Baker may get SFO exhibit
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Aerial Life
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Since 1971, the newspaper of record for the San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ community
Vol. 47 • No. 24 • June 15-21, 2017
Hundreds rally in San Jose Jane Philomen Cleland
Construction worker Michael Bennett uses a torch to melt thermo plastic leather flag colors into the sidewalk on Ringold Alley.
SOMA alley leather walk takes shape
by Matthew S. Bajko
T
he bronze bootprints lining the sidewalks on a block of Ringold Alley honor men and women who left a lasting imprint on San Francisco’s leather community during their lifetimes. Made from the left and right soles of a pair of Dehners boots owned by Mike McNamee, the founder and former owner of Stompers, the 28 commemorative markers feature the names and short bios of 30 individuals. Among them are Marcus Hernandez, the Bay Area Reporter’s former leather columnist known simply as “Mr. Marcus,” and Alexis Muir, a transwoman and owner of early South of Market bars and baths. Also included are former Brig bar owner Hank Diethelm, who at 14 fled the Nazi Youth to immigrate to the city in 1949 and was murdered by a sexual partner in 1983, and Robert Opel, who owned Fey-Way Studios and streaked the 1974 Oscars ceremony then was assassinated in SOMA in 1979. Planted in several bulb-outs newly added to the street are stone plinths – recycled curbstones that once lined city streets – that bear the names of iconic leather businesses, many of which long ago closed their doors. Among them are Stormy Leather, a woman-owned leather store, and Fe-Be’s, the first leather bar on Folsom Street, once known as the “Miracle Mile” for the myriad leather bars and gay bathhouses that had operated on or near it starting in the 1950s. Today, only a handful remain. At the entrance to the one-way alley on Eighth Street is a bulb-out decked iut in the black, blue, and white colors of the leather flag, including a reproduction of its red heart. Round bike racks have been installed there, across from where an under-construction parklet is set to soon open. See page 18 >>
Participants walked in the San Jose Equality March for Unity and Pride June 11.
by Heather Cassell
A
rainbow of supporters demanded equal rights during last weekend’s march in San Jose that coincided with the national Equality March for Unity and Pride in Washington, D.C., and numerous other satellite protests around the country.
People’s spirits were high as they waived their rainbow flags and signs, chanting in English and Spanish: “What do we want? Equality,” “What do we want? Diversity,” “No hate, No fear, everyone is welcome here,” through the heart of the South Bay city. March and rally organizers estimated the June 11 crowd to be upward of 800 attendees, but the Bay Area Reporter and Mercury
News estimated the crowd to be around 300. The San Jose Police Department didn’t respond to a request to confirm attendance numbers. Some older gay activists expressed disappointment in the numbers that were a mere shadow of the turnout for the Women’s See page 17 >>
Flore launches cannabis cocktail menu
Jo-Lynn Otto
by Sari Staver
nightlife consultant and a past president of the San Francisco Entertainhe Castro’s Flore cafe is rolling ment Commission, said Flore “hopes out its new cannabis cocktail to continue the tradition.” menu and is believed to be the “When Brownie Mary and Dennis first bar in San Francisco to offer bevPeron met for the first time, it was erages laced with pot. here at Flore,” said Alan, referring to Beginning Friday, June 16 at 4:20 the late medical cannabis proponent p.m., the 44-year-old cafe at Market Mary Jane Rathbun. and Noe streets will begin offering When Alan bought Flore with 16 new drinks, including “Peron’s business partner Aaron Silverman Perverted Punch” (named after mediin January, the two promised to cal marijuana activist Dennis Peron develop a menu that would include and consisting of pisco, pear vodka, cannabis. Alan and Silverman, a lime, and pineapple juice); “Harvey’s straight ally, met while doing canHibiscus Sangria” (named after slain nabis advocacy work in California supervisor Harvey Milk with hibisand realized they shared a vision of cus-infused vodka, Pimm’s blackSari Staver a restaurant where customers could berry, elderflower liqueur, pinot noir, Flore co-owner Aaron Silverman, left, showed off some of the enjoy and share cannabis while they and lemon juice); and a “Castro Cup” cannabis-infused drinks and bites with Chris Emerson, cosocialize over food. (cucumber-infused Irish whiskey, founder of Level Blends, mixologist Christopher Longoria, and Alan has a long history of cannaPimm’s No. 1, lemon juice, and soda). Flore co-owner Terrance Alan. bis activism beginning in the 1970s The menu also includes four nonwhen he and Peron fought to make alcoholic mocktails, including “Flore medical marijuana legal. He is chair cheese crumbles); and housemade hummus Sunrise” (orange and pineapple juices with of San Francisco’s Cannabis State Legalization de Flore. Munchies will be available until 7:20 pomegranate syrup). p.m., while the beverages can be ordered during Task Force. A cannabis-laced beer, Tokeback Mountain, restaurant hours. Silverman is an experienced cannabis was introduced April 20 and has quickly be“The Castro is the neighborhood where entrepreneur. come the most popular beer on tap. But as Alan knew, the task wasn’t going to be medical marijuana got started in this city,” said Flore’s new menu will include a munchies co-owner Terrance Alan, referring to Peron’s easy. Local laws prohibit bars from also selling section, featuring jalapeno hog and cheese bites; fight for dispensaries under Proposition 215, cannabis, which made the owners’ job “very baby got back (chicken fried bacon strips); Noe tricky,” said Alan. But he figured out that if he which legalized medical marijuana in 1996. Valley nuggets (buffalo Tater Tots with blue See page 16 >> Alan, a gay man who is an entertainment and
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