San Francisco Bay Times - July 26, 2018

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2018) July 26–August 8, 2018 | sfbaytimes.com

PHOTO CREDIT: MICKEY SOUZA, JOHN UBANTE, AND CHARLES MOEHLE, PROBONOPHOTO.ORG/2018/FEB16TRUMPCHICKEN

Trump Chicken SENT TO ALCATRAZ

In the News ‘Prisoner 00045’ Transported to Alcatraz On Sunday, July 22, The Trump Chicken organization sailed a 33foot President Donald Trump-resembling balloon around Alcatraz, in front of AT&T Park and at other Bay locations from 11:30 am to 3 pm.

“Trump Chicken” wore striped prisoner’s garb with the number 00045 on it. A sign on the side of the “Alcatraz Prison Transport” boat read: “Release Your Tax Returns, the Republic Demands It.” In smaller letters below was: “Inquiring Minds Want to Know #ShowUsYourTaxes.”

The San Francisco Tax March first brought the Trump Chicken—symbolizing resistance to the U.S. leader and his administration—to America for the April 15 march last year.

Similar displays have since spread throughout the world. After the April 15 march, the organizers, who call themselves the Chicken Wranglers, were left with four Trump Chicken balloons, including the 33-foot big bird.

The Chicken Wranglers previously raised more than $10,000 to float what they have dubbed the “Chicken of the Sea” behind the planned August 2017 pro-Trump rally at Crissy Field, but that rally was canceled. Another occasion was therefore sought to deploy the bird. He was first sailed around Alcatraz this year in his specially designed prison shirt on President’s Day weekend in February before the July event.

This latest display followed President Trump’s meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during which the former seemingly accepted Putin’s denial of U.S. election meddling.

“They said they think it’s Russia; I have President Putin, he just said it’s not Russia,” Trump told reporters at a press conference following the meeting in Helsinki. “I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be. I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.”

Although President Trump has since tried to backpedal bigly on Russia, those attempts have failed, with many now viewing him as treasonous. Even members of his own party have expressed dismay. For example, Senator Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) said on July 19: “The findings of our intelligence community regarding the Russian aggression are not matters of opinion, no matter how powerful and strong Putin’s denial. To reject these findings and to reject the excruciating specific indictment against the 12 named Russian operatives in deference to the word of a KGB apparatchik is an act of will on the part of the president, and that choice leaves us contemplating the dark mystery, ‘Why did he do that? What would compel our president to do such a thing?’”

Senator Flake added, “The president let down the free world by giving aid and comfort to an enemy of democracy. In so doing, he dimmed the light of freedom ever so slightly in our own country.”

Many of us would say that the light is more than dimmed, given the current U.S. president’s record against LGBT individuals—especially those in the transgender community—his administration’s gutting U.S. environmental laws, separating families at the border and so much more. As one of the Go Fund Me donors wrote about the Trump Chicken displays: “I hope you can continue doing this until the commode-in-chief is out of office. Thank you for your resistance.”

The Trump Chicken Organization: https://thetrumpchicken.org/ Go Fund Me Page: https://www. gofundme.com/speaktruthtopoultry

Horizons Establishes Fund in Response to Immigration Crisis The Asylee, Immigrant, and Refugee Emergency Action Fund (AIREAF) has been created by Horizons Foundation to support organizations working to resist current policies that are separating families and summarily turning back people escaping violence and persecution in their home countries.

The Trump Administration’s inhumane separation and detention of families at the U.S. border and the blatantly discriminatory ban on Muslim immigrants are affronts to the values for which America stands, Horizons holds. The AIREAF Fund is designed to support organizations that are fighting for the human rights of immigrants, refugees and asylees.

More than 70 countries around the world criminalize the existence of LGBTQ people. Immigration to the U.S. and other relatively LGBTQfriendly countries through asylum has often been the only recourse LGBTQ people have to avoid persecution, violence and even death.

“Between the family separations taking place at the border and the Supreme Court decision to uphold the Administration’s Muslim Ban, we know immigrants are under attack and need our help and support,” stated Olga Talamante, AIREAF cofounder and co-chair of Horizons’ board of directors.

“It is our hope that these outrageous events will galvanize our community to stand up to hate and send a clear message to those in power that we stand as one,” added Edward Wright, AIREAF co-founder. https://www.horizonsfoundation.org/ San Francisco Pride and GLBT Historical Society A nnounce Partnership San Francisco Pride and the GLBT Historical Society on July 13 announced the launch of a multiyear partnership to highlight the historical significance of the 50th anniversary of San Francisco Pride in 2020. The collaboration will enable the organizations to expand public awareness of the connections between understanding histories of LGBTQ people, working for LGBTQ rights in the present and establishing LGBTQ equality in the future.

“Both Pride and the GLBT Historical Society are committed to honoring the stories of our elders, encouraging them to share the strategies they have developed in their long lives of love and struggle,” said Terry Beswick, executive director of the GLBT Historical Society. “Our organizations pursue a common goal in seeking to build stronger LGBTQ communities by fostering connections between newer generations of activists and longtime organizers in our movement.”

To advance these aims, San Francisco Pride and the GLBT Historical Society will embark on a number of collaborative efforts in the two years leading up to San Francisco Pride 50 in 2020. Three projects are already in the works: Pride will donate its historical archives and artifacts to the Historical Society, which will preserve them and make them available to researchers, historians, artists and community members.

The organizations will jointly launch an oral history project focused on the five-decade story of Pride in San Francisco and the wider history of (continued on page 26) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

JULY 26, 2018

3

The Most Truthful Words Spoken by Trump During His Presidency

Cross Currents Andrea Shorter Treasonous. Disgusting. Abhorrent.

Embarrassing. Buffoonery. These are but a few of the heated, yet kinder, adjectives hurled against the President of the United States of America in the wake of his creepy embrace and acceptance of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “strong” denial of his country’s clearly evident interference and attack on our 2016 election for President.

Absurd. Ridiculous. Unbelievable.

These are more terms used to describe President Trump’s equally creepy, clunky and totally unconvincing attempt to walk back his worldwide broadcasted “gaffe” when back home, one day, two time zones and miles away from his KGBFF at his side: “I thought that I made myself very clear, but having just reviewed the transcript ... I realize that there is a need for some clarification. The sentence should have been ‘I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia.’”

Yeah, ok, Mr. President. If you say so.

Nah, I don’t think so.

Michelle Obama said it best: Being president doesn’t change who you are, it reveals who you are.

The truth of the matter, Mr. Trump, is that you are a rabid, compulsive and bold-faced liar.

It is foolish and folly to expect that you will change. Who you are was revealed well before you set foot into the Oval Office. We’ve known this about you all along, even those persons that offered to give you the benefit of the doubt that maybe, just maybe, you’d change once you’d assumed the mantel of the highest office in the land.

You lie about pretty much everything.

Every word that comes out of your mouth is likely to be riddled with lies.

There is truth to the punchline: “How do know when a politician is lying?

His lips are moving.” Even still, most politicians understand and at least attempt to heed to Bob Marley’s caution, “You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.”

The President of the United States is a big fat liar. He has betrayed the power and dignity of the office as Commander in Chief by siding with the world’s chief dictator against our own intelligence agencies and national security forces as Russian operatives are, without a doubt, the culprits who interfered in our elections within our albeit flawed, but most fundamental, tenant of democracy. As the elected standard bearer of democracy, his betrayal as the President of the United States of America puts all forms of democracy in danger.

Trump’s suck-up to Putin signals much more than a semantic slip in a sentence that can be half-heartedly corrected in a day or two after the Helsinki press conference. His original statement assuring his trust in Putin’s denial over overwhelming evidence to the contrary regarding Russia’s organized cyberattacks against our banner stronghold of free 4

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Mr. Trump is far more concerned that his election as president is viewed and accepted as totally legit against perennial foe Hillary Clinton, the mutually despised enemy of both him and Putin. Blinded and driven by his own alpha-maniacal ego to prove that he is as strong, tough, large and in charge as any other admired dictator on the block, he neither has the time, interest nor capacity to stand up against the clear and present threat to his own country he swore to protect and defend against the likes of a man he so desperately wants to please, befriend and perhaps somehow fantastically prevail against as the winner in whatever wayward mano-to-mano mutual admiration society he thinks he is erecting.

On the mano-to-mano tip, what exactly does Putin have on him? If it’s an embarrassing video of Trump basking in a fetish of golden showers in a Moscow hotel suite, as a supposedly strong, tough guy, wouldn’t he just make up another lie to swat that away as fake or untrue, despite what we might see in a video? You know, similar to lying about inauguration crowd sizes? It’s got to be something far more troubling than a now urban legend pee video.

Perhaps it’s the millions of dollars he reportedly borrowed from oligarchs (and money possibly laundered through multiple business holdings) that he so desperately needed to continue propping up his real estate interests and the carefully crafted Trump brand that keeps him at the knee and in the pocket of Vladimir Putin, the biggest gangster oligarch of them all. Is he in hock, indebted to, and compromised by whatever not so artful deal he might have made with such devils to the point that his eventual run for president was to help sow the seeds of division to help make us all the more vulnerable to cyber and psychological warfare by our most venerable enemy?

Is Trump an unwitting witless agent of Russia? If so, what exactly is it that he is to deliver? He declares that his administration has been toughest through sanctions on Russia than any other president before or after the Cold War. Still, even if his administration is putting the squeeze on Russia, if he is materially engaged up to his eyeballs with some nefarious Russian interests, perhaps payback would include working to lift whatever restrictive barriers (sanctions) that would allow for greater prosperity, especially for Putin, who is reported to be one of the world’s wealthiest men to the tune of at least $40 billion reaped from real estate, oil and questionable dealings.

So, that’s a lot of deep-end speculation and perhaps irresponsible accusation against this president. Unfortunately, with a personal-brand obsessed, overdosed ego-driven president who lies, and then lies to cover the lies he just told in habitual rinse and repeat fashion, such farfetched and hyperbolic notions and conspiracy theories might not be as far off the mark as one would hope of any sitting U.S. president.

At this point in whatever possible Faustian bargain that might have been struck involving Donald Trump, or whatever else motivates or drives him, is perhaps ultimately, fatefully and sadly immaterial. The damage is done. And, the damage keeps being done over and over again under his increasingly authoritarian-bent command. Beyond the ongoing and apparently deepening investigation by special counsel into his campaign’s possible collusion with Russia to undermine our elections to advance his Putin preferred win, the case against this president is swelling by the New York minute.

If the cruelty and savagery of ripping thousands of children apart from their migrant families or those seeking asylum at our nation’s southern borders and throwing them into concentration camps as a deterrent to migration and for hardball political sport to cripple any chance of a blue wave sweep ahead of the mid-term elections hasn’t been enough to send you into protest mode, please wake up.

If the fact that his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court was chosen because of his rendered opinion that the President of the United States cannot be subject to indictment while in office hasn’t been enough to make your skin crawl, then please, wake up now.

If there was ever a time to be triple caffeinated woke, it is now. We are well beyond pearl clutching, righteous tweets and retweets. This is the time to get up, stand up.

If you are a Democrat, do all that you can do to support and elect Democrats to take back the majority of the U.S. House of Representatives. If you’re not a Democrat, please do the same. If James Comey and George Will are urging to vote Democrat, surely you can, too. The GOP is no more. They have relinquished whatever shreds of their former selves to the fear of being tweeted and hated on by their new leader, who is fashioning anything and everything in his orbit into his own, self-satisfied image. Under this leader—who has little to no respect for the rule of law, our institutions or the vast majority the American people—and his feckless party, the checks and balances between the three branches of government are eroding. In his mind’s eye, he and only he alone is the only government we need.

Whatever art of the deal, new world order is being concocted between Trump and Putin—perhaps unlike whatever was privately discussed between these two men in Helsinki, and maybe actual details are to come after Putin’s announced visit to the White House in the fall—it is most assuredly no good. That’s no lie.

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.

WHITE HOUSE PHOTO BY ANDREA HANKS

elections might have been the most truthful words he has spoken since he has been president.

Time to ‘Walk Back’ Trump’s Nomination of Kavanaugh

6/26 and Beyond Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis As we discussed in the last issue, the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to LGBTIQ rights, women’s rights, affirmative action, gun control, health care, campaign finance regulation, executive power and myriad other issues in the confirmation fight over Donald Trump’s nomination of D.C. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In discussing Trump’s extraordinarily disturbing statements regarding his relationship with Vladimir Putin, Maine Senator Susan Collins, a key vote in the Kavanaugh confirmation battle, described Trump’s remarks as a “dizzying ... walk back of the walk back of the walk back of the walk back.” It’s time to “walk back” something else: the nomination of Kavanaugh. Collins and her fellow Senators should not trust the judgment of the “dizzying” President when it comes to our fundamental rights protected by the Constitution.

Americans need to send that message over and over to the handful of Senators who still might be undecided on the nomination. Most observers consider five Senators to be key. In addition to Collins, they are Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. All voted for Trump’s first nominee to the Court, conservative Neil Gorsuch; and Donnelly, Heitkamp and Manchin are in tight re-election contests this fall. Some consider Alabama’s Doug Jones, Missouri’s Claire McCaskill and Kentucky’s Rand Paul as possible swing votes as well.

Collins has stated that she “would not support a nominee who demonstrated hostility to Roe v. Wade.” But that’s not enough. Collins and her fellow Senator need to reject any nominee who does not actively support a woman’s right to choose, marriage equality and other such fundamental personal freedoms the Constitution and U.S. Supreme Court precedent guarantee. So far, Kavanaugh has not done that.

Collins has stated that she will consider Kavanaugh’s “ judicial philosophy” in deciding how to vote. Kavanaugh has long described himself as an “originalist,” and many observers say that he is an “ultra” conservative one. At a 2016 engagement at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, Kavanaugh was asked: “Can you think of a case that deserves to be overturned?” He answered with a smirk on his face, “Yes.” And when asked if he would name such as case, he laughed and answered “no.” A few seconds later, he chose to name one: the Supreme Court case upholding the independent counsel statute, which he claimed had already been “effectively overruled.” He declared, “I would put the final nail in,” as he continued to laugh. The moderator then cheered: “Here, here!” We all know who else is cheering today.

Kavanaugh should be as forthcoming about all of the cases he’d like to see overruled so Americans can see what they would get with him and can hold their Senators accountable for their votes. What Kavanaugh has already revealed about his judicial philosophy should make it clear to Collins and her colleagues that they should vote no.

Actual substantive statements from the handful of swing vote Senators are few and far between. In addition to Collins, Rand Paul stated that he is “very worried” about Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court because on the D.C. Circuit “Kavanaugh ruled that national security trumps privacy.” Joe Manchin expressed concern regarding whether or not Kavanaugh supports people with pre-existing conditions having access to health care. But they have been careful not to tip their hand.

Interestingly, President Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland, whom the Republican Senate leadership refused to give a vote for a record 293 days, was before the Senate for consideration when Kavanaugh spoke at the American Enterprise Institute in 2016. Garland is Chief Judge of the D.C. Circuit Court upon which Kavanaugh currently sits. Kavanaugh described Garland as “a brilliant jurist,” who “is supremely qualified by the objective characteristics of experience, temperament, writing ability, scholarly ability for the Supreme Court ... . He’s been a role model to me in how he goes about his job.” And Kavanaugh said, with respect to Garland, that he would “leave” the role “of judicial philosophy and direction of the Court to the Senate and the President” in the nomination and confirmation process.

Garland was more qualified to be on the Supreme Court than Kavanaugh by “objective” standards. Clearly, politics prevented Garland from joining the Court. It’s time for the handful group of key Senators to show the nation what they are made of and what they truly value. It’s time for all of us to tell those Senators the same, over and over again. The contact information is as follows: Susan Collins, Maine: 202-224-2523 http://www.collins.senate.gov/contact Joe Donnelly, Indiana: 202-224-4814 https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/contact/email-joe Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota: 202-224-2043 http://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact Joe Manchin, West Virginia: 202-224-3954 http://www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form Lisa Murkowski, Alaska: 202-224-6665 https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact Rand Paul, Kentucky: 202-224-4343 https://www.paul.senate.gov/connect/email-rand Doug Jones, Alabama: 202-224-4124 https://www.jones.senate.gov/content/contact-senator Claire McCaskill, Missouri: 202-224-6154 http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/contact Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, 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.

Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club 42nd Annual Dinner & Gayla Photos by Paul Margolis The Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club’s 42nd Annual Dinner and Gayla was held on Thursday, July 19, at the Grand Theater/Gray Area.

The event was held in honor and remembrance of former Milk Club board member Jazzie Collins (1958-2013).

Transgender and immigrant rights activist Jennicet Gutiérrez was the keynote speaker. Among the honorees, receiving the Sylvester Pride in the Arts Award, was Fresh Meat Productions.

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JULY 26, 2018

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June Election Notes - Recapping the SF Mayor’s Race

Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History Louise “Lou” Fischer On June 5, 2018, 52% of registered voters in San Francisco cast their ballots for a bunch of state and local candidates, but who are we kidding?

The Mayor’s race, with all of its plot twists and turns, was the main event.

Shakespeare himself could not have written a tragicomedy matching the drama and suspense that played out in San Francisco. In April, I jokingly predicted that London Breed would win, based on the non-scientif ic criteria of endorsements (http:// sfbaytimes.com/keeping-score-sanfrancisco-mayors-race/). But what really happened in this election?

While the easy answer is that London Breed f inally got more votes (and reached the 50% + 1 threshold first), the explanation is a lot more nuanced.

Mark Leno’s Campaign - From Marathon to Sprint Mark Leno’s campaign started in mid-2017 with the playbook of raising buckets of money and scaring off challengers in the upcoming November 2019 election. When Mayor Lee tragically passed away in December 2018, the campaign needed to switch from marathon to sprint mode, but that never materialized.

Senator Leno has a long and distinguished career in public service and his qualifications to serve as Mayor were never in doubt. He is known for

his kindness, grace and civility and the ability to work with people across a broad political spectrum; these were the hallmarks of his success. However, his campaign platform of “shaking things up at City Hall” did not resonate with voters and he violated the cardinal rule of running for office, which is to “be yourself, because everyone else is already taken.” He re-branded himself as a “left-leaning progressive,” and then formed a 1–2 ranked choice strategy with Jane Kim. This didn’t work, and maybe even alienated huge swaths of his longtime supporters.

The combination of tragedy, bad timing, and most of all, the decision to go along with the bone-headed, idiotic and tone-deaf idea to replace London Breed with Mark Farrell as caretaker mayor, was too much for the campaign to overcome. Not to diminish Mayor Lee’s contributions, but if he had declared “mission accomplished” and the “desire to spend more time with family” instead of running for re-election in 2015, Mark’s message would have worked better in 2015, San Francisco would have had its first openly-gay mayor, and while we’ll never know for sure, maybe Mayor Lee’s kind and gentle heart would still be beating today without the stress and burden of serving as mayor for a second term.

Jane K im - Potential Spoiler Turned Ally Jane Kim made a valiant effort, and with ranked choice voting, she had a chance to pick up London Breed’s second choice votes from the “I want to vote for a woman of color” contingent along with Mark Leno’s second choices from the progressive voting bloc. But realistically, this race was between Leno and Breed. File this under “we haven’t seen the last of Jane Kim.” Jane is smart, engaging and overall is doing a pretty good job as Supervisor for District 6. Don’t count her out yet, as I’m sure she’ll be on the ballot again soon.

Angela Alioto - Because No Election in SF Is Ever Dull

I love Angela Alioto’s “in your face” style and she clearly has the brains to back it up. Her father was mayor for 2 terms and she was president of the Board of Supervisors for 2 years, so she’s not a political neophyte. She presented some good ideas about how to alleviate the homeless crisis, but went a little off the rails on the topic of sanctuary city laws. I still don’t know what she was talking about and as Ronald Reagan said, “In politics, if you’re explaining, you’re losing.”

She has 6 brothers, 1 sister, 4 children and a huge extended family, so I predict we’ll have an Alioto in every future San Francisco election until we replace all of our elected officials with robots and Artificial Intelligence.

London Breed - From Victim to Martyr The decision to replace London Breed with a wealthy, white man barely a week after the Women’s March at the height of the #MeToo movement was stupid, hypocritical and backf ired badly. Aaron Peskin and the other masterminds behind this insane maneuver insisted it was needed to ensure a separation of legislative and executive powers and believed that the only way to remove Ron Conway’s white, male, moneyed interests from City Hall was to put a different white, male, wealthy venture capitalist in charge; yeah, right.

The idea that London Breed had “too much advantage” in her role as acting mayor was downright ridiculous. An African American woman, a product of the public educational system who clawed her way from public housing and a childhood of poverty to City Hall suddenly has more “advantage” than a wealthy, white Ivy-League educated venture capitalist who graduated from elite private schools and lives in the Marina? No amount of “man-splaining” could overcome the optics of that move and to no one’s (continued on page 26)

Dems, It’s Time to Wear Out Our Soles of ICE offices after the Trump administration viciously started separating immigrant families at the border. Democratic leaders and activists continue to call out Trump officials in public and on Twitter. (I’m with you, Maxine Waters!) But what we really need to do is to find the stop button.

Like, now.

To the Left, To the Left Peter Gallotta Have you ever experienced that unsettling moment when you’ve looked in the mirror and, for whatever reason, you just don’t recognize yourself?

That’s pretty much how it feels to live in America right now.

We are living in the “upside down” straight out of the show Stranger Things on Netflix. A complete alternate universe where everything that once seemed normal and assumed—a free press, due process, patriotism—has been replaced with “fake news,” detention centers for 2-year-olds and treason. American democracy has become the latest victim of another bad Trump deal.

And as a Democrat, I have to ask if we’re doing enough to stop this. Sure, we’re all waiting for Robert Mueller’s investigation to reveal the collusion that seems all too probable. But in the end, that may fall short of reaching the President himself. We’ve taken to the streets and protested outside 6

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But unlike this President, we respect process and fair, democratic elections.

So, while our tools are powerful, they are limited and time bound. We must look to the midterm elections this November, our first opportunity to put a real stop to this madness by taking back the House and the Senate. The question is, can we do it? And what will it take?

If there’s anything we’ve learned, it is to expect the unexpected. In June, a 28 -year-old Latinx Democratic Socialist named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won a primary election in New York City against Joe Crowley, a ten-term Congressman considered a potential candidate for Speaker of the House. Ocasio-Cortez ran a low budget campaign against an incumbent she argued was out of touch. She was outspent 18–1. In an interview, she credited talking issues of economic and racial justice—not Trump—for her upset win, along with engaging lapsed and first-time voters, a strategy most political consultants would not advise.

Since this was a race between two Democrats in a big blue city like New York, some argue there’s not much that’s replicable here. But I disagree.

I hope someone from the Democratic

National Committee (DNC) has been taking notes because the lesson from Ocasio-Cortez is clear: many voters perceive Democratic establishment candidates as out of touch, and voters respond to authentic leaders with an explicit agenda, not just running on your standard rhetoric and platitudes.

“Any old blue just won’t do,” to echo the words of Nina Turner, president of Bernie Sanders’ Our Revolution.

That may be true here in California, too. Earlier this month, the California Democratic Party did not endorse incumbent U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein but instead her progressive opponent, California State Senator Kevin de Leon. Even if the California Democratic Party’s endorsement of de Leon is more symbolic than a game changer (Feinstein is still considered the frontrunner), the message it sends is one worth heeding: it’s time for a change.

But even if we don’t send a new Democratic Senator to Washington, California is well-positioned to send more Democrats to the House. Seven of them, in fact. After the primary election in June, all seven of these socalled “swing” districts have a Democrat going up against a Republican.

While the election returns showed more votes cast for Republicans than for Democrats, that could change come November. That’s because Democratic turnout tends to be lower in midterm primaries and higher in general elections. Plus, midterm races are often a referendum on the party (continued on page 26)

Gun Meddlin’ Memories ence seeded a deeper gratitude for life within and around me.

The Art of Living Kin Folkz Even most gun-toting NRA members agree that gun violence begets long-lasting damage. Gun trauma in America tears at the souls of the survivors and taunts the mindful among us. My spirit recoiled at the cackle of gunfire—zigzagging in cold conversation—one bold night in my youth.

The acidic aftermath of that first introduction still pulls my mouth taut at the memory. I learned all too soon that guns most often speak for cowards and that justice does not accompany dark bodies filled with the somber eviscerating echo of inequity.

The effects of generational intersectional oppression converged within me and emerged as Lupus SLE and Asperger’s. Both scrambled through my tiny body and rendered me mute until I was almost 5. The Elders used to say that I still had one foot in the Spirit world. Indeed, I recall my first years of life—in this lifetime—as ones filled with the ability to see spirits walking among us and as us. They manifested as weeping willows, ladybugs, midnight feathered crows, dappled boulders, scurrying mice and dark space.

The still blackness of night enveloped me with such immense and infinite love that, to this day, I cherish its wisdom. I give my deepest bows of gratitude to my family for placing me in Nature as often as possible to ease into this world with grace and love. I spent hours being showered by falling leaves and recall delight in the wispy tickles of tall grass against my face. I enjoyed fishing with my Uncle Harvey who did not admonish me when I preferred to kiss live fish full-lipped and release them. Such natural rever-

Nature held my favorite Uncle Joe in high esteem. Butterf lies literally followed him. He was a teenaged 2-Spirit with panache—even patchwork denim was elevated to couture when he styled and wore it. It was Uncle Joe who bought me my very first pocketbook: a dark caramel-colored patent leather clutch with multiple folds where he tucked tiny treasures for me to find. Uncle Joe witnessed how even adults cast a cutting gaze at my physical setbacks. He would reach over, pick me up and carry me around in his arms like porcelain, or one of the injured stray animals he would nurse to wellness. I marveled at the authentic compassion he held for fragile creatures mistreated and discarded by humans.

Uncle Joe would have been a wonderful health practitioner. Just as he was beginning his twenties, entering the world with a well-deserved college scholarship, and celebrating being a new father—my sweet-spirited Uncle Joe was cruelly torn from us by random gun violence.

Sherrie was just 4 years older than me and had the sweetest voice I had ever heard. She spoke to me through song when I was a mute. She taught me to honor joy as a form of resistance. I recall lying with her on the grass— slathered in cocoa butter—which we called Black people’s sun tan lotion. Rather than using it to protect us from the sun’s UV rays, we used it to heighten and deepen the richness of our glistening mahogany skin.

Sherrie’s barely bronzed light skin opened doors for her. Doors to opportunities that still remain closed for folks with my dark blue-Black Choctaw complexion. Cousin Sherrie refused to allow these oppressions to become my obsession. She was the first to share with me that the original Eve, mother of all living humans, was clothed in skin black like a moonless midnight. My Cousin Sherrie, a young mother of two, the source of my black beautiful truths, was shot and killed in her car on her way to church.

I still ache at the mere mention of her name. I still weep in ragged breaths and with tightened fists.

when I was a victim of near-fatal gun violence 8 years ago. Any good that I have done, via my deeds in this world, I owe largely to the example set by my gentle Uncle Joe and Cousin Sherrie. Neither of their cowardly killers was ever found. Even in my anger and pain, I still am compelled by the honorable way that they lived their shortened lives. I remain in the grace set in motion by these young compassion comrades—geniuses taken by unnatural force—by savage means.

I turn toward Uncle Joe and Cousin Sherrie’s example, and pray that the folks who murdered my heroes eventually received mental health support.

I meditate and imagine that others reached out to support their wellness.

I wish that they had considered all of the lives that they would negatively impact by their deadly actions. I create a platform from the broken shards of hate that gun violence sought to box me within. I speak out to remove the sad silence that sought to sever me from the spirits that still guide and protect me. I usher people into a transformative awareness that moves reaction into pro-action when news of gun violence stalks the headlines.

We have ample therapeutic tools to help everyone build skills that nurture peace and collective liberation. I offer my own strategies, skillset and knowledge toward that end. The barbarous gun violence that ushered my family into a cycle of vicious loss is repeated every minute in America. Millions of folks are affected. Marginalized folks are targeted. Community training centers that freely offer peaceful resolution skillshares, restorative justice services and tribunals are one way to break the gun violence cycle. Truthtelling is the beginning of healing and evolving. I share my truth as a wish for growth and healing for our species. I invite you. Please share yours.

Kin Folkz is the Founder and Executive Director of Spectrum Queer Media (http://www.spectrumqueermedia.com/), an Oakland-based national LGBTQ rights advocacy organization.

I sincerely believe that both Uncle Joe’s and Cousin Sherrie’s spirits shielded me from being murdered

Queer Community Raises Funeral Costs for Transgender Man Whose Remains Went Unclaimed

After Grey’s death, his parents Stephanie and Peter Haught were notified, but they did not claim his body. The couple is separated from each other and estranged, according to NBC News. Stephanie Haught said she hadn’t talked to her son since he was 16 and only found out that he was transgender through Facebook days before he died.

NBC News reported that “she claimed Grey’s father told her he would claim their son’s body.”

A Go Fund Me page subsequently created by a friend of Grey’s, Lady Katerina, included: “We need help in providing Final Dignity Rites for Daine. As you know funeral expenses are expensive especially when someone had

SOURCE: GOFUNDME.COM

Daine Faolan Grey, a trainee at Treasure Island Job Corps and a City College of San Francisco student, took his own life on July 2. Grey came out in a Facebook post last September. He wrote: “Hello guys, guess this is my big ‘public’ Coming Out moment: if we talk in person at all you probably already know, tbh. So ... I’m transgender (hence the name/gender change—which is already legal btw). This means I identify as a gender different from the sex I was assigned at birth, for those who don’t know. I’m also gay so, that’s a thing. I’ve been taking hormones for around eight months now, so I’ve already changed a lot, for those I haven’t seen in a long time. Hope this doesn’t lose me too many friends and family.”

nothing. Please help share the love and give Daine his Dignity.”

The goal of $17,000 was exceeded, with $25,885 donated as of this writing. The funeral services are today, July 26, at noon at the Oakland Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Avenue. The burial services, closed to the public, will follow at the Hayward Chapel of the Chimes.

NBC News coverage: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/over-20k-raised-funeral-trans-student-whose-remainswent-unclaimed-n892611 Final Dignity for Daine: https://www.gofundme.com/final-dignity-for-daine S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

JULY 26, 2018

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Plan for Financial Freedom – Even If You’re Not Rich Sounds great. But for most of us, it also sounds like a long slog. Achieving financial freedom means you have to accumulate wealth. And the surest way to build wealth is to spend less than you make. When you live someplace as expensive as the Bay Area, it’s hard not to pay out every cent that comes in.

Money Matters

To get ahead financially, you have to prioritize, make sacrifices and stay disciplined. Ugh, sounds hard and like zero fun.

Brandon Miller

But it doesn’t have to be. Really. It just takes a new way of looking at the challenge ahead of you.

Since Independence Day was earlier this month, let’s focus on a freedom you probably want to achieve—your financial independence. You know, that time of your life when you have enough money to kiss your job goodbye and pursue your passions.

For example, you may tell yourself that if you make enough money, you can travel to lots of fun places. So, you spend all of your time working to accumulate what you deem to be enough money instead of focusing on where your next trip should be.

Now f lip that thinking 180 degrees.

You want to travel to fun places, so how can you earn enough money?

This opens you up to other possibilities. Do you really need a big home, cable TV or even a car when you plan to be gone so much? Or would that money be better spent on travel?

Would two part-time jobs with greater flexibility be a smarter option than one job with limited vacation time?

Perhaps you could work for a time, travel until your funds get low, work some more, travel again and so on.

can define your goals, the better you can plan for them.

The point here is that letting your dreams dictate your finances and not the other way around allows you to focus on something you love. And that gives you greater motivation to act and stay on track, while making you way more creative in how you bring your dreams to life.

Develop a disciplined approach.

The best-laid plans can easily get sidetracked if you rely on willpower alone. Instead of putting money aside just when you feel flush, set up a regular investment schedule and have money deducted directly from your paycheck or bank account. This is known as paying yourself first, and it’s a tried-and-true way to build wealth.

With that new attitude in mind, here are some suggestions that can help you to be more successful: Be specif ic about your goals.

Vague dreams and wishes are hard to work toward. Instead of just fantasizing about being your own boss, figure out what type of business you want to open. This allows you to plan for specifics such as the work space, equipment, staff, training and other elements that you’ll need to open your doors. The more precisely you

Do the math. Don’t worry; there’s no advanced algebra involved, just pretty basic equations. Add up what your dreams will cost. Subtract your expenses from your income. How much do you have left over to invest in your dreams? Where can you earn more or spend less to increase your savings? You may find online financial calculators or a financial advisor to be useful here.

Another good tactic is to give yourself an allowance. Make it forbidden to dip into the rest of your funds for anything except true emergencies. And no, Cher’s final Final Farewell tour is not an emergency. You’ll have to revert to saving a portion of your allowance for your want-to-haves, just like you did when you were a kid. See, saving money can make you feel young again.

Again, online resources, financial advisors and even a life coach can help you to track your spending, stick to your budget and keep moving toward your goals.

Accept that s--t happens. Even if you do everything right, there’s no guarantee of success. Accidents, natural disasters, job loss, divorce, a sick child—there’s no shortage of things that can derail your plans. Do your best to put safeguards in place, such as insurance and emergency savings.

And then try to accept that you can’t control everything.

A life-changing event might also make you re-evaluate your dreams.

If that’s the case, you can start anew with precisely defining your goals, doing the math and implementing a plan to make these new dreams happen.

You don’t have to be young or rich to benefit from a goals-based approach to saving and investing. Anyone can use this technique to build wealth that can lead to financial freedom and the realization of dreams. Sounds like a reason for fireworks.

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

Luxury Defined by Look and Feel of the expensive models fund the sale of low-margin economy jobs, as well as future research and development.

At Ford, this responsibility falls heavily on the shoulders of the company’s full-sized SUVs, the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. The entry price is more than $50,000 for the base Expedition. There are two lengths and three trim levels from which to choose, topping off at about $75,000 for the Platinum Max trim.

Auto Philip Ruth How fancy do you like to get? We are all regularly confronted with that question in our capitalist society. It’s tempting to define an identity with the relative parsimony or extravagance reflected by one’s own purchases.

These distinctions are the bread and butter of carmakers. The large profits

Naturally, the Navigator is more expensive. Four trims run from about $73,000 to just less than $100,000 for the longest and richest Lincoln SUV, the Navigator L Black Label.

At these prices, they’d better be fancy, and the respective Platinum and Black Label trims imbue the Ford and Lincoln with their own ample personalities. The Expedition takes a piecemeal approach to upgrades, with lowsheen wood and metal trim adorning

Ford Expedition

Lincoln Navigator

a plastic structure that’s plucked from the F-150 pickup. Blocky and functional, the Expedition’s control interface is here to help.

The Navigator’s is here to impress.

Previous fussy attempts on Lincoln’s part for the Navigator to mirror the company’s 1960s aesthetic have given way to an environment in the Black Label that grabs your eyeballs and runs them along sweeping padded curves, as well as the complex ref lections in the alternately f lat and concave surfaces. Lesser Navigators won’t have the Black Label’s admirable material consistency. It’s a high watermark for American car interiors, albeit at one of the highest prices.

Seats in both the Expedition and Navigator also represent steps in indulgence. The Expedition Platinum’s 10-way multi-contour seats with Active Motion massage give passengers three internal backrest pads with which to finely adjust the back support, so that the seat feels individually tailored.

Spend enough time in the tested Navigator’s seats and they’ll begin to feel like they’ve disappeared. The Black Label trim has as standard the 24way seats that are also standard in the second-highest Reserve trim. The one I drove had the $1,250 “Perfect Position” 30-way seats.

Nothing is perfect, but these seats succeed in combining loose-pillow luxury with f irm support. The effect is that your pressure points have all been cupped in their own plush spaces, and you nearly feel like you’re (continued on page 26)

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J U LY 2 6 , 2 0 1 8

Think About Building Communities and Neighborhoods, Not Just Housing comfort in knowing that we have built a livable city for generations to come.

Aging in Community Dr. Marcy Adelman After many years of neglect, San Francisco appears to be finally on the path to a successful response to the city’s homeless situation and the affordable housing crisis. The city’s new mayor, London Breed, hadn’t been in office very long before she put cityfunded homeless programs on notice that they must do a better job and announced the creation of a transition policy team to advise and make policy recommendations.

On July 14, the Mayor held a 2-hour policy summit with members of her transition team. Housing and homeless issues and recommendations were center stage. Breed and her team bring new hope that this time the city might succeed in transferring people off of the streets and into supportive housing, and in finding ways to build thousands and thousands of much needed affordable housing units for people of all incomes.

My hope and, I think, the hope of all San Franciscans is that the Mayor succeeds. The Mayor and her team will be considering different ways to finance the building of so many affordable housing units and identifying ways to reduce barriers to development. My concern is that in the rush to build desperately needed housing, quality of life issues will be overlooked or disregarded as just another barrier to development. There needs to be a master plan with guiding principles and values. I propose that a guiding principle be to create a city for all ages and all abilities.

Today, one in four residents is either age 60 or over and/or a person living with a disability. San Francisco County has the state’s third largest concentration of people over the age of 65 and one of the most racially and ethnically diverse older adult and senior populations in the country. San Francisco’s diverse aging population also includes 25,000 LGBTQ older adults.

Older adults are the fasting growing age group in San Francisco. If we build and revitalize our city through an age and disability friendly lens, everyone will benefit. As San Francisco’s aging population increases over the next two decades, we could take

An age and disability friendly city concentrates housing around transit corridors; builds housing affordable and accessible for people of all incomes, all ages and abilities; adjusts the f low of traffic to allow old people, people with disabilities and parents with strollers more time to cross the street; has streets that are well lit, safe, clean and pedestrian friendly; has parks and open space where a parent or grandparent can sit and watch their children play; has neighborhood grocery stores that sell fresh food and produce; has public buildings and venues that recognize the needs of older adults and people with disabilities; provides transportation that is available, dependable and affordable; has adult education that delivers what people need and want; provides affordable and accessible health services; and invests in community programs that empower San Francisco residents to stay healthy, active and engaged and able to live in their homes and community no matter their age or income.

An age and disability friendly city values the lives and contributions of its older residents and people with disabilities, identifies and challenges ageism and ableism, addresses health and economic disparities, advances economic security for older adults and people with disabilities, and encourages and facilitates inter-generational social experiences and work place environments.

San Francisco has been a member of the World Health Organization’s Aging and Disability project since 2014.

City members work to “incorporate an age and disability friendly lens to all SF policies, programs and priorities.” A city task force was formed and reported recommendations in 2017 (http://www.ltcccsf.org/age-disability-friendly-task-force) that are a blueprint for making San Francisco an age and disability friendly city. We need to think about building communities and neighborhoods, and not just housing.

A great opportunity exists to build affordable communities, revitalize neighborhoods to include needed services, businesses and transportation, and to create innovative housing environments that enhance and enrich all of our lives. If we build with older adults and people with disabilities in mind, we can build a city that we can all be proud of.

Dr. Marcy Adelman is the Co-founder of Openhouse, a Commissioner on the California Commission on Aging, a member of the San Francisco Dignity Fund Oversight and Advisory Committee, and a leading expert on LGBTQ dementia care and policy issues.

Alegre Home Care is proud to support Dr. Marcy Adelman’s Aging in Community column in the San Francisco Bay Times.

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

JULY 26, 2018

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How Should We Pursue Happiness?

Berkeley, who wanted to find out if the pursuit of happiness can actually succeed. The team researched this question in four countries: the United States, at two different sites in Russia, and in Japan and Taiwan. They tracked thousands of people, some who had deliberately decided to try to become happier, and some who hadn’t.

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

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

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

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

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Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT The idea that every person has an inherent right to pursue happiness is one of the founding principles of our country, but is happiness really something that we can intentionally pursue? That is, can we deliberately decide to make ourselves happier, and then take actions that will actually get us there?

British author Johann Hari has found an intriguing answer to that question. In his book Lost Connections, he examines what research tells us about the nature of depression (from which he has suffered for most of his life).

He reports some fascinating findings from a team of social scientists at UC

The results were surprising. If you commit to making yourself happier, you won’t succeed if you live in the U.S., but you will if you live in Russia, Japan or Taiwan. How can such a finding be explained? The answer seems to lie in the very different ways Asians and Americans look at life.

If you show a group of kids a picture of a girl smiling broadly in the middle of a group of other kids who all look sad, and then ask the kids if the girl looks happy or sad to them, American kids will say that she looks happy and Asian kids will say that she looks sad.

In the West, we have no trouble seeing an individual as separate from the group, but Asian kids take it for granted that if someone is surrounded by a group of distressed kids, she’ll be distressed, too.

In the U.S. we have a more individual way of looking at life, and in Asia they have a more collective way of look-

ing at it. So, in the U.S., if you decide to become happier, you naturally pursue it for yourself. You decide to lose weight, change jobs, go back to school, take a vacation, etc. Your focus is on achieving something for yourself, and building up your own ego.

But when people decide to increase their level of happiness in the other three countries, they try to make things better for their group, for the people around them. That is what they believe happiness means, so it seems to be the obvious thing to do.

The implication is that our individualistic vision of happiness doesn’t really deliver the goods, but that the more “collectivist” vision does.

Commenting on this research, Hari writes: “In the West, we have shrunk our sense of self to just our ego (or, at most, our family), and this has made our pain swell, and our happiness shrivel.” For him, this was a revelation about the nature, both of happiness and of his own depression.

“When I have felt down, up to now, most of the time, I tried to help myself. I thought there was something wrong with the self, and the solution would come from repairing and aggrandizing the self ... . My desire for a solution that was private and personal ... was in fact a symptom of the mind-

set that had caused my depression and anxiety in the first place.”

Since the incidence of depression in the U.S. has increased tenfold since World War II, I think this finding deserves some serious reflection. American social scientists use the phrase “the waning of the commons” to refer to the fact that our connections to community and society are deteriorating. Our conservative politics is perhaps a reflection of this trend.

Margaret Thatcher famously said in 1987, “ ... there’s no such thing as society. There are individual men and women and there are families.” This is an amazing thing to say. Are we reaching the point in our increasing alienation from one another that even the term “society” is beginning to seem like a dubious abstraction rather than a lived reality? It is undeniably true that we are all individuals, but we surely also need to feel that we are part of something larger than ourselves. When we neglect to acknowledge, much less feed, our needs for belonging and connectedness, deep suffering is inevitable.

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

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CONTRIBUTORS

Cameron Stiehl’s Birthday Benefit for REAF

REAF (Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation) Board member Cameron Stiehl was presented a Persian Love cake during the celebration on July 21 of her birthday. Stiehl said, “I’ve chosen this nonprofit because their mission and tireless work mean so much to so many.” Friends and family joined her at Papi Rico restaurant and her fundraising goal was met and exceeded.

Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Patrick Carney, Kate Kendell, Alex Randolph, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Tim Seelig, Cinder Ernst, John Chen Rafael Mandelman, Jewelle Gomez, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Kin Folkz, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Peter Gallotta, Bill Lipsky, Karen Williams, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron Michele Karlsberg Lyndsey Schlax, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Howard Steiermann, Andrea Shorter, Scott Tsui, Tom Temprano, Lou Fischer, Frankie Bashan, Karin Jaffie, Brett Andrews Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Morgan Shidler ADVERTISING Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards sfbaytimes.com or 415-503-1375 Custom ad sizes are available. Ads are reviewed by the publishers.

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SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

Photos by Paul Margolis

J U LY 2 6 , 2 0 1 8

GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow I’m Still Sad I admit, I was pretty depressed when I wrote the previous column. The appellate courts have been a vehicle for gay rights ever since I started writing news a couple of decades ago, and now, for the first time, they are effectively flipping to enemy territory. We had a 6–3 gay rights majority on the Supreme Court through Romer v Evans in 1996 and Lawrence v Texas in 2003.

We had a 5–4 gay rights majority for our marriage cases in 2014 and 2015.

But now we are headed for an indefinite period of time with a 5–4 antigay majority. God help us.

Yes, we are likely to see a few good appellate court rulings, but how long will they last with five conservative justices ready to slap them down?

Then, consider that thanks to Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump has nominated far more appellate judges than his predecessors to date. Given that even a blue wave may not be tall enough to take the Senate this fall, we could be headed for a prolonged setback in our legal fight for civil rights.

It’s dispiriting. Surely there is something else to write about.

Mel went out to the grocery store by herself while I was so busy “working” on this column this morning, and I immediately stopped and hit the play button on Below Deck Mediterranean, one of the rare vices that she and I do not share. I’m back now, and I feel better.

Hopkins Rolling in Her Grave Here’s something. Penn State basketball coach Rene Portman is dead of cancer at 65. Portman was known for her antigay obsessions, and sued by the National Center for Lesbian Rights on behalf of a player, Jen Harris. The suit was settled out of court in 2007, when Portman conveniently retired. According to her obituary in the Washington Post, Portman had three team rules: “no drinking, no drugs, no lesbians.”

My my my—a depressing set of regulations, indeed. My personal creed is just the reverse.

And speaking of dead people, we also said goodbye to Ann Hopkins, the star of the High Court ruling in Price Waterhouse v Hopkins, who died last month at 74 of a rare neuropathy.

I’ve often written of this case, and yet it was only in the last year that I read about Ann Hopkins in detail, learning a couple of things.

I used to assume that Hopkins must have been gay but, in fact, she was not. She was denied partnership due to her masculine manner, a rationale that the Supreme Court ruled in 1989 was a violation of the ban on sex discrimination in the workplace under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But she was actually married with children and not just for show.

The other thing I learned was that after she won her case, she went back to Price Waterhouse, got her partnership and worked for years, eventually becoming an iconic figure around the office. And she was also brilliant.

Part of the reason I bring this up is because conservative lawyers recently asked the Supreme Court to reevaluate Price Waterhouse, a precedent that has increasingly been used to protect gender bending gay and transgender employees, fired or harassed for not fitting the stereotype of a man or a woman. Not too long ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that a transitioning funeral director could not be fired under Title VII for violating the company dress code. Nor could the funeral owner hide behind the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (the statute that came to the rescue of Hobby Lobby a few years ago).

In essence, the Sixth Circuit agreed with the Seventh and the Fourth that

gender stereotyping, outlawed by the Court via the Price Waterhouse case, embraced transgender plaintiffs in addition to masculine women and feminine men. Further, the full courts of both the Seventh and the Second appellate circuits have also ruled that discrimination against gay men and women is itself another form of this kind of stereotyping, and should be banned under Title VII. After all, these courts reason, what is more of an offense to gender stereotypes than a man who loves another man or a woman who loves another woman?

As I mentioned, our legal adversaries at the Alliance Defending Freedom, or whatever they’re calling themselves these days, have asked the High Court to review and reverse the Sixth Circuit, and while they’re at it, the Alliance would like the justices to clarify Price Waterhouse and make clear that the 30-year-old precedent does not apply to gay or transgender employees.

Meanwhile, these same bozos already have a petition in place asking the High Court to reverse the Second Circuit’s aforementioned Title VII ruling in favor of a gay employee, Donald Zarda. (Zarda!)

And don’t forget the specter of Arlene’s Flowers, another Christian wedding purveyor who claims state anti-discrimination law should not apply. That case, sent back to the Washington Supreme Court for reasons unclear, could come back to the High Court and thumb its nose at us again. Thanks for nothing, Anthony Kennedy. A strong opinion in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case would have settled Arlene’s Flowers as well, but Kennedy could not bring himself to reach a definitive conclusion.

With a little bad luck, we could be watching gay and trans rights take a long slide down a slippery slope over the next few years. We let the courts advance our civil rights for a couple of decades, but it seems it is now time to pass the baton over to the legislative side. Let’s vote.

Does the Dog Die? In case you think I spend too much time on legal issues, you should know that I have deliberately skipped a Title VII case out of the Eleventh Circuit, where a three-judge panel ruled against us and where lawyers for a gay client have asked the High Court to review that defeat. I skipped it because I’m not sure whether or not these lawyers still think it’s a great idea to have the new, antigay court take a look at Title VII. See the previous section.

I have also avoided in depth coverage of the transgender military cases.

Several federal appellate courts have thus far prevented Mr. Trump from gratuitously dismissing all transgender troops from the military; that pattern continued recently with a ruling against Trump from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. So far, the administration has not contested these losses, but it’s possible that Trump might ask the High Court to overturn these blockades, allowing him to go ahead with his anti-trans policies. It takes five votes to stay, or in these cases “unstay,” the proceedings, so there’s nothing Trump can do until his ninth man is sworn in.

That said and this said, I’ll have to break myself of my aff inity for legal news, because it’s all going to be a downer from here on in. It’s like switching from watching happily ending action movies, to sitting through black and white films with subtitles, a sick little girl and a dying dog.

You know, there is a website called “does the dog die,” which warns you whether or not an animal will die in a TV show or movie. I found it while typing “does the dog die” (continued on page 26) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

JULY 26, 2018

11

Update on Lyon-Martin Health Services

Photos courtesy of HealthRIGHT 360

Mental Health Director Silvia Sandoval, LCSW

Director of Clinic Operations Beth Midanik-Blum

Co-Directors of Newly Allied Clinic in the Mission Share Hopes for Greater Access to Medical Care Women’s Community Clinic joined LyonMartin Health Services at the 1735 Mission Street clinic this May, and the two programs are now providing services from a shared location. This location is also home to Lee Woodward Counseling Center for Women, a comprehensive multi-cultural and multilingual adult cisgender and trans women’s outpatient program that provides integrated substance use and mental health treatment services.

This allows a new team of co-directors at the newly allied clinic to provide comprehensive health services to women and transgender people through the HealthRIGHT 360 network, which changes lives for people in need by providing comprehensive, integrated, compassionate care that includes primary medical care, mental health services and substance use disorder treatment. Mental Health Director Silvia Sandoval, LCSW, Director of Clinic Operations Beth Midanik-Blum and Medical Director Tri Do, M.D., will be codirectors at the new allied clinic.

To give you a better sense of what this new clinic location will provide for its clients, each

of the co-directors has provided some insight into their background, expertise and hopes for greater access to care.

Medical Director Tri Do, M.D. San Francisco Bay Times: Please tell us about your role since you joined the allied clinic this year.

Dr. Do: As Medical Director of Lyon-Martin and Women’s Community Clinic, I am responsible for ensuring that patients receive the highest quality medical care possible, no matter what service they need from our clinics.

San Francisco Bay Times: What was your experience prior to joining HealthRIGHT 360 this year? How have those experiences helped with your new role?

Dr. Do: I first started with a degree in literature, but then changed courses and attended medical school, picking up a master’s in public health along the way. My training is internal medicine with a focus in LGBTQI health, including HIV care. I’ve held a myriad of medical and public health roles, including professor of medicine at UCSF, global medical director of a diagnostics company, and chief medical officer of another health center in San Francisco. I’ve also been on the board of several local, national and international organizations focused on health, but I’m most passionate about community health. Our system of healthcare is complex and ever-changing, and my background and experiences help me to understand how data, quality and sustainability intersect, so that we can provide the best patient care possible.

San Francisco Bay Times: What are some advantages of the shared clinic location?

Dr. Do: The services provided by Lyon-Martin Health Services, Women’s Community Clinic and Lee Woodward Counseling Center for Women are very complementary. Women’s Community Clinic does an enormous amount of community outreach and engagement and provides a greater depth of women’s health care. Lyon-Martin Health Services is well known for its medical and mental health services to transgender people and to cisgender lesbians and bisexual women.

San Francisco Bay Times: What services are offered at this clinic?

Dr. Do: We offer primary medical and mental health care for patients in a safe and supportive environment. This means people can receive a range of preventive and therapeutic services for any number of medical and mental health conditions. For people starting gender-affirming hormones or needing surgery referrals, we can serve a range of needs and help with gender change paperwork. We offer sexual and reproductive health services, including short and long-acting contraception, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy options counseling and sexual well-being. We will soon have onsite psychiatry as well.

we have a long way to go in terms of access to clinically competent and culturally inclusive care. Data shows that 75–80% of people from our communities report experiences of discrimination in healthcare settings. Many patients come to us from other counties and states because they can’t find providers who Medical Director Tri Do, M.D. are able to serve their needs. Our allied clinics attract staff who are dedicated to, and are from, the communities that we serve. We provide specialized training so that they can be the change in the world we’d like to see, providing compassionate and quality care one patient at a time.

Mental Health Director Silvia Sandoval, LCSW San Francisco Bay Times: What is your expertise? How do you apply these abilities to your work at the allied clinic?

Silvia Sandoval: I joined Lyon-Martin Health Services in November 2016 as Mental Health Director and a clinician. I have been practicing for the last 18 years, mostly in the nonprofit sector providing direct, clinical services to members of disenfranchised communities and people of color. I have a master’s degree in social work and am a Ph.D. candidate at Smith College for Social Work. I worked for YaleNew Haven Hospital and served a 4-year tenure at the National Institute of Mental Health.

As a person of color and an immigrant, I feel that I am able to connect on both a professional and personal level to provide empathy and validation to clients who experience racism and discrimination on a daily basis. I am relationally trained and discuss issues of race and privilege with clients and the effects on their mental health on a regular basis.

San Francisco Bay Times: What is most beneficial about the new shared clinic location?

Silvia Sandoval: We are a community health clinic, so being in the Mission is great as we are able to increase access for members of our community. With the alliance of Women’s Community Clinic, we are able to extend our mental health services to cis-women, which furthers HealthRIGHT 360’s mission of providing a wide range of comprehensive, integrated care to everyone. At the end of the day, we are here to serve our community in the best way possible, and this new location is making that a little bit easier.

San Francisco Bay Times: What do the communities you serve need the most?

Does the clinic help to fill those needs?

Si lv ia Sa ndova l: In mental health care specifically, we see a myriad of cases and clinical issues.

Our clients present us with very challenging clinical San Francisco Bay Times: What issues that are often exdo you believe are the greatest acerbated by limited acneeds in the community that cess to services, homelessyou serve? How does the clinic ness and trauma, as well help to bridge gaps in care? as psychosocial stressors Dr. Do: Despite all of the advanc- Calvin Gilbert, Primary Care Provider with Lyon-Martin Health Services and Women’s such as racial and gender es we’ve made in the rights of cisgen- Community Clinic, works with patients to ensure they receive the best health outcomes pos- discrimination, inability der women and transgender people, sible and greatest access to the care they need. to f ind trans-competent 12

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Silvia Sandoval: Our staff is truly dedicated to the mission of HealthRIGHT 360. We always go the extra mile whenever we can to ensure our clients receive quality care in a respectful and professional manner. All of us at the clinic, especially those in Mental Health, are constantly engaged in advocacy work for all of our clients. We have systems in place to ensure that our staff is trained not to misgender or deadname any of our clients. Having integrated services— medical and mental health—can be very beneficial for our clients, and this is particularly true for clients who are transitioning. For some of our clients, navigating the process of a name change can be very difficult due to transphobia, and we are able to assist by providing them with a road map of what documents are needed to complete that process.

Director of Clinic Operations Beth MidanikBlum San Francisco Bay Times: How would you describe your current role with the allied clinic?

Beth Midanik-Blum: As the Director of Clinic Operations for Women’s Community Clinic and Lyon-Martin Health Services, I have a hands-on role in ensuring overall efficient operations of the agency’s clinics, and I am responsible for the organizational day-to-day needs of clinic operations, and direct supervision of the administrative staff. Additionally, I manage quality assurance, program policies and practices, and see patients as much as possible to address their access to care, needs and issues.

Beth Midanik-Blum: Prior to joining the Women’s Community Clinic and Lyon-Martin Health Services, I worked at Planned Parenthood for seven years. There, I learned the complexities of providing clinical care for stigmatized healthcare concerns. Working with patients who are seeking services that are often seen as marginalized by society is extremely rewarding and unique, and I feel honored daily to share space with patients who trust us to navigate their healthcare. I am continually inspired by social justice healthcare, with an emphasis on services to women and trans folks.

San Francisco Bay Times: What is special about the new clinic location?

Beth Midanik-Blum: It’s basically a one-stop shop! We now offer gynecological care, primary care, mental health care and reproductive care under the same roof. That means that for most patients, we can take care of all of their healthcare needs without them leaving the building. This clinic is patient centered and allows us to provide a medical home to our patients.

History of Lyon-Martin Health Services and the Women’s Community Clinic Lyon-Martin Health Services is named for Del Martin (1921–2008) and Phyllis Lyon (1924–), two women whose lives and work intertwined with their enduring dedication to social justice. In 1979, local health care providers Sherron Mills, Patty Robertson and Alana Schilling established a clinic to give lesbians in the San Francisco Bay Area access to nonjudgmental, affordable health care and named it Lyon-Martin Health Services in their honor. In 2015, Lyon-Martin Health Services became the third primary care clinic operated by HealthRIGHT 360, continuing its specialized care for women and transgender individuals.

Women’s Community Clinic traces its roots to the Women’s Need Center, a program of

Haight Ashbury Free Clinics that closed in 1999 and reopened four months later with its new name. To make the reopening possible, a group of volunteers and clinicians came together, and with the support of community members, colleagues, family and friends, decided to re-open the clinic as an independent entity. Women’s Community Clinic joined the HealthRIGHT 360 family of programs in 2017.

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San Francisco Bay Times: What else should the community know about the clinic?

San Francisco Bay Times: What is your background?

How does it help you in your current role?

Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin with NCLR’s Kate Kendell at the 2004 Equality California Dinner.

For more information: http://lyon-martin.org/about-us/the-lyonmartin-story/ http://womenscommunityclinic.org/whowe-are/history/

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providers, and cultural and language sensitive services that are client-centered. At the allied clinic, we place a strong emphasis on providing this type of sensitive care and also consider a whole person approach, meaning that when a client comes in for a single issue, we consider all of the factors of their health and environment to find a treatment that will deliver the best outcome possible.

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SOURCE: ROADTRIPS.COM

GAY GAMES X AUGUST 4-12, 2018 PARIS

Gay Games 10: A World Celebration of Diversity

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ince 1982, the Gay Games have brought together people from all walks of life, without discrimination, around the values of diversity, respect, equality, solidarity and sharing. With sport being a medium for togetherness and inclusion, the Gay Games are open to all, and offer individuals the opportunity to participate in their own way.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SETH SHAPIRO

This year from August 4–12 in Paris, athletes, artists, supporters, spectators, donors, volunteers, conference participants, sponsors and more will gather in Paris for the tenth Gay Games. The first Games were held in San Francisco, the home of founder Dr. Tom Waddell (1937–1987). Waddell had competed in track and field at the 1968 Summer Olympics, where he placed sixth among the 33 competitors. He envisioned creating a “Gay Olympics,” but the U.S.

SF Giants’ Faham Zakariaei (left) welcomed Jim Hahn, Seth Shapiro and Rick Thoman to AT&T Park.

Olympic Committee sued his organization over its use of the word “Olympic” and the re-christened Gay Games were born.

Doug Litwin, a longtime musician in the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, serves on the Board of the Federation of Gay Games. At the June 21 SF Giants LGBT Night game, he helped to arrange for three key Gay Games participants to shout, “Play ball!” before the first pitch was thrown.

They were Jim Hahn (bowling), Seth Shapiro (swimming) and Rick Thoman (track & field). “These three men are among a very small group—less than 20—of people who have participated in every one of the Gay Games since it began here in San Francisco in 1982,” Litwin told the San Francisco Bay Times.

You can see this Pride Month moment at: https://youtu.be/I3N7IWDJDu4

Tyler Cole

We also spoke with Tyler Cole, Chairman of Team San Francisco. He told us: “The Gay Games are about competing, doing your personal best and showing the world that we are everywhere, even in athletics. Many of our members are top amateur athletes in their sport, and it is exciting to see them do well. The majority of our athletes are just regular folks who decided to make a goal, worked towards competing and doing their personal best.

What can be more positive for our community? And what great role models for everyone these athletes provide.

We consider sports a healthy and positive way to meet new people, be a good role model and participate in your community.”

As of this writing, well over 10,300 athletes from around the world will be at Gay Games 10. It’s not too late to book your flight, if you’d like to be there in person to cheer them on! There will also be an all-night gala opening party in the Grand Palais, a closing party at the Docks of Paris and many more special events throughout the week. For travel tips and more information about the Gay Games, please go to https://www.paris2018.com/trip/

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COURTESY OF GABRIEL GIMA

San Francisco’s close connection to the Games lives on, as numerous local sports teams and others are now preparing for the trip to the City of Lights, which is still glowing even more due to France’s recent World Cup victory on Bastille Day weekend. In this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times we celebrate just some of these talented athletes.

Medals from the 2014 Cleveland Gay Games

DanceSport “We are an all-woman dance formation team. There are 14 of us. We are dancing a kaleidoscope of shapes while partner dancing ballroom quickstep and East Coast swing.

It took a lot for us to get here.

We went through injury, fires in Sonoma, deaths of parents and siblings and more.”

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ZOE BALFOUR

–Zoe Balfour

Track & Field (The San Francisco Track & Field Club was the first LGBT track & field club in the country and formed as a result of the Gay Games in 1982.)

“We’re sending a full team of at least 25 people to Paris.

This will be my fourth Gay Games. I did the 2002 Games in Sydney, but participated in indoor volleyball. I also did the Cologne Games and the most recent Games in Cleveland. I’m a 10-time medalist in track, and look forward to my first time in Paris!”

COURTESY OF GABRIEL GIMA

COURTESY OF GABRIEL GIMA

PHOTO COURTESY OF AARON CASTILLO

PHOTO COURTESY OF AARON CASTILLO

–Aaron Castillo

Rowing “I am a member of the San Francisco Bay Blades, the LGBT Rowing Team that rows out of Lake Merritt. I am also a board member of the team. The Blades will definitely be going to the Gay Games in Paris! We are super proud.

We’re racing in a number of boats including some races with friends from other gay rowing clubs around the country. We’re entering three singles sculling races, two double sculls, a quadruple scull and two fours. The two fours will be in conjunction with friends from DC Strokes, a GLBT rowing club in Washington, D.C.” –Gabriel Gima

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Round About - All Over Town - Mid Summer Photos by Rink

From left, Executive Directors Ann Gimbel (Maitri), Brett Andrews (PRC), Mark Ryle (Project Open Hand) and Eduardo Morales (AGUILAS) were on hand at the Academy of Friends check presentation event held at Cambria Gallery on July 18.

Grubstake’s Jimmy Consos provided hors d’oeuvres for the Academy of Friends event at Cambria Gallery.

Academy of Friends leaders Matthew Denckla (left) and Gil Padia (second from right) welcomed ALRP’s (AIDS Legal Referral Panel) Hannah Center and Jim McBride.

Food samples were popular at the Mission Community Market held on 22nd Street at Mission on July 19.

Customers and staff at The Cove restaurant on Castro, including server Anne Van Buren, celebrated National Ice Cream Day on July 15.

A memorial tribute to actor Tab Hunter was placed in the store window of Brand X Antiques on Castro Street.

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hen Out Magazine editors saw this 1978 photo by Rink, they described it as “the definitive Castro Clone image.”

That phrase was slang for gay fellows who wore similar clothing representing idealized working-class men. Its first recorded usage was by Arthur Evans, creator of a series of posters known as the “Red Queen Broadsides,” which he wheatpasted around the Castro in the late 1970s.

The look and style, which remained popular until the early 80s, often consisted of Levi’s, white t-shirts (or flannel shirts), hoodies, gymtoned bodies, facial hair and leather accessories or gear. Evans was critical of the subculture, which was perceived as repudiating more “swishy, faggy” looks, according to journalist Matt Sussman.

(Sussman wrote an interesting piece on the phenomenon: https://openspace. sfmoma.org/2015/06/nothing-that-meetsthe-eye-notes-on-clones/) Fashion aside, the men photographed by Rink were clearly enjoying a moment of intimate camaraderie outside of the Castro Café on Castro Street. Another group of friends, just hinted by the man holding a beverage to the left, also appears to have been enjoying this relaxed moment, now frozen in time.

If the clothing does not date them, the menu above their heads will. Note the special Bar B-Q Sandwich, offered at just $1.70.

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David Hernandez (center), star of the musical School of Rock, was welcomed by producers Joe Seiler and Ken Henderson to the REAF One Night Only Benefit held at Brava Theater on July 16.

Polk Street neighbors and friends turned out in large numbers for the annual Summer Wine Walk with high quality wines available for tasting on July 19.

Cast members from the musical School of Rock performed during the REAF One Night Only Benefit.

Cast members, including star David Hernandez, from the musical School of Rock were on had to entertain at the REAF benefit on July 16.

Musician Kippy Marks entertained as the featured artist for the Castro Live! program at Jane Warner Plaza on July 21.

Posters attached to the District 8 and 9 supervisors’ offices displayed compassionate messages at San Francisco City Hall.

City of San Francisco Inaugurations Wednesday, July 11

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Wednesday, July 11, was a busy one for many in our community who attended the inauguration events held on that day. On the steps of San Francisco City Hall, newly elected Mayor London Breed was sworn into office by California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom. Representing our community, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, led by Dr. Tim Seelig, performed “Survivors” from Andrew Lippa’s Unbreakable. SF Giants’ announcer Renel Brooks-Moon served as emcee and Rev. Amos Brown delivered the invocation. The Glide Ensemble also performed.

Mayor Breed’s Inauguration Speech can be read in full online at: https://sfmayor.org/mayor-londonbreeds-inauguration-speech.

Also on July 11, the Supervisors Chambers was the setting for the swearing in ceremony of District 8’s new supervisor, Rafael Mandelman. City Attorney Dennis Herrera administered the oath of office standing in for new Board of Supervisors President Malia Cohen. While the ceremony was taking place, Supervisor Mandelman’s name was placed on the door of the District 8 office in City Hall.

items of the week Death Star ‘Circo’ Cheese Board & Tool Set by Picnic Time

The Circo by Picnic Time is compact and convenient. The 10.2″ (diameter) laser cut chopping board swivels open to reveal four stainless steel cheese tools inside. Put a playful twist on your Opera in the Park experience.

The Beach Sounds portable radio and Bluetooth speaker

by Sunnylife Listen to the sweet sounds of summer with this tropical tune maker. Play your favorite radio station in full stereo or stream to the powerful speakers from any smartphone through Bluetooth or the included audio jack.

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s we ease into the balmy days of late summer, we look forward to some of our favorite weekend events. This year we’re starting with the kick-off of the 2018 Film Night in the Park series with The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert on August 4th in Dolores Park. That’s going to be a fun night! The series ends back at Dolores Park with Black Panther on September 22nd.

Some other staff favorites are: Stern Grove Festival - Through August 19th Outside Lands August 10-12 Opera in the Park September 9th Hardly Strictly Bluegrass October 5-7.

As Heard on the Street . . . What Issues do you hope that Mayor London Breed and her administration will focus on in the coming months?

compiled by Rink

Ani Rivera

Lito Sandoval

Aviva Kanoff

Tab Buckner

Ron Johnson

“The process of funding for the arts should be changed. Not enough resources reach deserving arts and cultural organizations.”

“I hope Mayor Breed focuses on housing for low income residents.

Let’s not have another Iris Canada incident in this city ever!”

“People are starved for culture in the Castro, Lose the artists – you lose the character of the city that everyone flocks to. Let the tech companies become the patrons of the arts.”

“I would like the mayor to help develop a continuum of care for the homeless.

This includes short term shelter with services addressing individual needs followed by traditional and ultimately permanent housing.”

“We need to preserve our city’s night life, local restaurants and long time businesses. The character of the city is lost every time a business is lost and replaced by condos and apartments for the rich.”

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Pastor Stacy Boorn of herchurch Shares Her Art and Creative Wisdom the lens of photog raphy—composition of line and color. In both photography and painting, I’m smitten by blue and green, which translate to me as Earth and sky.

Kit Kennedy: Please tel l us about you r paintings illustrated here.

Poet in Residence Kit Kennedy For this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times I spoke with Stacy Boorn, who is a creative visionary, ordained Lutheran pastor, leader of herchurch, photographer, painter, road-traveler, ritualist and storyteller.

Kit Kennedy: Let’s begin with art. Your photography has appeared in this newspaper. You began as a photographer, but recently have focused on painting.

Stacy Boorn: I was five when I held my first camera. My father made a living as a photographer. In school I did drawing and watercolor until a gifted boy tried to improve my work by saying, “Here, this is how you do it.” No surprise, that didn’t work! In seminary I was associate editor of a theological magazine in charge of layout. I also did line drawings to accompany articles. I’m interested in photojournalism and especially the Depression artists, such as Dorothea Lange. I love to capture nature. In nature, no one talks back to you or gives you advice!

Stacy Boorn: Let’s start with Hina Breathes Creative Playful Life in All. Hina is a generating force in Hawaiian cosmology. Hina is subtle, yet adorable. I love sea turtles, dolphins, the moon (rising or falling)—all part of the divine, feminine energy.

Plus, a scent of plumeria. Hina is youthful, and above all, playful. With the crazy mess our country is in, we need playfulness.

The second is The Tree Goddess. I love pomegranates for their lushness, because they represent the seeds of life and the life of a woman. And who can resist a hummingbird? The color green speaks to me as a symbol of peace and hope, our birthright to a beautiful life.

The third is Hathor’s Gaze. Hathor’s eyes look out into the world, gazing at us. She’s powerful; she’s beautiful and she wears makeup. Although I’ve worn makeup 2 or 3 times in my life, and perhaps lipstick once, I like seeing it on women, men and non-gendered-conforming folks. I admit that the hieroglyphics are not technically accurate. I created representations that spoke to me: eye of Horus, waves, pot, a ring of snakes—symbols of the divine. Lots of power here.

Recently, I took a herchurch goddess painting class modeled after Shiloh Sophia’s color of woman techniques. I don’t follow the instructions exactly as I often use one of my photographs from my travels as a starting point for the goddess image. The universe is a wondrous canvas; in fact, prophetic. Even Stacy Boorn, in painting, I look through Photographer & Artist

The fourth is Ancient One, who was first captured in my camera in Namibia.

She is a Himba elder and connects with thousands of years of nomadic traditions and still wears her ancestors’ fashions and scars.

Looking over her shoulder is a young cheetah that is also a nomad in her homeland. Both of their eyes look beyond the viewer, hoping that there will be a future for them to wonder into.

Kit Kennedy: In a prior interview you said, “Creativity and spirituality are two threads in the same cord. Sometimes it is music, sometimes dance, sometimes words. Mostly, for me, it is imagery, splashes of color and placed objects that enhance and embody the Sacred and her Presence.” Please elaborate.

Stacy Boorn: Whether it’s art or science or both, that spark is also our spiritual compass. Our core values are sacred beyond us, connecting us with other beings to create justice and equality.

Kit Kennedy: Anyone who knows you, Stacy, knows that you are passionate about many things.

What’s the synergy among road trips, social justice, art-making and cooking?

Stacy Boorn: I’ve travelled to Alaska several times; each time it’s about something new and retracing footsteps. When I recently returned to Valdez, it was shocking to see the Columbia Glacier. The effect of global warming on such geological wonders is horrific. In cooking, it’s about composition. I gather ingredients in all of their bits of beauty and plate them aesthetically. So, travel, art and cooking all spark inward journeys, tickle the senses, heighten consciousness. I believe all artists show us a path to wake up, so we can act for social justice.

Kit Kennedy: You invite 3 folks (living or dead) to a dinner party. Who comes, what’s on t he menu, who’s cooking?

Stacy Boorn: Thanks, but I’m inviting 4. The first three are Elizabeth Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth. The fourth is Judy Chicago, because she knows intimately dinner plates. I cook; Judy plates the food. I don’t follow recipes. I improvise with the seasonal.

K it Kennedy: You are a n or d a i ne d L ut he r an Pastor and call your homilies wisdomscape.

You a lso con fess t hat you are an unabashed eavesdropper. How does eavesdropping inf luence your wisdomscapes and your art?

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Stac y Boor n: My eavesdropping role model is San Francisco Chronicle columnist Leah Garchik. Vignettes have an entire life of their own.

There are snippets of wisdom even when you don’t know the context. I don’t spend time in cafés, but I relish a conversation overhead in the Arboretum. Seriously, wisdom isn’t restricted to religious texts. Holy wisdom happens all of the time.

It’s woven throughout our everyday. I love landscapes and seascapes.

However you enter the scene, the viewer needs to participate in the art.

Kit Kennedy: In addition to being a storyteller, you are a blogger who refers to your posts as visual meditations. Please explain.

Stacy Boorn: I started blogging 7 years ago. I wanted to give the backstory to what I was photographing, sometimes incorporating a technique tip. With so much threat to environmental protection, it is difficult for me not to become stymied. I’m hoping to get back to blogging on a weekly basis.

Kit Kennedy: You are offered 2 unconditional wishes. What are you asking for?

Stacy Boorn: It’s got to be 3 wishes, Kit. A change in U.S. government structure and organization.

A true equality and divinity for all sentient beings.

The spiritual community I’m involved with (herchurch) will expand and engage more creative and peaceseeking folks. Open invitation: Sundays at 10:30 am.

K it K en nedy: I ca n’t i magine that anyone who meets you doesn’t think of you as being playful. What’s the journey like to playfulness?

Stacy Boorn: It’s heredity. I got the humor gene from my family and grandparents. A bit of sarcasm, too.

I say, let’s separate the crap from the beautiful. You don’t have to take yourself too seriously. Yes, there are

hardships, but also joy in the playfulness of life.

Kit Kennedy: So, what’s next for you creatively?

Stacy Boorn: My goal has been to complete 2 paintings a month. I create what I like and hope that others find something in the piece. It’s curious for me that folks view my painting differently than my photography.

I might go back to photography and do something new. Perhaps a series of toes and feet!

K it K en nedy: Recent ly I’ve heard you sing the praises of the word “yummy.” Let’s make that the f inal word and with gratitude to you, Stacy.

Stacy Boorn: Indeed, if we could all find the yummy light in each other.

For more information please visit: http://stacy.awegallery.com/ For an interview with Stacy Boorn on her spiritual journey, see Birthing God: Women’s Experiences of the Divine

by Lana Dalberg (Skylight Paths Publishing, Woodstock, VT).

Kit Kennedy is the Poet-in-Residence of the “San Francisco Bay Times” and at herchurch Ebenezer Lutheran (herchurch.org). She has published 5 poetry collections, and for the past several years she has hosted the poetry series at Gallery Café. For more information, please visit her blog: http://poetrybites. blogspot.com/

From the Coming Up Events Calendar See page 24 Thursday, July 26 - King of Cuba @ Central Works Theater, Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant, Berkeley.

Marga Gomez stars in this new work by Cristina García presenting a colorful portrait of Cuban cultural and political life. Through August 19. http://www.centralworks.org

Saturday, August 4 - AfroSolo in the Gardens @ Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, 60 Howard Street. A free outdoor jazz concert featuring David Hardiman’s All-Star Big Band. 1-3pm. ybgfestival.org

Elwood Takes a Lover Brings LGBT Seniors to the Big Screen For too long, certain people’s stories have been scarce—if not invisible— in film and television. LGBT seniors are no exception. The filmmakers behind Elwood Takes a Lover are doing their part to help change that.

Made as a graduate thesis project at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Elwood Takes a Lover isn’t your typical student film. The 16-minute short tells the story of Hannah, a cantankerous cancer patient of an advanced age, and her sweet-but-clueless husband Elwood. As she nears the end of her life, Hannah fears that Elwood will have no one to care for him after she’s gone.

Long suspecting Elwood had feelings for another man in his youth, Hannah sets out to find his unrequited love in hopes of reuniting them. What results is a surprisingly funny, irreverent and heartfelt movie about the intricacies of what it means to love later in life.

When director John Ira Palmer read the original script by writer Youthana Yuos, he immediately wanted to direct it. Palmer told the San Francisco Bay Times, “I connected in a very real way to the characters. Telling LGBTQ stories is important to me as a filmmaker, and I loved that this was a nuanced portrayal of older people and queerness that sidestepped stereotypes.” Yuos added, “I’ve always been interested in telling stories about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.”

Palmer and Yuos banded together with producer Gracie Corapi and cinematographer Adriana Serrato to bring the script to life. When asked what initially appealed to her, Corapi replied, “I was really excited that our lead character was a woman over 50, which is not something you see on-screen very often.” Serrato called working on the film a “no-brainer” and continued, “I knew I wanted to help br ing Hanna h a n d E l w o o d ’s unique world to life visually.”

Warren Sweeney as Elwood in Elwood Takes a Lover © 2018 University of Southern California

most-revered camera companies, allow i n g t hem t o shoot the project on a top-tier, professional camera.

Assembling an inclusive crew and cast, described by Palmer as his “creative family,” they filmed in the Ladera Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles a nd Sa nt a Paula, California.

Elwood Takes a Love r pr em ier e d i n February at Queer Screen’s 25th Annual Mardi Gras Fi l m Fest iva l i n Syd ney, Au st r a lia, and is currently enjoying a successful festival run throughout the U.S. and around the world. It will also soon be available on the LGBT streaming platform Dekkoo.

It’s an exciting time for queer representation in media. Consider Moonlight winning Best Picture, Transparent’s Emmys, and out lesbian Rachel Morrison (Fruitvale Station, Black Panther) becoming the first female cinematographer to be nominated for an Oscar for her work on Mudbound.

While there’s still a long way to go, more stories about underrepresented people are being told than ever before. With so much progress being made, it’s sometimes easy to forget the unique struggles faced by LGBT seniors. Elwood Takes a Lover is a welcome and entertaining addition to the conversation.

For more information about “Elwood Takes a Lover,” go to http://elwoodtakesalover.com/

Sarah Lilly as Hannah and Warren Sweeney as Elwood in Elwood Takes a Lover © 2018 University of Southern California

After a successful Kickstarter campaign backed by over 230 peo ple, t he t e a m was awarded an Emerging Filmma ker Grant from ARRI, one of Holly wood’s Sarah Lilly as Hannah in Elwood Takes a Lover © 2018 University of Southern California

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ

Cinematographer Adriana Serrato and Director John Palmer on location in Santa Paula for Elwood Takes a Lover. Photo by Gracie Corapi

GOING DOWN SOUTH What is the title of Alice Walker’s beloved novel about a black bisexual woman’s struggles in the Deep South of the 1930s?

A) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings B) The Color Purple C) Daughter D) You Can’t Keep a Good Woman Down ANSWER ON PAGE 26

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

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terview with me for the San Francisco Bay Times, Reed discussed her fantastic new film.

Gary M. Kramer: Dark Money seems to be very different from Prodigal Sons and the other LGBT documentaries that you produced. What prompted you to shift to this topic?

Film Gary M. Kramer Don’t want to see a documentary about campaign finance reform?

You’ll be sorry. Dark Money, opening July 27 at the Shattuck Landmark cinema, is trans filmmaker Kimberly Reed’s jaw-dropping investigation of undisclosed corporate contributions.

The filmmaker, who made a splash ten years ago with her excellent documentary Prodigal Sons, uses Montana as a case study to investigate funds used to influence elections by “buying” votes to change laws to achieve a specif ic agenda. Reed illustrates how dark money (often from corporations) is used to control politics, and by extension, to control resources and public policy. In a recent phone in-

Kimberly Reed: At its core, Dark Money really is about civil rights, LGBT, and environmental issues. Regardless of where you sit politically, you can’t sort out politics until you figure out the influences, and you can’t do that until you know where the money is coming from.

Gary M. Kramer You let the story unfold without being partisan, which is its strength. Can you discuss your approach to the subject?

Kimberly Reed: Political bickering and partisan positioning were bad in 2012. It was obvious that the film would be stronger and the audience bigger and the appeal would be sincerer to a larger number of people if it were bipartisan. That was the foundation of it.

Gary M. Kramer: How did you get someone like Jim Brown,

who worked for the American Traditions Partnership/Western Traditions Partnership, one of the dark money organizations, to talk on camera?

K imberly Reed: There are two sides to the argument, and it is incumbent on documentary filmmakers to explore both sides. The counterargument you hear all the time is that it is a violation of the First Amendment— a violation of free speech rights—to expose the donors of these dark money groups. So, as a documentary filmmaker who takes advantage of the First Amendment and free speech every day, it would not be intellectually honest not to engage in that debate about the limits of the First Amendment. Listening to Jim Brown, and getting his side of it, is letting him articulate the counterargument enough that we get a sense of what it is, and viewers get a sense of what the limitations of the argument are.

Gary M. Kramer: You literally follow the money in the film.

How did you shape the film and determine what paths to pursue?

Kimberly Reed: I structured the film around accidental disclosures.

We do it in a couple of ways—such as the leaks that [ journalist] John

Adams gets that show the internecine battled in the Republican party and how they are attacking each other with dark money, and in Wisconsin, with the reordering of the three branches of Wisconsin government, and how dark money reshaped all of those branches. It’s exciting to tell that story, but I think underneath all that is this tacit argument that the way to overcome this dark money is via disclosure, which means things are always on the books.

Gary M. Kramer: How do you see your f ilm work to raise awareness, change thinking and foment action?

K imberly Reed: Time and time again when you look at these dark money issues, you see them coming back to environmental concerns and human rights concerns, especially LGBT rights. Why? Dark money groups are used so people don’t have to put their name or fingerprints on our environmental issues, civil rights, LGBT rights, etc. So, the challenge with our film was not about convincing people that there is a problem and inspire them to do something about it—everyone knows there is a terrible problem with the influence of money and politics—but no one know what

The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing a Memoir you when you announce that your memoir is getting published.

bly cathartic. It can also be filled with land mines.

Not: “Congratulations!”

So, I herewith present some suggestions to make your memoir experience slightly less traumatic than mine.

Not: “Your tireless pursuit of a literary goal is inspiring.”

Just: “Oh my God. Am I in it?”

Words Michele Karlsberg Michele Karlsberg: Eric Poole’s new memoir Excuse Me While I Slip into Someone More Comfortable is featured in this issue. I asked Eric to talk about the Do’s and Don’ts of writing memoirs.

This doesn’t make them bad people.

It’s simply that publishing a memoir evokes one of two responses: 1) fear that the truth of what a lousy human being they are will come out; 2) excitement over a largely undeserved 15 minutes of fame.

“Oh my God. Am I in it?”

I’ve published two memoirs. The first was developed as a sitcom for ABC, which upped the ante even more, as those around me became obsessed with who should play them in the TV series. (Imagine a lot of suggestions in the Chris Pratt/Jennifer Lawrence vein.)

It is guaranteed that these are the first words friends and family will say to

And I can say without hesitation that writing about your life can be incredi-

Eric Poole:

• DO use fake names. Obviously, it doesn’t really work to change the names of your own family; that information is easily accessible on the internet, along with your social security number and bra size. But do consider changing the names of friends, co-workers, etc. This gives them a measure of privacy, and helps you to avoid slightly unpleasant situations, like getting sued or yelled at in public.

• DON’T feel the need to introduce your readers to 85 different characters. Less is more. Make some characters composites. Eliminate some people. (This will piss them off, and you will never hear the end of it, but it makes for a cleaner, better read.)

• DON’T pretend that every sentence is an exact replica of reality. Writ-

to do about it.

My hope is to show people doing something about it in a spot they least expect it, Montana! TackKimberly Reed ling the issue of corrupt money in politics, and doing something about it, will inspire the other states to establish strong campaign finance laws of their own.

The most important component of that is getting people engaged in our democracy. If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu. A lot of people are worried about money and politics, but when the election happens, it drops to the bottom of the issues they hold their elected officials accountable for. But those issues flipped when people paid attention to money and politics and the impact dark money had on their elections. © 2018 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 Eric Poole

ing about events that happened decades ago means, among other things, reconstructing dialogue you couldn’t possibly remember word for word. (Readers often ask, “Do you have perfect recall, or something?”)

Please. I can barely remember where I parked. What I remember in each incident is bits of dialogue (especially in the climax of a moment), along with the intent. Then I build around that. My friend “Kurt,” for example, is hilarious. He may not have said all of the lines I credit him with, but he absolutely could have. And the sum total of his character is exactly right.

• With the exception of possible homicidal maniacs, DO try to be balanced in how you paint people. My mother was a holy handful—temperamental, demanding, a nutjob.

She also had moments of incredible kindness. Throughout these two memoirs, I’ve shown her warts to the world; but I’ve also included a few of those lovely moments. They not only redeem her a bit (something

that was important to me), but they also make her a more interesting, complex character. And aren’t we all interesting and complex?

Eric Poole is the author of “Where’s My Wand? One Boy’s Magical Triumph Over Alienation and Shag Carpeting” and “Excuse Me While I Slip into Someone More Comfortable.” For more information, go to http://www.ericpoole.net/ Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBTQI community. This year, Karlsberg celebrates thirty years of successful book campaigns.

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “The honeymoon in Helsinki with Putin’s puppet aka Traitor Trump has shown just how willing the presi-dense is to sell out America and its foundations, its institutions, its allies, and most of the press—even calling the fourth estate ‘an enemy of the state.’ When are we going to impeach and remove this dangerous disastrous dictator?! But I ‘would/wouldn’t’ not hold my breath.”

HARVEY MILK LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CLUB celebrated its 42ND ANNUAL GAYLA in the Mission’s Gray Area Theater on July 19 in honor of former Milk Club Board Member Jazzie Col20

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lins (1958–2013). Jazzie volunteered at Senior and Disability Action and served as Vice Chair of San Francisco’s LGBT Aging Policy Taskforce at the time of her death. She also served on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Trans March for five years and was active with the Community United Against Violence. So, in that spirit, all of the Milk Club awardees were transgender activists. Opening the ceremonies was performer extraordinaire Pearl Teese dancing and lip-synching to the rousing “This Is Me” from the movie musical, The Greatest Showman. Milk Club Presidents Honey Mahogany & Carolina Morales addressed the attendees, noting that within the past year and a half, the U.S. president has been attacking trans people nationally by withdrawing non-discrimination protections for trans students, banning trans folks from serving in the military, encouraging discrimination against trans people on the basis of religious belief, and by housing trans folks in federal prisons based on their sex assigned at birth. Despite some amazing local leaders and organizations, trans people in this J U LY 2 6 , 2 0 1 8

City and around the country experience higher levels of poverty, greater homelessness, additional barriers to healthcare, higher rates of violence and shorter life-spans as compared to the overall population.

Receiving the Eileen Hansen Social Justice Hero Award was City College of San Francisco’s Chosen Name Task Force; receiving the Howard Wallace Labor Leadership Award was Kung Feng. The Jazzy Collins Award went to Mia Satya. The Sylvester Pride in the Arts Award was given to Fresh Meat Productions. The Hank Wilson Activist Award was accepted by El/La Para TransLatinas. The Bayard Rustin Civil Rights Achievement Award was accepted by Janetta Johnson. And accepting the In His Footsteps Award was Jennicet Gutiérrez, Transgender & Immigrant Rights Activist & Founding Member of FAMILIA: TQLM (Trans Queer Liberation Movement).

Gutiérrez is a transgender Mexican activist best known for exposing the plight of transgender women in immigration detention centers through her organization FAMILIA: TQLM.

She believes in uplifting the voices of trans women of color through racial justice work, and she is committed to ending the deportation, incarceration and criminalization of immigrants and communities of color. “The leaders we are honoring this year are doing everything they can to improve this situation,” said Gutierrez. “So, join us in honoring their work. And, who knows? Maybe you will meet some future trans elected officials!” She held an impressive moment of complete silence in honor of the transgendered women who were murdered that year.

on the front lines. As the pandemic grew, thus did their scope; to help “ ... where the need is greatest, until the crisis has passed.” It has changed, but it is not over. They have raised over $8.9 million in support of more than 73 HIV/AIDS service organizations in the Bay Area. Academy of Friends held a check-distribution party on July 18 at Cambria Gallery to present Bay Area HIV/AIDS agencies with the money raised over the past year and their annual Oscar Night Gala.

They honored their many volunteers from the board, community, and beneficiary agencies.

ACADEMY OF FRIENDS, the Oscar-loving fundraising organization, has evolved over the past 39 years. Soon after the onset of the HIV epidemic, they dedicated themselves to the mission of easing the burden of the disease through fun and fundraising for direct care. The agencies they support provide direct care, education, and support for those at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS—from policy and advocacy to prevention and treatment to youth and senior services, Academy of Friends has been

(continued on page 27)

We cheered on the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (versus Oakland A’s) with the KREWE DE KINQUE Mardi Gras club at The Edge bar in the Castro, hosted by KDK Members Gary Virginia & Omar Kubian on July 21. The tailgate pep rally started at 4 pm with an optional $10 Bottomless Beer & Soda Bust including a plate of picnic goodies (hot dogs, baked beans, mac n cheese) until 7 pm. We had lots of fun raffle prizes including SF Giants

COURTESY OF CLAIRE JONES

Timely Documentary by Trans Filmmaker Examines Campaign Finance Reform

Weddings, Occasions & Relationships Learners and Relationships build on and sustain intimate connections, know who you are, where you stand, what you need and desire, and understand that your level of emotional maturity is crucial.

Without self-awareness, there’s little chance of relationship success.

Motivation

Lonely No More Scott Tsui In my previous article I discussed a couple who navigated their ongoing 40-year relationship with ease, describing them as “Naturals.” Now I would like to discuss a different couple whom I consider to be in the learner category.

As it happened when returning home one evening, I engaged in a lighthearted conversation with the Lyft driver, Brent, a gay man in his midforties. When Brent mentioned that there is a 20-year age difference between him and his younger partner Jim, I was interested to learn more about them.

Brent told me that he met Jim four years ago while traveling in Ohio.

They hit it off immediately. Jim confided in Brent how he’d grown up in a homophobic family with an abusive and alcoholic father. He had spent his life in the closet, had low self-esteem and hadn’t experienced love. They kept in touch and continued their talks about life and relationships. It was not long before Jim moved to San Francisco to be with Brent.

Brent clearly considers their relationship to be solid and stable. To me, they are an excellent example of an intergenerational couple where the older is the mentor and the younger is the learner. As many can attest, this is something frequently encountered in the gay community.

This then prompts the question: What are the important areas where Learners can invest time and energy to improve their relationship success?

Self-awareness Self-awareness is the art of being present and in tune with feelings, motives, desires and driving forces. To increase self-awareness, pay attention to your internal feelings and external triggers. Think about how and why you react the way you do to various circumstances.

When it comes to intimate relationships, many people live their lives day in and day out hoping for change, but without making an effort to effect a change. This is unrealistic. You’re in charge of your own life and you can change. Make a conscious effort to achieve your relationship goals.

When you invite others into your world, you’re sharing your life. To

I often hear single gay men say, “I’m alone, but I’m not lonely. It’d be nice to have that special person.”

Take inventory: How motivated are you? Are you willing to make the effort, or are you just complacent? If someone special has appeared, do your best to make them feel special. We each get only one life to live, and it’s largely your choice as to how it evolves.

If you’re not prepared to make the effort to get what you want, then you probably already know the likely outcome!

If past experiences have included rejections, abandonment, intimidation and even fear, one can feel unmotivated. That’s understandable. But fears need to be put to one side if you want to find love.

Be bold and put time and energy into developing new relationships. You’ll find that making new friendships brings excitement and energy.

Dan Savage, relationship and sex advice columnist, said, “to have a long-term relationship, we have to ‘pay the price of admission.’”

Successful Learners are those who have paid that price.

Authenticity Being genuine and honest, to yourself and to others.

Unless lucky and with supportive parents, many unfortunately grow up hiding their true same sex feelings and emotions. Wearing a mask becomes a way to avoid getting emotionally and physically hurt, but in turn, can lead to many other problems.

Indeed, we all have an instinct to protect ourselves, and removing the mask becomes important.

For some, learning to trust others can be more difficult in the dating and relationship world because there are people out there who play games, lie, cheat, manipulate and break hearts. It is important to learn to recognize people that engage in these games (more on this in a later column) and it is equally important not to perpetuate the cycle.

Be real and don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Rather, be true to yourself and others. Realistically, the only way to get to know a person is through time. Take the time and build trust and intimacy slowly.

Lastly, if you have problems such as addictions or other personal is-

sues, seek help to resolve them. Being honest, willing to show vulnerabilities and revealing your true self are attractive qualities.

They’re also required in building long-term relationships.

Continuing Education Understand that living a good life involves continuous learning, and that includes learning about relationships. Never stop learning from the different challenges that occur throughout life.

W hat d if ferent iates L earners from others in regard to learning? Some have been Learners all of their lives, perhaps driven by a natural curiosity. But many others evolve and develop self-awareness.

They appreciate the importance of learning as they go through life.

Learners realize that when something doesn’t work in developing relationships, they change their approach.

Smart learners do not hesitate to seek mentors or role models and to learn from them. They put their pride aside and are not afraid to ask questions.

Love Not everyone is fortunate enough to come from a loving, nurturing environment. This may result due to childhood trauma, experiencing a broken heart or suffering other loss. For some, love becomes associated with pain rather than joy. If you believe that love exists, as most do, and that everyone deserves love, you are ready to move forward. There may be pitfalls (more about these in a later column) along the way, but learners quickly figure out how to recognize and avoid them.

Learners also understand that with deep love, pain can also follow. But experiencing that level of love is vital to living a complete and full life. Relationships can easily collapse when challenges arise. Love gets us through bad times and brings us closer. Learners learn to love and appreciate people, and can also teach others how to be loved.

The next time, we’ll discuss the Blamers category, and how they often sabotage their dating and relationship opportunities. In the meantime, you might pause to reflect upon which areas you could improve on to better your relationships.

Scott Tsui is the Relationship Results Coach, author of “Lonely No More – 8 Steps to Find Your Gay Husband” and the creator of the world’s first online gay relationship training: Gay Men Relationship Blueprint. Tsui works to help gay men find, attract and sustain meaning ful relationships. For more information: http://scotttsui.com/

Patrick and Hossein Carney celebrated their fifth “legal” wedding anniversary (they’ve been together for over 20 years) with Patrick’s mom, Edith Carney, who will soon be celebrating her 95th birthday! The anniversary coincided with Patrick’s own birthday festivities.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICK CARNEY

Happy Anniversary to Patrick and Hossein Carney

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This Month at the Castro Farmers’ Market Flore Chef Frequents the Castro Farmers’ Market When you sit down to a delicious meal at a local restaurant, isn’t it nice to know that you’re eating produce that is local as well?

The chef at Flore serves up such fare each week by offering tasty recipes developed with available seasonal produce from the nearby Castro Farmers’ Market.

Sitting at the corner of Noe and Market Streets, Café Flore was shortened to Flore after new owners purchased it in 2016.

It is situated just steps from the Wednesday evening market. A Castro dining destination since 1973, the restaurant offers freshly prepared meals and cocktails made from farmers’ market produce. It also has a full bar with entertainment, and a vibe that is unique to the Castro.

Head Chef Esteban tries to visit the farmers’ market weekly and selects seasonal fruits and vegetables for his weekly specials. With ever-changing seasonal offerings on the menu, the dishes can be found listed on the new sandwich board in front of the restaurant on Wednesdays. They have also provided tables and chairs for market patrons to use during market hours. Stop by and see what’s new at Flore and check out their menu.

This month the farmers’ market is featuring all of your summer favorites, from corn and summer squash, to berries and peaches, to heirloom tomatoes and peppers. Visit Arata Fruit from Byron for juicy O’Henry peaches and white nectarines, and Jacob’s Farm from Los Baños for every vegetable you can imagine including green beans, cucumbers, eggplants, cabbages, onions, tomatoes, peppers and more. Corn will be coming soon from G&S Farm in Brentwood and berries are here from Berrylicious of Hollister.

‘Suma the Titan’ Blooms at SF Conservatory of Flowers “Suma,” a nearly 5’ tall corpse f lower (Amorphophallus titanum), bloomed at around 2 pm on July 22 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers. The “sweet” scent of rotting corpses wafted through the humid Conservatory once Suma’s spathe gradually unfurled from the central phallic spadix. Suma’s goal was to attract insect pollinators. The scent—particularly strong on the night following the bloom—attempted to fool pollinators into thinking that the odor led to actual decaying flesh.

This plant species only blooms for about a day once every 7–10 years. For most of its long life the plant goes through dormancy and leaf cycles, storing sugars in its corm to energize the pungent, yet somehow ethereal, showtime moment.

In nature, this species is only found on steep hillsides in the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. We are lucky to have several specimens here in the Bay Area, such as at the Berkeley Botanical Garden in addition to the Conservatory. The latter looked like a temple to titan arum during the week of the bloom, with the plant’s entire life cycle shown.

Many made the pilgrimage to see Suma’s bloom. While our team from the San Francisco Bay Times was present, reporter Dion Lim of ABC 7 News and her crew, as well as a team from KALW, were recording Suma in all of the plant’s impressive glory.

The Conservatory stayed open until 10 pm on a few nights, given the rarity of the bloom event.

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Photos: San Francisco Bay Times

Adding Variety to Home Strength Training Workouts

Easy Fitness Cinder Ernst In the last two columns we have looked at basic and advanced strength training principles and strategies.

The implementation focus was on a gym workout. Today I will give you some examples of how to add variety to your home strengthening workouts.

I teach my clients how to add focused strength training into small pieces of their day. Not everyone is cut out for going to the gym or doing a big or long workout. I believe strength is the key to living gracefully for a long time. Strength also helps to manage pain and to improve mobility. I have a bone on bone hip, and as I put off hip replacement, I keep myself as strong as possible.

If you are doing a home strengthening program, a great way to add variety and intensity is to cut down on the amount of rest between exercises or sets. (A set is a group of repetitions of an exercise.) Let’s say that you are doing two or three sets of pushups with a 30 second rest. Instead of the rest, you could do a hands and knees balance pose in between. (You can Google “hands and knees balance pose” if you are unfamiliar with that exercise.)

If a pushup on the floor is too much for you, try a modified version using the kitchen counter as a support. Put your hands shoulder width apart on the counter. Put your feet shoulder

width apart also. Squeeze your butt and engage your abs by moving your navel toward your spine, then lower yourself toward the counter while squeezing your shoulder blades. Then push yourself back to the starting position. This is called a counter pushup! The holding of your core (butt and abs) we call the “surf board.” If you want to do a combo with a counter pushup, you can march for 30 seconds in between. You might do 10 counter pushups followed by 30 seconds of marching, then repeat.

Another good home strengthening combo is Get Ups and Swimmers. If getting up and down from a chair is pretty easy for you, try doing that 5 or 15 times (or more) until you feel a little warmth or out of breath. Then stay standing and do a set of Swimmers.

Set up the Swimmer by standing with your feet shoulder width apart, lock your knees gently or squeeze your quads, squeeze your butt, and with navel toward your spine (like the surfboard), lift your rib cage. Standing like this is an exercise in itself. Next, bring your right arm up in the air as if you were raising your hand in class and really wanted the teacher to pick you. Then, as you lower your straight right arm back down to your side, lift the left in the same way at the same time. Your arms cross each other in front of your chest as they go to their next position. Keep your surf board throughout. Repeat 10 or 15 times and then go right back to Get Ups. This combo will really get your blood f lowing and will help to strengthen your legs, core and posture muscles.

Cinder Ernst, Medical Exercise Specialist and Life Coach Extraordinaire, helps reluctant exercisers get moving with safe, effective and fun programs. Her book, “Easy Fitness for the Reluctant Exerciser” (http://cinderernst.com/ easy-fitness-book/), is available in paperback and E-book. She specializes in fitness and rehab for plus-size clients, but her stress-free approach is suitable for all. Find out more at http://cinderernst.com

Take Me Home with You!

Riley

“My name is Riley. I enjoy the finer things in life, like a quiet home and a sunny spot for an afternoon catnap. I’ve been through a lot in my 7 years, and I’m looking for someone who is understanding and willing to give me lots of love—I’ve got so much to give in return once we become friends! In the past, I’ve successfully lived with other cats, so even if you already have a feline friend at home I’d still like to meet you. Please also note that all cats like me who are 7+ years are currently FREE to adopt!”

Riley 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 Riley.

To see Riley and other pets seeking their forever homes, please visit: San Francisco SPCA Mission Campus 250 Florida Street San Francisco, CA 94103 415-522-3500

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

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 info, please visit https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

JULY 26, 2018

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COMING UP CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS sfbaytimes.com

26 Thursday

27 Friday

Transgress Press: Jacob Anderson-Minshall and Jack Kaulfus @ Laurel Bookstore, 1423 Broadway, Oakland. Join owner Luann Strauss and guests to meet the authors who will read from their new novels, Swimming Upstream and Tomorrow or Forever & Other Stories.

6pm. http://www.laurelbookstore.com

A Midsummer’s Dream Discovery Community Summer Retreat @ Wildwood Retreat Center, Russian River. This three-day event, which includes activities and gourmet meals, provides men with a getaway from everyday life and a chance to meet new friends. http://www.maxsf.org

LGBTQ Job Club @ SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street, Room 201. A networking group for trans and LGBQI job seekers and professionals. The group offers a range of networking events, hiring events and workshops tailored to help you advance or get back to work. 6:30 pm–7:30 pm. http://www.sfcenter.org/programs/ employment-services Salon Kumalicious! Dore Alley Edition @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. The event provides the chance to draw hunky Queer bigger men of color in their finest gear.

Snacks and art supplies are provided and art is for sale. 7pm. http://www.strutsf.org King of Cuba @ Central Works Theater, Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant, Berkeley. Marga Gomez stars in this new work by Christina Garcia presenting a colorful portrait of Cuban cultural and political life.

Through August 19. http://www.centralworks.org

Stephanie Teel Band @ Redwood Cafe Coffee House, 8240 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati. The popular rocker and her band mates will be on stage for this dance event.

8:30-11:30pm. http://www.stephanieteel.com UHAUL SF @ The STUD, 399 9th Street. This month UHAUL will be an Up Your Alley kickoff party with leather and lace encouraged. 10pm3am. http://www.studsf.com

28 Saturday Berkeley Kite Festival @ Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina, Berkeley. A two-day annual event featuring kite competitions, candy drop, kite battles, food, crafts, activities for children and more. 10am6pm. http://berkeleykitefestival.com Live! in the Castro @ Jane Warner Plaza, 17th and Castro. Live performance by The Klipptones. 1pm. http://www.castrocbd.org MANGO @ El Rio, 3158 Mision Street. This iconic monthly party for women will feature DJs La Coqui, Edaj and Lady Lu plus free BBQ and

dancing. 2-8pm. http://www.elriosf.com Kofy Brown Band @ The Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Albany. Shelley Doty X-tet and Onyx join Kofy for this show. 8:30pm. http://www.kofybrown.com “Queer Spirit Mural” Unveiling @ Youth Spirit Artworks, 3324 Adeline Street, Berkeley. Free food plus youth poetry and art to purchase. 5-8pm. http://www.youthspiritaratworks.org Hunnies & Hout Sauce: Unofficial NQAPIA After Party @ El Rio, 3158 Mission. The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance is the beneficiary of this party happening during the national conference of NQAPIA to be held in San Francisco July 26-29. 9pm-2am. http://www.apiqwtc.org

29 Sunday Up Your Alley Fair (Dore Alley Street Fair) @ Dore Alley between Howard and Folsom.

Described as not for the faint of heart, this annual event features leather daddies, fetish and BDSM enthusiasts and more with serious and not so serious demonstrations guaranteed to make your eyes big if you haven’t been before. 11am-6pm. http://www.folsomstreetevents.org Love A Senior Dog Sunday @ Muttville, 255 Alabama Street.

LGBTQ community members will be there hugging the pups and sharing the love. 12noon-4pm. http://www.mutville.org Binda’s Big Birthday Bash Pam & Jeri Show @ Muir Beach Community Center, 19 Seascape. A potluck lunch will be followed by dancing at 2pm to the overthe-top energy of this dynamic duo who are members of the popular group Blame Sally!

12noon-6pm. http://www.mapado.com Mommie Dearest Part Deux @ F8, 1192 Folsom.

Grand Duchess 32 Sophilya Leggz will present a benefit for the Monarch’s Charity Fund.

4pm. http://www.sfducal.org SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band Free Concert @ Yerba Bunea Gardens, 750 Howard Street. Celebrating the Band’s 40th anniversary, the concert includes a program from almost a century of American Music, including jazz, swing, contemporary pop and tunes from modern musicals. 1-2:30 pm http://www.sflgfb.org

30 Monday Transgender HealthMental Health in the Age of Trump @ The Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero. Organizer 24

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HIGHLINEKITES.COM

LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2018)

Berkeley Kite Festival - July 28-29

Compiled by Blake Dillon Tiffany Woods of TransVision and Tri-City Health Center and guests will discuss current threats to transgender rights. 5:15pm. http://www.commonwealthclub.org Gay B-I-N-G-O @ Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Center, 938 The Alameda, San Jose. Bingo on Wednesday nights is a tradition at San Jose’s LGBTQ Center and you are welcome to attend. 6;30pm Early Games/7-9pm. http://www.defrankcenter.org

31 Tuesday AGUILAS Movie Night @ SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street.

Members and friends will gather to enjoy a free movie together. 5-8pm. http://www.sfaguilas.org Castro LGBTQ Cultural District Community Meeting @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street. A community meeting to discuss plans for the new Cultural District with updates from Supervisor Rafael Mandelman and working committees. 6-7:30pm. http://www.glbthistory.org

AUGUST

1 Wednesday Lazy Bear Weekend @ Guerneville. The 22nd annual weekend for hairy, burly guys continuing through August 6 at venues throughout town and activities including pool parties, dances, hikes, barbecues, wine tours, shows, bonfires and more. http://www.lazybearweekend.org GGBA’s Stand Up & Speak OUT! @ Small Business Administration, 455 Market Street. A new workshop series, with meetings on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday each month, designed to help entrepreneurs, business professionals, community leaders and elected officials become more confident speakers.

3-5pm. http://www.ggba.com Transcode SF @ SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street. A free class for trans and gender non-conforming folks, the event evolved into a community of connected people in tech plus aspiring coders, engineers, designers and newcomers. 6-8pm. http://www.sfcenter.org

2 Thursday First Thursday - Castro Art Walk @ Castro District Locations. A neighborhood art walk held monthly on the first Thursday of each month at multiple hosting locations. 6–7pm. http://wwwcastroartwalk.com Desert NightLive @ California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive.

Get acquainted with the most resilient of the cacti, succulents and reptiles. One in the Academy’s ongoing Thursday NightLife series featuring art, music, performances and ideas. 6–10pm. http://www.calacademy.org

SAVE THESE DATES AUGUST 1-6 Lazy Bear Weekeknd SATURDAY, AUG. 25

Silicon Valley Pride SUNDAY, SEPT. 9

Oakland Pride SATURDAY, OCT. 6

Horizons Foundation Annual Gala SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7

Castro Street Fair FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12

PRC Mighty Real Gala THURSDAY, OCT. 18

This Old Bag Benefit for Breast Cancer Emergency Fund SATURDAY, OCT. 20

OurTownSF Non-Profit Expo 34th Annual HRC SF Bay Area Gala SATURDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 & 9

Dance-Along Nutrcracker® MONDAY, DEC. 24

SFGMC Home for the Holidays

3 Friday EBabes Monthly Cocktail Hour @ Terrace Room, Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison Street.

The longstanding social mixer will welcome as their featured guest Stacy Poulos and her Postcard Travelers Pop-up Art Show. First Fridays, 6-9pm. Ebabes TGIF on meetup.com Game Night @ Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, 3207 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland. Free night every Friday for older teens and adults in the common ground community room. 7:30-10:30pm. http://www.oaklandglbtqcenter.org Queer First Fridays @ Temescal Brewing, 4115 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland. The event, an evening of “beers, beats and babes in Oakland,” continues on first Fridays with resident and guest DJs spinning tunes and food by El Sabrosito ES. 5pm. http://www.temescalbrewing.com

4 Saturday AfroSolo in the Gardens @ Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, 760 Howard Street. A free outdoor jazz concert featuring David Hardiman’s San Francisco All-Star Big Band in a special performance in the annual

AfroSolo Arts Festival. 1-3pm.

AfroSolo Theatre Company on Facebook Photo Exhibit Opening @ Harvey Milk Photo Center, 50 Scott Street. The annual exhibit of work by the staff, members and volunteers showcasing the Center’s Darkrooms and Digital Labs. 1-4pm http://www.harveymilkphotocenter.org Return to Cabin Six @ Beaux, 2344 Market Street. Mr. Royal Bunny DC presents this benefit event supporting the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and URJ Camp Newman. http://www.beauxsf.com El Rio’s Annual Dolly Hoot! @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street. 2pm.

Dressing up, wigs and rhinestones are encouraged at this party hosted

by Manuel Caneri and Nancy French benefiting Dolly’s Imagination Library. 2-8pm. http://www.elriosf.com Unleash! Dance Party @ The Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue.

DJ Page Hodel teams up with DJ Mysdefy for a dance event at this woman -owned club in Albany.

4-8pm. http://www.ivvyroom.com First Saturdays - Country Nights Women’s Partner Dancing @ Lake Merritt Dance Center, 1st Floor Lounge, 200 Grand Avenue, Oakland. First Saturdays Women’s partner dancing and lessons. 7pm Lesson; 8pm Dancing. http://www.countrynightsdance.com Hey Girl Hey First Saturday Party @ ERA Art Bar, 19 Grand Avenue, Oakland. An LGBTQAAIPTS happy hour, meet, mingle and dance. 5–9pm. Hey Girl Hey on Facebook.

5 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! Two shows every Sunday at 11am and 2pm. http://www.startlightroomsf.com Fundraiser for Larkin Street Youth @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge, 133 Turk Street. GD Olivia Hart and MC King of Hearts Zak Franet will host this benefit with an open show, food, raffle rpizes and more. 4-7pm. http://www.auntcharlieslounge.com

6 Monday VAMP - Fine Female Dance Party @ Beaux, 2344 Market Street. A weekly ladies night every Monday with featured DJs and drink specials. 9pm-2am. http://www.beauxsf.com

7 Tuesday 1st and 3rd Tuesdays - Castro Rotary Club @ The Sausage Factory, 517 Castro Street. Join LGBT Rotarians on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays and learn about current projects and volunteer opportunities. 6:30–8pm. http://www.portal.clubrunner.ca/13807 Velvet Rage Book Club @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. The weekly Tuesday book club of the SF AIDS Foundation’s Stonewall Project, with facilitators Wade Smith and Christopher Zepeda, explores the complexity of gay identity and culture, HIV, substance use, healing relationships and more. 4-5:30pm. http://www.strutsf.org

8 Wednesday The LGBT Book Club @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street. The group will discuss Alan Downs’ novel The Velvet Rage. 7pm. http://www.dogearedbooks.com

9 Thursday

Chromaforms and more. 6-10pm. http://www.calacademy.org

NightLife LIVE: August@ California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive. Doubling as the official Outside Lands kick off party, the evening will feature a lineup of musicians including Elohim, Caleborate,

Gays Against Guns SF @ MCC San Francisco, 1300 Polk Street. Meetings every 2nd and 5th Thursdays are held by this direct action group of LGBQ people and allies. 6pm. gaysagainstgunssf@gmail.com S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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NEWS (continued from page 3) LGBTQ activism in the Bay Area.

The collected interviews will reside in the Historical Society archives.

The GLBT Historical Society will curate several exhibitions about the impact of San Francisco Pride and its place in intersectional movements for justice and equality since 1970. The main exhibition is set to open in advance of the 50th anniversary of SF Pride in June 2020.

In addition to the collaboration, San Francisco Pride is announcing the themes for the next two years of

the San Francisco Pride Parade and Celebration, both of which will expand on this year’s theme, “Generations of Strength.” The theme for the 49th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade, set for June 29 and 30, 2019, will be “Generations of Resistance.” The theme for the 50th annual event, set for June 27 and 28, 2020, will be “Generations of Hope.” http://www.glbthistory.org/ San Francisco Has World’s Highest Rent

According to analyst Aaron Ansel at Walletwyse, San Francisco now ranks as the city with the world’s highest rent. A total of 540 cities were included in the rent comparison. San Francisco’s average rent is listed at $3,500 a month. Hamilton, Bermuda, came in second, with an average rent of $3,400. Manhattan was third at $3,050, while San Jose was in fourth with an average monthly rent of $2,500.

“I think the big difference when you look at cost of living for a place like the Bay Area is that in most high cost

cities like New York, if you go far enough out, you run into a drop in price,” Ansel told SF Gate. “The San Francisco Bay Area is not like that.

You go 30 miles in any direction and you’re still within that zone. Whereas a lot of these big cities are high price points surrounded by normal price points, San Francisco is an ultra-high price point surrounded by more high price points.”

rians, veteran organizers and younger activists talked about this and related matters at a panel on July 25 at The GLBT Historical Society: “Fighting Back: Saving San Francisco’s Gayborhoods.”

Numerous LGBT and other community leaders have long said that the cost of living here is contributing to our loss of local gayborhoods. Histo-

Worldw ide Renta l Pr ice Index: https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/ article/San-Francisco-rent-most-expensive-world-average-13046919.php

SF Gate Story: https://www.sfgate. com/realestate/article/San-Francisco-rent-most-expensive-world-average-13046919.php

FISCHER (continued from page 6)

GALLOTTA (continued from page 6)

surprise, London Breed went from victim to martyr in less time than it took for Mark Farrell’s family to magically appear from the side room in which they were stashed for his “surprise” late-night swearing-in at City Hall after the contentious Board of Supervisors meeting that slammed the door shut on poor Jeff Sheehy’s campaign for District 8 Supervisor.

in power in Washington, which means Republicans will be playing defense. And with most Republican candidates silent in the wake of Trump’s meeting with Putin in what looked to be a public act of treason, there may be even more wind in the sails of Democrats in the weeks and months ahead.

Donations for Breed’s campaign poured in, both the Women’s and African American communities got energized, and voters who were conflicted or hadn’t yet made up their minds saw this as a slap in the face and put their support behind London Breed. Granted, there were 8 tense days of vote-counting after the election, and with approximately 70% of Jane Kim’s second choice votes going to Mark Leno, he had a slim chance of victory. But in the end, London Breed won in 9 out of 11 Districts and was the first choice for the majority of San Francisco voters.

It’s a big deal that London Breed won. Her victory is a national story and is now part of the narrative of women—and especially women of color—running for office across the country.

San Francisco elected a native daughter, graduate of the public school system, and in her own words, sent the message to “the next generation of young people growing up in this city is that no matter where you come from, no matter what you decide to do in life, you can do anything you want to do.”

As with every election, it will come down to organizing, messaging and turnout. If the Ocasio-Cortez win serves as a model in these races, it means that we have to get the messaging right and talk not just about what we are against, but what we are for. We also need to organize, organize, organize and to talk to everyone—not just those most likely to vote. A few weeks after her victory, Ocasio-Cortez posted a photo on Twitter of the shoes that she wore while campaigning. The soles were worn and threadbare. Between voter registration drives and canvassing, Democrats have their work cut out for them.

We have to walk our talk.

In the next few months, I’ll be heading down to Modesto (Congressional District 10 is one of the districts we can flip) to knock on lots of doors and to talk to voters. Maybe they’ll be Democrats, maybe they’ll be Republicans, maybe they’ll have never voted before. But they need to hear from fellow Californians. They need to see an alternative vision for this country that lifts them—and all of us—up.

That’s how we turn around the upside down.

Who wants to join me?

Louise (Lou) Fischer is the Immediate Past 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 San Francisco Commissioner and has served in leadership positions in multiple non-profit and community-based organizations.

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.

RUTH (continued from page 8)

ROSTOW (continued from page 11)

floating above it all. Thirty adjustments sound like gross overkill, until they add up to a bracingly relaxed state.

in something I was watching a few years ago, because I cannot stand it when a pet is harmed and I have to be prepared in advance for these disturbing developments. The site is very helpful.

It’s too bad that we don’t have a futuristic website called “does the GLBT plaintiff win.”

You wouldn’t choose between the Expedition and Navigator based on performance, as they both stop and turn with nimbleness that’s notable in vehicles with such mass. Instead, it really does come down to how fancy you want to get—do you want 10-way luxury, or 30-way?

Assuming you could afford both, neither the Expedition nor the Navigator would disappoint.

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

KIT’N KITTY’S QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on pg 19) B) The Color Purple Alice Walker’s 1982 epistolary novel The Color Purple won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction.

Actually, I just took a glance at the website and can see that among the many subcategories, they list the 139 films in which a GLBT person dies.

Watch out for Closet Monster, Pitchfork and the Harry Potter movies, among others.

Nyet-on Yahoo Israel’s dance to the far, far right is alarming in many respects, but lately it has hit the gay community hard enough to inspire a national strike.

On Sunday, July 22, the streets were filled with protesters after Netanyahu reversed himself on the issue of surrogacy rights for single men and same-sex couples. After pledging to support these gay family rights, Netanyahu folded to his far rights allies and voted to allow surrogacy for single women only in a bill that passed the Knesset on Thursday, July 20.

The response was massive, with most employers granting employees the day off to join the strike. Tens of thousands took to the streets, calling this the last straw in a rightward shift that culminated in a flurry of last-minute legislation before the Knesset recessed. On the 19th, as you may have read, the legislature passed a bill stating that Israel “is the historic homeland of the Jewish people” [who] “have an exclusive right to national self-determination.” The bill, which effectively puts one fifth of Israeli citizens into second-class status, also downgrades Arabic from an official language, to one with a special status.

No, I have no idea what that means, but it doesn’t sound good.

Arab minority groups will likely challenge the law in court, but I read here in a Time article that “legal experts say it’s not so clear that the court will intervene,” because “several liberal judges have retired in the last few years and have been replaced with conservative ones.”

Sound familiar?

Indian Summer So, India’s top court is poised to repeal the nation’s ban on gay sex. I gather that the ban is something of

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a technicality these days. But that’s all the more reason to get rid of it, particularly since this was the court that went out of its way to reinstate the antigay section of the penal code in late 2013 for reasons that I never understood, mostly because I never bothered to investigate them.

The sodomy law had been struck down for consenting adults by the Delhi High Court in 2009, only to be revived by the Supreme Court of India a few years later based on the idea that the law could be repealed by the legislature. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that gay couples have a fundamental right to privacy under the Indian Constitution, which is why the death of the sodomy law is a fait accompli at this point.

Dumb and Dumber Finally, if you need another reason to dislike the University of Nebraska football team, here’s one: they have just rehired the avowedly antigay Ron Brown to serve as head of, um, player development and outreach. What’s that? You had never thought about the “cornhuskers” one way or another? Well, as you can see, it’s time you did. You can add them to your list of teams you would like to see lose.

And speaking of losers, I have my handsome cousin to thank for some recent “Darwin Award” winners—those being the sorts of people likely to fail the classic test of survival of the fittest. There’s the guy who reached out when his phone rang in the middle of the night, picked up his gun instead and shot himself dead. Or the lawyer who wanted to show some guests how strong the windows were in his office, threw himself at them, crashed through and fell twenty stories.

Then there was the guy who tried to bash in his girlfriend’s windshield with his shotgun and blew a (fatal) hole in his stomach in the process. And the guy who tried to refill the bird feeder on his upper f loor balcony while standing on a wheelchair. Last but not least was the man who decided to clean out his 54-caliber muzzleloader and used his cigarette lighter to get a better view of what was clogging up the barrel. (Hint: It was gunpowder.)

Guys, I love you. But does everyone notice that there are no females in the 2018 Darwin winners?

I’m not saying we have more common sense. But, well, we all know that we do. arostow@aol.com

Professional Services

N ewPer spec ti ves Center for Counseling

SISTER DANA (continued from page 20) memorabilia, wine, vodka, Jell-O Shots & Edge Drink Specials. And we enjoyed live entertainment with a great show by exquisite drag queens Donna Sachet, Kelly Rose, and Cadillac Barbie earning heavy tips for our fundraiser. Proceeds went to Krewe de Kinque’s BAL MASQUE XVI charity fund.

Sister Dana sez, “It’s been a difficult month politically and emotionally, but if we don’t get out and see what our community has to offer, the terrorists win. Especially the worst terrorist of all: traitorous Trump! So, check out these upcoming events and participate!”

AGE, SURVIVE AND THRIVE: Drawings and Poems Created by Long-Term Survivors with HIV/ AIDS (and those affected by the epidemic in San Francisco) has its opening night reception, Thursday, July 26, 5–9 pm at Shanti Mission PAWS office: 3170 23rd Street, between Folsom & South Van Ness. The exhibition closes on Wednesday, September 12. They are creating their joyously moving event AGAIN! Join them for poetry and visual art works that honor the past, present and future of these courageous BODYSCAPES artists who are members of HONORING OUR EXPERIENCE (HOE). They lived through the stigma, the judgment and the terror of the epidemic and the medical breakthrough! Now, they tell their stories of living for over 30+ years positive on their new journey—aging with HIV. www.redandorangehouse.com

Tickets are now on sale for LEFT COAST THEATRE CO.’s worldpremiere production of COME HERE OFTEN?, by LCTC Company members Erica Andracchio, Terry Maloney Haley, Neil Higgins, Rita Long, and Chris Maltby and directed by Chris Maltby. You can’t live in the past. But if you don’t remember the past, you’re doomed to repeat it. What’s a minority community to do? With the world premiere of “Come Here Often?” Left Coast Theatre Co. tackles that question with the dedication of a gay man trying to get backstage at a Joe Jonas concert. The event will celebrate the fags, dykes, barflies, and drag queens who blazed the trail for the rest of us, and cheering on the next wave of queer pioneers who are ready to make history. “Come Here Often?” will drop in on the patrons of a mythical Castro neighborhood bar, The Parlour, at three pivotal periods in the struggle of LGBT people not only to gain equal rights and protections but also to literally become visible. “Come Here Often?” will run Wednesdays through Sundays at Exit Theater, 156 Eddy Street, from August 3 to August 18. The performance on Sunday, August 5, begins at 6 pm; all other shows are at 8 pm. www.lctc-sf.org Sister Dana sez, “First, Republicans in Congress passed a bill to give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. Then, they proposed to cut $302 BILLION from critical

programs like Medicare and Social Security. They will stop at nothing to afford their detrimental tax bill. That’s right—Republicans may put cutting taxes for corporations and billionaires above preserving the safety net for seniors. Millions of seniors will suffer if these social programs are destroyed.

They need us to stand up to these attacks.”

On Friday, July 27, 6–9 pm, the fabulous JUANITA MORE will host a fabulous vinyl listening party in partnership with SPARC, benefiting TRUTH (TRans yoUTH), a joint program between the TRANSGENDER LAW CENTER AND GSA NETWORK. This collaboration culminated in the creation of a “7 Inch” vinyl record containing two original tracks that were written, recorded and inspired by Juanita.

This SF event will be an opportunity to hear the tracks and to also purchase the record for $15. The event itself is free. For those not able to attend, they can also purchase the vinyl online. Join me at SPARC, 1256 Mission Street for the fun (21+ with ID). https://www.facebook.com/ events/240205103462104/ The annual UP YOUR ALLEY leather fair is Sunday, July 29, 11 am to 6 pm on Dore Alley between Howard and Folsom, continuing on Folsom from 9th to Juniper and the adjoining block of 10th Street. Located in front of the legendary Powerhouse bar, nearly 15,000 fellow leather folk, fetish enthusiasts, and their friends enjoy watching or participating in

BDSM play at over 50 adult vendor spaces, including food, beverages and DJs for dancing in the streets. It’s a big fundraiser and the little brother of the much larger annual FOLSOM STREET FAIR. https://www.folsomstreetevents.org/up-your-alley/ SAN FRANCISCO LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER is hosting a free COMMUNITY CHAMBER CONCERT in collaboration with the SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY and funded by the Irvine Foundation. It will be held on Monday, July 30, 6:30–8 pm at the Center at 1800 Market Street in the Rainbow Room.

The performance will feature a lively and talented string quartet including members of the San Francisco Symphony. The concert will be followed by a question and answer session with the musicians. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sfsymphony-at-the-sf-lgbt-center-tickets-48223281132 TOMFOOLERY is now playing at the Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter Street. Tom Lehrer epitomized the era of satirical humor in the 1950s and 1960s, writing songs that were wickedly naughty yet not X-rated by today’s standards in any way. What is most amazing about Lehrer’s music is how timeless it has remained, dealing with subjects such as religion, love and nuclear weapons without in any way dating the material. Turned into

a musical revue by the producing genius behind Cats and Phantom of the Opera, Cameron Macintosh, Tomfoolery is still one of the most bitingly hilarious two hours of music that you will ever hear. A cast of three men and two women will sing and act out Tom’s music and will send you home with a smile on your face and at least a couple of thoughts rattling around in your brain. Tom may have decided to retire from songwriting, but his humor remains as a legacy for all of us today. https://www.landmarkmusicals.com/ SEX AND THE CITY LIVE is back at the Oasis, 298 11th Street!

Relive some of your favorite moments during this loving tribute to the iconic show, which finds four “young” “women” in search of the perfect relationship all while looking gorgeous and knocking back plenty of Cosmopolitans. Featuring drag stars (director, producer) D’Arcy Drollinger, Sue Casa, Lady Bear and Steven LeMay. Running August 2 through September 8, 8 pm. https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/sex-and-thecity-live Sister Dana sez, “On July 19, every Repugnican on the House Intelligence Committee rejected a motion to subpoena Trump’s U.S. translator at HELLsinki. That is absolutely unacceptable, and let’s hope that the Senate has enough foresight to put our national interest ahead of party politics.”

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