Beth Schnitzer at Paris 2024
Transgender History Month
San Francisco Is a World Leader for Transgender Rights
From the activism that was emboldened after the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot in the Tenderloin to the current observance of Transgender History Month, San Francisco remains a world leader in the fight for transgender rights and is still a beacon for transgender individuals across the globe.
This was evident at a celebration on August 1 at San Francisco City Hall when Mayor London Breed joined State Senator Scott Wiener, city leaders, advocates, and members of the transgender community to kick off San Francisco’s third annual Transgender History Month. The event began with a transgender flag raising ceremony on the Mayor’s outdoor balcony, followed by a speaking program and reception.
“The history of our transgender communities is woven within the history of San Francisco. In this city, we uplift, celebrate, and invest in our transgender residents,” said Mayor Breed. “I will continue to work to ensure every transgender person is treated with dignity and respect, is given equal opportunities, and offered the support they need and deserve.”
San Francisco has played a central role in the LGBTQ+ movement, with a long history of being a leader city that glorifies inclusion and equality. Transgender History Month in San Francisco celebrates the city’s rich trans history, including the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot that took place in August of 1966. The uprising, in response to ongoing police harassment, has been heralded as the oldest officially documented LGBTQ upris -
ing in American history, preceding the more widely recognized Stonewall riots of 1969 in New York City.
“While far right extremists try to erase trans people by banning books in schools, San Francisco celebrates the central role our city has played in the trans liberation movement,” said Senator Wiener. “From Compton’s Cafeteria Riot to the formation of the nation’s first Transgender Cultural District, San Francisco has been home to some of the most significant moments in the long fight for trans rights. We honor that history this month and always.”
San Francisco’s Transgender District, founded in 2017 by Black trans women leaders Aria Sa’id, Honey Mahogany, and Janetta Johnson, is the nation’s first legally recognized district dedicated to the transgender community. This historic district is centered around the location of the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot at the corner of Turk and Taylor streets.
“I’m very excited to be celebrating San Francisco’s third Trans History Month as part of the Office of Transgender Initiatives,” said Mahogany, Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives.
“San Francisco is now a sanctuary city for transgender people, and it continues to be a symbol of hope and what is possible for transgender communities all over the world. Trans and gender nonconforming people have a powerful legacy in this city, and this is an opportunity for us to celebrate that legacy, to acknowledge the many tough battles that have gotten us here and reflect on the work that still lies ahead.”
Last month, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution authored by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman to declare San Francisco a sanctuary city for transgender, gender nonconforming, intersex, and two-spirit (TGNCI2S) communities. This resolution comes at a time when the transgender community, including trans youth, is facing a barrage of legislative attacks. Following in San Francisco’s footsteps, this celebration was formally recognized by the state last year, making California the first state in history to recognize August as Transgender History Month.
“Across the country, transgender people are suffering a period of unprecedented attacks, which makes it all the more important that San Franciscans speak up loudly in support of our transgender siblings,” said Supervisor Mandelman. “As other jurisdictions are legislating hate, San Francisco is legislating love.”
“Transgender History Month is quickly coalescing into a vibrant tradition; one characterized by rediscovery of information regarding transgender people throughout history, the acknowledgement that trans history is universal history, and that there is a newfound autonomy and agency by trans people in defining and claiming our own history,” said Jupiter Peraza, the policymaker behind Transgender History Month. “This commemoration remains an opportunity to recognize that, because of pivotal transgender history, we have access to expansive ideas of liberation, social justice education, and grassroot methods of community organizing.”
San Francisco. The Mayor’s FY 2024–25 and FY 2025–26 budget includes the Castro Youth Housing Initiative and the Taimon Booton Navigation Center. Collaborating with the Office of Transgender Initiatives, city departments are working together to ensure that TGNCI2S individuals receive equitable support and are not overlooked.
“Trans History Month is a celebration of our unbroken spirits, a tribute to the Transcestors who fought for our right to exist, and a reminder that our identities are a source of strength, beauty, and resilience,” said Sofía S. Ríos Dorantes, Deputy Director of El/La Para Translatinas. “Our stories are a testament to the power of courage and determination, and a beacon of hope for a future where all trans people can thrive. May our history inspire a brighter tomorrow, where every trans person can live their truth without fear of discrimination or violence.”
Mayor Breed’s new budget reflects the city’s commitment to the transgender community, and her commitment to her own 2019 initiative to End Trans Homelessness in
Despite a significant budget deficit and ongoing economic challenges, the Mayor’s new budget continues to prioritize LGTBQ programs and services in a number of ways, including investment in HIV services and backfilling the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
Mayor Breed’s budget also continued operating funds for SF Pride and restores funding to flagship transitional age youth support programs including LYRIC and Larkin Street, as well as continued investment for the SF LGBT Center’s community building.
Additional information about San Francisco’s Office of Transgender Initiatives is available at https://bit.ly/46CYb3a
City of San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiative’s Honey Mahogany spoke at the ceremony held at SF City Hall on Thursday, August 1.
Mayor London Breed led a news conference and flag raising ceremony at San Francisco City Hall on Thursday, August 1, recognizing August as Transgender History Month.
Transgender community members celebrated together at the California State Capitol the resolution by the State Assembly of August as Transgender History Month.
Transgender History Month
The First California Statewide Recognition of Transgender History Month
The Transgender District—the first legally recognized transgender district in the world—recently announced the first California statewide recognition of Transgender History Month this August 2024. The historic celebration honors the significant contributions and achievements of transgender individuals throughout history and celebrates their role as trailblazers in the fight for justice and equality.
In 2021, activist Jupiter Peraza and The Transgender District spearheaded efforts to recognize August as “Transgender History Month” in the City and County of San Francisco. Supported by the City and County of San Francisco’s Office of Transgender Initiatives (OTI) and the Women’s Foundation of California, this advocacy culminated in the official recognition of this important month that affirms the ongoing presence of transgender people in San Francisco and around the world.
“Transgender History Month celebrates the courage to live authentically,” said Breonna McCree, Co-Executive Director of The Transgender District. “(It) celebrates the bravery and resilience of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, ensuring their stories are honored, their voices heard, and their contributions recognized throughout history. Transgender history is America’s history.”
With today’s political climate, where our community continues to face relentless attacks, violence, and discrimination, particularly against transgender people of color and our youth, celebrating this historic moment is more crucial than ever.
Transgender District Co-Executive Director Carlo Gómez Arteaga added that Transgender History Month is important for “lifting up the voices of those who protested during the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, the first documented uprising of trans and queer folks fighting back against police brutality and discrimination San Francisco. A fight that shifted the landscape of activism should be celebrated.” He added that it represents our strength, achievements, and unyielding pursuit for trans liberation.
On July 30, 2024, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted in support of the Transgender History Month Resolution. On August 1 in San Francisco and on August 5 in Sacramento, flag raising ceremonies were held at the California State Capitol and San Francisco City Hall to symbolize solidarity and recognition for the transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) community. The City Hall & the State Capitol were both illuminated in transgender flag colors.
Event Highlights for Transgender History Month
The following events are just some of the many related to Transgender History Month that will take place in the coming days and weeks:
• Expansive (August 8 and August 9, 7:30 pm, A.C.T. Strand Theater): This is an annual showcase in partnership with Opera Parallele that features vocal and instrumental performances by transgender and nonbinary classical artists.
• Sounds of the Tenderloin featuring Voodoo Woman Andrea Horne (August 15, 6 pm–8 pm, The Tenderloin Museum): Sounds of the Tenderloin aims to bring the Tenderloin community and San Francisco community together through live performances that explore the Tenderloin’s rich history.
• Entrepreneur Graduation (August 22, 5 pm–8 pm, A.C.T Strand Theater): The Transgender District is excited to present this year’s graduates of its Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program and invite the public to come learn more about their entrepreneurial journey and new business launches.
• Riot Party (August 24, 12 pm–5 pm, Kapwa Gardens): The Riot Party is an annual celebration commemorating the anniversary of the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot of 1966. This event brings the LGBTQ community together to celebrate the riot that redefined the history of freedom and rights for queer and transgender people in San Francisco.
Throughout August, the transgender community and allies will engage in a series of cultural events and community-building activities aimed at raising awareness and fostering solidarity. Community members and supporters are encouraged to join the celebration by attending events, sharing information with their networks, and supporting The Transgender District’s mission through donations or volunteer oppor-
Selves
Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families
Authentic Selves is an exhibition with a companion book featuring photographs and interviews with people of all ages who are trans, nonbinary, and gender fluid. Some of their family members are also included in the book and exhibit. Through first-person accounts and beautiful images, this exhibition seeks to challenge damaging myths and stereotypes about trans and nonbinary people.
Authentic Selves explores the many aspects of gender identity and variance by sharing these important groundbreaking stories, which celebrate a range of views, opinions, and experiences that are unique and empowering to trans and nonbinary people. By encouraging people of all ages to affirm and appreciate diversity, Authentic Selves contributes to the process of dismantling the destructive power of prejudice and intolerance. As
a remarkable tool designed to prevent bullying and increase empathy and connection, Authentic Selves will hopefully help make the world a safer place for all people. Authentic Selves was curated and developed by Family Diversity Projects.
Through August 29, 2024
James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, 3rd Floor Main Library, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco 415-557-4400 Email: info@sfpl.org
tunities. These events are designed to celebrate the rich history of transgender individuals while advocating for visibility and equality. For more information: https://www.transgenderdistrictsf.com
Assemblyman Matt Haney (top) and City of San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiatives Director Honey Mahogany (right) addressed participants and members of the press attending the State of California’s Transgender History Month launch ceremony held in Sacramento on Monday, August 5.
Authentic
Photo Exhibit
California State Capitol
What a Difference a Day Makes
In Case You Missed It
These past couple of weeks, I’ve been hearing Dinah Washington’s voice in my head, crooning her classic ballad, “What a difference a day makes—24 little hours ... .”
On July 21, I was in the middle of walking the AIDS Walk course when news arrived of President Biden’s historic decision to remove himself from the presidential race and pass the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris. After weeks of intense media speculation about his age, his stamina, his abilities, Biden pulled off a brilliantly timed strategic move. By stepping aside right after the Republican convention, he instantly changed the conversation, the dynamics of the election, the momentum, and the mood of the nation.
His decision turned this election season into a whole new ballgame. After weeks of hammering Biden about his age, Republicans suddenly realized they were propping up the oldest presidential candidate in U.S. history. Having demanded (and received) an exhaustive account of every detail of Biden’s health, they realized they may now have to produce the same for their candidate. And their choice of vice president— possibly the least-qualified person ever to run for that office—has been proving daily that his greatest talent is offending just about everyone.
The chaos and rise of authoritarianism that we’ve experienced these past few years has taken a toll on all of us. It has been utterly exhausting to have to keep fighting lies, hatred, and deliberate disinformation. It has been frustrating and demoralizing to have to fight constant battles to preserve our basic freedoms, and even our democracy. It has been disheartening to watch our communities, and even our own families, torn apart by the wedges being deliberately driven between us.
But since Biden’s announcement on July 21, I’m starting to experience a new and wonderful sensation: Hope.
And it isn’t just me; I’m hearing it from everyone I know. For the first time in eight years, it feels like the tide is turning. It finally feels like those who truly care about our country, about democracy, about
fairness and civility, have a chance to take back our communities and our country.
But none of it is going to happen by magic. It’s going to take a lot of hard work. This is our time; this is our challenge; this is our duty. The record-breaking fundraising and volunteer numbers coming out of the Kamala Harris campaign headquarters are a measure of the huge wave of enthusiasm sweeping the country to turn the tide against Project 2025 and the rest of the MAGA agenda. These huge numbers are especially important because fully twothirds of the donations are from grassroots first-time donors, not billionaires. And the number of first-time volunteers signing up to help is off the charts.
We have fewer than three months before the November election, and our job is to turn out the vote in massive numbers that cannot be questioned or overturned. But this election isn’t just about the presidency. It’s also about the House and the Senate, about state legislatures, about local and state ballot initiatives, about local school boards, mayors, and other local elected officials. We’re already being bombarded with campaign ads of all sorts, and constant pleas to support campaigns.
Whew. It’s a lot.
To help with the presidential election, go to https://bit.ly/3Yxok19
And to help queer the vote, read on for ways that the LGBTQ+ community is helping the cause.
Drag Out the Vote
One of my favorite GOTV (get-out-thevote) organizations is VoteRiders, a nonpartisan nonprofit that works hard to ensure that all U.S. citizens over 18 years old are able to exercise their right to vote. Since every state has different voter registration laws and ID requirements, they partner with hundreds of organizations across the country to make sure
that everyone has the correct information they need in order to vote.
During Pride Month they announced a partnership specifically designed to help LGBTQ+ voters: Drag Out the Vote. By partnering with Drag Out the Vote, VoteRiders is hoping to increase LGBTQ+ participation in elections, and help them overcome any barriers they may encounter in registering to vote.
Formally founded in 2019, Drag Out the Vote uses Drag Ambassadors to share social media content that helps their LGBTQ+ followers learn about voter ID requirements. VoteRiders can then help them get their ID, particularly if they need one that reflects their preferred name and gender marker. Many voter ID requirements are specifically designed not to enhance ballot box security, but to put up barriers to prevent specific populations from voting. Republican-controlled state legislatures have become adept at making voting more challenging for voters who traditionally tend to vote Democratic: students, seniors, people of color, LGBTQ+. Drag Out the Vote’s Drag Ambassadors engage and educate their families, friends, and fans. Until this year, their work has been primarily through social media and digital events, but this crucial election year they are looking to expand their ambassador program, and transition to more in-person events. This is a great way to get involved, increase voter turnout, and promote LGBTQ+-friendly legislation. For more info: https://dragoutthevote.org/ https://www.voteriders.org/
Harvey Milk Photo Center’s Annual Show
Take a deep breath. Then let’s collectively roll up our sleeves and get this done. There are many ways to help, from volunteering for specific campaigns, to supporting campaigns financially, to supporting more general initiatives. I could list dozens of great websites here (no, really, I can’t), but will limit myself today to just a couple that are focused on getting out the vote. And over the next few weeks, I will list more. Since getting out the vote will be crucial, may I suggest the organization Vote ( https://www.vote.org/ ) a nonpartisan nonprofit that provides online voter guides for every state, including voter registration forms, absentee ballot applications, information on deadlines, directions to polling places, and ID and residency requirements.
It’s time again for the Harvey Milk Photo Center’s Annual Member, Staff & Volunteer Show. Featuring over 75 photographers and 150 pieces, this annual event showcases the best work of the photographers who create their work in the darkrooms and digital lab at the photo center. Curated by the staff, members, and volunteers, the show covers a broad range of subject matter.
The Harvey Milk Photo Center is an important resource for local photographers.
(continued on page 18)
Joanie Juster
Marching in Berlin for Democracy and Diversity
6/26 and Beyond
Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis
From 1961 to 1989, a wall divided Berlin into two cities: West and East, one capitalist and democratic, and the other Soviet-dominated. Countless people lost their lives trying to flee from East to West. Traveling both ways ourselves—from West to East and back again—in the 1980s left an indelible impression on us.
The East forced us to complete innumerable forms, account for our exact itinerary, and exchange money at a very unfavorable exchange rate. We then walked across a no-person’s land that separated the East from the West under the watchful eye of East German police officers perched in guard towers. Our return to West Berlin could not have been more different: no
forms, no police presence, no one even checking passports. It felt like complete freedom, as if anyone was welcome to come.
We felt nearly that same sense of freedom two weekends ago at the spectacular Berlin LGBTIQ Pride march and celebration. On Friday night, thousands of queer women and other LGBTIQ people joined the Dyke March that ended in Kreuzberg, one of the most liberal, diverse, and queerfriendly neighborhoods in Berlin.
Then, on Saturday, countless LGBTIQ people and allies flooded the streets for the nearly 8-hour-long “Christopher Street Day” march that traversed central Berlin. When the Berlin Wall finally came down in 1989, as many people as possible poured into West Berlin as fast as humanly possible. Two weekends ago at Pride, it seemed much the same: countless people poured onto the streets of Berlin to celebrate their Pride and stand up for democracy and diversity, the themes of this year’s march.
Marchers at both events carried homemade signs with messages such as: “Queers gegen Rechts” (Queers against the Far Right), “Be Brave Like Ukraine,” “Chinese Queers Will Not Be Censored,” “Marching for Those Who Can’t,” and “Make the Middle East Nonbinary Again!” We were proud of the U.S. Embassy’s Pride motto: “Unsere Botschaft heisst Liebe” (Our Embassy’s Message Is Love).
The march ended with a festival that stretched half the length of “June 17 Street” (commemorating the June 17, 1953, uprising against the East German government) to the iconic Brandenburg Gate where the Berlin Wall used to separate East from West. Overlooking it all was the Reichstag, the seat of the German government, with a large Rainbow Flag flying atop.
Even though the march featured numerous colorfully decorated double-decker buses blaring queer dance music at top volume and many marchers dressed in very expressive attire, a friend explained to us that the march was at its core a demonstration and not a parade. This year’s march theme emphasized that we are “only strong together” if we embrace “democracy and diversity.” March organizers and multiple individual floats warned against “the dangers of right-wing groups and parties” and called for supporting diversity on many levels includ-
ing race, national origin, and LGBTIQ identities.
The march itself embodied that sense of welcome. No barrier divided marchers from spectators. Anyone could join any contingent at any time. Participants came from all across Europe and around the world, including places where being yourself as an LGBTIQ person is very difficult: Russia, Hungary, and China, to name just a few. For part of the time, we marched with Plus Golos, an international group of LGBTIQ-supportive parents and
(continued on page 18)
Images courtesy of John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney
Participant in the Berlin Dyke March, July 17, 2024
Ukrainian marcher in the Berlin Pride Parade 2024
The Plus Golos Contingent, a group of Eastern European LGBTQI supportive parents and loved ones, at Berlin Pride 2024
Marcher, 2024 Berlin Pride Parade
Two Welcome Surprises in New Vehicles
higher trims have rectangular units that call back to later iterations.
Life has its surprises. For instance, it’s surprising that polls show a near-tie between two presidential candidates, when one of them is a convicted felon with no discernable sense of morality. It’s a headscratcher!
Surprising also describes two new vehicles: the $29,825 Hyundai Elantra N Line and $60,969 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958. Both have evolved into remarkably interesting versions of themselves.
With the Hyundai, you’d skip the sleepy SE and SEL trims for the N Line, which adds a 201-horsepower fourcylinder engine that loves to rev and sounds great doing it. This 1.6-liter turbo also generates 195 lb-ft of torque peaking at only 1,500 rpm, and this chucks the Elantra N Line off the line with satisfying strength. Aided by its quick-shifting, seven-speed automatic, this Elantra N was a delight even just puttering around the city.
Nothing looks quite like this Land Cruiser 1958, with its flat hood, unique greenhouse shaping, and bold detailing. Where the last-generation Land Cruiser was a slick and fancy SUV that rarely saw service outside upscale shopping districts like San Jose’s Santana Row, this reimagined model appears purpose-built for off-roading.
New Land Cruisers dump the 5.7liter V8 in the previous model for a 2.4 liter, turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid engine—and it beats the old one in torque by 64 lb-ft, with all its 465 lb-ft available at just 1,700 rpm. So, like the Elantra N Line, this Land Cruiser 1958 felt muscular as it sprinted from a stop. And, it returned almost 19 mpg running around San Francisco—a massive jump from the 11 mpg I saw with the previous V8.
Inside, the Land Cruiser 1958 eschews the leather of higher trims with thick cloth
Inside, the Elantra N Line mirrors other Hyundai sedans in having a clear view out front, while competing Civics and Corollas can bury you behind their tall dashboards. The 10.25-inch center screen is nicely integrated and is easy to learn, and interior styling is fresh without feeling trendy.
Exterior styling also belies the Elantra N Line’s economy roots, with shark-like sculpting up front and sharp contouring on the sides. The N Line adds stylish 18-inch wheels, and the “Ecotronic Grey” finish was rich with metallic sparkles. Your eyes could find a lot to like with the Elantra N Line.
The same is true of the Land Cruiser 1958, the base trim level. Its headlights are round, recalling the model that first debuted in the U.S. in, yes, 1958. The two
that refreshingly transports you back to the basic feel of earlier models. The blocky instrument panel has lots of physical buttons and selectors, joining the Elantra N Line in bucking the trend of bunching those controls into screen menus. In many ways, the Land Cruiser 1958 can be a sigh of relief for those seeking a simpler driving experience.
Here’s hoping for more nice surprises like these, instead of the other kind.
Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant with an automotive staging service.
Toyota Land Cruiser 1958
Hyundai Elantra N Line
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Philip Ruth
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Schools Should Be Safe Spaces for All Students
Assemblymember Phil Ting
As a parent, I think it’s important for children to be able to freely explore their interests. Schools can provide nurturing environments where students can learn, grow, and develop into their own person. LGBTQ+ youth especially need safe spaces because they may not feel comfortable at home expressing themselves, and schools may be the only place that provides this.
That’s why I voted in support of AB 1955, or the SAFETY Act, a new California law that ensures our schools can be a safe space for LGBTQ+ kids. The first-in-nation legislation by my colleague, Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego), prohibits schools from mandating teachers to inform parents about their child’s sexual orientation or gender identity. That includes
any name or pronoun change, or use of restrooms that do not align with their sex assigned at birth. Governor Newsom signed it this summer, and it takes effect January 1, 2025.
This bill is necessary because a few school districts in our state, mostly in conservative areas, began passing their own local mandates, requiring the outing of students to their parents. AB 1955 overrides all of them and prevents similar policies from being enacted in the future. Students should be able to decide for themselves if and when they want to come out to their parents. Schools should neither make those decisions, nor should they be part of those conversations. Gender identity and sexual orientation are personal, private matters, and school boards should simply stay out of it.
Parental notification policies can also be harmful to a child’s mental and emotional well-being. A study from the University of Connecticut released earlier this year found that a third of youth who were forcibly outed had a greater likelihood of experiencing major depression, as well as low family support. On top of that, more than 65% of youth said being forcibly outed was “highly stressful.”
Our historic legislation strengthens existing protections against forced outing, allowing educators to continue creating a safe
Building Oakland’s Future
Out of the Closet and into City Hall
Oakland City Councilmember At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan
On June 25, 2024, in Oakland, the Bay Registry sponsored an event called Urban Futures Forum. It was an important gathering about the future of transit-oriented development (TOD) in Oakland. The forum was a crucial step in community engagement. It not only informs about development projects that are in the works, but it also showcases a model of what is possible through socially and environmentally responsible development practices. A goal was to inspire the real estate industry to embrace these practices for a more equitable and sustainable future.
learning environment where all children feel accepted and nurtured. To help encourage that, the bill also bars school districts from retaliating or punishing employees who support students’ rights. This allows teachers to focus on academics, rather than policing gender identities.
In addition, AB 1955 would also require the State Department of Education to develop resources and strategies to increase support for LGBTQ+ students and their families. That could include anti-bias training of staff, formal complaint procedures, and access to counseling services. Research shows that schools rich in resources for LGBTQ+ students help them earn higher grades, skip fewer classes, and have fewer school-related problems. Furthermore, schools with LGBTQ+ supportive educators see a reduction in harassment and assault of LGBTQ+ students.
At the end of the day, AB 1955 ensures our campuses are safe and nurturing for all of our youth, no matter how they identify. I’m proud to have cast my vote for it.
Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the west side of San Francisco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma, and Daly City, as well as part of South San Francisco and San Bruno.
Mandela Station, Eastline, and Coliseum are three projects that are game changers for Oakland. Each one, led by diverse teams with strong local roots, represents the best of transit-oriented development.
Mandela Station will lead the way. This project is very exciting! It’s a transformation of the West Oakland BART station into a vibrant hub for housing, healthcare, public safety, and economic opportunity. Coliseum, a development whose developers just signed a very consequential term sheet with the city, has a vision that will reshape East Oakland and the Bay Area. The Coliseum Area Specific Plan, adopted in 2015, promoted this project.
These developments are about more than just buildings. They’re about ensuring our residents have a stake in the future through job training, small business support, and ownership opportunities. Oakland is setting a new standard for responsible urban development. We’re leveraging technology and innovation to create a sustainable future for everyone. The projects represent a massive investment in our region, with a combined potential of 16–20 million square feet of development. They will create jobs,
attract businesses, and generate economic activity for decades to come. These developments will generate ongoing tax revenue that will fund vital public services well into the future.
Among the many things co-located at the Mandela Station will be the Bay Well Health Center. To have the co-location of housing and healthcare is a model for improved health outcomes. By locating healthcare on transit, we enable broader regional access to essential services, ensuring greater accessibility to healthcare throughout the Bay Area. Associating healthcare near housing assures better outcomes not only for patients but also for their caregivers. A new 911/311 call center and evidence lab at Mandela Station will enhance safety and economic vitality.
Community Partnership is essential. Together, we can build an Oakland that is full of opportunity and jobs, is environmentally friendly, and has more affordable housing, tech and tools for public safety, and walkable, transit-accessible locations. It will be an amazing thing to see for all Oaklanders.
Councilmember At-Large and Council President Rebecca Kaplan, who is the Vice Mayor of Oakland, was elected in 2008 to serve as Oakland’s citywide Councilmember; she was re-elected in 2016 and 2020. She also serves on the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC). Follow Councilmember Kaplan on Twitter @Kaplan4Oakland ( https://tinyurl.com/2dtjmazc ) and Facebook ( https://tinyurl.com/2p9dd5ta ).
GLBT Fortnight in Review
Some Governor!
Hello, dear Readers. As I write, I’m watching the TV on mute and I just saw Tim Walz cuddling a little piglet in his arms. I approve! Adorable scene.
(Small voice in my head whispers: “Bacon, bacon, bacon.” Louder voice screams, “No, no, no, no!” Medium voice tries to remember what Charlotte the spider wrote on her web. I looked it up: “Some Pig.”)
Inappropriate!
Moving on, we have seen a few interesting court rulings, but I’m not in a legal mood so let’s take a week off from litigation, shall we? After all, it’s Summer Olympics time and I have a couple of GLBT Olympic stories beginning with a gay broadcaster, Bob Ballard, who was pulled out of his job on Eurosport after sexist comments at the expense of the winning Australian women’s relay swim team.
“Well, the women are just finishing up,” he said. “You know what women are like ... hanging around, doing their makeup.”
In the rankings of sexist comments, it’s pretty low on the hurtful scale. On the other hand, it’s pretty high on “things your demented grandfather says after two bourbon and sodas.” At any rate, it was too much for the brass at Eurosports. “During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night,” they intoned, “commentator Bob Ballard
By Ann Rostow
made an inappropriate comment. To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.” (It was a written statement to The Independent, but in my head, I hear it being “intoned” in a deep male voice.)
And this isn’t a gay question, but what the hell is going on in the Nike ad that concludes “winning isn’t for everyone?” If you’ve been faithfully watching, you may have encountered this ugly and unsportsmanlike commercial, showcasing hostile athletes who exclaim that they “don’t respect you,” they are “obsessive,” have “zero remorse,” and “want to take what’s yours and never give it back.”
“Am I a bad person?” the narrator asks in a deep raspy voice that one can imagine hearing during recess in the back end of the prison yard. Um, yes, you are. Your view of competition is antithetical to the Olympic spirit and it is belied by the sight of top-level athletes congratulating their rivals after the event whether or not they themselves are on the winning or losing side.
Who on Earth thought of this concept, and who in the Nike marketing department gave it the green light? Some one-dimensional 20-something bros, perhaps? I don’t know, but it’s an unattractive look, particularly for an athletic outfitter who, one assumes, wants to champion the exact opposite characteristics; grace, generosity of spirit, and hello—being a good sport.
Fisticuffs
But at the top of our Olympic news list must be the boxer who smacked her opponent so hard the woman left the ring after 46 seconds. I’ve never been a fan of boxing, but aren’t you supposed to be prepared for punches and the like? The boxer, Algerian Imane Khelif, was banned from the 2023 Woman’s World Boxing Championships by an unaccredited Russian-led group that refused to release evidence or explain its decisions. The group also banned a Taiwanese boxer, Lin Yu-ting, with the same lack of transparency.
This year, the Olympic mucky mucks confirmed that both boxers were born female and met all the qualifications for fighting in the women’s events. On Tuesday, Khelif told an interviewer from SNTV:
“I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects. It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit, and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”
I read that JD Vance condemned Kamala Harris for somehow contributing towards what he, JD, erroneously felt was an unfair fight. “This is where Kamala Harris’ ideas about gender lead,” he wrote on X, “to a grown man pummeling a woman in a box-
ing match. This is disgusting, and all of our leaders should condemn it.”
All of our “leaders” might start with condemning a national figure who jumps to conclusions fed to him by social media, spouts off based on unverified and false information, and never bothers to correct the record.
Speaking of trans-athletes, I was struck by the well-deserved awe reserved for Katie Ledecky, who beat her fellow Olympic distance swimmers by astonishing margins. In one of her swims, a competitor was just starting her last 100 meters as Ledecky touched the wall for her win. I couldn’t help wondering what they’d be saying if we were watching NCAA champion, Lea Thomas, the trans swimmer who was not allowed to compete in the Olympics. I have no doubt that if Thomas produced the same victory margins, we’d be hearing whines and protests from JD Vance and company.
My point is not that trans athletes should compete as women without restrictions. It’s that our reactions and judgments are skewed by prejudice and assumptions. Transgender athletes like Thomas can be talented sportswomen through merit; masculine women like Khelif can pack a punch without being sent to the men’s division.
Criminal Minds
(continued on page 18)
SUNDAY’S A DRAG at Club Fugazi
Sunday’s a Drag at Club Fugazi
Through September 2024
Sunday’s a Drag, now in its 17th year, has been beautifully restaged for the historic Club Fugazi in North Beach, with shows scheduled every Sunday through the end of September 2024.
Presented by Donna Sachet, Sunday’s a Drag has guests stepping into a world of glitz, glamour, and fabulous performances. When members of the San Francisco Bay Times team recently went, the guest artists included Holotta Tymes, Ehra Amaya, Khmera Rouge, and Cassandra Cass. In addition to the incomparable Sachet, each of these drag phenoms is unique and remarkable Tymes has a career spanning almost 30 years. She has traveled across the country professionally in many large shows, including as the comedy star of the world-famous Finocchios in the 1990s until its closing in 1999. This club was a North Beach mainstay for 83 years and was the longest-running female impersonation show in the world. Sunday’s a Drag evokes that world-class programming, especially given its new North Beach location.
Amaya brings fabulous costumes, amazing physical feats, and crowd-pleasing numbers to every audience she entertains. She is Absolute Empress 57 of The Imperial Council of San Francisco and appears all over town, especially for nonprofit fundraisers.
Actress, model, comedian, and burlesque star Cass traveled from Los Angeles for Sunday’s a Drag. Although she is nationally known now, due to her film and television appearances as well as her social media presence, she is beloved by San Francisco audiences for her many years of work here, often benefiting the LGBTQ+ community.
Who will the next featured drag artists be? We hope that you will attend Sunday’s a Drag to find out! Each show also includes the option of purchasing a delicious Italian brunch, famous bottomless mimosas, and more. The menu, created by Chef Auden Golder, is offered á la carte. For more information about it, and to secure your seats before this latest Sunday’s a Drag season ends, go to: https://bit.ly/4d27tYJ
Keith Freedman (second from left) with Donna Sachet and the cast: Ehra Amaya, Cassandra Cass, and Khmera Rouge
Holotta Tymes as Dolly
Sunday’s A Drag at Club Fugazi
Mercedez Munroe
Holotta Tymes
Ehra Amaya
Frent Hensley (second from left) and Frank Marx (third from right)
JBy Donna Sachet
uly 26th’s Divas & Drinks at The Academy, the San Francisco Bay Times monthly party, celebrated the unqualified success of SF Pride with honors going to Executive Director Suzanne Ford and President of the Board Nguyen Pham. The Pride Band and CHEER SF were on hand to lead the festivities, later joined by State Senator Scott Wiener, City Supervisor Matt Dorsey, and Mayor London Breed, all with certificates of honor in hand. The Mayor even somehow surprised Jennifer Viegas with birthday greetings! The crowd was full of people who had participated in the Bay Times contingent in the SF Pride Parade, so we called them out for recognition. Suzanne and Nguyen presented Dr. Marcy Adelman with a rainbow flag to replace one she cherished but lost in a recent home fire. Of course, there were door prizes galore and several happy attendees collected them. Everyone left with a colorful waist bag provided by Presenting Sponsor Comcast. And music from dynamic Tory Teasley and DJ Christie James rounded out the celebration.
In addition to the formal program, the evening was full of conversation about the Paris Olympics and the dramatic turns of events pertaining to the upcoming presidential election. The Academy arranged to have the Paris ceremonies streamed in the East Wing throughout the night and several Olympic fans popped in and out for viewings. Leslie Katz and Adriana Arvizo from Equality California gave us an update on the organization’s work and the excitement that the Kamala Harris presidential bid is generating. No doubt political conversations continued well into the night there and throughout the city.
The next Saturday, we started at an Empress Show at Midnight Sun, hosted by Absolute Empress XXXIII Alexis Miranda. These shows are not as frequent as they once were, so it was a special treat to entertain the lively crowd with our Sister Empresses Galilea, Pollo del Mar, and Ehra Amaya. One was reminded of just how very many ways there are to be an Empress of San Francisco, each delivering crowd-pleasing performances and eliciting wonderful memories of their years.
After a dash home to check on our loyal puppy Peanut and a quick costume change, we returned to the very same bar (something we rarely do in the same day) for Gary Virginia’s monthly All The Tea disco tea dance and party. The place had been transformed with lower lighting, no videos, VIP front seating, and hot go-go dancers atop the bar. A highly anticipated balloon drop was the highlight of the festivities.
Throughout the month of July, we enjoyed enthusiastic crowds at Club Fugazi in North Beach for Sunday’s a Drag, offering shows every Sunday in July, August, and September at noon, with brunch starting at 11 am. Having hosted Sunday’s a Drag at Harry Denton’s Starlight Room for nearly 15 years, until it abruptly ended with the COVID-19 epidemic and subsequent city shutdown, we had little hope that this popular event would ever happen again.
As San Francisco began to reopen its doors, we had explored opportunities at other downtown upscale hotels, but to no avail. Then, over dinner one night in early 2023, Patrick Rylee dangled the possibility of Club Fugazi in front of us. How could we miss this chance? After a few calls with original cast members and some meetings with David Dower and others at the club, the deal was set. Last year, we staged 6 shows—4 in August and a couple of holiday-themed shows—all with great success. So, this year we launched our Summer Series, July through September. With such a beautiful venue and capable technical support, we have been able to fashion a fabulous unique show, featuring some of the best drag talent in San Francisco and saluting the long and influential history of drag here. As we wrote previously, audiences have been enthusiastic; so don’t miss out on the remaining performances in August and September. We’d love to see you there and we know you’ll have a great time. For some hints at what we offer, find the photo journal of July shows elsewhere in this publication and get your tickets now!
Finally, without weighing in specifically on Voting Day in November, we encourage you to gather as much information from a variety of sources so that you can be the informed and thoughtful voter on which this democracy stands. Don’t forget, we have local offices and proposals on the ballot, including for mayor of San Francisco; statewide races, including for governor of California; and numerous federal options, including the all-important race for president of the United States.
To those who say they are not political, we say that sitting on the sidelines is a political act and not a good one. The world over, individuals fight for the privilege to vote in free elections, cherishing their active participation in their government. Too many in the United States either
“Everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was.”
—Robert Louis Stevenson
Thursday, August 8 & 9
Expansive Opera Parallele & Transgender District collaboration
Lucas Bouk, Wilford Kelly, Queen Angelina, & more
A.C.T.’s Strand Theater, 1127 Market Street
7:30 pm $10 & up www.operaparallele.org
Sunday, August 11, 18 & 25
Sunday’s a Drag at Club Fugazi
Featuring SF’s most fabulous drag performers
Hosted by Donna Sachet Club Fugazi, 678 Green Street Through September, every Sunday Brunch at 11 am, Show at noon $50 & up www.clubfugazi.com
Saturday, August 17
ALRP (AIDS Legal Referral Panel) Garden Party
Hot Johnnie’s Smokehouse, 4077 18th Street Bar, hors d’oeuvres, live auction & entertainment 2–5 pm $40 https://www.alrp.org/
fail to register to vote or simply fail to use that right. Don’t be a bystander! Educate yourself through the press, the internet, and in conversations with others, and then find your polling location or mail your ballot in with pride. This grand experiment we call American democracy only works if we all engage and participate. November 5 will be here before you know it.
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
PHOTO
DIVAS & DRINKS @ The Academy
Divas & Drinks @ The Academy SF on July 26, 2024Beacon of Love for SF Pride + Summer Olympics
A beacon of love was showered on the leadership of SF Pride on July 26, 2024, during Divas & Drinks @ The Academy SF. Attending to present honors to SF Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford and Board President Nguyen Pham were State Senator Scott Wiener, Mayor London Breed, Supervisor Matt Dorsey (representing the entire San Francisco Board of Supervisors), and Shay Franco-Clausen and the Honorable Leslie Katz of Equality California.
Ford and Pham, in turn, honored Dr. Marcy Adelman—the founder of Openhouse—for her support throughout the challenging year. They presented her with an official Pride flag flown in the city during June, replacing a previous one she had that was destroyed in a house fire.
The event was emceed by Donna Sachet, who began by introducing guest speaker Adriana Arvizo of Comcast, the evening’s Presenting Sponsor. Since Comcast is also a sponsor of Paris 2024, and The Academy SF held a concurrent watch party, Arvizo spoke of the company’s connections to both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Commissioner Debra Walker, who is also an acclaimed artist, was additionally recognized, as she created the artwork for the July 25, 2024, cover of the San Francisco Bay Times featuring presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Walker is a friend and longtime supporter of Harris, giving the piece added meaning.
Both the San Francisco Pride Band, led by Mike Wong, and CHEER SF performed to help celebrate Ford, Pham, and their team. During the finale of the performances, captured on video, Wong danced with cheerleaders for an amazing rendition of “Dance the Night” from the blockbuster movie Barbie. Watch it here: https://bit.ly/3AbRk4d
Next was a roll call of the many organizations represented at the event. In addition to the Pride Band and CHEER SF, they included:
• The Bayard Rustin Coalition;
• The Compton’s Transgender Cultural District;
• Dykes on Bikes®;
• Equality California;
• The Golden Gate Business Association;
• Frameline;
• LYRIC;
• The National Center for Lesbian Rights;
• Openhouse;
• PRC;
• The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus;
• The SF LGBT Center;
• The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc.;
• and the UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health.
Honey Mahogany, Director of the San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiatives, spoke eloquently about Pride and the LGBTQ+ community.
Volunteers for the San Francisco Bay Times during Pride, including for the Festival and Parade, were thanked and presented with gifts. Juan R. Davila, the Bay Times Volunteer Coordinator, spoke on their behalf.
After some coveted door prize giveaways, guests were treated to a performance by American Idol performer and Grand Marshal Tory Teasley. The After Party was led by iHeartRadio star DJ Christie James presented by Olivia Travel. Check out her show on radio station 103.7, Morning Drive with Christie Live
Along with Comcast, Olivia, and The Academy SF, sponsors for the event include Extreme Pizza, the San Francisco Federal Credit Union, and the Breakthru Beverage Group.
Please join us at the next Divas & Drinks @ The Academy SF on August 30, 2024, when PBS television host and cancer thriver Leslie Sbrocco will be sainted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence! Since 2005, Sbrocco has been the popular host of the hit show Check, Please! Bay Area, which has featured more openly LGBTQ+ guests and business owners than any other locally produced major market series. For additional information and to register: https://bit.ly/4fwZHI0
DIVAS & DRINKS @
TLC:
Tears, Laughs and Conversation
Dr. Tim Seelig
The word Disney means different things to different people. To young’uns, it’s a streaming platform for phones or tablets. To many, it is part of a compound word that includes either land or world. To yet others, it is a worldwide conglomerate raking in $90 billion in 2023 from not-so-small ears of a squeaky little mouse and his girlfriend. To politicians in Florida, it’s the devil’s den of woke people. To my grandkids this past week, it was a whirlwind of princesses and rides and snacks.
Regardless of what the word Disney conjures up for you, I hope my journeys conjure up your own memories of summer vacations.
My first trip to Disneyland was in 1961. Disneyland was 6 years old; I was 10. My family didn’t do summer vacations per se. If there was something interesting to see on our way to a Southern Baptist Convention, we might stop. Then my aunt, uncle, and three cousins invited my brother and me to go to Disneyland with them! There were 7 of us in a brand new 1960 Ford Country Squire station wagon with wood side panels, called a woody. Think National
Lampoon’s Vacation. The cousins were rich. They were also Catholic. My parents still let us go. We departed Fort Worth for the drive to Los Angeles: two adults in the front bench seat, three kids in the back seat, and two in the third seat that faced backward! In 1960, only 20% of cars had air conditioning. We were one of them. It blew air slightly cooler than the outside temperature and certainly didn’t reach the third row.
We made our way slowly across the arid Southwest. Each day, we stopped for lunch made from the ice chest strapped up top with our minimal luggage. Baloney or peanut butter. Stops were at Tourist Courts. The kids prayed for a swimming pool, answered approximately 50% of the time. We played car games and sang songs. As Catholics, they knew none of the Baptist kid repertoire. We made do. One of our cousins delighted in farting in the car. My aunt and uncle thought it was funny. They also drank wine with dinner. There was hope our songs might convert them.
Finally, we arrived at the dazzling destination of our dreams: Disneyland! We stayed two whole days! That was plenty. Did you know you can find the Disneyland map from any year since its opening? Our map said, “Your Disneyland admission includes access to the four ‘lands’ and Main Street and the many shows and exhibits sponsored by nationally famous companies.” Almost everything at the park was sponsored. You could drop your pet off outside the Main
Gate, kept and fed by Ken-L Ration. There was a Bank of America on Main Street USA since we didn’t have credit cards or ATMs. Monsanto presented the House of the Future, showing how plastic might be used in the home of the future. My personal favorite was the Wurlitzer Music Hall, which displayed pianos and organs and had daily organ recitals! We drove halfway across the country to hear an organ recital. Lord, have mercy!
But wait, there were the iconic Dumbo Flying Elephants, Mad Tea Party, Peter Pan Fight, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Jungle Boat Cruise, Matterhorn, and Submarine Voyage! There were also horse-drawn carriages and pack mules through the “wilderness.” That would never happen today. Horse poop on Main Street? Horrors. It was fabulous! Then we started the dry, hot 1500-mile drive home: baloney, wine, and flatulence.
Fast forward 63 years to a single day at Disneyland. There were only 6 of us: me, Bobby Jo, my son, and 3 grandgirls: one aged 8 and 4-year-old twins. My son, being a smart one, took advantage of a Disney VIP guide. It’s expensive but worth every penny. Rides with waiting times of 2–3 hours took us 5 minutes. There was no “what do you all want to do next” or “that ride is all the way across the park.” Had we not had him, the 93-degree day could have easily turned from dream to nightmare.
With Alfredo’s deft guidance, we did 14 rides. I sat out the scary rides with the “littles.” Alfredo also helped us avoid merchandising around every corner, promising the girls our day would end at the best shop in the land! Sure enough, at 5 pm, we ended
up at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. They were almost too tired to select a pair of mouse ears! We headed home at 8 pm, opting not to stay for the 9:30 pm fireworks in order to avoid a complete emotional meltdown ... mine.
Considering that the whole Disney vs. DeSantis kerfuffle started with his ridiculous “Don’t say gay” agenda, one of the most fun things was walking through Disneyland holding my husband’s hand. I may have spotted a few “family” members in the crowd, but I’m pretty sure we frightened the rest of the park visitors. Now, I must put Gay Days at Disney on my bucket list. I can just imagine that bursting into showtunes while waiting for rides would make them go faster!
I will continue to be a big fan of all things Disney. One of the best things they’ve done is the recent partnership with gay choruses across the country in creating “Disney Pride,” a 2-hour extravaganza of all your favorite songs. I hope you caught it when the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus presented it and blew the roof off Davies Symphony Hall.
There are countless things for which I am deeply grateful to Disney. At the end of the day, I have taken to heart the 1940 lyrics sung by Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio: “When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are.”
Dr. Tim Seelig is the Conductor Laureate of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. http://www.timseelig.com/
(above and right) Dr. Tim Seelig, along with his son and granddaughters, on their recent visit to Disneyland.
Photos Courtesy of Tim Seelig
Wurlitzer Music Hall
1960 Ford Country Squire
Disneyland brochure (1960)
JUSTER (continued from pg 6)
Serving the community since 1940, it includes a full digital lab, and the oldest and largest community wet darkroom in the U.S. You can catch the Opening Reception on August 17 from 2–4 pm, and the exhibit runs through September 28. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For visiting hours, go to their website: https://tinyurl.com/HMPC24
Save the Date - It’s Going to Be Fabulous! Details are coming soon, I promise, but in the meantime, save October 11. It is not only National Coming Out Day, but also Cleve Jones’ 70th birthday. And there is going to be an epic party! Stay tuned for details.
Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.
GAFFNEY/LEWIS (continued from pg 7)
loved ones who support their LGBTIQ friends and family members from Armenia, Belarus, Germany, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine.
As we wrote in the last issue of the San Francisco Bay Times, Berlin was the birthplace of the modern LGBTIQ rights movement back in 1897. Christopher Street Day began in Berlin 45 years ago in 1979, and the organizers’ choice of that name links the modern queer rights movement in Germany to the movement in New York City, the U.S., and indeed around the world.
Berlin Pride’s 2024 message that democracy and diversity are vital to our strength, well-being, and sense of togetherness is just as relevant in the U.S., across Europe, and in the rest of the world as it is in Germany. Just as countless queer people took to the streets of Berlin for Pride, millions and millions of Americans must stand up and be counted in November to preserve democracy and our strength and diversity as a nation.
John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for over three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. Their leadership in the grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed in 2015 to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.
Fitness SF Trainer Tip
Matt Miller of Fitness SF Embarcadero
“When doing bicep curls, control the negative (lowering the weight) and allow a full stretch at the bottom to elongate the bicep for better growth.”
Aaron Zamarron, a Master Trainer at Fitness SF, shares monthly tips that he has learned from colleagues, fellow professional trainers, and more. For additional information: https://fitnesssf.com/
ROSTOW (continued from pg 11)
Now, would you like to hear about how lesbians commit more crimes? Would you like to debate whether or not straight women should have the right to use the word “girlfriend” to describe their relationships? Have you heard about the Indian man in Vietnam who inserted a live eel into his anus? Or shall we delve into the overruns on the expense account of the top executive at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation?
I know. It’s like approaching a buffet with East Coast oysters, beluga caviar, fresh lobster claws, and rack of lamb. Where to start? Can we have it all? Let’s give it a whirl.
I have a loyal reader to thank for the link to “SameSex Relationships and Criminal Behavior: A Total Population Study in The Netherlands,” a scholarly paper in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. According to the Dutch boffins, women in same-sex relationships are more likely than straight women to be involved in criminal acts, while men in same-sex relationships were less likely to be so involved compared to their straight male counterparts.
The crimes included “property offenses, violence, vandalism, and public order offenses, traffic offenses, drugs offenses, and other offenses.” I guess the addition of “other offenses” at the end sort of undermines the whole point of providing a list, but let’s just roll with it. Lots of offenses!
Without reading much of the dense, impenetrable, academic monograph, I gleaned that the lesbians’ masculine proclivities and the guys’ feminine sides might explain the discrepancy. I’m not sure if the gay guys are less involved in crime than the gay women, because the comparisons seem to be with the straight men and women respectively. But I’m sure I could find out if I were to read more of this study. Indeed, I encourage interested readers to explore the question for themselves.
As my source pointed out, the higher level of lawlessness could explain why “lesbians behaving badly” is a more entertaining and complex rubric than “gay guys being weird.” We do have the occasional gay male cannibal, (we never have lesbian cannibals), but on the whole, the lesbians win most of the prizes for skirting the law with their shambolic antics.
Is That an Eel in Your Pocket?
And hey, speaking of gay men behaving weirdly, I’m assuming our (Indian) Vietnamese hospital patient is a gay guy, or at the very least he exists somewhere on the spectrum of people with uncommon sexual proclivities. In his case, the proclivities are not just uncommon; they’re disturbing. The doctors who extracted a two-foot live eel from his abdomen also found a lime tucked away in his nether regions.
The eel, which he had introduced into his body earlier that day, had eaten through his rectum and colon in order to reach the “abdominal cavity.” Attempts to extract it the same way it entered failed due to the aforementioned lime that blocked the pathway.
Oh, and did I mention that the eel was four inches in diameter? I just read that. I had been assuming that the creature was a little skinny worm-like thing, but it was like a snake! The doctors removed it through surgery, along with the lime.
According to whatever it is I’m reading (Headlinesmart), a few months ago, there was another eel removed at a different medical center in Vietnam. Really, guys?
Le Nhat Huy, the Vice Director of the Department of Colorectal and Perineal Surgery at the Viet Due hospital where the eel/lime case took place in late July, warned men against the dangers of inserting live ani-
mals into the rectum, due to the “unpredictable consequences.” Wise words.
Combatting Defamation at Davos
I’m going to skip The New York Times Ethicist question from the lesbian who wants straight women to stop using the word “girlfriend” because it should be reserved for lesbians who want to refer to their dates.
Let’s talk about the CEO of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation who reportedly rescued the advocates from disarray and financial crisis and turned it into a PR powerhouse with lots of cash in the bank. Well, maybe not as much cash as it might have had given the first-class air fares, fancy hotels, and car services she expensed to the nonprofit. According to The New York Times, Sarah Kate Ellis had GLAAD pay thousands for her summer house in Provincetown and refurbish her home office to the tune of nearly $20,000.
It’s easier if I just quote the evocative lead sentence of the article:
“A light rain fell at the Zurich airport one Sunday morning in January 2023 as Sarah Kate Ellis made her way from a seat in Delta’s most exclusive cabin to a waiting Mercedes. It was there to chauffeur her to the Swiss Alps, where she and her colleagues would stay at the Tivoli Lodge, a seven-bedroom chalet that cost nearly half a million dollars to rent for the week.” This, dear Readers, was for the Davos conference, and the trip included some skiing on GLAAD’s bill, which was described to the Times as an oversight that Ellis repaid. Okay then!
When I first saw the headline, I thought that I’d be reading a straightforward piece about a grasping narcissist who exploited her access to power and money. But it sounds to me as if Ellis is a real talent, who may have deserved some of the largess she appropriated.
That said, there’s an extremely unattractive side to the story told in this exposé, and it’s written in the donors who presumably had no idea that so much of their money was going to perks and pleasures. It’s also written in the GLAAD staff who reportedly operated under completely different rules, urged to be cost conscious, and in one case, chastised for expensing a cup of coffee.
And look, I have written about the GLBT community’s ups and downs for over a quarter of a century. When I started, GLAAD was an important watchdog, calling attention to lots of otherwise overlooked antigay activities and comments. Shining a light into dark corners, the organization was instrumental in our gradual progress as we moved from the shadows into the full glare of American society. Over time, GLAAD’s original mandate became less important, which I’m guessing may have led to the downturn that, according to the Times, hit bottom in 2013 when GLAAD was broke and flailing for relevance.
Into that mess came Ellis in 2014. Ten years later, the group is said to be considered a “prominent proponent” of GLBT equality, and a consultant to corporations who aim to position themselves on the right side of history. The annual budget is around $20 million, which sounds like they are bringing in more than that in donations and corporate payments. Not bad, GLAAD.
But they don’t sound quite like a nonprofit anymore. They sound more like a gay version of a management consultancy, which should operate on fees, leave the donors free to contribute to Lambda or the NCLR, and let the staff go out for coffee whenever. Am I missing something?
arostow@aol.com
Astrology
Elisa Quinzi
This moment requires each of us to tap into the confident, vibrant part of us that’s happy to be alive. The childlike innocence that once had us expressing ourselves unselfconsciously, with only love and truth in our hearts, has been hijacked by the cultural climate. A glance at the selection of entertainment on any popular streaming network reflects the darkness that seems to have descended upon us. These are the stories we’re telling. And stories are powerful fields of energy that shape how we experience reality. It is vital now that we tell new stories and that we create a better future by reclaiming eros—the positive life-force that is always pressing for expression through us. We must give ourselves permission to feel good again, so that we are reminded of what is so beautiful about life on Earth. We must stop dimming our light for fear of what others think. We are the light of the world.
Speaking to Your Soul
ARIES (March 21–April 19)
Eros is lit within you now. Pleasure gets a bad rap and is usually clumped with addiction. But pleasure itself is one of the gifts of being human. Pleasure is joyful when it is spontaneous, and free of judgment. Go enjoy the pleasure of a real exchange with a stranger; the pleasure of physical movement; or the pleasure of admiring your own creativity. There are plenty of miracles and wonders to get fired up about.
TAURUS (April 20–May 20)
Your home needs loving attention and revitalization. Wherever you are, there is the center of the universe. Where you stand, sit, breathe, and orient yourself in physical reality is the most important spot on Earth in any given moment. Polish and shine right where you are.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20)
As someone who has a reputation for consuming information, it is crucial you focus your precious attention with discernment. You can raise your gaze to an entirely new plane of thought, and share stories from a higher frequency.
CANCER (June 21–July 22)
Confidence gets a needed boost. You’re willing to bet on yourself. Trust your natural gifts to guide you. Who you are is of great value and now is the time to show yourself off.
LEO (July 23–August 22)
Leo rules the heart, which you were born to trust. The accumulated sediment that clouds your essence does not belong to you. Leave it behind. Your true self is the pure joy of being alive. You invigorate the world with it.
VIRGO (August 23–September 22)
You have an opportunity to open your aperture wider to let more multidimensionality in. While jetting from spot to spot on the globe can expand your horizon, the time has come for a paradigm shift. The mystic in you is being called forth.
LIBRA (September 23–October 22)
A portal opens and you catch a glimpse of a positive future. What does it look like? What beauty, what pleasure, what joy? You, Libra, are gifted with the ability to create harmony. Bring your glimpse, and your much-needed diplomacy, to the conversation.
SCORPIO (October 23–November 21)
Trust your own authority. At your core, you are all things. The pure essence of your being is your mission.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21)
Your life force quickens as you awaken to greater perspectives. Information from the center of the galaxy expands your context of reality to include higher dimensions.
CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19)
Capricorn is built tough. You’re a problem solver, and derive much meaning from being responsible. So, it is good to be reminded that happiness is not frivolous. The deep beauty of life inspires you to choose goals that align with your soul. You can be both responsible and happy
AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18)
Your soul craves the warmth of loving connection. Don’t equate vulnerability to loss of freedom. You too get to enjoy close affectionate relationships. In one storyline life has hardened you. In another, you are softened. Take the line that leads where you want to go.
PISCES (February 19–March 20)
Find the joy in your daily tasks. “God is in the details” here means perfect peace can be found right where you are, amidst the work of the day. Purify your vessel to hold a higher wattage of spiritual electricity.
Elisa Quinzi is a certified professional astrologer who brings a strong spiritual perspective, as well as over 20 years of experience, to her work with clients. Contact her at futureselfnow@gmail.com or at 818-530-3366 with your exact birth time to schedule or to ask questions. For more information: www.elisaquinzi.com
Take Me Home with You!
Sky’s future is as bright as her name! This young girl is new to the SF SPCA, and she’s already made a lasting impression with her curiosity and intelligence. From the moment she arrived, Sky has shown an eagerness to learn and adapt. Her sweet and social nature means she eagerly approaches and interacts with everyone she meets, making her a favorite among staff and visitors alike.
Sky is not just a pretty face; she’s smart too! She already knows basic cues like “sit,” and she’s eager to learn more. Her enthusiasm for exploring her surroundings and engaging with people suggests she’ll thrive in a loving home that continues her positive reinforcement training. With the right guidance and care, Sky is destined to become an exceptional forever companion, ready to bring joy and companionship to her new family.
Don’t wait for a rainy day—come meet Sky today and see for yourself what a wonderful addition she could be to your family.
Visit Sky at the SF SPCA! We welcome visitors from 11 am–6 pm (Wednesday–Sunday) and 1 pm–6 pm on Tuesdays. Please note, we are closed on Mondays. We look forward to introducing you to Sky! https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/
Let’s Go Home!
Here are two of the many pets now available for adoption at Oakland Animal Services (OAS):
Garland is a sweet 1-year-old gentle and shy pup who is a bit overwhelmed in the shelter. She enjoys playing with gentle dogs and she will thrive in a patient and loving home!
Bodhi and Alpha are a pair of kittens looking for a home together. This 4-month-old pair are very playful and they can’t wait to grow up together!
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
Garland
Bodhi and Alpha
From Paris
Paris 2024: World-Class Athletes, Fab LGBTQ+ Bars,
and New Friends From Around the Globe
When San Francisco Bay Times friend and supporter Beth Schnitzer, the President of SpritzSF, told us she could represent the Bay Times at the Summer Olympics in Paris, we responded with an enthusiastic, “Oui!” As the Bay Times goes to press, she is still in The City of Love with her niece Alexa “Lexi” Westley enjoying the trip of a lifetime. Lexi is a long-distance runner who just graduated from the University of Wisconsin where she was on the cross country/track team and ran the 10k & 5k.
Here is a look at their adventures so far.
At SFO on August 1, 2024, they were “popping out of their seats with excitement” as they boarded an Air France flight— San Francisco Bay Times flags and t-shirts in tow— and enjoyed a delicious array of European fare along with other passengers who were eagerly anticipating their visit to Paris for the XXXIII Olympiad.
The next day, they settled into their apartment in the 2nd arrondissement located on the right bank of the River Seine. Although often overlooked by tourists, this section of Paris is a favorite of locals for its hidden, picturesque streets, history, cultural offerings, and more.
Beth and Lexi had time to finalize their event schedule. It should be noted that Beth’s late great mother Bette— so popular that she was known a/la James Bond’s “Q” or “M” by just a single initial “S”—was a legendary high school teacher for decades who championed women’s sports, particularly track and field and gymnastics. Her influence is reflected in this itinerary:
• Saturday, August 3 - Swimming 11 am, Men’s Basketball 5:15 pm;
• Sunday, August 4 - Beach Volleyball 9 am, Gymnastics 3 pm, Athletics/Track & Field 6:30 pm;
• Monday, August 5 - Badminton 9:45 am, Volleyball 5 pm, Beach Volleyball 9 pm;
• Tuesday, August 6Athletics/Track & Field 7 pm;
• Wednesday, August 7 - Women’s Basketball Quarterfinal 9:30 pm;
• Thursday, August 8Women’s Volleyball Semifinals 4 pm, Athletics/ Track & Field 7 pm;
• Friday, August 9 - Table Tennis 10 am, Diving 3 pm, Athletics/Track & Field 7 pm;
• Saturday, August 10Athletics/Track & Field 6:30 pm
• Sunday, August 11 - Au revoir, Paris. Bonjour, San Francisco!
Shortly after their arrival in Paris, Beth and Lexi met the owners of a restaurant near their apartment “and they told us about a fab LGBTQ bar overlooking the Seine.” There, these forever passionate allies of our community had an incredible time where they met new friends from around the world. With their can’t-miss U.S.A. cowgirl hats, other colorful attire, and bubbly personalities, they were a magnet for all kinds of good energy, from Olympic athletes and coaches to fellow sports fans.
On August 4, for example, Beth told the San Francisco Bay Times that she and Lexi “woke up at 6 am and left the apartment at 7 am. We walked by the USA House near one of the Métro lines. We had to take two different Métro lines to the Eiffel Tower for Beach Volleyball. We got out of the Métro station with so many Olympic fans—we met people from France, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, China, Israel, and Switzerland! It was so fun connecting with so many international sports fans with a common love and passion for sports and Olympic values. There are so many flags here, with people sporting their cultural attire and speaking a number of different languages.”
She added, “We have also met Americans from Texas, Ohio, Tennessee, SoCal, Oakland , Chicago, New York City, Alabama, Oregon, North Carolina, and Florida.”
Beth continued, “We arrived near the Eiffel Tower at 8:15 am and were instantly overwhelmed by the grandeur of the tower and that the Beach Volleyball venue was created at the base. The entire park surrounding the tower was transformed to make way for hospitality areas, queueing lines, merchandise and concessions stands, different activations, and photo spots. There
were so many volunteers helping to direct people, to welcome them, and to assist in every possible way. We were totally impressed by the warmth, kindness, and enthusiasm displayed by each and every volunteer and staff person we encountered.”
The French have a reputation for not speaking English with American tourists, but Beth and Lexi said they did not experience that cold shoulder at all, and far from it. Nearly all locals whom they encountered spoke impeccable English and were warm and kind.
“Every French person asked how we liked France and thanked us for being there in their city and in their country,” Beth explained. “They were truly grateful for the international community for the event (while most Parisians left the city to avoid the crowds). Many French people said they’ve never seen the city so clean and so empty!”
Beth and Lexi were encouraged to continue to take the Métro as vehicular traffic has been kept to a minimum during the Games.
“It has been more fun and engaging to walk and take the Métro everywhere,” Beth said.
“We’ve had to allow for time to walk to the Métro, find the right train, ride the train, get off, and walk outside and then walk to venue. For some venues, we have had to allow for at least 45 minutes to an hour extra walking
(continued on page 21)
Photos courtesy of Beth Schnitzer/SpritzSF
Rap artist Snoop Dog with Team USA members
Paris Games mascot Olympic Phryge
A Parisian market open late at night during the Olympic Games Olympics alumni at the Opening Ceremonies Official Watch Party on Friday, July 26
Beth Schnitzer and Lexi Westley wtih Team Ukraine’s manager
Wendy Hilliard, founder and CEO of the Wendy Hilliard Foundation in New York City, at Bercy Arena for the Women’s Gymnastics All Around competition
San Jose State head coach David Verburg, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist in track and field, joined Carol Batte (left) and Beth Schnitzer at the Opening Ceremonies Watch Party in San Ramon on Friday, July 26.
to the Castro
time. Then we proceed through queue lines for security before digital ticket scanning.”
In short, attending major sporting events like this can be a physical endeavor in and of itself! Beth has been to multiple Super Bowl games in the states where she experienced similar challenges. Nevertheless, she said, “The process has been efficient and things move smoothly.”
Beth and Lexi were able to watch Simone Biles during some of her most impressive Olympic moments. The San Francisco Bay Times shared a video via social media taken by Beth from the stands. With U.S.A. and even rainbow flags flying in the stadium, and cheers for Simone echoing through the rafters, the hopes for Simone were palpable and likely helped propel this already decorated athlete to win 3 gold medals and 1 silver as of this writing.
In addition to flags and t-shirts, many sports fans brought pins. Savvy Beth and Lexi knew this and came well supplied. Beth explained, “Pin trading is an Olympic tradition. We even had the French Gendarmerie (oldest
police force in France) trade pins with us, as well as security, staff, and volunteers. It is a beautiful way to meet people, engage with them, and have fun no matter the language spoken.”
She added, “All of the French people we have met have asked us for American pins. We have also traded pins with Brazilians, Swiss sports fans, Germans, and new friends from Ireland, the U.K., Australia, and Spain.”
The international vibe was especially evident during their journey to a Team USA Men’s Basketball game versus Puerto Rico. On the
train they sat next to Chinese students.
Shirts emblazoned with LeBron James and Steph Curry were everywhere. While chatting with the students, they met some fellow basketball fans from Israel and various European countries. Basketball seemed to be a great leveler, at least on this upbeat train ride.
Beth and Lexi have also enjoyed the swimming competitions. “The LGBTQ-looking lighting paired with great energy music has made those events so much fun!” Beth
Opening Ceremonies Official Watch Party with NBC Bay Area & Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee
Beth Schnitzer of SpritzSF, who has been covering Paris 2024 for the San Francisco Bay Times, was among those at the Opening Ceremonies Official Watch Party with NBC Bay Area & the Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee on July 26. The event was held at THE LOT at City Center Bishop Ranch in San Ramon. Olympians from former USA Teams attended, giving the party extra star quality. Some of these former Olympians, such as fencer Barbra Higgins—an out and proud member of our LGBTQ+ community—have participated in events presented by the Bay Times at The Academy SF for the monthly Divas & Drinks series.
The athletes and guests watched on a giant screen the dramatic Opening Ceremonies that included boats from different countries floating down the Seine. Attendees also were able to enjoy a meet-and-greet with NBC Bay Area’s Chris Chmura. The Olympic athletes posed for pictures at a selfie station. Games and prizes were also part of the event.
For Beth, who was interviewed by NBC and featured in the network’s coverage, the night provided a great chance to connect with athletes just days ahead of her flight to Paris to experience the Summer Olympics there firsthand with her niece Lexi.
shared. “We got to see Léon Marchand, an amazingly talented swimmer who is following in the footsteps of Michael Phelps (the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time).”
Beth and Lexi are gaining some fame too. Their San Francisco drag queen knowhow has served them well, since their eye-catching looks continue to be a beacon for visitors looking for photo-ops. “Whenever we become ‘twins’ with our matching cowgirl hats and red, white, and blue outfits, we are approached nonstop by people asking to take pictures with us. We say ‘yes’ to all and it has been so much fun, even though it adds more time to our schedule before entering venues.”
This dynamic duo is not done yet! We will share more about their Olympic adventures in the next issue of the San Francisco Bay Times
(continued from page 20)
Beach Volleyball at Paris 2024
Track and Field Paris 2024
Beth Schnitzer atop the medal stand at the Offical Watch Party in San Ramon on opening night
Gymnastics Medal Ceremony
(left to right) Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee
Olympian Barbra Higgins, Beth Schnitzer, and Olympian Marilyn King at the official Open Ceremonies Watch Party in San Ramon on Friday, July 26
From Paris to the Castro
Finding Paris in San Francisco
By Helene Wenzel and Abby Zimberg
We are Francophiles, lovers of (almost) all things French! We were overjoyed to watch the Opening of the 2024 Olympics held in Paris. For us, it was an opportunity to visit Paris and enjoy all things French: its culture, history, art, literature—and its gorgeous gardens. We wished we were there, but not during the Games.
While we cannot visit as often as we’d like and we have no desire whatsoever to live there, it is easy to fill our lives as much as we wish with all things French. French influence and culture made its way to San Francisco with the Gold Rush—prospectors came for the gold and got rich providing the tools to mine the gold. By the 1870s, San Francisco had more people of French descent than any other ethnic group except Germans.
One of San Francisco’s many names (Baghdad by the Bay, Fog City, The City by the Bay) is “The Paris of the West.” In this brief review, you will see why.
An
In San Francisco, the French settled in a few neighborhoods, the most well-known, we believe, being Belden Place, sometimes called The French Quarter. Belden Lane is a block-long alley in the financial district, and is the hub of the city’s small French community and French cuisine, culture, and “ambiance.” Cafés include Plouf, Café Bastille, Café de la Presse, and Le Central.
If you go to any of these restaurants on Bastille Day, July 14, you will be immersed in all things French from the baguettes and escargot to the unsurpassed pastry.
There is also a party at the French Consulate and activities at the Design Center. This
Eye for the Personal in Paris
Although decades have passed since her early career days as a collegiate volleyball coach, San Francisco Bay Times supporter Dr. Susan “Sue” Bethanis was drawn to the Paris Olympic Games Beach Volleyball venue at the Eiffel Tower Stadium at Champ de Mars.
That may be because Bethanis’ coaching days never actually ended. She is an accomplished author and sought-after keynote speaker, who now coaches diverse executive clients who come from Silicon Valley corporations, the City and County of San Francisco, and numerous others.
year, we were on Cape Cod for Bastille Day and went to a French restaurant, “Bleu” in Mashpee, where we enjoyed fine French food and champagne in a room filled with blue, white, and red balloons, little French flags at the tables, and streamers; and a chanteuse belting out French classics in French. You were almost there!
I f you are simply lusting after a “taste of Paris,” there are fine restaurants with French cuisine and ambiance in San Francisco, literally all over the place. A few that we have sampled:
Cole Valley - Zazie;
The Castro - the new Catch, a French Bistro;
Noe Valley - Le Marais, Vive La Tarte; Market Street - Zuni; Hayes Valley - Absinthe; Divisadero - La Sarassine; Fillmore - Chouquet’s, Florio; And more we have not experienced.
For buying fine French foods, San Francisco does not disappoint. While there are many others, one cheese store is our favorite: Cheese Plus on Polk Street. It has French cheeses, wines, and, in season, black and white truffles (if you have extra dollars you don’t need).
For wine we like K and L Wine Merchants, Amélie, and the Arlequin Wine Bar and Restaurant.
Writing from Paris to the Bay Times this week, Bethanis mentioned enjoying warm hospitality and camaraderie with friends from South Africa and Denmark when they met up at a lively Parisian sports bar following the Opening Ceremonies. Rain had fallen throughout the four-hour evening on the Seine River, making the bar scene all the more inviting. In terms of her favorite restaurants in France, Bethanis shared that she has been enjoying Saperlipopette. which is near the Olympics swimming venue. “The fish and veggies there are super fresh,” she said. Bethanis added, “Mâmiche in Montmatre is where it’s at as far as pain au chocolate. And it rivals Arsicault in San Francisco’s Richmond district.”
And Then There’s Everything Else French
The Alliance Française, founded in 1889, is the umbrella organization for all things French. With a weekly/monthly calendar, the Alliance will open the doors to cultural events, language classes, French films, musical events, holiday events, and more.
The French American Cultural Society (FAC) is also a very good resource for French culture in San Francisco.
Merci SF is an online magazine ( https://mercisf.com/ ).
And if you have children you want to introduce to France, the French language, and all things French: The French American School and the Lycée Française await you. There is so much more to explore than what we have presented. Start at A with Alliance and go from there. You will not be disappointed.
Helene Wenzel was a Professor of French Literature and Language at San Francisco State and Yale University. She earned a PhD in French at UC Berkeley. Abby Zimberg was a French major at Lawrence University. Together they have visited France and enjoyed all thing French for over 35 years.
Dr. Susan Bethanis is the Founder and CEO of Mariposa Leadership, Inc, and is the author of “Leadership Chronicles of a Corporate Sage.” She has attended competitions at six Summer Olympic Games.
Photos courtesy of Abby Zimberg
Photos courtesy of Dr. Susan J. Bethanis
Dr. Susan J. Bethanis (left) with friends following the Opening Ceremonies in Paris
From Paris to the Castro
My Favorite French Restaurants in the Bay Area
Liam’s LGBTQI List
Liam P. Mayclem
From bistros to brasseries, cafés to creperies, the Bay Area has them all, giving foodies their desired French culinary fix.
I lived in France for just under a year in my late teens, and from that first Beef Bourguignon I was hooked on the rich, saucy, yummy foods of France.
Many of my best friends happen to be French chefs, so this is a particularly hard list to pare down. Yet under the influence of a glass of white Burgundy, I whittled it down to fifteen. (The original list included Cafe Jacqueline on Grant Avenue, but that landmark restaurant is reported as being permanently closed now.)
Here in the Bay Area, we have an embarrassment of French culinary riches to enjoy. I hope you can visit these and other local French restaurants and small businesses.
Atelier Crenn
3127 Fillmore Street, San Francisco https://www.ateliercrenn.com
Bistrot Jeanty
6510 Washington Street, Yountville https://bistrojeanty.com
Café de la Presse
352 Grant Street, San Francisco https://www.cafedelapresse.com
Catch French Bistro
2362 Market Street, San Francisco https://catchfrenchbistro.com/
Chapeau!
126 Clement Street, San Francisco https://www.chapeausf.com
French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville https://www.thomaskeller.com/tfl
L’Ardoise Bistro
151 Noe Street, San Francisco
https://www.ardoisesf.com
La Société Bar & Café
50 Third Street, San Francisco https://www.lasocietecafe.com/ La Toque
1314 McKinstry Street, Napa https://latoque.com/
Le Central 453 Bush Street, San Francisco https://www.lecentralbistro.com
RÉVE Bistro
960 Morago Road, Lafayette http://revebistro.com
ONE65
165 O’Farrell Street, San Francisco https://www.one65sf.com
Perle Wine Bar & Restaurant
2058 Mountain Boulevard, Oakland https://www.perlewinebar.com
Petit Crenn
609 Hayes Street, San Francisco http://www.petitcrenn.com
Petite Left Bank
1696 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon https://www.petiteleftbanktiburon.com
Bon appétit, mon chéries!
Liam Mayclem is an Emmy Award-winning radio and television personality and a talented auctioneer at major fundraisers. He is regularly featured on KPIX as well as KCBS, where he is the popular Foodie Chap. Born in London, Mayclem is now at home in the Bay Area. For more information: https://www.bookliam.com/
Liam Mayclem with Chef Roland Passot at Left Bank in Larkspur
French Laundry
Catch French Bistro
Bistro Jeanty
L’Ardoise Bistro
Chef Dominique Crenn with Liam Mayclem at Petit Crenn in San Francisco
Photos courtesy of Liam Mayclem
From Paris to the Castro
Soccer Ace Who Experienced Homophobia Mentors Youths and Strives for Equality in Sports
“I could no longer bear to be where I was, surrounded by motivated, high-achieving students of the rich and famous who didn’t need me, oppressed by religious values and beliefs that condemned me, and shamed into living a life of lies pretending to be happy. I came out [of the closet] on March 14, 2015, a special day because I love math and am a math teacher, and Pi to four decimal places is 3.1415. There was no planning for this. It was completely random. And a couple of years that followed, I came out to San Francisco to teach math and coach soccer to English Learners and housing and food insecure adolescents that gave me a true sense of purpose and happiness.”
—Matthew Shea
Matthew Shea grew up in Hanover, Massachusetts, about 35 minutes south of Boston. Shea was a soccer star with a successful competitive playing career short of being a professional. In high school, Shea led his team to their first ever undefeated season. At Boston University, Shea started every game on a nationally ranked team as a true freshman. In 2012, he won the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) National Amateur National Title with the (Boston) Battery Park Gunners. In San Francisco, Shea won multiple IPlayForSF premier division titles with the SF Spikes Soccer Club, a queer community-driven nonprofit soccer club.
Despite his passion and success in soccer, Shea never set his sights on playing professionally because soccer had become toxic.
Shea explained, “I grew up in a very white, conservative, and homophobic environment. An out athlete was nonexistent. As a wideeyed freshman, during one of our first high school practices, one of the upperclassmen used these unforgettable, exact, threatening words, ‘If we find out that you are gay, we’ll f-ing kill you.’ From that moment on, I found myself in 100% survival mode.”
Shea continued, “At Boston University, I endured much more homophobia than I could have imagined. I will never forget that one fateful day during my freshman season. In the head coach’s office, the assistant coach without so much as blinking an eye, aggressively, angrily, and purposefully asked me and a teammate if we were gay. Feeling trapped, scared, and intimidated, I blurted out the only self-preserving response, an empathetic ‘No!’ The coach recoiled and said, ‘Good! I just wanted to make sure!’ That moment broke me, confirming that the athletic world I loved so much did not love me back. The shame I felt compounded in the years to come, as I did everything I could to hide my true identity.”
Despite these major setbacks, Shea also had strong positive influences that energized him with a sense of purpose and focus. Shea recalled fondly, “In high school, I looked up to my honors precalculus teacher, Matthew Plummer, who was also my varsity soccer coach. Mr. Plummer or Coach Plummer brought energy, life, and smiles into the classroom and onto the field. He taught me, coached me, challenged me, and inspired me, making a big difference in my personal, academic, and athletic growth. I wanted to be just like him, a teacher pushing and exploring the limitless intellectual potentials of young minds, and a coach, nurturing the growth, skills, and competitive edge of budding athletes.”
“After college, I pursued a teaching and coaching career and landed at an elite New England boarding school, Cushing Academy, where I was a dorm parent (Faculty Resident Assistant) to Cyndi Lauper’s (no intro needed) son, conducted a parent-teacher meeting with Harvey Weinstein (disgraced Hollywood mogul), and coached two of Chris Mullin’s (Golden State Warrior legend and NBA Basketball Hall of Famer) sons.”
Shea paused for a moment and shared a poignant, but slightly embarrassing, mishap at the academy, “My first graduation gift from a student was a Hermes tie. Unfamiliar with the brand, I pronounced it like the Greek God and was promptly corrected.”
After a quick chuckle, Shea shared more on his time at Cushing. “Despite working
with many respectful, intelligent, talented, and hardworking students, the wealth and privilege was clearly there. Not a bad thing, just a reality. For this very reason, I sometimes felt that my students and soccer players did not need me to succeed. And more importantly, I did not necessarily feel safe if I wanted to come out. I realized something had to change if I wanted to be happy, be my true self, and grow as a person and a professional. Is there a place where I can safely begin my journey as a gay man, where I wouldn’t feel ashamed, where I wouldn’t have to worry, and where I can motivate and inspire young people to not just become who they are but become who they can?”
Shea answered his own questions with a genuine smile: “That place is San Francisco. When Mission High School offered me a teaching position, I jumped at the opportunity. I understood the transition would present a great challenge, but I relished the chance and the high rewards of teaching in an extremely diverse community. Suddenly, many of my students were financially, housing, and food insecure with backgrounds rooted in various tradition-rich cultures that I am unfamiliar with. Many of them also didn’t receive much proper support at home.”
Shea enlightened me with few major reality checks of going from the rich, the powerful, and the privileged to a community of families struggling to make ends meet, and of people whose views and perspectives vastly differ from his own. “As a white man working in a very non-white school, it was hard for me to connect with my students in the beginning. Classroom management was a big struggle for me. My interactions were different, and a lack of awareness of my students’ struggles and experiences made it difficult for me to be more understanding in moments of poor behavior or acting out. It took a lot of work, patience, and willingness to get to know my students, unlearn many of my personal biases, and earn respect. My work is hard. But I love it because I love teaching and coaching, and most of all, I love my students.”
fessional respect and satisfaction. But life in San Francisco is also extremely costly, and unfortunately, San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) did not have the resources to properly and adequately support its hard-working teachers. Shea made the difficult decision to leave Mission High School and take a teaching and coaching position further south at San Mateo High School.
Life in San Francisco as a gay man, an athlete, a teacher, and a coach has rewarded Shea handsomely with tremendous interpersonal and cross-cultural growth, community love and acceptance, and pro -
San Mateo High School presented Shea with a whole new set of challenges. Responsible mainly for teaching algebra to EL (English Learner) students and coaching the ELD (English Language Development) soccer team, the language barrier created a plethora of communication issues and sometimes humorous calamities. Shea explained, “About 90% of my students were Spanish speakers from Central America, mainly Guatemala and El Salvador, who also come from housing and food insecure families. The language barrier coupled with financial
(continued on page 25)
Sports
John Chen
Photos courtesy of John Chen
Matt Shea
Matt Shea (center)
From Paris to the Castro
Pride House at Paris 2024
The organizations Pride House and Fier Play are the primary forces behind Pride House at Paris 2024. Venues like this welcome LGBTIQ+ athletes, fans, and their allies, providing a welcoming place to view the competitions, experience events with others, and to learn about LGBTIQ+ individuals in sports—and, unfortunately, the homophobia that still is rampant in the world of sports.
According to Pride House International, the first Pride House was set up during the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver + Whistler. Since then, multiple such Houses have been created at various international sporting events, from the 2014 World Cup to
the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The movement behind these venues shows no sign of slowing down.
(continued from page 24)
instability, as well as interrupted learning in their home countries, resulted in both lower academy skills and math foundation.”
“Over the past five years, I have learned so much from my students, first and foremost, my Spanish improved dramatically,” he said. “My better understanding of various Latin cultures has allowed me to develop a deeper appreciation and love for my students. They have overcome so much to thrive in a new country. They have persevered to be academically strong. And they have adapted to become an integral part of the community. Seeing them improve, grow, and achieve every day, little by little, has been the most rewarding and meaningful experience I have ever been a part of. My life now has purpose and I love walking into the classroom every day, just like Mr. Plummer. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
Shea’s success with his students comes from his tireless dedication and relent-
The home of Pride House during Paris 2024 is Rosa Bonheur sur Seine, Port des Invalides. The venue is a tavern on an all-glass péniche barge moored on the banks of the Seine and offers a unique spot for watching Paris at night.
An opening event for Pride House in Paris was held on Tuesday, July 30, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Among the officials leading the ceremony was Jérémy Goupille, Co-President of Fier Play. He said, in part, that “nobody should hide who they are.”
French Sports Minister Amélie OudéaCastéra spoke at the ceremony as well, noting that the Pride House “is helping to change the narrative regarding minority communities.”
less efforts to improve to be the best teacher and coach. His journey has taught him that “teaching and coaching are very similar.” Shea expanded his point. “While structure and a plan are necessary for every class and practice, most of the gains come from giving students space to grow and holding meaningful conversations and interventions when needed. Connection is everything. Without building trust and respect, no learning can happen. For example, at school, I am an openly gay teacher and coach. Although my sexuality is a nonissue most of the time, I still occasionally hear homophobic remarks in the hallways and classrooms. I make a point not just to stop such hurtful language, but to have an open dialogue so that the students can learn to respect our differences. In this way, I am able to prioritize developing confident, independent, and thoughtful young men and women who are good at math, good at soccer, and (who can) be the best they can be.”
At the end of the day, Shea goes home tired and happy that he is making a difference in these young people’s lives. When he wakes up in the morning, Shea is excited to get the day started, eager to see his students. Shea shared his goals as a teacher and as a coach. “I want to continue to give access and provide both a positive and inclusive environment for my students and players to learn and grow into the best version of themselves. I want them to feel seen and appreciated, and that they have a place here and are valued as part of our diverse community. Finally, if I can be a positive influence and help even just one closeted athlete to feel comfortable and proud, I will have done my job. I would never want any student at our school to feel as hopeless as I did as a teenager.”
John Chen, a UCLA alumnus and an avid sports fan, has competed as well as coached tennis, volleyball, softball, and football teams
A packed concert starring polysexual artist Christopher Madrolle took place at Pride House on August 3, and many out sports stars from around the globe, such as Olympic skater Brian Boitano, have visited there over the past few days. The festivities will not end after Paris 2024, as the organizers will be hosting pop-ups at various venues across the city through September 8.
www.pridehousefrance.com
CHEN
Rosa Bonheur sur Seine
Pride House ribbon-cutting ceremony
A Place That Was Made for Movies
The Beverly Hillbillies theme song was really the soundtrack of my early life. I grew up in West Los Angeles, the land of swimming pools and movie stars. It was also the perfect location for many iconic movies.
1959’s Gidget might not be the most important of these films, but it was the first one that I remember taking place near my own backyard. It starred diminutive teenager Sandra Dee and the sunny world of Santa Monica beaches. In this comedy/ romance, Gidget desperately wants to surf, and becomes even more excited about the sport when she meets Moondoggie (James Darren) and “The Big Kahuna” (Cliff Robertson). What could have been silly becomes charming as we dive deep into the surf culture, and beaches that are still the same and perfect for today’s Gidget selfies. Head over to Leo Carrillo State Park Beach where 1959 lives again. Put on a suit, grab a waxed board, and look like hanging ten is more interesting to you than hanging out with Moondoggie.
which features City Hall in its opener. Just the facts, ma’am. I also think of the Adventures of Superman, which had City Hall standing in for the offices of the Dailey Planet. Perry Mason had a view of it from his office window, and Prince’s music video Diamonds and Pearls featured City Hall as a primary locale.
On the silver screen, Los Angeles City Hall is evocative of everything official in the City of Angels. The 1953 version of War of the Worlds destroyed it, and V had City Hall crumbled when the visitors attacked Earth.
Moving on, it’s time to get out your fedoras and trench coats for three of the best films made about Los Angeles. All are well worth watching again today.
1997’s neo noir L.A. Confidential has the police operating out of City Hall, with their
Go east and right in the center of downtown is another place that begs for selfies: Los Angeles City Hall. It is one of the few buildings in the city that has not been destroyed or given a facelift. Completed in 1928, the edifice’s towering three-tiered form embodies the energy and ambition of the city. Movies about detectives and policemen often use this location at 200 North Spring Street. Television shows always spring to mind, with my favorite being Dragnet,
badges emblazoned with the building itself. The year is 1953 and we are at the intersection of corruption and celebrity. From a clandestine prostitution ring where women are surgically altered to resemble film stars to brutally ambitious officers hoping to make a name for themselves, it is a wild ride through scandal, blackmail, and murder.
1920’s political corruption is in the classic Chinatown, giving us the true history with a few sordid embellishments on the water wars of Los Angeles. We go into the future with Bladerunner, using the still
standing Bradbury Building, Union Station, and City Hall in one of the most influential sci fi movies ever made. While hunting super androids through a dystopian city, detective Harrison Ford leads us around flying cars and the increasing use of artificial intelligence.
Let’s drive on the freeways over to the Westside for other locations. Of course, on the way, take an off ramp to enjoy one of the best musical numbers since Busby Berkeley discovered chorus girls. The opening number of LaLa Land explodes on the 130-foot-high interchange between Interstate 110 and 105. Two full days of filming closed this area, but it looks like it took months to create the joyous, wildly creative “Another Day of Sun.” Play this one on YouTube for a jazzy, upbeat experience.
Now we go on to Beverly Hills and Hollywood for two of the truly great films of
all time. In Billy Wilder’s brilliant Sunset Blvd., aging silent star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) lives in a decaying mansion on the fabled street. She hires a desperate young screenwriter (Bill Holden) to help her stage a comeback, an attempt that turns into a nightmare. The Renaissance-style mansion was built in 1922 and was once owned by J. Paul Getty. It was also used in Rebel Without a Cause before it was torn down. There are other huge, old roaring twenties style homes on the north side of the street right before the Sunset Strip that can stand in. Bring your feather boa, studly
gigolo, and stuffed monkey; get ready for a selfie closeup, Mr. DeMille.
The house of another Wilder great is still standing in the Beachwood Canyon area (6301 Quebec Drive). It was the perfect spot for the dark, steamy thriller Double Indemnity —the only movie Wilder told me he got perfectly right. (Talk about perfectionism ... what’s wrong with Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, and Ace in the Hole?) In Double Indemnity, the mysterious, sexy Phyllis (Barbara Stanwyck) plots the murder of her husband while seducing an insurance salesman (Fred MacMurray). The Hollywood Bowl and MacMurray’s apartment at 1825 N. Kingsley Drive remain intact.
But instead of a stroll on the boulevards of broken dreams, you might want a taste of Los Angeles glamour. Stop for a drink at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel, grab some
Chanel and Tiffany shopping bags, and dress chic down Rodeo Blvd. at the corner of Rodeo and Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Find a snooty shopgirl and, no matter what your gender is, you too can feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman!
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
Gay Filmmaker’s Outstanding America Depicts an Emotional Love Triangle
Gary M. Kramer: The relationship between Eli and Yotam is very moving. What observations do you have about male friendships, and the bond between men, and codes of masculinity?
America, opening August 9 in the Bay Area, is an outstanding film about three intertwined lives. Out gay writer/director Ofir Raul Graizer’s (The Cakemaker) thoughtful, meditative character study has Eli (Michael Moshonov) returning home to Israel after his father has died. He reconnects with his childhood friend, Yotam (Ofri Biterman), who is now engaged to Iris (Oshrat Ingadashet), an Ethiopian Jew. The guys share a kind of bromance, but when Eli and Yotam take a day trip together, an accident occurs that, over time, brings the trio closer together. The absorbing America yields many insights and generates palpable emotions as its characters grapple with love, loss, and letting go.
Graizer spoke with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about his absorbing new film.
Gary M. Kramer: Like your previous film, The Cakemaker, America can be read as a kind of love triangle where a man gets involved with a woman to express his sublimated desire for a man whom he loves but cannot be with. What prompted you to return to this narrative thread?
Ofir Raul Graizer: I don’t know that I see it as a triangle. This film is telling three different stories. Each story has its own angle and its own values and ideas about life. I was more motivated to tell, not a love story, but a story about a guy who immigrated to another country, was forced to go back, and then forced to stay. We then cut to a woman who was cut away from her life and her roots and then was cut away again and had to survive in this new reality. The third story was of someone who was born and had to be born again to rebuild his life.
Ofir Raul Graizer: I think that the world has constantly been destroyed by men. Men make wars and build weapons. Men are pretty terrible creatures, and I always hope to portray and show the sensitive human beings they can be. The relationship between Yotam and Eli is more than friendship; there is great love there. There is something deeper, a secret thing between them. Their relationship features a sensitive and healthy masculinity, which is not by the strength of one’s arm, or how you shoot, or have sex, or eat, but something more gentle and finer and more human. Eli is teaching children to swim. Yotam is working with plants and flowers. What is gentler than this?
The violence that occurs comes because of the violence from the past. Eli is running away from the masculinity of his father, a war hero, and police officer, and wife- and child-beater. This whole violent, macho, patriarchal, militaristic manhood is something that Eli fought hard to resist. He tries to build a healthier alternative.
Gary M. Kramer: Iris, who takes over the story in the second chapter, is a fascinating character. Can you talk about how you developed her character?
Ofir Raul Graizer: She is a small character who becomes the protagonist. Iris is like a flower; she opens up. She is cut away from her family and a religious traditional home. When she gets to know Eli, she realizes how similar he is to her. I created her from an image of this woman surrounded by flowers. I wanted to make a person who is sad and has a secret but is surrounded by
beauty. I wanted to make a film about the beauty and power of nature. That’s how I built her character.
I came from a home that was half religious and half secular and I had a very complex relationship with religion and tradition and part of this relationship is to define itself in my own way. Iris is like this; she had to start over and create her own life, her own home. The way she did it, and what she found, was through this handling of nature and flowers and plants.
Gary M. Kramer: Whereas The Cakemaker used food to bring the characters together, America uses plants and flowers. You use smells and colors. Can you talk about the visual style of the film?
Ofir Raul Graizer: Cinema is the art of the senses. When I started to build the story, what came to me was that I wanted it to be a sensual film—not in the sexual, erotic sense—but in the sense that you can smell it and feel it. The elements of life connect to a plant. If you have a plant and you give it water and sun, and love, it will grow and nurture and flower. It will give you fruit. That is the same with children. If you nurture and give love and care for them and feed them, they will grow up to be good people. For me, this story is about this gap between what we are as children and the people we end up being as adults. The flowers and colors reflect that. Eli’s world of water is what saved him. Iris’ connection is to the ground and the earth, and Yotam’s is his warmth and sunny identity. He was very
sweet and loving. Each character has this color reflected by the production and costume design and the camerawork.
Gary M. Kramer: America is about love, loss, and letting go. Why do these themes resonate so strongly in your films?
Ofir Raul Graizer: Life is suffering, mostly. [Laughs] It’s not roses. These are the kind of stories I want to tell. I always pick this drama and there is always a tragedy and some darkness that force people to confront a new reality and adjust to a new situation. But there has to be hope. When I wrote America, my goal was to make a film that there is great sadness, pain, and a wound for all three characters. But the way I wanted to direct it was in a beautiful and hopeful way. This is eventually about some people suffering, but they all get to experience some kind of redemption in their life.
Gary M. Kramer: There is a gay character in a minor role in America , but do you think you will ever make a true gay romance?
Ofir Raul Graizer: It’s about finding the right story. I’ve made these two heartbreaking dramas and I have a few more heartbreaking dramas planned, but I still haven’t found the right story. I love women, I’m not attracted to them, but I can’t imagine a film without a great female character. I always want to work with women in my films. I’m dying to do a super-gay story. © 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
Film
Gary M. Kramer
Leave Signs
So, full disclosure of my guilty pleasure: I watch mysteries and police shows. I know they are not at all like real life police who are terribly dangerous to civilians and women of color. Maybe I’m sentimental because my great uncle was one of the first men of color on the Boston police force; and even then, we all knew the sinkhole he was dropping into. Maybe it’s the way each story wraps things up that appeals to me. I don’t know. You’d have to ask Maria, my longterm therapist, but she died two decades ago, carrying my secrets to her grave. All that is preface to a discussion of two police shows that feature lesbians. Tommy only had one season and starred Edie Falco as the first female police chief of Los Angeles—and an out lesbian. I never caught her on The Sopranos (I’m not so much a mob fan), but I’d watch Falco read the proverbial
Jewelle Gomez Lesbionics
phone book (if anyone remembers them). She’s got those big, round eyes you want her to turn toward you; and she was impressive in a suit and a uniform.
Tommy wasn’t written well enough, and other than Falco, the casting didn’t seem to gel— except Thomas Sadoski, another actor who is mesmerizing. The series aired in 2020 as the pandemic shaped everything we thought and did. I recorded the series and saved it
until now to watch. It was eerie listening to the hushed tones and platitudes that automobile ads used then. “Together we can do this ... our spirit is what unites us ... .” Guess they didn’t see the Proud Boys coming.
But if anyone was going to portray a lesbian police chief, I’d pick Falco. Anything a therapist ever knew about her is just behind her eyes and ripples through her body. When I see lesbians on television, that’s what I look for: a full person.
Top of your stack
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOOK PASSAGE
The other show is Deadloch, which takes place in a fictional town in not fictional Tasmania (home of the genius, lesbian social commentator/comedian Hannah Gadsby). The town seems to have attracted an unusual number of lesbians—sort of like the Isle of Lesbos without the revered poet. It’s a “black” comedy in which the police chief, a lesbian played by Kate Box, has sworn off murder cases because the work upsets her sensitive lover. Then arrives the murders; first one, followed by two, and ... well, I think the final number was twelve men.
The men of the town begin to think it’s a woman delivering vengeance to abusers. It’s like the Salem witch hunts in how easy it is to make suspect every word or look delivered by a woman. And, of course, the townsfolk do get around to blaming it on the overabundance of lesbians in the little town.
The police detective is sent a partner, played by Madeleine Sami, who is reeling from a trauma in her earlier posting. She is so unhinged it’s cringeworthy. She drinks, swears, doesn’t wash, and is condescending to everyone. But this is down under, so pretty much everyone is profane. That her character is Indigenous is upsetting— although there are enough other significant Aboriginal characters to offset this imbalance. If you stick with the series for three episodes, though, Sami’s character (who is straight, so far) begins to reveal and redeem
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Better Faster Farther: How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women (non-fiction - hardcover) by Maggie Mertens
From battling medical myths and media bias to setting records in ultramarathons today, this book reveals how women runners have redefined societal perceptions of strength and resilience, making strides in both sports and gender equality.
They Dream in Gold: A Novel (fiction - hardcover) by Mai Sennaar
This is a luminous debut about Bonnie and Mansour’s intercultural love story set in 1968 New York. When Mansour vanishes during a Spanish tour, Bonnie embarks on a powerful quest for belonging, exploring themes of love and shared humanity across decades and continents.
A Snake Falls to Earth (young adult fiction - paperback) by Darcie Little Badger
This is a stunning blend of Indigenous futurism and traditional Lipan
Apache storytelling, following Nina, a Lipan girl, and Oli, a cottonmouth kid, whose worlds collide due to a catastrophic event. It’s a magical tale of monsters, magic, and family.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, August 13 @ 6 pm (ticketed - Corte Madera store & live online)
Melissa Urban, author of The New Whole30: The Definitive Plan to Transform Your Health, Habits, and Relationship With Food
This is Melissa Urban’s updated guide to the Whole30 program,
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How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety by Zachary Auburn
This essential guide for every patriotic cat parent breaks down how to discuss important feline issues including not only firearms, but also abstinence, drugs, and Satanism.
Bouquillard
This accordion-style art book presents a beautiful array of lavish, colored prints devoted to everyone’s favorite animal: the cat.
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa
This charming novel features a shy high school student who inherits a bookstore that just happens to have a talking cat on the premises who recruits him for a noble quest: saving abused and neglected books.
https://www.fabulosabooks.com/
Jewelle Gomez
Cats of Japan: By Masters of The Woodblock Print by Joycelyn
Abaca: A Filipino Phenomenon Bay Times Dines
The Gay Gourmet
David Landis
I’ve been fascinated by Filipino food and culture since my dear pal and Parisian restaurant blogger Randy SchwartzDiaz cooked up a stupendous spread at his abode years ago. Scrumptious adobo, lumpia, and more tantalized the taste buds in a way that no other cuisine did for me.
Fast forward to today. While there have been numerous Filipino restaurants in San Francisco, none have hit the mark the way the hip, new Abaca does. It’s located in the fancy, remodeled Kimpton Alton Hotel at Fisherman’s Wharf. The hotel affords gorgeous rooms, some with a bay view, for an amazingly affordable price. Abaca, the resident restaurant, elevates Filipino cooking to the next level. Even The New York Times named it to its 2022 Best Restaurant list. In short, go there now.
Abaca is a Philippine herbaceous plant of the banana family. That theme sets the stage for a restaurant which, from the minute you walk in, transports you to a tropical paradise. It’s fun, casual, contemporary, and buzzy.
Part of the reason for the party-like atmosphere? The Alton Hotel is “rooted
in 1970s counterculture,” and each room has an old-time record player. You can borrow vinyl records at the front desk to play in your room. Continuing that motif, there’s a DJ playing 70s funk and disco in the lobby (which extends to the restaurant), so that lively vibe is infectious, but not too loud. The black and white tables have gold/chartreuse banquette accents that look retro while still being modern. There’s also a chic bar along one wall of the restaurant, and a tempting beautiful outdoor dining area protected from the street.
Our uber gay-friendly waiter Aller (he said his name is “Allergy” without the “gee”) welcomed us. He did what many waiters fail to do these days in the city. He was informed about every aspect of each menu item and the inventive cocktails, while being simply delightful.
The menu extends the playfulness, too. There’s a “secret” menu of California-inspired Filipino street food (accessible only through a QR code); plus, there’s a tasting menu (for the reasonable amount of $85); and, there’s an order-ahead Kamayan (meaning you eat with your hands) multicourse dinner for $95. The Kamayan choice arrives on a long bamboo platter lined with banana leaves, delivering a visual punch. For added impact, the oysters are offered up in a vertical tree branch!
The wine list is ample, with plenty of domestic and international wines from which to choose. But I’d opt for the ube (Filipino purple yam) colada, which is unique, not-too-sweet, and colorful to boot.
What to order? Here are the Gay Gourmet’s recommendations: Miyagi oysters with calamansi (Filipino limes), mango, and habanero, delivering the right amount of spice; Lola’s pork lumpia with mango stone fruit ketchup in a lettuce wrap—the
lumpia are crispy, non-greasy, and light; Kangkong water spinach fritter with a vegan bagoong (fermented fish sauce), garlic aioli, and tomato; and a signature dish, the Sisig fried rice with chicharron (fried pork crackling), poached egg (you’ll want to mix it in), and pickled onion. For dessert? The Sans rival: a melt-in-your-mouth Filipino almond meringue layered cake with buttercream and brie foam!
Talented chef Francis Ang is in the kitchen, ensuring quality at every step of the way. No wonder: his résumé includes stints at the Fifth Floor and Dirty Habit, among others. Clearly, he is a chef to watch.
Bits and Bites
A Gay Gourmet favorite in Chinatown, Empress by Boon , has a new seasonal menu, and it’s a winner. The restaurant’s gorgeous, modern teal décor is an anomaly for new eateries by being both warm and inviting. With its gorgeous city and bay views, Empress by Boon offers a prix fixe tasting menu, and the portions are right-sized ($108/person, a deal for what you get). But you can still order à la carte at the bar.
The cuisine is Cantonese Chinese with a Malaysian influence. What’s on the new menu? California prawn with seaweed and green wasabi mustard to start; a scallop and Kaluga caviar roll—a modern interpretation of the traditional egg roll that is both crispy and light as air; pink steamed shrimp and white squid dumplings in the most delicious hot and sour soup I’ve ever tasted with just the right amount of heat (plus, those dumplings are made to look like real shrimp and squid with edible eyes!); a fresh Half Moon Bay snapper with soy, tamarind, fish stock, and a bean curd skin, accompanied by white beans; and Kurobuta pork on a refreshing slice of watermelon, with a light plum sauce. For the mains (served family style), we shared a roasted crispy chicken with spicy
sesame sauce; wok-tossed peanut sprouts with Chinese chive flowers; and a Dungeness crab and scallop sticky fried rice. The dessert was a delight: a passionfruit cheesecake with grapefruit/orange gelée, accented with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
The wine list is extensive, and cocktails (which we didn’t try this time) are creative and fun, including Take Me to The Disco, with vodka, gin, cassis, crème de Violette, elderflower, and citrus. In addition, our server Colin made the dinner a dream; he is efficient, and informed, but with a dash of humor. In short, Empress by Boon is better than ever! P.S., Empress by Boon’s “cousin” restaurant (Chef Boon helped launch this eatery) is the more casual Blue
Interior of Abaca
Sisig Fried Rice at Abaca
Interior of Empress by Boon
Bay Times Dines
Whale in Cow Hollow. It’s delicious, more Chinese, has a gorgeous luxe interior, a full bar, a great wine list, and is more affordable. Plus, it has an outdoor, sheltered courtyard.
Corner Bar in Mill Valley is the reimagined Coho right smack dab in the middle of downtown. The feel is warmer, darker, and more pub-like than before. They’ve got a successful formula: a fun, entertaining bar-like atmosphere (no reservations), but with delicious food to match. That’s the reason it’s been popular from the get-go. Standouts included a delectable salmon tartare on perfect latkes, and the creamiest duck liver mousse with plum jam to start; duck wings l’orange with Grand Marnier orange glaze, chives, and crushed black pepper; the Corner burger (always a true test for the Gay Gourmet), with house-ground beef, Havarti cheese, tomato jam, cucumber (a refreshing touch!), pickled red onion, and the unexpected but tasty tzatziki house-cut fries. What really took the cake for me was the dessert: vanilla gelato, but innovatively topped with pistachio, olive oil, fried basil, salt, and crushed black pepper. Absolutely yummy! The drinks, including my Botanist gin martini, were another favorite, especially because the bartenders believe in the heavy pour! Go early so you can grab a seat and watch the Mill Valley parade from the expansive windows.
Holey Moley has just opened its indoor miniature golf course/restaurant in the Mission. I haven’t been yet, but it sounds like a gas. Located in the former Urban Putt, the venue boasts “two nine-hole courses of golf that pay homage to cultural icons from the 80s and 90s and beyond, complemented by neon signs and playful decor that transport visitors to a wonderland of fun.
The menu at the adjoining Caddyshack features Americana bites with a California-inspired twist, including: Cali Loaded Fries with seasoned black beans, cheese, pico de gallo, crema, guacamole, jalapeño, and salsa; Lettuce Cups with golden tofu, chili crunch, cucumber, avocado, sesame, and cilantro; a Mushroom Burger; and an array of pizzas like Ricotta Margherita with San Marzano sauce and charred heirloom tomatoes, almond ricotta, balsamic reduction, and fresh basil. Signature drinks include a nod to bathtub gin with the Rub a Dub
in the Tub—a drink made with gin, Aperol, lime, and peach, topped with prosecco, and served in a bathtub cup adorned with rubber duckies. Time to tee off!
Abaca: https://www.restaurantabaca.com/ Empress by Boon: http://www.theempresssf.com/ Blue Whale: https://bit.ly/3WQy6Kq Corner Bar: https://cornerbarmv.com/ Holey Moley/The Caddyshack: https://tinyurl.com/34u6yecr
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
Interior of Corner Bar
Salmon Tartare at Corner Bar
Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
By Sister Dana Van
Sister Dana sez, “August is TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH. So do your history homework and find out why trans pioneers stood up for human rights! Start with COMPTON’S CAFETERIA RIOT 1966!”
Celebrated throughout the month of August in San Francisco, TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH was legally recognized by Mayoral Proclamation. It is a month in which Transgender San Franciscans honor the rich history and contributions of transgender history-makers, pioneers, and trailblazers, and it affirms the ongoing presence of transgender people in San Francisco and around the world. In 2021, activist Jupiter Peraza and THE TRANSGENDER DISTRICT led the advocacy efforts to recognize the month of August as “Transgender History Month” in the City and County of San Francisco. With
the support of the City and County of SF’s OFFICE OF TRANSGENDER INITIATIVES (OTI) and THE WOMEN’S FOUNDATION OF CALIFORNIA , Ms. Peraza and The Transgender District advocated to the Mayor and then received full support for the commemorative month. Mayor London Breed signed and declared by proclamation on August 24, 2021, every month of August in SF as “Transgender History Month.” The Transgender District in SF is the first legally recognized transgender district in the world and one of the first in the U.S. to become a Sanctuary City for transgender people!
At a celebration on August 1 at City Hall, Mayor Breed joined State Senator Scott Wiener, city leaders, advocates, and members of the transgender community to kick off San Francisco’s 3rd annual Transgender History Month. The event began with a beautiful transgender flag raising ceremony on the Mayor’s outdoor balcony, followed by an exciting speaking program and reception. Days later on August 5, an impressive transgender flag raising ceremony was held at California State Capitol, Sacramento.
Opera Parallèle has joined forces with THE TRANSGENDER DISTRICT to present “EXPANSIVE.” The program, August 8 and 9, 7:30 pm at the A.C.T. Strand Theater in San Francisco, will feature nonbinary and transgender artists in concert. Among the performers are Lucas Bouk, Wilford Kelly, and Queen Angelina Afrika
America will accompany at the piano. Opera Parallèle has commissioned a song by Joy Redmond and Kimberly Reed that will be interpreted by Bouk. “We are so thrilled for the third annual ‘Expansive’ show in collaboration with Opera Parallèle,” stated Transgender District Co-Executive Directors Breonna McCree and Carlo Gomez Arteaga. “By featuring transgender and gender-expansive talent in the classical music field, we center these talented individuals who are making it possible for others who are often overlooked. To host two performances that showcase our talent and joy means so much to us, and we hope the public will come and bask in the greatness of our trans existence.”
For more celebrations of TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH, go to: https://www.transgenderdistrictsf.com/
The SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES and THE ACADEMY SF held DIVAS & DRINKS at The Academy for “SF PRIDE and PARIS SUMMER OLYMPICS” on July 26, where we cheered Olympians and SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE leadership—since their staff and volunteers had achieved such a massively-attended, very peaceful, and tremendously joyous “2024 Pride Parade and Festival”! THE SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE BAND and CHEER SF helped gaily celebrate SF Pride leaders and volunteers along with we who continuously support the San Francisco Bay Times. The iconic Donna Sachet emceed the evening that also included a “Summer Olympics Opening Night Ceremony Watch Party” upstairs and a vivacious After Party led by iHeartRadio star DJ Christie James That eventful evening we honored the amazing Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford and Pride Board President Nguyen Pham. Also honored was co-creator of OPENHOUSE, Marcy Adelman, who received an actual Market Street Pride Flag—because her house and precious flag had recently burned down. The Pride Band played “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “Rise Up,” and Donna soloing “If They Could See Me Now”— accompanied by CHEER SF doing fancy, rousing cheerleading routines. Their closing act was SF Pride Band Leader Mike Wong singing along with the band to their classic “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Oakland’s powerhouse singer, Tory
Teasley, who designed the SF Pride’s official logo, “Beacon of Love,” sang that titled song among several other emotional numbers. Her message: “Love radically, and freedom from repression for all!” Among the awesome speakers were SF TRANSGENDER DISTRICT’s Honey Mahogany, with San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney, Mayor London Breed, and Senator Scott Wiener presenting extraordinary certificates of recognition. At the time when she was California Senator Kamala Harris, at her January 28, 2019, speech announcing her run for the U.S. presidency in Oakland, California, then Senator Harris said, “I am not perfect. But I will always speak with decency and moral clarity, and treat all people with dignity and respect. I will lead with integrity, and I will speak the truth.”
On July 22, 2024, California Representative Robert Garcia stated, “She has always focused in her campaigns about being ‘for the people.’ She used to say when she was Attorney General that her main client was always ‘for the people.’”
Just look at the record Vice President Harris has made when serving with President Joe Biden on infrastructure, on lowering the price of insulin, on supporting students, and on fighting for women’s reproductive healthcare. Those are the issues she will continue to focus on as President—while always being “for the people.”
Way back in August 2023 on an MSNBC-TV news broadcast, Vice President Kamala Harris had emphasized, “Democracy will only be as strong as our willingness to fight for it!”
Much later during all the turmoil, on July 22, 2024, President Biden phoned in at the Wilmington, Delaware, Campaign Headquarters, saying, in part, “The name has changed at the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn’t changed at all!” And his Vice President Harris had nothing but praise for President Biden and all he has accomplished, promising to carry on with those and more. Harris pointed out that, when she was a courtroom prosecutor and next a California Attorney General, she “took on perpetrators of all kinds: predators who abused women; fraudsters who ripped
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Iquity
Dennis McMillan (aka Sister Dana) with Juan R. Davila at The Academy SF on Friday, July 26, at the Divas & Drinks Pride Appreciation Party where the staff and leadership of San Francisco Pride and the San Francisco Bay Times Pride Parade contingent volunteers were honored.
PHOTO BY RINK
Up Your Alley 2024
Known as an annual “not for the faint of heart experience,” Up Your Alley attracts thousands. This street fair for 2024 was held on Sunday, July 29. The participants included representatives from many nations who travel to San Francisco each year just for this fair.
Offering important information booths and resources, this annual event continues to be held in its SOMA location within the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District. Dancers and DJs this year kept the energy high for participants decked out in attire (or lack thereof) that was raunchy, sexy, humorous, and everything in between. There were also vendors, competitions, demonstrations, and more.
As one of the events produced annually by the nonprofit Folsom Street, Up Your Alley has supporters that include the SF Grants for the Arts, Horizons Foundation, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and many local community members.
https://www.folsomstreet.org/
Photos by Rink and Bill Wilson
Up Your Alley 2024
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http://sfbaytimes.com/
Pismo A-Frame Portable Beach Tent
For an easy to set up sun shade that lets the breeze flow through, the Pismo A-Frame Portable Beach Tent is an ideal choice. $120.99
Tarana Backpack Cooler
An insulated cooler backpack is pretty cool, but a cooler backpack made out of 14 recycled water bottles? That’s the Tarana Backpack Cooler, and it’s sustainably cool, which is even better! $74.99
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, ontrend, 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/
DANA (continued from pg 34)
off consumers; cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain.” Showing a wicked sense of humor, she added, “So hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type!” And she passionately repeated that at her West Allis, Wisconsin, rally the very next day. We will be hearing this a lot during her ongoing campaign.
Sister Dana sez, “Kamala Harris is love; she is progress; she is ON FIRE!!”
Keith Freedman, an openly proud gay man and a friend of mine, is running for Mayor of San Francisco. He started working for mayoral candidacy last November and filed for it in April. Freeman has a vision for elevating San Francisco: THE RISING TIDE INITIATIVE aims to restore San Francisco to its rightful place as one of the world’s greatest cities by addressing the primary issue holding it back: homelessness. His mission is to elevate all San Franciscans, starting with our unhoused citizens, through comprehensive supportive housing solutions. “We propose converting retired cruise ships into permanent housing, securely moored to land. These ships will no longer be seaworthy and will be transformed into long-term residences,” he elaborated. “Each stateroom offers a spacious private home with private bathrooms, allowing residents to maintain their dignity and privacy as they rebuild their lives. High end estimates to acquire and retrofit the smaller cruise ship is around $250 million. To contrast this, building 2,000 units of affordable housing will cost around $2.3 billion.” Freedman continued, “Even more exciting, cruise ships can be move-in ready in 3–6 months, whereas affordable housing takes years to build.” There is so much more exciting at https://mayor.keithfreedman.com/
Sister Dana sez, “I repeat that NO, you MAGA maggots and especially House Squeaker Mike Johnson, it was NOT breaking states laws to switch names on presidential ballots. Kamala Harris’ name WILL be PRINTED on ALL 50 ballots!”
What is DEI ? “Diversity” refers to the representation of people from a variety of backgrounds—particularly referring to people of different races, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, religions and more—
at all levels in an organization, including the leadership level. “Equity” focuses on fairness and justice, particularly referring to compensation and whether people are being paid or treated fairly. “Inclusion” is about whether people feel like they belong, and whether they feel heard or valued in an organization. Sister Dana sez, “DEI has recently come under fire, and is at the center of political battles being waged by Repugnican governors Ron Duh Santis and Greg Ab-butt, and other RepubliCan’t politicos. So, we know for sure that DEI is a GOOD thing!”
A twice-yearly injection could help prevent HIV infections, according to the recent results of a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine on July 24. In a trial involving more than 5,000 young women and girls in South Africa and Uganda, none of those who received the prevention shots contracted HIV. https://tinyurl.com/sfsk7b2j
Sister Dana sez, “These results could be the breakthrough against AIDS that we have ALL been waiting for and longing for since the 1980s!”
During his July 26 rally in West Point Palm Beach, Florida, at “Turning Point Action,” autocrat Trump showed the world how when he got elected President, it would be for life, brazenly saying, “Christians, get out and vote— just this time! You won’t have to do it anymore. It will be fixed. It will be fine.” Sister Dana sez, “It will NOT be fine. It would be a nightmare for democracy. By the way, Trump can’t even hold up a Bible properly—so how dare this demon address supposed Christians?!”
Sister Dana sez, “Have voters noticed how WEIRD the Trump–Vance campaign is getting lately? ‘Childless cat ladies’ and ‘no need to vote,’ for example. WEIRD!”
You might want to celebrate our SF Mayor London Breed’s fabulous 50th Birthday with a community happy hour in the new Entertainment Zone on August 9, 5–7 pm, Harrington’s Bar & Grill, 245 Front Street. Tickets required, so RSVP at bit.ly/londonbreed50
The drag kings are again taking over the stage at Oasis in STAR TREK LIVE! In
their version of The Way to Eden, The Enterprise is host to some unruly guests—space hippies in search of planetary paradise. Kirk has trouble maintaining order amongst the visitors, but Mr. Spock seems strangely sympathetic towards them. Leigh Crow stars as the world’s only female William Shatner impersonator as Captain Kirk. August 8–31, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 298 Eleventh Street. https://www.sfoasis.com/
LAURIE ROLDAN SINGS A SONG
FOR YOU is a Cabaret Concert inspired by the music of Karen Carpenter, starring Laurie Roldan as Carpenter. Laurie shares personal stories and memories in a delightful evening woven through wellknown Carpenters hit songs. This is a limited engagement—just 2 shows, benefiting
herself, turning out to be the perfect foil for the cautious lesbian detective.
Back in the day when TV detectives Cagney and Lacey broke the boundaries, executives were so afraid the audience would perceive one of them as a lesbian that the actor in question was recast after the pilot show. Then, by the time we get to Rizzoli & Isles, producers use the titillation of lesbians to spike ratings by throwing the two police friends in (innocent) bed scenes as often as they can. They became my fave faux lesbians.
from pg 30)
featuring a revamped philosophy, new food freedom rules, and over 100 fresh recipes, including 50 plant-based options.
Saturday, August 24 @ 11 am (ticketed - Corte Madera store & live online) Frances Mayes, author of A Great Marriage
In this poignant novel, a wedding is called off just days before the big event, sending two people and their families into turmoil. Dara and Austin’s whirlwind romance faces unexpected challenges, as secrets threaten to unravel their plans, leading them to question whether a great romance can truly lead to a great marriage.
42ND STREET MOON: August 17, 7 pm, and August 25, 3 pm, at The Gateway Theatre, 215 Jackson Street. https://42ndstmoon.org/
Vice President Kamala Harris has become the Democrats’ 2024 Presidential nominee after winning enough delegates in a virtual roll call on August 2. Just four days later, she announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. The 2024 Democratic National Convention is Monday, August 19–Thursday, August 22. Sister Dana sez, “It would have been fabulous to have had an openly proud, loud, gay Vice President such as Pete Buttigieg! But may I give congratulations to newly declared Democratic Vice-Presidential Candidate Walz!”
I’m sorry Tommy didn’t get a chance to have good writing and a second season; I’ll have to get my Falco fix elsewhere—maybe by rewatching Nurse Jackie. But Deadloch is streaming and promises a season two. It gives the phrase “down under” a delicious new connotation.
Jewelle Gomez is a lesbian/feminist activist, novelist, poet, and playwright. She’s written for “The Advocate,” “Ms. Magazine,” “Black Scholar,” “The San Francisco Chronicle,” “The New York Times,” and “The Village Voice.” Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @ VampyreVamp
Tuesday, August 27 @ 6 pm (ticketedCorte Madera store & live online) Calahan Skogman, author of Blue Graffiti In Blue Graffiti, Calahan Skogman, known from Netflix’s Shadow and Bone, makes his poetic debut with a bluesy ode to the Beat generation. Set in Johnston, WI, the novel follows Cash, a painter and construction worker, whose life changes when he meets the emerald-eyed Rose, leading to an intimate exploration of love, faith, and community in a modern take on a bygone era. https://www.bookpassage.com/
What country would you like to move to if you were not living in the U.S.?
by Rink
Anjali Rimi “India”
compiled
William Coghill “Portugal, because of the lovely people and climate”
David York “Costa Rica or Nice in the South of France”
John Zowine “Switzerland”
Miguel Gutierrez “#1 Australia #2 Spain and Portugal”
SISTER
JEWELLE GOMEZ (continued from pg 30)
BOOK PASSAGE (continued
