San Francisco Bay Times - December 19, 2019

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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2019) December 19–January 15, 2019 | http://sfbaytimes.com

Impeachment of the President

Impeach ment

ance U.S . Senate

Main En tr

ADMIT

Proceedi ngs Serg eant-at-A rms of

the U.S.

Senate

ONE

116th Con gress - U .S. Senat e Chambe r

Hottest Ticket in Town

Resolution Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, of high misdemeanors; Resolved, That Donald John Trump, President of the United States, is unfit to be President and is impeached for high misdemeanors, and that the following articles of impeachment be exhibited to the Senate...

2019 Year in Review News Quiz

By Ann Rostow If I were writing my usual column this week, I’d tell you about Hallmark Channel’s controversial decision to remove lesbian imagery from their movie promotions. And this just after I spent many paragraphs writing about the Hallmark Channel last week! I might also mention the more conservative version of the Equality Act, the GOPsponsored “Fairness for All Act,” which aims to expand gay rights in federal law with a heaping helping of religious exemptions.

And there’s more, of course, but I’m not writing a column. It’s time instead for our year end news quiz, designed to test how closely you’ve been paying attention to the rambling news threads that we weave together each issue into the colorful quilt of our GLBT life and times.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t need any additional “news” in my limited head space that has been jammed with relentless contributions from MSNBC and The New York Times. I chose quiz time.

Here goes!

Question One: Australian queer artist Paul Yore caused controversy with his display of: a) a sprawling sexually explicit installation that included a cut-out of Justin Bieber. b) a full-sized painting of Bill Clinton wearing a blue evening gown. c) an actual banana, duct-taped to a wall. d) a toilet door with a glory hole from the old Gosnells train station in Perth.

Question Two: Super Happy Fun America was the organizer for: a) a series of children’s reading programs in public libraries led by drag queens. b) a roaming collection of Trump baby blimps featured at the president’s rallies and speeches. c) a straight pride festival in Boston. d) a crowdfunding drive for a nude gay men’s Highland Games next summer on a beach near Provincetown.

Question Three: Match these women with their 2019 news headlines: a) Pamela Ogletree, b) Monica Cale, c) Annmarie Calgaro, d) Sanna Marin, e) Elizabeth McCarthy a) She sued her transgender daughter for transitioning without permission. b) She threatened to boycott a gay men’s bar in Minneapolis. c) She campaigned for a Florida state representative by describing her traumatic night as a doctor in the ER after the Pulse Nightclub shooting, except the entire story was made up and she was never a doctor. d) She was elected president of Finland. e) She complained about a scene with two moms in Toy Story 4.

Question Four: At oral arguments in the two gay and trans Title VII cases before the Supreme Court: a) all the justices agreed with our lawyers. We’re sure to win! b) Justice Kavanaugh worried about setting in motion a “massive social upheaval” that would be inconsistent with judicial modesty. c) Justice Ginsberg was not present. d) Justice Kennedy hinted he was inclined to rule for our side. e) Justice Gorsuch suggested that the text of Title VII weighed in favor of a pro-GLBT ruling.

Question Five: Which two of the following are not penguins, and what are they? a) Mostik b) Cosmo c) Sphen d) Skipper e) Silo 2

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f) Ronnie g) Ping h) Lincoln Question Six: Who is Blaine Stewart? a) A family values Michigan state representative who faked a gay sex scandal in order to inoculate himself against the (accurate) rumor that he was sleeping with a married, female colleague. b) A gay Norfolk, Virginia, weatherman, known for colorful language such as: “UPDATE: Get ready for a pounding. Some of us could see 8 inches or more. That’s too much— even for me.” c) The owner of a business called the Candy Planet Pet Cafe, where you can have your dog dyed to look like a panda. d) The British father of a twin who was denied U.S. citizenship, even though his other father is American.

Question Seven: Scientists this year concluded that: a) homosexuality is driven by genetics. b) same-sex behavior in animals has always been there, promoting survival by increasing the opportunity for sexual congress in animals that are not obviously male or female. It is not that homosexuality has trumped Darwin, rather it’s heterosexuality that has evolved to dominate. c) the adverse consequences to consuming red meat, drinking coffee, drinking alcohol, or being sedentary have been exaggerated. d) “gaydar” in women is more accurate during ovulation. e) liberals are more likely than conservatives to feel disgust.

Question Eight: Which of the following “we hate gay marriage clients” cases went in our favor in 2019? a) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on Christian videographers. b) The petition to the High Court.

by Melissa Klein of Sweet Cakes by Melissa. c) The Washington Supreme Court rehearing of florist Barronell Stutzman. d) The Arizona Supreme Court ruling on the Brush and Nib stationery store. e) The Kentucky Supreme Court decision on T-shirt maker Hands on Originals.

Question Nine: Which one of the following 2019 news bits is not true? a) Parts of yellow plastic Garfield telephones have been washing up on the Brittany coast for decades. b) Julian Castro told reporters his favorite “comfort food” was iced tea.

Kirsten Gillibrand said whiskey. c) Schoolgirls in North Pole, Alaska, were disciplined for “excessive force” after some boys barged into the girls’ room to make an anti-transgender point and got kicked. d) Someone in Vegas is taping little cowboy hats onto pigeons. e) During a meeting, Donald Trump called Apple CEO Tim Cook “T’Apple” in order to “save words and time.” f) The state of Alabama has stopped issuing marriage licenses. g) Pornhub is selling men’s bathing suits that use a technology to hide an embarrassing erection.

Question Ten: In 2020, would you rather: a) Joe Biden run against Trump with a ten-point lead in September or Elizabeth Warren run against Trump with a four-point lead in September? b) Two 5–4 GLBT victories on our Supreme Court Title VII cases or a Democratic Senate? (continued on page 26)

‘Twas the Night of Impeachment Most vapid and illegal his course of disdain, as he tweeted and shouted and called for names: “Now, Barr! Now, Poe! Now, Rudy and Pence! On, Kellyanne!

On, Tucker! On—oh, snap! Wait a minute, my other enablers are in jail ... . On, whomever is standing next to me! To the top I extort, for the love of my wall, now, stash away! Stash away!

Stash my lies, all!”

Cross Currents Andrea Shorter ’Twas sometime before Christmas, when all through the House, impeachment was stirring, to hold Trump to account; his stalking for foreign interference in U.S. elections was laid to bare, in hopes that Ukraine (and China) would be foolishly ensnared.

With Congressional millions he wrestled to hold over their heads, with visions of Zelensky succumbing to pledge; his drama, mischief, and just endless crap, he peddled to constrain Biden in a cumbersome trap; when out like Khan, someone rose up on this matter, sprang up and said, “There is more to this chatter.”

Away from innuendo, spectacle, and flash, more was spoken and uttered

by Trump in trade for the cash. And soon, the rest of this crestfallen woe, gave Congress a muster to do away with such nonsense bellowed, when, what for our governing demise, should appear, but a particular array of nearly eight timely hearings, with civil toned drivers led wisely by Schiff, we knew in a moment that Trump must be dropkicked.

As dry heaves that before the big migraine goes goodbye, when they meet with the oligarchical, mount bigger lies, so up to the White House top the cursers they spew, hoping to get away with a bunch of ploys, just oh so villainous. And then, more than an inkling, we heard of the proof, the planning and plotting of each committed goof.

As we knew from what we read, that he was bound to go down, down the litany of predicaments each sound as a pound. He suppressed all that occurred, misled as he could, and the oath he had taken was so tarnished with soot, a bumbler of ploys he had flung on our backs, as he continues as a peddler just totaling his stacks.

His lies—how they’re sprinkled! His impulse—how scary! As Chief he’s a poser, exposed, and God willing temporary. This foul little lot thinks this is a reality TV show, as the weird from his end has just got to go.

The stump of the bully pulpit he’ll hold tight in his teeth, until the yoke of justice leads to him being impeached.

We have a broad space but little ground truly to be shook and collapsed by a vacuous bully. We are justly and stump for our Constitutional right to a President less in it for himself, who acts on his behalf, in awe of himself, in spite of ourselves.

In a wink of her eye, and a twist of her head, Lady Justice will soon give us some hope of less to dread. She’ll speak true words, remain straight away at work, work to quell our longings; then, turn this necessary Congressional work, without delay, linger or postpone, impeach against this litany of woes. Justice will reign, albeit received with a Senatorial rush for dismissal, and display for full view the bowers called by whistle. But it will be proclaimed, on that solemn night, “The Law is for All, and No One Above the Law.” And then, of course, “You’re Impeached.”

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.

About Our Cover President Trump “has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law. President Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.”

So ends the Articles of Impeachment released by Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) on December 10. By the time that you read this, the Democrat-majority House will have voted to impeach Trump, making him only the third U.S. President to have been impeached. The others were Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson.

Impeachment procedure holds that a Senate trial follows, with a two-thirds supermajority required for conviction that results in removal from office. San Francisco Bay Times columnist Ann Rostow wrote in the November 14 issue: “Depending on how things go, if I’m a Republican senator, I might have the flu that day. If 20 GOP senators simply didn’t show up, you’d need only 54 votes to convict; 47 Democrats (and Independents) plus seven of the remaining Republicans. Given that the mood of the country would have to be dark indeed in order to send 20 senators into hiding to begin with, that’s not an impossible number. You can play with the math yourself. For example, 10 absent GOP senators means you would need 13 of the remaining 43 Republicans voting to convict.”

Nevertheless, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News’ Sean Hannity: “There’s no chance the President will be removed from office.

My hope is there won’t be a single Republican who votes for these two articles of impeachment.” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham echoed that view during an interview on December 14 with CNN International’s Becky Anderson. “This thing will come to the Senate, and it will die quickly, and I will do everything I can to make it die quickly,” he said.

Impeachment Tickets Before Johnson and Clinton’s impeachment hearings, actual hard-copy tickets were issued, permitting bearers entry to the Senate Gallery. In Clinton’s case, for example, tickets were issued for all 19 sessions of the hearings. That number carried through to the date of his impeachment: December 19, 1998.

Here we are once more, on a December 19, with tickets likely again about to be issued. Trump’s nationwide approval rating is down to 42 percent, according to FiveThirtyEight, and much lower in Western states and especially California. Such public disapproval will contribute to the tickets becoming the hottest in town.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed the views of many coveting the tickets and desiring Trump’s conviction when she said, “Our democracy is what’s at stake. The president leaves us no choice but to act because he is trying to corrupt, once again, the election for his own benefit.”

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Wishing You an Imaginative Holiday

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney Years ago, at SF MOMA’s retrospective of the work of Japanese conceptual artist Yoko Ono, we remember climbing a tall ladder, and then using a magnifying glass to read a word, written in tiny letters on a piece of paper suspended from the ceiling. The word was “YES.”

Imagination provides us the opportunity to recognize truth and find hope that might be less accessible if we limit our minds to analysis and reason. One of the greatest scientific geniuses of all time, Albert Einstein, proclaimed: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

And imagination can be transformative in politics and activism.

It has played a pivotal role in the LGBTIQ movement. Thinking Ono first exhibited the piece at a 1966 gallery show in London when over the past year, who could have imagined that Pete Buttigieg, the John Lennon, whom she had not yet met, walked in, climbed the lad- openly gay Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, would be a leading conder, and read that same word. In tender for the 2020 Democratic Lennon’s words: “ ... in tiny little letters it says ‘YES.’ So it was posi- Presidential nomination? Pete and tive. I felt relieved. It’s a great relief his husband Chasten could. Forty years earlier, Harvey Milk imagwhen you get up the ladder and ined himself on the San Francisco you look through the spyglass and Board of Supervisors, and with a lot it doesn’t say ‘no’ or ‘f--k you’ or of work by thousands inspired by a something. It said ‘YES.’” dream, he won election.

Of course, Lennon and Ono’s colOn February 12, 2004, Gavin laboration went on to become Newsom, in allegiance to the legendary. For us, Ono’s work Constitution but in defiance of state illuminated the vitality of hope, law, imagined San Francisco as a engagement, optimism, and yes— place that recognized the truth of imagination. Five years later, the dignity and equality of sameLennon inspired millions for gensex love and marriage equality for erations to come by singing: “Imagine all the people living life in all. He was able to make that truth peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, a reality for 30 days in 2004, and thousands from around the globe, but I’m not the only one ... .” including ourselves, responded.

Indeed, he was not. Lennon attested that Ono was responsible for much When those marriages were nulof the song, and in 2017, she finally lified six months later, who could have imagined that just over a received the co-writing credit he decade later the dream of nationhad wished for her to have. wide marriage equality would This holiday season we find ourbecome a reality? Although devasselves pondering the wonder and tated, many of us could. The expepower of imagination. The holirience of that 2004 dream come days are perhaps the time when true inspired countless people, not many Americans embrace imagina- just in San Francisco but across the tion most, in particular the idea of country, to work for lasting equality. an old, plump gentleman dressed in red, who resides at the North Pole. Today, LGBTIQ activists in China are imagining their country passThe poet and novelist Alice Walker ing marriage equality legisladeclared, “I have fallen in love with tion, even as Chinese President Xi the imagination. If you fall in love Jinping presides over a political with the imagination, you underand cultural crackdown not seen

Black Brothers Esteem Celebrates Before Kwanzza Photos by Rink Black Brothers Esteem (BBE), a program of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation empowering men of color, held the Annual Kwanzaa Awards Celebration on Saturday, December 7, at The Market.

The evening included a Kinara lighting, awards dinner, live performances and an opportunity to contribute to BBE’s annual toy drive. Among leaders on hand were the organization’s Director of Community Events and Engagement, Tony Bradford; activist Ms. Billie Cooper, and popular DJ Lamont, who was spinning tunes during the evening. Kwanzaa happens from Thursday, December 26, to Wednesday, January 1.

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stand that it is a free spirit. It will go anywhere, and it can do anything.”

The painter Vincent Van Gogh advised: “Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model.” The writer Maxine Hong Kingston keenly observed, “A good strong imagination doesn’t go off into some wild fantasy of nowhere.

It goes to the truth.”

since the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. This fall, Chinese queer activists launched a grassroots campaign encouraging the community to submit their personal stories and desires for equality to the national legislature during the authorized public comment period for an unrelated marriage and family code bill.

Upwards of 200,000 people appear to have submitted comments.

Imagination abounds in the LGBTIQ community—from artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers to drag performers to the Radical Faeries and more. It is foundational. Queer people come out because we imagine a better life no longer hiding or repressing our sexuality. Transgender people take courageous steps because they imagine the wholeness they will feel when their body matches their gender. Our community’s political engagement and activism are founded not just on our desire to make our own lives better, but also on the dream that LGBTIQ youth growing up will not face the same challenges we did.

This year, we’re asking Santa to bring us the gift of letting our imaginations run wild to discover new truths and possibilities. We wish you an imaginative holiday season and New Year 2020!

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.

Message from Leadership

The Value of CEO Roundtables

By Michael Gunther After more than 20 years as a trusted advisor for business owners wanting to grow their businesses, I learned to classify business owners into three groups. My team and I found that one of these groups tends to achieve breakthrough performance and expand their business more consistently and profitably, while the others tend to perform at lower levels compared to their peers over time.

Do It Yourself One group is the “do it yourself” entrepreneurs. They may read and learn on their own, but do not necessarily seek insights on how to be a better leader or company. They frequently experience the entrepreneurial journey alone and don’t want to share their ups and downs with others; basically, they are on a path of mediocrity.

Dreamer, Not Doer The second group consists of the “dreamer but not the doer” entrepreneurs. These individuals are constantly seeking new information and learning opportunities. They may read every business book and frequently attend seminars and workshops to try and determine what may prevent them from growing their business. They are energized to seek solutions, but stumble on dependably implementing the actions toward their goals and plans.

Collaborative Leaders The last group are the “collaborative leader” entrepreneurs.

These individuals understand that growth for their firm aligns closely with their leadership growth. These entrepreneurs seek information to improve their businesses, and they also have the right accountability systems in place to ensure implementation.

They can admit to their vulnerabilities in order to seek the assistance of advisors or key employees to round out their weaknesses to build a more solid organization. These organizations tend to outperform their peers and confidently move closer to achieving their desired goals.

GGBA Member Spotlight

Based on the Golden Gate Business Association’s (GGBA) desire to build strong LGBTQ businesses, the GGBA has developed a CEO program geared toward the Collaborative Leader entrepreneurs. This program, sponsored by Wells Fargo, Granite Solutions Group, and the GAP, takes business owners on a 10-month journey of education, accountability, and coaching to drive them and their business to new levels of performance. The intent isn’t just to identify where the leaders want to take their business, but to help establish the proper systems and structures to ensure sustainable, profitable growth.

Imagine as a business owner having the opportunity to create the business of your dreams while developing new skills and processes to support your growth while learning from experts and peers to enhance your knowledge and accountability. This program is part of GGBA’s ongoing commitment to education of its members, with goals that include the development of present and future business leaders and fostering opportunities for their businesses to grow.

Bottom Line If you have hit a plateau in your business or you have a desire to accelerate the growth of your business, consider participating in the GGBA High Performance Acceleration Program. This 10-month program provides you with expert guidance in the growth of your business, access to tools that help you to manage your growth, and one-on-one coaching and CEO peer accountability.

Are you serious about wanting to build a profitable, sustainable business? Then the time to join the GGBA CEO peer group is today. Go to our website ( https://ggba.com/ ) to learn more about the CEO High Performance Acceleration Program.

Michael Gunther is a Board Member of the Golden Gate Business Association and leads Collaboration Business Consulting, which is a team of highly skilled business professionals who are dedicated to assisting proactive individuals to build scalable, profitable businesses. For more information: https://collaboration-llc.com/michael-gunther/

Nancy Geenen, CEO of Flexability

Nancy Geenen is an accomplished entrepreneur, trial attorney, and strategic facilitator whose educational background includes Stanford, Harvard, and Santa Clara University Law School. Early in her career she was a Senior Legal Officer for the United Nations in Geneva, where she focused on adjudicating damages arising from Iraq’s unlawful invasion of Kuwait.

Geenen is now a sought-after advisor on matters of company culture, retention, career development, and leadership. She brings all of these skills and more to her roles as the CEO and a Founder of Flexability. Read on to learn more about both her and this important social impact firm.

GGBA: Please describe your business and its mission and values.

Nancy Geenen: Flexability is a social impact enterprise that wants to change the world by changing the workplace.

We connect employers with highly skilled job seekers with a disability and equity lens, using temporary placement, direct

Nancy Geenen

hire, and executive search. We work with client leadership teams on the next phase of a company’s disability culture and training. We exist to help our clients develop a disability inclusive culture, find great talent, create career paths for individuals with disabilities, drive profitability through employee engagement and retention, and build equitable ecosystems.

Flexability is a social impact firm with a vision to change the world by changing workplaces. We believe championing people is good business and good business drives profit. We partner with like-minded companies, communities, and job-seekers to build diverse, dynamic, and productive working environments. We exist to help our clients develop a disability inclusive culture, find great talent, create career paths for individuals with disabilities, drive profitability through employee engagement and retention, and build equitable ecosystems.

GGBA CALENDAR GGBA Member Roundtable January 14 5:30 pm–6 pm Members will engage in a roundtable discussion regarding the chamber’s member programming.

Location TBD. For more information, email: events@ggba.com Register to attend: https://bit.ly/36KOX4F Make Contact Mixer - Hospitality Spotlight January 14 6 pm–8 pm Location TBD. For more information, email: events@ggba.com Free to Chamber Members and Partners $25 to non-members Register to attend: https://bit.ly/38IR36P New Member & Ambassador Orientations February 11 5:30 pm–6 pm Location TBD. For more information, email: events@ggba.com Register to attend: https://bit.ly/2rR54Pf Make Contact Mixer - Construction Spotlight February 11 6 pm–8 pm Location TBD. For more information, email: events@ggba.com Register to attend: https://bit.ly/38OAmXR Make Contact Mixer - Financial Services March 5 6 pm–8 pm Location TBD. For more information, email: events@ggba.com Register to attend: https://bit.ly/36I1ZzP Power Lunch 2020 March 6 The theme for 2020 will be “Diversity.”

W San Francisco Hotel 181 3rd Street https://bit.ly/38GsE1D GGBA: Why did you decide to create your business?

Nancy Geenen: The Flexability leadership team is passionate about equity in the workplace. We share a set of core values that guide our behavior in all respects: people first, keep every promise, and lead with abundance, bravery, and creativity. With unemployment the lowest in many decades, individuals with disabilities are a skilled, innovative, and productive talent source that is work-ready and available. We partner with like-minded (continued on page 26)

‘King of Haight’ Declared During GGBA’s Annual Holiday Make Contact Photos courtesy of Jay Greene GGBA’s annual Holiday Make Contact for 2019, “Holidays in the Haight,” was held on Tuesday, December 10, at Blade Runners Hair Studio (1792 Haight Street). Founder and stylist David Wilson and his famous dog Gabriel welcomed guests as they arrived. David received a Certificate of Honor from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for being a community leader, for helping to keep “the Haight Ashbury thriving and vibrant,” and for being among those central to the “neighborhood’s iconic identity.”

The Board of Supervisors also bestowed the title “King of Haight” on Instagram star and friend to all Gabriel, who sniffed the document and barked his approval. The Certificate of Honor for him reads, in part: “Over the years, you have graced the entrance to Blade Runners Hair Studio with your glorious presence. Your ever-welcoming service to your subjects, the residents of the Haight, and visitors alike is greatly valued, and will be remembered in perpetuity.” http://bladerunnershairstudio.com/ S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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Feline Enthusiast’s Quest for His Pet to Be Declared ‘Best Cat’ commentaries can be quite educational. I know it takes a lot to train a dog to perform and “be shown,” but cats?

That’s just crazy talk!

Sports John Chen Bobby San Miguel’s two Bengal cats have won many ribbons over the past two years in Northern California cat shows. “Our girl Elektra is a Grand Champion and our boy Orestes is a Quadruple Grand Champion,” he recently told me for the San Francisco Bay Times. A proud cat dad, San Miguel beams with joy when speaking about his kitties. “Although Elektra has retired, Orestes is still competing and we’re hoping he can achieve the ultimate title of Best Cat.” I’ve always been an animal lover, but never really understood the concept of dog and cat shows, let alone calling them a sport. Yes, when the shows are covered live on a major sports channel, it’s a sport. I’ve seen the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the ultimate dog show where legends are made, on TV. And I admit there are some amazing animals being shown and the

This all changed when my friend San Miguel started showing his beautiful Bengal cats a couple of years ago at Northern California cat shows. Intrigued, I attended the Ione Wine Country Cat Show in Ione, CA, last year to see Elektra and Orestes compete and to learn what a cat show is all about.

Originally from Florida, San Miguel was a former marine biologist and is a lifelong fitness instructor who never owned a pet until he and his fiancé Bryce Dahlmeier adopted two Bengal kittens nearly three years ago. “We got Bengals because my friend had one and highly recommended the breed,” he explained.

“They look like little wild cats, are extremely intelligent and very doglike. Bengals follow you around and we walk them on a leash.”

San Miguel continued, “Because my family had bred dogs when I was a kid, I had an interest in breeding pets. I realized the best way to be more educated on becoming a cat breeder was to have a show cat, and meet and learn from successful breeders as well as what it takes to have the best Bengal cat.”

San Miguel added, “At cat shows, breeders, competitors, and attendees

Take Me Home with You!

Pork Chop

“My name is Pork Chop and I’m a big ball of love! Now that I’m 7 years old, my crazy puppy days are behind me. I enjoy taking leisurely walks and spending mellow evenings cuddling on the couch. I’ve been called a social butterfly, and I do enjoy saying ‘hello’ to everyone I meet. My dream is to spend the holidays in my forever home!”

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

Pork Chop 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 Pork Chop.

To meet Pork Chop, 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 adoption center is open Mon–Fri: 1–6 pm and Sat–Sun: 10 am–5 pm.

Free parking is available for those wishing to adopt!

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

are cat lovers. Yes, a few are crazy cat ladies, but the vast majority love their cats and treat them like members of their family.”

I can attest to that after first attending the Ione Cat Show, then the Golden Gate Dog Show at Cow Palace in San Francisco, and more recently, the San Mateo Cat Show.

These shows not only bring out the best of breeds, but also bring out our great passion and love for animals.

San Miguel further enlightened me on why he enters Orestes. “Doing shows, I have become a student of cats,” he said. “For example, cats are colony animals where they can coexist, interact and share a habitat with other cats, but only if they are familiar with them. Whereas dogs are pack animals, forming strong bonds, living and hunting with relatives. This knowledge is significant to understanding how cats may react and behave at shows. Additionally, it’s important to start showing cats when they are kittens as young as four months so they can get used to being handled and shown in a somewhat chaotic environment with lots of people, noise, and other cats.”

In my own personal experience attending cat and dog shows, breeders and owners are animal enthusiasts and advocates like San Miguel.

Most are eager to tell you about their pet “children” and to answer questions. They will do just about anything and everything for their furry companions. One can clearly see the strong bond between people and their pets. Sometimes at these competitive shows, winning isn’t the end all. It’s about sharing their love of cats and dogs with others.

Whether you are a cat and/or dog lover, or just an intrigued bystander, why not check out a cat or dog show and meet enthusiastic pet parents, learn about both common and exotic breeds, and learn more about the animals you will fall in love with?

And maybe you’ll have a new addition in your life and become a blissfully crazy cat person!

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

As Heard on the Street . . . What’s the best thing that happened to you in 2019?

compiled by Rink

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Moira Wilmes

Okan Sengun

Vincent Fuqua

Sheryl Lee Ralph

Tony Bradford

“I turned 50 and I’m celebrating living a wonderful life with family and friends.”

“At the LGBT Asylum Project, we set a goal of saving the lives of 70 people, and 115 have been helped to escape to safety in 2019.”

“I studied and now I am a clinical psychologist.”

“Being happy to get up in the morning, and living my life to the fullest. It’s been almost 30 years since ‘Dreamgirls’ and I’ve still got it!”

“I beat cancer.”

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Planning Underway for First Full-Scale Queer History Museum in the U.S. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GILBERT BAKER ESTATE

San Francisco is poised to be the home of the first full-scale queer history museum in the United States. Putting the GLBT Historical Society Museum & Archives closer to this goal was the completion in October of a “Feasibility Study” and “Market and Financial Analysis.”

They were preceded by an “Interpretive Report” and addiJanuary 2 Workshop: A rainbow flag sewn by Gilbert Baker tional planning work. a café/bar, multiGallagher & Associates, an interpurpose event space, nationally recognized museum large exhibit gallery, planning and design firm, has the archive collection been among those involved in the vault, conference room, process. Former San Francisco Bay reading room, and more.

Times columnist and District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman is also involved.

“These reports assure us that with the growth we have experienced in the last few years, the GLBT Historical Society can afford to operate and sustain a full-scale museum with earned and contributed revenues,” wrote Terry Beswick, the Society’s Executive Director. “This museum is about shining the light of truth. It is about joining our community together with our allies to claim our own hallowed ground. It’s about letting our stories breathe and give life and inspiration to our young to take on the challenges of today and to give pride and respect to the old.”

Beswick informed us that one site being explored is the former location of Pottery Barn at 2390 Market Street. If this site is selected, the project would likely include both the envisioned museum on the ground floor and housing above. The cost for such development at the large, crossroads location—estimated at around $15 million—is clearly steep, but the organizers are hoping to leverage both city and state funds.

Renderings in the Feasibility Study indicate that the space could include

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Fundraising has begun for Vision 2020, the ambitious effort to establish the new fullscale LGBTQ museum and research center. Those who donate by December 31, 2019, will have their donations matched up to a total of $50,000 by The Excelerate Foundation, Emily Rosenberg and Darlene deManincor, and Al Baum and Robert Holgate.

As Beswick shared, “On the day when we open the doors to our community’s new museum, we will right a grave wrong: the erasure of our people’s history. We will claim our permanent place in the firmament of San Francisco’s history and culture.

And we will celebrate our vision for a better future, when all young queer and trans kids are accepted for who they are and are given the chance to live with honesty and truth, love who they want and reach their fullest potential.”

For more information about Vision 2020 and to donate, go to: https://www.glbthistory.org/donate

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January LGBTQ History Programs Highlight Queer Symbols, LGBTQ Archives and History in the Czech Republic, Two-Spirit Documentary The program series for January 2020 sponsored by the GLBT Historical Society will highlight the history of LGBTQ symbols, queer archives and cultural history in the Czech Republic, and the growth of the Annual TwoSpirit Powwow organized by Bay Area American Indian Two Spirits since 2012. All of the following events will take place from 7 pm–9 pm at the GLBT Historical Society Museum at 4127 18th Street in the Castro District. All are free to attend for members and just $5 admission for others.

Workshop Beyond the Rainbow: Queer Symbology Before and After Gilbert Baker Thursday, January 2 This presentation and workshop will explore the symbols that have represented the LGBTQ community before and after Gilbert Baker’s iconic, globally adopted rainbow flag. Participants will learn about the history and evolution of queer symbols, including the flags that have been inspired by and developed since the rainbow flag debuted in 1978. In addition, participants will have an opportunity to invent and design their own flags and symbols using paper, textiles, and other materials.

This program is being held in conjunction with the exhibition “Performance, Protest

Advertisement for Casino Restaurant in Prague, an LGBTQ gathering place (1930s).

and Politics: The Art of Gilbert Baker,” currently on display at the GLBT Hisorical Society Museum. Tickets are available online at https://bit.ly/2qw6ZYI Illustrated Talk Bohemian Rhapsody?

Writing and Collecting Queer Cultural History in the Czech Republic Thursday, January 23 7 pm–9 pm In autumn 2019, the Czech Republic celebrated the 30th anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution, which ended four decades of communist rule in the former Czechoslovakia.

New freedoms have made it easier for LGBTQ people to live their lives more openly in this Central European country, yet they still face significant challenges. Established in 2014, the Society for Queer Memory is the first Czech queer archives and museum. It now holds more than 1,000 objects. Art

historian Ladislav ZikmundLender will discuss the work of the organization, providing insight into how the history of queer lives and experiences are being documented and presented in the Czech Republic.

His talk will compare and contrast the ways that the path to queer emancipation in Central Europe have been distinct from the U.S. Zikmund-Lender is a professor in the Department of Theories and Histories of Art at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Brno University of Technology in Brno, Czech Republic.

Tickets are available online at https://bit.ly/37sV7az Film Screening Two-Spirit Powwow: A BAAITS Documentary Thursday, January 30 Filmmaker Rick Bacigalui and BAAITS board member Miko Thomas (aka Landa Lakes) will present Two-Spirit Powwow (2019), a new documentary that (continued on page 26)

Assemblymember Phil Ting California is in the midst of a housing crisis. For decades, we have not been building enough homes to meet demand. In fact, by some estimates, we’ve produced only 40% of what is needed since 2007.

To help increase the number of units built, I’m excited to share that two of my housing bills will take effect on January 1. AB 68 will make an immediate impact by making it easier and faster for property owners to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). ADUs are also commonly known as in-law units, granny flats, or backyard cottages, and are built within or near existing residences.

Aside from being one of the quickest ways to ramp up the state’s housing supply, I love that ADUs can help keep multi-generational families together. For example, they allow aging parents to have some privacy, but still live close by so their adult children can, in turn, keep an eye on them.

ADUs are typically small, but offer enough space and amenities for independent living, including a kitchen, bathroom, and separate entrance.

Unfortunately, not every jurisdiction has embraced the concept of ADUs, despite the unprecedented need for housing. After the state Legislature eased regulations a few years ago, some cities and counties actually made it more difficult for homeowners to build on their property. AB 68 removes a number of those obstacles. Local governments, for instance, must stop requiring a parking space or a minimum lot size as a condition for construction. In addition, the permitting process can no longer take more than 60 days.

A couple of other ADU laws from my Assembly colleagues will also take effect next year—one forbids homeowners associations from banning secondary units; the other temporarily suspends local rules requiring the homeowner to live on site. I expect our efforts to spur a big wave of interest in ADUs, leading to a boost of our housing supply.

To encourage bigger projects, my other bill, AB 1486, strengthens current law that gives affordable housing developers the right of first refusal to build on public surplus land that has been dormant for decades. It takes advantage of strategically located sites next to transit, schools, and jobs. An appeals court recently ruled that all cities must follow this law and prioritize affordable projects over high-rises and other commercial developments.

When the Legislative session reconvenes next month, we will work on more proposals to increase housing for our middle class. It’s a top priority for us. We cannot keep adding jobs in California’s booming economy without similarly building places for workers to live.

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

NATIONSWELL.COM

They can be part of a home addition, a garage, or backyard.

San Francisco already goes a step further, allowing ADUs to be constructed in multiunit buildings, perhaps in the basement or large converted storage space. The City has recognized the value of ADUs and successfully stepped up efforts earlier this year to clear a backlog of more than 900 permit requests.

Gun Tracing Programs Are Effective and Critical to Solving Gun Crimes SF.CURBED.COM

Getting More Housing Built

know our gun tracing programs are effective and critical to solving gun crimes.

Out of the Closet and into City Hall Oakland City Councilmember At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan Gun tracing is an integral part of our ability to solve gun crimes. We know shutting down illegal sources of guns is essential to stopping the danger of gun violence in our communities. If you shut down the illegal gun dealers and you shut down the sources of illegal guns, there won’t be gun crime. Unless you are going after the guns, you are not taking violent crime seriously.

We need a systematic way to be going after the guns and shutting down the illegal gun dealers.

In 2018 during our mid-cycle budget, I fought for and won money for a police crime analyst to exclusively focus on gun tracing. And in the 2019–2021 budget that passed unanimously in June of this year, we added just over a million dollars over the biennium to address the backlog of homicide cases in Oakland. We

This is why I was surprised to see that the Administration had submitted a proposal to cut some important and needed City services, including gun tracing. The report submitted stated: “Freezing of 2.0 FTE Crime Analysts in the Crime Analysis Section and 1.0 FTE Criminalist II in the Criminalistics Section will result in delays in the processing of evidence in crime investigations. Specifically, the freezing of these positions will slow OPD’s ability to examine and trace firearms recovered in connection with crime.”

We must learn from known data. Gun tracing and shutting down sources of illegal guns are essential to stopping the danger of gun violence in our communities. Oakland must not cut these vital efforts, and I will continue to fight for our community to reduce gun violence.

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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Shar’ar Zahav Dinner & Klezmer Service Photos by Paul Margolis “A night for everyone to nourish your soul” was the goal of a special evening of singing, dancing, and davening hosted by Congregation Sha’ar Zahav on Friday, December 13. Cantor Sharon Bernstein, along with Stuart Brotman, Josh Horowitz, and Bruce Bierman, presented a set of music ranging from plaintive to uplifting and joyful. Co-sponsored by Shar’ar Zahav and the Castro Merchants Association, the annual Hanukkah in the Castro menorah lighting at Jane Warner Plaza was held last light night on Wednesday, December 18.

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Project Open Hand 27th Annual Hand to Hand Luncheon

Suzanne Frank

Photos by Rink San Francisco Fairmont Hotel was the elegant location of Project Open Hand’s annual Hand to Hand Luncheon on Thursday, December 12. Gary Bukovnik, who for 21 consecutive years has donated his original art for the annual Project Open Hand Calendar, received the Ruth Brinker Visionary Award. Also honored, for their more than 15 years of working for Open Hand, were Salvador Alvarez, Scott Schoverling, Jose Chavez and Joe Wicht. Congratulations to Paul Hepfer, CEO; Executive Chef Adrian Barrow; and the entire family of Project Open Hand supporters and volunteers on the success of this year’s luncheon.

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Innovation and Hope: A Tale of Two Studies and services provided by and designed specifically for the LGBTQ community.

Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor 1978

The study identified 4 reasons for this disparity:

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

Aging in Community

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.

Dr. Marcy Adelman

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

In November of 2018, the San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) released its study, LGBTQ Participation Equity Analysis, which reported what can only be described as profoundly disturbing results.

Despite all the progress that has been accomplished by local LGBTQ senior advocates, the successful implementation of most of the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force’s programs recommendations and a decade and a half of city-supported LGBTQ aging cultural competency training for senior care providers, LGBTQ seniors remain one of the most underserved of the city’s diverse older adult populations. As unsettling as the results of this study are, the report exposed the problem and provided a useful road map of potential solutions.

According to the DAAS study, LGBTQ seniors access aging services within LGBTQ senior serving agencies at a high rate, but are two and a half times less likely than their heterosexual peers to access aging services in non-LGBTQ identified agencies. Clearly, LGBTQ seniors feel more comfortable in programs

They became friends and trusted colleagues who shared a commitment to serving and empowering underserved and vulnerable elder communities. When they both became leaders of their respective organization, the service needs of the populations that they served and the trust they had established in their working relationship presented them with a shared mission.

The DAAS report identified transgender older adults, LGBTQ older adults of color, and LGBTQ adults with disabilities as the most underserved groups within the LGBTQ senior community.

In 2018 they formed a partnership to develop a first of its kind Adult Day Services Program (ADSP) tailored to the needs of LGBTQ older adults.

ADSPs provide programs for older adults with physical limitation with opportunities to socialize and help with personal care and nutrition in a safe setting. ADSP services can be a critical support to keep people in their home and in their community.

The report recommended continued funding of programs tailored to the unique needs of the LGBTQ community that are located in LGBTQ focused community organizations. The DAAS report indicated that more research needs to be done to understand how to best serve LGBTQ older adults of color, transgender older adults, and LGBTQ adults with disabilities.

The partnership reached out to Dr. Jason Flatt of the University of California San Francisco to conduct a needs assessment to help design their program and to determine the most effective ways to serve San Francisco’s growing population of LGBTQ older adults. The study has informed the design of the partnership’s program slated to open in Spring of next year in Openhouse’s

Dr. Flatt reported the results of his study in December 2019.

109 LGBTQ older adults participated in the study (46 participants took part in 6 focus groups and 63 participants completed an online or in-person survey). The focus groups included groups for caregivers; transgender, genderqueer or gender non-binary older adults; LGBTQ older adult persons of color; LGBTQ adults with disabilities; and gay male cisgender and lesbian and bisexual cisgender seniors.

“We knew that one in five LGBTQ older adults are not using aging services because they feel unsafe or unwelcome,” Dr. Flatt informed me for the San Francisco Bay Times. “In our study we found key barriers to accessing care included discrimination from service providers, lack of specialist HIV care, financial barriers, history of receiving lower quality services and difficulty related to finding health, service, and insurance information. Living alone also presents challenges in accessing services.

For example, people living alone have difficulty getting to and from health appointments. In total, 54% (continued on page 26)

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

Randy Coleman Randy Coleman hails from New York, but has lived in San Francisco since 1975. Coleman shares that before moving to the Bay Area, he studied Art History and Architecture at Boston University while working as a resident artist for architectural rendering at a Massachusetts historical society. “All of my life I’ve been an artist,” Coleman says. “To know me is to know that I have a passion for art and architecture. I love this project for the San Francisco Bay Times, and hope that you enjoy my sketches.” © Randy Coleman, 2019

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Much higher rates of living alone by LGBTQ older adult clients and LGBTQ adults with disabilities were also linked to lower participation rates. The majority of LGBTQ older adult clients (61%) live alone compared to 39% in the overall senior client population, and 69% percent of LGBT adults with disabilities (age 18–59) live alone, compared to 53%.

Studies have shown that living alone is linked to greater risk for isolation and increased risk of depression, physical health issues, and potential exploitation and abuse.

new activity center at 75 Laguna in Hayes Valley.

SF Sketch

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

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• 1 in 5 feel unsafe and/or unwelcome in general aging services; • Nearly half have mobility limitations; • 1 in 4 report difficulty accessing transportation; • 1 in 6 report lower quality social activities.

The second study picks up where the DAAS study leaves off. Karyn Skultety—Executive Director of Openhouse, San Francisco’s only nonprofit exclusively focused on the health and well-being of LGBTQ older adults—and Grace Li, CEO of On Lok—the country’s pioneer agency in developing and providing Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)—had worked together earlier in their careers on a PACE program at the Institute on Aging.

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It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (and the worst)

Best gift ___________________________ Worst gift ___________________________ Best holiday _________________________ Worst holiday _______________________

TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation Dr. Tim Seelig Oh, the holidays. They are like riding a roller coaster. It starts at the bottom when excited riders get all buckled in over Labor Day. Then, slowly and reluctantly, it chugs its way up the steep climb passing the gay high holy day, Halloween, and the American gorge yourself fest, Thanksgiving. Holiday music has long serenaded you and retail outlets have been decorated by that point.

With great effort, it finally reaches the pinnacle of its climb, pauses and, voila, it’s December— finally! Everyone screams as the roller coaster plummets. And, in the twinkling of an eye, we pass Solstice, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas all on our way to the New Year’s. Then you find out you were actually on a log ride and you are soaked with champagne bottles exploding. Whew. It’s the best and the worst.

OK, that’s the fantasy ride. The average roller coaster ride is actually 112 seconds. The “holiday coaster” is excruciatingly longer— three months to be exact. Would that we could cram all of that in just under two minutes!

Are you one of those people who remembers every detail of every holiday? Are you one of the people who remembers who gave what to whom? And you never forget when a friend bought you a cheap gift— or worse—regifted and you found out about it? Mostly fruitcake.

As we reach the end of the “holiday coaster,” let’s play a fun game.

OK, here we go. It begins with a “guided” preparation. Get to a quiet place. Relax your body.

Breathe deeply. Put all other thoughts aside for a moment.

Imagine yourself in a peaceful, snowy setting worthy of Norman Rockwell. Focus only on answering the following questions. Make a list and check it twice.

Fill in the blanks as you recall your own experiences:

Best holiday song ____________________ Worst holiday song ___________________ For extra credit: worst regifting experience. We’ve all done it.

That’s a fun game! I want to play it. Who should start? I know, I’ll spin the bottle.

Oh my gosh, I won, so I’ll go first.

Best Gift I have a 9-year-old and a 4-year-old granddaughter. This year, the tribe doubled. Ivy Rose and Cora Hope were due on Christmas this year. They decided to arrive on October 10 instead. The Best Christmas will be visiting them as they are now double their 2 lb. birth weight!

They won’t be out of the hospital by their Christmas due date, so you can bet I’ll be spending most of my time at the hospital.

Yes, they are my best gift ever.

Worst Gift When I was 11 and my brother 13, for some unknown reason my Father, who had no taste, purchased us matching, fireengine red sport coats to wear to church on Christmas morning, which fell on a Sunday and, of course, there was church.

We were horrified. We didn’t actually like each other, much less dress alike.

But since we opened the gift that morning, there was no getting out of making a big splash at church that morning. I’m sure our faces matched the coats. We also received socks and tidy-whities more often than I care to remember.

released. I had no idea what it was about. It was The Mission. Oh boy. Summary: church crushes the downtrodden.

Starring Jeremy Irons and Robert DeNiro, and the action takes place in South America in the 18th century. Two great colonial forces are competing for the hearts and minds of the indigenous people. On the one hand, there are the imperialist plunderers, who want to establish a trade in riches and slaves. On the other hand, there are the missionaries, who want to convert the Indians to Christ.

Wow, that’s a lose/lose! I watched as they destroyed innocents in the name of the church. I wept. I couldn’t move when it ended. In fact, the nice lady who was trying to clean up the popcorn off the floor finally had to ask me to leave. Merry Christmas, everybody. The music, however, by Ennio Morricone, is out of this world.

Best Song I have so many favorites, it’s impossible to choose just one. OK, here’s just one: Sara Bareilles’ “Love Is Christmas.”

I don’t care if the house is packed Or the strings of light are broken I don’t care if the gifts are wrapped Or there’s nothing here to open Love is not a toy, and no paper will conceal it Love is simply joy that I’m home I don’t care if the carpet’s stained we’ve got food upon our table I don’t care if it’s gonna rain, our little room is warm and stable Love is who we are, and no season can contain it Love would never fall for that Worst Song

I have 32 of them ... they are the years conducting holiday shows with the gays and lesbians. Seriously. Since leaving the church behind, I have had the most fun any human should have presenting the sublime to the ridiculous every holiday season. Not to leave anyone or anything out, we put out all our favorite Christmas and Hanukkah icons, scramble them up, and serve them to our audiences: Santa, Menorah, flying reindeer, candles, baby Jesus, and elves. It’s always a delightful cornucopia of “feels.” We select the holiday in July. We start rehearsing it in early August. You have to love it!

SFGMC has lots of fun at the holidays. One of our favorite things to do is parodies. This year it was Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen. Last year we melded Christmas and ABBA.

I came out in 1986. It was my first Christmas without my children. I spent it alone. As you know, I had been tossed out of the church and run over by a bus—a church bus to make it worse. I decided to go to a new movie that had just been

That evening, I presented it to Mrs. Howington with great pomp and circumstance in front of the entire class as we gathered to put the final touches on our extravaganza, “From the North Pole to the Manger, a Holiday Montage.” She immediately put it on to wear proudly through the show as she conducted. She was truthfully overwhelmed at the thoughtfulness.

I’ll never forget watching that corsage through the evening as, one by one, the petals dropped to the stage floor until pretty much all that remained was some florist tape and holly that doubled as a weapon.

At the end of the evening, Mrs. Howington approached and said, “Oh, Tim, I am so very sorry about the beautiful corsage. Please ask your mother for the name of the florist so I can call them and ask for a replacement or a refund for her.”

Well, there was no way we could tell her the corsage had been tucked between the lime Jell-O mold with cottage cheese and pineapple and the cheese ball for god knows how long.

My mother called a florist and had a new one delivered to the school.

Let love lead us, love is Christmas

Best Holiday

Worst Holiday

expiration dates on them, of course. It was my 4th grade Christmas Pageant at school. Mom pulled a lovely holiday corsage out from behind the milk carton and said, “Give this to Mrs. Howington as a thank you for all her work this holiday. She’ll love it.” It was made of white chrysanthemums with prickly holly leaves and red berries and some baby’s breath thrown in just because.

Please feel free to sing along!

Joseph: I was cheated by you and I think you know when. So, I made up my mind this must come to an end.

Mary: Look at me now, will I ever learn? I don’t know how, but I suddenly lost control. There’s a savior inside my soul.

Chorus: Just one push and all the angels will sing, one more push the baby’s head is crowning, woh, woh, woh, Mama Mary, she’s a virgin. My my immaculate conception.

I will spare you the rest.

Regifting at Its Worst As a performer, Mom was always getting corsages for performances, especially at Christmas. She would put them in the refrigerator to keep a few days or longer, for no reason other than it seemed wasteful to throw away beautiful flowers. There were no

Did we learn a lesson about anything from that saga? No, we did not.

In the end, holidays are what they are ... sometimes “perfect” and sometimes messy—like us. If they were all perfect, it would be so very boring.

Each one takes on its own life and invites us along.

Sometimes it competes for the worst. More often, when filled with the love and joy of the season, they land on our “Best” list.

The interesting thing about the “Worst” list is that, in hindsight, we laugh about them and they become family legends, entered into the annals of history.

Only in the midst of them were we horrified.

My hope for you this year is that all of your holiday experiences land on your “Best” list. A lot of it depends on us, you know. In most instances, regardless of circumstances, we create our own magic along the way.

May your holiday magic be bright!

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

Following the success of their performances throughout the Bay Area, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will bring it’s Holigays Are Here holiday event to the Castro Theatre on Tuesday evening, December 24, for three shows, 5, 7 and 9pm. http://www.sfgmc.org

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Songs of the Season 2019

Photos by Paul Margolis

PRC’s annual holiday fundraiser, Songs of the Season, was held on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 10 and 11, at Feinstein’s at The Nikko. Produced by Brian Kent, the shows’ featured entertainers included Donna Sachet (who originated the event more than twenty years ago), Leanne Borghesi, Kippy Marks, Kenny Nelson, Dan O’Leary, Breanna Sinclairé, Sister Roma, and more.

Congratulations to Brian, Brett Andrews, Cal Callahan, and the entire family of PRC staff, volunteers, and supporters, for another outstanding year of Songs of the Season.

Drag Queens on Ice

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

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The 10th annual edition of Drag Queens on Ice took place on Thursday, December 5, at the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square, where hundreds gathered for this always fantastic and popular event. Joining emcee Donna Sachet—who for the first time donned skates in public!— was a lineup of entertainers referred to as “San Francisco’s fiercest drag queens.”

Joining Donna were Sister Roma, Queen Dilly Dally, Prince Richard, Dusty Porn, Mutha Chucka, BeBe Sweetbriar, Kylie Minono, Robert Keith, Khmera Rouge, Paju Munro, Kylie Pop, and Mahlae Balenciaga. See Donna’s column in this issue for more info.

By Donna Sachet

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ne quick glance at this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times and you’ll know that all those events listed in our last column were well attended and successful, but we expanded with a few more along the way! In addition to those listed, we emceed the SF AIDS Foundation inaugural ACTivate breakfast on Tuesday morning, December 3, where thousands of dollars were committed for the future of important programs and underserved individuals. We then attended the premiere of The L Word: Generation Q and Work in Progress at The Castro Theatre that night and joined Terence Taylor for Broadway’s touring show of Donna Summer, The Musical at the Golden Gate Theatre on Wednesday.

But let’s start with Drag Queens on Ice! The frequent rainstorms held off for the night on December 5, and crowds began to circle the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square around 6 pm. By 8 pm, hundreds had gathered to spectate and the VIP Area was packed as well with guests and hospitality hostesses Sister Roma and Queen Dilly Dally. We joined our enthusiastic co-emcee Robert Keith and rallied the crowd for the ensuing program of all sorts of performances by drag queens on ice, including BeBe Sweetbriar singing live, audience favorite Mutha Chucka in tennis shoes, Olympic quality skating by Kylie Pop, a spectacular debut

by Khmera Rouge, Mahlae Balenciage as The Grinch, a duet by Dusty Porn & Prince Richard, skillful skating by Paju Munro, and a dazzling group finale that included yours truly on skates in public for the very first time! This tenth anniversary Drag Queens on Ice left Union Square begging for more! The after-party at Bei Hotel lasted well into the night.

The very next night, we joined Rusty Best for Home for the Holidays, a benefit cabaret benefiting Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners at the First Unitarian Universalist Center. Vanessa Bousay and Michael Gagne are both big supporters of this cause and had gathered an eclectic group of performers to share their talents, including Emma Peel, Kathy Holly, Alotta Gender, Jorge Martinez, Terry Gauchat, Cecilia Palmtag, Max Schroeder, Sister Bella Donna, Lily Chandrasekher, Kevin Simpson, Mutha Chucka, Steven Satyricon, the Singers of the Street chorus, and James Campbell on the piano. The sanctuary was filled with music, laughter, and love and over $4000 was raised for Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners!

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday saw creative and crowd-pleasing performances by the Official Band of San Francisco, the Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, in Dance Along Nutcracker: Nutcrackers in Space and the SF Gay Men’s Chorus in The Holigays Are Here: Ring Them Bells! Audience members of all ages know they depend upon these performing ensembles to deliver the spirit of the season with a generous dose of humor. How lucky we are in San Francisco to have access to such world class performances! And on Sunday, after quick stops at Cliff’s Variety and Target at the Metreon for toy purchases, we dashed into The Fairmont Hotel for the annual Toys for Tots party where gifts for less fortunate children were piled to the ceiling of the Grand Ballroom and handsomely dressed guests mingled amiably. With a bit of energy to spare, we swung by DNA for Extreme Holiday Tea Dance with DJs Wayne G and Tony Moran. We love filling our holiday season with a wide variety of activities!

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Calendar a/la Sachet Sunday, December 22 Sunday’s a Drag! Holiday Show 10:30 am Brunch, 11:30 am Show Donna Sachet, Lady Tia, Mahlae & Kylie Minono The Franciscan Ballroom of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel $75 https://starlightroomsf.com/sundays-a-drag Tuesday, December 24 Holigays Are Here: Ring Them Bells SF Gay Men’s Chorus Christmas Eve concerts Castro Theatre 5 pm, 7 pm, 9 pm $35 & up www.sfgmc.org

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Donna’s Chronicles

“The holidays can’t begin until you’ve seen Donna Sachet’s Songs of the Season!”

Donna enjoying Holiday Season 2019 with Pride Brunch co-host Gary Virginia

Miraculously, we flew by the Bay Times/Freedom Band’s holiday party at Beaux on Tuesday night to salute cover story honorees Jerry Goldstein & Tommy Taylor, the Freedom Band members, and all the writers, advertisers, supporters, etc. of this historic publication. We couldn’t miss the opportunity to thank Jen Viegas and Betty Sullivan for their tireless efforts to support the community with the Bay Times.

Then, it was on to two nights of Donna Sachet’s Songs of the Season presented by Brian Kent at Feinstein’s at Hotel Nikko. This club is the perfect setting for our intimate holiday cabaret benefiting PRC, and as always, it gathered a loyal, supportive crowd of friends together. Performers included Leanne Borghesi, Frenchie Davis, Breanna Sinclairé, Dan O’Leary, Kenny Nelson, Kippy Marks, and Russell Deason as Musical Director with percussionist Roberta Drake and bassist John Greitzer.

And, of course, Brian Kent and this humble columnist sang a few songs and shared a couple of stories.

Sharing that stage with such incredible and giving individuals, applauded by the most generous and loving audiences, is an experience as magical as the holiday season itself. We thank the many sponsors and ticket buyers for giving us two great audiences and we owe Brian such a debt of gratitude for keeping this much beloved and financially necessary fundraiser going for the last two years. We can’t wait to see what he has in mind for future years.

PHOTO BY SHAWN NORTHCUTT

PHOTO BY KHMERA ROUGE

Monday brought Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation’s Help is on the Way for the Holidays XVIII at Marines’ Memorial Theater, a veritable cavalcade of talent raising money for Project Open Hand and AGUILAS. Shawn Ryan demonstrated amazing versatility as he emceed, auctioned, and performed music and comedy. Other stand-out performers included Jessica Corker, Sony Holland, Makeena Lee Brick, Cameron Anika Hill, David Hernandez, Steve Knill, Christopher Henry Young, Lisa Viaggiano, Kim Nalley, Erick Pinnick, Darnell Abraham, and a truly powerful and moving finale by Broadway legend Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Ben Prince served as Musical Director and live auction items from Celebrity Cruises, the Broadway show Hamilton, and Celebrity Chef James Stolich raised additional thousands of dollars. Much of the crowd ambled over to the Sir Francis Drake Hotel afterwards for a VIP reception with the cast and more holiday merriment.

Donna’s view looking out on the rink at Drag Queens on Ice 2019

With so many commitments behind us, we couldn’t resist kicking our heels up a bit the following night!

We started at the Imperial Family Holiday Party at Lookout, where we met Brian Kent to head to Golden Girls at the Victoria Theatre, followed by the Mr. S Holiday Party at The Folsom Street Foundry.

If anyone tells you that there is nothing to do in San Francisco, please refer them to “Donna’s Chronicles” in the Bay Times!

So, all the best to you and yours for the remainder of the holiday season! Get out there and take part in the many events our loving LGBTQ Community produces! And whether you are busy every night or only once or twice a week, choose to share your experiences with those near and dear to you.

As Armistead Maupin says, the best things in life are best spent with sometimes your biological family and sometimes your logical family, but family nonetheless. Here’s to a magical 2020!

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

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The San Francisco Bay Times bids farewell to Tom Moon My Last Column In the early ‘80s I began my practice as a psychotherapist, in an office near the Castro, with a predominantly gay male clientele, at a time when openly gay therapists were still something of a novelty. My practice was just getting off the ground when I came home one evening to find my roommate standing ashen and terrified in the hall. He told me that he’d just been diagnosed with that strange new disease that we’d all just begun hearing about. He was one of the first one hundred people in San Francisco to be diagnosed with AIDS, and suddenly this danger that I’d thought of as remote was in my own home.

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT It seems hard to believe, but I’ve been writing this column, twice a month, for more than three decades. While, at 71, I remain healthy and not yet ready to retire, I’ve also come to realize that I’ve said all that is in me to say in this space, and that it’s time to let go.

Endings can be poignant and wistful times. Today I find myself reflecting on a long and eventful life, with a few regrets, but also with deep gratitude. It was my great good fortune to be born in San Francisco, and to be able to live in this city for almost the whole of my adult life.

My personal life has mirrored the history that unfolded here. I lived as a hippie in the Haight Ashbury in the late sixties. In the ’70s, inspired by the Stonewall uprising, I came out as a gay man and rode the heady tide of Gay Liberation that swept through the city and the country.

It was my honor to vote for Harvey Milk, and I marched to City Hall with my boyfriend and thousands of others in silent grief on the day he was cut down.

Almost overnight, it seemed, I was working at ground zero. Half of my patients were dying, half were caregivers, and some were in both groups. The plague years were the most desperate and difficult time in my life, a crash course in the best and the worst of human nature, a time of soulcrushing loss, of cruelty and hatred on the one hand, and of amazing love, courage, and heroism on the other.

It was in this period that I tasked myself with writing a column on the psychological stresses in our community, in those days directed primarily to addressing the many challenges gay men were then facing. The column’s name, “The Examined Life,” refers to the dictum, “The unexamined life is not worth living,” which Socrates told the rulers in Athens when they condemned him to death for corrupting the youth by teaching them to challenge the dominant ideologies of his time.

I began to write in a dark time, and I have some misgivings about letting go of my public voice now, in the midst of another dark time in our history. The last three years have brought the seeming triumph of all that is low and destructive in our national character. But paradoxically, that also reminds me of what I am most grateful for—that, forty years ago, I found a family of gay men to belong to, and that this community has been an inexhaustible source of friendship and support from that day to this.

I have also found that I can rely on my community to be a source of compassion and wisdom, especially during hard times. The current era has been no exception. I’m heartened that LGBTQ+ communities all over the country have seen through the fraud that has been perpetrated on the American people, and have repudiated it. Someday this country will find its way again; and when the history of this disgraceful time is written, it will be remembered that our people had the good sense to resist. The longer I live, the prouder I am of all of us.

I want to express my gratitude to my husband and best friend, Craig Wenzl, for his unwavering love and support. He was my editor and chief cheerleader, and when my writing wandered off into headiness, he always led me back home to the heart.

I also want to thank Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas for giving me a home for my thoughts, for their affection and support, and for the complete editorial freedom I have enjoyed throughout their stewardship of the Bay Times.

Finally, I want to express my gratitude to the readers who followed my columns.

I very much appreciated your words of encouragement, and I never dreamed, when I began, that so many of you would become friends. To all my readers: through the years, your silent presence was always deeply felt. Thank you.

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

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Tom Moon and Craig Wenzl at San Francisco Civic Center

Photos courtesy of Tom Moon

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Examining the Extraordinary Life of Tom Moon When phone calls and messages expressing gratitude come to the San Francisco Bay Times, most often they mention Tom Moon and his longstanding column “The Examined Life.”

The comments are usually very personal, mentioning how the advice and understanding shared by Tom helped them through a rough patch concerning any number of challenging issues: drug abuse, relationship problems, depression, and so much more.

Like these readers, those of us at the paper have also benefited from Tom’s thoughtful guidance that is backed by his years of experience as a Castro-based psychotherapist. His genuine empathy for others, and particularly for those of us in the LGBTQ community, is always evident. His voice is that of a trusted, nonjudgmental friend, even as he delves deeply into subjects while referencing leading experts.

From a work standpoint, Tom is a consummate professional who is always ahead of schedule. When we have asked him to take on special projects, he has gone above and beyond the expected call of duty. He has been a treasured colleague and source of inspiration to us. We were therefore very sad to learn of his decision to end the column, which has run in the paper for over three decades.

But we celebrate both him and the column, which will live on in our archive and digital presence. There is also the possibility that he will return from time to time with special submissions, so please stay tuned!

In the meantime, we encourage you to read on to learn more about Tom and his remarkable life. It includes his perceptive thoughts on how the emotional health of gay men has evolved over the past 30 years.

San Francisco Bay Times: Your formative years sounded extraordinary, mirroring San Francisco’s history. What are some memorable moments from those early years of your life here in the city?

Tom Moon: San Francisco in the ‘60s was a magical place for a young person to live.

First of all, it was affordable.

My first apartment was in the Haight Ashbury. My roommate and I had our own rooms, and we also had a dining room and a small back yard. We paid $300 each per month, and we were able to pay for it while going to school full-time, working part-time jobs and taking out student loans. The struggle for existence here wasn’t anything like it is today. Young people weren’t always exhausted then, and had time to play and enjoy life.

Also, San Francisco seemed to be the epicenter for every intellectual and social movement in the country. In the ‘50s it all seemed centered in North Beach with the Beat writers and poets, and as I was starting to come to political consciousness, the center seemed to switch to the Haight Ashbury district. I lived as a hippie near the Panhandle, and I can remember dancing naked in the Park on LSD, and convincing myself that we were going to bring a new era of peace and love to the world.

Unfortunately, the legendary sexual freedom of the hippies was strictly heterosexual. I could have lots of sex, as long as it wasn’t with boys. Hippies were really just about as homophobic as the rest of society at that time, and despite the long hair, gender roles were still pretty rigid. At our anti-war meetings, the boys made the decisions and the girls made the coffee.

The cloud that hung over all of us throughout that time was the Vietnam War. Young men like me were radicalized by the fact that there was a draft, and we were all in direct danger of being inducted by the government to be used as fodder. We thought the justifications offered for the war were completely crackpot and irrational, yet we were expected to be willing to put our lives on the line to prosecute it. I started going to anti-war marches when I was still in high school, as did many of my friends, and once I was in college, I really threw myself into the anti-war movement.

I remember congregating in Sproul Hall Plaza in 1967 with thousands of other college students, with the goal of marching to the Oakland Induction Center and blocking the access roads so that the buses couldn’t take the new draftees to boot camp. We succeeded for about half an hour, chanting, “Hell no, we won’t go!” before the Tac Squad came in and cracked a lot of skulls to drive us out of the streets.

My faith that it was going to be easy for us to change the direction of the country was shattered in 1968. In the space of a few months, both Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bobby Kennedy (whom we were going to elect as President

to stop the war) were gunned down. That summer, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, thousands of people like me were beaten in the streets by the police and the National Guard as they tried to demonstrate against the war and force the Democratic Party to adopt a plank opposing it.

The party rejected our “peace plank” and nominated Johnson’s milquetoast vice president Hubert Humphrey.

The Republican candidate, Richard Nixon, won the election. The war continued to escalate and the death toll continued to rise for years thereafter. By the end of 1968, it seemed to me that all hope was lost. I was in deep despair, and have never felt that despairing again until Trump’s election in 2016.

After that, I transferred up to Sonoma State, and spent the rest of my undergraduate years living in the country, getting stoned, and turning inward. Then I went up to Oregon to do my post-graduate work. It was years before I again saw any point in trying to participate in American politics.

San Francisco Bay Times: Who were some of your role models at that early time in your life?

Tom Moon: I was a pretty serious kid, a total nerd who read voraciously, and I had almost no interest in popular culture, so my heroes and role models were all people whom I encountered in books. My number one role model and hero was the British philosopher Bertrand Russell. I learned from him to respect the importance of basing my opinions on reason and factual evidence, a habit that isn’t all that popular in America these days.

He also taught me what humanism is. He wrote that “the good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge,” and I’ve tried to make that maxim the ethical foundation for my own conduct since then. When he said knowledge, he was referring mostly to scientific knowledge, but I would enlarge his idea to include the practice of mindfulness as well, a practice that wasn’t a part of his world. I also loved him during the Vietnam War because of his lifelong opposition to war, and his commitment to pacifism and nonviolence.

My other heroes, for the same reason, were Martin Luther King, Jr., and Gandhi. My gay heroes were James Baldwin, Christopher Isherwood, and the social critic Paul Goodman (author of Growing Up Absurd), who is now largely forgotten. My spiritual heroes were Alan Watts and Ram Dass, whose efforts to bring Eastern mysticism into the culture were widely popular in the ‘60s. I had an intense mystical experience when I was twenty years old, and they helped me understand it and ground it in yoga and meditative practice.

San Francisco Bay Times: When and why did you decide to become a psychotherapist?

Tom Moon: I was twenty years old when I decided to become a psychotherapist, and my decision was a direct result of my internalized homophobia.

I realized that I was gay on a spring day when I was fourteen years old, and, thinking I needed more information, I went to the library and looked myself up. That was my first mistake. The card catalogue said it all: “Homosexuality: See also perversion, psychopathic deviance.” I started delving into the psychoanalytic theory of homosexuality, which I was way too young to understand, but I bought it all, hook, line, and sinker. The message I internalized was that I had a serious emotional illness, and that there was only a small chance I could ever recover from it.

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moved back here just as soon as I got my degree. Back in San Francisco, I had my own personal “Summer of Love.”

I went to the End Up and fell in love while dancing with a blond hottie to Barry White’s “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love.” I rode home with him on the back of his motorcycle, and stayed with him for a week. That was my first sexual and romantic relationship with a man. I was finally out.

I was still on track to become a psychotherapist, but now I had a different reason for doing it. I decided that I would be an openly gay psychotherapist (a rarity in those days), that I’d work primarily with other gay men, and that I would do all in my power to help other gay guys avoid or overcome the years of self-torment that I had endured. So, my decision to become a psychotherapist began with internalized homophobia, and in the end became an expression of my gay emancipation.

And here’s the cliché ending to this story. After I came out, I looked up my old psychiatrist, and to my surprise he invited me to visit him and catch up. He got us both drunk—on sherry, no less—and, as you have probably already guessed, he tried to have sex with me. When I turned him down, he went to a corner of the room, stood with his back to me, and cried.

San Francisco Bay Times: What do you remember from your earlier days at the San Francisco Bay Times, in terms of fellow writers, topics that dominated the pages then, and more?

Tom Moon: I never miss the columns of Ann Rostow, whose articles on LGBTQ politics and American politics have always been informative. She also writes in a very humorous style. In the early ‘90s she created a character named Nan Parks, and wrote a column called “Straight Talk.” Nan was a “gay friendly” straight woman who lived in Noe Valley with her husband Doug and their two sons, and was “gay-friendly” because she had a lesbian sister. Nan was impossibly clueless and was always on the wrong side of every issue. Here, for instance, is what she wrote about getting rid of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: “ ... my only suggestion would be that you openly gay soldiers take your showers when none of the straight soldiers are around because otherwise it would be like straight men and women taking showers together and I don’t think any of us would approve of that!”

Part of the fun was that every week there were outraged letters from people who didn’t realize that it was all satire, demanding that she apologize or be fired. I miss her, and I would love it if Ann would bring her back. I also always read Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis’ columns on marriage equality. They have been marriage equality activists for many years, and their columns are always informative.

San Francisco Bay Times: Can you share with us some of your future plans? What goals would you like to achieve, both personally and professionally, which you have not yet met?

Tom Moon: Not much is going to change in my life. I will continue seeing patients on a part-time basis. My plans are basically to love my husband more, travel more, and meditate more. I will also probably continue to write, and maybe the Bay Times will be kind enough to publish topical articles now and then.

San Francisco Bay Times: How has your work changed over the years?

I kept my gayness a secret from everyone, but I promised myself that the first thing I would do when I was old enough to leave home was to get a psychiatrist and try to get myself cured. And that’s what I did. In my first week as a freshman at San Francisco State, I went to the Student Health Center and got referred for city-subsidized therapy with a psychiatrist. So, at age 18, in 1966, I went into reparative therapy— right here in San Francisco.

Tom Moon: About 25 years ago I discovered the immense value for human well-being of Buddhist mindfulness practices, and over the years I have been working to incorporate those practices into my work. Awareness, all by itself, has amazing, and somewhat mysterious, powers to heal our wounds. I’m happy to see how many of our people have discovered this fact, and have developed regular mindfulness practices.

Fortunately, the therapy was all just conversation, so I was spared the worst barbarities, such as electric shock, but the experience was damaging enough nonetheless. It confirmed for me that my lust and my most tender feelings were “perversions”—symptoms of an all-but-hopeless emotional illness. I decided to become a psychotherapist because I thought my only hope of ever being “normal” would be to become an expert in mental health.

San Francisco Bay Times: How do you think the emotional health of gay men has evolved over the past thirty years?

When the Stonewall uprising happened, I was confronted with the realization that there were people out there who thought I was perfectly fine just the way I was, and that I had every right to live the life that was in me to live. But it took me several more years to unlearn all the bad psychology that, by then, had become a part of my identity.

When I went up to the University of Oregon for graduate school, I was finally old enough and educated enough to be able to assess all the theory I’d learned with a more critical eye. I was shocked to realize that there was no actual science in anything I had learned—it was all mumbo jumbo based on deep cultural prejudices.

At that point I was finally able to come out. I couldn’t wait to get back to San Francisco! I dropped out of school and

Tom Moon: In general, it’s easier to be queer in America now than it was when I was growing up, but I’m very much aware of how much hasn’t basically changed. One of the myths we like to tell ourselves is that—now that we have more visibility and social acceptance, now that there are effective treatments for HIV, and now that we have samesex marriage—all our problems are behind us.

But we are still reviled and stigmatized in many parts of the country, and thousands of queer people in San Francisco are essentially refugees from that oppression. Many older gay men still live with the trauma of overwhelming loss in the epidemic. Young people still grow up feeling like outsiders, and still struggle with loneliness and internalized shame. We talk about community, but the experience of real community still eludes too many of us. We still struggle to find satisfying lives, genuine intimacy, and authenticity in today’s world. What gives me hope is that more of us do succeed in doing these things than in previous decades. We’ve come a long way, but we’re still a work in progress.

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Holiday Party 2019

San Francisco Bay Times & San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band Held this year at the popular Castro neighborhood bar Beaux, the San Francisco Bay Times (SFBT) Holiday Party co-hosted with the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band (SFLGFB) drew a large crowd despite rain showers and multiple other events happening on Tuesday evening, December 10.

The party celebrated the cast members, volunteers, and band members whose hard work made possible another tremendous year for the band’s signature event, DanceAlong Nutcracker, produced annually since 1985.

Artistic directors Pete Nowlen and Mike Wong were on hand along with band president Doug Litwin and vice president Julie Williamson, who joined with San Francisco Bay Times columnist Donna Sachet and co-publishers Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas in welcoming guests.

Honored for their community activism and special support for the SFLGFB and SFBT were philanthropists Tom Taylor and Dr. Jerome Goldstein. Legislative aide Tom Temprano presented a proclamation in their honor from City of San Francisco Supervisor Rafael Mandelman.

SFBT columnists and contributors who attended included Dr. Marcy Adelman, Tom Moon, Lou Fischer, Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, David Landis, Randy Coleman and Rink. Founding news editor Randy Alfred came as well, as did many supporters of both the paper and band, such as Jim Rosenau, LaTonya Lawson, and Beth Schnitzer.

In addition to the sing-along led by Mike Wong and members of the band, partygoers enjoyed beverages and a selection of food items provided by sponsors Extreme Pizza and La Mediterranee Castro. There was also a raffle with prizes from Sunday’s A Drag Brunch and others.

Special thanks go to Matthew at Beaux, Julie Williamson of the SFLGFB, and talented, loyal, and hard-working volunteers Karen Bardsley and Juan Davila. Juan’s amazing and tall Christmas tree hat, as well as Dr. Goldstein’s holiday lights draped over his festive winter attire, sparkled well into the night.

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Each year, fans of The Christmas Ballet look forward to pieces such as “Blue Christmas,” complete with a hip-shaking Elvis cameo; or “La Calandria,” a lively, Latin-inspired solo with a show-stopping finale. The lineup changes year to year, with new numbers unveiled every season (this year unwraps three world premieres by Smuin Ballet Master Amy London, Smuin artist Tessa Barbour, and former Smuin artist Rex Wheeler). But most will agree that the iconic moment in this festive showcase is when the slinky “Santa Baby” strolls onstage, trailing the world’s longest feather boa.

Michael loved the sexy twist on a holiday plea, and set the ballet on prima ballerina Celia Fushille, giving her a back-up cast of eager suitors who pranced behind her offering diamonds, yachts, and the deeds to platinum mines. In the opening moment of the song, this world-class vamp came slinking on stage with what Michael declared would have to be “The World’s Longest Feather Boa.” He sat down with costume designer Sandra Woodall to determine how long he could have the boa (“That’s so Michael, isn’t it?” says Sandra), and she worked out how it would be constructed. She ended up piecing together seven of the fluffiest red and white boas she could find to create a 42-foot-long monster that slowly followed Celia across the stage, which eventually even inspired a tradition among longtime attendees to “BYOB” (Bring Your Own Boa)!

Celia played the role until she retired from dancing in 2006 and is now Artistic Director of Smuin. The sizzling role of Santa Baby has since been passed on to other dancers, and this year will be played by Smuin company members Terez Dean Orr and Tessa Barbour—plus, special guest star Lady Camden, who will step into the red-hot heels Santa Baby on Smuin’s LGBTQ+ Night.

CHRIS HARDY

The Christmas Ballet was created 25 years ago by Michael Smuin, who was looking for an alternative to The Nutcracker in holiday dance entertainment. He declared that he was going to set dances to all different types of holiday songs, from popular melodies to multidenominational songs. In his search for off-beat Christmas tunes, someone suggested a novelty song: “Santa Baby,” in which Eartha Kitt had shocked Eisenhower-era

listeners with her suggestive purrs, asking Santa Claus for Cadillacs and diamond rings.

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Smuin Contemporary Ballet kicks off the holidays in San Francisco with The Christmas Ballet! This annual holiday tradition featuring everything from tap and jazz, to swing and sockhopping, gets a twist this year with special guest Lady Camden in her inaugural performance as the iconic “Santa Baby” on Smuin’s LGBTQ+ Night on Thursday, December 19.

Rex Wheeler in-studio working with the Smuin company

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San Francisco’s British Queen Steps into the Shoes of Santa Baby

London-born San Francisco drag queen Lady Camden makes her debut as “Santa Baby” in Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet in San Francisco on LGBTQ+ Night, December 19.

Tess Lane enjoys the snow in Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet touring the Bay Area now through December 29.

He adds, “As a kid, after school I would go over to the Electric Ballroom and wait for my dad to get off work.

Sometimes I would bring my rollerblades and skate all over the empty dance floor listening to whatever was on the radio. I would run around the empty nightclub like it was my very own treehouse and I never felt so free.

I attribute my crazy imagination to this and to my mum’s sense of creativity. Today and everyday I’m grateful for my cool parents and to Camden town.”

San Francisco drag queen extraordinaire Lady Camden is the alter ego of Londonborn Wheeler: a dancer, actor, and choreographer who performed with the Smuin company for three seasons. “I chose my name Lady Camden partly because it’s where I grew up, but it’s also about what Camden means to me. My father used to run a famous nightclub called the Electric Ballroom, and as a young fashion designer, my mother used to sell her designs at the weekly fashion market there,” Wheeler recalls.

Wheeler attended the Royal Ballet School, performed for the Royal Family on several occasions, and devoted his early career to mastering classical repertoire. However, he changed his mind about his classical focus after seeing Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet, declaring: “It looked like such fun. I thought, ‘To hell with my preconceptions, I want to dance like that!’”

Erica Felsch plays “Santa Baby” in a past presentation of Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet.

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Since leaving Smuin, he has been focusing on his choreography (he also contributes one new piece to this year’s The Christmas Ballet, a pas de deux set to “Silver Bells”) and performs as Lady Camden around San Francisco, including drag brunches and tribute nights at mainstays such as Hamburger Mary’s, Oasis, and Beaux.

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QUEER POP QUIZ

Lady Camden’s “Santa Baby” performance headlines Smuin’s LGBTQ+ Night presentation of The Christmas Ballet (7:30 pm, Thursday, December 19) at the Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA (700 Howard St, San Francisco). The full run of Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet is December 12–23. Information and tickets are available by calling 415-912-1899 or at http://www.smuinballet.org/

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD Which was the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex civil unions?

A) Massachusetts B) Connecticut C) California D) Vermont ANSWER ON PAGE 26

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

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The Year

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The Best and Worst LGBTQ Films of 2019, Plus a 2020 Preview

Film Gary M. Kramer

Booksmart 5B

As 2019 comes to a close, here are ten highlights—and one lowlight— from this year’s cinematic output along with a look at four films opening in early 2020.

Best of the Year (in alphabetical order) 5B is a compassionate documentary, named for the First AIDS Ward, which opened on July 25, 1983, at San Francisco General Hospital.

This film recounts the experiences of various nurses, doctors, and patients through candid, moving interviews about the fears, tragedies, and occasional triumphs that took place in the ward during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Ultimately life-affirming, it shows the resilience of these unsung heroes committed to both a cause and a community, and their efforts to maintain dignity and care above all.

Booksmart This absolutely hilarious high school comedy features dozens of belly laughs as Molly (Beanie Feldstein) the valedictorian and her lesbian BFF Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) try to make up for all the fun they missed in one night.

(Amy’s unexpected sexual encounter is pricelessly funny). Full of clever word play and sight gags, the film is never smug or smarmy, which is why it works so well.

By the Grace of God, about the Lyon church’s child abuse scandal, chronicles the efforts of several victims of pedophile priest Bernard Preynat (Bernard Verley) to bring the situation to light and demand accountability from the Catholic church. This is an absorbing film made with considerable empathy and righteous anger. Out gay filmmaker François Ozon’s concerned approach never allows By the Grace of God to become too melodramatic or histrionic.

End of the Century Out gay writer/director Lucio Castro’s feature debut was an absolute gem.

This hypnotic romance starts with an erotic tryst between Ocho ( Juan Barberini) and Javi (out gay Ramon Pujol) but it becomes something more complicated and exciting as it unfolds. Pure magic.

The Gospel of Eureka by out gay filmmakers Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher’s cross-cuts between Pain and Glory

End of the Century performances of the Great Passion Play, a dramatic reenactment of Christ’s last days, and Live Underground, a popular bar where drag queens lip sync gospel songs. The film provides apt lessons of tolerance to illustrate the humanity of these people who live side-by-side. The film includes several lyrical and powerful moments that indicate just how fragile that balance can be.

The Heiresses Out gay writerdirector Marcelo Martinessi’s absorbing Paraguayan drama depicts a period of crisis and change experienced by Chela (Ana Brun) and Chiquita (Margarita Irun), two 60-something lesbians.

Martinessi coaxes excellent performances from his two leads, and he draws viewers into the drama by using both muted and vivid colors and by shooting the characters in an intimate style that practically eavesdrops on their lives. This is a slow film, but it rewards patient viewers.

Pain and Glory Out gay writer/ director Pedro Almodóvar’s outstanding film—about a filmmaker (Antonio Banderas) in physical and emotional pain—is absolutely exquisite. Using flashbacks, vibrant colors, and layering truth, memory, and fantasy, Pain and Glory becomes a remarkable and affecting film about love, loss, and creative expression. It is also buoyed by Banderas’ exceptional, Oscar-worthy performance.

Sauvage This is a fantastic but brutal drama

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about Léo (Félix Maritaud), a downon-his-luck gay male prostitute. Writer/ director Camille Vidal-Naquet shoots the cruising area scenes like a nature documentary, but Sauvage/Wild is a raw and immersive experience thanks to Maritaud’s full-bodied performance as the frequently naked Léo, who is seen being used, bruised, and abused. Viewers may actually feel as battered as the character by the end of this stunning film.

Sorry Angel Out gay filmmaker Christophe Honoré’s stunning, affecting drama is set in 1993 France. It alternates between Jacques (Pierre Deladonchamps), an HIV+ writer in Paris, and Arthur (Vincent Lacoste), a Breton. Honoré’s elliptical narrative approach keeps the men apart for much of the film, detailing their lives and other relationships.

Sorry Angel, however, captures a feeling of romance and intimacy that is so strong, viewers may also experience the flush that comes from unexpected love. This melancholic romance is often swooninducing.

Temblores (Tremors) Out gay writer/director Jayro Bustamante’s film is an exquisite—and exquisitely made—drama from Guatemala. Pablo ( Juan Pablo Olyslager) is an upper-class, evangelical and married father of two who leaves his family for Francisco (Maurio Armas). The ripples of his coming out create the tremors of the title. Temblores is a quietly powerful film buoyed by Olyslager’s remarkable performance as a man torn between his true nature and what is expected of him by his family and society.

Worst of the Year Giant Little Ones This overstuffed drama has Ballas (Darren Mann) claiming his best friend Franky ( Josh Wiggins) performed oral sex on him one night. This leads to various discussions of homophobia and acceptance that (continued on page 26)

Top 10 Films of 2019 According to Renowned Film Critic Jan Wahl Many of us here at the San Francisco Bay Times have long admired the work of film critic Jan Wahl. Honest, intelligent, and perceptive, she imbues all of her projects with integrity, humanity, and her trademark stylish chapeau flair. She is the ultimate ally of our community, having supported countless LGBTQ nonprofits, causes, and more over the years—always doing so with great passion and wholeheartedness.

#7: Jojo Rabbit Wahl believes that Writer/Director Taika Waititi merits an Academy Award for his work on the film.

She grew up in West Los Angeles, where she was raised by auctioneer parents who used family dinnertime as an opportunity for critical thinking exercises, inspiring thoughtful assessment of everything from politics to the arts. Wahl is a fabulous auctioneer herself, having helped to raise countless dollars for various charities.

#5: Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound “This documentary provides a great deal of information about sound in movies and will change the way that you listen to films in future.”

The women in her family have been particularly strong. Wahl’s mother was a trailblazer in her industry, and her grandmother was the subject of the biography With a Pistol in One Pocket and a Doll in the Other by author Kay Goldman. It tells the 15-year-old married Santa Fe teen’s tales of survival.

It perhaps then comes as little surprise that strong women are featured in some of Jan Wahl’s favorite films of 2019. She shared her Top 10 list when we recently spent time with this Emmy Award-winning director, documentarian, movie critic, journalist, teacher, and moxie-enthusiast extraordinaire. #10: Downton Abbey Wahl found it to be an “enjoyable escape.” Like the well-received PBS series, it is lavishly produced, with gorgeous costumes and sweeping landscapes. #9: Gay Chorus Deep South “It’s a beautiful, life-changing, and important film,” says Wahl, who has championed the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus from its earliest days in the city. #8: Little Women There have been numerous film portrayals of the Louisa May Alcott novel, and this one ranks as being one of the best. “Jo March has always been one of my role models,” Wahl says.

#6: The Peanut Butter Falcon “You want to go on the journey of this beautiful young man with Down syndrome who runs away from a residential nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a pro wrestler.”

#4: Harriet “Harriet Tubman was a remarkable, brave woman,” Wahl says. She loved Janelle Monáe’s role as Marie Buchanon, believing the performance to be Academy Award-worthy. “Monáe is a radiant, charismatic presence in the film.” #3: Yesterday Wahl says the film is “wonderful, smart, and funny with imaginative writing.” #2: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood “This is not just a feel-good film about Mr. Rogers,” she says. “Tom Hanks is Oscar-worthy in this film that also features a great performance by Matthew Rhys as an investigative journalist reporting on Rogers.” #1: Bombshell The movie is appropriately named, as Wahl and numerous other critics have been blown away by the drama and its performances. “Everybody should see this film,” she says.

While they didn’t make her top 10 list for the year, these films were also praised by Wahl: The Laundromat, Where’s My Roy Cohn?, Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, Ask Dr. Ruth, Parasite, Judy (“It would have been a much better film if they has used Judy Garland’s singing”), and Pain and Glory.

For more information: http://www.janwahl.com/ https://kcbsradio.radio.com/authors/jan-wahl

The L Word: Generation Q , at the Castro Theatre

By Louise “Lou” Fischer On December 3, San Francisco’s LGBTQ cinema nonprofit organization Frameline, along with Showtime and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), packed the Castro Theatre with mostly queer women (and some male allies) for a special sneak peek of two Showtime series.

Work in Progress is a new show that stars improv comedienne Abby McEnany as a 45-year-old self-identified hefty, queer dyke from Chicago whose misfortune and despair lead her to a vibrantly transformative relationship. The L Word: Generation Q is the sequel to the original, which ran from 2004–2009 and will star returning fan favorites Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, and Katherine Moennig.

McEnany, along with L Word Co-Creator and Executive Producer Ilene Chaiken, greeted guests and posed for what seemed like hundreds of selfies at a preshow VIP party on the 2nd floor of the theatre and hosted a Q&A on stage after the preview (but did she reveal who killed Jenny?)

Elizabeth Lanyon, Jennifer Bing, and Christopher Vasquez proudly represented NCLR and were joined by District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman and Donna Sachet of the San Francisco Bay Times.

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

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Friends of the Friends of Dorothy ment. They were the first friends of Dorothy.

Faces from Our LGBT Past Dr. Bill Lipsky It had at least 14 writers, five directors, three production designers, numerous casting changes, and endless revisions of costumes, makeup, and hairstyles. So much for the auteur theory of film creation. But what about the “gay sensibility”? The Wizard of Oz, now 80 years old and the most beloved film of all time, was shaped by gay men—women then were rarely allowed to be decision makers behind the scenes—throughout its develop-

Friends have kind words for each other. Among the three writers to receive screen credit was Edgar Allan Woolf (1881–1943), described

by MGM story editor Samuel Marx as “a wild red-headed homosexual.” While working on The Wizard of Oz, he and his frequent collaborator Florence Ryerson rewrote the script’s first draft, created the Professor Marvel character, suggested that the same actor play him and the Wizard, and also take the roles of the Emerald City’s gatekeeper, cabby, and palace guardsman.

Friends often give each other advice. George Cukor (1899–1983), who directed The Wizard of Oz for only one week, transformed the entire production with his suggestions for Judy Garland’s appearance and performance. He simplified her original rouged, “baby doll” makeup, which she later said made her look “like a male Mary Pickford”; recommended Garland use her own hair, not the blond wig given her; and changed her costume to the simple, now iconic gingham dress. Dorothy became as we know her.

Celebrated as “a woman’s director,” then code words for gay, Cukor made his greatest contribution to the film when he convinced Garland to be herself in the role. Her performance, he believed, would be much more credible if she stayed away from cutsie, even in the heightened, fairytale world of Oz. He was right. Her honest and sincere portrayal centered the film, gave the story its emotional

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intensity, and made her a star. Garland was forever grateful.

Sydney Guilaroff (1907– 1997) was the hairstylist of Oz. He was 14 years old when he began his career in New York as a beautician’s assistant. Within a few years he was “Mr. Sydney” of Antoine’s, one of the city’s toniest salons. Soon he opened his own beauty parlor at Bonwit Teller. It was Joan Crawford who brought him to Hollywood and MGM, where became the studio’s chief hairstylist in 1934.

In 1938, Guilaroff became the first single man in history to adopt a son, whom he named Jon, for Joan

Crawford. The state of California sued to stop the adoption, but a judge ruled not only that Guilaroff was fit to be a parent, but also that he was “more moral than most other people.” The next year, for his work on The Women, he again made history as the first hair stylist to receive a screen credit.

(The salon in the film is named “Sydney.”)

ment and the most famous schemata maven of Hollywood’s Golden Age. It was he who was responsible for Glinda’s gossamer gown, accessorized with the latest in wands; the Munchkins’ fabulous wardrobe; the ruby slippers, which added a splash of The fabulous attire of Oz was the color to a farm girl’s everyday ensemble; work of Adrian (née Adrian Adolph and all the rest of the film’s clothing.

Greenburg, 1903–1959), head of MGM’s costume depart(continued on page 30)

Via Veneto: Naples in the Neighborhood authentic Italian trattoria, run by the charming and extroverted Massimo Lavino, bucks the trend with a menu that is approachable, authentic, affordable, and attractive to regulars.

The Gay Gourmet David Landis As many residents and business owners will readily agree, the biggest challenge in both running a restaurant in San Francisco—and eating out—is the cost. The escalating rents, the cost of labor, and the price tag for quality products have created a perfect storm that makes it difficult for restaurants to survive in this City while remaining affordable to regulars.

The exception to that rule? The nearly 30-year-old Via Veneto on Fillmore Street across the street from the iconic Clay Theatre. This

“It’s the only real Italian restaurant in the City,” enthuses regular Daniel Lapin, who frequents the establishment on an ongoing basis. Credit owner Massimo, a native of Naples, who offers both Northern and Southern Italian fare that ranges from seafood to risotto to fresh-made pastas.

Massimo began his career working for the Royal Viking Line, traveling the world and learning the hospitality and culinary business from the best. In 1984, he landed in San Francisco, where he started working (and later owning) Grazie in North Beach. In 1990, he opened Via Veneto in the same spot where it still remains in Pacific Heights.

“I like to feature traditional cuisines like puttanesca,” says Massimo. “I favor long-established recipes that have been around for years. Most of our pastas are homemade, as are our desserts. I like to cook globally, but shop locally— all of our products are from local suppliers like La Rocca (fish), Manna Foods (meat) and Union St. Produce. One of my favorite menu items is our osso bucco—we make the best. I make sure there is always one left over for me!”

On several recent visits, the Gay Gourmet enjoyed the homemade broccoli soup (a personal favorite)—made from scratch every time— along with a zesty ravioli with cheese and pesto sauce, dotted with tomatoes. At lunch, Via Veneto offers a distinctive seafood salad with fresh salmon, calamari, and justpicked greens paired with a Dijon vinaigrette dressing.

Salad choices include a delicious Caesar with the right crunch of croutons, a spinach salad with roasted bell peppers, gorgonzola cheese, walnuts and Dijon dressing; or a TriColore salad—with radicchio and Belgian endive topped with a balsamic vinaigrette. A dinner favorite is Via Veneto’s always-available spaghetti Bolognese— again, made in-house with the right mix of carrots and spices. Dinner specials often include a lobster ravioli, rack of lamb (cooked perfectly, to a medium rare), and homemade minestrone soup.

Every meal begins with fresh Italian bread, which comes with garlic olive oil for dipping. The desserts are exemplary. A traditional Tiramisu is always a tasty winner, but my personal favorite is the

made-to-order Zabaglione. They don’t always have it on offer (insider’s tip, it’s “off-menu”). You might just get lucky enough to try it, depending on how busy the kitchen is.

The secret to Via Veneto’s version, according to Massimo, is “how you whisk it, over a pot of boiling water.”

The wine offerings at Via Veneto are a surprising mix of California, Italian, and even New Zealand wines, with an emphasis (of course) on Italy (think Pinot Grigio, Chianti and Brunello). Luckily for customers, the wine selection changes weekly.

An added plus is that Via Veneto has a full bar; Massimo’s Negroni is legendary.

On any given night, you’ll run into some of the regulars, including Guy, a lawyer who stops in for a glass of wine before heading home—or retired nurse Robin, who loves that it’s a slice of old San Francisco. “I could write a book about our regulars. We know that some people want a special wine, even delivered in a special glass. We know what the customers want without them asking.”

At its essence, Via Veneto is a place for the neighborhood, which still strives to be affordable, without the sticker shock of so many San Francisco restaurants.

“People tell me I should raise my prices,” says Massimo, “but my customers appreciate that we keep it approachable enough that you can dine here regularly.”

New Year’s Eve is coming up and Via Veneto always makes it special without the scary price tag. But I’d recommend reserving early to ensure a spot at the intimate restaurant.

Via Veneto is run by a family that still cares about quality. Massimo still lives upstairs, and at any moment you’ll see Massimo’s girlfriend Roxanne waiting tables or daughter Alexandra as the hostess. Waiter Carlos has been there for close to 15 years and knows (and delivers) your drink before you’ve decided what to eat. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get a glimpse of Massimo’s Bichon-mix rescue dog Bella, sidling up to one of the outdoor café tables.

Via Veneto is open for lunch Wednesday through Saturday and open for dinner daily. It’s old-school, so no online reservations, but just call and say hi to Massimo from the Gay Gourmet: 415-346-9211.

David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a PR executive. Follow him on Instagram @ GayGourmetSF, on Twitter @ david_landis, email him at: david@ landispr.com or visit him online at: https://gaygourmetsf.com/ S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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Help Is on the Way for the Holidays 18 Photos by Paul Margolis The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation’s annual holiday show is a favorite for many who look forward each year to hearing of the stars Ken Henderson and Joe Seiler have confirmed. 2019’s extravaganza did not disappoint.

Dreamgirls star Sheryl Lee Ralph and The Phantom of the Opera’s Lisa Vroman headlined a list that also included talent from Hamilton, American Idol, American’s Got Talent, and more. Cast members from the Broadway touring show Summer: The Donna Summer Musical also delighted the audience.

REAF’s first event in 2020 will be the One Night Only benefit cabaret with the cast of The Book of Mormon on Monday, April 20. http://www.reaf.org

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San Francisco Symphony’s Holiday Gaiety

Photos by Paul Margolis

’Tis the season to be merry and gay even at Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall where, on Saturday, December 7, conductor Edwin Outwater co-emceed with drag personality Peaches Christ to present an old-fashioned holiday variety show. Joining featured vocalist Ana Gasteyer were the dance troupe Fou Fou Ha!, Courtney Acts, Coco Peru, Sister Roma, and more celebrity drag entertainers. Soprano Patricia Racette, an LGBT community favorite, joined forces with Beth Clayton for a lovely duet of the holiday favorite “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Baritone Elliot Franks delivered a stirring rendition of “In the Bleak Midwinter.” http://www.sfsymphony.org

Santa Skivvies Run 2019 Photos by Paul Margolis

The 11th Santa Skivvies run took place on Sunday, December 8. The event was once again an incredible success, raising $96,159 to benefit the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, which produces the popular event. District 8 Supervisor and former San Francisco Bay Times columnist Rafael Mandelman donned modest long johns, making him among the warmest of attendees—many wearing just Speedos or even less clothing.

The crowd of spirited runners, volunteers, and donors first gathered at Noe and Market Street for Santa’s Block Party. It was followed by the Run and subsequent After Party at the Lookout. The fundraiser continued the tradition begun in 2008 by Chris Hastings, owner of the Lookout. http://www.santaskivviesrun.org

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ROSTOW (continued from page 2)

GGBA (continued from page 5)

c) Another major Trump scandal or something that forces Pence out of office? d) A 49er Super Bowl victory or the Giants in the World Series? e) A completely new Democratic vice-presidential nominee or someone from the current field of presidential candidates? f) Lose ten pounds or win a $200 scratch off prize? g) Trump goes down to defeat and you break your arm or Trump wins?

ident of Finland ever, at 34. Plus, she has a cool name and she was raised by two mothers. Take that, Monica! e) c) She apologized and dropped out of the race.

Happy New Year!

Answer Five: a) b) and h) are not penguins, which just illustrates what a banner year for penguins we have had the good fortune to experience. Mostik is a cat that hangs around the construction site of a bridge in Crimea. Cosmo is a cougar mascot for Brigham Young University represented by a gay guy in a costume at games. Lincoln, a goat, is Mayor of Fair Haven, Vermont.

arostow@aol.com Answer One: a) But that was back in 2014. Yore caused more furrowed brows with a 2019 exhibit in Wales that critics said “spewed homophobic hatred” by including antigay phrases and images. The Clinton painting was hanging on a wall at Jeffrey Epstein’s New York town house. The glory hole went to a local museum, and the banana, priced at $120,000, was recently eaten by a rival artist at a Miami exhibit.

Answer Two: c). For the record, there are no nude gay men’s Highland Games, but there should be.

Answer Three: a) b) Pamela triggered the internet meme: “It’s a gay bar, Pamela.” b) d) The moms appeared for a nanosecond, but it was too much for Monica. c) a) The Supreme Court recently declined to extend her failed lawsuit. d) d) She’s not gay but she is the youngest pres-

Answer Four: e) Yes, he mused about it. But it was also Gorsuch, not Kavanaugh, who made the disparaging remarks in answer b).

Ginsberg was there, but obviously Kennedy has left the Court so he was not there. And no, a) is not even close to correct.

Answer Six: b) The weatherman.

The Michigan rep is Todd Courser, who was forced to resign along with his paramour, state representative Cindy Gamrat. The Candy Planet Pet Cafe is owned by Lu Yunning of Chengdu, China. The banished twin’s father is Israeli Elad DvashBands, who is married to American Andrew Dvash-Bands. Forced to perform genetic tests, the other twin was allowed citizenship.

Answer Seven: b) The animal study from Yale is true. Another huge study determined that genetics are only one part of a constellation of

factors that contribute to sexual orientation. Heavy drinking and lying on the couch are still unhealthy.

The gaydar study was back in 2017.

And oddly, it was the conservatives who were more likely to register disgust.

Answer Eight: c) Thank you, Washington. In general, we are backsliding on the issue of whether or not religious actors can ignore state and local gay rights laws. Both the Eighth Circuit and the Arizona high court ruled against us. The Supreme Court sent Klein’s case back to lower court for review, while the Kentucky court ruled against us on a technicality, upholding the state appellate court’s antigay decision. Not good.

companies, communities, and job-seekers to build diverse, dynamic, and productive working environments.

GGBA: Why did you decide to join the GGBA? Nancy Geenen: The GGBA is the San Francisco business voice of the LGBT business community. It is the oldest and best business association for LGBT entrepreneurs and business owners. As a social impact start-up, the GGBA is one of the best opportunities for networking and referral business.

GGBA: How long have you been a member of the GGBA? Nancy Geenen: Flexability joined the GGBA in August 2019, just as Flexabilitiy opened its doors for business in San Francisco.

GGBA: Why has being a long-term member of the GGBA been important for your business?

Nancy Geenen: In the long-run, Flexability’s success depends on the referrals and networking within the business community. Many in the LGBT community have stories to share about barriers to the workplace. Our mission is to create employment opportunities for all who experience such barriers.

Members of the GGBA are a great source of business and business referrals.

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

Answer Nine: e) This is false, but only barely. Trump called Cook “Tim Apple.” Everything else is true. An old container of Garfield phones was found in an underwater cave after many years of mystery.

As for Alabama, they don’t issue “licenses” anymore, but they issue something similar, called something else. I didn’t cover the pigeon story because it’s a new one, but I thought you should know about it.

Nancy Geenen: GGBA members like Dawn Ackerman have been very helpful. As part of our certification process, Dawn and I spent time talking about the importance of LGBT entrepreneurs to the growth of our economy.

Answer Ten: The answers are a matter of opinion, of course. Mine are a) Biden, b) The High Court rulings, c) Another scandal, d) The Giants, e) Someone new, f) I can’t decide. Each time I pick one, I change it back, g) I would break my arm for my country.

Nancy Geenen: Read Entrepreneural LEAP and Traction, both by Gino Wickman. Develop the core values unique to the business and the owners, then hire, retain, and reward on these core values. Getting the right people in the right seats will propel the enterprise toward the business goals. Surviving the first 3 to 5 years is about discipline, execution, and accountability.

GGBA: What brings you back to the monthly GGBA Make Contacts? Have they added value to your business?

Nancy Geenen: Networking and business referrals are the most important aspect of the GGBA. Because Flexability supplies a talent source for small and midsize businesses, our attendance at the Make Contact events is beneficial to all.

GGBA: What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own business?

For more information: https://www.flexability.com/ KRAMER (continued from page 20)

ADELMAN (continued from page 12) of participant in our study reported living alone.”

He added, “The most requested services and programs were social activities, adult education, wellness programs and case management. The most requested services by caregivers were in-home support and home care.”

I asked what the key recommendations of the study were. Dr. Flatt replied, “Key recommendations include: An LGBTQ inclusive Adult Day Service Program that offers tailored social programs for all community members, especially transgender and LGBTQ people of color. There is a need for specialized health and case management services for those with HIV/ AIDS, such as mental health and substance abuse treatment needs and programs for longterm survivors. There is need for services for caregivers, such as education programs and respite care and services for people who develop dementia or Alzheimer’s or need in-home care. There is a need for services that are no fee or at a reduced cost.

Affordability is a key issue.”

“These findings provide a strong case for a one stop shop program that integrates case management, LGBTQ identifying staff, use of trauma care approaches, and social activities that reflect the diverse interest and background of the community,” he added.

I asked Li what is unique about this new Adult Day Services Program.

She answered, “Adult Day Services Programs typically offer

social programs, meals, and some assistance with care coordination. ADSPs help people manage whatever is happening and support their ability to stay in community. What will be unique to our program at 75 Laguna is the staff and the design of the programs into content areas LGBTQ people are interested in.”

When asked to provide an example of a culturally different content area, she said that “one community might want a class in calligraphy while another might prefer a class in advocacy initiatives ... . The content of the services will have more resonance with the LGBTQ people who use the services because the content of the services will have been chosen by LGBTQ seniors themselves.”

As for why On Lok decided to partner with Openhouse, she explained: “For a long time, On Lok’s focus was on strengthening and growing our programs. The original primary focus was all about the PACE model. We developed and grew our programs and strengthened the organization. It took us a while to do that. Once that was accomplished, we began to focus on serving underserved communities.

We have established a tradition of working and partnering with vulnerable communities. The second key reason was the good relationship that Karyn and I had from our time working on the PACE program at the Institute on Aging.”

Karyn Skultety is no stranger to creating innovative programs. In 2010 she received the California

Association of Adult Day Services Quality Award for Clinical Care for her innovative work enhancing mental health care. She is known for creating programs that effectively serve underrepresented older adults.

She recently told me: “We know that LGBTQ seniors are not using traditional aging programs. With the completion of the needs assessment we now have a better idea why and what to do about it. The success of our project depends on how much and how well we incorporate the input and direct feedback we have received from LGBT seniors themselves.”

The Openhouse/On Lok partnership and ADSP program brings hope that vulnerable LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers will finally have access to the services they need and deserve.

Dr. Marcy Adelman, a psychologist and LGBTQ+ longevity advocate and policy adviser, oversees the Aging in Community column. She serves on the California Commission on Aging, the Governor’s Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force, the Board of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California, and the San Francisco Dignity Fund Oversight and Advisory Committee. She is the Co-Founder of Openhouse, the only San Francisco nonprofit exclusively focused on the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ older adults.

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service for Two-Spirit people and their allies in the San Francisco Bay Area. Attending the powwow is a pioneering act of resistance for the many LGBTQ Native American and Two-Spirit people who still face prejudice and stigma in their communities. The film documents how the powwow’s organizers adapt and

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Looking Ahead to 2020 Invisible Life, opening January 3, is directed by out gay filmmaker Karim Aïnouz. A tale of two sisters kept apart, the film, adapted from a novel, is a lush, powerful, and exquisitely acted melodrama.

Cunningham, also opening January 3, is a fabulous documentary about the out gay dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham. The performance scenes are spectacular—especially in 3-D!—and the discussion of his life and career is fascinating.

And Then We Danced Opening in February, this film is set in Tbilisi where Merab (Levan Galbakhiani), a closeted young dancer in a Georgian National company, finds himself attracted to Irakli (Bachi Valishvili), a replacement performer. This is a heartfelt story of a young man’s sexual awakening that also illustrates the difficulties of being gay in Georgia. Controversy occurred earlier this year when conservative groups protested and threatened screenings.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (scheduled for a Valentine’s Day release) is out director Céline Sciamma’s stunning, slow-burn romantic drama set in 1700s France. Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is hired to paint Héloïse (out actress Adèle Haenel) without the latter’s knowledge. As the two young women slowly get to know one another, a friendship develops, and they soon fall in love. © 2019 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer

KIT’N KITTY’S

QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on page 19) D) Vermont

LGBT HISTORY PROGRAMS (continued from page 8) follows the evolution of the annual powwow from its modest inaugural event seven years ago to the huge powwows of recent years held at the Cow Palace and Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. Bay Area American Indian Two Spirits, the sponsor of the powwow, is an organization committed to activism and

cudgel viewers. It is awkward to watch Mouse (Niamh Wilson) express her genderqueer identity, but watching Franky’s gay father (Kyle MacLachlan) have a heart-to-heart with his son about queer sexuality while they are literally standing in his closet is too much. It is admirable that out gay writer/ director Keith Behrman wants to address important issues of queer sexuality, but he does it in such a ham-fisted and preachy manner that he shouldn’t have bothered.

transform conservative powwow protocol to celebrate queer-positive identities. Two-Spirit Powwow was produced in association with the GLBT Historical Society.

Tickets are available online at https://bit.ly/2XxkqE1 For more information, visit www.glbthistory.org

The Vermont Supreme Court in 1999 held in the case Baker v.

State that same-sex couples must be granted the same benefits and protections that heterosexual couples receive under state law. It was decided to create a separate but equal process for this to happen, so in 2000, the state of Vermont passed a bill allowing for same-sex civil unions. In 2009, Vermont became the fourth state to approve same-sex marriages. Thank you, Green Mountain State!

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “Please tell me the latest polls lie: finding amongst Repugnicans, 53% think Darn-Old Trump scores better than Abraham Lincoln at 47%, who freed the slaves. And worse news, T-rump scores higher than any other Republican president, except Reagan, who got 59%. And may I remind you that Reagan refused to acknowledge that AIDS existed. WOW! And also OMG!” The ANNUAL CASTRO HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING was “totally lit” on December 2, 6 pm in front of Bank of America with a huge crowd of cheerful celebrants. It was hosted by Donna Sachet, and it featured holiday music by the GAY & LESBIAN FREEDOM BAND and the GAY MEN'S CHOIR FROM SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN'S CHORUS both playing and also accompanying the crowd with a sing-along of carols. There was the accustomed visit from Santa and his adorable elf—arriving on a lightsflashing, siren wailing police vehicle in lieu of a sled. Just before Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, MUMC President Masood Samereie, and Donna led us into the countdown for the tree lighting, three of us Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence— Sister Golda Lox, Sister Uma Bushburns, and moi—led the crowd in a litany and officially blessed the tree. Afterwards, the merchants of Castro and we friends were treated to a festive after-party at the local Sausage Factory. I just wanna emphasize how vital it is to shop, drink, and dine in the Castro whenever possible. I know Donna and I do! Keep the Castro alive and thriving!

Sister Dana sez, “As many know, Sister Dana reviews art quite a lot. But I cannot pass up a review of cray-cray TrumpCountry, Florida, for that Miami Beach Convention Center display of a single banana attached to a white wall with duct tape that sold for $120,000. What, I must ask, is the ap-peel?!”

PHOTO BY RINK

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS presented HOLIGAYS ARE HERE: RING THEM BELLS at the Sydney Goldstein Theater on December 6 and 7.

This concert is SFGMC’s signature romp through holiday favorites

Jokie X. Wilson danced with Dennis McMillan (aka Sister Dana) at the San Francisco Lesbian/ Gay Freedom Band’s Dance-Along Nutcracker 2019, “Nutcrackers in Space,” at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on December 7.

old and new, along with unexpected surprises and unique interpretations. The concert featured special guests Velocity Handbell Ensemble, San Francisco’s premier bell ensemble, and ran the gamut from Liza Minnelli’s outrageous “Ring Them Bells,” to a new arrangement for SFGMC’s beloved tradition of “Silent Night,” using sign language. “The Elves’ Broadway Christmas” showed us how to turn classic carols into classic theater. And you haven’t heard “O Holy Night” until the Homophonics perform it. And “Last Christmas” is something else when The Mandrews Sisters take it on. The good news is if you missed this show, you still have a chance to catch the Christmas Eve program at 5, 7, and 9 pm at the Castro Theatre.

SF LESBIAN/GAY FREEDOM BAND staged their annual fundraiser, DANCE-ALONG NUTCRACKER at YBCA Forum on December 7 and 8. The theme this year was Nutcrackers in Space.

We joined Clara, Fritz, and the Band as they waltzed through the solar system, visited an alien-filled cantina on the outskirts of space, sneaked aboard an evil ship, and helped save the galaxy by recovering the legendary Dilithium Nutcracker. All while encompassing music from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. And after each number, audience members got the chance to dance along with the Band while wearing space tutus and attempting ballet steps to some out-of-this-world tunes from space-themed movies and down to Earth show tunes. Brava!

Sister Dana sez, “Impeachment carries on without any hope of Senate Repugnicans agreeing; and meanwhile Moscow Mitch has refused to put forth a single bill out of nearly 400 that were passed by the House. Can’t we also impeach McConnell and his creepy cronies?!”

The holidays are on their way and the Girls are back with GOLDEN GIRLS LIVE! Take 4 talented drag performers, cast them in two parody Xmas episodes of the uproarious TV show: THE GOLDEN GIRLS, and you have the perfect holiday event for the entire family. In what has become a yearly tradition, this drag send-up and loving tribute to the characters the entire world has come to know and love features local drag stars: Heklina (the sarcastic Dorothy), Matthew Martin (the oversexed Blanche), D’Arcy Drol linger (the Scandinavian dimwit, Rose), and Holotta Tymes (the sassy senior citizen with absolutely no filter, Sophia). Note well that these are not just DQs putting on a show— but rather extremely talented actors.

And brilliantly directed by Drollinger.

It’s also a bit gayer than the original script, which I enjoyed. Longtime GGL supporting male actor is handsome Manuel Caneri. Pianist Tom Shaw gives us audience members the opportunity to sing along with seasonal carols. You don’t have to be a fan of the classic sitcom; but you will be after this show. This is your last chance to see these grand old broads, because the run ends December 22 at Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street.

RICHMOND/ERMET AID FOUNDATION put on their annual holiday fundraiser, HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS, which was a wonderful celebration of the holidays, no matter what those holidays may mean to some. This year’s concert at the Marines’ Memorial Theater on December 9 featured both holiday songs and songs that reflect the spirit of the holidays—love, hope, and compassion. The stellar cast included Sheryl Lee Ralph from Broadway’s Dreamgirls and film star; OMG, please allow me to just interrupt a moment here, because my hero (continued on page 30) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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

COMING UP

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

19 Thursday District 8 Holiday Shindig & Art Reception @ San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. Supervisor Rafael Mandelman will host this event that features an art reception with local artist Joseph Abbati. 4-5:30pm. District 8 Holiday Shindig on Facebook

Friday Night Party @ White Horse Inn, 6551 Telegraph Avenue.

This every Friday event features drink specials, dancing and DJs. 9pm2am. http://www.whitehorsebar.com

Democratic Debate Watch Party @ Manny’s, 3092 16th Street. The popular civic and social space venue has become a favorite place to watch debates and this will be the sixth one of the current race. 8-10pm. http://www.welcometomannys.com

The Nutcracker @ Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland.

Oakland Ballet presents Graham Lustig’s rendition. 1pm & 5pm. Also on Dec 22. http://www.paramounttheatre.com

Golden Girls Live: The Christmas Episodes @ Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street. Now an annual tradition, this drag send-up and loving tribute brings to the stage local stars Heklina (Dorothy), Matthew Martin (Blanche), D’Arcy Drollinger (Rose), and Holotta Tymes (Sophia). 8pm continuing through December 22. http://www.victoriatheatre.org A Christmas Carol @ A.C.T.’s Geary Theater, 415 Geary Street.

Charles Dickens’ classic returns to A.C.T. for the holiday season. Multiple times and dates through December 24. http://www.act-sf.org

20 Friday Jolene’s One Year Anniversary Party! @ Jolene’s, 2700 16th Street. The popular bar’s biggest celebration of the year features a killer lineup of Bay Area queer DJ’s go-go dancers and Sgt. Die Wies hosting. 7pm. http://www.jolenessf.com The Last Black Man in San Francisco Screening + Benefit @ Manny’s, 3092 16th Street. Two of this inspiring film’s actors will be there to discuss and raise funds to support the “Awareness Through Action” campaign highlighting social issues and injustices. 7-10pm. http://www.welcometoamnnys.com A Cathedral Christmas @ Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street. The Choir of Men and Boys accompanied by full orchestra will transport you with their exquisite performances of favorite carols and holiday masterpieces. 7:30pm. http://www.gracecathedral.org Christmas Revels Presents “A Solstice Journey Through Time” @ First Congregational Church, 2501 Harrison Street. The annual Revels tradition continues with the 2019 show focused on SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

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Windham Hill Winter Solstice @ Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley.

Featuring Barbara Higbie, Will Ackerman, Todd Boston and Mia Pixley.

8pm. http:www.thefreight.org

Smuin Ballet’s The Christmas Ballet @ Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission. This Bay Area holiday tradition features snow-kissed dancers clad in white gliding over the stage to multiple genres. 7:30pm. http:/www.smuinballet.org

Ugly Sweater Holiday Party & Drag Show @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. The event will be a night of holiday vibezz with no cover charge plus food and refreshments provided. 5-9pm. http://sfaf.org

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solstice celebrations through the ages. 7:30pm. Additional dates through December 24. http://www.califormiarevels.org

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Krewe de Kinque Holiday Show & Bake Sale @ The Edge, 4149 18th Street. Dress festive and take the stage during the open show or enjoy the beer and soda bust, raffle prizes and much more including a bake sale. 4-7pm. http://edgesf.com Swagger Like Us Presents Josh Peace @ Jolene’s Bar, 2700 16th Street. 9pm-2am. This ongoing event is a popular queer dance party. http://www.jolenessf.com

22 Sunday Pop-Up Glowing Hanukkah Party @ Ghirardelli Square. A JCCSF pop-up event celebrating the first night of Hanukkah where you are encouraged to dress in your favorite light-up, glittery and glowing clothes. 3-6pm. http://www.jccsf.org Christmas with Walt & Mickey’s Christmas Carol Film Screening @ Walt Disney Family Museum, 104 Montgomery Street. Diane Disney Miller will discuss how Walt spent the holidays, both at work and at home with his family. The event also includes a screening of Disney’s version of the classic Dicken’s tale A Christmas Carol. 1-2:30pm continuing through December 30. http://www.waltdisney.org

23 Monday Do Ask Do Tell @ SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street. A weekly support group for LGBTQ+ community members who were in the military. 6-7pm. http://www.sfcenter.org Sophie B. Hawkins @ Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland.

The legendary songstress brings her tour, including a new rendition of her hit “As I Lay Me Down to Sleep,” to the Bay Area where she has a strong following. 8pm. http://www.yoshis.com Holiday Lights Night Bloom @ SF Conservatory of Flowers, 100 JF Kennedy Drive. The event is a nightly opportunity to revel in the Conservatory where light

and sound infuse the one-of-a-kind plant collection and iconic facade.

5pm through January 5. http://bit.ly/nightbloom2019

24 Tuesday CHRISTMAS EVE Holigays Are Here @ Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street. San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus presents its annual Christmas Eve event.

5, 7 and 9pm. http://www.sfgmc.org 27th Annual Kung Pao Kosher Comedy @ New Asia Restaurant, 772 Pacific Avenue.

Jewish comedy on Christmas Eve in a Chinese restaurant. 5pm & 8:30pm through December 26. http://www.koshercomedy.com

25 Wednesday CHRISTMAS DAY Tenderloin Tessie Free Christmas Dinner @ First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin Street.

Volunteers are needed to assit at this free Christmas Dinner, so you can help! Contact Michael Gagne 415-584-3252 Holiday Potluck & Gratitude Meeting @ Castro Country Club, 4058 18th Street. Come for the fellowship and fun, and if you can, bring a dish or dessert to share. 2pm Potluck/4:30pm Gratitude Meeting. http://www.castrocountryclub.org Fiddler On The Roof @ The New Parkway, 474 24th Street, Oakland. This classic film is the story of a Jewish peasant in Russia faced with marrying off three of his daughters while growing anti-Semitic sentiment threatens his village. 3pm. http://www.thenewparkway.com Lucy Worsley’s 12 Days of Tudor Christmas @ KQED-TV The premiere of a new show, hosted by the popular British historian, tracing the origins of the 12-day extravaganza tracing its origins and practices. 8pm repeating on December 26, 27 and 28. http://www.kqed.org

26 Thursday Dee’s Keys Piano Bar @ Beaux Castro Cocktail Lounge, 2344 Market Street. Join Dr. Dee Spencer for drinks, music and singalongs every Thursday for Happy Hour and there’s no cover. 4-8pm. http://www.beauxsf.com

27 Friday The Academy’s Academy of Wine: Bubbles @ The Academy SF, 2166 Market Street. The Castro social club and barbershop hosts its popular wine series with sommelier Michael Wells, plus you can find out about how to become a member. 8-9:30pm. http://www.academy-sf.com The Hot Boxxx Girls @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge, 133 Turk Street.

Every Friday and Saturday night,

this bar presents a wild drag show that “warms the sequin cockles of your heart.” 10pm. http://www.hotboxxxgirls.com

A weekly drop-in group with no requirements and all goals supported.

5:45-7:45pm. http://www.strutsf.org

Imperial Council of San Francisco Monthly Fundraiser @ Beaux, 2344 Market Street. 4-7pm. http://www.imperialcouncilsf.org

Sing Along Sound of Music @ Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street.

This annual Castro Theatre event brings the classic musical to the big screen with subtitles, goody bags and costume contest. 1pm. http://www.castrotheatre.com

The Rhino 2019 Holiday Extravaganza! @ Gateway Theatre, 215 Jackson Street. Theatre Rhino presents a show full of fun and naughtiness. 8-11pm. http://www.therhino.org

Mango MasQUEERade 2020 NYE @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street. Enjoy Mango’s unique vibe on New Year’s Eve with music, food, strong drinks and more. 8pm2am. http://www.elriosf.com

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29 Sunday L Word at Lez Rio @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street. The show we love to hate and hate to love is back, so join the fun at “Everyone’s Favorite Dive” where booing is encouraged and cheering for hot make-outs is a must. 9-11pm continuing on Sundays. http://elriosf.com Night Bloom @ San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers, 100 JF Kennedy Drive, Golden Gate Park.

Dazzling lights, rainforest soundscapes and art combine to create a seasonal light and sound experience. Check schedule for availability through January 5. https://bit.ly/38NB9Il

New Years Eve with Fleetwood Macramé @ The Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Albany. Returning for their third year, Fleetwood Macramé is a fave Fleetwood Mac Tribute band. Champagne toast at midnight. 8pm. http://www.ivyroom.com New Year’s Eve Afterglow @ 550 Barneveld Avenue. Hosted

by Comfort & Joy, this party is the “winter sister” of the popular Pride party. 10pm-6am. http://playajoy.org

1 Wednesday NEW YEAR’S DAY

2 Thursday

Manny’s Holiday Movie Night @ Manny’s, 3092 16th Street. A double feature evening with Citizen Kane (5pm) and V for Vendetta (7:30pm). http://www.welcometomannys.com

Castro Art Walk @ Multiple Castro businesses and Jane Warner Plaza. Merchants, artists and musicians present an evening of free fun on first Thursdays. 6-9pm. http://www.castroartwalk.com

Gallery of Illustrious Queers: Portraits by Jordan Reznick @ Hormel LGBTQIA Center, SF Main Library, 100 Larkin Street.

Photographer Jordan Reznick and curator Margaret Tedesco’s exhibit exploring how trans people’s embodiments and life experiences build movement for transgender pride and liberation. Through January 16, 2020. http://www.sfpl.org

Beyond the Rainbow: Queer Symbology Before & After Gilbert Baker @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 19th Street. A presentation and workshop on the symbols of the LGBT community before and after Baker’s rainbow flag.

7-9pm. http://www.glbthistory.org

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

3 Friday Older & Out Therapy Group @ Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, 3207 Lakeshore Avenue.

Sponsored by Pacific Center, this drop-in therapy group is for LGBTQ

YOU TOO CAN BE A WINNER!

Ebabes TGIF with Ruby’s in Town @ The Terrace Room, Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison Street, Oakland. Join DB, Lynn and Jen and all the women for this longstanding mixer for women. 6pm.

Ebabes on Facebook

4 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

5 Sunday Remarkable WWII Rosie Exhibit @ Jewett Gallery, SF Public Library, 100 Larkin Street. Artist Carol Witten exhibits 60 Digital Prints (diptychs) from her historical essay Remarkable WWII Rosie. Continues through January 26. http://www.sfpl.org

6 Monday

2020 JANUARY

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community members 60+ on Fridays. 2pm, 3pm and also on Mondays. http://www.pacificcenter.org

StrutBookClub Reads How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. Join the group on the second floor of Strut for wine, snacks an conversations about literature. 7:30-9pm. http://www.sfaf.org/locations/strut 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

7 Tuesday The Chronicles of San Francisco Exhibit @ SF Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third Street. Internationally recognized artist JR’s work displays the voices of SF as an extraordinary, unique and diverse city.

Check ongoing daily times except Mondays. http://www.sfmoma.org

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

Jennie McNulty, Abby Zimberg, Suzanne Westenhoefer and Helene Wenzel at Manny’s for Comedy & a Couch.

San Francisco Bay Times group at Sir Francis Drake Hotel for Sunday’s A Drag Brunch with Donna Sachet.

Antonio and Hiromi at Herbst Theatre for Astana Ballet’s Masterpieces Brent Stevens and Anthony Alonso at Herbst Theatre for Astana Ballet’s performance of Masterpieces

Edgardo Moncada and his guest attending Astana Ballet’s performance at Herbst Theatre

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Dance-Along Nutcracker 2019 Photos by Rink “Nutcrackers in Space” was the theme of this year’s rendition of the perennial holiday favorite Dance-Along Nutcracker. Now in its 34th year, the show, produced by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, is known internationally. The program includes a unique combination of Tchaikovsky’s classic music and community participation when audience members join in the fun each time the sign says “Dance Along!”

LIPSKY (continued from page 22) Long rumored to be gay, he wed Janet Gaynor, also whispered about, in 1939, when he was 36. (She had worked as an usher at the newly opened Castro Theatre before moving to Hollywood, where she won the first Academy Award for Best Actress in 1927.) Their marriage did not stop gossip about their intimate lives, even after both stated publicly that they were happily married. They remained together until his death in 1959.

Of course, actors need more than direction, makeup, hairstyling, and clothes. They also need scenery and props. Enter Edwin Willis (1893– 1963), head of the prop department at MGM. Willis and his staff, all of whom were gay, created, among much else, the look of the Yellow Brick Road. Working directly under him, Jack Moore (1906–1998) designed the poppy field, which he built across three sound stages.

The Yellow Brick Road, the poppy field, the ruby slippers, and much more became cultural icons, instantly recognizable to people of all generations, their symbolism and their meaning clear without comment.

Dialogue became everyday sayings, slogans, catchphrases, and mantras, their intentions understood, no explanation necessary. Examples are everywhere, from the cover of Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road to Sister Boom Boom’s poster for her San Francisco Board of Supervisors campaign.

For gay men, especially during an era of great persecution and deep closets, the film became beloved.

The question, “Are you a friend of Dorothy?” soon meant that they were part of a great, loving, caring, and understanding community. Some may have longed for Glinda’s party dress, or the ability Dorothy had to pick up men along the highway; or

a salon where a creative hair stylist could “even dye my eyes to match my gown.” Why not? We all have room for improvement.

So many more, however, found two important truths in the story. First, they need not travel to Oz to find what they were looking for. Like the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, they had within themselves what they sought all along: brains, heart, and the courage to be themselves. Second, like Dorothy’s companions did, with their different backgrounds and experiences and the world against them, they could come together to create their own strong and supportive communities.

The friends of Dorothy, birth relations or not, are our family.

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

SISTER DANA (continued from page 27) of Dreamgirls actually pointed at me in the front row and asked, “What are you thankful for?” and I shouted back, “Jesus!” and she acknowledged, “Hallelujah, brother!”

So here’s the rest of the incredible cast: Lisa Vroman: Phantom of the Opera star; David Hernandez: American Idol, recording star; Darnell Abraham: Hamilton star; Christopher H. Young: from Hamilton cast; Shawn Ryan: America’s Got Talent, cabaret star; Steve Knill: internet sensation featured on The Voice; Lisa Vigianno: MAC award winner, cabaret star; Sony Holland: cabaret star; Jessica Coker: cabaret star; Kim Nalley: jazz star; plus cast members from the Broadway touring cast of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical: Makeena Lee Brick, Cameron Anika Hill, Candice J. Washington and Erick Pinnick.

RAINBOW WORLD FUND presented the annual WORLD TREE OF HOPE lighting and celebration on December 10 at Grace Cathedral. The lineup included Emcee Honey Mahogany, J uanita MORE!, with performances by Breanna Sinclairé, Andrea Dennison-Laufer, San Francisco Boys Chorus, Connie 30

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Champagne, and Lambert Moss, with pianist Tammy Hall. There were stirring speeches

by State Senator Scott Wiener, Origami Artist Linda Mihara, and RWF Founder Jeff Cotter.

Several of us Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence blessed the tree and also sainted Cotter in a very special surprise ceremony. Consul General of Japan Tomochika Uyama and The Right Reverend Marc Andrus, Bishop of California, exchanged peace cranes. And the glorious conclusion was the lighting of the impressive tree with over 18,000 folded cranes carrying messages of hope and peace from all over the world!

ACADEMY OF FRIENDS 2019 HOLIDAY RECEPTION happened on December 11 at 2351 Mission Street (which will very soon become a brand-new gay bar in the Mission). As some may know, The Academy of Friends are now very much a part of THE LGBT ASYLUM PROJECT, which is the only San Francisco nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to providing accessible legal representation for LGBT asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, and/ or HIV status. It was the perfect time

to celebrate family—not the ones we were born with necessarily, but the ones we have chosen! I love my chosen family! They have been with me through thick and thin.

Which brings me to the latest "Sister Dana News" Well, y’all know about the Castro Fire and yada yada yada that the nun was a victim “who rose from the ashes.” But didja hear the latest? Well, this Dennis McMillan person apparently fell over a chair that was in the way of some boxes from the fire and plunged into a chair and busted his right shoulder and rotator cuff. So, he has to type kinda lame. This is your opportunity to say, “When HASN’T he typed lame?!” Har. Sister Dana sez, “We have seen this terrifying, tyrannical Trump media-hating administration attack public broadcasting funding, public education funding, and now, public library funding. And that orange idiot who sits on the White House toilet can’t even read more than his daily briefings fed to him without assistance.

What in the world has happened to communication?!”

Round About - All Over Town Welcoming a New Decade

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CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2019)

CASTRO STREETCAM presented by

SantaCon participants gathered at the 18th and Castro intersection on Saturday, December 7.

A pair of SantaCon participants paused in front of the Castro Christmas Tree at 18th and Castro Streets on December 7.

Happy riders were awaiting their driver aboard a cable car on California Street that was decked with greenery for the holidays.

Stonewall OutLoud filmmaker Fenton Bailey (second from left) was joined by filmmaker Jenni Olson and Frameline’s Paul Struthers and James Woolley at a screening of his film at the Embarcadero Theater on December 4. The National LGBTQ Task Force partnered with StoryCorps for the film, which records the stories of queer elders who were at the 1969 uprising.

Representatives from beneficiary organizations created a group photo on the stage at Oasis during the Folsom Street Events Check Presentation Party on December 3.

The Castro Theatre marquee on December 7 announced the Silent Film Festival’s screening of Phantom of the Opera accompanied by live music.

Volunteers staffed a sales table offering books, brochures, patches and a Scanimation Lamp at the A Day of Silents program held at the Castro Theatre on December 7, during the Silent Film Festival.

Organizer Angie Sticher and curator Ellie Stokes were celebrating the art opening at Spark Arts Gallery during the Castro Art Walk on December 5

Snowflakes are the stars of the show in this holiday window at Swirl on Castro Street.

items of the week

Barber Ismael De Luna (left) shared a toast with his customer, Alex, at Healing Cuts, the new barbershop in the Castro created with the mission of providing a welcoming space for physically or mentally challenged, trans folk and anyone who desires quality service in a space celebrating diversity.

Twinkly LED Lights Twinkly Lights are this season’s hottest decor item. They are fully programmable color changing LED String Lights, Icicle Lights, Curtain Lights and Pre-Lit Trees. Come see them live in our main display window!

RBG Needlepoint Kit

Folsom Fair board member Felipe Flores (left) with AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP) staff members Bill Hirsch and Faron Stalker at the Folsom Street Events Check Presentation Party held at Oasis.

Candidates for the new Castro Cultural District, standing together at the SF LGBT Center on December 14: Alison Sparks, Elizabeth Lanyon, Christopher Vasquez, Jesse Oliver Sanford and Shaun Haines.

Candidates Manny Yekutiel, Anjali Rimi and Rebecca Lozano at the Castro Cultural District Election Forum on December 14

Holiday lighting at the Embarcadero Center on December 4

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Cip Cipriano, co-owner of Q Bar, and his husband Okan Sengun posed with their pup at the Castro Cultural District Election Forum on December 14.

The RBG needlepoint kit is the perfect gift for the crafter in your life.

RBG is just one of many on-trend designs in the collection. Come in to check out the others like “Doing my best,” “This took forever,” and “Feminist AF.”

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he air is crisp and the glitter is out in abundance. As you are out and about doing your holiday shopping, I ask that you think about buying at least 1 new toy for the kids in our community who have less. We will be collecting toys until December 20th.

Owners Ben Bellouin and Jess Tsang (center) with staff members Elizabeth Lim and Max Blue welcomed customers to the Russian Hill Bookstore which has been granted Legacy Status by the City of San Francisco.

Among the decorations admired by guests in the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel’s lobby are the two-story gingerbread house and a brightly adorned tree.

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