September 28, 2017 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

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Pot dispensary battle heats up

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Martin Wong

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Nightlife events

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

Vol. 47 • No. 39 • September 28-October 4, 2017

Artist’s killing sparks concerns in TL

Card deck project features local gay men

A man signs a petition asking city officials to take action in the case of Anthony “Bubbles” Torres, who was fatally shot in the Tenderloin September 9.

“Paper Dolls” card creator Nick Aitken holds some of his cards.

Kelly Sullivan

by Matthew S. Bajko

T

he idea was sparked three years ago when local photographer and stylist Nick Aitken photographed his friend Andrew Wedge as the Six of Hearts from a deck of cards. The resulting portrait led to a series of 12, and a client of Aitken’s at Brody Salon in the Castro remarked he should create a complete set of 54 playing cards.

So Aitken recruited 52 gay men from the Bay Area he had met over the years to pose as either idealized military officers, circus performers, royals, or Dixieland denizens representing a different numbered card in the four suits of clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades.

Instead of two joker cards, he devised two wild cards featuring lesbian friends of his, Megan See page 18 >>

Jane Philomen Cleland

by Seth Hemmelgarn

T

he recent shooting death of San Francisco artist Anthony “Bubbles” Torres has drawn renewed attention to the frequent violence in the Tenderloin neighborhood where Torres died, and many in the LGBT community that the 44-year-old belonged to are calling on police to fix the problems.

While a Bay Area Reporter analysis of police data shows crime has dropped in most major categories in the neighborhood, many in the Tenderloin, which is home to a large share of San Francisco’s poorest residents, say they don’t feel safe.

Torres, who was well known for his love of dancing and handing out snow cones, as well See page 17 >>

Critical gay issues await Supreme Court justices analysis by Lisa Keen

T

he new U.S. Supreme Court session, which begins October 2, could be a critical one for LGBT people. And that’s saying a lot, given some of the major victories LGBT people have won at the high court in the past five years. But the issues cued up this time could have even greater impact – good or bad – and they are largely concerned with religion.

The court has already agreed to hear an appeal that seeks to use the First Amendment as a form of immunity against state laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodations.

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund has just asked the court to hear an appeal that argues that the federal Civil Rights Act already implicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment.

Lambda Legal and other LGBT legal organizations have submitted briefs in opposition to a section of President Donald Trump’s executive order concerning immigration bans.

And there are several appeals pending that indirectly concern various LGBT-related issues.

The worrisome cake walk

There’s no date set yet for when the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Masterpiece Cake v. Colorado, but LGBT legal activists will be intensely involved in this American Civil

Courtesy ADFLegal

Masterpiece Cake Shop owner Jack Phillips refused to sell a wedding cake to a samesex couple.

Liberties Union case. Its implications – both symbolically and legally – could be huge, affecting whether a business can deny services or public accommodations to LGBT people by simply claiming to have either a religious belief or a personal opinion that is hostile to them.

The case involves a baker, Jack Phillips, who refused to sell a wedding cake to a same-sex couple. Phillips has offered at least three reasons why he did so. He’s claimed a religious belief opposed to marriage for same-sex couples. He’s claimed a personal viewpoint that is

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hostile to marriage for same-sex couples. And he’s claimed that a Colorado law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation impinges on his “artistic expression” in creating his wedding cakes.

His legal team from Alliance Defending Freedom, which is designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, said in its brief to the court that Phillips is a man of “deep religious faith” who can “only create cakes that are consistent with the tenets of his faith.”

A visit to Phillips’ website indicates these designs involve mostly flowers, ribbons, polka dots, and curlicues. Only two of the two-dozen designs incorporate a male-female image. And Phillips refused to sell the gay couple a wedding cake even before they had a chance to ask him to create a design just for them.

His attorneys said the issue is “whether Phillips may decline requests for wedding cakes that celebrate marriages in conflict with his religious beliefs.”

Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman said that, because Phillips “categorically refused” to accept the cake order “before there was any discussion about what the cake would look like,” there was no imposition on his religious views. Phillips and his shop could have simply sold the gay couple “a product that they would sell to heterosexual couples.”

See page 18 >>

<< Community News

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • September 28-October 4, 2017

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by David-Elijah Nahmod

T

he GLBT Historical Society, one of the beneficiaries of last weekend’s Folsom Street Fair, was taken aback when Facebook rejected its ads calling for volunteers to work at the fair.

One ad featured the words “We Need You” in large block lettering, with the words “Folsom volunteers for Queer History Sign Up Today!” in smaller letters underneath. Logos for the historical society and the fair also appeared in opposite corners of the ad.

Another ad was a video posted to Instagram, which is owned by Facebook. That, too, was rejected, according to the historical society.

Though a photo of bare-chested leather men was part of the Facebook ad, there was no nudity or sexually suggestive language.

A Facebook official blamed the ad rejections on “confusion.” Ultimately, both ads were reinstated before the Folsom Street Fair, which was September 24.

“I think there has been some confusion around which ad was/wasn’t approved,” Facebook consumer

A screenshot of the rejected Facebook ad for the GLBT Historical Society

communications manager Nick White told the Bay Area Reporter.

“The ad that was not approved initially was a video. That video did violate our standards for adult content. However, we determined that the photo you referenced is from a different video ad, which, under further review, did not violate our policies and has been reinstated. We always try to do

better and apologize for this error and the inconvenience.”

GLBT Historical Society Executive Director Terry Beswick said that both ads were rejected and that the organization appealed the decisions.

“The Facebook event ad with photo was rejected, and this is the See page 4 >>

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<< Community News

4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • September 28-October 4, 2017

Rehab planned for Pink Triangle Park

by Charlie Wagner

P

ink Triangle Park and Memorial needs help and rescuers are on the way.

Plants are not thriving, five of the memorial’s 15 pylons are unstable and can be moved by hand, four pylons are cracked, century plants have bloomed and are dying. And the park, located at the northwest corner of Market and Castro streets (bordered by 17th Street), is not accessible to the disabled.

That is what is driving Andrea Aiello and John Goldsmith in their work with landscape designer Jason Rowe to refresh the landscape and restore the memorial.

Interested people will have a chance to tour the park during next week’s Castro Art Walk, and to donate to the project at fundraisers planned for November.

Aiello is the executive director of the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District. The Castro CBD has been involved with the park since January when its Castro ambassadors reported that it was looking especially rundown.

“Pink Triangle Park is a very important part of the community,” Aiello explained, “even though it is outside the Castro CBD footprint.”

She and Goldsmith, the park’s primary caretaker, applied for a Community Challenge Grant from the city and won a $100,000 grant for the park renovation project.

However, the total budget for the refurbishing is $250,000, so the Castro CBD is working to raise another $90,000 to $100,000. The remainder will be covered by in-kind donations.

The triangular property of approximately 3,000 square feet is owned by San Francisco Public Works, which pays for the power and water used by the park. For decades, the land was used primarily for utility boxes and was a popular homeless encampment. In the mid1990s, Public Works proposed turning the area into a parking lot, but neighbors stopped that and turned it into a casual community garden.

In 1999, Joe Foster, president of what was then called the Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association, visited Amsterdam and saw the Homomonument, one of the first memorials to LGBTQ people killed by the Nazis in World War II. That monument commemorates the gay men interned in Nazi concentration camps, whose camp uniforms were marked with pink triangles to denote their homosexuality.

Foster inspired EVNA, now known as the Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association, to begin fundraising for a similar monument and so was born San Francisco’s memorial to LGBTQ Holocaust victims. EVNA selected Susan Martin and Robert Bruce to design the art for the memorial.

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History

During the Nazi era (1933-1945), an estimated 15,000 gay men were interned in concentration camps on charges of homosexuality. Queer public historian Gerard Koskovich, communications director for the GLBT History Museum, estimated that 60 percent of the pink-triangle internees died in the camps, the majority within their first year of detention.

Fifteen triangular sierra-white granite pylons, each with a pink triangle inlaid on the top, form the memorial in Pink Triangle Park. Each pylon represents 1,000 internees. Pink Triangle Park was formally dedicated in June 2003.

“Although its name refers to the symbol forced on gay men in the concentration camps, Pink Triangle Park is a place to remember all the forms of anti-LGBT persecution under the Nazi state and to commemorate the suffering and the everyday courage of all LGBT people during those dark times,” Koskovich pointed out.

“With the exception of a tiny handful of cases, lesbians, as such, were not sent to the camps, but they clearly experienced other forms of state persecution, including the banning of their organizations, publications, and bars.

And they faced intense social pressure, reinforced by Nazi propaganda, to conduct themselves in a conventionally feminine way and to marry men and bear children,” he added.

Justin DelVersano and his partner, Jack Major, were the primary caretakers of Pink Triangle Park for about 15 years, until they were forced to retire due to age-related physical limitations. Goldsmith took over in December 2016 and immediately put out a call for volunteers via Facebook and other means. He nicknamed the responding people as the “Guardener Guild” because they are both cultivating and protecting the site.

Guild work parties are on the first and third Saturday of every month.

The next one is Saturday, October 7.

“I want the park to be eco-friendly and a healing garden,” Goldsmith said, “and we even have a volunteer who is a certified horticultural therapist.”

Rowe designed the original landscape. For the drawing submitted with the grant application, he provided his services pro bono. Aiello expects Rowe will be paid for additional services after the contract with the city is signed.

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one we appealed,” Beswick explained.

“We then boosted an Instagram video post. It was our first attempt to advertise on Instagram, and discovered in the process that payments are redirected to Facebook. This ad was initially rejected, and at the same time the appeal on the Facebook pic ad was also rejected.”

After posting about the ad rejection on his personal Facebook page, Beswick said that he received a great deal of support.

“Subsequent to a number of inquiries from reporters and complaints from supporters, the reviews for both appeared to be folded into one, and the ads were approved,” Beswick said.

The video can still be seen at Instagram. It features two leather men kissing.

This is not the first time LGBTQ people have had problems with queer content posted on Facebook. In July, the B.A.R. interviewed Bruce Beaudette, a gay man, and attorney Brooke Oliver, a lesbian, who saw their posts deleted because they used the word “dyke.”

Additionally, there has been a longrunning issue over the social media

Charlie Wagner

Several of the Pink Triangle Park and Memorial’s granite pylons are damaged.

new irrigation system, and making the park partially ADA-compliant.

Current plans are to make one park entrance at the end nearest Castro and Market streets accessible. That was facilitated by moving a bus shelter formerly on the Market Street side of the park to the front of the nearby Pottery Barn. That is not yet an approved permanent move, according to Aiello.

There will be a second ADA-compliant entrance at the other end, next to the building used by startup Shift.

Goldsmith said the area currently paved with loose pink granite gravel will be shifted so that a hard-surface, ADA-compliant walkway can be constructed to surround the triangle.

Two of the damaged pylons will be replaced with ones stored since the memorial was first installed. All pylons will be reset on concrete bases for increased stability.

Other upgrades under consideration include planting low-profile plants to deter people from sleeping and dumping trash, and installing granite-block benches donated by the Children’s Garden, formerly part of the Moscone Center.

Outside the current plans, Goldsmith hopes the low wall facing Market Street, currently concrete painted pink, eventually can be improved with a tile mural and seating on top.

Goldsmith is a master gardener certified by UC California Extension and a Rosarian certified by the American Rose Society. He also works with the Theatrical Wardrobe Union on concerts and theatrical productions such as “Kinky Boots.”

Aiello and Goldsmith welcome public support and participation in the park. The first opportunity will be next week when the Castro Art

Walk is held Thursday, October 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. Art Attack Gallery, at 2358 Market Street, will host memorial designer Martin at 7, speaking on the history and evolution of the park. Martin and Goldsmith will lead a guided tour of the park afterward.

Admission is free.

To raise funds for the renovation, a brunch at the nearby home of a park supporter is planned for Sunday, November 5. Another fundraiser is planned for Thursday, November 16 at Blackbird, located at 2124 Market Street. All contributions are taxdeductible through the Eureka Valley Foundation, created in 2008 to support the park. Details for both events will be posted on the park website.

The Park Design Committee, under the auspices of the Castro CBD, will begin meeting in early October.

Meeting information will be published on the Castro CBD website 72 hours in advance.

Once the Castro CBD has a signed contract with the city, Aiello will announce sessions for community input on the park.

“The contract will be for an 18month project,” she stated, “and our goal is to be done in the spring of 2019.”

Both Goldsmith and Aiello want the renovated Pink Triangle Park to be a memorial as well as an oasis of calm in the Castro.

And as Goldsmith noted, “It’s important to remember the past and learn from it.”t

company’s name policy.

Two years ago, the issue generated controversy after activists and others criticized Facebook for its real name policy. Facebook has always required people to use their real, or legal, name.

But that has created issues as others have flagged accounts, often those of trans people and drag queens, resulting in account suspensions. Domestic abuse survivors were also affected.

After meeting with Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and others, Facebook has made changes to its policies to make it more difficult to report someone for using an alleged fake name.

Beswick said Facebook needed to address its history of censoring queer content.

“While a lot of apologists are blaming the initial censorship on algorithms, robots, and outsourced, underpaid foreign gatekeepers, we have heard none of this from Facebook/ Instagram,” Beswick said. “And even if we had, I think these are lousy excuses given the company’s history of insensitivity toward the LGBTQ people and other minority groups, not to mention their problematic role in the last U.S. election. This is not an isolated incident and reveals a policy of insensitive neglect at best, in my opinion.”

White admitted that Facebook has, at times, made mistakes.

“Our content review team receives millions of reports a week, and they may remove content in error on occasion,” he said. “For privacy reasons, our content reviewers may not have access to the full page or profile they’re reviewing. This can also be the cause of errors. When we become aware of errors, we immediately investigate and restore content where warranted.

We also review incorrect content removals with our community operations team so as to prevent similar mistakes in the future.”

Beswick feels that more needs to be done.

“We should not have to deal with a corporation telling us that artful ads depicting two leather men in a nonsexual pose or two men kissing which are targeted to adults in the SF Bay Area is too ‘suggestive’ and too ‘sexual,’ implying that same-sex intimacy or leather culture are somehow immoral,” he said. “The LGBTQ community has been dealing with this type of ‘moralism’ for many years and we need to call it out when it happens. It is not benign, it is harmful and discriminatory.”t

For more information, visit https://pinktrianglepark.org/, or http://castrocbd.org/.

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<< Open Forum

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • September 28-October 4, 2017

Volume 47, Number 39 September 28-October 4, 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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t

Dodging another health care scare T

he Graham-Cassidy health care reform bill is dead, but the inducements that Senate Republicans used to gain critical support leaves us outraged. Senator Susan Collins (RMaine) came out against the bill Monday, days after reports emerged that her state would get more federal health care funding – possibly $1 billion in block grants – under a revised bill that was clearly aimed to persuade her to sign on.

“If there’s a billion more going to Maine ... that’s a heck of a lot,” Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) told the Washington Post. “It’s not for Susan, it’s for the Mainers. But she cares so passionately about those Mainers, I’m hoping those extra dollars going to her state ... would make a difference to her.”

Collins’ decision, combined with no votes from GOP Senators Rand Paul (Kentucky) and John McCain (Arizona), doomed Graham-Cassidy.

The deal that Republicans offered states like Maine should be extended to all the other states that would have lost funding under the proposal. One of the big problems with GrahamCassidy was that it would have given states the block grants but would have taken billions of dollars from states that have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. It would have increased funding for predominately red states that had refused to expand Medicaid but decreased the amount for blue states. California was facing a potential loss of $100 billion in federal funds over the next decade, and billions more after that, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis.

There was sharp opposition to Graham-Cassidy from across the health care community, including health associations, medical groups, doctors, nurses, and even insurance companies. In addition to the deep cuts to Medicaid, the bill would have removed

protections for pre-existing conditions, and ended the tax credits and subsidies under the ACA. According to the Brookings Institution, 32 million more people could have been uninsured by 2027 as a result. There’s no information from the Congressional Budget Office that would indicate how much it would cost or how many people would wind up uninsured, but it’s obvious that Graham-Cassidy is at least as bad as the GOP’s previous efforts that also failed.

This was yet another attempt by Republicans to repeal and replace Obamacare but without anything that would honor President Donald Trump’s promises that all Americans would be covered. According to Politico’s review of his statements, Trump has pledged “insurance for everybody,” “no cuts ... to Medicaid,” “no one will lose coverage,” “nobody will be worse off financially,” and “everybody’s going to be taken care of.” None of the Republicans’ efforts to repeal Obamacare – and Graham-Cassidy was the third such serious attempt – would have fulfilled any of those claims, which is why so many people were opposed.

Late night comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel outlined the problems with

Graham-Cassidy, and while Republicans pooh-poohed his efforts, Kimmel was closer to the truth than they were when he said the bill does things that Cassidy told him it wouldn’t.

In fact, months ago, Cassidy nicknamed criteria needed in any repeal legislation the “Jimmy Kimmel test.” Now that Kimmel called Cassidy out on the utter failure of his bill to live up to his claims, the senator criticized him for “not understanding” it.

Instead of trying to repeal Obamacare, the Republicans should accept defeat and work with Democrats to fix it.

All eyes on Puerto Rico

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, an American territory in the Caribbean, earlier this month. The entire island remains without power and food and water are running out. Instead of ordering up a quick response by FEMA, Trump has spent the last several days manufacturing a classic distraction by hammering away at professional athletes who are protesting against racism and the deaths of black people at the hands of law enforcement. Trump has racebaited in one form or another for decades and it was nothing different last Friday when he railed against the anthem protests before a very white crowd in very red Alabama.

Survivors of hurricanes Harvey and Irma in Texas and Florida also need and deserve help, but the situation for Puerto Rico and the American Virgin Islands is catastrophic. On Tuesday, FEMA announced that a Navy ship is headed to Puerto Rico, a decision that should have been made days ago.

Based on his response to natural disasters and other issues, Trump isn’t an empathetic person – he’s no “comforter in chief.” It’s his responsibility to help Puerto Rico and states that sustained massive damage. The sluggish response on the part of the federal government is embarrassing, and could be fatal for those who don’t get help soon.t

We are one human family

by Jeff Cotter

T

he recent wave of hurricanes and earthquakes that have hit the Caribbean, Mexico, and the United States has left a trail of destruction taking hundreds of lives and leaving millions homeless and destitute. In coastal Oaxaca, Mexico, whole communities have no medical care or clean drinking water. Hundreds remain missing in Mexico City as the relentless job of digging through the rubble to find survivors continues. Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and other islands in Hurricane Irma’s path were devastated. Hurricane Maria knocked out Puerto Rico’s power grid and the rest of its essential infrastructure remains fragile. On the mainland thousands of Americans face an uncertain future as they relocate to FEMA trailers and begin to rebuild their lives. The situation is on the verge of turning into a humanitarian catastrophe.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed and feel powerless after watching back-to-back television coverage of these natural disasters. One may wonder how can I help and will it matter?

As the executive director of Rainbow World Fund, the world’s first and only all-volunteer, LGBTQ-based humanitarian aid organization, I am often asked why it is important for LGBTQ people to help others beyond our own community. I have been told, “charity begins at home.” But our world is interdependent and interconnected as never before, and it is essential that we expand our definition of home and family. Of course, this is nothing new to the LGBTQ community, transcending society’s traditional definition of family and where we belong lies at the core of the LGBTQ movement.

Have no doubt – your help makes a difference. In my 17 years with RWF I’ve seen small projects make a big difference in the lives of the beneficiaries. In Uganda, a few hundred dollars has provided safe housing for an LGBTQ person fleeing persecution. And big projects come to

Denise Lechner

A family whose entire home was destroyed by the earthquake rest in the shade with their remaining belonging in San Mateo del Mar, Mexico. Rainbow World Fund is funding emergency aid to this community.

fruition because of the efforts of many donors.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, RWF purchased one million pounds of food aid by pooling thousands of small donations. Every single donation makes a difference.

I have always believed that LGBTQ people have a unique role to play in healing the planet – making peace, building bridges, providing perspective and balance.

Having grown up in a straight-dominated world, we learned valuable survival skills that we can now use to help others. And the world is certainly in short supply of the gifts that we can bring in abundance: humor, grace, an appreciation of beauty, fairness, and love of life.

At Rainbow World Fund we believe that we are all “One Human Family.” The aid we give builds bridges and allows our community to express its compassion and concern for the world. As LGBTQ people we know the tremendous power of coming out. The visibility that RWF provides allows people to see that LGBTQ people are

engaged and positively contributing to the world.

Our work powerfully opens hearts, changes minds, and provides a tangible example of the strength found in unity.

If you would like to support our response to the recent natural disasters, here is what RWF is doing: In Oaxaca, Mexico, RWF is working directly with local aid workers to purchase and distribute emergency relief supplies such as tarps, food, soaps, and items to care for the basic necessities.

We are also funding a traveling medical van with a doctor in the San Mateo del Sur area. One of our volunteers lives in Oaxaca and will be assessing needs and administering the funds.

In Texas, RWF is raising funds to provide clean drinking water and food assistance through a network of local food banks.

In Puerto Rico, where communication links remain down, we are reaching out to the Metropolitan Community Churches in Mayaguez and Rio Piedras to assess the needs of the local LGBTQ community.

In Cuba, we will continue to support our ongoing children’s projects in hard-hit Matanzas province and we are working with the local LGBTQ community.

You can donate to Rainbow World Fund’s relief efforts online at http://rainbowfund.org.

The RWF Bus of Hope will be on display at the Castro Street Fair this Sunday (October 1) where we will be collecting donations and recruiting volunteers.t Jeff Cotter is founder and executive director of Rainbow World Fund (www.rainbowfund. org), a global humanitarian aid agency based in the LGBTQ community. RWF’s mission is to promote peace, unity, and hope by leading the LGBTQ movement in participating in humanitarian relief efforts. Since 2000, RWF has distributed near $4.5 million for campaigns focusing on safe drinking water access, hunger, landmine eradication, global HIV/AIDS, persecution of the LGBTQ community, and disaster relief.

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Politics>>

September 28-October 4, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Few CA LGBT legislative newcomers expected in 2018

by Matthew S. Bajko

O

nly a handful of 2018 Assembly and Senate races in California are expected to draw non-incumbent LGBT candidates due to a dearth of open seats next year.

Just three of the races for the 80 Assembly seats up for grabs will feature no incumbent running. And only six of the 20 contests next year for the even-numbered state Senate seats will be open due to the current occupants being ineligible to run because of term limits.

In the Golden State it is rare for incumbent legislators to draw serious competition when they seek reelection, as most challengers wait for sitting lawmakers to either be termed out of office or decide to run for a different elected post. Two lesbian candidates, however, are looking to take advantage of growing voter frustrations with the national Republican Party and President Donald Trump in their bids to oust GOP incumbents.

In San Diego, lesbian real estate agent Sunday Gover, who lives with her partner and their four children in Scripps Ranch, is running against Assemblyman Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego). The former San Diego city councilman was first elected to his 77th Assembly District seat in 2012.

Last week, lesbian former Long Beach City Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske announced her bid for the 34th Senate District seat, which is largely based in Orange County but includes Schipske’s former council district in the Los Angeles County beach community. A lawyer, registered nurse, and a faculty member at Cal State Long Beach, Schipske

is running to unseat Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove). She is one of three Democrats and one Republican to pull papers to challenge Nguyen, a former Orange County supervisor first elected to the state Senate in 2014.

In the Bay Area, the legislative contest for an open Assembly seat in the East Bay has drawn three out candidates. Lesbian Richmond City Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles, lesbian Berkeley school board member Judy Appel, and bisexual East Bay Municipal Utility District board member Andy Katz are all seeking the 15th Assembly District seat.

The incumbent, Assemblyman Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond), is running next year to be the state’s superintendent of public instruction after serving two two-year terms in the Legislature. The race has drawn a wide field of candidates who are all angling to survive the June primary, where the top two vote-getters will face off against each other in November.

The fourth legislative contest to attract out nonincumbent candidates is in southern California.

Three gay Democrats, Luis Lopez, David Vela, and Alex De Ocampo, have pulled papers to run next year for the 51st Assembly District seat in Los Angeles, which includes the gay-friendly enclaves of Silver Lake, Eagle Rock, and Echo Park.

The trio is also among the 13 candidates running in the special primary Tuesday, October 3, to serve out the remainder of former Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez’s term through December 2018. Gomez is now a Democratic member of Congress, having won a special election this summer

Assembly candidate Sunday Gover

State Senate candidate Gerrie Schipske

for the House seat vacated by Xavier Becerra when he was tapped by Governor Jerry Brown to be California’s attorney general.

With such a crowded field in next week’s special election, it is expected that the top two vote-getters will square off in a runoff race this December for the Assembly seat. Whoever wins will need to run next year, first in June and then in November, to maintain the seat.

Early polling had shown Lopez with a leg up on his challengers for the seat. But with voter turnout likely to be a record low Tuesday, the race is anyone’s to win. And if the gay male candidates fall short but come in close, they could opt to take on the eventual winner next year despite that person having incumbent status, as due to the state’s term limits law, the next Assembly member could maintain the seat through 2030.

members will be seeking re-election next year. Lesbian Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman (DStockton) will be seeking her fourth two-year term, while gay Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) will be running for his third two-year term.

Gay Assemblyman Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) and lesbian Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes (DCorona) will both be seeking second terms in the Statehouse’s lower chamber. Both have already drawn Republican opponents, though Cervantes is the most at risk of losing her seat.

She ousted a Republican incumbent last year, and the GOP is expected to now target Cervantes for defeat, using her vote for the controversial gas tax against her. Corona City Councilman Randy Fox, who failed last year to unseat gay Congressman Mark Takano (D-Riverside), pulled papers in the spring to take on Cervantes.

While Fox has yet to report any fundraising for his Assembly bid, Cervantes reported having nearly $396,000 in her re-election account

Incumbents

Of the eight LGBT incumbent state lawmakers, all four of the Assembly

as of July 1. Equality California, the statewide LGBT advocacy group whose political action committee aims to maintain LGBT leadership in the Statehouse, has already designated Cervantes’ re-election campaign as its top priority in 2018.

“Sabrina Cervantes will have a tough race next year, so it is a top priority to get her re-elected,” EQCA Executive Director Rick Zbur told the Bay Area Reporter in a recent interview.

None of the four out state senators are up for re-election next year, though gay Senator Ricardo Lara (DBell Gardens) is likely to depart come 2019, as he is the odds-on favorite to win the 2018 race for state insurance commissioner. The incumbent, Dave Jones, is term-limited from running again, and no other Democrat has announced a bid for the state executive position.

With his Republican opponent given little chance of winning, Lara is set to become the first LGBT person elected to statewide office in California.

SF SRO directory includes LGBT information

A new directory of city services that will be distributed to residents of single-room-occupancy hotels in San Francisco will include a page dedicated to agencies serving the LGBT community and people living with HIV or AIDS. The SRO Task Force adopted the 21-page document last week. On page 9 is contact information for six local LGBT nonprofits, including the LGBT Community Center and El/La Para TransLatinas, and five HIV agencies that provide health and housing services.

Development of the resource was See page 8 >>

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<< Community News

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • September 28-October 4, 2017

t

Pot dispensary to fight appeal of Sunset project

by Sari Staver

O

pponents of medical cannabis have vowed to continue their fight to keep new dispensaries out of the Sunset, claiming they would be harmful to children and would bring a criminal element into the neighborhood, although such problems have not developed in areas where similar facilities are located.

Two organizations – Pacific Justice Institute and the Chinese American Democratic Club – will present their arguments to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Tuesday, October 3, when they will defend their appeals to stop the Castro’s highly respected dispensary, the Apothecarium, from opening a new dispensary at 2505 Noriega Street.

PJI, whose website says it defends “religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties without charge,” has been listed as an anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, following repeated incidents where members of the group publicly demonized the LGBT community.

According to Heidi Beirich, director of SPLC’s Intelligence Project, PJI president Brad Dacus “has a horrible track record” regarding LGBTs, including defending a pastor who wanted to stone gay people to death and

saying that homosexuality was “more dangerous” than cigarette smoking.

In a telephone interview this week, Dacus called the SPLC comment “ludicrous.” He said PJI “has been around for 20 years defending religious freedom and parental rights for everyone.”

Dacus also said he’s attended six meetings of PFLAG, a group for families and friends of LGBTs. “Do you think I would do this if I hated the LGBTQ community?” he said.A joint resolution condemning PJI was issued by the Harvey Milk and Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic clubs, two organizations that rarely agree on anything.

With a long history of opposition to a wide range of LGBT issues, members of PJI have become vociferous opponents of medical marijuana, claiming their members are strongly opposed to it. The organization, a Sacramento-based nonprofit, has offices throughout the state.

CADC represents about 75 San Franciscans, according to the group’s president, Wilson Chu. Chu told the Bay Area Reporter in a telephone interview that studies show a new dispensary would bring a “tremendous increase in traffic” to the neighborhood, something opposed by many residents and businesses.

The Apothecarium, whose flagship location is at 2029 Market Street, has

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Sari Staver

The Apothecarium’s Ryan Hudson

a long history of support to LGBT community organizations and has donated over $350,000 to community groups since the dispensary opened six years ago.

Executive Director Ryan Hudson has asked supporters to testify next week and welcomes interested patients who may want to attend the hearing. In previous hearings, hundreds of medical cannabis opponents have arrived in busloads to demonstrate in front of City Hall.

“We’re asking everyone to come speak out against the anti-LGBT hate group that is trying to stop our dispensary and stigmatize cannabis patients,” Hudson told the B.A.R. in an email.

Hudson is a straight ally. The majority of employees of the privately owned dispensary are LGBT, said Eliot Dobris, director of community outreach, including himself, general manager Chase Chambers, boutique manager Marcella Sanchez, education director Sara Payan, and minister of culture Danyol Leon, aka Tamale Ringwald.

Long battle

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The battle has gone on for several years, since the Apothecarium and its highly respected medical adviser, Dr. Floyd Huen, rented the space formerly occupied by a pharmacy to open what would become the organization’s third location in the city. The dispensary, which could open next year, will be co-owned by Huen, an internist, and his wife, former Oakland mayor Jean Quan. Huen is the former medical director of the Alameda County Medical Center and director of a pioneering Berkeley community health clinic for seniors.

In a previous interview with the

<<

Political Notebook

From page 7

years in the making, noted Jordan Davis, a transgender woman and SRO resident who serves on the advisory panel.

“I believe that, in these troubled times, this needs to be a value statement, which can give not only trans and queer people hope, but POC, immigrant, HIV/AIDS, senior, disabled, and youth,” Davis wrote in an email to the B.A.R. “We are hoping this can also be a document of health, education, and economic justice as well.”

Rosemary Bosque, the chief housing inspector for San Francisco Department of Building Inspection’s Housing Inspection Services, told the B.A.R. the directory would be available for distribution to city officials and the public by the end of this week. A link to the document will also be posted to the SRO Task Force’s webpage at http://sfdbi.org/ single-room-occupancy-sro-taskforce.

“All members of the task force

B.A.R., Huen said that 20 years ago, he became convinced of the effectiveness of cannabis in treating pain in elderly patients, many of who had been prescribed opiates.

The Apothecarium had hoped that the October 3 hearing would be its “final showdown” with its opponents, said Dobris. In July, the city’s planning commission approved (5-1) the Apothecarium’s plans to open the dispensary in the Sunset, a decision that was appealed to the Board of Supervisors by PJI and CADC. But PJI’s staff attorney Frank Hacke told the B.A.R. in a telephone interview that if the city allows the Apothecarium to proceed with plans to open in the Sunset, “we are definitely going to seek injunctive relief” to stop it.

“We think the (federal) Department of Justice will agree that they should not be allowed to operate,” he said.

Countered Hudson in an email: “PJI has been emboldened by the rise of Donald Trump. But they don’t seem very interested in winning cases for their Christian clients. All they really care about is fundraising for themselves. We believe any future lawsuit is a stunt that will have no practical effect on our plans to serve patients.”

The rhetoric has remained constant, with the Apothecarium pointing out that the district has voted heavily in favor of medical and adult use of cannabis and the opponents claiming it will harm residents and businesses.

The Apothecarium claims that it has 3,900 medical cannabis patients who live in the Sunset who could use its products and services, but the opponents say a dispensary could be dangerous because it could expose children to drugs and attract a

criminal element.

The long battle has been costly to the Apothecarium, as well as to the nonprofits that have been the recipients of Apothecarium’s donations.

The legal battle has cost the dispensary “well into six figures,” Hudson said in a previous interview, and has led to decreases in its donations.

Gay District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, who has been public about his use of medical cannabis for HIVrelated symptoms, said in a telephone interview that he could not comment on the upcoming hearing until he heard both sides of the argument.

District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang, who lives in the neighborhood where the new dispensary would be located, did not return requests for an interview by press time.

With legalization of adult recreational use of cannabis less than 100 days away in California, the landscape of pot sales is expected to change dramatically in San Francisco.

But Hacke said his organization will continue to oppose medical marijuana.

“We’re not sure just how (legalization) might change our strategy,” he said. “This has become a popular cause with our donors. We don’t want to let them down.”t

will also receive the final document by email. This includes the SRO Collaborative that services SRO occupants, private and public hotel operators, SRO occupant task force members, etc.,” wrote Bosque in an emailed reply. “We will also be including the directory in email transmittals to SRO operators that have provided email addresses, as well as providing the Directory to SRO occupants during our inspection process and outreach efforts.”

part of my life. My husband and my children are my world. It is with a very heavy heart that I have to share that my family is going through a major medical crisis,” wrote Foxworthy, who lives in Santa Rosa.

“This crisis will take all of our time and attention to heal and to make sure that our family can one day be healthy and whole again. I appreciate everyone respecting my family’s privacy as we go through this process.”

He added that a candidate forum scheduled for Thursday night prompted the timing of his decision, as he felt it would be unfair to voters to take part in the event knowing he would likely have to drop out of the race.

“After much thought and seeking the counsel of others, I feel like I would do more harm than good if I participated in this important public forum while knowing I could not continue in the campaign,” wrote Foxworthy. “I have withdrawn from the forum, but I do hope the

Gay Sonoma sheriff candidate ends bid

A gay man who is a deputy sheriff in San Francisco this week unexpectedly dropped his bid to become the next sheriff of Sonoma County, which includes the gay Russian River resort area.

In an email to supporters Wednesday (September 27), Jay Foxworthy disclosed the “difficult decision” to end his campaign, citing a family medical emergency for the reason.

“As many of you know about me, my family is the most important

Those who are interested in attending the October 3 hearing or testifying on behalf of the Apothecarium can email or text “10/3” to project manager Ynez Carrasco at Ynez@apothecarium. com, to be updated with details.

Testimony is expected to begin sometime after 4:30 p.m. that afternoon but could begin later, according to the Apothecarium.

See page 12 >>

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Commentary>>

September 28-October 4, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

‘Satan’s plan’

by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

I

Rather than letting us be, people like We’re not here to “destroy” anything, as Mateer seem hell-bent on our destrucMateer seems to think – although I will tion. They will seek to legislate us out admit a personal interest in of existence, taking away our rights smashing the patriarchy. to use public accommodations, to Meanwhile, it is those serve in the military, to work, to have a like Mateer who seem to home, and so on. They view us as their have their own agenda. adversary and seek our immolation.

Think back to the quote Mateer is the one who sounds like above, and consider that he is more in league with the devil.t Mateer is demonizing a 6-year-old who certainly is no threat to the First Liberty InstiGwen Smith believes there’s no tute or, likely, anyone. He seems to beT:7.75”devil, just evil-minded people.

You’ll find her at gwensmith.com mistaking this child for the Antichrist.

Christine Smith

T:13”

n between yelling at football players, eroding our freedoms, and attempting to bar transgender service members from, well, serving their country, President Donald Trump is busy nominating judges. One in particular deserves a bit of scrutiny: Jeff Mateer is up for a judgeship on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Two years ago, Mateer – who at the time was general counsel for the First Liberty Institute before becoming first assistant attorney general for Texas – delivered a speech titled “The Church and Homosexuality” for the institute, which is based in Plano, Texas. It’s a conservative law firm focused on socalled religious liberty lawsuits.

As part of the speech, Mateer veered into transgender issues. Unsurprisingly, it was a restroom case.

“In Colorado, a public school has been sued because a first grader – and I forget the sex, she’s a girl who thinks she’s a boy or a boy who thinks she’s a girl, it’s probably that, a boy who thinks she’s a girl,” Mateer said, according to an archived copy of the speech. “And the school said, ‘Well, she’s not using the girl’s restroom.’ And so she has now sued to have a right to go in. Now, I submit to you, as a parent of three children who are now young adults, (does) a first grader really knows what their sexual (sic.) identity (is)? I mean it just really shows you how Satan’s plan is working and the destruction that’s going on.”

Yes, a man who is up for a federal judgeship believes that transgender people are a part of “Satan’s plan.”

The thing is, when I was in the first grade, I had a pretty good sense what my gender identity was. I did not have all the words for what I was, but I knew I did not feel like it was right to assign me as a boy and felt much more that I was a girl. If, perhaps, the language was available to me to explain how I felt a bit more expertly, then I, too, would have been able to make it clear in which restroom I better fit.

Indeed, my own feelings on this start sometime around when I was 3 years old, which puts me well before the first grade. At that time, resources for any transgender person were scant: for trans youth, they were nonexistent. I was substantially beyond the first grade when I finally got my hands on some solid information in my college library.

Today, transgender people are being recognized and treated at much earlier ages. We not only have better resources, but also a potentially more knowledgeable populace – notwithstanding Mateer and the First Liberty Institute.

You see, I don’t think it’s Satan’s plan that children are cared for and treated well, or that we take the needs of our kids seriously. Contrary to the views of Mateer, being trans is no diabolical plan, but part of the human condition.

Transgender people simply are.

Now, while I sport neither horns nor a barbed tail, and I preside not over Hades but rather a small apartment I share with my spouse, I too have a plan.

It’s a simple one: Let us be.

Trans people are an amazing part of humanity, don’t get me wrong. We’ve existed for centuries alongside the rest of humanity. We have been commoners and rulers, and in spite of plenty of people attempting to squelch our existence, we remain a part of this world.

We may well be some of the stronger people you’ll find, given all we have to face just to survive, let alone thrive.

Yet most of our desires are fairly mundane. We just want to live. We want to be able to walk down the street and let the sunlight warm our faces. We want to be hand-in-hand with those who we love and who also love us. We want to be able to labor, have a roof over our head, and otherwise have a peaceful existence. Also, we wish to do all these things in a gender of our preference.

Whether we’re in the first grade or a nursing home, we expect our gender to be respected. You’ll find that isn’t even that difficult to do – and that it may actually be more work and hassle to fight against our lives. After all, you can say what you will about us, but that doesn’t stop us from existing in the first place.

It’s a simple plan. Treat us as human beings with all the rights afforded to same and, well, we’ll do the same.

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<< Travel

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • September 28-October 4, 2017

t

Emerging wine regions provide great selection

by Heather Cassell

D

esiring to broaden our palates, my girlfriend and I hit the road, going beyond the well-trodden California wine regions to discover new destinations with amazing wineries, breweries, and culinary experiences to go with them.

Starting in the spring, we followed wine trails that led us to rainbows and gold in Amador County, Livermore Valley and the greater Tri-Valley, and Temecula Valley.

Winemakers in these emerging and newly certified appellations are producing award-winning wines that are comparable to well-known wines in Napa and Sonoma. The vineyards are nestled in the hills and valleys around charming towns.

The best part is that these wine destinations proved to be great weekend escapes, with all the charm of old California and amazing wine and food at a fraction of the cost.

Wine in gold country

This spring, my girlfriend and I ventured two hours outside of the Bay Area to California’s gold country for the inaugural Come Out to Amador gay wine weekend. It was an amazing event set in charming gold mine towns: Plymouth, Mount Aukum, Sutter Creek, Volcano, and others that are filled with antique shops, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and wine tasting rooms among the old saloons and hotels.

The gay wine weekend event attracted more than 30 attendees who enjoyed a variety of activities that included outdoor adventures in old caves, hiking, and walking among the vines while learning about Amador’s wines. Enjoying wine tastings by day, at night we had amazing

food paired with local craft beer and wine served up by Taste (http:// www.restauranttaste.com/newtaste/ pages/index.cgi), rated one of the top 10 restaurants in the U.S. by Zagat.

Mark Berkner co-owns Taste with his wife, Tracey Berkner. The couple also own Rest, a boutique hotel, and the Volcano Union Pub and Inn. Jack Gorman, 46, and his husband, Kyle Peppers, 42, co-founded and produced Come Out to Amador because they wanted to introduce LGBT wine lovers to the Sierra Foothills wine region.

“I wanted to do that in a way that they would get some exposure to both the geography and the beauty of what we have, and certainly the food and wine scene happening in Amador,” Gorman told the Bay Area Reporter. He was born and raised in Amador and is the executive director of the Amador Vintners Association.

The men were thrilled about the success of the event.

The next Come Out to Amador is set for March 23-25. Check the website for when tickets will go on sale.

Amador’s wine country is home to more than 45 wineries, including lesbian-owned Cedar Creek Ranch and Vineyards, and zinfandel vines dating back to 1863, the oldest on record in the state. Vintners in the region are noted as leaders in Italian, Spanish, and Rhone varietals creating barbera, sangiovese, tempranillo, syrah, viognier, and roussanne, among other wines that are starting to garner attention around the world.

The Sierra Foothills recently added its first brewery, Amador Brewing Company. Amador’s brews were set against the region’s wines

Geena Dabadghav

Brendan Finley, executive vice president, hospitality, stands outside the Wente Estate Winery in the Livermore Valley.

@eBARnews

Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association/Merridith Robertson

Grapes grow on the vine in the Livermore Valley.

during “Amador Brewing vs. Amador Wine,” hosted at Hotel Sutter, where we were guests. Other attendees stayed at Days Inn Sutter Creek.

Plymouth is the gateway to Amador’s wine country, where we continued to explore the region’s vineyards and tasting rooms. We journeyed to the Original Grand Pere Vineyard, also known as Vineyard 1869, with vintner and owner Scott Harvey of Scott Harvey Wines.

There, we tasted a variety of wines produced by the old zinfandel vines.

We continued our sipping tour at Andis Winery and at a party at Cedar Creek Ranch and Vineyards as a part of the gay wine weekend.

Queer oenophiles who can’t wait for the next Come Out to Amador can explore Gold Country’s vineyards on their own, starting with Amador’s wine trail on Steiner Road in the Shenandoah Valley. The trail leads guests to nine wineries.

Travelers can also enjoy Amador’s annual harvest festival, The Big Crush, now in its 25th year, October 7-8, and The WineFest, now in its 20th year supporting the local arts community, November 11, or Cedar Creek’s Winemaker Luncheon at Taste! November 19.

The wines can be paired with a variety of cuisine served at restaurants, such as Amador’s Vintage Market in Plymouth, Cavana’s Pub and Grub in Sutter Creek, Kate’s Country Café and Bakery in Aukum, or the Rosebud Café in Jackson.

During the summer and fall, Amador County enjoys a thriving art scene. Theater lovers can check out Amador County Theatre for local performances and art lovers can explore galleries on ArtTrek, a free self-guided tour, or go antiquing at one of the many shops.

Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the Sierra Foothills for its many activities, such as the Cave and Mine Adventures, biking, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and more.

“It’s just a fantastic place to visit,” said native Meghan O’Keefe.

The 37-year-old queer woman is ingrained in the local art scene when she isn’t managing her family’s restaurant, Rosebud Cafe.

Karen J. Wood, 57, who co-owns Cedar Creek with her wife, Gingerlei Asuola, 45, said that the community is very welcoming.

“Come as friends, leave as family,” she said. “We are a very welcoming group out here.”

Attendees of the gay wine weekend who had already discovered Amador praised it for its wines, culinary scene, arts, outdoor activities, and welcoming atmosphere, as well as the region’s value as a getaway.

Debbie Stack, 62, said that her friends love coming from the city to visit her in Plymouth after she moved there from the Castro about 20 years ago.

“I love it. Everyone is friendly, there’s good food and wine, these cute little mining towns, and the outdoors. It has a little bit of everything,” said Stack, a lesbian.

Wine a BART ride away

Bay Area wine lovers can be in wine country in the Livermore Valley in under an hour.

Depending on traffic, Livermore is only 40- to 45-minutes by car and around the same time on BART from San Francisco and Oakland.

Like Amador, Napa, and Sonoma, Livermore has a storied past as one of California’s earliest wine regions.

The first grapes were planted in the 1760s, but it wasn’t until 1840 when vintners began to officially establish the valley as a wine region by planting a plethora of vines. From those vines, nearly 80 percent of California’s chardonnay was developed from the graphs that were planted in other vineyards.

Livermore was also California’s first wine region to win accolades in Paris when the grand prize went to Charles Wetmore of Cresta Blanca Winery at the Paris Exposition of 1889. Gold medals went to two other Livermore wines – Mont Rouge Winery’s zinfandel and S. Osterhaut for a brandy made from the Folle Blanche grape – at the exposition that year, according to the Livermore Valley Wine Association.

Livermore grapes were even present at the great upset of 1976 at the Judgment of Paris when Stag’s

Geena Dabadghav

Husbands and producers Kyle Peppers, back, and Jack Gorman held the inaugural Come Out to Amador, an LGBT wine weekend in Amador County, California.

Leap Wine Cellars’ 1973 cabernet sauvignon won the prize in a blind wine tasting. The winning bottle’s grapes came from a graph of a cabernet sauvignon vine at Concannon Vineyard, one of Livermore Valley’s founding vineyards, the winery’s assistant winemaker Alyssa Barber and sommelier LeeAnn Kaufman told the B.A.R. as we toured the winery.

Despite the quality of wines produced in the valley, it was hit hard

by Prohibition in the 1920s. The halt of legal alcohol production and consumption that lasted 13 years crippled Livermore’s wineries like many others, but unlike Napa and Sonoma, the region didn’t recover quickly. It got lost in the annals of wine history.

Today, the valley is undergoing a renaissance. Livermore’s historic downtown has been revitalized and features independently-owned restaurants, bars, shops, and a performing arts center.

“It’s a unique area that has some amazing beautiful wines with some great wine makers,” said Brendan Finley, a gay man who’s executive vice president for hospitality at Wente Estate Winery.

Alex Braboy, a 52-year-old gay man who is a tasting room host at El Sol Winery, loves the Livermore Valley wine region because visitors can still walk into tasting rooms and meet the winemakers.

“That’s what I love about Livermore,” said Braboy, whose husband works down the road at the Big White House Winery and John Evan Cellars’ tasting room. “It’s because you come in here and the winemaker will be there and he can discuss his passion.”

Livermore – and the greater TriValley area – is a hidden gem with more than 50 wineries touting award-winning wines and great restaurants in the area, not to mention a thriving and welcoming LGBT community.

The valley produces 13 different types of varietals, but it is best known for its merlot, cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc, petite sirah, and tempranillo that winemakers use to craft Italian-, Rhone-, and Spanish-style wines.

Queer travelers aren’t just coming for the wine, the Livermore Valley also has a craft brewery scene that visitors can check out via the TriValley Beer Trail, and an emerging spirits movement.

Leigh Cranor, marketing coordinator at Visit Tri-Valley, told the B.A.R. that she sees many visiting gay women in their 30s and 40s checking out the wine, but also pointed to the “craft beer situation See page 18 >>

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<< Community News

12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • September 28-October 4, 2017

Castro Street Fair set for Sunday compiled by Cynthia Laird

activist and author Cleve Jones and the Transgender Law Center.

Tickets are $300, or $75 for the after-party only, and can be purchased at https://horizonsfoundation.ejoinme. org/MyEvents/2017AnnualGala/ tabid/804698/Default.aspx.

T

he 44th annual Castro Street Fair is set for Sunday, October 1 and, while the event’s footprint is smaller this year, organizers have announced a lineup of performers and stages to keep crowds entertained.

As reported in the Bay Area Reporter in August, Market Street will not be included in this year’s festival footprint and instead will remain open to traffic. The rest of the footprint won’t be changed, with streets closed on Castro from Market to 19th Street and on 18th Street from Noe to Diamond.

The food booths will be on 18th between Collingwood and Diamond, and there will be various vendors and information on local resources.

Fred Lopez, executive director of the fair, told the paper at the time that the fair had seen a slight decline in vendor booths over the last five years and that it made economic sense to shrink the fair’s size.

Main stage entertainers include Boyfriend, a writer, rapper, and singer; Jocquese Whitfield, aka SirJoQ, a dancer who does freestyle hip-hop; and DJs MC2 and Josette Melchor.

Fair favorites the Monster Show, Cheer San Francisco, and the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band will also appear.

Other activities include the Sundance Saloon country western dance stage – with a new location at 18th and Noe streets – and Dance Alley, which will be in the parking lot behind Walgreens and feature local DJ talent.

The Castro Street Fair takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A donation of $5-$10 is suggested at the gate. For more information and the entertainment schedule, Lopez urged people to check the website at http://www. castrostreetfair.org.

PRC honors Sylvester’s legacy at gala

The Positive Resource Center will honor the legacy of Sylvester at “Mighty Real,” its gala set for Friday, October 6 at the Four Seasons Hotel, 757 Market Street in San Francisco.

The evening begins with a cocktail reception at 6, followed by a dinner program, live auction, and after-party with DJ Lamont.

The agency is marking 30 years of service; last year it merged with Baker Places and the AIDS Emergency Fund.

Castro-area free days at CA Academy of Sciences

Rick Gerharter

Dancers enjoyed the sounds of the Prince tribute band, The Purple Ones, at the main stage at last year’s Castro Street Fair.

Sylvester James was a gay disco superstar from San Francisco. After his death due to AIDS-related complications in 1988, royalties from his music ended up going to AEF and Project Open Hand after a yearslong wait and legal complications. Now that PRC oversees AEF, it has taken on the mantle of honoring Sylvester.

Actor and philanthropist Sheryl Lee Ralph will receive PRC’s inaugural Sylvester Community Pillar Award.

“Sylvester always spoke out and used his voice to encourage others to love themselves,” Ralph, a straight ally, said in a statement. “I lost my friend Sylvester far too soon to AIDS. However, he remains in our memory, and is still very much alive because his music lives.”

Another honoree will be Tom Nolan, a gay man who’s the former executive director of Project Open Hand. Nolan, who will receive the Vanguard Leadership Award, also used to be a San Mateo County supervisor and served on the board of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

Gilead Sciences will receive the Keystone Service Award. The biophar maceut ical company has released 23 marketed products, including those for HIV/ AIDS and liver disease, that benefit millions of people. It also has an access program to make its medications available to those who could

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Tickets for the gala are $250 and can be purchased online at http://www. positiveresource.org/mightyreal.

SF Pride theme selected

The membership of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee has chosen “Generations of Strength” as the theme for 2018.

In other matters at its recent annual meeting, new board members were elected and include Nikki “Tita Aida” Calma, who served as Pride board president several years ago; Elizabeth Lanyon; Jacob Little; and Amy Sueyoshi.

Re-elected board members include current board President Michelle Meow, Jacquelene Bishop, Anietie Ekanem, DJ Gray, Nguyen “Win” Pham, Justin Taylor, and William Walker.

Larry Lare Nelson, the author of the selected theme, said in a news release that he was “thrilled” with the overwhelming choice for his submission.

“Our LGBTQI communities are at a historical juncture like never before,” he stated. “We must ensure the stories of our generations of elders are not lost and that our youth know how to harness the strength built by generations.”

The 2018 San Francisco Pride parade and celebration will take place June 23-24. For more information, visit http://www.sfpride.org.

LGBT center launches Economic Justice Month

The San Francisco LGBT Community Center will launch its Economic Justice Month in October, with free programs and events dedicated to highlighting things that need to be done to achieve economic and social justice.

This year’s theme is “Equality and Liberation” and based on the center’s mission to “connect our diverse communities to opportunities, resources, and each other to achieve our vision of a stronger, healthier, and more equitable world for LGBTQ people and our allies,” a news release stated.

“Economic Justice Month at the center is extremely vital for the people we support through our programs and services,” Clair Farley, the center’s director of economic development,

<<

Political Notebook

From page 8

remaining four candidates will engage in a robust debate in my absence.”

Foxworthy had publicly announced his candidacy from the main stage of Sonoma County Pride in early June. He was one of five men who had pulled papers to run in the 2018 election.

Former Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas, who had announced earlier this year he would not seek a

said in the release. “LGBTQ affluence is a myth and we need to do whatever we can to elevate one another in these challenging times.”

The launch event will take place Thursday, October 5 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the center, 1800 Market Street.

The networking event, for people 21 and over, will celebrate people and organizations in the fight for equality and liberation. Mia Satya will serve as emcee. Donations are accepted.

To sign up, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ejm-launch-party-tickets-37568739110.

Other highlights for the month include LGBTQ financial planning day (October 21), an LGBTQ career fair (October 26), and the Queer Street Market Expo (October 28.)

In addition to the above-listed events, the center will offer a variety of workshops on topics such as financial education, the housing crisis in San Francisco, tenants’ rights, managing student debt, and finding employment. Other activities will be tailored to youth, seniors, and the trans and gender non-conforming communities.

For a full schedule, visit www.sfcenter.org/ejm.

Pet Pride Day

San Francisco Animal Care and Control will hold its Pet Pride Day Sunday, October 1 from noon to 5 p.m. at 1200 15th Street (at Alabama).

There will be free pet adoptions, a pet costume contest, raffle, demonstrations, a dog toy-making booth, pet rescue groups and vendors, a microchip clinic, food trucks, a beer garden, and photo booth.

The event is free. For more information, visit petprideday.com.

Horizons to hold annual gala

Horizons Foundation, a San Francisco-based LGBT philanthropic organization, will hold its annual gala Saturday, October 7 at the Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason Street atop Nob Hill.

The evening begins with a reception and silent auction at 5:30 p.m., followed by a dinner program, dessert buffet, and after-party.

This year’s honorees will be gay

third term, retired in August due to health reasons. Sheriff Rob Giordano is serving out the remainder of his term through January 7, 2019.

Foxworthy and his husband, Bryan Leffew, and their two adopted children, Daniel Martinez Leffew and Selena Leffew, gained national notoriety in 2008 when they created a YouTube channel, called “Gay Family Values,” in opposition to Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban voters adopted in November of that year that was later struck down by the courts. t

A free weekend is coming up for people in certain San Francisco LGBT-friendly ZIP codes to visit the California Academy of Sciences.

Visitors can enjoy the aquarium, planetarium, rain forest, and natural history museum.

The free fall days are October 13-15 for the following neighborhoods: Castro, Excelsior, Glen Park, Ingleside, Noe Valley, Outer Mission, Parkmerced, Parkside, St. Francis Wood, and the Sunset. Eligible ZIP codes are 94112, 94114, 941165, 94122, 94127, 94131, and 94132.

For more information, visit h t t p s : / / w w w. c a l a c a demy. org / neighborhood-free-weekends.

Wedding fair at Levi’s Stadium

The biggest wedding event in the Bay Area is coming to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara Sunday, October 15 from noon to 4 p.m.

Bay Area Wedding Fairs, which holds more than 12 such events each year, links engaged couples with local businesses for all of their wedding needs. A spokeswoman said that all engaged couples are welcome to attend, including same-sex couples.

The fair will include gourmet food samples, desserts, wine tasting, music, florists, décor, lighting, photographers, videographers, gowns, tuxedoes, accessories, makeup, beauty, and more.

The Levi’s Stadium show will host three floors of over 120 vendors and décor displays. There will be a fashion show and couples are eligible to win giveaways and prizes throughout the day; one lucky couple will receive a wedding package worth $15,000.

Tickets are $20 each, or $15 each for a group of four or more. Fore more information, visit www.bayareaweddingfairs.com.

Queers recall the Reformation

Dignity/San Francisco and two Lutheran churches will hold a service titled “Breaking Walls: Queer People Remember the Reformation” Saturday, September 30 at 11 a.m. at Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1329 Seventh Avenue in San Francisco.

The Reformation, which occurred in 16th century Europe, was a schism from the Roman Catholic Church initiated by Martin Luther and continued by John Calvin and other Protestant reformers, according to Wikipedia.

The upcoming service will be one of joy and celebration. Dignity is an organization for LGBT Catholics; the Protestant churches participating are Grace Lutheran and St. Francis Lutheran.

All are welcome to attend. People are asked to bring refreshments to share. t

Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check http:// www.ebar.com Monday mornings at noon for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion.

This week’s column reported on a lesbian Republican candidate for county supervisor in San Diego.

Keep abreast of the latest LGBT political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/politicalnotes

t

Community News>>

September 28-October 4, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 13

Men talk spirituality, building bonds at panel

by Brian Bromberger

F

ive gay and trans men urged other GBT males to bridge gaps with younger generations while at the same time, live their lives openly and reject the notion of “being pushed back into a closet.”

The men spoke on a recent panel titled “Queer Men! – Celebrating Where We Come From, Envisioning Where We’re Going.”

Darryl Moore, a gay black man and former Berkeley City Council member, laughingly observed that without gays there would be no church choirs.

But he was serious when urging the roughly 75 men in attendance to remain out and proud.

“We need to tell our truth and not be pushed back into a closet,” he said.

Moore quoted the late gay rights icon Harvey Milk about the necessity of coming out, but observed, “We each come out in a different, unique way.”

Retired San Francisco Police Lieutenant Stephan Thorne, a trans man, was emphatic that “gay men must know their history to learn where we came from and that it was incumbent on each LGBTQ person, if they can, to be out, as in the current political atmosphere, it’s even more essential.”

The discussion took place September 9 at St. Columba Roman Catholic Church in Oakland.

Father Aidan McAleenan, a pastor of St. Columba who identifies as gay, reminded the audience that since there are 1.3 billion Roman Catholics in the world, and if even just 5 percent are LGBTQ people, “that’s a lot of gays.” Acceptance by the institutional church is a critical issue, he said.

“Every church would be dark and boring if it wasn’t for gay

people bringing a flair, uniqueness, compassion, and love of people,” he said.

St. Columba is an all-welcoming, social justice church.

The discussion reaffirmed the progress that has been made in LGBTQ acceptance in both mainline Protestant and some Roman Catholic churches.

“We will share our personal histories as well as our hopes for continued evolution in a world where we’ve made incredible strides but still have a long way to go,” said co-producer Rafael Rosario.

The Reverend Daniel Borysewicz, who identifies as queer and is a volunteer clergy at Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco and an associate night minister and sacred space minister with San Francisco Night Ministry, emphasized that homosexual condemnation in the church was related to “demeaning oneself as a woman because in those days women were treated as chattel, as property, so to lower one’s standards to act like a woman was considered sinful.”

James Chang, 30, vice president of the East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club, represented younger gay men.

“I realize that I have been able to lead an out and proud life as an adult, to live authentically and empower others to do so, because of all the people who came before me,” he said.

Borysewicz said that he sees the spiritual role of gay men as “fabulously fierce because we are the shamans, the healers.”

“We are there when no one else wants to be there. We are the bridges between the genders and sexes. Not only are we trendsetters in fashion but also in creating families that are chosen,” he

Brian Bromberger

The Reverend Daniel Borysewicz, third from left, talks about gay spirituality with moderator Tim Fisher, left, and panelists Father Aidan McAleenan, retied police Lieutenant Stephan Thorne, former Berkeley City Council member Darryl Moore, and James Chang.

continued. “We embrace sex for what it is, sometimes for pleasure, not just procreation.”

Thorne talked the gender binary, and said that gay and trans men “are blowing up the boxes of sex and gender.

“There has been fear and loathing regarding gay sex because of men acting like women and women acting like men,” he said.

“The binary, while not inaccurate, is incomplete. It is not the be-all and end-all of human sexuality and gender. My awareness of other oppressed people has always been sensitized by the fact that I have always been oppressed from the time I was a toddler and forced to dress in drag. There is transphobia in the lesbian and gay community and homophobia in the trans community, yet we must work together and move our humanity forward.”

Moore told audience members not to forget about racism in the gay community, recalling that the

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legendary March on Washington was organized by a gay black man, Bayard Rustin, “which is why we are not seeking special rights as our conservative brothers allege, but human rights.”

“I want to walk hand-in-hand in public with the person I love just like everyone else,” he said.

Chang said that he was concerned about celebrities using queer culture to amplify their careers and to market themselves, “that Pride parades, which started off as protests, are now being used as corporate sponsorships.”

While respecting they have benefitted from past struggles, younger gay men are very different because they didn’t live through the AIDS crisis or live in the closet, so there can be a disconnect from those who came before them, Chang said.

“I want to be mentored by the older generations, in my relationships and, especially in my career,

as I do see roadblocks, but older men must understand that times have changed,” he said.

Borysewicz said that because of AIDS a whole generation of mentoring had been lost.

An audience member during the question and answer session said there was a huge disconnect with younger generations, “as they don’t show up to meetings like this, no matter what we do.

They don’t care about knowing their history.” But Chang asked if younger people were put on planning committees for events or were they identified as potential leaders of the future and mentored as such. He also noted that this event had not been advertised on social media or streamed live so younger people could watch it later.

Audience members were pleased with the panel discussion and the range of speakers.

Martin Morley, 60, however was disappointed with the demographics in the room (almost all present were over 50).

“Younger men don’t see a need for intergenerational events like this,” Morley said.

Max Guglielmelli, 30, a gay atheist, was bothered by the assumption that “we’re all part of religion. In my opinion, religion is not needed; it is a virus of the mind. Now that it’s cool to be Christian and gay doesn’t work for me.

“But I want to stress that these kind of gatherings are needed. I don’t believe in my generation.

I’m more advanced. For them it’s all about Grindr, Scruff, and fucking and watching mindless TV,” he said. “I was raised to learn from and talk with other people. It’s not that the younger people aren’t interested in these issues. They are just being taught wrong.”t

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<< Community News

t SF won’t be ready for pot sales in Jan., supe says 14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • September 28-October 4, 2017

by Sari Staver

S

an Franciscans may not be able to purchase recreational cannabis come January 1, the date the state had promised licensed businesses they could begin selling pot to anyone over age 21.

This week, gay District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy and Mayor Ed Lee introduced legislation that could delay implementation in the city.

The new proposal would not affect sales of medical cannabis.

Under Proposition 64, approved by voters last year, the state was

supposed to issue licenses to businesses that wanted to sell recreational cannabis. The proposition legalized, regulated, and taxed the adult use of cannabis. It also allows localities to tailor implementation of the law to their needs and preferences.

At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting Sheehy and Lee introduced two ordinances that would essentially “begin the regulation of cannabis in San Francisco.”

In talking points provided to the Bay Area Reporter by Sheehy, he told the board that the state’s early

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leadership in approving the medical use of cannabis in 1996 demonstrated “that Californians understood the medical benefits of cannabis for people with serious conditions like cancer and HIV.” Sheehy himself has been an advocate of medical cannabis and has been open about his own use of the herb for HIV- related symptoms.

“We must protect and build on that legacy while ensuring that the new adult industry is equitable,” Sheehy said.

The legislation “begins that conversation, but it’s far from perfect and even further from final,” Sheehy stated.

“This is not fully baked,” he told the B.A.R. Wednesday morning in a brief phone interview.

The legislative proposal has three

main “strengths,” said Sheehy.

First, non-retail uses, such as cultivation and manufacturing “can come out of the shadows,” he said.

Second, existing medical cannabis dispensaries “will be protected,” he added.

And last, the cannabis regulation ordinance is “clear and specific” and includes details that will enable the license application to be “as clear, fair, and specific as possible,” he said.

“I also want to be candid to the public that this legislation needs more work,” Sheehy stated.

He said there were “three top issues” to consider as the city moves toward legalization: the need to make the industry equitable; the issue of whether too much regulation could drive people into black market sales; and the need to “do

more to stop sales to minors.”

In anticipation of Prop 64’s passage, the city created a Cannabis State Legalization Task Force. Last year, it issued 80 recommendations on how the city should implement Prop 64.

Sheehy said that the ordinances would utilize the task force’s work, in addition to addressing he equity issue. In Oakland, the City Council has developed policies so that people formerly incarcerated for marijuana crimes could have a chance to enter the cannabis industry.

“Equity is huge,” Sheehy said. “It’s an issue that’s not addressed.”

He said that he wants to work with the task force, the community, and his board colleagues “so that the legislation reflects what the community wants.”t

Queer person named to SF Youth Commission

by Sari Staver

P

aola Robles Desgarennes, an LGBT and immigration activist, has been appointed to the San Francisco Youth Commission by gay District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy.

Desgarennes, 23, who was sworn in at City Hall September 6, will serve a one-year term on the commission, a 17-member panel created by the voters in 1995. It is responsible for advising the Board of Supervisors and the mayor on policies and laws related to young people.

The youth commission is also charged with providing comment and recommendation on all proposed laws that would primarily affect youth before the supervisors take final action. Each supervisor, as well as the mayor, is allowed to choose one representative. The mayor also appoints five representatives from underrepresented communities. The commissioners must be between ages 12 and 23.

“In addition to providing a voice on the issues impacting our youth, the youth commission plays a vital role in empowering and

Paola Robles Desgarennes

Sari Staver

training future leaders,” Sheehy said in an email to the Bay Area Reporter.

“Paola’s background and connection to the queer and Latinx communities will be a tremendous asset to the commission.”

Desgarennes told the B.A.R. in an interview that she identifies as either “gender queer” or “two spirit,” a term used by some indigenous North

He was 65 years old and had been born in Middletown, Connecticut, to noted ethnomusicologist David McAllester and beloved mother, Susan. He majored in dance at Antioch College, and upon earning his BA, spent three years as a freelance choreographer in New York City, where he mounted several full-scale productions. Moving to San Francisco, he became a craftsman and carpenter. He was a voluminous correspondent, with many friends across the country. Locally, he loved hiking with them in the Sierra

Mountains and backpacking along the Lost Coast. He joined with them in English Country Dancing in Sebastopol and attending the opera in San Francisco. An especial pleasure was the home cooked feasts he served on his mother’s china.

And he read and re-read sci-fi series. The more volumes the better. He is survived by his many friends, and his sister, Bonner McAllester. A celebration of Bur’s life is planned for mid-October; for information, contact JFKarr@Mac.com.

See page 15 >>

Obituaries >> Burling Vincent McAllester February 19, 1952 – February 11, 2017 Burling Vincent McAllester, who always wanted to be called Bur, was born February 19, 1952, and died by his own hand on Monday, February 11, 2017.

t

Community News>>

September 28-October 4, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 15

Tourism holds steady in SF

by Cynthia Laird

S

an Francisco tourism officials updated their forecast for 2017 and released projections for next year that show modest increases in travel, despite concerns about President Donald Trump’s travel ban.

San Francisco Travel held its International Travel and Tourism Forum Tuesday at the Marines’ Memorial Club.

Joe D’Alessandro, a gay man who’s CEO of SF Travel, told a soldout audience that despite challenges such as Trump’s travel ban, 62 percent of tourism spending comes from international visitors.

“The big concerns we have didn’t materialize,” D’Alessandro said.

“San Francisco outperformed most of the country, but there are still a lot of challenges.”

In a news release, he noted that Trump’s policies have had an effect, albeit a small one right now.

Declining markets this year are led by Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other European markets, D’Alessandro noted.

“Internationally, the U.S. dollar is strong in some key markets such as the United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada, which can make travelers

<<

more budget-conscious than usual,” he stated. “Some of the international decreases, in Mexico and other markets, are the effects of the proposed changes in immigration and travel policies are having an impact on travel.”

According to San Francisco Travel, the largest decrease this year, at -9.38 percent, was Mexico.

The largest overseas market for San Francisco will continue to be China, with 507,890 visitors projected for this year. For 2018, China is projected to see a 6.7 percent increase in visitor volume, he said.

San Francisco Travel is forecasting a total of 25.6 million visitors to the city this year, up 1.7 percent over 25.184 million in 2016. Total spending by visitors is projected to reach $9.138 billion, a 1.8 percent increase over $8.976 billion last year.

San Francisco International Airport is the gateway for many visitors, and airport director Ivar Satero told the audience that SFO generated an annual service payment to the city’s general fund of $45 million in fiscal year 2017.

He reviewed plans for the new Terminal One, set to be named in honor of the late gay Supervosor Harvey Milk, the first phase of

which will open in 2020. Satero also said there would be a “refresh” of the International Terminal and said that new technology would allow gates to be used for both international and domestic flights.

Economists also made presentations at the forum.

Aran Ryan, founder and president of Tourism Economics, pointed to historic economic expansions, recessions, and recoveries, noting that the country is currently in a “late cycle.” He also said that Trump has a “trial and error presidency,” the risks of which include massive uncertainty, trade protectionism, and anti-immigrant issues such as the travel ban. But overall, travel has kept pace, as has hotel room demand, and occupancy levels remain high, he said.

Micah Weinberg, president of the Bay Area Economic Institute, called the housing crisis the biggest issue in the region and derided the endless conversations about building homes in the Bay Area.

“Right now tents under the freeway are housing but they’re not up to code,” he said, adding that the lack of housing “continues to stunt our growth.”

Tourism is a huge part of San

Courtesy SF Travel

San Francisco Travel CEO Joe D’Alessandro pets LiLou, the San Francisco International Airport’s therapy pig, at the organization’s International Travel and Tourism Forum.

Francisco’s economy and generated more than $724.9 million in taxes and fees for the city in 2016, up .56 percent from the previous year.

Major contributors to that figure include the hotel tax (53.4 percent)

and property tax (22.1 percent), according to San Francisco Travel.

The number of jobs supported by tourism in the city rose 4.83 percent to 80,219 in 2016, according to San Francisco Travel. t

Youth commission

From page 14

Americans to describe gay, lesbian, bisexual, and gender-variant individuals in their communities.

Currently attending City College of San Francisco, Desgarennes also consults with nonprofits on LGBT and immigration issues, work she has been doing since she moved here with her mother and siblings from Guadalajara, Mexico 10 years ago. She graduated from Mission High School and is planning to transfer to San Francisco State University.

On her application for the position on the youth commission, Desgarennes said she was interested in serving in order “to advocate for issues affecting youth living or studying in San Francisco,” including affordable housing, safety, and work.

“If I had a meeting with the mayor,” she wrote, “I would talk more about support for housing and funds for transitional youth and family housing programs.”

At age 14, while living in Mexico, Desgarennes said she “started organizing.”

“I want to bring to the youth commission my experience and, most important, the perspective of all the intersectionalities that (I) represent. The people closest to the problems are the closest to the solutions,” she wrote.

Desgarennes said that last year she traveled to the Mt. Everest basecamp, “a life-changing experience” that inspired her to think about starting a technology school in Nepal for women. Many young women in India are at risk of being sold by traffickers who promise them a job and education but instead send them to brothels or forced labor camps in Asia.

While she is on the commission, Desgarennes plans to learn more about the laws and regulations in the city, networking with people she meets, and “continue advocating for the ones in most need.”

Desgarennes hopes to get a master’s degree in political science and international affairs and go on to law school.

Since she became an activist at age 14, many people have told her that she would “never be able to make a career” out of activism, she said. “I think they may have been wrong.” t

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Embracing Compassion.

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t

Sports>>

September 28-October 4, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

Pro sports join the fray en masse

by Roger Brigham

M

any skeptics and critics have predicted President Donald Trump might monger up a war, but who would have guessed the first war would be an all-out domestic feud with American professional sports?

What started as one athlete’s protest a year ago, back when the presidential election was still up for grabs, last week turned into an all-out struggle for the soul of the nation.

September 2016 – what a month.

That month, roughly 180 million citizens of India declared they were on strike over policy disagreements with their prime minister, the spread of the Zika virus was alarming folks from the Caribbean to Singapore, a sheriff in North Dakota wanted to arrest presidential candidate Jill Stein for trespassing on a Dakota Access Pipeline construction site, and idiot swimmer Ryan Lochte was suspended by USA Swimming for his role in vandalism hijinks at a Brazilian gas station earlier during the Summer Olympics.

And, oh yeah – the American flag from 9/11’s ground zero 15 years before is found and identified 3,000 miles away in the state of Washington.

In the NFL preseason that month, a handful of players started to join a protest begun by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick the last week of August, when Kaepernick had remained seated during the national anthem as a silent protest of the growing rash of incidents of police violence against African-Americans. (See September 1, 2016 Jock Talk, “Unapologetic patriotism.”) Mind you, NFL players hadn’t started to come out to stand for the national anthem until 2009, part of a series of agreements from the U.S. military to pay teams to have some games promote recognition of the U.S. armed forces, and neither fans nor media had portrayed that as a protest or lack of respect, but when Kaepernick did it, all hell broke loose with people who interpreted it as a mockery of the flag, an attack on the military, and flat out un-American.

Over the next few months, a handful of players started to join Kaepernick’s protest, and their gesture was modified into kneeling during the music – a sort of gesture

<<

Artist’s killer

From page 1

as for his big blond wigs, skimpy clothing, and boisterous nature, reportedly got into an altercation with someone from the New Century Theater strip club near Larkin and O’Farrell streets at 2:50 a.m. Saturday, September 9 and was shot several times. Police haven’t announced any arrests.

During a march Friday, September 22 calling for Torres’ killer to be found, one person asked, “What the hell is San Francisco doing about the drug dealers and violence in our street” According to data from incident reports generated in the Tenderloin police district for the first eight months of 2016 and 2017, assaults dropped from 847 to 726 (-14 percent); drug/narcotic offenses decreased from 689 to 515 (-25 percent); larceny/thefts went from 1,218 to 1,078 (-11 percent); and robberies dropped from 238 to 179 (-25 percent). Homicide figures for the district weren’t available.

But told of the crime level declines, Bob Ames, a bartender at the gay Gangway bar, which is just a couple doors down from where Torres was shot, said “I’m still seeing too much, whether it’s down or up.”

Drug dealers are his main concern, and he said they regularly congregate outside the Motel 6

Courtesy Facebook

Oakland Raiders players sit during the national anthem at FedEx Field Sunday, September 24 before going on to lose to Washington 27-10.

indicating a prayer for domestic justice and acceptance.

But over the course of the past summer, the protest against police violence has been interpreted just as much a protest of Trump, has followed a divide largely along racial lines, and has drawn predictable responses from the commander in chief.

It has become a duel between Trump’s Twitter tweets and rah-rah rally speeches versus NFL sideline reporting and locker room interviews. Guess which one the gamblers of America have more vested interest in?

The escalation started with Trump’s relations with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

Numerous Warriors stated publicly that they would not accept an invitation to the White House, an invitation that traditionally has been extended to major pro team sport champions and which the Warriors accepted two years earlier from President Barack Obama.

Last week, Trump preemptively announced on Twitter that he was

across the street.

“You can just see them doing deals there all day in the broad daylight,” said Ames, who said that he “sometimes” sees police officers on bicycles coming down the street, but he’d like to see more foot patrols.

One thing that has gotten officers’ attention is the bar’s video surveillance system.

“Police come in all the time because we have 16 cameras,” said Ames, who added that police reviewed footage from the morning Torres was shot, but he didn’t know what the video showed.

Friday march

Last Friday, scores of people walked from the site where Torres died to the Tenderloin police station, at Eddy and Turk streets.

There, the marchers, who were accompanied on their route by several police cars and motorcycles, stood in the street for several minutes chanting things like “Murder is a hate crime,” a reference to police saying they haven’t found evidence of a hate crime in Torres’ death.

At least one person blew bubbles into the air, and many held signs with statements ranging from “Transparency now” to “Shut up and dance!” the latter a saying that Torres was well known for.

It’s typical for police to be tight-lipped about homicide See page 19 >>

withdrawing an invitation he had never made, then took on the protests in the NFL when he told a rally in Alabama, “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired! He’s fired!’ You know, some owner is going to do that. He’s going to say, ‘That guy that disrespects our flag, he’s fired.’ And that owner, they’ll be the most popular person in this country.”

In the America I grew up in and the conservative household I was raised in, both of which I love dearly, those are what are called “fightin’ words.” The NFL response was predictable.

The Associated Press reported that although it observed only six NFL players protesting during the anthem the week before, last weekend it saw more than 200 players protesting. The biggest protests were by the Oakland Raiders (50 of them kneeling or sitting) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (all but one player

staying inside the locker room during the anthem).

And it wasn’t just in the NFL. Oakland A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first MLB player to kneel during the anthem, and posted a tweet of his own: “Don’t be surprised if you start seeing athletes kneeling in other sports now!!

Comments like that coming from our president. WOW!” NASCAR team owner Richard Petty told members of the press, “Anybody that don’t stand up for that ought to be out of the country. Period.” But Dale Earnhardt Jr., repeatedly voted the most popular driver in NASCAR, took on Petty and Trump’s base in support of the protesters, quoting a 1962 speech

by President John F. Kennedy when he posted on Twitter: “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable – JFK.” Predictably, some fans booed players during the anthem and cheered those same players during the game. One Oakland fan posted a video of himself burning his Raiders apparel after the team’s protest.

He, as with so many who have objected to the protests, focused his

comments not on what the players say they are protesting, but on what he feels the protest would be about if he took the same symbolic gestures. Not racial injustice or recurring violence, but pride in country and support for the military.

My take on it all?

Symbols, like religious tomes, are best interpreted personally, and those interpretations should not be thrust on others. This country was founded on principles of independent thought, unfettered speech, and responsible action. Spiritual death ensues where debate dies. We are at our best when we avert our eyes from symbols and texts and protests and engage each other in discourse, action for common goals, and work to help each other to be the best people that we can be.

That’s something that was reinforced in me in every sport in which I ever participated. It’s what defines teamwork – even in individual sports.

It’s what makes a team great and it’s what makes a country great.

As the gospels say, to everything there is a season. Now is a season of protest. Fingers crossed for a time of healing.t

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<< Community News

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • September 28-October 4, 2017

<<

Supreme Court

From page 1

Phillips’ argument failed before the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the state court of appeals, and the Colorado Supreme Court. But at least four justices of the U.S. Supreme Court have agreed it should hear his appeal. This is particularly worrisome to LGBT legal activists because, just three years ago, the Supreme Court refused to hear a very similar case out of New Mexico. In that case, a wedding photographer refused service to a lesbian couple.

What’s different with the Masterpiece case?

It’s probably not the newly added justice, Neil Gorsuch. Gorsuch replaced the late Justice Antonin Scalia in April and the court voted to take the Masterpiece appeal on June 22. But, Scalia had the worst voting record on LGBT issues of any justice, so it’s a little hard to believe that Gorsuch, who replaced him, was the missing fourth vote.

More likely, it was Chief Justice John Roberts or even Justice Anthony Kennedy. And while Kennedy wrote the opinion (in Obergefell v.

Hodges in 2015) that struck down bans on marriage for same-sex couples, he also stated that marriage gives such couples “symbolic recognition” that “nourishes the union.”

“Many who deem same-sex marriage to be wrong,” wrote Kennedy, “reach that conclusion based on decent and honorable religious or philosophical premises, and neither they nor their beliefs are disparaged here.”

It may also be a change in the argument. In the New Mexico case, Elane Photography v. Willock, at the Supreme Court level, Alliance Defending Freedom argued only free speech as a reason to allow

<<

Wine regions

From page 10

going on out here,” she said. Cranor, 25, is a lesbian who was born and raised in the East Bay and is the daughter of the owners of Nottingham Cellars.

“It’s a place where people love to come and say, ‘We’ve got go.’ We’ve got a lot to offer, so it’s really become a destination,” said Finley, 54, who settled in the valley seven years ago with his husband. “It’s right [out] their back door, so they should come enjoy it.”

Scott Kenison, a 57-year-old gay man who is the executive director of the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center, agreed.

“It’s a great destination. The wines are terrific. We’ve got a lovely downtown. The scenery is beautiful.

It’s worth the trip,” he said.

Former wine bar owner Kelly McFarland, a 51-year-old lesbian who moved to Livermore in the mid1990s with her wife, is a fan of the valley’s wines and the area.

“It’s just a great place to be,” she said. “Everywhere you go there’ll be something to enjoy in terms of wine, food, and people.”

My girlfriend and I recently enjoyed a long weekend wandering down Tesla Road, stopping off at some of Livermore’s historic

<<

Card deck

From page 1

Penrose and his co-worker Heather Annaleice Young.

“They are very fancy and very dreamlike. They are supposed to be fun, but also very eerie and dark,” said Aitken of the portraits.

The full set, called “Paper Dolls: A Deck of Playing Cards,” includes a 55th card depicting Aitken dressed as a oneeyed pirate. He will publicly debut the entire set of cards at an exhibit opening Thursday night in the Castro.

“I wanted to take people in my life who have inspired me and create this

some businesses to ignore state laws prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination in public accommodations. Now, the Alliance, which is defending the baker, is arguing free exercise of religion and freedom of expression.

One other big difference in 2017 versus 2014: Trump. Under President Barack Obama, the administration submitted a brief in support of equal treatment of same-sex couples. Under Trump, the administration has submitted a brief defending the baker who claims a non-discrimination law imposes on his First Amendment right to freedom of speech and expression.

The Texas two-step

The city of Houston appealed a case to the Supreme Court September 15, seeking a declaration that the high court’s decision in Obergefell means the city must pay equal benefits to city employees in same-sex marriages as it does to employees in heterosexual marriages.

In the case, Turner v. Pidgeon, the city of Houston challenges a June 30 decision of the Texas Supreme Court that held that a trial court should consider whether Obergefell requires the city to pay equal benefits. The state court decision claims the Supreme Court addressed just the right to a marriage license and failed to address such specifics as equal benefits.

Following Obergefell, two taxpayers, including Jack Pidgeon, filed the original lawsuit to oppose the decision of lesbian then-Mayor Annise Parker to see that city employees with same-sex spouses received the same benefits as city employees with heterosexual partners. The Texas Supreme Court ruled in their favor, saying that the “reach and

ramifications” of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell require additional rulings.

The city’s current mayor, Sylvester Turner, filed a petition with the Supreme Court asking it to review the case.

Trump continues opposition

The Trump administration has also taken sides against the interests of LGBT people in another major case: one deciding whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Lambda Legal petitioned the Supreme Court September 7 to review an 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Evans v. Georgia Regional. That ruling held that Title VII does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

On Tuesday, September 26, the 2nd Circuit will hear arguments in a similar case in New York (Zarda v.

Altitude Express). In that case, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has submitted a brief arguing (unlike the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) that the Department of Justice does not believe Title VII prohibits sexual orientation discrimination.

Four justices will have to agree to hear Lambda Legal’s appeal in Evans and, while the Trump administration’s position might discourage four votes, there is other impetus. In April the 7th Circuit, which covers the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, ruled that Title VII does cover sexual orientation. And a conflict between the circuits is often a reason the Supreme Court agrees to hear an issue.

LGBT groups push back, too

One of the term’s highest profile cases will, no doubt, be one that

vineyards, such as Wente and Concannon, and smaller artisan wineries, such as Crooked Vine and Stony Ridge Winery, Darcie Kent Vineyards, and Garre Vineyard & Winery. We also visited startup and younger wineries, such as: Omega Road Winery, McKahn Family Cellars, Nottingham Cellars, Wood Family Vineyards, El Sol Winery, Las Positas Vineyards, and McGrail Vineyards and Winery.

The Tri-Valley area has a culinary scene that has been evolving during the past five years, providing a plethora of traditional and unique dining options to go with its craft beer, wine, and spirits. Many of the historic downtowns in Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, and other charming towns are bustling with activity and interesting things to do.

During the day, we lunched at Lemongrass Thai Restaurant and Garre Café in Livermore. At night, we enjoyed dining at Zephyr Grill and Bar in downtown Livermore and the Beer Baron Bar and Kitchen in Pleasanton. Our other favorite restaurants in the area are Hap’s Original Steaks & Seafood in Pleasanton and Khyber Pass Kabob in Dublin. Every cuisine that we like in San Francisco and San Jose, from good old American steak and

seafood to Indian twists on gourmet burgers, can be found in the Tri-Valley.

To unwind after wine tasting, we enjoyed a complimentary couples’ massage at the Purple Orchid Resort and Spa, a charming gay-friendly boutique hotel nestled among the vineyards in Livermore. At night, we were the guests at the Hawthorn Suites, a Wyndham property that was recently remodeled with a bright and cheerful decor, providing a friendly and comfortable atmosphere.

character that existed in the past,” explained Aitken, who did all the grooming, styling, photography, and editing for the images, which each feature a unique background he created digitally. “There is lots of lace, glitter, flowers.”

At 3.5x5 inches the cards are twice the size of a normal set of cards and are more similar to a pack of Tarot cards. Aitken has tried using the deck to play a game of cards but acknowledged they were “harder to handle.”

David Haase, who posed as the Two of Hearts prior to his moving several years ago to Provincetown, where he bartends and now lives year

round, returned this week to help Aitken mount the show.

“I think it is pretty amazing,” Haase told the Bay Area Reporter as he helped unpack the portraits.

For 27 years Aitken, 48, has lived in the city, where his mother and grandparents were born. He grew up in Campbell in the South Bay and worked as a model in his teens, then studied fashion photography at the Academy of Art for four years. He fell short of earning a degree but was hired to teach fashion photography at the school.

He works at the Castro salon four days a week, following in a family tradition. His grandmothers were

Southern California charm and wine

Northern California isn’t the only place in the Golden State that has wineries. Southern Californians who want to go wining and dining head to Temecula Valley.

Only a 90-minute drive from Los Angeles and an hour’s drive from Palm Springs, Riverside, and San Diego, Temecula is charming with its walkable historic downtown, more than 40 family-owned vineyards – and the culinary scene to go with it – and numerous golf courses. It has the largest casino in California.

The wine region is welcoming to LGBT travelers, but gays haven’t opened shops in this emerging area that produces more than 50 different varietals. Similar to Livermore,

t

asks whether an aspect of Trump’s controversial immigration executive order violates the First Amendment’s admonition to “make no law respecting the establishment of religion.”

The executive order sought to ban foreign nationals from six countries in the Middle East from entering the U.S. for 90 days to “prevent infiltration by foreign terrorists.” It also limits to 50,000 the number of refugees who can enter the U.S. during the current fiscal year. Opponents say the executive order unfairly targets Muslims, in violation of the First Amendment establishment clause.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights joined a brief from several civil rights organizations, including the NAACP. The brief notes that NCLR’s immigration project has provided free legal assistance to “thousands” of LGBT immigrants in the U.S. The brief argues that Trump’s proposed immigration executive order “improperly promotes social categorization and stereotyping that endangers the lives and well-being of individuals of the Muslim faith.”

Lambda Legal signed onto a brief, too; one led by the Southern Poverty Law Center, People for the American Way, and others. Lambda Legal has also represented people seeking asylum. Among other things, the brief argues that the executive order “foments the social divisiveness and violence that the establishment clause was meant to forestall.”

Quoting from Obergefell, the brief states, “Governmental policies that disfavor a minority group impermissibly ‘put the imprimatur of the state itself on an exclusion that soon demeans or stigmatizes those whose own liberty is then denied.’”

Other potential cases

Temecula’s vineyards are only a 10-minute drive from its historic downtown. Women, however, have taken advantage and have opened stores and restaurants, highlighting what Temecula offers visitors.

In July, I flew into San Diego and drove an hour over the mountain and into the valley to the town hidden just below the freeway. Many people pass by its charms, but they shouldn’t. I discovered a culinary and wine region coming into its own producing award-winning wines – many organic and sustainable – and growing, so much so, the old town has been undergoing revitalization and new hotels are being built to accommodate the visitors discovering the region.

I only got a sample of Temecula during my quick getaway, but it was enough to make me want to return to explore it more.

During the day, I tasted wines at Vindemia Vineyard & Winery and Robert Renzoni Vineyards, two completely different wineries, but both produce excellent wines. Vindemia is more rustic with an outdoor tasting room that overlooks the vineyards in the valley. The secluded winery, located off a dirt road on a hillside, produces sustainable wines that are well balanced and memorable. Robert Renzoni is located in a replica of an Italian villa on a hill surrounded by its vineyards. If I didn’t know I was

in southern California, I might have thought that I was in Sonoma or even Napa. Imitation is flattery, but the wines aren’t an imitation. They were the quality I would expect from these renowned California wine regions.

However, the highlight of my tasting experience wasn’t the wines, but touring the Temecula Olive Oil Company ranch with co-owner Thom Curry. A tour at the company will forever change the way you look at and cook with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Old Town Temecula is filled with unique shops to browse through. Two that stood out to me were the Temecula Lavender Co. and the Old Town Spice & Tea Merchants, where many of Temecula’s chefs shop, according to Annette Brown, director of public relations at Visit Temecula Valley.

Foodies will find whatever they like in Temecula, from healthy sustainably grown food at E.A.T. Marketplace to high-end cuisine crafted by Chef Marlene Moore at Pechanga Resort to the casino’s food court to fine dining at Cork Fire Kitchen located at the Temecula Creek Inn. After a day of tasting, eating, and shopping, I checked into the Hampton Inn & Suites Temecula.

The hotel is within walking distance to Old Town Temecula and at the gateway to Temecula’s wine country.t

There are other appeals pending before the court that could have potential implications for LGBT people. The court has not yet indicated whether it will review them, but they include: Reyes v. Sessions (17-241): This case, from the 9th Circuit, concerns how to interpret the words “particular social group” under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Under the INA, a person can be eligible for asylum if they might face persecution in their country of origin because they belong to a “particular social group.” The person who brought this challenge is not LGBT but rather a member of a violent street gang in El Salvador. He’s challenging the narrow interpretation of “particular social group” used by the Bureau of Immigration Appeals.

The BIA interprets it to require that everyone in this “particular social group” have an “immutable characteristic” in common.

A Woman’s Friend v. Becerra (161146): The court is set to discuss in its private conference September 25 whether to take this case. It tackles several questions related to a California law that requires clinics that provide pregnancy-related services, including church-based nonprofits, post information about where patients can obtain help with abortion and other pregnancy-related services. A Woman’s Friend clinics consider “abortion is evil and a sin” and do not receive any governmental funding. The clinics argue that laws imposing such “content-based” requirements should be held to the highest level of scrutiny by the courts and violate the First Amendment guarantee of free exercise of religion. Also seeking appeal on the state law is Livingwell Medical Clinic Inc. v. Becerra (16-1153).t

hairdressers, his twin sister is a stylist, and his younger brother is a barber.

“Three of five siblings all cut hair,” he noted.

On his time off Aitken worked on the Paper Dolls project, scouring thrift stores and prop shops to find the right attire for his models. He rented many of the wardrobes from the A.C.T. costume shop.

Over a six-month period, Kelly Sullivan Aitken created one portrait Nick Aitken is depicted as a one-eyed See page 19 >>

pirate as the 55th card in his “Paper Dolls” collection.

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Community News>>

Card deck

From page 18

every three days. He landed on the name “Paper Dolls” because it recalls his playing with antique dolls and toys as a boy.

“I dressed them up like dolls,” he said of the subjects depicted on the cards. “They are my dolls.”

Many of the men come from the art world and work as singers, actors, models, or dancers. Among them are drag queens Peaches Christ, the Queen of Hearts, and Suppositori Spelling, the Queen of Spades.

The only politician in the deck is San Francisco mayoral candidate Mark Leno. The former supervisor and state lawmaker is the Five of Hearts, adorned as a western sheriff whose holster bears a dahlia, the official city flower of San Francisco, rather than a gun.

<<

September 28-October 4, 2017 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

“I feel like he has been a really big inspiration to me and I think he will be a great mayor hopefully,” said Aitken, referring to Leno’s bid to win the mayoral election in 2019.

Each deck of cards, which comes with a brass key attached, costs $75.

Individual photos of the cards can be purchased in various sizes, ranging in price from $750 for a 12x16 print to $1,750 for a 30x49 print.

They will be available for purchase at the opening show and party being held from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, September 28 at The Academy, the new retail shop and single-chair barbershop at 2166 Market Street.

The event is free and open to the public.t For more information about Aitken’s work, or to order the card deck online, visit http://www. nickaitken.net.

Artist’s killer

From page 17

investigations, but many at the rally expressed their frustration about the lack of information police have released about the case.

Steve Amuso, who knew Torres, said, “They haven’t found [the suspect] yet. We need some answers from SFPD now.”

Friday’s march concluded on the steps of City Hall, where Tuan Anh Nguyen, a friend of Torres’ who organized the event, said, “Bubbles got murdered ... and we won’t stand for it.” Nguyen circulated a petition calling on Mayor Ed Lee and the San Francisco Police Department to take action. He later indicated that more than 180 people from the rally signed the petition.

Matt Haney, a Tenderloin resident who heard the gunshots that killed Torres, said, “We have not gotten answers. We have not gotten justice. ... Bubbles was what San Francisco was about, and we want answers.”

Haney, a member of the city’s Board of Education, is running to succeed Supervisor Jane Kim, who represents the Tenderloin and other District 6 neighborhoods on the Board of Supervisors, when Kim’s termed out in 2018.

Asked after the rally what he would do to increase safety in the Tenderloin, Haney said, “Everyone in our community should feel safe and protected, we need the police to do their job. They have a responsibility ... . We need to be treated as partners and receive information and communication.”

Asked again what he would do specifically to make the neighborhood safer, Haney said, “We need more police walking the beat,” improved lighting, and “a full, community-led effort and focus on safe streets,” among other things.

He said that he’d met with Tenderloin police Captain Teresa Ewins and talked to her about Torres’ murder and Larkin Street, the street where Torres was killed.

“I told her we need to make sure people in our neighborhood feel safe, and many of them don’t right now,” said Haney. Ewins, a lesbian whose promotion to commander was announced this week, told him that “she would do what she can to help,” he said.

Police spokespeople weren’t able to arrange an interview with Ewins, who didn’t respond directly to an email from the B.A.R. Crime reports from police regularly show that there is plenty for people in the Tenderloin to be concerned about.

Legal Notices>> AMENDED SUMMONS – SERVICE BY PUBLICATION [CCP § 751.05] - 20 ROMOLO I7, LP, A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, PLAINTIFF, V. ALL PERSONS CLAIMING ANY LEGAL OF EQUITABLE RIGHT, TITLE, ESTATE, LIEN OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS 20 ROMOLO PLACE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT ADVERSE TO PLAINTIFF’S TITLE OR ANY CLOUD ON PLAINTIFF’S TITLE THERETO; AND DOES 1 THROUGH 20, DEFENDANTS. FILE CGC-17-560709

The people of the State of California, to all persons claiming any interest in, or lien upon, the real property herein described, or any part thereof, defendants, greeting: You are hereby required to appear and answer the complaint of 20 ROMOLO I7, L.P, A Delaware limited partnership, plaintiff, filed with the clerk of the above-entitled court and county, within three months after the first publication of this summons, and to set forth what interest or lien, if any, you have in or upon that certain real property or any part thereof, situated in the City and County of San Francisco, State of California, particularly described as follows: THE LAND REFERRED TO HEREIN BELOW IS SITUATED IN THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT THE POINT OF INTERSECTION OF THE SOUTHERLY LINE OF FRESNO STREET AND THE EASTERLY LINE OF ROMOLO PLACE, RUNNING THENCE EASTERLY AND ALONG SAID LINE OF FRESNO STREET 71 FEET 6 INCHES; THENCE AT A RIGHT ANGLE SOUTHERLY 57 FEET 6 INCHES; THENCE AT A RIGHT ANGLE WESTERLY 71 FEET 6 INCHES TO THE EASTERLY LINE OF ROMOLO PLACE; THENCE ATA RIGHT ANGLE NORTHERLY ALONG SAID LINE OF ROMOLO PLACE 57 FEET 6 INCHES TO THE POINT OF COMMENCEMENT. BEING PART OF 50 VARA BLOCK 86.

APN/Parcel ID(s): Lot 023, Block 0145 And you are hereby notified that, unless you so appear and answer, the plaintiff will apply to the court for the relief demanded in the complaint, to wit: quiet title to the Property consistent with the legal description above, against all adverse claims of all claimants, known and unknown, as of the date the Complaint in this case was filed.

Witness my hand and the seal of said court, Date: Aug 16, 2017, Clerk, by Anna L. Torres, Clerk Of The Court.

Lubin Olson & Niewiadomski LLP, 600 Montgomery St. 14th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 981-0550.

AUG 24, 31, SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017 SUMMONS (FAMILY LAW) SUPERIOR COURT SANTA CLARA COUNTY NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: TANJA TODOSIJEVIC-BACKOVIC YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PETITIONER: MILOS BACKOVIC CASE NO. 17FL002358

Courtesy ABC7

Anthony “Bubbles” Torres was killed earlier this month.

At about 4 p.m. Saturday, a man approached two people near 8th and Market streets, threatened them with a knife, and demanded their money, which they threw at him. (A bystander tackled the suspect, who was arrested, police said.)

Then, at approximately 4 p.m.

Sunday, three men knocked another man off his bike in the 100 block of Turk Street and assaulted him. One of the men stabbed the victim before all three suspects fled the scene with the bike.

Just over two hours later, two people robbed a man as he entered his home in the 300 block of Ellis Street, police said.

Most of the people that the B.A.R. approached in the neighborhood declined to be interviewed, but Porfinio Ortiz, who works at Los Colores Taqueria on O’Farrell Street, about a block from where Torres was killed, said Friday that his concern is “there are so many homeless around here.” One day, two people who appeared to be homeless tried to rob the restaurant.

Ortiz said he’s been seeing police “more often,” either walking by or riding bicycles, “but they need to stay for a little bit longer on the block or on the corner” and “keep an eye” on things.

Later Friday, as the marchers made their way down Turk Street, several bystanders remarked on the signs and chants that invoked Torres’ name.

One woman told a friend, “I want to know who Bubbles is and what happened to Bubbles.”

But it was clear that many in the neighborhood knew Torres.

A woman who apparently was just learning of Torres’ death, said, “Oh no, I loved Bubbles. ... She was beauuuutiful.” t

Notice: You have been sued. Read the information below and on the next page. Petitioner’s name is: MILOS BACKOVIC. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this Summons and Petition are served on you to file a Response (form FL-120) at the court and have a copy served on the petitioner. A letter, phone call, or court appearance will not protect you. If you do not file your Response on time, the court may make orders affecting your marriage or domestic partnership, your property, and custody of your children. You may be ordered to pay support and attorney fees and costs.

For legal advice, contact a lawyer immediately. Get help finding a lawyer at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp), at the California Legal Services website (www.lawhelpca.org), or by contacting your local county bar association.

Notice: RESTRAINING ORDERS ARE ON PAGE 2: These restraining orders are effective against both spouses or domestic partners until the petition is dismissed, a judgment is entered, or the court makes further orders. They are enforceable anywhere in California by any law enforcement officer who has received or seen a copy of them.

FEE WAIVER: If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the clerk for a fee waiver form. The court may order you to pay back all or part of the fees and costs that the court waived for you or the other party.

STANDARD FAMILY LAW RESTRAINING ORDERS: Starting immediately, you and your spouse or domestic partner are restrained from: 1. Removing the minor children of the parties from the state or applying for a new or replacement passport for those minor children without the prior written consent of the other party or an order of the court; 2. Cashing, borrowing against, canceling, transferring, disposing of, or changing the beneficiaries of any insurance or other coverage, including life, health, automobile, and disability, held for the benefit of the parties and their minor children; 3. Transferring, encumbering, hypothecating, concealing, or in any way disposing of any property, real or personal, whether community, quasi-community, or separate, without the written consent of the other party or an order of the court, except in the usual course of business or for the necessities of life; and 4. creating a nonprobate transfer or modifying a nonprobate transfer in a manner that affects the disposition of property subject to the transfer, without the written consent of the other party or an order of the court.

Before revocation of a nonprobate transfer can take effect or a right of survivorship to property can be eliminated, notice of the change must be filed and served on the other party.

You must notify each other of any proposed extraordinary expenditures at least five business days prior to incurring these extraordinary expenditures and account to the court for all extraordinary expenditures made after these restraining orders are effective. However you may use community property, quasi-community property, or your own separate property to pay an attorney to help you or to pay court costs.

NOTICE – ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE: Do you or someone in your household need affordable health insurance? If so, you should apply for Covered California. Covered California can help reduce the cost you pay towards high quality affordable health care. For more information, visit www.coveredca.com. Or call Covered California at 1-800-300-1506 WARNING – IMPORTANT INFORMATION. California law provides that, for purposes of division of property upon dissolution of a marriage or domestic partnership or upon legal separation, property acquired by the parties during marriage or domestic partnership in joint form is presumed to be community property. If either party to this action should die before the jointly held community property is divided, the language in the deed that characterizes how title is held (i.e., joint tenancy tenants in common, or community property) will be controlling, and not the community property presumption. You should consult your attorney if you want the community property presumption to be written into the recorded title to the property.

The name and address of the court is: Superior Court, Santa Clara County, 201 N 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113.

The name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner’s attorney, or petitioner without an attorney, is:

MONTGOMERY S. PISANO, ESQ, 5150 EL CAMINO REAL, SUITE D-22, LOS ALTOS, CA 94022 (650) 903-2200.

Date: 06/05/2017; Clerk of Court, by K. Hirose, Deputy.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-17-553296

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-17-553295 In the matter of the application of: EMILY ELIZABETH MERRIMAN, 555 BARTLETT ST #214, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner EMILY ELIZABETH MERRIMAN, is requesting that the name EMILY ELIZABETH MERRIMAN, AKA EMILY MERRIMAN BATES, be changed to EMILY ELIZABETH BATEMAN. 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 26th of October 2017 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037749300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FINANCIAL LIBERTY NETWORK, 5324 MISSION ST STE A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PEDRO GARCIA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/23/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/01/17.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037749400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PEDRO GARCIA & CO., 5338 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PEDRO GARCIA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/23/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/01/17.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037739000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LONG WEEKEND MANAGEMENT, 358 EDINBURGH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MONIQUE ANTOINETTE MEAD. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/21/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/28/17.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037730600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OAKSMITH FURNITURE, 791 33RD AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual and is signed DOMINIQUE TUTWILER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/14/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/18/17.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037742600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: H FIT, 80 SAN RAFAEL AVE, SAN ANSELMO, CA 94960. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOSEPH JANKO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/29/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/29/17.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037743200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NEW LOOKS SALON, 3437 A MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed QUANG KHA. 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 08/30/17.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037725300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GRAHAM ARCHITECTS, 1926 POWELL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JEFFREY O. GRAHAM. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/15/00. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/15/17.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037748500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GRANDEHO’S KAMEKYO, 2721 HYDE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed GRANDEHO’S INC. (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/00. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/31/17.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037748400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SUNFLOWER POTRERO HILL, 288 CONNECTICUT ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed GRANDEHO’S INC. (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/12/98. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/31/17.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037742200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BARREL PROOF, 2331 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110.

This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed ROUNDING THIRD BAR GROUP LLC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/29/17.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037734500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DRAPES PLACE, 1559B SLOAT BLVD #433, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed ROLOK LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: NEW 08/22/17.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035990600

LOOKS SALON, 3437 A MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by THANH-NHA CAO. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/11/14.

SUMMONS SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: THOMAS J. SMITH; AND DOES 1 THROUGH 10 YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: BANK OF STOCKTON CASE NO. CGC-16-553325

Notice: You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days.

Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case.

There may be a court form that you can use for your response.

You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo. ca.gov/selfhelp) your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

The name and address of the court is: Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, 400 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94103.

The name, address, and telephone number of the plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is:

BARRY W. FERNS, ESQ., FERNS, ADAMS & ASSOCIATES, 2815 MITCHELL DRIVE, SUITE 210, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94598; (925) 927 - 3401.

Date: July 28, 2016; Clerk, by Arlene Ramos, Deputy.

SEP 14, 21, 28, OCT 05, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037756100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BABY BOOT CAMP - NOE VALLEY, 1471 ALEMANY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CAROLYN APPRILL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/31/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/08/17.

SEP 14, 21, 28, OCT 05, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037731800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DARK DAYDREAMS BOOKS, 601 VAN NESS AVE, E602, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LAURA PERKINS GAFFNEY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/20/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/22/17.

SEP 14, 21, 28, OCT 05, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037734700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: URBAN CONCEPTS, 501 BEALE ST, UNIT 11H, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed UNICORN CONSULTING 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 08/23/17.

SEP 14, 21, 28, OCT 05, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037755100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OWNIT. CLUB, 228 VICKSBURG ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HIGHEST VALUE LTD LLC (DE).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/07/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/07/17.

SEP 14, 21, 28, OCT 05, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037751600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE CIVIC KITCHEN, 2961 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MISE EN PLACE SF LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/06/17.

SEP 14, 21, 28, OCT 05, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037737200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NOURISH CO., 720 FELL ST #6, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed NOURISH CO. (CA). 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 08/24/17.

SEP 14, 21, 28, OCT 05, 2017 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035279700

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: SUSHI AND DELI, 1815 MARKET ST #5, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by KIMIAKI AOYAMA. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/02/13.

SEP 14, 21, 28, OCT 05, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037765500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: A1 HAULING, 443 GATEWAY DR #101, PACIFICA, CA 94044.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NASHAT ABDELGHANI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/18/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/18/17.

SEP 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037759600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SHOULDER DANCING AUTHENTIC ETHIOPIAN FOODS, 103 HORNE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed WOLDE G. HAILESELASSIE. 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 09/12/17.

In the matter of the application of CHRISTOPHER ANDREW BATES, 555 BARTLETT ST #214, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110: for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner CHRISTOPHER ANDREW BATES, is requesting that the name CHRISTOPHER ANDREW BATES, be changed to CHRISTOPHER ANDREW BATEMAN. 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 26th of October 2017 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GRILL SPOT, 2311 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed GRILL SPOT 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 08/29/17.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAN FRANCISCO CAD, 3609 ALEMANY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DAPHNE PRZYGOCKI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/10/00. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/12/17.

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017

SEP 14, 21, 28, OCT 05, 2017

SEP 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017

SEPT 07, 14, 21, 28, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037742100

SEP 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037759400

<< Section

20 • BAY AREA REPORTER • September 28-October4, 2017

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037761500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JADEYE BEAUTY, 518 TARAVAL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JESSICA YURASH. 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 09/14/17.

SEP 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037763600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NORTH AMERICA YOUR WAY, 790 EDDY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed GO WEST TOURS (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 09/15/17.

SEP 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037763000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: A DIGNIFIED HOME CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES, 575 NAPLES ST #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed A DIGNIFIED HOME (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/15/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/15/17.

SEP 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037754000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DIRECT THC, 214 CALIFORNIA ST, SUITE 211, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111.

This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed DIRECT DISTRIBUTION, 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 09/06/17.

SEP 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037754600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GLADIOLUS LASER, 575 NAPLES ST #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed GLADIOLUS LLC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/07/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/07/17.

SEP 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037753200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HYPHEN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, 660 4TH ST. #146, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107.This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed ANSA CONSULTING GROUP, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/06/17.

SEP 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037761400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: A52 SIGNS & GRAPHICS, 1161 QUESADA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed A52 SIGNS & GRAPHICS, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/19/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/14/17.

SEP 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037757300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JUNIOR, 2545 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed WILLARD CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/11/17.

SEP 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-037736600

Th e f o l l o w i n g p e r s o n s h a v e a b a n d o n e d the use of the fictitious business name k n o w n a s : G L A D I O L U S V E N D I N G, 5 7 5 N A P L E S S T # B, S A N F R A N C I S C O, C A 9 4 1 1 2 .

Th i s b u s i n e s s w a s c o n d u c t e d b y a l i m i t e d liability company and signed by GLADIOLUS L L C ( C A ) . Th e f i c t i t i o u s n a m e w a s f i l e d w i t h t h e C i t y a n d C o u n t y o f S a n Fr a n c i s c o, C A on 08/24/17.

SEP 21, 28, OCT 05, 12, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037774700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HAIGHT & COLE LIQUOR, 1699 HAIGHT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CINDY ZEIDAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/25/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/25/17.

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037767900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RASKIN REAL ESTATE, 1300 25TH AVE #300, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RICHARD B. RASKIN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/20/17.

The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/20/17.

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037771600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TREASURE ISLAND AUTO GROUP, 849 AVE D, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94130. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MABEL V. CUBBAGE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/15/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/22/17.

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037767300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ORGANIC CLEANING SERVICES, 41 THOMAS AVE #9, BRISBANE, CA 94005. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MONICA MARIA RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/14/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/20/17.

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037769400

Housecleaning Richard 415-255-0389

Tech Support>>

PC Support 35 PUC # 176618

Hauling>> HAULING 24/7 –

(415) 441-1054 Large Truck

Jobs Offered>> Architectural Designer for Architect SF, Inc. Work on all phases of Architectural projects: conceptual/schematic design, building/zone code research, construction documentation.

Jobsite: San Francisco, CA. To apply, email resume to careers@architect-sf.com Job Code: 06.

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Notices>>

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SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037763300

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037751500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MOSAIC, 128 S. LAKE MERCED HILLS, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALEXANDER DEL SALTO. 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 09/15/17.

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037764500

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037768300

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037749900

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037752300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KIDS KINGDOM, 1840 LOMBARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ROSIMEIRE HERRINGTON. 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 09/01/17.

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037766500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EIGHTEA, 91 6TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BRIAN ZHAO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/06/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/06/17.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PURE 710SF, 49 KEARNY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed 710 SF INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/19/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/19/17.

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037767000

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037769500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CIVIC CENTER LANDSCAPE, 1700 BROADWAY #102, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GLENN MURTA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/09/98. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/20/17.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THANH THANH CAFE, 2205 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed THANH HA INC (CA). 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.

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MONOLOG RECORDS, 681 14TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MONOLOG RECORDS 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 09/05/17.

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037767600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SIAM ORCHID CRYO, 518 TAYLOR ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SIAM ORCHID LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/20/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/20/17.

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037764800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WOW THAI BISTRO, 701 RANDOLPH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed WOW THAI BISTRO, LLC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/18/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/18/17.

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037771900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HERB’N VEGAN, 1501 CORTLAND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HERB’N VEGAN LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/22/17.

SEP 28, OCT 05, 12, 19, 2017

ws @ebarne

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

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TRUE LIGHT PRINTING AND PHOTO, 3910 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed ZHEN GUANG LIM & SHU FEN YU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/13/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/30/17.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SUBWAY #51109, 177 TOWNSEND ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ARASH SHAHVALI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/18/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/18/17.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RAINBOW MARKET AND DELI, 684 LARKIN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed FAUZI M. ALASHMALI. 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 09/20/17.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037743800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHARLIE’S JANITORIAL & GENERAL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SERVICES; CHARLIE’S JANITORIAL SERVICES, 2954 25TH ST #A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110.This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CARLOS EDUARDO GONZALEZ.The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/19/17.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/19/17.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MEI ZHONG TRADING, 832 STOCKTON ST #A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JI CHEN JIANG. 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.

Classifieds Movers>>

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037766100

t

GOOD BASIC CLEAN $60 Wkly $45. Monthly $50. Apt/ Home. Pro, Fast. Call, Text John 415-205-0397

CLEANING PROFESSIONAL

27 Years Exp. (415) 794-4411 Roger Miller

Jobs Offered>> MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST –

SF, CA. Bach+1yr exp w/LGBT consumer/B2B methods/analyzing data. Forecast trends/monitor data collection, prepare survey data. Email resume to Thomas Roth at tom@CMI.info or mail to Community Marketing, Inc., dba Community Marketing & Insights, 584 Castro St., #834, SF, CA 94114. Work location is company office at 870 Market Street Suite 653, SF CA 94102.

VACATION VACATION RENTAL KAILUA, OAHU –

Legal Services>> Law Offices

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• Probate • Wills & Trusts • Trust Administration • Estate Planning FLAT FEE Flood Bldg. 870 Market St, Suite 420

Call (415) 421-1893 www.ShelleySFeinberg.com ssfeinberg@msn.com

Celebrating 33 Years of Fabulous Travel Arrangements!

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Can be viewed (not booked) at vrbo. com #192693. Mention this ad for 10% off. This offer & rates good until 12/05/17. Contact AlohaJudy13@ gmail.com, 808-258-3089

OR SALE - LIEN SALE - In accordance with the provisions of the California Commercial Code, Section 9/15/17 7201-7210, there being due9:42&AM unpaid storage for which Closetbox holds the lien as warehouseman on the goods hereinafter described and due notice having been given to parties known to own or claim an interest therein and the time specified in such notice for payment on such charges having expired, notice is hereby given that the goods located in San Francisco will be sold at www.storagestuff.bid on 10/10/17 at 10:15am.

The household goods of Philip Dursey are being sold on monies owed of $156.36 and include pullup bar, bags.

Travel>>

Untitled-1 1

415 861-5381

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.

22

Soap suds

23

25

24

Tragic heroine

Noir dreams

Paris calling

Courtesy of the Estate and P.P.O.W. New York

www.ebar.com/arts

Vol. 47 • No. 39 • September 28 - October 4, 2017

Painter poet of the gay counterculture

by Sura Wood

H

omoeroticism meets quasi-social realism; prisons house lounging, come-hither inmates; and firemen steal a kiss against a backdrop of urban blight in the art of Martin Wong. The openly gay Chinese-American artist, who trained as a ceramicist, hawked his talents as a street portraitist in the city and in his student days at Humboldt State. Vestiges of those artistic origins would remain throughout a 30-year career cut tragically short in 1999, when he died from complications of HIV. To promote those quickie portraits he dashed off on the streets of Eureka, Wong coined the snappy moniker “Human Instamatic,” which gives the handsomely presented retrospective now at the Berkeley Art Museum its name.

See page 28 >> “Self-Portrait: by Martin Wong (1993), acrylic on canvas.

Black gay plays matter Richard Dodds

by Richard Dodds

H

e may not have been kicking and screaming, but Harrison David Rivers was definitely dragged to the Million Hoodie March. “My roommate was, like, you’re coming to this march with me,” Rivers said recently. “I was very hesitant and maybe not even that nice about it, and it became one of the key moments in the play.”

The play is “This Bitter Earth,” commissioned by New Conservatory Theatre Center, and it will launch the theater’s new season on Sept. 30. Rivers is in town from the Twin Cities during rehearsals and previews, offering input as the story of a politically apathetic black man and his Black Lives Matter-impassioned white boyfriend moves toward its world premiere.

See page 28 >>

St. Paul-based playwright Harrison David Rivers is in town as New Conservatory Theatre Center prepares to present the world premiere of his play “This Bitter Earth.”

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

BRIAN COPELAND PRESENTS In association with Marin Center

Sunday, October 8, 3pm

Sunday, February 11, 3pm

MARGA GOMEZ: LATIN STANDARDS

WILL DURST: BOOMERAGING

Sunday, December 17, 7pm

BRIAN COPELAND: NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN

Tickets are available by series subscription only.

Full subscription: $258 Senior/student with valid ID: $216

Sunday, April 15, 3pm

Marin Center Showcase Theater

BRIAN COPELAND: THE JEWELRY BOX Sunday, January 28, 3pm

DON REED: E14th STREET

Sunday, March 4, 3pm

JOSH KORNBLUTH: LOVE & TAXES

Tickets: marincenter.org

Marin Center, San Rafael Plenty of FREE Parking

<< Out There

22 • Bay Area Reporter • September 28 - October 4, 2017

Best Wedding Photographer as voted by BAR readers

Hotel California

t

by Roberto Friedman

W

WINNER Best Wedding Photographer

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

415 370 7152

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

2pub-BBB_BAR_091417.pdf

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8/24/17

11:59 AM

s ’ n i Put

riter, performer, and storyteller Don Reed is a Bay Area treasure, a comic genius who over the years has mined his life story for a series of very entertaining oneman shows. He’s brought his solo hit “The Kipling Hotel: The 80s” back to The Marsh Berkeley, where it’s been extended through Oct. 22 due to popular demand.

Reed grew up on East 14th St. in Oakland, the son of a pimp, and has told many stories of his unusual upbringing. But the “Kipling Hotel” part of his straight coming-of-age saga mostly concerns his misadventures in 1980s Los Angeles, where he moves as a young go-getter after he is awarded a partial scholarship to UCLA. “Partial scholarship,” he tells us, “roughly translates to, ‘not enough fucking money.’”

We follow Reed through his various attempts to make a living in the shadow of the Hollywood dream factory. In one unforgettable sequence, he tries out to join a performing troupe of male strippers. He shows up to the audition sporting a Jheri-curl perm, gallons of baby oil, and a revealing purple G-string. He’s not sure he likes the stage name he’s given – “Little Chocolate” – but he does get the callback. By that time, however, he’s taken a job serving breakfast to the residents at the Kipling Hotel, a retirement home set in a somewhat sleazy slice of LA. His recompense includes room – the size, he tells us, of a baby’s cradle – and board.

Most of the fun of Reed’s relating his selfdeprecating but spirited story comes from his vivid characterizations of his fellow employees, managers and the tenants of the Kipling Hotel.

Ric Omphroy

Don Reed’s hit show “The Kipling Hotel,” part of his coming-of-age trilogy set in 1980s Los Angeles, is now playing at The Marsh Berkeley.

He shows a touching regard for the hotel’s elderly residents, crotchety and challenging as they may be. In a few deft gestures, vocals and postures, he’s able to bring characters of every age, gender, and race to life. He can do criminal, he can do earnest do-gooder. He can do mentally challenged with no condescension. It’s a pleasure to see the human comedy come alive in his confident caricatures.

Then there’s Reed’s amazing capacity to create eerily convincing

sound effects, and his lively little dance routines. As the immortal entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. tells him in an anecdote he relates from his early career, Don Reed definitely has the chops. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch up with a piquant part of his back-story.t Plays Sat. at 5 p.m., Sun. at 5:30 p.m. through Sept. 30; times then change to 8:30 p.m.

Sat., 5:30 p.m. Sun. for the remainder of the run (Oct. 7-22). The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. Tickets ($20-$35 sliding scale, $55-$100 reserved): (415) 282-3055, or themarsh.org.

Gays of our lives

by David-Elijah Nahmod

W

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

hen viewers last saw Will Horton, one of several gay characters on the iconic daytime drama “Days of Our Lives,” he was brutally murdered, strangled to death by a serial killer. Many viewers were shocked not only by Will’s untimely demise, but by the brutality of Will’s death. At the time, Will was portrayed by Guy Wilson, a likable actor who never quite clicked with viewers. This may have contributed to the character’s tragic end.

But on Sept. 15, Will rose from the dead, an occurrence not unusual on daytime soaps. Will’s return is big news in the soap world, for he was a beloved character to the show’s millions of viewers. But even bigger news: Will’s resurrection also marks the return to “Days of Our Lives” of Chandler Massey, the actor who played Will prior to Guy Wilson. It was Massey who enacted Will’s coming out story, capturing the hearts of many.

“Ultimately it was about timing,” Massey said via phone as he spoke of his decision to return to the show. “I got my economics degree at UCLA, and I was never happy with Will dying. Will is a part of me. I was hoping for a chance to come back and finish his story.”

When Will is first seen, he’s a ghostly figure, a figment in the imagination of Lucas, his alcoholic father. “He’s presented as Lucas’ ideal of Will,” Massey explained, assuring us that Will is indeed alive, and that there will be a plausible explanation regarding his survival.

“When the audience sees the real Will he’s none of the things that Lucas imagined,” Massey said.

“He has grown up to be very much like his mother Sammy, which is fun to play. Will can be bitchy, like Sammy.” Massey said this will make his storylines fun for the audience.

“Audacity can be very entertaining.”

One of the storylines viewers can expect is Will’s being reunited with ex-husband Sonny (Freddie Smith), who’s now engaged to Paul (Christopher Sean). “Sonny was Will’s first love,” Massey explained. “Now that Sonny is with Paul, there will be problems.”

The actor noted the importance of the show having three contract players playing gay roles. “It’s more representative of the world,” he said.

“When we have Donald Trump, a champion on exclusionism, in the

White House, we need more shows, more books, more music to spread messages of love.”

Massey added that he takes his status as a gay icon in stride. “I really didn’t have any idea that was happening,” he said. “I was blown away when the character resonated with viewers as he did.”

He has high hopes for the show’s continued success. After reaching a low point in the ratings, viewership is once more moving upward.

Massey credits much of this to the writing of a recent hire, Ron Carlivati, a soap veteran. “Ron came in and saved it. I’m doing the best I can to make the best product and tell the best stories. Everyone on set is working to make the most meaningful characters. I hope that will show up on screen.” Weekdays on NBC.t

NBC-TV

Soap actor Chandler Massey returns to “Days of Our Lives.”

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Music>>

September 28 - October 4, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 23

Tragic love lost & regained

Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

Aurelia Florian as Violetta Valéry in San Francisco Opera’s production of Verdi’s “La Traviata.”

by Philip Campbell

V

erdi’s beloved “La Traviata” opened last week as the third offering in San Francisco Opera’s fall season, greeted by appreciative cheers and more than a few sighs of relief. The thoroughly traditional production is a satisfying throwback to the days when singers were left to shape the dramatic arc of the story and directors were meant to support them with clear and unfussy stage movement.

Outgoing Company Music Director Nicola Luisotti is no stranger to reinterpretation of standard repertoire by modern directors, but he remains steeped in an admirably idiomatic approach to Italian opera.

They may put a revisionist stamp on old warhorses; he supports the composer with an eye for detail and love for every familiar tune. His shaping of the score was reason enough to attend, smoothing out the rum-titum rhythms in the choral pages and offering real symphonic breadth in the beautiful duets.

Re-thinking a timeworn tale can sometimes bring new insight. The

SFO’s “Elektra” this season is a good example. But there is less need to elucidate the plot of “La Traviata.” It is a simple saga of love lost and regained (though tragically too late), and the libretto provides a sturdy framework for some of opera’s most enchanting melodies.

English director John Copley has returned to revive his classic production from 1987 with stage director Shawna Lucey. The opulent sets

by John Conklin and extravagantly rich costumes by David Walker still look fabulous, bathed in a lovely golden glow by Gary Marder’s lighting design.

Ian Robertson’s SFO Chorus sounds great, both onstage and off, and they are allowed some amusing personal characterization, which they pull off with customary zeal.

Artistic Director of Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco, choreographer Carola Zertuche (SFO debut) moves the Spanish dancers with flair in the second-act party scene.

The stage of the War Memorial Opera House has been perfectly set for the presentation of three international artists making their SFO

Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

Aurelia Florian as Violetta Valéry and Atalla Ayan as Alfredo Germont in Verdi’s “La Traviata.”

debuts in the central roles. Openingnight pressure aside, they all made a favorable impression that will surely strengthen as the run continues.

As ardent young Alfredo Germont, Brazilian tenor Atalla Ayan threatened to go off the rails a few times in big moments early in the second act, but he made it through, and if he seemed a little forced, it was still convincing. He was excellent in the first and last acts, where his confidence appeared effortless.

Surprisingly enough, or perhaps not, in the role of his father Giorgio Germont, Polish baritone Artur Rucinski rather stole the spotlight with a pleasingly rounded tone that filled the auditorium with ease. He looked a tad young for the part, but his acting, like that of all the principals, was elegant and believable.

Of course, the ultimate success of any production rests upon the delicate shoulders of the tragic heroine Violetta Valéry. Verdi makes some almost impossible demands of her: coloratura soprano in Act I, lyric soprano in Act II, and dramatic soprano in Act III. Pretty heavy marching orders for the cynical courtesan with a heart of gold, facing a life-threatening health issue.

If the chosen performer can make it through Act I, all should go well. Unlike Alfredo, we didn’t fall in love with Romanian soprano Aurelia Florian immediately, but she looked perfect and achieved her first arias fittingly. Her performance continued to grow incrementally to a heartfelt and touching conclusion. She suffered, but still sounded beautiful. Okay, Giuseppe, mission accomplished, and the thrilled first-nighters rewarded her with an extended ovation.

Smaller roles were effectively cast, with singers drawn from the current or former ranks of the Merola Opera Program and San Francisco Opera Center’s Adler Fellows. Mezzo-soprano Renée Rapier was delightful as a coquettish Flora Bervoix; bass Anthony Reed was a resonant and uncommonly young and handsome Doctor Grenvil; and soprano Amina Edris (also younger than usual, but convincingly madeup) was a sympathetic Annina.

Judging from the remarks of departing audience members, an old-fashioned take on a well-loved classic is just what they wanted and received.t “La Traviata” continues in repertory through Oct. 17. sfopera.com.

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<< Theatre

24 • Bay Area Reporter • September 28 - October 4, 2017

French passions, up on their toes

by Richard Dodds

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The other main playstar of the stage version. ers have more traditional Director-choreographer musical comedy roles to Christopher Wheeldon fill. There is a variation on comes from the world of the sardonic Oscar Levant ballet, and the two leadcharacter from the movie, a ing players on Broadway would-be symphonic comand on tour also share poser and barroom pianist this background. But that Stephen Brower hanWheeldon’s choreogradles well (although Lucas’ phy isn’t confined to an book has him making a en pointe sensibility. He gratuitous Levant refercan offer up a raucously ence). Nick Spangler plays silly number like “Fidgety Henri – textile heir, aspiring Feet” or an old-fashioned nightclub performer, and kickline in “I’ll Build a Lise’s main beau – with a Stairway to Paradise” as propriety that he loses dureasily as he can a grande ing a high-stepping fantasy jete or a pas de deux. engagement at Radio City What is surprising, Music Hall. then, is that the extended Too bad you can’t actuballet that gives the Matthew Murphy ally walk up one of the musical its title is so unanimated Photoshop-type impressive. While Kelly Nick Spangler plays a Frenchman who fantasizes about performing “I’ll Build a Stairway projections that provide and Caron danced the to Paradise” at Radio City Music Hall in a scene from “An American in Paris” now at the for most of the scenery. musical suite through- Orpheum Theatre.

Then Henri really could out a soundstage Paris acting, singing, and multi-faceted fussy Frenchman must be a closeted climb the staircase to pararendered in the style of dancing – and McGee Maddox and homosexual. (The new libretto is by dise that his big song promises.t famous French painters, the stage Sara Esty comfortably handle their gay playwright Craig Lucas.) As Lise version feels cramped, made up of assignments. The likeable Maddox (whom Jerry wants to rename Liza too many routine steps, and per“An American in Paris” will is more of a twinkle toes than Kelly’s for the sake of squeezing in another formed in a kind of a Mondrianrun though Oct. 8 at the meat-and-potatoes character, which Gershwin song), Esty definitely Orpheum Theatre. Tickets are meet-harlequinade design. $45-$214. Call (888) 746-1799 or makes a bit odd his and other charcommunicates the Caron persona The performers playing Jerry go to shnsf.com. acters’ comic implications that a of waifish charm. and Lise need to be triple threats –

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he musical based on “An American in Paris” has a touch of class not often seen in Broadway song-and-dance affairs. It certainly starts that way, with a ballet-style prologue that uses traditional and modern steps to wordlessly paint a picture of liberated Paris just as the Second World War is coming to an end. And while a classy aura hovers over much of the proceedings, the touring musical can also labor with cliches even as it tries to add meat to the wispy screenplay of the 1951 movie with songs by the brothers Gershwin.

The setup is the same: A discharged American serviceman decides to stay on in Paris to live the life as a struggling artist when an elusive gamine catches his eye.

But instead of just a shopgirl, Craig Lucas’ libretto turns Lise into the daughter of ballet royalty and an aspiring dancer herself with wealthy patrons. Jerry gets the girl, loses the girl, and – well, no spoilers here.

The movie was very much a vehicle for Gene Kelly, with the then-unknown Leslie Caron as his co-star, but short of reanimating Kelly, dancing itself has become the

Falling in love again with Marlene Dietrich

by Tavo Amador

moment. May 6 marked the 25th anniversary of Dietrich’s (b. 1901) death in Paris. To commemorate the occasion, Washington, D.C.’s National Portrait Gallery has mounted an exhibit of photographs of her.

She’s also the subject of C.W. Gardiner’s “Marlene: A Novel.” Pegasus Press has republished her daughter Maria Riva’s biography, “Marlene Dietrich: The Life” ($35).

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n her 1930 American film debut, Joseph von Sternberg’s “Morocco,” Marlene Dietrich plays a cabaret entertainer. In one scene, wearing a tuxedo, she kisses a woman on the lips, removes a flower from her hair, and tosses it to a French Legionnaire (an Apollo-like Gary Cooper). It remains an extraordinary cinematic

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Riva’s work benefits from intimacy, but she has scores to settle.

She admires Dietrich’s professionalism while complaining of her maternal abilities. Its accuracy is often questionable. For example, she repeats, verbatim, conversations which took place when she was barely five years old. It needs to be read with caution. Steven Bach’s “Marlene Dietrich: Life and Legend” is more reliable.

Dietrich had exploded into stardom in American director von Sternberg’s “The Blue Angel” (1930), Germany’s first talking picture. Her astonishing portrayal of the wanton nightclub singer Lola-Lola resulted in a Paramount contract. Its American release was delayed until after the success of “Morocco.” The reviews were exceptional. Audiences flocked to see her.

MGM’s Greta Garbo suddenly had a rival, although they were very different actresses.

She was born Maria Magdalena Dietrich in Berlin to an uppermiddle-class family. Marlene, as she named herself, studied French, English, history, and music. She was beautiful and rebellious. Despite her proper background, of which she was proud, she flourished in the avant-garde theatrical world of the Weimar Republic.

She married Rudolph Sieber, who worked in movies. Their daughter Maria was born in 1924. Romance soon ended, but the marriage officially lasted until his 1976 death.

Dietrich nursed him during his final illness, and for many years consulted him before making major decisions. She supported him and his long-term mistress Tamara Matul Grave (Tami), who lived with them in Berlin. The marriage gave Dietrich cover for her many affairs with both sexes.

The actual circumstances of her “discovery” by von Sternberg can no longer be known with certainly.

In her celebrated nightclub and concert engagements Dietrich lied about it, suggesting she had been a teenage “student in a theatre school” when invited to audition for LolaLola, something that didn’t interest her. “When you are a student, you have quite different aims.” Admiring researchers later proved that she

was 29, had appeared in at least 15 German movies, and by 1929 was playing leads. She also had worked in theatre and cabaret, including a stint as a chorus girl. She had studied under the great Max Reinhardt in Vienna.

But it was von Sternberg who photographed her properly. He “painted with lights,” she said, transforming her from an attractive actress into a striking beauty. In her first two films for him, she was zaftig. But by their third collaboration, “Dishonored” (1931), she was svelte, and remained so until her last movie, 1978’s “Just a Gigolo.” According to Riva, she was bulimic. Von Sternberg directed her in “Shanghai Express,” “Blonde Venus” (1932), “The Scarlet Empress” (1934), and “The Devil Is a Woman” (1935). The last three were box-office failures, although today they are much lauded.

Paramount separated star and director. She had a hit in Frank Borzage’s superb “Desire” (1936) opposite Cooper. She told the crew how to photograph her, a practice she continued in every subsequent picture. But by 1937 she was labeled box-office poison. Paramount bought out her contract. She erased her aloof image as Frenchy, a Western bar girl opposite James Stewart in 1939’s “Destry Rides Again,” directed by George Marshall at Universal. It was a hit, as were several subsequent movies.

She had long been a vocal critic of

Hitler and the Nazis. She used her fame and wealth to help many Jews escape Germany. In 1939, she became an American citizen. Following the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, Dietrich toured the United States for two years, entertaining soldiers and sailors, reportedly selling more war bonds than any other star. In 1944 and 45, she entertained Allied troops in North Africa, Italy, France, Greenland, and entered Germany with Generals James Gavin (her lover) and George Patton. Because she was often close to the front lines, Dietrich was made an officer and carried cyanide on her person in case of capture. She later insisted her war work was the only important thing she ever did.

Among her memorable post-war films are Billy Wilder’s “A Foreign Affair” (1948), Alfred Hitchcock’s “Stage Fright” (1950) (very enjoyable, despite its poor reputation), her amusing cameo in “Around the World In 80 Days” (1956), dazzling in Wilder’s “Witness for the Prosecution” (1957), and her riveting cameo in Orson Welles’ “Touch of Evil” (1958). Producer-director Stanley Kramer and writer Abby Mann added her part for the film version of the television play “Judgment at Nuremberg” (1961), but despite her skill, she wasn’t persuasive as a Junker widow claiming ignorance of the Holocaust, a character based on her mother, who refused to leave Germany during the Nazi era.

From 1950 until the mid-70s, Dietrich earned record sums and great acclaim for her cabaret and concert engagements. According to Riva, her heavy drinking, which resulted in falls while performing, forced her to stop. Dietrich refused to appear on camera for Maximilian Schell’s fascinating 1984 documentary “Marlene.” She spent the last decade of her life in Paris, a recluse, staying in touch with friends via telephone.

Riva takes malicious pleasure in describing her ravaged face and figure.

Nonetheless, Dietrich’s place in the Hollywood pantheon is secure.

She finished 9th in the American Film Institute’s 25 Greatest Female Legends of the 20th Century. She made androgyny sexy. Her von Sternberg films are fascinating, but she had many cinematic triumphs without him.t

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Film>>

September 28 - October 4, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 25

Surreal noir at the Castro Theatre

by Erin Blackwell

“S

ince the death of his wife, Rowe had never daydreamed; all through the trial he had never even dreamed of an acquittal. It was as if that side of the brain had been dried up; he was no longer capable of sacrifice, courage, virtue, because he no longer dreamed of them. He was aware of the loss: the world had dropped a dimension and become paper thin.” That’s from Graham Greene’s 1943 book “The Ministry of Fear.” Fritz Lang’s 1944 film adaptation is one of 11 film noirs playing Monday nights at the Castro Theatre starting Oct. 2.

I saw “Ministry of Fear” as a kid on a small-screen black-and-white TV in the living room with the sun pouring in, when I should have been outside playing. I tried and failed to understand it. I loved hero Ray Milland instantly, instinctively, and I formed a weird attachment to blonde bombshell Hillary Brooke, who was not a nice person. At that age, I didn’t understand much anyway: it was all adults acting inscrutably, beautifully dressed, moving through interesting interiors, getting upset about things. But “Ministry” took the cake.

Cake is the central metaphor of “Ministry.” Under normal circumstances, cake symbolizes

wholesome pleasure.

In war-torn England, with eggs, butter, and milk rationed, cake was a sign that normalcy was still within reach.

When Ray Milland wins a cake at a village fête by stating its correct weight, his spirits lift, he feels lucky, maybe even blessed.

Poor sod, he’s instantly in the sights of a ruthless gang of Nazi spies who will stop at nothing, nothing, to recuperate that cake.

Wholesome pleasure is now merely a ruse.

Some movies you saw as a kid turn out not to repay closer scrutiny. I’ve just re-watched “Ministry” on the Criterion DVD from my local library, twice. I took notes on the plot. I’m hell-bent on pinning down what the heck’s going on in this flick that continues to tantalize and withhold, much like that unsung siren Hillary Brooke. With her acquired English accent, she played snobs in B movies. She was

Lou Costello’s love object, addressing him as Louis. She also mystified Basil Rathbone in three Sherlock Holmes films.

“Ministry” is the high point of

Hillary Brooke’s career. She’s got two big scenes she performs flawlessly, dressed to the nines by Edith Head. A clairvoyant in league with the spies, she rigs a seance to accuse Ray of murdering his wife. Later, she pops up at someone else’s apartment in sexy widow’s weeds, a veil half-covering her face, like she’s half in mourning, partially eclipsed, or turning a blind eye. She plays a five-minute tête-à-tête with Milland that’s subtle, seductive, sinister.

“Will I see you again?” she purrs. No. Ray Milland has lost his cake, the only proof of his innocence, because it contains microfilm of Allied embarkation plans. He leads a thuglike Scotland Yard inspector out to a bomb crater that looks like an opera set. Everything in “Ministry” looks fake. This is its most brilliant quality, what Brecht called “alienation effect.” You never forget you’re watching sleight-of-

hand. Call it camp, call it uncanny.

The existential dread of Greene’s prose morphs onscreen into the tension between layers of artifice, none of them reliable.

Thanks to small birds fighting over cake crumbs, a redeemed Ray accompanies the Inspector to a showdown with nemesis Dan Duryea, working as a tailor in a luxury establishment. Ray sits in a club chair before a wall-size mirror that shows us what he’s looking at, disorienting the audience by usurping its role of spectator. Duryea dials a number using long shears, tells a client his suit’s shoulders will settle, then rushes off to commit suicide.

Ray tracks down the suit, and a gun battle ensues with the Nazi gang on the roof, a miracle of light and dark.

I left out the love interest, Marjorie Reynolds, a dyed blonde whose wobbly German accent might mean she’s a fake German or a fake girlfriend. Like Duryea’s bad English accent, every destabilizing element adds to the willful weirdness of “Ministry.” Through it all Milland surfs with the aplomb of a Welshman well-schooled in the uncanny and adept at passing for English. Urbane, philosophical, and chivalrous, he’s the ideal hero in this hall of mirrors. (Mon., Oct. 9, 5:30 & 9:20 p.m.) Not all the films are this good.t

CFS had robbed him of.

Brea also learned that suicide is one of the leading causes of death among CFS sufferers. In the end, Brea’s “Unrest” is an urgent, sometimes hopeful call to action that will remind LGBTQ filmgoers of the

many frustrations and roadblocks our community faced decades ago during the early stages of the AIDS epidemic.

“Unrest” opens Friday in the Bay Area, and is in English and Danish with English subtitles.t

Debilitating fatigue

by David Lamble

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he new medical bio-doc “Unrest” opens as its subject, director Jennifer Brea, is having one of the paralyzing spells that nearly shut down her life on the eve of her marriage to Omar, the man she considers the love of her life. At the onset of her condition Brea is 28. In the course of the five years it takes to complete her film, Brea will move several times and get in touch with hundreds of sufferers, their families and friends. Yet, as she says movingly, she often feels like she’s all alone in confronting a condition that the medical establishment has only recently begun to take seriously and come fully to grips with.

Early in “Unrest,” which began as a home movie captured on her iPhone, Brea addresses her potential

audience. “I know what you’re saying to yourself: If I can’t stand up, why am I filming this? I just feel that someone needs to see this.”

Brea’s affliction turns out to be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

She learns that millions suffer from it around the world, with more a million affected in the United States alone. “Part of the problem is that 85% of people who get it are female.”

Brea discovers that humor is an important weapon in coming to grips with CFS. In one segment, she and her husband Omar discuss possible mitigating factors.

Omar: “Lowering my mold exposure makes me a better lover?”

Brea: “Are you okay with this? Do you think this is crazy?”

“There’s no way to approach this except to think it’s crazy. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong because it’s crazy.”

Over the course of this unusual, captivating, sometimes frustrating-to-watch medical doc, Brea learns some important information: that moving to a drier climate may help alleviate symptoms, but is not a cure. Directing the film from her bed at times, with the help of a strong support group, Brea learns that between 75-85% of CFS sufferers are women, and that even so-called progressive societies like Denmark have resorted to draconian methods to keep the afflicted from receiving help. In one case, a teenage girl was yanked out of her home for three years over the strenuous objections of her family. In another case, a young male photographer tearfully surrendered his camera to his parents when he feared he could never again pursue his avocation with passion and the strength that

Courtesy the filmmaker

Scene from director Jennifer Brea’s feature documentary “Unrest.”

<< Film

26 • Bay Area Reporter • September 28 - October 4, 2017

Matriarch Mrs. meets Muslim man

by David Lamble

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t’s that time of year when Oscarloving folks start making predictions, and here’s the first of mine.

The new film “Victoria & Abdul,” from British director Stephen Frears, will do very well for both its director and its majestic star, Dame Judi Dench, who totally rules as a lonely, aging monarch who finds love and purpose in the person of a handsome young Indian Muslim who turns up at court in what appears at first to be an elaborate practical joke.

The story commences in 1887, as Queen Victoria (Dench) celebrates her Golden Jubilee. There’s a witty formal dinner scene where the invited guests find themselves having to keep up with the monarch’s frenzied dining pace as she downs course after course before many of her guests can have as much as a bite or a slurp. Then the Queen’s advisors stage a moment where Victoria is presented with a ceremonial coin from two Indian servants, shipped in especially for the purpose. Victoria is, among other things, Empress of India, a subcontinent she has never seen, with customs and languages she finds totally baffling.

Enter Abdul (the very handsome Ali Fazal), who, obeying orders from the Queen’s advisors, presents the grand lady with a special coin.

Explicitly told that he must not make eye contact, the young Indian boldly disobeys and smiles at the lonely old woman, who is instantly charmed. What follows is a mix of low comedy and high drama that could only play out between persons from vastly different worlds who are astounded to discover another person to whom they can open their

hearts. Victoria had been living the life of a widow, a situation interrupted for a while by her romance with another servant, a story related in the 1997 film “Mrs. Brown,” with a younger Victoria again played by Dame Judi.

“Victoria & Abdul” is adapted from a book of the same title by Shrabani Basu, which depicts the actual relationship between Queen Victoria and her Indian servant Abdul Karim. Fans of Stephen Frears from his earlier hits “The Queen” and “My Beautiful Laundrette” will appreciate the film’s moments of unvarnished humor, illustrating a time when British society was undergoing enormous changes in technology, domestic governance, and the relationship between the monarchy and the peoples it ruled, both in the UK and across its global empire.

At one point people at court, jealous of Abdul’s position with the Queen (as literally her teacher in all things Indian), try to get him tossed out of the palace by revealing that the man is both married and inflicted with VD. An indication at just how vile the attitudes held by the Queen’s advisors at court could be, her doctor is indignant when asked to perform a physical exam on Abdul. “I didn’t spend seven years in Edinburgh just to look at Indian dick.”

There’s an old rule in film that if the characters are too happy too early in the story, they are due for a rude awakening. This is Abdul’s fate when, as soon as Victoria dies (at age 81 in 1901), the new King, Victoria’s grumpy son “Bertie,” Prince of Wales (an appropriately doltish Eddie Izzard), has him evicted from court, in the process destroying

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Focus Features

Judi Dench and Ali Fazal in director Stephen Frears’ film “Victoria & Abdul.”

letters and other mementos of his mother’s relationship with a colored man. One of the most astonishing things about this story is that it has been told at all. In 2003, some papers turned up on the Isle of Wright documenting this amazing (and most likely platonic) love story. At a time when relations between the Muslim world and Britain and its allies have been terribly strained, “Victoria & Abdul” is an entertaining corrective.

Dame Judi Dench, an actress with a pedigree as distinguished and long as that of an actual monarch, delivers a performance that is both regal and all-too-human. By most

accounts Victoria was a woman terribly torn between modernity and the Crown’s most feudal ways.

There were years when she refused to be seen in public, and she didn’t believe in female suffrage. But as this film demonstrates, she did her duty as her nation’s sole unifying figure.

In 2006 I had the chance to chat with director Stephen Frears about his Oscar-winning drama “The Queen,” another film illustrating the excruciating loneliness that can be the fate of a British monarch. Speaking of “The Queen,” I told Frears that “it’s so incredibly intimate, especially the moments with her [Helen Mirren as Elizabeth II] alone.”

Stephen Frears: If you’re British, you know everything about the Royal Family, and you know nothing about the Royal Family. It’s just a guess. But I think we probably got it right.

The Off Season (Univ. of Wisconsin Press) by author and educator Amy Hoffman, a Provincetown-set “comic, romantic romp,” finds artist Nora, relocated to the queer tip of Cape Cod with her partner Janelle for some healing and inspiration, getting more than she bargained for.

In Marriage of a Thousand Lies (Soho), the debut novel by SJ Sindu, we meet Lucky and Krishna, a married Sri LankanAmerican couple who are actually a lesbian and a gay man. The pair’s sham marriage is threatened when Lucky reconnects with her first lover Nisha, who is preparing to enter an arranged marriage.

Between nonfiction covers: In the Province of the Gods (Univ. of Wisconsin Press) follows disabled gay poet, playwright, memoirist, educator and activist Kenny Fries as he makes a return visit to Japan shortly after his HIV diagnosis.

Logical Family: A Memoir (Harper), the longawaited memoir by Armistead Maupin, the beloved author of the Tales of the City series, is a revealing chronicle of the gay writer’s personal journey from the deep South to Vietnam

to San Francisco.

A comprehensive history of LGBTQ music, David Bowie Made Me Gay: 100 Years of LGBT Music (Overlook) by Darryl Bullock begins with the tragic losses of talent in 2016 (including those who died at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando), then ventures back to New Orleans in the 1910s before spinning back, like a record, to the present day.

Award-winning, Grammy-nominated, Guggenheim fellow and composer-pianistactivist-educator Fred Hersch has many notable achievements to his name, not the least of which is being an openly gay, HIV+ man in the world of jazz.

He writes all about it in his memoir Good Things Happen Slowly: A Life In and Out of Jazz (Crown Archetype).

With the controversial proposed ban on transgender personnel serving in the military on everyone’s mind, Tell: Love, Defiance and the Military Trial at the Tipping Point for Gay Rights (ForeEdge) by Major Margaret Witt with Tim Connor takes readers back to the 1993 passage of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy and its 2011 repeal.

Called “the first definitive biography” of celebrated Broadway caricaturist Al Hirschfeld, known for his distinguished New York Times drawings, the only things missing from Ellen Stern’s Hirschfeld: The Biography (Sarah Crichton Books) are the drawings themselves.t

David Lamble: My father had a picture book of the Royal Wedding in 1947. It smelled different than any other book in the house. It had a museum quality about it. I always looked at it with some awe.

Frears: Well, that sounds like a description of the Royal Family – they come from another place, and they are like people out of a museum.t

Fall for a good read

by Gregg Shapiro

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hort story shelf: Fresh Complaint: Stories (FSG), the first short-story collection by Jeffrey Eugenides, author of the groundbreaking gender identity novel Middlesex as well as The Virgin Suicides, features 10 stories. They include “Air Mail,” which was selected for the 1997 edition of The Best American Short Stories by “Brokeback Mountain” author Annie Proulx.

Outside is the Ocean (Univ. of Iowa Press) by Matthew Lansburgh, winner of the Iowa Short Fiction Award, consists of 15 linked short stories about German immigrant Heike, who has been making her way in America since she left her homeland at 20.

Edited by gay writer Benjamin Taylor, Debriefing: Collected Stories (FSG) compiles all of late queer writer and intellectual Susan Sontag’s short fiction under one cover, with “Project for a Trip to China” and “Unguided Tour” included among the 11 stories.

Novel pages: Set in contemporary Israel, The Book of Love and Hate (Akashic) by Lambda Literary Award-winning author Lauren Sanders follows failed

Olympic speed skater Jennifer on a quest to find her missing billionaire father as she encounters “fake Orthodox Jews, queer Palestinians on the run” and a host of others.

Lately, gay actor and vlogger Jeffery Self has been making a name for himself as the author of Y/A novels, including 2016’s Drag Teen. His new Y/A novel A Very, Very Bad Thing (Push) is about the things that teenage boys do in the name of love and how quickly they can go wrong, especially when one is the son of a homophobic TV evangelist.

An Unkindness of Ghosts (Akashic), the sci-fi debut by Rivers Solomon, takes place aboard a spaceship named Matilda, and features a teased and taunted main character named Aster, described as “odd-mannered, obsessive, withdrawn,” who is on a mission to discover the potential connection between the deaths of her mother and the Matilda’s potentate.

A Y/A novel in verse, Vanilla (Push) by poet Billy Merrell, is said to be a story of “coming out, coming into your own and coming apart” that is alternately heartbreaking and hopeful.

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Music>>

September 28 - October 4, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 27

Ravel’s dream within a dream

by Tim Pfaff

“I

do not ask for my music to be interpreted, but only for it to be played,” Maurice Ravel remarked, knowing full well what musicians would make of his seemingly cryptic remark. “Do it my way” was only the surface of his message. The composer’s written indications to performers are as detailed as they come, linguistically more precise than those of most other composers. But he was composing at a time when, far more than today, performers, French ones in particular, regarded printed scores as starting points for interpretations.

So does the new recording of Ravel’s complete ballet “Daphnis et Chloe” by the ensemble Les Siecles (Harmonia Mundi) obey? To the extent it’s obedient, it’s in the way certain codified modes of sexuality are.

Conductor Francois-Xavier Roth, a nice heterosexual man with edge to spare, pays scrupulous attention to Ravel’s “orders,” but what he does in this arresting, game-changing new recording is do the composer the honor of giving him a performance likely to sound like what Ravel had in his domineering ear.

You guessed it, Les Siecles plays with instruments and in a style that reflect the period of the composition, 1912, and so are “historically informed.” The longer we’re lashed to that locution, the more it feels like

being tied to the stake over which the “modernists” are lighting a fire we’ll soon regret, or so they claim.

“But is it ‘old’ beautiful?” the real lunatics among the deniers counter.

Well, if you’re fond of a sound world that conjures the magic of a vivid dream with telling details everywhere, all of them belonging to and enhancing the whole, Yes! I’ve spent a lifetime fine-tuning my ear, and my love for Ravel is boundless, but I admit to having succumbed to sea-sickness in performances of the full score of “Daphnis,” which hints at why it’s heard in concert on its own (as opposed to in an actual ballet pit) far less often than the suites drawn from it. Its swells can seem endlessly, dreamily attention-defeating despite the enormous sonic climaxes, even in what has until now been my favorite of the versions,

Claudio Abbado’s with the London Symphony Orchestra. With Les Siecles, you get all that plus sharply defined event, real put-you-onthe-edge-of-your chair musical storytelling.

There’s little audible doubt that the composer’s attention was to swamp – overwhelm, really – the listener with orchestral colors of the most perfumed, shimmering sort.

But he wrote the piece for performance by Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, which performed it in a season between Stravinsky’s “Petroushka” and, in 1913, a certain “Le Sacre du printemps,” both of which Les Siecles has gratefully recorded on a single CD that belongs in every collection – certainly every discerning gay person’s.

Although it eventually played itself out in that Continental Baths kind of way, the Ballets Russes was a cauldron of gay creative energy at the time of “Daphnis.” The ballet, choreographed by Michel Fokine, featured Diaghilev’s then-lover Vaslav Nijinsky dancing before Leon Bakst sets, while Pierre Monteaux (first conductor of “Le Sacre,” and later, music director of the SF Symphony, who recorded “Daphnis” with the LSO) conducted. It was a hit, promptly revived.

Spy games

by Brian Bromberger

C

lassy, well-written, superbly acted Hollywood movies that fall between comedy and drama are rare, which makes the new Blu-ray DVD release of Ronald Neame’s nimble international intrigue “Hopscotch” by Criterion reason to rejoice this fall. Critics were middling (Roger Ebert, in faint praise, called it a pleasant thriller that doesn’t thrill) when it appeared in 1980, annoyed that it wasn’t a pure comedy or a thriller, but the fact that it defies easy categorization is exactly what makes it so charming.

“Hopscotch” manages to take the spy caper, very popular in the 1970s, and gently satirize it at a time when Cold War tensions were high.

The plot seems conventional. Miles Kendig (Walter Matthau), a cagey CIA veteran, foils a microfilm exchange to Russian KGB agent Yaskov (Herbert Lom) at a Munich Oktoberfest celebration. Rather than arrest his friendly nemesis, he lets him go, figuring that the enemy you know is better than a new, unpredictable foe. But that’s not the way his new boss, Myerson (Ned Beatty), sees it, furious Kendig let Yaskov escape. He demotes Kendig to a desk job for his years left at the agency. Kendig shreds his own file and, with the help of former-lover spy Isobel (Glenda Jackson) in London, starts to write a tell-all memoir revealing dirty agency secrets, especially about Myerson, such as his unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Fidel Castro

with an exploding cigar. Worrying that his books will expose embarrassing information, European and Russian espionage groups, as well as the CIA, in the form of Kendig’s protege, Cutter (Sam Waterston), are out to arrest or kill him. Kendig outwits them as he is hunted around the world. In one droll sequence, he hides out in Myerson’s summerhouse, baiting the CIA to find him there. Whether Kendig will triumph is predictable, but the suspense lies in the mechanics, not the outcome.

Brian Garfield’s script is buoyant and witty with Cowardian touches. When Matthau escapes on a seaplane with a woman pilot, she remarks, “You look like my father,”

There are credible reports that, at this apex of the Ballets Russes, the drag-loving Ravel and Stravinsky found more than supreme orchestration skills to admire in one another. The Ballets Russes’ impact on 20th-century art was incalculable, but it also put on shows, and all of Paris (including Proust for “Le Sacre”) showed up. What with some “artistic differences,” “Daphnis” turned out to be a success mostly for Ravel (who wrote that he knew only how to swear in Russian).

Once you’ve heard the Les Siecles “Daphnis,” modern-instrument versions of it – gliding and sliding, swooping and whooping – may feel like the soundtrack for competition figure-skating or Terrence Malick dolphin porn. Ravel said his intention was to create “a vast musical fresco,” but the tableaux are moving pictures. In Les Siecles’ “Daphnis,” you “hear” the dance steps.

You’re not constantly jumping up and down to change the volume levels to compensate for the extreme low and high dynamics. The naysay-

ers will think this is because it’s all equally dull on those “old” instruments, when in fact it’s a matter of exquisitely balanced proportions that make dramatic sense of the dynamic fluctuations and extremes.

Ravel hewed to symphonic criteria, with careful key relationships.

That noted, this new recording marks the first time I’ve heard the often evanescently beautiful tale of the love of the shepherd and shepherdess violently interrupted

by Chloe’s abduction by pirates.

The sonic specificity the historical instruments lend is astounding.

And for once, the wordless chorus is more than sound effects.

If you’re watching the European scene, you know that right now the London Symphony is welcoming its new music director with a series called “Rattle is here.” The latest LSO Live recording, on their house label, features a “Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2” that supports the excitement.

Meaning no disparagement to the superb Simon Rattle, he’s no Roth with “Daphnis.”t

“POWERFULLY INSISTS ON GIVING A VOICE.” –THE NEW YORK TIMES

“RIVETING.”

–SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

UNREST

A love story about a mystery disease.

unrest.film Q&As with JENNIFER BREA and OMAR WASOW SATURDAY, 9/30 at the VOGUE after the 7:30 show and SUNDAY, 10/1 at the ELMWOOD after the 2:00 show.

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to which he replies, “Yes, that’s always been my problem.”

The movie couldn’t work without Matthau in one of his best deadpan performances. Few actors could convey tong ue -i n-ch e ek coolness under pressure. His Kendig is convincing despite being 10 years too old for the part.

Glenda Jackson, while only on screen for 25 minutes, matches Matthau in sparkling repartee, especially when they first meet, pretending to talk about wine but really describing their past relationship. They had been a hit in their earlier “House Calls,” and their William Powell/Myrna Loy chemistry is successful here as well.

After retiring from being a Labour Party member of Parliament for 23 years in 2015, Jackson returned to acting in 2016 at age 80, starring as King Lear. She will come to Broadway next year in Albee’s “Three Tall Women.” Beatty is hysterical as the foul-mouthed Myerson, the perfect foil for Matthau. Waterston succeeds as the snarky younger agent cultivated by Kendig. A light-hearted and sophisticated cat-and-mouse chase over multiple continents beautifully photographed, “Hopscotch” doesn’t demand much from us but entertains, all to a soundtrack of Mozart and opera. Who could ask for anything more?t

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<< Fine Art

28 • Bay Area Reporter • September 28 - October 4, 2017

Courtesy of the Estate and P.P.O.W. New York

“Reckless” by Martin Wong (1991), acrylic on canvas.

<<

Martin Wong

From page 21

He came of age in San Francisco when the Beats were exuding stream-of-consciousness cool, the counterculture was in bloom, R. Crumb and underground commix ruled, and “Pink Flamingos” sensation Divine was performing with the Cockettes. He’s in the guise of a red-kerchiefed babushka in one of Wong’s earliest paintings; sorry to say, it’s not in the show. Wong connected with the troupe’s founder Hibiscus, ne George Harris III, Jr., who later established the Angels of Light, for whom Wong designed trippy theatrical sets and props.

Wong and Divine are seen in a few old photographs here.

A group of acrylic self-portraits from the early 1960s captures a self-taught artist in the making, a sensitive, boyish young man on the cusp: tender, expectant, watch-

<<

Harrison David Rivers

From page 21

“These two men meet at the Million Hoodie March in 2012,” Rivers said of the New York protest over the killing of Trayon Martin, the unarmed young black teen (dressed in a hoodie) who was shot to death on his way home by a neighborhoodwatch coordinator. “At the march, he meets this white man with a bullhorn, which leads to a date, which then leads to more. You have lovely, sweet moments, and then you have these moments where they are navigating something they are on the opposite sides of.”

The play moves around in time, but over the course of the two men’s relationship, they relocate from New York to St. Paul. Several years ago, Rivers moved from New York to St. Paul, where he met his white partner and now husband. “There are moments in the play we both recognize,” Rivers said. “But the larger piece is certainly not us.”

Rivers, 36, is recognized as an emerging playwriting talent, and productions of his plays have so far attracted attention in New York, the Twin Cities, and beyond. “I’ve been sending plays to Ed for years,” he said, referring to NCTC Artistic Director Ed Decker, who is directing “This Bitter Earth.” Rivers suggested creating a new work together, and Decker invited him to be part of the theater’s New Play Development Lab. During the development process, Decker flew to Minneapolis several times to workshop the play at the Playwrights Center, where Rivers had had a playwriting fellowship and where he is now on the board of directors. There, they worked with Twin Cities-based actors H. Adam

ful and waiting on the larger world with a certain questioning intensity around the eyes. But in the large, Peter Max-ish, medallion-shaped self-portrait from 1993 that catches the eye upon entering the exhibition, he’s grown cockier. Wong portrays himself in a dandy’s cowboy hat and fancy embroidered shirt of the same rodeo vintage, his head haloed by a frisson of gold dust and bug-eyed blue demons. The demons most likely are a throwback to his exposure to Himalayan art while in college, an era that produced “Untitled (Thirteen Skull) Plaque” (1971), a charred bas-relief in a small open box containing rows of miniature hollow-eyed skulls like an ashtray with human remains.

But it was after 1978, when he had moved on from the hippie-dippie, androgynous Northern California scene to a harder-edged, sexually loaded New York City pulsating with leather bars and sex clubs fashioned

on torture chambers and dungeons, that Wong really hit his stride. He settled on the gritty Lower East Side, where he circulated among the area’s queer, Puerto Rican and black communities, and turned his energies to painting. The loamy sienna and burnt-rust earth tones from his ceramics days meshed with the dilapidated tenements and brick walls of his cityscapes, while the chaos and sexual potential of his teeming working-class neighborhood fueled the erotic in his life and art, culminating in hallucinatory visions such as “Mi Vida Loca” (1991). The imposing, industrial brick edifice, part chimney, part well-endowed male genitalia, has a prodigious phallus rising up the center, anchored by balls at the base.

The image is incongruously framed in ornate gilt suitable for an antique mirror; the effect is jarring, simultaneously frilly and bulldog macho.

Judging from several canvases,

Harris and Michael Hanna. “Ed sort of fell in love with them, and asked them to come here to do it,” Harrison said. The play will then return to the Twin Cities for a 2018 production at the Penumbra Theatre.

Rivers first became familiar with New Conservatory when he lived in San Francisco for a couple of years after graduating from college in 2004. “I thought it was a good place to try to figure out what I want to

do,” he said. The answer came in an unexpected and somewhat unsettling way.

“I was hearing voices that didn’t sound like mine. Like, there’s an old woman I don’t know in a rocking chair telling me a story, but I’m also in the middle of living my life and she’s a little bit loud, and I’m, like, ‘You’re distracting me from getting on this bus.’ It got bad enough where I called my mother, and I

Wong had a serious fireman fetish – and who doesn’t? He went so far as to keep a fireman’s uniform in his apartment, and prevailed upon his friend Stevy, a graffiti artist, to pose in it. Stevy, gamely seated in a bathtub, helmet on his head, appears vaguely amused in a 1990 painting bearing his name. In the dark space above him floats a beer can, a bar of soap, and the constellations of the night sky, a prevalent Wong motif, along with a subtle cartoony aesthetic.

Undeterred by colliding headgear, a pair of male firefighters in the mood for love smooch in the shadows of a towering, graffiti-covered housing project – and it’s not the building that’s on fire (“Big Heat,” 1988).

Wong seems to have invested reams of fantasy in prisons and their captives: young, muscular, sexually hungry, available inmates with time on their hands and carnality on the brain. The promisingly titled “Reckless” (1991) showcases a reclining, brown-skinned outlaw, peering lazily through the bars of his cell.

He’s nestled in his bed, his buff naked body strategically covered by white sheets. A cold, steel-gray sink to his left interrupts the idyll. “Top Cat” (1990), modeling form-fitting underwear like a criminal version of a Calvin Klein ad, leans backs, displaying his tattooed physique.

The concrete cells are whitewashed and the perspective skewed,

t

but the exterior of the prison is another matter. From outside, it’s a fortress with dirty chalk walls and narrow slits for barred windows, the perimeter an impregnable black enclosure topped with barbed wire (“47-04,” 1992).

In “Penitentiary Fox” (1988), the Puerto Rican poet and playwright Miguel Pinero (“Short Eyes”), Wong’s friend, sometime collaborator and lover, stands in front of the gates to Sing Sing, where he once served time for armed robbery.

Pinero is positioned between two watchtowers, while the prison walls behind him are magically transparent, revealing tiers of cells bustling with activity, like the set for Elvis Presley’s hit “Jailhouse Rock.”

In 1994, following his HIV diagnosis, Wong returned to his parents’ home in Chinatown. With his world shrinking and life receding, he created one of his most overtly emotional works, the heartbreaking “King of Pain” (1997-98), where a man whose face is obscured by a white baseball cap lays crumpled on the floor in agony beneath the words of the painting’s title. They’re written in cursive on a blackboard grid, like the last grace notes of a musical score.t Through Dec. 10 at Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. bampfa.org.

Courtesy of the Estate and P.P.O.W. New York

“Sweet Enuff” by Martin Wong (1987), acrylic on canvas, two panels.

thought she was going to tell me to come home. But my mom said, ‘Why don’t you write down what they are saying?’ And that sort of was my way into playwriting.”

The voices are still there, but Rivers has found a way of compartmentalizing them. “It sounds a little nutty, but now I know how to say, ‘You know, now is not a good time for me? Can we resume this conversation tomorrow?’ And sometimes I

Lois Tema

Michael Hanna, left, and H. Adam Harris play a gay couple with unexpectedly differing views on racial politics in Harrison David Rivers’ “This Bitter Earth,” written in collaboration with New Conservatory Theatre Center.

lose whatever story it was that they were telling me.”

Working with the voices, instead of fighting them, Rivers wrote a play that he submitted to Columbia University as part of his application to its MFA program. “That play was 180 pages of mess, but someone saw something in that mess,” he said. “When I got to Columbia, there were actors who people really didn’t seem to know what to do with – often people of color – and I thought maybe I should write something for them, and that took my work in a new direction.”

Autobiography has certainly been a source for material, as it partially is in “This Bitter Earth.” But one of his earliest plays featured a character who looked very much like Harrison David Rivers. In “When Last We Flew,” the central character is a closeted teen living in Manhattan, Kansas, who steals a copy of “Angels in America” from the local library – which is where Rivers grew up, and what he did with the play.

“My grandmother was head of reference at our local library, so I spent a lot of time there, and I was sort of shocked and awed to find there were gay plays. ‘Angels in America,’ ‘Torch Song Trilogy.’

I was embarrassed to read them in the context of my town and the fact that my grandmother worked there.

So there was a day when I sort of shoved the book into my underwear. I don’t think I ever returned it, but I’m pretty sure they had two copies.”t “This Bitter Earth” will run through Oct. 22 at New Conservatory Theatre Center.

Tickets are $20-$50. Call (415) 861-8972 or go to nctcsf.org.

32

35

On the Town

39

Karrnal Knowledge

Shining Stars

Vol. 47 â&#x20AC;˘ No. 39 â&#x20AC;˘ September 28 - October 4, 2017

www.ebar.com V www.bartabsf.com

On the Tab

Sun 1 Pat Wilder performs at the Charlotte Maxwell Clinic Benefit @ Freight and Salvage, Berkeley

Shake it, make it, drag it, brag Get out and dance, sip, can it. ooodle and cruise.

Sept. 28Oct. 5

n page 30 >> Listings begin o

Arts Events September 28 - October 5

Our lives, dramatized on stage, sung about in musicals, read about in bookstores. Celebrate yourself in the arts.

Steven Underhill

Listings begin o n page

34 >>

Sun 1 Castro Street Fair @ Castro & Market

{ THIRD OF THREE SECTIONS }

<< On the Tab

30 • Bay Area Reporter • September 28 - October 4, 2017

Friday Nights at the Ho @ White Horse Bar, Oakland

Fri 29

Abschiedsfraulein, Bubbles @ SF Eagle

Dance it up at the historic (and still hip) East Bay bar. 9pm-2am. 6551 Telegraph Ave. whitehorsebar.com

Friday Night Live @ El Rio Enjoy the weekly queer and LGBTfriendly live acoustic concerts. $5pm.

3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

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

Shot in the City

Latin Explosion/Club Papi @ Club 21, Oakland

Edited for space.

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

Fri 29

Thu 28

Memorial party for the murdered nightlife character Bubbles Bubblesynski, with DJ Bonnie Ford, Solar, Mozhgan, Cole and Charlotte the Baroness. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Enjoy whiskey shots from jockstrapped hotties and sexy sports videos at the popular sports bar.

10pm-2am. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Junk @ Powerhouse MrPam and Dulce de Leche cohost the weekly underwear strip night and contest, with sexy prizes. $5. 10pm2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Katya Smirnoff-Skyy @ Oasis Our fave Russian exile opera diva (actor-singer J. Conrad Frank) performs her Bittersweet '90s Symphony, a fun take on grunge and rock music; Joe Wicht accompanies. $25-$35 and up. 8pm. Sept 29 at 7pm. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Literary Speakeasy @ Martuni's Drinks and readings with Josey Rose Duncan, Jennifer Lewis, Wayne Goodman, Laura A. Zink, and San Francisco Poet Laureate Kim Shuck; James J. Siegel hosts. 7pm 4 Valecia St. www.facebook.com/LiterarySpeakeasy/

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

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

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

1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. hitws.com

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle Rock music at the famed leather bar. $5. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

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

Will & Grace Viewing @ Oasis Watch the return of the Emmywinning gay sitcom. 8pm. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Adam Ant, Glam Skanks @ Masonic Hall The 80s pop star performs his classic hits; the women's band opens (including Cassie, anm SF native, and lesbian drummer!). $15 and up. 8pm.

1111 California St. sfmasonic.com

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

The Queer Wave dance party’s Purple Party, with Prince songs galore, plus other grooves by Xander, Tomas diablo and Donimo. $8-$10. 9:30pm-3am.

1190 Folsom St. at 8th. sfcatclub.com

DTF Fridays @ Port Bar, Oakland

Robyn Hitchcock, Yo La Tengo @ The Fillmore The folk-rock singer and band perform Black Snake Diamond Role. $29. 9pm.

1805 Geary Blvd. thefillmore.com

Sat 30

Dance, drink, cruise at the Castro club, with DJs Gay Marvine, Taco Tuesday and Matthew XO. 9pm-2am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com Black light underwear party with DJ Ron Hamelin. $7-$10. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. sf-eagle.com

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

2565 Mission St. at 21st. 920-0577. balancoiresf.com

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

Jock @ The Lookout

Beer Bust @ Lone Star Saloon Beer, bears, beats at the weekly fundraiser. $15. 4pm-8pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle The popular weekly event packs in the fans, with proceeds going to local charities. $10. Special early party Sept. 24 starts at 12pm. Beer bust 3pm-6pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

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

Queer Tango @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley Same-sex partner tango dancing, including lessons for newbies, food and drinks. $5-$10. 3:30pm-6:30pm.

1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley. www.finnishhall.org

Bounce @ Lookout Dance music with a view at the Castro bar. 9pm-2am. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Club Rimshot @ Club BNB, Oakland

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. www.lookoutsf.com

Mother @ Oasis

Sat 30

Trinity Taylor at Mother @ Oasis

Heklina hosts the fun drag show with weekly themes. Sept, 30, RuPaul's Drag Race finalist Trinity Taylor. $15$25. 10pm-3am (11:30pm show). 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Beverage Benefit @ The Edge

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550

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

Nitty Gritty @ Beaux

Big Top @ Beaux

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

Flex @ Powerhouse

Dulce de Leche and DJ Bugies gogo contest, with plenty of shakin' and cash prizes. $5. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Nutz @ Powerhouse

Enjoy an extra weekend night at the fun Castro nightclub, plus hot local DJs and sexy gogo guys and gals. $8.

9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.Beauxsf.com

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

Charlotte Maxwell Clinic Benefit @ Freight and Salvage, Berkeley

Big Fat Dick @ Oasis

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

Dance night at the Latin, hip hop and Electro music night. 9pm-4am.

2111 Franklin St., Oakland. www. club21oakland.com

Josh Carmichael with DJ Salazer host the tattoo appreciation night. $10.

9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Fri 29

Domingo De Escandal @ Club OMG

La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland

Various DJs play house music, and a few hotties gogo dance at the new gay bar's weekly event. 9pm-2am.

2023 Broadway. (510) 823-2099. www.portbaroakland.com DJs Bugie and Andrew Dombos spin at the cruisy dance night. $5. 10pm-2am.

1347 Folsom St. powerhousebar.com

Sugar @ The Cafe

Sun 1

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

Lips and Lashes Brunch @ Lookout

Boy Division @ Cat Club

DJ Lady Char spins dance grooves; gogo studs, and drink specials, too.

9pm-2am. 2023 Broadway. (510) 8232099. www.portbaroakland.com

Midnight Show @ Divas

Hairy men and their pals enjoy 2-for-1 drinks and no cover. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com The sexy LA crew with Mario Diaz, and eight gogo guys bursting with … talent, returns. $10. 10pm-2am 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Shake It Up @ Port Bar, Oakland

Testosterone @ SF Eagle

Hip hop and Latin dance club. $5-$15.

9pm to 4am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Big Fat Dick @ Oasis

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

QbarSF.com

25th Anniversary party for the Latin event, with 3 dance floors, gogos, drag acts, and special retro DJed grooves. $10-$20. 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. www.club21oakland.com

Bear Happy Hour @ Midnight Sun

Rolling Blackouts

Gym Class @ Hi Tops

Abschiedsfraulein, Bubbles @ SF Eagle

Saturgay @ Qbar

t

Fifth annual concert and benefits the lesbian-founded acupuncture and integrative care center for low-income women with cancer. Performers include Marcelle Davies-Lashley, Shelley Doty, Vicki Randle, Kofy Brown, Julie Wolf, Pat Wilder and R&B band Ruby's in Town. KCSM Radio's Melanie Berzon MCs; seating and open dance floor. $30-$100.

2pm. 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. charlottemaxwell.org thefreight.org

Darkmeat @ Powerhouse Offbeat music and performance with cyanide and Jim Collins. $5. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. powerhousebar.com

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 2 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

Happy Hour @ The Cinch Happy hour at the historic neighborhood bar. 5pm-8pm. 1723 Polk St. www.cinchsf.com

Mister Sister @ Midnight Sun Drag night with Honey Mahogany, Dulce de Leche and Carnie Asada.

No cover. 10pm. 4067 18th St. 8614186. www.midnightsunsf.com

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

4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

No No Bingo @ Virgil's Sea Room

September 28 - October 4, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 31

High Fantasy @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge

Dancing @ Badlands The Castro bar’s intimate dance floor and gogo guys, with drink specials.

9pm-2am. 4121 18th St. www.sfbadlands.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. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

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

Hysteria Comedy @ Martuni's

Mica Sigourney and Tom Temprano cohost the wacky weekly game night at the cool Mission bar. 8pm. 3152 Mission St. www.virgilssf.com

Open mic for women and queer comics, with host Irene Tu. 6pm-8pm.

4 Valencia St.

Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni's

Karaoke Night @ The Stud

Sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht.

9pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market.

Sing Till It Hurts with hostess Sister Flora; 2 for 1 happy hour, no cover.

8pm-2am. 399 9th St. studsf.com

Pillows @ Powerhouse Glamamore's drag and crafts party.

9pm-2am, $5. 9pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Spanglish @ Club OMG Spanish and English drag shows and dance music with DJ Carlitos. $5-$10.

9pm-2am. 43 6th St. clubomgsf.com

Strip down with the strippers at the clothing-optional night. $20. 9pm.

729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

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

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

Stag @ Powerhouse

Tue 3 Cock Shot @ Beaux Shot specials and adult Bingo games, with DJs Chad Bays and Riley Patrick, at the new weekly night. No cover. 9pm2am. 2344 Market St. beauxsf.com

Game Night @ Midnight Sun Video game fun, Wheel O' Cocktails, and board games. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. midnightsunsf.com

Game Night, AHS @ SF Eagle Board/card games and cheap beer.

4pm-2am, plus viewings of American Horror Story: Cult (8pm-11pm). 398 12th St./Harrison. sf-eagle.com

Cruisy night for singles, and couples looking for a third. $3 Jagermeister shots will get you in trouble; the fun kind. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Underwear Night @ Club OMG Weekly underwear night includes free clothes check, and drink specials. $4.

10pm-2am. Preceded by Open Mic Comedy, 7pm, no cover. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Wed 4 Bondage-a-Gogo @ The Cat Club

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

Thu 5

Dancing @ Badlands

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre

Sing Out @ Encore Karaoke Lounge

Underwear Night @ 440

Mary Go-Round @ Lookout

Steven Underhill

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On the Tab >>

The weekly gay/straight/whatever fetish-themed kinky dance night. $7$10. 9:30pm-2:30am. 1190 Folsom St. www.bondage-a-go-go.com www.catclubsf.com

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. www.bench-and-bar.com

Cocktail Time @ Ginger's Trois

LITERARY DEATH MATCH: LITQUAKE EDITION SAT, OCT 7

The weekly fun night at the Bernal Heights bar includes prizes, hosted by Kitty Tapata. No cover. 7pm-10pm.

424 Cortland St. 647-3099. www.wildsidewest.com

Pan Dulce @ Beaux

Enjoy drinks at the intimate downstairs tribute to the original dive bar; Tue & Wed 5pm-12am. Thu-Sat 5pm-2am. 86 Hardie Place.

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

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

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

SAN FRANCISCO’S LITERARY FESTIVAL

IRENE TU

Miss Kitty's Trivia Night @ Wild Side West

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

Po Hoe @ Powerhouse Nikki Jizz offers cheap drinks and cheaper men. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Thu 5 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Live! @ Oasis D'Arcy Drollinger presents Michael Phillis starring in the return of the campy parody of the vampire-hunting high school student and her pals. $25-$35 ($200 VIP tables, too). Thu 8pm. Fri & Sat 7pm. Oct. 31. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Mercedez Munro and Holotta Tymes present saucy and unusual drag acts. $5. 10pm-2am. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

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

Puff/Love @ The Stud DJ Dank and Maria Konner (plus her band) cohost the monthly queer cannabis appreciation night, with DJ Sergio Fedasz, drag show, stoner raffle and more. 7pm-10pm, followed

by Love in the 24th Century, with Thee Pristine Condition, Ultra and Mama Dora (10pm-2am). 399 9th st. www.studsf.com

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

43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Thump @ White Horse, Oakland Weekly electro music night with DJ Matthew Baker and guests. 9pm-2am.

6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com Want your nightlife event listed?

Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event. Event photos welcome.

2017 Featured Authors

POUNDED IN THE EAR: AN EROTIC TRIBUTE TO DR. CHUCK TINGLE SUN, OCT 8

CLEVE JONES HEROES: A NIGHT OF STORIES WITH PORCHLIGHT MON, OCT 9

BARUCH PORRASHERNANDEZ

FOGLIFTER: SAN FRANCISCO’S QUEER LITERARY JOURNAL FRI, OCT 13 KQED: BAD IMMIGRANTS SAT, OCT 14

PLUS BARTAB AT MARTUNI’S NINTH SIN-PHONY: MUSICAL TALES OF TEMPTATION FROM BARTAB SAT, OCT 14

NATASHA DENNERSTEIN

HAZEL READING SERIES ALL-STARS SAT, OCT 14

LARRY-BOB ROBERTS

PERFECTLY QUEER SAT, OCT 14

SF’S LITERARY FESTIVAL • OCT 6—14 COMPLETE SCHEDULE AT LITQUAKE.ORG litquake #WordsMatter #Litquake2017 #LitCrawl2017

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

32 • Bay Area Reporter • September 28 - October 4, 2017

Pacific overtures

by Donna Sachet

O

pening Night of the San Francisco Opera is so much more than a night of glorious music from a world-class opera company, although it is certainly that; Opening Night offers an opportunity to mingle with the movers and shakers of the City, dressed in their finest formal attire. As the guests of Jon Finck, Director of Communications and Public Affairs of the San

Francisco Opera, we joined Richard Sablatura for this annual rite of passage early in September and long to share some details of the splendid evening.

We arrived on Van Ness Avenue for valet parking and were immediately surrounded by photographers and passing curiosity seekers; the well-known society photographer Drew Altizer made sure he got several images and Caroline Zinko of the SF Chronicle solicited a few

quotes. Then we ascended the steps of the Opera House to mingle with hundreds of fellow attendees for the Champagne reception in the sprawling lobby. For someone with a background in women’s fashion, the parade of gowns, shoes, jewelry, and handbags presents a spectacular treat.

After a quick stop at the press desk to check in with Billy Repp, Jeffery McMillan, and Teresa Concepcion, we dashed to the Bravo Club’s reception on the Loggia. As the warning bells rang for the start of the performance, we caught up with Dede Wilsey, Gus & Bahya Murad, Mark Calvano, Tony Bravo, Doug Waggener, and even Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, rushing to her seat from a previous stop at a ceremony honoring Reverend Amos Brown.

In between acts of gorgeous music in Turandot by Giacomo Puccini, intermissions provided additional opportunities to find friends in the audience, like Ken McNeely & Inder Singh Dhillon, Janet Reilly, Joel Goodrich, Clara Skayevich, Lewis Sykes & Jim Connor, Mayor Willie Brown & Sonya Molodetskaya, Rada Katz, Michael & Marilyn Cabak, Mark Rhoades, Orkut Buyukkokten, Robert Beadle, Maria Pitcairn, and Randy Laroche & David Laudon.

At the conclusion of the performance, various leaders of the San Francisco Opera assembled on stage with the cast to honor outgoing Music Director Nicola Luisotti. If ever there were a night when boldfaced names were everywhere, it is Opening Night of the Opera!

Gooch

The newly crowned Grand Duchess Shug Shugana and Grand Duke Tressa Hollywood Young at Ducal Coronation, held at the Hotel Whitcomb.

Dining and Ducals

The Imperial Court recently completed a new project entitled Bon Appetit, where individuals bid on the chance to dine on cuisine prepared in their home by members of the Imperial Family. After intense bidding online and at Beaux that afternoon, thousands of dollars were raised and dinner with the Reigning Empress Mercedez Munro was won by three different bidders; this title-holder will be one busy chef. Congratulations on a successful new event!

We joined loyal fans of Lisa Vroman for her first one-woman show at Feinstein’s at the Nikko last week in the charming company of Gary Virginia. Lisa proved up to the task, surpassing her well known operatic mastery with familiar songs from Broadway musicals, rare gems from less known composers, and delightful banter, all beautifully accompanied by Joan Cifarelli.

Feinstein’s remains the premier location for intimate cabaret performances and Lisa may have found a new career singing solo.

Adam Sandel conducted a panel discussion on immigration issues last week at Strut in the Castro, focusing on the work of the recently formed LGBT Asylum Project, led by Okan Sengun and Brooke Westling. After a lively exchange about concerns very real and very much in the news lately, it was evident that San Francisco is a beacon for those facing unbelievable discrimination in many countries across the globe. To close out the evening, we introduced three singers, Alla Eddine Lahmadi from Tunisia, Igor Chudak from Russia, and Meté Tasin from Turkey, all amazingly talented and performing in completely different styles.

We learned that they all share a membership in the SF Gay Men’s Chorus, where they have found a musical family, as many have before them. Don’t forget that this

t

Talented vocalist Meté Tasin performed and participated in a panel discussion on immigration issues last week at Strut.

chorus embarks on their Lavender Pen Tour of several Southern states of the United States in October; may the message in their music provide bridges of understanding and healing.

After a jam-packed year of public service, Grand Duke Peter Griggs and Grand Duchess Migitte Nielsen stepped down Saturday night as throngs of supporters watched the gala proceedings. Most notably during the evening, Grand Duke Fred Townson was officially named King Father 2 of California. His years of service and large network of

friends all over the continent make Fred one of the best known and most beloved Ducals.

At the conclusion of Saturday night’s festivities, the new monarchs were announced and ceremoniously crowned: Grand Duke Tressa Hollywood Young and Grand Duchess Shug Shugana. And candidate for Grand Duchess Lexi Shimmers is to be congratulated on running a competitive campaign. Let’s keep a close eye on these new title-holders as they serve their community and raise money for worthy organizations.

We’ll leave any upcoming complete wrap-up of Folsom Street Fair and its surrounding events to our colleague Race Bannon, but we must say that the weather couldn’t have been better, the visitors more cooperative, and the camaraderie more inviting; one of the best Folsom events in memory!

Much more is coming up as the fall social calendar fills up with Shanti’s Gala at the Palace Hotel tomorrow night, September 28, Positive Resource Center’s Mighty Real Gala at the Four Seasons on Friday, October 6, and Horizon Foundation’s Gala at the Fairmont on Saturday, October 7. Give whatever support you can, because these are the organizations and the people who are really making a difference in San Francisco. And, as always, look for a colorful recap right here in the Bay Area Reporter’s On the Town with Donna Sachet.t

Rich Stadtmiller

Leather women titleholders at Donna Sachet’s popular annual Folsom weekend brunch.

September 28 - October 4, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 33

Playhouse Robert O’Hara’s biting play about sub\urban 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. www.sfplayhouse.org

Sat 30

Food & Exhibits @ Museum of Ice Cream

Food & Exhibits @ Museum of Ice Cream Creative and wildly popular pop-up experiential museum and ice cream shop. $38. Wed-mon 10:15am9:15pm. Thru Feb 2018. 1 Grant Ave. museumoficecream.com/ san-francisco/

Flower Power @ Asian Art Museum Exhibits include Flower Power, floral art and live plant installations celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, and show how Buddhist art was an inspiration.

Thru Oct. 1. Other Asian art exhibits as well. Reg. free-$25. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 200 Larkin St. 581-3500. www.asianart.org

Edited for space.

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

Thu 28 Ain’t Too Proud: The Temptations Musical @ Berkeley Rep New musical by Dominique Morisseau based on the lives of the popular R&B vocal quintet. $28-$85.

Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm.

Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru Nov 5. 2015 Addison St., Berkeley. www.berkeleyrep.org

An American in Paris @ Orpheum Theatre The touring company of the Tonywinning musical based on the Gene Kelly film includes direction/ choreography by Christopher Wheeldon and songs by George and Ira Gershwin. $65-$214. Tue-Sat 8pm. Thu, Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru Oct. 8. 1192 Market St. www.shnsf.com

Classic & New Films @ Castro Theatre Sept 28-Oct 1: Vertigo (7pm) and (different each night) Eyes Without a Face (5:10, 9:25), Body Parts (5:10, 9:25) and Diabolique (4:40, 9:25), Oct 1 Vertigo at 6pm & 8:30. Oct. 2: noir films Phantom Lady (6pm, 9:30pm) and Blues in the Night (7:45). Oct. 4-6: Grease sing-along (7pm). 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

Jason Mecier, Adam Ansell @ Spark Arts Dual exhibit of the partners’ art, with Mecier’s mosaic art, Ansell’s paintings, and a “cranky gay uncle” theme. Thru Sept 30. 4229 18th St. www.sparkarts.com

Salt Pepper Ketchup @ Buriel Clay Theatre

Luna Gale @ Aurora Stage, Berkeley

Joshua Wilder’s dark comedy about a local restaurant owner and pushy new supermarket’s threats to his turf. $15-$70. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Oct. 8. 762 Fulton St. www.sfbatco.org

Rebecca Gilman’s drama about the dangers faced by foster children, and tough decisions for social workers. $33-$65. Tue, Wed, Sun 7pm. ThuSat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Oct. 1. 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. www.auroratheatre.org

Fri 29

Older and Out @ North Berkeley Senior Center

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi The musical comedy revue celebrates its 43th year with an everchanging lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs; new numbers include a Summer of Love anniversary tribute. $25-$160.

Beer/wine served; cash only; 21+, except where noted. Wed-Fri 8pm.

Sat 6pm & 9pm. Sun 2pm & 5pm.

678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd.

(Green St.). 421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Hamlet @ Geary Theater American Conservatory Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s tragic masterpiece, starring Obie-winning Tony-nominated actor John Douglas Thompson. $15-$85.Tue-Sat 8pm.

Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru Oct. 15. 415 Geary St. www.act-sf.org

The Legend of Pink @ Gateway Theatre Kheven LaGrone’s play, about an ‘80s West Oakland transgender woman whose diva life dreams are hampered by violent gang members, gets a world premiere with Theatre Rhinoceros. $20-$40. Thru Sept. 30.

215 Jackson St. (800) 838-3006. www.therhino.org

The gay artist’s new exhibit, Scattered, a modern take on altered/scrambled gay porn imagery. Thru Sept. 470 Castro St. www.strutsf.org

The Mineola Twins @ The Exit on Taylor Cutting Ball Theater’s production of Paula Vogel’s satire about the women’s movement and the rise of conservatism. $15-$45. Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm.

Thru Oct. 29. 277 Tayloir St. www.cuttingball.com

Nick Aitken @ The Academy

The Mixed Gender Queer Elders Writing Workshop does a public reading of their written work; a queer world shared through stories.

Free. 1pm. 3170 23rd St. shanti.org

Wild SF Walking Tours @ Citywide Enjoy informed tours of various parts of San Francisco, from Chinatown to the Haight, and a ‘radical’ and political-themed LGBT-inclusive tour.

Various dates and times. $15-$25. www.wildsftours.com

Sun 1 The Art and Science of Pinball @ Chabot Space & Science Museum, Alameda New exhibit of 35 pinball machine, historic early versions, models, diagrams and demos. $5-$15.

Extended thru Oct. 22. 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. www.chabotspace.org

Fri 29 Smuin Ballet @ Palace of Fine Arts

Smuin Ballet @ Palace of Fine Arts 24th season of the popular local ballet company, with works by Annabelle Lopez, Mivhael Smuin and Garrett Ammon. $25-$194 (subscription). Thu-Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru Oct. 7. 3301 Lyon St. www.smuinballet.org

This Bitter Earth @ NCTC World premiere of Harrison David Rivers’ commissioned drama about an interracial gay couple, and political and racial tensions in modern America. $25-$50. Previews; opens Sept. 30. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm.

Thru Oct. 22. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. www.nctcsf.org

Turandot @ War Memorial Opera House

Arts Festival @ Yerba Buena Gardens

Thu 28

We’d Rather Write @ PAWS/Shanti

Ray of Light Theatre Company’s new production of thw wacky tabacky musical based on the vintage classic propaganda film. $15-$40. Wed-Sat 8pm. Thru Oct. 7. 2961 16th St. rayoflighttheatre.com

Sat 30

Nick Aitken @ The Academy

Don Reed’s acclaimed solo show about being the son of a pimp struggling through his college days. $20-$100. Sat & Sun 5pm, thru Oct. 22. 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. www.themarsh.org

Revelations: Art from the African American South (thru April 1, 2018) and amazing modern and historic art.

Free/$15. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park. famsf.org

Reefer Madness @ Victoria Theatre

San Francisco Opera’s opening season performance of Puccini’s opera about princess and a deadly game of wits with her suitors, conducted by Nicola Luisotti, with sets by David Hockney. $26-$300. Various nights thru Sept 30, Nov. 18-Dec. 9.

301 Van Ness Ave. www.sfopera.com

Karl Fjelstrom @ Strut

Opening reception for the fashion photographer’s exhibit, Paper Dolls: A Deck of Playing Cards, (local celebrity portraits) at the new barbershop & lifestyle lounge; cocktails, live music, charity blackjack games.

7pm-10pm. 2166 Market St. nickaitken.net

Weekly group discussion about problems for elders in the LGBT community. 3:15pm. 1901 Hearst Ave., Berkeley. www.pacificcenter.org

The Kipling Hotel @ The Marsh, Berkeley

Revelations @ de Young Museum

Keith Sutter

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

The annual outdoor daytime array of music, dance and theatre performances; other shows various days (usually Thu, Fri & Sat) thru Oct. 29. www. ybgfestival.org/events

Barbeque @ SF

LGBTQ Histories from the WWII Home Front @ Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center Park indoor exhibit that showcases the lives of historic LGBT people.

Open daily 10am-5pm. 1414 Harbour Way South, Suite 3000, Richmond. www.roseitheriveter.org

A Midsummer Night’s Dream @ Taube Atrium Theater African-American Shakespeare Company’s production of The Bard’s woodsy fairy-filled romantic comedy, reset in a Trinidad Carnivale. $30.

Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 3pm. Thru Oct. 1. 401 Van Ness Ave., 4th floor. african-americanshakes.org

Not a Genuine Black Man @ The Marsh Brian Copeland’s acclaimed longrunning solo show, about growing up in the racist suburbs, returns. $20-$100. Saturdays 5pm. Thru Sept. 30. 1062 Valencia St. www.themarsh.org

Other Cinema @ ATA Gallery Weekly screenings of unusual, rare and strange short films and videos. $9. 8:30pm. 992 Valencia St. 6480654. www.othercinema.com

Question Bridge: Black Men @ Oakland Museum Video installation with 160 Black American men discussing important current themes of race and class.

Other exhibits about local art and natural history. Also, Nature’s Gift: Humans, Friends and the Unknown, a large-scale immersive installation.

Thru Jan, 21. $7-$16. Wed-Sun 11am-5pm (til 9pm Fridays). 1000 Oak St., Oakland. museumca.org

Castro Street Fair @ Castro & Market The 44th annual street fair includes vendors selling clothes, crafts, and art, plus nonprofit info, drinks, food and live entertainment by DJ MC2, host Carnie Asada, Boyfriend, SirJoQ, Josette Melchor, Bitch Please, Cheer SF, SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, and the queens of The Monster Show, plus Dance Alley, with DJed grooves, and the Sundance saloon Country Western Dance Stage. Gate donations (450$10). 11am-6pm. www.castrostreetfair.org

Ecstatic Dance @ Sacred Heart Church Weekly group freeform dance with a spiritual flavor at the former churchturned event space. $15. 9am-12pm.

Also Wed. and Fridays in Oakland and Fairfax. 554 Fillmore St. www.ecstaticdance.org

Edvard Munch: Between the Clock and the Bed @ SF Museum of Modern Art New exhibit of 44 works by the misunderstood painter, known most for “The Scream.” Thru Oct. 9. Also, exhibits of Pop, Abstract and classic Modern art at the renovated and visually amazing museum, with two extra floors, a new additional Howard Street entrance, cafe and outdoor gardens. Free-$25. 10am8pm. 151 Third St. sfmoma.org

OutLook Video @ Channel 29 The weekly LGBT TV show, with updates on current events. 9:30pm. www.outlookvideo.org

See page 34 >>

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

Playmates or soul mates, you’ll find them on MegaMates

<<

Arts Events

From page 33

Queer Tango @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley

Always FREE to listen and reply to ads!

San Francisco:

(415) 692-5774

www.megamates.com 18+

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Dorothea Lange

34 • Bay Area Reporter • September 28 - October 4, 2017

Same-sex partner tango dancing, including lessons for newbies, food and drinks. $5-$10. 3:30pm-6:30pm. 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley. www. finnishhall.org

SF Hiking Club @ Purisima Coastal Trail Join GLBT hikers of the SF Hiking Club for an easy 6-mile hike along the Cowell-Purisima Coastal Trail. Bring lunch, water, hat, layers, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes.

Carpool meets 9:00 at Safeway sign, Market & Dolores. (650) 740-9849. www.sfhiking.com

Mon 2 Archie Rand @ Contemp.

Jewish Museum The 613, an exhibit of the artist’s paintings depicting each of the 613 Jewish texts for ethical and religious behavior. Also, Lamp of the Covenant: Dave Lane. Lectures and gallery talks as well (Fridays 12:30pm). Free (members)-$12.

Fri-Tue 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-8pm (closed Wed). 736 Mission St. 6557800. https://thecjm.org/

Unearthed @ California Academy of Sciences Exhibits and planetarium shows with various live, interactive and installed exhibits about animals, plants and the earth; new exhibit, From Stone Age to Space Age, showcases minerals through time. Special events each week, with adult nightlife parties many Thursday nights. $20-$35. Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

William Blake in Color @ William Blake Gallery Exhibit of classic plates in the new gallery of historic art by the 18th- and 19th-century poet and illustrator. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm.

Sat 11am-5pm. 49 Geary St. #205. www.williamblakegallery.com

Tue 3 Gay Outlaw @ Anglim Gilbert Gallery Ozone, the artist’s exhibit of new sculptural works. Thru Oct. 14. 1275 Minnesota St. anglimgilbertgallery.com

Ira Watkins @ Tenderloin Museum The “outsider” artist’s exhibit of endearing portraits and landscapes portraying Black Americans. Thru Oct. 11. 398 Eddy St. www.tenderloinmuseum.org

Thu 5

Tue 3

Women @ Scott Nichols Gallery

Faces of the Past @ GLBT History Museum

Stephen Beachy @ Dog Eared Books

Faces of the Past: Queer Lives in Northern California Before 1930, featuring vintage tintypes, mugshots and historic documents of LGBT lives, curated by Paula Lichtenberg and Bill Lipsky; also, Lavender-Tinted Glasses, a queer Summer of Love look curated by Joey Cain. $5. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

The acclaimed local author read from his new unusual novel, Glory Hole ; also stories by Johnny Ray Huston. 7pm. 489 Castro St. www.dogearedbooks.com

Mary McNear, Lori Ostlund, Laura J. Merrell @ Olive This Olive That The three authors read from their works about midwestern cuisine and share recipes; refreshments.

Wayne Goodman hosts. 7pm. 304 Vicksburg. olivethisolivethat.com

NYC & T @ Art Thou Gallery, Berkeley Group exhibit of 50 artists’ works inspired by New York City. Thru closing reception Oct. 14, 7pm.

1533 Solano Ave., Berkeley. www.theartthougallery.com

Will Durst @ The Marsh The witty comic performs his new solo show, Durst Case Scenario, with plenty of barbs at Hair Furor, aka Trump. $20-$100. Tuesdays, 8pm. Thru Nov. 21. 1062 Valencia St. www.themarsh.org

Women @ Scott Nichols Gallery Exhibit of fine art prints of female nudes and famous women by photographers Dorothea Lange, Imogen Cunningham, Henri CartierBresson, Edward Weston, Irving Penn, Mona Kuhn, Ruth Bernhard, André Kértesz, others. Reception Oct 12, 5:30-7:30pm. Thru Nov. 22.

49 Geary St., 4th floor. www.scottnicholsgallery.com

Wed 4 Queerest Library Ever @ SF Public Libraries Hormel at 20: Celebrating Our Past/ Creating Our Future, a dual exhibit of archival materials celebrating two decades of the LGBTQ collections.

100 Larkin St., 3rd floor, and at the Eureka Valley Branch, 1 Jose Sarria Court at 16th St. www.sfpl.org

Conversations With Gay Elders @ SF Public Library

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

Thu 5 Conversations With Gay Elders @ SF Public Library Filmmaker David Weissman ( The Cockettes, We Were Here ) cohosts a screening of an episode from his new project about elder gay stories, with 76-year-old Robert Dockendorff. Free. 6pm, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St. sfpl.org (Also, Episode 2 screens Oct. 12 at YBCA, 7:30pm, www.ybca.org ; Episode 3, Oct. 26 at Contemporary Jewish Museum, www.thecjm.org)

Economic Justice Month @ LGBT Center Workshops and panels addressing poverty and marginalization in the Bay Area and beyond. Free. 5:30pm.

1800 Market St. www.sfcenter.org

Freedom to Marry @ Little Red Hen Theatre, Sebastopol Screening of the marriage equality documentary. $10. 7pm. 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. sebastopolfilm.org

Various Exhibits @ The Beat Museum Enjoy exhibits, a bookstore/gift shop that celebrates the era of ‘beatnik’ literature (Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, etc.), with readings, walking tours and other events in North Beach. $5-$8. Daily 10am7pm. 540 Broadway kerouac.com To submit event listings, email events@ebar.com Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication.

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

September 28 - October 4, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 35

Tumblr-in’ Guys

Left: Sexy fucker smokes, tugs nips, and bulges his jock, at nippleplay87.tumblr Above: Oh, the joys of mummification, to be seen at SlaveRubberGimp.tumblr Right: The consciousness clouding connection between nips and cock, at NipplePigs.tumblr Bottom Right: Butch, bearded, and bulging, plus cigar, at PlainFilth.tumblr.

by John F. Karr

I

n the wake of the Folsom Street Fair, the craving for kink may still be churning within you. If so, I’ve got some recommendations that –surprise– aren’t for films.

This may sound strange coming from the guy who’s been watching so much porn, entirely too much porn, and reporting on it for nearly 40 years, but he mostly prefers photographs. Film for me is a quickie. A photo is something I tumble into.

Which brings us to tumblr.com, that addictive world of photos that lures you in and never lets you go.

Tumblr’s been famous as a mantrap for years now. Personally, it’s a trap I love, because I love photographs.

My father was a professional photographer, and even designed cameras for a noted company back in the 1940s.

We always had a darkroom in the basement, and I had barely finished being a tot before Dad was teaching me the differences between Leica and Hasselblad, and light meters, and f stops and the focal length of lenses, and the value of a fixed Zeiss Tessar 45mm f:2.8 lens. Oh, boy, you had to know a lot of technical stuff to take a photo. I never really took to it at all (my father taught me how to use his slide rule at least four times before he gave up). So what a relief it was when all that gave way to point and click.

And that’s what you do at Tumblr. Point at a photo, click, and you own it. Jeez, downloading sex pics is so meditative; clouds my consciousness right away.

And then there’s this. Watching filmed porno is passive, it makes you a Bottom. If you don’t care for the performer you’re watching, or the viewpoints of the director, there’s nothing you can do but turn it off. Looking at photo-porn is an active thing, it unlocks your imagination. Makes the subject of the photo subject to your whim. Looking at a photo makes you the Top. A note about accessing the riches of tumblr.com. That appellation must be prefaced by the individual site’s name plus dot, and succeeded with slash archive, like this: HotPhotos.tumblr.com/archive. The archive provides you with an overview of the entire site.

Salacious selections

Let’s start with dildoed, dilated, and dripping. BoyDil.tumblr is a

Russian site which is unlikely to fall within the purview of the Justice Department’s special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, unless he learns that Trump’s tuchas is a tote for toys.

BoyDil is the home of kinkier dildo play. If you like your rosebuds fully flowering, your ass lips competing for most distended manspread, and your big hole leading unto the abyss, you’ll find it here. No passport necessary.

HotGuysGagged.tumblr is a true B&D emporium. These pics aren’t snaps from professional porn, but submissions, ahem, from real people like you and me. The fellas here are not only mercilessly bound, hog-tied and blinded, but you can be sure they’re gagged, every which way.

SlaveRubberGimp.tumblr goes even further. Just listen to how the Master of the house treats Boy, aka Heavybondage, before you look at the illustrative photos. “ ‘Heavybondage’ experienced real heavy bondage when he was mummified for the first time. An unplanned and unscheduled first time visit to a tight rubber sleep-sack combined with tight rubber hood and inflatable gag then followed.

Challenging, to say the least.”

I look on in wonder, not believing some guys think this extreme mummification is fun. But I do like it when boners poke forth, an exotic plant bursting from its tight wrap, towers of flesh in various forms of engorged torture. I don’t know about the Gimp in the site’s name. There is a single photo of a completely mummified fellow who lacks arms below the elbow, and legs below the knee.

ScreamForMe.tumblr, aka MedicineBallGuy, is a site of severe B&D, with emphasis on nipples. I’ve long been dissatisfied by the near absence of nipple play in commercial porn.

Lucky there’s so much of it online.

This site delivers predicament bondage, and about its hottest depiction is a nipple torture predicament.

A metal rod at shoulder height has straps that hold a guy’s leg of the ground. His wrists are cuffed at the rod’s ends, and from the rod’s midpoint a chain leads to nipple clamps. Says Master, “Arms have to work hard to keep up the leg to protect boy’s nipples from the clamps.

Eventually,” Master says drolly, “something has to give.”

A gif shows what fun this is for boy, wobbling on one leg, but unfortunately, there’s no depiction of the ultimate give. ScreamForMe also

has such humdrum things as urethral plugs, cock cages, ball splitters, and a unique item new to me, a spike bridle. This is a small ring that’s fitted with spikes on the inside. It sits atop a cockhead, its pegs pointed inward.

It’s kept in place by tethers to another ring that rides just below the corona.

Any movement of the cock spears the spiked ring down into cockflesh.

Oy, as well as, Ouch. A sign found on the site advises, “When I want your opinion, I’ll remove the duct tape.”

Also on the nipple front is NipplePlay87.tumblr, with pics that leave me dripping, like the ones of nips weighted down, and, combining two of my favorite fetishes, nipple clamps chained to cockrings.

Holy cabooses, as Barnaby Tucker might say.

PlainFilth.tumblr has what its proprietor claims as “Absolute unapologetic perversion.” I think it’s sort of entry-level kink. There are leather uniforms of all sorts, and bondage without extremes. Nothing smacks of torture, but the guys are strong, masculine men, closely resembling Tom of Finland drawings.

Here’s a parting shot. BeardyNips. tumblr is maintained by “The Original Smokepunk.” It’s light on the BD/SM, and for fetishists into beards, hairy chests, and nipples, with an occasional nod to cigars and cigarettes; perhaps the only remaining taboo.t

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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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We’re adventurous, not reckless.

We know who we are. And we make choices that fit our lives.

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

8/11/17 11:41 AM 8/7/17 4:18 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. TVDC0135 07/17

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t

Read more online at www.ebar.com

September 28 - October 4, 2017 • Bay Area Reporter • 39

Shining Stars Steven Underhill Photos by

Folsom Street Fair @ South of Market

T

he 33th annual Folsom Street Fair lured 400,000 fetish enthusiasts and the merely curious. Spread out along a dozen blocks in SoMa on Sunday, September 24, more than 200 exhibitor booths showcased fetish gear and toys. Live acts and DJed grooves, the always funny-sexy Steamworks Twister game, porn studs and regular people showing off their bodies in extreme fetish dress-up and casual harness & shorts gear. With food and drinks, the weather also made for a grand day, with gate donations benefiting multiple local nonprofits in the hundreds of thousands. www.folsomstreetevents.org More photo albums are on BARtab’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife. See more of Steven Underhill’s photos at www.StevenUnderhill.com.

Read more online at www.ebar.com

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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

LOVE IS THE ANSWER. FOREVER PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY.

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