San Francisco Bay Times - August 20, 2015

/SF Bay Times

/SFBayTimes

PHOTO BY JON GILBERT LEAVITT/GLSEN SEATTLE

August 20-September 2, 2015 | www.sfbaytimes.com

See Page 3

WE FOCUS ON HIV TO HELP YOU FOCUS ON

TODAY

Ask your doctor if a medicine made by Gilead is right for you.

onepillchoices.com

© 2015 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. UNBC1848 03/15

2

UNBC1848_KC1_BayTimes_10.25x16.indd 1

BAY TIMES AUGUS T 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

3/25/15 3:44 PM

LGBT Studies

Groundbreaking Queer Studies Course Begins at SF High School The San Francisco Unified School District this week began what district leaders say is the first LGBT studies course at a public high school in the U.S. The semester-long course began on Monday at Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, which is located in the city’s Twin Peaks neighborhood.

The course is the brainchild of teacher Lyndsey Schlax, whom we’re big fans of here at the San Francisco Bay Times. Schlax and her husband (who proposed to her during a prom dance) came to our recent Summer Party. It was a hot evening, but Schlax was cool and collected as always. It is no surprise to us that this teacher extraordinaire and gardener hobbyist enjoys making both people and plants grow.

PHOTO BY JO-LYNN OTTO

Of her new class she said, “It will explore the American experience through a lens that isn’t usually discussed during traditional U.S. history classes.”

She explained that an LGBT studies class was previously held offsite in 2010, “but it met on a Saturday morning and kids had to travel to it and make a tough commitment.” Now the course is held right on campus, becoming a popular elective, which is paired with an ethnic studies course that also lasts a semester.

Schlax, additional educators, parents, school leaders and others are closely monitoring how students respond.

both LGBT and ethnic studies into our curriculum.”

Students are responding with enthusiasm too.

Shortly after the class was announced, some 25 students enrolled, with others signing up since. It is expected to fill to capacity. Because the class is so new and groundbreaking,

“We are experiencing a cultural zeitgeist now, with social revolutions leading to important changes,” she said. “It’s been on my radar to better integrate history and events related to

As Schlax said, “Because such a course has never been held at a high school site before, this will be an exploration of what this class could mean to students.”

LGBTQ Studies Is a Class Whose Time Has Come

Lyndsey Schlax of the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts is teaching what district leaders say is the nation’s first on-site high school LGBT course. For more information about the school, please visit http:// www.sfsota.org/

PHOTO BY RINK

The content of this class is inspiring to me as a constant student of history.

The ability to use so many forms of media to present that content is thrilling to me as an educator. LGBTQ Studies is a class whose time has come, and I can’t wait to see other schools add this to their list of offerings.

PHOTO BY CHLOE JACKMAN

We can focus on an artist, like Keith Haring, and talk about his impact on the f ight against AIDS, and then compare his inf luence on the movement with someone like Joey Terrill. We’ll examine the portrayal of LGBTQ individuals in the media— what roles do LGBT individuals play, how are they cast, what do they represent, how has the media changed. We will talk about what makes a movement take hold, such as why did the Stonewall Riot start Pride, but the fight at Compton Cafeteria did not? What was it about the methodology of the fight for Marriage Equality that made it successful, and what is the next step?

PHOTOCOURTESY OF KENDRA MON

One of the lovely things about a class like this, which is so focused on a culture, is that rather than the content of the class being closely tied to chronology, it can be issuesdriven instead. The history we study will be infused with art, with literature, with politics and economics and film.

When we look in-depth at the Trans experience in the United States, they’ll listen to episodes of Invisibilia and Snap Judgment about people who have transitioned.

When we study intersectionality, through a critique of Paris Is Burning, they’ll watch videos of vogue-ing and see how an underground art form moved its way into the mainstream, and will discuss what kinds of obligations an artist has to her subjects. We’ll do a walking audio tour of the Castro, stopping by many of the places that have been so important to the movement, and using the city of San Francisco as a living classroom.

• What Is Gender?

• Same-sex Identity in Art • Harlem Renaissance • Impact of WWI & II • Stonewall • Gay Men, Harvey Milk and the Castro • Lesbian Women, the Daughters of Bilitis, Misogyny • The AIDS Pandemic (Keith Haring, ACTUP, Caretakers) • The Transgender Experience • LGBT Families • Marriage Equality

PHOTO BY CHLOE JACKMAN

For years, our school has been on t he forefront of creating an inclusive school for students who identify as LGBT. We have an annual Drag Ball every spring, our school colors are a rainbow, and our student body strives to make students of all orientations and genders feel welcome. So it makes perfect sense that our school, Asawa SOTA, would be the place to launch LGBTQ Studies in California public high schools.

Among topics to be covered in the new course are the following:

PHOTO SOURCE: SCREAMING QUEENS

Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts is a special place. Our students are dedicated and talented, our faculty and staff are smart and unique and passionate, and our community is beyond supportive.

I’m excited to lead my students through thoughtful discussions of these issues, to hear from t hem what t hey think is important, and to infuse all of their learning with art and music and storytelling. Using MP3 video players that the students will check out from me during the first few weeks of school, they’ll hear Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey sing the blues while we study the contributions of gay and bisexual people to the Harlem Renaissance.

PHOTO BY RINK

By Lyndsey Schlax

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 20, 2015

3

‘All Lives Matter’ Is Not Enough are usually not prosecuted and imprisoned. The harms of this disproportionate imprisonment last much longer than the time behind bars.

Out of the Closet and into City Hall Oakland Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan Over the past several weeks, some people have responded to the Black Lives Matter movement by saying that “all lives matter.” While it is certainly true that all lives do, and should, matter, this response is inadequate, because it fails to acknowledge the specific and disproportionate harms being committed against Black lives.

Your Vacation in Puerto Vallarta!

COSTA SUR RESORT

It is, in fact, overwhelmingly Black people who, despite being unarmed, are being shot and killed by police or die while in police custody. It is still overwhelmingly Black people who are being incarcerated for minor nonviolent acts that are also committed

by White people in large numbers— while White people who commit them

INQUIRE FOR DETAILS & RATE:

775.782.4523

During many of the efforts to fight for equality for LGBT people, some who opposed our work would say, “Why should gay people get special rights?” Our fight for equal recognition of our humanity, our rights, and our relationships were often rejected, and framed as us unfairly wanting “special” attention—with comments like, “Why do you need a gay parade, when there is no straight parade?”

Or, “Why do you need a gay rights law when the constitution already says we are all equal?” These types of comments failed to acknowledge the ways that LGBT people were being specifically and disproportionately targeted for discrimination, and

We must continue the work for those LGBT people who are still suffering, including those who live in places without legal recognition, and those like homeless youth, and gender-nonconforming and trans people who still suffer disproportionate unemployment and harassment. We must also support and fight for those who are still being discriminated against and violated today—including nonLGBT people. The continued disproportionate targeting of Black people in the United States by law enforcement, violence, and incarceration is an enduring injustice that deserves to be fought against and ended. Let us continue to work to make it true in our laws and behavior that Black Lives Matter.

Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan was elected in 2008 to serve as Oakland’s citywide councilmember. She was re-elected in 2012 and serves currently as Vice Mayor. She is working for safe neighborhoods, for local jobs and for a fresh start for Oakland. Vice Mayor Kaplan graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the Massachusetts Institute of Technolog y, obtained a Master’s degree from Tufts University and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School.

Balancing Civil Rights and Religious Freedom Unfortunately, the law is not equally simple and clear regarding the rights of workers at religious employers because churches have a Constitutional right to profess their beliefs free from government interference. In order to build an understanding of these issues, at my request, the Assembly Judiciary Committee held a public hearing in San Francisco last month.

Available Now: TWO-BEDROOM SUITE Spacious, spectacular wraparound corner ocean views OCEAN FRONT SUITE 400+ sq ft, kitchenette, stunning views

Those who are imprisoned often lose jobs, homes and family connections.

Even upon release they may be denied, in various cases, the right to vote, to obtain student loans and go to school, access to employment, housing, and other public services. The children and family members of those who are imprisoned also suffer. The continued disproportionate use of police force and imprisonment is an ongoing harm in which Black lives are treated as if they do not matter. And so, it is not enough to say that all lives matter. We must also acknowledge, and work to end, the ways in which Black lives are treated as not mattering.

denied basic day-to-day experiences such as having the protections that straight married couples received in everything from the tax code to the right to visit and support a partner in a medical emergency.

A committee analysis crafted for the hearing reached three key conclusions.

Assemblymember Phil Ting The idea that someone can be fired for exercising his or her personal freedoms—especially those we have fought for, like same sex marriage—is unthinkable.

This is why many, including me, have spoken out against a morality clause that the Archdiocese of San Francisco has sought to impose on teachers employed at four local Catholic high schools. If adopted as part of a contract reclassifying all teachers as ministers of the church, teachers could be forced to choose between their jobs and their rights.

Having educated generations of local leaders, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory and Archbishop Riordan in San Francisco, Junipero Serra in San Mateo, and Marin Catholic in Kentfield have deep roots in our communities. Fearing for the future of these schools, concerned parents and students have rallied behind their teachers with a simple and powerful message: teach acceptance.

First, a unanimous United States Supreme Court decision places civil rights and religious freedom as competing values. The 2012 ruling affirmed that “ministers” employed by religious organizations are not protected by anti-discrimination laws intending to protect workers. However, the justices declined to state what a minister is for purposes of applying the so-called “ministerial exception.”

Second, lower courts have developed a number of questions to determine who is a minister. Does the employee primarily teach religious subjects?

Does the position require religious training? Is the teacher ordained or commissioned? Does the teacher present him or herself as a minister?

In applying this test to teachers, leading prayers or attending religious services with students is usually not enough for a court to conclude that a teacher is a minister.

Third, teachers at religious schools have fewer workplace protections than public school teachers. This is because the state cannot eliminate, as a condition of employment, workers’ civil rights like the freedom to choose

whom to love and marry or how to plan a family, as has been attempted by the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

I was impressed by the students, parents, and teachers who attended the hearing to share the impact of these legal abstractions on their lives. One recurring concern was how the proposed morality clause would make LGBT students feel unwelcome at these schools and uncomfortable coming out to their teachers for guidance and support. I encourage you to watch the hearing footage on my website at www.assembly.ca.gov/ting Looking ahead, there are no simple solutions, but I am committed to finding them. We must strike a balance between all of our freedoms, or risk losing the entirety of rights that enrich and shape our lives.

In the meantime, one question remains: is a teacher a minister if the religious employer seeks to impose that status regardless of employment duties and qualifications? Probably not. But only a court can authoritatively answer this question. Here lies the crux of the controversy with the Archdiocese that, as I write this column, has yet to finalize a contract with its teachers as schools open this month.

I join with the community in hoping an amicable solution can be found.

Failing that, it may take a court to settle this once and for all—not just for local teachers, but for teachers everywhere.

Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the Westside of San Francisco as well as the cities of Broadmoor, Colma and Daly City.

Legendary photographer Rink (second from right) represented the San Francisco Bay Times on a panel, entitled San Francisco and the Heart of the LGBT Movement, at the annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Conference held at the Marriott Hotel on August 8.

The panel included (left to right) Bay Area Reporter news editor Cynthia Laird, former Washington correspondent for The Advocate Chris Bull, Rink, and moderator Dean Mundy of University of Oregon.

Photo by Shawn Harmsen 4

BAY TIMES AUGUS T 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

Tabula Rasa Presidential Candidates Continue to Detract from What’s Really at Stake didate who will have a difficult—if not impossible—time winning a general election could end up being more harmful than imagined. Hillary is battle tested, has a record we can turn to, and is not “the shiny new thing.”

Hillary is not one of the “tabula rasa” candidates who can say anything they want and people can believe they stand for whatever they want as there is not a real record of being able to act on, or carry out, those positions.

ton, I am frustrated by the efforts to distort the facts and attack her on areas that had been standard, and legal, practice. I want to know how she will address income inequality, human rights, continuing to keep our country’s role as an economic and moral leader in the world, ensuring health care for everyone, providing educational opportunities for all, and so much more.

Ready for Her Leslie R. Katz Amidst all of the sound bites, attack rhetoric and hype around trying to focus on candidate weaknesses, it is often hard to remember that we need to focus on whom, and what, we are voting for. I remember when Al Gore ran for President, and I was always stunned by how different he became when he stood in front of a podium instead of being the warm, engaging, funny person I had just been speaking to earlier. The media focused in on “wooden” Al, rather than his message. I am sure we all wonder what this country would have looked like if he had been elected (oh wait, he was) in 2000. But in the short focus on candidates and the overemphasis of their weaknesses, we often lose sight of what is really important and at stake.

As noted in the last column, the next President is likely to make several appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court. Our community certainly knows how important that is. As an unabashed supporter of Hillary Clin-

What we have with Hillary, unlike any other candidate in the race— from either side of the aisle—is a demonstrated record of accomplishments and actions. I have rarely found a candidate who is 100% in sync with my views, so I take a broader view and look at who fits closely with my bottom line issues, and what the alternatives might be.

Certainly, at the national level, I recognize that a candidate who might have views more in line with those of us from San Francisco is unlikely to be able to win in the general election. Thus I fear supporting a candidate who says all the right things, yet may not really have a record of action or accomplishments, and wou ld potent ia l ly be unelectable on a nat iona l sca le a nd could cause us to end up with one of the candidates who opposes almost everything I hold important (from rights for LGTBQ people, to other human rights, to access to education, jobs, healthcare, diplomacy v. force,

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets members of the audience after delivering a major address on LGBT rights at the United Nations Office at Geneva.

etc.) History is littered with stories of candidates being used to pressure the frontrunner into moving into a position during a primary, only to have that action come back to haunt the nominee in the general.

“The usual argument against an insurgent cha l leng i ng a n i ncumbent or a heavily favored Establishment pick is the risk of damag i ng t he event ua l nominee in the general election. In 2010, national progressives tried to make an example out of right-leaning red stater Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), only to ease the path for her Republican opponent in the year of the Tea Party. Ted Kennedy softened up

President Jimmy Carter before Ronald Reagan could finish the job. Antiwar candidate Eugene McCarthy… made it impossible for Democrats to unify around President Lyndon Johnson, and later, the eventual nominee Hubert Humphrey, paving the way for Richard Nixon and a longer Vietnam War.” (Politico, Bill Scher, August 12, 2015) This is not to say that we shouldn’t ensure that candidates we support take principled positions on issues of importance, but to serve as a cautionary reminder that few candidates are perfect, that there is so much at stake in this election, that supporting a can-

She is strong, and proven, on wage growth, human rights, economic growth, criminal justice reform, immigration reform, climate change, LGBT rights, and so much more. See her Position Papers. We know that she is not just saying what people want to hear, but is saying the right things— with a record of having done them, too. Being on a national stage requires the ability to actually get something done, and I want our next President Clinton to continue on the path that moves us all forward—not just the few as her Republican opponents would do. Please think about whom you support in this election, how much is at stake, and ensure that we keep the White House in the hands of someone who shares our community’s values.

Leslie R. Katz is a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, was the co-author of the City’s Equal Benefits Ordinance, has served on the SF Democratic County Central Committee (as Chair, and as a general member), and serves on the California Democratic Party’s Executive Board.

She is an attorney with a government law, policy and strateg y practice, with a focus on emerging technologies.

Fact: There is no such thing as too many ways to perk up the perfect vacation in Europe Bay Area residents: Go Big, Go Better, Go Best in Europe, where five of our modern luxury ships visit iconic destinations, from the steep fjords of Scandinavia to the sunny islands of Greece. Plus, after the first two guests, each additional friend or family member in your stateroom gets a free Classic Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package and 40-minute Internet Package.

So, book an ocean view stateroom or higher, on any Europe vacation October 2015 to April 2017, and get one perk, two perks, or all four perks with Go Big, Go Better, Go Best.

The Perks Classic Beverage Package • Unlimited Internet Prepaid Tips • $150 Onboard Spending Money Go Best and receive a Premium Beverage Package upgrade.

To book, go to celebritycruises.com/sf, call 1-888-456-7887/sf, or contact your travel agent. * Visit celebritycruises.com for full terms and conditions. Cruise must be booked on or after July 1, 2015. Offer is capacity controlled, and availability varies by sailing. Offer applies to select 4-night and longer cruises departing October 2015 to April 2017. Offer provides each of the first two guests in an ocean view or above stateroom with choice of a complimentary Go Big package, which includes guest’s choice of a Classic Beverage package, Unlimited Internet package, $150 per-person Onboard Credit (OBC), or Prepaid Gratuities. For an additional charge, the Go Better package includes a choice of two amenities, and the Go Best package includes four amenities, with the Beverage package upgraded to Premium. Charge varies by option and cruise nights. Prepaid Gratuities option provides prepaid stateroom, waiter, assistant waiter, and headwaiter gratuities in the amount suggested by Celebrity’s guidelines. OBC is not redeemable for cash and expires on final night of the cruise. All offers are applicable to new individual bookings and to staterooms in noncontracted group bookings, not transferable, applicable only to the qualifying booking, and not combinable with any other offer. Offers and prices are subject to availability, cancellation, and change without notice at any time. Third and higher occupancy guests booked in a triple or higher occupancy stateroom each receive one 40-minute Internet Package and one Classic Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package. ©2015 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry: Malta and Ecuador.

08_15_DMA_SF_NW_10x8_BBBEurope_BayTimes.indd 1

4:31 PM BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 8/12/15 20, 2015 5

T REAT Y OURSELF TO AN E XCITING C ULINARY A DVENTURE WITH M ICHELIN S TAR C HEF S RIJITH G OPINATHAN

Spice Pot — Chef’s interpretation of traditional Indian street food with vegetables, tamarind chutney, and chickpea crackers.

Journey along India’s Spice Route by way of California at five-time Michelin star winner Campton Place. Chef Srijith’s cuisine masterfully blends the finest local produce with the richness of the region’s seasonal bounty.

Enjoy a six-course Spice Route menu or indulge in our ninecourse Degustation menu. For those with lighter appetites we offer a three-course Theatre Menu and Vegetarian Tasting menu.

camptonplacesf.com for reservations | 415.781.5555 340 Stockton San Francisco | Union Square Open Every Night for Dinner | Lunch Wednesday – Sunday

Stay just 30 feet from the ocean!

Low-season rates ($1040/week) until 12/15

Summer and fall dates still available VRBO properties #308090 and #359614

YOUR WEDDING YOUR WAY AT THE JCCSF

• Grand Ballroom • Intimate spaces • Underground parking • On-site catering available • Warm welcome of inclusive community

415.292.1269 jccsf.org/weddings Sasha Photography

MENTION BAY TIMES FOR 10% DISCOUNT!

3200 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94118 6

BAY TIMES AUGUS T 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

In the News

By Dennis McMillan

Center for American Progress Calls Out GOP Candidates on LGBTQ Issues The Center for American Progress (CAP) Action Fund is calling out the field of 2016 GOP presidential hopefuls after the Republican debate for being out of touch with the electorate, and for the harmful impact their policies have had on LGBT Americans.

“GOP candidates showed the emptiness of their rhetoric in touting opportunity for all when speaking about LGBT Americans,” said Winnie Stachelberg, Executive VP of CAP. “Not only did their comments about the LGBT community show that they are out of touch with the majority of Americans, but they also used the guise of religious liberty to argue that our nation should move backwards in affording all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, equal rights. Instead of discussing policies to broaden protections for LGBT Americans, such as comprehensive nondiscrimination reforms, the GOP candidates played to their conservative base.” nclrights.org Silicon Valley Pride Parade & Festival Is Coming The Silicon Valley Pride Parade & Festival is Sunday, August 30, 10:30am, with parade at Market Street (starting at St. John and ending at Park Avenue). The Festival is on Almaden Blvd. at noon until 7pm (entrance gates at Park Avenue and San Fernando Street). Family Garden is noon to 4pm. $10 advanced tickets online and $15 at event. svpride.com NCLR Launches Campaign to Reform State Parenting Laws The National Center for Lesbian Rights launched its #Equality4 Families campaign to raise awareness about the need to reform state laws so that they fully protect LGBT parents’ rights to care for their children. The campaign launch comes on the heels of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court freedom to marry victory, which brings tremendous progress to the LGBT movement, but does not fully protect all LGBT families, especially parents and their children. In nearly every state across the country, LGBT parents will continue to face obstacles in caring for their children because state laws have not caught up to the needs of the LGBT community’s diverse families. Many families are left vulnerable: parents can lose parental rights as they travel across state lines, may be unable to seek custody of their own children, or may not be afforded the same parental recognition as non-LGBT parents. nclrights.org PAWS Merges with Shanti Project Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) a San Francisco-based human services organization that supports people living with disabling illnesses and disabilities in caring for their pets - is merging with Shanti - serving people with HIV and women with breast cancer. The newly-formed organization will retain the Shanti name, and PAWS will become a program of the merged organization. PAWS services will continue from its current location in the Mission District, and Shanti will assume ownership of the current PAWS building, while still maintaining their main office location at 730 Polk Street. www.shanti.org California Becomes First State to Pay for Inmate’s Transgender Surgery In a historic victory for transgender rights in prisons, California became the first state to agree to pay for the sex reassignment surgery of Shiloh

Quine, a transgender woman who has been serving a life sentence for the past 35 years and who is represented by the Transgender Law Center. California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said that it would pay for Quine’s medical care and move her to a women’s prison after completion of the surgery. The corrections department further said that every medical expert who examined the case testified that “this surgery is medically necessary for Quine,” according to the Los Angeles Times. 385 transgender inmates in California are currently receiving hormone therapy paid for by the state. tlc.org Ruth Bader Ginsburg Officiates Renewal of Vows for Out U.S. Ambassador While on an official trip to Vietnam sponsored by the State Department’s U.S. Speaker Program, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg officiated at the vow renewal ceremony of U.S. Ambassador Ted Osius and his husband Clayton Bond. The two were legally married in Canada in 2006, and Osius told The Washington Blade that they used the same vows at the small affair held in their Hanoi home. Osius, who is one of six openly gay American ambassadors, and his husband have two adopted children. Speaking of the ceremony, he said, “We thought it might be meaningful not only to us, but (also) to the LGBT community in Vietnam.” out.com Port of Oakland Receives Leadership Award for LGBTQ Diversity The Port of Oakland has been selected by the East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club to receive its 2015 Corporate Leader Award. The award is given to organizations that demonstrate a commitment to supporting LGBTQ diversity in the workplace.

The ports of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Diego formed an LGBT Affinity Group within the California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA) in 2013. CAPA is comprised of the state’s 11 publicly owned, commercial ports and is dedicated to maintaining a vigorous and vital port industry in California. The LGBT Affinity Group aims to increase inclusion within the workplace and provide training to educate port workers about LGBT issues. Port representatives will receive the award at the Oakland Pride Breakfast, which will be held at the California Nurses Association on September 13. portofoakland.com Chi Chi LaRue Reaches Out to Fund Rehab Chi Chi LaRue, famed director of porn, has fallen on hard times and needs help. LaRue (aka Lawrence David), internationally known gay icon, launched a GoFundMe.com account to aid in his alcohol and drug rehabilitation. As of last week, the fund of 136 people had raised $10,870 in 10 days. Family and friends of LaRue, who control the fund, are asking for $40,000 to cover the famed diva’s Minnesota rehab experience. On the GoFundMe. com account, it is reported that LaRue is “embracing” the rehab. gofundme.com

Jose Cisneros Running Unopposed for Treasurer Openly gay San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros is seeking a third full four-year term and is running unopposed. The Latino politician is the only LGBTQ person to hold one of the City’s seven elected executive positions. In September 2004, Mayor Gavin Newsom appointed Cisneros as Treasurer for the City and County of San Francisco.

As Treasurer, he serves as the City’s banker and chief investment officer, managing all tax and revenue collection for San Francisco. He was elected to a full term in November 2005. http://www.josecisneros.com/ Audrey Joseph Reappointed to Entertainment Commission by Mayor Audrey Joseph has been reappointed for another term by Mayor Ed Lee to the Entertainment Commission.

Joseph was appointed to the Entertainment Commission by Mayor Willie L. Brown and took office July 1, 2003. She has served as the first Vice President 2003-2004 and the President of the Commission 20042005. Joseph produced the dance stage at the Folsom Street Fair for many years and is still the main stage producer for San Francisco’s Gay Pride celebration. Recently she received the eponymous inaugural Audrey Joseph Entertainment Award as San Francisco Entertainment Commissioner, activist, and record executive. http://sfgov. org/ Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration Relocates Locally ORAM, the Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration, the leading agency advocating for LGBTI refugees worldwide, has moved from Geneva to San Francisco, where it was originally founded. The nonprofit is the only international nongovernmental organization (NGO) focusing exclusively on refugees and asylum seekers fleeing sexual and gender-based violence.

ORAM’s caseload includes clients seeking refugee status as well as resettlement in the US, Canada, Australia and other countries. Many of ORAM’s clients have undergone or have been marked for imminent imprisonment or torture. Some faced execution. oraminternational.org Day of Decision Organizers Thank CCOP The organizers of the Day of Decision event that celebrated the Supreme Court of the United States 5-4 decision in support of marriage equality thanked Castro Community On Patrol (CCOP) for their assistance in the planning and support. “Now that the dust has settled from Pride Week, I wanted to take a moment to send you our heartfelt thanks for all your help in making #DecisionDay possible,” wrote Joanie Juster, #DecisionDay Organizing Committee, in an email. “Seriously, we couldn’t have pulled it off without your help. Your long-established relationships with the SFPD, city agencies, and Castro merchants smoothed the way.” Juster gave special thanks as well to the many CCOP volunteers, saying it was an historic night on Castro Street, and they will always be grateful to CCOP for making possible a night to never forget. castropatrol.org

TICKETS START AT

SUN AUG 23 7:30PM

$20

Sensational country and pop star LeAnn Rimes brings her band to Davies Symphony Hall for a fun-filled concert of her infectious songs, like Can’t Fight the Moonlight, How Do I Live, and her hit Blue.

The SF Symphony does not appear in this concert. Please note there is no intermission.

SFSYMPHONY.ORG 415-864-6000 S U M M E R W IT H T H E S YM P H O N Y S P O N S O R S

LEAD SPONSOR

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 20, 2015

7

Sunday’s A Drag 10th Anniversary

Donna Sachet celebrated on Sunday, August 9, the 10th Anniversary of Sunday’s a Drag at the Starlight Room atop the Sir Frances Drake Hotel. Performing with Donna were entertainers Kendra Monroe, Mahlae Balenciaga, Cassandra Cass, Holotta Tymes and Lady Tia.

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK PHOTO BY RINK PHOTO BY STEVEN UNDERHILL

8

BAY TIMES AUGUS T 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

PHOTO BY GARETH GOOCH

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY GARETH GOOCH

PHOTO BY GARETH GOOCH

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

A standing room only crowd enjoyed the show, which was presented as a benefit for PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support). Executive Director Sarah Cramer represented PAWS at the event, expressing thanks to all attending and to Donna and the Sunday’s A Drag cast and crew. Also attending on behalf of PAWS were board members Robert Lee and Scott Jacobs. PAWS recently announced its plans to merge with Shanti Project, which provides an array of services to people living with illnesses such as cancer and HIV/AIDS.

Next Steps Needed to Develop An LGBT Senior Mental Health Safety Net seniors, both locally and nationally, have higher rates of disability, depression, loneliness and substance abuse and are at greater risk for isolation.

While it is important to point out that most LGBT older adults and seniors are aging well, these studies indicate that there is a need for a safety net of mental health services for those in distress.

Aging in Community Marcy Adelman In July 2013, the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force’s survey (Addressing the Needs of LGBT Older Adults in San Francisco) reported 15% of the 616 participants seriously considered committing suicide within the previous 12 months. Mental health services were among the highest ranked needs of survey participants.

Despite requiring services, some participants did not access them for a variety of reasons, such as due to the expense or because of concerns about discrimination. Half of those who use alcohol and substance abuse programs indicated that they do not feel comfortable utilizing these services as an LGBT older adult. Clearly, low-income LGBT seniors are not accessing needed mental health services. Other relevant f indings are that 40% of survey participants did not have the minimum income to meet their basic needs, nearly two-thirds lived alone and only 15% had children, 60% of whom indicated their children are not available to assist them.

Not surprisingly, the Institute of Multigenerational Health at the University of Washington found that LGBT

Patrick Arbore is a gay man and is founder and Director of the Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention and Grief, which maintains a 24hour crisis intervention service, the Friendship Line, for older adults and younger disabled adults. He wrote in his Aging in Community guest article “Let’s Not Go It Alone” ( July 2014), “Through early intervention and prevention, we can hopefully identify the grief, depression, substance abuse, loneliness and other factors that contribute to suicide risk and suicide death. If we are going to reduce suicidal ideation and suicide death in the older LGBT community, we will need to insist that health, mental health, and other city-wide services do all they can to advocate for nondiscrimination and protection for LGBT people.”

But advocacy is just part of the solution. In response to the recommendations of the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force, The Department of Aging and Adult Services and community senior serving non-profits, such as Openhouse and Shanti, have established the first steps in providing a mental health safety net—case management and support groups.

SF Suicide Prevention Hotline (415) 781-0500 Institute on Aging Friendship Line (415) 752-3778

Case managers, peer support groups, suicide prevention hot lines and LGBT senior cultural competency training for mainstream providers are all essential pieces to creating a mental health safety net, but are they enough? The loss of New Leaf in 2010, San Francisco’s LGBT community mental health service organization, has left the community without a trusted, dedicated mental health program for low-income LGBT seniors. Service providers working with LGBT adults need a comprehensive mental health program targeted to low-income seniors and people living with disabilities that they can count on to refer people to for effective interventions that include medication and psychotherapy, and that LGBT seniors will access because they trust they will be treated with respect and understanding.

As a longtime LGBT senior advocate, I believe most strongly that it serves our community best to partner and collaborate first with existing mainstream senior services to make them more LGBT welcoming and competent, and second, to create LGBT targeted programing and services only when needed. Are the mental health needs of San Francisco’s low-income seniors being addressed, or, as the data suggests, is it time to develop the next step in an LGBT senior mental health safety net—a comprehensive multicultural outpatient mental health and substance abuse program for LGBT seniors and people living with disabilities?

Marcy Adelman, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in private practice, is co-founder of the non-profit organization Openhouse and was a leading member of the San Francisco LGBT Aging Policy Task Force.

Frida Kahlo’s Truth Lives on in Her Art

Rainbow Honor Walk Dr. Bill Lipsky Everybody loves Frida Kahlo…now.

Barely 60 years after her death, she and her art have inspired over 65,000 web sites, hundreds of books and articles, documentaries, movies, and fashions. Reproductions of her work are found on more than 2,000 household items, including mouse pads, coffee mugs, and throw pillows. In 2001, she became the first Hispanic woman honored on a U.S. postage stamp. A patron saint to many minority and often marginalized groups—lesbians, gays, fem i n i st s , bi sex ua l s , people with disabilities, Chicanos, Communists, and others—she is studied, analyzed, idealized, and adored.

That she was not so cherished and embraced during her life is manifested in her art. Almost all of it portrays her sad feelings about herself and the impact upon her, through their love or betrayal, of those she knew well. As her husband, famed Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, said, “Frida is the only example in the history of art of an artist who tore open her chest and

heart to reveal the biological truth of her feelings. [She is] the only woman who has expressed in her work an art of the feelings, functions, and creative power of woman.” Her truth has made her immortal.

She did not originally think to become an artist. A survivor of undiagnosed polio as a child, Kahlo planned to become a physician. At the age of 18, however, she was seriously mangled in a bus accident in Mexico City.

She spent over a year in bed recovering from her injuries and suffered physical grief for the rest of her life.

During her convalescence, she began to paint, “to combat the boredom and pain,” she said, “without giving it any particular thought.” Except for a few art classes in high school, she had no formal training.

Born in 1907, she was 22 years old when she married Rivera, the “Michelangelo of Mexico,” 20 years her senior. It was under his tutelage that she brought indigenous Mexican art into both her work and her life. She began painting in a deliberately primitive style, using bright colors and folk symbolism, while dressing in the traditional clothing of the Tehuantepec Peninsula and arranging her hair in time-honored ways. Eventually, across more than 150 paintings, she created a powerful narrative that merged elements of symbolism, fantasy, and folklore to share deep, personal feelings.

The relationship between her and Rivera eventually became a stormy one, but all that was in the future when, in 1930, the newlyweds visited San Francisco. He had been commissioned to create murals for the San Francisco Stock Exchange and the California School of Fine Arts. During her own time, she painted Frieda and Diego Rivera, based upon their wedding picture. Included in 1931’s Sixth Annual Exhibition of the San Francisco Society of Women Artists—the f irst public showing of her work—one local newspaper described it as “valuable only because it was painted by the wife of Diego Rivera.” Now part of the collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, nobody imagined that one day her reputation and importance as an artist would transcend that of her husband.

Kahlo and Rivera separated in the summer of 1939, partly because of the sexual adventures each pursued. (continued on page 26) BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 20, 2015

11

Automatic Thoughts

thought, “He’s probably checking up on me to make sure I’m not cheating on him. He doesn’t trust me.” When Andy suggested taking them out for dinner, Henry thought, “He must be looking for an excuse not to be home so he can avoid having sex with me.

He isn’t attracted to me anymore.”

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

2261 Market Street, No. 309 San Francisco CA 94114 Phone: 415-601-2113 525 Bellevue Avenue Oakland CA 94610 Phone: 510-504-9255 E-mail: editor@sfbaytimes.com www.sfbaytimes.com

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT

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

Dr. Betty L. Sullivan Jennifer L. Viegas Co-Publishers & Co-Editors

Abby Zimberg Beth Greene

Design & Production

Kate Laws

Business Manager

Robert Fuggiti Calendar Editor

Kit Kennedy

Poet-In-Residence

J.H. Herren Technology Director

Henry unexpectedly came home from work two hours early. Instead of giving him a friendly greeting, his partner Andy glared at him in silence and walked away. Henry was confused and uncertain about what to do. He opened a beer, sat on the couch, and turned on the television. A few moments later Andy returned, looking a little happier, and said, “Let’s not eat at home tonight. How about we go out? My treat.” Henry responded by slamming the beer can on the coffee table and walking into the bedroom.

Now Andy was confused.

What’s going on here? These puzzling reactions become understandable when we understand the fleeting, automatic thoughts that provoked them.

When Henry came home early, Andy

Jennifer Mullen

Distribution

This week, it was also announced that Street Requiem has been selected as a semi-finalist in the professional choral composition division of The American Prize national non-profit competitions in the performing arts.

(For more information, see http:// t hea mer ica npr i ze.blog spot.com. au/2015/08/composer-semi-f inalists-2015-choral.html?m=1)

“Street Requiem provides an opportunity to mourn those we’ve lost—often ‘nameless’ on our streets—and to protest the tragic injustices we witness every day. These are global issues, but we can each make a difference, one by one.”

-Dr. Kathleen McGuire

Custom ad sizes are available. Please inquire! The Bay Times reserves the right to reject any advertising at the discretion of the publishers.

Circulation is verified by an independent agency Reprints by permission only.

CALENDAR Event listings for consideration to be included in the Bay Times online or print Calendar section should be sent by e-mail to: calendar@sfbaytimes.com. © 2015 Bay Times Media Company Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas

12

Here are some of Aaron Beck’s general guidelines for dealing with automatic thoughts: “try to identify troublesome situations and the meanings you attach to them…Resist the natural tendency to accept these thoughts as true simply because they ‘feel right’

For those who would like more information about effective strategies for responding to destructive automatic thoughts, Aaron Beck’s excellent book, Love is Never Enough, is an excellent practical guide for using the principles of cognitive therapy to overcome the biases that cause so much unnecessary conflict in relationships.

I recommend it highly.

Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. To learn more, please visit his website at tommoon.net

Famed mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade will join with a mass chorus of singers and chamber orchestra in two California premiere performances of Street Requiem by Australian composers Dr. Kathleen McGuire, Andy Payne, and Dr. Jonathon Welch AM. Other vocal soloists include Blake Quin, Ilyas Iliya and Mark Jackson.

ADVERTISING Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards are available online at sfbaytimes.com or calling: 415-503-1375.

National Advertising: Contact Bay Times / San Francisco. Also represented by Rivendell Media., Mountainside, NJ 908-232-2021.

The good news is that our automatic thoughts are “preconscious” rather than unconscious, which means they are accessible to conscious examination. By developing the habit of examining our assumptions before we act on them, we become more likely to be more mindful, and therefore more in control of our biases.

Couples can actively assist each other in this process of self-examination.

In couples counseling, for instance, Henry and Andy have made the agreement that whenever they see the other person reacting from what appear to be automatic biases, they will avoid the temptation to retaliate or defensively withdraw, and instead will say something like, “I think we should talk about what just happened.

What were you thinking just then?”

Opera Superstar Frederica Von Stade to Sing Street Requiem in Support of Homeless Choir

Web Coordinator

Mario Ordonez Juan Ordonez

CONTRIBUTORS Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Kirsten Kruse, Kate Kendell, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Terry Baum, Gypsy Love, Rafael Mandelman, Kit Kennedy, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Bill Lipsky, Karen Williams, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron Rebecca Kaplan, Thom Watson, Courtney Lake, Michele Karlsberg Photographers Rink, Steven Underhill, Phyllis Costa, Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg

The views we take of things often arise in the form of automatic, fleeting thoughts, which occur so rapidly and that are so habitual that they fly below the radar of our conscious awareness. We’re all constantly interpreting, evaluating, and judging other people’s actions, and most of the time we’re not conscious of the fact that we’re doing it. What is actually

There’s nothing inherently crazy about automatic thinking; in fact, we couldn’t live without it. Since we can never directly know another person’s thoughts, feelings, or motivations, we have to make interpretations in order to make sense out of what others are doing. The problem is that we all have built-in biases, usually based on childhood experiences, which distort our interpretations. Andy’s interpretation of Henry’s early arrival, for instance, is based on childhood experiences of a controlling and suspicious parent, and Henry’s belief that Andy’s offer to take him to dinner is a sexual rejection is based on early experiences of parental rejection.

or seem reasonable. Examine them and look for supporting evidence, contradictory evidence, alternative explanations, and more logical inferences. Oppose the temptation to slip into your well-worked, self-defeating reactions, such as retaliation, defensiveness, or withdrawal…Your negative interpretation is more likely to become a fixed conviction if you act on this assumption.”

McGuire, who is well known to Bay Area audiences having led the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and others from 2000 to 2013, will return from Melbourne, Australia, to conduct Street Requiem on Saturday, August 29, at 7:00pm at Old First Presbyterian Church at 1751 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, and on Sunday, August 30, at 2:00pm at the Congregational Church of San Mateo, 225 Tilton Avenue in San Mateo.

The concert is a benefit for Singers of the Street (SOS), which McGuire founded in 2010. Now led by Ashley Moore and a project of Welcome, SOS is a choir of San Franciscans who have experienced, or are at risk of, homelessness. Its mission is to raise their voices for justice, healing and joy. SOS will open the concert and will also sing with the mass choir in Street Requiem.

BAY TIMES AUGU S T 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

Frederica von Stade

“Street Requiem provides a musical opportunity for us to mourn not only the homeless who have passed away, but also our own frustration that there are still so many homeless individuals living in streets and shelters,” said the Rev. Megan Rohrer, Executive Director of Welcome. “Beyond a one of a kind concert experience, audience members can also celebrate that the price of admission enables homeless individuals to heal and express themselves for years to come.”

Composed in 2014, Street Requiem has already received international acclaim. Music critic Wayne Lee Gay (Dallas Magazine) said: “A remarkable, unique and beautiful work...an unfailingly engaging cantata. The religious texts were constantly questioned, but with an effect that produces transformation rather than blasphemy. The audience is never let off the hook: in the final movement, the chorus intones, as if to remind those who observe suffering are as much in need of divine intervention and guidance as those who suffer directly: ‘Given them peace. Give us peace.’”

Street Requiem is a 40-minute multimovement cantata scored for choirs, soloists, and chamber orchestras. It aims to bring a sense of peace, remembrance, and hope to communities struggling with homelessness, poverty, war, hate-crime and street violence. The work is neither secular nor religious, but is intended to be spiritual and includes English and African lyrics, as well as traditional Latin texts. While at times deeply moving, the work is optimistic and

PHOTOS BY ROBERT CROSS

The Bay Times was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men.

We honor our history and the paper’s ability to build and strengthen unity in our community.

Cognitive psychologist Aaron Beck explains: “At f irst glance, it seems that what other people do leads directly to our reactions of anger, anxiety, sadness, and the like. We say (or at least think) things like, ‘You make me angry,’ or ‘You’re getting on my nerves.’ But these statements are not strictly accurate. They are true only in that we would not experience the specific emotion (anger, anxiety, sadness) if the other person had not acted that way. But the person’s actions simply represent facts that we interpret.

Our emotional response follows from our interpretation, rather than from the act per se.” Or, as Epictetus put it, “Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them.”

happening becomes fused with our evaluation of it.

uplifting, and employs Gospel, Celtic, neo-Romantic, neo-Baroque, and contemporary compositional styles and instrumentation to ref lect the multicultural and multi-faith traditions of modern city living.

McGuire said, “Street Requiem provides an opportunity to mourn those we’ve lost—often ‘nameless’ on our streets—and to protest the tragic injustices we witness every day. These are global issues, but we can each make a difference, one by one. Ms. von Stade’s generous participation is a testament to the importance of this project and the wider cause.”

Ms. von Stade will be joined on stage by a mass choir including singers from The Choral Project (San Jose), the Chancel Choir of the Congregational Church of San Mateo, singers from CREDO (Dallas, Texas,

who performed the U.S. premiere in January), and Singers of the Street (San Francisco). Accompaniment will be provided by members of the Community Women’s Orchestra, and Carl Pantle will play piano.

Rehearsals led by Stephanie Lynne Sm it h, Gr ace Ren aud , Da n iel Hughes, Dana Sadava, Dr. Jonathan Palant and Carl Pantle are currently underway in San Francisco and San Mateo; singers wishing to participate should visit: trybooking.com/IEJK Tickets for Street Requiem range from $15–$50 and are available online at http://streetrequiem.blogspot. com/p/tickets.html or by calling (415) 731-1305. All proceeds benefit Singers of the Street.

GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow Updates

Last time, I mentioned that the Republican National Committee was poised to consider a bunch of nonbinding resolutions during their summer meeting, including a couple of bizarre notions about us. Turns out both extreme antigay resolutions were voted down, so at least the Grand Odd Party won’t be recommending that public schools teach the downside of homosexuality or that gay rights no longer be subject to the whims of federal courts.

They will, however, be backing the “First Amendment Defense Act,” a nasty little hall pass for people who want to discriminate freely, and I assume they’ll end up with a number of other splintery planks in their eventual platform. Still, it seems they have some outer limits.

Also, do you remember that John Travolta was heading to a pre-trial deposition that might have obliged the star to recount some less-thanstraight Saturday night fevers? Well, for reasons unclear, the former pilot who claims he was Travolta’s lover for many years dropped his civil suit just in time. A change of heart? Maybe just a lot of change.

Oh, I don’t know or really care. I’m just speculating.

And I was happy to read in my favorite appellate law blog that a lawsuit has been partially reinstated against a Cincinnati suburb that has being trying to force a woman to give away her miniature pony because it allegedly violates some ordinance against having farm animals at your house. Just how many miniature ponies have you seen on a farm, people? At any rate, the poor woman lost in a lower court, but we may yet see a happy ending.

The pony is very very cute.

This is the problem with perusing “How Appealing,” the aforementioned blog, which is full of attractive side stories that prove over and over again that appellate law is a gripping topic indeed.

Before we finish off the updates from our previous issue, you should know that I have continued to suffer at the hands of the inept New York Times delivery staff. I reached the breaking point yesterday (again no paper) and cancelled my subscription, only to be sweet talked back into the fold with a deal. And what happened this morning? No paper again! It’s not even the paper itself. It’s the compounded irritation that now approaches rage every time I fail to see the blue wrapper on my driveway. My mornings are ruined by these dark emotions.

Discrimination Pays So here’s a clever money-making scheme. Find a friendly baker who goes to church once in a while. Convince him or her to refuse your gay business. Make a stink, or file a lawsuit if you live in a state with an antidiscrimination law. Then, sit back and let the cash flow in from the baker’s sympathizers on crowdfunding sites. Split the proceeds.

We’ve talked about this phenomenon before. Last week, a Colorado appellate court ruled against one of these refusenik bakers, who immediately popped online to solicit money from other Christians. I don’t know how much Jack Philips of Masterpiece Cakeshop has pulled in, but reports say that his Oregon counterpart, Melissa Klein, has banked around $400,000 to date. Not bad!

I just read one of those annoying articles calling on our community to “be gracious” in victory and try to “live and let live.” Why force people to make cakes or participate in our

weddings when a) they obviously oppose our happiness and b) there are plenty of friendly businesses around to serve us instead?

on tap and watching college football.

Call me after Super Tuesday for the bull-riding contest.

But no one is actually trying to get the cakes. The gay men who were rejected by Mr. Philips bought a cake elsewhere— obviously! Their complaint was based on the denial of service in violation of state law, and no one forced Philips to bake anything.

He was cited for the violation and ordered not to discriminate in the future, which apparently represents a costly hardship.

I was going to lead with the (allegedly) thrice-married Kentucky clerk who is now defying a court order by continuing to deny marriage licenses to gay couples (or anyone else for that matter). And yet here I am, two-thirds into my column with nary a word about Kim Davis.

If you think the name Masterpiece Cakeshop sounds familiar, it’s because this case has been wandering through the Colorado system for ages.

Now it may be headed to the Colorado Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court has already refused to consider a pro-gay ruling in the case of the antigay wedding photographer in New Mexico.

Saab Story Good news. The New York Times was finally delivered, so I had the opportunity to read about everything from red pandas to middle-class teenage girls in Britain who run off to join ISIS. Oh, and my car broke down when I went to the convenience store just now, and I had to push it to the garage and walk home in 100 degree heat. So, I guess the news isn’t all good. I’m having a glass of rosé de Provence to recuperate.

Speaking of girls running away, I read that Rosie O’Donnell’s 17-yearold daughter Chelsea has disappeared and everyone is now on the lookout for her in the New York area. Hope that turns out okay.

The thought of Rosie makes me think of Trump, which makes me think of Carly Fiorina, which makes me think of the new phenomenon I’ve been reading about called RBF, “resting (rhymes with witch) face.” I guess the phenomenon isn’t “new” per se, just newly identified with such precision.

At any rate, Carly has it: the tendency to look like the “b” word when you’re just sitting there and don’t realize anyone’s looking at you.

Many women with RBF are, in fact, quite charming. And I’m not sure if there’s a male equivalent, so there’s something inherently sexist about the concept, given that men also go around with blank expressions but do not appear unpleasant. I mean, really.

Are women supposed to have vague, Mona Lisa-esque, smiles on their faces at all times?

Still, I think I can accuse Carly of RBF without losing my feminist credentials because her resting face seems to match her persona. The chutzpah of ruining Hewlett Packard through bad management and subsequently parading one’s high tech business experience as an asset is not to be believed. And yet, is she any worse that the average Republican who seems to forget which party destroyed the Middle East, led us into two lengthy and pointless wars, brought down the savings and loan industry, and subsequently trashed the global economy?

I can’t get started on the Republicans right now, but I will say that the notion that Donald Trump will even come close to winning the GOP nomination is ludicrous, and the political media should know it. For God’s sake, they’re the ones who spent weeks and weeks breathlessly reporting on Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Michelle Bachman, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, and a host of flare ups who led the polls at one time or another. This is not their first rodeo, and yet there they are, losing their hats and rolling around in the dust. Personally, I’ll be waiting at the bar, drinking Lone Star

Jerk Clerk

Part of my reluctance is the sensation of relief. After covering the fight for marriage equality since the mid-nineties, nearly 20 years, must I really devote my energies to a sour mash clerk who seems to be the very last government official in America to fall in line with the mandate from the U.S. Supreme Court?

But this woman actually does deserve press coverage. She alone represents a key aspect of the clash between civil rights and religious rights because she alone has insisted that this clash be litigated by a federal court. Davis, who may not be removed from office except by the legislature, was sued for her intransigence, and lost the other day. Normally, she would have been obliged to issue licenses, but because she has decided to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the pragmatic judge let her off the hook and stayed his decision until the appellate court weighs in.

We are proud to be nationally recognized by our peers and the media as the first national firm to launch a LGBT practice ‒ we make it our business to understand our clients’ unique needs.

www.marcumllp.com Nanette Lee Miller 415.432.6200 I nanettelee.miller@marcumllp.com International Member of Leading Edge Alliance

ASSURANCE

I

TAX

I

ADVISORY

You may remember that the Sixth Circuit was the only appellate court to rule against marriage equality last year, a decision that led to the High Court showdown in Obergefell. But the question at hand has little to do with marriage rights, and everything to do with the obligations of a government official. If I don’t believe women should drive as a matter of faith, can I reject female applicants at the DMV? No, I can’t! I can’t even believe I have to write something like that.

Beyond the issue, my dear readers, this Davis woman is insufferable. She appears to be a hypocrite with at least one, possibly two or three divorces under her belt. She has hired her family members in the clerk’s office. She refuses to speak in public and hides from the press. She’s just plain nasty and mean. The really annoying part is that she will probably pick up a cool half million in crowdfunding once all of this is over. Oh, and how about the fact that no one in Rowan County (population 23,000) can get married until the Sixth Circuit puts an end to Davis’s grandstanding.

J O H N S T O N, K I N N E Y & Z U L A I C A LLP

Despicable Them You’d think that Kim Davis would top our list of most horrible people this fortnight, but we might give that honor to a couple of Michigan lawmakers, both Republican Tea Party types elected on a Christian family values platform. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat are freshmen house members. Both are married with kids; Todd has four and Cindy has three.

I hardly know where to begin. First of all, they started having a secret affair and combined their offices into one, even though their districts were 100 miles apart. They picked fights with GOP leadership in a childish Tea Party way and complained about the furnishings in their offices. Neither of them went to community meetings or answered constituent calls from their districts. The only legislation they introduced were fringe bills on social issues, including Courser’s effort to ban clergy from performing same-sex marriages. (Think about that.)

According to one of their three aides, they would skip meetings, hide in the office, take naps, and sneak kisses. In April, Gamrat got kicked out of party (continued on page 26)

With nine attorneys in two locations, we serve the LGBT community with expertise, experience and sensitivity.

We offer services in: • LGBT Families

• Tax Planning

• Estate Planning

• Family Law

• Trust & Probate Administration

• Elder Law & Benefits

• Beneficiary Representation

• Entity Formation & Real Estate

SAN FRANCISCO

SANTA ROSA

415.693.0550

707.237.7371

www.jkzllp.com | www.jkzllp.com/español

Read more @www.sfbaytimes.com and check us out on Twitter and Facebook.

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 20, 2015

13

“San Francisco Bay Times” Summer Party & Last Dance Honoring members of the San Francisco Bay Times award-winning SF Pride Parade contingent, the Summer Party & Last Dance attracted a large crowd to the Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club. Hosted by MWCAC founder Barbara Price and co-publishers Dr. Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas, the evening featured performances by Bay Area legend Linda Tillery and Rhonda Benin plus her rockin’ band who were joined on stage by musician and performer Melanie DeMore.

BAY TIMES AUGU S T 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS PHOTO BY PHYLLIS COSTA PHOTO BY PHYLLIS COSTA

PHOTO BY PHYLLIS COSTA

PHOTO BY ABBY ZIMBERG PHOTO BY PHYLLIS COSTA

14

PHOTO BY ABBY ZIMBERG

PHOTO BY PHYLLIS COSTA

PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS

PHOTO BY PHYLLIS COSTA

PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS

PHOTO BY PHYLLIS COSTA

PHOTO BY PHYLLIS COSTA

PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS

PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS

The “Celebrating 40 Years of Women’s Music” painting by artist Debra Walker was displayed along with copies of the SF Bay Times front page featuring the image. Photographers Abby Zimberg, Phyllis Costa and Sandy Morris captured the evening’s images. Catering was sponsored by Extreme Pizza from the College Avenue location.

Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival 2015 San Francisco Bay Times contributors and friends returned last week from the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival reporting that expressions of gratitude for the Festival’s 40-year longevity proved to be the primary sentiment during the week-long event. Organizers had announced in an article appearing in The Advocate that the 2015 festival would be the final one of those held annually in western Michigan since 1976. An estimated 7000 participated this year with attendees representing all 50 states and many nations.

Festival activities, in addition to live music performances, included movie nights, parades, workshops and a crafts bazaar comprised of artists offering a variety of handmade items including art, clothing, jewelry, commemorative items and more.

The Bay Area was well represented by attendees and local performers, including Holly Near, Marga Gomez, Barbara Higbee, Julie Wolf, Tammy Hall, Carolyn Brandy, Sarah Bush Dance Project and others. Karen Williams, contributor to the San Francisco Bay Times and veteran of many Festivals, was on hand as a performer and moderator of the Night Stage.

PHOTO BY LISA VOGEL PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHFEST PHOTO BY KAREN MARTNER PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHFEST PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHFEST

PHOTO BY KAREN MARTNER

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHFEST

PHOTO BY KAREN MARTNER

PHOTO BY KAREN MARTNER

PHOTO BY KAREN MARTNER

PHOTO BY KAREN MARTNER

PHOTO BY KAREN MARTNER

PHOTO BY KAREN WILLIAMS

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHFEST

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHFEST

PHOTO BY SARAH BUSH

PHOTO BY KAREN MARTNER

The idea of a new version of the Festival coming in future years has been discussed and is hoped for by many who value the annual event and wish to see it return and continue.

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 20, 2015

15

We accept Medi-Cal, Medicare, and Commercial Health Insurance Plans and we continue to provide quality service regardless of a person’s ability to pay!

Building on over thirty years of service to our communities, we offer heartfelt primary care to women and transgender individuals. Mental Health Services Available!

Call today to make your first appointment:

415-565-7667

Visit our website today to learn more:

www.lyon-martin.org

The Rule of Law

Marriage Equality John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, Marriage Equality USA As efforts to exclude LGBT couples from marriage continue in a handful of locales mostly in the South, the language of United States District Judge David Bunning’s recent ruling rejecting Rowan County Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis’ attempt to use her religious beliefs to justify discrimination is encouraging.

Judge Bunning, a conser vative George W. Bush appointee whom Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell recommended for the bench, held in a strongly worded opinion that Davis may not refuse to issue marriage licenses because of her “Apostolic Christian” belief that same-sex couples should not be able to marry. As the court made clear, Davis’ personal beliefs do not enable her to violate her sworn duty as a public official to enforce the United States Constitution’s guarantees of liberty and equality.

Central to the Bunning’s ruling was his recognition of the United States Supreme Court’s landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision holding that LGBT Americans, just like other Americans, have a “fundamental” constitutional right to marry the person they choose. The Judge quoted the decision, stating: “the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person, and…same-sex couples may not be deprived of that right and that liberty.” A government official may interfere with the fundamental right to marry only if a “compelling government interest” justifies the official’s actions and such actions are narrowly tailored and essentially the only way that such a compelling interest may be satisfied.

To defend her actions, Davis suggested somewhat cavalierly that same-sex couples in Rowan County could simply go to another nearby county to marry. The court quickly rejected that argument, observing that if other county clerks did the same, same-sex couples could effectively be barred from marrying in Kentucky. More fundamentally, Bunning observed that the plaintiff couples in the lawsuit—both gay and straight couples—“live, work, socialize, vote, pay taxes and conduct other business in and around” Rowan County. Quite simply, Rowan County is their home.” Couples should not be forced to go somewhere else to marry. Further, Bunning recognized that some residents

of the county, where the poverty rate is 28.6 percent, may lack “the physical, financial or practical means to travel” elsewhere to marry.

Judge Bunning then squarely rejected Davis’ claim that the Commonwealth had an interest in protecting her religious liberty that justified her depriving couples of their fundamental constitutional rights. The Court noted that Davis herself had “arguably committed…a violation” of the First Amendment’s prohibition on “establishment” of a government religion “by openly adopting a policy that promotes her own religious convictions at the expenses of others.” In essence, Davis had no right to declare “Apostolic Christianity” the law of Rowan County.

Moreover, Judge Bunning recognized the paramount importance of the “rule of law” to our country.

He quoted the Supreme Court’s insight that “[t]he rule of law, evenly applied to minorities as well as majorities…holds society together.”

Bunning elaborated: “Our form of government will not survive unless we, as a society, agree to respect the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions, regardless of our personal opinions.

Davis is certainly free to disagree with the Court’s opinion…but that does not excuse her from complying with it. To hold otherwise would set a dangerous precedent.”

Neither was Judge Bunning persuaded by Dav is’ sl ight ly d if(continued on page 26)

Meaningful Rituals Can Play a Role in Divorce, Too

Weddings Howard Steiermann

Yes ! “ ”

Thinking about that special day?

Tell me about the wedding ceremony of your dreams.

Kevin Tripp, Officiant

KevinTrippWeddings.com (707) 478-7323

All Faiths, All Beliefs, All Couples

Recently I was in Ashland for the first time to see shows at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. As with any city I visit, I searched for local bookstores. There are a few categories I always look for, including the wedding section. The bookstore on Main Street did indeed have a shelf devoted to weddings, but my eyes rested on the lowest shelf, where I saw a handful of books on divorce.

The one I paged through was The Divorce Planner by Janet Greek. Its subtitle, Self-Defense for Women When T hey Need It Most, while gender specif ic, reminded me that most people, and unfortunately our society in general, view divorce in the negative. Decoupling, as with most changes, is difficult and emotionally draining. As a ritual facilitator, I am happy to write that I have participated in a number of divorce situations in which ritual has made the transition smoother.

My first experience was my own divorce. Upon coming out, I realized that although I loved my wife, we weren’t meant to be life partners.

As we’d had a Jewish wedding, we

turned to our Rabbi for a Jewish divorce. The Rabbi had us write a few paragraphs on why we were divorcing, and what we vowed to each other, e.g. not to speak ill of the other.

Those paragraphs were then typed as identical columns, one on the left side and one on the right side of a single piece of paper. During the divorce ceremony, the Rabbi ripped the page in half, handing one side to me, the other to my now ex-wife.

While it was not a legally binding divorce in the eyes of state or federal government, the ceremony had more emotional impact on me than perhaps any I had ever gone through, or have gone through since.

The tearing of that single piece of regular 8½” by 11” white paper was mirroring the tear I had been feeling in my heart for months, if not years. I doubt that the Rabbi lingered over the tearing, but in the moment, it seemed to me as if it was in slow motion, with each eighth of an inch of torn paper equaling a mile of emotional scarring. Surprisingly, rather than feeling painful as when one rips off a scab, the tearing helped me release the pain and torment I had been holding. This seemingly small ritual was a powerfully tangible, and, more importantly, visceral step in my decoupling.

I have not, as yet, had the opportunity to utilize this paper tearing ritual as an officiant (neither as a non-denominational Minister, nor as a Rabbi). However, I have sat with a couple as they signed the legal documentation officially beginning their divorce proceedings. They asked me to be with them as they signed the papers, since they recognized that the family they had spent years care-

fully building was being permanently altered. They were eager to make this transition as soft and smooth for their child. They recognized that signing the documents held a heavy emotional weight.

I provided not only the love and support of a dear friend, but also the objectivity of a neutral third party. No overt ritual was involved, although I did offer a one-line prayer recognizing the blessings in their lives, and asking them to be thankful for all the good things that got them to this point in their lives. I was encouraging them to think about some positives in their lives, even at a momentously difficult time.

In Greek’s introduction to her divorce planner she wrote: “At least the same amount of time and effort should go into thinking through every detail of ending your marriage, which is likely to be much more complicated than any wedding, especially if children are involved.

Dress, ring, f lowers and invitation selection will be replaced by the more sobering decisions regarding a lawyer, therapist, financial settlements and custody arrangements.

This time you won’t be going for romance, but you should be striving for security, independence, and, when the ink is dry, peace of mind.”

I would add, consider how your clergyperson or a professional ritual facilitator can assist you in your transition from identifying as part of a couple to being single.

Howard M. Steiermann is an Ordained Ritual Facilitator based in San Francisco.

For more information, please visit www.

SFHoward.com BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 20, 2015

17

18

BAY TIMES AUGU S T 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

A Dose of Cosmic Confidence ing that our talents and abilities were used to serve others.”

ARIES (March 21–April 19) Your aperture is on the widest setting, with vision and optimism pouring into your field. Do not diminish the importance of the pesky practical obstacles, as they serve your vision’s ultimate and actual manifestation.

Astrology Linda Amburgey It is time to live large as we express our individual and collective visions.

This is a potent time to bring into manifestation those aspects of your life that may have seemed too lofty, exaggerated, or impossible to reach.

This dose of Cosmic confidence is the good medicine necessary to get the job done. Practicality is an important component that you must engage, as the bold and hopeful You dashes into self-assured discovery.

Your sacred expansion is an integral piece of the Divine totality, so remember not to hoard or proclaim your skills as your own. In the words of Marianne Williamson, “Success means we go to sleep at night know-

TAURUS (April 20–May 20) There is no time like the present for your self-confidence to penetrate your doubts, imbuing all your creative endeavors, and saturating you with bold faith in yourself. If a demon of judgment pops up on your path, it is only meant to strengthen your resolve..

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your buoyancy and resilience, like a floatation device, are life aff irming for the more heavyhearted amongst your clan.

Your very own struggles through the bumpy terrains of relationships have left you now with the wisdom and capacity to usher others through their darkness.

CANCER ( June 21–July 22) What might have previously felt like frivolous, pointless hopes and dreams are now culminating quickly into tangible assets.

As a humble servant of the Divine, your fierce and tender heart is experiencing the profound sacred that exists in ordinary service.

LEO ( July 23–August 22) You are about to feel the loosening of the logs that have blocked your creative channels lately. The regular pulse of determinate optimism is inundating your self-worth and confidence. Combining hard work and fun will send you soaring into the bank with sizable deposits.

VIRGO (August 23–September 22) Your core sense of Home has been deeply shaken, but you will continue to find yourself landing confidently rightside up with faith, optimism, and new opportunities reflecting everywhere. There is a Divine gift when you are tested and discover that Home resides forever within you.

LIBR A (September 23– October 22) The Source of creative and psychic channels is downloading previously veiled information into your mind.

Thus, your current ability to ground ingenious information has you humbly bowing at the altar in deep gratitude for the guidance you are effortlessly receiving.

CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19) Making practical use of those things that would otherwise be discarded is being called Upcycling now. Your own personal energy is capable of such Upcycling as long as you are holding your individual vision within the larger frame of service to the Whole.

SCORPIO (October 23–November 21) Being grounded and practical in f inancial matters is providing a solid foundation, giving you permission to take giant leaps into your future goals. Your community is serving as a reflective image of just how large the scope of your vision is becoming.

AQUARIUS ( January 20– February 18) The outcome of your current efforts to lead the tribe is contingent on your capacity to attune to the deeply unconscious insecurities of each tribe member. Your gentle perception and subsequent adjustments are imperatives for a collective success in which all members feel their value and contributions.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21) The pulse between contractions and expansions can be hard to hang with at times, but with so much practice, you are beginning to master the lessons of freedom and commitments.

Take what you have learned to the center of the village, and preach it!

PISCES (February 19–March 20) Your compelling magnetism is often mysteriously just under the surface. Although you may not feel any more visible to yourself, don’t be surprised if others respond to you as if they have just seen Jesus’s image miraculously manifested on the temple cloth.

Humbly remember that it is the Sacred coming through you.

Linda Amburgey has owned Crystal Way Metaphysical Center for 11 years, and has been an Intuitive Reader for 20 years.

To book readings, on-going counseling for couples or individuals, events and parties, please e-mail her at ConsciousCounsel@gmail. com or call 415-218-5096.

person or event would you like to know more about, if you were in an As Heard on the Street . . . What LGBT history class? compiled by Rink

Sheila O’Rourke

Hank Donat

Aja Monet

Joyce Gagnon

Sister Roma

“Lesbian civil rights attorney Mary Dunlap”

“Ron Lanza, the founder of the Valencia Rose and Josie’s Cabaret. These venues launched the careers of the first and best openly gay standup comics.”

“Alexander the Great”

“Lesbian pulp novelists Ann Bannon and Valerie Taylor”

“Transgender activist Miss Major”

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

415 370 7152

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 20, 2015

19

EARS OF Y 20 E X T REME

. NO

0

MA

OF E S R A XT YE RE

2

T

ME P I Z ZA

EXTREM

E

EXTREME • NOT MAINSTREAM M

.

NO

T M AINSTR

EA

Handcrafted Fresh Gourmet Pizzas & More!

SAN FRANCISCO LOCATIONS 1980 Union St

415.929.8234

1730 Fillmore St

415.929.9900

1062 Folsom St

415.701.9000

WE DELIVER | extremepizza.com VEGAN GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS . SIGNATURE PIZZAS . SLICES . MONSTER SUBS . WINGS . FRESH SALADS . CALZONES 20

BAY TIMES AUGU S T 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

™

INSTRE

#KateClinton

The world is Trump’s man cave, but he’s afraid of menstruating women. It’s so primitive. How far back did Cher turn time?

Arts & Entertainment

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Readies for Incredible 38th Season: Expect The Unexpected

By Dr. Timothy Seelig Next week, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus begins rehearsing its amazing 38th season: Expect The Unexpected. For the past 37 years, the Chorus has been known for its tireless work representing the community in literally hundreds of performances, from street corners to symphony halls, in San Francisco and across the world.

It continues to fulfill its mission of activism, community, and compassion.

In addition to leading the way for LGBT choruses around the globe, it has become known for extraordinary performances, gorgeous music, and show-stopping productions—all done with its signature twist of humor and sometimes devilishly wicked surprises.

Season 38 will feature everything you love about the Chorus and those things you just didn’t see coming, making you holler out in today’s vernacular, “ONTD!” (“Oh no, they didn’t!”) We hope you won’t miss one of the four opportunities to be a part of the magic.

It all kicks off with our annual Season Preview and Brunch with the Boys: Crescendo Turns 10! on October 11. For this 10th anniversary extravaganza, we have two surprises in store: the festivities will be hosted at the RitzCarlton and we’ll have entertainment by the one and only Cher, a.k.a. Chad Michaels, winner of RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race! That pretty much sums it up, other than to say that there will be fabulous food, fun, and a bit of fundraising with awesome silent and live auctions.

You already know what to expect in December from your Chorus. Get ready. Well, actually there is no way to really get ready other than to get your season tickets so that you don’t miss one little jingle bell of the fun! (That was the shameless plug!)

The holiday season gets a running start at two out-of-town concerts, at the beautiful Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa and the gorgeous Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, before bringing it home to you! You’ll have six chances to hear the chorus in San Francisco— three at the Nourse Theater (December 11 + 12) and three at the Castro Theatre on December 24 for our annual “Home For The Holidays” event.

Once again, this is the “alternative” SF holiday experience like none other.

If we revealed all of the surprises, they wouldn’t be surprises, would they? But here’s a little teaser: dancing elves. Well, duh! But reindeer in tutus?

OK, that’s better! There will be gorgeous music you know and love as well as some brand new delights.

There will be several world premieres, for which the chorus has become known. Highlights are by Broadway and cabaret composers Ernie Lijoi and Lawrence Rush and another by award-winning composer Laura Karpman, set to a text by best-selling author Rebecca Walker.

In 1990, the Chorus gathered for the first time on Christmas Eve at the Castro Theatre to truly bring the holidays home to those who had none.

This year, the 25th anniversary of that first musical celebration, is a real milestone. While things may have changed in the community, it is still the only place to be on Christmas Eve. But, you really should come to both the Nourse and Castro shows! Why choose just one?

It was 40 years ago when author Armistead Maupin penned the very first article bringing the colorful life and times of San Francisco to the entire world. Armistead joins us in an evening full of stories and music: Tales Of Our City, Our Lives, Our Heroes. We

are also thrilled to be joined by the incredible Bay Area Rainbow Symphony. 300 men and a 60-piece orchestra could only fit on the stage at Davies Symphony Hall, April 15, 2016.

The evening also includes excerpts from “Naked Man,” the groundbreaking multi-movement piece originally performed by the Chorus in 1995 that chronicles the lives of the men of SFGMC. We’ll also present a world premiere by Mari Valverde, one of the world’s up-and-coming transgender women composers.

As has been the case in the past few years, the Chorus ends big—and we mean BIG. In celebration of Pride, we turn our attention to men. Well, that’s no surprise. But this time around, it is men singing together! Our Pride celebration is titled Heartthrobs: Biggest Boyband Ever. Come see us at the Nourse Theater on June 24 and 25.

Heartthrobs: Biggest Boyband Ever features the best from the boybands that have stolen our hearts over the years. From The Beach Boys to The Beatles, from the Bee Gees to Boyz II Men, we’ve got it all. Hang on to your heart and your seats when you hear 300 men singing your favorite songs from your favorite boybands!

I’m totally jazzed about this season.

As I mentioned at the beginning, we have over 300 handsome men arriving for the start of rehearsals next week.

They are getting ready for you! I know we are going to deliver exactly what you expect from the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus: the unexpected!!!

For more information about the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and to subscribe to their 38th season, please visit http://www.sfgmc.org Dr. Timothy Seelig is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 20, 2015

21

Lily Tomlin Delivers Laughs, Cogent Observations in Grandma

Film Gary M. Kramer Lily Tomlin is poignant and hilarious as Elle, the acerbic title character in Grandma. This enjoyable lark, written and directed by Paul Weitz, gives the iconic comedienne a juicy role, one she was born to play, and Tomlin tears into it with the gusto of a pit bull with a chew toy.

The film opens with an ending: Elle, a poet and “unemployed academic,” is breaking up with her much younger girlfriend, Olivia (Judy Greer). Elle’s deadpan response to the relationship’s failure, “I need to vacuum,” is both funny and telling; it completely brushes aside Olivia’s feelings and masks the deeper pain Elle feels but is too proud perhaps to express.

The story begins in earnest when Elle’s granddaughter, Sage (Julia Garner), turns up on her doorstep hoping to get $630 for an abortion.

Sage does not want to tell her bossy mother, Judy (Marcia Gay Harden), about her pregnancy, and hopes her grandma can help her resolve her problem quickly and discretely. Elle is sympathetic, but she doesn’t have the money. She cut up her credit cards after paying off $27,000 debt in hospital bills for her late lover.

Thus, the two women embark on a local, daylong road trip to visit various women and a man (Sam Elliot) whom

Elle has known over the years and who might be able to help them out with a loan.

Grandma is a slight, contrived story, but it yields many pleasures, most notably when Tomlin is dispensing bracingly funny one-liners, from throwaway jokes about “rapidly approaching 50,” to about how assholes make her angry.

The film is more than just a fantastic showcase for the actress. It provides a chance for Tomlin to play a lesbian character who was part of the feminist movement and who now lives in a world where her own granddaughter does not know who Betty Friedan is.

Weitz’s smart, quick-witted script mines much of its humor from Elle’s droll responses to the younger generation. Tomlin plays the irascible character as someone who struggled all her life and has little patience for anyone who is not as tough as she is. Case in point: her encounter with Cam (Nat Wolff), the teen who impregnated Sage. He is not very responsible when it comes to dealing with Sage’s situation, and how Elle handles him is a comic highlight.

When Elle and Sage get into an old Dodge that has trouble starting, it is as

much a metaphor for the characters facing a moment of difficulty as it is foreshadowing car trouble later. The script is never subtle, but neither is Elle, who gets to beat up a character and also take a punch. The film’s physical comedy is amusing because the players tackle their roles with noticeable relish. The verbal dexterity is an asset as well. Sage calls Elle a “philanthrope” when she means misanthrope, and there are discussions about the term “slut” that provide some intergenerational female-centric bonding.

The film also offers some terrific supporting moments, as when Elle visits with her old friend, Deathy (Laverne Cox), a tattoo parlor artist, in the hopes of collecting some cash. Their exchange, in which the women reminisce about old times, is lovely if all too brief. Cox has such a warm presence that viewers will want more of her, but at a brisk 79 minutes, Grandma needs to keep moving.

Another key episode involves Elle paying a call on Karl (Sam Elliott), a man she once loved and lived with, and whom Elle dubs “the ogre.” Their conversation, about how their lives (continued on page 26)

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

Frame 123

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

*

22

BAY TIMES AUGU S T 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

*

Sister Dana sez, “The greatest gift of all is Trump the Grump running for Prez of the USA. If he doesn’t get the GOP nom, he might run as an independent. Either way, it’s fewer votes for the Repugnicans and sure victory for the Dems!”

We celebrated 10 years of SUNDAY’S A DRAG at The Starlight Room during a very special show at 8pm on Monday night (otherwise the regular weekly Sunday shows are always 11:45am and 2pm) with all six regular cast members Donna Sachet, Holotta Tymes, Cassandra Cass, Lady Tia, Kendra Monroe, and Mahlae Balenciaga. The special anniversary show benefited PETS ARE WONDERFUL SUPPORT (PAWS). With the song from Gypsy, “Let Me Entertain You,” the entertainment ensued. Star of the show, Donna Sachet, took the stage as a sexy ringmaster in feather-topped, rhinestoned tiny top hat and tuxedo coat to sing live “The Lady Is a Tramp” to her own special lyrics. Kendra in an elaborate butterfly costume fluttered her wings and gave us “Follow Me” (“to a place where we can be free”). Mahlae put on a fabulous Beyoncé mini concert including “All the Single Ladies” where she asked all us “single ladies” to put our hands in the air (like we just don’t care…to be without a ring on it)!

Holotta - the demure, petite, sweet lady that she is, appeared in a lovely gown to sing the first part of Beauty and the Beast - but then busted out with “Let’s Talk Dirty to the Animals” by Gilda Radner on Saturday Night Live ages ago: “If they don’t love it; they can shove it,” she sang to the animals.

“But never ever tell an alligator: ‘Bite my sna-ch!’” Did I say “demure, petite, sweet”? WRONG! Cassandra came out in a clever copy of the gorgeous Marie Antoinette 1700s period gown that Madonna wore on MTV’s Video Awards singing “Vogue” - but Cassandra did it better when she dropped the gown to reveal just the hoop beneath the skirt. She then dragged an unsuspecting audience member onto the stage and rode him like a little horsie. Donna reappeared in a Joan Collins Dynasty-like padded shoulders black and gold gown to introduce Lady Tia - with a bootay ta die for - in a skin-tight puss print leotard doing “I Need a Man” and picking out various guys in the audience to tease and ultimately reject.

Donna brought out the interim executive director of PAWS, Sarah Cramer, to talk about the organization. The mission of PAWS is to preserve, support, and nurture the human-animal bond for those most vulnerable in our community. PAWS began as volunteers mobilized in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in San Francisco. While serving at The San Francisco AIDS Foundation Food Bank in 1986, volunteers noticed that some clients were neglecting their own nutrition and feeding donated food to their animal companions instead.

With the belief that no person should have to choose between feeding themselves or their beloved pets, the volunteers created a special food bank to carry pet food and supplies. The

demand for this new service was overwhelming and, in October 1987, PAWS became an independent, nonprofit organization. Over the years, PAWS has expanded the array of services available for their clients and the community. They are now serving over 1,000 companion animals of 800 clients who depend on them to provide pet food, vet care, dog walking, transportation, foster care, grooming, education, and case management.

Act Two began with Donna singing live “I’m Still Here” from Follies, but with her own special lyrics of surviving show biz and fundraisers for all these years! Kendra traded in her wings for gigantic Barbarella sci-fi style shoulder pads in electric blue and radiant red with long, long fringe hanging and hair in an exaggerated French roll to do “I Can’t Find My Baby.” Mahlae returned in a strapless red sequined fishtail gown to do a sweeeet “Sweet Love” by Anita Baker. Lady Tia appeared in a red Jessica Rabbit (“I’m not bad; I’m just drawn that way”) piece that was slit up to there and plunged down to there, doing Jessica’s “Why Don’t You Do Right?” followed by Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl.” Holotta did a slow, lounge act version of “Baby Got Back” (“I Like Big Butts”). Senator Mark Leno sent a Certificate of Recognition to Sunday’s a Drag in commemoration of their decade of entertainment. Lady Tia wore a long white tulle cape with purple floral skin-clinging dress to give us a Mariah Carey medley with plenty of trills and thrills. Donna changed into the last gown of the evening, her signature red gown with red rubies (faux jewels?) to sing her signature “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” For the finale, the entire cast paraded up and down the stage to (continued on page 26)

The Soccer Kiss that Continues to Rock the World the world! Tweeters marveled at mil lions seeing it on TV with the sense of happy ‘awws’ instead of nasty boos in response. What a fitting expression it was of our community’s new freedom to love openly, just like any and everyone else.

for women and gay people throughout the sports world.

Jamie Leno Zimron Friday, June 26, Washington DC: The United States Supreme Court ruled that state-level bans on samesex marriage are unconstitutional, and guaranteed LGBT couples the right to marry and have their marriages legally recognized in all 50 states and all US territories and jurisdictions. This sweeping landmark decision came in perfect timing to kick off one of the most joyful LGBT Pride weekends ever!

Sunday, July 5, Vancouver, British Columbia: The United States Women’s Soccer Team won the World Cup in an awe-inspiring towering 5–2 victory over Japan. Just as the game ended, celebrations exploded with a kiss seen ‘round the world as American soccer superstar Abby Wambach ran straight over to the stands where her wife was watching and cheering.

The two stretched to meet in one of the most indelible images and historic embraces we could ever hope to see!

Reporter Christian Datoc of The Daily Caller described the moment: “Needless to say, emotions were running wild for one of the greatest players in U.S. Women’s soccer history on Sunday, and as stoppage time expired she celebrated the historic win with a most ‘2015-esque’ gesture: locking lips with her wife, Sarah Huffman.”

Decades of hard and often grueling work went into both of these victories.

Not only do the phenomenal wins feel fantastic, but they also profoundly change the landscape for LGBT people and families across the land, and

While Wambach has said she was always comfortable with whom she is, we know that being an out-athlete is still a rarity. Even in 2015, being out in the sports world remains scary and costly for famous greats, much less for young high school, collegiate and professional hopefuls. Why has publicly kissing your wife been okay for a happy male athlete in the throes of victory, but not for a female athlete?

Why has she been only “allowed” to be seen kissing a boyfriend or husband or, if she’s “suspected” of being a lesbian, to have to kiss her partner off-camera or seem as if she’s single?

Wambach is one of the most decorated American soccer players of all time. She was a 3-time collegiate all-American; national U.S. women’s soccer team member since 2001; 6-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award; FIFA World Player of the Year in 2012; and is a 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist.

Known for her ‘diving headers,’ she currently holds the national record for all-time goal scoring as well as international goal scores by any female or male soccer player. This May, she was named in Time magazine as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world.

This kiss is truly part of changing all of that! Abby and Sarah’s beautiful celebration together could finally happen for the entire world to see, totally spontaneously and naturally. The moment was lost on no one. I hope it made everyone think about how wrong it has been, for far too long, that only straight athletes and other such public figures could have their spouses and families by their side.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE ZIMRON

The KiAi Way

The Supreme Court decision just 10 days before the World Cup f inale must have encouraged Wambach to so freely do what heterosexual victors have always been able to do and take for granted: first thing, hug and kiss your spouse! Openly, publicly, happily, and with everyone smiling, lauding and applauding your joy and athletic achievement.

At age 35, Wambach went into the 2015 World Cup final game as the personal finale to her incredible career. How wonderful that she could go out in such grand and gay style!

Abby and Sarah, longtime partners, were married in 2013 in Hawaii. That World Cup kiss was surely thrilling for them, and was just huge for

Fitness SF Trainer Tip of the Month From Micah Walters, an Elite Trainer at Fitness SF Castro: Handstands are a fun challenge. They can improve a person’s balance and progress their strength to new levels of performance and coordination. Try holding the handstand for 30 seconds. Rest for 30 seconds and try to repeat for 5 rounds. Have fun and be safe!

San Francisco Bay Times welcomes Troy Macfarland of Fitness SF as a contributor. Troy provides monthly tips he’s learned from his colleagues who are professional trainers at local gyms.

He can be reached at tmacfarland@fitnesssf.com

The Women’s World Cup also brings to the fore ongoing sexism and the need to keep working to secure equal opportunity and pay for women.

With all the honor and ecstasy the U.S. soccer champions generated, their victory marked only the first time in history that a women’s sports team was feted with a Manhattan ticker-tape parade. Over 25 million people watched the women’s finale on TV, creating record ratings and more viewers than have ever tuned in to any men’s soccer event. Yet the day after the big game, cultural history professor Amy Bass commented in an article for CNN: “As in most every realm in society, women play second f iddle in the world of soccer. Unlike the men, they play on artificial turf. The now embattled head of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, suggested ‘tighter shorts’ might be the way to better popularizing the women’s game. Their paychecks are smaller, and their media coverage lags behind men’s.”

The average salary for a U.S. men’s soccer league player is $305,000 compared to $14,000 for a woman.

The World Cup men’s winners from Germany were awarded $35 million while the American women received $2 million. While working women in the U.S. still make 77 cents on average for every dollar a man is paid, the tiny fraction even world champion female soccer players earn compared to men is just outrageous and incredulous.

Against the backdrop of the Supreme Court rulings, Abby Wabach’s heroic same-sex kiss has brought home—literally right into millions of homes— new realities that all of our social change efforts are bringing about.

There is no turning back each new progressive law of this land, and no undoing that victorious kiss!

Jamie Leno Zimron is an LPGA Pro, Aikido 5th Degree Black Belt, and Corporate Speaker-Trainer. Please check out her website: http://www.thekiaiway.com BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 20, 2015

23

See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com

compiled by Robert Fuggiti

• 20 : T HURSDAY

Marlena’s Love Roast - SF LGBT Center. $20. 6 pm. (1800 Market St.) Openhouse honors the life and work of legendary public figure Absolute Empress XXV Marlena. www.sfcenter.org Each and Every Thing - The Marsh. $25-$100. 8 pm. (1062 Valencia St.) The newest solo show from award-winning actor/playwright Dan Hoyle about how we experience the world in the digital age. Closing Night! www.themarsh.org Comedy Returns to El Rio - El Rio. $7-$20. 8 pm. (3158 Mission St.) This month features Karinda Dobbins, Nathan Habib, Bernadette Luckett, Jeremy Talamantes, and Lisa Geduldig. www.elriosf.com

• 21 : F RIDAY

The Killer Queens - Slim’s. $15-$45. 8 pm. (333 11th St.) Enjoy an evening with the world’s only all female Queen tribute group. www.slimspresents.com Stereotypo - The Marsh Theater. $20-$100. 8 pm. (1063 Valencia St.) A series of hilarious monologues, often moving, sometimes dangerous,

“Company” will be at SF Playhouse through September 12. all set at America’s melting pot, the DMV. Extended through October 3. www.themarsh.org Everybody Gets Lei’d - 9th Street Independent Film Center. $15-$25. 8 pm. (145 9th St.) Enjoy a night of improv sketch comedy from local Bay Area talent. www.comegetleid.eventbrite.com

• 22 : S ATURDAY

Lesbian Poets Reading Laurel Bookstore. Free. 7 pm. (1423 Broadway, Oakland) Lesbian poets Joan Annsfire and Giovanna Capone will be reading selections of their powerful poetry featured in their new collections, Distant Dreams and In My Neighborhood. www.laurelbookstore.com Annual Hotbed Gala - Giardini Del Paradiso. $400. 7 pm. (2900 Paradise Dr, Tiburon) The Drever Family Foundation’s annual Hotbed Gala, featuring live auctions, art gallery, fashion show, and celebrity hosts Sharon Stone and Joe Jonas. www.hotbedbenefit.com Restraint & Revolution: The Art of Adare & All Things Yummy - Participate in an evening exploring sex, gender, disability, age, body-modification, and the last taboos of the 21st century. www.sexandculture.org

• 23 : S UNDAY

What is the Scandal? - Victoria Theatre. $35. 6 pm. (2961 16th St.) Award-winning actress, Eliana López, returns to the stage to introduce her one-woman show that explores the human side of the political scandal and the subsequent trial against her husband, San Francisco Sheriff, Ross Mirakarimi.

August 21 through September 6. www.elianalopez.net 24

BAY TIMES AUGU S T 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

Solo Sundays - Stage Werx. $12$25. 7 pm. (446 Valencia St.) Solo Sundays, San Francisco’’s premier monthly showcase, presents select samplings of veteran virtuosos and top emerging talent in the intimate Stage Werx theatre. www.solosundays.com

Locally - The Commonwealth Club. Free for members/$7 nonmembers. 6 pm. (555 Post St.) Michael Morgan and several other composers and conductors will discuss the significance of locally grown music. www.commonwealthclub.org

LeAnn Rimes - Davies Symphony Hall. $20-$95. 7:30 pm. (201 Van Ness Ave.) Country and pop phenom LeAnn Rimes comes to Davies Symphony Hall for a spirited concert of her infectious hit songs, like “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” and “How Do I Live.” www.sfsymphony.org

Dirty Old Women: Celebrating Sex for Life - The Octopus Literary Saloon. Free. 7:45 pm. (2101 Webster St., Oakland) Dirty Old Women, a monthly series at Octopus, celebrates erotic writing by self-identified older women of all orientations. www.oaklandoctopus.org

• 24 : M ONDAY

Funny Tuesdays – Harvey’s.

Free. 9 pm. (500 Castro St.) Ronn Vigh hosts an LGBT comedy night. www.harveyssf.com.

Portraits and Other Likenesses – Museum of the African Diaspora. $10. 11 am to 6 pm. (685 Mission St.) A unique exhibit bringing together approximately 50 carefully selected artworks that explore the dynamic role of portraiture in modern and contemporary art. Through October 11. www.moadsf.org LGBT Sangha – SF LGBT Center. Free. 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

(1800 Market St.) All are welcome to join for a mindful meditation and spiritual practice. www.sfcenter.org Singing for Our Lives: Music in the Time of AIDS - The Commonwealth Club. Free for members/$7 non-members. 6 pm.

(555 Post St.) Jon Bailey, Artistic Director of the Gay Men’s Chorus of LA share how the power of music has affected and healed those living with HIV/AIDS. www.commonwealthclub.org

• 25 : T UESDAY

Orchestra Music Grown

• 26 : W EDNESDAY Castro Farmers’ Market – Noe St. at Market. Free. 4 pm to 8 pm. (Noe St. at Market) Enjoy fresh produce and locally made foods and delicacies. Happening every Wednesday through December. www.pcfma.com.

LGBT Intercollegiate Alumni Happy Hour - Beaux.

Free. 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. (2344 Market St.) Come and grab a drink (or two) with your fellow alums at Beaux. www.tigernet.princeton.edu Last Drag - SF LGBT Center.

Free. 7 pm. (1800 Market St.) The final class of a 7-week free quit smoking class for LGBT and HIV positive smokers who are ready to become nonsmokers. www.sfcenter.org

• 27 : T HURSDAY

Disclosure - PianoFight. $20. 7 pm.

(144 Taylor St.) An original drama by local playwright Carol S. Lashof,

Petaluma Health Center. Free. 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. (1179 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma) An LGBT support group meeting every Monday. www. phealthcenter.org

What Ever Werx - Stage Werx. $10. 7:30 pm. (446 Valencia St.) A monthly, cabaret style night of performances. www.stagewerx.com

Queer Ancestors Project Art Exhibition - LGBT Center.

Free. 6 pm to 8:30 pm. (1800 Market St.) An exhibition of prints by queer artists age 18 to 26.

Through September 23. www.sfcenter.org

The Barbary Coast Revue – Balancoire. $15-$64. 8 pm. (2565 Mission St.) An exciting musical with colorful characters and music you can sing along to. Through September 24. www.barbarycoastrevue.com

Monday Night Sketch – Stage Werx. $5. 8 pm. (446 Valencia St.) Enjoy a spotlight of Bay Area LGBT sketch theater. Happening every Monday night. www.stagewerx.org

• 28 : F RIDAY

• 1 : T UESDAY

Friday Night Market - United Nations Plaza. Free. 5 pm. (Market St. and Hyde St.) The Night Market attracts nearby workers, neighborhood residents, students and visitors alike to spend Friday evenings eating, drinking, shopping, dancing and listening to music in the historic plaza. www.fridaynightmarketsf.org

BEN, Castro Group - Castro Community Room. Free for GGBA members. 11 am. (501 Castro St.) GGBA’s Business Exchange Network (BEN) is a category exclusive referral group designed to help members grow their referralbased business. www.ggba.org

1 2 3 - Tides Theater. $20. 8 pm.

(533 Sutter St.) 1 2 3 is a dark, funny drama about a rift between sisters and what it takes to grow up. Through September 5. www.sfplayhouse.org Breaking the Code – Eureka Theatre. $10. 8 pm. (215 Jackson St.) Breaking the Code by Hugh Whitemore is a gripping biographical drama about homosexual scientist Alan Turing. Through August 29. www.therhino.org

• 29 : S ATURDAY

Street Requiem - Old First Presbyterian Church. $15-$50. 2 pm.

(1751 Sacremento St.) A multimovement concert that aims to bring a sense of peace, remembrance, and hope to communities struggling with homelessness, poverty, war, hatecrime and street violence. www.streetrequiemca.treamapp. com

Pride Skate: LGBT Roller Disco – Church of 8 Wheels. $10.

7 pm to 10 pm. (554 Fillmore St.) An LGBT roller skating disco happening every Tuesday night! 415752-1967

• 2 : W EDNESDAY

2015 - 2016 Opera Preview Lecture - SF Public Library. Free.

12 pm. (100 Larkin St.) These 90-minute sessions feature noted musicologists, composers, and singers and are sponsored by the Bay Area’s Opera Guild Chapters. www.sfpl.org Meditation Group - Hormel Center, SF Public Library. Free. 12 pm. (100 Larkin St.) Take a break to practice wakefulness and tranquility.

Happening every Wednesday. www.sfpl.org Barbara Gittings: Gay Pioneer - SF Public Library. Free. 6 pm. (100 Larkin St.) Tracy Baim will be at the library to discuss and sign copies of her new book. www.sfpl.org

30 Years of Collecting Art That Tells Our Stories – GLBT History Museum. Free. 11 am to 7 pm. (4127 18th St.) Take a look back in history with this new exhibition by guest curator Elisabeth Cornu. www.glbthistory.org

Absol utely Fabulous Tours

B ook a W in e T our N ow!

This A T August at The Market!

August is live music month at the Castro Farmers’ Market! We have an array of local performers including Suzanne Holland, Mama Mia, Lily Holbrook, and Chris Clarke & Co. coming out. Stop by the market to enjoy some sweet summertime tunes!

PAMELA SOAPS has some lovely varieties of soaps, lotions, and other body products. Check out their new natural bug spray and extra moisturizing facial soaps!

RAINBOW ORCHARDS brings late season blueberries and blackberries. Also, their wonderful Arkansas Black and Pippin apples will be arriving any day.

ALPINE BLUE will be back in September with kiwis & walnuts!

MARKET MATCH! Don't forget to use your CalFresh/EBT dollars at the market and get a match up to $10 for additional money to spend on seasonal fruits and veggies. pcfma.com/castro

1.800.949.FARM F

fb.com/castrofarmersmarket

DESIGN : LOGOMAN : logomantotherescue.com

directed by Rem Myers. Through August 29.

ThoseWomenProductions@gmail. com

LGBT Owned 100% customizable Group/Private Tours

707-320-8043 Serving the LGBT community and their allies sue@absolutelyfabuloustours.com www.absolutelyfabuloustours.com

Muttville’s Senior Prom - San Francisco Design Center. $75+.

6:30 pm to 10:30 pm. (101 Henry Adams St.) Senior Prom benefits Muttville’s adoptable senior dogs, aged seven years and older. www.events.muttville.org ¡Chile Con Comedy Fiesta! Magnet. Free. 8 pm. (4122 18th St.) Join hostess with the most-mess, Chile Con Consuela, as she brings a diverse lineup of some of the Bay’s funniest comics to San Francisco’s premiere sexual health services clinic, Magnet! www.jesusubettawork.com

• 30 : S UNDAY

Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike - Novato Theater Company. $27. 2 pm. (5420 Nave Drive, Novato) Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play, Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike tells the story of unforgettable family reunion filled with rivalry, regret, and racket.

Through September 20. www.novatotheatercompany.org Company - SF Playhouse. $20. 2 pm. (450 Post St.) Steven Sondheim’s game-changing musical is a sophisticated and honest look at modern, adult relationships.

Through September 12. www.sfplayhouse.org Best Female Crooner Contest - Martuni’s. Free. 7 pm to 9 pm. (4 Valencia St.) A live, allfemale vocalist competition with cash prize. 415-241-0205

• 31 : M ONDAY

LGBTQ Support Group –

Wednesdays: what’s for dinner? $10 DINNER

SPECIAL MENU Michael & Wendy invite you to come for dinner at Sweet Inspiration $10 special price does not include drinks and dessert.

Sweet Inspiration Bakery Cafe

2239 Market Street, San Francisco 415/621-8664 sweetinspirationbakery.com BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 20, 2015

25

HONOR WALK (continued from page 11)

WEDDINGS (continued from page 17)

By the time they again visited San Francisco in 1940, they had been divorced for a year. He came to paint Pan American Unity, a 75-by-22-foot mural now on display at the City College of San Francisco. On Sunday, December 8, they remarried at San Francisco City Hall. The rapture was short lived, however, although their union, living together or apart, lasted until Kahlo died in 1954.

formulation of the same argument— namely that the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s requiring her to follow the Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision violated her First Amendment right to the “free exercise” of her religion. Judge Bunning noted that “free exercise” claims may pertain to two different things: a person’s “freedom to believe,” which is “absolute,” or a person’s freedom to “act” on such a belief, which is far from absolute. “[T]he protection of society” requires that people are not always free to act on whatever their religious beliefs might be.

Painting became her salvation. Enduring 32 operations in 30 years for her injuries, bedridden for months at a time, and often betrayed by her husband’s infidelities, she used her art to reveal the physical and emotional anguish that she lived with for most of her life. As Janet Landay, curator of exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, explained, “Kahlo made personal women’s experiences serious subjects for art, but because of their intense emotional content, her paintings transcend gender boundar-

ies. Intimate and powerful, they demand that viewers—men and women—be moved by them.” Not only does she enable us to see what she saw, she compels us to feel what she felt.

By allowing us to peer through her paintings into her psychological state, her heart and soul, Kahlo reaches out through her work to bring us into a mutual, shared world. We feel the emotions surrounding her pain and misery, her melancholy and regret for the human condition. Although, for her, existence was physical suffering and emotional sorrow was the failure of the body and the duplicity of love, she tells us that life can succeed despite great and constant adversity.

Through her art, she shows us her humanity. That we care shows us ours.

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

ROSTOW (continued from page 13) caucus meetings for posting on Facebook during the sessions and Courser stopped going to the meetings in solidarity. One of their aides quit over the mess.

Now it gets weird. At some point, Courser feared the affair would become public, so in May, he decided to spread a rumor that he had been caught doing drugs and paying for gay sex. The idea was to make himself the victim of a witch-hunt in order to distract from any future accusations.

Caught by an aide on audiotape, he called the plan a “controlled fire.”

The aide refused to go along with the scam, but Courser himself sent anonymous emails to party leaders and the press “leaking” the salacious story.

In July, both remaining staffers are fired, including the guy who refused

to send the fake email. He had conveniently taped the original conversation.

Somehow, the whole thing blew up in early August, at which point both lawmakers posed with their spouses and asked everyone for forgiveness.

Gamrat claimed she had nothing to do with the drug and gay sex story, while Courser claimed he invented the scuttlebutt as a ruse to smoke out someone who was blackmailing him over the affair.

Both now insist they will not be “forced” out of office by their adversaries and are relying on Christian good will and understanding or something. The whole thing is unbelievable, and I do believe they have outdone Kim Davis for worst scumbags of the canicular weeks. arostow@aol.com

Under Supreme Court precedent, government actions that are “neutral” and apply “generally” to everyone and are not intended to target a person’s religious beliefs rarely if ever violate the First Amendment.

Judge Bunning observed here that Kentucky’s “goal is simply to ensure that the activities of the Commonwealth are consistent with U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence” and did not “aim to suppress” religion. The Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision applies neutrally to everyone with respect to the civil institution of marriage and has nothing to do with

targeting the religion of Ms. Davis or anyone else. Quoting the Supreme Court, Judge Bunning stated “that an individual’s religious beliefs do not ‘excuse…[a person] from compliance with an otherwise valid law…’” and that Kentucky clearly has interest in ensuring the rule of law and protecting its citizens’ constitutional right to “‘personal choice regarding marriage…inherent in the concept of individual’” freedom.

Judge Bunning also held correctly that the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (“RFRA”), at issue in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision, did not apply here because the statute applied only to actions of the federal government, and not to state and local governments.

Similarly, the Judge rejected Davis’ claim that the Commonwealth had violated Kentucky’s state RFRA statute, modeled after the federal RFRA. In explaining his reasoning regarding the state RFRA, Judge Bunning summarized well his entire opinion in the case.

As Rowan County clerk, Kim Davis is merely “asked to signify that couples meet the legal requirements to marry.

SISTER DANA (continued from page 22) “Those Beautiful Girls” from the Pendergast, Chair, Public Policy musical Follies. An absolutely stunning Committee, who then introduced evening! Sister Dana sez, “Do catch Monetta White, urging more LGBTQ the latest brunch show of Sunday’s a people to come enjoy her restaurant Drag - because it’s anything but!” star- and live jazz. Joe D’Alessandro, President and CEO of the San lightroomsf.com Francisco Convention & Visitors The GOLDEN GATE BUSINESS Bureau, reminded everyone that the ASSOCIATION (GGBA) held their National Football League has monthly MAKE CONTACT evening announced that the San Francisco Bay of networking and jazz music courtesy Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee of Google, Chef David Lawrence, will include Bay Area LGBT-certified and proprietor Monetta White at businesses in its Business Connect prothe legendary 1300 on Fillmore club. gram for contracting opportunities Jazz entertainment was provided by related to the Super Bowl championThe Hogan Brothers. The Fillmore ship game to be held at Levi’s Stadium Jazz District was a national center for on February 7, 2016. At the Make jazz during the 1940s and 1950s when Contact event, they distributed the latit was known as the “Harlem of the est summer edition of the LGBTQ West” and attracted many leading jazz directory, Pride Pages. luminaries including Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Ella The GGBA Annual Meeting/ Board Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and the Elections/ Make Contact event is “Bird” (Charlie Parker). Fillmore Tuesday, September 8th, 5-8pm, Street was filled with nightclubs, and venue to be announced. Find out what 1300 on Fillmore brings back that the GGBA has been doing to bring glory! In 2007, Chef David Lawrence business opportunities to their memand Monetta White opened the doors bers. This will also be Board election of 1300 on Fillmore with the mission night for seven Board seats, and bylaws to serve “Inventive Southern” cuisine, update approval by members. and bring every country, culture, and ggba.com class a little taste of comfort dining.

SEX PANIC: The History of the 1300 on Fillmore dishes up modern San Francisco Bathhouse Cloriffs on Southern classics with topsures was a program hosted by and at notch ingredients, creative libations, THE GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIlive music, and a posh supper club ETY in their Castro museum. In vibe. Prepared as interpreted by inter1984, the controversy over bathhouses nationally recognized Chef Lawrence, and the AIDS crisis, sexual freedom, he combines classic French training and public health erupted into a politiwith Southern flavors using fresh, cal battle. Accompanying a skyrocketCalifornia seasonal ingredients. ing increase in AIDS deaths, a fight GGBA is the first business organiza- erupted within the gay community, tion founded by LGBT entrepreneurs. City Hall, and the medical community The GGBA is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, - fueling passions on all sides. A membership-driven organization con- vibrant sex culture collapsed, and the sisting of over 350 business entities, aftermath affects us 30 years later. community organizations, and indi- Buzz Bense, sex educator, activist, viduals. Board member JP Leddy and erotic art collector, presented a acted as emcee. He spoke about the multimedia presentation on this topic.

National LGBT Chamber of Bense moved to San Francisco in 1979 Commerce. He introduced Paul and lived here through the plague

The State is not asking her to condone same-sex unions on moral or religious grounds, nor is it restricting her from engaging in a variety of religious activities. Davis remains free to practice her Apostolic Christian beliefs. She may continue to attend church twice a week, participate in Bible Study and minister to female inmates at the Rowan County Jail. She is even free to believe that marriage is a union between one man and one woman, as many Americans do. However, her religious convictions cannot excuse her from performing the duties that she took an oath to perform as Rowan County Clerk.”

We look to Judge Bunning’s incisive decision to serve as an example to other courts as they are asked to consider similar issues and to fulfill their duty to ensure compliance with the rule of law and respect for the constitutional rights of all Americans, including LGBT Americans.

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008.

They are leaders in the nationwide grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA. years. In 1986, he opened the sex club 890 Folsom; he was also the founder and owner of Eros.

Coming Up! 20TH ANNIVERSARY DRAG KING CONTEST is Thursday August 20th, 9:30pm. This fun mucho macho pageant is co-hosted by Sister Roma & Fudgie Frottage at SF Oasis. FYI, the very concept of a drag KING contest all started right here in EssEff ! sfoasis.com EMPRESS MARLENA’S LOVE ROAST is August 20th at the SF LGBT Community Center at 6pm.

Empress Marlena XXV is a true SF legend who held drag central at her bar, Marlena’s, for both the veteran and the newbie drag queens and friends. Yours truly will offer a special prayer, along with many fabulous roasters. openhouse-sf.org/marlena THE SPIRITUAL PURPOSE OF AGING is August 27th at the LGBT Community Center, 6pm. This is the first of three LGBTQI experiential workshops you can come to - any or all! First one will feature Dr. Nader Shabahanger, co-founder of Age Song, a pioneer in the development of elder care.

27TH ANNUAL GAPA RUNWAY PAGEANT is Saturday September 12th, 6pm at the Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason. The theme is “Under the Sea.” Find out who will compete and who will become the next Mr. & Ms GAPA! gapasf.eventbrite.com Sister Dana sez, “Social Security is having its 80th birthday. Social Security is the most successful anti-poverty program in American history. For 80 years, Social Security has been there for America’s seniors, people with disabilities, children, and veterans. Conservatives want to cut, privatize, and destroy it. Progressives want to expand it. Go figure!”

KRAMER (continued from page 22) have changed over the past thirty years, and what they owe one another, is especially touching. Weitz mines this scene for humor as well, with the pair smoking a joint together, as a way of remembering their past and dealing with the present. More importantly, the encounter provides Elle with some soul-searching moments that Sage can also relate to. The parallels add a layer of poignancy.

If Sage’s character is the force that drives the story, she is more a straight (wo)man for Elle, who bulldozes her way into every scene. A visit to a cafe 26

BAY TIMES AUGU S T 2 0 , 2 0 1 5

where her friend Carla (the late Elizabeth Peña) works has Elle acting out and lashing out, leaving a stunned Sage in her wake. It shows how Elle’s behavior is not always admirable.

If the story is episodic, Grandma is consistently fun because Tomlin makes Elle’s hard demeanor refreshing.

When Judy enters the picture—and Marcia Gay Harden plays the protective momma bear role to the shrewish hilt—there perhaps is a justification for Elle’s attitude, but the mother/ daughter bonds seem real.

The film thankfully does not cop out in its final moments, even when it threatens to become warm and fuzzy.

Grandma delivers the laughs thanks to Tomlin’s crackerjack timing and its cogent observations about feminism and sisterhood. © 2015 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer

Round About - All Over Town

Photos by RINK

The window at Dogo Love, a new canine accessories and home comfort store on Castro Street with two bulldogs in the front window

Afro Solo Festival executive director Thomas Robert Simpson with percussionist Linda Livingston

Members of the Imperial Court, in formal mourning clothes, attended a memorial vigil in memory of Emperor Fernando Robles that was held at Harvey Milk Plaza on Saturday, July 25.

Two Spirit Native American activist and SF Department of Public Health staffer Derek Smith with safer sex kits handed out at the Up Your Percussionist Linda Livingston playing with the D-Hook Band Alley Fair

Percussionist Linda Livingston played drums with the D-Hook Band at the Afro Solo Festival concert at Yerba Buena Gardens on Saturday, August 1.

Percussionist Linda Livingston with D-Hook Band members Reggie Brown, Daryl Bishop, Lorenzo Macon and Rod Conner along with Afro Solo Festival executive director Thomas Robert Simpson

Sister Regina Terror, Joe Alfano of the Sisters, Frank Capley and Sister Asa Zsa at the Up Your Alley Fair Participants back stage at the Up Your Alley Fair

Happy Boy Farms’ staffer Scott served up samples of the tasty Crenshaw Melon at the Castro Farmers Market

Participants at the Up Your Alley Fair

Volunteer beverage servers at the Up Your Alley Fair

Volunteer cocktail servers at the Up Your Alley Fair

Sundance Saloon of San Francisco members danced at Jane Warner Plaza in the Castro in a benefit, coordinated by Bare Chest Calendar Men, supporting AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF), Positive Resource Center (PRC) and the Sundance Foundation.

Representatives of non-profit beneficiaries and friends at the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence beer bust held at Eagle Tavern

Police commissioner Julius Turman (right) and a volunteer collected contributions at the Up Your Alley Fair.

Medics at the Up Your Alley Fair

Queer Ancestors Project coordinator Katie Gilmartin Dancers from Sundance Saloon SF at and patron Nathan Yergler Jane Warner Plaza

Event coordinator Katie Gilmartin speaking at the Queer Ancestor Project print making show opening at the SF LGBT Community Center

Empress Khmera Rouge and Emperor Kevin Lisle Sister Jendra Uforia and Sister Plush ofArtist Onyinye Alheri and her art at the Artist Weyam Ghadbian and her at the Mr and Miss Golden Gate Gaymes benefit fered confessions, hoola hoop rides and Queer Ancestors Project art at the Queer Ancestors Project for the SF Imperial Court held in Collingwood Park other services at Harvey Milk Plaza BAY   T IM ES AUGUS T 20, 2015

27

28

BAY TIMES AUGU S T 2 0 , 2 0 1 5