, blending traditional recipes like

ALFRED (continued from pg 32)

alert: he got it) and my controversial mixed review of Randy’s first book, The Mayor of Castro Street. So, on what terms did the Randy-and-Randy story end? You’ll get you no more spoilers from me here. Read the book.

But there is one thing I’ll tell you the two Randys always agreed on. We often ran into people who confused the work and byline of one of us with the face and person of the other. When disabused, these folks would invariably ask the same question, “Why are all the gay journalists called Randy?”

And Randy and I always gave the same answer: “That’s easy: truth in advertising.” Journalist, producer, radio talk show host, and book author Randy Alfred, the founding news editor of the “San Francisco Bay Times,” in 2015 was inducted into the National Lesbian

gle public policy. He revealed how bigotry, hypocrisy, and sheer indifference to others become institutionalized; how they deeply damage human lives and increase human suffering. The governments, organizations, and communities may have changed, but his findings, like him or not, are as vital today as when Shilts first shared them. Shilts was much more complex than any story he reported. Loved by those who knew him well, respected by many who knew him professionally, hated by others who did not know him at all, Shilts is shown by Lee to have been an extraordinarily complicated but very human being: often infuriating, always seeking validation, “doggedly defensive of his work,” controversial, egotistical, self-righteous, and usually right. Here is Shilts in all his dimensions, a fascinating individual who is well worth knowing.

Bill Lipsky, Ph.D., author of “LGBTQ+ Trailblazers of San Francisco” (2023) and “Gay and Lesbian San Francisco” (2006), is a member of the Rainbow Honor Walk board of directors.

ta’ameya and falafel with global influences, offering a fresh take on the rich culinary heritage of Egypt.

Wednesday, October 16 @ 7 pm (ticketed - Dominican University) Chris Wallace, author of Countdown 1960: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the 312 Days that Changed America’s Politics Forever Countdown 1960 takes readers through the dramatic months leading up to John F. Kennedy’s historic election. Chris Wallace reveals behind-the-scenes moments, from Kennedy’s battle to become the first Catholic president to his selection of Lyndon Johnson as running mate, and the crucial role of television in modern politics. This riveting account captures a pivotal moment in American history.

https://www.bookpassage.com/

& Gay Journalists Association Hall of Fame. To learn more about his work and achievements, view the collection of his written and recorded materials at the California Digital Library: https://tinyurl.com/5h3425ju

JAN WAHL (continued from pg 29)

It all becomes as clear as a gorgeous consommé when you go to learn more at https://bit.ly/3zK7v9h

See you at Copia! Go thirsty, don’t eat first, and wear something with an elastic waist.

Jan Wahl is a Hollywood historian and film critic on various broadcast outlets. She has two Emmys and many awards for her longtime work on behalf of film buffs and the LGBTQ community. Contact her at www.janwahl.com

RANDY

Distinctive Fun From Mazda and Toyota

signed-for-2024 Tacoma TRD is classed as a mid-size pickup, but it’s big, about three inches wider than its predecessor and as wide as a full-sized Tundra from 20 years ago.

At the Folsom Street Fair, we got into our getups to show the world an edgier side of ourselves. It is always fun to join others in letting our freak flags fly.

Vehicles can be chosen for their forms at least as much as their functions, and the two we’re examining here—a $39,895 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Grand Touring and $54,784 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4x4 Double Cab—distinguish themselves from the norms of common sedans and crossovers. They couldn’t be more different. The rede-

FARMERS’ MARKET (continued from pg 42)

regional level with “Farm Trails” maps by county that follow each location with different experiences at each stop.

Recognizing the economic potential of agritourism, the UC Small Farm Program has recently been looking into a statewide strategy to provide resources and guidance to help farmers capitalize on the growing popularity of agritourism.

Farmers are passionate about sharing their stories and connecting with the community. By offering a wide range of events that might interest the public, they can experience some of the magic of farm life firsthand. Engaging with the public helps to promote awareness, appreciation, and understanding of local agriculture.

That extra width is noticed around town, where the new Tacoma TRD slips less easily through traffic gaps. This is countered by the commanding seating position and wide-open visibility, which allow you to see all the Tacoma’s corners as you point your way.

The Tacoma TRD’s redesign brought with it a massive improvement in ride quality, thanks to Toyota swapping out the rear leaf springs for more compliant coils. With that change, the Tacoma went from being among the stiffest-riding 4x4 pickups to being almost carlike. And, it handles with an accuracy and

Supporting local agriculture is more important than ever as the cost of farming continues to rise. By visiting local farms and participating in agritourism activities, you’re not only enjoying fresh, delicious produce but also contributing to the sustainability of our local food system.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit your local farms this fall and discover the joy of agritourism! Pick out some pumpkins, take home a big bag of apples, and savor the delicious flavors of the season.

Debra Morris is a spokesperson for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association. For more information and recipes: https://www.pcfma.org/

directness that belie the Tacoma TRD’s height and bulbous tires.

Climb down from the Toyota’s perch and into the Mazda’s, and the MX-5 Miata feels like folding yourself into a skateboard with a seat. With the backrest against the rear bulkhead, my 6’1” frame had just enough room to work, and I quickly adjusted to looking into the taillights of sedans, rather than seeing over their roofs.

The MX-5’s lowness and lightness instantly alight your driving enthusiasm; you’d have to be in an epic funk not to take the Mazda’s lead and zip around the mastodon-like SUVs around you. Yes, most others could squish you like a bug, but the Miata’s magic combination of steering, suspension, and braking

finesse makes the Mazda’s responses seem hardwired to your own thoughts. Lightweight and flickable, the Miata remains a rare bird as new cars and trucks inexorably grow. Hybrids are everywhere these days, but neither the Tacoma nor the Miata come as such. Instead, the Tacoma chucks its previous V6 with a turbocharged and intercooled 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It produces the same 278 horsepower as the larger one did, and its low 1,700-rpm torque peak means the Tacoma TRD jumps off the line, even with 4,700 pounds to move.

Two Miatas weigh about the same as one Tacoma TRD, so the Mazda needs only 181 horses from its non-turbo 2.0-liter four to feel sparky, and it loves to rev up. Mileage just about matched the EPA’s estimates of 29 mpg overall for the Mazda and 21 for the Toyota.

Inside, the Tacoma is blocky and functional, while the Miata is surprisingly upscale. Outside, each displays its own distinctive and unmistakable image, which is part of the fun.

Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant with an automotive staging service.

“Volunteering

compiled by Rink

Josh Smith

“Halloween in the Castro”

Spring Collins

“I will be celebrating Samhain”

Robert Saenz

“Enjoying a Halloween party at The Battery”

John Zowine

“I will be at a friend’s birthday party in Palm Springs.”

Simon Kong

for the Latino Film Festival”

Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road

Auto

Philip Ruth

Participants in LeatherWalk 2024, held on Sunday, September 22, marked the start of San Francisco’s Leather Week with the raising of a large Leather Pride flag to the top of the pole in Eagle Plaza at 398 12th Street.

Round AboutFolsom Street Fair 2024

The Folsom Street Fair, celebrating its 41st year, drew what appears to have been a record-sized crowd of thousands on Sunday, September 29, 2024. San Francisco Bay Times Lead Photographer Rink and Volunteer Coordinator Juan R. Davila were among those attending. The participants and other attendees included many individuals from other nations who travel to San Francisco each year just for this fair.

Also attending, as he does each year, was State Senator Scott Wiener, who posted a shirtless photo of himself rocking a leather tie. He wrote, “Going all Senatorial at Folsom.” Conservative Republicans, as they do each year, complained about his attendance and the fair in general.

The still-risqué nature of the fair that highlights the leather, kink, and alternative sex communities is part of its great appeal to those who come each year. It is possible thanks to Folsom Street, the nonprofit behind the fair that includes a team of dedicated volunteers who oversee the world’s largest leather gathering.

In addition to the kink offerings, exhibit booths featured health and wellness advice, haircuts, massages, works of art, and much more. The images captured by Rink and Davila are reminders that Folsom Street Fair is nothing less than a phenomenon—one that benefits numerous LGBTQ+ community service organizations. It is truly a fair for a cause and an exercise in freedom of expression that goes beyond nearly all expectations.

https://www.folsomstreet.org/

Photos by Rink & Juan R. Davila