San Francisco Bay Times - May 7, 2026

LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES Est . 1978

Annual Celebration & Awards Ceremony

Tuesday, June 2, from 3–8:30 pm at the Westin St. Francis (335 Powell Street, San Francisco)

This year’s celebration will shine a spotlight on our Business of Pride OUTstanding Voices—trailblazers who are driving LGBTQ equality forward in the workplace—along with the presentation of the Selisse Berry Legacy Leader Award, the Corporate Pride Award, and recognition of the most successful LGBTQ-owned businesses across the Bay Area.

Selisse Berry

Legacy Leader

Marcy Adelman

2026 OUTstanding Voices

Tessa Brown, Germ Network

Nathan Blum, Arup

Mackenzy Calvin, EY

Peter Gamez, Visit Oakland

Scott Gatz, q.digital

Jackie Gross, Zscaler, Inc.

This year’s expanded program also includes a dynamic LGBTQ Business Expo, in partnership with the Golden Gate Business Association.

Join us for an inspiring, high-impact event that will celebrate leadership, fuel connection, and champion the future of LGBTQ business.

Corporate Pride

Lindsay Kauffman, Girls Unite

Natalie Le, Northwestern Mutual, San Jose

Sarah Lynn, BPM

Thomas Magnani, Arnold & Porter

Jennifer Valles, SF LGBT Center

Tickets: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/event/172435/2026/the-business-of-pride

Fight for Basic Rights

President Mandelman and Other Officials Arrested at SFO on May Day During Protest for Labor Rights

Rafael Mandelman, who is President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and is a San Francisco Bay Times columnist, was among the local elected officials who were arrested on May 1, 2026, at a May Day protest at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The other officials who were arrested included San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, former Supervisor Jane Kim, and State Senator Josh Becker. They and numerous others, calling for settlement of a longstanding contract dispute involving airport service workers, briefly shut down SFO’s departure-level roadway at the international terminal.

“I have been arrested before,” President Mandelman told the San Francisco Chronicle “I’ve been arrested with the hotel workers, for marriage equality, and I’ve been arrested for the airport workers. These folks have been trying to get a fair contract for a year, and I wanted to be supportive on this May Day.”

Supervisor Jackie Fielder, who is currently on a leave of absence, also attended the protest at SFO but left before the arrests began. All of those arrested were released shortly thereafter.

Bolstered by hundreds of unionized airport service workers organized by SEIU-USWW, the protestors demanded that these workers receive, in part, higher wages, fully funded affordable healthcare, better working conditions, and a $30/hour minimum wage. The management involved in this case is not the airport itself but private contractors like Unifi Aviation Services (baggage and cabin cleaning) and Alstrom (AirTrain). SFO, however, is technically a department of the City and County of San Francisco and is managed by the San Francisco Airport Commission.

Just a month ago, the city under Mayor Lurie’s leadership cut 127 jobs as part of a larger plan to reduce a close to $1 billion deficit. Those job losses did not directly impact SFO—they were made in the Department of Public Health, the San Francisco Police Department, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and the Human Services Agency—but hundreds of other jobs may be cut in the months ahead.

Labor unions have accused the administration of using DOGE-style (Department of Government Efficiency) tactics, referring to the federal initiative previously directed by

business magnate Elon Musk to cut spending. Musk has been named the wealthiest person in the world since 2025.

In the U.S., the wealth divide in recent weeks has hit its widest gap in over three decades, such that the top 1% holds 31.7% of all household wealth, while the bottom 50% holds only 2.5%.

This is playing out in elections, with candidates in local, state, and federal races raising record-breaking amounts of money that make it ever more challenging for grassroots campaigns to succeed. In the California governor’s race, for example, Tom Steyer has raised over $122,682,754, according to state filings. Another candidate, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, is also at the high multi-million fundraising level, having pulled in at least $12,735,289 as of this writing.

From the SFO and other May Day protests to the recent No Kings marches, tension

continues to grow between the haves and have nots while inflation continues to rise across the U.S. driven largely by surging energy costs. This, in turn, is further impacting the already challenged ability for many to pay for basic healthcare. The next wave of nationwide rallies is therefore expected to center around elevating health as a governing priority. This issue of the San Francisco Bay Times further delves into that newly emerging campaign spearheaded by activist and Bay Times founding contributor Cleve Jones: Seven Days in June.

Rally at SF Civic Center on 135th Anniversary of International Workers’ Day

This year’s May Day marked the 135th Anniversary of International Workers’ Day, which originated from the 1886 campaign for an eight-hour workday in the U.S. that led to massive strikes on May 1 and culminated in the violent Haymarket Affair in Chicago. This year’s May Day rallies, including one of the Bay Area’s largest at San Francisco in the Civic Center, were largely peaceful and drew thousands.

Organizers of the Civic Center rally included the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Bay Resistance, Mission Action, Jobs with Justice, Indivisible, and the San Francisco Labor Council. With many calling for “Workers Over Billionaires,” marchers not only voiced their support for laborers but also demanded changes to ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), taxes favoring the wealthy, foreign policy that has the U.S. involved in at least seven major military engagements, housing and education inequities, inflation, the rising cost of healthcare, and much more that are adversely impacting the majority of workers in the U.S.

FRANCISCO

TIMES PHOTO

Photos by Leon Kunstenaar

San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandeman (second from left)

Fight for Basic Rights

Seven Days in June: Health Is Primary - A Call to Action

By Joanie Juster

Since January 2025, Americans have taken to the streets in unprecedented numbers to protest the destructive policies and actions of the Trump administration. From Indivisible to 50501, Hands Off, #TeslaTakedowns, Save Our Sciences, No Kings, May Day, and many other days of action, millions of people have answered the call to stand up and be counted. We know the drill: When called, we show up.

Now there is a new call to action: asking you to show up, not just for a day, but for an entire week, focused specifically on the healthcare crisis our country is facing.

Activist Cleve Jones and a growing coalition of organizations and advocates are calling for us all to show up and speak out throughout the first week of June, to demand that our federal, state, and local representatives prioritize healthcare.

Cleve talked about his reaction when Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office mandating a pause on funding for USAID—and then Elon Musk gleefully boasted about taking a chainsaw to the agency. He said, “It was heartbreaking, and made me angry. Then when Trump tried to cancel World AIDS Day, I thought about the nearly 45 million people who had died of AIDS. We were on the verge of being able to see that a world without new HIV infections was possible.”

That vision of a world without new HIV infections seemed to be almost attainable, thanks to over four decades of activism, investment, and research that brought us to this time, when twice-yearly injections capable of preventing transmissions have become available to those for whom they are available and affordable. Budget cuts can quickly change the course of that trajectory.

care must not be an ideological division. The question became what to do about it, and when to do it.

organize and participate in town halls, panel discussions, forums, demonstrations, marches, rallies, interfaith services, AIDS Memorial Quilt displays, and social media campaigns in rural towns and urban neighborhoods nationwide.

I talked with Cleve for the San Francisco Bay Times about the Seven Days in June campaign, to learn more about how it got started, what it hopes to accomplish, and how people can get involved. He has been at the forefront of healthcare activism since the very beginning of the AIDS pandemic. This June 5 will mark the 45th anniversary of a rare pneumonia affecting gay men being reported in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. It eventually became known as AIDS. This current moment in our country is eerily reminiscent of that time, when our government was not responding to the growing health crisis, and it became clear that Americans had to step up and demand action.

Cleve called his old friend Sean Strub, founder of POZ magazine, and one of the original ACT UP activists. They talked about the fact that this June 5 would be the 45th anniversary of the first AIDS diagnosis.

“We discussed what we could do to observe this horrible anniversary,” he said, “but realized it couldn’t just be about AIDS.”

Cleve’s conversations with Sean led to other conversations, including with Nadine Smith, whose 28 years of leading Equality Florida gave her data and insights into other healthcare issues such as maternal mortality rates among Black women, the closure of rural hospitals, and all the ways this administration’s budget cuts and policy shifts could spell disaster for Americans.

They started reaching out and talking to more people; old-school organizing.

The issues became clear. Everyone needs and deserves good, affordable health care, but too many are struggling with the cost of insurance premiums, medication costs, elder care, reproductive care, and more. And, while the price of gasoline is currently grabbing more headlines, the dire state of our country’s healthcare system is what affects every American. They realized they had to address this administration’s assault on the health care of all Americans, but that health

As stated on the Seven Days in June website, the goal of this campaign is to establish a civic expectation that health must be treated as a core governing responsibility, regardless of ideology or party, and to raise awareness and preparedness for the impact of the coming $1 trillion in cuts. While the seed that inspired this project started with June 5 being the 45th anniversary of the AIDS diagnosis, it turned out that June is also when the largest number of state primary elections are held. The conversations expanded to include strategizing about how to hold our elected leaders accountable, and making sure they prioritized health care. We must not only tackle the current state of our healthcare system, but also brace for the major budget cuts coming after this year’s elections, thanks to the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed last year. Months of back-to-back-toback Zoom meetings led to building a decentralized, nonpartisan, grassroots campaign to create a weeklong menu of events, rather than one day of action. As the circle of conversations grew, Cleve found that no one said no to joining this movement: There was consensus that accessible, affordable health care was a nonpartisan issue that deserved to be prioritized at all levels of government.

Organizers are recommending a wide range of activities throughout the week. With fifteen states holding primary elections in June, town halls with candidates and contacting elected officials can be effective ways to draw public attention to the issue of healthcare, and also to hold them accountable. Nia Winston, SecretaryTreasurer of UNITE HERE, said, “Seven Days in June is about making sure every federal, state, and local official knows that we are watching, we are organized, and we will not let them gut the systems our communities depend on to survive.”

On Friday, June 5, there will be candlelight vigils across the country honoring those who have died or who are at risk because of cuts to health care. Details for the vigil in San Francisco will be announced soon; check the Seven Days in June website.

The large and growing team started contributing resources. Solidarity was found among the labor, healthcare workers, scientists, the interfaith community, community groups, nonprofits, and more. Cleve saw that, as more Americans were being affected by this administration’s policies, there was a growing shift in public opinion. Elon Musk had told America that compassion and empathy were weaknesses. Cleve was convinced that Americans must speak out and prove that he was wrong. “There are people who are changing their minds,” he said. “We have to make the most of this moment.”

How to Take Part in Seven Days in June

There are many ways to take part in Seven Days in June: Everyone is invited to take action. The first step is to visit the website at https://www.sevendaysinjune.org/

You can choose to participate in actions that are already being organized, or you can start one of your own using the toolkit on the website. Local groups and advocates will

Join Us

Cleve summed up this call to action recently, saying, “Seven Days in June is about refusing to be quiet. It is about adding our voices to the long line of ordinary people who looked at an injustice and decided not to accept it. San Francisco has answered that call before. In the worst of times, in the face of fear, stigma, and indifference, this city organized, spoke out, and refused to accept that some lives mattered less than others.”

See you in June.

Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.

Cleve Jones at The Dyke March (2019)

Sean Strub, POZ magazine

Nadine Smith, Equality Florida

Nia Winston, UNITE HERE

Cleve Jones and Joanie Juster (2025)

UNITE HERE PHOTO

Fight for Basic Rights

San Francisco’s Legacy Is on the LineAnd So Is Care for LGBTQ+ Communities and People Living With HIV

By Tyler TerMeer, PhD

For more than a year now, I’ve been keeping an eye on changes to the federal landscape of HIV and LGBTQ+ funding—with a clear understanding that decisions at the federal level would inevitably impact state and local public health systems. That time is now.

Major provisions of H.R. 1 (the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) are taking effect and placing significant strain on San Francisco’s city budget, with the city now facing difficult choices on how to close a two-year, $643 million budget deficit.

Public health, LGBTQ+ care, harm reduction, and HIV prevention are on the line. In late April, the Department of Public Health (SFDPH) presented more information about the many community-based programs and services that will be cut in an effort to reduce SFDPH’s budget by $20 million (on top of an already approved $17 million in community-based organization cuts, and millions more on internal SFDPH reductions).

There are too many to name here, but the effects are sweeping and will be felt citywide by some of our most vulnerable and underserved communities.

The Health Access Point (HAP) network of care, which provides culturally tailored HIV and STI prevention and treatment, overdose prevention, and hepatitis C testing and treatment to populations across San Francisco (including Black and African American communities, Latine communities, and transgender communities) will receive cuts. Funding for San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s (SFAF) clinical services—which provide PrEP care to more than 3,000 clients per year—will be reduced. Two youth clinics and one geriatric clinic will close. Harm reduction services,

including SFAF’s syringe Pick Up Crew, which picks up drug-related litter and also distributes the overdose prevention medicine naloxone, will experience cuts.

The outcry against these cuts has been swift and forceful, led by healthcare workers, communities who rely on these services, and advocates for LGBTQ+ and HIV communities. More than 150 people turned up to give public comments at a recent Health Commission meeting—with community advocates crowding the halls and waiting hours for their turn to speak their truth.

Members of SFAF’s HIV Advocacy Network (HAN), SFAF clients, and SFAF staff have passionately defended these services and programs at rallies and health commission meetings. We are making the case that now is not the time for San Francisco to turn its back on public health. This is a moment for San Francisco to defend and protect its social safety net—especially as federal actions from the Trump administration target the most vulnerable and threaten the very systems of care that define our city’s commitment to compassion and sanctuary.

San Francisco’s legacy is its response to HIV prevention, treatment, and care. The system of care that we have built and refined over decades is one we can be proud of—and must protect with urgency and intention. San Francisco AIDS Foundation is joining forces with our community as we face this moment of profound challenge head on.

The first week of June, we’re participating in the Seven Days in June: Health is Primary campaign to raise awareness about the devastating effects that federal cuts will have on health care and HIV here in San Francisco. Across the nation, people, labor unions, organizations, faith communities, civic leaders, and other advocates are hosting town halls, vigils, and other community events to demand accountability from candidates running for federal and local office in 2026. You’ll be able to find an event near you at https://www.sevendaysinjune.org/

As the lead plaintiff in San Francisco AIDS Foundation v. Trump, we, along with multiple LGBTQ+, health, and HIV organizations, are challenging the legality of Trump Administration Executive Orders that seek

to erase transgender people and end diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work. Of paramount importance is establishing new ways to fund and provide no-cost health and support services our community relies on.

We launched a new fundraiser, Cycle to Zero, which is a 3-day cycling event that travels north from San Francisco, to Guerneville, and back along the Sonoma coast in support of reaching zero new diagnoses, zero stigma, zero inequity, and zero overdose deaths. To be held May 29–31, 2026, this event will bring previous AIDS/ LifeCycle participants together with new community members to raise funds for all of our community and health services.

The new SFAF Pharmacy, based at our sexual health center in the Castro, provides, not only more seamless care for our clients, but also an opportunity to bring 340B revenue to our agency.

We are incredibly grateful to our community here in San Francisco and elsewhere, who

are coming together during these difficult times to speak up for, raise funds for, and help protect the lives and safety of those in our communities who need it most. Thank you for standing with us, and being part of the legacy of the HIV response in San Francisco.

Tyler TerMeer, PhD, is the CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, a member of the AIDS United Governing Board of Directors, and has served for nearly a decade as the elected Co-Chair of the AIDS United Public Policy Council. He is passionate about improving the health of people living with HIV, ensuring that LGBTQ+ people have access to affirming care, that our nations overdose response is treated with the dignity and humanity that all people deserve, and in supporting and empowering, Black-led organizations and Black and Brown leaders. Dr. TerMeer holds a PhD in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University.

Dr. Tyler TerMeer (2025)

Fight for Basic Rights

LGBTQ+ Leaders and HIV Advocates Rally in the Castro to Oppose Proposed Cuts to Sexual

Health and Community Services

A rally on the afternoon of April 23, 2026, in Jane Warner Plaza gathered HIV/AIDS activists, community health leaders, and others to voice opposition to San Francisco’s proposed cuts to critical sexual health, HIV, and LGBTQ+ services. San Francisco Bay Times columnist Sister Dana Van Iquity was among those who attended.

Speakers at the event included Ajai Nicole Duncan, Co-President of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club; Gael Lala-Chavez, Executive Director of LYRIC; Dr. Tyler TerMeer, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation; JM Jaffe, Executive Director of Lyon-Martin Community Health Services; Laura Thomas, Co-Chair of the HIV/AIDS Providers Network; and Ande Stone, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club HIV/AIDS Caucus member.

Read more about the current situation and challenges in Dr. TerMeer’s article in this issue. An earlier piece by San Francisco AIDS Foundation Vice President of Public Affairs Emily Land outlines the dramatic events that took place this past February, which helped lead to the difficulties now needing to be addressed: https://bit.ly/4uwdNQJ

Photos by Michael Kerner

Protecting Our Right to Vote

In

Case You Missed It

As the powers that be see their poll numbers tanking ($6.99 per gallon at the gas pump will do that) and their support slipping even among their usual base, they are fighting even more desperately to cling to power in any way they can. Knowing full well that their policies are extremely unpopular among most Americans, and that they cannot win a free and fair election in most corners of the country, they are simply pulling out all the stops to make sure people cannot vote—or, as they have actually said out loud, that only the “right” people can vote.

As the midterm elections approach, following the legal battles relating to voter eligibility and election rules can feel like watching a fast-moving ping pong game—and there is both good news and bad news as these cases

make their way through the legal system.

The (current) good news is that the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which proposed such onerous requirements for registering to vote that it risked disenfranchising as many as 20 million voters, is currently stalled in the U.S. Senate. This bill would disproportionately prevent millions of people who have either changed their name, or who don’t have access to required documents—such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or passports—from voting, even if they have voted for many years. It would provide barriers for trans people, women who changed their name when they married, young people, seniors, rural voters, voters with disabilities ... coincidentally, all demographic groups who tend to vote democratic.

The current bad news (granted, there are a lot of choices here), is the U.S. Supreme Court decision on April 29 that hollowed out key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, and opens the door for a slew of redistricting efforts that will lead to the disenfranchisement of countless Americans, primarily Black Americans. Former President Barack Obama showed his disappointment in a statement saying that the decision showed “how a majority of the current Court seems intent on abandoning its vital role in ensuring equal participation in our democracy.”

The nonpartisan nonprofit Vote ( https://www.vote.org/ ) is dedicated to voter registration and access for all

Americans, and is an excellent source of information about how and where to vote, and about the current obstacles to voting that are being proposed around the country. While we are fighting for our rights and freedoms here at home, we must remember we aren’t the only ones facing authoritarian overreach. On April 21, Russian police raided a major publishing house, claiming it had been disseminating “homosexual propaganda.” They took thousands of books from publisher Eksmo, and took their CEO in for questioning. Meanwhile, Russian courts have issued fines and jail sentences to those displaying LGBTQ+ symbols including clothes, jewelry, etc. that feature the rainbow flag.

Could that happen here? Look around, and ask yourself: What would you do if books you wanted to read, or symbols you wanted to display, were banned? That question isn’t as hypothetical as you might think. What can you do? Protect your right to vote. Your vote is your right, your responsibility, your privilege. Make sure it counts.

Sign Up Now for the Pink Triangle

One of San Francisco’s most defiantly visible signs of resistance, the annual Pink Triangle installation on Twin Peaks, is coming soon; installation day is Saturday, June 6. For 31 years this installation—nearly an acre in size, and visible from 20 miles away—has served as a profound reminder of the homophobia and hatred directed at LGBTQ+ people throughout history, and specifically during the Holocaust. It is a reminder that is, sadly,

urgently felt today during this period of intensified discrimination and threats coming straight from The White House. Installing the Pink Triangle is a massive community undertaking, requiring the help of hundreds of volunteers. One of the many things I love about installing the Pink Triangle is that it is a truly multi-generational, educational event, with many families bringing their children to help. Together, they learn about what has happened to marginalized communities in the past, and are reminded that, it not only can happen again, but also is indeed happening again right now. Working together with hundreds of other volunteers can inspire us to keep (continued on page 16)

Joanie Juster

Volunteers help install the Pink Triangle display on Twin Peaks during Pride

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CONTRIBUTORS

WRITeRS

Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Patrick Carney, Leslie Sbrocco, Kate Kendell, Gary M. Kramer, Joanie Juster, Robert Holgate, Eduardo Morales, Dennis McMillan, Tim Seelig, Rafael Mandelman, Jewelle Gomez, Rebecca Kaplan, Bill Lipsky, Liam Mayclem, Beth Schnitzer, Rowena Brown, Andrew Freeman, Kippy Marks, Ian Fullmer, Catherine Stefani, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Derek Barnes, Marcy Adelman, Jan Wahl, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis, Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron, Howard Steiermann, Fernando Camino, Honey Mahogany, David Landis

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Rink, Paul Margolis, Bill Wilson, Jerome Parmer, Michael Kirschner, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Joanie Juster

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Andrea Shorter Celebration of Life

Photos by Rink

Andrea Shorter (1965–2026), a prominent Bay Area political strategist, public policy advocate, civic leader, and former San Francisco Bay Times columnist, was remembered at a Celebration of Life held in the Green Room of the War Memorial Building on April 26, 2026. Evidencing her powerful legacy, Mayor Daniel Lurie attended and spoke, as did former San Francisco Mayors Willie L. Brown, Jr., and London Breed.

Also celebrating her life and many achievements were The Ven. Reverend Miguel Bustos, Congressmember Lateefah Simon, Prozan Strategies, LLC, founder and former Google Director Rebecca Prozan, and State Senator Scott Wiener. Numerous city commissioners also attended and spoke, along with members of the Shorter family, including her mother and brothers. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi presented remarks virtually.

Read more about Shorter at https://bit.ly/4n7GrVv

The Celebration of Life event was archived at YouTube and may be viewed at https://bit.ly/4d65Omg

London Breed, speaking at the podium in the Green Room, was one of three San Francisco mayors who spoke at the Celebration of Life for Andrea

held on April 26, 2026.

OutGiving Conference 2026 in New York City

Photos courtesy of A. Sparks

Since 1996, the biennial OutGiving Conference has brought together LGBTQ+ and allied donors to share strategies, build relationships, and deepen their commitment to the cause of equality. Held at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt in New York City on April 30, this year’s event was led, in part, by Gill Foundation CEO

Kate Kendell, who was the former longtime executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (now the National Center for LGBTQ Rights). Participants also came from the Bay Area, such as A. Sparks, the Executive Director of the Masto Foundation, and philanthropic advisor Pam David, formerly of the Walter & Elise Haas Fund.

Among the featured speakers at OutGiving 2026 were Letitia James, Attorney General of New York; Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger; and technology journalist Kara Swisher, whose new six-part series Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever recently premiered on CNN. https://gillfoundation.org/outgiving/

Shorter

A.Sparks, Kate Kendell, and Pam David at the 2026 OutGiving in New York City

GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow

Judge Vacates Kennedy’s Crazy Policy

As we went to press last issue, a federal judge in Oregon ruled that the anti-trans “Kennedy Declaration” was unconstitutional and could not be upheld. I confess that the December 18, 2025, “Declaration” from our bizarre Secretary of Health and Human Services may have escaped my notice at the time. It was the holidays, after all! But also, in the firehose of attacks on transgender kids and adults, it’s sometimes hard to recognize particular streams of cruelty.

For the record, the Kennedy Declaration goes like this:

“Sex-rejecting procedures for children and adolescents are neither safe nor effective as a treatment modality for gender dysphoria, gender incongruence, or other related disorders in minors, and therefore, fail to meet professional recognized standards of health care. For the purposes of this declaration, ‘sex-rejecting procedures’ means pharmaceutical or surgical interventions, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries such as mastectomies, vaginoplasties, and other procedures, that attempt to align an individual’s physical appearance or body with an asserted identity that differs from the individual’s sex.”

According to the so-called legal experts within Kennedy’s department, the Declaration was issued “pursuant to the authority vested in the HHS Secretary,” and supersedes “statewide or national standards of care, whether in writing or not ... .” Any medical provider who defies Kennedy’s random musings on trans health “will be deemed not to meet professionally recognized standards of health care,” and, by implication, could lose Medicare and Medicaid funding.

Just days after the Declaration was announced, the health department’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) began threatening certain hospitals with the total loss of funding unless transgender services were suspended. The OIG sent letters to 17 medical entities before agreeing to pause while this lawsuit developed. Meanwhile, some 40 groups “voluntarily” dropped care for transgender kids, fearing the loss of all their Medicare and Medicaid money.

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia sued under the Administrative Procedure Act that governs the behavior of federal agencies. Without delving into the various counts or the other statutes that were raised by the states, let’s just say that the Kennedy Declaration does not have the force of law. The Secretary of Health cannot simply issue a bald statement and wipe out an entire category of health care with a wave of his or her hand. As such, Judge Mustafa Kasubhai issued a permanent injunction, one drafted by the plaintiff states, in short barring the Department of Health and Human Services from “enforcing, implementing, giving intent to, or relying, in whole or in part, on the Kennedy Declaration—or any materially similar policy which supersedes or purports to supersede the professionally recognized standards of care for gender-affirming care that exist in the Plaintiff States—against any provider in the Plaintiff States.”

God knows what the Trump administration

will do now. Sending this 50-page opinion to the Ninth Circuit doesn’t look like a winner to Bay Times legal experts, and Trump has already issued a number of anti-LGBT Executive Orders, including one that banned gender care for youth. Those orders are tied up in litigation, and we hope they remain in limbo for the remainder of his term.

Let’s Roll the Tape

I should move directly to the Justice Department’s attempt to subpoena the complete medical records of transgender patients at a Rhode Island hospital. Or maybe to the High Court’s decision to accept review of a GLBT victory in Colorado, where parents want to allow religious preschools to reject the kids of same-sex parents. But my news list also includes “pantless mayor,” “Clavicular,” “sundowning,” and a host of anti-trans bills in various state legislatures.

Something about “pantless mayor” is calling to me. The story concerns Mooresville, North Carolina, Mayor Chris Carney, who was caught on video back in 2024 running around town hall with his pants off in the middle of what looked like a late night tryst with some woman who was not his wife. His antics triggered a motion alarm, and police found him in the early morning hours.

Carney explained that he was looking for his phone, and had come to the office with a “consultant” (a “family friend”) in order to sober up after a party. It’s not clear that he had an explanation for removing his pants in the hallway.

The Board of Commissioners recently asked him to resign, but the 4–2 Board vote did not remove him from office, but merely served as some kind of suggestion. Mayor Carney declined the offer and has remained at his post.

The aforementioned video has never been released to the public, and a town IT worker has filed suit, alleging he was fired after telling his supervisor about the video a few days after the incident. Two other former employees have also filed suits for wrongful termination: an IT director and an assistant police chief. Meanwhile, a local TV station sued for release of the risqué video, and the reason this story has returned to the news is because a judge just granted that request. Soon, we’ll able be able to witness the top town official in his underwear, and perhaps get a glimpse of the family friend who shared this escapade.

As for why this even deserves a mention in our GLBT roundup, we always have a space for politicians or other leaders caught in embarrassing circumstances. Indeed, it’s what we live for.

Oh, damn! Wait a second. The town of Mooresville has appealed this judge’s ruling. According to local news, the town “said the request raises concerns about safety and security, particularly in places like police departments, fire stations, and courthouses. In a statement, the Board of Commissioners said that their focus is on protecting staff and the public, but not defending Carney’s behavior, which they have previously said they do not condone.”

(continued on page 16)

Donna Sachet Birthday Celebration, Krewe de Kinque Check Presentation Party, and Jason Seneca Fundraiser

Krewe de Kinque founder and former President of San Francisco Pride Gary Virginia produced a three-in-one party called Castro Sunset Tea that included a celebration of drag legend and San Francisco Bay Times columnist Donna Sachet’s birthday, a Krewe de Kinque check presentation party, and a benefit for Jason Seneca (KDK Queen XVIII Christina Ashton) for his heart surgery recovery fund. The event, held at The Café in the Castro on April 26, included 20 performers, music by DJ Jimmy Strano, a raffle, silent auction, drink specials, and more.

$2,200 was raised to help Seneca, with the performers alone raising hundreds of dollars in show tips. Funds raised during previous efforts totaling $7000 were presented, via a giant check, to Openhouse. There to accept were Openhouse co-founder and Bay Times columnist Dr. Marcy Adelman and Openhouse Development Manager Andrew Shaffer.

As Virginia later shared, the Castro Sunset Tea “was a heartfelt, jamming success!”

by

Photos

Rink

SBy Donna Sachet

an Francisco is the home and birthplace of Dykes on Bikes® where they rightfully start every SF Pride Parade, roaring up Market Street with pride and joy. On Friday, April 24, 2026, they celebrated 50 years with a party and fundraiser at Rikki’s on Market Street, co-sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Times, with both Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas in attendance, and believe us, the Lesbian Community showed up. We were frankly astonished at the number of women and a few men socializing amicably all night. We emceed the festivities as DJ Christie James kept the music coming.

Dykes on Bikes® President Kate Brown auctioned off a small selection of items with great success, including an SF Giants autographed baseball and a Valkyries souvenir basketball. But the top grossing item was the chance to ride with the Dykes on Bikes® this June in the SF Pride Parade with two determined bidders fighting to the end and raising over $3000. We presented the second bidder with a consolation prize of Dykes on Bikes® merchandise. Elected officials came by to wish everyone well and we even heard from the attorney who historically took the Dykes on Bikes® case to the Supreme Court, Brooke Oliver! Members of the Board of the Rainbow Honor Walk presented Rikki’s owners Sara Yergovich and Danielle Thoe with a reproduction of Rikki’s bronze plaque on Market Street. This was truly a night of history, celebration, and power!

Gala season came to a smashing end, at least for us, with the SF Gay Men’s Chorus’ Crescendo last Saturday night. The Westin St. Francis Ballroom was packed with choral supporters, dressed to the nines and ready to offer generous donations. We invited good friend Eddy Skees to join us and he was the perfect guest. This gala always pleases with music from members of the chorus sprinkled throughout and heartfelt stories of the power of music. Michael Tate, chorus member and popular auctioneer, once again proved his worth both with the live auction and Fund-in-Need.

The biggest crowd-pleasing surprise was when he auctioned off dinner at Chez Panisse with Rita Moreno who was looking splendid that night. The bidding was quite brisk, but as Ms. Moreno tempted the bidders with more and more perks, Michael was able to quadruple the offer, ending up with four dinner dates and $100,000 from that item alone! Ms. Moreno made it happen. Many times during the night, speakers, including elected officials like Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, praised the contributions of outgoing Chief Executive Officer Chris Verdugo, who will be dearly missed. As loyal readers of this column know, the SF Gay Men’s Chorus is very dear to our heart since we joined it after our first year here in San Francisco, so watching them produce such a successful event was wonderful.

On Sunday, despite our protestations, Gary Virginia pulled out all the stops with a party at The Café to celebrate the birthday of this humble columnist, as well as to present a check for income from Krewe de Kinque’s earlier Bal Masque, and to raise some money to support a member of the club with a health emergency. The Café was awash in red balloons and over 20 performers offered production numbers of all kinds. We even surprised the audience with a Donna Summer song, “MacArthur Park.”

We saw friends from all the many chapters of our life and many of the other Castro bars and truly felt valued and appreciated. Over $2000 was raised, a check for over $7000 was presented to Openhouse, and another birthday was recognized and celebrated. A huge thank you to Gary for producing such an epic event and to all those who took time to come by for our celebration.

There will be lots coming up as we turn the corner towards the biggest month of the year and SF Pride celebrations. Keep watching this column for all the latest information. Make 2026 the year you really show your pride!

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

“It’s not the years in your life that count most; it’s the life in your years!”

Abraham Lincoln

Sunday, May 17

Spotlight on Broadway

SF Pride Band & guests Grand Theater, 2665 Mission Street

5 pm $55 & up www.sfprideband.org

Friday, May 22

The Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club 50th Anniversary Gayla Dinner, awards, and concert San Francisco Design Center Galleria

101 Henry Adams Street

6 pm $150 & up https://www.milkclubgayla.org/

Thursday, May 28

Celebrating AAPI Bay Area

LGBTQ+

Women Leaders & Allies Emcees Madeleine Lim and Nguyen Pham Special guest honoree Margaret Cho DJ China G

The Academy SF 2166 Market Street $15 & up https://www.academy-sf.com/

BY

PHOTO BY SHAWN NORTHCUTT

The Castro Sunset Tea, produced by Krewe de Kinque founder and former SF Pride President Gary Virginia, packed The Café on April 26, 2026. The event included a celebration of Donna Sachet’s birthday. Sachet, on stage in this image, was one of at least 20 performers who contributed to the event’s success.

Community Treasures From the GLBT Historical Society Archives

An In-Conversation Event at the GLBT Historical Society Museum: Selling The RainbowWhen the Market Adopts and Drops a Movement

Pride began as a protest. The first march in San Francisco was explicitly political—a direct response to police violence and state persecution. Fifty years later, it had parade floats sponsored by banks, tech companies, and beer brands. Corporate adoption felt like victory, proof that queer identity had gone mainstream. In recent years, the climate has shifted: Queer communities have come under renewed attack across the country, and many companies have retreated from their embrace of the rainbow.

The next installment of Speaking Of, a quarterly panel series co-presented by the GLBT Historical Society and Unspeakable Vice, takes on the question activists have been raising since the 1970s: What does it mean when your liberation becomes a marketing strategy?

Moderator Shawn Sprockett (Adjunct Professor at California College of Arts and founder of Unspeakable Vice), along with speakers Suzanne Ford (Executive Director of SF Pride), Elizabeth Hudy (Founder of The Peach Fuzz), Laura Thomas (Senior Director of HIV & Harm Reduction Policy for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation & Society Board Member), and others to be announced, will be among those who gather for this in-conversation event at the GLBT Historical Society Museum.

The panel will trace the tension between assimilation and resistance that has defined queer politics from the beginning, and, as we approach June, ask whether the corporate retreat is a crisis, or an opportunity to bring Pride back closer to its founding mission.

The event will take place on Thursday, May 21, at 6:30 pm. Tickets are on sale. Visit the GLBT Historical Society website ( https://bit.ly/4tSVchK ) or follow the QR code to learn more.

Acts Before Thinking

TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation

Dr. Tim Seelig

The words “acts before thinking” flew off the page of my first-grade report card and slapped little six-year-old Tim in the little face. As it turns out, “acts before thinking” has been both the magic and the bane of my existence ever since. That wasn’t the only harbinger of future traits recorded on that hurtful small piece of card stock. Adding insult to injury, I also received consistent negative marks for “obeys promptly” and “exercises control in talking.”

Do you remember your report cards? Did you get marks for citizenship? Were they on target? Worst of all, there was no appeals

process. And your parents had to sign them for you to return to the teacher who had pronounced this judgment.

My first big cry happened on the way out of my mother’s womb. They say I cried for the next two years. The next big one was as I walked into school for the first time. I hung onto my mother’s skirt knowing I was being abandoned. I have very few physical mementos of the years in between. When I was 18, our house burned to the ground. It was arson (full story in a previous article). A few boxes were salvaged containing a handful of photos and a smattering of old documents such as report cards.

I don’t remember a lot from zero to five, so I decided to get a broad picture about those years from none other than Sigmund Freud. He described zero to five in the development of three parts: id, ego, and superego. You are born with id (instincts). It is innate. Between zero and three, the ego develops. It expresses impulses and makes decisions. The superego is developed between ages of three and five and reveals your ideal self and your conscience. That was a lot of work just getting to five years old. We thought it was just parties, playtime, and naps. There was apparently a lot going on behind the scenes.

At five, armed with our new multifaceted personalities, we entered our first regimented life called kindergarten. In the fall, we had an open house for parents to meet the teacher. Everyone dressed up. The school was spit-shined within an inch of its life. On one big wall was the artwork each child had created. It was so grand that it could have been The Louvre. My parents feigned surprise and pride. They had seen my artwork before. I had taken many prerequisite courses at what was called Vacation Bible School.

Most of the children used Crayola crayons or fingerpaint. My advanced macaroni art blew away the competition. (Oops. It wasn’t a competition.) I used pinto, kidney, and lima beans to bring the bucolic setting to life. Yes, I was an overachiever at five. It was fun. I was feeling my artistic oats.

Then, first grade hit and things were no longer so cozy. We moved from open houses to parent/teacher conferences. My teacher was Mrs. Janet Thornton. It was 1957. She taught the three R’s: Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic. (Did anyone notice they are not R’s?). I made great grades. Getting those grades was a way to get the approval from my parents I so desperately desired. It

became an addiction. I stayed for four degrees!

Then came 2nd grade, Mrs. McClellan, and Growth in Citizenship grades. Grades were doled out in 6-week increments. I received B’s for the first five of the six time periods. Then I got an A. I really don’t think I improved by the 6th week term. I think she was just exhausted.

According to my other citizenship marks, I was courteous, polite, and had a happy little attitude. I apparently cared for my books and arrived on time. (My father’s German ancestry holds that early equals on time.) I was able to keep my hands away from my face and hair, use a handkerchief, and had good table manners in the lunchroom. Yay!

It didn’t matter that the left side of the card showed all A’s; the indictments of that right side of the report card stung. In hindsight, they weren’t wrong. If Mrs. Janet Thornton were to come back from the grave in the year of our Lord 2026, I am certain I would get the same marks. But they would be bold and in red! She would have the last laugh. Here’s what I think:

- Acting before you think is the sign of a maverick, a trendsetter. Enneagram 8?

- Not obeying promptly simply means one considers all the options and consequences before deciding to obey.

- Controlling your talking is ridiculous. Why

(continued on page 16)

Dr. Tim Seelig as a child on his family’s Desoto. His mother and brother are in the photo to the right.

Report cards of Dr. Tim Seelig when he was a grade school student in Texas

JUSTER (continued from pg 8) standing up for each other.

Pink Triangle founder and director Patrick Carney has posted a link so you can sign up to support the Pink Triangle by volunteering or donating, and all volunteers will receive a fashionable Pink Triangle T-shirt for their efforts. https://tinyurl.com/PinkTr Frameline50 Highlights

Having your film chosen for Frameline50—the 50th anniversary of the longest-running queer film festival in the world—is a very big deal. Being chosen as the Opening Night film is next-level exciting. Congratulations to director, writer, and star D’Arcy Drollinger, whose Lady Champagne will premiere at the Castro Theatre on June 17 to kick off Frameline50. Filmed in San Francisco, and featuring many of San Francisco’s favorite performers, this film will lead to an opening night to remember. Drollinger and producer Marc Smolowitz are expected at the screening, and you can bet there will be other surprise guests. Tickets are

ROSTOW (continued from pg 11)

going fast; get yours now at: https://tinyurl.com/FLLadyC But wait, there’s more! Frameline50’s Pride Kickoff Film will be Hunky Jesus, a new documentary by former San Francisco Bay Times columnist Jennifer M. Kroot starring San Francisco’s own Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Tracing the history of the Sisters from their beginnings in the 1970s to the present, and highlighting their annual Hunky Jesus contest on Easter Sunday, Hunky Jesus highlights, not just the outrageous theatricality and joy that the Sisters bring to our city and beyond, but also the radical activism that fuels their social justice work. This film is a tribute to the Sisters’ dedication to serving the community with compassion, strategic resistance, and fierce joy, and features interviews with some of our city’s favorite icons, including Sisters Roma and Vish Knew, and Saint Honey Mahogany. Don’t miss it. Tickets for the June 26 screening (and party): https://tinyurl.com/HunkyJ Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.

Hmmm. Sounds fishy to me. I don’t feel like rewriting or deleting the start of this item, but this is something of a letdown. I wanted to see the video!

Court Takes Another GLBT Case Out of Colorado

Moving right along, we’re coming to the last few weeks of the High Court’s 2025/26 season, where we expect a ruling on the two transgender athlete cases from Idaho and West Virginia. The Court heard oral arguments back in January, and various legal eagles think the anti-trans side will win.

Meanwhile, the justices just accepted a new GLBT case out of Colorado, where you may recall the state has a ban on GLBT discrimination. You may recall that because it seems like the Rocky Mountain State gets an undue share of religious freedom cases before the Supreme Court, and, somehow, its civil rights law falls short in the justices’ determinations. Remember the cake baker (who sort of won)? The wedding video gal? The conversion therapy counselor? Now we have our friends in the Catholic Church arguing that the state’s universal preschool program should give them a pass and allow them to bar same-sex families on religious grounds. Both the district court judge and the Tenth Circuit ruled in favor of Colorado, so the High Court’s decision to take the case is unnerving.

The main thrust of the case, we thought, was a challenge to Employment Division v Smith, one of our favorite precedents. The 1990 opinion, written by Justice Scalia, held that citizens cannot demand religious exemptions from neutral laws that apply to everyone. A couple of guys from Oregon were fired for peyote use and subsequently denied unemployment benefits. They sued, claiming that they used peyote for a religious ritual, and, after a long back and forth between the courts, Scalia denied their claim. Allowing everyone to have their own personal religious objections to general laws would “open the prospect of constitutionally required religious exemptions from civic obligations of almost every conceivable kind.”

Since several conservative justices have complained about the restrictions delivered under Employment Division v Smith, this seemed like yet another opportunity for the Court to overturn Scalia’s decision. However, in accepting this case, the justices deliberately refused to consider overturning the precedent, limiting the questions to how you might prove that a law was not generally applicable, and, second, whether or not a more recent precedent (the Maine school voucher case) would pre-empt Employment Division v Smith. Stay with me here! The Maine case involved a state voucher system that paid parents living in remote areas to send their kids to secular private schools. The voucher program did not cover religious schools, but, in 2022, the Supreme Court said it must.

Unlike the Maine case, the Colorado preschools are following a civil rights law. There are no transfers of public funds involved. There is only the antigay bigotry of the Catholic Church and its disdain for our humanity. The idea of rejecting toddlers with gay parents is the antithesis of Christianity, and the fact that the Court accepted review is discouraging.

Say What?

Before we continue with serious news, I read the other day that Fox News ridiculed Canadian politician Leah Gazan for her use of the abbreviation: “MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+.”

SEELIG (continued from pg 15)

would someone want or need to do that?

The last one is not my fault. If you know me, you know I have a lot to say. It is a well-known Seelig trait that we can talk until we think of something to say. I love storytelling. I love to hear myself talk. My citizenship marks from the 1950s have been hallmarks of my career. I’ve never been comfortable in the shadows. I’ve said “yes” to crazy things. I’ve dreamed big and people have followed. I’ve loved doing my own thing, especially in front of a crowd. I’ve loved people who say, “Yes.” Those who have said, “No,” were not my very favorite.

Discovering my old report cards was not really a revelation. The surprise was that my elementary teachers had my number so early on. It was a theme that was repeated every year. It turns out that it was a crystal-clear look into who I was and who I am. It is sobering in many ways. Most of all, I’m glad I have a therapy session next week. I’ll get to talk a lot.

Dr. Tim Seelig is the Conductor Laureate of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. http://www.timseelig.com/

“When the budget was released,” she posted on social media, “I was shocked to find out that Prime Minister Carney is cutting $7 billion between Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations. They provided zero to deal with the ongoing genocide of MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+. This is abhorrent. This is callous.”

Oh my God, Leah! I agree with Fox News that this locution is simply absurd. It stands for “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual Plus people,” a hodgepodge of categories that makes no sense whatsoever. I suppose the expression refers, not simply to gay and lesbian people, but to missing and murdered gay and lesbian people, along with all the other missing and murdered regular people except for men. (What the hell is Asexual Plus? Why do they get their own position in the queer category list?)

Bottom line? You simply cannot use an “abbreviation” that is completely incomprehensible. I’ve always looked askance when our community’s “LGBT” evolves into LGBTQI-whatever, because many of us don’t know what the other letters represent. However, we know the LGBT, and we can extrapolate that the other stuff involves subcategories of the rainbow coalition. But “MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+?” Just no. (For the record, I picked “GLBT” at a time when there were several acronyms floating around and I just wanted to decide on one. Now I feel it’s a signature of sorts.)

Oh, and “ongoing genocide?” Genocide is the term for attacking an entire group or clan or religion. It’s not used to define murder rates in general. And this budget area sounds like it’s devoted to indigenous citizens, whom I’m sure we all agree should be fully funded, but who are not directly tied to the LGBT rainbow.

What Now, Brown Cow?

I find myself running out of space to discuss the state legislatures, but you can guess what the red states are up to. I was also going to note that Trump’s insane all-night texting is a sign of “sundowning,” a symptom of dementia, and I was also going to write about the looksmaxing internet guy “Clavicular,” who passed out on camera from some careless drug use the other day.

In addition, I’m looking at some old notes that I can’t identify. “Missouri trans” is probably state legislative news, and I’m thinking “Scouts rejects 11th cct case” is actually “SCOTUS,” not scouts. This is actually a story I’ve been looking for! The Leon County, Florida, school district was sued in 2021 by parents who claimed the district did not check with them when they discussed gender identity with their child. The case went through the courts before winding up at the 11th circuit, where a 2–1 majority sided with the school district. The parents tried unsuccessfully to have their case reviewed by the full appellate court, and the Supreme Court declined to hear the case on April 27.

I promise to get into the Rhode Island Hospital transgender medical information case next time, as well as FCC chair Brendon Carr’s new plan to issue special TV ratings for shows involving gender identity. I can’t wait!

arostow@aol.com

Let’s Go Home!

A Beautiful Tortoiseshell Tripod and a Sweet Dog With a Loving Nature

Here are two of the many pets now available for adoption at Oakland Animal Services (OAS):

Hola, I’m Abuela, a 10-year-old tortoiseshell with a lot of love to give. Even though I have just three legs, don’t worry, I get where I need to go just fine. I’m still perfecting my little hop, but, honestly, I think I do it con estilo. Now, let me tell you—I’m quite the looker. My fur is a beautiful mix of deep black, warm orange, and soft golden patches, all swirled together like a cozy sunset. No two spots are the same, which makes me única. I’m a calm chica who enjoys the simple things: a sunny spot for naps and lots of gentle petting sessions, especially gentle rubs of my cheeks (más, más, por favor).

Gentle, affectionate, and growing in confidence, Duncan is a 2.5-year-old cutie weighing about 57 pounds. This sweet boy has a shy and loving nature and is steadily gaining confidence over time. As he warms up, Duncan happily comes close and leans in—or hops right beside you—to soak up lots of affection and gentle pets. He takes treats nicely and enjoys positive interaction with people.

The OAS adoption process focuses on matching you with a pet who is a good fit for you and your family. Come by during open adoption hours

Thursdays 12–7 pm and Fridays/Saturdays/ Sundays 12–3 pm to adopt your new best friend, or to learn more about the OAS adoption process. Please see the OAS website to learn more about how you can help by adopting, fostering, volunteering, and donating: www.oaklandanimalservices.org

Get on the ‘Weightlist’ for FITNESS SF Polk

Excitement is building for the opening of FITNESS SF POLK at 1600 Jackson Street in San Francisco. Scheduled to open in Fall 2026, this location is being built with intention. Already new roofing is underway, the sauna walls are framed, the red light therapy room is nearly complete, and the Creator Studio is ready for soundproofing. Lighting for the coworking space has also arrived, and much more progress is additionally being made in preparation for the grand opening.

There are limited spots available and interest has been building for this upcoming centrally located location. Get on the “weightlist” here: https://bit.ly/4d3KzBA

Troy Macfarland at FITNESS SF shares monthly tips that he has learned from colleagues, fellow professional trainers, and more. For additional information: https://fitnesssf.com/

Abuela

Duncan

A Celebration to Remember for the 50th Anniversary of San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® WMC

Dykes on Bikes® Tales From Two Wheels

By Kate Brown, Ph.D.

San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® (DOBTM) WMC is riding through a milestone year with joy, gratitude, and a very full calendar. As we celebrate 50 years of leading the San Francisco Pride Parade, we are reminded again that this organization was built by riders, sustained by community, and carried forward by everyone who believes in the power of lesbian visibility, courage, and the power of showing up.

On April 24, 2026, the Friday night of Lesbian Visibility Week, our 50th Anniversary Celebration and fundraiser filled Rikki’s Women’s Sports Bar with history, love, laughter, and plenty of motorcycle spirit. The evening was co-hosted by the San Francisco Bay Times and Rikki’s, and we are deeply grateful to both organizations for helping us mark this incredible semi-centennial moment.

The night was made especially meaningful by the special honors we received. Senator Scott Wiener presented a resolution from the California Senate recognizing San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® WMC and our 50 years of service, visibility, and leadership. San

Francisco Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman also presented a special commendation, honoring the organization’s place in San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ history and our continuing role in the Pride movement.

We were honored to have the incredible Donna Sachet emcee the evening, keeping the program moving with warmth, humor, and heart. DJ Christie presented by Olivia Travel brought the music and energy, helping turn the celebration into exactly what it should be: a party worthy of 50 years on the road.

Our fundraiser included a wonderful auction with generous prizes donated by supporters and community partners. The grand prize captured the spirit of the party perfectly: a ride on the back seat of a Dykes on Bikes motorcycle in the San Francisco Pride Parade. For the lucky winner, it will be a chance to experience Pride from a motorcycle surrounded by the roar of engines and

the love of the crowd.

As we continue celebrating our 50th, we are also riding in connection with motorcyclists around the world. Saturday, May 2, marked the 20th International Female Ride Day, celebrated annually on the first Saturday in May. With its mantra of “Just Ride,” the day brings riders together across borders and communities. The term “female,” as used by the organizers, is stylized and inclusive, intended to embrace a range of identities, including non-binary, trans, and gender-expansive riders.

In recognition of International Female Ride Day, San Francisco DOB met up in Emeryville, where Road Captain Maria led our riders on a beautiful outing through the Sacramento Delta. It was the kind of ride that reminds us that the open road, shared purpose, and the simple joy of riding together are part of why we do this.

And we are just getting started.

June will be a full and exciting month for San Francisco DOB. One event we are especially looking forward to is our June 7 gathering at The New Parkway Theater in Oakland for an evening entitled “Wheels in Motion.” Organized by Patch-holder Smokey, this will be an evening focusing on the history and legacy of Dykes on Bikes, including a screening of the 2010 documentary SF Dykes on Bikes®, directed and produced by Emeritus Patch-holder and DOB archivist Dr. Sheila Malone. Dr. Malone is a

organization for future generations.

“Wheels in Motion” is sure to be a powerful and memorable evening, bringing together our past, present, and future as we continue riding into our next 50 years. Please keep the date open and watch our website and social media for more information soon.

Kate Brown, Ph.D., is the President of San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® Women’s Motorcycle Contingent. https://www.dykesonbikes.org/

media artist, scholar, and educator, and their work, including the short film SF Dykes on Bikes, has helped preserve and share the story of this

San Francisco Dykes on Bikes celebrated International Female Riders Day with a ride through Sacramento Delta and a stop at Ryde, CA. May 2, 2026.

MARIA

Ellen Aquila and Pam Quan pose with State Senator Scott Wiener at the Dykes on Bikes 50th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser.

Queer Films and Filmmakers on Screen at CAAMFest

Gary M. Kramer

At this year’s CAAMFest, May 7–10 in San Francisco’s Japantown, there are dozens of feature films, shorts, and documentaries by filmmakers who identify as LGBTQ. Here is a rundown of the films with queer content screening as part of this year’s program as well as a list of films by LGBTQIA+ filmmakers.

The Dao of Thao (May 9, 3 pm, AMC Kabuki) is an engaging documentary about the incredibly likeable performance artist Thao P. Nguyen, a queer Asian woman who grapples with her identity and authenticity both on stage and off. Thao is reluctant to come out to her mother, but is now parenting a young son, which prompts her to consider how parents’ behaviors impact their children. A terrific speech she delivers in the film about what qualities her mother gave her shows her emotional power and artistry. Thao is romantically involved with a cis man, and yet worries about losing her queer friends because of her partner. In addition, while her family is Vietnamese,

she was born in Thailand, which causes her concerns to fear she is not Vietnamese enough. As Thao workshops her performance, cares for her son, and reflects on her identity, she finds ways to make sense and find meaning of who she is and who she tries to be. It is an inspiring portrait, and one that will make viewers want to see Thao perform live.

The documentary short Between Us, playing in the “Seasons of Becoming” program (May 8, 5:30 pm, AMC Kabuki) also addresses issues of queer and Asian identities. Hunny Hach is a queer Cambodian in Long Beach, CA, who wants to understand her cultural and family history, but has lost some of that knowledge with the death of her mother. Another interviewee, Ivy Hàng, who is

queer and Vietnamese, struggles with being born and raised in a country that displaced their family during the war. Seeking connection with their community in Little Saigon, they recount how the organizers of the annual Tét (Lunar New Year) parade, excluded LGBTQ folks from marching after a gay couple kissed (chastely, no less)

back in 2013. After protesting, queer and trans Vietnamese folks have marched every year since. Between Us also introduces Hanh Thi Pham, a lesbian elder, to Ivy, as well as the VROC Mamas, women who have queer kids and support folks who may be estranged from their families. What emerges is how these two generations—the youth and the elders—look back (as well as forward) at their social and cultural history to provide a safe space for queer Asians in their communities. This compelling short provides insight into how folks like Hunny and Ivy see and shape their world.

Rope, playing in the “Thirteen O’Clock” program (May 9, 8:30 pm, AMC Kabuki) depicts Akihiro’s (non-binary Akane Little) sense memories of his grandmother (Yuka Taga), whom he never met, during a bondage session with Ji (Che’Li). Aki’s grandmother was a sea diver who gathered pearls, but did not want to stay on the land, much to her father’s (Wataru Nishida) chagrin. Aki imagines her through a series of parallel, intercut images while also recalibrating his relationship with Ji. This gorgeously lensed short feels like it could be developed into a feature. Viewers certainly will want more.

See You Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow, playing in the “Old Roots, New Branches” program (May 10, 5:45 pm, AMC Kabuki) takes a comedic look at intergenerational issues as Cathy (Irene Tu) is a caregiver for her 99-year-old grandmother (Lisa Lu), who raised her. Taking a night off to perform standup comedy—her first gig in a long time—Cathy recounts

Film

Rope

(continued from page 23)

her experiences with scenes illustrating her giving her grandma an edible when she can’t sleep one night. This sweet short, written and directed by Desdemona Chiang, is amusing, but it is quite poignant as Cathy describes the difficulties of the job and the acknowledgement that, however frustrating it is, it won’t last forever.

Two feature-length films by LGBTQIA+ directors screening at CAAMFest include: Seat at the Table , a documentary about South Asian political candidates, and Shakti , a drama about a mother who contacts a shaman to help her ill daughter.

Documentary shorts by queer filmmakers include Bridging Our Stories, about a Filipino woman living in Alaska who learns an institution she grew up with has been destroyed; Dare to Win, about an elderly community activist; The Last Resort, about a retirement community for aging South Asian Indians; and Warren King: King of Cardboard, a portrait of a man who shapes terra cotta warriors out of cardboard.

Narrative shorts by queer filmmakers include: Milk & Honey, in which a woman leaves the Philippines to pursue the American Dream and hopes to reunite

with her daughter; Skin, about an Indian woman who wants to lighten her skin tone; Sweet Farewell, about the owner and an employee at a dessert shop whose business may have to close down; and The Bird, The Girl, and the Typhoon, about a Filipino nurse who seeks new life after 40 years of work.

Animated shorts by queer filmmakers include: Lukso ng Dugo , about a Filipina girl trying to stop cycles of family abuse; Paper Daughter, an animated tale of an immigrant on Angel Island; Ramen Western , an animated short about noodles that transport a young girl to the American West; and The Newcomer, about a Korean immigrant’s efforts to maintain ties to her homeland.

For tickets, showtimes, and more information, visit https://caamfest.com/2026/

© 2026 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.” He teaches Short Attention Span Cinema at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute and is the moderator for Cinema Salon, a weekly film discussion group. Follow him on IG @garyemkramer

Seat at the Table

The Bird, The Girl, and the Typhoon

The Only Devil in The Devil Wears Prada 2 is AI

Off the Wahl

Jan Wahl

Movies are subjective; we should all be critical thinkers. On the way home from the movie theater, my friend Adam Kent and I had quite the battle of tastes when it comes to The Devil Wears Prada 2

Jan Wahl: What made The Devil Wears Prada so enticing and memorable was the bitchy woman at the top, Miranda Priestly. Her acerbic wit made the character both believable and fun. That is what is missing from this sequel. Miranda is now softened, vulnerable, and often passive.

Adam Kent: You’re right, Jan, and we expect consistency of a character in sequels; but this is fundamentally a different movie. The first was about a rat race in a world of demigods; the second is about how women can use brains and style to climb to the top.

Jan Wahl: I hear you, Adam. Many people will disagree with me and be glad that this familiar character is empathetic. But I have worked for women like this who

have clawed their way to the top, and, baby, they don’t change! What did you think about the fashion?

Adam Kent: The fashion was glitzy and mixed in the Europhile connection to la moda, but it seemed to take a back seat to the movie’s plot.

Jan Wahl: We are really disagreeing on this one—the fashion is the main reason to see this movie on the big screen. Fabulous haute couture with exceptional details; that’s what makes this real eye candy. But what we also need to address, Adam, is the important subtext of AI changing our lives.

Adam Kent: Yes, that’s why I say this is a different movie. This is a movie about a superheroine taking on this change that is gobbling up journalism and so much more. You mentioned all the changes in broadcasting you saw in your time. This is no different; it’s a technological revolution, and the question this movie poses is: Is there room for human-generated creativity in writing, and, in the future, even art?

Jan Wahl: That’s the best writing in this movie. It reminded me of experiencing camera people, engineers, and others disappearing as the evolution of broadcasting technology continues. AI is definitely winning the war on journalism, creativity, and plain old jobs. I love that the movie explains this to the next generation.

Jan Wahl is a Hollywood historian and film critic on various broadcast outlets. She has two Emmys and many awards for her longtime work on behalf of film buffs and the LGBTQ community. Learn more at www.janwahl.com

Crescendo

Crescendo 2026 Raises Record-Breaking $1.65 Million for the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus

On Saturday, April 25, 2026, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) annual gala, Crescendo, brought together an extraordinary community of supporters, entertainers, and politicians in support of SFGMC’s artistic and educational initiatives. The room was filled with joy and purpose as the chorus performed with warmth and love in every note to a crowd of 700 attendees.

The evening’s luminaries made it truly unforgettable: hosting the event was the incomparable Monét X Change, (winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars) who dazzled with her range of talents from opera to comedy.

Rita Moreno, an EGOT icon, charmed the crowd with her legendary charisma, and State Senator Scott Wiener encouraged attendees to keep lifting their voices for community and country.

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi delivered inspiring remarks, calling the chorus the “soul of San Francisco” and sharing her thanks and admiration for the evening’s two honorees: Gilead, which received the Corporate Champion Award, and SFGMC CEO Christopher Verdugo, who won the Visionary Leadership Award.

During his acceptance of the Corporate Champion award, Gilead’s CEO Daniel O’Day spoke powerfully about authentic corporate advocacy and serving the LGBTQ+ community through purpose and action.

The night also served as a heartfelt tribute to outgoing Verdugo, whose decade of transformative leadership has forever shaped the organization. Recalling his legacy, Greg Sarris, Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, spoke of Verdugo’s ability to turn dreams into reality, especially his role in the creation of the Chan National Queer Arts Center as a permanent home for the chorus in San Francisco.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of everyone in the room, the Crescendo gala raised a record-breaking $1.65 million.

These funds will directly support SFGMC’s mainstage concerts, the Chan National Queer Arts Center, and RHYTHM (Reaching Youth Through Music). This milestone is a testament to what happens when a community comes together in belief—in the power of music, in the importance of belonging, and in a future where every voice is heard. https://www.sfgmc.org/

Photos by Kelly Keltos and Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography

The Songs + Stories of Stephen Schwartz at The Chan National Queer Arts Center

In the intimate setting of The Chan National Queer Arts Center, composer, lyricist, and pianist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, and more), members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC), and solo artists Michael McCorry Rose (Schwartz’s partner, who is an accomplished performer in his own right), Taylor Iman Jones, and Schwartz himself performed many of the legendary composer’s most memorable songs. They included “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, “Beautiful City” from Godspell, “Corner of the Sky” from Pippin, and numerous others. It was especially powerful to hear Schwartz’s interpretations, revealing layers of added meaning to the songs he wrote. He has a lovely voice that many in the audience had never heard before, having been more familiar with cast recordings of the well-known songs. All of the other singers were remarkable as well. Tears were flowing, both onstage and in the audience, when the SFGMC sang the first of two numbers previously associated with Schwartz collaborations: “Testimony” (with lyrics inspired by the It Gets Better Project) and “Bloom” from the song cycle Songs of the Phoenix that also involved a collaboration with poet Alexandra Elle.

Schwartz agreed to bring The Songs + Stories of Stephen Schwartz to The Chan National Queer Arts Center after learning that his close friend, SFGMC CEO Christopher Verdugo, would be stepping down from his position this year. Verdugo mentions this in a compilation of clips from the evening produced by SF Classical Voice : https://bit.ly/4usNDhp

Photos by Marco Solorio of OneRiver Media

Stephen Schwartz

Leave Signs

If you’re looking desperately for something to read, wander over to the Catskill Mountain region of New York to the village of Hobart, which apparently has more bookstores per capita than any village in the country. And if you go in early June, when the Hobart Festival of Women Writers ( https://bit.ly/4eWiuyw ) is in full swing, you can even have some books read aloud to you by the writers themselves. Founded fourteen years ago by poet Cheryl Clarke, historian and bookstore owner Barbara Balliet, and novelist Breena Clarke, the festival includes writing workshops, panels, and lunches by the Delaware River. Writers who’ve been part of the festival (which is open to all) are Irene Klepfisz, Alexis de Veaux, Mecca Jamilah Sullivan,

Jewelle Gomez It Takes a Book Village

Elisabeth Nonas, and Nancy Bereano. A stalwart of the festival has been poet Esther Cohen, who does a regular column of her poetry, Overheard, on Substack.

Esther, who has wild red hair, a penetrating voice, and a finely crafted poetic vision, was recently named the first Poet Laureate of Greene County, which is an hour and a half outside of New York City and has

a population somewhere around 50,000. But, before Esther could accept her (virtual) crown, the county legislators rescinded the award, citing online posts someone said were inciting violence. Although most of the legislators had not seen the posts—which were actually reposts—they voted unanimously against her and refused her request to appear before them.

Quoted in a Guardian article, Esther said that she wasn’t upset and quipped she’d

later ask her therapist why. The ramifications of the dismissal of a woman and her accomplishments as a writer and community activist are truly distressing. Esther is white, Jewish, married to a male, and is not a wild-eyed, youthful insurrectionist (a fave group of mine), yet the county found it easy to marginalize her. They also chose to ignore all those who wrote in support of her, including local Republicans (in this Republican county) who love Esther.

The thing to fear here is that it’s a short road from this censure to a law forbidding dissenting poets from participating in any municipal events or receiving local funds, with “dissenting” being defined as lesbian, transgender, gay, people of color, immigrant, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Palestinian, etc. When careerist politicians insist on protecting their jobs more than the Constitution, we, the people, are in great danger. It’s like we’re in the Upside Down and Vecna is running things.

Lesbians fought just as hard as anyone for women’s right to abortion, for women’s right to vote, and the Voting Rights Act; for Obamacare, for equality for girls in sports, for raising the minimum wage, and for all the other things any civilized society should grant automatically. Yet, Vecna and his minions are rolling back our rights faster than a ball barreling down the lane straight

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Jewelle Gomez

Esther Cohen

Top of your stack

Last Night in Brooklyn (fiction - hardcover) by Xochitl Gonzalez

In her newest novel, Gonzalez explores what the American dream truly means. Last Night in Brooklyn is set in 2007 Brooklyn on the cusp of a life-altering presidential election. Alicia Cardoza is overwhelmed by her future and becomes enraptured by the glamorous life of her nextdoor neighbor, La Garza.

Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories (fiction - hardcover) by Amal El-Mohtar

Seasons of Glass and Iron is a collection of acclaimed stories from author Amal El-Mohtar. Featuring her lyrical prose, this collection includes fairytales, fantasy worlds, and love that lingers long after the final page.

Black Out Loud: The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy From Vaudeville to ‘90s Sitcoms (nonfiction - hardcover) by Geoff Bennett

Recommendations from Book Passage

Co-anchor of PBS NewsHour Geoff Bennett conveys the illuminating history of Black comedy in America.

Bennett chronicles the cultural shift using his extensive research and interviews with comedians, executives, and actors.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, May 9 @ 11 am (non-ticketedCorte Madera store) Melissa Chen, author of Dog Hiking Northern California

This is an informative and entertaining guide to dog-friendly hiking trails in the Bay Area. Chen is an avid hiker who personally vetted each of the trails with her two dogs. Dogs are also welcome to attend the event.

Wednesday, May 13 @ 5:30 pm (non-ticketedFerry Building store) Stephanie Fairyington, author of Ugly: A Letter to My Daughter Fairyington breaks down how her upbringing, cultural norms, and beauty standards led her to have a negative self-perception. Ugly is a story of queer motherhood and the permission to recreate cultural standards and how we speak to ourselves. Fairyington will be joined in conversation by Monique Jenkinson.

Thursday, May 14 @ 6 pm (non-ticketedCorte Madera store) Jeanine Cummins, author of Speak to Me of Home

A multigenerational story of mothers and daughters, Speak to Me of Home begins with the tale of Rafaela, who moves from Puerto Rico to the Midwest with her new husband. Cummins examines how geography and genetics shape where one truly feels most at home. Cummins will be joined in conversation by Luisa Smith.

https://www.bookpassage.com

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

Sister Dana sez, “Mother’s Day is on May 10, so be sure to wish your birth mother or drag mother (or both) a happy one!”

Sister Dana also sez, “Did we remember to celebrate EARTH DAY on April 22? We should love our dear Mother Earth—even when it isn’t Mother’s Day!”

Award-winning author David Levithan and University of Cambridge PhD Gabriel Duckels appeared at Fabulosa Books on April 22 to do a Q&A regarding their book, THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES. It gives a brief history of the AIDS epidemic, illuminating important figures such as Ryan White, ACT UP, Larry Kramer and Anthony Fauci, Pedro Zamora from MTV’s The Real World, and the Names Quilt. There are poems, essays, and other creative works, as well as first-person interviews. This should be a manual for any true AIDS activist!

It was the biggest “TEA DANCE in the Castro” put on by KREWE de KINQUE on April 26 at the largest LGBTQ nightclub in the hood, The Café. Krewe de Kinque’s King & Queen XXIII Todd Hotty & Fabulosa hosted a fabulous birthday party for local diva Donna Sachet , including her awesome live singing—plus a huge cake. Twenty-three performers took the stage in between delightful disco & dance music sets by DJ Jimmy Strano (past KdK Queen IV). Proceeds supported the heart health recovery fund for Jason Seneca , KdK Queen XVIII Christina Ashton. King & Queen XXII John Brett & Olivia Hart were joined by us KdK members to present a $7,000 check to Openhouse (LGBTQ senior housing, programs, and services) representing the proceeds from our “Bal Masque XXIII.” As we KdK members say: “We Let the Good Times Roll!”

San Francisco is proposing MILLIONS in cuts to HIV services, critical sexual health, queer youth programs, and other LGBTQ community help. The terrible Trump administration is cutting these vital LGBTQ provisions, so we need SF leaders to protect them, not harm them. The proposed budget cuts to these programs wreak havoc on our LGBTQ community. Sister Dana sez, “Once again, it’s billionaires first—and the other 98% can simply suffer!”

That’s why the HARVEY MILK LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CLUB, SF AIDS

FOUNDATION, and LYRIC held a lively and inspirational rally, “ Show Up, Speak Out, Fight Back,” in Jane Warner Plaza—the heart of The Castro District—on April 23. We sent a clear message to City Hall: When our communities are under attack, San Francisco leaders must stand with us, not cut us! We exposed and opposed Mayor Lurie’s proposed $3.4 million cuts to HIV services in his new budget. “Yes on D: Protect Care, Not Corporate Greed” placards were everywhere! And even more signs stated the theme of the event, “Show Up! Speak Out! Fight Back,” and a throng of us activists (overflowing the plaza and into the street) did indeed show up for the fight.

This horrible Supreme (INFERIOR) Court decision was made on April 29 before we published, but I just want to remind everyone that T-rump the Tyrant got the Court to gut the Voting Rights Act by a 3 to 6 majority! This will drastically affect our People of Color in the midterms voting process. Sister Dana sez, “If they can ever cheat, the ‘Repugnantcans’ will DO IT!”

The HARVEY MILK CLUB is 50 years old, so they’re putting on the largest, grandest, queerest Gayla in their history. From the doors they’ve kicked open, to the policies they’ve written and advocated for, to the communities they’ve organized and mobilized—the impact of the Milk Club is undeniable, and they’re just getting started. NAACP Board Chair Leon Russell will be keynote speaker. Let’s celebrate their victories and plans for the next 50 years at the San Francisco Design Center Galleria,101 Henry Adams Street—reception 6 pm, dinner and awards 7:30 pm, and concert 9 pm. Who are among the current targets of Trump’s ridiculous, rotten retribution campaign—up for “legal” charges? I won’t include those who have had their case (temporarily) dismissed. But currently, he’s attacking eight people: Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, former CIA Director John Brennan, U.S. Senator for California Adam Schiff, former DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith, former DHS Chief of Staff Miles Taylor, former CISA Director Christopher Krebs, District Attorney of Fulton County Fani Willis, and Democratic mega-donor George Soros. Sister Dana sez, “Who should go to jail? None of them—but certainly the felon of felons, dictator Donnie!”

It has been revealed that billionaire Tom Steyer has invested in private prisons for snatched-up innocent immigrants, and in fossil fuel industries, and in coal mining. He is trying to buy our California Governorship with many, many massive lying commercials. Sister Dana sez, “Moving to another race, for CA 11th Congressional District, I’m voting for Senator Scott Wiener. He has been an openly gay, proud representative for the LGBTQ community for decades!”

King Charles III came to our Congress on April 28 with the message: “Ours is a relationship born out of dispute, but

no less strong for it.” He emphatically noted “the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances.” He continued, “It is my hope, my prayer, that in these turbulent times—working together and with our international partners—we can stem the beating of plowshares into swords. I believe with all my heart that the essence

of our two nations is a generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, to deepen mutual understanding, and to value all people of all faiths and of none.” Both sides of the aisle gave thunderous standing ovations. But will the Republicans (and the wannabe King Trump) act on

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John Weber, King VII of Krewe de Kinque (KDK), met with Sister Dana Van Iquity at the April 26 Castro Sunset Tea held at The Café. The event, produced by Gary Virginia, celebrated the birthday of Donna Sachet, included a check presentation to Openhouse, and raised funds to help with the healthcare needs of Jason Seneca (KDK Queen XVIII Christina Ashton).

Myths in the Bottle: Rethinking the Worm

Cocktails With Dina by Dina

Novarr

Every year, around the first week of May, American bars drape themselves in green, white, and red, pour margaritas by the gallon, and toast to Mexico. Somewhere behind the bar, there’s probably a bottle of mezcal with a pale, curled creature at the bottom: the gusano, the worm, the myth. It is the thing people dare each other to eat. It is supposed to feel authentically Mexican. Much like Cinco de Mayo itself, the true story is more complex.

Let’s start with the worm, which is not a worm. Researchers at the Florida Museum

of Natural History confirmed this recently using DNA testing on specimens pulled from actual mezcal bottles. What’s floating in there is a caterpillar, specifically the larva of Comadia redtenbacheri, the agave redworm moth, which can be a pest that tunnels into agave plants, hollows them out, and kills them. The bottle tradition isn’t some ancient Oaxacan ritual. It was invented in the 1940s by a producer named Jacobo Lozano Páez as a brand differentiator, centuries after mezcal production began. The target audience was always American consumers, who received the novelty as authenticity and ran with it hard. This brings us to one of the better ironies in the spirits world. The caterpillar masquerading as a gusano does have a real life in Oaxacan cuisine. Chinicuiles (the larvae of the redworm moth) have been eaten in Mexico for centuries, toasted, salted,

ground with chile into sal de gusano, and served alongside orange slices at a proper mezcal flight. Mexicans are not worm-averse. They just think putting one in a bottle is embarrassing and signals an inferior product. The flavor argument never held up anyway. A single larva soaking in 750 ml of high-proof spirit contributes exactly nothing.

So, here is the joke: Somehow, the narrative became that Mexicans exported their worm culture to America. The actual sequence of events was a cynical American-facing marketing stunt that Americans then enthusiastically mistook for ancient tradition. The appropriation runs in reverse. A midcentury fiction got laundered into folklore, and the culture it claimed to represent has spent decades quietly mortified by the association. The gusano bottle is not a cultural artifact. It is a case study in how efficiently American consumption can invent a mythology, staple it to someone else’s identity, and act like it was there all along.

Oaxacan kitchens before it became a dare at a dive bar. Cinco de Mayo has real political weight beyond just a reason to order another round. In both cases, the copy got more famous than the original, and the original got buried under whatever version was easier to monetize.

The consequences are no longer just aesthetic. A 2025 study found that larva extraction can reduce agave populations by up to 57 percent, with juvenile plants hit hardest because harvesters sacrifice them before they reach sexual maturity. Collecting the larvae usually means destroying the host plant. Scale that against international demand and you have a marketing gimmick that is actively threatening the ecosystem mezcal depends on to survive. Producers with any serious narrative would actually pour 400 Conejos, Los Siete Misterios, and Derrumbes, and would never go near a worm bottle. The stuff with worms lives on the bottom shelf and the spring break shot menu, which is exactly where it belongs.

The reason I have mezcal and worms on my mind is because there is a holiday in May where people crawl into bars and soak their livers in agave spirits: tequila and mezcal. It is Cinco de Mayo, or The Battle of Puebla, which happened on May 5, 1862, when Mexican forces defeated a French army that had expected an easy win. This battle was regionally significant, but is not Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16; yet, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo is observed everywhere, loudly, by people who probably cannot locate Puebla on a map, yet September 16th goes quietly.

The worm and the holiday are the same story. American consumption found something with genuine Mexican roots, flattened it into a symbol, and sold it back at a markup. The gusano had a real life in

If you want to honor the culture, skip the myths and go straight to the source. There’s better mezcal, better history, and better reasons to raise a glass. Choose the real story; it’s the one worth telling.

Common Ground

A drink that really blends two cultures in one glass

4 fresh blackberries (plus more for garnish)

¾ oz fresh lime juice

¾ oz simple syrup

1 oz Concord grape juice (from a grape developed and grown in the American Northeast since the 1840s)

2 oz 400 Conejos Mezcal Joven ginger beer (to top) ice

bay leaf (for garnish)

1) In a shaker, muddle the blackberries with the lime juice and simple syrup.

2) Add the Concord grape juice and mezcal.

3) Fill with ice and shake until well chilled.

4) Strain into an ice-filled glass (double strain if you want it cleaner).

5) Top with ginger beer.

6) Garnish with fresh blackberries and a bay leaf.

San Francisco-based Dina Novarr enjoys sharing her passion for fine wines, spirits, non-alcoholic craft beverages, and more with others.

The Gay Gourmet

David Landis

You’d think that finding a decent place to dine on the waterfront on San Francisco Bay would be easy, right? There’s Waterbar on the Embarcadero, Greens at Fort Mason, Fog Harbor at Pier 39, and Scoma’s at Fisherman’s Wharf. But it’s always been a quandary to this restaurant-goer to find a place that combines great food with a panoramic view.

Of course, there are a bunch of touristy places (including numerous ones that I won’t even begin to name on the Wharf). And I thought The Spinnaker in Sausalito—which I’d never visited in all the years I’ve lived here—was just that.

Well, buoys and gulls (pardon the pun!), I’m hear to tell you: The Spinnaker is the real deal.

I’m calling it a “piquant pelican pod port,” because of the pelicans circling the restaurant and its protected rooftop.

The Spinnaker: A Piquant Pelican Pod Port

More on that (and the food) later.

First, let’s dive into a bit about the history of this fine dining establishment. According to the owners, “The Spinnaker (for over 61 years) has been a dining destination for generations of locals and visitors alike. An iconic restaurant perched on piers over the San Francisco Bay on the Sausalito waterfront, it all started in 1960 when Bill McDonnell and California State Senator Gene McAteer built the Spinnaker on a spit of land in Sausalito called Shell Beach. The beach was so called because oyster shells from all the local restaurants were deposited there. The Spinnaker is one of the rare family-owned and operated restaurants in the Bay Area. Bill’s son Tim McDonnell is at the helm with Jeff Scharosch, a partner and the general manager who has been with the company for 27+ years.”

the Amalfi-esque Sausalito waterfront, as well as the San Francisco skyline. In a word, stunning!

First off, there’s free parking and free valet parking right out the restaurant’s doorstep. Now, that’s a plus! Then, when you walk through the doors of this seaside eatery, you are warmly greeted by the host, and your eyes are immediately drawn to the sweeping floor-to-ceiling views.

You are literally perched on a pier, which makes dining here feel like you are hovering over the water. Recently, my husband and I visited for lunch (best for the view), and we were able to score one of the premiere corner tables.

Our view was an expansive outlook onto the bay. You’re also overlooking

Back to the pelicans. As you take in the gorgeous marine vistas, you start to notice something very special: pelicans skimming the water, then swooping up at the last minute to avoid the windows, and flying to their nesting habitat on the roof. And, yes, you also see that aerial maneuver in reverse: pelicans flying down from the roof, and then passing close to the surface to fish for their own lunch. That, right there, is worth the price of admission. Note to the proprietors: maybe install a pelican-cam?

At The Spinnaker, there’s so much more than just those ancient flying birds, including: professional service, white tablecloths, inviting décor, and a menu to match those superior qualities.

Our server, Maya, was incredibly knowledgeable and welcoming. I really am not

a fan of the robot-like waitstaff at many restaurants these days who just recite a stagnant script. Maya was the exact opposite: She knew the menu so well that she guided us appropriately to dishes that were tailor-made for us and our appetites. Plus, she could also wax poetic about the pelicans! So, what to order? First, the restaurant has, not just an extensive wine list, but a welcome, full bar as well. So, we started with a gin straight up for moi, and a vodka on the rocks with an orange slice for my husband. Incidentally, does anyone remember that famous vodka drink from San Francisco’s yesteryear? It was a favorite of the iconic San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen, who dubbed it “Vitamin V.”

For appetizers, we split another throwback, the Oysters Rockefeller, baked with fresh, local Miyagi oysters. The Spinnaker’s version includes brandy, parmesan cheese, and spinach (whereas the original recipe from New Orleans has a special green sauce that’s usually made with watercress, parsley, celery, shallots, garlic, and absinthe or Pernod). I’m a stickler for freshness when it comes to oysters, and these tasted as if they’d just been harvested from the sea that morning. Plus, doesn’t parmesan cheese and brandy make everything taste better?

For our mains, my husband ordered the seafood Cobb salad, and I ordered the bay shrimp Louie, accompanied by a half avocado. The Cobb had local scallops and shrimp, alongside crumbled Point Reyes bleu cheese, chopped egg and bacon, and tomato. The seafood version of the Cobb is a refreshing change to the regular Cobb you see on virtually every menu these days, and it was yummy. The bay shrimp Louie was a perfect size; in my humble opinion, bay shrimp are tastier and sweeter than regular shrimp or prawns. Plus, doesn’t the Louie dressing remind us all of our Thousand Island days growing up?

Clearly, The Spinnaker is known for its seafood choices, but there’s also an ample

(continued on page 39)

Beverages and entrées at The Spinnaker

Exterior of The Spinnaker in Sausalito

(continued from page 38)

menu of pastas, steak, chicken, and pork from which to choose.

Before we ordered dessert, we were treated to another marine visitor: namely, a friendly sea lion who popped his head up to survey the scenic surroundings. Onto the next course: I always like to try a New York-style cheesecake because so many are sub-standard. This version differentiated itself with a not-too-sweet huckleberry sauce; it sported a thick, dense, and creamy interior. Take that, Big Apple!

To finish, I ordered an espresso, but my husband ordered the espresso martini. The Spinnaker’s is on par with the bestin-class espresso martini at the Balboa Café: not too sweet, and not too bitter. In short, it was a perfect ending to a perfect meal.

So, when you’re looking for great food with a view to match, head over the Golden Gate Bridge to The Spinnaker in Sausalito. It’s the mini-vacation you deserve. You won’t be disappointed.

Bits and Bites

My pal and former San Francisco Chronicle columnist Leah Garchik gave me a tip about a hot new bakery in the Nopa neighborhood: Sol Bakery. I hear that the seasonal menu includes an excellent guava tart; a Danish with passionfruit and strawberry jam; sourdough focaccia with rainbow chard and ramps; and mini polenta cakes adorned with kumquat.

Graton Resort & Casino recently held a series of star-studded grand reopening

events to mark Graton’s new expansion that includes AYA , the resort’s first rooftop restaurant from Chef Roy Ellamar; Playbook, a high-energy sports bar; SoCo Dough Co., an artisanal doughnut and dessert concept; and a new 144,000-square-foot, fully smoke-free gaming floor. AYA was the centerpiece of the grand reopening. The David Rockwell-designed space overlooking Sonoma County is home to an original farm-totable concept blending coastal Californian cuisine with Filipino and Hawaiian influences.

If you’re in the South Bay, Yutori has opened an expansive enterprise in Palo Alto that includes a Japanese-style market, a café, and a yet-to-open restaurant and bar. Jerome Ito helms the business, and his credits include serving as the former chief sushi chef at Google, plus currently running Taro San Noodle Bar and Go Fish Poke Bar (also in Palo Alto). According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Yutori “will operate all day, serving miso lattes and Japanese sandos during the day, then, eventually, cocktails and Wagyu steak at night.”

The Spinnaker: https://www.spinnakersasausalito.us/

Sol Bakery: https://tinyurl.com/4kpyecd8 Yutori: https://www.yutori-pa.com/

David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a retired PR maven. You can email him at: davidlandissf@gmail.com

Or visit him online at: www.gaygourmetsf.com

One of many panoramic views from a table at The Spinnaker in Sausalito

A view from The Spinnaker in Sausalito

10th Anniversary of the Amateur Music Network

David Landis (The Gay Gourmet at the San Francisco Bay Times) and husband Sean Dowdall on April 23, 2026, hosted a 10th anniversary fundraiser party for the Amateur Music Network. It was held at The Academy SF. Headed by the indomitable Lolly Lewis, the network matches amateur musicians with professionals so they can learn more and engage more with music. At this gala fundraiser, jazz singer Candace Johnson, opera/symphony star Nick Phan, and Broadway favorite Karen Mason performed for around 70 people. The event raised close to $ 35,000. https://amateurmusic.org/

Sandy’s Sketches

By Sandy Morris

Sandy Morris has been making art for the last 60 years. She says, “My pen, ink, and pencil drawings usually start with no preconceived idea—just drawing a straight or curved line or two. From there, my imagination takes over. I build upon the piece. My works range from the whimsical to the political, to emotions, and everything in between.”

SISTER DANA (continued from pg 35)

the real King’s words regarding NATO, checks and balances, nature, the Ukraine, the Magna Carta, peace, patriotism versus nationalism, and different faiths? Sister Dana sez, “‘Words matter, as the King stated precisely.” King Charles also presented Trump with a golden bell—possibly signifying America’s Liberty Bell. Sister Dana sez, “86-47 ALL of Trump’s golden trophies—if ya know what I mean, falsely accused James Comey and those silly seashells!”

May 1 was INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ DAY and also MAY DAY as well as nationwide “May Day Strong” with huge rallies in the SF Bay Area and across America to protest the authoritarian government and to encourage democracy. May 5 was CINCO DE MAYO and the least we need is a wall around Mexico!

Let’s be clear that the shameful shooter at the White House Correspondent Dinner was toward administration officials—as seen in the suspect’s writings that he made before the shooting. Sister Dana sez, “So the Prez does not get to claim another ‘assassination attempt’ only against HIS life. Therefore, DJT, please share your death threat with the rest of the 12 in your Madmistration—none of whom deserve to be in the people’s White House!” Nevertheless, it has become way too clear that way too many people apparently believe that violence is the way to achieve political goals. But I say, “No way!”

Sister Dana sez, “Did the president send a calming message to Americans after that horrendous White House Correspondents Dinner shooting? He did NOT! Instead, he immediately made it a case for his bodaciously big ballroom that taxpayers will pay for. Nice move, Authoritarian-in-Chief!”

Impatient Trump did not want to keep negotiating with Iran, so. without Congressional approval, he chose to bomb the hell out of Iran with later intentions of destroying their entire civilization. And now Secretary of War Hegsmeth demands 1.5 TRILLION DOLLARS to make more war. Sister Dana sez, “If we want to end the War, we need negotiations and diplomacy—NOT more military weapons. Meanwhile let’s get Trump to fire Hegsmess!”

Jazz singer Candace Johnson performed excerpts from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess at the 10th Anniversary of the Amateur Music Network.

(L-R): Host David Landis, Jackie Bergman, Ross Uchimura, John Cronin, and Michael Williams at the 10th Anniversary of the Amateur Music Network on April 23, 2026, at The Academy SF

David Landis and Corty Fengler, who is the Board President of the Amateur Music Network

Bay Times Dines

Farmers’ Market Finds

Stella Singer

The season is picking up at the Castro Farmers’ Market! New seasonal vendors are popping up, and, as we head into summer, you will find a greater variety of fresh fruits and veggies at the market. Blueberries have made their debut for the season, and May is one of the best months to buy fresh blueberries from local growers. Alpine Blue is a go-to spot for fresh blueberries, and their stand will also soon boast cherries. The farmers at your local farmers’ market handpick their blueberries when they’re just ready and not before, bringing you only the sweetest blueberries available. Smaller blueberries

Cherries, Blueberries, and Apricots

will have a more intense flavor. Store unwashed berries in your refrigerator for five to seven days. Rinse before serving.

Cherry season has arrived with all of its delicious glory. This year’s early heat brought on an early season and has shaped the crop, meaning the general crop this year suffered a bit from the big heatwave. The good news is that you can now find early varieties like Coral Champagnes, Santina, and Royal Tioga. These are being followed by classics like Bing and Rainier. Late in the season,

you can expect Lapin cherries, known for their deep color and extra sweet flavor. It’s always fun to taste all the different varieties, though the most popular among our cherry growers is the Bing. You can likely find cherries at Allard

Rick Lafranchi of Nicasio Valley Cheese Company Will Be Missed

making cheese. They began coming to cheese events and conferences, learning the business, making connections, and studying the craft here of artisan cheese. They were around for so long in our little world that I had a running joke with Rick: “Any cheese yet?” I would ask. “No, but soon!” he’d reply.

There is a lot of news to share this month, and, outside of some sale prices, none of it good. Sorry in advance.

Starting out with a real heartbreaker, Richard “Rick” Lafranchi, co-owner of Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, recently passed away unexpectedly at the age of 74. Rick was a mainstay in the North Bay cheese world. His family has been on the land there for over a hundred years and Rick and his family have been heavily involved in the movement to save farmland, among other things, working with the Marin Agricultural Land Trust and serving on their Board of Directors for about a decade.

I first ran into Rick and his brother Scott in the early/mid 2000s, years before they started

And it was always worth the wait. Nicasio currently makes some of the best cheeses around. Many of their cheeses have won awards, but I have two favorites. Their Nicasio Valley Reserve is a complex tomme: grassy, fruity, sour, buttery, and earthy. There is a way

that you taste complex cheeses; they kind of start in one direction, you think you know where the flavor is going, but then it changes and surprises. The Reserve challenges the eater in the best possible way.

I help put on an annual judging, and, last year, the Nicasio Square—a washed-rind taleggio-style—took the Best Farmstead Cheese award, garnering the highest point total of all farmstead cheeses in the contest. (“Farmstead” means made on the farm where the mammals live, using only your herd’s milk). I wasn’t a judge, but was very happy to see it

Cherry Salsa

2 cups chopped sweet cherries

1 cup chopped cucumber

1/4 cup jalapeño peppers, seeded, finely chopped

1 tablespoon minced cilantro

1 garlic clove, minced

2 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped

2 limes, juiced

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

Chop onions and mince garlic then add to the juice of 1 lime. Let sit while chopping the rest of the ingredients.

Chop cherries and veggies and combine with onion, garlic, and lime juice mixture. Stir in olive oil. Add salt and lime juice to taste. Let the salsa sit for 30 minutes before serving. Serve on pork or chicken, or with tortilla chips.

(continued on page 42)

because I always tell people this is the most underrated cheese in the Bay Area. It is stinky, oozy, rich, and pungent.

I only knew Rick through cheese, but he was always the friendliest, funniest, most downto-earth person in the room. Sadly, the news of his passing also comes on the heels of the unexpected loss of Maurizio Lorenzetti, Nicasio’s Swiss cheese-making mentor. Because I don’t want to accidentally start any rumors, I want to make clear that Nicasio Valley cheeses will continue to be produced and available wherever awesome cheese is found. But Rick will be missed by the entire cheese community.

In other news, two great West Coast cheesemakers are calling it quits. Owners Sarah Marcus and Jim Hoffman of Briar Rose Creamery, which makes some of my favorite cheeses including Maia and Butterbloom, are retiring. If you want to buy a cheese plant in Oregon in the wine country outside of Portland, they are looking for a buyer of their turnkey factory. Also, Alemar Cheese—originally from Minnesota but being made in Sonoma County for the last couple of years—is also being discontinued.

(continued on page 42)

Over the Rainbow Cheese Counter

Gordon Edgar

Richard “Rick” Lafranchi of Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, who passed in April 2026

Kit-Cat Klock

The clock is ticking, but at least it’s cat-shaped! The original Kit-Cat Klock has been bringing joy to walls since 1932. Enjoy his rolling eyes, wagging tail, and cheeky grin in a variety of colors for $59–$69.

Momma Pots

Momma Pots has become our go-to for durable garden pottery in an extraordinary range of colors at accessible prices. The Gemstone Collection features sleek and sturdy pots fashioned from high-quality porcelain. In sizes from 4-inches to 12-inches. $24 to $115 each.

Chive Porcelain Flowers

Enjoy a super bloom without trampling a national park! Use Chive’s handmade porcelain flowers to create a dramatic wall installation, add color to your potted succulents, or gift a flower that won’t fade. There are poppies, marigolds, daffodils, and more. Starting at $26.99, each flower comes individually gift boxed.

Keep up with Cliff’s Variety news at Facebook ( https://bit.ly/4qh1Xbb ) & IG @hilario_sf

“Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’—and now it is the anniversary of that fabulous song. It changed my life.”

“I’m a

of the 1990s and enjoy lots of those songs.

Farms, Ken’s Top Notch, Alpine Blue, and Resendiz Farms. Cherries should be stored unwashed in the refrigerator to help protect their texture and flavor. Enjoy them within two to four days.

Everyone’s got their own favorite way to enjoy the cherry season, and the resounding sentiment from our farmers is that cherries are best eaten fresh; there is no need to cook or bake them. However, if you’re looking to spice up your fruit, try our sweet cherry salsa. This salsa is a perfect bright and seasonal accompaniment to tacos or chips. We recently enjoyed this salsa on some mushroom tacos—an unexpected pairing, but they were yummy and packed with nutrients.

Along with blueberries and cherries, California apricots are starting to make an appearance. The local apricots you can find at the market are honey-sweet because they ripen on the tree rather than in shipping crates. The

In the cheese case this month, you should absolutely check out Good Deal Grotto— where our best sales live—because we have a lot of stuff that distributors were overstocked on. It’s a little unpredictable to know how long those sales last, but you should look for Carr Valley Bread Cheese if it is still there when you read this. It’s a grilling cheese made in Wisconsin that is basically a cow milk Halloumi. It’s the bacon of cheese. We also have great deals on (block, not farmhouse) Red Leicester, Organic Mild Cheddar, Black Diamond Five-Year Cheddar, Wooly Wooly Diablo, and a cheese called Belaire, a domestic Port Salut-style.

for the head bowling pin. We’re already mobilizing voter strategies in the hope the elections don’t get canceled.

Lesbians specifically and women in general have the privilege of a long history of surviving brutal punishments from burning at the stake to rape. Esther Cohen will be just fine; she’ll continue being celebrated by women, publishing books, doing her progressive activism, and teaching. Her six-hour writing work-

“The

most prevalent varieties are the Poppy, Patterson, Blenheim, Tilton, and Castlebrite. The season usually runs from late spring to early summer. Fully ripe apricots are soft to the touch, full of juice, and should be eaten as soon as possible. You’ll also find delicious sweet dried apricots at the markets, so you can snack on them all through the year.

The Castro Farmers’ Market takes place every Wednesday from 3 pm to 7 pm at Noe and Market streets. The market is open through November 18. Come shop local, say hello, and enjoy this community space!

Stella Singer is a recent UC Berkeley graduate who writes and designs for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association. With a background in environmental journalism and science, she brings a keen interest in food systems and sustainability to her work.

Gordon Edgar loves cheese and worker co-ops and has been combining these infatuations as the cheese buyer for Rainbow Grocery Cooperative since 1994. He serves on the American Cheese Society Judging and Competition Committee and is a member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. Edgar has written two books on cheese—”Cheesemonger” (2010) and “Cheddar” (2015)—and lives in San Francisco with his adorable white mini schnauzer named Fillmore Grumble. He writes about grief, and sometimes cheese, at https://bit.ly/42IwYf0

shop at the Hobart Festival has a waiting list every year, so sign up soon.

Jewelle Gomez is a lesbian/feminist activist, novelist, poet, and playwright. She’s written for “The Advocate,” “Ms. Magazine,” “Black Scholar,” “The San Francisco Chronicle,” “The New York Times,” and “The Village Voice.” Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @VampyreVamp

compiled by Rink

Suzan Revah

John Brett

child

Moxie Penn

“Aerosmith’s ‘Walk This Way’”

Michael Huff

“She’s a Lady”

Miguel Gutiérrez

Best Is Yet to Come”

GORDON EDGAR (continued from pg 41)

JEWELLE GOMEZ (continued from pg 32)

The San Francisco Bay Times & The Academy SF Invite You!

Second Annual Celebrating Bay Area AAPI LGBTQ+ Women Leaders & Allies

Thursday, May 28, 6–10 pm • @ The Academy SF 2166 Market

Co-Emcees:

Madeleine

Featured Guest Honoree:

Lim Nguyen Pham

Founder of the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project

President of the Mensa Foundation and Director of Sponsorships at SF Pride

Margaret Cho

Welcome by ABC7 Lead News Anchor Dan Ashley

After Party Presented by Olivia Travel

The San Francisco Bay Times is proud to announce the Second Annual Celebrating Bay Area AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) LGBTQ+ Women Leaders & Allies, held during AAPI Heritage Month 2026. We will celebrate multiple generations of leaders.

Some, such as Margaret Cho, are renowned in their fields and known not only nationally but also internationally, and others are unsung heroines whose efforts continue to enrich the entire LGBTQ+ community.

We invite you to come out with us among the stars—and also under the starlit sky over The Academy SF’s beautiful Outdoor Courtyard—to help celebrate these accomplished women leaders.

As Margaret says,

“Love is the big booming beat, which covers up the noise of hate.”

Presenting Sponsor: Kaiser Permanente

Supporting Sponsors (partial list): San Francisco Community Health Center; Horizons Foundation; Greene Law Firm, P.C., Trust, Probate, and Veteran Law; Olivia Travel; The Sparks Family

Benefiting Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project and Use The News Foundation

DJ China G