September 30, 2021 edition of the Bay Area Reporter

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Castro fair returns

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Vol. 51 • No. 39 • September 30-October 6, 2021

Castro tenants call SF’s housing preferences unfair

by Matthew S. Bajko

B

Courtesy AG’s Office

California Attorney General Rob Bonta

Ohio added to CA travel ban list due to anti-LGBTQ law

by Matthew S. Bajko

O

hio is now the 18th state covered by California’s travel ban restriction due to enacting anti-LGBTQ legislation. The prohibition on taxpayer-funded travel to the Buckeye State takes effect Thursday, September 30.

It is due to provisions of new legislation, House Bill 110, becoming law that allow for medical providers in the Midwest state to deny care to LGBTQ+ Americans, including Californians traveling in Ohio. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose office determines which states are placed on the state-funded travel restrictions list, made the announcement September 24.

“Blocking access to life-saving care is wrong.

Period,” stated Bonta. “Whether it’s denying a prescription for medication that prevents the spread of HIV, refusing to provide gender-affirming care, or undermining a woman’s right to choose, HB 110 unnecessarily puts the health of Americans at risk.”

Under California’s Assembly Bill 1887, which Bonta had voted to adopt in 2015 when he served in the Assembly, state funds can’t be used to travel to states that have adopted discriminatory laws against LGBTQ people since the Golden State bill took effect. Authored by gay Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) and signed into law by former governor Jerry Brown, the restriction on taxpayer-funded travel covers government workers, academics, and college sports teams at public universities.

“Ohio’s decision to condone attacks on the health of its nearly 400,000 LGBTQ+ residents was widely opposed by the state’s medical community. It’s plain that this law only serves to discriminate,” stated Low, currently chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. “We will never put Californians at risk of falling victim to the same toxic standard by supporting the use of taxpayer dollars for travel in places where anti-LGBTQ discrimination is the law of the land.”

In late June during Pride Month Bonta had added Florida, Montana, West Virginia, Arkansas and North Dakota to the “no fly” list, with travel to all five now banned as of August because lawmakers in those states adopted antiLGBTQ legislation during their 2021 legislative sessions. It was the first time that Bonta had expanded the travel ban list since becoming attorney general in late April.

See page 5 >>

Smaller crowd enjoys Megahood2021

M

egahood2021, the leather and kink street festival that replaced the Folsom Street Fair this year, was held in person in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood Sunday, September 26. It saw a smaller crowd than the typical quarter of a million people, but pole dancer Alex, who was

Gooch

not comfortable sharing her last name but is known on Instagram at @cryptid.next.door and is a student at VRV3 Studios, certainly drew onlookers during her performance. Fair producer Folsom Street Events went back to its roots this year – Megahood was the name of the first street fair held back in 1984.

ack when they were a couple and living on Sanchez Street in San Francisco’s LGBTQ Castro district in 2004, Tito Vandermeyden and Demian Quesnel were evicted from their apartment. The gay men’s neighbors in the building were also evicted from their apartment, resulting in at least seven tenants being displaced.

The following year they attempted to land a below-market-rate apartment via the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development’s affordable housing program but weren’t selected. After they split up in 2009, Vandermeyden began trying to buy an affordable unit on his own.

Over the past 12 years he has applied for at least 15 one-bedroom below-market-rate housing units in the city but has had no luck via the lottery system used to select the applicants who will become homeowners. The process has been “very discouraging,” Vandermeyden, 60, told the Bay Area Reporter.

“At one point I just gave up because I thought it was never going to happen,” said Vandermeyden, who moved to San Francisco in 1995 from Amsterdam and has called the Castro home ever since. “I have never won. I have enough money See page 10 >>

Officials, advocates prepare for end of pandemic eviction protections

by John Ferrannini

E

lected officials and tenants advocates are sounding the alarm about the impending end of COVID-19 eviction protections in the Bay Area.

Twenty-eight Bay Area legal, housing, tenant, and other community groups published “Eight Essential Actions For The Bay Area: Preparing for the COVID-19 Eviction and Foreclosure Cliff,” listing what community members at all levels can do to prepare for September 30, when the moratorium ends.

“We need a plan and we have recommendations for what cities and counties can do to protect their residents when eviction protections expire on September 30,” said Lupe Arreola, the executive director of Tenants Together, during a recent press briefing.

That date is important because it marks the end of California’s temporary eviction moratorium, which was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in the form of Assembly Bill 3088 last year, and extended till September 30 in the form of AB 832, which was signed three months ago.

Under AB 832, tenants must provide landlords a signed declaration in response to a 15-day notice

Rick Gerharter

Tenant groups are preparing for what they describe could be an “eviction cliff” when the state’s moratorium ends September 30.

to pay rent, and pay at least 25% of the rent owed between September 2020 and September 2021 no later than September 30. This can be paid by monthly increments or in one lump sum.

However, it’d be a mistake to assume the unpaid rent is forgiven: landlords can take tenants to small claims court starting November 1 for any unpaid rent.

The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported that the state law upends the city’s eviction moratorium ending December 31 for tenants that have paid a quarter of their rent.

That was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors in June. The state’s law supercedes the local one, the paper reported.

District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston, a longtime tenants rights advocate who represents the Western Addition, Haight Ashbury, and surrounding neighborhoods on the board, said during a Board of Supervisors meeting that his office tried to create a legal workaround to the state law but was unsuccessful in doing so. His office did not respond to a request for comment.

Across the Bay Bridge in Alameda County, the moratorium lasts as long as local emergency orders remain in place, according to the ordinance passed by the Board of Supervisors. Because of the indefinite nature of the moratorium, it may not be preempted by the state law that affected San Francisco County’s moratorium. Bay Area Legal Aid and East Bay Community Law Center, which assist tenants in Alameda County, did not respond to requests for comment.

See page 8 >>

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t Herrera to SFPUC, Chiu to city attorney’s office 2 • Bay Area Reporter • September 30-October 6, 2021

by Cynthia Laird

T

he San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday approved City Attorney Dennis Herrera’s contract to serve as the new SFPUC general manager and the next day Mayor London Breed appointed Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) to succeed him.

Now begins a series of political musical chairs, as Governor Gavin Newsom will call a special election to fill Chiu’s Eastside Assembly seat. Already, gay former supervisor David Campos announced he plans to run for the 17th District Assembly seat.

The Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club has already scheduled a vote on early endorsing Campos’ Assembly bid at its October general membership meeting. Fellow progressive District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney is also expected to seek to succeed Chiu in the special election expected to be held some time before March 21. Whoever wins the special election would need to seek a full two-year term in the 2022 general election.

Chiu, a former San Francisco supervisor, stated that he was pleased to take on a new role.

“I am deeply grateful and humbled by the opportunity to serve as San Francisco’s next city attorney,” Chiu stated in a news release from the mayor’s office. “Throughout my legal career and in public service, I have seen the real impact of the law on everyday people. It will be an honor to be able to use the power of the law to fight for justice on behalf of the people of San Francisco in this new capacity.”

Breed nominated Herrera to take over the troubled SFPUC in April. Former general manager

John Ferrannini

Mayor London Breed announced that Assemblyman David Chiu, left, will succeed Dennis Herrera, right, as San Francisco’s city attorney. Herrera will take over the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission November 1.

Harlan Kelly was charged in a federal criminal complaint with taking bribes in the city’s corruption scandal that saw the arrest of former Public Works director Mohammed Nuru last year on public corruption charges. Kelly’s wife, Naomi Kelly, had served as San Francisco city administrator but resigned in February. She has not been charged in the corruption scandal.

Herrera was elected as city attorney of San Francisco in 2001, and will bring decades of experience serving city residents and advancing environmental policiesS A N around clean water and renewable energy through his nationally-recognized office, a news release from the mayor’s office stated. In that position, he led the city’s efforts to legalize same-sex marriage.

In June, the SFPUC Commission officially recommended Herrera to serve as the agency’s next general manager. With the ratification of his contract September

Herrera stated he’s excited to begin a new chapter in his career.

“I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work for all of the SFPUC’s ratepayers,” Herrera stated. “It’s an honor to have this unique opportunity to face the challenges of our time as the general manager of the SFPUC. We are in a historic drought fueled by climate change. PG&E’s unsafe and unreliable management of the power grid hampers our ability to meet our climate change goals.

Now is the time to make real progress. It’s time to further diversify our water sources, boost our water recycling, deliver a state-of-theart seismically strong wastewater system, and buy the electric grid in the city so we can provide all San Franciscans with clean, safe, and reliable public power. I want to thank Mayor Breed and the SFPUC commission for this opportunity. I couldn’t be prouder of the work the city attorney’s office has done over the last 20 years, and now I’m ready to join all of the hardworking staff at the SFPUC to meet these challenges together.”

28 by the commission, Herrera will officially begin his new post November 1. According to the commission’s agenda, it voted on a $395,000 contract for Herrera.

“With the commission approving Dennis Herrera’s contract, I am glad we can now move forward with a new era for the SFPUC,” Breed stated. “Dennis’s long track SFPUC services record of integrity and ethical The SFPUC provides retail leadership, as well as his experidrinking water and wastewater ence leading on issues from civil services to the City of San Franrights to environmental proteccisco, wholesale water to three Bay tion to renewable energy, has Area counties, green hydroelectric demonstrated the type of leaderand solar power to Hetch Hetchy ship he will bring to this new role.

R A FA E L ICHMOND electricity customers, Rand power I am confident that he is the right to the residents and businesses of person at the right time for this San Francisco through the Cleani c h m oSFPUC n d - s a n ra f a e l b r i d g e job, and I fully expect rthe PowerSF program. to continue moving forward pro“After a thoughtful and delibgrams like CleanPowerSF and our erative process to select the new ambitious efforts around public general manager, the commission power. I want to thank the comlooks forward to working with mission and President Sophie general manager Herrera to make Maxwell for their leadership durthe SFPUC a model utility of the ing this process and Dennis Herfuture, and to tackle the critical rera for his willingness to serve.”

issues facing the SFPUC and the state,” Maxwell stated. “We want to express our thanks to acting General Manager Michael Carlin for his service these past 10 months.”

For nearly two decades, Herrera has been at the forefront of pivotal water, power, and sewer issues.

He worked to save state ratepayers $1 billion during PG&E’s first bankruptcy in the early 2000s and has been a leading advocate for San Francisco to adopt full public power for years.

In 2009, he reached a key legal agreement with Mirant to permanently close the Potrero Power Plant, San Francisco’s last fossil fuel power plant, and secured $1 million to help address pediatric asthma in nearby communities, the release stated.

In 2018, Herrera defeated a yearslong attempt to drain Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, the crown jewel of the SFPUC system, which provides emissions-free hydroelectric power and clean drinking water to 2.7 million Bay Area residents, the release pointed out. He is also leading efforts before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the courts to fight PG&E’s predatory tactics to grow its corporate monopoly by illegally overcharging public projects like schools, homeless shelters, and affordable housing to connect to the energy grid.

Herrera sued the five largest investor-owned fossil fuel companies in the world in 2017, alleging they knew for decades that their products caused global warming, and yet they deliberately deceived consumers about their products’ known dangers while continuing to promote and profit off them, See page 10 >>

BERKELEY

angel island

SAU SA L I TO

a l c a t ra z golden gate bridge

t re a s u re island

THE BRISTOL CONDOMINIUMS 400 BRISTOL COURT OAKLAND SAN FRANCISCO

HOUSEHOLD SIZE

ONE PERSON

TWO PERSON

THREE PERSON

FOUR PERSON

FIVE PERSON

SIX PERSON

SEVEN PERSON

MAXIMUM INCOME AT 89% OF AMI

$83,000

$94,850

$106,700

$118,550

$128,050

$137,500

$147,000

MAXIMUM INCOME AT 112% OF AMI

$104,450

$119,350

$134,300

$149,200

$161,100

$173,050

$184,950

MAXIMUM INCOME AT 134% OF AMI

$124,950

$142,800

$160,650

$178,500

$192,750

$207,050

$221,300

UNIT NO.

BEDROOM COUNT

BATH COUNT

SQUARE FEET

FLOOR #

HOA DUES W/O PARKING

HOA DUES W/ PARKING

PRICE W/O PARKING

PRICE W/ PARKING

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE INCOME LEVEL

104

2

2.5

1,329

1

$1,358.57

$1,358.57

$375,598

$490,598

112% of AMI

108

2

2.5

1,310

1

$1,357.06

$1,357.06

$511,530

$626,530

134% of AMI

114

3

2.5

2,325

1

$1,473.88

$1,473.88

$425,969

$540,969

112% of AMI

123

0

1

745

1

$1,290.60

$1,290.60

$139,631

$254,631

89% of AMI

207

1

1

898

2

$1,307.97

$1,307.97

$313,383

$428,383

112% of AMI

215

1

1

920

2

$1,311.59

$1,311.59

$192,417

$307,417

89% of AMI

222

2

2.5

1,347

2

$1,361.37

$1,361.37

$375,086

$490,086

112% of AMI

226

1

1

886

2

$1,306.46

$1,306.46

$434,214

$549,214

134% of AMI

319

1

1

936

3

$1,309.02

$1,309.02

$313,191

$428,191

112% of AMI

321

2

2.5

1,402

3

$1,366.73

$1,366.73

$374,105

$489,105

112% of AMI

328

2

2.5

1,340

3

$1,360.55

$1,360.55

$239,832

$354,832

89% of AMI

409

1

1

898

4

$1,307.97

$1,307.97

$313,383

$428,383

112% of AMI

415

1

1

920

4

$1,311.59

$1,311.59

$312,720

$427,720

112% of AMI

425

0

1

749

4

$1,290.60

$1,290.60

$350,287

$465,287

134% of AMI

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Untitled-3 1

8/25/21 12:32 PM

t Community News>>

September 30-October 6, 2021 • Bay Area Reporter • 5

Supes to vote on Grubstake’s fate after appeal

by John Ferrannini

Consos claims he is pursuing the project to make the salvaging of the historic LGBTQ+-friendly venue financially feasible. The appeal from Patricia Rose and Claire Rose, among other residents, gives many reasons why the project shouldn’t go forward: including that demolishing the existing building would necessarily mean the diner couldn’t be preserved as a historic resource, impacts to vehicular traffic and public transportation, and the negative impacts of shadow on The Austin property and its residents.

“It is noted that there are proposals within the proposed project that attempt to replicate the Grubstake within the proposed new building by removing and incorporating specific features in the new project,” the appeal states. “Curiously, though, these specific efforts are not mitigation measures. These efforts are insufficient to mitigate the loss of the historic resource. … The treatment of this historic resource is embarrassingly inadequate.”

At the September 27 rally, Consos urged people to call during public

comment at next week’s supervisors meeting to voice their support for the project.

“It means so much to us here at Grubstake that we are not alone,” he said, flanked by MORE!, Sachet, and Gary Virginia, a former board president of both PRC and SF Pride.

Speaking to the B.A.R., Consos, a straight ally, said that the purpose of the rally was to “inform the community as to what’s going on and the importance of this place.”

Virginia reminisced about the historic importance of the diner.

“I moved here in 1987 and have lived in the Castro district most of those years,” he said. “I’ve always felt welcome and safe at Grubstake as an openly gay man ... as a young man, as an older man whatever I was wearing – or wasn’t.”

Sachet told the B.A.R. that Consos is “quite a historian, and his love of this place reignited mine.”

“You think I wanted to be up at noon after Folsom Street weekend?”

Sachet asked, rhetorically. “None of us should be here. You know who should be here? U-Hauls moving people into affordable housing. We who live here in the Bay Area know we need new housing yesterday.”

MORE!, a Polk Gulch neighborhood resident, said that the LGBTQ community still needs spaces like

cian services, counseling and social work, psychological and psychiatric services, surgery, and the provision of pharmaceuticals,” noted Bonta’s office in a press release.

Under the law medical practitioners or healthcare institutions that do restrict services and treatment to patients are protected from civil, criminal, or administrative consequences, noted Bonta’s office. And despite HB 110 suggesting medical practitioners try to transfer a patient

where appropriate, it “offers no real protection because the language is discretionary and does not require action to help the patient,” concluded Bonta’s office.

Writing about the bill in June Gary Daniels, the American Civil Liberties Union Ohio’s chief lobbyist, warned that “the practical implications may include Catholic hospitals refusing to admit LGBTQ Ohioans, health insurance companies refusing to pay for contraception, doctors block-

ing fertility treatments, and so much more. And, because this also includes non-religious reasons, discrimination against pro-choicers, Trump voters, meat eaters, and Michigan fans will all be fair game.”

The other states on California’s banned travel list are Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas. The office of San Francisco’s city administrator keeps

T

he latest chapter in the Grubstake Diner saga was written at noontime Monday, as drag queens Juanita MORE! and Donna Sachet appeared at the Polk Gulch neighborhood late night eatery expressing LGBTQ community support for a construction project that would save it.

“As your empress, I implore you to say anything you can, as loudly as you can,” said MORE! – recently elected the Imperial Court empress of San Francisco. “Unlike the building next door, we want to build a space people can afford to live in.”

That building next door at 1545 Pine Street is a condominium complex called The Austin, which has dwellings in the million dollar range.

B.A.R. readers may have thought that the controversy over whether Grubstake owners Jimmy Consos and Nick Pigott could build 21 units (reaching 79 feet high) above the diner over the objections of its neighbors had ended July 22, when the Planning Commission approved the project in a 4-2 vote.

But subsequently, some residents at the neighboring 1545 Pine Street building appealed that decision to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, which will vote October 5 at 3 p.m. to grant the appeal or reject it.

<<

Travel ban

From page 1

As for Ohio’s new law, Bonta’s office said it is “particularly troublesome” due to it granting medical providers the right to deny important healthcare services to any patient over the entire course of the patient’s treatment. The law applies “to a wide range of important services, including nursing and physi-

Christopher Robledo

Empress Juanita MORE! speaks about the importance of Grubstake Diner’s housing proposal during a rally September 27.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU UCSF is deeply committed to providing care for LGBTQ+ people and their families that isn’t just equitable—as crucial as equity is.

We’re committed to giving you care that’s warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable, too.

That’s why we’re a longtime Equality Leader in HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index—and why we offer a uniquely wide range of support for our LGBTQ+ patients and employees.

We look forward to warmly welcoming you— and offering the great, supportive care that you and your family deserve. www.ucsfhealth.org

Grubstake just as the city needs more affordable housing.

“I’ve stayed in this place many nights – way after they closed – hanging out, talking, and having a good time,” MORE! recalled. “Unlike the building next to us, we want to build a space people can afford to live in.”

Sister Roma, of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, out of face, also made an appearance.

“I’ve been eating here forever,” Roma said. “I love this place. I 1,000% support building affordable housing here.”

David P. Cincotta, an attorney who filed the appeal on behalf of the Roses, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, the only LGBTQ member of the board, stated to the Bay Area Reporter that “I have a policy of not taking positions on appeals that will be heard by the Board of Supervisors because if I do I will be unable to vote.”

But the rally and the “many emails my office has received supporting the project make clear that the queer community loves Grubstake and wants to see it preserved,” Mandelman concluded.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who represents District 3, where the Grubstake Diner is located, did not respond to a request for comment. t a similar list banning taxpayerfunded travel for non-essential trips to states that have adopted anti-LGBTQ laws since 2015.

It also outlaws city departments from contracting with businesses located in those states. The city also now bans its employees from using taxpayer dollars to travel to states that restrict access to abortion services. Thus, 24 states are now on San Francisco’s list, including Ohio having been added on January 1, 2020. t

<< Open Forum

t Don’t leave LGBTQ Afghans behind

6 • Bay Area Reporter • September 30-October 6, 2021

Volume 51, Number 39 September 30-October 6, 2021 www.ebar.com

PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) Bob Ross, Founder (1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird ARTS & NIGHTLIFE EDITOR Jim Provenzano ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko • John Ferrannini CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tavo Amador • Roger Brigham Brian Bromberger • Victoria A. Brownworth Philip Campbell • Heather Cassell Michael Flanagan • Jim Gladstone Liz Highleyman • Lisa Keen Matthew Kennedy • David Lamble David-Elijah Nahmod • Paul Parish Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith •Sari Staver • Charlie Wagner Ed Walsh • Cornelius Washington • Sura Wood

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P

resident Joe Biden defended his decision to pull troops out of Afghanistan last month, but lost in the ensuing debate has been the fate of LGBTQ Afghans now living under the homophobic Taliban regime. As LGBTQ outlets, including the Bay Area Reporter, have reported, the latest development is that a coalition of six global LGBTQ organizations have called on the Biden administration to protect and resettle vulnerable groups, including queer Afghans.

The Council for Global Equality; Human Rights Campaign; Immigration Equality; International Refugee Assistance Project; Organization for Refuge, Asylum, and Migration; and the Rainbow Railroad sent a letter to Biden earlier this month. In it, they pointedly stated that as the withdrawal from Afghanistan will be part of the president’s legacy, so will the actions the administration takes to ensure the well-being of vulnerable populations such as LGBTQ Afghans. The coalition of LGBTQ organizations correctly stated that although same-sex activity was criminalized before the Taliban re-took control, the new regime’s “mandate to rule with Sharia law makes the fate of LGBTQI Afghans even more precarious.”

“There are already alarming reports from LGBTQI Afghans about their fear of living under Taliban rule, with many saying that they have gone into hiding in fear for their lives,” the organizations wrote. In July, Taliban Judge Gul Rahim told German magazine Bild that there were only two punishments for homosexuals under Sharia Law: execution by stoning or a wall falling on them. Reports of LGBTQ Afghans being executed by Taliban soldiers had been making headlines around the world before the U.S. completely withdrew from the country.

The coalition is “deeply disappointed” that the administration did not press to extend the August 31 deadline to evacuate more atrisk refugees from Kabul, but it noted that Biden has pledged to continue to support refugee evacuation and resettlement. Unfortunately, in the weeks since the September 9 letter, the administration has said little publicly about what it will do.

The coalition’s call to action comes after 64 members of Congress called upon Secretary of State Antony Blinken to protect LGBTQ Afghans. In a September 13 statement, Blinken an-

Courtesy ABC News

President Joe Biden and his administration need to step up efforts to help queer Afghans resettle in the U.S. or allied countries.

nounced the U.S. is providing nearly $64 million in new humanitarian assistance.

The 10-point plan issued by the coalition is straightforward. One of the most important is that the administration “provide and effectively implement ‘Priority 2’ (P-2) access to the U.S. refugee program for the highly vulnerable population of LGBTQI individuals fleeing Afghanistan” and to waive the application fee for any queer Afghan applying to relocate to the U.S. on an expedited basis via humanitarian parole.”

It also calls for a new program of temporary protected status for Afghans in the U.S., including those paroled into the country on an emergency basis. These requests are critical because the Taliban regime is quickly reverting to its old ways. Women, especially, are bearing the brunt of the Taliban’s renewed crackdowns on education. As the Associated Press reported September 28, “Women are already feeling restrictions. Female employees in the Kabul city government have mostly been told to stay home, and high school girls have not been allowed back to class.” The New York Times reported that Kabul University’s new Taliban chancellor has barred women as instructors or students, which, of course, is reminiscent of Taliban rule in the 1990s.

Make no mistake that the situation is dire for queer Afghans, for whom hiding their identity is necessary for survival. Nemat Sadat, who became the first Afghan to publicly come

Trumpism versus California

by David Chiu

D Bay Area Reporter 44 Gough Street, Suite 204 San Francisco, CA 94103 415.861.5019 • www.ebar.com A division of BAR Media, Inc. © 2021 President: Michael M. Yamashita Director: Scott Wazlowski

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out as gay and ex-Muslim in 2013, has been helping queer Afghans.

“Afghanistan’s LGBTQIA community has been fighting on the frontlines in the global war on radical Islam. For the past two decades, LGBTQ+ Afghans have risked it all to legitimize the democratic experiment and usher social progress in Afghanistan, even though they were themselves criminalized under the law and benefited the least from the billions in aid that flowed into the country,” he wrote in a recent statement to the B.A.R. “When Kabul fell and the Taliban took over, the incremental gains that LGBTQ+ Afghans had made reversed overnight and now they also face an imminent threat of extermination under Sharia law.”

U.S. officials must heed the 10-point plan and help queer Afghans get to the U.S., even if it means temporarily staying in a third country, which is also one of the recommendations. Other countries are stepping up. The Times reported this week that Canada, which previously stated it will include LGBTQs in its resettlement plans, will double its Afghan resettlement program target to 40,000 people.

The Biden administration does not seem to have a plan to assist queer Afghan refugees and asylees trying to leave the country. U.S. leaders should have had programs in place; it was no secret that the Taliban were working to retake the country, which it did in short order and forced the Afghan government to collapse. The administration should be working with our allies and non-governmental organizations that have been reliable in identifying and recommending LGBTQI Afghans to the State Department for protection, as the coalition’s plan states.

Locally, Bay Area cities have stepped up.

Groups such as Oakland-based Refugee and Immigrant Transitions and Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay are helping welcome Afghan refugees, although it is not known how many identify as LGBTQ. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution September 28 to support Afghan refugees. Policymakers in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere must keep in mind that LGBTQs living in Afghanistan are in an untenable situation. They can’t live as their authentic selves, and risk imprisonment or even death at the hands of the Taliban. The U.S. must step up its efforts to aid those most vulnerable of persecution because LGBTQ rights are human rights. t

espite former President Donald Trump’s reelection defeat last year, in recent times, we have seen the manifestation of Trumpism as his political allies across the country continue to target our democratic institutions and our most vulnerable: at least 18 states enacting laws that restrict the right to vote; 34 legislatures introducing over 100 bills targeting the transgender community; and the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to block Texas’ neartotal abortion ban. However, at the same time, we’ve seen in California the victories that occur when our communities come together for real progress, a juxtaposition that underscores the importance of intersectional movements.

As conservative efforts to curtail the right to vote have continued throughout the country, California experienced our homegrown version of a Republican takeover attempt with the recent recall election. Because of California’s flawed recall process, there was a real possibility that Republican Larry Elder – one of the most extreme candidates in recent state history – could have become governor with far fewer votes than were cast for Governor Gavin Newsom on the recall question. But thanks to a winning coalition in which the LGBTQ community was joined by Black, Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander, labor, progressive, and women constituencies, we avoided disaster, and are now having serious conversations about reforming the recall process to ensure it reflects the votes of a majority of the electorate.

While Republican-controlled state legislatures around the country have targeted transgender young people this year, our Democraticmajority California Legislature easily passed Assembly Bill 245. Currently on Newsom’s desk, my bill would ensure that public colleges and universities in California are required to update students’ transcripts and diplomas with the name and gender markers that match their

Courtesy Assemblyman Chiu’s office

Assemblyman David Chiu

authentic selves; this builds on our law, AB 711 passed in 2019, to require the same for K-12 schools. Combined with gay Assemblyman Chris Ward’s (D-San Diego) AB 218 to similarly streamline the process for transgender and gender-nonconforming Californians to update marriage and birth certificates, we are a few more steps closer to ensuring all Californians can navigate their personal and professional lives authentically.

In contrast to Texas, when California conservatives recently attacked my Planned Parenthood-sponsored bill to protect patient confidentiality, our state’s Democrats held strong.

AB 1184 ensures that insurers maintain privacy for patients who access sensitive health care services, and expands the definition of sensitive services to include gender-affirming health care. Opponents referred to gender-affirming care as “experimental treatments in secret” and said “child predators and sex traffickers rely on secrecy to manipulate their victims.” Despite these heinous attacks, our coalition representing women, LGBTQ, public health, and civil rights communities won the day. My Democratic colleagues voted to pass AB 1184, and Newsom signed it September 22, along with AB 1356 by Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda). Her bill bans

the harassment and doxing that abortion protesters will do at clinics, such as filming patients and providers, following them, posting their personal information on extremist websites, and threatening their safety.

Our Legislature and governor agreed on a landmark budget this year that made critical investments in LGBTQ+ communities and communities of color. Thanks to the leadership of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, we invested $10 million to support LGBTQ+ support centers on California’s community college campuses, $3 million to develop LGBTQ+ cultural competency teacher training, and $750,000 to preserve archives at the California State Library about the historic contributions of LGBTQ+ people. The governor’s budget also includes $13 million to fund a trans health fund that was approved last year but had no funding due to financial concerns prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As our Legislature adjourned our 2021 legislative session earlier this month, I’m proud of how we continue to lead the country in pushing state government to make California more fair for the LGBTQ+ community. However, the fight for justice continues. As we recover from a oncein-a-century pandemic, the worst recession since the Great Depression, and an era of historic inequality, we have a lot of unfinished business. As we look to next year’s legislative session, we have another opportunity to live up to California’s values, to ask ourselves who is and is not included, and to move our state toward a future truly equal for all. t Assemblyman David Chiu, a straight ally, represents San Francisco’s 17th District. On September 29, Mayor London Breed named Chiu as the next San Francisco city attorney, replacing Dennis Herrera, who will become general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission November 1.

t

Politics >>

September 30-October 6, 2021 • Bay Area Reporter • 7

SF supes panel advances code update to collect LGBTQ city hiring data

by Matthew S. Bajko

A

San Francisco supervisors’ panel has advanced a code update that will allow for tracking how many LGBTQ people are employed by, and are applying for, city and county jobs. It now moves on to the full Board of Supervisors to approve.

As the Bay Area Reporter first reported in June, city leaders want to be able to ask employees and those who apply for jobs with the city and county in a voluntary and anonymous way if they identify as part of the LGBTQ community. In order to do so, however, a restriction in the city’s municipal code that forbids it from inquiring into the “sexual orientation, practices, or habits” of city employees must be removed.

Known as Chapter 12E, the City Employee’s Sexual Privacy Ordinance of the Administrative Code, it was enacted in 1985 during the height of the AIDS epidemic as a way to protect LGBTQ applicants and city employees from being discriminated against. Despite local laws banning LGBTQ-based discrimination that had been adopted in the late 1970s, there was widespread concern among the general public about LGBTQ people transmitting the thenlittle-understood virus.

Those fears led to city leaders wanting to strengthen protections for LGBTQ people seeking employment with City Hall or various city departments and their drafting of Chapter 12E. Now, with those concerns about people living with HIV unable to land jobs with the city having largely vanished, Mayor London Breed and gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman introduced legislation during Pride Month that would repeal that section of the Administrative Code.

“LGBTQ people have, until recently, largely been ignored in the collection of demographic information by all levels of government,” noted Mandelman during Monday’s meeting of the board’s Rules Committee, on which he sits.

He and fellow committee members, District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan and District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who chairs rules, unanimously voted to recommend the code section be deleted. The full board is expected to pass the code change at its October 5 meeting, the first during LGBTQ History Month, and finalize its decision at its October 19 meeting. It doesn’t meet October 12, due to the city’s observances of

Rick Gerharter

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman

Italian American Heritage Day that Tuesday and Indigenous Peoples’ Day the Monday prior.

Due to legislation authored in 2016 by then-District 8 supervisor Scott Wiener, a gay man who now is a state senator, many city departments and their contractors are required to collect sexual orientation and gender identity, or SOGI, data on their clients, noted Mandelman. It is time the city, he added, which is the largest employer in San Francisco, also did so among its approximately 37,000 workforce.

“This data has helped us to identify the needs of LGBTQ San Franciscans and evaluate whether we are effectively and equitably meeting those needs,” said Mandelman, adding that by collecting the SOGI employee data, “we can better track our citywide employment equity goals, address any gaps, and identify strategies to recruit LGBTQ employees interested in public service.”

Should the supervisors adopt the code change as expected then the LGBTQ demographic directive would take effect January 1. It would be up to the Department of Human Resources, now led by out director Carol Isen, to determine how to collect the sexual orientation and gender identity demographic information of employees and job applicants in a manner that protects their privacy and anonymity.

As Victor Ruiz-Cornejo, a gay man who advises Breed on LGBTQ policy issues, noted at the inaugural meeting last week of the Human Rights Commission’s reconstituted LGBTQI+ advisory committee, without such data there is no way to be sure that LGBTQ people are applying for city jobs.

“What that tells us is maybe we need to do a better job marketing our jobs to our community and ensuring people hear about opportunities in city government,” said Ruiz-Cornejo.

“We know often these are good paying jobs we want our community to have access to.”

The LGBTQI+ advisory committee unanimously approved seeing the code be wiped from the city’s books.

But several flagged the need to ensure that the questions asked of employees and applicants are written in a way that accurately tracks people’s gender identity.

The human resources department is expected to confer with the LGBTQI+ consultative group and others, such as the Mayor’s Office of Transgender Initiatives, on the SOGI data collection effort. Pau Crego Walters, a trans man who is the deputy director and director of programs at the mayoral trans office, noted in a presentation to the Rules Committee that the city already collects and aggregates data on the race and gender, though only male and female, of its workforce.

He pointed out that the information has been used to show that Black and Brown city and county employees are far more likely to be face disciplinary action than their counterparts from other ethnicities.

Yet, because there is no SOGI data, the city doesn’t know if its LGBTQ employees are more likely to be disciplined compared to their straight co-workers.

“This is the first step toward identifying similar issues with regards to LGBTQ equity,” he said. “It will allow us to look at city workforce data in a more comprehensive way.”

In addition to the human resources department collecting the employee and job applicant SOGI data, all city departments would be ordered to add voluntary SOGI questions to the surveys where they ask other demographic data from their employees and job applicants.

Having such data, said Walters, makes it possible to see if there are any LGBTQ bias trends in the city’s hiring processes and its retention of employees.

And the city will be able to discern, said Walters, what are the “unique needs of LGBTQ city employees and better recruit LGBTQ talent.” t

Letters >> Country club a sober space

In reference to your article on Terry Beswick’s new position with the Golden Gate Business Association [“Beswick hired to lead LGBTQ biz group,” September 23], you referred to his past work with the Castro Country Club and called it a “sobering center,” not exactly an accurate description. A sobering center would be a place where people actively intoxicated on alcohol or drugs are taken to come down from their high, which definitely has its purpose, but that’s not what the CCC is.

The Castro Country Club would be more accurately described as a “sober space” where recovery meetings happen. It’s also a place where volunteers run a coffee and snack bar open to all, with an outdoor deck where people can relax and talk with sponsors or friends.

Larry-bob Roberts San Francisco

[Editor’s note: The online version of the article has been updated to reflect the more accurate description of the Castro Country Club.]

Soot will cover Milk plaza glass

As one of those who believes that Harvey Milk Plaza could be improved with minor cosmetics, and would, I think, cost way less than the estimated $10 million, (which, if you’ve lived in San Francisco for longer than an hour, you know that that number will balloon to twice that amount), I admit that the current offered plan is much better than pre-

vious ones [“SF arts panel backs latest Milk plaza design,” September 23].

I do have some concerns. I live right on Upper Market (just above the Castro) and I know that it is almost impossible to keep glass clean for longer than a few days. With four lanes of traffic, buses, trucks, cars, motorized cable cars, etc., the soot and dust generated is enormous and dirty. Good luck on keeping the glass, rose-colored overhang clean.

And with all due respect to Cleve Jones, it’s an exaggeration to call the current steps “a death trap.” Muni has been my only form of transportation for the last 36 years and I walk those steps almost daily. I have never seen anyone fall, ever. I’ve seen a few stumble on the escalator and once I saw a drag queen wearing 10-inch heels, earbuds in, on her phone, carrying a large coffee, singing and twirling to Lady Gaga, bump into a few people but other than that, no major or minor accidents.

I also like telling people that the steps are the only ones at any Muni station that aren’t “straight.” It’s the little things, I guess.

I still wish the plan included a statue of Milk on the sidewalk. I think the new saying would become, “meet me at the Harvey statue” and that would especially peek the interest of anyone unfamiliar with Milk to want to find out more. His legacy would continue.

I remain hopeful. Peace, love, and laughter.

Joe Mac San Francisco

Barry Schneider Attorney at Law

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<< Community News

t Castro Street Fair to return Sunday after hiatus 8 • Bay Area Reporter • September 30-October 6, 2021

by John Ferrannini

Meyer stated it will cover the area between Noe and Market streets on the north end, to 18th and Castro streets on the south end.

“In order to best support the merchants of the Castro, the fair will not be selling alcoholic beverages this year,” Meyer said. “We encourage all of our attendees to patronize the restaurants and bars in the neighborhood.”

Megahood2021, which replaced the Folsom Street Fair last weekend in the South of Market neighborhood, also did not have beverage booths.

“Dance Alley, which is usually in the parking lot behind Walgreens [at Castro and 18th streets], will be front and center this year – in the

intersection of Market and Castro [streets],” Meyer stated. “We are happy to welcome back our friends with Cheer SF, as well. We are also encouraging the businesses with parklets (or just sidewalk space) to create entertainment in front of their businesses and we will be promoting on our social media.”

Lopez had previously stated that “we are not doing a number of stages like in the past, taking cue from what the folks over at Folsom Street [Events] are doing,” though Megahood2021 had five stages.

“We have T-shirts and hoodies available online (https://www. bonfire.com/hope-will-never-besilent/) and will be selling branded face masks at the fair,” Meyer stat-

ed. “Our fair map will be online this year with QR codes to scan at the gates. Our website is also the place to find out more about the beneficiary organizations for 2021, as the fair is a fundraiser for these groups.”

The beneficiary organizations were not listed on the website as of press time Wednesday morning.

Meyer said that face masks are encouraged.

“We very much encourage everyone to wear masks when in crowds, especially those who are not vaccinated yet,” Meyer stated.

“And we encourage everyone to get the vaccine!”

The fair booklet is not yet on the website (www.castrostreetfair. org), which states that “more info about our amazing talent” will soon be announced.

“As with every year, we aim to raise funds for our beneficiary organizations as well as cover production costs of putting on the fair.

Donations are always welcome at our website,” Meyer continued.

There’d been a hiccup in that the Castro fair had “no sponsors” as of the September 2 Castro Merchants meeting, Lopez had told the business leaders.

“We’re open to low-level sponsorships from merchants such as yourselves,” Lopez told the group.

Meyer stated that since then “we have secured a number of partnerships, most notably with the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, [which] is partnering with the fair

preme Court in August in a 6-3 decision, which stated the executive branch didn’t have the constitutional authority to halt evictions unilaterally.

“It strains credulity to believe that ... the CDC [has] the sweeping authority that it asserts,” the unsigned opinion states, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “If a federally imposed eviction moratorium is to continue, Congress must specifically authorize it.”

who was on the press briefing.

“I want to communicate how important it is for local governments to do everything they can do to prevent evictions and stabilize renters who have fallen behind on payments,” Chiu said, adding that tenants in the crosshairs still have hope.

Chiu said that AB 832 does provide some assistance through March.

“While we are all rightfully focused on the fact that the state’s main eviction protections end on September 30, AB 832 does provide protections that extend for an additional six months,” Chiu said.

“If you apply for funding before it runs out, that could be a shield to pause eviction proceedings. That’s a very important thing for folks to know. What you need to know is you’d need to find an attorney im-

mediately, understand your rights, and exercise them.”

The eight essential actions outlined in the tenant document are: expanding just cause protections for tenants through April 2022; providing greater funding for rental assistance programs; identifying community-based organizations to help homeowners who’ve fallen behind on their mortgages; strengthening “know your rights” education; conducting targeted outreach in affected communities; funding legal services; adjusting court policies and procedures to fairly enforce the law; and urging the Legislature to take further action.

“The California Legislature should extend the statewide moratorium, allow cities and counties to pass the strongest possible local eviction moratoria, and perma-

A

fter a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Castro Street Fair is set to return Sunday, October 3, in San Francisco’s internationally-known LGBTQ mecca.

The fair will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to Jenn Meyer, a straight ally who is the president of the fair’s board of directors and owner of Local Take, a boutique shop on 17th Street. A donation of $5-$10 is requested, organizers said.

“We are just glad to have the opportunity to welcome our friends and neighbors back into the streets with us,” Meyer stated to the Bay Area Reporter September 27. “It has been a hard year and we could all use some celebration.”

Meyer and Fred Lopez, a gay man who is the vice president of the fair’s board of directors, declined a phone interview with the B.A.R., opting instead to answer questions via email. During a Zoom meeting with the Castro Merchants Association earlier this month, Lopez said that “a small but mighty group of volunteers” were doing their best to help make the fair happen.

However, the fair will not have alcohol beverage booths as Lopez initially reported. Nor does it seem it will extend along 18th Street from Castro to Noe streets, or on Castro Street to 19th Street.

The footprint will thus be slightly different from past fairs.

<<

Eviction protections

From page 1

In San Francisco, Bill Hirsh, a gay man who is the executive director of the AIDS Legal Referral Panel, told the B.A.R. that “I don’t think we’ve seen a dramatic jump just yet” in requests for services.

“I think most of the folks we serve did not experience a loss of income as a result of the pandemic because most of the folks we serve are on public assistance,” he said.

Nonetheless, “we are concerned, as all legal service providers are, that the civil legal system is about to be overwhelmed” with eviction cases.

National measure struck down

President Joe Biden’s federal eviction moratorium was struck down by the United States Su-

Rick Gerharter

Jim Koran gave his 86-year-old mother, Christina Fast, visiting from Scottsdale, Arizona, a hug and a kiss as they made their way through the crowd at the 2018 Castro Street Fair.

Local advocates concerned

Local advocates are concerned that without protections, there will be mass evictions both in the Bay Area and nationwide.

“Things are not going to end on September 30. In fact, they could get a lot worse,” said Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco),

to present the COVID-19 testing and vaccination area, on Market near Noe [street].”

As the B.A.R. first reported online last week (see story, page 9), the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District recently reopened its Saturday vaccination clinic in the parking lot at 18th and Collingwood streets, nestled by Toad Hall and Walgreens. There will be no clinic on Saturday, October 2, however, since it will be offered at the street fair the following day.

“We will be stationed near the Noe Street entrance,” Stephen Torres, secretary of the cultural district’s board, stated. The district will be providing “both testing and vaccinations.”

Tina Aguirre, a genderqueer person who is the manager of the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, stated to the B.A.R. that “we are providing a $5,000 paid sponsorship to the Castro Street Fair because it’s an important cultural event for LGBTQ people and we want to ensure its sustainability.”

The late supervisor Harvey Milk, a gay man who owned a camera shop on Castro Street, organized the first Castro Street Fair to drum up some excitement in the business district catering to the city’s Eureka Valley area.

In 1977 Milk later went on to become the first out person elected to public office in San Francisco and California, only to be assassinated 11 months into his term in November 1978. t nently require landlords to give tenants 15 days to pay their rent rather than a mere three days,” the document states. “The California Judicial Council should deprioritize the resumption of eviction and rent collection cases to the extent legally possible and mandate consistency in court forms and the administration of state law.”

Jacky Morales Ferrand, San Jose’s housing development director, joined Chiu in urging people to get the help they need.

“If you’re behind in your rent or mortgage payment due to the pandemic, apply now and don’t wait. There is still money available,” Ferrand said. “In San Jose we’re reaching out to residents using radio, email, social media, pop-up events and we’ve opened up an eviction protection support center.”t

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Health News>>

September 30-October 6, 2021 • Bay Area Reporter • 9

Castro vaccine hub reopens in new location

by John Ferrannini

T

he Castro LGBTQ Cultural District has reopened its vaccination clinic in a new location – the parking lot at 18th and Collingwood streets, nestled by Toad Hall and Walgreens The hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Saturday through the end of the year, except Saturday, October 2, as the hub will operate during the Castro Street Fair October 3.

As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, the district announced a weekly vaccine hub on Noe Street between Market and Beaver streets that grew out of an effort to honor the late LGBTQ activist Marsha P. Johnson.

“After Dore Alley weekend, I saw a major spike in COVID-19 cases among members of the LGBTQ community,” stated Carnell Freeman, executive co-chair of the district, referring to the late July Folsom Street Market street festival in the South of Market neighborhood. “I also noticed that it was hard to find testing sites in our district. As someone who visits the Castro often, I am excited that we now have a hub that can cater to our community.”

However, last week the B.A.R. reported that this ended. Tina Valentin Aguirre, the manager of the district, stated to the B.A.R. that this was because Noe Street businesses complained to the Castro Merchants Association (which is partnering with the district on the project) that the vaccine hub blocked customer access.

“We heard this, we understand it, and we empathize with the business owners; in this case two of them are LGBTQ-owned and as a district we are especially committed to ensuring

that LGBTQ businesses, residents, and visitors to the Castro are prioritized,” Aguirre stated.

“The Saturday Noe Street testing and vaccination program is using the street closure allowed by the Shared Spaces permit held by the Castro Merchants,” Castro Merchants community liaison Nik Blanchet stated earlier this month. “While adored by many – visitors, residents, and businesses alike – the Shared Spaces-related street closures are not zero-impact. Some merchants experience a business boost, and others, particularly those reliant on customer parking or meal delivery services, experience a decrease. ... Castro Merchants is in regular communication with our members on this topic, and we are optimistic we can come to a fair, equitable compromise for the neighborhood. We provide a forum for, and welcome, our members to express their opinions and needs for

everyone’s consideration.”

Aguirre told the B.A.R. September 22 that the vaccine hub was back on for the new location.

Stephen Torres, secretary of the cultural district’s board, told the B.A.R. later that day that after working with the Department of Public Health and the Castro Merchants to find a new spot, the city-owned parking lot was identified.

“The MTA owns the lot and the MTA maintains it,” Torres said, referring to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. “The Department of Public Health, working in collaboration with them, identified it. The MTA sees this as a priority, as does Supervisor [Rafael] Mandelman’s office, so we’ve all worked together to expedite it accordingly.”

In a statement, Blanchet tied it to Mayor London Breed’s vaccine mandates.

“As the Castro Merchants, we have our eye on the October 13 deadline the city has set for all employees in restaurants, bars, clubs, gyms and entertainment venues to be vaccinated,” Blanchet wrote. “Since these businesses form a very important cornerstone for the vitality of the Castro we want to make sure we are providing every opportunity possible for those employees to easily get vaccinated. We are also pleased that this provides residents and visitors with a very convenient avenue to get their vaccinations.”

In a statement, Mandelman said he was supportive.

“Having easy access to testing and vaccines, including boosters for those who are eligible, is critical to our efforts to end the pandemic,” Mandelman stated. “It is great to have a site offering these services in the Castro, particularly one that is targeting people living with HIV, LGBTQ+ seniors and other vulnerable populations.

Thanks to the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District and the Department of Public Health for making this happen See page 10 >>

David Draper April 25, 1948September 14, 2021

Born and raised in Washington, DC, David received his BA in Acting/ Directing from University of Maryland, College Park and his MFA in Costume Design from University of Texas at Austin. Aptly named, his skill as a draper of garments was legendary. He managed the costume shop of American Conservatory Theatre for 25 years and was a prolific designer, contributing to such local companies as ACT, California Musical Theatre’s Music Circus, Theatre Rhinoceros, Margaret Jenkins Dance Co and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. He also worked extensively in NYC, Baltimore and Minneapolis. The list of celebrities he dressed includes top film and theatre actors, as well as such queer icons as Divine, Brian Boitano and Klaus Nomi, whose iconic white patent leather dickie was draped by David’s hand. Famous for his wicked sense of humor, friends fondly recall his epic team costumes at Halloween, such as the Bubble Headed Bimbos. He was the recipient of a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award. He is survived by two siblings, Anthony Draper and Katharine Sizemore.

Plans for a memorial will be shared at a future date on his website www.DavidFDraper.com

Sari Staver

A COVID-19 vaccine hub, similar to this one elsewhere in San Francisco earlier this year, is now available in the Castro on Saturdays in the parking lot on 18th Street behind Walgreens.

David_Draper_Obituary_093021.indd 1

50 years in 50 weeks: 1996, Hormel center opens

T

he Bay Area Reporter’s April 4, 1996 issue celebrated the paper’s 25th anniversary and the opening of the James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center at the new San Francisco Public Library’s main branch. Hormel, the heir to Hormel Foods, donated $500,000 of the $1 million needed for the center bearing his name, which was an LGBTQ think tank. (It was renamed the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center in 2016.) Hormel would go on

Courtesy B.A.R. Archive

PlanningAhead Ahead isisSimple Planning Simple The benefits are immense.

Planning Ahead is Simple The benefits are immense.

to become the nation’s first out ambassador when thenPresident Bill Clinton used a recess appointment to name When you plan your life celebration and lasting remembrance in him his top diplomat to Luxembourg in 1999. Today, the advance, you can design every detail of your own unique memorial Hormel center is the library’s gateway to its collections on and provide your loved ones with true peace of mind. Planning ahead When your celebration lasting protectsyou your plan loved ones fromlife unnecessary stress and and financial burden, LGBTQ history and culture. Hormel himself died in San When you plan your life celebration and lasting remembrance in allowing them to focus on what will matter most at that time—you.

Francisco August 13. He was 88. To view the issue, go to remembrance in advance, you can design every https://archive.org/details/BAR_19960404/page/n75/ advance, you canofdesign every detail of your ownand unique memorial detail own memorial provide Contact usyour today about theunique beautiful ways to create a lasting legacy mode/2up

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Obituaries >> Kerry Edward Achor

Gerry Hill

February 3, 1954 – September 5, 2021

August 20, 2021

Kerry Edward Achor, 67, of San Francisco, California surrendered his valiant fight to cancer on September 5, 2021 at his sister Trudy’s home in Lebanon, Ohio. Kerry moved to San Francisco in 1978. He embraced and loved his city and community for over 40 years.

Kerry was a lifelong artist who provided gardening and environmental services in San Francisco for 42 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Bonnie Achor; and dear friends and lovers John Lambert, Scott Cutlip, and Bruce Purdy. Kerry was a 1977 liberal arts graduate of Wright State University Dayton, Ohio.

9/29/21 10:22 AM

He is survived by his sister, Trudy (Mary Jo Parman) Achor; brothers, Michael (Cindy) Achor and Keith (Deborah) Achor. Nephew Justin (Amy) Achor, and nieces, Michelle (Vern Whitt) Achor, Lauren (Eric) Bair and Sarah (Kevin Kastle) Achor, and dear friends including Ross (Bo) Neville, John Cummings, Tom Heck, Dennis Hall, Betsy Leavy, and so many other friends who loved him.

A celebration of life for Kerry will be held Monday, October 4, at 5 p.m. at Hippie Hill Meadow in Golden Gate Park (between the Conservatory of Flowers and Haight Street). If you would like to make a donation in Kerry’s name please consider the San Francisco AIDS Foundation or the San Francisco SPCA.

atyour theloved San Francisco Columbarium. and provide loved ones with true peace mind.

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He was one of the

most dedicated and tireless volunteers in San Francisco at Larkin Street Youth Services, Project Inform, and Magnet. He received the Jefferson Award in 2006 for his every-Thursday meal preparations at Avenues to Independence, and was a professor emeritus from Carleton College in Minnesota, where he taught botany for decades.

Donations can be made in his honor to Larkin Street Youth Services or the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center.

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<< Community News

10 • Bay Area Reporter • September 30-October 6, 2021

<<

Vaccine hub

From page 9

in the neighborhood.”

When asked for comment, the health department stated to the B.A.R. that “vaccination remains the gold standard for COVID-19 prevention.”

“Vaccinating as many people as possible, as soon as possible, is our best defense against COVID-19, and the harm it can do to our communi-

<<

Herrera, Chiu

From page 2

the release stated. The lawsuit, currently ongoing, seeks billions of dollars for infrastructure to protect San Francisco against sea-level rise caused by the fossil fuel industry’s products, including large portions

<<

ties,” a spokesperson stated. “We still have thousands of people in our city that remain unvaccinated. Our joint work with our community partners has been key to our virus mitigation strategies. “ SFMTA did not respond to a request for comment.

Torres said that because the parking lot is somewhat concealed, “we’re going to have folks stand at Castro and Market [streets], Castro and 18th

[streets], and our former site at Noe and Market [streets] to let them know exactly where to go.”

Torres added that the site will be accessible for people with disabilities.

Promotional material for prior vaccine hubs gave “the high number of Delta variant COVID infections among LGBTQ residents, workers, and visitors of the Castro” as the reason for the hub. When asked if this was an empirical finding, Torres said

that he “couldn’t speak to that specifically” and directed the B.A.R. to Maceo Persson, a queer trans man who is the deputy director of the community branch for the health department’s San Francisco COVID Task Force, who didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

As the B.A.R. has extensively covered since the start of the pandemic, there is no empirical data on how many LGBTQ people have contracted COVID,

died from the coronavirus, or are now inoculated against it due to various issues in collecting sexual orientation and gender identity health data.

“We do know – based on the findings in Provincetown and other locations – that it did seem to affect a great deal of the LGBTQ community and we should be prepared to meet that need specifically,” Torres said, referring to an outbreak in July in the Massachusetts gay tourist spot. t

of the SFPUC’s combined sewer and stormwater system.

Herrera was first elected as city attorney in December 2001, and went on to build what the American Lawyer magazine hailed as “one of the most aggressive and talented city law departments in the nation.”

Herrera’s office was involved

in every phase of the legal war to achieve marriage equality, from early 2004 to the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark rulings in June 2013, the release stated. Herrera was also the first to challenge former President Donald Trump’s attempts to deny federal funding to sanctuary cities.

He repeatedly defeated the Trump

administration in different cases as it sought to punish sanctuary cities, deny basic benefits like food stamps to legal immigrants, and discriminate in health care against women, the LGBTQ community, and other vulnerable groups. He brought groundbreaking consumer protection cases against payday

lenders, credit card arbitrators and others, the release stated. He also brought pioneering legal cases to help young people, including allowing public school students to safely return to in-person education and blocking an attempt to strip City College of San Francisco of its accreditation. t

but a lot of people who survived the AIDS epidemic are now in a situation where they are looking at senior housing and permanent long-term senior housing to stay in the city,” said Quesnel, who continues to rent an apartment in the Castro. “Because my experience with AIDS happened in the time of my life when I might have been in a position to buy a house, I didn’t buy a house because I thought I was dying soon. I don’t have a house to sell to move to Palm Springs; plus I have zero desire to live in Palm Springs.”

erence at all. Opening the preference to anyone who has been Ellis Acted ever opens the preference to a whole lot of people other than Demian and Tito. I don’t think it makes them any more likely to be getting one of these units.”

What the two men have experienced “is a case study,” said Mandelman, for why he has fought to see more affordable housing be built in his district. He was a vocal proponent for the passage in 2019 of Proposition A, a local ballot measure that directed $600 million for affordable housing to supervisorial districts like his that have seen high numbers of evictions but few new BMR units be built.

It also included $150 million specifically for senior housing, with LGBTQ-welcoming developments getting priority. As the B.A.R. has previously reported, it helped the city purchase a $12 million triangular lot on upper Market Street that is being redeveloped into as much as 130 housing units for seniors, with a majority expected to be LGBTQ people.

In District 8 “we don’t have nowhere near enough BMR units,” said Mandelman, who issued a report this summer about the need for more housing of all kinds to be built in the Castro and other neighborhoods he represents.

Several years ago the city created a housing preference for BMR units in a newly built building with more than five units so that people who live in the supervisorial district where it is located or within half a mile of the property would receive the third highest preference in the lottery for them. The fourth preference for all lotteries is given to people who live or work in the city.

But Vandermeyden and Quesnel told the B.A.R. those preferences do them little good if there aren’t that many BMR units being built in District 8 or near the Castro where they would like to remain living.

“It feels to me he has no interest in helping,” Vandermeyden said of Mandelman’s response to their entreaties. t

Castro tenants

From page 1

saved up so that has been really horrible to me.”

Quesnel, 70, told the B.A.R. he is now considering applying for one of the BMR units reserved for senior housing in the city. He first moved to San Francisco in 1970 and six years later had landed the Sanchez Street apartment he would later share with Vandermeyden.

“At one point the property owners tried to sell it to us. I couldn’t get enough down payment money to put down,” recalled Quesnel, a long-term AIDS survivor who was on disability.

“They sold it to a friend of their son’s, and he came in assuring us he bought it for his retirement and we would be there for a long time. We proceeded to put money into the place to fix it up and do stuff. We thought we’d be there for the long haul.”

Yet, within three years, they were given an Ellis Act eviction notice, meaning the owner intended to remove the unit from the rental property market.

“We were pretty pissed off. We felt pretty betrayed,” said Quesnel, who due to living with HIV was given a year to move out and received roughly $30,000 in a buyout payment.

Frustration with preferences

Today, their frustrations lie with the special preferences the city grants to certain people entering the lotteries held for the affordable housing units.

When it comes to selecting people for BMR units, first preference is given to people who have a Certificate of Preference from San Francisco’s former Redevelopment Agency.

Those residents found themselves displaced by government action in the 1960s, 1970s, and some in the 1980s, largely because of city-sponsored redevelopment. Just this week Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation authored by Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) that expands the preference as of January 1 to cover the children, grandchildren, or other lineal descendants of those displaced by redevelopment.

“As residents displaced by redevelopment have gotten older, it makes sense to extend this program to their children and grandchildren so a new generation has the opportunity to afford to live in San Francisco,” stated Chiu.

t

Want to remain in SF

Second highest preference is given to people who have a Displaced Tenant Housing Preference certificate from the mayor’s housing office. It applies to applicants who were displaced either by an owner move-in or Ellis Act eviction since 2010.

According to Max Barnes, a spokesman for the housing office, the preference was put into effect in 2014 following an analysis of eviction notices filed with the Rent Board. As the ordinance creating it noted, evictions for all causes shot up 45% citywide between 2010 and 2014, according to the eviction notices filed with the city’s Rent Board.

Historically LGBTQ neighborhoods like the Castro and Tenderloin saw significantly higher evictions in that time span. And, as the ordinance pointed out, the Castro saw rents rise 145% over those years compared to the citywide average of 54%.

“The Board of Supervisors set the Ellis Eviction Eligibility at 2010 as that was the year when Ellis Evictions began to see a sharp increase in many lower income/middle income neighborhoods,” explained Barnes.

Vandermeyden and Quesnel contend the preference should apply to tenants like themselves who were evicted prior to 2010. Capping the eligibility for that certificate to that year and beyond disadvantages longtime residents of the city like themselves, the men argue.

“I think it is totally unfair a person who got evicted after 2010 gets priority over me, who got evicted in 2004,”

said Vandermeyden, who used his skills as a data engineer to map Ellis Act evictions in the city, particularly those impacting Castro residents living with HIV and AIDS, in the early 2000s. “They should give people who are evicted before 2010 the same rights; that would solve everything for me.”

Quesnel said it doesn’t make sense to him why someone displaced by urban renewal in the 1960s and 1970s gets special treatment but not someone like himself who has lived in the city for five decades but now fears they will be priced out of San Francisco in their old age. He questions why someone who has moved to the city since 2010 and is evicted gets a higher preference in the housing lottery than a decades-long resident like himself.

“This preference increases the odds to find adequate housing to grow old in and live in in San Francisco,” said Quesnel. “I am sure I am not the only person who has been Ellis Acted and is now looking at senior housing.”

For Quesnel the issue is particularly personal, as at the time when he was best positioned to buy his first home he didn’t because he was struggling with a disease that he expected would kill him long before he saw his retirement years. Having survived the AIDS epidemic, he isn’t interested in moving to Palm Springs like other gay retirees have done.

“I don’t know how many other people there are in my situation,

Vandermeyden also doesn’t want to leave the city in order to buy a home.

“For people like me, who really want to buy here and see San Francisco as a home, the only way we can do that is through the BMR program. It is why I think this rule should change,” said Vandermeyden.

They have raised their complaint about the lottery preferences to gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who represents the Castro, and his staff. In an interview with the B.A.R. Mandelman was noncommittal about opening up the Displaced Tenant Housing Preference to people evicted prior to 2010.

“Now, we could just say anyone who has been Ellis Acted will have a preference, but that brings a whole lot more people into the category.

The larger you grow that group, the less likely any of those preferences has any particular meaning,” he said. “It does make sense if you were Ellis Acted in the last few years and may still have an immediate housing need. It’s not sure to me someone Ellis Acted 20 years ago should automatically jump ahead of the line.”

Even if the 2010 starting point were to be removed, that lottery preference is also limited to within six years of when the Ellis Act eviction was initially filed with the Rent Board. Thus, because their eviction occurred 17 years ago, Vandermeyden and Quesnel would still not qualify for a Displaced Tenant Housing Preference certificate, according to Mandelman’s office.

“I am a little leery to opening the door to many more people for fear the preference will lose the value that it has,” said Mandelman. “It may be we shouldn’t have the pref-

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556593

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039472100

08/18/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/01/21.

Christopher Robledo

Castro residents Tito Vandermeyden, left, and his ex-partner, Demian Quesnel, stand in front of the 225 Sanchez Street apartment they once shared. Both were evicted in 2004.

For more information about the city’s housing lottery preferences, visit https://sfmohcd.org/lotterypreference-programs

Legals>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556589

In the matter of the application of BRIAN WEI CHAN & KELLY KIMIKO LEONG, 2239 32ND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner BRIAN WEI CHAN & KELLY KIMIKO LEONG is requesting that the name COLIN KUMA LEONG-CHAN be changed to COLIN KUMA LEONG CHAN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 14th of OCTOBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 09, 16, 23, 30, 2021

In the matter of the application of STREET GARDNER, PO BOX 721, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner STREET GARDNER is requesting that the name STREET GARDNER AKA MALE GARDNER be changed to STREET GARDNER. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 19th of OCTOBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 09, 16, 23, 30, 2021

The following person(s) is/are doing business as KOKORO KARA WELLNESS; PUCKER PUNCH COSMETICS; 3442 SACRAMENTO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHERYL ROUCH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/31/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/31/21.

SEP 09, 16, 23, 30, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039472500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CASA SANCHEZ DISTRIBUTING, 4652 CALIFORNIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JAMES SANCHEZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on

SEP 09, 16, 23, 30, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039475800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as DOOG GOOD FOOD, 3450 SACRAMENTO ST #107, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANTOINE JOHNSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/07/21.

SEP 09, 16, 23, 30, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039471800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as BODIED BY YESI, 531 GEARY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individ-

ual, and is signed YEZENIA IBARRA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/31/21.

SEP 09, 16, 23, 30, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039474200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as STILL HERE SF 415, 751 GRAFTON AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed JEANETTE WRIGHT, NICOLE FITT & PAULA HARRELL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/15/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/02/21.

SEP 09, 16, 23, 30, 2021

t

Legals>>

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039471900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SEVENTEEN & COLE MARKET, 1400 COLE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a corporation. and is signed FATENA, INC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/31/21.

SEP 09, 16, 23, 30, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039464200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as LEOS ROOFING, 2679 HENRY AVE, PINOLE, CA 94564. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed LEONARDOS ROOFING INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/20/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/20/21.

SEP 09, 16, 23, 30, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039473800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as PLAN P, 956 EDINBURGH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed 2B MOM INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/02/21.

SEP 09, 16, 23, 30, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039457200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as 3582 20TH ST PROPERTY, 3582 20TH STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a trust, and is signed by trustees PATRICK MILLS, OSAMA MOGANNAM, ANTHEA STOLTZ & ANNE WALKER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/05/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/11/21.

SEP 09, 16, 23, 30, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039471500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as DECOMMISSIONING OFFICE SOLUTION, 739 VALENCIA ST #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SAMANA LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/31/21.

SEP 09, 16, 23, 30, 2021 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556594

In the matter of the application of CLAUS RALPH GOLDBERG, 1212 10TH AVE #306, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner CLAUS RALPH GOLDBERG is requesting that the name CLAUS RALPH GOLDBERG be changed to CLAUS RALPH COOPER. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103 on the 19th of OCTOBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556600

In the matter of the application of KOUNG MENG TEAR, 126 TAPIA DR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner KOUNG MENG TEAR is requesting that the name KOUNG MENG TEAR be changed to TOMMY MENG THEA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 21st of OCTOBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556605

In the matter of the application of HILDA JOANNA MENDEZ, 115 CENTRAL AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner HILDA JOANNA MENDEZ is requesting that the name HILDA JOANNA MENDEZ be changed to JOANNA VALENTINA DE PIRUL. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 23rd of NOVEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556611

In the matter of the application of CLIFFTOINETTE ANGELA ROGERS AKA C. ANGELA ROGERS, 1350 35TH AVE #2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner CLIFFTOINETTE ANGELA ROGERS AKA C. ANGELA ROGERS is requesting that the name CLIFFTOINETTE ANGELA ROGERS AKA C. ANGELA ROGERS be changed to ANGELA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 23rd of NOVEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556607

In the matter of the application of BENJAMIN LOUIE, 170 GRAVEN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner BENJAMIN LOUIE is requesting that the name BENJAMIN LOUIE be changed to BENJAMIN LOUIE RUAN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 23rd of NOVEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556599

In the matter of the application of YUNA SUH & WADIE ROPHAEL, 4144 24TH ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner YUNA SUH & WADIE ROPHAEL is requesting that the name CELINA ROPHAEL be changed to SAERIN ROPHAEL. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept.

103N, Rm. 103N on the 23rd of NOVEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021

September 30-October 6, 2021 • Bay Area Reporter • 11

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556609

In the matter of the application of GREGORY ALLEN JONES, 1521 GOLDEN GATE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner GREGORY ALLEN JONES is requesting that the name GREGORY ALLEN JONES AKA CHRISTOPHER GREGORY DEWINTER be changed to CHRISTOPHER GREGORY DEWINTER. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept.

103N, Rm. 103N on the 23rd of NOVEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556613

In the matter of the application of KELLE ANN PEDRO, 1282 23RD AVE #A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner KELLE ANN PEDRO is requesting that the name KELLE ANN PEDRO be changed to KELLE ANN NICHOLS. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103 on the 26th of OCTOBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556615

In the matter of the application of RONALD ANWAR ASWAN GIBSON, 162 KISKA RD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner RONALD ANWAR ASWAN GIBSON is requesting that the name RONALD ANWAR ASWAN GIBSON be changed to EMMITT JOVON LEWIS JR. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103 on the 28th of OCTOBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039479200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LUMODOS, 1 HAWTHORNE ST UNIT 15A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LESTER SAN LUIS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/09/21.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039481700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SOCIUS STRATEGIES, 2816 PACHECO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ROSALIND COHEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/10/21.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039466300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as SF HOUSE OF NAILS 2, 3221 PIERCE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LIEN LOI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/18/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/23/21.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039482900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as ALOHA KITCHEN, 752 VAN NESS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LISA CHAU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/13/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/13/21.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039479400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE CALIFORNIA STREET STUDIO, 5954 CALIFORNIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MONICA T. SAMANIEGO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/13/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/09/21.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039476600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as WETZEL’S PRETZELS, 3251 20TH AVE #102, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed INNOVATIVE IMPACT INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/03/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/08/21.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039481400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as GOTT’S ROADSIDE – MISSION BAY, 151 WARRIORS WAY #102-3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94158. This business is conducted by a limited partnership, and is signed GOTT’S PARTNERS LP, GENERAL PARTNER GOTT BROTHERS DEVELOPMENT LLC (CA), 1344 ADAMS ST, ST HELENA, CA 94574. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct, JOEL A. GOTT, as Manager of Gott Brothers Development LLC as GP for Gott’s Partners, LP. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/10/21. Deputy County Clerk, Sonya Yi.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-037723800

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as MESSY LENS, 3545 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by HEATHER HORTER. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/14/17.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-039111800

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as ALOHA KITCHEN, 752 VAN NESS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business was conducted by a corporation and signed by LISA CYNTHIA CHAU (CA). The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/07/20.

SEP 16, 23, 30, OCT 07, 2021 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556608

In the matter of the application of MEENA HARRIS & NIKOLAS AJAGU, C/O DEBORAH WALD, THE WALD LAW GROUP, PC, 100 BUSH ST #1900, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner MEENA HARRIS & NIKOLAS AJAGU is requesting that the name AMARA

SHYAMALA UKA AJAGU be changed to AMARA SHYAMALA HARRIS AJAGU. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 21st of OCTOBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039486500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SNOWLION MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION, 495 38TH AVE #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed TASHI DHONDUP. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/11/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/15/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039476200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SAPPHIRE CONSIGNMENT, 1105 BUSH ST #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DOUGLAS WATSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/03/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/07/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039481800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TINY SEEDS DAYCARE, 138 SOUTHWOOD DR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KATERINE VALDERRAMOS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/09/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/10/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039473500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as DREAMSCAPES; LANDRY & COMPANY; 980 TERESITA BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SUSAN LANDRY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/02/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039488400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HT PAVING AND SEAL COATING SERVICES, 131 ROCK HARBOR LN, FOSTER CITY, CA 94404. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HUGO APARECIDA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/17/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/17/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039481300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as FILM INSTALL PROS, 3239 MISSION ST #A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed IVAN GOMEZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/09/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/10/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039489700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MEGA CLEANING SF, 380 HANOVER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LUIS LOPEZ CRUZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/20/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/20/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039476100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CHEAP TICKETS TRAVEL, 816 GEARY BLVD #34, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual,, and is signed MAUNG YANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/01/01. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/07/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039487700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as POTRERO PHYSICAL THERAPY, 550 15TH ST #36A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed INNER BAR INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/30/07. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/16/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039487800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as OCEAN BEACH PHYSICAL THERAPY, 3401 TARAVAL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed INNER BAR INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/14/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/16/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-03948680

The following person(s) is/are doing business as DISCOVER HEALTH, 990 COLUMBUS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed DISCOVER HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/15/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039490800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as REPUBLIC BUILDING MAINTENANCE, 1 MARKET ST 36TH FL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed REPUBLIC ENTERPRISES INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/21/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039489400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as JADE BAZAAR, 480 GRANT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed JADE MOUNTAIN INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/01/97. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/20/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039474600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HUCKLEBERRY BICYCLES, 1255 BATTERY ST #120, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed ROCK DOVE LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/03/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/02/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039473100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SFC JUNK REMOVAL, 318 WOOLSEY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SFC JUNK REMOVAL LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/13/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/02/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039487000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as DISCOVER HEALTH, 990 COLUMBUS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MYDOCPLUS (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/15/21.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-038833300

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as PARTNERS, 3896 NORIEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business was conducted by a general partnership and signed by PAUL EDWARD GREER, PAUL CURTIS SUGIMOTO & RICHARD CHARLES TUCKER. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/22/19.

SEP 23, 30, OCT 07, 14, 2021 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556642

In the matter of the application of NELIDA SANCHEZ TAPIA, 3331 17TH ST #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner NELIDA SANCHEZ TAPIA is requesting that the name WAEL IBRAHIM MOHAMMED SANCHEZ be changed to WAEL IBRAHIM MOHAMMED. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 9th of NOVEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039485600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as WISITAHOE REALTY, 811 BEACH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALOIS BETSCHART. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/18/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/14/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039492400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE GARDEN WITCH, 1025 PORTOLA DR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ASTRID EDMONDSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/04/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/22/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039497000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as L & T NAILS, 1085 FILLMORE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LOAN K. NGUYEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/31/21.

The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/24/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039483400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as ALFARO TRUCK, 1538 PALOU AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARCO AGUILAR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/10/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/13/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039492500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as REFACTOR EQ, 870 MARKET ST #1123, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed COFOUNDER AND MARRIAGE COUNSELING PC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/22/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039494600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LAUREL VILLAGE DENTAL LOFT, 3501 CALIFORNIA ST #201, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BAYSAC DENTAL HEALTH 3580 CALIFORNIA PC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/22/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/23/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039495200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as WEST PORTAL PRODUCE MARKET, 222 WEST PORTAL AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed KDS FRESH INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/23/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039496600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as MOSADDEGH DRY EYE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, 490 POST ST #1440, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102.

This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed LILLIE MOSADDEGH MD INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/24/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039493700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as PRACTICE SAN FRANCISCO, 2901 WEBSTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MIGHTY MINDS PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/19/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/23/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039498700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as POLISH NAIL AND BEAUTY SPA, 301 CORNWALL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is

conducted by a corporation, and is signed POLISH INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/18/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/28/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039476500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as DONAJI, 3161 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110.

This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed CUEVAS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/20/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/08/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039473600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as VALVOLINE INSTANT OIL CHANGE IH0011, 300 7TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HENLEY PACIFIC LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/02/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039473700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as VALVOLINE INSTANT OIL CHANGE IH0004, 1799 19TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HENLEY PACIFIC LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/21.

The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/02/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039495000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HILDA AND JESSE, 701 UNION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HILDA AND JESSE RK, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/01/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/23/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039494000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as VANCE APARTMENTS, 830 EDDY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed 830 EDDY STREET, LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/10/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/23/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039489800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BOUTIQUE FAWN, 313 IVY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed 415 NATIVE LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/20/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/20/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039494800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as CREATE IMPACT; CREATE IMPACT AGENCY; 3100 FULTON ST #5, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed WATERS EDGE GLOBAL (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/23/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/23/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039475200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HESTER’S DESIGNS; HESTER’S SCHOOL OF DESIGN & SEWING; 63 EDINBURGH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HESTER A. MICHAEL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/02/96.

The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/07/21.

SEP 30, OCT 07, 14, 21, 2021

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Arts & Nightlife

By Tim Pfaff

I

Lil Nas X unleashes ‘Montero’

was staying in my lane, minding my own business –fretting, now that I’m back to paying, whether to shoot my wad on Jonas Kaufmann’s new Liszt Lieder platter or Ian Bostridge’s even more daring all-Respighi CD– when along came Lil Nas X, strutting his out gay stuff with what the industry welcomed as his “debut album,” Montero (Call Me By Your Name). Those magic words, ‘debut album,’ told me I just lost a weekend.

In the week before its release, all the individual tunes dropped in spellbinding –some called them explicit– music videos, remarkably still free for all to watch on YouTube. But it took the release of Montero to summon commentary from the industry big guns, breaking down all the magic and saying what it all meant.

After splainin’ that the very idea of a debut album was outré, even passé, what was divulged, first and last, top and bottom in the trades, was that this genre-busting new gay icon was a “savvy digital trickster” (New York Times) and, behind it all, “a human being” (The New Yorker).

Those verdicts spared me wasted time Googling Lil Nas X’s “real” name (Montero Lamar Hill; thanks, New Yorker fact checkers, and Lady Gaga) and took me straight –I mean directly– to the lyrics of all the Montero tunes, with their “gleefully queer” “revelations” (Times). They also excused my being less than an adept at rap by assuring me that neither was Lil Nas, strictly speaking.

Since the toothy grins and saucy moves of his 2019 video “Old Town Road,” he has been kicking sand in the faces of everyone needing to pigeonhole him by genre. This was not, as advertised, country and western, or, by implication, rhythm and blues, but for sure it wasn’t real rap.

Meanwhile, during a pandemic that would have slain a lesser rising star, “Old Town Road” became “the longest-running No. 1 song in history” (Times again), and it wasn’t just Lil Nas X laughing all the way to the bank.

The video itself was, indisputably –you could say uproariously– funny, and it heralded the arrival of a genuine new voice.

See page 13 >>

D’Arcy Drollinger sees us shiver with antici… pation for the new Rocky Horror Show.

Oh, Rocky!

Do the Time Warp again at Oasis’ ‘Rocky Horror Show’

by David-Elijah Nahmod

T

he entire Oasis nightclub becomes a stage when a new and innovative production of the venerable The Rocky Horror Show opens on October 7. This latest revival, which runs through Halloween, stars Oasis head honcho D’Arcy Drollinger as the ‘sweet transvestite’ mad scientist Frank N. Furter, with Snaxx as Columbia, the ultimate groupie, Trixxie Carr as Magenta, and other local talents rounding out the cast. Rocky Horror returns as a co-production between

Ray of Light Theater and Oasis.

It’s been nearly fifty years since Rocky Horror first premiered on stage at a small theater in London. The property was soon made into a film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), which bombed upon its initial release.

But then the Waverly Theater in New York City came up with the idea of playing the film on Fridays and Saturdays at midnight, and a phenomenon was born. 46 years later, The Rocky Horror Picture Show continues to be screened around the world to a boisterous audience which participates in the action onscreen. Many Rocky Horror fans have seen

the film dozens, even hundreds of times.

“For me the reason is the concept of ‘Don’t dream it, be it,’” Drollinger tells the Bay Area Reporter, referring to one of the show’s iconic lines. “To see our anti-hero live their fantasy with such abandon, I think part of all of us wants to have more of that freedom.”

Drollinger recalls being shown a Rocky Horror picture book when he was twelve years old. He was, as he puts it, “blown away.”

“I’d never seen a drag queen, let alone someone who just really embodied both masculine and feminine, dressing up like that,” he said. “It really took me on this journey that

I feel like I’m still on. It changed the way I looked at life in a lot of respects. It is also a role that I feel like I’ve been practicing since I was that little twelve-year-old. So it has a lot of personal meaning to me.”

According to Drollinger, the characters of Brad and Janet, the naive young couple who find themselves trapped in Frank N Furter’s castle on a dark and stormy night, represent the audience.

“They’re the ones that are shocked and scared, and they learn to let go,” Drollinger See page 13 >>

t

Music & Theatre>>

September 30 - October 6, 2021 • BayArea Reporter • 13 run in three regal costumes at this year’s post-pandemic Met Gala that just trounced the designer gymsuited Timothee Chalamet in the masculinity department. This, in my book, is real moniker management. And lest anyone miss the point, “Call Me By Your Name” is in the songster’s lyrics.

Ocean of talent

Cover art for Montero

<<

Montero

From page 12

Industry-ous

By that I do not mean, or merely mean, a spokesperson for a new generation of out and proud queers.

I mean a voice. No less an authority than Walter Legge, the last-century EMI producer who knew a thing or two about singers, decreed that “the sine qua non” of a great singing career is “an immediately recognizable vocal timber.” Meet Lil Nas X, with the most distinctive voiceprint since Rufus Wainwright, who knows a thing or two about giving a career legs.

My personal method of conducting the Legge test is seeing whether

<<

Rocky Horror

From page 12

said. “They give in to their base desires. They experience this life they never thought was possible. It sort of does wreck them a little bit, but they are thrust into this glorious debauchery that Frank wields upon everybody.”

A toast!

This isn’t Drollinger’s first time stepping into the Rocky Horror universe. He has previously done the show five times at the Victoria Theater, always making sure the show was a bit different each time: different sets, different choreography, etc. But this time the show will be presented in a way that the audience might never have seen before.

“We decided to do it as an immersive piece,” Drollinger explains.

“So it will feel like you’re going to a nightclub and watching, with a DJ versus a band. The show will be happening all around. So, there’s going to be numbers on stage, we’re building this long catwalk, there’s

I can hear the exact sound of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” as sung by the vocalist under question. I’m here to tell you: Lil Nas nails “Little Lamb.”

I was not, prior to Montero, indifferent to the pillow-lipped pulchritude of the one-time manager of Nicki Minaj’s Twitter fan account.

Nor am I impervious to the now22-year-old’s barely pixilated nudity and borderline louche dance moves.

But I think Lil Nas X gets far too little credit for that stinging, if gentle, sense of humor and that penetrating, if cooing, high baritone. Those are the things I mean by voice.

The layered pun of literally following Montero with “Call Me

By Your Name” in the title of his new CD is, for me, cheeky genius – teased by Lil Nas’s red-carpet going to be different little stages throughout the club. One song happens at the bar, two songs happen in the front room.”

In a most unusual move, the beginning of the show will happen three times for three different audiences.

“And then they come into the main room, and they’re entertained in this pre-show experience,” he said. “And then the rest of the show happens. So I think there’s a lot of potential to take what we know as Rocky Horror and turn it into a little more of one of those immersive theater experiences. There will be Rocky Horror everywhere in the club, from the bathrooms, to the lounge, from the front room, to the roof, there will be a Rocky experience everywhere.”

Drollinger added that he hopes the usual audience participation happens with this Rocky Horror.

He’d like to see the audience dance to the Time Warp, one of the show’s iconic numbers.

“It’s an all new cast,” he said.

“We’re using people from the Ray of Light world, from the Oasis world,

D’Arcy Drollinger with the cast of Ray of Light’s 2019 Rocky Horror Show.

I’m just spit-balling here, but I wager that Lil Nas has an eye to the big career, acutely aware that he’s walking a tightrope strung between gay forebears as opposite as Frank Ocean and Jussie Smollett (the latter of whom, before an act of career self-immolation, gave notice of a Dionne Warwick-level talent).

I spot in Lil Nas X an almost Ocean-like studious avoidance of falsetto, a calling card for gay songsters of all races since forever and the core, as it were, of Smollett’s sound.

The songs of Montero bristle with a sly self-awareness. He can only be serenading himself in “One of Me,” when he spits the rhyme, “Tell me that you think you won’t top your last creation / Word on the block is you fell off and I’m just sayin’ / If it ain’t Old Town Road, Lil Nas he ain’t playin’.”

The hazards of sudden fame surface in song after song. There’s no missing the point of “Dolla Sign Slime,” and it’s “Industry Baby,” whose video displays him dancing in the altogether, fronting a naked chorus line.

In the endearingly titled “Scoop” he salutes the body-consciousness at the tortured heart of the gay male and show business nexus: “I been workin’ on my body / You ever seen a n#gga hit Pilates? (ah) / No, I ain’t feelin’ sorry” …

“Baby, ain’t tryna be your baby / Understand, I’m just tryna be the daily.”

so we are blending the worlds.”

In what is perhaps the most unusual move of all, the audience will not be seated.

“We’re facing three entrances of sixty people,” Drollinger said.

“Then that group, once they’ve filled the room, they can move around the space as they want.

The actors will move around with them. They can get a drink, go to the bathroom, just like they would at a nightclub. They’re going out to Oasis as a nightclub, and having the story and the world of Rocky Horror exist all around them, from the

Whose?

He’s already being hailed for exploring the darker sides of gay sexuality in the down-ticket songs on Montero, but there’s a gentleness in them – the humor again? – you’ll seek without finding in the tormented, hot-to-the-touch Ocean.

True, there’s no “I Want To hold Your Hand” in the Lil Nas X canon to date, but at their most “universal,” his tunes land and stick the landing:

“Need a boy who can cuddle with me all night / Keep me warm, love me long, be my sunlight / Tell me lies, we can argue, we can fight / Yeah, we did it before, but we’ll do it tonight,” he croons in “That’s What I Want.” “These days, I’m way too alone / And I’m known for giving love away, but / I want someone who love me / I need someone who needs me.”

Ask me, we all do.t

Above: Lil Nas X gets a lick during his Saturday Night Live performance in May. Below: Lil Nas X in the music video for “Industry Baby.”

bartenders to the front door staff, everyone will be in that world.”

Drollinger has a message for anyone who –shocking as it may seem– might never have seen Rocky Horror in any edition. Such individuals are referred to as “virgins” by people who are part of the Rocky Horror fandom.

“You’re going to have to be devirginized at some point,” he said.

“You might as well do it with me as your Frank N Furter, because I’ll take you there. This is going to be a really unique experience. Even if you know nothing about the show,

this is going to be one of those things where you aren’t going to want to have missed it. You can see productions of Rocky Horror after this, and you may have seen many before, but this is going to be a very unique version. I don’t think in my knowledge that anyone has ever done this before.”

The Rocky Horror Show runs Thursdays-Saturdays, Oct. 7-31, 6:45pm. $30 and up. Oasis, 298 11th St. Proof of vaccination is required to enter the club. Patrons must wear masks unless having a drink. www.sfoasis.comt

<< Theatre & Film

14 • BayArea Reporter • September 30 - October 6, 2021

Newly Minted Halloween horror

Peaches Christ (center) with some creepy characters from The Immortal Reckoning.

by David-Elijah Nahmod

B

eginning September 23 until October 31 the San Francisco Mint will play host to The Immortal Reckoning, a live, fully immersive haunted adventure. The event comes to San Francisco courtesy of Into the Dark, a production company which has risen from the depths of the minds of David Flower Productions, Non Plus Ultra, and Peaches Christ, the drag world’s Queen of Horror.

The Immortal Reckoning combines live theater with haunted mazes and special effects. Attendees will be invited to view an exhibition of rare artifacts related to

the occult and the supernatural, but then something goes terribly wrong and the gates of hell unlock.

Guests will come to the realization that their guide is not what they seem to be, and The Mint quickly becomes a portal to an alternate dimension where vampires, witches, and ghosts are all too real.

Groups of up to eight at a time will be admitted, with performances starting every 15 minutes.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, all patrons must show proof of vaccination before entering and masks must be worn at all times.

show, spoke to Bay Area Reporter about her love of the horror genre.

“From the time I was a toddler and could be excited about anything it was always Halloween, it was always spooky stuff, it was always ghosts and monsters, that was the stuff I was naturally drawn to,” she said. “I guess maybe it was in my DNA. I’ve always been into anything dark or spooky or macabre. I mean Halloween has always been my favorite holiday.”

Christ said that her purpose in co-creating (with David Flower) The Immortal Reckoning was to create a haunted attraction that they themselves would want to go to.

“And so we sat and talked about

AUTO EROTICA AUTO EROTICA In the blood

Peaches Christ, who wrote the

if we were to do a horror show in San Francisco, what would it be like?” Christ said. “And we just knew that it was going to mash up our love of storytelling, immersive theater, and old school haunted houses. So it has all of that in it, but unlike a traditional haunted maze, this has a linear story.”

That story involves the audience, who become characters in the show.

“The show is about a family called The Blackwells who have the world’s largest collection of occult artifacts,” Christ explains. “And they’ve been able to store them safely by renting out the San Francisco Mint building. Legend has it that some of the artifacts might be dangerous. So you as the guest are invited to this exhibit that’s open to the public for the first time ever.”

Christ noted that the show also features full male nudity and topless women. Only people aged 21 or older will be admitted.

“It’s very adult, very San Francisco,” she said. “It has sexuality and adult content. But additionally, we serve cocktails throughout the attraction, because we’re also a bar.”

As with the company’s previous popular show, Terror Vault, patrons will have the choice to be either more or less interactive when they attend the show. When they enter the show, patrons will be given a red necklace. If a patron chooses to wear the necklace, it signals the cast that they give their consent to be more engaged. They might be put into a private room and locked in a coffin.

They could be grabbed or touched.

“If you would prefer to be a more passive observer then you just don’t wear the red necklace,” Christ said.

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“If you’re wearing the red necklace and it becomes too intense for you, which has happened, you can simply take off the red necklace and drop it on the floor, and that indicates to our crew that you no longer wish to engage on that level.”

Guests are invited to begin and end their journey at Fang Bang, an ’80s new wave/goth vampire themed bar located in the vault of San Francisco Mint. Fang Bang will be open to the public during show operating hours. A ticket to The Immortal Reckoning is not required to visit Fang Bang, or to visit CreepShop, a pop-up retail shop co-produced by Kreepsville666. CreepShop is the show’s spooky gift shop.

On October 30, guests can also attend Terror Ball, the first ever Halloween party that will take place throughout San Francisco Mint with Christ serving as hostess. Guests will be treated to live entertainment, DJs, food and drink, a costume contest, plus more surprises.

For anyone who fears that the show might be too frightening for them, Christ has a bit of advace.

“We are going to try to scare you, that’s the whole point,” Christ said.

“Most of the people who were very nervous to go through it, I would say that 90 percent are just giggling and laughing, and yeah, they may have screamed, but they all agree that they would want to do it again, and that they had a great time. So, we’re here to scare you, but we’re entertainers. We’re not here to torture anybody. We’re show people who want to put on a great show and entertain you. So at the end of the day, that’s what we’re doing.”

Tickets: www.intothedarksf.com

‘Evan Hansen’s major and minor misfires

by Brian Bromberger

hen Dear Evan Hansen opened on Broadway in 2016, it was a sensational hit, winning seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. It was also that very rare occasion when its lead, gay 22-year-old Ben Platt, not only won a Tony Award but became a superstar, a once-in-a-generation feat that enabled him to branch out into movies and television.

At 27, is Ben Platt too old to be playing a 17-year-old high school student? Yes! Streaming platforms which regularly employ teenagers to portray adolescents has permanently ended twenty-somethings acting those roles.

There’s also the nepotism question. Platt’s father is Marc Platt, a well-known wealthy Hollywood producer (La La Land; Mary Poppin Returns; Legally Blond; Trial of the Chicago 7) who not only bankrolled the Broadway production, but –yes, you guessed it– this film as well.

Platt has immodestly suggested in interviews that if it weren’t for him(self), the film would never have been made, a truism that might come back to haunt him if this performance derails his movie career.

The plot; unpopular high school senior Evan Hansen suffers from debilitating social anxiety. As recommended by his therapist, he writes letters of affirmation to himself. One of those letters is found in the pocket of his angry loner/bully classmate Connor after he stole it from Evan, but who later commits suicide. His grieving parents (Amy Adams and Danny Pino) believe Connor wrote the letter to Evan and that they were best friends, a lie promoted by Evan.

With the help of ‘family’ friend Jarrod (Nik Dodani) Evan invents a

t

Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen

fake email correspondence to prove how close they were, but primarily to romance his secret crush, Connor’s bitter sister Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever). He is virtually adopted by Connor’s parents (replacing the son they never really knew) to the point they want to fund his college education.

After Evan speaks at a memorial service at school for Connor, his ‘tribute’ turns him into a viral internet celebrity and a fellow student decides to start a suicide prevention foundation in Connor’s name with a fundraiser honoring him. Evan becomes the school hero and now everyone wants to be his best friend.

The truth does emerge as does the consequences of Evan’s con.

You might ask why would anyone want to make a musical based on such a monstrous, malicious, unlikable, gaslighting borderline sociopath such as Evan, who will cause so much damage to others when his deception unravels, a question director Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being A Wallflower) regrettably didn’t ask himself.

Set in the real contemporary world, the viewer is tempted to burst into laughter when Platt is the only one singing at the family dinner table or in the middle of a packed high school hallway. For some reason both in the hair styling and camera angles –with the closeups and bright lighting being particularly deadly– the film almost deliberately sabotages itself by making Platt look his real age. And Platt’s nervous tics, hunched shoulders, stuttering, quivering mouth, sweaty palms, and darting eyes designed to garner sympathy for Evan and recast him as a victim, instead evokes a creepy duplicitous feeling as if he were a potential school shooter.

The songs by Oscar winners Benji Pasek and Justin Paul (for La La Land) are cloying, talky, and all sound alike, with the exception of the bouncy You Will Be Found, more or less the anthem of the picture. What’s worse is that, like a sneeze coming on, you can sense when a song is about to arrive in phony setup scenes. In all fairness, Platt sings angelically beautifully and sweetly, yet that sound is counter-productive because both the style and content of the songs are trying to rationalize atrocious behavior.

Adapting stage musicals for film is very tricky and the list of successful Broadway musicals that made poor films is legion: Hello Dolly, Mame, A Chorus Line, Nine, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats. We can now add the misfire exploitative disaster that is Dear Evan Hansen to that ignominious list.t Read the full review on www.ebar.com.

t

Photo, Online Event & 50 in 50>>

Megahood 2021 sizzled on Folsom

September 30 - October 6, 2021 • BayArea Reporter • 15

Let’s talk cannabis.

Photo by Steven Underhill

H

ealth precautions included some changes to the traditions of the annual Folsom Street Fair, renamed Megahood 2021 to honor its original first iteration in 1984. But thousands of attendees, in a variety of kink-themed outfits and face masks, enjoyed the leather and BDSM-themed street fair.

CASTRO • MARINA • SOMA

For more of Steven Underhill’s photos, visit www.facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife and www.stevenunderhill.com.t

Brandon Judell

C10-0000523-LIC; C10-0000522-LIC; C10-0000515-LIC

Brian Bromberger

Sixth B.A.R. Talk focuses on film & TV

by Jim Provenzano

C

inema and television through five decades of Bay Area Reporter coverage will be discussed by two prolific film writers, Brandon Judell and Brian Bromberger, in the sixth of our monthly panels, set for October 7 at 6pm PT. Arts & Nightlife Editor Jim Provenzano will moderate.

Not only has Brian Bromberger written for the Bay Area Reporter covering films, books, television, and cultural topics; he was a staff writer for The Sentinel, the B.A.R.’s competition as the weekly LGBTQ newspaper in San Francisco, before its demise in 1995. He’s also written for Gay and Lesbian Review.

Brandon Judell, currently a professor in the Department of Theatre at The City College of New York, teaching such courses as ‘LGBTQI Theatre and Film.’ His film critiques and interviews with directors, actors, and authors have appeared in The Bay Area Reporter and numerous other publications.

The panel will be viewable live, then archived, on the Bay Area Reporter’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/BayAreaReporter and the B.A.R.’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/c/bayareareportersft

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50 years in 50 weeks: 1996’s ‘dyke twist’

T

he film Bound, described in the October 3 issue of the Bay Area Reporter, was ‘Noir lite with a dyke twist.’

The Gina Gershon/Jennifer Tilly stylized romance got off to a passionate start only minutes into the mafia-dodging crime flick, which left fans hungry for an unapologetic bit of sapphic cinema, written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, who had yet to manifest The Matrix.

For some guys, porn actor Rex Chandler appearing live and nude in the stage show Making Porn may have been the most salacious combination of art and erotica that year (in the March 21 issue).

But women and fans of sly genreseeped intrigue preferred Bound, and also enjoyed seeing rising star Christopher Meloni in a supporting role.

Yet, as writer Erin Blackwell noted, “the film uses female-to-female erotica to frame a terror and torture-laced endgame between double-crossing mafia thugs.” She also critiqued Gershon’s tomboy as “too prettified, even for a soft butch,” and the film as “nothing to get excited about,” yet fans continue to enjoy it as camp, despite the Wachowskis efforts as described by critic Blackwell, “straight men [with a] history of exploiting women’s eroticism to spice up their old, tired scenarios.”

Enjoy more vintage reading at https://archive.org/details/bayareareportert

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