November 20, 2014 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

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Vol. 44 • No. 47 • November 20-26, 2014

Trans grad student wins CSU award

Rick Gerharter

The California Pacific Medical Center’s Davies campus is changing the way it handles some HIV/AIDS clients.

by Elliot Owen

transgender graduate student has received an outstanding achievement award from the California State University Board of Trustees. Shayle Matsuda, who attends San Elliot Owen Francisco State Uni- SFSU graduate versity, was recently student Shayle recognized with the Matsuda award, which is bestowed annually to one student from each of the 23 CSU campuses across the state. The award, a coveted accolade designated for those demonstrating exemplary academic performance, personal achievements, community service, and financial need, is the highest student distinction within the CSU system. Matsuda is a graduate student in the biology department at SFSU and a student researcher at the California Academy of Sciences where he studies nudibranchs, the softbodied marine mollusks sometimes called sea slugs. Originally from a Chicago suburb, Matsuda is of Japanese and Russian Jewish decent, and a cancer survivor. “The boundaries of my identities are complicated,” Matsuda told the Bay Area Reporter, “but I also want to throw ‘scientist’ in there. It’s a very big part of who I am, too.” Matsuda’s commitment to diversifying the field of science through community engagement is largely behind him being named the Trustee Emeritus Murray L. Galinson Scholar, one of the many delineations of the CSU trustees’ award and given to those exemplifying extraordinary public service to their home, university, or global community. The winner receives a $6,000 scholarship. A third year master’s student, Matsuda mentors marginalized high school students underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields through a California Academy of Sciences program. He’s also the creator and host of Science, Neat, a monthly interactive event hosted at El Rio for local scientists to connect with each other. “El Rio is an LGBTQ community-friendly bar,” Matsuda said. “By bringing scientists of all varieties into that space, I’m bringing two of my really important communities together. Last year, we did a neuroscience event the same night the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were there. There’s a photograph of a See page 17 >>

Gifts wrapped in leather Rick Gerharter

t was a festive atmosphere at the Eagle bar Tuesday, November 18 when Folsom Street Events, producers of the Folsom Street Fair, Up Your Alley fair, and related parties, presented checks to this year’s beneficiaries. A total of $322,666 was dis-

tributed as representatives of the benefiting organizations – including Shanti, the Castro Country Club, Dolores Street Community Services, and the National AIDS Memorial Grove – crowded the stage to celebrate their hard work.

CPMC’s proposed AIDS changes criticized by Seth Hemmelgarn

an Franciscans living with HIV/AIDS and advocates are criticizing changes to the way California Pacific Medical Center’s Davies campus delivers some services. Some patients of the hospitals HIV/AIDS case management program are concerned that the two workers they’ve relied on for years for compassionate, comprehensive help will be See page 12 >>

Out candidates pull off squeaker victories by Matthew S. Bajko

wo Bay Area races this fall that featured out candidates are lending credence to the message that every vote counts. Both contests saw the winners pull off squeaker victories after days of seesawing results. In Berkeley lesbian city council candidate Lori Droste eked out a victory over her gay Courtesy Bernardo for Jane Philomen Cleland Harbor Commissioner opponent, George Beier, with a mere 16 votes according to the final, yet still unofficial, tally released last week by Alameda Jane Philomen Cleland County elections officials. On the Peninsula, gay San Mateo Harbor Robert Bernardo Lori Droste Commissioner Robert Bernardo went from conceding he had lost his re-election bid the night of the November 4 election to clinchlesbian Commissioner Sabrina Brennan, who ing a second term by a 292-vote margin after is up for re-election in 2016, giving the fiveabsentee and provisional ballots were counted. person oversight body of two marinas a “rainAccording to San Mateo County elections bow majority.” officials, who posted a final but still unofficial “Honestly, I just can’t wait for this race to count late in the afternoon of Tuesday, Novemfinally be over. This race should have been over ber 18, Bernardo placed second among the six two weeks ago,” Bernardo told the Bay Area people who were seeking one of two four-year Reporter Tuesday, adding that after he moved terms on the commission. He garnered 48,340 into the winner column last week he was “abvotes, or 23.2 percent. solutely shocked and speechless. In my years of Falling into third place was the other inpolitics, I have never seen anything like this.” cumbent seeking re-election, Jim Tucker, who The Berkeley City Council will also now received 48,048 votes, or 23 percent. Remainhave a trio of out members on it, as Droste will ing in first place was bisexual marine biologist serve alongside gay City Councilmen Darryl Nicole David. Her final tally was 66,964 votes, Moore, who represents District 2, and Kriss or 32.1 percent. Worthington, who won his re-election bid this Bernardo and David will serve alongside month to the council’s District 7 seat. She is

the first lesbian to be elected to the council. According to the latest vote count, Droste won the council’s District 8 seat with 2,072 votes, or 50.19 percent, after four rounds of the instant-runoff voting system. While she had the most votes on election night, she was well below the 50 percent plus-one vote threshold needed to avoid the IRV process. Beier, who had held the first place spot for several days following the initial IRV results, in the end dropped to second place with 2,056 votes, or 49.81 percent. He conceded the race Thursday, November 13. “I want to congratulate Lori Droste on her victory and for running a wonderful campaign. She was hardworking and always positive, and I’m sure these attributes will hold her in good stead as our newest city councilmember,” Beier wrote on his Facebook page. “I very much look forward to working with her as she tackles the problems of our lively (and very opinionated!) city.” Having promised her wife, with whom she is raising two young children, they would take a vacation following the election, Droste had been checking the updated vote counts from Hawaii. She did not respond to a request for comment this week, but did post to her own Facebook page the evening of Wednesday, November 12 shortly after the final vote count was revealed. “Feeling incredibly humbled right now. Thanks everyone! Aloha,” she wrote from Poipu Beach on the island of Kauai.t

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2 • Bay Area Reporter • November 20-26, 2014

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inne Tsou, right, practices various self-defense techniques to de-escalate an aggressive encounter with Molly Timmerman during a class presented by Castro Community on Patrol Monday, November 17 at Magnet.

CCOP held the free class as part of its eighth anniversary celebration. The group oversees volunteer safety patrols in the Castro and regularly holds self-defense workshops for area residents.

Skirt burner may serve 7 years by Seth Hemmelgarn

n Oakland teen who had been accused of setting fire to the skirt of a gender non-conforming teen on a bus last November was sentenced to up to seven years in state prison Friday in Alameda County Superior Court. In a plea deal reached in October, Richard Thomas, 17, who was charged as an adult in the case, pleaded no contest to a charge of felony assault with an enhancement of inflicting great bodily injury, according to Teresa Drenick, a spokeswoman for the Alameda County District Attorney’s office. An aggravated mayhem charge and hate crime enhancements for each of the charges were dropped. Thomas will serve at least the beginning of his sentence in a juvenile facility. Thomas, 17, allegedly used a lighter to set fire to the skirt worn by Sasha Fleischman, who was then

18, as they rode an AC Transit bus in Oakland November 4, 2013. Fleischman suffered severe burns and was hospitalized for several weeks. Thomas has been in custody since shortly after the incident. In an October email, Drenick said that after 90 days a judge will review an evaluation of Thomas’s conduct. “If he is fully engaging in the programs and services offered,” and his conduct’s “good,” there’ll be another evaluation in July 2015, just before his 18th birthday, Drenick said. If he again shows good progress, he’ll be re-sentenced to five years in state prison, “with the addition that he waive four months custody credit.” At that point, the juvenile justice department would “have discretion to house [Thomas] for his entire sentence if they believe he is amenable to their services.” Drenick indicated Monday that the terms agreed upon in October had not changed. The deal had been in the works for months. “The victim in this case, as well as the victim’s family, has been kept apprised of the negotiations at every step of the way,” Drenick said. In a phone interview around the

time the plea deal was reached, William Du Bois, Thomas’s attorney, bemoaned the prospect of his client spending several years in custody. “The juvenile justice system doesn’t understand ... how time in custody weighs much heavier on a young person” than it does on “an older person,” Du Bois said. Debra Crandall, Fleischman’s mother, has said she’s “sad” about Thomas being charged as an adult. “We’re kind of torn ... to put a 16-year-old kid away for life seems really harsh.” However, she has said, “I feel like perhaps the DA’s office must have information they can’t give us completely.” Fleischman’s family couldn’t be reached by phone Monday. Thomas’s family has declined numerous interview requests. Du Bois hasn’t disputed that Thomas set fire to Fleischman, but he has said, “As far as I can tell,” the incident “was the result of a juvenile prank that went horribly wrong.” He has also said members of Thomas’s family are gay and “he doesn’t have a homophobic bone in his body.”t

No more custody for Diaz by Seth Hemmelgarn

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he man convicted of choking to death another man during a 2011 sexual encounter in San Francisco’s Buena Vista Park will remain free after a judge last week acknowledged that he’d already served more time in jail than what he was being sentenced to. In a San Francisco Superior Court hearing that started Thursday, November 13, Judge Donald Sullivan sentenced David Munoz Diaz, 25, to four years and eight months in state prison. However, Diaz, who was released from custody in September, will remain free since the actual time he’s already served combined with the credits he’s received outweigh that sentence. The charred, mostly naked body of Freddy Canul-Arguello, 23, was found with a melted recycling bin in the park just before 5 a.m. June 10, 2011. Diaz was arrested about six weeks later and remained in custody for more than three years. A jury in August acquitted Diaz of murder, but found him guilty of the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. During the trial, Diaz testified that he and Canul-Arguello had been in the park engaging in oral sex and other acts and that he’d accidentally killed Canul-Arguello after he asked to be choked. The maximum sentence for involuntary manslaughter is four years.

Courtesy Alex Lilien

David Diaz in an undated photo

Jurors also found Diaz guilty of arson, mutilating human remains, and destroying evidence. At Thursday’s hearing, Deputy Public Defender Alex Lilien requested that the judge dismiss all counts but the involuntary manslaughter. Sullivan dismissed only the arson count, after considering that keeping it would require Diaz’s “lifetime registration as an arsonist,” which would “mar his character.” He acknowledged Diaz’s youth, that he had no prior criminal history, and indicated he agreed with Lilien that “the likelihood of [Diaz] committing such crimes in the future” is “extremely unlikely.” See page 18 >>

Community News>>

November 20-26, 2014 • Bay Area Reporter • 3

SF gay man mourned as investigation continues by Seth Hemmelgarn

riends and family of a young gay San Francisco man who’s believed to have died remembered him at a large memorial service as questions remain about what happened to the software developer. Dan Ha, 26, was last seen at 8 p.m. on Halloween, October 31, leaving his apartment at Fourth and Brannan streets in the South of Market neighborhood, according to friends. After a body was recovered from the San Francisco bay last Tuesday, November 11, Ha’s family held a news conference the next day to announce they believe the body is his, but they don’t suspect suicide. As of Tuesday, November 18, staff at the San Francisco Medical Examiner’s office said it had not confirmed the body’s identity. Several hundred people filled St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in the Mission district last Friday night for Ha’s memorial. The most common themes throughout the evening were Ha’s compassion and humor. His brother, Joseph Ha, who gave the eulogy, said Ha “never outgrew his inner child.” “I blame Dan for my weird sense of humor,” he said, adding his brother, “loved life and lived life to the fullest through his many passions.” Besides being a highly regarded software developer and entrepreneur, Ha, who most recently worked at the car-related startup Metromile, was also a gym enthusiast and singer, among other things.

The Reverend Kenneth Ha recalled his son as a young boy giving money to “a street beggar” and cooking for people in a shelter. “We don’t blame God” for the loss, Kenneth Ha said. “... We don’t understand, but surely he does.” Ha’s mother, Ruth Ha, thanked the people who helped look for her son, and said, “We will see Daniel in heaven.” Mark Ha, Dan Ha’s other brother, recalled how Ha had been “crazy good at video games” and used words like “brilliant, talented, loving, tough, passionate” and “downright silly” to describe him. “I don’t think any of us knew Dan fully,” Ha said, since he had “so many interests and talents.” Addressing his brother directly, he said, “You pushed me, but you also wanted me to have fun.” Ha said he’s glad his brother’s in a place where “the physical boundaries of your body can’t contain your enormous spirit.” One friend of Ha’s recalled how the night before they started classes at Stanford University, they’d stayed up until 4 a.m. dancing to songs by the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. “Thank you for the countless hours we spent together,” the man said. Another friend referred to Ha’s love of fitness and other pursuits. He recalled Ha once saying, “I think I’m going to get really, really ripped.” The man said when he saw Ha later, “All of a sudden, he was just really, really ripped.” He said in another instance, Ha

Jane Philomen Cleland

Dan Ha’s ex-boyfriend, Chris Kosienski, far left, looks at photos hanging in the front of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church at Ha’s memorial November 14.

said, “I think I’m going to get really good at making Thai food,” and his favorite saying was “You want to try some?”

No note

In the days after Ha went missing, people who knew him blanketed the area near his apartment with fliers bearing his picture and conducted several search parties. In a statement released last Wednesday, November 12, Ha’s family said that it does not suspect suicide. One of Ha’s family members said no note was found, and his personal belongings had been found with the body. (Friends of Ha have told the Bay Area Reporter he

was gay, and his brother, Mark Ha, has confirmed that.) Lieutenant junior grade Amanda Faulkner, a spokeswoman for the local U.S. Coast Guard office, said in an email this week that her agency received a report November 11 “of a person in the water showing no signs of life. The report was made by passenger vessel Marin at 7:25 a.m.” A Coast Guard boat from the Golden Gate station and a San Francisco Fire Department boat responded. The fire department boat “was first on scene and recovered the body to turn over” to the San Francisco Medical Examiner’s office, she said. Kelly Alves, of the fire department

chief ’s office, said the agency was dispatched at 7:37 a.m. to Golden Gate Bridge northbound. “At one point it looks like we were on our way toward Angel Island, over that way,” Alves said, but she didn’t know the exact location of the body. Friday, Officer Albie Esparza, a spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department, said the case is still an open missing persons investigation. “Our job is to find the person because they’re missing,” Esparza said. “... If this person [found in the bay] is in fact Dan Ha, this case is closed, unless the medical examiner believes foul play” was involved, which would make it a homicide case for police. The medical examiner’s office isn’t likely to publicly release the cause and manner of death for several weeks. Esparza said he didn’t know of any video surveillance footage showing Ha alone or with someone else. He also expressed sympathy for people who knew Ha. “It’s unfortunate,” Esparza said. “... It’s a very sad case, but we hope to bring some closure to the family.” In an email Tuesday, he said the Ha case “is still open” and police are waiting for confirmation from the medical examiner. Anyone with information about Ha may contact the San Francisco Police Department at 415-558-5508 or the anonymous tip line at 415-5754444. The case number is 140 937 521. More information is available at http://www.FindDanHa.com.t

SF man seeks missing partner by Seth Hemmelgarn

San Francisco man is looking for his partner, more than a month after the other man left their Civic Center apartment. Samuel Williams, 51, said he last saw Greg Harding, 56, October 10, and there’s been no trace of him since then. Harding had been depressed and struggling financially, Williams said. He took only his wallet and apartment keys with him, and left behind his HIV medications and other prescriptions. He also left his cellphone – Williams had borrowed it the day he disappeared and still has it. “I don’t even know how to grieve properly,” Williams said. “I don’t know if he’s still living or if he’s dead. Basically I’m just left standing, waiting, and wondering what’s going on.” The two men have been together for 14 years and are registered domestic partners. Williams said he’s thought of two possible scenarios.

“Either he’s gone and jumped off a bridge somewhere, or he’s just living with somebody, and I don’t know who the person is,” he said. Williams said there hadn’t been any trouble between the two. He also said Harding hadn’t expressed a desire to die. “Maybe to other people, but not to me,” he said. Harding didn’t leave a note. None of Harding’s friends or family has spoken with Harding, Williams said. Harding is 6 feet tall and weighs about 180 pounds, and he has gray hair, with a beard and goatee, and “blue-greenish eyes,” Williams said. He was likely wearing a black shirt and jacket, blue jeans, and brown shoes. He didn’t know how much cash Harding had on him. He had a credit card, but “he can’t really use that much, he’s already over the limit anyway.” His bank account had been closed. Harding, who smoked marijuana but wasn’t “a big drinker,” had never

gone missing before, Williams said.

‘He was gone’

Williams said when he left for work at 10:30 a.m. October 10, Harding, who had just been getting over the flu, was still at their apartment in the 1300 block of Market Street. “I assumed he was just going to go find out about his disability check at one of the social service offices,” he said. When Williams returned at 7:30 that night, he said, “He was gone.” “I thought he was just gone to the store and he was coming back home, but he never came back,” Williams said. He said he called police but was told that he had to wait 72 hours to file a report. After the time passed, he called again. This time, police took a report. (The San Francisco Police Department website says, “Contrary to popular belief, law enforcement agencies in California do not require a person to wait a specific period of time be-

fore reporting a missing person.”) Williams said Harding has been depressed “for a long time.” He said Harding had been diagnosed with depression “before we got together.” The couple had owned a large house in the Mission district for 10 years but sold it because it was going to be foreclosed. “As soon as we moved,” Williams said, Harding stopped showering and shaving regularly. He also stopped talking to friends on the phone, and he “pretty much” quit going out and would sleep through the weekends. As part of the couple’s dog walking business, Harding would still walk dogs in the morning. He’d then return home “and get on the laptop,” Williams said. His partner “loved” talking to people on Facebook, including people from his hometown in Idaho. “He just was unhappy we weren’t making as much money in the dog walking business as he thought,” Williams said, and “the last few cli-

Courtesy Brian Brophy

Greg Harding in an undated photo

ents he tried to sign, for some odd reason, they backed out.” Despite his reclusiveness, Harding was still active in some ways. Harding would also go to Buena Vista Park to have sex with men he met on Craigslist, Williams said, but he didn’t know how often he’d go or when he’d last been there. See page 18 >>

SJ man accused of mailing anti-gay threats by Seth Hemmelgarn

San Jose man who allegedly sent letters containing anti-gay slurs, graphic sexual images, and copies of Craigslist posts pleaded not guilty this week to four counts of transmitting threats in the mail after being indicted by a federal grand jury. Robert Gary Toltzis, 52, whose charges were announced Friday by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Melinda Haag, appeared Monday in federal court in San Jose. Toltzis’s attorney said his client has mental health issues. As early as 2006 and continuing through at least October 2013, the indictment says, Toltzis targeted at least 16 people, making threats of “death, bodily injury, injury to reputation, and other forms of harassment” based on their actual or “per-

ceived sexual orientation, national origin, and ethnic background.” In some cases, Toltzis allegedly sent copies of his threats to victims’ co-workers or relatives, according to Haag’s office. Publicly available court documents refer to the victims only by their initials. In 2011, the indictment says, BD had started receiving “harassing and threatening emails related to his online activity on various dating websites.” One email included the threat, “This is not a game ... I won’t stop until you’re dead.” The next year, BD’s father got an envelope at his Mountain View, California home containing “sexually explicit photographs” and copies of two Craigslist ads. “The printouts included the phrase: ‘Hi dad, look what I’ve be-

come,’” according to the court filing. JB, another victim, in July 2012 got “a three-page threat letter and a round of 9-mm pistol ammunition,” the indictment says. The letter included two Craigslist ads that contained “graphic sexual images” and the message “The pics do say it all you are a disease spreading drug addict ... the bullet says it all: I am going to kill you!!!” In November 2012, 13 neighbors of the victim referred to as DM received letters that contained a photo of DM’s face and “various pictures of male genitalia.” The letters included “a statement proclaiming to be authored by DM, and included graphic descriptions of various sexual acts and offers to sell marijuana,” the indictment says. Almost a year later, in October 2013, DD, one of DM’s co-workers got a letter that included “what appeared to be” three photos su-

perimposed on a recent Craigslist “casual encounters” ad. The pictures included a photo of Truvada, the HIV medication, and two photos “appearing to depict DM.” One photo showed the word “HIV+” superimposed on DM’s forehead and images of male genitalia, along with superimposed text reading “HIV+,” according to court documents. The letter contained “anti-homosexual slurs and multiple death threats directed toward DM.” Toltzis also targeted at least one victim based on his national origin and ethnic background, officials allege. In 2012 and 2013, the indictment says, FB, who had posted to Craigslist, started getting “threatening electronic messages” from an address he didn’t recognize. One of the messages contained religious slurs. In May 2013, FB got a threatening

letter that listed DM, one of the other victims, as the sender. The threepage letter, which included a photo of FB, claimed FB “was a drug addict, bad husband, and a homosexual” and urged him to kill himself. “The letter also included a graphic depiction of a sex act as well as racial slurs,” according to court documents. FB’s former mother-in-law got a copy of the same letter at her Santa Clara County home. It was addressed to his former wife and listed DM as the sender. The contents were “virtually identical” to the first letter and included the message “death to Iranians.” The four counts specifically list JB, FB, and DD as victims. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Corley in San Francisco unsealed the indictment Friday and Toltzis was See page 15 >>

<< Open Forum

4 • Bay Area Reporter • November 20-26, 2014

Volume 44, Number 47 November 20-26, 2014 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 Chuck Colbert • 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 Elliot Owen • 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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Time for an out justice

t’s been seven months since California Supreme Court Justice Joyce Kennard retired and yet Governor Jerry Brown still has not nominated anyone to replace her. When Justice Marvin Baxter announced his retirement in June, Brown named Stanford law Professor Mariano-Florentino Cuellar as his replacement five weeks later, and Cuellar was confirmed by a state commission and approved by voters November 4. The conventional wisdom was that Brown would wait until after the election to fill Kennard’s seat, although the reasons why are a mystery to us. It wasn’t as if Brown was ever in danger of losing his re-election bid if he picked someone who was controversial. And the likelihood of that person losing a retention election was also small. However, those familiar with Brown’s history know that he’s made controversial Supreme Court picks before (Justices Cruz Reynoso, Joseph Grodin, along with chief Justice Rose Bird, were swept out of office by voters in 1986). Since Brown is taking his time, we’d like to suggest that he nominate an out LGBT person. There has not been an openly LGBT person on the state Supreme Court, even as the court decides cases that affect the community. Recall that the state’s high court heard same-sex marriage cases in 2008 and 2009. Famously, its decision in 2008 to legalize same-sex marriage opened the doors for thousands of couples to tie the knot before the anti-gay forces struck back with Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban. Ultimately, the high court upheld Prop 8, as well as the 18,000 marriages performed during the brief window before voters passed the marriage ban. Immediately after the court’s decision, the American Foundation for Equal Rights filed a federal lawsuit challenging the validity of Prop 8. A trial before then-Chief District Judge Vaughn Walker was held in 2010 and he

ruled Prop 8 was unconstitutional. The state Supreme Court granted Prop 8 standing to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, prolonging an unconstitutional ban and putting marriage equality on hold. Walker was outed during the trial, but being gay was not the reason he found Prop 8 unconstitutional. Yes, Walker brought his life experiences to the bench, like any other jurist, but the defense put on a horrendous case, and the plaintiffs were thorough in examining the ways in which marriage is an important institution for those who want it. It boiled down to discrimination. An out LGBT Supreme Court justice would bring their life experiences to bear, but we’re not suggesting he or she would always rule favorably on cases affecting the community just because of their sexual

orientation or gender identity. We are suggesting that in a state as diverse as California, and with a high court that is diverse, adding an out LGBT person would increase that diversity. The court is also lacking in an African American justice. Given Brown’s previous picks to the court were both law professors, perhaps he could identify a qualified LGBT African American law professor. We’re highlighting the need for an out person on the Supreme Court because it’s likely there already is an LGBT person on the bench. So far that person has not made a public declaration, apparently preferring to follow the Tim Cook approach whereby friends and colleagues may know, but the general public does not. Being in the closet does nothing to help further our visibility in the public arena. We would encourage that justice to publicly come out, and in the meantime, Brown should review candidates with an eye on diversity – as well as their qualifications.t

Let’s give Californians the option of death with dignity by Ari Gutiérrez-Arámbula

and acceptance and love from our extended families, we must likewise demand the right to have the choice to die with dignity.

n November 1, Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old Californian with terminal brain cancer, died with dignity at her home in Portland, Oregon, surrounded by her family. I never met Maynard, but like millions of people throughout the country, I followed her brave story with compassion and respect. Maynard was so young, yet she launched a brave campaign with advocacy group Compassion and Choices for a law that allows mentally competent, terminally ill individuals with less than six months to live the option to obtain a prescription for medication that they can self-administer to end their dying process if it becomes unbearable. Maynard and her family moved from their home in the Bay Area to Oregon because the state is one of a few with such a law. Maynard shared her story in such a selfless way that has bestowed upon us a challenge – a challenge for us to think about what we would do, if we were in her position.

Death with dignity

California needs a death with dignity law. Why? Because many Californians are suffering needlessly and enduring relentless pain from terminal cancer and other life-shortening diseases. Unfortunately, many make ill-advised decisions to end their own lives violently when they should be able to die with peace and dignity. That is why I joined the aid in dying movement in California and I urge you to do the same. As a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community, which has learned to insist on equal rights, respect, and dignity for ourselves and that of our families, I find it unacceptable that terminally ill, fully competent adults like Maynard have to leave their homes, their families and communities, and their medical teams in order to die peacefully, in comfort. Most Americans cannot make a move like the one Maynard had to make. Very few people who are dying have the energy, information,

Take action

S.D. Evans/Latino Equality Alliance

Ari Gutiérrez-Arámbula, at the podium, spoke at Los Angeles City Hall on marriage issues on the occasion of decision day 2012.

and resources to uproot their life, forego their support system, and re-establish residency during their dying process. We must do something about that.

AIDS pandemic

I came of age during the AIDS pandemic that devastated our community. For those of my generation the loss of so many close friends to AIDS in itself is tragic. Now, as those of us who have survived the AIDS pandemic face the prospect of aging gracefully and powerfully, we must also prepare ourselves, our family, our friends, and our community for the possibility of a terminal illness and the physically and emotionally devastating pain that would more than likely accompany such a diagnosis. I recently lost a close friend but I feel it wasn’t the bone and brain cancer that killed her – it was the excruciating pain she faced during her dying process. Her hospice care included a machine that automatically dispensed medication to alleviate her pain. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the strength to press the button that provided the numbing medication. As Californians, as LGBT activists for the constitutional right to marry, as a community that demands dignity in how we are treated in the workplace, for safety in our communities

Terminally ill Californians need our help and we must take action. Let’s contact our elected officials and talk to them about the importance of improving care and expanding choice at the end of life, specifically to allow the medical practice of aid in dying in California. No one should have to suffer excruciating and unnecessary pain at the end of their lives. All of us in California should have the option to make this private and personal decision. Let’s make history and let’s bring some change by making aid in dying a reality in California. One way to get involved is through Compassion and Choices, the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization working to improve care and expand choice at the end of life. Leading the end-of-life choice movement for more than 30 years, it supports, educates, and advocates. In 2014, Compassion and Choices launched a campaign to make death with dignity an end-oflife option for Californians.t Ari Gutiérrez-Arámbula, co-founder and advisory board chair of the Latino Equality Alliance, is a Los Angeles-based LGBT community leader. Her volunteer work with the Latino Equality Alliance focuses on LGBTQ leadership development in Latino communities. Due to homophobia and other factors, AIDS disproportionally affects communities of color. For more information follow: www.LatinoEqualityAlliance.com. She is also a member of the California Death with Dignity Coalition for Compassion and Choices California. For information on Compassion and Choices California, visit www.compassionandchoices.org/california

Politics>>

November 20-26, 2014 • Bay Area Reporter • 5

Milk, Moscone march set for Thanksgiving night by Matthew S. Bajko

he annual memorial remembering the city’s first out politician and a beloved progressive mayor who were assassinated inside City Hall 36 years ago will take place the night of Thanksgiving. The deaths of gay Supervisor Harvey Milk and then-Mayor George Moscone by disgruntled former Supervisor Dan White occurred the morning of November 27, 1978. That night thousands of mourners marched in silence holding candles from the Castro to the Civic Center to honor the men, and a similar event has been held annually ever since. The date happens to fall on this year’s holiday observance, and organizers of the yearly candlelight vigil honoring Milk and Moscone that takes place in the city’s gay Castro district decided not to schedule it on a different day. “We understand folks have a lot of things going on on Thanksgiving, but it is too important not to honor that date. We are sticking to that date,” said Laura Thomas, co-president of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club. “We understand it is likely going to be a small group of folks who show up on Thanksgiving.” Following Milk’s death, the leaders of the club at the time voted to rename it in his honor. And the progressive political group every November organizes the annual Memorial Candlelight Vigil and March for Harvey Milk and George Moscone. This year’s remembrance is set to begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 27 at Harvey Milk Plaza above the Castro Muni station at the intersection of Castro and Market streets. Following a short ceremony, participants will light candles and proceed to where Milk’s former camera shop and campaign headquarters were located at 575 Castro Street. This year there will be more space to accommodate the crowd. As part of the streetscape improvement project in the area, the city installed a sidewalk bulb-out in front of the building, where the Human Rights Campaign now operates a store, to provide extra space for visitors to the historic site. Two bronze plaques commemorating Milk’s legacy are embedded there in the newly expanded sidewalk. Milk club leaders are still working out the final details about speakers and other aspects of the candlelight vigil, said Thomas. Cleve Jones, a friend of Milk’s and a longtime LGBT rights leader, is expected to participate.

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Rick Gerharter

The city’s housing crisis was a key theme at last year’s memorial march for slain Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone; this year’s event is expected to draw a smaller crowd as it will be held Thanksgiving evening.

Rick Gerharter

Interim board President Katy Tang

SF supes elect Tang as interim board prez

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors, with gay District 9 Supervisor David Campos absent, voted Tuesday night to elect District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang to serve as its interim president as of noon Monday, December 1. Due to outgoing board President David Chiu’s defeat of Campos in their hotly contested race for one of the city’s two Assembly seats, Chiu is set to resign his seat on the board as of 11:59 a.m. December 1 and be sworn into the 17th Assembly District seat a minute later. On the advice of the board’s clerk, the supervisors were urged to designate an interim president by the end of the month in order to ensure a smooth transition and that the presidency would not be vacant. At the board’s January 8 meeting the supervisors, likely including whoever Mayor Ed Lee chooses to serve out the remainder of Chiu’s term for the District 3 seat and is sworn in that day, will elect a permanent president

to serve out a two-year term. Tang is now considered the frontrunner to remain as board president. Her political rise has been a fait accompli since the mayor tapped her to fill out the remainder of her boss’ term in the board’s District 4 seat in 2013 due to Lee’s decision to name former Supervisor Carmen Chu as the city’s assessor/recorder. That November Tang sailed to victory on the ballot as she faced little opposition from the lone person who ran against her, and this year she was unopposed in her bid for a full four-year term. While there was drama leading up to Tuesday’s vote, mainly due to progressives who objected to naming an interim board president with Campos out of the country on vacation, Tang’s election on the first round of voting was anticlimactic. It did come as somewhat of a surprise. Speculation since the November election had centered on a fight between moderate District 2 Supervisor Mark Farrell and the more progressive District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim for the job, with moderate District 5 Supervisor London Breed as a compromise candidate. Tang was reportedly uninterested in the position. District 11 Supervisor John Avalos had tried to jettison the vote until the board’s December 8 meeting so that both Campos and District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen, who will not be at the November 25 board meeting, could both weigh in on the decision. District 7 Supervisor Norman Yee and District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar, along with Kim, joined with Avalos in attempting to block Tuesday’s vote. But a bloc of six moderate supervisors defeated the delay attempts and pushed forward with the vote. After Farrell nominated Tang, the two were joined by Kim, Yee, Chiu, Breed, Cohen, and gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener in electing Tang. See page 17 >>

Letters >> Night Ministry turns 50

The article on Night Ministry was excellent giving its history and the great work they do [“SF Night Ministry marks 50 years,” November 13]. My only concern is that you could mislead possible donors. They are still tax-exempt, they are simply working out the mistakes that were made. Their exemption has not been removed. Father River Sims San Francisco

[Editor’s Note: As the article stated, the Night Ministry is working to correct problems related to not filing nonprofit tax documents. While the government’s website stated, as of last week, that the Night Ministry’s tax-exempt status has been revoked, Night Ministry staff told us that is not accurate, that it is working with the Internal Revenue Service, and donations remain tax-exempt.]

On to the mayor’s race

On behalf of the Michael Petrelis for Supervisor campaign team, I’d like to extend a word of thanks to the 2,004 voters who cast their ballots for my partner and the many people who donated money and time to the campaign. I would like to also acknowledge the extensive coverage in the Bay Area Reporter of the District 8 race, which was very balanced, fair, and appreciated. In an election year where the Chronicle, Examiner, and Bay Guardian all ignored our district’s race, the importance and relevance of the B.A.R. was reinforced. We look forward to more valuable reporting when Petrelis runs for mayor in 2015. Michael E. Merrigan San Francisco

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<< Community News

6 • Bay Area Reporter • November 20-26, 2014

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Trainings focus on HIV and aging issues

by Matthew S. Bajko

rainings being held in cities across the country, including San Francisco, are focusing attention on the needs of long-term survivors of HIV and AIDS. The New York-based group Acria is the lead organization convening the sessions with health care providers, local agency officials, and community members in the various municipalities. The purpose is to foster better collaboration between HIV agencies and providers of senior services. “These are organizations that didn’t think they needed to work together before,” said Hanna Tessema, who works for Acria’s HIV Health Literacy Program as the HIV and older adults technical assistance associate manager and an HIV educator. Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, it is expected that by 2015 50 percent of people living with HIV in the U.S. will be over the age of 50. As of 2013, 54 percent of people living with HIV in San Francisco were over the age of 50, based on data from the city’s Department of Public Health. The number jumps to 84 percent when including people 40 years old and up. In New York City, local data shows that 77 percent of the people living with HIV or AIDS were over the age of 40 as of 2012. “The number of people 55 and over with an AIDS or HIV diagnosis speaks to how service providers might not be targeting older adults,” said Cesar Angel, Acria’s bilingual technical assistance manager. “Are they assessing risks with older adults the same way as younger adults?

Rick Gerharter

Cesar Angel, left, and Hanna Tessema from Acria, discuss the availability of HIV services in San Francisco during the National HIV and Aging Community Mobilization meeting that was held last week at the LGBT Community Center.

Many providers to this day do not think to treat older adults for HIV, but we see older adults are getting infected.” Agencies need to not only focus on “just those graying with HIV,” added Angel, “but those getting infected after 50. The reality is we don’t really have all that much going on right now for them.” Staff from Acria met with more than 75 people in San Francisco for a two-hour meeting November 14 and will be back in January to conduct a two-day training for up to 30 local leaders. In the spring two people from the Bay Area will be selected to join leaders from three other cities for a four-day training in New York City that Acria will be hosting. “It is exciting to come here [to San Francisco] because we know people here are already doing this work,” said Tessema. The agency partnered with the local group Let’s Kick ASS (AIDS Survivor Syndrome) to help promote last week’s initial meeting. “We are the new majority in the city. It is not a fringe issue; it is a big deal,” said Let’s Kick ASS cofounder Tez Anderson. “With aging issues, we have not made that bridge yet. Aging agencies are not as savvy

with HIV issues as HIV people are with aging issues.” Acria staff said they were there to listen to the needs of the local community and would use the feedback to develop the agenda for the twoday trainings in early 2015. Some of the obstacles participants of the meeting said they see in San Francisco included a lack of mental health services; no central clearinghouse to learn about the services that are available; and a lack of services for women, people of color, and those who do not speak English. Afterwards, several participants said they left the meeting unclear of what the goal of the future trainings will be. “I didn’t quite get what the capacity-building focus will be,” Gregg Cassin, a local HIV educator and longtime survivor, told the Bay Area Reporter. “I left confused on what the whole purpose is.” He hopes one issue the next training will address is how local agencies can provide services to a broad array of clients and not offer programs that overlap on the same day and time. “We haven’t really come up with a community-wide solution for how do we address issues in an inclusive way,” said Cassin.t

Students: Fewer anti-gay remarks in SF than CA by Seth Hemmelgarn

erhaps not surprisingly, most students in San Francisco schools face less inhospitable antiLGBT environments than students statewide, recently released and local survey data indicate. “Given the high percentage of LGBT students in California who experience harassment at school and the limited access to key resources and supports that can have a positive effect on their school experiences, it is critical that California school leaders, education policymakers, and other individuals who are obligated to provide safe learning environments for all students” take steps including supporting gaystraight alliances, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network’s 2013 National School Climate Survey report for California says. In the San Francisco Bay Area, many schools have GSAs and students have long worked from curricula inclusive of LGBT-related lessons. The practices appear to be making a difference. Some other parts of

Jane Philomen Cleland

SF school health program manager Kevin Gogin

the state have been slower to adopt such lessons. According to data GLSEN released Thursday, November 13, in 2013, more than nine in 10 California students overall heard “gay” used in a negative way, as in “that’s so gay,” while over eight out of 10 heard other homophobic remarks, such as “fag.” The comments were regularly heard at school, the survey says. See page 9 >>

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<< Community News

8 • Bay Area Reporter • November 20-26, 2014

New director named for Keshet Bay Area by Heather Cassell

GBT Jews in the San Francisco Bay Area have a new addition to their leadership ranks with Rebecca Cariati, who recently stepped into the role as regional director of Keshet. Since taking over the Bay Area leadership post in September from David Robinson, the former regional director who was hired in 2012, Cariati, a 30-year-old queer woman, has been busy learning about what her predecessors accomplished and planning for the organization’s firstever fundraising gala, Glimmer, slated for December 6. Keshet is a national grassroots organization that works for full equality and inclusion of LGBT Jews in Jewish life. It is based in Boston, according to its website. In 2011, the organization opened its Bay Area office, taking the place of former LGBT Jewish organization, Mosaic, and eventually the Jewish LGBT Alliance at the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma counties. Cariati is the third regional director of Keshet, which works to bring LGBT Jews into the fold of the Bay Area’s large and diverse Jewish community. The organization operates on an annual budget of $370,000, according to Cariati, who declined to state her salary. It offers a variety of programs, including LGBT cultural competency training in Jewish organizations, community centers, day schools, and senior homes, said Cariati about some of the established programs that she plans to build upon with the assistance of 1.5 full-time staff, not including herself. The Bay Area is home to the U.S.’s fifth-largest Jewish community and to an LGBT population estimated to

Jane Philomen Cleland

New Keshet Bay Area regional director Rebecca Cariati sits in her office at Congregation Sha’ar Zahav.

be 36,000, wrote Nora Smith in an opinion piece in the Bay Area Reporter in 2013. “My predecessors have done an amazing job of creating a community base, creating a name for Keshet, such that people in the community know that we exist,” said Cariati, grateful for the early support of Keshet Bay Area from the federation and local Jewish foundations.

Breath of fresh air

The B.A.R. sat down with Cariati earlier this month at Keshet’s office at Congregation Sha’ar Zahav in the Castro to talk about her vision for Keshet San Francisco Bay Area and the experience she brings to the queer Jewish community and the community as a whole. An East Coast transplant by way of an employment opportunity a

little more than a year ago, Cariati settled in Oakland, where she enjoys gardening in her backyard. That is when she isn’t exploring nature camping or hiking or enjoying a stroll along the beach. Cariati was also a professional baker at one point in her career, she said. “I’m very attracted to the vibrancy of community here, whether it be spiritual community, activist community, or folks who are just generally trying to create spaces that are transformative,” said Cariati. “I think that the innovation that is happening here in the San Francisco Bay Area is really bar none in the country and the climate ain’t bad either.” When the opportunity arose at Keshet, Cariati, who spent a majority of her career working in the Jewish community, was working

in cooperative development in the grassroots economic development arena, she said. A friend, Rebecca Stone, knowing her passion for general “inclusion and equality” and how much she loved her queerness and Jewishness, nudged her to look into the position. “I felt like I wanted to spread my wings in economic justice and she said, ‘No Rebecca, I really, really think that you should consider this,’” said Cariati, who earned her undergraduate degree in peace and conflict studies at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She doesn’t regret her decision to heed Stone’s advice. “I think that she saw a ripeness for me to step into a position of this type of leadership, which I really appreciate her seeing,” said Cariati. Idit Klein, executive director of Keshet, agreed. “Rebecca is an outstanding person to lead our Bay Area office,” Klein wrote in an email. “Professionally she has worked in social change movements around the globe including Haiti, the Middle East, and the U.S. Much of her work has been at the intersection of antiracism, economic justice, and political rights, as well as justice more broadly. “As an LGBTQ Jew, Rebecca brings a deep personal commitment to creating a more just and inclusive world,” Klein added.

‘Compelling’ work

“The truth is that Keshet’s work is compelling,” said Cariati. “It really does help the Jewish community translate our good intentions to have open arms into tangible action. It also creates safe, nurturing and generative spaces for LGBTQ Jews to celebrate all aspects of who they are together in community.”

Cariati said that Keshet’s work is particularly important for the Bay Area’s LGBT Jews because there is a sense of “gay blasé” that has enveloped the community after years of queers working toward inclusion and, for the most part, achieving it. “There are ways in which our institutions conduct themselves that aren’t necessarily inclusive and Keshet’s work in the Bay Area is really critical in helping translate the really good intentions into concrete action that show that, ‘Yes, we are open-armed,’” said Cariati. One of the things that she plans to do is delve deeper into the Peninsula through LGBT cultural competency programs and broadening LGBT Jews presence, even if it’s simply with a Safe Spaces sticker. She also wants to hone Keshet’s added value to broader LGBT and non-Jewish LGBT community events and programs. “Keshet is an effective convener of all of the different colors of the rainbow, if you will, within the queer Jewish community locally,” said Cariati, who ultimately wants the Jewish community to embrace the diversity of its members as a whole. “My vision for the Jewish community is a community that knows how to embrace each and every one of its members,” said Cariati, pointing out that if the organization is doing what it’s supposed to be doing eventually there will be no need for it. “We will know how to treat one another in a way that is welcoming in the largest sense, in the greatest, deepest sense.”t To learn more, visit www.keshetonline.org. Glimmer takes place December 6 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California Street. Tickets are $150.

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Community News>>

November 20-26, 2014 • Bay Area Reporter • 9

NCLR reaches out to women of color by Elliot Owen

new program has launched that aims to elevate voices of women of color within one of the Bay Area’s leading LGBT organizations. San Francisco-based National Center for Lesbian Rights, which does policy and litigation on a range of LGBT-related issues, kicked off a new project this month called the Ruth Ellis Women of Color Giving Circle at Show & Tell Concept Shop, a woman of color-owned retail and community space in Oakland. The event introduced the new program that is intended to increase participation of women of color within NCLR’s work through cultivating new and strengthening existing relationships with donors who are also women of color. Around 50 people, mostly women of color, attended. NCLR major gifts officer Ace Portis, the impetus behind the project, is adamant about ensuring that NCLR’s donor base reflects the communities the organization has historically served and continues to protect through its legal and advocacy work. Portis identifies as a blacklesbian, one word, stating her racial identity and sexual orientation are informed by each other. Intersectionally-identified, Portis is a staunch proponent of NCLR’s work. “Since our beginning, we’ve operated through a feminist, racial justice lens,” Portis told the Bay Area Reporter. “As the LGBT movement evolves, we want people to know

we’ve been doing this work for years and we’re going to continue doing it. This is about activating and elevating the voices of women of color and making sure people know we’re as intentional about this group of people as we are about anybody else.” It was perfect then, Portis said, for Show & Tell Concept Shop to host the event. Located in the heart of downtown Oakland, historically a community of color, Show & Tell is a small retail business but also a community space largely used for events that cater to LGBTQ people of color. “It was a huge honor for NCLR to host their event here,” Show & Tell owner Alyah Baker told the B.A.R. “It demonstrated that, even though they’re a national organization, NCLR is tuned-in to what’s happening on a local community level, and committed to incorporating underrepresented groups into their national agenda. As queer women of color, we often feel invisible. This recognition is extremely validating, and I’m glad that NCLR recognizes the [queer, transgender, people of color] community as vital to their work.” In addition to announcing the giving circle, the event was intended to introduce NCLR to communities with limited or no knowledge of the nonprofit’s multifaceted work. To

Elliot Owen

Ace Portis, left, major gifts officer at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, joined NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell at a recent event aimed at increasing visibility of women of color among the agency’s donors.

acquaint attendees with the organization and newest project, NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell was present to open the gathering. “We’ve seen an enormous change in the place of LGBT people in this culture,” Kendell said, “but we know not everyone is feeling that. And the folks most likely not feeling that are women and men of color, those who live in rural areas, who live in really

difficult, corrosive, homophobic, and racist states. Those are the folks we’re going to be there for. “Our goal for this event is to raise the voice, visibility, and involvement of women of color as donors, those who support NCLR,” Kendell continued. “We have clients who are wildly diverse, we have a staff and board that’s diverse, that represents in a pretty muscular way the

vibrancy and diversity of the LGBT community. But that’s not reflected in those who support the organization. [Contributions] are an investment, a way to tell us what we need to be thinking about, how you want to be heard.” Following Kendell’s remarks, three women of color with close ties to NCLR spoke on behalf of the organization’s track record. NCLR family law director Cathy Sakimura detailed an NCLR program she started in 2006 to improve services to low-income families and families of color. Additionally, she said NCLR targets issues often overlooked by the rest of the LGBT movement and media. NCLR board member Lisa Cisneros spoke about her 10-year commitment to the agency’s work. Years ago, she started at NCLR as a law clerk. After finishing law school, she joined California Rural Legal Assistance, a nonprofit legal services program that provides low-income rural Californians with legal assistance. Once there, Cisneros initiated a partnership between CRLA and NCLR aimed at making equality a reality for LGBT families in rural areas. See page 18 >>

Students

From page 6

Around seven out of 10 students had experienced verbal harassment based on their sexual orientation, according to the data. A total of 888 people who responded to the GLSEN survey were attending schools in California. The results for the state have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Local data suggest students here have more support than students statewide. In San Francisco last year, almost 29.8 percent of high school students, or about three in 10, “most of the time” or “always” heard “other students at school make harassing statements based on sexual orientation,” such as “that’s so gay” and “faggot.” That’s an improvement over 2011, when 40.1 percent, or about four out of 10 students, reported hearing such remarks. The data have a margin of error of plus or minus five tenths of a percentage point. The numbers are from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. In San Francisco, 1,953 students in 21 public high schools completed the survey in 2013. In 2011, 2,220 high school students in the city completed the survey. Kevin Gogin, the program manager for the San Francisco Unified School District’s school health programs, said the school district has been working for many years to address safety for LGBT students. “Our data continues to show that we’re making improvements in our schools, but our data is also showing we have a lot more to do,” Gogin said. He said the district looks “at school safety in multiple ways.” “We include sexual orientation and gender identity as important categories to be respected by all of our students,” he said. “It also is embedded in our curriculum, and we have active [GSAs] and coming out groups at our high schools,” among other methods. For more about the GLSEN data, go to www.glsen.org. The San Francisco schools data is available at http://www.healthiersf.org/ LGBTQ/GetTheFacts/health.html.t

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<< Community News

12 • Bay Area Reporter • November 20-26, 2014

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genderqueer former San Francisco Youth Commission member is now helping lead an effort to get the White House or Congress to establish a presidential youth council. Angel VanStark, who a little over three years ago was homeless and found help at the city’s LGBT Community Center, accepted the position of state director for the privately funded, bipartisan Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council. VanStark, 22, who prefers genderneutral pronouns, impressed many people with their swift ascent out of the streets. A number of people, including Atlanta resident Micky Bradford, believe that VanStark has the ability to affect positive change across a much wider stage than just local politics. 4:44:57 PM It was Bradford who nominated VanStark to be the California state director for the Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council, a position that VanStark assumed last month. Bradford, who identifies as a butch queen, prefers to use their name instead of pronouns. Involved in reproductive rights and HIV prevention in the Atlanta area, Bradford sits on the board of Atlanta’s Lost-N-Found Youth. “Angel is the right person for the commission because they clearly and passionately connect their struggle as a young queer person of color to the struggles every young person goes through,” Bradford said in an email. “They’ve done so much work advocating for justice, navigating a civil system that few our age actually understand. I think Angel is wonderful.” Bradford referred to VanStark’s current projects, which include working on a film about young people who are HIV-positive. “Our society isn’t supposed to talk about certain things, but Angel speaks up about LGBTQ rights, advocates for homeless youth,” Bradford said. “It takes creative endeavors and a critical eye and a heart that has struggled to do the work that Angel is called to do. My recommendation is trust that he can change policies for a more just California, and a more collaborative youth group for the U.S.” On its website, the Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council describes itself as “a privately funded, bipartisan, youth led initiative to establish a Presidential Youth Council comprised of young Americans ages 16-24 to advise the president on the perspectives of youth.”

CA BRE# 01346949

CPMC

From page 1

unavailable and they’ll have to go to inadequately trained, less caring staff for assistance. John McLay, 57, is a patient of the program and started a MoveOn.org petition protesting the changes. McLay said, “I would have to” go somewhere else if CPMC goes through with the changes. “I would be so upset with Davies and CPMC and Sutter Health I would likely go completely somewhere else,” he added. “My greatest fear is there have been so many cutbacks in services for HIV-positive people, there is really nothing available for people 50 and over ... that the very real possibility is people will not get access to services and will have poor health” and service cuts could “possibly cost lives.” CPMC is an affiliate of Sutter Health. In a November 11 to a doctor at Davies, which is located in the Castro, Eileen Kahn, a registered nurse and the regional care coordi-

Jane Philomen Cleland

Angel VanStark

The site explains that a presidential youth council would be created as an official federal advisory council by either the president or Congress and hosted at the Corporation for National and Community Service. “CNCS is uniquely set up to support the youth council with a bipartisan board of directors and the ability to seek and receive private funds,” the campaign’s website states. “To eliminate federal government costs, private funds will be used at the discretion of CNCS to support the program.” The campaign’s leadership consists mostly of college students and young people involved in government. The chair is James Ferencsik, a sophomore at Duke University who is also founder and chief executive officer of Sand for Life Solutions, a nonprofit dedicated to providing rural Ghana with access to clean, potable water. VanStark expects to spend about five hours a week on the initiative and his position is unpaid. On its website, the campaign counts several notable people among its advisers, including Rich Tafel, a gay man who is a former executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans and currently runs Public Squared; Christina Bellantoni, the political editor of PBS NewsHour; Mark McKinnon, a former senior adviser to President George W. Bush and the founder of No Labels; and Linda Moore Forbes, a deputy assistant to former President Bill Clinton. VanStark said one of his tasks would be to recruit people to join the campaign. “The role I serve is to organize support in the state of California to assure the success of the national campaign,” VanStark said. “I’m currently working on a strategy plan that will go into full effect in early 2015 to identify ambassadors for the cause, build an organizational strucnation executive/vice president for Sutter Health West Bay Region, said, “For the past several years, we have seen a steady decline in the number of patients we serve in our AIDS Case Management program, in part reflecting our success in managing HIV disease.” Kahn said there are 15 patients in the program, which was established during the 1990s at the height of the AIDS epidemic and helps people, including those who can’t pay for services. In 2013, according to information from CPMC, the program enrolled more than 700 clients in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and is currently helping over 70 people in the state Office of AIDS Health Insurance Premium Program. That program pays monthly health insurance premiums for eligible California residents who are living with HIV/AIDS. “We believe our patients would be better served by aligning them with a CPMC financial counselor who can help these patients navigate through the ADAP and OA-HIPP

ture that assures youth development and representation in the media, and combined efforts to lobby at the state level for the creation of the presidential youth council.” He is planning on appointing 53 district representatives – one for each congressional district – in the state. So far he has brought two district directors on board and looks to expand the work “vigorously” in the coming months. “I expect a strong push from young people all over the U.S. to really take flight by February when the legislation is brought up in the House,” VanStark said. VanStark explained the current challenges that are specific to today’s youth. “Young people are underrepresented in the legislative process and are tokenized by politicians to score political capital,” VanStark said. “You hear all these politicians talking about what young people need while they cut education funding, change curriculum to eliminate portions of history that discuss civil disobedience, and the attempts to reduce health care coverage. “There is no one in the White House that is truly advocating the needs of young people,” VanStark added. “And there is no youth representation in the media other than the murdered victims of laws created to assure the ‘security’ of our nation. There’s a lot of talk about the future of this nation, but there’s no investment to back those statements up.” VanStark said that he recently resigned from the San Francisco Youth Commission to devote more time to school. He is attending City College of San Francisco and studying political science. He continues to serve on the board of the LGBT Community Center, which helped him after he arrived in the city three years ago. “Because of my identity, I found myself in San Francisco for the first time on October 8, 2011,” said VanStark. “The center helped me connect to various resources such as youth meal night, Larkin Street Youth Services, and employment opportunities. Resource after resource, I slowly was helped on my journey to becoming an independent adult.”t Those interested in finding out more about becoming an ambassador for the Campaign for a Presidential Youth council can visit https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/1yBBJdN9eHBxtBwmqG wqCzl8roAl643RfjN5_0ULPOcw/ viewform.

financial drug assistance programs,” Kahn said. “We will also be providing continued case management for the remaining 15 patients via our inpatient case management and social service team at the Davies campus.” The center anticipates the transition will be effective December 1, she said. Kahn’s letter was addressed to Dr. Bill Owen, who’s been an HIV/ AIDS physician “since before the beginning of the epidemic” and has had his office at Davies, 45 Castro Street, since 1989, when he first met Laila Hinkle and Betty Zipkin, the CPMC workers that people are expressing strong support for. Owen, who provided a copy of Kahn’s letter to the Bay Area Reporter at the paper’s request, said the planned changes are “ill conceived.” “I can understand that perhaps the people who are bean counters might want to see what they can do to cut out positions that they view as See page 17 >>

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<< Community News

14 • Bay Area Reporter • November 20-26, 2014

Big help from Help Is On The Way

he Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation November 10 had its annual check presentation for the beneficiaries from its annual Help Is On The Way 20 gala and concert that was held August 24 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. A total of $62,500 was presented to the four beneficiaries,

Joe Seiler

Abzyme Research Foundation, Aguilas, AIDS Legal Referral Panel, and Positive Resource Center. From left are REAF executive director Ken Henderson, Bill Hirsh of ALRP, Joe Tuohy of PRC, and Erick Arguello and Juan Davilla of Aguilas.

The funny side: An interview with comedian Greg Walloch by Belo Cipriani

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s a person with a physical disability, I’m often told by members of the LGBTQ community that I’m inspirational, a role model, and even a miracle (the latter one is most common at Latin gay bars). And while I don’t mind being told I’m any of those things if it’s genuine, sometimes the compliment sounds awkward. Last week, at the White Horse in Oakland, I was walking from one end of the bar with my white cane to their smoking patio when I heard a woman speak into my ear, “Wow, look at you being so independent!” I quickly turned toward the voice and replied, “You too!” The crowd around me broke into light laughter. Then, a guy to my right offered to buy me a drink – his voice hoarse from chuckling. Nothing brings people together like humor, and I find that sharing the funny side of disability helps people interact with me. I have a deep appreciation for comedy and greatly admire those who have made it their career. Recently, I was acquainted with the work of gay disabled comedian Greg Walloch, whose work I find riveting, hysterical, and thought provoking all at once. Through an email exchange, Walloch answered a few questions about his childhood and his career. The 44-year-old monologist and teacher had a pretty ordinary child-

called inspirational, I hood, despite growing up imagine it feels exactly the with cerebral palsy. And way my black or Hispanic he doesn’t feel his parents friends feel when people treated him any differcall them ‘urban’ or ‘fesently than they did his tive.’ If you mean it and sibling. it’s heartfelt, then I’ll take “They had the same it. It’s all about intention.” expectations for me as Walloch balances his they did for my brother. Courtesy Greg Walloch life between touring, They raised good kids,” Comedian teaching writing workhe wrote in the email. Greg Walloch shops, and living life to its He also feels that his fullest. He dates and does disability didn’t impact not feel that his disability keeps him his upbringing and that he went from meeting guys. through the traditional rites of “I throw off a pretty slutty vibe, passage like anyone else. Walloch so I feel like that overrides any apsaid, “It’s all I’ve really known, you prehension that men have about my know? So I only have my experience disability,” he quipped. to offer. So to me that seems pretty As someone who belongs to normal. School, first kiss, friends, more than one minority group, I hopes and dreams – like everybody was especially interested in hearing else.” Walloch’s take on being gay and disThe Los Angeles native’s vivid abled. He wrote, “Fantastic parades, storytelling expands over guys with hot asses and premium several mediums that parking! What more could I possiinclude books, film, bly ask for?” TV, and radio; some Walloch has a vibrant career and of the highlights of is working on several projects. Curhis career are being a rently, he is developing a TV show guest appearance on The based on his monologues and has Howard Stern Show in plans to tour and present his com1998, touring in Euedy around the globe. You can find rope and contributing him on Twitter, Instagram or visit to the Lambda Literary his website at www.gregwalloch. award-winning antholcom.t ogy Queer Crips. Although Walloch is known internationally as a comic, he admits Belo Cipriani is a staffing profesthat comedy wasn’t his goal. sional, the writer-in-residence at Holy Names University, a spokes“Comedy was not my aim at the man for Guide Dogs for the Blind, start,” he said. “It’s just that some of the “Get to Work” columnist for the stories I was telling happened to SFGate.com, and the author of be funny.” Blind: A Memoir and Midday When asked about being referred Dreams. Learn more at BeloCto as inspirational, he said, “To be ipriani.com.

Obituaries >> Lester Hugh Arnold January 21, 1945 – November 3, 2014

Lester Hugh (Les) Arnold, 69, of Texarkana, Texas, passed away Monday, November 3, 2014, at his home. Mr. Arnold was born in Texarkana, AR on January 21, 1945, at Michael Meagher Hospital. He lived most of his adult life in San Francisco and worked in several upscale antique and new furniture galleries. He retired from Brown Jordan two years prior to moving back to Texarkana. Les graduated from Texas High and Texarkana College and studied at the University of Texas at Austin. His interests included British drama and comedy, Greek history, art, and antiques. He loved to travel.

He was fortunate to attend market in France and Italy while employed in San Francisco. Survivors include his sister, Sophia Arnold Teel, his niece, Lauren Teel Pianalto, her husband, Zachary Pianalto and their son, Samuel Pianalto, all of Texarkana; and special friend and confidant Vicki Maxey as well as many other relatives and close friends in California and Texas.

James F. Corrigan August 25, 1952 – September 26, 2014

James F. Corrigan, born August 25, 1952, passed from this Earth on September 26, 2014 after a lengthy illness. Jim was the son of Thomas and Mary (Nickerson) Corrigan. He was

raised in Chatham, Massachusetts, graduating from Chatham High School in 1970. He served four years in the U.S. Navy before pursuing a career in electronics. He moved to San Francisco in 1980, where he lived until his death. He is survived and will be sorely missed by his husband, Thomas Sherwood. He was the beloved brother of Michael Corrigan of Wilmington, Daniel Corrigan of Harwich, Kevin Corrigan of Argentina, S.A., Paul Corrigan of Burlington, Connecticut; and four sisters, Margaret Moore of Chatham, Marjorie Montague of Chatham, Mary Agnew of Harwich, and Anne Corrigan of Harwich. He was predeceased by brothers Thomas and Earl. Jim was a lover of life, a defender of the underdog, and a person of great integrity. A memorial service was held November 1 at the Unitarian Universalist church in Chatham.

World News>>

November 20-26, 2014 • Bay Area Reporter • 15

Youth group faces charges under Russian anti-gay law by Heather Cassell

he founder of a Russian online support group for LGBT youth this week was charged with violating the country’s anti-gay propaganda law. Russian journalist Elena Klimova, sometimes spelled Yelena Klimova, founded the Deti-404 (Children-404), a social media peer support group for Russian LGBT youth that allows them to voice their opinions. The messages are spread through a variety of social media outlets, such as Vkontakte, Russia’s social media network; Facebook; and YouTube. The group’s name is taken from the common error message – 404 Error – that is received when a link is broken or a Web page is unavailable. On November 7, Global Voices Online reported that Klimova was interrogated by three police officers, who as a part of their investigation asked if the group publishes photographs of naked children (it does not). On the site, LGBT youth post messages about their families and

San Jose man

From page 3

remanded to the U.S. Marshal’s custody. According to the Santa Clara County Department of Corrections, he’s in custody in that agency’s main jail without bail. Toltzis’s next court date is Thursday, November 20. In a brief interview Tuesday, Albie Jachimowicz, Toltzis’s attorney, said his client has been getting help for mental problems. “He has a significant history of mental health issues, which are being addressed,” Jachimowicz said,

community not accepting them. A 14-year-old girl in Moldova wrote on the group’s page that her mother threatened to disown her, reported the Moscow Times. “My mom, when she found out, wanted to send me to a boarding school, saying: ‘I don’t need you, I gave birth to a normal person, not to you,’” the girl said. “I cried for a long time.” “When I was 13, I told my best female friend that I was different, and she couldn’t keep a secret,” a boy identified as a 15-yearold Russian is quoted as saying in an e-mail to Children-404. News of his sexuality spread quickly. “Literally two weeks later I was beaten for being different,” he wrote, asking for support for fighting to be who he is. “I am asking you for help and support. Nothing else. I’m asking. I’m terribly lonely.” Klimova could face a fine of 1 million rubles (about $21,000) and Children-404 could be forced to shut down for 90 days, reported BuzzFeed. Klimova fears that authorities and “since the last charged event,” there’s been an increase in “medical protocol, and subsequent to the increase in medical protocol, there’s been no abhorrent behavior.” Jachimowicz doesn’t think Toltzis “is or was or will ever be an actual threat to anyone other than by the unfortunate means he sent communications.” Citing privacy concerns, he declined to say specifically what mental health problems Toltzis has. However, he said, “I’m hoping he’ll be out of custody Thursday when the court recognizes how significant the mental health issues are.”

Not standing down

might pursue additional charges against her that could put her in prison, reported Global Voices. The charges were filed against Klimova by Roskomnadzor, Russia’s federal communications commission. Anna Levchenko, a proKremlin youth activist who runs a campaign against pedophiles that is endorsed by President Vladimir

Putin, appealed to Russia’s chief prosecutor after publishing a letter about the social media page on her website. In the letter Levchenko claimed that she and fellow activists interviewed several teens from Children-404 and concluded the page was “aimed at damaging their psyche” for simply asking questions about their sexuality, reported BuzzFeed. In Levchenko’s appeal to the prosecutor she claimed that Klimova lacked the “specialized knowledge” to run the group. “It is our deep belief that the problems of teenagers’ socialization, their growing up and personal selfidentification should be handled by professionals – diploma-holding instructors, psychologists, doctors, and lawyers,” Levchenko wrote in a statement from her group. “We think that it is particularly the lack of specialized knowledge that prevents Yelena Klimova from staying within the boundaries of the law while running the project,” she added. Additionally, the Roskomnadzor allegedly received 150 complaints against the group seeking to shut it down.

The maximum penalty for each count is five years imprisonment, “a fine of $250,000, three years of supervised release, and restitution if appropriate,” according to Haag’s office. Toltzis allegedly used anonymous remailer services, along with his own e-mail address, a Dell printer, and the U.S. mail to commit the crimes. “An anonymous remailer is a server that receives messages with embedded instructions on where to send them next, and subsequently forwards them without revealing their true origin,” the indictment says. T:9.75” According to the court filing, Toltzis sometimes used the identity

of one victim while he was transmitting threats and harassing messages to a new or different victim, as was the case with FB. The indictment doesn’t state where exactly the victims live. It also doesn’t specifically say all the victims were men. A man who contacted the Bay Area Reporter said Toltzis had victimized his husband in a manner similar to the other people. He asked that only his first name, Bob, be published. Bob, whose husband isn’t one of the victims listed in the indictment, said he and his husband attended Monday’s hearing, but neither of

them recognized Toltzis when they saw him in court. He said his husband has spoken with “quite a few” of the other alleged victims, who he believes are all men. Bob said his husband didn’t want to be interviewed. Assistant U.S. attorney Timothy J. Lucey is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Laurie Worthen. Haag’s office said, “The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI with substantial assistance from the United States Secret Service and United States Postal Inspection Service.” Officials declined to provide Toltzis’s booking photo.t

Courtesy Calvert Journal

Elena Klimova founded Children-404, a Russian LGBT youth social network support group.

Klimova shot back, pointing out that the Russian government doesn’t provide any services – medical, psychological, or legal – to “provide support for LGBT teenagers in a country where homophobia is rife,” reported the Times. Additionally, many medical professionals in Russia still believe that homosexuality is a disorder, a throwback to Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union, that should be treated otherwise it’s a “perversion” or a “criminal offense.” She told the newspaper that there are more than a dozen psychologists who volunteer for Children-404, pointing out that Levchenko’s claim is “unjustified.” The charges are only the latest in anti-gay activists’ battles against Russia’s LGBT community. Anti-gay demonstrators protested the premiere of a film about Children-404 and the directors of the film were questioned by prosecutors in Moscow, reported BuzzFeed. Just last week Ilmira Shayhraznova and a couple of friends were arrested and fined 20,000 rubles (about $428) for holding up a rainbow flag in the town square of Lipetsk, a city in southwestern Russia.t

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<< Sports

16 • Bay Area Reporter • November 20-26, 2014

Outrage sizzles around 2018, 2022 World Cups by Roger Brigham

here was worldwide outrage when Russia and Qatar were chosen as hosts for the 2018 and 2022 men’s soccer World Cups, respectively. There were allegations of corruption in the selection process, which wound up selecting two countries with homophobic cultures, and serious concerns about the blazing heat and deplorable labor conditions in Qatar. Little wonder that about now, the shit is hitting the fan. We begin with the allegations of corruption in the bidding process. FIFA, the global governing body for soccer whose performance in recent years suggests the letters stand for Fucking Incompetent Fucking A-holes, had American attorney Michael Garcia undertake an 18-month investigation into the bidding process, which resulted in a 430-page report. FIFA has refused to publish the full report, but Hans-Joachim Eckert, FIFA’s ethics committee judge, released a 42-page summary of the report, which effectively cleared Russia and Qatar. Garcia has disowned that summary, saying it contained “numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations of the facts;” the head of the German league has called upon European clubs to quit FIFA if the full report is not released; and the former head of English football has called for a boycott of the 2018 World Cup if there is not quick and serious reform. At the same time, two women who provided information in confidence to the investigators say they were effectively outed in the final summary report, and one of them says she was

pressured by a million-dollar lawsuit to recant her initial allegation. “When it comes to FIFA, be prepared to be crucified, not once or twice but over and over again,” said Phaedra Almajid, who had been a member of the 2022 Qatar bid team and charged that two FIFA executive committee members were paid $1.5 million to vote for that country. “Be prepared to suffer and pay for your actions. Be prepared never to feel safe and never to feel you can trust anyone. But most importantly, be ready to be betrayed by those who have promised to protect you. I am one small insignificant single mum against the richest country in the world and the richest sporting organization in the world.” In a joint statement, Almajid and Bonita Mersiades, who worked for the Australia 2022 bid team, said, “The summary by Judge Eckert clearly breached all such assurances of confidentiality. Although not named in the report, we were clearly identifiable and within hours of its publication had been widely unmasked as the ‘whistleblowers’ in German, British and Australian media. To compound this situation Judge Eckert used his summary report to question our credibility. This is particularly puzzling as the summary simultaneously uses the same information we provided to form significant parts of his inquiry in respect of the Australian and Qatar World Cup bids.” David Bernstein says he quit his post as head of British football last year partly because he no longer wanted to be associated with FIFA. “FIFA is sort of a totalitarian setup,” he told BBC Sport. “Bits of it remind me of the old Soviet empire.

expected to be around 120 degrees, and homosexuality is a crime. Alcohol consumption is also strictly limited. This month the nation’s sports minister gave evasive answers about whether beer would be allowed at the stadiums or whether gays would be welcome at the events. “In the hotels and many areas we have alcohol but we have also our own system that people need to respect,” Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali told the Associated Press. “As we bid for 2022, we will respect all the rules and regulations by FIFA. We can study this and Qatar’s Minister of Sport Salah bin minimize the impact on our Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali people and tradition. I think we can be creative, finding solutions for all of this. But we People don’t speak out and if they respect all the rules and regulations.” do they get quashed. The choosAsked how welcome and safe gays ing of Qatar was clearly one of the will be, he replied, “It’s exactly like most ludicrous decisions in the histhe alcohol question. We are studytory of sport. You might as well have ing all these issues. We can adapt, we chosen Iceland in the winter. It was can be creative to have people comlike an Alice in Wonderland sort of ing and enjoying the games without decision.” losing the essence of our culture He said England should be willand respecting the preference of the ing to walk out on FIFA and the people coming here. I think there is World Cup with other European a lot we can do.” countries. Of course, the solution offered in “England on its own cannot in2010 by Seth Blatter, head of FIFA, fluence this – one country can’t do was sexual abstinence for gays visit,” he said. iting the Qatar World Cup. Guess Of course, what has reminded that’s what al-Ali means by creative human rights activists lately of the solutions. old Soviet empire is the current Construction costs for 2022 Russian regime. There was disgust World Cup stadiums, hotels, and when the 2014 Winter Olympics other facilities will cost an estimated in Sochi were preceded by a crack$200 billion – of which very little down on LGBT rights in Russia and will go to the workers actually buildthat issue will continue to loom for ing the projects. The second annual the 2018 World Cup. Global Slavery Index by Walk Free But Sochi, one of the sites for the Foundation, released this month, 2018 World Cup, will seem like Fire estimated that 1.4 percent of Qatar’s Island compared with the 2022 host population, or 29,400 people, were Qatar, where slave labor is commonworking as slaves, in forced labor or place, tournament temperatures are

domestic servitude. Qatar was listed as the fourth worst country in a survey of 167 nations. Walk Free said more than 1.6 million foreign workers, largely from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, are employed in Qatar. Their employers can demand large recruitment fees, withhold pay, confiscate their passports and abuse them physically or sexually, the human rights group said. Qatar has promised to improve labor laws and conditions but has set no timetable – or minimum wages. “We understand this problem. For us, it’s a human question,” al-Ali said. “Qataris aren’t vicious people who are like vampires. We have emotions, we feel bad.” Of course, not as bad as the workers, of whom more than 1,200 have died since the World Cup was awarded in 2010. It’s projected that another 4,000 could die without labor reform, according to the International Trade Union Confederation. In its initial bid, Qatar promised the construction of 12 new stadiums, which would have modular sections that could later be disassembled and used to construct soccer venues in developing countries. For the World Cup, the stadiums are to be cooled by “hi-tech, carbonneutral cooling systems.” The cooling technology has yet to be developed and tested. In April Qatar said it would not build four of the stadiums. Feel like venting on any of this? You can sign a petition on www. forcechange.com to ask that the 2018 Cup not be held in Russia because of human rights issues, or one to (gasp!) praise FIFA for pressuring Qatar to reform its labor conditions. See page 18 >>

GRATITUDE IN THE GROVE:

CELEBRATING HEROES OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC An evening of reflection, connection, gratitude, and dancing for former Shanti Project volunteers and HIV/AIDS volunteer caregivers. Music by DJ Page Hodel.

World AIDS Day—December 1, 5:30pm National AIDS Memorial Grove, Golden Gate Park Free with RSVP to www.shantialumni2014.eventbrite.com Design: Ollie Khakwani

SAN FRANCISCO

t <<

Community News>>

Trans grad student

From page 1

sister wearing a purple glove and touching a real human brain. It’s one of my favorite moments.” Aside from finding out in July about winning the trustees’ award, it’s been a significant year for Matsuda. While undergoing the award’s grueling application process this past spring, Matsuda was also experiencing the physical effects of being on testosterone for only three months. “I was crashing and burning all the time,” he said, “and the application process required us to make a video about these things, get really personal. Trying to process something while you’re living it is really hard to do, but I actually think it helped me process what [physically transitioning] has meant to me.” He also went to the Philippines in May to do fieldwork, attended the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference in June, and underwent top surgery in July after receiving word he’d won the trustees’ award. Then in August, he turned 33. “It was really cool to wake up on my 33rd birthday, post-op, and on testosterone,” Matsuda said, “and

Political Notebook

From page 5

Avalos and Mar both refused to take part in the vote. After thanking her fellow board members, Tang said, “but again there will be another vote in January and I look forward to that.”

Gov appoints gay lawmaker to UC board

Governor Jerry Brown this week appointed outgoing gay Assemblyman John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles) to a seat on the University of California Board of Regents. Perez, who is termed out of office in December, had served as an ex-officio regent when he was the speaker of the Assembly. Lesbian Assemblywoman Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), who was recently re-elected as Assembly speaker, currently serves in that role.

CPMC

From page 12

unnecessary or superfluous,” Owen, who’s gay, said, but he said the shift will mean ADAP clients working with counselors “who really are not equipped” for the work. They’re “not familiar with the needs of these patients,” he said, “and Betty and Laila do much more than just financial counseling.” They also provide psychosocial support and counseling. Inpatient social workers at the hospital are already “stretched” with the work they have, he added. Kahn didn’t respond directly to an interview request, but had CPMC spokesman Dean Fryer call. “There’s duplication of services here,” Fryer said, when asked what changes are planned. “You’ve got two different programs, the current AIDS case management program and the larger program that’s doing the financial counseling” and “helps people fill out applications for various functions.” In an email, he added, “The case management function that we provide for 15 patients will be transitioned to our Care Coordination unit within CPMC,” while “the ADAP application assistance will be handled by a long-standing service provider that CPMC uses to assist patients with enrollment and eligibility issues for government programs and services.” No clients will lose services, Fryer said. Patients will call the same number, continue to visit the Davies campus, and see the same physicians. The women’s current clients “should be able to stay with them,” and those clients will also have ac-

November 20-26, 2014 • Bay Area Reporter • 17

But the road leading to gender affirmation, a master’s degree, and institutional recognition has been a long one for Matsuda. It starts with the very first thing he remembers – having cancer. “I was 3 years old,” Matsuda said. “I had childhood leukemia. They caught it early but I was in and out of the hospital for a year. It wasn’t necessarily that I was reacting to being a sick child, but to adults treating me like a sick child. Your alarm system goes off and suddenly you’re aware of not having all the time in the world.” Matsuda attributes his generally ambitious passion about living to this early experience. For most of his life, if he wanted to do something it had to be done, as he describes it, “now, now, now.” There was never time to waste. “I’ve had a very hard relationship with being able to see the future because all the time in the world was never something I felt like I had,” he said, “until now.” For Matsuda, the ability to imag-

ine a long life full of possibility is a recent thing. The shift, he said, is in large part due to his gender transition. All his life, he could never imagine growing into an old woman. Now, reimagining the aging process as a fuller and more authentic representation of himself is possible. “I’ve always felt male, and I feel male now,” he said. “That’s where I fall and that’s how I identify. Suddenly, I can envision the future, imagine what it’ll be like to have a family. I feel comfortable and excited.” As a child, Matsuda found solace in the sciences. He remembers wanting to be a marine biologist and spending hours at aquariums and museums. The concepts of “collections, history, and life” were fascinating to him. But Matsuda, still living as female, was deterred from studying science very early on, which, he said, is a very common occurrence. Convinced he wasn’t smart enough to study biology while completing his undergraduate degree at UC Santa Cruz, he decided instead to complete an environmental science degree emphasizing agroecology and water policy.

After graduating with honors in 2003, Matsuda worked as an outdoor educator for minority youth. Then, in 2007, he went traveling. In Thailand, he was presented with an opportunity to scuba dive and therein laid the experience that would define his life’s direction. “I remember very explicitly the rush and feeling of descending under the water’s surface for the very first time,” Matsuda said. “Our body biologically wakes up when cold water is splashed on our face. It’s a natural reaction humans have. Experiencing that reaction while descending into the crystal clear water into a beautiful world was like nothing I’d ever seen on TV. I had this really strong feeling of arrival, and wanting more.” After that, Matsuda volunteered for multiple coral reef monitoring missions in Southeast Asia then traveled to Mexico to study coral reef species with an organization called Global Visions. Returning to the Bay Area with fresh direction, Matsuda started volunteering at the California Academy of Sciences while taking classes at City College of San Francisco to fulfill all hardscience prerequisites required to

apply to the SFSU graduate biology program. By 2012, he was enrolled. Winning the trustees’ award has been about more than scholarship money for Matsuda, although he’s happy about that part, too. For him, being recognized and celebrated as a transgender person is arguably the best part. “Having the CSU system support me as a transgender student is huge,” Matsuda said. “I didn’t realize how deeply I needed that, how much I’d been pushing against the world to accept me.” Being publicly recognized has also provided Matsuda with the opportunity to be intentionally vocal about his identity. Being out, especially as a scientist, is something he feels is a social responsibility. “If you Google ‘transgender scientists’ very few come up,” Matsuda said. “As long as I feel physically safe, I feel an obligation to be visible because it’s important to have conversations with people, make connections, and expand perceptions of what scientists can look like.” Matsuda will complete his master’s degree next spring, then plans to pursue a doctorate in evolutionary and marine biology.t

“I have been privileged to work with the governor to make college affordable and accessible for every Californian, and I am very eager to continue that work as a regent,” said Perez in a statement released by his office. “The University of California is one of the key economic engines for California, and a bastion of opportunity for California’s students, and I am looking forward to being able to work with students, the regents and the UC Leadership to strengthen one of California’s most iconic institutions.” The same day Brown named Perez to the regents seat, Monday, November 18, he also appointed Long Beach City College superintendent-president Eloy Ortiz Oakley to the UC board. There is no compensation to serve in the positions. “John and Eloy bring a wealth of experience and an extraordinary capacity to dig into the complexities of

our great university system,” stated Brown. “Their work has demonstrated a deep commitment to the students of California.” Perez, 45, attended UC Berkeley but did not graduate. He was in San Francisco Wednesday to attend the regents’ two days of meetings in the city where a key agenda item is UC President Janet Napolitano’s proposal for up to 5 percent annual raises in tuition for the next five years. UC currently costs roughly $12,200 a year to attend. In a statement to the Los Angeles Times earlier this week, Perez spoke out against the tuition hikes. “Not only does the fee hike fly in the face of our efforts to make college more affordable for middleclass students, but threatening a fee hike unless the Legislature increases the UC’s funding is tantamount to hostage taking and that is completely unacceptable,” he was quoted

as saying. “The Legislature needs to continue to increase funding for the UC as the economy improves and our financial situation strengthens, but this proposal takes us in the wrong direction and the Board of Regents needs to withdraw it.” Late Tuesday night Atkins announced a plan to avoid the tuition hikes, which included an additional $50 million in state funding to the UC system, increasing Cal Grants for low-income students, and accelerated implementation of the Middle Class Scholarship program that Perez pushed through the Legislature. She is also calling for a $5,000 tuition increase for out of state students and capping their enrollment levels to the 2014-2015 school year, while increasing the number of California students by 10,000 over five years. “The proposed fee increase of more than 25 percent is unacceptable – California students and their fami-

lies have faced too many fee increases already,” stated Atkins. “Instead, UC should work with the Legislature and governor to get UC the money it needs to remain one of the state’s world-class assets, without harming the California students and families the university was created to serve.”t

cess to “a broader array of services” and “a larger team.” However, according to Fryer’s email, Hinkle and Zipkin would “no longer be handling ADAP program applications.” In response to requests for comment, Zipkin sent the B.A.R. an email on which she copied Hinkle. “We were given the Sutter Health policy and cannot speak to any media,” Zipkin said. Fryer didn’t know how much money the move would save, but in his email, he wrote, “This change is not about financials. This is one of many programmatic decisions that CPMC management makes each year to better align work functions to provide greater benefit to our patients.” In the phone interview, Fryer said the staff at the larger program are getting training to assist clients. “It’s the state-required training,” he said. “I don’t know how long it is.”

much confusion about what exactly may happen. “That’s one of the reasons why I want to get everyone around the table, to make sure at the very least we’re all operating from the same facts, because right now, I’m hearing different things from the advocates than I’m hearing from CPMC.” As Wiener understands it, Hinkle and Zipkin will be transferred or offered severance. That change and the 700 clients being transferred to a different service are “not in dispute,” he said, “and we want to make sure we understand exactly what that means.” He hopes the changes aren’t set in stone. Asked in part about Hinkle and Zipkin being offered severance packages, Fryer responded, “The realignment of services will happen after a transitional plan is completed. Betty and Laila have been asked to remain in Care Coordination to continue to provide exceptional care for our patients.”

to the diagnosis, who need to find an HIV knowledgeable physician, who need assistance in attaining insurance, etc., as well as counseling is an overall life issues.” Cafaro added, CPMC and Sutter “seem to think HIV is not an ongoing problem and that at a time when more people have the chance to access health they are setting up roadblocks.” McLay, the patient who started the petition, said he’d looked for a year for a psychiatrist who would take his insurance and specialized in working with people living with HIV. He said he’d given up and was “acutely suicidal,” then Hinkle called him “out of the blue” and asked how he was doing. Within minutes she’d made an appointment for him with a psychiatrist. “I think she saved my life,” McLay said. He said other staff are “not prepared” to work with the patients who Zipkin and Hinkle have helped. Steven Moore, 58, another patient, said he’s “devastated” about the proposed changes. Moore said he didn’t get any letters, emails, or phone calls from CPMC about the changes. He also said he found it “impossible” that there are only 15 case management patients. Moore said he’s worked with Hinkle since he moved to San Francisco seven years ago. “She pointed me in the direction for every possible service someone would need,” he said. “I’m living on a fixed income,” and Hinkle helped him with transportation, food stamps, mental health, and other matters. “She is an unbelievable wealth of knowledge for the HIV/ AIDS community.”

He asked, “Why would you get rid of someone like [Hinkle] except for dollars and cents? And that’s obviously what it is” that’s driving the transition, he said. Moore added, “I absolutely do not believe” that clients would still be able to work with Hinkle and Zipkin. He said he’s spoken with Kahn and “she’s a snake in the grass. She’s lying through her teeth.” He said she didn’t answer his questions and referred to her as “a puppet sent here to facilitate the change. She has no idea what is going on.” Fryer said, “The 15 clients that have the broad array of case management services have received phone calls” and been briefed. The hospital will follow up with them, he said. For “the broader 700, we don’t have a method to reach out to them,” he said. As people approach staff for help with completing their ADAP applications, “they’ll get a representative who will help them through the process. We’ll make sure they get their forms in to meet the deadlines.” Fryer referred to Moore’s comment about Kahn as threatening. Asked to quickly repeat his statement, Fryer said, “I can see where your story is going. You can file your story. Thank you,” and hung up. Moore said if the changes happen, “I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s not over yet, and if it happens, there is going to be a firestorm and a terrific backlash, and I am going to be part of it for sure.” McLay’s petition is at http:// petitions.moveon.org/sign/stopcuts-dav ies-cpmc?source=c. tw&r_by=9266904.t

feel like I was who I am for the very first time.”

Long road to affirmation

Meeting in the works

Gay Supervisor Scott Wiener, whose District 8 includes the Davies campus, said he’s requested for CPMC to come to his office and meet with him and advocates to have “an open dialogue about this proposed change.” He hopes to have the meeting before Thanksgiving. “As you know,” Wiener said, there’s “serious concerns in the community about the change and about the impacts on people living with HIV. I have very, very serious concerns about the change, and I want to make sure we all understand what exactly CPMC is proposing, why they’re proposing it, and whether we can convince them to take a different path.” He acknowledged there’s been

Strong support

Hinkle and Zipkin are receiving strong support from the community. In an email exchange, Dr. Virginia Cafaro, an HIV specialist, wrote, “Both Laila and Betty have worked hard since the beginning of the epidemic and have definitely played an intricate role in the survival of many people living with HIV/AIDS. It seems that the administration of Sutter West, which are the owners of California Pacific Medical Centers, sees [the women’s] role only as filling out forms for [ADAP]. In truth these women do so much more, they support patients who are new

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 the San Jose mayor’s race and a gay man’s election to a South Bay school board. Keep abreast of the latest LGBT political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/politicalnotes. Got a tip on LGBT politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 8298836 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

18 • Bay Area Reporter • November 20-26, 2014

Diaz

Another factor Sullivan considered was a letter of support for Diaz from a sheriff ’s department staffer.

“I’ve never had deputized staff reach out to me affirmatively” in support of a client, Lilien said. In the letter, a copy of which Lilien provided to the Bay Area Reporter at the paper’s request, the staffer said, “If there was ever an individual that I believe could take an unfortunate time in his life and turn it into a chance to be a productive member of society, David is indeed that individual.” Among other things, he says he’d learned that Diaz “had assisted a deputy who had been assaulted in the psych housing pod ... . The inmate attacked the deputy and David used the deputy’s radio to call for assistance and used the deputy’s handcuffs to restrain the inmate.” He also says Diaz “was always the first to volunteer to work.” The staffer, whose name Lilien redacted, said he wrote the letter “as a private citizen” and not as a sheriff ’s department representative. Canul-Arguello’s family and friends have said he was a hard worker who liked to have fun. None of them were present Thursday. Diaz, who wore a black suit Thursday, turned down an opportunity from Sullivan to comment during the hearing, and declined to speak with the B.A.R. as he left court to catch a plane for a weekend trip with his boyfriend, Larry Metzger, TECH SUPPORT who owns the Castro bar the Mix.t

you want to praise their human rights efforts? Think I’ll pass on that petition.

CLEANING From page 2 SERVICES COUNSELING

According to Lilien’s motion, Diaz isn’t a U.S. citizen but a legal permanent resident. His father and other family live in the country. Lilien said in court he was concerned about “potentially grave collateral consequences” for Diaz if only the arson count was dismissed. Diaz is originally from Mexico, as was Canul-Arguello. AssistantHAULING District Attorney John Rowland noted a&jury had convicted HEALTH FITNESS Diaz LEGAL of “unlawful homicide,” and SERVICES said, “I really don’t believe collateral consequences are of any great import when we have an unlawful homicide.” Rowland opposed any of the counts being dismissed and requested a sentence of five years and four months, but he acknowledged even that would be shorter than the time Diaz has already served. Thursday, Sullivan also ordered Diaz to pay for Canul-Arguello’s funeral and burial expenses, among other costs. The hearing was continued to Friday, when Sullivan did not order Diaz to serve parole time, according to Lilien.

MAINTENANCE &

Letter of support UPKEEP

Jock Talk

From page 16

Let’s see:MOVERS FIFA is the all-male organization that put the careers of two women in jeopardy while covering up corruption in its awarding of World Cups to a country on an anti-gay campaign and to another country with intolerable heat, working conditions and intolerance of basic human rights, and which told Canada it was okay to use artificial turf instead of grass for the 2015 women’s World Cup because, well, you know, they’re just women – and

Missing man

From page 3

He said he doesn’t think Harding went to the park the day he went missing. According to court records, Harding had recently been sued over debt, but Williams said Harding had been working with a lawyer SERVICES to settlePET at least some of that debt. The couple’s income had been decreasing before Harding left, and after he disappeared, Williams faced an eviction lawsuit. But Brian Brophy, an attorney with the AIDS Legal Referral Panel representing Williams, said in an email Tuesday, “We just reached a deal in principal with the landlord. It is an amicable settlement that works for both parties.” Xavier Ayerdis, 43, a friend of Harding’s, said he’d last spoken with Harding in late September. “He had asked me if he could RENTALS borrow $100,” he said. “I was kind of surprised about that. I didn’t know he needed money.” Ayerdis, of San Francisco, said Harding had “some depression maybe

NCLR

From page 9

Ruth McFarlane, NCLR board member and director of programs at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, was last to speak. McFarlane talked about the importance of participation for women of color. “This is an opportunity for some of us who don’t always get heard to group together and do things our way,” McFarlane said. “We don’t necessarily do things the same way as everybody else, we do things with our crew. This is an opportunity to show up for NCLR with your crew, whoever they are no matter how much or little they may have, and engage in work

Way to go, Derrick Gordon

A historic men’s college basketball season has opened, with Derrick Gordon of the University of Massachusetts becoming the first publicly gay male Division I to compete in basketball, baseball, football, or hockey. The UMass shooting guard scored 32 points to go with 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a pair of wins over Boston College and Siena. He is currently third on the team in scoring average.t a few months ago,” but NEWS “he’d never CLASSIFIEDS shown any signs of being suicidal.” He said he’d known of Harding meeting up with men in Buena Vista Park or Craigslist “10, maybe 12 years ago, but not in recent years.” “He’s always been a great friend to me,” Ayerdis said. “I hope he’s okay.” Williams said he last spoke with police Friday, when a sergeant talked to him. “He wasn’t able to give me any new information at all,” he said. Albie Esparza, an SFPD spokesman, confirmed police are investigating Harding as a missing person. The flier isn’t available. Staff at the San Francisco Medical Examiner’s office and the coroner’s division of the Marin County Sheriff ’s office said Tuesday they didn’t have any record of Harding. Williams said he’d checked local hospitals to no avail. Anyone with information about Harding’s whereabouts is asked to call the SFPD anonymously at 415575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411. Type SFPD in the subject line. The case number is 140 861 936.t that is not just for you, but about you, to have your voice be heard.” Ellis, the giving circle’s namesake, is credited with being the oldest known living lesbian before her death in 2000 at the age of 101 in Detroit. Ellis, a working class African American, opened up her home to LGBT community members in need. She was also one of the first women in Michigan to own her own printing business, which she also operated out of her home.t To donate to the Ruth Ellis Women of Color Giving Circle, visit www.nclrights.org/donate or contact Ace Portis at aportis@ nclrights.org.

Legal Notices>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-14-550676

In the matter of the application of: JEONG JA CHO, C/O KATHERINE M. LEWIS #247258, VAN DER HOUT, BRIGAGLIANO & NIGHTINGALE LLP, 180 SUTTER ST #500, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner JEONG JA CHO, is requesting that the name JEONG JA CHO, be changed to JEONG TOBIN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 514 on the 30th of December 2014 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

OCT 30, NOV 06, 13, 20, 2014 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-14-550606

In the matter of the application of: ELIZABETH HANLEY, 330 VIRGINIA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner ELIZABETH HANLEY, is requesting that the name ROSEMUND WREN DOUGLASS, be changed to ROSEMUND WREN HANLEY. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 514 on the 2nd of December 2014 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

OCT 30, NOV 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036108300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GOOD EARTH CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, 801 HOWARD ST #811, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed REGINA MARIE REGAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/10/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/23/14.

OCT 30, NOV 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036116400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PURPLE MAROON, 1167 CAYUGA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOSEPHINE TCHANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/24/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/27/14.

OCT 30, NOV 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036075600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 201AM, 40 RICH ST #C, GREENBRAE, CA 94904. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed WILLIAM D. MELVIN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/11/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/03/14.

OCT 30, NOV 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036115700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WALKING ORANGE, 19 NORTHGATE AVE #1, DALY CITY, CA 94015. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed GUO CHEN & KEER CHEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/27/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/27/14.

OCT 30, NOV 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036107000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AL’S PLACE, 1499 VALENCIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed TATR LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/22/14.

OCT 30, NOV 06, 13, 20, 2014 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-14-550693

In the matter of the application of: LUIS FERNANDO AVIÑA-ORNELAS, 529 LAIDLEY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner LUIS FERNANDO AVIÑA-ORNELAS, is requesting that the name LUIS FERNANDO AVIÑA-ORNELAS, be changed to LUIS FERNANDO AVINA-ORNELAS. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 13th of January 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036127200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DETAIL GARDENING, 2141 GEARY BLVD., #303, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ERIK ING. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/13/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/31/14.

NOV 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036115800

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036128900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ACORN COFFEE CO., 448 VICKSBURG ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NICHOLAS JAMES DOMBROWSKI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/20/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/27/14.

NOV 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036126500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LESLIE KARAS DESIGN, 1745 PACIFIC AVE, #203, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LESLIE KARAS DESIGN, 1745 PACIFIC AVE, #203, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/30/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/30/14.

NOV 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036115400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BUBBLE UP, 1364 CHURCH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LARRY TOY. 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 10/27/14.

NOV 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036125700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NATIONAL SOCIAL ANXIETY CENTER-SF, 1801 BUSH ST, #18, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOHN R. MONTOPOLI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/30/14.

NOV 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036109500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HOME CAFE, 1222 NORIEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed 1ST, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/23/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/23/14.

NOV 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036109600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ONE UP, 1232 NORIEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SUNSET DRIFT IN LOUNGE, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/23/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/23/14.

NOV 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036133600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NEW UPPER TERRACE MARKET, 4499 17TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a trust, and is signed MAUREEN MELENDY-SALMAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/04/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/04/14.

NOV 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036097400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BEST IN CLASS EDUCATION CENTER, 4451 MISSION ST, #101, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SUPER & SIMPLE LEARNING, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/20/14.

NOV 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036131300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FLESH AND SPIRIT COMMUNITY, 924 PRESIDIO AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed JOURNEYS THAT EMPOWER LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/31/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/03/14.

NOV 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036124200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NVI INVESTMENTS, 1215 FILBERT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed EUGENE R. HENRY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/29/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/29/14.

NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036111500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAY AREA TENANT REPRESENTATIVES, 60 WASHBURN, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LESLIE JEAN BURNLEY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/17/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/23/14.

NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036097600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AN EYE FOR ART, 621 BANKS ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHRISTINA MARIA MADRID MILLER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/20/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/27/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BARGAIN OUTLET 88, 201 WAYLAND ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KIN CHOY LOW. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/17/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/20/14.

NOV 06,13, 20, 27, 2014

NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036125000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MOCK MAN PRESS, 654 5TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JASON BRADLEY THOMPSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/29/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/29/14.

NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036105800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PACIFIC FINANCIAL GROUP, ONE EMBARCADERO CENTER, SUITE 500, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SAMUEL A. SHUMMON. 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 10/22/14.

NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT NOTICE TO PROPOSERS GENERAL INFORMATION The SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT (“District”), 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, California, is advertising for proposals to provide GENERAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR BART’S TRAIN CONTROL MODERNIZATION PROGRAM, Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 6M8092, on or about November 17, 2014, with proposals due by 2:00 PM local time, Tuesday, February 3, 2015, at the District Secretary’s Office, 23rd Floor, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, California, 94612 (mailing address: P.O. Box 12688, Oakland, California, 94604-2688). The Proposers are responsible to ensure that their Proposals are received at the time and location specified. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED The District is soliciting for the professional services of consulting firms or joint venture (“CONSULTANTs”) to provide General Engineering Services in support of BART’s Train Control Modernization Program. The selected CONSULTANT’s primary responsibility will be the establishment and implementation of the overall Train Control Modernization Program; with the CONSULTANT reporting to the BART Train Control Group Manager. The CONSULTANT shall organize and structure a highly specialized cohesive team of experts capable of performing together to deliver a product to BART that meets or exceeds safety requirements, industry standards, technical and performance requirements and best practices. The CONSULTANT shall assign personnel qualified to perform engineering and procurement activities and address related issues associated with the preparation of a Design/Build Contract for the procurement of a Communication-Based Automatic Train Control System (“CBTC”) to replace the existing track circuit based train control system. The CONSULTANT shall have experience in or a broad knowledge about train control systems, including wayside and on-board equipment, hardware and software in both the traditional fixed block technology as well as new moving block technology. The CONSULTANT shall also have experience in or a broad knowledge about the replacement of train control equipment and software on an existing operating transit system as well as experience in or a broad knowledge about the implementation of a moving block type system on an existing operating transit system. The CONSULTANT shall have the ability to prepare and oversee the administration of a design-build, system-type contract for a moving block train control system in accordance with California public contracting code. The CONSULTANT shall be responsible for the production of contract documents including specifications, agreements and related documents. The CONSULTANT shall support the BART staff in the issuing of a design-build contract, assist in the development of requests for proposal, evaluate bids, make recommendation on contract award, and support contract negotiations. Upon award of a design-build contract, the CONSULTANT shall provide engineering consulting services during the implementation of the design-build contract and ensure that appropriate technical, legal and fiscal controls that exist within the contract are properly administered. The full scope of services and other pertinent requirements are further described in the body of RFP No. 6M8092. Estimated Cost and Time of Performance: The District intends to make one (1) Agreement award as a result of this RFP. It is estimated that the projected Agreement awarded under this RFP shall not exceed the amount of Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00); however, there is no guaranteed minimum level of compensation as further detailed in the RFP No. 6M8092. The term of the Agreement entered into pursuant to this RFP will be for seven (7) years, subject to termination and the limit on compensation as provided for in the Agreement. A Pre-Proposal Meeting will be held on Monday, December 15, 2014. The Pre-Proposal Meeting will convene at 1:00 P.M., local time, at the BART Board Room, located in the Kaiser Center 20th Street Mall, Third Floor, 344 - 20th Street, Oakland, California, 94612. At this meeting the District’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program will be explained. Prospective proposers are requested to make every effort to attend this only scheduled PreProposal Meeting, and to confirm their attendance by contacting the District’s Contract Administrator, telephone (510) 287-4775, prior to the date of the Pre-Proposal Meeting. Networking Session: Immediately following the PreProposal Meeting, the District’s Office of Civil Rights will be conducting a networking session for Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) to meet with the potential prime proposers. DBEs and Small Businesses are highly encouraged to attend and participate in this networking session. Proposals must be received by 2:00 P.M., local time, Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at the address listed in the RFP. Submission of a proposal shall constitute a firm offer to the District for one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days from date of proposal submission. Please direct all questions concerning the RFP, other than the District’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, to Mr. Ron Coffey, at (510) 2874775, FAX (510) 464-7650. All questions regarding DBE participation should be directed to Mr. Hayden Lee, Office of Civil Rights at (510) 464-6209, FAX (510) 874-7470, email at hlee2@bart.gov . WHERE TO OBTAIN OR SEE RFP DOCUMENTS (Available on or after November 17, 2014) Copies of the RFP may be obtained: A PDF version of the RFP will be sent to all firms on the Interested Parties List at time of advertisement; or, • By written request to the District’s Contract Administrator, 300 Lakeside Drive, 17th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Reference RFP No. 6M8092 – General Engineering Services for BART’s Train Control Modernization Program, and send requests to Fax No. (510) 464-7650. • By arranging pick up at the above address. Call the District’s Contract Administrator, (510) 287-4775 prior to pickup of the RFP. • By E-mail request to the District’s Contract Administrator, Ron Coffey, at rcoffey@bart.gov . • By attending the Pre-proposal Meeting and obtaining the RFP at the meeting. Dated at Oakland, California this 13th day of November 2014. /s/ Kenneth A. Duron Kenneth A. Duron, District Secretary San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District 11/20/14 CNS-2689200# BAY AREA REPORTER

▼

Read more online at www.ebar.com

Legal Notices>> NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINSTER ESTATE OF LORRAINE K. MANNERING IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: FILE PES-14-298237

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of LORRAINE KATHERINE MANNERING, LORRAINE MANNERING. A Petition for Probate has been filed by JERRY MANNERING in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Petition for Probate requests that JERRY MANNERING be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: December 03, 2014, 9 am, Rm. 204, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the latter of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: Patricia A. Mayer, Law Offices of Julia P. Wald, 1108 Fifth Avenue, Suite 202, San Rafael, CA 94901; Ph. (415) 482-7555.

NOVEMBER 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036133300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DESIGN DECOROUS, 267 A COLLINGWOOD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JENNIFER KING. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/04/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/04/14.

NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036116600

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-033974700

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: NVI INVESTMENTS, 1215 FILBERT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business was conducted by a general partnership and signed by JON H. KOUBA, EUGENE R. HENRY. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/30/2011.

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NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-14550742

In the matter of the application of: KATHRYN ELIZABETH BROKER-BULLICK, 2059 FULTON ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner KATHRYN ELIZABETH BROKER-BULLICK, is requesting that the name KATHRYN ELIZABETH BROKER-BULLICK, aka KATHRYN E. BULLICK, aka KATHRYN E. BROKER-BULLICK, aka KATY BROKER-BULLICK, aka KATHRYN ELIZABETH BROKER BULLICK be changed to KATHRYN ELIZABETH BULLICK. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Rm. 514 on the 3rd of February 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036146500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LIPS AND RHYTHM RECORDS; LIPS & RHYTHM RECORDS; 432 JUDAH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JESSE L. SZYMANSKI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/10/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/10/14.

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036157600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALISSA MADDEN DESIGN, 1101 OAK ST #9, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117.This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALISSA MADDEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/17/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/17/14.

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036157200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EHLOH, 272 FREDERICK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CELINE MONGET. 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 11/17/14.

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036119800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NEWHEADSPACE, 1800 WASHINGTON ST #816, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JHANNA CULVER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/12/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/28/14.

NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036143600

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036154800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WORKERS’ RIGHTS LAW OFFICE, 71 STEVENSON ST, #422, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MICHAEL DAVID NELSON. 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 11/07/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LONELY LIGHT, 375 DOUGLASS ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DANIEL RENE EIBA. 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 11/14/14.

NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036140400

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036155200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RADIANT STRATEGIES, 4096 17TH ST, #315, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANDREW BYRD PERRAUT. 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 11/06/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JT TRANSPORTATION, 2718 WAWONA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JACKY TRAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/14/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/14/14.

NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036104901

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036149300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INTERO REAL ESTATE SRVS SF SUNSET: APRIL REALTY, 1788 - 19TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed APRIL FINANCIAL, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/22/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/22/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NIMBLE VR, 164 TOWNSEND ST #10, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed 3GEAR SYSTEMS, INC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/28/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/12/14.

NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036144100

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036133000

NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036146000

Classifieds The

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MOBILE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY, 1058 HAIGHT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DARIEN DE LORENZO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/27/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/27/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MINISTRY OF PRESENCE INSTITUTE, 556 JONES ST, #304, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed DIOCESE OF CHAPLAINCY SERVICE (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 11/07/14.

November 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STONE KOREAN KITCHEN: FOUR EMBARCADERO CENTER, STREET LEVEL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed STONE AGE GROUP, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/15/09. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/04/14.

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036150000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TOPTENTOPTEN.COM, 530 HOWARD ST, 2ND FLR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BEANSTOCK MEDIA INC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/07/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/10/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE UPS STORE 6609, 1225 4TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94158. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed JING STORE, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/12/14.

NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014

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Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036113400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE PICKWICK HOTEL; PICKWICK CAFÉ; 85 FIFTH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed YHB SAN FRANCISCO LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/15/04. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/24/14.

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036153300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALLWOOD RECYCLING LLC, 1801 EVANS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed ALLWOOD RECYCLING LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/13/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/13/14.

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036152000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE BARBARY COAST, 478 GREEN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed OASIS ENTERTAINMENT LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/13/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/13/14.

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-034625500

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: TAXI MAVEN, 335 NORIEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business was conducted by a limited liability company and signed by CRAFTY CANINES LLC (CA). The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/04/12.

NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014

(415) 441-1054 Large Truck

Rentals>> SUBSIDIZED SENIOR HOUSING WAITING LIST TO OPEN December 8, 2014 to December 12, 2014

Presidio Gate Apartments located at 2770 Lombard St. San Francisco, CA 94123 is pleased to announce the opening of the waiting list. TO BE ELIGIBLE: • Single applicants: Must be 62 years of age and older and/or 18 and older with a mobility impairment. Maximum annual income must be less than $38,750. • Couple applicants: Head of Household must be 62 years old and/or 18 and older with mobility impairment. Maximum annual income for couple applicants must be less than $44,300. TO APPLY: • Pick up an application packet in person at 2770 Lombard St., San Francisco, CA on DECEMBER 8-12, 2014 between 9 am - 11 am and 1 pm - 4:00 pm. • Or request that an application packet be mailed to you by calling 415-567-1050. • Completed applications will only be accepted by mail. • Applications postmarked after DECEMBER 31, 2014 cannot be considered and will be returned to sender. • Selection will be made by lottery to determine applicants’ order on the waiting list, pending verification of eligibility. The lottery will take place FEBRUARY 25, 2015. • Applicant’s Authorization and Consent for Release of Information (HUD Form 9887 & 9887A), must be filled-out, signed and attached to your application, or application will not be accepted. • Incomplete applications will not be processed and will be returned to sender. • Only one application per applicant will be accepted.

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Crescent Heights ® is a service mark used by a group of limited liability companies and partnerships. NEMA is being developed by Tenth and Market, LLC, which is a separate, single purpose entity that is solely responsible for its development, obligations and liabilities. Renderings, photographs and other information described are representational only. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of Equal Housing Opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.

Oh, Lucy!

Cirque vibes

Hit the mat

Out &About

O&A

The

Vol. 44 • No. 47 • November 20-26, 2014

www.ebar.com/arts

f o s g n i K The

s n o o t Car by Sura Wood

f you’re still reeling from the dismal results of the midterm elections and are more bewildered than ever by the sanity and wisdom – or lack thereof – of the American electorate, you can find needed relief from the absurdity of it all with Slinging Satire: Masters of Political Cartoons at the Cartoon Art Museum. Sure to elicit moments of laughter and nods of recognition, the show’s collection of 60 biting editorial cartoons by 20 award-winning, pull-no-punches artists proves that – to fracture an old cliché – a picture with a damning caption is worth a thousand words. See page 27 >>

Cartoon by David Horsey, part of Slinging Satire: Masters of Political Cartoons at the Cartoon Art Museum. Los Angeles Times (2013)

Vainglorious

personalities

by Philip Campbell

ioachino Rossini’s second-most popular opera La Cenerentola (Cinderella, for easier ID) opened recently as the second-to-last offering in the San Francisco Opera’s fall season. A refurbished staging of the oldie-but-goodie (or “classic”) production originally created for the company by JeanPierre Ponnelle in 1969 still delights after an astonishing 45 years. See page 24 >>

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

Nov 8, 2014–Feb 16, 2015

Maria Valdes (Clorinda), Carlos Chausson (Don Magnifico) and Zanda Švēde (Tisbe) in San Francisco Opera’s La Cenerentola.

Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

de Young • Golden Gate Park • deyoungmuseum.org

<< Out There

22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 20-26, 2014

Smoking the good stuff by Roberto Friedman

igh Maintenance is a web series that follows the adventures of a pot home-delivery man, unnamed and referred to only as “My Guy,” played by series co-creator Ben Sinclair, on his rounds through NYC. Each episode is named after the different neurotic New Yorker requesting his services, so the through-line is the weed that our guy delivers. But the series isn’t really about stoners or stoner humor. In fact, considering the range of race, class, and other social indicators we encounter, HM proves once and for all that pot has gone mainstream. It transcends all social barriers. Out There’s two favorite episodes

so far: Qasim begins as a young woman looks appraisingly and appreciatively at the butt of a young man in front of her during spinning class. She flirts with him, but he doesn’t have time for her; he’s on to another gym class. Turns out that this physical specimen is involved in a demanding exercise program related to his “uberman schedule,” a so-called “polyphasic sleep regimen” where he is allowed only two hours of sleep a day. In the end, our gal gets high and gets her hunk, only to discover that he’s into some kinky shiz.

In Rachel, the young husband Colin (Downton Abbey’s handsome Dan Stevens) cross-dresses at home while his wife is away at work. As the episode reaches its climax, we realize that Rachel is going to come home and find Colin in his glamour wear. She’s upset, but only because their young son has seen his dad smoking pot, not because he cross-dresses. In fact, she tells him she’s proud of him for daring to receive his dealer while in transvestite mode. It’s a surprising and refreshing glance at the new, queer-friendly normal. TV critic Emily Nussbaum of The New Yorker calls HM a “shoebox that opens into Narnia” full of “meditative, dreamy invasions into the lives of creative-class New Yorkers, with smart dialogue, seams of compassion, and an O. Henry air of surprise.” A new round of episodes (creators: Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair) began last week. The three new eps are on Vimeo, the first that aren’t free. They cost $2 each, “or $8 for a set that includes three more that will be released in January.” The previous 13 episodes are available for free at HighMaintenance.tv.

Gus Powell

Series co-creator Ben Sinclair and guest star Yael Stone (of Orange is the New Black) on High Maintenance.

Hail Britannia

The Mostly British Film Festival has announced a partial roster of seven films that will show during the festival, coming up Feb. 12-19 at the Vogue Theater, from light-hearted rom-coms to political dramas based on real events. Jimmy’s Hall, a new film from Cannes Festival winner Ken Loach, tells the true story of a controversial social hall built in Ireland in the early 1920s. Winnie Mandela stars Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson as Nelson Mandela’s wife. Also showing: the erotic thriller Suspension of Disbelief, from director Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas); and Standby, a romantic romp starring Jessica Pare (Mad Men). A special price of $100 for a series pass, allowing access to 25 films and opening/closing-night parties, is available through November exclusively at the Vogue Theater Box Office. The Jewish Community Center, the Vogue’s neighbor, will offer a class on “Jewish Life in American Movies” at 4 p.m. on Jan. 11, March

FI N D I N G LOVE I N A WO R LD O F HATE NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER In Association with Dave Madsen & Rick Norris, Executive Producers Present

“Inventive. Electrifying.”

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“Brave and original.” NY DAILY NEWS

WRITTEN BY

JOE CALARCO DIRECTED BY

BEN RANDLE

NOV 7–DEC 14

BUY TICKETS AT NCTCSF.ORG BOX OFFICE: 415.861.8972 25 VAN NESS AVE AT MARKET ST

Courtesy MBFF

Scene from Cannes Festival winner Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall, coming to the Mostly British Film Festival.

8, March 29, and April 26. The course takes a kaleidoscopic look at dozens of Hollywood films that speak to the Jewish experience – from stereotypical characters such as the Jewish mother and Jewish American Princess, to depictions of anti-Semitism

and interfaith love affairs. Instructors are Ruthe Stein, co-director of the Mostly British Film Festival, and Peter Stein, former director of the Jewish Film Festival. Individual tickets are available as well as for the course. Visit jccsf.org/arts.t

Sexy time by Jim Piechota

When She Was Good: Best Lesbian Erotica, edited by Tristan Taormino; Studs: Gay Erotic Fiction, edited by Richard Labonte; Men on the Make: True Gay Sex Confessions, edited by Shane Allison; all Cleis Press, $15.95 he latest batch of erotic offerings from Berkeley-based Cleis Press includes an edgy, diverse collection of 22 lesbian sex tales expertly edited by awardwinning New York author and sex educator Tristan Taormino. In her introduction to When She Was Good, she writes that what unifies the book’s stories is “the desire to push something perhaps a little too far, to give the middle finger to ‘polite society.’” Guest editor and author Ali Liebegott comments on how impressed she was with the entries, all “filled with the real lesbians I’d been looking for my whole life.” True to these attestations are many stories of transgression, of characters defying social norms and expectations, breaking traditional molds of behavior and sexual desire. These rogues can be found in the form of the dominatrix exerting her lusty demands on a date in a “classy French restaurant” in Rachel Kramer Bussel’s “Domme’s Games”; an Amish girl’s deflowerer in Peggy Munson’s brilliant “The Storm Chasers”; the hesitant sexclub patron in Radclyffe’s “Sweet No More”; and the grocery store coworker with an “old-school butch feel” who gives new meaning to checking stockroom inventory in Miel Rose’s “Undone.” What turns

these characters on varies from women’s shoes to unbridled emotions to a full-bodied ant-colony queen costume. There’s plenty of wild fantasy to be enjoyed. Much the same can be said for the new erotic fiction collection Studs, edited by veteran Canadian editor Richard Labonte, ably assisted by spoken-word artist and poet Emanuel Xavier. Among the entries is the beautifully written “Snowed in with Sam” by Jeff Mann, where a night of urgent sex in a wintry mountain cabin ends as “the snow stretches on without mark or flaw this late at night.” Shane Allison’s addictive “Confession Angel” rattles off remembrances of boners, toilet stalls, dick smells, personal ads, sloppy kisses, cruisy woods, and closeted tricks who admit they “had a place, but his wife was alSee page 23 >>

Theatre>>

November 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 23

Red hot Romeo, et al. by Richard Dodds

omehow the idea of Romeo and Juliet has become the equivalent of romantic slush, a dewy and tragic tale of first love that burns too brightly. But if you listen – really listen – to the title characters’ expressions of ardor, you’re getting into some pretty steamy stuff. For contemporary audiences, it may seem a coded language, as Shakespeare’s quill goes a-quivering, but it’s likely that Elizabethan audiences caught the meaning. Among the many interlacing accomplishments of Joe Calarco’s Shakespeare’s R&J is to put the heat back into Romeo and Juliet, accentuating the erotically charged risks for the young lovers by extending that risk onto a group of novice performers reading the words for the first time. They are four students at a strict all-boy parochial school who become good little soldiers whenever an (unseen) authority figure is present, but who find in a battered copy of Romeo and Juliet an escape that turns confusing, menacing, and eventually liberating. New Conservatory Theatre Center first presented Shakespeare’s R&J in 2002, four years after its New York

debut, and while there has been a loosening of social chains around the country, adolescents still snigger at things sexual, and the play’s cloistered scholastic setting retains its atmospheric authenticity. Unnecessarily, NCTC’s new production has been reset in contemporary Egypt, obviously to reemphasize an oppressive morality, but suggestions of that new setting are so slight and intermittent that they don’t distract from the sensitivity behind Ben Randle’s direction and the sincerity of the youthful performances. Despite Arabic lettering on a blackboard and keffiyeh-like fabrics used as props, the boys still wear blazers and ties, recite their catechism, parrot quotes from a book of etiquette, and speak like American teens at a mall. As a lark, during rare unsupervised time, they decide to act out Romeo and Juliet, and they clown around in the early scenes before finding themselves increasingly drawn into the story and its passions. Fight scenes are fun, romantic exchanges more tentative. When the boys playing Romeo and Juliet grow increasingly committed to their roles, the other boys get angry and even rip the offending pages from

Lois Tema

James Arthur M. (left), Mike Sagun, Taj K. Campbell, and Adam Odsess-Rubin play schoolboys who become enraptured by Romeo and Juliet in NCTC’s Shakespeare’s R&J.

the play before allowing the drama to also encompass them. The players are identified only as Student 1, Student 2, etc., and take on multiple roles while developing centerpiece characterizations. The students’ unpracticed ways with Shakespeare’s words give us entry ways into a language that can become more sound than meaning when per-

formed with traditional polish. As the student who plays Romeo, Adam Odsess-Rubin embodies callow innocence as he takes us on a journey to unexpected emotional connections. There is no winking campiness in Taj K. Campbell’s performance as Juliet, and we become fully engrossed in this character’s youthful anguish. As the nurse, James

Arthur M. starts off in a burlesque caricature before Shakespeare’s words take him, too, into their fraught world. Mike Sagun makes his impression as Juliet’s mother, playing the character with something of a snap-queen haughtiness. As befits this stripped-bare reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet, Yusuke Soi’s classroom set is a utilitarian collection of tables and chairs that are repurposed to fit Shakespeare’s settings, with Christian V. Mejia providing accent marks through his lighting. Shakespeare’s R&J is actually two plays happening simultaneously, and Randle’s direction deftly integrates these worlds. Of course, in Shakespeare’s day, all the roles were played by men, which would become forbidden behavior in future centuries. Whether or not the young characters who take this dare are actually gay is, in the end, less important than their openness to allow for it.t Shakespeare’s R&J will run through Dec. 14 at New Conservatory Theatre Center. Tickets are $25-$45. Call 861-8972 or go to nctcsf.org.

Wonderful world of Lucy by Richard Dodds

ucille Ball continued getting standing ovations whenever she turned up on late-night talk shows, despite the fact that audiences had soundly rejected her final TV series and movie. The goodwill created during the early 1950s run of I Love Lucy continued up until her death in 1989, and that glow helps sustain a touring production built around the filming of two Lucy episodes. Without it, the rewards of I Love Lucy Live on Stage could easily tip from assets to deficits on an entertainment spreadsheet. I Love Lucy was a situation comedy in the true sense of the term, and while more recent TV show such as Seinfeld, Friends, and Modern Family are still labeled as sitcoms, their humor comes more from snappy repartee than putting the characters through variations on the same situations. Watching the two episodes that make up Lucy Live, it can be surprising to note how little of the humor actually comes from clever dialogue as opposed to characters reacting in tried and true – and, yes, welcome – fashion to situations the scriptwriters provided. But audiences continued to embrace Lucy for decades because

the scripts so deftly capitalized on the talents of the performers and the lived-in rapport of the characters they played. It’s an impossible recipe to recreate, so the goal can only be to closely play the nostalgia card through literal replication, with hints of added emphasis on the touchstones. As in, an almost heralded reading of “Lucy, you got some ’splainin’ to do.” Overall, the cast at the Curran Theatre does a commendable job as they zero in on inflections, gestures, demeanors, and expressions that do recall Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The show works best when, respectively, Thea Brooks, Euriamis Losada, Lori Hammel, and Kevin Remington are allowed to just do their stuff. The two episodes chosen from 190 possibilities aren’t necessarily among the best, but they do concentrate mainly on the four principals, involve some musical numbers, and provide opportunities for broad physical comedy – a skill that Brooks, our Lucy, has in abundance. In an effort both to replicate a TV studio’s experience in 1953 and to pad out the evening, creator/adapters Kim Flagg and Rick Sparks have added some hit-and-miss material that comes between the actual Lucy

Sexy time

From page 22

ways home.” Horehound Stillpoint’s cruising extravaganza “Donuts to Demons” and Andy Quan’s sweaty remembrance of sex between separated partners in “The Best Sex Between Them” are standouts as well. Sometimes it’s the title that grabs a reader by the balls, as in Simon Sheppard’s “Frank Fudgepacker, Teenage Whore,” chronicling the hilariously nasty exploits of a youthful hustler who is “working my way through college, okay?” This collection artfully combines newer writers and reliable repeat contributors in a book that is less sexually graphic than previous volumes, yet still packs in an amazing amount of hot men of all shapes and sizes. Finally, a fiery, sex-drenched storybook of 19 true-to-life confessions is compiled by award-winning Floridian author Shane Allison in Men on the Make. These stories are distinctive in that they are based

on real events, a quality that adds a certain spice and imagination into the mix. Short story veteran Rob Rosen’s “Forbidden Fruit” describes a steamy interlude with a sexy, “ripe for the picking” work supervisor at a Castro office. Bearmuffin’s park cruising results in a hot meat-andgreet with a Hispanic runner in

scenes. Mark Christopher Tracy plays a warm-up announcer, typical for TV show shot before a live audience, and his aggressive energy rings amusingly true for at least a while. But the cornball jokes, some involving a plant in the audience, come with diminishing returns. And while the breaks during scene changes featuring an ensemble singing commercial jingles are fun at first, one might come to dread the scene changes if it means the Crystal Tone Singers are going to emerge once again. The device, thankfully, falls increasingly by the wayside as the evening moves on. The behind-the-scenes peeks at television magic that our host promises are severely undercut by the licensing restrictions forbidding the names or personalities of the actors who played Lucy, Ricky, Ethel, and Fred from being invoked. When scenes end and the actors go about their business, they are required to be ciphers. It’s a redacted experience that winds up working best when the production doesn’t suggest there ever was a world outside the TV land of Lucy.t

Justin Namon

Lori Hammel as Ethel Mertz and Thea Brooks as Lucy Ricardo rehearse a number in a scene from I Love Lucy Live on Stage at the Curran Theatre.

I Love Lucy Live on Stage will run through Nov. 23 at the Curran Theatre. Tickets are $45-$135. Call (888) 746-1799 or go to shnsf.com.

“Jogger’s Jizz.” Minneapolis author Logan Zachary’s “huge Polish penis” gets a workout at the YMCA on a randy masseur’s table; and Gregory Norris’ exciting story of “Jason’s Feet” recalls hookups with a bisexual “Daddy”-type with a foot fetish who stops by whenever he can “sneak off from the guys” on his trips through Massachusetts. Among the best are orgy participants, belly fetishes, Zamboni drivers, strip joints, ass eaters, a pool table grope-fest set in the French Quarter of New Orleans, and author Devondre Johnson’s potty-mouthed debut about the horny exploits of a self-proclaimed shameless slut. Some of these stories are so outrageously lascivious, it’s difficult to believe they actually occurred, but whether they’ve been lightly embellished or written straight from the groin, that’s what makes this book such a savory snack to enjoy by the bedside or whenever you need a punch of real sex to jump-start another day.t

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

415 370 7152

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

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<< Music

24 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 20-26, 2014

Rousing finale to opera season

Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

Michael Fabiano (Rodolfo) and Alexia Voulgaridou (Mimi) in San Francisco Opera’s La Boheme.

by Philip Campbell

he final presentation in the San Francisco Opera’s fall season is a brand new co-production with Houston Grand Opera and Canadian Opera Company of Giacomo Puccini’s evergreen La Boheme. Directed by two-time Tony Award-winner John Caird and designed by Olivier Awardwinner David Farley, the fresh staging is something of an early gift to fans before the upcoming holidays. Two “international” casts alternate in the primary roles, and SFO bills them this way to avoid negative comparison of an “A” or a “B” list. All are cast from strength with the accent on

Cenerentola

From page 21

Calling things classic has become as commonplace as standing ovations, but in this instance, both are well-earned. Okay, the “standing O” may have really been more for opening-night encouragement, but Ponnelle caught just the right blend of opera buffa and fable all those years ago, in his charming storybook sets and marvelously detailed direction, to make the latest incarnation prove, after a worryingly slow start, the enduring freshness of his work. Spanish conductor Jesus LopezCobos returned to the SFO after an absence of 40 years to get things moving sluggishly back to life with a mushy rendition of the Overture that understood a Rossini crescendo is about volume rather than speed, but lacked detail and sparkle. The curtain rose, revealing the wonderful gray-tone pen-and-ink setting of the kitchen in Don Magnifico’s manor house (the evil stepmother is a foul stepfather in this re-telling), and the opening matinee audience squealed with delight. The tone was brought back down again with the opening numbers: underpowered, tentative and dull. Angelina (Cenerentola) and her original mean-girls stepsisters Clorinda and Tisbe looked right and sounded okay, but they weren’t fully engaged. It didn’t bode well for the energy level of the performance, but it probably had more to do with first-performance jitters than anything else. For once the cantankerous Don was awakened and he recounted the weird dream he didn’t want interrupted, the temperature rose and the blood started pumping. Old pro Spanish bass-baritone Carlos Chausson, making his SFO debut in a part he has sung many times before, got things most assuredly back on track, and the rest of the show steamed happily fullthrottle ahead. Ponnelle’s production really is a bang-up show, elegantly incorpo-

youth for an opera that is all about the appetite for love and drama of early life. We caught the first cast on opening night, and without any way to make a fair conclusion, the second crew should probably concentrate on their own unique strengths without competition, because the standard was already set very high. Against a wonderfully fluid backdrop of impressionist canvases (presumably by the young artist Marcello) stacked everywhere onstage and easily flipped and revolved to present seamless scene changes, the central pair of lovers played out their stormy love affairs while passionately singing some of Puccini’s rating many tried-and-true theatrical devices. From the silly physical comedy of Noises Off! to the liveried footman of Mame, his Cenerentola is a merry succession of big Gilbert & Sullivan patter songs (for ensemble, yet) and eye-popping production numbers. The cast keeps pace (thank you, Senor Chausson, for the booster shot) with all of the witty ideas re-created faithfully by Gregory Fortner and Chorus Director Ian Robertson. If Chausson steals the show, the men of the SFO Chorus share pride of place with a collective appearance that is amazingly well-drilled and often downright hilarious. They sound great and look impressive in Ponnelle’s brilliant costumes. The stepsisters are also wonderfully amusing and believable as portrayed by American soprano Maria Valdes as Clorinda (first-year SFO Adler Fellow) and Latvian mezzosoprano Zande Svede as Tisbe (also a first-year SFO Adler Fellow). It is fun to savor the very different but equally vainglorious personalities in their well-sung performances. The sort-of fairy godfather replacement for the more traditional godmother (not much magic in Rossini’s retelling) is the philosopher Alidoro, sung here by the impressive American bass-baritone Christian Van Horn. His tall and imposing presence (not to mention commanding voice) gives a logical depth to Cenerentola’s ultimate reward for good behavior. A character invented by librettist Jacopo Ferretti is Dandini, the prince’s servant who stands in for him in order to get the lay of the land lady-wise, so to speak. You have to be there to get it, and MexicanAmerican baritone Efrain Solis (another first-year SFO Adler Fellow) helps with a standout performance that is endearingly over-the-top. Solis sounds just right as he carries on with his pompous and heartfelt portrayal. At the top of the line, of course,

best melodies. The unquestioned star of opening night was American tenor Michael Fabiano. He first sang the role of the poet Rodolfo in this production in Toronto, but his past San Francisco appearances have been building momentum to his recognition as an international talent. He delivered on the early promise with a career-defining performance. Looking just right and sounding marvelous, Fabiano personified his character with a pure and powerful voice that seemed to have no limit, and that flowed naturally from his thoughtfully nuanced acting. As his tragically fated lover Mimi,

Hadleigh Adams (Schaunard), Christian Van Horn (Colline), Alexey Markov (Marcello) and Michael Fabiano (Rodolfo) in San Francisco Opera’s La Boheme.

Greek soprano Alexia Voulgaridou made her SFO debut in a less successful performance that still proved satisfying enough by the final curtain. She clearly has all the notes and the requisite power when singing at full voice, but in softer passages a curious constriction seems to damp her down. If Voulgaridou’s enactment of the consumptive heroine was the weakest link in a strong cast, it was not enough to lower the impact of the opera’s story, and when singing with Fabiano at her side we could easily ignore minor flaws. Another star turn came with the appearance of Nadine Sierra in her role debut as the naughty but irre-

sistible Musetta. Talk about dream casting. The beautiful young soprano owned the stage as soon as she made her splashy entrance in the Latin Quarter scene. She sang her famous Waltz with superb agility, and her acting, by turns sulky and adorable, always felt genuine. Sierra’s portrayal should put her on the radar for any company casting the part in the future. As her on-again, off-again boyfriend the painter Marcello, Russian baritone Alexey Markov made his SFO debut with a nicely shaded and well-sung performance that also See page 25 >>

Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

Karine Deshayes (Angelina) and the San Francisco Opera Chorus in San Francisco Opera’s La Cenerentola.

stand Cinderella and her prince, but Rossini’s girl among the ashes is kind of a stick in the mud compared to her livelier stepsisters; a saint among sinners who is worthy of recognition, but a little too good to be true. Mezzo-soprano Karen Deshayes makes her SFO debut in the role she has sung to applause in her native France. Her appearance grows (thankfully, with a few glints of peevish irritation at her tormentors) from a soft and innocent girl to a regal heroine, and she sings with a pure and fluid tone throughout. As her Don Ramiro, Texan tenor Rene Barbera also makes his SFO debut. He is kind of a pint-sized, just-this-side-of-pudgy prince, but Barbera possesses a bright and shiny voice that makes him appear much more a physical prize, and the libretto makes him a genuine nice guy as well. Score, Cenerentola! The production plays through Thanksgiving Eve, and I can’t imagine a better way to get in the mood for the holidays.t

Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

Efraín Solís (Dandini) and René Barbera (Don Ramiro) in San Francisco Opera’s La Cenerentola.

November 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 25

Spectacular wonder

Serving the Castro since 1981

288 Noe Street, SF (415) 431-7210 lamednoe.com

La Boheme

From page 24

seemed to fully inhabit the character. We could feel for him as he let the lovely coquette get his mind in a whirl, while still enjoying the fine and powerful strength of his voice. In supporting roles the cast could hardly have been bettered. This was a Boheme where everyone seemed age-appropriate, and the attractive and able singers added immeasurably to the pleasures of Caird’s unfussy but detailed direction. Ian Robertson’s SFO Chorus made the most of their contribution in the lively second act, and the youngsters among them got an early curtain call, allowing them their own age-appropriate departure time. As the other inhabitants of the garret apartment, SFO Adler Fellow Hadleigh Adams got a chance to show his genial side as Schaunard, the musician of the group. Tall and handsome with a lighter but always audible

La Mediterranee Noe @LaMedNoe

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he latest spectacular from Cirque du Soleil reaches into the upper limits of its majestic tent, which is no less than what we expect in a Cirque du Soleil spectacular. But the production is often unexpectedly content to keep its feet on the ground. This is a Cirque show with a yo-yo act (known simply as Black), which is not about rising and falling aerialists on wires but a guy with feet planted firmly on stage working yo-yos. Expertly working them, yes, but they’re still yo-yos. Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities definitely has a different vibe from previous Cirque shows that have set up in the Grand Chapiteau near AT&T Park. There is less of a mystical haze engulfing the new production, which takes its look from the mechanical revolutions of the early 20th century. One character has the belly of a bathysphere (in which a little person resides), another is dressed like a Slinky, and there is a figure whose torso and limbs are akin to an accordion. Mainly they just hang around, watching the succession of circus acts and helping provide a recurring sense of context. If you hadn’t gleaned the information before heading into the tent, you’d probably be hard-pressed to realize that there is a story at hand, one about a “seeker” whose explorations unleash an alternate universe of wonders. The basic purpose of all Cirque plots is to creatively string together a series of acrobatic acts, but Kurios writer-director Michel Laprise doesn’t seem too interested in forcing the issue. The acts do flow smoothly together without much making believe they mean something beyond the individual crafts on display. Certainly these crafts can be aweinspiring. You won’t soon forget the dinner party that is mirrored high above in an upside-down version, as chair balancer Andrii Bondarenko tries to connect the two worlds. An act entitled Acro Net uses a variation on a trampoline, with added bounce powered by acrobats at the edges that sends its stars to dizzying heights. There are other impressive if familiar stunts, such as the Rola Bola act, jugglers, a troupe of contortionists, and a pair of twin bare-chested hunks (Roman and Vitali Tomanovwho) who swing together and apart on aerial straps. Back on the ground, Kurios dares to go small with a hand act (Nicolas Baixas) that requires largescreen projection to display how a few fingers can turn into anything from a break dancer to a couple in love. Also on the ground, in an act that could easily be jettisoned, DavidAlexandre Despres plays the ringmaster of an “invisible circus” that

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by Richard Dodds

M AR KE T

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Michael Morgan, Guest Conductor Tickets & Info: http://BARS-SF.ORG

November 22, 2014 8pm Calvary Presbyterian Church 2515 Fillmore (at Jackson)

Mahler - Kindertotenlieder Zachary Gordin, baritone Conrad Susa The Blue Hour Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 2

Martin Girard/shootstudio.ca

Chair balancer Andrii Bondarenko tries to reach an upside-down dinner party in the sky in a scene from Cirque du Soleil’s Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities.

is cute but wouldn’t even make the first cut on auditions for The Ed Sullivan Show. But Despres redeems himself as the house clown in a sketch with a woman plucked from the audience as he portrays both her awkward suitor and a wonderfully accurate impression of a pesky housecat bothering the guest. Kurios is a quick-moving show, with no time given over to ethereal meanderings, but it is a Cirque show more likely to leave you impressed by individual talents than swept up into a dream world that can only be contained under several acres of blue-and-yellow canvas.t Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities will run through Jan. 18 in the Grand Chapiteau adjacent to AT&T Park. Tickets are $53-$135. Call (800) 450-1480 or go to cirquedusoleil. com/kurios.

baritone, he was especially appealing in his moments of horseplay with the roomies. American bass-baritone Christian Van Horn, like Hadleigh Adams, will be playing his part for the entire run. He is getting a lot of exposure this season, making another impressive appearance at the War Memorial concurrently as Alcindoro in La Cenerentola. As the philosopher Colline, Van Horn is again a strong presence onstage. His aria bidding farewell to the overcoat he intends to sell to buy medicine is sung with touching emotion. Conductor Giuseppe Finzi sets the seal on a near-ideal re-acquaintance with one of the world’s favorite operas. It is certainly a favorite in these parts, having been the Company’s most frequently mounted work (233 mainstage performances prior to the current run). We never fail to marvel at the theatrical and musical worth of Puccini’s rightfully popular score, and the SFO is ending the season with a near-perfect showcase.t

The Bay Area Rainbow Symphony (BARS) is an orchestra that provides a safe and supportive environment for musicians of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. A 501(c)3 org, BARS makes cultural, social, and educational contributions to the San Francisco Bay Area by performing ambitious repertoire to a high standard.

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26 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 20-26, 2014

Wrestling with ulterior motives by David Lamble

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Steve Carell as John du Pont, and Channing Tatum as Mark Schultz in director Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher.

around the wet blanket that du Pont’s thoroughbred-raising mother (an unsettling Vanessa Redgrave) throws over her adult boy’s hobby: “The sport of wrestling is a low sport. And I don’t want to see you low!” But low he indeed goes. The test of whether Foxcatcher is for you depends in part on your taste for stories that rub together odd-couple characters, with pursuits or fetishes shocking even to those of us who think we can’t be appalled by anything or anybody. In some ways, Foxcatcher resembles the eccentric tale Chuck & Buck, in which Mike White convincingly conjured a boy-man with an unsettling attachment to the childhood games once pursued by himself and a now thoroughly grownup former childhood friend. In Foxcatcher, John du Pont’s attempt to mentor Mark Schultz as a way of fulfilling his own thwarted athletic ambitions feels perfectly comfortable until Mark’s much more successful older brother Dave is drawn into the fold. It’s Dave who comes to see his brother’s alliance with du Pont as unhealthy, and who unwittingly sets off the kind of explosive charge whose invention fueled the du Pont clan’s North American fortunes back during our Revolutionary War. One final quibble for queer audiences: there’s no overtly homo element to Foxcatcher, although the intensely realized wrestling scenes are as seductively homoerotic as anything in mainstream cinema going back as

far as the manly nude fireside romps in the Larry Kramer-penned Women in Love. Indeed, for me at least, Foxcatcher’s chief charm is its successful revisiting of a pre-Stonewall sensibility wherein homo themes on screen often existed as much in the minds of the beholder as in any direct intentionality by the filmmakers. As a lad struggling to come out, inhaling the fumes from the 60s British New Wave Cinema, I recall my fascination with the doggedly boyish British comedy imp Michael Crawford (The Knack and How to Get It, How I Won the War, The Jokers). Crawford’s onscreen hetero drives were so charmingly thwarted with tics, stammers and comically hysterical denials that he unwittingly stirred longings in some of us that would not be overtly realized until the arrival of Gus Van Sant and the New Queer Cinema of the early 1990s. Foxcatcher and Channing Tatum’s boyish undressing thus follow a long and winding movie road whose ultimate aim is to allow every customer to see just what it suits him to see, without any need for a managerial disclaimer. Everything old is new again: after two screenings of Foxcatcher, I halfexpected to read of the return of that 60s homo-ambiguous British screen icon Dirk Bogarde. The programmers at the Castro Theatre could have a field day pairing Foxcatcher with a string of Bogarde, Crawford and Joseph Losey releases.t

Deep in the Indiana wilderness by David Lamble

DECEMBER 8• 7:30 PM

DAVIS GAINES LA TOYA LONDON

n the intriguing new sports drama Foxcatcher from director Bennett Miller (Capote, Moneyball), two adult brothers are debating what will prove to be a pivotal crossroads in their lives. They’re ruggedly handsome 20/30-somethings with the well-exercised, powerfully sculpted bodies of Olympic-caliber champion wrestlers. In the run-up to the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is prepared to accept the enigmatic, wealthy sportsman John du Pont (Steve Carell) as his coach and mentor. Mark, an Olympic Gold Medal-winning wrestler at the 1984 games, is eager to bring his slightly older and even more decorated wrestler brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo) onto the du Pont team. Dave, however, is wary of the eccentric du Pont’s motives. To the more seasoned competitor Dave, the du Pont training facility doesn’t pass the sniff test. “What does he get out of all of this?” “What are you thinking? This is it! This is all we’ve ever wanted.” Deliberately paced, a tad too much so at times, Foxcatcher puts its viewers into a world where women, let alone feminizing influences, are absent, and seemingly not missed. You could probably grow chest hair merely from inhaling the hormonal fumes from this seductive boys’ club. Director Miller assumes, I suspect correctly, that many of us know precious little about the real, sweaty college/Olympic-style wrestling on display here, the kind just becoming omni-available on three-digit cable channels. Wrestling snippets are dropped into the film’s stew as a badge of authenticity, as genuine plot beats, and as a way to spell an audience emotionally exhausted by the intensity of the psychological mano a mano between two guys who probably should never have met. Fans of Steve Carell, especially of the loopy gay misfit he channeled in the road comedy Little Miss Sunshine, may feel an inclination to rewatch that screwball adventure film just to figure out where that guy went. One of the dangers of the fullimmersion performance Carell delivers, complete with fake nose, as the rich guy who takes himself way too seriously John du Pont, is that the whole film can feel like we’ve slipped down a deep, dark rabbit-hole without receiving 134 minutes’ worth of fun and enlightenment. A subplot I could have done without revolves

ondering my mixed feelings about The Better Angels, a beautifully lensed but rather precious docudrama about the log cabin childhood of our 16th president, I started musing about what in the love of Jesus Abe Lincoln might think if he were here to Google himself. Lincoln probably didn’t get much in the way of positive spin from the mugwump press of his day, so I suppose it’s rather churlish of me to scoff at any of the oceans of posthumous stuff he’s been receiving ever since that bad night at the theater. But a critic has his standards, and any movie that kicks off with some gooey Hallmark cardworthy hogwash gets my hackles up, even if Lincoln did actually say it: “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” First of all, I’m always suspicious when filmmakers employ those tiny little fonts that are both hard to read and give off the odor of mendacity about what’s to follow. Even worse is the device of having a narrator intone in the “authentic” accent of

Amplify

Braydon Denney as Abe in director A.J. Edwards’ The Better Angels.

a poor farmer: “Want to know what kind of boy he was? Well, I myself, his cousin, am the only one living that knowed him, knowed him the day he was born; lived with him most of the time until he was 21 and left home for good.” Look, it took the genius-level heavy lifting of Steven Spielberg and company to convince us that

they had found an honest path into the last month of Lincoln’s life as he begged and bargained with a town full of scallywags and common criminals, i.e., the members of Congress, to bring our terrible Civil War to an end. To give him his due, Walnut Creek-born/San Antonio, See page 27 >>

t <<

Fine Art>>

Slinging Satire

From page 21

The mediums the cartoonists utilize have both stayed the same and changed with the times, ranging from traditional pen-and-ink to digital and flash-animation videos like those by the wonderfully wacky, self-syndicated Pulitzer Prize-winner Mark Fiore. Several of Fiore’s recent shorts that originally appeared on SFGate.com address the Middle East, race relations and materialism. The political leanings of the cartoonists assembled here range from “bleeding heart liberal to staunch conservative,” according to the exhibition materials, but no matter what their station on the spectrum, each is well-versed in the art of unveiling, exposing and lampooning those in power, and the lacerating wit they deploy is a tonic for the b.s. and verbosity emanating from the 24/7 news cycle. They also tend to cut to the chase, especially when skewering hypocrisy and dishing it out on hot topics, including income inequality, terrorism and gay marriage. David Horsey of the L.A. Times tackles the latter issue with a cartoon set in a quickie Las Vegas wedding chapel. While the preacher, an Elvis impersonator, is in the process of marrying a skuzzy biker dude to a showgirl in a thong, a receptionist handling the phones tells an unseen caller, “No, we don’t do gay marriages. That would defile a sacred institution.” In a more poetic comment on the subject, Nate Beeler of the Columbia Dispatch depicts the blindfolded Lady Justice in a moment of unguarded joy, jumping into the arms of the Statue of Liberty, who clutches the DOMA ruling. As one would expect, Obama is

November 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 27

tenstein and the brutality of an irresistible moving target Lenny Bruce.” The description – or is he, at this stage, simply certainly applies to his wilting a lame sitting duck? The doltakedown of the Hobby Lobby drums and deflated expectakerfuffle. “A woman’s reprotions afflicting the current adductive health is between her ministration are reflected in a doctor and the boss at her cartoon where Obama stands crappy chain-store job,” the behind a podium emblazoned text declares, while in another with the slogan, “Yes, We section, echoing the sentiCan!” Cut to the next panel, ments of the philosopher king and the slogan has morphed Rush Limbaugh, a misogynist into “So Sue Me.” In another gleefully proclaims, “Too bad, piece, Obama is in a golf pro harlots. No more employershop, boasting about playing subsidized, non-procreative over 200 rounds of golf since sex for you.” The strip debuted becoming president. “Wow, in the SF Weekly in 1990, and that takes a lot of balls,” gushes now appears in The Nation the cashier. and on the Daily Kos, sugRaised on hip-hop, rapper gesting that Perkins is riding and social activist Keith Knight a wave. But, when asked by is the man behind three sucan interviewer shortly after cessful strips: Knight Life, (th) Charlotte Observer (2014) he won the Herblock Award ink and The K Chronicles. He’s one of the few African Ameri- Cartoon by Kevin Siers, part of Slinging Satire: Masters of Political Cartoons at the last year what advice he’d give young people entering the cans in the industry, and his Cartoon Art Museum. field, he replied thus: “I might perspective is understandably gently suggest that they expointed when it comes to race, The wickedly subversive, muchWorld. The weekly alternative carplore other life options, [like] as in the single-panel cartoon decorated Tom Tomorrow (aka Dan toon strip, which ridicules political dressing up as Sesame Street characthat announces, “This precinct has Perkins), who’s hanging buddies leaders and the deranged behavior ters in Times Square.”t gone 7 days without shooting an with Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Veof the media, has been described unarmed black man.” dder, is the creator of This Modern as having “the look of Roy LichNewly minted Pulitzer-winner Through March 9. Kevin Siers (Charlotte Observer) has sent up Obamacare, power brokers and the Catholic Church hierarchy. He’s represented in the exhibition by his parody of Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam fresco (on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel), but WITH SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS with a slight difference. In Siers’ illustration, the naked Adam is nowhere to be found. God floats in a heavenly cloud in the company of several Supreme Court Justices, and extends his life-giving hand toward a nattily dressed figure symbolizing corporations.

START A NEW TRADITION

Columbia Dispatch (2013)

Cartoon by Nate Beeler, part of Slinging Satire: Masters of Political Cartoons at the Cartoon Art Museum.

Better Angels

From page 26

Texas-raised writer/director A.J. Edwards has read his Carl Sandburg, and at least tries to give us a taste of authenticity. The title card “Indiana, 1817” pops up, and we see Mathew Brady-like b&w images of a dirt-poor settler family chopping down trees, building a log cabin, and planting a field behind an oxenpulled plow. The core of the film, what will touch you if you like the approach, is the relationship between Lincoln as a country boy and his two mothers. His birth mom, Nancy Hanks, is aware that she has a prodigy child, and does her best to encourage his early explorations through the Bible and the few reading materials available in their backwoods environs. “What did you read today?” “About Noah. He lived to be 950. What is that?” “The moon.” Following Hanks’ death, dad Thomas Lincoln leaves the kids to find a new mother and helpmate, Sarah Bush Johnston. “She was a believer. She knew that so much of what she believed was yonder, always yonder. Every day came scrubbing, washing. There

was so little time to see or think about the glory. Her mind and his seem to run together.” The tone and substance of this film kept reminding me of those sleep-inducing TV Sunday-ghetto programs that prematurely middleaged kids like me were hooked on in the era between Elvis and the Beatles. Eric Goldman and The Open Mind, or middlebrow poet John Ciardi’s musings on CBS, could fool one into believing one had had an original thought. But art-house movie chains shouldn’t need pseudo-intellectual fare to justify their existence. They’re not licensed by the government, and shouldn’t be herding sacred cows. Abraham Lincoln lived through dangerous times. He was in his day praised, vilified, and ultimately assassinated by a bitter, disgruntled foe. Bringing a new generation to Lincoln requires bigger dramatic stakes than warmed-over platitudes and pretty pictures. Whether gay scholar C.A. Tripp is correct or totally off-base in his belief that Lincoln was romantically involved with a close friend like Joshua Speed, a rousing film on the subject would be a far greater service to his memory than this sanctimonious Boys’ Life hokum. (Opens Friday.)t

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<< Out&About

28 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 20-26, 2014

O&A

Fri 21

Willem Dafoe and Mikhail Baryshnikov in The Old Woman

Out &About

Pussy @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Maura Holleran's acclaimed solo show is about the cat owned by a lesbian couple, and their pet's whimsical interpretations of their lives. $20-$25. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Nov. 30. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. 8618972. www.nctcsf.org

SF Olympians Festival @ Exit Theatre

Innovative arts by Jim Provenzano

ew takes on classics (Shakespeare’s R&J), new exhibits of departed local legends (Jerome Caja), and some unusual theatrical duos (The Old Woman) prove that there is no shortage of innovation in our arts offerings.

Thu 20 Aguilas 20th @ Roccapulco

2pub-BBB_BAR_112014.pdf

10/28/14

8:55 AM

The Latino/a LGBT HIV/AIDs prevention nonprofit celebrates two decades, with awards to notable local community members, with entertainment by Juanita More!, reception, music by Fuego Latino and DJ Pablo. $20 and up. 6pm-10pm. 3140 Mission St. www.sfaguilas.org

Arts Panel @ GLBT History Museum Nov. 20: arts panel with Raquel Gutiérrez, Eric Stanley, and Constance Hockaday. Also, 1964: The Year San Francisco Came Out, an exhibit focusing on San Francisco's emerging gay culture at the time of the pivotal LIFE magazine feature "Homosexuality in America." Reg. hours Mon-Sat 11am-7pm. Sun 12pm5pm. ($5/free for members). 4127 18th St. 621-1107. www.glbthistory.org

Exposed @ YBCA Beth B.’s oddball burlesque show nightlife film screens. 7:30pm. Thru Nov. 22. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts screening room, 701 Mission St. 978-2787. www.ybca.org

I Love Lucy @ Curran Theatre Live recreation of two episodes from the Lucille Ball and Ricky Ricardo studio tapings, including bloopers and vintage advertising breaks (95 minutes; no intermission). $45-$115. Tue-Thu 7:30pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 2pm. Sun 1pm & 6:30pm. Thru Nov. 23. 445 Geary St. (888) 746-1799. www.shnsf.com

Sun 23

Brian Copeland @ The Marsh C

CMY

The prolific solo performer returns with two of his shows in repertory: Not a Genuine Black Man (Thu & Fri 8pm) and The Waiting Period (Sat 5pm). $30-$100. Thru Nov. 22. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.com

Clockwork @ ODC Theater Choreographer Katharine Hawthroen's evening of dances about the ephemeral nature of time. $20-$35. 8pm. Thru Nov. 22. 3153 17th St. www.odcdance.org

Comedy Returns @ El Rio Bernadette Luckett, Andrea Carla Michaels, Nathan Habib, Ash Fisher and host Lisa Geduldig perform at the monthly comedy night. $7-$20. 8pm. 3158 Mission St. (800) 838-3006. www.elriosf.com

Dan Pashman @ Books Inc. Books Inc presents the Sporkful creator, Cooking Channel and NPR contributor, who discusses Eat More Better, his witty guide to enhancing your meals. 7:30pm. 2275 Market St. 864-6777. www.booksinc.net

Fred Lyon @ Harvey Milk Photo Center Exhibit of the local photographer's evocative images in San Francisco: Portrait of a City (1940-1960); book available for sale. Tue-Thu 4pm8:30pm. Sat 10am-4:30pm. Sun 12pm-5:30pm. Thru Jan. 10. 50 Scott St. www.harveymilkphotocenter.org

Shocktoberfest @ The Hypnodrome Thrillpeddlers' 15th annual Halloween season shock theatre presents the new horror, song and puppet-filled show, The Bloody Debutante, Isabel's Zombie Holocaust and other acts. $30-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru Nov. 22. 575 10th St. at Bryant. 377-4202. www.thrillpeddlers.com

Testament @ Geary Theatre American Conservatory Theatre presents Seana McKenna in Colm Tóibín’s lyrical solo play about a mother whose son's been taken by fanatics. $20-$120. Tue 7pm. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun matinees. Thru Nov. 23. 415 Geary St. 749-2228. www.act-sf.org

Transgender Day of Remembrance @ LGBT Center Community adovcates, trans performers and speakers and others participate in the event MCed at Alex Bergeron and Rexy Amaral. 6pm-8pm. 1800 Market St. www.tdorsf.org

Fri 21 77% @ Tides Theater

Author Events @ Modern Times Bookstore Nov. 20, 7pm: Jennifer Friedenach and guests speak at a state of the city forum. Nov. 2, 7:30pm: Queer Open Mic with Baruch Porras-Hernandez. Nov. 23, 4pm: poet Kim Shuck. Nov. 25, 6pm: poet Rafael Castilla Segovia (in Spanish). Nov 25, 7pm: Spanish language lecture on literature. 2919 24th St. 282-9246. www.mtbs.com

The Monster Compendium, a marathon of staged readings of new works dealing with mythological creatures in a variety of settings. $10. Wed-Sat 8pm. Thru Nov. 22. 156 Eddy St. 673-3847. www.theexit.org

J. Otto Seibold and Mr. Lunch

Jerome Caja @ Gallery Paule Anglim Opening reception for a new exhibit of the tiny artworks by the late local gay/trans artist and nightlife legend; coordinated with the online Jerome Project. 5:30-7:30pm. Reg hours TueFri 10am-5pm (Sat 10:30-5:30). Thru Dec. 20. 14 Geary St. 433-2710. www.gallerypauleanglim.com

New & Classic Films @ Castro Theatre Nov. 20: Don't Look Now (7pm) and Daughters of Darkness (9pm). nov. 21: Pulp, the band documentary (7:30) and Get Carter (9:20). Nov. 22: Peaches Christ's drag preshow and screening of Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion. 8pm. Nov. 23: Citizen Kane (1:30, 6:40) and There Will Be Blood (3:45, 8:55). Nov. 25: Boyhood (5pm, 8:15). Nov. 26: What's Up Doc? (7pm) and Blazing Saddles (8:50). $12-$15. 429 Castro St. 6216120. www.castrotheatre.com

Post: Ballet @ Z Space The energetic local dance company performs Hi-5, their season of new and recent works choreographed by Robert Dekkers and Christian Squires, with live and recorded accompaniment. $30-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru Nov. 22. 450 Florida St. www.postballet.org

Rinne Groff's drama about a highpowered businesswoman and her stay-at-home dad husband who fight over whether to have another child. $20. Thu 7pm, Fri & Sat 8pm. Also Sat 3pm. Thru Nov. 22. 533 Sutter St. 6779596. www.sfplayhouse.org

Alonzo King Lines Ballet @ YBCA Fall home season for the dazzling local dance company includes the dance Rasa, with musicians Zakir Hussain and Kala Ramnath, plus a world premiere set to music by Shostokovich. $25-$100. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Wed & Thu 7:30pm. Thru Nov. 23. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard St. 978-2787. www.linesballet.org

The Battle of Midway @ Costume Shop Theatre Rhinoceros' production of John Fisher's comic musical retelling of the epic World War II battle, with a queer edge. $15-$20. Wed-Sat 8pm (no show Nov. 27). Sat 3pm, Nov 30, 3pm. Thru Nov. 30. 1117 Market St. at 7th. (800) 838-3006. www.TheRhino.org

Blood Wedding @ Exit Stage Left Bigger Than a Breadbox Theatre Company's staging of Federico Garcia Lorca's tragic drama about conflicts when a groom runs off with another woman. $15-$30. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru Nov. 22. 156 Eddy St. www.btabtheatreco.org

Thu 20

Puppet Up! Uncensored @ Marines' Memorial Theatre Henson Alternative's adults-only puppet show with a comic improvised edge. $40-$50. Thru Nov. 23. 609 Sutter St. (888) 746-1799. www.puppetup.com www.shnsf.com Jerome Caja

Out&About>>

Breakfast With Mugabe @ Aurora Theatre, Berkeley

Seth Myers @ Palace of Fine Arts Theatre

West Coast premiere of Fraser Grace's provocative drama about the Zimbabwe president's MacBeth-ish haunts and therapy sessions. $35$50. Tue 7pm. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm & 7pm. Thru Dec. 7. 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org

The Emmy-winning comedy writer and former Saturday Night Live comic performs live. $40-$75. 8pm. 3301 Lyon St. www.livenation.com

Cirque du Soleil @ AT&T Park Lot The Montreal acrobatic circus returns with their new show, Kurious: Cabinet of Curiosities, a steampunk-themed spectacle. $53-$135. Tue-Sat 8pm. Fri & Sat 4:30pm. Sun 1:30pm & 5pm. Thru Jan. 18. Third Street at Terry A. Francis Blvd. (800) 450-1480. www.cirquedusoleil.com

David Whyte @ First Unitarian Church A Deep but Dazzling Darkness: Beauty and Courage as the Harvest of Presence,a two-day series of readings and workshops with the prolific poet; sponsored by the SF Zen Center. $26$29, 7:30pm-9pm. Nov. 22: workshop $117-$130, 10am-4pm. 1187 Franklin St. www.davidwhyte.eventbrite.com

Diane Von Furstenberg @ JCCSF The fashion design icon (creator of the wrap dress, author of The Woman I Wanted To Be ) discusses her legacy with SF Chronicle Style writer Carolyne Zinko. $45-$55. 7pm. Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St. 292-1200. www.jccsf.org

Eden Hutchinson @ Glama-Rama The hair salon hosts the opening reception for the artist's exhibit of works, Bitter Waitresses, Hair-Brained Hairdressers & Whirling Dervishes. Thru Jan. 4. 304 Valencia St. www.glamarama.com

Faulted @ Thick House Angela Santillo's new play about an empath and a seismologist graduate student, California's impending tectonic dangers, and cultural clashes in the Golden State. $15-$50. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 7pm. Thru Dec. 7. 1695 18th St. (800) 838-3006. foolsfury.org

Foxcatcher @ AMC Metreon, Sundance Kabuki Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo and Steve Carell star in the film based on the real events of millionaire and amateur wrestling patron John du Pont's murder of Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz. Also at other Bay area theatres. www.sonyclassics.com

Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Sara Shelton Mann @ CounterPulse The two veteran performance artists present new and repertory works exploring tensions between new dance arts and aging bodies. $20$30. 8pm. Also Nov 22. 1310 Mission St. www.counterpulse.org

The Old Woman @ Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley

November 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 29

Tue 25 Alien She @ YBCA The first exhibition to showcase the impact and ephemera of the Riot Grrrl movement and culture. Free-$15. Exhibit Tue-Sun 12pm-6pm. Thru Jan. 25. 701 Mission St. www.ybca.org

Shakespeare's R&J @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Joe Calarco's hit gay retake on Romeo and Juliet returns, this time set in dangerously antigay modern-day Egypt; staged by Ben Randle. $25$45. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Dec. 14. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Shock and Awww @ Shelton Theatre Left Coast Theatre Company's minifestival of six LGBT-themed one-act plays about love, dating and sex, by Chris Maltby, Ron Burch, Joseph Frank, Jami Brandli, Dave Carley and Kristian O'Hare. $19-$38. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru Nov. 22. 533 Sutter St. www.LCTC-SF.org

Superheroes @ Exit Theatre Sean San Jose wrote and directed this new poetic drama about an investigsative journalist's labyrinthlike journey to discover the connections between the CIA and Nicaraguan drug traffickers. $10-$20. Tue-Thu 7:30pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 2pm, Sun 5pm. Thru Dec. 21. Exit on Taylor, 277 Taylor St. 525-1205. www.cuttingball.com

The Totalitarians @ Z Below Peter Sinn Nachtrieb's dark comedy about modern politics and relationships. $20-$50. Wed & Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru Dec. 14. 470 Florida St. (866) 8114111. www.zspace.org

Will Durst @ The Marsh Boomerang: From LSD to OMG, the witty comic's hit solo show, returns for a limited run. $15-$35. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru Nov. 30. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. TheMarsh.org

Sat 22 Artumnal Gathering @ Bently Reserve The Burning Man Arts Foundation's annual gala fundraiser and festival of food, wine, performance and creativity. $300 and up 6pm dinner; $40-$60 party, 9:45pm. 400 Sansome St. www.burningmanproject.org

Bay Area Rainbow Symphony @ Calvary Presbyterian Church Michael Morgan conducts a program featuring Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder with baritone Zachary Gordin, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2 and Conrad Susa’s The Blue Hour. $10$35. 8pm. 2515 Fillmore St. www.bars-sf.org

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi

Calvin Ma @ Modern Eden Gallery

Fri 21 Promises, Promises

Keith Haring: The Political Line @ de Young Museum New exhibit of 130 large-scale paintings, sculptures and retrieved subway drawings by the late great gay graffiti artist who came to global fame. Free-$26-$41. Free/$10. TueSun 9:30am-5:15pm. Thru Feb. 16. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. 750-3600. famsf.org

Mary Poppins @ Julia Morgan Theater, Berkeley Berkeley Playhouse's lighthearted production of Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman and Julian Fellowes' musical adaptation of P.L. Travers' book and the Disney film. $17-$60. Fri 7pm. Sat 1pm & 6pm. Sun 12pm & 5pm. Thru Dec. 7. 2640 College Ave., Berkeley. (510) 8458542. www.BerkeleyPlayhouse.org

Red Hot Patriot @ Berkeley Repertory Theatre Kathleen Turner stars in the onewoman show, The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, Allison and Margaret Engel's acclaimed show about the late Texan political columnist. $29-$81. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Jan. 4. Roda Theatre, 20171 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

SF Hiking Club @ Mt. Diablo Eagle Peak Join GLBT hikers for an 8-mile hike on Mt. Diablo's Eagle Peak. The autumn weather is usually nice at Mt. Diablo, and there should be great views. Bring water, lunch, sturdy boots, hat, layers. Meet at Safeway sign, Market & Dolores, at 9am. 596-1304. www.sfhiking.com

Wayang Bali @ St. Cyprians Church ShadowLight Productions' Balinese Shadow Play, performed by Larry Reed and music by Gamelan Sekar Jaya. $17-$20. 8pm. 2097 Turk St. www.noevalleymusicseries.com

Sun 23 Aquascapes @ Conservatory of Flowers

Mikhail Baryshnikov and Willem Dafoe star in Robert Wilson's unusual eccentric vaudeville-art black comedy theatre piece. $40-$150. 8pm. Also Nov 22, 8pm; Nov. 23 3pm. Bancroft Way at Dana, UC Berkeley campus. (510) 642-9988. CalPerformances.org

The musical comedy revue celebrates its 40th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. $25-$160. Beer/wine served; cash only; 21+, except where noted. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 4214222. beachblanketbabylon.com

Party People @ Berkeley Repertory

Great Dickens Christmas Fair @ Cow Palace

Steven Sapp, Mildred Ruiz-Sapp, and William Ruiz's music and theatre stage adaptation of Black Panthers and Young Lords veterans who reunite at a young activist art opening. $29-$79. Tue-Sat 8pm (Wed & Sun 7pm). Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru Nov. 30. 2025 Addison St. (510) 647-2900. www.berkeleyrep.org

The 36th annual Victorian-era holiday-themed display of pubs and theatres, dance floors and music halls, tearooms and shops returns; Victorian garb welcome. $15-$90. Fri-Sun 10am-7pm. Thru Dec. 21. 2600 Geneva Ave. (800) 510-1558. www.dickensfair.com

Books Inc. presents the awardwinning songwriter and world traveler, who discusses his memoir Rumours of Glory. $42 (includes book). 2pm. 777 Valencia St. www.booksinc.net www.thechapelsf.com

Katie Gilmartin @ Center for Sex & Culture

Roads of Arabia @ Asian Art Museum

Promises, Promises @ SF Playhouse Burt Bacharach, Hal David and Neil Simon's lighthearted swingin' '60s Broadway hit gets a local production. Tue-Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 3pm, Sun 2pm. Thru Jan 10. Kensington Park Hotel, 450 Post St., 2nd floor. 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org

Author of Blackmail, My Love, reads from and discusses her illustrated noir mystery novel set in San Francisco's 1950s; including a Jose Sarria tribute performance, Sisters singing, old-style hors d'eouvres; 1950s attire welcome. 8pm-10pm. 1349 Mission St. www.sexandculture.org

Homebodies: Recollective, an exhibit of the artist's unusual ceramic toy-like sculptures. Tue-Sat 10am-6pm. Thru Dec. 6. 801 Greenwich St. 956-3303. www.moderneden.com

Fascinating new exhibit of underwater gardens that resemble miniature outdoor English, Asian and classic gardens (thru April 12). Permanent floral exhibits as well. Free-$8. TueSun 10am-4pm. Golden Gate Park, 831-2090. conservatoryofflowers.org

Bruce Cockburn @ The Chapel

Roads of Arabia : Archeology and History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (thru Jan. 18); Dual Natures in Ceramics : Eight Contemporary Artists from Korea (thru Feb. 22). Other fascinating exhibits as well. Free (members, kids 12 and under)-$15. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 200 Larkin St. www.asianart.org

Carl Linkhart @ Glamarama, Oakland

J. Otto Seibold and Mr. Lunch @ Contemporary Jewish Museum New exhibit of works by the beloved children's book author. Nov. 23: special members-only family-friendly event with interactive gallery adventures, an AXIS dance workshop, and art-making. Also, Arnold Newman: Masterclass, an exhibit of prints by the influential photographer. Other exhibits, lectures and gallery talks as well. Free (members)-$12. Fri-Tue 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-8pm (closed Wed). 736 Mission St. 6557800. www.thecjm.org

Songs and Sorrows @ Oakland Museum Dias de Los Muertos 20th Anniversary, a group exhibit of the Mexicanthemed art (thru Jan. 4). Judy Chicago: A Butterfly for Oakland, and Fertile Ground: Art and Community in California. Free/$15. Reg. hours WedSat 11am-5pm (Fri til 9pm). 1000 Oak St., Oakland. (510) 318-8400. www.museumca.org

Tours and Exhibits @ The Old Mint New Sunday program offers tours and exhibits about San Francisco's history. Explore the fascinating building's grand halls and vaults. $5-$10. Weekly, 1pm-4pm. 88 5th St. 5371105. www.SFhistory.org

Mon 24 Deck the Walls @ NIAD Art Center, Richmond Group exhibit of art by develomentally disabled people with a holiday theme. Also, The Geometry of Cats: Recent Work from Ann Meade. Mon-Fri 10am-4pm. 551 23rd St. Richmond. (510) 620-0290. www.niadart.org

Russell Harris, Jacob A. Pfeiffer @ John Pence Gallery

Dreamscape: The Night Vision of Carl Linkhart, a new exhibit of unusual surreal paintings. Thru Jan. 11. 6399 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. carllinkhart. com glamarama.com

Meditation Group @ LGBT Center Weekly non-sectarian meditation group; part of the Let's Kick ASS AIDS Survivor Syndrome support group. Tuesdays, 5pm, 1800 Market St. www.letskickASS.org sfcenter.org

Norma I. Quintana, Najib Joe Hakim @ RayKo Photo Center Dual exhibit of Hakim's photos of Little Palestine by the Bay, and Quintana's Circus: A Traveling Life. Tue-Thu 10am10pm. Fri-Sun 10am-8pm. Thru Nov. 29. 428 Third St. 495-3773. raykophoto.com

Wed 26 Art/Act: Maya Lin @ David Brower Center Exhibit of new works by the sculptor/ designer (Vietnam Memorial). Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Sun 10am-1pm. Thru Feb 4, 2015. 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley. www.browercenter.org

At Large: Ai Weiwei @ Alcatraz Island The internationally acclaimed Chinese sculpture's exhibit of seven site-specific multimedia installations; the largest art exhibit ever hosted by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. $18-$30. Daily except major holidays thru April 26, 2015. www.AiWeiWeiAlcatraz.org

Something for the Boys @ Eureka Theatre 42nd Street Moon's new production of Cole Porter's farcical musical (with book by Dorothy and Herbert Fields) about a trio of wartime characters who renovate a mansion into a boarding hosue for soldier's wives. $25-$75. Wed, Thu 7pm. Fri 8pm. Sat 6pm. Sun 3pm. Thru Dec. 14. 215 Jackson St. 255-8207. 42ndStMoon.org

Dual exhibit of fascinating colorful realist still lifes and portraits and trompe l'oeil paintings. Thru Nov. 29. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm (Sat til 5pm). 750 Post St. 441-1138. www.johnpence.com

Thu 27

Skulls @ California Academy of Sciences

Group exhibit of vintage photography by famous artists like Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Edward Weston and others. Thru Nov. 29. 49 Geary St. 781-1122. www.roberttat.com

Exhibits and planetarium shows with various live, interactive and installed exhibits about animals, plants and the earth, including the new popular exhibit of animal and human skulls (thru Nov. 30). Special events each week, with adult nightlife parties most Thursday nights. $20-$35. MonSat 9:30am-5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Woods to Wildflowers @ SF Botanical Gardens See blooming floral displays, trees and exhibits. Also, daily walking tours and more, at outdoor exhibits of hundreds of species of native wildflowers in a century-old grove of towering Coast Redwoods. Free-$15. Daily. Golden Gate Park. 661-1316. www.SFBotanicalGarden.org

20th Century Salon Photography: A Tribute @ Robert Tat Gallery

Science Exhibits @ The Exploratorium Visit the fascinating science museum in its new Embarcadero location. Free$25. Pier 15 at Embarcadero. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm (Thu night 6pm-10pm, 18+). 528-4893. exploratorium.edu

Stranger Than Life @ Cartoon Art Museum The Cartoons and Comics of M.K. Brown (thru Feb 15). Other exhibits and events. Free-$8. Tue-Sun 11am-5pm. 655 Mission St. 227-8666. cartoonart.org To submit event listings, email jim@ebar.com. Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication. For more bar and nightlife events, go to On the Tab in our BARtab section, online at www.ebar.com/bartab

<< TV

30 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 20-26, 2014

How to get away with showing hot gay men by Victoria A. Brownworth

oom, clap, the sound of our hearts. That is the general consensus about ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder, or as it’s known at our house, How to Get Away with Showing Hot Gay Men Having Oral and Anal Sex Together Every Week on Network TV. The gay sex is so hot on HTGAWM, even The New York Times noticed (Nov. 12, “Racy Gay Scenes in ‘How to Get Away With Murder’ Draw a Following”) and had to go out and check the clubs where it shows every Thursday night to adoring gay men. Of course, that article ran in the Style section, because in 2014 gay sex is still a “lifestyle” choice, dontcha know. Insert eye-roll here. The article also refers to Connor Walsh’s (Jack Falahee, who was talking up his gay sex scenes in Cosmopolitan, too) “aggressive sexuality.” This is the same paper that created a Twitter firestorm by referring to the show’s star, Viola Davis, as “not conventionally beautiful,” and Shonda Rhimes as an “angry black woman.” The author of the piece also refers to HTGAWM as in the “tradition of campy TV shows” that draw a wide gay audience, referencing Dynasty, Dallas and Falcon Crest. Dear Lord, these people live in New York. They need to get out more. Do they know there’s an Internet and Netflix, and that those shows ran more than 30 years ago? But if even the NYT is noticing the gay sex on HTGAWM, then you know it’s moved to iconic status. You have to give Peter Nowalk props for putting real gay sex on the small screen in as hot a manner as the str8 sex we have all been forced to watch since we were old enough to say Ew! And for goddess sakes, someone give Rhimes another GLAAD (or something better) Award for exec producing this show and for keeping gay sex front and center on both Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. No neutered gay men and lesbians on her shows. Kim Kardashian may have thought she could break the Internet with her giant baby-oiled-ass, but Thursday nights, #TGIT is alive on Twitter, and HTGAWM is as hot now as Scandal. As the season finale of HTGAWM approaches (there will be a holiday hiatus between the Nov. 20 episode and Jan. 29) and we await the reveal of #WhoKilledSam, the buzz is all about out gay showrunner Nowalk and how he’s breaking new ground on the small screen. Hollywood Reporter and EW both announced on Nov. 4 that Oscarwinner Marcia Gay Harden has been signed to the show for 2015. Harden most recently starred in the short-lived but funny Trophy Wife, also on ABC. Gay sex has been the main sexual headliner on Scandal this season. Cyrus (Jeff Perry, who never gets the press he deserves) has been drowning his sorrows over his husband being murdered last season with Michael (Matthew Del Negro). Michael is the sex worker hired to squeeze secrets out of Cyrus by Elizabeth North (Portia De Rossi), head of the RNC. Michael is doing a lot of squeezing. Viewers might remember the 6’4” and oh-so-ripped former lacrosse star from a slew of other fab shows, including West Wing, Sopranos, United States of Tara, Good Wife, Mistresses, and as Rafael on Teen Wolf. He’s not gay in real life, but he sure does gay-forpay really well. While we don’t like seeing Cyrus manipulated in this way, we do like

seeing the two men in bed together, both having sex and lying around watching TV. You know, like str8 people do. The normalizing of gay and lesbian sex, and gay and lesbian desire, on the tube is essential. The more we see gay men and lesbians having sex on TV, the more comfortable the non-gay world will be with it. And the less (we hope) they will stop conflating it with bestiality and pedophilia. We liked a recent throwaway on Scandal where First Lady Mellie (Bellamy Young) tells Elizabeth North (Portia De Rossi) that the minute we have our first woman president, the job of First Lady will be a paid position. We also liked the short but powerful story arc on Scandal related to Abby’s (Darby Stanchfield) abusive ex coming to Washington as a congressional hopeful after a senator has to resign due to a sex scandal. This sex scandal involved video of the senator diapered up and pooping for the camera. We hope everyone who saw this episode was reminded of a certain Louisiana senator’s proclivities. He’s still in office, because Republicans get away with more than just elections, and is planning on running for governor next year. Abby’s fear is palpable when she sees her ex in the Oval Office with the president. It’s a chilling moment because we remember just how violent he was with her. In case we don’t, she recounts some of her injuries, like the pin in her jaw, which was shattered and had to be wired shut. At one point her ex confronts her and she gets her handgun and threatens to kill him. We know this would ruin her life, which is the only reason we weren’t chanting “shoot him” at the screen. This storyline reminds viewers of just how insidious domestic violence is. Although the two have been divorced for years, Abby has never felt safe with a man since. While Scandal and Shonda Rhimes continue to tackle our most serious issues, HBO’s Girls creator Lena Dunham, the 28-year-old self-described voice of her generation, has been taking heat for some controversial statements in her New York Times best-selling memoir Not That Kind of Girl, for which she received a $3.5 million advance. We have noted before that Dunham’s Girls is racist, classist and homophobic. Her white-centric New York places Girls squarely in the pantheon of icky white privilege that was de rigueur 25 years ago on Seinfeld, and 20 years ago on Friends, where no people of color appeared in the iconic sitcoms set in New York City, a city over 50% people of color. And we have noted that since NYC has the largest LGBT demographic in the country, Hannah Horvath (Dunham’s character on Girls) should have at least one lesbian friend. The current controversy has served to highlight Dunham’s racism, classism and ignorance of LGBT lives. Passages in her memoir referring to a 10-year spate of sexually abusing her younger sister, Grace (now a self-IDing lesbian), have become a story that won’t go away. Dunham writes salaciously about probing her sister’s vagina, kissing her, dressing her up in sexy clothes and make-up, masturbating next to her in bed (when she was 17), paying her to lay on top of her, and other questionable acts. Yet reporting on the controversy, CNN ignored the commentary from everyone but Dunham. Activist Deva Cats-Baril started the #DropDunham hashtag on Twitter out of frustration over white

Jack Falahee plays Connor Walsh on ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder.

feminist dismissal of Dunham’s latest actions. The twittersphere was flooded with tweets from women of color, lesbians and other women adding their call to have HBO drop Girls. HBO responded by ignoring the controversy (as did Dunham’s publisher, Random House) and announcing that the new season of Girls will start Jan. 11. Gay men and lesbians are often accused of being potential child abusers. Yet there is Dunham describing in her own words how she manipulated her much younger lesbian sister for a decade, then wrote about it, then asked her sister to explain that it was really okay. and she gets not just a pass, but support from people who are supposed to be supporting victims, not perpetrators. We don’t get it. But you might want to send an email to HBO asking if Dunham were a gay or str8 man and described the same behavior if their show would have been renewed. We’re pretty sure the answer would be a bit fat no.

Mississippi burning

An ad campaign for 2016 was launched this week by HRC. The campaign, highlighted by ABC News, will focus on equality issues and is focused on the Deep South, debuting in Mississippi. The TV commercials feature a mother of two gay sons. ABC News reports the commercials will begin airing two days before a federal court hearing in Jackson on a Mississippi law banning same-sex marriage. In November 2004, Mississippi voters overwhelmingly approved a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Similar laws, like the one in Pennsylvania, have been overturned in recent months. HRC chose to focus on the most religious states where people are least likely to report knowing someone who is gay or lesbian. Tim Wildmon, president of the extremist anti-gay group American Family Association, has predicted the campaign will be a failure, noting the Bible states that “homosexuality is unnatural.” The campaign follows the recent airing of L Word Mississippi: Hate the Sin, a new documentary that premiered on Showtime in August. L Word Mississippi, from the creator of the iconic Showtime series The L

Word Ilene Chaiken, explicates clearly why the HRC campaign is necessary. It’s not all San Francisco and New York City out there in the LGBT heartland, as the disturbing tales of lesbians in Mississippi make quite clear. We lived in the Deep South for a while, and we can attest to the difficult reality in the states where Stonewall has yet to be fully realized. As the holiday hiatus yawns wide, there are shows to catch up on until faves return with new seasons in the new year. Looking returns Jan. 11, and season 2 will have more episodes than season 1, so if you liked it (or just liked seeing the guys roaming your city), set your DVR now. One show we expected to hate was the CW’s new series Jane, the Virgin, which has been a surprise hit. As the CW describes it, “the series details the surprising and unforeseen events that take place in the life of Jane Villanueva, a hardworking, religious young Latina woman whose family tradition and a vow to save her virginity until her marriage to a detective is shattered when a doctor mistakenly artificially inseminates her during a checkup.” What that squib doesn’t say is that actress Gina Rodriguez is extraordinary. Or that the reason Jane gets accidentally inseminated is because her lesbian doctor, Dr. Luisa Alver (Yara Martinez), is upset over discovering her partner cheating and gets distracted. The legal issues that will arise over Dr. Alver’s error will bring her ex, Rose (Bridget Regan), an attorney, into the picture. Jane the Virgin was created by Jennie Snyder Urman (Emily Owens, MD), who has a long history of gay-friendly TV. Urman is quoted in a recent interview saying, “I like to write female characters, of every sexual orientation. I just love writing female characters. One of my characters always is [gay]. There’s always one in the friend group I write.” Urman is also a consulting producer on the CW’s Reign, which just began its (sexually fluid) second season, and has just been signed by CBS for more work. We’ll be looking to see what else she brings to the LGBT ally table. As for Reign, we’ve always had a thing for female monarchs, so the young Mary, Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane, who off-screen is a strong proponent for marriage

equality and other LGBT rights issues): oh yes. And then Catherine de’Medici (Megan Follows)? Double that yes. It felt like a long hiatus between seasons, but Reign is back, and the feminist streak in the show is trending upwards, as befits the actual history of both Mary and Catherine. Of course, this being the beautiful people network, the show is populated with gorgeousness, women and men, and who can resist that? Plus, none of the smells of the actual 16th century, so that’s a blessing. And if you were expecting a gaggle of simpering idiots as Mary’s ladies in waiting, disabuse yourself: these are smart, calculating women who are as eager to live their own lives fully as is the Queen herself. What court would be complete without an out queer actor or two? Reign has that. The drop-dead gorgeous and out bisexual Caitlin Stasey plays Kenna, the most sexual of Mary’s ladies (there was a furor last season when a scene of Kenna masturbating was cut from the aired show, available in the online version). Kenna has also had lesbian sex on screen. Buzzfeed noted after the season finale that Kenna was a vital character on the Reign and TV landscape because of her unapologetic sexual appetite and desire, which includes self-pleasure, still a huge taboo for women. Stasey is doing for young women what Nowalk is doing for gay men: making real sex, the most taboo sort, palatable for audiences. Stasey told Buzzfeed, “I call [Kenna] the clitoris of the show. Almost consistently for every episode I was doing something sexual. I was naked, I was doing this, I was making out with this person, I was having a threesome here, and I realized that was my position. Which is fine. I’m totally fine with that. It’s great. The more normal it is, the more it’s perceived as just an everyday way of being, the less scary it’s gonna be for girls, obviously.” So put this on your binge watch for the holidays. The beauty is breathtaking, and the storylines are, well, historic. With the holidays approaching faster than we are ready for, it’s time to focus on cooking shows. National Geographic can get you in the mood with Eat: The Story of Food, a three-day event starting Nov. 21 (it also repeats). We’re also in love with Master Chef Junior, where cooks between the ages of eight and 13 wow the Michelin-starred chefs. These kids are amazing. The boys all seem a bit gay (we’ll check back in five years), while the girls are all driven. Our money is on Oona as this season’s winner. The nine-year-old is a brilliant chef with a keener palate than the majority of adults. This girl is going to have her own restaurant before she hits puberty. It’s an extraordinary cooking contest because these are still kids, yet their level of food sophistication is something that we can all learn from (or be shamed by). If you are tempted to eat your way through the holidays as many of us have been known to do, we suggest checking out Showtime’s 7 Deadly Sins to see what happens when a woman eats her way to over 700 lbs. If it doesn’t send you running to the gym, seek help. Finally, Sesame Street turns 45 this month. Hard to believe, yet it’s true. Congratulations to the show that has raised consciousness for kids worldwide, not just about letters and words and the all-important manners, but about race, gender and sexual orientation. So for more hot gay sex on #TGIF, looking forward to Looking, bisexual ladies in waiting and calling out abuse where we see it, even when the stars are doing it, you know you really must stay tuned.t

WALT’S TRAINS NOV 13, 2014–FEB 9, 2015

ALL ABOARD

From Marceline to the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney’s fascination with trains influenced his personal life and work. Explore Walt’s railroading legacy with more than 200 artifacts, archival video, vintage photographs, and working model trains that will take you on a journey through Walt’s personal collection, Disney films, and theme park attractions from around the world. All Aboard: A Celebration of Walt’s Trains is produced by The Walt Disney Family Museum. Walt Disney, 1951; Collection of LOOK Magazine, photo by Earl Theisen; Courtesy of the Library of Congress; © Disney | The Walt Disney Family Museum® Disney Enterprises, Inc. | © 2014 The Walt Disney Family Museum | The Walt Disney Family Museum is not affiliated with Disney Enterprises, Inc.

A uniquely San Francisco Nutcracker.

DEC 12–29, 2014 Set here in our own “City by the Bay,” San Francisco Ballet’s magical production of Nutcracker has introduced audiences of all ages to the magnificent world of ballet. This holiday season, experience the beauty and athleticism of SF Ballet’s international cast of world-class dancers in Nutcracker, a San Francisco tradition since 1944.

BUY TICKETS TODAY! sfballet.org Lead Sponsors

Read more online at www.ebar.com

November 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 35

John Chaffee and Jason Chamberlain at Bret Harte Cabin, Big Oak Flat Road above Groveland, CA.

Gold Rush Gays

From page 33

We are fortunate that both people of the era (in diaries and letters) and modern writers have had much to say on the subject. One thing which seems clear from paintings and drawings of the 19th century is that there was a lot of same-sex dancing going on. Sometimes the participants didn’t even wait to get to California. In Peter Boag’s revealing book Re-Dressing America’s Frontier Past, he tells the story of George Dornin, who attended a “Fancy Dress Ball” that took place on board the S.S. Panama on July 4, 1849 while bound for San Francisco. Of the 220 passengers and crew, only four were women and only one was interested in the dance. So the younger smoothfaced men donned gowns. Although Dornin was not a good dancer, he was apparently quite popular. The party didn’t end when the miners got on dry land and started digging. In Susan Lee Johnson’s Roaring Camp: The Social World of the California Gold Rush, you can read about Scottish artist and writer J.D. Borthwick’s visit to a ball in Angel Camp in 1852. A fiddle and flute provided music for the dancers to perform “Ladies chain” and “Set to your partner.” Borthwick noted “the absence of ladies was a difficulty which was very easily overcome.” Men “who had a patch on a certain part of his inexpressibles” became a woman for the evening for the purposes of the dance. Some of these buffalo gals seemed quite popular. Borthwick told of a fellow Scot, a boy who performed the Highland fling, much to the delight of his audience. “If he had drunk all the men who then sought the honor of ‘treating’ him, he would have never lived to tread another measure.” Not all of the men who enjoyed each other’s company met in the mines, however. Johnson’s book tells the story of Jason Chamberlain and John Chaffee, who sailed together from Boston to California.

When they landed in San Francisco in July, 1849, Chamberlain was 27 and Chaffee was 25. Though they found work in San Francisco, they quickly caught gold fever and took off for the foothills within weeks. They settled in Groveland and lived together for over fifty years. Johnson tells us in the large amount of writing they left there is “no trace of intimate female companions.” John continued to dig for gold for the rest of his life, while Jason became a gardener. After the gold rush, their home became a way station on the route to Yosemite (established as a park in 1890). One visitor to their cabin referred to them as “wedded batchelors” (sic) and another forty-niner wrote in their guest book that “two characteristic ‘49ers’ whose attachment to each other has the true ‘Damon and Pythias’ ring, that touches sentiments so welcome” and goes on to say “may their ‘Golden Wedding’ to be celebrated in 1899 be a crowning event to their long history of hospitality.” Johnson tells us that they did reach that goal, as Chaffee noted in his diary. “This is Jubilee Number or 50 years together.” They remained together till Chaffee had to leave Chamberlain in 1903 for medical treatment in Oakland, where he died the same year. A guest book entry from the time says, “a love could not miss his sweetheart more.”

Campfire, girls

Life in the city was not nearly as idyllic as the lives of Chamberlain and Chaffee in the foothills. Boag’s book paints a rough and tumble world that had elements which we would identify as transgender today. Ferdinand Haisch was a carpenter who was known for going out in

Alan Hart, born Alberta Lucille

Jean Bonnet, frog catcher

Jack Garland

courtesy Sierra College Press

19th-century lumbersexuals? A group of shirtless Comstock miners in a vintage photo in J.S. Hollidays’ Rush to Riches: Gold Fever and the Making of California

women’s clothing in the 1890s after work. He enjoyed passing as a woman on the cable cars, but his notoriety got out of hand. By 1895 crowds gathered at his home to catch a glimpse of him, causing him on one occasion when they were particularly unruly to get on his roof and throw wood at the crowd to get them to disperse (the book doesn’t specify if he was in drag when he did this). There were people who used drag in their work as well. Charles Harrington was a female impersonator at a San Francisco saloon who was arrested in 1907 for coming on to two purportedly unsuspecting sailors while not on duty. The judge in the case warned, “I’ll let you go this time, but I warn you that in the future you must confine yourself strictly to the footlights and if you step down but for a brief space of a moment…I will go hard on you.” Boag notes this was “probably what the sailors had promised, too.” Boag’s book is also full of examples of women who dressed and lived as men during the era. One notorious example is Jeanne Bonnet, whose story is the inspiration for Emma Donoghue’s recent novel Frog Music. Bonnet was arrested repeatedly in the 1870s for dressing as a man, which she explained she did because she was a frog catcher and women’s apparel did not work for that job. She befriended a sex worker, Blanche Beunon, and enticed her into leaving her lover (and pimp). Bonnet and Beunon were in bed together in 1876 when shots rang out and Bonnet was killed in what is to this day an unsolved crime, though the pimp is suspected. Boag also recounts the story of another famous female to male cross-dresser, Jack Garland, also known as Babe Bean. Garland was born Elvira Virginia Mugarrieta in San Francisco in 1869, the daughter of the Mexican consul. Garland initially became known for dressing as a man in Stockton in 1897 and became a celebrity. He was hired by the Stockton Evening Mail as a writer and eventually stowed away on a steamer to the Philippines and became a male nurse in the SpanishAmerican War. Perhaps the most fascinating person in Boag’s book is Alan Hart, born Alberta Lucille. Hart’s father died when she was a child. From an early age he began to insist he was now the “man of the family.” Hart fell in love with Eva Cushman and moved with her to attend Stanford in 1910. From Stanford, he began making regular trips to San Francisco, visiting the Tenderloin and developing a relationship with a dance hall girl. Hart became a doctor and received treatments, including a hysterectomy to change sexes during the first decade of the twentieth century. Hart went on to become a doctor at San Francisco City Hospi-

tal, wrote four novels and was married twice.

Similsexualism

Aside from current authors who write about the history of gender variance in California and the Bay Area, one author who was writing about it at the time was Edward Prime-Stevenson. He was best known as an author of children’s books and a music critic for Harpers and The New York Independent, and wrote nonfiction about the gay world under the pseudonym Xavier Mayne. The Intersexes: a History of Similsexualism as a Problem in Social Life was privately published in Naples in 1908. In it he writes San Francisco is one of the homosexual capitals of America and notes “a special factor in homosexual uses of vapour-bath establishments (in the larger cities) is the fact that these are kept open, and much patronized, during the night hours.”

seeking sensationalism. This book was probably printed for his acquaintances. Aside from histories like Peter Boag’s and Susan Lee Johnson’s, and narratives like Edward PrimeStevenson’s, stories of gay life in San Francisco and California have been inspiring writers since the era of the Gold Rush.

Xavier Mayne’s The Intersexes: a History of Similsexualism as a Problem in Social Life

Susan Lee Johnson’s Roaring Camp: The Social World of the California Gold Rush

As Stevenson moved to Europe by 1900, we know from his book that the baths were active in the 19th century (a search of city directories from the 1890s reveals that there were more than 20 bathhouses at that time). Stevenson also let his reader know about soldiers and their sexual habits. “A garrison noted for its homosexual contingent has been that of San Francisco, California, where especially during the time of the sudden Spanish-American war excitement (1898) soldier-prostitution was so active that the ‘Presidio’ quarter was the regular goal of the philostrats [soldier lovers] of San Francisco. Amiable young soldiers were to be ‘had’ so plentifully that their tariffs fell to nominal prices and the lodgings of popular amateurs were fairly invaded.” We can be rather sure that Stevenson was accurate in his descriptions of life in San Francisco, as his book was privately printed in a limited run of 125 copies, so he was not

Peter Boag’s Re-Dressing America’s Frontier Past

Ambrose Bierce’s first story “The Haunted Valley,” written in 1871, featured what the Ambrose Bierce Project describes as a “transgendered love triangle.” Bret Harte’s “Tennessee’s Partner,” written in 1869, is thought by many to be inspired by the story of Jason Chamberlain and John Chaffee (who referred to one another as ‘Tennessee’ and ‘Pard’ after the story was published). The wide open nature of San Francisco has been well known since at least 1855, when the British adventure writer Frank Marryat referred to the city as “Sodom by the Sea” in his memoir. Keep in this in mind when you are out in the city having fun. Raise a glass to your LGBT ancestors who, more than 150 years ago, made this place into the city we love.t

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

36 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 20-26, 2014

Seasonal sensations by Donna Sachet

id we really say that the social season had slowed down? We are certainly eating our words now! Read on. The 40th year celebration of the Golden Gate Business Association continued the busy season of milestones. GGBA invited one and all to the War Memorial Opera House where drinks and nibbles were served in the opulent lobby. We socialized with a remarkably diverse group of attendees, including Steve Kawa, Deena Cartier, China Silk, Jason Fox Holstein, Jon Paul, Ron Ross, Bob Glas, Pat N Leather, Eve Volution, Fernando Robles, Savannah Summers, George Ridgely, and Veronika Fimbres. The acoustics, however, were not kind to the program, which included emcee Sergio Quintana of ABC-7 News, an inclusive speech by Ken McNeely, President of AT&T California, a warm introduction of the Mayor by Tom Horn, president of the Bob Ross Foundation, and an upbeat address from Mayor Ed Lee himself. We understand guests wanting to catch up on the latest news with each other, but let’s give attention to speakers when the program is going on! Nevertheless, it was a memorable celebration and living proof that an organization can remain strong and relevant after 40 years! The BOLD Awards were presented at the LGBT Community Center’s annual gala on Thursday and the Rainbow Room was packed! Among the attendees were Supervisor Scott Wiener, James Holloway & Greg Bjornstad, Camille Moran, Bertie Brouhard, Andrea Shorter, Randi Gerson, and Board of Directors Co-Chairs Rafael Mandelman and Amanda Keton. After a few drinks and some edibles, admiration and appreciation for Executive Director Rebeca Rolfe was quite evident as she started the program. Awards went to the very popular and civic-minded Juanita MORE!, Center stalwarts Rob Evans & Ter-

ry Micheau, the SF Human Rights Commission under the leadership of Teresa Sparks, and the #MyNameIs Facebook campaign team, accepted by courageous and vivacious Sister Roma. Amid the awards, some amazing real life stories were shared by young people whose lives had been changed by programs at the Center. Never underestimate the power of this building, its programs, and its personnel as resources for those new to town and searching for direction. Towards the end of the program, all former and current board members took the stage for a photo op and it became old home week for many reuniting there. After an impassioned plea led by Jody Cole, past active board member, for continued financial assistance to support the Center’s many programs, everyone adjourned upstairs for more liquid and solid nourishment, spilling onto the outdoor patio on a splendid San Francisco night. Then, another birthday party took center stage on Saturday night as Erin Lavery celebrated with family and friends at Balencoire on Mission Street with food, drink, and incredibly creative show. If you haven’t yet checked out this club, make it a point to go by; they serve food, welcome various special events, and aim to please. Of all the musical numbers that night, including those from Grand Duchess Roxie-Cotten Candy, Cockatielia, Kit Tapata, Kippy Marks, Ginger Snap, BeBe Sweetbriar, and John Weber, the showstopper was performed by Erin herself, as few have ever seen her… in a dress, wig, and make-up! As she blew out the candle on her birthday cake, she must have been overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and support. Happy Birthday, Erin! The following night, the Empresses of San Francisco united behind our Reigning Empress Misty Blue in a cavalcade of entertainment, representing the diversity of the Empresses and the power of a united effort. Once again, Balen-

BARtab

Tom Horn greets San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee at the GGBA 40th anniversary reception at the War Memorial Opera House.

Lesbian and gay business owners with GGBA board member Fred Sullivan (in the festive red paisley jacket).

coire was our host and the Imperial Family was out in force, including Mr. Gay Tyler Nelson, Kevin Lisle, CoCo Butter, Chad McLaughlin, Nathan Page, Keri Hanna, Tia Dora, and Keith & Gladys Bumps. And once again, money was raised while having a splendid time. Kudos to emcees Empresses Galilea and Renita Valdez and auctioneer Tiger Lily. While we’re eating our own words, we might as well offer proof that we indeed do not attend every event, no matter how serious our intentions. On Sunday, we missed the 50th Anniversary events of SF Night Ministry, starting with a service of thanksgiving at Grace Cathedral, followed by a reception at Gresham Hall, and ending with a sold-out banquet at the Delancey Street headquarters on the Embarcadero. This deeply committed organization provides solace to so many in the wee hours of the night and morning, offering a sympathetic ear, spiritual aid when requested, and the miraculous power of human touch. For its entire history, the Imperial Court of San Francisco has partnered with Night Ministry, attending each other’s events, sharing resources, and building personal relationships. We offer SF Ministry and its devoted ministers our heartiest congratulations on this milestone and pledge our continued support. Speaking of anniversaries, it is not too soon to plan to attend the 50th Anniversary Gala of the Imperial Court of San Francisco at City Hall on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015. Hundreds

of well-wishers from across the continent are expected to gather for this event, marking an unprecedented 50 years of continuous community service by an LGBT charitable organization. With the Bob Ross Foundation as our lead sponsor, this will be a no-holds-barred celebration with all the pageantry for which we are known. Imagine over 30 Emperors and Empresses descending the Grand Staircase of the Rotunda in City Hall. Cocktails, seated dinner, and an extended trailer from David Lassman’s film documentary currently in production, 50 Years of Fabulous, will be featured as well. And don’t worry; there will be touches of whimsy and humor in keeping with the tradition started by Jose Sarria nearly 50 years ago. Mark your calendars now for Imperial Coronation on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, at the Design Center and our 50th Anniversary Gala on Sunday, Feb. 15, at City Hall. Back to more immediate opportunities on the calendar; this Saturday kicks off the Mr. Cowboy/Miss Cowgirl contest, where entrants sell raffle tickets to win the title. Join the fun at Balencoire from 4-7PM with current Miss Cowgirl Piper Angelique. And later that evening, the Castro Theatre hosts Peaches Christ and Heklina’s High School Reunion, followed by a screening of Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion. Craziness is bound to ensue! Speaking of Heklina, we can’t wait for the much-anticipated opening of her new club at Folsom

The Empresses of San Francisco gathered at Balencoire.

and 10th Street! If anyone knows nightlife, entertainment, and how to please a crowd, it is Heklina! Watch for details of a New Year’s Eve Grand Opening in this column. As the month comes to an end, we remind you of several cherished annual events: On Sunday, Nov. 30, Light in the Grove draws supporters of the AIDS Memorial Grove to Golden Gate Park for a unique “evening of remembrance, renewal, and reunion.” This year, they honor Ken Henderson & Joe Seiler, the men behind the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation, providing quality entertainment while raising money for local AIDS related organizations for 20 years. What a fitting tribute! Monday, Dec. 1, gather in front of Bank of America in the Castro for the annual tree lighting, kicking off the season in this neighborhood with music from the Gay Men’s Chorus, the Lesbian/Gay Chorus, and the Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band. We are thrilled to host the festivities once again. Mon.-Wed., Dec. 1-3, our 22nd annual Songs of the Season ushers in the holidays with music and laughter at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel’s Franciscan Room. This benefit for AIDS Emergency Fund has become a tradition for many and a delight to all. On Saturday, Dec. 6, a brand new event called Believe: SF Nightlife Gives Back, the creation of Brian Kent and the folks at Beatbox. This unusual collaboration between many of the City’s bars, promoters, and evening personalities will support the Marines’ Toys for Tots Foundation, so bring an unwrapped toy and get ready for an epic evening. And Mon., Dec. 8, Richmond/ Ermet AIDS Foundation hosts Help is on the Way for the Holidays benefiting Maitri and Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS at Marines’ Memorial Theatre with Davis Gaines, La Toya London, Jai Rodriguez, Jason Brock, and members of the cast of Kinky Boots. More in the next column as the holiday season reaches a fevered pitch! Stay calm!t

Erin Lavery gets birthday cake at Balencoire.

Read more online at www.ebar.com

November 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 37

Sunday in the Park

‘Light in the Grove’ gala remembers and renews

by David-Elijah Nahmod

early 35 years after the first cluster of AIDS deaths was reported in the New York Times (“Rare Cancer Seen in 41 Homosexuals” July 3, 1981) the battle scars remain. Hundreds of thousands of young lives were snuffed out as entire circles of friends disappeared. While still not curable, AIDS become somewhat manageable, thought it still can cause fatalities. Survivors of the epidemic’s peak years are still here, standing proud, living there their lives. They still cry for lost loved ones. The National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park is a peaceful and beautiful garden which stands as a permanent remembrance of the lives lost. Amid the lush foliage and beautiful flowers are plaques that immortalize some of names of those who died. On November 30, the night before World AIDS Day, Light in the Grove: An Evening of Remembrance, Renewal and Reunion will take place at the Grove. John Cunningham, Executive Director of The National AIDS Memorial Grove, shared the history of the event and plans for this year’s gala.

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com Scott Finsthwait

Illuminated lanterns and performers (background) at a recent Light in the Grove gala.

Today the Grove continues to be a space where those living with HIV/ AIDS find peace and hope in this tranquil healing garden. A lot of the kids coming out today don’t realize the magnitude of the devastation that took place during the 1980s. As a memorial is about the “story” about what is being remembered the Grove is committed to ensuring that the lives of people who died of

Scott Finsthwait

A musician in a somber setting at a recent Light in the Grove gala.

David-Elijah Nahmod: What is the history of the Grove? John Cunningham: In 1991, after over ten thousand San Franciscans had been lost to AIDS, this ten acres this is a dedicated space in the national landscape where millions of Americans touched directly or indirectly by AIDS can gather to heal, hope and remember. Its mission is to provide, in perpetuity, a place of remembrance so that the lives of people who died from AIDS are not forgotten and the story is known by future generations. The idea for the memorial was first conceived in 1988 by a small group of San Francisco residents representing a community devastated by the AIDS epidemic, but with no positive way to express their collective grief. They envisioned a serene place where people could come alone or in groups to hold memorial services. It was to be a place dedicated to all lives touched by AIDS. The Grove’s board of directors obtained a 99-year renewable lease with the City of San Francisco to create and maintain the Grove.

415 370 7152

AIDS are not forgotten. To that end the Grove will again on World AIDS Day support the work of young people who continue the work of those who came before them through the Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship Program. At the age of 22, Zamora captivated the nation with his openness, compassion, vitality and charisma when he appeared on MTV’s The Real World: San Francisco (Zamora became ill during the airing of these episodes and died soon after). Scholarship recipients, past and present, are engaged in a wide variety of HIV related work both in schools as well as in their chosen academic field. What is the process by which names can be added to the Grove? Cunningham: Completed donations of $1,000 or more entitle you to inscribe one name in the Circle of Friends. Names are inscribed annually before our World AIDS Day commemoration on December 1. Recognizing that the donation required may be a barrier for many,

we’ve introduced the National AIDS Memorial Grove Engraving Assistance Program. By creating a partnership between those individuals with a demonstrated financial need with donors who have made designated matching donations expressly toward this new program, that individual is able to get a name engraved. Are there prayer/meditation groups which meet at the Grove? When may people stop in to pay their respects? The memorial is a public space open to all who seek a place to reflect upon that which has brought them there. Over the last several years, during times of national morning, following the school shooting in Sandy Hook for example, members of the greater Bay Area held a vigil at the Grove. This was not facilitated by the organization but instead was seen by many as the appropriate space to gather, as it is the only national memorial in San Francisco.

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What is proper decorum at the Grove? The Grove is a place for quiet contemplation and has been discovered by many as their favorite space in San Francisco. Each year over 40,000 individuals visit the memorial for a wide variety of purposes. What will this year’s Light In the Grove entail? Light in the Grove offers a metaphorical nighttime journey through darkness and light. A place of healing and hope, memories and magnificence. It offers a one of a kind experience in Golden Gate Park, an outdoor, transparently tented celebration with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and dinner. There will be music, performance, and brilliant displays of creative lighting throughout the Grove. Commemorating at dusk, guests wander reflectively through the spectacularly illuminated redwood Grove to a warmly lit tent. This event allows the Grove to support other AIDS service organizations. Project Inform and Shanti will be using the tent for their own purposes.t For tickets to Light In the Grove, or to support the Grove’s mission, visit: www.aidsmemorial.org

courtesy National AIDS Memorial Grove

The large transparent tent at a recent Light in the Grove gala.

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<< On the Tab

38 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 20-26, 2014

Rock Fag @ Hole in the Wall

Bf eON THE T–A 27 November 20

★

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

Magic Parlor @ Chancellor Hotel Whimsical Belle Epoque-style sketch and magic show that also includes historical San Francisco stories, is now in its third year; hosted by Walt Anthony; optional pre-show light dinner and desserts. $40. Thu-Sat 8pm. 433 Powell St. www.SFMagicParlor.com

Thump @ White Horse, Oakland Weekly electro music night with DJ Matthew Baker and guests. 9pm-2am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com

Sat 22 Artumnal Gathering @ Bentley Reserve

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge

Bootie SF @ DNA Lounge

Safeway Holiday Ice Rink @ Union Square

Celebrate eleven years of the weekly mash-up dance night, with resident DJs Adrian & Mysterious D. No matter the theme, a mixed fun good time's assured. $8-$15. 9pm-3am. 21+. 375 11th St. at Harrison. www.BootieSF. com www.DNAlounge.com

The seventh annual ice skating festivities, including special events, continues thru Jan 19. $7-$11. Skate rentals $6. Powell St. at Geary. 7812688. www.unionsquareicerink.com

La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland

The star of Broadway musicals (Wicked, Rent, Flower Drum Song, Godspell) and TV (Glee) performs songs from I'll Cover You, his new CD. Also Nov. 23. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (855) 636-4556. www.FeinsteinsSF.com www.ticketweb.com

DJed tunes, gogo hotties, drag shows, drink specials, all at Oakland's premiere Latin nightclub and weekly cowboy night. $10-$15. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

Club Rimshot @ Bench and Bar, Oakland Get groovin' at the weekly hip hop and R&B night. $8-$15. 9pm to 4am. 510 17th St. www.bench-and-bar.com

Telly Leung @ Feinstein's at the Nikko

Sun 23 Beer Bust @ Lone Star Saloon The ursine crowd converges for beer and fun. 4pm-8pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

The intimate groovy retro disco night with tunes spun by DJ Bus Station John. $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

Thu 20 Aguilas 20th @ Roccapulco The Latino/a LGBT HIV/AIDs prevention nonprofit celebrates two decades, with awards to notable local community members, with entertainment by Juanita More!, reception, music by Fuego Latino and DJ Pablo. $20 and up. 6pm-10pm. 3140 Mission St. www.sfaguilas.org

Bulge @ Powerhouse 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

Circle Jerk @ Nob Hill Theatre Muscled stud Casey Williams leads a very participatory event in the strip club's downstairs arcade. $10. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Club Yass @ City Nights Frisco Robbie presents a new 18+ LGBT weekly night, with live sets by guest performers, DJ TwistMix, with a Latin room up front, gogo guys and gals. $10. 9:30-3am. 546-7938. www.sfclubs.com

Curtis McMurtry @ Hotel Utah The Austin singer-songwriter with a dark lyric edge performs songs from his new folk-Americana album Respectable Enemy; Hook & Anchor headlines. $8-$10. 9pm. 500 4th St. www.curtismcmurtrymusic.com www.hotelutah.com

Fauxgirls @ Infusion Lounge The monthly dinner and drag show features Victoria Secret, Alexandria, Chanel, Mini Minerva, Kipper, Ruby LeBrowne, Lulu Ramirez, and Felicia LaMar and other talents. Dinner 7pm, show 8pm. Reservations: 421-8700. 124 Ellis St. www.fauxgirls.com

Goapele @ Yoshi's Oakland The beautiful vocalist performs music from her new CD Strong as Glass. $29-$42. 8pm & 10pm. Also Nov. 22 (7:30 & 9:30pm), Nov. 23 (7pm). 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

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

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

The Monster Show @ The Edge Cookie Dough's weekly drag show with gogo guys and hilarious fun. Nov. 20: Mariah Carey tribute night, and Erich Lopez's birthday. $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

My So-Called Night @ Beaux Heklina hosts a new weekly '90s-themed video, dancin', drinkin' night, with VJs Jorge Terez and Becky Knox. Get down with your funky bunch, and enjoy 90-cent drinks! '90s-themed attire and costume contest. No cover. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Nap's Karaoke @ Virgil's Sea Room Sing out loud at the weekly least judgmental karaoke in town, hosted by the former owner of the bar. No cover. 9pm. 3152 Mission St. 8292233. www.virgilssf.com

Pan Dulce @ The Cafe Amazingly hot Papi gogo guys, cheap drinks and fun DJed dance music. Free before 10pm. $5 til 2am. 2369 Market St. www.clubpapi.com www.cafesf.com

Pussy Party @ Beaux Women's happy hour, with all-women music and live performances, 2 for 1 drinks, and no cover. 5pm-9am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Freddy Cole @ Feinstein's at the Nikko

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle The weekly live rock shows feature local and touring bands. 9pm-ish. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.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 21 Society Cabaret presents the actorsinger's autobiographical cabaret show. $20. 8pm. 562 Sutter St. www.SocietyCabaret.com

Happy Friday @ Midnight Sun The popular video bar ends each work week with gogo guys (starting at 9pm) and drink specials. Check out the new expanded front lounge, with a window view. 4067 18th St. 8614186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Hardbox @ Powerhouse Gehno Aviance and Guy Ruben's monthly cruisy groovy night, with martial arts demos; sports gear encouraged. $5. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Manimal @ Beaux Gogo-tastic night starts off your weekend. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

The male burlesque and drag show (featuring Bebe Sweetbriar) returns, with a 'Vegas Heat' theme. $25-$40. 7:30pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 3976758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

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

Sat 22 The Burning Man Arts Foundation's annual gala fundraiser and festival of food, wine, performance and creativity. $300-and-up dinner, 6pm; $40-$60 party, 9:45pm. 400 Sansome St. www.burningmanproject.org

Fuego @ The Watergarden, San Jose

edgeoneth

Show Boys @ Nob Hill Theatre

Artumnal Gathering @ Bently Reserve

The jazz legend performs with his band. $40-$55. 8pm. Also Nov. 21. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.ticketweb.com

Christopher M. Nelson @ Hotel Rex

Gershwin's Gold @ Hotel Rex Society Cabaret presents a musical showcase with a trio of singers (Jill Gould, Michael Scott Wells, Danielle Debow and pianist G. Scott Lacy) performing classic songs by George and Ira Gershwin. $25-$45. 8pm. 562 Sutter St. 857-1896. www.SocietyCabaret.com

Manhole @ 60 Sixth Gus Presents' new dark and dirty downstairs party, with cruisy areas, house DJs Frank Wild and Andrew Gibbons. $20.10pm-6am. 60 Sixth St. www.guspresents.com

Weekly event, with Latin music, halfoff locker fees and Latin men, at the South Bay private men's bath house. $8-$39. Reg hours 24/7. 18+. 1010 The Alameda. (408) 275-1215. www.thewatergarden.com

Beer Bust @ Hole in the Wall Saloon Beer only $8 until you bust. 4pm-8pm. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Peaches and Heklina's High School Reunion @ Castro Theatre

Funny Fun @ Club 21, Oakland

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle

Peaches Christ and Heklina's drag preshow and screening of Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion. $30$65. 8pm. 429 Castro St. 621-6120. www.castrotheatre.com

New weekly LGBT and straight comedy night hosted by Dan Mires. $10. 8pm. 2111 Franklin St. Oakland. (510) 2689425. www.club21oakland.com

Thu 20 Goapele @ Yoshi’s Oakland

The classic leather bar's most popular Sunday daytime event now also takes place on Saturdays! 3pm-6pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.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

Beer Bust @ SF Mix The popular Castro bar hosts its weekly softball team beer bust fundraiser. 3pm-7pm. 4086 18th St. 431-8616. www.sfmixbar.com

Big Top @ Beaux Joshua J.'s homo disco circus night returns, now weekly, with guest DJs and performers, hotty gogo guys and drink specials. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.BeauxSF.com

Brunch @ Hi Tops Enjoy crunchy sandwiches and mimosas, among other menu items, at the popular sports bar. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

On the Tab>>

Brunch Sundays @ Balancoire Weekly live music shows with various acts, along with brunch, mimosas, champagne and more, at the stylish nightclub and restaurant. 2565 Mission St. at 21st. 920-0577. www.balancoiresf.com

Diva @ White Horse, Oakland Ana Mae Coxxx hosts the drag show, with sevel talents. $5. 9:30pm. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com

GlamaZone @ The Cafe 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

Jock @ The Lookout The weekly jock-ular fun continues, with special sports team fundraisers. 3pm-7pm. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

November 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 39

Mon 24 Cock and Bull Mondays @ Hole in the Wall Saloon Specials on drinks made with Cock and Bull ginger ale (Jack and Cock, Russian Mule, and more). 8pmclosing. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Drag Mondays @ The Cafe Mahlae Balenciaga and DJ Kidd Sysko's weekly drag and dance night. 9pm-1am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Epic Karaoke @ White Horse, Oakland Mondays and Tuesdays popular weekly sing-along night. No cover. 8:30pm-1am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com

Name That Beat @ Toad Hall

Queer Salsa @ Beatbox

BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly musical trivia challenge and drag show. 8:30-11:30pm. 4146 18th St. at Castro. www.toadhallbar.com

Weekly Latin partner dance night. 8pm-1am. 314 11th St. www.beatboxsf.com

No No Bingo @ Virgil's Sea Room

Rainbow Skate @ Redwood Roller Rink

Mica Sigourney and Tom Temprano cohost the wacky weekly game night at the cool Mission bar. 8pm. 3152 Mission St. www.virgilssf.com

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

Underwear Night @ 440

Thu 20 Curtis McMurtry @ Hotel Utah

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

Dee Dee Simon @ Yoshi's Oakland The soulful singer performs her Bobby Brown/Whitney Houston tribute concert. $25-$30. 8pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey's

Horn of Plenty

EDGE serves up a feast of LGBT news, entertainment and hot photos!

henet.com Liquid Brunch @ Beaux No cover, no food, just drinks (Mimosas, Bloody Marys, etc.) and music. 2pm-9pm. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Salsa Sundays @ El Rio Salsa dancing for LGBT folks and friends, with live merengue and cumbia bands; tapas and donations that support local causes. 2nd & 4th Sundays. 3pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.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

Unicorn @ Powerhouse The monthly visual and performing arts potpourri at the cruisy bar, with DJ Sergio Fedasz. $5. 6pm-10pm. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Irish Dance Night @ Starry Plough, Berkeley Weekly dance lessons and live music at the pub-restaurant, hosted by John Slaymaker. $5. 7pm. 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. www.thestarryplough.com

Karaoke @ The Lookout Paul K hosts the amateur singing night. 8pm-2am. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.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

Monday Musicals @ The Edge The casts of local and visiting musicals often pop in to perform at the popular Castro bar's musical theatre night. 7pm-2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pmclosing. 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gay-friendly comedy night. Nov. 4: Jason Stuart headlines. one-drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com

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 3pm5:30pm. $10. Kids 12 and under $5. Skate rentals $5. 554 Fillmore St at Fell. www.churchof8wheels.com

Ink & Metal @ Powerhouse Show off your tattoos and piercings at the weekly cruisy SoMa bar night. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Meow Mix @ The Stud The weekly themed variety cabaret showcases new and unusual talents; MC Ferosha Titties. $3-$7. Show at 11pm. 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.studsf.com

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre Strip down at the strip joint while onstage strippers entertain. $20 includes refreshments. 8pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Piano Bar @ Beaux Singer extraordinaire Jason Brock hosts the weekly night, with your talented host –and even you– singing. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Showdown @ Folsom Foundry

Women's burlesque show performs each Wed & Fri. Karaoke follows. $5-$10. 7pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com

Wed 26 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

Bromance @ Beaux DJ Kidd Sysko spins tunes for the bro-tastic midweek night, with $2 beer pitchers, beer pong, $1 shots served by undie-clad guys. It's like a frat house without the closet cases. 8:30-10pm. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Dare 2 Bare @ Club OMG New weekly underwear night includes free clothes check, no cover, and drink specials. 9pm-2am. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Follies and Dollies @ White Horse, Oakland Dragtastic East Bay monthly event hosted by Ana Mae Coxxx. $5. 9:30pm1am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 6523820. www.whitehorsebar.com

Good Times @ Bench and Bar, Oakland Olga T and Shugga Shay's weekly queer women and men's R&B hip hop and soul night at the new location. No cover. 8pm-2am. 2120 Broadway. www.bench-and-bar.com

Michel'le @ Yoshi's Oakland The talented R&B vocalist performs a concert of classic hits; a portion of proceeds benefit Crisis Support Services of Alameda County. $26-$54 (VIP meet & greet). 8pm & 10pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

Miss Kitty's Trivia Night @ Wild Side West The weekly fun night at the Bernal Heights bar includes prizes, hosted by Kitty Tapata. No cover. 7pm-10pm. 424 Cortland St. 647-3099. www.wildsidewest.com

Open Mic/Comedy @ SF Eagle Kollin Holts hosts the new weekly comedy and open mic talent night. 6pm-8pm. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Watch newbies get nude, or compete yourself for a $200 prize. Audience picks the winner. $20. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 3976758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

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

Trivia Night @ Harvey's BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly night of trivia quizzes and fun and prizes; no cover. 8pm-1pm. 500 Castro St. 4314278. www.harveyssf.com

Way Back @ Midnight Sun 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

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

Wrangler Wednesday @ Rainbow Cattle Company, Guerneville The Russian River bar's country music night attracts cowboys and those who like to ride 'em. 8pm-1am. 16220 Main St., Guerneville. (707) 869-0206. www.queersteer.com

Thu 27

[Some venues will be closed for Thanksgiving; check in advance]

The Monster Show @ The Edge Cookie Dough's weekly drag show with gogo guys. Special Thanksgiving Muppets, Avenue Q music tribute, and Roxy-Cotton Candy's birthday. $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com Want your nightlife event listed? Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event. Event photos welcome.

Steven Underhill

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

Red Hots Burlesque @ El Rio

Rookies Night @ Nob Hill Theatre

Tue 25 Bombshell Betty & Her Burlesqueteers @ Elbo Room

Weekly LGBT and friends skate night, with groovy disco music and themed events. $9. 8pm10:30pm. 1303 Main Street, Redwood City. www.rainbowskate.net www.facebook.com/ rainbowskating

Weekly game night for board and electronic gamers at the warehouse multi-purpose nightclub. 21+. 6pm12am. 1425 Folsom St. www.showdownesports.com

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

Trivia Night @ Hi Tops Play the trivia game at the popular new sports bar. 9pm. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Fri 21

Show Boys @ Nob Hill Theatre

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

40 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 20-26, 2014

Appy Trails

From page 34

version of ManHunt that functions as a phone app. Here in the Bay Area, the tech community is being blamed for the abrupt cultural changes. Gay bars are closing, only to be replaced by techie-hipster-filled patrons and fans of artisinal cocktails and reclaimed wood.

And while men in the U.S. may be more out, in some countries, the Dandy app, which has a G-rated appearance, is popular in countries like Korea, where Segel said many users are closeted and still live with their families. Some other users don’t define themselves as gay, but have sex with men. Jack’d is in 16 languages and picks up from the user’s setting. Manhunt has eleven language options. “There is discrimination, from families, from employers,” said Segel of his company’s international users. “If they’re outed, they may not get promoted, or they can get fired. So an app like Dandy is a safer option.” Safer as well in content, since Apple was a bit prudish with profile photos for the app version of ManHunt. “Prudish is a polite term,” said Segel. “Google is, too; no adult content, and they’re only allowing a certain amount of semi-nudity on profiles for phone apps.” Android is also censorious. “We’re proud to have been thrown off of both platforms,” Segel said with a laugh. “Apple and Google own these particular playgrounds, and they have instituted rules that they feel make it fair,” said Segel. “I think their rules are subjective and not representative of what people want. I should be able to make these decisions. If I had a child, I would take precautions. But nowadays, it seems parents don’t do the work, and they need Manhunt for your phone Apple and the government to tell them what they can see. It’s unfortunate.” Even online, while an antigay atSegel noted ways that his comtitude may not be prevalent, a gaypany has dodged such restructions. dismissive or sex-absent tone seems “For people who use Jack’d, they to pervade the perspective of the don’t post nude pictures, but they new Silicon Valley. can trade them. With ManHunt, ev“I happen to think it goes up to the erybody was used to doing that first. higher levels of corporate culture,” We found Manhunt users would said Segel, citing Facebook’s restricopenly share nude photos, but share tive image and content policies. face pictures privately. So, to change Aspects of the closet versus living that behavior to fit into the Apple openly also find a vector in dating paradigm? It didn’t work. They and hookup applications. Another don’t want to do it.” company’s app, Grindr, has been in So, instead, users can go to a web

the news headlines for stories about a U.K. man who lured closeted gay men to his home, only to blackmail them for money. In Egypt, police have been using the hook-up app to entrap gay men and arrest them. And in Pakistan, a man who killed three men he contacted via the U.K.-based ManJam was said in an Associated Press article as having violently antigay beliefs. Apps can be blamed for such targeted actions, but such violence and oppression has been going on for decades offline as well. Segel said he hopes users are sensible and careful, and also know the risks of negotiating with complete strangers. Thus, the appeal of Dandy provides a real profile of a hopefully nice person. As for sex and STD risks, Segel was asked about the elective designation in profiles about HIV status. “That’s a criticism about what we’ve had on Manhunt for a while,” said Segel. “Sometime people think you shouldn’t be asking that, or you should demand that. We don’t have that on Jack’d, but I notice users are adding that. What I’m noticing now is that more men are adding profile information about taking PrEP. I’m all for sharing information, in advance, so you know for yourself what you’re getting into. Many people seem not ashamed to do that anymore.” And what of the future of cruising? Asked about the evolutionary arc of apps and cruising, Segel referenced the olden days of phone sex and travel guides with noted cruise areas. In many ways, cruising is still about real space. Segel found in member surveys that many men settle for a guy they’re less attracted to if he’s at a closer location. “If things develop, who knows? It might be Google Glass, a watch, even a chip in your head,” he chuckled. “It would be fun and interesting, but it still won’t guarantee a connection.”t Find more info on Dandy at: www.online-buddies.com/ products/dandy/

World at your fingertips

or travelers, the classic worldwide travel Spartacus Guide has an app that’s downloadable. Dirk Baumgartl, Editor in Chief of Spartacus Traveler, recently shared updates on the global travel guide’s increased features. Available on both iPhone and Android platforms, the app has more than 160 countries with 15,000 updated venue listings. “You can use it offline,” said

The Spartacus travel app

Baumgartl of the ‘native app,’ which is helpful for travelers who may not be able to easily get a signal when traveling, “if they don’t want to pay a lot from their data plan,” said Baumgartl. Simply download a region to your phone from the Spartacus website, and you can find locations wherever you’re traveling. The $7 annual subscription includes global listings, user reviews,

editorial reviews of major venues, with photos, and up to date hotel information. Available in five languages (English, French, Italian, Spanish and German), the app, like the expansive guidebook, provide current information on bars, restaurants, hotels, bookstores and bath houses worldwide.t Download the app on itunes.apple.com

Read more online at www.ebar.com

November 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 41

Wild horses by John F. Karr

orse Play is one of the last, if not the very last movie produced by Hot House before it was subsumed within the immense porn conglomerate I think of as Raging Hot Falcon. And when the weather turned cold last week, and the rain came, I was glad to snuggle up to director Christian Owen’s four warm scenes of hot guys in outdoor, summertime action. In the first scene, Armond Rizzo wrestles on the lawn with David Lambert, before the compact cupcake with the capacious cooze opens it up ever so wide for David. I’m sure they were conscientious voters, but as Lambert works his tongue, digits and nice cock upon Armond’s hole, I’m sure neither of them is considering whether they’re on grass or artificial turf. While the scene doesn’t take into account Rizzo’s size in relation to Lambert, it does demonstrate that in both sucking his pal and getting fucked by him, size is no challenge for Rizzo. Like most of the guys in Horse Play, Lambert has only a sprinkling of pubic hair, a shadow above his cock. This seems to be house style for Horse Play. I like it; I like even better a completely shaved groin, since I go for anything that sets off a cock. If you don’t like that clipped look, this might not be the movie for you. There’s a threeway in which Brandon Jones and clean-cut Dylan Knight give Mike De Marko a spit roasting under a roasting sun that has them all shiny with sweat. Following this, Connor Maguire gives Ray Han an energetic fuck. They’re both uncut, as are the majority of guys in the film, although at no time is the presence of foreskin dwelt upon. Finally, in this otherwise not more than amiable movie, there’s a scene good enough to be sought out. Steve Stiffer, with an easy, late-teenage ap-

HotHouse HotHouse

Logan Vaughn and Steve Stiffer in Horse Play.

peal, sucks his own cock. Rather successfully, too, especially considering that his dick is more stout than it is long. A decent amount of time and some good camera angles are devoted to this, until Logan Vaughn arrives. Aha! Here’s the shaved crotch I’ve been slavering for. Vaughn’s also got a sharp tan line, and is getting more buff with every movie. He smiles a lot. He’s delish. Especially when bouncing on Stiffer’s stiffness, which makes him cum with Stiffer still agitating inside him. Dirty Fuckers is the first Hot House movie produced within its new home at Raging Hot Falcon. A press release assures us the particular Hot House identity will be maintained, even as the merge makes an Exclusive performer at any single company within RHF available to all. How Exclusive is that? With the same stars, the same crew, and a rotating bunch of directors, the product runs the risk of being all the same (if it isn’t already). Meanwhile, however duplicative the boutique brands are among RHF, I’m grateful the product within this First Family of Fuck Films is of a constant good quality. And I wasn’t at all adverse to Dirty Fuckers, which doesn’t veer from jock clad studs sucking, rimming and fucking. There’s no kissing (not until everyone’s cum, at any rate), and there’s neither chit-chat nor introductory set ups. When a scene starts, a steamy session is in full swing. Dirty Fuckers launches with a pair of

scenes featuring sizzler Johnny V. In the first, Johnny’s with Sean Zevran, whose personality is pretty fierce without being standoffish. And he’s a looker, with a creamy, light brown complexion, on skin so taut over a body that’s a slab of muscle. Sean throws Johnny a rocky fuck, as Johnny yelps for more. Johnny’s cock is hard, his body’s a beaut, and what’s left of his clipped pubes glistens like gold, a shimmering cock wreath. He looks especially striking wearing an orange jock strap and orange gym shoes in the second scene. His partner now is Jimmy Duran, who’s never given me enough personality to make me a fan, although he’s a hard worker, and you can’t deny his attractiveness (and who is, I’m told, director Christian Owen’s boyfriend; please don’t take my word for it). Since Johnny’s the current It Boy, it’s not strange that he has two scenes. It does seem strange that they’re placed back to back, begging comparison. My preference is for Sean with Johnny, but there’s really nothing to criticize in the Duran scene. They’re much the same, Johnny loud and wildly receptive, while an unyielding, poker faced top pumps away. I’m out of room to detail scenes featuring Tommy Defendi giving Brian Bonds an inflatable dildo and a hard fuck, and a Jimmy Durano encore scene, in which he gives newish, slightly rugged Ivan Gregory, a conventional, but by no means small dildo. There’s a fierce face-fucking before a sturdy Durano fuck, resulting in much cum from Ivan’s curtained cock, to which Jimmy D adds a fair amount of his own.t www.HotHouse.com

HotHouse

A newish, rough-hewn bottom, Ivan Gregory, in Dirty Fuckers.

Karr’s preferred pairing in Dirty Fuckers— Johnny V. and Sean Zevran.

Armond Rizzo doesn’t stay on top of David Lambert for long in Horse Play.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

42 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 20-26, 2014

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Shooting Stars

November 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 43

photos by Steven Underhill Project Nunway

ashion innovations galore were showcased on the catwalk at the sixth (666) annual Project Nunway show. With couture gowns made from recycled materials by an array of local designers, including teen wonder Matt Sarafa, the packed audience reveled in the array of gowns, and even some kinky leather men and canine-costumed hunks. Sister Roma and Peaches Christ co-emceed the event, and a bevy of local celebs served as judges, including the dashing Sergio Quintana of ABC7 News. Sister Jezebel won the contest portion, but all participants won the ultimate challenge of rising to new heights of style, even while on all fours. For more information about The Sisters, visit www.thesisters.org 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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