San Francisco Bay Times - June 26, 2014

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PHOTO OF STUART GAFFNEY & JOHN LEWIS BY ABBY ZIMBERG

June 26-July 9, 2014 | www.sfbaytimes.com

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‘Power in a Kiss’ Exhibit To Be Created Along Parade Route the 238th birthday of the City of San Francisco. On June 29, 1776, just a few days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Spaniards celebrated their first mass here under a temporary shelter at the site of the future Mission Dolores. The moment is recognized as giving birth to what was later to become the City of San Francisco. Mission Dolores, completed in 1791, is San Francisco’s oldest building.

The project launches with the cover of our latest issue, which shows Marriage Equality USA movement leaders and SF Bay Times columnists Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis. Their kiss is a celebration of the one-year anniversary of the June 28, 2013, ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, lifting its stay on an injunction that ordered state officials to stop enforcing Proposition 8. Within hours, LGBT couples who were plaintiffs in the case fighting Prop 8 had wed.

Gaffney and Lewis themselves are now married, and have been together for nearly three decades.

Last year’s Pride Community Grand Marshal and SF Bay Times co-publisher Dr. Betty Sullivan will be in the SF Bay Times parade contingent, joined by LGBT athletes, newspaper contributors, sponsors and other supporters. We invite you to join us on Sunday, to kiss for pride and to celebrate our right to do so, remembering that this simple and peaceful act is considered a crime in many other places around the world.

PHOTO BY ALFRED EISENSTADT

PHOTO SOURCE: THEPARADIGMNG.COM

AMOMSIMPRESSION.COM

The SF Bay Times wishes to give special thanks to Gray Line of San Francisco, Classic Cable Car & Ride The Ducks, Honda of Oakland, Napa Cellars, Extreme Pizza, Sweet Inspiration, and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco for helping to make the exhibit and this year’s Pride celebration possible.

PHOTO SOURCE: CHINAORGCN>COM

PHOTO SOURCE: INQUISITR.COM

BEFOREITSNEWS.COM

The SF Bay Times, the oldest fully LGBT owned and funded paper for our community in Northern California, is honored to participate in the San Francisco Pride Parade, which this year falls on

PHOTO SOURCE: THECASECOLECTIVE.COM

PHOTOSOURCE: NEEDCOFFEE.COM

As the first openly gay man to be drafted into the NFL, American football defensive end Michael Sam proved earlier this year how powerful a single kiss can be. His simple act of kissing his boyfriend out of sheer joy after being drafted by the St. Louis Rams made world headlines due to subsequent complaints to the FCC following the kiss. One viewer wrote, “This is harmful to children, and is also obscene and disgusting, and should not be shown on daytime television.”

To counter such homophobia, the exhibit “Pride: Power in a Kiss” will be created along the SF Pride Parade route. The SF Bay Times has assembled a team of noted LGBT photographers who will capture images of parade goers kissing and who agree to participate. The images will be featured both in the paper and in the exhibit, which will go on display in the Castro during the coming weeks.

PHOTO SOURCE: BARNEYFRANK.COM

Members of the public attending this year’s Pride Parade on Sunday will have the opportunity to be featured in a new exhibit honoring gains in marriage equality and sports equality over this past year. Participants only have to do one thing: kiss.

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Welcome to the 44th Annual San Francisco Pride Celebration & Parade!

HAPPY PRIDE FROM THE SAN FR ANCISCO SYMPHONY!

By Sister Dana Van Iquity of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

For a fun, quick history lesson, check the last two paragraphs of this article.

Celebration Location & Times On June 28 and 29, the Civic Center is the location for the Celebration and all the booths and stages. On Saturday, the hours are noon to 6 pm. On Sunday, the hours are 11 am to 6:30 pm, when you may be asked to make a donation of $5 to $10 as you enter the gates—in support of more than 60 local nonprofit community partners.

With over 300 exhibitors and nonprofit booths at the event, San Francisco Pride offers a wide variety of artists, local and national businesses, nonprofits, artisans, food and beverages. SF Pride makes a special effort to make exhibitor booths affordable to local nonprofits that often use their space to educate, raise much-needed funds and connect with the community. There’s something at Pride for everyone!

You can enjoy beverage discounts all day at Pride by making a $5 minimum donation at the event entrance gates.

In return for your generous support, you will get a donation sticker that earns you discounts on beverages at SF Pride designated beverage booths— all day long!

Throughout the site you’ll find booths selling water, soda, juice and other nonalcoholic beverages. If you choose to purchase alcohol at the event, please drink responsibly and remember to stay hydrated. Civic Center Plaza and UN Plaza are designated as official smoke-free spaces.

Parade Route & Times The Pride Parade is Sunday, June 29, along Market Street with kickoff at 10:30 am, starting at Beale Street and ending at 8th Street. This year’s theme is “Color Our World with Pride!” The social mission is “to educate the world, commemorate our heritage, celebrate our culture, and liberate our people.”

Facilities & Accessibility Free child-care facilities and a range of services for people with disabilities are available. With special paradeviewing areas and sign language interpretation at all performance stages, the aim is to make the event accessible to everyone. For details about accessibility, log on to the website: sfpride. org/access Parade Grandstand Tickets and Entertainment Grandstand seating is available for the Parade, and SF Pride will host its annual VIP Party at City Hall on Sunday from 2-5 pm. Tickets and info for both are available at sfpride.org Speakers, entertainers, and special guests at this year’s event include: New York Times bestselling author Janet Mock; popular TV personality Ross Matthews; DOMA litigator Roberta Kaplan; former Congressman Barney Frank; fashion correspondent EJ Johnson; renowned comedian Marga Gomez; Billboard Top 10 artist Debby Holiday; Iceland’s electrifying Steed Lord; South African-born attorney and human rights activist Melanie Nathan; San

PHOTO BY RINK

Hundreds of thousands of visitors from outside the Bay Area will attend San Francisco Pride this year. The 44th annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade takes place June 28 and 29. With over 200 parade contingents, 300 exhibitors, and 23 community-run stages and venues, the two-day SF PC&P is the largest free gathering of LGBTQ people and allies in the nation.

WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY

Sister Dana volunteering at a bingo benefit

JULY 30-31 7:30PM

Francisco musical natives The She’s and Katdelic; and much more. The Grammy award-winning Mexican synthpop band Belanova will be performing at the Latin Stage on Sunday.

A complete list of activities, entertainment, and event information can be found at sfpride.org

CONGR ATULATIONS to Melissa Etheridge, who just tied the knot with her longtime partner! Etheridge will join the San Francisco Symphony to perform new orchestral arrangements of her hit songs.

Celebrity Grand Marshals Janet Mock is a writer, the founder of the #girlslikeus project, and a New York Times bestselling author of Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More. After publicly coming out as a trans woman in 2011, Mock started the #girlslikeus project, a movement that encourages trans women to live visibly.

Ross Mathews is a popular television personality and author of Man Up! Tales of My Delusional Self-Confidence. He also has been working with OraQuick, the first in-home rapid HIV test, on the “Life as We Know It” campaign to get gay and bi-sexual men talking and testing themselves for HIV. Roberta (Robbie) Kaplan is a partner in the Litigation Department of Paul, Weiss LLP. Kaplan successfully argued the case of United States v. Windsor before the United States Supreme Court. In its landmark decision, the Court ruled that a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violated equal protection principles of the United States Constitution. The consequences of the Windsor decision have been both rapid and profound.

At least 18 lower courts throughout the United States—including in Ohio, New Mexico, Kentucky, Texas and Utah—have held, relying on Windsor, that gay couples should be accorded equal rights under the law.

Special Guests Barney Frank is Guest of Honor.

Former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Frank (the first openly gay U.S. Congressman, serving from 1981 to 2013), will be accompanied by his husband James Ready.

Frank was the co-sponsor of the financial industry reform, Dodd-Frank Act, and served as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee from 2007-2011.

EJ Johnson is Celebrity Guest. The 22year old LA-native, son of NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Cookie Johnson, is taking on the fashion world by storm. News fashion correspondent for E! NY Fashion Week, EJ Johnson continues to make his mark on the industry by providing expert knowledge on all things fashion and entertainment related. EJ launched his own fashion blog, EJJohnsonStyle.com.

Grand Marshals and Honorees The public selected by vote Community Grand Marshals, Organization Grand Marshal, and the Pink Brick Recipient. Additionally, the SF Pride Board of Directors has named a Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal, an Honorary Grand Marshal and issued a Gilbert Baker Pride Founder’s Award for 2014. (continued on page 26)

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CHEYENNE JACKSON GOES TO THE MOVIES** with special guest appearances by Faith Prince and Courtney Act JULY 24–25 7:30PM Actor, singer/songwriter Cheyenne Jackson sings tunes from classic American films, including Breakfast at Tiffany’s, West Side Story, and more!

Plus, the San Francisco Symphony performs favorite overtures from Gypsy and Funny Girl. m e d i a pa r t n e r

FAITH PRINCE

Tony Award-winning musical actress, star of Guys and Dolls

COURTNEY ACT

RuPaul’s Drag Race finalist.

A “sensation.” — b e t te m i d l e r

GREASE SING-ALONG! + with host Didi Conn, ‘Frenchy’ from the original film JULY 20 7:30PM Sing along with props, dancing, a costume contest, and plenty of surprises.

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SFSYMPHONY.ORG/SUMMER (415) 864-6000 Concerts at Davies Symphony Hall. Programs, artists, and prices subject to change. *Subject to availability. **Please note: no film clips will be shown during this concert. +The San Francisco Symphony does not appear on this concert.

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BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

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National News Briefs Compiled and with commentary by Dennis McMillan Des Moines, IA - Supreme Court Tosses Wrongful Conviction in HIV Case - 6.13 The Iowa Supreme Court has thrown out the conviction of a man who pleaded guilty to criminal transmission of HIV, a victory to activists who say laws in many states are outdated and based on fear instead of medical science.

Nick Rhoades, 39, of Plainfield, had appealed his 2009 conviction, claiming his attorney was ineffective by letting him plead guilty when there was an inadequate factual basis to support the plea. The court’s ruling overturns the Iowa Court of Appeals, which had affirmed a Black Hawk County judge’s conviction based on Rhoades’ plea.

“This is a step away from fear and a step toward embracing reason and science and medicine, and we’re just thrilled about it,” said Christopher Clark, one of Rhoades’ attorneys who works for gay rights organization Lambda Legal.

The ruling followed a decision by the Legislature in May to revise Iowa’s infectious disease transmission law, making people eligible for 25-year sentences only if they intend to transmit a disease without someone’s knowledge. That change was prompted largely by the Rhoades case.

Rhoades had been sentenced to 25 years in prison for oral sex, and was required to register as a sex offender for life—since Iowa’s law made HIV transmission a felony. After he appealed the sentence, the district court judge suspended it and placed him on probation for five years.

In the ruling, six of seven justices found there was insufficient factual basis to support Rhoades’ plea and returned the case to district court. Prosecutors must prove a factual basis existed for the plea. If they cannot, Rhoades must be allowed to withdraw his plea.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Black Hawk County Attorney Thomas J. Ferguson would pursue prosecution further. A spokesman for the Iowa Attorney General’s office, which handled the appeals, said that decision is up to Ferguson.

Thirty-nine states have HIV-specific criminal statutes or have brought HIVrelated criminal charges resulting in more than 160 prosecutions in the United States in the past four years. It’s time to change this absurd law!

Washington D.C. - President Obama Extends Workplace Protections - 6.16 In a huge victory for equality, the White House announced it intends to protect 16 million more Americans from discrimination in the workplace. The President plans to sign an executive order that will provide protections to people working for federal contractors nationwide who could face everyday job discrimination.

The news also provides huge momentum to efforts to pass the Employment NonDiscrimination Act (ENDA) in the US House of Representatives. Civil rights activists are urged to ask President Obama to issue a strong executive order right away to provide badlyneeded workplace protections to millions more people. (Editor’s Note: Other LGBT activists are unhappy with the way ENDA is worded, saying that it would hurt more than help.)

President Obama is taking this bold step thanks to activists pushing for what’s right. The news is the culmination of six years of advocacy by the members and supporters of the Human Rights Campaign and others. After millions of emails, principled advocacy by our allies in the civil rights community and on Capitol Hill and a mountain of compelling evidence, our efforts paid off. We won!

The number of people affected by this historic decision is staggering. Federal contractors employ more than 20 percent of the American workforce. According to the Williams Institute, an executive order would protect 11 million more American workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation and up to 16.5 million more American workers from discrimination based on gender identity.

The executive order will also require companies that have historically turned a blind eye to workplace discrimination to change their policies. Not only will this order protect LGBTQ workers in companies like these, it will also speed up the pace of change by declaring that our government will only award taxpayer dollars to companies with pro-equality workplace policies.

Of course, this is not the end of the fight for comprehensive workplace protection nationwide. We still need activists and supporters to speak out and push for a vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the House to make workplace equality the law of the land. But this victory is proof that the momentum from ENDA’s strong, bipartisan passage in the Senate last fall is unyielding.

Source: hrc.org

Source: edgeonthenet.com San Francisco, CA - Texas Gov. Rick Perry Compares Homosexuality to Alcoholism in Gay San Francisco 6.13 Texas Gov. Rick Perry was invited to the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco to speak about biofuel, solar and wind energy. So it was an unwelcome surprise to many in the liberal-leaning city when Perry ended up comparing homosexuality to alcoholism.

For example, California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted that Perry “must apologize for (his) ignorant and hateful remarks,” noting also that it is Gay Pride month. Perry was asked about the Texas Republican Party’s adoption this month of supporting access to “reparative therapy” for gays and lesbians—a disproven process intended to change sexual orientation. Perry’s answer: “I don’t know. I’m not a psychologist. I’m not a doctor.”

Commonwealth Club interviewer Greg Dalton asked him whether he believed homosexuality is a disorder. “Whether or not you feel compelled to follow a particular lifestyle or not, you have the ability to decide not to do that,” Perry said. “I may have the genetic coding that I’m inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way.”

Later Perry’s office sent out a standard email rehashing the trite one-man one-woman marriage stance. Perry’s views include his 2005 support for the Texas Marriage Amendment, defining marriage as the “union of one man and one woman.” And when the Boy Scouts admitted openly gay Boy Scouts in May 2013, Perry stated: “I am greatly disappointed” with the decision.

Though the crowd at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins hotel on Nob Hill was full of Perry supporters, Perry’s response drew a murmur of disbelief. Members of the audience actually hissed.

Robbie Sherwood, a former political reporter for the Arizona Republic and the executive director of Progressive Now in Arizona tweeted, “Dumbassery is a choice, Rick; homosexuality is not.”

Anderson, SC - South Carolina Teen Fights to Wear Makeup in His DMV License Photo - 6.18 Dallas, TX - US Conference of Mayors Calls on Supreme Court to Promptly Rule in Favor of the Freedom to Marry - 6.23 At its annual meeting on June 23 in Dallas, the US Conference of Mayors overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling on federal courts, including the Supreme Court, to expeditiously bring an end to marriage discrimination against gay couples nationwide.

Mayors from states that still ban marriage for same-sex couples—including Arizona, Texas, Ohio, Colorado, Missouri and Georgia—were among those who led passage of the resolution. Mayor Greg Stanton of Phoenix, a cochair of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, was a leader in introducing the resolution.

“From small towns to big cities, America’s mayors know that including gay couples in the freedom to marry does nothing but strengthen families and communities for all,” said Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry.

“The US Conference of Mayors has made it clear that it’s time for the federal appellate courts and the US Supreme Court to follow the lead of numerous states and a wave of over 20 federal and state courts and bring an end to marriage discrimination nationwide. A year after the Supreme Court demolished the arguments propping up marriage discrimination, it’s time for the Court to finish the job and rule in favor of the freedom to marry once and for all.”

Gay couples can marry in 19 states and the District of Columbia, meaning that 44% of Americans live in a freedom to marry state—up from zero, a little more than a decade ago. Nearly 60% of Americans support the freedom to marry, and in the past year, 15 federal judges, appointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents, have found marriage discrimination unconstitutional, with zero ruling to the contrary.

A national transgender advocacy group has asked South Carolina officials to retake the driver’s license photo of a teenager who says his free speech rights were violated when he was not allowed to wear makeup for his original picture.

Chase Culpepper, 16, a self-described gender non-conformist, often wears androgynous or girls’ clothing. When he went to get his license, workers at the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Anderson, South Carolina, permitted him to wear pearl earrings, but told him he had to remove his mascara and eye shadow before they would take his photo, he said.

“I was told that I did not look like a boy should, and I could not wear a disguise to have my license photo taken,” Culpepper said. “I felt degraded.”

In a letter to the state, the New York-based Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund said officials were wrong to restrict how Culpepper expressed his gender and requested that the agency reconsider its position. But a department spokeswoman stood by its actions, citing a 2009 agency rule that forbids license photographs to be taken when an applicant seems to be “purposely altering his or her appearance so that the photo would misrepresent his or her identity.”

Spokeswoman Beth Parks said the policy helped ensure that law enforcement officers knew whether they were dealing with a male or female. The department has no plans to retake Culpepper’s photo with him wearing makeup, she said.

“His driver’s license has a male name,” Parks said. “It says he’s male.

The picture that is on the driver’s license needs to reflect a male.”

This resolution, which passed by voice vote, states, “The United States Conference of Mayors reaffirms its support of the freedom to marry for same-sex couples and urges the federal courts, including the US Supreme Court, to speedily bring national resolution by ruling in favor of the freedom to marry nationwide.”

A spokeswoman for the transgender group said it had not decided whether to pursue legal action. Culpepper said he regretted agreeing to wipe off his makeup. “This is who I am,” he said. “This is how I am every day. If anything, making me take off my makeup would be the disguise.”

Much later, Perry sort of apologized, saying, “I stepped right in it,” referring to the bull crap he had embraced.

Freedom to Marry has worked with almost 450 mayors, most recently Greg Fischer of Louisville, KY, in making the case for ending marriage discrimination.

So, when going to your Department of Motor vehicles, just remember: pearl earrings—yes; mascara—no.

Source: nbcbayarea.com

Source: freedomtomarry.org

Source: reuters.com

Local News Briefs Ellis Act Reform Bill Defeated by Both Republicans and Democrats

Phase I of Castro Streetscape Improvement Project Team Is Complete

Democratic Assembly Members Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) and Cheryl Brown (D-San Bernardino) teamed up with Republicans Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego) and Beth Gaines (R-Roseville) to defeat SB 1439 (Leno), a modest bill to stop speculators from misusing California’s Ellis Act to evict long-term tenants.

The bill, co-sponsored by Tenants Together and San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee, failed on a 3-4 vote, with Assembly Members Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park), Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) and Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) voting to support the bill.

The Castro Streetscape Improvement Project team has wrapped up work on Phase I, and they have reached the June construction moratorium (June 19 through June 29) in order to accommodate Pride festivities, including the Frameline Film Festival and Pink Saturday events.

The bill would have plugged a loophole that has allowed speculators to purchase apartment buildings and immediately evict long-term San Francisco tenants who are disproportionately elderly and disabled. With no solid arguments against the bill, the real estate lobby relied on a strategy of misrepresentations and campaign donations to prevail.

The defeat of SB 1439 highlights a growing problem in Sacramento. The real estate industry’s control of Democrats through campaign donations corrupts the lawmaking process, undermining the ability of California’s 15 million tenants to have their needs addressed by legislators.

Tenants saw the same dynamic when Democrats heavily funded by real estate money joined with Republicans to defeat SB 603, the bill last session for fair treatment of security deposits. That bill would have simply imposed a penalty on landlords who illegally withhold security deposit funds—something that is already the law in Alabama. The bill was unacceptable to realtor-funded Democrats for reasons they refused to articulate.

With rents, evictions and habitability problems escalating across the state, tenant discontent is on the rise. The Ellis Act reform bill was backed by an incredibly broad coalition of labor unions, senior groups, tech companies and social justice groups.

California’s 15 million tenants need representation and leadership in Sacramento. Too often, lawmakers claim to be affordable housing champions while refusing to stop unfair displacement, exorbitant rent hikes, security deposit theft, and other abuses of current tenants.

Story by Dennis McMillan

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The new extended curb lines have been installed in their final location, and the majority of sidewalks have been poured, giving us all a taste of what is to come in October, when construction on Phase II is expected to be completed.

Work on Phase I includes extended sidewalks, a re-graded street and underground utilities that include new water services. What remains to be done is the installation of new street lights, celebratory lights, street tree planting, Rainbow Honor Walk plaques, sidewalk etching of historic facts, bike racks and leaning rails, installation of a 16” transmission water line and permanent paving of the roadway on Castro and 18th Streets—including a repaving Jane Warner Plaza and installation of rainbow crosswalks at the intersection of 18th Street.

Unfortunately, my request for a yellow brick road leading to my Castro Street apartment was not taken seriously. The goal is to have all of this work be completed by the Castro Street Fair, which is always the first Sunday in October, making the date of completion October 5, 2014.

The Castro Streetscape Improvement Project team say they would like to thank all the residents, business owners, and community members for their generous patience during the project, and they hope everyone will get a chance to enjoy the break in activities during the Pride festivities. They add, “But we know you’re all as anxious and excited as we are to see the finished street—which will be safer, greener, more beautiful and a complete street we can all be proud of!”

The next report will be after June 30, when construction resumes.

Story by Dennis McMillan

Quit smoking: 1-800-NO BUTTS ©2014 California Department of Public Health

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Business Outings

Audry deLucia: An Influential Advocate of LGBT Women in Business

SF Bay Times: What motivated you to join the Board of Directors for the GGBA? Audry deLucia: As a small business owner, networking is an important part of building my business. Making personal connections with people and cultivating those relationships over time creates an environment of trust and credibility. When I began attending GGBA events, I experienced a deeper level of connection with the people engaged with the chamber. Having the common ground of a connection with the LGBT community among allies, lesbian, gay, bi and trans members adds a level of human understanding that I have found cultivates more rich and genuine business relationships than I typically find in other networking and chamber groups. I enjoy the depth and integrity of the conversations I have with GGBA members.

From a bottom line perspective, the GGBA continues to generate closed sales leads and new partnerships for ellaprint. In fact, it is because of ellaprint’s involvement with the GGBA that we became aware of the NGLCC and subsequently became certified as an LGBTBE business. And then there’s the fact that it’s just plain fun—the members of the GGBA work hard in and on their businesses and know how to celebrate, and unwind together too.

SF Bay Times: Why did you become certified as an LGBT business enterprise?

Audr y deLucia: W hen I f irst learned of the LGBT certification process offered by the NGLCC, I honestly didn’t see the value in having ellaprint become certified. It seemed to me that the LGBT business certification was only valuable if my business intends to go after the supplier diversity spend allocation on large corporate and government contracts. However a trusted colleague at the GGBA, Dawn Ackerman, assured me that there was significant value in certifying ellaprint, so I took the leap of faith and applied for certification on her word.

The application process was smooth and fast and, before I knew it, I was heading to Dallas for the NGLCC annual conference, still not understanding the value. That’s when it all changed for me. At the conference, I had the opportunity to meet fellow business owners and professionals both LGBT and allied from across the country and the world. The more than 600 attendees spanning all industries and sectors of business and ranging from corporate/government procurement and supplier diversity professionals to entrepreneurs, independent agents and small to medium business professionals and owners, provided a rich, yet intimate, environment in which to build partnerships, share information, make unprecedented connections and incubate all forms of business development and growth.

I’d been to many industry conferences up to that point, but never had I found such value before. And most dear to me, was the foundation of LGBT life.

Who we are as LGBT business profes10

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SF Bay Times: What inspired you to lead the women’s initiative at the GGBA?

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AUDRY DELUCIA

As Chair of the Golden Gate Business Association’s Women Advancing Ventures in Enterprise Committee, Audry deLucia works to increase the engagement and success of LGBT women in business. She speaks from experience, having co-founded the marketing media company ellaprint with her wife Fran Herman. DeLucia notes that GGBA has traditionally had a low percentage of female and trans representation, despite the fact that this important business organization is America’s first LGBT Chamber of Commerce. With her efforts and those of others, the tide is beginning to turn for the better.

sionals and allies was naturally part of every setting, every seminar, lecture, luncheon, social engagement—not necessarily in an overtly politicized way, but simply by nature of this is who we are and inextricably informs our professional lives.

And it gets better. At the NGLCC conference, I realized how critical it is to the prosperity and economic equality of all LGBT business for us to stand up and be recognized as LGBT businesses. Certification is a quantifiable way to be counted and to collectively show our business clout, history, expertise and reach. Until now, the vibrant LGBT business community has been termed invisible by many, (yet) certified businesses are unmistakably visible. And as if that wasn’t enough, I began to understand the brand new business growth potential suddenly open to me through partnerships and collaborations.

As a small print shop in San Francisco, I’d never considered going after a multi-million dollar corporate or government contract before. Being a Tier 1 or Prime contractor didn’t even hit my business development radar. But as I began to meet the people who develop and solicit these contracts, and the businesses who respond and become the Tier 1 and Prime vendors, I began to see how even my small business fits into the big picture. Subcontracting to the larger vendors and creating multibusiness coalitions to bid together on contracts suddenly put ellaprint in the running for exponential growth and economic prosperity. I began visualizing my business growing, and that is exactly what has been manifesting ever since.

SF Bay Times: Do you recommend that other LGBT businesses become certified as Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans Business Enterprises?

Audry deLucia: I recommend that any LGBT owned and operated business invested in growing their business apply for the LGBTBE certification, absolutely! This certification is an invaluable resource in developing your business and taking it to the next level.

It’s hard work, but the certification is the first step in positioning your business as a serious player in your industry. The certification is also a choice to declare your businesses support and commitment to support the growing movement towards economic equality for LGBT businesses everywhere. The more of us who stand for LGBT business growth and prosperity, the stronger we all are.

Audry deLucia: Quite frankly, I was disappointed to see so few women at GGBA events. As a woman in business, I enjoy the camaraderie, perspective and support of fellow female identified business professionals. The LGBT community is vibrant and diverse; I want to see the GGBA expand to showcase and champion all of us. When I show up at GGBA events, I want to see myself represented. Business professionals who identify as women make up a much larger percentage of the LGBT business community than I currently see represented at GGBA events. I believe that our business community will be stronger as we better represent all of its brilliant diversity. To this end, I put a challenge out to the LGBT business professionals of the SF Bay Area, come to a GGBA event, if you don’t see yourself represented there; bring out your people! Get involved and engage your network. The GGBA is the oldest LGBT chamber in the country.

For four decades the GGBA has been an advocate for LGBT business. The next time I go to a senate committee hearing to testify on a groundbreaking bill like AB1678, I want the many faces of my beautiful rainbow community standing shoulder to shoulder with me.

Come out so we can get to know each other and manifest economic equality together.

SF Bay Times: How has the women’s initiative impacted the GGBA to date and what are your expectations for the future?

Audry deLucia: In the short time I’ve been reaching out to female identified members of the GGBA and working to increase the number of new female identified members, I have been thrilled with the positive response to the initiative. Sometimes all you have to do is ask. The GGBA has seen a marked increase in the number of female identified members joining the chamber, as well as an increase in the number of female identified attendees at events. Already, the presence and engagement of more female identified business professionals in the GGBA is widening the perspectives and topics of conversation at all levels. The diversity of thought and topics of interest are sparking new dialogs and breathing new energy into the chamber. Events targeted to this demographic have been lively and provocative. Moving forward, I want to see more targeted programming as well as more female identified members spotlighted. Most particularly, I want to see more female identified members getting engaged in leveraging the chamber to help grow their businesses. I want to see this demographic taking on chamber responsibility and leadership roles and helping to drive the chamber forward and contribute to the growth and prosperity of our overall membership and the business communities we work in.

I would welcome volunteers to step in, roll up their sleeves and help me grow this initiative.

SF Bay Times: What do you hope to see for LGBT business in the SF Bay Area and across the USA in the next 5-10 years?

Audry deLucia: Economic empowerment. California is a key player in a national wave of business growth, legislation and cultural change converging to make this a time of unprecedented opportunity for LGBT business professionals. The great work of many LGBT advocacy organizations is forming critical mass, and LGBT chambers across the country are working to activate their members (continued on page 19)

A single moment can change everything.

A simple ceremony. An approved adoption. A plan for retirement.

These personal victories have a huge impact on our collective community. Each step toward equality, every milestone reached, is a big leap forward for all of us. However, we know there is still work to do. That’s why Wells Fargo teams up with HRC, GLSEN, NGLCC and other organizations to provide resources and financial guidance to LGBT communities. And as the first to offer financial advisors with the Accredited Domestic Partnership AdvisorSM designation, we are well versed on current laws to help you develop a solid plan for the future. Together, we move forward. Step by step, with individuals, in communities — we can make what once seemed impossible a reality. wellsfargo.com/lgbt

2014

© 2014 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. ECG-1192013

BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

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Remembering the Stonewall Uprising regular white lights were turned on to let everyone know that they should stop dancing or touching.

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Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT In the late 1960’s, sexual minorities in America endured a level of oppression that is all too often forgotten, even by those of us who were alive at the time.

I remember, for instance, as a college freshman in 1966, going on a field trip to observe the municipal courts in action. I watched as a young black man—right here in progressive San Francisco—was sentenced to thirty days in jail for the crime of “impersonating a female.” In those days, gay sex was illegal in every state but Illinois, and, even when it happened in private homes, it was punishable by jail time.

The American Psychiatric Association officially classified homosexuality as a mental disorder. New York City had the largest gay population in the country, but it was also the city that most aggressively enforced antisodomy laws. Late-night raids on gay bars were routine. The names and photographs of those arrested were published in the newspapers, resulting in job losses and social ostracism.

The Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village was nothing like what the term “gay bar” means today. It was operated by the Mafia and served watereddown drinks without a liquor license.

Even its regular customers described it as a dive. It had no running water— just a tub where the drinking glasses were rinsed for reuse. But it was one of the only places where gay people in the city could socialize, drink, dance to the jukebox, and commit “lewd and lascivious acts in public,” which is to say, hold hands or kiss each other.

Its customers were the marginalized: poor people of color, drag queens, members of the newly self-aware transgender community, sex workers, and homeless youth who slept in nearby Christopher Park. The bar had two dance f loors and the walls were painted black, making it very dark inside. It was lit with pulsing black lights, and when police showed up,

The early morning of June 28, 1969, was hot, muggy and tense in the Village. Judy Garland had just died at the age of 47, and 20,000 people had attended her funeral in New York the previous day. The drag queens at Stonewall were in no mood to be pushed around. Previous raids there had resolved peacefully. Typically, after police made some arrests, the bar shut down, and reopened a few hours later. But June 28th was different.

When eight police off icers arrived and started arresting people, one lesbian complained that her handcuffs were too tight and was hit over the head with a billy club. The incident sparked a riot, and the police quickly lost control of the situation. A crowd gathered on the street outside, forcing police to barricade themselves in the bar. Riot officers wearing helmets and armed with nightsticks descended on the scene, and it took them hours to regain control of the street. The confrontations and demonstrations that erupted that night continued for almost a week.

There had been uprisings before.

For instance, in San Francisco in the same year that I witnessed the drag queen being sentenced to jail, transvestites, young street hustlers, and other down-and-out regulars were sitting in Compton’s Cafeteria in the Tenderloin when police arrived to harass and arrest transgender and transsexual customers. A riot ensued, with the customers slinging cups, plates, and saucers, and breaking the windows in the front of the restaurant.

They returned several days later to picket, and smashed the windows again. The event was the first known militant outburst of the modern transgender movement, and there, as later at the Stonewall Inn, the despised and marginalized led the way.

Stonewall was unique because it sparked a national movement. For the most part, activism until then had been mostly about striving for respectability and acceptance. The message was “we’re just like you,” and the goal was assimilation. When demonstrators marched courageously in front of the White House or the State Department, the women wore skirts, the men wore suits and ties, and everyone did their best to look just like the government workers in the buildings that they were picketing.

But after Stonewall, there was a new mood of defiance and rebellion. The

Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, June 28, 1969

PHOTO SOURCE: THESTONEWALLINNNYC.COM

Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

name of the Gay Liberation Front, which organized right after the uprising, sounded communist in Cold War America. That was deliberate. One of its f liers proclaimed, “Do you think homosexuals are revolting? You bet your sweet ass we are!” People who had been oppressed suddenly felt empowered, and they saw no reason to be polite and tasteful about it.

And so overnight it was on: the resolute march, out of the closet, by the tens of thousands, of men and women who’d had enough and weren’t going to be pushed around anymore. Veteran gay activist Frank Kameny was amazed by the sudden sea change. He wrote later, “By the time of Stonewall, we had fifty to sixty gay groups in the country. A year later there were at least fifteen hundred. By two years later, to the extent that a count could be made, it was twenty-five hundred.”

I never met anyone who participated in the Stonewall uprising, but they lifted me out of a life of shame and secrecy, and I owe them a personal debt of gratitude that I can never pay.

We’re all connected more than we can

ever know. Never doubt that when you live with courage and authenticity—whatever that means in your life—the effects ripple outward and profoundly affect the lives of people you will never meet. That is as true today as it was when I was young. This month, as we celebrate, young people all over the country and the world, still trapped in fear and still hiding, will be aware of us. Remember them.

They will be with us in spirit, and we will never know how many of them will find the inner strength and the hope to continue to live because of what we do.

We create the kind of world we want to live in by living the lives we want to live. Our journey to full equality remains a work in progress, but the world we’re building and will leave to those who follow us is light years distant from the world I knew in 1969.

This month, may all my brothers and sisters everywhere celebrate the gift of their lives with dignity, pride and joy.

Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. For more information, please visit tommoon.net

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BAY TIMES JUNE 2 6 , 2 0 1 4

Several historic early uprisings against police harassment of LGBT people pre-date the Stonewall Inn Riots. Among these are incidents near Los Angeles at Cooper’s Donuts (May, 1959) and the Black Cat Tavern (December 31, 1966 - New Year’s Eve); and in San Francisco, the Compton’s Cafeteria Riots at a Tenderloin location (1966).

SOURCE: SCREAMING QUEENS BY SUSAN STRYKER

PHOTO SOURCE: DAILYKOS.COM

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Fortnight in Review This Just In!: Tenth Circuit Rules for Equality; Indiana Ban Ruled Unconstitutional As this issue of the SF Bay Times goes to press comes word that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has ruled in our favor, striking the amendment that bans marriage in Utah. The same panel, which split 2-1, will shortly rule on a similar marriage case out of Oklahoma. The panel put a hold on its ruling pending review by the High Court.

In another last minute June 25 headline, a federal judge in Indiana has overturned the Hoosier marriage amendment, putting another marriage case en route to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The Seventh Circuit will also be reviewing our recent victory in Wisconsin.

By Ann Rostow Big Gay Day Coming Up in Sixth Circuit Here’s a new twist on our federal marriage litigation. The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has scheduled oral arguments on f ive marriage cases for the same day, before the same panel. The arguments will run consecutively.

Hey, it’s a little weird. The cases include four marriage recognition cases, and one marriage equality case.

For all practical purposes, the four recognition cases are actually three, since two of them are related rulings from two Ohio lawsuits. The other two recognition cases are from Tennessee and Kentucky, while the marriage equality case is from Michigan.

Arguments are set for August 6, so we’ll find out the names of the three judges around July 23. And we’ll probably wind up with a Republican majority. Of the 15 active judges on the Sixth Circuit, ten were appointed

by GOP presidents, including seven

by Bush 43. That said, we’ve seen Republican judges come through for our cause in the recent past, so we’ll have to check out the panel in detail once the names are announced.

Meanwhile, we’re still waiting on appellate rulings out of the Tenth and Fourth Circuits, and I for one am dying of anticipation. C’mon guys. Make our day.

Obama Cares The President is making news this month, perhaps timing his latest progay maneuvers for Pride. Obama has pledged to sign an executive order that will require all federal contractors to protect against gay and trans bias. He has also confirmed that the federal government will make sure that all marriage benefits under its control are available to married gay couples, even those who live in states that do not recognize their unions.

I gather that social security and veterans benefits are tied to state law, ergo there’s no way to make these available to married gays who live outside the Free Zone unless Congress takes action. That’s not going to happen anytime soon, but we hope that the Supreme Court will rectify this discrimination once the various marriage appeals reach the High Court’s docket. Considering that spousal social security payments are perhaps the most significant federal benefit available to married couples, it would be hard for the justices to uphold the promise of Windsor without ordering states to recognize marriage for this purpose. But, of course, we expect them to do more than that, don’t we?

As for the executive order, expected in a few weeks, I had read that the new contractor policy would protect several million gay workers from workplace bias. But I just read an article by Jonathan Capehart in the Washington Post that suggests that the vast majority of federal contractors already have LGBT protections in place. Well, it’s certainly a good step in any event.

Distractions School is over, so Mel is at home. This is excellent news, although she is now

watching a rerun of The Blacklist in the same room where I am trying to write this column. She seems so content over there on the couch, charmingly spitting sunf lower seeds into a glass, that I can’t bear to ask her to shut it off. Her seed sucking habit has led to the accidental growth of a tenfoot sunflower in our garden, presumably born from seeds in the compost pile. Personally, I have never liked to consume things that must be spat out.

Speaking of Mel, the main impact of the Windsor decision on our lives is that my tax deduction for health insurance is now reduced because her income must be taken into account. A small price to pay for equality!

So, I was interested to see that our governor, Rick Perry, actually bothered to backtrack on his observation that being gay was like being an alcoholic, an addiction to be fought. The other day, Perry admitted that he “stepped in it,” with that comparison, and mumbled something about how everyone needs a job regardless of sexual orientation. (Indeed, I suspect that alcoholics need jobs too. Probably more than most people.)

Anyway, the mea culpa suggests Perry is gearing up for a national campaign since the Texas electorate couldn’t care less about our communal struggle for civil rights. It’s not just Ted Cruz.

Have you read about the moron Texas is about to nominate for Lt. Governor?

Or did you notice that the Texas Republican Party recently cast a vote of approval for reparative therapy? Fortunately, we live in Austin, an island of sanity. But still. It’s Texas.

Bad Diva, No Arias Strangely, we haven’t seen any new states join the Marriage Club this fortnight, leaving us with extra space to delve into other topics. So how about the opera star who was kicked out of her company when someone unearthed a nasty Facebook comment about gays from last year?

According to press reports, the Georgian soprano Tamar Iveri wrote an open letter criticizing a gay rights demonstration in Tbilisi in May of last year. The letter, which was then posted on her Facebook page, referred to gay people as “fecal matter” and praised the violently antigay protest that led to several injuries. For some reason, the letter came to light only recently. And within 48 hours, Iveri had lost her contract with Opera Australia, where she had been scheduled to sing the leads in Otello and Tosca.

Iveri claims that she loves gay people and that her Christian conservative husband rewrote the letter and put it on Facebook without her permission.

No one is buying this explanation, in part because it conf licts with some previous statements she made at the time of the incident. I’m confused by this, but chose not to pursue it. Let’s just say that Iveri represents the latest example of the zero tolerance policy that greets celebrities who express disdain for gay men and lesbians.

The religious right is fond of claiming that this fairly new rejection of homophobia itself constitutes “discrimination” or “intolerance.” I’m not sure

Professional Services anyone is planning to jump to Iveri’s defense, considering her scatological references, but this is exactly the type of situation that has conservatives absurdly trying to play the victim. The problem is that there’s a thin lie between calling gays “sinful,” and comparing them to sewage and that’s the line these would be victims will have to walk. Good luck with that.

And speaking of homophobia, have you been following the Mexican soccer fans who yell “puto,” the Spanish word for “faggot,” en masse at the opposing goal tender every time there’s a free kick or corner? The childish outbursts were investigated by FIFA, which determined that the expression was harmless in this particular context. Say what? Is there an okay context for the “n” word or the “f” word?

I’m not sure what FIFA could have done about it anyway, but whatever that might have been, they should have tried.

The whole situation reminds me of the “not gay” chant once featured at University of Virginia football games.

Maybe you remember that the school song had archaic lyrics, something about being young and gay, and that all the students would yell, “Not Gay!” during that verse.

At some point, well over a decade ago, I reported on some LGBT campus activists who were getting people to sign a petition to stop the practice. I remember making fun of these dogooders in print, suggesting that they were tilting against windmills. But you know what? Eventually, after years of education and effort, the chant grew dimmer and was finally relegated to a few alumni. I thought this was the sort of problem that activism can’t fix, but I was wrong. So maybe there’s hope for Mexican soccer.

Big News Buried in This Next Section What else is new? I gather that the National Organization for Marriage had a march on Washington rally for “traditional” marriage the other day, and not very many people came. It was between a few hundred and two thousand, reports say.

The Presbyterians just voted to approve same-sex marriage by a large margin, 429-175. And the Methodist minister who was defrocked for marrying his son to another man has been reinstated by a church panel. So it’s all good! Oh, and Starbucks raised the rainbow flag outside their Seattle headquarters. Makes me want to go out for a vente mocha half caf with a shot of Bailey’s on the side.

By the way, we’re now watching Grey’s Anatomy. I had forgotten how much I despised the self-centered and profoundly irritating Izzy Stephens. On the other hand, Dr. Torrez and her girlfriend Arizona from pediatrics are really quite something.

Oh my God! Breaking news. Big exciting breaking news just appeared on my iPhone. I should really rewrite the lead paragraph and start with this exciting development, but I won’t. I can’t wait. Here it is:

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The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will not review the January ruling that heightened legal scrutiny for cases of sexual orientation discrimination. In simpler terms, this means that gay civil rights will be automatically upheld throughout the nine western states that comprise the Ninth Circuit’s jurisdiction. Plus Guam!

The ruling came in the case that questioned whether or not a lawyer could dismiss a prospective juror because of his or her sexual orientation. In deciding that such a dismissal was unlawful, Judge Stephen Reinhardt ruled that (continued on page 26)

Read more @www.sfbaytimes.com and check us out on Twitter and Facebook.

BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

13

What is STRIBILD? STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. It combines 4 medicines into 1 pill to be taken once a day with food. STRIBILD is a complete single-tablet regimen and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines.

STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses you must keep taking STRIBILD. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD? STRIBILD can cause serious side effects: • Build-up of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency.

Symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling very weak or tired, unusual (not normal) muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold especially in your arms and legs, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

• Serious liver problems. The liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and fatty (steatosis). Symptoms of liver problems include your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice), dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored bowel movements (stools), loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach pain.

• You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking STRIBILD for a long time.

In some cases, these serious conditions have led to death.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions.

14

• Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you also have HBV and stop taking STRIBILD, your hepatitis may suddenly get worse.

Do not stop taking STRIBILD without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.

STRIBILD is not approved for the treatment of HBV.

Who should not take STRIBILD? Do not take STRIBILD if you: • Take a medicine that contains: alfuzosin, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, methylergonovine, cisapride, lovastatin, simvastatin, pimozide, sildenafil when used for lung problems (Revatio®), triazolam, oral midazolam, rifampin or the herb St. John’s wort.

• For a list of brand names for these medicines, please see the Brief Summary on the following pages.

• Take any other medicines to treat HIV-1 infection, or the medicine adefovir (Hepsera®).

What are the other possible side effects of STRIBILD? Serious side effects of STRIBILD may also include: • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do regular blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with STRIBILD. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking STRIBILD. • Bone problems, including bone pain or bones getting soft or thin, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones.

• Changes in body fat can happen in people taking HIV-1 medicines.

• Changes in your immune system.

Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking STRIBILD. The most common side effects of STRIBILD include nausea and diarrhea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking STRIBILD? • All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection.

• All the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. STRIBILD may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how STRIBILD works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Do not start any new medicines while taking STRIBILD without first talking with your healthcare provider.

• If you take hormone-based birth control (pills, patches, rings, shots, etc).

• If you take antacids.

Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take STRIBILD. • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if STRIBILD can harm your unborn baby.

Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking STRIBILD. • If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed.

Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. Also, some medicines in STRIBILD can pass into breast milk, and it is not known if this can harm the baby.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Brief Summary of full Prescribing Information with important warnings on the following pages.

BAY TIMES JUNE 2 6 , 2 0 1 4

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STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used as a complete single-tablet regimenmedicine to treat HIV-1 in STRIBILD is a prescription used as a complete single-tablet regimen to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines adults who have never before.

STRIBILD does nottaken cure HIV-1 HIV-1 medicines or AIDS. before. STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

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15

Patient Information STRIBILD (STRY-bild) (elvitegravir 150 mg/cobicistat 150 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/ tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) tablets ®

Brief summary of full Prescribing Information. For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.

What is STRIBILD? • STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before.

STRIBILD is a complete regimen and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines.

• STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. You must stay on continuous HIV-1 therapy to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses.

• Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others. Do not share or reuse needles, injection equipment, or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them. Do not have sex without protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD? STRIBILD can cause serious side effects, including: 1. Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis can happen in some people who take STRIBILD or similar (nucleoside analogs) medicines. Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like symptoms of other health problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms which could be signs of lactic acidosis: • feel very weak or tired • have unusual (not normal) muscle pain

• If you stop taking STRIBILD, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking STRIBILD Who should not take STRIBILD? Do not take STRIBILD if you also take a medicine that contains: • adefovir (Hepsera®) • alfuzosin hydrochloride (Uroxatral®) • cisapride (Propulsid®, Propulsid Quicksolv®) • ergot-containing medicines, including: dihydroergotamine mesylate (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot®, Migergot®, Ergostat®, Medihaler Ergotamine®, Wigraine®, Wigrettes®), and methylergonovine maleate (Ergotrate®, Methergine®) • lovastatin (Advicor®, Altoprev®, Mevacor®) • oral midazolam • pimozide (Orap®) • rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®) • sildenafil (Revatio®), when used for treating lung problems • simvastatin (Simcor®, Vytorin®, Zocor®) • triazolam (Halcion®) • the herb St. John’s wort Do not take STRIBILD if you also take any other HIV-1 medicines, including: • Other medicines that contain tenofovir (Atripla®, Complera®, Viread®, Truvada®) • Other medicines that contain emtricitabine, lamivudine, or ritonavir (Atripla®, Combivir®, Complera®, Emtriva®, Epivir® or Epivir-HBV®, Epzicom®, Kaletra®, Norvir®, Trizivir®, Truvada®)

• have trouble breathing

STRIBILD is not for use in people who are less than 18 years old.

• have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting

What are the possible side effects of STRIBILD?

• feel cold, especially in your arms and legs • feel dizzy or lightheaded

STRIBILD may cause the following serious side effects:

• have a fast or irregular heartbeat

• See “What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD?”

2. Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems can happen in people who take STRIBILD. In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis). Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms of liver problems: • your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) • dark “tea-colored” urine • light-colored bowel movements (stools) • loss of appetite for several days or longer • nausea • stomach pain You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking STRIBILD for a long time.

3. Worsening of Hepatitis B infection. If you have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and take STRIBILD, your HBV may get worse (flareup) if you stop taking STRIBILD. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before.

• Do not run out of STRIBILD. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your STRIBILD is all gone

16

• Do not stop taking STRIBILD without first talking to your healthcare provider

• New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you start and while you are taking STRIBILD. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking STRIBILD if you develop new or worse kidney problems.

• Bone problems can happen in some people who take STRIBILD. Bone problems include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bones.

• Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicine. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The exact cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known.

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines.

Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine.

BAY TIMES JUNE 2 6 , 2 0 1 4

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The most common side effects of STRIBILD include: • Nausea • Diarrhea Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

• These are not all the possible side effects of STRIBILD. For more information, ask your healthcare provider.

• Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking STRIBILD? Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including: • If you have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis B infection • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if STRIBILD can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking STRIBILD. - There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiviral medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry.

• If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take STRIBILD. - You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

- Two of the medicines in STRIBILD can pass to your baby in your breast milk. It is not known if the other medicines in STRIBILD can pass into your breast milk.

- Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements: • STRIBILD may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how STRIBILD works.

• Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you take any of the following medicines: - Hormone-based birth control (pills, patches, rings, shots, etc) - Antacid medicines that contain aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take STRIBILD

- disopyramide (Norpace®) - estazolam - ethosuximide (Zarontin®) - flecainide (Tambocor®) - flurazepam - fluticasone (Flovent®, Flonase®, Flovent® Diskus®, Flovent® HFA, Veramyst®) - itraconazole (Sporanox®) - ketoconazole (Nizoral®) - lidocaine (Xylocaine®) - mexiletine - oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®) - perphenazine - phenobarbital (Luminal®) - phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®) - propafenone (Rythmol®) - quinidine (Neudexta®) - rifabutin (Mycobutin®) - rifapentine (Priftin®) - risperidone (Risperdal®, Risperdal Consta®) - salmeterol (Serevent®) or salmeterol when taken in combination with fluticasone (Advair Diskus®, Advair HFA®) - sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®) or vardenafil (Levitra®, Staxyn®), for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). If you get dizzy or faint (low blood pressure), have vision changes or have an erection that last longer than 4 hours, call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away.

- tadalafil (Adcirca®), for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension - telithromycin (Ketek®) - thioridazine - voriconazole (Vfend®) - warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®) - zolpidem (Ambien®, Edlular®, Intermezzo®, Zolpimist®) Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Do not start any new medicines while you are taking STRIBILD without first talking with your healthcare provider.

Keep STRIBILD and all medicines out of reach of children.

- atorvastatin (Lipitor®, Caduet®)

This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about STRIBILD. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can also ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about STRIBILD that is written for health professionals, or call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.STRIBILD.com.

- bepridil hydrochloride (Vascor®, Bepadin®)

Issued: October 2013

- Medicines to treat depression, organ transplant rejection, or high blood pressure - amiodarone (Cordarone®, Pacerone®)

- bosentan (Tracleer®) - buspirone - carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®) - clarithromycin (Biaxin®, Prevpac®) - clonazepam (Klonopin®) - clorazepate (Gen-xene®, Tranxene®) - colchicine (Colcrys®) - medicines that contain dexamethasone - diazepam (Valium®) - digoxin (Lanoxin®)

COMPLERA, EMTRIVA, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, HEPSERA, STRIBILD, the STRIBILD Logo, TRUVADA, and VIREAD are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. ATRIPLA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2014 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. STBC0083 04/14

BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

BS Page 2

PALIO Date: 4.7.14 • Client: Gilead • Product: Stribild • File Name: 16873_pgiqdp_J_Drew_BAY_TIMES_SF_fi.indd Ad Size: 9.75” x 16.0” (Non-Bleed Newspaper Ad)

Drew Bay Times-San Francisco

17

Renew Your Commitment to End LGBT Discrimination Here and Worldwide

Supervisor David Campos The theme of 2014 Pride, “Color Our World with Pride,” symbolizes the ongoing efforts to combat oppression and elevate the dignity and freedoms of LGBT people in the United States and throughout the world.

A Call to Action in El Salvador Recently, through an internationally recognized fair and democratic election, the Republic of El Salvador elected new leaders from the FMLN party. These new government officials represent the will of the Salvadoran people to mark a change in their nation’s history and a departure from previous administrations’ indifference towards the blight of their nation. The platform on which the FMLN party was elected to government promises to uphold civil liberties and invest in local solutions to promote El Salvador’s social and economic development.

In the last five years, several advances have been made by the Salvadoran government, including the establish-

Many incidents of violence against LGBT Salvadorans are neither published by the media, nor reported by the victims or their families. Victims often do not report physical, verbal, psychological, religious and workrelated violence they suffer because they are afraid of revealing their sexual orientation to their families or at work.

Because of the injustices that remain, I have urged the newly elected leaders to uphold the rights of, and increase protections for, the LGBT community in El Salvador. With this call to action for leaders in El Salvador, I am aware that, even in San Francisco, the civil rights struggles for our LGBT community still remain. As we look to provide guidance and encouragement to LGBT communities throughout the world, we must also hold ourselves accountable.

Transgender Rights: The Next Civil Rights Frontier Too often we gloss over the real struggles faced by our transgender community. Statistics relating to housing injustices show that 1 in 5 transgender people have been refused housing in the United States and 1 in 10 have

PHOTO BY BILL HACKWELL

Building a Coalition of Us-es

ment of the Sexual Diversity Directorate, which works to promote the eradication of sexual orientation and gender identity-based discrimination, and supports the creation of public policies guaranteeing basic economic, social, civil and political rights for LGBT individuals. However, despite these advances, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in El Salvador continue to face serious vulnerabilities and suffer discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

The San Francisco Trans March, since its inception in June, 2004, has been held annually on the Friday night of Pride weekend, the last weekend of June. The logo on the banner above has been used since 2009.

been evicted because of their gender identity.

Governor Brown recently expanded anti-discrimination protections for transgender students in California’s public elementary and secondary schools, mandating that schools respect the gender identity of students and allow transgender students equal access to sports teams and programs.

However, as demonstrated by the case of Jewlyes Gutierrez, transgender students are still being victimized and harassed for presenting themselves outside of rigid gender norms.

In May, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services repealed a morator ium, which prevented Medicare from covering transgender healthcare. The removal of this exclusion of coverage for Medicare recipi-

ents means that individuals will not automatically have claims of coverage for gender transition-related surgeries denied. Healthcare should not be denied to a specific population, and this significant step is the first to ensuring equal access to care.

I have stood with my transgender sisters and brothers and allies of the LGBT struggle as we have rallied for an end to transphobic violence and discrimination. I believe we must come together to fight for our shared values of equality and human dignity.

Every person deserves equal rights and protections, and I am committed to ensuring that we move beyond just talk and implement meaningful solutions to the violence, harassment and discrimination that the transgender community faces all too often. The recent Time magazine cover featuring

Laverne Cox announced to the mainstream that transgender rights is the next civil rights frontier, and I agree.

The time is now.

Let 2014 Pride not only be a time of celebration, but also a time of reflection and renewal of our commitment to pursue the fight to end the discrimination against each member of the LGBT community in San Francisco and throughout the world.

David Campos is a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 9. This column for the “SF Bay Times” was inspired by Harvey Milk’s efforts to build a coalition of what Milk termed “us’es,” meaning communities that value diversity and attempt to leave no one behind.

For more information about Supervisor Campos and his work, please visit http:// www.sfbos.org/index.aspx?page=2117

Truly

WONDERFUL People.

Meet remarkable people who know San Francisco Towers is the city’s most appealing senior living community.

People like Maylene Wong. It’s the life you and your partner want—right in the heart of The City.

To learn more, or for your personal visit, please call 415.447.5527.

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Maylene Wong, joined in 2005 A not-for-profit community owned and operated by Episcopal Senior Communities.

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BAY TIMES JUNE 2 6 , 2 0 1 4

1661 Pine Street San Francisco, CA 94109

sanfranciscotowers-esc.org

Planning and Advocating for LGBT Seniors the power to manage an individual’s f inances when that individual no longer has the ability to do it him or herself.

Aging in Community Daniel Redman In last week’s article, Dr. Marcy Adelman spoke about issues facing LGBT people diagnosed with dementia as well as their loved ones. This week, I’ll discuss what we can do to protect ourselves, our families, and our decisions in the face of incapacity. Creating an estate plan and finding inclusive care are two key components.

Estate planning is crucial, and not just to designate who receives which assets after death. It’s also about choosing people to act on your behalf for financial and medical decisions, and stating what your wishes are. For LGBT people whose families don’t neatly fit into a legal box or whose biological family members may be unwelcoming, this planning is even more vital.

A solid estate plan should include the following documents: Durable Power of Attorney for Finances (DPOA) A power of attorney gives decision-making powers to another person. It can spring into action immediately, or only upon the incapacity of the person who executed it. This gives the person appointed (DELUCIA continued from page 10) and communities to ride and fuel this momentum. With our continued collective efforts, I see a time in the very near future when women, trans individuals and gay men make as much money as their straight male counterparts in business. I see a future where LGBT businesses are sought after for the diverse perspective we bring to the table. This future is already manifesting, as evidenced by the dramatic advances the LGBT community has made over the last decade through legislation and public opinion and

Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) An Advance Health Care Directive gives an individual the opportunity to state their desires regarding end of life care. On the doctor’s side, a physician can execute a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST), ordering or disallowing certain types of care. Talk to your doctor to see if a POLST is appropriate in your situation.

Power of Attorney for Health Care (PAHC) Just as a DPOA appoints someone to act as agent for financial decisions on behalf of the principal (the person who executed the POA), a PAHC designates someone to make medical decisions.

Statement on Disposition of Remains Under California law, an individual can appoint someone to make decisions regarding funerary issues, or state what those wishes are him or herself. If no statement is written prior to death, then the law gives priority to an individual’s spouse/ domestic partner or biological family members. Without a statement, transgender people whose families have not been supportive have been buried in clothing disrespectful of the individual’s gender identity. For nonrecognized LGBT families, this could leave funerary powers solely in the hands of biological family members.

HIPA A Release This document gives authority to access an individual’s medical records and to speak to physicians. If this power is not included in a PAHC or DPOA, an individual’s agent could have difficulty getting perception. We have a long way to go yet for true economic empowerment and equality, but the social, legal and business conditions are primed for our success. It’s time for us to come out of our business closets, and pool our business influence together to fuel this exciting time in the history of the LGBT community. I am thrilled for the future and can’t wait to experience what we create together next.

To learn more about the GGBA and ellaprint, please visit http://ggba. com/ and http://ellaprint.com/index.htm

Round About - Goats Prepare Site for Pink Triangle Installation Photos courtesy of Patrick Carney Pink Triangle founder Patrick Carney and his husband Hossein visited the herd of goats placed at Twin Peaks to prepare the vegetation for the upcoming installation and ceremony on Pink Saturday, June 28.

The herd is a mix of goat breeds, including Boer, Alpine, Nigerian Dwarf and Pygmy.

the incapacity declaration necessary for the document to take effect.

Hospital Visitation Authorization Form Even with increased protections, these documents remove doubt about who can or cannot visit when an individual is incapacitated in a hospital or care facility.

Wills, Trusts, and Non-Probate Transfers For determining where assets go after death, there are a variety of options with various benefits and drawbacks: executing a will or trust, taking title as joint tenants, setting up a Transfer on Death (TOD)/ Payable on Death (POD) account, and/or designating a beneficiary on a retirement plan or investment account. Without a plan in place, California law’s default rules control—for better or worse.

Another key component to ensuring proper care is choosing LGBT-inclusive care facilities, caregivers, and service providers. Before selecting a facility, caregiver, or service provider, ask questions to check on their LGBT cultural competency. Ask if the facility has openly-LGBT staff or residents, if they respect LGBT families, and if they are inclusive of transgender and gender non-conforming people. If you have friends or family members in a care facility or hospital, it is important to visit and stay in touch. You can be an important advocate if something is amiss. This is particularly important for people who lack the ability to communicate, such as people with dementia or people with disabilities affecting communication.

Each of us can make our wishes known and designate trusted people

LGBT Resources for Seniors

Daniel Redman is an elder law attorney with the San Francisco law firm of Johnston, Kinney & Zulaica LLP.

- BAY AREA DISABILITY -

ATTORNEY HAMILTON TATUM HOLT IV PRACTICE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI) AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) (AND RELATED CLAIMS)

• Family Caregiver Alliance: 415-434-3388 www.caregiver.org

• National Resource Center on LGBT Aging www.lgbtagingcenter.org/

to make decisions on our behalf. By advocating for ourselves, our friends, and family members, we can ensure welcoming and inclusive care for all of us.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY

• Openhouse: 415-296-8995 openhouse-sf.org/

• Institute on Aging: 415-7504111, www.ioaging.org/

Dr. Marcy Adelman oversees the new Bay Times Aging in Community column. For her summary of current LGBT senior challenges and opportunities, please go to: sf baytimes. com/challenges-and-opportunties

(415) 465-3970

QUALIFIED TO PRACTICE NATIONWIDE BEFORE THE US SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA BAR DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: HOUSE CALLS

FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION NO FEE OR COSTS UNLESS YOU WIN IN SAN RAFAEL SFBAYAREADISABILITY.COM

• Project Open Hand San Francisco: Nutrition Services, 415-447-2300 www.openhand.org/ • SAGE: 212-741-2247 www.sageusa.org/about/ • Shanti Project, Inc: HIV Services and Life Threatening Illnesses, 415-674-4700 www.shanti.org/ Alzheimer’s Association Programs and Services: • 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-2723900, www.alz.org/norcal/; Online Community: www. alzheimersblog.org/lgbt-forum • Memory Clinic, Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center: 408-530-6900, mydoctor.kaiserpermanente. org/ncal/facilities/region/ santaclara/area_master/ departments/memoryclinic/ index.jsp

We savored Budapest, Paris, Prague, and coming home to The Sequoias.

Wouldn’t it be comforting to travel to exotic places knowing that someone’s taking care of your home? Morris Bol and Lewis Crickard do this all the time. They live at The Sequoias, where they enjoy the people, the gardens and the food, which is so good, they rarely cook. They also love the location, which is close to everything San Francisco has to offer. Does this sound like your kind of place? Call Candiece at (415) 351-7900 to learn more.

A Life Care Community 415.922.9700 | sequoias-sf.org 1400 Geary Boulevard

This not-for-profit community is part of Northern California Presbyterian Homes and Services. License# 380500593 COA# 097

BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014 Job # / Name: NCPHS-NCPHS-350 SSF BayTimes_M/LewisAdME01

Date: 06/17/14

Publication: Bay Times

Issue date: June 26, 2014

Due at pub: 06/19/14

19

Health News

The $180,000 Backpack on Muni ing price tag, the one you’ve ignored because your blessed insurance covers everything but a small copay.

A recent patient of mine did take a look, and realized he was carrying $180,000 worth of medication in his backpack while innocently riding Muni home! That’s enough money to cover a reasonable down payment for a house in SF.

Friends of Naomi Dr. Naomi Jay, RN, NP, PhD Would you carry $180,000 worth of products on public transportation? I know of at least one patient who must do just that. Here’s how the scenario begins: You start by picking up your 90-day supply of medications, just like you do every 3 months. Your doctor has just prescribed a new regimen to treat your chronic Hepatitis C (HCV). Since 25 percent of HIVpositive people also have HCV (coinfection) your doctor tested you early on for HCV and has been monitoring your liver function tests. You’ve had no obvious symptoms but gradually, over the years, your liver function tests show liver damage that has recently worsened.

You’ve waited for months for the new drugs to become available, because the clinical trials have amazing cure rates (over 90 percent), and you’ve heard scary things about the standard of care treatments with interferon.

You stop to take a look at the result-

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Despite the “what if’s” that had him sweating all the way home, both he and the backpack arrived safely. One month later he feels great, and his HCV viral load is non-detectable.

HCV is one of the most common viral infections worldwide, with over 3 million in the USA alone and 130150 million worldwide. It is the leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplants. It is more common than HIV/AIDS as a cause of death. Over 15,000 people die annually from hep-

atitis C related illnesses in the United States.

The initial exposure to Hep C may cause an “acute” infection, a shortterm illness approximately 6-7 weeks after exposure. The symptoms may include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice and others, but most people have no symptoms. The majority (75-85%) infected with Hep C will then develop a “chronic” infection, which means the virus will always be there and may lead to serious problems such as liver cirrhosis or cancer, but there may be no symptoms until the damage is extensive.

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C as there is for Hepatitis A and B. (Please go get vaccinated for those if you haven’t already done so!)

Hep C is caused by direct contact with the blood of an infected person who has either an “acute” or “chronic” infection. For this reason, about half of IV drug users are Hep C positive. But clearly it can be spread in other ways and there is a lot of recent concern among health care providers about an ‘epidemic’ of HCV in the HIV-positive community, indicating that sexual transmission is more common than previously thought.

Co-infection of the two viruses can make the liver disease progress more rapidly.

The standard therapy has been Peglyated interferon (peg-IFN) and ribarvin (RBV) in combination. It involves 48 weeks of therapy, including injections, and is effective against

all the genotypes of hepatitis. But it is poorly tolerated in some patients, causing f lu-like symptoms, headaches, and others. These side effects should not be minimized, as they can go on for a year. As such, many people do not complete their treatment.

The new drugs, called DAA, are safer, more effective and better tolerated They involve a once or twice a day pill. The DAAs are also used in combination, and cure rates >95% were reported recently following several clinical trials using different regimens of oral medications.

Since these regimens involve several different pills, similar to multiple drug regimens for HIV care, multiply each pill by $1,000 and see what you get. It’s expensive, but still cheaper than a liver transplant. Despite the price tag, which is truly something to consider, the new treatments are rapidly changing the lives of those with HCV. Have a safe and fun Pride season!

Dr. Naomi Jay is a nurse practitioner in the department of Infectious Disease at UCSF.

Round About – San Francisco City Hall Rainbow Flag Raising Photos by Rink

Mayor Ed Lee raised the rainbow flag at San Francisco City Hall on Tuesday, June 17, signaling the launch of LGBT Pride 2014. Joining the mayor were Supervisors Norman Yee, David Campos and Scott Wiener, Police Chief Greg Suhr, District Attorney Geroge Gascon, Treasurer Jose Cisneros and many others. Also participating were leaders of Dykes on Bikes, the annual Trans March and SF Pride, including board chair Gary Virginia who presented a Pride hat to the mayor. This year’s theme for Pride is “Color Our World With Price.”

Notably, Mayor Lee commented on the pro-traditional marriage “March for Marriage” in Washington, DC, by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. As Lee explained, “Some extreme views are hurtful.” Lee sent a letter to Cordileone expressing his view that it was “inappropriate to attend” the march, since it presented divisive ideas and speeches.

BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

21

Real Estate and Design

What You Should Expect

Real Estate Mark Penn

JUST SOLD | REPRESENTED THE BUYER |$880,000 846 52ND STREET, OAKLAND

America Foy | 510.473.7775

Taylor Sublett | 510. 301.9569

Realtor, CalBRE # 01360255

Realtor, CalBRE # 01776075

OK, I’ll just say it. Real estate agents are a dime a dozen. Many people believe agents aren’t even necessary in order for them to buy and sell real estate. We’ve all heard it. And I will also say, sadly, that there are also some agents who aren’t worth a fraction of what they get paid to deal with what is often peoples’ most valuable asset: their home.

It does seem like agents get paid a lot.

If you take even the statewide medianpriced home (in May that was roughly $466,000), a 5% sales commission equates to a little over $23,000. But don’t cash that check yet. Take the $23,000 and split it with the agent representing the other party in the transaction. Subtract the fees that an agent pays his or her brokerage (office), and that, depending on the company, could be anything from zero to 50% of the remaining amount.

Deduct roughly 30% in income and other taxes, the local, state and na-

Bridging Communities in the West and East Bay

Taylor Sublett

America Foy and Taylor Sublett My partner Taylor and I have a fierce, running debate about “love letters” from buyers to sellers. For those of you who do not know what a real estate “love letter” is, this article is going to provide the basics.

Realtor, CalBRE # 01776075 510.301.9569 | 510.542.2600 taylor.sublett@sothebysrealty.com

Realtor, CalBRE # 01360255 510.473.7775 | 510.542.2600 america.foy@sothebysrealty.com

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But what did I do to deserve that praise, and that check? Let’s say I’m representing a seller on a particular transaction. Here are a few of the things that I did after my initial homework in preparing for, and securing, the listing with the sellers: • I provided complete “punchlists” (lists of recommended upgrades and repairs) to the sellers to help them prepare the home for sale. In many cases I actually participated in those punchlists either directly or financially.

• I prepared and paid for all of the marketing materials, supervising the photography as well as arranging and overseeing all of the print

There are two great reasons for writing a “love letter” to the Seller. One: You get to express your commitment to the purchase of the house. Two: You turn your boring purchase agreement into a document that was crafted by real people who really want to buy this house.

America Foy

America Foy

I’ll bet that many home-sellers squirm a little when they do the math to see what that “gross commission” is. And yet, I think one of the highest compliments I can ever receive is when a client says, “You were worth every penny of that.” It warms my heart.

and online marketing, so that my clients’ property is shown at its absolute best.

• I held open houses and broker tours. I attended showings to buyers, and followed up with other agents about the property. And then, when the offers began arriving, I helped my clients navigate through them, negotiating what was hopefully the fairest deal for everyone.

• I attended property inspections, followed up with the other agents, lenders, and the title company – often several times a day – negotiated contract adjustments, and saw the escrow through to its finality while ensuring my clients were well protected. That assumes we got the escrow closed because, if we didn’t, then I don’t get paid at all.

• Personally, I also make a donation in my clients’ names to local charities, and try to provide my clients with effective follow-up care after the escrow is closed. To me, those are important pieces of the puzzle.

When all is said and done, I want my clients to expect me to be there every step of the way for them. Yes, I want that check at the end of the transaction. But every bit as much, I want my clients to tell me that I’m worth it!

A Bay Area native, Mark Penn has been a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker since 2004. He is also active in animal welfare, and is a former educator, facilitator, and air traffic controller. Mark can be reached at mark@MyHomeInSonoma.com.

Love Letters

Real Estate

Taylor Sublett

tional professional fees and dues an agent pays, and then, the hard costs of transportation, supplies, advertising, etc. By my count, we are now down to a net commission of around $4000, depending on lots of factors.

Even for an agent who closes an average of one escrow a month, and most do not, that’s about $48,000 annual take home pay. To be sure, in a higher priced market such as the Bay Area (median price in May was $769,000), all of those numbers will be higher, but so is the cost of living and the overall stress factor.

As I am primarily a listing agent, love letters are a source of constant amusement to me. These letters are filled with happy nothings about what people love about the house they are bidding on and graphic descriptions of their children and pets. A truly classic love letter will mention the buyer having a dream about living there.

“Love letters” serve as a cover letter to an offer, and I scan them quickly before getting to the next page that outlines the terms of the offer. Unfortunately, as much as I like to scoff at the love letters, and Taylor never lets me forget this, they actually do work.

Love letters make listing agents and sellers prick up their ears when reviewing offers. The majority of them are trite and cliché, but a good one really makes the offer standout in competition. Here is where I turn it over to the master of love letters, Taylor, who is going to school us in their construction: Thanks, America. May your cynicism be an inspiration to us all!

Sellers who still live, or have recently lived, at the home are often emotionally invested in the property. They have worked hard to make the house attractive and comfortable. They may have raised kids or pets, and likely have many fond memories.

Think of them as birth parents having to give up their baby. They want to know that their home is going to a good home.

Then there are Sellers who are either investors or don’t live at the property.

Even these folks are often emotionally invested in the properties they are selling. They probably like the house, at least, and would like someone to appreciate the work they’ve done to make it nice. Even if they don’t care, a well crafted ‘love letter” can show them how serious you are about the property. Your commitment in the letter can demonstrate your willingness to see the process through.

“Love letters” are broken into four parts: Introduction Keep it crisp and friendly. Thank them for bringing the property on the market. Tell them how you have been looking for “some time” and that this house is perfect for you.

About yourself Tell the Sellers your story. Without going overboard, introduce yourself, your kids and your pets. Let them know where you are from, what you do for a living and what you like to do

for fun. In order to help craft the letter, make sure to pay attention when you go to the open house. Take notes of any details that might help you connect to the Sellers.

Pictures of Hawaii and you love Hawaii? Mention it. Is there a dog door?

Emphasize how little your French bulldog Tulip loves to run outside.

Be sincere in everything you say. No one like a phony! At some point, this house was the perfect house for these Sellers, so it’s likely you will share other qualities as well.

About the house Take some time to share details that you love about the house. Again, be sincere and point out features that really speak to you. Ex: “I love the builtins!” “I’ve always wanted to have a Wolf range.” “The backyard landscaping is magical.” This works for both Sellers and investors. They like when you’ve taken an interest in the work they’ve done and appreciate it.

About the neighborhood Compliment the neighborhood as well. Even a dicey neighborhood can be called “vibrant.” It further shows your commitment to that property if you know where it is. “I love that I can walk to coffee and the park nearby,” or “I have friends in the area and have been coming to this neighborhood for years.” Hopefully, by the time you’re putting in an offer, you’ve walked around the block a couple of times and have an idea of what the area is like.

Aside from compliments and the pulling of heart strings, Sellers are looking for certainty above all else.

They want to know that you are very committed to the process. Falling out of contract happens, and it’s time-consuming and expensive. No Seller wants to go back on the market. (continued on page 23)

Real Estate and Design

Follow in Their Footsteps Shaw and other famous playwrights.

Both women created successful careers in an era when society women didn’t typically work, especially not in occupations dominated by men. Elsie and Elisabeth remained together as inseparable companions for forty-two years until Marbury’s death in 1933.

Project Remodel Jim Tibbs As we celebrate Pride each June, it’s easy to overlook those courageous souls who forged the path for LGBT rights well in advance of the Stonewall Riots in 1968. Elsie de Wolfe, William Haines and Philip Johnson are three such individuals who are known primarily as iconic designers and who should be recognized as pillars of the LGBT community for the courageous way they chose to live their lives.

E l sie de Wol fe (1859–1950) is credited w it h hav i ng created t he f ield of interior design at the turn of the 20t h centur y. A s the country’s f irst female interior decorator, she introduced a fresh and stylish aesthetic that defied the dark Victorian fashion of the day. De Wolfe embraced simplicity and comfort as her credo. In doing so, she set the tone for American home decorating for the next 100 years.

In 1891, Elsie de Wolfe fell in love with Elisabeth Marbury, a successful New York theatrical agent who represented Oscar Wilde, George Bernard

William “Billy” Haines (19001973) ran away from his Virginia home at the age of 14 with his first boyfriend and landed in Hollywood at the start of the silent film era. With his good looks and “wisecracking” personality, Haines quickly became a major star and number one box office draw.

In 1926, William Haines met Jimmy Shields and the two started living openly as a couple despite major objections from MGM, the studio that held Haines’s contract. In 1932, Haines refused the studio’s mandate that he leave Shields and marry a woman, bringing an abrupt end to his film career.

Haines and Shields leveraged their connections to start an interior design business, work ing with clients such as Joan Crawford, Gloria Swanson, Carole Lombard, Marion Davies and George Cukor. William Haines went on to create a sleek, modern aesthetic that became the prevailing look for Hollywood homes in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Many of his iconic furniture pieces look as modern today as they did when he first designed them 60–70 years ago.

William Haines and Jimmy Shields remained together for forty-seven years. Joan Crawford described them as “the happiest married couple in Hollywood.”

Philip Johnson (1906 –2005) was a Harvard-educated, Pritzker Prizewinning, American architect who founded the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

During his prolific career, Johnson designed the Seagram Building and MOMA (New York City), the JFK Memorial (Dallas), 101 California Street (San Francisco), the Glass House (Connecticut) and many other famous buildings.

In 1960, Philip Johnson met David Whitney and the two settled into a forty-five year relationship that lasted for the rest of their lives. Philip Johnson came out publicly in 1993 and was a vocal advocate for LGBT rights until his death in 2005 at the age of 99.

Residential Design • Custom Furnishings • Home Styling

We should be grateful to people like Elsie de Wolfe, William Haines and Philip Johnson for defying the social codes of their day, helping to set the stage for the LGBT movement and the generations that would follow in their footsteps.

Jim Tibbs is the creative director of HDR Remodeling. If you would like to learn more, please read his blog at http://hdrremodeling. wordpress.com or follow him on Twitter @ HDRremodeling1.

(LOVE LETTERS continued from page 22) Your letter to the Sellers shows them your commitment to follow through the thick and thin.

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BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

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Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Weddings, Anniversaries & Occasions section. Inquire how your social announcement can appear free of charge, or how your wedding services ad can be included at a special rate: Publisher@sfbaytimes.com or 415-601-2113.

Frank Woo (Audience Member Award) and Catherine Brannigan (Philanthropist Award) were honored at Theatre Bay Area’s annual Blushing Orchid Ball held at the Hyatt Regency on June 8th.

Tommy Netzban and Laurence Roberts cut the cake on their wedding day following the ceremony performed at Odd Fellows Hall with their friend Dana Hopkins officiating.

Hossein Carney celebrated his birthday with husband Patrick at Fleur de Lys restaurant, which is closing at the end of this month after a long, successful run.

Your Story Matters, So Tell It Last week, I attended a fantastic program, one that recharged my batteries. It was designed to “inspire and support” volunteers who work directly with sick and/or dying clients. While most of my wedding couples are in good health, not all are. As I also officiate at funerals, I thought the topic would be beneficial for me. Additionally, I knew that I could use some inspiration and support in my own life.

The presenter, Arina Isaacson, was terrif ic. In just over an hour she taught us how to share a story so that we would be better able to connect with others. Her tag line, “Step up your presence,” encouraged us to learn how to live large, letting our individual energy shine. Ms. Isaacson’s parting thought was: “Your story matters, so tell it.”

I think now of Stuart, who moved to San Francisco in the late 80’s for AIDS treatment, since treatment was lacking then even in the country’s third largest city, Chicago. As a straight man who knew no one here and was 1,800 miles from his wife and friends, Stuart felt isolated, alone and vulnerable. I met Stuart delivering food to him. We connected by talking about growing up in the same suburb, and the trials and tribulations of marriage. At the time I was married to a woman. I invited Stuart to join my extended family at a holiday dinner. Crowded around a long table, he cried in relief. It was the first time he felt grounded and accepted since moving to the City.

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Weddings Howard Steiermann I believe the sense of fitting in is why I enjoy Pride season. While living in San Francisco, I can be my authentic self year round. I particularly enjoy Pride’s events, parties and films.

I love riding the J-Church on Pride Sunday. As far away as 30th Street, it is packed with rainbow-wearing celebrants.

marching down Market Street! Being as she was totally loving toward me, and was like a second mom to a coworker who was thrown out of his own family for coming out, my mother’s response stunned me when she replied, “What is there to be proud about in being gay?” I mumbled something about being proud of all aspects of myself. I didn’t have the words then to adequately convey the joy I felt in being among tens of thousands of out, proud gay people.

Over the years I have come to realize that pride is not just about living my life without shame, but rather fully engaging with people as the complete me. Pride is knowing that people love me, not in spite of my being gay, but because my life experiences have made me the person who I am today. People really do value my feelings, intuition and soft manner, and don’t judge me for how far I can, or cannot, throw a ball.

My coming out story, from June 1993, includes volunteering as a safety monitor at the Pride Parade one month after I came out. I was stationed along the parade route, which allowed me to see each and every contingent. I felt part of this large, fun, colorful, and important celebration! From watching Dykes on Bikes to elected off icials and PFLAG, I was standing tall, proud of who I was.

Pride is being fully oneself. Bringing one’s whole self and being present, so that using our individual strengths, we can work together to create a better world.

I shared my excitement with my mom on the phone that night, sharing with her how there were over two hours of floats and groups proudly

Howard M. Steiermann is an Ordained Ritual Facilitator based in San Francisco.

For more information, please visit www.

SFHoward.com

Your story does matter. Be proud.

Tell it.

Happy Pride Season! Wave at me as I carry this newspaper’s banner during the parade.

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY STEVEN UNDERHILL

Happy dads Chris Roe and Roby Chavez with their one-year-old sons in the midst of an adoption process making them “official fathers.” Chris and Roby moved to SF in 2010 and were married in 2011.

Marcia Baum is celebrating an important birthday!

Color Our World with Rainbow Pride (Editor’s note: The “SF Bay Times” proudly features John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney on the cover of this issue. Both have been working tirelessly for many years to secure our rights. Lewis is a Stanford University Law graduate and Gaffney, who attended Yale University, is a Policy Analyst at the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies.)

Twice in our lives, we’ve quit our jobs and travelled around the world for a year with whatever we could carry on our backs. So we love this year’s parade theme: Color Our World with Pride. After San Francisco Pride, we will be headed to Okinawa, Japan, to participate in the Pink Dot Okinawa pride events and speak at the very first Okinawa marriage equality rally, to be held in the center of the island’s largest city. In Japan, we will also continue our collaboration with Japanese LGBT activists in Tokyo and Osaka. Recently, Akie Abe, the Japanese First Lady, rode in the Tokyo Pride Parade accompanied by a fabulous drag queen, and proclaimed: “I want to help build a society where anyone can lead happy, contented lives without facing discrimination.”

Across two oceans, Luxembourg Pride will celebrate the tiny country’s giant news that earlier this month it became the 19th country with marriage equality. The fact that Luxembourg’s openly gay Prime Minister Xavier Battel will implement the law makes the landslide 56-4 vote in the Chamber of Deputies all the sweeter. And as soccer fans around the globe follow the World Cup this summer, we take pride that the host country Brazil, a nation of 200 million people, boasts marriage equality. Indeed, last December the Rio de Janeiro Supe-

Marriage Equality Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, Marriage Equality USA rior Court of Justice conducted the world’s largest LGBT wedding ever, in which 130 couples tied the knot.

However, in other parts of the world, LGBT people are marching for their basic human rights and freedom. In India, Mumbai’s Pride Parade this February drew a record crowd gathering to protest the Indian Supreme Court’s upholding “Section 377,” a British colonial era law that criminalized sexual activity of LGBT people.

The Indian Supreme Court’s decision has galvanized many Indian LGBT people and allies to stand up and fight back. In a rare move, the Indian Supreme Court has agreed to rehear the case.

Sadly, there will be no pride parades this summer in many parts of the globe where LGBT people are struggling simply to survive. In nine countries, LGBT sexual activity is punishable by death. One image that remains emblazoned on our minds is a 2010 photograph of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, who were arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison in the East African nation of Malawi

for being gay and announcing their engagement to be married. The photo shows Steven and Tiwonge— alone and handcuffed together in the back of pick-up truck—being hauled off to jail, surrounded by a mocking and jeering crowd. We will hold their image in our minds as we ride down Market Street, celebrating the one-year anniversary of the US Supreme Court’s overturning DOMA and Prop 8, this past year’s historic string of marriage equality victories, and the wonderful degree of freedom we have attained in San Francisco.

We must create global collaboration and community to truly color the world with rainbow pride. Perhaps no country speaks better of the potential of such collaboration than South Africa. In 2006, South Africa became the fifth country in the world to gain marriage equality—before every other state in the United States except Massachusetts—thanks to specific sexual orientation protection in their constitution. Two years ago, US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg praised the South African Constitution—a true product of international collaboration—as “a fundamental instrument of government that embrace(s) basic human rights,” and calling it “a great piece of work that was done.” This year’s Pride celebrations remind us that we have much more great work to do together.

R u s s i a n

R i v e r

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for nearly three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. They are leaders in the nationwide grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA.

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Officiants at Glide Memorial Church invited the congregation to join their contingent in the upcoming Pride Parade and show their Glide Pride.

Meredith and Summer, along with their beloved pooch Toby, on their wedding day. Accompanied by family and friends, they celebrated at the historic Albion Schoolhouse built in 1924 in Albion, Ca.

PHOTO BY CHLOE JACKMAN WWW.CHLOEJACK,AN.COM

Dr. Illana Berger and Jan Brogan made their way through Italy and France enjoying wines and delicacies along the way.

PHOTO BY MARK BURNS

dawnranchweddings.com

All Out Film’s Andrea Meyerson celebrating with friends at Twin Peaks bar the Frameline Festival screening and California premiere of her new film Letter to Anita.

BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

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(SISTER DANA continued from page 7) The Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal is Judy Grahn. Activist poet, writer, and cultural theorist, she has inspired feminism, women’s spirituality movements and lesbian activism. Grahn was a member of the first lesbian feminist collectives on the West Coast: the Gay Women’s Liberation Group, which established A Woman’s Place, the first women’s bookstore, and The Woman’s Press Collective.

Community Grand Marshals Miss Major Griffin-Gracy has been an activist and community organizer for over 40 years. From her work with the Mattachine Society in the early 60s through the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion to her current work as executive director of the Transgender GenderVariant Intersex Justice Project, she has worked tirelessly for social justice and the human rights of transgender women of color. .

Jewlyes Gutierrez, a 16-year-old Hercules transgender teen, caught the public’s attention when she fought back to defend herself during a schoolyard fight, after dealing with two years of peer bullying that school authorities failed to address, despite complaints brought to their attention. Ms. Gutierrez was subsequently charged with assault and battery by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office; however, her attackers were not. An online petition in support of dropping the charges gathered over 200,000 signatures in just a few weeks.

Tommi Avicolli Mecca, a longtime, queer/affordable housing rights activist, has worked for the Housing Rights Committee of SF for 14 years, doing tenant counseling and advocacy. Mecca is author/editor of four books and is a musician and performer, including his appearance in a musical he wrote called “This Boy is Just Too Strange.”

Melanie Nathan is a South African attorney, former Marin County Human Rights Commissioner, and founder of Private Courts—a global human rights advocacy firm based in the Bay Area. She is known for her popular advocacy blog at www.oblogdeeoblogda.me and her LGBTQ activism.

Nathan’s pro bono work includes assisting persecuted LGBTQ Africans to escape from countries where they (ROSTOW continued from page 13) discrimination against gay men and women must be held to a high legal standard, much like discrimination based on race or gender. The higher standard, along with its requirement that the offending party shoulder the burden of proof, set a landmark in the history of gay rights jurisprudence.

Everyone waited to see if the ruling would be appealed, either to the full court or to the Supreme Court. And everyone celebrated when the deadline to challenge expired. But then, one or more of the 29 judges on the

are criminalized. She advocated for bi-national same-sex couples and has secured the release of LGBTQ asylum detainees. She brought the issue of “corrective rape” in South Africa to the international arena, drafting reforms for the SADOJ, while participating in the establishment of a Government led task team.

Orga n izat iona l Com mun it y Grand Marshal The public selected the Trans March as the 2014 Organizational Community Grand Marshal. Its mission is to inspire all trans and gender nonconforming people to realize a world where they are safe, loved, and empowered. It strives to create a space for our diverse communities to unite and achieve the social justice and equality that each of us deserves. Several activists organized the first Trans March on June 25, 2004, with only a few hundred people attending. Today the San Francisco Trans March is one of the largest trans events in the entire world, and San Francisco’s largest transgender Pride event. Trans March is always the Friday of Pride weekend, starting with a gathering in Dolores Park, followed by a march to Civic Center.

Honorary Grand Marshal Chelsea Manning was chosen by the newly elected SF Pride Board of Directors in the spirit of community healing, and at the behest of SF Pride’s membership. While Manning will not be able to attend the Celebration and Parade, trans rights activist, Lauren McNamara, will serve as her official representative.

Gilbert Baker Pride Founder’s Award Designed to honor those who have made a significant and historical impact on the LGBTQ community and the movement for LGBTQ rights, the Founder’s Award is given to Dr. Ted McIlvenna, an 82-year-old United Methodist clergyman who was assigned in the early 60s as a missionary to those persons who had chosen alternate sexual explorations and identities in their lives.

Pink Brick Award Recipient A symbol of the first brick hurled at the Stonewall Riots in 1969, the Pink Ninth Circuit asked his or her colleagues to reconsider. Damn! Time passed. And then on Tuesday the full Ninth Circuit refused to tamper with the ruling. Three judges wrote dissents, but I don’t know the actual vote.

Is this case finally in the books? I hope so. I think so. We’ll see. I thought it was in the books a few months ago, so what do I know? But if indeed this new standard is binding law in the Ninth Circuit, you can soon say goodbye to marriage restrictions in Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Alaska and Montana (and Guam). Actually, I just checked and the Northern Mariana Islands are also covered.

Arguments are expected in September in two marriage cases, one out of Idaho and one out of Nevada. With heightened scrutiny in place, we will win both these cases, perhaps by the end of the year. Of course, those decisions are subject to review by the Supreme Court, but we will relish the victories nonetheless.

I Survived!

That’s about it for gay news, unless you want to hear about Rudy Gay’s contract negotiations with the Sacramento Kings. I think not. Instead, let me tell you about the terrifying tornado warning I experienced the other night.

I knew there was a tornado “watch.”

But that’s not a big deal. It just signals big thunderstorms. A tornado “warning,” however, indicates a tornado has been sighted on the ground some-

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Brick Award Recipient is an opportunity to highlight an individual or organization that has done significant harm to the LGBTQ community. It is also an opportunity to educate the community and the Pink Brick recipient about relevant issues. Scott Lively receives this dishonor. He beat out Goodluck Jonathan and Vladimir Putin for this year’s Pink Brick.

While initially a close race, in the end, Lively took the faux honor with almost 36% of the vote. An extremist anti-gay U.S.pastor, Lively is accused of engineering the Uganda “Kill The Gays” bill. He allegedly said LGBTQ people are the ‘new Nazis’ and recommended Russia’s “gay propaganda” laws.

And Now for a Little History Every year I read an editorial asking for the “freaks and drag queens” to please step aside and not ruin it for LGBTQ rights. And I need to remind those naysayers that it was drag queens and transgenders, way back at the end of June 1969 in New York City, hanging out at their local gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, who decided they would no longer put up with daily police harassment and arrests that were part of “normal” homosexual life for these people. At that time it was illegal to be gay, so there was no openly gay pride, no openly gay politics, and most certainly no gay parade.

On that particular night, the Stonewall patrons initiated local action that was to eventually lead to national gay liberation. They fought back. For several days and nights the Stonewall Rebellion raged on, and the so-called sissies beat the men-in-blue in a rather violent uprising (and I don’t mean just with purses). So you see, it was a very abnormal group of “freaky people wearing funny clothes” back then who made it possible for us today to cocktail and cruise undisturbed in the gay or lesbian bar of our choice. And walk down Market Street holding hands.

And, for that matter, those nelly fellas paved the way for every one of our civil rights marches. So when you see a drag queen or “freaky person,” give ‹em the thumbs-up and thank ‹em for the legacy that continues.Flame on, freaky people!! where. Tornados never bothered me until a few years ago, when all these giant half-mile wide tornados destroyed entire towns and cities. But, ever since then, I’ve been scared of them.

Mel was away, so I turned on a local station where, sure enough, the weather guy was telling us what’s what. His map was full of frightening red storm areas and there were seven or eight spinning circles, which he claimed were windy areas or something. (But they looked like tornados!)

Then he had arrows showing that the spinning circles were heading straight to south Austin.

The guy kept repeating the guidelines for what to do in a tornado. Get into an interior room, preferably a closet.

Cover yourself with quilts and pillows. Blah blah blah. Every now and then he’d note that there was no immediate threat of a tornado, but then he went right back into panic mode. I was terrified!

Finally, I switched stations and found another weather person who said a tornado had been spotted two hours earlier and about f ifty miles away.

There was no other tornado. Just a big rainstorm. I was so relieved. And so grateful for a station that delivered the actual news rather than making a ratings grab with deceptive maps and crazy talk about interior closets and quilts. I’m never watching that station again! arostow@aol.com

Round About - Frameline Opening Night Photos by Steven Underhill

Opening Night at Frameline38 brought to the Castro Theatre a gathering of VIPs, celebrities and Frameline supporters and enthusiasts for a screening of The Case Against 8. The film tells the story of the epic five-year legal battle that resulted in the overturning of Proposition 8. Attending were Prop 8 case plantiffs Jeff Zarrillo, Paul Katami,

stevenunderhillphotography.com Sandy Stier and Kris Perry who were joined on stage by filmmakers Ryan White and Ben Cotner. The Opening Night reception, held after the screening, was at the popular venue Terra Gallery.

BAY   T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

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PHOTO OF STUART GAFFNEY & JOHN LEWIS BY ABBY ZIMBERG

#KateClinton2014

“One of my happiest memories – hitching a ride with Dykes on Bikes in the SF Gay Pride Parade. I’ve never felt so femme.

Here’s to the Dyke Dynasty!”

Arts & Entertainment LPGA LGBT Heroine Muffin Spencer-Devlin

By Jamie Leno Zimron Muffin Spencer-Devlin is one brave and talented woman. A 3-time winner and 21-year veteran on the LPGA Tour (1979-2000), Muff in became the first professional golfer to come out – in Sports Illustrated magazine, in 1996! Before taking that historic step, she broke taboos around mental illness when she let the world know of her struggles with manic depression/ bipolar disorder. Today she has become a master glass artist, living in Laguna, CA, and is happy with who she is, what she does, and how she is living her life.

As colorful as she may be complicated, it doesn’t take long to get a sense of what a warm, witty, life-loving, giving and charismatic person Muffin is.

Like her or not, most would agree with former LPGA player Kris Tschetter who said: “There’s no one like Muffin.

That’s the bottom line. She is so open and honest, thinks outside the box and has such a real heart.”

I’ve known Muffin since 1971, when we were roommates at her godmother’s home while competing in the national junior girls’ championship at Pinehurst #2. It’s always a treat when our paths cross, and she generously took time recently to talk with me for this SF Bay Times Pride issue.

Jamie Leno Zimron: When did you realize you were gay?

Muffin Spencer-Devlin: In college. Before getting serious about golf or playing professionally.

Jamie Leno Zimron: When you were on the LPGA Tour, what percentage of players would you say were gay?

Muffin Spencer-Devlin: I think about a third. There’s always been this idea that a majority of professional golfers, and probably pro women athletes, are lesbians. But that’s really a myth. Most were out amongst ourselves, if they even knew themselves.

I don’t know about management or LPGA Headquarters, how much they knew or cared. I don’t remember thinking of being gay or closeted as stressful then, since it was stressful enough just being on Tour and playing golf for a living. But the bouts of depression and mania really affected my career, and for me being gay was another aspect of that. So coming out was cathartic for me, like opening different doors of the closet. It was a relief, and almost a non-event in hindsight. I thought it would be a big deal to my golf, but it wasn’t. It was all tied up with ‘Truth, Justice and The American Way!’ (In the landmark March 18, 1996, Sport Illustrated article entitled “No More Disguises,” Muffin stated: “I think that keeping the secret may have contributed to my illness. Whatever the consequences, being honest should be less stressful, not more…

Coming out is like an incredibly huge

Amy Alcott, Muffin Spencer-Devlin and Jamie Leno Zimron at Pinehurst #2, 1971 Girls Championship (left) and Muffin today, the expert glass blower (above)

weight being lifted from my shoulders. No more living in the shadows.

No more lies. I truly believe that keeping a secret is an energy-consuming act. If every day when you wake up you have 100 units of energy for the day, and you have secrets, they might take up 10 units of that energy. After a time you might not even be aware of it anymore, but you have that much less energy to apply in your life. And that’s unhealthy.”

Quite incredibly in 1996, and still today looking back, then LPGA Commissioner Jim Ritts welcomed Muff in’s revelation: “I don’t think I’m naive, but I don’t have any concerns about this. I know there are still individuals who have problems with diversity, but we’ve come so far as a society that I don’t see this as a topic that really moves people.” He continued: “When you label someone with a single word, a stereotype gets attached, and the individual’s real qualities get clouded. Muffin is dramatic, she’s warm, she’s funny, and she’s a truly gifted athlete who has had to contend with great travails in life. If someone tags her as gay and never experiences the rich colors of her life – well, it’s a lost opportunity for them.”

The president of Callaway, one of Muffin’s sponsors at the time, went so far as to say: “As far as we’re concerned, if it doesn’t interfere with her ability to hit a golf ball and she continues to show the kind of integrity that she clearly does, she’s our kind of spokesperson.”

Jamie Leno Zimron: Were lesbian love affairs/relationships common amongst Tour players, or with fans?

Muffin Spencer-Devlin: Sure, we weren’t nuns!

Jamie Leno Zimron: Given that other players, and LPGA officials, knew there were many lesbians on Tour, did they tell you outright or try in other ways to keep you quiet?

Muffin Spencer-Devlin: Let’s say we knew not to rock the boat. That was the rule I lived by. I guess it was a little, or maybe a lot, like ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ Everyone knows. There are gay people on Tour, and at LPGA Headquarters… Just don’t talk about it!

The day after the article came out, one lesbian player, now in the Hall of Fame, was upset and said to me, “Why Sports Illustrated? Why not at least The Advocate?” The people whom I thought were my friends didn’t talk to me; only a few did. On the other hand, my straight player friends were supportive. No one knew what to expect, so we went back into our little turtle shells and waited to see what would happen.

Jamie Leno Zimron: Yes, it’s not like the article or positive responses you received opened any f loodgates. Since 1996, only Rosie Jones has officially come out, ten years ago, and that was at the end of her playing career when she was contracting with Olivia to move on into the lesbian travel business. Why do you think it has remained so hard and even taboo to say publicly that you’re gay in the LPGA? Muffin Spencer-Devlin: I don’t know why there aren’t more players coming out. It is such a personal thing, with motivations all over the spectrum. Like I said, sponsors knew and were supportive, ditto the LPGA, friends and family. Straight tour players were supportive. But my gay compadres shunned me. Those players involved in creating what would become the Senior Legends Tour shunned me, left me out of the program.

Prior to one of the first senior events that was to take place in Utah, the players were fearful of having a gay player come to Mormonville. So I didn’t get invited to the event, or to join the Legends Tour. One of my best friends while we played on tour actually took me aside and said, “Sorry, Muffin. It’s a business decision.”

the players are ‘too butch.’ When the commissioner can’t fill open dates in the tournament schedule, outsiders whisper that sponsors don’t want their products associated with ‘deviant’ behavior… The perception was that a lot of sponsors weren’t backing events because they didn’t feel it was promoting the so-called ‘wholesome family image’ and they didn’t want their brand names associated with that.”

To its credit, the LPGA has done much to offer athletic opportunities and to empower young girls and women through golf. Yet, like any business entity, it is primarily concerned with survival and being profitable, and operates within our economic culture dominated by male values and homophobia. In that context, it is not surprising to see professional sports organizations preferring to keep LGBT athletes quiet; or to see the prevalence of ’sex-sells’ marketing strategies, replete with heterobased images of manly-macho men and cute-pretty feminine women.

If the definition of courage involves acting in the presence of fear, Muffin Spencer-Devlin is clearly a courageous woman. Two decades ago, she chose authenticity, inner peace and pride over the perils of coming out. Through the years, she has been a Gr a nd M a r s h a l at numbers of Pride parades, a nd cont i nues to be an inspiration for full freedom of self-expression for ever y huma n bei ng.

Today, Muff in absolutely loves focusing and developing her rich, body-mind gifts on the art of glassblowing. She exhibits a n d sells

her magnificent pieces, and is now being commissioned by the LPGA to create special trophies for Tour events.

This is something I doubt she ever dreamed of, while she was envisioning publicly hugging and kissing her partner on the 18th green like any other winner celebrating with their spouse!

As we celebrate 2014 Pride in San Francisco, let’s hope that the recent tide of LGBT athletes coming out continues to rise. Let’s hope that there is less and less for them to lose, and that we can all help everyone know how much individuals, teams and society have to gain when we’re all out there playing.

And let’s celebrate a true heroine, Muffin Spencer-Devlin!

To read more about Muffin, please see: • March 18, 1996, Sports Illustrated Vault online: “No More Disguises” //sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/ article/magazine/MAG1007854/1/ index.htm and: • May 17, 2012, Orange County Weekly: “Muffin Spencer-Devlin Is the Best Lesbian, Manic-Depressive, GlassBlowing Golfer of Them All” www.ocweekly.com/2012-0517/news/muffin-spencer-devlin-ladies-professional-golfassociation-glass-blowinglaguna-beach/2/ Jamie Leno Zimron is an LPGA Pro, Aikido 5th Degree Black Belt, and Corporate Speaker-Trainer. For more information about Jamie Leno Zimron and her work, visit http:// www.thekiaiway.com/

That all pissed me off, then and now, and left a bad taste. I just put it on a handful of players, who are still personally worried and holding back.

But I would never have gone on to become a glass artist. So what ya gonna do? Roll with it!

Postscript from Jamie: It was very interesting for me to read back through the 1996 Sports Illustrated cover story on Muffin. The authors, Amy Nutt and John Garrity, wrote these still too-true words: “ … the issue of lesbians in golf has usually been framed in terms of their perceived impact on the LPGA. When network TV audiences are smaller than desired, critics claim it’s because

Muffin Spencer-Devlin BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

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Coming Out Victories in the Sports World

As we celebrate this 44th annual SF Pride, let’s celebrate all the sporting strides our movement is making.

While it is still a harrowing road, and thus still rare for athletes to feel safe to say they’re gay, happily there are now too many to mention here. In honor of all LGBT athletes this week, take some time to cruise the Internet to learn more about our brothers and sisters who are out there changing the sports world.

Here are some brief stories of highprofile LGBT athletes who have stood up bravely to say and be who they are, both on the field and off. Their coming out has never been easy, yet has always added to opening minds, changing attitudes, and creating new opportunities for the next generation of young athletes. They are amongst many others, more and less famous, in every sport, who are making a huge difference for everyone!

Tennis The legendary Martina Navratilova stormed the American tennis scene in the mid-1970s when she came to the US from Czechoslovakia. She let the world know she was a lesbian in

NFL Football

Billie Jean was outed in 1981 when her partner of many years sued for ‘palimony’ upon breaking up. Within 24 hours, King lost all her contracts and endorsements. For years she had feared coming out: “I couldn’t get a closet deep enough. I’ve got a homophobic family, a tour that will die if I come out, the world is homophobic and, yeah, I was homophobic…

I ended up with an eating disorder that came from trying to numb myself from my feelings.” It took her until age 51 to feel whole, and in retirement she continues to work tirelessly to promote women’s and LGBT rights.

In 2007, when Wimbledon voted to award equal prize money to both male and female competitors, King said: “Remember, it’s not about the money, it’s about the message it sends to women and girls around the world.

Every time we can change a benchmark like this, it helps people ask in their daily life: ‘Are we insisting on equality for our sons and daughters?’”

Golf Rosie Jones, a 13-time LPGA winner, played on Tour from 1982-2006.

While she and her family knew she was gay at age 19, and LPGA players and colleagues knew, she waited until age 44 and 2 years before retirement to let the world know. In a letter to the New York Times, Rosie talked about the vulnerability, risks and rejection

Greg Louganis is widely considered the greatest diver of all time, sweeping the 1984 and 1988 Olympics and becoming the only male and just second diver to accomplish that feat. Despite his great athletic gifts, as a young gay man he suffered domestic violence and rape and battled drug abuse. After retiring from competition, he revealed that he was HIV positive, and came out in 1994 at the Gay Games in New York. While initially he lost sponsors, Greg’s greatness and grace brought the sport of diving into world focus, and he is beloved by the American public for his golden grace and inspiration. Studying his superb mechanics and style is credited as the basis for resurgent Chinese diving dominance.

Louganis continues to coach divers, mentor the US Olympic team, raise HIV awareness, work with the Human Rights Campaign, do motivational speaking—and he married his soulmate in 2013!

Figure Skating

Johnny Weir is a recently retired A mer ican, Oly mpic and World Champion figure skater, embraced worldwide for his elegance and edginess both on and off the ice. Always f lamboyant, he is credited w ith “bringing f lash to a snoozy sport.”

He put rhinestones and lace into male figure skating fashion, and wore female and genderqueer costumes even at the cost of crucial medal points in the eyes of subjectively biased judges. In 2010, Weir failed to receive a medal despite high technical scores, and faced comments that he should compete in the women’s division, and: “They’ll think all the boys who skate will end up like him. It sets a bad example.” To which Weir replied, “I’ve heard worse in bathrooms. I don’t want 50 years from now more young boys and girls to have to go through this sort of thing.”

Johnny officially came out in his 2011 memoir Welcome to My World, in part to help slow the rate of youth suicides, and to give hope and strength

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because the Long Drivers of America changed its rules to match the LPGA’s policy that said competitors must be “female at birth.” This targeted discriminatory rule change – along with the facts that other professional golf associations and the International Olympic Committee allow transgender athletes to compete – led Lawless to file a federal lawsuit against the LPGA, Long Drivers, and several corporate sponsors.

“It’s an issue of access and opportunity,” Lawless said, claiming she was “shut out because of prejudice.”

Backed by the Transgender Law Center in San Francisco, the lawsuit succeeded as the LPGA deleted the born-female language, and Long Drivers agreed to follow the LPGA’s policies. It really was quite amazing.

As an LPGA member, I clearly remember attending a behind-closeddoors meeting convened by Commissioner Mike Whan at the 2011 PGA Show in Orlando. He saw the lawsuit as a chance to educate himself and others about transgender issues in sports. The Commissioner reported that Tour members had already voted to change the discriminatory policy.

He then urged the Teaching Division to also better understand transgender issues and vote accordingly (and avoid further costly legal problems).

Soccer

In 1975, David Kopay, a running back who played for five NFL teams in nine years (including the San Francisco 49ers), became the f irst professional team-athlete ever to come out. The David Kopay Story, published in 1998, remains a powerful tale of the long journey from denial to acceptance, from pain to pride. Kopay failed to gain coaching jobs, and the depth of macho-laden homophobia in football was so great that it has taken until this year for another NFLbound athlete to dare say he is gay.

In June, 2014, Michael Sam became the first openly gay college football player to be drafted and signed by an NFL team. Upon receiving the incredible news of being selected in the 7th round of the draft by the St. Louis Rams, Sam was filmed rejoicing by kissing his boyfriend. The video immediately went viral, to both thrilled and horrified reviews. But Sam is certainly making inroads that have taken nearly four decades since Kopay’s brave declaration.

In 1999, Leigh Steinberg, still today the pre-eminent superagent of sports stars, was quoted as saying: “Homosexuality is probably the last and strongest taboo in sports…I think it would be much easier to be convicted of robbery and serve time, then come play in major-league baseball or the NFL, than to be gay.” That is strong stuff, giving his insider opinion that convicted felons would have an easier time gaining entry into big league sports than would qualified gay athletes!

Golf Long Drive

Transgender athlete Lana Lawless had sexual reassignment surgery in 2005, and in 2008, won the women’s world long drive championship. The next year, she was barred from competing and lost lucrative sponsorship deals,

PHOTO SOURCE: GLAAD.COM

The sports world has proven to be more of a last bastion of homophobic discrimination than even the military or electoral politics. The number of athletes known to be gay or lesbian has been absurdly and disproportionately low. Fortunately, as the gay liberation movement has gained momentum over past decades, and as marriage equality and civil rights become ours at last, stunning advances are being made in sports too. High-level athletes are daring more to come out, and are finding greater acceptance by fans, coaches and management. One by one, out athletes are pushing the envelope and opening closet doors. A collective tide is building that is challenging the sexist and heterosexist norms that have prevailed for far too long in sports.

Billie Jean King, winner of 20 Wimbledon titles and a host of others, founded the Women’s Tennis Association, World Team Tennis and Women’s Sports Foundation. In 1974, she won the famous Battle of The Sexes, defeating former world #1 Bobby Riggs after he cockily claimed men were so superior to women that he could beat any of the best female players. King has long fought for equality of opportunity, recognition and pay for women, which has helped women tennis stars earn greater sums than women in any other sport.

to LGBT youth and athletes. He continues to win awards for his efforts to educate the public about gay and gender issues. He was sent to Japan by Hillary Clinton’s State Department as a Goodwill Sporting Ambassador, based on her tenet that gay rights are human rights. HRC gave Weir its 2010 Visibility Award honoring “individuals who are living open and honest lives. Johnny is doing much more than that! He is a force of nature, with all of his fabulousness swirling around him…Thank you, Johnny Weir, for making the world a more welcoming place, and for your brave determination to be who you are.” At the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Weir was an NBC commentator alongside Olympian Tara Lipinski. He was unabashedly his gay, fashion-loving, expert self, and from Russia won rave reviews and put ‘genderqueer’ favorably into the international spotlight!

PHOTO SOURCE: THESTIR.COM

In the still highly homophobic world of sports, deciding to come out and say you’re gay, or trans, has been a tough call for most LGBT athletes. For school kids aspiring to college scholarships, the Olympics, pro careers – or simply to play in games and on teams – the epithets and exclusion they face is often too much to bear. As a consequence, too many LGBT boys, girls, men and women have not fully pursued their athletic interests and talents.

Or they have adone so from the closet with all the stresses, self-denials and limitations that entails.

Diving

PHOTO BY JAMES SQUIRE/USOC

Sensei Jamie Leno Zimron Peak Performance Speaker and Trainer

PHOTO BY JONATHAN EXLEY

The KiAi Way

so many LGBT people face; that her main identity was as a golfer and she waited until she felt ready to be open publicly; and shared her hopes that the LPGA Tour and sponsors are becoming less critical and more supportive. In 2011 she was chosen for the great honor of captaining the US Solheim Cup Team. Rosie, always a very popular player on Tour, says coming out “was a perfect transformation for me, because I do live a more open existence from that experience.” She has worked with Olivia travel and now offers her own golf getaways for the community.

1981, while on the rise in her phenomenal career and amidst her famous rivalry with Chris Evert. Her coming out helped bring sexuality and gender issues to the fore in sports, but cost her millions in lost endorsements.

Donna Lopiano, executive director of the Women’s Sports Foundation, observed: “Martina was the first legitimate superstar who literally came out while she was a superstar. She exploded the barrier by putting it on the table. She basically said this part of my life doesn’t have anything to do with me as a tennis player. Judge me for who I am.” Navratilova has been called “arguably the greatest tennis player of all time,” and continues to be an outspoken gay rights activist.

An article last year described an ‘out footballer’ (soccer player) as a last taboo in British sports, and the British ‘obsession’ with the very idea of gay players. Numbers of known gay players are afraid to be public due to unknown reactions and expected backlash from fans, media and management. Meanwhile, German star Thomas Hitzlsperger came out earlier this year, as did American great Robbie Rogers in 2013. Both players struggled for years with living in silence and fear, facing slurs and gaybashing while trying to follow their athletic passion, talents and dreams.

They came out and are speaking up so other LGBT athletes can be free to be themselves and to play.

Says Thomas: “Being gay is a topic that is ignored in football…Fighting spirit, passion and winning mentality are intrinsically linked, which doesn’t fit the cliché,‘Gays are soft.’” Robbie says he knew was gay as a teenager, knew that he wanted to play, but had no idea what to do because “there were no gay footballers.” Rogers had played for Leeds in the UK and retired at age 25 immediately upon coming out. He was surprised at the support he received, and soon returned to play professionally after an offer from the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Rogers wrote in his coming out letter on his blog: “I’m a soccer player, I’m a Christian, and I’m gay. Those are things that people might say wouldn’t go together. But my family raised me to be an individual and to stand up for what I believe in.”

Jamie Leno Zimron is an LPGA Pro, Aikido 5th Degree Black Belt, and Corporate Speaker-Trainer. She is happy to help women get ready with special pre-tourney golf lessons! Contact her at jamiesensei@ thekiaiway.com

CHEER SF: The World’s Favorite Charitable Cheerleaders, Homegrown in San Francisco

By Nguyen “Win” Pham Based in San Francisco, CHEER San Francisco was founded in 1980 as the world’s first LGBTidentified cheerleading team in history. An allvolunteer nonprofit organization, CHEER SF’s mission is to inspire, entertain and amaze audiences through powerful performances, challenging others to be their best, and supporting organizations that strengthen our communities.

Now in its 34th anniversary year, the CHEER SF organization currently comprises nearly 60 volunteers of all ages and orientations who serve both performing and administrative roles.

P HOTOS C OURT ESY OF C HEER SF

P HOTO BY ST EVEN UN DERHIL L

CHEER SF provides dynamic and spirited ways to channel people’s philanthropic energies into athletic displays. Those who find themselves drawn to CHEER SF’s charitable affiliations find a wonderful means of learning and cultivating gymnastic, acrobatic, and dance performances. By contrast, those attracted to CHEER SF’s incredible, gravity-defying cheerleading performances enjoy the feel-good factor of leveraging their athleticism to raise monies for charitable causes. CHEER SF’s profoundly deep culture of inclusion, acceptance, and betterment instills a keen sense of belonging into each of its volunteers; and this family-oriented culture has shown to be among what CHEER SF’s volunteers value the most.

As CHEER SF is an entirely volunteer-run organization, the team is led by an array of professionals and community members from all walks of life. CHEER SF volunteers include teachers, nurses, attorneys, engineers, students, and retail workers. Not only is there a wide distribution of ages and ethnicities, but there is also a healthy balance of sexes and genders. When one looks at the individuals who comprise this unique team, as well as at the people who take great care in overseeing team operations, one will see unmistakable diversity.

PHOTO BY STUZAN N E HOUCHIN

The team has been fortunate enough to enjoy some amazing highlights through the years: • CHEER SF is distinguished as the only cheerleading team to have appeared at all eight Gay Games.

• CHEER SF is the first American cheerleading team to have performed in Singapore (2002).

• In 2010, CHEER SF performed on live primetime TV as a Top 48 contender in NBC’s America’s Got Talent: Season 5.

• In 2011, CHEER SF was booked to open for Britney Spears at her mini-concert in San Francisco for ABC’s Good Morning America.

• In 2012, CHEER SF became the first charitable cheerleading team in history to perform at a World Series Victory Parade with the SF Giants MLB team.

This Friday, June 27, CHEER SF marks another victory. At 7pm, executives from the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (AARBF), a Californiabased non-profit dedicated to preventing burns and fires and to providing services to burn survivors, will receive a check fo $10,000, enough to send approximately 15 child burn survivors ages 5-16 to AARBF’s week-long residential “Champ Camp.” The check will be presented at Don Ramon’s in SoMA (225 11th @ Howard).

In the spirit of corporate social responsibility, CHEER SF is constantly seeking new and more efficient ways to partner with corporations and to support community beneficiaries. For example, beginning in 2011, CHEER SF became the first nonprofit charitable athletic organization to be granted an exclusive and high-profile Community Stage at the annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration, a festival that attracts upwards of 500,000 people from all over the

world. Due to construction in the mid-Market neighborhood, there will not be a CHEER SF Stage at the Celebration this year, but CHEER SF will be performing on the Main Stage both Saturday and Sunday, and will be up front in the Parade line-up just behind the opening Women’s Motorcycle Contingent. Outside of the Main Stage shows, CHEER SF has scheduled performances at various street intersections throughout the Celebration (Civic Center) both days to get up-close-and-personal with festivalgoers. This year will be bigger and better than ever for CHEER SF’s performing and for its charitable fundraising.

By the time CHEER SF heads out this August to Cleveland/Akron, OH, for Gay Games IX (CHEER SF is still the only cheerleading team to have appeared at all Gay Games in history), the organization will have met and exceeded its $300,000 milestone in lifetime donations generated and distributed to partner nonprofit beneficiaries. This is not too shabby for an entirely volunteer-run group of athletes!

Nguyen “Win” Pham is Director of Communications for CHEER San Francisco. Win urges “SF Bay Times” readers to stay in touch with the world’s favorite charitable cheerleaders by visiting Facebook, facebook.com/ CHEERSanFrancisco, and Twitter @CHEERSF

BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

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Fitness SF Celebrates Pride and a Spectacular New Mid-Market Location

By Michael Globits (Editor’s Note: Look for Fitness SF trainers, members and other athletes in the “SF Bay Times” contingent at the Pride Parade on Sunday.)

It’s time to celebrate the 44th annual SF Pride Parade and Fitness SF is more than ready to join in the excitement! Every year, the parade brings something new and interesting so we wouldn’t even dream of passing it up.

This year we plan on joining up with some of our local partners to sponsor a few different events throughout the week, so make sure to keep your eyes open to find our team!

SF Fillmore

Here at Fitness SF, we have always seen SF Pride as an important event in the development and growth of the LGBT community. The weekend puts LGBT rights and support of local organizations at the forefront, not only here in San Francisco, but also across the globe. The recognition of these rights hits center stage this year in one of the most talked about arenas, professional sports. Maybe the most notable of this year is Michael Sam, who was chosen by the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft just months ago. The courage and open-

SF Fitness has the following locations: Marin, Oakland, SF Castro, SF Filllmore and SFSOMA. The new Market Square location is coming soon. fitnesssf.com

ness of Michael Sam demonstrate the strides being taken in all areas for the equal rights and treatment of those in the LGBT community.

SF Castro

The word “community” has always been one of high importance at Fitness SF in a variety of different ways.

Our participation in local initiatives is always fueled by our surroundings and the opportunity to improve the neighborhoods we live and work in.

In 2014, we launched our “Adopt An Organization” program in which

each one of our locations adopted a local non-prof it to support throughout the year by volunteering and fundraising. Organizations include anti-bullying, breast cancer research, and assisting the homeless, all of which allow us to foster improvement in the lives of people from all different walks of life.

SF Fillmore

Our growth in the city has also allowed us to partner with even more organizations and provide added volunteer assistance to help with their programs. With the addition of our SF Fillmore location in September 2013, we began working more closely with the Western Addition and Japan Town neighborhoods. We are also extremely excited to announce our newest location at One Tenth Street in Mid Market that will be opening this fall!

The Fitness SF Mid Market location will be the most technologically advanced gym in the city with 22,000 square feet of space at the base of the new Twitter World Headquarters.

SF SOMA

SF SOMA

The gym will offer dedicated studios for yoga, cycling, and group classes, in addition to an extensive weight f loor and over 60 pieces of cardio equipment. Members will benefit from our Synergy and Dash Zones designed for more functional training, along with world-class locker rooms with full amenities including towel service. The Mid Market location will allow us to serve our member base with a more convenient location as well as support this growing area of the city with a new facility.

Our support of the local community will also be a strong focus for us moving forward. We have already begun partnering with many local organizations here in the neighborhood, such as the Salvation Army and their branches including the Kroc Center and Harbor Lights. We believe that as the city of San Francisco continues to grow, those who live in the city need to grow with it. Therefore, by helping organizations and non-profits, we can take the necessary steps to achieve that.

Have an amazing SF Pride Weekend!

Michael Globits is the Director of Marketing for Fitness SF.

Hope into Practice - SF Bay Times ad • 4” w x 4” t • 12/27/2013 • 2

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by Penny Rosenwasser

“A book for everyone, even recovering Catholics...

Hope floats throughout this book.”

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BAY TIMES JUNE 2 6 , 2 0 1 4 Rosenwasser-SF_Times4x4-ad.indd 2

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Ride the Ducks: San Francisco’s Fun and Memorable Land/Sea Adventure

Have you seen the quacky Ride the Ducks vehicle cruising in McCovey Cove during a Giants game? Or how about driving past Lombard Street and Ghirardelli Square? It’s become a part of the San Francisco landscape that you see, but maybe don’t realize, and it’s also a supporter and participant of the San Francisco Pride Parade and LGBT community.

Ride the Ducks is the most fun, unique, and educational land and sea adventure in San Francisco, where kids of all ages can enjoy a hilarious and cheeky (not cheesy), tour through the streets and Bay. For locals and

expectedly entertaining, even for the pessimistic, and you wonder why the discovery is so surprising until you meet the talent behind the brand—the staf f and Captains.

Like a casting call, employees of Ride the Ducks are handpicked and carefully selected for their positive energy, youthful enthusiasm and, most importantly, willingness to share the beauty of their beloved San Francisco. If you’re lucky, you’ll run into Captain DuckRogers superstars like Jonatourists alike, your captain will tell than Dubois, Ticketing and Promostories of past and present San Fran- tions Manager, and Captain Duck cisco history, the bay, its famous Rodgers (Roger Crawford), whose personalities, attractions, and role in passion for the Duck experience are consistent, not to mention contagious. film, song and sports.

Despite its quacky theme, it’s quite common that Ride the Ducks is un-

the kiosk during the busiest weekend times as tourists board the Duck vehicle. Despite his hefty responsibility behind the scenes, Jonathan remains a happy Duck enthusiast whose talent in partnerships, including with the LGBT community, has grown this local brand to be a citywide star tour.

Captain Duck Rodgers, an Oakland native now in San Francisco 18 years with his husband of five years, has a goal for every tour—to spread love through all of San Francisco with a

Jonathan Dubois, a native of Florida, shares a smile and encourages a hearty blow on a quacker from behind

simple smile. A cancer survivor, former real estate agent, and now passionate Captain of quacky Duck fun, Rodgers has been a star and highlight of the Ride the Ducks San Francisco experience for 6+ years.

On his tour, birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated with joy, music beats loudly through the open walls of the Duck vehicle, and not a single rider leaves without a huge smile. And his passion for kindness doesn’t end there. Rodgers lives to give back and

has in his tenure at Ride the Ducks spearheaded the Care for Homeless Drive on Christmas Day, sponsored

by Ride the Ducks for the past five years. During this time, clothing, 10,000 pairs of brand new socks, shoes, and food are donated to the homeless of San Francisco so they too can have a warm and happy Christmas. It is the theme of kindness and giving back for which Ride the Ducks stands and its staff are all a part.

Join us at the SF Pride Parade on Sunday, June 30. To book your next Ride the Ducks tour any day of the week, please visit sanfrancisco.ridetheducks.com

Pride comes in many colors.

Celebrate the Rainbow, Celebrate your Pride!

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Senator Mark Leno

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CLASSIC CABLE CARS/RIDE THE DUCKS

(Editor’s Note: The flashiest Ride the Ducks vehicle will be in the “SF Bay Times” contingent this year. Be on the lookout for this colorful boat on wheels!)

e h t h g u o r h t Ride ! s t e e r t s c i r o t his

Splash dow n & cruise McCovey C ove!

Drive the Duck, if you want!

Boarding at Taylor & Jefferson Sts across from the famous Fisherman's Wharf sign.

877-887-8225 | sanfranciscoducks.com BAY   T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MONOGRAM DECOR

The Tale of ‘U’: Listen to Yourself to Get the Design You Want

Style Courtney Lake As an interior designer and stylist, I am often asked about the “new trends” emerging in home goods. It would be easy to be pithy and declare with absolute certainty that X is the new Y. But the reality is I don’t really know what the new trend is because I often advise my clients not to follow whatever they are reading or seeing in the media. It’s a bold statement coming from a man who makes his living offering advice, but the truth that no one is telling you is that the best designs are an extension of the inner you.

I recently visited The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York City and had the opportunity to view work from over 600 artisans, crafts persons and skilled trades. Literally thousands of pieces of furniture, accessories and lighting were on display, with each vendor vying to see if they had captured whatever zeitgeist would ensure sales and dollars. A small vendor based out of Brooklyn asked if I thought they were “on trend.” I responded that no, they were not “on trend,” but were “on narrative.” Puzzled, they asked what that meant and what ensued was a 15-minute conversation on my ethos

and the guiding principles I use to steer the design process with clients.

I wholeheartedly believe the best homes are those that have a narrative or a cohesive thread that connects the unique stories of the furnishings in the space to the homeowner. Sure, you can have a house full of “wow pieces,” but more often than not, those types of homes feel disjointed and sterile, as if the home were a museum. I advise my clients to think back to the homes of a grandmother or great aunt. More often than not, they can’t remember the pieces, but they remember how

they felt in the spaces. Those homes were extensions of those individuals—packed with history and curated not for an eye for design, but typically with an eye on love.

Human nature drives us to collect beautiful things—it’s in our DNA, so why f ight it? However, as a designer, my job is to help clients find those links between the object, its story and themselves. My job is to take all the stories from the many objects they love and weave a narrative that speaks to their heart, mind and soul. So when that company asked if they were “on trend,” I honestly didn’t care because I was more concerned that their products continued the narratives I created for my clients’ homes; that the pieces spoke of craftsmanship, attributed to a sense of overall ease, and were, of course, beautiful in their own right.

Think of my columns over the next several months less as design mandates and more as design mantras meant to be repeated when you are contemplating between X or Y because honestly, the only letter that really matters is U. Courtney Lake is the interior designer and lifestyle expert behind Monogram Décor (www.monogramdecor.com) and his celebrated blog, Courtney Out Loud. He and his work have been featured both in print and on television, including coverage by “The Wall Street Journal,” “The Nate Berkus Show,” the “San Francisco Chronicle,” “Life & Style Magazine,” “RUE Magazine” and “7x7 Magazine.”

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Recommended Films for Frameline’s Final Week

Film Gary Kramer (Editor’s Note: Please join us in congratulating Gary on his recent marriage to his partner Mike. We wish them many years of happiness together, with countless date nights along the way.)

The Frameline Film Festival ends this weekend, but there is still time to catch a few more features and documentaries that celebrate LGBT life.

Limited Partnership ( June 26, 1:45pm, Castro) is a touching documentary addressing the immigration and marriage laws that could potentially divide same-sex couples. Richard Adams and Tony Sullivan met in 1971, and they married in Boulder, Colorado, when a clerk granted same-sex marriages in 1975. However, when the Australian citizen Sullivan wanted equal rights protection because he had married an American, he received an offensive letter in response from the U.S. government.

Their court case took years, and it decided that the men must leave the country if they wanted to stay together. Director Thomas G. Miller nimbly traces their relationship through activism, art, and archival footage to show their “strange patience,” with their legal status. Tony’s willingness to be undocumented and live underground in the U.S. to f ight for his rights is inspiring, as is the stirring testimonies by Richard and Tony.

Their story resonates in light of the wave of recent legal decisions that have benefitted LGBT couples.

Eat with Me ( June 26, 4:00pm, Castro) is a benign, low-budget charmer about Emma (Sharon Omi), who leaves her husband one day and moves in with her gay son Elliot (Teddy Chen Culver). Emma is reluctant to talk about her marital crisis, which is fine, because Elliot has trouble talking to his intense mother. Over the course of this predictable comedydrama, both Emma and Elliot learn to drop their rigid defenses and each step out of their comfort zones. She drinks, takes some ecstasy (albeit accidentally) and eats tacos off a truck (albeit with copious hot sauce). Elliot, meanwhile, finds himself attracted to Ian (Aiden Bristow), a handsome musician. Writer/director David Au includes a subplot about Elliot’s failing restaurant that does little more than provide an excuse to unite all of the characters—including George Takei (as himself ) and Nicole Sullivan as Elliot’s wacky neighbor and Emma’s coconspirator—but Eat with Me is pleasant enough, and perfectly suitable for sons and their mothers.

Regarding Susan Sontag ( June 26, 7:00pm, Elmwood) is an appropriately respectful and ref lective documentary about the intellectual writer, essayist, and filmmaker. Thankfully, this elegant tribute never became a hagiography. Featuring seamlessly woven together interview clips, photographs, and animation, as well as snippets of Sontag’s writing (as read by actress Patricia Clarkson), this lovingly made film captures the truth, if not the essence, of its prickly subject. Director/co-writer Nancy Kates presents Sontag’s early years of marriage and motherhood to her gaining a sense of independence and freedom in France. She emphasizes her influential writings—from her pointed observations on camp, photography, and feminism to illness, AIDS, and 9/11. Regarding Susan Sontag also describes the writer’s relationships with various famous women, including Nicole Stéphane, Lucinda Childs, and Annie Leibovitz. This is not a sentimental portrait, but a vibrant examination of a woman whose life defined

American intellectual culture. There are interesting remarks from friends and former lovers—especially Harriet Sohmers Zwerling—but the most poignant comments come from her younger sister, who had a heart to heart with Sontag as the latter was near the end of her life. Regarding Susan Sontag certainly captures its subject in all her glory.

Compared to W hat: Bar ney Frank ( June 28, 11:00am, Castro) is a celebratory documentary that chronicles congressman Barney Frank’s coming out, his political achievements, his scandals (brief ly), and culminates with his marriage and retirement. One certainly gets a sense of Frank, who is witty (and aptly named) here, and the filmmakers incorporate photographs, testimonies and footage of Frank well. Frank comes across as an ingratiating politician, and the focus on his relationship with his partner is quite touching.

Wetlands ( June 28, 9:00pm, Roxie), is an unforgettable journey into the world of Helen (Carla Juri), a teenager obsessed with bodily fluids and functions. This vivid film is darkly funny; viewers will be laughing and gasping in the same scene—as when Helen trades a homemade tampon with her

best friend Corinna (Marlen Kruse) and the tampon gets stuck, prompting Helen to remove it with a pair of kitchen tongs later used at a family barbeque.

This scene, as outlandish as it is, perhaps pales in compared to a semencovered pizza or Helen’s dirty toilet hygiene. But these outrageous scenes are tempered by the sweet relationship that develops between Helen and Robin (Christoph Letkowski), a male nurse at the hospital where Helen is being treated for an anal fissure.

Wetlands, which is based on a popular novel, includes a lame-ish subplot about Helen hoping to reunite her di-

vorced parents, and the queer content is little more than Helen and Corinna’s same-sex experimentation, but these minor drawbacks fail to detract from one of the more bold and exciting films at the festival. And Juri is endearing, even when she skateboards bare-assed through the hospital corridors. © 2014 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.” You can follow him on Twitter @garymkramer

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Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun Camerata California. “Hymn for Africa” by the Band and “Today Is the Gift” by all three troupes dramatically brought home the suffering of LGBTQ people on that continent - especially Uganda.

Sister Dana sez, “Happy Pride Weekend, everybuddy! Oh hell, why not make it ‘Happy Pride Year,’ mmmmkaaaay?!”

As part of Gay Pride Month, MAGNET, the Castro hub of health and well being, presented GAY GREATNESS, a dramatic, lively, inspirational multimedia presentation

by Gregorio Luke. Produced by Magnet volunteer Gary Keener, it celebrated the accomplishments of LGBTQ individuals in art, history, and culture. It was past triumphs of queerness as well as past discrimination and persecution. Luke showed, through the ages, how homosexuals have experienced horrible oppression, repression, and criminality. The presentation included the joyous Gay Liberation Front of the 70s but also the utter devastation of the AIDS pandemic of the 80s. And then the rallying forth of lesbians giving blood to sick gay men, and of queers acting up and fighting back with AIDS activism.

THE LESBIAN/GAY CHORUS OF SAN FRANCISCO under the direction of William Sauerland and THE SAN FRANCISCO LESBIAN/GAY FREEDOM BAND under the direction of Pete Nowlen presented the 36TH ANNUAL PRIDE CONCERT: TOGETHER STRONG at the Kelly Cullen Auditorium. Joe “Trauma F lintstone” Wicht hostessed in a rather toned down look, almost passing for Hillary Clinton sans pantsuit. She sang George Gershwin’s “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” with gusto! Jefferson Packer was the special guest soloist, along with

A commissioned piece, From Darkness to Light, by Phil Orem to words of Nelson Mandela to honor his life and legacy was very moving and also served to celebrate the appointment of Nowlen as the new artistic director of the Band. Composer Nathan Hall had the West Coast premiere of his new work I Am in Love with the World, based on Maurice Sendak’s last interview with Terry Gross on NPR radio. Equally exciting was the tribute to Jose Sarria, the Widow Norton, including “The Toreador Song” from Carmen, and “God Save Us Nellie Queens” (words by Jose) in an audience sing-along. And how best to conclude a Pride concert but with the international gay anthem, “Over the Rainbow.”

AN HOMAGE TO LA CAGE celebrated Lee Roy Reams and Jerry Herman, with special guest Davis Gaines. We got our glitz on at the Castro Theatre, received pink boas, sipped champagne, and walked the pink carpet! Donna Sachet interviewed me instead of vice versa. The incredible show helped three beneficiaries: a new LGBTQ documentary film by David Lassman entitled 50 Years of Fabulous; the Imperial Council of SF; and Camp Sunburst HIV/ AIDS Youth Programs. DQs extraordinaires Cockatielia, K hmera Rouge, Pat t y McG roi n, a nd Emma Peel lip-synched and danced to a delightful production number of “We Are Who We Are.” Sunburst Executive Director Geri DeLaRosaBrooks spoke of the joyful results of running a camp for HIV kids. Reams and Gaines sang the hell outta Herman classics.

FRAMELINE 38, SF INTERNATIONAL LGBT FILM FESTIVAL, kicked off in the Castro Theatre with the five most popular movie trailers voted on by the public: Frameline 28:

Kinsey Sicks dragapella girls a la 30s Busby Berkeley f licks; 19: “I Love Lucy” with a drag Lucy and drag king Ricky Ricardo; 29: hot hitchhiking dyke on a motorcycle; 22: hetero couples suddenly discovering homo love in a movie theater; and 23: Jesse (Helms) Goes to Heaven (with Sister Dana as a purple skipping-rope nun).

Frameline also showed the current splashy, flashy trailer. Board President Judy Ansell introduced the new Executive Director Frances Wallace, an Aussie who has been with Frameline for over a decade. Programming Director Desiree Buford bragged about the 214 films from 31 countries showing June 19th-29th. Senior Programmer Peter L. Stein noted that among the foreign f ilms were four brave filmmakers from anti-gay Russia. Ben Cotner & Ryan White, the two brilliant directors of the riveting opening night documentary, THE CASE AGAINST 8, brought the four famous plaintiffs vs. Proposition 8, Kris Perry & Sandy Stier and Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo, to the stage for rousing audience applause. Ironically this pro-equality film screened on the same day as the NOM anti-marriage equality rally in D.C. where SF’s Archbigot Salvatore Cordilione spoke against our civil rights. Thankfully, the event was an epic fail. Anyway, do NOT miss this astounding anti-H8 film when it comes to HBO TV soon!

P G&E 7TH A N NUA L P R IDE KICK OFF PARTY, hosted by always affable Mark Rhoades, benefited the SF LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER in support of its cultural and community and youth economic development programs. Going to The Fairmont San Francisco Pavilion Room and Garden Court, I actually became totally tourist taking the Cable Car there. As Mark told me, there were purposely no special guests or speakers - it was just us queerple (I made that up: queer people and our friends) enjoying each other’s company. (continued on page 42)

Openly Gay Bluesman Earl Thomas Will Woo You Like No Other

DAY 1:

Gems of The Bay Kippy Marks Earl Thomas is a genius and a brilliant musician. He woos the audience in a way that no other Blues artist does. He is well traveled, and shares his gift of music to us all worldwide.

I am please and honored not only to perform with him, but also to call him my friend.

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K ippy Marks: Please tell us about your work and achievements.

Ea rl Thomas: I would say my greatest achievement is that I am still standing after twenty-five years.

I didn’t expect this whole “career in music” thing. It sort of fell into my lap. I didn’t know to dream of that one. Coming from a musical family where everybody is either a musician or a singer, and I’m not even the best one (!), no one ever told me

that I could do it, and so it never occurred to me to pursue a career as a professional singer. I knew I could carry a tune and that everybody at my college used to really like it when I sang in the dormitory showers. But did I ever imagine that I would write songs for Etta James, Solomon Burke, Sir Tom Jones? No. So my greatest achievement, I think, is that I “Forrest Gumped” my way into the business and made a good life for myself.

Kippy Marks: How does your work represent or otherwise connect with the LGBT community?

Earl Thomas: I don’t participate as much as I would like to in the LGBT community, but I think I am a good representative in that I can honestly say that in the 200-year his-

tory of the blues, I am the first openly gay bluesman. And I know I am the first one to get married. There are, of course, other gay men and women in the genre, but I have been “out” my entire life (thanks to a very supportive and loving family group) and, consequently, my entire career. I have never tried to hide the fact that I am a gay man, even in the very macho hetero misog ynistic world of the blues, and I have the respect of my peers. When I go on stage I go on as a bluesman, not as a gay man, but I am proud of the fact that I can hang with the hetero dudes and they admire and respect me. At my shows I draw a totally mixed audience that includes gays and straights who mingle, and everybody has a good time!! (continued on page 42)

Confront Darkness to Create Precious Light your true path. Take extra care to review, reconsider, and tenderize your delivery. better.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) It’s possible you’ve been blurring the boundaries in your bank account, Taurus. Reduce your risk of resource depletion by diving deeper into underlying desires. Scrutinize the source of your spending.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Few can dance with life’s dynamic ups-and-downs as daftly as you, dear Gemini. Readjusting your approach in response to recent upsets will refine your reputation in the long run.

Astrology Gypsy Love Lightning storms in outer space are transforming methane into soot, which hardens into chunks of graphite that toughen over time. The result?

“Diamond rain.” Scientists estimate that 1,000 tons of diamonds are created annually on Saturn alone.

Energetically, a similar phenomenon unfolds before us now. High-pressure hurdles force us to step into the fire and face hidden truths. By confronting darkness, we create precious light. Go ahead, lover…Make it rain.

ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Your tribe is a possible source of emotional stress this month.

You will navigate and clear old grievances that are blocking

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) Vocalize your vision, Virgo. Creative projects pack a powerful punch now, and you’re gaining public praise.

Clarifying career goals will enlighten your allies and set the tone for lasting success.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) Look twice before letting it roar, Libra. Passionate impulses ignite your carnal instincts now. Ponder the purity of your intentions before you pounce. You’ll manifest more meaningful results that way.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22) Consider how you convey yourself, Cancer. A “feeler” by nature, you may find yourself flustered by current situations that call for clearer communication. Take time to mend mixed signals.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21) Stick ‘em up, Scorpio! Surrendering to your surroundings will help you synchronize with celestial forces that can strive to support you now. Learn to let down your guard a little.

LEO (July 23 – August 22) Love it or leave it, Leo. You’ve uncovered fascinating facts that further disclose where your lion-heart lies. Be willing to walk away from distractions that haven’t deserved your undivided devotion.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21) Whether you’re focusing on finances, friendships, or your next flirtatious fling, it’s essential to know where you stand, Sagittarius. Tune into visceral vibrations that verify what you truly value.

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) Inconvenient delays in your daily routine reveal where you’ve cut corners in the past. Whittle down your workload wherever possible, Capricorn. When conquering your goals, quality always trumps quantity.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) Come clean, Aquarius. Dissolve your attachment to toxic secrets that are spoiling in your subconscious.

Acknowledge the truth, accept the consequences, and move on with your sacred mission

PISCES (February 19 – March 20) You’re fulfilling your fishy birthright as the zodiac’s official expert in navigating the unknown. Ordinarily, one would cower at this ever-confusing cosmic climate.

Thank heavens you’re the opposite of ordinary. www.GypsyLoveProductions.com

Gypsy Love Productions is dedicated to inspiring love and unity with music, dance, and astrology.

As Heard on the Street . . .

compiled by Rink

AL L PHOTOS BY RIN K

What gives you the greatest sense of pride?

Felicia Elizondo

Tyler Nelson

Jamie Rafaela Wolfe

“For me to live this long and see the changes in our trans and gay community, demanding respect, acknowledgement and recognition that we deserve.”

“Knowing when I leave this world that I tried to give back more than I took.”

“Being at the Trans March and being mindful that there was no such event or outlet in my youth for expressing myself authentically. It’s a wonderful feeling.”

Rose Hayes

Debra Gutierrez

“As a trans person, I am proud of “It is being part of the LGBT occupying my full self and resist- community and being accepted for ing the definitions of who I am who I am. I feel proudest that that have been imposed on me.

I love and care for my family; I am proud of my trans siblings that I have faith in God; and the love they demonstrate.” and love my pet dog Shicko.”

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

415 370 7152

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

39

See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com

compiled by Robert Fuggiti

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chrous, with special guest Tony Award winner Laura Benanti, present Dazzle: Broadway ... Our Way! at Nourse Theater, Thursday, June 26 and Friday, June 27. (sfgmc.org)

UHAUL – The Lexington. Free. 9 pm. (3464 19th St.) www.lexingtonclub.com. Kick off Pride with a special edition of UHAUL. Pride All Star Comedy Show – Magnet. Free. 7 pm to 8 pm.

(4122 18th St.) www.magnetsf.org.

An all-star comedy show featuring

Bay Area LGBT stand up comedians Zachary Toczynski, Ash Fisher, Kelly Doyle and more.

BRC LGBT Pride Reception – Sheba Piano Lounge. Free. 6:30 pm. (1419 Fillmore St.) www. bayardrustingcoalition.com. Gather in the spirit of Bayard Rusting and mix and mingle with local LGBT people of color and friends.

SF Gay Men’s Chorus Pride – Nourse Theater. $25-$60. 8 pm.

(275 Hayes St.) www.sfgmc.org.

Join Tony award winner Laura Benanti and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus for a special performance of the Broadway revue, Dazzle.

Pride on the Pier – Hornblower Landing. $45-$75. 6 pm. (Pier 3) www.hornblower.com.

Start your Pride Celebration on the Embarcadero. Sip cocktails dockside and enjoy incredible views aboard the California Hornblower.

Metamorphose – Ten Fifteen Folsom. $15-$30. 10 pm. (1015 Folsom St.) www.metamorphose. eventbrite.com. Start Pride right with a night of fashion, art and all night dancing!

Pink Triangle Installation – Twin Peaks. Free. 7 am to 10 am.

(Top of Twin Peaks) www.thepinktriangle.com. Join volunteers to make the annual Pink Triangle that serves to commemorate the gay victims who were persecuted in the Holocaust.

Pride Party – The Armory. $60$175. 9 pm to 4 am. (1800 Mission) www.prideatthearmory. com. Prepare for sensory overload at this Pride dance party like no other in the historic Armory, home of Kink.com.

16th Annual Pride Brunch – Hotel Whitcomb. $75-$150. 11 am to 2 pm. (1231 Market St.) www. postiveresources.org. Enjoy gourmet buffet brunch, live musical performances, raffle and silent auction.

Pink Saturday Block Party – The Castro. Free. 5:30 pm (Castro St. and Market St.) www.pinkparty. org. Kick off Pride at the official Pink Party in San Francisco’s Castro.

San Francisco Pride 2014 – Civic Center Plaza. Free. 12 pm to 6 pm. (Civic Center Plaza) www. sfpride.org. With over 200 parade contingents, 300 exhibitors, and more than 20 stages and venues, the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade is the larg-

est LGBT gathering in the nation.

SF Pride 2014 VIP Party – San Francisco City Hall. $50. 2 pm.

(1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place) www.sfpride.org. The official VIP party for Pride 2014, with hosted bar and special celebrity performances.

Pride After Party – The Café. $35. 1 pm. (2367 Market St.) www. cafesf.com. Hosted by Mahlae Balenciaga, Au Jus and Cami Asada with resident DJ Deft.

Ascent – Beatbox. $20. 4 am to 10 am. (314 11th St.) www.beatboxsf.com. DJ Tristan Jaxx brings you a high energy after hours party to close Pride weekend.

Gay Bowling – Mission Bowling Club. $15. 5 pm to 8 pm. (3176 17th St.) www.missionbowlingclub. com. Mix, mingle and meet new friends at this weekly bowling social. Full bar and restaurant inside club.

Maud’s Reunion 2014 – Finnegan’s Wake. Free. 12 pm to 6 pm. (937 Cole St.) maudsreunion@ gmail.com. A celebration of the once longest running lesbian bar in the country that opened on May 21, 1966 and closed on June 17, 1989.

Pride Fashion Show – Beat Box SF. $15. 6:30 pm. (314 11th St.) www.sfpridefashion.eventbrite.com.

Join host B. Scott for a fierce fashion show featuring 12 of the Bay’s. top drag quuens and male models.

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BAY TIMES JUNE 2 6 , 2 0 1 4

Pride 2014 Kick Off at The Lexington on Thursday, June 26.

Motown Monday – Madrone Art Bar. Free. 6 pm. (500 Divisadero St.) www.madroneartbar.com.

Dance the night away to favorite Motown songs and remixes.

Beach Blanket Babylon – Club Fugazi. $25-$130. 8 pm. (678 Green St.) www.beachblanketbabylon.com.

Enjoy Steve Silver’s famous musical revue packed with hilarious pop culture and political antics.

Pride Skate: LGBT Roller Disco – Church 8. $10. 7 pm to 10 pm. (554 Fillmore St.) 415-7521967. An LGBT roller skating disco happening every Tuesday.

Trivia Night – Hi Tops. Free. 10 pm. (2247 Market St.) www. hitopssf.com. Test your trivia knowledge at this popular SF sports bar.

Queer Salsa Dancing – Beatbox. Free. 8 pm. (314 11th St.) www.beatboxsf.com. Latin City Nights presents a queer salsa dance happening every Wednesday night.

Smack Dab Open Mic Night – Magnet. Free. 8 pm. (4122 18th St.) www.magnetsf.org. An open mic night for all with host Larrybob Roberts.

Secret Lovers – Lexington Club.

Free. 9 pm to 2 am. (3464 19th St.) www.lexington club.com. Featuring guest DJ’s Katie Duck, Ponyboy, and Durt playing the best of oldies, R&B, soul all evening.

Gym Class – Hi Tops. Free. 10 pm. (2247 Market St.) www. hitopssf.com. Enjoy a night of fun at Castro’s only gay sports bar.

Comedy Bodega – Esta Noche.

Free. 8 pm. (3079 16th St.) www. estanocheclub.com. Enjoy the weekly comedy variety show happening every Thursday.

Monster Show – The Edge SF. Free. 10 pm. (4149 18th St.) www. qbarsf.com/edge. Cookie Dough hosts an unpredictable cast for a wild show.

July 4th Extravaganza – Fort Mason. Free. 5 pm. (2 Marina Blvd.) www.fortamson.org. Enjoy a night of food, fun, games and live music.

Fourth of July Celebration – Pier 39. Free. 12 pm to 9:30 pm.

(Pier 39) www.pier39.com.

Celebrate Independence Day with a day of fun and the fireworks display at 9:30 pm.

Friday Live – El Rio. Free. 10 pm.

(3158 Mission St.) www.elriosf.com.

Friday Live is a queer dance party with hip hop and house music.

Club Rimshot – Bench and Bar. $5. 9 pm. (510 17th St.) www. bench-and-bar.com. A weekly LGBT hio hop and R&B night with resident DJs Rum, DJ Chris and DJ Olga.

Queer Rebels of the Harlem Renaissance – African American Art & Culture Complex. $15. 7:30 pm. (762 Fulton St.) www.queerrebels.com. A celebration of queer Harlem lives featuring music, performances and film.

Go BANG! – The Stud. $7. 9 pm.

(399 9th St.) www.studsf.com. A monthly disco party with fierce dancers and flashy dressers.

Celebrate Pride 2014 at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza on June 29.

Jock – Lookout. $2. 3 pm to 9 pm.

(3600 16th St.) www.lookoutsf. com. A weekly fundraising party for Bay Area LGBT sports groups.

Mahogany Mondays – Midnight Sun. Free. 8 pm. (4067 18th St.) www.midnightsunsf.com.

A live drag variety show with $5 drink specials all evening.

LOL Mondays – OMG Bar. Free.

8 pm. (43 Sixth St.) www.facebook. com/LolAtOmg. Enjoy a special Pride Month night of gay laughs hosted by Valerie Branch.

Karaoke Night – Toad Hall.

Free. 8 pm. (4146 18th St.) www. toadhallbar.com. Sing your heart out on stage at Toad Hall’s weekly karaoke night.

Piano Bar 101 – Martuni’s. Free.

9 pm. (4 Valencia St.) www.dragatmartunis.com. Sing along to your favorite songs with friends and patrons.

Trivia Night – Hi Tops. Free. 10 pm. (2247 Market St.) www. hitopssf.com. Test your trivia knowledge at this popular sports bar.

July Make Contact – GGBA. Free for Members. 6 pm to 8 pm.

(518A Castro St.) www.ggba.com.

A monthly networking event for the LGBT and allied community’s professionals of Golden Gate Business Association.

Trivia with Miss Kitty – Wild Side West. Free. 7 pm (424 Cortland Ave.) www.wildsidewest. com. A weekly trivia with fun prices and free to play.

Castro Farmers Market – Noe St. at Market. Free. 4 pm to 8 pm. (Noe St. at Market) www. pcfma.com. Enjoy fresh produce and locally made foods and delicacies. Happening every Wednesday.

Dream Queens Revue – Aunt Charlie’s Lounge. Free. 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm. (133 Turk St.) www. dreamqueensrevue.com. A fabulous drag show featuring Collette LeGrande, Ruby Slippers, Sophilya Leggz and more.

Happy Pride!

Online Guide to Over 250 Nonprofits, Community, Arts & Athletic Groups Benefting SF’s LGBT Community

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Connect with our nonprofits to become a client, member, donor &/or volunteer Search by Category or Name, Over 100 YouTube Videos Calendar of Nonprofit’s Major Fundraisers, Arts & Athletic Events, Fairs & Annual Observances

BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

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(SISTER DANA continued from page 38)

(KIPPY continued from page 38) Kippy Marks: How did you get started in your career, and who were some of the people that inspired and/or mentored you?

Kippy Marks: What else would you like SF Bay Times readers to know about you and your work?

Earl Thomas: I got started in my career because my dorm mate at college heard me singing in the shower. I always knew I could sing, but I never thought of becoming a professional until the night my dorm mate challenged me to go on stage at an open mic and sing. I sang one song and got a standing ovation. When I left college and moved to San Diego, I joined my first band and we went on to become one of the most popular bands in the city. One of the songs I wrote when I was singing in that band got to the attention of Herb Cohen who eventually offered me a recording contract. My mentors were my voice teacher Dr. Harley Muilenburg at Humboldt State, my family, and all the music that one might hear on 1970s FM radio.

Earl Thomas: That I do a regular show, the last Saturday of each month, at Biscuits & Blues in San Francisco. I am a genuine artist who represents a long line of talented musicians and singers. That I’ve never been in the closet and am probably the first openly gay bluesman in the world and I’m quite proud of that fact. That I married my longtime companion Mike in 2013. I wrote the hit song “I Sing The Blues” for Etta James’ Grammy-winning Right Time CD release. That I’ve written songs covered by many popular artists. But my big feather is Sir Tom Jones, who does my song “Get Me Some” in his live show.

Kippy Marks: What are your career goals for the future?

Earl Thomas: To continue writing recording and performing. To continue to be a good representative of my ancestry.

For more information, please visit: www.earlthomasmusic.com/ Violinist Kippy Marks entertains audiences worldwide with his inspirational compositions and lively performances that draw from classical, jazz, blues and dance. www. kippy marks.us

Congratz to our new Mr. & Miss Gay San Francisco Tyler Nelson & K ipper Snacks. And a huge thank you to outgoing 2013 M&MG Robb Huddleston & Jezebel Patel on a fantastic year!

CUMMING UP! SW EET 16! A N NUA L P R IDE BRUNCH is Saturday, June 28th, 11am-2pm, Hotel Whitcomb, 1231 Market Street. Delicious bruncheon with entertainment by Dixieland Dykes+3 Band, hosted sparkling wine and vodka, honors Pride Parade Grand Marshals and benefits POSITI V E R ESOURCE CENTER .

Hosts Gary Virginia & Donna Sachet invite you to this important 16th annual event - truly a party for a cause!

T he 11T H A N N UA L T R A N S MARCH is Friday, June 27th. It’s one of the biggest transgender gatherings in the world, and this year is going to be the biggest one yet! In Dolores Park, it is a safe and sober event, so please save the substances for after the march. Youth and Elder Brunch: 12-3 pm; Pride in the Park (Stage show): 3-6 pm; Resource Fair: 3-6 pm; March: 6 pm; End of March Event at Turk and Taylor: 7:30 pm. transmarch.org PINK SATURDAY in the Castro is a massive (100,000 + people) annual

nighttime street party hosted by the SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE, INC. on Pride’s Saturday night, June 28th. We close off the streets and set up entertainment/ dancing zones with DJs, and the glorious DYKE MARCH (rally, 4pm: Dolores & 18th Street; march, 6pm) ends at Pink Saturday. “PS” is one of the largest all-ages LGBTQ block parties in the world! thesisters.org, dykemarch.org R IC H MON D/E R M ET A I DS FOUNDATION (REAF) presents a special ONE NIGHT ONLY BENEFIT CABAR ET with company members from the national touring cast of ONCE and special guest stars David Burnham (Wicked, Light in the Piazza), Sharon McNight (Tony nominee: Starmites), and Spencer Day (Star Search finalist, jazz star), Monday June 30th, 7:30 at Club Fugazi, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd. richmondermet.org A selection of 72 stunning artworks drawn from the collections of the ASIAN ART MUSEUM and the San Francisco Museum of Modern A r t (SF MOM A), GORGEOUS challenges visitors to confront the extremes and the ambiguities of beauty.

On view now through September 14th, this special exhibition features an extraordinary mix of objects -

The June 26th show will feature ASL Interpreted Performance.

For details boxoffice@sfgmc.org

Season 36 Sponsors:

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BAY TIMES JUNE 2 6 , 2 0 1 4

THE WIZARD OF OZ is finally getting the PEACHES CHRIST treatment! Peaches will embrace her inner Judy complex in the role of Peachy Gale, and Sharon Needles will go green in a totally non-environmental way (all that hairspray is hell on the ozone layer) as the Wicked Witch. It’ll be a tornado of excitement when we gather at the Castro Theatre on Saturday, July 12th, 3 and 8pm. In addition to a screening of the quintessential 1939 movie classic, we’ll be treated to an all-new ADULTS-ONLY pre-show.

Sister Dana sez, “By the end of June, I will be so full of Pride - maybe I’ll need a little shame to balance it out! NOT!!!”

Broadway...

Our Way!

presents

Featuring Tony Award winner Laura Benanti

spanning more than 2,200 years and dozens of cultures to bring together artworks that, in a variety of ways, extend beyond conventional notions of beauty. Presenting these paintings, sculptures, photographs, design objects, and drawings in new and unexpected contexts using an experimental approach, the exhibition aims to stimulate viewers to examine their ideas of what it means for something to be gorgeous. Check out the DQ perspective where Heklina, Sister Roma, and moi are interviewed on video. asianart.org

June 25, 26, 27 8pm Nourse Theatre, San Francisco Tickets on Sale Now 415.392.4400 sfgmc.org Dazzle Sponsor: Don Julio Tequila Additional Support: Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund Grants for the Arts, Bay Times, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Bob Ross Foundation, Folsom Street Events

THE RICHMOND/ERMET AIDS FOUNDATION PRESENTS

featuring company members from the Broadway touring cast of

Plus special guests

DAVID BURNHAM (Wicked) SHARON McNIGHT & SPENCER DAY Benefiting The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

M O N D AY, J U N E 3 0 • 7 : 3 0 P M

CLUB FUGAZI

HOME OF BEACH BLANKET BABYLON

Tickets: Call Beach Blanket Babylon Box Office

415.421.4222 SPONSORED BY:

BAY T IM ES JUNE 26, 2014

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DEFINED BY DESIGN, AN ATTENTION TO PERFECTION, GRACIOUS AND SPACIOUS.

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