November 2, 2017 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

Gay cruise to stop in Jamaica

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Castro shooting mars Halloween

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ARTS

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Disability Film Fest

29

Nightlife events

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Vol. 47 • No. 44 • November 2-8, 2017

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Gay dad pens new book

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Nightlife events

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www.ebar.com

Since 1971, the newspaper of record for the San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ community

LGBT history cruise to stop in anti-gay Jamaica

Pride of the Ocean’s “Saving History” cruise takes place in February.

Vol. 47 • No. 44 • November 2-8, 2017

Court blocks Trump’s trans ban

President Donald Trump

Courtesy ABC News

by Cynthia Laird

A

history cruise that San Francisco’s GLBT Historical Society is participating in will make a stop in Jamaica, one of the most anti-gay countries in the world.

Pride of the Ocean’s 11th “Saving History” cruise will take place in late February, departing from Fort Lauderdale with

ports of call including Mexico, Jamaica, and Haiti. The cruise will feature workshops with filmmakers and include representatives from the historical society, USC’s One Institute, the Stonewall National Museum and Archives, and UCLA’s Legacy Special Collection, which will be showcasing rarely seen historic art and See page 18 >>

by Lisa Keen

A

federal judge in Washington, D.C., Monday granted an injunction to stop President Donald Trump’s policy banning transgender people from the military from taking effect until a lawsuit challenging the new ban can be settled.

The Trump ban was scheduled to take

effect March 23.

The judge’s order came in a preliminary ruling in Doe v. Trump, a lawsuit filed by the National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLBTQ Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders on behalf of eight plaintiffs.

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a Clinton appointee, issued the 76-page memorandum See page 18 >>

Corbett Heights residents spruce up petite parks

by Matthew S. Bajko

A

t a bend in the roadway near where Corbett Avenue connects with Mars Street is a new mini-park residents of Corbett Heights have waited years to be constructed. Over the summer city workers carved out a small seating area at the top of the hillside-clinging parcel, known as Corbett Slope, and installed a new sidewalk fronting the site.

The community space features several raised garden boxes that are accessible to people in wheelchairs and will be tended to by volunteers. The planters were fashioned out of boards made from old-growth Redwood trees.

Through the tree canopy atop the 18,000 square foot green space are views of Eureka Valley, Kite Hill Open Space, and the bay off in the distance. The second phase of the project will see the addition of a new ADA-compliant walkway that zigzags down the steep parcel to Market Street below, near where it intersects with 18th Street.

Surveying the progress on the petite park one recent weekday morning, Corbett Heights Neighbors President Gary Weiss marveled that the project he has worked on for seven years had advanced this far.

“It is crazy. This is something I thought would never happen,” said Weiss, a gay man who has lived near the site since 1988.

In the 1980s the land at 331-341 Corbett Avenue was an informal open space cared for by

2017 Kelly Sullivan

Horticulturist Garrett Robertson, left, and Gary Weiss show off Corbett Slope.

nearby residents. But as detailed on a webpage the neighborhood association created for the park, the city closed it off with chain-link fencing three decades ago after a woman who had tripped while walking in the area won a lawsuit she filed against the city.

In 2004 the land, deemed surplus property under the auspices of San Francisco Public Works, was transferred to the Mayor’s Office

in their neighborhood, they protested the planned sale and petitioned to have the hillside be designated as protected green space.

Gay former supervisor Scott Wiener, now a state senator, sided with the neighbors and championed saving the parcel from development during his time at City Hall. He secured $700,000 in city funding to convert the hillside into usable space for walkers, joggers, and neighborhood gardeners.

“I just wanted a stairway going down to Market Street,” recalled Weiss, who is in the process of selling his Castro floral shop Ixia on Market Street. “Scott really went to town to get the budgeting for the stairway and mini-park.”

The fight over the land became a talking point in Wiener’s Senate race last year against Supervisor Jane Kim, who harangued him for prioritizing the protection of the open space over building affordable housing. Wiener told the Bay Area Reporter the land should be protected since it had been a de facto public park for years and that the city should not sell off its open space for development projects.

He has been “really pleased” with the progress to date at the site.

“It is a lot of work, but this community has really poured themselves into it and they are doing a great job,” Wiener said last week. “The reality is this piece of land was always a city park and it got shut down a few decades ago

of Housing with the intent to build affordable housing at the site. But that plan was found to be unworkable on the steep slope, so city officials looked at selling the land to a developer to build four private homes on it. The proceeds would be funneled toward affordable housing projects elsewhere.

With Corbett Heights residents already upset at the building of “monster homes”

y a d i Hol ides Gu

See page 18 >>

{ FIRST OF THREE SECTIONS }

The Bay Area Reporter’s annual Holiday Guides will publish on November 30, December 7, 14, and 21,

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What is TRUVADA for PrEP?

Who should not take TRUVADA for PrEP?

TRUVADA for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a prescription medicine that is used together with safer sex practices to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This use is only for HIV-negative adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1. To help determine your risk of getting HIV-1, talk openly with your healthcare provider about your sexual health.

Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you:

Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to prevent getting HIV. 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 TRUVADA for PrEP? Before taking TRUVADA for PrEP: ® You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1. Do not take TRUVADA to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-negative. ® Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting or at any time while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin.

While taking TRUVADA for PrEP: ® You must continue to use safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. ® You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP: ® Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months. ® If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. ® To further help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1: ® Know your HIV status and the HIV status of your partners. ® Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV to infect you. ® Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior, such as having fewer sex partners. ® Do not miss any doses of TRUVADA. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. ® If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

TRUVADA can cause serious side effects: ® Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. TRUVADA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV and stop taking TRUVADA, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.

® Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medicines with TRUVADA to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. ® Also take certain medicines to treat hepatitis B infection.

What are the other possible side effects of TRUVADA for PrEP? Serious side effects of TRUVADA may also include: ® Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with TRUVADA. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking TRUVADA. ® Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. ® Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. ® Bone problems, including bone pain, softening, or thinning, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones.

Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP are stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRUVADA for PrEP? ® 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. ® If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if TRUVADA can harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking TRUVADA for PrEP, talk to your healthcare provider to decide if you should keep taking TRUVADA. ® If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. If you become HIV-positive, HIV can be passed to the baby in breast milk. ® All the medicines you take, including prescription and overthe-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

TRUVADA may interact with other medicines. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. ® If you take certain other medicines with TRUVADA, your healthcare provider may need to check you more often or change your dose. These medicines include certain medicines to treat hepatitis C (HCV) infection.

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 TRUVADA for PrEP including important warnings on the following page.

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I'm passionate, not impulsive.

I know who I am. And I make choices that fit my life.

TRUVADA for PrEP™ is a once-daily prescription medicine that can help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 when taken every day and used together with safer sex practices. ® TRUVADA for PrEP is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV through sex. ® You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP.

Ask your doctor about your risk of getting HIV-1 infection and if TRUVADA for PrEP may be right for you.

Learn more at truvada.com

10/30/17 11:48 AM 8/24/17 2:58 PM

IMPORTANT FACTS

This is only a brief summary of important information about taking TRUVADA for PrEPTM (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. This does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine.

(tru-VAH-dah) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUVADA FOR PrEP

Before starting TRUVADA for PrEP: • You must be HIV-1 negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative.

• Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include flu-like symptoms, tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP. While taking TRUVADA for PrEP: • You must continue to use safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1.

• You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you were exposed to HIV-1 or have a flu-like illness while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

• See the “How To Further Reduce Your Risk” section for more information.

TRUVADA may cause serious side effects, including: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. TRUVADA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

TRUVADA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About TRUVADA for PrEP” section.

• New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure.

• Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

• Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

• Bone problems.

Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP include stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight.

These are not all the possible side effects of TRUVADA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP.

ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP TRUVADA for PrEP is a prescription medicine used together with safer sex practices to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This use is only for HIV-negative adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1.

• To help determine your risk of getting HIV-1, talk openly with your healthcare provider about your sexual health.

Do NOT take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: • Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status.

• Take certain medicines to treat hepatitis B infection.

HOW TO TAKE TRUVADA FOR PrEP • Take 1 tablet once a day, every day, not just when you think you have been exposed to HIV-1.

• Do not miss any doses. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

• Use TRUVADA for PrEP together with condoms and safer sex practices.

• Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months. You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP.

BEFORE TAKING TRUVADA FOR PrEP Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis.

• Have any other medical conditions.

• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

• Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. If you become HIV-positive, HIV can pass to the baby in breast milk.

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 TRUVADA for PrEP.

HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE YOUR RISK • Know your HIV status and the HIV status of your partners.

• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV to infect you.

• Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior, such as having fewer sex partners.

• Do not share needles or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them.

GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information about TRUVADA for PrEP. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more, including how to prevent HIV infection.

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

TRUVADA FOR PREP, the TRUVADA FOR PREP Logo, the TRUVADA Blue Pill Design, TRUVADA, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

Version date: April 2017 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. TVDC0141 07/17

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Community News>>

November 2-8, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Lesbian among new SFPD station heads

by Seth Hemmelgarn

Station October 21, said from what lesbian is among the she’s seen so far, new captains assigned the biggest chalto head San Francisco Polenges there are lice Department districts homelessness and that are in neighborvehicle break-ins. hoods popular with LGBT She said she’d residents. ensure police do Una Bailey, who once “as much outCourtesy SFPD Jame Kim headed the LGBT police reach as possible” Park Station Mission Station Tenderloin officers Pride Alliance, Captain Una and work with Captain Gaetano Station Captain recently took over Park Bailey different agenCaltagirone Carl Fabbri Station, which oversees cies to encourage the Haight-Ashbury and homeless people Security Initiative. other neighborhoods. She replaces “to take shelter that’s available and In the Tenderloin, which is Captain John Sanford, who’s been to try and get them housed. That’s known for drug dealing and other assigned to the Community Enour first priority.” crimes and is home to some of the gagement Division.

Station officials will also look at city’s poorest residents, Captain Mission Station, which covers the what’s been done to address auto Carl Fabbri is replacing lesbian cop Castro and other neighborhoods, break-ins and take “whatever meaTeresa Ewins, who’s now commandis now being headed by Captain sures we can to make it more effecer of the Muni Task Force.

Gaetano Caltagirone. That post tive,” said Bailey.

Station captains are typically rohad been held by Captain William One problem area has been Twin tated every couple of years, so the Griffin, who’s moved to the Special moves generally weren’t surprising.

Operations Bureau/Urban Areas See page 11 >> Bailey, 55, who started at Park

A

Officer, suspect shot in Castro

by Seth Hemmelgarn

A

San Francisco police officer and a suspect were hospitalized with gunshot wounds early Wednesday, November 1, after they exchanged fire in the Castro district just after midnight.

The incident started at about 12:03 a.m. when a citizen flagged down police, who were on foot patrol for Halloween night, to report “a suspicious vehicle in the area of 18th and Diamond streets,” police spokesman Sergeant Michael Andraychak said in a statement.

“Officers approached the vehicle to investigate further,” and the suspect and at least one of the officers exchanged gunfire, said Andraychak.

One person in the area said he heard at least 10 gunshots.

The officer and the suspect each suffered a gunshot wound and were taken to a hospital. Andraychak said that as of 5 a.m., they were reported to be undergoing surgery, but he didn’t have other details on their conditions.

Another police summary of the incident listed the officer’s condition as “life threatening.” Neither the officer nor the suspect’s names were immediately released, but Andraychak said the officer was a 41- year-old male who’s been with the department for nine years and was assigned to the Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

The police department’s Homicide Unit and Internal Affairs Division, the district attorney’s office, and the Department of Police Accountability are

Sari Staver

Police officers investigate the scene of an officer-involved shooting in the Castro.

all investigating the incident, according to Andraychak, who added that a town hall meeting on the incident would be held within 10 days.

Market Street to 19th Street and Castro Street to Eureka Street remained shut down Wednesday morning and officers would remain in the area during the investigation, he said.

Gay District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy told the Bay Area Reporter that he’s concerned about the officer who was shot.

“I hope he’s OK and my thoughts and prayers are with the officer,” he said.

Just after the shooting started, a man was carjacked at gunpoint nearby, police said.

At about 12:10 a.m., three suspects flagged a 54-year-old man for a ride, Officer Robert Rueca, a police

spokesman, said in a summary. When the victim gave them a ride, one of the suspects brandished a gun, ordered the victim out of the vehicle, and drove away. The vehicle was recovered several blocks away in the first block of Oakwood Street. It was unoccupied, said Rueca.

The victim in that incident wasn’t injured.

The suspects were described as an Asian male between the ages of 20 and 30, an Asian female, and a black female. No further details about them were available.

Police didn’t say Wednesday morning whether the two incidents were related.

The Castro had been the site of a Halloween celebration attended by thousands of people every year, but the city shut down the party in 2007 after several violent incidents, including at least one shooting.

It’s not clear how many people were in the neighborhood at the time of this week’s shooting.

Longtime gay activist Cleve Jones, who lives in the neighborhood, posted several updates on the shooting to his Facebook page early Wednesday morning.

One woman commented, “I’m sheltering in place, have been all night. Brings back BAD Halloween memories of years gone by. Not the first Halloween in the Castro with a body count.”

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call their tip line at (415) 575-4444. t

Lyon-Martin announces move date

by Seth Hemmelgarn

development.

In an email anyon-Martin Health Sernouncement of the vices, a San Francisco moving date, Lyonnonprofit that provides Martin medical primary medical care to director Dr. Dawn women and transgenHarbatkin said the der people regardless of new space, which is their ability to pay, has just three blocks away Jane Philomen Cleland announced that beginfrom the current site, ning Tuesday, November “will offer all the serDr. Dawn 7, it will be located at 1735 Harbatkin vices our clients rely Mission Street. on including primary The clinic, currently lomedical, HIV, transcated at 1748 Market Street, will gender, gynecologic, breast/chest, be closed starting November 2 and individual and group psychoreopen November 7 at 11 a.m. therapy, and integrated behavioral The move has been long exhealth services.” pected, but the date hadn’t been Harbatkin added that the new known. The timeworn, two-story ground floor clinic will mean easier Market Street building is expected access for all patients, and the space to be replaced by a larger mixed-use also includes an additional exam

L

room and two new therapy offices.

Lyon-Martin’s business hours and phone number won’t change.

The Mission Street site will also house Lee Woodward Counseling Center for Women, a program of HealthRight 360. In 2015, LyonMartin merged with HealthRight 360, which recently relocated its integrated care center out of the building at 1735 Mission Street into a new facility nearby at 1563 Mission Street.

“This collaboration will allow improved resource sharing and access to services for both clients,” said Harbatkin of the women’s counseling center.

For more information, call (415) 565-7667 or visit http:// lyon-martin.org. t

Barry Schneider Attorney at Law

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

415-781-6500 *Certified by the California State Bar 400 Montgomery Street, Ste. 505, San Francisco, CA

<< Community News

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 2-8, 2017

t

Drag nun talks sobriety at country club benefit

by Sari Staver

W

hen Castro Country Club Executive Director Billy Lemon asked Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to emcee the sober organization’s annual fundraiser and share the story of her sobriety with several hundred people, the well-known drag nun and activist hesitated.

“Of course I was thrilled to be invited to host the event,” said Sister Roma in a telephone interview the morning after the October 25 dinner, “but I just wasn’t sure I want to talk publicly about my sobriety.”

Until she was up at the podium at the Green Room dinner last month, Roma said she was still undecided whether she’d include any personal comments in her emceeing responsibilities.

“But then I realized I had all these people in one room, so why not?” she said she asked herself rhetorically.

Until the ride home from the event that night, however, Roma didn’t realize how quickly news travels in this day of mobile phone recorders and

Sari Staver

Sister Roma emceed the Castro Country Club benefit where she talked of her own sobriety.

social media.

“Turns out my best friend had already posted my entire talk on Facebook,” recalled Roma. “But after thinking about it, I asked him to take it down the next morning.”

When the Bay Area Reporter called

for a comment, Roma said, in a surprised tone, “Oh, did you record it too?”

Acknowledging that a speech at a public event becomes instant news, Roma said, “I just don’t want people to think I’m grandstanding, but I realize that sharing stories is a great way to give others encouragement and hope if they are struggling with addiction.”

While Roma said her alcohol and drug use did not stop her from keeping service commitments with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, her weight had ballooned to over 300 pounds and she had been diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

“I’ve never been to a (12-step) meeting, I’m not a member of AA, and I’ve never shared my story before,” Sister Roma told the rapt audience, referring to Alcoholics Anonymous.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate how important AA is or how many lives it saves. It also doesn’t mean that I stay sober alone. I have amazing support from many sober people in my life, and we encourage each other to make healthy choices every day.”

Roma recounted how 10 years ago,

while walking up a flight of stairs at work one morning, “I felt like I was going to black out” from the exertion.

When she passed out in the bathroom and sprained her ankle, co-workers insisted she go to the hospital “to find out what was wrong,” she said.

“That (intervention) saved my life,” Roma said, because she stopped using crystal meth.

Roma said she reluctantly joined a gym (planning only to “cruise the steam rooms”) and realized she liked the daily routine on the treadmill.

When she began to lose weight, “my motivation improved because I am really very vain,” she said.

Five years later, “I decided to stop everything and go sober,” she said.

Sobriety “has changed my life,” Roma said. “I have traveled the globe, and I have never felt better in my 32 years in San Francisco.”

Lemon talked about a young man and his 3-year-old toddler, new in town, who found their way to the country club last year, looking for support to get sober. When the man realized he couldn’t afford San

Francisco rents, he moved back home, began using again, and wound up in prison. But the man’s wife telephoned Lemon, and said her husband talked about the help he had received from club members. Lemon began doing 12-step work by teleconference while the man was still in prison.

“What struck me,” said Lemon, “was that this gentleman had told his wife how loved he felt at the country club, which had become his second home. Each one of us – and many of us in the room tonight – had a different path to getting sober, but we all have our journey when we set out on the road” to sobriety.

The club honored District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy with its Stuart M. Smith Legacy Award; drag queen and former Miss Castro Country Club Intensive Claire with its Community Ambassador Award, and Jimmy Jardine with its Dan Cusick Service Award. t For more information about the Castro Country Club, visit http:// www.castrocountryclub.org/.

Gay dad pens second book on fatherhood

by David-Elijah Nahmod

A

former Bay Area resident who wrote a successful book for gay dads is back with another selfhelp guide for those with parenting questions.

Eric Rosswood’s “The Ultimate Guide for Gay Dads: Everything You Need to Know About LGBTQ Parenting But Are (Mostly) Afraid To Ask” is newly published and aims to answer questions faced by gay men who want to be dads or are new to fatherhood.

Rosswood now lives in White Plains, New York with his husband, Mat Rosswood, and their 4-year-old son, Connor.

“When we first started talking about starting a family, we didn’t know if we wanted to do adoption, foster care, or surrogacy,” Rosswood said. “We tried researching online, but it was difficult to find a resource that compared all of the possibilities, and what we did find was mostly from the perspective of agencies or professionals. I wanted to know more from the perspective of other LGBT parents who went through the journey themselves.

“Since I couldn’t find it, I wrote it myself. I collected stories from numerous other same-sex parents and

Courtesy Eric Rosswood

Mat and Eric Rosswood sit with their son, Connor.

had them write about what went well, what went bad, and what they wish they would have known before they started,” he said.

That effort resulted in his first book, “Journey to Same-Sex Parenthood: Firsthand Advice, Tips and Stories from Lesbian and Gay Couples,” which was published last year.

But being a parent presents itself with constant joys and problems, which are what Rosswood tackles in the new book.

“After we had our son, I realized that gay dads had to deal with so many issues on a day-to-day basis

that straight parents don’t,” he said.

“I wrote ‘The Ultimate Guide for Gay Dads’ to cover critical information specifically relevant to gay parents such as: What legal steps do gay dads need to take in order to protect their families? How can you find LGBTfriendly pediatricians or schools?

What is the best way to answer awkward and prying questions about your family from strangers?”

These are just some of the questions that Rosswood answers. He emphasized that his books are available for all who need them, but that they are not meant to suggest that all LGBTQ people should opt for suburban family lives.

“I think that’s a personal question and each person should do what makes them happy,” he said. “For me, nothing makes me happier than being with my family.”

Rosswood also pointed out that, though written from his own perspective as a gay man, there’s information in his books, especially the first one, which also benefits lesbian couples.

“The first parenting book I wrote will help any same-sex couple looking

to start a family regardless of what gender they are,” he said. “While there is definitely some overlap with what gay and lesbian parents experience, there are also a lot of differences, too.”

For example, Rosswood said the new book looks at how gay men support a daughter who’s going through puberty, such as bra shopping and buying tampons.

“Also, gay men get asked very different questions from strangers than lesbian parents,” he said.

Society seems to understand when a woman is alone with a baby, Rosswood said, but when it’s a man, questions often arise, such as “Where’s the mother?”

“I personally got asked that question every single time I went out alone with our son until he was about 2 years old,” he said.

“Men get asked questions like, ‘How did you get stuck with the kid?’ and ‘Are you babysitting?’”

Rosswood added. “Again, these questions come from random strangers in places like the grocery store, the dry cleaners, the park, and the mall, and is often the first thing out of their mouth before even saying hello.”

Gay dads often have to make a decision.

“If we choose to answer these questions, it opens the door for a ton of other questions, like, ‘Which one of you is the real dad?’” Rosswood said.

The parenting books are especially needed, Rosswood believes, now that President Donald Trump and antiLGBT Republicans run the country.

He pointed to a New York Times piece about how much support same-sex parents can expect from the current administration.

“Mr. Trump’s original plan for six weeks of maternity leave, released during the campaign when he was struggling to gain support among women, excluded fathers, adoptive parents, and gay couples,” the Times reported. “The new plan, which also offers six weeks of paid leave, covers adoptive parents and fathers. Officials did not immediately say whether it would include gay or lesbian couples.” t “The Ultimate Guide For Gay Dads” and “Journey to Same-Sex Parenthood” can be ordered on http://www.amazon.com. For more information, visit http://www.ericrosswood.com.

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<< Open Forum

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 2-8, 2017

Volume 47, Number 44 November 2-8, 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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Kevin Spacey’s cowardly act A

ctor Kevin Spacey, who portrays President Frank Underwood on Netflix’s “House of Cards,” proved to be just as cynical in real life.

The two-time Oscar winner was the subject of a BuzzFeed story in which fellow actor Anthony Rapp accused him of an unwanted sexual advance at a party 31 years ago, when Rapp was 14.

A couple of hours after the story posted, Spacey responded on Twitter. “I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor,” he wrote. “I’m beyond horrified to hear his story. I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.”

Spacey should have stopped after excusing his action on too much alcohol, but he didn’t. Instead he decided to come out as gay, and in doing so, reinforced one of the worst stereotypes about gay men – that they are sexual predators.

“This story has encouraged me to address other things about my life,” he wrote. “... As those closest to me know, in my life I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man. ...”

Spacey’s error was linking his coming out with the alleged sexual assault. It was an insult to the LGBT community.

The awareness of unwanted sexual advances, sexual assault, and rape was raised to new levels last month, but until now, had been confined to straight men.

Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, director James Toback, and political analyst Mark Halperin are just three men whose behavior – and possible criminal acts – jolted Hollywood and the mainstream media. We’re not surprised that a powerful gay man in Hollywood is now similarly accused, and doubt Spacey will be the only one. But here’s the thing: Spacey’s comments give fuel to the lie that queer people are sexual predators, as Elle writer R. Eric Thomas stated. Anita Bryant

t

unsuccessfully used this years ago, and ever since, the LGBT community has worked doggedly to dispel this slur. It continues now with the argument that trans people are restroom predators and so should be denied using a facility that matches their gender identity.

Then there’s Spacey’s hideous use of the word “choose” when describing how he’s now identifying as gay. For years, we have fought this false assumption, which has been used against us, forcing us from jobs, housing, and our children. Anti-LGBT people continue to believe that we “choose” to be LGBT and that we can change if we want.

It’s the premise behind conversion therapy, discredited junk science that was pervasive decades ago and is only now starting to fall out of favor as more medical professionals and lawmakers see it for what it is: a dangerous attempt to medicalize anti-gay bias, putting the person at risk for low self-esteem and possible self-harm. That a celebrity like Spacey would use that word does not in any way help in the fight for LGBT equality.

Production on “House of Cards” is now suspended indefinitely, as Netflix and the production company grapple with the fallout. It was announced Tuesday that Spacey will not receive a special Emmy Award later this month.

Spacey has turned what otherwise is a huge personal breakthrough for every LGBT person – coming out – into a conniving and selfserving attempt at deflection from his misdeeds. He’s no star, he’s just a coward. t

Harvey Milk’s lasting legacy

by Mark Leno

statewide initiative to fire gay and lesbian teachers and their hough I arrived in San Franallies. He understood that to cisco in 1977, I never met Harwin the No on Proposition 6 vey Milk. Because of his work and campaign – to achieve political the legacy he leaves behind, many power and defeat dangerously have tried to claim Milk as part of discriminatory laws at the baltheir own stories. Those who did lot box – LGBT people would know him – people like Anne Krohave to build broad coalitions nenberg, Cleve Jones, and Dan Nibeyond the comfort of our own coletta – have colored our history community. And thanks to the with firsthand accounts of Milk’s efforts of No on Proposition in-your-face activism and infec6 campaigners like Milk, Tom tious charisma. But like countless Ammiano, Hank Wilson, Harry others across America and around Britt, and so many others, we the world, who only know Milk built a grassroots movement up through stories, speeches, and and down the state unlike anyphotos, he changed my life. Others thing California had ever seen.

Courtesy estate of Wayne Friday knew him better, but the truth is, The late Bay Area Reporter political editor Wayne Friday, left, was We extended our arms and built his story belongs to us all. trust among workers, families, a good friend with Harvey Milk, who also wrote a political column I know from personal experi- for the paper prior to his election to the Board of Supervisors on seniors, and LGBT people to ence the life-changing power of November 8, 1977. create a newly galvanized voting telling Milk’s story. During my 14 bloc and a populist agenda that years in Sacramento, our Legislabrought people together despite tive LGBT Caucus partnered with our differences. historic election to the San Francisco Board of Equality California to bring dozens of students This is Milk’s lesson from which we must Supervisors, remembering the message behind to the Capitol for our annual Queer Youth learn and act on in 2017. For too long, we’ve Milk’s story is more important than ever.

Advocacy Day. The advocacy day gives young let our differences divide and conquer us, riskMilk is remembered as a closet-door shatpeople an opportunity to learn about the legising hard-earned opportunities to advance our tering, hope-inspiring leader of gay liberation lative experience through training and lobbyshared values of justice and equality for all.

– but his role as an organizer serves as arguably ing activities every year, but one year resonated Facing the loss of over 1,000 Democratic seats the most important lesson of Milk’s legacy. He with me deeper than the rest. in state legislatures, governor’s offices, and understood the power of electoral representaWhen I met Kimberly, a 17-year-old lesbian congressional districts around the country tion for all minorities, and believed that if we who had recently come out, I learned that during the last decade, our only hope lies in don’t have a seat at the table we’ll never get she’d never been to the Capitol. She our willingness to do what Milk did so well. “a piece of the pie.” One of his earlicame from a rural part of California We must reclaim our core values, put aside est opportunities to deliver queer where she lived a troubled home our differences, and find the common ground representation presented itself in life and knew few, if any, other we’ll need to get our seat back at the table. an unlikely partnership in 1974, LGBT people. The only other And it starts here at home. Let’s honor Milk, three years before Milk finally won lesbian in her life was her mom, by bridging our divides to ensure every elected elected office. When he learned who struggled with addiction official in City Hall is pushing forward prothe truck drivers’ union, Teamand was the only model of gressive values true to the San Francisco that sters Local 888, was boycotting queer existence Kimberly knew Milk envisioned for us all. When we build a Coors beer in protest of the of. But when she learned about broad-based coalition that weaves across comcompany’s refusal to sign a new Milk’s life during Queer Youth munities, our city’s contagious movement for contract, he saw a unique opporAdvocacy Day training – how he equality will win. t tunity to build queer political power by joinchanged the course of history for our coming forces with labor. By organizing gay bar munity – her belief in what she could accomMark Leno is a former state senator, asand business owners to join the beer boycott, plish as a queer person changed forever. From semblyman, and city supervisor. In May he Milk formed an alliance between labor and the announced his candidacy for San Franstories like Kimberly’s came our legislation to LGBT community that would later be key to cisco mayor in the 2019 election. For more create Harvey Milk Day and the Fair, Accurate, his election and remains strong to this day. information, visit www.markleno.com.

Inclusive and Respectful Education Act. And Milk remembered this lesson when Calion the eve of the 40th anniversary of Milk’s fornia state Senator John Briggs authored a

T

t

Politics>>

November 2-8, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

First D8 supervisor race debate set

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T

he two gay men running in 2018 for the District 8 seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will engage in their first debate later this month.

The city’s two LGBT Democratic political clubs are co-hosting the November 13 discussion between appointed Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, a gay married father who is the first openly HIV-positive person to serve on the board, and attorney Rafael Mandelman, who serves on the board overseeing City College of San Francisco. KQED reporter Marisa Lagos will moderate the 90-minute program that will focus on just two topics: housing and homelessness.

The candidates have long ties with the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, as they both are past presidents of the progressive political group. Mandelman is also a former board member of the more moderate Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club.

“We promised at the beginning of the year to do things together. We thought this would be a great way to do something together with former leaders in both our clubs,” said Alice CoChair Louise “Lou” Fischer.

Sheehy and Mandelman are expected to twice compete for the board seat next year.

The first election will take place on the June primary ballot as they are seeking to serve out the remainder of gay former Supervisor Scott Wiener’s term, as he resigned two years into his second term as supervisor after being elected to the state Senate last November. Mayor Ed Lee tapped Sheehy earlier this year to fill the board vacancy.

No matter the outcome of the June race, Sheehy and Mandelman have both filed to run for a full four-year term on the November ballot next year. It is the second time Mandelman has sought the District 8 seat, having lost to Wiener in 2010.

A week after the debate at its monthly meeting November 21, the Milk club is expected to

<<

SFPD stations

From page 7

Peaks. Bailey said that after Sanford assigned an officer to watch over the area, there was “a major reduction in vehicle break-ins, so we’ll continue with that as long as we can.”

Bailey encourages people to work with police as much as they can.

“Community involvement is the solution to what’s going on in your neighborhood,” she said.

Among other posts, Bailey, who’s been with the SFPD since 2001, previously served as the captain of the Special Victims Unit, which includes sex abuse, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Her salary is approximately $200,000.

Community meetings at Park Station, 1899 Waller Street, are the third Monday of every month.

Tenderloin

Fabbri, 48, who took over Tenderloin Station October 21, said the biggest challenge in the district is the range of problems that can easily be seen on a walk through the neighborhood, including drug dealing and use and other quality of life crimes, along with homelessness.

Residents “have been dealing with it for a long time,” he said. “It’s

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early-endorse Mandelman in the race. The Alice club isn’t expected to vote on its endorsement until sometime in early 2018.

Fischer told the Bay Area Reporter this week that the clubs would like to host several more debates with the District 8 candidates ahead of the June election. Mandelman and Sheehy both told the B.A.R. they have yet to be asked to do so but would be amenable to participating if their schedules allowed.

As of now the two are the only serious candidates seeking the D8 seat. Meaghan Zore, a lesbian attorney, and John Patrick Donohue, who had pulled papers to run, told the B.A.R. this week they have decided not to, while a third potential candidate, Mark Gillick, did not respond to questions on if he planned to run.

A fourth person, perennial candidate for local office H. Brown, told the B.A.R. he plans to run in November but only as a spoiler candidate against Sheehy.

“My only platform is to elect the police chief,” said Brown, a Navy veteran who is backing Mandelman for supervisor. “I never tried to win a race and I don’t think I could. I wouldn’t vote for me.”

The debate will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, November 13 at the LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street.

Sheehy changes consultants

reached a point where they want something done.”

Fabbri said, “The top of the list is the drug dealing and all the behavior that comes along with drug dealing,” which includes people being intimidated as they walk through the neighborhood.

Efforts will include longer-term police operations that extend outside San Francisco into cities where the dealers come from, letting “the courts know just how much of an impact these people are having on that neighborhood” and encouraging stay away orders, and working with the district attorney’s office to make sure the courts understand “how important those stay away orders are to us,” said Fabbri.

Crime in the Tenderloin drew increased attention in September when gay artist Anthony “Bubbles” Torres, 44, was fatally shot on Larkin Street near the New Century Theatre strip club and gay Gangway bar, in an area popular with drug dealers. There haven’t been any arrests in the case.

Around the time of the shooting, some people in the neighborhood said they’d like to see more police patrols.

Fabbri, who hadn’t yet been briefed on Torres’ killing, said a top

priority is to “make sure we are deploying our officers the best we can,” at the “right times and right places where they’re going to have the most impact. There will definitely be some changes in the way we deploy our officers.”

It’s clear to him why people want more patrols.

“They want to see the officers out there on the block,” he said. “... They want to know the name of their beat cop.” Fabbri plans to soon launch “a liaison program so the community does have that go-to person at the station.”

Fabbri, who’s been with the SFPD for 23 years, has previously been assigned to the Tenderloin, started the department’s Crime Analysis Unit, and served as the agency’s liaison to the San Francisco Unified School District, among other posts. His salary is $209,300.

Community meetings at Tenderloin Station, 301 Eddy Street, are the last Tuesday of the month.

Caltagirone, the Mission Station captain, didn’t respond to interview requests, but he’s expected to appear at the Thursday, November 2 meeting of the Castro Merchants group.

The meeting is set for 9 a.m. at Eureka Valley Recreation Center, 100 Collingwood Street. t

584 Castro St.

As the race starts to heat up,PO PLUS.indd Sheehy this week switched campaign consultants, signing with Oaklandbased Larry Tramutola. In July, he had begun working with the San Francisco firm Whitehurst Mosher Campaign Strategy and Media.

Forms filed with the city’s Ethics Commission show Sheehy had hired Whitehurst Mosher through May 1, 2018. But the firm informed the department October 17 that Sheehy had terminated its contract.

John Whitehurst did not respond to a request for comment, and Sheehy discounted rumors the decision wasn’t amicable. He told the B.A.R. he has talked to Whitehurst about using his firm to handle his campaign mail next year.

“I have known Larry Tramutola for years. I know all these people,” said Sheehy.t

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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.

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<< Community News

t Two-spirit poet explores resistance to colonialism 12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 2-8, 2017

by Michael Nugent

D

oubleweaving is an indigenous basket weaving technique in Southeastern traditions in which separate inside and outside patterns emerge through one continuous weave.

Drawing on this concept as both a cultural practice and political framework, Qwo-Li Driskill, Ph.D., recently delivered the eighth annual Georgia Harkness Lecture, entitled, “Doubleweaving Resistance: Two-Spirit Stories, Theories, and Futures” at the Pacific School of Religion’s Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies.

Giving a poetic, inspiring and

unblinking account, Driskill explored Cherokee and two-spirit resistance to colonialism, amid retelling stories and reclaiming the past, present, and future of queer/ two-spirit peoples during the October 19 talk in Berkeley.

Driskill is a non-citizen/unenrolled Cherokee two-spirit writer, performer, and activist. Driskill prefers s/he and is also of African, Irish, Lenape, Lumbee, and Osage descent. S/he is a professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies at Oregon State University who authored “Asegi Stories: Cherokee Queer and Two-Spirit Memory,” a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award.

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is a blue print for revival of a people,” explained Driskill.

Doubleweave design not only allows for two unique designs to emerge, but also contains a third space between the basket walls – hidden but present. The metaphor of the third space as two spirit identity and a de-colonializing force was articulated by Driskill.

In indigenous cultures, there is a diversity of descriptions for twospirit. Significantly, these are not nouns or categories, Driskill said.

They include “they feel and think like a (wo)man,” “a different hearted person,” “third gender” and “that way.”

Doubleweaving deeply influences Driskill’s re-imagining of stories, and disrupting stories about two-spirit peoples. Growing up in western Colorado in an indigenous household, s/he remembers the deep urge to access two-spirit stories.

“Archives have worked against queer/two spirit peoples,” Driskill said. “So I began beading together cultural fragments, imbuing ancient patterns with new stories.”

The re-telling of these stories figured large in the re-imaginings of Driskill’s lecture. One such story is of The Lady of Cofitachequi, who was the leader of matrilineal indigenous peoples in the mid-1500s at what is now Mulberry Plantation, South Carolina. She was captured

Michael Nugent

Qwo-Li Driskill, Ph.D.

by DeSoto when his army invaded, successfully escaped, and went back home to live with her people.

“Her queer presentation allows for a vision of two-spirit identities as chaotic to settler power,” Driskill. “One of the original stories of patriarchy subverted, the Lady of Cofitachequi formed alliance and returned home. It is a homecoming of who we are as humans and evidence of our existence to exist.”

Her efforts to subvert, negotiate, and resist colonialism remind queer and two-spirit people that they have been here all along. “None of this stuff was lost – we were never

lost. Two-spirit bodies remain unruly, recreate who we are, and come home. We need to be the people we are taking on these roles, not focusing on the wrongs,” Driskill said.

Driskill travels to Oklahoma annually for the Cherokee Stomp Dance, where stories figure prominently.

“Hearing people speak our native tongue, I imagine our spirits as splints of light banding together,” s/he said. “When we dance, we unearth stories we didn’t even know were lost.”

S/he shared an oral history from Cory Taber, a two-spirit Cherokee.

“We are Cherokee people because that’s what our grandmothers told us we are,” Taber said in the oral history that was read by Driskill.

“There’s a generational doubleweaving of grandmothers caring for grandchildren. There’s a lot of gay natives – that’s what the medicine people taught us; we’re not new. But identity is second to how you care and give back to the community.”

Driskill said that the grandmothers’ statements about who is Cherokee are also significant, as the blood question is the colonial holy grail.

For indigenous folks, it’s not a racial formation, it is a community and political one.

Taber’s oral history noted that, See page 19 >>

Marriage ruling boosts Taiwan Pride march

by Ed Walsh

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he thousands who packed downtown Taipei last weekend for Taiwan’s 15th annual Pride march had an extra reason to celebrate. The country is on the verge of being the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.

In May, Taiwan’s highest court ruled legislators have up to two years to change the law to allow for same-sex nuptials.

The head of Taiwan Pride, Simon Tai, told the Bay Area Reporter that his organization estimates that 123,000 people attended the celebration this year, making it Asia’s second largest Pride parade. Israel, he added, still boasts the continent’s largest Pride.

The parade kicked off at 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 28, from the heart of Taipei’s downtown, at the East Gate near the Presidential Office Building, and concluded about two hours later.

Entertainment and speeches preceded the parade and continued for three hours after it ended.

The parade took three different routes that eventually made it back to the starting point. A total of 160 groups representing colleges, nongovernmental organizations, and businesses made up the parade’s marchers.

The theme of this year’s Pride was partially borrowed from America’s Vietnam era: “Make Love, Not War – Sex Ed is the Way to Go.” Now that the fight for same-sex marriage in the country has taken a new turn in the Legislature, organizers are urging that sex education programs in school teach respect for all orientations and encourage open discussions of issues related to sexuality.

Taiwan Pride began in 2003, with just 500 participants, and attendance has been steadily growing ever since. Organizers said about 40,000 more people attended this year over last year.

Tai said Pride is funded mostly by donations from corporations and businesses and that it gets no money

Ed Walsh

People filled downtown Taipei, in front of the East Gate, at the start of last weekend’s Taiwan Pride march.

from the government. The Pride chief added that donations from Japanese businesses and individual businesspeople made up a big chunk of its funding. San Franciscobased Uber was among the major sponsors. The company’s name was spelled out in big block letters at the start of the parade.

Taiwan’s tourism officials hope that events like Pride and its soonto-be status as being the first Asian country to permit same-sex marriage will help cement its image as being a friendly destination for LGBT travelers. The island country offers visitors a rich Asian cultural experience and a very lively gay nightlife scene, giving tourists plenty of opportunities to mix it up with locals.

Taipei is also a very safe and clean city. One will see very little graffiti on buildings or trash in the street.

In sharp contrast to San Francisco, panhandling is rare and visitors won’t see homeless people camped out on downtown streets.

Taiwan is a little over a 13-hour flight from the Bay Area and is serviced with nonstop flights from San Francisco International Airport on United Airlines as well as the Taiwanese carriers Eva Air and China Airlines. The country is less

than a two-hour flight from Hong Kong, which this week was awarded the 2022 Gay Games. [See Sports Briefs.]

Just 111 miles separate Taiwan from mainland China at the Taiwan Strait.

Despite its proximity to China, Taiwanese feel closer to Japan, which had occupied the country for about 50 years until the end of World War II in 1945. The island’s status as an independent state has been in limbo since. China has not given up claim to Taiwan while the U.S. has promised to defend its right to independence.

President Donald Trump broke protocol last year when he took a congratulatory phone call from Taiwan’s president just after he won election and before he assumed office. Taiwanese who support independence took that as a sign that the president will be a strong ally to help it maintain the status quo as a prosperous capitalist democracy.

Taiwan has a population of a little over 23 million. Taipei, on the northern end of the island, is its capital. With a population of 2.7 million, Taipei supports about three-dozen gay bars, nightclubs, saunas, and a gay hotel opened in the city earlier this year. t

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<< Community News

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 2-8, 2017

Milk plaza design winner named compiled by Cynthia Laird

A

design for Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro that features a “soapbox for many,” where rallies and protests can be held, was selected by the Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza and the American Institute of Architects San Francisco as the winner of a competition for reimagining the dreary public space.

Perkins Eastman led the design team for the project, which is described as a large, open plaza at the Castro corner sitting at the foot of an amphitheater which steps upward, pointing toward Sutro Tower. The amphitheater is composed of a series of “stages” for seeing, hearing, and watching, connected by a series of ramps and benches for pausing and listening. Lighting treatment in the plaza also creates a permanent “candlelight vigil.”

Andrea Aiello, executive director of the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District, has also been involved in the project. In an October 31 news release she said that the three finalists for the plaza received over 20,000 responses from 9,645 people who participated in a two-week survey in September.

“While each of the three finalists delivered wonderful concepts for the future plaza, what set the submission from Perkins Eastman apart was their bold, immersive idea; passion for Harvey’s message; and willingness to

iterate the design based on feedback during the competition process,” Aiello said in the release.

In terms of next steps, the Friends group and Perkins Eastman will begin meeting this month to process information gathered and learned during the competition, and to continue development of the design proposal. Aiello said that like any project in its early stages, substantial changes to the design are expected based on more public feedback, technical, and engineering concerns.

The Friends group plans for future meetings at various stages of design development.

Plans for the design competition started after the Friends group held community meetings in January. During the competition period, 33 entries were submitted from the Bay Area, Canada, Sweden, and one from Mobile, Alabama. A design jury whittled those down to the three finalists.

Perkins Eastman is based in San Francisco.

Book highlights lesbian activists

A launch party will be held Thursday (November 2) at El Rio, 3158 Mission Street, for Robin Lowey’s new book, “Game Changers: Lesbians You Should Know About.”

The event, from 5 to 8 p.m., will feature comedy by Monica Palacios, music with DJ Page Hodel,

and guacamole by Eleanor Palacios.

Several of the women featured in the book, including Kate Kendell, Jewelle Gomez, Franco Stevens, Kathy Belge, Crystal Jang, Bonnie J. Morris, and Mariah Hanson, will join Lowey in signing books that will be for sale.

Published by Epochalips Books, “Game Changers” was created as a resource for students as a result of the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful Education Act, a California law that requires K-12 history and social science classes to include historical contributions of LGBT and disabled people. Lowey said the book is about lesbians who made significant contributions to LGBTQ culture over the past 30 years.

There is no cost to attend and the launch party is open to the public.

To RSVP, visit http://bit.ly/2hfka8v.

For more information about the book, visit http://www.lesbiangamechangers.com.

Horizons offers update on LGBTQ movement

Horizons Foundation will give its annual state of the LGBTQ movement Wednesday, November 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Merrill Lynch, 555 California Street, eighth floor, in San Francisco.

The LGBTQ grantmaking and philanthropic organization’s Q Series wraps up with a comprehensive analysis by community leaders, including Rea Carey, executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force; Isa Noyola, deputy director of the Transgender Law Center; Jessica Stern, executive director of OutRight

t

Action International; and Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California. The moderator will be Horizons President Roger Doughty.

There is no cost to attend, but people should register online at http://bit. ly/2zVlXHx or send their RSVP to events@ horizonsfoundation. org. A valid ID is required to enter the venue.

Courtesy Perkins Eastman

Project Inform to hold Evening of Hope

Perkins Eastman won the competition to reimagine Harvey Milk Plaza.

Project Inform will hold its annual Evening of Hope benefit Saturday, November 11 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Lodge at the Regency Center, 1290 Sutter Street (between Van Ness and Polk) in San Francisco.

The evening will include cocktails, food, music, education, comedy, and inspiration.

The agency will be featuring stories from around the country about the many ways in which Project Inform’s leadership in the HIV and hepatitis C epidemics has touched and transformed people’s lives.

Special guests include gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). Comedian Casey Ley, Scott Wells and Dancers, Kitten on the Keys, aerialist Gemiah Kurzfeld, and Synchronicity Strings will perform.

Tickets are $200 and can be purchased online at http://bit. ly/2iG0mim.

Nonprofits can apply for SFPOA grants

The San Francisco Police Officers Association has announced that local neighborhood nonprofits can apply for the next funding cycle of its Community Investment Grant.

The grant is awarded quarterly to a nonprofit to fund improvement projects that address the specific needs of the community, whether it’s purchasing new sports equipment or supporting workforce development programs.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and the awardee will be announced in December. To apply, visit http://bit.ly/2y9GJWM. t

Task force favors multiple supervised injection sites

by Liz Highleyman

year into addiction treatment, and save the city $3.5 billion annually.

“The science from other countries is clear that these sites reduce public consumption of drugs, publicly discarded injection paraphernalia, and crime and violence in the neighborhoods where they are located,” Kral told the Bay Area Reporter. “While millions of people have used supervised consumption sites in 10 countries over the past three decades, no one has ever died of an overdose at a site.”

S

an Francisco would be best served by several supervised injection sites accompanied by social services for people who use drugs, according to a report from a city task force established to study the issue.

These sites would remain illegal under state law, however, as a bill to permit pilot safe injection facilities in eight counties, including San Francisco, narrowly failed in the state Senate in September.

If implemented, the task force recommendations would “provide a welcoming and integrated service system for drug users, to improve their safety and the safety of the general population, and most importantly to improve their access to health care,” said city Health Director Barbara Garcia.

Safe injection sites offer a place to inject drugs under the watch of medical staff, cutting the risk of overdose fatalities. They provide clean syringes and other injection equipment to prevent 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 addiction treatment and medical care.

San Francisco, which has around 22,500 people who inject drugs, according to the report, is one of several cities vying to open the first supervised injection site in the United States. There are currently safe injection facilities in about 10 countries, including Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands.

The task force, established by Board of Supervisors President London Breed in May, offered 17 recommendations in the report, which was presented to the board’s

Injection sites remain illegal Courtesy Alex Kral

Researcher Alex Kral

Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee October 25.

The recommendations include operating multiple sites throughout San Francisco, located in areas where drug use occurs most often and where people who inject drugs are receiving existing services, and ensuring that they serve the needs of vulnerable populations, including LGBT people, homeless people, and sex workers.

“The rise in public injection drug use and its harmful public health and safety outcomes has long reached critical mass in the city,” the report states. “Research consistently demonstrates that safe injection services are an evidenced-based harm reduction strategy that can address this public health issue.”

A recent study by task force member Alex Kral of RTI International and colleagues estimated that a single supervised injection facility in San Francisco, similar to Vancouver’s Insite, could prevent three new cases of HIV and 19 new cases of hepatitis C each year, save one life every four years, lead 110 people a

A bill introduced by lesbian Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) and coauthored by gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) would have permitted exceptions to state controlled substances laws, allowing local governments to authorize supervised injection facilities on a pilot basis.

The bill passed in the Assembly and cleared two Senate committees, but on September 12 it fell two votes short of the margin needed to pass in the full Senate.

“While I am disappointed that the bill will not pass at this time, I am committed to finding a way forward next year. The opioid epidemic continues and new solutions are desperately needed,” Eggman said in a statement.

Advocates said it was important that the bill got as far as it did.

“For an issue that no one in Sacramento had ever heard about last year, the fact that we made it through four committees and one house this year was an amazing success,” Laura Thomas of the Drug Policy Alliance told the B.A.R. “Fortunately, the delay in state legislation See page 19 >>

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<< Commentary

16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 2-8, 2017

Grandpa isn’t coming to save you

by Christina A. DiEdoardo

I

’ve noticed a strange phenomenon since the onset of the Trump administration in January that keeps repeating itself. President Donald Trump will say or do something ridiculous, the thinking public reacts with, “That’s an outrage!” and then, almost en masse, declares that an older white cisgender male Republican will save them (and the country) by somehow “restraining” Trump.

Sadly, whether it’s Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Chief of Staff John Kelly, or Secretary of Defense Jim “Mad Dog” Mattis, the “savior” always behaves the same way. He does Trump’s bidding every time.

Let’s end this nonsense by accepting a fundamental truth: grandpa isn’t coming to save you.

Grandpa – whether it’s Tillerson, Kelly, or Mattis – chose to serve a fascist. Given that said fascist goes out of his way to humiliate and undercut them at each opportunity, one can only conclude that they stay because they place a higher value on the fascist’s objectives than they do on their own self-respect.

If history teaches us anything, it is that people like that will stay with their liege until conditions force them to make a choice between their own skin and that of their liege. Hopes and prayers for grandpa to acquire a conscience won’t bring that about,

seven years by the U.S. military after she exposed American war crimes in Iraq and elsewhere, and who suffered “cruel, inhuman, and degrading” treatment in prison, according to the United Nations special rapporteur; Brewster Kahle, co-founder of the Internet Archive; Cindy Kohn, executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation; and Steve Phillips, project manager of the Pursuance Project, an encrypted, endto-end project management program suite, which will be unveiled at the event.

Tickets are $75.

but changing conditions on the ground might.

That brings us to November 4.

It begins

As you may have heard, at 3 p.m.

Saturday, November 4, Refuse Fascism will sponsor demonstrations in San Francisco’s Union Square Park and in 12 other cities across America, from Seattle to Atlanta. The idea is to bring people out into the streets and keep them there until the TrumpPence regime collapses.

Washington, D.C. isn’t presently on the public list of cities with planned demonstrations, but that’s understandable. Given the regime’s violent response to the #J20 protests after Trump’s inauguration, it makes sense to give the D.C. police and the feds as little warning as possible.

Whatever happens, Refuse Fascism has already scored a major victory by driving fascists on Twitter and Facebook to absolute distraction. If I had a dollar for every Trump-supporting yahoo who claimed that RF’s non-violent demonstration was “really” a planned armed uprising led by Antifa and Black Lives Matter, I’d be buying property in the Mission for cash.

That said, while I’m not aware of any planned fascist response to the SF action – and their past efforts to cause trouble here haven’t ended well for them – the higher profile nature of this event may tempt them to engage in their usual nonsense of doxxing and

t

Make up and fight surveillance Christina A. DiEdoardo

Refuse Fascism demonstrators held a rally in San Francisco’s Civic Center in July 2017. The group plans a series of anti-Trump-Pence actions November 4, including at Union Square Park.

harassment. So, mask up if you’ve got a bandana (if not, get one) and see you in Union Square.

Sex worker confidential

In an era where the government seems to be rolling out new restrictions on body autonomy every day, one of the best antidotes is to listen to the stories of those who have been pushing back against that nonsense long before it was cool. At 8 p.m. Friday, November 3, at 1349 Mission Street in San Francisco, the Center for Sex and Culture will host “TMI: Sex Worker Confidential,” an evening where sex workers share the tales of their lives. Tickets are $11.42 and there will be a sex toy raffle.

Aaron Swartz remembered

At 6 p.m. Saturday, November 4, at 300 Funston Avenue in San Francisco, the Internet Archive will honor the memory of hacktivist and entrepreneur Aaron Swartz in the most appropriate way possible: a series of talks by those following in his footsteps and a hackathon.

Swartz, a leader in the fight against internet censorship who also helped create the RSS web feed format, Creative Commons, and Reddit, among other projects, killed himself in 2013 after the federal government – in a controversial decision – indicted him for a non-destructive hack at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Scheduled speakers include Chelsea Manning, a trans woman who was imprisoned for

At 4 p.m. Sunday, November 5, at 80 Turk Street in San Francisco, Zerena Diaz will lead a workshop on how to use makeup and fabric to create looks that are not only fashionable, but also help to defeat facial-recognition and surveillance technologies. While the free RSVP tickets to the event have been exhausted, it may still be possible to get in at the door depending on how many attendees show up.

Harvey’s Halo

At 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 8, 15 multicolored beacons will be lit above the SoulCycle building adjacent to Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Milk’s successful campaign for supervisor.t Got a tip? Email me at christina@ diedoardolaw.com.

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hile many neophyte companies in the cannabis edibles market are finding that dispensary shelves are already full, Christopher Schroeder is getting a warm welcome when he drops off sample bottles of his infused cold brew coffee.

Schroeder, a 36-year-old gay man, launched Somatik, a cannabis-infused coffee, in Bay Area dispensaries earlier this year. The bottled beverage, which he produces with coffee from local brewer Ritual Coffee Roasters, is now in 20 dispensaries, including a handful in the Los Angeles area, where it was introduced last month.

Sales are building, according to Schroeder.

“We haven’t been turned down” by a dispensary yet, Schroeder said in a phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter. Buyers at medical dispensaries say Schroeder’s experience is an anomaly, with most new products being turned down.

Chase Chambers, the general manager of the Apothecarium dispensary, which carries Somatik, told the B.A.R. in an email that infused beverages have not “typically” been very popular with the company’s customers.

But when the Apothecarium first received a sample of Somatik, “we knew this was something local and of good quality that would be a popular addition,” he wrote, a prediction that came true after the product was on the shelves. Somatik events at the Apothecarium “are among the 12:30 PM most popular,” Chambers added.

While there were already several other, less expensive cannabis coffee products on the market before

Somatik was introduced this year, Schroeder attributed the company’s initial acceptance to its partnership with Ritual, a prestigious brand that has been embraced by Bay Area coffee aficionados since it was introduced at its Valencia Street shop in 2005.

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Somatik founder Christopher Schroeder

Retailing for $8-$12 per bottle, depending on the dosage, Schroeder pointed out that the beverage is produced with Ritual’s $22-perpound Colombian organic, single origin beans. The marijuana is sourced from a collective of Humboldt County cannabis farmers, he said.

Priced in the same range as a cocktail, Schroeder said that’s the way he enjoys the beverage.

As the workday winds down, Schroeder said he typically enjoys 5 mg. of Somatik, which brings on a “feeling of relaxation with a clear euphoric mind.”

“You can definitely still get some work done, but you’re more

relaxed,” he said. While most edibles don’t take effect for up to 45 minutes, Schroeder said the typical user of Somatik feels the effects in one-third the time.

For Schroeder, a Bay Area native whose background involved marketing for other “mission driven” businesses, the ability to partner with a company with similar values was important to him.

Schroeder got interested in working for local businesses after a stint with Wildlife Works, a conservation company, and becoming active in the local nonprofit, SFMade, where he met the founder of Ritual Roasters.

He studied music in college, but realized that a music career likely would involve “spending lots of time alone practicing,” which did not appeal to him.

After jobs with a handful of other local businesses, Schroeder decided it was time to launch his own company.

“Cannabis was a passion of mine,” he said, “so it was a natural for me.”

Schroeder also said he wanted to make a product that was “accessible” to both experienced and new cannabis users.

“When I went into a lot of dispensaries, it could be an intimidating experience,” he said. “There were so many choices of products that it could be difficult to figure out what I wanted to buy.”

Aware that the market was already crowded with thousands of different edible products, Schroeder realized he’d have to do something different.

Already a consumer of Ritual coffee, Schroeder was intrigued with the idea of partnering with the company, impressed that it had See page 19 >>

t

Sports>>

November 2-8, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

A heartfelt Warriors Pride Night

by Roger Brigham

A

n hour or so before the Golden State Warriors held only the second LGBT Night in its history, Rick Welts, the Warriors president who was the first major NBA team executive ever to come out, shook my hand as he walked into an interview room in the cavernous bowels of Oracle Arena and said, “Great to see you again, Roger. What’s it been – five days?”

Actually it had been exactly one week before that we’d seen each other, when he was the moderator for a presentation by NBA legend, successful businessman, and HIVpositive megafundraiser Magic Johnson at the University of San Francisco, in which Johnson emphasized the importance of working for the things your heart tells you to do and have faith financial rewards will follow.

Which made our seeing each other at the Warriors LGBT event all the

more appropriate.

There are times when an event, such as an LGBT Night, is held and everything is nice, the hosts feel proud for doing a good thing, and organizers pat themselves on the back – but you still end up wondering how much heart really went in to it, what the corporate motive was.

Happily, this was not one of those events.

Coach Steve Kerr, a longtime advocate for equal rights and a critic of Trump administration positions on immigration and gay rights, prefaced his pregame news conference, which he referred to as “an important night,” by saying, “I’m proud to be part of an organization and to live in a region, an area, that really embraces diversity. There’s never been a more important time in our country to respect the person next to you regardless of their race, creed, color, sexual preference, sexual identity.”

You know what I like about that?

The fact that he used the phrase “sexual preference” instead of the more accurate phrase “sexual orientation” means that he was speaking from his heart rather than from a carefully crafted marketing statement – yet his inclusion of “sexual identity” means he is giving more than cursory consideration to this issue.

“It seems like our young generation is learning more and more about how we’re all just who we are, and what makes our country great is our diversity,” Kerr said. “The fact that we can respect each other and work together and embrace each other, I think it’s an important night for us and we want to welcome everybody from the LGBTQ community.”

At the start of the third quarter that night, the Warriors’ Mezzeti “Kiss Cam” focused on a few different couples kissing, and arbitrarily rated the passion shown during their on-camera kisses. One lesbian couple was included.

Courtesy Golden State Warriors

San Francisco resident Gary Virginia, left, received the Walmart Community Playmaker Award from Warriors President and COO Rick Welts at Warriors LGBT Night October 25.

Despite the mild creepiness of vicariously rating how hot someone’s intimate expression of affection is, it

was nice to see the inclusion.

There have been times when same-sex kissing, as has happened with other kiss cams, and as happened when Matthew Mitcham kissed his boyfriend after winning the Olympic gold medal in diving and when Michael Sam was drafted by the NFL, that some folks in the audience have complained that children would be confused by what they were seeing.

For them, Kerr had an answer.

“Maybe if you’re coming to the game tonight and your child says, “What does that mean,’ explain it to them,” Kerr said. “Explain the importance of loving the person next to you and respecting them no matter who they are, where they come from. They’re human beings, we’re all human beings, and we’re all in this together.”

Seeing Welts the week before reminded me about what a marvel he has been since bursting on the national consciousness a few years back See page 19 >>

GGNRA names new leader, drops dog rule change

by Matthew S. Bajko

T

he National Park Service has named Laura E. Joss as superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the sprawling park that includes open spaces in San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin counties. Joss, currently regional director for the agency’s Pacific West Region, will assume the post this month.

This is the third time during Joss’s 27-year career with the park service that she has been named the superintendent of one of its

sites. She also oversaw Arches National Park in Utah and the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine and Hampton National Historic Site in Maryland.

“I am thrilled to be returning to a park, especially one known for creating innovative partnerships and being so strongly tied to the community. I look forward to working with staff, volunteers, and partners in the days ahead,” stated Joss.

She is married to San Francisco native Skip Meehan, who

also works for the Park Service.

The couple met while working at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which is on the border of Arizona and Utah, and have two daughters, Lindsay and Elizabeth, as well as two miniature Australian Shepherds.

Joss succeeds as superintendent of the GGNRA Christine S. Lehnertz, a lesbian, who was reassigned in August 2016 to oversee the Grand Canyon due to the early retirement of the former jobholder following reports of rampant sexual harassment among its staff.

She also beat out a gay applicant for the job, Cuyahoga Valley National Park Superintendent Craig Kenkel, who had earlier this year served as the GGNRA’s acting superintendent.

The news of Joss’ hiring came a week after the park service announced it was dropping plans to restrict dog access, both onleash and off, throughout the GGNRA sites. The long-planned, and highly controversial, rule change had been put on hold in See page 19 >>

Courtesy NPS

Laura E. Joss

<< Community News

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 2-8, 2017

<<

LGBT history cruise

From page 3

artifacts from their archives.

In emailed comments to the Bay Area Reporter, John Scagliotti, program director for Pride of the Ocean, acknowledged that the cruise is stopping in Jamaica and said the company is aware of potential security concerns.

Jamaica has its “buggery laws,” for which there is a possible 10year prison sentence for consensual homosexual sex. In recent years, the anti-gay climate has improved somewhat, according to researchers, and the country held its first Pride events in 2015. A report last year by Goldsmiths at the University of London noted that while heterosexual Jamaicans reduced their support for the country’s buggery law, they became “more likely to say they do not trust or

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Trans ban

From page 3

opinion October 30, saying the transgender service members pressing the lawsuit are likely to win on their claim that the Trump ban violates their rights to due process and equal protection. She also signaled she would likely scrutinize the proposed ban with a heightened level of judicial review.

“As a form of government action that classifies people based on their gender identity, and disfavors a class of historically persecuted and politically powerless individuals, the president’s directives are subject to a fairly searching form of scrutiny,” wrote Kollar-Kotelly. The “fairly searching” scrutiny refers to an important judicial consideration when a court

<<

like gay people, or that they would threaten, hurt, and insult them.”

Scagliotti said that cruise participants will be “well protected and informed.”

“We have gone to many countries with Pride of the Ocean and we are very cognizant of the discriminatory nature of many places around the world,” he wrote in the email. “We do have concerns and attempt to make sure our groups are well protected and informed.”

But he defended the cruise’s decision to stop in Jamaica.

“As many of us are filmmakers that cover these issues, we think it is important for our audiences to be aware of where they are going and what is happening,” Scagliotti wrote. “It is part of our work to communicate those stories.”

As an example, he wrote that his own 2003 film, “Dangerous Living,” covered stories with Jamaicans. In his 2017 film, “Before

Homosexuals: From Ancient Times to Victorian Crimes,” he covers “the ebb and flow of oppression throughout LGBT history, from 2000 B.C. until 1900 A.D.” He said that Pride of the Ocean “doesn’t shy away because of the discriminatory nature of some of our ports of call.”

“In fact, we actually participated in a demonstration in one of the countries we visited, along with some local LGBT folks,” he wrote, referring to a 2011 protest in Bermuda following an anti-gay rant by preacher Scott Smith.

Scagliotti also said that LGBT filmmakers from Caribbean countries have been on past cruises.

Filmmakers expected to be on the 2018 cruise include Stu Maddux and his film, “Reel in the Closet,” and producers Greta Schiller, Robert Rosenberg, and Scagliotti, who will present the remastered classic, “Before Stonewall.”

Scagliotti said that Pride of the Ocean works with the cruise lines “to make sure LGBT safety is one of their top priorities.”

“It is not only the countries we have to contend with but also some of the staff that work on the ships,” he wrote. “LGBT people are everywhere and discrimination is everywhere.”

Terry Beswick, executive director of the historical society, told the B.A.R. that the organization “is delighted” to partner with Pride of the Ocean and that he wasn’t aware of the cruise’s exact itinerary, but that he doesn’t have a problem with the Jamaica port of call.

“The festival actually takes up a small fraction of the huge ship,” he wrote in an email. “I hope the fact that the ship stops for a day in Jamaica helps to build awareness and support for oppressed LGBTQ people there in some way.”

looks at whether a law that treats one group of people differently than others. Laws that disfavor racial minorities receive “strict” scrutiny; laws that disfavor women receive an intermediate level of scrutiny. Most other laws can pass muster with a simple “rational” reason.

GLAD attorney Jennifer Levi noted that this is “not the first time a court has applied heightened review” but she said it is an “extraordinarily important decision.”

Locally, community leaders praised the ruling and criticized the president.

“Trump’s ill-informed, bigoted attack on transgender soldiers will not make our country stronger or safer,” gay state Senator Scott Wiener (DSan Francisco) said in a statement.

“This ruling is great news for our

country and for the brave trans patriots who put their lives on the line for us. Everyone who wants to serve in the United States military should be allowed to serve, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Today is a victory for justice.”

It is the first court action against the proposed Trump transgender ban since last summer when Trump announced it.

Levi and Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said the October 30 order keeps the military’s policy concerning transgender service members where it was before this summer, when Trump began rolling out his plans to ban transgender people. Prior to that, the military was set to enforce, on January 2, a policy approved by the Obama

administration to allow transgender people to enlist and serve.

But on July 26, President Trump announced on Twitter that the Department of Defense should ban transgender people in the military.

A month later, he issued an official memorandum, “Military Service by Transgender Individuals,” directing the DOD to implement the ban.

That memo said the ban would take effect March 23 and would remain in place “until such time as a sufficient basis exists upon which to conclude that terminating that policy and practice” would not have negative effects.

In her memorandum, Kollar-Kotelly noted that the administration’s purported reasons for the ban “do not appear to be supported by any facts. ...”

Petite parks

From page 3

when someone got injured there.

The neighbors have been working for years and years to bring it back as a park. No way was I going to allow the city to sell off park land.”

As they fought to save the green space, the neighborhood association held cleanup days at the site to clear out invasive plants and replace them with California natives better suited to survive in the city’s temperate climate. It has improved the biodiversity at the site, where native species like Big Leaf Maple and coast live oak trees are helping to attract a variety of insects and birds.

“We cleared out thousands of pounds of invasive waste,” said Garrett Robertson, a horticulturist who moved into an apartment near Corbett Slope roughly five years ago.

His partner, Jacob Shogren, is also a horticulturalist who works at UC Berkeley and studies Sudden Oak Death. The couple became involved with the neighborhood association after seeing a sign for volunteers to help weed Corbett Slope. Shogren has since propagated starter plants of various native species for the mini park.

Residents have planted upward of 100 plants so far, including California holly, Manzanita, and coast silk tassel. Nearby the new garden planters will be planted a trio of Redwood trees to replace several almond trees that were removed.

“I am excited for it to be an open public space,” said Robertson, recently appointed chair of the neighborhood group’s garden committee, which tends to nine mini-parks that dot the hillsides of Corbett Heights.

“There aren’t any large open spaces in the neighborhood. It will be a great place to picnic.”

The total cost for the Corbett Slope Community Garden is estimated at $145,000 by Public Works and was scheduled to be complete this week. The next step will be to stabilize the hillside and sidewalk,

Kelly Sullivan Kelly Sullivan

The foundation of the Corbin Steps was recently redone.

which will require the installation of 20-foot-deep pilings and the use of an outside contractor that has the required equipment.

The department does not yet know how much that part of the project will cost or when it will begin, but expects the work should take about two weeks. The final step will be building the Corbett Slope Stairway, estimated to cost $695,000.

“After sidewalk stabilization is complete, Public Works will initiate a community outreach process to reconfirm neighborhood interest and support for this stairway connection,” Rachel Gordon, the department’s spokeswoman, told the B.A.R. in an emailed reply.

A pathway of parks

The Corbett Slope property is just up the street from the newest mini-park in the neighborhood, at the corner where Corbett intersects with Mars Street. Dubbed the Mars Steps, the triangular space is home to Deodar cedar and Redwood trees planted by a former resident some four decades ago.

A new concrete stairway connects the sidewalk on Mars with the sidewalk on Corbett, which previously

had come to a dead-end at the site.

It was completed in August and paid for by the owner of the adjacent home at 75 Mars as part of the approval process for remodeling their property.

“This was called Mars Park and now is the ninth mini-park in the area,” said Weiss.

At the other end of Mars, where it intersects with 17th Street, is another of the neighborhood pocket parks. There, along the western side of the street, is a skinny scalene triangle of open space that residents of Mars have elected to maintain and call Sweetgum Corner.

A short walk from the Mars Steps, north up Corbett then right onto Danvers Street, is another of the petite park spaces called Merritt Park.

Danvers, Merritt, and Market streets border the triangular parcel.

Nearby residents have adopted the green space and been cleaning it up and weeding it in recent months.

From the park, pedestrians can cross Market Street, access a set of stairs leading down to 18th Street, and walk from there to the heart of the city’s gay Castro district.

Or, if they head back up Danvers,

A marker denotes a Redwood tree planted in honor of the late Harvey Milk in 1980.

turn right onto Corbett, and walk roughly 500 feet, they will reach the Corbin Stairs, a landscaped concrete pathway that leads up the hillside to 17th Street. A seating area fronting Corbett was built into the foundation wall on the right side of the concrete steps.

Walk another 500 feet down Corbett to reach the Corbett/Ord Triangle Park bordered by Corbett, Ord, and 17th streets. A dirt path along the Ord Street side features two benches looking onto the planted area of the park. A nearby resident this summer weeded the area, installed a meandering, dry river rock bed, and planted numerous plants among the existing flora.

At the trunk of the Redwood tree near the tip of the park, facing 17th Street, is a memorial marker. It explains that the tree was dedicated to Harvey Milk and planted by David Geisinger on June 1, 1980 nearly 19 months after the assassination of the city’s first gay supervisor.

From there, three blocks northeast on 17th Street is Pink Triangle Park and Memorial, dedicated in 2003 to honor the estimated 15,000 gay men the Nazis interned in

t

According to Pride of the Ocean, each cabin sold on the cruise will result in direct monetary contributions to benefit the four archival institutions on board, including the historical society.

In advance of the 2018 cruise, the GLBT Historical Society will present Scagliotti’s film, “Before Homosexuals,” Saturday, November 11, at 4 p.m. at the Roxie Theatre, 3117 16th Street. The screening is a benefit for the society and sponsored by Pride of the Ocean’s cruise. Scagliotti is expected to be on hand for a question and answer session with the audience.t For tickets to the Roxie screening, visit www.roxie.com. For information on the Saving History cruise, visit www.prideoftheocean.com.

Two other lawsuits are pending against the ban – one by Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and Outserve-SLDN (Karnoski v.

Trump) in the U.S. District Court for Western Seattle and one by the American Civil Liberties Union (Stone v. Trump) in U.S. District Court for Maryland.

Joshua Block, an attorney with the ACLU’s national LGBT project, said Monday’s memorandum “is the first decision striking down President Trump’s ban, but it won’t be the last.”

“The federal courts are recognizing what everyone already knows to be true: President Trump’s impulsive decision to ban transgender people from military service was blatantly unconstitutional,” said Block.t

concentration camps on charges of homosexuality during Word War II. A $250,000 renovation and refurbishment of the 3,000 square foot park is underway.

It is just outside the official boundary for Corbett Heights and not one of the nine mini parks the neighborhood group helps to maintain. Two of the open space sites it does tend to are Saturn Street Steps Park, on Ord Street one block north from the Corbett/Ord Triangle Park, and the Vulcan Street Stairs farther up Ord that connect with Levant Street.

The last mini-park site tended to by members of Corbett Heights Neighbors is near Corbett Slope.

Known as Al’s Park, between 367 and 377 Corbett, the site’s plants and “artifacts” situated there over the years were removed over the summer due to the construction of a new development below it.

Some of the material was saved and should be incorporated into the pocket park that will be rebuilt on the land.

“It’s a little startling to see the area so denuded, but in the very near future, we’ll be forming a garden committee specifically for the site,” wrote Weiss in a September email to members of the neighborhood association. “It will eventually look spectacular.”

In several years, urban hikers will be able to walk the length of Corbett Avenue, enjoying the open spaces that dot the roadway as it winds up the hillside, turn left at the intersection with Clayton Street, and turn left again at Market Street to walk a few hundred feet to connect with the Corbett Slope Stairway.

“These spaces are a communal yard,” Robertson said of his neighborhood’s pint-sized parks and landscaped stairways. “They provide places for people to come together.”

To learn more about the Corbett Slope site, visit http://www. corbettheights.org/p/corbett-slope. html. t

t

Community News>>

November 2-8, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

O.School aims to teach women about pleasure

by Sari Staver

how to unlearn cultural and religious shame around pleasure, and

having an open mind around sexual preferences.

The school will accept donations from participants and, eventually, will add a membership component for certain programs.

Barrica said the school will offer courses, led by instructors from around the country, to help participants unlearn elements of problematic sex education they may have previously encountered. Classes will focus on issues specifically facing queer people and people of color, addressing sexual trauma, and celebrating female sexuality and pleasure, she said.

The new venture is co-sponsored by the Center for Sex and Culture, headed

by Carol Queen, a well known sex educator, and Good Vibrations, a San Francisco-based business that sells sex

toys and other erotic products.

Barrica first became interested in starting this venture after she left InDinero, an accounting company she helped found, and became a venture partner at 500 Startups, a global venture capital seed fund.

“Growing up, I didn’t have access to sex education and when I started asking other women” about their educational experiences, she said, learned that most felt the same.

“As a nation, we don’t even offer the most heteronormative education,” let alone material that is focused on gender diverse people, she said in a telephone interview with the Bay Area Reporter.

The company now has six employees and more than 20 instructors who will teach the classes, Barrica said.t

do its own manufacturing. Four other employees have also joined the firm.

Schroeder and Coker each now put in “at least” 70 hours per week working, and a lot evenings and weekends are spent at events promoting the product “which we both enjoy very much,” he said.

In addition to dispensary tastings and industry events, the two also go to music festivals, “where we get a chance to meet new customers,” Schroeder said. “Our idea was to work at something we enjoyed. So far, so good,” While the company continues to slowly add new dispensaries to its customer list, Schroeder said they are careful to choose locations where they

think they will be readily accepted.

“We have found that the kind of people who like Ritual coffee are often the same people who will like Somatik,” he said.

Next up is a new product, an infused chocolate-covered coffee bean produced in partnership with another local company, Endorfin Foods, a Berkeley chocolatier. Next year, Somatik intends to produce a non-psychoactive CBDbased coffee product, he said.

The company is also preparing for 2018, when cannabis products will be able to be sold in many new outlets that will be licensed to sell cannabis to adult recreational users.

“As anyone who works in a startup will tell you, there are lots of emotional

ups and downs in a new company,” he said.

“Cannabis has a few more of those because of the uncertainty of the regulations, which are still being molded around us,” Schroeder added, “We look forward to having a sense of stability in the industry, even if every aspect may not be to our liking.

“Our goal is to continue building a community of people who are interested in integrating cannabis into their life,” he said.t

B

acked with $800,000 in Silicon Valley venture capital, a queer woman from Oakland is launching a national online platform focused on pleasure education for women and gender diverse people.

On Friday November 3, technology entrepreneur Andrea Barrica, 27, will launch her latest startup, O.School, with five daily livestreams of sex education for college-aged and older adults. The programming will happen between 4 and 9 p.m. Pacific Time daily, where viewers will have the chance to chat with experts and share their personal experiences.

Initially a free service, among the first topics scheduled are masturbation, why pleasure is important,

<<

Bay Area Cannasseur

From page 16

direct trade relationships with its farmers, paying them two to three times more than companies that had fair trade arrangements.

Months of experimentation followed, with tastings of 48 different coffee bean combinations to determine which would make the best product, Schroeder said.

“The tastings were a lot of fun,” he added.

Schroeder’s life partner, Clayton Coker, who has a professional background in laboratory science, heads up product development, said Schroeder, which has enabled the company to

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GGNRA

From page 17

January by park staff in light of documents Bay Area dog and recreation groups had obtained from GGNRA officials that questioned their handling of the rule-planning process.

An independent review team deemed it inappropriate for the

<<

Two-spirit poet

From page 12

“Assimilation brings disharmony and invalidation; we subvert it just by being here. And remember our ceremonial dress – we did a lot of drag back then.”

Driskill said the two-spirit community is at a unique moment.

“We must tell our stories and imagine to take us out of the colonial past,” s/he said. “If you can see that far in the past, you can see that

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Jock Talk

From page 17

before joining the Warriors. He had fallen in love with the sport when he was a kid, had risen to the kind of executive position he wanted in the sport in Phoenix, and then put it all on the line by coming out in a feature story in the New York Times.

I asked him when the moment was that he had felt safe, when he believed coming out publicly probably would not cost him his job and his future.

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Injection sites

From page 14

is not stopping San Francisco from doing the right thing and moving forward with supervised consumption services.”

In San Francisco, the stickiest issue is likely to be where to locate safe injection sites, as new facilities are likely to arouse neighborhood opposition. The Tenderloin and South of Market areas currently have the highest burden of injection drug use and the most social

Sari Staver

O.School founder Andrea Barrica

Bay Area Cannasseur runs the first Thursday of the month. To send column ideas or tips, email Sari Staver at sari@bayareacannasseur.com.

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037779000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BANOU COUTURE, 27 CYPRESS LANE, DALY CITY, CA 94014.

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OCT 12, 19, 26, NOV 02, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037772500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ACCOUNTING PARAMEDICS, 291 PUTNAM ST #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SIMKEINASO, INC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/22/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/22/17.

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employees to have used their personal email accounts to conduct official business but concluded their doing so did not influence the outcome of the dog access planning and rulemaking process.

Nonetheless, the park service decided to junk the proposed changes in the rules.

“We can do better and in the interest of upholding the highest standard of transparency and trust

with our Bay Area neighbors, we have determined that it is no longer appropriate to continue with the current dog management rulemaking process at Golden Gate National Recreation Area,” stated NPS acting Director Michael Reynolds.

Gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who decried reducing dog access at the federal parks while a city supervisor,

applauded the agency’s decision.

“I’m incredibly happy that the federal government has stopped these severe dog restrictions from going into place in so many parks in San Francisco,” stated Wiener.

“Limiting access in these parks would have been bad for dogs and their owners, and would have pushed them into our already overcrowded city parks.” t

far in the future. We’re in an exciting moment as two spirits, engaged in lots of revitalizations, keys into deep, deep memories.”

Looking at current times, indigenous communities offer hopeful models for how to survive.

“It’s hard because it’s not new; it’s very familiar,” Driskill said. “Natives have already experienced the apocalypse. In California, it was maybe the most devastating of anywhere with the Missions and Gold Rush.

We know how to do this already.

The world has not always been like this; we hold memories of times that are different.”

S/he further painted a picture of two-spirit stories and futures.

“Imagine queer, two spirit, trans folks speaking their languages, our lives not constantly at risk, our selves celebrated,” Driskill said. “I want it all back: plants, memories, land, lives, and ancestors. Reweave the past, honor the new, and imagine a gorgeous world.

“We shatter manifest destiny,

becoming elders and ancestors teaching children to heal the world,” s/he said. “We must mourn, smuggle our tongues across imaginary borders, laugh, weave a basket, and mend a wounded world.”

After the lecture, audience members felt grateful for the re-imaginings of Driskill.

Naomi Azriel, 41, a queer dyke living in Oakland, said, “I felt deeply moved. I got an infusion of hope that wasn’t sentimental or based on denial. It was much needed.” t

“Probably five minutes after the interview came out,” Welts said.

“Probably about the time I walked in to the office and said, ‘What’s up?’ to everyone.”

And now what’s up for him is a top-dog role in the most entertaining and beautifully constructed franchise in the sport. Haters hate the Warriors because they are jealous of just how good they are, and fans love them because whether they win or lose, they play a beautiful selfless version of the sport we witness all too seldom.

After winning two of the last three NBA team championships, the Warriors are locked and loaded to dominate the league for years to come. Currently they are working out early season kinks and overcoming sporadic bouts of bad passing, turnovers, and failure to box out opponents for rebounds. Sometimes they come roaring back and fall short, and sometimes, such as last week in the game against the Toronto Raptors, they came roaring back, fall behind again, and come through in the end,

winning 117-112.

But they do not break down in jealousy, and they are not divided by petty self-interest. They are players of vastly different job skills and talents, working together and sharing the joy of their efforts.

Not a bad team to host a Pride Night.t

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037799100

A video of the opening of Kerr’s press conference is available at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=VbM6zlyfYAk.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BLUE SIGHT TOURS, 20 DESCANSO DR #1124, SAN JOSE, CA 95134. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SEYED AHMAD MIRFAKHRAIE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/14/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/16/17.

services used by people who inject drugs, according to the report.

One prospect is the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s Sixth Street harm reduction center, which currently offers sterile syringes and support services for people who use drugs.

“San Francisco is experiencing overdose at epidemic levels, and to reverse this horrifying trend we must respond to the overdose epidemic as a public health crisis, not as a criminal justice issue,” SFAF director of substance health services Mike Discepola told the B.A.R. “San

Francisco AIDS Foundation is one of the handful of organizations that currently operate syringe access and disposal sites where safe injection services could be piloted, and we’re looking forward to working together at exploring what a pilot program could look like.”

This would not be the first time San Francisco went forward with a harm reduction approach without legal backing. In the late 1980s activists started one of the country’s first unsanctioned needle exchanges, distributing safe injection supplies

from a baby carriage. For years the Board of Supervisors declared a state of emergency on a monthly basis to circumvent the law.

“San Francisco has a long history of taking bold steps to expand progressive health policies, even when state and federal laws are far behind modern science and research,” Wiener told the B.A.R. “Supervised injection sites will mean fewer people injecting on our streets, fewer needles on our sidewalks, and more opportunities to get people into services and recovery programs.”t

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RIA HEALTH, 44 GOUGH ST #203, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed DXRX 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 10/03/17.

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0CT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037800600

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037773100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SANFRANCISCOTIM.COM, BARBARY COAST PRESS, 37 ALPHA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed TIMOTHY P. KEEFE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/12/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/25/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037797900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AMSA BUILDING SERVICES, 1114 SUTTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CYNTHIA PAREDES. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/31/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/12/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017

<< Classifieds

20 • BAY AREA REPORTER • November 2-8, 2017

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037800300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CLOUD GRAPHICS & PRINTING, 832A STOCKTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JING JIANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/10/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/13/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037798400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PONTE ROMA TOURS, 555 PIERCE ST #244, ALBANY, CA 94706.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARYAM ETTEHADIEH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/09/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/12/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037769300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PSALM RES. CFE, 565 GROVE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed WILLIAM SACRO ENCARNACION. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/21/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/21/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037799000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: QUARTS N PINTS, 2434 NORIEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed SUSANNA CUI CHEN & YU YING CHEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/13/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037801100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SF SUPER CAB, 1407 IRVING ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SF SUPER CAB (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/10/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/16/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037795200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAIANO PIZZERIA - BH, 59 30TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BERNAL HEIGHTS PIZZERIA INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/10/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/10/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037772800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 5 DEGREE TEA HOUSE, 2527 SAN BRUNO AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed LEE’S KITCHEN CHINESE FOOD INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/28/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/22/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037776200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TENROKU RAMEN, 3251 20TH AVE #250C, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed TENROKU RAMEN INC. (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/26/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/26/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037798500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DCOPPER+, 1017 VALENCIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed DCOPPER+ LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/05/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/12/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037797400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE WILLOWS, 1582 FOLSOM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed THESE THREE TREES LLC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/10/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/11/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037800100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PHRAME.COM, 75 BROADWAY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed GOLDUBER LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/13/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/13/17.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-036241800

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: BERNAL HEIGHTS PIZZERIA, 59 30TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business was conducted by a corporation and signed by BERNAL HEIGHTS PIZZERIA, INC (CA). The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/09/15.

OCT 19, 26, NOV 02, 09, 2017 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-17-553397

In the matter of the application of: MARIA VERONICA DE PAOLIS KALUZA, 50 CHUMASERO DR. #12M, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner MARIA VERONICA DE PAOLIS KALUZA, is requesting that the name MARIA VERONICA DE PAOLIS KALUZA, be changed to VERONICA EVA LUNA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Rm. 514 on the 7th of December 2017 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

OCT 26, NOV 02, 09, 16, 2017 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-17-553376

In the matter of the application of: ALMA INFANTE REYES, 555 JONES ST #401, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner ALMA INFANTE REYES, is requesting that the name SALMA REYES INFANTE, be changed to SALMA REYES INFANTE. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Rm. 514 on the 5th of December 2017 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

OCT 26, NOV 02, 09, 16, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037812900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BLISSFUL ENCOUNTER, 33 WAVERLY PL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108.This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HUI YING LU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/20/17.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/20/17.

OCT 26, NOV 02, 09, 16, 2017

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037813000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SHIELD101, 1788 19TH AVE, UNIT C1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HIO-KIT LEUNG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/19/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/20/17.

OCT 26, NOV 02, 09, 16, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037802700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OHANA, 3150 18TH ST #225, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DANIAL E. PALMER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/06/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/17/17.

OCT 26, NOV 02, 09, 16, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037778300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PROPERTY RENOVATIONS UNLIMITED, 14 PRECITA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed STEPHEN SCHNEIDER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/28/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/28/17.

OCT 26, NOV 02, 09, 16, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037806000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAN FRANCISCO NEUROPSYCHOLOGY PC, 833 MARKET ST #809, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SAN FRANCISCO NEUROPSYCHOLOGY PC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/02/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/18/17.

OCT 26, NOV 02, 09, 16, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037798700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AVICOMM, 1111 MARKET ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed AVICOMM (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/12/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/12/17.

OCT 26, NOV 02, 09, 16, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037801800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JEFF SCHLARB DESIGN STUDIO, 636 POTRERO AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed GREEN COUCH STAGING AND DESIGN (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/16/17.

OCT 26, NOV 02, 09, 16, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037811900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as:AGENCY ALL ABOUT CHILDREN, 1410 NORIEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122.This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed EDWARD Y. ROMANOV & JANET ROMANOV.The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/20/17.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/20/17.

OCT 26, NOV 02, 09, 16, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037810400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ORANGETHEORY FITNESS FINANCIAL DISTRICT, 343 SANSOME, #125, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SFFIT FD LLC, (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/20/17.

OCT 26, NOV 02, 09, 16, 2017

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ORANGETHEORY FITNESS - SAN FRANCISCO - MISSION BAY, 215 KING ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SFFIT MB LLC, (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/20/17.

OCT 26, NOV 02, 09, 16, 2017 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-17-553388

In the matter of the application of: OTHEL LAMONT WEIR II, 1462 43RD AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner OTHEL LAMONT WEIR II, is requesting that the name OTHEL LAMONT WEIR II, be changed to MONTY GARCIA CANTERO. 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 5th of December 2017 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017 -------------------------------------------

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037820900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MARTITAS KITCHEN, 2560 MARIN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARIA GUZMAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/27/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/27/17.

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037815000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PIKITOS, 2336 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BRINDISSY GARCIA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/23/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/23/17.

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037793900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MOMUMENTAL, 30 STEINER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SERENA SAEED-WINN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/30/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/06/17.

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037807200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LUMINOUS DARLINGS, 1521 GOLDEN GATE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA. 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHRISTOPHER G. DEWINTER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/16/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/19/17.

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037794400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PENPOINT MEDIA, 39 HARTFORD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SARAH E. ENOCHS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/06/17.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037809300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: O’CONNOR CONSTRUCTION, 719 38TH AVE #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JASON O’CONNOR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/10/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/20/17.

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037814800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OFF THE CHAIN, 1140 INGERSON AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHARITIE BOLLING. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/23/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/23/17.

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037815100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STUDIO NELUMBO DESIGN; STUDIO NELUMBO YOGA; YOGA NELUMBO, 1817 24TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed STEFANIE SCHUR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/23/17.

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037819400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DATADRIVEN SCIENCE, 4221 20TH ST #4, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JAN BELKE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/25/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/26/17.

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037791600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NATIVE BURGER, 3420 GEARY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed KOBUKSON INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/05/17.

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037800700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 5537 MISSION STREET HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, 5537 MISSION ST # 201, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an unincorporated association other than a partnership, and is signed 5537 MISSION STREET HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/16/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/16/17.

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035682500

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: MARTITA’S KITCHEN, 2560 MARIN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by YAZMIN GUZMAN. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/26/14.

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017

NOV 02, 09, 16, 23, 2017

To place your classified ad, call 415-861-5019 Then go have a drink & relax...

City and County of San Francisco Outreach Advertising November 2017 News from the San Francisco Department of Elections: Interested in voting services for San Franciscans with limited English proficiency?

You are invited to participate in the Department of Elections Language Accessibility Advisory Committee (LAAC). At quarterly meetings, LAAC members will learn about the Department’s efforts to provide election services and programs to communities where English is a second language. LAAC members will also have the opportunity to share feedback and suggestions for serving potential registrants and voters with limited English proficiency throughout San Francisco. This is a volunteer opportunity. To learn about the LAAC and other opportunities to get involved with the Department of Elections, visit sfelections.org or call (415) 554-4375.

The Youth Commission is a body of 17 San Franciscans between the ages of 12 and 23. Created by the voters in 1995 through a charter amendment, the commission is responsible for advising the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor on policies and laws related to young people. The commission is also charged with providing comment, recommendation, and feedback on all proposed laws that affect youth before the Board takes final action.

Commissioners work diligently to connect young people from all over the city with one another, develop their leadership skills and understanding of government, and make positive policy changes.

The commission meets on the first and third Monday of every month at 5:15pm in room 416 of City Hall. Their standing issue-based committees meet regularly in the Youth Commission office, City Hall Room 345.

Visit our website www.sfgov.org/yc, email YouthCom@sfgov.org, or call (415) 5546446 for information about upcoming meetings!

COMMENCMENT OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS AT SFO The Airport Commission has commenced the Request for Proposals (RFP) process for six Terminal 2 Concession Leases. The Request for Proposals includes five Specialty Retail Concession Leases and one Casual Dining Food and Beverage Concession Lease.

The proposed minimum financial offer for the Specialty Retail Concession Leases ranges from $125,000 -$325,000, for a 7 year term. The proposed Minimum Annual Guarantee for the Casual Dining Food and Beverage Concession Lease is $250,000.00.

The lease shall have a term of ten years. Rent for each lease shall be the higher of the Minimum Annual Guarantee or the sum of the percentage rent as outlined in the RFP document. Small, local, and disadvantaged businesses are encouraged to participate.

Ref available. Call Jose 415-879-7548

The Informational Conference will be held on Thursday, October 26th, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Aviation Museum & Library in the International Terminal, at San Francisco International Airport.

THANK YOU ST. JUDE –

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say prayer nine time a day for nine days. Thank you Jesus and St. Jude for prayers answered. Publication must be promised. B.K.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037810100

t

Please see http://www.flysfo.com/business-at-sfo/current-opportunities for additional information or call Trevor Brumm, Principal Property Manager, Revenue Development and Management Department, (650) 821-4500.

415 861-5381

The City and County of San Francisco encourage public outreach. Articles are translated into several languages to provide better public access. The newspaper makes every effort to translate the articles of general interest correctly. No liability is assumed by the City and County of San Francisco or the newspapers for errors and omissions.

CNS-3062601#

24

24

Serene retreat

26

26

Castro classics

Nun story

Girl power

Vol. 47 • No. 44 • November 2-8, 2017

www.ebar.com/arts

Queer & disabled on the big screen

by David-Elijah Nahmod

T

wo queer-themed films will be included in “Superfest: The International Disability Film Festival” this weekend.

Superfest takes place on Sat., Nov. 4, at the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life in Berkeley; and on Sun., Nov. 5, at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in downtown San Francisco. It’s a co-production of the Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University and the San Francisco chapter of the Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. See page 22

Andrew Keenan-Bolger’s “Sign” is a love story between a deaf gay man and a gay man with hearing.

Courtesy of The Gordon Parks Foundation

Superfest

>>

On tap

by Paul Parish

I

kept thinking of Joni Mitchell’s song about the street musician who was “playing real good, for free” as I watched Michelle Dorrance’s tap dancers last Friday night at Zellerbach Hall. All her material comes to us originally from dancing on street-corners.

And they were all making music with their bodies, music you could hear and sometimes see.

See page 28 >>

Christopher Duggan

Cal Performances presented Dorrance Dance at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley.

Ganglord trust

by Sura Wood

W

hat direction might a magazine photo essay have gone if it hadn’t been complicated, possibly compromised, by editorial agendas, attitudes toward race and class, or commercial imperatives? Those are some of the intriguing questions behind “The Making of an Argument” at BAMPFA. See page 25 >>

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

“Untitled, Harlem, New York” (1948), gelatin silver print

by Gordon Parks.

<< Out There

22 • Bay Area Reporter • November 2-8, 2017

Booksplainin’

t

by Roberto Friedman

B

ooks are always piling up on the arts desk. We mean the oldfashioned kind printed on paper and bound together with book glue. We can’t catch up with them all. But that’s why we’re using our column this week for some brief comments to call attention to a few volumes.

“A Son Called Gabriel” by Damian McNicholl (Pegasus, $14.95). It’s the coming-of-age story of young Gabriel Harkin, awakening to his homosexual feelings, set against the backdrop of Northern Ireland in the 1960s, the time of the so-called “Troubles” and violent confrontations between Catholics and Protestants.

Unusually, this is a “second coming” of a sort for the book, which was a Lambda Literary Award winner for debut novel when first published in 2004. McNicholl rewrote passages in his novel for this edition, and explains why in a new afterword.

“With the advent of legal samesex marriage in the US, I knew I had to rewrite a fundamental part of the novel. While no marriage other than heterosexual marriage crosses Gabriel’s mind throughout the narrative, I felt compelled to acknowledge the silent gay men and women who grew up in the same era as he did, who understood they had to escape the homophobia and sectarianism of rural Northern Ireland and live their dignified truth in England’s cities and beyond.”

“50 Queers Who Changed the World – A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Icons” by Dan Jones, illustrated

by Michelle Rosenthal (Hardie

<<

Grant Books, $14.99) is a sweet collection of tributes to inspiring LGBTQ figures, each of whom gets one page of biography and one illustrative portrait. All the expected historical figures (Allen Ginsberg, Oscar Wilde, Harvey Milk, Gertrude Stein, Billie Holiday, Frida Kahlo) are here, but they share space with more contemporary characters (Dan Savage, George Takei, RuPaul, Camille Paglia, Rachel Maddow, Laverne Cox) in a nifty congregation of souls.

“Vacationland – True Stories from Painful Beaches” by John Hodgman (Viking, $25). Comic author and “The Daily Show” contributor shares his life in locales from rural Western Massachusetts in a “right-to-farm” town, “which means if you smell manure you are not allowed to complain,” to the “painful beaches” of Maine and beyond. Hodgman’s talent for writing

snappy copy is well-exhibited, never more so than when he refers to his daughter and son as “Hodgmina and Hodgmanillo” so they won’t be burdened with self-Googling in later life.

“The Floating World” by C. Morgan Babst (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, $26.95). This is the Hurricane Katrina novel that literary fiction-lovers have been waiting for, made even more poignant by this year’s superstorms, and what we now know to be tragic climatechange weather events to come.

Thanks again, global-warming deniers and your GOP-installed enablers!

Meanwhile we’re deep into a book we can’t tell you about yet.

It’s the new novel by an acclaimed gay British author who has won the Man Booker Prize. Available in Britain, its American publication date is not until next spring, but an expat friend found a copy in Southeast Asia and sent it our way. Clue: it’s perfect for the erstwhile coxswain on your list, i.e., Yours Truly, OT.t

Disability Film Fest

From page 21

“The Mission of the Lighthouse is the full integration of people with disabilities into mainstream life,” Lighthouse Executive Director Bryan Bashin said at the festival’s press opening. “That’s why we continue with Superfest.” Bashin noted that Superfest was unique in that all the judging was done by people with disabilities. “We show edgy films not shown at other disability festivals.”

One such film will be Andrew Keenan-Bolger’s “Sign,” a love story between a deaf gay man and a gay man with hearing. During its 15-minute running time, “Sign” shows viewers how the men first meet on a New York City subway train. As they get to know each other, Ben (hearing) struggles to learn sign language. Ben and Aaron move in together, face normal everyday life problems, break up, then find each other again on the subway, where they first met. It’s a sweet and fanciful tale told entirely in ASL sign language. There is no dialogue of any kind in the film. The copy made available for viewing to the B.A.R. did feature a descriptive audio track for the blind, which is in keeping with the Superfest policy of making all films accessible to everyone, regardless of disability.

“Superfest is about recognition,” said Emily Smith Beitiks of the Longmore Institute. “So many of the mainstream films on disability, even those winning Oscars, don’t resonate with people with disabilities. They depict disability as tragic, as pitiful.”

Superfest, Beitiks said, has higher aspirations. “Superfest aims to show authentic stories that come from the everyday, lived experiences of people with disabilities,” she said.

“The tragedies we show are of a

Courtesy Superfest

Basketball star Chamique Holdsclaw in the documentary short “Mind/Game,” part of Superfest, the Disability Film Festival.

social system that continues to create barriers that stop people with disabilities from reaching their full potential. When you tell these stories, this amazing thing happens when people in the audience get to see something that resonates with their own lives and experiences.”

2017 marks Superfest’s 31st year.

As part of the selection process, 167 films from 31 countries were viewed. The judges narrowed their choices down to the 15 films that will be screened at the festival, including the documentary short “Mind/Game,” the festival’s second queer-themed film. “Mind/Game” tells the deeply personal tale of basketball star Chamique Holdsclaw, an African American lesbian who faced six felony counts, the possibility of prison and attacks on her character after she attacked her ex-girlfriend.

Holdsclaw is also a suicide-attempt survivor. “Mind/Game,” which will air on Logo TV, touches upon the

stigma of overcoming a psychiatric disability.

Beitiks feels that sharing stories like these are immensely powerful for the disabled, and recalls seeing a disabled student, an amputee, crying at a past screening.

“The student wasn’t crying because of disappointment with the pop-culture narratives about amputees, as an amputee himself he was already well aware of that,” she said.

“Rather, he shared that he had just never seen his story told onscreen before. That’s what Superfest is all about, a place where the disability community can come together and feel that their experiences are about something bigger than what you may be feeling on the individual level.”

All films at Superfest will be ASLinterpreted for the deaf, and audiodescribed for the blind.t More info: superfestfilm.com.

On the web

This week, find Victoria Brownworth’s Lavender Tube column “No Trump, all queer” online at www.ebar.com.

Rainforests are responsible for about one in eight of the breaths we take. Visit our ever-evolving indoor rainforest to learn more about these vital ecosystems and what you can do to help sustain them.

Plus, meet 1,600 colorful plants and animals from around the world and walk through an immersive new cave experience!

Get tickets at calacademy.org The Osher Rainforest is generously supported by The Bernard Osher Foundation.

28309-CAS-Rainforest-Print-Breath-Bay Area Reporter-9.75x16-10.26.17-FA.indd 1

10/26/17 10:18 AM

<< Theatre

24 • Bay Area Reporter • November 2-8, 2017

Spirituality in silent retreat

by Richard Dodds

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he sounds of silence can actually get pretty loud. Not many words are spoken at all in Bess Wohl’s “Small Mouth Sounds,” a play in which silence actually amps up the mostly mute palaver among six attendees of a spiritual retreat. Now at ACT’s Strand Theater, Wohl’s play ranges from slapstick to heartbreak as the characters, each with a very different reason for being there, try to connect while remaining in silent obedience of the rules laid out by an unseen guru.

This small gem of a play, first seen in New York in 2015, has spawned a six-city tour with an SF stop that is part of ACT’s current season. Original director Rachel Chavkin may be working with a new cast, but it’s hard to imagine six actors more in tune with the people they are playing. Over the course of 100 minutes, they communicate the characters’ essences as they try to navigate through the unfamiliar world of the retreat while, usually without much success, leaving personal baggage behind at this sylvan retreat in Chavkin’s smartly materialized production.

We get a quick fix on the characters as they take their seats for an orientation led by the retreat’s

spiritual leader. They are variously befuddled, cranky, frazzled, insecure, and in one case, annoyingly serene, and there is a play-to-type element to Wohl’s script. When they are paired up for cabin accommodations, it adds some one-on-one friction, and we drop in on them as individuals, and as cabinmates.

We have a shaggy, self-conscious nerd (Connor Barrett), a smug and impossibly toned yoga instructor (Edward Chin-Lyn), an insecure modern-day Job (Ben Beckley), an obliviously entitled millennial (Brenna Palughi), and a stressedout lesbian couple (Cherene Snow and Socorro Santiago). All are excellent, but the wonderfully quizzical reactions of Snow’s character became my personal touchstone as this effort at consciousness-raising is rolled out.

For the most part, Wohl offers up slices of observational humor as individual stories find points of connection during the characters’ weekend together while the soothing, disembodied voice of the teacher (a spot-on Orville Mendoza) offers up parables, platitudes, prickly admonitions, and just maybe some useful wisdom. But there’s no answer when, in a Q&A with the teacher, one character wonders if it isn’t just plain wrong to be seeking

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T. Charles Erickson

Ben Beckley and Edward Chin-Lyn play uneasy cabinmates at a spiritual retreat in the largely wordless “Small Mouth Sounds” at the Strand Theater.

inner peace when the world is in such a state of misery.

It’s impossible to say if a life improved is in the offing for any of the participants, and we see little sign of that as they make their awkward goodbyes. But whatever the fate of the characters, their predicaments

are voyeuristically enjoyable to watch in a hand-signal environment.

There’s probably some schadenfreude at work, but it’s easy to find bits of yourself scattered among the characters who are all just seeking a little bit more. In “Small Mouth Sounds,” you get to know them in

an intimate, expressive, humorous, and mostly wordless way.t “Small Mouth Sounds” will run at the Strand Theater through Dec. 10. Tickets are $14-$90.

Call (415) 749-2228 or go to act-sf.org.

November lights up the Castro Theatre

by David Lamble

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he Castro Theatre performs its role as both a showcase for classic film and a neat place to catch today’s award-season cinema. The November calendar includes a special tribute to the Rolling Stones and the return of the Scary Cow Short Films Festival: see the theatre’s website for more on these.

“Big Trouble in Little China”

(1986) John Carpenter’s classic horror tale set in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Ex-Disney vet Kurt Russell is a macho trucker who seeks to save a buddy’s abducted girlfriend.

“Escape from New York” (1981) Russell again as a guy trapped in a future Manhattan where the isle of joy has turned into a max-security prison. With Lee Van Cleef, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence

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and Isaac Hayes. (both 11/3) “Battle of the Sexes” (2017) The story flashes back to 1973, when aging tennis star Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell), more skilled at hustling for TV camera time than playing competitive tennis, challenges top female stars half his age to showdown matches.

Riggs raises his sights to call out the reigning women’s champ, Billie Jean King. The much-hyped event played before a live crowd of 30,000 and a national TV audience estimated at 90 million.

The result was a huge boost in popularity for women’s tennis, which had long languished in the shadow of the men’s game.

“Tom of Finland” (2017) Finnish filmmaker Dome Karukoski presents the story of a legend, Touko Laaksonen (1920-91). This biopic, a hit at Frameline 41, concentrates on a handful of pivotal moments and relationships that inspired Tom’s hypermasculine drawings, art that would excite gay men worldwide.

Tom is faced with both defending his unique artistic vision and maintaining his freedom at the hands of vicious homophobes. (both 11/7) “New Italian Cinema 2017” brings Italy’s newest directors, veteran actors and filmmakers to the Bay Area, presented by the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco and New Italian Cinema Events of Florence, Italy. (Castro, Nov. 8; Vogue Theatre, 9-12).

“Franca: Chaos and Creation” Director Francesco Carrozzini’s intimate portrait of his mother, the legendary editor of Italian Vogue, Franca Sozzani, who explored taboos, championed models of color, and gave photographers creative control. Features interviews with Karl Lagerfeld, Bruce Weber, Baz Luhrmann, and Courtney Love.

“The Stuff of Dreams” A shipwreck casts convicted criminals and itinerant actors onto a windswept island that houses a prison overseen by a warden (Ennio Fantastichini) who lives there with his young daughter Miranda (Alba Gaia Bellugi). The gangsters infiltrate the theatrical

troupe to hide their true identities.

The suspicious warden orders the lead actor (Sergio Rubini) to stage a performance of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” in order to distinguish the thespians from the miscreants. Director Gianfranco Cabiddu’s beautifully lensed drama won the Italian Golden Globe for Best Film and the David di Donatello for Best Adapted Screenplay. Screenwriter Salvatore De Mola will attend.

“Fortunata” Director Sergio Castellitto gives us a young mother and self-employed hairdresser (Jasmine Trinca) rushing to appointments with the dream of opening her own hair parlor. She has a failed marriage, eccentric friends, and an eight-yearold daughter whose behavioral problems require therapy. Then she meets someone who desires her for the woman she is. Winner of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, Best Actress Award, Un Certain Regard. (all 3, 11/8) “Rear Window” (1954) Arguably James Stewart’s finest turn for Alfred Hitchcock, as a middle-aged magazine photographer who’s a temporary shut-in due to an accident on the tarmac that leaves one leg in a cast. Stewart and Hitch deliver a riveting study of a frustrated “type-A” personality whose temporary disability turns him into a “nosey Parker” busybody spying on his neighbors across a lower Manhattan courtyard.

A terrific supporting cast in-

cludes Thelma Ritter as Stewart’s visiting nurse, who has a hilarious theory about the relationship between executive bathroom breaks and the behavior of financial markets; Grace Kelly, as Stewart’s hyper-glam fashion-expert girlfriend; “B-actor” Wendell Corey as Stewart’s WWII bomber-pilot sidekick; and a white-haired, prePerry Mason Raymond Burr as an oddly sympathetic wife-killer. It’s one of Hitch’s endlessly addictive classics. The moral paradox of Stewart’s mix of character traits, from voyeurism to vigilantism, makes the film both a thriller and philosophical puzzle.

“Blowup” (1966) Italian master Michelangelo Antonioni casts David Hemmings as a hip photographer roaming through a swinging London scene that culminates in a possible murder in a park. With music by the Yardbirds and Herbie Hancock. An English-language Italian/British co-production in color. (both 11/19) “Disney’s Sing-Along Beauty and the Beast” (1991) Co-directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise present a classic Disney-style full-length animation based on a timeless fairy tale. With the voices of Paige O’Hara, Robby Benson, Jerry Orbach, Angela Lansbury, Richard White, David Ogden Stiers, Jesse Coru, Rex Everhart, Bradley Michael Pierce, Jo Anne Worley and Kimmy Robertson. (11/22-30)t

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Fine Art>>

November 2-8, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 25

Courtesy of The Gordon Parks Foundation

“Gang Member Graffitis a Wall, Harlem, New York” (1948), gelatin silver print by Gordon Parks, at Berkeley Art Museum/PFA.

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Gordon Parks

From page 21

The compact yet potent exhibition dissects the process of creating “Harlem Gang Leader,” a photojournalist project by Gordon Parks, who, after gigs at Vogue and Glamour, became the only African American staff photographer at Life magazine, where the piece was published in 1948. The show, which whets the appetite for a comprehensive retrospective of Parks’ work, is interesting from both a sociological and nuts & bolts journalistic perspective, though you may be left wondering exactly whose argument this was, and who was advancing it.

Parks succeeded in winning the trust and cooperation of the story’s initially reluctant subject, Leonard “Red” Jackson, the 17-year-old head of the Harlem Midtowners gang, with a ride in the photographer’s snazzy new Buick Roadmaster, a car with street cred to burn, sealing the deal. Over the course of several weeks, Parks trailed Red and his fellow gang members, producing hundreds of negatives, which he turned over to his editors. They chose 21 black & white pictures (displayed at the beginning of the show) that ran in conjunction with text informed

by Parks’ experience but not actually written by him.

The exhibition is at its most engaging when providing insight into how and on what basis critical judgment calls on content were made. An illuminating section pairs each page from the spread with corresponding contact sheets; some have orange lines and printing instructions from the editors, indicating their thinking and choices. “Life” wanted edge and drama and to heighten aggression and despair, evidenced by the essay’s gripping headline: “Red Jackson’s life is one of fear, frustration and violence.” The hyped-up opener was accompanied by a pensive shot of Jackson with his profile partially in shadow, as he surveys a fire in the distance and calculates his next move. That print is contrasted here with two less somber candidates that were discarded. After the layout was done, the editors selected a picture of Red holding a smoking gun for the cover shot. Parks, believing it would jeopardize Red and the relationship they had built, fought the decision, going so far as to destroy the negative; his story was buried in the back of the issue on page 96.

The crucial role of darkroom techniques and cropping in shaping perception is explored in relation to images like a fistfight sequence that will strike many as quaint by today’s standards – more “West Side Story” rumble than the 21st-century killing fields facilitated by easily accessible handguns and Uzis. Parks actually shot the sequence from above and at a remove, but the cropping gives the impression that he and the viewer are closer to the action.

In the stark final image, Red, a

towering, broad-shouldered loner in the urban wilderness, walks away from the camera on a desolate and deserted Harlem street. Darkroom manipulation enlarged the figure, intensifying the emotional impact while fueling the Wild West iconography of a gunslinger, the king of a lawless town.

A group of outtakes represents the road not taken. Images of Red sitting on the arm of a chair next to his Mom, sweeping the floor and doing the dishes and getting ready for a date like any other teenager, would have provided a more nuanced portrait and a view into the softer, domestic side of a swaggering bad dude in a rough neighborhood. As seen in a contact sheet, he also had a studious younger brother who preferred reading to conflict, material not sensational enough for one editor, whose blunt dismissal, “Red’s young brother/ not gangster,” says it all.

In an informal epilogue, Lyric R. Cabral’s poignant photographs, taken in 2007, capture the oncefeared gangster as a frail elderly man whose spindly legs dangle from a doctor’s exam table. He died in 2010, outliving the artist who made him famous, or would that be infamous? “Damn, Mr. Parks,” Red lamented after the piece was published. “You’ve made a criminal out of me.” (Through Dec. 17.)

It has been almost 70 years since they appeared, but the Life photographs are still fresh and bracing, with a tough yet compassionate narrative “voice.” As for the multitalented Parks, who died in 2006, he remains a hip, trailblazing figure.

Among many breakthroughs, he was the first African American to produce and direct a Hollywood movie: “The Learning Tree” (1969), a semi-autobiographical, comingof-age story about a black youth who, like Parks, grew up in rural Kansas during the Depression, and delved into race, masculinity and the wages of cruelty. The film is part of BAMPFA’s “A Choice of Weapons,” a related program screening several movies Parks helmed, such as “Shaft,” a 1970s actioner memorable for an Oscar-winning earworm score by Isaac Hayes, and Richard Roundtree as an unstoppable private eye going up against white cops and a Harlem kingpin.

“Solomon Northup’s Odyssey” (1984), made for television on a tight budget, is based on the same 1853 memoir by a free Northern black man kidnapped into slavery that Steve McQueen would adapt nearly three decades later for “12 Years a Slave.” Preceded by a pair of early shorts that grew out of his photojournalist work, “Moments Without Proper Names” is a poetic reverie incorporating Parks’ photographs, writing, music, and reflections on the country and events that defined him. (Through Dec. 1.)t bampfa.org.

<< Music

26 • Bay Area Reporter • November 2-8, 2017

Sing out, San Francisco Girls Chorus!

by Philip Campbell

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he San Francisco Girls Chorus and Music Director and Principal Conductor Valerie Sainte-Agathe opened the prized institution’s 39th season last week at Herbst Theatre with an ambitiously planned and perfectly executed program called “Philip Glass and the Class of ’37.” Celebrating the composer’s 80th birthday with veteran members of the Philip Glass Ensemble, Music Director and keyboardist Michael Riesman and flutist/saxophonist Andrew Sterman, the Chorus included works from three composers who also share a ’37 birth year: Buxtehude (1637), Joseph Michael Haydn (1737), and Balakirev (1837).

It was a clever idea that provided a satisfying showcase for the range of the beautifully prepared young singers. Artistic Director Lisa Bielawa continues the organization’s stated mission to champion music of our time and centuries past, collaborating with leading artists, ensembles, and organizations. The recent performance offered the first of three chances to hear SFGC in

Philip Glass this season. In February 2018, the group makes its Carnegie Hall debut performing “Music with Changing Parts” with the composer and his Ensemble. Shortly thereafter, on Feb. 20, 2018, the program is repeated in San Francisco at Davies Symphony Hall, presented by San Francisco Performances. Traveling in such esteemed company is a wellearned result of the organization’s enduring vision, which has garnered five Grammy Awards and three ASCAP/Chorus America Awards for Adventurous Programming.

Any pre-conceived notions of first-time SFGC audience members were quickly dispelled from the opening numbers of the rich and polished concert. Condescending memories of well-meaning amateur societies and high school glee clubs didn’t intrude.

Selections from Dietrich Buxtehude’s “Salve Jesu” sounded ethereal in their purity, but also displayed a warm and resonant bottom to the group’s sound.

Local instrumentalists, performing throughout the evening, gave support and texture to selections from J.M. Haydn’s delightful “St.

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Leopold Mass.” Franz Joseph’s bodes well for the upcomkid brother shared his sibling’s ing Carnegie Hall debut, gift for infectious melody. but Northern Californians Watching the fresh-faced inhave known the SFGC’s volvement of the well-blended stellar quality for years. singers added to the enjoyment.

The young women of A trio of soloists – AnaKatrina the Chorus will continue Cortado, Allegra Kelly (Soloist their participation in the Intensive members) and Nia San Francisco Opera’s fine revival of Puccini’s Caiani Spaulding (Soprano “Turandot” through Dec. Section Leader) – offered so9, 2017. phistication beyond their years Opera Parallele presents to “You are Full of Captivating Carlin Ma Rachel Portman’s charmTenderness” from Mily Balkirev’s ing operatic version of Forgotten Romance, No. 1.

Members of the San Francisco Girls Chorus “The Little Prince” at Cow“Father Death Blues” from tackled works by composer Philip Glass. ell Theater December 1-3, “Hydrogen Jukebox” (arranged 2017, featuring Members

by Lisa Bielawa and the composby Glass and Bielawa) from the film of the San Francisco Girls er) got the Philip Glass portion “Koyaanisqatsi.”

Chorus School. of the bill off to an impressive start, The thrilling arc of the program December 16-17, the San Franwith each word of Allen Ginsberg’s concluded with “The Photogracisco Symphony and the SFGC evocative text clearly enunciated. pher,” Act III. The mesmerizing School will join forces to perform Again, there was a gratifying sense trademark Glass sound has never the soundtrack music for a holiday of mature understanding by the been better served. screening of “Home Alone” at Dasingers.

Special guests Michael Riesman vies Symphony Hall. The SFGC’s Knee Play 5 from “Einstein on the and Andrew Sterman really powHoliday Concert, “Greetings from Beach” followed, with the Chorus ered along with the SFGC’s highAll Seasons!” maintains the seasonal making confident work of the fiendoctane enthusiasm. The elevating cheer at DSH on Dec. 18. ishly difficult score. collaboration lifted the audience as Look out, New York, there is a They took the one brief break of well, and the standing ovation was wonderful surprise coming your the night to catch their breath (ah, genuine and un-self-conscious. It all way in the New Year.t youth!) for “Vessels” (also arranged

The French have their reasons

by Erin Blackwell

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he heart has its reasons that Reason fails to comprehend, at least that’s what the French say.

If you have a heart, it might enjoy going out to see some old French films that’ll surprise your cynical American expectations. There are subtitles, not entirely reliable but close enough. Mostly there are complex narratives, tense gender relations, cobblestones, cafes, and ruins underscored with “le jazz hot” or accordion, con men, gangsters, and ex-pats Hazel Scott and Eddy Constantine. Thirteen black-andwhite features packaged as double bills over a four-day weekend as “The French Had a Name for It” start Friday at the Roxie Theater.

Maria Casares (1922-96) is an international queer icon for her moody performance as the black-leather dominatrix Death in two films by Jean Cocteau. In

“Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne” (1945), her obsessive love object is a man. Extended close-ups allow the connoisseur to marvel at her malefic Spanish face and appreciate her classically theatrical phrasings. In the guise of bourgeois benevolence, tender hearts are maniacally manipulated to sadistic ends to slake her thirst for vengeance. Inspired by a story by Diderot, the erotic politics recall the frissons of “Liaisons Dangeureuses.” (11/5) Arletty (1898-1992) is a performer whose impeccably maintained dignity reads as both plain and glamorous, statuesque and beanpole, comic and sorrowful. She’s at her most ambiguous in “Gibier de Potence” (1951) as a woman in love with a younger man she pimps out as a gigolo. Simultaneously possessive and asexual, ascetic and jealous, she seems very queer, very French, very unreasonable. Not to spoil it, but her death makes this a tragedy

career. She’s not a classic beauty, her eyes are comically large, but she’s the perfect Frenchwoman: chic, cold-blooded, inscrutable. You might have seen her in a wheelchair playing Catherine Deneuve’s mother in Ozon’s “Eight Women” (2001).

In “Le désordre et la nuit” (1958), she’s got a rich, sickly husband in a mansion and a dead gangland exboyfriend in a parking lot. When detective Jean Gabin (1904-76) drops by her marble foyer, it’s the battle of the deadpans. They stand their ground, lock eyes, and exude carnal knowledge. (11/4) Jeanne Moreau (1928-2017) graces two films. In the mindlessfun crime caper “L’étrange Mr. Steve” (1957), she divides her attentions between a gang leader and a cute young up-and-coming thief.

In the pretentious “Mademoiselle” (1966), she’s an avatar of metaphysical claptrap envisioned by Jean Genet, scripted by Marguerite

Duras, directed by naughty Brit Tony Richardson. Echoing de Sade, the evil Mademoiselle’s unexpressed sexuality masquerades as piety, while she sneaks around crushing bird’s eggs in the nest, poisoning cattle, and literally barn-burning.

(11/7) Director Claude Chabrol (19302010) has his own double bill. “Le Beau Serge” (1958) sees a sickly Parisian bourgeois return to the village of his schooldays, where his old pals are working-class and pregnant.

There’s a bitter tinge to this study of country life with a life-affirming finish. Not so for “Les Bonnes Femmes” (1960), a study of sexual politics in a group of fun-loving Parisian shop girls. Future Chabrol muse Stéphane Audran belts an uncharacteristically goofy number as a farcical Italian chanteuse, distracting you from the dreadful surprise M. Chabrol has been preparing all along. (11/4)t

decision to leave her order.

As “Novitiate” begins in the early 60s, we witness a class of young women with different motives for seeking a cloistered religious life. Some do cite “Nun’s Story,” with its rollercoaster emotional ride, for inspiring their wish to forsake a world of boys. It’s a time of great tumult in society, and because of Vatican II, of upheaval within Catholic religious orders.

First-time writer-director Margaret Betts sets a challenge for herself in this Nashville-set drama: how to demonstrate to a 21st-century movie audience Sony Classics the much-narrower options open to young Catholic women Melissa Leo plays a Mother Superior of the 60s. Betts is skilled at who resists changes in writer-director showing the pressures felt by Margaret Betts’ “Novitiate.” each of the young women in to God. Leo’s Mother Superior is their bid to join what feels particularly fervent in opposing like a kind of sorority with nasty affectionate friendships among the hazing rituals. Veteran character women, which feel suspiciously like actress Melissa Leo steals every training-wheel lesbian bonds. scene she’s in with her depiction In interviews, Leo described her of a Mother Superior who resists intense preparation for this deVatican II changes, including nuns manding role. She can appear to be allowed to abandon their habits and the heavy who subjects the young the conceit that they’re “married”

novitiates to cruel and humiliating discipline, to test their ability to subordinate their lives to the ancient teachings of the Church. They must observe vows of silence, and sublimate their desires to the will of the priests. Leo’s character battles for the soul of the Church against the wishes of modernizers like gay actor Denis O’Hare’s crusading Archbishop McCarthy.

Also outstanding are Margaret Qualley (Sister Cathleen), Dianna Argon (Sister Mary Grace) and Liana Liberato (Sister Emily) as young women eager to dive into a lifetime commitment (or sentence?) to abstain from sex, having children, and conversations with their friends. One subplot involves a parent, beautifully conveyed by Julianne Nicholson, who fears the restrictions imposed by the order on her daughter.

“Novitiate” premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. For a deeper plunge into this world, consult the fiction of J.F. Powers, especially his satirical 1962 novel “Morte d’Urban,” about the life of a powerful Midwestern priest whose wings are clipped by his quixotic religious order.t

Spurned woman Maria Casares seeks revenge in Robert Bresson’s “Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne.”

or at least a very dark fairy tale in which the negative feminine must be routed if the alchemical marriage of opposites is to succeed. (11/5) Danielle Darrieux died on Oct. 17 at age 100, after an eight-decade

Cloistered life

by David Lamble

“N

ovitiate” (opening Friday) is that rare new film that can inspire both a shock of recog-

nition and a feeling of deja vu for “The Nun’s Story” fans. That powerful 1959 film followed a young nun (Audrey Hepburn) into then”Belgian” Congo and ultimately a

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Books>>

November 2-8, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 27

Beckoned by muses

by Tim Pfaff

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ehind the palest, least legible book cover of 2017 lies the year’s most important release of writing by a gay man. “Half-Light: Collected Poems 1965-2016” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) adds a section of new verse by Frank Bidart to published collections that date back to the beginning of his career.

In these 600 pages, a constantly evolving Bidart emerges as Walt Whitman’s other half. Where Whitman sings, Bidart laments. For all his rough maleness and celebration of it, Whitman remains the Mother of Us All. Bidart is closer to the troubled brother whom you love despite his being a little scary. It’s a kind of bravery different from Walt’s, more inward and ambivalent in its celebrations, if comparably candid. Bidart is also rawer and more immediate, personal with boundaries you come to trust he will manage, with refinement.

One of the things I treasure about the B.A.R. is that many of us have been with it from the beginning (1971). I don’t know if it reached Bidart, now 78, in Bakersfield, but he may jolt early readers of the paper with reminders of the conundrums of being gay and conscious (not the same as “out,” but “out” wasn’t “out” yet) in the period after WWII. A later Bidart speaks to the notunguilty survivors of the AIDS epidemic in its wantonly man-slaying years, we of the baffled crowd to whom Bidart gives this voice: “Nothing that they did in bed that you didn’t.” His “The First Hour of the Night” series, begun in 1990, has since led to the Second, Third and Fourth “Hours,” among the greatest and most complex testaments of the AIDS years, not that we or he consider them over.

You’re not far in before you’ve braced for blows from lines of the most eloquent simplicity. To his father in “Golden State” (1973): “you finally/ forgave me for being your son, and in the nasty/ shambles of your life, in which you had less and less/ occasion for pride, you were proud/ of me.”

James Franco

Poet Frank Bidart: candid.

Just-out-of-reach gay romantic love is there early on, too. “In the Western Night” (1990) reads: “Our not-love is like a man running down/ a mountain, who, if he dares to stop,/ falls over –/ my hands wanted to touch your hands/ because we had hands.” We immediately know where we are. There’s a less innocent echo in “By These Waters”: “The boys who lie back, or stand up,/ allowing their flies to be unzipped/ however much they charge/ however much they charge/ give more than they get.”

What’s striking in the early works and a regular feature thereafter is Bidart’s imagining himself into

historical people, beckoned at time by muses including Marilyn Monroe and Maria Callas. In the longish “The War of Vaslav Nijinsky” (1983), the great dancer speaks, as do his wife (in prose) and the inescapable Diaghilev (in interjections, usually performance demands). As Bidart walks us through Nijinsky’s madness, the poet speaks of art from the dancer’s mouth: “I have invented a far more/ accurate and specific notation for dance;/ it has taken me two months/ to write down the movement in my ten-minute/ ballet, ‘L’Apres-midi d’un Faune.’”

The poems are at their most graphic – italics, lines in ALL CAPS, flush left, flush right, centered, commanding the page – in “The First Hour of the Night,” a personal if also mythical history in which the pain of the dying and otherwise departing nearly takes over. Excavating for meaning, Bidart packs experience in history, the world’s and his own, intertwined.

He salutes the poets of yore and waves at his teachers and contemporaries (a fond mention of John Ashbery had to have been written before the poet’s death on Sept. 3).

Much of Bidart’s work is plainly incantatory, to use an oxymoron to recognize its embrace of ambiguity and mystery.

Both reviews of the collection I’ve read have quoted prominently from a 2013 poem from the collection “Metaphysical Dog,” called “Queer.”

It loops back to Bidart’s beginning, and brings my review to its rightful end: “For each gay kid whose adolescence/ was America in the forties or fifties/ the primary, the crucial/ scenario/ forever is coming out –/ or not. Or not. Or not. Or not.” … “If I had managed to come out to my/ mother, she would have blamed not/ me, but herself./ The door through which you were shoved out/ into the night/ was self-loathing and terror. … Thank you, terror!/ You learned early that adults’ genteel/ fantasies about human life/ were not, for you, life. You think sex/ is a knife/ driven into you to teach you that.”

The poem begins, in italics, “Lie to yourself about this and you will/ forever lie about everything.”t

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n his latest book “Flowers & Sky,” prolific local San Francisco poet Aaron Shurin has produced a slim yet potent volume of significant yet delicately rendered prose and poetry that fans should enjoy slowly to savor the meaning behind his words.

Included are two lectures Shurin gave in 2016, each establishing a “governing image” that channeled him “back into my own work in a kind of recursive voyage of discovery.” Those separate images comprise the title of the book, flowers and sky. The first talk, delivered at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa as part of the Hudson Strode Program in Renaissance Studies, is a unique, shimmering “bouquet of text” ruminating on flowers, told through the lens of Oberon’s floral soliloquy in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

The piece blooms with picturesque imagery such as the vast fields of black-eyed Susans flowing across the Eastern fields of Shurin’s summer camp when he was a boy, or lush forest walks with American poet Denise Levertov. He also writes about the first journal he ever crafted

in 1968, which “bore witness to my awakening interest in poetry” and escorted him, like a silent partner, on excursions throughout Europe.

His floral appreciation continues in a segment about a house sublet in Marin County in 2003, where a “watering chore” in exchange for his stay wound up morphing into a “herculean effort of weeding, soaking, and mothering.”

Shurin writes about when he lent his lyrical eye to Barron’s Book Notes series on “Dream” and, through his sharpened eye, hoped to ease high school students into the tragicomedy dreamscapes of Shakespeare without any missteps or confusion. He knows the power

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of those verses: “They are my ‘sweet musk roses,’ and in their swoon my spell found its making.”

The second lecture, deliveredSteven-2x3.indd while participating on a panel called “What is poetics?” as part of the University of Washington/Bothell’s Fall Convergence in Poetry, meditates on the reasons why, as pointed out by a curious reader, the word and imagery of the “sky” appear so often throughout Shurin’s poetry.

Another commentator notices his fixation with the words “mouth” and “lips.” Shurin writes that particular focus is “a kind of gay marriage between homo-carnality and poetic sonority, avatars both of the oral.”

His use of the notion of “sky” is prevalent throughout his work.

Shurin explains why with grace and in the kind of eloquent language he is known for. He uses sky-bound images in a “dance for a friend, who wanted to mark his survival with HIV.” He ends his lectures with six sky poems commemorating the vast, limitless airspace above us, whether it be “icy clear, cloudless” or “a mound of abalone dust.”

Included with the book purchase is a digital audio download of the writer reading its longer essay and all of the new poems.

Shurin is a skilled, dynamic orator, so this bonus material is not to be missed.t

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10/31/17 2:59 PM

<< Dance

28 • Bay Area Reporter • November 2-8, 2017

<<

Dorrance Dance

From page 21

MacArthur Fellow (the “genius” award) Dorrance is famous for opening up tap to other forms.

While Savion Glover revived tap by making it explicitly aggressive, explosive and athletic with “Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk” 20 years ago, Dorrance is celebrated for bringing in hip-hop, b-boying and b-girling, and integrating great virtuosi in these forms into her dances, crediting dancers Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie and Matthew “Megawatt” for their contributions to the choreography.

There was no intermission. There were three pieces. First, “Jungle Blues,” to the Branford Marsalis Quartet’s recording, introduced the group to a slow, bluesy raunch, with a glorious effect where the stage seemed to be rotating, bringing the dancers round as if this were Busby Berkeley in slow motion. Second, a trio to music that sounded otherworldly, like the Harry Potter theme music, celesta-floaty, with heebyjeeby action for the legs that became seriously disturbing after the two guys bookending Dorrance herself disappeared from the stage and the music began to sound like you were having an epileptic seizure. The nervous energy got scarier than I had bargained for.

“Myelination,” the much longer piece that followed, was co-commissioned by Cal Performances, and had live musicians behind a scrim backing up the rest of the evening. It was highly episodic, rather like contemporary jazz music, and indeed the highly knowledgeable audience applauded sections as a jazz audience will a soloist who takes you on a great flight of fancy.

Tap had a great heyday in the 1920s & 30s, but it was made up of short numbers. The musical-comedy format gave it a chance to shine like jewels in the midst of a larger theatrical context. But an evening of all-tap is a little wearing, since the variety-show format has to be handled wisely, or else it feels like a grab-bag. Tap has never evolved a system for organizing itself into a large-scale form. This is a problem facing hip-hop, turfing, all the wonderful idioms that dancers love, but which find it hard to make the transition to being a spectator sport. How do you dispose the action to suit an audience in a theater?

Despite the fact that all the dancing was wonderful, the show was too long, and one thing did not lead to another. They tried to make continuity and nearly made it, but not really.

On the other hand, what wonderful stuff, so knowledgeable, so steeped in the music, and so responsive to the possibilities of fantasy that the music sets up.

t

Christopher Duggan

Cal Performances presented Dorrance Dance at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley.

Dorrance’s 10 performers are all brilliant, though it’s the diversity that you notice first thing: all body types, different signature moves, sometimes bare of foot or shod without taps. Most of all, some of them are nervous wrecks, and others calmed down to the nearcomatose.

She’s smuggled a lot of Expressionist dance, both the contortions and the Angstvoll tropes, into her work. Press materials did not help identify dancers, so I can’t name performers who especially

charmed. But one, whom I’ll call “Cesare” because he called to mind the zombie from the coffin in the great German expressionist movie “The Cabinet of Caligari,” had a haunting way of tangling his legs and falling over backwards as if in slow motion, then rising back out of it as this were all on the ocean floor and mysterious currents were floating him around. Another, I’ll call “Running Man” because he kept hitting this pose and holding it with blinding stillness for a splitsecond, ratcheting it off-kilter,

then holding that as if this were stop-action camerawork, which he must have done 10 times over and burned that image on my retina. I will never forget it. But the show, I wish I could see it again, because I don’t really know what hit me.

The dancers all deserve high praise: Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie, Christopher Broughton, Elizabeth Burke, Warren Craft, Michelle Dorrance, Claudia Rahardjanoto, Byron Tittle, Matthew “Megawatt” West, Gabriel Winns Ortiz, and Nicholas Van Young.t

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31

33

Cyberotica!

On the Town

Arts Events Vol. 47 • No.44 • November 2-8, 2017

www.ebar.com V www.bartabsf.com

On the Tab

34

F

all into fun, feathers an d vocal ensembles prove fog. Veteran singers and their longevity, and ne w Grammy-winning singer s (Lady Rizo, photo) return with cabaret class. It’s an oh-tuneful autumnal sea son.

e 32 >> Listings on pag

Sun 29

Lady Rizo @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko

Nov. 2-9

MUSCLE MANIFEST BOB MIZER’S LEGACY REVIVED IN NEW PHYSIQUE PICTORAL

by John F. Karr

B

A cropped Bob Mizer photo of John Apache, aka the Apache Kid, appears full frontal in Physique Pictorial 42.

oy, did I sell Dennis Bell short. The owner of the entire Athletic Model Guild catalogue, Bell is the visionary founder of the Bob Mizer Foundation. With a crew of volunteers, he’s been cataloguing and preserving the nearly one million negatives, photographs and those fabulous and campy video tapes that make up the Bob Mizer archives. His latest means of marketing these invaluable goods is to revive AMG’s Physique Pictorial.

See page 30 >>

{ THIRD OF THREE SECTIONS }

<< Karrnal Knowledge

30 • Bay Area Reporter • November 2-8, 2017

1.

2.

3.

t

4. all photos courtesy Bob Mizer Foundation

5.

<<

Muscle Manifest

From page 29

Did I want such a thing? I was unsure. I own too much stuff already.

There are the DVD reissues of AMG short films, and a shelf-load of photo collections, including several Mizer monographs, and big coffee-table books like the full color Bob’s World,

1. A Bob Mizer photo of Eddie Taylor works that cherished sailor theme.

2. Danger seems imminent in this study by Josh Paul Thomas.

3. One of photographer Josh McNey’s more overtly active studies.

4. Bob Mizer, founder and fabled photographer of The Athletic Model Guild.

5. Only in Physique Pictorial 42 will you see the bottom half of this full frontal study by 1950s photographer Denny Denfield. photo: Bob Mizer Foundation

a box set reprinting all the Physique Pictorials, and the impressive, two volume boxed set, AMG: 1000 Model Directory. I’m so mizered up that I thought I could stand having less Mizerables. And that’s why I sorta ignored the launch of Bell’s resurrected Physique Pictorial, which comes a full 27 years after the last issue. For the record, this “Official Quarterly

of the Bob Mizer Foundation” is issue #42. It’s hardly just one more in that long, fondly remembered line, though. In terms of its form and content, it’s a brand new day.

The mag’s price is $25 per issue. With postage for mail order, the total would be $29. You may think that’s kinda expensive. I did, and that’s why I nearly overlooked it.

But I’m glad I went to get a handson look at The Magazine on Larkin Street, where it’s in stock, and yours without postage. It’s a large 6.5 x 9 inches, with 84 pages of heavyweight matte paper showcasing its black-and-white photography, plus thoroughly unnecessary but classy French Fold covers.

I wouldn’t mind if the quarterly was $15, but when you look at what photography books go for these days, it’s certainly in line. With its mix of AMG classics alongside previously unpublished Mizerabilia, articles, and the presentation of current photographers, it’s pretty unique. The quarterly’s fine art vibe is immediately evident in its clean, modern design. It’s not porn, for sure, and even its beefcake is rendered in the most high-end photos.

The quarterly’s juicy features include entertaining samples of Mizer’s ramblings and philosophizing, an article about the Mizer Foundation and its activities, a duo biography of The Magazine’s illustrious proprietors, who have donated their building to be the Foundation’s headquarters.

And there’s a bouquet of goodies.

Each issue will have a section dedicated to a popular AMG model.

This first time, it’s John Apache, known as the Apache Kid, in eight pages of previously unpublished photos. I’m glued to one of them in particular. We’re told the Kid was one of the few models Mizer ever allowed in his home. That single fullpage photo shows the moody model veiling his goods in a mesh bikini brief perhaps reveals the reason why he’s a delight.

There’s a section titled “Sailors,” which revisits a classic AMG theme with a photo of a faux sailor, and follows up with an erotic reminiscence of some real life sailor-ific encounters.

And I was delighted with the scurrilous section called “Mugged,” which delivers on facing pages an AMG model’s physique shot, and the mug shot taken at the police department when the former model was booked for some misdeed.

Among the contemporary photographers represented is Josh McNey, with a gallery appropriately

titled “Lines of Beauty.” These are contemplative studies, with a reserved sexuality. In an interview alongside the photos, McNey nails Mizer’s artistic legacy: “In addition to the social and legal ramifications of his work, his masculine archetypes and the models themselves defined the aesthetics for anyone who works in the field.”

Testifying to McNey’s declaration are the photographs of Josh Paul

Thomas. He’s a 32-year-old native of Healdsburg, and now based in LA, where we’re told he adheres to “a strict routine of working out, shooting guys, and screenwriting.”

Thomas’ work is close to the AMG ethos, but with a contemporary context of taboo and objectification. Think Mizer’s tattooed and mischievous bad boys, updated with sharp lighting and a jaunty mood.

There’s a true treasure trove in the ten-page segment of finely rendered, never-before-seen photos by a Mizer peer, 1950’s physique photographer Denny Denfield. To avoid the police persecution that plagued Mizer, Denfield never sold any of his photos. It’s some sort of miracle that the negatives for these images still exist. Denfield’s nudes contrast smooth, supple bodies with rugged outdoor environments.

And did I mention that each issue is a limited edition? When a run is sold out, that’s it. No re-issues. I’ve got copy 554 out of 1,000. They’re going, going, gone.t www.BobMizer.org

all photos courtesy Bob Mizer Foundation

Top: The first Physique Pictorial in 27 years, relaunched as a Quarterly.

Middle: Dennis Bell, toiling in the Archives of the Bob Mizer Foundation.

Bottom: Dennis Bell, center, with The Magazine proprietors, Bob Mainardi and Trent Dunphy.

t

Cyberotica!>>

November 2-8, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 31

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

San Francisco:

Gooch

The cast of Cyberotica!

Cyberotica! Wacky Y2K musical reboots at Oasis

by David-Elijah Nahmod

H

song, ‘Gender Bender,’ takes that to the next level.”

The emergence of the trans community is one of several actual events which found its way into Cyberotica!

“Every character and every storyline in the show has a connection to actual events that were occurring at the time, just pushed to a more audacious level,” said Kittell. “A pregnant man, Internet sex addiction, genetic tampering; all taken to the extreme.

Or, so we thought at the time. Now it looks more like a roadmap.”

A great deal of thought was put into the show’s casting process.

“Each cast member was handpicked for the comedic strength and vocal talent they bring to role they’re playing,” said Fogel. “Noah Haydon is playing Electra, the insidious Goddess of Technology. Jesse Cortez plays Claude, our young internet newbie. Peggy L’Eggs plays Dr. Karen, a genetic scientist and her

Teletubbie baby, Oopsie. Crystal Why plays Trixie, the cross-dressing web-cam star with ‘something extra’.

Kylie Minono and Owen Asdell play Opal and Maybleen, the two internet terrorists.”

The composing duo pointed out that small changes had to be made in the show, since the internet is a very different place today than it was in 1999.

“If anything, we down-dated the tech references,” said Kittell.

“If a reference was too old, we just took it out of the script. The Y2K catastrophe looks so silly now, but back then it was a nagging fear in the back of everyone’s mind. I wish there was a way we could capture the ubiquitous dread that gave it more meaning.”

“We definitely considered updating the show to contemporary times, but ultimately decided to leave it as a period piece,” added Fogel. “The comedy is much stronger and the laughs are much louder when we look back at how little we knew and how naïve we were about technology just 20 years ago.”

Fogel said that first and foremost, he wants Cyberotica! audiences to have a good time, though the show, he points out, does have a message.

“Our primary objective is to have the audience laugh, be entertained, rock out and enjoy a good night out at the theater,” he said. “The secondary objective is to have audience members seriously consider how technology has impacted their lives and if it’s even possible to avoid becoming slaves to it.”

“Change is an inevitable thing both in technology and biology, but the beat is good and I can dance to it so I give it a 10,” added Kittell.t

earts were broken across the Bay Area theater community when Russell Blackwood shuttered his long running, popular queer theater troupe Thrillpeddlers. The company lost its lease on their longtime home at the Hypnodrome Theater.

But never fear Thrillpeddlers fans. The company is back… sort of. From November 3 through November 18, several members of Thrillpeddlers will reunite for Cyberotica! at Oasis. Billed as a “lowtech rock musical about a high-tech world,” Cyberotica! was first performed on the San Francisco stage in 1999, just as Y2K hysteria was hitting a fever pitch.

It’s a unique show that could only come from the Bay Area’s queer theater community. As the show begins, Electra, The Goddess of Technology, introduces the audience to three intertwined love stories: an Internet newbie hungry for cybersex, a genetic engineer and her cloned baby, and a transgender trio eager to change the world. Co-lyricist and book author Kelly Kittell spoke to Bay Area Reporter about the inclusion of transgender characters in a show which was first staged long before the trans community had come into its own.

“For me, it was about seeing how poorly trans people were/ are being treated,” Kittell said.

“I was kicked out of the Navy for announcing I was gay, so I respect people who live their truth, knowing it has consequences. The trans community strives to live their lives on their terms despite all the shit thrown their way.”

Peter Fogel, who composed the score and co-wrote the lyrics, tells us transgender people were online pioneers.

“Remarkably, in 1999, when only five percent of the world was on the internet, Gooch the trans online community Book and Lyricist co-author Kelly Kittell (left) exploded and raised so much awareness; so many connec- Matthew Simmons as Oopsie, composer and tions, the T began to be added co-author Peter Fogel (right) and Noah Haydon to LGBT,” he explained. “I as Electra (seated), in the new production of see them as fighters and their Cyberotica!

Cyberotica!

Runs at Oasis, November 2-18. Thursdays 8pm, Fridays and Saturdays 7pm. $25-$35 ($250 VIP tables).

298 11th St. sfoasis.com

(415) 692-5774

www.megamates.com 18+

<< On the Tab Joseph Fuda

32 • Bay Area Reporter • November 2-8, 2017

Lips and Lashes Brunch @ Lookout 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

Morrissey @ The Masonic British pop singer (The Smiths) performs at the large downtown theatre. $59 and up. 8:30pm. 1111 California St. sfmasonic.com

Mother @ Oasis

Wed 8

Choir! Choir! Choir! @ Slim’s

Edited for space.

For full listings, visit www.ebar.com/bartab

Thu 2 Cyberotica! @ Oasis Revival of the hilarious 1999 Y2K drag musical by Peter Fogel and Kelly Kittell. $25-$35. Thu 8pm. Fri & Sat 7pm. Thru Nov. 18. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Kingdom of Sodom @ Nob Hill Theatre Get interactive at the sexy party, with David Emblem and Brian Bond’s stage sex show. Clothing-optional night. $20. 9pm-1am. 729 Bush St. at Powell.

397-6758. thenobhilltheatre.com

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

Heklina’s popular drag show, this month with a Coven theme (No bachelorette parties admitted! Yay!) $10. 10pm-3am (11:30pm show). 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Nitty Gritty @ Beaux Curtain Call @ Hotel Rex Bill Cooper MCs and Barry Lloyd accompanies the open mic cabaret night. $15-$25. 7pm-10pm. Cocktails and small plates available. 562 Sutter St. www.societycabaret.com

Desperate Living @ The Stud Grace Towers hosts the drag show, with DJs Gabriel Garcia, BJ. $5-$10.

10pm-2am. 388 9th st. studsf.com

Friday Nights at the Ho @ White Horse Bar, Oakland

Josh Carmichael/DJ Salazer host the tattoo appreciation night. $10. 9pm2am. 2344 Market St. beauxsf.com

The Ohio Players @ Yoshi’s Oakland The classic funk band performs. $39.

7:30pm, 9:30pm. Also Nov. 5, 7pm.

510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. yoshis.com

The Playground @ Club BNB, Oakland

Dance it up at the historic (and still hip) East Bay bar. 9pm-2am. 6551 Telegraph Ave. whitehorsebar.com

Revamped night at the popular hip hop and Latin dance club. $5-$15.

9pm to 4am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Friday Night Live @ El Rio

Powerblouse @ Powerhouse

Enjoy the weekly queer and LGBTfriendly live acoustic concerts. $5pm.

3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

Latin Explosion, Club Papi @ Club 21, Oakland

Under the Golden Gate’s DJ Dank and Maria Konner cohost the monthly marijuana-friendly live music, drag and dancing night, with DJ Sergio Fedasz. $5-$10. 7pm-10pm. Then, 10:30pm-2am is Love, with Thee Pristine Condition, Ultra and Mama Dora. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

MAX @ Clift Hotel

Canine kink happy hour. 5pm-9pm.

398 12th St. at Harrison. sf-eagle.com

Queer Karaoke @ Club OMG

The saucy women’s burlesque show hosted by Dottie Lux. $10-$20. 8pm9:30pm. 399 9th St. Also Sunday brunch shows at PianoFight Theatre. www.redhotsburlesque.com

KJ Dana hosts the weekly singing night; unleash your inner American Idol; first Thursdays are Costume Karaoke; 3rd is Kinky Karaoke 8pm.

43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

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

Fri 3 Ain’t Mama’s Drag @ Balancoire Weekly drag queen and drag king show hosted by Cruzin d’Loo. 8pm10pm. No cover. 2565 Mission St. www.balancoiresf.com

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

Bear Trap @ Lone Star Big boys and men, bears and cubs.

9pm-2am. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Brent Corrigan, JJ Knight @ Nob Hill Theatre The two porn studs perform duo sex shows (8pm & 10pm); also Nov 4. $25. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 3976758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Chris Mann @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The talented musical theatre actor ( Phantom of the Opera ) performs his new cabaret concert. $32-$65 ($20 food/drink min.). 8pm. Also Nov. 4.

Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com/

Red Hots Burlesque @ The Stud

Rorshok @ SF Eagle Goth/EDM/Rock monthly night at the famed leather bar. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. sf-eagle.com

Stank @ Powerhouse Ripe Armpits, shirtless specials; Leon Fox and MrPam ringlead the raunch. $5. 9pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Taboo: Men in Lace @ Oasis New monthly drag show with a dozen+ performers. $5-$10. 10pm2am. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.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 4

Sunday’s a Drag @ Starlight Room Donna Sachet often hosts the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show. $45.

11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square. 395-8595. starlightroomsf.com

Mon 6 Epic Karaoke @ White Horse, Oakland Mondays and Tuesdays popular weekly sing-along night. No cover.

8:30pm-1am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. whitehorsebar.com

Judy Collins, Stephen Stills @ Yoshi’s Oakland The two folk-pop music icons share a concert. $49. 8pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. yoshis.com

Spanglish @ Club OMG Spanish and English drag shows and dance music with DJ Carlitos. $5-$10.

9pm-2am. 43 6th St. clubomgsf.com

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

Wed 8 B.P.M. @ Club BnB, Oakland Olga T and Shugga Shay’s weekly queer women and men’s R&B hip hop and soul night, at the club’s new location.

No cover. 8pm-2am. 2120 Broadway, Oakland. bench-and-bar.com

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

Choir! Choir! Choir! @ Slim’s The audience-participation vocal night of fun returns. $21-$46 (with dinner).

8pm. 333 11th St. slimspresents.com

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

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

The Ohio Players @ Yoshi’s

Sun 5 BFD @ SF Eagle Post-beer bust gathering for Big Fuckin’ Dudes. 7pm-1am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Blessed @ Port Bar, Oakland

Tue 7 Game Night, AHS @ SF Eagle

Dark Meat @ Powerhouse

Board games, card games and cheap beer. 4pm-2am, plus weekly viewings of American Horror Story: Cult (8pm-11pm) hosted by Thee Pristine Condition. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Strange rock, odd performance and fun. $5. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

High Fantasy @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge

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. balancoiresf.com

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. auntcharlieslounge.com

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

4 Valencia St.

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre Strip down with the strippers at the clothing-optional night. $20. 9pm.

729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

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

Thu 9 Comedy Night @ Ashkenaz, Berkeley Mark Pitta, Emily Epstein White, Sid Singh, and host Lisa Geduldig will make you laugh, at the new monthly comedy night. $10-$20. 8pm. 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. koshercomedy.com

Lady Rizo @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The stellar and funny Grammywinning singer returns to the intimate upscale nightclub. $18-$45. 7pm.

Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com

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

Nap’s Karaoke @ Virgil’s Sea Room

The hot bear dance party, once again monthly, features DJs Mike Etc and Collin Bass. $6-$10. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. sf-eagle.com

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

Carolyn Power @ Hotel Rex Seeing Thunder, the local singer’s cabaret concert. $30-$50 (all proceeds donated to North Bay fire relief efforts. Cocktails and small plates available. 562 Sutter St. www.societycabaret.com Classic disco and new grooves mixed

by Steve Fabus, Prince Wolf, Sergio Fedasz and guests iMFROMULL (U.K.) and ChakaQuan; first Saturdays. $10.

10pm-3am. 399 9th St.studsf.com

Weekly underwear night includes free clothes check, and drink specials. $4.

10pm-2am. 43 6th St. clubomgsf.com

Sat 4

Woof @ SF Eagle

Bearracuda @ SF Eagle

Go Bang! @ The Stud

Underwear Night @ Club OMG

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

The gay men’s networking and social group gathers for cocktails at the elegant hotel’s bar. $8. 6pm-8pm. 495 Geary St. http://bit.ly/2gPheCE

Time Warp, a retro-future-themed drag and dance night with the Good Time Girls. 10pm-2am. 388 9th St. www.studsf.com

Juanita MORE! and Glamamore do fab makeovers for manly mens’ first time drag. $5. 9pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Hip Hop and Latin grooves event, with 3 dance floors, gogos, drag acts, and special retro DJed grooves. $10-$20.

9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. www.club21oakland.com

Puff, Love @ The Stud

Lip Service @ The Stud

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Rickie Lee Jones @ UC Theatre, Berkeley

Thu 9

Rickie Lee Jones @ UC Theatre, Berkeley

The acclaimed folk-pop singercomposer performs. $52-$62. 8pm.

2036 University Ave., Berkeley. www.theuctheatre.org/ Want your nightlife event listed?

Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event.

Event photos welcome.

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On the Town>>

November 2-8, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 33

Freedom, festivities & fundraisers

BCEF

A celebrity-owned purse up for auction at the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund’s This Old Bag, held at the Clift Hotel’s Redwood Room.

Liam Ocean, Mr China (left), and other admirable competitors in the Mr. International Freedom Contest at DNA Lounge.

by Donna Sachet

This incredible display is brought to us by Illuminate, the same group that lit the Bay Bridge to such acclaim.

These lights will join those already in Jane Warner Plaza, providing the perfect setting to celebrate the election of Harvey Milk 40 years ago, the raising of the rainbow flag here 20 years ago, and the ongoing efforts of our LGBTQ Community for full inclusion and equal opportunity. Take a moment to breathe it all in!

Then join us on Saturday, November 11, 4-7PM, at Midnight Sun for a lively fundraiser for the Rainbow Honor Walk. Another 24 bronze plaques honoring LGBT pioneers will be joining those already placed in the Castro neighborhood sidewalks, with eight being installed this month. What a great to recognize our own history and its prominent participants!

B

reast Cancer Emergency Fund again hosted This Old Bag, their annual fundraiser where handbags donated by designer retailers, celebrities, and others are made available for silent auction. Last Friday, the Redwood Room of the Clift Hotel welcomed hundreds of supporters including Judith Branch, Chase Young, Kristen Trubey, Larry Lare Nelson, Karen Edwards, Leandro Gonzales, and Joanie Juster.

Even Mike Smith, long-time Executive Director of AIDS Emergency Fund and Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, was on hand.

Cocktails flowed, edibles were consumed, and bidding was vigorous. We were lucky enough to snag a bag once owned and autographed by Christine Aguilera!

Executive Director Maria Sousa introduced a moving video and then started the live auction for a few select bags, raising nearly $40,000 in minutes.

What a unique way to raise money and bring needed attention to this ongoing health concern.

The second annual Mr. International Freedom Contest at DNA Lounge last Sunday had everything going for it: five remarkable contestants, generous bidders, celebrity guests, and a great cause. Adam Sandel helped create this event as a fundraiser for the LGBT Asylum Project and he certainly pulled out all the stops this year, including a small but tantalizing silent auction presented by Gary Thackeray and a crowd that included Sister Roma, Lynn Luckow, Leo Volobrynskyy, Brian Kent, Michael Youens, Christopher Vasquez, and Matt Buchanan. We were happy to co-emcee with handsome Cip Cipriano for the first time, introducing the Honorable Mark Leno to congratulate the LGBT Asylum Project and then President and Co-Founder Okan Sengun who described this young organization’s recent successes. The crowd then greeted several of last year’s contestants on stage, including the 2016 winner, the very sexy Mahdi from Saudi Arabia.

The five contestants hailed from Mexico – Ismael, Uganda – Dice, Russia – Ilya, USA – Daniel, and China – Liam. Having witnessed contests of all kinds over the past 20-some years, we can easily say that this was the most eloquent, poised, prepared, and gorgeous set of competitors we have ever seen. We ran them through a variety of questions, paraded them in Speedos as they gathered tips from the crowd, and finally auctioned each one off for dinner dates; the bidding was manic!

During the evening, Juliano Wade and Greg Angelo of Velocity Circus danced exotically and Igor Chudak sang beautifully. In recognition for

her enthusiastic fund-raising for the LGBT Asylum Project, Okan presented Juanita More! with its first Person of the Year Award. Then it was time for the moment of truth as all five contestants gathered on stage one more time and the audience went wild with anticipation. When all was said and done, Daniel of the USA was first runner-up and Liam representing China became Mr. International Freedom 2017.

Last Wednesday’s LGBT Night with the Golden State Warriors provided a competitive, nail-biting basketball game and an opportunity to recognize Pro Basketball’s LBGT fan base. Oracle Arena was filled to capacity and unique rainbow Tshirts were distributed to lucky attendees. A Bay Area youth chorus including members from LGBT school groups led the National Anthem, Cheer SF entertained us at halftime, and community activist Gary Virginia received a Walmart Community Volunteer Award from Warriors President Rick Welts centercourt. We enjoyed the game and the festivities from a Warriors suite with Gary, Mark Ryle & Steve Reidy, Lisa Williams, Lou Fischer, Anietie Ekanem, and others.

The following night, we joined Brian Kent at Berkeley Rep Theatre for an exhilarating performance of Ain’t Too Proud, a musical about The Temptations. The theatre is intimate and beautiful, the singing and dancing performances were amazing, and the historic story well worth telling. Watch for this show to hit Broadway soon.

Wondering how you can help those impacted by the recent calamitous fires in Northern California?

Once again, Rainbow World Fund is organizing relief efforts from the LGBT Community and has scheduled Wine Country Rising, a fundraiser at the Gough Street home of John Newmeyer on Sunday, November 12, 4-7PM, featuring refreshments, wine-related silent auction, and musical entertainment.

Tickets are $100 and up. Complete details are available at: https://rainbowfund.givezooks.com/events/ wine-country-rising It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the death of a dynamic performer at Sunday’s a Drag and many other venues.

Kendra Monroe was diagnosed with the rare and little understood condition of ALS and after a brave fight, died in October with her husband by her side. Those of us

both photos: Steven Underhill

who knew her will always treasure memories of her theatrical performances, her pageant-winning drag, her infectious laughter, and her loyal friendship.

And finally, our 25th annual and final Songs of the Season is Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, November 27, 28, and 29, 8PM, at Halcyon (formerly BeatBox), 314 11th Street.

This benefit for AIDS Emergency Fund always ushers in the holiday season with touching songs, hilarious antics, and lots of surprises along the way.

Yes, you read that right; after 25 years, this will be the final Songs of the Season. Guest performers will be announced soon and tickets will be available next week through AEF. Please mark your calendars now and plan to share a night with us, sharing a laugh, shedding a nostalgic tear, and celebrating the holiday season!t

Upcoming events

Next week, on Wednesday night, November 8, starting at 6PM, the Castro will be lit as never before with a special art installation atop SoulCycle in Harvey Milk Plaza featuring “Hope will never be silent” in neon and the rainbow colors beamed into the sky with lasers.

Cheer SF

Cheer SF performed at the halftime show for the Warriors’ basketball team’s LGBT Appreciation Night at Oracle Arena.

Jeff Cotter

Rainbow World Fund took to the Castro to raise funds for local and international disaster victims. Don’t miss their fundraiser Nov. 12.

Steven Underhill

Donna Sachet and patrons at last year’s Songs of the Season.

This year’s benefit concert will once again be at Halcyon.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

Arts Events November 2-9

34 • Bay Area Reporter • November 2-8, 2017

SF Hiking Club @ Butano State Park

Sat 4 Barbeque @ SF Playhouse Robert O’Hara’s biting play about suburban bliss, racism and family interventions gets a Bay Area premiere. $20-$125. Tue-Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 2pm, Sun 2pm. Thru Nov. 11. 450 Post St. sfplayhouse.org

Day of the Dead @ Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts

ents near you. tterfly to arts ev Flutter like a bu ge 32 pa b, see On the Ta For nightlifery,

Sat 28

Boychild at The Bridge Project @ CounterPulse

Edited for space.

For full listings, visit www.ebar.com/arts

Thu 2 Another Hole in the Head @ New People Cinema 14th annual two-week horror, scifi and fantasy indie film festival. $15 (single ticket) $149 (festival pass).

Thru Nov 8. 1746 Post St. ahith.com

Classic & New Films @ Castro Theatre Nov 2: Rolling Stone: Stories From the Edge: Part 1 (7pm). Nov. 3: Big Trouble in Little China (7pm) and Escape from New York (8:55). Nov. 4: Scary Cow Short Film Festival (2pm-10pm). Nov. 5: Jim and Andy: The Great Beyond (8:30). Nov. 6: Darkest Hour, with Gary Oldman in person (6:30). Nov. 7: Battle of the Sexes (2:30, 7pm) and Tom of Finland (4:45, 9:15). Nov 8: New Italian Cinema Festival opening day, with Franca: Chaos and Creation (3:45) The Stuff of Dreams (6:30) and Fortunata (9:10). Nov 9: Reel Rock 12 (7pm) $11-$16. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

Game Changers @ El Rio Book release party for Game Changers: Lesbians You Should Know About, with Kate Kendell, Jewelle Gomez, Franco Stevens, Kathy Belge, Crystal Jang, Bonnie J. Morris, Mariah Hanson, and author and designer Robin Lowey; books available for purchase and signing. 5pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. lesbiangamechangers.com

Voice of the Central City @ Tenderloin Museum Opening reception for the new exhibit about the history of The Tenderloin Times. 7pm. Thru Mar. 30. Reg hours Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Free-$10. 398 Eddy St. tenderloinmuseum.org

Fri 3 The Bridge Project @ CounterPulse Radical Movements: Gender and Politics in Performance, Hope Mohr Dance’s 7th annual festival of diversely-themed pointed performance works by more than a dozen artists (Larry Arrington, boychild, Judith Butler, Jack Halberstam, Xandra Ibarra, Monique Jenkinson, Maurya Kerr, Debra Levine, Scot Nakagawa, Peacock Rebellion, Maryam Rostami, Amara T. Smith and Julie Tolentino), with performances and discussions. $20-$100 (full pass). Fri & Sat 8pm (some 6:30pm & 4pm). Thru Nov. 12. 80 Turk St. counterpulse.org

Feathers of Fire @ Cowell Theater A Persian Epic, ShadowLight Productions’ amazing large-scale shadow puppet play based on the 10th-century fable Shahnameh (The Book of Kings). $15-$70. 7:30pm.

Nov 4, 2:30 & 7:30. Nov 5, 2:30pm.

Fort Mason, 2 Marina Blvd. www.kingorama.com

From Trauma to Activism: Oral Histories of the LGBTQ Movement @ GLBT History Museum Screening of Steven F. Dansky’s documentary of interviews with LGBT people around the world; 7pm. Nov. 8, 7pm: Lesbian Inheritance & Family Conflict, a talk with authors Paula Lichtenberg and Michael Helquist and their biographies of historic lesbians Marie Equi & Harriet Speckart and Gail Laughlin & Mary A. Sperry. $5.

4127 18th St. glbthistory.org

Let’s Kick ASS @ LGBT Center Research on the AIDS Survivor Syndrome: New data from the Multi-Center AIDS Cohort Study and Voices of Survivors Themselves, a town hall with Dr. Ron Stall; lunch provided. 12pm-1pm. 1800 Market St. letskickass.hiv

Multiverse @ Flight Deck, Oakland

In Heaven as on Earth, the 31st annual exhibit commemorating Day of the Dead. $2-$7. Tue-Sat 10am5pm. Thru Nov. 17. 2868 Mission St. missionculturalcenter.org

The Eva Trilogy @ Magic Theatre Julia McNeal’s lyrical Irish epic in three parts (staged together). $35$80. Tue 7pm, Wed-Sat 8pm, Sun 2:30pm. Thru Nov 12. Bldg D, 3rd floor, Fort Mason, 2 Marina Blvd. magictheatre.org

Israel in Egypt @ Old First Presbyterian Church City Chorus performs Handel’s dramatic oratorio about Moses leading the Israelites to freedom. $15-$20. 7:30pm. 1751 Sacramento St. sfcitychorus.org

Jeffrey Braverman @ LGBT Center Opening reception for the photographer’s new exhibit David, in Brief. 3pm-5pm. Thru Dec. 5. 1800 Market St. www.sfcenter.org

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble @ Z Space Death and a Knight, two chamber operas by Kurt Rohde. $18-$60.

7:30pm. Nov. 5, 2pm. 450 Florida St. www.leftcoastensemble.org

Mission Murals @ JCCSF Art, Politics and Community Preservation, a new exhibition of the work of local mural artists. Thru Jan. 2018. 3200 California St. jccsf.org

Join GLBT hikers of the SF Hiking Club for an 11-mile hike at Butano State Park. Carpool meets at Safeway sign, Market & Dolores, at 8:30am. 203-7055. sfhiking.com

Sun 5 Queer Tango @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley Same-sex partner tango dancing, with lessons for newbies, food and drinks. $5-$10. 3:30-6:30pm. 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley. finnishhall.org

Viva Mexico! Beyond Border Walls @ Herbst Theatre Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra & Chorus performs traditional and contemporay Latin music, in response to the corrupt presidential proposed border wall. $25-$45. 3pm. 401 Van Ness Ave. cityboxoffice.com

Mon 6 Archie Rand @ Contemporary Jewish Museum The 613, an exhibit of the artist’s paintings depicting each of the 613 Jewish texts for ethical and religious behavior. Lectures and gallery talks as well (Fridays 12:30pm). Free (members)-$12. Fri-Tue 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-8pm (closed Wed). 736 Mission St. 655-7800. thecjm.org

Tue 7 Derriere Le Mirior @ Jules Maeght Gallery Group exhibition of covers from the historic French art magazine, including prints by Alexander Calder, Ellsworth Kelly, Joan Miró, Alberto Giacometti and others. Tue-Sat 11am6pm. Thru Jan 15. 149 Gough St. julesmaeghtgallery.com

18th annual Day of the Dead exhibit, with 25+ installations and multimedia works by more than 60 participating artists. $12-$15. Reg hours Tue-Fri 12pm-7pm. Sat 11am5pm. Sun 11am-3pm. Thru Nov. 9. www.somarts.org

Le Switch @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Philips Dawkins ( The Homosexuals) ’ witty new play about a gay librarian who’s swept into a romance at a Montreal wedding. $25-$50. WedSat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Dec. 3. www.nctcsf.org

BPM (Beats Per Minute) @ Opera Plaza Cinema Robin Campillo’s acclaimed narrative film about members of ACT UP Paris in the early 1990s. 601 Van Ness Ave. http://bit.ly/2i2NSgz

Seth Eisen, James Metzger @ Eric Quezada Center for Culture and Politics The collaborating gay artists discuss their newest upcoming project, OUT of Site, a walking queer history tour of San Francisco, from the Gold Rush to the Comptons Cafeteria riots and more. Free. 7:30pm. 518 Valencia St. www.shapingsf.org

Thu 9 Les Arts Florissants @ Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley The French early music ensemble performs in semi-staged productions of Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s pastorale Actéon. $40-$86. 8pm.

Bancroft Way at Dana, UC Berkeley campus. www.calperformances.org

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

Previews; opens Nov 17. Thru Dec 31. 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. www.shotgunplayers.org

Jeffrey Eugenides @ Nourse Theater Books Inc and City Arts & Lectures presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning author ( Middlesex, The Marriage Plot, and The Virgin Suicides) $29.

7:30pm. 275 Hayes. booksinc.net

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The Normal Heart @ Gateway Theatre

Remembrance and Resistance: Dia De Los Muertos @ SOMArts Cultural Center

Wed 8

Personals

Ragged Wing Ensemble’s performance work about scientistastronauts who travel through time and space to escape the destruction of our current world, only to face new dilemmas. $25-$45. Fri & Sat 8pm Sun 5pm. Thru Nov. 11. 1540 Broadway, Oakland. raggedwing.org

John Fisher directs and stars in Theatre Rhinoceros’ production of Larry Kramer’s award-winnng drama about a New York gay activist’s struggles amid the 1980s AIDS epidemic. $20-$40. Wed-Sat 8pm.

Sat 3pm. Tue 7pm. Thru Nov. 25. 215 Jackson st. www.therhino.org

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

November 2-8, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 35

Shining Stars Steven Underhill Photos by

Halloween on Castro Street H

alloween in the Castro is no longer an official event, but that didn’t stop weekend revelers from donning costumes –storebought and handmade– to visit Castro district bars on Saturday October 28, from Twin Peaks to Qbar and The Edge.

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

Read more online at www.ebar.com

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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

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