San Francisco Bay Times - September 5, 2019

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2019) September 5–18, 2019 | http://sfbaytimes.com

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER DYDYK FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

GGBA Begins a New Chapter

Join the Golden Gate Business Association!

If you are an LGBTQ or Allied business person looking for a place to make sincere connections that can lead to greater success and a sense of community, GGBA is the place for you!

Reach out to Krystal Drwencke, GGBA Vice President: vp@GGBA.com

Work of Lesbian Civil Rights Pioneer May Revolutionize CA’s Violence Prevention Strategy “A man wishing to plant a tree in his yard was advised against this idea by his gardener.

The tree would take a hundred years to bear fruit, said the gardener. ‘In that case,’ said the man, ‘we had better begin immediately.’”

–John F. Kennedy, quoted from the outside back cover of the 1982 Ounces of Prevention report

Crime control is not something that many of us would associate with Martin, who with longtime partner Phyllis Lyon (1924–) in 1955 founded the first social and political organization for lesbians in the U.S.: the Daughters of Bilitis. The couple PHOTO BY RINK were married in 2014 in the first same-sex wedding to take place in San Francisco. After that marriage was voided six months later by the California Supreme Court, they married again in 2008 in another same-sex wedding historic first. LyonMartin Health Services, still going strong in San Francisco, was named after them, and Martin in June of this year was one of the inaugural fifty American pioneers, trailblazers and heroes inducted on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor within the Stonewall National Monument.

Discovery of a 37-Year-Old Report Less known is that Martin in 1976 authored the first book in the U.S. concerning domestic violence, Battered Wives (Volcano Press, 1976). “As a result of this book and her related advocacy work,” Mon informed the San Francisco Bay Times, “Del was appointed to the California Commission on Crime Control and Violence Prevention. When I was going through her papers after she died, I came upon the 1982 Final Report to the People of California prepared by the commission.”

Mon, a member of the National Department of Peacebuilding Committee, noted how this Ounces of Prevention report outlined problems and offered solutions that are still in alignment with the goals of her committee today. As a cover letter that was found with the report mentioned, “a nonviolent future requires some fundamental changes in what we teach our children, how we resolve interpersonal conflicts and act institutionally to deny equal opportunity to whole classes of persons. Perhaps most important, it calls for each of us to critically examine our basic values and cultural assumptions and to actively refuse the violence in our lives.”

A Shift in Thinking About Crime, Violence Importantly, the report highlighted the root causes of violent behavior.

These may include poverty, misogyny, institutional racism, other forms of inequality, drug addiction, childhood abuse and additional factors. The work of Martin and the commission marked a shift from looking mostly to the prison system for solutions and instead to the more complex problems that interconnect with crime and violence.

Mon, other members of her committee and their supporters believe that

PHOTO COURTESY OF KENDRA MON

Kendra Mon, the daughter of lesbian civil rights pioneer Del Martin (1921– 2008), recently shared the above quote with us. A favorite of her mother’s, it reminds us that goals sometimes take decades to achieve, with the rewards not necessarily benefiting earlier generations who did the initial visionary work. Such is the case for Martin, whose efforts concerning crime control and prevention have been continued

by Mon and will likely soon influence legislation statewide.

(Top) The Rainbow Honor Walk plaque installed on 18th Street in the Castro; (Middle) Phyllis Lyon (left) with Del Martin; (Bottom) Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon in the 1976 Gay Freedom Day Parade on Polk Street

“it is in the public’s interest to translate the findings of the commission into community-empowering, community-activated violence prevention efforts that would educate, inspire, and inform the citizens of California about, coordinate existing programs relating to, and provide direct services addressing the root causes of, violence in California,” she shared.

Assembly Bill 656 To that end, she has been advocating for Assembly Bill 656, which would create the Office of Healthy and Safe Communities within the Department of Public Health. The new Office would be charged with developing, implementing and monitoring a statewide comprehensive violence prevention strategy. This would include promoting safe, stable and nurturing environments for children, families and communities; support for rape crisis centers; formation of an advisory committee including representatives from communities heavily impacted by violence; and much more.

The bill would further require the director to strengthen the professionalization of community violence intervention and prevention as a licensed occupation and would facilitate the coordination and alignment of programming across statewide departments and agencies, among other duties.

For the purposes of these provisions, the bill would appropriate the sum of $6 million from the General Fund for the 2019–2020 fiscal year. As of this writing, AB656 cleared two California assembly committees and the full assembly before it went to the senate.

In the senate, the bill cleared two committees, but was tabled by the Senate Appropriations Committee this year after an August 12 hearing date.

“With any luck,” Mon said, “the tabling will be undone, recommendation from that committee will lead to passage by the senate, and Governor Newsom will sign it into law.” She added that this would all have to happen before September 13, which is the last day in 2019 to pass a bill in the state legislature.

Whatever the outcome of AB656, Martin’s legacy will continue to affect positive change. Mon will continue her own work as well. Like her mother, she is in it for the long haul and desires long-lasting, effective solutions to problems that are often centuries in the making.

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1619: Beyond Reparations

Andrea Shorter As a new school year has begun for most K–12, university undergrads and graduate students, American history lessons are likely to encompass, explore or at least acknowledge one of the major commemorative events of 2019 that has permeated nearly every social, economic, legal, and political pore of the American complexion.

Earlier this year, we kicked off a universal commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots of 1969, the backbone event that spurred the latter 20th century’s gay liberation movement. Additionally, 2019 also marks the 50th Anniversary of the Woodstock Festival that brought over 500,000 young people during one of the most turbulent times in history—in the aftermath of the assassinations of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy, and at the height of the Vietnam War—for a 3-day celebration of peace, love, and music.

Four hundred years ago, no forefather or foremother of this nation— native born, immigrant, free by birthright, or enslaved—could have possibly foreseen the path towards the nation we have become today. No one could have imagined the deep and abiding implications beset by this common inheritance of the remnants of enslaving a race of people to build a free nation. No matter how and when we came to be members of this once new society, in one way or another, directly or indirectly, we are all bearers of the intrinsic social, economic, and political consequences of slavery.

While there are certainly many other social, political, and cultural events

It’s been very interesting, if not just amusing, to witness how the reckoning with the vestiges of the vast enslavement of Africans seeps into the current campaigning for pres-

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ident by some candidates, and the embrace and call for reparations to descendants of slaves. Super extralong-shot candidate and spiritual thought leader Marianne Williamson made her mark on the last primary debate stage by positing a well thought defense of, and formula for, reparations (to the tune of $500 billion, based on the compounded value and interests of the never delivered promise of 40 acres and a mule for freed families of four upon emancipation from slavery) for what she surmises is a long overdue “debt that is owed.”

I do appreciate her and other advocates rather compelling rationale for reparations. She is correct: we do need a “deep truth telling” about race, and the giant gaping economic gap between black and white folks derived from the injustices of slavery.

However, I am concerned that, while it is absolutely impossible to hold a constructive discussion about the merits of reparations, in monetary or other forms, divorced from the history and consequences of enslavement that rightful, well-intentioned discussion about reparations overshadows the depth and dimensions of the overall and fuller narrative about the history, journey, and vestiges of slavery upon this 400th year of the first slaves.

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Cross Currents

It is recorded that in August 1619, the first West Africans were brought to North American shores to be enslaved. Thus began what is considered to be an original sin upon which American sovereignty was built. The slaughter of the continent’s indigenous peoples and seizure of their rightful lands is unequivocally the true original sin in the creation of a free nation of colonists seeking their own liberation from their oppressive native British homeland. Yet, the blood-soaked stains of slavery—the mere gut wrenching thought of it, the reckoning with its material and existential consequences—remain the longest quest for both material and existential exorcism from the American psyche.

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC RESOURCES

of 50 years ago or earlier, or even later, to be commemorated alongside these transformative happenings, the event to which I am referencing occurred 400 years ago.

Published in Harper’s Monthly Magazine in 1901, the image depicts the arrival of the White Lion in Hampton, Virginia, in 1619.

This is not something that can be resolved through a singular material transaction. A singular material transaction will not absolve nor resolve the matter. In fact, it may never be fully or absolutely resolved with or without $500 billion.

What can be done is to be more than just “woke” about the impacts of this cemented aspect of the American story. We can dedicate to learning and seeking a greater understanding about the deeper truths of how slavery and racism continue to build and shape how and why we relate to each other institutionally, culturally, and politically.

To that end, The New York Times has unveiled “The 1619 Project.”

It is an interactive project created by reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones that features storytelling, essays, poems, short fiction, and other commemorative presentations by various editors and collaborators, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

As broadly noted by the project’s editors, “It aims to reframe the country’s history, understanding 1619 as our true founding, and placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are.”

As the academic year commences, it should be equally interesting to hear what students report about the history lessons exploring this 400th year of the start of slavery, and start of this nation. With The 1619 Project as a guide, I expect those reports to be quite enlightening.

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.

Join Me in Shaping GGBA’s Future

As technology has evolved and advanced, many believe the role of a Chamber of Commerce has diminished. The question often arises: “In a world where every item and service can be purchased online, impersonally and in the blink of an eye, is there a role for a local chamber of commerce to play?”

I believe the answer to that question is an emphatic “yes”! No amount of technological innovation will replace a core axiom: people like to do business with people they know, people they like, and people they trust.

GGBA events are the platform for such relationships to start and to

Gina Grahame

GGBA History The Golden Gate Business Association was formed in 1974, when a group of gay bar and nightclub owners saw the value and power of banding together. Membership grew quickly, expanding to include stockbrokers, insurance agents, accountants, florists, contractors, and attorneys “who happen to be gay,” as GGBA banners at the time read.

Over the last 45 years, the GGBA has continually pushed to expand the visibility of, and opportunities for, LGBT business owners.

• 1980: The GGBA Foundation is formed to raise funds for nonprofits of critical importance to the LGBT community. The foundation changed its name to “Horizons Foundation” in 1998, became fully independent, and has given more than $30 million in support of LGBTQ organizations.

• 1992: GGBA joined with Don Fisher (Founder of The Gap), Charles Schwab (Schwab & Co.), Sam Ginn (CEO of Pacific Telesis), along with the top 25 employers in San Francisco, to advocate for key initiatives to keep jobs in San Fran-

cisco. It forged a new collaboration between the LGBT business community and business leaders.

• 1994: GGBA convened the firstever “LGBT Business Expo.” It was held at the Marriott Hotel and included over 100 LGBT owned businesses.

• 2003: GGBA became a founding member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and hosted their first national conference.

• 2015: GGBA joined with six other LGBT Chambers in California, and the NGLCC, in a leadership position to win the passage of California Assembly Bill 1678, which codifies LGBT business participation in the procurement programs of California Public Utilities.

• 2016–17: GGBA partnered with the San Francisco Business Times to expand on their annual “Business of Pride” issue that grew from a “Top 25 LGBT Businesses” to an amazing “Top 50 LGBT Businesses.”

As we move into 2020, the GGBA has launched a new foundation, to once again fund organizations and programs of importance to the LGBTQ community. We are continuing the expansion of Board– Member conversations, started under our immediate Past-President Audry deLucia. These include quarterly round-table discussions, and the weekly “Coffee with the President” sessions that are open to anyone wanting to talk about the GGBA, supplier diversity, or LGBT business.

Gender History as a Business Asset, Not Liability One aspect of the GGBA that makes me most proud is the diversity within the Board itself. We are

PHOTO BY DANIEL NICOLETTA

flourish. The Chamber is full of stories concerning how one’s business truly grew through the relationships developed within the GGBA. And I can’t wait to hear the stories from businesses yet come.

PHOTO BY LIZA HEIDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Just as we finished the celebration of historic achievements for the LGBT community—national recognition of gay marriage, the ability to serve openly in the military, and, of course, the huge strides in visibility and acceptance of transgender and gender non-conforming people—our community was shaken by the election and fallout of the current presidential administration. Among their many attacks on personal freedoms is the upcoming case of R.G. and G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to be heard by the Supreme Court in October. In the face of this, visibility and activism by those of us who are out in business have never been more important.

These are needs that the GGBA has addressed since its inception.

By Gina Grahame

GGBA’s booth at Civic Center during Pride 1978

comprised of individuals who identify as L, G, B, T, Q, and Allied.

That diversity is furthered in the age groups, cultures, and, of course, in the members’ respective industry verticals.

underwent gender surgery in 1962—was fond of saying: “We (early transsexual sisters) were never embarrassed about our history; we just didn’t believe it was relevant to our future or potential.”

When I was first introduced to the GGBA, I worried that I wouldn’t fit in or be welcomed because I didn’t see anyone like me. I worried that I would become the “the token T”—welcomed not for who I was, but for what I was. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Dawn Ackerman, Audry deLucia, and Robb Fleischer are just three GGBA members who greeted me with warm smiles, open hearts, and great advice. They, and others, became my mentors as well as my friends.

Some called it “stealth” mode: blending into society as the gender we always knew ourselves to be as opposed to being a visible outsider.

Some people today look negatively at my decision or try to place a label of dishonesty or shame onto it. But most who would do so were not there nor remember navigating the world of LGBT before the breadth of information was available at their fingertips, thanks to the internet.

Through the GGBA, I learned that my gender history was an asset to my business, not a liability. I learned that my experiences and achievements as a speaker, actor, spokesperson, global sales manager, and entrepreneur—first as male and then as female—are an integral part of the UVP (unique value proposition) I bring to my clients. This realization is, to me, the heart of the GGBA. This notion of being fully out and proud is one that I did not hold for many years. After coming out as transsexual in 1992 (the term “transgender” was not in popular use then, nor was it the umbrella term that is known as today), I effectively went back into the closet. I saw my transsexuality as a medical condition: I was diagnosed, underwent treatment, moved on with my life and didn’t talk openly about my gender history for the next 20 years.

As a mentor and dear friend of mine, Aleshia Brevard—who

Proud to Be an Openly Transsexual Woman During my first therapy session in 1990, she asked me, “Is there anything wrong with being transsexual?” I replied, “Yeah, there is.

You lose your family. You lose your friends. You lose your career. You lose your credibility. It costs a fortune. And from everything I’ve seen, you’re likely to die young and violently. There’s no upside.”

I’m glad to say that I learned that my initial response was wrong and that I am proud to sit here as an openly transsexual woman.

But back then, there was a time when the only gender non-conforming people seen on TV were crossdressers and drag performers on the daytime talk shows of Jerry Springer, Geraldo, Sally Jesse Raphael, and Phil Donahue. And media representation was restricted to the grocery check-out line tabloids—most notably, long before “old” transsexuals (those over the (continued on page 28)

Speed Networking at GGBA “Member-to-Member Speed Networking” was introduced at GGBA’s August Make Contact mixer held at Spaces California Mission & 3rd, a coworking open-sourced workplace. The networking, which opened the event, allowed participants to exchange business cards and information with numerous others in a welcoming environment over a productively short time.

Speed Networking is just one highlight of GGBA’s Make Contact events, held monthly. The series is one of the largest and most successful Bay Area LGBT networking events. For more information: https://ggba.com/make-contacts/

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GGBA Letter From Leadership

Bring It - Your Voice Matters and You Need to Be Seen

We live in a time when being visible and making your voice heard changes the course of things; things like who has the honor of representing us in office, Audry who gets to serve in our armed deLucia forces and who can get fired for being who they are. You may think that you don’t have the time and you can’t add much. You may not realize how important you are.

of who I am as a business professional—being heard as an expert in my field, and as a lesbian. It was empowering.

We’re all busy—kept occupied by technology, commerce and economic survival. It can be challenging to feel empowered in the face of bigotry, social injustice, inflated economics and inescapable rhetoric. You’re not alone in wanting to take a vacation instead of taking a stand. And you know you’re not alone when you see others showing up, sharing their ideas, being seen. All it takes is choosing to be present and visible.

Six years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined that my voice would move the dial forward for LGBTQ businesses here in California, and by ripple impact, throughout the U.S.; that I would make a difference in California utility companies, the California Insurance Commission and the NFL in seeking and hiring LGBTQ businesses, and in encouraging and mentoring future LGBTQ business leaders to thrive.

When my company, ellaprint, joined the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) in 2013, I had no idea how it would impact my business. At the time, I was simply blown away that there was a business organization that not only accepted, but also celebrated all

Yet, my voice has made a difference, as part of a larger chorus of everyday business professionals coming together through the GGBA and giving what they can: leveraging our best skills, leading boldly with all of who we are and manifesting positive change.

This organization lifted me up and helped me to see my strengths. In a world that can so often be arbitrary and cruel—that sees preconceived assumptions before the human being in front of them—I found an unexpected home team in the GGBA. It is one that has since pushed me every day to become a better version of myself.

The GGBA member spotlight for this issue is on Simon Isaac of Zero Above, a boutique creative marketing agency with offices in San Francisco and Magdalena Rodriguez Colchester, U.K. He is the Managing Director and Owner of this innovative and successful international business.

In 1974, it was to establish space for the marginalized LGBTQ businesses of San Francisco. In the 80s, the GGBA, like so many other nonprofit organizations, became a resource and a refuge for those fighting and losing the battle with HIV/AIDS. In the 90s and 2000s, it gathered strength and surfaced anew as a resource for San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ businesses. And over the past decade, the GGBA has transformed itself yet again, into a business advocacy organization providing resources and opportunity for LGBTQ businesses.

What you have to offer makes a difference.

If ever there was a time to rise up, it is now: working together, pooling our voices, leveraging our strengths and collectively opening hearts, minds and the workplace.

So, bring it! Bring your best bold, messy self to center stage, for it is your very passion— and every one of us has passion—which imprints itself on those around us in ways that we cannot imagine and may never see. The

Simon Isaac: Zero Above is a boutique marketing agency with a unique approach to design which has creativity and performance at its heart. Our formula is built on a clear goal of delivering results for our clients, combined with a flair for custom-made design. We believe we are offering something truly fresh and unique to the marketing landscape of San Francisco.

Our mission is to work with our clients to create business changing results, whether creatively or financially. We are both the heart and the head of great marketing.

Magdalena Rodriquez: Why did you decide to create your business?

I hope that each of you reading this will consider stepping up your engagement with the GGBA. You just may be the voice and the face who inspires the courage in another to stand up and be seen and add their voice to the chorus.

Audry deLucia is the President of the GGBA. She is also the President and Co-Owner of ellaprint, a full-service award and commercial printing manufacturer: https://www.ellaprint.com/

By Magdalena Rodriguez

Speed Networking at GGBA and Zero Above have a home and belong here in San Francisco, which is fantastic for a business opening a new office in a new city.

Magdalena Rodriquez: What has been your biggest reward and satisfaction during your journey as an entrepreneur?

Simon Isaac: I always feel grateful for the people who join me on the journey and how we all work together with the same values and mission in life; that is to enjoy what we do, do great work and have some fun along the way. In my eyes, this is the route to a successful and profitable business.

Simon Isaac: Zero Above was launched as a carbon balanced business 10 years ago. At the time, governmental change and carbon tax systems were being introduced. We saw an opportunity then to add financial and environmental benefits to clients’ businesses to reduce their carbon footprint through using our design and marketing services.

Magdalena Rodriquez: What is the most important lesson you learned being an entrepreneur?

Magdalena Rodriquez: Do you have any specific policies in place that benefit the LGBT community?

Simon Isaac: Without doubt, to surround myself with amazing, talented people.

Simon Isaac: We have a diversity and inclusivity policy to protect the team and our clients. Everyone who works at Zero Above, or who works with us, is treated with equal respect.

Magdalena Rodriquez: Is there anything else that you would like to share?

Magdalena Rodriquez: Do you have any specific policies in place regarding workplace equality?

Simon Isaac: We also have an equality policy, equal pay policy and modern anti-slavery policy. I am also a strong advocate of personal development and every member of the team at Zero Above has the opportunity to progress beyond their own imagination.

Simon Isaac: Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to present at the annual Power Lunch and made some fantastic introductions. The GGBA has also made me feel that both I

Visibility matters, and adding your voice and your face—being seen in full color—embracing the challenge of continuing to become better and encouraging and supporting others to do the same is how we change the world. Each of us holds the power within us to inspire another. Engaging with the vibrant business community of the GGBA helped me to find the courage to tap into my power and to step up and be seen.

Simon Isaac

Magdalena Rodriquez: Please describe your business and its mission and values.

Magdalena Rodriquez: How has the GGBA helped your business so far?

most effective way to impact and change the world around you is to become part of the change.

Throughout the GGBA’s 45-year history it has seen many changes. Indeed, what the community and its membership has needed has continued to transform over time.

Simon Isaac of Zero Above

GGBA Member Spotlight

By Audry deLucia

Simon Isaac: Actually, I’m a great sharer and collaborator and full of good ideas. When you see me at a GGBA event or you want to chat about an idea or challenge, come and say hello or get in touch!

For more information: https://zeroabove.co.uk/ Magdalena Rodriguez is the Co-Founder and Director of GPSGAY Inc. mobile app and website—available in Spanish, English and Portuguese—for the LGBTQ community, www.gpsgay.com

GGBA CALENDAR East Bay Make Contact GGBA will kick off Oakland Pride Weekend at this East Bay event.

September 5 Wooden Table Café 2300 Broadway, Oakland 6 pm–8 pm Free for Members; $25 for Non-Members https://bit.ly/2Zt1Htp Coffee with the President Each Friday, Audry deLucia and Gina Grahame— President and President-Elect of GGBA—invite you to share your thoughts with them about GGBA and to learn more about the Association and LGBT business certification.

September 6, 13, 20, 27 October 4, 11, 18, 25 7:30 am–8:30 am Equator Coffee LinkedIn building 222 2nd Street (at Howard) https://bit.ly/2LJm01E 2019 Annual Member Meeting September 10 https://bit.ly/2YBdoNd GGBA Member Roundtable October 8 5:30 pm–6 pm https://bit.ly/2ZFluoz Make Contact Mixer - Nonprofit Spotlight October 8 6 pm–8 pm https://bit.ly/2MR9j6i

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Dangers of Facial Recognition Technology my proposal to ban law enforcement from adding facial recognition and other biometric scanners to bodyworn cameras. I could see innocent Californians subjected to perpetual police lineups because of faulty technology. We cannot let this happen.

Such inaccuracies led Axon, one of the largest manufacturers of police body cameras, to prohibit facial recognition programs in its products.

Microsoft also had the same concerns, particularly the high error rate among women and people of color, when it declined to sell facial recognition software to a California law enforcement agency.

Assemblymember Phil Ting While facial recognition technology is a cool way to unlock your smartphone, it is not ready for prime time.

Case in point: the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently ran the photos of all 120 California lawmakers against an arrest database, and the software incorrectly matched mugshots with 26 legislators, including me—even though I have never been arrested. What’s also disturbing is that more than half of the falsely identified were people of color.

Furthermore, body cameras are tools to increase police accountability and transparency. When there’s an officer-involved shooting, the footage can let the public know whether procedures were followed and help police rebuild trust in the communities they serve. The addition of facial recognition programs would essentially transform body cameras into taxpayer-funded 24-hour surveillance tools without our consent.

A similar test was conducted using the pictures of members of Congress, and that, too, produced incorrect matches: twenty-eight of them.

Given the mistakes and apparent bias, the results from this experiment reinforce the need for AB 1215,

That happened in the City of Detroit, where police have been quietly using facial recognition technology to make arrests. While their software was installed in hundreds of city cameras, not body cameras, the

problems are the same: authorities can track your every movement and gather information on you.

This potential for civil rights abuse is exactly why the City of San Francisco banned its departments from using facial recognition technology. Imagine it being used at any one of California’s public spaces where law-abiding citizens going about their business are secretly surveilled and their images generated to run through a mugshot database.

If my colleagues and I were mistakenly flagged as suspects, could you be next?

This is not the kind of state we want.

Even an arrest that does not result in charges or a conviction stays on your record, and can prevent people from getting jobs and housing. Clearing your record is possible, but the process is a hassle that requires time and money.

Facial recognition technology in police body cameras does not make us safer. It would only turn us into a police state. AB 1215 should be signed into law.

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

Oakland Has a Housing Crisis, So Where Is the Money to End It? grown, but our housing affordability crisis is a primary driver.

According to a study by RentCafe, national rents average $1,469 per month. In comparison, Oakland average rents in July 2019 were $2,854 per month. Too many families, and in particular, Black and Latino families, are still rent burdened and in danger of displacement or homelessness due to this disparity. These are major factors that help to explain why constituency groups and individuals from the National Alliance to End Homelessness to the Chair of Governor Newsom’s Homeless Task Force have prioritized permanently affordable housing as the solution to ending homelessness so that we can create sustainable and vibrant cities.

Out of the Closet and into City Hall Oakland City Councilmember At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan In key findings from a survey of Oakland residents conducted on December 7, 2018, 75 percent of our residents see homelessness and housing as the top issues they want to be prioritized. This is not surprising, given that in most of our flatland districts, encampments line our major thoroughfares.

While the City has already surpassed its regional housing construction quotas, it is failing at creating affordable housing. According to a report by the Mayor’s Housing Cabinet, of the 10,092 new homes permitted, only 7 percent were reserved for low-income residents, falling far below the 28 percent pledged. If we truly want to end the homelessness crisis and keep Oaklanders housed, affordable—including deeply affordable—housing needs to be a citywide priority. We know the need is there.

Over 4,000 individuals applied for 28 affordably priced homes, known as the Redwood Hill Townhomes, in May of 2019.

The EveryOne Counts! 2019 Homeless Count and Survey confirmed what every Oakland resident has been experiencing, that the number of unsheltered individuals in Alameda County has increased 43 percent from 2017. There are several reasons why our unhoused population has

In 2016, the Council took the step of addressing the impacts of the lack of affordable housing by implementing a fee for new market rate development to pay its fair share toward funding the City’s affordable housing needs. Due to the lack of transparency around the Impact Fee Fund during the recently passed Oakland City Budget cycle, it was unclear precisely how much money is in this Fund.

As such, I have scheduled a Committee hearing to receive a full accounting of affordable housing impact fees, and the status of these monies. I am also moving a resolution to fast-track these funds to affordable housing developers so that we can begin to develop housing for our unsheltered neighbors. It is unacceptable to ask market rate developers to come to the table financially to fund this development and not distribute the funds to those who are willing and waiting to utilize these funds for the intended purpose of stemming the tide of displacement and homelessness. I am committed to seeing this through, and I am hopeful that many others in the region will join me in this fight for community dignity.

For more information: EveryOne Counts! 2019 Homeless Count and Survey: https://bit.ly/2ktEfwS National Alliance to End Homelessness Proposed Solutions: https://bit.ly/2sl2ptx

Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan was elected in 2008 to serve as Oakland’s citywide Councilmember; she was re-elected in 2016. She also serves on the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC). Follow Councilmember Kaplan on Twitter @Kaplan4Oakland ( https://twitter.com/Kaplan4Oakland ) and Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/Kaplan4Oakland/ ).

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

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EQCA Brunch to Honor Accomplishments of Womxn has consistently focused efforts on gender parity—from the boards to the staff to the legislation for which we advocate.

Diane Abbitt and I were co-chairs and board members of Equality California in the early 2000s. We did this at a time when there were few women leading large nonprofits.

According to GuideStar’s 2015 Nonprofit Compensation Report, only 18 percent of nonprofits with an annual budget of $50 million or more had a female CEO. Although there has been an increase in women-led nonprofits with budgets of $1 million or more since then, women leadership still lags in this sector. EQCA

So, it’s no accident that EQCA has been working hand in hand with LGBTQ leaders like Atkins, Congresswoman Katie Hill, and Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman to ensure that we have not only a voice but also a seat at the table. Over the years, women allies including California State Controller Betty Yee and Laurie Hasencamp, who is the acting director of strategic education and initiatives at UCLA’s Williams Institute, have played integral roles in the organization and on our board.

We’re setting the table, gearing up for continued action on behalf of

A panel discussion in the event space at Manny’s.

the community, and this event, EQCA’s Womxn Brunch - San Francisco, is another way to honor and celebrate the power and strength of all women. Plus, it will include a fun, dynamic group of womxn and allies, great food, a hosted bar and all for a good cause that is needed now more than ever.

We’re happy to have California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis as our special guest speaker for the brunch on Saturday, September 7. It will be from 11 am– 1 pm at Manny’s, 3092 16th Street in San Francisco. I am proud to cochair the event with another amazing woman, Valerie Ploumpis, EQCA’s national policy director. We all look forward to having you join us!

Tickets are $100 and include brunch and a hosted bar. To purchase tickets, go to https://bit.ly/2ZvXCYP

California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis

Other EQCA womxn events are planned for Palm Springs in November and in Los Angeles next year.

WWW.EQUALITYCALIFORNIA.ORG

EQCA is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We are California’s only LGBTQ civil rights organization working at the local, state and national levels.

It was women who were helping our friends in San Francisco during the early days of HIV and AIDS. Our trans and lesbian sisters were and continue to be on the frontlines for the battle for equality. Today, women continue to be conversation leaders and facilitators of change—just look to California Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, who has shattered glass ceilings as the first female LGBTQ speaker of the California Assembly, the first woman and first LGBTQ person to serve as president pro tem of the California Senate, and one of just four people ever to serve in both positions.

WWW.WELCOMETOMANNYS.COM

A few months ago, Equality California (EQCA)—the nonprofit I’ve been a part of since the early 2000s—approached me to help chair an event honoring womxn. I jumped at the opportunity, not only because it’s important to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of all women in both public and private sectors, but also because, since its founding in 1998 (as CAPE), EQCA has benefited from the dedicated work of women in the fight for equality.

WWW.WELCOMETOMANNYS.COM

Leslie Katz, Esq.

I’ve been proud of EQCA for leading the way in promoting gender parity in our community because, when the persistent public perception of an LGBTQ person is a white gay man, organizational leaders understood the contributions of women and people of color in our community and the need to have us present in all conversations of equality.

Leslie Katz, Esq., is a former San Francisco Supervisor, former President of the Port of San Francisco and a past Chair of the Democratic County Central Committee. She is now a partner at the global firm CKR Law.

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Real Estate

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Forgetting History at Our Peril: The Foundation George W. Bush Laid for Donald Trump

6/26 and Beyond Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis A few days ago, a friend who is very active in the LGBTIQ rights movement quipped that things were so bad with Trump he almost wished for the “good ole days” when George W. Bush was president. Our friend’s not alone in this type of misplaced nostalgia.

Two years ago, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accidentally substituted Bush’s name for Trump’s in criticizing the president in a nationwide television interview. She quickly caught herself, exclaiming, “I’m sorry, President Bush,” and adding: “I never thought I’d pray for the day when George W. Bush was president again!”

But Pelosi was closer to the truth when she accidentally conflated Bush and Trump. Her 2008 assessment of Bush when he was still president summed things up more correctly. After wishing Bush well personally, Pelosi explained that, as president, he was “a total failure, losing all credibility with the American people on the economy, on the war, on energy, you name the subject.” Among many subjects we could add to that list are LGBTIQ rights, dignity, and equality.

We’ll never forget the evening when Bush attacked LGBTIQ people in front of the entire nation in his 2004 State of the Union address. After first saying that all Americans “must work together to counter the negative influence of the culture and to send the right messages to our children,” he laid into lesbian and gay people, without every saying the L or G word.

Referring to the Massachusetts decision finding marriage discrimination unconstitutional, Bush declared: “If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process. Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage.”

So far, Trump has been able to nominate two justices who together mirror Roberts and Alito: Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch. And who nominated Kavanaugh and Gorsuch to the federal appellate courts, positioning them for elevation to the high court?

George W. Bush.

It felt like a dagger to the heart.

Further, thousands of LGBTIQ members of the military were discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell during Bush’s presidency.

Weeks later, he went full-bore, announcing his support for a federal constitutional amendment “defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife.” He warned that “there is no assurance that the Defense of Marriage Act will not itself be struck down by activist courts,” and if they did, “every state would be forced to recognize any relationship that judges in Boston or officials in San Francisco choose to call a marriage.”

Not just sex-same relationships— any relationship.

Bush and his key political advisor, the notorious Karl Rove whose own father was gay, devised a 2004 presidential campaign that exploited homophobia in order to divide and conquer. When Bush declared his support for the federal anti-gay amendment, a John Kerry spokesperson warned that Bush was using “wedge issues and the politics of fear to divide the nation.” She was right.

During Bush’s tenure as president, anti-marriage equality campaigns in 31 of the 50 states took their cue from Bush and used his anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric to deprive same-sex couples and their families of our basic human rights.

And Bush nominated Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito, whom many consider to the right of Clarence Thomas, to the U.S. Supreme Court. Once on the Court, Roberts and Alito both voted to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act and vigorously dissented from the Court’s landmark decision establishing nationwide marriage equality.

The same year that Pelosi made her comments about Bush, Ellen DeGeneres interviewed Bush on her hugely popular talk show and positively gushed over Bush, dancing with him and exclaiming, “I’m so excited to have you here!”

She asked him nothing about his record, even as Bush himself in the interview declared that “the nation needs a free and independent press ... to hold politicians to account, including me.”

DeGeneres mentioned nothing about all of the harm that Bush had caused to LGBTIQ people, including his opposition to her right to marry, thereby denying her access to the approximately 1,500 rights and protections that come with marriage. She never asked him to take responsibility for any of his actions as president.

The ways that Bush’s presidency could be seen as laying a foundation for Trump’s go far beyond attacks on LGBTIQ people and cynical exploitation of prejudice against minorities for political gain. Recall Bush’s starting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that resulted in over a million casualties at a price tag of $4-6 trillion; his administration’s torture and inhumane treatment of captives, some of whom were completely innocent bystanders; Bush’s manipulating facts and misleading the public as to the basis for the Iraq invasion; his callous treatment of Hurricane Katrina victims, who were disproportionately poor people of color; and irresponsible tax cuts that, along with (continued on page 28)

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Children of Narcissists and the Trance of Trump only way that they were able to survive their childhoods with narcissistic parents was to lose contact with their inner lives and to experience themselves as mere echoes of their parents.

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

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

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

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

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

Beth Greene Michael Delgado Abby Zimberg Design & Production

Kate Laws Business Manager Blake Dillon Calendar Editor

Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence J.H. Herren Technology Director Carla Ramos Web Coordinator Mario Ordonez Distribution

CONTRIBUTORS Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Patrick Carney, Kate Kendell, Alex Randolph, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Tim Seelig, Cinder Ernst, John Chen Rafael Mandelman, Jewelle Gomez, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Kin Folkz, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Peter Gallotta, Bill Lipsky, Karen Williams, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron Michele Karlsberg Lyndsey Schlax, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Howard Steiermann, Andrea Shorter, Lou Fischer, Karin Jaffie, Brett Andrews, Karen E. Bardsley, David Landis Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Morgan Shidler, JP Lor

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT Since 2016, I’ve noticed a marked increase in the number of people calling to inquire about therapy as self-described “children of narcissistic parents” (CONP’s). This is probably a consequence of the rise of the Trump cult. Until he arrived on the political stage, it was common to think of a narcissist as just “a self-centered person,” but Trump’s brand of paranoid, malignant narcissism has made us more aware of how destructive to others this character disorder can be.

When children are raised by at least one narcissistic parent, the experience wreaks havoc on their core sense of self. Some psychotherapists refer to the resulting condition as “Echoism,” because CONP’s typically have lost their own voices. The

This, by the way, may help to explain why those who’ve fallen into what I call “the trance of Trump” are so slavishly uncritical of everything that he says and does. Trump has only two kinds of people in his life: those who are completely devoted to him, and enemies. The only way to be a Trump supporter is to echo whatever he says and does. Trumpism is fundamentally incompatible with any kind of independent thought.

Therapy for CONP’s means turning one’s radar around so that it no longer focuses just on the needs and feelings of the narcissists in their lives, but registers what is inside— their own needs and feelings, their own sense of what is true and what is right.

Sometimes there’s a tipping point in this process, in which CONP’s realize the enormity of the fraud that has been perpetrated on them. As they come to see that they’ve never been loved for themselves, but only for their usefulness to the narcissist, an overwhelming sense of betrayal arises, accompanied by intense rage. This is a potentially dangerous moment in the therapy process,

because CONP’s can respond vengefully and destructively, but it’s also an auspicious time, when real insight and change become possible.

Savior cults like Trumpism have shelf lives. Eventually, as his followers begin to collide with those pesky factual realities, hastened perhaps by an economic downturn, I suspect that there will be a rapid awakening, followed by intense rage at having been so thoroughly conned. Then, just as after the death of Hitler, when no German could be found who had ever been a Nazi, Trump’s most ardent supporters will become his most passionate enemies. The recent actions of recovering Trump cultist Anthony Scaramucci may prefigure how this will look. If the same awakening happens for millions of others, there will be hell to pay, both for Trump and for his party.

The later stages of healing for the CONP can be inspiring to watch.

When CONP’s finally succeed, often after great struggle, in turning their attention around, the doors to their inner lives swing open, and there is typically an intense emotional and spiritual rebirth as they re-discover their own capacities for courageous action, creativity and authentic love.

To get a sense of the emotional and spiritual intensity of such a development, read Mary Oliver’s poem “The Journey.”

If we do that, then there is no reason why we can’t also initiate a project of national reconstruction that won’t be aborted, as happened the last time that history handed us a similar opportunity. Well, we can hope. And if we can, we must.

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

By Eduardo Morales, PhD This year marks the 25th Anniversary of AGUILAS providing HIV prevention services in San Francisco.

We are planning to celebrate this anniversary on September 19 from 6 pm to 10 pm at Roccapulco, 3140 Mission Street. We invite you to join us!

Eduardo Morales, PhD

Over the past 25 years, AGUILAS has served thousands of Latinx gay and bisexual men through its HIV prevention program.

Originally, AGUILAS was founded in 1991 through a group of Latinx LGBTQ+ members of the community and is now the oldest such organization in all of the Americas.

As you know, HIV/AIDS has seriously impacted our community with one out of six with HIV being unaware that they have it, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Engagement in care remains a challenge for many. Stigma and discrimination are still pervasive.

Our services at AGUILAS include group and individual intervention, monthly social events, HIV and Sexual Disease Infection (SDI) testing in collaboration with the SF AIDS Foundation, and outreach to the community to engage them into services. It is important for our com-

munity to know their HIV status, to maintain medical monitoring of their health status and obtain treatment.

At AGUILAS we offer services in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Our experience is that persons who are engaged in our services tend to remain HIV negative. For those who are HIV positive, they tend to maintain treatment with their medical provider.

We rely on community support. Thus, we invite and hope that you can help to sponsor our event. You can also support the event by underwriting tickets for low-income clients, by making a donation, by spreading the word, and by attending the event. For more information and to purchase tickets, please go to https://bit.ly/2lUEotB Eduardo Morales, PhD, is the Executive Director of AGUILAS.

SF Sketch Randy Coleman Randy Coleman hails from New York, but has lived in San Francisco since 1975. “All of my life I’ve been an artist,” Coleman says. “To know me is to know that I have a passion for art and architecture. I love this project for the San Francisco Bay Times, and hope that you enjoy my sketches.”

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

© Randy Coleman, 2019 SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

In this analogy, the lunacy and cruelty that now dominate our national life can be seen as the pathological consequences of the loss of our connection with our national soul. When we finally do collectively recover from our enthrallment with the Narcissist in Chief, then it’s reasonable to hope that we will also rediscover what is best in ourselves.

AGUILAS Readies for 25th Anniversary Celebration

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National Advertising: Contact Bay Times / San Francisco.

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

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As I write, a full third of the population is still lost in the trance of Trump, although there are a few signs that a collective awakening may be brewing. For the rest of us, hope is hard to come by these days. But if the progression of our recovery from this national psychosis really does parallel that of the recovery process of adult children of narcissistic parents, then maybe there are reasons for hope.

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GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow

And the Survey Says ...

You probably saw the news about a massive genetic survey on samesex attraction that showed, well, it showed that sexuality is complicated. About 400,000 middle-aged Brits in a DNA database and another 70,000 middle-aged Americans who ran tests with 23andMe answered sexy questions, leading researchers to conclude that gayness is only partly genetic, and even so, it is not tied to a particular gene. Instead, thousands of genes show a correlation with same-sex attraction, or was it hundreds of genes?

Genes are like stars. I can never remember if there are millions, billions or trillions. In this case, the tedious, but important, study made my eyes glaze over. Some genes may influence our orientation. Or they might not! Most of our sexuality is formed by environment and external factors. But not all! Maybe two thirds. Or less? Who really knows?

This was the biggest study ever, done by the best researchers with the best data. And what’s the verdict? Well, human nature can’t really be pinned down or neatly categorized. Thanks, guys.

We all know, instinctively, that this is true. But it would have been nice to find just one or two special things about us, little peculiarities wired into what makes us gay or lesbian or whatever we are. Let’s say the same gene that often signals same-sex attraction to women was also indicative of expensive tastes in alcohol. That would have been nice.

And given the vague nature of the research results, who’s to say that such a correlation does not exist?

Indeed, I’ve noticed this pattern in many of my friends. I think I’ll ring for a little eye-opener right now.

Only in Mississippi?

Speaking of eye-openers, there’s a story on The Root about a wedding venue in Mississippi that refuses to serve gay or interracial couples, due to the owners’ “Christian faith.” In a Facebook video, which has been removed from Facebook but can still be seen on The Root, a woman tells the sister of a black man with a white fiancé that her business “chooses not to participate.” When the sister asks for a Biblical explanation, the women says she does not want to “argue her faith.”

“We don’t do gay weddings or mixed race, because of our Christian race—I mean our Christian belief,” she clarifies.

I know none of you are surprised to discover this attitude in Mississippi.

But recall that Mississippi passed one of the only statewide “religious freedom” laws in the country, allowing businesses to pick and choose their customers regardless of local or (it seems) federal civil rights laws. Aimed at gay customers, many observers have noticed that there’s nothing to stop some so-called Christians from announcing that their “faith” calls for racial discrimination.

Conservative courts have poohpoohed the notion that religious exemptions to civil rights laws could backfire in this manner. Even Justice Alito, writing in the related case of the Hobby Lobby stores a few years ago, said that the right to opt out of Obamacare’s contraception coverage based on the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act could not extend to a faith-based right to discriminate on the basis of race.

“The principal dissent raises the possibility that discrimination in hiring, for example, on the basis of race, might be cloaked in religious practice to escape legal sanction. Our decision today provides no such shield.

The Government has a compelling

interest in providing an equal opportunity to participate in the workforce without regard to race, and prohibitions on racial discrimination are precisely tailored to achieve that critical goal.”

Maybe, maybe not.

And Minnesota?

Staying on this subject, the other day the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled that a videographer in Minnesota may have the right to refuse gay wedding clients based on the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech and freedom of religious expression. Led by a Trump nominee, the divided threejudge panel sent the case back to lower court for another review.

“The Larsens do not want to make videos celebrating same-sex marriage, which they find objectionable,” noted Judge David Stras. “Instead, they wish to actively promote opposite-sex weddings through their videos, which at a minimum will convey a different message than the videos the [gay inclusive Minnesota Human Rights Act] would require them to make.”

And what if the Larsens or some other people wished to actively promote “racially pure” marriages, rather than the interracial marriages “required” by the state civil rights act? Would the Constitution guarantee that freedom as well? Judge Stras ignores this possibility.

In dissent, Judge Jane Kelly writes that while “religious and philosophical objections [to same-sex marriage] are protected, it is a general rule that such objections do not allow business owners and other actors in the economy and in society to deny protected persons equal access to goods and services under a neutral and generally applicable public accommodations law.” Judge Kelly is now the only Democratically appointed judge still sitting on the Eighth Circuit, where Trump has appointed no less than four new members to the bench.

Meanwhile, in Kentucky, the state supreme court has just heard arguments in the case of a t-shirt maker who refused to make shirts for Lexington Pride, in violation of the city’s Fairness Ordinance. After the Lexington Human Rights Commission ruled against Hands On Originals, a state court and a state appellate court both ruled in favor of the unpleasant shirt people and the case has been circulating for seven years.

Oh, and we’re still waiting for the Arizona high court to rule on the status of the stationery store Brush and Nib, which seeks the theoretical right to reject gay wedding invitation jobs in violation of the Phoenix civil rights rules. That case was argued in January and we just hit September.

Let’s go guys! Cough up that opinion.

Wymyn Power Did you read The New York Times article about the remote women-only lesbian cooperatives started in the 1960s and 1970s? It sounds as if they have outlived their usefulness as safe shelters from patriarchal oppression, and are now sparsely populated by sturdy senior citizens who still chop wood and make communal stews.

More power to them, but I’m still glad the rest of us got the chance to go work and live more or less openly in an increasingly welcoming society.

I was never a big fan of the lesbian separatist ethic, with its narrow politics, rules and regulations. In college, one of my straight friends was an ardent feminist who was nonetheless ignored and demeaned by our group leaders because she slept with the enemy. I, on the other hand, was focused on parties, dancing, and drinking. I went to the feminist meet-

ings solely to chase girls, made dismissive comments throughout, never volunteered for anything, and yet I was always treated warmly by one and all.

I remember one conversation with an earnest feminist who explained that she was a lesbian solely for political reasons and was not even that attracted to other women. I would have crossed her off my list at once, except she was not on it to begin with.

And speaking of parties and drinking, my butler is not answering the bell, although the maid, Myrtille, did poke her head in. She’s not very good at mixing drinks, but I suppose she could open a bottle of Krug in a pinch.

Sixth Circuit Nails Davis Do you remember Kim Davis, the obnoxious self-important Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses in the wake of the High Court’s marriage equality ruling? Lawsuits have been filed, and to be honest, I have not tracked them closely. But recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued two related opinions.

First, the appellate judges ruled that the state of Kentucky will be on the hook for some $225,000 in attorneys’ fees incurred on behalf of four couples who sued Davis and won a federal court case in 2017. Kentucky had tried to argue that Davis herself should be on the hook for the cash, but to no avail. As you know, I’m sure, the winner of a civil rights case gets his or her lawyers’ fees paid by the loser. If that were not the situation, only rich plaintiffs would be able to take advantage of the courts.

But there’s another case in the works, brought by two other couples. A hard-working reporter might have dug around to figure out the difference between these lawsuits and why the first one did not resolve the second one. Too bad you don’t have one of those at your disposal.

Nevertheless, Davis tried to get this latter case dismissed in its infancy, by arguing she is immune from lawsuits by virtue of her position (at the time) as a state and county official.

Qualified immunity allows officials to operate within a bureaucracy and to do their jobs without being tossed and turned at the whims of litigious citizens. It is forfeited, however, when an official deliberately violates someone’s constitutional rights—rights that were clearly established and should have been known to the official. The same Sixth Circuit panel ruled that marriage equality was clearly established and that Davis deliberately violated the law. As the British press likes to say, the case continues.

Davis was voted out of office in November of last year.

The Lion Queen I guess over a million people have viewed a zoo video of two male lions trying to have sex, although I cannot figure out where it was filmed. Out magazine has an article about the nature porn, noting that sometimes a female lion can have a mane, so maybe this was a gender bending straight scene. Alternatively, the boys might have just been fooling around. Normally, Out continues to explain, lions ejaculate quickly with a loud yelp. Here there was no such release, so the cats may have just been exhibiting, um, locker room behavior.

To make matters more complicated, it looks as if a female (un-maned) lion appears at one point and tries to intervene, only to be snarled at and run off by one of the (presumed) males. (continued on page 28) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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Be Part of the Plan!

The California Master Plan for Aging and What It Means for You the needs of the state’s growing aging population (for a more in-depth report on the Governor’s Address go to https://bit.ly/2DVs7dy ).

Aging in Community Dr. Marcy Adelman On Friday, September 20, San Francisco will present California’s largest public policy event on the new statewide Master Plan for Aging.

This event is an opportunity for you to hear about and talk about aging issues and how we can shape a better future for all older Californians.

Register for this event and bring your interests, concerns and questions: https://bit.ly/2kbMPjP Governor Newsom, in his first State of the State Address, called for the creation of a Master Plan for Aging.

The Governor spoke to the needs of California’s changing population.

For the first time in the history of the state, older Californians will outnumber young people. California’s senior population is projected to increase by four million over the next ten years. That number will double in 25 years.

The Governor noted that it is critical for the state to have a comprehensive, person-centered care plan to meet

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Members of the Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee and the Cabinet Workgroup for Aging have been appointed. The Stakeholder Advisory Committee will advise the Cabinet Workgroup on Aging in the development of the Master Plan. They will work together to develop a Master Plan by October 1, 2020.

Members of the Advisory Committee are a group of 34 diverse experts that include Kevin Prendiville, Justice in Aging; Susan DeMarois, the Alzheimer’s Association; Bruce Chernof, MD, The SCAN Foundation; Cheryl Brown, the California Commission on Aging; Shelley Lyford, Gary and Mary West Foundation; and Derrick Lam, ACC Senior Services; to name a few.

Governor Newsom also has established an Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force to prepare for the projected 25 percent + increase by 2025 in the number of Californians living with Alzheimer’s and other age-related brain diseases. The Task Force is charged with developing a plan that will work for all Californians living with Alzheimer’s and for the people who care for them.

Former First Lady Maria Shriver will Chair the 29-member Task Force. Task Force members include myself, California Commission on Aging; Dr. Keith Black, Department

S E PT E MB E R 5 , 20 1 9

of Neurosurgery at CedarsSinai Medical Center; Dr. Susan Bokheimer, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Kathleen Brown, former California state treasurer; and former defense secretary Leon Panetta; to name a few.

The Alzheimer’s Task Force recommendations will be knitted into the Governor’s Master Plan for Aging. Together, these two statewide efforts will prepare California for an increasingly older and more diverse population.

Dr. Marcy Adelman, Co-Founder of the nonprofit Openhouse, oversees the Aging in Community column. She is a psychologist and LGBTQI longevity advocate and policy advisor. She serves on the Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force, California Commission on Aging, the Board of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada and the San Francisco Dignity Fund Oversight and Advisory Committee.

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

Couples Who Play Sports Together Stay Together: Home Run Love She added, “In the beginning, I played catcher and had to throw the ball back to the pitcher, who happened to be Barb’s wife Sheryl [Phipps].

Having a track background where I competed in the shot put, I would ‘shot put’ the ball back to Sheryl. The unfortunate part was the ball could never reach Sheryl. After a while, one of the home plate umpires lost his patience and yelled at me to ‘figure it out!’”

Sports John Chen While sporting a skimpy wildcat print speedo, Brian Bussiere flirts and gives big hugs to anyone and everyone at LGBT mainstays such as Folsom Street Fair and the Pride Festival. Nearby, his wife Jessica Ely serves up bottles and bottles of adult libations in a super sexy Victoria Secret-esque corset.

This fun-loving couple has a penchant for showing off and for showing their love in support of our LGBT community and causes. Recently, for the San Francisco Bay Times, I caught up with this happy-go-lucky softball playing couple and also spoke with them separately about the success of their relationship.

Originally from Wisconsin, Ely moved to San Francisco in 2004 “ just for the hellavit.” She wanted to experience life before settling down, having kids, and tackling all of the responsibilities that come with marriage. At work, her co-worker and gal pal Barbara Pershing strongly encouraged her to play softball on Pershing’s San Francisco Gay Softball League team, the Inferno.

“My sister was the softball player in the family,” Ely explained. “I just didn’t think softball was right for me as a kid. But, Barb[ara] was relentless in asking me to play, and the only way I could get her to stop asking was to say yes.”

Around 2010, on a fateful girl’s night out, Ely and her friends shared a picnic-style table at a crowded San Francisco bar. She noticed a group of guys hovering over their table.

Not long after, the hovering men sat down at their table and the two groups crossed paths. One of the women had her eyes on one of the guys and employed the help of her gal pal by designating her as “wingman,” and the match was successful!

Bussiere echoed the tale, mentioning that he was on a guy’s night out.

A friend designated a wingman and sparks flew—only not as planned.

“Those two hooked-up that night but never spoke again,” Ely explained.

“The wingmen, on the other hand, connected. And here we are nine years later, married and with a dog!”

“Jess[ica] and I were the wingmen that night,” Bussiere chimed in with a grin. “Our friends hooked up but never talked again and we are married!”

Bussiere is a native Californian who went to college at Washington State, but he came home to attend the Academy of Arts in San Francisco.

Growing up, he played many sports, including baseball, so the transition to softball was relatively easy.

Ely never recruited Bussiere to play softball with her, however. Instead, it was Pershing’s wife, Phipps, who relentlessly pursued him to play, and

Take Me Home with You! Tucker

wore him down until he said yes.

Apparently, the Pershing and Phipps softball recruiting tandem is formidable and a force to be reckoned with!

“Playing in an LGBT league is a non-issue for me,” he said. “It was never gay versus straight. I am more interested in playing with quality people and have fun doing so. I love giving and receiving hugs and I get lots and lots of love from everyone, so what’s not to like?”

He continued, “Playing softball with Jess is like an extension of our nurturing relationship and helps us to be successful. When she feels frustrated, I know what not to say. We take ownership of our mistakes and respectfully help one another through difficulties. We also give lots of high fives and butt slaps, and stay positive. That positivity really helps us at home during critical conversations regarding our relationship. For us, it’s that understanding, nurturing, and fun bantering, that keeps us going both on and off the field.”

Ely concluded, “Softball gives us structure. We go to practices, games, socials, and fundraisers together. We try to encourage one another all the time, and knowing that we got each other’s back really strengthens our relationship.”

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

Fitness SF Trainer Tip of the Month

Christina B - Fitness SF SoMa “People tend to think that you need to lift very heavy weights in order to build muscle, but that’s not always the case. Focus on proper form, increase the number of reps from 10 to 25, and most importantly, slow down your movement. You’ll be surprised by how quickly your muscles fatigue!”

“My name is Tucker and I’m ready to tucker you out! I’m a little ball of energ y who’s looking for a partner in crime to explore San Francisco. I love hiking, swimming, long walks, and romping around at the dog park. I enjoy saying ‘hello’ to everyone I meet, human and canine alike! Please come introduce yourself!”

Tucker 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 Tucker.

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

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

Aside from major holidays, the Mission Campus 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!

Tore Kelly, Director of Creative & Social Media for Fitness SF, provides monthly tips that he has learned from professional trainers. For more information: https://fitnesssf.com/

For more information: https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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Can You Say ‘Cinnamon’ in Spanish?

SF’s Canela Restaurant Says It Well

We recently dined al fresco on the restaurant’s convivial front patio during a welcome San Francisco heat wave. (If you decide to dine inside, the warm and inviting decor by Adeeni Design Group transports you to a welcoming Andalucia, with accents of Moroccan design to boot.)

One of the neighborhood’s hidden gems, Canela (on Market St. near Noe St.) provides a quiet repast for a romantic evening on the town—with some of the best food that the Castro has to offer.

While enjoying the restaurant’s tasty happy hour offerings (many items are $5, every day until 7 pm), it was easy to strike up a conversation with our fellow diners, who happened to be delightful gay travelers from The Netherlands. The food, the wine and the conversation made for a very memorable dining experience. Canela has some uncommon Sangrias (cherry & strawberry; and blood orange, strawberry and pineapple).

HARDY WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY

I was lucky enough to meet Chef and Owner Mat Schuster back when Whole Foods Market was a client and he headed up the culinary school at the San Mateo store. Following that, I was thrilled to hear he’d opened Canela in the Castro. I asked him recently why he opened a Spanishstyle restaurant.

Chef Mat explained, “My partner, Paco, is from Spain, and I fell in love with the food and culture from going to Spain to visit his family. His mom, who’s from Andalucia, cooked lunch and dinner every day. She invited me into her kitchen and gave me the recipes.”

And why The Castro?

“We live around the corner,” he said.

“For us, it’s easy because we live and work here. You want to know what’s going on and who your friends and neighbors are. Being a part of the community is woven into the business. We can’t separate that, nor would we want to.”

He continued, “Canela is in the former location of Capri restaurant, which many folks may remember— and Nick and Sophia, the previous proprietors of Capri, own the building. It’s nice to have landlords who

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But I couldn’t pass up the one-of-akind Spanish wine offerings, since Paco imports many of the wines from Spain especially for the restaurant. Our well-informed server, Paul, made us feel right at home. He knew the wine list backwards and forwards and tailored suggestions to our palate. I started with a crisp Tempranillo Blanco from Rioja and my husband had a dry Rosado from Rioja.

To start, we munched on baconwrapped dates with just a touch of pepperoncini for the right amount of spice; croquetas with ham, chicken, egg and bechamel; and tasty Chicken Milanese sliders with a fruity cherry, tomato and plum chutney. From there, we couldn’t pass up the housemade gazpacho (see recipe), and for our main course, we sampled the very fresh halibut in a red sauce.

Among Chef Mat’s favorites? Handcarved jamon iberico is a house specialty and reminiscent of some of the best ham you’ll find in Spain. The gambas al ajillo, served with the heads on and with preserved lemon, are also a chef favorite. (Our Dutch neighbors raved about that dish). On Sundays, there’s a fun brunch. “Spaniards love eggs,” explained Chef Mat. “We take the egg dishes they would have for dinner and put them on the brunch menu.” Later on Sundays, Canela makes its own paella, a Sunday afternoon Spanish tradition. What’s rare about Canela’s menu is you can opt for a meal of tapas (small bites), order a la carte, or select the restaurant’s tasting menu for a very reasonable $69 (with wine pairings).

What is special about owning a neighborhood restaurant? Said Chef Mat: “One of my favorite things is cooking here and then making relationships with the neighbors and the regulars. The familiarity is rewarding. The Castro is such a vibrant part of the city with a strong history. It makes us proud to be part of such an iconic neighborhood. There’s nowhere like it in the world.”

If you want to hear more from Chef Mat, subscribe to his popular foodie podcast, “Food, Wine and the Culinary Mind,” available on iTunes. For more information about Canela or to make a reservation, visit: www.canelasf.com

Gambas al Ajillo (above), Croquetas (below)

David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer and a PR executive. Follow him: @david_landis, email him at: david@landispr.com or visit online at: www.gaygourmetsf.com

Chef Mat’s Yello

Jamon Iberico

w Watermelon G azpacho About 4 cups of ye llow watermelon, cu bed 2 cloves garlic 1 shallot the size of a walnut 1 yellow bell pepp er, large diced 1 tablespoon cham pagne vinegar About 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup olive oil Salt to taste Diced watermelon , cr croutons for garnish umbled feta and crunchy Blend in a good bl ender. Serve with all garnishes, chill and enjoy.

Bacon-wrapped dates

Time flies when you are having fun at first rate restaurants in the Castro. Many of us here at the San Francisco Bay Times remember when Canela Bistro & Wine Bar opened to great acclaim in September of 2011. It has since become a landmark dining destination in the neighborhood and is already 8 years old. Feliz cumpleaños, Canela!

To celebrate, Chef Mat Schuster and his team at the restaurant want to say a big thank you to their family and friends. On Thursday, September 19, they are holding a special 8th Anniversary event from 6 pm to 10 pm. The evening will feature some of their favorite dishes from throughout the years.

It will include passed tapas, a surprise performance, music for dancing, and sips all night from Canela’s beloved Whole Wine Trade and other fine wine merchants. For tickets and more information, go to: https://bit.ly/2jWcywm Gazpacho SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

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Happy 8th Anniversary, Canela!

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understand what it means to run a restaurant.”

If you want to sample the culinary delights of Spain, but don’t want to pay the airfare and deal with jet lag, just say, “Cinnamon.” But, say it in Spanish, which would be Canela, the name of an eight-year-old Spanish mainstay in the Castro that always delights.

Mat Schuster, chef and owner of Canela.

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HARDY WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY

David Landis

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The Gay Gourmet

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Donna’s Chronicles

“If I could have chosen to be Gay or straight, I think I would have simply chosen to be happy.”

By Donna Sachet

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lthough GAPA’s Runway 31: Cirque du Runway occurred some weeks ago and may not therefore qualify as breaking news, we must congratulate them on another successful evening at Herbst Theatre. Sir Whitney Queers and Jezebel Patel returned as emcees for the fifth year, delivering the signature comic timing, hilarious deadpan, and quick wit that has endeared them to so many. Mr. GAPA 2018 Christo Roma and Miss GAPA 2018 Miss Shu Mai joined the contestants for a rousing opening number, followed by presentations by the 14 contestants in several pageant categories. Judges Esme Weijun Wang, Ivan Lam, Joon Park, Jose Francisco, Kevin Lieu, Michelle Kim, and Tracy Zhao had no easy task as beauty, humor, and talent delighted an enthusiastic audience. Who could leave the competition until the winners were finally announced? They were SNJV and Mocha Fapalatte. The adoring crowd reflected the diversity of contestants, including Ken Hamai & Jack Henyon, Lawrence Wong, Dennis White, Fred Dea, Lawrence Wu, Ben Wong, the Reigning Emperor Terrill Grimes Munro and Reigning Empress Baby Shaques Munro, and too many Imperials to list, although they were listed on the display screen above the stage for all to see.

(Thank you, GAPA, for this special and very much appreciated acknowledgement.) In a true measure of support, many of the previous winners of the GAPA Runway Pageant were in the audience or in supportive roles backstage.

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

The Starlight Room Sir Francis Drake Hotel 10:30 am Brunch, 11:30 am Show $75 inclusive https://starlightroomsf.com/sundays-a-drag

Far beyond the mechanics of the pageant is the empowering message of GAPA’s annual Runway. Each contestant, the emcees, the judges, and everyone involved in this production at some time during the evening touched upon the regrettable racism and tokenism constantly faced by the Asian-American community, additionally impacted by LGBTQ discrimination. As Producer of Runway 31 Alan Quismorio wrote in the printed program, “For the last 31 years, the Gay Asian-Pacific Alliance and GAPA Foundation have built and strengthened the visibility of QTAPIs in the San Francisco Bay Area—in a fashion that resonated nationally, then globally.” Participants and attendees alike are inspired to speak and act louder, celebrating the rich diversity and beauty of their unique community.

And at the reception for the winners in the lobby afterwards, we looked around and realized that for a moment, we were truly in the minority, surrounded by languages and cultural differences beyond our immediate understanding, but nevertheless welcomed and appreciated for our attendance and support. Valuable lessons abound at this annual event.

Friday, September 6 Opening Night of the SF Opera Charles Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet Glamorous clothes, glorious music and spectacle War Memorial Opera House 8 pm $175 & up https://sfopera.com/ Friday–Sunday, September 6–8 Russian River Pride “Flooded with Love” Come celebrate with the recently recovered community Guerneville area Free! https://bit.ly/2kqJf5c

On August 25, Sunday’s a Drag was happy to welcome the San Francisco Bay Times’ Co-Publishers and Co-Editors Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas with a group of friends for a post-Pride Parade celebration, many of them having joined in this paper’s Parade contingent. Among the group were Christine Shamon of Gray Line Tours SF, LaTonya Lawson of Celebrity Cruises, and Fran Herman and Audry deLucia of ellaprint. As performers, we couldn’t ask for a more enthusiastic audience. Why not bring your group soon to Sunday’s a Drag for a gourmet brunch buffet, luxurious setting, and fantastic show?

Veronica Klaus’ performance at Martuni’s lived up to her reputation, bringing exquisite phrasing, unique rhythms, and a charming song selection, all accompanied by the amazing Tammy Hall Trio with Daniel Fabrikant and Daria Johnson. Although now living on the East Coast, Veronica does return periodically to the Bay Area to remind us of what we are missing! The evening we went, Martuni’s was filled with celebrities, including William Wicht, Kim Nalley, and even Veronika Fimbres in the outer bar. After the show, we couldn’t resist joining pianist Joe Wicht for a little singing and a most appreciative crowd.

PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS

Sunday afternoon found us in Berkeley for an impromptu farewell party for Russell Kassman who is moving to Chicago after decades in San Francisco offering support to musicians, other performers, and charitable groups, particularly related to AIDS. We have certainly been the recipient of many years of his generosity and will miss his adorable presence here. Among the small, but close-knit,

Khmera Rouge and Kevin Lisle with Donna Sachet at the VIP Reception held at Herbst Theater in conjunction with the 31st Annual GAPA Runway presented by the GAPA Foundation on August 24

group were Richard Sablatura, Jerome Goldstein & Tommy Taylor, Chris Edwards, virtuoso pianists Robin Sutherland, Christopher Basso, Keisuke Nakagochi, and Jeffrey LaDeur, and Bay Area favorite Sharon McNight accompanied by Joan Edgar to emcee the program. All the best to Russell Kassman as he enters a new chapter in his life!

Saturday, September 7 Patty McGroin’s Dollhouse Benefit Fundraising for Rocket Dog with drag show & raffle Midnight Sun, 4067 18th Street 4 pm–7 pm Free! https://www.rocketdogrescue.org/ Saturday–Sunday, September 7–8 Tenderloin Pride Gala & Block Party Saturday Gala at the Tenderloin Museum 398 Eddy Street Noon–4 pm $20–$50 Sunday Block Party Vicki Mar Lane (100 block of Turk Street) Noon–4 pm Free! https://bit.ly/2lAf2Rm and https://bit.ly/2kqwMhX Monday, September 16 REAF’s One Night Only: Protest, Revel with Some Rebels Benefit Cabaret with cast members from Hamilton Marines’ Memorial Theatre 7:30 pm $35–$100 https://www.reaf-sf.org/ Sunday, September 21 Project Nunway X: Decades of Indulgence Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence unique fashion show SOMArts Cultural Center 934 Brannan Street 6 pm $40 & up https://bit.ly/2lOZ6Lh

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

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From the Coming Up Events Calendar See page 30

FALL arts PREVIEW

PART I See pages 22–23

Oakland Pride All Week Long for the Parade and Festival’s 10th Year Northern California’s second largest pride parade and festival is Oakland Pride, which this year will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary! The event has grown tremendously since it was first celebrated as “East Bay Pride” from 1997 to 2004. It is now a major event that includes more than six city blocks of music plus art, food, and fun.

Boasting four separate entertainment stages, Oakland Pride welcomes talent from the Bay Area and beyond.

Purple Madness

Ava LaShay

Shea Diamond

El Dasa

As of this writing the complete lineup has yet to be announced, but headliners will include Purple Madness (Prince tribute), Ava LaShay as emcee, Shea Diamond and El Dasa, The family-friendly event will also feature Our Family & Children’s play area—the perfect place to enjoy the day with the little ones and to network with other LGBTQI families.

Pride All Week Long Related events are already underway, with the Oakland Pride Arts + Film Fest and other happenings having begun on September 1. On the publication date of this paper, September 5, Spectrum Queer Media and Frameline are presenting A Luv Tale–a romantic comedy about the relationship between four queer, bi and lesbian women–at the beautiful and cozy Landmark Piedmont Theater in Oakland. The theater is just a few doors down from Fenton’s Creamery. For more information about Spectrum Queer Media, go to: https://www.spectrumqueermedia.com/ Photos Courtesy of Oakland Pride Work off the popcorn and Fenton’s fare at the free annual Oakland Pride 5K Fun Run and Wellness Expo on Saturday, September 7. Registration and check-in, plus welcome and introduction, start at 7 am, followed by a warm-up and stretch session with Radically Fit and a DJ. The Health & Wellness Expo will open at 8 am ahead of the Run/Walk at 8:30 am. Awards will be handed out at 10 am.

But that’s not all! At 11 am there will be a Queer Slam and then, at Noon, a 2x2 dance competition. You will want to stay because at 1 pm there will be the Annual Pride in the Park Ball, with cash prizes and judges from the award-winning houses. https://bit.ly/2jZnDwM Given that it is the 10th Anniversary of Oakland Pride, this year there will also be a big Pre-Pride Block Party on September 7 from 6 pm to 12 am on Franklin Street between 21st and 22nd. The event will be free! For more info: https://bit.ly/2kqzVyh Wake up early the next day for Pride pancakes and bottomless mimosas served up at Oakland’s Frank Ogawa Plaza. Sausage, eggs and other drinks will also be served. Tickets are needed for this event: https://bit.ly/2kqMn0X Parade and Festival Last but certainly not least is the actual Parade and Festival on September 8 from 11 am to 7 pm on Franklin Street. Be sure to look for the San Francisco Bay Times and “Betty’s List” table there and say hello! We are proud to have been involved with this event from the beginning, even going back to the days of “Out in Oakland” in 2005 and 2006. Thanks go to the efforts then of former Oakland City Councilmember Danny Wan and the LGBT Roundtable.

In 2008, Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan—now also a San Francisco Bay Times columnist—and others led efforts to re-organize the LGBT Roundtable in Oakland. Since then, members of the Roundtable and the LGBT community decided that it was time to resuscitate Oakland Pride for the long term and advocate for LGBT rights and interests, including the development of the first LGBTQ community center in Oakland for everyone: https://www.oaklandlgbtqcenter.org/

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ

After the renewal of this effort, Oakland Pride has been busy networking with allies and partners. The organization’s goal is to create a vibrant and viable organization worthy of the LGBT community in the East Bay. Oakland Pride wants to be of assistance in providing a sustainable solution to implement or support needed services for challenges in the community—especially in low-income, multi-cultural elder and young LGBT communities.

Oakland Pride is collaborating with a host of organizations that help our community and include Our Family Coalition, Lavender Seniors of the East Bay, Pacific Center, East Bay AIDS Advocacy Foundation and many other organizations that represent the breadth and depth of LGBT people throughout Oakland and the entire Bay Area.

To learn more, visit https://oaklandpride.org/

A REAL GO-GETTER Firebrand LGBT activist Barbara Gittings got her start in this ALA: A) American Library Association B) American Lesbian Association C) American Linguist Alliance D) American Leadership Alliance ANSWER ON PAGE 28

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

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FALL arts PREVIEW

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PART I SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER

Hick A Love Story

MTT & Mahler 6

SMUIN

Well-Strung

Charo!

Billy Budd

SEPTEMBER Hick - A Love Story September 5, 7, 8 & 12 Exit Theater 156 Eddy Street, San Francisco https://www.liliththeater.com/hick

Bobby McFerrin

Bay Area LGBT favorite Terry Baum brings back her popular play based on Eleanor Roosevelt’s 2336 letters to Lorena Hickock. Written by Baum and Pat Bond, the show is directed by Carolyn Myers and is presented by the Lilith Theater and San Francisco Fringe Festival.

Billy Budd September 7, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20 & 22 San Francisco Opera San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center 301 Van Ness, San Francisco https://sfopera.com/buy-tickets/offers/offer-list/ Benjamin Britten’s masterpiece, based on the novella by Herman Melville, returns in a critically acclaimed production from Tony Award-winning director Michael Grandage. 25% off tickets for San Francisco Bay Times readers with the above url!

MTT & Mahler 6 September 12, 13, 14 & 15 San Francisco Symphony Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco http://www.sfsymphony.org Under the baton of MTT, SF Symphony will perform Mahler’s Sixth Symphony, the piece that began their love affair with the composer. The Symphony’s 2001 recording of the work garnered the first of seven Grammy wins for the Mahler Project and launched the SFS Media recording label.

Well-Strung: The Movie Show September 13 Feinstein’s at The Nikko 222 Mason Street, San Francisco http://www.feinsteinssf.com The group is a string quartet with a unique blend of vocals and strings fusing classical music with pop. Based in New York, the group has accumulated an impressive lineup of collaborators nationwide. Performances for President Obama, Hillary Clinton and the Vatican are on their list, along with appearances with top entertainers in musical theater.

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Elton John: Farewell Yellow Brick Road September 13 and 15 Chase Center Mission Bay Blocks 29–32, San Francisco https://www.eltonjohn.com/ After nearly five decades in show business, Sir Elton John has announced his final tour before he retires, giving the world one last chance to catch the pop legend and LGBT activist live in concert.

Bay Area Rainbow Symphony Fall Concert September 14 San Francisco Conservatory of Music 50 Oak Street, San Francisco http://www.bars-sf.org/concerts Music Director Dawn Harms will lead the Symphony in performing Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel Overture; Piano Concerto by Amy Beach featuring Daniel Glover, pianist; and Shostakovich’s Symphony no. 10. The performance is part of the BARS LGBTQ Composer and Performing Artist Series.

Top Girls September 19–October 13 A.C.T.’s Geary Theater 415 Geary Street, San Francisco https://www.act-sf.org/ Written by Caryl Churchill, who is recognized as one of the greatest living playwrights, this modern classic looks at how its main character, Marlene, ascends from 1980s working girl to exec and shatters the glass ceiling along the way. She’s not deterred by the jealous male coworker, missed family birthdays, or other women, since there’s no time for sisterhood.

Bobby McFerrin with Special Guests September 19, 20, 21 and 22 SF Jazz Miner Auditorium 201 Franklin Street, San Francisco http://www.sfjazz.org The iconic vocalist and composer returns to SFJAZZ for the first time in almost a decade with his signature magic, combining staggering musicality with irrepressible humor and boundless fun. During this series, McFerrin will perform in collaboration with a group of great musicians and vocalists.

Charo!

September 20 Herbst Theatre 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco http://www.kosher comedy.com/charo Charo’s first concert in San Francisco in more than ten years brings the “cuchi cuchi” back to the Bay Area. An accomplished classical and flamenco guitarist, she is also a singer, dancer, comedian and actress. She has twice been named the “Best Flamenco Guitarist in the World” by Guitar Player Magazine.

The Man in Black Johnny Cash and More!

Smuin Contemporary Ballet September 20–October 6 Walnut Creek: September 20 & 21 Lesher Center for the Arts Hofmann Theatre 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek San Francisco: September 27, 28; October 5, 6 Cowell Theater 2 Marina Boulevard, San Francisco http://www.smuinballet.org/ Celebrating the legacy of Johnny Cash, former Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada James Kudelka explores American determination and human vulnerability in six covers of iconic Cash songs. Danced in cowboy boots, Kudelka’s movement combines several popular American country-western dance styles— line, square, and swing dancing—with

FALL arts PREVIEW (continued) San Francisco Lesbian/ Gay Freedom Band

The Roots

Janelle Monáe

Triptych Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar

Morrissey

Madeleine Peyroux

sharp ballet technique and raw emotion in this Company premiere.

Triptych (Eyes of One on Another) Finding Poetry and Music in Mapplethorpe September 28 Cal Performances Zellerbach Hal, #4800l, Berkeley https://bit.ly/2k0X0HR The cool classical symmetry and bold eroticism of Robert Mapplethorpe’s photography meet sound and text in a hybrid theatrical experience that invites us to reflect on the intimate acts of looking and being looked at. The production features sexually explicit images from the Robert Mapplethorpe collection.

Recording Members of Beyoncé’s Original Band September 29 Women’s Audio Mission WAM Studio Natoma Street, #C-1, San Francisco https://bit.ly/2jXHyfr Shadow a recording session with original members of Beyoncé’s band in WAM’s state of the art recording studio. “Beyoncé’s Original Band Ladies”: Divinity Roxx (bass), Nikki Glaspie (drums), Marci Chapa (percussion), Katty Rodriguez (saxophone) and Tia Fuller (saxophone).

OCTOBER Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar October 3 Cal Performances Zellerbach Hall, #4800, Berkeley http://www.calperformances.org Atlanta gospel sensation Trey McLaughlin and the Sounds of Zamar, his expert 20-voice choir, bring a deep experience of musical communion to every concert hall they visit, cutting across cultural differences and religious beliefs with soul-stirring arrangements and fresh takes on familiar hits. A group on the rise, they have an online cult following for videos showcasing their uncanny vocal blend and stunning chemistry.

Morrissey with Interpol October 3 Bill Graham Civic Auditorium 99 Grove Street, San Francisco http://billgrahamcivic.com/events/morrissey

Smokey Robinson

The LGBT former frontman of The Smiths will bring his distinctive baritone vocals to a night that will also feature popular indie rock band Interpol.

Madeleine Peyroux October 3, 4, 5 & 6 Freight & Salvage 2020 Addison, Berkeley https://bit.ly/2lwcROU Singer and songwriter Madeleine Peyroux’s career began on the streets of Paris when she was a teenager. A native of Athens, Georgia, she grew up in New York and California and was discovered by a talent agent from Atlantic Records. Eight albums and twenty-two years since her debut, Peyroux continues to challenge the genre lines of jazz and will perform at The Freight for four consecutive nights.

Fall Community Concert San Francisco Lesbian/ Gay Freedom Band October 5 Forest Hill Christian Church 250 Laguna Honda Boulevard, San Francisco https://bit.ly/2lvQFV8 The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band will present an evening of musical contrasts featuring pieces by Holst, Gandolfi, Del Borgo and James DeMar. The program includes unique sounds of industrialization opposite nature, youthful whimsy opposite mortality, discipline opposite revelry and more.

Deborah Pittman will be featured performing a Native American flute.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story October 11 & 12 SHN Golden Gate Theatre 1 Taylor Street, San Francisco https://www.shnsf.com/Online/default.asp A concert-style theater show tells the story of the journey shared by the folk-rock duo, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, from their beginnings as Tom & Jerry to their success as one of the best-selling music groups of the ‘60s to their split in 1970. Culminating with the “The Concert in Central Park” reunion in

1981, the show uses projection photos and original film footage plus a full live band performing hits, including “Mrs. Robinson,” “Cecilia,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Homeward Bound” and more.

Tipping Point Amplified Benefit Featuring Janelle Monáe and The Roots October 12 Fox Theater 1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland http://thefoxoakland.com/ Tipping Point Amplified is a benefit concert for the fight against poverty in the Bay Area. Headlined by the one and only Janelle Monáe, and featuring The Roots, the evening will inspire and unite the community in celebration of our Bay Area. And the best part? Every dollar from every ticket sold will go directly to proven poverty-fighting organizations in our region.

A Night with Janis Joplin October 15 Luther Burbank Center for the Arts Ruth Finley Person Theater 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa https://lutherburbankcenter.org/event/a-night-with-janis-joplin/ The show is an acclaimed musical celebrating Joplin and her biggest musical influences: Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith. Directed

by Randy Johnson, the show stars Mary Bridget Davies and has a host of special effects including strobes, hazers and moving lights.

Smokey Robinson October 26 Paramount Theatre 2025 Broadway, Oakland http://www.paramounttheatre.com/welcome.html See the Motown legend at Oakland’s beautiful Art Deco theatre. With the Miracles he produced an incredible 26 top-40 hits, including “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “I Second That Emotion,” and “The Tears of a Clown.”

Look for the San Francisco Bay Times Fall Arts Preview PART II in the upcoming September 19 issue.

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Sing!

Photos Courtesy of Tim Seelig

TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation Dr. Tim Seelig “I sing because I’m happy ... .”

That was probably part of the first song I learned as a toddler. First songs are important. They will be with you for your entire life. Many of you who grew up in a Christian denomination may remember that phrase from the old gospel song, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” My Mother learned that song from the legendary Mahalia Jackson, recorded it on her first album and sang it often at Billy Graham crusades around the world. “I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free.” Those words were never truer than when I came out at the age of 35.

They took on a completely different meaning. I was free. And, yes, I look like my Mother when in drag!

bitsy spider or even three blind mice. Innocent enough. And so precious.

just applied to the volume of your singing. It began to appear in our lives.

But put them together and they traumatize children. Set adrift in a row boat, it’s dark because the light comes from only one star in the sky, your passenger is a blind rat or three and there is a huge spider climbing up your water spout. (Children have no idea what that is!) Scarred.

We heard Shhhh. But we also heard:

I ask that same question in workshops all over the country. The answer varies geographically.

On the West Coast it’s most often non-sectarian stemming from hippie days. Anything by Peter, Paul and Mary, especially “Puff, the Magic Dragon.” On the East Coast, it might be “Yankee Doodle.” In the South, it’s either “Jesus Loves Me” or “I’ve Got Friends in Low Places” or both in a mashup! As a very young child, in the Southern Baptist tradition, we learned a precious “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam.”

Walk this way, Hold your books this way. Cross your legs this way.

As a bit of a rebel at four years old, I was already having fun and being a little irreverent. When the Sunday School teacher was out of the room, I taught my friends new words and we sang in a little 4-year-old’s refrain, “Jesus Wants Me for a Green Bean.”

Even before we could sing a whole song, we learned rhythm. Oh, yes. Perhaps even before we sang, we were working on the beat that would set the tone. How many of you have been annoyed by a child beating on a high chair tray in a restaurant? You know why the parents don’t even seem to notice? They were there for the many rehearsals at home— leading up to the performance you now get to share while trying to enjoy your own drumsticks (wings).

Do you remember singing and dancing and playing as a young child? We did it with reckless abandon. And so did our friends. We only had one level on our volume knob.

I spent my early years listening to my Mom sing on the stage. I also spent countless hours hiding behind the living room sofa so I could be near her as she taught voice. It’s no wonder that I’ve been singing since I was three. Of course, I was often encouraged (required) to stand on the piano bench and perform when friends or relatives came over! Sound familiar?

Raise your hand if that happened to you. For me, that piano bench led to the opera stage to a podium waving my arms at others!

What was the first song that you remember singing? Pause. Seriously, take a moment and sing it! It might have been about a little teapot, or a row boat, a twinkling star, an itsy-

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That’s right. Fortissississimo.

Loud, loud and louder. There was never a time that called for pianissississimo. Why would you sing or play softly when you could let ‘er rip? After all, I sing because I’m happy! And happy obviously equals loud. Duh. Then something happened that literally changed our lives forever. We learned a new gesture and noise that most often accompanied it.

Someone said, “Shhhh, don’t sing so loud!”

Another said, “Shhhh, your father is sleeping.”

Another said, “Shhhhh, you don’t know the words.” And finally, someone along the way may have said, “Shhhh, you can’t sing.” That sticks in a child’s head. Sometimes forever.

For the first time, a volume knob was inserted in our brain. These were the very same people who stood you on the piano bench to sing for everyone. They had now changed their mind and were shushing you. What? Sadly, it wasn’t

S E PT E MB E R 5 , 20 1 9

Hold your fork this way.

Sit still in your chair.

Line up single file.

Raise your hand if you have something to say.

Don’t be flamboyant.

Color the leaves green and the flower red.

Surprise!!! Look at what the gays can do to a rose!

How did we become timid and worry about what people thought? Why do we not sing anymore?

Well, polls list the thing people fear most in life is public speaking. I think that is because singing in public is not on the list! It is an incredibly vulnerable thing to do. If you play piano or flute or guitar, you can always blame a less than stellar performance on the instrument. If your singing doesn’t sound good, it’s just you. Your voice is your voice.

Author Brenda Ueland, in her book If You Want to Write, explains that creative imagination is drummed out of people early in life by teasing, jeering, rules, prissy teachers and critics.

Families are the great murderers of the creative impulse. Older siblings sneer and kill it. There is that American pastime known as “kidding” with the result that everyone is ashamed of showing the slightest enthusiasm or passion or sincere feeling about anything.

We are put in straitjackets of hesitance and selfconsciousness. “Because the most modest and sensitive people are the most talented, having the most imagination and sympathy, these are the very first ones to get killed off.”

Breathe. How do we reverse this and find the volume knob and turn it back up? In order to find your life-volume knob, it would help if you could go back and figure out who turned it down in the first place. Were they doing it for you or for them? My advice? Step outside of your comfort zone. Try something new. Skip down the road.

Sing at Karaoke. Join a group or a club. Learn to paint or sky dive!

Not too long ago, I asked my granddaughter, Clara, if she liked to sing. She said, “Only in my room and only when I am sad.” I followed up with a question, “Have you been practicing your piano?” She emphatically announced, “I’m more of a composer than a pianist.” Obvious answer was “No.” So we’ve moved on to ukulele! Bop Bop is not giving up on cramming music down her throat one way or the other. Just kidding

(ish). My other granddaughter, Eden, is immune from my pressure. She is 4 and still hasn’t found the volume knob and will crawl up on the piano bench on her own. And if no one is listening, she climbs up on the kitchen counter until everyone in the room is paying proper attention. I have no idea where she got that!

Think about that first song. Sing it. Sing all of them! It’s a great ice-breaker at awkward family reunions. (You’re welcome.) This article was about singing because that’s what I chose to soothe and fill my soul. But it’s about so much more. It’s about finding your passion. Taking a risk. If you don’t have one, try a bunch. Get back up on the piano bench and start from scratch!

Find something you did once upon a time and someone shushed you or made fun of you. Pick it up again! Careful standing on piano benches.

Find other groups who are doing great work and offer to help. They will welcome you with open arms.

Chicken or the egg? I sing because I’m happy.

But I am also happy because I sing. I also sing because I have stories to share and music is the best to do that. There are countless serious research articles that support the fact that people are happier when they sing. And, people sing their entire lives. You can visit a geriatric facility where many of the residents can’t remember their family members’ names or how to tie their shoes. Begin to sing: “You are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray.” They perk up. The sparkle returns to their eyes and they join in, remembering all of the words! That is the power of music.

And that makes me happy that I sing!

P.S. There are lots of choruses in the Bay Area.

Now is the time to find one.

P.P.S. The graphics appear in a DVD titled The Music Within. They were created by Shawn Northcutt. The DVD is available through my publisher, Hal Leonard Corporation.

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

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “On the eve of the G7, the summit’s leader, French President Macron, had noted there’s ‘a very deep crisis of democracy.’ Could he possibly have been referring to ‘the Second Coming of God,’ ‘the Chosen One,’ ‘the King of Israel’?! Surely not the ‘very stable genius’ who now bigly rules and reigns over AmeriKKKa!!!”

RUNWAY 31—GAPA Foundation’s annual drag competition and entertainment fundraising extravaganza was held on August 24 at Herbst Theatre. GAPA Foundation provides funds and leverages resources to empower the Asian/ Pacific Islander LGBTQ community. Proceeds from Runway benefited GAPA Foundation’s Student Scholarship and Community Grants programs. We were thrilled to watch contestants vie for the titles of Mr. GAPA and Miss GAPA 2019 during an exciting series of fashion, talent, and Q&A before a panel of API & LGBTQ+ community leader judges. Returning once again were co-hosts Mr. GAPA 2013 Nguyen “Sir Whitney Queers” Pham and Miss GAPA 2012 Jezebel Patel (two of the gayest of ringmasters) for this year’s theme, CIRQUE DU RUNWAY, and it certainly was the greatest show on earth! The competitors were Miss Lea Salonganisa, Mister Matthew, Miss Sushi Rollita, Mister Brandon, Miss Hennessy Williams, Mister SNJV, Miss Tommy Clifford-Carlos, Mister Nam, Miss Mo Li Hua, Mister Valentino Spencer, Miss Tracy Hilton, Mister Bobby Slay, Miss Vermicelli Versace, and Miss Mocha Fapalatte.

The results: Second Prince is Mister Matthew, First Prince is Mister Nam, and Mister SNJV is now Mr. GAPA 2019; Second Princess is Miss Lea Salonganisa, First Princess is Miss Tommy Clifford Carlos, and Miss Mocha Fapalatte is now Miss GAPA 2019, who incidentally is GAPA’s first non-binary identifying Royalty. The winning Mr. & Miss GAPA each received a crown, a sash, and a thousand bucks. They will go on for a year of appearing at events as representatives of the Gay Asian Pacific Islander (GAPA) community. Should one of them be unable to do so (or get pregnant ... ha), the first prince/princess will step in.

Sister Dana sez, “Senator McConnell knows no shame—from shutting down the work of the FEC to stealing a U.S. Supreme Court seat to blocking legislation on issue after issue, including a House-passed bill to require background checks for gun purchases that’s supported by more than 90% of voters.

That’s why I am so thrilled that Kentucky activists are putting up ‘Vote Mitch Out’ billboards all over the state!”

We were invited to THE 9TH ANNUAL GREEN FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCH PARTY on August 29 at SPUR, 654 Mission Street, a beautiful downtown Urban Center that is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council. We Joined Festival friends to celebrate the official announcement of the SAN FRANCISCO GREEN FILM FESTIVAL, September 24–29, with the motivat26

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

S E PT E MB E R 5 , 20 1 9

PUSH is the Opening Night Premiere at the Castro Theatre on September 24, 7:30 pm, with a VIP party before.

Director Fredrik Gertten follows the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing around the globe as she investigates an escalating crisis in our cities. 16 Sunrises is the Closing Night Premiere at Roxie Theater on September 29, 8 pm. Director Pierre-Emmanuel Le Goff gives us 16 sunrises each day, where astronauts on the International Space Station witness a unique perspective of our home planet. And my third choice is THE AGE OF STUPID at Little Roxie, 3125 16th & Valencia, on Sept 29, 1 pm by Franny Armstrong for its 10th anniversary screening—having received the Inspiring Lives Award.

In the devastated future, a man looks back at our time. Interesting note: Ten years ago, this film inspired SF Green Film Festival Founder Rachel Caplan to launch the first such Festival. https://bit.ly/2kf Vsdf As reported in the last issue of the San Francisco Bay Times, FRAMELINE has named James Woolley, former Head of Marketing and Customer Relations at Sydney Film Festival, as the new executive director.

Sister Dana sez, “The TrumpPence Administration says Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bars sex discrimination in the workforce, doesn’t apply to LGBTQ Americans. Say, weren’t these the folks who promised they would stand up for LGBTQ rights? Hey, Log Cabin Republicans, are you paying attention?!”

Mayor London N. Breed has joined City Administrator Naomi M. Kelly to announce $12.9 million in general operating support grants to fund 220 arts organizations that enhance the City’s cultural vibrancy.

The new funding comes after Mayor Breed asked for a thorough review of the City’s grantmaking to better support small- and medium-sized arts organizations.

An ad hoc group of a half dozen Bay Area activists organized the MONTH OF MOMENTUM, 30 Days of Actions to Close the Camps. This month-long protest outside ICE in downtown San Francisco at 630 Sansome Street (organized through word of mouth, networking, and social media) took place every day from Noon to 1 pm during the month of August, by a different sector, group, or organization ranging from librarians to lawyers to A Day Without Immigrants to Kehilla Community Synagogue. The 30 days concluded on August 31 with music, speakers, food, and passing the hat to raise funds for FREEDOM FOR IMMIGRANTS NATIONAL BOND FUND. They also called for the passage of AB32, a bill that would prohibit the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from contracting with for-profit private prison facilities and detention centers.

Sister Dana sez, “So you thought JUNE was Pride Month? Well, think again, because SEPTEMBER is also Pride Month!”

TENDERLOIN PRIDE BENEFIT RECEPTION & FESTIVAL will be held on September 7 and 8. Tenderloin Pride will celebrate the unique culture of San Francisco’s Tenderloin District and its unique place in LGBTQ history with a benefit reception to be held Saturday, September 7, Noon to 4 pm at the Tenderloin Museum at 398 Eddy Street in San

PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS

ing theme, “Change Begins at Home - Wherever That May Be.” We got a sneak peek of this year’s inspiring films, world premieres, and award winners. Plus, we were privileged to meet some of the great lineup of filmmakers and guests. SFGFF Founder and CEO Rachel Caplan was our guide.

Sister Dana and a friend at the GAPA Foundation’s Runway 31 - Cirque du Runway at the Herbst Theater on August 24.

Francisco. The following day, Sunday, September 8, the public is invited to the TENDERLOIN PRIDE STREET FAIR AND FESTIVAL on Vicki Mar Lane (in the 100 block of Turk Street). Saturday›s celebration is a fundraiser with proceeds going to support the TENDERLOIN COMPTON’S TRANSGENDER CULTURAL DISTRICT. https://tinyurl.com/y656e7lu OAKLAND PRIDE will be on Sunday, September 8, with a short parade kicking off at 11 am. The festival opens at 11 am too and ends at 7 pm. OAKLAND PRIDE PARADE + FESTIVAL is the East Bay's premier LGBTQI Community Celebration and Festival. The Pride Flag Raising Ceremony was on September 3 at 4:30 pm at Oakland City Hall with Mayor Libby Schaaf and elected city officials making brief comments as they raised the QTPOC (Queer & Trans People of Color) inclusive Pride Flag. See page 21 of this issue for more info about Oakland Pride.

Come to the first-ever OPENHOUSE JOB FAIR on September 11 from 11 am–12 pm, 65 Laguna Street, Bob Ross LGBT Senior Center. OPENHOUSE and their partners, MERCY HOUSING CALIFORNIA and ON LOK, are co-presenting an informational session to find talented folks to join their team who are passionate about aging issues and have experience working with seniors and adults with disabilities. They invite potential candidates to learn more about their organizational missions, their vision for joint programs, and to ask questions about these full-time employment opportunities. https://www.openhouse-sf.org/ RICHMOND/ERMET AID FOUNDATION (REAF) presents a Special One Night Only Benefit Cabaret, PROTEST! REVEL WITH SOME REBELS, featuring Cast Members from the touring cast of the Tony Award-winning show Hamilton. It’s an evening of music and dance with Special Guest Emcees: Judd Winick & Pam Ling from TV’s Real World San Francisco on September 16, 7:30 pm, Marines’ Memorial Theatre, 609 Sutter Street (at Mason Street.). https://www.reaf-sf.org During the month of September, STRUT is exhibiting “Greetings from Dadville,” a collection of Justin Hall’s original comic book art and illustrations. Join me to celebrate dynamic queer art with wine and snacks and meeting the artist in person. The art opening reception will be held on September 6, 8 pm to 10 pm, 470 Castro Street. https://www.sfaf.org (continued on page 28)

Gay Brazilian Looks for Love in SF-Shot Film as well as produce, write, and edit it?

Film Gary M. Kramer The indie film Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots, out September 10 on DVD and VOD, and screening September 20 at the Roxie Theater as part of the SF Latino Film Festival, has Brazilian transplant Leo (writer/ director Thales Corrêa) arriving in San Francisco looking for a guy he is interested in. His best friend Donnie (co-writer and co-producer Izzy Palazzini), and Donnie’s friend Hunter (Oscar Mansky), accompany Leo on his quest, which takes the guys to the bathroom stalls and parking lots of the title.

If this film feels sloppy at first, stick with it. As Leo gains wisdom, the movie takes some interesting turns, including an underwear party that yields a poignant exchange about life and love on a balcony with Ethan (Lucas Pagac). Moreover, Leo’s relationship with Donnie generates a quietly powerful climax. Corrêa’s film is slight, but it’s also thoughtful and sweet. The filmmaker recently chatted with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about his gay comedydrama.

Gary M. Kramer: How did you decide to make this film your feature film debut and star in it

Thales Corrêa: I was hanging out with Izzy, who is also from Brazil, and also an immigrant, and gay, and we had a similar idea of dating. He brought up the idea that we do something like Girls, which we both watched, and tell our own stories. I was hesitant. I never saw my own life being worth writing about. But he showed me that our story is just as similar and valuable as stories portrayed on Girls or Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and what those characters went through are the same for us as gay immigrants. So, let’s be vulnerable, and open up and show the conflict and internal journey we go through living this way. It was about being vulnerable and exposing myself.

Gary M. Kramer: You shot this on location in San Francisco.

Did you have specific locations in mind?

Thales Corrêa: The shoot took about 10–11 days, but we had to come back and shoot pickups for 5 days. We liked the aspects of San Francisco and the Castro; they had a different feel than West Hollywood, in Los Angeles, where I live.

Its rawer, grittier, and matched our personalities in the film. We thought about the street and the clubs, like Beaux—we always end up there.

Gary M. Kramer: Speaking of locations, can you talk about the title and the film’s use of bathroom stalls and parking lots in the film as sites for encounters in this film?

Thales Corrêa: I’m hesitant to talk about that; I like to leave it ambiguous. I don’t want to define it. It’s an intriguing title. I want people to have their own interpretation.

Gary M. Kramer: The film depicts an intense friendship between Leo and Donnie. What observations do you have about gay male friendships and jealousy or (b)romance?

Thales Corrêa: In the film, Leo sees himself as being different from Donnie, who was needy. That’s a parallel with the guy Leo’s dating. This is not specific to gay people, but in general, we humans have expectations and you realize later that the image you create of a friend or lover—you want them to fit that image—and you don’t want to let go of that belief. Is he really my friend?

Or is he a really good lover? That’s what the film is about. It’s about trust.

Gary M. Kramer: Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots is really about a search for love. Can you talk about your agenda in making this film?

Thales Corrêa: People meet on Grindr to hook up and get off, and gay men have that culture, and we’re more obvious about it. We want to have sex; we have sex. You can argue why—cultural reasons—but the (continued on page 28)

Queer Literary History at Heart of Vita & Virginia

By Gary Kramer The handsome romantic drama Vita & Virginia, opening September 6 in the Bay Area, artfully, if emptily, depicts the true-life relationship between writers Vita Sackville-West (Gemma Arterton) and Virginia Woolf (Elizabeth Debicki).

Director Chanya Button co-wrote the screenplay with actress Eileen Atkins (who wrote the original play) using the authors’ letters.

The film is not starchy like a Masterpiece Theater production or one of the stuffier Merchant-Ivory films.

In fact, although set in the 1920s, and featuring period costumes and cars, it aims to be quite modern.

The musical score is decidedly (and annoyingly) contemporary. And the attitudes about love, sex, and marriage are deliberately ahead of the post-Edwardian era mores.

Case and point: Vita and her husband Harold (Rupert Penry-Jones) are first seen talking on a radio program about their marriage, and her masculine qualities. It is positively scandalous, and very much in keeping with how the couple’s same-sex affairs were indulgences that usually drew them closer. Until Vita met Virginia.

When Vita first spies Virginia dancing at a party, the moment is rendered in slow-motion for added emphasis. Vita is driven by her attraction as much as she desires to be accepted by the bohemian members of the Bloomsbury Group, which includes Woolf’s sister, Vanessa Bell (Emerald Fennell), and the gay painter Duncan Grant (Adam Gillen). Virginia muses about bodies, and observations about relationships are made. It is all very properly improper, and some viewers may get caught up in the naughtiness.

Yet Harold is wary of Vita becoming obsessed with Virginia. He warns her to be discreet and feels overwhelmed by her sapphic phase.

Vita promises she won’t be tempted, but, of course, the opposite is true.

Vita & Virginia spends much of its first half establishing the boundaries of the characters so it can break them. Virginia is inscrutable and vulnerable, which is why Vita wants her admiration. Vita is bewitched by Virginia’s writing, which is thoughtful; her own work is more successful. Vita eventually offers a book to Virginia’s husband Leonard (Peter Ferdinando), a publisher, as a means of getting closer to her obsession. Meanwhile, Virginia, who is grappling with her same-sex desires, and has bouts of madness, eventually finds a muse in Vita.

Button features many scenes that discuss the husbands’ jealousies, arrangements in marriages, as well as Virginia telling Vita, “You have as much of me as I have to give,” but what these impassioned moments lack is emotion. By the time Vita and Virginia settle down by a fire, in Knole, a country house, to kiss and caress, it is hard to muster up much enthusiasm for them being together.

In addition, as the women exchange letters—they separate when Vita heads abroad; Harold is a diplomat and he insists that she perform her “wifely duties”—Woolf writes about “a dark pool of sticky water closing over me.” (This text comes from the author’s first novel, The Voyage Out,

published in 1915.) It feels too on-thenose, especially given Woolf’s famous death by drowning—alluded to late in the film when Virginia stands by the edge of the Thames.

The film has too many scenes that feel overstated. A couple of magical realist scenes where Virginia envisions ivy creeping indoors, or an attack of birds (signifying her madness), are overdone and unnecessary.

In one of the film’s more dramatic moments, Duncan effusively advises Virginia to let the “eye lick it up” and the brain to “watching things happen without troubling to think.” This may be the best approach to seeing Vita & Virginia as it provides some gorgeous people in pretty clothing and decorously well-appointed rooms doing things that do not require much concentration or consideration.

All of the talk between Vita and Virginia about power and attraction does not amount to anything profound. The film observes rather than feels, which is its greatest drawback.

When Virginia experiences an episode of madness, Vita is lured back from abroad to take care of her. It is around this time that Virginia develops her idea for her book, Orlando, with Vita as the fictional gender(continued on page 28) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

S EPT EM BER 5, 2019

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ROSTOW (continued from page 15) In the course of trying to stick a time and place on this video, I discovered several instances of gay male lions, including a scene from the wild in Kruger National Park where again, a he-lion made sexual advances on another male. And you can tell both lions are male, by the way. The passive lion seemed completely indifferent to the action, which looked as if the top lion gave up after failing to find a connection, so to speak. An expert hypothesized that this was a “bromance,” not uncommon among small groups of male lions who prowl around looking for females together.

Make of that what you will.

Personally, I’m assuming that gay attraction for lions is a complex mix of genetic, social and environmental factors.

Throw Away the Key Finally, one of my favorite tea party scandales is back in the news now that former Michigan state representative Todd Courser has pled no contest to one charge of willful neglect of duty by a public officer. Courser is getting off easy after being charged with several felonies back in the day for his bizarre shenanigans with another far-right colleague four years ago.

Elected to the state house in 2014, Courser presented himself as a Christian crusader, posting a response to the governor’s state of the state speech

that was also signed by newly elected state representative Cindy Gamrat. Courser and Gamrat thanked “God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for our salvation and His abounding and generous gifts, blessings and His grace, and mercy on our state and nation,” adding that it was “important to acknowledge that it is only

by His power and might that our state and nation remain.”

No wonder the (family man) Courser and (married with kids) Gamrat were worried when Gamrat’s husband threatened to expose both lawmakers for having an affair. In a strategy exposed on tape by Courser’s aide, Courser planned to spread wild rumors about homosexual sexcapades that could subsequently be disproven. This “controlled burn,” as he called it, could then be used to confuse the public if and when any subsequent bad press developed. “It will make anything else that comes out after that—that isn’t a video— mundane, tame by comparison,” Courser said in the audio recording, which the aide released to the media.

Both Courser and Gamrat were drummed out of office, after which Courser tried unsuccessfully to sue various people for various offenses. He will be sentenced later this month.

Myrtille! arostow@aol.com

KRAMER - BRAZILIAN (continued from page 27)

LEWIS & GAFFNEY (continued from page 13)

point is that getting sex right away doesn’t negate that we also have feelings. We like sex, but we also like romance and those things are not separate. If you hook up with a person tonight you can fall in love with that person and try to have a relationship. You can meet them at a dinner or a bathroom stall, and where I meet them shouldn’t dictate what kind of relationship I might have. I don’t feel where you meet should be an issue.

If you like the person, you like them. We like to have fun and have sex, but we have a lot of feelings, too.

other flawed fiscal and financial regulatory policies, resulted in a worldwide economic crisis and the so-called Great Recession.

Gary M. Kramer: Latino culture is very macho and not always accepting of homosexuality. What are your thoughts about presenting Brazilians in America, where there are less restrictions about masculinity?

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for over three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008.

Their leadership in the grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed in 2015 to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.

Thales Corrêa: I think that shows the beauty of San Francisco and the Castro and how open and welcoming the city is for LGBTQ people. The characters are from a macho society and are free to express themselves in America. In Brazil, you can’t be girly or gay. Coming out of that, and being gay and in San Francisco, shows how much freedom the city gives to LGBT people to be free and express themselves.

It is noble not to hate those who cause us harm.

But if we fail to hold them accountable for their actions and forget history, we do so at our own peril.

© 2019 Gary M. Kramer

SISTER DANA (continued from page 26)

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

CASTRO ART WALK is celebrating its 2nd anniversary on September 5, 6–9 pm. 15 venues in the Castro will hold free receptions. https://www.castroartwalk.com/

KRAMER - VITA (continued from page 27)

Join the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc. and many performers in celebrating, or roasting <wink wink> SISTER ROSE MARY CHICKEN with a farewell ... for now ... at TASTES LIKE CHICKEN: A FAREWELL SHOW on September 12, 8 pm at Moby Dick bar, 4049 18th Street. She’s pushing off to Germany in October to follow her ancestral lineage, and for a new adventure. They will be raising funds for Rose Mary’s selected charity, St. James Infirmary, so the performers will be donating their time, and all tips and money raised will benefit St. James. https://bit.ly/2jXCg3y

bending biography’s image and muse. This may be the point of Vita & Virginia—how this “collaboration” led to Woolf’s greatest literary success.

And that is a not an uninteresting story to tell. But Button fails to capture the essence of it in the same way Virginia captures the essence of Vita.

The performers do their best with the lackluster material. Gemma Arterton certainly looks enticing in all of Vita’s splendid outfits, and she strives at playing larger than life. But a little restraint or nuance might have helped. Her character is so transparent in her emotions and desires, she rarely fascinates. Elizabeth Debicki is stronger, and suitably mannered as Woolf. The actress makes the most of her character’s internal moments.

Alas, Vita & Virginia is ambitious, but not very good. It takes an interesting tale of queer literary history and teases out the spirit of the women’s relationship, but not its heart. © 2019 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer

Sister Dana sez, “Social Security and Medicare are sacred promises that our seniors have worked to earn their entire lives. But Lindsey Graham wants to use them as bargaining chips to pay for tax giveaways for his wealthy and corporate donors. It’s time for Senator Graham to go!”

GRAHAME (continued from page 6) age of 45) were believed to be a reality.

be “Ground Zero,” and the place I wholeheartedly now call home.

I had gone through a hard-fought, public, and lonely transition; now that I was starting to see the light on the other side, nearly five years later, the idea of a quiet life where I could just “be” sounded wonderful. After South Carolina, I moved for a fresh start to Washington, D.C., and then to Florida. Each time I was running from a past that inevitably caught up with me. It was in Florida, after my potential life-partner had left upon learning of my past, that I decided to stop running from my gender history and face it head-on.

‘Ground Zero’: San Francisco

In 2007, I came out again. I reached out to Clair Farley of the LGBT Center; Clair was part of the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative and has since become Senior Advisor to the Mayor for Transgender Initiatives. Through Clair, I became fully aware of the economic challenges faced by the transgender and gender non-conforming community. I saw the rise in bullying and suicide among LGBTQ youth, specifically trans youth. I realized that I could no longer be just a check writer and became more actively involved in Trans economic issues.

Many years earlier, at the start of my transition, I said, “I spent the first 28 years of my life being afraid that people would find out who I really was. I’m not going to spend the next 28 being afraid that people will find out who I used to be.” Yet as I sat there, I realized that is exactly what I had done. So, I moved here, to San Francisco, to what I perceived to

My fear was that being fully out would be a detriment to my career, just as it had been in the 90s, on the north side of Detroit. But the opposite was true. Just as I found inner peace by coming out as transsexual in ’92, I now found complete peace by owning it publicly. Gone was the worry of what others were or would think of me. Gone was the barrier

that kept friends at arm’s distance.

In their place was more energy that I could use to channel to positive purposes, such as the GGBA. The LGBTQ Business Community and its Impact Too often when the topic of LGBTQ business is discussed, it’s done so through the lens of buying power: the old “double income no kids” or DINK consumer model whereby luxury brands target the LGBTQ community in their advertising. What’s missed, and is ultimately more important, is what the LGBTQ business community adds to the economy.

In 2017, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) issued the premier report on the impact of LGBT-owned businesses, placing it at a contribution of $1.7 trillion to the U.S. economy. For context, if LGBT-owned businesses were a country, we would be the 10th largest economy in the world. This number, our impact, continues to grow as

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on page 21)

A) American Library Association Gittings was most involved in the American Library Association and especially its gay caucus—the first such in a professional organization—in order to promote positive literature about homosexuality in libraries. She also organized the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) from 1958 to 1963 (see the story about DOB co-founder Del Martin on page 3 of this issue), edited the national DOB magazine The Ladder from 1963–1966, and worked closely with Frank Kameny in the 1960s on the first picket lines that brought attention to the ban on employment of gay people by the largest employer in the U.S. at that time: the United States government.

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more business owners come out and become certified as LGBT-owned.

And our impact goes well beyond the dollar value. As Dawn Ackerman, former GGBA president, often says, “If every LGBT owned company could hire just one more LGBT person, imagine the effect that we would have on LGBT unemployment and under employment? Imagine the dreams that would be unleashed if every LGBTQ child were able to see someone like them, succeeding in the very thing they want to do.”

The power to change the world is truly within our hands. And the GGBA is committed to doing our part each day, every day, one entrepreneur at a time.

My Plans for GGBA Over the Coming Year My goal, and that of the board, is to make the GGBA integral in the daily business lives of our members and partners; to provide members with events and programming that are responsive to their needs, from being better businesspeople to helping them create and fill their supplier diversity pipeline.

We want to inspire each other by sharing the stories and successes of individuals members. We want to continue to advocate for legislation that breaks down barriers of entry for LGBTQ owned businesses, regardless of the industry vertical, and to embrace and promote the growing diversity within our community.

We want to show individuals from every part of the LGBTQ community that they create their own business, that they don’t need “an app” to be successful, and that there is a place where their whole self is welcomed, respected, and needed. We need to be more involved with other minority chambers, such as the Hispanic Chamber, the WBENC, and others that show that LGBT business owners come from every culture.

Additionally, we will be including the recently launched Speed Networking as part of the monthly Make Contact mixers moving forward. We’ve also set a unique industry theme for each monthly event as well, ensuring that all members have the opportunity to engage and shine—financial providers, insurance, health & wellness, nonprofits, business services, and more will be featured over the next year.

Also, I’m extremely excited about our new CEO High-Performing Accelerator Program. We’ll work with 10 member companies for one year, helping them to break through their unique business growth challenges and take them from their current annual revenue of $500k–$1.5M, to $1M–$3M. It’s a bold initiative to be sure. But it’s one that we’ve been working on for nearly a year, and one that we hope will be a cornerstone of future years' programming.

The GGBA, like any successful team, cannot succeed without everyone’s participation. We need members to utilize the platforms that the GGBA provides to get more engaged; to learn about, patronize, and refer the businesses of fellow members. We need your feedback on what we’re doing right, what we’re doing wrong, and what new programs and events you believe would benefit your business and community. In short, we need you—each of you and all of you.

To our shared success!

Gina Grahame is the PresidentElect of the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA). She is also the Founder and CEO of the Grahame Institute of Strategic Communication. For more information about Grahame, see this earlier article in the “San Francisco Bay Times”: https://bit.ly/2MR7q9I For more information about the GGBA: https://ggba.com/

CASTRO

GAPA Foundation’s Runway 31 – Cirque du Runway Photos by Rink Contestants for the annual Mr. and Miss GAPA titles compete for the coveted honors in an event that includes fashion, talent and interviews.

For 2019, with the theme “Cirque du Runway,” the gala evening, hosted by emcees Sir Whitney Queers and Jezebel Patel, included entertainment, runway presentations and the announcement of the winners: Mocha Fapalatte, Miss GAPA, and SNJV, Mr. GAPA.

STREETCAM presented by

The event was held on August 24 at the Herbst Theater. Congratulations to event coordinator Daniel Bao and the entire team of volunteers and staff on another successful GAPA Runway. For more information, see the columns of Donna Sachet and Sister Dana Van Iquity in this issue, and visit: https://gapafoundation.org/runway

http://sfbaytimes.com/

items of the week Gumball Poodle Socks Some of our hottest items right now are socks! Dress up your feet, make a statement or just make yourself super comfy when chilling at home. Socks wonderful socks!

Blue Q Oven Mitts Also hot right now are oven mitts.

I guess you could say they’re like socks for your hands.

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n times of economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever to shop local. It keeps San Francisco fun and interesting and directly supports our local economy.

As Heard on the Street . . .

What do you look forward to during the fall season?

compiled by Rink

Mimi Osa

Alan Quismorio

Ty Lim

Britta Erich

Taci Jenkins

“I will be looking forward to a couple of trips I will be taking to visit my chosen family in Portland, Dallas, and New Orleans.”

“I will be appearing in the Theatre Rhinoceros’ presentation of Boni Alvarez’s ‘Driven’.”

“The fall Community Connections on November 10th at the Oakland LGBT Community Center”

“At Creative Europe Media of Hamburg we are planning an international festival at Doc Lisboa in October. It is about how documentaries can reach the educational market.”

“The Live at the Orinda Theatre Concert Series, which includes singer Lisa Vroman from ‘Phantom of the Opera’”

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

COMING UP

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS http://sfbaytimes.com/ Compiled by Blake Dillon

5 Thursday Fermented NightLife @ California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive. This evening is one in a popular ongoing series, with food and beverage options. 6pm. http://www.calacademy.org Hick, A Love Story @ EXIT Theater, 156 Eddy Street. LGBT favorite Terry Baum stars in this play about the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena Hickok. This one is not to be missed! 8:30pm: and again on September 7, 9 and 12 (check times). http://www.sffringe.org

6 Friday San Francisco Opera’s Opening Night - Billy Budd @ War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Avenue. Based on Herman Melville’s novella, the acclaimed production by Tony Award-winning director Michael Grandage will kickoff the new season for SF Opera.

7:30pm. http://www.sfopera.org

7 Saturday Free Citizenship Workshop @ 1355 Market Street. SF Pathways to Citizenship, Jewish Family and Children’s Services and SF Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs will host the workshop presenting assistance with review of the naturalization process, assessment of eligibility and more. 9:30am12:30pm. http://www.sfcitizenship.org Brunch with Equality California Womxn @ Manny’s 3092 16th Street. Co-chairs Hon. Leslie Katz and Valerie Ploumpis, the Host Committee and Sponsors, including the San Francisco Bay Times, and guests will gather at Manny’s for brunch and to hear featured speaker Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis. 11am. https://bit.ly/2ZvXCYP Trans March Oakland @ Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland. Participants will march from Oscar Grant Plaza to bring visibility to trans people in Oakland. 11:30am-1:30pm. Trans March Oakland on Facebook Tenderloin Pride 2nd Annual Gala @ Tenderloin Museum, 398 Eddy Street. The event includes a panel discussion moderated by LGBT historian Coy Meza and community activist John Weber with a lineup of other personalities and emcee Mandy CoCo. 12noon-4pm. http://www.tenderloinmuseum.org Pre-Pride Saturday Night Block Party @ Franklin Street between 21st and 2nd, Oakland.

This event is the official kickoff party for Oakland Pride’s 10th anniversary. 6pm-12am. http://www.oaklandpride.org

8 Sunday Pride Pancakes and Mimosas @ Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland. Allyou-can-eat pancakes and bottomless mimosas served outside City Hall, sponsored by OFD and Local 55. 9-10:30am. http://www.oaklandpride.org 30

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10th Annual Oakland Pride Parade + Festival @ Franklin Street in Downtown Oakland. The Festival and Parade encompass six blocks in downtown Oakland and include, in addition to the usual food, merch, and information booths, stages and dancing, and a Children’s Play Area. 11am-7pm. http://www.oaklandpride.org

12 Thursday

Live! in the Castro: Emily Zisman @ Jane Warner Plaza, 401 Castro at 17th Street. Talented singer songwriter and native San Franciscan Emily Zisman is the featured guest in this series produced by Castro/Upper Market Community Business District. http://www.emilyzisman.com

U.S. Census Employer Spotlight @ SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street. The Center’s weekly Job Ready 101 drop-in this week will provide information on how to get a job with the U.S. Census. 3-4:30pm. http://www.sfcenter.org

Presidential Debate Watch Party (Day 1) @ Manny’s 3092 16th Street. Watch with friends and enjoy drink specials, games, comfy couches, good food and drag queens too. 5pm. Day 2 follows on September 13. http://www.welcometomannys.com

Gina Yashere and Acquaintances Comedy @ Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison, Berkeley. Kung Pao Kosher Comedy presents the world-traveling performer with Sampson McCormick and Karinda Dobbins. 7pm. http://www.thefreight.org

Queering Familias: Building Resistance and Hope @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street.

An intergenerational panel will bring together Latinx activists, artists, performers and community leaders for a panel discussion in conjunction with the related exhibit now on view at the Museum. 7-9pm. http://www.glbthistory.org

9 Monday

13 Friday

Talking Tina: A Town Hall on Meth Use in the LGBTQ Community @ SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street, Rainbow Room. Sponsored by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman and SF AIDS Foundation with Castro Country Club, Harm Reduction Coalition, and HealthRIGHT350, the event will be an open discussion on the impact of meth use and what the City and LGBTQ community should be doing.

6:30pm-8pm. http://www.sfcnter.org

Titus Andronicus Opening Night @ La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid Avenue, Berkeley. Theatre Lunatico presents Shakespeare’s tragedy about an escalating cycle of violence and terror with three central male roles swapped to female. 8pm Fridays & Saturdays; 7pm Sundays through September 29. http://www.theatrelunatico.org

Paint Nite: Sky Full of Blossoms @ Flore, 2298 Market. The event is one in a series on Mondays where you’ll be provided with paint, canvas, brushes, easels and a professional guide leading you in painting and you’ll take home your own masterpiece. 7-9pm. http://www.yaymaker.com

10 Tuesday GGBA Annual Member Meeting @ 333 Market Street.

Members will elect the Board of Directors for the coming year. 6-8pm. http://www.ggba.com The Lavender Spirit: Gay Men Reclaiming Spirituality @ Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street. Finn Deerhart, Darren Main and Rev. Jude Harmon will hold a lighthearted conversation about the spirituality being discovered by gay men everywhere. 7pm. http://www.gracecathedral.org

11 Wednesday Drop-In Housing Clinic @ San Francisco LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street. Housing counselors provide application assistance for City affordable rentals and ownership opportunities.Weekly on Wednesdays.

6-8pm. http://www.sfcenter.org GLBT Book Club @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street.

The group will discuss Stella Maris by author Michael Carroll. 7pm. http://www.dogearedbooks.com

http://sfbaytimes.com/

Well-Strung - The Movie Show @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko, 222 Mason. The all-male string quartet returns to SF with a new show featuring some of the best songs from the silver screen. 8pm. http://www.feinsteinssf.com

14 Saturday #Qtease @ The Stud, 399 9th Street. Described as “a queer burlesque and cabaret experience,” the show is performed on Saturdays at a longstanding and beloved LGBTQ bar. 6:30pm. http://www.studsf.com Holotta’s Unboylievable Drag Show! @ Club 1220, 1220 Pine Street, Walnut Creek. Host Holotta Tymes is joined, for this edition of the show, by Saki Samora, Charity Kase, Amber Waves and Scarlett Skyy for a matinee show.

6:30pm. http://www.club1220.com

15 Sunday Petit Dejeuner Drag Brunch (Las Que Mandan) @ Club 1220 Pine Street, Walnut Creek. Hosted

by Bella Aldama, the event is a benefit for the HIV Prevention Program of the Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa County. Noon3pm. http://www.rainbowcc.org Live! in the Castro: Vintage Streetcar Ride with Gaucho! @ Jane Warner Plaza, 401 Castro at 17th Street. Bay Area gypsy jazz band Gaucho will preform followed by a ride aboard a vintage streetcar to the Orbin Room for cocktails and pizza in this ongoing series produced

by Castro/Upper Market Community Business District. http://www.emilyzisman.com

Presidential Campaign Job Fair @ The Women’s Building, 3543 18th Street. Hosted by United Democratic Club and others, the event brings together Democratic groups from around California with volunteers, activists and politicos who want to support the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. 1:303:30pm. http://www.uniteddems.org 7th Annual Musical Extravaganza Benefit for Charlotte Maxwell Clinic @ Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley.

Blues artist Lola Gulley and guitarist Pat Wilder will headline this annual fundraiser supporting the clinic known for its integrative cancer care.

2pm. http://www.thefreight.org Elton John: Farewell Yellow Brick Road @ Chase Center, Mission Bay Blocks 29-32. Elton performs live at the new venue that’s home to the Golden State Warriors.

8pm.http://www.ticketmaster.com

16 Monday A Conversation with Congresswomen Sharice Davids and Xochitl Torres Small @ Manny’s, 3092 16th Street.

The congresswomen from New Mexico, both of whom defeated incumbents in their districts, will spend the evening in conversation and Q&A. 6:30pm. http://www.welcometomannys.com The Homobiles @ Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley. The queer punk supergroup formed in 2015 will be singing songs about cars, babes, crimes, change, bathhouses and ballot measures. 8:30pm. http://www.ivyroom.com Pubquiz at Virgil’s Sea Room @ The Big Queer Pubzquiz, 3152 Mission Street. This 90-minute quiz, based on current events and general knowledge with a special theme round, includes five rounds in ninety minutes with free drinks and weird prizes every Monday night.

7:30-9:30pm. nosportstrivai@gmail.com

17 Tuesday Pronoun Showdown @ Feinstein’s at The Nikko, 220 Mason.

Making its West Coast debut, this show features a cast of Broadway favorites performing favorite show tunes with a switch-up of pronouns.

8pm. http://www.feinsteinssf.com

18 Wednesday Castro LGBTQ Cultural District Community Meeting @ GLBT Historical Society, 4127 18th Street. Discussed at this meeting will be updates on the ordinance formalizing the district, nominations for the Advisory Committee and reports from others. 6-7:30pm. http://www.castrolgbtq.org Book Release Party for The Lion in Me @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street. The release of author Andrew Nance’s new picture book, featuring illustrations by Jim Durk, will be celebrated. 7-9pm. http://www.dogearedbooks.com Imperial Gaymes Night @ Lookout, 3600 16th Street. Hosted by Emperor Terrill Grimes Munro and Empress Baby Shaques Munro, the benefit will support the Monarchs Charity Fund. 7-10pm. http://www.imperialcouncilsf.org

19 Thursday In Search of Stonewall: The Riots at 50 Book Event @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street.

Jewelle Gomez, Will Roscoe and Eve Goldberg, will form a panel to discuss the new book.

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