San Francisco Bay Times - March 10, 2016

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Feminists to Feministas: Women of Color in Prints and Posters

Dr. Tim Seelig New Column Debut

March 10-23, 2016 | www.sfbaytimes.com

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In the News

By Dennis McMillan

Supervisor David Campos Declares State of Emergency Concerning SF Homelessness On Tuesday, Supervisor David Campos asked his colleagues on the board to quickly activate a provision in state law, usually reserved for disasters like floods and earthquakes, to allow the city to take emergency action to build additional Navigation Centers on city-owned property to house and support the homeless. He said that in the next few weeks, he would introduce legislation requiring the executive branch to build six additional Navigation Centers in a year, three of which would have to be built within the next four months. The Ordinance would also require a funding plan that would activate emergency reserve funds and streamline and cut current spending in San Francisco’s budget to build these Navigation Centers without additional cost to residents. “We can’t wait any longer,” Supervisor Campos said. “San Franciscans are demanding that we act now and keep working until this crisis is solved and that’s exactly what I plan to do.” Detractors point out that many within the homeless population refuse to use such shelters, like the 150-bed Pier 80 shelter that was underutillized, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report. Jason Loomis, a homeless man, said he prefers life in a tent on the street to the communal nature of a shelter. “Why sacrifice privacy?” Loomis told Fusion. net. “That’s basically all we have.”

Longtime LGBT Movement Leader and Attorney Joins NCLR Ruth McFarlane, an LGBT community leader and attorney, has joined the National Center for Lesbian Rights as its Director of Development & Community Engagement. She will oversee the cultivation and mobilization of support from individual donors, corporations, foundations and other organizations that share NCLR’s vision. Prior to joining NCLR, McFarlane was the Director of Programs at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, where she was responsible for a wide spectrum of direct service and community programming. She also served as Director of Community Engagement and Co-Principal Investigator for The PRIDE Study, a national, participantpowered, longitudinal study of the health experience of LGBTQ people conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco. She additionally spent several years providing direct services to LGBTQ and underserved youth, including managing a residential program for homeless youth living with HIV and providing clinical therapeutic services for youth with severe behavioral and mental health challenges. NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell said, “Ruth is a tireless and fierce LGBT advocate and we are thrilled to have her join our team.”

Sacramento Equality Awards Honor Four LGBT Equality Heroes On Monday, Equality California honored Assemblymember Rich Gordon, Mario Guerrero of SEIU, Nancy McFadden (Executive Secretary to Governor Brown), and Dana Williamson (former Cabinet Secretary to Governor Brown and Principal of Grace Public Affairs), for their steadfast support of the LGBT community.

Each year, Equality California recognizes individuals and organizations who have made an impact on the movement to secure full and lasting equality for LGBT people at its annual Equality Awards via a series of formal events held in San Francisco, San Diego, Palm Springs, Los Angeles and Sacramento. eqca.org

U.S. Supreme Court Reverses Alabama’s Refusal to Recognize Same-Sex Parent Adoption In other NCLR news, the United States Supreme Court has reversed an Alabama Supreme Court decision refusing to recognize a lesbian mother’s prior adoption of her three children in Georgia. The summary reversal restores NCLR’s client’s full rights as an adoptive parent. Monday’s decision—on the heels of the Supreme Court marriage win in June—is a victory not only for NCLR’s client, but also for thousands of adopted families throughout the country. nclrights.org Board of Supervisors Unanimously Passes Supervisor Wiener’s Legislation Raising Tobacco Purchase Age to 21 The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed Supervisor Scott Wiener’s legislation to raise the tobacco purchasing age in San Francisco from 18 to 21. San Francisco becomes the second largest city in the country, after New York City, to set the tobacco purchasing age at 21. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, killing more than 480,000 people each year and costing the United States as much as $170 billion in health care expenditures. sfgov.org Free Castro Patrol Training Offered Castro Community on Patrol will be training new volunteers on Tuesday, March 15, starting at 7 pm. There is no cost for the training. For the past 10 years, Castro Community on Patrol has improved the safety of the Castro and Duboce Triangle neighborhoods through a combination of walking patrols and education of the public through self-defense seminars, literature and safety whistles. For more information and to reserve a seat at this training: castropatrol.org/volunteers Muni Stations Defaced With Burning Pride Flag Photos, AntiLGBT Text Castro-area Muni riders were hit with a disturbing message when they were confronted with fliers depicting a burning Rainbow Pride flag as they passed through two area stations.

According to SFist, the fliers were pasted up during an overnight period at the Castro and Church Muni stations. Though some effort was made to remove them, they remained largely in place the next morning. SFist noted both the burning Pride flag imagery as well as “a bunch of antiLGBT messaging” in the fliers’ text. sfist.com Scott Wiener Wins Official Endorsement of the Democratic Party Supervisor Scott Wiener earned the official State Senate endorsement of the Democratic Party at the Party’s statewide convention in San Jose.

Wiener is now the official party standard-bearer in the race. The Democratic Party endorsement is a key win and important strategic factor in the race for State Senate District 11 (San Francisco and Northern San Mateo County). scottwiener.com/endorsements Anti-Gay Stickers Flood Southern California High School Administrators say students at a Southern California high school have the right to wear anti-gay stickers on their school ID badges, just as other students have the right to wear stickers supporting gay rights. The anti-gay (continued on page 30)

Oscar

de la Renta THE RETROSPECTIVE

M A R 1 2 – M A Y 3 0, 2 0 1 6 Oscar de la Renta’s designs celebrated the best in us — beauty, optimism, and confidence. See more than 130 ensembles in the first major retrospective to pay tribute to one of the most beloved and influential fashion icons of our time.

This exhibition is organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco with the collaboration of Oscar de la Renta LLC. Presenting Sponsors: Cynthia Fry Gunn and John A. Gunn. Director’s Circle: Diane B. Wilsey. Curator’s Circle: Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, The Diana Dollar Knowles Foundation, Marissa Mayer and Zachary Bogue, and Yurie and Carl Pascarella. Benefactor’s Circle: Paula and Bandel Carano, Stephanie and Jim Marver, Neiman Marcus, and Jennifer and Steven Walske. Patron’s Circle: Mrs. Carole McNeil, Mrs. Komal Shah and Mr. Gaurav Garg, Mary Beth and David Shimmon, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph O. Tobin II. Additional support is provided by Mrs. George Hopper Fitch, and Mr. and Mrs. William Hamilton.

Photo: Arthur Elgort for Vogue US, March 1999

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music

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Cal Performances U N I V E R S I T Y

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Who Will They Come for If We Let Them?

and anti-Muslim rhetoric and proposals—stirring up hatred and violence—being used as an electioneering tactic. Some who have used these kinds of hate-inducing tactics for years now acted surprised to see them used in public.

S E A S O N

B E R K E L E Y

Trajal Harrell

The Ghost of Montpellier Meets the Samurai The inventive and irreverent choreographer Trajal Harrell explores the human passion for art.

Out of the Closet and into City Hall

“Subtly brilliant”

Oakland Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan

—Village Voice

At different times and places in human history, leaders have sometimes arisen by encouraging fear and hatred towards various groups. While these tactics have been used against A frican A mericans, immigrants, Jews, LGBT people, and others, it is usually the case that when a demagogue gets away with hatefully targeting one marginalized group, they promote hatred as a public attitude and it tends to spread toward others.

March 18 & 19 Z E L L E R B A C H P L AY H O U S E

Buika “She has a husky, layered and imperious voice, something like Nina Simone’s but more flexible and virtuosic.”

—The New York Times

March 19 ZELLERBACH HALL

Montreal Symphony Orchestra Daniil Trifonov, piano

Kent Nagano, conductor

People of conscience, of any background and orientation, should oppose and denounce scapegoating however it manifests. We should also encourage awareness of the use of this tactic, to make it less effective. In the 2004 election cycle in the United States, ballot measures opposing equal marriage rights for LGBT people were put on in 13 states. Right wing political operatives supporting George W. Bush pushed for these anti-gay measures to be on the ballot, in the hope of encouraging more right wing voters to come to the polls who would be motivated by their desire to prevent same-sex marriage, and this voter turnout was intended to help Bush’s chances. All of the anti-gay measures passed, by an average of 70%.

This year, we have seen growing and appalling use of anti-immigrant

Can we believe in love and hope as strongly as some fight for fear and division? Can we reject the crowds and the pressure to allow hatred and discrimination, whether it is against Muslims or Mexicans or black people or LGBT people or anyone else?

Oakland City Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan was elected in 2008 and was re-elected in 2012. She is working for safe neighborhoods, for local jobs and for a fresh start for Oakland. Councilmember Kaplan graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the Massachusetts Institute of Technolog y, obtained a master’s degree from Tufts University and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School.

be paid by health plans—like Blue Shield, Anthem, and Kaiser Permanente—based on their enrollment.

PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3

California has had a similar tax in place since 2005, but it had to be restructured to conform with new federal requirements or else the state would lose over $1 billion dollars in federal funds that help pay for Medi-Cal. That makes this tax a great deal for our state budget.

STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring

March 26 ZELLERBACH HALL

Assemblymember Phil Ting A rare thing happened at the State Capitol on February 29. The State Legislature passed a tax with bipartisan support.

Such an event is less routine than Leap Day itself, which occurs on that date just once every four years. But it happened for the best of possible reasons: helping vulnerable Californians in need.

Robert Battle, Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya, Associate Artistic Director

New taxes are seldom passed in California for many reasons. A recurring challenge, even when confronted with great need, is the requirement that twothirds of lawmakers must vote for them.

This threshold is extremely rare among all states and contributes to gridlock.

Fortunately, after many months of hard work, we had a breakthrough.

Featuring four West Coast premieres, including new works

by Robert Battle, Rennie Harris, and Ronald K. Brown; plus returning favorite Revelations

March 29–April 3 ZELLERBACH HALL Corporate Sponsor: Mechanics Bank

Rachael McLaren Photo by Andrew Eccles

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Season Sponsor:

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We now spend more on prisons and less on schools, and have allowed a mass incarceration system to grow and expand that is destroying not only the lives of those incarcerated and severely harming their families, but is also taking resources away from vital public needs that remain unmet.

Good Will on Leap Day a Rare Thing

DEBUSSY Jeux

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In 1988, when George H.W. Bush was running for president against Michael Dukakis, team Bush used the nowinfamous “Willie Horton” ad to incite fear of black men and crime, and to associate those fears with Dukakis. Many believe the ad worked, and Bush won the election. Stoking racial fears of crime has been a tactic employed by many people over time, stereotyping black people, usually young men, as violent and not worth caring about. This includes reports and advocacy that used words like “superpredator” to refer to young people, and powerful wealthy interests fighting for the U.S. to have the largest prison system in the world, with the highest level of mass incarceration, by encouraging fear of black people.

The tax was passed as part of an agreement, subsequently signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, to refinance health care services for low income Californians through the Medi-Cal program, which serves nearly a third of the state’s population. Also known as the managed care organization or “MCO tax,” the tax will

As part of the agreement, we also passed a bill authored by Assemblymember Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) that restores vital funding for services to enable Californians living with developmental disabilities to live healthy and productive lives. This bill provides $287 million to raise the rates of payment for those who provide transportation services, supported and independent living services, and employment services. These rates had gotten so low that many providers had closed and others were f lirting with it, thereby jeopardizing the state’s commitment to ensure that disabled Californians can live with dignity in their own communities.

This agreement was made possible by a few key factors. First, deadlines matter. If we did not restructure our MCO tax by June 30 to satisfy the feds, then we would have blown a huge hole in our state budget. Second, public pressure pushes reluctant lawmakers to act. Without the work of dedicated advocates across the state, including many from the Bay Area, reluctant lawmakers would have (continued on page 30)

Women Leaders Shine at Democratic State Convention

Ready for Her Leslie R. Katz Now that it is Women’s Histor y Month, it seems appropriate to take a look at some of the extraordinary women elected officials in California. At the recent Democratic State Convention in San Jose, there was no shortage of star power in the elected official sphere.

Saturday morning started with the Women’s Caucus meeting, chaired

by Christine Pelosi. She lined up a parade of incredible speakers, all of whom shared highlights from their careers—including some high and low moments and pithy lines—but I think Democratic Leader Nancy Pe-

Photos courtesy of Leslie Katz

losi summed it up best. She said that when she is asked how she keeps the House Democrats so together, she responds that it is our shared values: of equality, of ensuring economic opportunities for all, and of providing health and educational access for everyone. She, many others and I believe that such shared values strengthen our ability to win the White House and the legislature this election cycle.

Christine pointed out that women are focused, united and clear on the path forward. (I won’t comment on how the presidential candidates across the aisle seem a bit more preoccupied by playground taunts.) We heard from Rep. Maxine Waters, who articulated why she is so supportive of Hillary Clinton.

She made the point that we won’t see real change in representation of women in corporate America until we have a woman in the White House. She noted that not until there were more women in the House and Senate did she start to see women representing entities on issues facing the legislature.

Holly M itchell, who spoke, was praised for her mentorship. Barbara Lee was roundly cheered for her constant and clear articulation of values.

Convention participants calling for President Obama to name a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court

Supreme Court are f inally being highlighted as a crucial issue.

Our community certainly understands what kind of impact SCOTUS has on our daily lives. Attorney General Harris spoke eloquently about reproductive health and privacy rights—again, issues that have been critical to our community. She is frrequently asked to speak about women’s issues, upon which she often responds: “ I am so glad you want to talk about the economy.”

San Francisco Bay Times columnist Leslie Katz with Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Senate! He no doubt rued the day that he was such a mysogynist. Senator Boxer also said that this is finally the time to have a woman in the White House. We will not take the path of the other party that has sunk so low in their approach, but as Congresswoman Pelosi said, we will address the issues of moving forward, and of ofChristine Pelosi (center) with volunteers and friends at the fering values that are shared by 2016 California Democratic State Convention in San Jose the majority of this country.

A poignant time then arrived when Luckily, it appears likely that Barbara Boxer addressed the hun- we will still have a strong, talented dreds and hundreds of women who woman representing California in the have been among her staunchest supU.S. Senate. Attorney General Kaporters. This was her last Democratmala Harris received 78% of the vote ic Convention as a U.S. Senator, and from the Delegates to win the Califorshe rallied the crowd, just as she did nia Democratic Party’s endorsement later in the day when she addressed in her race to replace outgoing Senathe entire Convention from the floor. tor Boxer. She addressed the ConvenSenator Boxer talked about her path tion in the afternoon and spoke eloto the Senate, which was not easy. As quently (and as one person said to me, a member of Congress, she was told presidentially) about issues and valby a male U.S. Senator that she was ues. She was delighted that the presnot welcome…so she then ran for the idential appointments to the U.S.

Her last line underscores the fundamental premise of this column, which is that women are still woefully underrepresented in elected office. Consider that the U.S. Congress is now 80 percent male. Looking at the attacks against Hillary Clinton, who is certainly the most qualified candidate of this presidential election cycle, I cannot help but think that if she were not a woman, there would not be any question of supporting her over a reality TV star.

In reflecting on the incredible talent on display in San Jose, I have hope that there is a strong bench of women rising through the ranks. As Maxine Water, however, said, until we have a woman in the White House, we won’t see the changes that we need to occur at all levels of our society. I am so ready for her!

Leslie R. Katz is a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, was the co-author of the City’s Equal Benefits Ordinance, has served on the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee (as Chair, and as a general member), and serves on the California Democratic Party’s Executive Board. She is an attorney with a government law, policy and strateg y practice, with a focus on emerging technologies.

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Second Chances

UNDER ONE ROOF, AND DOWN THE STREET. Kaiser Permanente is opening in Mission Bay on March 8.

of these inmates with a future once they leave. That is not the norm in our criminal justice system. While it is very easy for us to give friends, family members, and even restaurants second chances chance to make up for their mistakes, that is not always the case when it comes to crime and punishment.

Alex Randolph, Trustee City College of San Francisco The other day a friend of mine wanted to get dinner at one of those new restaurants that are popping up all over town. I quickly said, “No thanks!

I already tried them. Terrible service and the food is way to expensive!” He didn’t relent and asked me to give the place a second chance. At any other time I would not have blinked an eye in that moment, but that night his response really bothered me. How come? His point seemed reasonable enough, right?

I am a big believer in rehabilitation.

Once an individual has served their time, they need to have a chance to re-enter society. Unfortunately, the criminal justice system in our country is not designed to help formerly incarcerated reenter society without facing incredible hurdles. Although San Francisco is doing better than other jurisdictions, there are still some tremendous disparities in our jails.

According to a report published by the Controller’s Office in 2015, the daily population in our jails is around 1,285. African Americans are incarcerated disproportionally, making up around 60% of all inmates, compared to only 6% of city residents. Likewise, young adults also make up a larger group. 59% are between 18–39 years old compared to about 37% of San Francisco residents. More alarmingly, only 19% were offered any support services once they were released. As you can imagine, the recidivism is consequently high at 78% in San Francisco.

City College Trustees and Board of Education Commissioners on When enrolled in Five tour at the Five Keys City Charter School at the San Francisco Keys, that rate drops to Sheriff Departments San Bruno Jail 44%!

Well, earlier that week I was very Numerous studies have shown that lucky to have joined several fellow reductions in recidivism increased City College Trustees, our Chanproportionally to the amount of edcellor, and Members of the School ucation received. That is why proBoard on a tour of the Five Keys grams like Five Keys are so imporCharter School program at the San tant to not only unlock the potential Francisco Sherriff Department’s San of many of these inmates but also to Bruno Jail. This innovative initiative was founded by the incredible crim- provide them with a positive path forinal justice reform advocate Sunny ward. These inmates deserve a secSchwartz back in 2003 as the first ond chance. There is still a lot of work charter school in the nation to oper- to do, however, we can be proud of ate inside of a county jail. In addition the ground we are breaking here to the work with the School District, in San Francisco. To find out more City College is currently partnering about Five Keys Charter School and to provide college level education and to support their work, visit: http:// www.fivekeyscharter.org/ pathways to the inmates.

Under this program, male and female inmates enroll in classes with CCSF faculty while serving time in jail. The program additionally allows them to continue higher education once they are released. Once again, San Francisco is a trailblazer when it comes to restorative justice by providing many

Alex Randolph is a Trustee for City College of San Francisco. He previously served in President Obama’s administration and as an LGBT advisor for Mayor Newsom. He lives in the Castro with his partner Trevor.

Follow him on social media: www.twitter. com/adrandolph & www.facebook.com/ AlexDRandolph

Two Spirit Powwow 2016 Photos by Rink

2016

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The 5th Annual Bay Area Indian Two Spirits (BAAITS) welcomed a large crowd to Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center on Saturday, February 20. Among the popular competitions at the event were the Drum Contest, Team Dancing Contest, TwoStep Contest and Contest Powwow.

Two Spirit allies and supporters, representing Wet-suwet’en First Nation, Tohono O’odham, Lower Bruie Lakota Sioux Tribe and others, participated as featured performers.

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LGBT Rights and Abortion Rights Are Inseparable Supreme Court. The action was organized to protest the Court’s notorious Bowers v. Hardwick decision that upheld the constitutionality of so-called “sodomy” laws that criminalized intimate sexual activity between persons of the same sex. Our group got along so well that we decided to keep working together on other pressing issues, such as HIV/AIDS and abortion rights.

6/26 and Beyond John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard one of the most important abortion rights cases in decades, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt. At first blush, some LGBT folks might think that abortion rights have little to do with them. After all, gay men and lesbians don’t get “accidentally pregnant”–to quote a term used in some anti-marriage equality lower court decision of the past decade. However, LGBT rights and reproductive freedom have long been closely intertwined. At stake in both movements are individuals’ fundamental freedoms to control their own bodies and to decide for themselves the paths their lives will take. LGBT people should care about a woman’s right to a safe and legal abortion not only because it’s the right thing to do, but also because our two movements depend on each other.

Our first experience of the connection between the two movements came nearly 30 years ago when we participated in an LGBT direct action group, called “Queer and Present Danger,” which was part of the first and only shutdown of the U.S.

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At the time, during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, LGBT activists were pressing the Reagan administration and the federal government to end their neglect of people with HIV/AIDS. “Operation Rescue,” a well-funded right wing anti-choice group that blockaded Planned Parenthood and other clinics serving women, was also in high gear. In 1988–1989, Operation Rescue held hundreds of blockades with thousands of arrests of their members. We took part in numerous actions regarding HIV/AIDS and in “clinic defense,” where we worked to ensure access to women’s clinics despite the presence of Operation Rescue. We saw no separation between these two human rights struggles.

The U.S. Supreme Court recognizes the connection as well. Until the Supreme Court held in 1973 that women have a fundamental constitutional right to make reproductive choices for themselves, 46 states had laws interfering with a woman’s right to have a safe and legal abortion.

Until the Supreme Court’s Lawrence v.

Texas decision finally overturned Bowers v. Hardwick in 2003, states could imprison LGBT people for sexual intimacy. Some states even put people in jail for simply touching another person of the same sex in a sexual way. Without these decisions, the government today would still be able to

exert extraordinary control over the bodies of LGBT people and women.

Recent Supreme Court decisions in favor of constitutional freedoms for LGBT people rest on prior legal victories for reproductive freedom. The Supreme Court’s Lawrence decision relied heavily on language from a key abortion rights precedent, when it stated: “[M]atters, involving the most intimate and personal choices a person may make in a lifetime, choices central to personal dignity and autonomy, are central to the liberty protected by the [Constitution]…At the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life. Beliefs about these matters could not define the attributes of personhood were they formed under compulsion of the State…It is a promise of the Constitution that there is a realm of personal liberty which the government may not enter.”

That language comes verbatim from Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v.

Casey, which, among other things, invalidated a law that required a married woman to notify her husband before having an abortion. In Casey, the Court stated that what a woman experiences by having a child “is too intimate and personal for the State to insist, without more, upon its own vision of the woman’s role, however dominant that vision has been in the course of our history and our culture.

The destiny of the woman must be shaped to a large extent on her own conception of her spiritual imperatives and her place in society.”

The fiercest opposition to both the LGBT and reproductive freedom

movements comes from conservative Christian political forces. These groups seek not only to raise money and gain political power off these issues, but also to impose their personal religious and moral views on everyone through law.

LGBT and reproductive choice supporters have fought side by side in efforts to defeat right wing ballot initiatives. Moreover, with respect to both matters, the Supreme Court has held, quoting the Casey decision: “The issue is whether the majority may use the power of the State to enforce…[their moral and religious] views on the whole society through operation of the criminal law. ‘Our obligation is to define the liberty of all, not to mandate our own moral code.’”

As the Court stated in its 2015 marriage equality decision, “the idea of the Constitution ‘was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials and to establish them as legal principles to be applied by the courts.’ This is why ‘fundamental rights may not be submitted to a vote; they depend on the outcome of no elections.’”

In this year’s abortion rights case before the Supreme Court, the reproductive freedom movement is drawing upon one of the key elements responsible for the recent successes of the LGBT movement: coming out. In 2014, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg attributed the “remarkable change” in lesbian and gay rights over recent years to the willingness of gay and lesbian Americans to “say who they are.” The power of LGBT people coming out and telling their personal stories has been, and continues to be, integral to achieving and maintaining LGBT and marriage equality.

In Whole Woman’s Health, over a hundred women lawyers who have had abortions filed their own “coming out” brief, telling the Justices their stories as to how the freedom to decide for themselves what happens to their bodies was vital to their lives and well being. Among those women are prominent women in the LGBT rights movement, such as Susan Sommer, Director of Constitutional Litigation for Lambda Legal, and Judy Appel, Executive Director of Our Family Coalition.

One woman who filed the brief explained: “I am the daughter of a teenage mother who is the daughter of a teenage mother. I had an abortion when I was 16 years old and living in rural Oregon. I believe that access to a safe, legal abortion broke the familial cycle of teenage parenthood and allowed me to not only escape a very unhealthy, emotional[ly] abusive teenage relationship but to… work for one of the nation’s most storied civil rights organizations” and become a lawyer. “I often tell people…that access to a safe, legal abortion saved my life.”

The Supreme Court will likely issue its decision in Whole Woman’s Health the last week of June, on or near the first year anniversary of last year’s landmark marriage equality decision.

The success of the two movements will remain vital to the lives of all women and LGBT people.

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for over three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. Their leadership in the nationwide grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide in 2015.

Diet and Brain Health: Delaying Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms stantially slow cognitive decline.

This diet consisted of foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, olive oil and moderate drinking of red wine. Consumption of the following foods was very limited: red meat, fried foods, butter, margarine, cheese, pastries, sweets, and fast foods.

Aging in Community Marcy Adelman There is much conflicting evidence about the value of brain training– solving crossword puzzles, playing Sudoku and more–in maintaining brain health and reducing memory loss. There is, however, a growing consensus among researchers and scientists that a balanced and healthy diet increase both heart and brain health, and can lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

In a 2015 study of 900 older adults between the ages of 58 to 98 years of age, participants agreed to adhere to a hybrid diet of two widely respected and practiced diets: the Mediterranean diet, which is thought to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease, and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension or DASH diet that is designed to reduce high blood pressure. The new diet regime was named the MIND diet (Mediterranean-Dash Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay).

The study reported that the hybrid MIND diet, when rigorously followed, reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 53 percent.

The MIND diet was shown to sub-

A ll three diets–Mediterranean, DASH and MIND–work to improve health and to reduce specific risk prof iles. All share an emphasis on vegetables, whole grains, fruits and nuts. If interested in any of them, please consult with your doctor first to see which one might be right for you.

A healthy, balanced diet is just one of the keys to a healthy brain. A combination of good nutrition, exercise, staying mentally and socially engaged and reducing stress are all also important to maintaining brain health. In the largest study of its kind, the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability, researchers examined a combination of eating right, exercising and staying socially engaged. After two years, the participants who maintained a healthy diet and regularly exercised reduced their stress and vascular risk factors. They scored 25% higher on neurological tests, 83% better on executive memory and were 150% faster at mental processing than the control group.

There is no known prevention or cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but a healthy lifestyle grounded in a balanced nutritional diet may delay symptoms, possibly for several years.

It is a gift you can give yourself.

To learn more, please check out the following: Mediterranean Diet: http://www. mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/ nutrition-and-healthy-eating/indepth/mediterranean-diet/art20047801 DASH Diet: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/indepth/dash-diet/art-20048456 MIND diet: https://alzheimersnewstoday.com/2015/08/11/ study-shows-mind-diet-mayslow-cognitive-decline-amongaging-adults/ Alvarro Fernandez, Generations, Spring 2015 vol. 39, number 1 Morris et al., Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Mind Diet Associated with Reduced Incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease, Alzheimer’s & Dementia, September 2015: 1007– 1014 Harvard Health Watch, August 2012 http://www.health.harvard. edu/newsletters/harvard_womens_health_watch/2012/august Fernado Gomez Pinilla, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, July 2008, vol 9: 568–578 Kivipeto et. al., Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability, November 9, 2013, vol 6: 657–65 Marcy Adelman, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in private practice, is co-founder of the non-profit organization Openhouse and was a leading member of the San Francisco LGBT Aging Policy Task Force.

When: Wednesday, March 16, 2016, 6:30 PM Where: Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion You and your dog are invited to walk the red carpet and celebrate with us!

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18 Years Of

TODAYS This love story began eighteen years ago and continues to be written every day at San Francisco Towers, the city’s most appealing senior living community. Whether they’re cooking at home or joining friends in our dining room, Mike and Oren will be delighted to tell you about their love of healthy, nutritious cuisine, travel, and their friendships. To learn more, or for your personal visit, please call 415.447.5527.

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9

Happiness Is Not Enough less and suicidal. “In both cases,” he wrote, “it was a question of getting them to realize that life was still expecting something from them; something in the future was expected of them.” For one man, it was his young child, who was then living in another country. For the other, a scientist, it was a series of books that he needed to finish.

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Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT

The Bay Times was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men.

We honor our history and the paper’s ability to build and strengthen unity in our community.

The Bay Times is proud to be the only 100% LGBT funded and owned newspaper for the LGBT community in San Francisco.

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Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence

In September 1944, Viktor Frankl, a prominent Jewish psychiatrist in Vienna, was transported to Auschwitz along with his pregnant wife and parents. By the time the camp was liberated, his family had been murdered, but Frankl had survived. Soon after being freed, he spent nine days writing an account of his experiences and what he’d learned from them. It was published as Man’s Search for Meaning, which became a bestseller and remains widely read to this day.

Incredibly, while he was in Auschwitz, Frankl was able to use his skills as a therapist to help other prisoners. In his book, he describes two inmates he encountered who were both hope-

What Frankl’s experiences taught him was that meaning is essential to human life, and, in some cases, can become the difference between survival and death. He concluded, “Being human always points, and is directed, to something or someone, other than oneself—be it a meaning to fulfill or another human being to encounter. The more one forgets himself—by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love—the more human he is.”

Frankl’s perspective is way out of step with current American culture, which is preoccupied with the individual pursuit of happiness above almost any other value. The irony is that the research clearly shows that no matter how we define happiness, the more we chase it, the less successful we are at finding it. In one study, people who put the greatest emphasis on being happy reported 50 percent less frequent positive emotions,

35 percent less satisfaction about their life, and 75 percent more depressive symptoms than people whose priorities were elsewhere. It seems that the exclusive pursuit of individual happiness can be dangerous to your mental health.

Why might that be? Most people, when asked to define happiness, say that it is basically about feeling good.

They associate being happy with experiencing pleasure, getting what they need and want, and staying away from entanglements and challenges that might involve too much struggle or pain. The pursuit of happiness, almost by definition, is “me-focused.”

Meaning, on the other hand, is about connecting with and contributing to something outside of, and larger, than oneself. If Frankl is right, we cannot feel fully human if we only focus on our own well being, and neglect the equally important need to contribute to life.

While a meaningful life and a happy life aren’t mutually exclusive, they are not the same thing, either. People who only pursue happiness, for example, are often susceptible to a kind of unhappiness that Frankl termed the “Sunday neurosis,” which is a sense of existential emptiness or pointlessness that arises when they are momentarily free from distraction. Again,

it seems that overall sense of life satisfaction is not just a function of how much we feel happy. We also need to feel that our lives mean something.

Conversely, when people serve a purpose larger than themselves, that same purpose can lead them into periods of intense unhappiness that they might have avoided if they had only been pursuing happiness. I think, for instance, of Harvey Milk, who struggled through years of unsuccessful political campaigns before finally becoming the first openly gay elected official in California.

Fortunately, a sense of meaning, while it can lead to unhappiness, can also increase our capacity to endure it. Nelson Mandela was able to endure twenty-seven years in prison and emerge free from bitterness and vengefulness because he never forgot that his suffering served the larger purpose of freeing his country from apartheid. All human beings experience suffering, but if we know why we are suffering, we are less susceptible to despair or hopelessness because we understand, as Frankl beautifully put it, that “what is to give light must endure burning.”

Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. To learn more, please visit his website at tommoon.net

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CONTRIBUTORS Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Kirsten Kruse, Kate Kendell, Alex Randolph, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Tim Seelig, Cinder Ernst. John Chen Rafael Mandelman, Kit Kennedy, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Bill Lipsky, Karen Williams, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron Rebecca Kaplan, Thom Watson, Courtney Lake, Michele Karlsberg Photographers Rink, Steven Underhill, Phyllis Costa, Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg

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GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow Roll Back Tide On Monday, March 7, the Supreme Court issued an unsigned opinion confirming the parental rights of a lesbian mother. The case was presented to the justices for consideration by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, but instead of accepting the matter for review, the Court simply ruled on the merits.

In fact, the case was open and shut.

Lesbian mother VL adopted her three kids, conceived by partner EL with an anonymous donor, through courts in Georgia. Fast-forward several years and the women were broken up and fighting over custody issues in Alabama. Last year, astonishingly, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that the Georgia adoptions were issued in error and stripped VL of visitation and any other parental rights.

There’s no need to be a lawyer to understand that one state may not dissolve an adoption, or any other routine court judgment, issued by a sister state. Absent such comity, we would no longer be a nation, but an ad hoc association of fifty separate jurisdictions.

The NCLR immediately asked the High Court to suspend the Alabama ruling pending appeal, a request that was quickly granted. Now, the Court has thankfully conf irmed that the Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause does not have a gay exception.

In a way, you could argue that the outcome is no big deal. Alabama’s machinations were so obviously unconstitutional that the Court had no other option. On the other hand, few could have imagined that the Alabama Supremes would have issued such an outrageous decision in the first place.

The saga reminds us that we must remain constantly on guard for antigay aberrations despite our continued progress in the courts.

Meanwhile, in better news from the worst state supreme court in the country, the Alabama Supreme Court has finally acknowledged that equality is the law of the land, dismissing a lawsuit that fruitlessly aimed to maintain a state ban on same-sex marriage.

Thanks a lot, Alabama! In doing so, narcissist Chief Justice Roy Moore could not resist preening with a lengthy opinion lambasting the High Court’s marriage opinion for the record.

Dressing Down There’s nothing really “fun” on my news list this week, which makes me a little sad. Mean people, bad laws, violent locker room attacks, anti-gay stickers in school. Where’s the rainbow? Where’s the “gay”?

Here’s something sort of fun. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will hear arguments this month on an Equal Protection claim from a gay guy who was nailed in San Diego for violating a decency ordinance of some sort by wearing a skimpy leather “kilt” to the 2011 Pride celebration.

Will Walters argues that the city ignores the thong-sporting gals on the beach, but comes down hard on gay men, effectively subjecting them to a double standard. Hey, I don’t have to know anything about the case to instinctively decide that Will is right and San Diego is wrong. I saw the kilt in a photo online. Compared to the outfits on Folsom Street, it looks like dinner attire at Downton Abbey.

Speaking of Downton, I was not crazy about the end of the show, where instead of nuanced plot and clever dialogue we were treated to a rapid fire series of life-altering decisions that made my head spin. Plus, I hate the guy that Mary finally married.

She grieves for two seasons, agonizes over poor Tony and winds up with

this sulky undeveloped character for no apparent reason. Where did that come from? Oh, you haven’t seen it?

Well, don’t let me stop you.

then again, unlike the Arkansas law with its ambiguous language, Amendment 2 specifically banned gay civil rights laws throughout the state.

Mel and I also watched all 13 new episodes of House of Cards, and all I can say is…(Calm yourself. I wouldn’t do that to you).

What Time Is It in Bermuda?

Red State Badge of Courage Did you read last week that the Republican governor of South Dakota, Dennis Daugaard, vetoed the antitrans student bathroom bill? We were alarmed to see this measure pass both houses and reach Daugaard’s desk, or at least I was. I assumed that a Republican governor of a rural red state would sign the damn thing in a hot minute. Instead, Daugaard invited a group of transmen and transwomen to discuss the proposed law, and nixed the bill as unnecessary and likely to lead to federal litigation.

Indeed, left unsaid in much of the reporting around the many anti-trans school bills now lurking in the legislatures is the plain fact that the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights now considers trans-bias (and gay bias) to be against the law under Title IX. That means that there’s a major lawsuit waiting for any state or any school that decides to force transboys into the girls’ room and vice versa.

But even if a veto is therefore the practical choice for any governor, I was still impressed that Daugaard actually talked to some individuals who put a human face on the issue, and that he bucked his conservative colleagues by killing the measure.

Oh, there’s more. I have a lot of state names scrawled on my list with question marks. “Georgia?” (What’s happening to that religious freedom bill that got sent back to the house?) “Tennessee?” (I think a bad trans bill has a subcommittee hearing.) “Missouri?”

(We are filibustering a potential antigay ballot measure.) You get the picture. Everyone’s standing on the ledge, but in this column we will wait to see if they jump, fall, or back away.

That said, you really should check out Missouri to find out what happened as we went to press.

Loopholes Work in Our Favor

I’m watching political coverage on TV with the sound off and I have to say that Marco Rubio is looking haunted and anxious. It’s easier to notice if you’re not actually listening to him spin his fantastical campaign scenarios. I hate the way he works his mouth around and chews his lip and swallows for no reason. It’s like he has an invisible cud.

Oh, I read that Queen Elizabeth’s entourage is annoyed that she was accused of opposing marriage equality in Great Britain. We are assured that she felt nothing of the sort and has always supported gay rights, which seems quite true from everything else I’ve read.

I just got lost in royal cyberspace where I read that the late Queen Mother enjoyed a glass of gin and Dubonnet before lunch. Hmmm. I haven’t had lunch. I have some gin.

I don’t have any Dubonnet, but I do have half a bottle of Pineau des Charentes. It’s very tempting to experiment.

News flash! Further research informs us that our hero and favorite mixologist, Rachel Maddow, recommends a Pineau Martini, made from two parts gin and one part Pineau des Charantes. She says nothing about waiting for the cocktail hour.

Nanette Lee Miller 415.432.6200 I nanettelee.miller@marcumllp.com International Member of Leading Edge Alliance

ASSURANCE

I

TAX

I

ADVISORY

Sticker Shock You know, I was reserving a decent chunk of column inches for the appalling story of the football players in a North Philly high school who celebrated “No Gay Thursday” by assaulting a boy in the locker room with a broomstick.

Actually, I was thinking about this exact story earlier when I bemoaned the lack of festive news topics before me. It depressed me. Now, I make a command decision to leave it to you, Dear Reader, to look up the details for yourself, if you wish. I don’t have the heart for it. And no, I have not had a Pineau Martini! This is a sober judgment.

I will say this, however. There’s a school in Indio, California, Shadow Hills High, where about a dozen students put stickers on their ID cards that displayed a rainbow in a circle with a slash through it. At first the school authorities said there was nothing they could do about it. Later, they changed their minds and told the kids to remove the stickers until they could decide on a policy.

Well, on March 1, a judge ruled that Fayetteville’s GLBT rights ordinance does not fall afoul of the state ban.

Why? According to New York Law School legal eagle Art Leonard, the judge noted that state recognizes both sexual orientation and gender identity in laws regarding bullying and domestic violence. Ergo, both categories are, in fact, “contained in state law.”

So there! Suuuuuweeee Hog!

So, I was thinking that the school should allow the stickers based on the students’ First Amendment rights, under the assumption that the stickers would not cause disruption or threaten campus safety in any way.

I should add that the original state law arguably falls afoul of the Constitution by denying us access to the political system in much the same way Colorado’s antigay Amendment 2 did in the mid-1990s. Amendment 2, in turn, was struck down by the Supreme Court in Romer v Evans. But

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Do I even have a choice?

I do have one excellent piece of news that involves a state legislature. You may recall that Arkansas passed a bill a year ago that forbids localities from passing anti-discrimination measures “on a basis not contained in state law.”

This nasty piece of work appeared to preempt gay or trans rights bills, considering that Arkansas’ main anti-bias protections do not include sexual orientation or gender identity.

I don’t know if Arkansas lawmakers will redraft the law or whether other judges will follow this same rationale, but for now it brings us cheer. Also, it’s a reminder that some of these less-expansive civil rights efforts–let’s say, language that includes gays in a domestic violence law–can have an impact beyond a relatively narrow context.

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But now I’m wondering: “No Gay Thursdays? Really?” Plus, I gather that someone put a sticker on the window of the Gay Straight Alliance advisor’s classroom, a move that crosses the line between expressing an opinion and rank intimidation.

Shadow Hills has a dress code that prohibits “racially or socially inf lammatory material,” and it’s clear that schools can ban Confederate or Nazi gear in order to preempt conflict. Does the sticker rise to this level? And if the stickers are banned, can the school also tell gay kids they can’t wear Pride t-shirts? Normally, I’d say work it out through the marketplace of ideas. But if I were running that North Philly high school, I’d put an end to antigay messaging, tell the gay kids to wear what they like and let the chips fall where they may.

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(continued on page 30) BAY T IM ES M ARC H 10, 2016

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Celebrating 40 Years of ‘Tales of the City’ and a New Beginning for Me

TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation Dr. Tim Seelig (Editor’s Note: We are tremendously honored to be launching a new column in the San Francisco Bay Times authored by Dr. Tim Seelig, who is the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Whether he is deftly conducting the hundreds of talented singers in the Chorus or writing this column, his brilliance and engaging, warm manner are so evident.

Both his words and his music seem to always emotionally connect with others. In concerts, he has us both crying and laughing our hearts out, seemingly within minutes. We are stoked about this new adventure with him, and hope that you are just as curious as we are about what’s in store!)

When I was approached about doing a regular column for the San Francisco Bay Times, I was thrilled. My next thought was, “What ever will I write?” I then excitedly shared this opportunity and my worry with my friends. Most said, “How will they keep you to under 600 words?” People say the Seeligs can just talk until

they think of something to say! Well, this same thing happened to me some years ago when a publisher asked me to write a book. I said, “I’m not old enough to write a book!” He suggested I look in the mirror. Now there are six books! Apparently, I had a lot to say.

The column is my opportunity to share random musings with you once a month–no subject matter restrictions! It will be wide ranging: from food to travel; from dogs to husbands; from family to life in the city by the bay. There will be a little music thrown in from time to time to appease my employer–an eighth note here and there.

Why “TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation”? Well, I must admit that artists and musicians are sometimes known to have “wide emotional palettes”! Just sayin’.

The timing of this new adventure is amazing. In one month, readers worldwide will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first installa-

tion of stories about our friends at 28 Barbary Lane penned by Armistead Maupin. Of course that first article would become the international phenomenon, “Tales of the City.”

If you are going to invest your time in reading what I have to say, perhaps it is good to share my “stats,” since that is the first step to getting to know someone these days.

Name: Tim Height: 5’9” Weight: 195 (After one year in San Francisco, my Doctor asked, “Are you just eating your way through the city?” I proudly said, “Yup!”) Age: Not nice to ask in polite company. Hint: I got Medicare as a gift for my last birthday.

Relationship: Married (to the best guy ever).

Children: 2. Both happily married.

Grandchildren: 2. Both girls!

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus concert, Tales of Our City, on April 14-15 at Davies Symphony Hall, will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Armistead Maupin’s story of individuals living at 28 Barbary Lane, which was inspired by the city’s actual Macondray Lane.

Now, for the “Why me?” Well, there are so many answers to that. When I applied for the job at San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, they asked what was the best thing I would bring to the job. I answered, “Empathy.”

They thought I had misunderstood the question. I simply said, “There is very little the singers or audience members might have experienced that I have not shared in some way or on some level.”

Married (to a woman). Divorced.

Children (and Grandchildren). Opera singer (in Europe). University Professor (4 decades). Southern Baptist minister of music–when I came out (OK, that’s an entire series of articles in itself.). Author. Speaker. Conductor of LGBT Choruses since 1987!

Currently, the very grateful conductor of the first gay men’s chorus on the planet! It’s been a wild and fabu-

lous ride. And I hope to share some of it with you.

Now, I am celebrating the beginning of this new adventure–with you! In one month, I’ll be back with article #2–and joining the one and only Armistead Maupin on stage at Davies Symphony Hall with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony. What a way to celebrate Armistead’s last 40 years, and a new beginning for me.

Please join us!

I look forward to sharing lots of TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation (and Tender Loving Care).

Tim P.S. 590 words. I did it! I’ll let my friends know.

Dr. Tim Seelig is the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.

BAY T IM ES M ARC H 10, 2016

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In Remembrance: Charlotte Coleman

Coleman was among the founders of the San Francisco Tavern Guild.

She helped to found the first gay savings and loan bank (Atlas).

She helped to develop the Gay Olympics, also doing key fundraising.

Coleman was one of the earliest and strongest supporters of the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States.

We learned much of this after one of Coleman’s closest friends, Roberta Bobba, spent some welcome time a few days ago in the Castro with Dr. Betty Sullivan, who is the Bay Times Co-Publisher/ Editor and the Founder of “Betty’s List.” Sullivan’s connection with the two women goes way back, as both loved to attend various “Betty’s List” events over the years. It brings big smiles to our team’s faces to think of Coleman partying down at age 90+ at some of our past New Year’s events. She also loved taking the wheel of the schooner Freda B during group sails around the Bay. Even at her advanced age, we knew that we were in good hands. At 21, Coleman joined the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. She served in the women’s auxiliary service called SPARS, which came from the Coast Guard motto Semper Paratus, meaning “Always Ready.” She was one of 771 brave women officers and 7,600 female-enlisted personnel in the Coast Guard.

Her bravery went beyond concerns about the war itself. That is because lesbians were often purged from SPARS and the military then. Both men and women labeled as homosexuals often wound up in psychiatric wards, where their only “psychosis” was their true nature of being gay. Coleman escaped this fate, however, and was able to leave the service with an honorable discharge.

She applied her business smarts to The Front, opened in 1959 at Front and Jackson Streets. In 1969, she also purchased The Mint, which later became a karaoke bar. By 1996, the year that she retired, Coleman had owned and managed 14 successful businesses and restaurants, helping to create safe spaces where LGBT people and others could connect.

Upon retiring, she enjoyed her home and friends in Noe Valley, as well as in the Castro, before she moved to an assisted living facility in Vallejo. Even in her later years, she was sharp as a tack and retained her great sense of humor. We loved lengthy discussions with her at Café Flore and other Castro and Noe Valley locations. We shared laughs and learned so much from this remarkable woman who, like her friend the late great Jose Sarria, merits historic recognition for decades of achievements that were earned against all odds and that helped to forge our LGBT community.

We invite you to learn more about Coleman by reading Bobba’s entry about her in the book Before Stonewall: Activists for Gay and Lesbian Rights in Historical Context, edited by Vern Bullough. Coleman’s military life is featured in the book Ask and Tell: Gay and Lesbian Veterans Speak Out by Steve Estes.

Left - Charlotte in an outdoor bathtub with her good friend José Sarria and a poodle.

Charlotte never missed attending the annual Imperial Court Coronation where José presided as the founder and Absolute Empress I, the Widow Norton.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERTA BOBBA

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERTA BOBBA PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERTA BOBBA

By 1950, she had landed an auditor position at the International Revenue Service, spending treasured evenings socializing with ho-

On Sunday, May 20, 2007, José and Charlotte were together again at the Westin St. Frances Hotel to receive Openhouse’s Trailblazer Award for their bold activism in the 1950-60s forging of early LGBT civil rights in San Francisco.

BAY TIM ES MARC H 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

Top - Young Charlotte during World War II wearing the Coast Guard SPARS uniform

You can also read an interview that Coleman did with Estes of the Veterans History Project. Her sense of humor comes through, such as when she interrupts serious discussions about the war to take care of her beloved cat, which was trying to get her attention throughout the interview!

The experience opened up her world beyond her Rhode Island birthplace and later Massachusetts home. There, she had lived with her mother, who was a maid, and her father, a notorious “rum runner” who was essentially a bootlegger during the Prohibition Era. Coleman enjoyed being able to travel, with San Francisco being her favorite spot. She joined a lesbian friend here and began work as a bookkeeper in the late 1940s, immersing herself in San Francisco’s already burgeoning, yet often closeted, LGBT scene.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERTA BOBBA

Charlotte Coleman is credited with opening the f irst lesbian-owned bar in San Francisco, The Front, which was also one of the first such bars in the entire world.

mosexual friends at the city’s gay bars. When she was up for a new grade raise, Coleman was shocked to learn that the IRS had gathered a four-inch thick file of information about her with data coming from government-led phone tapping, reading her mail and even spying on her comings and goings during what she thought was her private life. Remember: This was a time when just being gay could get a person fired and arrested. Sadly, many of Coleman’s friends experienced both, which helped to fuel her LGBT activism. Once again, Coleman miraculously escaped disaster, although she later felt forced to resign from her position. Ironically, the IRS had given her an award for exemplary service, given how good she was at her job.

A letter that Charlotte Coleman received from Harvey Milk. It reads: Charlotte, Here is a coin for your collection . . . it is an “original” ... made for Wurlitzer ... a free coin to play one of their music makers like the 1942 one in my window! Warmly, Harvey Charlotte proudly wore her Coast Card Veteran’s cap when she joined her friends Roberta Bobba, Michelle Jester and Mary Sager for a San Francisco Bay sail aboard the schooner Freda B in November of 2010. A cheer from crew and passengers alike went up when Charlotte took the wheel and steered the ship alongside Captain Paul.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BETTY’S LIST

Many of us at the San Francisco Bay Times have been fondly reminiscing these days about legendary LGBT activist Charlotte Coleman, who recently passed away. It would take volumes to list all of her achievements, but here are just a few:

TERRA GALLERY & EVENT VENUE

Preparation + Caring = Fun! iar ritual, much of which was in a foreign language.

Weddings Howard Steiermann My boyfriend had never been to a synagogue for a regular Sabbath service, let alone for a bar or bat mitzvah, so I had more than just a little trepidation as my nephew’s bar mitzvah approached. I wasn’t officiating at the bar mitzvah, but I still felt a sense of responsibility to do what I could to allow my boyfriend to feel comfortable.

My main goal as an officiant is to make couples and their guests feel warm and welcome. I’ve been told that my own comfort on the pulpit is evident. My comfort allows people to relax, even if they were nervous or anxious as they walked in or walked down the aisle. I therefore wondered what I could do sitting in the pew, other than simply holding my boyfriend’s hand, to help him feel comfortable in new surroundings as he experienced an unfamil-

The main way I become comfortable in situations I am unfamiliar with is to learn as much information as I can, so I asked my boyfriend if he would like for me to bring a book or two to the bar mitzvah service.

He liked the idea. I brought Service of the Heart, A guide to the Jewish Prayer Book by Evelyn Garfiel. This book gives historical context of the prayer book, as well as descriptions and explanations of individual prayers.

While I have found the book easy to read, it can be a bit like a textbook.

I wondered whether during the prayer service it might distance my boyfriend from what was occurring in the moment. I then also brought along the prayer book I use, published by San Francisco’s Congregation Sha’ar Zahav. This book offers translations in contemporary, egalitarian and LGBT-inclusive writing.

My hope was that if my boyfriend did not connect with the more traditional translations in the prayer book of the synagogue we would be visiting, the newer translations would resonate with him.

I was worried that my boyfriend would be bored. Wouldn’t anyone be bored in such a foreign environment, let alone my boyfriend who is a devout atheist?!

Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Once we got back to my house, I asked him what one word

he would use to describe the experience. He said, “Fun!” When I asked him to elaborate, he told me how everyone had been friendly. He added that the service itself was refreshingly lively, as he was use to walking into a church, sitting down and solely listening. In contrast, congregants participated, chatted and were involved in the synagogue service.

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I believe the preparation helped. By explaining to him in advance what would be happening during the service, he had a better idea of what to expect. Bringing books allowed him to learn a bit about what was going on during the service.

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The benefit for me in preparing was that during the service, I could be present for what was happening, and share smiles and tears of happiness with family and friends, rather than worry about whether or not my boyfriend was feeling comfortable. I was thrilled that not only did I have a great time, but also that my boyfriend did as well, and found it fun.

My goal of assisting people to feel warm and welcomed came to fruition, even though I was simply sitting in a pew. I suppose I learned that preparation + caring = fun!

Howard M. Steiermann is an Ordained Ritual Facilitator based in San Francisco.

For more information, please visit www.

SFHoward.com

‘Bulldaggers’ and the Birth of the Blues

Faces of Our LGBT Past Dr. Bill Lipsky During the early decades of the 20th century, when the music business was almost entirely controlled by white men, it was black women who created the greatest opportunities to express an LGBT sensibility. At a time that socially and legally barred any openness, they increasingly refused to be stereotyped, “traditional” paragons of femininity. Even while maintaining and projecting their explicit female identities, they helped to create a new, uniquely American music: the blues.

Women like “Ma” Rainey, Bessie Smith, Gladys Bentley and others were keenly aware of their gender identity and their sexual orientation, which they expressed in both their public performance and their private lives. Living and working in a world on the fringes of the mainstream white American culture, unconcerned about middle-class “values” and “respectability,” they had the freedom to explore their sexuality and express their feelings about it in song.

“Ma” Rainey, born Gertrude Pridgett in 1886, is considered to be the first great blues singer, the “Mother of the Blues.” In 1904, after she married popular performer William “Pa” Rainey, she christened herself with the name “Ma,” a title that she kept for the rest of her career. Her 1928 recording of “Prove It On Me Blues”–a song she

Bessie Smith Ma Rainey and her Georgia Jazz Band in 1923

d

wrote herself–is one of the earliest to feature lesbian sexuality: “Went out last night with a crowd of my friends,

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They must’ve been women, ‘cause I don’t like no men.

Wear my clothes just like a fan, Talk to the gals just like any old man.”

Rainey sang about homosexuality again in “Sissy Blues,” where she describes seeing her male lover in the arms of another man: “My man’s got a sissy, his name is Miss Kate.”

Once “Ma” Rainey’s protégé, “Empress of the Blues” Bessie Smith (1894– 1937) also sang about sexuality and gender roles that were quite different from those of mainstream America.

Far ahead of her time, in “The Boy in the Boat”–the phrase a euphemism for the clitoris and the clitoral hood–she explained: “When you see two women walking hand in hand.

Just look ‘em over and try to understand.

They’ll go to these parties, have their lights down low.

Only those parties where women can go.

You think I’m lying, just ask Tack Anne.

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Took many a broad from many a man.”

This song and others like it must have shocked their original audiences because Smith is accepting and “normalizing” homosexuality, bringing it into the open. This was all in material written and sung at least thirty years before the struggles for women’s and LGBT equality began in earnest.

Gladys Bentley (1907–1960), the “Brown Bomber of Sophisticated Songs,” achieved stardom during the Harlem Renaissance. Dressed in her trademark white tuxedo or top hat and tails, she sang about “bulldaggers” (continued on page 30)

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Inaugural Wine Train Pride Ride to Benefit the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation and a festive atmosphere, but this year’s event marks a new tradition.

Your ticket to the March 19 “Wine Train Pride Ride” comes with a bonus: The event will benef it the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF), which supports HIV services, hunger programs and helps homeless and disenfranchised youth.

“A fter host ing many successful LGBT events with Out in the Vineyard, a for-profit LGBT travel company, we decided it was time to go in a different direction,” said Andrea Guzman, the Wine Train’s Director of Sales. “By partnering with the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation, we have an opportunity to contribute to the important work they do.”

Ken Henderson

This year marks the first ever Wine Train Pride Ride, and the San Francisco Bay Times is proud to be a media sponsor.

For the past five years, the Napa Valley Wine Train has offered other LGBT celebrations with fine food, delicious wines, gorgeous scenery

REAF focuses not only on raising funds, but also on creating public awareness that the AIDS epidemic is not yet over, that too many people rely on local food and nutrition programs as their only sources of food, and that there are thousands of homeless and underserved youth who all need help to live full, productive lives. REAF strives to create

community alliances to support related agencies on multiple levels.

“On behalf of all of us at the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation, we’re thrilled to have been selected as the beneficiary of the Napa Valley Wine Train’s first annual Pride Ride,” said Ken Henderson, REAF’s executive director. “This Pride Ride fits perfectly with our mission, and we’re honored to partner with the dedicated folks at the Napa Valley Wine Train for this amazing opportunity, an extraordinary gourmet experience while raising money for a great cause.”

The festivities start with a tasting of JCB’s outstanding No. 69 Crémant de Bourgogne with Pianist Andrew Moore setting the intimate mood.

Sipping the pink-hued bubbles, guests will mingle with prominent Napa Valley LGBT wine professionals Cezanne Hendricks, Christopher Barefoot, Eric Murray, Ryan Graham and David Mahaffey. Riding in each rail car, one of these esteemed experts will share their knowledge and guidance with wine choices

Wine Train Pride Ride Vino Sponsor of Sparkling Wine Reception JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset No. 69 Brut Crémant de Bourgogne

Wine Sponsors Wines to Complement Menu Selections Cezanne Hendricks

(All winemakers are either LGBT, or are our community’s long-standing allies) Randolph Wine Company “Cabinet” Riesling Drew Neiman, Winemaker/Proprietor Selene Sauvignon Blanc Mia Klein, Winemaker/Proprietor

David Mahaffey

Olivia Brion Chardonnay David Mahaffey, Winemaker John Newmeyer, Wine Grower Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Theresa Heredia, Winemaker Gentleman Farmer Napa Valley Red

Christopher Barefoot

Joey Wolosz, Vintner

Winery Donors for After Party Fundraiser (list is growing daily)

Magnums Whitehall Lane Winery Jamieson Ranch Vineyards Joe Wolosz

Theresa Heredia

Tudal Family Winery Far Niente Winery Honig Winery Salvestrin Winery Duckhorn Winery Girard Winery

3 Litre Eric Murray

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Drew Neiman

BAY TIM ES MARC H 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

Neiman Cellars Red Napa Valley 2001 Drew Neiman, Winemaker/Proprietor

as diners enjoy an exquisite multicourse culinary experience created

by Executive Chef Kelly Macdonald.

The winer y sponsors who have teamed up to complement the menu selections are Selene Wines, Gary Farrell Vineyards, Olivia Brion Wines, Gentleman Farmer Wines and Randolph Street Wine Co. “The enthusiastic support of the Pride Ride so many other wineries are showing by donating a magnum of wine for an additional fundraiser during the after party is overwhelming,” said Cheryl Stotler, the Wine Train’s Wine Director. “Whitehall Lane, Salvestrin Winery, Jamieson Ranch Vineyards, Tudal Family Winery and Honig Winery, to name a few, are all on board.”

Traveling the picturesque Napa Valley on a three-hour excursion combining the very best in dining and wine tasting, pride riders will glide gently along a 150-year-old rail corridor on board perfectly appointed and lovingly restored antique Pullman cars more than 100 years old.

Upon return, the Wine Train Depot will transform to Funky Town, the hot after party with entertainment featuring Mistress of Ceremonies, the incomparable Daft-née Gesuntheit. The special veejay mix of Get Down Disco, Silky Soul and Rock of the Gayties is sure to inspire gaiety and dancing the night away in a virtual boogie wonderland with the Pride Ride GoGo Boys adding to the fun.

A ticket for the entire event is $270 for a place in the Vista Dome Car and $195 for the Gourmet Dining Car. Call for Reservations: 800-427-4124 Book Online: http://winetrain. com/package/pride-ride/ Skip driving from San Francisco to Napa by reserving a seat on a relaxing, luxury motor coach chartered just for Pride Ride guests. Round trip fare is $50. Call 800-427-4124 for all the details.

In Honor of Andy By Cheryl Stotler I am honored to be the coordinator for the Wine Train’s 6th annual LGBT event and the first Napa Valley Wine Train Pride Ride, which will benefit the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation. Why me and why am I so passionate about this event? If this event can contribute just a tiny bit to help people suffering from profound illness or misfortune, then what I do for a living has a lot more purpose.

So many of us have been personally affected by HIV/AIDS. One of my greatest connections was through a close friend, Andy.

Some years ago, I was enjoying the holiday season with my new husband, when I got a call from Andy. He said, “It’s time for you to come and get me.”

Andy knew he was very sick, but in his mind, he wasn’t dying, not yet. He just couldn’t manage on his own anymore. He needed my help so he could continue his treatment and hang on until there was a cure. Never mind that I had a job in Los Angeles that I couldn’t just take time off from and zip up to San Francisco for who knew how long. And where was I taking him to, and what was my new husband going to say about it?

Andy wasn’t concerned about my job or husband. He told me to figure it out because he was doing me a favor. “You need to be here for you, not for me,” he said. “Because if I do die, you will feel really bad if you weren’t here for me.”

He was right. It took every ounce of strength he could muster to make the trip south to walk me down the aisle a mere 3 months prior. His entire family disowned him the day he came out. I was the only one he could count on, and I loved him.

Two days later, I was packing up the beautiful Twin Peaks home where Andy and José lived. We lost José about a year earlier, and Andy was doing the best he could on his own, but now he was afraid. My plan was to find Andy a place in the same apartment complex where my husband and I were living in Playa del Rey. “No, I want you to find me a place near the ocean,” Andy said. “If the time does come, I want to die just like Beaches. I want to hear the sound of the waves while I’m lying in bed.”

I replied, “Andy, I want you close to us so I can take care of you.”

He shot back, “You can still take care of me at the beach.”

I went to work at Northwest Airlines Cargo the next day. All of my friends knew about Andy. We all had those friends, and friends of friends, and even more heart wrenching, our co-workers. The airline industry was hit especially hard by the “plague.” First there was Bill. We all said: “Go, we’ll cover your shifts until you come back.” Later, my friend Joan would be the one to take care of Bill when he got too sick to take care of himself.

And when Bill was gone, Joan took care of someone else.

It was the early 80s when Andy and I worked at SunAire Lines, a tiny commuter at LAX. Andy was a baggage handler on the ramp where he was miserable–always being teased and bullied because he was a “fag.” Finally, he got a transfer to the ticket counter where we were all young, happy and having the time of our lives.

Then Andy and his longtime boyfriend Steve broke up and he moved into a small garage that was converted into a barebones apartment because it was all he could afford. My own relationship ended shortly after, and

Cheryl and Andy

Andy took me in until I could get my act together.

We shared his double airbed, a space heater, a hot plate and a tiny bathroom. We worked hard all week and he took me to fabulous gay clubs on the weekends where we danced until dawn. Oil Can Harry’s (an LGBT bar in Studio City) and Circus Disco were my favorites because they were so welcoming to minorities and women.

We grew up together; he went to Alaska Airlines and I went to Northwest. He moved to San Francisco and found José, and I found someone as well. We kept in touch and stayed close. Then one day he called and told me the news: “I have AIDS.” Andy and I drove the U-Haul truck full of designer furniture and art down to Manhattan Beach, where by some miracle, we found a small detached studio apartment practically on the sand. Jose left Andy in pretty good financial shape so, thankfully, money was not a huge issue. The elderly landlord sized us up when we got the keys–he thought we were a couple, so we went with it.

Andy deteriorated rapidly. He was only in his dream house for a few months before he needed to be hospitalized. He would shake pneumonia only to fight another bout within days. His medications were constantly changing. He would tell me the doctors said if he did this or did that, took this or took that, he might get better and be able to go home. It was clear to me that he was being used as a human guinea pig.

Then his lung collapsed and I was horrified to see the humongous tube coming out of his side. “A setback,” the doctors said, “but definitely something that could heal.” Then the other lung collapsed and another tube was inserted and the doctors still gave him hope.

I never imagined this sweet, darling man would be capable of enduring such excruciating pain. Andy was the bravest person I have ever known. He loved life so much and was a relentless fighter. He truly believed he could beat it. I felt so guilty praying that his tortured soul would be put out of misery.

Then one afternoon, a nurse called and told me Andy had taken a turn for the worse and didn’t have much time left. I got there as soon as possible and sat by his bed, holding his hand for what seemed like an eternity. He was comfortable, but he was frightened. He knew he was dying and I told him I wouldn’t leave him. It was close to midnight when Andy got very excited and told me, “Jose is here.” Then he relaxed and a few minutes later, he was gone.

Many friends attended the beautiful memorial service Andy arranged before his death. A planned highlight was for me to sing “Wind Beneath My Wings” to celebrate his life and to convey how much he meant to me. Even though it wasn’t my best performance because I was so emotional, it was what my beloved Andy requested. All he wanted was to die just like Beaches.

BAY T IM ES M ARC H 10, 2016

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Feminists to Feministas: Women of Color in Prints and Posters

The prints were specifically chosen to illuminate the role of women of color in the evolving cultural messaging of queer prints and posters. In choosing the images, Co-curators Amy Sueyoshi and Lisbet Tellefsen traced both the changing aesthetic of posters and their significance for queer women of color.

Tellefsen told the San Francisco Bay Times: ”Posters offer such a rich lens through which to look at our history: providing a visual timeline of our culture, our struggles, our aesthetics and more. I’ve spent this past year immersed in the GLBT Historical Society’s poster collection and am amazed at its breadth—and even diversity. Their collection is a tremendous time capsule and this exhibit, ‘Feminists to Feministas,’ offers just a tiny peek of what this collection has to offer.”

Sueyoshi praised the collection as well as her colleague.

“We have this impressive poster collection at the GLBT Historical Society, and it was incredible to see women of color activism actually unfolding in each of the images as we began to make our selections for the exhibit,” she said to the San Francisco Bay Times.

“It was such an honor for me to work with Lisbet,” Sueyoshi added. “She is currently digitizing the poster collection at the GLBT Historical Society and has a tremendous collection of posters herself. A good portion of the posters on exhibit are, in fact, from her personal collection. The exhibit would never have come together without Lisbet, literally a walking encyclopedia of posters.”

The distinctly political images defy conventional standards of femininity, speak out against legislative abuses that disproportionately affect communities of color, and celebrate the health, beauty, and creativity of queer African American, Latina, and Asian Pacific Islander women. Viewing the exhibit, you will feel the power of Audre Lorde, Kitty Tsui, and Pepper from BurLEZk, as well as the force of the activism of lesbians and gays against intervention in

Central America. The exhibit even includes the dyke version of the seductive Calvin Klein underwear advertisements of the 1990s.

The prints illustrate how women of color have created community and initiated change through the building of coalitions across ethnicity and gender for multi-issue organizing.

“The GLBT Historical Society’s poster collection represents a remarkable time capsule of our communities’ history,” Tellefsen said. “The collection is vast in both depth and scope and visually chronicles much of our history: from arts & culture to sex, politics and beyond. I look forward to mining this rich collection for years to come and am excited to offer this small glimpse into the collection with our initial exhibit, ‘Feminists to Feministas.’”

IMAGES COURTESY OF THE GLBT HISTORY MUSEUM

A new exhibit of rare posters is now being featured at the GLBT History Museum until July 4. “Feminists to Feministas: Women of Color in Prints and Posters” contains 29 works of print art from the 1970s to the 1990s that visually trace the power of lesbians, bisexuals, and transwomen of color who rallied for sexual freedom and economic justice in the fight against racism, sexism, and imperialism.

About the Curators Lisbet Tellefsen is an archivist, collector, and producer of more than her fair share of posters as the publisher of Aché: A Black Lesbian Journal, 1989-1995.

Amy Sueyoshi is an historian and professor in Sexuality Studies and Race and Resistance Studies at San Francisco State University, currently the Asso-

ciate Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies, and author of Queer Compulsions: Race, Nation, and Sexuality in the Affairs of Yone Noguchi.

For more information about this and other exhibits at the GLBT History Museum, please go to glbthistory.org/museum/ Above: Becoming Visible, 1980 This first Black lesbian conference hosted 250 women from 10 states at the historic Women’s Building to advocate for racial, economic, sexual, and political equality. Angela Davis and Pat Norman presented as keynote speakers.

Do you love the Dyke in Your Life, 1993 Public art project Dyke Action Machine (DAM!) created this poster campaign in response to a Calvin Klein ad. The prominent presence of women of color signals the legacy of lesbian feminists’ efforts at racial inclusion as well as widening recognition of the critical way in which women of color contribute to the new queer aesthetic.

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Sisterhood is Blooming, 1972

Co-curators Amy Sueyoshi and Lisbet Tellefsen

PHOTO BY RINK

Sisterhood is Powerful, 1974

Obituary: JD Taylor (1946–2016)

The GLBT Historical Society Is at a Crossroads

By Naomi “Copper Jet”

By Terry Beswick

GARETHGOOCHPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

When I walk through the archives or the museum of the GLBT Historical Society, I never fail to be moved by the enormity of our community’s experiences and the astounding breadth of our individual stories. I’m thrilled, as the Historical Society’s new Executive Director, to play a role in not only collecting and memorializing these rich and varied stories, but also in keeping these stories alive and bringing them to new audiences.

This is a responsibility I take very seriously, How can we best preserve, interpret and present our countless stories of human struggle and triumph? How can we best share these powerful stories with LGBTQ people—and with people who know nothing of our history and culture?

“I Love History” fifth anniversary celebration of the GLBT

In the coming weeks and months, I will be asking History Museum, January 29 2016 many of you these questions, and also sharing my vision for the organization’s future—including the development of a new world-class LGBT cultural museum and archives in San Francisco.

It’s really hard to believe she is gone. Once she found out on Monday, February 22, that her Stage 4 NSC Lung Cancer was not treatable, she decided to stop struggling to breathe. We thought and hoped that her hard-fought battle to recover from her original diagnosis in August 2013 and subsequent treatments might leave her cancerfree, but tests in January and February showed otherwise.

But in the meantime, today the GLBT Historical Society is at a crossroads. While our museum and archives programs continue to produce wonderful work—and we attract packed houses to our exhibit openings, events and forums—community support through memberships and donations has dropped significantly over the last year. Our archives are currently being displaced by skyrocketing rents, and our financial reserve has been erased.

The GLBT Historical Society needs your support today.

I am optimistic for the future of the GLBT Historical Society. But without community support, that future is just a dream. Please consider making a contribution now at www.glbthistory.org Memberships start at just $30 per year.

I look forward to working with you all. Please send me your thoughts and ideas at terry@glbthistory. org or call me at 415-777-5455, ext. 5#.

Terry Beswick was named the new Executive Director of the GLBT Historical Society in January 2016.

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Born in New York, New York, in August 1946, JD was raised in Ridgef ield, New Jersey. No one ever thought she was ‘that old’ because of her indomitable, independent, outgoing, playful and poetic spirit. A life-long avowed atheist, JD transitioned fearlessly from being to non-being on February 27, 2016, at 4:10 pm. She was at home under hospice care and surrounded by a large group of chosen family and loving friends. She died peacefully, with determination and on her own terms, which was exactly as she had lived her life. Those sitting vigil with her wondered if she would have preferred to pass away at 4:20 pm, just so we could say, “She died at 420.”

She was an accomplished harmonica player, and a supporter of women’s culture and women’s cultural space. She will be sorely missed by many people in the San Francisco live music scene, and in the Women’s and LGBT activist communities. She will be remembered and missed by the “Insomniacs” (the “old guard at Café Flore in San Francisco), the folks at Peet’s on Market and Spike’s on 19th, the Wild Side West Sun-

HIV-PRIMARY CARE

PHOTO COURTESY OF NAOMI “COPPER JET”

It is with deep sadness, still reeling in shock from the swiftness of her decline, that I must announce the death of my longtime poly partner and wife, JD Taylor.

JD Taylor

day Jam musicians, and the musicians and audiences at the El Rio monthly Los Train Wreck’s Open Mike. She played blues harmonica with Gwen Avery, and also played rock and punk with local bands Frightwig and Tribe 8. She loved any opportunity to use her harps to jam on jazz, folk, rock and show tune covers.

JD’s mother was Virginia Snedeker, an American Scene Artist. As a child, JD was a subject of her mother’s artwork. Some in San Francisco might remember JD as the subject of a photograph showing her, a small woman, being beaten by an SFPD officer during the Castro Sweep Police Riot on October 9, 1989.

Please share your stories about JD at my Facebook page (https://www.facebook. com/copperjet?fref=ts) and on any posts you wish to make. Please tag me if you post anything new on Facebook or Twitter, @ copperjet. If you have any images or recordings of JD’s music, please let me know by Facebook message so that we can archive and share them in the future.

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BAY T IM ES M ARC H 10, 2016

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A MONTHLY HIGHLIGHT FROM THE DE YOUNG AND LEGION OF HONOR

Oscar de la Renta: The Retrospective Photos courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco The world premiere retrospective of designer Oscar de la Renta’s work opens on March 12 at the de Young Museum’s Herbst Exhibition Galleries. The exhibit will celebrate the life and career of one of fashion’s most influential designers and is curated by André Leon Talley, who was named by Out magazine as being one of the “50 Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America.”

The exhibition will include more than 130 pieces produced over five decades, and is presented in collaboration with the house of de la Renta and the designer’s family. These garments are organized into several thematic sections: early work; Spanish, Eastern, Russian and garden influences; daywear and eveningwear; and ball gowns and red carpet ensembles.

The presentation traces the rise of de la Renta’s career in Spain, where he gained his first commissions; his formative years spent in the world’s most iconic fashion houses; and his eventual role as a designer for many of the most influential and celebrated personalities of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Talley, who is the former American editor-at-large for Vogue magazine is highly regarded in his own right. His depth of knowledge and lifelong friendship with de la Renta will provide an unmatched perspective on the designer’s career.

For this presentation, de la Renta’s company will open its archives to illuminate both the breadth and depth of the designer’s work. Additional pieces will be drawn from the designer’s personal collection, private lenders from around the world, and the Fine Arts Museums’ costume collection.

For a beautiful preview of the exhibit, which closes on May 30 (so see it soon!), check out: deyoung.famsf. org/exhibitions/oscar-de-la-renta-retrospective?utm_ source=Fine+Arts+Museums+of+San+Francisco+EMail+List&utm_campaign=f0e38692b2-3_3_16_ General_E_News&utm_medium=email&utm_ term=0_9757c5111b-f0e38692b2-85418097

Finale of Oscar de la Renta’s last runway show, Spring 2015. Image courtesy of Oscar de la Renta LLC.

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BENEFITING THE SF LGBT CENTER

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André Leon Talley and Oscar de la Renta during a book signing at Rizzoli Book Store in New York City, July 2005.

(Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)

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Oscar de la Renta evening dress, 2014 Duchesse satin and velvet with “Oscar de la Renta” signature Private Collection. Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images.

Oscar de la Renta for Pierre Balmain evening dress Autumn/Winter 1999–2000.

Black silk velvet, white silk embroidery and appliqué.

Pierre Balmain Image courtesy of Pierre Balmain

Behind-the-scenes fitting with Oscar de la Renta, Spring 2013. Image courtesy of Oscar de la Renta LLC.

Education Is a Journey and Not a Destination (Editor’s Note: Teacher Lyndsey Schlax of the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts recently taught the nation’s first on-site high school LGBT course, according to district off icials. She will resume teaching that groundbreaking class next fall. This semester, she is teaching a new Ethnic Studies course. It is a popular elective among the school’s Social Science offerings. In this column, students from her class will be anonymously sharing with the San Francisco Bay Times their thoughts about related matters, and what they are learning. Today, however, Schlax writes about what led to her interest in Ethnic Studies.)

Ethnic Studies was one of the first classes I took when I started college at UC Berkeley, and it changed both my outlook on the world and my life path.

I’d wanted to study history for as long as I could remember. My 8-year-old self would walk to the library once a week, and return with stacks of books I could barely balance, eager to dive into stories of Irish immigrants and Polish freedom f ighters, of American Girl dolls on the home-front during World War II, or establishing a homestead in Minnesota, or helping to found the United States. I saw myself in those stories, and so when we learned about history in school, I was thrilled to know more.

Tell me about factory workers in New York City! Teach me about the little Dutch girl who hid Jewish refugees in her home during the Third Reich.

If Dorothy Gale had been real, and from Wisconsin, she could have been my grandmother, so I devoured The Wizard of Oz in book form and film, and explored the Great Depression whenever possible in school. School, and history, in particular, helped me to understand my world and myself.

It was thrilling, enlightening, and inspiring; I wanted more. When I graduated from high school, there was no doubt that I would be a history major with a big side of political science, please!

Education changed for me, forever, at Berkeley. For the first time, I began learning stories that weren’t my own. What had felt like a wealth of knowledge about the past and how it connected to the present was suddenly shown to be a mere pittance.

The realization of how little I knew, how narrow my worldv iew was, struck me as startling and uncomfortable. I had no idea at the time, but I had just learned one of the central themes of my teaching this year: “You don’t know what you don’t know.”

There’s a theory called the “Dunning-Kruger effect,” which proposes, in part, that the less a person knows, the more likely they are to suffer from something called “illusory superiority,” or the mistaken belief that they are smarter and more well rounded than they really are. This was absolutely me upon leaving high school, but Ethnic Studies changed everything.

My professors introduced me to Toni Morrison, Mario Savio, hegemony and feminism. I took a class with Ron Takaki and the whole world opened up and f looded with color and connections and questions, in so many ways. I didn’t know the word for it then, but I began to be able to see and consider intersectionality. I began to learn just how much I didn’t know. I sought out classes on Japanese History, Women’s Studies, Comparative Politics, religions, cultures, art, and stories that were not my own. I learned, I listened, and I thought I’d figured it all out and was ready to begin to pass on all that knowledge to others. I became a teacher and yet forgot something from Confucius I’d been told by an amazing TA in my second Ethnic Studies class: “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”

This year, that amazing bit of wisdom has come back to me full circle, and has enriched my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I was 8, or 18.

Knowing that my students needed the opportunity to have an education that ref lected their own stories, I set out to teach two classes I’d never taught before: LGBTQ Studies and Ethnic

PHOTO BY JO LYNN OTTO

By Lyndsey Schlax

Student Voices Studies. I thought I knew enough, and that I could pass on the knowledge I had and that my students would benefit from that.

Once again, though, the vastness of what I didn’t know I didn’t know opened up before me; only this time, I was the teacher. I was the one in charge of the learning, and if I stood still, awestruck by the wondrousness and awfulness and vividness of the lived experiences of people of color and the LGBTQ community, as I had in Berkeley, I would fail the very people who had inspired me to teach these classes. I therefore studied.

My entire summer was spent immersed in books and films, interviews and podcasts, museums, TV shows, old newspapers and articles. I began to learn the story of San Francisco, of my chosen home, in ways that I’d never thought of before. It was exhausting. It still is, and I’m still learning, and I hope this time I’ll never stop remembering that education isn’t a destination. I’ll never know enough, but if I’m careful and never complacent, I might be able to inspire my students to ask tough questions, and will carefully listen to the answers. I will give them tools with which to seek out knowledge outside the familiar and comfortable, beyond where my lessons end.

“Summer is right around the corner, and you know what that means…time for the clothes to come off! Let me help you get your beautiful self ready. My name is Danielle, and I’m a bundle of energy! Swimming, hiking and running are my favorite activities. I’m looking for the perfect life partner who has got stamina and then some. If that sounds like you, please come introduce yourself, as I have been in the shelter since August and would really like to meet my human bestie.”

Danielle is presented to San Francisco Bay Times readers by Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, the SF SPCA’s CoPresident. Our thanks also go to

The Art Of Aging Gracefully COLORS Resource Fair

FONTS

Julius Sans One

R. Ruth Linden, Ph.D.

Quattrocento Thursday, April 7, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Jewish Community Center Francisco PMS 7533 U PMSof 557San U PMS 660 U PMS 652 U 3200 California Street, San Francisco

This free event will feature lectures

by UCSF experts, informational booths, yoga, meditation, chair Pilates, mindfulness-based stress reduction, Brain Boot Camp and more!

For more information about the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, please visit http://www.sfsota.org/ Lyndsey Schlax has been a teacher in the San Francisco Unified School District since 2008. She is uniquely qualified to address multiple areas of LGBT studies, having also specialized in subjects such as Modern World History, Government, Economics and U.S. Politics. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, and earned her M.A. in Teaching at the University of San Francisco.

Take Me Home with You!

Danielle

Meet Ruth Linden at

Learn more: jccsf.org/aginggracefully

Call Today for Your Free Consultation (415) 776-5901 www.treeoflifehealthadvocates.com

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

Research estimates that as many as one in five LGBT individuals struggle with alcohol abuse.1

Krista Maloney for helping to get the word out about lovable pets like Danielle.

When you find yourself reaching for the bottle, reach for the phone instead.

To see Danielle and other pets seeking their forever homes, please visit: San Francisco SPCA Mission Campus 250 Florida Street 415-522-3500 Aside from major holidays, the adoption center is open Mon–Fri: 1–7 pm and Sat–Sun: 10 am–6 pm. Free parking is available for those wishing to adopt! For more info about Danielle: www. sfspca.org/adoptions/pet-details/29360844

(855) 316.3975 | FRNSanFran.com

1

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2001). A provider’s introduction to substance abuse treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals (DHHS Publication No. SMA 01-3498). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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From the Coming Up Events Calendar See page 28 Saturday, March 12 - Tribute to David Bowie. 6:30 PM. Castro Theatre. $27.50$37.50. (429 Castro St.) ticketfly.com/ purchase/selectSeats?id=1061837&seatS electorOnly=true

Wednesday, March 23 - Betty. 8 PM. Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse. $22-$25.

(2020 Addison, Berkeley) ticketfly.com/ purchase/event/1080721

Me Him Her Addresses Sexual Identify Politics, But Misses Opportunities

Film Gary M. Kramer Now available on VOD, Me Him Her, written and directed by Max Landis, aims to do something different, if not radical, with sexual identity politics.

In this broad comedy, Brendan (Luke Bracey) is a successful Hollywood TV actor who is anxious to come out.

His handlers, however, are less than pleased with his decision and ask him to stay in the closet. When Brendan flies his best friend Cory (Dustin Milligan) to Los Angeles to help him with “emotional damage control,” all hell breaks loose.

Brendan pines for Griffin ( Jake McDorman), a crewmember who kissed him on set and unleashed the actor’s pent-up same-sex desires. On his first night in Los Angeles, Cory encourages Brendan to go to a gay bar to meet Griffin. Although Brendan wants to be discrete, he ends up being ambushed by paparazzi, and rumors circulate that he is gay. Meanwhile, at the bar, Cory meets Gabbi (Emily Meade), a lesbian who has just broken up with her cheating girlfriend, Heather (Angela Sarafyan). Cory and Gabbi spend the night together, which includes having sex in her car.

As Brendan tries to find the best way to officially come out on his terms–

and come to terms with his sexuality–Gabbi grapples with her confusion about, and desire for, Cory.

Me Him Her is as convoluted and as ridiculous as its plot. The humor stems mainly from its characters acting outrageously. But scenes that should be comic actually end up being manic.

When Brendan drives into a gay pride parade, Cory pretends he is gay, taking his shirt off and screaming “I love d-ck!” in public to divert attention away from his celebrity friend who is told by his publicists to deny the gay rumors (even if they are true). It is not particularly funny or convincing.

In another misdirected scene, Cory wants to give the reluctant Gabbi his phone number, prompting a shrill public shouting match.

It might be that the straight, obnoxious Cory is the film’s problem. Is the joke meant to be that he doesn’t seem to have any chemistry with his best friend, Brendan, or that he does not generate any romantic sparks with

Gabbi? Perhaps if Landis had emphasized the straight guy/gay girl friendship–a twist on the gay guy/straight girl cliché–Cory’s character might have had a better purpose, or at least been funnier. As it is, he acts like an annoying, hyperactive child who needs a large dose of Ritalin.

Me Him Her does only slightly better in depicting its queer characters. Both Brendan and Gabbi have dreams in which they are haunted by a giant penis, a sight gag that represents their anxiety about their sexuality. But such over-the-top moments only exaggerate their supposedly very real and very valid feelings. In one of the film’s nicer, quieter moments, Gabbi’s patient and supportive lesbian friends, Laura (Alia Shawkat) and Kris (Rebecca Drysdale), try to understand her heterosexual behavior. Although this chat contains some raunchiness, it passes as one of the more sensitive moments.

In contrast, a running joke has Brendan asking, “Why didn’t you tell me I was gay?” no less than three times– and once while he is shouting from a rock in the desert wearing only his boxer briefs. The gag here is that Brendan thinks the other characters should have explained Brendan’s sexual identity to him. But it is not particularly funny, and it is certainly not funny the second or third time.

The cast seems desperate to amuse, but they, like Landis, seem to be trying too hard. Luke Bracey is as cute as a schoolgirl with a crush when he talks about Griffin, but Landis makes him suffer multiple indignities in the film, including a bizarre scene of him flying on a bird-like creature with a rainbow painted on his face, or trying to act romantic after pouring milk into his eyes after being maced. Bracey deserves credit for being game, but he also deserves better.

Emily Meade tries to make Gabbi sympathetic, but her character is a les-

bian with such low self-esteem that she sleeps with a man and then wants to go back to her abusive girlfriend. The actress never makes Gabbi’s behavior credible. Even if Me Him Her is a wacky comedy, it needs to have some heart with its humor.

Another aspect of Me Him Her that might have had greater focus is the Hollywood satire. Given the lineage of its maker–Landis is John’s son–the film could have used more and sharper jokes, about the industry and celebrity culture. There are a few smiles in this regard, such as a mildly clever advert for Brendan’s TV show, but as with the film as a whole, there are too many missed opportunities. © 2016 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun The Powerfully Appealing Silver Throated Empress of Change!

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “This season’s Repugnican politicians have used nothing but childish name-calling, ugly rhetoric, and discourse reaching an all-time low. As MSNBC news so aptly put it: exercising ‘puerility, petulance, and penile allusion.’ I pray gawd the Democrats can refrain from such disgusting behavior!”

Congratulations to the new Imperials, Emperor Salvador Tovar, The Cheerful Unicorn Emperor of the 4th Wave and Empress Emma Peel,

Oasis is presenting THREE’S COMPANY LIVE! now through March 19th, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 7 pm at Oasis, 298 Eleventh and Folsom Streets. Come and knock on their door for the gang’s latest drag TV classic parody of the slightly naughty 70’s sitcom starring John Ritter, Suzanne Somers, and Joyce DeWitt, which changed the airwaves forever with its racy subject matter, sexual innuendos, and over-thetop physical comedy. A man pretends to be gay in order to share an apartment with two women in this legendary bedroom farce. The cast features many of EssEff’s best dragstresses:: D’Arcy Drollinger (as incredibly dumb blonde Crissy with the bouncing boobies), Heklina (as sharptongued, wisecracking Janet), Adam Roy (as the overly macho Jack Tripper), with Matthew Martin & Sara Moore (as the nosy neighbors/ landlords, the Ropers), and rounding out the cast is Laurie Bush-

man. Expect lots of broad comedy (with occasional filthy dirty references not in the original TV script), pratfalls and slapstick and mugging to the audience. The first episode hilariously addresses self-control and the lack thereof. The second episode involves sleepwalking, illegal puppy harboring, plus a 20th anniversary surprise. And all this is peppered with live 1970-era commercials. “3CL” is cleverly adapted and directed by Drollinger. sfoasis.com BAY AREA MUSICALS, the newest nonprofit theatrical organization to join the vibrant EssEff arts community, continues its inaugural season with the acclaimed tribal love-rock musical, HAIR. This generation-defining musical tells the story of Vietnam-era youths awkwardly but exuberantly creating their own rite of passage through the confusion around them. Among them are Claude and Berger—a pair of friends battling against Claude’s draft notice, and Sheila, who is in love with both of them, but her politically-active life-

style leaves her little time to act on her feelings. Ultimately, Claude has to decide if the hippie life is for him or if he should go to Vietnam. With themes of alienation and civil disobedience, Hair illustrates the 60’s generation’s search for meaning through various “be-ins,” “love-ins,” and protests. Hair features a diverse cast of 12, including Jeffrey Adams (Claude), Rotimi Agbabiaka (Hud), Tierra Allen (Suzannah), David Glazer (Ronny), Katrina McGraw (Dionne), Peter Molof (doing drag as sociologist Margaret Meade), Grace Ng ( Jeanie), Benjamin Nguyen, (Woof), Jepoy Ramos (Berger), Ally Reardon(Sheila), Adrienne Walters (Crissy), and Indiia Wilmott (Tribe Ensemble). The winner of the 2009 Tony Award for “Best Revival of a Musical,” Hair features classic hits including, “Aquarius,” “Hair,” “Going Down,” “Easy to be Hard,” “Good Morning Star Shine,” and “Flesh Failures/Let the Sun Shine.” You’ll be tempted to quietly sing along. Hair explodes onstage at San Francisco’s Victoria The-

atre, 2961 16th Street. Let your freak flag fly freely! Final performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8 pm and Saturdays at 2 and 8 pm. bamsf.org SITE & SOUND presented the annual NITEY AWARDS («Niteys,” for short) for nightlife entertainment, held in the Regency Grand Ballroom, co-emceed by Renee Richardson of KFOG In The Morning and Liam Mayclem of Eye On The Bay on CBS 5. Entertainment was provided by Gypsy Love Productions with elaborate dance numbers, the Klipptones with a selection of lively singing and music, and Ms. Leah Jackson deejaying. There were 18 categories representing the best in San Francisco nightlife juried by entertainment media, nightlife, and industry professionals, plus a public vote.

Those of queer interest: Best Happy Hour = Blackbird; Best Gay Bar = Moby Dick; Most Notable Drag Queen = Pollo Del Mar; and Best New Venue = PianoFight. (continued on page 30) BAY T IM ES M ARC H 10, 2016

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51st San Francisco Imperial Court Coronation

Photos by Rink

The San Francisco Design Center, on Saturday, February 27, was alive with emperors, empresses, princes, princesses, and local and visiting royals attending the Imperial Court Coronation. Emperor Kevin Lisle and Empress Khmera Rouge received congratulations on the completion of their reign. Queen Mother Empress Nicole the Great represented the International Imperial Court.

The evening’s culmination was the election and crowning of the 51st Emperor and Empress. Best wishes to the Unified Court of Love and Friendship imperial majesties Emperor Salvador Tovar, The Cheerful Unicorn Emperor of the 4th Wave, and Empress Emma Peel, The Powerfully Appealing Silver Throated Empress of Change. imperialcouncilsf.org

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Academy of Friends 2016 - A Gathering of Royals Benefiting San Francisco Bay Area HIV/AIDS organizations, the Academy of Friends annual Academy Awards Night Gala was held on Sunday, February 28, at the San Francisco Design Center. Board members and volunteers welcomed guests for an evening of gourmet beverages and hors d’oeuvres, red carpet photos, silent auction displays, posing golden boys, and crowns and tiaras depicting the theme “A Gathering of Royals.”

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PHOTO BY SCOTT SARACENO PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK PHOTO BY JIM NORRENA

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PHOTO BY PERNELLA SOMMERVILLE

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All eyes were on the big screen overhead as emcee Chris Rock kicked off the 88th Academy Awards ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Congratulations to Board Chair Gil Padia, Vice Chair Matthew Denckla, Amanda Watson, Beth Feingold, Howard Edelman and the entire leadership of AOF, which began in 1980 and has since then distributed over $8.7 million to more than 73 HIV/AIDS direct care and educational service agencies in the SF Bay Area.

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The Unofficial Gayest Sport: Volleyball duct, Balls of Furry attracts and welcomes players of all levels, shapes and sizes, and especially bears and cubs, hence the name Furry.

Above, Oakland Volleyball and right, San Francisco Balls of Furry

Sports John Chen “When I play volleyball, I am at my gayest! I can truly be myself.” I have heard this and similar statements from so many volleyball af icionados, such as avid player Philip Tan. He and numerous other such players, both in social and competitive games, share a very similar sentiment when on a volleyball court: You can be as gay as you want, as butch as you want, and, most importantly, as much of your true self as you want.

More often than not, at any volleyball social event or competition, there is a much larger than usual LGBT contingent of players screaming, costuming, shrieking, giggling, diva’ing, cheering, sashaying, posturing, and more! They are all playing volleyball and having the time of their lives being themselves because the nature of

this sport affords people to do so in freedom and with acceptance. There is a reason why volleyball holds the unofficial title of the most popular gay sport and has a very organized governing body, the North America Gay Volleyball Association (NAGVA) with over 4,000 members, 50 official tournaments and 30 leagues.

If you are a new player or new to the Bay Area, how do you find LGBT volleyball? To answer this, I spoke with Clayton (last name withheld) recently. He moved from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Berkeley. He told me, “I just used social media like MeetUp and found several volleyball groups.”

Coming from a much smaller city with virtually no LGBT volleyball, Clayton was very happy to discover a super network of gay volleyball in San Francisco. Clayton first found Oakland LGBTQA Volleyball, an outdoor grass volleyball group for beginning to competitive players. Under the leadership of Ken Mau, Sam Ladion and

A Fresh Approach

her to be both extremely professional and compassionate. We all know that exercise is important for physical as well as mental health, yet gyms, many trainers and even friends can be intimidating to those who find it more difficult to work exercise into their schedules, or who are otherwise challenged by the prospects.

Inside Out Fitness Cinder Ernst (Editor’s Note: We are excited to welcome Medical Exercise Specialist and Life Coach Cinder Ernst to the San Francisco Bay Times team. A few of us have trained with her and have found

Age, health issues and additional factors can all seemingly put a damper on fitness goals, but that is where Ernst comes in. Without judgment or peer pressure, she guides the efforts of her clients and has many success stories as a result. We hope that she inspires and instructs you through this column. If you are seeking a trainer, we also invite you to make an appointment with her. No matter what, it is time to stop sitting on your good intentions and to take exercise action,

Hector Medina, this social volleyball group has grown to 400 members in just two years.

Like Clayton, Ken is also from the South (Alabama) and found the Oakland group through social media. Both Sam and Ken grew up learning to play volleyball with girls because the environment was less intimidating, less of a testosterone contest, and in the poignant words of Sam, “less bullying.”

Girls’ volleyball is more “about the love and celebration of the game without any pretense” and this is the mantra of Oakland LGBTQA Volleyball.

“Our Tuesday grass volleyball is the event that everyone goes to,” said David Murray, who is the current President of Rainbow Recreation (RR), which is based in Silicon Valley and has hundreds of young professional members who work in major companies such as Google, Facebook and Yahoo. Volleyball is the “mainstay” and the center of RR’s social scene, he said, because “it is played in a beauti-

if you have not already worked fitness into your own busy schedule.)

I have been a personal trainer for more than 25 years. I was a child prodigy, lol. Actually, I am an active and happy 56-year-old woman. I like my body in spite of what others may call flaws or aging. Over the course of my career, I have developed a unique approach to exercising that I call Inside Out Fitness. As the name implies, motivation and direction come from your own intuition. The main benefit of this approach is that attaining and sustaining success with exercise become clear, easy and doable. Then you get all the great results that come from exercising regularly. How does that sound? No more feeling frustrated or stuck!

Another benefit of Inside Out Fitness is that an internally directed fitness

ful climate, is accessible to even absolute beginners, and is very conducive to socialization.”

A former collegiate volleyball player, Matt Wong has played on Tuesdays with RR for at least 10 years.

Having competed at a very high level, he found that the social aspect of RR volleyball was a welcome break from the intensity of indoor competition.

Speaking of which, indoor volleyball is the most popular form of competitive volleyball. The South Bay Volleyball Club (SBVBC) is for LGBT players wanting to play at a higher level. Since the early 1990s, Matt has taught various skills clinics and play formations for SBVBC, thereby helping hundreds of novices to develop into competitive players. Clayton reminded, “Being competitive is also a form of fun.”

In San Francisco, Balls of Furry (not Fury) has become the “go to” LGBT indoor volleyball group. Founded on the philosophy of good will and con-

program will make you feel good inside and out. Following this philosophy for myself has enabled me to feel good in my body. You might think, yeah, but you are a personal trainer, so your body is perfect. Nope.

For most of my career I have been a size 14 trainer in a size 4 fitness world, and I feel good in and about my body.

You too will feel empowered with Inside Out Fitness. Using exercise as a self-care practice will improve how your body feels every day of your life.

You will learn to like yourself more and more as you treat yourself with kindness and stop beating yourself up.

Being successful with Inside Out Fitness is defined in this way: Doing what you said you would do about exercise consistently and without struggle.

Moment to moment, day by day, you simply do what you said you would do about exercise. This is a very clear way to proceed with your personal fitness plan. It is simply about exercising, nothing more or less. The best part is that Inside Out Fitness is easier and takes much less time than you ever imagined to obtain great results.

“We had an inf lux of higher level players because we treat everyone with respect and positive attitude,” said Adam Keim, Co-President (along with Rich Sucre) of Balls of Furry. He continued, “We offer clinics and encourage better players to help others to forge a stronger and more closely bounded San Francisco volleyball community.” Even though LGBT volleyball is large and prevalent in the Bay Area, Balls of Furry currently offers the only gay league (starting this month). It also organizes the 4th of July Red, White and Blue NAGVA tournament in San Francisco (ballsoffurryvolleyball.org).

Now that you’ve read about LGBT volleyball in the Bay Area, what do Balls of Furry, Rainbow Recreation, Oakland LGBTAQ Volleyball and SBVBC have in common? They are all successful because volleyball is a fun sport that brings people together. Each of these groups has dedicated and passionate leaders, and they all welcome you with open arms.

John Chen, a UCLA alumnus and an avid sports fan, has competed as well as coached tennis, volleyball, softball and football teams.

Fitness is not what you look like. Fitness is not how much you weigh. Fitness is having enough strength and energy to live the life you want to live.

For instance, I love riding my motorcycle. In order to assume the riding position, I need to do specific mobility and strength exercises. I also need to have the stamina to do the actual riding. I love to walk and hike with my dog every day in our beautiful Bay Area. I keep my strength and stamina up to do this, even though I have knee troubles. Fitness for me means I can do the things I want to do with my life. It never means to me that I am a particular size or shape. People are always remarking on how happy I look; now that is a look I’m proud to embody.

Are you willing to see fitness in a new way? Feel your body and what it needs and do just that! No shame, no blame; just your next small step.

Cinder Ernst, Medical Exercise Specialist and Life Coach Extraordinaire, helps reluctant exercisers get moving with safe, effective and fun programs. Find out more at cinderernst.com

Fitness SF Trainer Tip of the Month Jaime Diaz

Fitness SF Fillmore Oblique Twist Do this exercise to maximize the input on your obliques.

Sit up and twist.

Troy Macfarland of Fitness SF provides monthly tips he’s learned from his colleagues who are professional trainers at local gyms.

He can be reached at tmacfarland@fitnesssf.com 26

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Professional Services Planning Ahead is an Act of Love › Wills and Living Trusts › Medi-Cal › Durable Powers of Attorney › Incapacity and Conservatorships 415-359-0223 www.caelderlaw.com wenzellaw@sbcglobal.net

Member National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

N ewPer spec ti ves Center for Counseling

(continued on page 26)

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See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com

compiled by Jennifer Mullen

• 10 : T HURSDAY

Women Who Could Be President Gala - The City Club of San Francisco. $50–$100. 6–9 pm. (155 Sansome St.) Honor visionary women reshaping our city at the League of Women Voters of San Francisco’s annual gala. lwvsfgala.eventbrite.com

Sex and Dating Book Club Strut. Free. 6-7:30 pm. (470 Castro St., 3rd floor group room 2). The Stonewall Project’s walk-in book club for gay/bi/heteroflexible men who want to maintain their substance use goals. strutsf.org/event/ sex-and-dating-book-club/?instance_ id=4741

• 11 : F RIDAY

Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical - The Brava Theater. $35–$100. 7 pm. (2781 24th St.) A musical based on the life of the 1970s disco legend Sylvester.

Through March 13. fabuloussylvester.com/tickets.html.

Stop Kiss By Diana Son - Live Oak Theatre. $5–$30. 8 pm. (1301 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley) First produced in 1998 off Broadway at the Public Theater, Stop Kiss is a love story that goes off the rails. Runs Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm and Sundays at 5 pm. Through Sunday, March 12. theatrefirst.com

PHOTO BY CHARLES MARTIN, 2014.

The Call by Tanya Barfield - The Eureka Theatre. $15– $35. 8 pm. (215 Jackson St.) The Call is a portrait of cultural divide, casting global issues into the heart of an American home.

Through March 12. facebook.com/ events/1040753665988646/

Pirates of Penzance will be performed at the First Unitarian Universalist Church on Sunday, March 13.

British Nigerian Comedian Gina Yashere as part of Women in Comedy Month The Punchline. $16.50. 8 pm and 10 pm. (444 Battery St.) punchlinecomedyclub.com/ Also performing Saturday at 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm.

• 12: S ATURDAY

Tribute to David Bowie Castro Theatre. $27.50–$37.50. 6:30 pm. (429 Castro St.) The Man Who Fell to Earth with co-star Candy Clark honors David Bowie and depicts an examination of alienation in contemporary life. ticketfly.com/ purchase/selectSeats?id=1061837&s eatSelectorOnly=true

• 13 : S UNDAY

Oakland Bacon and Beer Festival - Market Festival, Jack London Square. $46.50-$65. 2:305 pm. (55 Harrison St., Oakland) Event to support the Oakland Grown program and will feature local restaurants and breweries. wheretoeat.in/2016-oakland-bacon-and-beer-festival/ Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates Of Penzance - First Unitarian Universalist Church. $15– $32. 4 pm. (1187 Franklin St.) A farce featuring pirates, policemen, daughters and a Major General, peppered with melodies and songs. brownpapertickets.com Conversation with the Artists of Adjacent Shores: Hughen/Starkweather McLaren Conference Center, USF campus, room 251. Free. 2–3:30 pm. (2130 Fulton Ave.) Artist team Amanda Hughen and Jennifer Starkweather present mixed media works on wood panels and paper that map the Pacific Ocean.

Through April 24.

Castro CBD: 10th Anniversary Party - The Patio.

4–6 pm. (531 Castro St.) A Benefit for Castro Cares. RSVP to execdirector@castrocbd.org

• 14 : M ONDAY

Karaoke Night - SF Eagle. Free.

8 pm–12 am. (398 12th St.) This week’s special guest host is DJ Sav Blanc. Every Monday. facebook. com/events/981253571966284/ Monday Night Marsh - The Marsh. $8. 7:30 pm. (1062 Valencia St.) An ongoing works-in-progress series, featuring local emerging solo performers, musicians, playwrights and entertainers. Every Monday. themarsh.org

• 15 : T UESDAY

Will Durst’s Elect to Laugh - The Marsh San Francisco Mainstage. $15–$35 sliding scale, $100

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reserved. 8 pm. (1062 Valencia St.) Political humor for folks who don’t like politics, Durst sweeps both sides of the aisle. Themarsh.org

diverse discussion group.

Queer Youth Meal Night LGBT Center, Rainbow Room. Free.

5–7 pm. (1300 Market St.) Youth Meal Night is a safe space to meet with your LGBTQIA friends, have a free dinner, watch a movie and get connected to a community of resources. facebook.com/sfcenteryouth?_rdr=p

Preview of The How And The Why- Aurora Theatre Company. $35-45. 8 pm. (2081 Addison St., Berkeley). Two women of different generations clash over what it means to be female. auroratheatre.org.

Tuesday at 7pm; Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm; Sunday at 2pm; Through May 8.

• 16 : W EDNESDAY

19th Annual Bark and Whine Ball - Fort Mason Pavillon. $150+. 6:30 pm. (Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Streets) The Bark and Whine Ball is CLAW’s largest fundraising event for the crucial work of the SFSPCA’s Cinderella Fund. clawsf.org/bark-whine-ball/

Smack Dab featuring Avery Cassell and StormMiguel Florez - Strut. (470 Castro St., 2nd fl.) Free. 8 pm. Smack Dab open mic featuring Avery Cassell and musical feature StormMiguel Florez; with hosts Larry-bob Roberts and Dana Hopkins. strutsf.org/ Floor 21: More and Rudy Valdez Present a New Downtown Happy Hour Starlight Room. Free. 5 pm. (450 Powell St.) Enjoy the view while sipping one of Juanita’s signature drink specials. Every Wednesday.

• 17: T HURSDAY

Queer Swing Classes on Thursdays - OutWest Dance Sebastapol. $45 for the four classes, March 3–24. 7–8:30 pm. Address to be given out after registration.

Instructor Gene Ross leads a series of classes focusing on East Class Swing. www.outwestdance.com Lesbians of Color Discussion Group at Pacific Center Pacific Center (Berkeley). Free. 7 pm. (2712 Telegraph Ave.) Racially

• 18 : F RIDAY

Pollyanna Bush: Full Circle TMS Performing Arts Center, San Rafael. $25+. 8 pm. (150 N. San Pedro Rd.) An evening of music based on the work of luminaries like Joni Mitchell and Carole King.

• 19 : S ATURDAY

Napa Valley Train Pride Ride - Napa Valley Wine Train. $195–$270. 5 pm. (1275 McKinstry St., Napa.) All aboard the first ever Napa Valley Wine Train Pride Ride! The event will support Bay Area LGBT communities by benefiting the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation. winetrain.com/package/pride-ride/ I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright - Haba Na Haba House. $15–$35 (Pay what you can at the door). 8 pm. (1936 Thousand Oak, Berkeley) A Pulitzer Prize-winning play about Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a transgender woman who survived Nazi Germany and the Stasi regime. Through March 20. ubuntutheaterproject.com.

The Petrified Forest - The Beverly Hills Playhouse of SF. $15– $27. 8 pm. (414 Mason St., Suite 502).Through March 26. bhpsanfrancisco.com/#!2016-season/lpk7r

• 20 : S UNDAY

Word Week 2016, March 20-26 - Noe Valley. Free. A literary festival taking place at venues throughout Noe Valley. friendsofnoevalley.com/ Absolute Beginning Taiko

Workshop with Bruce Ghent Dance Mission Theater. $99. 10:30am– 12pm. (3316 24th St.) Learn the ancient art of Japanese Taiko drumming with Sensei Bruce ‘Mui’ Ghent.

The introductory taiko class will cover basic skills and history. Register online at mindbodyonline.com.

Sundays through April 10. maikazedaiko.com

• 21 : M ONDAY

WE’RE BACK MARCH 16!

2016 Women and Jazz Camp Jazzschool Berkeley. $495. 9:30am– 3 pm.(208 Madison St.) Jazzschool Women’s Jazz and Blues Camp is a concentrated week-long program that provides women musicians the opportunity to study and perform jazz and related styles of music. cjc.edu/womensreg

CECCHINI & CECCHINI: Cecchini & Cecchini is back with the freshest asparagus around! Steam it, sauté it, broil it. Asparagus is a great addition to any meal.

FAR WEST FUNGI: Check out Far West Fungi for a tasty variety of mushrooms. They taste great stuffed, sautéed, or even grilled!

HAPPY BOY FARMS: Veggie lovers rejoice! Happy

Bay Area Young Positives Drop-In Group. Free. 7 pm. (701 Market St.) Drop-in support for young HIV positive people. baypositives.org

Boy Farms will be at the market with their organic carrots, onions, broccoli, spinach, potatoes, leeks, and even radishes!

PRATHER RANCH: Stop by Prather Ranch for a

• 22 : T UESDAY

The LGBTQ Donor’s Guide to Political Giving - Dropbox Headquarters. Free. 6 pm–9 pm. Presented by the Horizons Foundation, this session will inform your strategy for political giving in this election year, and preview LGBTQ issues in upcoming elections.

RSVP to horizonsfoundation.org/

PAMELA SOAPS: Pamela Soaps has some lovely scented soaps and body products for the spring.

Check out their new natural bug spray, and extra moisturizing facial soaps.

PCFMA.ORG

1.800.949.FARM

fb.com/castrofarmersmarket

DESIGN : LOGOMAN : logomantotherescue.com

variety of fresh cuts of grass-fed beef, pork, or some delicious chicken.

Code: Debugging the Gender Gap - Coolidge Corner Theater, Rafael Film Center. $8–$12. 7 pm. (1118 4th St., San Rafael) This Mill Valley Film Festival favorite examines why so few women and minorities are in college classes and how the technology sector isn’t always welcoming to women. rafaelfilm.cafilm.org/code/ Hysteria Feminist and QueerFriendly Comedy - Martini’s. Free.

6 pm. (4 Valenica St.) Hysteria feminist and queer-friendly open mic. facebook.com/hysteriacomedy

• 23 : W EDNESDAY

Betty - Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse. $22-$25. 8 pm. (2020 Addison, Berkeley.) Not just great musical performers, the band also supports equal rights, peace, and the empowerment of girls and women. ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1080721 The Boys from Syracuse - Eureka Theatre.$25–$75.7 pm. (215 Jackson St.) A musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors is set in ancient Ephesus, where two sets of twins face mistaken identities.

Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 6 pm, Sundays at 3 pm. Through April 17.

42ndStMoon.org

As Heard on the Street . . .What is the best concert or performance you’ve attended? compiled by Rink

Shawn Demmons

Diana Wheeler

Carol Ruth Silver

Skyler Body

Amy Sueyoshi

“Beyonce’s ‘On The Run’”

“An Andrés Segovia concert with my father when I was 10 years old”

“A Grateful Dead concert on New Year’s Eve in Oakland”

“Jill Scott”

“The New Edition”

BAY T IM ES M ARC H 10, 2016

29

TING (continued from page 4)

NEWS (continued from page 3) stickers had a rainbow inside a circle with a line through it. Shadow Hills High School administrators in Indio said both protests were okay, as long as they didn’t escalate. Photos have been shared on Twitter and Facebook condemning the homophobic symbols, and they have been re-shared dozens of times. The same students who were distributing the anti-gay symbol on campus also placed one on the window of the Gay Straight Alliance coordinator’s classroom. A teacher argued that some students and staff objected because they felt the gay and lesbian community had been targeted. desertsun.com Mayor & City Administrator Swear In Catherine Stefani as County Clerk Mayor Edwin M. Lee and City Administrator Naomi M. Kelly have appointed and sworn in Catherine Stefani as the County Clerk. Mayor

Lee noted that Stefani had served as Legislative Aide for the Board of Supervisors for nine years. The County Clerk’s Office provides a wide range of crucial government services in five broad categories: Marriage Licenses and Domestic Partnerships; Fictitious Business Names; SF City ID Cards; Birth and Death Certificates; and other duties. sfgov.org Transgender Law Center and Equality California Commend California Democratic Party for Supporting Transgender Californians Transgender Law Center (TLC) and Equality California (EQCA) applaud the California Democratic Party for its vote to incorporate a plank in the party platform affirming the rights and dignity of transgender people.

The addition to the party’s platform was officially adopted at the California Democratic Party Convention. EQCA

executive director Rick Zbur said, “We are pleased to see the party affirm what we have long known: that transgender people are our family members, friends and neighbors, and a part of every community in California.” eqca.org Castro Community Benefit District Celebrates 10th Year The Castro Community Benefit District is celebrating its 10th year with a star-studded party on March 13 at the Patio Cafe showcasing some of the newest restaurants and long time favorites. This event is a fundraiser for the Castro Cares program and is donation based. Donna Sachet will emcee the evening’s festivities. Castro Cares is a coalition of neighborhood groups, businesses and social service and city programs coming together to improve the quality of life for both those living on the street and those who live, work, shop and play in the

Castro/Upper Market district. castrocares.org Social Security Beneficiaries Receive No Cost of Living Adjustment; CEO Pay Continues to Skyrocket Millions of Americans rely on Social Security for most of their income, but this year beneficiaries will not get a cost of living adjustment. In response, Senator Elizabeth Warren has introduced the Seniors and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act (SAVE Benefits Act) to give seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and surviving spouses who rely on Social Security a one-time payment of $580 to help make ends meet. It would be paid for by closing a loophole that subsidizes excessive CEO pay. credoaction.com

LIPSKY (continued from page 15) and flaunted her sexuality by openly flirting with women in the audience.

Her speciality was changing the lyrics of popular songs to make them sexually explicit, combining, for example, “Sweet Georgia Brown” and “Alice Blue Gown” into a vivid paean to anal intercourse. Often the subject of gossip columnists, her marriage to a white woman, not recognized by any government, was widely publicized.

In the early 1930s, Bentley was the featured entertainer at Harlem’s Ubangi Club. She was supported by a chorus of men in drag. By the end of the decade, however, shows featuring crossdressing, banned in many cities, had become very much a thing of the past.

She moved to California, where as “America’s Greatest Sepia Piano Artist,” she maintained some success. She was especially popular during World War II with lesbian women; they came to see her at the San Bernardino Club and Joquin’s El Rancho in Los Angeles, and at Mona’s in San Francisco.

Bentley was revolutionary not only in her music, but also in the way she presented her gender identification. “Differing from the traditional male impersonator,” wrote James Wilson, “Gladys Bentley did not try to ‘pass’ as a man, nor did she playfully try to deceive her audience into believing she was biologically male. Instead, she exerted a ‘black female masculinity’

that troubled the distinctions between black and white and masculine and feminine.”

Only a handful of the many hundreds of blues songs that these women and others sang or recorded had obviously lesbian or gay references, but even a few certainly were more than appeared anywhere else in American culture during the same period. That there were any at all, given the times, is simply extraordinary. Never making a secret of their sexual selves, these groundbreaking women succeeded against all odds.

Knowingly or not, the women linked musical expression to an expression

of queer identity, even as they challenged established roles for women with their appearance, style, and choice of material. They also inf luenced other performers of their eras and, in some cases, singers and musicians for generations to come. So great were their artistic achievements that we still may listen to them, both for enjoyment and inspiration, as their powers remain undiminished. In all ways, they truly were unforgettable, important pioneers.

Bill Lipsky, Ph.D., author of “Gay and Lesbian San Francisco” (2006), is a member of the Rainbow Honor Walk board of directors.

SISTER DANA (continued from page 23) A dozen of us Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence helped sell raffle tickets to Peaches Christ’s SISTER ACT movie and live parody, and together we raised $2,251 for SHANTI PROJECT. That same day, The Sisters’ EGGSTRAVAGANZA BEERBUST at Beaux raised more bucks.

Well, who could possibly resist attractive nuns begging for donations?!

UNDER THE MIRROR BALL was Gary Virginia’s Pisces Birthday Party, also celebrating his 28th year surviving HIV disease. He created a DISCO at The Edge–mirror ball and all–with classic dance hits to get us grooving. Sister Dana was a sparkly living mirror ball.

We joined ACADEMY OF FRIENDS on Oscar Sunday at the San Francisco Design Center Galleria. This marked their 36th Annual ACADEMY AWARDS NIGHT GALA with ticket sales benefitting HIV/AIDS services in the San Francisco Bay Area. We enjoyed delicious cuisine provided by the Bay Area’s finest restaurants and caterers, wine and champagne by amazing vintners, along with a fun way to watch the 2016 Oscars viewable from most every angle in the Galleria. Incredible live entertainment was provided by performances by the cast of Dirty Dancing, then we did our own dirty dancing to DJ Magic Matt! 100% of ticket sales will be distributed to their six HIV/AIDS beneficiaries: AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP), HIV/AIDS Nightline, Maitri, Project Inform, Project Open Hand, and Positive Resource Center. It was a lovely event, but as usual, my only critique is the lack of enough couches and other comfy seating arrangements.

Castro Street ARTSAVESLIVES Studio and Gallery presents all month long an exhibition of 9 CASTRO ARTISTS in oils, drawings, and photos curated by well known artist THOMASINA DE MAIO in the AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION San Francisco Men’s Wellness Center at 518 Castro and 30

BAY TIM ES MARC H 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

18th Streets. DeMaio held a festive First Friday Reception with wine and fine finger foods for artists, friends, and newly acquired fans. Do pop by when AHF is open to check out this amazing veritable explosion of art right here in the Castro! aidshealth. org, facebook.com/sfartslave COMING UP! Sister Dana sez, “Be sure to go GREEN for SAINT PATRICK’S DAY on March 17th–and you don’t have to be Irish!”

KREWE DE KINQUE presents Bal Masque XIII, SAINTS & SINNERS on Saturday March 12, at BEATBOX, 314 11th Street: 5 pm VIP Party with Southern cuisine; 6–9 pm Masked Ball with DJ Tweaka Turner, Grand Marshal Second Line Parade, live Tableaux Show, Crowning of King & Queen XIII, no host bar, and of course, beads!

Queen VII Sister Dana will be handing out free beads. All proceeds benefit Jazzie’s Place LGBT Homeless Shelter. Tix VIP $30; general admission $15/$20 door. More info: 415-867-5004, sfkinque.com DARK ROOM PRODUCTIONS presents BATMAN! THE TV SHOW: LIVE. The play, an original parody of Bob Cane’s costumed crime fighters and the deliciously hokey 60’s TV show that made us love them, is written and directed by Jim Fourniadis. Pandemonium reigns when the theft of a molecular mass divisor signals the first domino to fall in a nefarious crime wave to topple the overly noir-ish municipality of Gotham City. Who will rescue the fair citizens of this great metropolis?!?!

Holy obvious set up, old chum!! It’s none other than that dynamic duo, Batman and Robin, the caped crusaders of justice, freedom, and tortured tautology! But will they succeed when criminal arch enemies the Joker, the Riddler, Catwoman, and the Penguin (Gotham’s most fiendish and fearsome foes) join felonious forces?!?!?

Find out at PianoFight, 144 Taylor Street, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, now through March 19, 7:30 pm. 415816-3691, pianofight.com

All aboard for the ride of your life!

Join proud queers on March 19 for the glorious WINE TRAIN PRIDE RIDE, a uniquely spectacular event on the historic Napa Valley Wine Train supporting Bay Area LGBT communities by benefiting the groundbreaking RICHMOND/ ERMET AID FOUNDATION (See cover and pages 16–17). Saturday, March 19, $195–$270 per person includes an evening of fun, food, wine, and gaiety! #WineTrainPrideRide. Your wine hosts will be right alongside you to share their expertise as you enjoy an exquisite multi-course culinary experience created by Executive Chef Kelly Macdonald and gorgeous piano music by Andrew Moore. Return to Funky Town, the transformed Wine Train Depot’s hot after-party with entertainment featuring Mistress of Ceremonies, the incomparable Daft-née Gesuntheit. winetrain.com/package/pride-ride How does a shame-ridden, evangelical gay boy become a well-adjusted, adventurous sexologist? Dr. Jallen Rix brings his innovative queer positivity to the stage in his groundbreaking solo performance piece that is part memoir, part sex info, and part Faerie ritual. STAKE IN THE GROUND, a one-man multi-media show, plays March 24–March 26, 7 pm, SF Oasis, 298 11th Street. This spiritual, sexual, emotional, and intellectual mash-up erupts into a hilarious celebration of authentic humanity that everyone can relate to and enjoy. sfoasis.com ZSAZSA LUFTHANSA & FRIENDS is a Night of Magic & Music & Lounge Lizardry from Broadway to the Cockettes to Punk! Featuring Absolutely Fabulous Live’s Zsa Lufthansa, a magic act by Bay Area legend Bradmagic, standup comedy by comedienne Ginorma Desmond, AbFab’S Terry McLaughlin, and vocalist Steven Satyricon. Thursday, March 24, 7 pm, Martuni’s, 4 Valencia Street. $10 Cash Cover Charge.

BAD FLOWER PRODUCTIONS and THE SISTERS OF PERPET-

UAL INDULGENCE will help kick off THE SISTERS’ ANNUAL EASTER WEEKEND with the wildly fun and outrageous SING-ALONG JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at San Francisco’s oldest operating theater, The Victoria Theatre. This 5th annual Good Friday event will be co-hosted by local transgender musician, StormMiguel Florez and Sister Phyliss Withe Litaday, and will feature a costume contest including a prize for Best Chunky Jesus! The event is a benefit for the SAN FRANCISCO TRANS MARCH, one of the largest transgender events in the world , which happens annually on the Friday before SF Pride. See the movie and sing along to words on the screen on Friday, March 25, 7 pm, 2961 16th Street. victoriatheatre.org BEFORE IT’S COMPLICATED is a solo exhibition in Castro’s STRUT center of recent works created by Austin Boe, an emerging contemporary artist and filmmaker from Minnesota currently living and working in San Francisco. Primarily working in a two dimensional and video work, his work investigates identity, culture, and appropriation.

Strut is the home for health and wellness in the heart of the Castro, 470 Castro Street. Strut is a program of SAN FRANCISCO AIDS FOUNDATION with their three-fold mission to promote the health and wellness of gay, bi & trans men, to strengthen the diverse communities, and to reduce the impact of HIV in San Francisco.

Sister Dana sez, “RepubliCAN’Ts won’t consider the President’s budget? Won’t consider a Supreme Court nominee–any nominee? Won’t allow important bills to pass? It’s like Republicans are saying, ‘No, we’re not going to let you have your constitutional government.’ Republicans are able to do these things to our government because the framers of our Constitution never anticipated that a (well-funded) ideology that opposes the very concept of democratic government would simply refuse to participate in the processes of constitutional government. Huh?!”

Why is that? In this case, Republican legislators are typically anti-tax.

With all Democrats voting in support of the tax, we needed a handful of Republican votes for the MCO tax to pass. We got 13, the two we needed in the State Senate along with 11 in the State Assembly. The reason for the disparity is that Assembly Republicans participated at the negotiating table, unlike their counterparts in the Senate.

Looking ahead, the question is whether we can see a repeat of this great success. The Legislature has been engaged in months-long negotiations over how to fund much needed investments in our crumbling infrastructure. Upgrades are vital to ensuring our quality of life and the competitiveness of our economy. With a discussion of new taxes on the menu to pay for such investments over the long term, we must overcome a similar set of political challenges to see results.

So, please make your voice heard. It makes a huge difference!

Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the Westside of San Francisco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma, and Daly City.

ROSTOW (continued from page 11) Should the same be true in Indio? Or must they wait until the Shadow Hills football team starts a new weekly tradition? I’m honestly not sure.

GLAD They’re Not GLBTQLAD Okay. I tried the drink and, with all due respect to the Queen Mother and Rachel Maddow, it’s most unpalatable. I drowned it in fresh-squeezed orange juice and ice and it’s better now, but I’m not recommending the concoction. And I think it’s 5 pm in Bermuda, by the way.

I owe an apology to GLAD, which I condemned last time for over-extending its acronym. First of all, GLAD, which used to stand for Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, is not changing the acronym. They will still be “GLAD,” but this will now stand for GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders. It’s called a “nested acronym.” Who knew?

Second, for the record, the “Q” does stand for Queer, not Questioning, so I take back everything I said about the “Questioning” category. Also, I do understand why someone would identify as “queer” rather than select one of the 20th-Century stalwarts: gay, lesbian or bisexual. In the not too distant future, these will sound as anachronistic as “invert” or “tribad.”

Third, even though I thought the “L” for Legal was redundant for one of our country’s most accomplished impact litigation outfits, I am assured that the word helped distinguish GLAD from the GLA AD. There was no need, in my view, but there is a more important reason for me to support the “L.” Without the “L,” the nested acronym would be “GAD,” so it must be added in order for GLAD to remain GLAD–which is all I really care about in the end.

Oh God, it’s Rubio again. I need a decent drink. arostow@aol.com

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Round About - All Over Town AIDS Health Foundation’s Art Space Exhibit Opening on March 4

Photos by RINK

The 2016 Roast & Tribute to Celebrity photographer Duane Cramer’s Gary Virginia at Beatbox, March 4 show opening at Strut, Feb. 27

Photographer Duane Cramer (second from right) with friends (left to right) Alber Gottlieb, Nick Sweeney, Amir Compton and Skyler Body Jared Morgan, artist Alex Brown and Jack Davis at the Castro Street AHF location

John Weber, Barry Miles, David Herrera, honoree Gary Virginia and Kevin Lisle

Brett Andrews, Nick Sweeney, photographer Duane Cramer and Amir Compton

2016 Nitey Awards at the Regency Center on Leap Day, Feb. 29 Julian Marshburn and friend carrying singer Raquel

Artist Richard Bolingbroke and Sarav Human

Our Town SF Benefit at Equator Coffee, Feb. 20

Host Audrey Joseph (right) with Go Go Pro greeters Artist Rene Capone

Asia SF’s Larry Hashbarger with glamorous performer Nya

Server Connor Regan

Fiona Ma’s Birthday Party at the Castro Theatre, March 4

Patrick Kelly, Akash Saini and Sabrina Charan

Josh Klipp and the Klipptones

(top) Community College Board’s Alex Randolph, State Board of Equilization’s Fiona Ma, Former Mayor Willie Brown and Former Supervisor Carol Ruth (left) NUHW Union President Sal Rosselli and former SF Democratic Party Chair Jane Morrison

Donald Grant, Jennifer Witt and Our Town SF’s Paul Margolis

Mayor Ed Lee’s salute to the Lunar New Year at City Hall with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi on February 16 BAY T IM ES M ARC H 10, 2016

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