San Francisco Bay Times - June 27, 2019

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2019)

PHOTO BY CHLOE JACKMAN/ART DIRECTOR DEBRA WALKER

June 27–July 10, 2019 | http://sfbaytimes.com

celebrate PRIDE 2019

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

Talking ‘Bout a Revolution...

Kate Kendell, Esq. (Editor’s Note: For this Pride 2019 edition of the San Francisco Bay Times, we are honored to introduce Kate Kendell, Esq., as a new columnist. A nationally recognized leader in the fight for LGBTQ rights, Kendell served as the Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) for over two decades. She and her team during that time successfully worked to change numerous discriminatory laws and to create new laws and policies protecting the LGBTQ community.

Kendell’s early background would not have predicted such an outcome, given that she grew up as a Latter-day Saint in then very conservative Utah. She attended the University of Utah College of Law and received her J.D. in 1988.

After practicing corporate law for a few years, she pursued her true passion—civil rights advocacy— thereby changing her life’s course.

She could rest on her already impressive laurels, but she is hard at work yet again, this time as Campaign Manager for the organization Take Back the Court.

Kendell and her team are now striving to restore voting rights, to ensure reproductive freedom, to protect workers, to halt our climate emergency and to save democracy itself.

We look forward to, along with you, following these efforts and to learning more about her work and views through this new column.)

When I left my position as Executive Director at NCLR at the end of 2018 after 22 years in that role, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was such a big change, but also one that I fully embraced. I’ve said before that it was the “ job of a lifetime,” and the sentiment holds true.

But I’ve got a lot of life left. As I spend June both celebrating and reflecting, I close in on four months in my current role as Campaign Manager for Take Back the Court.

It’s clear to me that our collective work to win full liberation for LGBTQ folks and ensure that our nation centers justice and empow-

ers the most vulnerable faces fierce headwinds.

From my vantage point at Take Back the Court, democracy is on life support: dirty tricks, stealing SCOTUS (the Supreme Court of the United States), illegitimate confirmation of Kavanaugh, voting rights, gerrymandering. We are on the verge of not living in a representative democracy. We will be ruled by folks in power who can’t win elections unless they cheat. So, we must reform court structure if we are to save democracy.

For the first time in a century, there is a national conversation about structural reform of SCOTUS. Eleven of the 20+ candidates seeking the Democratic nomination are in favor of some sort of court reform.

Democracy is broken and that is intentional. But we can yet both save democracy and perhaps spark a broader revolution.

Revolutions are borne out of struggle, frustration and even desperation. We feel all three every day under this shockingly evil and incompetent administration. But it

is through our fury over the daily assaults on human dignity and decency that the seeds of a revolution are being sown.

Our community knows something about revolution.

Fifty years ago, at the Stonewall Bar in the West Village of New York City, patrons for years had endured abuse and assault by those in power.

The seeds of a revolution had taken root and the uprising of queer, trans, drag queens and the city’s outcasts exploded. It wasn’t the first such riot—our own Compton’s Cafeteria holds that distinction— but Stonewall is legendary, less for the riots it sparked than for the revolution it ushered in.

So here we are now, 50 years post Stonewall. The seeds of a coming revolution are taking root. You see it in record numbers of young people voting, in Women’s Marches across the nation and globe, in mid-term elections that swept a host of badass women into Congress and in LGBTQ folks in every community and neighborhood and culture, rising up to say “enough.”

We need a revolution. But more than us, the most vulnerable need a revolution. The most targeted need a revolution. The most terrified need a revolution. We were born for this moment. We have muscle memory for this moment. It won’t be a riot at a queer bar. But we are taking our country back from the corrupt and cruel. We’ve had enough and we are fighting back.

For 22 years, Kate Kendell, Esq., led the National Center for Lesbian Rights, a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy and public education. Kendell stepped down from this role at the end of 2018 and is now serving as Campaign Manager for Take Back the Court ( https://bit.ly/2LikiE6 ), an organization committed to structural reform of the U.S. Supreme Court.

SFPRIDE.ORG

She became the first staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah. In this role she directly litigated many high-profile cases focusing on all aspects of civil liberties, including reproductive rights, prisoners’ rights, free speech, the rights of LGBTQ people and the intersection of church and state.

The honed skills benefited her time at NCLR that included litigation, public policy advocacy, public education and more.

Pride: Legal vs. Lived Equality

Brett Andrews As we celebrate Pride, it is hard to believe how far the LGBTQ movement has come since the Stonewall riots in 1969. Then, conditions on the ground were quite unfavorable, if not outright hostile: police brutality, unfair laws and a broad swath of society that was unapologetically unaccepting of gays, their fight for freedom and their desire to fully self-express. Beyond that, there was social unrest around the Vietnam War, and the civil rights movement was on the back end of a decadeslong struggle for equal rights and federal protections. Over the next 2

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In most all cases involving civil rights, resulting legislation was enacted in an effort to help rectify the atrocities of inequality and unfair treatment of the past, along with built-in protections to mitigate harm on an ongoing basis—at least in theory. This brings me to the constant struggle of reconciliation between legal equality and lived equality.

As a 54-year old African American gay man, I have experienced, first-hand, the disconnection between what civil rights legislation intended, and how it actually plays out on a daily basis. Let me also hasten to say that I have benefited greatly from the collective advocacy of so many couraJ U NE 2 7 , 2 0 1 9

It is incumbent upon all of us—yes, even those who feel that their lives are not directly impacted—not just to reflect on the past and to celebrate our achievements, but also to challenge ourselves to look more closely at the many remaining ways in which our legal successes are not matching up to their lived promise.

San Francisco Pride Parade 2018

So, this year, as you partake in the festivities of Pride, I encourage you to hold your head high, take pride in all that you and your community have accomplished, and represent in your world the future change that we still need. Never be too far from your commitment to taking up the work that still needs to be done. Remember, there is a deserving face tied to every advancement that we make!

Happy Pride! Be safe & caring.

PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS

From the Frontlines

AIDS, one of the most devastating, existential threats of our time, reared its head in the 1980s and tore through our communities, laying waste to multitudes of individuals whose full life promise was never able to be realized. We later experienced the extraordinary medical advancements that have led to the reclassification of HIV/AIDS to a chronic illness. Similarly, on the legal front, the LGBTQ movement suffered significant losses and numerous setbacks, countered by a set of landmark rulings that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8, which paved a way for many LGBTQ persons to enjoy the full benefits of marriage.

geous individuals who were willing to hold the line, never back down, and stand in harm’s way.

SFPD officers at SF Pride 2018

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/ Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi in the San Francisco Pride Parade 2015

PHOTO BY RINK

50 years, the LGBTQ movement would experience some of the highest of highs and lowest of lows.

celebrate PRIDE 2019 2019 San Francisco Pride Community Grand Marshals and Awardees Illustrations by George McCalman Community Grand Marshals Vince Crisostomo Community Grand Marshal, Selected by Public Vote Vince Crisostomo is a gay Chamorro (Pacific Islander) long-term HIV/AIDS survivor who believes in the power of community and has dedicated more than 30 years to HIV/AIDS activism and LGBTQ communities.

API Equality – Northern California (APIENC) Community Grand Marshal, Organization, Selected by Public Vote APIENC builds queer and transgender Asian and Pacific Islander power to transform our community livelihoods from scarcity to abundance.

Mrs. Vera Community Grand Marshal, Selected by the San Francisco Pride Membership Mrs. Vera is on a quest to brighten the lives around her by celebrating the artistic spirit associated with San Francisco and looking as gay as possible while doing so. Mrs. Vera is a character created by David Faulk and his partner Michael Johnstone.

Ms. Billie Cooper Community Grand Marshal, Selected by the SF Pride Board of Directors Ms. Billie Cooper, a 60-year-old transsexual woman, has lived and thrived with HIV for 33 years, and has been invested in her transgender community for over 30 years. She is proud to be a transgender elder and one of the many faces of Black transgender excellence.

Donna Personna Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal, Selected by the SF Pride Board of Directors Donna Personna is an artist and activist for transgender rights. She got her start with the Cockettes. In 2018, she raised San Francisco’s first transgender flag at City Hall with Mayor London Breed.

Heritage of Pride Awards NIA Collective 10 Years of Service Award For those organizations, individuals or other entities that have contributed at least ten years of consecutive service to the LGBTQ community NIA Collective was created by and for Lesbians of African descent in 1987 during the Black Caucus at the Lesbians of Color

Conference in San Francisco. They created an organization that would give voice, visibility and safe space for Lesbians of African Descent to come together in community.

Bob Haas Pride Freedom Award For outstanding contributions to advancing civil rights and freedom for LGBTQ people Robert D. (Bob) Haas in 1982, as a senior executive at Levi Strauss & Co., joined in the effort of a group of employees handing out leaflets alerting fellow employees to a still-unnamed disease fatally impacting gay men. As later CEO of the company and a board member of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, he helped to achieve nationwide marriage equality and continues to fight for the rights of LGBTQ individuals.

Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation Pride Community Award For outstanding service to LGBTQ communities The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF) is an organization dedicated to raising funds for AIDS services, hunger programs and programs for homeless youth in the Bay Area, through the production of quality entertainment programs. At the heart of REAF are Ken Henderson and Joe Seiler, who produce the outstanding fundraising events.

Cristal Veronica Pride Creativity Award For outstanding artistic contribution to the LGBTQ community Cristal Veronica is a proud Queer Chicana feminist photographer. After getting two higher education degrees, she fell into wedding photography after seeing images of nontraditional couples doing things their own way. She strives to document folks making decisions about what love looks like to them and not compromising their values for societal standards.

Commemoration Awards Lyon-Martin Health Services Gilbert Baker Pride Founder’s Award For those who have made a significant and historical impact on the LGBTQ community and the movement for LGBTQ rights Lyon-Martin Health Services provides culturally responsive health care to women, lesbians, bisexual women and transgender people in a safe and compassionate environment, with sensitivity to sexual orientation and gender identity; all services are regardless of ability to pay. Now with HealthRIGHT 360, Lyon-Martin was founded in 1979 and was named in honor of LGBTQ civil rights activists Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin (1921–2008). (continued on page 5)

Up Close and Personal with Outgoing SF Pride Executive Director George Ridgely to two dogs, Folsom and Saffy (Alvaro’s dog).

sponsors! too many community stages!), George managed to find a balance among the competing interests while churning out six successful Pride celebrations.

Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History Louise “Lou” Fischer George Ridgely, the sixth Executive Director to lead SF Pride, announced back in May that after five and a half years, six Pride weekends and thousands of hours of sleep debt, he was stepping down at the conclusion of this year’s Pride. I’ve known George for years and have always been impressed with his humility, unpretentious demeanor and level of unflappability in a job that has been derided as a “one-way ticket to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.” Rudyard Kipling may well have time-traveled to the future and channeled George when he wrote the poem If–. “If you can keep your head when all about you/are losing theirs and blaming it on you.”

Even as the face of SF Pride, George never made it about himself; his focus was always on the team and the community. In a position where, on any given day, 50% of the community completely loves you (bigger parade and celebration! raise more sponsorship money! more community stages!) and the other 50% is in complete disagreement (parade is too long! celebration is too big! get rid of corporate 4

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Lou Fischer: Of all the Grand Marshals you met, who was the most memorable for you?

In honor of his service, I asked George to give me, for the San Francisco Bay Times, a farewell interview to share memories and some juicy “behind the scenes dish” (as expected, he was way too polite to divulge any gossip).

Lou Fischer: Where are you from and where did you live before SF? George Ridgely: I grew up in a small town called Upper Marlboro in Southern Maryland, near Washington, D.C. I moved to Los Angeles in 1988 and lived there for eight years before relocating to San Francisco.

Lou Fischer: What were you doing before you took the job with SF Pride?

George Ridgely: I started my career in restaurant and hospitality management and transitioned to event management in 2002. I served as the Director of “Bay to Breakers” for 11 years and “Castro Street Fair” for 16 years.

Lou Fischer: Why did you apply for the job with SF Pride?

George Ridgely: After 11 rewarding years of leading the Bay to Breakers team, I wanted to focus my energy, knowledge and experience on an event that served my own LGBTQ community. As a gay kid growing up in a small town, I never dreamed I could lead one of the most iconic Pride events in the world. The job is a privilege; I worked with some of the most talJ U NE 2 7 , 2 0 1 9

George Ridgely and Folsom

ented and dedicated event professionals in the city.

Lou Fischer: What is the workload and how did you avoid burnout?

George Ridgely: The workload is intense; 90-hour weeks in the months leading up to the event are the norm, but the rewards make it worthwhile. Seeing the joy on someone’s face who is experiencing their first Pride melts away the exhaustion. Without a great team, I would have burned out earlier.

Also, I’d be remiss not to mention a key member, my most loyal (and lovable) co-worker, my dog Folsom.

Lou Fischer: Your dog is adorable and so gentle. Tell me more about him.

George Ridgely: I adopted him from Animal Care and Control in the fall of 2014 and he hasn’t left my side since. He is a mix of boxer and German shepherd and he just turned five in May. He has his own office chair and is at most of our meetings. His presence is a calming influence during stressful times.

We only have four full-time staff in the office and, at one point, we had four dogs; now we are back down

George Ridgely: SF Pride has recognized hundreds of people since 1970 and more than 50 during my tenure alone. If I have to pick one individual that left a lasting impression on me, it was 2014 Community Grand Marshal Jewlyes Gutierrez, the transgender teen from Hercules. Jewlyes was a victim of bullying and harassment in her high school who was charged with assault and battery for defending herself. She is a humble and brave individual who was so genuinely thrilled to be embraced by the Pride community. Her parents accompanied her to our official events and her mother’s gratitude toward me and the organization remains, for me, a constant reminder of why Pride is significant and necessary.

Buena Center for the Arts, and they donated a gallery to showcase the work. The project evolved into an exploration of identity (gender, ethnicity, culture, community and love) and was recognized by Mayor Breed and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. The show is still running at YBCA through July 14.

Lou Fischer: What is your new job and what will you be doing? (continued on page 22)

PRIDE

BY THE NUMBERS 4 full-time staff members 12 part-time event contractors

Lou Fischer: What is one project or action that you are proud of and that you regard as your “stamp on the organization”?

Approximately 2,000 Pride volunteers

George Ridgely: The new project that we launched this year to repurpose worn-out Market Street rainbow flags. Every June, Pride installs and maintains the rainbow flags along Market Street. Tattered flags are retired and normally end up in crates in our storage facility.

I wanted to see them brought back to life through art, so we donated 30 of the flags to the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco and invited the kids to deconstruct and reconstruct the flags across various artistic media. The program caught the attention of the Yerba

35,000–50,000 Parade participants

280 Parade contingents 200 exhibitors/booths

An estimated 1,000,000 visitors and spectators $3.2 million annual budget for SF Pride $1.8 million cost to put on the festival $2 million sponsorship commitments for 2019

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

China Silk José Julio Sarria History Maker Award Awarded to Bay Area people who make extraordinary changes in the way society views the LGBTQ community A San Francisco native, China Silk as we know her was conceived during the Carrillo-Wong Dynasty of the Imperial Court of San Francisco. Fundraising for her community, in venues all over the city, has always been the center of her world.

Cheryl Dunye Teddy Witherington Award Recognizing those individuals who have contributed a longstanding, large body of work to the LGBTQ community Cheryl Dunye is an African American director, writer, and actress. She emerged as part of the “queer new wave” of young film and video makers in the 1990s, and recently directed multiple episodes of Queen Sugar for Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey.

Sampson McCormick The Audrey Joseph LGBTQ Entertainment Award For those who have made a significant and historical impact or left an indelible impression on the LGBTQ community and the movement for LGBTQ rights, through their artistic expression, or through their contribution within the entertainment industry Sampson McCormick is a down to earth comedic force of nature, an experience, and has been one of the most sought-after voices of diversity in comedy for almost two decades. His comedy offers riveting and fresh takes on race, religion, politics and sexuality.

The original illustrations of this year’s grand marshals were created by George McCalman.

He is an artist and creative director based in San Francisco. McCalman’s monthly column “Observed” charts cultural moments and events in the Bay Area, and can be found in the style section of the “San Francisco Chronicle.” His first book, “Illustrated Black History,” will be published in 2020 by Harper Collins.

IG: @mccalmanco https://www.mccalman.co/

Honoring Marsha Levine of SF Pride and Her Decades of Service We cannot think of Pride in San Francisco without having Marsha Levine come to mind. As our San Francisco Bay Times contingent has turned the corner from the staging area to Market Street, she has been there to guide and cheer for us and for all of the other contingents. When we got stuck in a human traffic jam after the parade, she and the also amazing “Safety Joan” and “Safety Freddy” helped us out. When we have had questions about the event, Levine has always provided the answers promptly and thoughtfully.

She is an unsung hero of so many successful San Francisco Pride Parades. If you watch from home, you might not even know of Levine and her work, which often remain behind the scenes. When we recently saw her at the Mayor’s Flag Raising Ceremony and Pride celebration earlier this month, we therefore asked her to share her story. We present it here with tremendous gratitude for her continuing, much-needed service to our LGBTQ community.

Reflecting on Nearly Four Decades of Pride Immersion

By Marsha H. Levine Sometime amid my late teens, I became aware and moved from being an oblivious child to a burgeoning adult. Atom bombs were very much a stark reality, the Cold War raged, Vietnam was grimly in the daily news, and America’s youth was revolting. Sit-ins and other demonstrations took place on several college campuses, kids were shot at Kent State for protesting, the SDS bombed a Greenwich Village townhouse, and prisoners at Attica rioted.

These were turbulent times. And for me, the Stonewall Rebellion was but a whisper in my world, despite having known the word “lesbian” since I was 11 years old, having suspected there was something different about myself when I was five.

My first lover was a school friend and we passed it off as just experimenting, as all the psychology books I perused in the library told me was typical for girls our age. There were two roles back then: you were either a butch/bull dyke or a femme. I was definitely the latter, and still a bit boy-crazy, though I believed that I loved Lori as much as I would have loved any man had I followed a heteronormative path. But loving a woman in the 70s was still considered the mental illness that defined homosexuality back then.

When my mother discovered one of my love letters to Lori, I feared being institu-

Sister Dana’s Guide to Pride The San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade and Celebration is one of the largest gatherings of LGBT people and allies in the nation. The Parade kicks off on Sunday, June 30, 10:30 am at Embarcadero and ends at the Civic Center. The theme for 2019 is “Generations of Resistance.” Join us as we demonstrate and celebrate with over 250 parade contingents!

But there is much more than the Parade on Pride Weekend. On June 29 and June 30, the Main Stage of the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Rally sits at the steps of City Hall in Civic Center Plaza. We can delight in two exciting days of programming featuring local, national and international touring acts, community organizations and engaging thought leaders. The Celebration and Rally is a free community event funded by the donors, but the Parade asks for a donation at the gate.

The Main Stage Lineup on June 29 includes hosts Persia And Yves Saint Croissant with filmmaker Leo Herrera. In order of lineup, starting at noon and ending at 5 pm is La Frida, The Fell Swoop, Bay Area Musicals: Hairspray cast members, drag queen Patty McGroin, cheerleading squad Cheer San Francisco, speaker Allison Anderman from Giffords Law Center, Candelaria,

tionalized. We began to write in an elaborate cipher that we developed, and then I would burn them afterward. Or keep them in my school locker to reread for a bit before destroying them.

Is it any surprise it took me almost a decade to finally accept the word lesbian without a negative connotation? And then another five years to finally come out—after having served two years as the President of the Boston Lesbian/Gay Pride Committee?

Being a part of Pride, first in Boston, then in San Francisco when I relocated here, taught me a bravery that has since served me well. For anyone who thinks being a part of organizing Pride might be easy or a lightweight commitment, they should volunteer a season and walk in our shoes.

Back when I started, your name and your phone number was the contact information for the Pride organization. You’d come home to find death threats on your voice mail (and have to copy for the police) or you would catch yourself avoiding walking in front of windows and looking both ways when you exited your residence. It’s not much easier now, when verbal assaults by way of nasty phone messages or snarky emails—from members of your own community—make you sad and ponder why do you do this.

The answer is simple. Because somewhere in Wichita, Kansas, or Johnson City, Tennessee, an LGBTQ person is thinking that they are alone until they watch the news and find there are others just like them out there in the world. While many might pack a bag and move to the nearest LGBTQ+ mecca, there are the truly courageous who stand up and shout it from the rooftops from often homophobic settings and begin to build community at home.

So, let’s think about that during the world celebrations of Pride. Be kinder to each other, use better words when we communicate, and above all, listen. The glimmer of someone’s turning point is often hidden among this chance to celebrate.

Marsha H. Levine has been an executive officer for Boston Pride; SF Pride; the Consolidated Associations of Pride, Inc.; and, currently, InterPride. With over 39 years of Pride immersion, she now serves as Community Relations Manager for San Francisco Pride.

Marsha’s nouns are she/her and she identifies as bisexual.

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

speakers from Larkin Street Youth Services, Samiere, Ivy Barrett Fox Bryan: HeadCount, In the Groove Studios, drag entertainer VivvyAnne ForeverMORE and Stud Bar, Siobhan Aluvalot and Leikeli47.

On June 30, the Main Stage has hosts Sister Roma of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Honey Mahogany, a star from RuPaul’s Drag Race. There will be a special ceremony from BAAITS (Bay Area American Indian Two Spirits).

Filmmaker Leo Herrera makes a return appearance as well.

Starting at 11 am and ending at 5:20 pm will be Duserock; Taína Asili; Jay Rice from Coalition on Homelessness; the glorious sounds of Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir; Sophia Andary of Women’s March San Francisco; Shannon Hovis, Director, NARAL Pro-Choice California; Openhouse Executive Director Karyn Skultety and Openhouse GenOUT; the Parade and Celebration Board of Directors; and a very quick presentation of the Parade Community Grand Marshals.

At approximately 12:50 pm, there will be a rousing speech from openly gay Senator Scott Wiener; stirring words from Mayor London Breed;

Spencer Tolliver of the Boys & Girls Club San Francisco; a presentation by some of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence celebrating their 40th anniversary; Kristin Beck of Transgender in the Military (which I am sure will involve how antitrans Trump shows himSister Dana aboard the San Francisco Bay Times vehicle self as an enemy); Candi Sister Dana at SF Pride 2017 Stratton Miss Trans On that particular night, the Peaks! This is the 24th year that USA 2019 and International Cher Stonewall patrons initiated local volunteers have placed a whole lot Impersonator; Starz’s Vida cast; of pink panels into a puzzle that action that was to eventually lead more acrobatics from the amazbecomes a huge, pink sign of Pride. to national gay liberation. They ing queer cheerleaders, Cheer San fought back. For several days and And Now for Sister Dana’s Francisco; words of encouragement nights, the Stonewall Rebellion Little History Lesson from proudly openly gay Supervisor raged on, and the so-called sissies Rafael Mandelman; Book of Love; beat the men-in-blue in a rather vioEvery year I read an editorial askagain Ivy Barrett Fox Bryan of ing for the “freaks and drag queens” lent uprising (and I don’t mean with HeadCount; queer rock band Pansy purses). So you see, it was a very to please step aside and not ruin it Division; Families Belong Together abnormal group of “freaky people for LGBTQ rights. And I need to (not children in cages), Al Otro wearing funny clothes” back then remind those naysayers that it was Lado, Immigrant Defenders Law who made it possible for us today drag queens and transgenders, way Center; TENz presents Ballroom: to cocktail and cruise undisturbed back at the end of June 1969 in New Innovation Triumphs Inequality; in the queer bar of our choice. And York City, hanging out at their local 5Big Dipper; Marke Bieschke walk down Market Street holdgay bar, the Stonewall Inn, who regarding LGBTQIA Youth; ing hands. And for that matter, decided that they would no lonBrazil’s most famous drag queen those “nelly fellas” paved the way ger put up with daily police harassand performer Pabllo Vittar; and ment and arrests, which were part of for every one of our civil rights international entertainer and TV marches. So, when you see a drag “normal” homosexual life for these personality Amara La Negra. queen or “freaky person,” give ‘em people. At that time, it was illegal the thumbs-up and thank ‘em for to be gay, so there was no openly While enjoying all of the entertainthe legacy that continues. Flame gay pride, no openly gay politics, ment, please be sure to notice the fabulous Pink Triangle atop Twin and most certainly no gay parade.

ON, freaky people!!!

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JUNE 27, 2019

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San Francisco Bay Times Pride Parade Contingent 2019: Generations of Resistance

We are grateful for courageous activists, such as founding SFBT contributors Cleve Jones, Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, and founding News Editor Randy Alfred, who helped to make true the vision of the late SFBT Co-Founders, Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman. Randy Alfred, part of last year’s SFBT 40th Anniversary celebrations, will be joining our contingent this year.

Current SFBT members will also be present, including Rink and longtime Sister of Perpetual Indulgence, Sister Dana Van Iquity, who is always a Parade favorite. Legend has it that you will enjoy a year of good luck and loving if you receive one of the many kisses that he blows to viewers along the route. Pay it forward!

At least four, and possibly even five, generations will be represented in our contingent, ranging from Gen Z to the Stonewall era and beyond. Other highlights include: Carnaval and AGUILAS Performers MARIBEL RODRIGUEZ

Under the direction of choreographer Juan Davila from the SFBT, dancers and other performers from Carnaval and AGUILAS—the city’s organization by and for gay/bisexual Latinos—will be featured. We are honored that Eduardo Morales, PhD, Executive Director of AGUILAS, will be joining us. http://sfaguilas.org/ Dan Ashley, ABC7 News News anchor and journalist Dan Ashley, a recipient of the prestigious DuPont Columbia and the Edward R. Murrow Awards, is a familiar face here in the Bay Area for his work on ABC7 News. He is also a talented musician, and will be performing in the SFBT contingent for a second year.

(Many of you requested that he return, and we are glad to report that he said yes!)

He shares, “Playing with me at the Parade of note— Vernon “Ice” Black—who was the lead guitarist on tour for Mariah Carey’s band; Billy “Shoes” Johnson is on drums—he was the touring drummer for Santana and Frankie Beverly.” Ashley has been busy working in the studio, and adds that a few new songs just added to his namesake band’s playlist will be debuted at the Parade.

Several other performances are scheduled for later this summer and fall. Check Ashley’s website for updates. http://danashleymusic.com/ UCSF Women’s Health: Black Women’s Health & Livelihood Initiative

Judy Young, Executive Director of the National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health, will be joining the SFBT contingent, along with other leaders of the Black Women’s Health & Livelihood Initiative. The Initiative is challenging the systemic obstacles that lead to inequity in healthcare by exploring and elevating the expertise and knowledge of existing Black 8

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Patrick and Hossein Carney, The Pink Triangle One of the most memorable moments of Pride is seeing the Pink Triangle atop Twin Peaks.

Originated by Patrick Carney and his team, the project is an annual commemoration of the gay victims who were persecuted and killed in concentration camps in Nazi Germany starting in 1933 through the end of WWII. We are honored that Carney, his husband Hossein and other members of their team will again be joining us this year. https://www.thepinktriangle.com/ PHOTO BY RINK

SF Pride is in the middle of its trilogy: Generations of Strength, Resistance and Hope. Next year will mark the 50th Anniversary of SF Pride and the end of the trilogy. In terms of this year’s theme, the San Francisco Bay Times (SFBT) was born out of resistance in 1978, at a time when the Briggs Initiative (California Proposition 6) threatened to ban LGBTQ teachers in our state’s public schools, marriage equality was unthinkable, conversion therapy was commonplace and more.

women at UCSF and in the Bay Area community to implement novel solutions for healthcare disparities in Black women’s well-being, while accelerating and improving both recruitment and retention of Black women at UCSF and their promotion to leadership positions. https://bit.ly/2WZzwjw

Glenn Michael Baker, Performer and Scenic Designer The tallest member of our contingent by far will be stilt-walker Glenn Michael Baker, who always amazes us with his ability to spend hours on his stilts before, during and after the lengthy trek down Market Street. He is also a talented dancer, but is now perhaps best known for his scenic design work. He was recently nominated for an Ovation Award in the “Scenic Design: Intimate Theater” category for his work on Burners (Moving Arts). We are grateful that the talented, Los Angelesbased Baker will be traveling to San Francisco again this year in order to be in our contingent. http://www.glennmichaelbaker.com/ ALI BIGGS PHOTOGRAPHY

The San Francisco Bay Times Pride Parade contingent for 2019 will be the largest ever in the history of the paper, with an estimated 24 wheel monitors, 6 motorized vehicles, 4 contingent monitors, 3 contingent leaders/ captains, street teams and 100+ participants and supporters. We invite both members of our LGBTQ community and allies, so please come and join us! See the end of this article for additional information. Several on our team have been in the Parade over the decades— legendary photographer Rink has been to every San Francisco Pride Parade—and the experience remains powerful and meaningful.

Lucky Tuk Tuk EcoFriendly Vehicles New to the streets of San Francisco are Lucky Tuk Tuks—three-wheeled, ecofriendly vehicles that provide a novel and fun way to explore the city. Owner and Chief Troublemaker Brian Huber and members of his team will be with us, riding in the unique vehicles along with SFBT Co-Publishers Dr. Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas. Huber says, “Lucky Tuk Tuks run completely on electric power, designed with San Francisco’s crazy hills and eco-conscious ethos in mind. The main goals are to ensure riders are safe and having a blast, so our hosts are both professional drivers and party-starters.” https://lucky-tuk-tuk.com/ Gray Line Tours San Francisco Since 1910, Gray Line has been a trusted provider of traveler experiences and sightseeing tours in the world’s most soughtafter locations. From the Wine Country to Muir Woods to Yosemite, hopping on a Gray Line vehicle can take you on a dream vacation— or, in our case, a sweet ride down Market Street for the Pride Parade! https://graylineofsanfrancisco.com/ Additional honored guests who will be riding in the San Francisco Bay Times Pride Parade contingent: LaTonya Lawson, Regional Marketing Leader for Celebrity Cruises, Inc. https://www.celebritycruises.com/ San Francisco Federal Credit Union (Team of Volunteers) https://www.sanfranciscofcu.com/ Beth Schnitzer, Co-Founder and President of SpritzSF https://spritzsf.com/ Joe Shirley, Director of Winemaking at Trinchero Family Estates https://www.tfewines.com/ Representatives from: Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org/ Golden Gate Business Association: https://ggba.com/ (continued on page 22)

celebrate PRIDE 2019

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

International Pride

The State of New York this year is hosting the largest international celebration of LGBT Pride in history: Stonewall50. This is possible, in part, because the majority of North America’s 23 countries have increasingly recognized the rights of LGBTQ people throughout recent years. As a result, representatives of several of these nations will be present at the 2019 San Francisco Pride Parade. Two of the most prominent groups will be from Canada and Mexico. We therefore asked our city’s Consul Generals from these nations to contribute to this special Pride issue of the San Francisco Bay Times.

Statement by Rana Sarkar, Consul General of Canada in San Francisco/Silicon Valley, on the occasion of San Francisco Pride 2019

Statement for Pride 2019 from the Consul General of Mexico and the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, San Francisco

Respect for all human rights is a central tenet of Canada’s domestic and foreign policy. As such, Canada advocates strongly in support of the rights of LGBTQ2 persons, both at home and abroad. We affirm that human rights principles are universal and unalienable, and that states must respect the human rights of everyone, including LGBTQ2 persons. No one should be subjected to discrimination or violence because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.

Diversity is our strength!

The Consulate General of Mexico is joining the LBGTQ Pride month celebrations and will participate with a contingent that will [be in the] parade on Sunday, June 30th, alongside the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco to show the unity and commitment with the respect of human rights in the North America Region.

Canada’s international reputation as a leader in relation to LGBTQ2 rights is reflected in its progressive domestic legislation and policies affecting LGBTQ2 persons. It is also a product of Canada’s multifaceted efforts to promote the human rights of LGBTQ2 persons in the global sphere. These efforts include advocacy in multilateral and bilateral fora, collaboration with civil society organizations, and funding for LGBTQ2-related international assistance projects. Canada is committed to fight hatred, honor love, and defend human rights for everyone.

While recognizing that countries are at different stages, Canada calls on all states to eliminate laws and policies that discriminate against persons based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, and to combat all acts of violence targeted towards LGBTQ2 persons. Together, we can build a world where all of us are free to be who we are and love who we love.

The Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco supports LGBTQ2 organizations throughout Northern California. We also are proud to again join the Consulate General of Mexico in marching in the 2019 San Francisco Pride Parade—a strong sign of North American solidarity. The commitment of Canada and Mexico to diversity and inclusion isn’t about being nice and polite—though of course we are.

In fact, this commitment is a powerful and (continued on page 22)

Observing instructions of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Marcelo Ebrard, the Consulate General of Mexico has focused its efforts on promoting policies to eradicate discrimination and to provide Mexican LBGTQ communities in the Bay Area a safe and inclusive space for consular services and embracing the diversity of our community and their many contributions to the society and culture of our country.

Consul General of Mexico in San Francisco, Remedios Gómez Arnau, stated: “In line with the actions of Mexico’s Federal Government, the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco reaffirms its commitment to advance in our goal of promoting an inclu-

sive society that respects everyone’s rights and does not discriminate anyone on the basis of sexual orientation.”

The Consulate has been implementing concrete policies in order to support the Mexican LBGTQ population in San Francisco: On May 17th, 2019, as we celebrated the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the Mexican Consular network integrated by 50 Consulates in the U.S. has received the authorization to celebrate same sex marriages between Mexicans in its offices, taking an important step in the right direction. (continued on page 22)

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celebrate PRIDE 2019 Honoring Stonewall by Continuing the Fight for LGBTQ Safety

Cross Currents Andrea Shorter Happy LGBTQ Pride! Whether you are an out, loud and proud denizen of the San Francisco Bay Area, or are eagerly visiting San Francisco from afar to enjoy one of the world’s largest Pride parades (averaging over 1 million spectators), the Dyke March, the Trans March, film festivals and endless series of festivities, we wish all an inspired and safe Pride holiday.

As this 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall uprisings coincides with the overcrowded race for the 2020 presidential primary nomination, we can expect to see several candidates making the rounds throughout the country, appearing in at least one Pride parade or related affair to wave a rainbow flag and show unwavering support for LGBTQ community— and garner crucial primary support

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and votes. California’s daughter, junior U.S. Senator and candidate for president, Kamala Harris, will certainly make the rounds in and about her hometown area, enjoying a homecoming to the San Francisco Pride Parade, as well as making an appearance at the annual Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club’s famous Pride Sunday Breakfast.

ple in the U.S. due to fatal violence, the majority of whom were black transwomen. This year, 10 transwomen have been killed, with 5 of them having been slain in this month of June. While the circumstances underlying each case vary, it is very, very likely that these transwomen were slain because of who they are: transwomen, and most specifically transwomen of color.

Part two of the first Democratic primary candidates’ debate takes place this evening, June 27, following last night’s part one. Airing on, and moderated by, various NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo network anchors, these events for many viewers provide the first time that they will see or hear several of the candidates. It is estimated that 80% of voters are not settled on a candidate yet.

This national crisis of fatal violence targeting transwomen of color will likely not be called out on the presidential debate stage or campaign trail. It should. As queer people, we must demand critical response to this urgency and other burgeoning issues facing vulnerable LGBTQ populations—youth homelessness, underemployment, access to healthcare, etc.— from our national and local elected leaders.

Precious time to make that memorable, impressive breakout moment for any of the candidates is proving to be daunting when competing for air time with numerous other individuals on stage.

For some, tonight could result in a key moment to resonate with a largely undecided viewership.

Brace for a contest of poll-tested, campaign trailtried sound bites crafted to grab the spotlight, headlines and tweetable social media virility.

In San Francisco, one candidate for district attorney is making the protection and civil rights of LGBTQ citizens a top priority. A straight ally, former prosecutor under Kamala Harris’ terms as DA and attorney general, and past president of the SF Police Commission, Suzy Loftus proposes critical response to the facts of violence against LGBTQ people. Based on a study conducted by the SF LGBT Community Center, 48 percent of the SF LGBTQ community have experienced sexual assault in their lifetime, 68 percent experienced physical violence, and 81 percent experienced harassment.

The Stonewall uprisings in 1969 were in response to harassment, violence and tyranny visited upon the LGBTQ community.

Transwomen of color were at the forefront of leading those uprisings, standing up against oppression, and calling for a real gay liberation movement. At this 50th Anniversary of Stonewall, we wish everyone a happy Pride. Let us honor the fight for justice ignited by Stonewall by continuing the call for renewed, inclusive criminal justice and law enforcement reforms that will serve and protect us better than in 1969.

Loftus, among her series of proposed initiatives to address LGTQ safety, plans to direct the firstever Civil Rights Unit within the office of the San Francisco District Attorney, with the charge of creating solutions to eliminate disparities in our criminal justice system that affect individuals of all racial and gender identities, sexual orientation, religious affiliations and physical abilities. She will also add hate crimes to the list

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.

While jockeying to prove who is best fit to fire Trump is the main attraction, I would hope that during this Pride month, contenders will do more than make cursory acknowledgements of Pride and the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall, or their support for the urgency of enacting an Equality Act. I hope that in mentions of the LGBTQ movement for liberation and full equality, the issue of safety will also warrant attention.

For the recent Human Rights Campaign report Violence Against the Transgender Community 2019 ( https://bit.ly/2uDJADg ), advocates last year tracked at least 26 deaths of transgender peo-

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of special initiatives under the Criminal Division Specialized Crimes Chief, with the aim of treating hate crimes with the same level of priority as other violent crimes.

I’ve known and worked with Suzy Loftus, and respect her for her dedication to real criminal justice reform, and am confident that, as District Attorney, she will continue to elevate critical response to hate crime and violence against LGBTQ people. While it is a long shot that a presidential candidate will include critical response to hate crimes against LGBTQ people as a focal point along the campaign trail, perhaps we can hold elected county and state prosecutors accountable to providing more critical response.

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

Celebrating Saying No to the Normal: Stonewall 50

6/26 and Beyond Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis In the NPR podcast White Lies exploring the civil rights movement in Selma, Alabama, in the 1960s, African American activists recount the importance to the movement of awakening from an internalized belief that living in poverty and being deprived of basic human rights under the threat of violence was simply normal. Charles Mauldin, then a Selma high school student, describes how “we had been terrorized into staying inside of the box,” but then an organizer “began to ask [us] questions that we had never dared ask ourselves because it was just too threatening.” Maudlin describes how it “takes electricity to somehow shock you” out of “the normalcy of white supremacy ... poverty ... and lack of distribution of wealth.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in his speech at the conclusion of the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, put it famously: “The only normalcy that we will settle for is the normalcy that recognizes the dignity and worth of all of God’s children.”

Fifty years ago, queer patrons of the Stonewall Inn also chose no longer to accept what was then perceived as “normal,” i.e., police raids on LGBT bars and other establishments and queer people living under a cloud of fear and repression. They too demanded a new normal based on their dignity and worth. The symbolic lightning bolt of the Stonewall riots electrified a burgeoning gay liberation movement that changed the world.

Recent Victories Around the Globe

change was going to happen in Selma, Alabama.”

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stonewall at Pride this year, we look to recent victories around the globe: marriage equality coming to Ecuador, the first marriages of LGBTIQ couples ever in Asia taking place in Taiwan, a court in the southern African nation of Botswana striking down that country’s law criminalizing same-sex sexual activity that dated back to British colonial rule, and Bhutan’s national legislature voting to repeal a similar law in that Himalayan kingdom.

The queer people who fought back at Stonewall 50 years ago could hardly have imagined that the LGBTIQ rights movement would be fighting back and making gains over 7,000 miles away in Botswana and Bhutan today.

Yet that is exactly what is happening today because people continue to awaken and refuse to accept a “normal” of discrimination and repression, and imagine a new normal of freedom and equality—just as activists did in the 1960s.

The court in Botswana proclaimed that anti-LGBTIQ laws “deserve a place in the museum or archives and not in the world” and that “[s]exual orientation is not a fashion statement. It is an important attribute of one’s personality.” Last year, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi stated that “many people of same sex relationships in this country ... have been violated and have also suffered in silence for fear of being discriminated. Just like other citizens, they deserve to have their rights protected.”

In Bhutan, the influential Buddhist teacher Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche explained that “if your meditation is not making you see the truth, you are basically rotting your butt,” and that “sexual orientation has nothing to do with understanding or not understanding the truth.” He continued that “you could be gay, you could be lesbian, you could be straight, we never know which one will get enlightened first.”

Refusing to Accept a ‘Normal’ of Discrimination and Repression In the White Lies podcast, Bernard Lafayette, a young activist with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s, recalls: “You had to have a great imagination [to believe] that any

Today, we also reflect on how earlier this month as many as 2 million Hong Kong residents— possibly up to a quarter of the entire Hong Kong population— took to the streets in defiance of the Chinese government to protest a proposed new law that greatly threatened personal liberty. They refused to accept a new repressive “normal” that the Beijing government has been slowly trying to impose on Hong Kong through a series of measures. And as of now, the attempt to enact the new law has been suspended.

This week, millions of Americans from New York to San Francisco will take to the streets to celebrate Stonewall 50, but we must do much more. We must stand up and refuse to accept any “normal” not grounded in the “dignity and worth of all”—and we must do so by the millions.

Happy Pride!

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.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Pink Triangle 24th Annual Installation www.thepinktriangle.com • Set-Up Saturday, June 29 7-10am • Ceremony 10:15am

Info: Patrick Carney

415-726-4914

PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS

• Take Down Sunday, June 30 4:40-8pm

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celebrate PRIDE 2019

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

To San Francisco, With Pride

Pride 2019 opportunities to contribute to building a safe and welcoming LGBTQ community.

It’s no wonder that all of these concurrent changes are being lamented in the editorial pages of the Washington Post and films like The Last Black Man in San Francisco. It’s even remarked upon in the revamped glittery Tales of the City, which premiered on Netflix earlier this month. When we talk about San Francisco circa 2019, you can’t avoid this pink elephant in the room.

This Pride month, let’s take a moment to celebrate San Franciscans who have made a difference in our struggle to live out and proud lives: José Sarria, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, Harvey Milk, Sally Gearhart, Sylvester, Pat Norman, Leonard Matlovich, Cleve Jones, Roma Guy, Cecilia Chung, Gilbert Baker, Mark Leno, Carol Midgen, Roberta Achtenburg, Susan Leal, Kate Kendell, Teresa Sparks and Jewelle Gomez.

Aging in Community

This is just a partial list of all of the folks who deserve recognition. You will have your own list of people to honor and acknowledge.

Dr. Marcy Adelman

Pride month is a time to reflect on where we have been, where we are and where we are going. It is a time to give thanks and to celebrate our victories and how far we have come. Pride is a time to support the LGBTQ organizations that work every day to ensure our rights and to improve our quality of life.

Consider donating to one or all of the following San Francisco organizations:

I marched in my first Pride in 1972, 47 years ago. That was the year I arrived in San Francisco.

I remember feeling that I’d had the good luck to drop into a little bit of heaven. I soon joined Gay Women’s Liberation, where we shared our coming out stories; our personal histories of oppression from homophobia, racism and misogyny; challenged each other over class differences; and shared our hopes, dreams and plans to continue the fight for our right to live with dignity and respect. I am proud and grateful for a lifetime of living an out life and the

Horizons Foundation https://www.horizonsfoundation.org/ NCLR http://www.nclrights.org/ LYRIC http://lyric.org/ Openhouse https://www.openhouse-sf.org/ Postive Resource Center https://prcsf.org/ Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/

Dr. Marcy Adelman, Co-Founder of the nonprofit Openhouse, oversees the Aging in Community column. She is a psychologist and LGBTQI longevity advocate and policy advisor. She serves on the California Commission on Aging, the Board of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern Alegre Home Care is proud to California and Northern Nevada support Dr. Marcy Adelman’s and the San Francisco Dignity Aging in Community column in Fund Oversight and Advisory the San Francisco Bay Times.

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To the Left, To the Left Peter Gallotta Some people say San Francisco is over. That its glory days are behind it. That America’s once envied “City on a Hill” has become a gray cool city of the uber wealthy and white— with each money-raining tech IPO adding more gray to a once unmistakably vibrant palette. They say, we’ve broken America’s heart.

I don’t think they’re wrong.

Rents and housing prices have skyrocketed and are completely out of reach for the majority of us.

Longtime local businesses are shuttering (Mission Pie’s announced closure at the end of August being the latest heartbreak to bear).

Meanwhile, more and more families can’t afford to live here. The black population of San Francisco has dwindled to less than 5 percent.

But it’s easier to dismiss San Francisco today as a city that’s lost its way, than it is to remember what’s beneath the rubble.

In between those shiny new high-rises, there’s a well-worn past. In the shadow of the Golden Gate, there still remains a queer little city that changed the world.

This is, after all, the city of the Daughters of Bilitis, of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, who in 1955 gave queer women a space to organize and advocate outside of the bars. A place to feel human and free and not alone.

This the city of José Sarria, the Widow Norton, whose tenor voice belted “God Save Us Nelly Queens” down at the Black Cat, no matter who showed up, even the police. Tired of the police raids, Sarria ran for a seat on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1961 and shattered a lavender ceiling, becoming the first drag queen and queer person to run for public office in the United States.

The first brick may have been thrown at Stonewall, but the first cup of coffee was thrown in the Tenderloin. This is the (continued on page 22)

Mayor London Breed’s First Year in Office Highlights LGBTQ Issues What a difference a year can make.

It was just last June 5 when a special election was held for mayor of San Francisco, following former Mayor Ed Lee’s passing on December 12, 2017. In a tight race with former state Senator Mark Leno, former District 5 Supervisor and Acting Mayor London Breed proved victorious and assumed office on July 11, 2018. She faces yet another election on November 5 of this year for a full mayoral term. The San Francisco Chronicle forecast earlier this month, however, that “the election’s pretty much over for SF mayor,” given that she faces “no major opposition.”

As Lenny Kravitz croons, “It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over,” but we are likely at the beginning of a new and potentially lengthy defining era in San Francisco politics, with Mayor Breed leading the charge.

If the past is any predictor of the future, LGBTQ issues will remain at the forefront of her team’s objectives. Consider, for example, that on January 30 of this year, she presented her State of the City Address from the then newly announced site of the National LGBTQ Center for the Arts and the permanent base for the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Among other announcements, she went on to introduce Dr. Grant Colfax—previously Director of National AIDS Policy in the Obama White House—as Director of the city’s Department of Public Health.

At this near year-long point in Mayor Breed’s present term, we decided to track just some of her LGBTQ accomplishments and initiatives over the past 11 months.

Special thanks to Clair Farley, Senior Advisor on Trans Initiatives at the City and County of San Francisco, for her help in this endeavor.

LGBTQ-Related Budget Investments for FY19–20, 2020–2021 The budget formulated by Mayor Breed and her team calls for $3 million in additional LGBT services as well as ongoing investments in our community. It includes: • $2 million for Our Trans Home SF. This funding will create the first program of its kind in the nation that will provide flexible housing subsidies to help trans community members find and keep their housing; • Continued support for LGBT homeless youth services through housing, employment and case management services; • Establishment of a new Training Officer in the Office of Transgender Initiatives to implement the Executive Directive to track the expansion of gender options on all city forms and to provide trans inclusion training to city employees who work with the public; • Creation of an ongoing LGBT Immigrant Fellowship program through the Office of Transgender Initiatives. This fellowship program, piloted this year, prepares LGBT immigrants with the professional development skills that they need to engage with the everyday workforce; • Continued support to backfill federal HIV funding cuts and support for the Getting to Zero initiative.

Getting to Zero In 1995, San Francisco had the highest percentage of people infected with HIV in the country, but great efforts have been made 14

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and have been successful at reducing this percentage. Today, San Francisco still has one of the largest HIV positive populations in the U.S., with about 16,000 people living with HIV. Through the city’s focused Getting to Zero efforts, however, San Francisco has seen new HIV diagnoses decline by 52 percent in the last 5 years, hitting a record low. Of all people diagnosed with HIV in San Francisco, 73 percent are virally-suppressed, allowing them to have better health outcomes.

The Department of Public Health has launched Project Opt-In, which is funded by a four-year, $2 million per year grant. Project Opt-In focuses on improving education, outreach and treatment for our homeless population.

In 2020, the 23rd annual international AIDS Conference will return to San Francisco (and have components in Oakland), which is the place where the disease first emerged on the public’s radar in the 1980s.

Mayor’s Executive Directive on Expanding Gender Self Identifiers on City Forms In the wake of the Trump Administration’s attack on trans and non-binary people this past fall, Mayor Breed issued an Executive Directive to expand gender and selfidentifiers on city forms and applications. Trans and nonconforming communities are often forced to make choices on San Francisco forms and applications that do not accurately reflect their gender identity or gender expression. The Executive Directive provides for inclusive administrative forms and applications that represent all gender identities, allowing people to more broadly choose how they self-identify when demographic information is collected.

About Our Cover For this June 2019 Pride issue of the San Francisco Bay Times, we feature Mayor London Breed. She is proudly holding an historic Rainbow Flag that was handcrafted by Gilbert Baker in 2003. Baker (1951–2017) made it that year to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the flag’s creation in 1978. The commemorative flag was later gifted to the Mayor by the Gilbert Baker Estate. (In 2003, for Key West Pride, Baker also made a 1.25-mile-long gigantic flag that stretched across Key West from the Gulf of Mexico to the Florida Strait.)

We thank Mayor Breed, Art Director Debra Walker and photographer Chloe Summer JackmanBuitrago for making this Pride cover possible.

Please also join us in congratulating JackmanBuitrago and her husband on newly born Alonzo Barack Buitrago! He entered the world just before the scheduled photoshoot with the Mayor, already showing a knack for strategic timing.

Speaking of timing, now is the perfect season to read the recently published Gilbert Baker memoir, Rainbow Warrior: My Life in Color. He was such a creative, generous and sweet soul. Baker refused to apply for a trademark for the Rainbow Flag, thereby essentially gifting his now iconic creation to the world. For more information about the book and Baker’s legacy, go to https://gilbertbaker.com/ new policies around housing, strip searches, and the preferred name and gender identity for transgender people in jail.

LGBT Senior Housing Project 95 Laguna is the second phase of a senior housing project at the location, and with the passage of Mayor Breed’s neighborhood preference legislation and extensive outreach, LGBT seniors had priority in the lottery. Like 55 Laguna, these two projects are intended to provide affordable housing primarily, but not exclusively, to LGBT seniors.

12X Prohibition

In 2016, the Board of Supervisors— including then President of the Board Office of Transgender Breed—passed legislation prohibiting Initiatives city-funded travel to states with anti LGBTQ laws as well as contracts with San Francisco’s Office of companies headquartered in those Transgender Initiatives is an hisstates. This policy is now codified in toric trans-led city government Section 12X of the Administrative office launched to develop innoCode and is tracked by the Office vative policies and programs that of Transgender Initiatives. This support the transgender, gender nonconforming and LGBT commu- list currently includes Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North nities. The Office is led by Farley, Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, who previously ran the Economic Alabama and Texas. South Carolina Development programs at the SF was added in April 2019.

LGBT Center.

San Francisco has invested over $2 million annually in transgender programs and services across the city from workforce development efforts, to health services, to research, to education programs for incarcerated community members.

The city has continued to invest in and support Transition Aged Youth (TAY), working to get more young LGBT folks off the streets, and introduced the country’s first transgender district, the Compton’s TLGB Cultural District.

The Office played a role in increasing access to educational opportunities by advocating for and working with the City College of San Francisco to develop a preferred name policy that respects a student’s name regardless of their legal name change status.

The Office also worked with the other city departments to implement an All Gender Bathroom Policy, and to implement SB 310 (Name & Dignity Act), SB 179 (Gender Recognition Act), SB 396 (Transgender Work Opportunity Act) and SB 239 (Modernization of HIV Criminal Law).

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Open to All On March 12, 2019, at a press conference at Harvey Milk Plaza, Mayor Breed declared that San Francisco is Open to All. Open to All is a nationwide public engagement campaign to build awareness and understanding about the importance of protecting people from discrimination—and to defend the principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they may not refuse to serve someone because of who they are.

The campaign was launched to focus attention on the Masterpiece Cakeshop vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case that went before the U.S. Supreme Court. While the court’s decision in that case affirmed the importance of nondiscrimination laws, it did not end the discrimination that so many Americans still face every day. The laws in most states still do not explicitly protect LGBT people from discrimination— and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion and disability still happens far too often. March 12, 2019, marked the one-year anniversary of the decision.

The national campaign is being spearheaded by Movement Advancement

Project (MAP). Founded in 2006, MAP is an independent, nonprofit think tank that provides rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all. The campaign is supported by a wide array of more than 200 civil rights and racial justice organizations; LGBT organizations and community centers; health advocates, disability advocates and faith organizations; and other groups. The total coalition currently includes over 2,000 businesses, including Gap Inc., Marriott International, Levi Strauss and Co., Yelp, Lyft and over 1,500 small businesses.

The San Francisco Open to All campaign is the first major campaign of its kind, and includes: • 500 interior bus advertisement panels; • Radio ads through KMVQ, and KOIT; • A digital ad campaign; • Joint Op/Ed by the Mayor and Supervisor Mandelman supporting the nationwide campaign; • National press release; • Billboard space; • Window decals at small businesses across San Francisco; • Board of Supervisors’ resolution; • Merchants from all over San Francisco, and in every Supervisorial district, have signed the pledge and have window decals in their storefronts.

Merchants have been provided with a toolkit that will enable them to utilize social media to amplify the Open to All message.

Locally, the campaign is funded by the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, which celebrates the vitality and beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area and its diverse people and cultures. Guided by the values of fairness, equality and opportunity, they work to confront injustice and some of society’s most difficult issues.

Trans Housing Navigation and Violence Prevention Program Funded by the city and run by the Trans Activists for Justice and Accountability (TAJA) Coalition, the Trans Housing Navigation and Violence Prevention program provides ongoing housing navigation orientations while surveying trans and gender non-conforming community members on the barriers to accessing

housing programs and shelters. The program provides trainings to housing providers on improving inclusion and safety for trans and gender nonconforming community members.

The program also includes violence prevention services and leadership development for trans women of color. The program was launched in January 2019 and has been renewed via funding for FY 19–20.

Furthermore, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office and the Office of Transgender Initiatives TAJA has launched the Our Trans Home SF coalition to provide rental subsidies to support community members who are at risk of losing housing and to support participants in securing new housing. The program includes housing navigators and a citywide trans housing plan to address the homelessness and housing instability crisis affecting the trans and gender nonconforming (TGNC) communities in San Francisco.

TGNC people in San Francisco are 18 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population. (Over 15 percent of TGNC San Franciscans are homeless, compared to 0.85 percent of the general population.) Almost one in two TGNC people in San Francisco have experienced homelessness sometime in their lives.

The $2 million budget investment funds a two-year pilot program to provide housing subsidies for 75 transgender households per year.

These investments will prevent evictions and stabilize tenancies for some of San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents. This pilot program is an extension of Mayor Breed’s commitment to addressing homelessness and housing instability for the LGBTQ community and Transitional Age Youth (TAY).

In October 2018, Mayor Breed announced the launch of the Rising Up Campaign, which aims to provide housing and jobs for 500 TAY and 450 at-risk TAY. Nearly half of the homeless youth in San Francisco identify as LGBTQ and 30 percent of homeless adults identify as LGBTQ. Additional Activities Related to the LGBTQ Community Over the past year, Mayor Breed has: • Appointed a number of LGBTQ commissioners and department heads citywide; (continued on page 22)

GLBT Fortnight in Review The Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer It’s summertime, everyone. Pride festival, the longest days of the year, the onset of those timeless weeks of sun, salt, seafood and sensuality. Blue skies, the roar of the ocean, or maybe the cool hush of the forest, the grandeur of the mountains, the comfortable old cabin on the lake with the raft about a hundred meters offshore.

Oh, what? The 20th century wants its idyllic imagery back? Sorry, here you go.

I recall sitting at my desk in midJune at my first real job, age 22 or 23, and realizing with horror that I would no longer have any part of the summer off. I’m not sure why that hadn’t occurred to me earlier, but the full impact of having to work all the time forever came as an unpleasant shock.

Well, that was a good four decades ago, so I seem to have survived the disappointment, but still, I can’t help but view the beginning of summer through a playful eye. Once, with a few years under my belt on one of my first actual business trips, I was traveling with an older colleague, a Frenchman in his 50s, and we were reading an article in the airline magazine that referred to the “lazy, hazy, crazy” days of summer in Amsterdam, where we were headed.

This struck us as hilarious, for some reason, and during our subsequent meetings, we repeatedly used these adjectives, defying each other to keep a straight face.

“Patrick, these projections seem crazy.”

“Hans, I’m a little hazy on our nearterm strategy.”

And so on.

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I bring this up because the rhyming triad has stuck with me all of this time, and even now it evokes not just the start of a season, but also the start of enjoying my career as an adult among other adults, and realizing that summer can be fun even if you have to work for a living. You can be lazy, crazy and hazy even from behind a desk. (I might add that the guys in our Amsterdam office began every meal with a shot of genever, a gin-like drink, even at lunch, so that helped.)

Cake Case Tossed Back to Lower Court Part of the “lazy, hazy, crazy” approach to summer involves playing fast and loose with covering news of the GLBT community, wasting entire sections on irrelevant trips down memory lane. That’s for me, of course. Readers, feel free to apply this technique to your own individual professional contexts.

Meanwhile, like school children and professors, the justices of the Supreme Court are now poised to start their summer break, releasing their final opinions and adjourning until late September. We’re not waiting for any gay cases this term (although an upcoming ruling on whether the census will be allowed to track U.S. citizens is critical to all of our futures), but we did just see an interesting development earlier this month.

On Monday, June 17, the justices sent one of those gay wedding cake cases back to the lower court, effectively declining review by telling the Oregon state appellate court to rehear the appeal of Melissa and Aaron Klein, bakers who refused to serve two lesbian brides and eventu-

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By Ann Rostow ally were hit with a six figure fine for violating the Beaver state’s anti-discrimination law.

The Kleins were hoping that the Court would overturn their penalty, but more so, they wanted a definitive ruling on whether or not a Christian business owner could be forced to abide by local civil rights laws. This was one of the core issues that the justices ducked on a technicality in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case last year. And even though Justice Kennedy and his buddies refused to decide that or any other question, the Court still sent this case back to Oregon with instructions to take the Masterpiece ruling into account.

Again, since Masterpiece effectively said nothing about anything, this would seem to suggest that the Oregon court will once again rule against Melissa and Aaron Klein, much as the Washington Supreme Court recently ruled against a Christian florist for the second time earlier this month after her case was also sent back by the U.S. Supreme Court for review in light of Masterpiece.

Frankly, I don’t know what to make of this. The High Court justices are certainly aware that sending a case back to lower court for reconsideration based on a non-decision is a meaningless exercise. Ergo, I’m guessing this is a delaying tactic, signaling only that the Court is loath to burden the 2019/2020 term with yet another controversial GLBT case. As you know, they have already agreed to decide whether or not the workplace protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 cover sexual orientation or transgender status. I suppose they might think that that’s quite enough for one session.

Breakthrough in Transgender Caselaw In another major legal story, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit just issued an important decision in one of the four federal challenges to Trump’s ban on transgender military service. You may recall that Trump banned transgender men and women from serving in a spontaneous July tweet two years ago. After lawsuits and backlash, Trump assigned Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to “review” the policy, even though the Obama administration had concluded a lengthy RAND Corporation study on the same subject in 2016.

In 2017 and 2018, four federal courts put a hold on Trump’s nonsensical edict. But once Mattis produced a tricked-out version of the same policy, the government asked those same courts to lift their holds, arguing that the situation had fundamentally changed, thanks to the new language. The various courts basically dismissed the Mattis version of the trans-ban, but eventually the High Court ruled that the new policy was distinct enough from Trump’s original notions that it must be reassessed.

Back and forth we’ve gone, and back and forth we will likely continue to go as the transgender plaintiffs and their lawyers request government documents that the Trump administration refuses to provide. But amidst all of this, the Ninth Circuit has now ruled that transgender bias must be accorded heightened scrutiny by the courts, a term of art that applies to sex discrimination as well. Under this legal test, the government has the burden of proof to demonstrate that it has “exceedingly persuasive” reasons for singling out transgen-

der men and women for disfavored treatment. That standard, which will now apply to all transgender cases throughout the nine states in the Ninth Circuit’s jurisdiction, will make it next to impossible to justify transgender discrimination.

The Ninth Circuit’s ruling does send the case in question, a lawsuit out of Seattle, back to U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman for further litigation, but it does so with very favorable instructions that will provide a powerful weapon to GLBT plaintiffs for the future. Pechman’s previous rulings had been extremely transfriendly, but we can’t really complain about the way that they have been reviewed. After all, Judge Pechman’s decisions do not extend throughout the western United States. The Ninth Circuit’s decisions do, and they are almost as friendly as Pechman’s.

Mac and Cheese?

Who the hell is Joe Sestak? All I know is that he’s another middleaged white guy with a few years in Congress on his resume who thinks he’s ready for the presidency. I guess we understood why some of these lookalike wannabes announced their candidacy last spring, but we’ve now got two dozen hats in the ring, and this guy decides to join the party now? The sheer arrogance of this nobody irritates me to no end.

Speaking of candidates, I know I’ve been highlighting Kirsten Gillibrand for her amusing antics along the campaign trail, palling around with drag queens and tending bar at a gay club. Now I have to give her another shout out for answering a question about favorite comfort foods that was (continued on page 22)

Don’t Let Money Come Between You and Your Partner

Money Matters Brandon Miller It’s Gay Pride month again, the time when our wonderful city is festooned with lovely rainbow flags. This always makes me happy—and not just because I get to use the fun word festooned. Gay Pride reminds me of how far we have come as a community.

As a financial advisor who has specialized in serving LGBTQ clients for nearly 20 years, I’ve been privileged to have a front-row seat for the ways that greater acceptance and changing laws benefit same-sex couples. But one thing that hasn’t changed is how hard it is for couples (or throuples) to talk about money.

For some reason, money is a bit of a taboo subject. People will share every detail of their love life with friends, but not what they earn, spend, save, or heaven forbid, what they owe. So, I guess it’s not all that surprising that years of being closeted about finances makes people reluctant to open up even to their partners.

But remember, when it comes to handling money together, you are sharing something with someone you love.

You should be able to be open about what you want, hear what they want, and prioritize your relationship over money.

It also might be helpful to view yourselves as a threesome—a “you,” a “me” and an “us.” Acknowledging

that you’re an individual and part of a unit at the same time can help you to manage your money to the benefit of everyone. Say only one of you enjoys traveling. If your money plans only cover joint goals, obviously that won’t be one of them. But if your plans take into account what all three of you want, you’ll likely be much happier.

I can’t tell you how many issues this helps to solve. First off, it allows for some autonomy, since your partner gets no say in how you choose to use your “individual” money. Spenders can go to town with theirs, while savers can squirrel away their portion. It also gets rid of power dynamics when one partner makes significantly more than the other.

Here are a few other suggestions on how to get you and your partner(s) on the same page about money.

Develop financial goals together.

Be honest with each other.

This might seem glaringly obvious, but hiding purchases and debts from your partner is not only bad for your relationship, but also it makes it difficult to get a true picture of your finances.

Let each other know about any baggage or bad habits that you have, as well as how you feel about money and why. For example, one partner may save every cent because they were raised by a single mom who constantly struggled to make ends meet.

The other partner may have lost a close friend in high school, so spending like there’s no tomorrow is their financial philosophy. Understanding each other’s point of view can help you to develop a solution that works for the two of you.

Pool your money together into joint and individual accounts.

This builds off my 1+1=3 philosophy and is one of the most successful strategies that I get my clients to use. The idea is to take all of the money that you earn as a couple, deduct what you need each month for living expenses, and then split the leftover amount between partners to spend however they wish. For example, if you bring in $10k a month and need $8k to live on, you deposit the $8k into a joint account and $1k each in your individual accounts.

If you both agree on how much you should spend and how much to save, you’re more likely to stick with the plan. You can each write down what you want your money to accomplish, and then compare the two lists to see where you agree and where you need to make compromises.

Make a monthly date to review your finances.

Who says a candlelit dinner and credit card bill don’t go together?

Make it fun to review your previous month’s expenses. Celebrate if you stayed on budget. And if you went over budget, well, someone might need to get spanked.

The more honestly and often that you and your partner talk about money, the fewer fights that you’ll likely have caused by misunderstandings or resentment. And having a happier, healthier relationship seems like a perfect way to celebrate Gay Pride.

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No advice may be rendered by Brio Financial Group unless a client service agreement is in place.

Old-School Fun in Compact Sedans both have amped-up gasoline engines that advertise their revs with sporty exhaust notes. Heck, one of them even has a manual transmission.

Auto Philip Ruth Pride season is about looking forward—to the challenges ahead for our community, and it’s also about looking back. Thinking of previous Prides brings up fond memories, even the times when you simply saw friends whom you hadn’t otherwise seen all year.

A similar view can be cast on our subjects this time around: the Hyundai Elantra Sport and the Volkswagen Jetta GLI 2.0T Autobahn. If the future is crossover SUVs, electric propulsion and autonomous driving, then these two are anchored firmly in the past; they’re sedans, and they

Volkswagen Jetta GLI 2.0T Autobahn 18

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And both feel like old friends. We know what to expect from Hyundais and Volkswagens with a performance twist, and neither moves far from their respective flavors. Whether you’re loping down Market Street or knuckling through the curves out on the coast, the Elantra Sport and the Jetta GLI provide their own unique experiences.

Before delving into the differences between them, it’s useful to note that the Elantra and Jetta are cut from very similar cloth. The Elantra is 182 inches long, and the Jetta adds three inches there while splicing about a half-inch from the distance between the wheels.

Most other dimensions like height and width line up almost exactly.

The big difference from the driver’s standpoint is weight. According to manufacturer figures, the Jetta GLI is about 150 pounds heavier. That’s not a huge amount, and is that of a semi-petite passenger, but the extra is felt throughout the GLI experience, from the driving to the door slam. In what probably is no surprise to many VW owners, the Jetta feels more substantial overall.

Yes, but what if you’re here just for the fun? Then the Hyundai’s lighter feel will appeal. Its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine jumps right into the turbo’s boost, and the standard sixspeed manual has well-chosen ratios for keeping the power flowing. The Elantra Sport picks right up and is easy to keep animated, even as the

Hyundai Elantra Sport

control feedback is more deliberate than encouraging.

The Jetta GLI aims beyond encouraging to land all of the way over in conspiratorial. “OK, easy,” I’d chide myself before hitting the VW’s startup button. “Keep a lid on it.”

You have to say these things out loud with the GLI, because underfoot is 258 lb.-ft. of torque.

That’s 63 lb.-ft. more than the Elantra Sport, and it more than overcomes the Jetta’s extra mass. We focus on torque with the VW’s turbocharged 2.0-liter engine for its lowend pull—in other words, the Jetta GLI’s acceleration seems to shotput you and the car far away from where you started. And owing partly to the Jetta GLI’s refinement, a variety of pleasing sounds and sensations filter in as the Jetta GLI blasts off. So, you keep going back for more.

This justifies the base Jetta GLI’s $3,395 premium over the Elantra Sport. But both of these hot sedans are a hoot.

Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant ( www.gaycarguy.com ). Check out his automotive staging service at www.carstaging.com

When Couples Fight damental principle will do much to make fighting less damaging. Here are some of the more important fair fighting rules that follow from this principle:

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

1. Always remember that your goal is not to win, and not just to vent your anger, but to find a resolution of the issue at hand that is satisfactory to both of you. In any fight, try to stay as calm as you can, listen and work to understand the other person’s point of view as much as to express your own.

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

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT Couples can create serious damage in their relationships when they fight dirty. The research of relationship expert John Gottman shows that for every hostile interaction a couple has, it takes five positive interactions to repair the damage. Fights and disagreements are inevitable in all relationships, but it’s important to know how to fight in a way that does no damage. That’s where fair fighting rules come in.

All of the rules of fair fighting derive from the most fundamental one, which we might call the Prime Directive: Always be respectful. In practice, this means never to say or do anything that violates your partner’s dignity. To remember just this fun-

2. Avoid degrading language. Namecalling, insults, put-downs and ridicule are all attempts to intimidate.

To behave in these ways is to express disrespect for your partner, and will always be received as disrespect.

The message such behaviors convey is, essentially, “You’re not safe with me. I will do whatever I have to do to win.”

3. Don’t talk about, or even mention, the option of breaking up. This tactic completely undermines your ability to resolve your issues. To threaten to leave the relationship in the heat of an argument is manipulative and hurtful. It evokes fear of abandonment and quickly erodes your partner’s confidence in your commitment. Trust is not easily restored once it’s broken in this way.

fighting rules, you almost inevitably cross a physiological threshold, in which signals from the more primitive, emotional centers of your brain begin to drown out the signals from the more rational parts of your brain.

Stress hormones flood your body at this stage, and self-preservation becomes the focus.

4. Define yourself, not your partner.

Use words that describe how you feel, and what you want and need, not what you think your partner feels, wants or needs. To do this is controlling and presumptuous. It is saying that you know your partner’s inner world better than your partner does.

Instead, work on identifying your own unmet needs, feelings and ways of thinking, and describe these needs and feelings to your partner.

In this fight-or-flight state, creative problem-solving and mutual cooperation become impossible, and you end up in an escalating argument that becomes more and more hostile and defensive. That is when it’s time for a time-out. You can think of it as similar to pushing the pause button on a video. It’s an opportunity to restore calm and to be more reflective instead of reactive. A timeout should be at least a half-hour long, but no longer than twentyfour hours. It takes at least a halfhour for your body’s physiology to return to a normal resting state and for your thoughts to become less hostile and defensive. But it’s surprising how miraculously reasonable we can be once we’ve had a chance to calm down.

5. Stay in the present. Resist the temptation to use the situation as an occasion to bring up other issues from the past. It’s discouraging to keep bringing up the past. If you find yourself beginning sentences with “You always” or “You never,” you are probably violating this rule.

Try to keep your focus on what can be done today to resolve the issue at hand and go forward from there. If you do find yourself bringing up past issues, it may be because those issues were never resolved in the first place.

This rule will be easier to follow if you both make a commitment to discuss issues as they arise rather than letting them fester.

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

6. Know when to suspend the fight and use time-outs. A time-out is a short break to cool off, calm down and recover perspective. When you fight, especially when you violate fair

San Francisco to Create Castro LGBTQ Cultural District As the city prepares to celebrate San Francisco Pride this weekend, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an ordinance Tuesday authored by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman to create the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, bringing additional funding and resources to one of the country’s most important LGBTQ neighborhoods.

“The Castro has been recognized worldwide for half a century as a symbol of LGBTQ liberation and as an enclave for LGBTQ people to find safety, acceptance and chosen family,” said Mandelman, a former San Francisco Bay Times columnist who now represents the Castro on the Board of Supervisors. “The Castro LGBTQ Cultural District will be

an important tool to ensure that the Castro remains a vibrant LGBTQ neighborhood well into the future.”

The Castro LGBTQ Cultural District will join the list of other recognized Cultural Districts including the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District in the Tenderloin and Leather LGBTQ Cultural District in SoMa. In November of 2018, San Francisco voters approved Proposition E, reallocating a portion of hotel tax revenues for arts and cultural purposes including Cultural Districts.

“The Castro has renowned anchor businesses that are synonymous with San Francisco like the Castro Theatre, Cliff’s Variety and Twin Peaks Tavern,” Mandelman said. “It

opened LGBTQ-welcoming senior housing and the new home of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus’ National LGBTQ Center for the Arts.

The law requires the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development to work with community members and nonprofits to create written reports and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor describing the cultural attributes of the District and proposing strategies to acknowledge and preserve the cultural legacy of the neighborhood.

It also allows the Castro to access a portion of the $3 million in dedicated funding for Cultural Districts created

by Proposition E.

is host to many community organizations including the Castro Country Club, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s Strut and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. History has been made in the neighborhood at sites like Harvey Milk’s Camera Shop and the storefront where the AIDS Memorial Quilt was conceived. I am proud that this ordinance will allow the Castro to access critical resources to support the small businesses, nonprofits, cultural institutions and people that make the neighborhood the heart of our city’s LGBTQ community.”

The boundaries of the cultural district include the Castro and nearby LGBTQ community-serving institutions including the San Francisco LGBT Center, Openhouse’s recently

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ds at Cal LaTonya Lawson and frien y Performances’ Alvin Aile

e Goans with Tess Hansen and Gaylynn CASA 2019.

Patti LaBelle at Rock the

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Lisbet Tellefsen, Ericka Hugg ins and Cher yl Ward at Rock the CAS A 2019

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

y Virginia Patrik Gallineaux and Gar at Academy of Friends 2019

Carlie Gonzalez , Olg a Garcia and Mia Ga rcia at MARCUM’s Food & Beverage Summit

Clay ton Lepak and Ted Maylath, John Chen, ch Blanket Babylon Bea at n tma Har ton Wes

Mike Wonders and Wasabi and Sister Dana at the PAWS Petchitecture Gala

PRIDE CANADA (continued from page 9)

FISCHER (continued from page 4) George Ridgely: I accepted a job with the City and County in the Recreation and Parks Department as the Manager of Permits and Reservations. I love the work I do, and this seemed like a natural next step. We have such a beautiful park system and there is so much joy in creating the space for people to come together to celebrate, relax, play and connect to the outside world.

I’m excited to do that across the entire park system.

Lou Fischer: What advice do you have for the next ED of Pride?

George Ridgely: You have to be equal parts parent, diplomat, therapist, visionary, pragmatist—all with the occasional touch of magician. At times, the job is a very demanding commitment; as producers, we can create the physical stages, venues and platforms, but it’s the community that carries the message for full equality—our visibility is the key to meaningful and lasting change.

Lou Fischer: Any last words to share?

George Ridgely: Yes, and it’s from a song called “Birmingham” by one of my favorite bands, Shovels and Rope. The line is: “It ain’t what you got, it’s what you make.” That lyric speaks to me. We all have a gift, something we are good at. Don’t just keep it for yourself; use it to make something for somebody else.

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.

Our contingent partners include Gray Line Tours, Luky Tuk Tuk, Dan Ashley, Olivia Travel ( https:// www.olivia.com ), Extreme Pizza ( https://www. extremepizza.com/ ), La Mediterranée ( http:// www.cafelamed.com/ ), Crystal Geyser ( https:// bit.ly/2Y5Iygx ) and NAPA Cellars ( https://www. napacellars.com/ ). Special thanks also go to Christina Shamon of Gray Line, Contingent Manager Karen Bardsley, Vehicle Captain Warren Alderson, Steve Scheitlin and Hospitality Manager Phyllis Costa.

You are invited to join us in the San Francisco Pride Parade, which is one of the oldest and largest LGBTQIA parades in the world! The Parade starts at 10:30 am on Sunday, June 30, and runs along Market Street from Beale to 8th Streets. Stonewall50 and SF

• Observed Trans Month with a flag raising; • Participated in the 2019 Pride kickoff and flag raising.

The aforementioned is just a partial list of Mayor Breed’s LGBTQ-associated work these past 11 months.

How you feel about all of this could relate to many factors, including political leanings and your present personal situation. For those who were Ellis Act-ed at some point during the past several years and lost their longtime San Francisco home, for example, it may be hard to have faith in any of the city’s leaders. It is also still too early to determine the actual effectiveness of many of the new initiatives and other programs.

Mayor Breed is off to a running start, though, with daily packed schedules and an earnestness to solve numerous longstanding problems in what has been her home for 44 years—she will celebrate her 45th birth-

As SF Pride Executive Director George Ridgely says, “Our strength as a community is tied inextricably with visibility. The collective stories of our communities, those at the forefront and those who are historically marginalized, are an integral part of the cultural patchwork which makes the San Francisco LGBTQ+ communities great.”

To be a part of the SFBT contingent, write to publisher@sfbaytimes.com or phone 415-601-2113.

Thank you for your support and solidarity. Happy Pride!

This is the city of Harvey Milk, of hope, of the “us’s,” of the possibility that we didn’t need to ask for permission, that we needed a seat at the table. That we could win political power, and stand up to the City Hall establishment. That it was about a movement and a fight bigger than our own.

This is the city ravaged by the AIDS epidemic, that lost thousands of neighbors, friends, boyfriends and lovers. This is the city of ACT UP, of Ward 5B at San Francisco General Hospital, whose nurses revolutionized patient care during the height of the AIDS epidemic and loved us and took care of us when no one else in the world seemed to care.

This is the city of lavender ceilings shattered, of radical queer progressive politics, of domestic partner benefits and universal health care access—now commonplace policies throughout the country. They started here because queer elected leaders dared to demand them.

This is the city that believed “Love is Love” long before it became a social media hashtag or a t-shirt slogan, that defied state law and started marrying samesex couples in 2004 when few thought we deserved that right.

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PRIDE MEXICO (continued from page 9) The Consulate’s staff has also received training about how to properly serve members of the Mexican and in general LBGTQ communities.

In this sense, in the day to day activities, the staff is inclusive and respectful, explaining that the Consulate is a safe space and their identities are respected and protected, regardless of that person’s legal name or physical appearance.

The Protection and Legal Affairs Department has a close relationship with several non-governmental and nonprofit organizations that support LBGTQ communities and rights, such as El/La Para Translatinas.

The Consulate has participated in the San Francisco Pride Parade for two consecutive years. This will be the third year and the second one where it will march together with the Consulate General of Canada.

The Consulate supports the promotion of Latino and Mexican LGBTQ forms of art and this year has the honor of co-present[ing] 4 Mexican films that will be featured at the Frameline Festival, the most important and largest LBGTQ film festival in the U.S, which will run until June 30th.

ROSTOW (continued from page 16)

day on August 11. Her charisma and power are palpable, as is her genuine affection for the LGBTQ community. Members of our San Francisco Bay Times team will never forget the year when our Pride Parade contingent wound up side-by-side with that of the then Supervisor, awaiting the turn on Market Street. Her contingent featured a bevy of buff go go dancers, but all eyes were on electrifying Breed (video of this 2013 contingent is at https://bit.ly/2KGIJf4 ). She had only been a supervisor for 6 months at that point.

Breed inspired confidence then, as she does so now.

Although the following words concluded her State of the City Address in January, they also seem appropriate for June Pride: “I hope you believe with me.

That you hold your head high and take pride in our city and what we can do together. Because we are San Francisco! We will meet our challenges. We will light the way.”

GALLOTTA (continued from page 12) city of the Compton’s Cafeteria Riots, where one night in August 1966, trans women of color said enough is enough and resisted arrest by the police, pouring into the streets in heels and gowns and looks to kill, fighting back against police brutality, sparking the transgender rights movement in San Francisco.

Canada has a role to play in these celebrations and action. As the Bay Area Council Economic Institute noted in their recent Hemispheric Partners ( https://bit.ly/2ICYWzG ) report, the Bay Area and Silicon Valley continue to play a vital role for Canada as a global economic hub and technology connector. This role is supported by an alignment of Canadian values and priorities with those of the Bay Area and California.

Happy Pride 2019!

Pride’s 2019 theme of Generations of Resistance make this year even more important, giving us the opportunity to honor and continue the important work of those who, in prior generations, fought for basic human rights for all—and not just for some.

LONDON BREED (continued from page 14) • Broken ground at Eagle Plaza, a new focal point for the Leather Community that she helped to spearhead;

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed that no matter who we love or how we identify, all of us deserve to feel safe and secure, live free from discrimination and persecution, and express ourselves fully. Canadians fully support gender expression, gender identity and sexual orientation rights for people in Canada and around the world, and to challenge stigma, violence, and prejudices wherever they occur. We must continue to fight against homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia, and to defend gender expression, gender identity and sexual orientation rights.

We are proud to participate in the Pride season in San Francisco, and intertwine our efforts with the rich history of LGBTQ2 activism and inclusion in this city.

PRIDE CONTINGENT (continued from page 8) Grubstake Diner: http://sfgrubstake.com/ Marcum LLP: http://www.marcumllp.com/ Rhoda Goldman Plaza: https://www.rgplaza.org/

ambitious approach to making North America, and the world, a better and safer place.

This is the city with the only street named after a transgender person in the United States, the city where the first Transgender Cultural District in the world has been established—right in the heart of the Tenderloin.

This is the city that I love. The city that lives beyond the tech IPOs and the Salesforce towers. That anchors our stories and our history in place.

No one can argue that the Stonewall riots 50 years ago were a tipping point in queer herstory. But we can’t forget San Francisco. A city of queer and trans people who have led, built and sustained a movement, and given that movement a powerful, beautiful, irreplaceable home.

We fought for our right to be in bars, to be at City Hall, for equal benefits, to be fully represented, seen and heard here. Queer and trans people helped to build this little city and the culture that many now want to consume. I despair the changes, but I refuse to only lament and say it’s all rotten and broken and forever lost.

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

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posed to the contenders by The New York Times.

Warren liked chips and guacamole, Harris liked fries, Jay Inslee picked M&Ms, and the list went on. As for Gillibrand, her favorite comfort food was “whiskey.” You can see why her stock continues to rise in my eyes, even as I don’t see her as a Trump beater. Oh, and Julian Castro said “iced tea.” Really, Julian? That’s your “comfort food?” It’s one step up from tap water.

Speaking of the Democrats, Mel and I are taking care of two of our Connecticut-based grandchildren, Jasper and Teddy (8 and 6), so we are trying to figure out how we will watch the debates without causing anguish. Bedtime at nine pm has not been a popular suggestion thus far in our visit, so I’m thinking roofies.

I seem to recall being obliged to watch news on TV with my parents if I wanted to watch anything as a child. Yet Mel and I have seen Bolt, A Wrinkle in Time, Toy Story 4, Kung Fu Panda, Masha and the Bear, Peter Rabbit, something with a dolphin, and many others that I can’t remember. We have been inundated with kids’ programming, content to sip wine as our eyes glaze over rather than trigger a screaming fight over the remote. (Peter Rabbit was great, by the way.) At any rate, I’m not sure that our “debate nights” are going to be a big hit.

P.S. As I write, my poor wife has turned on something to do with Christopher Robin. That was the compromise that she found when she insisted, despite tears from Teddy, on turning off an animated series about Barbie. I’d watch with them, but suddenly I must work on this column, even though it’s not due for another day and a half. [Editor’s Note: Rostow did indeed submit this column early!]

What Else Is News?

I see that the Senate has confirmed yet another far right antigay judge to the federal bench, Mark Kacsmaryk, who has distinguished himself by being even more antigay and nasty than the rest of the Trump nominees. I’m so depressed by this parade

of deplorables, if I may paraphrase Hillary, that I’m not sure what I can add. But it’s not just Trump; it’s the GOP Senate who deserve to go down in history en masse as a despicable collection of mindless cowards.

In other news, a woman woke up in the middle of the night on an empty Air Canada plane somewhere on the tarmac of the Toronto airport after a flight from Quebec. She was freezing cold, and managed to call a friend before her cell phone died.

The friend called someone else and she was rescued. I guess she will sue the airline, although I’d like to know the circumstances. How do you snooze through landing, deplaning and a few hours of further down time? Also, why was she freezing? I know it’s Toronto, but it’s late June; the night temperature is in the sixties. The woman says she has been terrified ever since the June 9 incident, which also seems like a stretch.

Buck up, Lady.

I’m not sure where that last story came from, but I thought you ought to know. I also can tell you that the American Psychoanalytic Association has apologized for keeping us on its list of mentally deranged people, or whatever it was. I have the feeling that there are more than a handful of psychological or psychiatric associations that all go by the acronym “APA.” I may well be wrong. Whatever they call themselves, I trust they are all sorry for their short-sighted treatment of the GLBT community back in the day.

And in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Nat Werth—a gay valedictorian who was denied the chance to make a graduation speech once his school realized he planned to come out of the closet—was asked to speak at the local PrideFest. Very nice, guys. By the way, my top tipster cousin sent me a fascinating article about a study by the Yale School of Public Health that says 83 percent of GLBT people around the world are hiding their sexual orientation from the people closest to them. Even considering those parts of the world where being gay is a capital crime, I can hardly believe it. arostow@aol.com

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From the Coming Up Events Calendar See page 44

Thursday, July 4 - Queer As Fourth: A Radical Resistance Queer Dance Party @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street. A fundraiser held every 4th of July. 3-8pm. http://elriosf.com

WE ARE PROUD TO BE A SPONSOR OF SF PRIDE Saturday, July 6 - 36th Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival @ Fillmore Street (Jackson to Eddy). The largest Jazz festival on the West Coast, attracting more than 100,000 over the Independence Day weekend. 10am-6pm. 36th Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival on Facebook

A Happy & Safe San Francisco Pride to You from the San Francisco Bay Times!

Juan Davila, San Francisco Bay Times

Watch for the San Francisco Bay Times contingent (#044) in the Pride Parade on Sunday, June 30.

Photos by Maribel Rodriguez/Special to the San Francisco Bay Times

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ

HOP TO IT She was the first Playboy Playmate to publicly announce that she is HIV-positive.

A) Tina Chow B) Amanda Blake C) Gia Carangi D) Rebekka Armstrong ANSWER ON PAGE 42

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

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

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JUNE 27, 2019

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Twists and Turns: To Plot or Plan? then I start writing again. Three more chapters in and I’ve diverged even more, so I redo the plan yet again and carry on. About half way through I abandon the plan completely and just write. It’s a strange process, and I certainly wouldn’t recommend it, but it seems to work for me.

Words Michele Karlsberg Michele Karlsberg: Alex Reeve, author of Half Moon Street, is featured in this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times. I asked him to discuss the crafting of his debut mystery, the first of a series with Leo Stanhope.

Half Moon Street is packed with twists and turns and unsettling about-faces. Do you plot as you write, or plan it all out in advance?

Alex Reeve: I always have a theme in mind when I start, and the theme inspires key scenes that I can visualize in their entirety, almost as though I experienced them myself. The bit where Leo and Major Thorpe walk in St. James’s Park was like that, as was the funeral. Once I have those scenes fixed, I create a plan that joins them up, and then I start writing. After a few pages, I find I’ve invented an eleven-year-old girl, a silly game that she and Leo play, and a friend for him named Jacob. So, I redesign the plan to accommodate them, and

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Sometimes I write myself into a corner deliberately, asking myself: What would Leo least want to happen next? And then I have to find a way out.

So much of writing crime fiction is problem solving; you have to enjoy navigating through the maze while sending your reader off in all sorts of entertainingly wrong directions.

Michele Karlsberg: Why did you choose a transgender theme for this story?

Alex Reeve: For me, writing and reading fiction is all about empathy. If I only ever wrote a slightly fictionalized version of myself, I would quickly get bored, and I’m certain readers would too. I don’t lead a very exciting life! (I suspect that’s true of most writers; you can’t spend hours on your own talking to made-up people and still expect anyone to be interested in you.) So, for me, the joy of writing is in imagining someone quite unlike myself: a different era, a different background, a different way of thinking.

I wanted a hero who would be distanced from the conventions of the late nineteenth century and would have a unique perspective. I tried several other ways of doing that before finally accepting that Leo Stanhope knew best, and I would

have to tell the story through his eyes and with his voice. Having done that, my main challenge was getting the balance right. At the time of the novel, he’s already been living as a man for ten years, so he isn’t spending all his time thinking about his voice or mannerisms; he’s quite accustomed to his life. He’s wearied by the trials of hiding his physical form, but he never doubts who or what he is.

It’s incredibly important to me that this isn’t a novel about being trans. This is a crime novel featuring a man who happens to be trans. Most characters in fiction seem to default to the so-called norm unless there’s a plotbased reason for them not to. But the so-called norm isn’t really normal at all. People come in lots of different flavors. Why should including a trans or gay or disabled or any other kind of character require the plot to center around that attribute? I think we need to move beyond all that and include every kind of people in our stories as a matter of course.

Alex Reeve is an academic, specializing in novels set in Victorian England but written later. Though he hoped to write his own “neoVictorian” mystery, he “didn’t want another gaslight-and-crinolines book,” and was searching for a theme that would allow him to close the gap between the actual Victorian era and how the period is perceived.

Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBTQI community.

This year, Karlsberg celebrates 31 years of successful book campaigns.

Film Festival 2019

Hits and Misses from the Final Days of Frameline43

Simple Wedding

Film Gary M. Kramer The Frameline Film Festival ends Sunday, but there are still plenty of films to catch before it’s over. Here is a rundown of nine titles still to screen at this year’s program.

Sócrates ( June 27, 9:15 pm, Victoria) is one of the highlights of the festival. It is a gritty, gutwrenching drama about the title character (Christian Malheiros), a gay 15-year-old Brazilian boy whose mother has passed in the opening scene. Sócrates barely has time to grieve, though. He has to find a job and come up with the rent.

He is barely eking by and does not want a social worker to place him with his homophobic father ( Jayme Rodrigues). He does find a source of comfort when he meets Maicon (Tales Ordakji), who calls him with an offer for work, but it turns into more of a date. Even this relationship is fraught with drama, such as when the lovers are harassed while kissing on the beach. Sócrates is beautifully made—the film is often shot in tight close-up maximizing the protagonist’s intensity—with a crew of teenagers as part of a program for social inclusion.

The film boasts a striking authenticity, and Malheiros, in his film debut, is pitchperfect, conveying Sócrates’ hunger (for food, money and love), his self-reliance and his despair in ways that are both heartbreaking and inspiring.

Clementine ( June 28, 6:30 pm, Castro) has Karen (Otmara Marrero) holing up in her ex’s lake house after their breakup. She is regrouping and planning her next move. Heading out to the water, she spies a young girl, Lara (Sydney Sweeney), who asks her to help her find her dog, which she does, bonding them. “I’m not really supposed to be here,” Karen soon admits. So too does Lara at one point. But these young women who are bored find a sense of comfort in each other. Lara asks to braid Karen’s hair. Karen teaches Lara how to put on mascara. They eventually share a bed, kiss and little else. Clementine takes a slow-burn approach to revealing the exact nature of their relationship, which will test the patience of viewers. When one plot line comes to a head, it is puzzling. Another reveal is only slightly more satisfying. At one point, Karen says that art is more about the emotional process than the result. Apparently, writer/ director Lara Gallagher had to get something out of her system. But it doesn’t make for anything interesting to watch, despite a pair of notuninteresting performances.

Simple Wedding ( June 28, 9:15 pm, Castro) is a frothy marriage comedy about Nousha (Tara Grammy), an Iranian woman who cannot seem to find a husband— despite her mother Ziba’s (Shohreh Aghdashloo) endless efforts to set her up with guys. When she meets 28

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the funny, free-spirited bisexual artist Alex (Christopher O’Shea) at a feminist rally, though, she becomes smitten with him. Their courtship is charming, but a meet-the-parents dinner turns into an unexpected engagement. As the ceremony is being planned, Simple Wedding pivots slightly, introducing Alex’s mother, Maggie (Rita Wilson), a lonely woman who snipes at her gay ex, Bill (Peter Mackenzie), and his husband Steve ( James Eckhouse), and becomes attracted to Nousha’s Uncle Saman (Maz Jobrani).

Maggie’s spite towards Steve and Bill seems childish and is mildly insulting. At least Nousha’s lesbian friends, Lynne (Rebecca Henderson) and Tessa (Aleque Reid), provide positive queer contributions. This affable comedy about cultures clashing and uniting contains some witty one-liners and some amusing sight gags, which is why it is frustrating when it stoops low or goes too broad. As Nousha, Grammy is immensely appealing, and she does a mean Celine Dion impersonation.

In support, Aghdashloo shows her comic chops as Nousha’s overbearing mother.

Guest Artist

Guest Artist ( June 29, 2 pm, Castro) is based on a play by Jeff Daniels that is based on an actual incident. Joseph Harris (Daniels) is a celebrated, alcoholic gay playwright who has been commissioned to present his new work in Lima, Michigan. He is met, late, at the station by Kenneth (Thomas Macias), a sycophantic apprentice at the local theater who has artistic ambitions. As the men bluster and banter on—each needing or rejecting the other—Guest Artist goes nowhere slowly. But then Joseph concedes to read Kenneth’s play, and their conversation yields some pointed, almost transcendent, observations about the meaning of life, art and theater. Essentially a two-hander, Guest Artist is slight (75-minutes) and stagey, but Daniels and Macias generate some sparks with their tête-àtête.

The Filth

The Filth ( June 29, 6:30 pm, Roxie) is a 5-part series about twentysomething Stella (Paige Hoffman), a bisexual plumber and her bestie Max ( Jake Delaney) an effeminate gay actor in Los Angeles. The (continued on page 29)

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pilot opens with Stella getting dumped by her boyfriend (Chris Boudreaux), and Max going on an audition.

These incidents help to establish the characters and introduce their supporting cast, which includes Xander (Nican Robinson), who lives with Stella, and the probably gay Danny ( Jay Lee), who lives with Max. The Filth starts out on shaky ground with situations and lame jokes. Things improve over time, however, as Max meets Justin (the appealing Christopher Rivas), a potential romantic interest, and Stella connects with Jocelyn (Katrina Kemp), a little person who dances at the same club she does.

There are some clever sequences, such as a “mind map” scene that involves “radiant thinking,” and a handful of funny one-liners (delivered in a delicious deadpan style).

There is also some nice sexual tension as Max feels something for both Danny and Justin. The Filth looks for humor in its main characters’ desperation, but it is the supporting players who provide all of the laughs.

History Lessons ( June 29, 6:30 pm, Landmark Theaters Piedmont), from Mexico, opens with Vero (Verónico Langer) being rewarded for 30 years of teaching. But an incident in the classroom involving a new student, Eva (Renata Vaca), who misbehaves, ends her career abruptly. When Eva goes to apologize, the two women get to know one another. Eva helps Vero to dye her hair and takes her out to a carnival, and dancing. In turn, Vero helps Eva to deal with a troublesome situation. Eventually they strike out on the road. Their relationship, which teeters on being romantic/sexual, feels inappropriate, but writer and director Marcelino Islas Hernández mostly steers clear of being too prurient.

(There is one odd sex scene.) And while History Lessons features an elegant performance from Langer, and a kicky turn from Vaca, the parts are greater than the whole. When Vero reveals what is really going on beneath the surface of her cold, hard exterior, this slow film gels, but it never quite comes to life.

An Almost Ordinary Summer ( June 29, 7 pm, Castro) is a (continued on page 42)

Highlights from Frances Wallace’s Years of Service to Frameline After the conclusion of Frameline43, Executive Director Frances Wallace will be departing the organization for new adventures.

Michael Colaneri, Frameline Board President and AT&T Vice President - Global Business, said, “Frances has been a gift to Frameline.”

She first joined the organization in 2001, subsequently became the Director of Strategic Partnerships & Senior Programmer, and was then named Executive Director in June 2014. The following are just some of the highlights from her years of dedicated service at Frameline.

• Wallace directed and developed a multi-year Strategic Plan to elevate the Frameline brand and

PHOT BY RINK

“Leading Frameline for over five years and working with the organization for more than a decade has been the most rewarding experience of my professional career,” said Wallace. “I’ve been continually strengthened by Frameline’s staff, board of directors, and constituents who support our work on so many fronts. Above all, I am inspired by the communities that we serve, and the filmmakers that astound us with invigorating, fresh queer content.”

Frameline’s Frances Wallace (second from right) with colleagues Peter Stein and Paul Struthers and board president Nadir Joshua (right).

grow individual, foundation and corporate revenue.

• She proudly oversaw the celebration of Frameline’s 40th Anniversary in 2016, including an award-winning brand refresh with design firm Mucho.

• She helped to increase audience, filmmaker and industry attendance; elevated donor and sponsor support; grew distribution revenue; and expanded the Youth in Motion education program to reach all 50 states, serving an estimated 27,000 students at over 1,300 K–12 schools.

Frameline executive director Frances Wallace welcomes the sellout crowd to the Opening Night of Frameline43 at the Castro Theatre.

PHOT BY RINK

• Wallace rebuilt the Frameline team, and at Director level hired Frameline’s Director of Exhibition and Programming, Paul Struthers; Director of Distribution & Educational Programming, Daniel Moretti; and David Warczak, Director of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships.

We look forward to following her career in future. As for Frameline, the organization’s board of directors will begin a search for a new executive director that will begin following Wallace’s post-festival departure.

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Inspiring Documentary Chronicles the SF AIDS Ward 5B However, a team of nurses, including Cliff Morrison, David Denmark, Mary Magee, Sasha Cuttler and Guy Vandenberg, led by Alison Moed Paolercio, along with Dr. Paul Volberding, started a “unique experiment in medical care” at SF General.

They created a standard of care in an AIDS ward by caring for patients whom they could not cure. They touched the men and women who needed to feel human contact when no one would treat them. These doctors and nurses were allowed to, as one interviewee says, “Share the intimate experience of their dying.”

Film Gary M. Kramer The compassionate documentary 5B is named for the first AIDS ward that opened on July 25, 1983, at San Francisco General Hospital. This film, which opened at 500 theaters nationwide earlier this month and is available on demand, recounts the experiences of various nurses, doctors and patients through candid, moving interviews about the fears, tragedies and occasional triumphs that took place in the ward during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Directors Paul Haggis and

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The staff in 5B did some radical things. They let patients define who was family, and even permitted animals to be brought—well, smuggled—into the ward on occasion.

The emotions these moments generate are empowering and heartfelt, especially in light of the fact that the partners of patients were usually denied visitation rights. Moreover, parents of the patients’ families often rejected their children for being gay or contracting AIDS. In one of the

most poignant sections of the film, the estranged father of a patient is encouraged to tell his dying son how much he loves him to allow him to die with dignity.

Dan Krauss also lay bare the hatred and homophobia of the time, when some doctors and nurses at the hospital fought against care and protection for AIDS patients, stirring the media, politics and even labor issues.

As positive as these efforts were, however, there was much fear-mongering as well as some nasty infighting within the hospital. Nurses concerned about infection through needle sticks—one nurse, who famously became infected that way, is discussed in the film—did not want to treat people with AIDS. They took their case to the California Division of Labor Standards. Likewise, Dr. Lorraine Day, an orthopedic surgeon, campaigned for protections insisting that AIDS patients be tested and/or divulge their condition before she operated on them. Dr. Day’s interviews are particularly infuriating because of the homophobia she spouts. Audiences may be prompted to boo and hiss whenever she appears on screen.

The film begins in the 1970s, when gay men and women in San Francisco were experiencing sexual freedom.

Of course, everything changed in 1981 when the first AIDS cases were reported. Suddenly, hospitals like SF General were being overwhelmed with patients suffering from a disease that was too new to understand and made most folks afraid to treat them.

To care for an AIDS patient in the early days was considered “dirty nursing,” according to one interviewee.

Doctors and nurses would don “spacesuits” so as not to risk infection. Moreover, most patients with AIDS were marginalized or ostracized, and treated with disgust or disgrace. Many would not receive care until the last minute because no one knew how the disease could be spread, and the risk of infection was too great a concern.

Another villain that the film presents is President Ronald Reagan, whose

lack of support for the LGBT community is his legacy. A key point is made about how the national budget earmarked for AIDS research was smaller than what the city of San Francisco itself allocated.

5B does feature some upbeat moments, such as scenes of Rita Rockett, who came to 5B as a volunteer to feed and entertain the patients. Likewise, out gay local TV reporter Hank Plante has some very interesting observations about covering the epidemic.

He found the courage of people with AIDS to go on the air and tell their stories to help others cope inspiring.

Haggis and Krauss also provide some remarkable footage of the caregivers and patients on the ward. There are some difficult scenes of medicine being administered, or dead bodies being wrapped up and carried out, but these powerful images are necessary—a reminder of the daily and weekly experiences in the ward.

When one interviewee describes the epidemic surging to overwhelming proportions, the magnitude of their powerlessness is duly felt.

But the toll AIDS took on both the gay community and on the hospital’s doctors and nurses comes across clearly. When there are reports of protease inhibitors that are able to treat the disease, and the film reveals that some people with AIDS are surviving, 5B is optimistic, but signals that the epidemic is not yet over.

This documentary is ultimately lifeaffirming, showing the resilience of these unsung heroes committed to both a cause and a community, and their efforts to maintain dignity and care above all. © 2019 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer

Veteran Journalist Hank Plante Discusses 5B and Covering HIV/AIDS News During the Epidemic’s Height By Gary Kramer In a recent phone conversation with me for the San Francisco Bay Times, Emmy Award-winning reporter Hank Plante spoke about the documentary 5B.

PHOTO BY HANKHANKHANKHANK/WIKIMEDIA.ORG

Gary M. Kramer: How did you get involved in 5B?

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Hank Plante: I got a call out of the blue about a year and a half ago from Dan Krauss, the director, to ask if I wanted to be involved. I did.

I wanted to pay tribute to the nurses.

The hard part about being a reporter is looking for people to interview and I often called up San Francisco General and asked if there was someone I could talk to. I owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

Gary M. Kramer: What did it mean to be out on TV back in the ‘80s and ‘90s?

Hank Plante: It worked in my favor. I’m really grateful that by the time AIDS came along, I was out. And I knew my craft, so I was ready to cover this right there in San Francisco, which was ground zero for the epidemic. We had more cases per capita than anywhere else. I was glad I’d taken care of that part of my life [coming out] by the time I was doing this reporting. There were people at my own station who thought we were putting too many stories on AIDS on air, so there was resistance, but my (continued on page 42)

H

Donna’s Chronicles

By Donna Sachet

appy Pride to you! Whether LGBTQ or anything in between, we have room for you in this wonderful, loving community and we anxiously await your participation in the myriad of activities, events and happenings that remain in Pride Month.

Since our last column, we’ve been dashing from event to event, ever mindful that we are so fortunate to live in the middle of where so much of our history began. For example, Gilbert Baker was a local character who was prodded by Harvey Milk to create a flag that would represent the emerging Gay Community and so the now iconic rainbow flag was born. Last week at Bloomingdale’s, where huge original versions of that flag are on proud display in the atrium of the store, we led a casual panel discussion with two of Gilbert’s dearest friends, Dr. Jerome Goldstein & Tom Taylor, to mark the release of Rainbow Warrior: My Life in Color, compiled from extensive notes left by Gilbert regarding the history of the flag. It is a captivating account of inspiration, revelry and activism that everyone should read! We were truly amazed at the number of people who turned out for this Wednesday early evening event, including Kile Ozier, Don Spradlin, Patrick & Hossein Carney, Jeff Sheehy, Bruce Beaudette, John Lewis, Steve Adams and Joanie Juster.

Perhaps that video invitation skillfully produced by Richard Gutierrez was the secret! The evening turned into a delightful sharing of personal stories and memories of Gilbert among friends and admirers, demonstrating once and for all that this man’s contributions will never be forgotten. In addition to providing a home for this event, displaying the rainbow flags, and opening a colorful Pride gift shop, Bloomingdale’s committed a percentage of all sales that day to our chosen beneficiary, the LGBT Community Center.

That Friday, we returned to Lookout for the penultimate Disco Coalition Happy Hour, this time hosted by Pollo del Mar and Princess K of the Imperial Court, benefiting Castro Country Club, and saluting the legendary “Queero” José Sarria. The timing was perfect, since our José had been honored with a brief historical vignette that week on ABC television’s The View. The bar was bustling with members of the SF Gay Men’s Chorus, Imperial Court title-holders, and other assorted history buffs as Tito’s Handmade Vodka continued their commitment to match funds raised at these weekly events. We can’t wait to hear how much Lookout’s Disco Coalition raised over the past 13 weeks and to find out what this creative group is up to next!

Leave it to Brian Kent to be the first to secure an event for our community at the recently opened Virgin Hotel! We joined hundreds of happy celebrants at the roof-top bar for an afternoon in the sun dancing to disco music mixed as no other than DJ Wayne G can. Splendid views, retro clothing and smiles all around made for a perfect T-dance, attended by BeBe Sweetbriar, Ira Olney & Troy Arnold, Simon Tam, Suzan Revah, Chris Hanner, Honey Mahogany, Philip Grasso and so many others whose faces are familiar from various dance floors across the years. Something tells us that there will be more to come from Virgin Hotel in San Francisco. And be sure to give a listen to Brian’s new single, which should probably be our motto for Pride Week ... “Just Say Yes”!

Broadway Bares: San Francisco Strips IV delivered its promised display of beautiful bodies, skilled choreography and whimsical story-line at DNA Lounge. This project of the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation builds on the success of the immensely popular Broadway event, showcasing local and international favorites as you rarely get to see them ... and less. Performance Director Damien Beard, Production Director Emily Schreck and Artistic Director Leanne Borghesi made sure the event was Broadway caliber and celebrities Bruce Vilanch, Jai Rodriguez and Cassandra Cass added inimitable panache. Believe us, Cassandra’s entrance from the balcony to the stage will become the stuff of theatre legend! Half the fun, however, was seeing the enthusiastic participation of REAF Board members, supporters, and volunteers, whether gyrating on stage or giddily tipping from the audience. Even Andrew Christian was on site, having provided some essential wardrobe elements. It only happens once a year, so don’t miss the 2020 event!

“Years from now ... our children and our grandchildren will ask us where we were when the stakes were so high.

They will ask us what it was like. I don’t want us to just tell them how we felt. I want us to tell them what we did.”

–Senator Kamala Harris

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

The Starlight Room Sir Francis Drake Hotel 10:30 am Brunch, 11:30 am Show $75 inclusive https://starlightroomsf.com/sundays-a-drag Friday, June 28 Trans March 2019 11 am–8 pm Dolores Park Free! http://www.sfpride.org/ Saturday, June 29 Gary Virginia & Donna Sachet’s 21st Annual Pride Brunch Benefiting PRC, honoring Grand Marshals of Pride Parade Tito’s Handmade Vodka & Korbel sparkling wine Silent & live auction, Dixieland Dykes + 3, raffle, speaking program 11 am–2 pm Westin St. Francis Hotel, Union Square $125 & up https://prcsf.org/ Saturday, June 29 27th Annual SF Dyke March Dolores Park 11 am–6:30 pm Free! http://www.sfpride.org/ Sunday, June 30 San Francisco Pride Parade: Generations of Resistance!

Market Street from Embarcadero to Civic Center 10:30 am start time Free! http://www.sfpride.org/

We try to share in this column our genuine appreciation for being included in so many historic events in San Francisco and we will never underestimate the privileges and opportunities this city offers us. But few things can compare to last weekend’s Queens concerts with the SF Gay Men’s Chorus. We were invited by the chorus that gave us our start in San Francisco to help them salute drag queens and all of those fierce anti-establishment figures who have steered the LGBTQ movement through years of Sunday, June 30 struggle and success. We joined friends and fellow activists Heklina, Sister Roma, Frameline Film Festival Closing Night Sister Phyllis and Kylie Minono for three concerts of crowd-pleasing Gay Gay Chorus Deep South anthems, inspirational music, touching remembrances and crazy on-stage antics.

How can we ever forget standing center stage before hundreds of attentive supportCastro Theatre ers, sharing our personal reflections about the role of drag, singing “I Am What $35 & up I Am” at the invitation of one of the most respected and accomplished Artistic https://www.frameline.org/ Directors in the country, Dr. Tim Seelig, in front of over 200 singers of the iconic SF Gay Men’s Chorus, proudly introducing members of the Grand Ducal Council and Imperial Court to promenade across stage in recognition of their many contributions to our history? Really? Yes, really. And then there was the concert! The chorus included one of the most luscious arrangements of Over the Rainbow we’ve ever heard, moving selections from Broadway shows, excellent soloists and small ensemble performances, a commissioned piece with startling lyrics, and enough “choralography” to make Bob Fosse weep. We are deeply grateful to those members of the Ducal and Imperial Families who took time out to participate and looked so marvelous doing so. If you missed this series, don’t let that happen again; buy your season tickets. And go to Closing Night of the Frameline Film Festival to see Gay Chorus Deep South, documenting the tour of several southern states by the SF Gay Men’s Chorus in 2018.

And finally, we joined the throngs to salute Mark Huestis at the Victoria Theatre, a special event during Frameline, that included clips from movies he’s produced as well as the many one-night galas with Hollywood icons he lured to the Castro Theatre. An emotional remembrance of Arturo Galster silenced the room. Several friends read from Mark’s recently released book Impresario of Castro Street, which he signed later at a reception at Manny’s. Among the crowd at the Victoria and Manny’s events were Mark Leno, Jennifer Kroot, Lawrence Helman & Bruce Balderson, Dan Nicoletta, Helen Shumaker, Bruce Vilanch, Adam Sandel and David Weissman.

Mark Huestis seems to be living and loving a totally different life now in a country environment, but we shall never forget the many people he enabled us to meet and the kindnesses he frequently extended.

We have conscientiously chosen not to extend our calendar of events beyond Sunday, even though we know the cycle of happenings never ends. We suggest, however, that we take a collective breath, reflect upon the tremendous variety of choices we have, and jump back into the social whirlwind in July. Take a moment to review photographs from your Pride experience and the friends with whom you shared it.

Take a moment to recognize all of those who continue to fight to keep San Francisco and the LGBTQ Community thriving. And take a moment to resolve to become more involved yourself. Happy Pride!

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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Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

Pride Night at San Francisco Opera

From the minute guests of Pride Night at San Francisco Opera entered the portals of War Memorial Opera House underneath images of opera stars lit in rainbow lights, they anticipated a magical night ... and were not disappointed. The event on June 19 featured a performance of Rusalka, starring out LGBT diva Jamie Barton. The production, with its hauntingly timeless love story, dreamy set design and costumes, received countless rave reviews from both visiting professional critics and local aficionados.

The music of the night was not all opera, however. During intermission for this special Pride event, DJ Matt Haze provided modern beats as guests enjoyed signature cocktails, photobooth snaps, giveaways and more. The Opera House was decorated with rainbow flags, and attendees were given an “Opera Is Proud” fan to carry—both stylish and practical on this memorable warm summer’s night. Several guests left humming popular Rusalka arias like “Song to the Moon” as they went out into the night underneath the still-lit rainbow stars.

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

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Realtor Lorraine Bannister Left the UK for California and Found Pride, a Partner and Home At a New Year’s Eve party several years ago, a few members of our San Francisco Bay Times team wound up in a long restroom line next to Lorraine Bannister. A great conversationalist, she made the time fly by and we’ve stayed in touch ever since. Her story, shared here, always makes us fall in love again with San Francisco, given this Britain-born out and proud Realtor’s contagious affection for the Bay Area and the LGBTQ community.

“In 1979, I came to the San Francisco Bay Area from Coventry, England. When I arrived here, I stayed with my Mum’s youngest sister, Auntie Mary, who lived in Daly City at the time. While in England, I had completed my vocational college, and earned an O.N.D. in Travel and Tourism. So, my parents rewarded me with a graduation trip.

We had always loved watching The Streets Of San Francisco on television.

We loved the sight of the Golden Gate Bridge peeking through the fog, and the car chases up and down the hills of the city.

I went home to England, but couldn’t settle. So, with my parents blessing, I decided to emigrate, and returned in 1980.

Sometimes I still marvel at the fact that I ventured out to this beautiful city at age 18, and have remained here ever since.

I love the city and went through a second coming of age here in the late 80s–90s. I love the many scenic neighborhoods, the Victorian and Elizabethan homes in Noe Valley, palm tree-lined Dolores St, Haight/ Ashbury and, of course, the Castro.

During the Pride celebration in 1997, I met my now partner of 22 years.

Actually, she was only supposed to be my “date for the day,” and now we are finally planning our wedding!

By the year 2000 we moved to Pacifica, and we love our coastal town. Driving home alongside the Pacific Ocean every evening makes each day end peacefully. Going for long walks on the beach and sitting on the rocks contemplating life are some of my favorite things to do.

Lorraine received the Better Homes and Lorraine and Lisa enjoying an SF Giants game at Gardens Sales Achievement Award for 2018 Oracle Park

Lorraine and Lisa at the SF Pride Parade (2018)

I love to travel and have been lucky to experience many different cultures that way. However, we could never be far from San Francisco, where we often celebrate holidays, birthdays and enjoy the many forms of art and entertainment that the city has to offer. I have to add here that I’m an avid 49er fan and am admittedly disappointed in their move to Santa Clara.

I have always enjoyed serving the public, and have always worked doing so. From waitressing to property management to Realtor. In June of 1999, I went into real estate full time. During the past 20 years as a Realtor, I have had the pleasure of helping folks with achieving the American dream of home ownership, believing a warm place to call home should be accessible to all.

I have sold homes and condominiums in San Francisco, the Peninsula and Pacifica, and always consider it a delightful privilege.

The work involves helping people to grow personal wealth through real estate, and being there in both good and bad times. I often walk people through the process of home buying for the first time, or guide them through downsizing, buying up or dissolving an estate. The relationships that you build during these processes can turn into lifetime friendships. More often than not, helping people to buy or sell real estate means handling a person’s most valuable asset and needs to be respected as such, building trust and using the utmost integrity.

As a Realtor, my most valued assets are my clients. Our business is hugely reliant on referrals and excellent customer service is a must.

I have a deep sense of loyalty and am proud to have been born in the U.K. and am equally proud to be a resident of the U.S. for 39 years. I never found the need to change brokerages, although since starting with them, we have changed our name from Prudential California Realty to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate (BHGRE).

I am proud that BHGRE is a strong advocate for, and supporter of, the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals, of which I am a member. It bothers me that we, and many others, are still fighting for basic human rights.

We must never tolerate injustice or hatred toward one another. We absolutely should celebrate diversity, and equality.

I felt special when I discovered our annual Pride parade here in San Francisco. It always falls right around my birthday, June 30. I want to wish everyone a safe, and joyous, Pride celebration.”

Realtor Lorraine Bannister proudly serves Pacifica, Daly City, San Francisco and the Peninsula with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate/JF Finnegan Realtors https://bit.ly/2Y5hAWh. S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

JUNE 27, 2019

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This Month at the Farmers’ Market Summer Is Here!

By Debra Morris

Summer is here and you know what that means! The summer harvest of fruits and vegetables has arrived this month, so dust off the patio furniture, bring out the barbecue grill and get ready to fire it up! After a long, wet winter, the weather is now perfect for fresh summer vegetables. Sweet and hot peppers, cucumbers, eggplant and tasty summer squash are ready to be added to the grill. Never grilled vegetables? You’re missing something special if you haven’t tried them this way.

Summer vegetables are available from June through most of September. The freshest vegetables are available at your farmers’ market in lots of special varieties that you won’t find at the grocery store. Toss some sliced Italian zucchini, eight ball squash, bell peppers and onions directly on the grill; or wrap in foil, add a little olive oil and garlic, then add to the grill; or you can cut the vegetables into chunks, slide them onto a skewer and make veggie kabobs.

Prolific as well as versatile, these summer lovelies come in many forms: squash in yellow crookneck, zucchini, globe, Italian, pattypan and other delicious varieties; peppers in both sweet and hot varieties like bells, Thai chiles, Anaheim, poblano and habanero; eggplant in many varieties as well. And watch for succulent summer tomatoes—cherries, heirlooms and more.

These fabulous squash, peppers and other early summer veggies come to us directly from those who grew them. Visit farms like Fifth Crow Farm of Pescadero with tables filled to the brim with green beans, eggplant, both sweet and hot peppers of all kinds, summer squash and early tomatoes.

Happy Boy Farms out of Freedom, near Watsonville, offers up their organic vegeta-

GRILLED SUMMER

IL VEGETABLES IN FO

, cchini, yellow or other) 2 summer squashes (zu cut into chunks cut into chunks 2 bell peppers, seeded and onion, 1 large yellow or white s nk chu o int cut peeled and oil ve oli gin Extra vir Salt and pepper, to taste 1 clove garlic, minced Divide ingredients in olive oil.

In a large bowl, toss all foil; uty y-d av he of ge pieces vegetables onto two lar dium the grill over indirect me wr ap tightly. Place on minutes. heat. Cook for about 20 MA Recipe: Debra Morris, PCF

bles like summer squash, succulent summer tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplant.

Valley Bee Farm from Fresno brings a variety of eggplant, a rainbow of bell peppers, fragrant summer herbs, yellow and green summer squash and luscious tomatoes.

So, bring a big reusable shopping bag to the farmers’ market and pick up some of the best squash, peppers and other veggies.

Here’s to good summer eatin’, fresh from your local farmers’ market.

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/

Rainbow Grocery Is Pride Central

Photos by Rink

It is hard to imagine a store more queer-centric than Rainbow Grocery. Consider this description of Essex Street Cheese feta, one of their specials as of this writing: “Essex feta is made exclusively from the milk of Lesbian breed sheep, whose shepherds retain a millennia old practice of grazing them on the sun-and-sea splashed hills around the village of Agra, on the western side of the island [Lesbos].” We washed a cube of this delicious cheese down with ice cold Topo Chico mineral water, on sale that day for less than a dollar. For vegans who would rather pet a Lesbian sheep, there was Miyoko’s vegan smoked farmhouse—at $3 off to sweeten the deal.

We love that Rainbow Grocery is a worker-owned coop, which offers foods that have a minimal negative impact ecologically and socially. The team strengthens our community by not only feeding us well at fair prices, but also by supporting local organic farmers, collectives, bakers, dairies and other local businesses.

The store has been awash with color this Pride month, with photos captured by Rink during a recent visit.

Normally Rainbow Grocery is open from 9 am–9 pm, but it will be closed on Sunday, June 30. So, stock up for Pride Weekend celebrations in advance, and get ready for dry farm tomato season, juicy watermelons and other summer treats. We’re already coveting the Candylab Toys—toy cars made from real wood and non-toxic paint— that inspire daydreaming about summer road trips. https://www.rainbow.coop/

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SF Giants LGBTQ Night

Photos by Paul Margolis

In community partnership with Team SF, Federation of Gay Games, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, SF Pride and Horizons Foundation, SF Pride held its annual LGBTQ Night on June 12. The pre-game party in Lot A included great performances by Juanita MORE!, Dulce de Leche, Qween, Suppositori Spelling, Nicki Jizz and Mary Vice.

After going to their seats, guests listened to musician and former San Francisco Bay Times columnist Kippy Marks play a beautiful version of the National Anthem. The Giants then took on the San Diego Padres—and won! The Special Event ticket package included a limited-edition wearable Giants Pride flag that we hope to see plenty of at the Pride Parade and at future games at Oracle Park. Special thanks to everyone who came in our San Francisco Bay Times/”Betty’s List” group. https://www.mlb.com/giants

Take Me Home with You! “My name is Apple! I love snuggles and playtime with my favorite humans, and I also enjoy hanging out with other cats.

The first year of my life was pretty rough, and I’m ready for my second chance! I’ve been told that I have a very distinctive look—my marble coat and extra-long whiskers are part of my signature style. If you’re looking for a fun feline to spice up your life, I’d love to meet you!”

Apple

Apple 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 Apple.

To see Apple as well as other pets seeking their forever homes, please visit: San Francisco SPCA Mission Campus 250 Florida Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 415-522-3500 Aside from major holidays, the adoption center is open Mon–Fri: 1–6 pm and Sat–Sun: 10 am–5 pm. Free parking is available for those wishing to adopt!

For more information: https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

EZ Knee Hacks for Stairs harder, but also the misaligned climbing itself can cause more harm to your knee. On the other hand, being aware of your knee alignment might resolve your stair climbing knee pain to some degree instantly, and most importantly, you are not doing more damage.

Easy Fitness Cinder Ernst Stairs suck when you have knee pain.

Today, I’m going to give you ways to make going upstairs instantly easier.

For thirty years, I have been helping plus-size women to gain strength and stamina. In that time, I noticed that many of my clients had/have knee pain. I began to study what worked to alleviate the knee pain and to make daily activities, including stairs, easier. Wanting stairs to be easier is a common refrain in my free Facebook group Knee Friendly Fitness Please. Come join us!

How you first place your foot on the step matters. You want your knee to be over your first two toes, not pointing in or out. Beginning out of alignment not only makes stair climbing 38

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The most common misalignment is that your knee might be pointing or rolling in. If you are a bit knockkneed (I am), then this is most likely happening to you. As you begin your climb, pretend that you are pushing the outside of your knee into the wall. You can check your alignment by placing a hard cover book on the floor in front of a full-length mirror.

Place your entire foot on the book and then look in the mirror to see if your knee is directly over your first two toes. If not, bring your knee into alignment and get used to that feeling. It may feel very different. Keep the book on the floor in front of the mirror because we will use it again.

Hack #1: Notice and correct side-to-side knee alignment on the step.

Most people begin the stair climbing motion by moving forward and then attempting to push themselves up, often from the ball of their foot or toes. This positioning puts a tremendous amount of strain on your knee before you even begin the lift and then asks the muscle in the front

of your thigh (quadriceps) to do all of the work. The forward shin/knee position hurts your knee. Change the intention and direction of your climb to straight up instead of forward.

This tip will work with our next step.

Hack #2: Think “up,” not forward, to correct front-to-back knee alignment.

If you can fit your whole foot on the step, do it. If not, place your attention on the furthest back portion of your foot that is on the step. If you are practicing on the book, you can probably fit your whole foot on the book. In order to push yourself “up,” you want your butt muscles to be activated. In order to get them to do this, you push out of your heel or the furthest back portion of your foot that is in contact with the step.

Hack #3: Push out of your heel or the back of your foot to engage butt muscles.

Okay, let’s try the lift. If stairs are just a little challenging, try this on an actual step. If stairs really suck, try this on a book first. I do this exercise on a book most days so that I can stay strong and continue to be able to climb stairs with a very messed up right knee.

Place your right foot on the book, heel in contact, knee tracking over (continued on page 42)

Eagle Plaza Groundbreaking Ceremony

Photos by Rink

Mayor London Breed, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, and other officials and community leaders joined Eagle Plaza supporters on Tuesday, June 18, for a groundbreaking ceremony held in front of the Eagle Tavern. Eagle Co-Owner/ Operator Lex Montiel honored Breed for supporting the Plaza’s development. Eagle Plaza board chair Bob Goldfarb was among the speakers. According to the organizer’s website, the new Plaza will transform an underused portion of 12th Street between Harrison and Bernice Streets in the Western SOMA neighborhood into a pedestrian hub and safe space for people of all ages to gather.

Mandelman said: “I’m excited to see the creation of this first-of-its-kind LGBTQ-leather public space moving forward. Eagle Plaza will be an important public meeting place for the leather community during events like Folsom Street Fair and Up Your Alley and will also provide much-needed year-round public park space in SoMa.” http://www.eagleplaza.org

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

AGUILAS Latin Pride Party Resource Guide to over 300 SF LGBTQ Nonprofit Service Agencies, Arts & Athletic Groups Includes: category search, calendar of events & 1000's of photos

Connect - Volunteer - Donate Keep the Good Work Going !

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Photos by Paul Margolis

AGUILAS/El Ambiente, the San Francisco-based nonprofit organization providing support and services to gay men of Latin heritage, hosted a Pride celebration on Thursday, June 20. The event was co-sponsored by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Sí a la Vida of the Instituto Familiar de la Raza, and El/La Para Trans Latinas. It included a dinner, show and dance. HIVSTD/STI testing also took place, with test takers receiving a free AMC movie ticket. The powerful poster for the event read, “Latin Pride: Be true. Be brave.

Be proud.” http://sfaguilas.org/

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

Sister Dana sez, “Puff out your chest with Pride, and on June 29–30, Pride Weekend, enjoy the happiest place on earth for us queers here in San Francisco!”

THE DONNA PERSONNA PORTRAITS PROJECT is proudly on display at the Tenderloin Museum, 398 Eddy Street, until July 7. The opening reception was on June 13 when the producers and some of their subjects spoke from the heart. This is a collaboration between 2019 Pride Parade Grand Marshal Donna Personna, fine arts painter Thomasina DeMaio and photographers Billie Douglas and Steven Pomeroy (who took photos at the sittings of the subjects).

Using photography and portraiture as sites for exploring transgender and gender nonconforming identity, this project aims to bring wider visibility and validation to trans lives, and to showcase the wide spectrum of the transgender experience. Originally conceived of and sponsored by ARTSAVESLIVES foundation, this exhibition represents a small portion of a much larger collection on display for Pride at the Eureka Valley Rec Center.

Included at the Museum are oil paintings and photos of Collette La Grande, Gretchen and Suzanne

Sister Dana sez, “Happy Belated 73rd Birthday to Trump. Now go get impeached and removed! Truck Fump!”

KREWE DE KINQUE held our monthly Mardi Gras themed fundraiser on June 15 at the Edge as we kicked off San Francisco PRIDE Week with our hosts Krewe de Kinque current reigning King XVI Aja Monet-Ashton and Queen XVI Kelly Rose, who both gave incredible live performances along with Queen V Cockatielia, King VII John Weber, King X Tippy Marks, Queen XIV Lady Cuki Couture and Queen VII Miss Chief—all with the exceptional deejaying of King XIII Sergio Fedasz.

King VII John Weber and Queen VII Sister Dana were emcees. The fundraiser was for SATURATION PURPLE, the Transgender Youth Scholarship Fund launch party and support for anti-bullying. Of course, I was a purple nun, as were so many of our members in thematic purple. Through our Krewe de Kinque ANNUAL MARDI GRAS BALL MASQUE 2019 charity fundraiser, we will help to support the Mission of the TRANSGENDER LAW CENTER. Our club stands in solidarity with the transgender community as the T-rump administration continues to trample equal rights for all Americans. We hope to see every-

one at next month’s benefit on July 20, 4–7 pm at the Edge bar. https://transgenderlawcenter.org Sister Dana sez, “A new Gallup poll shows that 71% of Americans support Transgender Military Service.

But we know how much Trump despises any poll other than one that favors him!”

The June 20 Opening Film of the FRAMELINE 43 SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL LGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL was Vita and Virginia with Elizabeth Debicki as Virginia Woolf and Gemma Arterton as Vita Sackville-West. This was an exotic erotic tale of one of the great lesbian love affairs of the 20th century, in a blend of literary biography and romantic intrigue. It featured a strong supporting role by Isabella Rossellini as Vita’s mother. True to the biography, it did NOT have a happily ever after ending. But what WAS happy was the deluxe afterparty at Terra Gallery with my fave “horse ovary” (canapé) being the huge shrimps.

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS marked the anniversary of the STONEWALL RIOTS, which began on June 28, 1969, and commemorated San Francisco’s own COMPTON CAFETERIA RIOT that occurred in 1966 with QUEENS. This incredible production honored those who helped to catapult the gay rights movement into the public forum from coast to coast. The men wore different colors of the rainbow t-shirts and black vests accented with drag queen jewelry, and some sported glittered beards. The show featured beloved gay anthems, as well as songs that paid tribute to the themes of strength, perseverance and accep-

tance. Solos were by Donna Sachet giving a stirring monologue of gay history and then singing “I Am What I Am,” Heklina singing a torchy “Maybe This Time,” Sister Roma with “My Strongest Suit” by Elton John from Aida, and Sister Phyliss with a strong operatic voice doing Rossini’s “Largo Al Factotum.”

Works included Andra Day’s “Rise Up,” Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sounds of Silence (with black & white photos of the Cafeteria Riot),” “Drag Queens in the Sky” to the tune of “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” “You Will Be Found” from the hit play Dear Evan Hansen, Sylvester’s “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real),” “Hail Holy Queen” from Sister Act with several Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence dancing away, and Sticks and Stones from composer Andrew Lippa’s moving oratorio, I Am Harvey Milk, originally recorded by SFGMC. Some of SFGMC’s very own Drag All-Stars worked the runway. But wait, there’s more! There was also a tribute to the Queens of the Courts, the Imperial Court and Ducal Council of San Francisco! All together an amazeballs concert!

We thrilled at the world premiere screening of a rousing Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical, in an HD-cinema, live-captured performance from London’s Adelphi Theatre on June 22 in the Castro Theatre, courtesy of FRAMELINE. With a book by Harvey Fierstein and original songs by Cyndi Lauper, the delightful KINKY BOOTS: THE MUSICAL starred original West End sensations Killian Donnelly as shoemaker scion Charlie and Matt Henry as Lola, the feisty drag queen who tries to save the factory with her fabulous fetishish creations. Please put this

PHOTO BY RINK

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

Ford. There are oils of Shawn Demmons, Jaylin Abergas and the late great Bubbles, who was savagely murdered in the Tenderloin.

Some of the photos are of curator Donna Personna, Suzy Jane Edwards, Veronica Fimbres, Billy Cooper, Elsa, Landa Lake, Bertie Brouhard and Aria Sa’id. Go check out both venues for the complete experience!

Dennis McMillan (aka Sister Dana) enjoyed the NAPA Cellars wines wth Pride Parade choreographer Juan Davila at the San Francisco Bay Times’ A Toast to Pride Reception at Canela Bistro and Wine Bar on Sunday, June 2.

“bootacular” show on your future streaming possibilities!

Sister Dana sez, “It is outrageous that Senate Republicans have blocked crucial legislation that would improve the security of our voting machines. Enough obstruction, Mitch ‘Grim Reaper’ McConnell! Oh, and he’s also blocking the Equality Act!” SISTER ACT SING-ALONG PRIDE MASS returned on June 26 at Grace Cathedral. For the third year in a row, THE VINE SF celebrated SF Pride with a special service. We kicked off Pride weekend in style and sang along to all of our favorite hits from the SF comedy classic movie Sister Act. Sister Dana sez, “June is bustin’ out all over (as musical ‘Carousel’ actors would sing), and likewise June Pride is also bustin’ out with these events!”

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

(continued on page 42)

JUNE 27, 2019

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FRAMELINE/KRAMER (continued from page 29)

PLANTE/KRAMER (continued from page 30)

SISTER DANA (continued from page 41)

pleasant enough diversion about Tony (Fabrizio Bentivoglio) and Carlo (Alessandro Gassman) telling their families not just that they are gay, but also that they are going to marry in three weeks. Those revelations create big emotions and allow for various secrets and lies. Long suppressed emotions and anger additionally come to light. The news prompts Tony’s daughter Penelope ( Jamine Trinca) and Carlo’s son Sandro (Filippo Scicchitano) to secretly try to break up the engaged couple. The offspring both resent their fathers for different reasons. But An Almost Ordinary Summer does not quite make the campaign of sabotage much fun. A sequence with disruptive fireworks kind of misfires. This unsophisticated film is best when the two families bond, and do not argue, as a dance around a dinner table proves. The humor is broad and the emotions are heartfelt, but what distinguishes this comedy-drama is the performances by Trinca and Scicchitano. They stand out because their characters transform the most.

managers saw it as a compelling story and a public service. We had an obligation to cover this story.

In honoring the Stonewall riots 50 years ago, HARVEY MILK PHOTO CENTER, directed

by Dave Christensen, proudly presents the STONEWALL 50 YEARS ANNIVERSARY ART EXHIBIT. This show is intended for local artists to showcase their best contemporary artworks focusing on celebrating LGBTQ community. The gorgeous threedimensional butterfly logo is by one of my favorite local artists, Gordon Silveria. In the foyer, Silveria’s clever piece is entitled “Love Is Love,” and is the theme of the Art Show in UV print on sintra PVC plastic with cutouts. Silveria comments that the butterfly “represents the spirit of transformation and freedom that burst out of gay communities everywhere.”

Community Grand Marshal DQ Mrs. Vera is dramatically caught in Michael Johnstone’s color photo, “Easter Sunday.” Alan Beckstead has a 48-by-48-inch quilt checkerboard of various people celebrating Pride. I own a mug Beckstead made of a mustachioed drag queen and two leather men, which I proudly display in my hallway.

Last Ferry ( June 29, 9:30 pm, Castro) is an underwhelming thriller—mostly because it is devoid of thrills. Joseph (Ramon O. Torres, who also wrote, produced and edited) arrives on Fire Island in the off-season looking for action. He meets a guy who invites him to hook up, but Joseph gets drugged and mugged instead. When he rouses, Joseph spies what appears to be a murder on the beach. On the run, Joseph is rescued

by Cameron (Sheldon Best), who takes him in and befriends him. The guys start to fall for each other, but when he encounters Rafael (Myles Clohessy) from the beach, trouble ensues. Last Ferry never builds tension because viewers—and even Joseph—know “whodunnit.” Moreover, the motive for the killing is unclear. Instead, the film provides a handful of talky (i.e. boring) scenes that stretch out the minimal action. Joseph acts irresponsibly, making him unsympathetic, and the supporting characters are so thinly written, they play as stereotypes. The sole exception is Best’s Cameron, who is appealing and intriguing, especially as the drama unfolds. The film might have been worthwhile had the story been told from his perspective, not Joseph’s.

Gay Chorus Deep South ( June 30, 7 pm, Castro) is a crowd-pleasing documentary about the week-long goodwill tour the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus took in five southern states with strong anti-LGBT laws. The film showcases the music, of course, which is wonderful, but it is how the chorus changes the minds of the people they meet—and how the people change the minds of the chorus—that reverberates. Gay Chorus Deep South showcases the personal stories of several individuals who are returning to their Southern roots. Tim Seelig, the chorus’ artistic director, recounts how his coming out nearly destroyed his life in the Baptist church; Jimmy has mixed feelings about reconnecting with his father, whom he has not spoken to in nearly a decade; and Steve describes the bullying that occurred in his Southern school. But perhaps the most interesting story belongs to Ashlé, who is transitioning from male to female. Ashlé’s story emphasizes the family-like community of the chorus and features a show-stopping rendition of “I am Changing” at a nightclub. Gay Chorus Deep South shows how chorus members’ assumptions about Southerners are not always correct, and that while they experience some setbacks on their tour, the strength of their collective voices comes through as it inspires queer and closeted youth as well as old, white, straight, religious men and women. © 2019 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer

Gary M. Kramer: How often did you cover the epidemic at the height of the crisis?

Hank Plante: Daily. San Francisco General was the backbone of my reporting. That’s where the science was, and the patients were.

But I also went to Washington, D.C., and to international AIDS conferences in Montreal and Stockholm.

Gary M. Kramer: Did you ever feel at risk in your work in the ward?

Hank Plante: No. The nurses were sending a clear message by hugging and holding people and cleaning them. I took my cue from them and I went out of my way to show that on camera there was nothing to be afraid of.

Gary M. Kramer: How were you able to separate your professional work and your personal life? Covering the crisis must have taken a psychological toll on you!

Hank Plante: It’s a very good question. There were times at SF General where I would have to go out in the hallway and compose myself. These were my brothers and sisters being affected. It did get to me, but I had a job to do and we don’t cry on camera, so I had to get it together and do the job. It was hard to separate that. On the other hand, covering AIDS was a good way for me to channel my grief and anger. I loved chasing bad guys down hallways and asking government officials, “Why aren’t you doing more?” It was a way to feel less powerless. We all felt powerless before the good medications came along.

Gary M. Kramer: You speak eloquently in the film about the stories of AIDS patients inspiring you with their courage. Can you talk about what made good journalism?

Hank Plante: Because they made the stories human. There are many times where I would come to work in the morning and scramble to find a story—someone to interview, not just a doctor or a nurse, but a person with AIDS—and get them on the phone. I’m on the air at 5. I’ve got to move fast. I’d get a number and say, “I’m with Channel 5 and can I come over now?” More often than not they’d say yes. I’m grateful. They didn’t look good. Their bosses and family and landlords would see it. But they wanted to tell people how not to get the disease. I’m not exaggerating when I say I love them for it then and now.

Gary M. Kramer: Your news coverage appears in 5B, which is great. How much footage did you contribute to the film?

Hank Plante: This was a stroke of luck. I knew that [AIDS] was going to get big. It was obvious. We’d see the cases growing exponentially in San Francisco and elsewhere. So, I started to save my stories on AIDS—not all, but ones I was particularly proud of. I transferred them to disc because videotape disintegrates. When Dan Kraus contacted me, I gave him three DVDs [of footage]. I am so glad I saved them! A lot of what you see in the movie is my work. It is gratifying to have my work come back to life again in this wonderful film.

Gary M. Kramer: The crisis is not over. How do you think films like 5B continue to advocate for AIDS awareness and education?

Hank Plante: We’re in good shape with HIV as far as medication in this country. But there are communities of color and places in the rest of the world that are suffering. One of the reasons the film is important is that it puts AIDS back in public consciousness. For most papers, it’s not a story anymore. I’m hoping the film reminds people this epidemic is not over. We have to keep on the ball about it.

Gary M. Kramer: You went to Cannes with 5B. What was that experience like?

Hank Plante: That was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

It was unbelievable. To walk the red carpet with the nurses and the celebrities who gave us publicity was just wonderful. And then to get a 4-minute standing ovation—in Cannes, they will boo a film if they don’t like it. When I stood up and I saw the audience, a lot of them had been, or were, crying. I cried my eyes out even though I had seen the film before. It was very gratifying. © 2019 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on page 25)

D) Rebekka Armstrong Rebekka Armstrong is an HIV/AIDS activist and former model and bodybuilder. She was Playboy Playmate of the Month for September 1986, and eight years later, she became the first Playmate to announce publicly that she is HIV-positive. Tina Chow, Amanda Blake and Gia Carangi were three other famous HIV-positive women, but sadly they died from complications of the virus during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Armstrong, who also came out as being LGBTQ in the 80s, endured an aggressive AZT treatment. She turned 52 this year.

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In the main room, J.B. Higgins has several photos, but my pick is «Fifth Avenue NYC» of a bold man in butterfly wings holding a sign stating: “In a world full of caterpillars, it takes balls to be a butterfly!” Bill Bowers’ “The Cockettes” in mixed media is a quilt of the colorful drag queens encased in clear plastic and framed in feathers, buttons and beads. I am proud to own a Bowers original piece in the form of a huge purse with photos of queer folk (one of Sister Dana) framed similarly.

Michael Lownie has wall sculptures including “He Ain’t Heavy” of a naked man being carried by another naked man in a cape— reminiscent of a pietà subject in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus, most often found in sculpture. Jack Davis’ piece, “Kiss Faggots” was originally shown at the Center for Sex & Culture, where we were told to put on lipstick and make kiss marks all over this red thread sequin embroidered canvas where you can see a depiction of some hater that has scrawled “Kill Faggots,” but Davis has made the sign say, “Kiss Faggots,” and he has added a bundle of sticks also known as “faggots.” My purple lipstick print stands out from the reds in the left lower corner. Quite prominent in the room is the very large 36-by-48-inch oil, “Harvey,” by Roberto Travala, of a big smiling Supervisor Milk. Lastly, Jerry Frost has “Humanity,” a colorful oil of people at a parade.

The exhibit will remain up through July 21 at 50 Scott Street. https://bit.ly/2Nacyqk PRIDE AT THE DISCO! is on June 28, 5–8 pm at Bespoke, 845 Market Street, suite 450. Unleash your inner disco queen on this night of glitz, cocktails and beauty in partnership with us Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. You can count on us to provide the music and glitter, but make sure to bring

your favorite wig or accessory to capture the night at our photo booth. And you’ll want to sing your heart out for karaoke. Also enjoy beauty makeovers. Free, but get tix at https://bit.ly/2La1neD Gary Virginia & Donna Sachet’s 21ST ANNUAL PRIDE BRUNCH is on Saturday, June 29, in the Westin St. Francis Hotel Grand Ballroom as a benefit for PRC. This lavish event honors the Grand Marshals of the SF LGBT PRIDE PARADE and affords guests a rare opportunity to meet and hear them speak. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/pridebrunch2019 BACK TO THE PICTURE GALLERY presents the opening of their 2nd annual TASTE OF THE WORLD exhibition with reception on June 29, 6–9 pm, 934 Valencia Street. But the show will be on the walls until July 28. The reception features 15 artists donating their pieces in an auction benefiting CREATIVITY EXPLORED, which gives artists with developmental disabilities the means to create and share their work with the community, celebrating the power of art to change lives. https://www.creativityexplored.org/ Senator Scott Wiener and curator Joseph Abbati invite you to an exhibit featuring 32 LGBTQ Bay Area artists. The event will take place immediately following Senator Wiener›s march in the Pride Parade, Sunday, June 30, 12–3 pm, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 14800. Guests must pre-register at https://queereyes.eventbrite.com OFFICIAL VIP PARTY AT CITY HALL is on Parade Day, June 30, 2–5 pm. Under the Rotunda in San Francisco’s magnificent City Hall you will find the ultimate Pride Sunday gathering! Featuring three rooms of live entertainment, performance, dancing, catering by Whole Foods Market and a hosted bar. While in the Rotunda, check out the giant portraits of us Sisters (including Sister Dana) by amazing artist Deidre Defranceaux. https://bit.ly/2X2lKS4 The incredible musical CABARET is playing now through September 14 at San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post Street, Floor 2M. Come hear the music play! https://bit.ly/2ZFTOAp HAIRSPRAY, winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is a fabulous fifties musical, piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance and deliriously tuneful songs. Playing July 7 through August 11 at Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street. https://www.bamsf.org/boxoffice Sister Dana sez, “Thank you, worldwide U.S. Embassies, for boldly defying T-rump admin and freely FLYING those RAINBOW FLAGS! Also, for the first time during a Pride Month, the Rainbow Flag flies over the State Capitol!”

CINDER (continued from page 38) your first two toes. Lift your ribcage as you think up and then simultaneously launch off your left foot and push out of your right heel while you squeeze your butt. Ta da ... you’re up!

Hack #4: Launch off your bottom foot.

Practice this move on a shallow step or book to build up your coordination and strength. If something feels wrong, stop and get help from a medical professional. Find me on YouTube for easy ways to get stronger.

Cinder Ernst, Medical Exercise Specialist and Life Coach Extraordinaire, helps reluctant exercisers get moving with safe, effective and fun programs. She specializes in fitness and rehab for plus-size clients, but her stress-free approach is suitable for all. Find out more at http://cinderernst.com

Call Me by Your Name Feature Film with SF Symphony Photos by Paul Margolis Imbued with hauntingly beautiful original songs by singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens, Call Me by Your Name is a sun-drenched gay male coming of age film. The film, set in the summer of 1983 in Lombardy, Italy, gained added lushness on the night of Tuesday, June 18, when San Francisco Symphony performed the hypnotic score live to film on the big screen. It provided a perfect, romantic and thought-provoking note to this often otherwise high-energy Pride season of events.

Several other feature films with SF Symphony have already been announced, including Get Out (October), Coco and Ghostbusters (November), It’s a Wonderful Life (December) and Apollo 13 for July of 2020. The tickets go on sale later in July, however, so check back then at the Symphony’s website. https://www.sfsymphony.org

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COMING UP

An Opening Reception for the Pasión por Frida Art Exhibit will be held at Puerto Alegra, 546 Valencia Street on Tuesday, July 9, 5-8pm.

Compiled by Blake Dillon

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

27 Thursday First Democratic Presidential Debate Watch Party: Day 2 @ Manny’s, 3092 16th Street. Watch the debates with drag queens, drinking games, political cocktails, fun vibes and more. 5:307:30pm. http://www.welcometomannys.com Pride NightLilfe @ California Academy of Sciences, 55 Concourse Drive. A celebration of equality, selfexpression and pride will be hosted

by Heklina with DJs from Oakland’s Hella Gay Dance Party. 6-10pm. http://www.calacademy.org Transfinite @ Landmark’s Piedmont Theatre, 4186 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland. Frameline43 presents the California Premiere of the film. 9:15pm. http://www.frameline.org

28 Friday Trans March: Our Home, Our Sanctuary @ Mission Dolores Park, 19th and Dolores. The 16th annual Trans March and Rally

addresses the need for resources allocated for trans, GNC people’s right to housing and the alarming rate of deaths of trans women of color. 11am-8:30pm. http://www.transmarch.org

The Beatles and more. 8pm and again on June 29. https://bit.ly/2FwBWQW

JCCSF Welcomes Golden State Warriors’ Andre Iguodala @ JCCSF, 3200 California Street. Iguodala, one of the most respected players in the NBA, will be in conversation about his new memoir, The Sixth Man, with co-author Carvell Wallace. 7pm. http://www.jccsf.org/arts

40th Annual San Francisco Pride Run @ Polo Field, Golden Gate Park. The run is a celebration of Pride and benefits a designated nonprofit. This year’s beneficiary is Gender Spectrum. 9am. http://www.sffr.org

World On Fire @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, 1317 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley.

Barbara Borden and Susanne DiVincenzo will perform a poetrymusic theater piece about climate change and related challenges. 8pm. http://www.ashkenaz.com Brandon and James: All You Need Is Love @ Feistein’s at the Nikko, 222 Mason Street. The duo will redefine pop and classical music with operatic tenor vocals and cello featuring music from Wicked, The Greatest Showman, Robyn Roxette,

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Gary Virginia and Donna Sachet’s 21st Annual Pride Brunch @ Westin St. Francis Hotel. Honoring the Grand Marshals of the SF LGBT Pride Parade, this lauded benefit for PRC, which sells out annually, includes an opening reception and silent auction followed by a gourmet brunch buffet along with speeches by the honorees and a colorful crowd of revelers.

11:00am-2pm. https://bit.ly/2YdfJ1s San Francisco Dyke March and Rally @ Mission Dolores Park, 19th & Dolores. The Rally (11am-5pm) is followed by the March led by the Dykes on Bikes contingent and includes a trolley for those who cannot walk the route. http://www.thedykemarch.org Pink Block Party @ The Great Northern, 119 Utah Street. A lineup of entertainers will perform at this indoor-outdoor “polyblamorous” party with a poolside DJ. 12 noon-9pm. http://www.thegreatnorthernsf.com Cabaret Musical Revival @ San Francisco Playhouse. The classic Tony Award-winning musical tells the tale of Cliff and Sally’s love story and also reminds us of the horrors humans are capable of. Continues through September 14. http://www.sfplayhouse.org

30 Sunday San Francisco Pride Parade & Festival @ Market Street and Civic Center. “Generations of Resistance” is the theme for this year’s edition of one of the largest and oldest LGBTQIA parades in the world. 10:30am. http://www.sfpride.org Pride Afterparty @ Jolene’s Bar, 2700 16th Street. A team of DJs will spin tunes all afternoon and late into the night so you can continue 44

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to celebrate. 3pm-2am. http://www.jolenessf.com Mighty Real Poolside & Pride After Party 2019 @ The Phoenix Hotel, 601 Eddy Street. This poolside event (12noon-6pm) is sold out. Tickets are still available to the official After Party that will follow at The Great Northern, 119 Utah, featuring David Harness Project, Kerri Chandler and more.

6pm-12am. https://bit.ly/2J4b0ZH Frameline43 Closing Night Gay Chorus Deep South @ Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street.

The Festival’s Closing Night feature, Gay Chorus Deep South, is an awardwinning documentary on the SF Gay Men’s Chorus tour of southern states in 2017 with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir. 7pm. http://www.frameline.org

JULY

1 Monday Queer Stories Reign Supreme Exhibit @ Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street. The four-month exhibition includes historical materials, artifacts and archival documents along with materials related to social activism, contemporary artwork, costumes and ephemera. http://www.museumca.org Pubquiz at Virgil’s Sea Room @ The Big Queer Pubzquiz, 3152 Mission Street. This 90-minute quiz, based on current events and general knowledge with a special theme round, includes five rounds with free drinks and weird prizes every Monday night. 7:30-9:30pm. nosportstrivai@gmail.com

2 Tuesday Stonewall Reading & Discussion Group @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. This ongoing drop-in group uses books and other written materials to explore substance abuse. 4-5:30pm. http://www.strutsf.org La Más Draga Weekly Viewing Party @ Flore, 2298 Market Street. The event is known as Mexico’s Drag Race where, every Tuesday, sisters in CDMX compete.

8pm. http://www.flore415.com Smart Drinking Group @ Strut, 3rd Floor 470 Castro Street.

A weekly drop-in group with no requirements and all goals supported. 6-7:30pm. http://www.strutsf.org

3 Wednesday The Second City’s Left Leaning and Always Right Performances @ Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison Street, Berkeley. The Second City crew returns to Berkeley to celebrate nearly 60 years of cutting-edge satirical revues. 8pm.

Continues through July 14. http://www.berkeleyrep.org

4 Thursday Queer As Fourth: A Radical Resistance Queer Dance Party @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street. This is the 5th year for this annual fundraiser held every 4th of July to highlight the ways America fails queers, folks of color, immigrants, Muslims and other marginalized groups. 3-8pm. http://elriosf.com Hairspray @ Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street. Winner of eight Tony Awards, this family-friendly musical brings the 60s in Baltimore to life. Through August 11. http://www.bamsf.org Awooga! July 4th @ The STUD, 399 9th Street. This first Thursday event features entertainers and DJs plus dancing all night. 9pm-2am. http://www.studsf.com

5 Friday Burger Boogaloo 10th Anniversary with John Waters @ Mosswood Park, 3612 Webster Street, Oakland. A decade after its debut, this unique party, described by John Waters as “the perfect cult gathering of young and old music rebels” continues. 8pm and also 10pm on July 7. http://www.burgerboogaloo.com

6 Saturday 36th Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival @ Fillmore Street (Jackson to Eddy). The largest Jazz festival on the West Coast, the event blends art and soul in the historic Fillmore district and attracts more than 100,000 over the Independence Day weekend. 10am-6pm. 36th

Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival on Facebook Women’s Country Dance @ Veterans’ Memorial Building, 200 Grand Avenue, Oakland. All ages are welcome at this event featuring women’s partner dancing and more.

6:30pm potluck; 7-8pm lessons; 8-10:30pm dancing. http://www.countrynightsdance.com

7 Sunday Sunday’s A Drag @ The Starlight Room, Powell Street.

Hosted by Donna Sachet, the event features a brunch and a troupe of entertainers. Described as “The Greatest Drag Show in San Francisco,” we agree that it is great!

Every Sunday at 11am. http://www.startlightroomsf.com Smack Dab Queer Open Mic @ Manny’s 3092 16th Street at Valencia. The long-running LGBTQIA community open mic, hosted by Larry-bob and Dana Hopkins, will feature multi-genre artist Juba Kalamka whose work centers on intersectional dialogues on race, identity, gender, disability, sexuality and class in popular media. 5pm. http://www.welcometomannys.com

8 Monday A Tribute to Melanie Berzon @ Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison Street. The Montclair Women’s Big Band plus Tammy Hall Trio, Melanie DeMore, Barbara Dane, and The V-Note Ensemble will perform.

7:30pm. http://www.thefreight.org Eddie Izzard Wunderbar @ SHN Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor Street. Eddie returns to the stage with an all new show bringing his own unique view of the universe.

8pm continuing through July 10. http://www.shnsf.com Monday Morning Workout: Cardio & Strength @ Dolores Park, 19th & Dolores Streets. Free workout for all abilities led by the November Project. 6:30am. https://bit.ly/2R668qz Shut Up and Draw @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. This free event provides a quiet place to draw, be creative, doodle, sketch and be with fellow queers. 7-9:30pm. http://www.strutsf.org “Musical Mondays” SingAlong @ The Edge, 4149 18th Street. Sing and drink along every Monday and Wednesday at this landmark LGBT bar to favorite songs from musicals. 7pm-2am. http://www.theedgesf.com

9 Tuesday Pasión por Frida Art Exhibit Opening Reception @ Puerto Alegre, 546 Valencia. Curated by Bird Levy, the exhibit presents the work of many artists.

The Artwork of DK Haas @ Castro Country Club, 4058 18th Street. The series of work on display is about emotional dualities common to all, such as darkness and light, happy and sad, free and trapped, etc. 7am-10pm through July 16. http://www.dkhass.com

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

5-8pm. http://www.pcfma.org

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Rink Photo Throwback ) CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2018

Round About - All Over Town Photos by Rink

1983

A memorial tribute for Pulse Night Club victim Christopher (Dru) Leinonen at Hibernia Beach (18th and Castro) marking the tragedy three years ago in Orlando

The Castro Theatre’s marquee announced Vita & Virginia as the featured film of Frameline43 Opening Night.

Historic character tour guides “Maria Montez” and “Emperor Norton” attended the Opening Night of Frameline43 at the Castro Theatre on June 20.

Framline’s board president, Nadir Joshua, and other board members were on stage at the Opening Night of Frameline43.

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o many memories are captured in this 1983 Pride Parade photo of the great Sylvester (1947–1988) riding on the I-Beam float with Sanford Kellman (aka “the Godfather of San Francisco’s gay disco underground,” as Vice reports) and his close friend Fred Badalamente.

Sylvester was actively recording and performing that year, having released the album Call Me, which often played at the I-Beam—the second largest gay dance club in San Francisco during its heyday. Members of our San Francisco Bay Times team who were around then have fond memories of that Haight-Ashbury club (1748 Haight Street), which was the place to be in the 80s, and especially for events like the popular Sunday night Tea Dances from 6 pm to 2 am.

Going back even further in time, 1977 was an incredible year for dance clubs. The legendary Studio 54 in New York City opened that year, for example, as did the I-Beam, which boasted a firstclass sound system built by Randy Schiller (the sound engineer for multiple San Francisco Bay Times Pride Parade contingents).

During I-Beam’s opening night, groups of bare-chested men in jeans and construction hats carried I-beams on their shoulders into the club. At the entrance there were framed pictures of galaxies and planets, carefully arranged by former astronomer Kellman.

It was Sylvester who was beaming on that 1983 I-Beam Pride float, however, with sequins shimmering in the sunlight along with his gold jewelry and lush locks. His uplifting song “Stars,” written by the late, great Patrick Cowley (1950–1982), comes to mind:

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You are a star Everybody is one You are a star And you only happen once

You are here in this time and space Cosmic energy—well, it’s in your smiling face

Take a look around, tell me what you see Sisters and brothers feeling hot, feeling free Can you lighten up the sky, stars glimmering Dancing in the night, stars shimmering

You are a star Yes, you are.

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Volunteers greeted guests arriving at the Opening Night of Frameline43 at the Castro Theatre.

Frameline’s Paul Struthers was joined by friends in a red carpet selfie at Frameline’s Opening Night.

A group of Frameline volunteers awaited guests arriving for the Festival’s Opening Night.

On June 18, a large crowd gathered at the Salesforce Tower to learn about, and support, the upcoming Jewish Film Festival in San Francisco.

CAAMFEST’s Masashi Niwano with JFFSF’s executive director Lexi Leban at the Launch Party on June 18

Emcee Bernard Henderson welcomed guests to the First Annual Father’s Day Celebration of the Black LGBT Historical Society held at the Main Library on June 16.

Sean Sexton (left) was honored during the First Annual Father’s Day Celebration of the Black LGBT Historical Society held at the Main Library on June 16.

Author and artist Katie Gilmartin hosted a book launch at the GLBT History Museum promoting her new book Thrill Spot: The Raid on Tommy’s Place.

The Eagles Softball Team members Lance (left) and SuperDave served the buffet meal at Eagle Tavern during a benefit supporting the team held on June 16.

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The Jewish Film Festival’s executive director Lexi Leban spoke to media and Festival supporters at a launch party held on the 50th Floor of the Salesforce Tower on June 18.

A display of newspaper clippings from 1954 accompanied copies of author Katie Gilmartin’s historic fiction work Blackmail, My Love at the book launch event on June 13 at the GLBT History Museum.

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The Pride window display at Good Vibrations on Polk Street

Damron’s Gina Gatta (left) and co-emcee Samuel Gray welcomed guests to the Queer Poetry Slam competition held on June 13, at the SF LGBT Center.

Kai performed at the Queer Poetry Slam on June 13.

Aryeh Raskin performed at the Queer Poetry Slam on June 13.

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items of the week

Volunteer Vanessa Lisette served wine at the Queer Poetry Slam competition on June 13.

Color Atelier Lime Paint

A rainbow flag atop the Compass Building on Van Ness Avenue

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

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

Signs on Market Street promoting Pride events

Sunnylife Inflatables

DJ Lamont was spinning tunes at the Queer Poetry Slam competition held at the SF LGBT Center on June 13.

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

C Photographer Rink visited Coral Gables, Florida, this month and found a Pride display at the Books & Books store there.

Look closely at this Pride display in the window at Best in Show pet boutique on Castro Street, and you might find an image there depicting San Francisco Bay Times’ own Sister Dana.

an you believe it is June? I just don’t know where the time has gone. After coming off of a week in the Love Bubble it is time to jump full on into Pride.

Whether you need supplies to be in the thick of pride or things to hide quietly away from all of the hubbub, we have you covered.

As Heard on the Street . . . What is a favorite place to watch the Pride Parade?

compiled by Rink

Simon Kwong

Nalani Elias

Beth Feingold

Daniel Bao

Jokie X. Wilson

“Next to the Bill Graham Auditorium at Civic Center”

“The corner of 6th Street and Taylor, Powell and Market, and the end of the parade”

“The Academy of Friends viewing party and fundraiser at the Equinox Lounge”

“On TV”

“From within the parade itself, and I watch it from the Faerie Freedom Village after marching.”

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