San Francisco Bay Times February 25, 2016-b

February 25-March 9, 2016 | www.sfbaytimes.com

/SF Bay Times

/SFBayTimes

Emperor Kevin Lisle & Empress Khmera Rouge, Reigning Monarchs of San Francisco

See pages 14-15

PHOTO BY GARETH GOOCH PHOTOGRAPHY

51st San Francisco Imperial Court Coronation

A C A D E M Y

O F

F R I E N D S

P R E S E N T S

ACADEMY AWARDS NIGHT GALA BENEFITTING SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA HIV / AIDS ORGANIZATIONS

A GATHERING OF

ROYALS

FEBRUARY 28, 2016 5:00 O’CLOCK TO 10:00 PLUS SECRET AFTER HOURS PARTY —————————————————————————————

SAN FRANCISCO DESIGN CENTER 101 HENRY ADAMS STREET

THE PLACE

TO WATCH THE OSCARS IN SAN FRANCISCO” —ADVOCATE MAGAZINE

TICKETS: ACADEMY OF FRIENDS.ORG

2

BAY TIMES F EBRUARY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

William Salit Design

—————————————————————————————

In the News

music

Mayor Lee Announces Police Department Reforms Mayor Ed Lee this week announced a package of police reforms to increase public safety, build greater trust between police officers and the community and make the department more responsive, transparent and accountable. The reforms include the creation of a new Bureau of Professional Standards & Principled Policing, major expansions to the Crisis Intervention Team network, new prohibitions on the use of firearms in specific circumstances, and a new Community Safety Initiative to recruit young people from San Francisco neighborhoods most impacted by violence to work with the Department to improve community trust.

Joe Hollendoner Appointed New SFAF Chief Executive Officer Joe Hollendoner, MSW, has been appointed CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation, bringing more than 15 years of leadership experience to the role, most recently as First Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), the nation’s third largest health department. Prior to his work in the public sector, Hollendoner was in executive leadership roles at Chicago’s two largest private HIV services providers: as Senior Vice President at AIDS Foundation of Chicago and as Vice President/Chief Program Officer at Howard Brown Health Center. sfaf.org Openly Lesbian BART Board Member to Run for Reelection Openly lesbian Rebecca Saltzman has announced she is running for reelection to the BART Board in this November’s election. “BART is now focused on reinvesting in our core system, to ensure that it is reliable and can continue to serve a growing Bay Area,” said Saltzman. “Through the leadership of the BART-AC Transit Interagency Liaison Committee, which I co-chair, BART and AC Transit have made significant progress towards improving the rider experience between the two agencies. And recently, the BART Board passed an affordable housing policy that I fought for, in order to ensure that development at BART helps all members of our communities.” rebeccaforbart.com After More Than 90 Years, Sullivan’s Funeral Home Says Goodbye to The Castro At the end of this month, longtime Market Street staple Sullivan’s Funeral Home will close its doors and relocate to Daly City. Established in 1924, the business had been one of a handful of funeral homes left within city limits. It was also known as one of the few funeral homes in the city that would handle the funerals of victims during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. In its place will be a new mixed-use development that will include underground parking, 45 residential units and a unique plan to retain the funeral home structure, considered a historical resource that will likely be used for retail space. hoodline.com Longtime Castro Travel Agent Peter Greene Dies Peter Greene, the longtime owner of the Castro travel agency Now, Voyager, died in Palm Springs at the age of 61. A year ago, he had reopened in a new location after both the business and its owners were evicted from the former location on 18th Street near Douglass several years ago. Greene launched Now, Voyager in 1983 with Jonathan Klein, but after the eviction, Klein took his own life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Greene moved to a

dance

theater

Cal Performances

By Dennis McMillan

U N I V E R S I T Y

trailer in Palm Springs, but continued to hope to return to San Francisco.

He had been living with AIDS for decades, and passed away from what one friend said was liver failure from hepatitis B. hoodline.com Equality California Sponsors Two Bills Combating Anti-LGBT Discrimination Equality California is sponsoring two bills authored by openly gay Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) that would prohibit the use of state funds to support entities that allow discrimination by creating exemptions based on religious beliefs. AB 1887 would ban state-funded travel to any state with a law in effect that sanctions or requires discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. AB 1888 would require all institutions receiving CalGrant dollars to certify to the California Student Aid Commission that they do not discriminate on the basis of, among other things, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. These institutions also would be prohibited from seeking a Title IX waiver from the U.S. Department of Education as a condition of receiving state funds. eqca.org Openly Lesbian Rebecca Kaplan Elected as Chair of Alameda CTC The Alameda County Transportation Commission board unanimously elected Oakland Vice Mayor and San Francisco Bay Times columnist Rebecca Kaplan as Alameda CTC’s new Chairperson. The 22-member Alameda CTC is comprised of elected leaders throughout Alameda County, with the cities, the county, BART and AC Transit, working to plan, fund and deliver transportation projects that create jobs, improve the quality of life and improve transportation access and sustainability throughout the region.

Kaplan has served on the Alameda CTC since it was created, and served on the merger committee as well.

Combining the two previous countywide agencies into one strengthens transportation planning and also saving taxpayers money. oaklandnet.com Supervisor Wiener Calls for Raising Tobacco Purchase Age to 21 The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors this week voted to raise the tobacco purchasing age in the city from 18 to 21. The legislation, proposed by Supervisor Scott Wiener, follows similar efforts in New York and Hawaii. The legislation, which has received support from The American Heart Association and other health advocacy groups, will now be voted upon by the full Board of Supervisors next Tuesday, March 2.

EQCA and Trevor Project Sponsor Bill Mandating Suicide Prevention Plans in California Schools Equality California and The Trevor Project are sponsoring a bill introduced by Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach) that would require local school districts statewide to adopt plans to prevent teen suicides. AB 2246 would require local school boards to adopt plans on suicide prevention for students attending grades 7 to 12. These plans would be developed together with suicide prevention experts, parents, student advocates and school mental health professionals. The bill also would require the state Department of (continued on page 26)

O F

C A L I F O R N I A ,

2015/16

S E A S O N

B E R K E L E Y

The Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Celebrity Recital

Renée Fleming, soprano “Renée Fleming is a true diva. Her sumptuous soprano, dazzling technique, and glamorous persona make her the complete package.”

—Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

March 5 Z E L L E R BA CH HAL L Part of the Koret Recital Series

Mark Morris Dance Group

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale

L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato

“L’Allegro is heavenly, from start to finish.”

—Daily Telegraph

Music: Handel Choreography: Mark Morris Nicholas McGegan, conductor

March 11–13 Z E L L E RBA CH HAL L

Trajal Harrell

The Ghost of Montpellier Meets the Samurai The inventive and irreverent choreographer Trajal Harrell explores the human passion for art.

“Subtly brilliant” —Village Voice

March 18 & 19 Z E L L E R BA CH P L AY HOUS E

Buika “She has a husky, layered and imperious voice, something like Nina Simone’s but more flexible and virtuosic.”

—The New York Times

March 19 Z E L L E R BA CH HAL L

Montreal Symphony Orchestra Daniil Trifonov, piano

Kent Nagano, conductor DEBUSSY PROKOFIEV STRAVINSKY

Jeux Piano Concerto No. 3 The Rite of Spring

March 26 Z E L L E R BA CH HAL L

calperformances.org 510.642.9988

Season Sponsor:

BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

3

Profiles for

Brett Andrews, Executive Director, Positive Resource Center

PHOTO BY RINK

mea n i n g of l i fe, only to come home and hear the answer from his mentor, “We must cultivate our own garden.” I seek to do just that.

It’s very clear, we have come a long way, and one would assume with such a long journey that we are nearing the end, and that is simply not so. I remain hopeful and encouraged.

PHOTO BY DUANE CRAMER

S a n Fr a n c i s c o Bay Times: Okay, now we’re going to have a bit of fun. How about a few rapid-fire questions?

Brett Andrews is in his thirteenth year as Executive Director of Positive Resource Center (PRC), but his charismatic youthful charm and sharp intellect have not waned a bit, helping to explain the long-standing success of the non-profit. It remains the only place in San Francisco for people living with or at risk for HIV/ AIDS to get comprehensive benefits counseling and employment services.

Prior to his work at PRC, Andrews was the Executive Director of Los Angeles-based Team Mentoring, Inc., during which time he strengthened mentoring of middle school students from underserved areas.

We marvel at how many people he has helped over the years, seeming to always fill needed voids within communities. We are honored to highlight his work for Black History Month, and had a great time connecting with him recently. He told us to ask anything, and we found him to be incredibly honest, candid, and with a smile and personality that could light up any room.

San Francisco Bay Times: One of the great joys of publishing an LGBT-focused newspaper is having an opportunity to meet interesting, compelling, and sometimes even provocative people. First, we want to hear a little about your background.

Are you ready?

Brett Andrews: I’m ready. Be gentle!

San Francisco Bay Times: Are you originally from the Bay Area?

Brett Andrews: I was born in Niagara Falls, New York, but I was raised in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Sa n Fra ncisco Bay Ti mes: What was your first job?

Brett Andrews: My first job was as the friendly neighborhood paperboy. I have fond memories of delivering newspapers on my Huffy bicycle, with a wad of Bubblicious grape bubble gum in my mouth, talking (or singing) to myself, and barely able to say, “You’re welcome,” after their, “Thank you’s.”

Sa n Fra ncisco Bay Ti mes: What do you miss about your childhood?

Brett Andrews: I think I was a very happy, imaginative and precocious child—sometimes to my mother’s dismay. My mother always said, “I love you, but your head is always

4

in the clouds.” I later came to realize that was her sweet but disciplined way of saying that I was too optimistic about everything, and that things are not always as they seem. In retrospect, I realize that I did see the world through rose-colored glasses, and in many respects, still do. On balance, I think it has come to serve me well.

Sa n Fra ncisco Bay Ti mes: Where did you attend college?

Brett A ndrews: Pennsylvania State University (Go Lions!) and George Washington University.

Sa n Fra ncisco Bay Ti mes: When did you experience your f irst serious romantic relationship?

Brett Andrews: Funny you should ask. I was a junior/senior in college.

His name was Rodney. He was, and still is, dreamy. I worked very hard to engineer that boyfriend outcome.

First, I found a way to get him hired as a waiter in the same restaurant I was working, and when he had a housing issue, I got him to agree to live together. We were the exact same size and shared clothes and shoes—we had a blast!

San Francisco Bay Times: Are you still friends?

Brett Andrews: Absolutely. He lives in New York with his husband Rob and they have a doggy child named Jackson.

Sa n Fra ncisco Bay Ti mes: Okay, let’s take a turn. How d id you get into nonprof it work?

Brett Andrews: I was living in New York in the early 90s, and was quite displeased with my job. After work and on weekends, I volunteered for a non-profit named Kid’s N’ U, Inc, supported by Michael Kors. The Executive Director at the time was ready to move on, and Michael asked me to provide volunteer management leadership until they found a suitable replacement. I enjoyed the work so much, I went to him and his business partner John and asked if they would consider me for the Executive Director position. They said, “Our prayers are answered—yes.” I had no idea what I was getting myself into at the time. The rest is nonprofit history that is still being written.

Sa n Fra ncisco Bay Ti mes: What is the most rewarding and challenging thing about your current job?

BAY TIMES F EBRUARY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

Brett Andrews: Often the challenge for me is seeing, first-hand, the depth and breadth of need in our community and the lack of adequate resources that are available to address the various needs. It can make me a bit blue, at times. Though, I’m never too far from that optimistic and imaginative kid, so it doesn’t take me too long to pivot and turn to solution-mode. Often it involves identifying the right resources, and making sure they get to the folks who need them the most—now that’s rewarding.

San Francisco Bay Times: We love Positive Resource Center and the great work you all do over there. What’s new?

Brett Andrews: This is such an exciting time for the agency’s programs. Over the past 5 years, the organization has experienced a 9% average rate of growth, expanding by 25% just this past year. For our Benef its Counseling Program, a great portion of the expansion is due to the Affordable Care Act roll out, and for our Employment Services Program, increased capacity comes from increased State fee rates and local community development funding from some of the new real estate development.

I’m quickly reminded of your last question of challenges in the job. As you are well aware, the San Francisco economy is booming, and with that comes increased commercial rents that have impacted so many non-profits, and PRC was not immune. Over the past year, our rent increased by 25%. We have made occupancy a priority goal in our 2015–2017 Strategic Plan. In an effort to stabilize our current occupancy situation, we’ve hired consultants to assist us in a feasibility study that has helped us think about occupancy in the long-term, whether buying or long-term leasing.

San Francisco Bay Times: The latest spurt of medical innovation and advancement in the world of HIV is the introduction PrEP as prevention. What are your thoughts about PrEP? Brett Andrews: For those of us who have been around a while, we have heard the “for and against” arguments before, and they are still happening—birth control and condoms being two clear examples. I believe when it comes to one’s health, and I would argue those are pretty high stakes, any prevention intervention that has the ability to lower

Brett Andrews on the 10 Percent TV program

one’s chances of contracting HIV is a good thing. And, not to cloud the issue with science and facts, but studies have shown 100% efficacy with daily adherence. It is hard to argue with science.

San Francisco Bay Times: As if PRC doesn’t keep you busy enough, we see that you are also the Vice Chair of the SF Ethics Commission. Tell us a little more about your work on the Commission.

Brett Andrews: The Commission’s work is very consequential to the underlying values and highest aspirations of San Francisco. Our charge is to practice and promote the highest standards of ethical behavior in government. The Commission possesses the unique authority to independently place legislation on the ballot. Our most recent success is the passing of Prop C—Expenditure Lobbyist legislation. Additionally, we just hired a new Executive Director, and with her leadership, we are looking to take a more proactive stance in the areas of audits, investigations and education.

Sa n Fra ncisco Bay Ti mes: As we Honor Black History Month, we are eager to get your thoughts on the current state of race relations in our nation.

Brett Andrews: First, I just want to acknowledge the many contributions African Americans have made to our country and the world. I am proud to share in that rich history and heritage. The state of race relations in our nation is complicated.

This is such a multi-layered question, and it deserves way more thought than what I could offer at this time.

That said, given our nation’s longstanding and complex history, I look at race relations from a macro and micro (personal) perspective. To fully discuss race relations from a macro view, one must also talk about class. Too often race discussions are hijacked by pre-conceived views of particular sets of people. If you think about race and class together as we seek to solve some of society’s most intransigent ills, you minimize what I call “othering,” which is unproductive, if not death to any good conversation that seeks to advance the betterment of humanity. On a micro or personal level, I often think of Voltaire’s Candide, who left home to travel the world in search of the

Brett A ndrews: Sounds fun. Let’s go—I’m ready!

San Francisco Bay Times: How old are you?

Brett Andrews: Wow, right out of the gate with that one, huh?! I’m 51.

San Francisco Bay Times: Single, dating or partnered?

Brett Andrews: (smiling) Dating, and available!

San Francisco Bay Times: Favorite time of day?

Brett Andrews: Dusk San Francisco Bay Times: Favorite hobby?

Brett Andrews: Cooking, particularly anything that requires way too many ingredients, and attending the symphony with my dear friend, Bobby.

San Francisco Bay Times: Favorite gift to give?

Brett Andrews: I would say my time, but my friends would say scented candles or kitchen utensils.

Sa n Fra ncisco Bay Ti mes: What could you read again and again?

Brett Andrews: The Seven Spiritual Laws to Success and anything written

by Langston Hughes.

Sa n Fra ncisco Bay Ti mes: What can’t you live without?

Brett Andrews: Laughter and music.

San Francisco Bay Times: Favorite quote?

Brett Andrews: Maya Angelou: “I did the best for what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”

Sa n Fra ncisco Bay Ti mes: We’re just about out of time, but before we end , whom would you like to give a shout out to right now?

Brett A ndrews: My big sister Shelly, and my best friend of 30 years, Lisa.

Sa n Fra ncisco Bay Ti mes: Thank you so much for sharing with us your experiences, insights and even some of your predilections.

Brett Andrews: The pleasure was truly mine; thank you. I look forward to seeing members of the San Francisco Bay Times team and your readers around town.

Super Bowl Hangover, A Truce in the Shuttle Wars, and Election Update

My Experience Volunteering for Hillary Clinton at the Nevada Caucus

Super Bowl Hangover

As we are all aware, the I had assumed the Nevada presidential primary seacaucus was some holdover son is well underway. Alfrom early frontier days, but though California is the Nevada has not always held most populous state in the caucuses. Prior to 2008, Neunion, we have minimal vada usually held primary inf luence in selecting the elections to choose delegates Democratic and Republito each party’s national can presidential nominees convention. Following the due to our primary being 2004 election, Senate Maheld in June, very late in jority Leader Harry Reid the cycle. Instead, smaller made a case for Nevada to states with earlier votes— switch from a late presidenDo Ask, Do Tell like Iowa, New Hampshire tial primary (like Califorand Nevada—get tremennia) to an early caucus to Zoe Dunning dous attention from cangain electoral prominence. didates and volunteers, He believed Nevada was a as each campaign looks to build momentum perfect microcosm for America, given its large and leverage early results for their fundraising. minority population and strong labor demoPersonally, I was feeling a little disengaged graphic, and would represent the country’s from the national races until a friend invited increasing ethnic diversity and urbanization. me to join her on a trip to Las Vegas to volHarry Reid may have been clever elevating unteer for Hillary Clinton the weekend of the Nevada’s status in the presidential primary Nevada caucus. process, but our experience on the ground I know very little about caucuses. I am used to was that most Nevadans are annoyed by it all. traditional voting, where you go to a nearby Many folks work evenings and late night shifts garage or firehouse and anonymously and in- in Las Vegas and then sleep during the day. dividually fill out a ballot. You are not allowed We heard quite a bit of grumbling during our to wear any campaign buttons or stickers and, canvassing door-to-door and at the caucus itin fact, electioneering is prohibited within 100 self. People frequently asked how long it would feet of a polling location. It’s fairly quick, quiet take, why they could not just vote and leave, and isolated. and bristled at the peer pressure of having to declare their vote so publicly.

A caucus is quite the opposite. Caucuses are generally described as a “gathering of neigh- The day before the caucus, my friend, another bors.” There is no absentee or proxy voting. woman and I went to 55 assigned addresses of You instead have to personally show up the known Hillary supporters to make sure they day of the caucus and the doors are locked shut knew exactly where and when to show up for at noon. Then you must stay for the length of the caucus and confirm their support. At 75% the caucus procedures, which can take several of our locations, no on answered. Our first hours, or you can’t vote. This has opened the “hit” was a young, sunburned man who we caucus process up for criticism in that those had obviously been woken up by our knock. who are sick, or work on a Saturday, or are He opened the door shirtless and groggy. We serving in the military out of town are un- asked if he still planned to go to the caucus able to participate and have their vote count. and gave him the information. I asked if he It does not seem the most effective way to en- was supporting Hillary and his response was, courage participation and drive turnout. (continued on page 23)

will allow the program to continue for another year, but caps the number of stops at 125 and requires the City to look at an alternative hub model that would reduce the program’s impact on residential neighborhoods.

Thank God Super Bowl 50 is over. The weeks-long occupation of our downtown and waterfront left a sour taste in lots of San Franciscans’ mouths. From the daily traff ic snarls to the illegal billboards erected Election Update above the Embarcadero to the displacement of local San Francisco’s Democratic vendors and street artists County Central Committee A San Francisco has become a pretty dismal to the clearing out of homeKind of Democrat place for progressives in reless people to make way for a party thrown by some of cent years, but that may Rafael Mandelman the richest corporations in change t his June. Some the world, Super Bowl City strong reform candidates had something to annoy alhave been stepping forward to take the local most everyone. But the mid-January revelation Democratic Party back from the business, real that San Franciscans would be on the hook for estate and development interests that have more than $5 million in costs associated with the event, while Santa Clara would be reim- become so dominant on the Committee. On bursed for all of its costs, left many of us with a February 18, former Assemblymember Tom sinking feeling that our City, the one that used Ammiano penned an op-ed announcing that he would be joining the race, explaining that to know how, had been had, again. it is time for our local Democratic Party “to A Truce in the Shuttle Wars move away from being myopically focused on Speaking of things that annoy San Francis- agendas that divide us and become a place cans…kudos to Supervisors David Campos, where Democrats can unite and fight together Norman Yee and London Breed for negoti- for what we agree on: closing the income inating a truce in the seemingly never-ending equality chasm, stopping evictions and crewar over the Google buses. Under threat of ating affordable housing, quality education a CEQA challenge from SEIU 1021 and the for all, universal health care, criminal justice Sierra Club, the Supervisors were able to nereform, strong environmental protections, viggotiate concessions from the tech companies orous defense of workers’ rights and getting that rely on commuter shuttles to carry their workers from their homes in San Francisco to big money and corporate lobbyists out of our politics.” Well said, sir. their jobs on the Peninsula.

Shuttle opponents say the shuttles are a burden on the neighborhoods in which they operate, even as they promote gentrification and displacement in those neighborhoods. Shuttle defenders argue that the vehicles have become an important part of the City’s transit infrastructure and reduce traffic congestion by keeping commuters out of their cars. The compromise

Regular readers of this column know that I am all in for Kimberly Alvarenga for Supervisor.

Kimberly, who is running to replace termedout Supervisor John Avalos in District 11, has had a great month, racking up new endorsements from the California Nurses Association, the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club and (continued on page 26)

ER S F Y OF A D ST

T BE S L A UR

K O BO

O

WHEREVER YOU GO, GO YOUR OWN WAY. MODERN LUXURY LIVES HERE.

UP TO

40% OFF

SELECT SAILINGS

+

CHOOSE

2 FREE PERKS

+

ONLY

$25

TO BOOK

Now through February 28, take up to 40 percent off select Alaska, Caribbean, and Europe vacations and choose two free perks.* The perks include our Classic Beverage Package, Prepaid Tips, Unlimited Internet Package, and $150 to spend on board.

Plus, you can get all this with just $25 down.

Visit CelebrityCruises.com / Call 800 CELEBRITY / Contact your travel agent. * Visit CelebrityCruises.com for full terms and conditions. Offer applies to Europe, Alaska, and Caribbean sailings departing April to December 2016. Offer must be booked between February 1 and 28, 2016. Applicable sailings are listed at CelebrityCruises. com. Each of the first two guests in an ocean view or higher stateroom qualifies for two amenities. Onboard credit is not redeemable for cash and expires on the final night of the cruise. Reduced Deposit Offer is applicable to sailings departing in 2016. Guests are eligible for a $25 per person deposit on qualifying bookings made more than 70 days from departure date. Reduced deposit excludes bookings on suites, group bookings, and Celebrity Explorations. Reduced deposit must be paid by deposit-payment-required due date. Reduced Deposit is applicable to the United States and Canada only. Celebrity’s cancellation policy applies, including but not limited to full cancellation penalty amounts. Offer applies to new individual bookings and to staterooms in noncontracted group bookings, is nontransferable, and is not combinable with any other offer. Offers and prices are subject to availability, cancellation, and change without notice at any time. © 2016 Celebrity Cruises. Ships’ registry: Malta and Ecuador.

BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

5

Merging Finances When You Begin a Life Together Here are key topics that every couple should discuss before merging their finances: Income and expenses

Money Matters Brandon Miller, CFP When a couple makes the decision to bring their lives together, it’s inevitable that their financial lives will become intertwined. Even though the sentiment that “love conquers all” tends to overshadow financial concerns early in the relationship, the reality is that how both partners individually and collectively handle money could have a significant impact on the couple’s financial future.

This is a more significant issue today than it might have been in the past. It’s more common for couples to choose to marry or live together at a later age than was typical for previous generations. Or, couples may be coming together after one or both partners went through a divorce. In situations like these, both individuals are often bringing more financial assets and their own financial priorities into the relationship.

One of the biggest decisions you should agree on is how much of your income will be directed to individual accounts or to a joint account. Individuals who are used to managing their money may want to maintain their account, or have a separate account for discretionary spending. If this is your preference, have a plan for who is responsible for each expense. Opening a joint account that both parties contribute to is a common way to pay for shared expenses, such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and food. If you decide only to have a joint account, discuss how you’ll handle discretionary spending.

Many couples agree to discuss any purchase made above an agreed-upon amount, so both partners feel involved in the decision.

Existing debts If one or both of you is bringing debt to the relationship, such as student loans or credit card debt, it is important to agree how those will be paid off. Will both of you contribute to loan payments, or will the person who brought those debts to the relationship take sole responsibility?

Reducing and eventually eliminating these debts should be a priority for the long-term financial stability of the household.

Emergency fund An important consideration for any couple is having a sufficient cash reserve in place to meet emergency needs or to provide funding if special opportunities arise. A general rule of thumb is to have six-to-nine months of income set aside in a cash account that is easily accessible when the money is needed. If both individuals earn income, both should contribute to this joint household account.

Clearly communicate what type of expenses warrant dipping into this fund in order to avoid a potentially stressful situation.

Financial priorities Before you merge your f inances, talk about your financial goals and dreams. Consider putting together a plan that prioritizes each goal and factors in the ideal timeframe for achieving each goal. As part of this discussion, talk about your spending habits, your approach to saving and how you will resolve disagreements about money. Be upfront about any issues you might have had with money in the past and how that might affect your lives going forward. Putting it all on the table at the outset can help avoid problems related to money matters in the future.

Brandon Miller, CFP is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group, A Private Wealth Advisory Practice of Ameriprise Financial Inc. in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.

What’s in a Hatchback’s Name? version of Toyota’s venerable Corolla.

From those mainstream roots comes a sporty-looking form that has been optimized by the corporate computers with a finely targeted feature mix.

Auto Philip Ruth Keeping young and beautiful is a notso-subtle societal pressure on all of us, and carmakers feel it too. Toyota’s executives felt it in the early 2000s, when the days of the brand being perceived as a youthful upstart ended somewhere around the time when disco died.

In 2003, Toyota debuted Scion to focus on Gen-Y buyers. Scion was also leveraged for the LGBT community.

You might remember the Scion tent at the Civic Center celebrations after the SF Pride Parade. If Toyota was too broad, then Scion was sent in to appeal to the fringes.

Base price including destination charge is less than $20K for either the manual or CVT transmission versions, and a short options list indicates that many of the iM’s niceties, like 17-inch wheels and a touch-screen stereo, are baked in. The focus on affordability means that more premium items like leather seating and a power sunroof aren’t available at any price.

The iM’s sharp lines belie the Corolla’s resolute utilitarianism; the overall feel is pleasant and comfortable, but not provocative. The test car’s manual transmission demonstrated that, with long shifter throws and a too-light clutch that obscured its engagement point. The 137-horsepower four-cylinder engine had enough

Scion iM

The iM’s interior, on the other hand, is built with attractive plastics, and the front seats are comfortable. While this Scion lacks the edgy zing the brand initially promised, the iM has the steady feel a Corolla buyer would want.

The Honda Fit has that kind of predictability as well. Since its late-2000s inception, the Fit has been a model of space efficiency. The Fit is 10 inches shorter than the iM, but it packs in four more cubic feet of passenger space. Most impressive is the Fit’s large sedan-like 39.3 inches of rear legroom, while the Scion has less than 33 inches.

The Fit f its most budgets, with a sub-$17K price for the L X and $22K for the loaded EX-L test car, complete with leather, sunroof and navigation. Its value is uncontested, particularly when considering the Fit’s exemplary resale value.

One fly in the Fit’s ointment is its flat front seat cushions, which feel like low stools under the thighs of taller riders.

Another is its engine, which produces a peppy 130 horsepower, but can get loud and boomy like the iM’s.

Either of these hatchbacks would be safe and reliable transportation, and now both are marketed in ways that are true to their middle-of-the-road missions.

But Scion didn’t sell well enough. Toyota recently announced that the Scion brand is ending, and its cars will be folded into the Toyota portfolio.

That’s not a big stretch when you consider this month’s Scion iM, which is quite obviously a four-door hatchback

beans to scoot the iM up the Castro’s hills, but it got rough and noisy as the revs climbed.

Honda Fit

Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant at www.gaycarguy.com. Check out his automotive staging service at www.carstaging.com

Positive Resource Center Executive Director Brett Andrews (left) with Academy of Friends (AOF) leaders Howard Edelman and Gil Padia at the AOF party at SF Mercedes on February 18.

The 2016 Academy Awards Night Gala will be held on Sunday, February 28, at the San Francisco Design Center.

6

BAY TIMES F EBRUARY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

PHOTOS BY RINK

Project Inform Executive Director Dan Van Gorder (right) with his dog at the AOF party at SF Mercedes.

Brian had his HIV under control with medication. But smoking with HIV caused him to have serious health problems, including a stroke, a blood clot in his lungs and surgery on an artery in his neck. Smoking makes living with HIV much worse. You can quit.

CALL 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

#CDCTips

HIV alone didn’t cause the clogged artery in my neck.

Smoking with HIV did.

Brian, age 45, California

BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

7

Round About - BALIF 35th Annual Gala

Photos by Rink

Celebrating 35 years since its founding in 1980, Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF) held its annual event on Friday, February 19, at Terra Gallery. This year’s format featured a cocktail party with food stations and an awards program. Event co-chairs Nick Clements and Mario Choi joined BALIF board co-chairs Jamie Dupree and John Robert Unruh in welcoming guests and VIP attendees. Senator Mark Leno and Assemblyman David Chiu presented proclamations, and awards were presented to the honorees: former Assemblyman Tom Ammiano and the GLBT Historical Society represented by board member David Reichard.

8

BAY   TIMES F EBRUARY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

A Clear Choice for LGBT People in November

6/26 and Beyond John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, The sudden passing away of the notoriously anti-gay Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has thrust the issue of the Supreme Court into the heart of the 2016 Presidential campaign. We have written before about how critical the Court’s composition is to LGBT people because, despite the recent landmark marriage equality decisions, the rights and freedoms of LGBT Americans are not yet fully secured under the Constitution and federal law. Looking at what each of the remaining candidates has said about the Court makes it crystal clear how stark the choice for LGBT people will be in November.

Both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are unabashed supporters of full LGBT equality, and we are confident their Court appointments would ref lect that support. Speaking about the importance of the election to LGBT people, Clinton stated last fall that if a Republican wins the election, “[w]e could lose the Supreme Court, and then there’d be a whole new litigation strategy coming from those who oppose marriage equality.” More generally, she has declared, that Dem-

ocrats “have a responsibility to make sure a Republican doesn’t win in November and rip away all the progress we’ve made together.” With Scalia’s departure, Clinton has also emphasized the importance of key cases now before the Court. One case pertains to President Obama’s executive actions helping undocumented parents of US citizen children and undocumented Americans who came here as children. Another case challenges Texas’ new highly restrictive regulations that eliminate access to safe and legal abortions for many women in the state. Other cases pertain to workers’ rights and voting rights. The Supreme Court is not scheduled to hear any LGBT rights cases this term.

Bernie Sanders has also stressed the importance of the Court, emphasizing his primary campaign themes of income inequality and the corrosive impact of money on elections.

In the wake of the new Court vacancy, Sanders stated that when he is President: “I will do everything I can to turn over this disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision.

In my view, democracy is ‘one person, one vote.’ Not billionaires buying elections…” Citizens United is the horrendous 5–4 decision that opened the floodgates to unprecedented amounts of money from very wealthy people pouring into elections. Previously, Sanders has said that a commitment to overturning Citizens United would serve as a “litmus test” for anyone he appointed to the Court. We are confident that any such nominee would also strongly support LGBT rights.

By contrast, Republican candidate Ted Cruz has called the Obergefell decision, the Supreme Court’s landmark marriage equality ruling, “nothing

short of tragic.” He said: “I think that decision was fundamentally illegitimate. It was lawless. It was completely inconsistent with the Constitution. It will not stand.” He has proposed a Constitutional Amendment to overturn Obergefell. Cruz has vowed to filibuster any person President Obama nominates to replace Scalia, and has said that “the Second Amendment, life, marriage, religious liberty, every one of those hangs in the balance…”

Cruz recently claimed that the country faced an “unprecedented” “assault on religious liberty” stemming from Obergefell. Even Chief Justice John Roberts, who last term voted with Scalia 90% of the time, is not conservative enough for Ted Cruz.

Cruz says Roberts, whom George W. Bush appointed, was a “mistake,” who leads “an out-of-control” and “activist” Supreme Court.

Before Scalia died, Marco Rubio pronounced: “We need more Scalias and less Sotomayors,” referring to one of the Justices who voted in favor of marriage equality. After Scalia’s death, Rubio declared that the late Justice “will go down as one of the great Justices in the history of this republic.” He praised Scalia’s convoluted dissent in Obergefell as a “brilliant piece of jurist work.” Rubio has promised that if he becomes President, he would appoint Justices who would overturn Obergefell. When asked about the decision, he stated: “I don’t believe any case law is settled law. Any future Supreme Court can change it. And ultimately, I will appoint Supreme Court justices that will interpret the Constitution as originally constructed”—i.e., overturn decisions such as Obergefell and Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision guaran-

teeing women reproductive choice.

Although perhaps we shouldn’t have been surprised, we were taken aback when Rubio actually said recently that we needed Justices who “understand that the Constitution is not a living and breathing document.”

Dona ld Tr u mp ha s repeated ly praised Scalia as “truly a great judge” and stated that if he became President, he would like to see a “person tailored to be just like Justice Scalia” on the Court. On many occasions, Trump has made clear that he disagrees with the Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision, and recently stated that if he became President, he “would strongly consider” “try[ing] to appoint justices to overrule the decision,” and then reaffirmed that he would “prefer” justices who were against the decision.

Trump, a proud NRA member, has committed to making support for the Supreme Court’s Heller decision, an opinion Scalia wrote that creates a Second Amendment right for individuals to own guns, his “litmus” test for Supreme Court nominees. He said if Scalia’s replacement is “the wrong person, they’ll take that Second Amendment away so fast your head will spin.”

Trump has suggested two federal appellate court judges as possible Supreme Court picks if he were President. One is the controversial William Pryor. In opposing Pryor’s confirmation to the appellate court, Senator Charles Schumer quoted how Pryor had characterized Roe v. Wade as creating “a constitutional right to murder an unborn child’’ and “the worst abomination in the history of constitutional law.” Schumer went on to explain that Pryor has stated his opposi-

tion to abortion even in cases of rape or incest. “On gay rights,” Schumer reported that Pryor “believes it is constitutional to lock up gays and lesbians for having intimate relations in the privacy of their own homes. And he has equated gay sex with prostitution, adultery, necrophilia, bestiality, possession of child pornography, incest and pedophilia.” Trump’s other suggestion was Diane Sykes, a close friend of the conservative Federalist Society, well known for her conservative views and her opposition to abortion rights.

John Kasich described Scalia as a “principled force for conservative thought” and “a model for others to follow.” Kasich has repeatedly argued that President Obama should not nominate someone to replace Scalia.

He claims he wants the electorate to be able to vote indirectly on whom the next Supreme Court Justice should be, but he ignores the fact that the electorate has already elected President Obama to make such nominations and that plenty of time remains in his term for the Senate to confirm his pick. Despite Kasich’s sound bites claiming his desire to bring the country together, he has repeatedly stated he would nominate conservatives to the Court if he became President.

Kasich recently said: “I would look for a conservative, [s]omebody who doesn’t make law but somebody who will interpret the law…” This type of language is often code for meaning people who oppose Constitutional protections for LGBT rights and women’s reproductive choice.

The choice for LGBT people and all those who care about LGBT rights, women’s rights, racial justice, and (continued on page 26)

BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

9

The Shadow Side of Social Media The research has identified a couple of factors in this unhappiness. The first is what we can call the “comparing mind.” It is easy to understand that when we compare our most ordinary moments with other individuals’ “greatest hits”—the smiley friends, the fabulous vacations, the party pics—we can feel envious and depressed. But what is intriguing to me is that the research showed that social comparison in any direction (upward, downward or neutral) led to depression. How do we explain this finding?

Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor 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 was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men.

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

The Bay Times is proud to be the 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 Jennifer Mullen Calendar Editor

Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence

In the last few months, a number of people have told me that they are taking breaks from Facebook and other social media because they believe that it is making them increasingly unhappy. As a result, I have been looking into what the research says about the effects these media have on emotional well being. The studies show that when we use them to increase faceto-face contact with actual, three-dimensional humans, they enrich our lives, but when we spend a lot of time using them for other purposes, they can have some very unsocial mental health consequences. Those include depression, low self-esteem, bitter jealousy, isolation, and loneliness.

J.H. Herren Technology Director Jennifer Mullen Web Coordinator

Mario Ordonez Juan Ordonez Distribution

CONTRIBUTORS Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Kirsten Kruse, Kate Kendell, Alex Randolph, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, John Van Horn, John Chen 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

ADVERTISING Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards are available online at sfbaytimes.com or calling: 415-503-1375 Custom ad sizes are available. Please inquire! The Bay Times reserves the right to reject any advertising at the discretion of the publishers.

National Advertising: Contact Bay Times / San Francisco.

Represented by Rivendell Media: 908-232-2021 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. © 2016 Bay Times Media Company Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas

10

BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

Here’s my take: Facebook is, for many, an online vanity fair. It is social media for which we can present our “virtual egos” (read “fake selves”) for admiration or approval by others who are doing exactly the same thing.

Used in this way, it is really about impression management. But when we use the medium to engage in narcissistic exhibitionism rather than to facilitate actual connections, the result is that, whether we judge ourselves as better than, less than, or equal to others, we don’t feel closer to them.

The comparing mind doesn’t create intimacy; it fosters distance and separation.

Another factor linking Facebook use to depression is passive rather than active use of the medium. When people used it to communicate with

friends, there was no relationship to depression; but when they spent more of their time passively scrolling through newsfeeds and other content rather than actively engaging with anyone, they felt disconnected, lonely and bored.

I believe there is a third factor, which I do not think is being given due attention. The anonymity of Facebook and other social media is disinhibiting; they free us to say things we would never say face-to-face. It would be great if that meant feeling free to express affection, respect, love and admiration more directly than we might in person, but that is hardly what has happened. No one can fail to notice how much “otherizing” and hatred there are in the conversations.

This toxic hostility is especially obvious in the political debates.

I know that these discussions are unusually intense right now because we are in an election year. Still, when I read some of the threads, even from people who support candidates and positions with which I agree, the ugliness, shaming, sarcasm, accusations, name-calling, bullying and self-righteous rage leave me feeling like I need a shower. Hateful speech is painful for the speaker, not just for its target, and when we attack and demonize others (in the name of all that’s good

GGBA East Bay - Make Contact

and true), we increase our own unhappiness.

Why is there such an irresistible draw to this kind of anti-social interaction?

Maybe it is because when we spend too much time in the trance of the virtual world we can begin to mistake it for the real one, so that we start to believe that posting rants on Facebook is the same thing as actually working for a better world. The cure for the inevitable frustration and unhappiness that this causes us is straightforward: turn off the computer, leave the house, and find ways of connecting face-to-face with real people who are taking concrete action in the world to resolve the issues that concern us.

Come to think of it, turning off the computer might be good advice for a lot of us. Today, one out of every 13 people on the planet are Facebook users, and more than half of these log on every day. Among 18 to 34-year-olds, nearly half log on minutes after waking up, and 28 percent do so before getting out of bed. When so many people mistake updating, posting and “liking” for intimacy, is it any wonder that so many also feel restless, lonely, and unhappy?

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

Photos by Sooz sooz@sooz.com

GGBA held its East Bay Make Contact mixer on Thursday, February 18, at The Port Workspace, 101 Broadway in Oakland. J.P. Leddy, President, and East Bay-based Board Member John Eric Henry welcomed attendees to the innovative shared office community location at Jack London Square. Music was provided by String Quake, with catering by Everett & Jones. In addition to networking, a highlight of the evening was the Workspace’s 30foot tube slide aka the “Gravity-Powered Productivity Booster” tried out by several attending!

GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow

Resting on Our Laurels?

Leading community commentators are pointing out that the GLBT movement seems to have lost its focus in the months following our Supreme Court marriage victory. It seems true, don’t you think? True, but not unexpected.

Our grassroots under-thirty types are dispersed, attached to a range of cohorts from Black Lives Matter to Sanders to pro-Palestinian groups to the aftermath of Occupy to the generalized college campus protests.

Our lawyers are fighting rear guard actions on behalf of gay couples, mop-up suits against dead-end judges, pervasive individual bias cases, and above all, keeping their eye on the front lines of religious-based discrimination.

And state-based organizations have their hands full with what the Human Rights Campaign counts as no less than 175 dangerous bills, including 44 directed at the transgender community. That’s a steep rise from the previous record, last year’s 125 bad bills that included 21 anti-trans proposals. At the same time, the vast majority of these proposals die on the vine, making it difficult to figure out which represent real threats and which comprise harmless, albeit vicious, promotional stunts by fringe lawmakers.

No wonder we’ve lost focus. Marriage equality gave us a single, powerfully symbolic, legally essential goal—easily discussed with the American people, and theoretically to be achieved at one stroke with one court decision.

And we won!

Does anyone really believe now, as a national community, that we can maintain the same energy and marshal the same coordinated strategies in the fight against some bill in Mississippi that’s been pending in committee for who knows how long? And what if dozens of similar bills are simultaneously floating through dozens of other state legislatures? Civil rights movements don’t work that way.

The solution is not to throw up our hands, claim victory on marriage and let the chips fall where they may.

Yet it’s naive to imagine that a grassroots-based GLBT movement will reemerge like magic to stem the tide of these threats. We face a slog.

That Mississippi religious freedom bill? It passed the house in mid-February and will now go to the state senate. The South Dakota anti-trans bill that would require kids to produce birth certificates in order to play sports? It died the other day, but an even worse trans bill is alive and well, has passed both houses and could be signed (or vetoed) by the governor as I write.

A bill in Georgia that recently passed the house would let a judge or pastor opt out of performing a same-sex marriage. Irritating, but not as bad as some others. Oh, but wait a second. A few days ago, that same bill was amended in the state senate to allow anyone to discriminate in public accommodation based on faith! Then it was sent back to the house with its new fangs.

And what about the other 170 bills?

The Human Rights Campaign, state activists and other groups tweet and post a continual stream of information, often phrased in dramatic terms—performing a useful public service and/or disseminating a barrage of noise at the same time. Just as you start to worry about one measure, it vanishes and you realize that something else has won passage while you weren’t paying attention. Bills that are killed are resurrected unexpect-

edly. Bills that seem on the verge of law are suddenly dead for the session.

The activists we are all counting on right now are those who f ight for their states, often thanklessly. Backing them up are the attorneys who will be obliged to pick up the pieces if or when some of these travesties are signed into law.

It’s not exciting. It’s not going to galvanize young protesters. It’s not going to capture the imagination of our fellow Americans in its current state. It is what it is. A hard sustained defensive struggle to be waged by dedicated professional community activists and anyone else who answers the tough call. Welcome to the post-Obergefell GLBT rights movement.

Loo-nacy Having said that, it’s not true that all the challenges we face are themeless. Once again, our adversaries have caught hold of a winning image, much as they set us back for years with the concept of “special rights,” and undermined our fight for equality with the notion that same-sex marriage would be “taught in school.”

This time, we are confronted by the idea that GLBT rights will end the social conventions that divide public bathrooms by gender. There was a time when, despite the T in our name, we often pursued gay rights independently of trans rights. Those days are thankfully gone. Now, however, as opposition to gay rights fades, our foes have turned their attention to trans rights instead, targeting an inseparable part of our community in order to bring us all down. Trans discrimination is also on the wane, but not when it comes to the public restroom—a bugaboo that led 60 percent of Houston voters to overturn their city’s GLBT rights ordinance a few months ago.

The city council of Charlotte, North Carolina, recently passed a GLBT anti-bias law covering public accommodation, something that has not been considered controversial for a modern metropolis in several years.

Now, post-Houston, where the bathroom tactic proved its efficacy, Tobacco State Governor Pat McCrory promptly announced that the implications for bathrooms presented by the Charlotte ordinance imposed a “threat to public safety” and would be addressed by the state legislature.

Indeed, many of the 44 anti-trans bills now pending around the country involve efforts to force trans men and women into facilities that violate their gender, or perhaps oblige them to wander through endless halls in search of a unisex room.

Left completely unresolved in all this is the irony of requiring men and women to share facilities with transwomen and transmen respectively, provoking the exact social discomfort that lawmakers claim to abhor. I’m not sure why this obvious repercussion has not been more widely discussed. The bathroom strategy is not exactly new, but personally, I never thought it would catch on for this reason. What will lawmakers do when people see a dozen transmen standing in line with the girls, and realize that the guys are legally obligated to join them by statute? (And for the record, there’s absolutely no doubt that a law requiring trans men and women to seek out unisex bathrooms in public would be unconstitutional.)

Surely the bathroom gambit will collapse of its own weight, but for the time being it’s running wild. That said, HRC noted that none of last year’s anti-trans bills became law. We await the disposition of this year’s crop.

What’s in a Name?

By the way, I read that the heroic New England lawyers at Gay and Lesbian

Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) have decided to change their name to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning Legal Advocates and Defenders, or GLBTQLAD. I’m sorry, my beloved GLAD, I see where you’re coming from, but I can’t support you. If memory serves, the National Center for Lesbian Rights encountered the same dilemma back in the day, recognizing that its work was in no way exclusive to lesbians, but reluctant at the same time to diminish its historic emphasis on gay women by reducing the L to one letter in a longer train. Do any of us think of the NCLR as a lesbian organization?

(Hmmm. Maybe a little, now that I think of it.)

It’s just so unwieldy. Why the redundant addition of “legal?” Do they really need the ambiguous “Q” in their formal name? Why can’t they be the Gay, Lesbian, bisexual, transgender Advocates and Defenders (GLAD)? I just think there should be some kind of law against acronyms in excess of five letters.

I’ve been going back on forth on my assessment of the GLBTQLAD name change, but on balance, I’m sticking with my gut reaction as expressed above. That said, it is, of course, important for our community organizations to ref lect all of us. As for Questioning youth and other doubters, I think we should definitely give them all the support in the world, but I don’t think they deserve a letter of their own. Either they are indeed GLBT, but have yet to sort out their identity, in which case they are subsumed somewhere in our four-letter group, or, they are actually straight and not trans, in which case they’re not one of us, although they will be warmly welcomed as an ally.

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

Having written all that, it just occurred to me that GLAD’s new “Q” might stand for “queer” rather than “questioning.” I spent five minutes searching their website and could not find out what the “Q” represents, which seems to undermine the purpose of expanding the name. Also, GLAD seems to be calling itself “GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders” rather than GLBTQLAD, so they’ve effectively given up their acronym all together and replaced it with a giant mouthful of a designation.

Antonin, We Knew You Pretty Well Scalia’s death hit me like a punch to the stomach. It came out of the blue, didn’t it? It was shocking. The sudden death of a Supreme Court justice, particularly one of the archenemies of gay equality. I mean, wow.

I can’t be happy about it. I say that because I read some immediate commentary to that effect, written by people I suppose, who not only ask for whom the bell tolls, but who have not lived long enough or thought hard enough to feel the impact of Donne’s words within themselves. That said, I can’t agree with all the glowing postmortem tributes to his legacy, which as far as I’m concerned, leaves far less to legal history than meets the eye.

Nor can I forgive his complete inability to see our community as anything more than a bunch of people with sexual deviance in common.

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

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

We offer services in: • LGBT Families

• Tax Planning

Still, I’m diminished.

• Estate Planning

• Family Law

Some are now calling for the President to nominate a gay man or woman to the Court, a strategy that I think is counterproductive. Conventional wisdom suggests that Obama should name a candidate that will be impossible for Republicans to criticize, painting the Senate and the GOP nominee into a corner of bad publicity. I hate to be conventional, but I have to agree. There will be oppor(continued on page 26)

• 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 BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

11

Beyoncé’s Impact, Re-visioning History, and Why We Need Ethnic Studies

Teacher Lyndsey Schlax of the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts recently taught the nation’s first on-site high school LGBT course, according to district officials. She will resume teaching that groundbreaking class next fall. This semester, she is teaching a new Ethnic Studies course. It is a popular elective among the school’s Social Science offerings.

In this column, students from her class will be anonymously sharing with the Lyndsey Schlax San Francisco Bay Times their thoughts about related matters, and what they are learning.

Diversity in the Filmmaking Industry Student, 12th Grade

FONTS

COLORS

Julius SansRuth Onecan help you:

• Understand a new diagnosis Quattrocento

R. Ruth Linden, Ph.D.

or treatment plan PMS 7533 U PMS 557 U PMS 660 U PMS 652 U • Find the right doctors • Obtain second opinions • Identify a promising clinical trial • Select and manage a loved one’s care • Prepare or update your advance care directive

Call Today for Your Free Consultation (415) 776-5901 www.treeoflifehealthadvocates.com

Research estimates that as many as one in five LGBT individuals struggle with alcohol abuse.1 When you find yourself reaching for the bottle, reach for the phone instead.

(855) 316.3975 | FRNSanFran.com

1

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2001). A provider’s introduction to substance abuse treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals (DHHS Publication No. SMA 01-3498). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

12

BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

Growing up in an artist household in San Francisco as a son to second-generation immigrant parents from the Philippines has given me a very unique view on the world. It has cultivated a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and ways of life.

For me, diversity is not just an idea; it is an everyday ordeal. I am constantly reminded of that by the predominately white-centric culture, and how my brown skin color can be dangerous to wear. Even now in current contemporary culture, as forward thinking as it is, there is a gross lack of representation in the entertainment industry.

Despite recent films highlighting the Black and Hispanic experience, many films seem to ignore entire cultural communities such as Filipinos, Samoans, Indonesians, Nepali and many more. It is essential to include underrepresented communities in the entertainment industry in order to re-sow the fabric of culture.

I intend to write roles for people of color to speak about the realities of life as a colored person, roles that people of youth can look up to, and roles where the brown person will not die within the first few minutes.

To make any significant change in culture we must start with the next generations of filmmakers, but too often I see only young Caucasian filmmakers who have more resources and opportunities than, say, an inner city youth. I hope to use what I learn in f ilm school to provide filmmaking programs for inner-city youth, so that the next generations of filmmakers can help to change the world.

Chicago and the Great Migration Student, 11th Grade The circumstances of the Great Migration of African American people from the southern U.S. to the Chicago area in the years 1915–1950 bring up many questions. The influence of these people on Chicago, and on the culture of the United States, is also much more expansive than many American people think today.

Following the Reconstruction Era, many laws passed in southern states that segregated and discriminated against African American people, creating a dramatic class system unseen anywhere else in the U.S. Black people were forced to step off the sidewalk to make way for white people, and often were not allowed to vote or contradict white people.

This, combined with the lynching some young white men inf licted on African Americans, motivated many families to leave the South for more promising horizons. Six million African American people moved from these states to northern and western states to escape segre-

of her status as a loved celebrity that people forget she is a black woman.

She may not suffer the same troubles as other, less privileged, women of color, but she still identifies with them.

Student Voices gation. This movement is known as the Great Migration.

The flight was also spurred by economic opportunities. The Great Depression in the aftermath of World War I left many people out of work in the South, especially African Americans who were treated as second-class citizens. Industries in the North were still hiring, as they needed to fill the space left by the drop in foreign immigration. Many African American people were, in fact, recruited to the North to do these jobs, as often African American people would perform jobs and services that white people could not, or would not, do.

Chicago acted as a melting pot for cultures and immigrants in the late 1800s. More than half of the city’s population was composed of first or second-generation European immigrants. After the first World War, the immigrant population was joined by the African American community, numbering over one million by 1970, as opposed to a mere 5,000 before WWI. Many African American people who moved to Chicago settled in a narrow neighborhood on the south side of the city. Although this neighborhood was labeled as the “Black Ghetto,” James J, Gentry, an African American editor for the Chicago Bee, coined the less offensive term “Bronzeville.” This place became known as a hub for many 20th Century African American artists and activists.

Living conditions in Bronzeville were not optimal, as Chicago refused to build more housing for its residents.

People lived crammed together in tenement houses, sometimes without heat or running water. Although segregation was not a part of state legislature, it resided heavily through social customs and economic codes, such as agreements prohibiting certain people, particularly African Americans, from leasing or buying certain parts of buildings. This continued until the state and national courts became involved and eventually put an end to legalized segregation.

Beyoncé’s “Formation” Student, 12th Grade Beyoncé is one of those very few human beings in this world who is universally respected and loved. No one can deny her beauty, talent, and dedication to her art; she is the ultimate entertainer of our generation. Whenever I hear about Beyoncé coming out with a new song or performing I automatically think, “She is going to be amazing!” It never crossed my mind that she would do anything not for entertainment. Sure, she has often used her voice, literally, to promote love, acceptance, and feminism, but she has never taken an aggressive approach to a cause. So, when I saw the music video and Super Bowl halftime performance of “Formation,” I was shocked.

It seemed like the whole world was astounded with the firm, aggressive stance she was showcasing. In that moment, Beyoncé was more than a performer—she was an activist. I saw this SNL sketch that made fun of the chaos resulting from “Formation.” It was called “The Day Beyoncé Turned Black,” and that is basically what the reaction was. People were shocked that not only did she acknowledge Black Lives Matter, but she also reminded people that she is, in fact, part of the black community. It is because

We like to imagine people like Beyoncé as third parties, not affected by the tragic events in our society, and much prefer for them to stay in the dark where we can watch them entertain us and hide. We only ever want them to go out into the light when we, the majority, are in trouble. But Beyoncé came out because the black community, her community, needed her to be a voice. She used her star power to elevate the conversation of Black Lives Matter in audiences who may choose to ignore it and force them to acknowledge it. Thinking about it now, I would have been disappointed if she didn’t create a song that addressed the issues of today. Beyoncé has one of the most powerful voices in the world, and she knew that when she decided to create that music video and perform it on the most watched televised program in the country.

Inspired by Margaret Cho to Tell Untold Stories Student, 12th Grade Swimming in my own pool of awkwardness, I started wondering why no one in film or television looked like me. Middle school left me curious, and I questioned why minorities were portrayed so incorrectly in the media. The stories of these complex, rich characters are buried in the mounds of stereotypes. As my curiosity grew, so did my anger, which rolled in with an interest in telling my own story— an interest in theatre.

As I became a bit obsessive, I began to do my research online, looking for any films, television shows, plays and biographies of people of color working in this world of entertainment and storytelling. I found some books written by colored actors that moved me into the world of theatre. One specific book that really opened my eyes was I’m the One that I Want by comedian Margaret Cho. As a bisexual, Asian woman, Margaret Cho is trapped under multiple labels with which I can easily identify. Her life, revolving around the social intersectionality and her struggle to gain success in this business, answered every fear I had growing up. I was afraid to fail, but I soon realized that no one gets anywhere without failure. Margaret Cho also attended a school that was in my city, the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts (SOTA), when it became the first and only public arts high school in San Francisco.

The name SOTA rung up again during my high school admissions process, when a friend of mine expressed that she was auditioning for the Piano Program. Around the same time, I found myself wanting to step outside of my comfort zone. Always being a shy, timid girl, I wanted to do something bold. I started grasping at any opportunity I had to practice public speaking, by reading out loud in class, acting out speeches, introducing people, and giving presentations.

I specifically remember how ecstatic I was to learn that SOTA had a Theatre Program. However, something hit me. How would my parents feel about me going to a public arts high school? My family never believed in the financial sustainability of the arts.

I was torn, but asked my mother how she felt about the school. Surprisingly, my mother expressed her support.

She wanted me to be happy, and I will never forget that. I went back to the application page online to look at the audition requirements, however, half of the theatre jargon on the page felt like gibberish. I had to look up what a “monologue” and a “cold reading” were. I immediately felt terrified. Nev(continued on page 26)

TERRA GALLERY & EVENT VENUE

Married Four Months, Together Eleven Years already built a strong foundation as a couple. But now our relationship is legally protected. If something happens to one of us, the other partner will have the same rights as a married heterosexual couple.

Cat Byerly: Logistically, nothing much has changed, as we’ve been together so long, but there’s an intangible difference since we’ve married. It still feels like “us,” just “us” fortified.

Weddings Reverend Elizabeth River Last October, Cat Byerly and Jill Marimon from Indianapolis came out here to Wonderland, the Point Reyes National Seashore, to get married. October is always such a thrilling time for weddings. You never know what kind of weather you’re going to get, but whatever it is, it will be spectacular.

On Cat and Jill’s wedding day, Mother Nature did not disappoint. Witness their picture in the dramatic swirling fog. They were lucky in their choices of both their wedding photographer, Julie Weisberg (www.julieweisberg. com), and their officiant, who was not-so-modest me!

I was moved by their 10-year plus relationship and their vision for marriage. I interviewed them recently about their 4-month-old marriage.

Rev. Elizabeth River: What feels different for you, now that you are actually married?

Jill Marimon: The word that comes to mind is “protected.” Cat and I had been together for 10 years before getting married, so we had

Rev. Elizabet h R iver: How has your outlook on the future changed because you are now spouses?

Jill Marimon: I am less worried about Cat’s legal and financial wellbeing if something were to happen to me since our marriage is now legally recognized.

Cat Byerly: We are officially family now—a team! We’ve already celebrated some amazing successes and weathered some difficult times together. I can’t imagine my future with anyone else.

Rev. Elizabeth River: Have you had any new creative ideas or rituals since your wedding?

Jill Marimon: Our wedding day was very special and especially the public affirmation of our lifetime commitment in one of the most beautiful places on this earth. Looking at the photos reminds us to slow down and take time to appreciate each other and the beauty around us.

Cat Byerly: We’ve already created rituals over our many years together, but our friends and family remind us with every holiday: “This is your first Christmas married,” or “first Groundhog Day,” or “Valentine’s Day.” It’s a year of familiar firsts.

Rev. E l izabet h R iver: A ny other comments after four months of marriage?

Contemporary • Elegant • Versatile

Jill Marimon: I want to comment on the tremendous support from friends, family, co-workers, and acquaintances we received while planning and even after the wedding.

We come from the conservative Midwest, so we grew up with all the stereotypical comments about samesex couples. So this huge outpouring of support, sometimes from the most unexpected places, was a delightful surprise. That confirmed the rightness of our decision, hard work and love in building and sustaining our relationship—and marrying.

Terra provides the perfect setting to make your wedding unforgettable

511 Harrison Street (at First) www.terrasf.com

•

•

info@terrasf.com

San Francisco •

415.896.1234

Cat Byerly: Even though we’ve been together almost 11 years, I’m still experiencing many firsts in this relationship. I’m grateful for all we’ve shared, and look forward to all that is to come. ¨✦ It is my joy to have married these marvelous loving women. The whole National Seashore is here for everyone! It’s your park, and I am happy to officiate your wedding or renewal of vows here at any time of the year.

Rev. Elizabeth River is an ordained interfaith minister and wedding officiant in the North Bay. Please visit www.marincoastweddings.com or look for Marin Coast Weddings on Facebook.

A MONTHLY HIGHLIGHT FROM THE DE YOUNG AND LEGION OF HONOR

Albert Bierstadt

d

TREAT YOURSELF TO AN EXCITING C ULINARY ADVENTURE WITH M ICHELIN S TAR C HEF SRIJITH GOPINATHAN

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

Albert Bierstadt, “California Spring,” 1875. Oil on canvas. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Presented to the City and County of San Francisco by Gordon Blanding. Image courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

In the Mood for Spring Spring does not officially begin until March 20, but many recent days have felt like we are already out of winter. German-born painter Albert Bierstadt (1830–1902) captured such a day in 1875, after a lengthy inspiring journey throughout the American West. The image is a dreamy pastoral view of the

Sacramento River Valley. Even with ominous-looking clouds overhead, the featured cows and horses peacefully graze and rest.

Wildflowers and trees stretch out far into the open and airy distance.

Bierstadt gained fame for lavish, sweeping landscapes like this work,

which is now at the de Young, but he had a humble start. Gifted with a box of crayons as a young boy, he spent much of his time sketching.

The son of a barrel and cask maker, he later taught himself to paint before attending school and deciding to make art his life’s vocation.

Journey along India’s Spice Route by way of California at six-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 nine-course Degustation menu. For those with lighter appetites we offer a three-course Theatre Menu and Vegetarian Tasting menu.

2016 Michelin Guide Two Star Winner! camptonplacesf.com for reservations | 415.781.5555 340 Stockton San Francisco | Union Square Open daily for lunch and dinner BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

13

Imperial Court

of San Francisco

CORONATION 51

A Golden Reign: Celebrating 50 Years of Fabulous A Reflection by the Reigning Monarchs of San Francisco on completing a regal year of fundraising, travel and supporting their local community, while working to preserve their organization’s history and legacy

By Emperor Kevin Lisle & Empress Khmera Rouge, Reigning Monarchs of San Francisco San Francisco is one of those magical places where odd and strange things can happen and no one bats an eyelash. For the past 50 years, residents of San Francisco have elected monarchs to support and fundraise for our community, as well as to represent our uniqueness through travels and royal visits to other empires and realms across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Our fair city was home to the First Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, Emperor Joshua Norton, and to the first openly gay person in the United States to run for public office, José Sarria, who would go on to become the first Absolute Empress I, The Widow Norton. The rest, you can say, is history and what San Francisco legends are made of. Empress José went on to establish and found the International Court System, a collective union of over 65 chapters across the United States, Canada and Mexico that all work together to support their local communities through fundraising and outreach efforts.

But what does it mean to be a monarch, especially in today’s day and age? What exactly can one do in a year’s time? How do you leave your mark after so many great men and women, and men dressed as women, have done so much before you? And finally, how do monarchs leave their community better off than it was when they were given the reigns and crowns to lead for the next year?

personal connections we made, and the money we worked very hard to raise, had a very real impact on the non-profit organizations and community groups we serve.

We met a few challenges and setbacks along the way this year. One was the passing in May 2015 of our newly seated Imperial Council of San Francisco Board Chair and dear friend, Emperor XXXII After Norton, Fernando Robles. We miss him very much, and hope we made him proud of what we were able to accomplish this past year.

As we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the International Imperial Court System and traveled the country, we were granted an honorary title by the titular head of Court System, Queen Mother I of the Americas, Nicole the Great. We were named the Golden Jubilee Monarchs of the International Court System. Talk about pressure.

With that honor, our court logged nearly 50,000 miles of travel, visiting over 35 Empires across the U.S. and Canada.

It is hard to believe that as we write this piece, we are down to the last week of what has become a life-changing experience. In a few short days, we will be concluding our Golden Jubilee reign and The Imperial Council of San Francisco will hold Coronation 51 this Saturday, February 27, at our 51st Coronation Gala.

Just a little over a year ago, 378 days to be exact, we were elected as the Reigning Monarchs. (Empress K hmera Rouge became the 50th elected Empress of San Francisco, as well as of San Mateo and Marin County, while Emperor Kevin Lisle became the 43rd elected Emperor of San Francisco, as well as of San Mateo and Marin County.)

As we began our reign, we set a goal of raising $50,000 for various local charities and causes. We are proud to say we successfully reached that goal and then some, and will be able to distribute those much needed funds to some fantastic organizations, such as the AIDS Emergency Fund, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners, SF Night Ministries and numerous other beneficiaries.

From that first night at the crowning at the Galleria Design Center to the beautiful 50th Anniversary Gala held under the magnificent rotunda of City Hall, we began a yearlong journey into fundraising, community outreach and travel. It was all fun and games. It was all dress up and make-believe. But the

But as they say, time f lies when you are having fun. It’s true when they say that your reign year will be over in the blink of an eye. It has been truly a pleasure to look back and see just how far we have come, not only with this reign, but also as an organization and community.

What was started in 1965 by Empress José I de San Francisco after being crowned Queen at the Beaux Arts Ball, and proclaiming herself Empress, continued in an elegant 50th Anniversary Gala celebrating the founding of the Imperial Council of San Francisco at San Francisco’s City Hall. This past October in Portland, Oregon, we also celebrated the work of The International Court System at the historic Sentinel Hotel Governor’s Ballroom.

There, we were honored to receive the International Order of José Saria I from Queen Mother Nicole the Great.

Our year has been a whirlwind of experience that we can only equate to true magic. Some memorable and noteworthy travels included attending New York’s Night of A Thousand Gowns, where we were honored to represent the United States on stage as the American Golden Jubilee Monarchs of the International Imperial Court System, along with delegates from Canada and Mexico. We also had the opportunity to travel to Empires as far away as Alaska and Hawaii, and to other exotic locales such as Lexington, Kentucky, and Indianapolis, Indiana, where Empress Khmera was honored to have had the opportunity to crown the f irst heads of state at that city’s f irst coronation ball.

who we are or where we came from. To that end, preserving our history and legacy is key. The new film strives to do just that. To learn more, and to support the project, visit 50YearsofFab.com Sadly, all good things must come to an end. We look forward to welcoming and seeing what the future holds. We hope you will be able to join us and celebrate what has truly been a golden year at Koronation 2016: A Space Odyssey on February 27, at the San Francisco Galleria Design Center. For more information, please visit www. imperialcouncilsf.org With Love, The Red DAWG Golden Jubilee Emperor, Kevin Lisle, & The Golden Crouching Tigress, Hidden Draggerina Empress, Khmera Rouge

Dur ing our bid for Emperor and Empress, we were a lso fortunate enough to be a part of a documentar y project being f i lmed and produced by Absolute Empress X X X V I, Chabl is ( Dav id L a s s m a n) and by award-winning director Jethro Patalinghug. It is entitled 50 Years of Fabulous, the Imperial Council of San Francisco. We’ve found that to truly grow and move forward, we must make sacrifices and be willing to change, but we must never lose sight of

Proud of Our 50th Anniversary Emperor and Empress

PHOTO BY RINK

By Absolute Empress XXX Donna Sachet

14

BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

We could not have hoped for a more perfect Emperor and Empress in this, our 50th Anniversary! They have represented the Imperial Court of San Francisco across the continent with regality and distinction. Locally, they have drawn new members, presented fresh ideas, and honored our long tradition, raising significant funds for charitable organizations and adding to the fun calendar of events in the City. I am so proud of them both, and so happy to count them as friends.

A New Generation of GLBT Royalty At last year’s International Imperial Court State Dinner Gala in Portland, Oregon, Academy Award winner and gay right’s activist Dustin Lance Black announced that his ABC TV eighthour miniseries “When We Rise,” about the GLBT civil rights movement, would begin with a spotlight on the Founder of the International Imperial Court System of the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico, Empress I, José Julio Sarria, whom after her death I called the “Rosa Parks of the Gay Rights Movement.”

I recently talked with Lance Black, along with the TV series casting director and costume designer, and once again and rightfully so, San Francisco and its GLBT community and activists will take their just place in history in the GLBT civil rights movement. San Francisco has given us the Gay Games, Harvey Milk, the AIDS Names Quilt, Cleve Jones, The “Sisters,” Marriage

Equality, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, and so much more. San Francisco has also given us proud World War II veteran, and the first openly gay candidate to run for public office, Latino-American José Julio Sarria, the Founder of the Court System, with court chapters now in over 68 cities in three nations.

Over two decades ago, in a San Francisco ceremony, José named me her heir and successor, and 10 years later proclaimed me the new titular leader of the Imperial Court System and Queen Mother I of the Americas. I promised José that I would fight for her legacy and rightful place in GLBT history.

I led, along with then Supervisor Bevan Dufty and the International Court Council, the successful campaign to get a San Francisco street named after José. I am now leading the statewide effort to get José inducted into the California Hall of Fame.

By Empress Nicole the Great As I’ve said so many times before, “A community, indeed a civil rights movement, which does not really know where it came from does not really know where it is going.” We, of the International Court System, are proud that we led the nationwide campaign to get a U.S. postage stamp issued in honor of Harvey Milk.

So what is the future of the International Court System? What will the next 50 years be like? Once again, San Francisco has given the Court System two role models and “hope” for our future leadership in Emperor Kevin Lisle and Empress Khmera Rouge, whom I had the honor to proclaim “The Golden Jubilee Monarchs of the International Court System.” Indeed, the torch of leadership has been passed to a new generation of GLBT Royalty, and in Kevin and Khmera we are in good hands, for José’s spirit truly lives in both of them.

God bless you all.

Respectfully, Empress Nicole the Great Queen Mother I of the Americas Heir and Successor to Empress I José U.S.A. - Canada - Mexico

Titles, Tiaras and the Relevance of the Imperial Court

By Jacques Michaels, Emperor 25 After Norton Last February, the Imperial Court of San Francisco (ICSF) celebrated its 50th anniversar y at majestic City Hall. This Golden Jubilee year has been a historic milestone few grassroots organizations can boast. Founded locally in 1965 by José Sarria, the non-profit has grown to nearly 70 chapters throughout North America today, and is the second largest GLBT organization in the world.

Born of the age when bars were raided and drag queens could be arrested unless wearing a button that stated, “I am a man,” pioneers like our founder helped fuel the gay libera-

tion movement. Sarria, a WWII veteran and famous performer at The Black Cat, was the first openly gay candidate in the United States to run for public office: San Francisco Supervisor, 1961. By contrast today, all 50 states have had openly GLBT politicians elected to office in some capacity, even as mayor, senator, and, in one case, governor ( Jim McGreevey, New Jersey, 2002–04).

With five decades of noble deeds and resumé highlights that include raising millions of dollars for charity, being recognized by our nation’s capitol, and organizing the successful Harvey Milk postage stamp campaign, it perplexes me that many still haven’t heard of the Imperial Court—even right here in San Francisco! Even among those that are

aware, some have the misconception that it’s just a group of drag queens drinking and making noise, while others support the good work of the organization, whose mission statement touts inclusion, raising and distributing funds to other non-profits, and having fun.

There are also those in the community who believe that with acceptance of GLBT persons in general, and all the political advances that have been made over the years, there is no longer a need for the court system, that it is no longer relevant. I respectfully disagree. In order to stay relevant, one must grow and adapt. The ICSF has done just that.

Gay liberation and acceptance was a top priority in the 1960s & 70s until the AIDS pandemic hit. In the early 1980s, large metropolitan areas like New York and San Francisco were ground zero for the disease, so it was only natural to switch focus to education, prevention, compassion and philanthropy. Thanks to advancement of science and medicine, the next few decades saw HIV become a manageable chronic disease with much more funding. The desire to help others in need grew, thus expanding charitable contributions to include causes outside of the GLBT community. Finally, with the arrival of a new century, a renewed energy of liberation and demand for equality became top priority.

Now with marriage equality and anti-discrimination laws passed, the tides are changing once again. What comes next and how the ICSF stays relevant is up to our future leaders.

Every year at around this time, the city streets come alive with inspired candidates for the title of Emperor & Empress (E&E) canvasing for votes.

These individuals view the ICSF as a strong valued organization, one whose visibility and support can help them make a difference in the world we live in, particularly right here at home. The simple fact that The Imperial Court can inspire community members to give so much of themselves year after year in these volunteer positions proves current relevance.

It takes tremendous courage to put yourself out there and run for a title.

A lthough voting has already taken place, and the election results will not be revealed until the end of Coronation 51, the following is a window into the brave community members who tossed their hat into the ring this year in their quest to become your next E&E. There was only one candidate for Emperor this year, Sal Tovar, and he needs 50% of votes (plus 1) to

successfully win his seat at the Dias and represent our fair City by the Bay. Originally from San Antonio, Sal has called San Francisco his home for the past decade, concentrating his fundraising efforts and time with CheerSF. His involvement with the ICSF for the past few years includes being Imperial Crown Prince 2014, and the motivation to run is to “take the knowledge of what I have learned the past two years and direct it towards grooming the next leaders of this organization so we might thrive for another 50 years.” He believes “being relevant is believing in the organization by embracing unity through friendship and love while empowering our youth and gaining political clout.” A big fan of Camp Sunburst, it’s no wonder he chose unicorns and rainbows as a theme. He is Salvadorable.

Vying for the office of Empress, we have two candidates: Emma Peel and Sadie Ladie.

Emma Peel was born in Detroit, lived in Arizona, and moved to San Francisco in the summer of ‘87. She quickly established herself by way of the club scene and became aware of the ICSF during campaign season 1994. Shortly thereafter, she met Mama José, whose passion inspired her to become even more involved. Remaining active in both the Imperial and Ducal Courts these past 20 years, she became Miss Golden Gate 2008 and Imperial Crown Princess 2013. Her motivation for running for Empress is “to continue to raise money and awareness for (ICSF), all the while doing so with a sense of fun and community.” Some of her favorite charities are the AIDS Housing Alliance and AIDS Emergency Fund. She hopes to get different segments of our diverse community like Trans and Rodeo re-energized in their involvement with the Court. EMMA’s aPEELing in 2016.

Sadie Ladie is a transplant from Arkansas and moved to San Francisco 13 years ago. For the past 12, she has dedicated her time to CheerSF, acting as Executive Director for the past six.

Drawn to the Court’s pride in building a family, her involvement with the Court over the past few years includes the title of Miss Golden Gate 2014. She believes her experience owning and running a small business will be of value to the ICSF and will help maximize fundraising. Her favorite charities are pet orientated, PAWS and Muttville. She is inspired by the selflessness and dedication of ICSF Monarchs and members, and would be honored to continue that legacy. “While we must embrace the change within our community and city, we must remember that our objective is, and always will be, to help those in need.”

Here are a few of the activities where you can get a taste of the Imperial Court as Coronation week activities come to an end: Feb 25: Anniversary Monarchs’ Reception Honoring San Francisco’s past E&E’s and celebrating their anniversaries this year.

440 Bar located at 440 Castro Street, 7–9 pm, Free Feb 26: Out of Town Show Visiting Monarchs from other North American Courts perform and entertain.

Hard Rock Café @ Pier 39 from 7–9 pm, $25 Feb 27: Coronation 51: A Space Odyssey Celebrating Emperor Kevin Lisle, Empress Khmera Rouge, and their San Francisco Court.

SF Design Center, 101 Henry Adams, 5 pm doors, Coronation 6 pm. $65 Feb 28: Cemetery Pilgrimage This unique “only in SF” event, presented by the Emperors, includes light refreshments, a procession to the founder’s grave, entertainment and speakers. A brief ceremony this year marking the final internment of Emperor 1 Marcus Hernandez’ ashes will also take place.

Woodlawn Memorial Park, 1000 El Camino Real, Colma, 8–10:30 am.

Free

BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

15

More of Page Hodel’s Hearts for Madalene

Hodel has continued a tradition, begun while Rodriguez was fighting ovarian cancer, of making a heart every Monday as a reminder of their love. Each heart speaks to that powerful energy, pulsating out of the colorful images that highlight everything from a field of wildflowers to stacks of books. You can receive such a heart on your digital

doorstep each week. Just send an email to page.hodel@gmail.com and write “subscribe” in the subject line.

You can also check out Hodel’s website at: www.mondayheartsformadalene.com

Britt-Marie’s Wine Bar and Restaurant

For the ultimate sensorial impact, we recommend that you not only do the above, but also literally surround yourself with the hearts at the exhibit, which was curated by talented photographer and filmmaker Irene Young (http://ireneyoungfoto.com/). The exhibit is at BrittMarie’s Restaurant, 1369 Solano Ave., Albany, so you can linger to admire the artwork while savoring a delicious lunch or dinner. The intimate restaurant is in an historic spot for the LGBT community, enriching the experience all the more.

Rustic European style with an Upper Westside Manhattan vibe combine to create magic at this Solano Avenue favorite. The 25-foot walls covered with local art will transport you as you sip a glass of wine or local craft beer.

Britt-Marie’s Wine Bar & Restaurant acquired its namesake in 1983 from Chef Britt-Marie Pazdirek.

By Irene Young

PHOTO BY TINA SILANO

In our last issue, we celebrated “Monday Hearts for Madalene,” Page Hodel’s solo exhibit at BrittMarie’s Restaurant in Albany. The exhibit runs through the end of March, so there is still time to see it. Hodel was inspired to create the hearts by Madalene Louise Rodriguez, whom she met in 2005. Just a year later, Rodriguez passed away.

As Hodel writes, “All of our lives have never been the same.”

Photos of hearts courtesy of Page Hodel

Page Hodel and Irene Young

Originally called “The Bacchanal” from 1972 to 1982, this wine bar was established as a place “by and for women” and as a locus of the Second Wave Feminism Movement. When Britt-Marie took over the space, she created a menu that combined her native Scandinavian dishes with Eastern European cuisine.

PHOTO BY IRENE YOUNG

In 1990, Chef Arthur Morfidis added Mediterranean dishes to the Britt-Marie’s menu with family recipes from his motherland of Greece. The dining experience is ‘continental’ in theme with hearty food like schnitzel, Hungarian goulash, roasted duck or juicy stuffed pork chop. Other hand-made dishes are spanakopita, terrine, and the famed green romaine salad; and for dessert, house-made banana crème pie or a poached pear in brandy sauce with a dessert wine or a cappuccino.

The rotating weekly wine list features five white and five red by the glass or bottle. The wine selection (for both white and red) features two California, two European and one Southern Hemisphere. Britt-Marie’s intimate ambiance is warm and casual as we continue our cultural legacy on Solano Avenue with great food & wine, a variety of special events and local social fundraisers.

Page and Madalene

PHOTO BY IRENE YOUNG

Photographer and filmmaker Irene Young is the curator of the exhibit “Monday Hearts for Madalene,” now featured at Britt-Marie’s.

16

BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

17

&

Krewe deKrewe Kinque presents de Kinque Bal Masque XIII Bal Masque XIII presents

&

SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016 5PM-9PM AT BEATBOX 314 11TH ST, SF, CA

5PM VIP PARTY

SOUTHERNCUISINE

RESERVED SEATING & NAME IN PROGRAM

PHOTO BY JO LYNN OTTO

6-9PM MASKED BALL DJ Tweaka Turner Grand Marshal Second Line Parade Live Tableaux Show Crowning of King & Queen XIII Raffle, Auction & Beads!

No Host Bar

RAFFLE PRIZES| SILENT AUCTION all proceeds benefit Jazzie's Place LGBT Homeless Shelter

design: karinjaffie.com | images: 7themes.com | wallpaperscraft.com

TICKETS VIP $30 GENERAL ADMISSION $15/$20 DOOR MORE INFO 415.867.5004

BALMASQUEXIII.BROWNPAPERTICKETS.COM 18

BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

From the Coming Up Events Calendar See page 24 Thursday, March 3 - Keeper of the Beat: A Women’s Journey Into the Heart of Drumming.

7-8:30 PM. Barbara Borden in Performance.

Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center. $8-$12.

(11118 4th St., San Rafael) http://rafaelfilm.cafilm.org

Saturday, Feb 27 - Jewish Film Institute Winterfest 2016. 11:30 AM. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema San Francisco. Per film: $14 General/$13 Student/Senior. (2550 Mission St.) jewishfilminstitute.org/winterfest-2016-4/

Ellen Page and Ian Daniel Discuss Their Gaycation Adventures

Film Gary M. Kramer The first episode of Ellen Page’s new Viceland series, Gaycation–airing March 2, explores LGBT issues in Japan. Page travels with her gay best friend Ian Daniel, whom she met studying permaculture design in an eco-village in Oregon. The pair do a bar crawl in the gay district of Tokyo, meet women who enjoy naughty manga comics, and are present as a gay man comes out to his mother.

In future episodes, Page and Daniel thoughtfully investigate what it means to be LGBT in Brazil and Jamaica, as well as the U.S. For the San Francisco Bay Times, I recently spoke with the intrepid travelers about Gaycation and their adventures.

Gary M. Kramer: How/why did you conceive of this show?

Ellen Page: I love travel shows, and always have. I’ve been privileged to travel with my job. I wanted to make a show that was specifically focused on the LGBT community in that country.

But also, what does it mean as an LGBT person travelling around the world?

Ian Daniel: I tagged along. I thought it was a great platform for being edgy, interesting, fun, and vibrant. I’m a gay guy who has not actively participated in LGBT culture on this level, so it was a way for me to push myself and get out of my bubble. It had potential to shape things and change people, and coming from my childhood in Indiana, this was a great opportunity to reach people across the country, and around the world.

Gary M. Kramer: How did you determine where you went and what you featured in each episode?

Ellen Page: We did research on a lot of countries to figure out where we wanted to go. The people we spoke to have been courageous and brave humans. It’s a humbling, inspiring experience. When the young man [in Japan] decided to come out to his mother, and wanted us to be there– that happened on the ground. That becomes a conversation: Do you really want us there? In Brazil, Carnival is part of the episode, and we show what that incredible celebration represents: sexual freedom and a lot of trans dancers. It’s an incredible thing to see that and then what the reality is for LGBT people in Brazil.

Ian Daniel: Some places aren’t accessible. We’re not coming in under the radar, or pretending to be straight.

In our conversations, we look to get what we want out of each episode.

Brazil looks like it is ahead of the curve on LGBT rights, but there is a lot of violence. Is the culture and subculture interesting to dig into? Are people living or surviving? Jamaica is harder to get people on camera if they are LGBT. We want to share those stories.

Gary M. Kramer: Did any of your experiences surprise you?

Ellen Page: We didn’t plan to go into the Cholesterol bar in Tokyo, where the man with the throat made a sex toy. He had the [toys] on the bar, and he invited us in. We did not plan it!

Ian Daniel: I’m game to try things and immerse myself, and maybe with a too naïve attitude. I’m so curious about this: how do I participate in a way that’s not offensive? We agree that to be there for Jamaica’s first public Pride ceremony–which was tangibly exciting, and historic, and electric–was an emotional moment.

Gary M. Kramer: How do you respond to, and process, your

Gaycation experiences?

Ellen Page: The biggest take away is how much I have learned and how fortunate I’ve been to meet incredible activists, and people who have survived and are vulnerable sharing their story and wanting their voices to be heard. We’ve had some really intense moments–parents losing a trans daughter or gay son to violence. That’s emotional and heartbreaking. Ian and I offer each other support. I think the sad thing is the reality of people whose lives are far more vulnerable than you.

You can leave and go back to your life where you live freely as a gay person.

Ian Daniel: For me, the point of the show is that we’re connecting–and trying to connect to–people whose stories you rarely or never hear. Our personal interactions can help dispel bigoted stereotypes, and that exposure helps people. It’s hard to see a way out for people who are marginalized. It’s hard to change the country from within. We witness that. We’re not journalists. We

come in with our own feelings. What more can you get out of it than being humbled?

Gary M. Kramer: What are some of your travel secrets?

Ellen Page: I don’t know that I have travel tips. I throw stuff in a bag. I try to pack light. Bring your best friend.

Ian Daniel: Learn about the place before you enter it. Brush up on customs, culture and do not go on your assumptions. If you’re LGBT, it’s important to understand the way the countries stand on those issues. If I look at myself as a traveler, I have to remind myself to be open-minded about the way people are living there and how they navigate through the world. © 2016 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

SFGMC Spring Fundraiser to Feature Broadway Legend Patti LuPone at Getty Mansion The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) has just announced that two-time Tony Award winner and Broadway legend Patti LuPone will join the talented Chorus for their spring fundraising event. What’s more, the event will take place at the stunningly beautiful Pacific Heights mansion of Ann & Gordon Getty.

“Entering the iconic Getty House is a thrill all by itself,” wrote Dr. Timothy Seelig, SFGMC Artistic Director. “It is a veritable art museum perched high above the gorgeous bay. Entering the exquisite music salon for an intimate concert with Patti LuPone raises that experience to a level few will experience in their lives. And all of this to support the amazing outreach programs that are central to SFGMC’s mis-

sion–it’s truly amazing.”

San Francisco’s own Jake Heggie will receive a Champion Award at the event. He is an internationally recognized opera composer (Dead Man Walking, Moby Dick). Heggie also composed “For a Look or a Touch,” which SFGMC performed in 2015, as well as “The Narrow Bridge,” the final movement of Tyler’s Suite. He and his husband, Beach Blanket Babylon’s Curt Branom, are incredible fans and supporters of the Chorus and their mission and music.

The funds raised at the event will assist in continuing SFGMC performances in the Bay Area, deepen engagement with local youth programs and underserved communities, as well as help seed future national and international tours.

Miles Walls, SFGMC Development Coordinator, said, “This summer, the Chorus will perform a benefit in Colorado Springs, raising muchneeded awareness and funds for people living in a very conservative area of our country, and plans are also underway for SFGMC to be the first openly gay chorus to travel to China in 2018 as part of our 40th anniversary.”

Dr. Seelig added, “Patti LuPone is spectacular in a concert with a packed house, full symphony orchestra, sets, costumes, lights–all of it. But imagine sitting in a stunning music salon, in an iconic San Francisco mansion with only 80 other people, Patti and a grand piano–up close and very personal. This experience is truly once in a lifetime, and a great moment for SFGMC.”

The event happens on Tuesday, March 29, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. For tickets and additional information, please go to: http://www.sfgmc.org/ patti-lupone-joins-sfgmc-for-spring-fundraisingevent/ BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

19

Time Management souls. It is this aspect of the writing business when I have trouble finding time!

these periods of heightened creativity, it is nearly impossible to switch off entirely.

Words Michele Karlsberg Michele Karlsberg: How do you find the time to write?

When: Wednesday, March 16, 2016, 6:30 PM Where: Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion You and your dog are invited to walk the red carpet and celebrate with us!

• Delectable food from McCalls Catering & Events • Live Auction • Music and Dancing

Laury A. Egan: Perhaps the question should be: How do I find time to clean the house, pay bills, and shop?

Because I’ve made writing my first priority after years of working as a freelancer, I usually am at my desk all day, most days, forgoing social lunches and doing my best to minimize interruptions. In many ways, I am fortunate to have this freedom, which very few writers have, though the downside to my solitary focus is that I spend my day, and many nights, isolated from human companionship.

When I am in the throes of a new novel, however, I don’t mind, because the process feels much like falling in love, probably with similar chemical changes in the brain. In fact, during

*Sponsored by Critter Lovers at Work (CLAW). Benefitting the Cinderella Fund of the SF SPCA

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “We have an effed-up election system in America. Why do we need primaries and cawkasses? Flip a coin? Draw a card?? Whaaat??! And why the hell do we need superdelegates??? Are these characters in Marvel Comics with special powers?

Why can’t we just have one person = one vote across the nation? And please let›s eliminate the Electoral College. There is obviously no need for a higher learning institution to educate voters. Many of them haven›t even finished high school!»

KREWE DE KINQUE, a social club with a festive all-year-long Mardi Gras theme that raises funds for charities each month, celebrated FAT TUESDAY («Mardi Gras» in French) with SF›s Krewe de Kinque members and friends at our annual bar crawl aboard the KdK Party Bus wearing elaborate costumes, masks, and beads (Queen VII Sister Dana was decked out in the proper Mardi Gras colors of purple, gold, and green). We gathered at the festooned LOOKOUT bar at 7 pm, boarded the bus at

Absol utely Fabulous Tours

B ook a W in e T our Now! PHOTO BY RINK

LGBT Owned 100% customizable Group/Private Tours

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

20

BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

From what I’ve read about other authors and have personally experienced, writing is not just about finding time to devise great plots, settings, and characters. It is also about finding patience for the long, hard grind of revisions–I do 30+ drafts–and then months of sending out submissions.

And after those tasks, there is the least pleasant activity: the endless publicity demands, so difficult for introverted

Bradley Aaron Anson: My writing material tends to bank up in my mind. The moment the material breaches my mental retaining wall, I must write. Unfortunately, this over saturation can happen in the wee hours of the morning or late at night.

Even if my intentions are set firmly for rest or sleep, the pressure becomes immensely focused to write at that very moment, and any attempt to delay is futile. Sleeping or rushing to any scheduled event is out of the question as I find myself organizing my writ(continued on page 26)

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

For more information, please visit our website www.clawsf.org, phone 415.522.3535 or email info@clawsf.org

Despite my disciplined schedule, many of the most interesting thoughts arrive when I’m not pushing hard to generate a new idea, such as while driving, falling asleep, dreaming, or looking at the ocean. These low-focus moments allow my unconscious to wander freely and can be richly productive. Some of the plot situations on my current novel, Once, Upon an Island, were worked out while swimming laps in a pool—a happy coincidence, since my main character was swimming on beaches and pools in St. Croix!

Laury A. Egan is the author of “The Outcast Oracle,” “Jenny Kidd,” “Fog and Other Stories,” and the forthcoming “Wave in D Minor” (December 2016, Bedazzled Ink). Her poetry volumes include “Snow,” “Shadows,” “a Stranger,” “Beneath the Lion’s Paw,” and “The Sea & Beyond.” Her website is www.lauryagean. com

Sister Dana (right) was decked out for Mardi Gras, as were his friends Gary Virginia and Miguel Guiterrez, at the Krewe de Kinque Fat Tuesday party held at the Lookout on February 8.

8 pm; partied our way to TRAX bar on Haight Street; then Club OMG (6th Street) for some serious dancing under the awesome domed dance floor; then shuffled off to the sexy, steamy SF EAGLE in SoMa, and then headed to the decorated EDGE bar by 11:30 pm (where our club was founded) for a BLOWOUT party to ring in Ash Wednesday! Queen II Deana Dawn kept us on track, and our current King Gio & Queen Cotton Candy led the Second Line Parade entrances to each bar. Noisemakers, umbrellas, bling & boas for days! Entertainment was provided

by Queen Garza doing “Hey Big Spender” from Sweet Charity, Best in Show 2015 puppy dog Boomer from the Ducal Council (“arf! arf!”), King Kippy Marks singing his original “Mr. Friendly,” Queen Cotton Candy doing Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing,” Carne Asada with Whitney’s “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay.”

This year’s beneficiary for the bus crawl and Bal Masque XIII, “SAINTS & SINNERS,” is JAZZIE’S PLACE, the new LGBTQ Homeless Shelter operated by Dolores Street Community Services. Mark your calendars for our annual BAL MASQUE on March 12th, 5–9 pm at Beatbox, 11th & Folsom Streets. It’s gonna be a ball! sfkinque.com MOMMA’S BOYZ presented KINGDOM! WHERE KINGS REIGN–the only monthly DRAG KING night in EssEff at the GLBT HISTORY MUSEUM for an unforgettable night of SEXY DRAG KING performances, music, and partying! “KINGDOM! A Night at the Museum” is a benefit for the future DRAG KING EXHIBIT at the GLBT History Museum. Tweaka Turner was the DJ, donning a big fake beard, choosing to not dress as a DQ as usual but instead was a baller pimp daddy in shiny clothes and zebra-striped fedora. Emcees Alex U. Inn, Mailman (Kaylah Marin), and Madd Dogg 20/20 kept us entertained, plus the whole Momma’s Boyz crew, and a host of performers turned the museum into a DRAG KING Performance Showcase. Note: a drag king is the opposite of a drag queen—usually a

female dressed in male attire and appearance. TRANSGENDER LAW CENTER, last month’s beneficiary, received their funds raised at January’s KINGDOM. In addition to the emcees, museum performers included: Kit Tapata, Sevan-Kelee Boult, Riley Coyote, Mustang & The Stallion Dancers, Oliver Closeoff & Prince Ript. Special guest was last month’s KINGDOM! Co-winner: Oliver Quimm. The macho event raised over $1,000!

CASTRO STREET ARTSAVESLIVES STUDIO AND GALLERY and AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION presented “LOVE & EROTIC ART,” a large pre-Valentines show and party with 18 local artists displaying sculpture, paintings, photos, and live performances: Wine (poured by art critic Tony De Renzo) and treats were served by glittery “cigarette girls” (not selling ciggies but giving away sweets and savory treats). When not serving folks, Honey Dewmee Melons danced a fiercely frisky female burlesque, Rachel Pennine read her erotic feminist poetry, and Jose Cital executed a sexy, intricate modern dance interpretation. People flocked to the Castro and enjoyed the delightful company of more than a dozen hardworking artists curated by artist in residence Thomasina DeMaio, and had a memorable evening of art, chocolates, and community at 518 Castro Street. My faves on display now are “Sunset,” a warm male backside Giclee print as chalk pastel on paper by David Barnett (davidbarnett.com); a very Castro-centric bar scene of “Down the Rabbit Hole” by Serge Gay Jr. (sergegayjr.com), and an entire half wall of amazing photographic composite collage nude male pieces by J.B. Higgins (jbhiggins. com). These will be on display for the rest of the month of February. Note: DeMaio offers live art models for both newbie and veteran artists to portray: Tuesdays with a different female model each time and Thursdays with two male models to sketch, paint, or sculpt to your heart’s content. facebook.com/sfartslave (continued on page 26)

Take Me Home with You!

Jasmine

You can address me as Lady Jasmine. I hope you’re looking for a quiet and affectionate companion to keep you company–that is exactly what I’m wishing for in my golden years (I just turned 13). I’ve dismissed most of my staff, even my lady’s maid, and would prefer to live without other cats or children in the home as well. Though I wish to live more simply, I still have a youthful playful spirit and have kept up my appearance with a gorgeous Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup sleek black coat and white “broach” on my chest, which was the height of fashion in my day. I’d be delighted to make your acquaintance!

Jasmine is presented to San Francisco Bay Times readers by Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, the SF SPCA’s Co-President. Our thanks also go to Krista Maloney for helping to get the word out about lovable pets like Jasmine.

To see Jasmine and other pets seeking their forever homes, please visit: San Francisco SPCA Pacific Heights Campus 2343 Fillmore Street 415-563-6700 Aside from major holidays, the adoption center is open Mon–Fri: 1–7 pm and Sat–Sun: 10 am–6 pm. Free parking is available for those wishing to adopt!

For more info about Jasmine: https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/petdetails/30512375

Find Unconditional Love at Local Animal Shelters, Rescue Centers Volunteers and staff at Bay Area animal shelters and rescue organizations often work extra hours now, given that many of the facilities are at, or above, their normal capacities. There is always an uptick in adoption activity around Valentine’s Day, as couples decide to adopt a pet together. Animals that were not chosen, however, often face lonely days, weeks or longer of shelter care. Meanwhile, still more animals continue to be brought into the rescue centers.

Like Jasmine the gentle cat, who is featured in our piece from the San Francisco SPCA, many sweet pets once enjoyed the comfort and security of a stable home for years, only to wind up homeless as their owners were forced to leave long-term residences for locations that are not as accepting of pets.

We therefore encourage you at this time to consider adopting a homeless dog, cat, rabbit, bird or other animal in need of a good, loving home. Louis, the adopted San Francisco Bay Times cat, agrees! To make the process even easier, Oakland Animal Services has reduced its adoption fees to $14 until the end of February.

“We know pets provide unconditional love and the science proves pet owners are actually happier and healthier as a result,” said shelter director Rebecca Katz. “We have some amaz-

ing pets in all shapes and sizes; from puppies and kittens, to adult cats and dogs of various sizes as well as many adorable rabbits. There really is no greater love than that of a shelter pet.”

While recently visiting a local pet food store on behalf of the aforementioned Louis, we met dedicated volunteers from Greyhound Friends for Life and Maine Coon (Cat) Adoptions.

Both groups also feature many playful, loving pets seeking homes. The photos here don’t do them justice–especially the photo of the gorgeous female Maine coon cat who was safer in her cage than running around the busy store.

Oakland Animal Services: http:// oaklandanimalservices.org/ Greyhound Friends for Life: http:// www.greyhoundfriendsforlife.org/ Maine Coon Adoptions: http:// mainecoonadoptions.com/index.shtml

FabulousSylvester.com Follow @FABSYLVESTER

BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

21

Meet the Challenge, Seize the Dream Today (February 25), Uranus the Rebel gives you the green light to break a rule that doesn’t make sense, and get away with it. An added bonus? That devilish look in someone’s eye may entice and invite. Go for it!

In March, buckle up for a wild cosmic ride starting March 5 when Mars couples with gypsy Sagittarius for 7 sizzling months, triggering events and feelings. You may find yourself hungry for a worthy challenge and itching to get something moving. It will be a time to prove yourself to yourself. March 8 is auspicious for starting a new project, applying for a dream job or asking for a well-deserved promotion. In the mood for love? Propose a têteà-tête with that special someone you’ve been eyeing (March 5 and March 6 yield the steamiest results),

Astrology Joyce Van Horn

or propose on bended knee to your significant other.

While Mars is the accelerator, Mercury in Pisces (March 5–March 20) is the gentle reminder to tap the brakes. Perceptions downshift from linear to intuitive during these three weeks. You will be privy to realms beyond the 5 physical senses. Relax, and don’t rush. Indulge in an afternoon catnap. Meditate. Listen to music. Take space. Tune out reality, and dial in the subtle voice of the Muse.

Kick back and you’ll receive inspired messages through dreams, clues, cues and synchronicities. Follow them, as well as your hunches, and you can’t go wrong. Others might marvel at your good luck and amazing timing. Color this period magically weird. However, if you persist on shifting into high gear,

you might slip on the cosmic banana peel. The mantra for Mercury in Pisces is “Surrender.”

On March 8, a Pisces new moon is amplified by a total solar eclipse–a heady brew indeed. New moons are times to plant seeds that bear fruit at the full moon. Under the influence of a total solar eclipse, there can be a crisis that translates as a crucial stage or turning point in the course of something. Shaking things up allows for new, positive growth. Been meaning to break an old pattern or habit? This would be the time. If you’re a Pisces, Gemini, Virgo or Sagittarius (or have a rising sign or moon in any of those signs), this event will be more impactful.

Nothing to fear–it’s just the cosmos cleaning out those dust bunnies that you’ve been ignoring. Change is good, especially if it’s conscious.

With so much Piscean energy, you can count on your inner knowing far more than rationale. Pisces knows nothing about scheduling or deadlines. Let the distractions of the “real” world melt away. It’s okay if you lose track of time, and be sure to take your time.

All in all, this is a period of contrast.

If you know what you don’t want, you will know more about what you do want. Enjoy it all!

Joyce Van Horn, an Evolutionary Astrologer, has lived and practiced in San Francisco since the 1980s. Earthy, direct and wonderfully irreverent, she honors each individual as the miracle they are. She loves her work with an undying passion. There’s nothing else she’d rather do. For more information, please visit: joycevanhornsf.com/

abcdefghijkl As Heard on the Street . . . What is your favorite park in San Francisco and why? compiled by Rink

Natalie Gunn

Bobby Blue

Chris Walker

January Bishop

Dennis Brumm

“Diamond Heights’ Billy Goat Hill Park’s view of downtown”

“Dolores Park, because it is festive and spiritual”

“Presidio Park is a good place for hiking.”

“Cesar Chavez Park”

“Golden Gate Park where I have met people”

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

415 370 7152

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com 22

BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

DUNNING (continued from page 5) “Of course I am—I’m gay!” We laughed and I reminded him the caucuses don’t run on Gay Standard Time, so he better get there before they close the doors at 12 noon. He gave me a knowing look and promised to show up on time. We thanked him and moved on to our next address. It was interactions like this one that made our canvassing experience a lot of fun.

Each “site” (e.g. school, church, library) has four to ten precincts caucusing there. Our site had six precincts, each ranging in turnout from 15–80 people. The Nevada Democratic Party was to provide a precinct captain for each room to run that precinct’s caucus. In many instances, the assigned captain didn’t know they would play that role until that day, and had received no training. In some cases, no one showed up.

In those situations, someone needed to step in and run the caucus. It was not uncommon for a campaign volunteer, and many from outside Nevada, to step in and serve as precinct captains to fill the void. Several of our California Hillary volunteers ended up in these roles, as did some Sanders volunteers. Although the situation seemed vulnerable to abuse, I wit-

San Francisco Bay Times columnist Zoe Dunning with other Bay Area volunteers at the Nevada Democratic Caucuses celebrating at the Aria Hotel Casino (right) and the Victory Party at Caesar’s Palace (above).

PHOTO BY ADAM SHULTZ

Saturday was the day of the caucuses.

We showed up at our assigned elementary school in Henderson, a suburb of Las Vegas, at 10:30 am, and there were already long lines in the school gym. Overall there were widespread reports of total chaos at several, if not most, caucus sites. There were usually not enough computers to check people in, widespread confusion about pre-registering for the caucus vs. registering to vote, people changing their party affiliation on the spot, and just a general lack of training for the field staff on how to check folks in and run the caucus.

Hillary Clinton campaigning in Las Vegas, Nevada

nessed no voting fraud and instead saw Bernie and Hillary supporters working together to create order out of the shared chaos.

In many instances, people stood outside in the sun for lengthy periods of time. At our site, the two representatives from the school were unable to get facilities to turn on the air conditioning, and the temperatures soared inside. There were babies, elderly, and disabled people sweating as they awaited the start of the caucusing. My military training kicked in, and I asked the site leader if I could offer water to the caucus goers. I couldn’t stand seeing everyone suffer, and I didn’t want

anyone to leave due to discomfort—remember, to have your vote count, you have to stay until the end.

He was grateful for the offer, so I drove quickly to the local Kmart and purchased eight cases of water. I am sensitive to the environmental impact of plastic and would never have purchased bottled water if it weren’t such an urgent situation. I returned right at noon, when they locked the doors, and got the water inside just in time.

We handed every last bottle of water out to some very thankful people.

In my precinct that I observed, the captain was competent, but casual.

Each campaign had a representative read a statement from the candidate asking for their vote. Then the 81 people divided into two sides of the room—one side for Bernie and one side for Hillary. There were no undecided people in my precinct, so there were no further arguments/ statements to persuade anyone. The captain counted each side—47 for Bernie, 34 for Hillary. Then they prorated their 13 delegates accordingly. With rounding, Bernie received 8, Hillary 5. They filled out paperwork, selected volunteers to serve as delegates and the caucus concluded.

They all shuff led back out into the bright desert sun, glad to wait four more years for the next presidential election cycle.

Ref lecting on this Nevada caucus experience, I’m not sure I had much impact on the final caucus results.

Hillary’s margin of victory was much larger than the 55 households our threesome canvassed, or the 300 caucus-goers at our elementary school that Saturday. But I am conf ident that, collectively, the entire contin-

gent from the Bay Area made a huge difference.

I proudly read the many reports from the other caucus sites. Time after time, we jumped in, helped the overburdened party volunteers organize the voter check in and processing procedures, engaged and entertained the caucus goers while they waited in difficult conditions, and made for a far better process and experience for everyone we touched. Who knows?

Maybe they will be more likely to vote in November, or attend the next Democratic presidential caucus in 2020? We made their day a little more comfortable and a little less frustrating, and that can’t help but contribute to our Democracy.

Zoe Dunning is a retired Navy Commander and was a lead activist in the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. She currently serves as the 1st Vice Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, as a San Francisco Library Commissioner, and as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club.

Professional Services Planning Ahead is an Act of Love › Wills and Living Trusts › Medi-Cal › Durable Powers of Attorney › Incapacity and Conservatorships 415-359-0223 www.caelderlaw.com wenzellaw@sbcglobal.net

Member National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

N ewPer spec ti ves Center for Counseling

BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

23

See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com

compiled by Jennifer Mullen reception will have snacks and wine. duanecramer.com

• 25 : T HURSDAY

• 28 : S UNDAY

Divorce Options Workshop Collaborative Council Practice Center. $35. 9 am. (829 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa) This educational workshop addresses the legal, financial and emotional issues people face when dealing with divorce. divorceoptions.eventbrite.com.

Afternoon Delight: An Ice Cream Social for Women, with Page Hodel, Emily, Olga, and Marga Gomez - the New Parish (Oakland). $5$10 donation. 3-8 pm. (1743 San Pablo Ave., Oakland) An LGBTQ outdoor dance party, with resident and guest DJs usually playing Disco or House... event to also feature ice cream! facebook.com/ events/1703642903191910

Stop Kiss By Diana Son - Live Oak Theatre. $5-$30. 8 pm. (1301 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley) First produced in 1998 off Broadway at the Public Theater, Stop Kiss is a tender love story that goes tragically off the rails just as it begins to blossom. Runs Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm and Sundays at 5 pm. Through Sunday, March 12. theatrefirst.com A Shakespere Valentine and The Harlem Renaissance Gough Street Playhouse. $10-$40.

8 pm. (1620 Gough St.) A Shakespeare Valentine and The Harlem Renaissance features eight actors, four women and four men, with the words of 47 of The Bard’s Sonnets to tell stories of five couples. wehavemet.org WTF Women/Trans/Queer Bike Night - SF Bike Kitchen.

Free. 6–9 pm. (650 H Florida St.) Learn how to fix a bike in a supportive space. Every second and fourth Friday of the month. bikekitchen.org

• 27 : S ATURDAY

Blame Sally - Osher Marin JCC. $25–$40. 8 pm. (200 North San Pedro Rd., San Rafael) A women’s quartet making their own brand of folk pop with sounds country, folk,

An opening reception for photographer Duane Cramer’s exhibit, “I Am Positive; What Does Positive Mean to You?” will be held on Saturday, February 27, 6-9pm at Strut, 470 Castro Street. ing; her writing revolves around rock, Celtic and strains of classical Duane Cramer’s “I Am Positive; What Does Positive music as well. marinjcc.org/arts themes of gender, Afro-Cuban Mean to You?” Opening Night history, and the African legacy.

SF Jewish Film Fest’s WinReception - Strut.Free. 6-9 pm. oaklandlibrary.org/events/cesar-eterFest - Alamo Drafthouse.

Cramer unveils large-scale colorful $14+. 8:50 pm. (2550 Mission St.) chavez-branch/cuban-author-readportraits of locals with hopeful A day-long mini-festival featuring-georgina-herrera-presentacion- approaches and attitudes towards ing Demon, a film with nods to de-autora-cubana-geo life, and some of whom are HIV+; Kubrick’s The Shining, and with a retelling of the Jewish dybbuk folktale into the middle of a modern Polish wedding. jewishfilminstitute.org Cuban Author Reading: Georgina Herrera - Oakland Public Library, Cesar Chavez Branch. Free. 2:20 pm. Georgina Herrera will give a bilingual read-

PHOTO COURTESY OF DUANE CRAMER

• 26 : F RIDAY

Jayne Ross: Reflections of an Octogenarian - Modern Times Bookstore. Free. 4–5:30 pm. (2919 24th St.) Jayne Ross, an octogenarian, shares her ideas and tales about navigating the twilight years after an acting career, 30 years in business, and retirement from CBS. moderntimesbookstore.com/events/ A Gathering of Royals (Academy of Friends 2016: Awards Night Gala Benefiting HIV/AIDS Organizations) - San Francisco Design Center. $220–$750. 5–10 pm (101 Henry Adams St.) Don’t miss the 36th Annual Academy Awards Night Gala with food, wine and champagne provided by local restaurants; a silent auction; and the Oscars! eventbrite.com/e/a-gathering-of-royals-academy-of-friends2016-gala-tic ets-19162152514

• 29 : M ONDAY

Karaoke Night - SF Eagle. Free.

8 pm–12 am. (398 12th St.) This week’s special guest host is DJ Sav Blanc. Every Monday. facebook. com/events/981253571966284/ Piano Bar 101 - Martuni’s. Free.

9 pm. (4 Valencia St.) Sing along to your fave songs with friends and patrons. 415-241-0205 Monday Night Marsh - The Marsh. $8. 7:30 pm. (1062 Valencia St.) An ongoing works-in-progress series, featuring local emerging solo performers, musicians, playwrights and entertainers. Happening every Monday. themarsh.org

• 1 : T UESDAY

12th Annual Women’s History Month Awards Ceremony and Reception Mayor’s Conference Room 201, San Francisco City Hall. Free, or become an event sponsor. 3:306:45 pm. (1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place) This event honors women in government and public service. friendscosw.org/event-2162183 Queer Youth Meal Night LGBT Center, Rainbow Room. Free.

5–7 pm. (1300 Market St.) Youth Meal Night is a safe space to meet with your LGBTQIA friends, have a free dinner, watch a movie and get connected to a community of resources. facebook.com/sfcenteryouth?_rdr=p

• 2 : W EDNESDAY

Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical - The Brava The-

24

BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

tory taiko class will cover basic fundamental skills and history.

Register at mindbodyonline.com.

Sundays through April 10. maikazedaiko.com

Floor 21: More and Rudy Valdez Present a New Downtown Happy Hour Starlight Room. Free. 5 pm. (450 Powell St.) Enjoy the view in one of the sumptuous high-backed booths while sipping one of Juanita’s signature drink specials. Every Wednesday.

Unicorn: A Monthly Queer Party - Powerhouse. Free. 6 pm.

(1347 Folsom St.) Come celebrate 3 years of art at the Powerhouse. facebook.com/ events/1701923466711783/

• 3 : T HURSDAY

Keeper of the Beat Screenings - Christopher B.Smith Rafael Film Center. $8–$12. 7 pm. (1118 4th St., San Rafael) Screening followed by a live performance featuring Barbara Borden and The Hearts on Fire Drummers. rafaelfilm.cafilm.org Queer Swing Classes on Thursdays - OutWest Dance Sebastapol. $45 for the four classes, March 3-24. 7-8:30 pm.

Address to be given out after registration. Instructor Gene Ross leads this series of classes focussing on East Class Swing. www.outwestdance.com Lesbians of Color Discussion Group at Pacific Center Pacific Center (Berkeley). Free. 7 pm. (2712 Telegraph Ave.) This racially diverse group discusses anything and everything.

• 7 : M ONDAY

The SF LGTBQ Sangha LGBT Community Center. Free.

5:30 pm.(1800 Market St.) A weekly meditation sitting group. sflgbtsangha.org Bay Area Young Positives Drop-In Group. Free. 7 pm.

(701 Market St.) Drop-in support for young HIV positive people. baypositives.org

• 8 : T UESDAY

Hysteria Feminist and Queer-Friendly Comedy Martini’s. Free. 6 pm. (4 Valenica St.) Hysteria feminist and queerfriendly open mic. facebook.com/ hysteriacomedy 13 Licks Tuesdays - Q Bar. Free. 9 pm. (456 Castro St.) Natalie Nuxx and guest DJs Lezzie; queer manic dance party. 13licks.com

• 9 : W EDNESDAY Free Outdoor Workout: Stairs, Core & Endurance Alta Plaza Park. Free. 6:30 am.

(Pierce and Clay Streets). Every Wednesday. Join these free halfhour workouts that vary each week. facebook.com/ NovemberProjectSF

WE’RE BACK MARCH 16!

CECCHINI & CECCHINI: Cecchini & Cecchini is back with the freshest asparagus around! Steam it, sauté it, broil it. Asparagus is a great addition to any meal.

FAR WEST FUNGI: Check out Far West Fungi for a tasty variety of mushrooms. They taste great stuffed, sautéed, or even grilled!

HAPPY BOY FARMS: Veggie lovers rejoice! Happy Boy Farms will be at the market with their organic carrots, onions, broccoli, spinach, potatoes, leeks, and even radishes!

PRATHER RANCH: Stop by Prather Ranch for a variety of fresh cuts of grass-fed beef, pork, or some delicious chicken.

PAMELA SOAPS: Pamela Soaps has some lovely scented soaps and body products for the spring.

Check out their new natural bug spray, and extra moisturizing facial soaps.

PCFMA.ORG

1.800.949.FARM

fb.com/castrofarmersmarket

DESIGN : LOGOMAN : logomantotherescue.com

ater. $35-$100. 7 pm. (2781 24th St.) A musical based on the life of the 1970s disco legend Sylvester.

Through March 13. fabuloussylvester.com/tickets.html

• 4 : F RIDAY

“Feminists to Feministas” Opening Reception - GLBT History Museum. 7-9 pm. (4127 18th St.) An exhibition of 29 rare posters spanning from the 1970s to today that visually trace the efforts of lesbians, bisexuals, and transwomen of color who rallied for sexual freedom and economic justice. glbthistory.org/events/ Golf-&-Business School Retreat for Women! - Warner Springs Ranch Golf Club. (North of San Diego) The Every Business Woman Golf School Retreat offers a rare chance to work with LPGA Tour Trailblazer Dr. Renee Powell, only the 2nd African-American woman to ever play on the LPGA Tour. March 4–6. www.everybusinesswomangolf.com

• 5 : S ATURDAY

Opening Night of I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright - Haba Na Haba House. $15$35 (But pay what you can at the door). 8 pm. (1936 Thousand Oak, Berkeley) Pulitzer-prize play following Charlotte von Mahlsdorf a transgender woman’s survival of Nazi Germany and the oppressive Stasi regime. www.ubuntutheaterproject.com.

The Petrified Forest - The Beverly Hills Playhouse of SF. $15$27. 8 pm. (414 Mason St., Suite 502) The story of a young dreamer and disillusioned intellectual who meet at a roadside diner, and their lives are changed when an escaped criminal takes them hostage.

Through March 26. bhpsanfrancisco. com/#!2016-season/lpk7r

• 6 : S UNDAY

Absolute Beginning Taiko Workshop with Bruce Ghent - Dance Mission Theater. $99. 10:30am–12pm. (3316 24th St.) Learn the ancient art of Japanese Taiko drumming with Sensei Bruce ‘Mui’ Ghent. The IntroducBAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

25

NEWS (continued from page 3) Education to develop a model plan to serve as a guide for local districts. The adoption of such plans is especially crucial to LGBTQ teens, who face bullying, harassment and a general lack of acceptance that may often lead to depression. Research shows that queer youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers. eqca.org Attorney General, Others Endorse Rebecca Prozan for SFDCCC Attorney General Kamala Harris has endorsed openly gay Rebecca Prozan for the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee. Having served as her campaign manager on her successful campaign for District Attorney in 2003, Harris knows her commitment to San Francisco.

Janitors Local 87 and Supervisors London Breed, Malia Cohen, Mark Farrell, Katy Tang, and Norman Yee have also endorsed her this year.

Described as the local arm of the Democratic Party, this committee directs local policy and field activities such as registering voters, endorsing local candidates and initiatives, educating the public on endorsements, and getting out the vote. All are with the shared mission of making sure the party and our local government embody San Francisco values. rebeccaprozan.com President Obama’s Proposed Federal Budget Funds Ending Homelessness The homeless investments included in President Barack Obama’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal request nearly $6 billion to fund targeted homelessness assistance programs that support evidence-based solutions that San Francisco has effectively demonstrated can be successful in ending homelessness. This includes permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing, and requests an additional $11 billion over 10 years for short and long-term rental assistance in mandatory funding to prioritize ending homelessness among families with children.

This proposed homeless funding will greatly support San Francisco’s goal of ending homelessness for 8,000 San Franciscans by 2020. Statistics find 29% of the City’s homeless are LGBTQ. sfgov.org HRC Highlights California’s LGBT Protections, Laws and Legislative Proposals in New National Report The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in partnership with the Equality Federation, released its second annual national report assessing the status of state legislation affecting LGBT equality across America, including in California. The State Equality Index (SEI) reveals that, even with historic progress on marriage equality, there are extraordinary state-to-state disparities in LGBT nondiscrimination protections, including in the workplace, and efforts continue by equality opponents to pass state-level legislation that would sanction discrimination and undermine even minimal existing protections. Though a number of states are expanding access to nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people and their families, a majority of states are still struggling to reach even a basic level of equality for LGBT people. hrc.org

Read more online at sfbaytimes.com and SF Bay Times on Facebook and Twitter 26

STUDENT VOICES (continued from page 12) er had I ever formally done any acting before. However, this shy, timid girl, felt powerful, loud and strong inside.

Coincidentally, my eighth grade history teacher had assigned every student to memorize and perform Sojourner Truth’s Ain’t I A Woman? in front of the whole class. This was my first “real” monologue. My desires pushed me to embody and give the speech a dash of character. This was the first time I had to memorize a substantial bulk of text. Uneasy, I felt pressured. How was I ever going to memorize my audition monologue to SOTA? In the course of several months, I practiced my monologue everywhere I went. At the bus stop, in the shower, before bed, in front of the mirror, recorded on a camera, everywhere. People thought I was going crazy, but I wanted to get into the school so badly.

The audition process left me perplexed. Never have I ever felt so vulnerable and stripped down to the core. This was the first time I really understood what it was like to perform

without the control of a million mixed feelings. Oddly, it felt so good. A few months later, I received the admission letter from SOTA. The first line read, “Congratulations!” Speechless, I have no words to describe the feeling.

Now, four years later, here I am again, applying to schools and realizing how often I find myself connecting every aspect of my life to my art. Whether I am preparing to argue my stance in a Mock Trial competition or am just being aware of the way I carry myself on the street, everything I have learned in the theatre can be applied in my life, no matter what I do. I have rekindled an old spark, a dream I once had.

I dream that one day I can create the untold stories for the minorities with which I identify. I dream that one day, others will not feel barred by their social barriers. Studying in an environment of creative young artists like me has greatly prepared me to continue paving, sculpting, and defining my path through this crazy world.

MANDELMAN (continued from page 5) former Mayor Art Agnos. Nice work, to support LGBT students. But, great an ally as Sandy has been, it would Kimberly!

Gay former School Board Commis- sure be good to once again have an sioner Mark Sanchez has filed to run LGBT person sitting on a Board that for his old job this November. The makes so many important decisions School Board has lacked LGBT rep- affecting LGBT kids. resentation since Sanchez left the Board in 2009 to run for the District 9 Supervisor spot. In that time, Sandra Lee Fewer, who has a gay son, has really stepped up on behalf of our community, championing curriculum additions and other District changes

ROSTOW (continued from page 11) tunities ahead to name a gay justice, and it would be nice to do so when the Democrats control the Senate and when he or she might actually make it to the Court.

Naming a gay or lesbian justice under these conditions would guarantee a failed confirmation, set a bad precedent for a gay pick, and give the Republicans an excuse for their obstructionism. Keep in mind that the Senate Judiciary Committee has already announced that no nominee will receive a hearing. Do we really

6/26 (continued from page 8) myriad other issues will be unambiguously clear in November.

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for over three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights KARLSBERG (continued from page 20) ing in my mind, and therefore though present, I am absent from the event.

With the prevailing writing materials converging all at once, there is no option but to grab my pen or computer and release the material from my mind in a deliberate manner through organizing my thoughts officially on paper.

I also have a creative space in my home surrounded with inspirational quotes and books and articles of other writers I admire. This space is free from cell phone, and other, distractions. This is where I congregate countless written and dictated notes I feared I’d forget, but deemed important in configuring an evolving manuscript in my mind. This may seem difficult given the many mov-

Bay Times columnist, Alex Randolph, but he ran a great campaign (the best I have seen for a College Board seat) and looks to have a strong chance to win this year, especially if one of the incumbents does not run.

Meanwhile, it’s looking like the City College Board could be gaining a third gay trustee, as Tom Temprano looks to be gearing up for a second run for the Board this year. Temprano lost last year when he ran against appointed incumbent, and fellow San Francisco

The LGBT Center’s annual party, Soiree 2016, is coming up on April 9. This is a big year for the Center, as we undertake a $7 million renovation, largely funded through the New Markets Tax Credit Program with additional assistance provided by the

want to throw one of our top jurists into this no win situation?

GLBT polling company, 48 percent of us support Clinton, 41 percent support Sanders, 2 percent support Trump, 1 percent go for Rubio, another 1 percent back Kasich, and 4 percent are undecided.

Speaking of the Senate, we could get it back, you know. If Trump is the nominee, and if the economy stays relatively strong, the Democrats have a shot at regaining the majority. And speaking of using the word “we” when speaking to GLBT readers as if all of us are Democrats, there’s an interesting new nonpartisan poll on GLBT political preferences.

According to Community Marketing & Insights, a San Francisco-based

decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. Their leadership in the nationwide grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide in 2015.

I’m not sure what to make of this survey, since fully 25 percent of the GLBT community inexplicably voted for George W Bush in 2000, according to exit polls. But make of it what you will, as reported in The Washington Blade. I guess it’s possible that our gay Republican brothers and sisters have come to their senses over the

ing parts, but I actually find this type of referencing and writing quite the opposite. I find it easier to mentally organize, and my thoughts tend to flow onto the paper quite easily, if all the referencing has been contained in a ubiquitous writing environment. I become the student at that point, and my thoughts become the instructor.

Bradley Aaron Anson is an inspirational speaker and the author of “Mind Your Own Life: The Journey Back to Love” Anson has been featured

by AARP and has appeared on several radio talk shows and at literary events around the country with a passionate message of love.

Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBT community.

City. The remodel will ensure the financial sustainability of the building for years to come, while also helping meet the City’s increasingly desperate need for affordable nonprofit office space. This will be my last Soiree as Board chair, and I am hoping to see lots of you there! Tickets are available at www.sfcenter.org Rafael Mandelman is an attorney for the City of Oakland. He is also President of the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees.

last decade or so. But I’ll believe it when I see it. We should note, however, that gay Republicans “GOProud” disbanded after a few useless years on the hustings. And as for the Log Cabin Republicans, well I’m not sure what they’re up to, actually.

Speaking of Republicans, you know that Marco Rubio loves Electronic Dance Music, don’t you? It’s his favorite genre. If he weren’t conservative and married with kids, that might beep my gaydar. arostow@aol.com

SISTER DANA (continued from page 20) LOVE SHACK [sung to the tune of the B52s hit] was a little place where we could escape the weather; pull off our sweaters; get to know each other better; come in leather; come in feathers; spread some love and dance together. We gathered at the home of Oh Noe Didn’t on Noe and 16th for a homolicious house party hosted by the ever fabulous Brian Busta aka Chickpea aka Miss Amber Alert - under the auspices of COMFORT & JOY, a Radical Faerie collective dedicated to promoting queer culture, expression, self-actualization and community by acting as a mutual-support society for our members, producing art installations & organizing special events year-round. And this event was no exception, thanks to Chickpea’s amazeballs ginormous blacklight flowers and chains and snowflakes everywhere–not to mention the bubbles showering us with glorious gayness.

Backed by deejay deliciousness for dancing by Emily (soundcloud.com/ djemils), Steve Fabus (soundcloud. com/steve-fabus), and J. Maximilian.

And adding to all that there was a big outdoor deck, where you know we all love a big deck! playajoy.org We assembled at the Mercedes Benz showroom downtown for a pre-gala cocktail party with ACADEMY OF FRIENDS. Academy of Friends annually produces the world’s premier Academy Awards Night Charity

BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

Gala as the centerpiece of its efforts to raise funds, award donations, and encourage volunteerism that benefit a diverse set of HIV/AIDS organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Excellent entertainment was provided

by Chris Pieri - guitar/vocals; Evan Carlyle Rees - keyboard; and Eve Fleishman - vocals. Matthew Denckla, AoF Vice Chair, welcomed us and introduced us to the hardworking volunteer board. Gil Padia, Board Chair, spoke about the Academy’s history and mission: Academy of Friends was founded in 1980

by Kile Ozier (who was present that night) as a small, private Oscar Night party of 25 friends. Over subsequent years, the party became an HIV/ AIDS fundraiser, a reaction to the toll HIV was taking on the local community. Today, AoF is one of the largest contributors to HIV/AIDS services organizations in the Bay Area. Padia also talked about the upcoming gala on Sunday, February 28, 5–10 pm at the San Francisco Design Center Galleria, 101 Henry Adams Street for A GATHERING OF ROYALS. Wear a crown, if ya have one. 100% of ticket sales will be distributed to their six HIV/AIDS Services beneficiaries: AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP), HIV/AIDS Nightline, Maitri, Project Inform, Project Open Hand, and Positive Resource Center. academyoffriends.org The SAN FRANCISCO VETERANS LIONS CLUB threw a rockin’

post-Valentines #LOVEMATTERS Dance Party Fundraiser at the War Memorial Veterans Building. Lion President Latonia M. Dixon kicked it off, gettin’ us movin’ to some fierce ragin’ tunes by Lion DJ JC-JC (also known as John Caldera, who additionally manned the vodka punch bowl). Lion Eddie Ramirez was emcee. Powerful speaker, Akanke Adefunmi, a personal success coach, taught us to discover our innate creative power and to live a more present, energized, balanced, and fulfilling life every day. Comedian Karinda Dobbins, hailing from the Motor City and now living in Oakland, served up humor that was sharp, distinctive, and infused with hilarious social commentary. She has opened for Trevor Noah and toured with W. Kamau Bell.

RAINBOW WORLD FUND is the world’s first and only all-volunteer, LGBT- based humanitarian aid organization. Their mission is to promote peace, unity, and hope by leading the LGBT movement in participating in humanitarian relief efforts. RWF has donated over $4.1 million of life saving aid. RWF held a thank you party to volunteers and supporters at their headquarters at 4111 - 18th Street # 5 in the Castro. rainbowfund.org COMING UP! Please join us nuns and friends for a fabulous afternoon of song, dance, and merriment with the SISTERS

OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE for EGGstravaganza Tea Dance Beer Bust at Beaux, 2344 Market, Saturday, February 27th, 4–7 pm.

Our Sisters’ EASTER IN THE PARK emcees will be on hand to announce the amazing, up-till-now “top secret” location of this years’ Easter in the Park, as well as this year’s lineup of some truly remarkable talent and, of course, this years’ theme!

BATMAN - THE TV SHOW LIVE plays at PianoFight, 144 Taylor, Thursday, Friday & Saturday Nights, March 10–19, 7 pm. It’s none other than that dynamic duo, Batman and Robin, the caped crusaders of justice!

But can they succeed when criminal arch enemies the Joker, the Riddler, Catwoman, and the Penguin–Gotham’s most fiendish and fearsome foes–join felonious forces?! Holy obvious set up, old chum!

HAIR will perform now through March 12 at San Francisco’s Victoria Theatre (2961 16th Street), Thursdays and Fridays, 8 pm and Saturdays at 2 and 8 pm. Tickets at 415-340-2207 or bamsf.org Sister Dana sez, “Homophobic Justice Scalia is dead. The great late Bette Davis once said this about the death of her nemesis Joan Crawford, and it works for me: ‘“You should never say bad things about the dead, you should only say good. Joan Crawford is dead. Good.’ So I say, Antonin Scalia is dead. Good.”

Round About - All Over Town

Photos by RINK

Smack Dab event on Feb. 17

Featured artist Kay Nilsson read his poetry at the Smack Dab event.

Kippy Marks, welcoming the Mardi Gras season, at the Fat Tuesday party at the Lookout promoting the upcoming Krewe de Kinque Bal Masque, Saints & Sinners, on March 1 at Beatbox

Sadie Ladie (center) who is a candidate for Empress of the SF Imperial Court, shares a hug with Saybeline and Gareth Entertainer Garza Peru, third from left, and friends enjoyed Gooch during the Krewe de Kinque Fat Tuesday Party at the Lookout. the Krewe de Kinque Fat Tuesday Party at the Lookout.

CAAMFEST (Asian American Film Festival) press conference, Feb. 11

Featured entertainers at the recent Smack Dab event included (top left) Bobby Blue of The Promise Kings, (bottom left) Kay Nilsson, (bottom middle) Francisse Bondoc, (right) Natalie Gunn with Chris Walker of The Promise Kings.

CAAMFEST (Asian American Film Festival) executive director Stephen Gong (left) prepares with volunteers for the Festival’s press conference at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at New Mission Theater on February 11. The upcoming CAAMFEST 2016 will be held March 10-20.

Also attending CAAMFEST were (top) publicist Corey Tong, pictured with the large statues; CAAMFEST festival and exhibition direc- (bottom) development director Debbie Ng, festor Misashi Niwano spoke at the Festival’s tival assistant director Lin Kung, festival / exhipress conference, introducing the screen- bition director Misashi Niwano, and executive ing of Tyrus. director Stephen Wong.

SF AIDS Foundation’s Steve Gibson Artist Scott Walsh at this show with SFAF co-founder Cleve Jones at opening held at Strut on Februthe opening of the art show featuring the ary 5 work of artist Scott Walsh held at Strut on February 5.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) art show opening, Feb. 12

Popular artist Matt Pipes toasted his distinctive portraits at the show opening held at 611 Hyde Gallery on February 18.

Artist Alex Brown displayed his work at the show open- Artist Rene Capone with his work entitled The ing at 611 Hyde Gallery.

Zebra Boy Chronicles at the t611 Hyde Gallery.

Mostly British Film Festival opening night on Feb. 18

Filmmaker David Lewis with Vince Johnson of Karen LarsDressed in period attire, attendees Lindy Don- en Associates publicity firm at nolly, Roxane Osborne, Patti Terando and Shan- the Mostly British Film Festival Frameline executive director Frances Wallace with Mostly British Film Festival non Burchard at the Mostly British Film Festival Opening Night on February 18. director Ruthe Stein and board member Jack Bair at the Mostly British Film opening night party.

Festival opening night at the SF Jewish Community Center on February 18.

Enjoying the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) recent art space event were (top) servers Honey and Rachel, (right) Jaryd with Jose Cital, (bottom left) host Christopher Mejia, AHF regional program manager Thomasina DeMaio, and Dale Gluth, Bay Area AHF regional director.

BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 25, 2016

27