San Francisco Bay Times - June 11, 2020

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2020)

OBAMA.ORG

June 11–24, 2020 | http://sfbaytimes.com

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Black Lives Matter

White Folks – Get Onboard or Get Out of the Way

Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History Louise “Lou” Fischer I was horrified by the recent deaths (murders) of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and those who came before them. I cannot imagine the anguish felt by the families of the victims and the soulcrushing collective pain of the black community.

I’m way past the deadline for turning in this column because I’m suffering from a total inability to focus on one topic when there are so many competing narratives. I’m overwhelmed with sadness, anger, and shame regarding the level of systemic racism in this country; the incessant profiling by law enforcement that results in the murders of innocent men, women, and sometimes children; the callous indifference shown by police and the criminal justice system; and the inappropriate militaristic response by the Trump regime to quash the 1st amendment rights of lawful protesters.

As a public servant (day job), a “bleeding-heart liberal” (according to my father, but I prefer the term “activist”), and a wannabe “fixer” in how I engage with the world (my Meyers-Briggs type is “Protagonist”), my first instinct when I see problems that cause societal harm is to do something: elect the right people to write

better laws and enact institutional practices, organize communities to work together, root out bad apples in law enforcement and mandate programs for implicit (and explicit) bias training and de-escalation procedures. The current institutions of power are reinforcing the problem of systemic racism and have completely failed communities of color in this country. How do we, as a nation, overcome racism, prejudice, and the deep-rooted disparities in law enforcement, government, employment, and economic opportunities?

Clearly it is not going to be solved with bloviating and pontification by white people of privilege who have bungled it so badly for the past 400+ years. How about we start with a commitment to learning from the actual victims? While the activist in me wants to jump in and fight, I know that right now, I have to listen and follow the lead of the very people whose personal experiences of racial suffering know better what changes are needed.

Aging in Community Dr. Marcy Adelman This Pride my heart is heavy and filled with grief and anger for the murder of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many other victims of police brutality. Racially motivated violence against people of color is not new.

Police brutality has been a part of American history from the very beginning of our country.

But the live video of the killing of two black men—Floyd and Arbery— exposed the racially motivated violence against black people that happens every day in our country.

Floyd, flat on his stomach, his hands cuffed behind his back, struggled to breathe while a white policeman kept his knee on Floyd’s neck until Floyd suffocated to death. Arbery, out for an evening jog, was chased down, shot, and brutally murdered by two 2

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Across the country, young people have taken to the streets to protest the murder of black people and the systemic racism of American institutions. The protesters are black, brown, white, and mixed-race young people who have braved COVID19 to peacefully gather together to oppose social injustice. In this dark moment of murder, death, disease, and uncertainty, a generation has been mobilized to demand change.

Many in the LGBTQ community have responded to the murders and the protests. More than 300 LGBTQ organizations released a joint statement of commitment to fight police brutality, racial injustice, and full equality for all, including LGBTQ people.

George Floyd

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2020)

About Our Cover & George Floyd

At this time in June we usually use the full voice of the San Francisco Bay Times to honor LGBTQ organizations, community leaders, and others whose work and sacrifice contributed to the emergence and ongoing evolution of Pride. The June 1969 police raid on New York’s Stonewall Inn sparked a three-day riot that helped to launch the modern-day gay rights movement. The death of 46-year-old George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, after police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost 9 minutes, marked another tipping point.

Ahmaud Arbery

Floyd’s final moments and words continue to tear through the very soul of America and beyond: “Please, please, I can’t breathe.” “I’m claustrophobic.” “I can’t move. Mama, mama, I can’t.” “Please, sir, please. I can’t breathe.”

As a woman-owned business, we remain devastated that Floyd called out to his deceased mother; that he could not be saved because a cruel public official who swore “to protect and to serve” ignored Floyd’s pleas and those of horrified onlookers. We now think of his 6-year-old daughter Gianna, who misses her father but who proudly proclaims, “Daddy changed the world.”

Breonna Taylor

... your white allyship without work is no longer acceptable, your passiveness is no longer acceptable. More is needed, more is expected, you are either for black lives or you are not. My life matters more than your comfort.”

Fellow white folks, I’m calling you out; we need to listen and educate ourselves to use our privilege to uplift (continued on page 26)

This Pride, reflect on what you can do to make a difference. Listen and learn from black leadership. Support black organizations such as Black Lives Matter and other groups fighting racial injustice. Demand police accountability. Support black legislators and black businesses. And continue to fight for equality for all LGBTQ people.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.

Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

–Martin Luther King, Jr., in an April 16, 1963, letter from a jail in Birmingham, Alabama

Dr. Marcy Adelman, a psychologist and LGBTQ+ longevity advocate and policy adviser, oversees the Aging in Community column. She serves on the California This Pride, our work is clear. We Commission on Aging, the Governor’s cannot stand by while black and Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness brown people are dying of COVIDTask Force, the Board of the Alzheimer’s 19 in disproportionately high numAssociation of Northern bers, and are being California, and the killed and murSan Francisco Dignity dered by police simFund Oversight and ply because of the Advisory Committee. color of their skin.

She is the Co-Founder The country is at an of Openhouse, the only inflection point that Alegre Home Care is proud to San Francisco nonprofit calls on each of us to support Dr. Marcy Adelman’s exclusively focused on the act to dismantle sysAging in Community column in health and well-being of temic racism in our the San Francisco Bay Times. country.

LGBTQ+ older adults.

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Michelle Obama shared these words earlier this week with the Class of 2020 and with “everyone out there using their voice to fight for justice right now.”

The Time for Action Is Now white men. These videos made the suffering and violence undeniably and horrifically real.

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“So much has changed so quickly. And if any of you are confused, or scared, or angry—or just plain overwhelmed—I just want you to know that you aren’t alone. I am feeling all of that, too.”

As a white woman who has been provided “skin color” privileges, I need to do more than just make sure I’m not manifesting racist attitudes and behaviors; I must seek out and challenge the prejudices in my own circles lest they continue to be woven into the fabric of our culture. Black people have suffered long enough under a broken system that was built by white people.

In a recent entry in The Lily, a newsletter published by The Washington Post, actress and BLM activist Nicole Ruthmarie Watkins posted “An open letter to my nonblack friends: My life matters more than your comfort” that calls this out in blunt detail (edited for brevity): “Your ancestors have benefited from the racism against black people ... white people were the looters first [who] looted the whole world for spices, for black and brown bodies, for land, white people are still the looters now. Your silence

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Floyd long had dreams of making a positive impact on others. As a second grader, during the end of Black History Month, he wrote an essay in response to an assignment question: “How will you impact the future?

What will you do to make a difference?” Floyd, who then went by his middle name Perry, wrote, “When I grow up, I want to be a Supreme Court judge. When people say, ‘Your honor, he did rob the bank,’ I will say, ‘Be seated.’ And if he doesn’t, I will tell the guard to take him out.

Then I will beat my hammer on the desk. Then everybody will be quiet ... .”

“He was a good boy,” teacher Waynel Sexton said of Floyd, adding that he was “quiet” and a “delight to have in the classroom.”

Floyd’s dreams changed as his athletic skills became evident. He was a star basketball and football player at Jack Yates High School in Houston, Texas, before winning a basketball scholarship at South Florida Community College (now South Florida State College). Floyd friend Eddy Barlow told The Undefeated, “George was idolized by young boys living in the projects because he was the first guy that many of us witnessed get an athletic scholarship where we grew up. He was one of my role models. He was one of us.”

Floyd’s biggest challenge in sports, according to Yates football coach Maurice McGowan, was that he was too nice. He was a towering 6’6” tall, and yet he did not want to injure anyone. As his brother Philonise Floyd told CNN, “He’s a gentle giant. He doesn’t hurt anybody.”

With his Supreme Court and sports dreams dashed, Floyd became a truck driver and then a security guard. One regular gig was at the Conga Latin Bistro, where owner Jovanni Thunstrom said, “He was loved by all my employees and my customers.”

Friend and former NBA player Stephen Jackson remembers Floyd as a protector and provider who gave so much to others and yet wanted nothing in return. Jackson, who called Floyd his “twin,” said, “The difference between me and bro was that I had more opportunity than he did.”

And so Floyd, like most of us, did not make headlines. It was not until his horrific death that we even learned about him. We only wish that we could have saved him. His life mattered. His story continues to resonate deeply, such that millions continue to take to the streets both nationally and internationally in his honor to stand up against racial injustice and police brutality.

These turbulent and uncertain times that still also include the global coronavirus pandemic can feel scary and overwhelming, as Michelle Obama said. She added, “To anyone out there who feels invisible: Please know that your story matters. Your ideas matter. Your experiences matter. Your vision for what our world can and should be matters.

Your anger—that matters too. But left on its own, it will only corrode, destroy, and sow chaos—on the inside and out. Dr. King was angry.

Sojourner Truth was angry. Lucretia Mott, Cesar Chavez, the folks at Stonewall—they were all angry. But they were also driven by compassion, by principle—by hope. And if you hold strong with the same faith that carried all those giants before you toward real, measurable progress—you will change the course of history.”

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Black Lives Matter

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2020)

Use of Deadly Enforcement: Policing to Protect White Privilege Must End due to comfort, convenience, and complicity.

No more task forces, commissions, hashtag slogans, and waxing poetic by commentators and politicians on what to do. We know what to do and what must be done.

Cross Currents Andrea Shorter George Floyd is now laid to rest in his hometown of Houston, Texas.

May he rest in peace knowing that while he was yet another in a bloody long line of thousands of black men in America killed by police brutality, the horrific and unnecessary ending of his life captured on video for all the world to see turned the world upside down, inside and out, and set it on fire in a righteous rage for justice by ending state sanctioned genocide against black lives.

May he rest in peace knowing that we will not martyrize him for a moment of ritual righteous rebellion in the streets for 3 weeks, speak his and other names as fashionable trend, and then waste the sacrifice of their lives by easing back into comforts and distractions that delay and deny real justice, real revolution, and real reform that stands to spare us all from the further pain and inhumanity of unnecessary loss of more black lives to police brutality.

The time for change and justice has for a long time always been now.

Now is always the right time. Ending brutality and genocide is never congruent with right-timed historical context. Context is academic and political exercise. Generations upon generations of sanctioned brutality persists beyond context—it persists

The brand of public policing in America that has brutalized and taken away countless lives of black people cannot and will not change until truth is spoken plainly and directly to the unspoken, tacit arrangement regarding public safety in America: policing black lives for white privilege protection.

There are two primary accounts of public safety in operation: aspirational public safety, and safe from the public.

Public safety is the idealized, aspirational version in which all citizens regardless of race, gender, age, religion, income, or zip code should be served and protected with equal respect and diligence by local and state police forces. It is the Sesame Street “officer friendly” version in which we imagine and expect familiar cops on the beat, providing a watchful eye over children playing safely in the park, helping the elderly safely cross a street, patrolling quiet neighborhood streets at night keeping potential intruders at bay, and only using sanctioned force of violence in justified pursuit or apprehension of evident criminal suspects who pose an immediate threat to the greater public safety, including said sworn peace officers.

Militarized to patrol, control, and manage the territorial physical and social boundaries between deserving, tax paying, primarily white skin privileged people in real or implied gated communities—those that do or aspire to be members of safe privatized living, private golf clubs, send their children to private schools, enjoy other privatized or near privatized public spaces—and the public—those dreadful undesirables who

must attend public schools, live in public housing, depend on crowded public transit, use public hospitals, public assistance for food, etc. Or, just simply the self-entitled heirs to the privileges manifestly bestowed for just being born white—wealthy, poor, whatever. Compared to being otherwise, apparently just being white is enough to reap the societal blessings for not having been shamefully born non-white.

Safe from the public is the account by which state and local police are expected to act as vital agents to enforce racial and class segregation. This deeply invested and long held account and practice of policing to segregate has claimed the lives of Oscar Grant, Mario Woods, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Sean Monterrosa, and likely numerous others in this past week alone.

With hundreds of years of constructing an Anglo-racial American history literally founded upon the carnage, enslavement, dehumanization, criminalization, denigration, institutional segregation, and where possible the elimination of indigenous and nonwhite people, segregationist policing is a perpetual necessity to maintain and prop up at all costs the sanctity of Anglo privilege, wealth, and superiority complex. The most feared consequence of the absence of real or implied segregationist policing isn’t anarchy; it is equality.

Racial segregation is not so simply rooted in skin prejudice, cultural differences, or redlining. It is rooted in both presumptive and materialized benefit of subjective power over others considered less equal to the beneficiary. In such a shortsighted calculation concerning maximizing the collective mind, creative, and spiritual power of the human species, power and equality cannot possibly hold the same space. One cannot be equal to those qualified as less human than them. The consequence of deconstructing, dismantling, and

destroying the norms predicated on protecting and preserving the superiority and sanctity of whiteness above all others is tantamount to death for those truly invested in those beneficial constructs.

Beneficiary case-in-point: Amy Cooper should be arrested and charged with obstruction of justice, and false witness. Caught on video in late May, she knew exactly what she was doing as a white female in Central Park threatening to call and then actually calling the police presenting false claim that she was being menaced by an African American man named Christian Cooper (no relation to her) when he simply asked that she leash her rambunctious dog.

He was birdwatching. No consequence in exploiting her white female privilege over his black male vulnerability to probable harm, brutality, injury, and maybe even death at the hands of the NYPD, right? That’s what the police are there for, right?

To protect her white privilege no matter what—her word against that of his. Emmett Till, Emmett Till.

I am not anti-police. There are more good cops than bad, yes. We do need police, and I respect those officers whom I’ve come to know over the years who are truly committed or called to serve and protect with honor the communities in which they serve, especially those who

have worked with community advocates and experts to shape, improve, reform and implement policies and best practices that better serve, protect, and save lives subjected to domestic and family violence, gun violence, and wasteful juvenile detention.

Simultaneously, as a Black woman in America, I know all too well the pain and suffering of losing black male relatives and friends to police brutality and needless use of force. In one case, I was standing across the street while a friend who was on his way to my home was gunned down by the police.

As a Black woman in America, I have no choice but to be invested in change and reform in policing that confront and require a very clear, unflinching understanding of how and why policing as an agent of segregation can and must end.

Beyond the policy regarding body cameras, chokeholds, and use of force, political and campaign reform must also be seriously resolved.

Perhaps police unions should be prohibited from donating to district attorneys, mayors, and/or city and county governing bodies that oversee the policies by which they operate and shield them from accountability. (continued on page 26)

Marches and Protests Give Me Hope

By Supervisor Rafael Mandelman The last couple of weeks have been hard. As if the pandemic’s grinding and sometimes tragic disruptions of our lives were not enough, the shocking murder of George Floyd landed like a match on a country ready to ignite. At the same time, the collective welling up of outrage and revulsion—and the insistence of people across the nation on gathering together to mourn victims of police violence, protest antiblack violence in all its forms, and demand change—has been beautiful to behold (even if a bit worrying from a public health perspective).

Millions of people have taken to the streets across America, and indeed across the globe, to march for justice not just for George Floyd, but also for Breonna Taylor, Sean Monterrosa, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Mario Woods, Oscar Grant, and far, far too many other victims of police violence.

Last Monday, I joined Mayor Breed, Supervisor Walton, and AfricanAmerican faith leaders for a kneel-in in front of City Hall. On Wednesday, I was awed by the tens of thousands of people who convened in front of Mission High at a protest organized

by black and brown San Francisco youth. On Friday, my office assisted an amazing march, speak out, and dance party organized by and for queer people of color to honor victims of police violence and to celebrate the strength of our queer POC community. And on Saturday, I was delighted to see Noe Valley making itself heard, as hundreds of neighbors marched Sanchez Street chanting “black lives matter.”

These are, of course, just a few of the actions that have taken place just in San Francisco. It can be a challenge to remain positive during troubled times—and these times are certainly troubled—but these marches and protests give me hope that people of good will can make the world a better place and will not be silenced.

Rafael Mandelman, a former “San Francisco Bay Times” columnist, serves on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 8 and is a member of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee. He previously served on the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees, was a President of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, and has held numerous other city and statewide positions.

KTVU 2’s news chopper captured images of the very large crowd at Mission High School across from Dolores Park on Wednesday, June 3.

See related photos on page 5 and view the related video at https://bit.ly/3fczCOf S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

JUNE 11, 2020

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Black Lives Matter

Pride in Not Hating During Difficult Times

6/26 and Beyond John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney “Hatred never ceases through hatred. Only by not-hating does it end.” So reads an enigmatic 2,000-year-old Indian Buddhist text. As LGBTIQ Pride month begins, we find ourselves taking pride in the fact that a gay African American man’s forceful yet considered response to a completely unprovoked act of racism against him provides us an opportunity to see how this ancient adage can still apply in today’s tumultuous times.

As millions around the world are now aware, Christian Cooper, an acclaimed “pioneer of queer representation in comics,” was enjoy-

The dog owner first started to come at Cooper to grab his phone, and he firmly but politely told her: “Please don’t come close to me.” Perhaps disarmed by Cooper’s clarity and equanimity, the dog owner attempted, in Cooper’s words, “to get an edge in [the] situation,” threatening to call 911 and falsely “tell them there’s an AfricanAmerican man threatening my life.”

She soon did just that and launched into histrionics to the 911 operator: “There’s a man, an AfricanAmerican man. He is recording me and threatening me and my dog.”

She implored the operator: “Please send the cops immediately!”

In an interview with The View, Cooper explained that he began filming the dog owner, because he and many other birdwatchers had been documenting incidents of dog owners failing to abide by park rules designed to protect wildlife. The

PHOTO BY RHUARIDH MARR/CENTER FOR BLACK EQUITY.JPG

ing birdwatching in a part of New York’s Central Park where dogs must be leashed to protect bird habitat. After Cooper asked a dog owner to put a leash on her dog, he began filming what ensued on his phone.

Christian Cooper

city itself had done very little to enforce the rules.

Cooper described the dog walker’s fabrication that he as a black man was about to attack her as a racist act, and “I decided consciously that I was not going to participate in my own dehumanization.”

He later told The New York Times: “There are certain dark societal impulses that she, as a white woman facing in a conflict with a black man, that she thought she could marshal to her advantage.”

This same sense of power and entitlement perhaps led Minneapolis (continued on page 26)

What Constitutes a Domestic Enemy?

By Zoe Dunning

“What are you doing?? Turn on CNN right now!” they ordered.

These are two of my dearest friends, both U.S. Army veterans. Lissa served as a Chinook helicopter pilot, was kicked out of the Army under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and is now an Assistant Professor of Leadership at West Point. Yvette is a retired Colonel who at one point was responsible for leading all military intelligence operations for U.S. Special Forces in Africa. Both have commanded troops for much of their Army careers.

I did as instructed, and tuned into the livestream coverage waiting for President Trump’s remarks in the Rose Garden. The three of us watched live as peaceful demonstrators outside the White House were charged by riot police, pushed back, and gassed.

“GD they’re using flashbangs!!!”

Yvette exclaimed.

Stun grenades exploded across our screens as disoriented protestors spun in multiple directions trying to figure out how to escape the line of uniformed officers coming at them.

“What are they DOING?” “Why are they doing that?” we repeatedly shouted at each other, hoping one of the three of us could make sense of what we were seeing.

Then the President took the podium for his brief remarks. These words shook me to my core: “Today I have strongly recommended to every governor to deploy 4

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the National Guard in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets.

Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming presence until the violence is quelled. If a city or state refuses ... then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.”

“He’s declaring martial law?!” I asked.

PHOTO BY SHAUN THEW

My iPhone screen lit up—incoming group video call from Lissa and Yvette. I was sitting in my backyard, trying to catch a little sun before my next Zoom work call. It was a little after 3 pm here, which meant 11 pm in Scotland, where Yvette lives. Something big must be up, so I answered.

Trump, flanked by officers in riot gear, crosses through

“Just about. He didn’t say Lafayette Park on the way to his now infamous photo op in the words, but pretty damn front of St. John’s Episcopal Church holding up a Bible. close,” Lissa responded. tors themselves. How can we force our military to, using the President’s We sat there stunned, processing words, “dominate the streets” and what we had just seen and heard. “establish an overwhelming presThen the President and his entouence” against unarmed protestors? rage strode over to the church for That is not what we signed up for. the now infamous photo op holding the (upside down) Bible. With Fortunately, resistance to deployhim were the military’s two leading the military domestically came ers, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper swiftly from prominent military and and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of diplomatic leaders. On June 5, more Staff General Mark Milley, wearthan 280 retired diplomats, generals, ing his camouflage Army Combat and senior national security officials Uniform, perhaps to emphasize that signed onto a statement titled “The they were going into battle. Against Strength of America’s Apolitical Americans in America’s cities.

Military.” In it they called on “I know a lot of folks that will refuse to go,” Yvette commented. “No way.”

What my friend so quickly recognized is the conflict that many in the military experience when they are asked to perform a duty that they know to be morally incongruent with their beliefs or what they know to be the role of the military. LGBTQfriendly military attorneys assigned to prosecute Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell cases faced this dilemma for many years until repeal. Military recruiters who have to reject applications from fully qualified transgender candidates face it.

As a U.S. Navy veteran, I know I signed up to protect and defend our country against all enemies “foreign and domestic.” But what constitutes a domestic enemy? Yes, there was some violence and property damage done in conjunction with the recent protests, but almost never by the protes-

President Trump not to use the U.S. military for political ends, warning that American democracy was at risk. “There is no role for the U.S. military in dealing with American citizens exercising their constitutional right to free speech, however uncomfortable that speech may be for some,” the statement said.

Additionally, several individual highprofile military leaders have publicly denounced the move. Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Ret. Gen. Martin Dempsey condemned Trump’s threat to use military force to suppress nationwide protests as “dangerous” and “very troubling.”

Retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, Trump’s former defense secretary, also criticized Trump over his call for active-duty troops. Gen. John Allen, the former commander of American forces in Afghanistan, stated, “It (continued on page 26)

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This is America

Day 6 of Protests Following the Death of George Floyd

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2020)

Photos by Joanie Juster

Wednesday, June 3, will long be remembered by the thousands who took to the streets in Bay Area cities to protest police brutality, to honor George Floyd and other victims of injustice, and to support Black Lives Matter. Protests, rallies, and related events also took place on and around this time in every U.S. state and in numerous countries worldwide. Many are yet to come.

Here in San Francisco, a student-led protest was kicked off by Aztec dancers outside Mission High School. The large crowd spilled over into Dolores Park and surrounding streets. Protesters proceeded in multiple directions, with a large number heading on 18th for a right turn on Castro Street and then across Market. Others moved directly toward SF City Hall.

Another group proceeded from Dolores Park to the Mission Police Station at Valencia and 17th, where they were met by officers outside the building. Some of the officers “took a knee,” signaling solidarity with protestors and the movement strengthened by former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The gesture also recalled the horrific manner in which Floyd died.

Other protestors marched to the Hall of Justice where a large group gathered and a flag was burned. Many there held up their cellphone lights in silence outside the heavily guarded building. Primarily peaceful, the protests continued through the evening with some extending their time in the streets well beyond when the City’s 8 pm curfew went into effect. Protests in the Bay Area of varying sizes also took place in Oakland, San Jose, Richmond, San Mateo, and more.

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https://blacklivesmatter.com/

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Balancing the State Budget During the COVID-19 Pandemic lines at food distribution sites grow.

The jobless rate is estimated to jump to 18%. The recession we’ve been expecting is here.

Assemblymember Phil Ting Compared to just a few months ago, our world is completely different.

As Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, I have written about all the good investments we, as a state, have made over the last several years, as California’s economy grew and unemployment remained at record lows, hovering below 4%. But that has dramatically changed.

Since our state’s stay-at-home orders took effect in mid-March to slow the spread of COVID-19, we have seen over four million people apply for Unemployment Insurance, and the

To prepare for this, I worked with then-Governor Jerry Brown to solidify California’s financial foundation. We took the lessons of the last downturn to heart by steadily putting money away, while also reducing debt. These crucial steps continued under Governor Newsom, balancing the need to build up savings with a desire to invest in our state and its people. Our efforts culminated in a rainy-day fund with $16.5 billion in reserve as of April 2020.

That account has helped us respond to the COVID-19 emergency in real time. We bought masks and other protective equipment. Students on free lunch programs got food. Hotel rooms were secured for the homeless. Countless needs were addressed without having to pull funds from different programs and agencies.

But no one could have predicted the severity of this crisis. The pandemic is projected to exhaust the rainy-day fund ... and then some. California

will quickly swing from surplus to deficit, due to decreased tax revenues and increased expenditures in response to COVID-19. Estimates show our budget shortfall will range between $31 and $54 billion. Unlike the federal government, our state cannot borrow money to cover deficits.

Unfortunately, this means all options are on the table to close the budget gap, making difficult decisions to balance potential cuts with new revenues. The situation really pains me. California has achieved so much over the last few budgets, opening opportunities for many communities: increased per-pupil spending in K–14 education, progress toward universal healthcare, expanded childcare subsidies so parents can work, additional funding for public universities, and financial aid for college students— and more. We also invested $10 million in HIV prevention programs, $1.1 million to renovate the Harvey Milk and Eagle plazas, and $250,000 for the Museum of LGBTQ History and Culture in San Francisco. (continued on page 22)

3 Reasons to Create a Financial Plan Amid This Chaos Let’s not dwell on shoulda, woulda, couldas. Because this article isn’t about “Honey, that ship has sailed.”

It’s about why creating a financial plan is still a smart idea even in the midst of all this chaos. Here’s my thinking: The fat lady isn’t singing.

Money Matters Brandon Miller Ideally, you don’t plan for what to do in a disaster when you’re in the midst of one. But perhaps you didn’t get your financial act together before this recent confluence of events that has us feeling as unmoored as a cow in a tornado.

First, let’s acknowledge that we are not at the end of this pandemic (sadly) or the fight for justice (thankfully). The speed with which recent events have altered our lives and our thinking should be a reminder that we have no idea what’s in store for us next week, next month, or even next year. And lest we forget, the Bay Area is earthquake and wildfire country. We live with the day-to-day knowledge that uncertainty is a certainty.

Rather than go into a litany of all the adversity that could befall you, let’s just agree that there will be other things in your life that are beyond

your control and have an impact on your money.

Planning ahead gives you the advantage of preparing for the financial setbacks (as well as the opportunities) that can arise from abrupt changes to your life. You may be going through first-hand experience of how wonderful it is to have—or how terrible it is not to have—a cushion of money to fall back on when work is lean. Learn your lesson and become or stay well prepared for next time.

You don’t need more stress.

Controlling what you can puts you in, well, control. And research shows that helps you to feel calmer than worrying about all of the many things you have no power over.

While you can’t dictate the impacts of what is happening in the world, you can control how you handle your money to meet the new realities in (continued on page 22)

Two Crossovers for Enthusiasts It doesn’t matter if your budget is $850 or 100 times that; you will likely be passing much time in your new rig, and a thoughtfully designed vehicle that is engaging to drive can make each day a bit brighter.

Auto Philip Ruth Back to cars! That’s what the Bay Area is bracing for—an en masse migration from transit and rideshare services to private automotive travel. With post-coronavirus normality projected out somewhere in late 2021 or after, one feature of our near future will be a lot of sitting in traffic.

We’re all adjusting to new realities these days, and so an already-bad problem made worse is just another headline that scrolls past on our way to the updated virus death count. But if you’re forced back into owning a car, my anchor advice is more important than ever: get something you really, truly like.

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I experienced those brighter days when evaluating this week’s compact crossovers, the BMW X1 and Mazda CX-5. BMW and Mazda both focus on fun behind the wheel, albeit at different price points: the base X1 is almost exactly $10,000 above the entry-level CX-5, which checks in at $25,190.

Options on both held that gap in the pressers I drove, with the CX-5 Signature AWD at $38,820, and the X1 xDrive28i at $48,645.

So, what does that $10,000 buy? For some, the status of a BMW nameplate justifies it. Mazda isn’t far behind, as one onlooker commented that the CX-5 had the presence of an upscale brand. I found both to be handsome in their own ways. The BMW looks beefy and athletic with its $1,200 “Storm Bay Metallic” finish, while the CX-5 has a smooth elegance about it, accented by its luminous, $595 “Soul Red” crystal paint.

That’s how they drive, too. The BMW tingles with good vibes

BMWX1

Mazda CX-5

through the steering wheel, with more communication than most. The Mazda’s controls respond more softly to the touch, but your commands are still met with pleasing immediacy. Both ride on 19-inch aluminum wheels, and both feel planted and eager to play.

The BMW’s turbocharged engine gives it a clear advantage; the stated curb weights are within 13 pounds of each other, yet at 228 horsepower, the BMW has 41 more horses under the hood. And if you can keep your foot out of it—not an easy task, as (continued on page 22)

The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival

By Members of the Poor People’s Campaign Bay Area 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.

Photos courtesy of the Poor People's Campaign

The number of unhoused people dying on the street in San Francisco is triple the number that died last year at this time, as millions of people across California struggle to pay rent, feed their families, and work safely without adequate protective equipment.

As the Poor People’s Campaign Bay Area, we know poverty is nothing new. COVID-19 has exacerbated the racism and inequity that has existed in our country for centuries. Building on the radical legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is working to upend the distorted moral narrative that blames poor people for being poor.

The event will amplify the testimonies of people impacted by racism, poverty, environmental devastation, the military economy, and the falsehood that there aren’t enough resources to meet all of our needs.

With millions of people newly unemployed, politicians who care more about corporate tax breaks than expanding health care, and systemic racism that leads, again and again, to the murder of black and brown people, join us in saying enough is enough.

Join this new unsettling force in saying: Defund the murderous police. End corporate welfare for military contractors. Address the environmental crisis now. House and feed the people. Healthcare for all. A living wage and safe conditions for all workers.

On June 20th, thousands of people will gather virtually to demand that the needs of more than 140 million people with no and low wealth be prioritized.

Together we rise!

More information is at https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/

Dr. Betty L. Sullivan Jennifer L. Viegas Beth Greene Michael Delgado Abby Zimberg Design & Production

Kate Laws Business Manager Blake Dillon Calendar Editor

Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence J.H. Herren Technology Director Carla Ramos Web Coordinator Mario 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, Lou Fischer, Karin Jaffie, Brett Andrews, Karen E. Bardsley, David Landis, Jan Wahl Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Deborah Svoboda, Kristopher Acevedo, 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 © 2020 Bay Times Media Company Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas

UNAIDS Celebrates the Life of Pioneer AIDS Activist Larry Kramer (1935–2020) Photos by Rink

The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS issued the following on the recent passing of Larry Kramer: The AIDS movement has lost one of its earliest and leading activists, Larry Kramer, who passed away on May 27 in New York City. Kramer was one of the first to raise the alarm in the U.S. about the spread of the AIDS epidemic and throughout his life he actively rallied support to accelerate research into treatment and support for people living with HIV. “Larry Kramer was a remarkable leader and activist whose actions helped to save the lives of millions of people living with HIV around the world,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “He was a passionate and committed disrupter who made change happen. He wasn’t afraid to provoke and shock leaders and officials to react, which is what was needed, and often still is needed to bring the reality of what was happening on the ground to the center of media attention and political action.”

In 1982, enraged by seeing friends die from the disease, Kramer co-founded the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) to accelerate action from the scientific community and government.

GMHC was the first organization to offer support to people living with and affected by HIV and on its first day of operation its AIDS-hotline received more than 100 calls asking for advice and help.

Based in New York City, GMHC continues to fight to end the AIDS epidemic and to uplift the lives of all affected.

In 1987, Kramer helped to found ACT UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power. ACT UP took a radical approach to AIDS activism, staging demonstrations, protests, and die-ins at pharmaceutical companies, in churches, on Wall Street and Broadway, and at government institutions. ACT UP’s campaigning helped to spur progress in research for experimental medicines for HIV treatment and make them available more quickly and more equitably, and at an affordable price. Today, ACT UP is an international, grassroots political group working to end AIDS and improve the lives of people living with and affected by HIV through direct action, medical research, treatment and advocacy, and is working to change legislation and public policies.

Kramer was also a celebrated playwright and novelist, and a leading gay rights activist. He won a series of awards for his screenplays and plays, including a Tony award for his autobiographical play The Normal Heart, which tells the story of the AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s. UNAIDS shares its deep sadness and offers condolences to his husband and all who knew and loved him. He will be sadly missed.

Castro Merchants Recognizes Richard Magary

By Masood Samereie (Editor’s Note: The San Francisco Bay Times joins with Masood Samereie in congratulating Richard Magary on his dedicated service to Castro Merchants and to our community as a whole.)

I think we would all agree that Richard Magary has been a most valuable asset to Castro Merchants for the past 15 plus years. He has been our friend, ally, caretaker, critic, motivator, and much more to the organization. He has always expressed his honest opinions to the board (both individually and as a whole).

His impact on the organization can best be summarized by taking a line from a song by the 80s rock band Cinderella, “Don’t know what you got till it’s gone.”

Richard has always put his heart and soul in all that he has done for our Castro Merchants Association, for the good of our neighborhood, the city we love and call home!

The time has come for Richard to take some “ME Time.” He has decided to “hang it up and enjoy his retirement.” Richard has graciously agreed to assist Castro Merchants going forward on a limited basis, as a consultant.

His service to our organization has been invaluable. He has helped make Castro Merchants one of the best in the city, for that we salute Richard and wish him a very healthy, happy, and fulfilling retirement.

Masood Samereie is the President of Castro Merchants, http://www.castromerchants.com/

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Co-Publishers & Co-Editors

Castro Merchants Association's Richard Magary (right) and Donna Sachet received baskets of fresh produce at the Opening Day Ceremony for the Castro Farmer's Market in March of 2015.

Read the San Francisco Bay Times online: www.sfbaytimes.com www.issuu.com/sfbt

GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow RIP Larry Kramer You saw, I assume, that playwright/ activist Larry Kramer died of pneumonia a couple of weeks ago. It’s ironic that he breathed his last at this moment, when we stand at the crossroads of plague and civil unrest.

After all, Kramer spent his life directing traffic at a similar intersection, shouting with one breath at the powers that be and with the next breath at his own community. There are very few people like Kramer; an irritant, an activist in the truest sense of the word, an inspiration, a man doomed never to be satisfied.

He seemed to me the Ulysses Grant of the AIDS crisis, and yes, I just watched that three-part Grant biography on the History Channel.

Kramer was 84 when he died. So, he remembered the war protests, the civil rights marches, and the assassinations of the 1960s. He emerged into the nascent gay rights movement of the 1970s, only to run headlong into a combination of death and indifference that seemed impossible to defeat. Unlike COVID-19, no one cared about the epidemic that targeted sexual deviants (and Haitians).

Scientists tinkered with possible cures, while politicians looked the other way and society frowned its disapproval. We brought it on ourselves, you see.

I recall a joke from the era. “What’s the worst thing about getting AIDS?” “Trying to convince your mother that you’re Haitian.”

Yes, I actually remember laughing at that one, at a time when society’s (and one’s parent’s) disgust with

homosexuality was an inescapable given, indeed the very reason the AIDS epidemic would linger unaddressed. But all the inescapable givens of the day were not “givens” to Kramer, and through his plays and his rhetoric, he convinced the world around him to reassess its most basic assumptions.

One of the most powerful phenomena of the fight against AIDS was the solidarity that grew within the gay and lesbian community, as people took care of their friends when others turned their backs. The crisis showed America the kindness and bravery of a community that had been tagged as perverted and sick.

And in so doing, it began to undermine stereotypes that had never been questioned before.

The AIDS crisis gave survivors a new courage as well. The men who lived through it and the women who helped them had less need to hide in a closet. And coming out of those closets led directly to the GLBT civil rights progress of the last twenty years.

So, I guess my larger point is that horrible times can lead directly to good outcomes. Indeed, they can hold healing within their horror.

Maybe the road out of our current abyss will lead the country to a better place in terms of race and inequality after half a century of going around in circles. Maybe we need another Larry Kramer right about now.

To the Streets?

I gather Los Angeles and New York are considering reversing the plans for a virtual Pride, and turning instead to a civil rights pro-

test Pride, surely a decision that will be picked up by other cities around the country. Indeed, it’s now clear that the pandemic is no barrier to full out street activism, ergo, why should Pride-goers sit by their computer screens when they could make a political stand? I’m sure you’ve noticed that many protesters are masked and many of them are making at least a small effort to distance themselves. Oh, and the majority seem fairly young. Will the pandemic surge back due to these protests? Or will it just bump a little and recede again?

I guess we’ll find out. But I’m also imagining what might happen if the High Court hits us with one, two, or maybe three defeats over the next few weeks, just in time to trigger a wave of anguish throughout our community.

As I write, we have only three dates left for the High Court to release opinions from the 2019/2020 session, namely, the last three Mondays in June. (With 19 cases still unresolved, it’s likely that the Court will add more release dates, either stretching the session into early July, or releasing some opinions on one or two Thursdays in the weeks ahead.)

You know, of course, that we’re waiting for our two Title VII workplace discrimination cases, which will decide whether gay and trans employees are protected from bias under the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s ban on sex discrimination.

But we are also waiting for a ruling on whether Trump can deport the Dreamers, whether Louisiana can effectively ban abortion, and whether churches can expand the “ministerial exception” to anti-discrimina-

tion rules that allow them to pick and choose whom to hire and fire regardless of civil rights law.

church affiliated employers, and you can bet we’ll be taking the “virtual” out of our 2020 Pride marches.

The ministerial exception case was argued in May, indeed I just wrote about it for your edification (you’re welcome!) so it’s also possible that opinions in this case, and nine others that were argued in May, could be delayed beyond the normal Court schedule. There are a host of these unusually late cases since the Court blew off April due to the pandemic.

Among them, we have a ruling due on whether or not Trump must turn over his taxes, and a Hobby Lobby spin-off case about whether or not religious business owners must offer contraceptive benefits to their insured staff.

Circus Days

This last case threatens to overturn a key High Court opinion that says you can’t claim a faith-based exemption to a neutral and generally applicable law, otherwise every man would become a law unto himself. That opinion, written by Antonin Scalia in 1990, came in the case of two men, fired for using peyote in violation of Oregon drug laws and denied unemployment benefits. The men said their drug use was a religious ritual, but the Court said this motive didn’t excuse the offense.

So just imagine if this current High Court decides Scalia’s reasoning no longer applies to our society. Anyone and everyone with a Bible at hand would be able to skirt civil rights laws (or peyote bans) at their whim.

Imagine, then, if this Court also decides that gay and transgender men and women are no longer protected against job bias under federal law. Toss in a ruling in favor of an expanded “ministerial exception” for

New topic: Since we are still buttoned down for the time being, Mel and I just watched a documentary on Netflix called Circus of Books, about a middle-class straight Jewish couple with three kids who found themselves running a hard core gay men’s porn store in West Hollywood in the 1980s. A secret from their family, as well as their friends in the synagogue, the business flourished and at one point, Karen and Barry Mason also owned one of the top producers of gay porn films in the country. What was supposed to be a short-term cash bridge to new careers turned into a 35-year enterprise, because, well, one thing led to another and the store and film operation were successful.

Eventually the Masons grew comfortable with their double life, and joined PFLAG to support their gay son Josh. The stores (they expanded) went downhill as the internet replaced the old porn business, and the West Hollywood outlet was the last to close in 2019. You should watch it.

The Mason’s daughter Rachel produced the documentary, which ends as the internet not only takes down the porn industry, but also decimates the gay bars of the late 20th century. Now, it seems as if COVID-19 is writing the final obituaries, if not for gay bars in general, at least for our community’s dive bars. You know, the ones that (continued on page 26)

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This Month at the Castro Farmers’ Market Keeping Farmers’ Markets Open

Look for cherries from Allard Farms in Brentwood, and Alpine Blue out of Stockton; stone fruit and cherries from Ken’s Top Notch in Fresno; fresh pastured eggs from Shelly’s Farm Fresh in Brentwood; local honey from Pirate Creek Bees in Sunol; gorgeous fresh veggies from Happy Boy Farms in Watsonville and Fifth Crow Farm from Pescadero; fresh baked goods from Feel Good Bakery in Alameda; and grass-fed meats from Victorian Farmstead Meat Company in Sebastopol.

Remember! The Castro Farmers’ Market is now open Wednesdays 2:30 pm to 7 pm, with the first hour dedicated to seniors and those at risk.

With summer just around the corner and everyone getting ready for grilling season, here’s a simple fresh recipe to try:

The value of supporting local food systems has become vividly apparent during this time and needs to be appreciated and utilized. Many customers have mentioned how grateful they are that farmers’ markets have reopened.

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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Alpine Blue Farms

HES EET PEAC W S D E L GRIL nes es or nectari 2 large peach live oil 1 teaspoon o cut brown sugar t peel. Brush o n o 1 tablespoon D s. it p inutes. half, remove for about 5 m in n s w e o h d c a e e d p si t Cu ll cut ok olive oil. Gri wn sugar; co kle surfaces with er and sprinkle with bro n v late, and spri o p s , e ll h ri c g a e m p o fr Turn ove minutes. Rem another 3–5 esired. wn sugar, if d ro b re o m h wit

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Allard Farms

Donna’s Tamales

PHOTO BY RINK

While farmers’ markets enact changes to meet the demands of current laws and conditions, they are very focused on providing California’s small farms with a direct-to-consumer outlet to help them sell their harvest. Farmers’ markets provide an essential source of income for farmers. They ensure that fresh healthy foods are available to the community. There are a lot of empty grocery store shelves right now with the disruption of food transport systems, exposing the fragility of the industrial food supply chain, so buying local is even more important now.

Now Available at Your Farmers’ Market

PHOTO BY RINK

Traditionally, many farmers’ markets have been a community gathering place, a place to bring people together, where families and friends grab a quick lunch and sit down to enjoy music, entertain the kids, talk to their local farmers, grab some fresh produce, and watch cooking demonstrations. Social distancing guidelines for customer safety have ended this for now. It’s a place to get your produce and leave quickly. But farmers’ markets are resilient and have adjusted to current conditions.

Farmers’ markets and the farmers we serve will surely make it through these tough times. And with your continued support of farmers’ markets and the local food systems they represent, we will continue to bring you the freshest produce possible, be it good times or bad.

PHOTO BY RINK

Lawmakers across the state continue to weigh the pros and cons of reopening farmers’ markets, even though they have been declared essential businesses. It is still up to individual cities and counties to make the final decision on whether to reopen, leaving us with a patchwork of opened or closed markets. This is why many of the farmers’ markets in your community have been reopened while others have not.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PACIFIC COAST FRAMERS’ MARKET ASSOCIATION

By Debra Morris

Reopening or Reconfiguring? SF’s Restaurants Contemplate the Future

The Gay Gourmet David Landis With the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, the tide is turning to the talk of reopening. Potentially, no industry has been harder hit than the restaurant world, where layoffs, closures, and pivoting to “meals at home” are the norm.

safely distanced tables. All three of our restaurants also will offer takeaway food and drinks. We’re working to address the challenge of continuing to provide exceptional hospitality while maintaining safety protocols like servers wearing masks (which hides a server’s smile), only bringing condiments upon request, no bar (or waiting) area, and limiting server time at the table to reduce contact with guests. We are also reducing menu items to create safe spacing in our kitchen.”

– Nicki Simmons, Simco Restaurants

And if that weren’t bad enough, a recent Public Policy Institute of California poll showed that more than 70% of Californians want the same restrictions that are currently in place—or greater restrictions— before reopening the economy.

So, where does that leave San Francisco’s beloved restaurants?

In a quandary.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed is allowing the city’s restaurants to open for outdoor dining that meets specific protocols by June 12; she is moving forward with indoor dining that abides by city guidelines beginning July 13.

What do some of our city’s chefs and restaurateurs think about that?

The Gay Gourmet asked them, and here’s what they said:

Foreign Cinema (California Cuisine) – opening June 24 outdoors “The restaurant will be open June 24 to courtyard dining only, Wednesday–Sunday. These new hours are a start as we learn about our public and the new world order.

The undertaking of preparing the restaurant for mandated spacing, including tables, table paper, new menus, social distancing, bathroom protocols, sanitizer stations, available disposable masks, and thermometers has been underway for a while now. Our safety, as well as our guests, is our main priority. Before returning, team members must receive a negative test from the SF free testing sites for restaurant workers. We will start small and take services phase by phase to learn. In a sense, we are rebuilding our 20-year business once more, from the ground up, brick by brick.” – Gayle Pirie, Chef and Owner Simco Restaurants at PIER 39 (American/Seafood) – planned June 13 reopening (provided PIER 39 is allowed to open then) Pier Market Seafood Restaurant Wipeout Bar & Grill Fog Harbor Fish House “We can’t wait to welcome guests to dine on our outdoor patios with

Palette (California Cuisine) – opening in September; Palette at Home available now “We have subscribed to implementing a full operation HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) plan for food and product handling. HACCP guidelines were developed by Cargil for NASA so scientists could treat food handling in space. These guidelines are implemented for massive food handling facilities, but we dial it in on the micro level with a relatively small restaurant. It’s a great way to document traceability and systems procedures. We are also planning better control of the space in front of our building. We consider that the moment our guest steps out of their car, we are in control of their experience for the evening. We’re working with the city to install parklets, landscaping, curb protection, etc. I am looking into leasing the land next to us for guest ‘self-parking’ and outdoor cooking activities. In the meantime, we are working on a host of picnic and weekend boxes soon to come as well as lunch boxes targeted for corporate clients.”

– Peter J. Hemsley, Chef and Owner

Canela (A Taste of Spain) – open now for meal kits; reopening TBD “We are taking it on a day by day basis. We want to make sure that not only our guests can remain safe, but our staff as well. We are ok making that decision a little bit closer to mid-June. We will only be able to have a few outdoor tables until we get approved to expand outside our normal footprint. We are examining our entire approach to food and service: from how the guests are separated, to how our staff is distanced as well. Placing food on a table has new meaning now. Before it would have been considered rude to put the plate anywhere but directly in front of the guest. Now, we are making arrangements to seat guests at larger tables than is necessary

because we want to place the plates a little bit farther from the guest to be respectful of personal boundaries. Meanwhile, you can order tapas to-go, paella kits, flowers, and provision boxes online. We started an e commerce site where we sell our kits and to go food, but also an array of housewares, cookbooks, and other items that are growing every day.

We are working with nonprofits to curate special meals and baskets for them that they can sell to their followers at a markup or even give to their high donors. This is a fundraising tool that can be completely customized with branded materials as well and hand delivered by us in the Bay Area. We handle all the logistics. We are also working with corporate clients to do the same, as team or customer loyalty gifts.” – Mat Schuster, Chef and Owner

it’s usually too cold and windy out here. I’ve scheduled a meeting to explore ideas. Our biggest concern is staffing. We laid off many staff and hope to welcome back a majority. There will be strict distancing in reopening, which means losing about half the seating capacity.

We’re planning also to morph the gift shop into a general store, with our full wine list, hard-to-get specialty items and more.”

– Ralph Burgin, Chef

IIDA – the International Association for Commercial Interior Design Association

SPQR (Modern Italian) – to-go meals now, outdoor seating when we can

“People come to restaurants for cultural experiences and to be part of the community. Even with the critical safety and economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to focus on maximizing diner experiences. We designers need to evaluate how it feels to sit at every single table and adjust spaces so the customers feel safe, yet the experiences are still meaningful and delightful. That is what will ensure they return—and ensure the long-term health of the business.”

– Yoko Ishihara, Partner at Wilson Ishihara and President-elect of IIDA Northern California

“We have very little outdoor space, but we will use what we have and borrow or acquire to serve our customers. Regarding reopening, restaurants are cleaned more often than most retail businesses. The real elephant in the room is that restaurants cannot survive with 40%–70% less revenue. So, the reopening question becomes about cash-starved businesses considering a further investment in staffing and products to service an understandably nervous customer. It’s a bit of a risk, but the demand is clearly there. We have been doing takeaway as a full-service kitchen, including an a la carte menu and a few dinner packages. We may have to do a hybrid of a few different things for a while. It’s just the time we find ourselves in—and we have to get out of it together, ideally with grace.”

– Matthew Accarrino, Chef/Owner

E&O Kitchen & Bar (Modern Asian) – takeout/delivery to begin mid-June “We will include some of our muchloved items (such as the corn fritters and dumplings), along with some popular cocktails that are easily enjoyed at home. Then we will phase in our Trading Company, which will be like a marketplace to get a quick grab of ready-to-eat items and provisions. The safety and health of our guests and staff is priority number one, so these measures will be put into place before we reopen for business.

Our Trading Company offerings will continue even after we transition to dine in.” – Sharon Nahm, Chef, E&O Kitchen and Bar/The Trading Company

The Cliff House (Seafood/ American) – opening TBD; Cliff House at Home: online ordering for pickup/delivery now; grab and go at Lookout Café (weekends) “The June 13 reopening outlined by the Mayor will be just for outdoor seating. That’s tricky for us since

One Market (California Cuisine) – takeout and delivery to begin June 10 “One Market has already been doing a successful wine promotion—Raid the Cellar—bottles of incredibly-priced wines are featured each week, along with cheese or caviar service. On June 10, we began takeout/delivery with the Ultimate Prime Rib Dinner (or fresh Wild King Salmon); the full dinner package is $45 per person.

We are also featuring classic One Market cocktails. The restaurant is also planning its reopening, which we are leaving a bit fluid right now to see how the area around the restaurant comes back. We may wait until the hotels reopen given our location—and when we do reopen, we will be introducing an outdoor dining café along with lunch and dinner service and the ability to host smaller socially distanced parties and events. We also are hoping to open a Friday afternoon Beer Garden concept in the atrium, but that will come as people come back to work in the building.”

– Chef Mark Dommen According to Hoodline, the Castro neighborhood treasure Café Flore with its big outdoor patio may reopen soon, perhaps even in time for the June 13 mandate. Hoodline

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recently reported, “Over the holidays, the Castro’s longstanding Café Flore closed its doors to the public. Despite cutting back the 47-year-old cafe’s hours and menu, ‘we couldn’t get it to break even,’ said Terrence Alan, who took over Flore in 2017. He thought it might fare better as a private events space.

But the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has blown up that plan, with Pride canceled and large public gatherings unlikely to return for months. So, Alan is moving back towards reopening Flore as a café.

‘I’d like to open the cafe as soon as we can, if it makes practical sense for safety,’ he said. But a reopening date is also dependent on whether he can find the right chef. We need somebody smart, with a new idea that fits with the neighborhood. It’s a great opportunity for someone looking to build a career.’”

The Slanted Door/Out the Door (Modern Asian) – TBD; to-go products hopefully by end of June “We are not doing anything right now. We are still trying to assess the situation. We don’t have enough information for a concrete plan.

We are working on to-go products that we’ll hopefully have in place by the end of June. We would launch that first. There are so many moving parts. We want customers to feel safe and our staff also to feel safe.

So, we’ll wait and see.” – Charles Phan, Chef/Owner

So, restaurant reopenings in San Francisco are a bit of a mixed bag.

The one sure thing: our restaurants need you now more than ever. Go out and support them—order takeout, buy a cocktail mix, shop the grocery offerings, get a gift certificate for a friend—but whatever you do, don’t just stay home during this pandemic.

Foreign Cinema: www.foreigncinema.com Pier Market Seafood Restaurant: www.piermarket.com Wipeout Bar & Grill: www.wipeoutbarandgrill.com Fog Harbor Fish House: www.fogharbor.com Palette: www.palette-sf.com Canela: www.canelasf.com IIDA – the commercial interior design association: www.iidanc.org E&O Kitchen & Bar: www.eandokitchen.com The Cliff House: www.cliffhouse.com SPQR: www.spqrsf.com One Market: www.onemarket.com Slanted Door: www.slanteddoor.com Out the Door: www.outthedoors.com David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a PR executive. Follow him on Instagram @GayGourmetSF, on Twitter @david_landis, email him at: david@landispr.com or visit him online at: www.gaygourmetsf.com

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‘...And All That Pride’ ing, inspiring, doing, (did I mention giving?), entertaining, celebrating, and bringing it over and over again in big and small ways to meet community needs. So, I am not surprised that they will outdo themselves again this year.

Their legendary Pride Brunch—the event of the season—will go on, June 27th, and everyone is invited!

From the Frontlines Brett Andrews Some things don’t have to change.

We are who we are. Thank god.

While this pandemic will prevent us from marching down Market Street in colorful mass to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Pride parades held in San Francisco and New York City, it does not prevent us from coming together to celebrate ourselves, our hard-fought achievements, our rampant creativity, and our strength in community.

On the contrary, it should inspire us to do so regardless—safely, of course, with smart adherence to in-person social distancing guidelines, and plenty of aplomb.

I have long admired my good friends Donna Sachet and Gary Virginia— the most dynamic of duos—giving, doing, organizing, giving, conven-

From the comfort of your living room, kitchen, or dining room, Gary and Donna will bring you the Grand Marshals of the Pride Parade at high-noon on Saturday, June 27, honoring the rich history of LGBTQ culture and liberation, and celebrating 50 years of San Francisco Pride with a saucy kitchen battle. The two will share their favorite brunch recipes and you will be the judge yourself, crowning the winner “Pride Brunch Queen.”

We can sit back and relax with hosted cocktails and a delicious brunch delivered right to our respective doors. Or you can dance, parade, and sing along to live entertainment, live auctions, and special surprises in the privacy of your own home. This longstanding PRC fundraiser honors individuals and organizations fighting for LGBTQ equality, while raising critical dollars for PRC’s lifesaving services like legal advocacy, emergency financial assistance, residential treatment, and employment services.

Celebrating 50 years of San Francisco community Pride, parading, and action, it is hard to believe how far the LGBTQ movement has come since the Stonewall riots erupted, awakening a new generation of legal and social advocacy. In retrospect, this turning point brings new lessons today amid this evolving era of worldwide COVID-19 public health emergency. We are all connected, and we are stronger when we stand together.

As public consciousness is rising about that interconnectedness and our country’s glaring health, income, and access inequities, I am proud of San Francisco and our LGBT and allied communities. We’re on the frontlines, showing up for the most vulnerable again and again. And while there is still plenty of work to do, I look forward to celebrating the contributions and opportunities brought by this year’s Grand Marshals—The LGBT Asylum Project, Founder of the Spahr Center Rev. Dr. Jane Spahr, and Executive Director of the LGBT Historical Society Terry Beswick—at this year’s virtual Pride Brunch.

PRC, Pride Brunch’s beneficiary, has long fought for the most disenfranchised and health-challenged in our community on the frontlines of HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ advocacy for access to basic and critical resources. Today, these efforts are even more important as the impact of

longstanding fissures in health status and experiences by race, geography, income, and identity are laid bare by the novel coronavirus.

PRC is providing emergency funds for rent, medication, and connectivity; legal advocacy to preserve healthcare and subsistence income through job loss and upheaval; and emotional support and employment services to keep people moving forward; while also sheltering nearly 300 adults in place through a substance use and mental health treatment continuum prioritizing health, safety, and wellness.

As a 55-year old African American gay man, I am both deeply familiar with the disconnection between legal equality and lived equality and deeply indebted to the collective advocacy of so many courageous individuals who were willing to hold the line, never back down, and stand in harm’s way. So, let’s come together on June 27 and celebrate what’s good and great about San Francisco Pride.

Inspired again by Gary and Donna, I think the dire issues of the day will continue to galvanize us—a stronger, even more compassionate community. I choose joy, love, honesty, empathy, compassion, and service along with a hint of leather, lipstick, and humor. So, let’s brunch!

How could we not celebrate Pride’s 50th anniversary? I’m already planning my outfit. Don’t miss the Battle

of the Queens, Gary Virginia and Donna Sachet’s legendary Pride Bruch, streaming live at 12 pm on June 27. Tickets are on sale, so get yours today ( www.prcsf.org ) and prepare to give big. See you there.

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.

He 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 appointed to the San Francisco Mayor’s Methamphetamine Task Force. https://prcsf.org/

Stamps of Approval offered the position of inspector general of the Continental Army, which he accepted, serving directly under George Washington.

signatures to support slavery’s abolition. She remained a leader in the struggle for racial equality for decades.

Steuben arrived at Valley Forge in February, 1778, the winter of despair for the American Revolution, with his French cook; aide-de-camp; miniature greyhound; seventeenyear-old personal secretary and companion; and others. As poorly as he spoke English, he shaped the disarrayed Continentals into an organized and effective fighting force. His Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States, written in 1779, remained the country’s official military handbook until 1812.

As we remember the 50th anniversary of the first pride celebrations and the daring people who made them possible, we also take pleasure in the accomplishments of a unique group of LGBT Americans: those recognized with a stamp issued by the United States Postal Service.

From the first in 1930 to the most recent only last month, here are a few of the several dozen men and women honored so far. Probably we will never have a complete list of them all.

In 1869, Anthony and her close friend and colleague Elizabeth Cady Stanton founded the American Woman’s Suffrage Association. After years of writing, speaking, and organizing, they persuaded Sen. Aaron A. Sargent (R-CA) to introduce legislation in Congress to confer upon women the right to vote. In 1920, what is still known as the Anthony Amendment finally became part of the U.S. Constitution, doing just that.

It has been her great, living monument for the past hundred years.

While at Valley Forge, Steuben entered into “extraordinary intense emotional relationships” with two military officers, then in their 20s.

After the war, he legally adopted them both. When the Baron died, they inherited the bulk of his estate.

He left a third young man, who also considered himself a “Steuben son,” his books, maps, and $2,500 in cash, then a considerable amount.

1930

One of the very few women not the wife of a president to be honored more than once on a U.S. postage stamp, Susan B. Anthony (1820– 1906) devoted her life to achieving equal rights for those who did not have them. When she was only 17 years old, she circulated anti-slavery petitions and in 1863 co-founded the Women’s Loyal National League, which gathered some 400,000

Perhaps Anthony’s most intense and long-lasting relationship was with actor and orator Anna Dickinson, the first woman to give a political address before the U.S. Congress.

In their letters, Anthony addressed her as “My Dear Darling Anna,” “Dearly loved Anna,” and “Dear Chick a dee dee.” In one she wrote that she hoped “to snuggle you darling closer than ever.” In another she invited her to “share my ... bed,” assuring her it was “big enough and good enough to take you in.”

Faces from Our LGBT Past Dr. Bill Lipsky

Whatever else may be said about him, Baron Friedrich von Steuben (1730–1794) loved his fellow man. After reforming and modernizing the army of Frederick the Great of Prussia, he was forced into exile for allegedly becoming too close to some of the young men under his command. He then was

1936 and 1954

Some historians explain that in a more flowery and sentimental age these words had a different meaning than they do now, expressing only deep affection, not passionate intimacy. As we discover more and more about the past, however, we find that people then had amorous feelings toward each other, just as they

do now, and said exactly what they meant to say.

1940 and 2019 Walt Whitman (1819–1893), America’s greatest poet, who critic Rufus Wilmot Griswold accused in a November 1855 review of being guilty of “that horrible sin not to be mentioned among Christians,” believed in “comradeship” or “adhesive love,” the unifying ability of love between men. After he met him in 1882, Oscar Wilde told pioneering homosexual-rights activist George Cecil Ives, “I have the kiss of Walt Whitman still on my lips.” Ives understood completely.

1973 Novelist, short story writer, and Pulitzer Prize winner Willa Cather (1873–1947) knew from an early age who she was. Even as a student at the University of Nebraska in the early 1890s, she cut her hair short, wore men’s clothes, and sometimes referred to herself as “William.” Her most enduring relationship was with editor Edith Lewis, with whom she lived with the last 39 years of her life.

1981 Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias (1911–1956) got her nickname “Babe” for Babe Ruth after she hit five home runs in a childhood baseball game. Adept also at basketball, tennis, and bowling, she excelled at golf, winning 82 tournaments between 1933 and 1953, 17 of them consecutively in 1946–1947.

She was long consider to be the fin-

est woman golfer of all time. In 1999 both the Associated Press and ESPN named her the greatest woman athlete and one of the 10 greatest athletes of the 20th century.

1991 Only lyricist and composer Cole Porter would dare write a Broadway showstopper ending, “But if, baby, I’m the bottom you’re the top!” or, “A dicka dick, A dicka dick, A dicka dick!” Only he would tell listeners, “Experiment/Be curious/Though interfering friends may frown, Get furious/At each attempt to hold you down/The future can offer you infinite joy/And merriment/ Experiment.” Fellow LGBT songwriter Lorenz Hart (1895–1943), honored in 1999, was never so bold.

2020 Often heralded as the “Father of the Harlem Renaissance” for The New Negro (1925), his landmark anthology of written and visual arts, educator and philosopher Alain Locke (1885– 1954), the first African American Rhodes Scholar, taught at Howard University for more than 40 years.

As a gay man, he encouraged— and pursued—other gay African Americans who became major figures of what was then known as the “New Negro Movement,” after his book, including Langston Hughes, Richard Bruce Nugent, and especially Countee Cullen.

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

(Left to right) Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben stamp, Susan B. Anthony stamp 1936, Walt Whitman stamp 1940, Willa Cather stamp 1973, “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias stamp, Cole Porter stamp, Alain Locke stamp

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Who We Are vs. What We Do

TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation Dr. Tim Seelig One of my lifelong challenges has been to discern the difference in what I do and who I am. It has been the topic of many therapy sessions when I have been unable to separate the two. One of those occurred in 2006 when I was in a difficult place with the position I held. Because I have always thrown myself into what I have done, with unbridled passion, it took over every part of my life. I would say to the therapist, “I can’t leave this; it’s who I am.” She would patiently say, “No, Tim, it is what you do, not who you are.” Over and over, until it finally sunk in, and changed the way I have looked at life since.

Coronavirus. Everything has changed. Choirs, rather than being sanctuaries of heart-opening, world-changing music-making, have become the forbidden fruit, the poison apple. We could have never imagined—in our wildest musings—this would become the case. International press has now proclaimed singing in groups one of the most dangerous activities on the planet. What? How could this revered activity that has been at the soul of civilizations over centuries fall so quickly and so far? More personally, how could the thing that marries who I am and what I do be at such a risk?

Aerosolization. Huh? I had to practice that one—after learning what it was. My mother used AquaNet on her big Texan hair. Should have known the concept at least. Merriam Webster defined it in 1944. But it was updated on April 27, 2020, to include mention of the coronavirus. It was not in the common lexicon outside scientific/medical circles prior to this spring. It’s not our fault that we did not know the word. In fact, the Wikipedia page on aerosolization was created May 10, 2020.

But learn it, we have. It is the “Danger, Will Robinson!” of our day. But, I never imagined it would be, “Danger, Tim Seelig. Choir ahead!”

So, the activity of singing together and singing for others has been taken away from us. Sure, we’ve all enjoyed creating or watching virtual choirs. But, these are actually solos put together through technology to give the impression of a choir. Sorry, but IMHO, it’s still not a choir.

There is no activity on Earth that has more positive impacts on one’s

Photos courtesy of San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus

self than singing in a group. It’s not like playing an instrument that you purchase and repair and even upgrade. If you don’t like playing the flute, you can switch to guitar. With singing, you bring your instrument in the case you were born with. There’s no swapping for another instrument. It’s you. All you. Every breath, every tone borne on that air. And in the case of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, it’s 300 chorus brothers breathing at exactly the same time. STOP!!!!

That’s the problem. Singing requires the steady expulsion of air to send the sound out into the world. That world that is waiting patiently to hear it as the singers wait impatiently to, once again, create and share it.

So, what we do, what is at the very core of this thing we love, has been altered. Yes, it has been taken away.

Does it change who we are? No, it does not.

We can’t do the thing. We can still remember what it felt like. We can recall that moment when our voices came together and, after much, much work, our vowels matched, our resonance choices aligned, we sang in tune and, all over the room, chill bumps popped up like microwave popcorn on the high setting!

That moment when we were not 20 or 50 or 300 individuals trying to carve out our own sonorous space, but agreed. Yes, we agreed to become one voice. That is when “choir” gives us that inexplicable joy.

Now, let me hasten to say that when I teach conductors, I tell them that using “I want you to sound like one voice” is one of the worst instructions ever. Why? Because we never tell them which voice! So, the divas, assuming it is them, SING OUT!

The blenders, god bless them, assume it is not them and sing even softer. With those instructions, that chasm can never be closed.

Why is choir so important? A great start in figuring that out is to take a look at American psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs. Singing in a choir hits four of the five: 2. Safety (could talk about this for hours); 3. Belonging; 4. Esteem; 5. Self-actualization. I know of no other activity that so thoroughly explores and provides all of that. And, with an occasional potluck, you can hit at least part of number one!

In reality, it’s the rehearsals that are what we miss. It is the journey, not the destination. The process, not the product. Oh sure, our mission depends on us presenting the music we master. But a huge part of our mission is the care and nurturing of each other—in between the singing!

It’s the joy of joining. It is the indescribable feeling of looking across the room and seeing someone smile while still making a vertical sound!

Or seeing them cry as the singer next to them simply places a hand on their shoulder. Or sharing the stories of life with one another when the conductor is not looking. When our community has opportunities for joy, like when DOMA fell, we were there to sing. When tragedy strikes like the Pulse shooting, we were there to sing. It breaks our hearts that we can’t gather and sing to support the Black Lives Matter community during this time of injustice.

So, who are we as a choir? How can we make sure the “who we are” is not taken away? We will always remain family. We use Zoom in every possible way to stay connected. We are revisiting content we’ve already performed as well as creating new content via virtual choir as well as creating new content for SFGMC TV. The interviews for “Behind the Curtain” have been a real highlight, from Billy Porter to Chasten Buttigieg.

One of the most exciting gifts of this coronavirus hiatus came when Broadway composer, Andrew Lippa, wrote us a brand-new song. All of the singers are learning it as we speak or as I write. We hope to have a virtual choir video ready in maybe six weeks. The title is “What Will They Hear?” It begs the question of whether the first thing our audiences

will hear will be music, or tears of joy, or the sound of us embracing one another.

It will be the day when “what we do” and “who we are” come together again.

One day soon, we will sing together—live. And, hopefully not too long after that, we will sing for you—live. It will be something we will never forget. No doubt.

There will be great rejoicing in the land!

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

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LGBT Sports: We Hug Each Other Tighter, Longer, and Closer

Sports John Chen While some professional sports around the world are being played with no live fans in attendance as a temporary solution to the COVID19 pandemic, I wonder when organized, team-based amateur sports will be allowed to resume. Recently, I’ve seen lots of people playing social soccer, softball, and volleyball— albeit in small groups. I know, however, that many of us yearn to get back on the field and on the court not just to compete, but also to see and socialize with our teammates, foes, and friends alike. We want that sense of community, that bond, and that sense of belonging back in our lives.

Can things really return to our past normal or will there be a new normal? What would our local, community-based LGBT sports be like if social distancing became the norm?

In all my years of playing, organizing, and coaching various LGBT sports teams and organizations, I know our sports community is based on more than just the love for the games, our common bond as LGBT peoples, and the social opportunities and agendas. Sure, we want to win. Sure, we enjoy grabbing a drink with our friends and teammates. And sure, we like having a social structure for being on a team or being a part of an organization.

But what separates us, the LGBT sports community, in my opinion, is the physical support and the meaning behind such intimacy. Yes, like all teams and leagues, we shake hands, high five, pound fists, give hugs, and even give a pat on the butt

Photos courtesy of John Chen

for that nice play. Who doesn’t? Although these are part of basic sports etiquette, the sports community at large can also do without such physical touching during this pandemic or whenever because they can be easily replaced by socially distance gestures and words that are almost as effective in communicating the same messages.

This is not the case for LGBT sports. Our community thrives on extended intimate physical contact for support, acceptance, love, and identity. For example, when we hug on the field, our bodies often do the bulk of the talking. It’s not just good to see you and to acknowledge a successful moment. It’s I understand you. I am in this with you. We can lean on and count on each other. We hug tighter, longer, and closer. We are not afraid to express our bond. Sometimes we don’t want to let go; there’s a genuine sense of excitement. This physical support is what connects us as LGBT peoples and social distancing threatens to take this away. Will we survive? Yes. Will we adapt? Yes. Will we be stronger? Yes. Will we be the same? Maybe.

If we have to social distance, we will. If we need to social distance, we shall. It would be good to get back out on the field with our friends, our teammates, and even our adversaries just for the duration of our game or match. We can still give the look that says, “I understand. I too have walked and even run miles in your shoes.” This is the best and safest support we can offer one another now. We must be patient until the day we can once again provide real physical support that defines our LGBT sports. Then, I will be sure to give my fellow LGBT sports buddies a longer, stronger, and more appreciative hug on the playing field.

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

San Francisco Bay Times says, “Please stay safe and healthy!”

Take Me Home with You! “My name is Fozzie, and I’ve been told that I look like a little Fozzie Bear! I’m a big, 70-pound goofball who loves to run and play. I already know some basic training, like ‘sit,’ and I’m excited to continue learning more. I also know how to walk well on a leash! My ideal home would be with someone who’s active—I’m four years old and still full of energ y! If you think we might be a good match, I’d love to meet you.”

Fozzie

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

Anyone interested in adopting Fozzie can email: adoptions@sfspca.org For more information: https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions

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Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

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Donna’s Chronicles

“You’ll never find peace of mind until you listen to your heart.”

By Donna Sachet

–George Michael

The haunting part of viewing those photographs is to think back to where we were at any given time. During that first San Francisco event in 1970, where were you? Understanding that many readers are too young to address that question, we still know there are many who can. Perhaps you were in San Francisco, not yet out in any pubic way, reading some limited press coverage of the New York riots and the San Francisco event, but turning back to the pressures of your own daily life. But perhaps you, like José Sarria, Harvey Milk, and so many other San Franciscans, were involved in the burgeoning civil rights movement as it applied to the LGBTQ Community and could very well find yourself in those historic photographs.

Perhaps you were in another city, another state, or outside the country, watching with fascination as these events unfolded, finding hope and encouragement in the images from San Francisco.

PHOTO BY RINK

s we approach the 50th anniversary of San Francisco Pride, we can’t help but be aware of the historical nature of this pandemic and its related effects on day to day living. When the fledgling LGBTQ Community of San Francisco gathered to commemorate the Stonewall Riots one year before in New York, they felt it was important to show solidarity and a few hundred people marched, establishing the Pride Parade and Celebration the last weekend in June that has occurred every year since. The GLBT Historical Society has made available online an extraordinary photo display marking those 50 years of Parades, some obviously protesting injustice and others gloriously celebrating diversity, inclusion, and progress. This collection was scheduled to be put on public display at City Hall, but the current pandemic has delayed that exhibit. We encourage you to check it out at www.glbthistory.org/50-years-of-pride

Donna and Gary are remembering last year's Pride Brunch as they prepare for the very special and unique 2020 one coming up on Saturday, June 27.

Where were you in 1980? Maybe you were To find out more: https://app.mobilecause.com/form/NBL_8g?vid=8w9ed here in San Francisco to witness personally that year’s Parade, maybe joining in or simply on the sidelines, intrigued by historic developments or motivated by the tragic assassination of the Mayor and Supervisor Harvey Milk a few years before. You may appear in some of the photographs now available on that website. If you did not live here, maybe that year’s Parade became a clarion call for you to come to San Francisco, where so much seemed to be happening, so much progress made, and so much optimism developing. Maybe those events, although far away, led you to come out to your friends and family, to begin to organize similar activities where you lived, and/or to join the growing movement.

Where were you in 2000? In 2010? And last year, 2019? Historic photos reveal many more images of celebration, perhaps including you. Legislative progress and court decisions have significantly advanced our cause, but battles remain.

Whether in San Francisco or elsewhere, have you been involved with one of the many organizations born of our movement or observing from the sidelines? And appearing in photographs is not necessary, since many work behind the scenes in the trenches, advancing our cause step by step, while others capture the camera’s lens.

As we review these decades of photographs, we reflect upon our own history from closeted non-involvement and sporadic volunteering to whole-hearted participation and leadership roles. All along, we have regrets about our hesitation to commit, our resistance to open association with the movement, and our misplaced priorities. Amazing leadership from people like Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin, Cleve Jones, Tom Ammiano, and Mark Leno paved the way, but why didn’t we do our part earlier? Sometimes frozen by fear of AIDS, sometimes concerned about career repercussions, and sometimes simply more concerned about leisure activities and personal time, we remember observing long before participating.

As much as the system of community titles, as within the Leather Community and the Imperial Court, are often criticized as mere beauty contests and ego trips, in our case, becoming Miss Gay San Francisco and then the 30th Empress of San Francisco gave us a platform from which to see the movement more completely, to realign priorities, and to take a leadership role. Title-holders often become longer-term leaders within their organization and within the larger LGBTQ Community. Beyond titles, simply volunteering within an organization with which one finds an affiliation often leads to a lifetime of giving of one’s time and talents to larger concerns. With so many specialized groups active in San Francisco, there is little excuse for not finding your place within.

So, when we look back at this devastating and unprecedented pandemic, where will you appear? If a photo montage presents images from this time period, will we see you respecting social distancing, wearing a face covering, and carefully observing the City’s shelter-in-place directive?

PHOTO BY RINK

Where were you in 1990? By then, the SF Parade & Celebration was shadowed by the specter of HIV/AIDS. Mixed emotions confronted promising progress, government indifference fought legislative advances, and new leadership struggled to activate lethargic observers. If you lived in San Francisco, could we find you in the photos of the SF Parade? Or were you not yet that involved in this growing and tireless struggle?

Have you found ways to contribute financially to the many funds established to support those most in need during the pandemic? While your favorite businesses, bars, and restaurants are shuttered by law, are you doing anything to ensure their return to business after the pandemic ends? Are you maintaining support in whatever way you can for those charitable organizations that are the backbone of our Community? Have you made an effort to show appreciation to those first responders among us? If nothing else, are you making the effort on a regular basis to check in with friends and associates who may be most at risk of contracting the virus or suffering the potential impacts of isolation?

We are confident that history will record our LGBTQ Community as responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with beneficence, ingenuity, and grace. We encourage you to play a personal part in that effort, whatever that means to you. Yes, we shall get through even this, as we have survived so much before, but will you be a part of that recovery and active during its most punishing times? Volunteer opportunities await your participation, specific funds plead for your financial support, and friends would welcome your email or phone call. Please, don’t wait!

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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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2020)

FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL of Transgender & Queer Performance Goes Online!

Photos by Kegan Marling

kNOwSHADE Vogue Ensemble

Fans of transgender and queer live performance rejoice: the wildly-popular annual FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL is moving online this year—and all tickets are completely FREE! “This year’s Festival is an act of love and resistance,” explains Fresh Meat Artistic Director Sean Dorsey. “Our communities are enduring a pandemic crisis; are rising up in solidarity, rebellion, and resistance against police violence and white supremacy; and many are experiencing isolation and financial devastation ... all while we have fewer opportunities for us to connect and nourish each other.”

This is why festival organizers expanded the festival, and why all tickets are completely free this year.

June 18–27, the 19th annual festival of transgender and queer performance comes into your home—offering five programs of dance, theater, and live music. All programs will be viewable on Vimeo, and all programs will be Closed Captioned for Deaf and Hard-ofHearing audiences.

The 2020 FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL offers five different “reFRESH” Programs that feature performance highlights from previous festivals—offering online audiences a feast of gorgeous, groundbreaking, bold, beautiful artistry.

What can audiences expect? Jawdropping vogue, gender-bending boy bands, transgender opera, sizzling hiphop, gay ballroom stars, queer bomba dance & music, wordsmith poets, disabled dance pioneers, gravity-defying trapeze and more will take center stage at the 2020 FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL. Dorsey curated these special #reFRESH programs—and says, “We’re incredibly excited: audiences have never before had access to our exquisite archive of past festival performances. This is an extraordinary opportunity to experience and re-experience these artists—a total of 31 artists and ensembles!”

The festival’s Production Coordinator Eric Garcia adds, “We know our communities have more time at home and less access to transgender, gender-nonconforming and queer performance right now, so we’ve expanded the festival to offer five programs featuring glorious highlights from past festivals.”

These reFRESH programs will also offer a taste of the in-person FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL experience: audiences will still be able to enter their name in to win a door prize (a Fresh Meat tradition), and listen to FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL House DJ Frida Ibarra spin custom tunes.

Dorsey explains, “People must register in advance for a free ticket to any program. Then, the day of that program,

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we’ll email them a private Vimeo link.

We’ll also email them a link to an exclusive Fresh Meat SoundCloud mix by the amazing DJ La Frida! People can get into the mood with Frida’s music mix beforehand, or celebrate afterwards with it!”

The 2020 FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL features some of the Bay Area and the nation’s most innovative transgender, gender-nonconforming and queer artists, featuring performances by: Amir Rabiyah, Antoine Hunter, AXIS Dance Company, Blackberri, Breanna Sinclaire, Cohdi Harrell, Devi Peacock, Elena Rose, Embodiment Project, Gay Asian and Pacific Islander Men’s Chorus, House of Energi, J Mase III & Randy Ford, Jahaira Fajardo & Angelica Medina, Javier Stell-Fresquez & Ivy Monteiro, kNOwSHADE Vogue Ensemble (with Dena Stanley, Mother of the House of Mizrahi), Lottie Riot, Maikaze Daiko (with guest artists Ray Ray Ebora and Kristy Oshiro), Mind Over Matter, Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu, New Voices Bay Area TIGQ Chorus, Robbie Tristan & Ernesto Palma, Sean Dorsey Dance, Shawna Virago, Star Amerasu, StormMiguel Florez, Tajah J, Taller Bombalele, The Barbary Coast Cloggers, The Singing Bois, Toby MacNutt, and House DJ—DJ La Frida!

The FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL is the only event of its kind in North America—and is celebrated for its world-class artistry and sold-out crowds.

Now in its 19th season, Fresh Meat Productions is a San Francisco-based nonprofit that invests in the creative expression and cultural leadership of transgender and gender-nonconforming communities through year-round programs.

Fresh Meat Productions’ programs include the annual FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL, resident dance company Sean Dorsey Dance’s home season and national touring, FRESH WORKS! artist commissions, a national education program TRANSform Dance, and national LGBTQI+ community residencies.

During COVID-19 and shelter-inplace, Fresh Meat is converting all of its programs to be online—watch for the upcoming #stayFRESHatHOME video series!

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House of Energi

Star Amerasu

Taller Bombalele

StormMiguel Florez

Remember: You must register for your free tickets in advance!

Visit the Fresh Meat Productions website ( http://freshmeatproductions.org/ ) to see the artist lineup, to register for tickets, get access information, and more.

2020 FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL of transgender and queer performance (online!)

June 18–27, 2020

Program #1 (featuring past festival artists): available for viewing Thursday, June 18, only Program #2 (featuring past festival artists): available for viewing Friday, June 19, only Program #3 (featuring past festival artists): available for viewing Saturday, June 20, only Program #4 and #5 (featuring 2019 festival artists): available for viewing June 18–27!

Tickets: FREE Tickets/Info/Artist Lineup: http://freshmeatproductions.org/fresh-meat-festival-2020/ Social Media @FreshMeatSF Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Fresh-MeatProductions-89884498672/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FreshMeatSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshmeatSF/ YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3hcRrik

Robbie Tristan and Ernesto Palma

First San Francisco Bay Times Cover Featured Tom Ammiano, Author of New Memoir It is a little-known fact that the first cover of the San Francisco Bay Times featured former state assemblyman and San Francisco supervisor Tom Ammiano. One reason is because Ammiano had not yet held political office when the photo was taken in 1978 by renowned LGBTQ photographer Efren Convento Ramirez. Dedicated activist Ammiano, however, had already founded a gay teachers’ organization and, with Harvey Milk and Hank Wilson, founded “No on 6” against the Briggs Initiative in 1977.

At the time, Ammiano was a special education teacher in the San Francisco Unified School District. The cover shows him with several students in one of his classes. Graphic artist Ken Gould replicated the photo four times, showing the gradual disappearance of Ammiano. As then Bay Times news editor Randy Alfred wrote in the accompanying story “Initiative Threatens Teachers”: “The proposed ballot measure [Briggs Initiative] would allow local school boards to fire or refuse to hire homosexual teachers or teachers who espouse civil rights for homosexuals. The law’s provisions would also apply to teacher’s aides, counselors, and school administrators.”

Thanks to the work of Ammiano and dedicated others, the initiative— sponsored by Orange County state legislator John Briggs—was defeated.

Ammiano was not erased from his teaching job; far from it. He retired from the SFUSD in 1990.

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CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2020)

New ‘Tell-All’ Memoir The Briggs fight and teaching efforts are just a few of the many achievements addressed in Ammiano’s self-described “trip down the Yellow Brick Road through activism, stand-up, and politics.” Reading the newly published Kiss My Gay Ass (Bay Guardian Books, 2020) authored by Ammiano, you can take a trip down the Yellow Brick Road with him and relive through his mischievous eyes important moments of the past five decades of LGBTQ history. You will meet many other important individuals along the way, such as Milk—the focus of the featured excerpt.

As Ammiano says, the book settles a few personal scores, corrects what he feels were inaccuracies in other chronicles of city history, and includes some juicy gossip, such as what happened when he met a handsome soldier on the Greyhound bus he took to San Francisco.

The San Francisco Bay Times highly recommends Ammiano’s entertaining memoir for anyone hoping to learn about LGBTQ activism, San Francisco’s often bloodsport politics, and Ammiano himself, who remains a very influential member of our community and who is now mentoring and inspiring the next generation of progressive leaders.

For more information and to order the memoir: https://www.kissmygayass.com/

With a focus on the infamous Brigg’s Initiative, San Francisco Bay Times’ “sampler issue” published in 1978 featured on the front page teacher Tom Ammiano with students in his classroom.

Out of the Crowd Comes Harvey Milk

By Tom Ammiano I moved to 16th and Castro in 1968. If you walked down Castro Street almost at any time then, you would probably see Harvey Milk physically going about his business either posting flyers or at work in his Castro Camera store. One of Harvey’s flyers that I saw said: “There are businesses in the Castro that you patronize that are homophobic.” Then it listed several stores—one was then called Mike’s Liquors— and urged people to stop shopping there.

People did, and they lost a lot of money. Well, guess what? In a week or two the stores said, “Oh, of course we’re hiring drag queens!”

They totally reversed course. It was a pure business decision. It was a brilliant, straightforward strategy. What did it take? A little flyer. I f-ing loved it. People underestimated what gay people were really thinking. They thought that we’d be all be docile and just say, “Take my money and discriminate against me. Oh well.”

Harvey came to my attention by doing that.

But the most significant thing he did involved standing up to the police. I always had problems with cops and how they treated everybody. In those days straight punks would come into the neighborhood, usually around 2:00 am. They would start to beat up on some poor gay guy. If you called the cops, the cops would come from Mission Station and they would just hassle the gay guy. Then they would hassle you for bothering them.

Harvey Milk stood up to that crap. In the Castro, the queens poured out of the bars around 2:00 am. Of course, it’s a sidewalk culture and people don’t just disperse immediately. They stand around and talk. They’re loaded. They do a little dance then they cruise for somebody to go home with. There was a particular evening when, after the bars emptied, some straight punks pulled up, jumped out of their car, and started to wail on a gay guy.

Fortunately, there were some people there who had alarm whistles on them thanks to Hank Wilson distributing them. They started whistling for help—Woot! Woot! Woot!

That drew attention. We all rushed over to where the gay guy was beaten. The straight punks were gone—once the whistles went off, zoom, they left. The cops showed up.

But, when they did, their interaction with the beaten-up gay guy was not positive. The cops treated him like he had done something wrong by getting beaten. They were snide to him and all that kind of s--t.

Suddenly, out of the crowd comes the Jewish cavalry, Harvey Milk. He says to the cops, “What are you doing here? Don’t you understand this man needs help? What’s happening?” My heart leaped into my throat. I thought, “I really don’t like cops and I always want to stand up to them but I’m afraid I’m going to get killed if I do that.” Right then and there was almost an epiphany about who Harvey was and who he could be. There are a lot of queens who were very conservative and didn’t like to rock the boat, even over incidents of gay violence. But when it was in your face it was hard to equivocate about it. I mean,

Photos by Rink

the cops were definitely out of line. When I saw Harvey stand up and call the cops out on their s--t in front of everyone I thought, there’s my hero!

Supervisor against Harvey in 1973 and they were both there to ask for the group’s endorsement. Hank Wilson and I went to the meeting together.

One day there was an People were drinking cockimpromptu march about tails. It was the middle of the some anti-gay court decision day. The candidates gave that had just come down. their speeches. I remember There were a lot of antiMendelsohn as kind of a nebSan Francisco Bay Times founding editor gay court decisions and laws Randy Alfred with Tom Ammiano at the Castro bish. He said something like, passing in those days, so take Theatre at the VIP Party following a screening “blah blah blah.” It sounded your pick which one it was. of The Times of Harvey Milk. (2015) exactly like that. But he There were not a lot of peowanted the endorsement. It ple there, but a bunch of us was important because he were milling around Castro Street was straight and this was a gay wondering what to do. Someone club. finally said, “Let’s march down Market Street and protest!” So, Then up comes Harvey Milk. we did. We wound up at Union He didn’t yet have his polished Square. Then, once again, there speechifying act together in these was a point where everybody was earlier races. He had the sincerjust kind of milling around. It feels ity, but he was more extemporanealmost like you’re just waiting for ous with his speaking style. Some someone to take charge. Then of the people in the audience were Harvey, again, came out of the drinking and laughing at him. crowd. He stood up on a little platHank and I were not laughing— form in Union Square and gave a speech. That’s what we all wanted. https://www.kissmygayass.com/ we were loving it. We just recognized something very special. I We wanted somebody to step up. remember looking over at Hank. He looked at It didn’t even have to be the greatest speech in me and our looks both were the same, “This the world. Just that he stepped up. is fabulous!” Even though Harvey fumbled his Harvey was a beacon for liberation. His theme words, it didn’t matter. It was what he said, not would always be, “We’re not going to tolerhow he said it. Of course, he didn’t get their ate this!” Harvey was a leader who took his endorsement. He was one of many progressive lead from the community. He was a conduit gay candidates that did not get the endorsefor what the people thought and needed. That ment of the Alice B. Toklas Club. made a big difference to us. Harvey was one of the few community leaders who were supportive of the gay teachers’ organizing from the outset. The other gay leaders, so to speak, were kind of Dianne Feinstein-allied establishment people. They would say to me, “Don’t be too gay. Don’t rock the boat.” I always admired Harvey for being there for the gay teachers before it was the easy thing to do.

One time, Harvey came to one of our gay teacher meetings. We had a hard time finding places to meet. Nobody would let us meet at their offices except the Family Service Agency on Gough Street. It was only a few of us regulars there with one new guy from the East Bay. The new guy was handsome—very handsome. Harvey came to the meeting and we all chatted him up. He had some good ideas then said, “Good luck!” Of course, he also hit on the handsome guy. They went home together.

So, thank you, Harvey! This is the combining of the world of politics and real life. That cute guy—we never saw him at another meeting again. But I’m sure he never forgot that one meeting.

When Harvey was running one of his three races, the Alice B. Toklas Club had its endorsement meeting in an older kind of gay bar. It was a very stereotypical group at the meeting. A lot of queens in business suits. Very white. Flocked wallpaper, gilded things. It was a noontime meeting. I think it was a guy named Bob Mendelsohn who was running for

Harvey had a ponytail then, but it was tied back. He didn’t drink either. In BAGL they were so extreme left in that way where everything is hypercritical. They kind of trashed Harvey. Hank and I stood up as teachers and we said, “Well you know Harvey is really great on gay teachers’ issues.” We defended him.

Later we realized that Harvey could take care of himself.

That was the beauty of it. You didn’t have to go around and always defend him. You could just say, “I support him.” That was a great thing.

You didn’t have to speak for him. He could speak up for himself. Harvey did have prescience because he talked about transgender issues, he talked about rising housing prices, and the danger of unchecked real estate speculation. He talked about disabled people. He connected our struggle to other minorities that were disenfranchised. He talked about campaign finance reform and police reform. That was in the early 1970s. There is a tape of him opining on real estate speculation gutting San Francisco’s middle class and talking about how regular people get evicted while the rich get more luxury apartments to live in. It’s amazing—he could be saying that today. I love that too because it was the future. That’s where I think the inspiration came from. Harvey always thought about the future. Even though he didn’t get to live it.

Harvey Milk attending the Castro Street Fair (1978) held shortly before his death.

I also thought Harvey was just brave—very brave. When you look back you realize that his positions and his standing up took a hell of a lot of courage. I think people were inspired by that. Maybe you were a little afraid to speak out because you might lose your job. But you could like what Harvey was saying. That’s where his votes came from. That’s how the movement grew. Harvey was speaking for a movement, even though the A-gays and establishment people couldn’t see it yet.

Out of the Crowd Comes Harvey Milk is an excerpt from “Kiss My Gay Ass: My trip down the Yellow Brick Road through activism, stand-up, and politics,” a new book by former California assemblymember and San Francsico supervisor Tom Ammiano.

“Kiss My Gay Ass” chronicles Tom’s arrival in San Francisco on a Greyhound bus and follows his journey through the flopsweat trials of professional comedy to the halls of power at City Hall and the State Capitol. Along the way Tom stops everywhere from New Jersey to Vietnam to Hollywood. Published by Bay Guardian Books, “Kiss My Gay Ass” is available for direct mail order at

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Highlights from Frameline44 Pride Showcase The shorts programs will be Fun in Boys Shorts, Fun in Girls Shorts, and Transtastic shorts.

Film Gary M. Kramer The Frameline Film Festival, normally held this month, will be having a virtual festival entitled Frameline44 Pride Showcase, June 25–28. There will be five narrative features, four documentary features, and three shorts programs available for viewing over the weekend.

In addition to the films covered below, features include: Lingua Franca

by Isabel Sandoval, about an undocumented Filipino transwoman caregiver; Stage Mother by Thom Fitzgerald, about a conservative woman inheriting a San Francisco drag club; and Summerland by Jessica Swale, about a woman and an evacuee in WWII England.

The documentaries include: David France’s Welcome to Chechnya, about LGBTQ+ rights; Jen Rainin’s Ahead of the Curve, about the women who started Curve magazine; and House of Cardin, by P. David Ebersole and Todd Hughes, about the famous fashion designer.

One of the highlights of the online festival is out gay writer/director Ray Yeung’s gentle, bittersweet romance, Twilight’s Kiss (Suk Suk). This poignant drama has Pak (Tai-Bo), a taxicab driver, meeting Hoi (Ben Yuen) in a park where Pak was cruising one afternoon. The men slowly embark on a friendship that soon turns into a sexual relationship.

However, both men are closeted to their families. Pak is preparing for his daughter Fong’s (Hiu Ye Wong) impending nuptials, while Hoi seems to constantly disappoint his religious son Wan (Lo Chun Yip). A subplot has Hoi secretly participating in a seniors’ group to develop a nursing home for gay seniors. Yeung’s sensitive film captures the quotidian aspects of these ordinary lives that undergo deep and profoundly subtle changes. A shot of Pak and Hoi’s hands clasping or feet touching brims with genuine affection, and an episode where Hoi visits the home of his friend Chiu (Kong To) speaks volumes about loneliness and aging.

Yeung’s exquisite and wonderfully acted film is full of such quietly powerful moments.

Twilight’s Kiss (Suk Suk)

Denise Ho—Becoming the Song is an inspiring documentary about the out lesbian Cantopop singer and democracy activist in Hong Kong. Filmmaker Sue Williams charts Ho’s career from her early performances at 15 to being mentored by her idol, Anita Mui, to her rise to solo fame. Ho eventually used her popularity to address social issues. One of her biggest hits was “Louis and Lawrence,” a song about starcrossed gay lovers. (All of the song lyrics are subtitled.) But the idea of doing meaningful work extended beyond her concerts. Ho was encouraged to come out and Denise Ho—Becoming the Song do LGBT rights activism by fellow gay singer Anthony Wong.

Carrie, prompting Carrie to bond However, her involvement in the with Elaina (Shlomit Azoulay), whom Umbrella movement, a student-led Hannah dislikes. Later, Tristan asks protest against the government, got Hannah about Carrie, whom he has her banned from China and she lost feelings for, prompting Hannah to sponsorships with Lancôme. Becoming coordinate a threesome to get what the Song concentrates more on Ho’s she wants. Tahara wants to address singing and activism than her sexuthe difficulties these teens have articality—her personal life is limited to ulating their true feelings and the mostly scenes with her family—but film sparks briefly to life when Carrie there are many endearing moments, speaks honestly during the grief talkfrom her struggling to perform a back or talks with Elaina. But too song (“Montreal”) to much of the film feaher reinvention and tures Hannah being resilience in crowdselfish and insufferfunding a concert.

This music-filled documentary should please Ho’s fans and Tahara generate new ones.

able. This slight film feels long at 77 minutes, and the characters, who do behave like real teens, feel underdeveloped. The mini-dramas ultimately fail to illuminate the larger themes of identity, loss, truth, and purification. © 2020 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

Tahara, named for the Jewish ritual of washing and purifying a body after death, unfolds almost entirely in a synagogue during a service for Samantha, a teenager who committed suicide. Her classmates, Carrie (Madeline Grey DeFreece) and Hannah (Rachel Sennott), are best friends who attend the service and grief talkback, despite not being particularly close to Samantha. Hannah, who was allegedly hit on by Samantha, is crushed on Tristan (Daniel Taveras). She has flights of fantasy about kissing him that are rendered in colorful animation. When Hannah asks Carrie to practice kissing with her, Carrie, who is closeted, expresses her emotions in Claymation. But post-kiss weirdness develops between Hannah and

Breaking Fast Is a Fun Rom-Com About Gay Arabs By Gary M. Kramer Also screening in the Frameline44 Pride Showcase is out gay writer/ director Mike Mosallam’s fabulous rom-com, Breaking Fast. Mosallam’s wonderful feature debut—based on his 2015 short film of the same name—gives visibility to queer Muslims. Out actor Haaz Sleiman exudes charisma and displays palpable comic anxiety as Mo, a heartbroken gay Muslim who meets Kal (Michael Cassidy) during Ramadan.

Because the Holy Month forbids impure thoughts and activities, Mo is forced to practice self-control.

Mosallam’s clever conceit allows Mo and Kal to fall in love as their relationship develops over numerous romantic meals and dates. But as the guys talk over meals, alone or with friends, there are discussions about how gay Arabs reconcile their sexuality and their religion. To Mosallam’s credit, these moments are engaging and enlightening, not didactic. Moreover, they balance out the charming romance that develops as Mo and Kal slowly fall in love.

Mosallam and Sleiman chatted with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about making Breaking Fast.

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Gary M. Kramer: Mike, there are not a lot of films by or about gay Arabs. What decisions did you make, and what pressure did you face, in telling this story and representing this community?

what I have seen so far are gay Muslim men living in fear, shame, or in hiding. I have to acknowledge that, and though that experience is exacerbated in the media, it comes from a real place. But it is not my experience.

Mike Mosallam: The very creation of [Breaking Fast] came about because no one looked like me, or represented me or my friends, or the people from my background and where we lived. We don’t see ourselves reflected, so the visibility and representation of these experiences, and our culture, and characters who are seen as nonthreatening, was most important to me. I haven’t experienced any backlash yet, but when the film has a wider reach, people will have opinions about it. But I say let them. That’s the beauty of art.

Gary M. Kramer: Your film smartly defies some rom-com tropes while embracing others.

Can you talk about the tone?

Gary M. Kramer: The gay Arab characters range from closeted to virginal to f lamboyant.

Can you talk about the images, assumptions, and stereotypes of queer/Arab men in the film?

Mike Mosallam: I wanted to create a range of characters living the same experience with different versions of that experience. Generally, J U NE 1 1 , 2 0 2 0

Mike Mosallam: So much of my definition of love was built on the idea that Julia Roberts finds, courts, runs away from, and ends up with the guy. She was my muse on how I found love in the world.

So, I thought, if Julia Roberts was a gay Muslim man living in West Hollywood ... . And I thought there is no other better Julia Roberts than Haaz.

Haaz Sleiman: I’m not as pretty as she is. [Mike disagrees.]

Gary M. Kramer: Haaz, what can you say about playing the comedic, gay romantic lead in Breaking Fast?

Haaz Sleiman: This was my first rom-com leading role. I was frightened. But I clicked into my empathy

and love for the screenplay and the importance of the story. My love took over my fear. Mike’s energy made me feel comfortable. I’m grateful I did it. My favorite thing about the film is that it has a big inner child. I’m corny in real life. I do silly things, like voices. It’s cute, because you’re being intimate, and when it’s reciprocated, it is really sweet.

Gary M. Kramer: Haaz, are you like Mo, who is described as, “a rigid, self-centered loner who runs away from challenges”? How did you identify with the character?

Haaz Sleiman: To a certain extent, absolutely, yes! That’s what a lot of people can relate to. Not everyone is like that, but it’s not an uncommon quality. Being controlling and trying to protect yourself from being hurt—that’s a human quality. And that’s what is so great about Mo; he’s imperfect, and perfectly human.

Gary M. Kramer: You get to sing twice in the film. Are you a show tune queen? What do you like to perform?

Haaz Sleiman: I love to sing. I’ve seen The Sound of Music a hundred

times, so to sing one of the songs from one of my all-time favorite films was beyond a dream. Mike is the big show tune queen. I’m not. I once did a musical, called Venice, at the Public Theater, which was very difficult. You have to be an athlete. I’m not that much of a big fan of musicals. Music is my passion, though. I wanted to be a recording artist. © 2020 Gary M. Kramer

Complicated, Free, and Proud

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2020)

Off the Wahl Jan Wahl A few columns back, I raved about one of my favorite unseen movies: 2004’s Pride. Based on a true story, this is a movie perfect for this time of year ... and any time of year. Here are a few others that I dearly love and recommend for appreciation and insight.

Angels in America (2003) is a sixhour miniseries about the AIDS crisis in New York circa the 1980s.

This adaptation of Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize winning play is massive in scope yet touching and healing in its cohesive structure. It tackles sexuality, politics, and racism, yet provides us with unforgettable characters each time. Al Pacino is perfectly cast as Roy Cohn, while Meryl Streep is remarkable in three roles including a rabbi and Ethel Rosenberg. One to see again.

When I championed our next movie, I received hate mail. It’s nice to know this remarkable film upset these losers. Brokeback Mountain (2005) is a gay romance that broke through to mainstream culture. Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain

Angels in America Angels in America

beautiful tale of two cowboys in love is based on a short story by Annie Proulx, and was brilliantly acted by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. Straight and gay audiences alike lined up for this achingly told-for-truth portrayal of a relationship that is fighting for air but gasping for breath. One of the most beautiful romantic films ever.

Stephen Fry was born to play one of my heroes: Oscar Wilde.

Wilde (1997) takes us through the playwright, poet, and novelist’s tumultuous journey, fame to professional and personal

failure. Fry himself not only looks like Wilde, but also is a poet, playwright, and novelist himself. Jude Law is perfectly cast as Bosie; Vanessa Redgrave and Michael Sheen costar. We have Oscar Wilde on our Rainbow Honor Walk. He deserves his place there ... and everywhere else.

2011’s Cloudburst is a rollicking tale of a lesbian couple forced to escape to Canada in order to make their relationship legal. The unconventional dynamic duo is played by Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker, amazing actresses. Both rowdy and rousing, Dukakis almost outdoes her Anna Madrigal from Tales of the City! I tried to get the word out on this lovely romance. As is often the case with good movies, it never received the distribution it deserved. Check it out for yourself and take the journey with these wildly remarkable women.

Happy Pride Month. We will rock on!

Vita & Virginia

Emmy Award-winner Jan Wahl is a renowned entertainment reporter, producer, and teacher. A member of the prestigious Directors Guild of America, she is regularly featured on KPIX television (every Monday morning starting at 6:15 am) and on KCBS AM & FM and other media outlets.

To read and listen to her reviews for KCBS, go to: https://bit.ly/2MGxtyj For more info about her remarkable life and career: http://www.janwahl.com/ Check out her entertaining and informative videos at http://sfbaytimes.com/

Spotlight Film for SF Pride 50: Vita and Virginia (2019)

By Jan Wahl

Vita Sackville-West is determined to meet her literary idol Virginia Woolf. It is the 1920s in London. Sackville-West is a writer and broadcaster, famous for her radical feminist views, especially on marriage and sexuality. She is also wealthy and gorgeously fashionable. Woolf is known for her unusual writing and elusive “mad woman” persona. The two embark on an affair that later inspires one of Woolf’s most popular novels, Orlando. Based on the words of Sackville-West, the film is especially fine in its characterization of an otherworldly and very troubled Woolf. Vita and Virginia presents a complicated romance that led me to Google afterwards ... I wanted more of these two women!

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Literary Friendships and Wine each other is lonely. Not only that, but it’s a unique gig. So, when you make friends with another human who gets it—because she also makes imaginary people fall in love—you hold on to that friendship with both hands.

Words Michele Karlsberg Michele Karlsberg: Authors Georgia Beers and Melissa Brayden are featured in this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times. Many folks look at writing books within the literary community as a “competition,” when I think it should all be about camaraderie. I always admire writers who help each other to move forward within their own careers. Georgia and Melissa share with us their response to the question, “Can it be hard to be really close to someone who’s trying to do the same thing that you do?”

Georgia Beers and Melissa Brayden: Sitting in a room making imaginary people fall in love with

We, being Georgia Beers and Melissa Brayden, met at a writer’s conference in 2011, making our friendship now nine years old. A tween. Combined, we’ve written thirty-three books since that day, a process that included mayday phone calls, goofy text messages, and working Skype sessions for moral and professional support. Okay, there might have also been a happy hour tossed in on occasion because wine makes romance writing easier.

We’ve often been asked whether you can be friends with a person who writes the same thing you do—in this case, contemporary women-loving-women romance—who reaches for the same success, the same sales, and opportunities. And if you manage to make that friendship work, can you be jealous of and happy for that person at the same time?

Pshh. The answer is, of course you can (though “ jealousy” is harsh, “envy” fits better). When one of us gets an opportunity that we both

would’ve liked or wins an award we were both finalists for, there will always be a quick flash of envy and visions of murder in a dark alley.

We’re human. But it doesn’t last because we are always, always thrilled when the other has a success, nixing said murder fantasies. We’ve learned to navigate what some say is a tricky dynamic, but that’s because our near decade of friendship comes first.

Along with the wine.

There are perks. While we don’t read each other’s work while it’s in progress, we will bounce ideas off the other or brainstorm together or ask for help on a title, and that’s when having a BFF who does what you do is awesome. We get to talk shop, and vent about the frustrations of publishing as well as the joys. There’s also an element of safety that can be hard to find when your job is creative. We know we can count on each other for honest feedback. Gentle, but honest, and that involves a level of trust that you don’t have if you’re not close friends in addition to colleagues.

We also make each other laugh as a requirement, sometimes to the point of spitting out that wine, because writing can be stressful. Word counts and deadlines can wreak havoc on a workday, so humor helps. “You don’t

Georgia Beers

Melissa Brayden

need another dog; you have a toddler. Stop looking at puppies and write your words!” Or, “Why are you watching another foreign horror movie on Netflix when you have a deadline?” These are actual things that we’ve said to each other.

all the wine, eat all the cheese, and pet all the dogs. www.georgiabeers.com

In the end, dark alley murders aside, it’s nice to have someone in your corner who supports you, gets your world, but who also makes you work harder, better, and more creatively to keep up with them. It’s the perfect combination.

Georgia Beers lives in upstate New York and when not writing lesbian romance, she tries her best to drink

Melissa Brayden hails from San Antonio, Texas. She’s an award-winning romance novelist, an admirer of donuts, and is probably staring off into space as you›re reading this. www.melissabrayden.com Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBTQ+ community.

This year, Karlsberg celebrates 32 years of successful book campaigns.

For more information: https://www.michelekarlsberg.com

TING (continued from page 6) We will fight to preserve these investments and have a better idea of our complete revenue picture after the new state tax deadline of July 15. New ideas to boost our coffers will be explored, such as a tax on vaping products and an economic stimulus bond to create green infrastructure and jobs. We also hope the federal government will continue to come through with aid. In fact, California has joined Nevada, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado in a Western States Pact, asking Washington, D.C., for $1 trillion in direct and flexible relief.

We are working right now to pass a balanced state budget by the Constitutional deadline of June 15. Tough decisions lie ahead. At a time when people need government the most, its leaders will face constraints as we work to ensure no families are left behind in our recovery. But California is resilient, and I am confident we will rebound together.

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

MILLER (continued from page 6) your life. Do you need those collegefund funds to pay bills? Should you stop paying down debt so fast to build up your emergency funds? Or are you doing well and looking to maximize your stimulus check?

Again, knowing where you stand financially helps you to see where and how to pivot to improve your position.

You could be making or saving more money right now.

Preparing your finances for life’s unknowns can help you to take advantage of strategic openings brought about by these changes, such as: Investing excess cash—Falling stock prices can offer some awfully good bargains if you know you don’t need this money for essentials.

Tax-loss harvesting—This takes some of the pain out of investment losses that many of us are experiencing right now. Basically, you use your investment losses to offset gains in your portfolio, thereby reducing your tax bill.

Roth conversions—Converting a traditional IRA or other retirement account to a Roth account means paying taxes now instead of later when you withdraw the funds. Obviously, if your retirement

account’s balance has dropped, that means you owe less in taxes.

Portfolio rebalancing—Whether your risk tolerance is dropping with the market or you want to be better positioned for ongoing volatility, now might be a good time to see if your investment mix aligns with your new reality.

Reducing concentrated stock positions—If you have too much of a good thing, selling off some of your highly concentrated holdings while prices are low can reduce your capital gains taxes.

Dollar cost averaging—This is still one of the best ways to reduce the impact of market volatility. Basically, it’s investing on a consistent schedule—$500 into your IRA every month, for example. Over time, you invest during up and down markets, which helps to even things out.

The good news is, you haven’t missed the boat. There’s still time to enjoy the advantages of a solid financial plan, including your own peace of mind.

So, carpe diem, folks. And that means seize the day today, not some day in the distant future when who knows what the world or you will be facing.

The opinions expressed in this article are for general informational

purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice 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.

RUTH (continued from page 6) the BMW feels better the faster it goes—you’ll also benefit from EPA combined ratings that give the BMW’s 26 mpg a two-mpg plus over the Mazda’s.

Inside, the BMW’s $400 sport seats had firm cushions, while the Mazda’s padding was more compliant. Both had uncommonly substantial thigh support, a make-or-break aspect for taller drivers.

Looping back to the traffic congestion we’re facing, perhaps the most important feature on each was automatic cruise control, with stop and go. It’s standard on the CX-5 Signature and a $1,000 option on the X1 xDrive28i, and it’s a huge stress reliever when you’re inching along the highway.

Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant with an automotive staging service.

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Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun STABILIZATION FUND to help the Stud finally find its new home: www.gofundme.com/f/stud-in-exile

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “Happy Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21, to all you fathers out there! And that includes drag king fathers and daddies of daddies’ boys!”

San Francisco’s oldest LGBT bar, THE STUD, has closed down its current location after 54 years in business and 33 years at the corner of 9th and Harrison. The Stud has survived over the years because it has always been an iconic institution that locals have been proud of.

In 2016, when the owner of the Stud announced that the bar was closing due to rent hikes, members of the community came together to buy the bar and create the first cooperatively owned LGBT nightclub in the U.S. Since then, the Stud has seen a renaissance with new parties, DJs, and performers drawing national attention. The country’s first, cooperatively owned, LGBT venue invited all us people whose lives were touched by the Stud to join them for an online, live DRAG FUNERAL on May 31st to mourn the end of an era.

Co-emcee Honey Mahogany opened the service with a special nod to African-Americans in mourning the loss of Black lives from violence.

“Black Lives Matter” also shared the evening’s theme. Co-emcee VivyA nneForeverMore gave us a stunning Stud history lesson. After a few long, annoying sound drop-outs, Co-emcee Jillian Gnarling and Vivvy opened Part Two of the service. Over 100 multi-talented “widows” performed and/or eulogized.

After the 6th hour, emcees left their duties (and Sister Dana had to leave and rest my strained eyeballs) to let the show go on without them. In lieu of flowers, mourners are still asked to donate to the SAVE THE STUD

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Oakland City Council President and fellow San Francisco Bay Times columnist Rebecca Kaplan proposed a ballot measure to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections. It passed unanimously! Congratulations to Kaplan!

Now wouldn’t it be awesome to let 16-year-olds vote in general elections?

In April, Trump halted funding for the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis.

Seeking anyone to blame but himself for the country’s rising infection rate and death toll, Trump announced he would suspend funding for the United Nations agency for 60 days.

And as if restricting funding for the world’s foremost international health organization in the middle of a pandemic wasn’t bad enough, on May 18, Trump threatened to permanently withdraw U.S. support for the WHO. Who is this madman?!

Sister Dana sez, “Hydroxychloro-Trump was proudly taking that drug that is not approved by the FDA for coronavirus, and could cause heart failure and serious side effects. So, if this was an attempted way out—bring it on, Trumpy!”

Because June is PRIDE MONTH, a lot of companies will be slapping rainbows on their products.

But Skittles candies are already rainbow-colored, so they’re giving up their colors instead. Skittles will be selling limited edition packs of colorless candies in a nod to the rainbow flag, with part of the proceeds going to LGBTQ organizations.

The uncharacteristically dull grey package states: "Only one rainbow matters during Pride."

The casts of the Broadway, movie, and television productions of HAIRSPRAY have united in a massive at-home performance of the lively song, “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” Stars such as Harvey Fierstein, Kerry Butler, Kristin Chenoweth, Matthew Morrison, Sean Hayes,

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Marissa Janet Winokur, Laura Bell Bundy, Jackie Hoffman, Nikki Blonsky, and Derek Hough appear, and even Randy Rainbow pops up to belt out a few lines. I dare you not to shake your bootay at this terrific toe-tapper! https://tinyurl.com/ybuvzt36 It was the amazeballs GGBA WATCH PARTY on HARVEY MILK DAY when Openhouse, SF Queer Nightlife Fund, and the Tenderloin Museum presented Live Drag for our LGBTQ Elders on Friday, May 22. It was a live drag show with powerhouse drag queens Dulce De Leche, Persia, Princess Panocha, Mary Vice, and Shane Zaldivar performing in the courtyard of the Openhouse LGTBQ senior housing center. Center residents were able to safely view the show from their windows and balconies while it also streamed to the general public online.

Then following all that glitter and gayness, the same night we Zoomed and Twitched to enjoy HARVEY MILK’S 90TH BIRTHDAY BLOCK PARTY. This Virtual Block Party was a collaborative effort organized by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman’s office, the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, the Castro Community Benefit District, “Windows For Harvey” presented by the Castro Merchants Association, the Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza, Openhouse, the GLBT Historical Society, the Tenderloin Museum, the Golden Gate Business Association, and the SF Bay Area Queer Nightlife Fund. So many guest celebs—from famed politicos to plain folx to drag stars to friends who actually knew Harvey back in the day! After three hours of that, there was even an after-party! What fun watching my friends and also total strangers, live and also in the chat room!

Broadway star Ben Platt, who is openly gay and way way cute, has a really inspirational song he has written for us during these times of doubt and worry. https://bit.ly/3faj8Xf This year was meant be a phenomenal year for LGBTQ-themed art exhibitions around the world— until March and the coronavi-

rus pandemic came along, shuttering museums and putting the planet on lockdown. Fortunately, several of the top LGBTQ ART SHOWS originally planned for physical reality can now still be experienced virtually, as indeed can a number of excellent exhibitions by and about queer artists from years past.

Check these out at https://nbcnews.to/37co8aV Playwright and gay HIV activist Larry Kramer passed away on May 27 from pneumonia at age 84.

Kramer was a legendary activist who cofounded the GAY MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS and ACT UP, two organizations devoted to helping people livSister Dana with Sister Roma (January 2020) ing with HIV and AIDS. He was the author of Sister Dana sez, “So now many works, including the 1978 Tweeter-in-Chief Trump is novel Faggots and The Normal Heart, a waging a Twitter War against 1985 play about the early years of the Twitter! Welcome to UpsideAIDS crisis. Kramer was working down Land!” on another play before his death, An Army of Lovers Must Not Die, which THE GLBT HISTORICAL was partly about the coronavirus SOCIETY currently has three pandemic. “Unless we fight for our PRIDE-related exhibitions mounted lives we shall die,” he wrote in 1983. on its website: “Performance, His writings helped put the panProtest & Politics: The Art of demic and its impact on gay men on Gilbert Baker,” “50 Years of the national radar. (For more about Pride,” and “Labor of Love: The Kramer, see pages 8 and 9.)

Birth of San Francisco Pride, 1970–1980." This fascinating online The 5th annual OURTOWNSF panel discussion brings together LGBTQ NONPROFIT EXPO will curators from all three exhibitions to be on Saturday, August 15, 12:30– discuss their curatorial approaches 4:30 pm. This is the largest LGBTQ and decisions. Using different secresource fair in SF history! Over 150 tions of the online exhibitions as a groups from all over the Bay Area guide, they will outline the themes serving our community and thouthey selected, discuss the curatorial sands of attendees are expected to lenses that informed their work, and participate. This virtual resource consider both the history and the fair includes arts, community, funfuture of Pride. More information is draising, athletics, health, legal, available at https://bit.ly/3ekJLZ9 political, and recovery services & spiritual groups serving the Bay Registration is available online Area LGBTQ community coming at https://bit.ly/2ZscB5C together for a day of fun and commuMany thanks go to Horizons nity building.

Foundation for providing LYRIC https://bit.ly/2YhWHIv with $15,000 and to San Francisco ART + PRIDE 2020 is a Virtual Foundation for granting them Kickoff Party for HARVEY MILK $10,000 with the goal of allocating PHOTO CENTER on Friday, June these funds to provide support to 19, 6–7 pm, hosted by Peaches queer youth who are in critical Christ, Sister Roma, and STUD need. LYRIC will be able to provide Bar streaming: (continued on page 26) https://bit.ly/3dRIJUE

Panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt Several panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt feature the acronym BWMT, followed by the name of a city. The letters stand for the National Association of Black and White Men Together, also referred to as NABWMT, which began in San Francisco in May 1980.

Visionary founder Michael Smith that year placed an ad in The Advocate for a potluck that attracted 20 people. Smith’s goal was to promote racial and social justice, and to help create an America free of racism and homophobia.

After the humble start, the gatherings quickly grew in size, often attracting gay men in multiracial relationships. Within a year of its founding, local chapters were established in New York; Boston; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; Memphis; Chicago; Detroit; Atlanta; and Milwaukee. In total, Smith helped to establish 26 national chapters. Their names include not only “Black and White Men Together,” but also “Men of All Colors Together,” “GREAT (Gay Racially Equal And Together) Men of (city),” and “People of All Colors Together” that include women. They all operate under the NABWMT umbrella.

The quilt panels are a poignant reminder of how many devoted couples and other members of the association’s chapters nationwide died as a result of HIV/AIDS. Smith himself died of AIDS in 1989 after a brave two and a half-year battle during which he tried multiple experimental treatments.

The estate of renowned poet Langston Hughes (1902–1967), a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, granted approval for his work to be published in the book.

The founding of NABWMT was just one of Smith’s efforts to celebrate interracial relationships and community diversity. He was the publisher of The Quarterly, a magazine devoted to such topics for gay men. He also edited the anthology Black Men White Men: A Gay Antholog y (Gay Sunshine Press, 1983).

https://www.nabwmt.org/ https://aidsmemorial.org/the-aids-memorial-quilt/

‘Ready to Listen Rally’ at Jane Warner Plaza The “Ready to Listen Rally” for Black Lives Matter on Friday, June 5, drew not only thousands to the Castro, but also many more on bicycles from Critical Mass. As Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said, “So many thanks to Cee Freedman and Tommy Trujillo for organizing an amazing march, speak out, and dance party to honor George Floyd and other victims of police violence and to celebrate the strength of our queer POC community.”

Many who could not attend, and especially those from out of the area and/or at high risk for COVID-19, watched via Cam #4 of the Castro Street Cam, which captured much of the remarkable, peaceful rally that began at City Hall at 4:30 pm before participants made their way to the Castro. The programming at Jane Warner Plaza, with drag artist Afrika America as emcee, featured a lineup of invited speakers and entertainers.

KRISTOPHERACE PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUPERVISOR RAFAEL MANDELMAN/FACEBOOK

SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES/CASTRO STREET CAM #4

KRISTOPHERACE PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO COURTESY OF SISTER ROMA

Castro Street Cam: http://sfbaytimes.com/castro-street-cam/

PHOTO COURTESY OF SISTER ROMA

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FISCHER (continued from page 2)

SHORTER (continued from page 3)

and elevate black women and men into leadership positions in the workplace, in organizations, and elected office. This means celebrating black achievement, providing resources, and removing obstacles to success. We must work together in solidarity to demand justice and to make the world a better place for current and future generations. We need to ensure that the very people who have suffered under a system of oppression have a voice in the process.

During the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Larry Kramer taught us how to act up and fight back against the heteronormative white privilege that was literally killing thousands. Those invested in the status quo were not going to fight for the lives of the marginalized, the undesirable, the queers. It was those not invested in that toxic status quo who formed coalition, alliance, and resistance that demanded, forced, and forged real change to save lives.

When Alicia Garza created the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag in 2013 in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin, it was intended to shine a light on racial disparities in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. People, do not even try to exchange the word “Black” for “All” or “Blue”—it’s not your movement. When Boston, Las Vegas, and Orlando suffered a bombing and mass casualty shootings, we responded with #BostonStrong, #VegasStrong, and #OrlandoStrong; we didn’t change it to #AllCitiesStrong, so don’t mess with #BlackLivesMatter—either get onboard or get out of the way.

As I say in almost every column, “elections matter”; the only way to effect change is to elect people who are committed to uniting communities and improving the lives of all constituents. Former president Barak Obama addressed this in a recent essay (edited for brevity): “[E]ventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices—and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.”

He goes on to highlight the importance of local elections by writing that “elected officials who [reform] police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels. It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs ... . It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct ... . If we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics.

We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.”

If you want to get rid of elected leaders whose response to protestors crying out for change and a stop to police brutality is to send in the military to “dominate the battlespace” and commit more acts of brutality, then you need to vote in every local, state, and federal election. Do the work, educate yourself, and vote for actively anti-racist leaders who are committed to equality and the democratic process. It is literally a matter of life and death.

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.

SISTER DANA (continued from page 24) essential services and resources to youth who are in high need during SIP to attain secure housing placements, individual youth advocacy, and access to therapy. Kudos!

All tea & no shade: Jackie Huba, founder and executive director of DRAG OUT THE VOTE, has a vital message for drag queens and queer folx: “My background in participating in our democracy was limited to just voting in presidential years. But after the 2016 election, I quickly learned that over 100 million people did not vote. I also learned that one out of five LGBTQ folks were not registered or didn’t vote. I was floored by this lack of participation by so many Americans.” Especially RuPaul fans and others as well should check out Jackie’s blog: https://bit.ly/3f5HTnm TENDERLOIN MUSEUM presents THE COMPTON’S CAFETERIA RIOT: Reading and Discussion virtual event on Thursday, June 18, 7 pm. The play dramatizes the events surrounding the eponymous 1966 riot that catalyzed LGBTQ activism in San Francisco and worldwide. https:// bit.ly/2BNSC7x The PRIDE AT WORK National Executive Board issued the following statement: “Black and Brown people across the United States continue to suffer daily from police brutality and systemic racism. Too many Americans fear that what happened to George Floyd could happen to them. In fact, the LGBTQ community lost one of our own, a Black transgender man named Tony McDade, to police violence just a few days ago in Tallahassee, Florida.” My heart continues to break. And please, fellow demonstrators, let’s make all protests nonviolent!

ENJOY THE VIEW! CASTRO STREET CAM Live-streaming 24/7 http://sfbaytimes.com/castro-street-cam/

Black lives, gay lives should matter most while we are living—not just in the ritual righteous resistance, memorial, and martyrdom of the dead. Yes, please speak often their names. In George’s, Breonna’s, Larry’s, and all their names: we are and must be better than this.

For the living, for the breathing—act-up, speak truth to power, and keep taking to the streets to end police brutality by ending policing for white privilege protection, now, because it is literally choking the life and soul out of us all.

Andrea Shorter is a Commissioner and the former President of the historic San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women. She is a longtime advocate for criminal and juvenile justice reform, voter rights and marriage equality. A Co-Founder of the Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, she was a 2009 David Bohnett LGBT Leadership Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

LEWIS & GAFFNEY (continued from page 4) police officer Derek Chauvin to think he could jam his knee into a handcuffed George Floyd’s neck to the point of asphyxiation, or gave Travis and Gregory McMichael the idea they could gun down Ahmaud Arbery as he was innocently jogging down the street.

can answer that.” And Cooper believes she will do so by “how she conducts herself” in the future and how “she chooses to reflect on this situation and examine it.” Could Cooper’s “not hating” the dog owner enable her to be less defensive and reflect more deeply on her actions?

But Cooper has also spoken out against reported death threats the dog owner has now received, telling CNN they were “wholly inappropriate and abhorrent and should stop immediately.” He reflected: “I find it strange that people who were upset … that she tried to bring death by cop down on my head would then turn around and try to put death threats on her head. Where is the logic in that? Where does that make any kind of sense?”

Cooper is interested in quelling racist impulses and stopping racist acts—not vilifying the dog owner as a person. He said that “it’s not really about her ... . It’s about the underlying current of racism ... that has been going on for centuries.”

Can hatred cease by more hatred?

Significantly, Cooper has resisted invitations to up the ante and brand the dog owner herself a “racist,” saying “only she

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A less reported detail of the incident is the fact that Cooper was actually in the process of offering the dog a treat when the dog owner began to escalate things.

Does Cooper’s decision to act with kindness and not hate from the beginning reflect a type of queer sensibility? How does “not hating” influence our actions and those of others? Answering these questions may guide us as we begin Pride month and as our nation searches for a way forward.

Cooper also holds the dog owner responsible for her actions. If “this painful process ... takes us a step further toward addressing the underlying racial, horrible

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

tries who take comfort in our domestic strife, and risked further politicizing the men and women of our armed forces.”

men and women in uniform in a position of having to follow orders that they know will bring harm to Americans.

I’m grateful saner minds prevailed, and all active duty troops deployed domestically to supplement law enforcement have since been ordered back home. Our military should never be put into a position to take up arms against peaceful citizens. It was a terrifying week where our President continued to stoke fear and division, but we must never let him use the United States military as a politicized tool. And we should never put our

Zoe Dunning is a retired Navy Commander and was a lead activist in the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

She serves on the California Veterans Board and is a Transformation Coach at Future State ( https://futurestate.com/ ). She formerly served as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and is the former First Vice Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party.

Except you can scratch the part about the best of times.

You know, this person might be right, but I don’t need a “reminder” that I can walk on whichever side of the road I damn well please! I mean seriously. This is written as if those of us who might walk on the right side of the road have been breaking some urban walking regulation and need a “friendly reminder” about how to behave. It infuriates me for reasons unclear and it makes me want to deliberately defy this person’s recommendation.

DUNNING (continued from page 4) wasn’t enough that peaceful protesters had just been deprived of their firstamendment rights—this photo-op sought to legitimize that abuse with a layer of religion.”

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, the man most responsible for the Pentagon’s change of heart in the Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, weighed in with this: “Whatever Trump’s goal in conducting his visit, he laid bare his disdain for the rights of peaceful protest in this country, gave succor to the leaders of other coun-

ROSTOW (continued from page 9) used to have black windows and called themselves “The Anvil,” or “The Chain Gang.”

I’d be surprised, however, if gay bars are gone for good. No, they’re not cruising locations anymore. And partly for that reason, they’re not men-only bars or women-only bars. But modern GLBT bars still thrive, I think, as places to hang out, to talk, to watch sports, to dance, to see friends. It’s not the same.

Those bars of old were a lot more fun.

But who would want to go back to those times, really?

I have a few other pieces of legal news as well, including a partial victory out of the Tenth Circuit on whether or not Americans must select male or female on their passports. (The answer awaits further litigation.) But I am not inclined to delve into these arcane areas. For some reason, a great lassitude has crept into my personal space in the last half hour or so, and I am losing my capacity to revel in the news of our vibrant community. I have the television running without sound, so my attention is diverted by loops of protest shots, funeral scenes and my unhappy fellow citizens on parade.

Mel has just informed me that the subject of an irritating Amber Alert that interrupted our consumption of Rachel Maddow last night, a little boy, has been found dead. He was two, and dressed in a Mickey Mouse shirt. Also, our friendly feral cat has vanished. And, of course, Trump is still president.

It’s just as Dickens wrote: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

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Cooper’s heart is even big enough to feel compassion for the dog owner as she faces what he terms a “tidal wave” of public criticism. “[I]t’s got to hurt ... . I’m not excusing the racism, but I don’t know if her life needed to be torn apart.”

assumptions that we African-Americans have to deal with ... then it’s worth it.”

Another Rant About Nextdoor I guess someone in Ohio did something to the grass in his gay neighbors’ yard to spell out “FAG.” The two men who lived there used the incident to raise several thousand dollars for a local gay charity, and apparently police are examining neighborhood Ring cameras in order to catch the culprit.

Meanwhile, some of my neighbors are going a little nuts these days. Some termite company sent kids door to door to drum up business, generating calls to the police and outraged posts on Nextdoor.

“Man knocking on door at 6 pm,” and the like. Come on, guys. Either don’t answer the door, or politely reject their services.

We also have mask wars, many of them focused on whether or not you should wear a mask while walking down the street. Hey, I’m a responsible mask wearer, but there’s no need to bother with it if you’re walking down an empty street.

And my least favorite post, the “helpful hint” to suggest that we adjust some practice to conform to the neighbor’s personal preferences for no reason. For example: “Just a friendly reminder that as a pedestrian while walking on a road where no sidewalk is present one should walk against traffic (left side of the road).

This will also help cut down on how many times we all pass one another in terms of social distancing.”

Oh, and let me complain again about the people who are selling used junk for nearly retail prices? I just saw a post for two wire bar stools, only $100 even though the neighbor bought them recently for $140. I don’t think so!

You may well ask why I still peruse the Nextdoor postings given these atrocities, and the answer is because for every annoying neighbor, there are a dozen nice ones, including many who mirror my opinions. Also, I am concerned about the lost pets. And from time to time, I too wonder whether or not I just heard gunshots, or why three cop cars were sitting at that intersection, or what kind of snake this might be.

And do you remember that I told you about one post last year that said a clown was walking down my street at eight pm with a baseball bat? I needed to know that. arostow@aol.com

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AGUILAS Group Visit to Lake Tahoe Photos courtesy of Juan R. Davila

With San Francisco’s COVID-19 regulations still in effect, AGUILAS members Angel, Hugo, Miguel, and Juan were ready for an opportunity to get out of town for some fresh air and exercise. After flipping a coin, they set their sights on a “first time” visit to see Lake Tahoe.

Following an early morning meet-up point in the Castro, the three- and 1/2-hour journey began with crossing the Bay Bridge and on to Highway 50, passing through Sacramento and Placerville.

Arriving midmorning, the group took a tour around the Lake that included stops to enjoy vista points and frolicking in water and snow. Among their selected sites were Old Brockway Golf Course, Dollar Point, the Truckee River dam and spillway, Eagle Falls, and Emerald Bay State Park.

AGUILAS is the nonprofit service organization for Latino gay men, offering social networking opportunities and free HIV testing. http://www.aguilas.org

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5/30 Protests in Support of BLM

Photos by Rink

With protests and rallies occurring in multiple locations on Saturday, May 30, San Francisco Bay Times photographer Rink began his work at the largely peaceful “March Against Police Brutality” gathering point at United Nations Plaza.

Later in the day, Rink was on the street for a rally at San Francisco City Hall and Civic Center Plaza.

Some protestors eventually split off and headed to Union Square and the 5th and Market intersection where looting of businesses broke out. Mayor London Breed declared a curfew that continued on subsequent evenings through Thursday, June 4.

Curfews imposed in other Bay Area locations continued until the morning of June 8.

Street Art During the Coronavirus Pandemic Photos by Rink

Storefronts on both Castro and Market Streets in the Castro, as well as those in other parts of town, are featuring original murals by local artists. Rink captured images of just some of the artwork as he made his way around the city. See which storefronts you can identify in the collection presented here.

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Round About - All Over Town

Photos by Rink

CASTRO STREETCAM presented by

Michelle Jester and Mary Sager stopped by Harvey’s, at the corner of 18th and Castro, to pick up their cocktails to go.

At Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, the classic glass windows are displaying the “pause” sign signaling that the music is “just paused” and “the music will play again soon.”

The annual San Francisco Pride rainbow flag installation on Market Street is in place, with the colors streaming proudly such as on this one attached to the lamp post at 8th and Market Streets.

http://sfbaytimes.com/

A sign proclaims “Russian Hill Bookstore Needs Your Help” in the store’s front window.

Rev. Amos Brown was the emcee and featured speaker at the Bay Area Black Preachers press conference on the steps of City Hall on Monday, May 25.

A sign proclaiming “Stay Home God Hears Your Prayers Wherever You Are” was displayed at the Bay Area Black Preachers press conference.

Co-owner Ben Bellouin offered the popular book A Breath of Life by Clarice Lispector at the Russian Hill Bookstore on Monday, May 18.

A couple held hands while walking on their way to Castro Street.

Servers Gary and Nicole signaled the Lookout’s continuing bucket and takeout food and beverage service from the balcony.

Bob’s Donuts servers Srey Mech and Srey Bo displayed the pastries for sale on National Donut Day, June 5.

The Castro’s popular Anchor Oyster Bar posted a sign in its front window encouraging customers to place takeout orders.

A young man displayed signs encouraging congregations to depend on science for health matters during the Bay Area Black Preachers press conference on May 25.

As Heard on the Street . . . What shows would you recommend for binge watching? compiled by Rink

Dee Spencer

Alex Huie

Jen Chan

Bruce Beaudette

Simon King

“‘Westworld,’ ‘The Feed,’ ‘Gentleman Jack,’ ‘Scott and Bailey,’ and ‘The Constant Gardener.’”

“‘American Idol,’ ‘The View,’ and ‘Good Morning, America.’”

“‘Three’s Company!’

It is more back in the day when I was growing up.”

“‘Upload’ on Amazon Prime.

It is about a future where you can upload your mind into a digital paradise.”

“Michael Jordan/Chicago Bulls 10-part doc series ‘Last Dance’ that was on EPSN.”

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The Census is about representation

LGBTQ COUNTS

COUNTING LGBTQ COMMUNITIES IN THE CENSUS The census is a count the federal government does of every person living in the United States. It happens once every 10 years and is required by the US Constitution. You can do the census online, by phone, or by mail. Most people received a letter from the Census Bureau with instructions.

Why do we do the Census?

Governments and businesses use census data to decide: • How much money each state gets for schools, hospitals, roads, and social services • Locations for new roads, transportation lines, and businesses • How many Congressional Representatives each state, including California, receives • How local and state district lines get drawn, based on population

Why is Census important for LGBTQ communities?

Census data helps determine political representation and funding for social services. Many LGBTQ people rely on these services like health care, housing, and CalFresh. When everyone does the census, LGBT communities get our fair share. This means funding for local services and the political representation we deserve. In the past, the census has undercounted LGBTQ people, immigrants, and people of color. If we do not get an accurate census count in 2020, California could lose a seat in the House of Representatives. Doing the census is an important act of claiming visibility and power. Without representation, the values, needs and interests of LGBTQ Californians will go unheard.

Do the census today.

What questions are on the Census?

The census asks 9 simple questions about you and the people living in your household. The census will ask you how many people live with you and if you own or rent your house, and your relationship to those people. It will also ask you for your name, sex, age, birthday, ethnicity and race. The census does not have a specific question about sexual orientation.

But, for the first time in history, you can say if you live with a same-sex partner or spouse.

The census does not provide an option for single people to identify as LGBTQ, though.

The census asks your sex according to a binary. You can only select “male” or “female”.

LGBTQ people should still do the census, though. When you answer according to how you best identify, you help us work toward a future with better representation for all.

Visit my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020. To learn more, go to sf.gov/lgbtqcensus SF Counts is a campaign of the City & County of San Francisco Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs