San Francisco Bay Times - May 2, 2019

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2019) May 2–15, 2019 | http://sfbaytimes.com

The First Veterinary Hospital to Open in SF in Two Decades

PHOTOS BY JP LOR

SEE PAGES 14–15

In the News Supreme Court to Rule on LGBT Rights The U.S. Supreme Court on April 22 announced that it would review appeals in three different LGBTrelated cases: Altitude Express Inc. v. Zarda, Bostock v. Clayton County and Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC. Collectively, the cases address whether non-discrimination protections in federal workplace law cover people who identify as transgender and/or gay. The justices are expected to resolve whether the classification of “sex” in Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act includes “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” San Francisco Bay Times columnist Ann Rostow reviews the cases and possible outcomes at length in this issue.

See page 9.

Historic Equality Act Markup Takes Place in House Judiciary Committee The Democratic-majority U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary initiated the markup of The Equality Act (H.R.5) on May 1. “Markup” refers to the process by which a U.S. congressional committee or state legislative session debates, amends and rewrites proposed legislation.

On April 30, the Human Rights Campaign held a national press call “highlighting the critical need and unprecedented support for The Equality Act today.” Filmmaker and author Dustin Lance Black was one of many who urged passage of the Act. The bill in its entirety can be read at https://bit.ly/2Ldurnh Hearing Held Concerning Castro LGBTQ Cultural District On May 1, the Historic Preservation Commission held a hearing concerning the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District. The hearing followed an ordinance, introduced by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman on April 9, concerning the proposed District.

Supervisor Mandelman and other supporters shared that the District “aims to highlight the importance of LGBTQ people to the Castro neighborhood’s history and culture, and ensure we have a place in its future. The Cultural District is a tool that will help to identify the problems LGBTQ people, communities, and allies face, and establish collaborations with City Hall to create effective solutions.” The ordinance will next be presented to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

If approved and finalized by July, the planned District would be eligible to receive hotel tax funds per Proposition E. Details about the boundaries of the District, as laid out in the ordinance, are at https://bit.ly/2XUkhJD Senate Bill 50 ‘The More HOMES Act’ Advances California state lawmakers on April 24 advanced Senator Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 50—a proposal that would amend existing housing law in the state and add a chapter to the Government Code

related to housing—in order to legalize greater residential density around public transit. The high profile SB50, which would also allow CA property owners to convert single homes into fourplexes, has the support of numerous Bay Area leaders, including San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs. They and other supporters hold that the bill, also called The More HOMES Act, would help to solve California’s housing crisis. That viewpoint is expressed at a website for the nonprofit California YIMBY ( https://bit.ly/2Wg5XLf ).

Detractors present an impact analysis via the statewide Livable California ( https://bit.ly/2IV6BL4 ). The entire bill, which still faces a long legislative process ahead, may be read at: https://bit.ly/2LgFhZR Port Commission Approves Embarcadero Navigation Center Despite opposition from numerous South Beach community members, the San Francisco Port Commission on April 23 unanimously approved construction of a homeless navigation center near the Embarcadero (Seawall Lot 330). Mayor London Breed first proposed in early March that the empty lot near the Bay Bridge be used for a new navigation center. It is part of her goal of expanding the city’s shelter capacity to 1000 beds by 2020. Supervisor Matt Haney praised the Port Commission vote and recently introduced legislation requiring that all districts in the city have at least one homeless shelter. Districts that do not currently have such a shelter would be required to build one within 30 months. In terms of the planned Embarcadero navigation center, opponents are expected to wage a court battle and to bring their case to the State Lands Commission.

Ghost Ship Trial: ‘No Notice, Time or Exits’ The trial for People v. Harris & Aleman, with regard to the Ghost Ship warehouse fire of December 2016, began on April 30 in Oakland, the city where the illegally converted warehouse was located. Prosecutors say that Derick Almena and Max Harris are criminally responsible for the fire, which killed 36 people—many of them members of the LGBTQ community. Almena rented the building, owned by Chor Ng, and converted it into spaces for housing, the arts and concerts. Prosecutor Casey Bates said that the victims had “no notice, time or exits” from the structure before it went up in flames.

Attorneys for the defendants have called for the arrest of Oakland fire officials and building inspectors.

According to KRON4, “City codes require commercial buildings to be inspected annually, but the Oakland Fire Department and city officials said they could find no records of building inspectors examining the

building.” Families of the victims are also suing Ng for negligence. PG&E has additionally been named in the lawsuits, which claim that the company failed to properly monitor, inspect and repair the building’s electrical equipment.

90,000 Historic SF Property Photos Now Accessible to the Public Through modernization initiatives of the Assessor-Recorder’s Office, over 90,000 photos were turned over to the San Francisco Public Library, it was announced on April 30. Assessor Carmen Chu, City Librarian Michael Lambert and local historians on May 1 at City Hall discussed the importance of these historic photos. City Archivist Susan Goldstein, Woody LaBounty and David Gallagher (Western Neighborhoods Project), Evelyn Rose and Amy O’Hair (Glen Park Neighborhoods History Project) also attended the City Hall event, which was held in the Office of the Assessor-Recorder.

20 Democrats Now Running for President Former Vice President Joe Biden’s announcement on April 25 that he is running for President brings the Democratic field tally to 20 candidates. The major candidates from all of the parties are as follows: Joe Biden (D), Cory Booker (D), Pete Buttigieg (D), Julián Castro (D), John Delaney (D), Tulsi Gabbard (D), Kirsten Gillibrand (D), Mike Gravel (D), Kamala Harris (D), John Hickenlooper (D), Jay Inslee (D), Amy Klobuchar (D), Wayne Messam (D), Seth Moulton (D), Beto O’Rourke (D), Tim Ryan (D), Bernie Sanders (I), Eric Swalwell (D), Donald Trump (R), Elizabeth Warren (D), Bill Weld (R), Marianne Williamson (D) and Andrew Yang (D). O’Rourke was in San Francisco on April 28. He spoke to voters at SF’s Irish Cultural Center, where he addressed income inequality, immigration issues and climate change, among other subjects. As for Biden, his campaign announced that they raised $6.3 million on their first day, an amount that surpassed Biden’s rivals’ first-day hauls.

Celebration in Works for Harvey Milk’s Birthday Harvey Milk (1930–1978) was born on May 22. On Sunday, May 19, a Harvey Milk Birthday Celebration will take place beginning at 1 pm at Harvey Milk Plaza (Castro at Market Streets). Awards will be presented to California State Senator Scott Wiener for his work on the renovation effort for Harvey Milk Plaza and to donor and local property owner Larry Cushman. A digital fly-thru video will show the latest plans and designs for the proposed new Plaza and Castro Muni Station. City officials will attend and music will be provided by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band. After the initial gathering, those in attendance will march to 575 Castro Street—former location of Milk’s Castro Camera store—to sing “Happy Birthday” in honor and remembrance of Milk.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration In conjunction with their annual Cinco de Mayo party, members and friends of AGUILAS, the nonprofit serving Latino gay men, celebrated the birthday of their supporter, Norma Azucar, and the tenure of staffer Erick Arguello, who will be leaving the organization for a new position with Glide Memorial Church. http://www.sfaguilas.org

Photos by Rink S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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Up Close and Personal with San Francisco’s First LGBTQ Fire Chief

Louise “Lou” Fischer Mayor London Breed last month made a bold and historic move by appointing Jeanine Nicholson, an out and proud lesbian, to the position of Chief of Department of the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD).

Deputy Chief Nicholson, who had the “trifecta” of support from the Fire Commission, the rank and file (fellow firefighters) and current Chief Joanne Hayes-White (the first female Chief in San Francisco), prevailed over a field of more than 30 candidates.

Currently serving as Deputy Chief of Administration, Nicholson is a 25-year veteran of the Fire Department who worked her way through the ranks as a Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain and Battalion Chief in the Fire Suppression side and Firefighter/Paramedic in the Emergency Medical Services side of the Department. Mayor Breed said it best: “This woman is tough, this woman is resilient, this woman is a leader. I am confident she will be

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In 1990, we both made the decision to move to San Francisco: I moved for a new job and Neen and another mutual friend of ours and I decided to “make a go of it” in what we called “Gay Disneyland.” In the early 1990s, we were mid-20s GenXers enjoying the freedom, openness and diversity of San Francisco, back when the “Women’s Training Center” on Market Street was the de rigueur workout gym for lesbians, “Cafe San Marcos” was a women’s space, “Club Q” was the hot club on Fridays and the Saturday night “Girlspot” was in its heyday. It was a simpler time; the City was more open to new residents and you didn’t need to be a stock-option millionaire to find a place to live.

While there has been a mountain of positive coverage by the press, I’m honored that Chief Nicholson agreed to give me for the San Francisco Bay Times the first exclusive “up close and personal” interview and share information that has not been covered elsewhere.

Lou Fischer: Where did you live before San Francisco?

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Mayor London Breed announced on March 13 the appointment of Deputy Chief Jeanine Nicholson as San Francisco’s Fire Department Chief while retiring Chief Joanne Hayes-White looked on.

Chief Jeanine Nicholson: I’m originally from Pelham, New York. I went to college at Colgate University in upstate New York, then lived in the Boston area for a few years. I moved to San Francisco in 1990 and never looked back.

Lou Fischer: Why San Francisco?

Chief Jeanine Nicholson: I had visited San Francisco and loved it and I had friends here. It was a great place to be queer and be myself. It was a lot easier to move here in 1990 than it is now.

Lou Fischer: You moved out here with 3 meowing cats in the back of your truck and have had a steady progression of pets since then. How many in total?

that happen. Why did you want to be a firefighter?

Chief Jeanine Nicholson: I was not fulfilled in my career path, and as much as I appreciated your help landing me a “place to park” at your company, I never saw myself working in the tech field long-term. I wanted to be of service to people and the Fire Department was a perfect fit for me because I love using my brain and body. I have an affinity for bringing calm to chaos. (Editor’s Note: Lou shared that Jeanine worked in the manufacturing department of the networking company where Lou worked while Jeanine waited out the hiring process of SFFD.) Lou Fischer: Being a firefighter is risky and dangerous. What was your worst on-the-job injury?

Chief Jeanine Nicholson: I probably should not answer that. Let’s just say that right now I have 2 dogs, Silas and Romeo, and a cat named Humo, which means “smoke” in Spanish.

Chief Jeanine Nicholson: Breast cancer due to exposure from toxins was my worst injury.

Lou Fischer: You joined SFFD in January, 1994. I remember how hard you worked to make

Chief Jeanine Nicholson: Yes, I received 1st and 2nd degree burns at an arson fire in 2009. The fire

Lou Fischer: Did you ever get burned in a fire?

caused injuries to 6 people and several of my team were severely injured, so I was more concerned for their well-being. I was back to work in a month, and thankfully everyone fully recovered eventually.

Lou Fischer: It broke my heart seeing you so sick with breast cancer. What was your diagnosis and treatment, and how did you ever come back to SFFD after that?

Chief Jeanine Nicholson: I had a double mastectomy, 16 rounds of chemotherapy and a port implanted in my chest. Total time in treatment was 7 months. It took me 13 months to come back to work on modified duty and another 7 months to come back to full duty. Any absence of over 6 months requires re-taking of the physical agility test. I was 49 years old and somehow was able to break the record for the best score of any woman on the test because when I decided to come back, I wasn’t going to let cancer get in the way. The record has since been broken because once you’ve survived cancer, you can take on anything. (continued on page 22)

PHOTO BY SANFRANCISCOINFORMER.COM

PHOTO BY PICDEER.COM

Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History

I couldn’t agree more with Mayor Breed. I met Jeanine in Boston in 1986 when she tried out for my rugby team and said, “My name is Jeanine, it’s French and no one knows how to pronounce it so I go by ‘Neen.’”

She ended up being one of the most athletically-talented players on the field. I jokingly asked if she played ice hockey, and learned that she was a varsity player on her college team.

She joined my hockey team and was the best player on the ice.

PHOTO BY CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO

ready to lead the department on day one.”

Closing Juvenile Hall Is an LGBTQ Issue often trying to navigate the complexity of family, school and a city facing the most extreme disparities of income inequality in the country. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the Young Women’s Freedom Center, the three main reasons youth find themselves at Juvenile Hall are from minor infractions from school or foster care or crimes of survival like shoplifting. More than 70% of these young people are serving time for a nonviolent offense.

To the Left, To the Left Peter Gallotta Earlier this month, at a rally on the steps of San Francisco City Hall, Supervisor Shamann Walton spoke a lot of truth. “Incarceration is harmful and completely ineffective,” he said. “I believe that any form of youth jail is detrimental to youth development and furthers trauma.”

The issue is personal for Walton, who was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors last year to represent the Bayview, Hunters Point, Visitacion Valley and Potrero Hill neighborhoods. His first experience with incarceration came at the age of 15.

“All I learned in the hall was how to survive life in prison. It felt designed for that purpose. I am who I am in spite of Juvenile Hall,” Walton has said. Now, along with Supervisors Hillary Ronen and Matt Haney, he is calling for San Francisco to close its Juvenile Hall by December 2021.

Every year, San Francisco spends $13 million to incarcerate fewer than 50 young people. These are youth between the ages of 13 to 18 and at the beginning stages of their life,

Supervisors Walton, Ronen and Haney see a real opportunity to change this overly punitive and institutionalized model. They have introduced legislation that would close the juvenile hall facility at 375 Woodside Avenue, which currently sits twothirds empty. The City would then transition the majority of these young people into alternative programs to incarceration. For the few who may need to be in a secure facility due to state law, the legislation proposes creating a small rehabilitative, non-institutional center.

It’s a bold, progressive and necessary move by all accounts. San Francisco political leaders talk a lot about criminal justice reform, yet have been slow to implement significant systemic changes. 850 Bryant, the City’s seismically unsafe and dilapidated jail, still remains open after multiple calls for its closure. In 2015, 53 percent of San Francisco’s jail population were black despite the fact that African Americans comprise less than 5 percent of the City’s population. These stark racial disparities also hold true for young people detained. In San Francisco, while about 5% of children are black, about 60% of the juvenile hall population is black.

This is the reality of an unjust system. And while reform of the police state is necessary, it’s not enough.

Thanks to the advocacy of formerly incarcerated young people who have called for alternatives to incarceration for years, we now have an opportunity to dismantle and rethink the system altogether. I believe the LGBTQ community must support this fight.

LGBTQ youth, particularly LGBTQ youth of color, are overrepresented in the criminal justice system.

According to a report released by the Center for American Progress and the Movement Advancement Project, the percentage of LGBT and gender nonconforming youth in juvenile detention is double that of LGBTQ youth in the general population. An analysis of a national populationbased survey found that LGBTQ youth were between 25% and 300% more likely than their non-LGBTQ peers to experience some sort of punitive action, ranging from being expelled from school, stopped by police, arrested or convicted as a juvenile or adult.

The discrimination and stigma that LGBTQ youth face can lead to criminalization and increased interactions with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Once within the system, LGBTQ youth often face bias, mistreatment and abuse in confinement facilities, especially due to their gender identity or expression.

For transgender and gender non-conforming youth, jail placement decisions rarely take into account their gender identity or expression. Due to the lack of supportive services when leaving the system, many LGBTQ youth are forced into a cycle of poverty, homelessness and incarceration.

Closing Juvenile Hall in San Francisco is an LGBTQ issue. It’s time to eliminate the use of youth prisons and instead invest the $13 million we spend every year on community-based solutions focused on the individual needs of youth and their families. Closing San Francisco’s Juvenile Hall would set a precedent and be an example that could have ripple effects for incarcerated youth throughout the state and the country.

I urge LGBTQ leaders and community groups to stand with Supervisors’ Walton, Ronen and Haney; the youth advocates; and black and brown communities impacted by incarceration.

Our criminal justice system is failing black and brown LGBTQ youth across the country. Enough is enough. Let’s show that there’s a different way.

Peter Gallotta is a 30-something LGBT political activist holding on to the city that he loves thanks to rent control and two-for-one happy hour specials. He is a former President of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club and currently serves as an appointed member of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee and an elected delegate to the California Democratic Party.

49th Annual Earth Day

Photos by Rink

With the theme “Celebrate the Green New Deal,” Earth Day 2019 was observed in San Francisco on Saturday, April 20. A lively festival was held on Valencia Street between 19th and 20th in the Mission District. Participants carried handmade signs and visited information booths about environmental causes and solutions to pollution, transportation issues, health care, technology, and the environment. The festival also featured hands-on workshops, a sustainable fashion show, organic chef showcases, mural painting, live music and dancing.

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Act Now to Reduce Your 2019 Tax Bill

Money Matters Brandon Miller Cartoonists often depict unpleasant shock by drawing character with their eyes comically popping out of their face. That image keeps coming to mind when I hear many people’s reaction to their tax bill this year.

Well, at least now you know what you’re dealing with, and some of the new laws can actually work in your favor. Let’s look at some ways to keep steam from blowing out of your ears over 2019’s taxes.

Put Your Money in the Right Savings Bucket Where your assets are located can have a big impact on your taxes.

Whenever possible, consider maxing out contributions to retirement accounts, including employer-provided plans—such as 401(k), 403(b), 457(b) and other deferred compensations plans—as well as personal retirement accounts, such as IRAs. These can help to reduce your taxable income.

Investing in municipal bonds is another great tax reducer. “Munis” are issued by state and local governments to fund public works projects. They are considered to be a safe investment, and their rate of return is relatively low.

So, you may not get rich, but the amount you invest will be exempt from federal taxes. In many cases, such as if you live in the state issuing the bond, your state and local taxes may be exempt, too. A bond paying 1.5%, for example, may yield closer to 2% with this tax benefit. Then there’s the cherry on top, which is that interest income is generally taxexempt. It’s about as close to a taxfree investment as you can get. (My lawyer wants me to remind you that there are exceptions that you should consider before investing.)

Other types of investments that can help to reduce your taxable income include annuities, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and 529s for education. If you are self-employed, you have a lot of acronyms that you can choose among to fund your retirement and save on taxes at the same time. Options include Solo 401(k) s, SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs and Traditional and Roth IRAs. Turn Your Hobby into a Side Hustle Speaking of self-employed, some of the new laws make this highly attractive. I’m not talking about quitting your current job and putting everything you have into that thing you’ve always dreamed about—just something small that you can do to earn extra money, or not. Let me explain.

Say your hobby is photography.

You decide to start a business putting your work on notecards and selling them on Etsy. Think of all of the things that your new business needs. Perhaps it’s a new camera—that really expensive one you’ve always wanted—a special printer, card stock, ink and more. Promoting your new venture might require business cards and ads. These are now business expenses, which you may be able to write off.

If you spend $5,000 for supplies and earn $9,000, great. You get to deduct eligible expenses and make a cou-

ple of thousand dollars extra. But what if that’s reversed and you spend $9,000, but only earn $5,000? Good news: Losses can be written off, too!

But wait; it gets even better. Section 199A of the new tax code means you might be able to write off 20% of your qualified income from this new business. Now that’s a tax cut!

Rent Out a Room Here’s more good news: Rental property is one of those businesses that might qualify for Section 199A. If you have a second home, think about making it a vacation rental, or lease a spare room in your house to a traveling nurse who wants a shortterm rental. Better yet, rent out your whole flat during OracleWorld or Dreamforce.

Give to Charity My last tax-reduction tip is to be smart about your charitable giving. That might mean bunching all your charitable donations into one tax year to get you over the standard deduction, or reducing your taxable income by setting up a Charitable Remainder Trust—an irrevocable trust that can pay you income and give the assets left after you’re gone to your charity(s). For anyone over 70½ taking required minimum distributions, if you give part of that away as a qualified charitable distribution, your donation amount won’t count as taxable income.

As always, you should consult with a tax professional when implementing any of these strategies to make sure that they work for you. With a little planning and creativity, however, next year’s tax return can be less eyepopping and more ear-to-ear grininducing.

The opinions expressed in this article are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice (continued on page 22)

Comparing Similar Yet Different Compacts Price is another big difference, which is inevitable when you compare a conventional gas-powered car with one augmented with electricity. The sticker prices of these two weren’t that far off, though.

The Forte starts well below $20,000 for the base Forte FE trim, but unfettered box-checking will drop you into a $26,220 Forte EX like my tester.

Auto Philip Ruth Much has been made of the march from sedans to crossovers and SUVs. But the humble four-door has improved by leaps and bounds, and it still remains one of the cost-effective ways to slide some new wheels beneath you.

Compact sedans offer a wide array of substance and style. Sporty number, luxury car, hybrid sipper—all of these milieus can be found for less than $30,000, and potentially for much less, what with crossovers sucking up all of the showroom oxygen these days.

The latter two styles are represented here by the fancy Kia Forte EX and the “Earth Dreams”-powered Honda Insight. This Kia and Honda seem stamped from similar molds; they ride on the same 106.3-inch wheelbase, and other measurements fall within an inch of the other. The biggest advantage falls to Insight with rear legroom, where it has a nominal 1.7-inch gain over the Forte.

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Meanwhile, Insight LX posts at just less than $23,000, and the top Insight Touring hits $29,110.

Depending on your hankering for extra features, you could end up paying about the same for either, at least before negotiations commence.

With the financial aspect potentially a wash, the Insight becomes the clear choice, for three reasons: efficiency, performance and style.

Compared with matching Toyota Corollas, the Forte’s 34-mpg EPA overall mileage rating equals the Corolla XSE’s, and the Insight’s 48 mpg notches 4 mpg less than the Corolla Hybrid. So, the Insight isn’t the most parsimonious, but it still handily whomps the tested Forte.

What’s surprising is the Insight’s sprightlier response, particularly from a stop. The Forte steps off strongly but dips a bit as it gathers steam, while the Insight surges deliberately forth. Handling also gives Insight the edge, with livelier steering and an unflappable demeanor. The Forte is relaxed, while by comparison the Insight feels enlivened.

Styling is subjective, and the Insight strokes your synapses with points and curves that appear integrated into a graceful whole. The Forte takes

Kia Forte EX

Honda Insight

a more aggressive approach, with the larger Kia Stinger named as the inspiration. The Stinger is impressive, with a low-slung, Maseratilike stance. The economical Forte does not have that stance, and so the Stinger elements are limited to lighting shapes and trim bits, such as the simulated vent grates affixed to the front bumper’s corners.

Inside, the Insight offers relief from the tested Forte’s relentlessly coalblack with a tan interior option.

Some Fortes offer color accents, and these would lift the flagship EX from feeling like every other Uber you’ve ridden in.

The Forte and Insight are both fine choices, and between the two I drove, the Insight is finer.

Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant ( www.gaycarguy.com ).

Check out his automotive staging service at www.carstaging.com

New Home, Lasting Mission vices, PRC can uplift people struggling with HIV/AIDS, substance use or mental health issues alongside poverty, stigma and isolation.

PRC has always been about community, of community, and in community.

It is rooted in the commitment to the success of so very many people’s lives.

I’m heartened by PRC’s willingness to step up and stand up when someone needs help.

From the Frontlines Brett Andrews (Editor’s Note: This issue marks the return of Brett Andrews, the CEO of PRC, to the San Francisco Bay Times.

A break was understandably needed, given PRC’s merger with AIDS Emergency Fund and Baker Place, the expansion of the Hummingbird Place Program at San Francisco General Hospital, the opening of PRC’s new 25,000-square-foot Service Center in SOMA and more. We greatly admire Brett and his team, who work to help people affected by HIV/AIDS, substance use or mental health issues to better realize opportunities by providing integrated legal, social and health services that address the broad range of social risk factors that impact wellness and limit potential. Welcome back, Brett!)

We’re thrilled to be opening a new Integrated Service Center at 170 9th Street to help San Francisco eliminate the social and systemic barriers to health and wellness. Research from the World Health Organization proves the conditions of people’s lives—where they live, learn, work and play—affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. By integrating community with social, legal and behavioral health ser-

When we are in community, we see the similarities and not the distance between us and them, and we participate.

Today, I think we need it more than ever. San Francisco has always been a bridge between worlds: a home for erstwhile strangers, chosen families and new perspectives sprouting ideas, champions and actions to break barriers and shape a better world. Now is the time to lead with the strength of community.

PRC has aligned essential programs and services that build on our community—the San Francisco model— bringing my roots as the longtime leader of Positive Resource Center, the incredible legacy of AIDS Emergency Fund, and the depth and compassion of Baker Places into one chosen family.

We’re holding fast and expanding our community.

A strong social support system—a true community—improves overall health outcomes and resiliency in the face of stress. Yes, we need more housing, smart density, reliable transit, accessible healthcare and to invest in a continuum of effective mental health and substance use treatment pathways. We also need to invest ourselves in community.

I invite you to stand with us in community. Everyone deserves an advocate and opportunity, and PRC is here to bridge health, housing, income and community for people in need. We’ll be opening our doors at 170 9th Street wide to community with gatherings, trainings and events, so stay tuned and join us at our website ( https://prcsf. org/ ) to learn more.

We’ve all experienced the human cost of San Francisco’s promise, and its success, among friends and colleagues as well as on the streets of our neighborhoods. Inside service organizations like PRC—and through a community lens—we can see so clearly that health inequities are linked to historicallyrooted social and economic isolation, policies of exclusion and otherness.

People experiencing homelessness in San Francisco are disproportionately LGBTQ (30% v. 14%) and African American (35% v. 6%). We’ve shrunk new HIV infections by nearly twothirds in San Francisco over 10 years, but 14% of new diagnoses are concentrated in homeless individuals.

Leading PRC since 2003, Brett Andrews has overseen PRC’s evolution from a small HIV/AIDS legal service agency to an integrated social and behavioral health provider bent on fighting poverty, stigma and isolation by uplifting marginalized adults and affecting the social conditions of health. Brett holds an M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from George Washington University, received the San Francisco Pride Celebration’s Heritage Award for 10+ years of service in 2017, and was recently appointed to the San Francisco Mayor’s Methamphetamine Task Force. https://prcsf.org/

Lest We Forget Exhibit Remembers Holocaust Survivors

Photos by Rink

The work of photographer Luigi Toscano, who took portraits of almost 300 Holocaust survivors, forms the center of a new outdoor photo exhibit featuring 78 images.

Called Lest We Forget, the exhibit is presented by the Goethe-Institut San Francisco and the German Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany San Francisco, with support from donors Barbro and Bernard Osher and San Francisco’s Arts Commission and Recreation & Parks Department.

Fifteen of the photos in the exhibit were taken recently in San Francisco.

The exhibit, introduced in a ceremony held in mid-April, will be on display in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza through May 19 and is open and free to the public. A panel discussion is planned for May 13, and guided walking tours of the exhibit are scheduled for 11 am–12:30 pm on May 3, 7, 10, 14 and 17. For more information: https://bit.ly/2uSNrfO

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World’s Largest Pipe/Digital Organ to Be Installed at Castro Theatre in 2020 Construction of the stunning console for the Castro Symphonic Theatre Organ has been completed, according to CODA (Castro Organ Devotees Association Promoting the Art of the Organ). The enormous instrument is now stored in a Zionsville, PA, warehouse awaiting installation at the Castro Theatre.

Once the installation—projected to occur in early 2020—takes place, the Castro Theatre will be home to the world’s largest pipe/digital hybrid organ!

CODA shares that the instrument has a full piano-length keyboard and a full orchestral sound library. “It will be unlike any instrument of its kind—capable of authentically representing the theatre organ, the symphonic organ, the classical organ and the symphony orchestra,” the nonprofit reports.

When the organ is installed, its Wurlitzer/Kimball theatre pipe components will replace the current pipes, preserving the familiar cinematic sound. Additional wind-blown pipes, classical in style, will also be installed in the existing pipe chambers. Cutting-edge digital sampling technology will allow for sound to be dynamically sent throughout the Theatre, providing a thrilling surround-sound musical experience in an acoustically reverberatory envi-

Organist David Hegarty

ronment appropriate to whatever style of music is being played.

The theatrical sound will encompass the full specification of the beloved San Francisco “Fox Special,” the Wurlitzer that was moved out of San Francisco when the Fox Theatre was demolished in 1963.

CODA also mentions that this new organ will be capable of providing the virtual sounds of the symphony orchestra. “This will not merely include some after-market General MIDI modules with ‘a few nice strings’—it will be the most expressive, gigabyte-heavy, instantaneous-response-time live performance orchestra in existence, with its own custom-designed independent sound system. This orchestral sample library ( https://bit.ly/2DBRimj) is prominently used in the film-scoring industry. In short, any musical (or synthesized) sound can emerge from

this instrument, sounding totally realistic and under multiple layers of control.”

Allen Harrah, acclaimed pipe and digital organ builder—already responsible for two major organ installations in San Francisco, one in Los Angeles, and a huge sixmanual organ in Hurricane, West Virginia—is bringing his expertise to this project, together with Castro organist David Hegarty, with whom he has worked closely in the past.

Harrah collaborates with R.A. Colby Organbuilders who constructed the new console, and Walker Technical Company, which is providing the digitally sampled organ voices and the audio system.

CODA is seeking donations to help pay for the project. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the donations are fully taxdeductible. https://bit.ly/2LiJkom

BELOW MARKET RATE (BMR)

Rental Apartments Available 949 POST STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109 1 STUDIO AT $1,190.00 PER MONTH Must be income eligible and must not own a home.

Households must earn no more than the maximum income levels below: 60% of Median Income One person - $49,750; 2 persons - $56,800 Applications must be received by 5:00pm on 04/24/2019.

Postmarks will not be considered. Apply online through DAHLIA, the SF Housing Portal at https://housing.sfgov.org or mail in a paper application with a self-addressed stamped envelope to 949 Post Lottery, P.O. Box 420847 San Francisco, CA 94142. Paper applications can be downloaded from https://housing.sfgov.org or picked up from one of the housing counseling agencies listed at https://housing.sfgov.org/housing-counselors.

Please contact the Vertex Property Group’s leasing team for more information at (415) 547-0756 or ab@vertexsf.com.

Units available through the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and are subject to monitoring and other restrictions.

Visit www.sfmohcd.org for program information.

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Courtesy of Mark D McHale & Associates, Real Estate https://www.markdmchale.com/7-great-tips-for-first-time-homebuyers?

GLBT Fortnight in Review Once More into the Breach with SCOTUS By now you know that the Supreme Court has agreed to settle two major, and related, questions: Does Title VII’s ban on sex discrimination in the workplace inherently cover sexual orientation bias? Also, does Title VII’s ban on sex discrimination in the workplace inherently cover transgender bias? The Court consolidated two gay bias cases to tackle question number one, and accepted a transgender case out of Michigan to address question two. Both matters will be scheduled for oral arguments early in the session that begins this October. Opinions could be announced early next year.

Join me here at home as I conduct a silent two-minute imitation of The Scream of Nature by Edvard Munch.

And let’s follow that up, perhaps, with a shot of grain alcohol.

Okay then! First, I’d like to reiterate my condemnation of Anthony Kennedy, the man who could have saved us from this terrifying rendezvous with fate. The author of four gay rights opinions in the last twenty years or so, Kennedy twiddled and twaddled around critical points of law, leaving our community shortchanged and vulnerable even as we toasted his highfalutin dicta.

It’s as if an aggressive killer were on our trail and each time he attacked, Officer Kennedy showed up, loaded gun in hand, and saved us, calling an ambulance but sending the assailant away with nothing but a stern lecture. Now, the killer is back again and Kennedy’s nowhere to be found.

Why didn’t he jail the guy and throw away the key?

The answer is, because Kennedy kind of liked the killer. He liked the status quo, keeping us safe but not doing any real damage to those so-called religious conservatives who display their hatred of gays as proudly as we fly the rainbow flag.

He liked the balance between the colorful, but slightly deviant, gays and trans people and the worthy churchgoers on the other side. A little old fashioned in their views perhaps, but good people! Much like the fine people who instigated the violence in Charlottesville.

Kennedy’s legacy as the champion of gay rights will depend on what happens next term. Will we win a close, but definitive, victory? If so, his caution will have been justified under the “all’s well that ends well” theory. If we lose, either decisively or through a mixed message from a divided Court, he may go down in history as the man who set the stage for the GLBT version of Dred Scott or Plessy v Ferguson.

Room for Optimism?

I was searching in vain for some silver lining inside the dark cloud that emanated from the High Court’s April 22 announcement, relegating myself instead to despairing pessimism. At the heart of the Court’s query, in fact, is not simply whether or not we are protected by a 1964 act of Congress that obviously made no specific mention of G, L, B or T. It’s whether or not GLBTs require equal treatment under the law going forward in the United States of 2020.

If the answer is no, our near-term future is bleak indeed.

To my rescue came veteran constitutional analyst Linda Greenhouse,

By Ann Rostow The New York Times Court watcher for nearly three decades. In a Times op-ed, Greenhouse first noted the lengthy delay between the petition filings and the Court’s acceptance. Months passed while these cases were listed and re-listed for the justices’ thrice-monthly conferences.

I had assumed that the justices were arguing amongst themselves over when, whether and how to approach issues that sharply divide American conservatives from the rest of the country. Maybe the Chief Justice wanted to avoid the showdown, or at least delay it. Were they looking for even more input from the federal appellate courts?

But Greenhouse had a more encouraging theory. By carefully rephrasing the questions under review for the transgender case, she suggested, the Court created the conditions for an expansive ruling, one that could go either way. “I believe,” she speculated, “that there was an extended negotiation among the justices, aimed at crafting questions that would open up the case rather than skew it in the employer’s direction.”

As for the two gay cases, Greenhouse assumed that they were likely held back until the transgender case could be sorted out.

Greenhouse goes on to illustrate how the justices reframed the stakes in the case that pits transgender funeral home worker, Aimee Stephens, against an employer who fired her after she transitioned, in part based on her refusal to conform to a male dress code. Stephens won her case before a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and

Price Waterhouse or at least mess with this essential pro-GLBT decision. But after reading Greenhouse’s op-ed, it’s clear that the Court has actually gone to some lengths to level the playing field in advance of legal combat. Greenhouse even finishes her piece by predicting a GLBT win on all counts, the first cheery prediction I’ve encountered in the last ten days.

the funeral home asked the justices to address these two interpretations: “Whether the word ‘sex’ in Title VII’s prohibition on discrimination ‘because of sex’ meant ‘gender identity’ and included ‘transgender status’ when Congress enacted Title VII in 1964.”

And second: “Whether Price Waterhouse v.

Hopkins prohibits employers from applying sex-specific policies according to their employee’s sex rather than their gender identity.”

Thank you, Linda!

Because of Sex Before we move on completely, you may be wondering what the big difference is between the trans case and the gay cases. The answer to that revolves around the aforementioned lawsuit between Ann Hopkins, a masculine management consulting superstar, and Price Waterhouse, the employer that refused to make her a partner despite her top credentials.

A smile or some lipstick might help, the guys advised her. She sued under Title VII and she won, the Court ruling that this type of gender stereotyping was just another form of illegal sex discrimination.

As Greenhouse points out (and forgive me for basically regurgitating her thesis) these questions are both phrased to support the antigay answer. Obviously, the men and women of the 1964 Congress were not considering transgender workers when they enacted the Civil Rights Act. As for the 1989 precedent of Price Waterhouse, which concluded that forcing workers to conform to a sexual stereotype was illegal under Title VII, that opinion has not meant that employers can’t ever differentiate between male and female employees, for example with different dress codes. ( Jespersen!)

Lower courts ignored the implications for a decade or more, but gradually judges began connecting the obvious dots between the bias suffered by Ann Hopkins and the discrimination experienced by transgender plaintiffs. Eventually, the dots also connected to effeminate gay men who may have been harassed or downgraded on the job due to their “incorrect” gender presentations.

Instead of agreeing to evaluate these biased assumptions, however, the Supreme Court has come up with its own legal framework, in their own words: “Whether Title VII prohibits discrimination against transgender people based on (1) their status as transgender or (2) sex stereotyping under Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins.”

More recently (stay with me!) courts have noted the irony of letting gay men and lesbians sue under Title

This sounded ominous to me when I first read it, and indeed I thought it meant that the High Court might be aiming (God forbid) to overturn

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Real Estate

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2019)

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My Boyfriend Has an Anxious Attachment Style The poor guy was up all night. He’s never crazy like this except when he’s scared about our relationship. I’m not going to leave him. I just want to know how can I help him with this.

Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor 1978 Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

2261 Market Street, No. 309 San Francisco CA 94114 Phone: 415-601-2113 525 Bellevue Avenue Oakland CA 94610 E-mail: editor@sfbaytimes.com www.sfbaytimes.com The Bay Times was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men.

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

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

Dr. Betty L. Sullivan Jennifer L. Viegas Co-Publishers & Co-Editors

Beth Greene Michael Delgado Abby Zimberg Design & Production

Kate Laws Business Manager Blake Dillon Calendar Editor

Kit Kennedy

Poet-In-Residence

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT Q: In your columns on attachment styles, your description of the anxious type completely describes my boyfriend. I totally love him, but he’s always so scared that something is wrong, and that I’m about to walk out on him. One time I went to bed early and turned off my phone.

After I was asleep, he texted a sweet message. But by morning there were about ten more from him. When I didn’t answer the first message, he started asking what was wrong between us, had I offended him, and so on until he had convinced himself that we were breaking up.

Then he began to wonder if I was all right, and by morning he had me in the hospital in intensive care.

J.H. Herren Technology Director Carla Ramos Web Coordinator Mario Ordonez Juan Ordonez Distribution

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, Jewelle Gomez, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Kin Folkz, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Peter Gallotta, Bill Lipsky, Karen Williams, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron Michele Karlsberg Lyndsey Schlax, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Howard Steiermann, Andrea Shorter, Scott Tsui, Lou Fischer, Frankie Bashan, Karin Jaffie, Brett Andrews, Karen E. Bardsley, David Landis Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Morgan Shidler, JP Lor ADVERTISING Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards http://sfbaytimes.com/ or 415-503-1375 Custom ad sizes are available. Ads are reviewed by the publishers.

National Advertising: Contact Bay Times / San Francisco.

Represented by Rivendell Media: 908-232-2021 Circulation is verified by an independent agency Reprints by permission only.

CALENDAR Submit events for consideration by e-mail to: calendar@sfbaytimes.com © 2019 Bay Times Media Company Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas

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A: Words like “anxious” or “avoidant” can make it sound as if anyone with one of these styles must be a complete mess. But, together, the anxious and avoidant attachment styles comprise about half of the population. We’re not talking about mental illness here. People with an anxious attachment style have a lot to offer in relationships. They value their intimate relationships above everything else. They can be intensely loyal, empathic and attentive with their partners. It’s good to hear that you’re hanging in with your boyfriend and want to help him feel more secure in your relationship.

As a result of very inconsistent caregiving in their childhoods, anxious types have a deep-seated fear of abandonment and rejection.

As adults, even a slight hint that something is wrong can activate their attachment system (as you have discovered), and once that happens, they’re unable to calm down until they know that the relationship is okay and that they’re safe.

The main thing to understand— assuming that you have a more

secure attachment style—is that your boyfriend is just wired a little differently than you. He requires higher levels of closeness and reassurance. By paying attention, you can learn what triggers his anxiety, and how to respond in ways that calm his fears and help him to feel loved and supported. Here are a few suggestions: First of all, be careful not to judge his feelings. Never say or imply that his anxiety is crazy or stupid, or that he should just “get over it.” Anxious types respond from the heart, and won’t be moved by “logical” arguments. Instead, do your best to be patient, and to reassure him with empathy and kindness.

Be consistent. If you say that you’re going to call, do it. If you make a promise, keep it. Anxious types are used to being let down and disappointed. Do everything you can to make sure his experience of you gives him no reason to support these expectations.

Let him know how you feel, on a regular basis. Anxious types have a hard time believing that you actually like them, partly because their early traumas have left them doubting whether they’re worthy of anyone’s love in the first place. Don’t just assume he knows how you feel.

Be proactive in offering small and frequent demonstrations of affection.

When you have a fight, be sure to make it clear that you aren’t leaving him. Anxious types unconsciously expect to be abandoned, so your boyfriend will probably interpret any conflict as an indication that you’re about to end the relationship. That doesn’t mean that you should be afraid to tell him how you really feel.

You don’t have to walk on eggshells.

When you’re angry or disappointed, say so directly. Just make sure that you also make it clear that being in a fight doesn’t mean you no longer love him and are about to walk out.

If these suggestions sound to you like the way any good boyfriend would treat his partner, you’re right.

You don’t have to be any different than you are to help your boyfriend feel safer in the relationship. The process of change is slow, but if you are consistently honest, affectionate and kind, you’ll do much to calm his overactive alert system, and, over time, to help him move toward a more secure attachment style.

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

COMING UP at Manny’s in May Thursday, May 2: Meet the 2020 Candidate: Governor Jay Inslee 5:30 pm–7 pm

Wednesday, May 8: Dustin Lance Black: Book Signing and Talk 8:30 pm–9:30 pm

Come and meet the Governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, who is running for President.

Academy Award Winner Dustin Lance Black will sign his new book, “Mama’s Boy.”

Monday, May 6: The Kinky Science of Pleasure 7 pm–8:45 pm

Monday, May 13: Congresswoman Sharice Davids: The First Lesbian Native American in Congress 6 pm–7:30 pm

For anyone wanting to find out more about bodies, arousal and pleasure magnification.

Tuesday, May 7: Book Launch: On Blossoming 6 pm–9 pm

PHOTO BY RINK

Instead of typically puritanical views on sex and puberty, “On Blossoming” focuses on incorporating the principles of pleasure into sex education for our youth and creates a new paradigm of human sexuality.

Wednesday, May 8: How Will the Tech IPOs Affect San Francisco?

6 pm–7:30 pm

Tuesday, May 14: Local Government Trivia Night 8 pm–9:30 pm Come grab a drink and show off your knowledge about local government, public service and San Francisco politics!

Meet Congresswoman Sharice Davids, who was elected in 2018 to represent Kansas’ 3rd District.

Wednesday May 15: Meet the 2020 Candidate: Secretary Julián Castro 5:30 pm–7 pm Castro, who is running for President, was the youngest member of former President Barack Obama’s Cabinet. He served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and previously was the Mayor of San Antonio, Texas.

Tuesday, May 14: Fighting Fake News and Finding Facts 6 pm–7:30 pm Part 2 of the Democracy and Journalism series introduces the News Literacy Project to find out ways of identifying and combating fake news.

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

Presidential Candidates, Books Talks, IPOs, Fake News, the Science of Pleasure and More

This event will address how the upcoming IPOs will impact San Francisco.

For more info about these and other events at Manny’s: http://www.welcometomannys.com Manny’s, located at 3092 16 Street, is a civic social gathering space in the heart of San Francisco.

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W.O.W. - 40 Years of Habits

Photos by Rink

The W.O.W. (Wimples of the World) exhibit honors the work of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The first Order, here in San Francisco, was founded in 1979, with Orders now located throughout the world. W.O.W. celebrates the Sisters’ unique coronets and wimples (headdresses). Open now through May 11, the exhibit honoring the Sisters’ 40th Anniversary can be viewed 3 pm–9:30 pm Tuesdays through Thursdays, Saturdays 10 am–5:30 pm and Sundays 11 am–5:30 pm. The W.O.W. exhibit runs concurrently with the SPI at 40: Through the Lens of Our Community exhibit of photography from the archive collection of the Sisters.

Step into the story... and become art Portraiture, Fine Art, Event Photography 415.481.5185 www.exlightstudio.com

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Donna’s Chronicles

By Donna Sachet

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acramento’s Imperial Coronation on Saturday, April 20, reminded us that many courts across the country are filling an important role in their communities as well as belonging to and contributing to the larger International Court System. We were in the excellent and inquisitive company of Imperial Crown Prince Brent Daddy Monro, battling traffic in order to arrive in a reasonable length of time. Brent has just embarked on a year with Imperial Crown Princess Electra Cute to support the Reigning Monarchs, Emperor Terrill Monro & Empress Baby Shaques Monro, and to continue the longstanding work of the Imperial Court. We arrived in plenty of time to pin up our crown and do last minute touch-ups before entering the main room. Courts from across the continent sent representatives, including 10 or so from the Imperial Court of San Francisco, and Queen Mother of the Americas Nicole Murray and King Father Terry Sidie welcomed everyone. Despite some drastic changes in the time-worn order of the evening, monarch anniversary productions and other entertainment was top notch and the stepping down Emperor Devon Musgrow & Empress Jena Un Dunt must have had a marvelous year based on their reception by the crowd. A four-number step-down performance kept friends tipping throughout. Watch for and support this year’s fundraising efforts by Reigning Emperor Ashton M. Principle all over Sacramento.

The stars truly aligned for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s 40th Anniversary and Easter in the Park! Weather warmed, throngs gathered and frivolity ensued! We shall report little detail here about the program of the day, since much is being written elsewhere and since we arrived after the conclusion of contests for Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary. A gorgeous blue sky framed a truly “only in San Francisco” gathering that included sisterly blessings, holiday competitions and languid basking in the sunlight.

Needless to say, our visually stunning Easter bonnet was a hit and the Sisters’ triumphant return to Dolores Park was spectacular!

The Castro Business District opened a storefront office on Market across from Safeway. (Haven’t we talked for years about enlarging the footprint of the Castro?) Executive Director Andrea Aiello, outgoing President Dan Bergerac and incoming President Jamal Cool hosted a small reception last week and welcomed Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Tom Temprano, Steve Adams, Gareth Gooch and many others.

The success of Disco Coalition continued last Friday at Lookout, this time honoring Mark Bingham, hosted by Bay Area Fog Rugby, and benefiting OpenHouse. We coincidentally toasted our birthday there in the stimulating company of Suzan Revah, Rusty Best, Julian Marshburn, Troy Arnold & Ira Olney, Leandro Gonzales, Dan O’Leary & Jonathan Teel, Kevin Lisle and CoCo Butter.

Don’t forget that the money raised for a different charity each week at this event from bar proceeds 5–8 pm is generously matched by Tito’s Handmade Vodka!

“Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?”

–Ernest Gaines

Calendar a/la Sachet Every Sunday Sunday’s a Drag!

The Starlight Room Sir Francis Drake Hotel 10:30 am Brunch, 11:30 am Show $75 inclusive https://bit.ly/2OB4Gur Wednesday, May 8 Dustin Lance Black Commonwealth Club 609 Sutter Street 6:30 pm Coming of Age in Red & Blue America $25 & up https://www.commonwealthclub.org/ Saturday, May 11 EQCA Gala Fairmont Hotel 950 Tony Bennett Way 5:30 pm Honorees Scott Wiener, John Rahaim, and Rita Moreno $600 & up https://bit.ly/2ISYUEu

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus’ 13th annual Crescendo presented

by Wells Fargo last Saturday night at The Fairmont Hotel will long be remembered as a celebration, a recommitment and a rollicking good time! The evening started with a VIP cocktail reception that morphed Wednesday, May 15 into the general reception and extensive silent auction and chance to PRC Grand Opening socialize with California State Senator Scott Wiener, Deb Stallings 170 Ninth Street & Sharna Fey, Dan Jorenstaad & Bob Hermann, Rebecca Rolfe, 5 pm Dave Earl, Okan Sengun & Cip Cipriano, Natalie Ray, and Gala With Mayor London Breed Co-Chairs Cammy Blackstone and Kenyon DeVault. Once inside the FREE! formal ballroom, we were treated to a program which, although it seemed https://prcsf.org/ overly long at times, was stuffed with inspirational moments, bittersweet remembrances and elevating performances. Both Musical Director Tim Seelig and Executive Director Chris Verdugo shared their vision for this 40-year old Saturday, May 18 organization, while reflecting on a year of incredible advances, including Gay Spotlight on Broadway!

Chorus Deep South, a film documentary chronicling the Lavender Pen Tour to SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band Southern States, the acquisition and transformation of their own building, and Hosted by Donna Sachet It Gets Better and Rhythm outreach programs. Zendesk and its CEO Mikkel 8 pm Svane received the Corporate Champion Award from local drag sensation Sir Francis Drake Hotel and activist Honey Mahogany, and Mayor London Breed brought greet450 Powell Street ings from City Hall. Famed Olympic skater Brian Boitano presented the $65 & up Trailblazer Award to recent sensation Adam Rippon and composers/ https://sflgf b.townalive.com/ musicians Steven Schwartz and Andrew Lippa introduced Vanguard Award winner Kristin Chenoweth. This was a program where no one left early; who would, when Chenoweth was about to appear before the crowd? After she won over the house with her soft delivery and refreshing candor and beautifully sang three songs accompanied by Schwartz himself on piano, most thought the program had come to a suitable end. We were coincidentally seated at the same table as a charming couple and their lovely daughter who told us she would be singing with Chenoweth. Lucy Swinson had been selected from Bay Area arts high schools for an opportunity of a lifetime. Without even meeting each other first, Swinson and Chenoweth approached the stage and the introductory notes of “Changed for Good” from Wicked filled the room. Their playful repartee, comfortable affection and superb singing brought the audience to its feet and brought Crescendo to a rousing finish. Only local favorite DJ and now international super-star Phil B. could keep the crowd dancing until the wee hours.

Don’t miss the final concert series of the SFGMC’s 40th year when Queens pays homage to the art and power of drag through the decades with crowd-pleasing music and special celebrity appearances at the Sidney Goldstein Theater, June 21 & 22.

This weekend, San Francisco will have to keep twirling without us, while we attend Pacific Pride Foundation’s Royal Ball in Santa Barbara. This annual fundraiser supports all kinds of LGBTQ programs there and we can’t wait to share the weekend with friends. And yes, Peanut plans to travel with us!

Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com

PHOTO BY SHAWN NORTHCUTT

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The First Veterinary Hospital to Open in SF in Two Decades

The Castro Animal Hospital Brings San Francisco Values to Groun

By Jason Wake All of us at The Castro Animal Hospital (TCAH) are incredibly excited to be part of the community and to get to know you and your pets. I mean, is there really any greater joy than the unconditional love we get from our furry companions? Of course not, but there’s always room for more love in the family, and I’d like to invite you and your pet(s) to become the newest members of our fur family.

TCAH is located in what was formerly the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Magic Johnson Center, which sat vacant since its closing in 2014. This site at 100 Church Street was first identified by Dr. Sarah Inman and her husband Shane O’Mara almost 2 years ago. She knew instantly that it was the perfect spot to set up shop.

“Until now the greater Castro District has been completely underserviced

when it comes to veterinary care,” Dr. Inman told me for the San Francisco Bay Times. “We’ve already had a tremendous response from the local community since we opened and can’t wait to expand over the years to meet the growing needs of the pet owners of the city.”

Fast-forward a year and a half—Dr. Inman was in the final stages of building planning at the same time I’d come to the decision that I needed a new career path—and as they say, the rest is history.

Out of nowhere, here I was helping Dr. Inman to build The Castro Animal Hospital from her vision. Partnering with her on this exciting endeavor of opening a veterinary practice from the ground up was definitely more than we’d bargained for. It’s been a steep learning curve for the two of us—leav-

DogFest at Duboce Park

ing a well establish clinic & branching out on our own—but it’s one that’s already paying off.

We knew it was a gamble, but since we’d previously worked together at another hospital in the Sunset District, and her vision was so strong, we knew we had something special when starting this hospital together. All of the sweat, tears and hard work is all worth it when we see the love and gratitude from our patients in the form of tails wagging and wet kisses.

When I think of the many situations that come through our doors—from a healthy puppy visit, a diabetic cat having a seizure to a Labrador retriever that ate a whole small chicken off the dinner table—there is one case that sticks out in my mind: Barney, an adorable little 5-year-old Yorkie, who was attacked by two dogs at the dog park.

Barney came in limping on his front leg with one small bite wound on his side. We cleaned him up, took some x-rays (nothing broken), treated the bite wound, gave him some pain medications and sent him home to recover.

Well, poor Barney wasn’t out of the woods yet. Unfortunately, the wound became more serious and needed surgery. After that, Barney required a full torso bandage that needed to be changed every 5 days for a month.

Barney was such a trooper. Every time he came in with high spirits, so happy to see us. That’s why we do what we do!

We are so excited to share Dr. Inman’s vision with you. We offer a wide range of services that promise you and your pet the best possible care while giving you peace of mind, knowing that your pet’s needs are all being met. We’ve created a low stress, warm environment

that is a one-stop shop for everyt your pet needs—from routine va to x-rays, ultrasound and a full o laboratory. That means one less e and less time waiting for results, enjoying more time for walks and dles.

TCAH is not only the first veteri practice to open its doors in the c almost 20 years, but we’re also w owned and LGBTQ+ run. We’re rently open Mondays, Tuesday, T days, Fridays and Saturdays, and will be expanding our hours in th coming months.

Jason Wake is the Manager of The Castro Animal Hospital. https://castroanimalhospital.com

San Francisco Bay Times Team

Photos by Rink

The 12th Annual DogFest, an event benefiting McKinley Elementary School, was held on Saturday, April 27, at Duboce Park. Having steadily evolved year by year, DogFest now attracts hundreds of school supporters, neighbors from Duboce Triangle, the Castro and beyond.

Many of us here at the San Francisco Bay Times share our homes with pets who are valued and much-loved family members. Some of our furry friends really should be listed on our masthead, because they provide support, inspiration, companionship and so much more that contribute to our lives and ultimately to our ability to connect with you every other week with this publication.

We are proud to introduce several of them to you in this special issue.

In addition to vendors offering pet-related products, food for humans and pets, a silent auction, dog care, pet adoption services, games and other activities for kids, DogFest included a dog show and contest. Prizes were awarded for Best Costume, Best Tail, Best Trick, Best Coat, Best Mutt, Best Ears, Best Lap Dog and Best in Show. A surprise performance, during the Half Time Show, also took place at the always popular event.

The personalities of our pets represent quite a range. Some, like Gaston and Alphonse in the family of food columnist David Landis and his husband Sean Dowdall, have social lives that could warrant multiple Google calendars. (We recently spotted the dogs in the front row of a recent Michael Feinstein concert, for example, having a great time.) Donna Sachet’s sweet Peanut is often in tow at events all over town as well.

Beth Greene with C

Co-Publisher Jennifer Viegas, on the other hand, is visited early each morning by not so citified Squirrelly, who knocks on her window wanting peanuts. Squirrelly now has his own dedicated feeder and “perch” (an upside down flower pot). Then there are Gary Kramer’s cats Chimera and Tsai. Chimera is known for photo bombs, as you can see here. “Tsai wouldn’t sit still enough for a pic,” Gary explained.

Columnist Sister Dana Van Iquity’s cat Panther is often on the move, too, in SD’s cozy Castro digs.

Judges Sister Juanita, designer Kenneth Wingard and Sister Scola

We could go on, but the San Francisco Bay Times cat Detective Dickie Lou “Buddy” Bonks told us to stop typing and get on with the photo spread, so here it is!

Andrea Shorter with

As Heard on the Street . . . How would you describe your relationship with your dog? compiled by Rink

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Carson Fuetsch

Steve Martel

Bob Alexander

Sandy Graham

Linda Gorden

“My dog, Blue, is my everything.

Blue saved my life.”

“My relationship with Tramp is one of unconditional love - from her to me, and from me to her.”

“I’m here to make sure that she is well pampered and well spoiled.”

“My dog, Balfour, is my prince of love!”

“Love of my life.”

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ndbreaking Veterinary Practice

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Dr. Sarah Inman

Clinic Manager Jason Wake and Dr. Inman

m Members and Their Pets

Jamie Leno: above: with Addams

Chester and Sookie

Squirrelly Viegas

Lou Fischer with Wilbur

right: with Maddie

Detective Dickie Lou “Buddy” Bonks, the SF Bay Times cat

Abby Zimberg’s Amber

upper right: with Tamar, youngsters and Maddie

Bill Lipsky with Langston Chews

h Jazzy and Penny

Gary M. Kramer and Chimera

Tim Seelig with Grace JP Lor with Ellie and Ruby

Donna Sachet and Peanut

David Landis with Alphonse and Gaston S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “Betsy DeVos just sunk to a new low. Trump’s Secretary of Education reversed President Barack Obama’s protections for transgender students in public schools. Shame!

The Secretary of Education is in need of education!”

Congratulations to the winners of the three contests at Dolores Park with THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE on Easter Sunday: Easter Bonnet winner Miguel Gutierrez (who has won so many times, he probably should be retired to the Easter Bonnet Winner Hall of Fame, if there was such a thing); Foxy Mary winner Motor Boat Mary (Dixie De La Tour, who insisted I motorboat her ample bosom = #metoo); and Hunky Jesus winner Forrest Gump Jesus (Nevin McConnell, who leaped so high he should have been Forrest JUMP Jesus).

On April 19, Mayor London Breed held a ceremonial swearing-in for 32 commissioners she has appointed or re-appointed to various City commissions and boards. These commissioners represent a wide variety of lived experiences and expertise, and continue her commitment to equitable representation and diversity in City government.

We took a trip back to old San Francisco on April 22. Actually, this was my second trip for a reprise of the same show in February. Punk rock, trans legend, and sultry chanteuse Bambi Lake and Cockettes songster Scrumbly Koldewyn returned with their fabulous musical revue “TENDER IS MY LOIN” produced by Dan Karkoska at PianoFight in the Tenderloin. This sleazy, seedy, sensational show featured new songs PLUS all my old faves. This homage to the Tenderloin included classic singers Birdie Bob Watt (occasionally on piano), Kitten on the Keys (Suzanne Beignet Ramsey sometimes doing a piano duet and other times on the accordion), sexy Steven Satyricon, Hypnodrome favorite Earl Alfred Paus, the buxom Ruby Vixenn and villainous James Jeske (whom we joyfully booed for his evil real estate takeover plans). The second half of the show was devoted entirely to Queen of the Tenderloin, Bambi, and her jazzy bluesy tunes about the ‘loin.

I SINcerely hope this revue runs again and again!

LYRIC, Center for LGBTQQ Youth, held its 31st Anniversary Open House, BLOOM: Revolutionary Power from the Margins on April 25th at LYRIC headquarters in the Castro, 127 Collingwood Street. In reflecting what it means to be hopeful that we can transform our communities together, LYRIC Fellows created this season’s message: “At LYRIC, youth leaders grow into ourselves. We unite to heal our communities.” So, when LGBTQQ youth build healthy bonds and form vibrant connections with one another, a community of grounded leaders is created. It was exciting to begin this Spring empowered by the dedication of LGBTQQ youth to see their communities thrive and blossom. And we got to join them on this beautiful journey. Along with a tour of the three-story building, we 16

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At this year’s annual gala, OUR FAMILY COALITION assembled on April 26 at the Intercontinental San Francisco for NIGHT OUT, when hundreds of leaders and partners in the LGBTQ family justice and education movement came together to celebrate wins and to gather resources to support OFC’s work in the future. I must say I was quite amused that the signature cocktail of the night was the lemon drop renamed “Tantrum.” Three awards were given: Senator Scott Wiener gave Zach Wahls, Iowa Senator (proud son of lesbian parents), in absentia, the Luminary Award for his clarion-clear voice and potent advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ family and gender equity coast to coast; Zoe Polk of the SF Human Rights Commission gave Alison Collins, San Francisco School Board Member and community organizer, the Community Partner Award for her dedication to educational equity for all; and OFC Education Director Rick Oculto presented AMPLIFY with the Corporate Impact Award for their exemplary, pioneering work in inclusive education. OFC Executive Director Renata Moreira introduced the staff and board and spoke of the importance of educators everywhere being completely inclusive in their curricula. She also showed an impressive video of the accomplishments of OFC. BACK TO THE PICTURE gallery at 934 Valencia Street held an art exhibition reception on April 27, MISSION LEGENDS: THE ART OF ROBLES, RIOS, & ROMAN, curated by Derek Hargrove. These remarkable pieces will remain for viewing now through May 26. It was 1992 in the Mission district of San Francisco, and three artists were already well on their way to legendary status. Calixto Robles had recently taken over for Rene Castro as the head of Mission Graffica; Michael Rios had already formed a strong bond with musician Carlos Santana after debuting his mural on 22nd Street in the late ‘80’s and was producing work to critical acclaim; and Michael Roman had just landed in San Francisco after being relocated by Santana. All three were in demand, and extremely popular. Roman’s stencils of MezzoAmerican and African American iconography were everywhere, incorporating Aztec gods and designs. In just a few years, Rios’ artwork would grace the cover of Santana’s Supernatural, an image that 27 million people around the world have in their music collection today. Robles also formed a relationship and bond with Santana when he introduced the legendary musician to East Asian deities and symbols of peace in his signature Oaxacan style. The “Artist Affordable Housing” oil by Rios really spoke to me, in all of these tiny one room boxes stacked on top of and beside each other—places where SF artists could barely afford to live in uncomfortably close quarters.

Roman’s “punk Latino wild style” is reflected in his silk screen “Pardon Me,” with a cat in high heels stooping over and showing off her cat butt.

Also, I loved his Jimi Hendrix rendition of mixed media on paper— taking me back to the late ‘60s when I got to hear Jimi and his amazing guitar live at the Hollywood Bowl.

Several in Robles’ angels’ series especially appealed to me. Go check all these out!

RAINBOW WORLD FUND threw a joyous FUND LGBTQ PRIDE IN CUBA party on April 28 at Gough House—a beautiful 1889

PHOTO BY RINK

enjoyed poetry readings and art by undocumented youth. Three institutions received awards: YOUNG WOMEN’S FREEDOM CENTER, ASIAN WOMEN’S SHELTER and SAN FRANCISCO AIDS FOUNDATION.

Sister Dana with Sister Hellon Wheels on April 5, at the Opening Night Reception held at Strut for the exhibit of work by Ramon Vidali.

Victorian mansion in Pacific Heights. This was to help support our Cuban LGBTQ brothers and sisters to achieve full civil rights and recognition in Cuban society.

Hosts Cleve Jones, John Newmeyer, Gareth Gooch and Rainbow World Fund welcomed us to an evening of Cuban music, Cuban themed cocktails, wine, food and entertainment as we raised funds for PRIDE IN CUBA. Alexis Miranda really got us salsa dancing during her lively Cuban number.

This May, RWF is traveling to Cuba with a delegation of 20 queer activists from San Francisco to participate in the 12th Cuba’s LGBTQ Pride Celebration. LGBTQ civil rights leader Jones, founder of the NAMES PROJECT AIDS Memorial Quilt and co-founder of the SAN FRANCISCO AIDS FOUNDATION, will travel to Cuba May 8–18 with Rainbow World Fund to participate in the 12th Cuban Journey against Homophobia and Transphobia. Jones will receive the Humanitarian Award in Cuba; the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be displayed in Cuba for the first time; and U.S. activists will raise $50k to fund Cuba’s LGBTQ Pride event.

Sister Dana sez, “May Day may be over, but Cinco de Mayo is coming, and there are still a lot of events in May to enjoy.”

Empress China Silk invites you to FERNANDO’S CINCO DE MAYO FUNDRAISER on Saturday, May 4, 3–6 pm at The Cinch Bar, 1723 Polk Street. The event benefits the late Emperor Fernando’s Scholarship Fund. Emcees will be Emperor John Carrillo & Empress Alexis Miranda.

MAITRI will present the annual BLISS fundraiser on Sunday, May 5, Cinco de Mayo, 4–8 pm at Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF, Robertson Auditorium, 1675 Owens Street. Beloved vocalist and once called “the finest jazz cabaret singer around,” Paula West will be the featured entertainer for the evening, serenading guests with a heartfelt performance sure to delight.

Maitri provides compassionate residential care to men and women in need of hospice or 24-hour care, and cultivates the deepest respect and love for life among its residents and caregivers. https://bit.ly/2V1CY1b THE RICHMOND/ERMET AID FOUNDATION (REAF) presents a spectacular “One Night Only” benefit cabaret show with the touring cast of the hit Broadway show CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY on Monday, May 6, 7:30 pm at SF Oasis nightclub, 298 11th Street. Special guest emcee/performer is famous NYC drag diva Ellie Monae. https://www.reaf-sf.org/ 2020 BARE CHEST CALENDAR FINALS, benefiting POSITIVE RESOURCE CENTER, are happening at Club DNA, 375 11th Street (continued on page 22)

Easter in the Park 2019 Photos by Rink

The Sisters 40th Anniversary Easter Party drew a crowd estimated at more than 10,000 to Dolores Park on Easter Sunday, April 21. Comedy writer extraordinaire Bruce Vilanche made his way from Hollywood this year to join San Francisco Bay Times columnist Sister Dana Van Iquity and Sister Roma on stage, along with other Sisters. The Party, which took place from Noon–4 pm, featured an egg hunt and other games for kids, followed by adult-friendly fare like the Easter Bonnet, Foxy Mary and Hunky Jesus “favorite blasphemous hoot” contests. Forrest Gump Jesus won the latter, having impressed the crowd and Sisters with his loincloth and leaping skills. www.thesisters.org

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This Month at the Castro Farmers’ Market Cherries Jubilee at Your Farmers’ Market

By Debra Morris Have you ever seen a cherry orchard in early spring?

It is one of the prettiest sights there is. Rows of trees follow undulating hills showing off their pink blossoms, quickly followed by bright green leaves and then—drum roll, please—one of the season’s favorite fruits: cherries!

The season for cherries has begun. It’s a short one, usually lasting only until the end of June, so hustle down to your farmers’ market and pick up several bags of these juicy red orbs before they’re gone. Their gorgeous colors and amazing flavors are a veritable feast for the eyes, and stomachs!

Your farmers grow a variety of sweet cherries with subtle taste differences, some even coming from interesting boutique varieties. Beginning with the Brooks and Bing cherries, the season moves on to the Rainiers, Royal Hazels and Burlats. Some cherry growers even bring a variety called Champagne Coral, a tasty little number that will make your eyes glaze over with its amazing flavor. You can bet that you won’t find these varieties at your local supermarket!

Grab a big bag of cherries and spice up your table with some piquant Cherry Salsa! Olé!

Debra Morris is a spokesperson for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA).

Check out the PCFMA website for recipes, information about farmers’ markets throughout the region and for much more: https://www.pcfma.org/

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Jalapeño chutney dip from the team of Roti/Malika Brothers

Booths and customers on Noe Street

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Troubadour Jesse Loren Strickman

Strawberries from Berry Licious Family Farms

the Market, PC

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Recipe: Cook in’

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These fabulous cherries can be found at your farmers’ market from Rodin Farms out of Oakdale. Their large, sweet Bing cherries offer a tangy sweet flavor, perfect for eating out of hand and for making baked goodies.

Allard Farms from Westley have varieties you won’t find at the grocery store, like the amazing Champagne Coral, Brooks, Lapins and the luscious Sweet Heart.

So, get out to your market and taste one of the season’s rare and wonderful fruits.

CHERRY SA LSA 2 cups choppe d cherries 1 cup chopped cucumber 1/4 cup jalapeñ o seeded, finely peppers, chopped 1/4 cup minced cilantro 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion 1 tablespoon w hite balsamic vinegar 1/2 teaspoon sa lt Chop cherries and veggies an place the m in d a bowl. Add wh medium -sized ite gar and salt . St balsamic vineir salsa sit for 3 gently. Let the 0 minutes befo re serving. Serve on en, or with tort pork or chickilla chips.

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Children’s crafts activity led by artist Lano Silver Blue

Lavender, radishes, greens and more from Happy Boy Farm

PHOTO BY RINK

Enjoy the View! Check out Castro Street Cam http://sf baytimes.com

PHOTO BY RINK

CASTRO STREETCAM presented by

Exercise Resistance Hacks resistance. Reluctance makes you practically unwilling to try.

Easy Fitness Cinder Ernst I tried something new as I was deciding on what fitness topic to write about. I thought of someone with whom I would really enjoy working. She’s fiftyish or older, not particularly athletic, clear minded and mostly unflappable. She has some knee or joint pain that is stopping her from being as active as she wants to be. She’s a little worried about life getting smaller. I asked “her” what she would like to know about. The answer: Exercise Resistance.

Because my super-power is helping reluctant exercisers to develop the capacity to do what you say you’re going to do about exercise, consistently and without struggle, I started thinking about the difference between resistance and reluctance. I looked up some definitions to influence my thoughts.

Here’s what I’ve come up with.

Resistance is a byproduct of what you believe, or better said, what you have been trained to believe about fitness. You quite likely have a ton of evidence to support the belief.

Reluctance is a state of being and a byproduct of what we believe about

Resistance Hack #1: Remember that resistance is a thought.

Resistance feels like a thing that’s in your way: an obstacle, a barrier.

Sometimes the thing in your way feels really real; such as, not enough time, money or energy. All of those resistance reasons have a story and you believe them. You believe them because you have been effectively brainwashed to believe exercise prescriptions and recommendations given by well-meaning experts and medical people.

Resistance Hack #2: Tell yourself a different story.

You can tame resistance with a different story. For example, a little bit goes a long way, or I don’t need a lot of time, money or energy to be successful with fitness. I’m doing just fine a little bit at a time.

Through my thirty years of helping folks with fitness, I’ve noticed that a little bit does go a long way.

For instance, I taught aerobic classes for large women for twenty years.

In that time, I had several students who came to class once a week. They came once a week and got tangible results.

In recent years, my coaching business helps you to fit small, targeted exercises into the cracks of your busy lives. Small steps change your fitness level, decrease pain and help you to stay mobile. My clients get improvement and joy from being on the trail of what they want (better mobility and a bigger life). On the trail means moving in the direction of ... one step at a time.

Resistance Hack #3: A small step on your trail will soothe resistance.

In between the resistance story and the reluctance is a little thing called motivation. The “I need motivation” story is alive and well when you have resistance to overcome. As a matter of fact, the motivation story is resistance and contributes to reluctance. You don’t need motivation if you are on your trail taking one step at a time. Just focus on the next step.

Enjoy the journey. There’s no hurry.

Last but not least, here’s Resistance Hack #5: Tap into your wisdom, not your worry.

Cinder Ernst, Medical Exercise Specialist and Life Coach Extraordinaire, helps reluctant exercisers get moving with safe, effective and fun programs. Her

SF Sketch

Resistance Hack #4. You don’t need motivation if you take a small step on your trail.

Here are some tips for trying on your new story.

1) First thing in the morning is the best time to try a new story. Before you look at your phone or take care of anyone else, take a moment for yourself. Let your ears hear what there is to hear, feel the feel of your bedding, appreciate something, someone or yourself for just a moment.

2) Notice that you have a minute to do a small period of exercise. One minute. Say to yourself, “I could put 60 seconds of exercise right here.”

3) Find something that might go well in that 60 seconds. Here are some ideas for powerful small steps: • • • •

deep breathing; planks; Google “bed exercises”; Google “ankle pumps and heel slides” as a great option to soothe knee, hip and back pain in bed; • go to my YouTube page or my Facebook group, Knee Friendly Fitness Please.

book, “Easy Fitness for the Reluctant Exerciser” ( http://cinderernst. com/easy-fitness-book/ ), is available in paperback and E-book. She specializes in fitness and rehab for plus-size clients, but her stress-free approach is suitable for all. Find out more at http://cinderernst.com

Randy Coleman

Randy Coleman hails from New York, but has lived in San Francisco since 1975. “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, 2019

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2019)

From the Coming Up Events Calendar See page 24

Through August 11 – Queer California: Untold Stories @ Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street. Includes contemporary artwork and historical materials such as artifacts, archival documents, photographs, costumes and ephemera. http://www.museumca.org

Friday, May 10 – Dreamgirls in Concert @ Creative Arts Building, McKenna Theatre, San Francisco State University.

The concert version of the musical features students and staff, Beach Blanket Babylon star Renée Lubin and music director Dee Spencer. 7pm. http://www.lca.sfsu.edu/events/

French Drama Sauvage/Wild Is Mesmerizing willing to kiss his clients—but it may also be his only option.

Film Gary M. Kramer Writer/director Camille Vidal-Naquet’s raw, blistering drama, Sauvage/Wild, opening May 3 in the Bay Area, concentrates almost all of its energy on the body of Léo (Féliz Maritaud), an attractive 22-year-old gay male prostitute. Getting naked in the pre-title scene, viewers get an eyeful of this unselfconscious young man.

As the film progresses, Léo’s body, which is frequently on display, is used, bruised and abused. Viewers may actually feel as battered as Léo by the film’s end. (The film is not unlike Agnes Varda’s Vagabond in this respect.)

Vidal-Naquet follows his subject as if he were shooting a nature documentary. He films a cluster of male prostitutes in their native environs, peacocking and often shirtless to attract a client’s attention. He chronicles Léo plying his trade, as well as stealing fruit to eat, washing or drinking using water literally out of the street, or sleeping wherever he can. How long Léo has been doing this and how he got to this point in his life are not the film’s concern.

Léo shyly admits that he enjoys what he does—it may explain why he is

Sauvage/Wild wisely does not judge its characters; Vidal-Naquet merely presents them as they are. When Léo is seen being sexual in one scene and doing drugs the next, he may just hustle for a score. When he dances at a nightclub or a party, he may be releasing his pent-up energy or trying to seduce a client. Does Léo want to be rescued from his life on the streets? The film lets viewers decide.

Léo is very good at giving affection.

He is tender with an old man who hires him but can’t quite consummate sex. He is especially caring towards a disabled man who pays Léo and Ahd (Éric Barnard), a fellow hustler, for a threesome. This may make Léo sympathetic, but he can also be a bit of a jerk. Léo is very much in love with the gay-for-pay Ahd, and while Ahd protects Léo, he adamantly does not reciprocate his friend’s desires. Léo’s efforts to change Ahd’s mind result in ugly confrontations and punches.

Sauvage/Wild is mostly plotless as it follows Léo around the streets of Paris, but it is never boring.

Léo’s trysts with various clients are perversely fascinating. He has a particularly intense session with a couple who were tired of oral sex.

In another session, Mihal (Nicolas Dibla), a fellow prostitute, asks Léo to inject a drug into his penis that will knock out their client. Léo accommodates these requests, and his responses to these encounters reveal details about his character and his emotions. However, it is a touching, candid visit with a sensitive female doctor (Marie Seux) that is most illuminating. Léo has some serious health and respiratory issues. When he stops in mid-examination to hug her, Sauvage/Wild is oddly poignant and moving.

For much of the film, Léo’s emotions are calculated. Even when he meets Claude (Philippe Ohrel)—one of those rich older men Ahd repeatedly tells Léo to find to exit hustling— Léo is cagey. How he pursues this opportunity provides the film with some dramatic tension.

Léo’s ineluctable sexiness may be exactly why he is desired by clients and strangers. Maritaud gives a tremendous performance, capturing Léo’s palpable despair with his incredible body language. He displays an innocence under Léo’s jaded exterior.

When a client asks him to read something, Léo balks, embarrassed by his

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illiteracy, and changes the subject.

When he gives into his passion to kiss Ahd, he absorbs the body shock of Ahd’s slap or punch. Léo is a lost soul, putting on a brave face, and Maritaud allows viewers to know what he is thinking.

Moreover, much of what Léo feels is written on his body. He has numerous tattoos that look homemade and his skin is often marked with bruises.

He is also palpably filthy. Léo’s grunge might make him appealing

at times, but it is almost a relief when someone gives him a clean shirt to wear. Viewers may also be anxious to see him shower. (When Léo’s hair is washed and combed in one scene, it may take a moment to recognize him). As for the copious nudity, Maritaud’s lack of inhibition contributes to why his performance is so mesmerizing. He is very comfortable in his skin and generates considerable sympathy. It is hard not to gasp when the camera follows Léo and he just falls down in the street.

BUSINESS FIRST The first gay-directed business to trade its stock on a major U.S. stock exchange was: A) PlanetOut B) The Advocate C) Here TV D) Ben & Jerry’s ANSWER ON PAGE 22

Sauvage/Wild may not add anything new to the story of a male hustler, but what it does show is compelling and moving. Much of that is because of the magnetic Maritaud. © 2019 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

Karin Jaffie, aka Kit/Kitty Tapata, won the title of Mr. Gay San Francisco in 2011 and has earned many other honors since.

Connect with Jaffie via Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pg/ktapata

In Search of Stonewall: The Riots at 50 remain elusive in at least two ways.

First, there is the journalistic question of just what happened on the night of June 28th (who started the riot, what happened next, etc.).

Second, because “Stonewall” exists as a symbol of the LGBT movement quite apart from the historic event itself, the search is always on for the meaning of Stonewall as it was first conceived and as it has evolved over the years. If nothing else, it is a marker in historical time with a clearly defined “before” and “after.”

Words Michele Karlsberg Michele Karlsberg: The following is an excerpt from the introduction to In Search of Stonewall: The Riots at 50, edited by Richard Schneider, Jr. The book is presented by The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide to commemorate the bimonthly, nationally distributed magazine’s 25 years of publication.

The year was 1994. It was the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and, as luck would have it, the year in which a new magazine called The Harvard Gay & Lesbian Review was publishing its first issue (Winter ’94).

The “Harvard” was dropped in 2000 and “Worldwide” added, but other than that, The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide has had an uninterrupted run of 136 issues over the past quarter-century.

The fact that our first year coincided with Stonewall’s 25th proved a happy coincidence, if only because it gave us something important to talk about that year. But it also joined our fate with that of the founding event of the modern LGBT movement. This book commemorates our own 25th birthday with a collection of Stonewallrelated articles selected from the issues published to date.

I’ve chosen the title In Search of Stonewall for this collection because it seems to me that the events of 1969

But to imply that Stonewall interrupted the flow of history, singlehandedly resetting the LGBT calendar, is to pile a lot of responsibility onto a single event or era. Still, something happened, and it happened quite rapidly and even magically after the riots, so in this sense the search for Stonewall can also be a desire to reconnect with the overpowering energy and excitement of this period.

The sequence of events following the riots—the founding of new gay organizations, new publications, the first Pride parade in June 1970, and so on—are indeed a breathtaking slice of history. The question of why Stonewall became the symbolic birthplace of the modern LGBT movement has been raised, sometimes with considerable passion, by many people who point out that the West Coast is where the movement really began, way back in the 1950s, complete with organizations and magazines and even riots long before 1969.

The fact that it took New York City to spark a national movement undoubtedly has more to do with that city’s sheer size and dominance of the news media, especially at that time, than to a lack of passion or organizing savvy on the West Coast. (Also, let’s face it: “Stonewall” is a damn good name for a popular struggle. What

YOU TOO CAN BE A WINNER!

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if the riots had happened at Uncle Charlie’s?)

Richard Schneider, Jr., the book’s editor, is the founder and editorin-chief of “The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide,” which was launched in 1994 as “The Harvard Gay & Lesbian Review” (the name changed in 2000). Taking his doctorate in sociology at Harvard in the early 1980s, he taught at the university level for the next decade before founding “The G&LR” as a sideline while working for a Boston consulting firm in the ’90s. The magazine has been his full-time job since 1999.

“The G&LR’s” mission is to promote equal rights and equality for all sexual and gender minorities, advance the intellectual life of LGBT people, and educate a broader public on LGBT topics.

Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBTQI community. This year, Karlsberg celebrates 31 years of successful book campaigns.

Subscribe to the San Francisco Bay Times e-mail list: https://bit.ly/2XDNnh7 Subscribers enter the REPLY TO WIN! online competition for a chance to win event tickets, services and products we announce.

ds

Lisbet Tellefsen, Ericka Huggins and Cheryl Ward at Rock the CASA 2019

Virginia Patr ik Gallineaux and Gary at Academy of Friends 2019

Take Me Home with You! Theo & Mama Cat

“It would be hard to find two cats more bonded than Theo and Mama Cat; they adore each other and it shows. Mama Cat is a big, beautiful calico girl who’s outgoing and loves to play. Handsome Theo prefers to lead a quieter life, and is content to let his confident best friend take the lead. These lovebugs must be adopted together and are looking for a quiet, calm home to share.

Come meet them!”

Theo and Mama Cat are 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 Theo and Mama Cat. To meet Theo and Mama Cat, as well as other pets seeking their forever homes, please visit: San Francisco SPCA Mission Campus 250 Florida Street San Francisco, CA 94103 415-522-3500

e Goans with Patti Tess Hansen and Gaylynn A 2019.

LaBelle at Rock the CAS

Clay ton Ted Maylath, John Chen, at Lepak and Weston Hart man Beach Blanket Babylon

Keith Freedman with his nephew and nephew ’s girlfriend at Falsettos.

Aside from major holidays, the adoption center is open Mon–Fri: 1–6 pm and Sat– Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup Sun: 10 am–5 pm.

Free parking is available for those wishing to adopt! For more information: https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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FISCHER (continued from page 4)

SISTER DANA (continued from page 16) on May 11, 3–6 pm. Come out and support your fave bare-chested babe!

Woof! https://bit.ly/2GK3fXH FABULOUS MAY ART EXHIBIT will be on display all month long, starting with a festive reception on May 11, 6–9 pm at Eureka Valley Recreational Center,100 Collingwood Street. Mostly centering on trans folks from the Bay Area, the event is hosted

by ARTSAVESLIVES, curated

by Thomasina DeMaio and is free to the public. All paintings will be gifted to those who posed for DeMaio. Some subjects are well known (such as Bubbles, Fatima and Donna Personna) and some will be making their debut in paint.

There will also be two photographers, Steven Pomeroy and Billie Douglas and their photos having captured the process, while

Thomasina painted the subjects, learning their personal journey through transition. There will be live entertainment and refreshments.

Remember the fun times when ArtSavesLives held free nights of art and performance in the Castro? Well, they’re back and better than ever— with an actual stage this time.

You are invited to attend 42ND STREET MOON’s fun-filled fundraising cabaret concert, BROADWAY FLIPPED, on either Sunday, May 12, 7:30 pm or Monday, May 13, 7:30 pm, at San Francisco’s Gateway Theatre, 215 Jackson Street.

You will experience some of the Bay Area’s best musical theatre actors and favorite Moon performers singing songs from roles they would otherwise never get the chance to play.

All funds raised will benefit 42nd Street Moon’s Education, Outreach

and Main Stage programs, allowing one of the Bay’s most venerable theater companies to continue bringing the joy and magic of live theatre to thousands of people each year. https://bit.ly/2UJEgc1 MAYOR OF FOLSOM STREET is a new exhibition at the GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, with an opening reception on May 16, 7–9 pm, 4127 18th Street.

The Museum uses archival documents, photographs, artifacts, fine art and digital displays to document the life of Alan Selby, also known as Mr. S, who opened the iconic leather and kink retail store MrS-Leather in the SoMa district in 1979. https://bit.ly/2PDNLsh Sister Dana sez, “Happy Mother’s Day (May 12) to all you mothers out there, and that includes drag mothers!”

ROSTOW (continued from page 9) VII if they sing show tunes or stomp around in army boots, while letting blatant sexual orientation bias continue against straight-acting gay men and women. First, it makes no sense. Second, isn’t sexual orientation bias itself a form of the same gender stereotyping that was outlawed in Price Waterhouse? Isn’t dislike of gays rooted in the fact that by our very nature we don’t behave like proper heterosexual boys and girls?

In this way, the main arguments against gay discrimination under Title VII stem from the arguments against trans bias, which in turn stem from the 1989 ban on gender stereotyping. That’s why the transgender case will lead the way as the justices proceed.

Oh, I could go on, but I’ll just say this for now. Not long ago I read a book called Because of Sex by Gillian Thomas. It took a look at the ten most influential High Court cases of sex discrimination in the workplace since the passage of the Civil Rights Act. No one serving in Congress in 1969 could have anticipated the expanding definition of sex discrimination under Title VII, and no one looking back from 2019 would dream of taking a step backwards into a past where women couldn’t sue for being sexually harassed in the workplace or where certain jobs were arbitrarily restricted to male applicants. Now, we are asking the nine members of the Court—not to trifle with a sacrosanct set of stone tablets—but to manage the continuing evolution of a vital statute that flows along with the deep currents in our national culture. If they have any respect for the proverbial arc of history, they will not pick this moment to drop anchor on justice.

Yes, We Have No Gay Penguins

So, what else is new? By rights I should tell you about a GLBT victory out of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in a case pitting Philadelphia’s gay rights policy against the minions at Catholic Social Services who wanted to nix GLBT foster parents.

But I recognize that I have wallowed in legal news for most of this column, and I know some of you are wondering: “Ann? Don’t you have any gay penguins to tell us about?

Or maybe a right-wing Christian caught picking up boy toys on Grindr?”

No, sorry. I’m still in Scotland, in a charming university town filled with wild daffodils, black and white magpies and dairy farms, where you can walk to two-hundred-year-old bars with shelves lined by three dozen varieties of whiskey (sadly, one of the very few types of alcohol I don’t particularly like).

The weather here is like a San Francisco summer, although we’ve had some sunny days in the seventies, when we’ve blown off trips to castles in favor of afternoons on the patios at some of those aforementioned bars. Mel and I have taken up smoking for the duration, which means I look forward to another grueling period of withdrawal in a few days. But it seems worth it. My granddaughters are now old enough to scold us, so we are obliged to sneak around like high school students, hiding from adorable small girls behind outbuildings and strolling down the block when they’re not paying attention. They’re pretty easy to fool.

In Ireland, a lesbian journalist was recently shot dead during a protest in an accident that drew condemnation by all sides. In Connecticut,

a conservative youth was expelled, ostensibly for spouting politically incorrect viewpoints, but possibly for other, undisclosed offenses.

(I chose to believe the school.) And while we’re in Connecticut, Yale Law School is on the defensive for enforcing a non-discrimination policy, which means they won’t subsidize students who work for antigay public-interest organizations during the summer or after graduation.

I’m not sure why Yale would subsidize anyone after they graduate from law school, but apparently, they do.

Oh! And we elected a lesbian mayor in Tampa, former police chief Jane Castor.

Meanwhile, I gather that life goes on in Trump’s America, although I’ve enjoyed the respite from the nonstop MSNBC that normally plagues my living room. How does that happen? It seems the TV turns on by itself as soon as Nicole Wallace takes the anchor chair and it stays on until Brian Williams signs off. It used to start with Morning Joe, but at some point, we grew weary of starting our day with self-absorbed jocularity, pretentious discussions of European soccer leagues, Joe’s ponderous sarcasm and Mika’s obsession with women’s salary negotiations as if she were the first to recognize that women have a tendency to sell themselves short.

Suffice it to say, we have cleansed ourselves of political nitpicking and breaking news about yesterday’s breaking news, but we will shortly return to Life in these United States and plug ourselves back into the Trump-o-sphere. Until then, dear Readers. arostow@aol.com

Read more online at www.sfbaytimes.com

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QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on page 20)

A) PlanetOut PlanetOut launched in August 1995 on the Microsoft Network, and

by April 1996 closed its first round of funding, a $3 million minority share investment by Sequoia Capital and America Online. On October 14, 2004, the company went public and became the first gay-directed business to trade its stock on a major U.S. stock exchange, Nasdaq.

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Lou Fischer: What are your goals once you take over as Chief?

Chief Jeanine Nicholson: To ensure that SFFD works collaboratively with the Mayor’s office to reduce homelessness. We are already working on making our community paramedicine program more robust to address homelessness in San Francisco by getting people off the street and into services.

Currently, 38% of SFFD’s medical calls are homeless-related. The opioid crisis is one of our top priorities. It not only impacts the user, but also stretches the resources of our first responders. We also need to focus on building up our disaster preparation, which involves working closely with the Department of Emergency Management and other City Departments. We have almost 30,000 trained members of the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (civilians trained

by SFFD to assist in disasters) and we are always looking to train more NERTs. For more information go to: http://www.sfgov.org/sfnert Lou Fischer: I got NERT certified initially so I’d be prepared in the event of a disaster, and now I go to the drills because you’re so busy.

It’s the only time we get to hang out!

Chief Jeanine Nicholson: Uh, yeah, I doubt there will much time for hanging out anymore. I’m going to be pretty busy. Tell your friends and readers to join NERT. It’s free and is literally life-saving knowledge.

Lou Fischer: What advice do you have for women who want to be a firefighter?

Chief Jeanine Nicholson: Don’t doubt yourself. Be prepared physically, psychologically and mentally. You must believe in yourself and support each other. This is not just for women; I would say that to queer people, people of color and anyone else that is considering a career as a firefighter. Let me repeat the most important part: support each other.

Lou Fischer: We got a little off the track of “up close and personal” so I’ll close with some personal questions. Favorite color? Favorite Beatle?

Favorite sport to play?

Chief Jeanine Nicholson: Blue is my favorite color. You need to end your obsession with the Beatles.

They broke up 50 years ago. I prefer Marvin Gaye & Robert Smith from The Cure. My favorite sport to play will always be ice hockey with rugby a close second and maybe a little basketball sometimes.

Lou Fischer: Thanks for your time. Congratulations on your appointment. So proud of you!

Chief Jeanine Nicholson: Back at you, my sister!

Louise (Lou) Fischer is a Former Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and has served as an appointed and elected Delegate for the State Democratic Party. She is a proud graduate of the Emerge California Women’s Democratic Leadership program, was a San Francisco Commissioner and has served in leadership positions in multiple nonprofit and community-based organizations.

MILLER (continued from page 6) or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security. Brio does not provide tax or legal advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as such. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing.

As always, please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional.

Brio Financial Group is a registered investment adviser. SEC Registration does not constitute an endorsement of Brio by the SEC nor does it indicate that Brio has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Brio Financial Group and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Brio Financial Group unless a client service agreement is in place.

Brandon Miller, CFP®, is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.

Addio, Lucca Ravioli Longtime customers were literally sobbing as a San Francisco food treasure, Lucca’s, closed its doors for good this week. Some members of our team went there for decades, having first gone with their parents and grandparents.

Lucca’s used to have delis in other Bay Area cities, such as Oakland and San Leandro. We will miss Lucca!

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Hosted by the Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc., the 15th Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival will be held on Saturday, May 4, on Valencia Street between 21st and 24th Streets. http://www.mncsf.org/sfcincodemayo

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS http://sfbaytimes.com/

2 Thursday NightLife in Space: The Moon @ California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse.

NightLife goes to the Moon and back, exploring the origins of space travel and the future of lunar missions. This event is one in the ongoing NightLife series that includes themed activities, beverages, lectures, live performances and more.

6pm. https://bit.ly/2J76FGJ Castro Art Walk @ Castro District Locations. A neighborhood art walk held monthly on the first Thursday of each month at multiple hosting locations. 6-9pm. http://www.castroartwalk.com Bold Choreography from Smuin Contemporary Ballet Smuin Ballet’s Dance Series 02 @ Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard Street. The program celebrates the Ballet’s 25th Anniversary with a world premiere and some bold choreography from founder Michael Smuin. 7:30pm continuing through May 5. http://www.smuinballet.org F213: Artists Provide the Imagery, Writers Respond Exhibition @ Arc Gallery, 1246 Folsom Street. Presented by the Northern California Women’s Caucus for Art, the exhibit presents

the work of multiple women artists whose work is described as a bold artistic expression of feminist protest. Wednesday, Thursdays and Saturdays through May 11. http://www.ncwca.org

135 West San Carlos, San Jose. Tony Bennett’s daughter Antonia Bennett has been touring with her father and will open the performance with a collection of jazz/pop standards.

8pm. http://www.sanjosetheters.org

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QACON ’19 (Queer and Asian Conference) @ University of California, Berkeley.

This three-day student-run conference devoted to queer and Asian identities is the only conference of its kind at the collegiate level. The event is open to all and HIV testing and information will be provided. http://www.qacon.org

Solo Polyamory Unconference 2019 @ The Women’s Building, 3543 18th Street.

This two-day conference is for solo polyamorous people and those who love them. Check schedule. https://bit.ly/2J76FGJ

Live Life Healthy @ 518-A Castro Street. AIDS Healthcare Foundation Clinic’s event will offer free lunch, raffles, plus tips and info on healthy lifestyle/nutrition, blood pressure, diabetes and HIV testing.

10am-4pm. 415-255-2720

14th Annual Noe Valley Garden Tour @ Multiple locations in Noe Valley. The 2019 tour, themed “Art in the Garden,” includes a vareity of work such as sculpture, painting and photography presented in every garden.

10am-4pm. http://bit.ly/2GTMg6u

Ebabes Spring TGIF with Pavlov’s Kats @ The Terrace Room, Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison Street. The longstanding monthly mixer for women invites you to stop by for dancing, cocktails and conversation. 6-8:30pm. http://bit.ly/2UOnbO5

15th Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival @ Valencia between 21st and 24th Streets. Hosted by the Mission Neighborhood Centers,Inc., this annual festival offers a full day of activities, including traditional Mexican and Latin American foods, music, dance, and artistry for the entire family. 10am-6pm. http://www.mncsf.org/sfcincodemayo

Tony Bennett: Legendary Crooner @ City National Civic,

5 Sunday The 20th Annual How Weird Street Faire @ Howard and 2nd Streets. The event, celebrating peace, creativity and weirdness, features music and art, a quirky marketplace, a cannabis education area, and many memorable performances. Noon to 8pm. http://www.howweird.org “Dan Fought Hitler, the Bottle, and Me” @ Z Below, 470 Florida Street. Bay Area phenom Mick Berry will perform the oneman play he presented some twenty years ago about a man shot down over Austria and imprisoned by Nazis during WWII. 2pm. http://www.zspace.org

6 Monday Small Business Week Workshops & Networking @ Multiple locations. Through Small Business Week (May 6-11, 2019), free workshops and seminars will be offered on topics including finance, green business, marketing, technology, self-employment and more.

Check out the complete Calendar: http://bit.ly/2PGq7eT REAF’s One Night Only Benefit Cabaret @ Oasis, 298 11th Street. The touring cast of the Broadway show Roald Dahl’s Charlie 24

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Compiled by Blake Dillon and the Chocolate Factory will present an evening of music, dance and comedy supporting the work of the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF). 7:30pm. http://www.reaf.org Queer Stories Reign Supreme Exhibit @ Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street. The four-month exhibition includes historical materials, artifacts and archival documents along with representatives of social activism, contemporary artwork, costumes and ephemera. http://www.museumca.org

7 Tuesday Smart Drinking Group @ Strut, 3rd Floor, 470 Castro Street.

A weekly drop-in group with no requirements and all goals supported. 6-7:30pm. http://www.strutsf.org Gay USA Screening @ Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street.

OUTLook, Frameline and SF Pride co-present a new restoration of the first documentary by and about LGBT people that chronicles one of the most important years in LGBT history and the national Gay Freedom Day marches in June of 1977 held in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego and Philadelphia. 7-9pm. http://www.roxie.com

8 Wednesday The Global State of Gay Men’s Health @ SF Oasis, 298 11th Street. The event will present a conversation, led by MPact Global Action for Gay Men’s Health and Rights’ George Ayala and other local and international experts, on issues of health and human rights, and information on how community members living in the Bay Area can get involved. 6-9pm. http://www.mpactgolobal.org Oakland Pride Queer Movie Night Series @ Club 21, 2111 Franklin Street, Oakland. Benefiting the 10th Anniversary of Oakland Pride, the event is one in a series of movie nights featuring the screening of selected classic and contemporary films. 6:30-9pm. http:www.oaklndpride.org

9 Thursday 21st Annual Updates on Dementia Conference @ South San Francisco Conference Center 255 S. Airport Blvd, South San Francisco. Researchers and clinicians will present the latest research in the biological, social, psychological and cultural aspects of aging and

dementia with particular emphasis on practical applications. 8am-4pm. http://www.updatesondementia.com California and the Stonewall Riots Book Launch @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street.

Author Marc Stein will discuss his new book exploring how the Stonewall Riots reached the West Cost and how Golden State residents responded to the news from New York. 7-9pm. http://www.glbthistory.org

10 Friday Dreamgirls in Concert @ Creative Arts Building, McKenna Theatre, San Francisco State University. The concert version of the famed musical show features students and staff with the coaching of Beach Blanket Babylon star and faculty member Renée Lubin and musical direction by Dee Spencer.

7pm. http://bit.ly/2Lgq3nC Michael Feinstein @ Feinstein’s at The Nikko, 222 Mason Street.

Two-time Emmy Award and fivetime Grammy Award-nominated entertainer Michael Feinstein returns to San Francisco to perform at his namesake venue. 8pm continuing on May 11 and 12. http://www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com Finding Your Voice: A Collection of New Works by GAPA Theatre @ Bindlestiff Studio, 185 6th Street. Included will be a collection of original works written and performed by members of the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA) Theatre group. 8pm. GAPA Theater on Facebook

11 Saturday The Great San Francisco Sidewalk Sale @ Multiple Castro and Citywide Locations. Castro merchants will participate in this annual event, hosted in collaboration with the SF Council of District Merchants Associations, SF Chamber of Commerce and Office of Small Business, with more than 14 SF neighborhoods participating.

9am-7pm. http://bit.ly/2IWYTAj Many Stories, Shared Liberation - A Conversation with Alicia Garza @ First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, 2407 Dana Street, Berkeley. The Black Lives Matters co-founder and civil rights activist will speak, followed by a conversation with Rabbi Dev Noily and Jewish activists of color on how to work together to dismantle white supremacy and antisemitism. 7pm. http://www.kehillasynagogue.org

Pentatonix The World Tour @ Oracle Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland. Three-time Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum selling artist Pentatonix bring their show to Oakland. 7:30pm. http://www.oraclearena.com

12 Sunday Mother’s Day - Free Castro: Tales Of The Village Tour @ Harvey Milk Plaza Meeting Point, Castro and Market. A team of guides leads the tour on scheduled dates and you can learn about the neighborhood you thought you knew.

11am start time. http://bit.ly/2VwT16A Sunday’s A Drag @ The Starlight Room, Powell Street. Hosted by Donna Sachet, the event features a brunch and a troupe of entertainers.

Described as “The Greatest Drag Show in San Francisco,” we agree that it is great! Every Sunday at 10:30am. http://www.startlightroomsf.com

13 Monday Shut Up and Draw @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. This free event provides a quiet place to draw, be creative, doodle, sketch and be with fellow queers. 7-9:30pm. http://www.strutsf.org “Musical Mondays” SingAlong @ The Edge, 4149 18th Street. Sing and drink along every Monday and Wednesday at this landmark LGBT bar. 7pm-2am. http://www.theedgesf.com

14 Tuesday Perfectly Queer: LGBTQ Reading Series @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street.

Hosts Wayne Goodman and Rick May will welcome you to this event where one to three queer authors are featured along with refreshments and books available for purchase and signing. 7-8pm. http://www.dogearedbooks.com PFLAG San Francisco @ The Women’s Building, 3543 18th Street, Room B. Monthly meeting of PFLAG SF, which provides support, education and advocacy for parents, families, friends and LGBT community members. 7-9pm. http://www.pflagsf.org

15 Wednesday Castro Farmers’ Market @ Noe Street, 16th and Market. Every Wednesday from March through November, the street next to Flore and Lookout is abloom with fresh fruits and vegetables, rain or shine.

5-8pm. http://www.pcfma.org Mr. and Miss Golden Gate Gaymer Night @ Brewcade SF, 2200 Market Street, #B. GG Gayme Night kicks off a new venue for this ongoing group night out featuring drink specials, arcade games, drag performances and locally sponsored prizes with proceeds to benefit Strut. 7-10pm. http://www.brewcadesf.co

16 Thursday Member Preview/Andy Warhol-From A to B and Back Again @ SF Museum of Modern Art, 151 3rd Street. Join SFMOMA and gain access to three days of exclusive previews, early weekend entry and a Summer Exhibition Party. 10am-9pm. http://www.sfmoma.org

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A scene from La Cage Aux Folles was projected on the Castro Theatre’s screen during the Big Festival Party during the Ugo Tognazzi: A Film Series on April 27.

San Francisco Bay Times columnists John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney (right) joined marriage equality activists Willem van der Bas and Czeslaw Walek for a marriage equality benefit held on April 16 at the PIlsner bar.

PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) began in 1986 when volunteers at The San Francisco AIDS Foundation Food Bank noticed that some clients were neglecting their own nutrition and feeding donated food to their animal companions instead. With the belief that no person should have to choose between feeding themselves or their beloved pets, the volunteers created a special food bank to carry pet food and supplies.

The demand for this new service was overwhelming and, in October 1987, PAWS became an independent, nonprofit organization.

Berlin & Beyond Film Festival’s Sōpón Sorn (right) with friends enjoyed the reception following the screening of works honoring filmmaker Ugo Tognazzi on April 27 at the Castro Theatre.

“The Carving of the Prosciutto” station at the Big Feast Party honoring Italian filmmaker Ugo Tognazzi following a screening of Tognazzi’s work held at the Castro Theatre on April 27 during the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival

Students from Redding Elementary School, along with community and civic leaders, joined Mayor London Breed in a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to mark the re-opening of Fern Alley Streetscape after the completion of a makeover.

Now a program of Shanti Project, PAWS and its 32 years of service will be celebrated on June 6 at the fundraiser Petchitecture ( https://bit.ly/2VA6DxL).

Rink has been chronicling this popular event for years, and was at the one in 2011, held on April 23 of that year.

Among the guests at the Palace Hotel were John Cunningham, Executive Director of the National AIDS Memorial Grove; broadcast journalist Jan Wahl; and singer Paula West. Each brought their pets, such as West’s “Satchmo,” named after jazz legend Louis Armstrong.

We hope that they—and you—can attend this year’s Petchitecture. John Lipp, former Executive Director of PAWS, will be honored. As for Satchmo back in 2011, canine guests are always welcome!

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Sisters Scola, Loosy, Vish and Nina joined marriage equality activists Willem van der Bas and Czeslaw Walek at a benefit for marriage equailty in the Czech Republic held at the Pilsner Bar on April 16.

Pilsner bar was the setting for the marriage equality benefit held on April 16.

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman (second from left) paused with Alice B Toklas Democratic Club co-chair Gina Simi and friends at the Alice Club’s annual Birthday Party for Alice B. Toklas, the club’s namesake.

Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club co-chairs David Fujimoto and Gina Simi (left) were joined at Bond bar in the Mission on April 25 by Owen Stephens and Charles Sheehan at the 142nd Birthday Party for Gertrude Stein’s lover Alice for whom the club is named.

Toye Moses, Lisa Williams and Kristen Asato-Webb were among those on hand at Bond bar in the Mission on April 25 for the 142nd Birthday Party of Alice B. Toklas.

Members of the Alexander Hamilton Post 448 of the American Legion held their annual Spring Potluck Dinner Celebration at the Veterans Building on April 18.

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Activist Joey Cain was among the speakers who discussed the Mattachine Society at an event held at the GLBT History Museum on April 18. A video about the Society was also shown.

Husbands Ron Wood and Roger Hunt enjoyed dinner at Poesia restaurant during the 2019 Dining Out For Life event held on April 23. The couple are noted for having showed up for many years at the SF Clerk’s office asking for a marriage license during the years before marriage for same-sex couples was legal.

http://sfbaytimes.com/ Participants dressed as cartoon characters at the Cherry Blossom Festival held in Japantown on April 20

items of the week Color Atelier Lime Paint

Poesia owner Francesco D’lppolito (top right) welcomed husbands John Melichar and Criss Romeo (standing) and Mike Vanni (seated) at his restaurant during the annual Dining Out for Life evening held at multiple Castro locations on the evening of Tuesday, April 23.

Go all natural! Color Atelier Lime Paint is organic, durable, naturally mildew resistant and made here in the Bay Area!

Choose from a curated palette of 30 pre-mixed colors and create a luxe, velvety finish on any wall.

At the Cherry Blossom Festival held in Japantown on April 20, an entertainer dressed as a cartoon character entertained the crowd.

Sunnylife Inflatables Inflate your summer with Sunnylife inflatables. Great for the pool, beach, river or park!

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s the sun starts to shine, let the outdoor fun begin. Join us Saturday, May 11, for our annual Sidewalk Sale. Great deals just in time for Mother’s Day.

Dog Eared Bookstore Castro’s manager Alvin Orloff displays Tennessee Williams’ Collected Stories during the Indie Festival Bookstore Day on April 27.

LGBT Asylum Project supporters Okan Sengun, Gareth Gooch, Aja Monet, Miss Chief and Kelly Rose received a check from Krewe de Kinque founder Gary Virginia at the Edge bar in the Castro.

Server David Arango delivers the Gold Rush Burger to diners at the legendary Grubstake diner in the Polk district on April 12. Grubstake is famous for its American and Portugese menu options, drinks and late night hours.

Greeters Aja Monet and Kane Colby welcomed guests to the benefit for the LGBT Asylum Project held at the Edge bar on April 20 by Krewe de Kinque.

Emcee Gary Virginia led the program at the Krewe de Kinque benefit for the LGBT Asylum Project held at the Edge bar on April 20.

Servers Martine Meyer, Struby Struble and Rylee Hawkins diplayed a gourmet pizza at the Sausage Factory restaurant during the Dining Our for Life event held on April 23.

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