May 14, 2015 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

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Vol. 45 • No. 20 • May 14-20, 2015

Castro retail strategy nears completion Rick Gerharter

Lil Miss Hot Mess, shown speaking at a news conference last fall.

Drag queens want Facebook booted from Pride

Brooklyn Witteman, right, tidies up merchandise at Local Take, a Castro shop that features Bay Areamade creations.

by David-Elijah Nahmod

by Matthew S. Bajko

he battle between Facebook and the drag and transgender communities continues amid calls for the social media giant to be barred from participating in next month’s San Francisco Pride parade. At issue is the company’s policy of using legal names instead of stage names or other names on Facebook pages. Last fall, a group of drag and trans community members, along with gay San Francisco Supervisor David Campos, met with Facebook officials but a formal agreement was not reached. The social media company did restore some drag queens’ pages that it had removed. Since then, however, drag queens and transgender people report being locked out of their Facebook pages for not using their legal or birth names. Facebook did announce 56 gender identity options last year, but anyone can still report alleged “fake” names with the click of a button. “As it stands, everyone on the site is vulnerable to the fake name reporting option and having their accounts suspended with one click,” said Sister Roma with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who had been helping people restore their suspended accounts and has been in regular contact with Facebook. “Everyone can lose contacts to their friends and families. People will lose contact with their social network, which for many people is a virtual lifeline to their well being.” Now, nearly nine months later, local drag queens have announced a June 1 protest at Facebook’s Menlo Park headquarters. Organizers are also asking the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee board and the board of Heritage of Pride in New York City to bar Facebook from participating in Pride parades in both cities. Facebook has participated in San Francisco Pride in recent years. In 2013, Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg was photographed as he rode on the company’s float. See page 9 >>

s San Francisco prepares to celebrate the annual Small Business Week, community leaders in the Castro are finalizing a retail strategy to assist with filling vacant storefronts throughout the city’s gay district. The Castro/Upper Market Community

Benefit District last summer launched the effort to create the strategy and has been working with the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association, the Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association, and the Castro Merchants group to develop it. Last fall 1,200 patron surveys were gathered, both online and at various street locations in the Castro and along upper Market

Street, to provide a better insight into who is shopping in the district and what stores people felt were missing. The final report is set to be unveiled in early June, but some preliminary results have already been shared with Castro merchants and community leaders. Of the survey respondents, 77 percent lived in San Francisco, See page 9 >>

Pink Party, Dyke March shift to earlier start Rick Gerharter

by Seth Hemmelgarn

ext month’s Pink Party in the Castro will run from 3 to 8 p.m. and Dyke March organizers are working to move up the time of their event, which typically ends in the gay neighborhood. People involved with the Saturday, June 27 street party, formerly known as Pink Saturday, are hoping to avoid the violence that’s marred recent years by starting and ending the festival much earlier. Last year’s event went from 5 to 10:30 p.m. The shift in times at Pink Party will also impact the Dyke March, the annual trek from Dolores Park to the Castro that had served as the beginning of the Pink Saturday event. Dyke March’s Elizabeth Lanyon said in an email exchange that the march would also begin and end earlier this year, although exact times have yet to be worked out. Pink Party organizers last week shared some of their other plans, including street closures, at a meeting with neighborhood merchants that sometimes grew testy. Rebecca Rolfe, executive director of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, told the Castro Merchants business group at their monthly meeting Thursday, May 7 that she and other planners are trying to make the party “safe and fun for all involved” while also making it a “stronger

LGBT community event.” Many feel that the festival has devolved from a celebration of LGBT rights into an excuse for people with little concern for gay history to get drunk and cause trouble. There’s a general belief that the crowd gets rowdier as the evening progresses. Stephen Powell, 19, was shot to death around the time the festival ended in 2010, and there have been numerous assaults and other incidents connected with the event since then. Citing concerns about violence, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, which owns the Pink Saturday name and had coordinated the event for decades, announced in February that they wouldn’t produce this year’s festival. In April, the Sisters announced they had voted not to allow the community center and its production team to use the Pink Saturday name. The center recently announced the Pink Party moniker. Rolfe said there’s “been a feeling” that Pink Saturday had become “more of a street party and less of an LGBT community event,” and she and others are “trying to shift that back.” Courtesy SF LGBT Community Center There will be a “dispersal plan” in A preliminary map of this year’s Pink Party shows place so that people actually leave the area at 8, Rolfe said. Few details have three entrance gates, four stage areas, and food trucks been determined, but Ruth McFarlane, parked on Market Street. See page 9 >>

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<< International News

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

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Feminist Cuban author visits Bay Area by Heather Cassell

uban feminist author Aida Bahr will be reading from her collection of prize-winning short stories, Ophelias/Ofelias, to Bay Area audiences at two special events. Bahr and her translator, Dick Cluster, will host readings and discussions in Berkeley and San Francisco May 18-19. Noted lesbian Cuban author Achy Obejas, who is in residence at Mills College, will join Bahr at one of the events. Bahr is special guest of Sara Cooper, Ph.D., publisher of Cubanabooks Press, which publishes Bahr’s translated and bilingual books in the United States. Cubanabooks is an independent publishing house focused on bringing expertly translated Cuban women’s literature to English and Spanish audiences in the U.S. Bahr, who Cooper said doesn’t identify her sexual orientation, was born in 1958 in Cuba. She is the author of several novels and books of short stories; screenplays for films and TV; and two books of literary

criticism, according to her biography. Her works have been translated into English and Russian and her stories have appeared in anthologies around the world. Ophelias/Ofelias, is a collection of eight stories about women pushed to the edge of insanity and the moments they break and cross over. The stories don’t take place in the more familiar world of Havana, but are set in Holguin, where Bahr was born and raised, and Santiago de Cuba, where she currently resides. “It is the most hardhitting book of short stories that I’ve had the pleasure to publish,” said Cooper, 50, who is also a professor of Spanish and multicultural and gender studies in the Department of International Languages, Literature and Culture at California State University, Chico. “She deals with so many different sorts of violence that are being experienced by women and even being perpetrated by women,” said Cooper. “She breaks into taboos that I think are really important to have out in the open in Cuba.”

Courtesy Cubanabooks

Award-winning Cuban feminist author Aida Bahr

Cooper doesn’t see Cuba being much different from the U.S. Both countries still grapple with violence against women. “Aida Bahr just exposes all that kind of life experience in a way that is shocking and thought provoking and so suspenseful that you just can’t put down the stories,” she said. Bahr was unable to comment by press time. See page 10 >>

LGBTQ nonprofits gear up for Give OUT Day compiled by Cynthia Laird

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he third annual Give OUT Day will take place Thursday, May 21 and local nonprofit LGBTQ organizations are urging supporters to make an online donation. Give OUT Day was started by Bolder Giving, a New York-based nonprofit that works to inspire people to give. For 24 hours beginning at 9 p.m. May 20, Pacific Time (midnight on the East Coast) people can donate to a wide range of groups on what has become the national LGBTQ day of giving at www. giveoutday.org. Local organizations already encouraging their supporters to participate include the Transgender Law Center, a previous top money raiser, and the San Francisco LGBT Community Center. But dozens of other agencies are expected to participate and a list can be found on the Give OUT Day site. According to Bolder Giving, last year 13,000 people helped raise over $1 million for more than 500 LGBTQ nonprofits. Organizers hope to increase participation and donations this year.

Castro CBD seeks volunteer ambassadors

The Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District is recruiting for Castro ambassadors. CBD Executive Director Andrea Aiello said it’s a fun way to volunteer for the neighborhood. The CBD provides a short training, a uniform, and all the materials people need. Applicants should commit to providing four hours a month of service, primarily on the weekends. For more information and to sign up, visit http://www.castrocbd.org/index.php/our-services/ castro-ambassador.

Benefit for dog rescue group

A 20th anniversary party for Bernal Beast pet store will benefit Wonder Dog Rescue.

The party takes place Saturday, May 16 from 2 to 7 p.m. at Wild Side West, 424 Cortland Avenue in San Francisco. Drag king Fudgie Frottage and drag thing Kitty Tapata will emcee the festivities, which will include raffle prizes, ice cream cones from Humphrey Slocombe, a canine-cutie kissing both, drink specials, and more. Admission is $5 and includes barbecue lunch or dinner. Canine companions are welcome, everyone else needs to be 21 years of age or older. Pet adoptions will be available. For more information, visit www. wonderdogrescue.org.

Community event looks at violence against sex workers

A youth-led event to fight violence against sex workers and trans women of color will take place Saturday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Center for Sex and Culture, 1349 Mission Street in San Francisco. The event is in conjunction with the San Francisco Sex Worker Film and Arts Fest. Titled “Human and Here,” the community-building event will look at the ongoing violence and the lack of response to conditions surrounding violence against sex workers and trans women, from police brutality to evictions to profiling to physical attacks, murder, and more. Among recent murder victims was San Francisco resident Taja De Jesus, a transgender woman of color. Tickets are $1-$20, although no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Passes to the sex worker festival include the event. Sponsors are the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center and Red Light Legal. For more information, visit www. sexworkerfest.com/swfest2015/ human+here.html. For information on the festival, visit https:// sexworkerfest2015.eventbrite.com.

Program on preventing elder financial abuse

The Commonwealth Club will

hold a program entitled, “Preventing Elder Financial Abuse” Wednesday, May 20. Check-in is at 4:45 p.m.; the program begins at 5:15 at the club’s offices, 555 Post Street in San Francisco. During the program, a panel of elder abuse specialists will discuss recent gains in the prevention of elder financial abuse, and offer suggestions on what people can do to protect their friends, family, and community members from falling victim to elder financial abuse and scams. Scheduled speakers include Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk, the founder of ElderConsult and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón. Helen Karr, an elder abuse specialist, will moderate. The cost is $8 for club members; $20 for non-members; and $7 for students with valid ID. To purchase tickets, call (415) 597-6705 or visit www.commonwealthclub.org.

BART director to detail agency’s SF Pride transit plans

BART board member Rebecca Saltzman will be a guest at the East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club’s meeting Wednesday, May 20 where she will provide an update on the transit agency’s service over San Francisco Pride weekend. Last year, BART came under some criticism for not having enough trains and not running them more frequently on the day of the Pride parade, which is typically one of the agency’s busiest passenger days. Saltzman, a lesbian who won her seat on the BART board two years ago, pledged to look into the matter after hearing about the problems on various social media sites. The Stonewall Dems will also hear a report on opportunities to serve on local and state commissions, elect an at-large board member, and vote on amendments to the club’s bylaws. The meeting starts with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and will be held at the South Berkeley Library, 1901 Russell Street in Berkeley. See page 10 >>

Community News>>

May 14-20, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 3

Robberies hit Duboce Triangle by Seth Hemmelgarn

handful of recent robberies have hit San Francisco’s largely LGBT Duboce Triangle neighborhood as a new police captain joins the station that will oversee the area. Current crime statistics on the neighborhood, which links the Upper Market area to the Castro district, aren’t available, but police summaries offer some details of the robberies, in which guns were used. The first incident happened at 11:30 p.m. April 25. A man was walking near 14th and Noe streets when another man “pulled out a handgun and demanded his property,” Officer Albie Esparza, a police spokesman, said in a recap. The suspect took the victim’s cellphone, and he and another suspect fled toward Castro Street. The victim, 22, wasn’t injured. The suspects were described as 20-year-old white men. The next case occurred at 4:30 a.m. April 26, at Duboce and Divisadero streets. The victim, 41, was walking down the street when the suspect approached him, wielded a handgun, and demanded his property, Esparza said. When the man refused, the suspect hit him with the gun. The victim then handed over his backpack, tablet, and phone, and the suspect got into a waiting dark BMW and fled. The victim complained of pain to his cheek and was taken to California Pacific Medical Center. The suspect was described as a black man in his 20s. The third incident was at 12:32 a.m. April 27, at Sanchez and 14th streets. Two suspects approached two men and demanded their property as one of the suspects pointed a handgun at the victims. The suspects, described

Rick Gerharter

The intersection of Church and Duboce streets, where the N-Judah and J-Church streetcars enter and exit the Market Street tunnel.

as two white men, one in his late 20s and one in his mid-20s, then fled on foot with the victims’ cellphones and wallets, Esparza said. The victims, who were 23 and 31, weren’t injured. No arrests have been reported in the incidents. Police Captain John Sanford Jr., who’s been with the police department for almost 30 years, took over Park Station in March. The station oversees part of the Duboce Triangle and Castro neighborhoods, and Sanford recently told the Castro Merchants group that his district would soon overtake Duboce Triangle completely. The neighborhood has been split among police districts, but the lines have been redrawn as part of a process that happens every 10 years. In a brief interview, Sanford indicated he wasn’t familiar with all three of the robberies, but such crimes are “always troubling.” (Sanchez and 14th, the site of one of the incidents, is still under the jurisdiction of Northern police station.) See page 10 >>

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<< Open Forum

4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

Volume 45, Number 20 May 14-20, 2015 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 • 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 Rich Stadtmiller • Steven Underhil Dallis Willard • Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Paul Berge • Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING Scott Wazlowski – 415.861.5019 ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lance Roberts NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

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News Editor • news@ebar.com Arts Editor • arts@ebar.com Out & About listings • jim@ebar.com Advertising • scott@ebar.com Letters • letters@ebar.com Published weekly. Bay Area Reporter reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement which the publisher believes is in poor taste or which advertises illegal items which might result in legal action against Bay Area Reporter. Ads will not be rejected solely on the basis of politics, philosophy, religion, race, age, or sexual orientation. Advertising rates available upon request. Our list of subscribers and advertisers is confidential and is not sold. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, and writers published herein is neither inferred nor implied. We are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork.

Anti-gay initiative can’t be defended C

alifornia Attorney General Kamala Harris has received an extension to prepare a title and summary for the so-called Sodomite Suppression Act – an initiative proposed by an Orange County attorney that calls for gays to be killed. But in a bizarre twist, the lawyer now indicates that he may bypass signature gathering and ask a judge to place it directly on the ballot. This is ridiculous. Matthew McLaughlin, the attorney who authored the proposal and paid the $200 filing fee, has so far not responded to numerous media outlets that have sought comment from him since he made headlines a few months ago with what is obviously an unconstitutional initiative. It’s par for the course for these anti-gay zealots: they often hide behind statements and proposals, and won’t respond to basic questions. McLaughlin still isn’t talking to reporters, but he apparently did write to Harris, telling her that if the AG’s office refuses to “clear the Sodomite Suppression Act for signature circulation, I may demand as remedy that it be placed on the ballot directly.” What he means is that he’ll go to court and

try to get a judge to waive the signature requirements. That seems unlikely. For one thing, the act itself is a license to commit a crime – it’s allowing for murder. For another, the proposal is, as Harris has stated, “utterly reprehensible.” In fact, as we’ve reported, Harris has already filed court documents asking a judge to quash the initiative, and McLaughlin has so far not attempted to defend the Sodomite Suppression Act in court. That’s because there is no defense of it, and McLaughlin knows it. Whether he’s really a raging homophobe or merely trying to pull a fast one on state voters, an initiative calling for citizens to kill fellow citizens because they are gay is morally wrong and, according to laws currently on the books, illegal. Out lawmakers and their straight allies in the Legislature this week condemned the initiative. Led by San Mateo Assemblyman Kevin Mullin (D) and gay Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), and joined by lesbian Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), San Francisco Democratic Assemblymen David Chiu and Phil Ting, and East Bay Assemblyman Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond), Assem-

bly Concurrent Resolution 67 was introduced. It denounces and objects to ballot initiatives that call for violence, harm, and intimidation of another person due to that person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It’s rare that the Legislature takes a position on a proposed citizen ballot measure, but McLaughlin’s Sodomite Suppression Act is so extreme and so outrageous that the lawmakers felt a public statement was necessary. We agree. McLaughlin can’t possibly defend such bigotry and hatred, and no judge should validate an initiative that does not serve the public interest, in addition to the obvious legal problems. McLaughlin’s proposal recalls another farfetched idea that a Nebraska woman recently had. Sylvia Driskell, claiming to be an ambassador of God and Jesus Christ, filed a federal lawsuit against all gays, asking a judge to decide whether homosexuality is a sin. A few days later, Judge John Gerrard dismissed her suit, saying that federal court is not a forum “for debate or discourse on theological matters.” These frivolous stunts to promote hatred must not be given any credibility. We cannot allow these bigots to abuse the initiative process and the courts.t

It’s a wonderful time to be black and gay in Hollywood by Vincent Holmes

has helped the cause. And with each new generation – that is, X and Y (Millennioday, I’m overwhelmed; yet, exals) – societal and public attitudes tocited. As a co-founder of Better ward homosexuality are becoming more Brothers Los Angeles, my organization, and more accepting. Still, there remains in conjunction with the DIVA Foundaa lingering challenge of acceptance for tion, recently presented the first-ever black LGBTQ individuals. Cultural and Truth Awards in Los Angeles to a soldreligious attitudes still make the coming out crowd at the historic Wilshire Ebell. out process hard for far too many of us. Every year during awards season (from For every example of progress, there January through March), Hollywood is are multiple instances of rejection, filled with a lot of pomp and circumscorn, and hopelessness. I believe there stance because of countless honorees, are still far too many black lesbians and nominees, and awards ceremonies, gays who choose to live their lives “off celebrating the best in show business, the radar,” so as to not invite familial Courtesy Better Brothers Los Angeles philanthropy and community service. or public scrutiny or ridicule. HomoHowever, as a black gay man, I always Co-founders of Better Brothers Los Angeles Vincent phobic words are still strewn about Holmes, left, and V. Scott Hamilton, right, with felt there was something missing – an in barbershops, family reunions, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters. awards show to honor the accomplishchurch conventions with few, if any, ments of African Americans in the rebukes. And black gay youth still diswww.BetterBrothersLA.com. LGBTQ community. It was a no brainer proportionately represent the homeless With more portrayals of lesbians and gays to partner with Tony-nominated actress Sherpopulation, while struggling to survive on the on television, the tide may be slowly changing yl Lee Ralph, the founder of the DIVA Founstreets. For those who choose to live their lives – that is, shifting the comfort level of black gay dation, who has been a tireless ally in the gay in secret; who are greeted with slurs; or find individuals to be open about who they are, and community for more than 20 years. She’s been themselves rejected and homeless because of who they love. Across network television, there’s supporting HIV/AIDS awareness efforts with their sexual orientation, the “wonderful time” been an influx of black gay characters, including the “Divas Simply Singing!” benefit, gearing of being black and gay has not manifested itJamal Lyon (Jussie Smollet) on Fox’s hit show up for its 25th anniversary this year. Congressself ... yet. Empire; Jeffrey Harrington (Gavin Houston) on woman Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and The Truth Awards were created to inspire the OWN’s The Haves and the Have Nots; Mark Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridleyand affirm these individuals. The awards were Bradley (Aaron D. Spears) on BET’s Being Mary Thomas supported the event with their presborn out of an urgent need – in a world that Jane; along with gay athlete Michael Sam on ence and generous financial support. sometimes portrays us as one dimensional – to ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and the aforeThe March 28 show was co-hosted by acshowcase examples of courage and leadership mentioned James. Netflix’s Orange Is tress Cocoa Brown (Tyler Perry’s For Better or in the black LGBTQ community. I was the New Black, not only introduced Worse) and award-winning comedian Sampson proud to see black Hollywood and its viewers to the lesbian character McCormick. McCormick recently released his its allies support in full force at the Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren (Uzo comedy album, That Bitch Better Be Funny: inaugural event, publicly embracing Aduba); but, it also upped the ante Live at the Howard Theatre, making history the dynamic sheroes and heroes of with the transgender character Soas the first openly gay comic to headline the the black LGBTQ community. The phia Burset, portrayed by Laverne historic venue in Washington, D.C. And that awards show acknowledged the Cox. Interestingly, both straight “bitch” was pretty darn funny. We all held our trails blazed and the legacies left. and gay actors are playing gay charbreath, not knowing what would come out of One by one, each honoree took the acters on television, like Spears, a faMcCormick’s mouth. Speaking to a room of stage and shared their truth about ther of five, who presented at the Truth Awards more than 200 people, he cracked, “I didn’t the trials and tribulation of being black and with his beautiful wife in tow. In Cox’s case, she know there was this many gay people in LA?” gay in America. By collectively showcasing their became the first transgender person nominated And that’s precisely the point and main accomplishments and commitment to live an for an Emmy Award, and she’s the new lead in reason for the Truth Awards: to spotlight and authentic life, we help change the conversation the CBS pilot Doubt. celebrate the many openly black gay and lesand influence how we are viewed in society. Outside of entertainment, other strides are bian brothers and sisters who are contributWe’re making strides with the increased being made like Judge Darrin Gayles, the first ing to society in various areas, including the presence of openly black LGBTQ individuals openly gay black man appointed to the fedarts, entertainment, music, science, business, in the fields of entertainment, music, sports, eral bench by President Barack Obama; Violet and health. That night, the gays came out in and other professions. With each step, we hope Palmer, the first female referee in the NBA, who numbers. And the show ran long because we to refocus the prism through which samemarried her longtime partner of more than 20 wanted to recognize so many people, includgender-loving people in the black community years last year; CNN anchor Don Lemon, who ing Lifetime Achievement Award honoree are perceived. After all, everyone should feel made his own headlines when he went public Jewel Thais-Williams, who opened Jewel’s wonderful about being who they are – whether in 2011; and of course, Jason Collins, the first Catch One Night Club in 1972, making it it’s straight, gay, bi, transgender, queer ... right? openly gay basketball player in the NBA. By any the oldest black-owned gay and lesbian club #BornThisWayt measure, this is something worth recognizing. in the country. We also presented reality star I partly attribute the success of the Truth Wendell James (Raising Whitley) with a PhiVincent Holmes is the co-founder of Better Awards to this great timing. In fact, a friend of lanthropy Award and gave a Courage Award Brothers Los Angeles, which was created mine remarked to me recently that it’s a wonto provide spaces for black gay men to to Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/ network, socialize and be better – at life, derful time to be black and gay in America. Cerproducer B. Slade, formerly known under love, and community. Find Better Brothtainly, Obama’s stance in support of same-sex the stage name Tonéx. I could go on and on ers LA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ marriage, along with legislation and court rulabout the honorees, but to read more, feel thetruthawards; or Twitter at @bbrothersla. ings that favor marriage equality and gay rights free to visit the Better Brothers LA website at

Letters >>

May 14-20, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

Castro plaza is a ‘civic embarrassment’

When originally conceived, 17th Street Plaza – now named Jane Warner Plaza – was to have been an 18-month experiment [“Changes sought for Castro plaza,” May 7]. It’s now been some six years since this “experiment” was proposed and we are no closer to its intended use than we were when this was simply the intersection of Market, Castro and 17th streets. The plaza is a failed experiment that has become a magnet for bad behavior, an eyesore to the tourists who see it as the front door to the Castro and a money pit for both the city and the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District. It’s time for our city leaders to put on their big-boy pants and admit this is not going to work and reopen it to through traffic. Such a decision would remove the plaza as a staging area for all the bad behavior and help to take some of the traffic congestion off Castro and Market streets. The untenable backup of traffic during the day is one of the unintended consequences of the Castro redesign and removal of the plaza would go a long way toward making the neighborhood friendlier to both pedestrians and motorists. In addition, we owe more to the memory of Patrol Special Officer Jane Warner than this civic embarrassment. Throwing another dollar, let alone more than 300,000 of them, at Jane Warner Plaza is not the solution and will only delay the inevitable closure of this well intended, yet impractical, plaza. Patrick Batt San Francisco

Alleged arsonist should not have bail

Regarding the recent Bay Area Reporter blog post about a former porn actor who allegedly brought a shopping cart full of garbage, lit it on fire, and put it in front of the doors at Hi Tops sports bar [“Ex-porn actor pleads not guilty in Hi Tops arson case,” April 29]: A gruesome documentary film, The UpStairs Lounge Fire, about the fatal gay bar arson several decades ago in New Orleans comes to mind. About 15-20 gay men burned to death or died later from their burns after the UpStairs Lounge fire in 1973. Extremely similar situation to this. Is he seriously going to be released if he posts $200,000 bail? I guess the lives of gay men are still not valued, even in San Francisco. If this had been an empty church, synagogue, or mosque that the man put a burning pile of trash next to, the feds would lock him up with bail not possible, but this bar still had people in it and he can post bail? The SF gay community has gotten so apathetic. Put your iPhones down and tell

Chief Greg Suhr, who uses the AIDS epidemic as an excuse for almost no gay male police officers, that you want an officer stationed there 24 hours a day until this attempted murderer is locked up or committed for good. Mark Pope San Francisco

Facebook continues to diss drag queens

Facebook continues to throw our drag queens, trans people, and others under the bus and undermine their identities and their worth as people. Picking on a segment of our community, forcing them to conform to heterosexual social norms of how to define their identity, saying that your legal name is the only “appropriate” way to define your online presence, is utter arrogant hogwash. They don’t understand how hard we have had to fight for the right to define ourselves and be accepted for who we are. By picking on some of us, they are picking on all of us. Such a company does not deserve the patronage of our community. We don’t need Facebook, we need a way to connect and communicate with one another – freely, and without censorship and manipulation. We can find an alternative or create one that is free from the constraints of a monarchical corporation that is completely out of touch, uncaring, and disrespectful of its users, their privacy, and their freedom of self-expression. I believe we can create something so much better. Facebook has no right to define who we are. It is time to take our power back into our own hands and say, “you may not define us by your narrow-minded view.” Only we can choose our true identities, and we are beautiful as we are. Philippe Gosselin San Francisco

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Screen old Jenner film at Castro Theatre

With Bruce Jenner much in the news lately, I suggest it is the perfect time for the powers that be – Peaches Christ? – to revive the 1980 Village People/Jenner musical, Can’t Stop the Music as a Castro Theatre megaevent. This film was trash (in a good way) the day it was released. I have a memory of Jenner dancing in a red, white, and blue Speedo during the locker room number. Rhoda’s TV mom, Nancy Walker, directed. I rest my case. Steve Evers San Francisco

Santa Clara County set to fund LGBTQ affairs office by Matthew S. Bajko

anta Clara County is proposing to spend $307,805 in fiscal year 2016 to create an Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Affairs. The funding would pay for two full-time positions, as well as services and supplies for the new office, which would be part of the Office of the County Executive. A manager, with a salary of $156,938, and a management analyst, with a salary of $150,867, would be hired to oversee the LGBTQ office. The county’s Board of Supervisors in March asked staff to present it with a funding and staffing plan for the LGBTQ office during the annual budget hearings that took place this week. During the Tuesday, May 12 budget workshop, the supervisors and the public had their first chance to weigh in on the funding proposal. “I am glad that my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors supported my motion to create this timely office,” stated gay Supervisor Ken Yeager. “I am also grateful to the county executive for allocating two new staff positions in his proposed budget to support its activities. There is a serious need for an Office of LGBTQ Affairs. This budget proposal provides the necessary resources to meet that need.” The board will hold its final budget hearings the week of June 15 and will vote to adopt the proposed budget, which becomes effective July 1, at its June 19 meet-

Barry Schneider Attorney at Law

Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager

ing. Once established, the LGBTQ affairs office would be only the third such entity in the country – both Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. have similar offices. Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, estimates that LGBTQ people account for 4 percent of its population, which totaled more than 1.8 million people, based on 2013 U.S. Census numbers. A Gallup survey released in March that looked at LGBT residents of the country’s top 50 metro areas found that the LGBT population in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area was 3.2 percent, or 3,368 residents age 18 and older. County officials estimate that 10

percent of homeless adults in the area are LGBT, while 29 percent of homeless youth and young adults under the age of 25 are LGBT. The new LGBTQ affairs office will be tasked with ensuring that the county’s services are tailored to meet the needs of the local LGBT community. “The LGBTQ community has traditionally been underrepresented in our government and underserved by our institutions. A recent health assessment by our public health department points out that deep disparities still exist,” stated Yeager. “Santa Clara County has launched a number of initiatives to address the needs of the LGBTQ community over the years. An Office of LGBTQ Affairs will keep these programs on track while ensuring adequate resources and collaboration across departments.”

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Leno supports Morro Bay dispensary owner

Gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) is supporting in court the owner of a now closed Morro Bay medical marijuana dispensary who is appealing his conviction on federal drug charges. Leno joined with state Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), and former state Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, to file an amicus brief with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backing Charles C. Lynch’s request for an en banc rehearing of his case. As noted in local media reports, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the San Luis Obispo See page 10 >>

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<< Business News

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

Guerneville properties refreshed ahead of summer season by Matthew S. Bajko

it was and inclusive of everybody,” said Moore, 47, who owns Moore everal gay-owned properties in Financial Advice and grew up in the California resort town of the Bay Area. Guerneville have been refreshed Moore and Poirier, 46, who met ahead of the summer season, which 10 years ago this June at the Castro officially kicks off later this month gay bar now known as QBar, went during the Memorial Day weekend. kayaking at Johnson’s during their The result is visitors will encounter first trip together to Guerneville revamped lodging on the banks of the several years ago. Russian River and several new and “He was trying to impress me with updated businesses in the heart of the how beautiful California was, and I downtown commercial district. can’t believe we are now owners of Nick Moore and Dan Poirier, a the place,” said Poirier, who moved to gay married couple from San FrancisSan Francisco from Toronto two years co, earlier this year bought Johnson’s after meeting Moore. Beach, a mainstay riverside resort that They have no plans to includes a lodge, campsite, and pubmarket Johnson’s as an lic beach, from its longtime owners. exclusively gay resort, and The sale price has not been disclosed, instead, will continue though it is reportedly less than the to be welcoming to all $2.8 million the Harris family, which visitors. Former owner operated the resort at 16241 First Clare Harris, 94, and Street for close to 50 years, had inihis wife, Carla, have tially sought when they put the nearly agreed to assist Moore 11 acre site on the market last year. and Poirier during their place to play… Since closing on the property in first summer season. March, the new owners have been opens Friday, May 15, a fab place to stay!andJohnson’s updating the lodging in the main will close for the season somehouse as well as a number of cabins time in October. Its beach, which that can be rented, but otherwise, is free for the public to access, can they plan to make few changes in accommodate upwards of 5,000 A fun place to play… how the resort operates. Its name people on a busy weekend day. will remain as is. a fab place to stay! “We are offering the same type of “We want it to be just the same as business that the Harris family has run

before,” said Poirier, who will be living onsite overseeing the business while Moore will commute back to the city during the week. “We will continue to be a family destination. We want to be inclusive to all of the community, including the gay community.” For more information about the resort, visit http://johnsonsbeach.com/.

Bank building serves as incubator

The long vacant Bank of Guerneville building, a local historic landmark, has been given new life by Bob Pullum, a gay San Francisco resident who has owned a home in the Sonoma County town since 2000. In April 2014 he purchased the Beaux Arts building, built in 1921 and located at 16290 Main Street, for $315,000 from the estate of Audrey R. Rehfeld. A fun “It was empty for almost 30 years, since the early 1980s,” said Pullum, 49, an advertising and marketing professional. Over the last year he has painstakingly restored the property – as documented on the http://russianriverbankbuilding.tumblr.com/ blog – and invited several businesses and locally-owned eateries to operate out of it. A grand opening event at the Make the newly christened Guerneville Bank Club was held Saturday, May 2. “It needs to be a space a lot of peoyour home ple can come in and enjoy,” said PulRachel lum. “I realized I just didn’t want to sweetSwann home! REALTOR®,Top Producer renovate a space and say here it is for Top 10% Citywide lease. I felt like it would be cool to have 415.225.7743 rachel@theswanngroupsf.com multiple businesses in the building.” Rachel Swann BRE License # 01860456 The 2,100 square foot space is now REALTOR®,Top Producer TheSwannGroupSF.com Top 10% Citywide home to Nimble & Finn’s ice cream, 415.225.7743 retail shop Commerce Fine Goods, rachel@theswanngroupsf.com Rachel Swann and Pullum’s Look Up art gallery. BRE License # 01860456 Rachel Swann REALTOR®,Top Producer TheSwannGroupSF.com The Russian River Historical SociREALTOR®,Top Producer Top 10% Citywide Top 10% Citywide ety, of which Pullum is a member, 415.225.7743 415.225.7743 also has an exhibit in the building. rachel@theswanngroupsf.com rachel@theswanngroupsf.com BRE License # 01860456 BRE License # 01860456 There is also Chile Pies Baking TheSwannGroupSF.com TheSwannGroupSF.com Co., a new offering from Trevor Logan, the gay owner of Chile Pies REV 2014 Rachel Castro Festival Guide ad.indd 1 9/14/14(Sweet 5:12 PM and Savory) on Church Street in San Francisco’s Castro district. “We are really looking forward to 14 Rachel Castro Festival Guide ad.indd 1 9/14/14 5:12 PM the summer up there,” said Logan, 46, who opened his third Green Chile Kitchen in Marin in late 2014. “I am moving up there for the summer and will see where I land after that.” REV 2014 Rachel Castro Festival Guide ad.indd 1 9/14/14 5:12 PM He worked with Pullum on the design of the eatery’s space in the bank building, which incorporates the former bank teller’s area as well as the original vault space. “With this beautiful remodel Bob Rachel Swann is doing, I couldn’t say no. It is fanREALTOR®,Top Producer tastic; the space is beautiful,” said Top 10% Citywide Logan, a frequent Russian River vis415.225.7743 itor since moving to San Francisco rachel@theswanngroupsf.com BRE License # 01860456 25 years ago. TheSwannGroupSF.com The nearby Pat’s Restaurant, which opened in 1940 at 16236 Main Street, is set to be remodeled later this year, are possibly in early 2016. David Blomster, a gay Guerneville resident for 13 years who owns the Studio Blomster art gallery, bought You’re invited to mix and mingle with the people who will one the business at the end of 2013. day share your permanent San Francisco address. “I always had my eye on Pat’s,” Celebration of Great Memories Wine & Cheese Open House said Blomster, who launched the Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 1 p.m. Korean dinner service called Dick Friday, July 19, 2013 2—5pm REV 2014 Rachel Castro Festival Guide ad.indd 1 9/14/14 5:12 PM Blomster’s in the space in DecemRSVP Required: (415) 752-8791 ber 2012. San Francisco Columbarium, COA 534 The restaurant, which celebrated 1 Loraine Court—San Francisco, CA 94118 San Francisco, CA 94118 its 75th anniversary in late April, Refreshments & Music will be provided. has seen its ingredients improve and menu updated slightly but otherwise has remained the same since Blomster acquired it. Please join us for the dedication of the new “I feel a responsibility to preservHarvey Milk Memorial Niche ing part of the town’s history there. at the San Francisco Columbarium. Generations of people have been coming to Pat’s and remember For more information or to RSVP, please contact it when they were children,” said Blomster, who is eying opening up a the San Francisco Columbarium at 415-752-7891. new business to cater to the new restaurants and retail offerings in town. The continuing trend of gay entrepreneurs banking on the desirability of Guerneville as a recreation

A fun place to play… a fab place to stay!

Pat Craig

Business leaders and others celebrated the opening of the Guerneville Bank Club with a ribbon cutting ceremony May 2.

A fun place to play… a fab place to stay!

Make Castro your home sweet home! Castro

Make Castro your home sweet home! Make Castro your AMake fun place to your play… Castro home sweet home! fab place to stay! home sweetahome!

REV 2014 Rachel Castro Festival Guide ad.indd 1

Jared Scherer

Members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence blessed Johnson’s Beach after the resort’s longtime owners Carla and Clare Harris, seen in the middle, sold it to San Francisco couple Nick Moore and Dan Poirier, in the middle background.

9/14/14 5:12 PM

Make Castro your home sweet home!

SAN FRANCISCO

COLUMBARIUM Meet Your Neighbors Harvey Milk

Pat Craig

The counter at Chili Pie’s Baking Company

destination and gateway to Sonoma County’s wineries is credited to Crista Luedtke, a lesbian who opened Boon Hotel and Spa seven years ago and soon followed with a similarly named restaurant. Luedtke, 41, is also a co-owner of Big Bottom Market and last fall opened El Barrio, a tequila mezcal and bourbon bar. She assisted Pullum with revamping the bank building and has been working with Johnson’s new owners on remodeling the property’s guest rooms. “The town has just come alive with all the new businesses,” said Luedtke. “It’s become a much more diverse vacation spot, what I think it was back in its heyday. It is returning to people appreciating all the things it has to offer rather than just a gay party destination.” Blomster, who worked for Luedtke at her Boon eatery and now serves with her on the board of the local chamber of commerce, said Guerneville these days attracts visitors year round, with the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve alone drawing 1 million people. “Ten years ago there wasn’t a reason for them to stop in town. Now we have restaurants, cafes, and retail. The streets are busy all the time,” he said.

Honor Roll

The Minority Corporate Coun-

sel Association named two gay attorneys to its 2015 Rising Star list, David J. Tsai, a partner at San Francisco-based Perkins Coie LLP, and Stephen Lessard, a senior associate at the New York office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Attorneys with a minimum of five years of experience in the legal profession, have shown outstanding legal achievements, and do pro bono or community service work are eligible for the honor. Tsai was credited for his work filing amicus briefs in California’s same-sex marriage litigation, while Lessard won praise for playing a key role in Orrick’s diversity and inclusion program, as well as leading the firm’s LGBT and Veterans affinity groups.t Got a tip on LGBT business news? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or e-mail m.bajko@ ebar.com.

On the web Online content this week includes the Bay Area Reporter’s online column, Political Notes; the Jock Talk column; and a story on the anti-gay “Sodomite Suppression Act.” www.ebar.com.

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<< Commentary

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

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n 2012, a transgender woman by the name of Victoria Ramirez was in the early stages of her transition. She also had a job as a bookseller at a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Irvine, California. While she had not started to live full time in her preferred gender role, she had started to take hormones, had begun to grow out her hair, and sometimes wore her nails polished while at work. Her manager spoke up, telling Ramirez that customers were complaining about Ramirez’s appearance. Further, the manager told Ramirez that theirs was a “neighborhood store,” and that Ramirez should “think of the children” who shopped there. A year later, Ramirez came out to her manager, and sought to begin to transition in the workplace. Ramirez’s manager was having none of it. Ramirez was forbidden to discuss her transition at work without a manager present, was forbidden to wear skirts, and was not allowed to use the women’s facilities. Ramirez was eventually let go for calling in sick, after Ramirez’s insistence that she was having stress-induced panic attacks due to her work environment. While Barnes & Noble’s human resources department did later tell Ramirez that what the Irvine store did was wrong, and presumably attempted to place her at a location elsewhere, she was eventually not allowed to work at another site based on an assessment by Ramirez’s former manager. Last week, Ramirez, with the help of the Transgender Law Center and

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Alexander, Krakow, and Glick LLP and the Law Offices of G. Samuel Cleaver, filed a lawsuit against the bookseller. Barnes & Noble, as you would expect, has not spoken about the case. It has, however, pointed to its track record in support of transgender employees. That support does not, apparently, extend to a manager at the Irvine location. This is the most recent in a string of similar antidiscrimination cases. At a Brooklyn location of Forever 21, sales associate Alexia Daskalakis was allegedly mocked by her employers after starting her transition in 2014. She was eventually let go without explanation. Likewise, Saks Fifth Avenue eventually settled a lawsuit after U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder issued a memo making it clear that federal Title VII protections extend to gender identity. The company had initially argued that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not cover its former employee, Leyth Jamal. Jamal was allegedly harassed in the workplace – including male co-workers who asked if she was a sex worker – and was required to present as male at the Houston, Texas location where she was employed. These cases come in the wake of steps taken by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under President Barack Obama, including lawsuits of its own to protect transgender workers Brandi Branson and Amiee Stephens in Florida and Michigan, respectively. This also follows the landmark

2012 Macy v. Holder case that first included transgender people under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A 2013 report published by the Movement Advancement Project titled “A Broken Bargain for Transgender Workers” spoke to the difficulties transgender people like myself have in the workplace. We face an unemployment rate that is twice the rate of the population as a whole, with 44 percent of transgender people being underemployed. Transgender workers are four times more likely to have a household income of less than $10,000. Meanwhile, Congress cannot pass a transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and people make up horror stories to keep us out of appropriate public accommodations. You see, those fights over transgender people in bathrooms – a topic that I am yet again going into – extends into all of these cases, as the employees were barred from gender appropriate facilities. When I transitioned, I was working at what was then Kinko’s Copies, long before FedEx made it part of its brand. While my story is nothing like what Ramirez or any others I named above faced, I can certainly empathize with the challenges behind transitioning in the workplace. My store’s owner handled my transition fairly equitably, although the store’s manager eventually forced me out while the owner was away. At that time, of course, there was no such recourse, and not an EEOC that would have interceded on my behalf if things had gone much worse. Seeing my transgender siblings have equal protection under the law is heartening. Much like Ramirez’s manager reportedly chastised her to do, I also “think of the children.” Unlike her, my thoughts are for the transgender youth who may enjoy a world where they can transition on the job with less fear of discrimination. I expect my “neighborhood store” to reflect all those in that neighborhood – and that includes transgender people like me. As I mentioned, Saks Fifth Avenue settled the case that Jamal brought against it. I expect to see the cases against Forever 21 and Barnes & Noble go down similar roads. I do worry about how things will stand after the Obama administration is over, but am heartened by the case See page 10 >>

Obituaries >> Nico de Ruijg December 29, 1943 – May 5, 2015 San Francisco lost a dedicated homeless advocate when Nico de Ruijg died May 5, 2015 after a long struggle with heart disease. The son of a village baker in Holland, Nico first came to the U.S. in 1967, moving initially to New York, before settling in Boston with the poet Ron Schreiber, his partner for 17 years. Always known for his distinctive style of cross-dressing, Nico had a lifelong passion for textiles and sewing. He worked in the textiles department at Liberty of London and managed two locations of a textiles shop in Boston. Shortly after coming to San Francisco in the mid-1990s, Nico became homeless for several years. After finally conquering sobriety, he ultimately acquired housing and went on to become a tireless advocate for the homeless himself, serving on the oversight committee of Shelter Plus Care, and volunteering for many other programs. He was also an active and devoted member of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist. Nico is predeceased by his sister, Tiny, and brother, Henk. He is survived by his brother, Cor de Ruijg, his sisters-in-law, Nel and Trudi, nine nieces and nephews, the congregation at St. John’s, and many, many loving friends. A memorial service will be held for him at St. John the Evangelist, 1661 15th

Street, San Francisco Saturday, May 16 at 4 p.m. Charitable donations can be made in his memory to the church at http://www. saintjohnsf.org or to Community Housing Partnership at http://www.chp-sf.org/ donatenow/.

Charles F. Vinson August 25, 1948 – March 2, 2015 Charles F. Vinson loved riding his bicycle. Since retiring six years ago, he would ride every morning for 10 or 15 miles on the streets of San Francisco, and was pleased to notice how his strength and endurance were continually improving. On March 2, 2015 he was struck by a motorist, and never finished his ride. An accomplished musician, Charles taught himself how to compose electronic music, and over the last 12 years had created a vast catalog of elaborate, classicallyinfluenced compositions under the name Clasher Von Sin (an anagram of his actual name). When not working on music, Charles spent a lot of time with his two cats, Mrs. P. and Starmato. They were an integral part of his life, as was his love of all animals. Charles (Chuck to some of his friends) is survived by his partner of 17 years, Jeff Jones; sisters, Carole and Rebecca; brother, Dana; ex-wife, Betty; son, Bryan; and various nieces, nephews and granddaughters. Charles will be remembered on the Ride of Silence (http://www.sfbike.org/event/silence/) Wednesday, May 20 beginning at 6 p.m.

t <<

From the Cover>>

Drag queens

From page 1

San Francisco Pride officials said they have not yet made a decision about the drag queens’ request. Gary Virginia, SF Pride board president, told the Bay Area Reporter that the organization continues to talk to Facebook officials and to protest organizers. “The SF Pride board of directors has the authority to decline participation in our parade and celebration if a group is not in accord with our mission statement,” Virginia said. “No decision has been made regarding Facebook at this time as

Pink Party

From page 1

the community center’s programs director, has said organizers plan to steer people toward other events after the party that night.

Street closures

Thursday’s meeting grew tense after Billy Picture, who’s with E. Cee Productions, which is producing the party, presented plans for street closures. The Castro’s streets are blocked off every year for the event, with the festival largely centered around 18th and Castro streets to the south and Market and Castro streets to the north. Picture said that this year, tow truck drivers will start taking out cars at 11 a.m., and “the area will be free of vehicles” by noon so that workers have time to bring in portable toilets and other equipment before the festival starts. Former Castro Merchants President Terry Asten Bennett, whose family owns Cliff’s Variety shop at 479 Castro, quickly expressed her unhappiness with the timing of street closures. “That’s my entire day,” Bennett said, calling the last Saturday in June “one of the busiest days of the year.” Rolfe said organizers were open to doing a media campaign to encourage people to support businesses in the Castro on another Saturday. But Bennett said, “You’re obliterating retail business” and “taking away a complete day” for merchants. Picture pointed out the sidewalks would still be open, and parking would be the main thing being

Castro retail

From page 1

with 43 percent residents of the Castro or upper Market area. In terms of how they travel to the Castro, 18 percent of the survey respondents said they drove a car, while 47 percent walked and 25 percent came by public transit. Four percent rode a bicycle. While a bakery, butcher shop, and additional clothing stores, particularly for women, are among the businesses deemed most desirable to attract to the Castro, the number one retailer many survey takers said they wished would open in the neighborhood is Trader Joe’s. The national grocery chain has twice eyed locations in the Castro but both times dropped its plans due to concerns about parking and traffic impacts at the sites. “People are goo-goo gaga for Trader Joe’s,” Danny Yadegar, the project coordinator for the retail strategy, told Castro merchants last week during a presentation about the preliminary plan. “The issue is siting. It is very difficult because Trader Joe’s needs a large footprint, which we probably don’t have.” Some of the ideas likely to be included in the final report to promote the Castro commercial district to retailers and shoppers alike include developing a brand identity for the area, showcasing the businesses that already exist, and proactively reaching out to property owners and commercial brokers to discuss with them the types of busi-

May 14-20, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

we are still gathering information.” New York City Pride officials said there were no plans to ban Facebook from the parade. “We are aware of a petition to ban Facebook from participating in the NYC Pride March,” NYC Pride March Director David Studinski said in an email. “Our march is an inclusive event to which all are welcomed, and while we understand there are unresolved concerns, there are no plans to ban the group. Facebook employs strong allies and members of our community who deserve the ability to show their Pride, and they will be able to do so on the same streets as the petition’s

organizers come June 28th.” Drag queens say that their personas are professional brands and that they need to use their drag names on Facebook to promote themselves and their events. Sometimes, transgender people have not completed legal name change documents. As the controversy escalated, it was pointed out that abused and battered women, some of whom live in hiding from their attackers, could be placed in harm’s way if they were forced to reveal their legal names online. Organizers of the protest have launched a website: http://www. mynameiscampaign.org. Naturally, it is being heavily promoted on

affected that day. District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, who represents the Castro, noted that Muni transit would still be running close to the neighborhood. Patrick Batt, who owns the AutoErotica adult entertainment shop at 4077-A 18th Street and the Eureka cafe at 451 Castro, echoed Bennett’s remarks. Batt, another former president of the merchants group, wanted the streets closed later, and said, “The biggest Saturday of the year is now taken away. ... This is the most absurd idea in the world.” He added that the pre-LGBT Pride parade festival “should have been stopped.” One man said, however, that if events like the Pink Party are eliminated “it’s not the biggest day of the year anymore.” Dan Glazer, who owns Hot Cookie, at 407 Castro, agreed, “Saturday would not be the same in the Castro if Pink Saturday didn’t exist.” The preliminary map shows three entrance points – at Castro and Market; 16th, Noe, and Market; and Noe and 18th streets. Other streets with barricades are exit-only and will not allow access to the festival area.

have “more entertainment sprinkled throughout the event.” Entertainers haven’t been selected, but a preliminary map of the party shows four stages. Picture said police presence and private security would be “markedly increased.” Exact numbers haven’t been decided. Mission police station Captain Dan Perea, who oversees the Castro and other neighborhoods, said in a recent email that he’s met with Wiener, Rolfe, and executive event producer Eliote Durham, also from E. Cee Productions, and they continue to talk. Perea said Rolfe and Durham “have absolutely hit the ground running in top gear to organize a successful event.” Hundreds of thousands of people are drawn to San Francisco’s streets during Pride weekend each year, and even more people are expected to attend events this year, as Perea noted. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to announce in June whether same-sex marriage should be legal nationally. Police “will continue working closely with Supervisor Wiener and event organizers to have the appropriate amount of officers present” at the Pink Party, Perea said. The budget also hasn’t been finalized. McFarlane has said the city will be funding a “substantial” portion of the party, but it’s not clear how much that will be. The 2014 festival cost the Sisters $80,000, though expenses for this year’s celebration are expected to increase. She said recently that organizers would likely know what their budget is by the end of this month.t

Few other details

Aside from the opening and closing times, few other Pink Party details have been determined. The festival will continue to be all ages with no alcohol allowed in the footprint. Admission is free but there will be a suggested gate donation of $10. Proceeds will help fund nonprofits. Rolfe said planners are looking to nesses that would generate support from the neighborhood. “I think there are some really great points in there,” said Castro Merchants President Daniel Bergerac, a co-owner of Mudpuppy’s Tub and Scrub on Castro Street. “Marketing the district is really important. People say we don’t have a bakery, but we do at Thorough Bread and Pastry on Church Street.” An ongoing concern voiced by several merchants is maintaining a diverse group of stores in the Castro and pushing back against the influx of coffee shops, restaurants, and medical offices taking over what had been storefronts zoned for retail uses. “We are seeing far less locals but a tremendous uptick in tourists during the daytime,” said Terry Asten Bennett, whose family owns Cliff’s Variety on Castro Street. “We get comments all the time from customers that there are not enough other businesses other than restaurants open in the daytime. We are not giving them enough to keep them here.” The preliminary plan recommends additional improvements to the streetscape, which underwent a $6 million transformation last year along the 400 and 500 blocks of Castro Street. The city is now planning to make changes at a number of intersections along upper Market Street aimed at increasing safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Another suggestion calls for hiring dedicated staff to oversee implementation of the retail strategy and continued monitoring of the business climate in the Castro.

“This is really going to need ongoing funding to move it forward,” said Elizabeth Libby Seifel, the owner of Seifel Consulting hired to assist with the development of the retail strategy.

Small business week events

In the meantime, Castro merchants will be taking part in a daylong sidewalk sale Saturday, May 23 as part of this year’s Small Business Week events. The yearly commemoration of local retailers kicks off Saturday, May 16 with sidewalk sales in numerous other neighborhoods, including Glen Park, West Portal, and Noe Valley. The sidewalk sales on both Saturdays run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 19 is the Mega Make Contact event cosponsored by the LGBT-focused Golden Gate Business Association, Castro Merchants, and the San Francisco LGBT Community Center. It takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the center, 1800 Market Street, and tickets at the door cost $25. Throughout the day Friday, May 22 will be the annual Small Business Conference with 64 free workshops on various topics. It takes place at City College of San Francisco’s Chinatown campus, located at 808 Kearny Street. For a listing of all the events being held during Small Business Week, visit http://www.sfsmallbusinessweek.com. The site’s blog also features interviews with local business owners, including Oasis gay nightclub co-owner Heklina and Kristy Lin Billuni, owner of the Sexy Grammarian.t

Facebook, where 509 people have committed to attending. “No one fails to see the irony that we are using Facebook to spread the word and garner support for a protest of Facebook,” Roma told the B.A.R. “But where else in today’s world would you go to raise consciousness, call attention to pressing social issues, and reach out to your friends besides Facebook?” Roma explained why the event organizers think that Facebook should be banned from both the San Francisco and New York Pride celebrations. “We feel that Facebook’s continued endorsement of the malicious targeted reporting and account suspensions of the LGBT community is not only unfair and discriminatory, it is dangerous, especially for trans men and women,” said Roma. “For many users, having your legal name revealed and your identity exposed [can lead to] bullying, harassment, and housing/employment discrimination,” she added. “And in some cases physical violence.” Drag performer Lil Miss Hot Mess reiterated the dangers that the

real names policy causes to transgender people. “Facebook should be barred from this year’s Pride parade,” she told the B.A.R. “They’ve done a lot of good for the LGBT community in the past, but this is a major blow to our community. Trans people face disproportionate rates of suicide and violence, and shouldn’t have to show ID to prove their authentic identities.” Lil Miss said that her own Facebook account was suspended. “I’ve personally heard from nearly 1,000 people who’ve had their names reported,” she said. “All these people have stories about why their chosen names are important to them, how humiliating it was to have their legal name added to their profile without their permission, or how terrible it felt to be cut off from their online community.” A Facebook official did not respond to the B.A.R.’s requests for comment. A Change.org petition https:// www.change.org/p/noprideforfacebook-ban-facebook-from-sf-nypride-parade has received over 2,000 signatures as of May 12.t

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

Out in the World

From page 2

Seeing Cuba through literature

Literature is one way to build a bridge between Cuban and U.S. feminists and lesbians who Cooper believes currently have a mythology about each other that needs to be demystified. In her view, women from both nations could learn a lot from each other. “I would love for feminists and lesbians in the United States to be further inspired to travel to Cuba,” said Cooper, who is excited about the possibilities brought about by President Barack Obama’s initial steps at the end of 2014 to lift the half-century old sanctions on the Caribbean island nation. Cooper, a lesbian, has studied Cuba, particularly LGBT Cuba, for nearly 20 years. She was inspired to explore lesbians in Cuban culture after seeing Sonja de Vries’ documentary Gay Cuba. At the time a graduate student studying Latin American literature, she was intrigued by how the island nation’s

Transmissions

From page 8

law now being created. Likewise, that I can be so sure of the outcome of these cases is a sign of a turning point for transgender rights. We are seeing our rights upheld, and we are gaining

Political Notebook

From page 5

County Sheriff ’s Department in 2007 raided Lynch’s dispensary. Although Morro Bay officials had licensed the business, Lynch’s landlord evicted him under threat of having his property seized by the federal government. Lynch was arrested and convicted in federal court on five counts involving his dispensary, including selling marijuana to minors, and was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison, according to media

Duboce Triangle

From page 3

Sanford, who said a plainclothes officer and a team of investigators are doing surveillance of the Duboce Triangle area, called the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association “very engaging” and said the group has been “quickly feeding” police information about issues there. Asked about the robberies, DTNA President David Troup, a gay man who’s lived in the neighborhood since 2001, said, “I can’t say that’s completely new.” “We’ve had occasional episodes like that throughout the last decade or so,” Troup said. However, “it feels like there are more lately.” Troup said DTNA’s main concern with incidents in the area is “the perceived uptick in violent crime” stemming from the deaths of Bryan

News Briefs

From page 2

SF officials to mark Jewish Heritage Month

San Francisco will mark its firstever celebration of Jewish heritage with a program and reception Wednesday, May 20 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the rotunda at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. Joining Mayor Ed Lee and gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener will be representatives from the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jewish Community Federation. Other speakers will include Marc Dollinger, Ph.D., San Francisco State University’s Richard and Rhoda Goldman Chair in Jewish Studies and Social Responsibility, who will

feminist and LGBT movements developed differently due to being cut off from the U.S. and much of the world for decades. “It became clear that gender roles, sexual orientation, and gender perception had developed quite differently and are treated quite differently in comparison to other Latin American countries,” said Cooper. In the early 1990s, LGBT Latin American literature was suffocated by the machismo Latin culture and literature that reflected that culture. There was “very, very little by lesbians [and] a little bit by gay men.” Somehow, insulated in their own world, Cuban women and LGBTs developed their own voices. “Cuban women were having a much greater voice in society [and] in general as sexual beings,” said Cooper. Furthermore, gays and lesbians experienced “much less discrimination and [were in] less danger of being beat up, killed, jailed, especially starting in the 1980s, in comparison to other Latin American countries,” she continued. However, like in the U.S., discrimination and poverty remained a real-

ity in spite of active LGBT community centers and support high in Cuba’s government with Mariela Castro, a member of parliament. She’s also President Raul Castro’s daughter and former President Fidel Castro’s niece and is the executive director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education in Havana. The Inter-American Commission Human Rights noted in its annual report released May 7 that Cuba still has a long way to go to achieve basic human rights goals. The report cited a variety of violations of human rights and noted discrimination and violence against LGBT individuals. On May 8, Mariela Castro symbolically married 20 LGBT couples during a blessing ceremony called “Celebration of Love” as part of the eight annual March Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Bahr’s readings will be hosted Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m. by Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley and Tuesday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. by Modern Times Bookstore, 2919 24th Street, San Francisco. Both events are open to the public.t

Legal Notices>>

enough support to make a stand for our rights in the workplace, rather than simply taking the abuse we are handed. We still have a long way to go, and I hasten to add that having these protections does not stop employers and others from violating our rights in the first place.

Make no mistake, however, it is a vital thing to be able to throw the book at those who might infringe upon those same rights.t

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE NAUGHTY HINDU, 1900 FOLSOM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SUDHIR POPAT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/06/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/06/15.

Full disclosure: Gwen Smith’s spouse was once laid off at Barnes & Noble. You can find her on Twitter at @gwenners.

reports. He is now appealing his conviction on the basis of California’s voter-approved legalization of medical marijuana. In their brief with the court, the lawmakers argue that “the continued federal prosecution of medical marijuana cases violates federal law” and is counter to the Obama administration’s statements it will abide by state-based marijuana laws. In a statement to the Bay Area Reporter, Leno said, “One would presume that our federal government has more important matters to address than shattering the lives of law abiding

citizens like Charles Lynch. To quote President Obama in reference to states which allow for the legal use of marijuana, ‘We’ve got bigger fish to fry.’ These unwarranted raids, seizures and prosecutions must stop. Mr. Lynch deserves vindication, an apology and to have his life restored.”t

“Feather” Higgins, 31, a gay man who died after he was attacked at Church and Duboce streets last August, and Michael Marquez, 22, who was fatally shot during a robbery at Noe and Henry streets in November. No arrests have been reported in either incident. (Higgins died after his family took him off life support, and the medical examiner’s office hasn’t released the cause of his death.) “In my memory, we haven’t ever had two people killed in our streets in one year,” Troup said. A number of less serious incidents such as vehicle break-ins and “people feeling harassed by street people” have also created “the impression that crime in the neighborhood is up,” Troup said. Police recently caught someone who had allegedly been breaking in to cars, so “that may put those to bed for a while,” he said.

“So far,” Troup said he’s “really impressed” with Sanford and “his desire to have a really strong relationship with the neighborhoods that he serves.” He’s seen the captain three times in his first month leading Park Station, “which is pretty extraordinary considering all the things on his plate,” Troup said. Sanford said the transition under the new district boundaries should “take effect somewhere in June or July.” He said whether he’ll get more officers in his district is contingent on what Chief Greg Suhr decides is needed across the city. He anticipates “somewhere in the area of six additional officers” in his station. Anyone with information in the Duboce Triangle cases may contact police anonymously at (415) 5754444 or text a tip to TIP411. Type SFPD in the subject line.t

give a brief history of the extensive engagement that Jews have had in the city’s history. There will also be a musical performance by children from the Brandeis-Hillel Day School. A reception will follow the 30-minute program in the north atrium at City Hall. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. To sign up, visit www.tinyurl.com/ SFJewishHeritage.

was created by the merger of Spectrum LGBT Center and the Marin AIDS Project. The ribbon cutting will officially inaugurate the new agency. The Reverend Dr. Jane Adams Spahr, founder of both entities, is the namesake of the new agency and will cut the ribbon. Other guests expected to be on hand are Marin County Supervisor Damon Connolly, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce board Chair Mark Carrington, Marin Community Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Peters; and members of the board of the Spahr Center. A reception will immediately follow the ribbon cutting, which is open to the public. For more information, visit www.marinaidsproject.org or www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org.t

Ribbon cutting at North Bay LGBT/AIDS center

The Spahr Center will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday, May 21 at 4 p.m. at its office, 910 Irwin Street in San Rafael. As the Bay Area Reporter noted in a February article, the Spahr Center

Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check http:// www.ebar.com Monday mornings at noon for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion. This week’s column reported on Emeryville raising its minimum wage.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036397800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TAN’S FINE ART STUDIO, 235 MONTGOMERY ST, #350, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ZIMOU TAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/30/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/30/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036433900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MTENEROWICZ ENTERPRISES, 1299 BUSH ST, #204, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MICHAEL TENEROWICZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/16/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036434700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RED GARAGE, 39 ERVINE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOSEPH PELINA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/17/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/17/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036412500

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036419800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RIVERA’S HOUSECLEANING & JANITORIAL, 725 MOULTRIE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NORA LISETT BERRIOS RIVERA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/09/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/09/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036424100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MOKSHA DESIGNS, 228 CONGDEN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MICHAEL DEAN OSGOOD. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/10/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/10/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036439100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAN FRANCISCO SOCCER, 2653 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SULMA GARCIA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/20/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/20/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036436800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PESBAS FISH AND CHICKEN, 393 EDDY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a general partnership and is signed KHALED OMER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/17/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/17/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036429700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HTH ADVISORS LLC PROPERTY ACCOUNT, 1074 UNION ST, #11, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ARTHUR BRUZZONE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/15/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/15/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036429800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GET IT US, 532 40TH AVE, #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HYUN JOO LEE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/15/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/15/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036433100

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-15-551136 In the matter of the application of: JEFFREY STEPHEN MARCUSJOHN, 451 KANSAS ST #505, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner JEFFREY STEPHEN MARCUSJOHN, is requesting that the name JEFFREY STEPHEN MARCUSJOHN, be changed to ANXO MAXXUM FLYNN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 7th of July 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 07, 14, 21, 28, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036427800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ANGELS’ WASH HOUSE, 5205 3RD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed LOW ANGEL ENTERPRISES INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/01. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/14/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036431800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CANDY DOLL BEAUTY, 1737 POST ST, #385, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed PERFECT LADY COSMETIC & FASHION (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 04/15/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036431000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MARTIN BUILDING COMPANY, 14 MINT PLAZA, 5TH FLOOR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MARTIN MCNERNEY DEVELOPMENT, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/01/89. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/15/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036433000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HOME ON 15TH, 2281A 15TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed CONSTANCE RICCA & SALVADORE T. RICCA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/03/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/16/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036436100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ROADSTER; ROADSTER.COM; ROADSTER AUTOMOTIVE, 1388 SUTTER ST, #900, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed ROADSTER AUTOMOTIVE LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/17/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035723500

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: AQUA SPA, 14 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business was conducted by a limited partnership and signed by RALF SYMANZICK & GINA SYMANZICK. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/18/14.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036441100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SIN CHERRY 2, 2093 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed EDGAR LITTLETON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/20/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/21/15.

APRIL 30, MAY 07, 14, 21, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036437300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RESCUE HR, 736 THORNTON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LANITA WILLIAMS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/14/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/17/15.

APRIL 30, MAY 07, 14, 21, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036452100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SHE CAVE CREATIONS, 808 NAPLES ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SOFIA M. MATHEWS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/15/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/16/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAY ATHLETICS, 1737 GOLDEN GATE AVE #10, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed KAJARI BURNS & MATTHEW ILARINA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/15/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/27/15.

APRIL 23, 30, MAY 07, 14, 2015

APRIL 30, MAY 07, 14, 21, 2015

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036443800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BUENA VISTA MOTOR INN, 1599 LOMBARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed GAJANAN, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/22/15.

APRIL 30, MAY 07, 14, 21, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036443900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: COUNTRY HEARTH INN, 2707 LOMBARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MANGAL, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/22/15.

APRIL 30, MAY 07, 14, 21, 2015 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-036020200

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: SIN CHERRY 2, 2093 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business was conducted by a general partnership and signed by ALLAM BITAR & IMAD BITAR. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/28/14.

APRIL 30, MAY 07, 14, 21, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036426000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DIVINO SPUNTINO, 646 CORBETT AVE, #508, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KRISTEN CONNOLLY. 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 04/13/15.

MAY 07, 14, 21, 28, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036418700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PIXMETTLE, 156 2ND ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KAPIL DEV DHINGRA. 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 04/08/15.

MAY 07, 14, 21, 28, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036455000

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036457900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ARTMAR HOTEL, 433 ELLIS ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed AKSHAY AMIN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/28/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/30/15.

MAY 14, 21, 28, JUNE 04, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036439400

Counseling>>

Tech Support>>

MAY 14, 21, 28, JUNE 04, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036465000

MACINTOSH HELP * home or office * 24 years exp * sfmacman.com

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SALON DE BAR, 322 HAYES ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JENNIFER DE BAR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/04/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/04/15.

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHRONICLED, 609 MISSION ST, #300, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed ARTCOA, INC. (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 05/04/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: IN TICKETING, 660 MARKET ST, FLOOR 4, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed VENDINI, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/26/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/06/15.

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EL MAJAHUAL REST., 1142 VALENCIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed HERNANDO LEDESMA & REGINA LEDESMA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/09/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/09/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 60 FOOT FARM, 1746 33RD AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by co-partners, and is signed JEFFREY G. FOSTER & RICHARD P. CABLER. 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 04/17/15.

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FIRE ROAD, 42 WINFIELD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed FIRE ROAD LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/17/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/28/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HOBSON’S CHOICE BAR, 1601 HAIGHT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed PINE & DIVIS, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/07/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/07/15.

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MAY 07, 14, 21, 28, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036464500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GRIEF COUNSELING, 1400 GEARY BLVD #1402, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BETTY J. CARMACK. 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 05/04/15.

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MAY 14, 21, 28, JUNE 04, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036437600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DIVANO HOME, 3251 20TH AVE #209, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed DIVANO HOME INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/17/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/17/15.

MAY 14, 21, 28, JUNE 04, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036463800

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GOLD BAY APP, 359 11TH AVE #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed FREDERICO SILVA RESENDE COUTRIM. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/20/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/20/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE RELAXATION LAB, 830 28TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ITAI ARGAMAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/28/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/28/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHIROPRACTIC FOR HUMANITY, 126 WAVERLY PL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed WARREN ZHAO. 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 04/16/15.

May 14-20-, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: HOBSON’S CHOICE BAR, 1601 HAIGHT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business was conducted by a limited liability company and signed by GOOD TIME LAST NIGHT LLC. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/25/12.

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Out &About

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O&A

Vol. 45 • No. 20 • May 14-20, 2015

www.ebar.com/arts

A Little Night Musical Director Mark Lamos

brings Sondheim to ACT by Richard Dodds

t was in the 1990s when Mark Lamos, then the artistic director of Hartford Stage, realized he didn’t need to keep his gay profile low and his longtime partner out of his professional social life. Invited to a dinner by a board member who encouraged him to bring along whomever he wished, he thought it best not to take now-husband Jerry Jones. “I got to the dinner, and the other guests were Stephen Sondheim and his boyfriend,” Lamos said. “When I got home, I said to Jerry, ‘That’s the last time I’m keeping you under wraps.’” See page 15 >>

Director Mark Lamos with Dana Ivey (Madame Armfeldt) and Michael McIntire (Frid) during rehearsal for A Little Night Music, coming to ACT’s Geary Theater. Anna Woodruff

Fashion: Impossible by David Lamble

ou have choices. More and more it seems movie-lovers are being assaulted with choices, such as dueling biopics about the same dead artist. This time it’s the fabulous French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent who has inspired two cinema biographies. Fortunately it’s Bertrand Bonello’s Saint Laurent that I get to feast on critically. Bonello and his co-writer Thomas Bidegain have wisely narrowed their treatment of the Algerian-born designer to the 10-year period (1967-76) when his pioneering look for women ruled the roost and made him a worthy successor to legendary Christian Dior. See page 22 >> Gaspard Ulliel as Yves Saint Laurent in his prime.

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

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May 14-20, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 15

Just following orders

Courtesy SFFS

Peter Sarsgaard in a scene from Michael Almereyda’s Experimenter, playing the 58th San Francisco International Film Festival.

by Roberto Friedman

nd it’s a wrap! The 58th San Francisco International Film Festival closing-night film, Experimenter, lit up the huge Castro Theatre screen last Thursday night, and Out There was honored to be in the house. Director Michael Almereyda’s film tells the true story of social scientist

Dr. Stanley Milgram (the yummy Peter Sarsgaard), whose famous 1961 “obedience” experiment proved that a majority of subjects were willing to administer what they thought to be strong electric shocks to their fellow subjects when directed to do so by a stern authority figure. Milgram always said that he was surprised and appalled by the results of his own

experiment, which were replicated in several later trials. But given how this human capacity for doing evil when directed to do so has played out in history, egregiously but by no means exclusively in the Holocaust, perhaps he shouldn’t have been taken aback. Besides the always good Sarsgaard, the cast includes such worthy actors as Winona Ryder, Kellan Lutz, Anton Yelchin, John Leguizamo, and in a cameo, author Gary Shteyngart. OT found the film only partly successful as a biopic, but it did stimulate plenty of thought and reflection. The afterparty at Mezzanine was a swell affair, where OT and the ever-perkilicious Pepi put our feet up in the VIP lounge, ate chips, and discussed what we had just seen. Experimenter will get a commercial release later this year.

Just Joni

Last Friday night, OT was part of the Joni-worshipping crowd at SFJazz Center attending the SFJazz Gala 2015, honoring singer-song-

writer Joni Mitchell with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The artist, ailing in Los Angeles, was surely there in spirit if not in bodily form. Jazz master and longtime Joni collaborator Wayne Shorter accepted the award on her behalf. Artists paying tribute in concert included Kris Kristofferson, Joe Jackson, Patti Austin, Kurt Elling, Laurie Antonioli, Judith Hill, and the SFJazz Collective. Highlights included Jackson offering a New Orleans-style stridepiano “Big Yellow Taxi,” Austin creating a soulful “Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow” and “Two Grey Rooms,” and Antonioli soaring with a spirited “This Flight Tonight.” The Joni Mitchell Tribute Band, led by musical directors Brian Blade and Jon Cowherd, gave expert accompaniment. Movingly, the whole shebang was brought to a classy close when an old Victrola was wheeled onstage to play Billie Holiday singing, “I’ll Be Seeing You.” But not before the entire cast let loose: “I was a free man in Paris,/ I felt unfettered and alive./ There was nobody call-

Eternal artistic genius Joni Mitchell was honored by SFJazz.

ing me up for favors/ And no one’s future to decide./ You know I’d go back there tomorrow/ But for the work I’ve taken on/ Stoking the star-maker machinery/ Behind the popular song.” And oh, as for OT, we were a Friedman in Paris. It was great to see so many Joniheads in attendance, including our guest and dear friend, AIDS Legal Referral Panel executive director Bill Hirsh, and the ever-artsappreciating State Senator Mark Leno. All proceeds will go to benefit SFJazz artistic and education programs. The concert was recorded and sent to Joni, and we think she damn well will be touched. Get well soon, you crazy genius.t

Springtime book club by Gregg Shapiro

llustrated men & women: The intimate photos in Lyudmila and Natasha (The New Press) by photojournalist Misha Friedman follow a lesbian couple living in St. Petersburg, Russia, as their relationship develops during the period of a year. Described as “a book for kids – and their parents, teachers, and cool grown-up friends,” Rad American Women A-Z (City Lights), by Kate Schatz with illustrations by Miriam Klein Stahl, features queer heroines such as Angela Davis and Billie Jean King in just the first couple of pages, as well as trans activist Kate Bornstein and friends of the LGBT community such as Patti Smith and Carol Burnett. Based on cross-dressing artist, potter, and Turner Prize recipient Grayson Perry’s Reith Lectures, Playing to the Gallery (Penguin) features the artist-author’s colorful and comical illustrations and text to aid gallery-goers in the pursuit of understanding what’s hanging on the walls. Photographer Kike Arnal trains his lens on Mexico City’s transgender community in Bordered Lives (The New Press), and in doing so attempts to “challenge society’s preconceived notions of sexuality, gender, and beauty in Mexico” and beyond. The Completely Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (Northwest Press) by Eric Orner, a gay cartoonist who appears to be influenced as much by Alison Bechdel and Howard Cruse as he is by Linda Barry and Nicole Hollander, collects Orner’s comic strips about his (mostly) unlucky-in-love character, which ran in gay publications from 1989-2005. Poets’ corner: Queer poets Mark Doty, C.P. Cavafy, James Merrill, Richard Blanco, Thom Gunn, W.H. Auden, Frank O’Hara, Elizabeth Bishop, and Allen Ginsberg, as well as Stephen Sondheim, are among

Mark Lamos

From page 13

That quote is actually from 15 years ago, part of an interview I did with the noted director shortly before Lamos’ graphically gay, and to some infamously so, production of Marlowe’s Edward II opened at ACT. Now it is Stephen Sondheim who is bringing Lamos back to ACT to direct A Little Night Music, in which characters’ passions are

the folks getting a nod from poet David Lehman in The State of the Art: A Chronicle of American Poetry, 1988-2014 (U. of Pittsburgh), which collects all 29 of the forewords written by Lehman for the annual Best American Poetry anthologies. Angel Park (Tincture), the fabulous debut poetry collection by Oakland-based gay poet Roberto F. Santiago, a welcome and refreshing voice on the scene, features poetry touching on geography, culture, sexuality, heritage and more. On Elizabeth Bishop (Princeton) by gay writer Colm Tóibín blends biography and literary appreciation for the celebrated lesbian poet as the author writes about the connections he feels to Bishop, particularly in the way that her experiences of loss and exile resonate with his own. Dark Sparkler (Harper Perennial), a poetry collection by actress and writer Amber Tamblyn, focuses on the theme of the “lives of women who glimmered on-screen and crashed in life,” including Sharon

Tate, Marilyn Monroe, Brittany Murphy, Jayne Mansfield, Dana Plato, Frances Farmer, Jean Harlow, Dominique Dunne and Anissa Jones. Prolific and award-winning gay poet Jim Elledge returns with a brand new collection, Tapping My Arm for a Vein (Lethe Press), with several poems featuring more than a dozen poems about his character “Mister.” In More Money than God (U. of Pittsburgh), poet and children’s book author Richard Michelson brings his trademark sense of humor, as well as his sensitive and witty observations, over the course of more than 30 poems. Non-fiction shelf: You’re Not Edith (George Braziller) by lesbian essayist Allison Gruber is a splendid collection of “autobiographical essays,” mainly set in Chicago and Milwaukee, at the heart of which is the author’s cancer battle. As feisty as the man himself, Frank (Farrar Straus Giroux), by out retired congressman Barney Frank, allows the outspoken politi-

cian to tell his story, “from Bayonne to Boston,” in his own words. You can almost hear his distinctive voice while you read. Actress, activist and writer Maria Bello, author of Whatever – Love is Love: Questioning the Labels We Give Ourselves (Dey Street), asks and answers a series of questions: “Am I a Partner?,” “Am I a Good Mom?,” “Am I a Humanitarian?,” “Am I a Feminist?,” “Am I Enough?” and “Am I LGBT or W?,” in this unusual take on the memoir. Jacqueline Rose’s Women in Dark Times (Bloomsbury) examines the lives of nine women: revolutionary socialist Rosa Luxembourg, painter Charlotte Salomon, movie star Marilyn Monroe, “honor killing” victims Shafilea Ahmed, Fadime Sahindal and Heshu Yones, and visual artists Esther Shalev-Gerz, Yael Bartana and Thérèse Oulton, in a tome about establishing “a new template for feminism.” Subtitled Conversations about Sexual Orientation & Gender Iden-

entirely of heterosexual alignment. But that doesn’t mean Lamos isn’t finding ways to give the musical’s sexuality a boost. The musical, for example, features a quintet of lieder singers who serve as a kind of Greek chorus commenting on the action. Usually played staidly by mature performers, Lamos is taking a different route with the quintet. “I decided to make them very much younger, and to do quite a lot of physical activity

between themselves,” he said in a recent phone interview. “It’s a piece about sex and memory, and in our memories we are always younger. When you look at those wonderful lyrics the quintet sings, it’s all about ‘Do you remember this?’ and ‘Do you remember that?’ And how shabby it was, because when you’re having a secret affair you’re doing it in some awful place so nobody finds you. So I wanted to de-romanticize those things, and also have them be

sexier and kind of erotic.” Lamos previously directed A Little Night Music at Baltimore’s Center Stage in 2008 in a well-received production. Inspired by Ingmar Bergman’s 1955 movie Smiles of a Summer Night, the musical opened on Broadway in 1973 with a score by Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler. The setting is Sweden around 1900, and at its center is a rekindling romance between a successful lawyer and a prominent ac-

tity, The Human Agenda (Trans Über), by writer and activist Joe Wenke, features interviews with The Noonday Demon author Andrew Solomon, trans comedian Ian Harvie, RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Carmen Carrera, hip-hop artist YLove and others. Fiction shelf: The fantastic JD (U. of Wisconsin), by acclaimed gay writer Mark Merlis (American Studies), is the writer’s first novel in a dozen years. It’s told in two voices. The first is that of the late gay writer Jonathan Ascher, and we hear from him through his journals. The second belongs to his widow Martha, who learns more about Jonathan than she ever imagined while reading the journals after agreeing to help a biographer of her late husband. Orient (Harper), the second novel by Interview magazine editor Christopher Bollen, is a taut murder mystery set in a community of transplanted artists in the titular isolated town on the North Fork of Long Island. Set in a “pitiless, bleak, futuristic America,” Haw (Harvard Square Editions), the debut novel by North Carolina-based Sean Jackson, is described as a “Brave New World for modern times” by writer Mitch Cullin. Wendy Lee’s second novel Across a Green Ocean (Kensington) introduces us to closeted and untethered gay man Michael and his immigration lawyer sister Emily, coming to terms with the death of their father. A collaboration between trans writer T Cooper, whose 2006 Lipschitz 6 or Two Angry Blondes is a must read, and his wife Allison GlockCooper, Changers: Book Two – Oryon (Black Sheep/Akashic) is the second in a series of YA novels about “an ancient race of humans who must live out each year of high school as a completely different person.”t tress who had had an affair together years before. But there are layers of complications, which only start with the lawyer’s still virginal new wife and the actress’ blustery lover. The show’s signature song, “Send in the Clowns,” is all about mistimed opportunities. Carey Perloff, ACT’s artistic director, had long had A Little Night Music on her wish list, and invited See page 22 >>

<< Music

16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

Damped-down symphonies by Philip Campbell

music than for his conducting, and I agree. I also remember Bernstein saying all his works were basically theatre music, and I agree with him, too. This was a good try that disappointed, staying stubbornly earthbound when we know from experience MTT has made a convincing case in years past. The week before, Finnish (by way of L.A.) guest conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen came to DSH for a beautifully constructed program that included one of his own compositions. In the pre-concert lecture, Salonen made an appearance to talk about his own conducting-composing career, and to explain his inspiration for the programmed first SFS performances of Nyx (2010).

Charmingly self-effacing and aging well (he’s looking a lot like a Nordic Christian Bale these days), Salonen joked he had been tempted to frame his own piece with two mediocre works that would make him look better, but he just couldn’t do it to his audience or to the dedicated musicians onstage. So Nyx got Ravel’s Ma Mere l’Oye for a curtainraiser, and the performance was really as perfect as Salonen said of the score and its orchestration. It was also a great intro for the conductor’s brief (17 minutes) and glittering display of orchestral ingenuity. Based on the character of the obscure and nebulous daughter of Greek earth mother Gaia, Nyx offers a spectacular opportunity for the orchestra to revel in huge sonorities, mysterious moods and fascinating textures. The evening ended with another highly complementary score. The full Stravinsky ballet The Firebird (1910) sounded intellectualized as pure music more than music for the theatre, but Salonen still elicited a wonderful, rich sound from the orchestra. This was Stravinsky in the Pierre Boulez mold (another composer/conductor) more than the feverish Bernstein interpretations. It gave further insight into what we may be hearing from Salonen the composer in future. Will he, like Bernstein or even Boulez, ultimately be remembered more for his music than his conducting? The jury hasn’t convened yet, and it is too early to hazard a guess. We do know we will follow his path enthusiastically.t

petual-motion character piece, and with the lightest of touches, Hough brings this sprightliest of trolls alive. More Grieg comes cascading out of your speakers in the arresting Cello Sonata, Op. 36, that opens Hough’s recording of three cellos sonatas with Steven Isserlis, one of his regular chamber-music partners. These two musicians clearly spark each other’s musical imagination. The wonderful Mendelssohn Cello Sonata No. 2 that closes the disc recapitulates that brilliance and abandon, along with some genuine soulfulness. But the interest here is

in Hough’s own Cello Sonata, sandwiched between the robust high spirits of the other two. Commissioned by Isserlis for another, injured pianist and titled “Les Adieux,” it’s a sonata for cello and piano left-hand that explores the darker ends of the spectrum. Its three sections, played without pause, are audibly distinct, building to an astonishing cadenza for solo cello that Isserlis plays the spots off. But of more abiding interest is the otherwise constant interplay of the cello and piano sonorities. In the opening measures, pizzicato (plucked) notes from the cello are interspersed with single notes from the piano, and only the most intense listening can tell one from the other. The ensuing fascination is unbroken across the span of the piece, though the sonata is far from a onetrick pony. It has as much gravity as momentum. If it doesn’t enter the repertoire of every grateful cellist, classical music may be dead. Hough’s Missa Mirabilis, for chorus and orchestra, appears on a new disc that also includes Vaughn Williams’ Dona nobis pacem, for the same forces plus soloists. The late Williams work turns out to be one of his most absorbing, even probing. But interest is focused on the Hough Mass, which got its name when he, with parts of the score for it, walked away from a horrifying road accident in which his flipped car was totaled. There’s something about pleas for peace in our war-torn day that can make them rankle as much as Papal calls for peace as nations rage. There are no easy satisfactions in Hough’s Mass, and the literal cry for peace comes late, loudly, and only after a hard path has been cleared for it. It will take better singing before this work, performed by the Colorado Symphony and Chorus under Andrew Litton, fully reveals itself. Like most of Hough’s music, it takes only a dedicated ear to follow it. It’s a mature plea for peace, mindful of its unlikelihood.t

he San Francisco Symphony season is speeding right along to the finale next month with the crowning Beethoven festival, but that doesn’t mean there are no other exciting concerts in the meantime. The one-night-only American Maverick: John Cage program this coming Sat., May 16, will feature the composer’s rarely heard Renga (with video and an appearance by actor Tim Robbins). Veteran guest conductor Charles Dutoit returns for a two-week run at Davies Symphony Hall later in the month, and SFS principal musicians Alexander Barantschik and Jonathan Vinocour are soloists in Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante starting May 20. The past two weeks have been just as interesting, and if the results have been mixed, the programs have been characteristically well-conceived and executed. Most recently, SFS Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas tackled two seemingly incongruent symphonies, and curiously enough, didn’t make a very convincing statement with either one. He has already performed and recorded the sunlit Mahler Fourth to great acclaim, and his understanding and probing analysis of the composer’s works have earned him a place in the pantheon of great interpreters, but performances last week seemed overthought and carefully manicured to the point of occasional inertia. Soprano soloist Susanna Phillips

Decca Kasskara

Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet: anxiety or manic depression?

has a beautiful, crystalline tone, and her voice was able to gleam without a trace of harshness in the sweet song about life in heaven sung in the Fourth Symphony’s finale. Her German is unidiomatic, but that was a minor flaw. Her lovely contribution and MTT’s exquisite framing with his totally sympathetic orchestral musicians elevated the performance to the expected level of excellence. The first half of the bill was devoted to another work of which MTT is an obvious champion, Leonard Bernstein’s unconventional and typically theatrical The Age of Anxiety, Symphony No. 2. The difficult-to-interpret work was taken on the road 16 years ago with SFS principal keyboardist Robin Sutherland brilliantly essaying the important

piano role. I remember the original performances here at DSH as exhilarating, with MTT and Sutherland in fabulous synch, emphasizing the rapturous jazziness that enlivens the center of the score. This time, acclaimed French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet took the bench, and while he has his own admired jazz chops, the results were simply unconvincing. The more ponderous aspects of the narrative (the Symphony is based on an epic poem by W.H. Auden) were just that. The anxiety was damped down to something more like manic depression, and Thibaudet’s expert navigation of the jazz was perfect but didn’t swing. MTT has said Bernstein will ultimately be remembered more for his

I wouldn’t have asked for the music of Edvard Grieg, let alone twice over, but I would have been the loser. His CD of Grieg’s Lyric Pieces gives us 27, nearly half, of the 60plus gems for solo piano that span the composer’s career. Pianophiles may wonder whether they need the disc, what with Emil Gilels and Leif Ove Andsnes (like the composer, a Norwegian) having already weighed in with exemplary recordings. But Hough’s new CD is better than his

predecessors’ for its clarity of articulation, imagination of expression and depth of feeling. The lyric pieces, character- and vignette-heavy, need strong, vivid playing if they’re to make their mark, and there Hough is working from strength. It’s hard to think of another living pianist who can touch him for clarity. You hear all the notes in every piece, balanced, sumptuously phrased, thoughtfully voiced. His active imagination informs even the least of them. These days it’s the pretty ones – “Butterfly,” “Little Bird,” “Sylph” and the elusive “Erotikon” (what does that mean? the program annotator demurs) – that are hard to pull off, but Hough doesn’t shy from their delicacy and lets them flit by unapologetically. At the other end of the expressive spectrum, the Elegies (two here) don’t wallow in undifferentiated morbidity. Each has a specific shape and color. “Bell Ringing” is an involving if disconcerting essay in low sonorities. These remarkable little pieces resonate in the memory. We’re cautioned to avoid the trap of seeing a good composer’s work as getting continually better. Some composers fail to repeat early successes, but the truly greats do keep getting better. Think Mozart, the Schubert annus mirabilis, Wagner. So with these Grieg miniatures. Hough plays these pieces in ascending opus-number order, and the steady gain in depth of expression on Grieg’s part is impossible not to notice. You’re unlikely to hear these pieces in recital these days, and unless you’re a very good pianist (as Grieg was), you won’t be trying them at home. So while most of this music will be unfamiliar fare, if you’re musically literate you’ll surely know two of the pieces, and they’re where the unbridled Hough really soars. “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen” is a rollicking march-like mini-pageant that Hough turns into a study in terraced dynamics. “Puck” is a per-

Piano triple play by Tim Pfaff

f you missed Stephen Hough’s recent piano recital, or heard it and want more, three new CDs by the out gay pianist are following closely in his wake. Together the three, all from Hyperion, show Hough wearing his three musical hats, as soloist, chamber musician and composer. To one degree or another they’re all shockers. If Hough had called for requests,

Katja Tahja

Conductor-composer Esa-Pekka Salonen: orchestral ingenuity.

Fine Art>>

May 14-20, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

Portraying lives of the African Diaspora by Sura Wood

ortraits and Other Likenesses from SFMOMA, a collaborative venture with the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) now on view in MoAD’s expansive, recently renovated space, stretches to the limit the definition of portraiture, a genre that traditionally memorializes the famous and the affluent. The exhibition’s 50 paintings, sculptures, photographs, mixed-media, and installation pieces, dating from the early 1930s to the present, are all drawn from SFMOMA’s collection, and all more or less relate to the African Diaspora and its legacy of migration and displacement. Intentionally or inadvertently, a younger generation engages in a game of call-and-response with veterans like Romare Bearden, represented here by “Three Men” (196667), a large-scale, vibrantly colored collage whose fractured, abstracted shapes depict a trio of cool musicians who might have frequented his Harlem neighborhood. Right next door, and created a half-century later, hangs a soulmate or first cousin, in spirit and technique: Nigerian artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s 2012 collage “Wedding Day.” In this portrait of her nuptials, Crosby wears a festive traditional Nigerian tunic and kneels before her white American groom, proffering a glass of wine. His casual attire subtly points to a clash of cultures, Western and African, old world vs. new. Many of the show’s artists up-end stereotypes and imbue their works with fantasy and fiction. Inspired by Manet and Degas, Lynette YiadomBoakye dispensed with recruiting a sitter and painted a portrait in the classical style of a handsome albeit imaginary African American man. Chris Ofili’s exotic “Princess of the Posse” (1999), a big, strapping, high-key color, glow-in-the-dark glitter collage, sprinkled with magic dust and elephant dung, is a billboard for the charms of a flirtatious femme fatale – note the Cheshire smile and false eyelashes – with a chunky three-dimensional metallic pendant on her neck. In other works people are entirely absent, except by inference, as in Carrie Mae Weems’ “Boneyard,” a triad of black & white photographs of a neglected cemetery with tilting tombstones. The desolate images are accompanied by printed text with helpful hints on how to address the restless, perhaps evil spirits of the dearly departed who didn’t die in peace, like this folksy incantation: “I got a black cat, I got a mojo tooth, I got John the Conqueroo, I’m gonna mess with you.” Equally tenuous in its connection to conventional portraiture is Fred Wilson’s tabletop installation “Me and It” (1995), in which a glass vitrine containing an assortment of racist black memorabilia, ceramic figures of Aunt Jemima, black babies, googley-eyed men and other offensive collectives, sits between two video monitors playing a loop of someone smashing the replicas with a hammer, literally shattering stereotypes. Pressing questions of race, identity, class and gender also inform Glenn Ligon’s angry yet poignant “Narratives” (1993), a suite of nine photo etchings that merges his autobiography with the painful legacy of slavery. “One is not born black; ‘blackness’ is a social construction,” he writes. Adapting an archaic format that presented 19th-century stories recounted by former slaves about their escape to freedom, Ligon incorporated the decorative illustrated pages that typically introduced the narratives, and appropriated the accounts and their stilted language as a vehicle for re-

Seydou Keita/SKPEAC

“Untitled” (1962-55, printed 1996), gelatin silver print by Seydou Keita, collection SFMOMA.

flecting on his own experiences as a black gay man in the 1990s. A page with the heading “Life and Uncommon Suffering” reads as follows: “Glenn Ligon, a colored man who at a tender age discovered his affection for the bodies of other men, and has endured scorn and tribulations ever since.” In some of these “on-the-go” exhibitions, where SFMOMA has shown off its collections at host venues, the overriding premise has been fungible

Katherine Du Tiel

“Sista Sista Lady Blue” (2007), chromogenic print by Mickalene Thomas, collection SFMOMA.

in the extreme. The same could be said of Portraits, though MoAD has largely succeeded in selecting artworks that are true to its vision. The pieces do look terrific in the newly spruced-up space, which has been

transformed for better flow and more pleasurable viewing. Disparate objects are easy to see and have plenty of room to breathe. There’s no denying that it has been fun to see portions of SFMOMA’s formidable

collection in a variety of contexts before they finally fling open the doors next spring after their own construction project is complete.t Through Oct. 11.

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<< Film

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

Monstrous visions by David Lamble

ow is it possible to be profoundly influenced by a man I’d never heard of until I started watching Belinda Sallin’s collagelike bio-doc Dark Star: H.R. Giger’s World? The Swiss-born Giger (1940-2014) could be described as a late-20th/early-21st-century surrealist painter, but that only scrapes at the patina of his extraordinary role in creating and bridging some disparate worlds, stretching from his cluttered Hobbit house in the shadows of mountainous Zurich, Switzerland, to the Hollywood Hills. Let’s begin with bullet-points on the H.R. Giger resume: (1) He was

born to non-judgmental Swiss parents at a moment when most of Europe was drowning under the Nazi tide. (2) He was considered a prodigy, and allowed to film his parents, the beginning of an artistic journey that couldn’t have been imagined. (3) His early career as a painter was shadowed by the suicide of a girlfriend muse. (4) He hits the publicity/overnight fame jackpot in 1979 when Ridley Scott commissions him to create the monsters that frighten Sigourney Weaver and devour her spaceship-mates in the first act of Scott’s sci-fi classic Alien. The hatchling that bursts forth from John Hurt’s chest is a moviehorror moment equaling the best of Hitchcock’s Psycho.

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scene by scene. Dark Star is one of those films that seems a good candidate for a long life after its run at Landmark Theatres (Friday at SF’s Opera Plaza Cinemas, and the Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley). First, it’s that bio-doc oddity, a Halloween film for adults that flirts with sexual content enough to piss off the Catholic Church without making it verboten for kids (it’s currently not rated by the movie code). And yes, the filmmaker rolls out and unwraps an actual mummy! Finally, Sallins is devoted to but not overly worshipful of her subject, allowing us to take Dark Star and its elf-like prophet H.R. Giger as either the king of his own alternative universe or clown prince of a sci-fi world that plays by its own rules and takes no belief system all that seriously, including its own very playful tenets.t

Operatic Brokeback by Jason Victor Serinus

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Early in Dark Star, Giger displays a childhood treasure. “This is the oldest skull I have. My father gave it to me. I was around six. It did scare me a little. To hold death in your hands like that is – well, it’s not very pleasant. So I pulled it along the street on a piece of string, I guess I wanted to prove that I wasn’t sacred of death.” Although Giger was heterosexual, his work is full of phallic images, and the cast of his fans appears to contain many of an LGBT persuasion. Giger did not believe in life after death, as he firmly states on camera, but as one ex explains, he so deliberately worked at exorcizing his own fears through his paintings that he may be said to truly live on through his work. Ironically, Giger died in May 2014, shortly after Sallin completed shooting her film, his death clearly foretold in scenes where he seems to grow more feeble

hen an opera based on Annie Proulx’s short story “Brokeback Mountain” was first announced, we who had sobbed our hearts out during Ang Lee’s 2005 Oscar-winning movie version of the story were thrilled at the prospect of seeing gay love on the opera stage. Certainly the tale of two sheepherders who, one very cold night, find comfort and then love in each other’s arms, only to find their love ultimately thwarted by societal and internalized homophobia, deserved a full operatic treatment. Even as we were excited to learn that Proulx herself had been enlisted to craft the libretto, eyebrows were raised at the choice of Charles Wuorinen as composer. Could someone known for writing dense, angular, and discordant music adopt his craft to fit the tale? The answer, alas, is no. From the start of the new video of Teatro Real de Madrid’s 2014 world premiere production, Wuorinen’s ominous clouds and downpourings of anguished notes and chords seem far removed from the tenderness that moved so many of us during the movie. Those clouds, in fact, rarely

let up. Instead of the sweetness we felt from Jake Gyllenhaal, the handsome young actor who played Jack Twist (here sung by American tenor Tom Randle), we neither see nor feel tenderness in Jack and Ennis del Mar’s (Canadian bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch) music-laden embraces. The men’s voices and bodies may be quite attractive – certainly very virile – and their sincerity unquestionable, but the score allows them virtually no opportunity to drop the pretense of straight masculinity and exchange as much as a sigh or stroke that indicates vulnerability, passion, and warmth.

Even more disappointing, the only time the music grows sympathetic enough to begin to touch the heart comes after Jack’s death, when Ennis visits Jack’s parents’ home. It is the allknowing understanding and compassion of Jack’s mother (Jane Henschel) that provides the warmth the rest of the 130-minute opera lacks. Not even after the curtain falls and Randle and Okulitch stride onstage for applause do they do anything more than briefly put arms around each other and slap each other on the back, in oh-so-“manly” fashion. Even if both these opera singers are heterosexual, couldn’t stage director Ivo Van Hove have encouraged some genuine warmth and tenderness between them? Or was he directing from the outside, as it were? Thus, we are left with the message that love between men is no different from an encounter in a rough-n-ready porn flick, where grunts, slaps and lots of gritty sounds take the place of warmth, tenderness, and openhearted embrace. Only a woman, it seems, is capable of that. There exists more than one operatic version of La bohème. Perhaps, someday, the same will be true for Brokeback Mountain. As it now stands, the opera that many of us had hoped for has yet to be composed. composed.t

Books>>

May 14-20, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

Poetic appreciation by Jim Piechota

On Elizabeth Bishop by Colm Toibin; Princeton University Press, $19.95 rolific, distinguished gay Irish novelist Colm Toibin takes his poetry reading seriously. In his new book On Elizabeth Bishop, a fusion of literary acknowledgement and focused biography, he gratefully applauds the work and “fierce simplicity” of Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Elizabeth Bishop (1911-79). Known for her emotionally resonant poetry characterized by its minimal, indirect tone and subtlety, Bishop was an only child raised in Great Village, Nova Scotia, and Worcester, Massachusetts, the latter immortalized in her piece “In the Waiting Room,” which appeared as the first entry in her final volume of poetry, Geography III, published in 1977. Her physical relocation as a child from the Canadian maritime province to New England was anything but smooth, as evidenced in her poem “The Country Mouse,” where Bishop muses that she “felt as if I were being kidnapped, even if I wasn’t.” Bishop’s early life and emerging talents seem to mystify Toibin as much as they tantalize him. Her varied and substantial oeuvre forms the core of his pocket-sized volume as he dissects the rhythm and rhymes of

her stanzas, often searching for the word or emotion she has left unwritten. “These poems by Bishop are full of resigned tones and half-resigned undertones,” he writes, “but there is always something else there in the space between the words, something that is controlled but not fully, so that the chaos or the panic held in check is all the more apparent because it is consigned to the shadows.” Toibin’s prose is lush and descriptive, lauding Bishop with praise, and

offering comparisons to his own life growing up in southeast Ireland, his struggles with language and the early death of his father, his discovery of poetry and travel, and his general impressions on issues of loss, individuality, and the comforting ease of internal exile. The author contrasts Bishop’s relationships (not always compatible) with poet Robert Lowell, Brazilian architect Lota Costallat de Macedo Soares, Marianne Moore, and a lengthy bit on younger contemporary Thom Gunn, with great dexterity. He has great fun with a chapter on the poet’s time in Key West, ruminating over crowing roosters and fleeting people she encounters, but only for evaporative moments at a time. In 1970, Bishop met and became partners with Alice Methfessel while teaching Lowell’s class at Harvard University. Her lesbianism, as with most of her poetry, kept bystanders at arm’s length, ever farther from the heart of the grand poet’s undiscussed true self. Toibin’s work, part of Princeton University Press’ Writers On Writers series, further establishes him as an intuitive and introspective writer, and draws much-needed attention to Elizabeth Bishop, whose poetry conjured a quiet, artistic storm brewing just beneath a placid veil of written words.t

Bessie sings the blues by David-Elijah Nahmod

BO premieres Bessie, a new biopic about the “Empress of the Blues,” on May 16. Bessie Smith (1894-1937) was a hard-drinking, hard-loving singer-songwriter who became a musical superstar during the 1920s. She was a sold-out concert act who played to white and black audiences alike, and was also a bestselling recording artist. Smith didn’t just sing the blues, she felt them. The blues is a musical genre that originated in the African American communities of the Deep South. A fusion of traditional African music and American folk tunes, the blues were an expression of the anguish of a people who lived hard lives in a country that despised them. The blues became a staple of African American culture at a time when discrimination was legal. Bessie Smith and her mentor Ma Rainey (1886-1939) were the undisputed standard bearers of the blues. Queen Latifah stars as Smith in HBO’s Bessie, while Oscar winner Mo’nique steals a few scenes as Ma Rainey. Latifah also serves as the film’s executive producer. Largely void of special effects, Bessie is a character-driven study of a real-life human being. The script, co-authored by director Dee Rees and the late playwright Horton Foote, examines the life of Smith and allows the audience to peek inside the lives of those around her. The characters

are fully fleshed out; viewers will see who they really were and will understand their motivations. Latifah is sensational as a woman who took no prisoners. Smith fearlessly stands up to her abusive sister, to a man who tries to force himself on her, and to a KKK group that tries to interrupt one of her concerts. When she sings, she takes her audience on a journey inside her sometimes-tortured soul. It’s a mesmerizing roller coaster ride that tells the story of Smith’s life while also explaining the origins of the blues. Latifah dives into the role with gusto, singing her heart out, expressing her rage, and passionately loving men and women alike. The film does not shy away from Smith’s bisexuality or from her voracious sexual appetite. She was a woman who owned her sexuality. Mo’nique nearly manages to steal the film. She’s intense as the buttkicking Ma Rainey, who mentors Smith, then flies into a fit of rage when Smith becomes the bigger star. Yet when Smith is at her lowest ebb years later, it’s Rainey who takes her in. The film’s lush production design, gorgeous period costumes and hairstyles will take viewers back to a time now nearly a century behind us. It’s an unforgettable journey with an African American woman who told the world to kiss her ass at a time when “colored folks knew their place.” Bessie will be available on all

HBO channels through June. Visit HBO.com for schedule details. It will be available at HBO On Demand on May 17, and will also be available online.t

ebar.com I am the future of the LGBT community. I’m gay. I’m 20 years old. I’m out to my parents. I love parties, the beach, and believe it or not, sports. I have a boyfriend, and we like to laugh at dumb online videos. But I also read the news. I care about the planet. I’m studying Engineering at college. I voted in the last election and and I campaign for marriage equality. Someday I might want to have kids. I am the future of the LGBT community. And I read about that future every day on my smart phone. Because that’s where I want it to be.

Courtesy HBO

Queen Latifah stars as Bessie Smith in HBO’s Bessie.

The person depicted here is a model. Their image is being used for illustrative purposes only.

<< Out&About

ut &

A bo ut

O& A

20 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

Thu 21

SF International Arts Festival

Guns or roses by Jim Provenzano

hen you think about the harsh realities of life, rewatching them interpreted through art can be healing, inspiring, or simply wicked fun. Seeing art through a queer perspective shows more, if you aim carefully.

Thu 14 Black Virgins are Not for Hipsters @ The Marsh Echo Brown’s comic solo show follows a young women’s impending sexual encounter, and its political implications. $20-$35. Thu 8pm. Sat 8:30pm. Thru May 9. 1062 Valencia St. at 22nd. 282-3055. themarsh.org

Connie Champagne @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The popular vocalist-actress returns with the special concert, Beyond the Rainbow: The Best of Connie Champagne as Judy Garland. $25$40. 8pm. ($20 food/drink min.) Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.conniechampagne.com www.ticketweb.com

Jewels of Paris @ Hypnodrome Thrillpeddlers’ new production is a “revolutionary” Parisian-themed musical revue, with original music and lyrics by original Cockette Scrumbly Koldewyn, including characters based on Picasso, Cocteau, Josephine Baker and even Marie Antoinette. $30-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru May 2. 575 10th St. www.hypnodrome.org

New & Classic Films @ Castro Theatre Classic and new films in repertory. May 14: Fitzcarraldo (7:30). May 15: Academy of Art University Media Awards (7pm)./ May 16: Frozen sing-along (1pm, also May 17) and The Birds (4:30, 7pm) and Q (9:15). May 17: Touch of Evil (4:30, 8:30) and Magician: Orson Welles (6:40). May 18: Danny Collins (3pm, 7pm) and Wrecking Crew (5pm, 9pm). May 19: The Grand Budapest Hotel (7pm) and Hotel New Hampshire (4:55, 8:55). May 20: The Big Sleep (3pm, 7pm) and The Blue Dahlia (5:10, 9:10). May 21: Roadhouse (7pm) and Point Break (9:10). Most tickets $11. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

The Oregon Trail @ La Val’s Subterranean, Berkeley Bekah Brunstetter new play’s about a computer whiz who’s an ace at survival games, but not in reality. $10-$25. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 7pm. Thru June 7. 1834 Euclid Ave., Berkeley. (510) 224-5744. impacttheatre.com

Sean Dorsey Dance @ Dance Mission Theater

Complete Female Stage Beauty @ New Conservatory Theatre Previews begin for Jeffrey Hatcher’s stylish period dramedy about 1660s crossdressing Shakespearian actors whose lived change when women are allowed to act. $25-$45. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru June 14. 25 Van Ness Ave, lower level. www.nctcsf.org

The Facts of Life @ Oasis Those wacky queens who gave you Sex & the City are now doing drag parody versions of two episodes from the cult classic schoolgirl sitcom. $25-$30. 7pm. Thu-Sat thru May 16. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. sfoasis.com

Fifth of July @ Aurora Theatre, Berkeley Lanford Wilson’s “Talley Trilogy” continues with a production by the East Bay theatre ensemble; Ken Talley returns to his Missouri home after losing his legs in the Vietnam war, where he reminisces and makes decisions with his family and friends. $20-$50. Thru May 17. Tue 7pm. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm & 7pm. 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org

Hairspray @ Julia Morgan Theater, Berkeley Berkeley Playhouse presents their production of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s musical theatre adaptation of John Waters’ lighthearted film about a chubby Baltimore girl in the 1960s who fights racism on a dance show. $5-$20. Fri 7pm. Sat 1pm & 6pm. Sun 12pm & 5pm. Thru May 17. 2640 College Ave., Berkeley. (510) 845-8542. berkeleyplayhouse.org

Head of Passes @ Berkeley Repertory Theatre Tarell Alvin McCraney’s poignant poetic drama about a Mississippi family’s trials of faith and tribulation. $29-$79. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm. Sun 2pm. Thru May 24. Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Karen Ripley @ The Marsh Berkeley The veteran comic performs her solo show, Oh No, There’s Men on the Land, her witty account of being a young lesbian in 1970s Berkeley. $15$100. 8pm. Sat 5pm. Thru May 30. 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

World premiere of The Missing Generation : Voices From the Early AIDS Epidemic, part of the company’s 10th anniversary season. $15-$25. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 4pm. Sun 7pm. Thru May 17. 3316 24th St. at Mission. www.seandorseydance.com

Marilyn Maye @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko

Fri 15

Mount Misery @ Exit on Taylor

30 Years of Collecting Art That Tells Our Stories @ GLBT History Museum Opening of a new exhibit of collected drawings, paintings and sculptures from three decades of queer donations, guest-curated by Elisabeth Cornu. 7pm-9pm. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

The cabaret legend (who performed on The Tonight Show a record 76 times) performs her concert of classic music. $35-$50. 8pm. Also May 16, 7pm. ($20 food/drink min.) Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.ticketweb.com Cutting Ball Theatre’s production of Andrew Saito’s drama about the Edward Covey plantation, where Frederick Douglass lived as a teenage slave; the property was later purchased by U.S. Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The play brings the two men together. $10-$50. Thu 7:30pm, Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 2pm, Sun 5pm. Thru June 7. 277 Taylor St. 5251205. www.cuttingball.com

Ondine @ Sutro Baths

Lear’s Shadow @ The Marsh

We Players, the innovative environmental theatre ensemble, presents an outdoor production of Jean Giraudoux’s fairy tale drama about an ocean-dwelling mermaid and her affair with an arrogant knight. $40-$60. Fri-Sun 4:30pm. Thru June 7. 680 Point Lobos Ave. www. weplayers.org

Geoff Hoyle’s new solo take on Shakespeare’s King Lear, from the perspective of the unemployed Fool. $15-$35. Wed & Thu 8pm. Sat 5pm. Thru May 30. 1062 Valencia St. 2823055. www.themarsh.org

One Man, Two Guvnors @ Berkeley Repertory Theatre Richard Bean’s comic update on Carlo Goldini’s The Servant of Two Masters, with biting one-liners, satire, live music and a bit of cross-dressing, is about a doltish butler who’s trapped between two bosses. $29-$89. Wed & Sun 7pm. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru June 21. 2025 Addison St. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Rise @ Exit Theatre Scott Barry’s comic solo show about ex-girlfriends, erectile dysfunction drug phobia and losing his virginity. $15-$20. Fri & Sat 8pm. Thru May 23. 156 Eddy St. www.risetheplay.com

Smuin Ballet @ YBCA The local modern ballet company performs world premieres and repertory works in its 21st season, including the balcony pas de deux from Michael Smuin’s Romeo and Juliet, his Hearts Suite, Helen Pickett’s Petal, and a new work by Adam Hougland. $24-$67. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru May 17. Also May 21-24 in Mountain View, May 29-30 in Walnut Creek, and June 5 & 6 in Carmel. www.smuinballet.org

Stereotypo @ The Marsh Don Reed’s new solo show, subtitled Rants and Rumblings at the DMV, showcases the banal automotive office as a showcase of diverse characters. $20-$100. Fri 8pm, Sat 8:30pm. Extended thru May 23. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Talley’s Folly @ Harry’s Upstage, Berkeley Aurora Theatre Company restages Lanford Wilson’s lyrical uplifting two-actor drama. $30-$50. Tue 7pm. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru June 7. 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 8434822. www.AuroraTheatre.org

Where’s Charley? @ Eureka Theatre Frank Loesser and George Abbott’s lively musical adaptation of Brandon Thomas’s uproarious 1892 farce Charley’s Aunt is performed by the SF revival ensemble. $25-$75. Fri 8pm, Sat 6pm, Sun 3pm. Thru May 17. 215 Jackson St. 255-8207. www.42ndStMoon.org

Sat 16 Hookman @ Z Below Lauren Yee’s new play about a young woman facing college after losing her best friend to a serial killer. $20-$30. Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru May 30. 470 Florida St. (866) 811-4111. www.encoretheatresf.org

Katya Presents @ Martuni’s Our singing Russian exiled countess performs and welcomes Ethel Merman, Matthew Martin, Russ Lorenson, John Cavellini, Joe Wicht, Tom Shaw, Sheelagh Murphy and Veronica Klaus. $11. 7pm. Also May 17, 7pm. 4 Valencia St.

Lost Queer History Tour @ North Beach Author and artist Katie Gilmartin leads a tour of historic North Beach sites of former gay and lesbian bars, many included in her Lambda Literary Award finalist mystery Blackmail, My Love. 2pm. Jack Kerouac Alley, behind City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus Ave. www.katiegilmartin.com

Mary Poppins @ Spreckels Performing Arts Center, Rohnert Park The rollicking musical about a magical British nanny, based on the Disney film and P.L. Travers’ book, is performed by the Spreckels Theatre Company. $15-$40. Thu 7:30pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru May 24. (707) 588-3400. www.spreckelsonline.com

Melancholy, a Comedy @ The Marsh Sara Felder’s solo show about a lesbian college student’s romantic entanglements while researching Abraham Lincoln’s depression. $15$100. Sat 5pm. Sun 7pm. Thru June 28. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Paula Poundstone @ Osher Marin Jewish Community Center The celebrated comic returns with her stand-up act. $32-$74. 8pm. 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael, 444-8000. www.marinjcc.org

Springlicious @ Infusion Lounge Glide Memorial Church’s gala fundraiser, with performances by Imperial Court monarchs; plus Sparkle Sinclaire, Sapphire Shade, Sasha Scion, Blaze, Lady Dominique, Momma’s Boyz, Amber Gray, Tamia and Racine. $25-$65. 5:30-9:30pm. 124 Ellis St. springlicious2015. eventbrite.com

Trouble Cometh @ SF Playhouse Richard Dresser’s dark comedy about two exectuve stuck in an existential crisis as a deadline looms. $20-$45. Tue-Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 3pm. Sun 2pm. Thru June 27. 450 Post St. 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org

The Waiting Period @ The Marsh Brian Copeland returns with his popular solo show, about the tensions of considering suicide, and waiting for approval to buy a gun. $30-$100. Saturdays 5pm, Sundays 5:30pm. Extended thru May 31. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Seduction: Japan’s Floating World @ Asian Art Museum New exhibit of ancient art from the John C. Weber Collection. Thru May 10. Also, The Printer’s Eye: Ukiyo-e, from the Grabhorn Collection. Other fascinating exhibits as well. Free (members, kids 12 and under)-$15. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 200 Larkin St. www.asianart.org

Mon 18 Come Together @ Marines Memorial Theater Cast members from The Book of Mormon and Katya Smirnoff-Skyy perform music of The Beatles, plus comedy and dance, at this benefit concert for the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation. $75-$125. 7:30pm. 609 Sutter St. 273-1620. www.reaf.org

Various Exhibits @ California Academy of Sciences Exhibits and planetarium shows with various live, interactive and installed exhibits about animals, plants and the earth; special events each week, with adult nightlife parties most Thursday nights. $20-$35. Mon-Sat 9:30am5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Tue 19 Gay Skate Night @ Church on 8 Wheels LGBT night at the former Sacred Heart Church-turned disco roller skate party space, hosted by John D. Miles, the “Godfather of Skate.” Actually every night is gay-friendly, including Saturday’s Black Rock night (Burning Man garb encouraged). 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

It’s Everything @ KOFY-TV Local nightlife host and singer BeBe Sweetbriar’s new streaming web talk show welcomes local celebrities. 7pm. Audience welcome at KOFY-TV, 2500 Marin St. www.BeBeSweetbriar.com

Wed 20 Ana Popovic @ Yoshi’s Oakland The acclaimed Serbian jazz guitarist performs with her band at the jazz club and Asian restaurant. $26-$59. 8pm. Also May 21. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

Smack Dab @ Magnet Eclectic monthly open mic series hosted by Larry-bob Roberts and Dana Hopkins, this month featuring Denise Benevides. Sign-up 7:30pm. Show 8pm. 4122 18th St. magnetsf.org

Thu 21

Sun 17 Banned Book Book Club @ SF Public Library Radar Readings, including retiring host Michelle Tea, features banned authors Marcus Ewert, Ariel Schrag, Anne Elizabeth Moore and April Sinclair. 6pm. 100 Larkin St. Koret Auditorium, lower level. www.sfpl.org

Barbary Coast Revue @ Balancoire The third season of the popular cabaret show returns, with Danny Kennedy as Mark Twain, a cast of diverse performers, and new guest performer Connie Champagne. Thursdays weekly thru June. $14-$64. 8pm. 2565 Mission St. at 22nd. www.BarbaryCoastRevue.com

Jillian Lauren @ Books Inc. The author of the bestselling memoir Some Girls: My Life in a Harem reads from and discusses her new book, Everything You Ever Wanted. 7pm. 2275 Market St. www.booksinc.net

SF International Arts Festival @ Various Venues

Thu 14 Sean Dorsey Dance Lydia Daniller

Fascinating new works by artists from around the block and around the world, in dance, theatre, music, visual arts and film, including several LGBT creators and performers. Opening night event: Bearing Witness: Surveillance in the Drone Age (Fort Mason Center). Various times, admissions and venues. Thru June 7. www.sfiaf.org

Books>>

May 14-20, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 21

Survivor’s story by Brian Bromberger

killed, and dismembered gay men, which seems like a non sequitor to the book’s theme. Yet Peck is paralleling these cases, where police stonewalled their investigation or missed important clues because of their own homophobia, with the Reagan and Bush Administrations’ indifference/ criminal negligence of gay men’s lives during the AIDS epidemic. The end result, death, was identical. Peck attests: “If I go to my grave thinking that I never did anything more important than what I did in ACT UP, when I was 22, 23, or 24 – so far nothing has come close – I will go to my grave happy and proud.” Peck borders on nostalgia as he recalls his relationships with fellow activists and their fervor in spite of the fact many knew they

Visions and Revisions: Coming of Age in the Age of AIDS by Dale Peck; Soho Press, $25 here is a disturbing line about midway through Dale Peck’s new book Visions and Revisions when he testifies, “AIDS gave gay men no choice but to step into the spotlight or die in the wings.” His book is the story of how he grabbed that spotlight by becoming an ACT UP AIDS activist in the middle of this “hothouse period.” Peck calls Visions and Revisions a “memoir on the second half of the first half of the AIDS epidemic” (1987-96), but this is no conventional linear memoir. On the last page, Peck describes the book as being assembled from over a dozen previously published essays written over 25 years. So I would characterize his essays as representative of what he terms the New Narrative, meaning a non-structured collage that forms a confessional social and political history of this tumultuous era, encompassing journalism, social analysis, queer literary criticism, diary entries, letters, and poetry. Peck is attempting to figure out in hindsight what this period represents in his own development, which is primarily the obliteration of any idealism he had. For Peck there is only devastation, no purpose to the carnage, except to act as an observer. The book begins with an excursus on serial killers in London, New York, and Milwaukee, who picked up,

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would not survive AIDS. In one street-theater incident he recalls the 1992 funeral of ACT UP member Mark Fisher, with his body carried through the New York City streets in a clear-topped coffin, a moment of desperation when because of people on the streets’ indifference and lack of caring as they saw his face, Peck lost hope. Part of Peck’s disillusionment with ACT UP is that the audience’s attention was being drawn to the activists themselves, rather than to the epidemic. Later, group infighting destroyed the organization. But he dedicates the book with gratitude and respect to Larry Kramer, “because of whose tireless efforts many more millions are alive today, including him.” Peck is intent on not reducing AIDS to some moral, which explains his evisceration of the gay conservative journalist Andrew Sullivan, who wrote a rather appalling essay, “When Plagues End,” in the Nov. 10, 1996 issue of The New York Times Magazine, proclaiming the end of AIDS. Peck wrote a letter castigating Sullivan, and in the book expands on his blistering criticism, noting how the protease drugs did not work for everyone and were not available for the vast majority of HIV+ people in the world. There was still work to be done to end this epidemic, not celebrate its premature conclusion. What disgusts Peck is that AIDS becomes a “life lesson, the proverbial blessing in disguise, each bromide making HIV that much more benign until it starts to seem not like something that should be avoided or resisted, but something that should practically be embraced, a distinction,

a gift, even a badge of honor and a path to wisdom.” AIDS can never be domesticated or sugarcoated, for to do otherwise is to betray the terror experienced and lives wasted. The book maintains a raw, acerbic tone, full of rage, rants, and passion. Much of it seems a rambling stream of consciousness, in-between longer excurses on exhibitionist exploits in an Amsterdam leather sex club (where in spite of being HIV-, Peck practices unsafe sex); a heart-rending interlude of finding a 1965 letter in a sleeve of a Carmen recording between two lovers, one of whom was a musician who had appeared in a Warhol movie and later died of AIDS; and concluding with “Thirteen Ecstasies of the Soul,” a lyrical, poetic fantasia dedicated to a dead friend, on the physical experiences of the body. There seems little focus connecting these patchwork pieces to each other, yet I think Peck is attempting to revisit the emotional

tenor and trauma of those days full of despair, confusion, uncertainty, hopelessness, and grief. He wants the reader to relive them in all their urgency and intensity amidst death’s omnipresence. The lack of cohesion leaves one a bit frustrated, despite some exhilarating passages. Does it all end in anomie and death for Peck? Not quite, because in trying to restore the dignity of those who died and survived, he concludes that only his artistic imagination (as a novelist) and sexuality enabled him to face this disease, to create an identity anchored by defiance. Peck challenges us: “I’ll show you what AIDS has shown me, if you’ll show me what AIDS has shown you.” Mutual witnessing in the shared destruction becomes the only kind of redemption possible after AIDS, a sobering vision of a survivor still trying to come to terms with the holocaust permanently imprinted on his soul.t

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<< Theatre

22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

Anna Woodruff

Director Mark Lamos during rehearsal for A Little Night Music, coming to ACT.

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Lamos to direct a production that would be underwritten by and presented at two other regional theaters. When both those theaters pulled 10:17 AM out, Lamos figured the project was dead. “Someone called me and said, ‘I see you’re doing Night Music,’ and I said, ‘I don’t think so.’ And he said, ‘Well, your name is on a poster.’ So I called Carey and asked, ‘What’s up?’ She said, ‘We’re doing it! It’s just too wonderful to pass up.’” Despite the lack of financial help from the other theaters, Lamos called the budget “quite generous” and enough to present “a beautiful production with gorgeous costumes and a set that is quite large and does unusual things.” The cast features a collection of Broadway veterans, including Patrick Cassidy as lawyer Fredrik Egerman, Karen Ziemba as actress Desiree Armfeldt, Emily Skinner as the wife of Desiree’s lover, and Dana Ivey as Desiree’s mother, who romantically manipulates all the characters by inviting them to spend a weekend together at her country estate. Lamos was a young actor appearing on Broadway in the musical Cyrano when he saw the original production of A Little Night Music. “It was such a change of pace for Broadway and for Stephen Sondheim,” Lamos said. “It broke open the way people thought of Sondheim, that he could go from those

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Mark Lamos

From page 15

Saint Laurent

From page 13

Born to French parents in Oran, Algeria, Yves Henri Donat MathieuSaint-Laurent (August 1, 1936-June 1, 2008) overcame a variety of obstacles, not the least of which was his flamboyant homosexuality, to create a fashion brand that endures to this day. Two of Saint Laurent’s biggest coups – legitimizing ready-to-wear dresses and accessories, and tuxedos for women – may seem old-hat, but they were a bold move in their day, especially considering the viciously fickle fashion press, always ready to take down a designer whose ego exceeds his abilities. Apart from his tightly focused story, Bonello succeeds by casting three of the sexiest and most talented men working in French cinema today: first, the slim beauty Gaspard Ulliel as Saint Laurent in his prime. Some may recall Ulliel making the most of the title character in the 2007 monster pic Hannibal Rising. Ulliel walks a tightrope in showing how a one-time boy genius (Saint Laurent had attracted the attention

smart, sarcastic, dark pieces like Company and Follies into this pretty heavenly meditation on love and sex and memory and sadness.” But Lamos also remembers having trouble understanding all the lyrics, a critical matter in a Sondheim musical. Improvements in sound enhancement have alleviated some of those concerns, he said, adding that “clarity has been a big issue for us right from the start of rehearsals.” In Finishing the Hat, one of his annotated compendiums of lyrics, Sondheim writes that original director Harold Prince has subsequently spoken dismissively of A Little Night Music. Sondheim writes, “I think Hal’s lack of enthusiasm stems from two things: First, the show wasn’t daringly different enough, as Company and Follies had been, and second, A Little Night Music was a writer’s piece rather than a director’s.” That doesn’t sound like good news for a director. Lamos laughed. “Oh, I think it is, because it’s so literate, and you can’t paint with a different set of brushes because the lyrics are so intricate that if the audiences get lost the show starts to seep away, so a lot of it is pointing up the correct focus of the piece.” Those lyrics are all set to variations on waltz combinations. “It’s very much its own thing, and if you tinker with it too much you run a terrible risk.” Lamos will miss the opening night of A Little Night Music at the Geary Theatre, needing to head back to Connecticut, where he is artistic director of Westport Coun-

try Playhouse. When he directed Edward II at ACT in 2000, he had recently left Hartford Stage after 18 years as artistic director. He wanted the freedom of a freelance director who didn’t need to worry about how his choices rebounded on him as the theater’s leader. “I don’t think I could have done a production there as out there as this,” he said in 2000 of Hartford Stage and his ACT staging of Edward II. But he had been wearying of traveling after 14 years as a freelancer, and he also missed time at home with his husband, when a surprise call switched his life to a new track. Paul Newman was scheduled to direct Of Mice and Men at Westport Country Playhouse, where his wife Joanne Woodward was co-artistic director. With Newman ailing, Lamos got a call asking him to be on standby, confidentially, should Newman not be able to proceed. That is what happened, and Lamos began rehearsals two weeks before Newman died. “The next day, the head of the board asked me if I would be interested in being artistic director. I liked working there, and I had been missing having a dialogue with a constant audience instead of just flying from flower to flower. I was increasingly getting tired of being away from my husband.” Together for 35 years now, it’s been a long time since Lamos has felt the need to keep Jones “under wraps.”t

of Dior with his designs as a prodigy in his 20s) managed to hold the spotlight, his workaholic ways fueled by drugs and a highly charged, burn-the-candle-at-both-ends, 24/7 lifestyle. Jérémie Renier brings a low-key self-assurance to the role of Saint Laurent’s partner Pierre Bergé. Fans of Renier’s sensational early careerturns (the little boy lost in the woods with a cannibal-inclined hermit in Francois Ozon’s Criminal Lovers) will savor his maturation as mentor to a new boy on the rise. And there’s the lovely Louis Garrel as Jacques De Bascher, the handsome stud who introduces Saint Laurent to drugs and wild sex. Garrel, from a family of notable French filmmakers, impressed many Stateside with his contribution to the trio of “holy innocents” in Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Dreamers, a daring homage to the uprising of film-lovers in 1968 Paris. Rounding out the ensemble are three female models – Léa Seydoux as Loulou de la Falaise, Amira Casar as Anne Marie Munoz, and Aymeline Valade as Betty Catroux – who

bravely hit the runway with their master’s dresses. Finally, in a delicious dollop of late-act melancholy, there’s veteran Helmut Berger as the aging YSL in 1989. At an immodest 150-minutes running time, Saint Laurent makes great demands on your attention, especially if you’re not a bornagain fashionista. But the writing, acting, and of course, the clothes carry the day. The screenwriters have the good sense to sprinkle highly quotable Saint Laurent bon mots throughout: “I have no life. I’m 33, and I feel 100.” “I’ve created a monster, and now I have to live with it.” And finally, “A designer must be an illusionist, a child, a simpleton, a genius and a clairvoyant.” Saint Laurent also gets high marks for including people of color on the runway. In many ways, Yves Saint Laurent foresaw and created the framework for a nonstop digital universe where compulsive workaholics could disguise their implacable thirst for success at any cost by dressing to the nines. Hundred-dollar silkscreened T-shirts, anyone?t

A Little Night Music will run May 20-June 14 at the Geary Theater. Tickets are $20-$170. There will be an OUT with ACT performance and reception on June 3. Call (415) 749-2228 or go to act-sf.org.

Heather McDonald

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PERSONALS Vol. 45 • No. 20 • May 14-20, 2015

www.ebar.com ✶ www.bartabsf.com Rolling Blackouts

KING OF CLUBS Mario Diaz film & club night bring LA fun to Oasis by Jim Provenzano

f you’ve been to Los Angeles recently, you may know that their nightlife scene rivals ours, and even tops it on occasion, such as the beefcake- and drag-loaded events created by impresario Mario Diaz. See page 24 >>

Mario Diaz (right, red T-shirt) and his Big Fat Dick gogo dancers.

CASINO “Y ROYALE

Revue brings a show biz buffet to Sonoma by Jim Gladstone

ou normally wouldn’t see this big of a gay explosion in Sonoma County,” jokes Duane Wells, the promoter of Revue, a performance and party extravaganza to be held on the Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend at Rohnert Park’s Graton Resort Casino. See page 26 >>

Background: The glam décor at Graton Resort’s Skybar. Inserts, from left to right: Duane Wells, Jackie Beat, Martha Wash, Levi Kreis

{ THIRD OF THREE SECTIONS }

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

24 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

Rolling Blackouts

Club promoter Mario Diaz

King of Clubs

From page 23

In addition to being the subject of a new documentary film to get its Bay Area premiere at Oasis, Diaz and his crew will also invade the popular new SoMa club with his own brand of party next weekend. Club King, the film about Mario Diaz directed by former Bay Area resident Jon Bush, gets up close and personal with the creator of numerous club events in New York City and Los Angeles. The film features funny quotes from Justin Vivian Bond, Jackie Beat, and other nightlife and cabaret queens, plus some backstage footage of Diaz and his army of hunky gogo guys. The film screens at Oasis May 21. The next night, Diaz’ complete entourage, plus many local talents, stuff Oasis with Big Fat Dick, featuring some of the hottest male dancers, and a midnight performance by Diaz’ cohort, Connie (aka John

Mario Diaz (front) with a Mickey Mouse and bling-themed gogo crew.

Cantwell, who’s also performing at 8pm on May 22; look for my interview with him next week!). Since director Bush and subject Diaz were running around hither and yon in La La Land, we had an email Q&A, where the two men could discuss their projects. First, director/producer Jon Bush: Jim Provenzano: What about Mario stands out for you as a subject for your film? Jon Bush: In many ways, to me, he’s the modern version of a Renaissance man: Club promoter, art director, stylist, actor, dancer, producer. He’s incredibly talented and highly creative and has been thriving in a culture that doesn’t produce many long-term careers. He’s been throwing parties for over 20 years now and has been consistently successful, not only at the business of it but the art. He doesn’t just produce his parties, he hosts them, in a magnani-

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mous, generous style that fills a room with his personality in a way that makes the scene feel wilder, more fun, more sexy. He’s gorgeous, smart and funny. And, finally, he has this incredible history in 1990s East Village that is punctuated by opening the infamous queer bar, The Cock, that then took him to Los Angeles in the early 2000s to start all over again and change the face of queer club-dom in this town in the process. He’s a real innovator and artist. Not knowing him at all personally before starting the film, the filmmaking process was a true journey deep into a fascinating person’s life, un-peeling the onion one layer at a time. Mario Diaz shared some of his inspiration behind his more than two decades of club promotion and creation: J.P.: Would it be fair to say that your New York 1990s events sort of helped revive the last gasp of Manhattan queer nightlife? Certainly not the last gasp, but we sure made an impact. I felt like when I got to New York City in the mid ‘90s, things were already starting to change. It was gentrifying and homogenizing quickly in New York, mainly due to Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and his “quality of life campaign.” Not my quality and not my life, that’s for sure. The down and dirty nightlife that I read about and the sexual freedom that was being celebrated was slipping away, and I felt cheated. I’ve always felt, as a gay person especially, that being able to accept our innate sexuality without the shame so many of us carry with it to be of great importance. So I made it sort of my mission to bring back the sexy, wild NYC I moved there to be a part of. There were so many amazing clubs and parties that were a great inspiration to me at the time. Squeezebox, Jackie 60, Dean Johnson’s Rock and Roll Fag Bar. The list goes on. I started promoting my own sexy, dark and loud, retro porn-inspired clubs that were reminiscent of the ‘70s gay scene that I dreamt of. I put in a back room at my party. The back rooms had just recently disappeared from the nightlife in NYC. I always felt they deserved a place in the dark corners of the gay underground. They were at one time one of the few places many men could hook up. Not so much these days, but I guess I’m old-fashioned. My point is, no matter what your urges, thoughts and desires were, they were okay... normal. We are all sexual beings and it’s good. And all of this shame around our sexuality can destroy us. So I made a point to be In Your Face nasty, but with

a sense of humor and great style. I wanted our sexuality, no matter how “weird,” to feel fun. Because it should be! This has been my mission ever since. In the film, you’re very specific about the look and style of your dancers and designers. Do you think people might be surprised by the specificity, and not know what it takes to create and sustain a nightclub event? I am very detail-oriented and have always styled all my gogo guys from head to toe. Not everyone knows this. They must think I just happened to find the coolest group of guys in town. But if I didn’t dress them they would just look like all the others, in their Andrew Christian undies, upper arm sweatbands and twinkie caps like the west side boys. The littlest thing can make me crazy and my taste changes quite frequently. It makes it hard for me to delegate or assign a protege to take over for me. No one cares like one does when it’s their own creative vision being executed. This is why I tend to be very hands-on with

my events. What would you consider one of your favorite nights of recent years? I think the party Hot Dog I started when I moved to LA was a real stand out. I ended it a few years back, but it was LA’s introduction to my aesthetic; a weekly theme, always a new set, and my dancers were always styled accordingly. There were boys, girls and drag or trans glitter sprinkled gogo dancers at every Hot Dog. It gave people a clear taste of what I was about and they ate it up like drunken gay banshees. I had about 800 people coming out to dance every Saturday night. They all had big smiles on their nasty adorable sweaty little faces. People ask me to bring it back quite often… maybe one day. You bring choreographed dance numbers to your events that are more polished than most nightclub acts. Can you talk a bit about your own efforts, and about the choreographers you work with? I attribute my connection with the See page 26 >>

Rolling Blackouts

Top: Mario Diaz (left) confers with a gogo guy at Big Fat Dick. Bottom: A pair of gogo guys at LA’s Big Fat Dick.

Read more online at www.ebar.com

May 14-20, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 25

Heather, lately Catching up with comedian Heather McDonald

by Ronn Vigh

omedian Heather McDonald is widely known for her many appearances as a roundtable regular and writer on the former E! Network show Chelsea Lately. We connected over the phone on the Friday morning before Mother’s Day while Heather was “stranded” in a Jacksonville area hotel before performing at a nearby stand up comedy club.

Ronn Vigh: Thanks for taking time out to chat. How’s Florida so far? Heather McDonald: I got in late at night and it was desolate around here. I felt like I was in the scene with the girl smoking in Gone Girl. I don’t rent a car when I go on the road, so now I’m just sitting in the hotel room debating if I’m going to call an Uber to take me to the beach. You talk a lot in your act about your three children. Will you be back from Florida to celebrate Mother’s Day? Yes. I’m taking an early flight back to LA. I told my husband to have the Chardonnay chilling for me. Sadly, it is the first Mother’s Day without my mom, and we always catered the day toward her, and never made it about me. This year, I told each kid to write me a very nice card and which ever card makes me cry the most, that kid gets a dollar.

I’ve seen you do celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore and Nancy Grace. However, I’m originally from New Jersey so I’m partial to your impersonation of some of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Oh, I would get so into that, too! I was doing a lot of reality stars for a while, even though they don’t work as well. Its like doing jokes about Star Trek. 20 percent of the room is crying and dying while the other 80 don’t know what you’re talking about. All I watch is trashy reality TV, so I was a part of that 20 percent! Well, it’s the point of view and that you can tell that story. That’s the most important thing. Louis CK has the ability to do that. I’m not the most amazing impressionist, but what I like about it is that their life continues. And thank god for YouTube; I can keep watching them and keep writing.t Heather McDonald performs May 15, 8pm & 10:15pm, May 16, 7:30pm & 9:45pm, at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 915 Columbus Ave. 9284320. www.cobbscomedyclub.com

Heather McDonald

You will be doing stand up at Cobb’s Comedy Club here in San Francisco on May 15 and 16. Hopefully, it will be more exciting than Florida for you. I love SF. The food, architecture and great crowds. On Friday, all the gays are coming to my show. On Saturday, all my sorority sisters are coming. That’s basically my core demo right there; gays and sorority girls! Yes! Every comic has their core demographic. I wrote for Joan Rivers, who certainly had her own, and found it easy to write in her voice, but then struggled to return to my own. Meanwhile, you have a very precise point of view, yet you can successfully write for others such as Chelsea Handler at the same time. Was that ever a struggle? It is great that you can write for other people. Some people will write as far as their ego will only allow. It is a really great talent to have if you can write, because as you get older no one, can take that from you. When I wrote on Chelsea Lately, I was never actually thinking about what I would say until her jokes were done. Then once I knew what she was saying, I could set it up from my point of view. Sure, anyone can do a joke about Tinder or Grindr but how can everyone relate to it? You seem really good at giving advice. Maybe you should lead seminars? You know, that’s funny because this morning, this girl was taking me to press and she told me that she was 29 and wanted to have a kid before getting married. I told her that you can get out of a marriage but you can’t get out of co-parenting. You’re very astute, hence why you’re really good at doing impressions. Is developing the impressions you do a lot of hard work or do they just seem to happen? I’ve always had a natural ability to do that. It’s one of those things that’s kind of a gift and a way of observing someone, a friend, a celebrity or someone I meet. When I first started doing comedy people would say, ‘Oh my god! Do that in your act!’ But I didn’t in the beginning because I studied with The Groundings and they preferred original characters.

Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and select Walmart locations. To charge by phone (800) 745-3000. Limit 8 tickets per person. All dates, acts and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable service charges.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

26 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

Casino Royale

From page 23

Wells has put together a mindboggling, gender-bending roster of talent for two nights of sparkly, sexy, hot messy fun. Lady Bunny, Jackie Beat, Martha Wash, Jimmy James, Joey Arias, and internet eye-candy Davey Wavey are just some of the names who will appear at the first major gay-focused entertainment event at the 13-month old casino, located less than an hour north of San Francisco. A pop-besotted polymath, the Los Angeles-based Wells’ unlikely career path has taken him from a Georgetown degree in finance to a Manhattan corporate job with Liz Claiborne to UCLA law school and eventually to his current gig as a freelance travel and lifestyle writer –and accidental casino impresario.

Among Wells’ current freelance writing projects is developing LGBT content for the Sonoma County Tourism website (www.sonomacounty.com). Last year, while doing research for the site, Wells interviewed Greg Sarris, tribal chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. Sarris, a Stanford alumnus, novelist, and filmmaker, noted that the tribe’s then- brand new casino had done little outreach to the gay market in San Francisco and the North Bay. Elsewhere, that market has proven a lucrative one for the gaming industry. Casino operators in Las Vegas and Atlantic City regularly run advertisements and promotions to attract gay visitors. Given the size of the LGBT population that lives in driving distance of southern Sonoma County, Sarris –who wrote about gay Native Americans in his

1999 novel Watermelon Nights– as a natural for Graton. In short order, Duane Wells received a call from Joe Hasson, Vice President and General Manager of the casino, asking for assistance in planning some events to help introduce the region’s gay audiences to the venue. Between his past experience helping organize benefit events for several AIDS and LGBT organizations and an address book full of contacts from celebrity interviews he’d conducted as a writer, Wells agreed to helm the effort. “We’ve had events with the Sonoma GayDar community group and we’ve had gay bingo nights,” said Hasson last week, “But Revue is the first themed entertainment on this scale. We’re only a year and a half old, so a lot of what we do promotionally is about awareness. We want to get people in the door for the first time, then hopefully they’ll come back.” “I hadn’t done anything like this in ages.” Wells recalls, “But I love entertainment and I have some lowhanging fruit in my life.” Among the ripest is one of Wells’ close friends in Los Angeles, a talent manager who represents “about a third of the acts on the bill.” Lady Bunny and Candis Cayne are old acquaintances from Wells’ years in New York. Hasson says that while he expects much of Revue’s audiences to be gay, there is enough crossover appeal in the likes of Martha Wash and Broadway star Levi Kreis –who won a Tony as Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet – to attract a mixed crowd to the shows, which will also feature a live six-piece, two-vocalist house band. “Graton didn’t want to hide us away,” Wells acknowledges. “It wasn’t about quietly courting gay business. I’d originally chosen a fairly intimate space for the postparty, but they really wanted it to be

King of Clubs

From page 24

dance community to my choreographer Ryan Heffington, who I have studied with for about seven years now. He is the genius responsible for the recent works with musician Sia. His choreography in “Chandelier” and “Elastic Heart” has given him great praise and attention. We have known of his brilliance for years and he has given many of us a great gift with his work. Dancing with him has been one of my great blessings here in LA. In fact I started my party Full Frontal Disco with him. It is now in its seventh year and I’m very proud of it. It is the event where I get to show some of the great dancers and choreographers that LA has to offer. Each month I have such inspired

Sonoma Revue performers include: 1. Lady Bunny 2. Jimmy James 3. Joey Arias 4. Jacob Lusk 5. Shoshanna Bean 6. Suzy Wong

in the SkyBar, which is their largest lounge. It’s the focal point of the entire casino. It’s a coming out party of sorts.” The two-hour-plus performances will take place in a non-descript event space that Wells has contracted Matthew Finlason of HGTV fame to stage in the style of an underground Berlin cabaret. “Seating is going to be at four-top tables,” says Wells, “to help create the atmosphere of an old-fashioned nightclub where you really would see a variety revue, with a combination of music and comedy like we are going to feature.” While Lady Bunny, Jackie Beat, and Jimmy James will each perform in just one of the two shows, most will play both nights, including a pair of the most intriguing headlin-

ers –one a seasoned pro, the other making a Bay Area debut– Candis Cayne and Ryan Raftery.t

dance performances and love to get to share that with people in the nightlife that don’t normally have an opportunity to see dance. Or at least they don’t seek it out as much as they should.

confident about it. I can’t wait! Plus I get to do my movie screening and party at Heklina and D’Arcy’s club Oasis. They are two of my best friends out there and I’m thrilled to keep it in the family. Heklina often stays with me when she comes to do Trannyshack LA, so this time I get to be doing a party on her turf! It’s gonna be a hoot.t

Can you share a bit about the efforts to export an event like Big Fat Dick to San Francisco? This is actually my first party in San Francisco and I couldn’t be more excited. I love SF so much and it has always been my favorite vacation spots. I love the people, the history and the beauty of your town. And the boys are super fine. It’s certainly more work having to import all my LA boys and get them housed. And not being there to promote is a little scary but I’ve always been supported wholeheartedly by San Francisco that I’m feeling pretty

For interviews with them, read the expanded version of this feature at www.ebar.com/bartab Sonoma Revue at Graton Resort Casino stars include Candis Cayne, Levi Kries, Marsha Wash, Lady Bunny, Joey Arias, Jackie Beat, Ryan Raftery, Jimmy James, Elaine Gibbs, Jacob Lusk, Traver Rains, Suzy Wong, Davey Wavey and Richie Rich. May 23 & 24. $55-$100. Pre-party 6pm. show 8pm, after-party10:30-1am. Exit 484 in Rohnerk Park. For info on tickets, hotel accommodation and bus shuttle to and from SF, visit: www.gratonresortcasino.com

(Read the expanded version of this feature, with more hot gogo guy pics, at www.ebar.com/bartab.) Club King screens May 21, 8pm at Oasis, with a special performance by Connie ($15). Big Fat Dick invades Oasis May 22 (preceded by a full show with Connie, 8pm, $15). $10. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. For tickets and more info, visit www.sfoasis.com

Rolling Blackouts

Mario Diaz (left) and one of his gogo hunks.

On the Tab>>

May 14-20, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 27

Marilyn Maye @ Feinstein's at the Nikko

eON THE TAB f

May 14–21

★

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

Larry Utley

Red Hots Burlesque @ Beatbox

Sat 16 Bernal Beast Party @ Wild Side West

e live in revolutionary times. Enjoy a revolving armament of talented nightlife entertainments.

Thu 14

Nap's Karaoke @ Virgil's Sea Room

Bulge @ Powerhouse

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

Grace Towers hosts the weekly gogotastic night of sexy dudes shakin' their bulges and getting wet in their undies for $100 prize (contest at midnight), and dance beats spun by DJ DAMnation. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Connie Champagne @ Feinstein's at the Nikko The popular vocalist-actress returns with the special concert, Beyond the Rainbow: The Best of Connie Champagne as Judy Garland. $25$40. 8pm. ($20 food/drink min.) Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.conniechampagne.com www.ticketweb.com

The Facts of Life @ Oasis Those wacky queens who gave you Sex & the City are now doing drag parody versions of two episodes from the cult classic schoolgirl sitcom. $25$30. 7pm. Thu-Sat thru May 16. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

G News Events @ Various Bars The new LGBT online news show hosts different events: May 14, 6pm10pm: Happy hour and fundraiser, 1437 Haight St. May 16, 2pm-6pm: fundraiser with raffles, silent auction and drinks at The Lookout, 3600 16th St. www.facebook.com/glitterbombtv

Gym Class @ Hi Tops Enjoy cheap/free whiskey shots from jock-strapped hotties and sexy sports videos at the popular sports bar. 10pm-2am. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Say Lou Lou @ Rickshaw Stop Swedish pop duo performs as part of PopScene; Prides (Scotland) and Nightmare Fortress (Seattle) also play; DJs Aaron Axelson and Omar betwee sets. $15. 9pm. 155 Fell St. www.rickshawstop.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge Disco guru DJ Bus Station John spins grooves at the intimate retro music night. 11th anniversary night!! $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

VIP @ Club 21, Oakland Hip Hop, Top 40, and sexy Latin music; gogo dancers, appetizers, and special guest DJs. No cover before 11pm and just $5 after all night. Dancing 9pm-3am. Happy hour 4pm8:30pm 2111 Franklin St. (510) 2689425. www.club21oakland.com

Fri 15 Boy Bar @ The Cafe Gus Presents' weekly dance night, with DJ Kid Sysko, cute gogos and $2 beer (before 10pm). 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Chicano Batman @ Brick & Mortar

Karaoke Night @ Club BnB, Oakland

LA's groovy retro R&B band performs; Thee Commons and La Pelanga DJs also play. $15-$20. 9pm. 1710 Mission St. www.chicanobatman.com www.brickandmortarmusic.com

Sing your heart out at the free lively night. 8pm-2am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Happy Friday @ Midnight Sun

Mary Go Round @ Lookout Suppositori Spelling, Mercedez Munro and Holotta Tymes host the weekly night with DJ Philip Grasso, gogo guys, drink specials, and drag acts. 10pm-2am. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Mazel Top @ Oasis The social mixer for Jewish guys and their goy pals returns (2nd Thu), at a "bagel meets bagel queen" evening. $5-$7. 9pm-1am. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

The popular video bar ends each work week with gogo guys (starting at 9pm) and drink specials. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Heather McDonald @ Cobbs Comedy Club

The saucy women's burlesque revue's weekend show; different musical guests each week. $10-$20. 7:30pm. 314 11th St. Also Wed nights at Oasis (298 11th St.). www.redhotsburlesque.com

Rock Fag @ Hole in the Wall Enjoy hard rock and punk music from DJ Don Baird at the wonderfully divey SoMa bar. 12pm-2am. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Mother @ Oasis Heklina's weekly drag show night at the fabulous renovated SoMa nightclub; plus DJ MC2 and guests. May 16: Prom Night! $10. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Spinderella @ F8 The hip hop DJ of Salt-N-Pepa guestspins at the SoMa club; Hard French, Sweater Funk, and Olga also DJ. $2-$30. 9pm-2am. 1192 Folsom St. www.hardfrench.com

Springlicious @ Infusion Lounge Glide Memorial Church's gala fundraiser, with performances by Imperial Court monarchs; plus Sparkle Sinclaire, Sapphire Shade, Sasha Scion, Blaze, Lady Dominique, Momma's Boyz, Amber Gray, Tamia and Racine. $25-$65. 5:30-9:30pm. 124 Ellis St. www.springlicious2015. eventbrite.com

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 Dance it up at the popular twiceweekly country-western night that includes line-dancing, two-stepping and lessons. $5. 5pm-10:30pm. Also Thursdays 6:30pm-10:30pm. 550 Barneveld Ave. at Industrial. www.sundancesaloon.org

Sunday Brunch, Xtravaganza @ Balancoire Weekly live music shows with host Galilea and various acts, along with brunch, mimosas, champagne and more, at the stylish nightclub and restaurant; shows at 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:45pm. After that, T-Dance drag shows at 7pm, 10pm and 11pm. 2565 Mission St. at 21st. 920-0577. www.balancoiresf.com

Sunday's a Drag @ Starlight Room Donna Sachet hosts the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show. $45. 11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square. 395-8595. www.starlightroomsf.com

Mon 18 Come Together @ Marines Memorial Theater

Mica Sigourney and pals' weekly offbeat drag performance night. 10pm2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Swagger Like Us @ Oasis

Sat 16

MichaTron performs at the queer hip hop party, with DJs davO, boy_friend, and guest Motive. $10. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Spinderella @ F8

Mahlae Balenciaga and DJ Kidd Sysko's weekly drag and dance night, 2014's last of the year. 9pm-1am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

DJs Workalook and Kidd Sysko play at the women's dance party. $10. 10pm2am. 314 11th St. www.beatboxsf.com

Gaymer Meetup @ Brewcade

Sat 16 Bernal Beast Party @ Wild Side West The Bernal Heights pet store celebrates 20 years, with drag king Fudgie Frottage, "drag thing" Kitty Tapata, Humphry Slocombe ice cream raffles (Giants tickets and travel packages), canine cutie kissing booth, live acoustic bands and drink specials. Proceeds benefit Wonder Dog Rescue. $5. 2pm-7pm. 424 Cortland Ave. www.wildsidewest.com

Club Rimshot @ Club BNB, Oakland Get groovin' at the weekly hip hop and R&B night at their new location. $8-$15. 9pm to 4am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

I Just Wanna F*ckin Dance! @ Beatbox The special Dungeons & Drag-themed night, with DJs Alyson Calagna and James Torres. $20-$30. 10pm-3am. 314 11th St. www.beatboxsf.com Our singing Russian exiled countess performs and welcomes Ethel Merman, Matthew Martin, Russ Lorenson, John Cavellini, Joe Wicht, Tom Shaw, Sheelagh Murphy and Veronica Klaus. $11. 7pm. Also May 17, 7pm. 4 Valencia St.

The weekly drag show continues, with gogo guys and hilarious fun. $5. 9pm2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Sun 17 Academy of Friends @ Oasis Check presentation cocktail party with the Oscar-night nonprofit that distributes its donations to local HIV/ AIDS nonprofits. 4pm-7pm. 298 11th St. aof15check.eventbrite.com www.sfoasis.com

Beer Bust @ Lone Star Saloon The ursine crowd converges for beer and fun. 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. 3pm-6pm. Now also on Saturdays! 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Big Top @ Beaux Joshua J.'s homo disco circus night, with guest DJs and performers, hotty gogo guys and drink specials. 9pm2am. 2344 Market St. www.BeauxSF.com

Daytime Realness @ El Rio Enjoy post-"Gay to Breakers" wildness, with hostess Heklina, DJs Carnita and Stanley Frank, plus Robert Jeffrey and SMAC. Drag acts with Daft-Nee Gesundheit, Vivvyanne Forevermore, Fauxnique, Lil' Miss Hot Mess, and Eva Sensitiva. $8-$10. 2pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

Disco Daddy @ SF Eagle DJ Bus Station John's groovy disco dance night after the beer bust. $5. 7pm-12am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

My So-Called Night @ Beaux

GlamaZone @ The Cafe

Sat 16 Chicano Batman @ Brick & Mortar

Cast members from The Book of Mormon and Katya Smirnoff-Skyy perform music of The Beatles, plus comedy and dance, at this benefit concert for the Richmond/ Ermet Aid Foundation. $75$125. 7:30pm. 609 Sutter St. 273-1620. www.reaf.org

Drag Mondays @ The Cafe

Uhaul @ Beatbox

The Monster Show @ The Edge

Carnie Asada hosts a new weekly '90s-themed video, dancin', drinkin' night, with VJs Jorge Terez. Get down with your funky bunch, and enjoy 90cent drinks. '90s-themed attire and costume contest. No cover. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

DJ Shatmonkey's house music night, with hostess Phatima Rude. $5. 9pm2am. 399 9th st. at Harrison. www. shatmonkey.com www.studsf.com

Some Thing @ The Stud

Katya Presents @ Martuni's

The witty comic, actress, TV producer (Chelsea Lately) and author (You’ll Never Blue Ball in this Town Again) performs live, with a post-show meet & greet hosted by Mark Rhoades. $23.50. 8pm & 10:15pm. Also May 16, 7:30pm & 9:45pm. 2-drink min. 915 Columbus Ave. www.cobbscomedyclub.com

Monkey Business @ The Stud

Pollo del Mar's weekly drag shows takes on different themes with a comic edge. 8:30-11:30pm. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

The new weekly LGBT video game enthusiastnight include big-screen games, and signature beers. May 18: the bar re-opens with a new remodeled layout, including an outdoor patio. No cover. 7pm-11pm. 2200 Market St. www.brewcadesf.com

Mahogany Mondays @ Midnight Sun Honey Mahogany's weekly drag and musical talent show starts around 10pm. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Mash Up Mondays @ Club BnB, Oakland Weekly Karaoke and open mic night; RuPaul's Drag Race screenings, too. 9pm-2am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 7597340. www.club-bnb.com

Monday Musicals @ 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

Name That Beat @ Toad Hall BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly musical trivia challenge and drag show. 8:30-11:30pm. 4146 18th St. at Castro. www.toadhallbar.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

Opulence @ Beaux New weekly dance night, with Jocques, DJs Tori, Twistmix and Andre. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni's Sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht (aka Trauma Flintstone). 9pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.dragatmartunis.com

See page 30 >>

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

28 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

Hop on Pop

by John F. Karr

ebar.com

ere’s a disc that’s so satisfying on several accounts that it’s a pity it’s also distressing on several accounts. For one thing, I apologize for its not being new. The current package is trademarked this year, but the contents were filmed in 2013, for the HardBritLads website. If you haven’t seen these five episodes, I encourage you to do so. The DVD is Hung Muscle Dads & Fit Young Lads, which is a perfectly apt title. It’s distributed by Pornteam.com, which can’t be faulted for its content. I wonder, though, where the mistakes in their description of the film came from. Two performers who don’t appear anywhere on the disc are named as performers for one scene, and the performers who are in that scene are listed in another. So, while my consciousness was clouded by watching the film, I had to do major sleuthing to get all the facts right. And navigating the disc to find the scenes is irritating, to say the least. There is neither menu, nor chaptering, and the Skip Ahead function works in three-minute increments. So your consciousness will be steamed way before it can be clouded. Customer service for this disc is thus nil, even though, with all its hardships, customer satisfaction in its scenes is guaranteed. Here are some facts: the scenes on the 125-minute disc were directed by Simon Booth; the lighting illuminates well what it’s supposed to, the videography is steady, and the editing secure. There is no music, which is atmospherically correct, given the involved focus of the performers. The scene’s players are every one of them uncut. The scenes they dominate are approximately 20 minutes, with the disc’s first scene twice that. You’ll be glad for that generous time, as the scene stars Harley Everett and Leo Helios. I’m sure you know Britisher Harley; his oversized assets made him quickly famous, and he worked for major studios on several continents. An imposing 6’4” tall and 31 years old (at the time of filming), this lavishly tattooed bodybuilder has a well-muscled maturity. He’s got a massive cock, with an even more massive cockhead. It looks like he’s got a tennis ball inside that foreskin. Why hasn’t Harley been brought out of retirement to grapple with his equal, Rocco Steele? What a flip fuck that could be. C’mon, Rocco, give it up. At any rate, after a fine solo, Harley is paired with a gratifying bottom, Leo Helios. Lovely Leo is such an indulgent partner, with a mouth and ass fully capable of accommodating Harley’s size. The lad’s 24 years old, and blond, with a nicely defined swimmer’s build. And at 5’7”, his mouth lines right up with Harley’s nipples. All the better to nibble them, my dear. There’s little resistance when Harley penetrates Leo’s ass. True, Leo gasps once at the cock’s entrance, and again when it hits bottom and Harley’s groin bangs up against his butt. But Leo gives good ass, which makes Harley’s cum jet excitingly a full yard high up above Leo, with a second nearly yardlong blast flying horizontally past Leo’s head. In the interest of getting to stunner Neil Stevens, I’ll enthuse only briefly for the second scene’s star, Jake Lewis. This 34-year-old is a grizzled bulldog, your basic Bill Sykes. His erasure-sized nipples are

Pornteam

When the nip’s right before your mouth, it’s only natural to take a bite. Leo Helios and Harley Everett, in Hung Muscle Dads & Fit Young Lads.

a strong point, and it’s almost unnecessary to mention he’s got a big dick. Which he puts to good use on well-known star, Scott Hunter, capping their scene by downloading his delicious load onto Scott’s tongue. And then there’s Neil Stevens, so handsome, so blue-eyed and blond. He’s extra lean, all gaunt face and cheekbones, and his cock’s a killer, an extra long and smooth fuselage that he deftly implements. Its reveal in this scene is mighty flabbergasting. Could a cock be this long, this thick, and so urgently upstanding? Oh, yes. Neil’s filmed scenes for at least eight companies, all the while maintaining he’s str8. Yet he sucks cock and rims ass just fine, which

he does here, and he’s bottomed on several occasions, which he doesn’t do here. And in one of Neil’s Net site scenes somewhere, you’ll see a lucite butt plug sliding into his ass. His partner is the very cute youngster, Tristan Dean, who can’t suck in more than half Neil’s dick. But even that’s an accomplishment, so don’t fault Tristan. He tries. And it’s swell to see this beardless boy’s tender ass reared high up for Neil. Theirs is not as dynamic a scene as the preceding pair, but it sure is picturesque, what with great big cock sluicing tiny hole. And Neil graciously lets Tristan gobble his load, right from the font. Even so, a one-month membership of HardBritLads, with download privileges, costs less than this disc.t www.Pornteam.com

Pornteam

Cutie Tristan Dean presents stunner Neil Stevens to viewers, in Hung Muscle Dads & Fit Young Lads.

Read more online at www.ebar.com

May 14-20, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 29

Building Leather Community

Rich Stadtmiller

Mama Sandy Reinhardt (front) with some of her Family members at the recent Golden Dildeaux Awards, held at the SF Eagle.

by Race Bannon

execution. To trust is to believe in the reliability, ability and truthfulness of a person or organization. Step two? Give no one a reason to distrust you or your club, group, organization or business. The identification of common interests is something we don’t always do. There is the mistaken view that everyone under the leather or kink umbrella terms have similar interests. That might have been truer in the past when leather was easier to equate with those who shared a few specific erotic interests, but not today. Today we are increasingly split into subsets of the larger kink whole and that trend is continuing. I think it behooves us to identify the “actual” areas of mutual interest and not assume what’s important to me is necessarily important to you. This takes a lot of discussion and getting honest with ourselves about reality versus fantasy. Different people and groups may need and want different things. This seems difficult for many to accept, but accept it we must. If a women’s group needs their own women-only space, let them have it. If someone needs certain guidelines in place at a play party to feel safe, see if you can accommodate them without stepping on other people’s needs. If an organization starts a project they feel will serve many people, offer assistance even if you’re not sure you will benefit as much as others. Step three? Help others get their needs met while staying true to yours. None of this can happen unless we communicate and collaborate. It’s ultimately about people talk-

ing together, calml, with an attitude of mutual support. No yelling. No ’ve wanted to write this column snide snipes at dissenting opinions. for a long time. It’s a subject near No soapboxing. Simply talk. Trying and dear to my heart. How do we to actually understand what others best build community among those are saying. of us who strongly identify with These days we “talk” in many some variation of “leatherperson” ways. Face-to-face talk is the ideal. or “kinkster?” We often hear calls for Nothing replaces that. If you have bettering the community, but what to leverage technology for comdo we really mean when we say that? munications, use video conferencCommunity is a tricky word uting. Seeing the other person makes tered so often that it often loses a difference in true understanding. meaning. Many academic researchPhone calls and voice conferencing ers and civic leaders see improving work well too. Email is useful, especommunity as fostering “social capcially when people need to take time ital,” a label they use for networks to craft their responses. Rememof connection that build trust and ber, not everyone feels comfortable collaboration by involving people with the written form. Give those in each other’s lives and projects. folks ways to ensure their voices are That’s as good a definition of comheard. munity as I’ve encounOne can’t discuss communicatered. tion and collaboration without I have long advomentioning social media. Younger cated that the contemkinksters seem capable of using porary leather and kink these mechanisms, but us older scene is more a collection folks are coming around. Still, I’m of loosely aligned netastonished how often people don’t works than a monolithic utilize social media adequately. Take community. BDSM the time to learn how to use social practitioners, pups and media to organize and promote. Handlers, fisters, gear Of course, building community is fetishists, and other permutations of not just about committees, boards, sexual outsiders primarily socialize clubs and organizations. All those with others who share their niche are useful. However, real communiinterests. ty is more a bottom up (no, not that Only occasionally do the netkind of bottom) as it is a top down works gather to commune when it exercise. Individuals and their circle suits their needs. Accepting this reof friends can build their own miality is key to understanding how we cro community. Put together strong can best build social capital (commicro communities and you have a munity). strong larger community. Think of So, what is it we want to build micro communities as the buildacross these networks to encourage ing blocks of the larger community. community among the radical sex Nurture the smaller to create the networks. Four things go into crebigger. ating community: accepting differHere in the San Francisco Bay ences; establishing trust; identifying Area we are extremely lucky to have common interests (needs, one of the best leather and objectives and projects); kink communities I’ve exand systems of communiperienced. We seem to have cation and collaboration. figured out how to do this Leatherfolk and kinksters thing I’m calling building often operate under the ascommunity. The various sumption that we are all genders, orientations and basically alike. We think we: interest groups have figured like the exact same types of out how to claim their own sex and erotic play; do sex, spaces and events while play and relationships simistill being part of the larger larly; like the same types of whole. erotic garb; have the same With all that said, what cultural mores and rituals; are some practical ways and all position our kink to build community? And identifies within the rest of when I say building comour lives similarly. munity, I mean for yourNone of this is univerself as well. Not just for the sally true. We might have larger community. I could strong similarities, but evlist a whole lot of suggesery single person does all of tions here, such as hosting that somewhat differently. a dinner party, commitWe need to accept this realting to attending local kink ity if we’re ever going to get events, volunteering to help Rich Stadtmiller along, let alone build coman organization or event, munity. Step one in build- Rover Spotts (left), Brent Gannetta (center, in and much more. However, ing community? Embrace bondage) and Jorge Vieto Jr. (right) at a fun rope let me use one recent local diversity. Judge others less. demo at this year’s Golden Dildeaux Awards, held event as an example of a Trust is a simple concept, at the SF Eagle. clever community building but not always easy in the exercise that touches lots

of the bases I’d cover with other examples. Every year the Golden Gate Guards produces their Golden Dildeaux Awards. It’s a silly set of awards with a couple dozen competition categories such as who has the best looking ass, who is the best leather fashionista, who has the deepest deep throat, and so on. The entire community can nominate people and the entire community can vote. Each $1.00 contribution counts as one vote with no limit to the number of votes. Proceeds go to the fundraising cause. Here’s why I think it’s such a brilliant community event. It’s unique (too many events are carbon copies of others). It’s fun (it does not take itself too seriously). Everyone can participate (it can engage everyone). It celebrates diversity (the range of categories fosters that). It builds trust in the Golden Gate Guards (they handle the event beautifully). It raises money (passively, without

intrusion). Candidates self-promote in fun ways on social media (fosters communication and social engagement). It brings people together (the awards ceremony is a low key affair held in a bar and anyone can attend). The ceremony itself has lots of breaks (gives people the time to actually converse and socialize). It promotes the club (without hitting people over the head with promotion). It potentially elevates everyone to the spotlight (anyone can be nominated, anyone can win). What ideas do you have to build leather and kink community, both for yourself and for the overall local and national scene? Let’s keep this conversation going!t Race Bannon is a local author, blogger and activist. You can reach him his website, www.bannon.com. For Leather Event Listings, visit us at www.ebar.com

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

30 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 14-20, 2015

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On the Tab

From page 27

Underwear Night @ 440 Strip down to your skivvies at the popular men's night. 9pm-2am. 440 Castro St. 621-8732. www.the440.com

Tue 19 Bombshell Betty & Her Burlesqueteers @ Elbo Room

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Wed 20 Ana Popovic @ Yoshi's Oakland The acclaimed Serbian jazz guitarist performs with her band at the jazz club and Asian restaurant. $26-$59. 8pm. Also May 21. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

Big LGBTQ Mixer @ Oasis

The weekly burlesque show of women dancers shaking their bonbons includes live music. $10. 9pm. 647 Valencia St. 552-7788. www.elbo.com

Networking event hosted by The Welcoming Committee, StartOut and other LGBT groups. 6pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Cock Shot @ Beaux

Booty Call @ QBar

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

Miss Kitty's Trivia Night @ Wild Side West

2586

So You Think You Can Gogo? @ Toad Hall The weekly dancing competition for gogo wannabes. 9pm. cash prizes, $2 well drinks (2 for 1 happy hour til 9pm). Show at 9pm. 4146 18th St. www.toadhallbar.com

Way Back @ Midnight Sun

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

Weekly screenings of vintage music videos and retro drink prices. Check out the new expanded front window lounge. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 8614186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Pussy Party @ Beaux

Wooden Nickel Wednesday @ 440

Weekly women's happy hour, with allwomen music and live performances, 2 for 1 drinks, and no cover. 5pm-9am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

To place your Personals ad, Call 415-861-5019 for more info & rates

Buy a drink and get a wooden nickle good for another. 12pm-2am. 440 Castro St. 621-8732. www.the440.com

Comedy Returns @ El Rio The popular monthly comedy night features Tom Ammiano, Diane Amos, Justin Lucas, Nicole Calasich and host Lisa Geduldig. $7-$20. 8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

Fauxgirls @ Infusion Lounge Classy drag show with Victoria Secret, Alexandria, Chanel, Mini Minerva, Kipper, Ruby LeBrowne, and Lulu Ramirez (and optional dinner) at the downtown club. No cover. 8pm. 124 Ellis St. 421-8700. www.fauxgirls.com www.infusionlounge-sf.com

Full Frontal Comedy @ The Lookout Sandra Risser headlines a night of gay laughs, with host/comic Yuri Kagan, Justin Lucas, Joe Gorman and guests, plus a $12 Burger special. $5. 8pm. 3600 16th st. www.lookoutsf.com

Shot specials and adult Bingo games, with DJs Chad Bays and Riley Patrick, at the new weekly night. No cover. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Juanita More! and her weekly intimate –yet packed– dance party. $10-$15. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.qbarsf.com

Red Hots Burlesque @ Oasis The weekly women's sexy strip show. $15-$25. 8:30pm-11:30pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

Thu 21

Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey's

Bottoms Up Bingo @ Hi Tops Play board games and win offbeat prizes at the popular sports bar. 9pm. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Rookies Night @ Nob Hill Theatre

Barbary Coast Revue @ Balancoire

Karaoke Night @ Club BnB, Oakland

The third season of the popular cabaret show returns, with Danny Kennedy as Mark Twain, a cast of diverse performers, and new guest performer Connie Champagne. Thursdays weekly thru June. $14-$64. 8pm. 2565 Mission St. at 22nd. www.BarbaryCoastRevue.com

Sing your heart out at the free lively night. 8pm-2am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gay-friendly comedy night. One-drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre Strip down with the strippers at the cruisy adult theatre and arcade; free beverages. $20. 8pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Switch @ Q Bar Weekly women's night at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

Underwear Night @ Club OMG Weekly underwear night includes free clothes check, and drink specials; different hosts each week. $3. 10pm2am. Preceded by Open Mic Comedy, 7pm, no cover. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Amatuer night, where the newbies get nude for a $200 prize. $20. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Thu 21 The Shes at Night at the Jewseum @ Contemporary Jewish Museum

Circle Jerk @ Nob Hill Theatre Sexy interactive night in the downstairs arcade with tattooed porn hunk Derek Parker (who performs strip and sex show onstage May 22 & 23, 8pm & 10pm). $10. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Club King Screening @ Oasis See the Jon Bush film about club promoter Mario Diaz, with host Heklina, and a performance by Love Connie. $15. 8pm. Followed by Sexitude at 10pm. (And Diaz' very sexy Big Fat Dick SF on May 22). 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Karaoke Night @ Club OMG Dana leads the weekly amateur singing night. 8pm. No cover. 43 6th St. 896-6473. www.clubomgsf.com

Night at the Jewseum @ Contemporary Jewish Museum Celebrate Shavuot with an after-work cocktail event featuring the band The Shes, food from The Grilled Cheese Guy, plus cheesecake, art-making, cocktails, DJed music and exhibit views. $5. 6pm-9pm. 736 Mission St. at 3rd. 655-7800. www.thecjm.org Want your nightlife event listed? Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event. Event photos welcome.

Read more online at www.ebar.com

SHOOTING STARS

May 14-20, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 31

PHOTOS BY STEVEN UNDERHILL

UNDERWORLD S

inglet Night at Gus Presents’ Underworld brought the skimpy-clad dancing men at Club Six (60 6th Street). DJ Shawn Perry played the grooves, which included a preview of Raquela’s new single, “Summertime.” For info on upcoming events, visit www.GusPresents.com More event 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

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