San Francisco Bay Times - April 20, 2017

April 20 - May 3, 2017 | sfbaytimes.com

SEE PAGES 9–12

e m o h s u s e m o c l e w e s u o h n e Op

itch Jeanette Gurev lman, de & Dr. Marcy A unders Fo oC se Openhou

In the News

Compiled by Dennis McMillan LGBTQ Lawmakers in California Pave Way for Universal Health Coverage Openly LGBTQ Senators and 2016 Victory Fund candidates Toni Atkins and Ricardo Lara are pushing a sweeping “Medicare for All” bill that would provide health insurance to nearly every Californian. If successful, California would join Vermont as the second state to attempt universal coverage. Lara recently announced he’s running for state insurance commissioner in 2018, when he’d oversee implementation of the plan. The bill, co-sponsored by the California Nurses Association, would aim to have the government, and not insurers, provide payments and set coverage rules.

Lara’s bill contains a long list of benefits the statewide program would cover. It would include, not just doctors and hospitals, but also prescriptions, vision and dental care, hospice and rehabilitative therapies, and more. victoryfund.org Court Strikes Down Last Ban on Gay & Lesbian Foster Parents in U.S. As of now, gay and lesbian foster parents in all 50 states have the legal right to adopt children—something that could not be said in Nebraska last Friday morning. Nebraska’s State Supreme Court has struck down a decades-old ban on adoptions by gay and lesbian individuals and couples. “The era of states baselessly branding LGBT people unfit to parent is over,” said Leslie Cooper of the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project in a statement. “Children in the foster care system are no longer needlessly denied access to available loving families.” There are tens of thousands of LGBT people who call the Cornhusker State home, and thousands of Nebraska children in need of a foster care placement. This victory means that Nebraska’s motto of “Equality before the Law” rings out more truly for all in Nebraska. More than 3,800 children spend every day hoping to be adopted, languishing in the foster care system in Nebraska. The ACLU said between bad placements over and over again and long stays in emergency shelters, the long wait is inhumane. lgbtqnation.com Lawmakers Say Trump, Others Should Disclose Tax Returns to Get on California’s 2020 Ballot Senator Scott Wiener has authored a bill with Senator Mike McGuire— Senate Bill 149—which would require any future presidential candidate to release 5 years of tax returns in order to appear on the California primary ballot. This should be a non-partisan issue, as both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates going back 40 years have voluntarily released their tax returns.

SB 149 recently passed its first committee hearing, and another hearing is lined up. The refusal by the president to release his tax returns broke the longstanding practice of disclosure, which many believe should be required. New York also seeks to force candidates to comply by using election law. scottwiener.com Graffiti Continues Across the Castro Graffiti isn’t new to the neighborhood, but there are some specific new instances to note. First up is the defacing of the photographs and history signage at Harvey Milk Plaza, near the Castro Muni entrance, as captured by San Francisco Bay Times photographer Rink. Additional graffiti also appeared on “The Hope for A World Cure” mural on 16th Street near Market, less than a month after it was tagged by a serial graffiti vandal who hit many other Castro lo-

cations as well. Finally, new “Evict Trump” graffiti went up on the building closest to the former Home restaurant space at Church and Market, which is currently in the process of becoming a mixed-use apartment building. Graffiti is a crime and can be reported a number of ways, including 311 and 415-531-0123 for found graffiti, and 911 for graffiti in progress. Learn more at sfpublicworks.org/graffiti, the SF Public Works’ information page. hoodline.com and Rink Foto TRANSform Tech Highlights Transgender & Gender Nonconforming People in the Tech Industry Transgender Law Center partnered with Lesbians Who Tech and hosted Salesforce at their worldwide corporate headquarters, One Market, to convene “TRANSform Tech” on April 13, a day-long summit that brought together tech industry leaders and workers with transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people. Throughout the day, TGNC people, advocates and tech experts discussed challenges, explored possibilities, and shared best practices.

Presenters included Tony Prophet, Chief Equality Officer of Salesforce and Kris Hayashi of Transgender Law Center. transgenderlawcenter.org Muni Escalator Rehabilitation Is Just About Finished in Castro Station Rehab work will start shortly at Church Station on both inboundside escalators—from platform-tofare gates and from fare gates-tostreet. The former already was slated for rehab at this time; the other broke down last week and has been moved up to priority rehab as a result. Those rehabs will be underway simultaneously for about five months.

The popular Rainbow Lights on the Castro Station escalator into Harvey Milk Plaza from fare gates-to-street will eventually be replicated on all escalators at the Castro and Church Stations. It’s just taking some time to purchase those colored LED bulbs through “the system.” castromerchants.com Dr. Marcy Adelman Named SF Pride Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal SF Pride has just named Openhouse Co-Founder and San Francisco Bay Times (in italics) columnist Dr. Marcy Adelman the Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal for 2017. Dr. Adelman, a widely respected psychotherapist and pioneer in the field of lesbian and gay aging, and others recently made possible 55 Laguna, the first dedicated LGBT welcoming housing in San Francisco. For more on her and Openhouse, please see our cover and pages 9–12.

LGBTQ Citizens Urged to Take the 11th Annual LGBT Community Survey The 11th Annual LGBT Community Survey, which is one of the largest LGBT surveys in the world, is now open. CMI Community Marketing and Insights wants to hear from you about various issues facing our community today. More bisexual and pansexual community members are needed for this year’s survey. It should take about 10 minutes to complete. Participating in this study helps open doors and minds around the world, and influences positive changes for our community. Previous surveys have yielded 45,000 respondents from 150 countries. Those who complete the entire survey by May 15 may enter to win one of twenty priz(continued on page 18) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES APR IL 20, 2017

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We Don’t Want Any Part of Trump’s Wall of Shame

In Every Generation, We Must Re-make Our Exodus The resistance has taken many forms. To publicly identify ourselves as part of the current resistance, many now wear pink hats. In ancient times, some individuals marked their door posts with the blood of a lamb. Then, as now, part of what builds strength in resistance is knowing we are not alone, seeing one another publicly step up, and breaking down the fear of the tyrant by observing how many are willing and able to resist him.

with Mexico will pay for it. This is really a tax on Americans buying goods from our third largest trading partner.

Furthermore, the wall won’t be effective in meeting Trump’s stated goal of curbing undocumented immigration. A 2006 Pew Research Center report estimated that nearly half of all undocumented immigrants arrived legally through a port of entry, such as an airport or border crossing, where they were subject to a search by immigration officials. A border wall would have no effect on this population.

Assemblymember Phil Ting Days into his presidency, Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13767, requiring the federal government to build a wall along the border of the United States and Mexico. Since then, his administration has been soliciting proposals from companies interested in building this wall.

Even a cursory look shows the wall to be more than a boondoggle. It will be a stain on our history that conflicts with California values.

We welcome immigrants as a vital part of our cultural fabric and our economy. This is why California must speak out as a state against the wall.

We were complicit with the systematic exclusion of Chinese immigrants for decades dating back to the 1850s, and also with the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. This wall is another tragic mistake of history.

Aside from being morally abhorrent, there are many good gripes to have with Trump’s wall.

Consider these: Most people object to the wall. In March, a Public Policy Institute of California poll found that 72 percent of Californians oppose the wall, and a recent Pew Center poll found that 62 percent of U.S. adults feel the same.

The border wall will be expensive. Trump’s budget includes $2.6 billion to plan and build the wall.

However, a leaked internal administration report concluded the wall will cost up to $21.6 billion and will take over three years to build.

Despite Trump’s claims, the Mexican President stated that their government won’t foot the bill.

In response, Trump has said a tariff on trade

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Despite these facts, the administration is moving forward with this ill-advised and irresponsible plan built on hate and ignorance. Making matters worse, the president’s pet project will waste billions of taxpayer funds that should be used for important infrastructure improvements—better highways, regional transit, or high speed rail.

In California, we build bridges, not walls. That’s why I introduced the Resist the Wall Act, or Assembly Bill (AB) 932, which requires our state pension funds to divest from any companies involved with the construction of what will be a national eyesore.

More than 375 companies have shown an interest in building the wall. These companies are putting profit before justice and integrity. With the California Public Employees Retirement System and the California State Teachers Retirement System’s investments valued at over $500 billion, this bill will send a clear message to businesses—the state won’t tolerate hateful greed.

Immigrant stories are the history of America and this is a nightmare. We must stand together and fight this wall because it symbolizes weakness and hate to the world.

California always leads the way in doing the right thing. More than 30 years ago, the state withheld investment to pressure South African leaders to end apartheid. The Resist the Wall Act will continue our activism and make it clear that this is a wall of shame, and we don’t want any part of it.

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

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Out of the Closet and into City Hall Oakland Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan Recently the Jewish holiday of Passover was observed, a time during which many of us celebrate, and tell the story of, the Exodus from Egypt. The holiday centers around telling the story of people who were enslaved and oppressed by the Egyptian Pharaoh, and how they rose up and escaped from oppression.

One of the traditional teachings is that every generation must learn about the exodus in their own way, and build their relationship around it, thereby learning to resist oppression. And so this tradition, of retelling a story from thousands of years ago, has a purpose for us too.

While one reason for making sure to tell the stories of those who came before us is to respect their lives and honor our ancestors—that is not the only reason. We also retell the story of how our ancestors overcame oppression so that when we face oppression in our lives, we will know that it is possible to resist. Celebrating ancient victories over oppression also strengthens our ability and knowledge to fight oppression. Living under the rule of an oppressive tyrant is not new, and we in this time are not the first to struggle with this issue. For thousands of years, in various times and places, people have dealt with oppression, built resistance, and overcome tyrants.

Let us honor what we have done thus far in resistance, and rededicate ourselves to the tasks ahead, to build a just and sustainable future. We have adopted and re-affirmed sanctuary city resolutions, and helped to fund legal services for those in need. We have taken action to help protect those struggling here with rising displacement, strengthening relocation assistance and protections for displaced tenants. And we have fought for thoughtful and compassionate solutions to our rising homeless crisis—and must continue to act to provide healthy alternatives to shoving homeless camps from one freeway underpass to the next freeway underpass by providing allowable sites, “navigation centers,” where people could be instead.

This week, I am pleased to share that we introduced a City Council resolution in support of universal healthcare for California, a new bill in the State legislature that would ensure health care for all Californians and help to contain rising rates. As we see a Federal administration continuing to try to sabotage the Affordable Care Act (AKA “Obamacare”)— willing to hurt millions of people for political one-upmanship—we can show and act upon our values of compassion and inclusion, by working to protect and expand health coverage for everyone.

Oakland City Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan was elected in 2008 and was re-elected in 2012, and again in 2016. 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 Technology, obtained a master’s degree from Tufts University and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School.

Love Letter to Paul

Photos courtesy of Chas Nol

Dear Paul, It’s been three weeks since you left us. The separation from you has been excruciating. It’s not the first time we’ve been apart for this amount of time, but these are the first three weeks of the rest of my life without you. The prospect of not seeing you, touching you, and feeling you again is unimaginable.

6/26 and Beyond John Lewis & Stuart Gaffney Three weeks ago, the LGBT community lost one of its leaders, Paul Connolly, a luminary in the field of philanthropy and nonprof it management. We and many others lost a dear friend or beloved family member. His partner Chas Nol lost the man with whom he thought he would spend the rest of his life.

Paul died of acute respiratory distress syndrome at age 54 after over a month in the ICU. Chas and Paul were very active in the Radical Faerie and Billy queer spiritual communities. At the center of Billy communities is the “Heart Circle”—as the Billys describe it, “a time to share what’s on our hearts and listen with an open heart” where “everyone is equal.”

As LGBT people, open and authentic sharing of the truth of our lives is something we can offer and model for the world. In tribute to Paul—instead of listing his many accomplishments as a typical obituary might do—we invite readers to join a type of Heart Circle, where we can hear Chas’s words to Paul, the one person who cannot physically join the circle today. We offer Chas’s “Love Letter to Paul” so that we can all be in the Heart Circle together:

Over the last 21 days, I’ve been reflecting on the deep impact you had on my life in our 13 years together. As you know, I was always the stoic one, and you were passionate and expressive. Except when fits of uncontrollable tears overtake me now, I’m still the guy whose affect varies little more than the sails of a becalmed boat.

But as I approach age 60, I see there’s nothing in my life that doesn’t feel somehow rooted or fundamentally informed by you and your oversized presence.

My eyes open wider. My hearing is more acute. I see colors I never knew existed. My sense of touch is enhanced. My taste buds are multiplied. My sense of who I am has shifted inalterably.

You challenged me and everyone around you to see the world differently. You turned obstacles into opportunities. You lengthened time and made a day seem longer and fuller than I ever thought possible. You forged pathways through impassable terrain.

But as one who conceives of himself as unshakable, what strikes me most is how much you got under my skin. Within the first 12 hours of your leaving on a trip, I would become depressed, begin to procrastinate, and immerse myself in Netflix. Your power over me annoyed me to no end. I saw myself as far too evolved to be so deeply enmeshed with my partner that I could become nearly catatonic when he went away.

And now you’ve left for good.

Three weeks ago, I sat next to you on your bed—one hand on your chest, the other holding yours in my lap. I stared into your eyes as they closed for the last time. I felt the movement of your chest as you released your last breath. And I sensed the warmth of your body as your heart stopped beating. I needed to be there for you—to be your strong, stoic guy, holding you and making you feel safe as you departed. And I needed to know for myself that you were really gone. If I could be fully present for your leaving, I hoped I would be able to let go, too.

And now you are gone.

Every day now I stop somewhere—frozen in place—when I encounter another aspect of my life you so thoroughly affected. The color of the walls in our house. The pictures that hang on them.

The clothes in my closet. The plants in the garden. The empty place in our bed.

I know that the waves of grief will diminish over time. In a few years, I’ll be able to go days or even weeks without missing you so terribly. I know that, in time, I will find others to love as much as I love you. And I know I will never stop loving you as much as I do now.

Thank you, dear man, for giving me my life.

I love you dearly.

Chas

Paul & Chas at Billy

Gathering, Saratoga

Springs Retreat Cente

r, ca. 2007

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 in 2015 to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.

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Openhouse welcomes us home Photos courtesy of Openhouse

Marcy Adelman Welcomes Us Home

She founded Openhouse in 1998 with the goal of developing LGBT welcoming housing and services for LGBT elders. Who better to envision such an encompassing project but an oldschool New Englander who’s a veteran of those movements some folks dismiss?

Marcy moved to San Francisco in 1972 to live as an out lesbian, and, as she says, “I didn’t realize how lucky I was to drop into a gay women’s movement. There was an amazing sense of breaking down barriers and creating community.” She’d been prepped for the experience growing up in Massachusetts in an intergenerational, Russian Jewish family. There she

Marcy’s life’s work blossomed inside her when she stood in line for the Frameline LGBT Film Festival. She’d attended the Jewish film festival, regularly, since the intergenerational landscape reminded her of her home. Surveying the waiting audience at the LGBT film festival she wondered: “Where are all the old people? Where did we come from?” Marcy continued on to graduate school and started her therapy practice, but continued Dr. March Adelman welcomes Hon. Mark Leno and Mayor Ed Lee to the Grand Congratulating honoree Sandra Hernandez, MD, at Spring Fling 2015 to feel the pull to make LGBT Opening of Openhouse’s 55 Laguna on Thursday, March 23. elders more visible. a more representative study. Out of that project nician’s guide to lesbian health appeared (Lesbigrew the anthology Marcy edited, Long Time an Health 101, edited by Dibble and Robertson).

While she was studying at San Francisco State, she passed a posted notice about a study being Passing: Lives of Older Lesbians (1988).

Another impediment to interest was the deep, done by a USF researcher on gay men. She im- The study and the book reinforced what she’d and necessary, focus on the rise of HIV infecmediately called Professor Fred Minnigerode learned in her family. “Elders are a source of tion in the gay male community during this and asked why lesbians weren’t being included. resiliency for us in the LGBT community,” she period. Simply living, rather than the compliWhen he expressed his concern about obtainsays. “They are the lessons learned.” She then cations of living, long preoccupied the LGBT ing a sufficient number of lesbian participants, community. We threw all of our emotional and Marcy (typical of her refreshingly forthright did a study on mid-life lesbians, but there were financial support toward banging down the manner) jumped in and offered to find them. few outlets receptive to the work. It was clear doors of government resistance to research and Working with Ellen Lewin, then an anthropol- that lesbians were (and remain low) on the list care in order to defeat the pandemic. ogy professor at UCSF, and with others, Marcy of priorities for most health and social scienengaged enough lesbian participants to create tists. It wasn’t until 2010 that the very first cli(continued on page 19)

PHOTO BY RINK

For a while it became popular to snicker at the affectations of ‘Baby Boomers.’ Tye-dye? Cheech and Chong? Free love?

How trivial could a generation appear to be? But all such icons obscured the truth that Boomers were born into years of social activism; being change agents became our reason for being during the 1960s and 70s. So it’s appropriate that on the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, activist Marcy Adelman is launching her dream built on love.

learned the vital importance of being proud, and applied that to her experience as a lesbian.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MERCY HOUSING

By Jewelle Gomez

Dr. Marcy Adelman Reflects on Openhouse, 55 Laguna and Her Decades of LGBT Senior Advocacy Work Openhouse Co-Founder Dr. Marcy Adelman has worked tirelessly for nearly two decades to fulf ill the founding vision and purpose of the agency: to create long-term affordable housing options for LBGT seniors. The recent opening of 55 Laguna in San Francisco realizes that founding vision and could not have come at a better time, given the housing crisis that has impacted so many of us.

Openhouse Trailblazer Award. Here, she shares her thoughts on LGBT aging issues, the creation of Openhouse and 55 Laguna.

We congratulate San Francisco Bay Times columnist Dr. Adelman on this achievement and her being named the recipient of this year’s

Dr. Marcy Adelman: I am deeply honored to be recognized by Openhouse at this year’s Spring Fling.

San Francisco Bay Times: You are considered one of the pioneers in LGBT aging and one of our community’s earliest advocates for lesbian and gay, and later, LGBT seniors. You must have been in your 30’s when you started this work and at a time when few people were focused on aging. What was it that compelled you as a young lesbian to do this work?

I started to think about lesbian and gay elders, and lesbian and gay aging issues, when I was 27 years old. This may sound hokey, but I think of my advocacy work in LGBT aging as something like a calling and attribute it to growing up in an intergenerational family and having a close and loving relationship with my grandmother.

My parents and brother and I lived with my grandmother and my aunt in my grandmother’s apartment until I was f ive years old. Growing up in a three-generation household was a hugely positive influence on me. It shaped my experience of family and community, and provided me with a multigenerational perspective on life.

Let me tell you about a moment of clarity that I had about how important that experience was to me and the need to recreate it in my life: As a young woman in 1972, I was standing in line in the East Bay to see a movie that was of interest to me and other members of the Jewish community. There were couples of all ages, groups of friends both young and old, parents with children—the whole tapestry of life. It felt deeply gratifying and familiar to be there.

The next weekend I was waiting in the ticket line at the Castro Theatre on a sunny afternoon. It was a long line that stretched up Castro and around the corner onto 17th Street.

It was the early days of the Gay Liberation (continued on page 10)

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Openhouse welcomes us home Dr. Marcy Adelman interview - continued movement, and the Castro was our home. It was a time of consciousness raising groups, marches, discovering and def ining who we were and creating community. I vividly remember looking up and down the ticket line and seeing only people my age—twenty and thirty-something year-old men and women in t-shirts laughing and enjoying being together. Then it hit me, and took my breath away, really: Where were all the old people? Why weren’t they there with us, and what happened to them? I couldn’t imagine building and creating community without them. I didn’t know it at the time, but that moment would stay with me my entire life, and guide my advocacy work for the next four decades.

San Francisco Bay Times: I imagine there were few opportunities in the 1970s to work with LGBT seniors, and few places to talk about LGBT aging.

What was it like then, and what is it like now?

Dr. Marcy Adelman: There were very few opportunities, but that was quickly changing, at least in California and New York. By the mid

1970s, lesbian and gay professional and academic groups focused on aging were beginning to emerge. Lesbian and gay elders were beginning to organize and advocate for themselves.

By the late 1970s, the earliest studies on lesbian and gay aging were being published. During those early years, everyone was up against the same challenges—fiercely homophobic and relentlessly negative and ageist stereotypes of lesbian and gay elders as socially and emotionally impaired. We were making much progress when the HIV/AIDS epidemic broke out.

During the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, the community focus on aging issues was not sustainable. In a time when so many people were sick and dying and in need of care, the focus on longevity issues and the needs of LGBT elders receded and did not return for more than a decade. But once it came back, it came back more robust than ever before.

Since the 1970s I have been involved, to one extent or another, in different types of activities—I am a researcher, author, editor, frequent speaker on LGBT elder health and wellness, health disparities and an advocate for quality LGBT

dent, for my “Aging in Commuelder care. Today there are more opportunities than ever nity” column for the San Francisbefore to create change and to co Bay Times. make the long-term care system When Robin told me that livmore responsive to the needs of ing at 55 Laguna was a chance LGBT elders. Currently I am to start over in a place where she a member of the San Francisfelt safe and cared for, I started co Advisory Committee to the to cry. We were both crying. She Aging and Adult Service Comthanked me for helping to make mission, the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California With 55 Laguna resident Robin Rhuett 55 Laguna happen, for even and Northern Nevada’s Advisory Committee to wanting to make it happen, and I thanked her the LGBT Dementia Care Project, and a mem- for making 55 Laguna her home. ber of the Dignity Fund Oversight and Advisory Committee for the City and County of San I felt grateful for the journey, for Openhouse Francisco. None of that would have been possi- and for all of the hundreds of people who helped to make it happen. I thought about the people ble 20 years ago. who poured so much of themselves into this enSan Francisco Bay Times: You have deavor, but were not here to see it—Jeanette, served on Openhouse’s board for nearly Jan, Arthur, Warren. I felt grateful for the restwo decades. What did it feel like to see idents. Grateful for Mercy Housing’s partneryour founding vision finally realized? ship and how much care they had put into the Dr. Marcy Adelman: The moment I real- building. Grateful to be alive and to grow old. ized how real it all was, was when I interviewed Grateful to live in San Francisco and to be part Robin Rhuett, an Openhouse Community resi- of this amazing community.

Openhouse Executive Director Dr. Karyn Skultety: ‘Our Work Is Only Beginning’

San Francisco Bay Times: Tell us a little bit about you and your history prior to coming to Openhouse.

tunity to create programs, I felt drawn to opportunities that supported the goal to remain at home and to utilize your strengths while finding out what you needed to stay there.

My work at the Institute on Aging centered around that goal, and that is the true mission of Openhouse—through not just LGBT welcoming housing, but services and community building for every LGBT elder.

San Francisco Bay Times: Talk about your experience in meeting and working with Dr. Marcy Adelman.

It must be very exciting to have an opportunity to work with the CoFounder of Openhouse at this time.

Karyn Skultety: I’m a Colorado native who ventured to the East Coast for college and graduate school. I never quite kept up with the East Coast pace, so I headed back west to finish my degree in geriatric psychology at the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System. Over the years, I went from providing clinical services to thinking broadly about how we can provide innovative services, strong advocacy and support to people as they age. Prior to coming to Openhouse, I worked at the Institute on Aging for 9 years, a fellow non-profit partner in aging services.

Outside of work, my life is busy! My wife Sarah and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary this year, and we have two amazing kids: Quinn, age 7, and Nova, age 3. We live in Noe Valley, where we spend time drinking as much coffee as we can to help us keep up with the kids and our two dogs: Monty and Oreo, both adopted from Muttville!

San Francisco Bay Times: How did your previous work experience prepare you for this job?

Karyn Skultety: My career has been dedicated to serving seniors because I truly admire their wisdom and strength. I always saw my job as a geriatric psychologist as part advocate and part helper. The truth is that I was probably helped as much as my clients were. My goal was to advocate for what people needed and wanted in their lives, while helping the individual and those around them to recognize the strengths they had to meet those needs. Typically, the greatest want for aging individuals is to stay at home, no matter what changes your life brings. As I moved away from direct service and had the oppor-

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Karyn Skultety: I told Marcy the first time that we really sat down and talked that, no matter what we accomplish in the future at Openhouse, I will never be as brave as she was when she founded Openhouse. The truth is that even to say the words “LGBT welcoming housing” was a moment of activism 20 years ago. Then to add to that a commitment to senior and to affordable housing in this city is beyond visionary. And to withstand setbacks, changes and challenges over 20 years … well, that’s just courage and strength. I’ve loved getting to know Marcy and feel so fortunate that I will continue to benefit from her wisdom, advice and great sense of humor for a long time to come.

“I told Marcy the first time that we really sat down and talked that, no matter what we accomplish in the future at Openhouse, I will never be as brave as she was when she founded Openhouse.”

I think what is also really important to recognize when you look at 55 Laguna is that it is the work of thousands of people—activism and community organizing at its very best.

Staff, board members and community activists working alongside of politicians, city officials, bankers to make sure this actually happened. Marcy says it best when she says, “This isn’t about one group … this is about all of us.”

I’m surrounded by people that I need to learn from, and to guide the way for Openhouse going forward. My job is to harness the strength

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and ideas the community already has and put them into action.

San Francisco Bay Times: Openhouse has robust housing counseling programs. Why is this important to the agency?

K aryn Skultety: Openhouse is an advocate for LGBT seniors trying to find or change Left to right: State Senator Scott Wiener; Hon. Mark Leno; Dr. Karyn Skultety, housing. As excited as Openhouse; Tom Horn, Bob Ross Foundation: San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee; Dr. we are to be a part of Marcy Adelman, Openhouse; Doug Shoemaker, Mercy Housing; Barbara Gualco, 40 units at 55 Laguna, Mercy Housing; and Olsen Lee, Mayor’s Office of Housing and soon an additiongrated services, community and housing for al 79 units at 95 Laguna, we know that this LGBT elders. is not nearly enough to meet the needs or demand in San Francisco. It’s not even a drop San Francisco Bay Times: Openhouse in the bucket, really, when you look at the de- is a community-based organization mand. We have to do more. We try to be a that was built from the ground up, a place of comfort and hope in what is a very grassroots organization founded by challenging housing environment, especial- two women. What makes Openhouse’s ly for the many seniors we meet with who are project unique among other LGBT in danger of losing housing or facing eviction. senior projects is their vision of It’s critical for Openhouse to be providing this citywide LGBT welcoming services to service because we know that of the LGBT help all LGBT seniors remain in their seniors looking for housing, over 40% don’t homes and in their communities. How feel comfortable using housing assistance pro- does 55 Laguna ref lect this vision? grams. At weekly housing workshops, Openhouse provides education for seniors and ag- Karyn Skultety: As I have talked to resiing service providers about housing options, dents, they have really been able to best put eligibility requirements, and strategies to help this into words. One said to me, “It’s like wakthem navigate the often energy draining ex- ing up every day in a dream. I live in a place perience of applying for housing. After at- that welcomes me home and I’m never alone tending our workshops, staff meet individu- because my Openhouse family is right next ally with each senior to assist individuals in door.” Achieving LGBT senior affordable completing applications, refer them to addi- housing is an amazing feat, but to have foundtional resources and improve their chances ers who understood that feeling shows true of success through financial coaching, debtinnovation, empathy and respect for our semanagement, and budgeting. In addition, seniors. Our work is only beginning and only niors who are looking for housing are added ends when every LGBT senior can say they to our housing communication list, where we provide the most up to date information on feel at home. affordable housing options immediately when they become available.

San Francisco Bay Times: How will the new building at 95 Laguna be different or not?

Karyn Skultety: The new building will be much larger, with 79 units available and a much larger program space for Openhouse (almost 8000 square feet). The program space will allow us to serve a larger number of people in the community and expand our services to address needs that are not currently being met. With 119 of housing units in total, we will become one of the largest LGBT affordable senior housing projects in the nation.

Openhouse will be a model in terms of inte-

I think this building (the Openhouse Community at 55 Laguna and the Bob Ross LGBT Senior Center at 65 Laguna) will always serve as an amazing symbol of our values and mission. Here is a 96-year-old building that literally had been ignored and forgotten—beautiful murals painted over, walls crumbling, and the restoration work brought it back to show off the core beauty. The beauty wasn’t something new; it had always been there. It’s just that people had stopped looking and noticing because of its age. That is our job and our mission, to look at our LGBT elders and have the world notice the individuality, beauty and wisdom that comes with age and with a lifetime of being out as who you truly are.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MERCY HOUSING

Dr. Karyn Skultety recently took the helm of Openhouse as its new Executive Director.

She set aside time out of her hectic schedule to share what is happening now at the agency, and what the plans are for its future.

During a recent discussion with the San Francisco Bay Times, the legend- Cleve Jones ary activist thoughtfully considered some of the most pressing issues LGBT seniors, and our entire community, face at this time.

“I just attended the opening for San Francisco General’s Golden Compass Program, a truly innovative and well thought out program for aging people with living with HIV—gay men, transgender individuals and the whole population of survivors,” he said. “As I looked at the room full of survivors, I was struck by the thought that all of these services are of no use if we are forced out of San Francisco. Housing is the most critical issue right now, so what they are doing with Openhouse is just the beginning of what we need to do.”

He explained that specialized social services, such as those provided by SF General, can be unique to San Francisco. Establishing similar programs elsewhere for the LGBTQ community would be challenging, could take years to accomplish and may not happen. As such, he emphasizes that “enabling people to stay here is so important. It’s extremely sad when we see someone who has contributed so much to our community be forced to leave.”

Aging only exacerbates the problem, he said.

“It’s the issue of access,” Jones explained. “Often as we get older, and stop driving and using public transportation, access becomes more challenging, yet this is a population we want to keep close to us and to care for. The notion that we can live anywhere is not true. For people like myself with HIV, the single most important thing is to have a primary care physician who knows HIV/AIDS.”

He strongly supports the work of Openhouse, and thinks that we could use “50 or more” 55 Laguna’s across the city, referring to affordable housing that is LGBT welcoming. So many of us are worried about our housing situations now, and even Jones is no exception.

“I am well aware of my privileged status as a white educated male who has health insurance, and I am remarkably fortunate,” he said. “I live in a rent controlled unit in the Castro, but over half of my take home pay goes to housing. Even with all of my good fortune, when I get evicted, which is inevitable, I will not be able live in San Francisco.”

community, and doing whatever we can in our own personal lives to build unity because our community has always been fractured for various reasons. We are born into every type of family, color, religion, background, economic background. It’s easy to see why we are so divided in our community. It is understandable, but that is not something we can afford. We need to be kind to each Cleve Jones with Oscar winner (Milk) Dustin Lance Black other.” at the Academy Awards, 2009

PHOTO BY HENRY WALKER

At the Openhouse annual Spring Fling brunch fundraiser on April 30, Cleve Jones will receive The Adelman Gurev itch Founders Award in recognition of his longst and ing advocacy for LGBT rights, respect, and recognition.

He conceived the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and authored the book When We Rise: My Life in the Movement (Hachette Books, 2016), which partially inspired the epic miniseries When We Rise that aired last month on ABC.

PHOTO BY GREG HERNANDEZ

Cleve Jones, Recipient of Openhouse Award, Believes Housing Is LGBTQ Community’s Most Pressing Need Now

He advised that we should all be very careful to try to save every penny possible. He also hopes to see future creative solutions to the housing crisis and other key problems facing not only our community, but also many others.

“Housing is the most critical issue right now, so what they are doing with Openhouse is just the beginning of what we need to do.”

“One of the things we need to be doing is asking: ‘What are the new ways that we can approach building a social structure that will keep us all safe?’”

He thinks of young people fleeing Alabama or Texas. He was able to come to San Francisco in the 1970s, yet he wondered, “Where would a 17-yearold Cleve go today? Why don’t we have an LGBT credit union, housing cooperatives, land trusts, coops? Economic needs transcend all of the boundaries of sexuality and race. There are issues that can unite us and cause us to use our economic clout to benefit all of us. The issue of a credit union for all of us is enormously important. I would like to see more self-reliance and more control over our own destiny in an intergenerational effort.”

He admits that ageism remains a problem, especially in the LGBT community, but it goes both ways. “I will say that a lot of people my age are pretty hard on the millennials,” he admitted, “and I think it is important not to lump everyone together in a generation and assume they share certain qualities. I get messages from young people every day on social media who want to learn more about our history and who are eager to do their part.”

He hopes to see more dialogue between older and younger LGBT individuals, and greater opportunities to facilitate such important exchanges.

PHOTO BY RINK

For now, “It’s very clear to all of us that everything we have won hangs in the balance,” he said, referring to the current national political climate. “I hope all of you will take responsibility for Cleve Jones speaking at the 2011 Harvey Milk / George Moscone remembrance rally at Harvey defending our rights and our Milk Plaza

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Openhouse welcomes us home

Beyond Cultural Competence: Cultural Humility Is Key in Caring for LGBT Elders

By Michelle Alcedo and Ariel Mellinger LGBT seniors often face sub-standard care within health and social services, whether it is due to overt discrimination from providers, or it results from the unintentional barriers that prevent LGBT elders from feeling safe and welcome within senior centers, health, and social service settings.

In response to an increasingly complex, multicultural, and diverse society, some housing, health and social service providers have recognized the value of creating environments that welcome people of all backgrounds in a culturally responsive way. For many years, training and education efforts emphasized attaining cultural competence or “mastery” in any number of cultural backgrounds as the model for realizing such an approach.

While these goals were worthy, on a practical level, the expectation of achieving cultural competence is, at best, impractical.

At worst, it reduces the idea of culture to an interchangeable set of characteristics that allegedly defines whole groups of people without recognizing their unique individuality. This approach further isolates LGBT seniors, whose experiences of exclusion are amplified by being the targets of both ageism in agencies serving LGBT communities, and homophobia/biphobia and transphobia in agencies whose mission is to serve seniors.

Cultural humility, however, sees individuals and communities that have historically been oppressed as experts in their own experience and therefore an indispensable source of information about how to best serve them. It emphasizes active listening and seeking out the inherent wisdom in their lived experience to determine the best course of action. It recognizes there is no endpoint to this learning process.

Being culturally humble means we must be willing to develop self-awareness about our own biases, including ways we may communicate using assumptions we have internalized about age, gender identity, and sexuality. For example, LGBT people are often reduced to stereotypes that portray us exclusively in terms of our sexual behaviors. At the same time, our culture desexualizes all older people, thereby forcing LGBT seniors into the shadows.

More recently, in the context of the Women’s Marches organized globally in January, the term “intersectionality” has come into the spotlight as a way of talking and thinking about the impact of multiple forms of discrimination. Kimberlé Crenshaw, a law professor at both UCLA and Columbia, is credited with coining the term intersectionality, which is defined as “cultural patterns of oppression are not only interrelated, but are bound together and inf luenced by the intersectional systems of society; examples of this include race, gender, class, ability, and ethnicity.”

While the concept of intersectionality emerged from feminist discourse, it’s not just women who are affected by the forces of institutionalized oppressions. Sexual orientation and gender identity represent only one part of a person’s identity. Each LGBT senior also brings their racial/ethnic and/or cultural heritage, their socio-economic status, their gender identity, and

Supporters Matile Rothschild, PhD, and Joan Zimmerman

unique individual history with them when seeking services. As providers who seek to offer person-centered care, it is our responsibility to interrogate the ways in which our actions, behaviors and assumptions keep us from seeing our clients as whole persons.

Cultural humility helps us to work in partnership with LGBT older clients, to understand how they see themselves and how they want to be seen. It can help us to support and create safety for LGBT seniors who have experienced lifetimes of being invisible or not accepted for who they are. An intersectional lens creates space to make visible all of one’s identities, without having to choose which are most salient, depending on any given moment.

No matter where you are today, you can always become more culturally respectful. Cultural humility emphasizes having a commitment to create spaces that honor the wisdom of folks living at the intersections of multiple identities. This can be done in areas such as hiring practices, composition of staff, and building partnerships with other members of the community.

First and foremost, however, being culturally humble requires a commitment from every service provider to continue learning from those you serve.

Michelle Alcedo is the Director of Programs at Openhouse and provided training to hundreds of organizations to help them better meet the needs of LGBT seniors.

What If ‘Senior’ Were Not a Bad Word?

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Many staff have said, “I want to make a world that I will want to grow old in.”

The work of Openhouse and other organizations serving LGBT seniors cannot begin with the “needs” of the elder community, but instead must begin with recognizing that these are the most highstanding members of our community. Then there is no doubt that we can, and should, commit to being there for what they need.

The question is: What can we do to inspire that connection to aging for the broader LGBT and straight ally community? Does ageism really prevent us from having empathy and respect for the experience of aging, which we will all hopefully go through? I think if we can take on that barrier, that fear that keeps us from identifying from our future selves, we can make tremendous progress in what a “welcome home” world could feel like for aging individuals, and for all of us.

One of the things I hear over and over from my talented and passionate Openhouse staff, and that I strongly relate to, is that the work we are doing for LGBT seniors isn’t just for them, but for all of us.

Dr. Karyn Skultety became the Executive Director of Openhouse in February 2017. She is a geriatric psychologist, and spent several years in leadership roles at Institute on Aging prior to coming to Openhouse.

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PHOTO BY ABBY ZIMBERG/SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES

This certainly applies in the case of LGBT seniors. Without their bravery and without their strength, we would not be talking about “progress in LGBT rights,” because there would not even be a movement to talk about. I dream and wait for the day that we begin Pride parades and marches for our rights with LGBT seniors in the front—recognized as the leaders—while everyone less experienced (or, you might say, younger) follows behind.

PHOTO COURTESY OF OPENHOUSE

Many individuals detest this word and undoubtedly that comes from bearing witness to the ways that people are ignored and de-valued as they age. But what if we took our own moment of bravery and embraced this word for its true definition?

Webster’s Dictionary tells us that a senior is “a person with higher standing or rank.”

What if every time we referred to a senior, we recognized their high standing as the person with the most experience and the most wisdom in the room?

PHOTO BY ABBY ZIMBERG/SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES

PHOTO COURTESY OF OPENHOUSE

I have been an ad mirer of Openhouse throughout my career in aging services. I was amazed by the bravery of the founders to take on LGBT welcoming senior housing, and to be committed to an affordable model in a very expensive city. I have been truly inspired by the ways the organization has then built on that dream throughout 20 years of change, to think beyond housing to meet the broader service and community needs for LGBT elders. To come on as the leader in this moment, when that founding dream has been realized and the organization is growing, is both an honor and humbling. But the story of Openhouse, and the story of our LGBT seniors, is far from over. In fact, maybe we need to start at the beginning: the word “senior.”

PHOTO BY ABBY ZIMBERG/SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES

By Karyn Skultety, PhD

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3/25/15 3:44 PM

Sister Gurl like a brotherless child.” I am so lucky to have hundreds of brothers and sisters in my logical family. I’m also happy that the luck of the draw provided me with a boy and a girl rather than two boys. But this is about sisters.

TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation Dr. Tim Seelig I never had a sister. Do you, or did you? I often wonder what it would have been like. I just had one brother.

That was fine, but I always wondered how different it would have been with a sister. With a brother, there was always a sense of competition that came along for the ride. I actually shared a room with my brother from the age of 0 to 16, something I would surely not have had to do with a sister! At 16, he went off to college, leaving me the next 2 years to luxuriate alone. The extra space, along with the absence of testosterone, perspiration and irritation, made the farewells short–“Bye, Felicia,” without an ounce of regret. I am clear that he left me and our room behind with the same amount of sadness!

The next decades were f ine, but I think I really missed out on not having a sister. My brother actually passed away last week. That old spiritual passes through my mind, “Sometimes I feel

Never actually having had one, I have lots of preconceived ideas I have made up about what a sister is like. Please do not spoil this for me with stories of your own that may burst my bubble!

My perception is that there would be no real competition—not of the ridiculous male type of, “I’m butcher than you.” I lost that one every time. He played football, I played in the orchestra. And after I came out, I can just imagine we would have been like real sisters. Coming out with one brother?

Well, that’s for another column—or several novels.

I feel like a sister has your back in so many ways: always there to console, dish when necessary and totally support you in every situation. I think a sister is that person who encourages you to step out and grow, tells you when you messed up, and passes judgment on all of the people you ever consider dating—or even befriending. A sister would always tell you how handsome and sexy you were, and that all of the boys (or girls) were crazy for not falling all over you.

Brothers also want to be acknowledged for every tiny thing they do. They are not all that funny. Sisters are very funny, and because there is no pretense, no layers or walls built around them, they allow for vulnerability. A sister does 90% of her “work” in private.

Her reward is watching you succeed and be happy. When you arrive at happy, she smiles from behind the scenes knowing if it weren’t for her, it wouldn’t have happened at all.

That described our sister and chorus member Ryan Nunez. Ryan left us all too soon—during our concert “Paradise Found,” on March 31. He was 39 years young.

You can replace the name Ryan in the subject of every sentence above and you would have only half of who Ryan was.

She was the best brother—or sister— a man ever, ever had. And here’s the remarkable thing about it—and the lesson for all of us—no one knew that she was being the very best sister to so many people, all at the same time.

It wasn’t important for Rya n to let ever yone know the countless good deeds he did every single day. Encourag ing.

Loving. Kicking people’s butts—mercilessly. Taking no prisoners in calling people out; using the humor of shade to slap folks around. He called everyone, “Gurl.” It was, “Gurl, get your act together.” Or, “Gurl, get your ass to rehearsal.” Or, “Gurl, he’s not good enough for you anyway.” Or, “Gurl, just keep singing even if you

funds used by SFGMC for its singers, changed the name of FAN, the Financial Assistance Network. From now forward, it will be simply called RYAN’S FUND!

don’t like the music Dawktor Teem picked this time.”

So, Ryan was our Sister Gurl.

Ryan never intended to do drag. But that was to change when he learned that the Divas, a small group of singers, raised money for FAN, our Financial Assistance Network that provides scholarships for singers. He was hooked. He joined in the fun at the annual Dragathon as Cinna Monroe Besos and later as Just Us Sodamayor, Supreme Court Judge! He personally raised over $10,000, and helped the Divas raise tens of thousands of dollars. He found his passion—singing, helping others and raising money for scholarship so all of his brothers, oops, sisters, could sing without worrying about any financial hardship.

On his death, the tributes f lowed in from far-f lung places all over the world, His life touched countless people—and the fact that he left this life while doing what he loved so passionately. Some of the tributes came from city supervisors as well as California senate and LGBTQ groups from Europe to Mexico. Here are just a few: “Ryan was a messenger of peace and compassion.” — San Francisco Supervisor Katy Tang

Ryan was our sister gurl, angel and our heart. He was the best sister this brotherhood—and I—ever had. Death is obviously a part of life. One might think you get used to it—everyone does it. But that is far from the truth. Ryan’s death has shaken us to the core. We will sing again—soon—but it will never really be the same.

“Ryan exemplified what is best in our country.” — California State Senator Scott Wiener

Bless you, dear Ryan. You have taught us all, once again, what it is to selflessly serve our fellow man. May we always remember your example and be a sister to someone who needs that lift or that kick in the butt—all in your memory. Sisters (and Brothers) forever.

“His spirit and passion for the chorus were second to none.” — U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.

The song, “Everything Possible,” reminds us all: “The only measure of your words and your deeds will be the love you leave behind when you’re gone.” Ryan left love all over the place with his words and his deeds. We will miss him.

This past week, the Divas, our incredible team of singers responsible for raising all of the scholarship

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

“Ryan set an example that we must all aspire to.” — San Francisco Supervisor Mark Farrell

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Is There Sex After Tina? without much sex, although now I have it pretty regularly. I like it, but it’s just not the same! I can’t get as wild and lost in it as I did when I was high, and I really miss that. If I could have crystal sex without all the other problems, I’d do it in a minute. What do you say to that?

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Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT Q: I stopped using crystal meth more than two years ago, and my sex life has never been the same since then.

Crystal made sex awesome! It took away all of my inhibitions. I went places I’d never gone before. It was the hottest, wildest, nastiest sex I ever had. I’d go all night, sometimes even for a couple of days. I quit using because it was wrecking my life. By the end, I was starting to hear voices. I lost my job, and I was too paranoid to go out of the apartment, even to buy food. So, yes, I will always be grateful that I was able to stop. After I got into recovery, I went for a few months

A: I say that I believe you, and I appreciate the fact that you’re honest about what you’re feeling. Gay guys have been telling me for years that tina opened them up to the core of their erotic life, and that it enabled them to live out desires and fantasies they’d never experienced before.

Even “crystal dick” was apparently a small price to pay for the level of overwhelming excitement they felt.

People take drugs because they get something they like from them. Crystal meth, as you discovered, tends to fry brains and destroy lives. I support anyone in staying away from it, and believe we’d all be much better off if this scourge were completely eliminated from our communities. Most people experience great relief when they’re finally able to get free from bondage to it.

But it would be dishonest to claim that there is no upside to being high.

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Sports John Chen Great leaders guide us, support us, and provide us with direction, structure and confidence to achieve and to succeed. Some leaders are brash, outspoken and bask in the limelight.

Others lead with their actions, results and determination. The unsung leader gives us opportunities, opens doors for us, and takes us to places we never thought we could go, and all without fanfare and without us realizing that s/he’s been there all along.

Jim Moore was such a leader.

I first met Jim in 2003 at Rainbow Recreation grass volleyball in Mountain View, where he had recently moved from Dallas. He was just a beginner then. Volleyball is a funny sport, not in a humorous way, but in the way that players interact with one another on the court compared to other sports. Due to the close proximity of teammates and opponents, and consistent stoppage of play, every word and action of encouragement or discouragement would be clearly on display for everyone to see and hear.

There are no secrets and no places to hide. It wasn’t uncommon for advanced players to lavish beginners with compliments on one play, and then roll their eyes to the back of their heads on the next play. As a beginner, Jim endured many eye rolls and chuckles, but he kept playing the sport he loved, eventually surpassing many of the more advanced players in skill and ability.

In early 2004, Jim asked me to play on his Industrial Volleyball League (IVL) team where he led our team to the league championship. That was my first inkling that he would and could lead the charge of LGBT volleyball.

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Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. For more information, please visit his website http:// tommoon.net/

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Jim didn’t have to dedicate a big part of his life to San Francisco Bay Area LGBT volleyball. He didn’t have to open doors for beginners. He didn’t have to take charge and create a more unified gay volleyball community.

Jim Moore and his faithful companion Tiesto the Labrador He didn’t have to donate equipIn 2006, Jim sat on the Board of Diment, so social groups could have fun rectors for South Bay Volleyball Club (SBVBC), volunteering his time tire- playing volleyball. He didn’t have to lessly and establishing the only LGBT organize tournaments for players of volleyball league in the San Francisco all levels. And he didn’t have to make Bay Area. Jim had visions of bringing personal sacrifices to see others enjoya scattered gay volleyball community ing the camaraderie built from his betogether to make volleyball a strong, loved sport. But he did. thriving and viable choice.

I distinctly remember my last conJim always had good intentions. Understanding the barriers to entry to competitive volleyball is fairly high, so for the last 12 years, Jim organized an annual summer grass volleyball tournament just for beginning com-

versation with Jim. He told me that no matter how tired he was, he felt a great responsibility to gay volleyball.

Jim didn’t care if he got recognized for his work. He just wanted me to write about volleyball and all of the oppor-

Jim Moore with his NAGVA “Team USA” volleyball teammates

tunities out there for new players, competitive players, and social players. He wanted nothing but the best for his sport. Jim made sure of that.

Jim Moore was truly an unsung leader. We may not have realized it and given him credit, but he’s been at our side all along. He will be greatly missed.

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

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There really are many kinds of sexual experiences—hot, warm; relaxed, intense; the pleasure of sex with a loved partner and the excitement of sex with a hot stranger; the ecstasy of merging in love; the thrills of role-playing and fantasy—and all of the “flavors” have their own rewards. It’s natural to miss what you can’t have anymore, but that doesn’t have to be a problem as long as you also stay open, curious, and attentive about what you’re moving toward. You know a lot about sexual intensity. Maybe there are sexual subtleties you have yet to explore.

petitive players. He was dedicated to introducing and teaching the nuances of competitive volleyball. Moreover, as the President of SBVBC, Jim personally took time out to host and teach LGBT volleyball enthusiasts the game he loved above all else.

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Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg

Unfortunately, recovery isn’t all freedom, joy, and gratitude. A lot of it is hard work, and that hard work frequently involves going through a mourning process. You really do have to accept that you’re saying goodbye to intense experiences that you enjoyed, and that you’re sometimes very unhappy about that. There’s no point, and no need, to pretend otherwise. In my experience with gay guys in recovery over the last thirty-five years, most are more likely to be able to stay away from speed if they aren’t censured for openly admitting that they mourn what they had to leave behind in order to get clean.

I see maturity and realism in the fact that you can recognize you had to get off a drug that was destroying your life, while still admitting that you highly valued some of its effects. I’m also glad to hear that you have been able to have a sexual life in sobriety.

You might be able to appreciate it more if you avoid thinking of your crystal experiences as the gold standard against which all other sexual experiences are to be measured.

Mourning the Loss of a Local Unsung LGBT Volleyball Leader

Mario Ordonez Juan Ordonez

CONTRIBUTORS Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Patrick Carney, 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 Thom Watson, Michele Karlsberg Lyndsey Schlax, Elisa Quinzi, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Wendy Ross, Howard Steiermann

Being high facilitates an intensity that just doesn’t happen without an artificially-induced explosion of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. Some people do find that, after they quit using, they can learn to “go there” sexually without the drug. But others tell me candidly that they have never been able, sober, to have the level of sexual intensity that they had when they were high, and that they sometimes miss the “good old days”—even while simultaneously being grateful to have escaped from a dangerous and potentially deadly addiction.

Memorials to Gilbert Baker, creator of the Rainbow Flag, have appeared at various Castro locations, including the window at Cliff’s Variety and the grill at the corner of Castro and 18th (Hibernia Beach) outside the Bank of America.

GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow The Era of Bruce Crow?

Over the next two or three years, maybe sooner, the Supreme Court will face a yes-or-no question. Is sexual orientation a neutral feature of human sexuality? Or is homosexuality a mildly unsavory deviation from the norm, to be respected and tolerated, but not to be recognized as a protected category under American law?

This question is fundamental to gay and lesbian civil rights, and it underlies our four major civil rights victories at the High Court. But those victories (Romer, Lawrence, Windsor and Obergefell) sidestepped the core question, and left us vulnerable to a killing blow. At present, the question is open.

But what if the question was closed?

What if a government can’t outlaw our relationships, but can still allow others to discriminate? What if the Supreme Court says states can restrict some of the rights of gay couples? What if conservative states were given thumbs up to protect companies and individuals that look askance at homosexuality on account of faith or for some other reason? What if the High Court ruled that federal civil rights laws like Title VII and Title IX definitely exclude gay men and lesbians?

I think that if you forced the Court to answer the core question, the Court would say yes, sexual orientation is neutral. Gay discrimination is just as unconstitutional as race bias. Sexual orientation discrimination is a form of sex discrimination under federal case law.

No faith-based actor has the right to use religion as an excuse to discriminate.

But the scary thing is that courts aren’t asked direct questions, and the High Court often seeks to make limited rulings that take small steps in line with larger principles. In the cases that may soon reach the Court, however, those small steps may be the equivalent of saying, “No.” In other words, if the Court doesn’t see the full implications of its rulings, it could relegate gays and lesbians to second class status, almost by accident.

Business as Unusual One case that we’ve been watching is the Masterpiece Cakeshop appeal out of Colorado, where a Christian baker fell afoul of state law when he declined to sell a wedding cake to two gay men. That case has been petitioned to the High Court, repeatedly scheduled for conference, and repeatedly delayed.

Now it has been put off until the April 21 conference, when the eight justices will have been joined for the first time by a ninth justice, one who is demonstrably susceptible to religious claims.

It takes four justices to accept review of a case. Will Justice Gorsuch go out of his way to put this insidious contest on the docket? Or will he play it safe and wait for the next gay wedding conflict to rise through the courts? I think it’s clear that Masterpiece Cakeshop has the support of the three conservatives on the High Court, otherwise the Court would have rejected the petition long ago. The same analysis suggests that Justice Kennedy might like to avoid the issue, otherwise the Court would already have had four votes to accept review.

Both Kennedy and Gorsuch are on record in favor of the idea that the owner of a private company can rely on religious faith to circumvent federal law, unless the government can show that it has a compelling reason for the law and that there are no other ways to serve that purpose. You remember, of course, that Hobby Lobby refused to offer contraceptive insurance as required by Obamacare, and that the High Court pointed out that since the government offered an alternative process to churches, it should offer the same alternative to faith objectors. The alternative consisted of filling out a form and

allowing a third party to handle the offending insurance policy, an option that itself was challenged in court in a case in which Gorsuch sided with the religious actors.

It’s not encouraging, is it? An antigay Christian may be heading to the Supreme Court to argue he has the right to ignore a state anti-discrimination law that protects gays. The Supreme Court, in turn, is now populated by a 5–4 faith-friendly majority. And throughout the red states, lawmakers are proposing statutes to protect business owners and others who seek a faith-based excuse for refusing service to gay customers. All they need is a green light from the Supreme Court and half the country will enact laws that enshrine and protect prejudice.

Putting the Sex in Sexual Orientation The second case, or type of case, which will define our future is the one that will ask the Court whether sexual orientation discrimination is a subset of sex discrimination. Sex discrimination is illegal under federal law in the workplace (Title VII), in public education (Title IX) and in housing, ergo if sexual orientation is a form of sex discrimination, we are sitting pretty.

Not only would we be covered under various federal statutes, but we would fall under the protection of decades of case law that have expanded the scope of sex discrimination in myriad directions. Cases of gay discrimination would be judged with heightened scrutiny by virtue of their new status as sex discrimination (which requires intermediate scrutiny). That means that even those who object to gays and lesbians on religious grounds would have no traction. In his Hobby Lobby opinion, Justice Alito observed that not even the Hobby Lobby owners would have the right to avoid civil rights laws, and nor would anyone else. Elevating our status would pre-empt all of those religious claims, and all of those antigay “religious freedom” state laws would die in committee or never exist at all.

Conversely, a loss in a case like this would be devastating. At the moment, conservative courts can point out that the words “sexual orientation” do not appear in Title VII, for example, and lawyers can argue that the 1964 Congress never intended the Civil Rights Act to protect gays and lesbians. Fine, we can argue against both points, and we do. But if the Supreme Court were to rule that sexual orientation is not a form of sex discrimination, the impact would be as if Title VII or Title IX were rewritten to specify that sexual orientation is not included under the law’s protections. Such a ruling would usher in a dark age of unchecked discrimination in the workplace and elsewhere.

You may recall that we won a huge Title VII employment discrimination case as the last issue went to press, an 8–3 decision by the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, ruling that sexual orientation was a form of impermissible sex discrimination. But it looks as if that case will not be immediately appealed to the High Court.

Instead, the plaintiff, an Indiana community college professor, will argue the merits of her suit in lower court.

But two other Title VII cases presenting the same issue have recently emerged from the Eleventh Circuit and the Second Circuit where threejudge panels ruled (to simplify) that, but for precedent, gay plaintiffs should be able to sue under Title VII. Technically, we lost those cases, but, emotionally, we won. Both lawsuits could rise to the full appellate courts, or be appealed straight to the Supreme Court, depending on legal strategy.

It’s only a matter of time before this issue hits the nine justices. And again, their decision will rest on their (possibly subconscious) answer to the question of (continued on page 19) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES APR IL 20, 2017

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Is a Small Business Administration Loan Right for Your Business?

J O H N S T O N, K I N N E Y & Z U L A I C A LLP

Bank With Pride Wendy Ross When launching or expanding a business, one of the earliest decisions to be made is how to finance the venture. A traditional option has been to secure a conventional bank loan in order to meet capital needs. For those businesses early in their journey, a Small Business Association (SBA) loan provided by a bank or other financial institution could be a better option.

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A significant portion of SBA 7(a) loans are guaranteed by the U.S. government, which helps financial institutions mitigate risk in situations where the collateral or individual guarantor support needs to be supplemented. SBA loans are also ideal for “higher risk” ventures, such as construction companies and restaurants, as many financial institutions have conservative policies in regard to lending to these industries.

The SBA 7(a) loan offers as much as an 85 percent guarantee from the U.S. government on loan amounts below or equal to $150,000, and a 75 percent guarantee on loan amounts exceeding $150,000, up to $5 million, which is the current maximum loan amount for SBA 7(a) loans. This guarantee incites lenders to support the small business community.

Though many financial institutions offer this program, the SBA 7(a) appli-

cation and credit process is different from conventional loans and can require longer lead times to complete.

For this reason and others, SBA loans approved by the SBA Preferred Lender Program (PLP) are a great option.

PLP lenders’ knowledge of the SBA 7(a) program allows them to accelerate the process and approve a loan within their authority on behalf of the SBA, which quickens the process and improves a borrower’s ability to obtain financing.

SBA 7(a) loan could have a maturity of up to 10 years.

An SBA PLP status indicates that the institution possesses a familiarity of the SBA loan program and expertise necessary to make the process as efficient as possible. Extensive understanding of available lending options is crucial, as it allows the financial institution to structure loans through other types of programs based on the borrower’s credit needs and qualifications.

SBA lenders can finance a project even if there is a collateral shortfall. This can be ideal for a start-up business trying to begin a new venture, or for businesses that are less asset intensive and are primarily cash flow driven (for example, professional service firms).

Additionally, the PLP designation requires successful execution of at least five SBA loans through the SBA’s Loan Guarantee Processing Center. Once the SBA has delegated PLP authority to the financial institution, the government permits the lender to authorize on its behalf, which significantly reduces loan processing time. It can also give a borrower peace-of-mind knowing their lender can provide guidance and products best suited for their specific situation.

When thinking about whether a conventional or an SBA loan is the best option for a business project, there are many terms to consider. Some of the most critical terms are listed below: How important is it for my business to have low monthly payments?

SBA loan maturities are typically longer than conventional loans, which reduce loan payments and can provide a business with more debt capacity based on its cash flow. A conventional nonreal-estate loan might mature in three to five years, while a non-real-estate

How much do I have for an equity injection?

SBA loans typically require a smaller equity injection than conventional loans, giving a business more flexibility and options based on its liquidity and equity position.

What assets does my business have to offer as collateral?

Which SBA loan is right for me?

SBA PLP lenders will help an applicant determine which type of SBA loan is right for them. The most common SBA loan types are 7(a), Express Lines, 504 Loans (real estate only), and Export Loan Programs. However, the SBA also manages a lesser-known program called CAPLines, which is specifically designed for revolving needs.

This would be beneficial if a business’ financing needs were seasonal, contract based, related to construction, or for short-term working capital.

Whether you are an entrepreneur starting out or an experienced business owner, it is important to understand the pros and cons of lending options when seeking growth financing.

As an SBA PLP lender, Bank of San Francisco is here to answer any questions you may have regarding the SBA loan programs.

Wendy Ross is the President of Bank of San Francisco. She has more than 35 years of international, commercial, and private banking experience.

Ross is a 2002 graduate of Leadership San Francisco and is a board member for numerous Bay Area organizations.

NEWS (continued from page 5) es: either $50 cash, or a $50 donation to a charity of your choice. http://survey.communitymarketinginc.com/se.ashx?s=359D 342B6E874676&CMID=167&u tm_source=Bay+Times&utm_ campaign=e16bd2f94b-EMAIL_ CAMPAIGN_2017_04_01&utm_ medium=email&utm_ term=0_15b29bb846e16bd2f94b-25290881 Joe Biden: ‘I am Disgusted and Appalled’ by Reports of Torture and Murder of Gay Men in Chechnya Former VP Joe Biden released a statement denouncing detentions of gay men in Chechnya. “I am disgusted and appalled by reports from both the Russian media and non-governmental organizations that authorities in the Russian republic of Chechnya have rounded up, tortured, and even murdered individuals who are believed to be gay. When faced with such crimes of hate and inhumanity, it is the responsibility of every person of conscience to speak out—to oppose this campaign of violence before it continues further.” Biden continued, “Every man or woman on this earth is entitled to be treated with dignity— to live without fear and to love freely. Unfortunately, the human rights abuses perpetrated by Chechen authorities and the culture of impunity that surrounds them means that these hate crimes are unlikely to ever be properly investigated or that the perpetrators will see justice. But that does not mean that we should fail to defend basic human rights, fundamental freedoms, and universal values.” He concluded, “I hope that the current administration lives up to the promises it has made to advance human rights for 18

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everyone by raising this issue directly with Russia’s leaders. The United States must lead the way to demand an end to these egregious violations of human rights.” towleroad.com New $1.5M NIH Grant Targets Oral Complications of HIV While advances in HIV treatment have dramatically improved patient lifespans and quality of life, nagging side effects remain; among the most common is chronic inflammation— essentially, when an immune system imbalance causes the body to attack itself. Case Western Reserve University researchers are taking aim at where inflammation can be especially harmful to patient health: in the mouth and throat, where it’s been linked to oral cancer, lesions, viral infections and other ailments that can make eating painful and further weaken immune systems through malnourishment. “Restoring balance to an immune system is key after being altered by HIV and medications,” said Pushpa Pandiyan, an assistant professor of biological sciences at the School of Dental Medicine who will lead the research with a 5-year $1.59 million NIH grant. “Otherwise, a person’s natural defenses can sometimes be too aggressive, especially in vulnerable areas like the gums and other oral tissues.” Pandiyan added, “Eventually, our findings could have the potential to help HIV patients lead healthier, longer lives.” edgemedianetwork.com Dining Out for Life Helps SF AIDS Foundation On Tuesday, April 25, you can join more than 20,000 patrons at participating restaurants for San Francis-

co AIDS Foundation’s 17th annual Dining Out for Life event. Help support the free, local HIV prevention and care services SFAF provides to tens of thousands of individuals in our community each year. Dining Out for Life is a local fundraising initiative for HIV/AIDS service organizations throughout the United States and Canada. On April 25, over 100 top Bay Area restaurants will donate 25% of the day’s proceeds to San Francisco AIDS Foundation. sfaf.org North Carolina Republicans File Bill Going After Same-Sex Marriage Four North Carolina Republicans filed a bill that would direct the state to defy a Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. It would reinstate the state’s constitutional amendment, limiting marriage to between one man and one woman, approved in 2012 by voter referendum.

Same-sex marriages conducted in other states would also not be recognized in North Carolina. House Bill 780, titled the “Uphold Historical Marriages Act,” would make the 2015 Supreme Court ruling “null and void in the State of North Carolina.” The bill also claims “the United States Supreme Court overstepped its constitutional bounds when it struck down Section 6 of Article XIV of the North Carolina Constitution in its Obergefell v. Hodges decision of 2015.” Gov. Roy Cooper stated, “This bill is wrong.

We need more LGBT protections, not fewer.” lgbtqnation.com

GOMEZ (continued from page 9) This shifted somewhat by 2000, when more effective HIV medications became available and as mature Boomers began talking more about aging.

Those youngsters chaining ourselves to the White House fence to demonstrate against war in 1969 were by then almost 60. As Marcy says, “We talked over wine and cheese with friends and were focused on ‘retirement villages,’ but we were really taking our dream of living and thriving together into old age.” Many talked of buying land together, and some did, or of buying an apartment building or simply moving into apartments closer to each other. But Marcy’s vision was more than plots of land or brick and mortar. It was about creating a supportive community.

On regular walks with Jan Faulkner, founder of the LGBT Pacific Center in the East Bay, Marcy found a fellow Boomer who had the clinical and research experience to understand the issues and help support the vision.

Rainbow House, as it was called in the beginning, was intended to be mixed income housing for LGBT seniors.

Marcy then raised the idea with her partner, Jeanette Gurevich, a member of the radical psychology movement of the 1960s. Despite her agreement on the value of the idea, Gurevich was clear—this was not going to be an easy project.

Marcy felt reassured that: “In some relationships, what each person has helps make you better than you’d be without them.” That conf luence of passion and realism made the project a goal for both Jeanette and Marcy. This was a gift because, as Marcy explains, “Once Jeanette started something, she didn’t stop.”

As Openhouse developed into a nonprofit, the women searched for funding and allies, such as Mercy Housing, which became a partner. “Being a grass roots organization, we need-

ed to raise consciousness around aging,” she says. “We needed to get people to dream again as the HIV plague started to subside. Two lesbian therapists with little experience in practical aging programs had to convince people of the urgency of this. Hundreds of people needed to want to dream about something bigger than themselves. Long before we had a building, we were able to change people’s hearts and minds.”

Today when she speaks of her partner Jeanette, there is the slightest softening in Marcy’s usually strong and direct voice. She identifies Gurevich’s sudden death in 2003 from a heart attack as her biggest challenge, both personally and professionally. The two had become a vanguard unit, pushing through impossible odds to bring light to places that remained in the Dark Ages. Despite this tragic loss, Marcy, through sheer force of will, continued to cut a path through unknown, and sometimes apathetic, territory.

“All the information we had was anecdotal so far; so we set out to do a study with over 1000 participants,” she says.

“We met with supporters like Pam David, at the Walter & Elise Haas Fund, who suggested we needed to have a gathering of service providers and find out where the service gaps were. Who were their elders and what were the needs? In some cases, as Marcy reports, “Professionals didn’t think they had gay people in their programs! So we began to embed ourselves in the broader service and housing community. We provided the first LGBT cultural humility training in 2004.”

Securing a site for the Openhouse apartments and services was challenging. “We didn’t have the deep pockets or political strength to pull it off,” she explains. “But what made it work was those who stepped up. These were all people I didn’t know. Sometimes I’d seek them out, but often they just came.

I don’t often speak in these terms, but there’s something spiritual about starting something like this with no resources. Really, the resources became the people themselves who stepped up to write a grant or who staffed a table at Civic Center for Pride Day.” Those volunteers helped to make this Baby Boomer dream a reality. Now there is an LGBT friendly space with mixed income housing. It includes vital services for elders, like case management and social activities that decrease the isolation that often plagues elders, creating health and psychological problems. When Openhouse holds its annual Spring Fling on April 30, it will, fittingly, honor Dr. Marcy Adelman—along with AIDS activist Cleve Jones—as the intrepid founder of this historic institution.

Fifty years after we donned our beads, feathers and picket signs, we now head up major institutions, meet with legislators, sit on boards and wear pink pussy hats to demonstrations. The legacy continues. As Marcy says: “We were creating community in the 1970s, still we didn’t know our history yet. We’d been kept from each other. So, to go from that in my lifetime to this experience, it has been a miraculous journey—a community finding itself, maturing and embracing life.” On March 23, 2017, when Openhouse celebrated its grand opening at 55 Laguna Street, Marcy Adelman was there to welcome us home.

Jewelle Gomez is a writer and activist. She is the author of the double Lambda Award-winning novel, “The Gilda Stories.” Her latest play “Leaving the Blues,” about the life of celebrated Blues singer-songwriter Alberta Hunter, recently had its world premiere at the New Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco.

ROSTOW (continued from page 17) whether sexual orientation is a neutral human feature. Or not.

Death Be Proud I have related legal stories on my list this week: a win under the Fair Housing Act for a transgender lesbian family, a federal decision forcing Florida to revise death certificates for gay widows and widowers, and a good ruling for gay families by the Nebraska Supreme Court ending laws against gay foster parents and gay adoptions of wards of the state. By rights I should be optimistic, but maybe I’m just in a discouraged mood for some reason.

(I’ll ring for the bartender.)

My mood is not well served by the news out of Chechnya, where authorities have embarked on an offensive against gay men, triggered by Russian civil rights activists who are trying to draw attention to the country’s antigay obsessions. Their efforts, although not targeted within Chechnya, produced a backlash in this particularly unstable region, prompting the roundup of roughly 100 men, many of whom were reportedly killed, others tortured and imprisoned somewhere. United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley demanded an investigation and repeated the U.S. opposition to discrimination of all kinds, including sexual orientation.

That’s nice, but the Chechen leader, Alvi Karimov, said the reports were unfounded, explaining that first, there are no homosexuals in Chechnya, and second, if there were, they would be killed by their own relatives. So, I’m thinking he’s not going to launch an investigation.

Fearless Woman Stepping away from community news for a minute, what do you think of controversy surrounding the “Fearless Girl” statue on Wall Street? Fearless Girl was given permission to stay

in place for a while, standing a few feet away from the famous charging bull statute, head held high and arms akimbo. The guy who made the bull statute is claiming that the juxtaposition of Fearless Girl distorts his artistic message and therefore is a form of copyright infringement.

At first I scoffed at this, particularly after reading that this artist is particularly litigious, an unattractive characteristic in anyone. But after thinking twice, I can’t help but agree that Fearless Girl transforms the bull into a machismo menace. Whatever it was before is up for debate. Was it unfettered capitalism? Progress on the rampage? Materialism bull-sonified? Animal spirits? It doesn’t matter. Now it’s a threatening force, and Fearless Girl is facing it down like the guy in Tiananmen Square. She redefines the bull, so the artist has a point.

As someone in a comments section pointed out, what if a third artist produced yet another statue of an older boy with his arm out, palm facing the bull, positioned just in front of Fearless Girl as if to protect her. The montage would evolve into a different artistic scenario, and Fearless Girl would be diminished accordingly.

So Fearless Girl should be placed elsewhere, in my view. But then I read yet another interesting article on the subject, one which asked why the notion of “girl power” is so readily praised, while the hard charging adult female is beset by misogyny.

The answer is clear. Little girls are no threat to anyone. They’re adorable, no more so when they strive for achievement, play baseball, climb trees and win math contests. It’s only when they run companies, run for office, run law firms or write gaming code that they start to grate on the nerves. What if, instead of Fearless Girl, an artist placed a female banker in that spot,

holding a briefcase and checking her smart phone? Leaving aside the pros and cons of Wall Street, would people have found that image as engaging?

A recent article in the not-failing The New York Times showed female Supreme Court justices are interrupted by their male colleagues at far higher rates than male justices. They are even interrupted by lawyers during oral argument, which is considered rude and counterproductive.

And for anyone who watches cable news panels, the same phenomenon is striking—blowhard male pundits speak over women or cut them off, even when the blowhard’s observations are less than insightful. The flip side of that coin, of course, is the blustering outrage from Mr. Blowhard if a woman tries to interrupt his meandering discourse. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to finish my point!”

I just read a book called Because of Sex that gave an account of ten major High Court Title VII sex discrimination cases, landmark opinions that built the law from a few words into the complex juggernaut of female empowerment that it is today. One of those cases told the story of the brash, tough-talking Price Waterhouse associate Ann Hopkins, who fought the unspoken restrictions on female partners that relegated her to lower management even as she outshone her male peers in every way. Being abrasive and foul-mouthed was no impediment for the men at the firm, but Hopkins was advised to wear more make-up and tone it down if she wanted to advance. The High Court ruled that was sex discrimination, and after ten years of litigation, Hopkins went back to Price Waterhouse as a partner.

Now that’s fearless. arostow@aol.com S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES APR IL 20, 2017

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From the Coming Up Events Calendar See page 32 Tuesday, April 25 - Dining Out for Life @ more than 100 Bay Area restaurants participating in the annual benefit supporting the SF AIDS Foundation.

Info: mwoods@sfaf.org or doflsf.org

Thursday, April 27 - Big Freedia @ Mezzanine, 444 Jessie Street. The Queen of Bounce brings the bounce rap movement to SF presenting songs from a debut album.

9 pm - 12 am. apeconcerts.com

Shawna Virago: Heaven Sent Delinquent S

an Francisco’s own transgender music pioneer and cult solo acoustic artist Shawna Virago has just released her new album Heaven Sent Delinquent (Tranimal Records), and it’s already being called the must-hear folk-punk record of the year.

Composed of ten solo acoustic tales, either true or spun from Virago’s brilliance, the songs on Heaven Sent Delinquent demonstrate Virago is a formidable songwriting talent. “These are the stories of my generation—a generation of transgender people who came out long before the Internet, before transgender celebrities and reality TV stars … before anybody gave a s--about us,” she says.

Virago has performed as an out transwoman since the early 1990s. Veteran San Franciscans know this is no small feat, and Virago played to both supportive and hostile audiences in those early years—she is a true trans music pioneer.

A gifted storyteller and charismatic performer, on Heaven Sent Delinquent Virago delivers a fully-realized collection of songs that articulate escape— real or imagined—by a cast of outsiders, queer rebels and loners. Each song spins an odyssey by these escape artists: from stifling, oppressive, dusty towns; from the crushing weight of questionable pasts and all with punk energy and attitude.

Virago’s songs are personal, but not confessional. She says, “Too many of us were runaways, survivors. But we never gave up. These songs are the stories of myself and my friends. How we managed to find each other in an unfriendly world, fought together, loved each other.”

“Gender Armageddon,” the first single from the album, is a powerful anthem that has some memorable lyrics, such as: “You said you were so afraid to lie in your bed/You had too many cruel strangers sleeping in your head.”

“Last Night’s Sugar” is dark and intimate, a longing to abandon the heartbreaking reality of economic ruin and return to a sweeter past.

“Some people have no surprises in them/You can set your clock by their routines/I’m watching my baby lose his paycheck/To rigged slot machines.”

The first track on the album, “Bright Green Ideas,” draws from real-life events and is an ode to bad girls finding love. “Mama told me to beware of any boy who was polite/But when you said, ‘May I please sit on your face tonight?’/I thought, ‘What did Mama ever get right?’”

Heaven Sent Delinquent arrives on the scene at the perfect time, when LGBT communities are in need of inspiration and anthems to lift us up as we fight back against the alt-right’s attacks on our community.

Virago’s songs offer us this, through her signature fusion of acoustic folk with queer, punk attitude.

Listening to this new album, you hear what Virago does so well— create skilled narratives and worlds about those living on the margins, using the magic of her lyrics and deft twang of her vocal deliver. Her songs veer from tender to the brutal. Heaven Sent Delinquent is the strongest collections of songs we’ve heard in a long time. It rewards with repeated listening.

Heaven Sent Delinquent, the new album from Shawna Virago, is available now (Tranimal Records) www.shawnavirago.com S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES APR IL 20, 2017

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Taekwondo Casts Spell on Viewers with Seductive Homoeroticism

Film Gary M. Kramer Out Argentine writer/director Marco Berger’s Taekwondo, now out on DVD, casts a spell on viewers. Set entirely in a country estate, the film depicts little more than nine hunky guys hanging out in various stages of undress. The house belongs to Fer’s (Lucas Papa) family. He’s invited his friend Germán (Gabriel Epstein) from his taekwondo class in the city to join him and his pals at the estate during their summer vacation.

The seven other guys—all friends of Fer’s from his childhood and teenage years—create a hothouse atmosphere.

Berger, working with his co-director Martín Farina, films the men’s bodies with a voyeuristic eye, emphasizing their buff chests, backs, legs, asses and casual nudity.

There is not much in the way of plot.

The dramatic suspense revolves mostly around Germán, who is gay, wondering if Fer is attracted to him. Germán is confused because he and Fer are often intimately close, touching bodies in the estate’s sauna, or pool, and Fer has a tendency to expose his naked body to Germán in the bathroom or in the bedroom they share.

Yet Germán wonders (to a friend on the phone) if he is just being teased.

The silent glances Fer and Germán trade suggest an unspoken desire, but another guest in the house, Leo (Francisco Bertín), reveals details that Fer’s romantic interests might lie elsewhere.

Ta e k w o n d o e xplores the homosocial boding of Fer and Germán as t hey d iscuss books and comic books, or even end up chastely sleeping together, when another guy is passed out in Fer’s bed. The s e x u a l t en s ion b e t w e e n t he s e guys is palpable, and as strong as t he homo e r otic current coursing through the house among the rest of the men.

Berger and Farina create an air of intense sensualit y as their camera ogles dudes l i ke D iego (Gaston Re) wearing tight red shorts that emphasize his impressive bulges, or Tomás (Darío Miño) sleeping in his underwear or showering.

One houseguest, Fede ( Juan Manuel Martino) nicknamed “Fasto,” rarely wears pants. He appears naked from the waist down when he meets Germán for the first time, and he goes

skinny-dipping in the pool. In one of the film’s few sex scenes, the camera is focused squarely on his bare ass.

Berger explained in an email exchange that he likes to film his characters “in the way I would like to spy (continued on page 34)

Montclair Women’s Big Band @ The Fenix Photos by Sandy Morris Fenix Live supper club in San Rafael has been called “a true musical dining experience.” The unique venue was the setting for a performance, featuring swing and Latin sounds, by the Montclair Women’s Big Band on Sunday, April 2. Following up its high visibility 2016 season, MWBB’s fans and friends enjoyed both great seating and great food in the modern setting named by Marin Magazine as one of the best in Marin County.

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Top Five Questions to Ask While Photo Booth Shopping

By Gene Kosoy Today’s weddings often include some type of photo booth service, and there are many photo booth vendors to choose from. Thus, selecting the perfect photo booth for your big day can be very overwhelming, especially if you want a special service that guests will enjoy. To help ease the process we’ve come up with the top five questions to ask while photo booth shopping.

1. Is this an open or enclosed photo booth? This may be one of the most important questions to ask, as the two types of photo booths are polar opposites of each other. The enclosed photo booth typically takes up less space, and offers guests a sense of privacy. The open photo booth is modular, giving you more freedom when deciding how big or small you want the footprint to be. Depending on the size of the event, the setup can be larger, and there are typically various backdrop choices.

and request sample photos from previous events to make sure you are receiving top tier quality photos to commemorate your big day. If you have any ideas on how you want your photos to turn out, don’t be afraid and ask the vendor what they could do to make your ideas come alive.

2. Is this vendor reliable? The last thing you want on your big day is the photo booth failing to capture all of your wonderful memories the way you had envisioned.

To ensure the photo booth you’re hiring won’t let you down, make sure the vendor you choose has glowing reviews! It is ideal if the company is well-established in the market. Try to find out how long the company has been in business, if they use backup equipment, and what happens if there is an operator or staff issue.

5. Are there any additional options offered?

Photo booths are becoming the hottest trend in event entertainment, and with a f lux in demand, there is always a flux in supply. With all of those options available, you want to make sure you get a lot of bang for your buck. Ask about the booth’s custom options, such as themed props and custom backdrops. If the vendor offers additional services, ask for their full deck.

3. What will be provided onsite? Figure out what will be provided the day of the event. Is the photo booth a self- service station, or will they provide a photo booth attendant during the event? Having an attendant on site can simplify the photo booth process immensely. They can assist with printing the photos, solving technical issues, directing the flow, and, most importantly, engaging your guests. Also, make sure you know what the photo booth’s reprint and image download policies are.

Don’t be afraid to venture out into the wonderful world of photo booths. The perfect “booth” for you might not even be a booth at all, but something custom to better fit the look and feel of your planned important event.

4. What will the quality of the photos be like?

Photo booths are all fun and games, until the photo quality is less than ideal. To be certain the quality of your photos will be immaculate, make sure professional photography equipment and lighting will be used.

Ask about the vendor’s experience with photography

Gene Kosoy is a Bay Area wedding and event photographer based in San Francisco. He is the founder of SnapFiesta and VintageFiesta. Gene and his team have provided photo entertainment services for hundreds of weddings around the Bay Area and other national markets. They offer a variety of services from photobooths, flipbooks and slow motion studio to vintage vehicle photobooths. Their mission is simple: to capture top quality, long-lasting photo memories that clients will remember! For more information: http://www.snapfiesta.com/

Frederick Sullivan and Jaime Botello, who oversee the Weddings & Occasions page for the “San Francisco Bay Times,” are the talented wizards behind Sullivan-Botello Events (http://sullivanbotelloevents. com) and SnB Party Rentals (650-877-0840, www.snbpartyrentals.com). Both are Certified Wedding Planners with extensive experience in creating memorable, personalized events for special occasions. Their rental service is incredible, offering everything from beautiful gold Chiavari chairs to LED dance floors, and all at competitive prices. They are the creators of the Gay Vanity Wedding Show and are longstanding members of the Golden Gate Business Association, which is the nation’s first LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

GLBT Historical Society Anniversary 2017

Photos by Rink

Executive Director Terry Beswick welcomed guests and introduced featured performer Margo Gomez on Friday, Marcy 17, as the Society hosted its annual anniversary bash at the GLBT History Museum on 18th Street in the Castro. Honorees included curators Elizabeth Cornu and Greg Pennington. Both speakers and attendees expressed their support and hopes for the fundraising campaign currently underway raising funds needed for a “facelift” to the Museum’s entrance and remodeling of interior spaces. To donate, visit glbthistory.org

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES APR IL 20, 2017

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DE YOUNG AND LEGION OF HONOR

School of Fontainebleau: Venus and Cupid ca. 1559 Roscoe and Margaret Oakes Collection, de Young Museum The School of Fontainebleau describes a distinctive style of French Renaissance court art—complex and sophisticated—that evolved in the sixteenth century after Francis I (1515–1547) invited Italian mannerist artists and craftsmen to embellish his chateau de Fontainebleau.

Although inspired by Agnolo Bronzino’s Allegory with Venus and Cupid (circa 1540–1550 and at The National Gallery in London), the precise interpretation of this composition has been debated. Acquired as the Triumph of Flora, careful study suggests than an earlier title of Venus and Cupid is more accurate.

Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, was a favorite subject of Renaissance artists, who delighted in representations of the female form.

Adorned with the pearls that refer to her birth from the sea, and/or portrayed with flowers, particularly the rose, she is often accompanied by the winged Cupid, shown here at the left.

This iconography, however, is complicated by a subtle allusion to attributes associated with Diana, the huntress: a strip of gauze across her bosom suggesting a quiver strap and a jewel resembling the crescent moon in her hair. Perhaps intended as a tribute to Diane de Poitiers (1499–1559), favorite of Henry II, for whom she was both Venus and Diana, the figure’s elongated fingers and toes, pearly white skin, and mannerist pose exemplify the cold eroticism, studied elegance and decorative content of this international style. deyoungmuseum.org | @deyoungmuseum School of Fontainebleau, “Venus and Cupid,” ca. 1559. Oil on panel, transferred to hardboard, 37 ¾ x 27 ¾ in. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase, Roscoe and Margaret Oakes Income Fund, 1973.4

SF Sketch Randy Coleman

Randy Coleman hails from New York, but has lived in San Francisco since 1975. Coleman shares that before moving to the Bay Area, he studied Art History and Architecture at Boston University while working as a resident artist for architectural rendering at a Massachusetts historical society. “All of my life I’ve been an artist,” Coleman says. “To know me is to know that I have a passion for art and architecture. I love this project for the San Francisco Bay Times, and hope that you enjoy my sketches.” © Randy Coleman, 2017

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Selma Lagerlöf: A Nobel Mind

Faces from Our LGBT Past Dr. Bill Lipsky When Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940) became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1909, no one except her most intimate friends knew she also was making history as the first lesbian to be given that high honor. To the world, she seemed to personify the classic image of everyone’s favorite great aunt, her hair piled high into a bun and who told stories of days past that were inspired by the traditions of her rural childhood. Actually, she was a complicated, multi-faceted soul who succeeded in a Victorian world where “that singular anomaly, the lady novelist,” as W. S. Gilbert cuttingly put it in The Mikado, was seldom taken seriously.

The Nobel Committee chose Lagerlöf “in appreciation of the lofty idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterize her writings.” Some disagreed with that assessment, however. “She writes idiotically,” said former Swedish Prime Minister Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, although he admitted that as a member of Swedish Academy, which chooses recipients, “she votes quite intelligently.” Perhaps he preferred one of that year’s other nominated authors: Joseph Conrad, Thomas Hardy or Mark Twain. His son, Dag, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961.

Lagerlöf first achieved success as a writer with Gösta Berling’s Saga, published in 1891 when she was 32.

Characterized by a vivid imagination, its lyrical, experimental style, which deliberately rejected the then-prevailing realism and naturalism of August Strindberg and other contemporary Swe d i s h w r it er s , made it a forerunner of the Swedish Romantic Revival movement at the turn of the 20th century. In 1923, it became a f ilm. Directed by M au r it z St iller, it starred his protégée, Greta Garbo, in the performance that brought her to the attention of Hollywood, where she arrived in 1925.

T he Wonderful Adventures of Nils appeared in 19 0 6. T he complete opposite of Göst a B e rli n g ’s S a ga i n st yle, tone, and intended audience, the book was written to teach Swedish schoolchildren the geography of their country.

Its hero, a young farm boy, is punished for his bad behavior by being reduced to the size of a mouse by the local gnome. Now able to ride on the back of the farm’s gander, he t ravels across Sweden, learning not only about the countr y’s mountains and rivers, but also about modesty, generosity, and kindness.

The book became an international success, and the most popular and beloved work that Lagerlöf ever w rote. “ For m a ny, many years I reread this story at least once a year,” the Austrian-British philosopher Karl Popper w rote in his auto biography. When the Japanese novelist Kenzaburo Oe won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1994, he began his acceptance speech with an homage to the work, telling his audience of the ways it formed him during his adolescence.

A l l her l ife, L agerlöf had strong, passionate ties to other women, who inspired and suppor ted her intellectually and emotionally. Although she kept her private life private, the letters she wrote to her most intimate friends, sealed for 50 years after her death, reveal someone of great passion, with intense physical and ardent feelings toward many of the women she knew.

It was Sophie Adlersparre, a pioneer of the 19th century movement for women’s rights in Sweden, who encouraged and helped her with Gösta Berling’s Saga while Lagerlöf was still a schoolteacher. Fredrika Limnell, a patron of the women’s movement and other women’s causes, helped her financially so she could concentrate on her writing.

Lagerlöf met translator and author Sophie Elkan, whom she called “my companion in life and letters,” in 1894. Their correspondence suggests that Lagerlöf fell deeply in love with her, although Elkan, a widow who wore black after her husband died for the rest of her life, may not have responded with physical intimacy. The two women often traveled together, visiting Italy in 1895, and jour-

Photos courtesy of Bill Lipsky

neying to Egypt and Palestine in 1899. Lagerlöf ‘s 1901 bestseller Jerusalem, which earned her the reputation as Sweden’s foremost novelist, is dedicated to Elkan.

Te a c h e r a n d women’s suffrage activist Valborg Olander, who met Lagerlöf in 1897, became both her literary assistant and dear fr iend. The two women never lived together, but theirs was a loving and supporting companionship that lasted 38 years. Lagerlöf and Elkand remained friends too, but her involvement with Olander complicated their bond. The relationship between the three women was the basis of the two-part drama Selma, which was broadcast on Swedish television in 2008.

Like many of the women with whom she was close, Lagerlöf was deeply involved with women’s issues, especially the women’s suffrage movement.

She spoke often on behalf women’s right to vote, bringing the enormous respect the nation had for her to the cause. In 1911, she gave the keynote address at the International Suffrage Congress in Stockholm. When Swedish women’s right to vote finally was recognized in 1919, the National Association for Women’s Suffrage celebrated with a rally that featured a speech by Lagerlöf.

Shortly before she died in 1940, Lagerlöf saved the life of a woman who would herself become a Nobel winner. A longtime friend of the German-Jew ish wr iter Nel ly Sachs, she personally intervened with the Swedish royal family to allow Sachs and her mother to come to Sweden from Nazi Germany, a week before Sachs was scheduled to be deported to a concentration camp. Sachs received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1966.

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

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Choosing Your Personal Trainer ry. The next and final article in this series will tell you how to become your own personal trainer, and have fun while you’re at it! (You can get a head start with my new book. See http:// EasyFitnessBook.com for more information.)

Easy Fitness Cinder Ernst This is the second article in our 3-part series about personal fitness training.

In the f irst installment, we shared tips on how to determine if traditional personal training is right for you.

Here are the key points:

Take Me Home with You!

When is traditional personal fitness training a good idea?

Taz

1.

If you are pretty good at exercising and you want to take it up a notch, hire a good trainer to push you a bit harder.

2.

If you are pretty good at exercising and you want to learn some new techniques or a new sport, hire a trainer to help you. I took up boxing a few years ago, and I love it! I have a boxing coach.

“My name is Taz! They tell me I’m a swirling dervish of energ y and excitement! I do love life, and I can’t wait to find someone special to share in all these good times. Let’s go run along the beach and hang out at Dolores Park! Whatever you’re into, I’m up for it!”

3. If you need to update your current exercise program, personal training can get that done with ease and efficiency.

Taz is presented to San Francisco Bay Times readers by Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, the SF SPCA’s Co-President. Our thanks also go to Krista Maloney for helping to get the word out about lovable pets like Taz.

4. If you are unmotivated and/or resistant to exercise, and you can afford personal training for an indefinite time or forever, find the right trainer and go for it.

To meet Helena and other pets seeking their forever homes, please visit:

If number 4 sounds like you, but you’re not a millionaire, don’t wor-

San Francisco SPCA Mission Campus 250 Florida Street San Francisco, CA 94103 415-522-3500 Aside from major holidays, the adoption center is open Mon–Fri: 1–6 pm and Sat– Sun: 10 am–5 pm. Free parking is available for those wishing to adopt!

For more information: sfspca.org/adopt

•

Know yourself.

•

Trust your gut.

•

You’re the boss.

Knowing yourself means that you know what you want to accomplish, such as when you are learning a sport, preparing for a trip, updating your program, etc. (Remember, we recommend that you don’t factor weight loss into your fitness program.) You know about how many sessions you might want, what time of day is best for you and your schedule, where you want to be (home, gym or outside). You may have a gender preference. You can also think about whether you’d like a boot camp style trainer or a gentler approach. Know yourself. Do some soul searching before you start looking for “your” trainer.

Trust your gut. Your personal trainer has to have a personality that appeals to you, as the process is inherently intimate. If someone rubs you the wrong way, that person is the wrong trainer for you, unless you enjoy being rubbed the wrong way! You should know fairly quickly if you like this individual or not. Also, there comes a time as you are working with your trainer when your gut says, “That exercise is not for me,” trust your gut. A good trainer will have a different option for you.

You’re the boss. You are hiring this person. You get to have it your way.

You can say, “I’m working toward this goal. This is how I want to be treated or approached. I do (or I do not) want to talk about food with you. (I always recommend separating food from fitness.) I do not want to be weighed or measured. I want to track my progress in other ways, such as am I taking less pain medicine or are the stairs getting easier?” Keep your personal power and partner with this person. Don’t just hand yourself over.

Your trainer should be certified and insured, and able to supply references. I also recommend finding someone close to your own age. The more injuries or limitations you have, the more experience your trainer should have.

Look for someone who specializes in an area that would be useful for you.

The next time, I’ll tell you how to become your own personal trainer and have fun doing it!

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

Reflection and Advice from Tom Ammiano

By Jenn Bowman Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

Fitness SF Trainer Tip of the Month Tore Kelly, Fitness SF “Side Plank with Reach: To perform a Side Plank, you only need a mat and some open space. Place your left forearm on the mat, balance your lower body on the left side of your left foot, and hold the position.

If you keep your body and legs straight, you will feel a slight tightness in your core. Reach your hand far up towards the ceiling, and then reach it down beneath your rib cage. Repeat the motion.”

(Editor’s Note: Teacher Jenn Bowman of San Francisco’s Mission High School is teaching LGBTQ Studies.

In this column, Bowman’s students share their thoughts about LGBTQrelated matters, including their concerns, what they have learned in class and more. Leif, a 10th grader at Mission High, wrote the following piece.)

Tom Ammiano, a retired politician and current comedian, was the latest speaker in our Mission High Gender and Queer Studies class. Tom’s bright personality, dyed blue hair, and humorous jabs made it easy for him to connect with us students in a myriad of ways. He made us feel safe and receptive to what he had to say.

Just prior to Ammiano’s visit, our class had studied the life, activism, and death of Supervisor Harvey

For more information: fitnesssf.com Tom Ammiano SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S A PR I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

Milk. Tom talked about his past experience working with Milk on his “No on 6” campaign in the 1970s. He said that one of the things that made Milk such an amazing activist was his ability to compromise, to keep his eye on what is important in the movement, and to build bridges with different communities. Together they went to Glide Memorial Church, and supported the Tenderloin community, the Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Liberation, and, obviously, the LGBTQ movement.

It was especially interesting to hear about Tom Ammiano’s own experience as a young person. He spoke about the many parallels, and also the obvious changes, which have occurred since he was a student in a Roman Catholic school in New Jersey.

As a teenager, he struggled a lot and used humor as a way to deflect bullying. Later, he took a bus to San Francisco in the hope that this city would offer him a better life.

He still sees the struggles of being a gay teen, but he also notices a deeper empathy and understanding that kids can tap into. He told us that the way to succeed in this society is not to focus on the differences that isolate ourselves and the labels we go under. He told us to focus on the overlapping and interwoven intersectionality that each minority can draw from, and to use that support to come together and create positive change.

Tore Kelly, Director of Creative & Social Media for Fitness SF, provides monthly tips.

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There are three points to remember as you are searching for a trainer who will be a good match:

He explained that his driven mindset can show us how motivation works to create

Student Voices safer places, even through setbacks and tragedies like the Milk assassination and the Trump presidential election. We can learn from history that the power of the people can trump the power of the oppressor.

Mission High School: https://mhssfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/ LGBTQ Scholarship Opportunities: https://static1.squarespace.com/ static/52c7dc91e4b0c06f bd156f6b/ t/53b63f b8e4b079c1947dbd fa/1404452792563/LGBTQ.pdf

Jenn Bowman, a history teacher at Mission High School, is a queer woman, activist, scholar, and queercore lover. With a small group of teachers, she took part in the initial LGBTQ Studies pilot class from 2010-11 in collaboration with the SF LGBTQ Center. This pilot, which offered a class for students on Saturdays at the Center, led to a 2010 school board resolution that promoted the expansion of LGBTQ Studies across high schools.

Sanctuary #Universal Joy - Easter With The Sisters Photos by Paul Margolis

In spite of the rain, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s Easter 2017 was a “huge” success. Devotees gathered in Hellman Hollow at Golden Gate Park for the Hunky Jesus, Foxy Mary and Bonnet Contests, followed by the Trump Exorcism and live performances by drag kings and queens with their frolicking bands. Bring out your umbrellas was the prevailing thought as participants sought shelter from the intermittent showers, but no one seemed to mind. San Francisco Bay Times own Sister Dana was on stage, as usual, with Sister Roma, and the two together created both merriment and misbehavior too!

Cafe Flore Easter Party

Photos by Rink

It was all about the bunnies and the dressed-to-the-nines party goers, either “in their Easter bonnets” or not, on Sunday, April 16. Cafe Flore’s Castro setting comes alive each year for this annual party on the afternoon of Easter where all attending enjoy cocktails, camaraderie and a bit of craziness too.

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Round About All Over Town – Spring Events & Activities Photos by Rink

San Francisco Bay Times legendary photographer Rink has been out and about for the past several months enjoying the arrival of Spring and snapping more photos than we’ve been able to present until now. We hope you’ll enjoy traveling all over town through the images presented in these two pages, set-up in the format of what’s known as a “double truck” centerfold. We’re proud to show you what Rink’s been up to and the folks he has encountered all along the way.

San Francisco Bay Times contributor Leslie Katz and friends at the Bentley Reserve for the BALIF (Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom) Annual Gala on March 3rd

BALIF co-chair Peter Catalanotti (left) with Okan Sengum of the Center for Immigration Protection who received the BALIF Legal Service Award on behalf of the Center

Dipti Ghosh, board chair of CAAMFEST, and friends at the BALIF Gala

Solange Darwish, beloved owner of the Cove on Castro restaurant, paused to celebrate her birthday on March 12 with her colleagues Huberto, Diego and Annie.

Irish community members and friends, lined up as a band of street musicians, were decked out in self-designed costumes for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 11.

Polk Street was filled on March 26 with walkers and runners who joined in the Rock N’Roll Half Marathon, a benefit for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, on the route extending from the Golden Gate Bridge to Civic Center.

Alexand 7 at the

Afro Solo Festival Executive Director Tho Mark Leno at the Generations Celebratio sponsored by San Francisco AIDS Foudn Esteem, UCSF and the SF Department o

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon and Judge Victoria Kolakowski at the BALIF Gala

Dream Project Program Manager Tony Bradford and Black Brothers Esteem (BBE) Program Director Travis Wise at the 10th Anniversary Generations event at SOMAR Gallery

The Shriners contingent, including flag bearers, in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 11

Guests on the Red Carpet at the Hunter at the Castro Theatre

Emily Valladao and Kimberly Alvardo, from their position near 18th and Castro Streets, offered questionnaires to potential respondents for a UCSF and SF Department of Public Health survey.

Members of the Unicorns Women’s Team enjoyed the Gay Softball League’s 45th Anniversary Jock Fundraiser at the Lookout bar on March 12.

Below: GLBT Historical Society Executive Director Terry Beswick and Curator Joey Cain (center) with show sponsors at the Summer of Love exhibit opening at the GLBT History Museum on April 7.

The Radical Fairy organization was well-represented at the Summer of Love exhibit opening on April 7 by members and friends: Calamus Darwin, designer Bruce Beaudette, curator Joey Cain and writer Nikos Diaman.

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Supervisor Malia Cohen (center) shared a moment on April 3 at the SF LGBT Community Center with Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club cochairs Eric Lukoff and Lou Fischer just prior to a Q&A discussion event on the SF City budget.

Coordinators Larry-Bob Roberts featured performer Juba Kalamka of PeaceOut World Homohop Fe Smack Dab open mic held at Dog location on March 15

der Nowick displayed his artwork at the Art Saves Lives show opening on April e AIDS Healthcare Foundation Gallery on Castro Street.

omas Simpson with Senator on of LGBTIQQ Lives event nation’s Black Brothers of Public Health

Pink hats were popular among those participating in the March 8 demonstration at SF City Hall on International Women’s Day. A rainbow flag was proudly displayed at SF’s Civic Center during the International Women’s Day/Day Without Women/ Women’s Strike Day on March 8.

e CAAMFEST Opening Night screening of the film The Tiger

and Dana Hopkins with a (right), who is Director estival in Oakland, at the g Eared Books’ Castro

Gallery coordinator Thomasina DeMaio presented her painting of Harvey Milk at the Art Saves Lives show opening on April 7.

Director Lena Khan (fourth from left) with cast members of her film The Tiger Hunter at the Castro Theatre for Opening Night of CAAMFEST on March 9

The pink kitty-eared women’s symbol appeared on March 8 at the International Women’s Day rally and march.

Signs were everywhere in the area of City Hall and the SF Civic Center on March 8 at the demonstration recognizing International Women’s Day/Day Without Women/Women’s Strike Day.

Executive Director Brett Andrews (center), of Positive Resource Center and the AIDS Emergency Fund, paused with friends at the Generations Celebratino of Black LGBTIQQ Lives, a Black History Month event at SOMAR Gallery on February 24.

PAW’s Prado Gomez and Shanti’s Valentin Aguirre at the Generations Celebration of Black LGBTIQQ Lives

AIDS Healthcare Fnd. Gallery’s stage manager Kristine Wilson with Debi Shargel at the Art Saves Lives opening

Members of the Daddy Issues Team were all smiles at the Gay Softball League’s 45th Anniversary Jock Fundraiser at the Lookout.

The popular slogan “Men of Quality Do Not Fear Equality” appeared once again at the International Women’s Day demonstration at SF City Hall.

Signs in both Spanish and English were displayed by those on hand for the demonstration at City Hall on March 8.

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES APR IL 20, 2017

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Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun origins. He said the current resistance movement against the T-rump administration has its roots in ‘60s protests and sit-ins. This fascinating exhibition at 4127 18th Street runs through September 27.

Sister Dana sez, “Did we remember to file our tax returns on April 18? Oh no, not you, ‘special’ Donald! You don’t bother to do such things, do you?!”

On Tax Day Saturday, as part of a nationwide series of protests, thousands gathered at Civic Center for the peaceful “TAX MARCH,” demanding President T-rump release his tax returns. House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi and SF Supervisor Jane Kim called out the rump for hiding his tax returns. “It’s a transparency issue,” said Danelle Morton, organizer of the San Francisco march. “We need to know if he is benefiting from any of the decisions he makes while he’s in office.” More than a million people signed a petition at WhiteHouse. gov asking the Pre$ident to release his taxes. Morton says that 74% of all Americans—Democrats and Republicans alike—feel that Rump should release his taxes.

Last Friday night was a busy busy busy one for art reviewer Sister Dana. I had to cover three art receptions—all in the Castro—in one night. I started at the GLBT HISTORY MUSEUM VIP opening, where they have mounted a new exhibition, “LAVENDER-TINTED GLASSES: A GROOVY GAY LOOK AT THE SUMMER OF LOVE.” I dug up several of my peace sign pendants for the occasion. Since this is San Francisco’s anniversary of the 1967 Summer of Love, curator of the show, Joey Cain, a San Francisco-based activist and historian, has put together an entire wall of “groovyness.” The exhibition tells the stories of four queers: gay poet and activist Allen Ginsberg, gay filmmaker Kenneth Anger, bisexual astrologer and philosopher Gavin Arthur, and bisexual singer Janis Joplin (whose lover, Jae Whitaker, was present that night at the opening). All of these were significant players in what came to be known as the San Francisco Summer of Love.

Those were just four of the many artists displayed. Cain also examines how the City’s homophile movement of the time responded to the social and cultural uprising in 1967. “I think the story of Gavin Arthur will be the most surprising,” Cain said.

“He’s certainly the least known of the four people I focus on. He started out as the grandson of U.S. President Chester A. Arthur and ended up being a guiding presence and influence in the Summer of Love. In many ways, he was the queer grandfather of the hippies.” You will discover at the end of the exhibition: homophiles and hippies were pretty much peas in a pod. And forgive my John Lennon ‘69 song pun: “Give Peas a Chance...” I interviewed museum Executive Director Terry Beswick, who noted, “This exhibit quintessentially defines the spirit of San Francisco. When people talk about how San Francisco is changing and not the same as it used to be, I don’t believe that.” He continued, “I believe San Francisco has the spirit that goes back many many years, and the queer origins of the Summer of Love is what this exhibit is all about.” He pointed out the other Summer of Love celebrations going on citywide do not talk about queer 30

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Emcee Kristine Wilson introduced Kim Lembo, who performed on acoustic guitar and sang beautifully and emotionally, although it was sometimes hard to hear over the annoying buzz of rude audience members in the front of the studio.

Why are some people so inattentive to performers on stage? Take your chatter outside, please! In homage to the Summer of Love, DeMaio painted with brilliant day-glo colors under glowing blacklight using men’s bodies (my fave, Jose Cital) as the canvases. Psychedelic, man!

My third opening reception was at STRUT for “KUMALICIOUS” (pronounced KOO-MAH-LISHUS), which is what you get when you mix bigger queer men of color with gay Japanese manga (cartoons) drawn by artists from across the globe to celebrate the allure and beauty of bigger queer men of color. KUMALICIOUS—curated by E. Salvador Hernandez—took shape in the Summer of 2016 as an art exhibition commissioned by San Francisco’s QUEER CULTURAL CENTER for its 19th annual NATIONAL QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL. It continues developing as an art brand and traveling exhibition showcasing the work of over two dozen artists selected from across the globe. The artworks depict a celebration of the allure and beauty of larger gay men of color inspired by gay Japanese manga. From gachimuchi (“chubby muscle”) to BDSM eroticism, KUMALICIOUS explores various visual works influenced by gay Japanese manga genres popularized by canon artists including Jiraiya, Gengoroh Tagame, and Seizoh Ebisubashi. This exhibition seeks to provide a rare glance at underrepresented populations often neglected in mainstream art. One of

It was the 15TH ANNIVERSARY SOIRÉE at Terra Gallery held for the LGBT CENTER as a delightful evening celebrating the completion of their remodel, which breathes new life into their physical space and creates a sustainable home for future generations of LGBTQ people.

Juanita MORE! returned as Entertainment Director along with several dozen delicious drag queens all in white and silver playing toy musical instruments and marching around and into the crowd that was enjoying an open bar, food, performances, music, and lots of dancing! One of the handsome go-go boys wore nothing but a jock strap and high heels.

I couldn’t help but comment to him how I admired his lack of an outfit, and he quipped, “I know, I spent hours getting it together!” Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe welcomed everyone to the dinner and spoke about the Center’s achievements and community’s civil rights—and those we have yet to achieve. She acknowledged the founding members from two decades ago. “We must resist and persist,” she urged. Sophie Kass, a 29-year-old transgender woman, gave a moving speech (I totally wept) about escaping the Middle East after having been captured and kidnapped in Beirut; but thanks to an international student program at Berkeley University, she was able to arrive there safely where she interned and later came to the LGBT Community Center, “where I truly found myself as my true self.” State Senator Scott Wiener presented a Certificate of Recognition from the State Senate to the Center and reminisced back to the days when a Center did not exist, and then Supervisor Mark Leno got him involved with making a Center a reality. I flashed back to the time I helped break ground and later in the process got a tour of the building as it was being built, and finally the festive ribbon-cutting for the Grand Opening hosted by Donna Sachet. We’ve come a long way since then!

The celebration continued the day after Soirée on Sunday April 9, as they rededicated their renovated home. We joined them at the Center for a RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY AND OPEN HOUSE at 1 pm. Following the ceremony, the open house featured Center programs, tenants—including AGUILAS, Bay Area Legal Aid, and API Wellness—and lively performances from local LGBTQ artists, musicians, and performers.

PEACHES CHRIST PRODUCTIONS and FUDGIE FROTTAGE presented the West Coast premiere of Lady Bunny in “TRANS-JESTER!” Direct from a sold-out New York engagement, Trans-Jester starred the legendary (continued on page 34)

PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

Second on my reception night treks was the monthly ART SAVES LIVES Castro gallery and performance space with 18 different artists displaying their pieces curated by studio owner Thomasina De Maio. Her oils are on display in the front left window. Some of my other favorite artists’ works were the sculptures of Irene Martha Feiks; a series called Rainbow Inspiration with portraits of everyone from David Bowie to Bette Davis to Elizabeth Tayor and even SNL’s Roseanne Rosannadanna—all by Jim Williams; two large paintings centering around the Statue of Liberty and the freedom she offers to immigrants, Black Lives Matter, Planned Parenthood, and resistance by Donna De Matteo; Diane Nutting displays bottle cap and wire wearable people pins; and Jay Davidson uses letters and words from signs to spell out clever messages such as: “It’s a scandal; therapy costs more than a gun.”

my favorites is “Dorito Dios,” depicting a chubby sexy happy god gloriously holding up a holy Dorito chip. strutsf.org

Sister Dana (left) on stage with Sister Roma and a Foxy Mary contestant and her pup at the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Easter 2017 activities in Golden Gate Park

Speaking to Your Soul

Astrology Elisa Quinzi Spring fever is the body and its senses, coming alive. It also reveals our innate connection with the earth, and with cycles and seasons. Right now we are feeling that call of the earth and are invited to get in touch with our more natural sense of self, and of living.

ARIES (March 21–April 19) Nurture the seeds you planted last month by building on what you’ve begun. Take some risks on your behalf to boost your growing self-esteem.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Previously dormant emotional memory might arise via your body. A sexual encounter, or a healing bodywork session, could awaken you to deeper portions of yourself.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20) Spring fever prompts you to recreate yourself. The beauty of the earth around you calls forth your most natural, organic self. You are building yourself from here on out.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) As spring blooms, you are nurturing the seeds of relationship. Whether partners, or close friends, spring fever strikes at your intimate life. Act with integrity to attract it.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Go immerse yourself in nature. Listen for the wordless guidance you’ll receive. Share your message, boldly, to help the planet.

CANCER ( June 21–July 22) While the freshness of spring brings our attention to the moment, your mind might be on future goals. Let the vitality of the season invigorate your actions toward your deepest desires.

LEO ( July 23–August 22) Make necessary course corrections, or deepen what you’re building in your life. Tune into the frequency of nature to enliven your life mission.

VIRGO (August 23–Sept. 22) Consider the earth and what you can do to get more involved in cross-cultural, and cross-species, connection. You have a place in the healing taking place on the planet right now.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) The winds of spring press you to give loving attention to your body. Put in the work to build it as you truly desire.

Mind-body health is highlighted. Tune in.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22–Jan.19) You’re warmly invited to ease yourself into self-love now.

Allow yourself to relax and have some fun. Pleasure and affection are highlighted.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Though tension continues in the world, you get a breather as your personal life grounds you, and provides a base of comfort you feel safe in. Getting to nature is encouraged.

PISCES (Feb. 19–March 20) Spring’s blossoms and shifting light patterns have teachings that only you can hear. Be sure to get outside now and take advantage of the earth’s generous offerings.

Elisa has been enjoying the art of astrological counseling since earning professional certification many years ago. In addition to astrological knowledge, she brings a high degree of conscious presence to her work, and creates a safe, comfortable atmosphere for sessions to unfold organically. Contact her at futureselfnow@gmail.com or 818-530-3366 or visit www.ElisaQuinzi.com

As Heard on the Street . . . What should be done to ease San Francisco’s housing crisis? compiled by Rink

Karin Jaffie

Juan Davila

Sara James

John Weber

Miss Chief

“Property owners/managers should not be allowed to keep empty units.”

“The LGBT community should step in and provide housing for people who need it.”

“People can move into the large empty homes at Sea Cliff and other locations.”

“Every elected official should be required to live in an SRO for one week, to know what local citizens endure with the affordable housing shortage.”

“The rich should actually care and not be so greedy.”

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Compiled by Blake Dillon

AIDS/LIFECYCLE

AIDS/Lifecycle’s Team OTTER will hold a fundraiser at Lookout Bar on Sunday, April 23. For info on this year’s ride, June 4-10: aidslifecycle.org

20 : Thursday Gender Revolution Film Screening & Discussion @ UCSF Alliance Health Project, 1930 Market Street. Film screening, discussion and light refreshments, cosponsored by the UCSF Alliance Health Project and the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health. tinyurl.com/hzkglul

Big LGBTQ Mixer: Give OUT Day @ The Café, 2369 Market Street. A mixer for a good cause supporting Equality Federation, the hosting organization, with Mark Daniel Snyder. 6 pm. giveoutday.org Frameline Encore: Below Her Mouth @ Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street. Expected guests include actress Natalie Krill and screenwriter Stephanie Fabrizi for this bold,

sexy drama shot by an all female crew. roxie.com Book Talk on The Book of Joan @Tenderloin Museum, 398 Eddy Street. Lidia Yuknavitch reads from and signs her new novel, a tale of destruction and love in a world ravaged by war, violence and greed.

7:30 pm – 8:30 pm. tenderloinmnuseum.org High Caramba! A 4/20 Dance Party! @ The Stud, 399 9th Street. A new art show by Blake Cedric with DJs Vin Sol and Taco Tuesday hosted by Miss Jay. 8 pm. thestudsf.com Comedy Returns to El Rio @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street. April’s show features Latina queer comic Mimi Gonzalex, New York’s Bill Santiago and the Bay Area’s Nathan Habib,Valerie Vernale and Lisa Geduldig. Repeats monthly at 8 pm. april20elrio.brownpapertickets.com Turnt Queens @ Q Bar, 456 Castro Street. Every third Thursday queens and queer performers gather to connect, collaborate and support community. 10 pm. qbarsf.com

21 : Friday City College Open Houses for Free City @ City College Centers through SF including Mission Center, Ocean Campus, Civic Center and 7 ohters.

Information sessions on how to enroll in the Free City initiative and register for admission on-site. 9 am – 12 pm. outreach@ccsf.edu Breeders @ PianoFight Second Stage, 144 Taylor Street. A play by Dan Giles about two men who are about to have a baby. 5:00 pm happy hour; 7:30 show, repeating through April 29. faultlinetheater.com Rita Moreno @ Feinstein’s, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason Street. The legendary star who has received The Emmy, The Oscar and The Grammy 32

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returns to Feinstein’s for two shows. 8:00 PM repeating on Saturday, April 22. feinsteinsatthenikko.com

22 : Saturday ShutterSpeed Exhibit Opening Reception @ Harvey Milk Photo Center, 50 Scott Street.

An international exhibit on the photography, art and athleticism of skateboarding. 5 pm – 8 pm. Exhibit continues through May 31. harveymilkphotocenter.com WCRC Dance Party @ Emmett Eiland Oriental Rug Showroom, 1326 9th Street, Berkeley. Terrie Odabi and the Medicine Ball Band perform at this benefit for Women’s Cancer Resource Center. 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm. wcrcdanceparty.brownpapertickets.com Earth Day SF 2017 @ 22nd Street (Mission to Valencia and Bartlett). The 45th anniversary event with speakers, hand-on activities and art projects for all ages, eco-fashion shows and more. 10 am – 7 pm. calrecycle.ca.gov/publiced/ earthday/ Talking With Kids About Race @ SF Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin. Panel discussion about protecting children’s safety and raising them to be proud of their identities and to show up for their friends. 3:30 pm. sfpl.org

23 : Sunday Team OTTER Fundraiser AIDS Lifecycle @ Lookout Bar, 3600 16th (Market & Noe).

DJ dancing, cocktails, otter pops and more raising funds for the annual bikeride from SF to L.A. 1 pm – 6 pm. lookoutsf.com Chemsex The Film Screening @ The Women’s Building, 3543 18th Street. Pollo Del Mar hosts a discus-

sion and screening of this documentary on drug use and gay sex where men struggling with HIV strive to get out alive. 1 pm – 4 pm repeating on Sunday, April 23. eventbrite.com Stephanie Teel Band Dancing @ Bay View Boat Club, 489 Terry A. Francois Blvd.

Stephanie with Robin Roth and the band at a private club (so tell the receptionist you’re with “Stephanie Teel Band”). 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm. stephaineteel.com

24 : Monday The Future of Our Past @ JCCSF, 3200 California Street. A conversation about memory and testimony with Stephen Smith, USC Shoah Foundation, in observance of the Holocaust to be followed by a reception. yom-hashoah-sf.eventbrite.com The Komedy Kiki @ The Stud, 399 9th Street. Comedians Justin Lucas and Jesús U. BettaWork host every fourth Monday. 8th pm. studsf.com

25 : Tuesday Dining Out for Life @ multiple locations with more than 100 Bay Area restaurants participating Annual fundraiser supporting the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Info: mwoods@sfaf.org or doflsf.org Queers & Party Politics: A Community Conversation @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street. A “Fighting Back” series event featuring panelists addressing the history of LGBTQ involvement in party politics in SF. 7 pm – 9 pm. glbthistory.org/museum Dr. Sketcy’s SF Presents the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence @ Chicken John’s Warehouse/SF Institute of Possibility, 3359 Cesar Chavez St. An

annual event benefitting Sister MaeJoy B’s harm prevention program for Pride combining dames, drinking and drawing. 7 pm – 10 pm. drsketchyssf.com

26 : Wednesday East Bay Coffee Crones @ Zing! Café, 3051 Adeline Street, Berkeley. (Location may change monthly.) No expectations for age for this on-going lesbian social group sharing coffee and conversation. 10:30 am – 12:30 pm repeating on Wednesdays.

SFMOMA Birthday Parties Bash: Birthday Supper, Surprise Bash and LateNight Bash @ 151 Third St. A multi-part benefit evening headlined

by Grammy Award-winning artist Solange Knowles and also featuring Be No More, an installation by Judy Chicago plus many more performers. 6:30 pm. sfmoma.org Recovery, Risk & Responsibility @ Mr-S-Leather, 385 8th Street. Join Luke Adams, Richard Sprott, JoJo DeRodrigo and Al Rham for a discussion of setting responsible boundaries, taking risks, valuing freedom without judgement and more when it comes to drug use, sex and staying alive.

7 pm – 9:30 pm. sfldg.org

27 : Thursday Book Discussion with Gatekeepers Author Chris Whipple @ Commonwealth Club, 555 Post St., 2nd Floor. San Francisco Chronicle’s Joe Garofoli discusses with the author of the new book The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency. 12:00 noon. commonwealthclub.org Femprovisor Fest 2017 @ EXIT Theatre, Main Stage, 156 Eddy Street. A three-day all women improv festival showcasing diverse female-identified improv ensembles and solo artists. 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm shows. femprovisorfest.com/shows/

29 : Saturday Cesar Chavez Family Festival @ 24th Street (between Treat and Bryant). SF’s annual festival celebrating the Cesar E. Chavez Holiday in the Mission neighborhood. cesarchavezday.org Judea Eden Band, Bad Ass Boots & San Leandroids @ Ivy Room, San Pablo & Solano Ave, Albany. 8 pm. ivyroom.com I Don’t Know Her I JLo vs.

Mariah All Night Long @ QBarSF, 456 Castro Street. DJ Cip Cipriano spins mashups with go go dancers Dwayne and Jake. qbarsf.com

30 : Sunday Openhouse’s Spring Fling @ San Francisco Fairmont atop Nob Hill. Brunch, live auction, honorees Dr. Marcy Adelman and Cleve Jones and more at this annual fundraiser.

11 am – 2:30 pm. openhouse-sf.org/fling NOH8 Open Photo Shoot @ W Hotel, 181 3rd Street. Official NOH8 photog Adam Bouska shoots this benefit to continue the NOH8 Campaign’s continuing efforts to raise awareness for marriage and human equality. noh8campaign.com Castro Valley Pride Beer Bust @ SF Eagle, 398 12th Street.

A benefit supporting Castro Valley Pride’s work promoting LGBTQ diversity in the East Bay all year long. 3 pm – 6 pm. sfeagle.com

1 : Monday California Revels May Day @ Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland. A family-friendly event featuring music, presentation of the May Queen, the selection of Jack of the Green and dancing. 12:00 pm. californiarevels.org

Spring Museum Makeover – Museum Makeover Campaign Kickoff - (April 1 – May 15) – A fabulous facelift is planned for the front entrance plus a remodel of the reception area, museum shop and main gallery. indiegogo.com

2 : Tuesday LGBTQ Senior Peer Counseling Training (Volunteer Opportunity) @ Peninsula Family Service, 24 Second Avenue, San Mateo. 9 am – 12 noon through June 7. Info: ebloomfield@ peninsulafamilyservice.org or 650403-4300 ext 4383 Outstanding Seniors @ Hayward Area Senior Center, 22325 N 3rd Street, Castro Valley. A discussion group for LGBTQ seniors 50+.

11:30 am – 2 pm. lavenderseniors.org

3 : Wednesday Girls in Tech: May Networking Dinner @ The Hall, 1028 Market Street. Mingle and enjoy dinner and drinks at the monthly event for women in technology. thehallsf.com 48 Hills 4th Anniversary Spring Gala @ The Stud, 399 9th Street. Tim Redmond and the 48 Hills team celebrate four years of independent, progressive local journalism. 6 pm – 9 pm. studsf.com Rhino in the Castro: The Legend of Pink by Kheven LaGrone @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street. The ongoing monthly staged readings, presenting or April the story of a transgender woman in West Oakland. 7 pm – 9 pm. glbthistory.org/events

FIND US ONLINE at sfbaytimes.com LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

Big Freedia @ Mezzanine, 444 Jessie Street. Join the Queen of Bounce whose at the forefront of the bounce rap movement for an evening presenting songs from the artist’s debut LP and more.

9 pm – 12 am. apeconcerts.com

28 : Friday Older & Out @ North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Avenue, Berkeley. Group discussions on key topics such as dating, loss of friends, going back in the closet to survive, invisibility in the LGBT community, Alameda County services, dealing with exes and children, aging and loneliness. Repeats on Friday’s at 3:15 pm. Info: 510-548-8283 ext 126 anne@pacificcenter.org

SPRING AT THE MARKET

Hope and the Mission World Premiere @ Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th Street. Playwrite Javier Huratado’s bilingual comingof-age story presented Mission Academy of Performing Arts. 7 pm repeating on April 29. brava.org

Black Fridays: A Benefit for Compton’s @ The Stud, 399 9th Street. Honey Mahogany hosts an evening of drag stars spotlighting local performers of color.

10 pm – 4 pm. studsf.com

PCFMA.ORG

1.800.949.FARM

fb.com/castrofarmersmarket

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES APR IL 20, 2017

DESIGN : LOGOMAN : logomantotherescue.com

Rita Rudner @ Feinstein’s, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason Street. Awardwinning comedian and author returns for two performances. 8 pm repeating on Saturday, April 29, 7 pm. feinsteinsatthenikko.com

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Photos by Rink

KRAMER (continued from page 22) on them. I shoot the men by putting my own desires in focus.” He films them erotically, but never gratuitously. His emphasis is on creating desire for the characters and the audience by framing bodies. There are many scenes of the guys lying practically on top of one another, asleep, or sitting closely in the sauna, or by the pool. Berger also shrewdly employs silence in many of these scenes to heighten the emotions of the naked and near-naked characters, thereby making the viewer an active participant in the film.

His distinctive strategy also works to create a desire for Fer and Germán to couple up. As the two friends navigate the nature of their relationship, they tend to expose and express themselves to each other when they are alone.

A scene where Germán wears a towel loosely around his waist, revealing the shaft of his penis, may be his strategy to pique Fer’s interest in his body. It does not go unnoticed, but Fer excuses himself, much to Germán’s frustration.

Despite the easygoing camaraderie of all the men, most of the guys are straight. Tomás talks about his girlfriend, who has issues of trust, but he understands them and loves her nonetheless. Diego is discussing moving in with his girlfriend, but he is not against fooling around with someone else before making that commitment. Fede is a chick magnet who seems to get laid the most among the men. Leo is teased about being gay—and maybe he is—which is why he poisons Germán’s mind about Fer. Germán does not disclose that he is queer to any of the other guys, but he does talk privately with a friend about his sexual desires and frustrations. And while Germán is generally accepted by Fer’s friends, he acts more as a voyeur/observer than a participant in their activities. He is a canny proxy for the viewer.

Taekwondo is a leisurely-paced film that lets viewers bask in its hazy homoeroticism. For folks not seduced by the hothouse atmosphere, the film can be a bit soporific. But for anyone who succumbs to the film’s sensual rhythms, it will be a stimulating experience. © 2017 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

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Alberto Rojas and his Easter window at Terasol Gift Shop on Polk Street

The Easter window at One Half Gift Shop on Polk Street, a local favorite.

SISTER DANA (continued from page 30) Lady Bunny of Wigstock fame at The Verdi Club in EssEff. Her show is often described as “offensive, vile, brilliant,” and always “hilarious.” Soooo true! But I would add: “thoughtprovoking, especially regarding our tendency to overly politically correct everything and everyone.” Plus, she got some juicy jabs at Trump. Bunnylicious!

The 38th annual Easter with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, “SANCTUARY: UNIVERSAL JOY,” was held in Hellman Hollow of Golden Gate Park. We had a great turnout despite the rain. Our glorious drag emcees were Mutha Chucka, Cruzin d’Loo & Kit Tapata. Amazing entertainment was provided by Bitch, Please! with Grace Towers; the cast of Ain’t Yo Mama’s Drag Show; Mutha Chucka; Fou Fou Ha; Carlotta Sue Kay; TrashKan Marchink Band; Pearl Teese, Rebel Kings of Oakland, Juanita More& Morehouse; and Zbörnak. Of course, there were the annual favorites: Easter Bonnet Contest, Foxy Mary Contest, and Hunky Jesus Contest—all judged by Sister Roma and Sister Dana. There were saintings, vowtakings, grants distribution, and appearances throughout the afternoon representing the undocumented community, as well as SF icons (Tom Ammiano, Mark Leno, and Ehrya Amaya), luminaries, and our hardworking politicians. There was even an exorcism of terrible T-rump, Blunderer-in-Chief!

And as Kit Tapata wittily noticed: “We are exorcising a hollow hellman in Hellman Hollow!”

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SISTER DANA SEZ, “DOES 4/20 MEAN ANYTHING SPECIAL TO YOU? HOW ABOUT 420? ANYWAY, YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE HIGH TO ENJOY THESE UPCOMING EVENTS!” “NOISES OFF” is an uproarious comedy about staging a comedy, Nothing On, by a second-rate British theatrical troupe played by a very talented troupe in real life. The best part is when we get to see backstage and all the hysterical farce that ensues behind the scenes.

Doors get stuck or slammed shut, there’s plenty of slapstick and pratfalls, and a plate of sardines is the downfall of all. Now playing through May 13 at SAN FRANCISCO PLAYHOUSE, 450 Post Street. sfplayhouse.org Songstress Irene Soderberg is finally coming to SF for her 15th anniversary of visiting us from Hollywood. Irene will be singing at Martuni’s, 4 Valencia Street, in “COCKEYED OPTIMIST; FROM BROADWAY TO THE BEATLES” on Saturday, April 22, 7 pm. It will surely be a gathering of old friends (moi included) and newly becoming fans!

LYRIC’s annual “OPEN HOUSE” at 127 Collingwood Street in the Castro is Thursday, April 27, 5:30–7:30 pm, as an inspirational night showcasing LYRIC youth creativity. It will be an evening of community, connection, inspiration, and more. Free food and free event. Please invite your friends and community. Kid Friendly. facebook.com/ LYRIC.LavenderYouth

“SPRING FLING” promises to be the biggest celebration in OPENHOUSE’s 18-year history! As Openhouse’s biggest fundraising event of the year, monies raised at Spring Fling are essential to support the quality programs and services Openhouse provides. The Spring Fling offers local entrepreneurs, community members, advocates and City officials a unique opportunity to showcase their support for the only organization in San Francisco whose mission specifically targets LGBT seniors. This year they will be honoring Openhouse founder and fellow San Francisco Bay Times columnist Dr. Marcy Adelman and LGBT and HIV/AIDS activist Cleve Jones. Spring Fling is Sunday, April 30, 11 am–2:30 pm, The Fairmont Hotel’s Grand Ballroom, 950 Mason Street, SF. openhousesf.org/fling Sister Dana sez, “Spring has sprung, so don’t forget to love your mother earth on Saturday, April 22, Earth Day. Hey Trump, try not to blow it up!”

PETS ARE WONDERFUL SUPPORT (PAWS) invites you and your canine companion(s) to join SHANTI PROJECT for PAWS’ signature fundraiser and 30th anniversary celebration, “PETCHITECTURE.” This unique San Francisco event will feature one-of-a-kind, locally designed pet habitats, a silent auction, and fun for both canines and human guests alike. Thursday, May 4, at The Fairmont. shanti.org Sister Dana sez, “Trump excels at exactly two things in his first 100 days: golfing and vacationing!”

Professional Services

LAW OFFICES OF MILES & TORRES Estate Planning 1393 Noe Street, San Francisco, CA 94131 (415) 308-2307 www.milestorreslaw.com

PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS

NewPer specti ves Center for Counseling

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