June 29, 2023 edition of the Bay Area Reporter

15

ARTS

AIDS Walk changes

Pelosi honored

15

ARTS

10

04

Sara Toby Moore

Ivo Dimchev

The

www.ebar.com

Serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities since 1971

Vol. 53 • No. 26 • June 29-July 5, 2023

SF Pride parade flexes community’s muscle

Jane Philomen Cleland

Gooch

Members of Dykes on Bikes led off the San Francisco Pride parade June 25.

The Vera Sphere contingent sported brilliant colors in the SF Pride parade.

by John Ferrannini

ongoing COVID pandemic. It – along with Pride parades nationwide this month – commemorates the anniversary of the Stonewall uprising in Manhattan, New York, which in June 1969 stood at the beginning of the movement for LGBTQ civil rights in the United States. New York City held its parade the same day as San Francisco.

One of the parade’s community grand mar-

T

housands of people marched in 200 contingents up Market Street Sunday for the San Francisco LGBTQ Pride parade – a defiant answer from the City-by-the-Bay to a resurgence in homophobic and transphobic attitudes elsewhere.

Marchers included the notable – Congress-

member Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), the former House speaker, and the city’s mayor, London Breed – and the many more community members and allies like LGBTQ bankers, bureaucrats, first responders, service workers, and indeed people of all occupations, who make the Bay Area work day-by-day.

The parade is now in its 53rd year, although it did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the

shals, Honey Mahogany, a trans nonbinary person who is chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, told the Bay Area Reporter that though she’s been in many Pride parades over the years and has hosted the main stage at Civic Center Plaza with Sister Roma for the past five years, “being a grand marshal this year in particular feels really special.”

See page 12 >>

2024 to be record year for CA LGBTQ legislative candidates

by Matthew S. Bajko

California Attorney General Rob Bonta rode in the San Francisco Pride parade June 25 and issued the statewide hate crimes report two days later.

Anti-LGBTQ hate crimes up in CA, AG report says

by John Ferrannini

J

ust days after appearing in San Francisco’s LGBTQ Pride parade, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that hate crimes against gay men, lesbians, and trans people all rose last year.

The numbers came as part of his office’s annual report non hate crimes, which was released Tuesday, June 27. Bonta blamed “racist, xenophobic, homophobic, and destructive language” for the uptick.

See page 2 >>

T

he 2024 legislative races are shaping up to be a record year for LGBTQ candidates in California, with at least 24 out contenders already pulling papers to seek Assembly or Senate seats in the Statehouse. It is one more than the 23 LGBTQ legislative candidates known by the Bay Area Reporter to have run in 2020.

As the B.A.R. has been reporting, next year could finally see the first transgender and queer members be elected to the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. The affinity group for out legislators in Sacramento currently stands at a historic 12 members following the results of the 2022 election cycle, four of whom are lesbian, seven are gay men, and one is bisexual. Six are running for reelection next year and one is seeking election to a different chamber.

A seventh could depart next year if they end up running for Congress instead of reelection to their legislative seat, while two of the caucus’ lesbian members will be termed out at the end of 2024. Both Senators Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) and Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), the current senate president pro tempore, are in their last legislative terms.

Thus, depending on the outcomes of next year’s races, there is the possibility of seeing the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus nearly double in size during the 2025 legislative session. With two pairs of out candidates running for the same seat

Courtesy the campaigns

State Assembly candidate Joseph Rocha, left, joins Southern California Senate candidate Sasha Renée Pérez and East Bay state Senate candidates Jovanka Beckles and Kathryn Lybarger as four of the 24 out people running for legislative seats in 2024.

next year, and one a Republican with little chance of winning, the affinity group could number 23 members should there be a rainbow sweep in all but one of the 2024 legislative races with out candidates.

Since 2008, when a then-record nine known out candidates sought legislative office in the

SP EC IA

L IS SU E

- C A LI FO

RN IA PR

state, the B.A.R. has been keeping track of LGBTQ contenders for the Statehouse in the Golden State. The nine out female candidates who are already seeking to join the Legislature next year is just shy of the record 11 women from the LGBTQ community who ran in 2020.

See page 12 >>

ID E!

05 11 Assemb

ly race hits

Castro

Senior hou

The

sing upd

ate

ARTS

Jane Philomen Cleland

15

Lena Hal

l

2021 • May 27, No. 673 agazine.com outwordm

Since 1971 www.eba r.com

Chick lA opens -fi n r SF city liea ne

by Matthew

L

Hall: Todrick to Oz in g Returnina County Sonom

REACH CALIFORNIA’S LARGEST LGBTQ AUDIENCE. ns on Expressio tice Social Jus page 2

LA Pride s Announce nts Eve In-Person 4 page

& Pronouns “PRIDE, gress” Pro page 15

page 34

Serving

S. Bajko

the lesbian,

gay, bise xual, tran

Tenan Ellis Actst fight ‘devastati evictions ng’ sgender,

and queer

commun

ities sinc

e 1971

ong revile d by bers, chick LGBTQ community en sandwich memfil-A is purveyor Chicktion mere opening its newest Bay minu city line. Perch tes away from San Area locaCity, the chain ed above Interstate Francisco’s 280 ’s distin ctive red signa in Daly to miss by drivers head ge is hard ternationa l Airport, ed to San Francisco Silicon Valle InMateo coast y, or the San .

The Chick doors Nove -fil-A Serramonte Cent mber 18 at er opens its Callan Boul 6 evard outsi Serramonte Center on It is across de of the shop the Macy’s and parking lot from the ping mall. brings the entrance to locations num ber Larry Kues of in ter, left, the company,the Bay Area to 21, Chick-fil-A Mooney, Lynn Niels according all to opens Thur as another East Bay supporter residents at 3661 en, and Paul sday. location also s 19th Stre Susanna Choe 15 protest outside their hom et, talk to e during about their with her husb , the mother of a November pending three child Ellis Act ren of the new and, Philip, is the evictions. local opera Peninsula tor drive outsi location a

by John Ferr de of San two-minute Franc statem ann isco. ini ent to the e Pride Bay Area Repo In an emailed Celebrat tflix rter, she invite aul Mooney, building on d With Ne LGBTQ aparta resident of a majo was served November 16 when ritywith he ment 25 See e page build Miss pag “A process an eviction notice. himself ing next ion 12 >> to community Dolores Park, was tenants and server came to the rallying the against a rally to catch serve them plan to evict Bay Area ,” Mooney, his entire Reporter 51, told the the follow anoth for er tenant sic was also serve ing day, saying Queer Mu d at that time.

Pride

er TransgendDoubleary Courtesy the The Bay publications Documentader Area and the Wash Reporter, Tagg He page 35

No. 46 • Nov

ember 18-2

4, 2021

CALL 415-829-8937 P

page 26

Vol. 51 •

magazin e, the six LGB ington Blade are new colla TQ publications three of involved borative in a funded by Google.

B.A.R.

“I’ve lost so much sleep ter thinking wher worr ying abou leave. I love e I might go. I don’t t it and this want to Yet Mooney city.” might have to leave if the efforts See page 12 >>

Report fl ags housi Castro, nei n ghboring g issues in commun ities

Rick Gerhar

<< Community News

2 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 29-July 5, 2023

t

SFPD arrests man with loaded firearm at Pride party

by John Ferrannini A man was arrested by the San Francisco Police Department Sunday evening for allegedly carrying a loaded, concealed firearm into the Pride celebration at the Civic Center.

“What shocked me was how many police there were and how fast they got in,” Charlie Hinton, a gay San Francisco resident who witnessed the arrest, told the Bay Area Reporter.

“They were prepared for trouble.”

“The first thing I saw was a line of police running in from McAllister toward Fulton Street on Larkin right in front of the Asian Art Museum,” Hinton said. “There’s a Black man they’ve arrested and word of mouth is he had a gun. There were three, four police holding this man and the police surrounded them to protect the people making the arrest from the crowd.

There was a lot of taunting of the police from people in the crowd.”

Leedell Moore, 23, of Oakland, was arrested and booked on charges of carrying a concealed firearm, carrying

Charlie Hinton

San Francisco police officers were out in force after receiving word that a man at the celebration at Civic Center Sunday had a gun.

a loaded firearm, and resisting arrest, police stated to the B.A.R. Officers were alerted to Moore after they were told there’d been a fight.

“On June 25, 2023, at approximately 5:23 p.m., SFPD officers who were as-

signed to work at the San Francisco Pride event at Civic Center were in the area of Larkin Street and Grove Street when they were flagged down regarding a possible physical altercation on the 100 block of Larkin Street,” Offi-

cer Gonee Sepulveda stated. “Officers observed three subjects in an argument. When officers approached the subjects, a male attempted to flee the scene on foot and a witness conveyed to the officers that the male fleeing the scene had a firearm. After a brief foot pursuit, the officers detained the male and located a firearm on his person.”

The SFPD posted a purported picture of the gun on Twitter, stating that Moore “attempted to flee but fell and was arrested by officers.”

“Great arrest by our officers keeping Pride safe,” the tweet stated.

Hinton said the experience was “surreal” due to the juxtaposition of people partying and protesting.

Around the same time at last year’s Pride celebration at the Civic Center on Sunday, there were false reports of a mass-casualty shooting that caused a stampede in Civic Center Plaza. Separately, there were physical fights, and someone sprayed pepper spray into the crowd.

The San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Celebra-

tion Committee – which puts on the annual parade Sunday morning and the celebration Saturday and Sunday afternoon – released a safety plan last month after 11 inquiries by the B.A.R. , and assured metal detectors and bag checks. SF Pride spokespeople have not replied to a request for comment for this report.

In 2013, there had been a man shot at the celebration. The SF Pride organization was sued and settled two years after Trevor Gardner of Los Angeles had claimed that lax security led to him being shot in the leg after a brawl broke out nearby, as the B.A.R. reported.

The San Francisco District Attorney’s office did not return a request for comment asking if Moore will be prosecuted.

The SFPD states that this is still an “open and active investigation.” Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. Tippers may remain anonymous.t

Castro hate crimes defendant will face trial

by John Ferrannini

A

man who pleaded not guilty to Castro-area hate crimes will continue to be held without bail as he awaits his trial, a judge ordered after a June 21 preliminary hearing.

Muhammed Abdullah, 20, had his preliminary hearing just days before Pride festivities get underway in San Francisco in front of Judge Patrick Thompson in Department 12 at the Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant Street.

As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported (https://www.ebar.com/story. php?ch=news&sc=crime&id=325948), Abdullah pleaded not guilty June 8 to two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of committing a hate crime, and counts of resisting arrest, misdemeanor battery, violation of a person’s civil rights, and petty theft. During that court appearance, he made clear his disdain for the LGBTQ community in a statement, saying, “what the LGBT community is doing to kids is disrespectful to everyone who stands for God.” More specifically, Abdullah is accused of stealing a rainbow flag and then hitting a man with a “glass object” in the vicinity of 18th and Hartford streets just before noon June 5, according to San Francisco police. He’d been following the man and another man “aggressively shouting anti-LGBTQ language,” the San Francisco Police Department stated in the news release.

Thompson ruled that the district attorney’s office met its burden to move forward to trial. The next hearing in the

case will be July 5 at 9 a.m.

Before lunch, the judge heard from two witnesses called to the stand by Assistant District Attorney Nancy Tung.

The first was Jayden Lee, who works at the Ampersand flower shop at Market and Sanchez streets.

“I was working on arrangements when I heard a tear sound from the door,” Lee testified. “I saw the Pride flag was gone and I went to see where it went and saw he had it.”

When Tung asked Lee to identify who “he” is, Lee indicated the defendant.

Tung asked Lee his sexual identity, to which he replied he was bisexual. Tung also asked what the Pride flag means to him.

“For me, it kind of represents our Pride and being able to be proud of our sexuality,” Lee said. “Especially during Pride Month, it felt like a personal attack.”

Lee testified that the flag belonged to his boss, whom he did not identify.

When Lee saw Abdullah with the flag, he asked him why he had taken it.

“He [Abdullah] responded with ‘this is nasty,’” Lee said. “He walked across the street and I ended up calling the police because that’s what I am told to do by my bosses whenever someone steals something.”

Tung entered into evidence a picture, from video taken by Lee, of Abdullah at the time.

Deputy Public Defender Tehanita Taylor, who is representing Abdullah, cross-examined Lee. She asked several questions about the

door, trying to establish that perhaps it blocked Abdullah’s ability to use the sidewalk unobstructed. She also established that Lee did not see Abdullah tear down the flag with his own eyes.

Victim takes the stand

The next person to testify was Aaron Stout, who, in response to a question from Tung identified himself as a gay trans man and said he was walking with his partner on Castro Street when he first saw Abdullah while the two were trying to find a place to eat.

“He was yelling obscenities and tearing up a Pride flag,” Stout testified. “I don’t recall specifically but he did call us perverts and was saying other homophobic language.”

Stout said that initially he didn’t take the shouting to be directed at them.

But as they turned from Castro to 18th Street going west, Stout said he noticed Abdullah in his peripheral vision, standing behind them.

Then Abdullah started yelling at Stout, he recalled.

“He was yelling at us directly, calling us perverts and fags and saying we should go to hell,” Stout said. “He had dropped the rainbow flag at the corner.

All he had was a backpack on, that I saw.”

Then, Stout felt something hit his foot. A glass bottle – the makeup of a “Starbucks latte bottle you get at a corner store,” as Stout described it – had shattered on his foot. Some of the glass got into his hand.

Abdullah was standing six to eight feet away, Stout said.

Scott Wazlowski

Muhammed Abdullah will face trial in San Francisco Superior Court on hate crime and other charges stemming from incidents in the Castro earlier this month.

“He was laughing after I got hit,” Stout said. “He said, ‘I was aiming for your head.’”

Defense attorney Taylor asked Stout if he had remembered specific words of Abdullah’s during his initial interview with police; Stout testified he had not.

After lunch, Taylor continued crossexamining Stout, who testified it “was not difficult” to walk after being hit by the glass bottle, and that Abdullah never said he wanted to “fight [Stout] because [he’s] gay.”

The next witness was San Francisco Police Officer William Tsang, who took

<<

AG report

From page 1

“In the past several years we’ve witnessed national rhetoric get more heated, more divisive, more extreme.

Hate unfortunately has no borders.

California is not immune,” Bonta said, speaking at the Los Angeles Central Library for the livestreamed news conference. “As the vitriol spreads so does hate. We see that to be true year after year.”

Specifically, there were 2,120 reported hate crime events in total in California – up 20.2% from the reported 1,763 events in 2021, Bonta said.

“I’m fairly confident these numbers are undercounted,” Bonta said.

“We know from lived experience and individuals that they don’t always feel comfortable coming forward.”

The group with the largest share of hate crimes committed against them were Black and African American Californians, accounting for 652 bias

a report two days earlier from a gendernonconforming person identified as Kiley B. Kiley told Tsang that someone matching Abdullah’s description had punched them while putting up a sign on Noe Street for a “trans liberation day,” as the officer described it.

This person reportedly had a sign with the LGBTQ initialism with a circle and ‘X’ on top of it.

Officer Eric Ma joined Tsang’s testimony. Ma was the officer who arrested Abdullah at 18th and Church streets on June 5, he said.

“After he was placed in handcuffs, the defendant started yelling A ‘ llah Akbar’ [in Arabic, ‘God is the Greatest’] and said being LGBTQ is wrong multiple times and that what they’re doing to kids is wrong,” Ma said.

Ma had also seen an email circulating around the police department with a picture, purporting to be of Abdullah, taken after the June 3 Noe Street incident.

Taylor challenged the counts of assault with a deadly weapon, saying that should only be charged “if it was meant to be designed as a deadly weapon.”

“A Frappuccino Starbucks bottle is not a dangerous weapon,” Taylor said.

Tung disagreed, saying if it had hit Stout and his partner in the head, they could have been victims of great bodily injury.

Thompson agreed with Tung.

“It’s not a matter of it being inherently deadly,” Thompson said. “It’s about whether the weapon is used in such a way as to be uniquely dangerous.”

The trial is set for Department 22.t events in 2022, compared to 513 in 2021.

The next most likely group are gay men, who were victimized by at least 271 reported hate crimes. The report also listed 81 hate crimes as being motivated by “anti-homosexual bias.”

The report also shows 49 antitransgender hate crimes, 33 reported anti-lesbian hate crimes, 12 anti-gender-nonconforming hate crimes, and four anti-bisexual hate crimes. There were two reported anti-heterosexual hate crimes.

Excepting anti-bisexual hate crimes, these were all increases over 2021 numbers. Anti-gay male hate crimes rose by 28.4% alone, from 211 in 2021 to 271 in 2022, according to the report.

Sunitha Menon, a queer woman who is the managing director of operations for Equality California, the statewide LGBTQ rights group, and its affiliate Silver State Equality in Nevada, See page 8 >>

Cal Performances

Celebrating PRIDE!

JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL AND AMBER MARTIN IN CASSETTE ROULETTE Nov 4

KRISTIN CHENOWETH FOR THE GIRLS Nov 15

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS Dec 17

LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO Jan 27 & 28

TAYLOR MAC

TAYLOR MAC AND MATT RAY’S BARK OF MILLIONS Feb 23–25

BALDWIN AND BUCKLEY AT CAMBRIDGE ELEVATOR REPAIR SERVICE Mar 1–3

Cal Performances

// 2023–24 Season

calperformances.org/subscribe | 510.642.9988

<< Pride 2023

4 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 29-July 5, 2023

Pelosi honored at Alice Pride breakfast

by Cynthia Laird

t

Local leaders

I

t was both a celebration and a call to action at the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club’s annual Pride breakfast June 25 as speakers touched on the community’s victories but remained cognizant of the current backlash underway, particularly against trans people and drag artists.

Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), the former House speaker, received a standing ovation as she addressed the crowd at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. Dismissing the word “tolerant” when talking about what Pride means, the powerful ally, whose first speech on the House floor in 1987 was about the AIDS crisis, said Pride instead means respect.

“We draw strength from our LGBTQ+ community,” she said, adding that activism on HIV/AIDS “is what democracy is about.”

Pelosi, who hasn’t said whether she will seek reelection in 2024 after leaving the speaker’s position in January, offered a list of accomplishments during her two stints as House speaker (2007-2011 and 2019-2023). Those included passing the Affordable Care Act, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act, repeal of the military’s anti-gay “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, and passing the Respect for Marriage Act. She also said that President Joe Biden was the first “at his level” to come out in support of same-sex marriage when he served as President Barack Obama’s vice president in 2012. Last December, Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House.

The Respect for Marriage Act repealed the discriminatory “Defense of Marriage Act” that was passed in 1996 but had key provisions struck down

Bill Wilson

Congressmember Nancy Pelosi, left, greets state Senate candidate Lisa Middleton at the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club Pride breakfast.

by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 (Section 3, U.S. v. Windsor) and 2015 (Section 2, Obergefell v. Hodges). Not only does it require federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages nationwide but also mandates states must recognize such unions performed in other states. The act includes protections for religious liberty.

Pelosi encouraged people to keep up their activism.

“Know your power in all of this,” she said, adding that politicians such as herself “can only do so much with our inside maneuvering.” Change also takes agitation from the outside, she said.

Pelosi received the Anna Damiani “Show Up No Matter What” Award from the Alice club’s co-chairs, Iowayna Pena and Mawuli Tugbenyoh.

is everyday in San Francisco

Damiani was a lesbian longtime club member and former state legislative aide who died in February 2022.

Other speakers

Others who addressed the audience both praised the LGBTQ community and reminded people of the stakes both now and in the 2024 elections.

San Francisco’s drag laureate D’Arcy Drollinger thanked the city for creating the post and Mayor London Breed for appointing her to it. Drollinger was named drag laureate in May and is the first person in the world to hold the title, though it’s expected she will soon have a counterpart in West Hollywood, California. Drollinger referenced the efforts of conservative politicians to ban drag performances in other parts of the country.

“I will help celebrate and elevate the art of drag,” she said of her reign, which will be for 18 months. She talked about the importance of people being their authentic selves.

“And by that fabulous self we can inspire everyone,” Drollinger said.

“We can change the world by making our lives better.”

For her part, Breed accused conservative leaders “of trying to write off LGBTQ kids.”

“They have ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ we light up the pink triangle,” Breed said, referring to the law in Florida that prohibits teaching about LGBTQ topics and gender identity in public and charter schools through the eighth grade.

“They go after drag, we create the first drag laureate position in the world,” Breed said.

Despite all the challenges, Breed said, “the city is doing amazing things. Our values ring true. What we do in San Francisco has extraordinary impact for LGBTQs all over the world.”

U.S. Senate race

Two of the three Democratic candidates vying to replace U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) were at the breakfast. Feinstein earlier this year said she would not seek reelection.

Congressmember Adam Schiff (DBurbank) addressed the audience and rode in the parade with Pelosi, who has endorsed him in the race. Congressmember Katie Porter (D-Irvine) also attended the breakfast. The third candidate, Congressmember Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) was not on hand but had supporters working the room.

During his remarks, Schiff made light of the fact that congressional Republicans censured him last week in a party-line vote for his role in investigating former President Donald Trump while serving as chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

“So how was your week?” Schiff asked, going on to list meetings with constituents he had, other routine matters, “and got censured.”

Schiff, a straight ally, said the LGBTQ community “has shown remarkable resilience and determination.” He also mentioned how rights are under attack both by the U.S. Supreme Court and MAGA extremist Republicans.

“Two-thirds of the LGBTQ community report discrimination. The transgender community continues to face alarming violence,” Schiff said.

“These injustices demand our attention.”

In a brief interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Porter, also a straight ally, said she was happy to be at the breakfast.

“I’m proud to be here,” she said, adding the community is going through “an incredible fight.”

“Today is a day to celebrate and have resolve,” she added. “I’m excited by the energy in this room to continue the fight for equality.”

Happy Pride from the SF HIV Frontline Workers www.prcsf.org/what-we-do/fog/ Bill Wilson

San Francisco drag laureate D’Arcy Drollinger makes her entrance at the Alice club Pride breakfast.

Local political leaders were on hand as well. Gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who has formed an exploratory committee to raise funds to run for Pelosi’s congressional seat if she does not seek reelection, thanked her for helping to turn around the fight for federal funds for AIDS when she went to Congress. During her remarks later, Pelosi acknowledged Wiener’s comment thanking straight Democratic state legislators who support LGBTQ-related bills even though they come from more conservative parts of California. She made a similar comment about House members who come from more conservative districts and states.

Wiener talked about the current political and social environment that includes school boards banning books and state lawmakers passing – and Republican governors signing – antiLGBTQ legislation.

“When I look at where we are today ... it scares the crap out of me,” he said.

He alluded to a comment Schiff made, “but I’ll say it in a gay way,” said Wiener. “Whenever we see these people and the garbage that spews out of their mouths, we say, ‘grrl, we’ve seen this before.’”

Gay state Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Cupertino) talked about the importance of Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5 that is expected to be on the 2024 general election ballot to repeal Proposition 8 that defines marriage in the California constitution as being between a man and a woman. Voters adopted it in 2008, and though a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2013 invalidated it, there is concern that the current conservative majority on the court could issue a new decision once again outlawing samesex marriage as a federal right. The “zombie” Prop 8 language remains in the state constitution and this amendment, should voters pass it next year, would remove it.

On Monday, June 26, the Assembly passed ACA 5 and it now heads to the Senate. Equality California, the statewide LGBTQ rights group, stated in a news release the measure passed with bipartisan support. Once it passes the Senate, it will head to the 2024 ballot.

Governor Gavin Newsom does not need to sign it. (Wiener co-authored ACA 5 with Low.) “Galvanize and get engaged,” Low said of working to pass ACA 5 at the ballot box. “Everything is at risk.”

The reason for the Prop 8 repeal goes back to last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned the right to abortion in Roe v. Wade. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, in his concurring opinion in Dobbs, suggested that other precedents, including on samesex marriage, contraception, and state sodomy laws, are also ripe for reconsideration. With the 6-3 conservative supermajority now on the high court, LGBTQ activists, legal experts, and others are concerned marriage equality could be next.

Wiener introduced Lisa Middleton, a trans woman who’s on the Palm Springs City Council and is running for a state Senate seat next year.

“One thing we have not done is elect a trans person to the legislature and we’re going to change that,” Wiener said.

Middleton, who used to live in San Francisco, said she was glad to be back for Pride weekend.

“It’s been nearly 30 years since I came out ... and moved to San Francisco,” she said.

She added that while she expected to hear “some hate and rejection,” today’s climate is much more.

“I am appalled to wake up 30 years later and hear what I hear every sinSee page 9 >>

Serving with

PRIDE!

JOIN OUR TEAM

SFPD salary $109,928 - $167,960* *includes Advanced POST and Longevity Pay; projected for July 1, 2023

TEXT “JoinSFPD” to (415) 704-3688

JoinSFPD.com

<< Open Forum

6 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 29-July 5, 2023

Volume 53, Number 26 June 29-July 5, 2023 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 & NIGHTLIFE EDITOR Jim Provenzano ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko • John Ferrannini CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Christopher J. Beale • Robert Brokl Brian Bromberger • Victoria A. Brownworth Philip Campbell • Heather Cassell Michael Flanagan •Jim Gladstone Liz Highleyman • Brandon Judell • Lisa Keen Philip Mayard • Laura Moreno David-Elijah Nahmod • Paul Parish • Tim Pfaff Jim Piechota • Adam Sandel Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Charlie Wagner Ed Walsh • Cornelius Washington • Sura Wood ART DIRECTION Max Leger PRODUCTION/DESIGN Ernesto Sopprani PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Philomen Cleland Rick Gerharter • Gooch Jose A. Guzman-Colon • Rudy K. Lawidjaja Georg Lester • Rich Stadtmiller Christopher Robledo • Fred Rowe Shot in the City • Steven Underhill • Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Christine Smith

VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING Scott Wazlowski – 415.829.8937

NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

LEGAL COUNSEL Paul H. Melbostad, Esq.

Bay Area Reporter

44 Gough Street, Suite 302 San Francisco, CA 94103 415.861.5019 • www.ebar.com A division of BAR Media, Inc. © 2023 President: Michael M. Yamashita Director: Scott Wazlowski

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.

Grim report on CA hate crimes

T

wo days after California Attorney General Rob Bonta rode in the San Francisco Pride parade to the cheers of thousands, he issued the California Department of Justice’s annual hate crimes report. It is a grim reminder that hate is alive and well in the Golden State despite the many, many laws and policies in place to prevent such bias crimes. This year’s report, which covers 2022, is the second one to show an alarming uptick in reported hate crimes against the LGBTQ community.

Anti-transgender bias events increased from 38 in 2021 to 59 in 2022, while reported events against gay men shot up from 211 in 2021 to 271 in 2022, a 28.4% increase. Anti-lesbian bias crimes rose from 27 in 2021 to 33 in 2022. In all, hate crime events motivated by sexual orientation bias increased 29% in 2022 from 303 in 2021 to 391 last year, according to the report.

Overall, reported hate crime events in the Golden State increased 20.2% over last year, the report stated. In 2021 there were a total of 1,763 reported events; that figure rose to 2,120 in 2022, according to the report. At a news conference June 27 to discuss the findings, Bonta was clear that these figures are likely lower than the reality, because people don’t always feel comfortable coming forward.

“This report is a stark reminder that there is still much work to be done to combat hate in our state,” Bonta noted.

During the news conference, Bonta talked about how he and his staff have convened roundtables up and down the state to discuss combating hate crimes and bias. Yet the problem persists, whether it be anti-LGBTQ, antisemitic, or anti-Black – all groups that saw increases in 2022. Surprisingly, anti-Asian hate, which had risen the past couple of years, saw a 43.3% decrease in 2022, from 247 reported events in 2021 to 140 last year. But again, there is likely underreport-

AP/file

Attorney General Rob Bonta

ing in these numbers.

In the LGBTQ community, we’ve seen first hand how vile social media posts targeting community members lead to brawls at public meetings and other instances of hate, such as stealing and defacing Pride flags or attacking people. In fact, the report stated that there were 699 reported incidents of property destruction/vandalism in 2022 across the state.

The politics of polarization, which includes all the anti-LGBTQ bills and laws being passed and signed in red states, have found their way to California in the shape of physical attacks, intimidation, theft, and many other types of crimes.

If there’s some good news coming out of Bonta’s report, it’s that prosecutors are taking hate crimes more seriously. The number of hate crimes referred for prosecution to district attorneys or elected city attorneys last year was 647, an increase of 5.9% from the 611 in 2021.

Of those, 43.4% resulted in hate crime convictions;

t

45.9% resulted in other convictions, and 10.7% were not convicted.

There’s an anti-LGBTQ hate crimes case being prosecuted now in San Francisco after a man allegedly attacked another man and his partner in the Castro neighborhood earlier this month. As we’ve reported, defendant Muhammed Abdullah has pleaded not guilty, but testimony at his recent preliminary hearing revealed evidence of bias against the LGBTQ community, the judge ruled in ordering him to stand trial.

We’re glad the district attorney’s office is prosecuting the case and extremely grateful that the victims came forward and reported the incident.

Reporting is the key in these cases, as is the necessity for the alleged perpetrator to utter some type of discriminatory remark, as was the case in San Francisco, according to testimony. Too often, perpetrators will take some action against someone but not say a word, making it extremely difficult to prosecute. Regardless, it’s critical that members of the LGBTQ community, and members of other vulnerable communities report these incidents when they happen.

Bonta stated that he has issued an updated law enforcement bulletin to all DAs, police chiefs, sheriffs, and state law enforcement agencies with a summary of the multiple California criminal laws that prohibit hate crimes or provide enhanced penalties for specified hate-related acts, as well as guidance related to the investigation and prosecution of these crimes. People reporting hate events is the first step – law enforcement must continue to follow up with investigating and prosecuting the cases if warranted.

Pride Month may be coming to a close but that doesn’t mean hate crimes will subside. As long as this toxic environment continues to flourish – with politicians and other leaders spewing hate and disinformation, people will act on it, for whatever demented reason. We must stand in solidarity with religious groups and other minority communities to fight this hate. t

Our LGBTQ students need a voice at the table

by John Laird

L

ast year, Paso Robles High School, located in my state Senate District 17, experienced a deeply disturbing incident. A Pride flag was ripped down and subjected to appalling and gruesome acts that I do not wish to detail here. These acts were then proudly shared on social media.

Unfortunately, the school administration and board failed to take immediate action in response.

However, a group of courageous students, primarily representing the LGBTQ+ community, took matters into their own hands. They organized a town hall meeting, which saw an impressive turnout of over 350 attendees.

This gained significant attention from local media outlets, resulting in news coverage, commentary, and public discussion. This increased scrutiny prompted the administration and school board to finally take action. Furthermore, the mayor of Paso Robles hosted a forum to foster unity and collaboration within the community.

I had the privilege of inviting these high school students who organized the town hall meeting to dinner. As an older gay man who witnessed and participated in the organizing struggles of the 1970s and 1980s, who served as one of the first openly gay mayors in the country, and a founding member of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, I found their organizing and actions deeply moving. I could not help but reflect on my own youth and acknowledge that I most likely would not have possessed the same level of courage to do what they had done.

Witnessing these young individuals realize their own power was a truly inspiring experience. It was an important reminder for myself just as much as them on what a collective voice can accomplish in the face of what seems like daunting odds.

In recognition of their remarkable efforts, the students were recognized at last year’s Legislative LGBTQ Caucus awards as my honorees. I proudly shared their accomplishments while on the Senate floor, in acknowledgment and recognition of their bravery and dedication to standing up against injustice.

However, the work is not yet done.

It is startling that in California, to get a seat at the table in situations like this – the students had to construct the table and demand to sit in the very chairs they built.

So this year, when approached by the California

Courtesy John Laird

State Senator John Laird

Association of Student Councils to introduce legislation, I said yes and introduced Senate Bill 857.

In the California Association of Student Council’s own words: “Every student deserves a safe and supportive school environment where they can learn and succeed. Unfortunately, while California has passed several laws to protect LGBTQ+ students, many school districts lack the resources to implement these laws, face hostile local social climates that impede implementation, or lack awareness regarding existing legal requirements and the best ways to meet them. According to Equality California Institute’s 2022 Safe and Supportive Schools Report Card, 30% of school districts that responded to the survey had not adopted an anti-bullying policy that explicitly prohibits bullying on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Nearly half (48%) of respondents had not adopted LGBTQ+ inclusive educational materials that are compliant with the FAIR Education Act. SB 857 is an important opportunity to empower the growing community of LGBTQ+ students, ensure the enforcement and implementation of existing laws, and work to address the real needs of all California students.”

The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful, or FAIR, Act, signed into law by former governor Jerry Brown in 2011, states that a “teacher shall not give instruction and a school district shall not sponsor any activity that promotes a discriminatory bias on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation.” It was the first such law of its kind in the nation.

SB 857 will require the state superintendent of public instruction to convene an LGBTQ+ advisory task force to identify statewide needs and make recommendations to create a safe and supportive learning environment for LGBTQ+ students.

The goal is to have everyone at the table to make sure that there is a way to be prepared to deal with similar situations before they happen and to be proactive rather than reactive – without the students having to be the only ones to take the lead. This 11-member advisory task force would represent the diverse geographic, racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, physical, and educational backgrounds of California’s LGBTQ+ students and community.

The members of the advisory committee, appointed through a selection process overseen by the superintendent of public instruction, would include:  Three LGBTQ+ students currently enrolled in a California high school;  One school administrator employed by a local educational agency;  Two certified school teachers employed by a local educational agency;  One licensed physician and surgeon, with a preference for those practicing LGBTQ+ affirming care;  Two mental health professionals, with a preference for those practicing LGBTQ+ affirming care;  One community LGBTQ+ advocate, with a preference for those with programmatic expertise; and  One representative from the Office of Health Equity established by the State Department of Public Health.

It is high time that we ensure California’s students have a rightful place at the table when it comes to matters of equity and inclusion. They should not have to demand a seat only after a distressing incident occurs and makes headlines. The passage of SB 857 would help to rectify this situation. Notably, it received majority support in the state Senate, passing on a bipartisan vote of 35-0. In the coming weeks, it will be considered in the state Assembly.

Let us come together and enact this crucial piece of legislation into law in California. t State Senator John Laird, a gay man, represents the 17th Senate District, which contains Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo Counties in their entirety, as well as portions of Monterey and Santa Clara Counties. Laird served as former governor Jerry Brown’s secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency and previously as a member of the state Assembly. He’s also a former mayor of Santa Cruz.

t

Politics >>

June 29-July 5, 2023 • Bay Area Repor ter • 7

UC Berkeley grad Mohajer aims to make history as 1st gay Iranian legislator

by Matthew S. Bajko

W

ith his bid in 2024 for a California state Senate seat, Alex Mohajer is looking to make LGBTQ political history. The gay UC Berkeley graduate would not only be the first out legislator from Orange County, he also believes he would be the first out Iranian man to hold elected office anywhere in the world.

His candidacy is already making national headlines. The newsite Queerty this month named Mohajer, 38, one of its 50 most influential and inspiring LGBTQ+ voices in the U.S. In March, Bear World magazine profiled the Southern California candidate. It noted that the Golden State “may have a beary handsome history maker on its hands.”

First Mohajer has to survive next March’s primary for the open Senate District 37 seat. The incumbent, Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine), is running to succeed Congressmember Katie Porter (D-Irvine), who is vying for the U.S. Senate seat that Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein is stepping down from next year.

Min had flipped the seat to the blue column back in 2020. And due to the recent redistricting process, Mohajer believes the Senate district leans even more Democratic.

Nonetheless, the first-time candidate for public office told the Bay Area Reporter, “I am certainly the underdog” in the race.

Mohajer is facing a fierce campaign for the legislative seat, with four Republicans pulling papers to flip it from blue to red next year.

Only the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, will move on to the November 2024 ballot.

“I actually think Orange County is ready for an openly gay legislator,” Mohajer told the B.A.R. during a recent phone interview about his candidacy. “It is still a purple area, that is for sure.

But the heart of the district is Irvine, which has come a long way in the last decade.”

Ahmad Zahra, a gay Syrian American, has served on the Fullerton City Council since 2001. The city is part of the 37th Senate District, along with Irvine, Orange, Tustin, Costa Mesa, Lake Forest, Aliso Niguel, and Laguna Niguel.

But several candidates in Orange County from the LGBTQ community have not had success at the ballot box during recent election cycles.

Transgender Seal Beach resident Stephanie Wade lost her bid for a city council seat in a February runoff race called when no candidate won it outright last November.

In 2020, gay lawyer Bijan Mohseni had sought to be the first out LGBTQ legislator of Iranian descent.

But the Los Alamitos resident lost his bid for an Orange County Assembly seat.

Gay Mission Viejo resident Scott Rhinehart also lost his bid that year for another Orange County Assembly seat. It marked his second time waging an unsuccessful campaign for the seat, having lost in 2018.

Meanwhile, cities throughout the coastal county between Los Angeles and San Diego have moved to curtail LGBTQ rights of late. In February, a conservative majority on the Huntington Beach City Council banned displaying the Pride flag on city properties such as City Hall or the local library.

Barry Schneider Attorney at Law

family law specialist* • Divorce w/emphasis on Real Estate & Business Divisions • Domestic Partnerships, Support & Custody • Probate and Wills www.SchneiderLawSF.com

415-781-6500 *Certified by the California State Bar

Courtesy the campaign

State Senate candidate Alex Mohajer

315 Montgomery St., Ste. 1025, San Francisco, CA 94104 Mojaher joined in a Pride protest held in May by LGBTQ activists who marched through the famous beach town with rainbow flags. They also unfurled a gigantic Pride flag that included colored stripes representing Black, Brown, and transgender individuals over the side of the Huntington Beach Pier.

Just weeks later, in early June, at the start of Pride Month, the Orange County Board of Supervisors followed suit by imposing a similar countywide ban against displaying the Pride flag. LGBTQ issues have also become a flashpoint this year in the Orange Unified School District after conservatives won a majority on the school board last November.

“This is why we need openly gay people to start running for office to fight back against those ordinances. It isn’t only happening in GOPcontrolled legislatures, it is happening in our backyard,” noted Mohajer. “One way to tackle that is to have representation and make sure we are at the table, which is what I am trying to do.”

Deep roots

Mohajer is banking on his familial roots in the district to help him break through the pink political ceiling in his county. Born in Irvine to parents who both emigrated from Iran, Mohajer was raised by his mother after his parents divorced when he was very young and his father returned to Iran. (His dad died from COVID in February 2021 on the same day that Mohajer received his first vaccination for the coronavirus.)

Mohajer came to the Bay Area for college and graduated in 2007 from UC Berkeley with a degree in mass communications. He then earned a law degree in 2011 from the Chapman University School of Law in Orange, California. After living in Los Angeles for a few years, he moved back home to Irvine during the COVID pandemic.

An award-winning journalist, Mohajer since 2013 has tried due process hearings and investigated allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination as a civil service advocate for Los Angeles County, from which he likely will take a leave of absence later this year to focus full-time on his campaign. He has been sober nearly five years and is a

member of Alcoholics Anonymous, he said.

Mohajer was the first millennial and first Iranian American elected Vice President of Advertising to lead the Stonewall Democrats, advertising@ebar.com the LGBTQ political group with its largest chapter based in Los Angeles where it was founded in 1975. He will be stepping down in July after serving a two-year term as president.

In addition to being one of a record number of LGBTQ legislative candidates this year, as noted by the B.A.R. in a story this week, Mohajer is part of a small but growing group of LGBTQ 44 Gough Street #302, San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 829-8937 • www.ebar.com Americans with Middle Eastern ancestry seeking elected office.

“Part of why I wanted to run is there are no Iranians in the California Legislature. We have the deepest diaspora and no representation in the Legislature,” said Mohajer, noting that Southern California has the largest diaspora of Iranians outside of Iran. “We think 5% to 7% of the district is Iranian and represents a winning margin.”

He is eschewing donations from political action committees affiliated with corporations and is a champion of addressing climate change.

His goal is to land in second place in the primary behind one of his Republican opponents, setting them up to compete head-to-head in the fall race.

“I think most people are receptive When you plan your life celebration and lasting remembrance in advance, you can design every detail of your own unique memorial to a candidate like me,” Mohajer told and provide your loved ones with true peace of mind. Planning ahead the B.A.R. “Most people I have enWhen your celebration lasting protectsyou your plan loved ones fromlife unnecessary stress and and financial burden, gaged with are open and receptive. I When you plan your life celebration and lasting remembrance in allowing them to focus on what will matter most at that time—you. remembrance in advance, you can design every think the county is ready; somebody has to be the first to do it.” advance, you can design every detail of your own unique memorial detail ofusyour owntheunique memorial andlegacy provide Contact today about beautiful ways to create a lasting Nonetheless, he knows he facesand an provide atyour the San Francisco Columbarium. loved ones with true peace of mind.

Planning ahead your loved ones with true peace of mind. Planning uphill climb to convince a majority protects your loved ones from unnecessary stress and financial of voters to send him to Sacramento ahead protectsProudly yourserving loved onesCommunity. from unnecessary burden, the LGBT at a time when conservative media allowing them focus on whatburden, will matter most them at thattotime—you. stresstoand financial allowing is “dedicated to boogey-manning focus on what will matter most at that time—you.

LGBTQ people,” Mohajer acknowlContact us today about the beautiful ways to create a lasting legacy edged.

“What I am able to do is show at the San Contact FranciscousColumbarium. today about the beautiful ways to create people, particularly Republicans a lasting legacy at the San Francisco Columbarium. and the more conservative side of One Loraine Ct. | San Francisco | 415-771-0717 the political spectrum, we are the Proudly serving our Community. same people who care about the SanFranciscoColumbarium.com Proudly serving the LGBT Community. same things,” he said. “I want to pass FD 1306 / COA 660 policies that will help all families.

We love this place. We want a place where our kids can grow up, and thrive, and have opportunity.”

After all, said Mohajer, “LGBTQ people, we have the same interests and desires like everybody else.”

To learn more about Mohajer, visit his campaign site at https:// alexmohajer.com/ t One Loraine Ct. | San Francisco | 415-771-0717

Scott W. Wazlowski

! e s i t dver

A The

PlanningAhead Ahead isisSimple Planning Simple The benefits are immense.

Planning Ahead is Simple The benefits are immense.

The benefits are immense.

SanFranciscoColumbarium.com FD 1306 / COA 660

<< Commentary

8 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 29-July 5, 2023

Shooting off one’s mouth

by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

I

n British Columbia recently, an elementary school track meet became something very different.

A 9-year-old girl was preparing to take part in a shot put event when a man spoke out about the girl’s participation.

The man, Josef Tesar, has claimed that he privately spoke to officials, while the girl’s parents and other present claim that he made a much larger scene.

“She was standing in line and all of a sudden, this man comes out of the crowd,” one of the girl’s mothers, Heidi Starr, told the New York Post. “He stops the entire event and says ‘This is a girl’s event, why are boys allowed to throw?’”

The 9-year-old wears her hair in a short pixie cut.

“If she’s not a boy,” Tesar is reported to have said, “she is obviously trans.”

Tesar’s wife was reportedly not above the fray either, accusing Heidi Starr and her wife, Kari, of being, “genital mutilators, groomers, and pedophiles.”

Tesar also demanded documentation that the 9-year-old was assigned female at birth.

In spite of some questions as to who said what, Tesar has remained adamant on one thing: his right to question a child’s gender identity. “I am not apologizing for that question that I asked. I think personally I have a right to ask questions, and I always will for the rest of my life,” he said. He further claims that the child’s parents were the ones trying to “satisfy an agenda.”

Over the last few months, we have

<<

AG report

From page 2

joined Bonta at the news conference.

She said, “It goes without saying that this Pride season feels a lot different than others,” referencing the homophobic and transphobic rhetoric that has ratcheted up in recent months, as

Christine Smith

seen a rise among the right in the U.S. and elsewhere to press the idea that transgender girls and women are attempting to infiltrate women’s sports in order to, I suppose, take advantage of some innate masculinity to, I guess, win fortune and fame.

Of course, women’s sports have always been known for their lucrative prizes and high levels of celebrity. Particularly, I suppose, for 9-year-old shot put competitors in British Columbia schools.

Additionally, both those of us who are transgender, as well as our allies, have been painted with the same words the

Starrs were smeared with. Legislators across the United States, for example, have sought to interfere with parental agency, removing trans children from supportive households by arguing that gender-affirming care – itself not including hormonal treatments and surgical interventions in young children – is a form of child abuse. Likewise, simply acknowledging that LGBTQ people exist has fueled book bans and “don’t say gay” bills, with their proponents claiming that the mere acknowledgment of queer identities is “grooming” children into underage sex.

It really doesn’t, to me, make much

the Bay Area Reporter has reported.

The United States Department of Homeland Security issued guidance last month warning that “individuals or events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community” could be targets of “lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal grievanc-

es,” particularly in the aftermath of the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs last November that killed five people and injured 25 others last November.

(The shooter, Anderson Lee Aldrich, pleaded guilty to a raft of charges, including five first-degree murder counts, June 26 and was given five consecutive life sentences plus more

t

sense. Probably not to you, either.

The thing is that after months of this constant drumbeat, there are a large number of people caught up in the hysteria – and not just in places like Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s Texas or GOP Governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis’ Florida. It doesn’t matter how blatant and ridiculous the lies: many have long been primed to believe in such, and our dysfunctional mainstream media is not at all interested in pushing back against this right-wing narrative.

So now this long campaign against transgender people, the larger LGBTQ community, and even our allies and supporters has led to a non-transgender 9-year-old being berated by an adult man at a track meet.

I want to say I told you so. Any time you focus on who is or isn’t transgender, it is never just transgender people affected. Bathroom bans rarely cause transgender people to be kicked out, but more commonly cause non-transgender women to be challenged in their local restroom stalls. Gender conformity is wielded against us all.

For that matter, I think this very story would have read very differently if the 9-year-old in question were transgender. Would the stories have been nearly as sympathetic if she had been assigned male at birth, even though, at age 9, there’s simply no physical advantage supposedly being exploited? Would the narrative, rather, framed the parents or even the child as the villain of the tale, or even attempted to present this as some

sort of “both sides are bad” argument?

The day that Tesar decided that a 9-year-old child shouldn’t be allowed on the field, the shot put competition was moved to the other side of the field, away from him. Nevertheless, the girl, obviously shaken, did not place in the event.

Tesar is now barred from future competitions and, as of this writing, remains under investigation by the Kelowna Royal Canadian Mounted Police for possible discriminatory actions. He may also be losing his own spot in sports history as an inductee into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame as a wrestler and coach.

As I said, this sort of anti-transgender mania will never be contained to just trans people; it will affect us all. No woman will be safe from being challenged in sporting events, in bathrooms, or anywhere in public life. Anyone who shows support for transgender people will face the same sort of accusations as the Starrs, which, in turn, will press the more timid from supporting us at all.

Those of us who are trans, of course, will end up ostracized from public life.

Many of us may even end up dead, either from our own hands or others.

This event should be a wake-up call.

We can choose to let things grow even worse, or we can fight back. Cowards like Tesar should be told, firmly, to go back to their caves.t

time by the judge.) “It is heartbreaking that once again our community is experiencing a surge of hate crimes in the Golden State,” Menon said. “Hate speech leads to violent actions and LGBTQ Californians are experiencing that. The domino effect is clear and we cannot allow this to continue putting lives at risk.”

“For all LGBT people, we are grateful for the continued support of Attorney General Rob Bonta and for his commitment to ensuring LGBTQ+ people – especially our trans siblings – grow up in a California that welcomes them,” Menon continued.

The numbers show that people are most likely to be victims of hate crimes at their own homes, residences or driveways, on the street, in a parking lot or garage, in school, or at a house of worship.

Rabbi Ken Chasen of the Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles said, “Frankly, California’s Jewish community did not have to wait until the report was released. We experienced the increase in hatred directed at us with our own eyes and their own ears.”

Jewish people were the most targeted religious group; and the fourth most targeted group in total, following the Black, gay male, and Latino communities. There were 228 reported anti-Jewish hate crimes in 2022 compared to 33 anti-Muslim and 23 anti-Catholic hate crimes, No. 2 and No. 3 among religious groups, respectively.

Chasen said members of his congregation were targeted with “hate baggies” with literature accusing Jewish people of “masterminding the COVID agenda.”

“It’s been shown again and again and again throughout Jewish history that anti-Semitism doesn’t exist in a hate vacuum,” Chasen said. “When a society permits any minority population to be targeted with hate, any minority population will be targeted with hate.”

Forty-one of the 2,120 hate crime events were in San Francisco, the report shows. One hundred and ninety-one were in Santa Clara County and 109 were in Alameda County. t

Gwen Smith knows very little about shot put, and is happy to keep it that way. She can be found at www.gwensmith.com

Rick Gerharter

Trans March protests anti-LGBTQ bills

A

ctivists from El/La Para TransLatinas staged a die in along Dolores Street while on the Trans March June 23 to protest the many anti-transgender bills that have recently been introduced and/or passed in various state legislatures. The march

stepped off from Mission Dolores Park and made its way to the Tenderloin. It included participants representing many different countries with a unified message to red states: “Your bills are killing us.”

Community News>>

t Castro elevator project to break ground in July

June 29-July 5, 2023 • Bay Area Repor ter • 9

by Matthew S. Bajko

A

t long last construction is set to begin on a new four-stop elevator at the Castro Muni station in the city’s LGBTQ district. A groundbreaking on the $11.5 million project is slated for early July, with the completion date now expected sometime in 2026.

The “Notice to Proceed” for construction was set for Tuesday, June 20, according to the city’s public works department.

The general contractor, CLW Builders Inc., has begun posting construction notices around the neighborhood, while the city’s transit agency has also begun to send out notices to inform nearby residents and business owners of the pending construction.

“That said, they’ll likely perform project site survey first, then install construction fencing, sound barriers and landscape protection before starting work.

This will take about 1-2 weeks,” noted San Francisco Public Works spokesperson Rachel Gordon in an emailed reply to the Bay Area Reporter. “No heavy construction to take place before end of Pride Month.”

As the Bay Area Reporter had reported in early February, the commission that oversees San Francisco Public Works unanimously approved in January the

<<

Courtesy SF Public Works

A rendering shows the new Castro Muni elevator during the daytime.

contract with CLW Builders Inc., which was the lowest bidder to build the elevator. The city agency has overseen the design of the four-stop lift for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which operates the belowground subway station at the corner of Castro and Market streets.

Public Works officials had hoped to break ground on the glass and steel elevator in March, but a delay in SFMTA finalizing the insurance certificate for the project with BART had slowed the permitting process. The regional transit agency built

the station and leases it to the city’s Muni system.

Another hiccup came from protests being lodged by the losing bidders for the project. Those also needed to be resolved before the SFMTA could award the contract to CLW Builders Inc. There had been a possibility of work on the elevator beginning in June, several sources told the B.A.R. But with Pride Month an important time period for businesses in the Castro due to an influx in visitors, neighborhood leaders had impressed upon city officials the impor-

Pride breakfast

From page 4

gle day,” she said of the anti-trans vitriol. “We’re going to win this fight but children will have to endure it.”

Gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman was excited to have another gay member of the Board of Supervisors with him on the podium. Joel Engardio, who represents District 4, was attending his first Alice breakfast as an elected city leader. (The third gay supervisor, Matt Dorsey, who represents District 6,

Bill Wilson

San Francisco Supervisors Joel Engardio, left, and Rafael Mandelman spoke at the Alice club Pride breakfast.

tance of not disrupting a major access point to the area until the end of June.

“I am glad that it is happening and I am glad it did not happen during Pride,” said gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who represents the Castro at City Hall. “There was a possibility it could, but folks in DPW and I concurred it was not a good idea.”

The new elevator had first been proposed in 2016, as the current elevator for the Castro Muni Station is across the street from its main entrance near Pink Triangle Park where 17th Street meets Market Street, which can be hard to access for wheelchair users and others with mobility issues. If out of service, then there is no way to access the station without using stairs or an escalator.

As the B.A.R. has previously reported, the elevator project includes several upgrades to Harvey Milk Plaza, named in honor of the city’s first gay supervisor who represented and lived in the Castro. Several of the existing lighting fixtures will be replaced, plus the red paver bricks will be removed to install sparkle grain integral color concrete that matches the paving installed when the sidewalks along Castro Street were widened.

The elevator project will also result in a wider segment of sidewalk fronting Market Street headed toward Collingwood

Street so it is usable for people in wheelchairs. New plantings, bench seating, and interpretative signage about Milk will also be installed in the plaza’s below-grade area adjacent to the subway concourse level.

“The benefits to accessibility are really important. We have heard about this from folks who would like to be able to have better access to the station, and there is currently no good access on the plaza side,” said Mandelman.

City officials had pushed back their initial timeline for the elevator project in order to allow for community discussions to take place on a proposal to completely redo Harvey Milk Plaza. It is a separate project being overseen by the Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza that has also faced delays, vocal opposition, and gone through multiple architects and design concepts.

Initially estimated to cost $10 million, an exact price tag and funding source for the plaza remodel project remains unknown. Its proponents are seeking private donors and other fiscal sources to pay for it, with leaders of the effort recently telling the B.A.R. there could be news on that front later this summer or in early fall.

For more information about the elevator project, visit its website at https:// www.sfmta.com/projects/castro-stationaccessibility-improvements-project t

arrived late due to a previous commitment.)

“Now I’m just another gay county supervisor,” Mandelman quipped.

Engardio said he helped marry same-sex couples at City Hall on June 23 and noted it’s been 10 years since same-sex marriage was legalized in California after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal appeals court ruling that Prop 8 was unconstitutional in June 2013.

Bishop Yvette Flunder, who is same-gender loving, delivered the invocation at the start of the break-

fast. She lifted up Black and Brown people “killed by those who our tax dollars pay for” and held up “hearts for the LGBTQ community.”

Alex Randolph, a gay man who’s chair of the Alice club’s finance committee, announced that the breakfast raised over $150,000.

“We’ll be able to clap back against transphobia,” he said. t

Rainbow Skies Ahead!

SFO PRIDE RA

IN

BO

W S

KIES

A AHE

D

SFO welcomes everyone visiting for San Francisco Pride 2023!

With 49 airlines serving the 7x7, SFO is proud to offer nonstop service to 80 domestic and 50 international destinations! When you fly through SFO, you’ll enjoy award-winning dining and shopping, thoughtful amenities and world-class art and museum exhibits, including “Harvey Milk: Messenger of Hope” in Harvey Milk Terminal 1, Departures level.

FlySFO.com/Pride

<< Community News

10 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 29-July 5, 2023

Some changes coming to AIDS Walk SF

by Cynthia Laird

A

IDS Walk San Francisco will take place next month, and event organizers are getting the word out about some changes to the event that raises funds for HIV/AIDS nonprofits.

The biggest change is that the walk, scheduled for Sunday, July 16, at Robin Williams Meadow in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, will only be a 5K trek.

In previous years it had been a 10K walk, said Bert Champagne, event director.

He said that for many people the route was too long. The walk will begin and end at the meadow. Champagne, a gay man, said many people wanted a shorter walk.

Champagne told the Bay Area Reporter in a phone interview that the event is being brought in-house this year. No longer owned by MZA, which originated the walk decades ago in 1987, AIDS Walk SF is now run by an eponymous foundation. Champagne used to work for MZA and said that he told organizers that if brought in-house, he would stay on.

MZA was paid a “small fee” to retain the rights to the AIDS Walk SF name, Champagne said, adding he was not at liberty to disclose the amount.

“It’s still in Golden Gate Park, there will be a big tent and a pancake break-

Rick Gerharter

Walkers start the 6.2-mile route of the San Francisco AIDS Walk in Golden Gate Park on July 14, 2019

fast,” he said, adding there will be an opening ceremony as well.

At the time the B.A.R. spoke with Champagne, post-walk entertainment was still being worked out.

As with previous walks, there is no registration fee and people can sign up

the morning of the event if they want to.

But what has become popular in recent years is people walking as team members of a nonprofit or company. The HIV/AIDS nonprofits that are co-beneficiary partners keep 80% of what they raise, Champagne said. This year, there

are 15 of those co-beneficiary partners.

One of those co-beneficiaries is the AIDS Legal Referral Panel. Outgoing Executive Director Bill Hirsh stated in an email to supporters that the nonprofit has its Legal Eagles Team.

“Every AIDS Walk is a momentous

t

event, but this year’s walk has an especially personal significance for me, as it will be the last time I participate as the executive director of ALRP,” he stated, having recently announced that he will step down from the position at the end of the year.

“Today, most of ALRP’s clients are living and aging with HIV rather than dying from AIDS, but the need for caring and zealous legal advocacy is as great as ever,” Hirsh added. “I am, as always, deeply appreciative of your generous support over the years, and I hope that you will join me in supporting ALRP’s essential legal services for people living with HIV/AIDS once again this year.”

Other co-beneficiaries are the National AIDS Memorial Grove, the Spahr Center in Marin County, the LGBT Asylum Project, Ward 86 pop-up at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, La Clínica, Quan Yin Healing Arts Center, Maitri Compassionate Care, the Rainbow Community Center in Concord, Huckleberry Youth Programs, UCSF 360 Wellness Center, Hive, the Castro Country Club, West County Health Centers in Contra Costa County, and Face 2 Face in Sonoma County.

Champagne, who’s been with AIDS Walk for 30 years, started out as a receptionist. He said that by staying in Los Angeles, the organization “saved an enormous amount of overhead” as opposed to opening an office in San Francisco.

This year, about 2,500 walkers are expected, he said.

“People can raise or donate what they want,” he noted, adding that people can raise $150 for a T-shirt.

So far, according to the website, nearly $670,000 has been raised.

Champagne said that Gilead Sciences is the presenting sponsor and that ABC7-TV’s Dan Ashley will once again be on hand to encourage walkers. The walk will be shown on ABC-7’s digital channel.

The pancake breakfast, open to all fundraising participants, starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by pre-walk festivities at 10 and the walk at 10:30. There will be a community dance party from noon to 3 p.m.

For more information or to sign up, go to sf.aidswalk.net/ t

Hossein Carney

Volunteers installed the pink triangle earlier this month.

Now help is needed to take it down and unload the materials at an Oakland warehouse.

Help dismantle pink triangle

by Cynthia Laird

I

t’s that time again. Pride Month will soon be over and organizers of the pink triangle installation atop Twin Peaks need volunteers to help dismantle the canvas and sailcloth borders.

The “farewell” to the 28th iteration of the pink triangle will be Saturday, July 1, from 9 a.m. to noon, said Patrick Carney, a gay man and co-founder of the project. People can stop by anytime within those hours. Additional help is needed Sunday, July 2, from 11 a.m. to noon to unload the canvass from a truck at a storage warehouse in Oakland.

“It’s a great option for East Bay residents,” Carney noted.

Carney stated that “fashionable pink triangle T-shirts will be provided to all who help.”

Interested volunteers should bring gloves and wear closed-toe shoes.

To sign up, go to https://tinyurl.com/ bsves24t.t

t

Community News>>

June 29-July 5, 2023 • Bay Area Repor ter • 11

Gay man confirmed to CA appellate court

by Cynthia Laird

D

avid Rubin, a gay man and Superior Court judge in San Diego County, was unanimously confirmed and sworn in June 23 as a justice for the Fourth District Court of Appeal after a hearing by the state Commission on Judicial Appointments.

Governor Gavin Newsom nominated Rubin in March.

Rubin will serve on the Fourth District’s Division One, and he said after his swearing in that he would be the first LGBTQ person in that division. Justice Marsha Slough, a lesbian, was the first out appellate bench officer in the Fourth District, where she serves on Division Two, Rubin noted.

The hearing by the Commission on Judicial Appointments was chaired by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and held at the Supreme Court building in San Francisco. She was joined by Attorney General Rob Bonta and Manuel A. Ramirez, presiding justice of the Fourth District’s Division Two. Rubin, who was first elected to San Diego County Superior Court in 2006, began his tenure in 2007.

He has presided over civil, criminal, and family court matters, speakers told the commission.

Maureen Hallahan, assistant presiding judge of the San Diego County Superior Court, told the commission she first met Rubin when she and Rubin’s husband, attorney Todd Stevens, met volunteering at an AIDS nonprofit. Rubin was the first openly gay deputy district attorney hired in San Diego County, she said, and he quickly grasped

Courtesy Governor’s Office

David Rubin was confirmed and sworn in June 23 to a seat on the California Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One, in San Diego

complex cases.

Rubin and Hallahan worked in family law together once both became judges. Later, he was assigned to criminal cases, she explained.

When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, however, “he was the first to volunteer to hear family court cases.”

Associate Justice Douglas P. Miller, who sits on the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two, told the commission he considers Rubin to be his best friend. They worked together on the California Judges

Association and Rubin served as president of the group from 20111012.

“He was the first and only openly gay president of CJA,” Miller said.

“He’s a brilliant colleague and a true public servant.” Miller added that Rubin has an approach to solving problems whereby he’s “calm, patient, innovative, and resolute in knowing the goal.”

The third person to speak in support of Rubin was Judith D. McConnell, administrative presiding justice

for the Fourth District’s Division One. She talked about Rubin’s background, including that he was born in the San Francisco Bay Area and experienced both antisemitism and homophobia.

McConnell said that Rubin “acknowledged being gay in college.”

After earning undergraduate degrees at UC Berkeley, Rubin earned his juris doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. While there, he also renewed the LGBTQ student group for law students.

“It’s important for appellate justices to be compassionate, show empathy, be intellectually disciplined, remain flexible, and be open to ideas and [have] a clear sense of justice,” McConnell said. “Those are all qualities he has shown in trial court.”

In San Diego, Rubin has been involved with the Tom Homann LGBT Law Association.

Justin A. Palmer, chair of the State Bar Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation, said that after a review, Rubin was found to be “exceptionally well qualified” for the appellate bench.

Bonta asked Rubin about what he looked forward to and the challenges ahead in the new position after telling Rubin, “I love the commitment to marginalized communities.”

Rubin responded that he looks forward to continuing the work of research and writing, and now being able to look at it from an appellate perspective.

“I’m looking forward to the new adventure,” he said.

As for challenges, Rubin said he hopes to learn from his colleagues.

“It’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I don’t mind,” he said.

Rubin offered just a brief comment during the hearing: “I’m very humbled and honored to be here.”

However, during remarks after Guerrero swore him in, Rubin thanked the many people who have helped him, including Newsom, Luis Céspedes, Newsom’s judicial appointments secretary, and his staff.

“They have worked hard to create a bench that reflects California,” Rubin said.

Of the Tom Homann LGBT Law Association, Rubin noted that when it was formed “it was very difficult to be out.”

As he neared the end of his remarks, Rubin said he could feel tension in the audience because he had not yet mentioned his husband.

“I’m not Hilary Swank forgetting to thank Chad Lowe at the Oscars” he quipped, referring to 2000 when Swank, who won best actress for “Boys Don’t Cry,” a film about a trans man, neglected to acknowledge Lowe, her then-husband.

“I saved the best for last,” Rubin said, looking at Stevens, who was standing near him. “We’ve been together 33 years and I don’t have the words to express how much you mean to me.”

Referring to his hearing being held at the start of Pride weekend in San Francisco, Rubin said he attended his first LGBTQ Pride parade in 1982. He joked that he didn’t plan for his confirmation hearing to coincide with local Pride festivities.

“Happy Pride in San Francisco,” he said. “I didn’t set this up.”

Rubin fills the seat created by the retirement of Justice Cynthia G. Aaron. The compensation for each of the positions is $264,542. t

START. MANAGE. GROW. SBA can help your small business.

Looking to take your small business to the next level?

SBA can show you how, with free resources, advice, great marketing solutions, and more.

Visit SBA.gov/START

<< Community News

12 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 29-July 5, 2023

<<

SF Pride

From page 1

“After a year full of over 500 hateful anti-LGBTQ bills being introduced across the country, a year filled with violent rhetoric and attacks, marching in Pride felt incredibly cathartic, necessary, and in some ways revolutionary to be able to celebrate queer and trans joy amidst it all,” Mahogany stated. “I’m so grateful to be able to be here and be a part of this moment.”

The parade allowed the city’s queer community to flex its political muscle in more ways, too. The American Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau estimates 15.4% of San Francisco’s population is LGBTQ – the highest proportion in the country.

District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, who represents the Sunset and Outer Sunset neighborhoods on the city’s Board of Supervisors, is one of three gay men on the city’s legislative body.

Last year, there was only one: District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who represents the Castro.

“This parade was especially meaningful because not only was it my first as a city supervisor, I was able to share the experience with my husband. Not that long ago it seemed impossible that historically conservative western districts in San Francisco would ever elect an openly gay supervisor,” Engardio stated. “And not that long ago it was impossible for Lionel [Hsu] and I to be legally married husbands. So this march was a celebration of how far we have come. It was also a realization of how much work we still have to do to help trans people who are under threat and ensure the liberties LGBTQ people have gained remain for the next generation. Freedom is fragile and we must always be working to protect it.”

District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, whose South of Market district runs along the parade route, told the B.A.R., “My thoughts on Pride, kudos to Su-

<<

LGBTQ candidates

From page 1

“It’s important to note as well that we aren’t just running we are winning. We celebrated 10% LGBTQ+ representation in the state Capitol this year,” noted Eggman, the LGBTQ caucus chair, in an emailed reply to the B.A.R. “I think the reason we are winning more often than not is that LGBTQ+ elected officials have a track record of getting things done for every member of our constituencies, including individuals who work to deny us basic rights and dignity. Because we know the Gay Agenda is rooted in radical love for all people.”

Among the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus members seeking reelection next year are gay state Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) and bisexual Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose).

Also running for their current seats are gay Assemblymembers Evan Low (D-Cupertino), Rick Chavez Zbur (DWest Hollywood), Corey A. Jackson, Ph.D., (D-Perris), and Chris Ward (DSan Diego).

Gay state Senator Scott Wiener (DSan Francisco) has also pulled papers to run for reelection next year. But he is expected to seek to succeed Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) should she opt not to run again in 2024, and if that happens, it could lead to seeing one or two LGBTQ leaders in San Francisco launch legislative campaigns.

They are likely, though, to run to succeed Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco). He is expected to run for Wiener’s Senate seat, as the B.A.R.’s Political Notebook column noted in early June, leaving his 17th Assembly District seat up for grabs.

(As of now it does not appear an out candidate will seek next year to succeed termed out Democratic Assemblymember Phil Ting in San Francisco’s 19th Assembly District.)

When the B.A.R. spoke with Eggman last year about her taking over leader-

zanne Ford and the team at SF Pride for an amazing parade and celebration.

Suzanne Ford, a trans woman, is the executive director of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee that puts on the parade and celebration.

“I’ve been marching in SF Pride parades since 1990, and it felt like there was a lot of great energy out there this year,” Dorsey added. “I was especially proud to take part in Rafael Mandelman’s contingent this year. Rafi is one of my dearest friends, and if there’s an opening in the state Legislature next year, I’m doing everything I can to encourage him to run for that. We’ll see how it goes, but it was certainly clear to me that there’s a lot of enthusiasm for Rafael in our community.”

As the B.A.R. has previously reported, depending on a number of factors, there may be an open San Francisco seat in the state Legislature. The political musical chairs would first be set off

by Pelosi opting not to run for reelection next year. Gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who already has set up an exploratory committee to seek her House seat, would then officially jump into the race for Pelosi’s open 11th Congressional District seat.

As his current term in the Legislature is up next year, it would mean Wiener’s Senate District 11 seat would now be open in 2024. A likely candidate to succeed Wiener would be Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), who was just elected to his 17th Assembly District seat last year.

Were Haney to run for Senate, it would mean his Assembly seat would be up for grabs in 2024, as the elected position is on the ballot every two years. Jumping into the race would almost assuredly be Mandelman, now serving his final term on the Board of Supervisors.

See page 13 >> ship of the LGBTQ caucus, she had said recruiting out candidates was top of mind. Asked this month about the record number eyeing legislative seats in 2024, Eggman said she was “thrilled” that so many LGBTQ people were interested in seeking public office at a time when the LGBTQ community has come under increased attacks from Republican lawmakers and conservative groups.

“This has been a historic year for the LGBTQ+ community for better and worse. While we have seen a historic amount of attacks and violence to our community this year, our community has not been idle nor complacent in the face of this aggression. We have been busy,” stated Eggman. “I am thrilled to see a historic amount of out LGBTQ+ elected officials running for office. It used to be a huge lift to get one or two out candidates to run, and now we are looking at 24 amazing members of our community who have decided to lead with love and compassion.”

Trans, bi candidates

In recent interviews with the B.A.R. the two trans women seeking legislative seats in 2024 both said rather than being deterred by the rise in anti-trans political attacks, the pushback to trans rights has instead spurred them to stand for public office. Justine Gonzalez, who is also bisexual, is running for the open 52nd Assembly District seat in Los Angeles, while Palm Springs City Councilmember Lisa Middleton is seeking the open 19th Senate District seat.

Her colleague, bisexual Palm Springs City Councilmember Christy Holstege, is again seeking the 47th Assembly District seat after losing to the incumbent, Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-Palm Springs), by 85 votes last November. She and Gonzalez are among the record number of bisexual candidates running in 2024.

Lee, whose election in 2020 marked the first time a bisexual legislator had joined the LGBTQ caucus, is seeking reelection to his 24th Assembly District

t

Gooch

The crowd at the June 25 People’s March raised their fists.

Jane Philomen Cleland

The Dyke March on June 24 started at Mission Dolores Park, looped through the Mission, went up to Castro, and then back to Dolores Park.

seat that straddles Alameda and Santa Clara counties. Earlier this month he hosted a fundraiser in Los Angeles for 25th Senate District candidate Sasha Renée Pérez, vying to become the first bisexual elected to the Legislature’s upper chamber.

Two other bisexual candidates are running for Assembly seats. Dulce Vasquez, a Mexican immigrant, is seeking to represent the 57th Assembly District in Los Angeles. In Riverside County, Clarissa Cervantes, who also identifies as queer, is running to succeed her sister in the 58th Assembly District.

As for lesbian Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona), she is seeking election to the 31st Senate District seat. Should the sisters both win their races, they would be the first set of out siblings to serve together in the Statehouse.

There are currently 10 legislative districts that include parts of Riverside County, with three now held by out legislators: Padilla, Cervantes, and Jackson. Come next year a majority, six, could be represented by LGBTQ leaders should Holstege, Middleton, and both Cervantes sisters be elected.

“I think, overall, what you will begin to see is we are respected in our own right for the heavy lifting we have been doing in our communities,” said Jackson of seeing LGBTQ candidates, and those who are also people of color, break through politically in a region of the state that has historically tended to elect Republicans. “Meaning if you look at the numbers of voters, none of us should have been elected if you look at the populations we represent.

We found a way to do it somewhere that has been one of the top breeding grounds for conservatism or white supremacy. To see a majority of the ticket in Riverside County be LGBTQ people is something to take note of.”

Further west along the Southern California coastal region gay Lynwood City Councilmember José Luis Solache is running to succeed Assembly Speak-

er Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), who is termed out of his District 62 seat, while gay veteran Joseph C. Rocha is vying to succeed Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego), who is termed out of his District 76 seat. Solache and Rocha lost their previous campaigns for legislative seats but are seen as stronger contenders in their respective races next year.

Southern California

Four other gay male candidates are running in Southern California for open seats. Alex Mohajer, profiled in this week’s Political Notebook column, is seeking the 17th Senate District seat.

If elected, the Iranian Democratic Party leader would be the first LGBTQ state legislator from Orange County.

Running for Los Angeles County seats are Mark Gonzalez in Assembly District 54, Ari Ruiz in Assembly District 52, and Javier Hernandez in Assembly District 53, which stretches into San Bernardino County.

Bay Area

In the Bay Area three out candidates are looking to become the first LGBTQ lawmakers to represent East Bay counties. Gay former West Sacramento mayor Christopher Cabaldon is running for the open District 3 Senate seat that includes parts of the Bay Area counties of Contra Costa, Solano, Sonoma and Napa, as well as sections of Yolo and Sacramento counties.

Two queer women are seeking the East Bay’s open 7th Senate District seat that spans western Contra Costa and Alameda counties from Rodeo south to the San Leandro border. Former Richmond city councilmember Jovanka Beckles, now an elected member of the board that oversees the AC Transit public transportation agency, and California Labor Federation President Kathryn Lybarger, who lives with her wife in Berkeley, are among a number of Democrats in the race hoping to survive the 2024 primary to advance to the general election ballot in the fall.

Due to it being a presidential election year, the primary will take place Tuesday, March 5. Under California’s open primary system, the top two vote-getters regardless of party affiliation will move on to the November 5 election.

While the deadline for candidates to file for next year’s legislative races is in early December, the LGBTQ caucus has already endorsed nine of the out non-incumbent candidates running in 2024. Among the female candidates, they are the Cervantes sisters, Middleton, Holstege, and Pérez.

The out male candidates endorsed by the LGBTQ caucus, so far, are Solache, Rocha, Hernandez, and Cabaldon. The caucus isn’t expected to announce another round of endorsements for LGBTQ candidates until mid-July at the earliest.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the endorsement of the CA State Legislative LGBTQ Caucus,” stated Cabaldon. “This endorsement is a testament to the collective strength and resilience of our LGBTQ+ community. In the face of escalating threats and hostility nationwide, it is clear that our fight for equality and justice is far from over.”

Gay Republican

So far the only gay GOPer running in 2024 that the B.A.R. is aware of is Anthony Macias, who plans to run against Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) in the South Bay’s 15th Senate District. For years Macias has vied for legislative seats but has either failed to make the ballot or fallen short when he has due to running in predominantly Democratic-leaning districts.

A spokesperson for the LGBTQ caucus told the B.A.R. that it is unaware of any other LGBTQ candidates who have already launched legislative bids. One gay Democrat who had announced a state Senate bid in 2024 was Los Angeles resident Darryn Harris. But the Black political aide announced in May he was suspending his campaign for the 35th Senate District seatt t

t

Community News>>

June 29-July 5, 2023 • Bay Area Repor ter • 13

Rick Gerharter

Gooch

John Ferrannini

Montana state Representative Zooey Zephyr addressed the People’s March June 25.

Congressmember Nancy Pelosi, center, rode in the Pride parade with her colleague, Congressmember Adam Schiff, who’s running for U.S. Senate.

equality for all,” Pelosi stated to the B.A.R. “In San Francisco, our LGBTQ+ community has made countless contributions to our city – and is a beacon of hope to LGBTQ+ communities across our entire country.”

Schiff is running to replace U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California), who earlier this year said she would not seek reelection in 2024.

He and Pelosi both addressed a sold out Pride breakfast held by the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club at the Hyatt Embarcadero Sunday morning. Mandelman and Engardio also spoke at the event.

Breed, who spoke at the Alice breakfast and rode in the parade, did not return a request for comment.

Dr. Rony François, a genderqueer gay man, is a clinical instructor and postdoctoral researcher in the departments of dermatology and pa-

thology at UCSF. He marched with the UCSF/Alliance Health Project/ San Francisco General Hospital Ward 86 contingent, along with another community grand marshal, Paul Aguilar, a longtime AIDS activist and HIV survivor.

“Currently LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, QTBIPOC [queer, trans, Black and Indigenous people of color] communities are under attack in many parts of the nation, with the poor, unhoused, and undocumented experiencing disproportionately exponential marginalization,” François stated. “Therefore, the theme of the UCSF contingent this year is Pride is protest! … Given that these marginalized communities are underrepresented in science, medicine, and medical research, visibility is critical to achieving our broader goal of health equity.”

Montana state Representative Zooey Zephyr (D), a trans woman, marched in the parade. She was the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club’s guest of honor last Thursday at its Gayla. Earlier this year, as lawmakers considered a bill denying gender-affirming care for trans youth, Republicans in the Legislature forbade Zephyr from speaking on the House floor in the closing days of the session after she was critical of the bill. She ended up working on a laptop from a hallway in the capital. The Legislature passed the bill and Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R) signed it into law.

“It’s an honor to get to march with the Harvey Milk Club in this year’s SF Pride,” Zephyr said. “When we march, we carry with us the generations of LGBTQ people who came before us – people who fought and

died in the fight for our rights. And in the face of this year’s attacks on the LGBTQ community, we vow to celebrate our existence and work tirelessly until all LGBTQ Americans can live their lives in peace and joy.”

Jonas Olsson, a gay San Franciscan, marched with his friend – gay community grand marshal Dr. Nasser Mohamed, the first-ever known Qatari to come out of the closet.

“I am lucky to be from Sweden and live in such an open and accepting city,” Olsson said. “Walking in the parade gave me a rush and made me incredibly happy. When I got asked to walk in the parade this year, I felt compelled to do it after hearing Nas’ and Tariq’s stories. I want to walk for those who can’t.” t

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400527

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400435

civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. The name and address of the court is: Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiffs attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: SYDNEY JAY HALL (SBN 158151), LAW OFFICE OF SYDNEY JAY HALL, 3 EAST 3RD AVE #200, SAN MATEO, CA 94401; (650) 342-1830. Oct 25, 2019, Clerk of the Court, Edward F. Santos, Deputy.

STATEMENT OF DAMAGES (PERSONAL INJURY OR WRONGFUL DEATH) IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO. PLAINTIFF: JULIE LEE; DEFENDANT: STEVE LY, ET AL. FILE CGC-19-576859 To Defendant: YI YA CHANG, Plaintiff: JULIE LEE seeks damages in the above titled action, as follows: General Damages: fraudulent conveyance $49,890.00; fraud $50,000.00. The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiffs attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: SYDNEY JAY HALL (SBN 158151), LAW OFFICE OF SYDNEY JAY HALL, 3 EAST 3RD AVE #200, SAN MATEO, CA 94401; (650) 342-1830. Date 04/072022.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558003

A human butterfly led off the contingent demanding justice for Banko Brown, a Black trans man who was killed by a Walgreens security guard in April.

<<

SF Pride

From page 12

Mandelman has made no secret of his desire to run for a legislative seat.

He recently opened up a 2028 state Senate campaign account, which is when Wiener would be termed out of office if he ends up running for reelection next year.

Another possible candidate for the Assembly seat is Mahogany, who is district director for Haney.

Mandelman did not return requests for comment from the B.A.R. Sunday.

Pelosi marched in the parade alongside Congressmember Adam Schiff (D-Burbank).

“Today, I proudly joined San Franciscans in celebrating Pride Month and the advances made toward full

Legals>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-557994

In the matter of the application of WEIYUAN WANG, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner WEIYUAN WANG is requesting that the name WEIYUAN WANG be changed to ALICE WANG. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 18th of JULY 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-557995

In the matter of the application of OLIVIA RUTH HERNANDEZ BAMACA, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner OLIVIA RUTH HERNANDEZ BAMACA is requesting that the name OSCAR MIQUEAS GUTIERREZ HERNANDEZ be changed to OSCAR GUTIERREZ HERNANDEZ. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 25th of JULY 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-557998

In the matter of the application of DILPREET GREWAL CRONIN & PETER MICHAEL CRONIN, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner DILPREET GREWAL CRONIN & PETER MICHAEL CRONIN, is requesting that the name LIAM JAMES GREWAL CRONIN be changed to COOPER JAMES GREWAL CRONIN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 18th of JULY 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-557984

In the matter of the application of NATHANIEL TYRAS CHENEY-BOOKMAN, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner NATHANIEL TYRAS CHENEY-BOOKMAN is requesting that the name NATHANIEL TYRAS CHENEYBOOKMAN be changed to NATHANIEL TYRAS BOOKMAN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 17th of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400496

The following person(s) is/are doing business as JESSI’S NAILS SPA, 546 COLUMBUS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed THANH HUU PHAM. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/31/2023.

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400467

The following person(s) is/are doing business as POLARIS PRODUCT MARKETING, 1943 15TH ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PATRICK BROWN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/19/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/26/2023.

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400504

The following person(s) is/are doing business as FISH IN THE BOX, 800 MASONIC AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KING LOK TSUI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/23. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/01/23.

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

The following person(s) is/are doing business as POLISH NAIL AND BEAUTY SPA, 301 CORNWALL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MENH LAY VONG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/02/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/02/2023.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HOTEL GARRETT, 112 7TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103.

This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SF GOOD LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/25/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400536

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400436

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE TIDY HANDYMAN, 432 GUERRERO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DOUGLAS GEE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/19/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/05/2023.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HOTEL FIONA, 140 7TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103.

This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SF CARRIAGE LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/25/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400457

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400437

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

The following person(s) is/are doing business as EXPLO, 2261 MARKET ST #4113, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114.

This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed KAZ INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/29/2020. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/25/2023.

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400469

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SOMA HOUSE, 121 7TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103.

This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SF AMERICANIA LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/C. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/25/2023.

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE WATERLOO GROUP, 629 GUERRERO ST #8, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed THE WATERLOO GROUP (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/26/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/26/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400532 The following person(s) is/are doing business as VIP GROOMING; VIP GROOMING SF, 4299 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed DIRTY DOG LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/05/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400394

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-0394987

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

The following person(s) is/are doing business as WALTER ADAMS FRAMING, 2019 FILLMORE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed WALTER ADAMS FRAMING, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/19/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/19/2023.

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as POLISH NAIL AND BEAUTY SPA, 301 CORNWALL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business was conducted by a corporation and signed by POLISH INC (CA). The fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/28/2021. The abandonment of fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/02/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400395

AMENDED SUMMONS SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO NOTICE TO RESPONDENT: HONG CHEW, YI YA CHANG, STEVE LY AND DOES 1-10, YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: JULIE LEE CASE NO. CGC-19-576859

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

The following person(s) is/are doing business as WALTER ADAMS FRAMING, 355 PRESIDIO AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed WALTER ADAMS FRAMING, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/19/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/19/2023.

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400396

The following person(s) is/are doing business as WALTER ADAMS FRAMING, 348 WEST PORTAL AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed WALTER ADAMS FRAMING, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/19/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/19/2023.

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400433

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HOTEL JULIAN, 940 SUTTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109.

This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SF VERTIGO LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/25/2023.

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

JUNE 08, 15, 22, 29, 2023

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

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

SUMMONS IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO. NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: BELLAROSE A. BACLIG, AN INDIVIDUAL AND DOES 1-20 INCLUSIVE, YOU ARE BEING SUED

BY PLAINTIFF: FRANCIS N. RIDAD, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF THE JOSEPH FAMILY TRUST. CASE NUMBER: CGC-22-602611

NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response.

You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courlinfo. ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service.

If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courlinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. The name and address of the court is: Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiffs attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: JOHN SULLIVAN (SBN 204648), 17532 MIRANDA ST, ENCINO, CA 91316; (818) 769-7236. Date: 11/18/2022; Clerk,

by JACKIE LAPREVOTTE, Deputy.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558000

In the matter of the application of EM THI NGO, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner EM THI NGO is requesting that the name EM THI NGO be changed to EMILY NGO. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 25th of JULY 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558002

In the matter of the application of JAMES FRANCIS WALSH, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner JAMES FRANCIS WALSH is requesting that the name JAMES FRANCIS WALSH be changed to JIM FRANCISCO JAMES. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 25th of JULY 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

In the matter of the application of EVELYN NOHEMY BONILLA ORELLANA, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner EVELYN NOHEMY BONILLA ORELLANA is requesting that the name EVELYN NOHEMY BONILLA ORELLANA be changed to EVELYN NOHEMY BONILLA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 20th of JULY 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558009

In the matter of the application of WILLIAM H. COYLE 3RD, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner WILLIAM H. COYLE 3RD is requesting that the name WILLIAM H. COYLE 3RD AKA WILLIAM H. COYLE AKA WILLIAM HOWARD COYLE III AKA WILLIAM HOWARD III COYLE AKA WILLIAM H. COYLE III be changed to BUSK C. EIZING. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 27th of JULY 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558004

In the matter of the application of MOLLY IULIO-UFAU, GUARDIAN OF TESSA AUDRIANA LILLILANI LEWIS, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner MOLLY IULIO-UFAU is requesting that the name TESSA AUDRIANA LILLILANI LEWIS be changed to TESSA LILLILANI LEWIS. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 20th of JULY 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400570

The following person(s) is/are doing business as PSYCHIC THERAPY, 3890 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LORETTA TENNIS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/07/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/07/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400550

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BRETT PIX, 857 FILLMORE ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BRETT THOMAS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/06/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400532

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MS. MERRILL MAKES, 722 30TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DANA MERRILL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/05/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400569

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MELLOW HOUSE MUSIC & RECORDINGS, 1049 MARKET ST LOFT 408, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DARREN M. BROWN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/18/1992. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/07/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

<< Legals & Classifieds

14 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 29-July 5, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400595

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LILLA, 2024 GREENWICH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GENA PALMIERI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/06/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/08/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400555

The following person(s) is/are doing business as PLOOM STUDIO, 451 7TH AVE #4, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed QUE PHUONG LE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/05/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/06/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400409

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SEVEN CROWNS SITE SERVICES, 990 NORA WAY, SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94080. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JUAN M. PEREZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/21/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/22/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400549

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE DOG BARBER, 1903 MARKET ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALFIO FELIPE CUENCA TORRES. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/2018. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/06/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400591

The following person(s) is/are doing business as JASON RICHARD HAIRSTYLIST, 257 GRANT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JASON RICHARD. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/2009. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/08/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400613

The following person(s) is/are doing business as GREATER BAY SOLUTIONS, 420 RUSSIA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GLADYS G. LARGAESPADA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/12/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/12/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400594

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ZHEN ZHEN FAMILY DAYCARE, 29 CAMPBELL AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134-2226. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed QUNJIE FAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/06/2014. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/08/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400564

The following person(s) is/are doing business as FRESH AGENT SF, 1120 CAPITOL AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed FRESH HOME STAGING (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/02/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/07/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400512

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ETHOS; ETHOS WALLET; THE COLLECTION, 2261 MARKET ST #4542, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed NOD LABS, INC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/02/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400563

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CMC; CARITAS; CARITAS MANAGEMENT, 1358 VALENCIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CARITAS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/2020. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/07/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400584

The following person(s) is/are doing business as PLUSH NAILS SPA, 1791 CHURCH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed POSH, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/06/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/08/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400375 The following person(s) is/are doing business as SOURDOUGH PAINTING, 280 EUCLID AVE #4, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SOURDOUGH PAINTING LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/27/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/16/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400571

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE SIX, 1051 ASHBURY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117.

This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed THE CHAOS COLLECTIVE, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/16/2018. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/07/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400483

The following person(s) is/are doing business as COLLECTIVE CULTURE TRAINING AND CONSULTING, 929 MCALLISTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed ASJACKSON LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/25/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/30/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400568

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LA CASA INN, 1530 LOMBARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed VIKRAMSINH DADA LLC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/07/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/07/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400604

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MANAGEMENT, 1405 21ST AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MANAGEMENT CREATIVE LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/07/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/09/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400610

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TRIPLE BK LANDSCAPE GARDENING, 3845 MARKET ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed TRIPLE BK LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/22/2014. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/12/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-0398517

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as REDWOOD INN, 1530 LOMBARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business was conducted by a limited liability company and signed

by VIKRAMSINH DADA LLC (CA). The fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/18/2022. The abandonment of fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/07/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-0386021

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as PLUSH NAILS SPA, 1791 CHURCH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by UT SON. The fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/10/2019. The abandonment of fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/08/2023.

JUNE 15, 22, 29, JULY 06, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558021

In the matter of the application of ALISA MICHELLE TIRADO STRAYER, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner ALISA MICHELLE TIRADO STRAYER is requesting that the name ALISA MICHELLE TIRADO STRAYER be changed to ALISA MICHELLE TIRADO-RAFFERTY. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 3rd of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558022

In the matter of the application of BRIAN JOHN RAFFERTY, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner BRIAN JOHN RAFFERTY is requesting that the name BRIAN JOHN RAFFERTY be changed to BRIAN JOHN TIRADO-RAFFERTY. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 3rd of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400609

The following person(s) is/are doing business as META MAGIC NEEDLE; MELA CONSTRUCTION CO; MELA APPLIANCE, 620 FOERSTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed STANISLAV A. REZNITSKIY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/12/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/12/2023.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400616

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HIPPIECHAI, 601 VAN NESS AVE #125, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JANKI SHAH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/13/2023.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400492

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TRIO NAILS, 1832 BUCHANAN ST #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CINDY THAI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/31/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/31/2023.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SYLVIA’S FAMILY DAY CARE, 30 BLAKE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SILVIA E. ROLDAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/2019. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/09/2023.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400369

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MI LAN SHOP, 910 STOCKTON ST #4, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HON LAM YEUNG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/28/2012. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/16/2023.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400627

The following person(s) is/are doing business as EUREKA MARKET, 4151 17TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed EUREKA MARKET ZIDAN INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/13/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/14/2023.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400567

The following person(s) is/are doing business as NAN CRAWFORD & CO., 4104 24TH ST #777, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed THE CONFLUENCE PROJECT (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/20/1995. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/07/2023.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400619

The following person(s) is/are doing business as PALIO D’ASTI, 640 SACRAMENTO, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111.

This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed RISTORANTI PIEMONTESI INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/18/1990. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/13/2023.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400399

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LOARDS, 1601 20TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SJ SAMRA BROS RETAIL 5 INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/19/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/19/2023.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400630

The following person(s) is/are doing business as GREEN PLANET CBD, 39 PIER #H1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133.

This business is conducted by a limited partnership, and is signed GP 39 LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/14/2023.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400593

The following person(s) is/are doing business as DIRTY LITTLE SECRET LAVANDERIA, 2750 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed COYNE-OP LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/13/2022. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/08/2023.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF PLACER, FIRST AMENDED SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): KEIKO MORIBE, ALL PERSONS UNKNOWN, CLAIMING ANY LEGAL OR EQUITABLE RIGHT, TITLE, ESTATE, LEIN OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY, ESTATE OF KEIKO MORIBE, THE TESTATE AND INTESTATE SUCCESSORS OF KEIKO MORIBE BELIEVED TO BE DECEASED, AND ALL PERSONS CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, OR UNDER SUCH PERSON. YOU ARE BEING SUED

BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTA DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): CRAIG HILT. Case Number (Numero del Caso): S-CV-0048522 Apn 064-141-032-000. Legal Description: The subject of this action is certain real property comprising a vacant land within the County of Placer, state of California, commonly known as 29510 Foresthill Rd., Foresthill, CA; Assessor’s parcel number 064-141-032-000 consisting of the real property in the city of Foresthill, County of Placer, State of California, legally described as follows: “That portion of section 16, Township 14 North, Range 11 east, Mt. Diablo Base and Meridian included within the boundaries of the land shown and designated as Parcel “A” of Parcel Map No. 72788, filed for record in the Office of the Recorder of Placer County, California, on April 27, 1979, in Book 14 of Parcel Maps at page 92.

NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program.

You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case.

The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales.

Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente.

Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y direccion de la corte es): Hon. Howard G. Gibson Courthouse, 10820 Justice Center Dr, Roseville, CA 95678. The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): CRAIG HILT, 22313 TODD VALLEY RD, BOX 583, FORESTHILL, CA 95631; (916) 214-2363.

Filed: 06/05/2023

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558016

In the matter of the application of KIMBERLEY DIANA KING AKA KIMBERLEY DEANA KING-STITT, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner KIMBERLEY DIANA KING AKA KIMBERLEY DEANA KING-STITT is requesting that the name KIMBERLEY DIANA KING AKA KIMBERLEY DEANA KING-STITT be changed to KIMBERLEY DEANA STITT. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 27th of JULY 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558023

In the matter of the application of CHARLES CHIU YONG POON, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner CHARLES CHIU YONG POON is requesting that the name CHARLES CHIU YONG POON AKA CHIU YONG POON be changed to CHIU YONG POON. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 1st of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558029

In the matter of the application of SUN JU KIM, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner SUN JU KIM is requesting that the name SUN JU KIM be changed to KIMBERLY SUN JU KIM. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 3rd of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558036

In the matter of the application of JIAYING SHANG, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner JIAYING SHANG is requesting that the name JIAYING SHANG be changed to STEPHANIE JAYN SHANG. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 8th of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558037

In the matter of the application of SHELLEY SHANLING LIN, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner SHELLEY SHAN-LING LIN is requesting that the name SHELLEY SHAN-LING LIN AKA SHELLEY LIN be changed to SHELLEY SHAN-LING JONES. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 8th of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558041

In the matter of the application of GERSAN MAURICIO MENDOZA RIOS, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner GERSAN MAURICIO MENDOZA RIOS is requesting that the name GERSAN MAURICIO MENDOZA RIOS AKA GERSAN M. MENDOZA AKA GERSAN MENDOZA be changed to GERSAN MAURICIO MENDOZA RIOS. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 8th of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

t

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400649

The following person(s) is/are doing business as GALLERY-O-RAMA, 1920 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109.

This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed MONET ALISE OGANESIAN & ANNA CATERINA PETRO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/01/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/20/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400648

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HOMEANDLIFE, 2380 35TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116.

This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed GOLDPEGASUS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/20/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/20/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400639

The following person(s) is/are doing business as FOG CITY NEIGHBORHOOD DISPATCH SERVICE, 2220 REVERE AVE #C, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed FOG CITY CAB INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/15/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/16/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400705

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

The following person(s) is/are doing business as AMA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT; AMA MORTGAGE; AMA REALTY, 3101 SAN JOSE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112.

This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed KENKLE (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/22/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/22/2023.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558043

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400654

In the matter of the application of NABEL ALI MOHAMMED SHOGA, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner NABEL ALI MOHAMMED SHOGA is requesting that the nameNABEL ALI MOHAMMED SHOGA be changed to NABIL ALI MOHAMMED ALSHUJAA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 10th of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558039

In the matter of the application of JOHNNY MING LEE AKA JOHN MING LEE, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner JOHNNY MING LEE AKA JOHN MING LEE is requesting that the name JOHNNY MING LEE AKA JOHN MING LEE be changed to JOHN MING LEE. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 8th of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558048

In the matter of the application of CHARLENE SHUI FONG YEE, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner CHARLENE SHUI FONG YEE is requesting that the name CHARLENE SHUI FONG YEE AKA SHUI FONG YEE be changed to SHUI FONG YEE. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 10th of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-23-558052

In the matter of the application of MODAR ALJUNDI, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner MODAR ALJUNDI is requesting that the name MODAR ALJUNDI be changed to ALEXIS CLAY DRAIN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 10th of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HYDE-O’FARRELLE MARKET, 701 O’FARRELL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed IMAAN CORPORATION (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/20/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/20/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400548

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TRESSWORKS SALON, 3548 22ND ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed TRESSWORKS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/06/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400553

The following person(s) is/are doing business as APOTHECARIUM, 527 HOWARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HOWARD STREET PARTNERS, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/29/2018. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/06/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400526

The following person(s) is/are doing business as KIWICHA, 277 GOLDEN GATE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed KIWICHA LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/02/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400626

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TASTY COFFEE, 1818 SAN JOSE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed MARIA DE LOS ANGELES PINEDA & MIGUEL PINEDA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/27/2018. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/14/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400650

The following person(s) is/are doing business as PROFOUND SHIFT, 584 CASTRO ST #2308, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114-2512. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHRIS ROBERTS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/20/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400390

The following person(s) is/are doing business as GLOCALSOUL EDUTAINMENT, 977 FELL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JONATHAN E. SANTOS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/18/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/18/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400541

The following person(s) is/are doing business as IMAN’S WIRELESS ACCESSORIES, 2708 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RIGOBERTO C. IMAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/06/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/06/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400731

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SO CUTE ACCESSORIES, 1737 POST ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MEI NG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/26/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/26/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400732

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LISTEN AND LEARN, 707 15TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JESSICA LOPEZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/26/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400729

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MARYBAN TRADING, 1468 25TH ST #208, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARYAM BANIASADIDEHKORDI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/26/2023.

JUNE 29, JULY 06, 13, 20, 2023

Classifieds Hauling>> HAULING 24/7

(415) 441-1054 Large Truck

Tech Support >> MACINTOSH HELP 30+ YEARS EXPERIENCE SFMacMan.com

RICK

415.821.1792

Left to Right: Colin Johnson, Sara Toby Moore, DeMarcello Funes

by David-Elijah Nahmod

S

ara Toby Moore is pretty laid back. A nonbinary queer person, Moore prefers they/ them pronouns, says that they don’t offend easily. Their family of origin still calls them “Sare,”

but Moore doesn’t give them a hard time about it.

“It only gives me more license to tease and play pranks on them,” they said in an interview with the Bay Area Reporter.

Moore is the writer and star of “Atomic Comic: a Human Cartoon Fantasia,” which will perform at Z Space from June 30 through July 8. It’s a show

they promise will be rife with humor while dealing with some very serious topics. Moore will be sharing their experiences on dealing with the death of a parent, a painful breakup and surviving cancer. Certainly not topics to laugh about, yet Moore found humor in all of these journeys.

Moore explained what they mean by subtitling

the show ‘a human cartoon fantasia.’ They consider this to be a new form of theater, one where performers mix emotional truth with physical comedy, all performed at cartoon dimensions, which is how they describe their day-to day life.

Justin Monroe

by David-Elijah Nahmod

Ivo Dimchev

Gay singer/songwriter’s Bulgarian rhapsodies

A

Kenna Lindsay

Atomic Comic Sara Toby Moore’s human cartoon fantasia

s the music starts, he slowly leans back onto a plaid easy chair. He’s wearing an open, loose fitting green shirt, revealing his chest. His hair falls carelessly across his forehead. He sings intensely about not being able to give up on a love who has already found someone else. It’s a gutwrenching song called “I Can Not,” and the singer/songwriter is Ivo Dimchev, an openly queer HIV-positive performer who hails from Bulgaria, a fairly conservative country. Yet Dimchev stands his ground, proudly letting the world know exactly who he is.

Dimchev has performed all over the world, singing in both Bulgarian and English. He has amassed quite a following, and on July 5 his Bay Area fans will have a chance to enjoy his music when he takes to the stage of Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. The concert is titled “Top Faves.” It’s a collection of Dimchev’s greatest hits from the past two decades.

This is not his first time entertaining Bay Area audiences. In 2016 he performed at CounterPulse.

“Back then I had only twenty songs in my repertoire,” Dimchev said in an interview with the Bay Area Reporter.

“I started writing songs when I was forty years old, now I’m 47 and I have already a hundred songs. So my repertoire on the 5th of July is going to be very different.”

Dimchev has an impressive falsetto range. His voice is almost operatic, yet he was never trained in opera and isn’t an opera singer. He doesn’t even listen to opera. His voice, he says, gives him a vibe of classical music.

“It gives me this vibe of femininity which I kind of enjoy exploring and using this feminine energy I have as a performer,” he said. “The falsetto voice makes this very accessible and very easy to me, so that’s why I’m using it, but I don’t believe that I have a big range. I’m just comfortable with my falsetto which gives the impression that my vocal range is very big.”

See page 17 >>

Theatrical

Prior to his singing career, Dimchev was a performance artist. While in his twenties he enrolled in Bulgaria’s National Academy for Theater and Film Arts, but he found their method of teaching to be restrictive, so he left shortly thereafter. Two years later he mounted his own show at the National Theater, but he still wasn’t satisfied. He found Bulgaria to be too conservative, so he left to perform in other, less restrictive countries. For the next fifteen or so years he mounted numerous productions and became established in avant-garde circles, performing across Europe and in the U.S. “In my early twenties I deeply believed that the performative body does not have a gender by default,” he said. “I felt if I was using just part of my just part of my genderless performative body, it would be just like cutting off half of my vocabulary as an artist. So it was very important to me to use the capacity, the full range of emotions, of expressions of my body, which includes feminine/masculine and it’s primitive, very high, very tender, very violent, very everything.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic Dimchev performed four hundred private concerts in people’s homes. This began in Bulgaria, but went on to include Istanbul, New York and Los Angeles. He is now making a documentary about those at-home concerts, as many of them were recorded. He wanted to interact with these audiences, so he asked them strange questions.

“I was asking weird questions like, from a list of fifty questions, ‘Would you prefer to be in hell with Jesus or in heaven with Trump?’ or ‘Would you have sex with Putin or sex with the Dali Lama?’” he said. “So I would give them these strange dilemmas that they would never ask themselves, but just because they’re put in this kind of narrow choice and possibilities, they would choose one from the other. It would give me a little impression of who these people are.”

See page 16 >>

<< Theater

16 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 29-July 5, 2023

Vive la différence!

by Jim Gladstone

“I

t’s like throwing a baby in a pool!” said Christine Heesun Hwang, 24, describing the experience of leaving Ithaca College midway through her undergraduate studies to jump into the cast of an in-progress national tour of “Miss Saigon” in 2019.

Haley Dortch, 21, began her professional life with similar splash, departing the University of Michigan after sophomore year to play Fantine in the latest touring production of “Les Miserables,” which opens an engagement at the Orpheum Theater on July 5. Old-timer Hwang is also in the cast, playing Éponine.

The two queer actors of color spoke to the Bay Area Reporter by phone last week about beginning their work lives in constant motion.

“I was learning how to live on the road at the same time I was learning how to just be an adult at all,” recalled Hwang of the few months she spent traveling with “Miss Saigon” before the pandemic sent her new career into unexpected intermission.

“I’d never had to think about a 401K

or housing or insurance. I really got those lessons on my feet.”

Hwang said that during the time she spent with her family in Seattle during the shutdown, the fact that she’d fulfilled a longtime dream of becoming a professional actor really sunk in with her.

“On the road, you’re so tired that it’s easy to forget that you’ve been given this amazing opportunity. I also got back in touch with why I was doing it in the first place and how much I love the theater.

I spent so much time on the internet going down these crazy rabbit holes of fandom. I also had a chance to sit with myself and think about the kind of life I hope to lead in the next few years.”

Setting an example

Hwang, who has been out since she was 16, has realized that she can use her platform as a performer to reach out to kids, particularly AsianAmericans, whose family dynamics can make coming out – and careers in the arts – feel particularly challenging.

In the program for “Les Misérables,” she pointedly identifies herself as “a queer Korean American.”

Queer actors of color in “Les Misérables” at the Orpheum

Both photos: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Left: Haley Dortch as Fantine in ‘Les Misérables’ Right: Christine Heesun Hwang as Éponine in ‘Les Misérables’

“I put it in my bio to try and make a little difference. To let younger people know that you can be queer; that you can make a career out of performing. A lot of people forget how difficult it can be for kids in some of these smaller cities we visit,” said Hwang about a tour with stops that include Appleton, Wisconsin; Lincoln, Nebraska; and El Paso, Texas.

“I really admire Christine for doing that,” said Dortch, who spent her own childhood in Texas. “I wish I did more.

It’s something I’m trying to navigate, because I’m a new member of the queer community. I’ve known at least since I was in high school, but I just came out to my parents last June, just a few months before the tour started. But I look forward to creating more space for young queer artists as my career progresses.”

Settling into one’s identity while living an itinerant lifestyle is doubtless a challenge.

<< Professional headshots / profile pics Weddings / Events

StevenUnderhill 415 370 7152 • StevenUnderhill.com

Monday 8am

(last seating 9:45pm)

Tuesday 8am

(last seating 9:45pm)

Open Daily!

New Adjusted Hours

Wednesday 8am (last seating 9:45pm)

Thursday 8am Open 24 Hours

Friday

Open 24 Hours

Saturday

Open 24 Hours

Sunday 7am

(last seating 9:45pm)

Proudly serving the community since 1977.

3991-A 17th Street, Market & Castro 415-864-9795

t

“I was so frustrated that all of the Pride activities in the cities we’ve been touring have been during times we’re on stage,” said Dortch. “But in Seattle, the apartment building where I was staying had a Pride brunch, so I got a bunch of friends from the cast to come over and we made it into our celebration.

“The cast is one of the few things that keep me rooted,” said Dortch.

“And about two months ago, while I was at home on a vacation, I adopted a dog, a mini golden doodle, and now he’s on tour with me. That’s really a cozy comfort for me.”

Dortch says it’s ironic that “Les Misérables” marks her professional debut.

“For my sixth grade talent show audition, I sang ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ and didn’t get to be in the show. And now I’m singing it eight times a week!”

Both Hwang and Dortch feel for-

tunate to have interests beyond acting that help them pass time on the road.

“I really pride myself on my writing,” said Hwang, who is committed to both her own free-form journaling and several playwriting projects, including collaborating with a friend, composer Adam Rothenberg, on a musical about wildfires.

“I’m lucky that writing requires such isolation and monastic focus. I’m actually an introvert when I’m not on stage.”

Dortch, who also enjoys having plenty of downtime alone, is a hardcore reader. She recently tackled a tome that she suspects most of her cast mates have never read: Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables.”t ‘Les Misérables,’ July 5-23. $60.50$372.00. Orpheum Theater, 1192 Market St. (888) 746-1799. www.broadwaysf.com

Ivo Dimchev

From page 15

Those questions became the dramaturgical spine of his musical “In Hell With Jesus,” because he found that most people preferred that option. The American version of this show will premiere at La Mama in New York this coming fall. When he performs in Berkeley, he will be performing some of the songs from this musical.

Dimchev is a huge Elton John fan, and even wrote a song about his idol.

As a kid in Bulgaria, John was his only gay role model and was a source of support for him. He didn’t have it easy as a gay kid in Bulgaria.

“Having Elton John as somebody who I connect with musically and emotionally, but also on a queer level for me, was really helpful,” he said.

“Even if he doesn’t hear it (the song), I’m happy to have it and to sing it.”

He hopes that the Elton John song will be ready to be performed in Berkeley.

He says that things have gotten better for gay kids in Bulgaria. Nowadays schoolteachers are obliged to support kids who experience aggression directed toward them.

Extravagant

“Back then, forty years ago, they were not obliged to support you,” he said. “I had a difficult time as a kid, not as being gay, but as being extravagant. But for me it was the same thing. My queerness was coming out in the way I behaved, the way I dressed. I was not fitting any norms, and it was part of my queerness.

It was so difficult for them to accept it as normal so of course my environment was very aggressive towards me.

When I was twelve I went to a theater school where my extravagance and my strange way of reacting and expressing myself was found good and creative. It was tolerated and encouraged.”

These days, things are much easier for him because he’s well known. In Bulgaria he’s respected as an artist.

“I have beautiful love songs in Bulgarian that many people relate to, besides my weird songs about food and cock-sucking,” he said. “I am the

Ivo Dimchev

only Bulgarian who is openly HIVpositive. My HIV status is open, and I’m the only one who talks about this in the media. To the majority of the Bulgarian audience I am very, very out of the box. Being HIV-positive makes me even more strange, but thank God there are enough intelligent people who are okay with it.”

Most HIV-positive people in Bulgaria are fearful about coming out.

They think that being open about their status will cost them their careers or their personal lives. But Dimchev has no such concerns because he doesn’t consider himself a Bulgarian artist. His stage is global.

“I feel good about who I am,” he said.

“But it’s important for me to be accepted

by Bulgarian audiences because I’d like to educate them. I’d like to be an example of somebody who’s free, somebody who’s brave enough to cross boundaries and play with them and just be gay and be happy. I think they need this example and I don’t think I have something to lose by being honest about it. I don’t think I even have a choice.”t ‘Ivo Dimchev: Top Faves,’ July 5, 8pm, $15-$34, Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison St. Berkeley. 18+ www.thefreight.org www.ivodimchev.com

t

TV>>

June 29-July 5, 2023 • Bay Area Repor ter • 17

Glam, girls

The Lavender Tube on ‘And Just Like That,’ ‘Glamorous’ and more or a luscious frozen margarita and be dazzled. And just like that, your stress level dropped, right?

A good morning

Left: Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon and Sarah Jessica Parker in ‘And Just Like That…’

Middle: Ben J. Pierce and Kim Cattrall in ‘Glamorous’ Right: Zane Phillips in ‘Glamorous’

A

s Pride moves seamlessly into the Independence Day holiday and a coup is quelled in Russia, we’re looking for uplift as the days get hotter and the politics get more dicey. But we can also take a breath and relax with some queer TV.

‘Sex and the City’ sequel

<<

Make-up to break up

Did you want to see “The Devil Wears Prada” meets “Ugly Betty” meets “The Bold Type” as a queer series starring Kim Cattrall and a young gender nonconforming queer person?

Yes you did, kids. You just didn’t know it until you tuned in to Netflix’s “Glamorous.”

It’s everything you imagined it could/would be: fun, arch, painful, catty, queer, delightful. Yes, “Glamorous” brings joy and we need as much of that as we can find this summer.

Marco Mejia (Ben J. Pierce, YouTube breakout star Miss Benny) is an aspiring influencer who has to get a real job. Rather than get stuck in cubicle world, Marco looks for a better life at the make-up counter and ends up landing a job working for legendary makeup mogul Madolyn Addison (Kim Cattrall). From there Marco tries to revolutionize the fashion industry. Hilarity, romance and more ensue.

And yes, it’s as queer as that proverbial $3 bill we always heard about growing up, with Zane Phillips as Madolyn’s hunky son Chad, and Michael Hsu Rosen as the nerdy-but-nice Ben for a love triangle. Add out queer actor Ayesha Harris (“The L Word: Generation Q”), and Jade Payton and some fun queer cameos from Joel Kim Booster and drag star Monét X Change.

There are a lot of intersecting queer and trans storylines, which makes the series feel very fresh and Gen Z. Miss Benny is a delight and Cattrall is just fabulous.

Not for nothing, Netflix dropped all 10 episodes of “Glamorous” as HBO/

Personals Massage>> MEN TO MEN MASSAGE

I'm a Tall Latin Man. If you're looking, I'm the right guy for you. My rates are $90/hr & $130/90 min. My work hours: 10am-10pm everyday. 415- 5150594 Patrick, call or text.

See pics on ebar.com

sented b re

Thursdays in June Dates: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

A ‘Good Morning America’ proposal

5-7 PM

weekly pop-up drag shows

Sara Toby Moore

Schroeder's Latin Steakhouse

Nigella

06.01.2023

06.15.2023

06.08.2023

One Market Restaurant

From page 15

“It’s mad fun to create this kind of theater,” Moore said. “Mainly because I think it affords our actors/clowns license to be emotional acrobats while being wonderfully, wackily physical. This form is rooted in the craft of clowning while employing a traditional theater narrative that’s sprinkled with some really cool and interesting filmed elements and visual effects.”

The filmed elements come in the form of Sharon Gless, the actress best known for her long TV runs on “Cagney & Lacey” and the LGBT serial drama “Queer as Folk.” Gless play’s Moore’s therapist as an outrageously inappropriate character. Moore and Gless found each other because Gless is close friends with Moore’s co-producer Debbie Mosk. Gless wanted to be part of the project but was unable to do the run of the show due to other commitments. So Moore came up with the idea of filming Gless on video, which was done in 2019. Gless will appear during the show via faux Zoom.

“And as we all know she’s a fantastic actor and a pro on camera, so we have a great performance from her,” Moore said. “The trick for me is to get the timing right when responding to her because I’m live and she’s on video, so she just keeps going. I can’t miss any lines.”

MAX dropped “And Just Like That...” so there’s definitely some shade somewhere. Bask in it, delight in it, watch both shows with a really dirty martini

y

Season 2 of “And Just Like That...” the sequel to the HBO series “Sex and the City” is back, baby. If you needed the hot middle-aged women of summer to make you feel grounded, here they are, this time with a much hyped cameo appearance from Kim Cattrall’s Samantha. People pronounced the new season “Sexy, daring and sizzling.”

“You don’t move on because you’re ready to, you move on because you’ve outgrown who you used to be.” So says Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and we are catapulted back to our ’90s youth and our middle-aged present. It’s not terrible to feel all those things at once. Life comes at you hard between one’s 30s and one’s 50s and this series addresses that to varying degrees.

You’ll get to see Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) exploring her queer side we just knew she always had with Che (Sara Ramirez, whom we’ve loved since “Grey’s Anatomy”), who this time is less cipher than in season 1. And Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is a deeply invested helicopter mom.

Sarita Choudhury’s Seema Patel is a terrific addition, making the case for menopausal sex. Nicole Ari Parker as Lisa Todd Wexley is fabulous.

And a lot more. It’s not deep, it’s not heavy. It’s just as much as we can bear with 2024 bleating all around us.

But if you don’t expect too much, you will have a good time with some old friends you reconnected with at the Pride march.

“And Just Like That...” is about how we craft new beginnings, next chapters, finding joy when it feels like none exists. And all with these people we know so well they feel like old friends. It’s streaming now on whatever we’re calling HBO these days.

P

by Victoria A. Brownworth

ABC’s “Good Morning America” celebrated Pride Month with a live, surprise marriage proposal during the June 23 broadcast. “GMA” helped Gen Agosto propose to her partner, Ari Lopez, who thought she was on the show to participate in a quiz game for couples.

Agosto said she was “slightly” nervous, but guessed, “She’s going to start crying, and then I’m going to start crying, and then we’re all going to start crying…”

Lopez said, “I’m just surprised, honestly…” adding “This is fabulous!”

We love a love story! Watch at www. goodmorningamerica.comt

06.22.2023

Pagan Idol 06.29.2023

Preregister to receive Drag Me Downtown Fan and Feather Boa. Preregistration proceeds benefit Trans Thrive.

Fernando Gambaroni

Sharon Gless and Sara Toby Moore

Moore hopes that “Atomic Comic” will be seen as a queer show first and foremost.

“I’d love to have this production and future productions benefit LGBTQ teens and trans teens in particular, because I myself am non-binary and the show is all about resilience and humor as therapy,” they said. “I hope too that it can have some measure of universal appeal because it’s about overcoming trouble with humor and friendships.

This is a blisteringly funny show but also a heartfelt trip into the tunnel of

love. It’s 70 to 80 minutes of fun, high sensory theater that will give you an emotional workout and leave you smiling. Oh, and please support your local queer clowns.”t ‘Atomic Comic: A Human Cartoon Fantasia,’ June 30, July 1, July 6-8, $20-$55, Z Space, 450 Florida St. www.zspace.org

Read the full interview on www.ebar.com.

HOSTS MGM Grande

Bobby Friday

Bionka Simone

L E A R N M O R E AT D O W N T O W N S F . O R G

<< Pride & Film

18 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 29-July 5, 2023

t

SF Pride Photos by Steven Underhill

S

an Francisco’s annual LGBTQ Pride parade and Civic Center celebrations on June 25 also included a VIP party at the Asian Art Museum, and other festivities.

See plenty more photos on BARtab’s Facebook page, facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife. See more of Steven Underhill’s photos at StevenUnderhill.com.

Passion for Pasolini

by Brian Bromberger

W

hen people hear the name Pasolini, if they recognize it at all, it’s primarily due to two references: one, his brutal murder by a male prostitute (and perhaps a criminal syndicate group) or his later sex-laden films, especially “Salo: 120 Days of Sodom by Marquis de Sade,” which has been repeatedly named the most controversial film of all time. What has been overlooked or forgotten is that Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922-1975) was one of the defining public intellectuals, both artistically and politically, in mid-century.

With the resurgence of Fascism throughout the world, he seems more relevant. This mixture of ideologies and identities is celebrated in the release by Criterion Collection of the provocative, lyrical, and indelible films he made in the 1960s, in an exhaustive Blu-ray collection of nine movies, “Pasolini 101” ($199.96).

and “Medea,” but especially in what became known as The Trilogy of Life, which included his take on the lusty tales of “The Decameron,” “The Canterbury Tales,” and “The Arabian Nights.”

Each film challenged modern consumer culture, but also celebrated the sensual human body, while attacking contemporary erotic and religious mores and hypocrisy though his use of scatological humor and a “roughhewn” sexuality that was carnal, provocative, leaving behind modern standards of decency.

Criterion Collection rereleases nine classic films

This inquiry into contemporary social and sexual dynamics reached its apotheosis in his final film “Salo,” a depraved, nauseating masterpiece where he transposed the Marquis de Sade’s eighteenth-century opus of torture and sexual degradation to Fascist Italy in 1944.

“Pasolini 101” covers mostly the first phase, though “Oedipus” and “Medea” included, encompass elements of both careers. Years ago, Criterion released The Trilogy of Life and “Salo” as separate DVDs.

Second neorealism

Pasolini’s filmmaking encompasses two phases. The first phase can be termed a second neorealism, building off the first neorealism that began after the end of World War II, characterized by films such as Vittorio De Sico’s “Bicycle Thief,” Roberto Rosselini’s “Open City,” and Visconti’s “Obsession,” which often used nonprofessional actors and explored the conditions of the poor and lower working class. Pasolini extended his cinematic study of the marginalized to pimps, prostitutes, thieves, and gangs.

In his second phase, he studied myth and fable in such films as “Oedipus”

“Pasolini 101” Pier Paolo Pasonlini on a film set

The films

Criterion deserves praise for collecting all Pasolini’s early films, beginning with one of cinema’s stunning debuts “Accattone (1961),” the nickname of a pimp as his protagonist in a hardscrabble slum, which also shocked Italian audiences with its use of street vernacular and rough Roman dialect.

The set comes with a 95-page booklet that includes an essay by Pasolini, “Why Cinema?” plus some of his short writings and drawings as well as an introduction to Pasolini, “The Elegiac

Heart: Pier Pasolini, Filmmaker,” by art critic James Quandt. Quandt also provides notes for each of the nine films.

There are new 4K digital restorations of seven films and 2K digital restorations of “Teorama” and “Medea.”

These films, even with their grainy textures, have never looked better.

“Mamma Roma” (1962) stars the inimitable, immortal Anna Magnani in one of her greatest roles, as a former prostitute trying to start a fresh life in a new apartment with her teenage son.

But the criminal underworld slowly sucks her back into her past habits, leading to a tragic ending.

“Love Meetings” (1964) is considered the first Italian cinema verité.

It’s a documentary with Pasolini as interviewer asking a cross-section of Italian society questions on virginity, prostitution, homosexuality, and sex education.

“The Gospel According to Matthew” (1964) is atheist Pasolini’s life of Christ in which most of the actors are nonprofessionals and peasants. Combining neorealism with reverence and simplicity, by critical consensus, it’s considered the greatest film ever made about Jesus.

“The Hawks and the Sparrows,” (1966) Pasolini’s favorite of his films, is a comedy about Toto and his son Ninetto who roam the countryside of Rome witnessing birth and death.

They encounter a talking crow who symbolically represents poverty and class conflict.

“Oedipus Rex” (1967) is a faithful adaptation of Sophocle’s Greek tragSee page 19 >>

t

Books>>

June 29-July 5, 2023 • Bay Area Repor ter • 19

Author Jonathan Harper on belonging

by Gregg Shapiro

sider has more to do with his passivity and his reluctance to make hard decisions. Depending on how you perceive him, he’s naïve, coy, immature, and possibly manipulative. He’s not very good at saying what he wants and can be quick to blame. This is something other characters pick up on.

J

onathan Harper is good at luring and lulling readers. In his debut novel “You Don’t Belong Here” (Lethe, 2023), the queer writer sets the stage with protagonist Morris, a bisexual writer from the DC area, finishing up his residency at the Manderlay Colony. As with many of these kinds of venues, Manderlay is in a small (unnamed) town, which often makes for a good place to create without the distractions of a metropolitan location. But things don’t go as planned for Morris. On what he thinks will be his last night out, he encounters Henry, a significant presence from his past who, like Morris, can’t seem to find his way home. “You Don’t Belong Here” unfolds like a cross between Martin Scorcese’s “After Hours” and Ira Levin’s “The Stepford Wives” and will keep you guessing until the last page.

Gregg Shapiro: Jonathan, your first book “Daydreamers” came out in 2015. Looking back on it, how would you describe the experience?

Jonathan Harper: Egads! It’s hard to believe that was eight years ago. The whole experience was such a whirlwind. I had been working on those stories for years, thinking no one would ever publish them and then one day, I’m holding my book in a state of disbelief. There was a lot of anxiety and imposter syndrome, but there was also a lot of joy and excitement.

I did a few readings and each time I was just taken aback by how many friends and loved ones showed up to support me. There were a few times when someone reached out to me because they had read “Daydreamers” and wanted to share their thoughts. I kept thinking, what a beautiful way to connect with others.

One thing I learned from publishing “Daydreamers” was the importance of being grateful. The publishing world is competitive and no matter how hard you work, nothing is guar-

<<

Pasolini

From page 18

edy, which Pasolini considered his most autobiographical film, based on his military fascist father and teacher mother.

“Teorema” (1968) stars Terence Stamp as a mysterious stranger (angel?devil?) who one by one seduces all the members of a wealthy Milanese family, causing an existential crisis in each of their lives, ending in primal rage and despair. This ribald allegory on the Second Coming was denounced by the Catholic Church as degeneracy and the state as obscene.

“Porcile” (1969), translated as ‘pig sty’ in English, are two parallel allegories about destruction. The first one takes place in medieval times with a young guy wandering around a volcanic landscape. He becomes a cannibal, joins a violent gang, then is executed. The second story revolves around a 1960s German industrialist and his young son. The industrialist is involved in a rivalry with another industrialist, while his son gets involved with pigs and is eaten by them.

Pasolini is attempting to link Nazi Germany with the German “Economic Miracle” of the 1960s.

Finally, “Medea” (1969) is a love song to the famed Greek-American soprano Maria Callas (who doesn’t sing here) in her only film role in Pa-

Gordon Phelps

Author Jonathan Harper

anteed. If I’m lucky enough to continue publishing, I need to appreciate the moment as well as the people who make this possible.

“You Don’t Belong Here” pulses with a subtle sense of dread. How much of it was written during pandemic?

I completed several drafts before 2020, so the core of the novel was done, and I was wading through the editing phase. And then the pandemic hit and everything just stopped. For that first year, I was trapped inside my house feeling like the outside world was slowly ending. I could barely look at the manuscript.

By the time I regained focus, I did see some parallels between what we were experiencing with COVID and “You Don’t Belong Here.” Just as we were trapped in our homes, the novel was about people who were metaphorically trapped in this little town. Not all of us survived the pandemic; not everyone escaped the town. I’m sure this did have an effect on the prose.

Morris is someone who doesn’t necessarily fit in, something of which he is aware as early as the second chapter when, perhaps because he’s bisexual, comments about a visit to gay club Badlands solini’s haunting adaptation of Euripides’ tragedy about a woman rejected by her husband, who takes vengeance on her children. Callas, who is generally considered the foremost actress among opera singers, is transcendent here in what is reckoned the best performance in any Pasolini film. She’s aided by the ravishing visual imagery, shot in Turkey and Syria.

As usual, the cornucopia of extras on this Criterion release are outstanding, including two shorts (“La ricotta,” “The Sequence of the Paper Flower”) and two documentaries about his travels, all made by Pasolini.

There’s a riveting 1966 Italian documentar y on Pasolini’s life and career, with some narration

by Pasolini as well as archival interviews.

Also supplemented is a perceptive program on Pasolini’s visual style as told through his personal writing, narrated by actor Tilda Swinton and writer Rachel Kushner, as he reflects on the meaning of cinema in his life.

“Pasolini 101” makes a strong case that Pasolini’s impact on cinema as resistance was and remains far-reaching, and his anti-establishment quest to find truth and his profound alienation from the world speaks to us today as loudly as it did in 1966.t ‘Pasolini 101’ 9 discs, Blu-Ray $199.96 www.criterion.com

in DC that “this place is not for you.” Am I on the right track about Morris?

Maybe. I agree that Morris is a person who struggles to fit in, especially when he’s outside of his comfort zone.

But it’s not connected to his bisexuality.

He’s actually very comfortable with his queerness. What makes Morris an out-

Morris and Henry were two close friends whose friendship ended but are reunited unexpectedly years later. Have you ever had a similar experience, and if so, was that a source of inspiration for the book?

Well, maybe? I’m very sentimental about friendship, probably because I grew up in a military family and we moved every other year. My childhood was in constant transition, constantly leaving people and places. So, as an adult, I crave stability. I have a loving husband and this amazing network of long-time friends. Trust me, I’m not trying to jeopardize any of that.

That being said, there is that one “bad friendship” that comes to mind.

Similar to Morris and Henry, it was an important friendship that ended rather abruptly. The details of the falling out have faded over time, but I still remember the intense feeling of grief that festered for years after.

He was in all of these photos and memories and there was never any chance for reconciling or at least getting closure. For a while, I would fantasize about running into him again and I knew by heart everything I would say to him.

And then it happened. I walked by him on the streets in DC and he looked right at me and just pretended I wasn’t there. This didn’t inspire the book, but it’s something I thought about while writing it.t Jonathan Harper’s “You Don’t Belong Here,” $15. Lethe Press www.lethepressbooks.com www.thejonathan-harper.com

Read the full interview at www.ebar.com.

MARIN COUNTY FERIA DEL FAIR CONDADO DE MARÍN June 30-July 4

30 de junio-4 de julio

Be proud and join the crowd for Out at the Fair on July 2nd!

Sport your pride colors all day at the Fair, join the Out at the Fair team for special programming throughout the day, ride the rides, and stay for self-proclaimed ‘original drag queen’ Patti LaBelle on the Island Stage at 7:30pm followed by fireworks over the Lagoon.

FREE CONCERTS Blue Öyster Cult June 30 Exposé July 1 Patti LaBelle July 2 Stephen Marley July 3 Melissa Etheridge July 4 MarinFair.org

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Sunday, July 16, 2023.

THERE'S STILL TIME TO GET INVOLVED! Join as an Individual or Start a Team

Put the fun in fundraising by walking with a team!

We encourage any company, family, or community group to start their own team. There is no registration fee or fundraising minimum, so bring everyone you know!

Become a Sponsor The Walk would not be possible without the support of our generous sponsors and we are always looking for new partnerships with organizations who share our mission. To find out more about becoming a sponsor and what benefits your company could receive, visit sf.aidswalk.net.

Volunteer Are you or your group looking to make a difference by donating your time? Volunteering may be the right choice for you! There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer both before and on the day of the Walk.

Donate

Proceeds from AIDS Walk San Francisco benefit diverse HIV/AIDS organizations throughout the Bay Area, each delivering essential programs to the community. We appreciate donations made at any level!

You may donate online at sf.aidswalk.net/donate or mail checks to P.O. Box 193502, San Francisco, CA 94119-3502

sf.aidswalk.net | DONATE NOW | 415.615.9255 (WALK) Presenting Sponsor

Premier Sponsor

Grand Sponsor

Principal Sponsors

Event Sponsors

Seyfarth Shaw LLP A Black Tie Affair Evoke amfAR

Co-Chair Sponsor

AvidBank