San Francisco Bay Times - November 21, 2024 by San Francisco Bay Times

WORLD AIDS DAY

December 1, 2024

A Call to Action on World AIDS Day

Coming Full Circle on Marriage Equality in California and What It Means

6/26 and Beyond

Stuart

Gaffney and John Lewis

It was a typical scorcher in San Bernardino, California, back on July 25, 2009, with temperatures approaching the century mark. Crowded inside a meeting hall were over 200 LGBTIQ activists there to debate when to go to the ballot to repeal Proposition 8, the horrific statewide initiative that several months before had taken away same-sex couples’ hard-won constitutional right to marry in California. The atmosphere in the room sometimes felt as heated as the air outside.

“Back to the ballot in 2012!” “2012? That’s far too long to wait—2010!” encapsulated some of the impassioned arguments activists made in searching and strategizing about what to do next. Sometimes, the meeting became so raucous that, to bring it back to

order, we had to clang an old farm dinner bell that Stuart’s dad had lent us for the occasion.

The reason the debate was so impassioned was the utterly devastating effect that Prop. 8’s passage had had on the LGBTIQ community, exacerbated by much of the community’s frustration about the “No on 8” campaign itself. The position paper of one group urging a 2010 return to the ballot vividly described the feelings of many in the community who “feel the pain of last November as if it were yesterday, each morning. These people know they will feel that pain each morning until Prop 8 is erased.”

Ironically, it was the federal lawsuit against Prop. 8, Perry v. Schwarzenegger, filed in district court in San Francisco earlier that same month, and not a ballot initiative that would return marriage equality to California in 2013. The dream of overturning Prop. 8 at the ballot box, shared by all who attended the July 2009 San Bernardino meeting, took over 15 years to come true when California voters earlier

this month passed Proposition 3 by a resounding 25 percentage points, approximately 62.5% to 37.5%, with the final votes still being tallied.

With Prop 3’s passage, marriage equality has now come full circle in California.

Prop. 3’s margin of victory reflects a near mirror reversal of 2000’s Proposition 22, California’s first harmful statewide ballot measure against marriage equality. Prop. 22 passed by over 22 points, 61.3 to 38.7. Eight years later, the margin of defeat was reduced to just 4.5 points when Prop. 8 passed 52.2 to 47.8, and some experts believe that Prop. 8 could have been defeated with a more effective campaign against it.

The political climate toward marriage equality has changed dramatically in California over the past nearly fifty years since Governor Jerry Brown signed the first explicit same-sex marriage ban into state law in 1977, two years after signing into law the repeal of the state’s law criminalizing same-sex sexual activity. Brown later evolved into a strong marriage equality supporter, instrumental in overturning Prop. 8 in the courts.

Over 25 years later, the California Legislature in 2005 became the first in the nation to pass marriage equality without being required to do so by a court, but it passed in both houses only by a single vote. We’ll never forget the expressions of pure joy that filled the California State Assembly gallery late in the evening of September 6, 2005, when speaker pro tempore Leland Yee banged the gavel seconds after the deciding vote was cast, making sure that no legislator had time to change their

mind. However, no Republicans voted in favor, and the very next day Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he would veto the bill.

In 2024, the California Legislature put Proposition 3 on the ballot without a single no vote, passing 67–0 in the Assembly and 31–0 in the Senate. This time around, no Republicans voted in opposition in either house, and nine Assembly Republicans actually voted in favor, while others in both houses didn’t vote. With Prop. 3’s passage, the freedom to marry in California is now safe even if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn its 2015 Obergefell nationwide marriage equality decision and the federal Respect for Marriage Act were held inadequate to protect marriage equality in individual states.

But as we all know, Prop. 3’s victory came in the same election in which Kamala Harris was defeated for president, and Republicans hurled unprecedented political attacks against transgender people in political ads. In this moment, it’s not enough to say that securing civil rights very often takes time, as it did with marriage equality in California and with many other issues.

The enormous influence of money in campaigns, vicious political advertising, gross public misinformation and manipulation, and disillusionment and disempowerment of countless Americans, already strong forces in 2008, reached new levels in 2024. As many activists articulated back in San Bernardino in 2009, every day that passes without full dignity and equality for LGBTIQ people is a day of harmful injustice.

We’ll never know whether we would have won a 2010 statewide marriage equality vote that many activists sought. But we do know that when all the votes are counted in 2024, over 9 million California voters will have voted for marriage equality, representing the highest number of people who have ever voted in favor of LGBTIQ rights on any state ballot measure in our nation’s history. Hawaii and Colorado also passed similar state constitutional protections for marriage equality this month by even wider margins of 69 to 31 and 64 to 36 percent respectively, with votes still being counted. And Sarah McBride will soon be the first transgender member of Congress.

As the LGBTIQ community will likely face formidable challenges in the immediate years ahead, we must take stock of our gains and harness the same passion evident in San Bernardino 15 years ago to (continued on page 24)

Marriage equality activists Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis are among the civic and community leaders in the historic photo featured on the front page of the San Francisco Bay Times Pride commemorative issue published on June 27, 2013.

Castro Night Market Debuts

The first Castro Night Market was held on Friday, October 18, 2024, bringing local food vendors, merchants, and live entertainment to 18th and Castro streets. To be held on the third Friday of select months, this new Night Market is presented by Castro Merchants, CG Events, and the Civic Joy Fund.

Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman were among elected officials canvassing the streets along with several other candidates for office. Castro Merchants President Terry Asten Bennett of Cliff’s Variety joined event organizers and volunteers wearing the vibrant purple t-shirts featuring the colorful Castro Night Market logo.

Vendors included food truck chefs serving a diverse array of menu items. There were also artists, makers, and a tarot reader. Local Castro merchants staffed vehicles, booths, and information tables lining Castro and 18th streets for several blocks in each direction extending from the rainbow crosswalk intersection.

The second in the series of six planned Castro Night Markets is scheduled for Friday, December 20, from 5–9 pm. http://www.castronightmarket.com

Shape Up Your Personal Finances for a Fantastic Year-End

Money Matters

Brandon Miller

With Turkey Time right around the corner, there’s no better time to give your finances a little TLC. A quick review now can set you up for a smooth year-end and help you start next year on the right foot in some key areas.

First up, Taxes

Get a head start on tax planning by projecting income and potential deductions. A few steps to consider:

• Project Income for 2024 & 2025: Estimate now to avoid surprises.

• Plan for Net Investment Income: Check your investment earnings for 2024 and how they’ll affect taxes.

• Review Tax Plans: Did you know the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act sunsets in 2025? With the new administration coming on board, these things may shift, but review what aspects may impact your situation.

• Gains and Losses: Check both realized and unrealized gains or losses, and collect cost-basis info on any sold securities.

• Charitable Donations: Track contributions to make the most of charitable deductions.

• Gifting: Consider year-end gifts to family or friends (tax-free up to $18,000 per person in 2024).

Maximize Your Future Financial Comfort

Make sure your retirement plans are on track and fully funded. Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Max Out Contributions: Fund your 401(k) and IRA, including any catch-up contributions.

• Roth IRA Conversions: Look at conversion scenarios if you’re eyeing a Roth IRA.

• RMDs: Take required minimum distributions if you’re 72 or older.

• New Plans for the Self-Employed: If you’re newly self-employed, consider

(continued on page 24)

Year-End Estate Planning Checklist: What to Update Before 2025

Trust Essentials

Jay Greene, Esq., CPA

As the year draws to a close, it’s essential to take a moment to review and update your estate plan. This year-end checklist will help you cover the key areas that may need attention before 2025 arrives.

1. Review Your Will and Trusts

Your will and any trusts are the cornerstones of your estate plan. It’s important to review these documents annually to ensure they still reflect your wishes. Consider the following:

• Life Changes: Have there been any significant changes in your life this year, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or the death of a beneficiary? If

so, you may need to update your will or trust to reflect these changes.

• Asset Updates: If you’ve acquired or sold property, investments, or other significant assets, your estate plan should be updated to include or remove these items. In the Bay Area, where real estate and investment transactions are common, this is especially important.

• Beneficiary Designations: Ensure that the beneficiaries listed in your will or trust are still correct and reflect your current intentions.

2. Update Your Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directives

Power of attorney (POA) and healthcare directives are critical components of your estate plan that dictate who will make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Review these documents to ensure they are up to date.

• Agent Selection: Is the person you’ve appointed as your agent under your POA or healthcare directive still the best choice? Consider if their circumstances have changed or if another person might now be better suited for this role.

• Scope of Authority: Review the powers granted to your agent and make sure they align with your current wishes.

(continued on page 24)

Message from Leadership

By Nancy Geenen, MA Ed., J.D.

In these post-election stressful days, we may choose civility over dissention in the workplace.

According to research by Gallup, Harvard, and McKinsey, the top drivers of incivility are disagreements over social issues, generational gaps, racial or ethnic differences, and societal norms. That same research indicates that most workers walk away from or ignore incivility in the workplace. Finally, U.S. workers expect that incivility will increase over the next 12 months.

We are already seeing evidence that hostile work behaviors are growing more aggressive and that flight or freeze reactions are also giving way to fight. Incivility is a polite label for micro-aggressive behavior that has developed into macro-aggressiveness and bullying. Incivility is intentional. The business conse-

Civility and Allyship in the Workplace

quences are severe: lower job satisfaction, less innovation, less concern for business objectives, and higher turnover.

Most companies have a civility/behavior policy in the handbook, stating the expectations for acceptable behavior in the workplace. Very few companies identify the specific behaviors for which there is zero tolerance. Most of us in the workplace are not in a position to affect policy changes. That said, what we can do is become stronger allies.

Here’s the theory. An ally understands that there is always an imbalance in power, privilege, and opportunity in the workplace. An ally has no assumptions about others’ identities, lived experiences, or current intentions. An ally works to use their own power or privilege to identify, to advocate, and to correct the imbalance without freezing, fleeing, or fighting. It’s uncomfortable most of the time and essential for high performing teams. In

GGBA Member Spotlight

Recognized for Breaking Barriers in Tech (2024) and named in the Fast Company Queer Top 50 (2023), Tali Bray is an industry-recognized leader with experience in startups from pre-seed to Series C, including involvement in three successful exits, as well as in Fortune 50 companies. For nearly 20 years, Bray served as Executive Vice President, Head of Technology Group Sustainability & Equity at Wells Fargo. Now she is an Executive Consultant at Dewpoint Consulting.

Tali

healthy and safe workplaces, team members are committed to improving and invite feedback as a regular practice.

Here’s the practice: Allies support the individuals who are often seen as “other.” Allies use their positions of power and privilege to ask questions about barriers and obstacles, look for opportunities to include others, and advocate for changes from within. Allies see the gaps in behaviors and work with the team and leader to eliminate incivility, encourage open communication without fear of retribution, and combat structural and systemic bias.

Allies ask questions of individuals: “Do you engage in empathetic listening? Do you engage in difficult conversations without judgment? Do you act in the best interest of the team?”

Allies ask questions of leaders: “How many

Bray of Dewpoint Consulting

GGBA: Please tells us more about your present work.

Tali Bray: I run a boutique consulting firm advising small businesses on growth strategies with a focus on AI readiness. Simply, [I help small businesses] take advantage of AI capabilities for sustainable efficiency and growth.

GGBA: Why did you decide to start Dewpoint Consulting?

Tali Bray: After 19 years with a fortune 50 financial services firm, I was excited to return to my early career start-up roots. Advising founders and executives on business strategy allows me to apply my background in technology transformations not as an end, but as an enabler of greater strategic goals.

GGBA: Who are some of your role models, and especially those who helped to influence your work?

Tali Bray: I am surrounded by incredible people who have challenged me, held me accountable, and pushed me to listen to myself without fear during a time of transition. [They include] Julie Bell, COO Emergence Capital; Tiffany Tavarez, Diverse Segments Wells Fargo; Rebecca Gonzales, Chief Customer Officer Cantellus Group; Ralph Groce, President Scroobius; Machu Latorre, film maker (full disclosure, also my partner <grin>); Dan Springer, Entrepreneur/CEO; and Sherrie Littlejohn, professional coach.

GGBA: Why did you decide to join the GGBA, and how long have you been a member?

Tali Bray: In addition to a career in financial services and technology, I have a long history of working with nonprofits that center disability and LGBTQ+ communities—World Institute on Disability, GLBT Historical Society, Uncloseted Media, Infinite Access—so I was thrilled when Nancy [Geenen] asked me to join the GGBA board. It feels like an ideal organization to combine my professional experience and board work to support LGBTQ+ owned organizations focusing on growth and digital expansion.

[identity] have you retained? How many have you advanced? How often have they been the lead in meetings with your key clients? Have you enabled them to do something that really boosts their careers? How do you provide feedback that is focused on upgrades?”

Allies are curious, asking questions and listening to learn. Allies are courageous, willing to speak up and disrupt uncivil behavior. Allies are consistent, showing up for others day in and day out. Allies are committed to a productive and healthy workplace.

Watch this Video: Allyship @ Netflix. https://bit.ly/4evkYjH

Nancy Geenen is the Acting President of the Golden Gate Business Association. She is also the Principal and Chief Executive Officer at Flexibility https://www.flexability.com/

GGBA: How has being a member of GGBA helped your business so far?

Tali Bray: I’ve been involved with the GGBA for two months. Too soon to tell, but I have great expectations!

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

Tali Bray:

• Find mentors—if you ask, people will almost always say yes.

• Identify organizations focused on making capital accessible to underrepresented founders.

• Deeply understand your market—tools like Perplexity can turbo charge market research without a budget.

• Know where you fit in your market ecosystem.

• Any conversation can turn into an opportunity to pitch your business; it’s essential that you can clearly articulate the problem or gap that exists in your market today and how you are uniquely solving it.

GGBA: Is there anything else that you would like to share?

Tali Bray: I think Ryan Ken said it best, “We are past the time of dressing this s--t up”—from the petite-narcissism that is reflected in liberal NIMBY-ism to the rampant proliferation of unmasked bigotry. For me, the way to get myself off the floor is to act. Being part of the GGBA is a great example of how our actions can have exponential impact.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tali-bray-064b/

Photos courtesy of Tali Bray

Tali Bray (center) with colleagues at an Urban League event

Tali Bray

Tali Bray (center) and panelists during a general session at an information technology conference

In a monumental decision, San Francisco voters passed Proposition B, funding $25 million for the construction of a significant LGBTQ+ monument in the heart of the city. This landmark vote comes more than fifty years after Harvey Milk first appeared on the ballot, marking a powerful tribute to his enduring legacy of activism, equality, and representation. This public-private effort will realize one of the nation’s first major landmarks dedicated to an LGBTQ+ civil rights icon. Proposition B’s passage signals the city’s commitment to recognizing the trailblazing efforts of Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, and honoring the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community to the city’s rich history. The memorial will stand as a symbol of inclusivity, resilience, and the ongoing fight for justice and equality—a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations.

“The memorial represents more than just Harvey Milk,” said Brian Springfield, Executive Director of The Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza. “This project unites people—advocates, business owners, residents, and artists—who see an opportunity to capture Harvey’s spirit and mission on this historic corner of the Castro. Today, we have reached this milestone because people believed in this vision and helped make it a reality. This is a powerful testament to what our community can accomplish when we organize at a grassroots level and come together as a community, which is something Harvey understood very well.”

The vote follows years of grassroots advocacy, engagement, and design, building on recent funding wins. In March 2024, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi secured $500,000 in federal support, which followed $2.5 million in grants from the State of California secured by State Senator Scott Wiener, and $150,000 from the Mellon Foundation’s Monuments Project. Prop B, a $390 million bond measure championed by San Francisco Mayor London Breed, earmarks $25 million in direct support for the plaza. Designed in close collaboration with the Castro community by the San Francisco office of SWA, a global landscape architecture and planning firm, the memorial can move toward construction.

“During this journey, we were struck by how absent LGBTQ+ stories are in our nation’s commemorative landscape,” said Daniel Cunningham, Associate Principal at SWA.

“Thanks to the support of the community, this project will be more than a memorial; it’s a call to join Harvey’s movement. Working with this community has been a privilege, and we’re thrilled to see Harvey’s legacy honored where it all began and belongs—in the streets of the Castro.”

The Memorial at Harvey Milk Plaza goes beyond honoring a civil rights pioneer; it stands as a powerful response to rising antiLGBTQ+ sentiment and the nationwide effort to suppress freedom of expression in public spaces. At the iconic Castro and Market streets corner—the site of the 1978 candlelight vigil after Milk’s assassination— the memorial will feature two distinct spaces: an open gathering area with an elevated pedestal to the east and a quiet reflection grove to the west. The design integrates key symbols of the LGBTQ+ rights movement:

Milk’s bullhorn, protest signs, historical references, and dynamic lighting that highlights the words “hope” and “action,” reinforcing the enduring power of these values in the heart of the Castro.

“It was critical for the team to create a place that could change with the times and put the community at the center,” said Cleve Jones, an activist, author, founding contributor to the San Francisco Bay Times, and a friend of Milk. “Today’s world is different from the one Harvey left, but the issues he fought for—civil rights, fair housing and labor, and cities that welcome people regardless of race, gender, orientation, age, belief, or background—those burn even stronger. The value of a moment like this, we hope, is in renewing the flame.”

The $25 million allocated for Harvey Milk

Plaza is part of the broader Prop B $390 million bond measure to enhance public health. This includes upgrading community health facilities, providing shelters to reduce homelessness, and improving bicycle, pedestrian infrastructure, and public gathering spaces. The funds earmarked for the Plaza will finance crucial transit and infrastructure upgrades, prioritizing accessibility and safety for transit riders. These improvements will facilitate the implementation of privately funded commemorative and storytelling features supported by the Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza’s capital campaign. Construction on the elevator is already underway, and work on the memorial scope could commence by late 2026 and conclude by 2028. www.harveymilkplaza.org

United We Stand: Reflections, After the 2024 Election, on the Historic Women’s March

by Joanie Juster

There is no denying it: these past few weeks have been brutal. There is a lot of sorrow, frustration, rage, and fear out there. While pundits endlessly dissect the election—what went wrong, and how we got to where we are now—the rest of us have had to face the reality of what to do next, and how we’re going to deal with whatever the new administration brings.

What is the word that keeps rising to the top? Community.

Let’s step back for a minute and remember where we were eight years ago, when our current president-elect upended the-worldas-we-knew-it by winning the election. We were in a state of shock, fear, and despair— and then we rose up to resist. We gathered together and built communities to protect each other. This is the time to lean into those communities that we built, and build new ones as necessary. Our strength comes from joining together.

Do you remember January 21, 2017? Do you remember the feeling of solidarity that swept not just our country, but the world, as

women rose up and marched together in unprecedented numbers?

Born from Facebook event pages, the Women’s March was organized in record time, and gathered unstoppable momentum leading up to January 21, the day after Inauguration Day.

Women poured into Washington, D.C., in massive numbers—nearly 500,000, making it, at that time, the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.

Simultaneously, over 400 sister marches took place all over the country, from major cities to remote villages in Alaska, as well as in 81 other countries. It was reported that around 673 marches took place worldwide, on all seven continents, including Antarctica.

Women everywhere felt empowered, and found solidarity with each other.

Since that historic day, Women’s March has organized a number of other marches, both

in Washington and in cities around the country, and are now planning marches for January 18, 2025. Will these marches have any effect on those in power? Probably not. But their real value lies in our being able to

look around and realize that we are not alone.

The Women’s March was just one of the many communities that grew in response to the shock of the 2016 election. From countless grassroots meetings at our neighbors’ kitchen tables to national nonprofits, people gathered together to listen, to learn, to support each other, and to mobilize. We built communities large and small, local and national. We need those communities now, to remind ourselves of what we can do, and what we care about the most. There may be little that we, as individual citizens, can do on a national level, but there is much we can do on the local level, in the communities in which we live.

We have been through many tough times together, and the next few years are going to test us to the limit. But one thing I know: If we are to survive, both as individuals and as a country, it is the communities that we build that will help us get through. We can, and must, stand up for each other.

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

LGBTQ+ Solo Aging

By Allison Rodman

LGBTQ+ older adults face distinct challenges as they age, especially those who are aging alone.

Statistically, LGBTQ+ elders are twice as likely to be single and live alone and four times less likely to have children. As I enter my seventh decade, with years of experience in senior living care, I see how these demographics affect our community.

Living and working in the Bay Area, I’m fortunate to witness positive strides in serving LGBTQ+ seniors, thanks to a proactive approach in many senior care organizations and businesses.

Nevertheless, the experiences of LGBTQ+ seniors in other parts of the country remind us of the need for sustained advocacy and systemic change. And now with the election of the new regime. I am feeling insecure that many of the positive policies for our community will be reversed or compromised.

Protection of our vulnerable LGBTQ+ elders, especially those alone, is even more important to me.

I do like to uplift the good news of where we are in the Bay Area. I have experienced that most skilled nursing facilities, home care agencies, social services, and senior living communities have training programs to ensure that staff members provide respectful and inclusive care. For me, personally, there has been partnership with management in

all my workplaces to create safe space for their LGBTQ+ employees and clientele. I have found a helpful attitude and follow-through to institutionalize training and language. Locally, I find there is a wish to be educated on how to comfort their LGBTQ clients and make sure that their employees are at ease in the very intimate work of caregiving.

This commitment to learning and mainstreaming LGBTQ+ inclusive practices is both empowering and reassuring. However, outside most of the Bay Area, there is still bad news. Today, LGBTQ+ seniors across the country often face discriminatory practices, particularly in healthcare settings. This is especially true for LGBTQ+ Solo Agers, whose unique vulnerabilities— living without family or traditional support systems—add stress to an already complex aging process.

these anxieties are not unfounded. Currently, no federal law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in many areas, including healthcare. Furthermore, over half of U.S. states lack laws explicitly banning discrimination in housing and public accommodation. This absence of legal protection creates significant barriers for LGBTQ+ seniors who, unlike other aging adults, may lack

traditional support networks such as children or spouses.

roadmap for the future and a sense of control. I often pause in my first meeting with a client and do a deep dig to see if they have their Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directive completed. If not, I take the time to talk through why putting these directives in place is important. End-of-life and estate planning, while often not completed if left to others, can be a huge burden to those left behind. A multidisciplinary approach, which might include legal, financial, and healthcare professionals, ensures that future caregivers respect an individual’s expressed needs.

The process of long-term planning should include options for healthcare, financial stability, and potential living arrangements. Establishing a team of trusted advisors, from attorneys to aging life care managers, helps Solo Agers make informed decisions and builds a safety net to further ensure LGBTQ+ seniors may age with dignity and that their values will be honored.

Self-advocacy can be difficult at any stage, but it becomes even more pressing in later years. LGBTQ+ older adults aging solo often wonder, “What will happen if I become seriously ill?” or, “Who will be there for me?” With limited federal protection,

The growth of the Baby Boomer generation, including many LGBTQ+ Solo Agers, does offer some hope that these issues will gain broader visibility. As the population of LGBTQ+ older adults expands, it will likely compel mainstream aging services to prioritize inclusive policies. This shift, while still developing, signals a vital move toward addressing the needs of solo aging LGBTQ+ adults who are often overlooked by traditional aging systems.

But still in recent years we have seen a mixed trajectory in terms of policy. Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation at various levels has rolled back some progress made during previous administrations, creating more barriers for older LGBTQ+ adults seeking government services. There have been incremental gains, however. For instance, as of October 2022, all state aging plans must address LGBTQ+ and HIV-related issues. And businesses and organizations are increasingly adding credentialed training and response mechanisms to create more inclusive, trauma-informed services for LGBTQ+ seniors. This momentum toward inclusivity shows promise for enhancing holistic and affirming care options.

For LGBTQ+ Solo Agers, comprehensive planning is crucial. Setting clear goals and documenting specific wishes provide both a

The journey of LGBTQ+ Solo Aging is complex. We have a set of obstacles that often include a wound of familial rejection. In the Bay Area, however, we have been creative and busy developing social supports that are both joyful and do the job. So, even though there are areas of our country where there is continued great harm, I have witnessed the landscape gradually shifting toward a more inclusive future. I remain positive that most Americans, especially our youngers, want a just healthcare system and all people to have equal care.

In my immediate corner of the world, I beat the drum to do proactive planning and to support anyone who is alone, to give them the push to complete their Power of Attorney and Health Care Directive. I also advocate for inclusive policies, and support community organizations like Openhouse, which didn’t even exist not so long ago and that step in when there is no family. I am proud of our work together to protect our LGBTQ+ elders and, in particular, the Solo Agers, so that they may live securely and authentically.

Allison Rodman is the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Rhoda Goldman Plaza ( https://rgplaza.jfcs.org/ ).

Dr. Marcy Adelman oversees the A ging in Community column. For her summary of current LGBT senior challenges and opportunities, please go to: http://sfbaytimes.com/challenges-and-opportunties/

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

San Francisco Mayor-Elect Daniel Lurie Visit to Openhouse Shortly After the Election 2024 Results

Daniel Lurie, in one of his first actions as Mayor-elect of San Francisco, visited Openhouse in the Castro on November 8, 2024. Openhouse, a nonprofit co-founded by San Francisco Bay Times columnist and LGBTQ elder advocate Dr. Marcy Adelman, has a mission of enabling San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ+ seniors to overcome the unique challenges they face as they age by providing housing, direct services, and community programs.

The visit, widely covered by both local and national media, allowed Lurie to demonstrate support for the LGBTQ+ community. He said, in part, “You will have an ally every single day in the mayor’s office in me.” He added, “I understand the dynamics nationally, but all I will say is I will always have your back. Always. Unequivocally.”

Andrew Shaffer, Openhouse’s Director of Development, told the Bay Times: “The event was coordinated by Daniel Lurie’s team, who reached out to Openhouse shortly after he won the election. Mayor-elect Lurie and his team wanted to highlight the incoming administration’s support for LGBTQ communities. At the event, the Mayor-elect reiterated his intentions to fight for our community, for seniors, and for expanded housing opportunities.”

Shaffer continued, “The event was attended by representatives of several LGBTQ+ serving organizations, including Openhouse, LYRIC, San Francisco Pride, the GLBT Historical Society, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the LGBTQ Center, the Castro Country Club, the city’s LGBTQ Cultural Districts, and more.” https://www.openhousesf.org/

Horizons Launches Directory of LGBTQ Nonprofits and Services

By Francisco O. Buchting

Living in a place of great LGBTQ diversity like the San Francisco Bay Area, it is easy to underestimate that the heartbeat of our LGBTQ community has always been and continues to be our LGBTQ nonprofits and programs. From healthcare facilities to cultural spaces, from media projects to legal representation for asylum seekers, the services these organizations provide ensure that crucial needs are met every day in our community. Did you know that the San Francisco Bay Area is home to not one, not three, but nine LGBTQ centers?! I am not aware of any other geographical area that can claim such richness. And yet, there does not exist any single place where people looking for these services can search and be connected to them.

Until today.

For over 44 years, Horizons Foundation has had the honor and privilege of partnering with donors to resource our diverse, innovative, and dynamic ecosystem of LGBTQ

nonprofits—or, as we refer to them in our office, our grantee partners. As your LGBTQ community foundation, Horizons is thrilled to announce the release of the first comprehensive online directory of LGBTQ organizations and programs serving the nine counties of the SF Bay Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma! Check it out at https://bit.ly/4eBnViv

Explore all the key features of your LGBTQ community directory. Get to know the almost 100 LGBTQ organizations and programs listed by subject area (Arts & Culture, Health & Human Services, Community Building & Leadership, Advocacy & Civil Rights, LGBTQ Centers, Sports & Recreation, and Scholarships) or using keywords from Horizons’ LGBTQ search tags. You can even filter by county. But most importantly, you will find vital information for each organization profile, such as address, hours of operation, website, and a brief description of the services offered.

The San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ community is unique in many ways, including being at the forefront of many key events in our movement and pulling together at times of great challenges while collectively celebrating our lives, our community, and our incredible LGBTQ nonprofits. We created this directory based on two key findings from Horizons’ Needs Assessment of the LGBTQ community of the SF Bay Area: first, a significant number of respondents reported feeling disconnected from the LGBTQ community; second, a critical barrier to accessing LGBTQ-friendly or culturally appropriate programs and services was a lack of awareness about what services are available or where they are located. This online directory is designed to be a new vital resource for the LGBTQ community and its nonprofit ecosystem.

The creation of Horizons’ LGBTQ Organization Directory has been a significant undertaking, made possible by the LGBTQ nonprofits and programs that contributed their profiles and input. All of us at

Horizons, along with the almost 100 LGBTQ nonprofits and programs, are working toward a future where all LGBTQ people live freely and fully. It starts with you connecting to the extensive network of LGBTQ nonprofits and finding community.

About Horizons Foundation

The world’s first community foundation of, by, and for LGBTQ people, Horizons invests in LGBTQ organizations, strengthens a culture of LGBTQ giving, and builds a permanent endowment to secure our community’s future for generations to come. Learn more at https://www.horizonsfoundation.org/

As Vice President of Grants, Programs, and Communications at Horizons Foundation, Francisco Buchting oversees all of the foundation’s grantmaking, programmatic strategies, and communication activities. His more than 25 years of experience in government, philanthropy, and nonprofit organizations include forming private-public partnerships, leading knowledge brokerage initiatives, and problem-solving through a mix of creative yet simple solutions with clear implementation and success metrics.

Photos by Theresa Arocena

Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders

Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor, 1978 Kim Corsaro, Publisher 1981-2011

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The Bay Times was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men. We honor our history and the paper’s ability to build and strengthen unity in our community.

The Bay Times is proud to be the first and only LGBTQ newspaper in San Francisco to be named a Legacy Business, recognizing that it is a longstanding, community-serving business that is a valuable cultural asset to the city.

dr. Betty l. SullivaN/JeNNiFer l viegaS co-PuBliSherS & co-editorS

Beth greeNe, JohN SigNer, Michael delgado deSigN & ProductioN

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CONTRIBUTORS

WRITeRS

Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Patrick Carney, Leslie Sbrocco, Kate Kendell, Gary M. Kramer, Joanie Juster, Robert Holgate, Eduardo Morales, Dennis McMillan, Tim Seelig, John Chen, Rafael Mandelman, Jewelle Gomez, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Philip Ruth, Bill Lipsky, Elisa Quinzi, Liam Mayclem, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Derek Barnes, Marcy Adelman, Jan Wahl, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis, Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron, Howard Steiermann, Fernando Camino, Honey Mahogany, David Landis

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Rink, Paul Margolis, Bill Wilson, Sandy Morris, Karina Patel, Abby Zimberg, Joanie Juster, Debra Reabock

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Recent Awards and Honors for San Francisco LGBTQ+ Community Leaders and Allies

Joanie Juster

San Francisco Bay Times columnist Joanie Juster on October 30, 2024, was honored for her more than 35 years of volunteer service to the Bay Area’s LGBTQ+ community. Viewed by thousands on the Jumbotron high above, Juster was joined by friends and family to receive the honor presented during halftime at the Warriors Annual Pride Night Game. She was nominated to receive the award by colleagues and friends at the National AIDS Memorial where she has closely worked with the founders of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

As announced by the Warriors during the presentation: “Joanie has been volunteering since the early days of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Usually working behind the scenes, her work includes fundraising and grassroots community organizing for programs fighting AIDS, breast cancer, poverty, Alzheimer’s, social injustice, and much more. A staunch ally, she is known for her work with the National AIDS Memorial, AIDS Emergency Fund, AIDS Walk, Shanti, and Marriage Equality USA, as well as fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, suicide prevention, and voters’ rights.”

Nguyen Pham

In recognition of his leadership, volunteerism, and philanthropy as former President of San Francisco Pride’s Board of Directors, Nguyen Pham was honored by The Commonwealth Club’s World Affairs division on October 31, 2024. The event, entitled “Community Roast and Exit Interview with SF Pride Board President Nguyen Pham,” was held in the club’s Taube Family Auditorium and was also livestreamed.

Pham was accompanied at the event by San Francisco Pride Board Members Dr. Nas Mohamed, Adell Hanson-Kahn, and Joshua Smith. Audio of the presentation is at https://shorturl.at/zlumI

Dr. Marcy Adelman

The Community Living Campaign at its Annual Award Celebration held on September 19, 2024, at IUC Law’s Sky Deck presented the Norman Satten Community Services Award for 2024 to Dr. Marcy Adelman. She was recognized for her service as a lifelong advocate, mentor, and leader in the Bay Area’s LGBTQ+ community and beyond.

Dr. Adelman, who is a San Francisco Bay Times columnist, is a Commissioner on the California Commission on Aging, a Board member of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California, and a founder of the LGBTQ+ Aging Research Partnership. Notably, she is also the cofounder of Openhouse, which works to center the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ older adults by providing opportunities to make social connections and build community.

Photos courtesy of Golden State Warriors

Photos courtesy of Nguyen Pham

Community Living Campaign photos

GLBT Fortnight in Review

We’re Going Back

After the election, our household went through a week or so of drinking and binge-watching British dramas and detective shows. After a couple of years, we watch the good shows over again from Episode One because we have only the dimmest recollection of what happened. This allows us to dive into the new season, if there is one, and also secures an endless inventory for our viewing pleasure.

We’ve also distracted ourselves with college and pro football, and college basketball is getting into gear as I write. The rest of our appalled family is filling our message board with commentary, essays, and horrific headlines. I continue to ignore these, while my wife punctuates our days with unbelievable announcements about Trump plans. My position is that I will not read this stuff or comment on any prospective news of this sort. Instead, I will wait until he does something and react at that time. Not only will this buy me another month and a half of emotional freedom from American politics, but I’m hoping it also means that I will never have to react to many or at least some of these stupendously unconstitutional prospects. We will see.

Bully for You

For about nine months in the late 1980s, I worked for Robert Maxwell, the tyrannical and corrupt British media baron who later drowned after falling off his yacht in the Canary Islands. I was only involved in a minor project, but for various reasons I wound up in a handful of small meetings with the man himself, including two one-onones. Maxwell was huge and intimidating and a bully. His group owned several hundred companies and he ran them in a quixotic fashion, much as I imagine Trump operates now.

Maxwell once made a phone call to one of my colleagues, put the phone to my ear and asked my unknowing colleague all sorts of questions about my performance. He pit people against each other. He was cruel. In another of the meetings, he called a man who was starting to barbecue for family and friends an hour outside of London on a Saturday and demanded answers to obscure questions concerning a deal from five or ten years earlier that had triggered an unexpected rage. The man was flustered and couldn’t answer. Maxwell ordered him to report to the office at once.

That said, Maxwell could also wave his fingers, authorize millions for a new project or acquisition without any preliminary presentation, and then move on to the next thing without looking back. I think it was that prospect—of cutting to the chase and accessing that kind of money and power—that made people put up with him, and I think it’s the same with Trump.

As for me, I finished my consulting job quickly, but the firebrand head of mergers and acquisitions, a small woman who brandished a riding crop on the executive floor, developed a big crush on me and kept giving me random assignments. Towards the end of my stint, she was doing so much cocaine that nothing was making sense and the adventure

By Ann Rostow

came to an end. I had no idea Maxwell was using his newspaper workers’ pension funds as a personal ATM, or pledging the same shares as collateral over and over again, but I wasn’t surprised a few years later when the business collapsed in scandal and Maxwell went under the waves off the Spanish coast. That whole tangent was just to say that I briefly witnessed the context that I believe has seduced so many who are hoping to leverage their loyalty to Trump into a vehicle for personal advancement. No, they don’t like him. But he represents a shortcut to glorious and unanticipated success that they find irresistible.

Keep On Keeping On

I’m avoiding GLBT news only because it’s a dismal time. Anti-transgender cray cray flooded the airwaves, and you all heard Trump himself bemoan the commonplace dilemma for parents of school-aged boys, who send their son off to sixth grade where he is castrated without their consent and sent home as their daughter.

I mean, you can’t even argue with stuff like this! What do you say? Um, no. Schools aren’t arranging secret penile amputations behind everyone’s back. Haitians in Springfield aren’t eating dogs and cats. Cities aren’t in flames. Crime isn’t up, it’s down. The economy isn’t in shambles. It’s the best in the world.

I know I wasn’t going to go down this path, but can I just say that I’m tired of reading how Harris and/or “Democrats” in general made this mistake or that mistake when much of our electorate was simply living in an alternate universe?

And now, what can we say about the antitrans lawsuits flooding the courts and rising inevitably to the highest in the land? As you may remember, the Supremes will hear arguments December 4 on whether or not to uphold Tennessee’s ban on youth transgender health care, including hormones and puberty blockers.

I’m thinking that since the Biden Justice Department filed this particular challenge to Tennessee’s bill, the Court will eventually just drop it, right? Because the Trump Justice Department will abandon the suit?

But maybe the justices are looking forward to taking a stand, and, of course, if they rule in favor of Tennessee on Equal Protection, they effectively uphold similar laws in half the other states. That said, there is also a parental rights argument that is not developed for the High Court in this case, and there are other challenges from parents of transgender kids that could be pursued around the country.

I feel depressed about this case, and all the other transgender legal challenges; girls’ sports, transgender discrimination in schools, and in the workplace. Book bannings, drag show bans. The whole ball of wax, if you will. Are we going to learn the ins and outs of all sorts of litigation, only to wind up with a 6–3 anti-GLBT majority, or maybe 5–4? Will we spend many future columns wringing our hands

(continued on page 20)

Marc-Antoine Muret: A Scandalous Scholarship

Faces from Our LGBT Past

Among the most respected scholars of Renaissance Europe, Marc-Antoine Muret (1526–1585) had just completed a series of hugely popular lectures about the Roman poet Catullus at the College de Boncourt in Paris when he was arrested and imprisoned in the city’s Grand Châtelet, accused of “penchants antiphysiques” with one or more of his young male students, although none of them apparently had complained. Perhaps it was one of his rivals who brought the charges.

Nobody doubted he was close with Daniel Schleicher, a student from Ulm whom he probably met when he taught at the Collège de Guyenne in Bordeaux from 1547 to 1551. When Muret published the first edition of

his Juvenilia in 1552, he included among its many elegies, epigrams, epistles, and odes, all written in Latin, a poem where he described him as “a young man surpassing all good men in the blessings of mind, body, and fortune” and “the sweetest son by far.”

Muret also had been devoted to Louis Valesius, whom he proclaimed “an upstanding man” in the book’s final epigram. “You wonder why I’ve put you here at the end, Louis,” he wrote, “even though I embrace you with such great love. The reason is, you are planted deeply in the bottom of my heart. Hence it has come about that you left my heart last.” In addition, his affection for LucMenge (Lucius Memmius) Frémiot, who stated that Muret was his “best and dearest teacher,” was already well known.

Despite being recognized as a master scholar and educator, Muret now faced the possibility of being burned at the stake in the public square. He protested his incarceration by taking the only action available to him: he went on a hunger strike. Influential friends finally saved him from both famine and fire, but the man considered to be one of the best Latin prose stylists of his day was forced to flee Paris, disgraced and penniless. He escaped to Toulouse, but once again was accused of “unnatural vice,” this time with Frémiot specifically. “I want to believe that Muret loved this young boy with an honest love,” French author Gilles Ménage (1613–1692) wrote of him a century later, but “he

was accused of loving him with a dishonest love.” About to be arrested, the two men left the city, separately, for more life-affirming opportunities. They then were sentenced to “the penalty of fire” in absentia and burned in effigy in the Place Saint-Georges.

Muret eventually settled in Venice, only to confront new rumors and accusations.

According to Joseph Joost Scaliger, a colleague, admirer, and friend (1540–1609), “In Venice they did not want to tolerate him because of his pederasty.” No formal charges were brought against him, “but having tried to sodomize the sons of some of the most eminent noblemen, he fled to Rome,” then to Padua, where he became a private tutor to the heirs of eminent families, until stories about him caused him to lose his students and move again.

with Etienne de La Boétie (1530–1563).”

Calling him “my brother and inseparable companion,” theirs was the defining relationship of his life.

Were they intimate in every way?

Finally, in 1558, he was invited into the service of Ippolito d’Este (1509–1572), Cardinal-Protector of France and a wellknown diplomat and patron of the arts. Although Muret had taught classics at various universities since he was 18 and was famous for his translations and commentaries about the works of Cicero, Catullus, Tacitus, Plato, and Aristotle, he was finally secure for the first time in his life. He was either unwilling or unable to create more gossip about himself now, and all allegations of impropriety ceased.

Five years later, Pope Pius IV appointed Muret Professor of Moral Philosophy at the Sapienza University of Rome, founded in 1303, where he taught law and rhetoric for the next 21 years. Celebrated as a learned man of letters and as one of the finest Latin prose stylists of his generation, he modernized instruction with a new system of instruction, known as the “French method of teaching.” He was proclaimed a citizen of Rome in 1571 and ordained a priest of the Catholic Church in 1576.

Perhaps Muret’s greatest and certainly most famous student was statesman and essayist Michel de Montaigne (1553–1592).

American transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson, a champion of individualism and critical thinking, celebrated him as “the frankest and honestest of all writers,” which he certainly was when he was sharing information about “his romantic friendship

Montaigne described “a friendship so close and so intricately knit, that no movement, impulse, thought of his mind was kept from me.” He never denied his great feelings for La Boétie and the “singular and brotherly friendship which we had entertained for each other.” “If you press me to say why I loved him,” he wrote in his famous essay “On Friendship,” “I can say no more than because he was he, and I was I.”

Montaigne’s Essays first appeared in an English translation by Giovanni (John) Florio in 1603. A prominent linguist, lexicographer, royal language tutor at the Court of James I, and a twice married lover of men, he was one of the most important humanists of his time. Not all of Montaigne’s ideas translated easily from French to English, so Florio created a number of words to make them clearer. Still with us, they included “entrain, conscientious, endear, tarnish, comport, efface, facilitate, amusing, debauching, regret, effort, and emotion.”

La Boétie made his own lasting contribution to humanity with his Discourse on Voluntary Servitude. Written when he was still a college student, it was the first political tract to state the principle of civil disobedience. “To strengthen their power, tyrants make every effort to train their people not only in obedience and servility toward themselves, but also in adoration,” he wrote. Because they fall when the people withdraw their support, “Resolve to serve [them] no more, and you are free.”

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.

Dr. Bill Lipsky

Etienne Paris mint medal

Michel de Montaigne

The permanent scaffold in Place Saint-Georges (middle left), in the 17th Century

and parsing some well-written dissent by Jackson or Sotomayor? I can’t wait. Meanwhile, here’s what depresses me the most. It’s that we cannot have a thoughtful national debate about gender identity in this country, even though it’s nuanced and complicated. It’s not a simple question of “civil rights for all.” What if some parents think their pre-teen daughter is going through a phase rather than becoming a transboy? Are they being cautious? Are they trying to figure it out? Or are they transphobic, the trans version of the anti-gay parents of the last century who sent their kids out into the cold on the basis of antiquated religious argle-bargle?

Who knows? But this is not like being gay, and we have basically zero long-term studies of growing up trans in the U.S.. Because we just started studying! Yet, just as Western Europe begins to recognize that we need more information, America retrenches and digs deeper into intractable mud. I refer you back to Trump’s warning about schools sending your son back as your daughter.

Keep in mind as well that even with the growth we’ve seen in transgender youth over the last decade or so (particularly among trans boys), the number of trans kids remains a tiny fraction. I’m not arguing that trans civil rights are somehow less important because the community is small. I’m saying the subject has been inflated into a national emergency through a confluence of factors: fear, lack of understanding, and the political seduction of tapping into an American majority for fundraising and rhetoric. No one thinks gender is a whimsical construct to

switch on and off at will. So, it doesn’t take much exaggeration to trigger qualms across a wide range of the country.

Finally, someone wrote a great essay questioning why we are all so obsessed with making sure no one accidentally transitions. I was taken aback by this essay at first, because I think it’s pretty important not to transition without being sure of yourself. I don’t think kids should have transition surgery as a rule.

But the essay got me thinking. Young people make decisions all the time: tattoos, piercings, college major, getting married. Some get pregnant and decide to keep the baby. Some of these are good decisions. In retrospect, some may not have been. If we assume that 90 percent of people who transition are happy with their choice (I’m guessing), then we’re talking about one tenth of the aforementioned tiny fraction, and some of them might change their minds again! Is this risk so momentous that we need to ask the Supreme Court for dozens of rulings and send our lawmakers back to enact new laws every session? I don’t think so.

Yet that is where America is going.

Let’s Join the ACLU

Here’s one thing that might help. Pay the damned money that the ACLU keeps hounding us for. I got mad at the ACLU at one point because I was either a member, or I had given money, and suddenly I got targeted for donations to an annoying degree.

Just as most of us recently suffered through months of the barrage of daily texts begging for cash, it feels as if we’re being punished for

Navy Band Southwest in the Castro

contributing to a campaign or an organization. Anyway, for years I refused to give money to the ACLU and switched to some other worthy cause. But now, I’m coming back.

If you can afford it, now’s the time. I’ve given money to the GLBT groups in the past, thinking that Gay Law is even more closely attuned to my goals than the fantastic ACLU. But we don’t just need a champion for gay and trans rights now. We need a champion for the Constitution, and that’s the ACLU. Hang on, I’m going to sign up now.

Done. I asked my wife how much we should give per month and she had just signed up herself, so I added $10 a month. That’s one cocktail! We have never needed these guys more than we do now.

Death Down Under

Did you know it’s mating season for the deadly funnel-web spider in Australia? This means they’re running around looking for action, and that action might be you. One bite from this dreadful creature and you could be dead in fifteen minutes, we learn. Alternatively, if you put pressure on the bite, make a tourniquet, and get medical attention quickly (presumably within fifteen minutes), you can get an antidote and survive.

Unfortunately, it takes 150 male spiders to produce a single dose of antidote, so regular people are being asked to catch spiders when possible, and put them into a wide-mouthed plastic jar with some dirt. The male spiders don’t live very long, so you have to catch them and turn them in as fast as you can.

Photos by Rink

In what has become an annual visit to the Castro, the Navy’s 32nd Street Brass Band entertained a crowd of onlookers in Jane Warner Plaza on Tuesday, October 10. The Brass Band is one of several ensembles within the Navy Band Southwest that performs in multiple venues during San Francisco Fleet Week.

From its headquarters onboard Naval Base San Diego, the Navy Band Southwest presents more than 400 performances each year and is comprised of 45 members under the direction of Lt. Matthew M. Shea. The Band has more than 100 years in operation since its origin in 1923.

Multiple units of the Navy Band Southwest performed throughout San Francisco during Fleet Week 2024. Among these were the 32nd Street Brass Band, Prevailing Winds Quartet, and The Destroyers Pop Music Group. Performance venues included the Golden Gate Bandshell, Ghirardelli Square, SF Ferry Building, Japan Town Peace Plaza, Pier 39, and the SF War Memorial & Performing Arts Center.

Are you kidding me?

My source for this information is “Headline News,” one of the mysterious information providers that has lately appeared on my email, hawking clickbait stories about people falling from cruise ships, murdering neighbors, and learning to talk to monkeys.

I’m not at all confident in “Headline News” as a source. This spider story, for example, has a few logistical holes. The anti-venom was developed in 1981, they say. And there have been no reported deaths from funnel-web spider bites since then.

Really? Are we supposed to believe that, for over forty years, everyone who has faced the deadly consequences of the funnel’s fangs has made it to a medical clinic and gotten the rare anti-venom within fifteen minutes? In Australia? I’m guessing this spider is not creeping around the city streets, a ten-minute Uber away from the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s ER. It’s looking for sex in the outback waiting to pounce, a thousand miles from civilization.

The recent warnings have come from the Australian Reptile Park, a horrifying place to visit, I’m thinking. The park advised everyone “to be alert for spiders in cool, dark areas, such as shoes, laundry piles, pools, and yard debris,” and they asked people to “look for egg sacs” when they find a spider.

Um, no. I’m planning to avoid Australia during funnel-web spider mating season and possibly at other times as well.

arostow@aol.com

The Legends Awards

With the theme “A Night of Stars,” The Academy SF November 15, 2024.

Throughout the evening, a standing room only crowd and applause for the honorees as well as the live music Kanazawa, the San Francisco Pride Band, the San Francisco Russell Deason, who debuted an original work composed was posted to Facebook, go to: https://bit.ly/3Z9VEey

Emcee Sister Roma, recipient of the first Legends Archive and banter to the stage throughout the program. A memorable exchange with Juanita MORE!, who reminded Roma ent of the Legends Archive Award.

Patrick Carney, Founder of the Pink Triangle project, sented by community leader Gary Virginia. This award, a good example for others in the community and embody people stand out simply because of who they are, not done, but because they inspire others to do better, and Castro business owner Colm O’Brien, who is also known tender and former Hi Tops co-manager, received The who has improved the LGBTQ+ community by creating already exists. O’Brien earlier this year opened Bar Dr. Dee Spencer, who is a professor of music as well tro venues, received the Diane Jones Solidarity Award. Blanket Babylon star Renée Lubin, a well-known LGBTQ+ bers who bind us together, strengthen ties, and remind Renowned drag queen and philanthropist Donna Sachet, received the Legends Archive Award for 2024. The local tor Mark Leno, who declared Sachet to be “The First during his tenures in the San Francisco Assembly and visor Rafael Mandelman, city Treasurer José Cisneros, Transgender Initiatives and a San Francisco Bay Times

To learn more about these and prior Legends Awards https://www.academy-sf.com/legends

Awards - A Night of Stars

SF hosted the 6th Annual Legends Awards on Friday,

crowd filled the Swedish American Hall with cheers music provided by international performing artist Shün Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, and local favorite composed for the occasion. (To listen to the song, which https://bit.ly/3Z9VEey )

Archive Award presented in 2019, brought sharp wit memorable moment occurred during an impromptu Roma and the audience that she was the second recipi-

project, received The Exemplar Award, which was preaward, The Academy shares, “honors those who set embody values that we can all be inspired by. These just because of what they can do or what they have and be better versions of themselves.”

known for his role as a leading neighborhood barThe Architect Award. The award honors a person creating a new institution or vastly improving one that 49 at 2295 Market Street in the Castro.

as a talented musician who performs weekly at CasAward. Dr. Spencer was introduced by former Beach LGBTQ+ ally. The award is given to community memremind us of our common purpose.

Sachet, who is a San Francisco Bay Times columnist, local legend was introduced by former State SenaFirst Lady of the Castro” and similar titles of reverence and Senate. Other officials attending included SuperCisneros, Honey Mahogany (Director of the SF Office of columnist), and Mayor London Breed. Awards recipients, visit:

JUSTER (continued from pg 3)

details: https://tinyurl.com/WADGlide24

Shanti’s Intimate Gathering with Stories, Ritual & Friends

All are welcome to join Shanti’s Honoring Our Experience program on World AIDS Day for an intimate gathering from 4:30–6:30 pm at Manny’s, 16th Street and Valencia. The gathering will be led by facilitator and HIV long-time survivor Gregg Cassin. Attendees are invited to honor World AIDS Day by sharing stories and remembering loved ones. Along with music, poems, and food, there will be ample support and love. https://tinyurl.com/WADHOE24

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

LEWIS/GAFFNEY (continued from pg 4)

continue to stand up for our lives and move forward together as a community.

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.

opening a retirement account to start building tax-free savings.

• Social Security Options: Review your Social Security claiming strategy if retirement is on the horizon.

Align Your Strategy With Your Goals

A little portfolio review can go a long way toward securing your financial future. Here’s where to focus:

• Confirm Goals: Make sure your investments are still aligned with your financial goals.

• Asset Allocation: Look for opportunities to rebalance your portfolio if needed.

• Taxes: Check for tax loss harvesting opportunities in your portfolio.

• Review Fundamentals: Revisit the fundamentals of your investments.

• Outstanding Loans & Mortgages: Check interest rates and balances for possible refinancing or payoff strategies.

• Employee Stock Options: Review your stock options to decide whether it’s a good time to exercise.

Insurance:

Check Your Coverage, Stay Protected Life changes and evolving needs make it essential to review your insurance.

• Property and Casualty Policies: Confirm coverage and make sure it’s appropriate.

• Health Insurance: Look for changes in coverage or new options that suit your needs.

• Life or Business Changes: Major changes might mean your insurance needs a tweak—whether it’s life, home, or business insurance.

Major Life Changes: Account for Big Events

Have you experienced a significant life change this year? Make sure your finances reflect it.

• New Job, Marriage, or Move: Update accounts and insurance.

• Refinanced or Sold Major Assets: Adjust financial plans to account for any new cash flow.

• Family Changes: Births, adoptions, or caregiving for an elderly parent can shift financial needs.

• Unexpected Gifts or Inheritances: Incorporate them into your financial plans to make the most of them.

Family: Plan for Loved Ones

End-of-year is a great time to make decisions that impact the people you care about.

• Education Accounts: Contribute to 529s or other educational savings plans.

• Trusts: Review and fund family trusts as needed.

• Charitable Giving: Plan any charitable contributions you’d like to make before the year ends.

A little year-end financial planning now can help you end 2024 with confidence and start 2025 on solid ground. So, grab a warm drink, settle in, and give your finances the refresh they deserve! Here’s to a great year-end and an even better year ahead.

The opinions expressed in this article are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security. It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results. Any indices referenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. As always, please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional.

Brio Financial Group is a registered investment adviser. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Brio Financial Group and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Brio Financial Group unless a client service agreement is in place.

Brandon Miller, CFP®, is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals. For more information: https://www.briofg.com/

GREENE (continued from pg 8)

This is particularly relevant if your financial or healthcare needs have evolved over the past year.

3. Reassess Your Real Estate Holdings

In the Bay Area, your real estate holdings are likely one of the most significant parts of your estate. Consider the following:

• Title and Ownership: Ensure that all real estate titles are correctly aligned with your estate plan, especially if you’ve purchased or sold property this year. Verify that ownership is structured to avoid probate, if possible.

• Proposition 19 Considerations: Proposition 19, which affects property tax reassessments on inherited properties, is a key factor in California estate planning. Review how this law impacts your plan and whether any adjustments are needed to minimize tax liability for your children.

4. Review Retirement Accounts and Life Insurance Policies

Retirement accounts and life insurance policies often make up a substantial portion of your estate. As the year ends, it’s a good time to review these accounts.

• Beneficiary Designations: Confirm that the beneficiaries on your retirement accounts and life insurance policies are up to date and reflect your current intentions. Ensure that these designations align with your overall estate plan.

• Account Contributions: If you haven’t maxed out contributions to your retirement accounts, consider doing so before the year ends. This not only benefits your financial future but also impacts the assets included in your estate.

Tax Planning Considerations

Tax laws are constantly changing, meaning that tax planning is essential. Before the year ends:

• Gifting: Consider making tax-exempt gifts to family members or charities. The annual gift tax exclusion allows you to give a certain amount to each person without it being subject to federal gift tax.

• Charitable Contributions: If you’re considering charitable donations, doing so before the end of the year can provide tax benefits while supporting causes you care about.

• Estate Tax Planning: Review your estate plan in light of both federal and state estate taxes. California doesn’t have a state estate tax, but the federal estate tax exemption amount may be relevant depending on the size of your estate.

6. Digital Assets

In today’s digital age, your online accounts and digital assets are an important part of your estate.

• Access and Control: Ensure that your estate plan includes provisions for how your digital assets, such as social media accounts, online banking, and email, should be managed after your passing. Designate a trusted person to handle these accounts.

• Password Management: Update your list of digital passwords and make sure they are accessible to your designated agent or trustee. Consider using a password manager to securely store this information.

Conclusion

As you prepare to welcome 2025, taking the time to review and update your estate plan can provide peace of mind, allowing you to know that your affairs are in order. For residents of the San Francisco Bay Area, where property values are high and estate planning needs can be complex, this year-end checklist ensures that your plan reflects your current situation and safeguards your legacy. If you need assistance with any aspect of your estate planning, contact us at obed@greenelawfirm.com or call us at 415-905-0215 to schedule a consultation. Let’s work together to secure your future and protect your loved ones.

Statements In Compliance with California Rules of Professional Conduct: The materials in this article have been prepared by Attorney Jay Greene for educational purposes only and are not legal advice. This information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Individuals should consult with an estate planning and elder law attorney for up-to-date information for their individual plans.

Jay Greene, Attorney, CPA, is the founder of Greene Estate, Probate, & Elder Law Firm based in San Francisco, and is focused on helping LGBT individuals, couples, and families plan for their future, protect their assets, and preserve their wealth. For more information and to schedule an assessment, visit: https://assetprotectionbayarea.com/

Take Me Home with You!

Looking for a Loyal Companion? Meet Jazz!

At 9.5 years young, Jazz, a spirited miniature pinscher mix, proves that age is just a number. With a heart as golden as her twilight years, Jazz greets everyone with a wagging tail and sparkling eyes.

Her zest for life is infectious, and her curiosity keeps her exploring the world around her. Whether it’s belly rubs, gentle strolls, or snuggling on the couch, Jazz thrives on love and attention. She’s the perfect blend of playful and affectionate, ready to shower her future family with loyalty and joy.

Not sure if you’re ready for a lifelong commitment? The SF SPCA’s Foster-toAdopt program has you covered. Take Jazz home for a one-week trial and see if her friendly paws fit perfectly in your life. It’s a no-pressure way to find out if this charming senior is your ideal match.

Ready to meet your new best friend? Visit Jazz at the SF SPCA’s Mission Campus, open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm, and Tuesday from 1 pm to 6 pm (closed Mondays). For more details, email adoptions@sfspca.org

Don’t miss the chance to bring home a bundle of love wrapped in a petite, playful package!

https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/

Let’s Go Home!

Here are two of the many pets now available for adoption at Oakland Animal Services (OAS): Nancy Nancy is a young girl with a gentle heart who is still learning to trust the world around her. Though she’s hesitant at first, her sweet nature shines through when she’s offered treats or given the space to warm up on her own terms. Nancy may flatten her ears or give a little hiss when she’s feeling scared, but when she’s enjoying a meal, she relaxes and enjoys pets. In those moments, she even raises her “elevator butt” with delight! Nancy could use a little patience and kindness ... couldn’t everyone right now?! Her ideal adopter is someone with cat experience who can provide Nancy with a quiet, child-free home where her true affectionate and playful nature can shine.

Skipper Meet Skipper, a sweet and charming 2-yearold, 68-pound pitbull mix who’s as easygoing as they come!

This lovable pup is a master snuggler who thrives on affection and loves being close to his humans. Skipper is adaptable and in tune with your energy—ready for playtime when you are or happy to relax by your side. He’s a fetch enthusiast and quick learner, making him a great fit for an active family. Skipper is social with other dogs but can also enjoy being the only dog in the home. With his loyal, fun-loving nature, Skipper is the perfect companion!

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

Macy’s SF SPCA Holiday Windows 2024

Always a favorite with San Francisco Bay Times readers and contributors is the annual Holiday Windows display at Macy’s Union Square presented in partnership with the San Francisco SPCA. Launching on Friday, November 22, the windows will present a special theme and many furry friends who are ready to go home with you.

This year’s Holiday Windows, the 38th such display, will be open for viewing through Tuesday, December 31, Wednesday–Sunday, noon to 6 pm. Macy’s will be closed on November 28 and December 25.

Beyond 2024, the fate of Macy’s flagship store in San Francisco remains uncertain following the announcement earlier this year that the retail giant is looking to sell the property. It is then all the more important to support this treasured annual fundraiser and holiday adoption drive, helping the dogs, cats, bunnies, and more find their forever homes.

https://www.sfspca.org/

Not Your Traditional Nutcracker: Dance Along and Solve the Big Mystery!

This year the San Francisco Pride Band is once again kicking off the holiday season with the DanceAlong Nutcracker ®. The Dance-Along Nutcracker is an only-in-San Francisco tradition: part comedy musical, part dance-it-yourself ballet, and part symphonic concert.

Established in 1985, the Dance-Along Nutcracker each year blends Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet music with a unique theme to create a clever original musical production. In this year’s show, the theme is a mischievous blend of detective meets spy. In Mission: Nutcracker, junior detective Clara and spy-in-training Fritz have to put their heads together and find the missing nutcracker. Attendees can expect to hear music from James Bond, The Pink Panther, and other spy thrillers and mystery classics.

Audience participation is a hallmark of the DanceAlong Nutcracker, which means that audience members will track down clues, investigate suspects, and dodge spy traps right alongside the cast. A beloved tradition at the Dance-Along is that, whenever the “Dance-Along” signs light up, the audience is invited to get up out of their seats and dance along too. Dancing is not required, but it is a whole lot of fun—no previous ballet experience (or serious dance skills) is necessary!

The show takes the plot of The Nutcracker as loose inspiration, otherwise running wild with the theme to create a completely unique, brand-new show each year. Past year’s themes have included The Nightmare Before Christmas (The Nutmare Before Christmas), pirates ( Nutcrackers of the Caribbean), and superheroes (The Fantastic Adventures of Captain Nutcracker)

The show is written by members of the Band, which ensures that it stays true to the Band’s values of creating a community where music, education, and visibility converge to promote understanding and inclusivity. The plot of the Dance-Along Nutcracker always touches on themes of acceptance and community-building, and, of course, holiday cheer.

By Brian Trimboli

Director, and has been leading the Dance-Along Nutcracker for over a decade. “There really is nothing quite like this show. It’s a big production put on with so much enthusiasm, and you can really feel that when you hear the Band play, watch the actors play their part, and, of course, dance along in the audience.”

Alongside Nowlen, Cast Director Allen Sawyer is leading this year’s troupe of performers. Sawyer, who also works at the San Francisco Opera House, is directing local talents Alix Leslee Feinsod Guerrero, Gayle Why, Zelda Koznofski, Cameron Eng, and Marilynn Fowler. The cast brings together Bay Area performers who have deep experience as actors, musicians, and performers and have previously starred in musicals, drag shows, films, and more.

San Francisco Pride Band was founded in 1978 by Jon Sims at the height of Anita Bryant’s anti-gay crusade. Earlier this year, the San Francisco Pride Band changed its name from the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band. The name was changed to emphasize that the Band welcomes all members of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies across the spectrum of sexual orientation and gender identity. As the first openly gay music organization in the world, San Francisco Pride Band has inspired the formation of lesbian and gay bands, choruses, and performing troupes worldwide. In 2018, in honor of its 40th anniversary, the group was named the Official Band of the City and County of San Francisco by the City’s Supervisors and Mayor London Breed.

“We are always on the lookout for themes that will delight children and adults alike,” said Brandon Moss, the Band’s Director of Production and one of the members of this year’s creative team. “This year’s show features popular tunes from the Pink Panther, James Bond, and The Incredibles as friendly entry points for younger audiences who may be attending their first live music performance as well as familiar cultural touchstones for older audiences.”

“The Dance-Along Nutcracker is something that so many people, both members of the community and members of the Band itself, look forward to every year,” said Pete Nowlen, Artistic Director of the Band. Nowlen is the Band’s longest-running Artistic

The San Francisco Pride Band is proud to have worked with the San Francisco Bay Times and “Betty’s List” for over 25 years running. Since 1997, Betty Sullivan and her associates have been stalwart supporters of this annual show, providing more than $100,000 in media and promotional support.

When: Saturday December 7 (3 pm and 7 pm) and Sunday, December 8 (11 am and 3 pm)

Where: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum (701 Mission Street, San Francisco), walking distance from the Powell Street Muni and BART stations

Tickets: General admission: $28 for children, students, and seniors; $48 for adults

Find more information and tickets at www.DanceAlongNutcracker.org

Brian Trimboli plays euphonium in the San Francisco Pride Band and serves on the Board of Directors. He is excited about performing in his fifth Dance-Along Nutcracker.

Hollywood Does the Holidays

Off the Wahl

Jan Wahl

The easiest, softest way to get in the holiday spirit is to watch or stream a terrific movie made just for the occasion. Hollywood has been making Christmas movies since the beginning of cinema. In 1898 there was the film Santa Claus (running 1 minute and 16 seconds!), The Christmas Dream was released in 1900, and as early as 1901 there was a film version of A Christmas Carol. Since then, some of my favorite films have a holiday theme. So, get in your comfys, pour the hot chocolate, and be ready for the sound of jingle bells as you unwrap these movies!

1983 brought us one of the best holiday classics.

Dancing” routine with Vera Ellen. From Edith Head’s detailed costumes (she won eight Academy Awards for designs in The Sting, Sabrina, Roman Holiday, and All About Eve) to the final five minutes of iconic Christmas, it is a delight, no matter your faith.

Let’s snuggle down into black and white, perfect for a cold evening paired with a glass of mulled wine or cocoa. There are some good classics, like It’s a Wonderful Life, Christmas in Connecticut (original 1945 only!) and The Shop Around the Corner. The latter is the original version of You’ve Got Mail and is beyond wonderful. It’s tough to find a holiday movie more charming than The Bishop’s Wife or funnier than The Man Who Came to Dinner. Dig into google and discover how easy it is to stream these mood-enhancing marvels.

A Christmas Story tells the tale of a kid in the chilly Midwest days before Christmas who is obsessed with a certain gift from his parents. We also get the infamous leg lamp, a grouchy mall Santa, and the lesson to never lick a frozen pole even if you’re dared to do so. It is set in the 1940s, and this film is loaded with period details. The mood of the holidays is seen from the starry eyes of a young boy. Based on the humorous writings of Jean Shepherd, this classic presents a world that no longer quite exists in America, but is so worth visiting.

Another perennial favorite is White Christmas from 1954. In it, two talented song and dance men team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show biz. They sing and dance to glorious Irving Berlin songs, and do perfect comedy with even a number in partial drag as “sisters.” Bing Crosby and Danny Keye make it look loose and easy, with Kaye a standout, especially in a brilliant “The Best Things Happen When You’re

The world of Charles Dickens opens to us as we are entranced with an extravagant musical retelling of Oliver Twist in the 1968 film Oliver! It is one of the few musicals to win an Oscar for Best Picture, and completely deserved it. Victorian London comes alive with some of the best sets—as well as the best choreography and musical score—in cinematic history. Pair this one with a weekend trip to the Cow Palace in Daly City for The Dickens Fair. I go to this live historical reenactment every year. Whether it’s Alastair Sim, Michael Caine, George C. Scott, or Albert Finney as Scrooge, my favorite will always be Bill Murray in Scrooged. Maybe that’s because I have a lifetime of working in television production, but this retelling of a greedy network executive resonates with me every year. More laughs are to be found in Home Alone, Elf, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Look for the real Santa in Miracle on 34th Street (both versions are good, for a change) and the most romantic holiday movie ever: Love Actually. Happy Holidays to all ... and to all a good night!

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

Malanova Sensitively Addresses a Couple at the Crossroads Dealing With HIV

Film

Gary M. Kramer

The intimate Italian drama Malanova, now out on DVD and on demand, sensitively examines a gay couple at a crossroads. Riccardo (Nuno Nolasco) returns from a trip to Portugal and thinks his partner of six months, Matteo (Joele Anastasi), is being “melancholic.” As they go on a hike, Matteo has an episode where he feels unwell. It is soon revealed that Matteo is HIV-positive. Matteo asks Riccardo to get tested, but Riccardo doesn’t want to—perhaps because he does not want to know if he, too, has HIV. Moreover, Matteo is also facing fears; he is reluctant to treat his HIV with the medication he is given.

When Matteo heads off to visit Enzo (Stefano Saccotelli), Riccardo is initially suspicious, but he soon learns Enzo is Matteo’s uncle. Enzo helps both men process their feelings and gives the couple perspective about managing both the illness and their relationship.

doesn’t talk about HIV. Often, when we hear the stories, we are talking about the past—the 80s and 90s. I wanted to tell the story of this topic now; what it means to [be] HIV positive today. Many things around HIV have changed. The medicine has changed, and the illness can be managed.”

Malanova suggests that Riccardo is afraid to get tested because he doesn’t have information on treatment. “It is why he has a fear about his status,” Cuzzillo said. “It is important that we address this. If someone is positive and they use the therapy, he can live like other people; it is not like it was in the film Philadelphia.”

The filmmaker deliberately sits with the characters, shooting much of the film with a handheld camera. This approach allows the actors to express their emotions as Matteo and Riccardo grapple with the future of their relationship. Cuzzillo observed, “I like to portray introspective moments. I

Out gay writer-director Roberto Cuzzillo explained in a recent interview, “I wanted to compare the old and new generations. In Italy, we don’t talk much about HIV, and the younger generation, in particular,

like to go inside their heads. You are alone with the emotions they feel—the fear. Like everyone in the world, we are alone, as we [are with] our feelings and emotions. It’s about fighting within ourselves, but also learning to fight together to confront a bad situation.”

Matteo is conflicted because he feels alone with his illness. Matteo is also hearing impaired and Cuzzillo did not want to use his disability or his illness to make him a victim. He acknowledged, “Initially, the idea was that Matteo lives with this disability. It was a metaphoric way to have him confront his problems alone. Sometimes he wants to be alone in the world.”

He continued, “I decided not to use the music and sound to show Matteo was not hearing well. His

(continued on page 38)

Vanishing Treasures (non-fiction - hardcover) by

Katherine Rundell

Top of your stack

Lightborne (fiction - hardcover) by Hesse Phillips

In Vanishing Treasures, Katherine Rundell explores the wonders of 23 extraordinary endangered animals, from dancing seahorses to frogs that freeze in winter and revive in spring. With wit and passion, she calls on readers to cherish these remarkable creatures, reminding us of the beauty and fragility of our natural world.

What I Know About You (fiction - paperback) by Éric Chacour

This is a story of forbidden love and family secrets set in 1960s Cairo, where Tarek’s carefully planned life is shattered when he falls for Ali. Years later, living in isolation in Montreal, Tarek is haunted by a mysterious writer who is unearthing the past he longs to escape.

Lightborne is a reimagining of the final days of playwright Christopher Marlowe, as he navigates the dangerous political and personal betrayals of Elizabethan England. In a world filled with spies, secrets, and forbidden love, Marlowe’s fate is sealed by a mysterious lover who will both save and destroy him. This is a Book Passage First Edition pick.

Upcoming Events

Sunday, December 1 @ 1 pm (non- ticketedCorte Madera store) Jack Gedney, author of The Birds in the Oaks: Secret Voices of the Western Woods

The Birds in the Oaks is a lyrical celebration of the diverse bird species that thrive in California’s oak trees, from canopy hoppers to ground nesters. Jack Gedney captures the charm and resilience of these birds, beautifully illustrated by Angelina Gedney.

Wednesday, December 4 @ 7:30 pm (ticketed - Golden Gate Theatre) Cher, author of Cher: The Memoir, Part One

27th San Francisco Transgender Film Festival

Photos by Rink

San Francisco Transgender Film Festival artistic director Shawna Virago welcomed guests and introduced filmmakers from the stage at the Roxie Theater on Thursday, November 14, 2024.

Festival staff included Eric Garcia, Managing Director; Sarah Raborga, Communications Director; Melissa Lewis Wong, Production Manager; and an additional team of volunteers who contributed their time and expertise to help make this year’s festival a success.

The complete set of seven programs included in the festival will be available online on-demand through Sunday, November 24: http://www.sftff.org

This book offers an intimate look at the legendary life of Cher, tracing her journey from a child with dyslexia with big dreams to a groundbreaking superstar. With humor and honesty, she reflects on her complicated relationships, career triumphs, and activism in this first part of her two-part memoir. Cher will be in conversation with Joel Selvin. Tickets at https://www.bookpassage.com/

Saturday, December 7 @ 11 am (non-ticketed - Corte Madera store) Jacqueline Winspear, author of Maisie Dobbs Collector’s Edition

This elegant volume celebrates two decades of Jacqueline Winspear’s iconic Maisie Dobbs mystery series, bringing together the history, mystery, and resilience of her cherished protagonist. This special edition invites readers to rediscover Maisie’s unforgettable journey through an era defined by courage and change. Winspear will be joined by Andrew Smith.

https://www.bookpassage.com/

This queer, Jewish-diasporic coming-of-age novel is told in deeply compelling lyric fragments and raises important questions about how historical memory shapes the present.

I Can Give You Anything but Love by Gary Indiana

This engaging memoir by the late Gary Indiana amply demonstrates his talent of acerbic humor and brilliant social analysis as it covers his early life in New England and 1970s California, then moves to his late life adventures in fascinating Havana.

Because Fat Girl by Lauren Marie Flemming

This plus-sized queer rom-com—set in both Hollywood and the Real World—comes with just the happy ending you’ve been looking for.

https://www.fabulosabooks.com/

Yr Dead by Sam Sax

From Orchard to Glass:

Let’s

Give Thanks for Apples

Cocktails With Dina

Apples have a typical harvest time in the Bay Area from August to October. As the harvest wraps, cider production ramps up. This is when apples are pressed, and fresh cider is made widely available. Hard cider producers typically allow a short fermentation period, resulting in cider being ready mid-November. In this way, National Cider Day, falling on November 18, is a natural extension of the apple season.

Apples and their flavors connect us to the land. Likewise, Thanksgiving was historically time to give thanks for the harvest. When we raise a glass of hard cider or enjoy a sip of apple brandy, we’re not only toasting to the season—we’re partaking in a tradition that spans centuries.

In the days of early American settlers, apple orchards were a community staple, and apple cider was a daily drink. Today, these drinks offer a modern way to honor this history and the sense of gratitude Thanksgiving represents.

While talking to Austin Klein at Bar Car, a company focused on bringing spirits to family and community events, we reflected on

why we both love apple refreshments. The warmth of drinks like hard cider and apple brandy naturally fits with the season of Thanksgiving. Apples embody this spirit of thankfulness and community. Bar Car similarly focuses on events that bring people together.

From harvest to fresh-pressed cider to warming apple brandy, and other beverages, apples have a unique ability to capture the spirit of Thanksgiving: the coziness of gathering indoors, and the warmth of shared company. Sharing drinks with friends and family is a way to celebrate the season, honor tradition, and create new memories in good company—just as Thanksgiving invites us to do each year.

Let’s give thanks together with this cocktail that pays homage to cider as both an historical beverage and a modern favorite.

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

Sincerely Yours by Austin Klein at Bar Car

1 oz Lo-Fi Gentian

1 oz Bishop’s Eden Organic Apple Brandy

1 oz Pommeaux

3 dashes green apple bitters

2 oz Sincere Cider Dry grapefruit twist

Stir first four ingredients in a mixing glass until chilled. Pour into a highball glass with ice, top with cider, and garnish with a grapefruit twist.

Austin Klein

Gay Recipes From Gay Authors Bay Times Dines

The Gay Gourmet

David Landis

Today’s feature revolves around recipes from two successful gay authors, which got me thinking: Is there such a thing as a “gay recipe”? If so, what would that mean? Maybe a bitchy brisket that bites back because it’s too spicy? Or possibly an “Oh, Mary” meat loaf that just lays there? Or, perhaps, a drag donut (with sprinkles and confetti frosting, of course)?

Seriously, folks, we’re lucky to have so many talented gay authors in our community. It turns out that they can, in the words of Leonard Bernstein, cook too! So, I asked two of them for their favorite recipes, which follow.

Tater Tot Hotdish

Ground beef mixture:

1 lb lean ground beef

1 large white onion diced

1 tbsp oil

1 tbsp minced garlic

¼ tsp black pepper

Filling:

4 cups frozen mixed vegetables

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

2 cups shredded cheddar or mixed cheese

Topping:

1 bag of frozen Tater Tots

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

The first writer is a fixture around the Castro and a longtime bartender in the ‘hood as well: namely, Mark Abramson. He’s the author of the eminently entertaining Beach Reading Series, kind of a Tales of the City set in the Castro. Insider’s tip: You’ll also find him hanging out most nights around cocktail hour at the 440 on Castro He’s got a new diary coming out called My Gay History about the years 2003–2008 in the city. A book launch and signing are scheduled at Fabulosa Books on Castro for Sunday, December 1 at 4 pm and he’ll be on hand to read and sign his new book. Be there or be square. Yours truly got an advance copy of the book and here’s what I had to say:

a big favorite of that region. Here it is:

“Mark Abramson’s latest anthology isn’t just, as the title would suggest, his gay history. It’s everyone’s. He has brilliantly encapsulated a time in the early 2000s when gay marriage was made legal, Sean Penn filmed Milk in the Castro and Proposition 8 threatened the fabric of the LGBTQ community. Through it all, despite the challenges of the decade and his personal afflictions, Mark retains his signature optimism. That gives hope for us all. This is entertaining, sexy and intelligent writing at its best.”

Being a native Minnesotan, I asked Mark for one of his favorite recipes, and so he shared his Tater Tot Hotdish, apparently

two that were exactly the same, but all of them were delicious.

2. In a large skillet, fry the onion in the oil until it is soft and translucent. Add in the ground beef, fry until completely cooked through. Drain the fat, mix in the garlic. Fry until golden, around 2-3 minutes, then add some salt and pepper to taste and transfer to a 9”x13” baking pan or oven-safe pan of equivalent size.

3. Combine the vegetables and the soup. Pour over the top of the hamburger. Sprinkle the cheese on top evenly.

4. Place the tater tots in an even layer on top of the soup mixture.

5. Bake in the oven for 50-60 minutes or until the tater tots on top are crispy and browned. Remove from the oven and serve.

From Mark : A hotdish typically contains a starch (noodles, potatoes, or rice), a meat (ground beef or pork, leftover chicken, ham or sausage), and vegetables (onions, peppers, carrots, broccoli), mixed with canned cream-of-something soup, and a topping of breadcrumbs or crushed crackers and cheese. It originates in the Upper Midwest region of the United States, where it remains popular, particularly in Minnesota and the Dakotas. To me, a casserole is the shallow oven-safe dish in which you bake a hotdish. I usually use my 9” x 13” Pyrex cake pan. There must be thousands of hot dish recipes in old church cookbooks. I have never followed a recipe for hotdish in my life and have never made

The second recipe hails from Ohio writer Upton Rand, whose new book is called Gay Campgrounds: The Ultimate Gay Camping Travel Guide. As a former hiker and camper, I was intrigued by this book. It’s described as “a travel guide memoir packed with practical advice and outrageous real-life stories from gay campgrounds. The book is designed to help LGBTQ+ adventurers navigate the world of camping, while making meaningful connections and having fun. (It’s) enjoyable to travelers, and any LGBTQ+ reader. This guide is the follow-up to his best-selling debut Urban Adventures. Accompanied by his trusty pug Max, Upton blends humor and real-life experiences to help readers make the most of their LGBTQ+ outdoor adventures.” I asked Upton to supply us with a recipe that’s easily made when camping out.

This hash is the perfect way to refuel after a wild night or before a day of outdoor adventure. Plus, it’s colorful, spicy, and a little over-the-top—just like a great gay camping trip should be!

Author Mark Abramson and David Landis

Tater Tot Hotdish

Queens Breakfast Hash Upton Rand

Bay Times Dines

Queens Breakfast Hash

1 lb. spicy sausage (because we like it with a kick), like andouille or chorizo, sliced

4–6 rainbow potatoes (if you can find purple, red, and yellow varieties, they will pop [with color] in the pan)

1 large red onion, diced (extra drama)

1 red bell pepper and 1 orange bell pepper, diced (rainbow colors are key)

1–2 jalapeños, diced (optional, but they add a little spice to the morning)

3–4 cloves garlic, minced (because who doesn’t love garlic?)

6 large eggs (aka the stars of the dish)

1 cup shredded cheese—use something sassy, like smoked gouda or pepper jack fresh herbs (cilantro or parsley) for a fresh, fabulous finish salt and pepper to taste olive oil or butter for cooking

1. Start with a spark: Set up your fire pit with a cozy blaze, ensuring you have a good bed of embers. This dish needs steady heat but not too wild of a fire—much like a good camping flirtation.

2. Heat it up: Place a big ol’ cast-iron skillet on your grill grate or directly on the embers. Add a little olive oil or butter to get things sizzling.

3. Sausage it up: Add your spicy sausage to the pan. As it browns and gets crispy, it will release some amazing flavors. Stir it occasionally—think of it as warming up to someone cute you just met.

4. Rainbow realness: Toss in your diced rainbow potatoes, onions, and peppers. Let these beauties get nice and caramelized as they cook in the sausage oil—about 15 minutes. Stir it like you’d stir up some drama in the group chat: carefully but with purpose. Add garlic toward the end so it doesn’t burn.

5. Eggstravaganza: Make little wells in the hash for your eggs. Crack each egg into its nest, ensuring they stay together—like your camping crew after a fun night of bonding.

6. Cover and wait: Cover the skillet with foil or a lid and let the eggs cook gently, like your favorite slow-burn romance. You want the whites set, but the yolks still soft and luscious. Cook for 5-8 minutes, depending on how you like it.

7. Cheese it up: Sprinkle the cheese across the top once the eggs are nearly done. Let it melt into all the nooks and crannies, adding that extra layer of indulgence.

8. Finish with flair: Remove from the heat and top with fresh herbs. Serve it right from the skillet—everyone can dig in together! It’s meant to be shared, just like those campfire stories.

Bits and Bites

While traveling through Geneva last month, I had the good fortune to have a private tour of Rohr Chocolats, the oldest family Chocolatier in the city (established in 1936). Who isn’t a chocoholic? And being up close and personal with how these gourmet chocolates are made was just fabulous!

The dynamic Madame Nicole Rohr, proprietor of the family-owned establishment, took us under her wing and behind the scenes at the factory to see where the magic is made. Unlike some of the bigger Swiss names who are well-known in the chocolate business, Nicole says, “We want to be small to keep up the quality.”

The operation has about 40-plus employees with 10 housed in the factory, the site of a former painter’s house. At Rohr, the chocolate beans are selected from the best of the best in São Tomé (Africa), Venezuela, and Colombia, as well as Cru Savage, dubbed the “caviar of chocolate.”

Some of my favorites include the poubelles Genevoises dark chocolate that is made in a mold shaped like, yes, a rubbish can! Rohr has been crafting these bin-shaped delicacies for over 50 years.

The unique treat refers to the city’s old trash bins, with a bin-shaped chocolate shell filled with a soft truffle. Another hit is a pastry fish cake with chocolate and praline called poisson du leman (a confection that’s an homage to the local fish from Lake Geneva), which absolutely melts in your mouth. Rohr even has Advent Calendars for the holidays filled with different kinds of chocolates! So, when looking for a special holiday gift, look no further than Rohr!

My Gay History by Mark Abramson: www.fabulosabooks.com/

Gay Campgrounds: The Ultimate Gay Camping Travel Guide by Upton Rand: www.gaymensfieldguide.com

Fabulosa Books on Castro: www.fabulosabooks.com/

Rohr Chocolats: https://rohr.ch/en/

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

Imperial Chili Cook Off

Photos by Rink

Imperial Crown Prince John Brett with HMIM Empress Linda Summers hosted the annual Imperial Chili Cook Off held on Sunday, November 10, at The Cinch Saloon, an historic bar located at 1723 Polk Street. The event is a benefit for the San Francisco Night Ministry, which provides community care for all on the streets San Francisco and beyond.

Categories included in this year’s competition included Best in Show, Judge’s Choice, and Empress’ Choice. An award was also included for the best cornbread. A special category recognizes the chili cooking expertise of Absolute Empress 56 Juanita MORE!

KRAMER (continued from pg 30)

[hearing impairment] was a part of him. I didn’t want his HIV and hearing impairment to be seen as ‘problematic.’ Matteo is a normal guy.”

Cuzzillo’s shrewd approach is not to spoonfeed viewers information about the couple. Did Matteo have HIV before he met Riccardo, or did he get it by cheating on his partner? Cuzzillo is not being cagey when he states, “I don’t want to explain everything. I shot the film using an ‘ellipsis.’

When people watch, they can imagine what has happened.”

The filmmaker wants viewers to engage with the characters and think about them during and after the credits roll.

One aspect of Malanova that is unambiguous is its depiction of the tenderness between Matteo and Riccardo. There are many affectionate scenes between the couple. Cuzzillo’s intimate aesthetic is designed

to make the film feel passionate. The actors, who knew each other prior to filming, were encouraged to improvise their scenes, giving them the freedom to play up the intimacy.

Cuzzillo wants viewers to engage with the film’s characters and consider the issues they face. Malanova is a perceptive and wellacted romantic drama about a still-important topic.

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

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

Sister Dana sez, “HAPPY THANKSGIVING (November 28) to everyone! This is a time for gratefulness and giving thanks. Although I always prefer to call this holi-gay as THANKS-GAYING! TGIG! Thank God I’m Gay! Every Day!”

The holiday always occurs on the fourth Thursday of November, but the dates can differ based on leap years. We had a leap year in 2024. A November 28 Thanksgiving happens roughly every five-to-six years. Here’s a little history lesson: During the autumn of 1621, at least 90 Wampanoag Indigenous joined 52 English people at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, to mark a successful harvest. It is remembered today as the “First Thanksgiving,” although no one back then used that term.

NOW WHAT? I chose to lead with that gratitude theme for my opening statement, and will continue to try to have hope—after this devastating election has happened— with the following reminder: Vice President Kamala Harris, in her Concession Speech, urged her supporters not to give up. “While I concede this election,” she said, “I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.” She emphasized, “Sometimes the fight takes a while.”

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave these encouraging words on August 28, 1963: “Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

The latest Exit Poll showed 86% of LGBTQ Americans voted for Kamala Harris. Hey, Harris fans and/or haters, I just saw this on the internet and had to repeat it: “It would appear that being a singularly worthless man is still a major advantage over being an exceptionally impressive woman.” Sister Dana sez, “Trump didn’t win; disinformation did!”

To quote The Rev. Dr. Malcolm Clemens Young, Dean of GRACE CATHEDRAL : “It is impossible not to overhear the conversation at the next table. My neighbor is addressing someone else, ‘convicted felon, and he gets elected ... devious, smart people

with a plan ... dysfunctional!’ He sounds so hurt by the events of this week. I have heard from immigrants who worry about mass deportations and from friends who feel the election revealed our culture’s deep misogyny and racism. Yet others wonder about whether or not their marriages are at risk. My neighbor is now talking about what this election will mean for the future of democracy and for wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Grace Cathedral includes such a wide diversity of people. We have some who are very pleased about the election, as well as others who feel overcome by grief. The world has never needed Grace Cathedral more.” Sister Dana sez, “Amen!”

Just two days after the Election Voting Day, on November 7, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a special session of the California Legislature to commit new funds to Attorney General Rob Bonta’s DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

The funds will be used to vigorously defend California values and policy priorities from the incoming Trump Administration’s anticipated assault. Senator Scott Wiener issued the following statement in response. “California will not roll over while our basic freedoms and values are trampled by Donald Trump and his allies. Trump has signaled a deep resentment of immigrants, LGBTQ people, women, climate action, and any American who doesn’t support his extremist vision for our nation. In California, we value pluralism and democracy, and any attempt to undermine these values will be met with the full force of California’s right to self-govern under the Constitution. These funds lay the groundwork for the long road ahead, as we prepare to defend Californians—and California values—from the dangerous and unlawful assault Trump has promised!”

Sister Dana sez, “It’s heartening to know that at least SOME Californians have values—despite the fact that many of them (a sickening 38% of California) jumped onto the offthe-rail Trump train!”

THE LGBTQ+ VICTORY FUND has great news in their House races: incumbent candidates Angie Craig (MN-02), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Eric Sorensen (IL-17) are all headed back to the U.S. House! With their wins, ALL of the LGBTQ congressional incumbents have won their races! Sister Dana sez, “I know they will continue to be strong voices for EQUALITY in the United States House!”

And more LGBTQ+ VICTORY FUND fantastic news: Kristin Alfheim has won her race and flipped a key seat in the WISCONSIN STATE SENATE! Extremist politicians and bigoted groups have been running anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ ads to attack candidates like Kristin. But Kristin’s victory—and the wins from other amazing LGBTQ candidates—shows that many voters are tired of the politics of hate. Sister Dana sez, “Not nearly

enough—but many. Ten million people did not bother to vote.”

State Senator Sarah McBride has taken an historic step with the race for Delaware’s only seat in the House of Representatives. This huge House win has made McBride the first out transgender person to serve in Congress, joining a shockingly small LGBTQ contingent in the House and Senate. She beat her Republican opponent, John Whalen III, who ran on an anti-immigration, anti-choice platform. And I’m so happy that Senator Tammy Baldwin fought homophobic attacks to retain her Senate seat in Wisconsin.

Congratulations to Texas Representative Julie Johnson , who will be the first openly LGBTQ member of Congress from the South. Cheers to Washington State Representative Emily Randall , who will be the first Latina lesbian in Congress.

The pro-LGBTQ ballot initiatives in California, Colorado, New York, and Hawaii won. Voters in those four states have decisively sided with LGBTQ rights.

I’m just pointing out that Daniel Lurie will be the first San Francisco mayor in more

(continued on page 40)

Sister Dana (right) with Gerard Koskovich (left) and Roberto Ordeñana (center) at the GLBT Historical Society’s Reunion Gala held at the Marines’ Memorial Club on October 19. PHOTO

than a century never to have served in government before his election. Just a fact. The world premiere of THE NANNY LIVE at SF OASIS runs now through November 30 at 298 Eleventh Street! When she appears on the doorstep of wealthy widower Maxwell Sheffield’s posh New York home, cosmetics saleswoman Fran Fine unexpectedly gets a job as the nanny for the Broadway producer›s three children. Get to know the whole family along with acid-tongued arch nemesis C.C. Babcock, Niles the sassy Butler, Fran’s meddling mother Sylvia, and more in this hilarious send up of the hit ’90s sitcom. The costumes! The sass! The hair! This is a show begging to be brought to the stage by drag performers! https://www.sfoasis.com/

PROJECT OPEN HAND is celebrating its 32nd annual HAND TO HAND Gala on Friday, November 22, 6–9 pm at The Hibernia, 1 Jones Street. Partake in an evening of fun, food, and fundraising to celebrate their achievements, honor community members, and support Project Open Hand’s vision for a healthier California through nutrition. The mission of Project Open Hand is to improve health outcomes and quality of life by providing nutritious meals to the sick and vulnerable, caring for and educating the community. Their food is like medicine, helping clients recover from illness, get stronger, and lead healthier lives. https://www.openhand.org/

Congress is about to hand “Trump the Terrorist” a giant weapon to crush dissent and stop groups from challenging his actions. “The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act,” also known as H.R. 9495, would grant the Trump administration unilateral authority to revoke the tax-exempt status of any group it deems to be a “terrorist supporting organization.” The Trump administration wouldn’t have to provide an explanation. No due process. No justification. Sister Dana sez, “WARNING! Trump could stop any nonprofit’s ability to sup -

port itself with just the flick of his orange makeup-stained pen!”

“CABARET” comes to the Castro on November 21! “So, life is disappointing? Forget it!” because THEATRE RHINOCEROS, in its third year of residence in San Francisco’s historically gay Castro neighborhood, presents Kander & Ebb’s timeless masterpiece Cabaret ... in a tiny, perfectly intimate theater. Cabaret is directed by John Fisher with music direction by Armando Fox and choreography by Adin Walker

This classic musical stars an extremely talented ensemble of nine Bay Area actors and three live musicians. After this year’s election, who can’t relate to 1930s Berlin?! Now through December 15 at 4229 18th and Castro streets. “Come hear the music play!” https://www.therhino.org/

LAURIE ROLDAN SINGS A SONG

FOR YOU is a Cabaret Concert inspired by the music of Karen Carpenter written and directed by Laurie Roldan

These are timeless Carpenters Christmas Favorites in a nostalgic evening to warm your hearts and lift your holiday spirits!

The November 30, 2 pm and 7 pm shows run 90 minutes, with no intermission. 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. https://www.lesherartscenter.org/

QBAR in the Castro held its GRAND RE-OPENING ceremony on November 9. Sister Bubbles Bathory of the SF SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE cheered on the happy onlookers with a blessing and ribbon-cutting, and then she introduced me to give an eyewitness report and little history lesson on how the fire first appeared on November 16, 2019. In the very early morning, I gazed through my window outside and down to the immediate left to see an abandoned building below completely engulfed in flames—and fire quickly making its way up the wooden banister towards me. I stood there praying aloud in utter terror—when a fireman suddenly appeared and hurriedly escorted me downstairs and across the street to wait for

hours and hours in my pajamas while they put out the raging fire. Five years later of constant (noisy) reconstruction almost every day—and QBar is now open again!

LYRIC , Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center for LGBTQ young folx, threw a fantastic DONOR APPRECIATION SOIRÉE in their new space at The Purple House, 127 Collingwood Street on November 14. This year they honored the one and only Juanita MORE! as Donor of the Year. Through her Pride Campaign, Juanita raised more than $140,000 for LYRIC youth. We are so grateful for her contributions to LYRIC and the wider LGBTQ community! Also honored were the LAZY BEAR group of Russian River bear party— accepted by Stephen Adams, and Oliver Elias Tinoco with the Youth Award. Lane Casey, LYRIC Director of Development and Communications, spoke and introduced Gael Lala-Chavez, LYRIC Executive Director, who thanked ALL the donors and friends for helping LYRIC’s vision to inspire and encourage youth to be who they want to be through social justice and to support young leaders, their families, and allies. Now more than ever, we are seeing more and more of our queer POC youth leading the way. As Juanita says for me and all other activists, “They will be my voice when I can’t speak anymore—and will change laws, minds, and open hearts. The time has come for everyone to celebrate LGBTQ+ POCs as leaders, activists, and trendsetters!”

LIGHT IN THE GROVE is an annual, magical outdoor celebration of Love, Community, and Remembrance in the NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE in the heart of historic Golden Gate Park. On November 30, the eve of the WORLD AIDS DAY National Observance, this unique and inspiring event occurs. This is one of the Bay Area’s best LGBTQ fundraising events. Enjoy beautifully illuminated pathways with

brilliant, colorful light displays, imaginative artistic features, and enchanting dance and musical performances. See the stunning night-time display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Spend time at the moving candlelight reflection at the Circle of Friends (many, many little inscribed tiles concerning those who have not survived their fight against AIDS). Feast on gourmet hors d’oeuvres, dinner, sweets, and beverages at various stations throughout the evening. Sister Roma will emcee featured guest speakers delivering inspiring reflections during a short program.

https://www.aidsmemorial.org/

The annual CASTRO HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY will happen on Monday, December 2, on Castro Street, between 18th and 19th streets. The 2024 master of ceremonies will be none other than Donna Sachet . Expect local celebs, live music, and Santa with his elves. The yearly Holiday Tree is a Castro tradition maintained by Castro Merchants. This year, public support is even more important—as they need to replace nearly all of their red ornaments that were stolen last year. Even during the height of 2020’s shelter-in-place, Castro Merchants made sure the tree was there, lending its outdoor festive spirit and excellent photograph backdrop. It’s also a major foot traffic pull, which is critical for maintaining the “Shop Local” movement during the winter holidays. Shoppers should remember that the local stores are open for business—so we break our online retailer habits.

https://bit.ly/4hZjTmX

Sister Dana sez, “Following the election and new autocracy cabinet plans, we are feeling a range of emotions: fear, anger, confusion, sadness, and more. But whatever we’re feeling, we don’t have to face this alone. We are part of a community of millions of likeminded folx across the planet, and no matter what’s next, we’ll face it together!”

What was your first concert? As Heard on the Street . . .

“Billy

“As the queer spawn of lesbians, my first live concert, of course, was at the Lilith Fair.”

“The

“When I sang my first solo show June 8 at Beaux at a Queer BIPOC party

Lambchop Saw

“Chuck Berry on Guam in 1972”

compiled by Rink

Bernadette Bohan

Joel at Hartford Civic Center”

Calliope Katerina Solis Torres

hosted by Mercedez Munro”

Jesse Henriquez

hip hop duo 30 Hertz!”

Michael Chua

Community Women’s Orchestra 40th Anniversary Season

Morris

Photographer Sandy Morris represented the San Francisco Bay Times at the first in the “Celebrate With Us!” series of concerts for the 40th Anniversary year (1985–2025) of the Community Women’s Orchestra. The concert was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland on Saturday, November 9, 2024.

Currently under the direction of interim music director Samantha Burgess, the orchestra has since its founding included many Bay Times readers and friends among its membership and audience. The orchestra is known for engaging, inspiring, and supporting women in classical music.

Two additional concerts for the 2024–2025 season are scheduled for Sunday, March 2, 2025, and Sunday, May 18, 2025. For tickets and more information about the chorus: http://www.communitywomensorchestra.org

Photos by Sandy

Samantha Burgess, Music Director

Kate Offer, Narrator

June Bonacich, Composer

Linda Kay, Co-President