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Obituaries >>
April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11
Former ACT executive Thomas Proehl dies by Cynthia Laird ormer San Francisco resident Thomas Proehl died Tuesday, April 5 at his Minneapolis home. He was 46. Mr. Proehl died of natural causes, according to a statement from the American Conservatory Theater, where Mr. Proehl had worked when he lived in San Francisco. Mr. Proehl, who was gay, had served as ACT’s director of administration and operations for more than two years. “All of us were shocked and saddened to hear of Tom’s sudden death,” said ACT artistic director Carey Perloff. “He was a beloved colleague who raised the bar immeasurably at ACT. One of my most vivid memories of Tom is his leadership of the centennial celebration at our historic theater,
presiding over the entire day like a proud parent as he watched the throngs coming in to enjoy and play – he was a huge community spirit, and we will miss him enormously.” During his tenure, which began in February 2008, Mr. Proehl was responsible for managing ACT’s finances and played a significant role in the company’s success in weathering the economic downturn in 2008, Perloff said. Along with his financial duties, he took on an expanded managerial position during last year’s search for an executive director. He was instrumental in the administrative leaps made by ACT’s acclaimed conservatory during the launch of the new Masters of Fine Arts program, known as MFA 8 for its small class size of eight to 10 students per class, and the merging of the conservatory’s operations with ACT’s producing arm.
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Elections Commission seeks members for Redistricting Task Force
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News Briefs From page 5
indicate their first two preferred jobs (server, coffee, table setter, etc.)
Dogfest fundraiser Saturday San Francisco’s Duboce Park will be going to the dogs Saturday, April 16 when the Dogfest community dog show unleashes four-legged friends who will be pursuing top spots in a variety of categories, such as best lap dog and most ear-resistible. The event, now in its fourth year, is a benefit for McKinley Elementary School, a small public school in the Castro neighborhood. Drag star Heklina will appear as Cruella De Vil with the McKinley School Dancers. It’s believed to be the first time a famous drag queen has performed with kids, organizers said. Organizer Geoff Benjamin said local celebrity judges include Bay Area Reporter assistant editor Matthew S. Bajko, San Francisco Chronicle columnist Leah Garchik, Supervisors Scott Wiener and Ross Mirkarimi, mayoral candidate Bevan Dufty, Heklina, radio personality Fernando Ventura, dog photographer Jesse Freidin, author Daniel Alcaron, and McKinley principal Rosa Fong. Daniel Handler, author of the Lemony Snicket books, will serve as master of ceremonies. Registration is $10 and then it is $10 for each category in which dogs compete. Other categories include best bark, best trick, and celebrity look-a-like. In addition to the dog competition, the festival will have a doggie spa and cafe, kids carnival, and, of course, hot dogs and sausages. For more information and to register, visit mckinleyschool.org/dogfest.
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Guest Opinion From page 4
underlie victories like the recent repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” or the landmark Department of Justice decision on the Defense of Marriage Act. Those moments of triumph don’t just suddenly appear. They’re the headlines that come only after years of organizing, strategizing, lobbying, and litigating. Lastly, and more personally, the great majority of us benefit from the work of LGBT nonprofits at some point in our lives. Maybe it was a coming-out group, or a medical test, counseling or a support group, or a play or a film we saw. Taking it half a step further, if we stop for about two seconds, I’d bet we can all think of people we know and love who, at one time or another, found help, support, or an advocate because of
The San Francisco Elections Commission is calling for applications for appointment to the Redistricting Task Force in the event that the existing supervisorial districts no longer comply with requirements established by federal, state, and local law and need to be redrawn. If that is found to be the case – the elections director has not yet made that determination – then the city charter requires the Board of Supervisors to convene an Elections Task Force to redraw the supervisorial district lines. Elections officials want to move quickly if that happens, hence the call for applications now. The three appointing authorities – mayor, Board of Supervisors, and Elections Commission – likely have different criteria for appointment. But by unanimous approval at its March 16 meeting, the Elections Commission selected minimum criteria that includes: being a registered voter in San Francisco and having voted at least once since January 1, 2006; represent the city’s diverse population; not being paid by a political campaign since January 1, 2006; not currently a direct-hire employee of an elected official of the city and county of San Francisco; having general knowledge of the city’s neighborhoods and geography; having a flexible schedule for meetings; and not having a conflict of interest that is prohibited under conflict laws applicable to other city officers. Those interested in submitting an application should send a letter with the following information: a statement confirming the seven minimum criteria listed above; a
our nonprofit organizations. (And remember that a lot of people – even our friends – don’t talk about services they seek out.)
The challenge before us The challenge before us is historic, both because it’s unprecedented and because how we respond today will shape what kind of community we have tomorrow. It will shape what kind of community future LGBT generations inherit from us. These are big questions, and by no means do I have the hubris to pretend to know all the answers. But in the second part of this column next week, I’ll offer five suggestions to help move us in that direction.▼ Roger Doughty is the executive director of the Horizons Foundation. Next week, he will look at the future of LGBT nonprofits.
Kevin Berne
Thomas Proehl
Mr. Proehl left ACT July 30, 2010. He then became producing director of the theater arts and dance
statement of interest explaining why you want to serve; a statement confirming that you have enough time to attend meetings; and a resume and/or statement of relevant background. Materials should be emailed to Gail.Hilliard@sfgov.org (please put Redistricting Task Force in the subject line) or by mail or personal delivery to the Elections Commission, City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 048, San Francisco, CA 94102. The deadline is April 29 at 5 p.m. For more information, email Hilliard at the address above or call (415) 554-7494.
Petchitecture coming up Petchitecture, the signature fundraiser for Pets Are Wonderful Support, is coming up on Saturday, April 23, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street in San Francisco. More than 700 human guests are expected, many of them bringing their well-behaved canine companions. At the event, they will marvel at one-of-a-kind pet habitats created by some of the area’s leading architects and designers. John Gidding, designer and host of HGTV’s Curb Appeal: The Block, will help auction off his custom designed pet habitat to the highest bidder. The live auction will also feature lifestyle packages and there will be a silent auction as well. John Lipp, PAWS president, said that while Petchitecture is a fun event, it underscores the very real need for funds for the agency. “The PAWS client base has grown by well over 30 percent during the past three years,” Lipp said in a statement. “In a weak economy our clients depend on our life-changing
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UAFA From page 9
hold for same-sex married couples, the U.S. Citizens and Immigration Service announced it was back to processing them again – with DOMA in play. Lavi Soloway, an immigration attorney and specialist in LGBT issues, has said that that stance would lead to the deportation of immigrants who have applied for green cards based on their same-sex marriages to American citizens. Christopher Bentley, press secretary for USCIS, said in March that the agency has received the legal guidance it sought from the Department of Justice concerning DOMA and green card applications by same-sex married couples. Same-sex married couples’ applications are “no longer on hold,” he said. And “USCIS has not
department at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, the city where he had previously served on the staff of the Guthrie Theater as general manager from 1999 to 2002, and then as managing director from 2003 to 2006. He was instrumental in the planning and construction of the Guthrie’s new three-theater complex. His colleagues there also mourned his passing. “We’re all bereft, because Tom was such an amazing man,” said Joe Dowling, artistic director of the Guthrie. “He had a calm wisdom way beyond his years, a great awareness of how people mattered when we were trying to develop this building. It just doesn’t feel real that he’s gone.” A native of Moorhead, Minnesota, Mr. Proehl was an important fixture in the Minnesota arts scene throughout his life,
including serving as the head of the Minnesota State Arts Board in 2006 and 2007. Outside of Minnesota, in addition to his service at ACT, he worked at the La Jolla Playhouse and was the founding managing director of New York City’s acclaimed Signature Theatre Company. Mr. Proehl is survived by his husband of 25 years, James LL Morrison; parents Craig and Joni Proehl; and sisters Patrice (Jay) Burnett and Caroline (Rick) Ness. A service was held Saturday, April 9, at University Lutheran Church of Hope in Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Foundry Theatre (www.thefoundrytheatre.org) and Signature Theatre Company (www.signaturetheatre.org), both in New York City, and to the theater department at Minnesota State University, Moorhead (www.mnstate.edu/theatre).▼
services more than ever. Our message with Petchitecture is come join us for a night of fun and you will help us fulfill our mission throughout the year.” PAWS offers support services to over 750 low-income clients living with HIV/AIDS and other disabling illnesses, as well as low-income seniors, to help them maintain the love and companionship of their pets. Tickets for Petchitecture start at $160 and can be purchased online at www.pawssf.org. For more information, call (415) 979-9550.
Jeremy John Champe
Bi men’s conferences coming up Two bi men’s conferences are set for May by the Bi Men Network. The Southwest Bi Men conference will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 13-15 and the Heartland Bi Men conference will take place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, May 20-22. The two conferences will focus exclusively on issues specific to bisexual and bi-curious adult men – gathering in a safe and supportive environment to dialogue on their issues of concern, including feelings of invisibility and social pressures to remain in the closet. “There are still so very few resources available to bisexual and bi-curious men to exchange ideas about their unique and largely misunderstood sexual orientation,” said Mac McCloud, founder and president of the Bi Men Network. Early registration for each event is $69 until May 1. After that, the fee is $100 per event. Pre-registration is required; no walk-ins are allowed to protect participants’ privacy.▼ For more information, visit www.bimen.org.
implemented any change in policy and intends to continue enforcing the law.” In other words, DOMA still applies. DOMA prohibits any agency of the federal government from recognizing a marriage license granted to a samesex couple. For binational same-sex married couples seeking a green card to enable the foreign spouse to establish permanent residence in the U.S., the law closes a door open to other married couples. Spouses and other “immediate family members” can obtain green cards without waiting for a visa number to become available. USCIS sought clarification from DOJ after Holder announced February 23 that DOJ would no longer defend DOMA in court as meeting heightened constitutional scrutiny. Even passage of UAFA wouldn’t fix everything. Marta Donayre, another Bay
September 9, 1959 – March 28, 2011
Jeremy John Champe was born on September 9, 1959 and was called to rest on Monday, March 28, 2011. His mother, Janice Geer Champe, preceded him in death. He is survived by his life partner and soul mate, Larry Freeman; his father and stepmother, John E. Champe and Helen Mahony Champe; his sister, Suzanne Champe (Don) Dobrowolsky; nephew, Joe; niece, Jennifer; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives and friends. Jeremy grew up in Bloomfield, Connecticut where he attended elementary and high school, and graduated from Wagner College on Staten Island, New York with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He had a serious passion for music and was known, particularly in high school and college, for his participation and contributions playing the piano and singing. Jeremy moved to San Francisco and continued working in the hospitality industry. In the Castro and on Pier 39, he was affectionately known as “Wonder Waiter” for always giving excellent service as a bartender and restaurant/ catering waiter. He will be missed and loved always, as we are grateful for his life. God bless and keep Jeremy, His loving and obedient son. Thank you to the ministers of Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco, 150 Eureka Street, in the Castro where on Saturday, April 2 there was a celebration of Jeremy’s life. The Repast was hosted by Troy Brunet at his home in Duboce Triangle near the Castro. Thank you to everyone who took part in the celebration of life. Rest in peace.
Area resident who’s in a binational relationship, said in a interview last week, “There are a lot of concerns. LGBT immigrants don’t just face issues of partnership.” For example, she said, “There are a lot who are undocumented and live here, and came here to avoid persecution in their countries.” Donayre obtained asylum in 2002 because of homophobia in Brazil, her country of origin. She has a green card but said “just having a green card alone is not necessarily the be all and end all for an immigrant.” She noted even a minor crime could result in someone’s deportation. Steve Ralls, a spokesman for the group Immigration Equality, said, “The criteria for lesbian and gay couples in terms of undocumented partners and spouses would be a mirror of criteria for straight married couples,” so UAFA “would level the playing field.”▼