Making History PRIDE 2024
Partnership With James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center of San Francisco Public Library Forges Increased Access
By Cristina E. Mitra
As a public librarian, I believe access to highquality information is critical to a democratic society. This is just one of the many reasons I burst with pride every day of my job as the program manager of the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center of San Francisco Public Library (SFPL)— an institution that champions access every day. The Hormel Center’s long-standing partnership with the San Francisco Bay Times is a shining example of the library’s newly reimagined mission: “to connect our diverse communities to learning, opportunities, and each other.”
I am thrilled to announce that the Hormel LGBTQIA Center of SFPL has made important progress in our cornerstone project to digitize Coming Up! and San Francisco Bay Times issues from May 1979–January 2012. This project is all about giving access to our diverse public to crucial, historical issues that document, celebrate, and represent our enduring LGBTQIA+ community. (As you might know, you can already access back articles of the San Francisco Bay Times at https:// sfbaytimes.com/ and entire back issues at ISSUU, https://issuu.com/sfbt )
Through a series of grants received from the California State Library’s preservation initiative, California Revealed, coupled with support from the Hormel LGBTQIA Center endowment, these issues will be digitized and available to the public on the California Revealed site: https://californiarevealed.org
Great news! The first batch (May 1979–December 1989) is now available at https://bit.ly/4eNv54P with access to issues from May 1979–January 2012 forthcoming by late 2025.
When we connect people and provide access to high quality information, such as that which is found within the issues of the San Francisco Bay Times, we create a more informed, and more importantly, a more compassionate public to create a more democratic society.
During these times, when LGBTQIA+ materials are under intense scrutiny and barriers to access to LGBTQIA+ books are proliferating, our efforts to ensure that future generations will know what was happening for LGBTQIA+ San Franciscans in the late 1970s through the early decades of the 21st century are a powerful countermeasure against erasure and censorship of our LGBTQIA+ communities.
Stay up to date with our progress by following the Hormel LGBTQIA Center on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/queersfpl
Hormel Center to Present Transgender Community Archives Project and a New Queer Zines Exhibit
Are you a community archivist? Are you just curious about how to preserve your own stuff? Then the Transgender Community Archives Project taking place on August 17 from 1 pm–5 pm will be the workshop for you! Knowledgeable experts from the San Francisco History Center, Preservation Department, and Digi Center will explore step-by-step DIY skills empowering transgender community archivists to analyze, organize, describe, and preserve documents and photographs from their archives.
Build community and share stories in a safe space. Participants will receive an archival starter kit. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. Participant attendance is
limited. Reservations are required: phone 415-557-4400 or go to https://on.sfpl.org/TCAP
Coming in 2025!
A completely home-grown exhibition highlighting queer zines in the San Francisco History Center and Hormel LGBTQIA Center is coming in early 2025. Have ideas for queer zines for the organizers to feature? Have zines you are willing to donate to feature in the exhibition or add to the collection? The Hormel Center wants to hear from you! Call 415-557-4537 or email hormel@sfpl.org
https://bit.ly/45AOh1a
About Our Cover
The San Francisco Bay Times is honoring the past while preparing for the future, as evidenced in this extended Pride 2024 issue.
In partnership with the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center of the San Francisco Public Library, the San Francisco Bay Times is having all issues of the paper digitized, starting with the first issue that published in May 1978. As reported today, the initial collection of materials is now available for all to enjoy for free at: https://bit.ly/4eNv54P
Another large collection will be available by late 2025, according to the Hormel Center, which is collaborating with California Revealed on the project. Upon the project’s completion, every issue of the paper—including the related publication Coming Up! —will be fully digitized. We are grateful for the help of Hormel Center Program Manager Cristina Mitra and her team for making this all possible. Longtime readers will notice that this Pride issue is in a news magazine format. We are exploring new formats to improve reader experience and facilitate larger issues while also meeting printer needs. Hard copies are still printed using plantbased inks and other sustainable materials and with as little waste as possible.
While many other grassroots local papers, and particularly those by and for the LGBTQ+ community, have in recent years either ceased operations or downsized to all-digital formats, the San Francisco Bay Times is dedicated to maintaining its hard copy print editions while also improving and expanding its online presence, which includes the 24/7 live-streaming Castro Street Cam, other multimedia, eblasts, social media, complete editions at ISSUU, and now the new digitized archive.
Cristina E. Mitra is the Program Manager of the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center of the San Francisco Public Library.
Welcome to the 2024 San Francisco Pride Parade & Celebration!
By Suzanne Ford and Nguyen Pham
Welcome, San Francisco, the Bay Area, and indeed the world to San Francisco Pride 2024! This year’s theme is “Beacon of Love,” and it shines as a powerful reminder of our commitment to beam out a light of acceptance and understanding for all to see. As we gather in the heart of the Bay Area, we invite the world to join us in celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and the progress we’ve made towards equality.
Now, more than ever, we must shine that beacon for all to see. The mission of SF Pride is to educate the world, commemorate our heritage, celebrate our culture, and liberate our people. The pageantry, brilliant energy, and indomitable spirit of our community will be on full display, honoring our rich heritage and the diverse culture that make us who we are.
Join us on Sunday, June 30, and proclaim that this mission of radical inclusion is sacred. A 50,000-member parade will march down Market Street as one million people cheer us on.
Come to the celebration at the Civic Center on Saturday and Sunday of Pride weekend to enjoy multiple stages of entertainment, great food, and vendors together with friends, family, and allies to embrace the joy and resilience of our community.
Shine Bright! Happy Pride!
https://sfpride.org/ Suzanne Ford is the Executive Director of San Francisco Pride. Nguyen Pham is the President of the San Francisco Pride Board of Directors.
Suzanne Ford and Nguyen Pham
Robyn Adams
Alina Chavez
Making History PRIDE 2024
“Everyone has a right to be who they are and love who they love, openly and with pride. This year marked 20 years since I officiated some of the nation’s first same-sex marriages as District Attorney of San Francisco. Eighteen years later, thanks to the relentless advocacy of so many leaders, over many decades, President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, and together we safeguarded everyone’s right to marry who they love. While we have come far, we know there is still so much work to do. This Pride Month, as we witness continued attacks on LGBTQI+ rights, let us remember that the freedoms must be fought and won every generation. To the LGBTQI+ people of America—you are not alone, and President Biden and I stand with you as we march ahead.”
https://tinyurl.com/nh5uszfd
Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff hosted a pride event, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Vice President’s Residence in Washington, D.C.
My Vision for a San Francisco We Can All Be Proud Of
Every year, San Francisco’s Pride celebrations are a beautiful demonstration of the very best of our city— love, pride in who we are, and acceptance. We were the first city to legalize gay marriage and elect an openly gay official. As the birthplace of the pride flag, we have set an example of equality for cities worldwide. But while San Franciscans have much to be proud of, we cannot grow complacent. The siege on LGBTQ+ rights and the vilification of our queer communities aren’t just happening in Republican states. Even here in San Francisco, our queer communities, especially trans women of color, are facing hostility.
I was recently approached at a coffee shop and asked, “What will you do to protect my community?” They were referring to Michelle Henry, a trans woman who was brutally and senselessly murdered in May. My response to this murder? We simply cannot allow hate to find safe haven in San Francisco. We must fiercely protect our LGBTQ+ community and the values that make us proud to call this city our home.
Whether it’s ensuring LGBTQ+ representation in my administration, budgetary decisions that support the Castro, backfilling HIV funding, addressing the behavioral health crisis in our neighborhoods, or rapidly sheltering the unhoused (who are disproportionately gay and trans)—there’s more that must be done.
By Daniel Lurie
Growing up around Levi’s, I remember hearing my stepfather talk about championing equality, long before it was in vogue. We provided equal rights for our LGBTQ+ employees before it was required by law and
To support this marquee San Francisco community, we must maintain a city we can all be proud to call home. You can read about my priorities ( https://daniellurie.com/priorities/ ), but here are my specific commitments to the LGBTQ+ community:
Public Safety
San Francisco has been a safe haven for marginalized communities, but we must do more to protect those under attack. As mayor, I will work with the LGBTQ+ community to implement strong policies against violence and discrimination. With hate crimes increasing, I will urge our District (continued on page 12)
we were front and center in the AIDS crisis in the eighties.
Daniel Lurie visits the Castro
Daniel Lurie
Daniel Lurie on stage during a Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club event
Photos courtesy of Daniel Lurie Campaign
LURIE (continued from pg 10)
Attorney to prosecute them fully. We must enhance protections for the transgender community and ensure victims feel supported to report incidents.
I will advocate for data system reforms to accurately capture crime details, ensuring accountability. Additionally, I will ensure the necessary resources and mental health services are widely accessible.
Comprehensive Healthcare and HIV/AIDS Support
43 years ago, the first cases of AIDS were reported. During those dark times, our city became a beacon of hope and resilience. Communities came together to support one another, healthcare providers worked tirelessly on the frontlines, and activists fought bravely for visibility and resources. The legacy of compassion and strength that emerged from that crisis continues to define San Francisco’s spirit today.
As mayor, I am committed to investing in comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and support. Every San Francisco mayor has backfilled Republican-driven cuts to federal HIV funding, and we cannot stop now. With a $14.6 billion budget, a few hundred thousand dollars is a small but vital investment, especially at a time when the City Hall insiders I’m running against continue to fund unaccountable programs that fail to deliver results. My administration will also ensure that all decisions about gender-affirming care are made between patients and doctors, upholding dignity and respect for all.
Revitalizing the Castro Corridor and LGBTQ+ Nightlife
Cultural districts like the Castro, Leather, and Trans districts are woven into the fabric of San Francisco’s identity. To revitalize our small business corridors, we need to first address public safety and cleanliness. San Franciscans and our small businesses deserve to see clean and safe streets 365 days a year, not just when a conference or world leader is in town.
At the beginning of this year, I released a comprehensive plan to tackle our drug and mental health crises. As mayor, I will declare a fentanyl state of emergency to cut through bureaucracy, mobilize city resources, and secure state and federal funds. We will address these crises so small businesses can operate safely without fearing break-ins or being forced to close early. Additionally, I will support small businesses by raising the business tax eligibility threshold, lowering taxes for smaller enterprises, eliminating unnecessary fees, and streamlining the permitting process. This will foster the growth of vibrant, LGBTQ+-friendly nightlife and events.
Homelessness Among LGBTQ+ Youth
38 percent of San Francisco’s homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+. As a father, this number is heartbreaking. My administration will prioritize housing for young people, especially transgender youth. At Tipping Point, we partnered with organizations like Larkin Street, and I will do the same as mayor to increase access to housing, education, and employment resources.
I am committed to building at least 1,500 shelter beds in my first six months in office. This includes specialized sites for populations with specific needs, ensuring everyone’s unique circumstances are accommodated.
Senior LGBTQ+ Housing
Many older LGBTQ+ individuals face unique challenges and often age alone. As mayor, I will prioritize securing funding for the affordable senior LGBTQ+ housing project at 1939 Market Street and getting construction across the finish line. My City Hall Accountability Plan ( https://bit.ly/45BcaG4 ) will expedite housing permits and eliminate bureaucratic hurdles, ensuring that housing is available for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.
Supporting Trans Youth
Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals are under attack nationwide, and San Francisco must remain a sanctuary. As mayor, I will expand access to mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth to receive the support needed to thrive. I will firmly oppose all forms of discrimination, providing safe spaces for trans students and individuals facing hostility.
San Francisco has always been a trailblazer of acceptance, a place where people can live freely without fear of being punished for simply being who they are. We flew the pride flag loud and proud long before it was widely embraced. As your next mayor, I’m committed to being a strong ally and building on our legacy.
https://daniellurie.com/
Daniel Lurie, a candidate for the mayor of San Francisco in the 2024 election, is the Founder and former CEO of Tipping Point Community.
Making History PRIDE 2024
The Power of One, The Power of All, The Power of Pride
In Case You Missed It
Joanie Juster
It was reported last week that the thunderous energy created by the audience at Taylor Swift’s concert in Scotland generated seismic waves. Quite literally, the Swifties made the earth move.
That’s how Pride month feels: a super-powerful concentration of positive, proud energy that moves the world, making waves and rocking the status quo. Each year it becomes bigger, bolder, more visible, more
part of the fabric of society as a whole. That’s the power of our collective energy and will.
And all that movement takes stamina. Pride Month is a marathon, not a sprint. I hope you have all saved enough energy to enjoy the final week of events and activities.
What amazes and inspires me every year is the amount of time, energy, inspiration, and passion that goes into creating all these events. Pride is a labor of love. The beauty of Pride Month doesn’t happen because someone waved a magic wand. Every event is the product of endless hours of planning and hard work from countless people— often, mostly, volunteers. The signs of Pride we look for each year, from the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks to the hundreds of rainbow flags lining Market Street, are the result of someone who had a vision, and found ways to turn that vision into reality.
Of all the important Pride events, it’s the public, outdoor events that have a global impact. There is no more powerful symbol of freedom than seeing thousands of people living their lives openly and proudly. The world is watching, and taking note.
Those opportunities to take to the streets, sharing a vision of Pride with the world, take months of careful planning, thinking through every detail, anticipating safety and accessibility concerns, finding ways to fund the costs, getting the word out so everyone can participate. When you join the People’s March, Trans March, Dyke March, SF Pride Parade, or any other public event, think of all the work that went into creating a space where you can celebrate Pride publicly—and consider pitching in to help. Every one of the Pride events runs on volunteer power, so think about how you can be part of making the magic happen.
Here are two big volunteer opportunities on Pride weekend where you can make a real impact:
• The Pink Triangle needs many volunteers to help take the Triangle down on Sunday, June 30, after the SF Pride Parade, and store it for next year. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/4cxTLMB
• SF Pride needs many more volunteers to help on Sunday, June 30. There are many different positions to choose from. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/4cxtdeu
See you in the streets.
Resilience in the Face of Resistance
In case we all needed a reminder that not everyone out there is thrilled with Pride month, over two-thirds of the 250 Pride flags at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City were vandalized recently, for the second year in a row. There have been plenty of other reports of pushback against Pride all over the country, ranging from vandalism and hate speech to clueless displays of chest-thumping Heterosexual Pride gatherings.
But at the same time, Pride parades and celebrations are sprouting up like golden poppies all over, in towns large and small, and often in places where you would least expect them. Here’s to every community, every school, every small town in a red district that is proudly flying their rainbow flags and announcing that love is greater than hate. Let’s keep standing up and speaking out, loud and clear. The power of Pride is in our collective voices.
(continued on page 34)
Making History PRIDE 2024
Pride: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’
6/26 and Beyond
Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis
Everything Everywhere All at Once —it’s of course the history-making and Oscar-winning film starring the amazing Michelle Yeoh. But when asked earlier this week how we might describe “Pride,” nothing seemed more apt than the title of this Academy Award winner.
Certainly, everything, everywhere, all at once sums up the experience of those of us who overdo it every year in June by trying to squeeze in as many community events, parties, film festival screenings, and marches as humanly possible. But everything, everywhere, all at once also captures a deeper truth. At 10:30 am on Sunday when Dykes on Bikes rev their engines to kick off the 54th annual Pride Parade down Market Street, hundreds of millions of LGBTIQ people from San Francisco to Beijing to Lagos and back again will be experiencing their gender identity and sexual orientation and living their lives in myriad diverse ways under very different circumstances.
Let’s break it down, starting with everything. We are proud that our ever-expanding queer community aspires to include an extraordinary breadth of experience within it. We asked an AI chatbot to give us the most inclusive acronym possible for our community, and it answered: LGBTIQCAPGNGFNBA. We were impressed but immediately noticed that 2S, SGL, and K were missing, just to name a few—not to mention the + sign.
We enjoy having fun with our community’s ever-expanding alphabetic moniker—will it exceed 26 letters at some point?—but more importantly, we are enormously grateful to be part of a diverse community seeking to include everyone whose life experience differs from perceived norms when it comes to gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, as well as everyone who loves and supports us. We celebrate how more and more people continually create new vocabulary to affirm their lives, find community, and relate their experiences to a wider world. Pride means living just as we are, as openly and joyfully as we can.
Now, everywhere: the popular slogan “we are everywhere” awakens the world to LGBTIQ people’s presence in all walks of life and inspires queer visibility. But it also means understanding that LGBTIQ people face very different challenges, and experience greatly different joys and sorrows, depending on where they live.
In San Francisco, this year’s celebration entitled “Beacon of Love” marks the 20th anniversary of the Winter of Love that ignited the ongoing worldwide marriage equality movement. But this year’s Pride theme is also a call for the city to do everything possible to embrace and stand up for vulnerable trans youth who are now the target of the political right and whose lives are at risk in conservative Republican-controlled states.
At Bangkok Pride’s “Celebration of Love” extravaganza a few weeks ago, people reveled in the streets as Thailand moves full steam toward marriage equality later this year. Last week, the Thai Senate voted in favor of the freedom to marry by a whopping 130 to 4 margin, following the Thai House of Representatives overwhelming passage of the bill by a vote of 400 to 10 a few months ago. All that awaits is the King’s signature for Thailand to become the third country in Asia with marriage equality, following Taiwan and Nepal.
Significantly, Thailand will be the first Asian nation to enact marriage equality through the legislative process as a priority of the government and with stratospheric public support. The Thai victory represents a monumental step forward for LGBTIQ rights across Asia, which will inspire countless activists and put pressure on other governments across the region to move toward equality as well. We couldn’t be more thrilled.
But we are well aware that at the same time—all at once —61 countries criminalize consensual same-sex sexual acts with the death penalty possible in as many as 12 countries, according to the ILGA World Database. LGBTIQ rights are shrinking in countries like Putin’s Russia and Museveni’s Uganda. And queer people’s lives are at risk in war-torn places around the globe.
If we search for a universal meaning to Pride, it must include those of us whose very lives, freedom, or well-being are in peril. For those in desperate circumstances, it might be just holding on to hope and affirming our beauty and self-worth as LGBTIQ people ourselves, while finding community however we can. For those of us who are more fortunate, we can ask ourselves what sustained us in our own darkest hour.
(continued on page 24)
Golden Gate Business Association Presidents 1974–2024
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA), the San Francisco Bay Times recently published a list of the association’s presidents over the years. There has since been discussion among many of the past presidents because viewpoints initially differed about the list. After extensive collaboration, a revised list was created, which we present here. It is the most accurate list of GGBA presidents to date. We thank Roger Gross, Dawn Ackerman, Tony Archuleta-Perkins, Audry deLucia, Nanette Lee Miller, and Jerry Becerra, in particular, for their help and guidance in compiling this list. During this landmark year, the San Francisco Bay Times honors all of the past presidents as well as many other volunteers who have contributed so much to this important community asset.
1974 - Rick Stokes
1975 - John Schmidt
1976 - John Schmidt
1977 - Tom Romaine
1978 - John Schmidt
1979 - Arthur Lazere
1980 - Arthur Lazere
1981 - Matthew Coles
1982 - Roger Gross
1983 - Roger Gross
1984 - Laurie McBride
1985 - Laurie McBride
1986 - John J Zorbas II
1987 - Rod Palmer
1988 - Robert Barnes
1989 - Dave Wharton
1990 - Dave Wharton
1991 - Paul Pendergast
1992 - Paul Pendergast
1993 - Michael Patterson
1994 - Michael Patterson
1995 - Joel Goodrich
1996 - George Heymont
1997 - Irv Spivak
1998 - Nanette Miller
1999 - Tom Ray
2000 - B. Scott Levine
2001 - Anna Damiani
2002 - Jerry Becerra
2003 - NaNoshka Johnson
2004 - Jim Cherry
2005 - Jerry Becerra
2006 - Madison Kilpatrick
2007 - Mike Doherty
2008 - Peggy Hughes
2009 - Peter Goetze
2010 - Ron Willis
2011 - Ron Willis
2012 - Eric GoForth
2013 - Eric GoForth
2014 - Robb Fleischer
2015 - Robb Fleischer
2016 - JP Leddy
2017 - Dawn Ackerman
2018 - Dawn Ackerman
2019 - Audry deLucia
2020 - Gina Grahame
2021 - Michael Gunther
2022 - Michael Gunther
2023 - Tony Archuleta-Perkins
2024 - Tony Archuleta-Perkins
https://ggba.com/
ARCHULETA-PERKINS (continued from pg 20)
progress has been made, there are still many challenges to overcome, including discrimination, violence, and legal inequalities. Pride is a time to honor the activists and trailblazers who have fought for our rights and to continue their work.
The Women’s Foundation of California emphasizes the importance of advocacy, stating, “Pride provides so many opportunities for community and connection—by telling stories about our history as an LGBTQ community so that we can celebrate our past and plan for a better future. Pride allows us to come together to celebrate our wins, our culture, and each other, all of which have enormous potential to build community and connection.” This advocacy is crucial for creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
Moreover, Pride is about using our voices and platforms to effect change. It is about standing up against injustice and supporting those who are marginalized within our community, such as transgender and non-binary individuals, people of color, and those with disabilities. As Oz Parvaiz from LinkedIn shared, “Privilege, when used for good, is an incredible super power! In my personal opinion, I do believe that the LGBTQ-struggle has been the defining civil rights moment of my generation.”
In conclusion, Pride means many things to me. It is a celebration of identity, a sense of community, and a commitment to advocacy. It is about living authentically and unapologetically, embracing our differences, and standing together in solidarity. Pride is a reminder of the progress we have made and the work that still needs to be done. It is a time to honor our history, celebrate our present, and envision a future where everyone can live with dignity, integrity, and joy.
For more information on the GGBA, please visit: https://linktr.ee/ggba
Tony Archuleta-Perkins is the founder and owner of Ide8 Real Estate. He has worked in finance for 25 years, ten of those years specifically as a fractional CFO. He has two master’s degrees: an MBA and a Master of Science in Real Estate. In addition to his educational and professional pedigree, Archuleta-Perkins has a passion for advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. He proudly volunteers and serves on two boards here in San Francisco: President of the Golden Gate Business Association and Treasurer of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, SF Chapter. He and his husband enjoy international traveling and scuba diving.
SPOTLIGHT (continued from pg 20)
for our employees. Our workforce is diverse and welcomes and celebrates everyone. We value honest communication, honestly, and the pursuit of furthering careers.
GGBA: Why did you decide to invest in Walter Adams Framing?
Lloyd Haddad and Keith Wicker: After starting Capricorn Framing in 2006, we purchased Walter Adams Framing in 2023 as an expansion to our already successful custom framing business. We knew that Walter Adams Framing is a sound business and has a positive reputation in San Francisco that fits our business model. We have since upgraded our offerings and products to better fit our clients’ needs.
GGBA: Why did you decide to join the GGBA, and how long have you been a member?
Lloyd Haddad and Keith Wicker: We joined at the beginning of June 2024. We were referred to the organization by Charles Symes of Alegre Health Care. After researching, we knew it was an organization for us and our businesses.
GGBA: Although you have only been GGBA members for a short
time, has the membership helped your business so far?
Lloyd Haddad and Keith Wicker: It is too early to know!
GGBA: Have you been to any of the GGBA monthly Make Contact or other networking events?
Lloyd Haddad and Keith Wicker: We have not yet been to any networking events other than the GGBA Power Connect event.
GGBA: What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own business?
Lloyd Haddad and Keith Wicker: Have a good business model, a business plan, and budget for a large volume of consistent marketing and networking. Seek help when in doubt.
GGBA: Is there anything else that you would like to share?
Lloyd Haddad and Keith Wicker: We look forward to being part of the GGBA, to learning from other businesses, and sharing our knowledge so we can all grow stronger together.
https://walteradamsframing.com/
MEMBER
Want Your Investments to Match Your Values? You Can With Brio Pride!
Money Matters
Brandon
Miller
Happy Pride, all!
A year ago, Brio launched Brio Pride, a dedicated investment portfolio for our community. We’ve been humbled by our clients who have made a choice to have their investments match their values. Just to be straight (ha!), Brio Pride isn’t solely gay-centric. In fact, many of our clients who are opting in are wonderful allies who just want to lend their support to companies that don’t threaten LGBTQ folks!
This investment strategy also doesn’t just include LGBTQ businesses but rather means we are proud of and stand by the companies and their practices for doing right on social and environmental issues
that matter to us. Our portfolio puts these critical issues under the microscope:
• LGBTQ Justice;
• Corporate Diversity & Inclusion;
• Women’s Rights;
• Racial Justice;
• and Climate Change.
The holdings in each portfolio can change at any time based on companies conforming with meeting the aspirations of each of these pillars. The companies that make the cut today could be excluded in the future if news comes out about not meeting the expectations and standards of these tenets. Those corporations that get their ducks in a row could be added. It’s fluid, kinda like sexuality!
Brio Pride is executed through a unique direct indexing platform. What’s that? Well, imagine you’re at a buffet, and instead of grabbing the premade meal, you pick and choose each dish to create your perfect plate. That’s sorta what direct indexing is like in the investment world. Instead of buying a ready-made index fund or ETF, you directly buy the individual stocks that make up an index. It’s like having your cake and eating it too, with a cherry on top.
Equally important is you can pick what you don’t want to support.
To get an idea, Brio Pride currently:
(continued on page 34)
GLBT Fortnight in Review
Only in Oslo!
I know I should begin with the big news that the Supreme Court has decided to review a transgender health care case, specifically the Sixth Circuit decision in support of Tennessee’s ban on trans youth medical treatment. It’s kind of good news, since we like it when the High Court accepts review of an anti-GLBT decision. But it’s kind of bad news since we now run the risk of a bad Supreme Court precedent.
But that story will have to wait since I just encountered a click-bait headline that reads “32-Year-Old Woman Arrested After Dead Body Was Found in Her Car Following Accident on Minnesota Highway.”
Say what? Tell us more!
According to People Magazine, an array of first responders were called to a single vehicle accident on IH90 at 7 am on June 22 in Olmsted County. There they found Margot Lewis outside her car with a bystander trying to help. When the police checked the car, they found a 35-year-old woman dead in the back seat, and no, she didn’t die from a car crash. Lewis was treated at a hospital and released into police custody.
We need to pause and suddenly find ourselves “Six Days Earlier” as we do on streaming police thrillers. Oh, and we also have to be somewhere in Scandinavia. Now we see Margot coming out of the grocery store and bumping into the Dead Woman,
By Ann Rostow
who drops her own grocery bag. “Jeg er så lei meg!” Margot cries. We fumble around to put up the subtitles. It looks cold.
High Court Tees Up Trans Case
You and I, dear Reader, have discussed the complexity of transgender youth health policy on many occasions, most recently in the context of England’s two-year study that led the national health mucky mucks to restrict youth treatment to case-by-case evaluations. The new wariness of these and other European medical authorities is based on a dearth of scientific data given that transgender outcomes from puberty to, let’s say, middle age, are not really measured. For one thing, the treatments we now use are relatively new. For another, transgender kids are only about one percent of all kids. And lastly, we’ve only started thinking and talking seriously about gender identity in the last decade or so.
So, we don’t really know which treatments work, which treatments do lasting damage, which ones are reversible, and which kids should be treated in the first place. It’s equally wrong, given these circumstances, to ban everything or to allow all, which is why various European governments have settled on dealing with kids on a case-bycase basis.
In our country, we don’t go in for compromise! And when it comes to all or nothing policies, there’s nothing like the Supreme Court. So far, it seems as if the Supreme
Court has been avoiding tough trans cases, but it seems as if they have finally taken the bit between their teeth. The petition they’ve accepted is (as we already said) an appeal of the Sixth Circuit’s ruling in favor of Tennessee’s anti-trans health care law. The appeal was filed by the U.S. Justice Department, and it asks whether or not the Tennessee law violated the Equal Protection Clause given that puberty blockers cannot be used for transgender treatment but are still considered okay for other patients.
There was another challenge to the Sixth Circuit’s Tennessee ruling from the ACLU, Lambda, and others, which additionally argued that the ban violated the Due Process rights of the trans kids’ parents. Parental rights are sacrosanct under the Constitution, and, of course, the state mandated denial of all treatment seems to trample on the rights of those parents that seek happiness and health for their children through proven medical strategies. It’s interesting that the Court deliberately sidestepped this petition, limiting their assignment to a single constitutional inquiry.
You may recall that a state can violate the Equal Protection Clause when a law is “narrowly tailored to a compelling state interest.” With that in mind, The New York Times informs us that the bill “included language that Tennessee had a ‘compelling interest in encouraging minors to appreciate their sex, particularly as they undergo puberty,’ and in prohibiting procedures ‘that might encourage minors to become disdainful of their sex.’” I don’t know if the Volunteer State had some other compelling interests to justify their possible constitutional trespass, but, if not, I’m not sure preventing children from becoming “disdainful of their sex” would pass muster.
Qu’est
Ce Qu’il A Dit?
Meanwhile, a lower court federal judge in Tallahassee has blocked Florida’s attempt to ban trans youth treatment in a decision sure to be appealed to the Eleventh Circuit. That appellate court has already ruled in favor of red state lawmakers in a preliminary motion, allowing a health care ban to go ahead during litigation in either Georgia or Alabama. If I had to bet, I’d say that case was out of Alabama, but I will check for you. Yes! I was right! (Cue: theme from Rocky.)
That judge was one of Bill Clinton’s nominees, and speaking of judges, I just read a really great analysis of the damage inflicted by Trump’s far right appointments to the federal bench. We are always seeing Republican administrations name conservative judges and Democratic administrations rally behind liberal judges. But Trump has pushed unqualified ideologues who can’t even get a “meh” from the bar association. These guys are reprehensible and Chris Geidner of Law Dork just wrote a great article summing up their depressing “accomplishments.”
Speaking of transgender news, I spent a long time just now trying to find out exactly what French President Macron said the other day while campaigning for parliamentary elections coming up June 30 and
July 7. Macron’s centrist party is fighting a two-front war against the far right Le Penlike factions and the far left socialists and communists. In an effort to compare the problems coming from both wings, Macron complained that the push from the left to be able to change your gender at the local city hall was “grotesque.” Elsewhere, I saw this comment translated as “crazy.”
But I speak French pretty well! I lived in Paris for many years and spoke fluently at the time. I could certainly decide for myself whether or not Macron deserved a sad shake of the head or red-hot anger. But I couldn’t find his exact words in French anywhere. Here’s where I lost a good 30 minutes, googling “Macron verbatim antitrans comment,” or “Macron anti-trans comment in French,” or words to this effect. And I have to confess; I just wasted another ten minutes on this quest after telling you about my failure.
On the other hand, I’ve learned a great deal about the French elections, and will spare you a run down.
His Public Idaho
There was a feel-good Pride story in The Washington Post the other day, a one-man Pride committee who engineered a surprising festival in Nampa, Idaho, the Spud State’s third largest city. According to the Post, Idaho has led the nation in many categories of anti-GLBT legislation and policy. Moreover, this is the state where a frightening group of armed rightwing nutcases threatened a Pride gathering in Coeur D’Ilene a couple of years ago, but were dispersed before they could do any damage. None of this seemed to dampen the spirits of 27-year-old Tom Wheeler, who celebrated Pride for the first time back in 2015. Things seemed to be improving for the GLBT community back then, beginning with the High Court’s marriage equality ruling that summer. But lately, it’s been going downhill fast. Wheeler was repeatedly warned against violent protestors and obliged to operate within an outdoor enclosure fenced for the occasion. As the day approached and publicity increased, he started getting mean phone calls. He had used some of the money that was donated to the event to hire security guards.
In the end, some 2,000 people came to the peaceful day-long festival, overcrowding the enclosure and far surpassing the fifty to a hundred people that Wheeler and his friends expected. A few protesters hung around outside, but eventually left without creating much of a fuss. It was the first Pride event ever mounted in the history of the county, and it seems it came at a time when our beleaguered community needed to feel the type of solidarity we craved at the end of the last century; the type of solidarity we thought we had moved beyond.
Binding Precedent Unbound
Finally, I am beyond frustrated by the laborious process of implementing the Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, the surprising GLBT
(continued on page 34)
San Francisco Pride Month started with a bang and has continued to fill our days and nights with wonderful opportunities to celebrate, to represent, and to shine!
Jon Sims was the San Francisco visionary who, inspired by the courage of Harvey Milk, formed the first Gay-identified musical groups in the country, starting with the San Francisco Gay Freedom Band & Twirling Corps (now the Pride Band), then the SF Gay Men’s Chorus, and the Lesbian and Gay Men’s Chorus (now the Queer Chorus). All of these groups have become beloved parts of our LGBTQ+ Community and each has brought us special moments of pride. In May, we performed with the Pride Band, conducted by Artistic Director Pete Nowlen, in a lively concert featuring music from animated films and video games. On Friday, June 14, at the encouragement of Jim Oerther, we attended Pleasure Principle: A Pride Celebration of Queer Joy at the Noe Valley Ministry. Artistic Director Michael Kerschner covered music as wide-ranging as Mozart and Sibelius to Irving Berlin and Bjork with wonderfully rich full choral renditions and several precise and engaging small ensembles and remarkable soloists. Piano accompanist Barry Lloyd was outstanding.
Later in the month, we joined Gary Virginia at Davies Symphony Hall on Tuesday, June 18, for All We Need is Love featuring both the San Francisco Symphony and the Gay Men’s Chorus, under the direction of Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg. The first half demonstrated the extraordinary musical excellence of both groups with complex compositions and challenging performances. Several composers were there to experience their works in person, including Michael Tilson Thomas, David Conte, and Dominick DiOrio. The second half, which we enjoyed from much closer seats, thanks to Betty Sullivan, offered crowd-pleasing modern compositions and featured the accomplished small ensembles HomoPhonics and Lollipop Guild, as well as some stand-out soloists. All three of these pioneering musical groups make us sing with pride!
Not to miss out on the more athletic side of pride, we soaked up the SF Giants spirit at their Pride Game on Saturday, June 15, in the delightful company of Michelle Jester and a couple hundred LGBTQ+ baseball fans. It was a perfect warm, sunny day to revel in Oracle Park and watch the Giants come so close to clinching another game. In addition to drag sightings here and there, as we wore our official Giants jersey, presented to us by the team in April, we’ll admit to indulging in some good old ballpark cuisine and libations.
Sunday, June 16, found us at 1015 Folsom for Broadway Bares SF VII: Film Strips, co-produced by the Richmond/ Ermet Aid Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and including members of the traveling cast of Company. We really owe Supervisor Rafael Mandelman and his friends for shielding us from the daunting line around the block. This revealing show always receives an eye-popping and hand-clapping response, but this year’s production was smoother and more professional than ever with tight choreography, great special lighting effects, colorful costuming, and incredible performances. At the VIP reception afterwards, many echoed our compliments as we mingled with Ken Henderson, Joe Seiler, Al Treuter, Lawrence Helman, Cameron Stiehl, Brent Marek, and others.
Wednesday, June 19, brought together so many elements of our community, as Cas -
By Donna Sachet
tro Street was closed off for the evening in celebration of Juneteenth, Frameline Film Festival’s Opening Night, and the lighting of the newly renovated and fully functional blade of the Castro Theatre. We met up with a terrific group of friends at the 440 Castro parklet, early enough to get seats and a table, but unable to avoid the cold winds. As we huddled over drinks and snacks, the crowd in the street grew in size, Drag Laureate D’Arcy Drollinger hosted a splashy drag show at one end of the street, and Lil Nas X’s film filled the huge screen at the other end. The revelry in the Castro lasted well into the night!
We finished up the week at two Midnight Sun events. First, we put on our disco duds for Gary Virginia’s second monthly All the Tea retro dance party on Saturday with a packed house, pulsing disco music, and smiles all around. Kippy Marks provided special musical entertainment, as only he can, and the balloon drop met all expectations! Second, we witnessed a rare Imperial fundraiser that reflected concerted cooperation and collaboration between the Emperors of San Francisco, led by Emperor John Weber, celebrating Juneteenth and featuring BIPOC entertainers from within the Imperial Court. Sacramento sent an enthusiastic contingent, including last year’s Empress Uneke Chanel and Reigning Emperor Spade RoyalGotti and Reigning Empress Adollyah LaRue RoyalGotti. The second annual Soul Idol contest brought out captivating entertainers, judged by Sidra Smith, Frankie Fernandez, and Liz Jackson-Simpson.
Nearly $2000 was raised for Success Centers, helping people facing difficult circumstances find employment, complete their education, and tap into their creative power for nearly 40 years.
And finally, the rumors are true; we will be celebrating Pride Month at The White House on Wednesday, June 26, with President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. It all seems like a dream, but we will do our best to represent our City and our LGBTQ+ Community proudly and as a true San Franciscan. Surrounded by all that Washington, D.C., represents, we will hold our head high and bring back to you all beautiful memories, photos, and a full feature article of our experience.
Happy Pride!
Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com
“Never let tomorrow get in the way of tonight!”
—Donna Sachet
Thursday, June 27
Divas & Drinks’ 4th annual Pride Party Bay Times event at The Academy SF
Renée Lubin, Dee Spencer, DJ Rockaway, Donna Sachet
Shake It! Booty Band concert
The Academy SF, 2166 Market Street 6–10 pm $15 www.academy-sf.com
Saturday, June 29
Illuminate’s Laser Rainbow Rainbow lights from the Ferry Building to the Castro After dark Free!
Saturday, June 29
SF Pride Celebration Civic Center Main Stage & multiple Community Stages Vendors, food, drink 11 am–5 pm Free!
Sunday, June 30
SF Pride Parade 2024 Everything you imagine and more!
50,000 participants, floats, Grand Marshals
Celebrity Grand Marshal Billie Porter 10:30 am Free!
Saturday, June 30
SF Pride VIP Party City Hall Rotunda Food, drink, drag, art, performances $200 www.sfpride.org
Saturday, June 30
Juanita MORE!’s 20th Pride Party
Hundreds of fun people Benefits LYRIC 620 Jones Noon–7 pm www.juanitamore.com
Sunday, July 7
Sunday’s a Drag at Club Fugazi Featuring SF’s most fabulous drag performers
Hosted by Donna Sachet Club Fugazi, 678 Green Street 13 events from July–September Brunch at 11 am, Show at noon $76 & up www.clubfugazi.com
PHOTO BY SHAWN NORTHCUTT
To mark the fourth and final phase of the Milk Terminal 1 at San Francisco International ceremony was held at the terminal on June Director Ivar Satero (who is retiring at the the honor.
The eight-year project includes a new ticket rity checkpoint, two new gates, a museum every SFO terminal post-security, new concessions, areas, and more.
Previously, the award-winning SFO Museum related to the life of Supervisor Milk, which that remained in place during the new terminal’s Francisco Bay Times lead photographer Rink Pride and Summer Fun at SFO
“Love Illuminates Every Journey” is highlighted plete with rainbow-hued hearts in place of colorful image. Through July 2, there entertainment in the new terminal minals 2 and 3. On June 27, Mercedes and CHEER SF will be featured 28, also from 10 am–2 pm, “Flagging showcased.
Milk Terminal 1
Officially Opens Construction Phase
construction of the $2.5 billion Harvey International Airport (SFO), a ribbon cutting June 17, 2024. Mayor London Breed, SFO the end of the year), and other officials did
ticket counter area, mezzanine-level secugallery, a connecting walkway that links concessions, additional baggage claim
Museum organized a public call for material which resulted in an exhibit of 100 images terminal’s construction. The work of San Rink is represented in the collection.
highlighted on an SFO logo, comof airplane windows on the there will live Pride-themed terminal and photo stations in terMercedes Munro, Paju Munro, from 10 am–2 pm. On June “Flagging in the Park” will be
rights victory, authored by Neil Gorsuch. In Bostock , the 6–3 majority ruled that “sex discrimination” by definition includes “sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination.” Although the decision came in reference to a claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, its logic clearly would extend to bans on sex discrimination in other federal laws, in particular Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which bans sex discrimination in public education.
Fast forward to Day One of the Biden administration, when the new President issued an: “Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation,” which reviewed the Bostock ruling and called on each federal agency to report within one hundred days on ways in which the ruling could impact agency policies. The Education Department clearly had much to say, given the scope of Title IX, and the obvious sense that Bostock’s interpretation of sex discrimination in Title VII equally governed Title IX.
Since that initial guidance, issued in 2021, we have produced endless rules and opinions and suggestions and reports and God knows what, all of which have been contested by the far right. In late April, we finally received
JUSTER (continued from pg 14)
Living Life Golden Showcases 20+ Artists
the “Final Rule” guaranteeing trans rights (and gay rights) throughout the federally funded schools and universities, and were promptly met with lawsuits galore.
My initial reaction to the fuss and bother that greeted this formal rule was to ignore it based on the naive notion that Gorsuch and the Supreme Court must prevail in any legitimate judicial forum. Um, no. Thanks to legal eagle Chris Geidner, I can tell you that, in recent days, no less than two federal judges have blocked the Final Rule, while a split Sixth Circuit panel has blocked the official guidance that preceded it. (There are many active lawsuits challenging the guidance.) What could they possibly have presented as a legal explanation for failing to follow the requirements of a High Court opinion?
As it turns out, a bunch of hooey. The Sixth Circuit ruling was a bit of a technicality, ruling that the people behind the guidance should have required a period of public comment. Geidner noted that the dissenting judge correctly made the point that the guidance was not a new law, but an interpretation of existing law and did not require a comment period.
As for the two judges who reviewed the Final Rule, one of them decided that Title VII and Title IX were so different
While Pride is most visible in all the parties and performances, there are plenty of other ways Pride is being celebrated. You may have missed the opening night festivities, but do not miss the 10th Annual Harvey Milk Art & Pride Exhibit at the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts & Photo Center. Titled Living Life Golden, the show is a community exhibit curated by Nicola Bosco-Alvarez, and includes work by over 20 artists. Hours for the center can be variable, so check for exhibit hours and information: https://www.harveymilkphotocenter.org/ Leather District News
The latest newsletter from our friends at the Leather & LGBT Cultural District was packed with news. Among their latest activities:
• They have completed an important study to help determine their priorities and plans for stabilizing their cultural community. Their Cultural History, Housing, and Economic Sustainability Strategies Report (CHHESS) is the result of much study and community engagement. It was passed at a City Hall committee hearing on June 13, and went to the full Board of Supervisors for a vote on June 25. I will share more in the next issue!
• After years of effort to convince San Francisco to provide placemaking signage within the Cultural District, new street signs reading “Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District” will be added to 26 street signs within the district over the next 18 months. These will be going up in stages, so keep an eye out for them. Along with other signage—leather pride flag pole wraps, light pole banners, and colorful crosswalks—the street signs will help publicly define the district.
• In May, the District hosted another Narcan Training & Overdose Prevention Workshop, offered by “Narcan Queen” Kochina Rude. These trainings are a key tool in preventing overdoses. In addition to providing the 30 participants with a kit including two doses of Narcan and a supply of fentanyl test strips, the District has sponsored an additional 3,000 fentanyl test strips in entertainment venues within the District. Thanks to SF Oasis and Success Centers for making this training possible.
• The District is hosting free walking tours on July 6 & 7 at 11 am. “SOMA Origins: Bars, Bathhouses, and Beyond” will be led by District volunteers. The tours will start and end at Ringold Alley, and will run one hour and 45 minutes. Registration is required.
To register for the walking tours, or for more info on all of the aforementioned about the District, go to: https://sfleatherdistrict.org/
That’s it for now. May you carry the spirit of Pride with you throughout the year!
Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.
that Bostock didn’t apply to the Title IX case. “Bostock does not apply,” wrote Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana, “because the purpose of Title VII to prohibit discrimination in hiring is different than Title IX’s purpose to protect biological women from discrimination in education.”
The second judge, Danny Reeves of Kentucky, seems simply to believe that the High Court got it wrong in Bostock , normally not an avenue available to a federal judge. “The Department exceeded its statutory authority in redefining ‘on the basis of sex’ for purposes of Title IX,” he wrote. “Like the district court in Louisiana, the undersigned is not persuaded that the ordinary meaning of sex includes subjective gender identity.”
You know what, Danny? Justice Gorsuch and five other members of the U.S. Supreme Court were persuaded that the ordinary meaning of “discrimination because of sex” as it’s used in these laws, did indeed include gender identity and sexual orientation. So, you can take your personal hesitation and stuff it where the sun don’t shine. Reeves also thought the Final Rule stifled the First Amendment rights of, for example, teachers who might not want to use their students’ preferred pronouns. Let’s just stop there.
arostow@aol.com
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Includes companies who meet criteria for:
• Workplace Diversity;
• Labor Relations & Working Conditions;
• Human Rights and Community;
• Product Quality and Safety;
• Ethics and Fraud;
• Water and Waste;
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions;
• Plants and Animals;
• and Risk Management.
Excludes companies who deal in:
• Firearms;
• Exploitative Products;
• War;
• the Fossil Fuel Industry;
• and Fossil Fuel Reserves.
We couldn’t do it without our partner, Ethic, Inc. We work in concert with Ethic to make sure Brio’s values are upheld. There are many firms that may try to execute on impact investing to various degrees, but what makes the Brio/Ethic approach unique is Ethic’s commitment to detailed research, their ability to tailor solutions to those needs and desires, and ultimately their ability to help Brio craft a tangible investment for our clients to commit financial resources to.
What’s even cooler is that we can craft a custom strategy down to a level of focus across these and other pillars to have your portfolio just as unique as you. This additional level of granularity could allow for increased tax efficiency as well. Historically, direct indexing was a high-roller game. But with the rise of technology, it’s becoming accessible to more investors. Could that be you? Let us know if you want to learn more on how direct indexing can make a difference.
Direct indexing is like a custom-tailored suit. It fits you perfectly and lets you showcase your style. It’s a bit more work and might cost a bit more, but the benefits can be well worth it if it matches your needs and investing philosophy. Intersectional investing sounds like a win-win for all during Pride month and beyond.
Brio utilizes unaffiliated third-party managers to achieve clients’ ESG goals. Brio has partnered with independent advisory firm Ethic to offer the new BRIO PRIDE strategy. Brio relies on Ethic for our primary research and security screenings, and given their expertise in this area, primarily uses their metrics when constructing the portfolio. More information about our process and the criteria used by Ethic to construct the strategy is available upon request.
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. The material is presented solely for information purposes and has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, however Brio cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information, and certain information presented here may have been condensed or summarized from its original source. Brio does not provide tax or legal advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as such. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. 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. SEC Registration does not constitute an endorsement of Brio by the SEC nor does it indicate that Brio has attained a particular level of skill or ability. 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/
MILLER
Selisse Berry Legacy Leadership Award, Kara Swisher
Corporate Pride Award, 23andMe
Avantha Arachchi, A-Frame Brands
Marc Blakeman, AT&T California
Dr. Lukejohn Day, UCSF
Bevan Dufty, Bay Area Rapid Transit
Breonna McCree, City of San Francisco Transgender District
Alfredo Pedroza, Wells Fargo
Meghan Rhea, AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah
Katherine Rice, GingerBread Capital
Jeff Riles, Microsoft
Maya Setchkova, Cushman & Wakefield
Robbie Silver, Downtown SF Partnership
Jake Stensberg, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
Pride on Film
Jennie Livingston’s vibrant Paris Is Burning, the amazing Brokeback Mountain, the funny yet relevant But I’m a Cheerleader, and the incandescent Tangerine are just some of the LGBTQ-themed movies that fill us with pride and identification. But since cinema is such a personal art and craft, there are a couple that really speak to me.
I originally saw Big Eden at the 2001 Frameline Film Festival. I left thrilled by its emotional power. It was a story that classic director Frank Capra would have told if he had a script about an ideal Montana town trying to play matchmaker to two men. Arye Gross portrays a successful gay Manhattan artist. When his grandfather has a stroke, he returns home to his tiny Montana town to care for him. He lusts for his hunky
high school friend, but romance comes from a totally unexpected direction instead, with the help of the townsfolk. The film is so charming and hopeful that it has stayed with me all these years.
Alice Wu’s Saving Face tells the story of a widow (Joan Chen) who is very proud of her surgeon daughter (Michelle Krusiec) and attempts over and over to set her up with various young men. This doctor is deeply in love with a charismatic dancer, beautifully played by Lynn Chen. Mom has a lot to learn. This is actually a rom com, a delicate and delightful romance. As much as I adore Brokeback Mountain and other poignant dramas, it is good to have laughs and happy endings.
A perfect Pride film is a compelling, exciting documentary, The Celluloid Closet Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman have compiled a comprehensive account of how gays and lesbians have been discriminated against and satirized by the very industry where they have been present since the days of silent film. We get excellent background and examples by Tony Curtis, Armistead Maupin, Susie Bright, Whoopi Goldberg, and Gore Vidal, with strong narration by Lily Tomlin. This is such a fabulous film and is one of my all-time favorites. It is a very important film that should be seen by everyone, gay or straight. It’s time for a sequel, guys!
For a historical view of the Pride movement, seek out the British film Pride. This uplifting and spirited movie from 2014 shares the true story of a group of London-based
gays and lesbians who team up with union organizers to fight the policies of Margaret Thatcher and battle for gay rights. This culture clash comedy drama stars Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton. Dominic West, and Andrew Scott as the activists who fight for change and awareness.
I could go on and on, but instead let’s highlight this year’s amazing Frameline, the oldest Gay and Lesbian film festival ever. It is number 48 and thriving more than ever. Executive Director Allegra Madsen told me for the San Francisco Bay Times : “Frameline is representation for everyone, local as well as national and international. We are all over the city, from the Roxie to the Palace of Fine Arts and the Vogue and Parkway. We had a robust restoration project this year celebrating the 30th anniversary of Go
Fish. Local activist Sally Gearheart (was featured in) a biopic screened at KQED studios. There was a brilliant French Italian drama Fragments of a Love to Life as well as a movie that turned the coming out tale on its head, Young Hearts.”
There’s much more when you log into www.frameline.org
Happy Pride, everyone!
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
Off the Wahl
Jan Wahl
Designer Beth Greene of the San Francisco Bay Times Team Celebrates Pride 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah
San Francisco Bay Times lead designer Beth Greene participated in Utah’s largest LGBTQIA+ event: The Utah Pride Parade. Held in downtown Salt Lake City on Sunday, June 2, 2024, this year’s celebration was the Utah Pride Center’s 34th annual Pride Parade. Its theme was “CommUNITY - Building Unity Within The Community.” The 2024 Pride Parade consisted of 2,000 participants, over 1,000 volunteers, and 137 floats, including advocate organizations like Way to Quit and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The parade was just one of many events that took place in Salt Lake City during the first week of June. A Pride Interfaith Worship Service has kicked off the Pride Festival for more than two decades. The 2024 Pride Festival began Saturday, June 1, with a rally on the steps of the Utah State Capitol, co-hosted with Equality Utah. The rally was followed by a march to City Hall. The festival included two full days of vendor booths, food and beverage vendors, and activities for the whole family.
For more information, visit https://utahpridecenter.org
Films to See During the Final Weekend of Frameline48
Gary M. Kramer
It’s the final weekend of Frameline and there are still plenty of films to see. Here are ten titles to check out before the festival ends on Sunday.
In Throuple, Michael (Michael Doshier, who wrote the screenplay) meets the married but open couple Connor (Tommy Heleringer) and George (Stanton Plummer-Cambridge) and he unexpectedly becomes involved with them. The experience is empowering for Michael, who wants a relationship. While George admits being crushed on Michael, he and Connor agree
to see other people and jealousies arise. Michael’s new romance also impacts his codependent relationship with his bestie, Tristan (Tristan Carter-Jones), whose girlfriend Abby (Jess Gabor) has just proposed—the needy Michael drives a wedge between them. Doshier’s character is not always likeable, but the supporting characters are appealing. A speech Abby delivers is gratifying as is watching Connor and George navigate their open relationship. These moments keep the amateurish Throuple watchable.
Frameline also gives moviegoers another chance to see All Shall Be Well, a poignant, touching drama by out gay writer/ director Ray Yeung. Angie Wang (Patra Au) is bereft after her lover Pat (Lin-Lin Li) suddenly and unexpectedly dies. As Pat had no will, her family assumes control over the funeral arrangements—ignoring what Angie claims were Pat’s wishes. Things get increasingly worse for Angie. who may have to give up the home she and Pat shared for decades. All Shall Be Well lets viewers feel such empathy for Angie because Patra Au’s performance is so beautifully calibrated. She is silent and stoic; her grief and loneliness as well as her pain and memories are all palpable. Yeung’s
absorbing film may be modest and understated but it also quietly powerful.
Riley, the debut feature by writer/director Benjamin Howard, is a well-intentioned story of closeted high school football player Dakota Riley (Jake Holley), who is trying to live up to his dad Carson’s (Rib Hillis) legacy as an athlete. The film plays up the homoeroticism between Riley and his best friend and teammate Jaeden (Colin McCalla), who lives with Riley’s family after being kicked out of his home. The chemistry between the guys is strong, but their dialogues about sex feel forced, not authentic. Likewise, Howard too often overplays things to make his points; Riley’s silently accepting a teammate’s homophobia mirrors his own internal homophobia. The film is better when it depicts its protagonist’s awkward moments with Riley and his girlfriend Skylar (Riley Quinn Scott), or scenes of him being intimate with Liam (Connor Storrie), an out classmate, or a hookup (J.B. Waterman). Ultimately, however, Riley, which is inspired by the director’s own experiences, feels like a not-sospecial After School Special.
The Brazilian import Perfect Endings is a delightful romantic comedy-drama featuring an attractive, playful cast. João (Artur Volpi), is a 32-year-old filmmaker who has just ended a 10-year relationship and now wants some casual sex. But he has reservations and anxieties about many of the guys he meets. João also struggles professionally as the script he is eager to produce requires a rewrite. As he searches for love and satisfaction in his work, João’s emotions may get the better of him. Volpi is charming, even when João is at his most self-absorbed. Director/cowriter
Daniel Ribeiro (The Way He Looks) has made an enchanting film that leaves viewers smiling.
We Forgot to Break Up recounts the rise, fall, and reunion of the fictional Canadian band, “The New Normals,” fronted by Evan (Lane Webber), a transman. Their catchy songs, cowritten first with Evan’s partner Isis (June Laporte), a lesbian, and then with Lugh (Daniel Gravelle), who has an affair with Evan, help the band—which also includes Coco (Hallea Jones) and Angus (Jordan Dawson)—get a record deal and make a video. As issues and tensions arise with the love triangle, success, and even a pregnancy, director Karen Knox’s film hits all the expected notes. It is certainly of value to see a transman of color at the center of this story, and the music is terrific, which is why it is disappointing this adequate film isn’t more offbeat.
Una Película Barata (A Cheap Movie) is a talky, hourlong drama about Fede (Enrique Gimeno), a gay man, who meets the straight Iván (Jorge Motos) in the park one day. Fede recognizes Iván from years ago, but Iván doesn’t recall the encounter. However, he returns the next day accusing Fede of molesting him. It’s an intriguing set up, but La Pelicula Barata goes in other directions, with Iván helping Fede get revenge on Fede’s ex, Luis (Luis Amália). Later, Fede extricates Iván from a sticky situation where Iván kidnaps his half-sister. Director Osama Chami includes old film clips periodically to comment on the action, but Una Película Barata comes off more as an experiment than a fully realized
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Film
Riley
All Shall Be Well
Linda Perry
work. The friendship between Fede and Iván is unusual, and the actors have an interesting dynamic but the storylines never quite gel to make their efforts worthwhile.
Linda Perry: Let It Die Here is an unfiltered look at the singer/songwriter Linda Perry, who rose to fame as the frontwoman for 4 Non Blondes. While friends and collaborators including Dolly Parton, Christina Aguilera, and Brandi Carlisle sing her praises—and Perry’s ex-wife Sara Gilbert adds thoughtful observations—most of t his documentary has Perry wrestling with her demons, which include a troubled childhood as well as mental and physical health issues. There are plenty of scenes of Perry singing, scoring films, and producing music, and there is a rousing closing number. But this introspective film also includes some painful and very personal moments that can be difficult to watch. Linda Perry: Let It Die Here may be best appreciated by its subject’s fanbase.
Haze is an intriguing, fragmented drama about Joe (Cole Doman) returning home (from rehab) one hazy summer to investigate the deaths of eight gay men from a local (and now closed) psychiatric institute. He meets a stranger (Brian J. Sloan)— mostly for sex—and the days blur together. Haze, written and directed by Matthew Fifer (Cicada), unfolds like a fever dream, getting more ambiguous as Joe grapples with his thoughts, feelings, and sobriety. As a series of deaths occur in the area, Joe thinks they are connected, and he pursues that thread while also asking questions about his sister’s suicide from years ago. Shot and edited in a style that obscures almost as much as it reveals, there are many potent scenes as Haze examines psychic and physical pain. Joe learns about the horrors of aversion therapy that was practiced at the institution, but he also asks his lover to hit him during sex, a form of self-hatred, perhaps. While Fifer gets a little too arty in h is storytelling, Doman is superb as a man haunted by this past and uncertain of his future.
High Tide is a bittersweet character study written and directed by Marco Calvani about Lourenço (Marco Pigossi, Calvani’s real-life husband), a Brazilian living in Provincetown during the late summer. Lourenço is depressed as he has recently been
dumped by his lover, and has a month left on his visa. He feels that “his life is happening without him.” Things improve when L ourenço meets a tall drink of water named Maurice (James Bland) on the beach. The two men begin a respectful relationship, which buoys Lourenço’s spirits—but it may be short-lived. Calvani gives Pigossi a terrific showcase, and the actor delivers a very a ffecting, ingratiating performance as a man struggling not to hit rock bottom. He is well matched with Bland, who is thoughtful and caring, and justly bristles at the various microaggressions he encounters. In support, Marisa Tomei (who executive produced), is wasted save for an especially lovely scene where she tells Lourenço about “breaking a heart on the way to opening your own.” Beautifully filmed, and leisurely paced, the modest High Tide is a poignant romance about learning to love yourself.
Out gay actor Brian J. Smith (Sense 8 ) makes an auspicious directorial debut with his affectionate documentary, A House Is Not a Disco, about the Fire Island Pines. His film traces a year, 2022, at the gay mecca. Smith interviews a diverse group of people from yearlong residents and seasonal workers to visitors, volunteers, and activists who help create the strong sense of community. There are episodes that recount the P ines’ history, and how it has changed over the decades — including the current impact of global warming — but Smith mainly emphasizes that being on Fire Island provides a feeling of being in a safe, welcoming space where LGBTQ folks can express t hemselves freely — as one interviewee who rarely wears clothes does. Smith, who uses interviews, archival, and observational footage, tells this story with reverence, celebrating the people that make Fire Island magical. It is the next best thing to being there.
https://www.frameline.org/
© 2024 Gary M. Kramer
Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” He teaches Short Attention Span Cinema at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute and is the moderator for Cinema Salon, a weekly film discussion group. Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer
5th Annual People’s March & Rally
The 5th Annual People’s March & Rally was held on Sunday, June 23, 2024, beginning with a rally at the corner of Polk and Washington Streets followed by the march proceeding south on Polk Street to Sutter Street. The route is the same as the one followed by the first Gay Liberation Protest held on Saturday, June 27, 1970.
The march was followed by a music festival held on Polk between Sutter and Bush Streets.
Led by activists Alex U. Inn and Juanita MORE!, the event was a celebration of culture and community with DJs, performers, and artist booths, along with the first annual People’s March Drag Contest.
In addition to MORE! and Inn, speakers at the rally included San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives Honey Mahogany, march co-organizer Leandro Gonzalez, and other leaders from the BIPOC/LGBTQ+ communities.
The organizers issued the following statement, in part, before the march: “As a collective we stand in unwavering commitment with our BIPOC communities—trans, cisgender, nonbinary, lesbian, gay, straight, queer, questioning, two-spirit, and all. We come together in full solidarity with our family members, friends, lovers, and neighbors. We join to denounce and condemn violence against these communities and to raise awareness of the need to abolish and defund police departments’ policies as they stand today. This reallocation of public money will allow for greater funding to our social services, mental healthcare providers, and social justice organizations.”
Live performances were presented by entertainers, including singer Lambert Moss and others. Safety monitoring for the march was provided by Dykes on Bikes®
Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
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Sister Dana sez, “Welcome to the 54th Annual SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE PARADE where absolutely everybody is invited! Sister Dana will proudly sit atop the ‘SF Bay Times’ bus in rainbow nun habit blowing kisses and flashing peace signs to the crowd!”
The PARADE is Sunday, June 30, beginning at 10:30 am on Market near Beale Street and continues to the Civic Center. It lasts an average of four hours. The Parade and Celebration are free, although donations are encouraged. This year’s theme is “BEACON OF LOVE.” The CELEBRATION festival at Civic Center Plaza will take place Saturday, June 29, and Sunday June 30. Entrances open at 11 am, and the Celebration closes at 6 pm. https://sfpride.org/
The opposite of “Gay Pride” has been revealed via a secret recording by inJustice Alito’s wife condemning the PRIDE FLAG. Martha-Ann wants to fly a flag that spells out “SHAME” in Italian. Sister Dana sez, “Shame on you, lady, for having such unCatholic values. That Bible you pretend to believe in commands you “love thy neighbor”—NOT HATE thy neighbor. Stop spewing hatred!
Adding to hatred in America, eleven states have now passed copycat laws since Florida passed its wretched “Don’t Say Gay” legislation two years ago. North Carolina has now joined the anti-LGBTQ hate bandwagon limiting instruction around sexual orientation or gender identity in schools. NC goes a step further—requiring teachers to out trans students to their parents.
T he sexiest show of Pride Month was surely on June 16 at Club 1015 Folsom, BROADWAY BARES SF VII: FILMSTRIPS, a burlesque-style show that featured the talented SF cast of Company along with a series of choreography based on famous films with dozens of male and female dreamy dancers baring it all for a good cause. My faves were from Burlesque, Rocky Horror Picture Show (and yes, we did the “Time Warp”), and Dirty Dancin’ when we had “The Time of Our Life.” Proceeds were split between the RICHMOND/ERMET AID FOUNDATION (REAF) and BROADWAY
CARES/EQUITY
FIGHTS AIDS. The very sexy David Hernandez from TV’s American Idol and stage’s Naked Boys Singing sang and performed to our hearts’ delight.
And be sure to mark your calendars for the next exciting REAF cabaret benefit, BROADWAY AND BEYOND, on July 14 at Marines’ Memorial Theater, featuring cast members from the Broadway touring cast of Mrs. Doubtfire and other special guests. https://www.reaf-sf.org/
Sister Dana sez, “Big congratulations to openly, proudly gay Jonathan Groff for winning the very prestigious 77th Annual TONY Award of Lead Actor in a Musical (‘Merrily We Roll Along’)! And excellent job to you, loud and proud queer Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, for third time flawlessly hosting! Could the TONYs be any GAYER?! Woohoooo!”
Against the odds, on June 16, UKRAINE held its first P RIDE event in three years. They doubted it could be done, but the military and a secret whisper campaign helped make the event a success directly in front of the capital of Kyiv, Ukraine. Organizers described the struggles they overcame to hold these celebrations—pushing against war, anti-LGBTQ protestors, and even the rain to hold the festivities.
Over 500 people attended for about 30 minutes before they had to disperse. LGBTQ Nation noted that organizers of the march also advocated for two proposed laws in Ukraine to be passed: Draft Law No. 5488 would enshrine anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Ukrainians, and Draft Law 9301 would allow for same-sex civil partnerships in the country.
On June 17, we celebrated SFO airport’s final phase of the H ARVEY MILK TERMINAL 1 opening. The project was almost a decade in the making and SF Mayor London Breed happily cut the ribbon along with other dignitaries. Breed noted that visitors landing in San Francisco for Pride Month would be especially proud to arrive at an airport named for one of The City’s true gay heroes—telling “a story that we can be proud of.”
For anyone not shaking right down to their gay boots regarding the upcoming presidential election, allow me to remind them of the ultra-conservative Heritage Foundation’s 1,000-page “Project 2025 Mandate for Leadership, The Conservative Promise” proposal if Trump steals the presidency. Among the autocratic, extremist, fascistic
plans are to condemn single-motherhood and same-sex marriage as well as to eliminate the terms “sexual orientation,” “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” “gender equality,” and “abortion and reproductive rights” from all laws and federal regulations. And that’s just the first of seven other seriously scary sections of Project 2025. This could even turn into Project 2029, unless STOP PROJECT 2025 TASK FORCE takes effect.
June 19 ( JUNETEENTH ) was the opening of the FRAMELINE FILM FESTIVAL outside and down the street from the Castro Theater, which was also the official lighting of the fully renovated Castro Theatre blade marquee—counted down by SF’s first Drag Laureate D’Arcy Drollinger. We enjoyed superb drag performances from Reparations, curated by Nicki Jizz, followed by a free outdoor screening of the documentary, LIL NAS X: LONG LIVE MONTERO
Sister Dana sez, “Just when you think the Supreme Court is worthless, eight of nine justices have ruled that domestic abusers may be disarmed of guns. Hallelujah! Of course, good ol’ Clarence dissented.”
Louisiana has become the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public-school classroom from kindergarten to high school. We must keep religion out of schools. America is not a theocracy. Sister Dana sez, “Trump is heavily pushing for this—ironically having disobeyed most of the Commandments himself!”
HARVEY MILK CENTER FOR THE ARTS & PHOTO CENTER held its 10th Annual Art & Pride Opening Event & Exhibit, LIVING LIFE GOLDEN, on June 22. Hosted by the fabulous LOL
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Sister Dana Van Iquity
Dennis McMillan (aka Sister Dana) with Grammy winning singer Melissa Manchester at the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation’’s One Night Only benefit cabaret, “The Diva’s Toast,” held on May 20, at the Marines’ Memorial Theatre. The show, which included cast members from the national Broadway touring company of Funny Girl, and special guest Bruce Vilanch, benefited REAF and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Two Very Different Volkswagens
We all have opinions about Volkswagen, both as a car and a brand.
T he original Beetle helped get “foreign cars” started in the U.S., and the de facto vehicle of San Francisco’s Summer of Love is the counterculture VW bus. This brand’s evocative heritage is the opposite of relative upstart Hyundai’s, for example.
Most buyers have forgotten the recent Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal. That’s understandable, as the company has effectively pivoted to electric vehicles, including an EV update on the old bus. As electric-car adoption catches up to government and production goals, Volkswagen has its gas-powered crossovers on which to fall back, so let’s look at a $51,815 electric ID.4 Pro S and a $40,700 gasser Tiguan SEL R-Line. Their highs and lows define Volkswagen in our current times.
“ Whoa, cool,” I blurted to nobody as I hooked a U-turn after the electric ID.4 was dropped off across the street. The ID.4’s turning radius is an insanely tight 32 inches, which is comparable to the teensy old-school Beetle’s. Through the week in the city, that talent alone endeared the ID.4. To me, the ID.4’s styling resembles a pastry I’d bake a bit longer, however, it is proportioned as most EVs are these days, and so it reads as up-to-date.
T he familiar-looking Tiguan turned heads, as its $395 Kings Red Metallic paint gleamed in our current sunny June days. Some buy Volkswagen for a European driving experience, though, and handling with the Tiguan leaned toward sporty, even with its two-ton curb weight. The ID.4’s 4,700 pounds made sense, as it seemed to
smush down the bumps, even as it evinced nimbleness.
Blast-offs with the 282-horsepower ID.4 were exciting, and it effortlessly charged up our city’s steep hills. Acceleration was more layered for the Tiguan and its turbocharged engine and eight-speed transmission. Volkswagen promotes the Tiguan’s low 1,900-rpm torque peak, and many car reviewers echo that. However, my time with the Tiguan going block-to-block in San Francisco had it feeling benign until that peak, and then it zinged like a cat with the zoomies. The turbo surge sometimes came on with discordant force, and there was a learning curve to smoothly manage it.
When the Tiguan was frustrating, I fell back on how accommodating the interior was to a 6’1” person like me. The squarish greenhouse and tightly-limned interior contours were a relief compared to the Tiguan’s trendier competitors.
The ID.4 also felt spacious, in a more horizontal way. Both had Volkswagen’s haptic selectors and sliders, which require too much attention to be improvements over buttons and knobs.
I f you’re buying the ID.4, it’s notable that it ranks third out of 100 vehicles surveyed in Cars.com’s American-Made Index. That means it easily qualifies for the $7,500 tax credit, which good-credit buyers could claim at the time of purchase.
The ID.4 and Tiguan keep Volkswagen firmly competitive, with a dash of German flair to remind you of their heritage.
Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant with an automotive staging service.
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Philip Ruth
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SUPER FRIENDS NYC
Fernando Camino of SuperFriends NYC Travels to San Francisco for Pride
San Francisco Bay Times contributor Fernando Camino, who is based in New York City, created the YouTube channel SuperFriends NYC that includes his regular livestreams from midtown Manhattan and beyond.
Camino is traveling from New York to San Francisco this week to join the San Francisco Bay Times team for Pride activities including the Divas & Drinks @ The Academy Pride Party on Thursday, June 27; the annual SF Pride Parade and Festival on Saturday and Sunday, June 29 and 30; and many more.
SuperFriends NYC has recently done many noteworthy livecasts that include:
• covering the 67th National Puerto Rican Parade along 5th Avenue earlier this month;
• broadcasting the 2024 Philippine Independence Day Parade, featuring the Gabriela Women’s Party contingent representing the General Assembly Binding Women for Reform, Integrity, Equality, Leadership and Action (GABRIELA) (the organization is a progressive Filipino political party advocating for women’s issues);
• welcoming sailors to Times Square during the Memorial Day weekend, which coincided with the weekly Midnight Moment held each Saturday evening in Times Square at 11:57 pm;
• and visiting the Intrepid Museum to participate in and observe ceremonies held aboard the historic aircraft carrier Intrepid.
Visit SuperFriends NYC on YouTube every Saturday night at 8 pm (Pacific)/11 pm (Eastern) to view SuperFriends NYC and to join the live chat—and look for Camino’s reports in the coming days from San Francisco!
https://bit.ly/3zqPvA4
McFiercen , there was a story hour, rainbow flag corps twirling, and live drag show on the first floor, and a community exhibit featuring artwork from more than 20 artists “embracing life in the moment, individuality, breaking free from societal expectations, and living life to the fullest.” Curated by Nicola Bosco-Alvarez, the amazing art will be on display now through July 31 at 50 Scott Street.
A tight race for Congress is shaping up in California’s 41st District, and it could impact the balance of power in the House of Representatives. Openly gay Democratic candidate Will Rollins, a former federal prosecutor, ran for and lost the same House race two years ago against fiercely antiLGBTQ Republican Rep. Ken Calvert (longest serving Republican incumbent ever—having kept his seat for 32 years). Calvert voted to decertify the election, called for dropping charges against the January 6 insurrectionists, and is wholeheartedly supporting Trump and MAGA. Rollins has received the vital endorsement of the PALM SPRINGS POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION—which has drastically switched from their endorsement of Calvert in 2022. Rollins wrote, “We deserve a Representative who cares more about the 750,000 of us in Riverside County than one convicted felon in New York.” He added, “Equality and freedom for gay Americans makes this entire country stronger!” Sister Dana sez, “Hey
you gays in Palm Springs, you and your friends need to get behind this proudly GAY candidate and win one for democracy and for our team!”
J T PRESENTS AND THEATRE RHINOCEROS bring Jake Brunger’s hit from London to San Francisco in time for Pride and beyond. Heralded in England as “a tightly-structured, intelligent play that veers from laugh-out-loud comedy to thoughtful drama with real skill,” FOUR PLAY has arrived at the Castro’s Theatre Rhino courtesy of producer Joe Tally. Alejandro Torres has directed an extremely talented cast of four Bay Area actors: Aaron Orpilla, Louel Senores, Michael Conner, and Kaz Valtchev who play gay married men—some of whom want to temporarily act single and mingle a little. We the audience are the voyeurs in this intimate little theater, spying on the secret lives of gay couples in their San Francisco bedrooms working out the often-difficult process of opening up their relationships. Watch the action now through July 7, (Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 3 pm; no fireworks onstage, and no show on the 4th of July) at 4229 18th Street. https://www.therhino.org/
Activists and community leaders Alex U. Inn and Juanita MORE! successfully produced their fifth annual Pride event, PEOPLE’S MARCH & RALLY— UNITE TO FIGHT! In past years, the event was held on Pride Sunday; but this
year, it was on Sunday, June 23. The event began with a rally at the corner of Polk and Washington Streets, featuring speakers and entertainers, then marched down Polk Street—the same route as the first GAY LIBERATION PROTEST on June 27, 1970. The march ended at Polk and Sutter Streets with a music festival and celebration of culture and community including DJs, performers, and artists’ booths. The day’s final event was the FIRST ANNUAL PEOPLE’S MARCH DRAG CONTEST at Music City, 1353 Bush Street.
SAN FRANCISCO PLAYHOUSE’s season will conclude with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Tony Award-winning, powerful Broadway poprock musical EVITA. This captivating show explores the life and meteoric rise of First Lady of Argentina Eva Perón, transforming from a poor child to an ambitious actress, to the most powerful woman in Latin America as the wife of military leader-turned-president Juan Perón. Evita will perform June 27–September 7 at 450 Post Street. https://www.sfplayhouse.org/
In honor of LGBTQ Pride month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a new “STATE OF PRIDE REPORT ” highlighting the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent actions to support, uplift, and defend the rights of LGBTQ communities across California and beyond. AG Bonta says that Pride Month is a time to celebrate
the strength and diversity of LGBTQ communities, as well as to reflect on the struggles, sacrifices, and historic accomplishments of the queer civil rights movement. Despite the immense progress that has been achieved, Bonta says more work remains. Amidst alarming and increasing attacks on LGBTQ communities—from far-reaching book bans to states across the nation pushing discriminatory policies—DOJ stays steadfast in its commitment to fight alongside LGBTQ communities in pursuit of justice and equality.
“I stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ community this Pride Month and every month. Regardless of how you identify or who you love, everyone deserves to be safe, healthy, prosperous, and celebrated for who they are,” Attorney General Bonta emphasized. “Today’s report shows the California Department of Justice’s continued commitment to defending, expanding, and advancing LGBTQ rights. As the People’s Attorney, I’m proud to celebrate the beautiful diversity of our LGBTQ communities and recommit to fighting alongside them!”
Sister Dana sez, “As you walk or march down Market Street on Pride Weekend, be sure to look up to the Twin Peaks hills and notice the giant PINK TRIANGLE—once a mark of oppression that has been gloriously transformed into a symbol of Gay Pride!”
Bay Times Dines
Terah Bajjalieh Creates Pride-Worthy Wines With Her Signature Stamp of Elegance and Diversity
a thriving boutique wine brand, Terah Wine Co. Spanning the spectrum of studies from a degree in finance at San Jose State to classes at the International Culinary Institute and a master’s in enology and viticulture from Montpellier Supagro in France, Terah has perfected her craft through rigorous classwork and fieldwork. She has worked harvests in Australia, New Zealand, France, and Argentina, but now makes her home and her wines in the Bay Area.
Leslie Sbrocco: How does being a winemaker enrich your life?
Terah Bajjalieh: It means I get to indulge in my greatest passions: travel, cultural immersion, and the exploration of great food, all through the lens of wine. It’s not just a profession; it’s a lifestyle that enriches every part of my journey.
In my capacity as host of KQEDs, Check Please! Bay Area, and my wine writing work, I’m so lucky to meet fascinating people from around the San Francisco Bay Area. During two recent KQED events, I heard stories from and shared glasses with an impressive winemaker, Terah Bajjalieh.
Terah is a native Californian who turned her passion for drinks, food, and travel into
I recently caught up with Terah to sample some of her unique lineup of wines, which are all small production lots made using low intervention winemaking techniques. They range from pinks to whites and reds, crafted with her signature stamp of elegance and diversity. I was particularly taken with her fresh and vibrant sangiovese ($32) and her zesty, complex rosé ($29), but Terah also makes vermentino, old-vine grenache, pinot noir, and barbera.
Leslie Sbrocco: As a woman of color and a member of the LGBTQ community, what does Pride Month mean to you?
Terah Bajjalieh: Pride means celebrating diversity, affirming identity, and embracing love in all its beautiful forms. It gives us all space and allows each and every one to exist.
L eslie Sbrocco: Since you don’t have a tasting room, what’s the best way to explore your range of wines?
Terah Bajjalieh: Join my wine club for a journey beyond the ordinary. Discover small-batch varietals from organically farmed vineyards that are sure to bring exceptional flavor to your table.
You can connect with Terah Bajjalieh @ w ww.terahwineco.com
Author, speaker, wine consultant, and television host Leslie Sbrocco is known for her entertaining approach to wine and food. She has won multiple Emmy Awards for her work on PBS, which includes hosting the series “Check, Please! Bay Area,” “Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!” and “100 Days, Drinks, Dishes & Destinations.”
On August 30, 2024, at The Academy SF, television personality, author, and internationally renowned wine and spirits authority Leslie Sbrocco—who is also a San Francisco Bay Times columnist— will be sainted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence during a special event co-produced by the Bay Times and The Academy as part of the monthly Divas & Drinks series.
Sbrocco, through the popular PBS series Check, Please! Bay Area now in its 19th season, has arguably presented more out LGBTQ+ businesses owners on local television than any other major market host and series. She literally brings them to her table, warmly welcomes them, and allows them to share some of their personal story, exemplifying the positive connection that all of us can experience when we embrace diversity.
Her daughter is an out member of the LGBTQ+ community, which Sbrocco continues to support as a staunch ally. She has also used her platform to bring awareness to women’s health issues. She has done that for decades, but even more so after March 2021, when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. While going through a barrage of difficult treatments, she has with great compassion and empathy supported others with health challenges. Earlier this year, Sbrocco was named the 2024 Sonoma Epicurean Event Honoree by the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Her work ethic is exceptional; she has continued to work nearly nonstop since her diagnosis, including multiple volunteer efforts.
Soon Sbrocco will be recognized as a saint! We hope that you can join us, the Sisters, and others in celebrating this community treasure. More details will be announced during the summer about the August 30 event.
Sbrocco Sips
Leslie Sbrocco
Pride and More Bay Times Dines
The Gay Gourmet
David Landis
First off, it’s great to be back writing this column, with a new bionic knee, no less. Thanks to all the loyal readers who have sent notes of concern and support. The good news is that I’m back in the saddle, doing great, and well on the way to recovery.
Now, to the matter at hand! There’s a lot of talk about Pride this month. But what does Pride really mean? I’m of the opinion, in the spirit of Harvey Milk (who said everyone should come out), that Pride means showing up.
Showing up can express itself in a thousand ways. For me, I’m proud that during my short time on this planet, I’ve: held the hands of dear friends who were dying of AIDS, while I was still in my twenties; been the first to dance at my employer (KPIX TV)’s holiday party in the 1980s with my boyfriend (now husband); delivered thousands of meals over 11 years to people with terminal diseases through Project Open Hand; helped start television’s first AIDS education series on national TV, inviting Elizabeth Taylor to get involved in the cause for the first time (and winning a Peabody award); boldly celebrated my 10th anniversary with my husband in a redneck town in Montana where everyone sang to us in front of the locals; helped a popular on-air anchor come out when you didn’t know if you’d lose your job; joined the throngs of newlyweds at City Hall to get married when Gavin Newsom made same-sex marriage legal; supported ZATA, an organization that helps people with AIDS in Zimbabwe; purposely called my partner “husband” (even though sometimes he cringes), especially in front of those who might call us something else; honored our local and outof-town drag performers by turning up at just about any drag show I could possibly attend; brought thousands of outof-towners and locals to AsiaSF to help expose them to what transgender means; gathered openly at that great bar, 440 Castro, with my gay brothers, sisters,
and others, to watch the passing parade on Castro Street; and started this column, proudly calling myself “The Gay Gourmet.”
But, like many of you, I’ve only just begun. There is so much more to do. With each day that passes, I fear that, unless we continue the fight, we will lose all the rights and privileges we’ve gained during our lifetimes.
Back to the point. I guess Pride means doing whatever you can do to help celebrate our community in whatever way you can. To that end, I’m proud that our diverse and celebrated restaurant community has joined the month-long observance. Here are just a few ways that they—and you—can continue to exhibit Pride.
Sizzle, San Francisco’s Dinner Drag Show to Kickoff SF Pride Weekend: One Market Restaurant and famed SF Drag Queen Bobby Friday present SIZZLE: San Francisco’s only dinner drag show to kickoff SF Pride Weekend 2024 on Thursday, June 27. Experience eye-popping performances paired with an indulgent 4-course dinner from Chef Mark Dommen, for an unforgettable evening of glamour and entertainment. The dinner is a benefit for LYRIC —a San Francisco LGBTQ+ youth organization.
T he Al Hirschfeld Foundation celebrates Pride Month with its latest online exhibition, Hirschfeld’s Drag Show, now live through August 15. The special guest curator for the exhibition is Tony-nominated playwright, actor, director, novelist, and drag legend, Charles Busch. The new exhibition celebrates some of the greatest drag performances of stage and screen, as seen through the eyes of legendary artist Al Hirschfeld. Charles Busch offers his commentary on Hirschfeld art depicting scenes from Broadway and Off-Broadway theater, and film, including Hairspray, Some Like It Hot, Victor/Victoria, Charlie’s Aunt, Tootsie, and Peter Pan, and artists including Julie Andrews, Mary Martin, Harvey Fierstein, Charles Ludlam, José Ferrer, Katharine Hepburn, Raquel Welch, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Dustin Hoffman, BD Wong, Tony Roberts, Robert Morse, and more.
The Madrigal features 3 Pride cocktails inspired by the Beacon of Light, San Francisco’s rainbow light installation that beams with equality and community. These include: Clone Canyon, with gin, pineapple, hibiscus shrub, lime, cilantro, firewater, grapefruit soda, and a pink glowing ice cube; The Ensemble, with Ketel One vodka, pea flower, vanilla, lime,
egg white, and club soda; and Mayclem’s Whey, with light rum, Zacapa 23, lemon, orange, pineapple, coriander, cinnamon, green tea, and milk whey.
San Francisco Pride month is in full swing at the Ferry Building. Indulge in Humphry Slocombe’s “Make It Gay” sundae, featuring two scoops of Tahitian vanilla ice cream, house-made pink marshmallow fluff, and Fruit Loops. Savor Acme Bread Company’s “Rainbow Sandwich” all month long with roasted eggplant, house-made romesco, basil, and spicy giardiniera on its Pizza Bianca.
a prime rooftop spot on Market Street, while enjoying crafted cocktails and delicious bites.
Early To Rise is offering a special “Glitter Doughnut” during the month.
Alora on the Embarcadero is donating proceeds to LYRIC from the sales of its Pride cocktail, “Rosé All Day” and its Pride dessert, “Farmers’ Market Berries.”
Above It All Pride Parade Viewing Party: Join Charmaine’s at The San Francisco Proper Hotel on Sunday, June 30, for a fabulous day filled with celebration, music, and fun. Get ready to watch the vibrant Pride Parade from
On June 30, The Phoenix Hotel’s iconic Mighty Real Pride Sunday is one of the hottest and most sought-after celebrations in the city. Back this year for another day party by the pool, the event features popping DJ artists, flowing drinks, and Pride vibes galore. Artists include David Harness, Evelyn “Champagne” King, and Tedd Patterson. This event w ill sell out, so it is highly encouraged to snag a ticket while you can. Barrio in Ghirardelli Square is celebrating Pride month with a special “Rainbow Margarita,” where a portion of proceeds are donated to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. This upgraded signature margarita features a blend of blue curaçao, cherry, and pineapple juice.
Bay Times Dines
The new Beacon Grand Hotel at Union Square (formerly the Sir Francis Drake Hotel) unveiled a 3,000-squarefoot Pride flag down the side of its building in celebration of Pride month. Throughout the month, the historic property will offer a special room package and cocktail in support of SF Pride Available at the hotel’s bar and restaurant, The Post Room , the “Simply Complicated” cocktail will be served with an oversized Pride cookie from local gay-owned Hot Cookie, and a portion of proceeds will directly support SF Pride. Inspired by a chocolate-dipped strawberry, the “Simply Complicated” cocktail is made with Pasote Tequila, spiced agave, fresh strawberry purée, and basil.
Starlite, the rooftop bar at the Beacon Grand Hotel, is also honoring LGBTQ+ Pride. Through the end of June, Starlite will be offering the “Little Red Dress,” a delicate cocktail of vodka, blood orange, Meyer lemon, and sparkling wine shaken and served in a coupetini glass with a touch of sparkle. 25% of each cocktail will be donated to Rainbow Honor Walk, the walk of fame installation in the Castro that honors notable LGBTQ+ individuals from around the world who left a lasting mark on society.
The Downtown SF Partnership is producing the return of Drag Me Downtown , a weekly series of pop-up drag performances featuring some of the biggest names in San Francisco drag, every Thursday in June. Performers at this year’s event include Afrika America, Oliver Branch, Tito Soto, Amoura Teese, Tyson Check-in, Kipper Snacks, Mahlae Balenciaga , and Carnie Asada. There will also be two Queer History Bus Tours and a sing-along before the final Drag
Me Downtown performance on June 27 from 1–2:30 pm and 3:30–5 pm. Legendary drag queen Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will lead the tour and show attendees the hidden LGBTQ+ past of downtown San Francisco while cruising past lesser-known queer landmarks and singing along to classic pride anthems before the final drag show in the series.
I n honor of Pride month, Gentleman Farmer Wines has created a Pride-themed 2021 Red Blend (mostly Merlot) and is donating 5% of the proceeds of the wine to the It Gets Better Project and 5% to LGBTQ Connection
Ginger’s, San Francisco’s only Financial District LGBTQ+ bar, is reopening June 28, just in time for Pride. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “Ginger’s will reopen in its home since 2017 at 86 Hardie Place. An opening celebration will include a blessing from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence drag group and a party hosted by Bay Area drag performers Miss Shugana and Madd-Dogg, with special guests Kylie Minono, MGM Grande, Laundra Tyme, and Helixir Jynder Byntwell.”
K okak Chocolates: This queerowned Castro chocolatier is offering several Pride specials, including: the Kokak Pride Combo: “Love is chocolate” organic t-shirt and the “Kokak Pride 2024 chocolate collection” (customers can use the code SFBAY15 at checkout to enjoy a discount for the combo). In addition, Kokak has a special Castro Pride chocolate collection with artisanal Pride designs for sale.
Bouchon Bakery, Yountville: Celebrate Pride with Bouchon Bakery’s “Rainbow Cake.” This deliciousness is six layers of almond cake, filled with alternating apricot and raspberry jams, and topped with a dark chocolate glaze and shimmering luster dust. Slices are available for the month of June. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Hetrick Martin Institute to support LGBTQ+ youth.
Pride lasts all month long at St. Helena’s Clif Family Winery. Enjoy a “Rainbow Sprinkle Sugar Cookie” from the Clif Family Bruschetteria Food Truck, where 100% of the proceeds from every cookie sold through June will be donated to LGBTQ Connection Napa. This organization is an initiative fueled by youth and other emerging leadership, and it fosters a healthier, more vibrantly diverse, and inclusive community in Napa and Sonoma counties.
Be Bubbly in Napa features its “Blush and Bubbly” dinner/drag show on
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Bay Times Dines
June 28. Ava Lashay returns for an encore drag performance and brings her best Pride show to be bubbly. Colorful attire is encouraged.
The New Bar, San Francisco’s new nonalcoholic bar in the Marina, is popping up to support T he Phoenix & The Castro Club for their “Sober Pride Party” at Hotel Yotel during the Pride Parade on June 30.
Pomella in Oakland is once again offering its yearly tradition of house-made Pride Rainbow Cookies.
It’s not during June, but Opera Parallèle, in collaboration with The Transgender District, will help launch the first-ever statewide Transgender History Month in August with the third edition of Expansive, an enthusiastic showcase of transgender and nonbinary classical artists in two performances at 7.30 pm on Thursday, August 8, and Friday, August 9, at A.C.T.’s intimate Strand Theater.
Following Pride, Out in the Vineyard’s “Gay Wine Weekend” takes place this year at the Vintner’s Resort in Santa Rosa July 19–21. The weekend-long event is centered on LGBTQ+ community building while enjoying delicious food + wine, and benefits the local HIV/ AIDS charity Face to Face
T his June, the Pa lace Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel in the heart of San Francisco, has planned several Pride events, including: a colorful Pride-themed afternoon tea with rainbow pastries, which benefits the SF LGBT Center; and a Pride hotel package in hotel rooms with guaranteed views of the June 30 SF Pride Parade. Guests who book this limited-time package will also receive a bottle of wine from VOON, a San Francisco based, LGBT-owned wine label focusing on low-intervention, small-production wines and a whimsical aesthetic. The package is valid for stays from June 28–30, using booking code: LVU.
T hey’re only $8 for a fourpack, you can order online— and oh, they’re so yummy!
Summer Bar & Lounge in Oakland hosts a “Know Your Status” party beginning at 9 pm on June 29. In partnership with Sutter Health, they’re offering free HIV testing and same day Prep, all with free cover.
Launched in 2021, Suncliffe is a botanical gin company founded by business and life partners Ryan Lawrence and Thomas Giddings, in partnership with their Brooklyn-based friend, Clare Byrne. Together, the creative trio have crafted an aromatic gin that utilizes three local junipers, foraged in the high desert of Sedona. Suncliffe’s “Arizona Botanical” signature gin is perfect for mixing or sipping. 10% of Suncliffe sales during June—from online, retail, and restaurant accounts—will go to the ACLU’s LGBTQ rights initiative.
One Market Restaurant: https://onemarket.com/
The Al Hirschfeld Foundation: https://bit.ly/3zshiA7
The Madrigal: https://www.themadrigalsf.com/
The Ferry Building, San Francisco: https://bit.ly/3XG3mgg Humphry Slocombe: https://humphryslocombe.com/ Acme Bread Company: https://acmebread.com/ Early To Rise: https://www.earlytorisesf.com/ Alora: https://visitalora.com/ Charmaine’s: https://tinyurl.com/yuhwaejm
The Phoenix Hotel: https://bit.ly/4cBwNEd
Barrio: https://www.barriosf.com/
The Academy SF is hosting a “Pretty in Pink” garden party on June 29. According to the social club, guests can “step into a kaleidoscope of love and liberation while indulging in signature cocktails, uplifting beats, and dazzling go-go’s, all amidst a lush garden backdrop. Embrace your own shade of pink, and let your true colors shine as we come together.”
Throughout June, restaurant recommendation site The Infatuation will be partnering with LGBTQ+ and ally bakeries in San Francisco and elsewhere
to make one-of-a-kind treats to celebrate Pride. The Infatuation will grant the Queer Food Foundation (QFF) a donation of $50,000 as a part of this campaign. QFF is a collective of queer individuals who work at all intersections of the food system—from food justice, culinary to community organizing, media, hospitality, and more. San Francisco bakeries (all queer-owned or outspoken allies!) selling a bake sale-exclusive Pride-themed treat include: Kokak Chocolates, Chadwick’s, and Dynamo Donut and Coffee
Nob Hill’s The Summer Place is featuring several Pride-themed cocktails during June. The special drinks include the San Francisco, a frozen drink with Astral tequila, hibiscus, cucumber, rose water, and sparkling rosé; the Key West, with Tito’s vodka, elderflower, dolin blanc, citrus, sparkling wine, and mint; and the Provincetown, with Botanist gin, creme de violet, citrus, and maraschino liqueur. All drinks are created to represent three proud cities, which have a large presence that supports the LGBTQ+ community.
A nd finally, 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani has teamed up with long-time San Francisco drag queen (and my fellow San Francisco Bay Times columnist) Donna Sachet to create limited-edition Rainbow Bagels to celebrate Pride month. Baked daily, the technicolored bagels will be available at Tony’s Dago Bagel in North Beach and for delivery via DoorDash Thursday through Sunday throughout the month of June. Bagels are plain or patrons can order it “Sachet Style,” which comes toasted and topped with sweet confetti cream cheese. All proceeds from the bagels will benefit the R ainbow Honor Walk, which is supported by Donna.
The Beacon Grand Hotel: https://www.beacongrand.com/ Drag Me Downtown: https://bit.ly/4eGmj8k
Gentleman Farmer Wines: https://gentlemanfarmerwines.com/ Ginger’s: https://www.gingers.bar/ Kokak Chocolates: https://www.kokakchocolates.com/ Bouchon Bakery: https://bit.ly/3RIVfvt Clif Family Winery: https://www.cliffamily.com/ Be Bubbly: https://www.bebubblynapa.com/ The New Bar: https://thenewbar.com/ Opera Parallele: https://operaparallele.org/ Out in the Vineyard, Gay Wine Weekend: https://tinyurl.com/3dhcmc8z
The Palace Hotel: https://tinyurl.com/2xmvw8tn
Pomella: https://www.pomellaoakland.com/ Summer Bar & Lounge: https://www.thebarsummer.com/ Starlite: https://tinyurl.com/w7w2vhjv Suncliffe Gin: https://www.suncliffegin.com/ The Academy San Francisco: https://www.academy-sf.com/ The Infatuation: https://bit.ly/4eDovgY
The Summer Place: https://thesummerplacesf.com/ Dago Bagel: https://dagobagel.com/ 440 Castro: http://www.the440.com/ 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
Handlery Hotels Donates to SF LGBTQ Center, Brightens Union Square With Rainbow Lights
Handlery Hotels, California’s oldest family-owned and operated hotel company, is shining a light on San Francisco neighborhoods with its Summer Lights celebration from June through August. On June 15, the Handlery Union Square Hotel kicked off the celebration by lighting up the hotel with new dynamic streaming lights. Part of a complete refurbishing of the exterior façade, the lights brighten up the Union
Square area as it continues to make a comeback.
“We had the bright idea that we should support the city’s efforts to help neighborhoods in San Francisco continue positive steps for the benefit of the residents and our visitors,” said Jack Handlery, General Manager of the hotel.
To recognize Pride month, the Handlery Family is donating $10,000 to the SF LGBT
Center in the Castro. Come July, the family will donate another $10,000 to the Salvation Army’s Kroc Center in the Tenderloin. To wrap up the summer, a final $10,000 will be given to the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center.
Handlery said, “We’re hoping this inspires others to give back to San Francisco’s neighborhoods and support the City by the Bay as it returns to its beauty.”
https://sf.handlery.com/
Pulse Memorial - Remembering the 49
Photos by Rink
On Wednesday, June 12, a memorial was held in the Castro to remember the lives of the 49 LGBTQ individuals who died in the shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12 eight years ago in 2016.
Hosted by The Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, the event began with a welcome by emcee Honey Mahogany and was held at Jane Warner Plaza. Following the opening, participants joined a procession going to Hibernia Beach at 18th and Castro Streets where flowers were laid to pay respects at this historic Castro memorial location.
San Francisco Bay Times WISHES YOU “Happy Pride!”
Take Me Home with You!
Meet Nicky!
This charming pup is on a heartwarming journey to discover that the world isn’t so scary, thanks to yummy treats and positive encouragement. Nicky is mastering the art of looseleash walking, and once he reaches the park, he delights in running around and seeking affection from humans.
To help him manage his enthusiasm, we’re teaching him good behaviors, like walking directly beside us (red light, green light!) and sitting at doorways to prevent darting. His previous home shared that he got along wonderfully with all humans and dogs and especially loved snuggling. Nicky is a sweet soul searching for a loving family and a place to call home. Are you ready to welcome an all-around awesome, certified lover boy into your life? Adopt Nicky today!
Visitors are welcome from 11 am–6 pm (Wednesday–Sunday) and 1 pm–6 pm on Tuesdays. The SF SPCA is closed on Mondays.
https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/
As Heard on the Street
Let’s Go Home!
Here are two of the many pets now available for adoption at Oakland Animal Services (OAS):
Apollo is a 3-year-old gorgeous shepherd who is social, confident, and affectionate. This intelligent pup is about 90 pounds and is ready to impress you with his ability to learn new tricks quickly so long as you have some tasty treats!
Meet Lynette, a charming 6-year-old girl who will steal your heart! Give Lynette a moment to warm up and she quickly transforms into a purring, affectionate sweetheart who loves to be petted.
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
Where
Nicky
Apollo
Lynette
David Maldonado
“Fabulosa Books”
compiled by Rink
Eli Kind
“I can be found on the back patio of The Mix Bar.”
Xochitl L Queen
“Latin Night on Thursday at the Midnight Sun”
Pam
“I go to Cliff’s Variety. I love it with every cell of my body.”
Phillip Ruth
“In front of the Castro Theatre, where I dance”
Giants Pride Game 2024 @ Oracle Park
Photos by Mike Kirschner and Juan R. Davila
Giants Pride Game 2024 @ Oracle Park
http://sfbaytimes.com/
Dirt Squirrel Clack Fan
Express your deepest desires with this loud, durable, and fortified fan by Dirt Squirrel. This fan is made from sturdy bamboo and nylon poly fabric that result in a loud “clack” when flicked open. It is the perfect accessory for keeping cool when you’re breaking a sweat, soaking in sun rays, dancing, relaxing, or simply making a point. Live your best life and be the life of the party with this signature Dirt Squirrel fan! $22.99 each.
Cliff’s Variety Gear
Got layers? Be prepared for summer like a true San Francisco local in a Cliff’s Variety tank, tee, or hoodie. The Cliff’s man is here for you in any weather! Available in a rainbow of colors and inclusive sizes. $19.99–$34.99
ince our founding in 1936, Cliff’s Variety has been constantly growing and evolving in response to the needs of our customers. Our buyers strive to keep our selection fresh, on-trend, and competitive. We carry the best of everything from hardware & tools to cookware, garden supplies, toys, crafts, and gifts.
We also offer re-keying and lock repair, knife sharpening, glass, acrylic & wood cutting. Light fabrication, pipe threading, and cable crimping are among the many other services we offer at Cliff’s Variety. If your project has gone a little beyond your abilities, we’re here to help
https://cliffsvariety.com/
Photos by Mike Kirschner and Juan R. Davila
Round AboutPride All Over Town
Photos by Rink
San Francisco Bay Times lead photograph Rink is extra busy during Pride month, capturing images from events, businesses, and more.
Red Dress Party on Castro Street
Westin St. Frances Hotel at Union Square
Frameline48 volunteers on Castro Street San Francisco Fairmont
Macy’s Union Square
Trader Joe’s Grace Cathedral
Four Play at Theatre Rhinoceros Grace Cathedral
