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Vol. 47 • No. 18 • May 4-10, 2017

Tech sector Changes come to St. Mary’s HIV clinic hostile to LGBT workers, T says study by Seth Hemmelgarn

by Sari Staver

eople who identify as LGBT are more likely than other underrepresented groups to leave jobs in technology because they experienced bullying and hostility. Sari Staver That was one Kapor Center for of the conclusions Social Justice Co-Chair of a new first-of- Freada Kapor Klein its-kind national study analyzing the reasons why people voluntarily left their tech sector jobs. Sponsored by the Oakland-based Kapor Center for Social Justice, the “Tech Leavers Study,” released April 27, surveyed a representative sample of more than 2,000 U.S. adults who have left a job in a technology-related industry or function within the last three years. “People may think of Silicon Valley as a generally progressive place, but unexamined bigotry can still be pervasive,” study lead author Allison Scott, Ph.D., the chief research officer at the Kapor Center, told the Bay Area Reporter in an emailed reply. “The fact that LGBTQ tech employees report workplace bullying and humiliation at these rates confirms and quantifies the ugly anecdotes that we’ve been hearing.” The study found that bullying and hostility affected all groups, but LGBTQ employees were affected most acutely, with 25 percent citing “rude and condescending behavior” and 24 percent saying they were publicly humiliated or embarrassed. For LGBTQ employees, being bullied was the strongest predictor of quitting due to unfairness, with 64 percent telling the researchers the experience contributed to their decision to leave their jobs. The 27-page study found that workplace culture drives turnover, significantly affecting the retention of underrepresented groups and costing the industry more than $16 billion a year. “Bullying and harassing LGBT people at work isn’t just wrong – it’s bad for business,” stated Selisse Berry, founder and CEO of Out and Equal Workplace Advocates, in response to the study’s findings. “The Tech Leavers Study proves what our country’s largest corporations already know, that creating an inclusive culture allows companies to attract top talent, innovate, and makes our entire economy stronger.” Overall, the study found that nearly 40 percent of employees surveyed indicated that unfairness or mistreatment played a major See page 13 >>

he HIV clinic at San Francisco’s St. Mary’s Hospital is seeing some changes as several staff members depart. At least one patient of the HIV clinic within the hospital’s Sister Mary Philippa Outpatient Health Clinic, located at 2235 Hayes Street in the Haight, has raised questions about its future operations due to the staffing changes. Yet hospital spokespeople insist it will remain open and treat patients. In an April 26 Facebook post, local gay event promoter Marc Huestis, who’s living with HIV, said, “Yesterday was a SAD day. The HIV Clinic at St. Mary’s where I get my primary care is now closing. … I have been a patient there since 1992. During that scary plague period finding this clinic, after finishing an AZT trail, was a godsend.” Huestis claimed that the clinic has diminished over time as its funding was often in doubt. “I have had several doctors, all excellent, and in its heyday the office was filled with HIV folks from all strata of society who benefited from the services. In the last several years as it became clear that the funding for the clinic was constantly in jeopardy, the offices became a shell of what they once were,” he wrote. “It became harder for the facility to function as is, and my doctor made the decision to retire.”

Rick Gerharter

The staffing at the HIV clinic at San Francisco’s St. Mary’s Hospital will change later this month.

Despite Huestis’ concerns, though, hospital spokespeople said the clinic isn’t closing. In response to the Bay Area Reporter’s emailed questions, Felicity Simmons, a spokeswoman for Dignity Health, which runs St. Mary’s, said patients could continue to be seen at the clinic despite two of the clinic’s physicians planned retirements at the end of May. “HIV patients at the clinic will be seen by physicians who are senior medical residents,

supervised by a physician specializing in internal medicine,” Simmons told the B.A.R. In a phone interview, Huestis, 62, said he first heard about what was happening “about two months” ago when his doctor called him to tell him she was leaving. He said he’s “always loved St. Mary’s,” but the general medicine practice there “is not my cup of tea.” See page 14 >>

Pride center reaches out to Stockton area youth

by Seth Hemmelgarn

n a recent Friday afternoon, a group of teenagers sat around a table at the San Joaquin Pride Center in downtown Stockton discussing where they were going to college, ideas for social activities at the center, and drag. Listening to a group of LGBT youth,

some of whom are still in their mid-teens, confidently discussing their sexuality and their futures may seem unlikely to happen in Stockton, a city with around 300,000 people that’s about two hours east of San Francisco in California’s Central Valley. The region is best known for agriculture, and LGBTs in the region are scattered. Blair Eversley, 21, who’s gay and grew up

in Stockton, experienced bullying in high school and abuse at home. Speaking to the Bay Area Reporter earlier in the day, he said it was “really, really hard for me to come out,” but when he was introduced to the center, people shared their coming out stories with him and made him comfortable. Nicholas Hatten, the center’s executive See page 13 >> Seth Hemmelgarn

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YOU MATTER AND SO DOES YOUR HEALTH

That’s why starting and staying on HIV-1 treatment is so important.

What is DESCOVY®?

What are the other possible side effects of DESCOVY?

DESCOVY is a prescription medicine that is used together with other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years and older. DESCOVY is not for use to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. DESCOVY combines 2 medicines into 1 pill taken once a day. Because DESCOVY by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1, it must be used together with other HIV-1 medicines.

Serious side effects of DESCOVY may also include:

DESCOVY does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses, you must keep taking DESCOVY. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body ﬂuids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body ﬂuids on them. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about DESCOVY? DESCOVY may cause serious side effects: •

•

Buildup of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling very weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold (especially in your arms and legs), feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat. Serious liver problems. The liver may become large and fatty. Symptoms of liver problems include your skin or the white part of your eyes turning yellow (jaundice); dark “tea-colored” urine; light-colored bowel movements (stools); loss of appetite; nausea; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area. You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking DESCOVY for a long time. In some cases, lactic acidosis and serious liver problems have led to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions. Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. DESCOVY is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking DESCOVY, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking DESCOVY without ﬁrst talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.

•

Changes in body fat, which can happen in people taking HIV-1 medicines.

•

Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to ﬁght infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking DESCOVY.

•

Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking DESCOVY if you develop new or worse kidney problems.

•

Bone problems, such as bone pain, softening, or thinning, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones.

The most common side effect of DESCOVY is nausea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking DESCOVY? •

All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection.

•

All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Other medicines may affect how DESCOVY works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe to take DESCOVY with all of your other medicines.

•

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if DESCOVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking DESCOVY.

•

If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/ medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see Important Facts about DESCOVY, including important warnings, on the following page.

Ask your healthcare provider if an HIV-1 treatment that contains DESCOVY® is right for you.

IMPORTANT FACTS (des-KOH-vee)

This is only a brief summary of important information about DESCOVY® and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT DESCOVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF DESCOVY

DESCOVY may cause serious side eﬀects, including:

DESCOVY can cause serious side eﬀects, including:

• Buildup of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: feeling very weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold (especially in your arms and legs), feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

• Those in the “Most Important Information About DESCOVY” section.

• Severe liver problems, which in some cases can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark “tea-colored” urine; loss of appetite; light-colored bowel movements (stools); nausea; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area. • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. DESCOVY is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking DESCOVY. Do not stop taking DESCOVY without ﬁrst talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months. You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking DESCOVY or a similar medicine for a long time.

ABOUT DESCOVY • DESCOVY is a prescription medicine that is used together with other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age and older. DESCOVY is not for use to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. • DESCOVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others.

• Changes in body fat. • Changes in your immune system. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. • Bone problems. The most common side eﬀect of DESCOVY is nausea. These are not all the possible side eﬀects of DESCOVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking DESCOVY. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with DESCOVY.

BEFORE TAKING DESCOVY Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. • Have any other medical condition. • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. • Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with DESCOVY.

HOW TO TAKE DESCOVY

GET MORE INFORMATION

• DESCOVY is a one pill, once a day HIV-1 medicine that is taken with other HIV-1 medicines.

• This is only a brief summary of important information about DESCOVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

• Take DESCOVY with or without food.

• Go to DESCOVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit DESCOVY.com for program information.

DESCOVY, the DESCOVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2016 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. DVYC0021 11/16

DVYC0021_D_9-75x16_BayAreaReporter_Drew_p1.indd 3

4/5/17 9:34 AM

Community News>>

May 4-10, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

LGBTs join May Day immigration actions by David-Elijah Nahmod

GBT individuals, labor union members, and immigration rights activists took part in May Day actions in San Francisco to protest the immigration policies of President Donald Trump, who has called for an escalation in deportations and more restrictive visa policies for foreigners. Early in his first 100 days in office, Trump signed an executive order banning travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Federal judges have subsequently ruled that the policy is unconstitutional. Hundreds of people opposed to the Trump administration’s immigration actions gathered in front of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices in San Francisco’s Financial District early Monday morning, May 1. A much larger crowd, estimated at 3,000, showed up for an 11 a.m. rally at Justin Herman Plaza on the Embarcadero and then marched to Civic Center Plaza across from City Hall. Beto Martinez, 36, and Eric Bernacki, 32, a San Francisco gay couple, participated in the rally and march. In 2016 ICE agents raided the couple’s home early one morning and took Martinez, who is from Mexico City, into custody. Bernacki, at first, didn’t know where Martinez was taken and wasn’t able to communicate with him for four days. Eventually, the couple found an immigration attorney, and Martinez was released. “I’m marching for all those other families who are detained,” Bernacki told the Bay Area Reporter. “And also to spread awareness. It’s possible to resist and win your loved one’s freedom as I did. A lot of people feel helpless; they don’t know that help is out there.” Martinez’s case is now pending, with his next court date in 2018. The couple remains hopeful of seeing a favorable outcome. “I’m here for people who are in my situation,” Martinez said. “I want to show them how to be prepared and to be strong.” A number of people showed up at the ICE building holding up photographs of Trump and Vice President Mike Pence with the words “bad hombres” written across them. Trump has used the phrase to refer to Mexicans crossing the border illegally. “Now is the moment when we have to stand up for our brothers

Rick Gerharter

Beto Martinez, left, and his partner, Eric Bernacki, along with their dog, Rikki, participate in the May 1 Day Without Immigrants March on Market Street in San Francisco.

and sisters who are immigrants,” said Pete Woiwode, 34, the organizer of the ICE action who described himself as a white, heterosexual dude. “Today we’re showing that San Francisco won’t stand for these injustices. What we deserve and demand is a country where every family is valued and safe. We won’t stop fighting until that day comes.” Numerous protesters painted the words “No Ban, No Wall” in the intersection in front of the ICE building as other protesters blocked the exit gates, which are used to deport people via paddy wagon. The wall reference was to Trump’s call to build a fence the length of the border between the U.S. and Mexico. One of the people blocking the gate was Dalia Yedidia, whose mother is an immigrant from Columbia. Yedidia had come as part of a multi-racial coalition demanding sanctuary for all. “I’m standing in solidarity with immigrant communities and workers’ rights,” she said. “We’re not going to stop. We have the backs of all immigrants.” Also participating in the rally was Rafael Mandelman, a gay man who sits on the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees. He told the B.A.R. the protest was “very important” and that it was “great to see

organized labor out here defending all workers, documented or not.” Protesters chanted “the people united cannot be defeated” in both English and Spanish. There were a number of speakers who addressed the need to protect immigrant workers and to prevent families with immigrant members from being broken up. “We call for the protection of workers’ rights, sanctuary for all immigrants, and the investment of our tax dollars in social services for our communities, not a multi-billion dollar wall that will cause death and destruction on the border - and we will hold our government accountable to these values,” said Josué Argüelles of Young Workers United. There were more speakers at Justin Herman Plaza, where agents from the federal Department of Homeland Security stood guard at the Ferry Building across the street. The guards declined to answer the B.A.R.’s inquiry as to why they were needed, since there was a strong San Francisco police presence at both rallies. “California is leading the resistance,” said Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) from the podium. “We are here in dark days. May Day used to be a celebration. Today, it is a reminder that Trump is coming for our families.” Noting that he is working on state legislation to protect immigrants and workers, Chiu warned the president that, “if you want to deport our students and workers, you need to come through us.” The crowd cheered in approval. District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim also spoke, noting she is the daughter of immigrants. “My entire legislative team are immigrants. My office is closed today; my office is without immigrants today,” said Kim. “The work does not end today; the work did not begin with Trump.” In addition to taking part in rallies and protests such as the May Day events, Bernacki urged people to show up on Election Day and cast their ballot. “Show up to vote and show your voice,” he said, noting that the undocumented cannot vote. “Marching is how they are heard. I want to march with our fellow gay community, fellow Latinos and fellow immigrants.” t

CA safe injection bill takes next step by Liz Highleyman

bill that would allow supervised drug consumption facilities in California took another step forward, as the Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 4-3 on April 25 to advance the legislation. Supervised consumption facilities allow people to inject drugs under the watch of medical staff, reducing the risk of overdose deaths. The facilities provide clean syringes, preventing transmission of HIV and hepatitis B and C. They also reduce street-based drug use and improper syringe disposal, and offer clients an entry point for seeking medical care or addiction treatment. “This is a huge step toward establishing a more effective, treatmentfocused approach to drug addiction and abuse in California,” said lesbian Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton), who introduced the legislation, known as AB 186.

Rick Gerharter

Safe injection kits are ready to be handed out in San Francisco.

Eggman added that the Public Safety Committee’s input helped refine the bill, and its support “clearly demonstrates the legislature’s willingness to consider bold ideas to get people into treatment and counseling, to protect public health and safety and, most importantly, to save lives.” AB 186 would allow for exceptions to existing laws that make it a crime to possess controlled substances or drug paraphernalia, or to maintain a place for the purpose of

using or distributing drugs. It would allow a limited number of cities and counties to authorize the operation of supervised injection facilities on a pilot basis. The Assembly Health Committee previously voted in favor of AB 186 in March, becoming the first supervised consumption bill to win a legislative vote, according to Eggman. The bill will next go to the Assembly Appropriations Committee and then to the Assembly floor. “It’s great that this important public health and safety bill took another step forward,” gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who co-authored the bill with Eggman, told the Bay Area Reporter. “Having a safe space where people can inject will mean less injecting in public spaces, fewer needles on the ground, and more opportunities to get people into recovery programs. Our current situation isn’t working. See page 13 >>

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<< Open Forum

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 4-10, 2017

Volume 47, Number 18 May 4-10, 2017 www.ebar.com PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) Bob Ross, Founder (1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird ARTS EDITOR Roberto Friedman BARTAB EDITOR & EVENTS LISTINGS EDITOR Jim Provenzano ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko • Seth Hemmelgarn CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ray Aguilera • Tavo Amador • Race Bannon Erin Blackwell • Roger Brigham Brian Bromberger • Victoria A. Brownworth Brent Calderwood • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Belo Cipriani Richard Dodds • Michael Flanagan Jim Gladstone • David Guarino Liz Highleyman • Brandon Judell • John F. Karr Lisa Keen • Matthew Kennedy • Joshua Klipp David Lamble • Max Leger Michael McDonagh • David-Elijah Nahmod Michael Nugent • Paul Parish • Sean Piverger Lois Pearlman Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota Bob Roehr •Donna Sachet • Adam Sandel Khaled Sayed • Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Sari Staver • Jim Stewart Sean Timberlake • Andre Torrez • Ronn Vigh Charlie Wagner • Ed Walsh Cornelius Washington • Sura Wood ART DIRECTION Max Leger PRODUCTION/DESIGN Ernesto Sopprani PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Philomen Cleland • FBFE Rick Gerharter • Gareth Gooch Jose Guzman-Colon • Rudy K. Lawidjaja Georg Lester • Dan Lloyd • Jo-Lynn Otto Rich Stadtmiller • Steven Underhil Dallis Willard • Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Paul Berge • Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small Bogitini VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING Scott Wazlowski – 415.829.8937 NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

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BAY AREA REPORTER 44 Gough Street, Suite 204 San Francisco, CA 94103 415.861.5019 • www.ebar.com A division of BAR Media, Inc. © 2017 President: Michael M. Yamashita Chairman: Thomas E. Horn VP and CFO: Patrick G. Brown Secretary: Todd A. Vogt

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.

Time to ban conversion therapy nationwide

ow that the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively ruled that states can ban therapy practices that falsely claim to turn LGBT youth into heterosexuals, it is time for the harmful and homophobic counseling method to be banned nationwide. On May Day the federal court announced that it would not hear Welch v. Brown, a case that had challenged California’s move to outlaw conversion therapy on the grounds that it violates constitutional religious freedom protections. The law went into effect in 2014 after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld it. In 2012 state lawmakers had enacted Senate Bill 1172, which bars state-licensed mental health professionals from attempting to change the sexual orientation or gender expression of minors. A year later, New Jersey lawmakers passed a similar prohibition, which has also survived court challenges. According to the Movement Advancement Project, six states and the District of Columbia have now banned conversion therapy for minors through legislation. Last year New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced regulations that restrict the funding of conversion therapy. Medical and mental health associations have argued for years that claims that a person can be “turned straight” through counseling are unfounded, and in fact, pose serious dangers to LGBT individuals. As Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur stated this week in response to the end of the legal battle over the law his agency sponsored, “Homosexuality is not a condition that needs curing.” Zbur warned, “However, we do know that the practice of trying to change sexual orientation not only doesn’t work, but puts vulnerable LGBT young people at risk of depression, substance abuse, homelessness and suicide.”

Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles), the former state Senator who authored the California bill, is working to pass his Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2017 in Congress, which would ban conversion therapy across the country. But with both the House and Senate controlled by Republicans, Lieu’s legislation is likely dead on arrival. Thus, it is imperative that state lawmakers take action. MAP estimates that 76 percent of the country’s LGBT population lives in the 44 states that continue to allow the practice of conversion therapy for minors. It is past time that lawmakers in those statehouses ban the scientifically baseless practice. The U.S. District Court for Northern California could greatly help the effort by releasing the taped proceedings of the 2010 Proposition 8 trial. As

we reported online this week, KQED, San Francisco’s leading public television and radio station, has asked a federal judge to unseal the trial videotapes in the case that challenged the constitutionality of California’s voter-approved same-sex marriage ban. In his ruling striking down Prop 8, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, now retired, wrote that he was particularly moved by the witness testimony of Ryan Kendall, a gay man who spoke about the psychological damage he experienced as a survivor of conversion therapy. Shannon Minter, the legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which represented the plaintiffs in the Prop 8 trial, called Kendall’s court appearance one of the most important moments of the trial. We agree. Allowing the public to see, firsthand, Kendall’s videotaped testimony would be a powerful tool in bringing about the permanent end of conversion therapy. t

Project puts San Francisco’s pristine tap water at risk by Christopher L. Bowman

n the February 21 San Francisco Chronicle, Kurtis Alexander reported that San Francisco’s tap water would soon be getting a new ingredient - groundwater from the city’s Westside Aquifer. Fast-forward two months. On April 24, Jeff Gilman, manager for the city’s groundwater supply project, announced at a public forum that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission had just turned on the spigot a few days earlier. Today, more than 50 percent of the city served by the Sunset, Sutro, and Summit reservoirs is receiving a mixture of lower quality groundwater and pristine water from the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water and Power System. Currently, groundwater comprises only 1.25 percent of the mix, but by the end of 2020, groundwater will constitute 15 percent of the tap water distributed by the three reservoirs. Although the reservoirs where the blended water will be stored are located west of Twin Peaks, a number of neighborhoods on the eastside of the city are getting the groundwater mix. In District 8, the businesses, bars, restaurants, and residences on both sides of Castro Street will receive blended water, as will those located east of Twin Peaks and in Dolores Heights, Noe Valley, Glen Park, and part of Diamond Heights. (A map of which streets will receive the blended water supply can be found at http://sfwater.org/ index.aspx?page=1136.) Alexander, in his article, reported that nitrates, which “can make people ill when consumed in large quantities, have been detected in the (Westside) aquifer at levels exceeding the state EPA’s (maximum contamination level) standards. The compound is believed to have infiltrated (into the groundwater) from leaky sewage pipes and fertilizers.” According to a UC Davis study about nitrate in groundwater (http://groundwaternitrate.ucdavis.edu/files/139110.pdf), “Nitrate in drinking water, at high levels, causes ‘blue baby syndrome’ or methemoglobinemia. This is an acute illness that can occur in unborn infants and young children (under the age of six months). It leads to low blood oxygen levels and possibly suffocation. In adults, long-term exposure to high nitrate levels in drinking water is potentially also associated with thyroid dysfunction and cancer. . .” An information sheet on groundwater and nitrate (http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/ water_issues/programs/gama/docs/coc_nitrate.

pdf) created by the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Water Quality adds that, “Infants with (the symptoms of ‘blue baby syndrome’) need immediate medical care since the condition can lead to coma and eventual death. Pregnant women are susceptible to methemoglobinemia… (and) according to the EPA, long-term exposure to water with high nitrate levels may cause dieresis, increased starchy deposits, and hemorrhaging of the spleen. People with heart or lung diseases are more susceptible to the toxic effects of nitrates. . .” If Alexander’s story wasn’t alarming enough, three days later Tara Duggan wrote an article in the Chronicle headlined “Will new water affect San Francisco’s signature food and drink?” Duggan pointed out that there were concerns by “food and drink folks” that the groundwater’s higher levels of bi-carbonates, total dissolved solids, and water hardness would adversely affect the flavor of the city’s world famous craft coffees and beers, and the texture of bagels and bread. These back-to-back articles came as quite a shock to many members of the public who were unaware about the city’s under-the-radar groundwater supply project. Once they became aware of the project, many San Franciscans questioned why the SFPUC would spend $4.6 billion (paid for by trebling water rates) to retrofit and upgrade the Hetch Hetchy system so that San Francisco and our wholesale suburban customers would continue to receive a reliable and ample supply of pristine water (for which the city is renown) only to then spend $66,000,000 to degrade that water by adding contaminated groundwater. Others wondered why it was necessary to add groundwater to our water supply at this time as the

Sierras have received the highest snow pack since the 19th Century and Governor Brown has just declared that California’s years-long drought was over! Still others, including this author, who are long-term survivors of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, are alarmed about the excessive levels of nitrates, manganese, and other contaminants that have been repeatedly detected in test wells of our groundwater but that the groundwater to be blended with Hetch Hetchy water is undergoing only minimal treatment (for bacteria and viruses) and to maintain pH levels to prevent lead or copper poisoning. Parasites such as Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasmosis, and Giardia Lamblia, which continue to wreak havoc on people with suppressed immunities, can be effectively treated only through filtration or exposure to Ozone or UV radiation. Such techniques are used by the Hetch Hetchy system at its Tesla, Sunol Valley, and Harry Tracy water treatment facilities, but the groundwater entering our water supply will not undergo any such treatment. In response to public concerns and questions raised, Supervisor Norman Yee (District 7), called for a public hearing that will be held next month. The hope was that the SFPUC would refrain from turning on the spigot of its groundwater blending project until after the public and our elected representatives had had their say. Unfortunately, the SFPUC went ahead, anyway, hearing or no hearing. The hearing is tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 24, at City Hall before the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. Supervisor Hillary Ronen (D9) is the committee chair, while Supervisor Jeff Sheehy (D8), who is gay and HIV positive, is the committee vice chair and Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer (D1) is the third member. If you wish to have your voice heard, you can testify in person at the upcoming hearing, email your remarks to the committee, or email or call your district supervisor. t Christopher L. Bowman is a native San Franciscan, a voter in District 8, and a resident of the Twin Peaks neighborhood.

Politics>>

May 4-10, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Palm Springs could elect CA’s first trans city council person by Matthew S. Bajko

alm Springs planning commissioner Lisa Middleton, a former Bay Area resident, is vying to become California’s first transgender city council person. Middleton, 64, is one of seven people who have pulled papers to run for two council seats that will be on the ballot this November in the Riverside County city. She will be in San Francisco this weekend for a campaign fundraiser hosted by a slew of local LGBT leaders. “It is love of this city and the belief that I have the experience, the temperament, and the drive to be a very good city council person in Palm Springs,” said Middleton, who moved there with her wife, Cheryl O’Callaghan, in 2011. “This is just an incredibly special town to live in. Cheryl and I have never lived anywhere better. We’ve never had more friends and never been more involved in our community. I want to give back to Palm Springs.” The desert vacation town, long a mecca for gay retirees, elects its four city council seats citywide, and its elected mayor is the fifth vote on the body. The council’s two incumbents whose four-year terms are up this year, lesbian City Councilwoman Ginny Foat and City Councilman Chris Mills, who is straight, have yet to say if they will seek re-election. It is believed at least one of them will decide not to run, creating an open seat on the council, whose other three current members are all gay men. In an interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Middleton said her decision to seek a council seat would not change should both Foat and Mills decide to run for re-election. “I am running and I am very hopeful to receive the support of one or both of the current incumbents,” said Middleton, who in 2014 served as the Desert LGBT Center’s interim executive director and serves on the nonprofit’s board.

David A. Lee

Palm Springs council candidate Lisa Middleton

If she is elected, Middleton would make history as the first openly transgender person elected to a non-judicial office in California, according to Equality California. In April the statewide LGBT advocacy group early endorsed Middleton, who is treasurer of the board of the Equality California Institute. “Lisa Middleton is one of the most qualified candidates whom we have supported in a local race,” stated EQCA Executive Director Rick Zbur. “She is experienced, smart and a tireless builder of community through her work to improve quality of life for all Palm Springs residents. She has helped educate voters, make her city more environmentally sustainable and elect other LGBT candidates to city government.” A native Californian, having grown up in East Los Angeles, Middleton graduated from UCLA and received a master’s in public administration from the University of Southern California. She moved to San Francisco in 1994 when she was working for California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund. It was at that time that she transitioned from male to female.

In the late 1990s through 2000 she was a parishioner at Most Holy Redeemer, the LGBT church then located in the heart of the Castro district, and served on the San Francisco Human Rights Commission’s LGBT advisory committee. Between 2001 and 2004 Middleton served on the board of LyonMartin Women’s Health Services, the San Francisco-based health clinic for lesbians, bisexual women, and transgender individuals. During that time she and O’Callaghan moved to Belmont until relocating to San Diego in 2004 for work. Middleton has two adult children: John Middleton, who teaches High School in Ventura County, and Lauren Medlin, who teaches middle school in Inglewood. In 2010 she retired from her job with the state agency after 36 years. Yet she has not slowed down in retirement, chairing the Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs and serving on the Desert Horticulture Society’s board of directors in addition to her LGBT advocacy and city planning work. “No one who has ever run for office in Palm Springs knew more about the issues going into office than I will,” said Middleton. As a planning commissioner, she has called for sensible regulations on home vacation rentals and supported requiring homeowners to have at least four rentals during the summer offseason. Before capping the number of nights a house can be rented, Middleton wants to first see how the current regulations work out. In regards to a controversial downtown development plan approved by the planning commission, which later was the central focus of indictments against its developers and the city’s gay former mayor, Steve Pougnet, Middleton said she would not vote to approve it today. Instead, she would like to see a different proposal for the land that would tie into the nearby convention center. She applauded the city council’s See page 8 >>

Judge rules Berkeley murder defendant competent by Seth Hemmelgarn

judge has reinstated criminal proceedings against a nonbinary person who’s been charged with murder in the January stabbing death of one Berkeley woman and attempted murder in the stabbing of another. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Jon Rolefson said Monday that Pablo Gomez Jr., 22, had been found mentally competent. In February, Rolefson had appointed doctors to evaluate Gomez and suspended criminal proceedings against them. Gomez, of North Hollywood, California, is accused of killing Emilie Juliette Inman, 27, of Berkeley and trying to kill another woman January 6. Gomez also faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon and first-degree residential robbery. According to a Berkeley Police Department community alert, officers responded to an 11:42 a.m. call January 6 to the 2600 block of Ridge Road to make contact with a woman who’d apparently been stabbed and was “seriously wounded.” The woman survived. While they were investigating that incident, officers were led to a location in the 2400 block of Ashby

Courtesy Berkeley Police Dept.

Pablo Gomez Jr.

Avenue, where they found “a violent crime had occurred.” A probable cause statement filed by police says that “a significant amount of blood was found in certain parts” of the Ashby Avenue property. Gomez “was identified as the suspect and positively identified” by the first victim, said police. During a search of the property, and “pursuant to a search warrant, the deceased body of a female was located,” according to police. That woman was eventually identified as Inman. In charging documents filed by prosecutors, the same woman is

listed as the victim of the attempted murder and assault, while another person is listed as the victim of the robbery. Police in Burbank, California arrested Gomez January 7. Someone who’s “not super close” to Gomez told the Bay Area Reporter in a Facebook exchange that Gomez identifies as non-binary and uses third-person pronouns. In court Monday, Rolefson referred to the defendant as “Mr. Gomez.” Gomez, who’s declined an interview request from the B.A.R., hasn’t entered a plea and is being held without bail in Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California. Traffic backups stemming from a fatal crash Monday morning on Interstate 880 delayed court proceedings, and Gomez’s appearance was waived. Deputy Public Defender Bob Mertens declined to comment on the case after court, saying he was standing in for Deputy Public Defender George Arroyo, Gomez’s regular attorney. People in the viewing gallery there for the case also declined to comment. The next court date is May 18. t

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<< Queer Reading

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 4-10, 2017

Queer comics leave the closet behind

n the “Lumberjanes” comic books the action has literally moved beyond the proverbial gay closet and into the woods. The acclaimed series centers around a group of girls of various sexual orientations and gender identities at a Girl Scout-like camp who battle supernatural spirits. Launched in 2014 by Boom! Box, an imprint of Boom! Studios, the ongoing series has drawn high praise from critics and earned several awards. It has also been a platform for its creators to introduce young readers to different queer topics, from using the proper pronouns for someone who is genderqueer to portraying a family headed by a same-sex couple. “We wanted it to be something casual and easy for kids to understand and not make it a big to-do,” said Kat Leyh, a Chicago-based comics writer and artist who is a co-writer and cover artist for the “Lumberjanes” series. “It normalizes their pronouns and is good for kids to see.” “We really wanted queerness to be normal, that was nonnegotiable,” added “Lumberjanes” writer and co-creator Shannon Watters, who lives in Los Angeles and is an editor at Boom! Studios. “At camp among this group of friends, queerness is normalized. For kids that read that, it can be normalized for them too.” Just as LGBT movies and literature have largely left behind the trope of a main character struggling to accept being homosexual, so too have today’s queer comics creators moved beyond coming out storylines to tackle a far wider array of subject matter. That development was on full display at the recent Queers and Comics Conference held in San Francisco, where the “Lumberjanes” co-authors took part in a panel highlighting titles aimed at young adult readers. As the award-winning queer Canadian born artist and writer Mariko Tamaki pointed out during the panel discussion, there is no longer a need for a comic book to include a panel depicting a character crying as they come out. In some titles, there is only the briefest of mentions of a character’s sexual orientation or gender identity, noted Tamaki, as it is taken for granted that readers will be able to figure that out on their own. “I think it is the real revolution. We of queer comics we don’t have to address this character’s gayness. There are gay kids at camp and

you will just know it,” said Tamaki, who now lives in the Bay Area and is writing a new “Hulk” series for Marvel Comics and the mini-series “Supergirl: Being Super” for DC Comics. While she has no leeway when it comes to the sexual orientation of the main characters in those titles, Tamaki said she is able to pepper the stories with LGBT characters and purposefully makes them “the smartest ones” in the cast. “I always put a gay in there,” said Tamaki. “I am obsessed with the gay best friend.” And she also uses words in her comics that are often censored in mainstream publications, a practice gay fellow cartoonist Brian Andersen noted during their panel presentation about queer comics for children, as well as adult readers. “I like you saying ‘dyke’ in ‘Supergirl.’ It is so powerful,” said Andersen, who grew up in northern California and is the creator of the Mormon superheroes comic series “Stripling Warrior.”

Stories and readership diversify

Today’s queer comic titles are also drawing a more mainstream audience, said Justin Hall, 46, a gay San Francisco resident and cartoonist who edited the 2012 book “No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics.” “For their first couple of decades queer comics existed in their own solo universe from the rest of the comics world. They materialized in queer newspapers and were sold by queer publishers and sold by queer bookstores,” said Hall, an assistant professor of comics at the California College of the Arts, which hosted the queer comics conference last month. “They didn’t overlap with mainstream comics and were not published in non-queer newspapers. My generation was responsible for bringing the queer comics into the rest of the comics industry.” As an example, he pointed to how Alison Bechdel, the creator of the “Dykes to Watch Out For” comic strip, for decades was overlooked outside queer comics circles until the release in 2006 of her autobiographical graphic novel “Fun Home.” It went on to be turned into an award-winning Broadway musical. “Queer comics existed in this queer media ghetto. Now it has changed,” said Hall. “More and more comic book stores are selling queer material. Also, we have had queer characters and themes

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really making a mark in mainstream comics.” The internet and growth in social media platforms have also had a hand in bringing the work of queer comics authors to a larger audience. “There has been a massive, massive broadening out of queer comics on the web and with independent publishing,” noted Hall. San Francisco resident Tyler Cohen has been drawing comics “on and off ” since the late 1990s. Her latest work, “Primahood: Magenta,” is based on her experiences raising her daughter, who is now 11 and goes by the pseudonym Nene in the book, with her partner of 19 years, Raleigh Freeman. Cohen, who identifies as queer and bisexual, based the Mamapants character in her work on herself. “Having a kid was not a planned situation but embraced,” Cohen said. “It threw me into a much more heterosexual environment than I am used to being in. It was a very isolating experience, I have to say.” She turned to cartooning to work through the issues she was facing as a parent, as well as the experiences her daughter was encountering because she is of mixed race and Jewish. It is one example of how the topics queer cartoonists are tackling have advanced beyond coming out narratives. “There is an incredible breadth of voices and language in cartoons.

Political Notebook

From page 7

recent actions to regain ownership of the land. And should she be elected, Middleton would strive to return public confidence in the local government. “I think I was disappointed, and the indictments have been a great strain on the city of Palm Springs,” said Middleton. “And I am very proud of how this city council has responded to those indictments.” In terms of the historic nature of her council bid, Middleton is sure to receive national attention for her candidacy. But she doubts it will have much impact with the majority of voters come the fall. “In Palm Springs this race will be decided on local issues and on voters’ opinion of who is best to manage local affairs in Palm Springs,” she said. “Palm Springs takes incredible pride in being a progressive and welcoming community. I think Palm Springs takes pride in the work I have done.” Among the hosts of the Bay Area fundraiser for Middleton are Transgender Law Center Executive Director Kris Hayashi; gay Palm Springs City Councilman Geoff Kors and his husband, James Williamson, a Palm Springs

Kelly Sullivan

San Francisco resident Tyler Cohen explores parenthood and adolescence in her “Primahood” comics.

There are as many styles and languages as there are personalities and queernesses,” said Cohen. “I think that is really beautiful and powerful. The work has moved beyond the coming out story.” For Jennifer Camper, the creator of the biennial queer comics conference, what has been most satisfying is seeing the breadth of topics and genres queer cartoonists are tackling in their work. “What I am loving is that it is incredibly diverse. We find queer cartoonists working in every genre, from science fiction and fantasy to memoir to historical comics to political comics, humor, erotica, comics about health, and young adult

works as well,” said Camper, a dyke and freelance cartoonist who lives in Brooklyn, New York. While having queer cartoonists working on mainstream titles is a significant achievement, Camper said it is just as vital that queer comic books are embraced by all readers and find commercial success. “It is all important. That we have representation in mainstream comics, and it is also important to have queer cartoonists who push the boundaries in what can be done in comics,” said Camper. “There is really exciting new ways to create art with words and pictures in the independent world of comics.”t

school board member; National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell and her wife, Sandy Holmes; and gay former state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). The event, which is free to attend but donations starting at $50 are suggested, will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at Blush Wine Bar, located at 476 Castro Street. For more information about Middleton’s campaign, visit http://www. electlisamiddleton.com/.

is currently the vice chair of the state’s cell stem agency board. He is also on the board of the organ transplant foundation One Legacy based in Los Angeles. He is succeeding Tom Nolan, a gay man who long served on the SFMTA board. Torres joins the oversight panel as the city’s Muni bus and train service strains to handle its ridership and works to complete a subway extension to Chinatown and bring rapid bus routes to the Van Ness and Geary corridors. Torres is also expected to use his extensive political ties to help bring the state’s vilified high-speed rail project to the new $2.4 billion Transbay Transit Center San Francisco is building downtown. Without train service there, the city will be on the hook for millions of dollars to operate the megaproject, slated to open in December.t

Gay man joins SF transit board

Longtime Democratic Party stalwart Art Torres is now a member of the board that oversees the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency. At its meeting Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Mayor Ed Lee’s appointment of Torres to a seat on the transit oversight body. A former state assemblyman and senator, Torres led the California Democratic Party for 13 years. While it was widely known that he was gay, Torres did not come out publicly until after he stepped down in 2009. He formerly served on the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and

Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion, will return Monday, May 8. Keep abreast of the latest LGBT political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/politicalnotes. Got a tip on LGBT politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 8298836 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

Queer Reading>>

t Liberal values will ultimately prevail, author says by Brian Bromberger

Teixeira does see a need to redraw congressional districts or progressive leftists, with so Democrats can be more the Trump administracompetitive in some consertion issuing executive orders vative-leaning and moderate almost daily, the country areas of the nation. seems in a downward spiral, Another positive sign for especially with regard to imthe left has been the advancemigration policies, the travel ment of gender and sexual ban, intolerance to diversity, Author Ruy social equality and tolerance potential troop involvement Teixeira in the last 50 years, including in the bloody Syrian civil war, the advancement of women in the unraveling of former President higher education and the professions, Barack Obama’s global warming polithe dominance of anti-sexist views in cies, and a new Supreme Court justice public opinion, and the acceptance of many fear is anti-LGBT. LGBT people, including the institution In a February 27 Wall Street of same-sex marriage. Journal-NBC News poll, 63 percent “Actually I think there is less inof Democrats (at their weakest in deequality now in terms of civil rights cades) said they are “worried or pessithan there used to be,” he wrote. “Tremistic” about the future of the nation. mendous progress has been made even However, in a new book, “The Opif there is far to go. I’m sure some are timistic Leftist: Why the 21st Century alienated, but overall I think optimism Will Be Better Than You Think,” Ruy is justified by the record of the last 50 Teixeira, a political scientist and seyears. The progress in the last several nior fellow at the Center for American decades has been staggering; most of it Progress, writes that the good news is is irreversible in my view.” that the values and priorities of the Teixeira believes that left will eventually triumph and that Trump will somehow sucPresident Donald Trump’s populist cessfully re-litigate the role of movement, which could do some minorities, gays, and women. temporary damage, will fade. It’s “scary but absurd ... beTeixeira, 65, corresponded with the cause what he wished to do Bay Area Reporter in an email exchange is both massively unpopular about his book and the state of the and runs against the grain of country. A straight ally, he chided the legal precedent and instituleft for being too pessimistic. While protional norms,” he said. tests can be necessary and good, Teixeira Teixeira also said that it’s time for warned that fear and anger as long-term the left to see itself as the caretaker of goals usually lead to burnout. capitalism, with its job to reform it, “If you want to sustain a political rather than replace it, which would be movement over the long-term then close to impossible in the U.S. optimism is essential, otherwise peo“You want to tell people that you ple won’t believe in positive change understand their problems and have a and they will give up,” he wrote. plan to help make life better,” he said. Optimism mobilizes people, he Rejecting anti-growth ideologies added, inspiring them to envision and embracing material abundance something better and believe it’s actufor all, technological advancement ally possible to get there. Economic and pro-science, globalization, and facts support optimism. Americans environmental activism are ultitoday live in a freer, more democratic, mately winners for leftists, according less violent, and more prosperous to Teixeira. Senators Bernie Sanders world than they have previously. (I-Vermont) and Elizabeth Warren Demographics, which Teixeira (D-Massachusetts) promote many of started exploring in 2002 in his earthose progressive ideas. lier book, “The Emerging Democratic “I think some of Warren’s and SandMajority,” support a developing Demers’ views are being incorporated into ocratic majority, including immimainstream Democratic thinking; I grants, minorities, educated women, expect that to continue,” he wrote. LGBT people, and younger millenTeixeira noted that in the U.S. nials, (both college-educated and people combine “symbolic conservanon-college whites), and they should tism” (honoring tradition, distrusting remain pro-Democratic as they age. novelty) with “operational liberalism” White working-class and evan(wanting government to take more gelical voters, the core of Republican action in different areas, especially support, are both decreasing and will in welfare state programs, which the continue to do so, he noted. However, public overwhelmingly supports).

More prosperity, better health, longer life spans, better education, and more technological advances tend to favor the left, he stated. But Teixeira does observe that the left is more successful in good, rather than bad, times. “When the economy is expanding and living standards are steadily rising for most of the population, people see better opportunities for themselves and are more inclined toward social generosity, tolerance, and collective advance. The postwar boom, from 1945 to 1973, is the prime example of such a good time,” he wrote. Teixeira is also upbeat about the environment, saying that water and air in the U.S. are much cleaner than they were in the early 1970s. Trump may severely restrict environmental regulations, curtail the Environmental Protection Agency, and promote the coal industry, but getting rid of the Obamaera regulations could take years, as they will likely be challenged in court. Teixeira is optimistic that a green economy, long a cherished goal of the left, can stave off climate change. Abundant, cheap clean energy, chiefly wind and solar, are making incredible strides worldwide, he noted, with this renewable energy providing half of all new electric capacity around the world. “World investments in clean energy have reached levels that are double those for fossil fuels,” he wrote. “A reasonable aspiration for the left in advanced countries should be to make current upper-middle-class affluence a majority lifestyle in coming decades and to raise the rest of the population as close to that level as possible,” he wrote, assuming long-term economic growth and a reasonably fair distribution of the benefits from growth. “In this century it will be within our capabilities for virtually everyone to not only live longer, healthier lives, with their basic needs met, but also have considerable additional resources for consumption of the good things in life, including travel, recreation, and the various gadgets that make life more interesting and entertaining,” he wrote. Teixeira claimed that the Trumpian populism of today will ultimately have no more staying power than the agrarian populism of the 1880s and 1890s, which was fueled by declining demographic groups (farmers), the transition to a new economic era, and strong social advancement in the Progressive era of the early 20th century. For Teixeira,“the left won’t win every battle, but they will win the war.” t

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<<Community News

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 4-10, 2017

South Bay supes call for LGBT shelter by Seth Hemmelgarn

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anta Clara County supervisors are hoping to establish either a shelter for LGBTQ people or one that is welcoming specifically to homeless transgender youth. The idea derived from a recent series of hearings held by the county’s Board of Supervisors to discuss the needs of different communities in the South Bay. Following the November election of Republican President Donald Trump, who’s filled his administration with anti-LGBT people, the county held hearings to examine the impact on LGBTs, women, people of color, and immigrants. Different panels were assembled from the communities, and that included trans people. Supervisor Cindy Chavez said one issue that was “really powerful” for her was the “high number” of young people “who are kicked out of their homes when they come out.” The listening sessions highlighted for her that “if you’re transgender, there’s no safe shelter for you to be in,” Chavez said. Working with Board President Dave Cortese, Chavez said the lawmakers “put forward this request to have staff take a look at this and come back to us quickly to help us understand the very best way we can address it.” Lance Moore, who organizes the South Bay’s annual Transgender Day of Visibility event, told the Bay Area Reporter there is “a real need for a trans shelter” in Santa Clara County. “I know two trans men who need services, and have nowhere to go (perceiving a men’s shelter as inherently dangerous to someone who hasn’t had top surgery, as an example),” Moore wrote in an emailed reply. “Being trans adds a huge stress on top of the already frightening stress of having nowhere to go.” Gabrielle Antolovich, who’s president of San Jose’s Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center, said there is need for not just having a shelter, but for a “one-stop shopping place” that takes a “holistic approach” and offers assistance related to employment and other services. The DeFrank offers support groups and similar activities, but “We’re not a service organization, so we refer people to different services we know are LGBTQ friendly,” Antolovich said. “We do see the need for qualified people to work with people who are homeless, or on the verge of homelessness,” among others. What’s available now is “a piece here and a piece there,” said Antolovich, so the center is working to expand LGBTQ friendly services that are available.

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“I think that different service organizations have been given funding to be LGBT- specific and welcoming, and that is OK, but that’s not one-stop shopping,” she said. Prior to the board hearings, Chavez said she had believed the county was welcoming already to LGBTQ individuals. It has long funded LGBT services and two years ago created the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Affairs. “I was surprised that we were not welcoming enough,” said Chavez, adding that the county having “such a vulnerable population that doesn’t feel safe is a huge concern of mine, and I think of many in our community.” There’s no timeline yet for opening an LGBTQ shelter, but Chavez said, “I want to make sure we’re responding to the people who are the most vulnerable as quickly as we can.” The next step is for county staff to bring “some assessment” of possibilities to the board “in late May or early June,” she said. County staff will examine options that could include buying a house or working with an existing shelter. At this point it is unclear if the shelter would be welcoming to LGBTQs generally or trans-specific. County leaders will be engaging with the local LGBT community in order to make that determination, said Chavez. The community members would have the “say so in what the space looks like and what it feels like,” she said. It’s not known what the project would cost, or where such a site could be established. “That one is far in the future,” said Chavez, noting the answers would depend on whether the shelter went into a new space or one the county already owns. t

Trans Salvadorian activist up for humanitarian award by Heather Cassell

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Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez

ransgender activist Karla Avelar has become the first-ever Salvadoran, and first transgender woman, to be nominated for a prestigious international award sometimes called the “Nobel Prize for human rights.” Avelar is one of three nominees this year for the Martin Ennals Human Rights Award. The Martin Ennals Foundation choose Avelar due to her work defending LGBT rights, particularly transgender rights, in El Salvador despite the dangers.

“Karla has shown a great level of sacrifice and a creative approach to defending the human rights of the transgender community,” said Michael Khambatta, director of the foundation, after announcing the nominees, reported Telesur TV. El Salvador has the second-highest homicide rate in the world. Among those murdered are LGBT people, particularly transgender individuals, who are targets in the highly homophobic country. At least 600 people have been victims of hate crimes based on their See page 14 >>

Community News>>

May 4-10, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

Save green by growing a ganja garden

nterested in stretching you cannabis budget? Read on. You might be surprised how simple, easy, and inexpensive it is to start an outdoor cannabis garden at home. And it is really fun, at least it has been for me in the decade I’ve had a garden in my south-facing backyard in San Francisco. The timing is perfect right now, because in the Bay Area the optimal time to get clones (small cuttings) started in pots outdoors is mid-May through mid-June, said Erich Pearson, a cofounder of San Francisco’s SPARC dispensary. Pearson, also a member of the city’s cannabis legalization task force, has been growing cannabis in northern California since he moved here two decades ago. And, oh, in case you’re wondering, it’s all perfectly legal, assuming you have obtained a physician’s approval identifying you as a “patient” who uses cannabis to treat a medical condition. Depending on what county you live in, you can check the regulations about how many plants and/or how much space you’re allowed to devote to your garden at the California NORML website, canorml.org. Because of space constraints, this column will only focus on planting clones outdoors. There are many books written about gardening indoors (which is more complicated and expensive) as well as gardening outdoors with seeds (which should be started earlier in the year). For under $100, you can grow at least a couple of plants, which will be ready to harvest before Thanksgiving. With a

little luck, you’ll have holiday gifts for all your stoner friends (a list that will grow when acquaintances learn you are gardening), as well as plenty for yourself to enjoy and share until next year’s growing season. If you’re slightly ambitious, you can make homemade hashish as well as edibles. I’m no expert but I’ve had quite a bit of luck over the years, using clones from random sources, a soil mix specially made for cannabis and sold at Flowercraft Garden Company (550 Bayshore Boulevard or flowercraftgc. com), and a moderate amount of attention to watering and nutrients. Like everyone I know, I’ve had occasional insect infestations, which seem to disappear quickly with simple treatments. Last summer, I had a 16-foot Blue Dream plant in my yard, which I like to think was a result of my increasing knowledge about how to carefully tend to the needs of my “girls.” But it was probably random. So, where to begin? If you have a deck or yard that gets some sun, it’s worth trying to plant a garden, said Pearson, who is currently growing both indoors and outdoors to supply his two San Francisco-based dispensaries. Once you’ve located that sunny spot, the next step is finding strains of clones that you want to grow. If you’ve been buying cannabis at a dispensary for some time, you’ve probably found some favorite strains, or you might want to just experiment with whatever clones you find for sale. Unfortunately, for those living in the city, none of the dispensaries here are selling clones right now, at least

according to the two-dozen places I called. Pearson says selling clones is “a difficult business and a lot of work,” given the city’s regulation limiting a dispensary to having no more than 99 plants on site at any time. Regulations in Alameda County are more flexible, making it feasible for many dispensaries to stock the plants. The regulations may change in 2018, when new rules will govern both the medical and recreational sales of cannabis, including plants, Pearson noted. In Oakland, you can find clones at one of my all-time favorite dispensaries, Magnolia Wellness, 161 Adeline Street (magnoliawellness.org). Magnolia’s Executive Director Debby Goldsberry is an award-winning activist and the author of the upcoming “Idiot’s Guides: Starting and Running a Marijuana Business,” to be published in June and now available at Amazon.com. Goldsberry runs a tight ship, having several months ago returned Magnolia’s entire stock of clones and changing suppliers when staff discovered an insect infestation. At press time, the dispensary had 10 varieties available, priced from $10-14 each. She is emphatic about the importance of supplying clones to Magnolia’s members. “It’s empowering to take charge of your own medicine. We have many people who want to grow their own and know how it was handled, start to finish,” said Goldsberry. To support members who want to garden, Magnolia offers free classes on gardening. (Check its website for dates and times.) Another good source for clones is Harborside Health Center (shopharborside.com) with locations in

Trans led dance company debuts new season

by Sari Staver

he award-winning Sean Dorsey Dance kicks off its 2017 home season next week at Z Space with a world premier of short works and a sneak peek of the San Francisco-based company’s 2018 full-length show. The 60-minute show also features two musical guests, the Singing Bois, a “queer retro quartet that is part boy band and part rat pack,” and Amir Rabiyah, “a brilliant trans, queer, mixed-race poet,” said Sean Dorsey, 44, a transgender choreographer who was named in Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” In a phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Dorsey commented on the timeliness of his company’s new production, whose short works program is called “Boys Bite Back.” The longer production he has planned for next year is called “Boys In Trouble.” “At a time when the LGBTQ communities across the U.S. are dealing with the Trump administration, we are biting back with full-throttle dance, luscious queer partnering, and highly physical theater and storytelling about navigating queer and trans masculinity, trouble, and resistance,” he said. The new show, taking place Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13, is “in turns explosive, powerful, playful, vulnerable and sexy,” said Dorsey, adding that his goal with the short works is to “move audiences to examine their own assumptions and experiences of gender.” Performing the short works with Dorsey will be four other dancers - Brian Fisher, ArVejon Jones, Nol Simonse, and Will Woodward - with original music composed by Alex Kelly, Ben Kessler and Grey Reverend. Dorsey said he began the “creative process” to develop the new work more than a year ago. By presenting

Lydia Daniller

Sean Dorsey Dance will premiere its new works in May.

the short works now, “it gives me the opportunity to begin with short works that I then weave together,” he said. “I am looking forward to seeing how they work in front of a live audience. I won’t really know until the premier how it is working and what people are feeling.” He is “really thrilled” to feature the two special guests. The Singing Bois have performed several times at Dorsey’s annual production, the Fresh Meat Festival. They offer “gorgeous harmonies in a totally fantastic boy band way,” he said. Rabiyah, the second guest artist, is a “gifted storyteller and that really, really rare poet with a capital P,” said Dorsey. The dance company has sold out all of its recent performances in San Francisco, Dorsey said. “Despite the continuing glass ceiling facing trans and queer dance artists, we’ve been very blessed to be able to continue to grow and see the demand for our tour to skyrocket,” he said. Dorsey has many long-time followers in the Bay Area. Among his fans is Luis Gutierrez-Mock, a Latino transgender man who has been attending the dance company’s performances since 2002.

“After attending 15 years of Sean Dorsey’s performances, I feel that his work is still incredibly relevant and more important than ever,” Gutierrez-Mock wrote in an emailed reply. “I have witnessed my communities struggle to maintain arts spaces where we are able to celebrate our resilience. Sean Dorsey Dance continues to tell our stories and hold these spaces. His performances are deeply personal, well-researched, and continually prioritize the most marginalized of our communities.” Another fan, Annalise Ophelian, who identifies as queer, said in an email to the B.A.R. that she first saw Sean Dorsey Dance in 2007 and hasn’t missed a show since. “What amazes me about his work is how he takes modern dance, which is not always the most accessible art form, and blends it with oral history and storytelling to create these pieces that bring queer and trans life into center stage,” wrote Ophelian. “I’ve never left the theater after seeing his work without feeling transformed, really deeply moved. And I think it’s incredibly vital right now, as the city is changing so much, that artists like Sean and his company have such strong roots here, because he is telling our stories and preserving our histories in completely beautiful and innovative ways.” The new show will be performed at 8 p.m. May 12 at Z Space, 450 Florida Street at 17th Street. There will be two performances, at 4 and 8 p.m., May 13, with the latter a gala celebration. Tickets are priced on a sliding scale $15-30 and $20-$50 for the Saturday night gala. Advanced reservations are recommended, but there will be some tickets for sale at the door. For tickets and further information, visit the company’s website at seandorseydance.com. t

Oakland and San Jose. I’ve had excellent luck in the past shopping at their Oakland location, which has a separate room dedicated to clones. According to Harborside’s website, at press time the dispensary had 12 varieties for sale, priced from $14-30. If you do go to Harborside, the largest dispensary in the Bay Area, within a block is Oakland Garden Supply (1035 22nd Avenue or oaklandgardensupply.com), one of the few, or perhaps only, garden supply stores that specializes in supplies for growing cannabis. Owner Jesse Porter, who has been growing cannabis for over a decade, points out that the store is open seven days a week and the staff is happy to spend time with customers, offering advice about growing. In Marin, the Sausalito-based collective Caregiver Compassion Group will sell and deliver clones to patients who are members, according to copresident Berta Bollinger, who can be reached at (415) 289-1111. If travelling across the bridge or to the South Bay to get plants is just too much trouble, check Craigslist by searching for “clones” for sale. Most who advertise are NOT in the city and some require a minimum purchase, but if you’re persistent, I’m sure you can talk someone into making a deal with you. Once you get the clones home, I like to start mine in a small clay container, repot to a larger size as needed, and ideally, if you have a garden or yard, get them into the ground when they reach adolescence. “Cannabis is relatively easy to grow,” said SPARC’s Pearson. “Be sure to get a good rich soil, preferable organic. That will be the key to a good crop.” t

Photos by Sari Staver

Cannabis can easily be grown in Bay Area backyards. Bay Area Cannasseur runs the first Thursday of the month. To send column ideas or tips, email Sari Staver at sari@bayareacannasseur.com.

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12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 4-10, 2017

DISPLAY OBITUARIES & IN MEMORIAMS

Shut their mouths by Roger Brigham

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hen it comes to racial equality and social acceptance, the Boston Red Sox have always been slow in the trigger. It will be interesting to see if the Major League Baseball franchise has learned from its checkered past and will act decisively following Monday’s racial taunting of a visiting baseball player. Baltimore Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones said he was repeatedly taunted during the May 1 game at Fenway Park with racial slurs, most notably the unspeakable N-word, by Boston fans and had a bag of peanuts thrown at him. He said Fenway fans had abused him before, but this was one of the worst experiences of his career. “A disrespectful fan threw a bag of peanuts at me,” Jones said. “I was called the N-word a handful of times tonight. Thanks. Pretty awesome. It’s unfortunate that people need to resort to those type of epithets to degrade another human being. I’m trying to make a living for myself and for my family.” Red Sox officials said the fan who threw the peanuts was ejected from the game, but Jones said the team and stadium need to do more, calling the fan’s removal “pathetic.” “What they need to do is that instead of kicking them out of the stadium, they need to fine them 10 grand, 20 grand, 30 grand,” Jones said. “Something that really hurts somebody. Make them pay in full. And if they don’t, take it out of their check. That’s how you hurt somebody. You suspend them from the stadium, what does that mean? It’s a slap on the wrist. That guy needs to be confronted, and he needs to pay for what he’s done. At the end of the day, when you throw an object onto the field of play, the player has no idea what it is. What if something hit me right in the eye and I can’t play baseball anymore. Then what? I just wear it?” Before most fans are settled into their seats, public announcers tell fans what they should already know - that if they get into fights, interfere with play of the ball or run on the

Baltimore Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones

field, they will be ejected. All true. But then they say “abusive language will not be tolerated,” and I’ve heard enough homophobic, sexist and racist taunts in the stands to know that is not real. That is an alternative fact. Every section at every major league stadium I’ve ever been too has its own staffer on patrol, whose primary function seems to be to make sure people aren’t in the wrong seats, not whether fans are doing or saying the wrong things. Do they not hear the slurs? Are they deaf or indifferent to the meaning of those verbal assaults? Now, the Red Sox historically have not been at the forefront of racial acceptance. Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s unspoken but universally known color barrier when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 - six years before I was born. I was just shy of my sixth birthday when Elijah “Pumpsie” Green pinch ran for the Sox, making them the last major league team to integrate - having passed on previous opportunities to sign Robinson and Willie Mays. In his book “Summer of ‘49,” baseball author David Halberstam

compared racism in the Yankees and Red Sox organizations in those years by writing, “The top management of the Red Sox was mostly Irish, the most powerful group in Boston. They had established their own pecking order, which in essence regarded WASPs with respect and grudging admiration for being where they already were; Jews with both admiration and suspicion for being smart, perhaps a little too smart; and Italians by and large with disdain for being immigrants and Catholic and yet failing to be Irish. Blacks were well below the Italians.” Think Boston is a bastion of progressive social acceptance and justice? Think again. Let’s hope the Red Sox follow up with more than words of apology and promises of better behavior in the future. They haven’t worked in the past and there’s no reason to expect they will in the future. It is high time to crack down on irresponsible fan abuse, behavior and language. Fans who don’t know how to conduct themselves should have to undergo sensitivity training and provide community service before they are ever let back in the building or buy another bag of peanuts. As Buster Olney wrote on ESPN.com, “Why should Adam Jones listen to it? Why should any player, any fan have to listen to it without consequences, any more than they would tolerate some idiot running around the field for nine innings, or somebody throwing punches in the centerfield bleachers? If teams reinforce the language of the pregame warnings from the public address announcer, they can help embolden a silent majority - the tens of thousands of fans at each game who aren’t yelling racist crap at players and who can point out to security the one or two who manage to demean everybody by deploying the N-word. The stakes will be raised, the culture shifted.” t

Fundraiser nets record amount compiled by Matthew S. Bajko

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national LGBTQ day of charitable giving raised a record amount this year, reported the San Francisco-based organization that oversees it. The fifth annual Give OUT Day netted more than $718,000 for 300plus organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, according to Horizons Foundation. The LGBT philanthropic agency, which promotes charitable giving to numerous nonprofit causes in the Bay Area, said the 24-hour fundraiser held April 20 saw “a remarkable” 30 percent increase over last year’s fundraising total. “In the face of enormous challenges to LGBTQ rights, it is thrilling to watch Give OUT Day bring our community and allies together,” stated Roger Doughty, the foundation’s president. Participating agencies not only seek donations from supporters during the day but also compete to raise the most funds in various categories in order to receive cash prizes. Nearly $100,000 was handed out to winning organizations, including Southerners on New Ground, which netted $43,540 from 801 donors, and

Courtesy the Source LGBT-plus Center

Volunteers promote Visalia’s LGBT community center, the Source.

Equality Virginia, which received $22,011 from 685 donors. The Oakland-based Genders and Sexualities Alliance Network, or GSA Network for short, received $23,996 from 479 donors, while Freedom Oklahoma raised $18,232 from 322 donors. The Source LGBTplus Center, which opened last May in downtown Visalia in California’s Central Valley, was able to raise $17,435 from 288 donors. It placed second in the nation among agencies with

budgets under $100,000 and was awarded $5,000. “We were quite pleased,” said Nick Vargas, a co-founder of the LGBT community center, which recently doubled its space in order to provide additional services. Since its inception in 2013, Give OUT Day has raised nearly $4 million from more than 33,000 individual donors to benefit more than 500 different organizations across the country.

Tenderloin Museum marks 2nd year

To mark its second anniversary, the Tenderloin Museum is hosting a See page 14 >>

t <<

Community News>>

LGBT workers

From page 1

role in their decision to leave their company, and underrepresented men were most likely to leave due to unfairness. One in 10 women experienced unwanted sexual attention, according to the findings, while LGBT employees were most likely to be bullied and/or experience public humiliation. “If LGBT people are being bullied at work, they aren’t able to be as

Pride center

From page 1

director, said with that kind of experience with youth at the center, “I realized this is what they need more than anything. They need that peer support.” The center, which has been working for more than five years to create a safe space for LGBT youth and others, has received a boost in its efforts with a grant awarded by the state health department’s Office of Health Equity to launch its Cultivating Acceptance project. With the grant - $1.18 million over five years - the center aims to expand outreach efforts to youth and help them make their school campuses safer, educate parents, and increase cultural competency among mental health professionals, among other goals, said Hatten, who’s 42 and gay. The funding will help boost the center’s budget to $365,000 in the next fiscal year and enable the organization to hire an additional outreach director and other staff. It will also allow it to provide stipends for people who are earning their master’s in social work. In a news release announcing the grant awards for the center and other groups, Dr. Karen Smith, the lesbian director of the state’s health department, said, “The California Reducing Disparities Project recognizes that many of the promising mental health services in our most diverse communities need additional support in order to improve their effectiveness.”

Community center fills a need

Stockton’s LGBT community center, which is at 115 North Sutter Street, started out five years ago in a retail spot on the first floor of the Metro building, but it recently moved upstairs to a larger space. There’s a large, airy central room with hardwood floors and glittery drapes in the colors of the rainbow on one wall, small offices for counseling or meetings, and a library. Hatten said the center serves about 1,000 people a year, including its outreach to schools. He estimated 4,000 to 6,000 people attend the annual LGBT Pride festival the center organizes each August. (This year’s event will take place Saturday, August 26.) Even after spending just a few hours there, the need for the center seemed clear. Lisa Eberhardt, 20, and Rosemary Miranda, 19, stopped by to get a name change packet for a friend

Safe injection bill

From page 5

Let’s try this pilot and see if it works. If it doesn’t work, we can pivot away from it. But let’s at least try.” San Francisco organizations, including Project Inform, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Glide, and HealthRight 360, support the legislation and have lobbied for it at Assembly committee hearings. Dr. Andrew Desruisseau from HealthRight360 testified before the Public Safety Committee about the role

May 4-10, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 13

productive, creative, or connected to their role and their workplace,” stated Berry. “How can our country be on the leading edge of technology if we’re still functioning with a 1950s view of who is welcome in the workplace?” According to the study, close to 80 percent of employees reported experiencing some form of unfair behavior or treatment; women from all backgrounds experienced/observed significantly more unfairness than men; and unfairness was more pronounced in tech companies than non-tech companies.

Underrepresented men and women of color experienced stereotyping at twice the rate of white and Asian men and women, the study found, with 30 percent of underrepresented women of color passed over for promotion. Experiencing and observing unfairness was a significant predictor of leaving due to unfairness, and the more bullying experienced, the shorter the length of time that employees remained at their previous company, the study found. In its conclusions, the study

who’s transitioning from female to male. The friend, who’s 16, lives on the edge of Stockton and doesn’t have “the courage or support system to do it alone,” said Eberhardt, who identifies as pansexual and cisgender. Some LGBTs who grew up in Stockton, and then left, have returned to the city in order to help others. Hatten, who’s worked on campaigns for Democratic Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs and Congressman Jerry McNerney (DStockton), thought he needed to “get out of the Central Valley” to be his “true self.” He went away for a while, but he was inspired by the work of lesbian Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman (DStockton) to “come back here and make a difference.” Stockton native Lange Luntao, 26, graduated from Harvard University and was a Fulbright fellow in Malaysia in 2003. Like Hatten, he eventually decided to return home, where he is a teacher at Aspire Langston Hughes Academy, a college-preparatory public charter school. In November, Luntao won a seat on the Stockton Unified School District board. “I love this community a great deal,” said Luntao, who’s gay and often works with the Pride center. Growing up gay in the area, “there wasn’t much for me here,” he said. Back then he needed a place like the community center, which is “one of the only truly open and youthoriented spaces where kids feel safe to hang out in Stockton.” Even nonLGBTQ youth show up, he said.

“They were doing the smear the queer game,” said Lopez, 30. “… I didn’t understand why.” However, he said, the incident “kicked it into gear for me,” and he asked himself, “Do I look queer? Am I queer?” He had more struggles at home. His stepfather ridiculed him and ripped out one of his earrings. Lopez left after his mother made him choose between embracing his sexual orientation and living at home. Things have changed a lot since then. Lopez, who leads drag workshops for youth at the Pride center, frequently performs in drag as Helen Hills. His mother now volunteers at the center and appears with him and Helen Hills in a poster for the Madres Unidas (Mothers United) campaign, which the center designed to reach out to the Spanish speaking community. Eggman, the lesbian assemblywoman, is on the center’s advisory board. Its teen center is named for her and her wife, Renee Hall. The San Joaquin Pride Center “provides a safe space that I think the area has been in big need of,” said Eggman, who added she’s “very proud” of the organization’s work, especially its outreach to schools.

Field trips to the Bay Area

Along with the school district, the center organizes field trips where young people go to San Francisco. When Luntao, who’s lived in San Francisco, brings queer kids of color to the Castro district, they see things that many take for granted, he said. “My kids are so surprised to see queer couples holding hands walking down the street,” Luntao said. “It’s really empowering for them to see people out and proud.” Gil Ruiz, 16, said the trip to San Francisco “really brought me to come out.” He said he realized if he wanted to be himself, “I need to let it happen by coming out.” Jonathan Lopez, the center’s outreach director, has lived most of his life in Stockton and knows what it’s like to be an LGBT youth there. When he was 16, Lopez was beat up by a group of boys for being gay before he even realized that’s what he was.

supervised consumption facilities can play in linking people who inject drugs to addiction treatment.

Among the first in U.S.

There are currently around 100 safe injection sites in countries around the world, including Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Australia. Vancouver’s Insite - the first North American facility - served more than 6,500 clients in 2015 and has intervened in approximately 5,000 overdose incidents, resulting in zero deaths, since it

authors said that the “silver lining” in their findings is that companies “can take proactive steps to improve workplace culture and retain talent.” They found that nearly two-thirds of tech leavers indicated that they would have stayed if their employer fixed its culture. The study represents the “culmination of decades of experience” of the surveyed workers, said Freada Kapor Klein, Ph.D., a co-author of the study and co-chair of the center. “For many years, we were unable to get anyone’s attention to the issues

Photos by Seth Hemmelgarn

Nicholas Hatten, top right, the San Joaquin Pride Center’s executive director, speaks with Jefferson Leiva and Susan Diohep at the LGBT agency in downtown Stockton. Stockton resident Jonathan Lopez, right, is the Pride center’s outreach director.

Lopez said the center “sends off a radar effect” through the city with the message: “LGBT people matter.” Referring to the homophobia and bigotry of President Donald Trump’s administration, Lopez said, “We are surrounded by all that. Ten minutes outside Stockton is farmland. You’re in hickland.” Stockton’s gay nightlife is “nonexistent,” he added. Paradise, where he does drag shows, is the only gay bar. Josh Pogue, 15, who wore a blue Seattle T-shirt with a rainbow on it, suggested to another teen at the center recently that they should be grateful to live in Stockton. “Lodi is boring,” said Pogue, referring to the small nearby city where he lives. “We don’t have anything. You have a mall. We don’t.” James Patnaude, 18, who lives in the even smaller town of French Camp, pointed out to Pogue, “You have a Wal-Mart. We have a gas station I have to walk three miles to.” In a conversation earlier with the B.A.R., Patnaude, who identifies as transgender and queer, said that growing up, “I was so in denial about myself. … I attempted to cut off every masculine part of myself.” Patnaude said he didn’t even know the term transgender existed until he helped start a gay-straight alliance his junior year of high school.

“Before that, I identified as a straight female,” he said. A volunteer at the center, Patnaude said it’s “given me more resources than I thought I would ever have access to.” Services include a transgender peer support group, which typically draws five or more people. In the area’s schools the experiences of LGBT students vary from town to town. Susan Diohep, 52, is a teacher and GSA adviser at Stockton’s Stagg High School, where Jefferson Leiva, 18, is a senior and the GSA’s treasurer. Last year, when the alliance started, there was “a real surge of interest,” with upwards of 40 students at each meeting, Diohep said. It’s died down since then, but Leiva said that Stagg, which has about 1,300 students, “is a very accepting, diverse community. Nobody is really up into each other’s business.” Margaret “Mags” Baker, 52, of Lodi, talked about what happened last May when her transgender son, Colin, graduated from Lodi High School. “They put his old name on the program,” even after school officials had “promised it was going to be his real name,” said Baker. An academic award Colin received also included his “dead name,” she said, referring to the name Colin

opened in 2003. Drug overdose is a leading cause of accidental death in California and nationwide. In 2014 there were more than 47,000 fatal overdoses in the U.S. - more than the number of deaths in motor vehicle accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. San Francisco is among several U.S. cities moving forward on supervised injection facilities, including Baltimore, Boston, New York City, and Seattle. Earlier this year the Board of Health in King County,

Washington, which includes Seattle, voted to approve two facilities that are expected to open within a year. As the B.A.R. reported in February, San Francisco Board of Supervisors President London Breed called for the creation of a city task force to discuss the issue. The task force is expected to begin meeting in May, according to Laura Thomas of the Drug Policy Alliance, which supports supervised consumption facilities. Recent research showed that a supervised injection facility similar to Insite in San Francisco

Providing a ‘radar effect’

of diversity. This report is incredibly timely and important because if we don’t accurately diagnosis the problems, we won’t be able to craft effective solutions.” The study’s key finding, she said, is that the tech sector “has a huge problem with a culture of disrespect.” A full copy of the Kapor Center’s study can be downloaded at http:// www.kaporcenter.org/wp-content/ uploads/2017/04/KAPOR_TechLeavers-17-0428.pdf.t

was given at birth but no longer goes by. “We were both shaking, physically shaking,” Baker, who attended the ceremony with her daughter, Shannon, 17, said of their reaction at seeing Colin’s former name printed in the program. “Colin looks like a boy,” she added, and having his old name appear meant him being “outed to the entire stadium.” Shannon is bisexual, and Baker said in a Skype interview that when her children came out to her, “I was really terrified to even send them to school, but I’ve seen a change.” She’s not sure, though, whether that’s because “people are just being polite.” Colin didn’t want to be interviewed. Lodi High’s principal didn’t respond to emailed questions. It’s situations like the one experienced by the Baker family that the Pride center hopes its expanded programs can help address.t To learn more about the San Joaquin Pride Center and the programs it offers, visit www.sjpridecenter.org/.

could avert at least three new HIV infections and 19 cases of hepatitis C per year. “This is a significant victory and moves California closer to opening supervised consumption services,” Thomas told the B.A.R. “The San Francisco task force will give the city a bigger opportunity to talk about how these services could work here and what the benefits might be. It’s time to take supervised consumption services seriously as a part of our harm reduction approach to drugs and drug use.”t

<< Legals

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 4-10, 2017

News Briefs

From page 12

daylong celebration May 13. Along with free admission that Saturday starting at 10 a.m., the public is invited to attend a host of free programming later in the afternoon. Among the offerings will be the first-ever reading of scenes from a new play about the August 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria Riot by Mark Nassar, co-creator of “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding.” Patrons of the long closed eatery on the corner of Turk and Taylor streets are believed to have engaged in the first-ever anti-police riot by the LGBTQ community in the U.S. The reading will take place at 6 p.m. followed by drag performances by co-authors Donna Personna and Collette LeGrande, as well as Olivia Hart. The Tenderloin Museum is co-producing the play, which will premiere this fall in the Tenderloin, which for decades has been home for LGBT residents of San Francisco. Beginning at 4 p.m. will be two talks related to what life in the Tenderloin was like during the Summer

Tenderloin church hosts gender conference

Glide Memorial United Methodist Church is hosting the inaugural Gender Identity and Expression Summit this weekend. Over the course of three days, participants will explore issues related to transgender and gender-expansive people. The summit begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 5 with the showing of Jac Gares’ documentary “Free Cece” about Chrishaun Reed “CeCe” McDonald. The 2012 imprisonment of the African American transwoman, who fatally stabbed a man who had attacked her and her friends in Minneapolis the prior year, sparked national outrage that led to McDonald’s early release from prison.

Out in the World

From page 10

sexual orientation or gender identity in the country since 2004, according to Comunicado y Capacitando a Mujeres Trans, a group known by the Spanish acronym COMCAVIS, cofounded and directed by Avelar. As recent as April 23, Avelar was threatened by three people who told her to leave her town or she would be killed. She moved two days later. It wasn’t the first time she’s been threatened. In October 2016, a group of four men carjacked Avelar and demanded her cell phone and identification. The attack was followed in February by the murders of three transgender women in San Luis Talpa, a municipality in La Paz, roughly an hour south of San Salvador, the country’s capital city. Last month, Bianka Rodríguez of COMCAVIS told members of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington, D.C. that transgender people are often the targets of gangs and their own family members. She told IACHR members that several transgender women have fled El Salvador following the murders in San Luis Talpa. The threats on her life don’t deter Avelar. “Although today I am in danger, and sure that my struggle is risky, my eagerness for justice and equity motivates me,” said Avelar, reported the

of Love 50 years ago. At 7:30 p.m. the SF Recovery Theater will present a live jazz concert recalling the heydays of the neighborhood’s former Black Hawk jazz club. For more information, visit the museum’s website at http://www. tenderloinmuseum.org/.

HIV clinic

From page 1

In the past, said Huestis, care in that part of the hospital has involved being seen by a student and then by a doctor, and the two assessments could be “completely different.” “You never felt like there was a real clear path of where you were going, and you came out feeling worse then when you came in,” he said. The clinic supports over 200 patients and partners with community agencies. During the transition in staffing, the clinic can help people with referrals “to any appropriate specialty medical provider,” said Simmons, who noted there’s “an active dialog during each patient visit to discuss the planned transition.” Simmons added that the clinic’s ancillary staff would continue supporting patients, “including a social worker and case manager to work specifically with HIV patients.” In an emailed statement, John Allen, St. Mary’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer,

Alturi

Transgender Salvadorian activist Karla Avelar is nominated for the prestigious Martin Ennals Human Rights Award.

Washington Blade. “I will continue to push the state to accept reforms and legislation proposed by civil society to allow the LGBTI community to fully enjoy their human rights.” Avelar, who is HIV-positive, has taken great risks to stand up for El Salvador’s LGBT community. She was the first person to publicly speak about being HIV-positive to raise awareness about the disease and fight for adequate health care for the LGBT community. In 2013, Avelar became the first transgender woman to appear before the Inter-American Court of Human said the clinic’s model of care “is consistent with the trend we’re seeing in the community, and is a reflection of the remarkable strides made in the management of this chronic disease.” Huestis received a March 17 letter from hospital staff that said the clinic’s social worker had “resigned to relocate.” Dr. Toby Dyner and Bridget Stringer, who’s listed as a physician’s assistant, had announced that they’re leaving by the end of May. “In spite of these changes, we at St. Mary’s would like to continue to meet your medical needs,” the letter says. “… Safe and effective continuity of care is our primary focus and goal during this transition.” The letter also says, “The option of continuing at St. Mary’s in our clinic with a medical resident will also allow you to continue your specialty care,” at the site. Huestis pointed to another part of the letter that makes him confident the clinic is closing: “We will be able to continue to provide you primary care through our Internal Medicine Residency Program to meet your medical needs.”

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 6 will be various workshops and panel discussions. Glide’s morning church services Sunday, May 7 will feature special sermons, and from 1 to 3 p.m. that day will be a workshop on gender variance and spirituality. Organizers aim to foster empowerment and solidarity between the transgender and faith communities, as well as provide a space for people to discuss issues of spirituality and gender expression and identity. “In a time when the marginalized are feeling more vulnerable to hate and fear, Glide stands committed, as it has for over 50 years, to unconditional love and acceptance,” stated Janice Mirikitani, a co-founder of the church. The summit will take place at Glide, which is located at 330 Ellis Street at Taylor in the Tenderloin. All events are free and open to the public, but people should register in advance. To do so, visit https://glide.org/action or call (415) 674-6000. t

Rights to denounce El Salvador for its discrimination and hate crimes against its LGBT citizens. Avelar grew up in the streets and was forced into sex work at the age of 11. She was attacked by police and gangs and was imprisoned for four years for self-defense, reported Telesur TV. Salvadorian LGBT groups are currently fighting for a new law to recognize transgender identity and protect gender non-conforming individuals from hate crimes. Avelar is one of three nominees for the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, a prize given to activists who demonstrate great courage in working to protect and promote human rights around the world. The other nominees are Egyptian lawyer Mohamed Zaree and the FreeThe5KH from Cambodia. Zaree is one of the central figures of the human rights movement in his country. The FreeThe5KH have been in custody for almost a year because of their work in the Cambodian Association for Human Rights and Development. The Martin Ennals Human Rights Award will be presented at an October 10 ceremony. t A longer version of this column can be found online at ebar.com Got international LGBT news tips? Call or send them to Heather Cassell at Skype: heather.cassell, or oitwnews@gmail.com

“That is not the HIV clinic,” said Huestis. “That’s the internal medicine program.” He also said that clinic staff told him that their part of the building would be closing down. Dyner and Stringer couldn’t be reached for comment. Stringer, whom Huestis has known as his doctor, and Dyner said in a March 20 letter to Huestis and other patients, “It is with sadness that we announce we will be leaving the clinic effective May 31, 2017. … We hope to be able to help in your transition to either our medical residency program at the clinic or another healthcare provider … .” Despite what’s happening with the clinic, Huestis said, “I’m not going to be left hanging. I do have options.” San Francisco Department of Public Health spokeswoman Rachael Kagan didn’t respond to an emailed question about funding for the clinic, and Simmons wasn’t able to provide the information. t

Legal Notices>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-17-552955

In the matter of the application of: BETTINA K. NEUMANN-BALUUSAT, 2082 QUESADA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner BETTINA K. NEUMANN-BALUUSAT, is requesting that the name BETTINA K. NEUMANN-BALUUSAT, be changed to BETTINA KIRA NEUMANN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Room 514 on the 20th of June 2017 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037544000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAN FRANCISCO NATURAL AESTHETICS, 490 POST ST #1701, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARK IWANICKI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 03/22/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/04/17.

APR 20, 27, MAY 04, 11, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037547700

APR 13, 20, 27, MAY 4, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037523500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: YING TRADING, 2226 ULLOA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed TIMOTHY GENE YU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on NA. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/06/17.

APR 13, 20, 27, MAY 4, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037550600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PRIVEX CONSULTING GROUP, 400 BEALE ST #1409, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed STELLA M. EDRALIN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/11/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/11/17.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: T. PRIOR & COMPANY, 39 WESTGATE DR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed THOMAS PRIOR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 03/22/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/22/17.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: VISIONAIR RESOURCES, 438 12TH AVE #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SARAH HIGHT MONTAGUE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/06/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/10/17.

APR 13, 20, 27, MAY 4, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037550900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: IRVING STREET PSYCHIC, 2151 IRVING ST #205, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JANET ADAMS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/10/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/10/17.

APR 13, 20, 27, MAY 4, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037544800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LAW OFFICE OF ASHISH A. BHATT, 29 IRIS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ASHISH ASHOK BHATT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/03/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/04/17.

APR 13, 20, 27, MAY 4, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037543600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DUSIT THAI HEALING ARTS, 1618 UNION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KANOKWAN CHEWPANICH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/03/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/03/17.

APR 13, 20, 27, MAY 4, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037548100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JACK & UGGZ, 355 SERRANO DR. #6J, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOHN E. OLSON III. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/01/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/06/17.

APR 13, 20, 27, MAY 4, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037547400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CJ PACIFIC USA, 1140 REVERE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed WELLSPRING INVESTMENT GROUP (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on NA. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/06/17.

APR 13, 20, 27, MAY 4, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037542500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SOLTRON, 30 NIANTIC AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed ROQUE BARON, MANOLO DAVILA, AHKEEL MESTAYER, CHRISTIAN NAVARRO, ADRIANNA MARRERO OCASIO, DANIEL RIERA, RUBEN SANDOVAL, REMI SPIRO, ARTURO BLANCO VILLEGAS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 01/01/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/31/17.

APR 13, 20, 27, MAY 4, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037545900

APR 20, 27, MAY 04, 11, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037552100

APR 20, 27, MAY 04, 11, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037553500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: REPUTOLOGY, 86 IDORA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed DEUMAS HOLDING, INC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/01/15. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/12/17.

APR 20, 27, MAY 04, 11, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037554100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FLOWERSHOP, 753 ALABAMA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed FLOWER SHOP, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 03/01/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/12/17.

APR 20, 27, MAY 04, 11, 2017 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-036869600 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: VALENCIA STREET OPTOMETRY, 1000 VALENCIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by MARTHA KLUFAS. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/07/16.

APR 20, 27, MAY 04, 11, 2017 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-17-552954

In the matter of the application of: LAP TO CHOI, 670 33RD AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121, for change of name having been ﬁled in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner LAP TO CHOI, is requesting that the name LAP TO CHOI, be changed to KEN LAPTO CHOI. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, on the 13th of June 2017 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

APRIL 27, MAY 04, 11, 18, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037559000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JV ELECTRIC, 655 ELLIS ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JIMMY VEGA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/14/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/14/17.

APR 27, MAY 04, 11, 18, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037559700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AIIM SF; ASCENDING IN INDIVIDUAL MINDS, 41 BEACHMONT DRIVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MICHELLE JOSEPHINE FONG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/01/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/17/17.

APR 27, MAY 04, 11, 18, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037564400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STATE SPACE, 1295 ALABAMA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DANIELLE GRANT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/19/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/19/17.

APR 27, MAY 04, 11, 18, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037562400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 10TH AVE LAUNDRYMAT, 700 10TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed BUD HADDAD & MARIA HADDAD. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/05/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/05/17.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FILLMORE BILLIARDS, 1526 FILLMORE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NAE MOON PARK. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/18/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/18/17.

APR 13, 20, 27, MAY 4, 2017

APR 27, MAY 04, 11/18, 2017

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Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037569000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HUNAN HOME’S RESTAURANT, 622 JACKSON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed NEW HUNAN HOME, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/24/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/24/17.

APR 27, MAY 04, 11, 18, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037566000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NARA SUSHI, 1515 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed LEESUNHEE NARA CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/20/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/20/17.

APR 27, MAY 04, 11, 18, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037563900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JODI RENTALS, 2131 19TH AVE #202, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed IM PROPERTIES INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/19/17.

APR 27, MAY 04, 11, 18, 2017

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037563400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PAINTED MARY, 478 UTAH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed MARY NATALIE FINLAYSON & MATTHEW JAMES LUCKHURST. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/19/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/19/17.

APR 27, MAY 04, 11, 18, 2017 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-037143800 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: METIS MENTORING, 1661 GRANT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by STEVEN HORNER. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/16/16.

APR 27, MAY 04, 11, 18, 2017 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-034504900 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: HUNAN HOME’S RESTAURANT, 622 JACKSON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business was conducted by a corporation and signed by YUANS LEGACY CORPORATION. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/03/12.

APR 27, MAY 04, 11, 18, 2017

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-037271100 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: LE TREND NAIL SALON, 783 DIVISADERO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by NGUYET HA. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/20/16. APR 27, MAY 04, 11, 18, 2017 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-17-553008 In the matter of the application of: RENEE MEDRIC BELEC, 1259 LOMBARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner RENEE MEDRIC BELEC, is requesting that the name RENEE MEDRIC BELEC, be changed to CATHERINE RENEE ARTEMISE COATEVAL. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Room 514 on the 29th of June 2017 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted. MAY 04, 11, 18, 25, 2017

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037573400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: POREA COMMUNICATION DESIGN; POCO DESIGN, 290 SAN JOSE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BRIAN POREA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 01/02/2017. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/26/2017.

MAY 04, 11, 18, 25, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037571300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GLITZ HAIR SALON, 2387 OCEAN AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SYLVIA P. THORNE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 02/10/97. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/25/17.

MAY 04, 11, 18, 25, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037569400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TWENTY 89 HAIR DESIGN, 2089 HAYES ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RAYMOND WOO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/24/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/24/17.

MAY 04, 11, 18, 25, 2017

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037560400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NOAH MOVING, 68 PASADENA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PENGFEI DONG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/17/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/17/17.

MAY 04, 11, 18, 25, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037554200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHEZ NOUS CAFE, 1145 MARKET ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CHEZ NOUS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/12/17. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/12/17.

MAY 04, 11, 18, 25, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037560700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TOP ROUND ROAST BEEF, 2962 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed WORK HARD LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on NA. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/17/17.

MAY 04, 11, 18, 25, 2017

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City and County of San Francisco Outreach Advertising April/May 2017 The Assessment Appeals Board resolves legal and value assessment issues between the Assessor’s office and property owners. We have three vacancies on Board 1, which oversees all downtown properties – high rise residential, office, commercial, hotels. Board 1 also oversees all properties over $50 million in assessed value throughout the City. Assessment appeal hearings are quasi-judicial, conducted in a manner similar to a court setting, with evidence and testimony presented by the parties. The Board then evaluates the evidence and testimony, and renders its decision. To be eligible for seat appointment, you must have minimum of five years professional experience in California as either a: (1) public accountant; (2) real estate broker; (3) attorney; or (4) property appraiser accredited by a nationally recognized organization, or certified by either the Office of Real Estate Appraiser or the State Board of Equalization. For more information regarding the Assessment Appeals Board call (415) 554-6778. The City & County of San Francisco, Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors (Department) has commenced the following Request for Proposals (RFP) process: Legislative Management System (LMS) The department seeks a comprehensive Legislative Management System to integrate seamlessly with existing legislative processes and data, and answer day-to-day operational needs and mission critical business processes – including, but not limited to agenda management, legislative drafting/submission, and document management. The solution must be sufficiently flexible in functional and technical design to accommodate future technological changes and re-engineering. The proposed not-to-exceed budget for implementation is $390,000, with an annual notto-exceed maintenance cost of $30,000. The proposed term is five (5) years, with option to extend up to five (5) additional years. Actual contract term may vary. Qualified firms with successful experience providing Legislative Management solutions are strongly encouraged to apply. Interested parties may download the RPF and attachments by visiting: www.sfbos.org/contracting-opportunities. Board of Supervisors Regularly Scheduled Board Meetings June and July Meetings Come and see your local government at work, the Board of Supervisors hold weekly meetings most Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. in Rm. 250 of San Francisco City Hall.

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Vol. 47 • No. 18 • May 4-10, 2017

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wo big dance spectacles opened last week on opposite sides of the Bay. San Francisco Ballet revived its blockbuster, crowd-pleasing Cinderella at the Opera House, choreographed by the Royal Ballet associate Christopher Wheeldon; and Cal Performances presented Philharmonia Baroque et al. in the first revival of Voltaire’s Temple de Gloire in 250 years, from a manuscript in the UC Berkeley Music Library. Both are sumptuous productions with music, visual arts, choreography, and allied stage arts combined to argue a matter of government policy. See page 24 >>

San Francisco Ballet’s Frances Chung in Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella.

Erik Tomasson

Cinderella stories

by Paul Parish

Roz Chast in her studio.

Born to kvetch

They sure sang a mouthful

by Sura Wood

by Philip Campbell

oz Chast is still kvetching after all these years with a wacky, angst-ridden humor that’s a tonic for troubled times. The veteran New Yorker magazine cartoonist – readers of that publication will be familiar with her many covers and multi-panel stories inside the book – is now the subject of Roz Chast: Cartoon Memoirs, a large, thoroughly entertaining exhibition that opened last week at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. See page 19 >>

oomful of Teeth, the self-described “Grammy-winning vocal project,” finally made it to San Francisco last week with a short but satisfying one-afternoon-only performance at the new Taube Atrium Theater. The Sunday gig, a co-presentation of San Francisco Performances’ Pivot Series and SF Opera Lab, made a happy fit for the group’s enticing local debut. See page 18 >>

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Stefan Cohen

Jeremy Clowe

Martha Cluver, Caroline Shaw, and Virginia Warnken Kelsey of Roomful of Teeth.

<< Out There

18 • Bay Area Reporter • May 4-10, 2017

Nonfiction matters by Roberto Friedman

any worthy review copies find their way to the right place (our desk) without getting reviewed. We just don’t get to assign every book we might like covered. Space rules. Ours is a general readership, and many university press volumes are of most use or interest to academics or specialists. Still, many of these books are

deserving of attention. Here are just a few coming out in print. At the Broken Places – A Mother and Trans Son Pick Up the Pieces by Mary Collins and Donald Collins (Beacon Press). This joint memoir charts the course from nonsupportive to understanding on the part of a mother, Mary, whose 16-year-old daughter J. announces that she is transgender and will begin living

as Donald. It’s an affecting and humane true story, told in very readable prose. But it’s also a practical resource guide for families who have a transgender child in the mix. “Word Banks” between chapters define terms the layman might not know, including “gender-confirming” and “hormone replacement therapy.” Endnotes include lists of sources and recommended reading, making the book a valuable new entry in the annals of transgender literature. Cruising the Library – Perversities in the Organization of Knowledge by Melissa Adler (Fordham University Press). Before you can delve into queer studies or construct queer theory, you have to know where to look for the facts and history. In this highly technical tome, Adler, an Assistant Professor in the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Kentucky, looks at Library of Congress cataloguing practices for subjects related to sexuality and gender. An inquiry into how classifying protocols operate as control mechanisms, Cruising the Library is a hands-on guide for the queer academic. The Look of a Woman – Facial Feminization and the Aims of TransMedicine by Eric Plemons (Duke University Press; pub. date: Aug. 2017). From the text: “Developed in the mid-1980s, facial feminization surgery (FFS) is a set of bone and soft tissue reconstructive procedures intended to feminize the faces of trans women. Patients who undergo FFS and the surgeons who perform it assert it is not a cosmetic operation

Roomful of Teeth

From page 17

Attracting a diverse crowd of adventurous listeners and selling out the Atrium Theater weeks in advance, Roomful of Teeth Sings Shaw & Shakespeare could easily have added another 20 minutes to the play-list and a by-demand second show, but instead left us wanting more. And that would be a plea for much more from composer Caroline Shaw. The Bay Area premiere of her Partita for 8 Voices (nominated for a Grammy, and winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in Music) got things off to an exciting start and made a radiant introduction for the a cappella singers. Shaw has been a

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member herself since the cleverly named octet was founded in 2009 by Artistic Director Brad Wells. Her reputation precedes her from the East Coast, going viral with collaborations with Kanye West, compositions for string quartet (her own instrument is the violin) and strikingly experimental works for voice. Think Björk, Meredith Monk and even the Swingle Singers, add the a cappella experimentation of Luciano Berio and the word-painting of Robert Ashley and Laurie Anderson, and you will have some sense of Shaw’s unique synthesis of technique. Partita is actually a simple piece, as the composer says in the score’s inscription, but it sounds complex, and the performers looked understandably intense and enthusiastic as they stretched the possibilities of their own voices. When they harmonized it was thrilling. Singing at music stands under plain lighting and individually miked, the bare-boned production looked like a recording session during a solid final take. Each movement of Partita starts with a nod to the traditional baroque suite, but soon departs into a seemingly improvisatory realm of speech, unusual sounds and a vaguely melodic vocalise. It is beguiling, and the 25-minute workout simply flew by for the audience. They didn’t need the following intermission, but the singers got a merciful break. The second half opened with the West Coast premiere of Shaw’s Shakespeare piece The Isle (2016). Excerpts from The Tempest, featuring Ariel, Caliban, and the sorcerer Prospero, give individual musical expression to the characters and create

Vibrator Nation – How Feminist Sex-Toy Stores Changed the Business of Pleasure by Lynn Comella (Duke University Press; pub. date Sept. 2017). OT always likes a good nuts-and-bolts business book, and Vibrator Nation more than fills the bill. In chapters like “The Business of Masturbation” and “Out of the Therapist’s Office, into the Vibrator Shop,” Comella declares herself “indebted to all of the feminist sex-toy store owners, employees, marketers, manufacturers, educators, cultural producers, and customers who took the time to speak with me, who shared their experiences and expertise.” Surely a book that Good Vibrations might want to stock. The War on Sex, David M. Halperin and Trevor Hoppe, editors (Duke University Press). Editors Halperin and Hoppe join the conversation on sex and gender by linking in other pressing issues of social justice. They cite essayist Gayle Rubin in calling for “understanding how sex becomes an important site of social control, adjudication, and ultimately oppression.” Essays include “A New Iron Closet: Failing to Extend the Spirit of Lawrence v. Texas to Prisons and Prisoners” by J. Wallace Borchert, and “The Creation of the Modern Sex Offender” by Scott De Orio. “The ‘Hooker Teacher’ Tells All” by Melissa Petro, and Sean Strub’s “HIV: Prosecution or Prevention? HIV Is Not a Crime” are among the 17 essays. Contributors end by offering strategies of “Resistance.”t

an atmosphere of magical mystery. Composers have been gilding the lily with settings of the Bard from Verdi to Benjamin Britten and Rufus Wainwright, but they have always been most successful when zeroing in on the spirit of the already perfect texts. Shaw proves she is a fresh and innovative interpreter, and The Isle, like contemporary composer Thomas Ades’ opera The Tempest, gives illumination to the wonderful words. Two other Shakespeare-inspired scores ended the late-afternoon matinee. Anna Clyne’s Pocket Book is drawn from the Sonnets, and founding group member, tenor Eric Dudley takes a whack at a Shakespeare Sonnet and includes a soliloquy from Hamlet with QuietUs (2016). Commissioned by Roomful of Teeth, Clyne deconstructs Sonnets VIII “Music to hear, why hear’st thou music sadly?” and LXV “Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea,” beginning with the texts, recited by a recorded classical actor. The octet supplied harmonic and melismatic musical interest, but unlike Shaw’s compositions, I felt Pocket Book needs more than a single hearing. Clyne is reported to be setting more of the Sonnets to add to the collection, which should help her appealing work make a more immediate impact. Dudley’s meditation, or more accurately, riff on Shakespeare rather buries Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” and the first four lines of Sonnet LX “Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore.” He is aiming instead for the musical impulse. You might need the program notes to fully connect the dots, but QuietUs is satisfying on its own terms. “If music be the food of love, play on.”t

On the web

This week, find Victoria A. Brownworth’s Lavender Tube column, “Deep down in the cocoon,” and David Lamble’s DVD review of Death in Venice, “Sensual obsession,” and Out & About online at ebar.com.

Fine Arts>>

May 4-10, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 19

Courtesy Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco

De (2014), illustration by Roz Chast for 101 Two-Letter Words by Stephin Merritt.

Roz Chast

From page 17

The exhibition includes a range of original cartoons from The New Yorker, as well as illustrations from Chast’s charmingly acerbic books for children and adults, and projects with collaborators such as musician Stephin Merritt and others. The works that represent the unadulterated Chast, where she’s both writer and illustrator, may be strongest, but there are no misses here. The show is a blast. Unafraid to summon her inner crabby-appleton, she has an uncanny knack for being right on target with pithy commentary on relatable situations, giving voice to thoughts you may have had but were too polite to express. In fact, she’s so witty and clever it’s easy to overlook the high caliber of her deceptively simple artwork. Visitors are sure to have cartoons they’ll want to share with friends, such as a single panel on highway driving in which lanes are divided thusly: Control Freaks, Clueless Numbskulls, Passive Aggressives; and her alternate versions of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”: The Yawn and The Pout. In her cautionary tale “Bedtime Stories for Adolescents,” she singles out both the “girl who wanted to be a poet” who “dies penniless and alone” with the tombstone inscription “RIP whoever you are”; and the wayward son with a bright future who ends up “working in a traffic cone factory.” Budget plenty of time; you’ll need it to take in the written text of her cartoons, and believe me, you’ll want to consume all you can. Never has so much laughter been possible in the solemn halls of a museum. Combining early success, longevity and luck, Chast is a prime example of someone who fell into her field and can’t imagine doing – or being capable of doing – anything else. She sold her first cartoon to Christopher Street magazine, a gay publication that paid her a whopping $10. The Village Voice followed, and in 1978, barely two years out of Rhode Island School of Design, came the big kahuna: The New Yorker accepted her first submission and put her under contract. “I was flabbergasted,” she recalls. 1,200 cartoons and covers later, the rest, as they say, is history. A native New Yorker, Chast, who works from her home in Ridgefield, Connecticut, where she lives with her family and a pair of pet parrots, misses the city. “I think about it every day,” she tells me. “But recently, I began keeping a studio apartment on the West Side. It’s my pomme de terre.” Slight, petite and dressed in the cartoonist’s uniform of black jeans and sneakers, she’s impish, unpretentious and as down-

to-earth as your best gal pal, only funnier. When asked her thoughts on the “certifiable genius” tag assigned to her by New Yorker editor David Remnick, she screwed up her face and uttered, “Argh!” with feeling, twice. The daughter of Brooklyn educators – a gentle, excessively anxious Dad, and a volatile, willful mother, who often clashed – Chast grew up in a hotbed of neurosis and turned a litany of pessimism and complaint into material that has rocketed her to the top of her career. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, an everpresent fixture in Chast’s childhood displayed here, was a terrifying encyclopedia of doom that predicted the worst possible outcomes and lethal consequences for seemingly innocuous symptoms. As Chast comments in a category on illness in one my favorite of her books What I Hate: from A to Z, a sore throat was never just a sore throat, it was a prelude to leprosy. Also included in this catalogue of dread and danger, laid out in alphabetical order with cartoons and supplemental text: alien abduction, doctors, spontaneous human combustion, and premature burial (at least with a mausoleum, she points out, “you can bang on the door and get out: crisis averted.”) She describes elevators as “a perfect storm of claustrophobia, agoraphobia, and acrophobia,” where you get stuck by yourself, or worse yet in a crowd, or with a psycho, and then there’s the obvious: plummeting to your death because someone cut the cables. After reading this, you may want to take the stairs. When it comes to xrays, she wryly observes: “If you look that deeply inside someone, you’re going to find trouble.” Case closed. The exhibition also features most of the original artwork from Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, her best-selling graphic memoir about her elderly parents’ decline and death. Touching and ruefully funny, it will evoke moments of recognition and even chuckles from those who’ve gone through the experience, which can be comically absurd, excruciating, and financially ruinous for parents and their adult children. Those moments of solidarity, a pleasure well-known to Chast’s fans, come as much from her authenticity as from her merciless wit. Underneath a drawing of her bedridden mother toward the end of the book, she penned this lament: “I wish that, at the end of life, when things are truly ‘done,’ there was something to look forward to. Perhaps opium or heroin [or] all-you-can-eat ice cream parlors for the extremely aged.” Me too.t Through Sept. 3. thecjm.org.

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<< Theatre

20 • Bay Area Reporter • May 4-10, 2017

Bungle in the jungle

Joan Marcus

Simon McBurney stands next to the “binaural head” that provides many of the sound effects in The Encounter at the Curran Theatre, a one-man play that takes place largely in the Amazon jungle.

by Richard Dodds

inaural sound, a term easily confused with stereo sound, creates an unnervingly realistic 360-degree audio experience. There were times during The Encounter at the Curran Theatre

when I was ready to scowl at those I thought were talking behind me during the performance. Or I would jump when it seemed someone had surreptitiously sidled up next to me with something to say. Most of The Encounter takes place in the throbbing Amazon jungle,

where the sonic theatrical opportunities are endless. But there is a catch. Binaural sound can only be achieved by wearing headphones; no array of speakers can duplicate it. And so every seat in the Curran comes equipped with its own headset. Ever since Sony introduced the Walkman, we have become accustomed to masses moving among us in aural isolation, but the theater has always emphasized the communal experience. During The Encounter everyone is in an isolation booth of sorts, and while you may be hearing the same thing as your neighbors, you are also cut off from them. When a moment elicits a widespread laugh, it’s something of a distant rumble that can easily be confused with the myriad of sound effects swirling around in our heads. But, in fact, the central character in The Encounter finds himself in a vast isolation booth when he becomes lost in the Amazon jungle that the technological maneuvering accentuates. It is also, let’s face it, something of a splendid gimmick, not unlike how Cinerama turned travelogues into cinematic events. Simon McBurney, who conceived, directed, and is the only performer in the Complicite production of The Encounter, acknowledges as much at the start of the show, casually conversing with the audience about the technology, and giving us examples of its possibilities that include blowing into the ear of a mannequin-like binaural head that our senses tell us to feel as well as hear. And then McBurney takes on the persona of Loren McIntyre, a

veteran photographer for National Geographic, first demonstrating how a special microphone will turn his high English-accented voice into the deeply resonate American accent ascribed to McIntyre. In 1968, McIntyre set out to make contact with the elusive Mayoruna Indians living under the heavy canopy of an Amazon tributary. He succeeds only too well, essentially being forced on their mysterious relocations in their effort to turn back time after losing his way to a rendezvous point with his helicopter. McIntyre talks in the first person about his various adventures and difficulties, the most pronounced being that the Mayoruna speak none of his default languages of English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Some of the tribesfolk seem open to his presence, others not so much, but the chief whom McIntyre nicknames Barnacle appears to be a welcoming presence. “Some of us are friends,” McIntyre hears him say, though no words are spoken. McIntyre never discussed what he felt were telepathic communications until years later, after Romanian-born writer Petru Popescu convinced the photographer to share his experiences for the book Amazon Beaming, which became a prime source for The Encounter. Using words and sounds, McBurney conjures vivid images of life in the jungle among a wary community that may have shut itself off from the outside world, but is still aware of that outside world’s designs on their habitat for oil exploration and deforestation. McBurney, an accomplished performer in main-

stream films and theater, takes the McIntyre character from moments of quiet introspection to unhinged mayhem across the stage. There are abrupt breaks in the jungle fever when McBurney’s young daughter’s voice periodically intrudes on the actor’s home recording sessions with a request for a snack or a story, and McBurney gently accommodates her, before bringing us back to the intensity of the jungle. These particular collisions of various realities may be briefly disorienting but are not confusing. But there are intervals of unintended confusion, especially when McBurney holds a small recording device to the microphone to play excerpts from various experts that can be hard to decipher – an oddly lowtech choice for a show with such a sophisticated sound design. But even though sound is the preeminent frill, the prosaic collection of desks, tables, and microphones is backed by a wall resembling acoustic baffling that can evocatively reflect changing light patterns and projections culminating in a torrential storm. Perhaps the most effective moments are the most intimate. During a rainstorm, a young tribesman named Tuti invents a dance based on raindrops. What I actually saw, what I heard, and what was simply described have melded into a vivid memory of just a happy kid dancing in the rain.t The Encounter will run through May 7 at the Curran Theatre. Tickets are $49-$125, available at sfcurran.com.

Song & dance & unabashed silliness by Richard Dodds

t was a bad idea gone wrong. Or at least it seemed that way up until the revival of No, No, Nanette opened on Broadway on Jan. 19, 1971. For a musical designed to ride a wave of innocent nostalgia, the road into New York was mired in lawsuits, firings, acrimony, tantrums, tears, and a script that seemed to defy completion. Yet what audiences saw on that winter night 46 years ago was a smooth-running production that critics and audiences warmly embraced for 861 performances – 500 more performances than the original 1925 production.

The year after the revival opened, Donald Dunn wrote the fascinating, horrifying The Making of No, No, Nanette, an entire book detailing the behind-the-scenes tragi-comedy that early audiences may have heard bits and pieces of but were happy to ignore, especially when the longretired Ruby Keeler again donned her tap shoes to stop the show. 42nd Street Moon can’t rely on that bit of built-in elation, but its current production of No, No, Nanette at the Eureka Theatre is still a slick-and-sassy audience-pleaser. Director Cindy Goldfield knows how to let the unabashed silliness of the material shine through while not

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apologizing for that silliness, providing audiences with something to hold onto, and even embrace, as hoary jokes and situations are trotted out amid clever new fillips. There’s little need to review the plot, originally written by Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel and streamlined by Burt Shevelove, with its array of subplots involving tennis-anyone flappers, husbands who aren’t cheating on wives but must cover up incriminating circumstances, and a young couple who we know are destined for happilyever-after but must cross over a few bumps along the way. The highlights are, and probably always have been, the production numbers, when the company can bust loose in Nicole Helfer’s floorrattling choreography. One of the show’s signature songs, “I Want to Be Happy,” begins as a simple duet between Jimmy, a wealthy Bible publisher, and his ward, the innocent but party-ready Nanette, before a quartet of ukulele-strumming collegians starts an encore that then breaks into a full-throttle production number led by the publisher’s dowdy wife who suddenly reveals her skills as a tap dancer. That was a dance added for Ruby Keeler, and it’s still irresistible with Lee Ann Payne hammering at the floorboards. There is a passel more of colorful performances, starting with Michael Patrick Gaffney as the comically addled Bible publisher who’s a pushover for shady ladies with sob stories (the delightfully hard-edged Andrea St. Clair, Danielle Cheiken, and Samantha Pistoresi). Mark Farrell has a pugilistic bravado as the publisher’s song-and-dance lawyer while Abby Haug, as his high-living wife, nearly burns down the theater with her delivery of the torch song “Where-Has-My-Hubby-Gone Blues.” As a wisecracking maid and

No, No, Nanette, now at the Eureka Theatre, was a Broadway hit all over again in 1971, 46 years after it originally opened on Broadway.

Nanette’s chaperone on a wickedly clandestine trip to Atlantic City, Maureen McVerry milks the character for all its comic worth. Samantha Rose and Andrew Mondello are fine as Nanette and her stuffed-shirt beau despite their small singing voices, which do perk up a bit when they get to “Tea for Two.” Musical director and pianist Dave Dobrusky has an additional three musicians providing the steady ac-

companiment through Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar, and Otto Harbach’s jingle-filled score. And I’ll treat you to a strawberry phosphate if you aren’t humming one of the tunes on your way out of the theater.t No, No, Nanette will run through May 14 at the Eureka Theatre. Tickets are $53-$75. Call (415) 255-8205 or go to 42ndstmoon.org.

Books>>

May 4-10, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 21

Gays behind the American Bandstand by Sari Staver

hen The New York Post published a story that a new coffee-table book, Bandstand Diaries, revealed stories about the secret gay lives of some of the dancers, sales of the book went through the roof. Beginning at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning, March 12, 2017, when the Post story by tell-all journalist Jerry Oppenheimer was published, “We could barely keep up with the flood of orders,” said publisher Sharon Sultan Cutler, co-author of the 175page book, which includes over 700 pictures from American Bandstand, as well as interviews with many of the regulars. “Who knew that the LGBT angle would be so powerful?” asked Cutler rhetorically in a telephone interview. Cutler, an ally, co-wrote the book with two LGBT Bandstand dancers, Arlene Sullivan and Ray Smith. While Sullivan, one of the most popular dancers on the show, and Smith, a longtime NBC-TV Today Show producer, had included information about their sexual orientation in the book, “We never intended to publicize it,” said Cutler. But when the Post put the news in a headline, “We had the largest day in book sales.”

The cover of Bandstand Diaries proclaims it’s “the book you’ve waited over 50 years to read.” For me, the hype was true. Like many adolescents growing up in the 1950s, I ran home from middle school every afternoon to tune into the ABC show hosted by Dick Clark, featuring rockand-roll stars as well as the “regulars,” dancers who became famous and were featured on teen magazine covers. I went overboard as a fan, writing to many dancers and launching a national fan-club for regular Barbara Levick, who was the best friend of co-author Sullivan. So I adore the book, as I believe others would if they grew up watching the program. For LGBT people, reading about the show from the perspective of two LGBT dancers makes it even more fun. A chat with LGBT co-authors Sullivan and Smith offers some clues about why the program, which also launched the career of media mogul Dick Clark, was such a longstanding success. “I never thought of myself as any sort of celebrity,” said Sullivan,

75, modest and softspoken. Sullivan, who spent most of her adult life as a blackjack dealer in Atlantic City, has been an “out lesbian” since her late teens. “We were just ordinary middle-class kids in Philly,” she said in a telephone interview. “Kids watching might’ve identified with us. I was totally shy and wasn’t even a good dancer” when she first went on the show. Sullivan, who received hundreds of fan letters every week and had fan-clubs formed in her honor, said the attention didn’t phase her. “I was really just an ordinary kid,” she said. She dated boys on the program, including her longtime dance partner Kenny Rossi (“still to this day a very close friend”) and Joe Wissert, who also turned out to be gay, and went on to become a successful Hollywood producer. But she “always knew I was a bit different,” although she didn’t act on any of her lesbian fantasies until she was 17 and had graduated from high school. Smith, the third co-author, was an occasional dancer on the show, al-

ways in awe of the “regulars,” he said in a phone interview. He went on to have a longtime career as a producer on NBC-TV’s Today Show. In 1952, Bandstand went on the air locally in Philadelphia, backed by an advertising push. More than 1,000 kids lined up to get into the show. By 1956, with its audience growing, the producers hired goodlooking Dick Clark to take over the show, renamed it American Band-

Courtesy the subjects

Two LGBT former Bandstand dancers, Arlene Sullivan and Ray Smith.

stand and sold it to the network. The two-hour, five-day-a-week show got strong viewer ratings, and the brand took off. Through the power of television, average teenagers from Philadelphia became “teen idols,” said Smith, as recognizable as movie stars and with more fan mail than Hollywood celebrities. The program had a sevenyear run until 1964, when Clark moved the program to Los Angeles, where it aired until 1989. In 2004, Clark announced plans to revive the show in time for the 2005 season, but this did not occur, due at least in part to Clark suffering a severe stroke. Sullivan and Smith look back fondly on their years on Bandstand, and took the opportunity to revive their memories when publisher Cutler approached them about writing the book. Cutler put the book together because she was convinced there were “many untold stories” people her age would want to read. The book, updated for its third printing in time for the show’s 60th anniversary celebration, continues to sell briskly, with a bump in sales every time it’s featured online or in print. Asked whether she’d consider including a new LGBT section, Cutler said, “Yes, absolutely. What a great idea.”t

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<< DVD

22 • Bay Area Reporter • May 4-10, 2017

Tormented & tormenting by Tavo Amador

t’s unlikely that America will produce a star like Tallulah Bankhead (1902-68) again. She was born into a celebrated Alabama political family. Her father was Speaker of the House of Representatives at the time of his death in 1940, and was eulogized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Her paternal grandfather and an uncle were U.S. Senators; her mother’s family, the Brockmans, held statewide and local offices. Yet she was wildly unconventional, openly flaunted her bisexuality, was often vulgar, drank, smoked, and used cocaine heavily. Still, she enjoyed a remarkable stage career (They Knew What They Wanted, The Little Foxes, By the Skin of Our Teeth, Private Lives), triumphed on radio, made acclaimed appearances on television, and intermittently starred in movies, where, despite her beauty and talent, she was seldom properly used. Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat (1944), her return to the screen after a 12-year absence other than playing herself in 1943’s Stage Door Canteen, was an exception. It earned her the New York Film Critics Best Actress Award, although she was snubbed by the Oscars. She dazzled as Catherine the Great in 1945’s A Royal Scandal, but it flopped. Reportedly, her drinking cost her Amanda in 1950’s film version of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. She again played herself in Main Street to Broadway (1953) and made her final, mesmerizing screen appearance in 1965’s Die! Die! My Darling!, now available on DVD. She plays Mrs. Trefoile, a widow

whose only child, Stephen, died in a car accident. His fiancee, Patricia (the young Stephanie Powers), arriving in England from America to marry her new boyfriend, Alan (Maurice Kaufman), has promised to see Mrs. Trefoile. She wants to put her life with Stephen behind her. Over Alan’s objections, she drives to Mrs. Terfoile’s country

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home, planning on a short visit. Little does she know what awaits her. Mrs. Trefoile lives with three servants, one of whom, Joseph (Donald Sutherland), is developmentally disabled. The others are a married couple, Anna (Yootha Joyce) and Harry (Peter Vaughn). They occupy a large, ramshackle house set on several acres of land, with a stream

running through it, within walking distance of the village. Mrs. Trefoile welcomes Patricia warmly and insists she spend the night. Patricia learns how deeply Mrs. Trefoile mourns her late son and how she finds consolation in her Christian faith. Soon Patricia realizes Mrs. Terfoile’s beliefs are intensely focused on sexual purity and an inflexible moral code. She longs to be certain that Stephen died a virgin and that Patricia is and will remain one, since in her eyes, she’s essentially a widow who should never remarry. She insists that Patricia remove her lipstick and refuses to allow her to wear red, Satan’s color. Unnerved, Patricia accepts her rules – after all, it will only be for one night. But Mrs. Trefoile has other plans. At gunpoint, she locks Patricia in her room, the better to cleanse her of all sin. Patricia retaliates by telling her the truth about how Stephen died and admitting she isn’t a virgin and has a new fiancé. This infuriates Mrs. Trefoile, whose treatment of the young woman grows harsher. A lustful Harry and a frightened Anna assist their mistress. The resilient Patricia attempts several escapes, but each fails and results in greater punishments. Mrs. Trefoile’s theatrical background and her years as a great beauty in that sinful world are revealed. She’s grateful to have been saved from that moral cesspool and determined to save Patricia as well, or kill her in the process. Will she prevail? Bankhead, notorious for camping on stage, resists that temptation as Mrs. Trefoile. Director Silvio Narizzano, in his movie debut, gets

a riveting performance from her. She acts with conviction, bringing both humor and pathos to Mrs. Trefoile. She commands the screen with authority and plows through many absurdities of the script. This “horror” film followed the unexpected success of 1962’s What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? More than one critic felt Bankhead’s performance left those of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in the dust. Powers, looking very pretty, can’t consistently overcome the script’s deficiencies or often-inane dialogue. But she’s believable as she tries to escape Mrs. Trefoile’s madhouse. Joyce is good as the conflicted Anna. Vaughan is creepy as the lecherous Harry. Sutherland’s Joseph is badly dated. The handsome Kaufman is fine as Alan. Filmed on location in England from a script by Richard Matheson, based on a novel by Anne Blaisdell, the Columbia/Hammer Films Production was shot in garish color by Arthur Ibbetson. The melodramatic score is by Wilfred Josephs. Narizzano directed Lynn Redgrave in the charming Georgy Girl (1966) before returning to TV work. Powers had a long career without top stardom, attaining her greatest fame opposite Robert Wagner on TV’s Hart to Hart. As for Bankhead, she played Madame Fragrant on The Red Skelton Hour in 1965 and made her final, hilarious appearances as the Black Widow in two episodes of 1967’s campy TV series Batman. Bankhead was at her most brilliant in The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour episode “The Celebrity Next Door” (1957), which she easily stole from a superb Lucille Ball.t

Vandalizing Emily Dickinson by Erin Blackwell

thought the new Emily Dickinson biopic was going to be a simple thing to watch and review. I wasn’t expecting a miracle, merely a competent portrayal by Cynthia Nixon with perhaps some extravagant flourishes in tribute to our great mystic poet. How naïve I have become. I assumed Emily’s genius was no longer controversial, that we’d gotten past embarrassment at a woman who wanted to be left alone to write, who was not devastated by her father’s death but rather liberated from the domestic slavery of his care. It seems most men are unwilling to contemplate their own superfluity, director Terence Davies is such a man, and I am forced to wish his film A Quiet Passion a quiet death, starting Friday at Opera Plaza. To say A Quiet Passion lasts two hours is to give the reader no clue as to the mind-numbing parade of disconnected scenes that stretches from school years through indistinguishable family sit-downs and walk-abouts and posings spliced back-to-back with no perceptible evolution except changes in facial hair, principally the men’s. There’s one brilliant moment in a photographer’s studio, when Keith Carradine as the father morphs into an older version of himself, and the younger actors playing his three children morph into their older counterparts. Maybe I was simply eager to be done with Young Emily by minute 20. Too bad the mature versions Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Ehle, and Duncan Duff are too old for their parts and implausible as siblings. Why were they cast? Nixon has an unfortunate habit of never quite closing her mouth, and I found myself fixating on her teeth with something approaching dread. Duff has a distractingly weak mouth, and his

hairpiece is fussily fluffy and feathered like an aging rock star’s. Ehle repeatedly strains her smile to the breaking point in a manner contradicting any claim to warmth. I doubt I would’ve been so bored as to obsess about these things had the script worked. If there were a script. In this pretentious omnibus, scenes are set up like dominos too far spaced to engage their successors in chain reaction. Some vignettes are mercifully miserly of speech, but in the film’s disCourtesy of Music Box Films tended midsection actors spit out non sequitor aphorisms in Cynthia Nixon is Emily Dickinson in a hideous parody of wit. Cruel director Terence Davies’ A Quiet Passion. irony that cut-and-paste compilation passes for hommage middlebrow nursery rhymes. What to our supreme stylist of amuse and abuse he makes of Embiguous concision. Davies’ travesty ily’s poetry and letters! Well-known of chattering domesticity denies bits pop up in dialogue, and whole Dickinson’s communion with birdswaths are intoned in a singsong song and frog ribbit, not to mention voiceover that timidly respects forher expert gardening, belittling the mal structure while stopping dead seclusion necessary to her poetry, any flight into ecstasy. Davies all but while ignoring the depths of her destroys Dickinson’s legacy, dignity, love for women. and art. Best read her poems in a Davies’ direction of his own room of your own and leave this bloated script gives new meaning to dead pigeon to rot. the word self-indulgent, as scenes In 1976, Adrienne Rich, poet and slide onward without hindrance of radical feminist, wrote an essay on suspense or cause and effect. He Emily entitled “Vesuvius at Home,” makes it clear at the beginning that which you can read at Parnassus this is 19th-century New England Review online. The title gives the and therefore dour, that the family is measure of Emily’s gift: the context well-to-do yet freethinking, that peomight be domestic, but the message ple back then moved and thought is loud, scary, and soul-shattering. differently than we. So far, so good. Rich liberates Emily-the-genius Once he’s established these ground from all the condescending judgrules, however, he goes off the rails ments that had encrusted themwith wildly approximate renderings selves to Emily-the-spinster from of events in defiance of both emothe misogynist tradition. Forty years tional truth and historical record. on, Davies has slathered them all Worst of all, he makes Emily coy over her again, in an act of vandalverging on moronic, with a perism that has been praised by the petually sappy grin. There’s no cool, patriarchal papers. Sisters, take mordant, eye-of-god New Engnothing for granted. Ever.t land genius here, only homespun

Film>>

May 4-10, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 23

May flowers at the Castro Theatre by David Lamble

he Castro Theatre returns to classic repertory with some delicious old chestnuts along with new faves, such as a Sing-Along production of Disney’s latest hit animation, Moana. La La Land Sing-Along (2016) It falls to the Castro to allow patrons the first chance to accompany Damien Chazelle’s flashy, toe-tapping musical. The film brilliantly realizes its young director’s ambition to connect with our dreams, fears and desire to reimagine an almost forgotten genre, the MGMstyle musical, bursting out into song and dance. It’s the story of wannabe actress Mia (Emma Stone) and dedicated jazz piano man Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) battling to survive in a city famous for stamping out dreams, obliterating hearts and hopes. (5/5-6) Ghostbusters (1984) The story, co-written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, involves “paranormal investigators” out to rid Gotham of a ghostly infestation. Ivan Reitman’s big-budget comedy was a huge hit. With a splendid ensemble: Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts and Rick Moranis. The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984) Seldom-screened adventure from W.D. Richter is an enjoyable time-trip back to Reagan-era kitsch. With Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum and Christopher Lloyd. (both 5/6) Moana Sing-Along (5/7, 28-29) In a Lonely Place (1950) Humphrey Bogart is an angry screenwriter who juggles a relationship with aspiring starlet Gloria Grahame with a fight to clear himself of a murder charge. Nicholas Ray directed. High marks for its portrait of early-50s Hollywood. With Frank Lovejoy, Robert Warwick, Jeff Donnell and Martha Stewart. The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001) Typically off-kilter Coen Brothers drama finds wannabe dry

cleaner Billy Bob Thornton entangled in blackmail. With Frances McDormand, Tony Shalhoub, Scarlett Johansson and James Gandolfini. (both 5/7) The Women (1939) Hypercompetitive group of friends gets a female-friendly director (George Cukor) and all-women cast. Joan Crawford kills as a ruthless shopgirl, supported by Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland, Joan Fontaine, Paulette Goddard, Lucile Watson, Marjorie Main, Hedda Hopper and Butterfly McQueen. All About Eve (1950) “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night!” Now that the Bette Davis/Joan Crawford mudfight that was Feud has slithered away, time to recall Davis in her most iconic turn as Margo Channing, the aging star undone by a viciously ambitious ingenue (Anne Baxter). Joseph Mankiewicz’s literate bitchfest is carried off by a stellar cast including a very young Marilyn Monroe. (both 5/10) Beauty and the Beast SingAlong (5/11-16) Mildred Pierce (1945) Crawford is a woman obsessed with success in the restaurant business and winning the love of an ingrate daughter (Ann Blyth). With Jack Carson, Eve Arden and young gay actor Robert Arthur. Now, Voyager (1942) Bette Davis is a single Boston woman who hooks up with married hunk Paul Henreid. The affair is complicated by a nervous collapse prompted by a mother from hell. Oscar for Max Steiner’s score. With Claude Rains and Gladys Cooper, direction by Irving Rapper. (both 5/17) Wild at Heart (1990) David Lynch swings for the fences, comes up with a grand slam of weirdness. Young couple (Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern) heads out on the road in a film rich with Elvis and Wizard of Oz references. Stellar ensemble: Diane Ladd, Willem Dafoe, Harry Dean Stanton, J.E. Freeman. Angel Heart (1987) In director Alan Parker’s horror/noir, private

dick Harry Angel’s (Mickey Rourke) missing person case takes him to New Orleans, where danger awaits in spades. Robert De Niro, Charlotte Rampling. (both 5/19) The Birds (1963) Hitchcock’s sublime invocation of the power of nature’s creatures. Blond bombshell Tippi Hedren is the bait for a bird attack on Bodega Bay’s innocent bystanders. Village of the Damned (1995) Horrormeister John Carpenter joins forces with Dave Davies. Another No. Cal. community attacked by demons, here kids with crazy eyes. (both 5/21) The Times of Harvey Milk (1984) Rob Epstein’s Oscarwinning portrait of queer political messiah Harvey Milk has lost none of its relevancy. Some people are truly irreplaceable. Croon along with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in the Castro Theatre’s new attraction, a La La Land Sing-Along. (5/22, Noon screening free for students and seniors; 8 p.m. involving a liberal candidate poses Liotta) begins as an errand boy for screening sponsored by Harvey a challenge to his detective skills his Brooklyn hood’s goon squad. Milk LGBT Democratic Club. Harand remaining political ideals. He’s overshadowed by nastier men. vey Milk 87th birthday) With John Lithgow and F. Murray Scorsese regular Joe Pesci is frightWhat Ever Happened to Baby Abraham. (both 5/25) ening as a charismatic thug. Jane? (1962) Davis and Crawford in The Marriage of Maria Braun The Untouchables (1987) RobRobert Aldrich’s twisted melodrama (1978) Queer-identified German ert De Niro as Al Capone, Kevin on the unkind fate of aging movie director Rainer Werner Fassbinder Costner as G-Man Eliot Ness, Sean stars. begins and ends with terrible exConnery’s Oscar as Ness’ mentor, in Grey Gardens (1976) The Mayplosions. As we first meet Maria Brian De Palma’s Prohibition Chisles Brothers’ comic/sad portrait of (Hanna Schygulla), it’s 1943 and cago on steroids. two cousins of Jackie Kennedy livGermany is subject to nightly AlLA Confidential (1997) Curtis ing a shambling retirement in a catlied bombing raids. Maria marries Hanson’s scary-tense take on James infested East Hampton mansion. Hermann (Klaus Lowitsch) in the Elroy’s neo-noir novel. Set in cor(both 5/24) rubble of the town registry office. rupt 50s LA. Gay-bashing cops are The Long Goodbye (1973) Maria is a survivor whose life is more venal than the hoods, antiRobert Altman’s unique spin on dominated by two strong men. Mexican sentiment emboldens the Raymond Chandler private dick Fassbinder was contemptuous of LAPD into brutality, gossip columPhilip Marlowe. In shabby early-70s the German middle class. Many nist Danny De Vito holds sway, and LA, Marlowe has a series of nutof his 43 dramas are satirical asnobody in authority can be trusted. case rich clients (Sterling Hayden) saults on the post-war German Glorious trio of tough cops: Kevin and tries to coax his finicky cat to “economic miracle.” A master stoSpacey, Russell Crowe and Guy eat off-brand grub. Cameos from ryteller, Fassbinder illustrates the Pearce. Oscars to Best Supportthen-obscure muscle-boy Arnold title of his biography, Love is Colder ing Actress Kim Basinger and coSchwarzenegger, former baseball than Death. The last of 15 films screenwriter Hanson. (both 5/29) star Jim Bouton. photographed by Michael Balhaus. GoodFellas (1990) Peak of diThe Big Fix (1978) Richard In German with English subtitles. rector Martin Scorsese’s “married Dreyfuss as hapless private investi(both 5/31)t to the mob” saga. Henry Hill (Ray gator Moses Wine. A murder case

More foreign noir at the Roxie by Erin Blackwell

oreign films in black-and-white are some people’s idea of a snooze fest, but in my book they approach heaven on earth. Being foreign, for starters, is a big plus. They emit strange vocalizations dissonant to the ear, with guttural quirks and vowel distensions one isn’t allowed to perpetrate on the American tongue except for private moments in the bath. These transformations of everyday speech act as a trigger to an unconscious realm ready for any distortion of so-called objective reality into something more meaningful to the integrated psyche. You can test my theory as A Rare Noir Is

Good To Find returns to the Roxie Theater on Friday. Four days (5/5-8) are filled with 12 films programmed as six double features, more than the average human mind can possibly comprehend, but don’t let that stop you. Many corners of the globe are represented, so you could think of it as a tour of the world at breakneck speed. Asia is represented by Japan and Korea, Latin America by Mexico, South America by Brazil, the Middle East by Egypt, Great Britain standing alone as is sometimes its wont, Eastern Europe by then-Czechoslovakia and Poland, Western Europe by Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy twice.

Scene from Krakatit (1948), part of A Rare Noir Is Good To Find, returning to the Roxie.

It’s not the contemporary world you’ll be exploring, but the much greater chasm of the past, as these films date from 1947-60. Their worlds are not only foreign, they’re dead. The actors have aged and succumbed to mortality, the houses have crumbled, the clothes disintegrated, entire methods of manufacture have gone out of business and raw materials been eaten up. These films are time machines capturing ways of being no longer possible that, at the moment of filming, were the most ordinary and taken for granted. This privileged view of the Past, the trick of the camera to make you believe you’re watching real people walk through cobblestone streets and sit at cafe tables 60 years distant, is perhaps the best possible mental vacation you can buy for the price of a ticket. Getting hooked by a hero on the run from some demon, some nemesis, some agent of the law at his heels perks you up and keeps your mind on the matter. Meanwhile, the rest of your mind can’t help noticing the jumble of odd details that look nothing like your own life. Every one of these films is worth settling into a seat at the venerable Roxie for, assiduously curated as they are by Don Malcolm, who has scoured God knows what Aladdin’s cave to find them. Poor man, he’s just had a heart attack, so if you see him at a screening, don’t startle him. One film he won’t be watching, on those grounds, is the intriguingly

titled Krakatit (1948), a gorgeously surreal rendering of Karel Capek’s 1920 novel that foresaw a world at the mercy of atomic bombs. Named for the volcano Krakatoa, the chemical compound Krakatit makes its inventor’s life noisy hell. Some people refuse to watch a film with subtitles, thus missing out on some of the greatest films ever made, seeing them perhaps in a dumbed-down American version

that purposefully blunts the Romantic, anarchic, or existential message of the original. Americans who resist the allure of foreign films, and God knows it isn’t hard, are as limited in their imaginative potential as people who refuse foreign foods are in the subtlety of their palate. You don’t want to be a cinematic stooge, do you? Broaden your horizons. Live a little. The consciousness you enlarge will be your own.t

<< DVD

24 • Bay Area Reporter • May 4-10, 2017

Mink Stole, queen of the misfits BluRay release of Waters’ 1994 film Serial Mom. “I’m part of John’s alternate vision of the world. I’m very comfortable with that. I fully embrace it.” Stole is often told by people who don’t fit into what society considers normal how much her and Waters’ work has meant to them. “Young men have come up and thanked me for making it OK for them to be misfits,” she said. “It’s very humbling.” Stole was born Nancy Stoll in Baltimore, Waters’ hometown. “Mink Stole was a pun when we were younger. It was a fashion statement that stuck. Now everyone calls me Mink.” In Serial Mom, she plays suburban divorcee Dottie Hinkle, tormented by a series of obscene phone calls coming from her psychotic neighbor Beverly (Kathleen Turner). In side-splitting sequences, Beverly tricks Dottie into responding with the same “dirty” words that Dottie finds “distasteful.” It’s a 360-degree turn from Stole’s role in Waters’ Polyester (1981), where Stole’s character, her hair done up in

cornrows, tormented the late drag queen Divine. Waters has called Divine his “muse.” Stole had no problem with the language the scenes required, though the words are not part of her everyday speech. “I was a child who had a tantrum a day,” she said. “Screaming is not that difficult. I just choose not to use those words a lot because they make you sound stupid.” She spoke fondly of her mentor Waters. “John has no problem crossing lines,” she said of the filmmaker who convinced Divine to eat poodle shit in Pink Flamingos. “It’s hard to say what his legacy will be. He’s offered an alternative vision of the world.” Stole also shared her memories of Divine and Edith Massey, who captured the hearts of many as the bizarre “egg lady” in Pink Flamingos. Massey appeared in all of Waters’ films until her death from cancer in 1984. “Divine had such an appetite for life,” Stole said. “John never asked me to do the terrible things that

Divine was asked to do. There we were making a movie for no money, and Divine ate a cow heart [in Multiple Maniacs]!” According to Stole, Divine never got her due. “She really was a worthy adversary on screen. A really great actor. I had to work hard in scenes with Divine because of the visuals.” And Massey? “Edith was exactly what you saw on screen,” Stole said. “She never read a book, yet had a certain savvy-ness. She had illusions about being a movie star, and she was, within a certain subculture.” Stole is happy with the role she’s played in that subculture. “Without the misfits, the world would be a less interesting place.” Serial Mom, a mad send-up of the slasher and gore flicks Waters has admired since his youth, is now on BluRay in a Collector’s Edition from Shout Factory. The disc includes a short documentary on the career of Herschell Gordon Lewis, whose film Blood Feast (1963) partially inspired Waters’ film. Also included is an onscreen chat with Waters, Turner and Stole.t

and sophisticated in looks and demeanor. Lepore became drawn to the feminine aspects of life: Barbie dolls, long, luxurious blond hair, a sexy style of carrying oneself across a room, and the ways a slinky seductress can captivate a man’s attention. While this predilection infuriated her father, Lepore refused to deny her yearnings as she doted over her mother, who suffered with paranoid schizophrenia. Though her parents eventually separated, Lepore marched on with her own agenda, including a shocking sex-change operation at the tender age of 17 in Yonkers, NY. Clearly, this is a woman who knew what she wanted right from the beginning. The book, ghostwritten by Thomas Flannery, Jr., is more than a retread of the author’s history. There are tips on everything from makeup application to style choices, hair bleaching, nails, the rules of femininity, how she satisfies men visually and sexually, and, directed at readers who may be embarking on their own gender transformation, the ways and means of female hormones. Lepore is honest about her failed teenage marriage, her abandonment

of that marriage, and her arrival in Manhattan, where she began working as a dominatrix at an S&M club, The Key. She had the strength and perseverance required to overcome her critics and conquer the see-andbe-seen party scenes of 1990s NYC. She is credited with fueling the print campaigns for M.A.C. cosmetics, Armani Jeans, and high-fashion photographers like David LaChapelle and Steven Klein. Not liking to be out of control of how she looks or behaves, Lepore rarely drinks alcohol, and completely abstains from drugs. Intimate details include Amanda’s 38-22-38 measurements, standing at a diminutive 5’2”, and a series of grueling cosmetic enhancements ranging from eye surgery, nose and breast augmentations, forehead lift, and lip enlargements to achievement of an hourglass figure through her diminished waistline. This meant Lepore had to endure broken bottom ribs, performed in a Mexican clinic. She doubts she will ever remarry, but she’s on Tinder and dates often. Readers who invest in this lavish book should come for the words but stay glued to the page for the parade of flawlessly styled, posed,

and flesh-revealing photographs, proving that the hyper-feminine Lepore (who has been called part Jayne Mansfield, part Jessica Rabbit) is a connoisseur of skintight fashion, glamour, makeup, and

attention-attracting attitude. She proves herself a flashy, fearless, catlike transsexual chanteuse with this must-have coffee-table memoir resonant for its story, and memorable for its provocative imagery.t

the ball ever becomes a plot-point meets poor Cinderella disguised as a beggar. They become friends. What’s British about it is using ballet to tell a story well. With American dancing, technical excellence is often 90% of the show. In Europe, especially London, it’s only a prerequisite, and the dancers have to be able to act, evoke atmosphere, epoch and style. What’s American about it is the frank interest in the human side. This revival arrived slightly undercooked on opening night. The stars Frances Chung and Joseph Walsh lacked chemistry, though they danced together wonderfully in Frankenstein earlier in the season. The reticence that worked so well for Walsh as the young scientist who becomes paralyzed with remorse was no use to him in creating a dashing, glamorous, warm-hearted prince. Walsh is maybe the best new male dancer on the roster, but he does not do the princely thing well. In fact, white tights seem like Kryptonite for him. Normally the strongest presence on the stage in contemporary work, as a prince in Swan Lake and here in Cinderella he

seems slightly embarrassed to have all eyes on him. Without that strong partnership chemistry, and despite Chung’s fabulous solos, the burden fell heavily on the brilliantly staged mannerisms Wheeldon has lavished on Cinders’ family – the horrible stepmother (wonderfully done by Jennifer Stahl) and the awful stepsister (Sasha De Sola, who shone brighter than any other performer in the whole show). The other stepsister (Ellen Rose Hummel) was sweet and charming as she fell in love with the Prince’s sidekick, Benjamin (Taras Domitro, in a very strong performance). Cinderella has further tremendous assets: first, the glorious score by Prokofiev, who tells the story in the music (played with power by the orchestra, directed by Martin West). Then there’s the scenic genius that makes Nature take an active part in making Cinderella happy. The seedling she planted at her mother’s grave, which she waters with her tears, grows into a tree that takes over the whole stage and sends forth fairies and nature spirits to groom and prepare her for the ball. In

magical ways, created by the puppeteer Basil Twist, it envelopes her, and gives her as it were a second birth, with a magical carriage that rides her on to glory. This is a miracle of stagecraft that makes it seem as if all the powers of Nature are on her side, and she will bring new life and power to the royal family. All these elements – especially the scenery, dancing, and music organized to dazzle the senses while underpinning an argument about who should have power and how it should be used – belong to the grand court spectacle that comes down to us from the Renaissance. Humanists made poems, plays, and ballets to teach lessons in good governance. It doesn’t hurt that Cinderella confirms us in our desire to be decent and generous of spirit, and let the cream rise to the top. Similarly, Philharmonia Baroque may have a hit on its hands with the opera-ballet Le Temple de Gloire, a thrilling account of Rameau’s first setting of Voltaire’s libretto advising Louis XV to emulate the noble emperor Trajan, who treated the kings he conquered with clemency,

and not follow the examples of the monstrous tyrants Belus and the intemperate god Bacchus, who overwhelm their subjects and reduce them to abject dependency. There isn’t room here to describe the three-hour extravaganza in detail, but it’s worth mentioning that despite the fact that the text came in supertitles, there came a smatter of applause at “A tyrant knows no shame,” when Voltaire seemed to be rebuking President Trump for bullying. Philharmonia Baroque was joined by superb singers of the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles and forces of the New York Baroque Dance Ensemble (director: Catherine Turocy), whose limpid, wonderfully light dances flowed like water over rocks as they embodied shepherds, muses, and other creatures sympathetic to the virtues of magnanimity. Baroque dance is ballet in an earlier form, and Rameau’s music is extremely danceable. It was a huge production – scores of singers in the chorus, scores of musicians in the pit, wonderfully directed by Nicholas McGegan. And the house was full.t

Kathleen Turner (R) torments Mink Stole in John Waters’ Serial Mom.

by David-Elijah Nahmod

ink Stole embraces her role as a “Dreamlander,” which is how iconic gay filmmaker John Waters refers to his rep company of actors. Early Waters efforts like Pink Flamingos (1972) and Female Trouble (1974) were released as Dreamland productions. Stole is

one of three performers who have appeared in every Waters film, Pink Flamingos onward. She’s parlayed her Waters fame into a full-time acting career, appearing in many films outside the Waters universe. Stole’s extensive filmography includes a number of gay independent films. “I’m part of something,” Stole told the B.A.R., promoting the

Sex & the sequins by Jim Piechota

Doll Parts by Amanda Lepore; Regan Arts Press, $39.99

he sings and dances, she dazzles and glistens with glitter and glam. She’s the ultimate celebutante, a fixture of New York City gay nightlife and international venues from Austria to Australia. She is Amanda Lepore, and for those not familiar with her life as a platinum blond, socialite transgender model and performer, the author’s art, opinions, her buxom, bodacious body, and everything in-between are exposed in Doll Parts, a new, exquisite pictorial memoir that will leave no doubt about her legacy or her outspokenness. Lepore’s glossy memoir spans a life from early confusion to a reawakening that led her to doll-like, body-enhancing plastic surgeries and the emergence of the woman known as Amanda. At 49, she boasts of having “the most expensive body on Earth,” yet her beginnings were humble. She was born Armand Lepore in 1967 into a suburban New Jersey family, a chemical engineer father and a mother who was elegant

Cinderella

From page 17

Wheeldon’s Cinderella could be seen from this angle as a kind of Kate Middleton Story. It’s not just that the Duchess of York is in fact a latter-day Cinderella, but also, the ballet seems designed to persuade the monarch to have a heart, ease up on the dignity already, and if there’s going to be a royal family, they’ve got to be more like the rest of the people. Granted, the first thing you think about Wheeldon might be An American in Paris, his smash Broadway hit show with jazz at its core. He has lived and worked for so long in the USA it’s not necessary to connect him with his origins in the Royal Ballet School and Company, and this piece was not co-commissioned by SFB and the RB but with the Dutch National Ballet. But it does have one foot in the US and the other in Europe, and the strengths all have to do with making the prince into a real character, someone we like, who goes on adventures with his sidekick, and long before

On the Town

Karrnal Knowledge

Shining Stars Vol. 47 • No. 18 • May 4-10, 2017

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San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

Purple I Reign North Beach clubs exploded with talent in the '50s and '60s

by Michael Flanagan

f you know much about the lives of LGBT people in North Beach before Stonewall, you probably know about the world of Allen Ginsberg and the Beats or maybe about the plethora of lesbian bars there. What you probably do not know is that in a few short years North Beach was ground zero for a host of talented musicians, comics and poets not associated with the Beats – and that there was a sizeable participation from people “in the life” in that explosion of talent. See page 26 >>

Gareth Gooch

The Purple Onion in North Beach in the 1950s.

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Fri 5

Juanita More!’s Cinco de Mayo @ Oasis

ood, flames, frolics and fey fun fill out festive week of nightlife events.

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26 • Bay Area Reporter • May 4-10, 2017

San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

Left: The Purple Onion Right: Comic Phyllis Diller in the 1950s.

Purple Reign

From page 25

The Purple Onion (140 ColumAbove: Lenny Bruce getting arrested in 1961. Below: A sarcastic bus Street) was central to that world. newspaper ad for one of Lenny Bruce’s shows at Ann’s 440 Club. I first discovered that there were gay connections to the club while readan audition, and that’s how I began Mona’s 440). And Ann’s 440 was also ing Phyllis Diller’s autobiography, performing.” the club which introduced the world Like A Lampshade In A Whorehouse. In August 1955 Phyllis Diller, to two amazing talents: Lenny Bruce “Housing 170 seats that were Maya Angelou and Rod McKuen and Johnny Mathis. basically director’s chairs, the Purall appeared on the same bill at the Bruce opened at Ann’s 440 on ple Onion was an intimate joint. club. Aside from Diller, Angelou April 1, 1958. He was an instant To the left, after you walked down and McKuen, there were other artsensation, being quoted in Herb a steep flight of sixteen steps from ists who made their mark for the Caen the day after he opened. He the street, was the bar – a very first time on the Purple Onion’s ran through June of that year and active gay bar.” stage, including the Kingston Trio in many ways it was during this Diller clearly was a hit with the and the Smothers Brothers (they rerun that he was discovered. Fantasy men at the bar. In 2011 she told the corded their first album there). No Records caught his show there and CBC, “My first audience…was gay doubt they were a hit with the bar offered him a record contract and people, because they have a great patrons as well. Hugh Hefner also saw him there sense of humor.” The Purple Onion was not the and hired him to perform at the But the bar wasn’t the only gay only club in North Beach which was Playboy Club. connection to the club. The person both introducing new talent and But it was really when he returned who would get Diller on stage there entertaining the community. Ann’s to San Francisco on October 3, 1961 for the first time on March 7, 1955 440 (440 Broadway) had been a leswas Lloyd Clark. See page 27 >> bian bar since the 1930s (when it was Clark was a drama coach who initially worked with Diller’s inspiration Jorie Remus in 1953 and had worked with Marguerite Johnson in 1954. He worked with her on her calypso music, changed her stage name to Maya Angelou. and a legend was born. Diller describes Clarek as “a nightclub person who had tremendous connections to the Purple Onion. Suave, darkhaired, pencil-thin and overtly gay, he was there every night with a huge white mound who happened to be his wife.” The emcee and manager of the club was Barry Drew. Diller describes him as “an older gay guy who had been a radio star in Chicago and a member of the famous Barrymore theatrical family. He now owned a tenth of the club and took care of the lights, the sound, the announcements, the greetings at the door and nurturing the new green performers…Barry was a wonderful housemother as well as a gentle person with a great sense of humor.” Drew continued as the club’s manager until 1962, when he died under suspicious circumstances. Diller contributed to the gay atmosphere of the club as well. In 1955 she introduced a folk singer to the club. Reflecting on his first time on stage, Rod McKuen told the Bay Area Reporter in 2002, “When I got out Found SF of the army in 1955, Phyllis had blossomed into a comic and Peggy Tolk-Watkins, owner of the Tin Angel. was starring at a place called the Purple Onion. She got me

Read more online at www.ebar.com

May 4-10, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 27

Seasonal celebrations

Nueana.com

Left: Petchitecture at the Fairmont Hotel, May 4. Middle: Alexis Miranda cohosts Cinco de Meow-O at The Cinch May 6. Right: Singer Lawrence Beamen performs at Bliss 2017, Maitri’s gala, at the Presidio’s Golden Gate Club, May 7.

by Donna Sachet

s the famously unseasonal San Francisco weather begins to promise sunny days ahead, let’s look toward some upcoming events well worth a mention. Tonight, Thursday, May 4, we hope to see you at that unique gala called Petchitecture, benefiting Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) and inviting supporters and their canine companions to the Fairmont Hotel; yes, this is one classy affair that includes well-dressed humans and dogs alike. (Attention: Licensed and vaccinated dogs on leash are welcome.) 6PM is the time to arrive to enjoy cocktails with friends, to make new friends with the adorable dogs roaming about, and to bid on an incredible assortment of silent auction items. At 7:30PM, we’ll be seated for the program, including a performance by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, presentation of the

Purple Reign

From page 26

to the Jazz Workshop (473 Broadway) that his connection to Ann’s 440 became fixed in history. In that show he performed a routine named after the club which got him arrested. Bruce took liberties in describing the club (switching gay men for lesbians) and the offending section of the routine, described in Ronald Collins and David Skover’s The Trials of Lenny Bruce was as follows: Lenny: Well, what kind of a show is it, man? Agent: Well, you know… Lenny: No, I don’t know, man, sounds like a weird show… Agent: Well, it’s not a show, they’re just a bunch of cocksuckers, that’s all. It’s a damned fag show. Lenny: Oh. Well, that is a pretty bizarre show. I don’t know what I can do in that kind of a show. Agent: No, it’s—we want you to change all that. Lenny: Chri—I don’t…that’s a big gig eh.. I can just tell them to stop doin’ it. Heh heh. After concluding the show, Bruce was arrested and booked for lewd and obscene language for using what the Chronicle called “vernacular of the pool hall in connection with a certain sexual act.” That the paper saw the description as being of an act and not a person gives you an idea as to why Bruce was challenging sensibilities.

Dede Wilsey Champion of the Human-Animal Bond Award, and recognition of this year’s 30th anniversary Pet Idols, whose photos will be featured in upcoming PAWS promotions. If you are looking for a more relaxed evening in support of a wonderful organization, Petchitecture is the one for you! Looking for a great way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Head to Oasis this Friday for performances by some of San Francisco’s top Latina queens, including Juanita More!, Dulce De Leche, Grace Towers, and many more. Chef Cory Alexander Armenta offers up Juanita More!’s famous tamales in the Fez Room while DJs Oscar Pineda and Juan provide dance music all night. A day later, the Cinco de Mayo party continues at The Cinch on Polk Street, 4-7PM, where Absolute Empress XXIX China Silk presents her Emperor XXXII, A. N., Fernando’s annual fundraiser He was tried the next year and in the court of Clayton W. Horn (the same judge who heard the “Howl” trial) was found not guilty. Johnny Mathis was playing at a small club across the street from Ann’s when he was discovered. Issan Dorsey (then Tommy Dorsey), the former abbot of the Hartford Street Zen Center, reported in his book Street Zen that he and club owner Ann Dee argued for years as to which of them discovered Mathis. Regardless, he met both his manager Helen Noga (of the Black Hawk club) and the head of A&R from Columbia Records at Ann’s in 1956 and it launched his career. The Tin Angel (981 Embarcadero) was run by Peggy Tolk-Watkins, a bohemian who had moved to Sausalito from Black Mountain College with her lover Harriet Sohmers Zwerling. In 1953 Tolk-Watkins gave Odetta her premiere run from August through December. Fantasy Records recorded Odetta’s first record there. Tolk-Watkins was a painter (she had a show at the De Young) and designed album covers for Paul Desmond and Cal Tjader. She appeared on the cover of Lenny Bruce’s Interviews of Our Times. North Beach LGBT culture was more than the Beats and the bars. It contributed music, poetry and comedy which are remembered to today. It was also a space where bohemians of all stripes and sexualities mixed freely and gave us allies before the word was even used. It deserves to be remembered in all of its complexity.t

Cinco de Meow-O. Although this beloved Emperor died some years ago, his memory continues to be honored by many and money will be raised to help others in his name on that day. The raucous show will be emceed by Emperor John Carrillo and Empress Alexis Miranda, two of our proud Latin monarchs, and the camp Chico Chulo and Chika Diva contest always pleases. On Sunday, May 7, 4-8PM, the hilarious and always topical Marga Gomez hosts Bliss 2017, Maitri’s signature gala and auction at the Golden Gate Club at the Presidio. Entertainment is provided by jazz musicians Justin Rock and Jonathan Bautista, the Lesbian/ Gay Chorus of San Francisco, Man Dance Apprentice Company, and

Lawrence Beamen of America’s Got Talent fame. Maitri is celebrating 30 years of compassionate service to those struggling with AIDS and we encourage you to support their important work. Among the big annual galas and many other worthy fundraisers coming up, please keep an eye out for events in support of those organizations most threatened by drastic changes in national policies and draconian budget cuts. For instance, The Cinch is hosting a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood on Saturday, May 13, 2-6PM, and May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia, marked by a gathering in Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro and celebrating the release from prison of Chelsea Manning.

And don’t miss opportunities to embrace the beautiful diversity of our LGBTQ community at events like Live in the Castro, Saturday, May 20, noon-4PM, in Jane Warner Plaza, featuring entertainment by Gregangelo, musician Kippy Marks, and those popular flaggers of San Francisco. That night, we join Leanne Borghesi to sing with the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom band in concert at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel for the second annual Spotlight on Broadway; come and sing along with your favorites! Whatever lies ahead for you, as always, never forget what an incredibly special place we call home! And if you give back a little, you’ve become a part of what makes it such a special place.t

<< On the Tab

28 • Bay Area Reporter • May 4-10, 2017

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

Ror:Shok @ SF Eagle 2nd anniversary of the night with Johnny Rockitt, Rita Dambook, Punky Pebbles, Amanda Bang, Echo. $7. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

RuPaul’s Drag Race Viewings @ Various Bars

Thu 4

Kick off Season 9 of the popular drag competition show. 8pm at Oasis (cohosted by Honey Mahogany and Sister Roma), Beaux, Toad Hall, Midnight Sun, Port Bar Oakland and other venues. www.logotv.com

Mommie Queerest @ Oasis

Thu 4 Costume Karaoke @ Club OMG Dana hosts the monthly costumed sing-along. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Junk @ Powerhouse Free coat/clothes check when you strip down to your skivvies at the cruisy SoMa bar, with hosts mrPam and Dulce de Leche, Steamworks & lube prizes. $5. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Kingdom of Sodom @ Nob Hill Theatre The monthly clothing-optional play party features a sex show with porn studs Kurtis Wolfe and Josh Connors. $20. 9pm-1am. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758 thenobhilltheatre.com

Mary Go Round @ Lookout Mercedez Munro and Holotta Tymes’ weekly drag show. $5. 10:30pm show. DJ Philip Grasso. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Mommie Queerest @ Oasis Peaches Christ and Heklina return in this high-camp drag parody of the Joan Crawford biopic. $25, $35 and VIP $225 tables. 7pm. Also May 5, 6, 7. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

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

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

Queer Jitterbugs @ Center for Sex and Culture Swing dancing, same-sex and opposite, and ASL-inclusive. $15. 5pm and 6pm lessons. 7:30-10pm dancing. 18+. 349 Mission St. www.queerjitterbugs.com

So You Think you Can Gogo @ Port Bar, Oakland Dance competition hosted by Kylie Minono with cash prizes. 9pm-2am. 2023 Broadway. (510) 823-2099. www.portbaroakland.com

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle Music night with local and touring bands. May 4 features drag rockers the Ethel Merman Experience, Maria Konner’s Not From Jersey, and Kallisto. $8. 9:30pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Fri 5 Ain’t Mama’s Drag @ Balancoire Weekly drag queen and drag king show hosted by Cruzin d’Loo. 8pm10pm. No cover. 2565 Mission St. www.balancoiresf.com

Bear Happy Hour @ Midnight Sun

Stank @ Powerhouse

Hairy men and their pals enjoy 2-for-1 drinks and no cover. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Desperate Living @ The Stud Queer rock and roll night, with Brooklyn band Aye Nako, plus drag acts and DJs Teeny Turner, BJ and guest Shawna Shawnté. $5. 10pm3am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Body odor appreciation night, with a smelly pits contest; Leon and mrPam instigating, gogos wafting. $5. 10pm1am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Civic Symphony Association Gala @ War Memorial Green Room

Sat 6 Go Bang! @ The Stud

Enjoy drinks, hors d’eouvres and beautiful chamber music at the symphony’s fundraiser; semi-formal attire, please. $125 and up. 6pm-10pm. 401 Van Ness Ave. www.sfcivicsymphony.org

Gershwin and Friends @ Hotel Rex Vocalist Annemarie Ballinger and a three-piece band play classic songs. $30-$50. 8pm. 562 Sutter St. www.societycabaret.com

Go Bang! @ The Stud The groovy disco dance night brings its second tribute to House Music legend Ron Hardy; with residents Steve Fabus, Prince Wolf and Sergio Fedasz, plus guest DJs Dru Deep and the Go Bang All-Stars. $5-$8. 9:30pm-3am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Kelli Dunham @ Spark Arts Leak of Faith, the genderqueer ex-nun’s comic’s show about bathroom rights and more, with guests Katrina Goodlet and Red Durkin. $8-$60. 7pm. 4229 18th St. www.kellidunham.com www.sparkarts.com

Mother @ Oasis Heklina hosts the fun drag show with weekly themes. May 6 is Broadway Babies with Jinkx Monsoon. DJ MC2 spins dance grooves before and after the show. $10. 10pm3am (11:30pm show). 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com Butch and femme collide as Juanita More! and Mr. David transform/create a first-time drag queen; this month, Tom Temprano! $5. 9pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Open mic night at the downtown hotel’s lounge, with MC Bill Cooper and pianist Barry Lloyd. $20. 7pm. 562 Sutter St. www.societycabaret.com

Various DJs play house music, and a few hotties gogo dance at the new gay bar’s weekly event. 9pm-2am. 2023 Broadway. (510) 823-2099. www.portbaroakland.com

Enjoy an extra weekend night at the fun Castro nightclub, with Au Jus, plus hot local DJs and sexy gogo guys and gals. $8. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.Beauxsf.com

Powerblouse @ Powerhouse

Curtain Call @ Hotel Rex

DTF Fridays @ Port Bar, Oakland

Big Top @ Beaux

The local listings pocket guide hosts a fundraiser for Theatre Rhinoceros, with cohosts Leanne Borghesi and Scott Gessford, the summer issue cover model finalists, raffles, Jell-O shots and music. $10. 4pm-7pm. 2344 Market St. www.gaypocketUSA.com

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

Cinco de Mayo @ Oasis Juanita More! hosts a delicious tamale and drag night, with Voodonna Black, Dulce de Leche, Grace Towers, Persia, Fiera Boy Young, DJs Taco Tuesday and Juan, FBFE taking photos, and more. $10$15. 10pm-3am. 298 11th St at Folsom www.juanitamore.com www.sfoasis.com

Gay Pocket Party @ Beaux

Lips and Lashes Brunch @ Lookout

Gareth Gooch

Edited for space. Full listings at www.ebar.com/bartab

Sex, Drags & Rock n Roll @ Midnight Sun

Thu 4

Mutha Chucka’s hilarious monthly drag show celebrates Stevie Nicks’s 69th birthday, with Laundra Tyme, Mary Wannah and Miss Nix; twirling in shawls appreciated. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

The Ethel Merman Experience at Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle

Shake It Up @ Port Bar, Oakland

Hella Gay Comedy @ Club OMG Weekly women & queers comedy night hosted by Debbie Devereaux (aka Charlie Ballard). No cover. Open mic, too. 6pm-8pm. 43 6th St. www.clubOMGsf.com

Kurtis Wolfe, Josh Conners @ Nob Hill Theatre The two porn studs perform sex shows at 10pm, and Wolfe solos at 8pm. Also May 5. $25. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland The Latin dance night includes drag acts hosted by Lulu and Jacqueline, and gogo studs. April 21 is a special Selena tribute night, with a lookalike contest and cash prize. $10-$20. 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. www.club21oakland.com

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

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

Sat 6 Bollywood Blast @ Club OMG Dance night to cool Indian dance grooves at the intimate nightclub. 9pm-2am. 43 6th St. clubOMGsf.com

La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland Latin, hip hop and Electro music night. 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. www.club21oakland.com

Club Rimshot @ Club BNB, Oakland The weekly hip hop and R&B night. $5-$15. 9pm to 4am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Frolic @ SF Eagle The monthly fursuit fun party returns at its new location. $8 with fursuit or animal costume, $12 not. 8pm-1am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.frolicparty.com www.sf-eagle.com

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

Woof @ SF Eagle Human pup mosh, with mats and play space. 2pm-5pm. 2pm-5pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Sun 7 Beer Bust @ SF Eagle The classic leather bar’s most popular Sunday daytime event in town draws the menfolk. Beer bust donations benefit local nonprofits. $10. 3pm6pm. Now also on Saturdays. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Tue 8 Todrick Hall @ UC Theatre

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

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

Femme Brunch @ Balancoire Weekly live music shows with various acts, along with brunch buffet, bottomless Mimosas, champagne and more, at the stylish nightclub and restaurant, with live entertainment and DJ Shawn P. $15-$20. 11am-3pm. After that, Femme T-Dance drag shows at 7pm, 10pm and 11pm. 2565 Mission St. at 21st. 920-0577. www.balancoiresf.com

Dark Meat @ Powerhouse Kinky darkwave dance night with Jim Collins and Hallow Eve. $5. 10pm2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

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

Jock @ The Lookout Enjoy the weekly jock-ular fun, with DJed dance music at sports team fundraisers. 12pm-1am. NY DJ Sharon White from 3pm-6pm. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 The country-Western line-dancing two-stepping dance events celebrates 18 years! Free, including lessons for newbies. 5pm-10:30pm. 550 Barneveld Ave. www.sundancesaloon.org

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

Mon 8 Epic Karaoke @ White Horse, Oakland Mondays and Tuesdays popular weekly sing-along night. No cover. 8:30pm1am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 6523820. www.whitehorsebar.com

Karaoke Night @ SF Eagle Sing along, with host Beth Bicoastal, prizes, local celeb judges, and $2 draft beer. 8pm-12am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

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

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

See page 30 >>

Read more online at www.ebar.com

May 4-10, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 29

Helix, he scores

Helix Studios

Usual top Calvin Banks, left, gets ready to submit to Max Carter, in a Helix Studios scene.

by John F. Karr

irst off, I’m sure you’ve heard last week’s announcement of Sebastian Kross’ retirement from porn. Even though he’s stuck to the same routine ever since his first scene, I’ll miss him; miss his bright personality and eager eyes; miss that handsome, formidable dick. I can also appreciate that he’s not sticking around too long. Like retiring opera diva Renée Fleming, whose dick is not as

big as Sebastian’s but who sings better, he’s going out on top. And then there’s my happy reacquaintance with Boomer Banks. I’d not been his fan, since the character he’d been groomed to play was just plain ornery, with a hard expression and unyielding performance. But along with a truly big dick, those qualities connote Butch to many a viewer. So he was popular, and I just shut up and skipped his scenes. Boomer’s recently gone to work at

Randy Blue

Top: Calvin Banks throws his top-man thrills into Joey Mills, in a Helix Studios scene. Bottom: Enticing packaging reveals the wonderments of Hayden Clark (right), seen here with Chip Tanner.

CockyBoys, where a makeover has revealed his true nature and made me a fan. Turns out, he’s human after all. He’s eager and approachable. He smiles. He has fun. More than that, he is fun. I especially enjoy seeing his personal life, and appreciating his creativity, wit and cordiality. Did you know his mama raised him to be a dressmaker? He’s got other unexpected traits that Butch guys aren’t supposed to exhibit. He’s still butch on-screen, but he’s gotten out from under its carapace. And now, on to the main event. Very often, I need a break from the Butch that’s all around us. And then I turn to Helix Studios, and the fresh appeal of its tonic youths. They may not be younger than springtime, what we used to call chicken, for that might prove illegal. But they’re young men. Just don’t call them boys. The porn industry is wary of terms that connote chicken-ness. It’s that old curse, the fear of Lily Law screaming, “Pedophilia!” To prevent censors from becoming inflamed, I’ve got to be wary when using words to describe Helix performers like Boy, or Kid. Watch out for tad, tyke and cub. And avoid altogether, juvenile and child. For sure, when I first met Helix, some years ago, their boys, kids, tads and tykes were just barely legal, and groomed to look, with blushing cheek and shaven groin, oh, eleven or twelve. Also, Helix movies of those days suffered frequently from poor focus and bad lighting. There are no such problems now. The studio’s technical efforts have matured, even while its performers still look young – just not too young. These days, they most often resemble Falcon performers, except more in their waxing stages; more smooth and slender; toned, instead of gymbuffed. Their pubic hair may still be either clipped or entirely shaved, which accentuates their youth, along with their lack of tattoos and most piercings (I did see the errant tongue stud, a piercing that seems to be known only among the very young.) Reminiscent of spring, oh yes, but without any effort to pass them off as the dreaded fowl. And man, they’ve got a lot of big ol’ adult sorta cocks hangin’ heavy on them, which they nowadays frequently employ bareback, and from which they more frequently enjoy oral cum shots. Perhaps best known in the coop was Max Carter. He was a Helix superstar, his blond hair flopping, and his dick mighty big. These days, he’s more active as a filmmaker. When he does appear on screen, his dick is still mighty big, but he’s gone and raggedly shorn his hair. That was silly. How plain he looks without it. His sweet temperament remains, and top or bottom, in over 80 scenes, the guy has always known how to have sex. So, Max remains a Forever Fave. Here are a few more to whom I’m partial. A recent Carter scene pairs him with lean Calvin Banks, who is ID’ed as Max’s boyfriend. That was last year. Calvin’s moved on to other studios, including NakedSword and CockyBoys, where his flip-fuck with Boomer Banks will certainly finish you off. Who knows who his BF is now. In this Helix scene with Max, I love his since shorn tangle of curly hair. But his cock looks to be as long as Coit Tower is tall, and probably lights up at night, too. It’s got dark veins up the underside, and a lippopper rim ‘round the head. “Damn!” says Carter when he sees it. Due to its size, Calvin’s cast mostly as a top. He has protested that he’s only a top, with the emphasis on only. But I think that was marketing. With Max, he bottoms with ease and much-moaning responsiveness. And the excitement is great when his cock is greatly exposed and banging around as he rides Max.

Calvin shows his topping skill with sweet Joey Mills, throwing rapid thrusts from the hips, and deep, very deep and grinding penetration. Joey’s got that Robbie Benson thing going on, with lush red lips and dewy eyes ringed with thick lashes. And get this: he’s got braces on his teeth. What a signifier for youth. Blond Josh Brady is beefier than the usual Helix performer. Salivate over his plump, veiny cock, and big white buns in his great scene with

Justin Owens, whose body will have a lot of growing to do if it’s ever going to catch up with his cock. Hayden Clark is a personable brunette, whose cock will make your eyes do a Wile E. Coyote sorta thing. It’s not overly long, but it’s the thickest piece of timber this side of a redwood. It’s all about the girth, baby. You’ll be amazed. Helix doesn’t offer cock rings, leather or cigars, just the ardency of youth.t

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30 • Bay Area Reporter • May 4-10, 2017

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On the Tab

From page 28

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

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

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

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

Comedy Showcase @ SF Eagle

Tue 9 Game Night @ Midnight Sun Video game fun, Wheel O’ Cocktails, and board games. 9pm2am. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

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

Thu 11 Jarrod Spector @ Feinstein’s

Hella Saucy @ Q Bar Queer dance party at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

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

Hysteria @ Martuni’s Irene Tu and Jessica Sele cohost the comedy open mic night for women and queers. No cover. 6pm-8:30pm. 4 Valencia St.

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

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre Strip down as the strippers also take it all off. $20. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

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

Todrick Hall @ UC Theatre The innovative musician and director presents his Straight Outta Oz concert-theatre show. $38-$103. 8pm. 2036 University Ave., Berkeley. www.theuctheatre.org

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

Wed 10 Alternative Fags @ Powerhouse Cruisy lounge décor and drink specials. $5. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

The Flaming Lips @ Fox Theater, Oakland The groovy rock band performs; Klangstof opens. $50. 8pm. 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. www.apeconcerts.com

Girl Scout @ Port Bar, Oakland The weekly women’s happy hour and dance night with DJ Becky Knox. 6pm10pm. 2023 Broadway. www.portbaroakland.com

Playmates or soul mates, you’ll find them on MegaMates Always FREE to listen and reply to ads!

San Francisco:

(415) 692-5774 www.megamates.com 18+

Thu 11 Courtney Act @ Oasis The Aussie drag performer ( RuPaul’s Drag Race ) brings The Girl From Oz to the SoMa nightclub. $25-$35. 8pm. Also May 12., 7pm. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Jarrod Spector @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The Tony-nominated star of Jersey Boys and Beautiful: The Carole King Story returns after his recent sold out concerts at the intimate upscale nightclub. $40-$60; $20 food/drink min. 8pm. Also May 12. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.jarrodspector.com

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

Latin Drag Night @ Club OMG Weekly Latin night with drag shows hosted by Vicky Jimenez. $5-$10. 9pm-2am. 43 6th St. clubomgsf.com

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

Pan Dulce @ Beaux The hot weekly Latin dance night with sexy gogo guys, drag divas, and more, returns to the Castro, with Club Papi’s Frisco Robbie and Fabian Torres. May 10 includes porn pup Armond Rizzo. $5 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Thu 11 Courtney Act @ Oasis

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

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

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Disco guru DJ Bus Station John spins grooves at the intimate retro music night. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com Want your nightlife event listed? Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event. Event photos welcome.

Read more online at www.ebar.com

May 4-10, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 31

Shining Stars Steven Underhill Photos by

Pan Dulce @ Beaux

he eagerly anticipated return of Pan Dulce, the Latin hip hop dance night, brought out appreciative crowds on April 26, who shook their cucus, as did an array of gogo guys and gals. Pan Dulce, now Wednesdays at Beaux, 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com More photo albums are on BARtab’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife. See more of Steven Underhill’s photos at www.StevenUnderhill.com.

Read more online at www.ebar.com

April 27-May 3, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 31

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For headshots, portraits or to arrange your wedding photos

call (415) 370-7152 or visit www.StevenUnderhill.com or email stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

AN HIV EVENT THIS INSPIRING DOESN’T COME TO SAN FRANCISCO EVERY DAY. Informative sessions and workshops • Interactive exhibits Health & Wellness booths

MAY 13 SATURDAY

Join the conversation about setting — and getting to — your new goals to do more than be undetectable.

Reserve your spot today. Food will be available. Call 1-844-682-7234

11 AM to

2 PM

SF LGBT CENTER 1800 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94102