August 25, 2016 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

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Green convicted of 2013 murder

Vol. 46 • No. 34 • August 25-31, 2016

Discovering the Anza historic trail with its out superintendent

by Seth Hemmelgarn

A

San Francisco Superior Court jury convicted Michael Sione Green of first-degree murder in the 2013 shooting death of Melquiesha “Mel” Warren.

Warren, a lesbian, was shot after a minor Courtesy SFPD collision in a parking Michael Sione lot near the gay Club Green OMG nightclub November 17, 2013. A friend of Warren’s was also shot but survived. Jurors also convicted Green of the friend’s attempted murder, along with numerous other charges.

In court Thursday, August 18, Green, 26, bowed his head as he waited for the clerk to begin reading the verdicts. When she announced he’d been found guilty of murder, someone gasped, and Green laid his head on the table in front of him. He kept his head down for the next 20 minutes as he learned that he’d also been convicted of charges including assault with a semi-automatic weapon and being a felon in possession of his firearm.

Green’s attorney, Eileen Burke, stroked his back and wiped her eyes.

Warren, 23, had been at Club OMG, 43 Sixth Street, celebrating her girlfriend’s birthday before she was shot. The incident started just after 2 a.m. when the woman driving the car Warren was in accidentally clipped another car, according to court testimony.

Warren got out of the vehicle, and moments later, as she held up her hands and said, “Wait,” the gunman shot her in the face.

He then shot the driver.

The driver and several of Warren’s other friends who’d witnessed the shooting testified during the monthlong trial and identified Green as the gunman.

Police announced Green as the suspect soon after the shooting, but Assistant District Attorney Heather Trevisan told jurors that he’d fled to Florida, “drastically” changed his appearance, and lived under a fake name. He was arrested in Miami in May 2014 and extradited to San Francisco.

Burke had tried to sway the jury that Warren’s friends were unreliable, suggesting repeatedly that they had collaborated on a description of the shooter and that they’d been drunk when the shooting occurred.

But after about three days of deliberation, the jurors made clear they believed Green, who didn’t testify, was the shooter.

See page 18 >>

by Matthew S. Bajko

Naomi Torres, superintendent of the National Park Service’s Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, leans against the reconstructed walls of the Presidio Chapel, the ultimate destination for the Anza Expedition of 1775-76.

W

ith a fog-shrouded Golden Gate Bridge visible off in the distance, Naomi Torres leaned against a reproduction of the foundation for a chapel that once stood in the Presidio on San Francisco’s northwestern edge. A few feet away lay the unearthed remnants of the original building constructed in 1780.

See page 17 >>

Silicon Valley Pride continues to evolve Rick Gerharter

by Heather Cassell

ects, including new house music and reggae songs, she added. ilicon Valley Pride continues The parade and festival also to evolve, offering Pridegoers return to Silicon Valley Pride this something new every year. year. The parade begins at 10 a.m.

This year’s festival is themed, Sunday at Market and St. John “Diversity, Inclusion, Success,” streets and runs down Market and takes place Saturday, August Street to Park Avenue directly into 27 and Sunday, August 28 in San the festival, which opens at 11 a.m.

Jose. and closes at 6 p.m.

About 5,000 people are exThe festival, featuring booths pected to come out to the celeand stages presenting live entertainbrations this year, said Thaddeus ment, will be hosted along Almaden Campbell, chief executive officer Boulevard. Advance tickets are $10 of the Gay Pride Celebration each day or $18 for two days.

Jo-Lynn Otto Committee of San Jose, which Additionally, following Sunday’s produces Silicon Valley Pride. festivities gay Santa Clara County Google Gayglers marched in last year’s Silicon Valley Pride parade.

“We are making it a very Supervisor Ken Yeager will officiate diverse and inclusive festival, a wedding at the Cocktail Wedding percent myself,” King told the Bay Area Reporter. which is representative of the event. Two lucky couples won an community,” said Campbell, a gay African- “I’m always excited to be at Pride and be around all-expense paid wedding and Pridegoers are American man who declined to provide his age. that energy and to be myself. I can’t wait.” welcome to celebrate with the couples, who will Jamaica isn’t far from her mind wherever she “This year’s Pride is so different from what has be revealed at the event. The ceremony begins goes. Her homeland recently celebrated its second at 6:30 p.m., the reception begins at 7:30 at the been experienced in the past.”

Pride event, something she never thought she For the first time, Pride organizers are hostGlassHouse, 2 South Market Street. Tickets are would see in her lifetime, she said. Since King, 45, $20 per person. To RSVP, visit http://www.theing a night festival with an electronic dance party, along Almaden Boulevard in San Jose, came out in 2012, she usually does a shout out cocktailwedding.eventbrite.com. about Jamaica or has the crowd send a “Happy Saturday from 6 to 11 p.m.

Campbell is also excited about new sponsor Organizers are also introducing two new Pride” message to Jamaica’s LGBT community.

Delta Airlines, as well as other corporate sponKing plans to sing all of her fan favorites, instages celebrating Latin and reggae music at the sors, including Bank of America. cluding her hit “Shy Guy,” which, for her LGBT festival on Sunday, with lesbian reggae fusion “It’s important for companies like Bank of audiences, she changes the words to “Shy Girl,” America to publicly and proactively support singer Diana King headlining the reggae stage she said.

Sunday.

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<< Community News

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

AIDS groups’ boards approve merger

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by Seth Hemmelgarn

T

he boards of Positive Resource Center, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that helps people who’re living with HIV/AIDS and mental health disabilities, and AIDS Emergency Fund, which offers financial assistance to people disabled

by HIV/AIDS, have approved the agencies’ merger.

The news follows the June announcement that Positive Resource Center’s merger with Baker Places, a local agency that provides residential substance abuse treatment and other services, had been approved. The combined agencies are retaining the Positive Resource Center name.

The nonprofits have said that about 5,000 clients will benefit from the combination of “multiple, likeminded services.” The three groups’ aggregate budget is $20 million.

“The combination of Positive Resource Center and AIDS Emergency Fund, along with the new partnership with Baker Places, brings together all of our services and allows us to better provide for our clients,” PRC Ex-

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ecutive Director Brett Ancompassionately to the afdrews, who’s set to become fected community by prochief executive officer of viding immediate, shortthe merged organization, term financial assistance. said in an August 17 news Through this merger, release. “We look forward there is a real opportunity to working closely with to create a successful path AIDS Emergency Fund for those who need help and Baker Places to ensure by providing greater fia smooth transition, with Courtesy Terrence McCarthy nancial assistance and ina focus on maintaining a Brett Andrews, creasing the availability of continuity of services for Positive Resource complimentary services.” long-term survivors in the Center’s executive Breast Cancer Emerareas of healthcare access, director, will gency Fund, which has emergency funding needs, become CEO of the been associated with AEF, stable housing, and gainful newly consolidated will remain as an indeemployment.” pendent entity. BCEF’s organization.

Among other assisnew managing director is tance, PRC provides benefits counScarlett Shepard, who couldn’t imseling and employment services. mediately be reached for comment.

Andrews, a gay man who has deThe combination of the three clined to state his HIV status, has a nonprofits is subject to the customcurrent base salary of $161,000. His ary closing conditions.

CEO salary is still being negotiated.

The new PRC would have a staff AEF was born out of the leather of approximately 250. None of the community in the early days of the agencies would lay off employees.

AIDS epidemic.

The buildings that are part of each Since 1982, Sandra Nathan, AEF’s group will still be in operation, but outgoing executive director, stated, PRC’s office at 785 Market Street the group “has been responding will remain the headquarters.t

MCC-SF pastor resigns

by Seth Hemmelgarn

Mention The B.A.R. and receive a complimentary Singular Sensation dessert with dinner entrée purchase.

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T

he senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco, the longtime spiritual home of many LGBTs, has announced his resignation.

In a letter to the MCC-SF community, the Reverend Robert Shively referred to the church’s five-year growth plan and said, “I believe your time is now best spent focusing on that growth plan rather than focusing on strengthening the relationship between senior pastor and community. In coordination with the MCC board I will be working to make this transition as smooth as possible. More information about future plans will be forthcoming.”

Shively’s resignation, which was announced through an email blast

August 16, will be effective September 8. He didn’t respond to interview requests.

The church has for years faced dwindling attendance and financial problems. In 2014, the church decided to sell its dilapidated building at 150 Eureka Street and an adjacent apartment building in the Castro and move in with the First Congregational Church of San Francisco at 1300 Polk Street.

Plans to build luxury condos on the site of the church’s Castro sanctuary were announced in early 2015.

An application to erect a four-story, two-family dwelling was submitted to the city in August 2015.

An application to demolish the current building, which is over 100

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The Reverend Robert Shively

SF housing collective fights co-founder

by David-Elijah Nahmod

2006. They purchased the property, which is located on Highland Avenue, in 2007 and founded the collective a year later.

On its Facebook page, the Holly Park Collective describes itself as “an anti-gentrification, pro-queer, people of color political project and space.”

The page also goes into some detail about how the house is run.

“Holly Park Collective rented to queer people of color progressive/ radical activists and organizers at

below market rates who did grassroots, social justice, intersectional esidents of Holly Park, a houswork,” the page states. “We share Hybrid/City Kid’s Hybrid/City Kid’s ing collective for queer people of food expenses, chores, and have regcolor, say they are now fighting to keep ular house meetings twice a month. their Bernal Heights home after one of We also have our own backyard the founders moved out and is seeking garden, growing some of our own to sell his share in the property. vegetables and fruits.”

Adan Luevano co-founded the After Kil and Luevano broke up, collective with his former partner, Luevano moved to the East Bay with Sahee Kil. The former couple, both their adopted child, a transgender of whom are 42 and identify as teen whose name is not being pubRoad Mountain queer, moved to San Francisco in lished because the child is a minor.

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<< Community News

4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

SF planners aim to landmark a number of LGBT historic sites

by Matthew S. Bajko

S

an Francisco planning officials are aiming to grant city landmark status to a number of LGBT historic sites in the coming years.

The properties run the gamut from former bars to the headquarters of early LGBT rights groups.

Listing among federal historical properties is also being eyed for the locations, which were compiled

by Hannah Fong, a summer intern working with the planning department’s historic preservation staff, from the city’s LGBT historic context statement adopted last fall.

Speaking before the city’s Historic Preservation Commission at its August 17 meeting, Fong noted that the locations “reflect the deep roots and networks” LGBT people built in the city “despite the discrimination” they often faced.

There are 10 sites of LGBT historical significance now under consideration for landmark status.

Of the seven new sites identified by Fong, the list includes 689-93 Mission Street, known as the Williams Building, which in 1954 housed the national headquarters of the Mattachine Society, an early homophile organization that relocated from Los Angeles, and 83 Sixth Street, which from 1966 through the 1970s served as the headquarters for the Society of Individual Rights, another homophile organization that was founded in San Francisco.

Also included are two North Beach properties: 710 Montgomery Street, once home to the legendary

Rick Gerharter

Standing in front of the site of the Black Cat bar in this 2007 photo, Jose Sarria, center, reminisced about his time at the bar to, from left, an unidentified man, Don Berger, John Newmeyer, and then-reigning Emperor Michael Dumont. The occasion was the installation of a plaque, seen here in the sidewalk, honoring the significance of the bar to San Francisco’s LGBT history. Sarria died in 2013.

gay bar the Black Cat, where drag queen Jose Sarria worked and used as his 1961 supervisor campaign headquarters, and 440 Broadway, once the site of lesbian bar Mona’s 440 Club, famous for its maleimpersonating performers clad in tuxedos.

The former site of Gene Compton’s Cafeteria, at 101 Taylor Street, where 50 years ago this August transgender and queer patrons rose up against police harassment, and 1001 Potrero Avenue, which houses Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital’s Ward 86 AIDS clinic, the first of its kind in the country, are

also on the list.

As is 623 Valencia Street, which houses Community Thrift, a secondhand store founded by the Tavern Guild, the country’s first gay business association, that raises money for a host of local nonprofits.

(While plaques can be found at the former sites of the Black Cat and Compton’s explaining their place in LGBT history, neither of the buildings has been landmarked.)

The members of the Historic Preservation Commission gave their tacit approval for adding the septet of LGBT sites to the planning staff ’s workload over the next de-

cade. The department would work in-house on seeking city landmark status for the sites and engage consultants who would pursue federal landmark status for them.

Planning staff are now working to prioritize all 40 of the sites they have identified for landmark status and will present their suggested timeline for how to move forward at the commission’s meeting in September. Because none of the LGBT sites are in imminent danger of being demolished, they are unlikely to be immediately worked on.

“I have tried to prioritize the properties that are threatened because they are on the market or have projects going on,” explained preservation planner Susan Parks at the hearing.

Commissioner Jonathan Pearlman noted that the oversight panel “18 months ago was complaining” that the department’s landmark program “was willfully inadequate,” yet “now we have a plethora of options.”

The seven LGBT historical sites are in addition to the three buildings in the city for which listing on the National Register of Historic Places was already being sought due to the role they played in the history of San Francisco’s LGBT community. As the Bay Area Reporter first reported in March, those sites are Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, the building that once housed the Japantown YWCA, and the Women’s Building.

The planning department is using a $55,000 Underrepresented

t

Communities Grant from the Department of the Interior to hire consultants to write National Register of Historic Places nominations for Glide and the YWCA. The Japantown Y, located at 1830 Sutter Street and now occupied by the private, nonprofit childcare center Nihonmachi Little Friends, and Glide church, at 330 Ellis Street in the city’s Tenderloin neighborhood, are also being considered for designation as city landmarks.

In May 1954, the Mattachine Society hosted its first convention at the Y building, while Glide’s leaders have long pushed for LGBT rights and cared for people living with HIV and AIDS. The nomination forms could be complete by next summer.

(The city is likely to pursue as its third choice for federal landmark status under the grant a property of historical significance to the Filipino community.)

As for the Women’s Building, which is already a city landmark, its leadership is working with Donna Graves, a public historian based in Berkeley who co-wrote the historic context statements for both San Francisco’s Japantown and LGBTQ community, to seek federal landmark listing. Graves secured funding through the National Park Service’s LGBTQ Heritage Initiative for preparing the application.

The building was founded in 1971 by a group of women that included a number of lesbian leaders. It has since hosted numerous meetings of LGBT groups over the years.t

Appeals court blocks medical pot prosecutions

by Liz Highleyman

T

he federal government may no longer spend money to pursue medical marijuana cases in states that have laws allowing medical use of cannabis, a U.S. appeals court ruled last week.

Federal action against people who cultivate, distribute, and use medical marijuana in accordance with state regulations “has prevented the state from giving practical effect to its law providing for non-prosecution of individuals who engage in the permitted conduct,” Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain wrote in his August 17 opinion on behalf of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers nine western states.

“This is good news for patients and industry operators across California,” Kevin Reed, founder and president of the Green Cross medical cannabis dispensary, told the Bay Area Reporter. “We can all breathe easier because we are a little safer today than yesterday.”

Currently 25 states, including California, and the District of Columbia have laws allowing use of

cannabis for conditions such as chronic pain, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, AIDS-related weight loss, and nausea due to cancer chemotherapy. Several other states only permit use of the non-psychoactive compound cannabidiol, or CBD. Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota will vote on medical cannabis proposals in the upcoming November election. Proposition 64 on the California ballot aims to legalize recreational use of marijuana by adults, joining Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington state.

The 9th Circuit’s ruling upholds the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, sponsored by California Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher (R) and Sam Farr (D) in 2014, which prohibits the Department of Justice from using appropriated funds to interfere with implementation of state medical cannabis laws.

Defendants in several federal medical marijuana cases in California and Washington claimed that the Rohrabacher-Farr provisions mean that the Department of Justice acted improperly and their cases should be dismissed.

Courtesy Kevin Reed

Medical marijuana advocate Kevin Reed

The ruling – a unanimous decision by a three-judge panel – does not dismiss the cases outright, but sends them back to a lower court to determine whether the defendants in fact complied with state medical cannabis laws.

However, O’Scannlain warned, “Congress could restore funding

<<

Silicon Valley Pride

From page 1

Pride celebrations in local communities as yet another way to promote acceptance, inclusion and diversity,” Josh Russell, Silicon Valley market manager at Bank of America, said in an email to the B.A.R. “Through inclusive workplace policies, support of LGBT resources, and a strong ally program internally, we can help our employees feel confident in bringing their whole selves to work. It’s a win-win for our colleagues and customers.”

Campbell told the B.A.R. that the festival and parade’s budget hasn’t changed from last year, which was $152,000, but last week the board was finalizing the figures. Produc-

tomorrow, a year from now, or four years from now, and the government could then prosecute individuals who committed offenses while the government lacked funding.” Moreover, he added, a new presidential administration could shift enforcement priorities to place greater emphasis on prosecuting marijuana offenses.

“It’s a long time coming and a fair decision. The states must decide if a cannabis business is compliant with their laws,” said longtime medical cannabis advocate and Axis of Love director Shona Gochenaur. “But the judge also stated that if the political culture changes, we could still be brought back before the courts – a good incentive for us to continue to support progressive elected officials.”

The 9th Circuit decision comes a week after the federal Drug Enforcement Administration announced that it would keep cannabis as a Schedule I drug, indicating that it has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

But the Obama administration said it would loosen restrictions on marijuana research by ending the University of Mississippi’s monopoly on growing cannabis for medical studies, which led to shortages resulting in years-long waits or outright denial of study approval.

The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act, now pending before Congress, addresses all three recent developments. It would amend the federal Controlled Substances Act to exempt people acting in compliance with state medical cannabis laws; move cannabis to DEA Schedule II; and expand licenses to produce marijuana for research. It would also protect banks that work with legitimate marijuana-related businesses and allow Veterans Affairs health care providers to recommend medical cannabis.

“Unfortunately, this fight continues,” Reed told the B.A.R. “Until we pass comprehensive federal reform like the CARERS Act, no one is completely safe.”t

ing the parade only cost an additional $8,000, last year. The total cost for the parade and festival last year was estimated to be $168,000.

However, Campbell never actually confirmed the numbers after promising to do so following an August 13 board meeting. He didn’t respond to the B.A.R.’s multiple attempts to confirm this year’s production budget.

During a phone interview, Campbell said that the board has remained stable and only added one new member, Robert Peabody, who is the chief financial officer, during the past year. Board members continue to search for women and transgender individuals to join the board, said Campbell. Attracting volunteers from these segments of

the South Bay’s LGBT community continues to be a challenge for the organization.

However, the Pride event that celebrates being in the heart of innovation and technology is testing out new ways for community engagement. The board has recently started using Google Hangouts to allow community members to participate in the organization’s meetings, Campbell said. Individuals interested in participating should send an email to thadcam@gmail. com to receive an invitation to the Google Hangouts.t To purchase festival tickets, visit http://www.svpride.com/festivaltickets. For more information, visit http://www.svpride.com.

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PAGE 1

<< Open Forum

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

Volume 46, Number 34 August 25-31, 2016 www.ebar.com PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) Bob Ross, Founder (1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird ARTS EDITOR Roberto Friedman BARTAB EDITOR & EVENTS LISTINGS EDITOR Jim Provenzano ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko • Seth Hemmelgarn CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ray Aguilera • Tavo Amador • Race Bannon Erin Blackwell • Roger Brigham Brian Bromberger • Victoria A. Brownworth Brent Calderwood • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Belo Cipriani Richard Dodds • Michael Flanagan Jim Gladstone • David Guarino Liz Highleyman • Brandon Judell • John F. Karr Lisa Keen • Matthew Kennedy • Joshua Klipp David Lamble • Max Leger Michael McDonagh • David-Elijah Nahmod Paul Parish • Sean Piverger • Lois Pearlman Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota • Bob Roehr Donna Sachet • Adam Sandel • Khaled Sayed Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Sari Staver • Jim Stewart Sean Timberlake • Andre Torrez • Ronn Vigh Ed Walsh • Cornelius Washington Sura Wood ART DIRECTION Jay Cribas PRODUCTION/DESIGN Max Leger PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Philomen Cleland • FBFE Rick Gerharter • Gareth Gooch Lydia Gonzales • Jose Guzman-Colon Rudy K. Lawidjaja • Georg Lester • Dan Lloyd Jo-Lynn Otto • Rich Stadtmiller Steven Underhil • Dallis Willard • Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Paul Berge • Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING Scott Wazlowski – 415.829.8937 ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Peter Sailsbery – 415.829.8941 NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

LEGAL COUNSEL Paul H. Melbostad, Esq.

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t

Injunction sends wrong message T

ransgender students were not greeted with a warm welcome upon the start of the school year this week when a federal judge in Texas issued a preliminary injunction against the federal government’s guidance to public school districts regarding their legal responsibility to allow them to use the same restrooms as other students. This injunction does not apply to districts that have already implemented trans-friendly policies, like many here in the Bay Area and across the state.

The case, Texas v. United States, started earlier this year when Texas and 12 other states filed a lawsuit against the Departments of Justice, Education, and Labor and numerous federal officials. The lawsuit, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, targets federal letters, guides, memos, and statements regarding Title IX of the Education Amendments that interpret federal bans on sex discrimination to encompass gender identity discrimination, and therefore, permits trans kids should be able to use the restroom that is consistent with their gender identity. There’s a copycat lawsuit that was filed recently by 10 other states.

This week’s injunction by Judge Reed O’Connor is just the latest court ruling that is detrimental to trans students. Earlier this month, Virginia high school student Gavin Grimm suffered a setback in his legal case when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay on a lower court decision that would have allowed him to use the boys’ restroom. The high court may decide to hear the case in its next term.

Given the stay in the Grimm case and Monday’s injunction, it appears likely that the justices will, at some point, decide to hear a trans restroom case.

GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, expressed disappointment with the injunction, issued by Reed O’Connor for

the Northern District of Texas, and said it sent a “terrible message to transgender and gender nonconforming students.”

“This ruling comes from a court specifically chosen for its track record of being on the wrong side of history,” Nathan Smith, GLSEN’s director of public policy, said in a statement.

GLSEN also reiterated that it’s incredibly important for schools to know that the ruling does not prevent districts from enacting policies that are “supportive and inclusive of their transgender and gender nonconforming students.”

“In fact, such policies are even more crucial now as students go back to school, many without the support they might have expected from the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice’s guidance,” Smith added.

He’s right. School districts, as well as parents and students, are likely to be unsure what the injunction means for them. The ruling will confuse school districts that are trying to support trans students. Furthermore, the injunction prevents the Education and Justice departments from launching or completing any investigations on the Obama administration’s interpretation of Title IX – another serious setback.

O’Connor’s decision leaves no doubt where he stands, as his interpretation of “sex” under federal guidelines refers only to biological sex as determined at birth. That’s an outdated view because it doesn’t accept advances in our understanding of trans people. We disagree with O’Connor that the administration’s guidelines “create de facto new law.” The administration has crafted guidelines that are the logical next step in a long-standing trend to expand interpretation and application of sex discrimination under Title IX. As more trans students are coming out – many with the support of their

families – they want and deserve access to the same facilities as other students.

Don’t blame it on Rio

Blame the poor coverage of LGBTI athletes at the Rio Games on the on-air talent and producers at NBC. The network’s shoddy, homophobic coverage was worse than at the Winter Games in Sochi two years ago, when President Vladimir Putin’s new anti-gay law was making headlines around the world and had to be confronted on the broadcast. This year, NBC just flat-out failed. According to Outsports.com there were a record 53 out athletes at the Summer Olympics – some came out during the Games – and many of them won medals. But you wouldn’t know it if you tuned into NBC, which has the rights to broadcast the games through 2032. Most blatantly, NBC initially did not mention the wellknown fact that British diver Tom Daley is gay, and that his fiance, Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, was in the stands cheering him on. Yet the network let two American divers babble on about how they love God. Other media outlets didn’t fare any better on the sexism front, with the Chicago Tribune referring to a female medalist merely as the “wife” of a Chicago Bears player in a headline.

She has her own name.

This reticence on the part of NBC to acknowledge gay athletes is not new, and needs to be corrected, especially since its broadcasting contract extends so far into the future. It’s time for NLGJA, the gay journalists group, and GLAAD, the LGBT media watchdog organization, to offer basic training to NBC talent covering the Olympics. We don’t care if athletes want to invoke their religious beliefs, but NBC should give equal time to out athletes. They’re shattering stereotypes when they participate and are showing the world that LGBTIs can be just as competitive as anyone else – but not when we are hidden in plain sight.t

Celebrating as national parks turn 100

by Nathan Hale Sargent

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at Stonewall, of course, and the National Park Service is currently conducting a theme study to help assess sites important to LGBTQ history for recognition as national historic landmarks.

he National Park Service turns 100 years old August 25. We are proud that as a part of our centennial, President Barack Obama established the Stonewall National Monument in New York City June 4. Enrich yourself 24, and directed us to share this The stories of our heritage sites vital story of our nation’s LGBTQ can enrich your understanding of heritage – and to preserve that site the world; they may affirm your forever. Stonewall is emblematic experiences and views and they of the mission that America has can also introduce you to the perassigned to the National Park spectives of others.

Service: to preserve unimpaired You may remember sitting Nancy Goerisch-Hassanein for NPS our country’s cultural and natural around a campfire in a national resources for the education, inspi- National Park Service park rangers and others marched in this park as a kid, listening to the ration, and enjoyment of all. Put year’s San Francisco Pride parade. stories of a park ranger. If you simply, the National Park Service have not attended a park ranger tells the story of America; our program in the past decade, you Buffalo Soldiers. We have a special website to mission is not accomplished until that story is might be surprised. No longer content with help you make new discoveries: http://www. inclusive of us all. The NPS’ LGBTQ Heritage recitations of scientific facts and historic dates, findyourpark.com.

Mapping Project is actively reviewing sites that we want our park programs to engage our could be eligible for nomination to the National 2. Stay local visitors in meaningful conversations about the Register of Historic Places or as a National We are spoiled in the Bay Area with parks ideas of our day. Walk through the cellblocks Historic Landmark, and includes over a dozen in our backyard that some people travel of the federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Issites in San Francisco. Places like the Women’s the world to see. Golden Gate Naland, and ask yourself about the role Building, Jose Julio Sarria’s home, Finocchio’s tional Recreation Area welcomes incarceration plays in our society Club, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General 15 million visitors a year. You have today. At Rosie the Riveter/WWII Hospital Wards 5B/5A are all locations that tell likely joined them for a snapshot Home Front National Historical the stories of our LGBTQ community. of the Golden Gate Bridge, a Park in Richmond, learn how our We want you to join us in celebrating our walk through Fort Point Nacountry united and sacrificed in country’s national parks, and so here are our tional Historic Site, or a trip to the face of a crisis, and wonder top five tips for marking the National Park Muir Woods. But probe deeper if we can do the same in the face Service Centennial: and you’ll see so much more. For of climate change. Allow parks to example, did you know that Cold challenge you.

1. #FindYourPark War-era veterans are volunteering in the Marin August 25 – Founder’s Day – marks the 5. Introduce your favorite park Headlands to show you the underground mis100th birthday of the National Park Service, to someone new sile sites where nuclear warheads once hid beand the commemoration has lasted all year As we work to make our parks more incluneath our feet? Our new Golden Gate National with one simple message: Find Your Park. sive and the stories we share more represenRecreation Area app for the iPhone can lead Discover new park experiences and reconnect tative, please help us introduce parks to the you to these lesser-visited sites of interest in with the parks that hold special meaning for next generation of park visitors, stewards, and the park. you. And we want to celebrate our birthday by advocates. Bring your kids. Invite a niece or honoring all public lands, not just units of the nephew or neighbor along with you to a camp3. Share your perspective National Park Service. So venture out to some fire program at John Muir National Historic Seeing Stonewall elevated to national monunew city and regional parks, historic houses, Site or to explore the tall ships at San Francisco ment status – and with that action, the gay and other local treasures. You could take a Maritime National Historic Park. Volunteer rights struggle etched permanently and firmly road trip to the iconic national parks of the or donate to a program that brings youth or into the story of the national parks – made so West, or you could look to the smaller national first-time visitors to the park. Parks can be the many hearts sing. That sense of affirmation and historic sites and monuments that reveal our places that unite us, but only if you visit!t recognition is a feeling we want others to share. cultural heritage. The diversity of stories might And so when my colleagues and I welcome surprise you. In addition to Stonewall, some of visitors, we want each and every one to feel emNathan Hale Sargent is the public affairs our newest park sites share the story of Cesar powered to share and celebrate their own story specialist at Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Chavez, the Underground Railroad, and the at the park. The LGBTQ story does not stop

t

Politics>>

August 25-31, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Eastward march of out candidates now felt in Contra Costa County

by Matthew S. Bajko

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wo years ago there were more out candidates running for local offices in Alameda County on the November ballot than in San Francisco, which marked the first such outcome in recent memory.

That eastward march of out candidates in the Bay Area is now reaching Contra Costa County, where five gay men are running for city council seats this year. It is believed to be a record number for the county, long known to be a conservative bastion that today has the Bay Area’s only Republican elected member of the state Legislature.

According to gay political leaders in the East Bay, there are 16 known gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender candidates running in either Contra Costa or Alameda counties this year.

In San Francisco there are a dozen known gay, lesbian, or bisexual candidates on the fall ballot.

“It is representing the major changes happening in the demographics in the Bay Area with people priced out of living in the city. While that is a stressful and challenging thing, the silver lining is it is leading to changes in what were more historically conservative communities.

That is great to see,” said Ben Barr, Ph.D., the executive director of the Rainbow Community Center in Concord, which serves LGBT residents of Contra Costa County.

The East Bay candidates represent a mix of incumbents and political newcomers. They are also ethnically and generationally diverse, with many married and homeowners.

“I was surprised to see the number of LGBT candidates, but I was very happy to see the racial diversity among them,” said Jeff Koertzen, a gay man who is the Contra Costa County Democratic Party chair.

His only regret, said Koertzen, is the lack this fall of female candidates from the LGBT community on the ballot in his county. The election in 2014 saw two lesbian residents of Richmond win their races: Valerie Cuevas won a seat on the West Contra Costa Unified School District Governing Board and City Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles was re-elected.

“I would love to see some LGBT women running for office in Contra Costa,” he said. “But, you know, Contra Costa in the past has a history of being fairly conservative.

So the fact that we have five openly gay people running is a sign of the times. Things are changing and people recognize we are members of the community.”

As the Bay Area Reporter reported last month, Concord resident Pablo Benavente would be the first out person elected to his city’s fiveperson council if he wins his race.

Seven people filed to run for the two City Council seats up for grabs in November, as only one of the incumbents opted to seek re-election.

In Richmond Cesar Zepeda is seeking to become the first out gay man to serve on his city’s council alongside Beckles. Zepeda is one of nine people in the race for three council seats, with two incumbents running for re-election and a person appointed to fill a vacancy seeking a full term.

Having first won election four years ago, gay Pleasant Hill City Councilman Ken Carlson is one of two council members seeking reelection this fall. Four people filed to run this year for the three seats on the ballot, one of which is an open seat since one councilman opted

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Greg Linhares/City of Oakland

Concord City Council candidate Pablo Benavente

Oakland City Council candidate Peggy Moore

not to run again.

Hercules resident Brian Campbell-Miller, a gay real estate agent, is one of five people running for three City Council seats. Two are open as just one of the incumbents is seeking re-election.

John Stevens, a gay man who formerly lived in Dallas, is one of four people seeking election to the Martinez City Council this fall. He is one of three newcomers running against one incumbent for two council seats.

This week the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund announced it had endorsed the council bids of both Stevens and Benavente.

It had earlier endorsed Zepeda. And last week Zepeda and Benavente secured early endorsements from the East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club, which voted on whether to back a number of out candidates’ bids.

In addition to Beckles and Carlson, gay El Cerrito City Councilman Gabriel Quinto is the only other out city council member in Contra Costa County, said Barr.

“Hopefully, we will have a few more representatives to represent the LGBTQ community next year,” he said.

In Oakland two lesbians are competing for the city council’s at-large seat: Rebecca Kaplan, the incumbent, and Peggy Moore, a well-known Democratic campaign consultant. Three other people are running for the seat, and Moore secured Stonewall’s support last week.

For the second time, gay Emeryville resident John Bauters is running for a city council seat. He is one of six newcomers running for three open council seats and won Stonewall’s support last week.

There are also out candidates running for district-wide seats in Alameda County. Lesbian BART board member Rebecca Saltzman faces three opponents in her reelection bid for the transit agency’s District 3 seat.

Running for the fourth time for a seat on the AC Transit board is Dollene C. Jones, a lesbian who used to drive a bus for the agency and now is a bus driver for St. Mary’s College in Moraga. The San Pablo resident faces an uphill battle, however, as she is running against the incumbent, H. E. Christian “Chris” Peeples, for the board’s at-large seat.

Nick Resnick, a transgender man, who with his wife is raising their son in Oakland, is one of two candidates seeking the open Area 6 seat on the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees. The seat includes parts of Berkeley and Oakland.

Gay Oakland resident Daniel Chesmore faces an uphill climb in his bid for the East Bay Regional Park District board’s Ward 4 seat, as former state lawmaker Ellen Corbett is one of two other candidates in the race for the open seat.

Saltzman, Jones, and Chesmore all won the Stonewall club’s early backing, while Resnick fell short of the percent needed to clinch an early endorsement.

“We have been so proud of the number of people who have emerged in the East Bay wanting to run,” said gay Oakland consultant Michael Colbruno, who chairs Stonewall’s political action committee. “We suddenly have forged ahead of San Francisco in the number of viable candidates. It shows the incredible growth of the LGBT community politically in the East Bay.”t

Alameda County races

The East Bay city with the most out candidates this fall is Berkeley, where gay City Councilman Kriss Worthington is one of eight people running for mayor, as the B.A.R. was the first to report last month.

This is his second mayoral bid, and under the city’s ranked-choice voting system, he has teamed up with his council colleague, Jesse Arreguin, to run as a duo in an effort to block City Councilman Laurie Capitelli from being elected.

The city’s other gay councilman, Darryl Moore, is seeking re-election to his District 2 seat, which he first won in 2004. He is facing two challengers, one of whom, Cheryl Davila, he had appointed to a city commission and then clashed with last fall when she called for the city to divest from Israel due to its treatment of Palestinians. The other candidate is Nanci ArmstrongTemple, who identifies as queer and has been a vocal critic of the police in both Berkeley and San Francisco.

Judy Appel, a lesbian on the city’s school board, is also seeking re-election. Two other people filed to run for the two seats on this year’s ballot.

The Stonewall club last week early endorsed both Moore and Appel, but Worthington failed to secure the 60 percent needed. The club will now revote on the mayoral race in September; this time its consideration will also include the straight candidates.

Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check www.ebar.com Monday mornings at noon for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion.

This week’s column noted recent endorsement votes were a mixed bag for the out candidates on San Francisco’s ballot this November.

Keep abreast of the latest LGBT political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ twitter.com/politicalnotes.

Got a tip on LGBT politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 8298836 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

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<< National News

t Texas judge issues injunction in trans bathroom suit

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

by Lisa Keen

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n a move that could put increased attention on the U.S. Supreme Court, a federal judge Sunday issued a temporary order blocking the Obama administration from taking any action against states that refuse to comply with its guidelines concerning treatment of transgender students in federally funded schools.

The August 21 order, from Judge Reed O’Connor (an appointee of President George W. Bush), enables at least 23 states that have expressed opposition to Obama administration guidelines issued in May to ignore those guidelines until the court can rule on the merits of lawsuits challenging them.

The guidelines, from the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Justice, state that discrimination against transgender students violates federal law against sex discrimination and that schools failing to comply with the laws could lose their federal funding.

A White House spokesman reiterated Monday the administration’s contention that the guidelines were “certainly not a mandate” and characterized the lawsuit as an election year attempt to “play politics” with issues involving transgender students. “[O]ur goal has been from the beginning to provide for the safety and security and dignity of students all across the country,” said John Earnest, press secretary for President Barack Obama.

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and four other national legal groups working on LGBT issues expressed disappointment in O’Connor’s injunction. They said it is likely to confuse school districts trying to help transgender students and goes against “years of clear legal precedent nationwide establishing that transgender students have the right to go to school without being singled out for discrimination.”

The groups said the injunction would have “no effect on the ability of other courts or lawyers representing transgender people to continue to rely on the federal government’s interpretations of Title IX or on prior decisions that have reached similar conclusions about the scope of federal sex discrimination laws.”

Big enough conflict?

But the injunction could have an effect on whether the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to take up the issue sooner rather than later. O’Connor’s

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decision in this prelimicourt,” said O’Connor, nary matter contradicts “demonstrates [the a ruling of another fedObama administration eral court. And conflicts agencies] have ‘drawn a among federal courts line in the sand’ in that make issues more likely they have concluded to attract Supreme Court [states] must abide by intervention. the guidelines, without The 4th U.S. Circuit exception, or they are in Court of Appeals ruled breach of their Title IX that Title IX of the Edu- Federal Judge obligations. cation Amendments Act Reed O’Connor “Permitting the definiof 1972 – which prohibtion of sex to be defined its discrimination based on sex by [as the Obama administration has federally funded educational instistated] would allow [the admintutions – prohibits discrimination istration] to ‘create de facto new based on gender identity. regulation’ by agency action without O’Connor, for the U.S. District complying with the proper proceCourt of Northern Texas, said “the dures,” O’Connor added. plain meaning of the term sex” does At issue are two federal laws that not include gender identity. Noting prohibit discrimination based on that the Supreme Court had granted sex – Title VII of the Civil Rights a stay against the 4th Circuit deciAct, which covers employment, and sion, O’Connor said a decision from Title IX of the Education Amendthe Supreme Court “may obviate ments Act, which covers educationthe issues in this lawsuit.” al institutions.

O’Connor’s decision makes A brief filed by five pro-LGBT clear he thinks states opposing the legal groups argued that federal apObama administration guidelines peals courts governing many of the have a strong case. He said, “The states opposing the Obama guideplain meaning of the term sex” in lines have already ruled that sex Title IX “meant the biological and discrimination includes discriminaanatomical differences between tion against transgender people. male and female students as deterThe groups include Lambda mined at their birth.” The guideLegal, the American Civil Liberlines, therefore, are “contrary to ties Union, the National Center for law.” In the preliminary ruling, he Lesbian Rights, GLBTQ Legal Adsaid the guidelines pose a sufficient vocates & Defenders, and the Translevel of threat to the statutes and gender Law Center. constitutions of plaintiff states to Jon Davidson, national legal didemonstrate “a threat of irreparable rector for Lambda Legal, said he harm” that warrants a temporary does not believe O’Connor’s ruling injunction. will increase the probability that Starting in 2010, Obama adminthe Supreme Court will accept the istration agencies began interpretFourth Circuit case. He said “a large ing federal laws barring discriminanumber of issues” in the Texas v. tion on the basis of “sex” to include U.S. case “go beyond what is at issue “gender identity.” That meant laws in the [4th Circuit] appeal, such as prohibiting discrimination based whether the states, state and local on sex provided some protection agencies, and state officials that for people whose gender identity is brought the suit were sufficiently different from that stated on their harmed” by the guidelines. birth certificate.

“Granting review in [the 4th In May, the departments of EduCircuit case, Gloucester v. Grimm] cation and Justice distributed a letter wouldn’t resolve all those issues,” with guidelines, saying discriminasaid Davidson, “so I don’t think the tion against such transgender stupreliminary injunction in Texas v. dents violates federal laws and that U.S. puts pressure on the Supreme schools failing to comply with the Court to hear the Gloucester case.” laws could lose their federal fundShannon Minter, NCLR’s legal ing. The letter, said O’Connor, “prodirector, said he thinks O’Connor’s vides not only must [states] permit injunction will likely be stayed. individuals to use the [school restMinter noted that, in discussrooms and facilities] consistent with ing the “plain meaning” of “sex” in their gender identity,” but stipulates federal law, O’Connor “completely that alternative accommodations disregards Price Waterhouse.” In are unacceptable. that 1989 decision, a majority of the Thirteen states filed the lawsuit, U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Title Texas v. U.S., to argue that Congress VII’s prohibition of discrimination intended “sex” to refer “only to one’s because of “sex” includes discrimibiological sex, as male or female.” nation against an employee based Those states include Alabama, Arion expectations for an employee’s zona, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, appearance and behavior based on Maine, Mississippi, Oklahoma, their biological sex. (Notably, Justice Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West VirAnthony Kennedy dissented.) ginia, and Wisconsin. Ten other “This is a political case brought to states – Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, make a political point,” said Minter.

Montana, Nebraska, North Da“The states don’t have any actual kota, Ohio, South Carolina, South injury. They are just expressing their Dakota, and Wyoming – filed a disagreement with the departments’ similar lawsuit in a federal court in view of the law, but that abstract Nebraska. disagreement is not a valid basis for In granting the injunction, a federal lawsuit. This is political O’Connor said the Obama adminposturing at the expense of a small istration’s guidelines are “clearly degroup of vulnerable children.” signed to target” plaintiff states with The Texas Tribune noted that “legal consequences” if the states fail O’Connor issued a temporary into follow the guidelines. junction in March of last year to The Obama administration’s block enforcement of an Obama guidelines and actions, said administration interpretation of O’Connor, “indicate that [states] the Family and Medical Leave Act jeopardize their federal education that required states to provide to funding by choosing not to comply” same-sex married couples the same with the guidelines. Thus, he said, benefits it provides to opposite-sex those guidelines are both “legislamarried couples. Texas Attorney tive and substantive” and that the General Ken Paxton withdrew that public should have been given an lawsuit after the U.S. Supreme Court opportunity to comment on those ruled in June of last year that state guidelines. bans on marriage licenses for same“The information before the sex couples was unconstitutional.t

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<< Community News

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

t

Prop 61 targets drug prices

by Seth Hemmelgarn

A

ballot measure set to go before California voters in November is designed to reduce the price the state pays for drugs.

However, some say that the proposal – Proposition 61, the California Drug Price Relief Act – may not help and may actually lead to some higher prices if it becomes law.

The law would generally prevent state agencies from paying more for prescription drugs than the lowest price that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pays.

The state Legislative Analyst’s Office found that Prop 61 is “highly uncertain,” since drug manufacturers may react by charging the VA more for drugs, and implementation challenges that include some VA prices not being publicly available.

The LAO said, however, that “the state spent almost $3.8 billion on prescription drugs in 2014-15,” and “if the measure lowered total state prescription drug spending by even a few percent, it would result in state savings in the high tens of millions of dollars annually.”

One of the main factors is how drug companies may react if the measure passes.

The LAO notes that the federal government entitles state Medicaid programs, such as California’s Medi-Cal, to the lowest prices available to most payers.

“If certain California state agencies receive VA prices, as the measure intends, this would set new prescription drug price limits at VA prices for all state Medicaid programs,” the LAO says in its report on Prop 61. “As a result, the measure could extend the VA’s favorable drug prices to health programs serving tens of millions of additional people nationwide.”

Drug makers would face “added pressure” to do something “to protect their profits.”

Proposition 61 on the November ballot deals with prescription drug pricing.

Reactions could include drug companies increasing what they charge the VA for drugs, since the measure would make “VA prices the upper limit for what the state can pay, drug manufacturers might choose to raise VA drug prices,” the LAO said.

They could also choose not to offer the state some of the drugs the VA purchases.

“This manufacturer response could reduce potential state savings under the measure since it might limit the drugs the state can pay for to those that, while meeting the measure’s price requirements, are actually more expensive than those currently paid for by the state,” the LAO said.

Additionally, in some cases, “the VA has negotiated a lower price” than what appears in its public database. Those costs could remain confidential under an exemption of the federal Freedom of Information Act that’s related to trade secrets and financial information.

Opposition

According to data from the secretary of state’s office, drug companies have contributed almost $70 million through June 30 to oppose Prop 61.

The list includes Gilead Sciences Inc., the manufacturer of Truvada, which is used for PrEP. The company contributed $4 million, state data show. A call to the company wasn’t returned.

Kathy Fairbanks, a spokeswoman for the No on Prop 61 campaign, acknowledged the campaign has received funding from drug com-

panies, but she also noted supporters include a variety of groups. The http://www.NoProp61.com website lists the California Medical Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California.

Fairbanks also pointed to an analysis posted on the San Francisco nonprofit Project Inform’s website that says it’s “unclear” whether Prop 61 “would result in cost savings to the state.”

Among other concerns, the analysis says, “Even if the initiative were to result in cost savings to the state, it is unclear whether or not lower prices would be realized for consumers.

The initiative does not include any provisions that would lower the cost of prescription drugs for consumers who are increasingly having difficulty accessing treatment, both because employers and insurers are passing on more of the cost to employees and consumers, and because more restrictions to access are being placed on higher-cost drugs.”

Along with Project Inform, which does HIV advocacy and other work, the analysis also says the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and other groups “have raised concerns” about Prop 61, although they are “officially neutral” on it.

The No on Prop 61 campaign also criticized the measure’s main proponent, Michael Weinstein, president of the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The nonprofit has contributed more than $9 million through June 30 to support Prop 61, according to the secretary of state’s office.

Citing an AHF financial statement, the anti-Prop 61 campaign says Weinstein’s group “brought in more than $1 billion last year selling prescription drugs and operating HMOs. Suspiciously, he exempted his organization’s HMO from having to comply with his own measure.”

Ged Kenslea, an AHF spokesman, didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.t

Community weighs in on SF police chief search

by Seth Hemmelgarn

A

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s San Francisco searches for its next police chief, about two dozen people at a meeting in the Mission district told police commissioners they want someone who’s “willing to clean house” and a chief with a background in mental health.

Commissioner Sonia Melara told those gathered at Mission High School Thursday night, August 18 that the police oversight panel wants to hear the “qualifications and qualities” that people are looking for.

“Your input is extremely important,” Melara said.

Applications will be taken until August 31. Commissioners will then review resumes, conduct interviews, and pick three candidates to pass on to Mayor Ed Lee, who will select the chief.

The search comes after the resignation in May of former Chief Greg Suhr. Many had called for months for Lee to fire Suhr after a series of police shootings and other scandals, including officers accused of exchanging racist and homophobic text messages.

Acting Chief Toney Chaplin, whom Lee picked to head the department after Suhr’s departure, has said he wants the job permanently.

People at Thursday’s meeting listed a broad range of characteristics they want to see in the next chief.

Rick Gerharter

Police Commissioner Petra DeJesus

One woman said, “I don’t want a police chief at all. You’re supervising paid killers to kill us,” while another person said the new chief should be “willing to clean house” and “fire dozens of officers.” One man said the new chief should have “a mental health background.”

During the meeting, several people stood in a semi-circle holding signs with the names of people who had been “killed by SFPD.” At one point, Brian Hill, deputy chief of the volunteer safety group Castro Community on Patrol, said he understood the concerns that many people were sharing, but he added, “We also need a police chief that’s going to focus on reducing crime in San Francisco.”

See page 18 >>

t

Community News>>

August 25-31, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

Gay man’s memoir recounts forced marriage, coming out

by Brian Bromberger

I

t was that terrible moment when Michael El-Bacha wanted to end it all, feeling he was better off taking his own life.

The tumultuous events that led up to his attempted suicide, and the way he has rebuilt his life since that nadir, are the focus of his new memoir, Oh, My God! Am I Alright?: A True Account of My Life, about growing up in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia to strict religious Lebanese Christians.

El-Bacha, 41, met to talk with the Bay Area Reporter during his weeklong stop in San Francisco in early August, part of a monthlong whirlwind book tour in the U.S., including stops in Las Vegas; New York; Fire Island; Washington, D.C.; and Los Angeles. What makes ElBacha’s journey so compelling is that he is the first Australian Lebanese man with a Christian background to come out publicly and on TV. What has garnered so much attention in the Australian media is that he is also the first man forced into a marriage to come out in the media as well.

“It didn’t make sense to me why my parents, who had defied tradition by eloping and marrying for love, would arrange my marriage to my first cousin whom I had just met in Lebanon a few weeks prior,” ElBacha said. “However, I believe that my parents knew I was different from my brothers, as growing up I was my mum’s little helper with the household chores. I think that even before I had a chance to discover my own sexuality, even before I definitely knew I was gay, they wanted to marry me off before I found out the truth.”

He said he married at 19 after graduation from high school.

“I wasn’t sure if I was gay. If I had thoughts about men, I would hit myself on the forehead, saying this wasn’t the way I was brought up to believe, especially with my strict Maronite Catholic background,” El-Bacha said.

“In that tradition there’s no room for gay, or it’s seen just as a phase. I thought once I married Fi, who was just 17, those gay thoughts would go away, which was not the case.”

Forced marriages among traditional cultures in Australia are used to discourage gay men from coming out.

A law passed in 2013 makes it illegal to coerce, threaten, or deceive someone into marriage, with punishment being up to seven years in prison.

The first honeymoon night for El-Bacha was disastrous in that no sex took place, as both he and his bride were exhausted, physically and

emotionally, he recalled. The next morning his parents were angry and gave the couple an hour to consummate or face disgrace. Thinking about men the whole time, the conjugal act was mechanical and sterile with no foreplay, but the bed sheets inspected by El-Bacha’s parents were proof enough to satisfy them.

The next day El-Bacha became physically ill with a bright red band on his abdomen, resulting in a three-day hospital stay attached to an IV drip.

“I later learnt that my illness was a manifestation of the stress and anxiety of my arranged marriage, a kind of nervous breakdown,” he said.

After a six-month separation so his wife could immigrate to Australia, El-Bacha honored the family commitment to get his wife pregnant.

“I knew what I had to do, but I still was not physically attracted to her and intimacy between us was very textbook and rigid,” he said.

But it was successful, as a baby boy, Buddy, was born.

However, his wife’s sexual advances were becoming increasingly unbearable.

“I found myself cringing whenever she touched me and I started pushing her away, both physically and emotionally,” El-Bacha said. “I was having sexual thoughts about men and I could no longer stay in my marriage and live an absolute lie.”

El-Bacha also started abusing alcohol and using drugs. It reached a crisis when he told his wife he didn’t love her anymore, and he was not even sure he ever had. He asked her to let him go, as he didn’t want to be with her any longer. His parents were devastated by the collapse of their marriage and his father slapped him across the face.

An in-demand escort

Starting to meet men at a gay sauna, El-Bacha had no place to go.

He couch-surfed at friends’ homes.

He needed money and a girlfriend suggested he could be an escort, which he did for six months, as Lebanese men were highly sought after in the Australian gay community.

“I lost myself for awhile, often high on drugs,” he recalled. “I made enough money to rent a lovely place on the beach in Sydney, which very few guys at my age could afford. I had to entertain both men and women, though for women I couldn’t get aroused. But I was good with my fingers and mouth, which usually did the trick, though one woman was upset and demanded her money back.

“But escorting helped me realize I

“No one should be afraid to be who they are. Be true to yourself, who you were born to be.”

–Michael El-Bacha

Brian Bromberger

Author Michael El-Bacha

was gay,” El-Bacha continued. “One client requested I put a chocolate doughnut around his penis and watched me eat it, which would get him off every time.”

Christian guilt and a desire to have a committed relationship with a man led him to leave escorting.

Loneliness sets in

Meanwhile El-Bacha’s devout Christian parents were so desperate to get him back to his wife that they resorted to using black magic, a love potion made by a sheik (part of the Islamic tradition) meant to make him fall back in love with her. His wife was supposed to put the drug in his tea, but told him about it and they threw it away. He had heard a similar story occurring to a young man in Lebanon who had left his girlfriend, but drank the potion, started hearing voices, and later hanged himself. ElBacha eventually had gay boyfriends and a successful job, divorcing his wife, who later remarried.

But in 2008, he was unemployed, returning after traveling abroad, long estranged from his family.

“I was depressed, after losing my ex, the love of my life, plus my closest straight friend and support was away, deeply involved with his girlfriend. I had spent my severance pay on drugs, so I had nothing and no one,” El-Bacha said. “I was very lonely, hated myself and where my life was at, which led to my suicide attempt, which I had never thought of before. Everything that had happened to me had led me to this state of mind. I figured it was best I should go. I consumed a dangerous cocktail of drugs. I began to text my friends and family saying goodbye, telling them I loved them.

“I messaged 12-year-old Buddy: ‘my son, I love you no matter where I am in life. I love you with my all, as much as a father could love his

son. My blood, you are always in my heart. Please look after yourself and try never to forget about me.’”

He then received a reply from Buddy, who had never answered his messages in the past.

“He wrote: ‘I luv u 2 dad.’ He became my reality check and it dawned on me – my son does love me and I had to be strong for him,” El-Bacha said.

He writes in his book his thinking at the time: “I felt as though I was better taking my own life, so that my son wouldn’t have to deal with his father being gay, that my family wouldn’t suffer anymore, so I could be free. I was ashamed of who I was and believed they’d be better off without me.”

Fortunately his roommate discovered him unconscious in time.

A reevaluation and recovery

With therapy, anti-depressants, quitting drugs, and reevaluating his life, El-Bacha recovered, eventually telling Buddy he was gay, with him replying that he knew he had a father who was different.

“I let Channel 10 television, primetime news, tell my family that I was gay when my book came out and I revealed how I was forced into a marriage. They were angry with me; that I had embarrassed and disgraced them. They don’t like talking about me being gay but eventually came to respect me,” El-Bacha said.

He added that his youngest brother also came out as gay and his family attended his engagement party to his boyfriend.

“I think I paved the way for him,” El-Bacha said. “The whole family was there. But when I went to Lebanon, I released my book in a bookshop in my father’s village, yet I had to do it behind their backs because they didn’t want me known as gay in Lebanon. The owner embraced my book because of the forced marriage issue. I told her everything except the gay part.

“There is a gay movement and community happening in Lebanon,” he continued. “It’s still backwards

Oh, My God! Am I Alright? is available at www.amazon.com in a Kindle edition.

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and you can’t come out publicly. If there’s anything pro-gay occurring in the Middle East it will be in Lebanon, because it is a country run by Christians, not Muslims.”

El-Bacha believes that Omar Mateen, the Orlando Pulse shooter, was gay, but couldn’t be true to himself.

“I think his experience and mine show the importance of cultural acceptance and tolerance, with education being vital,” he said.

El-Bacha, while acknowledging he has made many mistakes, now feels he has grown to be wiser.

“I believe in God. I was born this way; having had no choice in the way God has made me and feel he would not want me to live a tormented life.

My life and my sexuality is between me and God,” he said. “I’m involved with suicide awareness and proceeds from my book launches will go to groups dealing with that issue. I want to give back and save lives. I also will be promoting gay rights in Australia.

We get treated fairly but not equally.

It also depends in which state you live in. We are pushing for marriage equality, no longer satisfied with second-class domestic partnerships.

It’s time, as New Zealand has already legalized same-sex marriages.”

El-Bacha said there’s expected to be a public vote on marriage in Australia in 2017.

“Though we would have preferred a law in Parliament, as the election will bring up a lot of unnecessary hatred toward us,” he said.

El-Bacha signs his messages, “love and light,” believing there is always hope.

“I want to be a role model and help people deal with their sexuality struggles,” he said. “No one should be afraid to be who they are. Be true to yourself, who you were born to be.”

When El-Bacha returns to Australia he is planning to write a film script based on his memoir.t

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<< Travel

12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

Palm Springs gears up for busy fall

by Ed Walsh

D

uring a trip to Palm Springs last week, I toured California’s largest lake, visited a desert ghost town, and had a meal in Mexico, all in the same afternoon. While it was not exactly the stereotypical tourist trip to Palm Springs, the city is the perfect jumping off point to explore the desert attractions in and out of the city, all within a reasonable driving distance.

As the state’s largest body of water, the Salton Sea is 376 square miles or about eight times the size of San Francisco. It was created by accident in 1905 after an agricultural canal overflowed.

The northern end of the Salton Sea is about a 50-minute drive south of Palm Springs. The incongruity of a huge lake in the desert is part of what makes it so unique. But you may smell it before you see it. Algae blooms in the lake often cause a

strong sulfur smell. And because of the water’s increasing salinity, more and more of the lake’s fresh water fish are dying.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Bombay Beach was a thriving resort town.

But all that changed as the water became saltier and most of the fish died. The carcasses of dead fish line the lake now, which is saltier than the ocean. You can see only remnants of beachfront resort structures now. The town has the distinction of being the lowest community in the U.S.: 223 feet below sea level.

The sign on the town’s bar proclaims it as the world’s lowest bar in the Western Hemisphere. Bombay Beach would be a complete ghost town except that about 300 people still live there among buildings and rubble that is left to decay.

The desert town of Niland (pop.

1,006) is about 20 minutes south of Bombay Beach and is best known for Salvation Mountain, a candycolored man-made hill and caverns with painted Christian messages of love and salvation. The nearby Slab City is known for its eclectic collection of people who live off the grid, without basic utilities, including running water.

The Mexican border town of Mexicali is about a 45-minute drive south of Niland. I wasn’t sure my rental car was insured to travel out of the state, let alone Mexico, so I just left my car on the street on the California side, in the city of Calexico, and walked through a couple of metal turnstiles into Mexico. After eating a couple of tamales I bought from a street vender and water from a convenience store, I walked around for about a half hour and returned to the U.S. Fortunately there was no line. Before crossing, I had asked a border patrol agent if I needed a passport to return and if there was a long return line. He

t

Ed Walsh

An old boat sits on the shore of Bombay Beach, a former resort town along the Salton Sea, which is a 50-minute drive from Palm Springs.

assured me that my driver’s license would be sufficient and that the line was short.

There isn’t much to see on either side of the border but it was an interesting cultural lesson on the kind of stuff people cross the border to buy. There were a lot of American souvenirs and cheap dollar-store stuff on the U.S. side. The Mexican side had a lot of pharmacies where prescription drugs are cheaper and you don’t need a prescription to buy most of them. Before driving back to Palm Springs, I filled up my car’s gas tank for $2.25 a gallon at the USA Gasoline station. Despite the weak peso, gas is still about 50 cents a gallon cheaper on the U.S. side of the border, but most things are much cheaper in Mexico.

With temperatures up to 116 degrees last week, it was not the most comfortable time to visit the Palm Springs area, but relief in Palm Springs is a four-letter word: fall. And the city is already gearing up for a busy autumn. Some of the gay fall events include Leather Pride October 27-30, followed by Halloween, and then Palm Springs Pride the first weekend in November. Unlike San Francisco’s banished Castro Halloween, locals and visitors welcome October 31 with a downtown street party on E. Arenas Road, the Castro Street of Palm Springs. Pride includes a weekend festival and a parade down Palm Canyon Drive, the city’s main drag, Sunday, November 6.

Year-round fun

But there is plenty to keep LGBTs content in Palm Springs all year round. As one of the world’s gayest cities, it is fitting that Palm Springs also has more gay resorts than any-

where else. Although three gay resorts have closed this year, the desert city still boasts 20; one is lesbian oriented and the other 19 are for gay men. By the way, the closed gay resorts are Helios, Pura Vida, and Desert Eclipse. The Desert Eclipse is now the Avance Hotel, making it the only non-gay hotel in Warm Sands.

For the uninitiated, Warm Sands has the city’s largest cluster of gay resorts ranging from the more couple oriented to a few that are more cruisy. The second-largest cluster of gay resorts is nearby on San Lorenzo Road. Palm Springs’ neighbor, Cathedral City, also has a large gay population. “Cat City,” as it’s known, has three gay bars and a gay resort, the Cathedral City Boys Club, or CCBC, which is open 24/7 for night and day passes.

On my recent trip, I had the pleasure of staying at the Hacienda and the Century Palm Springs. Both properties are first rate and deservedly have a large repeat clientele who return regularly.

The Hacienda provides an expanded continental breakfast and a gourmet deli lunch to guests and it makes the tipping process simple.

Employees are not allowed to accept gratuities. Instead an 8 percent service charge is added to the room rate. You will feel very pampered there. The boutique property even provides a pillow menu.

Century Palm Springs is a stunning property that showcases midcentury modern design and the best mountain view of any of the Warm Sands properties. The rooms have all the 21st century conveniences with 1950s-era design for which Palm Springs is famous. This luxury property provides a continental See page 17 >>

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<< Community News

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

t

Gay comic to emcee Oakland Pride breakfast compiled by Cynthia Laird

T

his year’s annual Oakland Pride breakfast Sunday, September 11 should generate some laughs, as gay, award-winning comic Sampson McCormick will emcee the event.

Sampson, as he is known professionally, is a stand-up comedian who regularly performs around the Bay Area and across the country and is sure to bring his wit and humor to the breakfast, which is sponsored by the East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club.

Numerous East Bay politicos, many facing election or re-election in November, are also expected to be on hand at what is usually a packed event.

The breakfast takes place just prior to the Oakland Pride parade and festival. It will run from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Comcast Xfinity Pavilion, near the festival grounds at Broadway and 20th Street. A continental breakfast will be provided.

The event is free for East Bay Stonewall members. People can join

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duct workshops, and simply support people to a successful re-entry.

The mixer will take place Thursday, September 1 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Women’s Resource Center, 930 Bryant Street. A light lunch will be provided.

To RSVP, email angela.wilson@ sfgov.org.

the club prior to attending. Membership fees are $35 per person or $55 for couples. To join online, visit www. eastbaystonewalldemocrats.org.

The Oakland Pride parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at Broadway and 14th Street. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and general admission is $10. For more information, visit http://www.oaklandpride.org.

HIV awareness project seeks personal messages

SFDOG holds Mighty Mutt fundraiser

The San Francisco Dog Owners Group, or SFDOG, and other proponents of off-leash dog play areas will hold their Mighty Mutt fundraiser to raise money for the legal right to retain open dog spaces within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The party will be held Sunday, August 28 from noon to 3 p.m. at the pooch-friendly Virgil’s Sea Room, 3152 Mission Street in San Francisco. Dogs are invited and can hang out on the outdoor patio.

Organizers said in a Facebook event listing that their goal is to match a $10,000 challenge grant they received from a generous donor and to wrap up their summer fundraising campaign. They said they are less than $5,000 away from meeting their goal.

The party will include a silent auction with items such as dog training, vacation rentals in Tahoe and the Russian River, and more.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door and include food and one cocktail.

For more information, visit w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / e v e n t s / 1016660855099320/.

Meetings for emerging queer, trans artists

The Queer Cultural Center will be holding meetings for queer and trans emerging artists who are interested in being in next year’s National Queer Arts Festival.

Center officials said they are com-

Courtesy Sampson McCormick

Stand-up comic Sampson McCormick

missioning four to five emerging artists to be part of a special showcase at the 20th annual festival. Each emerging artist will receive a cash stipend to produce a 15- to 20-minute piece and perform as part of a two-night showcase.

Organizers encouraged people who have not received a commission from QCC to attend the meetings.

A meeting in San Francisco will be held Tuesday, August 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the San Francisco Arts Commission, 401 Van Ness Avenue.

An Oakland meeting will be held Wednesday, September 7 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Flight Deck Rehearsal Studio, 1540 Broadway.

For questions or more information, email Pam Peniston at artistic@queerculturalcenter.org.

SF jail seeks help for trans population

The captain and staff of San Francisco’s county jail #2 invite interested people from community-based organizations serving LGBTQs to a “call to action” mixer to find out more about providing services to incarcerated trans women at the facility.

Jail officials are looking for volunteers to facilitate weekly groups, con-

Two more SF businesses receive legacy status

by Sari Staver

M

We salute the US Navy and Your Harvey Milk Meet Neighbors You’re invited mix and mingle with the who equality will one Harvey Milktostood and fought forpeople justice, day share your permanent San Francisco address. and freedom. A Naval vessel bearing the name of the Wineicon & Cheese beloved civil rights willOpen be aHouse reminder to all that Friday, July 19, 2013 2—5pm grace, courage and inclusiveness will always prevail.

RSVP Required: (415) 752-8791

You are invited to visit the 1 Loraine Court—San Francisco, CA 94118 Harvey Milk Memorial Niche located in the San Francisco Columbarium’s Hall of Olympians One Loraine Court Off Anza, between Stanyan and Arguello 415-771-7017 415-668-0104 COA 660

RiseUpToHIV, a grassroots awareness project that created a viral antistigma campaign three years ago, has now launched its “My Positive Message” video campaign and is calling for short video submissions with the goal of reaching one million combined video views by December 1, which is World AIDS Day. The campaign seeks one-minute personal messages of love, hope, strength, and wisdom about people’s experiences living with or affected by HIV in order to encourage, educate, and empower others.

Submitted videos will be shared to RiseUpToHIV’s combined social media network of 35,000. TheBody. com, a leading resource for HIV/ AIDS with 15 million visitors each year, will also share the videos.

“The ‘My Positive Message’ campaign harnesses the combined power of video and social media to tear down the walls of stigma, fear, and shame,” Kevin Maloney, HIV and hepatitis C awareness advocate and creator of RiseUpToHIV, said in a news release.

“We are committed to showing the world we are courageous, strong, vibrant, and thriving with HIV.” People can submit their messages by following these guidelines: record on a cellphone, laptop/desktop computer, or camera; keep the video to one-minute; record in a bright space (natural light is best); be honest, encouraging, uplifting, and positive in tone; message your video to http:// www.facebook.com/RiseUpToHIV or email to mypozmsg@riseuptohiv. org or text to (614) 800-8660.t

Sari Staver

Bartender Marty Orton stands outside Moby Dick, a Castro gay bar that this week received legacy business status.

oby Dick, the 39-year-old gay bar at the corner of 18th and Hartford streets, received legacy business status August 22 after the San Francisco Small Business Commission approved its second round of businesses into the new program.

The bar, owned by gay partners Joe Cappelletti and Scot Riffe, joins 18 other local businesses now eligible for a variety of financial benefits under the Legacy Business Historic Preservation Fund, which was created by Proposition J, approved by voters last November.

Neither Cappelletti nor Riffe could be reached for comment by press time.

Obituaries >> Memorial set for Jok Church

A celebration of the life of comic artist Jok Church will be held Sunday, September 11 beginning at 4 p.m. at the Center for Sex and Culture, 1349 Mission Street in San Francisco.

Mr. Church died April 29 after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 67.

Mr. Church created the “You Can with Beakman and Jax” comic strip and the Beakman’s World television show. The comic strip first ran in his local paper in Marin County and was the first to be distributed by computer. A kind of guided do-it-yourself question and answer, “You Can with Beakman and Jax” invited readers to write in with their science questions that would then be explained via an experiment

that kids could perform, according to an obituary posted on www.avclub.com. At its peak, the comic strip was published in 300 newspapers in 13 countries.

Mr. Church was a gay man who also did his own sex-positive art, which will be on exhibit at the Center for Sex and Culture from September 10-30. A reception will be held September 20 at 6:30 p.m. The show will also feature pieces from Mr. Church’s extensive digital collection.

The upcoming memorial will include recollections and bearing witness from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by social time.

Mr. Church is survived by Michael Hemes, a.k.a. Lorna Dune; David Forbes; Howard Roffman; and Richard Bolingbroke, in addition to many friends.

For more information, and to see comments and tributes to Mr. Church, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/events/1634284623556777/.

In its first round earlier this month, the Small Business Commission approved the gay-owned bar, Lone Star Saloon at 1354 Harrison Street.

Also approved this week was the Roxie Theatre, an independent film house at 3117 16th Street, between Valencia and Albion streets.

Established in 1902, the Roxie has for several decades specialized in independent films, including many of interest to the LGBT community, and is home to many film festivals, including Frameline, the annual LGBT showcase.

Dave Cowen, executive director of the Roxie, told the Bay Area Reporter in an email that legacy status will give the theater access to a grant from the Legacy Business Fund that would provide $500 per full-time equivalent employee each year. In addition, said Cowen, the Roxie’s landlord is now eligible to apply for a similar grant if they will extend a 10-plus year lease. The Roxie’s current lease expires in June 2018, Cowen said.

“The Roxie has been going through a period of growth, with over 42,000 admissions in the first eight months of this calendar year alone – that’s an increase of 30 percent over prior years’ attendance,” said Cowen.

“We’re very pleased the Roxie was approved for the San Francisco Legacy Business Registry,” he added. “Our See page 18 >>

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16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

I’ll drink to that

by Roger Brigham

I

’m not a drinker, but right now, with the close of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, I really feel like having a drink. The question is: do I want a drink to celebrate, or to stifle my deep misgivings?

Hell, let’s have two drinks. This first we’ll use to celebrate.

There was so much to love about this year’s edition of the Olympics. The United States women’s team collectively was the biggest force of the entire Games.

First-ever sweep of medals in the women’s 100-meter hurdles. Record-smashing performance by the gymnasts despite the internet trolls who questioned Gabby Douglas’ body language on the award stand. Gold for the women’s eight in rowing (third straight), the basketball team (eighth straight), and water polo team (second straight). A second straight gold in boxing for Claressa Shields and a historic upset by Helen Maroulis in wrestling over three-time gold medalist Saori Yoshida of Japan. Stanford swimmer Katie Ledecky, in the 400meter freestyle, knocked two seconds off the world record and the socks off the rest of us.

And with the LGBTI community battling to hold on to newly awarded legal rights, it was great to see so many out LGBTI athletes in the games (53 by the end of closing ceremonies), becoming publicly engaged (lesbian rugby player Isadora Cerullo of Brazil became engaged at the end of the tournament, and gay British race walker Tom Bosworth proposed to his boyfriend on the beach after his event), and doing so well (according to Outsports.com, 25 of the 53 won medals).

For me, the emotional highlight was seeing Simone Manuel’s face after she won the gold medal in the women’s 100-meter freestyle in

world-record time, becoming the first African-American woman to win an individual gold medal in swimming. I have never seen such a complexity of emotions – elation, shock, defiance, relief, WTF-ness – swirl across an athlete’s face. (I thought back to a vacation in my youth to Georgia, where I saw white folks playing and swimming in the resort pool, only to jump out of the water the second black folks got in.

It was my first realization how racist some very ordinary people were; my little sister and I punished them that evening by pelting them with ice cubes as they returned to the pool.)

And it was nice to see the Olympics can still thrill us with the old (Michael Phelps still had it in his swan song at age 31 to drive his record-breaking career haul to 28 medals, 23 of them gold) and the new (20-year-old Kyle Snyder of Ohio State became the youngest American gold medalist in wrestling when he defeated two-time medalist Khetag Gazyumov of Azerbaijan).

So, three cheers and five rings for the 2016 Olympians. Well done.

Now, for that second drink.

The banal television commentary on the sports pretty much sucked, lacking insight, analysis, and context. Social media pundits rightfully raked NBC for racial and sexist bias in coverage and downplaying the success and presence of LGBTI athletes.

The effort to rid televised elite sports of drug cheats was undercut when the International Olympic Committee failed to kick the entire Russian contingent out of the event after mountains of evidence showed that doping was an institutionalized function in the official Russian sports machinery. “Serious” television journalism (i.e., not about the

sports competition) pretty much stuck to the drunken vandalism and fabrications of a blue-haired, publicity-hungry swimmer (no, not Marge Simpson – she doesn’t swim); and the arrest of Ireland’s Patrick Hickey, president of the European Olympic Committees, on charges he was involved in a ticket scalping scheme worth an estimated $3 million.

Lots of puff pieces on local culture and tourist attractions, yet scarcely a word about the real cost of these Olympics or other recent Olympics.

The only time I attended the Summer Olympics was in 1988, when I covered the Seoul Olympics for the now-defunct Los Angeles Herald Examiner. I have strong memories of those games – the dominance of swimmers Matt Biondi and Janet Evans, the magic of one-handed pitcher Jim Abbott in the gold medal baseball game, the open hostility between the American basketball writers and head coach John Thompson.

My joy at those games was muted when I was told during my stay that a homeless population of 30,000 had been created in Seoul when

urban housing was torn down to make room for the villages to house the visiting journalists and athletes. It was not a temporary displacement, either – our village rooms would be rented out later not to the city’s poor who had been displaced, but to the wealthier rising middle class flocking to the city.

“During the five years preceding the (Seoul) Olympic Games, 48,000 buildings housing 720,000 people were destroyed for redevelopment,” a 2008 report by the Center on Housing Rights and Evictions said.

“Ninety percent of the evictees did not receive replacement housing within the redevelopment site. The practice of forced evictions became more frequent and more violent as a direct result of the city’s preparations to host the Olympic Games.”

That report nine years ago indicated that pattern of displacement was repeated in subsequent Olympics. It said low-income earners were forced to leave Barcelona because of rising housing costs leading up to the 1992 Olympics; 9,000 homeless people, mostly African-American, were arrested and about 30,000 people displaced to clean up Atlanta for the 1996 Olympics; hundreds were arrested in Athens before the 2004 Olympics; 1.25 million people had been displaced in Beijing a year before the 2008 Olympics; and housing for 1,000 people was threatened with teardown more than five years before the 2012 London Olympics.

“Often the net impact of hosting the Olympic Games or similar mega-events is to permanently place housing beyond the financial means of a significant segment of society,” the report said. “Poor and homeless people, marginalized ethnic minorities, or simply those in the way of development, have been forced from their homes or living spaces – or even forced from the city.”

And Rio?

Reporter ahead of her performance Sunday, August 28 at Silicon Valley Pride about her beloved Jamaica, the challenges the island country continues to face, and the changes that have recently occurred.

“Overall, I can say being a Jamaican [that] Jamaica is pretty lawless in many ways,” said King, who gets angry about the violent crimes against Jamaican kids, LGBTs, and women that often go unpunished.

“There is no real outrage. Sometimes I get really upset about that.”

Gay men can still get locked up for up to 10 years if suspected or caught in a homosexual act under Jamaica’s anti-buggery law. Legal challenges to the law and elected leaders’ statements to review the anti-gay law haven’t been successful.

Gay Jamaican attorney and activist Maurice Tomlinson, who is based in Toronto, filed a case to overturn Jamaica’s anti-buggery law in 2011. Last month, Arlene Harrison-Henry, Jamaica’s LGBT-friendly official public defender, appealed her exclusion from the lawsuit that is currently before the Jamaican Supreme Court, reported Erasing 76 Crimes.

In spite of the lack of changes in the government, King said that she is seeing changes on the social level, especially with the introduction of social media.

“I do see changes,” said King, explaining that they are slow in coming due to long-held cultural beliefs.

“Cultures play a big part, you know,

growing up in Jamaica there was not one LGBT role model ever. So, it’s not so easy for us to know who we are.”

King, who moved to the United States when she was 26, came out to herself during her late 20s, but it took a decade for her to become comfortable with herself, accept her sexuality, and to see the importance of being publicly out.

“I’m very private, but it wouldn’t go away. It kept poking me. For some reason it kept poking me, ‘You should say the words. You can’t just keep it to yourself,’” she said. King admitted part of her hesitancy was being a protective mother to her daughter and son. She didn’t want him to get bullied at school. “I didn’t know what would happen.”

She didn’t know that her son had gay friends and teachers until she sat him down to come out to him when he was 16.

Then she felt the silent pull from other LGBT Jamaicans she met at private parties.

“I would go to Jamaica and they would have private parties. I would see how proud they were to have me there,” said King. “I think that it affected me. They never said the words, but I think I could hear them saying, ‘Man, if Jamaica knew you were gay it would be so awesome for us.’”

“It was just this big fear. Ever since that I am just fearless,” said King, who has returned to Jamaica three times since coming out. “I feel the fear, but I still do what I need to

Claressa Shields won her second gold medal in boxing at the Rio Olympics.

Jamaican lesbian singer talks about challenges and changes for LGBTs

by Heather Cassell

J

amaican lesbian reggae fusion artist Diana King had a long journey to come out and become the gay face of Jamaica.

In spite of the shockwaves she

sent via Facebook when she came out in 2012, her love of her home country has never wavered and she’s been pleasantly surprised by the progress LGBT Jamaicans have made in recent years.

King, 45, spoke with the Bay Area

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Human rights groups estimated from 70,000 to 90,000 people were permanently displaced for the 2016 Olympics. According to Human Rights Watch, in the years leading up to the games, police killed thousands of poor people – mostly black men – in another attempt to make Rio ready for global visitors.

In a damning piece on Rio and the Olympic legacy, sports.vice.com said, “To call the Olympics a bad investment would be disingenuous, because few actually believe the Games produce any return of public value. Study after study after study has shown they create no economic benefits, yet cities and nations still fight to host them, always to disastrous ends. Something like $12 billion was spent on the Rio Games. Nearly all of that money went to the already wealthy: developers, landowners, transportation moguls, massive – and allegedly corrupt – construction firms, effectively making the Olympics an enormously successful regressive wealth transfer program, taking money from the poor and middle class via taxes and giving it to the rich. This is an unconscionable crime in a city with open sewers, endemic violence, abject poverty, and lack of economic opportunities for millions of its citizens. Rio will be paying for these Games for years, if not decades, to come.”

Olympic organizers paid Olympic Village housekeepers less than $2 an hour. A week before the Games were over, nearly one-third of the volunteers had deserted the games, complaining of being overworked and underfed.

On the bright side, that blue-haired swimmer, Ryan Lochte, apologized for blaming everything on Rio and said he “over exaggerated” his claim that he was robbed with a gun held to his head, “under admitting” his role in breaking down a restroom door and peeing on the floor of a gas station.

An Olympic step forward like that?

Hell, that’s worth a third drink.t

Courtesy Diana King

Lesbian Jamaican reggae fusion artist Diana King

do because that was my biggest fear all of my life, ‘What if I’m gay?’”

For the past four years, King has been the queer face of Jamaica. It was a long journey for her to say, “No” to constantly living in fear.

“I would say to myself, ‘You can’t live like this.’ It’s this constant fear you never know what’s going to happen. You are constantly on guard,” said King, who didn’t even realize that she was the first well-known Jamaican to come out. No other highprofile Jamaican has come out.

Lesbian Jamaican poet Staceyann Chin, who is based in New York, and Tomlinson have been vocal LGBT rights advocates for Jamaica and the Caribbean’s LGBT community, but they aren’t on the same public level as King.

She believes the truth sets people free.

“It’s true what they say about the truth, it sets you free. It sets you free and there’s no one, no opinion that messes with you,” King said. “I have to be myself. As long as I’m not hurting anyone its all good with me.”

However, that might not be good with other high-profile Jamaican LGBT people who remain closeted.

“It’s not going to happen unless the laws change to protect us,” said King. “That’s the only thing that I think a Jamaican in a high place will come out again.”t

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Community News>>

Anza historic trail

From page 1

The site, adjacent to the former military base’s Officer’s Club, is the northern terminus for the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. Designated by Congress in 1990 as part of the National Trails System administered by the National Park Service, the 1,200-mile Anza trail retraces the route taken by the initial colonizers of San Francisco.

“The Anza expedition arrived to settle the Presidio and the Mission of San Francisco,” explained Torres, who was named the trail’s superintendent in 2009.

Led by Spanish Lieutenant Colonel Juan Bautista de Anza, a party of 240 people departed from San Miguel de Horcasitas, Mexico the morning of October 2, 1775 to begin their strenuous overland route through the arid grasslands of Sonora and the desert borderlands of today’s American Southwest, and later, along the coastal region of what was then known as Alta California.

“The purpose was to have a colonizing expedition of families here in Spain’s northern most frontier,” explained Torres, 49, a lesbian who lives in Berkeley.

Thirty different families made the trek, arriving in what they called el Rio San Francisco on June 27, 1776, mere days prior to the American colonists declaring their independence from England on the other

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parks, to protect the sites along its path and interpret the story of the expedition. The official map for the Anza trail features the names of the various tribal communities that the expedition encountered, such as the Ohlone in the Bay Area and the Chumash near Santa Barbara.

The assistance they lent to Anza and the settlers is credited for leading to the expedition’s success. Tragically, it also resulted in the eradication of the tribes and their lifestyles.

“It is part of the story we tell,” said Torres.

Focus on diversity

With the National Park Service marking its centennial Thursday (August 25), parks officials have made it a priority not only to tell a more diverse narrative of the country’s history, including that of the LGBT community, but also to attract more people of color as visitors.

Torres has been assisting with that effort ever since she joined the park service in 1989 as an interpreter at Alcatraz, the former prison in the middle of the bay. She later worked at both Crissy Field, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historic Park in Richmond.

A year prior to being named superintendent of the Anza trail, Torres was the chief of interpretation for four national park sites in the East Bay, including the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Monu-

SF housing collective

From page 2

year I have not worked at O’Connell High School,” Luevano said. “I have been assigned to other schools, which I will not mention in order to not disturb students and staff.”

The value of the house is currently assessed at $1.1 million. Luevano said that monthly mortgage payments are $2,800 and that he no longer contributes to the mortgage.

He added that he continues to pay the collective’s monthly home insurance fee of $85.

Kil told the B.A.R. that available rooms are never advertised.

“It is only through word of mouth and social networks that we find collective members,” she said.

“Average rent is about 400.”

Luevano, however, said that collective rents average $700-1,000 per month, which is still considerably lower than the city’s rental average of $2,000-$4,000. Kil claimed that Luevano is refusing her offers of a $200,000 buyout and pointed to the gentrification of the neighborhood, which is forcing many queers of color out of the city.

“This saddens me,” the Reverend Israel Alvaran, an LGBTQ rights

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side of the continent.

“They were lower caste AfroLatino. The generation before them had been slaves in Mexico, so California is settled by black and brown people,” said Torres. “De Anza was a son of Sonora. His father was a Basque from Spain, but he was born and raised in the New World. It was his father’s dream to settle Northern California.”

The names of many of the families remain to this day, as city and street names throughout the Bay Area, such as Berryessa, Moraga, Peralta and Alviso. For making the journey with Bautista, they were promised land as payment.

“It is an American story. They came for opportunity and became landowners,” noted Torres.

The Anza trail’s brown signage, featuring de Anza on horseback accompanied by a Native American guide, should be familiar to residents throughout the Bay Area.

The signs, marked either historic route or auto route, can be found throughout the East Bay and along the Peninsula.

An exhibit about the trail is housed at the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, and inside the Presidio Officer’s Club information about the Anza expedition, including a reproduction of the Spanish Colonial saddles they used, is part of the Presidio Heritage Gallery.

As the superintendent for the trail, Torres works with partner agencies, such as regional and state

August 25-31, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

Palm Springs

From page 12

breakfast and a complimentary cocktail hour for guests.

Like the many aging Hollywood stars and starlets who have a second home in the city, Palm Springs is constantly having work done.

Downtown is undergoing a facelift right now that will undoubtedly bring even more visitors to the city and keep regulars coming back for more.

The massive project along S. Palm Canyon Drive between W. Tahquitz Canyon Way and E. Armado Road will open up Palm Canyon Drive to the city’s art museum, which was often missed by visitors because it is a block behind the city’s main street. The block-long stroll to the museum from Palm Canyon Drive will be flanked with restaurants and shops. San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group Inc. will open up a new property there this fall and the giant statue

Jane Philomen Cleland

Holly Park Collective member Gilbert Villareal, left, joined a protest outside of John O’Connell High School with Ken Russell Coelho, collective co-founder Sahee Kil, housing activist Tommi Avicolli Mecca, and Alicia Bell.

organizer in the United Methodist Church and a collective member, told the B.A.R. at the August 11 protest at the high school. “Greed has reached its height in this city. I’m wondering why Adan doesn’t have empathy for other queer people of color and people in general who are being evicted.”

“I am willing to accept a buyout

of Marilyn Monroe will return to that block, kitty corner from where it used to be. Plans are also in the works to build a Virgin Hotel on the block. One of Palm Springs largest restaurants, Grand Central Station, is also scheduled to open this fall, at 160 La Plaza, off Palm Canyon Drive, just a few steps from the downtown project.

A guided tour is one of the best ways to see some of Palm Springs’ iconic landmarks without getting lost. Desert Adventures is among the best. The company runs a tour focused on the city’s LGBT heritage as well as tours of celebrity houses and excursions to the stunning Indian Canyons and the Joshua Tree National Monument, in the high desert, about a hour outside the city.

One of the biggest attractions is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which whisks riders up Mt. San Jacinto, through four seasons in 10 minutes. In the winter, you could be basking by the pool and playing in the snow in the same afternoon. In

of $200,000 plus 18 percent if she decides to sell the house in the future,” Luevano said. “If she does not sell, I would not receive any future payments.”

He also disputed the accusations levied against him as false and unfair.

“I feel that Sahee is misusing and appropriating the word ‘gentrification’ in order to preserve our prop-

ment in Concord and the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville.

“As a population we are more diverse, so the stories that are told should also reflect the events that occurred at these places and reflect a broader story,” said Torres, who grew up in El Paso, Texas.

The story being told through the Anza trail is unique in that it is a south-to-north migration route, noted Torres, whereas so much of the founding of the western U.S. is focused on the treks originating from the East made by the likes of Lewis and Clark or the Mormon settlers of Utah.

“It is a very unknown story,” she said.

Most of the details about the Anza expedition come from the diaries of both Anza and of Father Pedro Font, whose detailed writings covered three diaries. Upon seeing San Francisco for the first time, Font remarked that of all the sites he had seen in his travels, “I saw none which pleased me so much as this.

And I think that if it could be well settled like Europe there would not be anything more beautiful in all the world.”

Other California sites that encompass the Anza trail include the Presidio of Monterey and Mission San Antonio de Padua, which is now surrounded by Fort Hunter Liggett near Hearst Castle. Another stop along the trail is Coyote Canyon inside Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, near the Salton Sea.

From there the route snakes its way to the Yuma Crossing in Arizona and east to the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument outside of Tucson. The Anza trail’s American southern terminus can be found in Nogales, Arizona.

“There are so many beautiful sites,” said Torres, to be discovered along the trail. “And there is so much history at these sites.”

Because of the Anza trail’s unique composition, covering various locations in two states, it is unknown just how many people visit it each year. In addition to the Anza trail’s vehicular route, there are also 500 miles of certified hiking trails along the path taken by the expedition. Spurs can be found in sections of the East Bay Regional Park District as well as along the Los Angeles River.

“Some people have walked the entire route. It is rare, though people do it,” said Torres.

Another 600 miles of the Anza trail can be found south of the border in Mexico. This November, Sonoran officials will commemorate the Anza expedition’s initial departure.

“We are working with the state of Sonora to understand the people and culture that influenced Northern California,” said Torres.t

erty,” Luevano said. “I also feel that the reason that they do not want to accept the percentage is that Sahee actually wants to sell the house in the future, negating any gentrification argument. If she really wanted to stay then I would not receive any additional monies, so I feel that my offer is more than fair.”

Tommi Avicolli Mecca of the Housing Rights Committee participated in the protest at John O’Connell High School. Avicolli Mecca told the B.A.R. that his concern was to preserve Holly Park Collective for current and future residents, regardless if Luevano and Kil remain involved with the property.

“I know from experience working here at Housing Rights Committee that when a single family home is sold, tenants get evicted,” he said.

“I want to see this queer and trans people of color collective, one of the only ones I know of in San Francisco, go on forever. It is a vital institution for our community, especially for young people of color who can find a home there that is affordable and supportive of their activism.

That’s what at stake here. We, as a queer and trans community, should be creating and preserving affordable housing for members of our

community, not displacing it.”

Other collective members also weighed in.

“For me, if Adan takes Sahee’s offer, a huge burden will be taken off my shoulder, not to mention the fact that I will be able to stay living with chosen family in the city,” collective member Gilbert A. Villareal told the B.A.R. “My roommates echo shared sentiments of mine. Our issue is a larger issue at hand and we stand against evictions in San Francisco because housing is a human right.

We are anti-eviction queers.”

Kil is willing to pay the $200,000, but refuses to sign off on the 18 percent of future sale that Luevano wants.

“As a tenant, I would only believe that Adan has finally agreed to Sahee’s offer when he actually signs a buy-out deal without any pre-conditions,” Alvaran said. “He should take the generous $200K and get off the deed and that settles our case against him.”

Luevano told the B.A.R. that he is willing to meet his former housemates halfway but that they refuse to engage in dialogue with him.

“I participated in trying to reconcile our personal differences,” he said.

The collective has started a crowdfunding campaign at https:// www.gofundme.com/2h3xthw.t

Ed Walsh

The friendly staff at Toucans Tiki Lounge makes the popular gay bar a fun place to visit.

the summer, it is a cool break from the desert heat.

Nightlife

Most of the gay Palm Springs area nightlife is on E. Arenas Road in downtown Palm Springs. That is where you will find Hunters, Score,

Streetbar, SpurLine, and Chill. Tryst is just around the corner on Indian Canyon, near Arenas.

The popular LGBT bar, Toucans Tiki Lounge, is in the north end of town, next to the great gay gym, the WorkOut Gym. The Tool Shed is in Warm Sands and, as you might have

To learn more about the Anza trail and its various sites, visit https://www.nps.gov/juba/index. htm. For more on the national parks’ 100th anniversary, see today’s Guest Opinion.

guessed, is leather/bear oriented.

Neighboring Cathedral City has three bars, Digs, Studio One 11, and Barracks. Cathedral City bars tend to draw more residents and fewer tourists, so it is a good place to mix it up with the locals.

Very popular gay weekly events include a Sunday tea dance at Oscar’s Cafe and Bar and a legendary Friday happy hour at Wang’s in the Desert.

Since Delilah’s closed years ago (where Studio One 11 is now) there are no full time lesbian bars in Palm Springs. But Toucans, Hunters, and Tryst are popular with women. Toucans regularly hosts early evening lesbian socials that are organized by Desert Dyners. For more information on those and other lesbianfocused events check out www. desertdyners.com.t Palm Springs official tourism website is www.VisitPalmSprings. com; look for the LGBT tab on the top of the page.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

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SF businesses

From page 14

place on the registry not only acknowledges the Roxie’s longtime contributions to San Francisco’s vibrant and often daring cinema culture, the Legacy Business Fund also gives us financial assistance in continuing our mission for years to come.”

The Legacy Business program had its origins in a 2014 report by the city’s budget and legislative analyst’s office, which showed that the closure of small businesses had reached record numbers in San Francisco.

According to the program’s website, commercial rents in most neighborhoods had risen significantly, and the report drew connections between the city’s high level of commercial evictions and skyrocketing rents. While rent control laws shield many residents from exorbi-

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MCC-SF

From page 2

years old, was filed in November.

David Papale, who heads the 150 Eureka Corporation, which paid $2.3 million for the crumbling building, didn’t immediately respond to an interview request for this story.

The apartment building was sold separately and the new owner said at the time that he didn’t plan to evict tenants.

In his message to the church community, Shively, who’s gay and became senior pastor almost three years ago, wrote, “It has been an honor to share in ministry together with you, the community of MCCSF: from street fair volunteering to disco roller rinks, from intense spiritual discussion to unbridled frivolity, from the deep anguish of loss through the deep companionship of spiritual community, in hospital rooms, offices, coffee shops, and most especially in worship with you

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Legal Notices>>

Green convicted

From page 1

Green, of San Mateo, is set to be sentenced November 1. He faces a sentence of at least 82 years to life in prison.

In a phone call last week, Amanda Buckley, 43, Warren’s mother, said she was “very happy” with the jury’s decision.

“It was a long time coming, and justice has been served,” Buckley said.

“He took my daughter’s life, and now the state’s taking his life,” she said of Green, adding that she was “proud” of San Francisco police Sergeant Jon Kasper, who led the police investigation.

“He made me a promise, and he stuck to it,” Buckley said.

About an hour after Green was convicted, one of his brothers and two women rushed into the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant Street. They didn’t stop to talk to a reporter.

Jurors weren’t available after court Thursday for comment.

In a news release from the district attorney’s office, Trevisan said, “This was a vicious attack on someone who was simply trying to deescalate the situation. The callousness of this defen-

SF police chief

From page 10

John Crew, who’s worked with the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, said the three finalists’ names should be made public when they’re sent to the mayor. Commissioner Petra DeJesus, a lesbian, said that was “a wonderful idea.”

After the meeting, DeJesus said she’d raise the idea with the rest of the commission. Even though there’s likely to be pushback from the police department, “We should at least explore it,” she said.

Thursday’s session got off to a rough start.

t

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037198400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GHETTOSABERS, 1883 PALOU AVE #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DANIEL EDWARD FARR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/01/16.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037196800

Courtesy Sil Warren

Melquiesha “Mel” Warren at her college graduation in 2012.

dant was exhibited by the fact that he shot a defenseless woman in the face, and then proceeded to shoot another female victim, who was in no way threatening him, at least nine times.”

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón stated, “The jury sent a clear message with their finding of guilt on all counts. This is a dangerous individual who will spend the rest of his days behind bars. This act of violence was completely senseless.”

Burke, Green’s attorney, declined to comment.t tant rent hikes, no such laws exist for businesses. Because state law doesn’t allow restrictions on commercial leases, an alternative effort to assist the city’s legacy businesses was needed, the report concluded.

The program was introduced in two phases. The first, passed by the Board of Supervisors in March 2015, created the San Francisco Business Registry. The registry is open to businesses that are 30 years or older, have been nominated by a member of the board or mayor, and, in a hearing before the Small Business Commission, prove that they have made a significant impact on the history or culture of their neighborhood.

The second phase was Prop J, which created the Legacy Business Historic Preservation Fund, enabling members to receive business assistance grants.t three times a week.”

In their announcement of Shively’s resignation, members of the church’s board said, “We thank him for his ministry to this community, and are particularly grateful for his efforts during the time of transition from our long time location at 150 Eureka to our new home at 1300 Polk Street. We have been blessed by the creativity and passion he has shown during his nearly three year tenure as our senior pastor, and look forward to cheering him on when he is ready to share what his next endeavors will be.”

The church will mark its last Sunday with Shively September 4.

“Mark your calendars and wear your most fabulous hats to wave a fond farewell to Robert,” church leaders said. “Further details about Robert’s farewell and the next steps for our community are being confirmed and will be announced as soon as possible.”

No one responded to an email sent to the board.t After DeJesus said the cluster of people would be broken up into two groups to talk to her and Melara, people protested for about 20 minutes.

(People were not split into groups) One man said the move was “manipulative” and another person complained the meeting was “a dog and pony show.”

Melara said, “We didn’t have to do this ... I have a personal life,” and told people to stop yelling.

Police commissioners have already held meetings in other neighborhoods to gather input. The next meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

Monday, August 29, at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, 1111 Gough Street.t

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STOP & SAVE MARKET, 784 O’FARRELL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DAWLAH MUSAED ALHASHI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/27/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/29/16.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037191100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KREHBIEL CONSTRUCT, 4718 BALBOA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LAURA KREHBIEL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/29/16.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037192100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALEKSANDRA D FASHION & DESIGN, 643 SPRUCE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALEKSANDRA SOTELO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/27/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/27/16.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037188400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TERRA COTTA WARRIOR, 2555 JUDAH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JIE YANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/25/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/25/16.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037188300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MINDFUL LIVING, 2676 PINE ST #A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed AMY HEPHNER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/17/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/25/16.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037178000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DIM SUM KITCHEN INC, 2520 SAN BRUNO AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed DIM SUM KITCHEN INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/15/16.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037187600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CANTON HOUSE GOURMET, 1936 IRVING ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed K&K INVESTMENT INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/22/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/22/16.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037198300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HUNAN HOUSE, 826 WASHINGTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed WASHINGTON CAFE INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/25/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/01/16.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037195100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GOLDEN BAY INSURANCE INC., 2826 SAN BRUNO AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed GOLDEN BAY INSURANCE INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/28/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/28/16.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037192200

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037207900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ABBOTT WENDLER ARCHITECTS, 760 SOUTH VAN NESS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA. 94110.

This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed LUKE ABBOTT WENDLER & ANN ABBOTT WENDLER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/08/11.

The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/27/16.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PHYSIOROBOTICS CONSULTING, 2309 NORIEGA ST #49, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANN STERNIN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/08/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/09/16.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037193300

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037198200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DECCAN SPICE BY M&M, 1142 VALENCIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed M&M FOODS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/26/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/27/16.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FOUNDATIONS LTD, 765 GEARY ST #408, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GARLAND J. SIMPSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/01/16.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 SUMMONS SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, MONTEREY DIVISION NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: EDGAR ABRAMS, AN INDIVIDUAL; JAMES BLACK & SHIRLEY R. BLACK, AN INDIVIDUAL; MARGARET CASEY, AN INDIVIDUAL; RICHARD FIELD, AN INDIVIDUAL; LINN GASSAWAY, AN INDIVIDUAL; MARK GASSAWAY, AN INDIVIDUAL; ROSEMARY GILLIHAN, AN INDIVIDUAL; KENNETH GUERNSEY, AN INDIVIDUAL; DOE 8 MURIEL FROWENFIELD, THE TESTATE & INTESTATE SUCCESSORS OF MURIEL FROWENFIELD, BELIEVED TO BE DECEASED, AND ALL PERSONS CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, OR UNDER SUCH DECEDENT. YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: ALBERT J. DELGADO, AN INDIVIDUAL CASE NO. M122958

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037193900

Notice: You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp) your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

The name and address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, 1200 AGUAJITO RD, MONTEREY, CA 93940, MONTEREY DIVISION. The name, address, and telephone number of the plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is:

W. RANDALL SGRO, ESQ. [SBN 184306] FRUCHTER & SGRO, APC, 1623 CRAVENS AVE, TORRANCE, CA 90501; (310) 787-8446.

Date: 04/26/2013; Clerk, by C. TAYLOR, Deputy.

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037204100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SHELINA PABANI CONSULTING, 1120 RHODE ISLAND ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SHELINA PABANI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/28/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/05/16.

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037198800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CIVIC CENTER PSYCHIC, 1390 MARKET ST #2050, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BLANSY CHRISTOPHER BASTANI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/01/16.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THEA OPTOMETRIC SERVICES, 305 24TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MONICA CHERNOGUZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/27/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/27/16.

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037202500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SYNAPSE HEALTH CENTER, 3580 CALIFORNIA ST #102, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BAGHERIAN CHIROPRACTIC, INC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/01/02. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/04/16.

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037202400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE GRUBBIES, 303 SACRAMENTO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed THE GRUB-BIES CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/04/16.

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037202000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BUBBLE UP ENTERPRISES LLC; BUBBLE UP COIN-OP AND LAUNDRY; 1364 CHURCH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BUBBLE UP ENTERPRISES LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/20/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/04/16.

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037203000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE URBAN HOTEL, 507 BUSH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed 363 GRANT AVE ASSOCIATES LLC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/27/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/05/16.

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037205400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LOVE LETTER TO LENA, LLC, 1325 INDIANA ST #307, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107-3493.

This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed LOVE LETTER TO LENA, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/08/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/08/16.

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037206700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RUSTED MULE, 1217 SUTTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MIND’S EYE RESTAURANT GROUP LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/08/16.

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-16-552335

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SUITSUPPLY, 173 MAIDEN LANE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SUIT SUPPLY SAN FRANCISCO, INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/07/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/15/16.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STANZA COFFEE, 3126 16TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ARAFAT HERZALLAH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/27/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/27/16.

In the matter of the application of: GARY NOGUERA, 942 TERESITA BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner GARY NOGUERA, is requesting that the name GARY NOGUERA, be changed to HATUN NOGUERA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept.

514, Rm. 514 on the 18th of October 2016 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037178100

AUG 11, 18, 25, SEPT 01, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037192700

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Legal Notices>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-16-552291

In the matter of the application of: TAI STILLWATER-MOON & MAXINE ZYLBERBERG, 32 DEARBORN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner TAI STILLWATER-MOON & MAXINE ZYLBERBERG, is requesting that the name SIERRA ZYLBERBERG STILLWATER, be changed to CIARA ZYLBERBERG STILLWATER. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Room 514 on the 29th of September 2016 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

AUGUST 04, 11, 18, 25, 2016 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-16-552339

In the matter of the application of: QIAN WEI, 1685 CHESTNUT ST #308, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner QIAN WEI, is requesting that the name QIAN WEI, be changed to KRINA WEI TETRAULT. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Rm. 514 on the 20th of October 2016 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037217500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CALIFO ELECTRIC, 362 MOULTRIE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NIGEL ANTHONY MULLIGAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/16/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/16/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037217000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: URBAN GARDENERS, 163 HARTFORD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANTHONY CRAIG BROCK. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/16/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/16/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037216800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STARDUST TRUCKING, 785 BURROWS ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BETTY TRAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/16/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/16/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037213400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AMPED FRAMES; THE JAM BAND; 219 BRANNAN ST #75, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ERIN DAHLBECK DAVIS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/12/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037216000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NINOSKA KINNINGER INSURANCE AGENCY, 2456 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NINOSKA KINNINGER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/15/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/15/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037210700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MARS BAKING, 1903 18TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARCO RANGEL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/10/16.

The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/10/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037213300

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037205200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MADRIZ PRODUCTIONS, 7 GONZALEZ DR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALICIA MADRIZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/08/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/08/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037207000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SANKO KITCHEN ESSENTIALS, 1760 BUCHANAN ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed JPT AMERICA, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/06/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/09/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037214100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PIE, 421 BRYANT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed PAPERO INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/08/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/12/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037194600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GLOBAL YOGIS, 44 TEHAMA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed IMPULSE ANALYTICS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/21/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/28/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037208500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LUXURIOUS NAIL BOUTIQUE, 4068 FOLSOM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed THE WASHINGTON LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/15/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/09/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-036551400

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: LLOYDS LIMOUSINE SERVICE, 1770 PINE ST #401, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by MANSOUR TAVAKOLIAN. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/29/15.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037191300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAY AREA EFFICIENT MOVERS, 1238 NORTHPOINT DR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94130. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed SEID SEIDOV & DZIANIS VASILEUSKI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/26/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/26/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037209900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SHAMS STUDIO, 737 POST ST #612, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SAHAR ESLAMI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/10/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/10/16.

AUG 25, SEPT 01, 08, 15, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037224300

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Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037224500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JASON MICHAEL BERLIN, 446 OLD COUNTY RD #100-423, PACIFICA, CA 94044. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JASON MICHAEL BERLIN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/11/16.

The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/19/16.

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AUG 25, SEPT 01, 08, 15, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037218600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FAHERTY PLUMBING, 403 ALHAMBRA RD, SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94080. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DAVID FAHERTY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/19/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/19/16.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GB PRODUCTIONS; GB EVENT PRODUCTIONS; 306 #A MONTCALM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed GB EVENT PRODUCTIONS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/16/16.

AUG 25, SEPT 01, 08, 15, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037216400

AUG 25, SEPT 01, 08, 15, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037227300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SIMPLE ADVERTISING AND INTERNET DESIGN, 891 POST ST #305, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MATTHEW SHIRK. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/12/16.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JC DESIGN, 19A HOMESTEAD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JESSE TAYLOR CRAVILLION. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/16/16.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CROSTINI AND JAVA, 601 VAN NESS AVE #E3209, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed PARVUS INVESTMENTS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/23/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037200300

AUG 25, SEPT 01, 08, 15, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037222300

AUG 25, SEPT 01, 08, 15, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037217400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAY AREA GRAFFITI ABATEMENT, 1123 PACIFIC AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DENNIS DEAN KINKLE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/02/16.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NEWS UP NOW, 142 HARTFORD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GLEIDSON MARTINS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/18/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/18/16.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SOAK, 3435 24TH ST #19, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SOAK HOUSE SF1 LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/16/16.

AUG 18, 25, SEPT 01, 08, 2016

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Out &About

Fall TV

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O&A

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Vol. 46 • No. 34 • August 25-31, 2016

www.ebar.com/arts

Fall preview:

Bay Area art museums

by Sura Wood

W

hether you’re looking to journey back to 17th-century France or even further into the past with a South Asian tale older than the Bible, or are a thwarted astronaut yearning to defy gravity and rocket to the new frontier, local museums can take you there this fall. And away we go!

Seepage28>>

“Rodeo Drive #3” (1984, printed 2014), dye destruction print by Anthony Hernandez.

Courtesy the artist

: w e i v e l pr

Fal

Films

by David Lamble

S

o little time, so many new movies this fall film season. Our rundown focuses on a handful of new LGBTQ-themed films plus a smattering of work from influential filmmakers likely to qualify for the annual Oscar sweepstakes.

Julieta In Pedro Almodovar’s holiday treat opening Christmas Day, our heroine (Emma Suarez) is sharing a Madrid flat with a boyfriend. The couple is about to move to Portugal when Julieta reconnects with the best friend of her long-absent adult daughter Antia.

Heartbroken that her child, now married and living in Switzerland with three kids, has not been in touch for 12 years, Julieta cancels her trip and returns to her old apartment, hoping that Anita will know where to find her.

See page 30 >> Scene from director Pedro Almodovar’s Julieta.

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

Courtesy photo

<< Out There

22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

CHANTICLEER Bright lights, big lilies AN ORCHESTRA OF VOICES PRESENTS

DATES & TICKETS: WWW.CHANTICLEER.ORG | 415-392-4400

/lgbtsf

by Roberto Friedman

N

ovelist Tama Janowitz was the “it girl” of 1980s American popular fiction. Along with Bret Easton Ellis and Jay McInerney she was tabloid fodder, a “brat-pack lit” sensation, running with Andy Warhol and his crowd, seen at trendy art openings.

By now she’s published 10 books, but the only one of them Out There ever read was the one that made her name, Slaves of New York. That novel of decadent urban life was made into a film by no less a blue-chip art-film team than Merchant/Ivory. Soon afterward she began her slow descent into the twilight of semi-obscurity.

This month she’s published Scream – A Memoir of Glamour and Dysfunction (Dey St.), in which we learn what she got up to after leaving the big-city bright lights of NYC for the slower life of an upstate New York hamlet.

It’s an odd memoir, to be sure. For one thing, the overriding authorial tone is misanthropy. “Try as I might, for me, other human beings are a blend of pit vipers, chimpanzees, and ants, a virtually indistinguishable mass of killer shit-pickers, sniffing their fingers and raping.” Tama, tell us how you really feel.

Members of Janowitz’s inner circles, family and friends, aren’t spared her gelid eye. “I don’t know why Tolstoy said ‘All happy families are alike.’ First of all, he couldn’t have spent much time with any family or he would have found out that there is no such thing as a happy family. I have met happy families, and after a

few minutes one of them takes you off to one side to explain the real truth.”

But to her credit, Janowitz doesn’t let herself off the hook, either. “I was used to other people’s anger. There are some people on this planet who irritate others. It wasn’t intentional, but I was one of them.” The net result is that reading this hilarious but unsettling memoir, you feel you’re getting only one side of the story. We can only begin to imagine the effect Tama is having on the people she’s describing. To be fair, she seems a real piece of work.

Water music

Mad Enchantment – Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies by Ross King (Bloomsbury) is a new book dedicated to the great French artist who, in his 70s, embarked upon an ambitious and artistically radical mission: to render the world of colorful water lilies suspended in his pond in Giverny.

Monet was already a greatly revered figure in France, mostly associated with his paintings of rural landscapes and seascapes (“Rodin, seeing the ocean along the Brittany coast for the first time, exclaimed, ‘Oh, how beautiful – it’s a Monet!”). But the

t

water lily paintings were something entirely new, not just for their color, scale and sensuality, but because they verged on total abstraction. King observes: “Landscape painting had been turned on its head. There was no firm mooring for the viewer, only a vertiginous gaze into what [critic Louis] Gillet called ‘a mirror without a frame’ – a mirror that offered an inverted view of the world and the half-hidden depths beneath. The only solid forms left were the blurry clusters of water lilies with their bright pinpricks of color.

No one had ever painted this way before.” This book is an insightful look at the long gestation of these seminal works of modern art. Among other impediments to their realization was the advent of WWI. Giverny, with its idyllic gardens and watery tableaux, was not that far from the carnage and destruction of that conflagration’s Western front.

Reports of Monet’s failing health were greatly exaggerated. One critic wrote that the artist suffered from fatigue and neurasthenia. “Neurasthenia was a malady more usually associated with women, Jews, male weaklings, homosexuals, and the morally debauched.” Sounds like our kind of party, where can we sign up?

There are pages of color plates, important in an art book, and an appendix indicating where you can see a water lily painting in museums around the world, including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco have one in their collection, a Nympheas from 1914-17.

Reading Mad Enchantment made us want to see these canvases in their flowery flesh.t

Australian romance

by Brian Bromberger

T

he sweeping saga encompassing decades has largely fallen by the wayside in mainstream films, relegated to television miniseries. But there’s something thrilling about taking a two- or three-hour journey in a historical adventure so you can relive the recent past through the characters’ experiences. Neil Armfield’s Holding the Man from Australia is such a film, a breakout hit at this year’s Frameline now out on DVD from Strand Releasing. The movie follows the true 15-year love story of two high school boys from the mid-1970s to the early 90s. It’s based on Tim Conigrave’s bestselling memoir published in 1995. He finished it on his deathbed in St. Vincent’s Hospital in 1994, dying of AIDS 10 days later. It was adapted

by Tommy Murphy (also the screenwriter) for a stage play in Sydney in 2006, with productions in London’s West End and San Francisco.

Tim (Ryan Corr) and John Caleo’s (Craig Stott) romance began at age 16 at a Jesuit Catholic High School, Xavier College, in Melbourne. Tim is rehearsing for his role as Romeo in the play Romeo and Juliet and can’t seem to elicit any real emotion over Juliet’s corpse, with his teacher remarking, “You’ve lost your fiance, not your bus pass.” Then he sees John, the captain of the AFL soccer/football team, practicing, and is immediately smitten, imagining him on the slab rather than the girl, and acting passionately. Later John wakes up in a hospital after suffering a concussion from a collision on the soccer

field. Tim, whom he doesn’t really know, pays him a friendly visit, with outgoing, flamboyant Tim attracted to quiet, down-to-earth John.

John’s parents are initially grateful to Tim for drawing John out of his shell, but then John’s father (a convincing Anthony LaPaglia) finds Tim’s love letter to John. He forbids John from seeing Tim, threatening him with legal action.

Tim’s father (Guy Pearce) is a bit more understanding, but not excited about having a gay son. Meanwhile at school, their classmates vary in their reactions to the relationship.

Though that same letter discovered in school gets them into trouble, a Jesuit brother-schoolmaster is accepting. Tim and John are adamant about staying together and defy their parents, kissing through a screen window when kept apart. Tim later asks John to marry him, when such a

possibility was only a fantasy.

They go to college. Tim studies drama at the National Institute of Drama, encountering a teacher (Geoffrey Rush) who remarks, “There is not a lot of work for effeminate monkeys.” John studies to be a chiropractor. They will be involved in the early gay rights movement. Tim suggests a trial separation so they can have sex with other guys and experiment with multiple partners. Eventually they get back together in Sydney, only to discover they are both HIV+, with the adventuresome Tim wondering if he infected John. How Tim and John cope through this illness, with Tim finishing his memoir on the Italian island Lipari, will cap the conclusion of this heartbreaking movie.

Holding the Man is a grand romance, covering a period that gay men over 45 know from their own memories. It’s well-recalled through the music of the period, featuring Bronski Beat, Blondie, and Bryan Ferry. The sexual scenes are raw and honest, especially for Australia.

While both moving and passionate, the picture does have flaws. Tim and John’s relationship seems to encounter little opposition outside their families, which seems unrealistic considering the conservative Australian culture of the 1970s and 80s. While Tim is vividly drawn as a character (it’s his autobiography), John seems underdeveloped. Both actors are superb in their performances, gelling together beautifully, but in their 20s they are clearly too old to play teenagers. Finally, probably betraying its theatrical origins, See page 23 >>

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Music>>

August 25-31, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 23

Merry Merolinis

THE GREAT LGBT SCIENCE FICTION THE GREAT LGBT SCIENCE FICTION TRILOGY OF OUR TIME TRILOGY OF OUR TIME

THE OF OUR OUR TIME TIME THEGREAT GREATLGBT LGBTSCIENCE SCIENCEFICTION FICTION TRILOGY TRILOGY OF

“If you’re looking for something incredibly well-written, a Sci-Fi Kristen Loken on romance epic that delivers every front: action, love, perfect “If you’re looking for Amitai Pati and Andrew G. Manea perform “C’est toi, toilooking qu’enfi nsomething je “If you’re for something villainsdeand triumph, this is the incredibly well-written, a Sci-Fi revois, Au fond du temple saint” from Les Pêcheurs Perles

by Bizet. incredibly well-written, a Sci-Fi series you need to read.

Even romance epic that delivers onif romance epic that delivers on you’re not aaction, Sci-Fi fan (and I’m every front: love, perfect every front: action, love, perfect the evening, portrayed with hesitant

by Philip Campbell not), you will likely fall in love villains and triumph, this is the villains and triumph, this is the or aggressive fl“Alien irting and usually with Dangers”.

IEven did.” series you need to to read. if if series you need read.

Even t has been a fast and furious seaending with the woman winning the you’re notnot a Sci-Fi fanfan (and I’m you’re a Sci-Fi (and I’mRomance Reviews - Allen @ fall Sinfully Gay son for the promising young artteasing game. not), youyou will likely inin love not), will likely fall love ists of the Merola Summer Opera Returning from a big fi rst impreswith “Alien Dangers”.

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Program 2016. The Merola Grand Finale at the War Memorial Opera House last Saturday displayed the riches of a bumper crop of singers in a wonderful evening of semistaged arias, duets and ensembles.

Some of the participants will become Adler Fellows, guaranteeing future performances in supporting roles at the San Francisco Opera.

Others will return to building their careers in the US and abroad, but one thing is clear: no one who goes through the prestigious artistic boot camp will ever regret the experience.

The enthusiastic crowd at the Gala delighted in the parade of fresh-faced talent, wowed by the level of professionalism of the 23 Merolini of the 59th Season. Simply staged by director Aria Umezawa, with a sort of “scenes at a party” narrative loosely threaded through two parts, vignettes were created from a variety of operatic styles.

Tastes of bel canto and Baroque; Romantic, Modern and operetta arias from French, German, American, and Italian composers flowed easily. Economical lighting design

by Mark Hueske Thomas showed Christopher Verdosci’s flattering costumes to full effect, highlighted

by Marcelo Donari’s hair/wig and makeup design.

From the first strains of the Overture from Die Fledermaus, conductor Rory Macdonald alerted us to the beautifully prepared quality of the orchestra. The fluency of his direction elicited a rich, detailed ensemble sound. The gold curtain rose to reveal tutti Merolini in formal party attire, lifting their glasses and cheering the night.

They left the stage to soprano Shannon Jennings (Orlando, FL) for a pensive aria from Mozart’s Idomeneo, discreetly supported on fortepiano by apprentice coach Jonathan Brandani. Her darker sound and clear tone have a blooming quality that easily filled the big opera-house acoustics. She previously appeared in the Merola production of Conrad Susa’s Transformations at the much smaller San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Bright Soprano Adelaide Boedecker (Sarasota, FL) and shining tenor Isaac Frishman (Omaha, NE) were up next in a duet from Donizetti’s Linda di Chamounix. They charmingly set the mood for most of the male/female encounters of

<<

Holding the Man

From page 22

the dialogue sometimes has a stilted quality, as if the actors were reading their lines from a play. The backand-forth chronology announcing date changes by cards is tiresome.

Yet there is much to love in this intimate movie. The title, referring

sion at the Schwabacher Summer - Allen @@ Sinfully Gay Romance - Conservatory, Allen Sinfully Gay RomanceReviews Reviews Concert at the SF mezzo-soprano Tara Curtis (Kansas City, MO) reigned from center stage as Cassandre in Les Troyens by BerIf you’re looking for something incredibly well-written, a Sci-Fi romance lioz. Soprano Teresa Castillo (Denepic that delivers on every front; action, love, perfect villians, and ver, CO) and countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen (Brooklyn, NY) triumph, this is the series you need to read. Even if your’re not a Sci-Fi gave us a glimpse of sorrowful sepafan (and I’m not), you will likely fall in love with ‘Alien Dangers’. I did. ration, Cohen featuring in a scene from Gluck’s Orfeo ed Eurydice.

–Allen @ Sinfully Gay Romance Reviews His “Che faro senza Euridice?,” accompanied well on fortepiano by apprentice coach Nicolo Sbuelz, set the seal on his promise.

Soprano Chelsey Geeting (Portland, ME) had a role in Transformations and earned her solo spot with a fragrant, yearning “Elle a fui, la tourterelle!” from Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann. Mezzo-soprano Alexandra Schenck (Long Beach, CA) and tenor Amitai Pati (Auckland, New Zealand) continued in the vein of Mars vs. Venus with a funny duet from Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict. Both singers appeared in the Merola’s full staging of Cosi fan tutte at the SFCM and adapted to the bigger auditorium without a hitch.

From NY, NY, rich-toned bass Matthew Anchel, an alumnus of Transformations, brought the first Verdi of the night to glowing life with his aria from Nabucco. Tenor Boris Van Druff (Olean, NY) essayed the title role in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito with a lively, fluent rendition of “Se all’impero.”

The “drunks” at the party, bassbaritones Josh Quinn (Tampa, FL) and Nicholas Boragno (Newport Beach, CA), accompanied on fortepiano by apprentice coach John Elam, playfully bantered bro-mantically in a Rossini duet from La Cenerentola. A more triumphant kind of male bonding brought cheers when Amitai Pati returned to partner with baritone Andrew G. Manea (Troy, MI) in the thrilling duet “Au fond du temple Saint” from Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles.

The second half opened with soprano Jana McIntyre (Santa Barbara, CA) getting the best of Matthew Anchel’s sexist Osmin in Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio. A confrontation between women was powerfully conveyed by soprano Mary Evelyn Hangley (Long Beach, NY) and mezzo-soprano Taylor Raven

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See page 24 >> to an Australian football rule forbidding tackling an opponent who is not carrying the ball, is a double entendre for a social transgression, here falling in love with another man, that incurs a penalty. Holding the Man reminds us that the extraordinary time of freedom we are experiencing now came with sacrifice and grace under pressure.t

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<< TV

24 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

Fall preview, TV: Play ball!

by Victoria A. Brownworth

T

he best TV of the summer just ended, and the excitement of the new fall season entices. Rio 2016 felt like the Best Olympics Ever.

NBC’s staggered loop coverage was frustrating but did allow for seeing all the events no matter what time you tuned in.

Team USA was impressive, especially the women, who took home more medals than the men, although you wouldn’t always know this from NBC’s often 1950s-style sexist commentators, who rushed to find some man responsible for a woman’s achievement: husband, father, coach.

Our faves: swimming, diving, gymnastics, track and field. An extraordinary 17 days of true excellence. Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, Allyson Felix, Helen Maroulis and Kayla Harrison each broke Olympic records (Ledecky broke several world records, too). Simone Manuel and Michelle Carter were firsts for black women in swimming and shot put, while Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali and Kristi Castlin swept the women’s 100m hurdles, becoming the first women’s team in Olympic history to win Gold, Silver and Bronze in a single event.

We enjoyed every minute of the grace, speed and excitement of the Rio Olympics. There seemed to be no foregone conclusions (with the exception of Michael Phelps, perhaps, who is pure brilliance in the water, but even he “only” won silver once) about who would win events, which made for far more thrilling viewing.

We weren’t sure why Ryan Seacrest was featured so prominently as a host, but at least he did decent interviews with athletes, so we can’t complain. How is he not gay, again? Conversely, Bob Costas, who has a portrait in the closet somewhere as he hasn’t aged in all the years he’s been covering the Olympics, probably should give up interviewing women and people of color for all time. His interview with Simone Biles and Aly Raisman after they won gold and silver for floor was cringeworthy. He’d never have spoken to world-class male athletes like that. On a brighter note, the bits SNL’s Leslie Jones did – especially her table tennis routine with NBC’s Mary Carillo (when is she coming out?) while actual international table tennis teams were watching agog – were priceless. Kudos to NBC for using Jones so well, something SNL has yet to figure out how

to do. Pairing her with Carillo, who played foil to her antics, was genius. Jones was great with Seacrest as well. Had it not been for Ryan Lochte’s fit of bad-boy white-male privilege, it would have been a perfect Olympics for Team USA. Bravo to our stellar team, who out-medaled the world.

Women and sports is the theme of Fox’s new series Pitch, which premieres Sept.

22. We’re looking forward to this for many reasons, not just that it’s hard to come down from the Olympics. Created by Dan Fogelman (Galavant) and directed by out black director Paris Barclay, who is also president of the Directors Guild of America, Pitch stars Kylie Bunbury (Under the Dome) in the lead as Ginny Baker. The series, set in the confines of Major League Baseball, focuses on a young female pitcher who becomes the first woman to play in the league when she is chosen to play for the San Diego Padres.

Pitch continues Fox’s recent trend of centering black actors in multicultural casts, which we have wanted to see on other networks for, well, ever. Now if Ginny Baker comes out as a lesbian, this show will be pitch-perfect.

The CW is adding a new gay character to its vampire series The Originals, which debuts its fourth season next month. What’s more, you already know him from Teen Wolf, where Hawaiian actor Keahu Kahuanui played gay teen Danny Mahealani. Danny was boyfriends with Ethan (out gay actor Charlie Carver), who was a werewolf. On The Originals, Kahuanui again plays human to a non-human, as Eddie, lover of Josh (Steven Krueger), who is, yes, a vampire. As season four of the series begins, Josh is trying to heal from losing his werewolf lover, Aiden (Colin Woodell). (There’s always a lot of killing on The Originals.) Eddie will soothe Josh and viewers. These two are both so ripped and great-looking that even without a solid storyline, the eyecandy alone would make this wellworth a watch.

Ryan Murphy continues to be the most dependable of the gay showrunners: something queer for us every season. While we have to wait for 2017 for Feud on FX, starring Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, season six of American Horror Story debuts on FX Sept. 14. This is the first time the show has not debuted in October, so set the DVR. FX released a new promo (watch

it on YouTube) for season six that’s perfectly chilling. Titled Anthology, it’s a montage of previous AHS seasons: Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show and Hotel. Clearly there’s a connection among the previous seasons to the new strategically untitled one. A second trailer titled The Harvest shows a cadre of really creepy men made of hay running from a girl with a scythe.

As always, the images are haunting and beautiful. Do the trailers have anything to do with what we should expect from Murphy in season six?

Who knows. But we’ll be watching.

Many of our favorites from AHS’ ensemble cast will be back, including out gay actors Denis O’Hare, Matt Bomer and Sarah Paulson, as well as Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Evan Peters, Wes Bentley and Lady Gaga. Tantalizing.

According to her publicity and CBS, Laverne Cox is set to make some network history as the first trans actress to play a trans character, on CBS’ new drama Doubt, which stars Grey’s Anatomy alum Katherine Heigl. Cox is not a recurring or guest star like she is on Orange Is the New Black, but has third billing after Heigl and Stephen Pasquale (Six Feet Under), so she’s in the main cast. Which is, as we say now, yuuuge. Heigl plays attorney Sadie Ellis, who falls for a client, Billy (Pasquale), while defending him in a murder trial. Cox plays Cameron Wirth, who is also an attorney. Others in the cast include Elliot Gould and Dreama Walker.

As for the hype about Cox, Candis Cayne was actually the first trans woman actress to play a trans woman character, on Dirty, Sexy, Money in 2007, as we wrote at the time. But Cayne’s character, Carmelita, was recurring, not main cast, so a bit of hair-splitting here by both CBS and Cox. We want to give Cayne her due, however, because one of the groundbreaking elements of her role was she was often in bed, naked, with her paramour, Patrick (William Baldwin), who was a married politician. So Cayne’s role, despite being recurring, was yuuuge. But props to Cox, nevertheless.

Strut debuts on Oxygen Sept.

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Merola Grand Finale

From page 23

(Fayetteville, NC) in a scene from Donizetti’s Anna Bolena. There is an almost porcelain quality to Raven’s voice that intrigues. Hangley showed another side of her considerable range, after navigating the Baroque in the Schwabacher program.

Ukrainian soprano Yelena Dyacheck and tenor Brian Michael Moore (Troy, MI) took a winning turn with a scene from Flotow’s hoary operetta Martha including Dyacheck’s lovely rendition of “The Last Rose of Summer.” Wisely, they left us wanting more.

Apprentice coach Noah Palmer

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20. The reality series, executive produced by The View’s Whoopi Goldberg, follows the lives of a group of transgender models. The series features Laith De La Cruz, Dominique Jackson, Isis King, Ren Spriggs and Arisce Wanzer.

Oxygen quoted Goldberg on the show, “The models are struggling with things we can all relate to: trying to make ends meet, fighting to make a name for themselves and navigating the minefields of personal relationships. All of these struggles are amplified by the fact that they are also fighting to break down barriers and taking on the responsibility of representing the transgender community in today’s society. It’s time to separate caricature from real people, and that’s what we are doing with Strut.”

Awesome.

One trans reality series that will not be returning for a third season is Caitlyn Jenner’s I Am Cait on E! Jenner confirmed the show had been cancelled on Aug. 17 via Twitter, noting, “After 2 amazing seasons of @IAmCait, it’s time for the next adventure. Thank you E! & thank you to the best girlfriends I could ask for!” I Am Cait premiered last summer and was considered a breakthrough show because of Jenner’s name recognition. Other reality shows featuring transgender people were on the air, notably TLC’s I Am Jazz, featuring trans teen Jazz Jennings, who was already a YouTube sensation when the show began airing.

Jenner has caused significant controversy over the course of her reality series with what many consider to be outrageous political statements.

Jenner, who was “always a Republican” as she told Diane Sawyer in her coming out interview in April 2015, made anti-gay comments on Ellen DeGeneres’ show, where she clashed with the lesbian host in Sept. 2015.

On her own show as well as Ellen’s, Jenner voiced her disapproval of same-sex marriage. Initially a supporter of Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz in the presidential race, Jenner has supported Donald Trump since Cruz left the race. Jenner says Trump “would be good for women” among other stunningly wrong comments. During Pride Month Jenner asserted Trump would also be better on LGBTQ issues (!), leaving even her staunchest supporters gobsmacked.

Given the show’s ratings, it seems few will miss I Am Cait. Jenner herself is never far from the cameras as E! noted, saying Jenner would be continuing her journey on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, so no chance she will be out of the limelight any time soon.

One of the most anticipated new shows is Fox’s The Exorcist, based on the 1971 William Peter Blatty novel. The Exorcist premieres Sept.

23 and is one of several new shows based on films. (Lethal Weapon debuts on Fox Sept. 21, which will make it an odd choice of lead-in for Empire, which is in the 9 p.m.

slot on Wednesdays. Frequency on the CW, Training Day on CBS and Taken on NBC all debut later in the season.)

The trailer for The Exorcist is stunning: artful, interior, truly scary.

Oscar winner Geena Davis stars as Angela Rance, whose daughter has returned from college changed and disturbed. Angela seeks solace from her parish priest, Father Tomas Ortega, played by gorgeous Mexican singer-actor Alfonso Herrera, whose only other English-language venture was the lush, queerish Sense 8.

At first Ortega thinks Angela is mentally ill, but soon realizes there is more going on. He seeks help from another priest, Father Marcus Brennan, played by out gay English actor Ben Daniels (House of Cards).

Ortega is the “modern” priest who thinks all demons are merely metaphors and symptomatic of mental illness. But Brennan has a very different take, and of course he’s correct: evil is in the world. Just look at Trump. This show, if you like horror, and we do, will be among the very best of the new season.

Speaking of horror, A&E’s Bates Motel returns for its fifth season with a vengeance. The longest-running scripted series in A&E history, the series is going darker than ever in what may be the final season. Last week it was reported that Rihanna would assume the role of Marion Crane, the role originated by Janet Leigh in Hitchcock’s Psycho. Sweet.

Speaking of fave women of color, Alicia Keys is joining NBC’s The Voice this season, as is Miley Cyrus.

NBC aired a teaser debut episode following the closing ceremonies at the Olympics on Aug. 21, which can be watched at NBC.com if you missed it. This is the 11th season of the hit show, which always features gay and lesbian singers among the hopefuls. These two women should make it extremely fabulous. We were fortunate to have heard Keys perform at the DNC, and she is extraordinary. As for our LGBTQ ally Cyrus, at 23 she’s the youngest judge ever on The Voice. The show returns Sept. 19.

NBC’s Blindspot, exec produced by gay showrunner Greg Berlanti, is back for a second season Sept.

14. The thriller, which we loved last season, will add Archie Panjabi to the cast this season. Panjabi played the bisexual-but-mostly-lesbian sexual demon Kalinda Sharma on The Good Wife for several seasons.

Her addition to Blindspot will help staunch the pain left by the brutal exit of Marianne Jean-Baptiste in that gutting season one finale.

NBC promoed the heck out of its new dramedy This Is Us throughout the Olympics, and each new promo made us more intrigued by the show. TIU premieres Sept. 20 and focuses on a group of people who all have the same birthday and interlocking stories. Considered one of the most anticipated new shows, TIU stars singer Mandy Moore,

strongly added fortepiano to the fine pairing of Isaac Frishman and Canadian soprano Sara Cambidge (a big splash at the Schwabacher concert as Wagner’s Elsa) in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Cambidge proved ready for the big-time with her forceful Donna Anna. Tenor Kyle Van Schoonhoven (Lockport, NY) partnered Cambidge at the Schwabacher Concert as Elsa’s Lohengrin. He continued to impress with his clarion Wagnerian power in a strong hymn from Rienzi.

Long hair all up in a man-bun, bassbaritone Cody Quattlebaum (Ellicott City, MD) exploded with macho nerve in “There’s a Law” from Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti. When he literally let his hair down, shaking it like a lion, he

made the nasty aria a show-stopper.

Canadian tenor Josh Lovell proved his comic timing and ease with bel canto at the Schwabacher concert, and he got us again with his ridiculously sexy approach in a seduction scene from Rossini’s Le Comte Ory. Teresa Castillo was his target this time, and she eyed his booty-shaking, chest-baring antics with a combination of interest and disdain. She triumphed with a tier of cake in his face. They brought the house down.

The grand finale of the Grand Finale assembled all onstage for a bittersweet chorus from Die Fledermaus as tutti Merolini watched a slideshow of the season. We hope to see them again soon.t

See page 25 >>

t

Theatre>>

August 25-31, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 25

Party animal: Andrew Lippa in revue

by Richard Dodds

S

ometimes a Broadway show must die before another can be born. It’s a kind of philosophizing not usually invoked in the commercial musical theater, where that world is usually divided into the hits and flops columns. But after his musical The Wild Party failed to transfer to Broadway in 2000, and his mental and physical well-being took a hit, Andrew Lippa needed to find new ways to define success.

“It was a very big blow to me because I thought that was the end, and I didn’t know that it was actually the beginning of something,” Lippa said recently. “I have learned in my spiritual life that those kinds of deaths are the most necessary things in our lives. The great part of getting older is the letting go, because you’re aware time is more valuable. I think I’m working on more things now than I was 10 years ago.”

Since The Wild Party, Lippa, 51, has written songs for Broadway musicals based on The Addams Family and the movie Big Fish, as well as the oratorio I Am Harvey Milk, which had its debut with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus in 2013 with Lippa as the title character. A new musical based on Jules Feiffer’s illustrated book The Man in the Ceiling, which will officially debut next year in Sag Harbor, N.Y., was seen last year at TheatreWorks in its New Works Festival.

“And now here we are back at TheatreWorks in Mountain View, and I get to be celebrated for a

Kevin Berne

Broadway composer Andrew Lippa, far right, is joined by Sally Ann Triplett, Damian Humbley, and Teal Wicks in The Life of the Party, a production at TheatreWorks built from excerpts from his shows.

month for my creations,” Lippa said.

“I can’t think of a more positive or uplifting way to spend my life.”

Lippa was talking about The Life of the Party, having its U.S. debut at TheatreWorks in Mountain View.

It’s made up of songs from all the Lippa musicals mentioned above, but it’s not done in Side by Side by Lippa style. “We don’t do the songs randomly,” he said. “We do segments from the shows in characters and costumes, sort of like the Reader’s Digest versions of them. There’s just something about the way the songs connect to each other and the way the actors get to do them that you don’t need context.”

The Life of the Party was first staged in London in 2014, opening

to a slew of positive reviews despite the fact that none of Lippa’s shows has yet been produced there. It was presented by the esteemed Menier Chocolate Factory, from where the most recent Broadway revivals of A Little Night Music and La Cage aux Folles originated, and its artistic director, David Babani, is also directing the production at TheatreWorks.

And as he was in London, Lippa will be part of the four-member cast that includes Broadway veterans Sally Ann Triplett and Teal Wicks in addition to London holdover Damian Humbley. Lippa was also in the workshop of The Man in the Ceiling and will be performing again in the musical’s first full production next year in Sag Harbor.

Broadway songwriter Andrew Lippa had to go through a spiritual adjustment to right his life and career.

“Our director, David, had seen me do a concert in London a year before, and we had a what-if discussion over dinner,” Lippa said of the initial ideas for The Life of the Party.

“I said I wanted to be in it, playing the parts I would be shooting for at an audition. And I wanted to dance. That’s long been something I wanted to do, and I needed a good excuse for it, frankly.”

While Lippa has performed on and off over the years, he always chose writing over acting when decisions had to be made. But by playing Harvey Milk in his oratorio first in San Francisco and then in many other cities with gay men’s choruses, the urge to perform in his own

works began to deepen. “It felt like a really good way to get started and to get known as an actor,” he said. “But I have the luxury problem of being committed to my own work so much that I can’t commit to a long run of someone else’s show.”

His fellow performers in The Life of the Party all have considerable stage experience, and Lippa did have some anxiety about sharing the stage with them. “But then my husband said the most wonderful thing. He said, ‘There’s no reason for you to be nervous. Who’s the biggest expert on Andrew Lippa? It’s actually a bigger challenge for the other actors playing scenes with the guy who put the words in their mouths.’ But I just want to be treated as a member of the company without any other status than that.”

Lippa also brushes away any questions about what the future may hold for The Life of the Party. “I want it to sell as many tickets and be as joyfully received as possible in Mountain View,” he said. “I have learned not to live in the future tense, but enjoy the things I make in the present.”

Lippa has queried Jules Feiffer, his 87-year-old collaborator on The Man in the Ceiling, how he has managed to keep going amid the brickbats that have often enough arrived along with the accolades. “Jules looked right at me, and he said, ‘It’s very simple. Outlive the bastards.’”t The Life of the Party will run through Sept. 18 at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets are $19-$80. Call (650) 4631960 or go to theatreworks.org.

Idol comes out, and it’s beautiful

by David-Elijah Nahmod

A

merican Idol finalist David Hernandez, 33, is parlaying his TV fame into a successful singing career. Blessed with a beautiful singing voice and beautiful looks, Hernandez, who recently came out, spoke to us about his music, why coming out was important to him, and about other aspects of his life.

A native of Phoenix, Hernandez cites artists Peabo Bryson, Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder among his greatest musical influences. He also includes John Legend and Adam Levine on that list, and was thrilled to have shared the stage with them at an inaugural ball for Pres. Barack Obama. He was invited to perform at the ball by TV legend Norman Lear (All in the Family).

“It was really cool to be part of that turn in history and to be able to celebrate and be on the right side of it,” Hernandez said. “It was also incredible to sing next to two of my favorite artists, John Legend and Adam Levine.”

Hernandez expressed a great deal of fondness for TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, whose historic coming out in 1997 is credited with shifting society’s views on LGBT people and equality. “Ellen is supernice and genuine,” he said. “Meeting her and her wife Portia and their dogs was really great!”

It was on the Ellen show that Hernandez came clean about his R-rated past. After he passed the Idol auditions, he was outed as a former stripper. “I was 21-23,” Hernandez recalled of his dancing days. “It was a means to an end. I needed work. The manager of the

<<

Lavender Tube

From page 24

Milo Ventimiglia (The Whispers), Justin Harley (Mistresses), Sterling K. Brown (The People v. O.J. Simpson) and others.

club where I danced was paid $200

by Entertainment Tonight. The way it was presented, it seemed like I was trying to be sketchy. I wasn’t. It was never a shock to Idol, it had all been disclosed.”

But Hernandez has no regrets.

“People always try to tear you down.

But I’m having the last laugh because things are going really great.”

Hernandez has since used his celebrity to advocate for equality and LGBT youth, and has performed at a number of Pride events. “I work closely with HRC,” he said. “I’ve performed at around 15-20 dinners for them. They’re a great organization that fights for equal rights.”

Yet even as he supported the LGBT community, Hernandez remained in the closet until recently.

He explains why. “I had a different team behind me that was not on board with who David Hernandez was,” he said. “I was eager and had been working for many years at this career, so I was willing to let them make decisions for me, whether good or bad.”

The singer reminds us that in spite of how much things have changed, not everyone has evolved. “I started my career at a very early age, when times were extremely different, and while times changed, unfortunately the frame of mind of those executives did not,” Hernandez explains.

“In a way I find it my responsibility to tell my story because there are other kids out there that might think it’s not OK to be yourself because you won’t be successful.”

That story includes battles with depression and low self-esteem. “I was the little kid who liked choir and theater,” he said. “Growing up

in a Mexican-American family, those interests were feminine and looked down upon. I was called a faggot and a sissy so many times because I didn’t have an interest in sports like the other boys did. I felt a lot of pressure. Kids would follow

me home and try to beat me up. I felt like something was wrong with me.”

Since coming out, Hernandez’s life has been everything he’s wanted it to be. “I am doing really well,” he said. “I definitely need my alone

time to clear my head from the day.

I sometimes meditate, and I always take the time to reflect on why I am feeling the way I feel at that particular moment.”

Hernandez added that coming out ended up being good for his career. “So far the response has been nothing but positive,” he said. “It’s amazing how many doors open when you live in your own truth.

For a lot of years I was told by labels and executives that this would hurt my career. There were photo shoots that had me posed next to naked girls and Ferraris that portrayed someone I was not. Ultimately I wasn’t happy, and that music didn’t go anywhere.”

But now he’s making new music.

Hernandez’s new single “Beautiful” is up at YouTube. “It is definitely soul- and R&B-influenced,” he said.

“My voice will always have that influence. It is also very Top 40: catchy lyrics and memorable melodies. It is still evolving into its own unique sound, and as I grow, it grows with me.”

R&B greats Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Alicia Keys continue to influence Hernandez’s sound. “‘Beautiful’ is an upbeat, uplifting song. When I first heard it, I fell in love with it,” he said. An album will follow.

Hernandez wants kids and adults to know that they are not alone.

“Love yourself and be who you are unapologetically,” he said. “If you are going through dark times, I promise you will get through. Hurting yourself or others is never the way to solve your issues, and there is always help out there. You just have to ask.”t

One show that will not be returning this season is Larry Wilmore’s The Nightly Show, which steams us. Wilmore should have been the replacement for Jon Stewart at The Daily Show. We like Trevor Noah well enough, but Wilmore’s brand

of low-key, incisive political humor is about the best on the tube. It’s gutting that his show has been cancelled. Wilmore said, “Our show being cancelled means only one thing: Racism’s solved. It’s over.”

On Aug. 18, Jon Stewart dropped

by to tell Wilmore that he had achieved great things with the show, which he has. But alas, not the thing we all want to see: that a black host will be allowed to find his footing as readily as a white one. We will miss Wilmore, but hope someone else

grabs him up and showcases him elsewhere, because he is a national treasure.

So for new shows and old faves, the continued Sturm und Drang of the election season, and all things TV, you really must stay tuned.t

Adam Bouska

Singer David Hernandez: “I was the little kid who liked choir and theater.”

<< Out&About

O&A

26 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

Fogust

Thu 25

The Golden Age of Physique Photography @ GLBT History Museum

The Real Americans @ The Marsh Dan Hoyle returns with his hit solo show about the polarized sides of right and leftwing America. $25-$100. Fri 8pm & Sat 8:30pm. Extended thru Oct. 15. 1062 Valencia St. themarsh.org

Schooled @ Various Venues San Francisco Mime Troupe’s new satirical political musical comedy takes on collapsing educational system and corporate intervention.

Free/donations. Thru Sept. 5 throughout the Bay Area. sfmt.org

Showgirls! The Musical @ Victoria Theatre

by Jim Provenzano

Peaches Christ and April Kidwell star in the West Coast premiere of Bob and Tobly McSmith’s hilarious musical adaptation of the high camp film about female strippers, with musical direction

by Peter Fogel (Whoa Nellies) and choreography by Rory Davis (Baloney). $32-$45. Wed-Sat 8pm. Thru Aug. 27.

2961 16th St. www.peacheschrist.com www.showgirlsthemusical.com

W

e’re somewhere between our chilly summer and the bounty of fall arts offerings. For more events, visit us online at www.ebar.com. For nightlifery, check out On the Tab in BARtab.

Voices of the Quilt @ Custom Made Theatre

Fri 26

Arts Festival @ Yerba Buena Gardens

After Hours @ GLBT History Museum

Weekend outdoor concerts of music, dance, poetry and more, thru October.

Aug, 25: Naima Shalhoub (12:30pm).

Aug. 26, Chelle! & Friends (11am). Aug. 26: Aireene & The Itch (12:30pm). Aug. 27: Red Baraat and Non Stop Bhangra (1pm). Sept. 1: Destiny Muhammad Jazz Trio (12:30pm). Mission St. at 4th. www.ybgfestival.org

Enjoy drinks, dancing and DJed music with DJ Dreams, draghostess Dulce De Leche and drag performers. Proceeds benefit Noche de Ambiente. $10. 7pm9pm. 4127 18th St. glbthistory.org

Sat 27

Big Fish @ Spreckels Performing Arts Center, Rohnert Park

Sale of queer and sex-themed books and zines from the Center’s archives. 12pm4pm. 1349 Mission St. sexandculture.org

Fact/SF @ CounterPulse

John August and Andrew Lippa’s musical based on Daniel Wallace’s book shares the life of a traveling salesman and his son’s trek to discover the real stories behind his tales. Thru Aug. 28. 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. (707) 588-3400. www.ci.rohnert-park.ca.us/

The music icon returns for an outdoor show, with Blood Orange opening. $60. 8pm. 2001 Gayley Road, UC Berkeley campus. apeconcerts.com

Disastrous! @ Oasis Champagne White returns in D’Arcy Drollinger’s third edition of the hilarious campy action-packed drag comedy show about our hardy heroine, who’s this time in Acapulco, where espionage and earthquakes are only part of her troubles! With Matthew Martin, Adam Roy, Nancy French and other talents. $25-$35. $200 VIP tables. Thu-Sat 7pm.

Thru Sept 17. 298 11th St. sfoasis.com

The Golden Age of Physique Photography @ GLBT History Museum Collector John Fagundes shares a slideshow and talk about the beautful sexy history of male muscle imagery, censorship and gay rights. $5. 7pm9pm. Also, Stroke: From Under the Mattress to the Museum Wall, Robert W. Richards’ exhibit of gay men’s erotic magazines from the 1950s to the ‘90s. Thru Oct. 16. $5. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

City of Angels @ SF Playhouse Cy Coleman and David Zippel’s Tonywinning film noir musical is produced by the acclaimed local theatre company. $20-$125. Tue-Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Sept. 17.

Kensington Park Hotel, 2nd floor, 450 Post St. 677-9596. sfplayhouse.org

Rainbow Honor Walk Benefit @ Elbo Room Donna Sachet hosts a reception to raise funds for 24 new female subjects of the Castro Street sidewalk tribute to famous LGBT people. Enjoy nibblies, silent auction, gifts and DJed music at the former site of the historic lesbian bar Amelia’s. $20-$25. 8pm10pm. 647 Valencia St. elbo.com

Cinco y Cinco @ The Mexican Museum New exhibit of works by 10 contemporary artists from Mexico and Latin America. Thru Nov. 6. Fort Mason Center, Bldg. D, Marina Blvd. at Buchana. mexicanmuseum.org

Compton’s Cafeteria Riot Commemoration @ Boedekker Park Felicia Elizondo, Dolores Yubeta, Donna Persona, Veronika Fimbres, Sheena Rose, Queer Qumbia and notable others commemorate the historic 1966 transgender rebellion at the Tenderloin restaurant (ASL and Spanish translation). 1pm.

295 Eddy St. www.facebook.com/ events/1026200624160500/

Join the LGBT social group, and members of Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, for Jewish Heritage Night at the baseball game. $30. 5pm-7pm tailgate party. Terry Francis Blvd. www.keshetonline.org

Literary Pop @ Doc’s Lab Literature and pop culture collide, with host Wonder Dave on Loretta Lynn, Kwan Booth on Pokémon Go, Danny Thanh Nguyen on Lifetime Movies, comedian Tess Barry’s power point presentation on Mike Tyson, Shipwreck’s Amy Stephenson on Murder She Wrote, Reality TV celeb Jacob Rubin. $12. 8pm. 124 Columbus Ave. www.wonderdave.org www.docslabsf.com

Will Durst @ The Marsh The political comic’s updated solo show, Elect to Laugh: 2016, adds topical jokes about the bizarre election season. $15-$100. Tuesdays, 8pm. Extended thru Nov. 8. 1062 Valencia St. www.themarsh.org

Sun 28

Monique Jenkinson @ ODC Dance Commons

Grace Jones @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley

Mohsin Shafi @ Strut Exhibit of the artist’s multi-layered mixed media collages that depict the complicated life of being a queer Pakistani. Thru August. 470 Castro St. www.strutsf.org

SF Hiking Club @ Sculptured Beach Join GLBT hikers of the SF Hiking Club for a 14-mile hike at Point Reyes from Bear Valley over Mt. Wittenberg and down to Sculptured Beach. Carpool meets 8:15 at Safeway sign, Market & Dolores. 845-4940. sfhiking.com

The Sun Kings @ Great American Music Hall The Beatles tribute band performs classic hits by the Fab Four; Rachel Rolleri opens. $25-$30 ($50 with dinner). 8pm.

859 O’Farrell St. www.slimspresents.com

Monique Jenkinson @ ODC Dance Commons The acclaimed interdisciplinary performer (aka Fauxnique) presents a new solo work-in-progress, Delicate Material, as part of the Theater Unplugged series. $20. 6pm. 351 Shotwell St. 863-9834. odcdance.org

Mon 29 Queerest Library Ever @ SF Public Libraries

Aug. 25: Harold and Maude (7pm) and Minnie and Moskowitz (8:45).

Aug. 26: Repo Man (7pm) and Pulp Fiction (8:45). Aug. 27: Superman (Chris Reeves, 1:30, 6:45pm) and Star Trek The Motion Picture (4:15, 9:30).

Aug. 28: The Wizard of Oz (1:30, 8pm) and Gone With the Wind (3:30). Aug. 31: Noir Night with Five (6pm, 10pm) and Kiss Me Deadly (8pm). Sept. 1-5: Disney’s The Little Mermaid sing-along (Thu & Fri 7pm Sat-Mon 2:30 & 7pm). $11. 429 Castro St. castrotheatre.com

3Girls Theatre Company’s fifth annual free showcase of staged readings; works with the theme Women and the Body Politic include Tina D’Elia’s Overlooked Latin@s, about a Puerto Rican butch dyke. Thru Aug. 28. 1695 18th St. www.3girlstheatre.org

Mighty Reels @ GLBT History Museum

Group exhibit of works that question non-violent reactions to racist violence. Wed-Sat 12pm-6pm. 4005168. www.guerrerogallery.com

Amanda Apetrea & Mica Sigourney’s blend of slapstick, vaudeville, drag and ‘70s horror movies explores gender, female bodies and the male gaze. $20-$35. 8pm. Also Aug. 31 & Sept. 1 80 Turk St. counterpulse.org Bayete Ross Smith, “Lil Me Target”

San Francisco Playhouse presents Phillip Howze’s multimedia drama about a Black family and one girl’s confusion in a social media-saturated life. $30. Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. thru Sept. 24. 1127 Market St. www.sfplayhouse.org

Through Knowledge to Justice @ GLBT History Museum

I’m a Very Understanding Woman @ CounterPulse

Non Non Violence @ Guerrero Gallery

all of what you love and none of what you hate @ Strand Theatre

Special screening of rare film and video footage of disco singer Sylvester performing jazz standards, and a few popular encores. $5. 7pm-9pm. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

Tue 30 Wed 31

Wed 31

Hormel at 20: Celebrating Our Past/ Creating Our Future, a dual exhibit of archival materials celebrating two decades of the LGBTQ collections. 100 Larkin St., 3rd floor, and at the Eureka Valley Branch, 1 Jose Sarria Court at 16th St. www.sfpl.org

Through Knowledge to Justice: The Sexual World of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld (1868-1935), about the early gay rights pioneer and scholar, whose early museum was destroyed by the Nazis. Thru Nov. 23. Also, Stroke: From Under the Mattress to the Museum Wall, Robert W. Richards’ exhibit of gay men’s erotic magazines from the 1950s to the ‘90s. Thru Oct. 16. $5. 4127 18th St. glbthistory.org

New Works Festival @ Thick House

Sister Roma is the featured speaker at the series of fundraiser lecture-talks for the upcoming Sister Book, with drinks, swag bag and more. $35-$55. 7pm.

4229 18th St. www.sparkarts.com

Pop-rock singer-songwriter, and creator of the #I Respect Music campaign (fair pay for royalties), performs; Janita and Pat Morgan also play. $10 8pm. 500 4th St. www.hotelutah.com

Keshet @ Giants Game, AT&T Park

Cheap ‘N Easy Zine Sale @ Center for Sex and Culture

New & Classic Films @ Castro Theatre

Sister Speaks @ Spark Arts

Blake Morgan @ Hotel Utah

Workshop one-night staging of Ayesu Lartey’s new musical based on the lives of subjects of the AIDS Quilt. (pay what you can) 8pm. 533 Sutter St. www.custommade.org

Thu 25

Jump 2016 features new works by choreographer Katerina Wong ( Speck, with a NASA theme) and Platform v.1, a duet by Liane Burns and Charles Slender-White. $18-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm.

80 Turk St. www.counterpulse.org

Sun 28

t

Non Non Violence @ Guerrero Gallery

Thu 1 Exposure @ Tenderloin Museum Opening reception for a new group exhibit of Photographic Tales From the Tenderloin. 6pm-9pm. 398 Eddy St. 351-1912. tenderloinmuseum.org

Hillbilly Trance @ Great American Music Hall Bluegrass and Psychedelic grooves mix in a concert with The Earl Brothers, Uke-Hunt, and The P’s & Q’s $15. $40 with dinner. 8pm. 859 O’Farrell St. www.slimspresents.com

t

Film>>

August 25-31, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 27

Pursuing Nazi war criminals

by David Lamble

W

hen first we spy him, Fritz Bauer is drowning in his bathtub. He’s 54, a chain-smoker of cigars and cigarettes, married to a woman who resides in another country, with a past that includes assignations with Danish male prostitutes during his wartime exile from Hitler’s Germany.

Bauer, a regional public prosecutor, is about to launch a crusade to arrest Nazi mass-murderer Adolf Eichmann at a time. the mid-50s, when most of his colleagues turned a blind eye to their nation’s genocidal past, and to their own flirtation with brutish men bearing swastikas and shiny black boots.

This riveting history-based drama begins with a grainy B&W TV clip of the real Fritz Bauer, who reminds his viewers of the cruel paradox lying at the heart of a Germany rising from its postwar ashes. “Today Germany is proud of its economic miracle. It’s also the homeland of Goethe and Beethoven. But Germany’s also the country of Hitler, Eichmann and their many henchmen and followers. But just as the day is composed of night and day, the history of each people also has its bright and dark sides. I believe the younger generation of Germany is prepared to learn about Germany’s entire history and the whole truth, something which their parents sometimes have

difficulty confronting.”

Director Lars Kraume quickly shifts our attention across the water to a small office in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the one-time SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Adolph Eichmann is holding court for a pair of magazine-writers. Asked “what would have been the best outcome to the Jewish question,” the little man (deftly portrayed by Michael Schenk) proudly boasts, “I’ll be quite honest with you, if we had killed 10.3 million of the 10.3 million Jews, I would be satisfied and would say, ‘Good, we have destroyed an enemy.’ We would have fulfilled our mission to protect our blood, our people and the freedom of the people of the world.” The ex-bureaucrat adds, “I, too, was to blame for our failure to fully implement the elimination of our enemy as I had conceived it. I was inadequate, I’m guilty of that. In truth, I could and should have done more.” So much for Eichmann’s later protestations, “I was only following orders.”

Next we are thrust into the back seat of a Mercedes limo as Fritz Bauer is interrogated by his boss.

“There are rumors, Fritz. That you tried to kill yourself.”

“I’ve needed pills to help me to sleep for ages.”

“As your boss, I can’t ignore such rumors.”

“I have a pistol. If I decide to kill

Cohen Media Group

Burghart Klaussner as the title character, and Ronald Zehrfeld in director Lars Kraume’s The People vs. Fritz Bauer.

myself, there won’t be any rumors.”

The People vs. Fritz Bauer is dogged in its mission to let you know who its unkempt hero was, and why he risked everything, including accusations of treason, to see to it that the surviving Nazi butchers met their appropriate fates.

The real problem for Bauer was that he wanted the Nazis to be put on trial in places like Frankfurt, where the German people would witness

the process like open-heart surgery without the benefit of anesthesia.

Like most of the best exhumations of Holocaust history – Stanley Kramer/Abby Mann’s Judgment at Nuremberg comes to mind – Fritz Bauer can feel like cinema homework, the filmmakers pausing to poke you in the ribs, “Get it!” The film soars mostly in the scenes between Bauer (a magnificent Burghart Klaussner) and Bauer’s young friend/apprentice, the

junior prosecutor Karl Angermann (Ronald Zehrfeld), who, in their pursuit of justice, discover how their souls vibrate in mellow synchronicity that might have become an actual relationship. As it is, they are the film’s star-crossed lovers.

Fritz Bauer also benefits from photography (Jens Harant), costumes (Esther Waltz) and period settings (Cora Pratz) as comfortable as an old pair of slippers. Bauer’s prodigious bouts of smoking, his steel-gray Brillo-pad hair enveloped in clouds of smoke anything but secondhand, bring us back to an age when anxiety-plagued adults found nicotine an indispensible drug. The queer erotic content is less than it could have been, showing up mostly in a collection of Polaroids used to blackmail Angermann, and in a few provocative crossdressing scenes.

Like Fassbinder’s post-war trilogy (The Marriage of Maria Braun, Lola, Veronika Voss) Fritz Bauer is an engrossing full-submersion baptism into the best and worst of what it meant to be German in the awful middle years of the 20th Century.

Just when you think things couldn’t get any worse for our closeted hero, they do. Thank God, for us it’s only a movie.t Opens Friday: Landmark’s Opera Plaza in SF, Camera 3 cinema in San Jose.

<< Fine Art

28 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

<<

Fall museums

From page 21

SFMOMA’s fully packed fall schedule makes one keenly aware of the draught during their three-year absence from the scene and how great it is to have them back, with even more exhibition space than before. The benefits of that expansion are exemplified by the new Pritzker Center for Photography, which accommodates at least two shows this season. Anthony Hernandez offers a wide-ranging survey of the career of the adept American photographer, an L.A. native born to Mexican immigrants parents, who captured the desolate, sometimes tacky beauty of his hometown as he moved

seamlessly from black & white to color, 35mm to large-format cameras, and the human figure to landscapes. (Sept. 24-Jan. 1) Japanese Photography: From Postwar to Now highlights the museum’s own extensive collection, the emergence of women photographers, and the donation of over 400 works from Japan, a major contributor to amateur and fine-art photography after the war whose artists addressed contemporary culture and the country’s complicated relationship to the U.S. (Oct. 15-Mar. 12) Bruce Conner: It’s All True, a comprehensive survey dating from when Conner burst on the scene in the late 1950s until his death in 2008, assembles 250 experimental films and videos,

WINNER Best Wedding Photographer

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

assemblages, paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, photograms and performances by this remarkably versatile Bay Area figure, who pioneered the use of found footage in filmmaking and found objects in collages, practices that are now in vogue in the art world, while also being a charter member of the underground film movement. (Oct. 29-Jan. 22) William Kentridge: The Refusal of Time incorporates the South African artist’s familiar visual motifs and themes as well as film, performance and sculptural elements and moving images in a new multimedia installation exploring the history of time. (Dec. 10-April 16) YBCA Space Program: Europa New York “mad genius” sculptor Tom Sachs embarks on his third hand-made futuristic DIY mission to the far reaches of the solar system.

Its goal: the colonization of Europa, the icy sixth moon of Jupiter, which is thought to harbor evidence of life. It should be noted that Sachs, a practitioner of bricolage, is on track to beat the competition, including NASA, which won’t launch its own mission there until 2020. One of the artist’s largest and most complex installations, it takes over nearly the entire YBCA campus with a Mission Flight Control hub, a Landing Excursion Module and a Tea House, among other things. Who says you can’t go to outer space on toothpicks and a smile? (Sept. 16-Jan. 15) Anderson Collection Nick Cave One would be hard-pressed to go unnoticed in Cave’s outrageous Soundsuits, the mixed-media, delightfully outrageous, wearable full-body sculptures named for the

Rainer Wolfsberger

“Hanuman leaps across the ocean,” folio from the small Guler Ramayana series (approx. 1720). India; Pahari region, Himachal Radesh. Pigments and gold on paper. Museum Rietberg Zurich.

racket they produce when worn.

The gay Chicago-based artist, whose professional bent is fashion, scavenges through thrift shops, remnant barrels and the attics of relatives for materials to construct ornate costumes that are great equalizers, concealing all traces of race, gender and age, and giving wearers license to make a spectacle of themselves.

(Sept. 14-Aug. 14, 2017) GLBT History Museum Stroke, a show of provocative erotic-magazine illustrations that’s up through Oct. 16, will be a hard act to follow, but at least for a time, it shares space with Through Knowledge to Justice: The Sexual World of Dr. Magnus Hirschfield (1868-1935), a new historical exhibition that examines the life and legacy of a noted sexologist, thinker, and courageous advocate of

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James Prinz Photography, courtesy the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York

Soundsuit (2011) by Nick Cave: mixed media including beaded baskets, pipe cleaners, bugle beads, upholstery, metal, and mannequin.

homosexual and transgender people. Hirschfield’s organizations, the first of their kind, were banned by the Nazis; he died in exile in 1936, three years after the regime seized power. (Through Nov. 23) de Young Museum Frank Stella; A Retrospective Having merely two of Stella’s large-scale cartoonish kerpow sculptural paintings in the same room can be overpowering, so it’s something to ponder a full-on retrospective of 50 artworks by the postWWII abstract artist who stretched the boundaries of his canvases with radical shapes and materials jutting from their surfaces. Encompassing 60 years of output, it includes his shaped 3-D canvases and Moby Dick-inspired painted reliefs and sculptures. (Nov. 5-Feb. 26) Danny Lyon: Message to the Future, an expansion of a 2012 de Young show devoted to the artist, is a retrospective of the work of a leading 1960s street photographer concerned with socio-political issues and society’s marginalized. (Nov. 5-April 30) Legion of Honor The Brothers Le Nain: Painters of 17th Century France is the first major U.S. exhibition to focus on the Le Nain brothers: Antoine, Louis and Mathieu. All were unmarried, childless, and lived and worked together, giving new meaning to the idea of collaboration.

The show includes altarpieces – one traveling from Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris – devotional paintings, portraits and the compassionate images of peasants for which they’re most famous. (Oct. 8-Jan. 29) Asian Art Museum The Rama Epic: Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe showcases depictions of a sacred narrative known as the Ramayana. It chronicles the adventures of Rama, a prince; his beloved, Sita; Hanuman, their stalwart monkey companion; and last but not least, the villain of the piece: Ravana, a 10-headed lord of demons who spirits Sita away and wreaks havoc, as demons are wont to do. The 135 sculptures, paintings, puppets and masks come from far-flung locales such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, the U.S. and Europe. (Oct. 21-Jan. 15) Contemporary Jewish Museum If you haven’t been to the Stanley Kubrick exhibition yet, make a beeline there before it closes Oct. 30.

It’s the best “artist-at-work” show you’re likely to see anywhere. Next up is From Generation to Generation: Inherited Memory and Contemporary Art, which features works by 24 artists who probe memories – personal, collective, historic and imagined – that are not their own.

(Nov. 25-April 2) OMCA All Power to the People: Black Panthers at 50, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Panther Party’s founding in Oakland in 1966, views the legacy of the controversial group, the racial injustice and social activist milieu that led to their rise, and how they’re viewed today, with recollections from former Panthers, artists and members of the community. Right on! (Oct. 8-Feb. 12)t

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Film>>

August 25-31, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 29

Snakes in a field

by Erin Blackwell

G

uatemala sits south of Mexico and Belize, between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean, above Honduras and El Salvador. This most populous country of Central America comprised the ancient core of the Maya civilization. In 1519, the Spanish began their wars of conquest, first siding with the native Kaqchikel to decimate the rival Quiché, then decimating the Kaqchikel themselves. After 300 years of European rule, Guatemala became a free republic; 100 years later, the U.S. deposed the democratic leader and has been meddling ever since. Now Guatemala fights back with its first Oscar contender, Ixcanul, opening August 26 at Opera Plaza.

Ixcanul is a feature-length movie with about 30 minutes of story. This leaves plenty of room for long takes that have little to recommend them except the dusky reds, greens, and browns of a rural setting located somewhere in Guatemala near a volcano. When I heard about the volcano, I got excited, but the volcano is a dud. At its most active, it’s a slope of black ashes from which rise

piddling whiffs of white smoke or steam. Nothing to worry about. No drama there, or comedy, but some unexplained mystic forces maybe.

Debut director Jayro Bustamante focuses on a young woman with a classical pre-Columbian profile as immortalized in pottery and paint. The first time you see her face you think, wow, finally, the icon will come to life, speak, and reveal a representative Guatemalan or Kaqchikel subjectivity. No such luck. The young woman, whose coming-of-age story this is, responds limply to every force she comes in contact with. Dominating her life is her mother, who keeps house and cares for the pigs and chickens, while her father is in the field picking coffee beans off branches.

The young woman doesn’t want to marry the nice man they have picked out for her; she prefers the cute guy her own age whose plan is to escape this precarious, feudal lifestyle and try his luck in the U.S. It doesn’t end well, but it doesn’t end badly, considering where it starts. She gets pregnant, she loses the baby, she ends up marrying a third guy who’s willing to take on a wife less than virginal.

field in a sacred ritual designed to clear out the snakes by propitiating them, or fooling them, or emotional blackmailing them. Since her boyfriend knocked her up, our heroine might have special powers, so it’s up to her to save her family by walking barefoot on this barren ground. She doesn’t get far before one of the snakes bites her.

So then it’s a mad scrabble to

penetrate modern civilization long enough to get to a hospital and save her life but lose the baby, who becomes something of a McGuffin, stirring up a showdown between the mother and social services which goes nowhere, thus demonstrating the uselessness of bureaucracy, that post-colonial relic of European evil. This minor plot wrinkle seems intended to inject a jolt of relevance after neither the volcano nor the snakes pan out, but it’s too little too late and basically beside the point.

The point is to watch mother and daughter walk along a winding road balancing a load of firewood on their heads in such a stately progress you have plenty of time to wonder how much the wood weighs, how they manage to bundle it so neatly, why it stays put on that fabric disc on top of their heads, and the unlikelihood of such a practical technique ever catching on in a modern urban setting. The point is to listen to the guttural rasping of indigenous tongues and accept the impassable barrier between their lives and those of city dwellers. The point is that pigs, literally, like to get drunk and have sex.t

the voice of castrato Domenico Mustafa: “He had an exquisite high tenor voice, truly angelic, neither masculine nor feminine in type – deep, subtle, poignant in its vibrant intensity. He had certain curious notes which he called his fourth voice – strange, sexless tones, superhuman, uncanny!” Feldman follows this well-known quotation with, “So far so good, but listen to [Mustafa’s] answer,” about the 10-year practice to achieve that sound. Feldman is as big-picture as it gets, but her laserlike focus on fascinating details

(including in abundant, period visual illustrations) makes for endlessly fascinating reading.

Fourth voice; third sex. This being the 21st century, Feldman would not be allowed off the stage without her thoughts on the gender issues entailed, and she performs with no lack of head voice – if, there, more than elsewhere, to the adults-only seats. If you love singing there’s every reason to read The Castrato, principally to take up Feldman’s savory invitation to imagine how that sound would have gone out.t

Kino Lorber

Scene from director Jayro Bustamante’s Ixcanul.

It’s all very depressingly patriarchal.

The high point involves snakes in a field, who maliciously, in the timehonored way of snakes, render an already hard life impossible.

We never get to see these snakes.

After a brief glimpse of a glossy blur slithering under a leaf, it’s back to the humans, shot from the ankles up, or the waist up, as they traipse around the

The unkindest cut

by Tim Pfaff

I

f anyone actually thought about the matter, there would be fewer mysteries about the castrati. For more than two centuries, the high singing voices of pre-pubescent Italian boys were “preserved” (one could also say exploited) through castration of the youths, who happened to be in the wrong country at the wrong time. In Italy, its practitioners uniformly alleged that deliberate castration took place in the next province over, and today people don’t want to think about it either, and so respond with beside-the-point questions, mostly about the adult singers’ sexuality and gender. Were they gay? Intersex? By back-definition, they pretty much had to be genitally male, but more to the point, knowing only what we know about sexuality today, the answers to those questions must fall along the lines of “Probably some were” and “Possibly some were.” The thinking is sloppy because most people really can’t stand thinking about it.

Martha Feldman, author of The Castrato (University of California Press; just released in paperback), has thought about it, long, deeply, coolly and from all angles, as a scholar of her stature would. Her book, based on her prestigious Bloch Lectures, skirts sensationalism by letting history speak for itself, yet readers may find a good deal of it sensational. She dispenses with the clinical matter of “how was it done” (there were three ways) on page 7, which I’d quote except you’d stop reading.

The Church was behind it, of course. Papal injunctions against women onstage – women singing in public, for that matter – created

unique job opportunities for male trebles. Only the Gordian Knot of Catholic theology could come up with the particular idea of “sacrifice” that underlay and “justified” the practice. That idea accounts for one of Feldman’s densest chapters, and probably, the ghastly spectacle mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli propounded in her DVD project Sacrificium (Decca), one of her wackier ventures into a musicology that curiously lands her center stage.

Feldman’s high-mindedness, by contrast, allows her to investigate this most easily sensationalized of topics with subtlety, taste and doses of scholarship that are not suffocatingly encyclopedic. For example, we learn without being anesthetized ourselves about the realtime downsides of gelding, including but hardly limited to osteoporosis in advanced age. Late life itself was not the concern then that it is today, and many of the boys, second sons not charged with carrying on a family line, were “sacrificed” for potentially lucrative employment – though it also bears remembering that even the fiendishly rigorous training the castrati underwent was no hedge against a voice gone sour.

Some castrati did become fabulously wealthy. Pride of place goes to accounts of the vocal superstars of the Baroque, the forerunners of Pavarotti, Inc. But their special qualities also made some other castrati ideal husbands (pets, really) for certain strata of aristocratic women. Feldman is not insensible to those who, for whatever reason, may also have been consigned to lowly church jobs outside the musical capitals, and worse.

Lucky as we are to live in an age with an abundance of countertenors, among them now some “sopranists,” their sound is not the castrato’s – a grim irony, as many of the specialist music directors that prompted their spawn are returning to the hiring of women with low voices in their place.

But Feldman rightly focuses on the castrato voice, specifically its sound, unknowable as that is, since the only surviving recordings are of latevintage castrati, and those at an advanced age. “Most of what we know about castrato voices is how little we know,” Feldman begins her chapter “Red Hot Voice.” But one of the true uses of scholarship is the making of educated guesses, and Feldman’s are as educated as they get.

It’s not news that castrato

voices, at their best, were powerful and robust and bore almost no resemblance to the female voice.

Feldman’s chapter on the evidence, of all kinds, finds her at her best. A sample of her writing at its typically pungent is her declaration that “Use of voce di petto (chest voice), voce naturale (natural voice) and voce di testa (head voice) do not make up the whole marshland of naming and hearing registers.”

Her keen ear is trained on the “fourth voice,” as characterized by soprano Emma Calve describing

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30 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

<<

Fall films

From page 21

Command and Control Documentarian Robert Kenner returns with a new film sounding the alarm about how the US military is handling maintenance of our nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile.

Do Not Resist Docmaker Craig Atkinson delves into the federal government’s attempt to divert military weapons hardware to local police departments and law enforcement agencies around the country.

Filmed over two years, using the Ferguson, MO riots as a template for examining the alarming escalation of weapons and military tactics by small-town American police departments, this doc won a Tribeca Film Festival Jury Award.

Company Town Locally produced doc connects the dots on the Silicon Valley tech moguls who are exercising an ever-increasing role in shaping the future of San Francisco and the once-diverse communities within.

The Eagle Huntress Visually powerful examination of the journey of a 13-year-old nomadic Mongolian girl to become the first female eagle hunter in 12 generations of her Kazakh family. In the course of telling Aisholpan’s story, the film also addresses female empowerment, the natural world, and the onset of modernity.

Elle Dutch director Paul Verhoeven returns with Isabelle Huppert as Michele, owner of a profitable videogame company who’s equally ruthless in the bedroom and the boardroom.

After being assaulted in her home, Michele locates her attacker. The film pivots on the odd and dangerous relationship that ensues.

Blood Father Mel Gibson as an elderly action hero? The veteran Aussie film star, widely attacked for his racist and homophobic slurs, returns as an ex-con trying to save the life of his daughter, running from a murderous drug cartel. With Erin Moriarty and Diego Luna. JeanFrançois Richet directed.

Don’t Breathe Three young people invade a blind man’s home to pull off the perfect heist. Fede Alvarez directed.

Edge of Winter Joel Kinnaman plays a divorced father trying to bond with his sons on a day trip.

When they end up stranded in a cabin with a snowstorm approaching, the boys realize Dad may not be that stable. And there are guns in the house. Rob Connolly directed.

Hands of Stone Edgar Ramírez plays Roberto Durán, the Panamanian welterweight boxer who defeated Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980. Durán became famous for knowing when to say “No mas.”

Usher Raymond plays his opponent.

Written and directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz.

Courtesy photo

Isabelle Huppert in a scene from director Paul Verhoeven’s Elle.

The Intervention Clea DuVall wrote, directed and appears in this comic drama about four couples on a weekend getaway that turns out to be a covertly arranged marriage intervention. Melanie Lynskey won a special jury prize at Sundance for her performance. With Cobie Smulders, Jason Ritter, Vincent Piazza and Natasha Lyonne.

A Man Called Love From Sweden, a comedy about an odd-couple friendship. Parvaneh and her family move into a new neighborhood; she backs into Ove’s mailbox. The biggest curmudgeon on the block, Ove is a widower who likes to think he runs the condo association

and everybody’s lives. Directed by Hannes Holm.

Max Rose Jerry Lewis plays a retired jazz musician who learns, just before his wife dies, that she may have cheated on him in the 50s.

His challenge is to get through grief and betrayal at the same time. With Kevin Pollak, Kerry Bishé, Claire Bloom, and Dean Stockwell as the other man. Daniel Noah wrote and directed.

Southside with You A summer day in Chicago, 1989. A young male law-firm intern and a young, female lawyer go on their first date. It’s a daylong affair, including a museum, a movie (Do the Right Thing) and

their first kiss. They married three years later and moved into the White House 17 years after that. Parker Sawyers plays Barack Obama, and Tika Sumpter is Michelle Robinson.

Richard Tanne wrote and directed.

Me Estas Matando Susana takes us on Eligio’s quest to find and recover his wife Susana, who left Mexico City for a writer’s conference held in the chilly U.S. heartland. Roberto Sneider directs the work of José Agustín (novel) and Luis Cámara (screenplay), with Gael García Bernal, Verónica Echegui and Ashley Hinshaw.

We Don’t Belong Here A matriarch of a dysfunctional family is pushed to her tipping point by the disappearance of her son (Anton Yelchin). Peer Pedersen directs a cast that includes Catherine Keener and Kaitlyn Dever.

The Autopsy of Jane Doe Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch play father and son coroners who get a mysterious homicide victim with no apparent cause of death. André Øvredal directs a script by Ian B. Goldberg and Richard Naing.

The Runaround A workobsessed dad attempts to visit his daughter during an LA stopover, only to discover that she’s disappeared. Gavin Wiesen directs Seth W. Owen’s script, with an ensemble that includes Analeigh Tipton, J.K. Simmons, Kristen Schaal and Emile Hirsch.t

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34

Teaser Heds

39

On the Town

Shining Stars Vol. 46 • No. 34 • August 25-31, 2016

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On the Tab Aug. 25Sept. 1

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utumn alread y? pleasure at th Almost. How summer flew e nightlifer y in icon, and seve store this wee by. You’ll fly with ral cover-trib k, includ ute bands, be est form of ‘I cause imitatio ing a music missed that ba n is nd when they were together the sincer, so why not?’

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Sat 27

eatre, Berkeley

Charlie Villyard

Th Grace Jones @ Greek

Artfully arranged apps at Aaxte

by Sean Timberlake

I

n a city obsessed with food, the Castro has long stood a dining desert. While just a few blocks away the Valencia Corridor has bustled with hip bars and restaurants for decades, dining options in the neighborhood have historically been serviceable but hardly notable.

See page 32 >>

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Charlie Villyard

Cocktails underway at Aatxe.

<<

Upmarket Eats

From page 31

It’s not that the Castro has ever been devoid of good places to eat.

Longtime denizens think back fondly on places like 2223 Market, Home (and its more upscale predecessor JohnFrank), Mecca, Tallulah, and even back to ‘80s darling Ryan’s Café. But seldom has there been more than one or two open at any given time. In the past few years, however, this has been changing, at first incrementally, and now with increased momentum.

Chefs and restaurateurs are seeing

opportunity in the neighborhood, in part because of its lack of saturation. Many want to put their energy into smaller, neighborhood-focused projects, so it stands to reason they should focus on an area hungry for their offerings.

Spanish style

Perhaps the restaurant that first put the area on the culinary map was tiny Frances (3870 17th St., www.frances-sf.com). Chef Melissa Perello made her name by garnering a Michelin star while at tony downtown Fifth Floor. Branching out on her own, she opened Frances in late

Above: Canela co-owning couple Mat Schuster and Paco Cifuentes.

Below: Clamming up at Canela.

2009. “I’ve always been drawn to that area; the space itself drew me,” says Perello. “I was looking to do something neighborhood-oriented, really approachable, and low-key.”

Her star power followed her.

Frances nabbed a star in early 2010, the first (and, to date, only) in the neighborhood. “We were really lucky,” she said. “We got a lot of press right after we opened.”

The restaurant’s influence began to be felt quickly, with Starbelly (3583 16th St., www.starbellysf. com) opening a year later, and chef-owner Mat Schuster debuting Canela (2272 Market St., www.canelasf.com) in 2011, bringing Spanish cuisine to the area.

Schuster has lived around the corner with his partner, Paco Cifuentes, for some 15 years. The couple had a good relationship with the owners of Capri Restaurant, and when they vacated the space, Schuster and Cifuentes saw an opportunity.

“We explored several spots through the city, but we wanted to be in our neighborhood, in a neighborhood that we enjoyed being in ourselves,” he said.

Canela’s menu touches on a wide range of Spanish influences, with a slight emphasis on the south.

“Paco’s mom is from Còrdoba,” said Schuster. “She taught me a lot of her recipes. We’ve been going to Spain for the last 10 or 11 years; I always wanted to open a restaurant, so Spanish food was a natural fit. The south of Spain has a lot of influence from the Moors and Arabic culture.

These are flavors I was familiar with because I’m Jewish, and a lot of those Middle Eastern flavors are in Jewish cooking.”

Bringing Spanish cuisine to the neighborhood wasn’t a slam dunk.

“The Castro has a strong will to support casual dining, comfort food and more quick service style,” said Schuster. “We knew what the neigh-

Charlie Villyard

Above: Entrance to the Swedish American Hall; Aaxte is located next door. Below: Aatxe chefs.

borhood was, what did well there, so we knew it was going to be a partial challenge to get folks to come there for dinner. Maybe they don’t want to see naked people walking by or they don’t want to see bar crowds.

For those of us who live here, we know it doesn’t matter, but for many folks even in SF it’s not their idea of a typical dining destination. But it’s been changing.”

Bring me the Aatxe

Indeed, it has changed enough to allow a second Spanish concept, Aatxe (2174 Market St., aatxesf. com), blossom in the newly renovated Swedish-American Hall under chef-owner Ryan Pollnow.

“I knew I wanted to be somewhere that was neighborhood driven, someplace outside the Financial District or other commercial neighborhoods,” said Pollnow. “In scouting other neighborhoods, the Mission is almost oversaturated.“

When the Swedish-American Hall’s landlord, Enrique Landa, approached Ne Timeas Group to take over Cafe du Nord and the space formerly housing the cafe Cortado and an adjacent office, Pollnow’s nascent business plan was a fit.

“After we toured the building, we all came away with the same reaction: Wow, this is an amazing opportunity. The apartments across the street had just filled 80% occupancy; another will have a couple hundred units. About 1200 units will go up within a few years. I wanted Aatxe to be a neighborhood restaurant. We would get into that neighborhood before it developed into a bigger residential neighborhood in San Francisco.”

In fact, the upzoning and redevelopment of the flatiron corners along Market Street are a major driver for this phenomenon. Across the street from the Swedish-American Hall, in one of the new glass and steel build-

Adeeni Design Group

The stylish dining room of Canela.

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August 25-31, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 33

Charlie Villyard

Above: Dining with a kitchen view at Aatxe. Group on Right: (clockwise from top left): Salads, cocktails, desert and bean dish, some of the yummy things available at Aaxte.

ings, sits the food hall The Myriad (2175 Market St., www.themyriad. com), which had its grand opening on July 16. Within, small businesses, mostly food-oriented, are framed in brightly colored steel frame kiosks.

“It’s designed as an incubator,” says site manager Andrew Ramsay.

“It’s hard to launch a food business especially in San Francisco. It’s

too expensive. This is an opportunity for first-time food businesses to get a start.”

The Myriad will house about 15 vendors, including the anchor tenant, Mrs. Jones, an outpost of the Nob Hill restaurant Jones. Current kiosks include Hawaiian poke, French crêpes, barbecue, coffee, a juice bar, and a fresh-baked baguette

vending machine from Le Bread Xpress (www.lebreadxpress.com), the only of its kind in the U.S. A few non-food businesses, including the new location of Church Street Flowers, are included as well.

The next installment will look at the growth of the coffee scene, as well as a look at a few of the restaurants yet to come.t

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34 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

Beautiful treasures

Donna Sachet with actor John Stamos, who attended Sunday’s a Drag at The Starlight Room.

by Donna Sachet

G

et ready, because after what seemed like a relatively relaxed period of time, our calendar suddenly filled to overflowing with community events, charitable fundraisers, and crowd-pleasing performances; you can read all about it right here.

After an absence of some months, we returned to Feinstein’s at Hotel Nikko three times this month, each time reminded of the perfection of this cabaret venue. We saw Leanne Borghesi in her saucy, personal show, Sharon McNight and Meg McKay in a 50th anniversary of the music of Mame, and an in-

timate evening with Carly Ozard.

Yes, live musical performance is alive and well in San Francisco and we encourage you to get out there and support these hard-working and tremendously talented singers.

Another opportunity to hear wonderful singing was Night Ministry’s Seventh Annual Cabaret at St. Aidan’s Church on Friday, August 12. We enjoyed both live singing and talented lip-synching from several church members and various members of the Imperial Court, including Empresses Alexis Miranda and Galilea, Emperor John Weber, Grand Duchess Davida Ashton, BeBe Sweetbriar, Vanessa Bousay, and the en-

semble Singers of the Street. Money raised that night will help support the important work of the Night Ministers, reaching out to those less fortunate, wherever they are found, at all hours of the night.

Saturday, August 13 gave us our first glimpse of the newly refurbished Herbst Theatre at GAPA’s Runway XXVIII: Intergalactic, where ten contestants vied for the titles of Mr. and Miss GAPA 2016. Although our late arrival prevented us from seeing the fantasy presentations, we were significantly amazed by the evening wear, interview, and question segments of the competition.

While some contests and pageants are barely clinging to life, this one continues to grow in attendance, participation, and enjoyment, largely because of the sense of fun throughout the evening. The judges, Carol Gillespie, Sean Howell, J.P. Mendoza, Robynn Takayama, Tita Aida, and our own Imperial representative Absolute Empress 50 Khmera Rouge, all added spice to the proceedings and emcees Sir Whitney Queers and Jezebel Patel kept the audience in stitches!

A special People’s Choice Awards segment further involved the audience and generated great enthusiasm. Although the competition was tough, the room exploded with applause as winners Jeffry Arcam and Juicy Liu were announced.

It was our great honor to attend last Tuesday’s ceremony on Treasure Island to announce the naming of a US Navy ship after Harvey Milk.

These historic events do not happen overnight, and we shared in the process that led to that ceremony. More than five years ago, the International Court Council, on which we serve, discussed several ideas to assure the proper recognition of pioneers in the LGBTQ civil rights movement.

They included a US Postage stamp

in Harvey Milk’s honor (achieved last year), a US Navy ship named after Harvey Milk, Jose Sarria placed in the California Hall of Fame, and a US Postage stamp in Bayard Rustin’s honor. Never underestimate the power of letter-writing campaigns, determined LGBTQ leaders, and excellent ideas!

The 75th Secretary of the US Navy, Ray Mabus, made the formal announcement in a speech full of inclusion and celebration. He made a point to appeal to all those who had received less than honorable discharges from the military for being homosexual to seek official reversals to remove these injustices, promising swift and equitable treatment.

Other speakers included Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, and one of two official sponsors of the ship,

Paula Neira, who had served in the Navy as a male before her transition to female.

At the Stoli-sponsored reception afterwards, we heard from San Diego City Commissioner and Queen Mother of the Americas for the International Court System Nicole Murray-Ramirez, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faucloner, California Speaker Toni Atkins, San Diego Councilman Todd Gloria, San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener, former Ambassadors James Hormel and Nancy Brinker, Stuart Milk, Anne Kronenberg, and Cleve Jones.

We were in the amiable company of New York Empress Coco LaChine and Emperors Rob Surreal and Jacques Michaels, but also had the chance to celebrate with Zoe Dunning, Linda Lee, Chris Knight, Gareth Gooch, Dave Mohr, Larry Lare Nelson, and so many friends

Jeffry Arcam

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August 25-31, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 35

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WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

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After a brief intermission, more silent auction bidding, and a brisk live auction, including a New York weekend with tickets to the Tony Awards, the show continued with Jake Simpson, Sally Struthers, Tristan Bourgade, dancers Rachel Furst and Weston Krukow, Constantine Maroulis, Donna McKechnie, personal favorite Carole Cook, Branden James with James Clark, Melinda Doolittle, and a stirring finale with the entire cast. The featured tributes to David Both photos: Gareth Gooch Bowie, Natalie Cole, Michael Jackson, and others added a touching Top: A flag color guard marches past the San Francisco Gay Men’s special significance.

Chorus at the ship-naming ceremony honoring Harvey Milk, held at After the show, the transformed Treasure Island. Bottom: Elected officials, military brass, and Green Room reopened for desserts Stuart Milk were among the dignitaries at the ship-naming and many of the cast joined the paceremony honoring Harvey Milk, held at Treasure Island. trons for photo ops and congratulations, always an incredible part of from the SF Gay Men’s Chorus who The evening began in the sprawlthe Richmond/Ermet events. Besides sang for the occasion. And yes, we ing lobby with hundreds of silent hob-nobbing with our favorite perreceived one of the official US Navy auction items, many tied to the enformers, we chatted with Program caps commemorating the day! tertainment world, and a VIP sponDirector David Galligan, REAF ExAmid all the other events, San sors’ dinner in the Green Room upecutives Ken Henderson & Joe Seiler, Francisco was taken by storm when stairs. On the affable arm of Richard Board Members Beth Schnitzer, Tony Bennett arrived for the forSablatura, we caught up with Lu Skye Paterson, Patrik Gallineaux, mal unveiling of his statue in front Conrad, Larry Horowitz, Erinand Sophie Azoaou, and Event Host of the Fairmont Hotel last Friday. A Kate Whitcomb, Derek Barnes, Doug Waggoner. This Help is on the crowd that easily numbered in the Lynn Luckow, Carol Batte, Lenny Way benefited Meals on Wheels of thousands jammed Nob Hill as the Broberg, Lawrence Wong, David San Francisco and AIDS Legal Referbells of Grace Cathedral rang, cable Grabstald, and so many others. ral Panel, reflecting REAF’s recently cars clanged, and a children’s chorus Titled On the Red Carpet: Idols & widened charitable reach, but as alsang. Local elected officials and othIcons, the first half of the show inways, “providing hope and sustaining er celebrities lauded the singer and cluded stellar performances by Paulives.” [See photos from this event on he graciously accepted all the accola West, Michael Walters (channelpage 39.] lades. Who else so aptly represents ing Dame Edna), Sony Holland, La The social whirl continues. Toour City through the iconic song, “I Toya London, Jai Rodriguez, Kimnight, Thursday, August 25, 7 PM, in Left My Heart in San Francisco?” berley Locke, Jason Brock, and the a special edition of the monthly LitIf you saw a naked statue of a natouring cast of Beautiful: The Carole erary Speakeasy at Martuni’s, a group tional politician in the Castro, we King Musical. of drag queens will be reading their had nothing to do with it, favorite passages from their fabut if you saw drag queens vorite autobiographies, books sporting dramatic hats last so bad that they’re good! HilarSaturday, we were a part of ity will ensue. that mayhem. This was the Friday, August 26, the Elbo third year anniversary of the Room becomes Amelia’s again death of Jose Sarria, Foundfor one night as the Rainbow er of the Imperial Court and Honor Walk hosts a fundcivil rights pioneer, and the raiser for those brass plaques Imperial descendants dein the Castro neighborhood scended on Twin Peaks for sidewalks, commemorating a High Tea remembrance.

LGBTQ pioneers. Twenty-four Eighteen San Francisco new names have been selected Monarchs attended in time with plaques soon to follow. for the official photo with Join us for food, drink, silent one or two others joining auction, and good company. us shortly thereafter. We are Saturday, we’ll be on the determined that the name dance floor at Locoya Hill’s and legacy of Jose Sarria will IJWFD at the Folsom Foundlive forever. ry, 1425 Folsom, starting at Guess who showed up at 10PM, with VIP Hostesses last week’s Sunday’s a Drag BeBe Sweetbriar and Sister at The Starlight Room?

Roma and featuring Mahlae John Stamos of television’s Balenciaga.

Full House and Josh Peck And on Sunday, those of Nickelodeon’s Drake & Imperials are at it again Josh! It’s always a pleasure with the Golden Gate to welcome fellow perFinale, starting at 11AM with formers and genuine celebbrunch at Lookout, followed rities to our show and they by games on Rikki Streicher had an incredible time.

Field in Colling-wood Park The Richmond/Ermet from 2-4PM and the stepAid Foundation’s 23rd andown of Mr. Golden Gate nual Help is on the Way Leandro Gonzales and Miss Steven Underhill lived up to its reputation as Golden Gate Rad Ronda the premiere cabaret show- The “glorious, glamorous” Vanessa Bousay and the crowning of the new case in the City, returning performs at Night Ministry’s Seventh Annual Golden Gates at Toad Hall to Herbst Theatre and the Cabaret at St. Aidan’s Church. from 4-8PM. Spend the day War Memorial Building with us!t last Sunday night.

<< On the Tab

36 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

t

Thu 25 Mutha Chucka and Sugah Betes read at Literary Speakeasy’s Queens Read Celebrity Autobiographies @ Martuni’s

This week’s On the Tab listings are edited for space.

For complete listings, visit www.ebar.com/bartab

Thu 25

Bulge @ Powerhouse

The Monster Show @ The Edge The weekly drag show with DJ MC2, themed nights, gogo guys and hilarious fun. $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences

Grace Towers hosts the fun sexy night. $100 cash prize for best bulge. $5-$10 benefits various local nonprofits. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. $10-$12. 6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Circle Jerk @ Nob Hill Theatre

Rock Fag @ Hole in the Wall

Porn stud Dorian Ferro leads the interactive sexy fun downstairs (before his Aug 26 & 27 stage shows with Jackson Fillmore). $10. 8pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www. thenobhilltheatre.com

Disastrous! @ Oasis Champagne White returns in D’Arcy Drollinger’s third edition of the hilarious campy action-packed drag comedy show about our hardy heroine, who’s this time in Acapulco, where espionage and earthquakes are only part of her troubles! With Matthew Martin, Adam Roy, Nancy French and other talents. $25-$35. $200 VIP tables. Thu-Sat 7pm. Thru Sept 17. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Karaoke Night @ The Stud Sing along and sing out, Louise, with hostess Sister Flora Goodthyme. 8pm2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Literary Speakeasy @ Martuni’s Queens Read Celebrity Autobiographies at the monthly reading and drinking series, with host James J. Siegel, and special guests Donna Sachet, Sugah Betes, Mutha Chucka, Shane Zaldivar and Daft-nee Gesuntheit. 7pm. 4 Valencia St.

Man Haters @ White Horse Bar, Oakland Irene Tu and Ash Fisher cohost the monthly women-friendly, queerfriendly comedy night, with Clare O’Kane, Aviva Siegel, Kristee Ono and Yuri Kagan, with dJed dancing after. $7.70-$10. 7pm. 6551 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. www.manhaters.org

Enjoy hard rock and punk music from DJ Don Baird at the wonderfully divey SoMa bar. Also Fridays. 7pm-2am. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle Music night with local and touring bands. $8. 9:30pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Disco guru DJ Bus Station John spins grooves at the intimate retro music night. No cell phones on the dance floor, please! $5. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

Fri 26

Ain’t Mama’s Drag @ Balancoire Weekly drag queen and drag king show hosted by Cruzin d’Loo. 8pm10pm. No cover. 2565 Mission St. www.balancoiresf.com

Dorian Ferro, Jackson Fillmore @ Nob Hill Theatre Two porn pups perform; solo and hot lap dances (Dorian, 8pm) and sex show duos at 10pm. $25. Also Aug. 27. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Gamer Night @ Club BnB, Oakland Join Eastbay Gaymers for video game-playing on the big screens in the spacious LGBT nightclub; monthly 1st Fridays. Board games, too. 8pm. 2120 Broadway, Oakland. www.club-bnb.com

Thu 1 The Earl Brothers headline Hillbilly Trance @ Great American Music Hall

t

On the Tab>>

August 25-31, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 37

Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland

Club Rimshot @ Club BNB, Oakland

Aug. 12- 24-Year Anniversary party, with a drag show. Enjoy Latin, hip hop and electro, plus hot gogos galore, and a big dance floor. $10-$20.

9pm-3am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. www.club21oakland.com

The weekly hip hop and R&B night.

8-$15. 9pm to 4am. 2120 Broadway.

(510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Midnight Show @ Divas Weekly drag shows at the last transgender-friendly bar in the Polk; with hosts Victoria Secret, Alexis Miranda and several performers. Also Saturdays. $10. 11pm. 1081 Polk St. www.divassf.com

Noche de Ambiente @ GLBT History Museum Enjoy drinks, nibblies, DJed grooves with a Latin flair at the fundraiser party hosted by Dulce De Leche, in the history museum. $10. 7pm-9pm. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

Rainbow Honor Walk Benefit @ Elbo Room Donna Sachet hosts a reception to raise funds for 24 newly selected female subjects of the Castro Street sidewalk tribute to famous LGBT people. Enjoy nibblies, silent auction, gifts and dJed music at the former site of the historic lesbian bar Amelia’s. $20-$25. 8pm-10pm. 647 Valencia St. www.elbo.com

Dance Party @ Port Bar, Oakland Enjoy relaxed happy hour cocktails early (open at 5pm) and later dancing in the cozy back room at the newest LGBT bar. Daily 5pm-2am. 2023 Broadway, Oakland. www.portbaroakland.com

Device @ SF Eagle Xango, Tom Ass and Jeff Johnson spin techno and hard rock at the kinky fetish night, with bondage demos by Beth BiCoastal. Wear gear, get in free before 10pm. $10. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

The saucy women’s burlesque show hosted by Dottie Lux has moved, with new acts. $10. 8pm-9:30pm. 399 9th St. Also Sunday brunch shows at PianoFight Theatre, 4pm. www.redhotsburlesque.com

Shenanigans @ Oasis The monthly dance and costume theme party goes to Camp, so haul out your Cub Scout gear. $7-$10.

10pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom.

795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Showgirls! The Musical @ Victoria Theatre Peaches Christ and April Kidwell star in the West Coast premiere of Bob and Tobly McSmith’s hilarious musical adaptation of the high camp film about female strippers, with musical direction by Peter Fogel (Whoa Nellies) and choreography by Rory Davis (Baloney). $32-$45. Wed-Sat 8pm. Thru Aug. 27. 2961 16th St. www.peacheschrist.com www.showgirlsthemusical.com

Some Thing @ The Stud Mica Sigourney and pals’ weekly offbeat drag performance night. $7.

10pm-3am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Sat 27

La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland Latin, hip hop and Electro music night.

June 11, Banda Tierra Del Sol performs live. $5-$25. 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. www.club21oakland.com

Beer Bust @ Lone Star Saloon Enjoy daytime partying with bears and cubs, plus fundraisers for the SF Fog Rugby team. 4pm-8pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle The classic leather bar’s most popular Sunday daytime event in town draws the menfolk. Beer bust donations benefit local nonprofits (Check the website for a list of recipients). 3pm6pm. Now also on Saturdays. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Grace Jones @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley

Blake Morgan @ Hotel Utah

The music icon returns for an outdoor show, with Blood Orange opening. $60.

8pm. 2001 Gayley Road, UC Berkeley campus. www.apeconcerts.com

Nitty Gritty @ Beaux

Red Hots Burlesque @ The Stud

Weekly live music shows with various acts, along with brunch buffet, bottomless Mimosas, champagne and more, at the stylish nightclub and restaurant. BeBe hosts, with live entertainment and DJ Shawn P. $15$20. 11am-3pm. After that, Femme T-Dance drag shows at 7pm, 10pm and 11pm. 2565 Mission St. at 21st.

920-0577. www.balancoiresf.com

Weekly show with soul, funk and Motown grooves hosted by Carnie Asada, with DJs Becky Knox and Pumpkin Spice. The yummy brunch menu starts at 12pm, with the show at 1:30pm. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Heklina’s weekly drag show night with different themes, always outrageously hilarious.

Aug. 27 is a Kylie Minogue tribute night. $15-$25.

10pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

ZsaZsa Lufthansa & Friends @ Martuni’s

BeBe Sweetbriar’s Brunch Revue, Femme @ Balancoire

Drag Me to Brunch @ Lookout

Mother @ Oasis

Sat 27

Sun 28

Weekly dance night with nearly naked gogo guys & gals; DJs Chad Bays, Ms. Jackson, Becky Know and Jorge T. $4. 9pm-2am.

2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Prom Night @ The Stud Martha T. Lipton and Vivvyanne ForeverMORE cohost the queer prom night (a benefit for The Stud), where tiaras and tuxes, or both, are welcome drag for any gender; with performances by Glamorama, Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, Mutha Chucka and others. $10. 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Rebel Rebel @ Bal Theatre, San Leandro Terrific local David Bowie tribute band performs. $5-$15. 8pm. 14808 East 14th St., San Leandro. (510) 614-1224. www.rebelrebeltribute.com www.baltheatre.com

Saturgay @ Qbar Stanley Frank spins house dance remixes at the intimate Castro dance bar. $3. 9pm-2am (weekly beer bust 2pm-9pm). 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

Soul Party @ Elbo Room DJs Lucky, Paul, and Phengren Osward spin 60s soul 45s. $5-$10 ($5 off in semi-formal attire). 10pm-2am. 647 Valencia St. 552-7788. www.elbo.com

The Sun Kings @ Great American Music Hall The Beatles tribute band performs classic hits by the Fab Four; Rachel Rolleri opens. $25-$30 ($50 with dinner). 8pm. 859 O’Farrell St. www.slimspresents.com

ZsaZsa Lufthansa & Friends @ Martuni’s Enjoy the cabaret show with the Ab Fab drag performer Christian Heppinstall, plus Terry McLaughlin, Lisa Appleyard, comedian Nick Leonard, magician Bradmagic and Ryan Engstrom, and a three-piece band. $10-$20. 7pm. 4 Valencia St. www.rbct.us

Pop-rock singer-songwriter, and creator of the #I Respect Music campaign (fair pay for royalties), performs; Janita and Pat Morgan also play. $10 8pm. 500 4th St. www.hotelutah.com

BLUF @ SF Eagle Breeches, Leather, Uniform Fanclub monthly meet-up at the famed leather bar, with Hot Boots and Bay Area Cigar Buddies. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Cognitive Dissonance @ The Stud DJ Kit’s dance night with delicious food. 7pm-12am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Domingo De Escandal @ Club OMG Weekly Latin night with drag shows hosted by Vicky Jimenez and DJ Luis.

7pm-2am. 43 6th St. clubomgsf.com

Mad Magda’s 25th @ Oasis Reunion of regulars and fans of the Russian Tea Room. 3pm-7pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. sfoasis.com

Revel @ SF Eagle Fundraiser for Groundswell Institute, with faerie fun, dancing and cabaret, DJs Steve Fabus, Sergio Fedasz, and Joe Prince Wolfe. $10. 7pm-11pm. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Sunday’s a Drag @ Starlight Room Donna Sachet hosts the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show, now celebrating its tenth anniversary. $45.

11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square.

395-8595. www.starlightroomsf.com

Sunday Brunch @ Thee Parkside Bottomless Mimosas until 3pm at the fun rock-punk club. 1600 17th St. 2521330. www.theeparkside.com

Under the Golden Gate @ the Cinch DJ Dank and Maria Konner cohost a fun kiki, with DJ Sergio Fedasz, Ferosha Titties, two drag shows (5pm & 7pm), drinks special and the KikiCam. 4pm-8pm. 1723 Polk St. www.underthegoldengate.com www.cinchsf.com

Mon 29

Epic Karaoke @ White Horse, Oakland Mondays and Tuesdays popular weekly sing-along night. No cover. 8:30pm1am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 6523820. www.whitehorsebar.com

Karaoke Night @ SF Eagle Sing along, with guest host Nick Radford. 8pm-12am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

See page 38 >>

ebar.com

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

38 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 25-31, 2016

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<<

On the Tab

From page 37

Mule Mondays @ Port Bar, Oakland Enjoy frosty Moscow Mule cocktails in a brassy mug, specials before 8pm.

2023 Broadway, Oakland. www.portbaroakland.com

Musical Mondays @ The Edge Sing along at the popular musical theatre night; also Wednesdays. 7pm2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing.

4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

No No Bingo @ Virgil’s Sea Room Mica Sigourney and Tom Temprano cohost the wacky weekly game night at the cool Mission bar. 8pm. 3152 Mission St. www.virgilssf.com

Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni’s Sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht.

9pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market.

Underwear Night @ 440 Strip down to your skivvies at the popular men’s night. 9pm-2am. 440 Castro St. 621-8732. the440.com

Tue 30

Bandit @ Lone Star Saloon New weekly queer event with resident DJ Justime; electro, soul, funk, house.

No cover. 9pm-1am. 1354 Harrison St. www.facebook.com/BanditPartySF www.lonestarsf.com

Gaymer Night @ Eagle Gay gaming fun on the bar’s big screen TVs. Have a nerdgasm and a beer with your pals. 8pm. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Hella Saucy @ Q Bar Queer dance party at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

High Fantasy @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Weekly drag and variety show, with live acts and lip-synching divas, plus DJed grooves. $5. Shows at 10:30pm & 12am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

Hysteria @ Martuni’s Irene Tu and Jessica Sele cohost the comedy open mic night for women and queers. No cover. 6pm-8:30pm. 4 Valencia St.

Literary Pop @ Doc’s Lab Literature and pop culture collide, with host Wonder Dave on Loretta Lynn, Kwan Booth on Pokémon Go, Danny Thanh Nguyen on Lifetime Movies, comedian Tess Barry’s power point presentation on Mike Tyson, Shipwreck’s Amy Stephenson on Murder She Wrote, Reality TV celeb Jacob Rubin. $12. 8pm. 124 Columbus Ave. wonderdave.org docslabsf.com

(415) 430-1199 Oakland:

San Jose:

www.megamates.com 18+

Wed 31

Bone @ Powerhouse Weekly punk-alternative music night hosted by Uel Renteria and Johnny Rockitt. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

B.P.M. @ Club BnB, Oakland Olga T and Shugga Shay’s weekly queer women and men’s R&B hip hop and soul night, at the club’s new location. No cover. 8pm-2am. 2120 Broadway, Oakland. www.bench-and-bar.com

Floor 21 @ Starlight Room Juanita More! presents the weekly scenic happy hour event, with host Rudy Valdez, and guest DJs. No cover, and a fantastic panoramic city view.

5pm-9pm. Sir Francis Drake Hotel, 450 Powell St. www.starlightroomsf.com

Latin Drag Night @ Club OMG

Hillbilly Trance @ Great American Music Hall

Weekly Latin night with drag shows hosted by Vicky Jimenez. 9pm-2am.

43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Bluegrass and Psychedelic grooves mix in a concert with The Earl Brothers, Uke-Hunt, and The P’s & Q’s $15. $40 with dinner. 8pm. 859 O’Farrell St. slimspresents.com

LGBT Pub Crawl @ Castro Weekly guided tour of bars. $10-$18.

Meet at Harvey Milk Plaza, 7:45pm.

Also morning historic tours on Mon, Wed, & Sat. www.wildsftours.com

Miss Kitty’s Trivia Night @ Wild Side West The weekly fun night at the Bernal Heights bar includes prizes, hosted by Kitty Tapata. No cover. 7pm-10pm.

424 Cortland St. 647-3099. www.wildsidewest.com

Open Mic/Comedy @ SF Eagle Kollin Holts hosts the weekly comedy and open mic talent night. 6pm-8pm.

398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Wooden Nickel Wednesday @ 440

The weekly themed variety cabaret showcases new and unusual talents; MC Ferosha Titties. $3-$7. Show at 11pm. 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.studsf.com

Buy a drink and get a wooden nickle good for another. 12pm2am. 440 Castro St. 621-8732. the440.com

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre Strip down as the strippers also take it all off. $20. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell.

397-6758. thenobhilltheatre.com

Thu 1

Retro Night @ 440 Castro

Tap That Ass @ SF Eagle Bartender Steve Dalton’s beer night happy hours. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Underwear Night @ Club OMG Weekly underwear night includes free clothes check, and drink specials. $4.

10pm-2am. Preceded by Open Mic Comedy, 7pm, no cover. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

To place your Personals ad, Call 415-861-5019 for more info & rates

(510) 343-1122 (408) 514-1111

Meow Mix @ The Stud

Jim Hopkins plays classic pop oldies, with vintage music videos. 9pm-2am.

44 Castro St. www.the440.com

Slave, Houseboy, Prisoner or Something More? Mike in Merced, 209-722-3026. Call Now!

Tue 30 Wonder Dave hosts Literary Pop @ Doc’s Lab

Australian Pink Floyd Show @ Fox Theatre, Oakland Enjoy a great cover band tribute to the top-selling British rock band. $40-$50 ($100 VIP). 8pm.

1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. apeconcerts.com

Karaoke Night @ The Stud Sing along and sing out, Louise, with hostess Sister Flora Goodthyme.

8pm-2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Kingdom of Sodom/Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre Strip down as the strippers also take it all off at the higly interactive sex party, with a cash bar. $20. 9pm.

729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Nap’s Karaoke @ Virgil’s Sea Room Sing out loud at the weekly least judgmental karaoke in town, hosted by the former owner of the bar. No cover. 9pm. 3152 Mission St. 8292233. www.virgilssf.com

Queer Karaoke @ Club OMG Dana hosts the weekly singing night; unleash your inner American Idol.

8pm. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Skate Night @ Church on 8 Wheels Groove on wheels at the former Sacred Heart Church-turned disco roller skate party space, hosted by John D. Miles, the “Godfather of Skate.” Also Wed, Thu, 7pm-10pm.

Sat afternoon sessions 1pm-2:30pm and 3pm-5:30pm. $10. Kids 12 and under $5. Skate rentals $5. 554 Fillmore St. at Fell. www.churchof8wheels.com Want your nightlife event listed?

Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event.

Event photos welcome.

t

Read more online at www.ebar.com

Shining Stars

August 25-31, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 39

Photos by Steven Underhill Help Is On the Way XXII @ Herbst Theatre

O

n the Red Carpet, the twenty-second edition of the starstudded music and variety show benefit for the Richmond/ Ermet Aid Foundation, wowed patrons on Sunday August 21 at The Herbst Theatre. Tributes to Stephen Sondheim, David Bowie, Prince, Carole King, and Natalie Cole were performed by Donna McKecknie, Sally Struthers, Constantine Maroulis, Kimberley Locke, La Toya London, Melinda Doolittle, Jai Rodriguez, Carole Cook, Michael Walters as Dame Edna, Branden James with James Clark, Paula West, Sony Holland, plus dancers and members of the cast of Beautiful, The Carole King Musical, and others. www.reaf.org More photo albums are on BARtab’s Facebook page, www. facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife. See more of Steven Underhill’s photos at www.StevenUnderhill.com.

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For headshots, portraits or to arrange your wedding photos

call (415) 370-7152 or visit www.StevenUnderhill.com or email stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

®

FIAT 500X.

ALL PRIDE. ZERO PREJUDICE.

34 HWY MPG

fiatusa.com Based on EPA estimated MPG. EPA EST. 31 HWY MPG on model shown. Actual results may vary. ©2016 FCA US LLC. All Rights Reserved.

FIAT is a registered trademark of FCA Group Marketing S.p.A., used under license by FCA US LLC.

JOB: 97583_CBC_LGBT Fiat_9.75x16_A TRIM: 9.75 in x 16 in

SPECS: 4C – CMYK LIVE: N/A

DATE: 03/30/2016 BLEED: N/A