December 14, 2017 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

LGBTs react to Mayor Lee's death

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Vol. 47 • No. 50 • December 14-20, 2017

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee dies at 65

Rick Gerharter

Mayor Ed Lee

by Seth Hemmelgarn

S

an Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee died suddenly Tuesday, December 12 at the age of 65. While the news shocked city officials, residents, and political leaders around the region, many LGBTs and allies praised his efforts to help the community, especially people living with HIV and AIDS. Mr. Lee died at 1:11 a.m. after falling ill

Bloody scene described in murder case by Seth Hemmelgarn

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gay San Francisco man faced a hearing this week in which authorities alleged he brutally killed another man, leaving a bloody scene and stealing thousands of dollars from the victim, who Defendant had cancer. Michael John Phil- Michael John lips, 64, has been Phillips charged in the August death of James Sheahan, 75, a gay man whose body was found in his Nob Hill studio apartment. Prosecutors and police say surveillance footage shows Phillips repeatedly coming and going from Sheahan’s building in the hours after he was last seen alive, at times carrying Sheahan’s belongings with him. Video also shows Phillips trying unsuccessfully to use Sheahan’s ATM card, and authorities suggested he forged numerous checks from Sheahan to himself. Phillips’ attorney noted that with such a See page 2 >>

Rick Gerharter

Acting Mayor London Breed addressed reporters at a City Hall news conference Tuesday, following the sudden death of Mayor Ed Lee.

at about 10 p.m. Monday while shopping at the Safeway on Monterey Boulevard. He was rushed to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Dr. Susan P. Ehrlich, the hospital’s CEO, said Tuesday at a City Hall news conference. Several news outlets are reporting that Mr. Lee had a heart attack. Ehrlich said that Mr. Lee’s family “has asked that we share no further medical information at this time,” but the medical examiner’s

office will perform an investigation. Board of Supervisors President London Breed, who was sworn in as acting mayor immediately after Mr. Lee’s death, recalled at the news conference how, like her, Mr. Lee had grown up in public housing. On his way to becoming the city’s first Asian-American mayor, he worked as an attorney at the Asian Law Caucus, where he helped protect people from evictions. Among

other posts, he then served as the city administrator before the Board of Supervisors appointed him mayor in 2011 after then-Mayor Gavin Newsom left to become the state’s lieutenant governor. Breed said that Mr. Lee, who was “surrounded by his family and by his friends” when he died, “lived a life of service cut far too short,” and he was “an advocate See page 19 >>

Roem wows SF LGBT crowd by Cynthia Laird

D

anica Roem, the transgender woman who made history last month when she defeated an anti-LGBT state lawmaker in her race for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, received an exuberant welcome from community leaders during her first visit to San Francisco. At a reception and campaign fundraiser at Beaux in the Castro, Sunday, December 10 Roem, wearing her trademark rainbow scarf, patiently posed for selfies with well-wishers and talked about the historic nature of her victory. In the November 7 election, Roem became the first out transgender person to win and serve in a state legislature and the only out transgender state legislator in the U.S. During a brief interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Roem said she will be sworn in January 10, and looks forward to working with her legislative colleagues on a variety of issues. “I want to support hate crimes and health care issues,” Roem said. She also plans to tackle infrastructure problems, which were a signature of her campaign. A former journalist, Roem said that she will fight to pass freedom of information request legislation and a shield law for journalists in the commonwealth, which does not have such protections. Shield laws protect reporters’ privilege, which includes such things as the right to refuse to testify as to sources of information. Roem, 33, a Democrat, was a political novice when she entered the race for the 13th Delegate District, which includes Prince George County

Rick Gerharter

Virginia Delegate-elect Danica Roem (D), gave a thumbs up during a reception Sunday, December 10 at Beaux in the Castro as she was greeted by San Francisco Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, left, and Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco).

and Manassas Park City. The longtime incumbent, Delegate Bob Marshall (R), waged a bitter fight and tried to make the race about Roem’s trans identity, including misgendering her. Campaign mail and TV ads attacked Roem. Those attacks were one of a “whole list” of things that happened during the campaign that made Roem realize she would win the race, she said. “We decided early on that when hit with a negative, I’d flip the script,” Roem said during her remarks, adding that young trans children living in the district “deserve representation, too.”

{ FIRST OF THREE SECTIONS }

The House of Delegates has made one change in the wake of Roem’s impending arrival at the Statehouse. It was recently reported that lawmakers would be addressed with the gender-neutral title “delegate” instead of “gentlelady” or “gentleman.” “It was the right thing for the wrong reason,” Roem told the B.A.R., referring to stories that said the change was made so that conservative lawmakers wouldn’t have to refer to Roem as a woman. See page 18 >>

<< Community News

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 14-20, 2017

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‘Santas’ bare (almost) all

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ith the tagline “Drop trou, raise funds, fight HIV,” hundreds of people took part in this year’s Santa Skivvies Run Sunday, December 10 in the Castro. Joining in the fun run was the Mistlebros, one of the participating groups whose members included sprigs of mistletoe on their skivvies. More than 230

EXPLORE THE GAY WORLD

people participated, including a dad pushing his child in a stroller the length of the run and a drag queen on a Segway. It was all an effort at holiday hilarity and raised more than $77,000 for San Francisco AIDS Foundation programs and services that serve 25,000 city residents annually.

Ex-hate crimes prosecutor out from DA’s office

by Seth Hemmelgarn

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former San Francisco hate crimes prosecutor accused of withholding evidence in several cases has left the district attorney’s office. The San Francisco Chronicle reported last week that Benjamin Mains, who at one point oversaw cases that included anti-LGBT bias, was fired from the DA’s office. Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the DA, told the Bay Area Reporter that Mains “no longer works here,” but he said he couldn’t discuss the circumstances because it’s “a personnel matter.” In June, Public Defender Jeff Adachi filed a complaint with the state bar association against Mains, following that up in August with a letter to state Attorney General Xavier Becerra in which he said, “Mr. Mains’ conduct represents an egregious pattern of withholding evidence which violates our clients’ fundamental right to a fair trial.” In his complaint to the state bar, Adachi highlighted five cases in which

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Rick Gerharter

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Benjamin Mains

Mains had been involved. In a residential burglary case stemming from 2014, Mains had failed to provide the defense with a report that stated a DNA profile developed from gloves left at the scene excluded the defendant as a major contributor, according to Adachi. Adachi said that in an attempted murder case that originated in 2015,

Murder

From page 1

gruesome scene, one would expect Phillips to be covered in blood, but authorities haven’t found any blood on his belongings. The medical examiner’s office hasn’t determined the cause of death, but Sheahan had reportedly been hit in the head, and a broken knife was found in his apartment. Phillips, who was arrested November 22 and is in custody on $3 million bail, has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, first-degree robbery, inflicting injury on an elder or dependent adult, manufacture or possession of fraudulent financial documents, and receiving or buying stolen property. At Phillips’ preliminary hearing Monday, San Francisco police Sergeant Domenico Discenza said a caregiver told him that she’d last seen Sheahan alive just after 4 p.m. August 11. Sheahan’s body was found August 14. Discenza said that when he went to Sheahan’s second-floor apartment at 969 Bush Street on August 15, his body had been removed, but there was blood spatter and smeared blood in several places. A broken knife was in the kitchen, with the blade in a knife block and the handle in the sink, along with “a small drop of diluted blood,” Discenza said

Courtesy Facebook

Victim James Sheahan

under questioning by Assistant District Attorney Michael Swart. A bucket and yellow gloves were by Sheahan’s couch, along with tissue that had been used in an effort to clean up the blood. Discenza said medical examiner’s staff initially thought Sheahan, who reportedly had superficial cuts on his wrists, had killed himself. Discenza testified that Jacqueline Buckley, a friend of Sheahan’s, told him that a man named “Mike” had asked to borrow $2,000 from him, but Sheahan declined after several people told him not to. The police sergeant said that when he first called Phillips August 17 after seeing his business card in Sheahan’s apartment, Phillips told him that he didn’t know Sheahan had died. Discenza said that a Wells Fargo bank worker told him someone had tried unsuccessfully to use Sheahan’s

Mains had withheld DNA evidence that supported the defendant’s claim of self-defense. “Efforts to urge the San Francisco District Attorney to criminally investigate” the alleged problems with Mains “has fallen on deaf ears,” Adachi said in his letter to Becerra. “... My understanding is that they have elected not to conduct a criminal investigation of his wrongdoing.” Mains, a straight ally, didn’t respond to a Facebook message from the Bay Area Reporter. After being admitted to the state bar in 2010, Mains joined the DA’s office in January 2016. He took over the hate crime unit that spring. In the last few months of this year, he had been prosecuting domestic violence cases. Jonah Lamb, a spokesman for the state bar association, said last week that he couldn’t confirm or deny whether the agency was investigating Mains. The agency’s website says that Mains “has no public record of discipline” or “administrative actions.”t

ATM card at a branch near Sheahan’s apartment at about 12:04 p.m. on August 12. Images from the bank’s surveillance system show Phillips at the ATM at that time, Discenza testified. Footage from the lobby of Sheahan’s building that day shows Phillips repeatedly walking in and out over the course of several hours, said Discenza. The first time, he appeared to get buzzed into the building, but after that, he used a key. Some of the footage, which was played in court, shows Phillips wearing gloves and carrying a bag. On his last trip that day, he walked out carrying a white file box, Discenza testified. The next day, August 13, Phillips returned to Sheahan’s building and looked inside a mailbox. He left that day carrying “a white banker’s box,” paper towels, and what appeared to be a piece of artwork from Sheahan’s apartment, said Discenza.

Checks revealed

Phillips was arrested after police stopped his car November 22. Discenza said that when he executed a search warrant at Phillips’ Richmond district home that day, there was a check from Sheahan to Phillips for $2,000, along with photocopies of checks from Sheahan that had been deposited after he was killed. See page 18 >>

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©2017 AbbVie Inc.

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MAVYRETTM (MAV-ih-reht) (glecaprevir and pibrentasvir) tablets, for oral use

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Patient Information

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29 Nov 2017 1:13 PM

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Community News>>

December 14-20, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

Horizons hands out $500K in community grants by Charlie Wagner

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orizons Foundation awarded over $500,000 in community issue grants to 42 projects and organizations at a breakfast held Tuesday, December 12, at the Westin St. Francis hotel. Recipients include organizations from all nine Bay Area counties. Most funding came from Horizons’ LGBTQ Community Endowment Fund. The grantees are in diverse categories including the arts, advocacy and civil rights, health and human services, community building and leadership, and programs that focus on youth, the elderly, immigration, trans rights, LGBTQ history, and capacity building. Horizons received 92 grant applications this year. As Horizons board Chair Richard Davis-Lowell noted, “Our goal is to improve lives and celebrate uniqueness by awarding grants funded by and for our community.” Horizons estimates its total 2017 grants will be approximately $2.6 million, a substantial increase from last year’s $2.08 million. The 2017 total includes grants of $500,000 from the Global Faith and Equality Fund, $100,000 from Give OUT Day, $130,000 for scholarships, and approximately $1.3 million in donoradvised funds. Only community issue and Give OUT funds are distributed on specific dates. Community issue grant guidelines target 60 percent for LGBTQ-specific organizations and 40 percent for organizations with specific LGBTQ programs, arts, or cultural projects. Within the community issue grants, the increased-giving program aims to help organizations with budgets of $1 million or more to grow their own donor pools. The six increased-giving grant recipients were Positive Resource Center, Q Foundation, GLBT Historical Society, Rainbow Community Center

Charlie Wagner

Representatives of organizations that received grants from the Horizons Foundation gathered at a breakfast Tuesday in San Francisco.

of Contra Costa County, the Lavender Youth and Recreation Information Center, and the Pacific Center for Human Growth in Berkeley. Some awardees were described as “extremely small” organizations by Scott Walton, senior communications manager for Horizons. He said grants supporting general operating funds especially help smaller organizations. These grants also express Horizons’ confidence that “they know best how to serve their mission,” Walton said. Officials said they saw changes this year in the applications, which for most grants ranged between $10,000 and $15,000. “We noticed new themes in the grant applications this year – resist and rebuild,” said Francisco Buchting, vice president of grants, programs, and strategic initiatives. “Even artists are resisting by telling our stories.” Roger Doughty, Horizons president, opened the formal program with a brief tribute to Mayor Ed Lee, who died early that morning, and asked for a moment of silence after noting Lee was the first Asian-American mayor of the city. 9.75 in. Doughty introduced several grant recipients as part of the program,

starting with the Tenderloin Museum, represented by Executive Director Katie Conry. She presented a short film that included a portion of the 2005 documentary “Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton’s Cafeteria,” co-directed by Victor Silverman and Susan Stryker. The museum is creating an interactive play based on that documentary. Conry described the Tenderloin as “San Francisco’s first gay neighborhood” and promised, “The play will be a window into trans life in the 1960s.” Later, Conry expressed her gratitude for the $10,000 grant the museum received. “Horizons has been an active collaborator every step of the way and we appreciate that Horizons seemed very enthusiastic about our grant application,” she said. “This is the first time we applied and we received the full amount we applied for.” Donna Personna, one of the cowriters of the play, along with Collette LeGrand, echoed that gratitude. “Fifty years ago I would go to Compton’s Cafeteria to find gay life,” Personna said. “This is my story and Collette’s story. Who knew that we would get a chance to tell the world

we met wonderful people and it felt normal to be finally among them?” Attendees next viewed a short video of grantee Young Women’s Freedom Center SF, which was founded in 1993 to support Queer on the Inside, a program that works with incarcerated young cis and trans women. Kandy Ifopo, program coordinator for Sisters Rising Program, talked about the Sister Warriors event hosted by YWFC last July and said, “We convened over 200 system-involved and formerly incarcerated women and girls. I told them we are all related by struggle. My experience being incarcerated caused [post-traumatic stress disorder] but I am proud to use my voice now because I hope to spark something in our young people.” Horizons awarded YWFC a $10,000 grant for its first application. Buchting explained how Horizons recently engaged three directors to make 10 short videos about organizations the foundation has supported. The videos will eventually be viewable on Horizons’ website. Attendees saw the premier of the first video, featuring 2017 grantee Asian Pacific Islander Equality Northern California with narration by Sammie Ablaza Wills, API Equality director. Doughty celebrated Horizons’ progress since 1980 when the first two grants of $500 were awarded. “Our needs remain very fundamental and we are nowhere near to having enough funding,” he said. “We are living in a very frightening political era where we see political leaders attempting to define a small group as ‘real Americans.’ Our fight today is global and we are part of a global movement.” Several grantees also discussed their organizations and grants they received. Erin Palmquist is the director-producer of “From Baghdad to the Bay,” a feature-length documentary about a gay Iraqi refugee who ends up as a role

model for the underground LGBTQ communities of the Arab world. After acting as a translator for the U.S. military, Ghazwan Alsharif was wrongly accused of being a double agent, tortured by the U.S. and ostracized by his family and country. The film shows his struggles to rebuild his life in the Bay Area while coming out as a gay man. “This is our second grant from Horizons,” Palmquist explained. “We received $7,000 this year and $10,000 last year. We are hoping to complete the project in the next two months but have been working on this for nine years. Having Horizons’ belief in our project has been so important, and that’s been so much more than money. Their support has gotten us over the hump and has been amazing.” Nikki Calma, board member of the San Francisco Trans March, said the organization received $10,000 toward production of the annual march, which costs about $35-40,000 to produce. The march’s fiscal sponsor, the Queer Cultural Center, also received a 2017 grant. The GLBT History Museum received $10,000, according to Terry Beswick, executive director of the GLBT Historical Society, which oversees the Castro museum. “We will use the funds for our membership drive called ‘History=Resistance,’” Beswick said. “We want to diversify our membership with more youth and people of color.” He appreciated that this was the museum’s first community issues grant in several years. Horizons encourages grant applications from groups that work to secure equality for LGBTQ people, to achieve full participation of people of color and other underserved communities, and to support equality, health, and empowerment of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women. See page 14 >>

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<< Open Forum

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 14-20, 2017

Volume 47, Number 50 December 14-20, 2017 www.ebar.com PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) Bob Ross, Founder (1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird ARTS EDITOR Roberto Friedman BARTAB EDITOR & EVENTS LISTINGS EDITOR Jim Provenzano ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko • Seth Hemmelgarn CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ray Aguilera • Tavo Amador • Race Bannon Erin Blackwell • Roger Brigham Brian Bromberger • Victoria A. Brownworth Brent Calderwood • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Belo Cipriani Richard Dodds • Michael Flanagan Jim Gladstone • David Guarino Liz Highleyman • Brandon Judell John F. Karr • Lisa Keen • Matthew Kennedy Joshua Klipp • David Lamble • Max Leger Michael McDonagh • David-Elijah Nahmod Michael Nugent • Paul Parish • Sean Piverger Lois Pearlman • Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota Bob Roehr • Adam Sandel • Khaled Sayed Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Tony Taylor • Sari Staver Jim Stewart • Sean Timberlake • Andre Torrez Ronn Vigh • Charlie Wagner • Ed Walsh Cornelius Washington • Sura Wood ART DIRECTION Max Leger PRODUCTION/DESIGN Ernesto Sopprani PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Philomen Cleland • FBFE Rick Gerharter • Gareth Gooch Jose Guzman-Colon • Rudy K. Lawidjaja Georg Lester • Dan Lloyd • Jo-Lynn Otto Rich Stadtmiller • Kelly Sullivan Steven Underhil • Dallis Willard • Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Paul Berge • Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small Bogitini VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING Scott Wazlowski – 415.829.8937 NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

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

Lee was a steadfast ally S

an Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, who died unexpectedly Tuesday of an apparent heart attack, was a steadfast ally to the LGBTQ community. His leadership fighting discrimination came during the national debate on same-sex marriage and he stood firmly with minority communities after the election of President Donald Trump. He always espoused San Francisco values. Lee, who started his career fighting the city when he was a student and interned at the Asian Law Caucus, later became the quintessential city bureaucrat, leading the city’s Human Rights Commission, Public Works department, and then serving as city administrator. The Board of Supervisors selected Lee as mayor after Gavin Newsom became lieutenant governor, and discovering that he liked the job, Lee broke a promise that he would not seek a full term. He won election in 2011 and was re-elected in 2015. Lee diversified city government with numerous appointments, several from the LGBT community. He named lesbians Barbara Garcia, Elaine Forbes, and Shireen McSpadden to head the Department of Public Health, Port of San Francisco, and Department of Aging and Adult Services, respectively. Last year he named the country’s first senior adviser on transgender issues, Theresa Sparks; and when she recently announced her retirement, Lee named another trans woman, Clair Farley, to replace her, although it’s not known whether acting Mayor London Breed will keep the position. He named an HIV-positive gay man, Jeff Sheehy, as District 8 supervisor after Scott Wiener left to become a state senator. “He was a good guy,” Sheehy told us Tuesday. “He was good for us.” In terms of civic projects, Lee and Wiener obtained the funding for the much-needed sidewalk widening project in the Castro a few years ago, and Lee backed the plan that used some of the city’s housing fund to help construct the first phase of the Openhouse senior housing project. While not specifically LGBTQ due to antidiscrimination laws, 68 percent of the residents who moved in about a year ago identify as LGBT, according to the agency. Lee embraced the city’s Getting to Zero

Rick Gerharter

Mayor Ed Lee, a key ally to the LGBTQ community, rode in this year’s San Francisco Pride parade.

initiative to end HIV transmission in the city, and backfilled the city’s HIV/AIDS budget when federal funds were reduced. The mayor was a strong supporter of same-sex marriage, working to advance it even before the U.S. Supreme Court restored it in California in 2013. The year before, Lee joined with other Bay Area mayors in Freedom to Marry’s campaign to increase popular support for same-sex unions. When the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015, Lee was on the steps of City Hall celebrating with LGBTQ community leaders and city officials. Earlier this year, before Trump’s inauguration, Lee became a founding member of the Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination coalition. He was initially joined by more than 175 fellow mayors, all of whom saw the need to promote protections for LGBT people ahead of Trump taking office. Along with that, Lee and the Board of Supervisors instituted a travel ban to states with anti-LGBTQ laws, including a stipulation that bans departments and agencies from entering into new contracts with businesses headquartered in the banned states.

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But it was when San Francisco became a national punching bag by right-wingers opposed to sanctuary cities that Lee showed his leadership, rallied city officials and residents, and would not back down from critics deriding “San Francisco values.” In August, when neo-Nazis and white supremacists applied for a federal permit to promote their hate, Lee, Breed, and other supporters held a rally on the steps of City Hall to send the message: San Francisco doesn’t want you here. “We’re all here the day before hate shows up on our shores,” the mayor said. “We’re the city of love ... I want to say that this city leads with love and compassion. We are and will always be a city of sanctuary. We will resist the wall. We support our Muslim brothers and sisters.” We didn’t always agree with the mayor. We found his initial opposition to safe injection sites for drug users puzzling, because it seemed just the sort of out-of-the-box idea that San Francisco could try. At a forum in Seattle in January, the mayor indicated he was open to the idea. Since then, a city task force has recommended multiple sites, but a state bill that would have made them legal failed this year, delaying the program. Lee had more success with Navigation Centers, where homeless people could stay with their partners, pets, and possessions. But Lee, like other mayors before him, was not able to effectively solve the city’s homeless crisis, despite spending tens of millions of dollars. He was more successful with affordable housing, as Wiener noted in a statement. “Ed served as mayor during a period of unprecedented growth in our city and an unprecedented housing shortage,” he said. “Ed never got the credit he deserved as arguably the most pro-housing mayor in the history of San Francisco, with a huge amount of affordable housing created or approved under his administration.” Lee wasn’t a typical politician and never held elective office before becoming mayor. He loved making corny jokes – often at his expense – but he had an abiding love for the city he led, and for its people. His loss leaves a void, and the jostling to replace him just got scrambled. In the meantime, the LGBTQ community can take comfort from the fact that San Francisco’s first AsianAmerican mayor was a fighter for the rights of everyone.t

Connecting the Bay Area-San Joaquin Valley mega-region by Susan Talamantes Eggman

“A

2:15 alarm, two trains, and a bus get her to work by 7 a.m.” This was the August headline in a New York Times story about Stockton resident (and one of my constituents) Sheila James and her daily commute from Stockton to San Francisco, where she works as a public health adviser. James is not alone. More than 50,000 San Joaquin county residents commute daily to the Bay Area for work. Sky-high Bay Area housing prices have contributed significantly to growth in San Joaquin County for years, particularly in the cities of Tracy and Stockton and the newer community of Mountain House. And while Bay Area transplants have found affordable homes, they must endure – what can be charitably called – difficult commutes. The vast majority of commuters travel by car, which means making the long, slow trek through the Altamont Corridor. The corridor is strained beyond capacity, which means excessively long commutes, delays in goods movement, and increased vehicle emissions. The problem will only become more acute – as estimates project traffic will increase on this corridor by up to 60 percent by 2040. While the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) provides an alternative mode of travel, only about 2,500 passengers take advantage of the train service. ACE ultimately hopes to increase its service to nine trains daily over the current four, which would help reduce some of the congestion, but more action is needed. The commute challenges of San Joaquin County residents and the accelerating

Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman of Stockton

evolution of the Bay Area region and San Joaquin Valley region into one mega-region is what motivated me to introduce Assembly Bill 758 earlier this year along with my colleague, Assemblywoman Catharine Baker (R-Dublin). AB 758, signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in October, establishes the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Regional Rail Authority for the purpose of planning and delivering improved transit connectivity between the San Joaquin Valley and Tri-Valley communities. Specifically, the legislation requires the authority to identify and adopt a project for linking ACE with the Bay Area Rapid Transit, or BART, system.

Re-upping an old idea

The idea of linking ACE with BART is not a new one. Notably, the Metropolitan

Transportation Commission – which consists of the nine Bay Area counties – recommended, as part of its 2007 Regional Rail Plan, that BART connect with ACE. The passage of AB 758 takes this objective from the idea stage to the project formation stage and ultimately to project delivery. Under AB 758, the authority is required to produce a feasibility report by July 1, 2019 that, among other things, provides recommendations for expediting the development of cost-effective transit connectivity between ACE and BART, proposes a schedule for completion of the project, and adopts a preliminary design for the project. The authority itself will be comprised of 15 representatives from local agencies in the San Joaquin Valley and the Tri-Valley. One potential project outcome is the development of a stand-alone rail line from Stockton (or Tracy) to the Dublin-Pleasanton BART station. Such an approach would seem to optimize the number of trips and increase the convenience of travel throughout the mega-region. Whatever project the authority ultimately settles on, the effort to pass AB 758 has bolstered opportunities for partnership between the Bay Area and the San Joaquin Valley. AB 758 enjoyed support from, among others, the Bay Area Council, the San Joaquin Valley Partnership, San Joaquin County, Alameda County, the cities of: Stockton, Tracy, Dublin, and Livermore. This type of cooperation is essential to tackling regional issues in an increasingly complex world.t Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman (D) represents the 13th Assembly District, which includes most of San Joaquin County, including the cities of Stockton and Tracy. She is also a member of the Legislative LGBT Caucus.

t

Letters >>

December 14-20, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Plaza’s Muni entrance is functional

With regard to the Open Forum piece, “Honor Milk with new plaza” [Guest Opinion, December 7]: if the author, Andrea Aiello, would like to, as she wrote, “honor Milk at the plaza that bears his name,” then follow the advice of Gary Lee and Joe Kelly [Mailstrom, December 7]. Put a statue of Harvey Milk in the plaza. You save the money and save the rest of us the angst and great displeasure of destroying a completely functional entrance to Muni. If you are really gung-ho on spending money, how about a metal arch high o v e r Castro Street at 17th welcoming people to our neighborhood? Is that an idiotic idea? No worse than yours. Jerry Lang San Francisco

Plaza redesign a waste of money

I read with some dismay the recent Guest Opinion in the Bay Area Reporter by architect Howard Grant concerning the proposed redesign of the Harvey Milk Plaza at Market and Castro streets [“Plaza architect weighs in on update,” November 16]. I don’t pretend to know anything about architectural matters, but I do know a thing or two about dollars and cents, having worked all my life, and spending $10 million on a revamp of the plaza seems to me to be a complete waste of money. What is wrong with the plaza as it is today? It is fully functional and nice to look at. The $10 million can certainly be put to better use, such as, for example, providing permanent housing for the homeless people who congregate on the upper tier or “ledge” (as I call it)

overlooking the steps that go down into the station from Castro Street. Furthermore, what an asinine idea to move the entrance facing west. This will be a huge inconvenience for Muni riders like myself who ride the 35/24 and onboard or off-board at Castro and Market and transfer to or from Muni. It will be especially unpleasant during the rainy season, and will undoubtedly create problems for our elderly and disabled citizens. As they say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Barry Graynor San Francisco

Don’t trust the Russians

First of all, do not trust any Russians, including Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov, who is working under President Vladimir Putin [“Activist zaps Russian Diplomat,” December 7]. I am from Ukraine, the former Republic of the Soviet Union, and I have relatives in Russia, so I know what I am talking about. Russian people are afraid to tell the truth up to now, no matter what. It was, it is, and it will be forever a dictatorship in Russia. I support Michael Petrelis for his courage to say the truth during the meeting with the Russian diplomat at the Fairmont Hotel November 29 before an audience of the World Affairs Council. We Americans have to tell the truth. If we won’t, who will? Georgy Prodorov San Francisco

Lee left lasting LGBT legacy by Matthew S. Bajko

D

uring his nearly seven years as mayor of San Francisco, Ed Lee left a lasting legacy on LGBT rights, from appointing the first bisexual and HIV-positive members of the Board of Supervisors to being a national voice opposing policies that discriminated against LGBT individuals. Lee, who unexpectedly died early Tuesday at the age of 65, last year cofounded the group Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination with other leaders of major cities across the country to fight back against anti-LGBT laws being passed in various states. He also was one of the first mayors to ban taxpayer-funded travel to North Carolina and Mississippi due to political leaders in the two Southern states enacting laws that targeted their LGBT citizens. Just last Friday Lee co-authored a guest opinion piece for the Philadelphia Inquirer with that city’s mayor, as well as the mayor of Washington, D.C., calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to rule against a Colorado baker seeking the right to deny service to same-sex couples. Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said in a statement that the national LGBT rights organization was “deeply saddened” by Lee’s sudden passing. “Mayor Lee was a tireless advocate for LGBTQ equality who worked to make San Francisco a stronger, more vibrant, and inclusive community,” stated Griffin. “As the first Asian-American mayor in the city’s history, he was both a trailblazer and a dedicated public servant admired by millions. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all those grieving his loss today.” Lee signaled his support for LGBT rights from the moment he was named the city’s interim mayor by the supervisors in January 2011, noted Thomas Horn, a mayoral appointee to, and current president of, the War Memorial Board of Trustees. “His first day as mayor, he attended an event at the GLBT History Museum because it was important to him to show solidarity,” said Horn, the Bay Area Reporter’s former publisher who knew Lee for more than 20 years and considered him a friend. “He was a leftie from the 1970s (people forget) and never lost his compassion for marginalized communities. I think he

Kelly Sullivan

Mayor Ed Lee, right, congratulates Jeff Sheehy after naming him to the vacant District 8 supervisor seat in January.

will go down as one of San Francisco’s best mayors.” In 2011 Lee became the first sitting mayor to speak at the Trans March, the annual event that kicks off San Francisco’s Pride weekend. While he was booed off the stage at the event last year due to complaints around his handling of the city’s housing crisis, Lee continued to support the transgender community, naming the first mayoral adviser on transgender issues in the country and financially supporting the LGBT Community Center’s employment services for transgender individuals, as well as programs for LGBT homeless youth. “With his former civil rights background, he was very supportive of the LGBT community, very much so. We are going to miss that,” said Theresa Sparks, who last month stepped down as Lee’s senior adviser on transgender initiatives due to her retirement after working for the city in various positions over two decades. “That is not suggesting (acting) Mayor (London) Breed is not supportive. It is just that Mayor Lee showed that on almost a daily or weekly basis in just how he dealt with the community.” On AIDS issues, Lee was a stalwart supporter from the moment he became mayor. He named HIV-positive people, including a transgender woman, to serve on the city’s health commission and backfilled tens of millions of dollars in federal HIV/ AIDS funding cuts. “Every single year I was a member of the Board of Supervisors, we received more federal HIV cuts, and

every single year the mayor did not hesitate to backfill those cuts from our local budget,” remarked gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who represented District 8 on the board from January 2011 through last December when he was sworn into his legislative seat. Monday morning Wiener was with Lee to announce a new recycling program in the city, which would turn out to be the mayor’s last official public appearance. “Mayor Lee, although he did not come from the LGBT community, he was unbelievably supportive of our community,” added Wiener, who during his first year in office secured funding from the mayor to makeover the streetscape in the heart of the city’s gay Castro district, which included the creation of rainbow crosswalks and the installation of an LGBT walk of fame. “He deserves a lot of credit for that.” Over the years Lee worked with the supervisors to plug a total of $14.9 million in federal HIV funding cuts. In recent weeks he had worked with the board to backfill a $1.4 million cut to local AIDS programs set to kick in next month. Appointed gay District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, who met with Lee Monday to discuss emergency funding to house the city’s homeless this winter, told the B.A.R. his thoughts were with the mayor’s family. Lee, like Sheehy, lived in Glen Park and loved reminding Sheehy at public events that he was his supervisor at City Hall. “I can’t imagine what they are going through; it has got to be so heartbreaking. He heads out to Safeway, you know, and he leaves behind a See page 19 >>

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<< National News

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 14-20, 2017

t

High court won’t review gay employment case by Lisa Keen

I

t was a big disappointment for LGBT legal activists when the U.S. Supreme Court on December 11 announced it would not review a case seeking a ruling that existing federal law prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace. But it was not game over. Evans v. Georgia Regional is only one of several lawsuits around the country brought by LGBT employees who have been fired because of their sexual orientation. It was the first to reach the U.S. Supreme Court and, now, it is the first to be rejected for review by the justices. But it could come back to the Supreme Court again, said Greg Nevins, the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund attorney representing plaintiff Jameka Evans. That’s because Evans claims her employer fired her both because of her sexual orientation (lesbian) and because of gender stereotyping (that she dressed and appeared in a way that made her appear masculine). The appeal rejected by the Supreme Court this month involved a lower court decision that said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act – the

Courtesy Lambda Legal

Jameka Evans

section that prohibits job discrimination based on sex – cannot be used to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. If the Supreme Court had agreed to hear that appeal, there would have been a lot on the line for LGBT people. A favorable decision would have meant that an existing federal law (Title VII) prohibits job discrimination based on sexual orientation. An unfavorable decision would have been a green light for employers

to discriminate based on sexual orientation. The Supreme Court did neither. It simply refused to hear that appeal. So, now Lambda Legal will go back to district court in Atlanta to press its client’s claim that her employer discriminated based on gender stereotyping. And that could be an easier case. In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled (in Pricewaterhouse v. Hopkins) that discrimination based on “sex” includes discrimination based on gender stereotyping. “Jameka still has her gender stereotyping Title VII claim to litigate in the District Court; all remedies are preserved,” said Nevins. The Evans case and the many others that are likely to follow are very significant to LGBT employees. “By declining to hear this case, the Supreme Court is delaying the inevitable and leaving a split in the circuits that will cause confusion across the country,” said Nevins. In Lambda Legal’s September 7 appeal to the Supreme Court, it noted that “almost all” of the other federal circuits and two federal agencies differ on the question of whether discrimination based on “sexual orientation” should

be included under the purview of discrimination based on “sex.” Such conflicts among the circuit courts of appeal are what often prompt the Supreme Court to accept a case. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that workplace discrimination violates federal civil rights laws (Hively v. Ivy Tech), but the employer did not appeal to the Supreme Court. So, while LGBT people in 7th Circuit states (Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin) can press a Title VII claim, those in other states cannot. And the full 2nd Circuit bench is still deliberating on another Title VII sexual orientation case (Zarda v. Altitude Express). A decision there could be months away and, there’s no guarantee that decision will be appealed to the Supreme Court. If and when another Title VII sexual orientation case does arrive before the Supreme Court, the court may or may not take it. The Supreme Court can accept or reject just about any case it chooses. In order to hear any case, at least four of the nine justices must vote to hear it. In the Evans case, one might have expected that the

court’s more liberal justices – Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Stephen Breyer – would have given the nod. But that, apparently, did not happen. In other disappointing Supreme Court news this month, the court declined December 4 to hear an appeal of a Texas Supreme Court decision that held that a trial court should consider whether Obergefell v. Hodges requires that the city pay equal benefits. The state Supreme Court decision claims the U.S. Supreme Court addressed only the right to a marriage license in its 2015 Obergefell decision. The Texas court said the Supreme Court decision failed to address such specifics as equal benefits. The city of Houston had appealed the Texas decision to the Supreme Court, seeking a declaration that Obergefell requires the city to pay equal benefits to all city employees, including those married to same-sex spouses. Following Obergefell, two taxpayers, including Jack Pidgeon, filed the original lawsuit to oppose a decision by then-Mayor Annise Parker to provide equal benefits to all city employees.t

Cure summit hears of new remission case by Liz Highleyman

T

he past year brought no major breakthroughs in the search for an HIV cure, but a growing understanding of how the virus hides in the body is bringing people closer to strategies for long-term remission, researchers and advocates said at the 2017 HIV Cure Summit. Since its founding in December 2015 with a $20 million grant from amfAR, the Institute for HIV Cure Research at UCSF has hosted an annual forum to mark World AIDS Day. Compared with past summits, this year’s meeting focused less on nittygritty laboratory research and more on community participation in cure research. “It is so important for the community to be involved in cure research so that they have the latest accurate information and reasonable expectations, especially if they want to volunteer to participate in HIV cure trials,” Lynda Dee of the AIDS Treatment Activist Coalition, who spoke at the summit,

Liz Highleyman

HIV cure research participants Clark Hawley, left, and Luis Canales joined researchers Judith Auerbach and Dr. Timothy Henrich at the recent Cure summit in San Francisco.

told the Bay Area Reporter. “Personally, I believe it is also vital for the community to advocate for continued funding for all areas of

HIV research, including cure research, as all things HIV are under a budget attack by the current administration.”

Early treatment reduces reservoir of the virus

Summit participants heard about a case of HIV remission in a San

Francisco man, Clark Hawley, who started antiretroviral treatment very soon after infection, shedding light on what might be needed to achieve a functional cure. Hawley has decided to be open about his experience and spoke at the summit in the hope of helping others. Another cure research participant, Luis Canales, also described his experience. To date, only one person – former San Francisco resident Timothy Ray Brown, known as the Berlin Patient – appears to have been truly cured of HIV. Ten years after receiving bone marrow transplants to treat leukemia from a donor with a natural mutation that makes T-cells resistant to HIV infection, extensive testing has found no detectable functional virus in his blood or tissue samples. Researchers have followed a number of cases over the years of people who appear to maintain control over HIV. Some have detectable virus but their immune system seems to be able to keep it in check naturally without See page 14 >>

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<< Community News

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 14-20, 2017

Holiday fun in Oakland

K

ate Svinarich, left, and Nicole Kim gathered under the mistletoe in the Terrace Room at the Lake Merritt Hotel for the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center’s Winter Fairyland benefit party

t

Jane Philomen Cleland

Monday, December 11. The event featured a drag fashion show and music from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s and was well attended, organizers said.

Comment sought on demolition plan for old MCC-SF site by Tony Taylor

T

he Castro site of the former LGBTQ-identified Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco at 150 Eureka Street will go before the San Francisco Planning Commission next year to determine the environmental impacts of a planned housing development, which includes demolition of the building. Published December 6, the draft environmental impact report, an informational document detailing significant environmental effects and alternatives to the 150 Eureka Street project, is accepting public comments through January 23. According to the draft EIR, the proposed 150 Eureka Street Project would demolish the existing building and redevelop the large underutilized site with high‐quality, sustainable, and economically feasible, three‐ and four‐bedroom residential dwellings. MCC-SF sold the dilapidated church in 2015, along with an adjacent fourunit apartment building. At the time, church officials said the building that housed the church was beyond repair. However, the pending construction threatens a sidewalk memorial installed by MCC-SF in 2011. “Miracle on Eureka Street,” outside of 150 Eureka Street, is composed of

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Castro-Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association, told the B.A.R. via email that his group and its Planning and Land Use Committee are generally in favor of preserving the history of the neighborhood whenever possible. “The MCC sidewalk memorial is an important artifact of our LGBT and friends of history; each brick is a testament to the lives of actual residents who, in their way, made contributions to the community and culture of our neighborhood,” McHale said. The draft EIR notes that the project sponsor is required to reach out to the Castro community to create See page 18 >>

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from 1 to 4 p.m. at the First Unitarian seeks mentors Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin Huckleberry Youth Programs is Every Thursday April between & 7pm EveryinThursday in 4April between 4 & 7pm Street in San Francisco. Maitri holiday open house looking for interested people to par*Sales limited to stock on hand. Every Thursday in April between 4 & 7pm Every Thursday in April between 4 & 7pm take 20%take OFF all parts, accessories & clothing.* 20% OFF all parts, accessories & clothing.*On the Facebook page for the Maitri Compassionate Care, ticipate in its My City Mentor proNowOFF Open Thursday 7pm! take 20% OFF to all & parts, accessories & clothing.* take 20% all parts, accessories clothing.* event (http://bit.ly/2iJXi1f) which operates a hospice in gram, which is through its Commu*Sales limited to stock on hand. limited to stock on hand.Ten*Sales to stock on hand. Michael Gagne, the Castro, will hold its annity Assessment and Resource Center. *Sales limited to stock on*Sales hand. limited Every Thursday in April between 4 & 7pm derloin Tessie SPRING board nual holiday open house People should be willing to make president and co-volunSaturday, December 16, a six-month commitment and spend m got take 20% OFF all parts, accessories We’ve & clothing.* teer coordinator, said that from 2 to 5 p.m. at 401 one to three hours a week with a menready to ride *Sales limited to stock on hand. volunteer shifts are availDuboce Avenue in San tee. There is also a mandatory monthly able from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Francisco. mentor meeting at CARC and three that day, and from 11:30 People can stop by group outings (one every other month). a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Deand meet new Executive San Francisco youth who will be 1065 & 1077 Valencia (Btwn 21st & 22nd St.) • SF cember 24. Director Anne Gimbel served through the program are ages 10651065 & 1077 Valencia (Btwn 21st & 22nd St.) SF St.) • SF 1065 (Btwn &• 1077 Valencia (Btwn & 1077 Valencia 21st &415-550-6601 22nd St.) •21st SF &•22nd The ham dinner is free and take a break from the 11-17. SALES 415-550-6600 REPAIRS Hybrid/City SALES 415-550-6600 •REPAIRS REPAIRS 415-550-6601 SALES 415-550-6600 • REPAIRS 415-550-6601 SALES 415-550-6600 •Thu. and includes all the trimmings. Atbustle of the season to enjoy appetizFor more information, contact Mon.Sat. 10-6, 10-7, 415-550-6601 Sun. 11-5 1065 & 1077 Valencia (Btwn 21st & 22nd St.) • SF tendees will receive a gift bag and ers and live holiday music. Arsenio Hernandez at ahernanMon-Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5 Mon.Sat. 10-6, Thu. 10-7, Sun. 11-5 Mon.Sat. 10-6, Thu. 10-7, Sun. 11-5 Mon.- Sat. 10-6, Thu. 10-7, Sun. 11-5 clothes and can take a shower in the There is a suggested donation of dez@huckleberryyouth.org or (415) SALES 415-550-6600 • REPAIRS 415-550-6601 Lava Mae bus. $10. Gifts of toiletries for the residents 437-2500.t 1065 & 1077 Valencia (Btwn 21st & 22nd St.) • SF

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9/26/17 3:30 PM

<< Business News

12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 14-20, 2017

Queer makers create unique holiday gifts by Matthew S. Bajko

T

hree years ago Kenny Chew, a gay man who lives in Orinda, a small town nestled on the backside of the East Bay hills, teamed up with his friend, Yshel Lok, who is straight and lives in nearby Lafayette, to launch Fabula Tea. The pair showcases various tea blends of their own creation and can be hired to present the art of tea making at private events. “We are passionate about tea and using tea to bring people together to appreciate art and rejuvenation,” Chew, 34, explained as he handed out samples of the company’s teas in front of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center during a queer makers fair in late October. The art comes in the form of labels Fabula Tea uses on its tea canisters. The co-owners invite local artists to create the designs for their tea blends, which range in price from $30 to $65 depending on the types of teas used. The teas can be ordered online via www.fabulatea.com. So far only one store in the Bay Area sells their teas, Draeger’s Market in Menlo Park. As for opening their own teashop, the business partners are in no rush to do so. “We will not say no but not right now,” said Lok, 39, as they are focused for the moment on being hired for private tea ceremonies, which are normally an hour long and cost $350 for up to 10 people. Chew and Lok are part of a growing movement of local makers, whether LGBT or straight, transforming the retail scene. Eschewing traditional stores, and the cost of leasing a storefront and paying for

staff, these business entrepreneurs are using social media, online platforms, and public events that showcase local makers such as the one hosted by the LGBT center to market themselves and their brands. Two years ago Michael Benner, 48, and his husband, Curtis Wallis, 45, launched their artisanal chocolate company in San Francisco named Michael’s Chocolates after Benner, a graduate of the California Culinary Academy and Ecole Chocolate. They partner with local storeowners to sell their selection of caramels and bars rather than operating their own retail location. (For a list of where to purchase Benner’s chocolates, or to order online, with free delivery in the Bay Area, visit https://www.michaelschocolates.com.) “I was a pastry chef many, many years ago,” Benner told the Bay Area Reporter. “I was in the restaurant business and wanted to get out of it and do something I love. It is fun and a lot of people love chocolate.” With the Christmas season a prime opportunity for people to buy chocolate, this time of the year is Benner’s busiest. He started off selling mainly to friends and family then saw his business take off as word got out about his salted almond bars ($6) and bonbon boxes ($15 for six pieces, with the flavors changing by the season.) “We have gone from five miles an hour to 85 miles an hour,” he said. “We are really excited about the holidays because it is our big season.” Lin Shao Chin, 37, a queer San Francisco resident, mainly uses her page on the website Etsy – https:// www.etsy.com/shop/LeatherLSC – to

Rick Gerharter

Cassandra Chase of Brown Sista Basics displays a table of her crochet work and candles at the queer makers fair held in late October at the LGBT Community Center.

sell her handmade leather goods, such as wallets, billfolds and journals. “I do a lot of custom stuff,” she said, such as tool or garden belts for adults, or holsters for swords or other play items for kids ($100). She started making leather goods three years ago because she couldn’t find a wallet that could also hold a pen. While she took a few classes to learn the basics of leather making, she mostly watched videos online to figure out how to master the craft. “Everything is hand sewn. I don’t use any machinery at all,” said Chin. “It is all old school. I hand punch the holes and hand stitch everything.” Through word of mouth, Chin has turned her leather-making endeavor into a business. Her merchandise is

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season with a visit to MAITRI during our

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Rick Gerharter

Yshel Lok, left, and Kenny Chew, co-owners of Fabula Tea, had a booth outside the LGBT Community Center at the queer makers fair.

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season with a visit to MAITRI during our

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12/12/17 10:30 AM

meant to be practical and for daily use. Her journals ($45) and traveler notebooks ($35) are fashioned out of repurposed NBA basketball leather. “I am not in the leather scene, maybe some day,” she joked. Five years ago queer Richmond resident Cassandra Chase, 27, combined her interests in candle making and crochet art into a business she named Brown Sista Basics. She makes women’s crop tops and bikini tops ($15-$45) as well as yarn plants, such as cacti, in painted pots ($15) suitable for work desks or windowsills for those born without green thumbs. Chase mainly uses Facebook – http://bit.ly/2iGb2u0 – and Instagram – http://bit.ly/2AHAn10 – to sell her homemade wares. Her candles are unscented and soy-based and run $3 for a small votive up to $20 for larger sizes. She also sells a line of body butters ($10 for a half pint) that come in shea butter, coconut oil, or black castor oil flavors. “I do it all in my spare time,” said Chase. Her main profession is working as a doula with pregnant women during their third trimester and the weeks after they give birth. Chase charges $1,000 for her services and is certified through Doulas of North America. She also makes crochet education sets that include a baby, uterus, and placenta for other doulas or midwives to use with their clients. “No, no children of my own but would love to in my 30s,” she said.

R by Rolo expands selection

Six months ago the co-owners of men’s retailer Rolo (2351 Market Street) opened an athletic wear store called R By Rolo (2267 Market Street) a block down the street in a smaller storefront that used to house a locally owned luggage store. The concept has proved to be a success, and R By Rolo is rolling out a wider selection just in time for the holiday season. “Guys were asking for gym wear, but we didn’t have the room for it at the main store,” said co-owner Mark Schultz, who is gay and opened Rolo, deemed a legacy business by the city, 31 years ago with Roland Peters, who is straight. “So I did my research and thought it would be a good concept.” Last month they remodeled the

smaller space and hosted an official grand opening event for R By Rolo. The shop carries various brands, such as Vimmia and LASC, which are both based in Los Angeles, and the New York-based St33le. One popular item from LASC, which is short for Los Angeles Sporting Club, is its hybrid swim-gym shorts ($58-75). “You can go from the pool to the gym to work out,” in the shorts, noted Schultz. The store also carries its own line of athletic wear, from gym shorts to tank tops and workout shirts ($25-$35). “It has been meeting expectations,” said Schultz. “We have gotten a positive response from the neighborhood.” In particular, customers have remarked how nice it is to see a locally owned business take over a vacant storefront in the Castro, where it has been a struggle to fill retail spaces, especially along upper Market Street, as more and more people shop online. “People have been thanking me personally for opening a nice store in the neighborhood,” said Schultz.

Honor Roll

Shoppers at Cliff’s Variety (479 Castro Street) over the weekend after Thanksgiving donated $5,400 toward the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy. This year the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matched the annual fundraiser, in which customers receive a 20 percent discount if they donate $5 for the nearby public elementary school, so the total donation totaled $10,800. The 81-year-old, family-run store received its own gift this year, as it was recently granted legacy business status by the city. It is credited as being the first straight-owned business on the block to hire openly gay employees. “This recognition is a great honor,” stated Terry Asten Bennett, Cliff’s Variety’s general manager and the great, great granddaughter of store founder Hilario DeBaca. “We pride ourselves in being a part of what makes San Francisco unique. We are looking forward to continuing our fabulous and quirky ways for generations to come.”t Got a tip on LGBT business news? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 8298836 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

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<< Community News

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 14-20, 2017

App allows PrEP access via phones by David-Elijah Nahmod

and others who are HIV-negative can start on PrEP, which is a component of the city’s Getting to Zero initiative. Getting to Zero aims to make San Francisco the first city to achieve the UNAIDS goals of eliminating new HIV infections, deaths due to HIV/AIDS, and stigma against people living with HIV. It relies on a three-prong strategy of expanded access to PrEP, rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and retaining HIV-positive people in care. As the B.A.R. reported last week, the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s latest HIV epidemiology report, released in September, shows that new HIV infections fell to 223 in 2016, a new all-time low. The city outdoes the country as a whole when it comes to helping people get tested, start treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis, and stay on therapy to achieve viral suppression. McQuaid explained how PlushCare works. “Just download the app and put

in your insurance information,” he said. “Then you book an appointment with the doctor of your choice.” According to its website, an appointment with a PlushCare physician costs $99. If a patient has health insurance from a payer PlushCare accepts, it will charge a patient their copay or coinsurance. The appointments are conducted via video chat as though they were a regular doctor visit. The doctor orders lab work and makes a determination if PrEP is right for the patient. Lab work is conducted by Quest and LabCorp, and can be done at lab offices. “The doctor has to be licensed in the state where the patient lives. We follow CDC recommendations on how often people on PrEP get lab testing and follow-up visits,” said McQuaid, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far PlushCare has over 50 doctors in its system, and not all the patients they see are PrEP patients. “We started doing urgent care

treatment for colds, flu, and pink eye,” said McQuaid. “It’s only in the last six months that we’ve expanded to PrEP. Eighty percent of urgent care can be done via telemedicine. We emphasize having the highest quality providers. We take what we do extremely seriously. Our doctors are from the top 50 ranked medical institutions – we have a pretty rigorous interview process.” “We are in market with most of the major insurance carriers,” added Wantuck. “We are working to get even more so everyone can have access to the service.” McQuaid said that while there was an overall decline in new HIV infections from 2008-2014, there was a 35 percent increase in infections among those ages 25-34 for the same period. “This shows the importance of informing people about PrEP,” he said. For more information, visit http://www.plushcare.com.t

antibodies against the virus. When he had a detectable viral load test a week after starting PrEP, Hawley antiretrovirals. Other individuals on stepped up to a four-drug antiretrotreatment have reached the point viral regimen, as Truvada alone is not where they had no detectable HIV enough to suppress the virus over the according to the most sensitive tests, long term. but the virus came roaring back when Study authors Dr. Timothy Henthey tried stopping treatment. rich and Dr. Steve Deeks of UCSF As described in a special HIV ediand colleagues said that, to the best tion of PLoS Medicine, Hawley, 54, of their knowledge, this is the earliest WINNER enrolled in a PrEP demonstration documented case of HIV infection in Best Wedding Photographer project and started Truvada (tenoan adult followed by immediate initifovir/emtricitabine). But it was later ation of antiretroviral therapy (except determined that he had very early for post-exposure prophylaxis, which HIV infection, during the “window involves starting preventive treatment 415 period” when the so-called HIV resafter a known HIV exposure). San 370 ervoir is becoming established in CD4 Francisco’s RAPID program success7152 T-cells and there is not yet enough fully gets people on treatment within WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com of an immune response to produce days after diagnosis, but diagnosis typically does not happen immediately after infection. Over the next three years, the researchers were unable to detect HIV in Hawley’s blood plasma, brain fluid, samples of gut, lymph node, and bone marrow tissue, or in more than 500 million CD4 T-cells. After 34 months on continuous antiretroviral therapy, Hawley decided to try a closely monitored treatment interruption. After stopping therapy his HIV remained undetectable for 225 days – around seven and a half months – but it then reappeared, rising steeply to nearly 80,000 copies. This is similar to the duration of offtreatment remission Henrich previously reported in a Boston bone marrow transplant recipient. Hawley went back on treatment, re-suppressed the virus, and is doing well. This resurgence likely indicates that a rare residual virus became active and encountered no strong immune response to keep it in check, according to Deeks. “By the time [Clark] stopped therapy, we think he had about 200 [HIVinfected T-cells] – that’s a million-fold reduction in the amount of virus a Representing the “best of the best” in LGBT media, with typical person has,” Deeks said. “It didn’t cure him, but it got close, and over a million readers weekly in print and online. it provided us a pathway to see what a near cure looks like. But at the end of 212-242-6863 the day, a low reservoir is insufficient,

and we’re going to need to stimulate the immune system at the same time.” To move forward, cure research will depend on people like Brown and Hawley, who will undergo extensive testing to look for residual virus, as well as individuals who are willing to interrupt treatment to see if experimental therapies can keep HIV under control without the help of daily antiretrovirals. But this strategy is risky. Although study participants are monitored frequently, as soon as HIV starts replicating it can cause damage that is hard to undo. And anyone who stops treatment can lose their “undetectable equals untransmittable” status, with resurgent viral load putting their sex partners at risk of infection. While there is ongoing debate within the community about whether treatment interruption studies and other types of cure research are ethical, a recent survey found that a substantial proportion of people living with HIV are willing to participate. “One of the most encouraging things [in the HIV cure field] is that people living with HIV – including those who have had the infection for decades and have been through holy hell and back – are still willing to participate in these sometimes very intrusive studies and contribute to science for the health and well-being of not just themselves, but of people who haven’t even been infected yet,” science and policy consultant Judith Auerbach said at a summit media briefing. Hawley offers a perfect example. “When I was presented with the information that I was among the earliest detected HIV cases, ever and they felt they could learn a lot for the sake of humanity, I just agreed,” he told the B.A.R. “When this started there was no one else’s body that could give the researchers the information that mine could. When they tell you that you are the only person in the world where the disease was caught this early, and in a place where extensive testing is possible, it is far easier to step up and do what I can.”t

A

n app that allows people to get PrEP prescriptions via their cellphones may expand access to the HIV prevention drug. PlushCare is an app that is available for iOS and Android phones. Recently, the app expanded to 31 states, including California. There are plans to role the app out into the remaining states soon. Dr. James Wantuck, PlushCare’s chief medical officer, and Ryan McQuaid, the company’s CEO, spoke to the Bay Area Reporter about the services the company provides, and why the app is needed. “In San Francisco, most doctors know about PrEP,” said Wantuck. “Outside of the city, doctors may not know about the latest treatments – they could be biased against prescribing PrEP.” PlushCare is based in San Francisco and was founded in 2014. It’s a privately held company that received $8 million in venture

Courtesy PlushCare

Best Wedding Photographer PlushCare founder and CEO as voted by BAR readers Ryan McQuaid capital funding. Wantuck noted that the Food and Drug Administration approved PrEP in 2012. “It usually takes 18 years for an approved treatment to become standard practice,” he said. PlushCare’s app may be one more avenue by which gay men

<<

Cure summit

From page 8

How do you speak to the LGBT community?

Steven Underhill Through the publications

PHOTOGRAPHYthey know and trust. How do you speak to the LGBT community?

Through the publications they know and trust.

Representing the “best of the best” in LGBT media, with over a millioninfo@nationallgbtmediaassociation.com readers weekly in print and online. www.nationallgbtmediaassociation.com 212-242-6863 info@nationallgbtmediaassociation.com www.nationallgbtmediaassociation.com

Atlanta | Boston | Chicago | Dallas/ Ft Worth | Detroit | Los Angeles | Miami/ Ft Lauderdale | New York | Orlando/Tampa Bay | Philadelphia | San Francisco | Washington DC

Atlanta | Boston | Chicago | Dallas/ Ft Worth | Detroit | Los Angeles | Miami/ Ft Lauderdale | New York | Orlando/Tampa Bay | Philadelphia | San Francisco | Washington DC Untitled-3 1

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6/6/17 2:19 PM

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Horizons

From page 5

“Horizons’ grantees are a reflection of the LGBT community’s perseverance and movement forward toward equality for all,” Buchting said. Walton added, “The [service and cultural] organizations have given our movement its soul and make our community unique and fabulous.” Horizons’ Now and Forever campaign seeks to identify $100 million

in commitments through its Legacy Giving project by 2020, which, if successful, will allow Horizons to increase award amounts in future years.t To see the full list of grantees, visit https://www.horizonsfoundation.org/category/news/. For more information about Horizons Foundation, visit https:// www.horizonsfoundation.org/.

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<< Commentary

16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 14-20, 2017

DISPLAY OBITUARIES & IN MEMORIAMS

SF says yes to net neutrality, no to bigotry by Christina A. DiEdoardo

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pproximately 200-250 people jammed the sidewalk in front of the Verizon store at 768 Market Street December 7 to protest efforts by the Trump regime to persuade the Federal Communications Commission to end net neutrality. “Why are we out here in front of Verizon, other than that they’re an ISP and they suck?” asked Tracy Rosenberg, executive director of Media Alliance and one of the protest’s organizers. “It’s because they’re Ajit Pai’s employer.” Pai, a Republican whom Trump named to be chair of the FCC, worked as an attorney for Verizon from 2001 through 2003. Since 2015, the FCC has formally required internet service providers to treat all internet traffic equally. This prevents ISPs from charging customers extra to access certain content (e.g. Netflix), charging more for faster speed, or blocking certain sites entirely. If, as expected, the FCC approves the repeal proposal Thursday (December 14), ISPs like Verizon and

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Christina A. DiEdoardo

Demonstrators demanded net neutrality be preserved at a December 7 action outside of the Verizon store in downtown San Francisco.

in Oakland, Community Ready Corps will host a teach-in on how to intervene effectively as a bystander in the face of fascist and racist violence on the BART system. The first See page 18 >>

Sports needs a moral compass by Roger Brigham

S

THIS IS THE

Comcast would be able to discriminate against (or in favor of) certain types of traffic so long as they disclosed these policies to the consumer. However, given the dominance of major providers like Comcast and AT&T in many local markets, net neutrality activists fear simply requiring ISPs to disclose predatory commercial behavior will do little or nothing to restrain or deter that behavior. Rosenberg said Pai’s claim that the Federal Trade Commission, rather than the FCC, could regulate ISPs was deeply flawed, given the progress of a case filed by AT&T (which is now at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals) that challenges the FTC’s jurisdiction to act in this area. “They might win,” she said, referring to AT&T’s case against the FTC. In that case, said Rosenberg, neither the FCC nor the FTC might be able to rein in the ISPs. “All we’re talking about here is whether anyone gets to tell AT&T and Verizon what to do,” she said.

t

anta’s got it is easy: treats for boys and girls who have been nice, lumps of coal for those who have been naughty. Done. But what do you give the nuanced collective world of sports, historically a world of such inspiration and empowerment, but in the last year-plus a cesspool of disappointment. Took me awhile to come up with the perfect gift, but I’ve decided the present the world of sports could use the most this year is a moral compass. Let’s begin with football, that bloated pigskin of excess. American sport’s biggest money-maker had multiple opportunities this year to become a powerful voice against racial injustice and domestic abuse, take immediate action to make players safer in games, and throw its considerable financial weight into the study and eradication of long-term severe head trauma. Instead, its reaction to reports of domestic and violence

abuse cases has been sluggish, sporadic, and inconsistent. It has been passive milquetoast as one player’s silent and dignified protest against violent racial inequality and devolved into a weekly headline-grabbing Twitter battle over political garbage that has nothing to do with sports or seeking justice and instead deepens the already wide rifts within our country. The player who started it all on bended knee? Colin Kaepernick is a proven, successful athlete who is easily good enough to start on at least half the teams. Yet he remains unemployed because no team owner has had the guts to sign him. Meanwhile the franchise in the nation’s capital continues to display its racial insensitivity with a brand name that is offensive to Native Americans. Also over the past year, we’ve become increasingly aware that the world of youth sports, which is meant to be a positive experience for the next generation, giving kids a healthy sense of self-empowerment

Peter Dunlop-Shohl

The world of sports needs a moral compass.

to last a lifetime, all too often is quite the opposite. We have learned of coaches, trainers, administrators, and doctors who have used their positions of power and trust to lure, seduce, and assault boys and girls given to their care. We have learned that in many cases these villains have been known or suspected by their colleagues to be See page 18 >>

Obituaries >> Roxy L. Neuhardt August 26, 1935 – October 21, 2017

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FD 1306

COA 660

Roxy LeRoy Neuhardt, a longtime fixture in the Portland, Oregon LGBT community, died October 21. He was 82. Mr. Neuhardt was born in Rexburg, Idaho, and raised in West Yellowstone, Montana. He began dancing at age 8. As a young man he owned three dance studios in Salt Lake City before moving to Las Vegas, where he was a featured dancer in Minsky’s Follies at the Dunes Hotel and other resorts. In the early 1960s, he left Vegas to become assistant choreographer and featured performer for the Morro-Landis Production Company, before being recruited as choreographer and dancer for Gracie Hansen at the Hoyt Hotel in Portland. Mr. Neuhardt then met and fell in love with Walter Cole, aka Darcelle XV, a popular drag queen in Portland. He is credited with creating the Darcelle XV persona for Cole, and spent more than 45 years as choreographer, show director, and featured performer at the Darcelle XV Showplace. He was also the bookkeeper, office manager, and payroll accountant. Cole and Mr. Neuhardt spent nearly five

decades building their business, raising funds for charities, and caring for friends living with, and dying from, HIV/AIDS. The couple were world travelers. According to Mr. Neuhardt’s online obituary, they were in Berlin the day the wall came down and went to many other countries. Mr. Neuhardt received numerous awards over the years, and is the only crown prince of the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court. Mr. Neuhardt is survived by Cole and many other family members. To read the online obituary, visit http://omegaservices.com/ obituaries/roxy-l-neuhardt/719/.

Arthur G. White June 19, 1948 – November 27, 2017 Arthur George White was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1948, the second of four children born to Frank and Elizabeth (Flaherty) White. He was a brilliant and precocious child. Always clever and quick-witted, he skipped a grade in St. Mary Magdalene Elementary School. Arthur graduated from Mater Christi High School in Astoria, New York. After attending Queens College in New

York, Arthur enlisted in the Army (Signal Corps) at age 19 and served two tours in Vietnam from 1967-69. He attended the University of Arizona, majoring in English literature. Arthur then earned his law degree at New College in San Francisco where he was chosen to be the valedictorian. Arthur moved to San Francisco in 1973 and took several temporary jobs, saving money for law school. After practicing law for many years, Art opted to pursue his lifelong interest in real estate. Arthur worked for several real estate firms in the East Bay before joining Red Oak Realty about 10 years ago. It was there that he found his professional home. A trifecta of talent, skill, and savvy insured his success, and he was tapped to become the managing broker. He later became sales manager at Red Oak’s Berkeley office. Arthur excelled in the real estate industry and was a well-respected member of that community. Arthur is survived by his loving partner of 12 years, Areal Alvarado, of Oakland; his sisters, Eileen and Marilyn of New York; and his brother, Richard, of New Hampshire. He also leaves behind his beloved feline companion of 18 years, Blondie, a Flame Point Siamese. A funeral Mass and remembrance was held for Arthur at Most Holy Redeemer Church in the Castro December 9. A celebration of life is planned for February.

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<< Community News

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 14-20, 2017

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Roem

From page 1

Talking to the crowd, Roem encouraged people who are interested in public service to run for office, saying that the community should “support people at the local level,” but that candidates must be prepared to do the nitty-gritty work. “I never asked a volunteer to do something that I wouldn’t do,” Roem said, describing knocking on doors after dark. Tiffany Woods, a trans woman who works in the East Bay, helped organize the Castro fundraiser at the behest of Emerge California, which works to elect Democratic women and whose program Woods completed. Roem had delivered a keynote address at the group’s San Francisco event the night before. “We wanted to do an LGBT reception,” Woods explained, where people could meet Roem. Having a small-dollar event that was accessible to people was also important, she said. Veronika Fimbres, a trans woman

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Resist

From page 16

half of the evening is devoted to teaching self-defense and intervention skills to attendees, while the remainder will be focused on organizing and deciding on what steps can be taken to make the system safer for everyone. The Bay Area was recently rocked by a viral video where a white cis man repeatedly yelled racial slurs at an Asian passenger on BART (and made physical contact with him at least once) while several white passengers remained in their

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Jock Talk

From page 16

abusing athletes but those enablers have not spoken out or acted to stop the abuse. Yet as these cases have finally and slowly crept into news stories, institutional reaction at all levels has been frustratingly and tragically lethargic. At next year’s World Cup, we watch as the best male soccer players from across the globe celebrate dramatic goals and victories en route to the finals with spontaneous manly hugs and kisses of sheer joy. But gay and

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MCC-SF site

From page 10

an authentic approach for the project site and neighborhood. And prior to the issuance of demolition or site permits, the project sponsor shall fund the undertaking of a historic American building survey of the property, the document states. In February 2015, 150 Eureka Street was sold to developer David R. Papale for $2.325 million. According to Hoodline, Papale, a San Francisco native, is managing partner of Laurel Village Realtors and has been a real estate agent for 37 years. He also bought and renovated

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Murder

From page 2

Phillips, who according to friends had been asking for money in recent months, also had notes about people he owed money to, and receipts from Western Union showing that he’d sent money to his husband in the Philippines. As the Bay Area Reporter noted last week, Phillips and Archie Arcaya Fuscablo, who met online, married at City Hall October 30, just weeks after Fuscablo arrived in the U.S. Discenza said that Fuscablo, who was at the residence when he searched it, told him that Phillips had given him about $20,000 “over the course of the relationship” to help him pay off loans, get a visa, and cover other costs. Records show checks from Sheahan to Phillips for $50 and $100 that bore July dates, while several checks for thousands of dollars – the biggest

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said. “She campaigned to fix Route 28, and, as a step-mom, wants to figure out how to pay teachers more.” Roem told the crowd that she won with 12,077 votes, and that they had an idea they’d be successful once numbers started coming in. “Our field numbers were off the charts,” she said. “We had hundreds of volunteers knocking on doors.” She credited her campaign team, volunteers, and supporters across the country for her win. “No one runs on their own. It’s not just enough to shout your way to office – unless you’re in the White House,” she quipped, referring to President Donald Trump. Roem is planning to continue fighting for equal rights, and encouraged people to be themselves. “Don’t ever, ever, ever, ever let someone tell you you’re someone you’re not,” she said.t

who’s a Green Party candidate for California governor, was thrilled to meet Roem. “I supported her from afar,” Fimbres said, adding that she kept up with Roem’s campaign via social media. “I love her and am so proud that she won. “I love to support my youth,” Fimbres, 67, said. “They’re the new voices of tomorrow.” With Roem’s win, combined with several other trans candidates who were successful in their races last month, such as Lisa Middleton on the Palm Springs City Council, Fimbres said that the trans community is “now in a historical moment.” Martin Rawlings-Fein is one of two trans candidates running for San Francisco school board next year. A husband and parent to two kids in public schools, Rawlings-Fein said that Roem’s victory has inspired him. “She’s an amazing personality,” he said, adding that a key to her success was her focus on issues important to voters in her district. Gay Oakland bar owner Sean

Sullivan said that he and Roem both attended the same college, Saint Bonaventure University in New York, though a decade apart. “I’m very proud an out person from my university beat this ‘homophobe in chief,’ as he called himself,” Sullivan said, referring to Marshall. “I’m super happy to support her here, and into the future.” Steve Adams, a gay man who’s on the San Francisco Small Business Commission, called Roem “a pioneer,” along with Middleton and Alameda County Superior Court Judge Victoria Kolakowski, a transgender woman who became the first elected trial judge in 2010. “Vicky was the first judge, Lisa’s on the City Council, and Danica’s at the state level,” Adams said. “It’s like I’ve always learned in business: one plus one equals two.” Kolakowski said she was proud of Roem’s accomplishment. “Her election was something that many people, not only transgender folk,

needed to see in these divisive times. She responded to hateful speech with grace and intelligence, going high when others went low,” Kolakowski said. Theresa Sparks, who recently stepped down as senior adviser on trans issues to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, said Roem’s victory marked “the political ascendance of the trans community.” [Lee died suddenly Tuesday morning, see related story.] Sparks, a trans woman who once ran for supervisor, praised this next generation of trans leaders.

seats and did nothing to intervene. On November 30, after six days of deliberation, a jury acquitted Jose Ines Garcia Zarate of the murder of Kate Steinle. Since nativist bigots – from President Donald Trump to his local foot soldiers – have tried to use the case as a means of inciting hatred against undocumented persons, particularly those who happen to be persons of color like Zarate, it’s not surprising they’d redouble up those efforts once he was exonerated. However, as Judge Benjamin Cardozo pointed out long ago, “danger

invites rescue,” and the Bay Area is rising to the challenge. Led by Together We Stand, a coalition of community organizations including Justice for Josiah, Resistance SF, the Michael Chapman Foundation, and the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club will assemble at noon Saturday, December 16, in Union Square to respond to fascist demonstrators, who plan to oppose justice for undocumented immigrants in general – and San Francisco’s sanctuary city policy in particular. The action has two objectives: first, to hold Union Square and shut down the fascist event by outnumbering

(and out-shouting) the bigots; second, to take the streets through a march. As a result, there’s work to be done whether one prefers to march, engage in direct action, or both. While there’s been a considerable amount of fascist chatter about their event, that’s usually not a reliable guideline as to how many people they’ll manage to get to show up. In addition, the Brown Berets have graciously agreed to take on security duties for the counterdemonstration so there will be a visible deterrent to the bigots getting physically frisky. That said, I’ll be masking up for

this event for two reasons. First, I believe there’s a higher chance of the fascists indulging their fetish for deploying chemical weapons (like pepper spray) at this event than there is at other actions. Second, while I have the privilege to choose to mask or not, there are a lot of people (like our undocumented comrades) who can be placed in personal jeopardy if they’re doxed by bigots at an event like this. The best way I can think of to support them is to help normalize masking by doing so in these situations. For those reasons, I hope you’ll join me.t

lesbian fans are being warned by the sanctioning body’s anti-discrimination advisers that they should not do anything remotely similar at any time while in the host country of Russia. It’s one more reminder that in one of the most corrupt voting sessions in soccer’s history, the good ole boys decided to hold the 2018 and 2022 championships in countries with little soccer culture but longstanding and active hostility toward LGBT individuals – even if they love soccer. Even sled dog racing is not immune to scandal. This year organizers of Alaska’s Iditarod, a 1,000-mile

sled dog race across the frozen state to Nome, reported a performance enhancing substance was found in four dogs raced by second-place finisher Dallas Seavey. Seavey has denied the allegations and said next year instead he will race his dogs in Norway’s Finnmarkslopet 745-mile race, but sheesh – dog racing? Perhaps the Olympics offer a glimmer of moral hope. Russia has been banned from next year’s Winter Olympic Games in South Korea because of past institutionalized doping that has tainted the entire Russian sports world. Individual athletes can petition to

compete under a neutral banner if they are able to show they are not cheats. So a quiet yeah for the International Olympic Committee, after showing such a tepid reaction to basically the same scandal two years ago heading into the Summer Olympics. That institutional label, by the way, means that the doping was done with the knowledge and supervision of Russian administrators and officials. So you’d think that would pretty much make them gone from the world sports scene, right? Wrong. Russian Deputy Prime Minister

Vitaly Mutko is banned from involvement in all future Olympics because of his role in the doping scandal – but he is the person organizing that World Cup next year where you have to be careful kissing or hugging. Lordy, lordy. Hand me that wrapping paper and the moral compass. Sports needs to grow a spine and a conscience and it needs to grow them now. Stop accepting your sins of the past. As pappy used to tell me, do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. Period. Otherwise, it’s humbug to you.t

a six-unit building above Hearth Coffee Roasters at 3985 17th Street. “We look forward to working with the developer through our PLUC to arrive at design and preservation decisions that complement the proposed property’s surroundings and preserves the memorial in an appropriate manner,” McHale said. For 36 years, MCC-SF occupied the two-story, 5,550-square-foot facility on Eureka Street, having purchased the building for $200,000 in 1979, according to the church’s website. MCC-SF vacated the dilapidated building in February 2015 and moved in with the First Congregational Church at 1300 Polk Street.

A public hearing on the draft EIR will be held December 20, before the Historic Preservation Commission. The meeting starts at 12:30 p.m. in City Hall. The public hearing before the Planning Commission is scheduled for January 18 at 1 p.m. Papale told the B.A.R. that the bricks are likely to go. “When we purchased the building in February 2015, MCC-SF removed all of the stained glass windows but they did not want to take the bricks,” he said. “Instead they were going to reprint miniature bricks and create a replica for their new location when they relocate. They were also going to create an image of the

sidewalk and create a banner for services at their new location.” Papale added that this summer the Reverend Annie SteinbergBehrman, pastor of MCC-SF, restated that the church is not interested in keeping the bricks, but would like them to be donated, if possible, to the Openhouse building for LGBT seniors. “Discussions are underway to replicate [Miracle on Eureka Street] at a different location,” SteinbergBehrman, told the B.A.R. Karyn Skultety, executive director at Openhouse, told the B.A.R. via email that Openhouse and

MCC-SF are working on “identifying a way to re-create the bricks/memorial as part of our new building and construction at 75/95 Laguna.” She noted that “this was not Openhouse’s decision per se. The decision [came] from the folks at MCC after talking with David [Papale and Laurel Village Realtors].” “We support the spirit of this beautiful memorial and would be thrilled to keep it alive and even grow the project as we build a strong community that honors those who we have lost and the LGBTQ elders who live today to tell their stories,” Skultety added. t

one for about $7,500 – were dated in August and not deposited until after Sheahan was last seen alive. In Phillips’ 2000 Infiniti, there were gloves and a Trader Joe’s bag that matched the ones Phillips was seen with in the surveillance video, Discenza testified. He said that a storage locker belonging to Phillips held a credit card of Sheahan’s, along with his wallet and journals. He also said that Ted Solomon, Phillips’ roommate, said that Phillips had been “acting strange” and “paranoid,” and that he’d left hammers around the house and took a security guard card out of his room. Solomon has declined to comment to the B.A.R.

Discenza told Maloof that blood wasn’t found in Phillips’ home and it hasn’t yet been found in his car. A “Jurassic Park” shirt and red hoodie that Phillips allegedly wore in the surveillance footage hasn’t been found. There was no blood in Phillips’ storage units, but Discenza said those are still being processed. Maloof suggested that someone could have entered Sheahan’s apartment without going through the lobby, confirming with Discenza that there was a back fire escape. After Discenza testified that Fuscablo had returned to the Philippines soon after he interviewed him, Maloof said it was “kind of strange” that “the husband of a homicide suspect flees the country” right after his spouse is arrested and he’s questioned by police. But in a Facebook messenger exchange, Fuscablo told the B.A.R. that he left because Solomon had planned to

leave the house they shared and “I don’t have work there. I can’t afford to stay in the cold streets of San Francisco.” Fuscablo, who said that he never met Sheahan, said that he’s “still shocked” and traumatized by what’s happened. “Mike told me Jim died from cancer,” he said, adding, “Mike was very good to me. Very loving, caring, and generous to me.” Fuscablo confirmed that Phillips had sent him money, but he didn’t know how much. He said that Phillips had tried to cash a check from Sheahan October 4 at a Wells Fargo near the Castro district, but the teller wouldn’t cash it because Sheahan had “died already.” He didn’t see how much the check was for. “If you talk to Mike, tell him I miss him and I love him,” said Fuscablo. Phillips has declined the B.A.R.’s interview request. Buckley, the friend of Sheahan’s who was mentioned in court, told the

B.A.R. that she’d been friends with him since 1992. They both worked for the city’s Human Services Agency for years, and she said Sheahan was “a mild-mannered, nice guy,” who was “very interested in art and movies.” After a hospital stay in July, Sheahan had been improving, said Buckley. “He seemed fine,” she said. “He was very upbeat. ... Within a couple of weeks of going home, he was back to his old self.” Buckley said that Phillips had helped Sheahan with small tasks like changing light fixtures or taking items to the dump, and she indicated he might have paid him a small sum, but it’s not possible he would have paid Phillips thousands of dollars. Phillips’ preliminary hearing is expected to continue Wednesday, December 20, with a judge deciding whether there’s sufficient evidence to hold Phillips for trial. t

Sanctuary for all

Defense

Deputy Public Defender Kwixuan Maloof on Monday described Sheahan’s apartment as a “very, very bloody scene,” and said, “You would think the suspect must have been covered in blood.”

Welcome from officials

Roem was welcomed by elected officials, including gay District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, gay City College of San Francisco trustee Rafael Mandelman (who’s running against Sheehy next year), and state Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco). She received proclamations from the mayor’s office, the Board of Supervisors, and the state Legislature. “I know a fellow policy geek,” Chiu

Full disclosure: Victoria Kolakowski is the wife of Cynthia Laird.

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SF Mayor Ed Lee>>

December 14-20, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

Leno to run for SF mayor in June by Matthew S. Bajko

T

he sudden death of Mayor Ed Lee Tuesday in the middle of his second term scrambles the plans of those who were seeking to replace him, including the man seeking to become San Francisco’s first LGBT mayor. Gay former District 8 supervisor and state lawmaker Mark Leno had already announced his 2019 mayoral bid earlier this year. In a phone interview Wednesday morning, Leno confirmed he would run in the special election on the June 5, 2018 primary ballot to serve out the remainder of Lee’s term, which expires January 8, 2020. He planned to spend Wednesday calling those elected leaders, including Supervisors Sandra Lee Fewer, Ahsha Safia, Norman Yee, and Aaron Peskin, who had endorsed him for the 2019 race to ensure he had their support in next year’s election. Leno already had

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raised $400,000 for his mayoral bid, money he can now use on the June race. He sounded unfazed about the expedited timeline and likely having to run against a sitting mayor when asked about the changing dynamics of the race. “I always expected this to be a very competitive race,” said Leno. Tuesday afternoon Leno posted a

Mayor Ed Lee

From page 1

for the powerless, a voice for the overlooked.” Most recently, Mr. Lee had called on the Board of Supervisors to restore almost $700,000 in HIV/AIDS funding in the city’s 2017-18 budget after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut its assistance to the city. Tuesday, the board voted to unanimously to restore the funding. “We have little control over what happens to state and federal funding, but we are taking proactive measures to ensure critical services in San Francisco are protected,” Mr. Lee said in a statement last week. Over the years, it has become common for the CDC to cut funding to San Francisco and for the city to make that up. Since the 2012-13 fiscal year, San Francisco officials have backfilled $14.9 million in cuts to CDC and Ryan White HIV/AIDS funding to the city’s Department of Public Health. In his recent statement, Mr. Lee said, “Our goal is Getting to Zero and to do that we need sustained investment and continued commitment.” The San Francisco AIDS Foundation, which receives millions of dollars in city funding, issued a statement that said during Mr. Lee’s tenure as mayor, “San Francisco made incredible progress toward ending the HIV epidemic.” Under his leadership, the city established the Getting to Zero campaign to eliminate new HIV infections, AIDS-related deaths, and stigma by 2020, the agency noted. Since Mr. Lee took office, San Francisco has had a 47 percent drop in new HIV diagnoses and a 29 percent decrease in AIDS-related deaths. “As we mourn Mayor Lee, we recognize his decades of service, his steadfast commitment to the people

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Rick Gerharter

Then-state Senator Mark Leno talks about legislation in 2014 as Mayor Ed Lee stands behind him.

condolence note to Lee’s family on his Facebook page, in which he described the mayor as “a decent man who could rise above differences of opinion to always treat others with dignity and respect.” He hoped Lee would “be remembered for his humor and his commitment to the city he loved.” Asked what he felt Lee’s legacy would be, Leno told the B.A.R., “I would say that Ed Lee spent his life as a defender of those without a voice, those communities struggling to be treated equally under the law. That includes our LGBTQ communities as well as our immigrant community and all of San Francisco.” District 5 Supervisor London Breed had also been expected to run for mayor in two years. As acting mayor due to her being the board president, she will have the advantage of incumbency should she run in June. For now, Breed will remain as the

Political Notebook

From page 7

wife and two daughters,” said Sheehy, adding that it was hard to say goodbye to his own daughter and husband Tuesday morning. Prior to Lee’s tapping him to fill the vacant supervisor seat, Sheehy didn’t know Lee well. But the two became close this year, often meeting for a meal at Tyger’s, a diner in their neighborhood. “Getting to know him, really I found him to be one of the most decent and genuine people I have known from politics. He didn’t have ego,” said Sheehy, noting that, “We were neighborhood guys and dads. When we spoke our focus was on policy and solving problems, it was not about our political

District 5 supervisor, unless she becomes the interim mayor, at which point she would then appoint her board successor, who would also run in June to serve the remainder of her term through early January 2021. But it is unclear if Breed will be able to secure the six votes she needs among her 10 board colleagues to be elected interim mayor prior to the election. Tuesday was the board’s last official meeting of 2017, making it unlikely the board will vote on the matter until sometime in the new year. Gay District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy told the B.A.R. on Tuesday that it was too soon to discuss the matter. It is possible Breed will remain acting mayor until a new mayor is elected next summer. A number of local officials could opt to run for mayor in the June election, including Supervisors Mark Farrell (D2) and Jane Kim (D6), who will

both be termed off the board in January 2019, or City Attorney Dennis Herrera and Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu, two others said to be eying a bid. Another oft-mentioned candidate for 2019 has been Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), who will now have to decide to either run for mayor or run for re-election to his state Assembly seat next June. The city elections department told the B.A.R. Wednesday that the filing deadline to enter the mayor’s race in June will be January 9 and that the nomination period for candidates opens this Friday, December 15. Two names that won’t be on the ballot next summer are those of gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and gay BART board member Bevan Dufty, a former supervisor who lost his bid for mayor in 2011. Both told the B.A.R. this week they have no plans to run for mayor. t

around two years ago, Mr. Lee “noticed I was struggling,” and a couple of days later, he got a package containing a clip-on tie and a note that said, “I hope you heal well. ... This gift might make it a little easier.” The gesture helps show “what a thoughtful and endearing person he was,” said Bernal.

City leadership

‘A key ally’

of San Francisco, and his support of HIV prevention and care initiatives,” stated San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO Joe Hollendoner. “Mayor Lee was committed to end the HIV epidemic and we will miss him and his leadership.” The agency also pointed to Mr. Lee’s support for its Strut health center, which opened in 2016 in the Castro neighborhood to offer free HIV testing and other services for gay and bisexual men and transgender people. Longtime San Francisco resident, AIDS activist, and HIV survivor Cleve Jones, who founded the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and co-founded SFAF, said in a Facebook post Tuesday, “I disagreed with Mayor Lee on many important issues but his commitment to HIV/AIDS funding was unwavering. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.” Gay San Francisco City College trustee Tom Temprano was among those who gathered at City Hall Tuesday to remember Mr. Lee. Referring to Jones’ post, Temprano said, “I respect few people on HIV/ AIDS issues more than Cleve Jones,” and there’s “a strong legacy the

mayor leaves for our community.” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who in her 30 years in Congress has consistently pushed for HIV/AIDS funding, said in a statement that Mr. Lee’s death was “heartbreaking.” “As a community organizer, civil rights lawyer, and hard-working son of an immigrant family of modest means, Ed Lee understood the strength of a community is measured by its success in meeting the needs of all of its people,” stated Pelosi. “He knew the rhythms and the workings of San Francisco at the most granular level, and dedicated decades to improving the lives of all San Franciscans.” Dan Bernal, a gay man who’s living with HIV and serves as chief of staff for Pelosi’s San Francisco office, was appointed to the city’s Health Commission by Mr. Lee earlier this year. “Year after year, Mayor Lee fought to ensure that San Francisco has the resources it needs to meet the goal of making San Francisco the first city to end new HIV infections,” Bernal told the Bay Area Reporter. Like others, Bernal also recalled Mr. Lee’s sense of humor. He said that after he had shoulder surgery

Rick Zbur, executive director of the statewide LGBT advocacy group Equality California, said in a statement that both San Francisco and the state “have lost a key ally in the fight for LGBTQ civil rights and social justice.” Zbur said that the HIV/AIDS funding Mr. Lee routinely worked for “saved thousands of lives.” He also noted that Mr. Lee helped found the national “Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination” coalition, and he was the first mayor to attend San Francisco’s annual Trans March, though he and other politicians were heckled while on stage in 2016. The mayor left the event. Mr. Lee also created the country’s first position focused on trans issues with the post of senior adviser for transgender initiatives, Zbur pointed out, and he prohibited public funding for city workers traveling to North Carolina when that state decided to allow LGBT discrimination. Although Mr. Lee’s friendliness toward the high tech industry rankled many, Breed said that “more than 140,000 jobs were created” in the city while he was in office, and the city gained “one of the highest minimum wages in the country,” among other achievements. Mr. Lee also supported affordable housing efforts. Gay Planning Department Director John Rahaim told the B.A.R., “I will miss him terribly. He was a big supporter for good planning and housing for all, and making it a good city for everyone.”

ambitions or careers.” Many LGBT leaders expressed shock and sorrow at the news of Lee’s passing. Christina Olague, the bisexual woman Lee named in 2012 as District 5 supervisor only to lose her race that fall for a full term on the board to Breed, wrote on Facebook, “Sad, my heart goes out to his family and the community on the passing of San Francisco’s first Chinese American Mayor...” City College board member Alex Randolph, a gay man initially appointed to the oversight committee in 2015 by Lee, recalled working with him to organize the same-sex wedding ceremonies that took place in 2008 when Lee was the city administrator and he was the LGBT liaison to then-mayor Gavin Newsom, whom Lee succeeded after Newsom was elected the state’s lieutenant governor in 2010.

“He has been a champion of my community and people like me for a very long time. It is a loss to the city, a loss to me personally, and it is a very sad day,” said Randolph, who last spoke to the mayor two weeks ago and had a meeting planned with him the day after he died. Rebecca Rolfe, executive director of the city’s LGBT community center, told the B.A.R. Lee leaves behind “a really strong legacy” not just on LGBT issues but myriad matters he tackled while in office. “It is an enormously sad day for all of San Francisco,” said Rolfe, who recently returned from a monthslong sabbatical. “I think Mayor Lee was someone who wanted to really understand the challenges of the city and be practical in solving those challenges.”

Gay BART board director Bevan Dufty, a former District 8 supervisor who worked for Lee as his first adviser on homeless issues, told the B.A.R. that Lee’s lasting impact on San Francisco would not be known for some time but that there is no question he “made history” during his time in office. “I think losing someone so unexpectedly is so traumatic, and as our city’s mayor the effect is widely felt,” said Dufty. “As a former political staffer, I think a lot about his family, who made many sacrifices for him to serve in such an all-encompassing position, and then I think about his staff, who are devastated at his loss.” Lesbian Health Director Barbara Garcia, like Dufty one of several out city department heads Lee appointed as mayor, told the B.A.R. she, like so many others within city government,

Rick Gerharter

Mayor Ed Lee and Barbara Garcia, a lesbian whom he named city health director, talked at the opening of the Bridge HIV research office in September 2012.

City Attorney Dennis Herrera said at Tuesday’s news conference that as acting mayor, Breed “has all the powers and responsibilities” that come with the city’s top office, and she’ll also retain her Board of Supervisors presidency and remain District 5 supervisor. An election will be held June 5, 2018, and “the next mayor will be chosen to fill the unexpired term,” which ends January 8, 2020, Herrera said. Herrera said the supervisors could choose to vote for an interim mayor, but the charter does not require that. A Facebook post by the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance, which in 2014 was the first major LGBT group in the city to announce its support of Mr. Lee’s re-election campaign, said he was a longtime ally and supporter of the LGBT community. “Our love goes out to his family, staff, and everyone here in this beautiful City by the Bay,” the group stated. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, who worked with Mr. Lee on various regional issues, said he was “an incredibly gracious man.” “My dear friend and colleague Mayor Ed Lee has passed away, leaving us too early,” Liccardo said in a statement. “Ed was a good and incredibly gracious man, at a time when goodness, graciousness, and civility are not sufficiently appreciated in public life.” Governor Jerry Brown said in a statement Tuesday that he and his wife Anne Gust Brown “extend our deepest condolences to Mayor Lee’s family, his many friends and the entire City of San Francisco. Ed was a true champion for working people and epitomized the California spirit. He’ll truly be missed.” Mr. Lee is survived by his wife, Anita, and two daughters, Brianna and Tania. Flags will be flown at half-staff in the city for 30 days.t

is “very saddened” by the mayor’s passing. She had been working closely with Lee on ending the HIV epidemic in the city as well as potentially opening the country’s first safe injection site and expects those initiatives will continue to move forward under the new mayor. “The mayor was clearly continuing the leadership of the previous mayor in response to HIV and AIDS and that is so important for the continuation of the work we have been trying to do to get to zero HIV transmissions, HIV deaths, and stigma,” said Garcia, who met the ambulance that brought Lee to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and remained there until early Tuesday morning. “He always provided us an opportunity to look at issues in the community to improve overall health.” t

<< Classifieds

20 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 14-20, 2017

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037830300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WOLFRAM LOGISTICS, 5657 CALIFORNIA ST #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed AI LI LIANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/01/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/06/17.

NOV 23, 30, DEC 07, 14, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037852700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WAGO SUSHI, 2365 CHESTNUT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed WAN HWA CHOI. 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 11/17/17.

NOV 23, 30, DEC 07, 14, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037845400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HASETPHARMA, 3428 FULTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DANIEL WONDWASSEN WOLDEMICHEAL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/14/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/14/17.

NOV 23, 30, DEC 07, 14, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037851000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PROSPECT STUDIO, 41 PUTNAM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed FIONA HOVENDEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/16/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/16/17.

NOV 23, 30, DEC 07, 14, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037849900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SF GATHERING PLACE, 1300 KEARNY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed YULIA ISKANDAR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/14/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/16/17.

NOV 23, 30, DEC 07, 14, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037851100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: COPPER & MARUKO, 1058 PLYMOUTH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GRACE IEONG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/15/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/16/17.

NOV 23, 30, DEC 07, 14, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037850500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GRANDE ELECTRIC, 1800 GOUGH ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed FRANCISCO ANTONIO SIGUENZA GRANDE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/16/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/16/17.

NOV 23, 30, DEC 07, 14, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037835700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JENNIFER NORMOYLE THERAPY, 1939 DIVISADERO ST #2E, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JENNIFER NORMOYLE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/07/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, C.A on 11/09/17.

NOV 23, 30, DEC 07, 14, 2017

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037847800

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037860700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HOUSE OF SUSHI, 2157 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MSAB GROUP INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/01/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/15/17.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 501 MANAGEMENT LLC, 501 41ST AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed 501 MANAGEMENT LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/21/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/21/17.

NOV 23, 30, DEC 07, 14, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037839600

NOV 30, DEC 07, 14, 21, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037864800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PAPERCATS, 626 10TH AVE #2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed KOOJOE STUDIOS (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/10/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/10/17.

NOV 23, 30, DEC 07, 14, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037848800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BRIGADEIROSPRINKLES, 1999 BROADWAY #22, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BREDE WEG PARTNERS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/15/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/15/17.

NOV 23, 30, DEC 07, 14, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037840000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SIAM ORCHID THAI MASSAGE, 39 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed PRASOMSUK LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/10/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/10/17.

NOV 23, 30, DEC 07, 14, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037845900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SHIRLEY SERVICES, 786 28TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed QI SHUANG GUAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/14/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/14/17.

NOV 30, DEC 07, 14, 21, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037837300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NORTH BAY AUTO GLASS, 60 - 29TH ST #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LUIS SARAT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/07/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/09/17.

NOV 30, DEC 07, 14, 21, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037864900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FEMININE WISDOM, 691 POST ST #204, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LORAE A. LAURITCH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/17/03. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/27/17.

NOV 30, DEC 07, 14, 21, 2017

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BENDER & COHEN, 849 AVE. D, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94130. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed TREEHOUSE CRAFT DISTILLERY, 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 11/27/17.

NOV 30, DEC 07, 14, 21, 2017 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-037656400

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: SUGAR ETC, 3732 20TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110.This business was conducted by an individual and signed by ULRIKE ZINNKANN.The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/26/17.

NOV 30, DEC 07, 14, 21, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037848100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE FLOWER GARDEN SHOP, 2770 SAN BRUNO AVE #6, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DANIELLE QUILES. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/15/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/15/17.

DEC 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037867000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HANNAH PIFER DESIGN, 100 HAIGHT ST #2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HANNAH PIFER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/28/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/28/17.

DEC 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037848500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BEAUTY IN EVERY WIG, 1333 YOSEMITE CIRCLE, OAKLEY, CA 94561. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BRITANY GIRON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/15/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/15/17.

DEC 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037867900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PEDAL PUPS, 33 8TH ST #1940, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SCOTT LEE FRIESEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/22/27. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/28/17.

DEC 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037865900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GO GO 7, 1300 OCEAN AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARILYN SERAN LEE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/27/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/27/17.

DEC 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037876000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PAUL & DAVE’S MIXED DRINKS, 150 AVOCET WAY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed DAVID SPRINGER & PAUL FRANCEUS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/01/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/04/17.

DEC 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037861700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CPM ENVIRONMENTAL, INC., 1821 UNION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CPM ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.(CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/04/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/22/17.

DEC 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037875800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PIIR SOUL LLC, 1156 GOETTINGEN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed PIIR SOUL LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/15/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/01/17.

DEC 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-17-553513

In the matter of the application of: GHANI BOUHADRA, 800 EMBARCADERO #237, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner GHANI BOUHADRA, is requesting that the name GHANI BOUHADRA, be changed to DANIEL WILLIAMS BIRBAUM. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Room 514 on the 1st of Feb 2018 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037851200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: IBARRA CHIROPRACTIC, 550A CASTRO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RYNE IBARRA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/01/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/16/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037866100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHINATOWN MAGIC, 530 POINT LOBOS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CYNTHIA F. YEE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/14/08. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/27/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037880700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CAMPOS CREATIVE, 1259 HAYES ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANDREA CAMPOS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/05/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/05/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037886700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BANKHEAD EQUIPMENT, 1801 JERROD AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JACK BANKHEAD. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/07/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/08/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037857700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as:ANGELA GRACE DESIGN, 2389 FILBERT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123.This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANGELA GRACE SCALETTA.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 11/21/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037872700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ANCHOR MEDITATION, 748 B PORTOLA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94129. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KELLY MICHEL RYAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/01/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/30/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037878800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CREED CORE FITNESS, 145 GARDENSIDE DR #17, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KA YAN CHIU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/30/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/05/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037882300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GOLDEN MEDIA MARKETING, 246 THRIFT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JESSE SAETEURN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/06/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/06/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037854400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHEAPER CIGARETTES, 1709 NORIEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SHARIFI BROTHERS INVESTMENTS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/17/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/17/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037885600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RAAVI INDIAN NEPALESE, 1063 MARKET ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BHUWAN FOOD INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/07/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/07/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037885800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SENSE8, 404 CLIPPER COVE WAY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94130. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed TREASURE8 LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/20/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/07/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037879200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FLOR DE CAFE, 1020 VALENCIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed LOPEZ ALVAREZ & OLVERA LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/05/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/05/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037879000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SPICE OF AMERICA, 1655 MARKET ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed THE SPICE CLUB LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/01/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/05/17.

DEC 14, 21, 28, JAN 04, 2018

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Storm watch

Garden tour

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SandBox set

Trans rite

Sony Pictures Classics

Vol. 47 • No. 50 • December 14-20, 2017

www.ebar.com/arts

Two young men find romance in Italy by David Lamble

R

omantic Italian director Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name” provides LGBTQ filmgoers with a delicious boy-meets-boy romance exploring the nuances of same-sex affection over a glorious Northern Italian summer circa 1983. It opens this Friday in San Francisco, and more widely throughout the Bay Area on Dec. 22. See page 29 >>

Elio (Timothee Chalamat) meets Oliver (Armie Hammer) in director Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name.”

Sigrid Estrada

'Call Me' goes from page to screen by Brian Bromberger

W

ith all the raves that the new movie “Call Me By Your Name” has garnished along the festival circuit as perhaps the most anticipated gay film of the year, people are rediscovering the best-selling novel by Andre Aciman published a decade ago and recently reissued by Picador. Critics declared the book an instant classic, depicting a great gay love story between Elio and Oliver. The B.A.R. interviewed Aciman by email. Aciman identifies as straight, making his convincing portrait of a beautiful same-sex romance a great accomplishment. For him, there was no incident that inspired the novel’s creation. “The story started with a house and trees, a swimming pool, then took a totally unforeseen turn. I just followed, and sometimes when it hesitated, I gave it a slight nudge.” Aciman claims that no one has ever asked if he is gay. “As a rule I don’t like to discuss my private life. What they presume is their business, not mine.” Does he see any differences in intimacy between straight and LGBTQ relationships? “I think the intensity of intimacy, when it happens, is the same everywhere, regardless of one’s sexual orientation. Sex can happen with no intimacy, just as romance can blossom without sex. But then again, the libido, once stirred, is the same, so far as I know, in both.” See page 22

>>

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

“Call Me By Your Name” author Andre Aciman.

<< Out There

22 • Bay Area Reporter • December 14-20, 2017

Press release potpourri by Roberto Friedman

O

h those press releases, they do pile up in Out There’s old in-box! This week, we let the publicists do the talking as we re-print, (almost) verbatim and minimally edited, some of the more interesting releases we’ve received this week. The truly dumdum ones: those, we save for another week! 1. Fans of the immortal divos-in-

tutus troupe the Trocks will want to know about a new film opening this Friday, Dec. 15, in Landmark Theatres. “Exploring universal themes of identity, dreams and family, ‘Rebels on Pointe’ is the first-ever documentary film celebrating the world-famous Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. The notorious all-male, drag ballet-company was founded over 40 years ago in New

York City on the heels of the Stonewall riots, and has a passionate cult following around the world. “The film juxtaposes intimate behind-the-scenes access, rich archives and history, engaging character-driven stories, and dance performances shot in North America, Europe and Japan. ‘Rebels on Pointe’ is a creative blend of gender-bending artistic expression, diversity, passion and purpose. It’s a story that ultimately proves that a ballerina is not only a woman dancing – but an act of revolution in a tutu.” Bravi! 2. News about a DVD/Blu-ray release of uncommon gay-history interest: “On June 24, 1973, an arsonist set fire to the Up Stairs Lounge, a gay bar located on the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans. The fire ultimately killed 32 people and severely injured countless others. It permanently altered lives and was the root of many lifelong struggles. “With exclusive on-camera interviews from survivors, witnesses and friends and families of victims, and a fresh perspective incorporating long-lost artifacts, newsreel footage and photographs that haven’t been seen in decades, ‘Upstairs Inferno’ vividly examines this oft-forgotten story and is considered the most comprehensive and authoritative film about the tragedy and its aftermath.” Both viewing formats include bonus features including “Behindthe-Scenes: The Making of Upstairs Inferno” and a “Present-Day Tour of the Up Stairs Lounge.” More info on the film narrated by Christopher Rice and directed by

Robert L. Camina can be found at upstairsinferno.com. 3. “The Beatles’ first demonstration single for Parlophone, ‘Love Me Do,’ has been officially confirmed as sold through Discogs music marketplace for $14,757, breaking a Discogs sales record for a 7” single. Released on Oct. 5, 1962, this is one of only 250 issued with Paul McCartney’s name incorrectly spelled McArtney in the writing credit. The single was purchased through Discogs nearly 55 years to the day of release, having sold on Oct. 9, 2017.” Oh, those fab songwriters Paul McArtney and John L. Eminem! 4. “Quickening” is a disc on the Navona Records label featuring composer Robert Hugill’s songs set to texts by English and Welsh poets, performed by talented young British artists Johnny Herford (baritone), Anna Huntley (mezzo-soprano), Rosalind Ventris (viola) and William Vann (piano). “The disc includes a setting of Rowan Williams’ powerful poem ‘Winterreise: for Gillian Rose, 9 December 1995,’ as well as a sequence of Christina Rosetti’s poems on the theme of renewal; poems by A.E. Housman that explore love that transcends the love of comrades; and poems by the poet and composer Ivor Gurney.” As for the gay stuff: “Hugill chooses four poems in which Hous-

t

man makes veiled references about his unrequited love for Moses Jackson, and turns them into a cycle describing their relationship.” All of OT’s love songs are novelty records. 5. Bay Area Rainbow Symphony [BARS], with Cyrus Ginwala, guest conductor, performs music of Shostakovich (Symphony No. 5), Prokofiev (Piano Concerto No. 3, with Roger Woodward, piano) and Copland (“Outdoor Overture”), on Sat., Dec. 16, at 8 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. Taube Atrium Theater, 401 Van Ness Ave., 4th floor, SF. The concert is part of BARS’ LGBTQ Composer and Performing Artist Series, which strives to redefine perceptions of LGBTQ music and increase awareness of the beauty, talents, and accomplishments of fellow LGBTQ individuals and groups. Info: www. bars-sf.org. 6. Finally, here’s our pick for the outstanding newspaper correction of the week, found in The New York Times on Sun., Dec. 3, 2107: “An article last Sunday about Fiona the hippo misstated the weight of Bibi, Fiona’s mother. She weighs about 3,300 pounds, not 8,000 pounds. The article also referred imprecisely to the care Fiona received at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital during a bout of dehydration. She was cared for by nurses, not doctors.” By some very heavy nurses.t

Courtesy Icarus Films

(Left to right:) Dancers Robert Carter, Philip Martin-Nielson, Chase Johnsey, Laszlo Major and Chris Ouelette in the Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo documentary “Rebels on Pointe.”

<<

Andre Aciman

From page 21

Aciman adores the film, even though he played no role in its making. How does the book differ from the movie? “The film could not treat the whole novel, so there is this fundamental and significant difference. But the emotional impact is powerful in both, so what the film needed to elide doesn’t really matter. What interests me as a writer is to see how a brilliant director manages to recreate in moving images what seemed totally and inexorably bound to prose. A gaze on film is worth three pages of introspection, and an intercepted aside that took a second to film can say more than an entire paragraph. I am baffled by the genius of film.” What did Aciman think of the producers choosing the gay 89-year-old director James Ivory, of Merchant/Ivory fame, to write the script? “I think James Ivory has an instinct for making choices that I found simply humbling. A prose writer can take winding roads a filmmaker cannot. He has to distill,

to flesh out, to interpret, and at the same time to capture what a writer is normally at leisure to excavate as much as he wishes. The script was perfect. The scenes that I labored over were in fact rendered verbatim in the film, so James knew there were moments in the novel when the exact choices of words were the right ones. Where the writer in me went on a bit, he simply edited. I don’t think a gay person was better suited to write the script. James was simply immensely talented.” Much has changed in mainstream society’s acceptance of LGBTQ people in the decade since the book was written. Aciman feels it’s not so much LGBTQ people who may profit from reading the book, other than to see that “desire and love, in whichever form they come, are always good.” Rather, he believes their parents may benefit more. “I don’t want people to see the film and cry when they wish their parents had spoken to them the way the father speaks to Elio. I want the parents to cry and say, ‘This is how I, too, promise to speak when the times come for me to speak to my son

or daughter.’ Art should sometimes teach us to be better human beings.” Aciman recommends moviegoers read the novel. “If they loved the film, which is truly impossible not to love, and don’t want to lose the feelings the film stirred up, they’ll want to linger in Elio’s and Oliver’s summer. If they fall in love with them, they’ll want to live with their love. If the film is an extension of the novel, the novel now is an extension of the film.” Why has the film struck such a chord with audiences? “The film and the novel free gay love from prejudice, violence, and sickness. Perhaps 10 years ago this was not possible, but it did take 10 long years for the right combination of actors, directors, and producers to converge. There were people who knew all along this was going to be a huge success. I owe them everything. This story is not sad because it is about gay love; it is sad because, as I say in the novel, time makes everything sad. Time just happens to all of us. But in their love, Elio and Oliver are the most mirthful, happy lovers I’ve ever seen or read about.”t

To keep from slipping on the ice, polar bears have fur on the bottoms of their feet. You may have to hold onto a friend.

Open through January 7 Explore the science behind the season and learn how Arctic polar bears survive and thrive in frozen polar ecosystems at this annual holiday exhibit. This year, falling snow flurries, wintry surprises, and an all-new holiday ice rink await! Open every day this holiday season. Get tickets at calacademy.org

28525-CAS-TisSeason-Print-Polar-Bay Area Reporter-9.75x16-11.16.17-FA.indd 1

11/16/17 5:36 PM

<< Theatre

24 • Bay Area Reporter • December 14-20, 2017

When the moral stakes are high by Richard Dodds

up an inevitable showdown with the anti-fascist German s there such a thing as activist who is on a Nazi hittrickle-down morality? list. Inevitable but not swift, Perhaps that’s how messages as we must await it through were thought best sent when tangents of wan skullduggery, Lillian Hellman wrote “Watch romantic jealousy, lighthearton the Rhine.” If audiences saw ed riffs on shopping, and how the regal class could rise snappy banter between Fanny to an occasion, perhaps they and her youngest grandson. could emulate that behavior. It’s what this play is made That the circumstances were of of, and a production can do high-theatrical artifice problittle more than massage it ably helped the medicine go in ways that makes it as dradown like a slice of Black Formatically potent as possible. est gateau. In its co-production with the In pulling the 1941 play Guthrie Theatre of Minnefrom the mothballs, Berkeley apolis, Berkeley Rep is offerRep has maintained its whoing a strongly realized staging. lives-like-this patina while There is Neil Patel’s set of suggesting a renewed relevance stately elegance (though the for this curiosity piece in our neon-like lights outlining the curious times. Set in 1940, proscenium are an unnecesbefore the U.S. had entered sary effort at a contemporary the war, “Watch on the Rhine” effect). There is also a robust was a cry against homeland cast under Lisa Peterson’s complacency to the spread of careful direction, in which the fascism in Europe. When the players land on different levels moral stakes are high, Hellof theatricality and show no man was saying, the fence is no hurry to pull the play far from place to loll. its origins. The setting is a simply grand While the movie version house along the Potomac that headlined Bette Davis, outside Kevin Berne is ruled by a matriarch given her usual waspish character to sweeping entrances, grand Sarah Agnew, left, plays a long-absent daughter who returns with her as the wife and daughter with gestures, and pithy bon mots. impoverished activist-husband (Elijah Alexander) to the family home ruled over by ever-so-earnest convictions, Fanny Farrelly’s second biggest an elegant matriarch (Caitlin O’Connell) in “Watch on the Rhine” at Berkeley Rep. it is Caitlin O’Connell as the concern is the pesky houseimperious but flighty Fanny guests who, in the world of this who dominates the Berkeley and their three children. It’s almost a once the exiled count-in-residence play, are Balkan royalty. Her Rep production. O’Connell setup that Kaufman and Hart could recognizes the German-born husprimary concern is the impending vivaciously suggests something of have provided. band of the homecoming daughter. arrival of her estranged daughter, the grandeur of a mature Miriam But you soon know that the frivFacts are ferreted out by this noblewho has been living an unprivileged Hopkins as she tries to keep under olous atmosphere will cloud over man of swayable conscience, setting life with a husband of modest means control her oddly matched house-

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guests. As the daughter who has returned after 20 years away, Sarah Agnew favors a lower-key modesty in contrast to Davis’ hyper-enunciated take on the character. Elijah Alexander carries himself with an enormous physical and spiritual weight as her husband fatalistically committed to his cause. As the Romanian count, Jonathan Walker employs a heavy-duty accent full of portent, while Kate Guentzel takes a much lighter approach to his flirtatious wife. She is in love with Fanny’s son, a lawyer like his late father who lives with his mother and has had multiple short-term flings with insubstantial women who, in a modern analysis, would probably be beards. It is a dully written character, given hints of animation by Hugh Kennedy. There are three substantial roles for children, a challenging casting assignment well filled by Silas Sellnow, Emma Curtin, and especially, Jonah Horowitz as the precocious youngest of the trio. Although the play is dusty and can be tedious, Hellman’s dialogue still finds a target amid current political affairs. “By this time, all of us must know where we are and what we must do,” says the daughter who gave up genteel luxury for a cause. “It’s an indulgence to sit in a room and discuss your beliefs as if they were a juicy piece of gossip.”t “Watch on the Rhine” will run through Jan. 14 at Berkeley Rep. Tickets are $45-$97. Call (510) 647-2949 or go to berkeleyrep.org.

Moody manor on the moors by Richard Dodds

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rom its days when actors performed in T-shirts and with scripts in hand, 42nd Street Moon has traveled a long distance, and its current production of “The Secret Garden” may be its farthest reach yet. In song and style, the musical can be a somber affair, not at all like the toe-tapping affairs that have long been fodder for the troupe, but the considerable resources gone into this admirable production are not always enough to make it an enchanting one. Large does of enchantment are required to pull forth vibrancy not easily accessible in this adaptation

of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1911 children’s novel. With music by Lucy Simon, and lyrics and book by Marsha Norman, the 1991 musical suffers from claustrophobia at the Gateway Theatre, as Brian Watson’s substantial set squeezes most action into an even smaller space than the stage allows. It is a story that takes place on the bleak expanses of the Yorkshire moors, and in a rambling manor of hidden rooms and passages – not to mention the wondrous titular garden – and a slideshow of projections is ineffective at suggesting there is something more on stage. Misselthwaite Manor is the new home to 10-year-old Mary Lennox,

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A FILM BY

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who has been left an orphan when a cholera epidemic kills her parents stationed in colonial India. Her only relative is her dour, reclusive uncle, who maintains the manor as a mausoleum to his late wife, and who agrees to become Mary’s dutiful guardian as long as he need not emotionally engage. Left to her own devices, and abetted by several sympathetic servants and a hefty dose of magic, Mary’s explorations into forbidden areas bring forth rebirth both spiritual and botanical. The songs are largely moody variations of English folk tunes and ballads that the cast performs earnestly and connects with occasionally. The libretto moves slowly, at times cumbersomely, and then bursts into sudden rushes. Director Dyan McBride deals with these facts with some success, although the big reveal of the mysterious buried key to the walled-off garden is about as gripping as discovering where you mislaid the car keys, while the musical’s annoying insistence on bringing back aristocratic and exotic ghosts from the Raj is not helped by also turning them into furniture movers when they are not awkwardly dancing in ballroom style. The production’s biggest asset is Katie Maupin as Mary Lennox. The young performer has an intensity that holds focus, and is an engaging presence as the character evolves from churlishly spoiled to an almost holy redeemer. While Brian Watson, as her new guardian, doesn’t have to do a Quasimodo, that he only sports a hardly noticeable out-of-place shoulder pad is actually a distraction when we are repeatedly told that he is a hunchbacked cripple. He is suitably grim in the role, and is best heard in a duet with his brother (Edward Hightower) over their mutual love for his late wife. Lucinda Hitchcock Cone is impressively stern as the manor’s head housekeeper, while Heather Orth

Ben Krantz Studios

Lonely orphan Mary Lennox (Katie Maupin) finds a friend in a servant (Maureen Orth) in her bleak new manor home in “The Secret Garden” at the Gateway Theatre.

brings welcome cheerfulness as the servant Martha, who enables Mary’s rule-breaking behavior. Martha’s handyman brother Dickon is another enabler, played jauntily if with a bit too much effortful elfin-ness by Keith Pinto. Although given only to sporadic spectral appearances, Sharon Rietkerk gets to display the production’s most appealing singing voice. By the end of “The Secret Garden,” you may feel more admiration than misty eyes. While I suppose it

can be billed as family entertainment, and the novel from which it’s drawn has entertained generations of children, the musical and this production of it don’t exactly seem a holiday treat for smaller theatergoers. Adults are better able to control their squirming.t “The Secret Garden” will run through Dec. 24 at the Gateway Theatre. Tickets are $28-$75. Call (415) 255-8207 or go to 42ndstmoon.org.

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<< Music

26 • Bay Area Reporter • December 14-20, 2017

SoundBox: It’s a family affair by Philip Campbell

the SFS joined with actual family members and oundBox, the San Franfriends for an encouraging cisco Symphony’s experiand satisfying display of mental performance venue musical legacy and inheriand live music nightclub, tance. launched a fourth season of If SoundBox is pitched fashionably-later “curated” primarily to culturally concerts last week with no adventurous new listenone less than enduring and ers, “Connections” made endearing Music Director a good case for the future Michael Tilson Thomas, of the project. Nothing hosting and performing in too long or terribly “difan aptly named evening, ficult” was presented, but “Connections.” the scope and range of the Detractors of the Soundcompositions showed how Box experience may grumble interesting and appealing about increasing difficulty in the classical repertoire can pouncing on tickets online be when it is imaginatively (which are often sold out in packaged. less than 15 minutes) then Seeing fathers and waiting in long queues to get mothers performing with in. Arriving super-early to their sons and daughters, assure a good spot indoors and Big Daddy MTT makalso offers no guarantees. ing his devotion apparent, Loyalists don’t seem to mind. was not only heart-warmIf you have ever lined up for ing, but also artistically Brandon Patoc brunch or sought entry to exciting. The warmth of an obscure music club, you San Francisco Symphony Music Director the interactions cheered doubtless already know it can Michael Tilson Thomas hosted and performed in the audience, too; converactually factor into the fun. “Connections” at SoundBox. sation during the frequent The congenial spirit is intermissions was lively communicable from the getand enthusiastic. environment. The interior design go, and once inside the spectacular German conductor Christian is minimalist and industrial-chic. space, with a brew or cocktail in Reif, Resident Conductor and Wattis For “Connections,” video designer hand, SoundBox offers an immerFoundation Music Director of the Adam Larsen and lighting designer sive way to enjoy great music. Art SFS Youth Orchestra, served with Luke Kritzeck further enhanced installations, marvelous projection MTT and later played some piano. the exciting atmosphere with their screens and shifting stage areas go Fearless Leader also played piano in kaleidoscopic visuals. well with drinks and tapas. the first set, and it was good to see “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge The remarkable Meyer Sound him at the keyboard too. was playing as exit music after the Constellation system has transPrincipal Flute of the SFS Tim show ended, but the spirit of the formed a cavernous rehearsal Day paired with his son Britton Day song was threaded throughout the space into an amazing acoustic in some Faure and Ibert. Young celwhole night. Instrumentalists of

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Courtesy the subject

“Connections” featured composer Sam Post’s “Sketches from Kazakhstan.”

list Oliver Herbert joined a devotedly supportive MTT for the complete Debussy Cello Sonata in D minor. Principal Bassoon Stephen Paulson wowed with some up-close and personal solo Bach, then bounded to the main stage for a wildly kinetic duet with his son Greg Paulson, guitarist for Progressive Death Metal band Arkaik. Starting to get the picture? Veteran Associate Principal Cello of the SFS Peter Wyrick and wife Amy Hiraga, SFS Violin Member since 2005, sat with their daughter, violinist Mayumi Wyrick; SFS Viola Nancy Ellis; and cellist Oliver Herbert for an excerpt from Schubert’s String Quintet in C Major. Making an amusing and affectionate introduction to the Scherzo movement

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about to be performed, Wyrick impishly said the entire piece runs about an hour, hastily adding they would not be performing the entire score. The audience audibly exhaled with relief. If SoundBox is more about tasting than going through an entire meal, that doesn’t lessen the impact. The longest set, composer Sam Post’s “Sketches from Kazakhstan,” based on themes by late dombra player Karshyga Akhmedyarov rearranged for chamber orchestra, held the eager crowd’s attention without strain. Akhmedyarov’s daughter, SFS Violin since 2006 Raushan Akhmedyarova, was soloist in the flashy and tuneful piece. The “connections” were clear in the commissioning of Post’s thrilling score, and the performance highlighted how closely allied folk-music traditions are between world nations. Synthesizing the legendary dombra master’s themes into his own music, Post has created a breathtaking musical joy ride. Chunming Mo, SFS Violin Member since 1991, joined Alina Kobialka (daughter of former SFS principal second violinist Daniel Kobialka) and Christian Reif at the piano for an arrangement of the Praeludium from Five Pieces for 2 Violins & Piano by Shostakovich. The violinists also navigated Ligeti’s agreeably folksy Ballad and Dance. “Connections” was certainly a family affair for performers and listeners alike, but another theme song, with MTT in mind, might also have applied. Anyone remember Crispian St. Peters’ “Follow me, I’m the Pied Piper?”t

Music for the holiday season, part 1 by Jason Victor Serinus

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ince sometime before Santa first grew his Claus, I’ve been reviewing holiday music for the B.A.R. As fate would have it, the recordings that made their way to me this year are virtually all about Christmas, overwhelmingly classical, and virtually all available as downloads. I’m not one to sing the “If You Can’t Lick Them, Join Them Carol,” but what is, is. Welcome to the first installment of our two-part survey of Christmas music. Vintage Christmas, David Ian Trio (Prescott Records) Sweet, simple, unchallenging fare this, with the traditional sounds of Ian’s jazz piano

trio and assorted percussion performing gentle takes on everything from “Deck the Halls” to “Good King Wenceslas.” Even upbeat carols such as “Joy to the World” have a lovely vintage halo that declares cozy times by the fireside (or, in our case, the propane-fueled pseudofireplace) and eggnog über alles. Imagine Christmas, Various Artists (Sono Luminus) Available as a very hi-resolution download, as well as in ear-burning mp3, this superbly recorded album presents a dazzling mix of excellent soloists and ensembles performing everything from Tchaikovsky’s “December: Christmas” (Bruce Levingston, piano) and Jascha Heifetz’s arrangement of

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Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” (Irina Muresanu & Matei Varga) to “Joy to the World” (reimagined by Cuarteto LatinoAmericano & Lydia Lewis) and Lee Mendelson and Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time Is Here” (reimagined by Caleb Nei). Just imagine what the American Contemporary Music Ensemble’s “Silent Night” sounds like. Totally tasteful, absolutely delightful, and highly recommended as the perfect Christmas refresher. A Song for Christmas, The London Quartet, Cantabile (Champs Hill Records) Although a few of the very English voices in The London Quartet betray a bit of wobble, they convey the joyous spirit of the season in a mix of contemporary, pop, Broadway-tinged songs and a few classic carols. Franz Gruber (1781-1863), Sammy Cahn (191393), and Paul McCartney (b. 1942) rub shoulders on a disc in which good vibes occasionally trump the need for editing. Thys Yool: A Medieval Christmas, Martin Best Ensemble (Nimbus Records) A re-release of an early digital classic (1988) by an early music ensemble, this seriously assembled four-part program merges Christian and pagan traditions in music that spans some 350 years. It’s a shame that Thys Yool wasn’t recorded a good 15 years later, when digital technology began to mature. Nonetheless, what we do have is alternately moving, rousing, and enlightening. Best’s arrangement of “There is no rose” for unaccompanied voices seems to presage the impeccably tuned, unadorned sound we came to love from the now-retired American women’s quartet Anonymous 4. Christmas Presence, The King’s Singers (Signum Classics) Recorded live in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, the venerable male English sextet The King’s Singers performs Christmas repertoire from the

Renaissance to the present day. Enjoy Orlando de Lassus and William Byrd rubbing shoulders with Francis Poulenc and Mel Torme, all in the best of spirits. Chanticleer’s countertenors and male sopranos could certainly give the high voices

in this group a run for their money, but once you make peace with their sound, The King’s Singers’ sincere performances, captured in an extremely warm, natural acoustic, are a balm for the soul. O Holy Night: A Merton Chorus, Choir of Merton College, Oxford; Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Benjamin Nicholas (Delphian) Yup, the English seem to be hooked on Christmas as always, with a traditional mixed-voice English College choir of women and men mixing a cappella performances with others that include full orchestra and organ. Listening to this disc feels very much like what I imagine being at a concert in Oxford during the holiday season would feel like. Lots of favorites here, and a lot to love. Christmas Card Carols by John Turner, Intimate Voices, directed by Christopher Stokes (Divine Art) Recorder player John Turner has performed with many famed early music ensembles, including David Munrow’s Early Music Consort of London and the English Baroque Soloists, and given first performances of over 600 works for the recorder. These include pieces by two of America’s most famous gay composers, Leonard Bernstein and the Ned Rorem. Here, however, Turner joins forces with other English musicians and singers to perform his own “Christmas Card Carols,” which he composed each year for friends. Many of these were written for fellow composers, performers, and academics, as well as in response to church commissions. “Christmas Lullaby” (2010), for example, was dedicated to pianist Stephen Hough “in memory of his and my adored music teacher Douglas Steele, a pupil of Bruno Walter and sometime assistant to Sir Thomas Beecham.” If that doesn’t make you want to take a listen, nothing will.t

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Television>>

December 14-20, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 27

Sexual assault claims plague TV biz by Victoria A. Brownworth

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n a week where the horrific California wildfires seem an alltoo-obvious metaphor for what’s happening in Washington and yet another signal that we must take climate change as seriously as possible, there was little good to report on the tube. There was a Pentatonix Christmas special on NBC, which we watched because who doesn’t love Pentatonix, and who doesn’t love out, flaming queen and superb soprano Mitch Grassi? Jennifer Hudson was a featured performer, and she brought the house down with her rendition of “How Great Thou Art.” We wondered anew how it was that she didn’t win “American Idol.” There were also a couple of gay moments, just a few because most series have already had their season finales. There was a bedroom scene on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” between Darryl (Pete Gardner) and White Josh (David Hull, and you have to watch to find out why he’s called White Josh) that we’d never thought we’d see on the tube. Darryl asks White Josh, “You don’t want to have a baby with me, do you?” And scene. If you’re not watching this series, binge it over the holidays, it’s really good. Then on our fave dark drama, “The Exorcist,” there was The Gay Kiss, which drove the Christian right out of their minds. We love this show even more in season two than we did in season one. After showrunner Jeremy Slater’s take-down of critics calling for a boycott, we love it even more. Former priest Marcus (Ben Daniels) has been having a dalliance with another man, Peter (Christopher Cousins) on Bainbridge Island, where he’s been doing an exorcism with fellow still-frocked priest and exorcism protege Father Tomas (Alfonso Herrera). Peter wants a full relationship, to see where things go. Marcus knows his work (he really can’t quit the God thing) comes first because Evil always seems to be winning. The two are sitting in Peter’s truck. The sexual tension is intense. The per-usual leather-clad Marcus leans over and takes Peter’s face in his hands and kisses him. It was everything: romantic, sensual, real. And because these are two middleaged yet still very sexy actors, groundbreaking. This was no “The Fosters” coming-of-age, first-bumbling-kiss scene. This was the real thing. We were so there for it. Backlash was swift. So was Slater’s clapback. “I saw a couple of homophobes on Twitter, and my response is, ‘Good, fuck you. I’m glad you didn’t like it, I’m glad it ruined the show for you. You shouldn’t have good things in your life,’” Slater said in an interview for IndieWire. “If a homophobe can’t watch the show anymore because one of the characters is gay, then I’m glad something good has come out of it.” Preach! The final episode of season two airs Dec. 15 on Fox. As the year winds down and the tube is in holiday-hiatus-til-January mode for most series, the biggest TV stories continue to be about sexual assault claims against anchors, stars, directors and producers. It’s an ugly end to an ugly year in which the only man accused of multiple counts of sexual harassment and assault who has yet to be fired from his job for such allegations is President Trump. The Time Person of the Year cover revealed last week included women and men among “The Silence Breakers” it lauded for telling

their stories and breaking the long, deep silence that has allowed men in power in every industry from entertainment to journalism to politics to all things blue-collar to get away with hurting women and men with impunity. The latest shockers were Sen. Al Franken and director/producer Bryan Singer. Franken resigned from the Senate on Dec. 7 after an eighth woman came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against the former “SNL” star. The bombshell against Singer was far more damning. On Dec. 8, The New York Times broke the story that Cesar Sanchez-Guzman had filed suit against the “X Men” director whose new TV series “The Gifted” has been a surprise hit. SanchezGuzman alleges that in 2003, when he was 17, Singer, who is gay, raped him at a party on a yacht. The news about Singer followed his firing the previous week from the Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” When that action was taken, we asked a friend in the industry in Hollywood, “Is this a prelude to some Me Too tale about the worst-kept secret of Singer and abuse of boys?” The friend said rumors were swirling that “any day” there would be news. “Questions are being asked,” he told us. “And they are being answered.” According to a Dec. 8 ABC News report, Singer lured the then-17year-old into a bedroom on a yacht and demanded sex from him. When he refused, Singer pushed him on the bed and sexually assaulted him, the lawsuit says. Afterward, SanchezGuzman said, the director offered to help him get into acting in exchange for his silence, according to the court documents. “He then told Cesar that no one would believe him if he ever reported the incident, and that he could hire people who are capable of ruining someone’s reputation,” the lawsuit reads. “The sexual abuse has caused Cesar to experience severe psychological, mental and emotional injuries, shame, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life. These injuries are persistent, permanent and debilitating in nature.” He is seeking unspecified damages. A representative for Singer, 52, said in a statement, “Bryan categorically denies these allegations and will vehemently defend this lawsuit to the very end.” Two similar lawsuits were brought against Singer in 2014, but were withdrawn by the accusers. But according to stories in both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, Singer is cited in “An Open Secret,” the 2014 documentary film on child sexual abuse in Hollywood, although the film makes no specific allegations against him. Gay writer Bret Easton Ellis alleges that two of his former partners have attended underage sex parties hosted by Singer. Deadline Hollywood, which first broke the story about Singer being axed from “Bohemian Rhapsody,” published a story on Dec. 8 about now-22-year-old Bret Tyler Skopek, detailing his teen love-affair with Singer. The story, headlined “Sex, Drugs, Glamour, Emptiness: Bryan Singer’s Teen Ex-Lover Bares All About Life in Director’s Orbit,” was substantiated by texts, photographs and emails, as well as corroborative interviews with seven other witnesses. The story was also published in Newsweek on Dec. 9. Skopek told Deadline that he had been “pulled into the director’s orbit of on-set visits, expensive private dinners, ready access to drugs and

Film & television director & producer Bryan Singer.

alcohol, and sexual encounters with an ever-revolving cast of multiple participants.” According to Skopek, he was offered roles in Singer’s films and TV shows only to have those never materialize. Singer would take him to the sets of his TV shows and movies, but mostly to show off the then-teenaged Skopek. According to the expose, “Disillusioned and exhausted by Singer’s sexual demands over the course of their year-long relationship, the young man eventually moved to Fort Worth, Texas, to live with his father. ‘I just wasn’t happy with myself,’ said Skopek. ‘I couldn’t go on anymore.’” Singer’s representative reframed Skopek’s story as one of a young grifter trying to gain notoriety. “If Mr. Skopek had a problem with Bryan, he never mentioned it before today,” a spokesperson for the director told Deadline on Dec. 8. “He is someone who has repeatedly asked Bryan for money over the years, and did so as recently as last month. He also is the one who asked Bryan for a role in Apocalypse, which Bryan declined to offer to him. The timing of Mr. Skopek coming forward now with these allegations is questionable.” Is it questionable or more verification? Among gay directors and producers, there are few who have had similar allegations brought against them. Ryan Murphy will be honored next month with the Producer’s Guild of America’s prestigious Norman Lear Award for his impact on the industry. He’s the same age as Singer, has been in Hollywood for the same length of time, yet not a single allegation of sexual misconduct has been levied against him. No allegations about Murphy, who is married to David Miller with whom he has two children, have ever even been rumored. So the implication by Singer through his rep that this is something that happens to all gay male directors and producers by unscrupulous teenagers seems selfserving and false. According to Deadline, Londonbased director Duncan Roy, who said he has known Singer for more than 20 years, described the director’s “boy obsessions and sex tourism,” his use of prescription drugs, and his drinking in a blog post. Some 20somethings viewed a trip to Singer’s hot tub as a short-cut to the red carpet, he said. “In Hollywood, the question you get asked a million times is, ‘What wouldn’t you do to succeed?’ And your hunger is part of the deal with the devil,” said Roy in an interview with Deadline. “The horrible thing is that there’s an unwritten rule, an unspoken agreement, between anybody who arrives. Every single

high school king and queen that arrives in L.A. knows what to expect. You do anything to get on because the riches, when they’re delivered to you, are profound.” Skopek’s details of sexual exploitation and assault in Hollywood are graphic, unpleasant and disturbing. We’ve all seen pretty boys, especially those like Skopek who travel West to attempt an entertainment career, get used by older men with power. This is the side of the Me Too movement that has gotten little attention and deserves to. The latest rape allegation against Singer may be the one that ends the pattern. On Oct. 30, after the Kevin Spacey allegations began with “Star Trek” star Anthony Rapp alleging the actor had sexually assaulted him when he was a teenager, Mashable headlined a story, “So, uh why was Bryan Singer’s name trending after the Kevin Spacey allegations?” Singer deleted his Twitter account after rumors about him began to swirl anew. On Nov. 7, USC students launched a petition to remove Singer’s name from the school. The allegations against Singer go back decades. The first news story appears in Entertainment Weekly in 1997. In that story three minor boys allege Singer sexually assaulted them on the set of one of his shows. Singer’s friend Kevin Spacey, who won his first Oscar for Singer’s film “The Usual Suspects,” has been removed from “House of Cards.” Spacey, about whom allegations continue to accrue, most recently on Dec. 8 when the son-in-law of the King of Norway asserted the actor had groped him, has been “seeking evaluation and treatment.” Ari Behn told BBC Spacey groped him in 2007 when the actor hosted an event. Recalling the alleged incident, Behn said, “We had a great talk, he sat right beside me. After five minutes he said, ‘Hey, let’s go out and have a cigarette.’ Then he puts his hand under the table and grabs me by the balls.” Behn said he put Spacey off by telling him: “Er, maybe later.” He added, “My hair was dark at the time, I was 10 years younger and right up his alley.” Meanwhile, the Netflix series “House of Cards,” for which Spacey won several awards, will go for a final season. The series will excise Spacey from episodes already filmed, and co-star Robin Wright will be the focal point. Wright plays Spacey’s character’s wife Claire, and has been a multiple Emmy nominee for her role. The final season will be released in 2018. In other men-who-have-been-

fired news, no replacement has been named thus far for NBC host Matt Lauer. Insiders say the “Today” show is considering several men to replace Lauer, which seems a huge error in judgment in the current climate. We suggest bringing back either Ann Curry, who had complained about Lauer years ago and was removed from her co-anchor capacity, or Katie Couric, who spent 15 years co-hosting the “Today” show with Lauer. Couric left in May 2006 to anchor the CBS Evening News. She broke her silence on the sexual misconduct allegations against him on Dec. 8, in a response to an Instagram poster who called her out for “crickets” on Lauer. Couric said the allegations were “terribly upsetting,” and that she would comment when she was ready. PBS has gone the smart route and replaced Charlie Rose with veteran CNN war correspondent Christiane Amanpour. As we noted on Twitter last week, “Replace all mediocre white guys who sexually harass and assault women with smart, talented women.” Of the relentless flood of allegations, feminist writer Jill Filipovic said on Dec. 8, “We shouldn’t just be taking the bad ones down. We need to start demanding that their replacements are female.” We’d like to start with Hillary Clinton replacing Donald Trump. It’s not like she didn’t get the votes. Trump’s Pensacola rally on Dec. 8 was broadcast live on CNN. We watched from a hospital bed aghast at both content and tone, and wondered not for the first time what Leni Riefenstahl would think. A spontaneous chant of “Lock Her Up” broke out, and Trump, who with Fox News has been calling for yet another investigation of the Former Secretary of State as if she were in fact the president, did nothing to stop it. Trump was there across the border from Alabama to tell people to vote for virulent homophobe and racist Roy Moore. Former President Barack Obama, in a speech telecast on CNN Dec. 8, made comparisons between Nazi Germany and America right now. “You have to tend to this garden of democracy, otherwise things can fall apart fairly quickly. And we’ve seen societies where that happens. Now presume there was a ballroom here in Vienna in the late 1920s or 30s that looked and seemed as if it, filled with the music, art and literature that was emerging, would continue into perpetuity. And then 60 million people died. An entire world was plunged into chaos. So you got to pay attention, and vote.” So for the good, the bad and the truly ugly, you know you really have to stay tuned. And have a Happy Hanukkah!t

<< TV

28 • Bay Area Reporter • December 14-20, 2017

Trans girl becomes a woman

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by David-Elijah Nahmod

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BO will premiere “15: A Quinceanera Story – Zoey” on Tues., Dec. 19. It’s the first of four short documentaries in which HBO celebrates the lives of young Latinas as they make their transformation from girlhood to womanhood at age 15. A Quinceanera is their “coming out” party as an adult – it’s similar to Judaism’s Bat Mitzvah rite. Zoey, the first of the four stories to be shared, stands out because Zoey was assigned male at birth, and she began her transition at age 11. In the film, her mother Ofelia recalls Zoey asking, at age 5, if God made a mistake when He handed out body parts. The bulk of “15: A Quinceanera Story – Zoey” focuses on Zoey and Ofelia preparing for the party. Viewers will see Zoey picking out the outfits she and her friends will wear. She also needs a young male escort, and notes the difficulties in finding someone. Many of the boys in her school are afraid of being thought of as gay if they escort her. Zoey in fact gets a lot of support from gay men. Her father is deceased, and so Zoey will be “given away” at the Quinceanera by James, an attorney who once represented her family in a lawsuit against the United States Department of Education. The family had sued because Zoey’s school wanted to expel her for being trans. James speaks of the case briefly, though he has since become a close family friend and is Zoey’s surrogate father. It’s in spots like these that the film falters slightly. James and Ofelia offer the briefest of commentary regarding the lawsuit. The fact that Zoey was bullied in school after coming out is men-

Courtesy HBO

Zoey and her court before her Quinceanera, in “15: A Quinceanera Story – Zoey,” set to air on HBO .

tioned. These are clearly pivotal incidents in Zoey’s transition and in her journey to become who she really is, yet no information is given about the case. Nor are we told how the school bullying was resolved. Most viewers will probably want to know more. Likewise, the filmmakers give no information on how Zoey first met her “Godmothers,” the older trans women who are mentoring her. We might want to know a little more

about them and how they came into Zoey’s life. It is deeply touching, however, to hear several of them tell Zoey how much the support she gets from her family and friends means to them. These women are her mother’s age and older. They came out into a world that did not accept them. Zoey’s Quinceanera is what they see as the future, the culmination of all they have been fighting for. One of the film’s most touching

moments in “15: A Quinceanera Story – Zoey” comes when Joseph, a young choreographer who is teaching Zoey and her friends the dance moves they will perform at the party, also notes the support Zoey gets from her family. “I’m Mexican and I’m gay,” Joseph says. “I know how it is to be different. To see the family and the support you have is really touching because I didn’t have that.” It’s a moment that many LGBT-identified people will relate to.

“15: A Quinceanera Story – Zoey” is a short (26 minutes), sweet film. What the filmmakers left out is no doubt due to the scant running time. It might have been nice had the film ran for a full hour so that Zoey’s complete story could be shared. What is shown, however, is most uplifting.t “15: A Quinceanera Story, Zoey” plays on HBO on Tues., Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.

What to watch: DVDs for holiday giving by Tavo Amador

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he holidays are often stressful, so opportunities to relax are welcome. Why not give film-lovers on your holiday gift list one of these DVDs, and let them chill out at home? Diana Ross made a stunning screen debut playing Billie Holiday (1915-59) in Sidney J. Furie’s “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972). Her electrifying performance as the legendary jazz singer whose improbable rise to acclaim from a Dickensian childhood in a blatantly racist society lifts the film above conventional melodrama. She sings in a reedy voice that suits Holiday’s style perfectly, is convincing as a teenager longing for a break, and is heartbreaking as the dope-addicted star with a deeply troubled personal life. Sexy Billy Dee Williams is the man she shouldn’t love. With Richard Pryor as Piano Man, and in a bit, Isabel Sanford, years before TV’s “The Jeffersons.” Screenplay by Suzanne de Passe, Chris Clark, and Terence McCloy, based on Holiday’s memoir, written with William Dufty. Ray Aghayan and Bob Mackie designed the sensational costumes. Ross lost the Best Actress Oscar to Liza Minnelli in “Cabaret.” Straight men leaving their longtime spouses for younger women are hardly news, but the story has seldom been told with such pointed, often caustic wit as in 1996’s “First Wives Club.” Robert Harling adapted Olivia Goldsmith’s bestselling novel for the screen. Hugh Wilson directed a brilliant cast, headed by Bette Midler, Goldie

Hawn, and Diane Keaton, all in terrific form. At the funeral of an old college friend who committed suicide (Stockard Channing) because she was dumped by her husband, they decide to avenge themselves on the men who abandoned them. With Maggie Smith, a young Sarah Jessica Parker, Marcia Gay Harden, Eileen Heckert, and as the three ex-husbands, sleazy Dan Hedaya, slick Victor Garber, and handsome Stephen Collins. Theoni V. Aldridge designed the costumes. Mary Tyler Moore, one of TV’s greatest comic actress, gave a powerful dramatic performance as an emotionally repressed mother grieving for her dead son in Robert Redford’s haunting “Ordinary People” (1980). As Beth, the mourning, angry woman unable to express her pain, Moore is heartbreaking.

Viewers sense how much she is suffering underneath her icy, upper-class demeanor. Donald Sutherland is her warm husband who doesn’t know how to respond to her. Timothy Hutton is memorable as the guiltridden younger son. With Judd Hirsch as a psychiatrist and Elizabeth McGovern. The film won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Hutton), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Alvin Sargent), but Moore lost the Best Actress award to Sissy Spacek in “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Based on Judith Guest’s touching novel. Arthur Miller’s 1955 prescient drama “A View from the Bridge” was filmed by Sidney Lumet in 1962 and memorably deals with incest, homosexuality, and a good but flawed man who, in the grip of an obsession, destroys himself and his family. Set in an Italian section of Brooklyn, the story deals with laborer Eddie (the superb, virile Raf Vallone), his wife Beatrice (the great Maureen Stapleton), her orphaned teenage niece Catherine (Carol Lawrence), and Beatrice’s two cousins, undocumented immigrants Rudolpho (handsome Jean Sorel) and Marco (Raymond Pellegrin). Eddie welcomes Rudolpho and Marco into his home, honored to be helping family. At the same time, he is troubled by Catherine’s growing independence and her sexual awakening. For the past three months, he has not had sex with Beatrice. Eddie is angered when Rudolpho and Catherine fall in love. He insists the young man wants to marry her so that he can become an

American citizen. Eddie’s own sexual conflicts become apparent: his improper desire for Catherine and his determination to prove that Rudolpho is homosexual by kissing him passionately on the mouth. Shocked, Beatrice urges Catherine and Rudolpho to get married and leave. But Eddie is determined to thwart them. Unable to control himself, he betrays the cousins to the immigration authorities, then denies having done so. The consequences are almost unbearably tragic. Magnificent performances by the brilliant cast. Screenplay by Norman Rosten. Understandably given the era, the film was not a commercial success. Inexplicably, however, it was also ignored by the critics. Franco Zefferelli’s “Tea with Mussolini” (1999) is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story. Set in Florence before, during, and after

Benito Mussolini’s Fascist dictatorship, it tells the story of Luca (Charlie Luca), the illegitimate son of a businessman. Luca’s dressmaker mother has died. An ex-pat Englishwoman, Mary Wallace, the businessman’s secretary (Joan Plowright), takes responsibility for rearing the boy, with help from her ex-pat English friends, Lady Hestor Random (Maggie Smith), and Arabella (Judi Dench). Also on hand to assist the boy financially is Elsa Morganthal Strauss-Arnistan (Cher), a former American showgirl, and Georgie Rockwell (Lily Tomlin), an openly lesbian archaeologist. When Fascists attack the teashop patronized by the women, Lady Hestor, widow of the British ambassador to Italy, arranges to meet with Il Duce himself, who promises to rectify the situation. She believes him and proudly brandishes a photograph of the two of them having tea. But within a few years, as Mussolini prepares Italy for war against Britain, things change drastically for the women and for Luca. This charming movie features wonderful performances by Smith, Dench, Plowright, and Tomlin, but firstbilled Cher walks off with the acting honors. She has seldom appeared so relaxed on screen, and her shrewd intelligence has rarely been used so effectively. John Mortimer adapted Zefferelli’s memoir for the film. Shot on location. Cinematography by David Watkin. Splendid original score by Stefano Arnaldi and Alessio Vlad. The excellent costumes are by Anna Ani, Jenny Beavan, and Alberto Spiazzi. As always, Zefferelli’s visuals are exquisite. The movie is a feast for the eye.t

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Film>>

December 14-20, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 29

Sony Pictures Classics

Oliver (Armie Hammer) in a scene from director Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name.”

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Call Me/Your Name

From page 21

The set-up: the 17-year-old, skinny, curly-haired, piano-playing imp Elio (American-born Timothée Chalamet) falls for Oliver (Armie Hammer), a 6-ft., 5-in. American graduate student spending the

summer as a live-in archeological assistant to Elio’s dad (Michael Stuhlbarg). Before either Elio or Oliver quite realizes what’s happened, the two are a virtual couple who complete more than each other’s sentences. A gorgeous slice of Lombardy is the setting as the boys traverse the countryside on

their bikes, opening themselves up to a summer of music, food, and romance that will produce a lifetime of memories. American screenwriter James Ivory is the surviving half of the fabled Merchant/Ivory filmmaking team who adapted the Edwardianera work of gay novelist E.M. For-

ster, including the Italian-set “A Room with a View” and the gay-themed “Maurice.” Here he joins forces with author André Aciman to produce an R-rated version of the latter’s novel of the same name (there’s sexual contact, some nudity, and some language). The bond between Elio and Oliver is both physical – including a playful moment when Elio leaps on the back of a retreating Oliver as if the latter were a wild horse in need of taming – and surprisingly verbal. While the erotic fireworks in “Call Me by Your Name” are adroitly delayed until deep into the film’s second act, we see that despite an eight-year difference in age, young Elio is every bit a match for Oliver when he’s sitting at the keyboard of his family’s vacation-hideaway piano. There’s a deliciously extended moment filmed off to the side of a shirtless Elio as the boy debates the merits of a cluster of Western classical-music titans with a slightly contemptuous Oliver slouched in the doorway, eager as ever to get the last word in with his gifted young soon-to-be lover. A critic’s only possible quibble is the film’s leisurely pace, 130 minutes that can feel like hours except when Elio and Oliver are squared off, in

either the pool or bed. But there’s also the bonus that many viewers of “Call Me By Your Name” may feel, the way devoted fans of “A Room with a View” did, that the price of a movie has also purchased them a sort of short-order Italian vacation. True fans of “A Serious Man,” the Coen Brothers’ wickedly cruel 1967-set satire of drugs and marital mishap in “Minnesota Nice,” should recall Michael Stuhlbarg’s brilliant deadpan as the earnest physics professor whose “Summer of Love” descends into a quagmire of bad outcomes, from distracted rabbis to an adulterous wife to a pot-smoking, TV-addicted teenage son who, at a particularly awkward moment, deadpans the Coen-style aside, “What’s sodomy, Dad?” In “Call Me by Your Name,” Stuhlbarg reveals a wholly different side, as a collegeprofessor father who delivers a soulful monologue to his heartbroken adolescent son, just beginning to miss the man he knows may be the love of his life. Born in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen, young actor Timothée Chalamet is completely convincing as a seductive man-child whose thin-asa-rail physique, tousled hair and great smile allow him to steal every scene. The film’s poignant silly/sad ending gets a great boost from the filmmakers’ freeze-frame focus on a heartbroken Elio, missing Oliver.t

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<< Books

30 • Bay Area Reporter • December 14-20, 2017

For LGBTQ book-lovers on your gift list by Gregg Shapiro

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ew gifts are as reliable as books, especially during the holiday season. The following recommended titles are by LGBTQ authors in the fiction, poetry and nonfiction genres.

For music-lovers

Almost everything you need to know about “Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache: How Music Came Out” (Backbeat Books) by Martin Aston can be found in the title, as the author traces “the sound of lavender” from the 1920s to the 21st century, and includes a multitude of black & white and color photos. The second such comprehensive history of LGBTQ music to be published Stateside this year is Darryl Bullock’s “David Bowie Made Me Gay: 100 Years of LGBT Music” (Overlook), which begins with the tragic losses of talent in 2016, including those who died at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, then ventures back to New Orleans in the 1910s before spinning forward, like a record, to the present day. Award-winning, Grammynominated, Guggenheim fellow and composer-pianist-activisteducator Fred Hersch has many notable achievements to his name, not the least of which is being an openly gay, HIV+ man in the world of jazz. He writes all about it in his memoir “Good Things Happen Slowly: A Life In and Out of Jazz” (Crown Archetype).

For memoir-lovers

Bill Hayes’ breathtaking “Insomniac City: New York, Oliver, and Me” (Bloomsbury) interweaves essays with journal entries, photos and poetry to tell the story of the writer’s romantic relationship with the late writer and scientist Oliver Sacks. Speaking of Sacks, his justpublished 10-essay collection “The River of Consciousness” (Knopf) is one of two books he was working on at the time of death in 2015.

James Allen Hall’s exquisite and devastating personal essay collection “I Liked You Better Before I Knew You So Well” (Cleveland State University Poetry Center), like Maureen Seaton’s “Sex Talks to Girls,” is the kind of memoir that could only have been written by a gay poet. “Logical Family: A Memoir” (Harper), the long-awaited memoir by Armistead Maupin, the beloved author of the “Tales of the City” series, is a revealing chronicle of the gay writer’s personal journey from the deep South to Vietnam to San Francisco.

Lesbian poet Eileen Myles is the author of “Afterglow (a dog memoir)” (Grove Press), described as part “screenplay, monologue, science fiction and lucid memory,” detailing the 16 years Myles spent as the human companion to a dog named Rosie. In “Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies” (Atria), TV personality Michael Ausiello’s “memoir of love, loss and other four-letter words,” the writer recounts the deeply personal story of his “unconventional” 13-year relationship with his husband, the late Kit Cowan, who battled a rare form of cancer and passed away in 2015. “In the Province of the Gods”

(University of Wisconsin Press) follows disabled gay poet-playwright and memoirist, as well as educator and activist, Kenny Fries as he makes a return visit to Japan shortly after his HIV diagnosis. The unpublished manuscript that became Arch Brown’s “A Pornographer: A Memoir” (Chelsea Station Editions) was discovered in 2012 following Brown’s passing, and recounts his interviews and interactions with the actors in the audition process for his erotic films. With the controversial proposed ban on transgender personnel serving in the military on everyone’s mind, “Tell: Love, Defiance and the Military Trial at the Tipping Point for Gay Rights” (ForeEdge), by Major Margaret Witt with Tim Connor, takes readers back to the 1993 passage of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and its 2011 repeal.

For poetry-lovers

“Half-Light: Collected Poems 1965-2016” (FSG) compiles the work of lauded gay poet Frank Bidart in one stunning setting, including the new collection “Thirst,” featuring outstanding poems “Ellen West,” “Herbert White,” “In Memory of Joe Brainerd,” “The Second Hour of the Night” and

“For the AIDS Dead.” Things are lost (weight, memories, causes) and found (a drag queen, and birds, lots of birds) in award-winning lesbian poet Cheryl Dumesnil’s lustrous poems in “Showtime at the Ministry of Lost Causes” (Univ. of Pittsburgh Press). Manila-based poet and novelist R. Zamora Linmark returns with the new poetry collection “Pop Vérité” (Hanging Loose Press), aptly named for its poems featuring poets (James Schuyler is a favorite) and other writers, dead divas (Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston and Donna Summer), other pop culture and literary figures.

Prolific, young, queer Native American poet Tommy Pico’s first poetry collection “IRL” was published in 2016. “Nature Poem” (Tin House), Pico’s second, booklength epic poem, merges poetic and texting language for an unforgettable read. Among the more than 70 poems in “The Screwdriver’s Apprentice” (Blue Light Press/1st World Publishing) by poet, playwright, fiction writer and educator Edmund Miller, author of the renowned “The Go-Go Boy Sonnets,” you will find “In the Porno Theater,” “The Beauty

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of a Male Model Fades” and “Learning from Lap Dancers.”

For fiction-lovers

It’s no exaggeration to say that you’ll never read anything quite like St. Sukie de la Croix’s slim, sexy, shocking and sparkly new novel “The Blue Spong and the Flight from Mediocrity” (Lethe Press), even if you are familiar with his historical writing, including 2012’s critically acclaimed “Chicago Whispers” and his humor columns in sundry LGBTQ outlets. In “Marriage of a Thousand Lies” (Soho), the dazzling debut novel by SJ Sindu, we meet Lucky and Krishna, a married Sri LankanAmerican couple who are, in reality, actually a lesbian and a gay man. The pair’s sham marriage is threatened when Lucky reconnects with her first lover Nisha, who is preparing to enter an arranged marriage. There’s no shortage of the titular characters to be found in “Difficult Women” (Grove Press), the short story collection by awardwinning bisexual Haitian-American novelist-essayist-memoirist Roxane Gay. Queer actor and writer Tara Jepsen’s debut novel “Like a Dog” (City Lights) follows 30-something skateboarder Paloma as she rolls through life in the Central Valley, looking after her opiateaddicted brother, and finding meaning in stand-up comedy. “How to Survive a Summer” (Blue Rider Press), the debut novel by writer and educator Nick White, follows graduate student Will as he compares the time he spent at exgay Camp Levi in his youth with the person he is today. The follow-up to Dale Boyer’s 2016 debut novel “The Dandelion Cloud,” “Thornton Stories” (OhBoy Books), subtitled “Tales Out of School,” returns readers to the town of Thornton, Illinois, through a series of interconnected tales in which the characters attempt to “make sense of loneliness and love.”t

Keeping the pig in Pygmalion by Tim Pfaff

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f headline conventions weren’t so, you know, restrictive here at the paper, I would call this “On the Proper Disposition of One’s James Levine Recordings.” A lot of ink has been spilled about the Metropolitan Opera’s belated sidelining of its previous and interregnum – briefly laureate – music director. (Autocorrect tried to insert “beloved” before “previous” in that sentence, but I was firm with it.) The weirdest was New York Times chief classical music critic Anthony Tommasini, lamenting the ugliness of it all under a Dec. 5 headline, “Should I Put Away My James Levine recordings?” His conclusion was that he and his husband – a louder-than-usual disclosure under the circumstances – should move those recordings from their living room. His solution raised more questions than it answered, but what kept his thoughts mainstream was the queasy oscillation between his “heartache” for Levine’s young sex prey, his dismay at having missed “more revealing” clues in his 1998 Levine interview for the Times, and his gushing over the greatness of James Levine as a matter of record. Then, in a striking

foreshadowing of their Congressional counterparts, other prominent critics apologized for similar mistakes, made despite full knowledge of the “rumors.”

The mid-scandal scramble was audible from across the pond. Idly, I wondered if the Met, mounting its new investigation, had subpoenaed the phone records of its forthcoming music director, out maestro Yannick Nezet-Seguin, over the last few weeks. Surely we’ll soon learn how forthcoming Levine’s successor has been. I also considered, in embarrassing detail, how Nezet-Seguin would look on the Met podium in his designer chastity belt. My own private #MeToo moment is that I took unctuous glee in the

coingkidink of having, days before the Levine scandal “broke” – it was by then so old it could only have broken, from wear – fired the James Levine recordings in my collection, for cause. How gratifying it is to be not just right but superior in values and ahead of the curve. Truth is, I needed the shelf space. As I looked for items that would give me room worth bothering about, I spotted Levine’s first Met “Ring,” with Jimmy at his peak-career, open-mouthed, baton-twirling best on the fat spine of the DVD box. No sooner had I thought it unlikely that I’d ever countenance it again, it also occurred to me that I best store it with his second Met “Ring” DVD set, which went directly from my mailbox to one of the file boxes I keep under my bed. On the matter of Levine’s denied (yesterday) “misconduct” and its deeper meanings, there have been two articles worth reading. One, by the gay son of a Boston Symphony musician (https://van-us. atavist.com/silence-breaking), addresses the very real pain of having to get over this particular instance of “greatness” culture’s excusing anything untoward. The other, published the same day as Tommasini’s musings, is the incisive essay “Holding Don Giovanni Accountable,” by Kristi Brown-Monteano, http://musicologynow.ams-net.org/2017/12/

holding-don-giovanni-accountable.html?spref=tw. Levine has now been shown to the newly endowed Kevin Spacey Distinguished Chair for not only doing creepy, exploitative things to the young, but also not, over the half-century of his reign as The Met’s dauphin, having come out. There’s more than a generational difference between him and his named successor.

But I want to raise what I call the Masha Gessen Proviso: that we make our selective condemnations at our individual and collective peril. If you haven’t recently heard, or briefly thought, that the issue of sexual malfeasance is “different” among gay men, you should get out more. For me the vectors of vileness

intersected this week, when I finally got to Christophe Rousset’s effervescent yet moving new recording of Rameau’s “Pygmalion” (Aparte). Just before spinning it, I read Anthony Lane’s remarks, in his latest New Yorker film review, about the persistence of the Pygmalion myth, about the artist’s falling in love with a creature that is nothing until he creates it – the power to make or break. Rousset’s been out since his rapid fame made that essential to his fundamental artistic integrity, granting him the freedom to create and sustain Les Talens Lyrique, the most brilliant, prodigally productive, and surely, the most reliably vital of early-music ensembles, without need for or recourse to apology. My mounting predilection to abjure James Levine performances of late has been barely conscious – rather, an escalating revulsion to an inflated stardom that has made a grim grotesque of a great gift, imparting heaviness to everything it touches. To fondle the words of a colleague about a new opera by someone else who’s out only unspokenly, “There’s scold in them thar hills.” Who knows who’s next, but what Rousset has going for him – besides the general disinclination of the French to, in Gessen’s words, police sex – is a long career built literally on keeping things right-sized.t

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njoy holiday events, and some that aren’t. Because we all have choices in our faith decisions…for now.

e 32 >> Listings on pag

Arts Listings Vol. 47 • No. 50 • December 14-20, 2017

On the Tab December

Gooch

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Sun 17

Rick Gerharter

Disco Daddy @ SF Eagle

In the Bleak Midwinter HOw the hOlidays kept hOpe alive in the midst Of AIDS by Michael Flanagan

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he roots of our holiday traditions in the gay community run deep. I have written articles which traced these traditions all the way back to the publications of the Mattachine Society in the 1950s and toy drives for orphans and children in hospitals at Crossroads (109 Steuart Street) in 1961. It should come as no surprise that when the darkest days of the AIDS crisis hit, we responded in the spirit of the season. See page 36 >>

{ THIRD OF THREE SECTIONS }

Rita Rockett with some of her Sunday Brunch volunteers in April 1992.

<< On the Tab

32 • Bay Area Reporter • December 14-20, 2017

Vibe Fridays @ Club BnB, Oakland

Rucktacular Recovery @ Lone Star Saloon

House music and cocktails, with DJs Shareef Raheim-Jihad and Ellis Lindsey. 9pm-2am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

The SF Fog Rugby Club welcomes guest teams from Seattle, San Diego and other teams participating in the regional tournament, with T-shirts and calendars on sale. 9pm-2am. 1354 Harrison St. lonestarsf.com

Underwear Night @ SF Eagle Strip down to your skivvies at the famed leather bar, with host Dulce de Leche and DJ Marcos Moreno. 398 12th St. at Harrison. sf-eagle.com

Sat 16 Homobiles @ Ivy Room, Albany

Edited for space. For full listings, visit www.ebar.com/bartab

Thu 14 After Dark @ Exploratorium The cocktails and science night for adults, with installations throughout the hands-on exhibit museum. Dec. 14: Vanilla, tastings, live music and films. Dec. 21: Managnese, demos about the plant-supplement. $20. 6pm-10pm. Pier 15 at Embarcadero. exploratorium.edu

Comedy @ Askenaz, Berkeley Enjoy wit and wisdom from Shazia Mirza (from London), SF political comedian Will Durst, stuttering comedian Nina G, and host Lisa Geduldig. $15-$20. Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, 1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley. ashlenaz.com

Flame @ The Stud Queer Channukah party with latke-lovin' queer Jewish peeps and their pals; menorah lighting at 9:30pm, Jewish performance art by Babooshka, Jules Minkoff and others; DJs Yng Gma, Siobhan Aluvalot. $5. 9pm-10pm. 399 9th St. studsf.com

Gayface @ El Rio Queer weekly night out at the popular Mission bar. 9pm-2am. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

The Golden Girls @ Victoria Theatre The hugely popular drag performances of Christmas episodes from the classic elder women sitcom return, with Heklina, Matthew Martin, D'Arcy Drollinger, Holotta Tymes and special guest stars. $25-$40. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 7pm. (Sun Dec. 10 & 17, 2pm). Thru Dec. 23. 2961 16th St. www.goldengirlssf.com

Hand to Hand Holiday Luncheon @ Fairmont Hotel Project Open Hand's annual fundraiser, with celebrity chef Cat Cora, MC Renel Brooks-Moon, and other local luminaries. $350. 11am1:30pm. 950 Mason st. openhand.org

Junk @ Powerhouse MrPam/Dulce de Leche cohost the weekly underwear strip night and contest. $5. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. powerhousebar.com

Monster Show @ The Edge The weekly drag show with host Sue Casa, DJ MC2, themed nights and hilarious fun. $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Night at the Jewseum @ Contemporary Jewish Museum Enjoy cocktails, light installations, hands-on demos and displays, and dreidel-spinning with museum members and LGBT members of Keshet. $5. 6pm-9pm. 736 Mission St. thecjm.org

Picante @ The Cafe Lulu and DJ Marco's Latin night with sexy gogo guys. 9pm-2am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Queer Karaoke @ Club OMG KJ Dana hosts the weekly singing night; unleash your inner American Idol; first Thursdays are Costume Karaoke; 3rd is Kinky Karaoke 8pm. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Rock Fag @ Hole in the Wall Enjoy hard rock and punk music from DJ Don Baird at the wonderfully divey SoMa bar. Also Fridays. 7pm-2am. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. hitws.com

Solstice Metal Night @ Lone Star Saloon Celebrate the pagan holiday with the AC/DC, Metallica and more, with DJs Bob and Krinsky. 9pm-2am. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle Rock bands play at the famed leather bar. $5-$10. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Tom of Finland Night @ Oasis Celebration of the new Tom of Finland Wines, the biographical film, with Tom ambassador Terry Miller, leather men, rooftop cigar reception, bookblacks and manly fun. 8pm-12am. 298 11th St. sfoasis.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge Disco guru DJ Bus Station John spins grooves at the intimate retro music night. $5. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. auntcharlieslounge.com

Fri 15 Ain't Mama's Drag @ Balancoire Weekly drag queen and drag king show hosted by Cruzin d'Loo. 8pm10pm. No cover. 2565 Mission St. www.balancoiresf.com

Bear Happy Hour @ Midnight Sun Hairy men and their pals enjoy 2-for-1 drinks and no cover. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Connie Champagne @ Oasis The talented local singer-actress reprises her Judy Garland Christmas show. $25-$35. 7pm. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Club Papi @ Club 21, Oakland Hip Hop and Latin grooves event, with 3 dance floors, gogo studs and drag acts. $10-$20. 9pm4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. club21oakland.com

Daddy Saddle @ Lone Star Saloon DJs Ladyboner and Cntrl Top brings femme grooves to the bear bar. 9pm-2am. 1354 Harrison St. lonestarsf.com

Dancing Ghosts @ Cat Club Black Celebration, an all Depeche Mode tribute with DJs Xanderand Sage; also other punk, Goth and industrial in other rooms. $5-$10. 9:30pm-2:30am. 1190 Folsom St. sfcatclub.com

Friday Nights at the Ho @ White Horse Bar, Oakland Dance it up at the historic (and still hip) East Bay bar. 9pm-2am. 6551 Telegraph Ave. whitehorsebar.com

Friday Night Live @ El Rio Enjoy the weekly queer and LGBTfriendly live acoustic concerts. $5pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

Gaymer Night @ SF Eagle Play games with your gay pals, with MCs Felix and Abominatrix. 8pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. sf-eagle.com

Growlr @ SF Eagle Bears and cubs cruise night, with DJ Paul Goodyear and bear/cub gogos. $5. 398 12th St. at Harrison. sf-eagle.com

Hard Fridays @ Qbar DH Haute Toddy's weekly electro-pop night with hotty gogos. $3. 9pm-2am (happy hour 4pm-9pm). 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

Hella Gay Comedy @ Club OMG Queer joke night, with host Nasty Ass Bitch. $15. 7pm. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Katya Smirnoff-Skyy @ Feinstein's at the Nikko Our favorite Russian opera diva celebrates the holidays with witty covers of mirthful songs, and vodka. $21-$50 ($20 food/drink min.) Also Dec 16. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. feinsteinsatthenikko.com

Midnight Show @ Divas Weekly drag shows at the last transgender-friendly bar in the Polk; with hosts Victoria Secret, Alexis Miranda and several performers. Also Saturdays. $10. 11pm. 1081 Polk St. www.divassf.com

Red Hots Burlesque @ The Stud The saucy women's burlesque show hosted by Dottie Lux will titillate and tantalize. $10-$20. 8pm-9:30pm. 399 9th St. Also Sunday brunch shows at Piano Fight Theatre. 144 Taylor St. www.studsf.com

Fri 15

Katya Smirnoff-Skyy @ Feinstein’s

Saturgay @ Qbar Stanley Frank spins house dance remixes at the intimate Castro dance bar. $3. 9pm-2am (weekly beer bust 2pm-9pm). 456 Castro St. QbarSF.com

Saturnalia @ Club Six

Bootie @ DNA Lounge Resident DJs and guests spin at the mash-up DJ dance party, with four rooms of different sounds and eight DJs; The Monster Drag Show hosted by Sue Casa. $10-$15 and up. 9:30pm-3am. 375 11th St. dnalounge.com

Evanescence @ Masonic Hall The power-rock/pop band, with the lovely lead singer Amy Lee, performs music from their 4th album, plus fave hits, with a live orchestra. $60 and up. 8pm. 1111 California St. evanescence.com sfmasonic.com

GameBoi SF @ Rickshaw Stop The monthly dance party for gay Asian guys and their friends, with pop, dance and K-pop grooves. $8$15. 9pm-2am. 155 Fell St. rickshawstop.com

Comfort & Joy and Calamus celebrate Solstice with a dinner and dance party, all with a Roman bacchanal theme (colorful robes and drag suggested; full clothes check available). Come early for the feast, and/or later for the dancing, with DJs MoeMoe, Power Top Raman, Trever Pearson and Mike Bledsoe; glow décor by Chickpea. $15-$55. 7:30pm-5am. 60 6th St. www.playajoy.org/saturnalia

Shake It Up @ Port Bar, Oakland DJ Lady Char spins dance grooves; gogo studs, and drink specials, too. 9pm-2am. 2023 Broadway. (510) 8232099. www.portbaroakland.com

Soul Party @ Elbo Room DJs Lucky, Paul, and Phengren Osward spin 60s soul 45s. $5-$10 ($5 off in semi-formal attire). 10pm-2am. 647 Valencia St. 552-7788. www.elbo.com

Hanucon @ Oasis Join Keshet members for a queer Hannukah party, with latkes, vodka, hats, toasts and fun. 6pm9pm. 298 11th St. sfoasis.com

Homobiles @ Ivy Room, Albany The super-fun queercore band performs on a bill with Year of the Fist, Side Pony and Slapmatics. $7-$10. 8:30pm. 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany. ivyroom.com

Lips and Lashes Brunch @ Lookout

Fri 15

Connie Champagne @ Oasis

Weekly show with soul, funk and Motown grooves hosted by Carnie Asada, with DJs Becky Knox and Pumpkin Spice. The yummy brunch menu starts at 12pm, with the show at 1:30pm. 3600 16th St. lookoutsf.com

Makeout Party @ SF Eagle Nark Magazine's monthly smoochfest and dance party, with DJs Robin Simmons and Elaine Denham. $5-$10. 398 12th St. at Harrison. sf-eagle.com

Mother @ Oasis Heklina's popular drag show, with special guests and great music themes Dec. 16 is a night with Coco Peru. $20. 10pm-3am (11:30pm show). 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

The Playground @ Club BNB, Oakland Revamped night at the popular hip hop and Latin dance club. $5-$15. 9pm to 4am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. club-bnb.com

Rockin' Christmas Shindig Hullabaloo @ Throckmorten Theatre, Mill Valley 21st annual concert for the Narada Michael Walden Foundation, with Ronnie Spector and The Ronettes, plus other bands and dancers. $125-$175. 6:30pm VIP reception. 8pm concert. 142 Throckmorten St., Mill Valley. throckmortontheatre.org

Kent Taylor Photography

Sat 16

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Sugar @ The Cafe Dance, drink, cruise at the Castro club, with DJs Gay Marvine, Taco Tuesday and Matthew XO. 9pm-2am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Winter Holiday Party @ CPMC Gazebo CMG Bay Area and MAX, the gay men's social group, share a holiday party, with cocktails and appetizers and holiday songs. $20. 6:30pm9:30pm. Castro St at Duboce. maxsf.org

Sun 17 Beer Bust @ Lone Star Beer, bears, beats at the weekly fundraiser for various local charities. $15. 4pm-8pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle The popular weekly event packs in the fans, with proceeds going to local charities. $10. Beer bust 3pm-5pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. sf-eagle.com

Beverage Benefit @ The Edge Fundraiser and fun, with proceeds going to local nonprofits. $10. 4pm7pm. 4149 18th St. www.edgesf.com

Blessed @ Port Bar, Oakland Carnie Asada's fun drag night with Carnie's Angels Mahlae Balenciaga and Au Jus, plus DJ Ion. 2023 Broadway. www.portbaroakland.com

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On the Tab>>

Dirty Musical Sundays @ The Edge Sing along at the popular musical theatre night, with a bawdy edge; also Mondays and Wednesdays (but not dirty). 7pm-2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Disco Daddy @ SF Eagle DJ Bus Station John's monthly disco classics T-dance plays a special Barry White Christmas. $5-$10. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Domingo De Escandal @ Club OMG Weekly Latin night with drag shows hosted by Vicky Jimenez and DJ Carlitos. (Comedy Open Mic 5:30pm). 7pm-2am. 43 6th St. clubomgsf.com

Femme Brunch @ Balancoire Weekly live music shows with various acts, along with brunch buffet, bottomless Mimosas, champagne and more, at the stylish nightclub and restaurant, with live entertainment and DJ Shawn P. $15-$20. 11am3pm. After that, Femme T-Dance drag shows at 7pm, 10pm and 11pm. 2565 Mission St. at 21st. 920-0577. balancoiresf.com

GlamaZone @ The Cafe Pollo del Mar's weekly drag show takes on different themes with a comic edge. 8:30-11:30pm. 2369 Market St. cafesf.com

December 14-20, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 33

Spanglish @ Club OMG Spanish and English drag shows and dance music with DJ Carlitos. $5-$10. 9pm-2am. 43 6th St. clubomgsf.com

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

Tue 19 Dragula @ Oasis Weekly screenings of LA's Boulet Brothers' dragtastic TV show of ghoulish glamour. No cover. 7pm. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com Queer dance party at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

High Fantasy @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge Weekly drag and variety show, with live acts and lip-synching divas, plus DJed grooves. $5. Shows at 10:30pm & 12am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

Hysteria Comedy @ Martuni's Open mic for women and queer comics, with host Irene Tu. 6pm-8pm. 4 Valencia St.

Queer Tango @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley

Mister Sister @ Midnight Sun Drag night with Honey Mahogany, Dulce de Leche and Carnie Asada. No cover. 10pm. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Musical Mondays @ The Edge Sing along at the popular musical theatre night; also Wednesdays. 7pm2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. edgesf.com

No No Bingo @ Virgil's Sea Room Mica Sigourney and Tom Temprano cohost the wacky weekly game night at the cool Mission bar. 8pm. 3152 Mission St. www.virgilssf.com

Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni's Sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht. 9pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market.

Pillows @ Powerhouse Glamamore's drag and crafts party. 9pm-2am, $5. 9pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Sing out with host Bebe Sweetbriar; 2 for 1 well drinks. 8pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. midnightsunsf.com

OutLoud Storytelling @ Oasis The monthyl storytelling series, this time with an "I Fought the Law" theme, features Marga Gomez, April Kidwell, Jordan L'Moore, John Lewis, Peggy L'Eggs and Joshua Grannell (Peaches Christ), with host Tommy Salami. $5-$10. 7:30pm. 298 11th St. sfoasis.com

Retro Night @ 440 Castro Jim Hopkins plays classic pop oldies, with vintage music videos. 9pm-2am. 44 Castro St. the440.com

Stag @ Powerhouse

Thu 21 Marga Gomez at Comedy Returns @ El Rio

Mondays and Tuesdays popular weekly sing-along night. No cover. 8:30pm-1am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. whitehorsebar.com Happy hour at the historic neighborhood bar. 5pm-8pm. 1723 Polk St. www.cinchsf.com

Strip down with the strippers at the clothing-optional night. $20. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Home of drag shows, and hilaraoke karaoke. 9pm-1am. 1550 California St. #2. 775-0442.

Sunday's a Drag @ Starlight Room

Happy Hour @ The Cinch

Castro Karaoke @ Midnight Sun

Sing Out @ Encore Karaoke Lounge

Same-sex partner tango dancing, including lessons for newbies, food and drinks. $5-$10. 3:30pm6:30pm. 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley. finnishhall.org

Epic Karaoke @ White Horse, Oakland

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre

Kent Taylor Photography

The stellar vocalist performs her annual Gospel Christmas concert with the Tammy Hall Trio. $28-$60 ($20 food/drink min.) Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. feinsteinsatthenikko.com

Mon 18

Jason Brock with Paula West @ Oasis

Hella Saucy @ Q Bar

Kim Nalley @ Feinstein's at the Nikko

The weekly brunch and drag show with a panoramic view. $45. 11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square. 395-8595. starlightroomsf.com

Thu 21

Karaoke Night @ The Stud

Single, or a couple looking for an extra? Cruise it up. $5. 5pm2am. 1347 Folsom St. powerhousebar.com

Underwear Night @ Club OMG Weekly underwear night includes free clothes check, and drink specials. $4. 10pm-2am. Preceded by Open Mic Comedy, 7pm, no cover. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Comedy Showcase @ SF Eagle Kollin Holtz hosts the open mic comedy night. 5:30pm-8pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Juicy @ Club OMG Weekly women's event at the intimate Mid-market nightclub, with DJ Micah Tron. 9pm-2am. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Kosmetik @ The Stud Music, lasers, fog, drinks. DJs Matthew, Jordee. $5. 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.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. 7pm10pm. 424 Cortland St. 647-3099. wildsidewest.com

Movie Night @ SF Eagle Enjoy drinks and a flick, with trivia games and prizes. 8pm-2am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Pan Dulce @ Beaux

Kandi Love, Northcore Collective and Plus Alliance's weekly EDM, flow arts dance night, with DJs; glow drag encouraged. $5-$10. 9pm-2am. 375 11th St. www.dnalounge.com

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

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

Nice Jewish Boys @ Evil Eye Gay Jewish men's group and GAPA (Gay Asian Pacific Alliance) and their friends happy hour mixer. 6:30pm. 2937 Mission St. keshetonline.org

Queer Karaoke @ Club OMG KJ Dana hosts the weekly singing night; unleash your inner American Idol; first Thursdays are Costume Karaoke; 3rd is Kinky Karaoke 8pm. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

The hot weekly Latin dance night with sexy gogo guys, drag divas and more, with Club Papi's Frisco Robbie and Fabian Torres. $7. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. beauxsf.com

Rice Rockettes @ Lookout

Hump @ Powerhouse

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550

DJ Jim Collins plays vinyl grooves. 7pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Thu 21 Comedy Returns @ El Rio Enjoy the intelligent stand-up comedy of Marga Gomez, Will Durst, Aundre the Wonderwoman, David Lawrence Hawkins, and Lisa Geduldig. $7-$20. 8pm. 3158 Mission St. elriosf.com

Sing Till It Hurts with hostess Sister Flora; 2 for 1 happy hour, no cover. 8pm-2am. 399 9th St.studsf.com

Wed 20

Karaoke Cocktails @ Ginger's

B.P.M. @ Club BnB, Oakland

Jason Brock @ Oasis

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

The popular local singer performs two nights of holiday-themed songs, with guest Paula West, and accompanist Dee Spencer. $40-$45. 8pm. Dec 22 at 7pm. 298 11th St. sfoasis.com

The new basement tribute to the old Ginger's Trois hosts a weekly singing fun. 8pm-12am. 86 Hardie Place. gingers.bar

Kick It @ DNA Lounge

Local and visiting Asian drag queens' weekly show with DJ Philip Grasso. $5. 10:30pm show. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

The Country-Western line-dancing two-stepping dance night. $5. lessons at 5:30pm, dancing til 10:30pm. Also Sundays. 550 Barneveld Ave. www.sundancesaloon.org

Throwback Thursdays @ Qbar Enjoy retro 80s soul, dance and pop classics with DJ Jorge Terez. No cover. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.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

<< Drag

34 • Bay Area Reporter • December 14-20, 2017

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Jackie Beat

Jackie Beat by Jim Gladstone

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ent Fuher says his favorite place to work is at home in bed, with his lapdogs and laptop. “If I had to define myself as more of a performer or a writer, I’d choose writer,” says the thoughtful 52-year-old who will appear at Oasis on Sunday, December 17, as his outrageous alter-ego, drag star Jackie Beat. “Besides doing Jackie, I write material for Ross Mathews and for the Drag Race queens when they tour with their roast shows,” he said. “If you ever go, you’ll hear that all of them sound like me. I wrote for Margaret Cho and Joan Rivers, when they were doing Fashion Police. And I’ve written for Roseanne.” But without fail, for the past twenty-odd years, come late November, Fuher has hit the road for a feverish few weeks to perform, as he puts in, “in full clown” for Jackie Beat’s annual Christmas shows. “I like to write new material for every year,” says Fuher, of the shows’ salacious parody lyrics to pop hits and traditional Christmas songs. “But I’ve been doing this so long that I’ve used every holiday song out there. I’ve done ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ three different ways and three versions of ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” One of the latter, of which Fuher feels particularly proud, involves

Wickedly funny holiday wit with LA’s satire song queen

the cannibalistic aftermath of Santa’s transit crashing into the Andes mountains. “I just love juxtaposing that sweet children’s song with a real horror story.” Fuher likes to craft lyrics with unexpected twists, like his riff on the Eartha Kitt chestnut ‘Santa Baby’: “I rewrote it as ‘Santa’s Baby’. It starts out being about getting pregnant from a one night stand on Christmas Eve [He came down the chimney/Then came in me], and wanting to have an abortion. But because of the Christian right she has to say that Santa raped her in order to get it.” Fuher understands that some of his audience may never pick up on some of the more nuanced wit in his songs. “Look, if you’re not that bright, and you’re in a gay bar and have had five cocktails, you’ll hear the word ‘poop’ and that’ll be enough to make you laugh.” But, he insightfully recognizes the limits of musical parody as a jokedelivery system for any listener: “You’re moving through the lyrics very quickly when you’re singing, so if a joke is subtle, or requires people to do the math, it won’t work, because there are three more gags in the time it would take them to get it. So I always have to be a little broad and kind of swing for the fences.” Still, Fuher says that a sense of comedy craftsmanship leads him

to pack in the jokes as densely as possible, avoiding the bludgeoning approach of a Weird Al Yankovic: “I don’t repeat lyrics in the chorus.” Given the high gags-per-minute ratio of the act, Jackie Beat always performs with a music stand and lyric sheets. The stand also helps Fuher be as topical as possible. “The person who first made me want to become a performer is Sandra Bernhard, and every time I’ve gone to see her, she’s had a music stand she can refer to. It gives me a sense of freedom so I can write five or six new songs in a week if I get inspired and start performing them right away without totally memorizing. “One time I was doing two nights in San Francisco. Back in my hotel room after the first night, the whole Tiger Woods golf club thing was on the news. I jumped on my laptop and downloaded the karaoke version of Survivor’s ‘Eye of the Tiger’ and the next night I sang ‘I Slept With Tiger.’” The songwriting muse has been particularly fertile these past few months. Reveling in the phonetic similarity of Louis C.K. and YMCA, says Fuher, “I’ll be doing a new foursong sexual predator medley.”t Jackie Beat performs ‘A Gay in a Manger’ at Oasis Sunday, December 17 at 7pm & 9pm. $32.50-$42.50. 289 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Jackie Beat performing in 2015 in Revue at Sonoma County’s Graton Resort and Casino.

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Karrnal Knowledge>>

December 14-20, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 35

Stockings stuffed Holiday homoerotica for your naughty list BTW, Peters is an alternate cartooning identity for Patrick Fillion. It lets him indulge in a different kind of art than that for which he’s known. Bryce/Fillion’s drawing style of this bruiser may be different, but his playful nastiness remains. Too bad I can’t show you just about the most eyebrow-raising drawing of all, in which an elfish Santa has made a sound out of a Christmas tree branch, and is inching it up the beautifully big dick of a hollering holy hell hero. Merry Christmas! May it hurt in all the right places! Class Comics

Men of many colors feature on the cover of Meaty, A Very Kinky Christmas.

Class Comics

Artist Martin Fuhrer delivers some superhero romance, in Meaty, A Very Kinky Christmas.

by John F. Karr

C

harged with coming up with some Xmas-themed porn with which to get you all in a horny holiday mood, I Googled “Gay Christmas Porn.” Things came up pretty wan. So, maybe skip the flicks, and go with the comics. One porn tradition I’ve always hated is those scenes where some twink has a candy cane sticking out of his ass. And whattaya know. The Net was pretty free of those “Candy Cane in My Crack” flicks. But they’re lurking out there somewhere. Of all places, I found one at the super-butch Bromo. com, starring, of all people, superbutch Jaxton Wheeler as Santa, with an A-list performance by his bottom, Brenner Bolton. It’s called “Santa Bred Me.” Another scene I found is sort of good, if you like solos. It’s a 12-minute scene called “Santa’s Last Delivery on Christmas Eve.” There’s a teaser on YouTube, while the whole

thing’s at Pornhub, for free. It shows a twinkling-eyed Santa arriving in some guy’s living room, only to discover his gift bag, which is empty. But he’s a resourceful Santa. Spying a cell phone on a side table, he decides to film a Santa Strip Tease and Squeeze Off. When he starts his strip, we discover he’s a Santa with a swimmer’s build. He’s got some nicely developed pecs. His overdose of curly white hair and bushy beard mask his face, but we find out later on that he’s quite a cutie. He’s an okay stripper, and his flexing routine is an enticing come-on. When he gets down to his body-hugging Lycra hot pants, it begs the question, Is Santa cut or uncut? I went with uncut, figuring Santa wasn’t Jewish, and I was right. He’s also completely shaved. Although he’s hung, he’s not the most arousing masturbator, and he keeps his white gloves on throughout. All in all, this isn’t a bad way to meet Santa as a stroker. I’d advise you skip another scene

I found. It’s pretty lackluster, hardly an advert for HornyModelBoys. com. It’s more of a warning. In it, we find Santa’s helpers wrapping gifts. You know where that leads. The scene had potential, but the execution is so half-assed, it’s hardly fun and certainly not erotic. So, for an eroticization of Santa I knew would be dependable, I turned to an old favorite, Class Comics. It’s been some years since I last wrote about the site and its plentiful offerings, giving editor-in-chief Patrick Fillion time to gather into a pair of super anthologies a splendid anthology of the many Christmasthemed artworks the company has published. Class Comics is home to a dozen or so writers and illustrators, all of whom give a decidedly contemporary look to their sexy artwork. And not just with the presence of men of color. At Class, we find an interplanetary collection of hunky, supermale creatures in all colors. There are green guys, and red guys and brown guys, and guys with feelers and antennae and tentacles that slink and snake into every orifice around, in comic tales that are second only to A. Jay’s The Super Succulent Adventures of Harry Chess in their outrageous sexuality. Mr. Fillion, who is quite a lively artist himself, presides as editor over a group of artists who have whirling imaginations and a riot of sexualities. I’ve recently been buying Class’ digital editions, which cost less, don’t take up any shelf space, and make a swell impact on the highresolution screens of computers and pads. So, this year we get a pair of 57page, full color collections called Meaty, A Very Kinky Christmas. More than 70 artists are represented, with full-page, full-color representations of their saucy and scan-

Bromo.com

Santa (Jaxton Wheeler) prepares to enjoy Brenner Bolton’s cookies.

dalous Christmas comics. The two books are packed with bondage, C&B torture, nipple nibbling and other kinky events. Hardly any can be reproduced in this publication without cropping. Sentimentalist that I am, I liked the romantic coupling by Mexican artist Martin Fuhrer, who delights in situating superheroes in his scenes. Tom Cray’s specialty is guys with big asses, and he offers one of the biggest, stuffed with, wouldn’t you know, a handful of candy canes. You just can’t escape them. Bryce Peters’ offering finds a man of muscle lashed to a Christmas wreath. Although I’ve had to do some cropping of the image, it’s not his booty that’s getting the play, but something poking way out below.

Grinch and bare it

Oh, and here’s the kind of Christmas present you really wanna send back. The membership website, SeanCody. com has just begun charging for downloads. You read that right. You can stream scenes for no extra cost beyond membership, but each scene you want to own will cost you another $1.99. Unlike sites where the Join page clearly states the site has no DRM (Digital Rights Management), you’ll find no such adviso at SeanCody. You find out only after you’ve paid your money to join. I saw another site that recently initiated this extra charge. My guess is that before long it’ll be an industry standard.t www.Bromo.com www.HornyModelBoys.com www.ClassComics.com www.SeanCody.com

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<< BARchive

36 • Bay Area Reporter • December 14-20, 2017

t

Above: Rick Gerharter, Top/Bottom Right: Rita Rockett

Above: Rita Rockett (right) and volunteers bring in food and supplies to San Francisco General Hospital’s Ward 5A, fixings for her Sunday Brunch, in April 1992. Top Right: A Christmas Party on Ward 5B with Rita Rockett (2nd right) Bottom Right: The Rita Rockett meals team in the 1980s: (back row, left-right: Jim Sims, Jon, Denton and Robin. Second row: Terry Thomas, Rita Rockett, Johnny Marchant and Michelle; Gary Kenyan on floor.

<<

Bleak Midwinter

From page 31

Inspiration came from unexpected places. On October 27, 1985 Steven Russell and Frank Burt chained themselves to the door of the Federal Building in United Nations Plaza. Thus began the encampment known as the AIDS/ARC vigil. It lasted ten years. On Thanksgiving Day 1985, the vigil was inundated with food when members of the Metropolitan Community Church congregation came down to the plaza to share dinner. A Christmas tree was sent to the vigil from Germany and carolers came down to sing to the people on the plaza. The spirit of the holidays was not always evident, however. Arrests of the protestors continued throughout the years. But people did continue to bring food, and celebrations continued throughout the years. Rita Rockett began her brunches on Ward 5-B (and later on 5-A) beginning around Easter 1984. She had been working at bars like The Balcony (2166 Market) and Castro Station (456 Castro) since the 1970s. Dennis Yount, who bartended at The Eagle, was a close friend of Rockett’s. She planned a party to cheer him up. Unfortunately, Yount died before the party, but Rockett was undeterred and began a series of legendary brunches that stretched on for years. In 1986 she told the Bay Area Reporter’s Mike Hippler, “If you come

from the South, whenever anything is wrong, you bring food. If somebody is sick or has died, somehow that always makes it right. It brings people together.” Around this time of year, Rockett’s brunches naturally involved the holidays. As Hippler noted, “Cooking and serving are not the only thing Rita does at her brunches. She also entertains. At Easter, she was the Easter Bunny; at Christmas she was Mrs. Claus. Sometimes she invites local entertainers like the Vocal Majority to perform, and she herself tapdances.” In the days before life-saving medications, the difference between life and death could be something as simple as being motivated to eat. In a 1987 article about another series of dinners for people with AIDS and ARC given by the late Victor Rodriguez (also known as Rod or Roxie from the Elephant Walk) Rockett told the B.A.R: “People are motivated to eat if they’re not by themselves. That’s one of the hard things about this disease, being alone. No one wants to be by yourself, especially if you’re sick.” Turning the crisis into benefit parties gave people a way to contribute to people who were sick, and to celebrate community at the same time. On Wednesday Dec. 12, 1986, Rockett took over the High Chaparal (2140 Market – now Lucky 13) for her fifth annual Family Reunion

and Christmas party. The event was also a benefit for the Ward 5-A Brunches and their 1986 Christmas Party. At the well-attended event, Ruth Brinker (founder of Project Open Hand) and San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen stopped by, and attendees brought gifts for people on the Ward. Benefits during the holidays became increasingly popular through the 1980s. Many of them were for Ward 5-B. The bar Sutter’s Mill had a Christmas party in 1987 for the staff of the ward and for Shanti. In 1985, The Eagle hosted “An Eagle Christmas” with a buffet and a tree lighting benefit for Ward 5B. It must have been successful, because in 1988 “Lights for Life” invited people to donate five dollars to light Christmas tree lights for the AIDS Emergency Fund. In 1974, drag queen Tessie (aka Polk district bartender Perry Spink) received several spare turkeys that holiday season, so he cooked them, and served them to Tenderloin residents. Elected the Red Rose Empress XV, as Tessie, Spink became known for a dedication to feeding the hungry. The Tenderloin Tessie dinners continue today at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, staffed with volunteers that include Imperial and Ducal Court royals. Other acts of goodwill filled the community with a creative spirit. Most Holy Redeemer parish distributed Christmas wreaths and gifts to PWAs.

The Eureka Valley Merchant’s Association and the Names Project sponsored a Christmas Tree lighting in 1987, where community members brought ornaments with the name of a friend who had died from AIDS. Gary Brown (a.k.a. Brad Mason in adult videos) dressed as Santa and collected money to buy AZT for AIDS patients at the corner of 18th

and Castro. An article on “Every Penny Counts,” the AIDS Emergency Fund effort to get pennies from bar customers, was featured in a late November article in the B.A.R. in 1987 with bartenders from the Elephant Walk. During this period you could not go a week without reading about benefits in Mr. Marcus, Sweet Lips and Mark Friese’s columns in the B.A.R. In the face of sickness and tragedy, the LGBT community and their allies stood up, joined together, celebrated and raised money for a multitude of causes. In the Reagan years they had to do this. When help was slow in coming from the national government, the people of the city filled the gap. Having just come from a benefit for Camp Sunburst for children with HIV/AIDS at Aunt Charlie’s, I can tell you that this is a tradition that continues today. The message of hope and joy from those dark times continues to inspire to this day. Remember and treasure this generosity, no matter how you celebrate the holidays.t

Rick Gerharter

Rick Gerharter

The AIDS/ARC Vigil outside the Old Federal Building in San Francisco, November 1, 1988.

Above: Tessie, Red Rose Empress XV, whose Tenderloin dinners became a multi-holiday tradition. Below: Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus - TJ and Sheba - spread holiday cheer with the Tenderloin Tessie’s volunteers during the group’s annual Christmas Day dinner at the First Unitarian Church in San Francisco in 2005.

Arts December Events 14-21

t

Arts Listings>>

December 14-20, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 37

Fri 15

The Hard Nut @ Zeller

bach Hall, Berkeley

5 on 25 @ Safehouse Dance premieres by Alma Esperanza Cunningham, Nina Haft, Joe Landini and Ronja Ver for the 25th anniversary of the indie dance space. $15-$30. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru Dec. 16. 145 Eddy St. safehousearts.org

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi The musical comedy revue celebrates its 43th 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. Wed-Fri 8pm. Sat 6pm & 9pm. Sun 2pm & 5pm. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd. (Green St.). 421-4222. beachblanketbabylon.com

Black Rider @ Ashby Stage Shotgun Players’ production of the Williams S. Burroughs, Tom Waits and Robert Wilson adult fairytale musical about a lowly clerk who must prove himself to his fianceé’s father by riding through a mysterious forest. $25$40. Thru Dec 31. 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. shotgunplayers.org

Chanticleer @ Various Venues The Grammy-winning men’s a cappella vocal ensemble performs holiday concerts in various locations. Dec 14 in Sacramento, Dec 15 in Petaluma. Dec. 17 at St. Ignatius Church, SF. Dec. 18 at First Congregational Church, Berkeley. chantcleer.org

A Christmas Story @ SF Playhouse Local production of Benj Pasek, Justin Paul & Joseph Robinette’s musical adaptation of the classic movie. $20-$125. Tue-Thu 7:30pm, Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru Jan. 13. 450 Post St. sfplayhouse.org

Classic & New Films @ Castro Theatre

The comic actor performs his new show, One in Every Crowd. $30-$45. Most 7:30pm (Dec 16 also 9:30; Dec 17, 2pm). Thru Dec. 17. 1127 Market St. www.act-sf.org

Local new production of Lillian Hellman’s Nazi/anti-fascist-themed drama set in 1940. $30-$60. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed, Sat & Sun 7pm, Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru Jan. 14. 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. berkeleyrep.org

A Christmas Carol @ Geary Theatre

Dysfunctional Holiday Revue @ Berkeley Rep

Radar Reading @ SF Public Library

The Second City’s comic sketch series focuses on seasonal satire and sacreligious songs. $40-$60 (includes one drink!). Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm, Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru Dec. 31. 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. www.berkeleyrep.org

Red Light Lit co-presents the December Queer Reading, with Kar Johnson, Anand Vedawala, Kim Pierce, Kimberly Reyes, and host Juliana Delgado Lopera. Free. 6pm. 100 Larkin St. radarproductions.org

Foreign Bodies @ GLBT History Museum Foreign Bodies: Homophobia, Race and Immigration, a panel discussion with Marcia Ochoa and Andrew Spieldenner. $5. 7pm. Also, OUT/ LOOK and the Birth of the Queer and Faces of the Past: Queer Lives in Northern California Before 1930, part of the Queer Past Becomes Present main exhibit. $5. 4127 18th St. glbthistory.org

Garret + Moulton Dance @ ODC Theater 15th anniversary of Janice Garrett and Charles Moulton’s vibrant dance company, with three new world premieres, including a juggling romp Zingo, with a cast of 18. $25-$32, Gala fundraiser Dec 16 $60-$500. Thu-Sat 8pm. Dec 16 also 3pm. 3153 17th St. www.garrettmoulton.org

Handel’s Messiah @ Davies Symphony Hall The San Francisco Symphony and Chorus performs the holiday classic. $16-$155. 8pm. Also Dec 15, 8pm. 201 Van Ness Ave. sfsymphony.org

The Michelle Meow Show @ Commonwealth Club The local broadcast journalist hosts in a new format. Dec 14: a focus on transgender leadership with guests Andrea Jenkins and Addison Beaux. Free-$10. 10am. 110 Embarcadero. commonwealthclub.org

The Secret Garden @ Gateway Theatre 42nd Street Moon’s production of Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon’s Tony-winning 1991 musical based on the novel. $15-$45. Various times, Wed-Sun Thru Dec 24. 215 Jackson St. at Battery. 42ndStMoon.org

Mother the Verb & LXS Desaparecidxs, a queer Latinxthemed work,with Javier StellFresquez, Ivan “Ivy” Monteiro, and Davia Spain & Randy Reyes. Dec 14-16, 8pm. 80 Turk St. counterpulse.org

The Hard Nut @ Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley Mark Morris Dance Group’s 22nd annual performances of the ‘70s modern fun twist on Tchaikovsky holiday ballet, with 33 dancers and colorful sets, and live accompaniment by the Berkeley Symphony and East Bay Children’s Choir. $40-$135. Various times thru Dec 24. Bancroft Way at Dana, UC Berkeley campus. calperformances.org

Hayes Valley Carolfest @ First Baptist Church Snow sledding, food trucks, games, crafts, carol sing-along, life-size snow globe and more fun. 5pm9pm. 22 Waller St. firstsf.com

Small Mouth Sounds @ Strand Theatre American Conservatory Theatre presents Bess Wohl’s acclaimed Off-Broadway comedy about the wellness industry and spiritual gurus, set in a woodsy retreat center. $14-$90. Tue-Sat 7:30pm. Wed & Sat 2pm. Thru Dec. 10. 1127 Market St. www.act-sf.org

Kitka @ Various Venues

Smuin Ballet @ YBCA The SF company performs Michael Smuin’s popular Christmas Ballet. Dec 14-24. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. smuinballet.org

Group Exhibit @ Jenkins Johnsons Gallery Opening reception for There Is No Alas Where I Live, a dozen artists’ photographs, curated by Ann Jastrab. 5:30-7:30pm. Thru Jan. 27. 464 Sutter St. jenkinsjohnsongallery.com

Fri 15 Avenue Q @ NCTC

Performing Diaspora @ CounterPulse

American Conservatory Theatre’s 41st annual production of Carey Perloff and Paul Walsh’s acclaimed stage adaptation of the Charles Dickens story. $20-$135. Thru Dec. 24. 415 Geary St act-sf.org

Just Another Zombie Holiday Show @ Exit Theatre

The puppets return! The Tonywinning musical about a New York neighborhood of puppets and people is restaged. $35-$60. WedSat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Extended thru Jan. 21. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. nctcsf.org

Dec 14: Bullitt (7pm) and 48 Hrs. Dec. 15: What’s Up, Doc? (7:15) and High Anxiety (5:20, 9:05). Dec. 16: The Shining (4:!5, 9:05) and Misery (2:10, 7pm). Dec 17: Casablanca (3pm, 7pm) and Dark Passage (1pm, 5pm, 9pm). Dec 18 & 19: Blade Runner 2049 (3pm, 6pm, 9pm). Dec 20: Noir City Xmas presents Manhandled (7:30) and Alias Boston Blackie (9:30). Dec 21: Singin’ in the Rain (4:45, 7pm, 9pm). $11-$16. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

Colin Quinn @ Strand Theater

Art Rocks Club House hosts an opening reception for the local artist’s pop-influenced paintings. 5pm6:30pm. 191 Sutter St. shipyardartists. com/work/brian-moore

Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s new bluegrass musical about an unlikely love story in the 1920s American South. $49-$175. Tue-Sun various times thru Dec. 17. 445 Greary St. www.sfcurran.com

A Thu 14

Watch on the Rhine @ Berkeley Rep

Bright Star @ Curran Theatre

right way! Get a feel for rt can touch you, in the atre, dance, visual art, and creative stories through the Area. ming throughout the Bay the many choruses perfor

Edited for space. For full listings, visit www.ebar.com/arts

Brian Moore @ Galleria Park Hotel

Sat 16 Bay Area Rainbow Symphony @ Tabue Atrium Theater Holiday concert features Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (with pianist Roger Woodward) and Aaron Copland’s Outdoor Overture. $ 8pm. Also Dec 17 at 2pm. 401 Van ness ave, 4th floor. bars-sf.org

Holiday Concerts @ Davies Symhony Hall Home Alone simul-screening with the Symphony and three children’s choruses. $69-$175. Dec 16, 7pm, 17 at 2pm and 20 at 7:30pm. A Charlie Brown Christmas Live!, with actors & dancers, and holidays songs. Dec 21-23 2pm & 7:30pm. Dec 24, 2pm. $30-$80. 201 Van Ness Ave. www.sfsymphony.org

Nutcracker Sweets @ Cowell Theater Mark Foehringer’s annual kid & family-friendly abbreviated fun version of the The Nutcracker ballet. Sat & Sun 11am, 1pm (and some 4pm) thru Dec. 23. Fort Mason Center for the Arts, 1 Marina Blvd. www.nutcrackersweets.org

Theatrical comic cabaret where the cast shows up late and hungry for brains. $15. 8pm or 8:30pm. Thru Dec. 16. 156 Eddy St. theexit.org

The amazing women’s folk vocal ensemble performs their Wintersongs concert series. Dec. 15, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Oakland. Dec. 16, Old First Church, SF. Dec. 17, Nile Hill, Oakland. Dec 21, part of winter Solstice Celebration at Filoli Gardens, Woodside. Thru Dec 21. Free/$65 (Filoli event). kitka.org

Noh Christmas Carol @ Noh Space Theatre of Yugen’s theatrical Japanese reinterpretation of the Charles Dickens short story. $30-$70. Fri & Sat 7pm. Sun 4pm. Thru Dec. 24. 2840 Mariposa St. theatreofyugen.org

Shakespeare in Love @ Marin Theatre Company Lee Hall’s stage adaptation of Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman’s screenplay about William Shakespeare’s fictional romance with a female aspiring actor. Tue-Sun 7:30pm. Some matinees. Extended thru Dec. 23. 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. marintheatre.org

Fri 15

Kitka @ Various Venues

Sabbath @ Contemporary Jewish Museum Sabbath,The Dorothy Saxe Invitational group exhibit, thru Feb 25. Also, Jewish Folktales Retold: Artist as Maggid (thru Jan 28). Free (members)-$12. Fri-Tue 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-8pm (closed Wed). 736 Mission St. 655-7800. thecjm.org

SF Boys Chorus @ St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Berkeley Choral concert seasonal traditional songs. $25-$35. 7pm. 2727 College Ave., Berkeley. sfbc.org/sfbc

Tender Life @ Tenderloin Museum Tender Life: Graphic and Ceramic Memories of Tenderloin Living, 1999-2004, a group exhibit of contemporary ceramic and other works by Holly Coley and others. 398 Eddy St. tenderloinmuseum.org

We’d Rather Write! @ PAWS/Shanti

Thu 14

Chanticleer @ Various Venues

A mixed gender queer elders writing workshop reads their written work; hear stories on aging, desire, adventure, confronting change, and savored memories. Free. 1pm. 3170 3rd St. www.shanti.org

See page 38 >>

<< Arts Events

38 • Bay Area Reporter • December 14-20, 2017

Queer Tango @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley Same-sex partner tango dancing, including lessons for newbies, food and drinks. $5-$10. 3:30pm6:30pm. 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley. finnishhall.org

Smile! The Comics of Raina Telgemeier @ Cartoon Art Museum New exhibit of works by the awardwinning author and illustrator of graphic novels, at the museum’s new location. Free/$10. Thu-Tue 11am5pm. 781 Beach St. Thru Mar. 20. cartoonart.org

Mon 18 Oscar Gallegos Zamora @ Strut Exhibit of the gay artist’s physique and fantasy collage works. Thru Dec. 470 Castro St. www.strutsf.org

Timothy Snyder @ Castro Country Club Family Jewels, an exhibit of the artist’s colorful new works. 4058 18th St. castrocountryclub.org

Thu 14

World Tree of Hope @ City Hall

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi

<<

On the Tab

From page 37

Sun 17 Isaac Julien’s Playtime @ Fort Mason Trio of video installations by the award-winning British artist. Free. Wed-Sat, 12pm-8pm; Sunday, 11am-5pm. Thru Feb 11. Gallery 308, FMCAC Visitor Center, SFAI Gray Box Gallery. 1 Marina Blvd. fortmason.org/event/playtime/

Metamorphosis & Migration: Days of the Dead @ Oakland Museum New group Day of the Dead exhibit and installations, guest-curated by Evelyn Orante; Thru Jan. 14. Also, Question Bridge: Black Men, a video installation with 160 Black American men discussing important current themes of race and class. Other exhibits about local art and natural history. $7$16. Wed-Sun 11am-5pm (til 9pm Fridays). 1000 Oak St., Oakland. museumca.org

See Rainbow World Fund’s 12th annual festive tree, where thousands of paper origami cranes send messages of hope. 8am-5pm. 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place. worldtreeofhope.org

Tue 19 Derriere Le Mirior @ Jules Maeght Gallery Group exhibition of covers from the historic French art magazine, including prints by Alexander Calder, Ellsworth Kelly, Joan Miró, Alberto Giacometti and others. Tue-Sat 11am-6pm. Thru Jan 15. 149 Gough St. julesmaeghtgallery.com

t

Jaye Blakesberg @ Harvey Milk Photo Center

Looking Through the Lens @ Diane Wilsey Center for Opera

Exhibit of prints by the prolific photographer of pop and rock musicians. Thru Jan. 6. 50 Scott St. blakesberg.com

The Glory of San Francisco Opera, Past and Present, an exhibit of historic productions photos from the San Francisco Opera’s many productions. Free. Mon-Fri 9am6pm. Veteran’s Building, 401 Van Ness Ave. sfopera.com

Robert Rauchenberg @ SF MOMA Erasing the Rules, a new expansive exhibit of work by the postmodern artist; thru March 25. Also, Walker Evans ; an exhibit of 300 prints by the acclaimed historic photographer of American culture from the 1930s, with 100 of his own collected artifacts. Also, exhibits of Pop, Abstract and classic Modern art. Free/$25. FriTue 10am-6pm. Thru Feb 4. 151 3rd St. www.sfmoma.org

Various Events @ Oakland LGBTQ Center Social events and meetings at the new LGBTQ center include film screenings and workshops, including Bruthas Rising, trans men of color meetings, 4th Tuesdays, 6:30pm. Film screenings, 4th Saturdays, 7:30pm. Game nights, Fridays 7:30pm-11pm. Vogue sessions, first Saturdays. 3207 Lakeshore Ave. Oakland. oaklandlgbtqcenter.org

Voice of the Central City @ Tenderloin Museum New exhibit about the history of The Tenderloin Times. Thru Mar. 30. Reg hours Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Free-$10. 398 Eddy St. tenderloinmuseum.org

Wed 20 Fool La La! @ the Marsh Berkeley Unique Derique performs his wacky kid-friendly physical comedy clown show and holiday extravaganza. $15-$100. Dec 20-23, 27-30, Jan 2-7. 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. themarsh.org

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

The Rose That Grew From Concrete @ LGBT Center Exhibit of multimedia art by members of the Center’s Youth Program. 1800 Market St. sfcenter.org

Thu 21 Ten Percent @ Comcast David Perry’s online and cable interviews with notable local and visiting LGBT people, broadcast through the week. Wed 7pm, Thu-Tue 11:30am & 10:30pm. ComcastHometown.com

Unearthed @ California Academy of Sciences Exhibits and planetarium shows with various live, interactive and installed exhibits about animals, plants and the earth; new exhibit, From Stone Age to Space Age, showcases minerals. $20-$35. MonSat 9:30am-5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. calacademy.org To submit event listings, email events@ebar.com. Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication.

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t

Shining Stars>>

December 14-20, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 39

Shining Stars Steven Underhill Photos by

Drag Queens on Ice @

Safeway Holiday Ice Rink U

Read more online at www.ebar.com

nion Square’s seasonal festivities donned the extra-gay apparel, as the annual Drag Queens on Ice drew record crowds. A few queens dared to don skates, while others padded out to the rink for a live or lip-synched number. Performers included Mutha Chucka, Paju Munro, Kylie-Pop and Mahlae Balenciaga, with MC Donna Sachet, and guests Sister Roma and Queen Dilly Dally. Humphry Slocombe served its commemorative limited-edition ice cream flavor, the Chocolate Peppermint Death Drop. Delish! Union Square Ice Rink is open through the holidays. unionsquareicerink.com See plenty more photos on BARtab’s Facebook page, facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife. See more of Steven Underhill’s photos at StevenUnderhill.com.

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