Holy cow. Even in a year that has been brimming with major news (mostly bad), these past couple of weeks have been noteworthy for the number of major stories. From the stunning blue wave on Election Day, to the announcement of Nancy Pelosi’s decision not to run for reelection in 2026, to the destructive political circus of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, keeping up with all the breaking news has been a challenge. The Supreme Court giveth and taketh away, choosing not to rehear Obergefell v. Hodges—safeguarding same-sex marriage (for now; no guarantees for the future)—but then also choosing to make life harder for transgender people by insisting their passports reflect the sex and name assigned to them at birth, rather than their current identity. And then there are the Epstein files ... . Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a wild ride.
World AIDS Day
Last year, World AIDS Day fell shortly after the November election, when the country was still in a state of shock, and Project 2025 was still an ominous threat so wildly dystopian that we couldn’t believe it could possibly become reality.
One year later, the reality is even worse than anything we could have imagined. From the abrupt shutdown of USAID to the dismantling of the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institute of Health, and other public health institutions, the federal health system is in shambles. At universities, funding has vanished, research has come to a halt, and nonprofits and community organizations that provide vital services to people with HIV and AIDS are fighting for their very survival. And, on a personal level, people living with HIV who depend upon a reliable and affordable source for their life-saving medications are facing the very real possibility of those medications becoming unaffordable to any but the wealthy.
World AIDS Day, commemorated each December 1, was created by the World Health Organization in 1988 to raise awareness about the status of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, commemorate those who have died, and demonstrate international solidarity toward prevention, treatment, and care. This year’s theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” is a direct response to the chaos caused by the catastrophic funding cuts imposed since Day One of the current leadership in the United States. But it will also celebrate the courage and resilience shown by countries and communities around the world that have been doing everything they can to mitigate the damage, and keep making progress in the ongoing battle to reduce new HIV infections, and provide care for those living with HIV and AIDS.
The task that faces us is monumental.
Four decades of progress are threatened by these massive funding cuts. Leaders at the highest level of government are enacting laws and policies actively harming LGBTQ+ people, women, and, basically, anyone who insists upon maintaining autonomy over their own body. In the absence of support from the United States, a global response is needed, as the HIV virus knows no boundaries. For the health and safety of all, there must be a coordinated effort to ensure universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, and social support without stigma.
This World AIDS Day is a call for
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Over 700 LGBTQ+ elected officials, leaders, and advocates from across the world will be at the 2025 International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., from December 4–6 at the JW Marriott. Speakers from California will include Evan Low, the President and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute; San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria; City of West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Byers; Brian Maloney, the Senior Director of External Affairs for Genentech; California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara; and others. The opening keynote will be presented by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.
The conference not only offers incredible networking with some of the world’s top LGBTQ+ leaders, but also valuable information on how to run for office as a member of the community. For example, there will be a free one-day Candidate & Campaign 101 Training to cover the basics of campaigning, messaging, fundraising, and much more. The LGBTQ+ Victory Institute is the only global organization to exclusively provide trainings for LGBTQ+ individuals looking to run for public office and they invite all those who are interested to join the program to engage, inform, and excite our community to increase LGBTQ+ representation on the ballot.
In Case You Missed It
Joanie Juster
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey
GLBT Fortnight in Review
I Told You So
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis. Davis and her anti-gay lawyers at the Liberty Counsel were contesting a money damages award of $100,000 plus $260,000 in legal fees that Davis was ordered to pay to two men she refused to marry back in the day.
“Back in the day” is a journalistic shortcut for, “I think it must have been 2015 but I don’t feel like checking.”
In addition to the damages case, Davis tacked a side issue onto her Supreme Court petition, asking the Court, while they were at it, to overturn marriage equality along with the legal concept of substantive due process that has underpinned a constitutional right to privacy for half a century.
Dear Readers, there was no chance in hell that the Court was going to take that case. Yes, the Court considered it during their weekly conference, but they dispensed with it at once. Often, the Court will table a petition for weeks and weeks, keeping it in limbo. But not in this instance. Nor were there any dissents or whining and moaning and groaning from our arch enemies in the room. Indeed, even Sam Alito reminded an audience last month that the Dobbs opinion, striking abortion rights, was not meant to call marriage equality into question, nor was it designed to jeopardize other substantive due process rulings.
You may recall that Justice Thomas wrote a bizarre concurring opinion in Dobbs, speculating that substantive due process was flawed and that the Court should reconsider the vast body of legal precedents that rely on its rationale. As you know by now, substantive due process assumes that certain fundamental rights are protected under the Constitution, even if they are not explicitly listed. These include the right to privacy, parenting decisions, and other freedoms central to ordered liberty. Justice Thomas’ views are off the charts, and yet his dissent triggered hysterical panic in some quarters of our colorful community. Both same-sex marriage equality and the end of sodomy laws were based on Due Process. (Mixedrace marriage equality was based on Equal Protection.)
More recently, the presentation of Davis’ outlandish petition spurred a whole new set of crazed headlines warning that marriage equality was “headed to the Supreme Court” as if oral arguments were pending. Anyone with an appellate ruling can petition the justices for review, but the Court accepts a tiny fraction of the thousands of cases presented each year; maybe about 80 cases make it to the docket these days. Don’t get me wrong. This Court is capable of damaging us in many ways. It is in the process of eviscerating transgender rights. It is elevating the sensibilities of evangelical Christians above and beyond the constitutional rights of everyone else. And we may well see it make exceptions to marriage rights that could lead to second-class status. Think of the stamp of approval the Court has given to the butchers and bakers and candlestick makers that object to serving gay couples or gay clients. This gives us even
By Ann Rostow
more reason to keep our cool when false alarms may sound.
Traveling While Trans
The High Court’s assault on transgender rights is devastating. As you recall, the justices gave states the right to outlaw transition-related health care for minors, conveniently ignoring the constitutional rights of parents by ruling on different grounds. This year, the Court will hear cases regarding transwomen in sports, and three guesses how they might handle that question. But perhaps even more insidious is the Court’s behavior on the so-called shadow docket. When a draconian law is challenged, courts will sometimes put a hold on the law while the case is argued and decided. To simplify, such a hold will be placed when the challenger is likely to succeed, and when the law’s enforcement will cause harm. Of course, once such an injunction is imposed, the state can appeal to a higher court and ask for the injunction to be reversed and that the law can proceed during litigation. The Supreme Court is the last stop on the merrygo-round.
The question of whether or not to uphold an injunction is not like the regular Supreme Court case, which starts with many briefs and proceeds to oral arguments, well-crafted opinions, and dissents. Instead, the Court decides lickity split whether or not the challenged law will be suspended during the ensuing court battle, or allowed to take effect. There are no arguments, no extended briefings, no formal opinions, hence the opaque moniker of the shadow.
When Trump and company decided to evict transgender soldiers and sailors from the military, that move was stopped in its tracks pending legal review. But when the injunction reached the justices, they ruled the new policy could be enforced while a challenge preceded in the courts. The Trump administration then took immediate steps to oust transgender Americans from service, um, unless they transitioned back to their birth sexes.
Effectively, the High Court ruled on the matter without any discussion or explanation. And, by implication, they suggested that the anti-trans policy would survive a complicated and time-consuming trip up the courts without being overturned, and that the men and women who would be drummed out of service for no reason would not be harmed in the process. All this was done under the radar by the conservative majority at the expense of Americans who have pledged, if necessary, to die for the rest of us.
Now, using the same procedure, the justices have allowed Trump to enforce rules that require passports to use a citizen’s sex at birth. Court cases will continue to challenge the decree, which upends decades of State Department regulations. But meanwhile, thanks to the Court, transgender Americans who renew their passports or lose them will now be obliged to get birth sex passports. Obviously, these travelers will no longer be able to pass through international checkpoints without lengthy explanations, additional paper work, delays for questioning, and who knows what kinds of hurdles. A transman with a beard and muscles now carries a woman’s
passport. A transwoman with breasts and long hair now presents herself as male. Of course they’re going to be stopped.
According to a New York Times piece on the subject, most Americans think there’s nothing wrong with requiring birth sex notations on passports. “Passports,” said Heritage Foundation’s Roger Severino, “should identify people based on verifiable facts, not subjective feelings.”
This notion—that transgender individuals are acting on fanciful notions of alternative identities—has fueled a careless dismissal of transgendered citizens by many who have never met anyone trans, have never read about what it means to be transgender, and who have never questioned their stereotyped images. The same people who want transwomen banned from the rest room, would be appalled if a transman washed his hands at the ladies’ room sink. The same people who decried transwomen in sports got bent out of shape when a transgender boy, forced to wrestle on the girls team against his will, won all the meets. When many of these people imagine transgender people, they think of drag queens, or cisgendered men who want a glimpse into the girls’ showers.
The policies of MAGA and the casual cruelty of the Court are founded on the public’s ignorance and indifference. The gay rights movement eventually won over the public when it became clear that we were not sex perverts scrounging around for hookups in parks and alleys. Coming out of the closets as bankers and lawyers and fathers and mothers changed society’s view, and that change changed policies and court outcomes. How long will it take to change the misconceptions that surround transgender men and women? And how will it happen?
Bah Humbug
I’m not sure I can vouch for this story, which I’m reading from Interview Magazine, but we’re going with it anyway. It seems a fashion designer, Michael Schmidt, has made some pieces of apparel using wool from gay sheep.
“Although most male sheep, in the absence of an ewe, will get it on with each other,” writes Drew Zeiba, “one out of twelve is strictly homosexual. These rams, useless for breeding, are often sent to slaughter. So, Michael Stücke, a, um, German shepard [sic], started Rainbow Wool to rescue them.” (I changed “shepard” to “shepherd” before I saw the “um.” Perhaps Drew was making a joke that I didn’t understand? I felt I should use his version.)
Let me digress to say I was briefly saddened by the idea of rams going to slaughter, before I reminded myself that rack of lamb is one of my absolute favorite dishes. I have to compartmentalize my diet and my fondness for cute animals. Have you watched videos of old cows arriving at the no-kill cow ranch and scampering around for the first time in their lives? It’s adorable, and so nice that they won’t die. Meanwhile in the steak aisle, what’s that? A sale on bone-in ribeyes!
When I was about seven, I was at a pancake restaurant with my mother (a rare excitement) and I asked her where bacon comes from. “From pigs,” she said. Confused, I
squinted back for an explanation, and was led to understand that pigs, like Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web and the other friendly pigs in my limited experience, would be killed, sliced opened, and their meat would be removed and fried in order to produce bacon. Needless to say, I was appalled by this grotesque information and refused to eat any more bacon. And my mother made me sit there and finish it! Looking back, it sounds dreadful, but I was used to the tyranny of parental diktat, and, after a lengthy waiting period, I obeyed.
So, as I was saying, the context for the gay sheep story was something called “I Wool Survive,” described as a “Grindr-supported presentation of one-of-a-kind garments” by the aforementioned designer, Michael Schmidt. In Schmidt’s words, the event aimed to “tell the story of the gay sheep by expanding that concept and talking about homosexual desire universally, not just among the animal kingdom.” The sheep are “literally killed for being gay,” Schmidt says, calling it “a metaphor for what queer people are going through all over the world.” Well, not exactly, but far be it for me to condemn the gesture.
Texas Redistricting Bill Killed?
Going through my notes in search of an appropriate finale for this column, I discovered that I had saved a lengthy article about the gay goat wool, written by the New York Times fashion critic, Vanessa Friedman. Well, it’s too late to rewrite the section and I don’t feel a need to add to the story, but I guess it’s a bigger deal than I thought. (The New York Times!)
Meanwhile, I was distracted by the news that a three-judge federal panel has blocked the Texas gerrymandering bill that would possibly add five new Republican seats to the Lone Star Congressional delegation. The ruling, from a panel specialized in voting rights cases, can be appealed to the High Court. But since there is a December 8 deadline to run for the House in 2026, it’s unclear whether or not the decision can be revisited in time.
We’ve also been reading of late that various other red states have declined to jump on the gerrymandering bandwagon, even as Trump is trying to insist. And, of course, several blue states, led by California, are poised to mess around with their districts in retaliation for Texas. I also just saw something about Ohio, where redistricting might accidentally benefit the Democrats. The danger for the red states, of course, is that diluting heavily Republican districts may open the door for a Democratic victory in a wave election.
Well, you know what? I have no idea what’s going on, but it seems as if the whole plan to steal Congress might be falling apart before our eyes. Keep in mind, there’s a big voting rights case out of Louisiana on the Supreme Court docket this year. That case was carried over last year in a move that could signal bad news for the Voting Rights Act.
There also were several TV commercials I was planning to complain about, but, well, sorry about that.
arostow@aol.com
Gratitude in Action; Tax-Smart Ways to Support What You Love
Money Matters
Brandon Miller
The holidays are a natural time to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the people and communities that make life richer. It’s also the perfect moment to align your generosity with your financial plan, supporting causes you care about while making smart use of current tax opportunities. This year, being mindful and grateful can go hand in hand with being strategic. Here’s how.
Gratitude and giving are deeply connected. When you give thoughtfully—whether that means donating to a favorite local nonprofit, supporting a community program, or funding a cause that honors someone you love— you’re extending the season’s spirit in a way
that lasts well beyond December.
Your gift doesn’t have to be large to make an impact. It can be volunteering your time, making a donation in someone’s name, or contributing appreciated stock to a qualified charity. What matters is that it reflects your values and helps build the kind of community you want to live in.
Take a moment to list the organizations that have touched your life or that you’ve seen make a difference in your community. These could be local food banks, LGTBQ+ services, or animal rescues. Supporting nearby causes strengthens your local ecosystem— and allows you to see your impact firsthand.
If you’re part of a workplace that encourages philanthropy, consider amplifying your giving through matching programs or team drives. It’s a meaningful way to connect colleagues around a shared spirit of generosity.
While the heart leads your giving, a little strategy can make your generosity go further. Current tax laws still offer favorable treatment for charitable contributions, but those rules are scheduled to change in 2026, making this a great year to plan ahead.
Here are a few points to keep in mind for 2025:
There are bigger deductions now. If you itemize, cash gifts to qualified public
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Appointing Fiduciaries: Who Can Act on Your Behalf If Immigration Issues Arise for Members of the LGBTQ+ Community?
Trust Essentials
Jay Greene, Esq., CPA
Empower Your Circle: Fiduciaries for Queer Immigrants During Uncertain Times
In San Francisco’s welcoming LGBTQ+ scene, immigration issues, such as visa waits, asylum changes, or uncertain policy directives, shouldn’t derail your life’s hard work and your assets. Appointing fiduciaries lets your trusted partner, friend, or professional step up for finances and property in the event that you are not able to be present to manage your financial affairs. Work with an
experienced estate planning attorney to learn the basics and empower you and your loved ones.
Fiduciaries 101: Your Safety Net
Fiduciaries are chosen helpers for key decisions when you’re sidelined.
Why It Matters:
• Visa and other immigration snags can halt access to your Noe Valley savings or Mission rental.
• Courts’ conservatorships can expose your private queer life; fiduciaries can keep it intimate.
• Proper estate planning affirms non-citizen rights, honoring your strength and hard work.
Action Steps
1. Gauge risks from your immigration status and your local support network.
2. Select affirming allies: a partner or friend who gets you. You can always work with a trusted professional if you do not have anyone locally.
3. Share your vision openly by placing your plans in writing in your estate plan.
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Message from Leadership
A Season of Gratitude, Resilience, and Community
By Aaron Boot-Haury
As we move into this season of gratitude, I find myself reflecting on what it truly means to give thanks as part of the LGBTQ+ business community here in the Bay Area.
Thanksgiving is a complicated holiday. For many of us, it brings up a mix of emotions: joy and connection, but also memories of exclusion, loss, or family dynamics that do not always honor who we are. It also sits on land with a deep and painful history for Indigenous communities. Holding all of that truth at once is part of what makes our community so powerful. We know how to live in complexity and still move forward with intention, care, and courage.
At the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA), gratitude is not just a feeling. It is a practice.
We are grateful for our LGBTQ+ and allied business owners and professionals who show up every day to build companies, create jobs, solve problems, and serve this region with creativity and heart. You are the backbone of our local economy and an essential part of what makes the Bay Area a global beacon for innovation and inclusion.
We are grateful for our corporate and nonprofit partners who invest in supplier diversity, inclusive workplaces, and community impact. Your choices about whom you hire, promote, sponsor, and contract with have a direct impact on whether LGBTQ+ people, and especially queer and trans people of color, can thrive economically.
We are grateful for our members and volunteers who give their time, talent, and energy to strengthen this chamber. Whether you are welcoming a new face at a mixer, serving on a committee, mentoring a fellow business owner, or simply making space at your table for someone who needs a sense of
belonging, you are the living definition of chosen family.
And we are especially grateful for our small businesses. The last few years have demanded a level of resilience that few could have imagined. Entrepreneurs have had to navigate a pandemic, rising costs, shifting customer behavior, commercial vacancies, and the very real emotional toll of uncertainty. Yet time and again, LGBTQ+ business owners and allies have found ways to adapt, to reinvent, and to keep their doors and their hearts open.
As you plan your holiday season, I invite you to turn your gratitude into action:
• Support LGBTQ+ and allied small businesses when you shop, dine, or book services. These dollars stay in our communities and help sustain the places where we gather, celebrate, and organize.
• Consider how you can use your influence, personally or professionally, to open doors
for LGBTQ+ owned businesses in your company’s supply chain, events, or vendor lists.
• Reach out to someone in your network who may be feeling isolated this season such as a young entrepreneur, a trans or nonbinary colleague navigating a difficult family environment, or a business owner quietly carrying the weight of keeping their team employed. A simple check-in can be more impactful than you know. Thanksgiving is often framed as a day to be thankful for what we have. For our community, it is also a moment to look ahead to what we are building together: a regional economy where LGBTQ+ people and our businesses are not only visible but also valued and not only tolerated but also included at every level of decision-making. That vision takes all of us.
As you gather with family, whether
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GGBA Member Spotlight Jeff Henne, Founder & CEO of The Henne Group
Founded in 1986 in San Francisco, The Henne Group is committed to making a positive impact through its work. The company leads market research for social impact and healthcare access. The industries it serves include not only healthcare, but also the life sciences, pharmaceutical, government, and universities. Founder and CEO Jeff Henne and his team are proud of The Henne Group’s long-time reputation for putting their customers’ needs at the forefront of their dedicated efforts.
The Henne Group was my way of creating a company that could reach out to hear the voices of diverse and often unheard populations. Today, that commitment continues as we deliver research that informs policy, advances public health, and drives positive change in communities across the country.
GGBA: Who are some of your role models, and especially those who helped to influence your business?
GGBA: Please tell us more about The Henne Group.
Jeff Henne: The Henne Group is a research firm committed to amplifying voices that are often overlooked in decision-making. Our mission is rooted in the belief that anything is possible when guided by meaningful insights. We use research to inform policy, raise awareness, and create lasting, positive change in communities. Integrity, inclusivity, and innovation are the values that drive everything we do.
GGBA: Why did you decide to start The Henne Group?
Jeff Henne: My passion for meaningful research started before I established The Henne Group. Back in the 1980s, during the height of the AIDS crisis, I led focus groups of gay men with AIDS who were often marginalized and ignored. That experience showed me how traditional research missed the voices of diverse and hard-to-reach communities. I wanted to change that. Founding
Jeff Henne: There are so many; I think one of our responsibilities as small business owners is to pass on the knowledge that we have, and our experience, to the next generation. My first job out of graduate school was at the CBS News Election and Surveys unit in New York. I was still deeply in the closet. And my boss, a guy named Charlie, brought a bunch of us around, and introduced us to Murray Edelman, who was one of the top executives in the unit, and about ten years older than me. After we were introduced and Murray was out of earshot, Charlie told us, “Murray’s gay, but he’s OK.” That stung,
and it has stayed with me for over 40 years. So, Murray was an early role model and still is—showing me that you could be out and proud, and still be successful, in the business world. It’s a lesson I’ll never forget.
Another was Linda Botts, who owned her San Francisco-based own market research company, The Research Alliance. The Research Alliance had many Bay Area companies as corporate clients, and she taught me you had to be tough to make it on your own, and that you had to always stand up for what is right, even if it hurts your bottom line.
My first boss in San Francisco, Judith Brown Meyers, owned a small research company called Research and Decisions. I watched as she made difficult decisions to keep her business afloat and learned that sometimes you just need to step away from something and reinvent yourself—which she did over and over again and is still doing.
Finally, there was Chuck Rund, whom I worked with for just a short time. Chuck
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Jeff Henne
The Henne Group team
everyone to stand up for human rights. We can all do something to raise awareness, raise funds, show solidarity, and make our voices heard. Too many lives are at stake to sit on the sidelines. Here are a few ways to get involved in this year’s World AIDS Day: Light in the Grove: National AIDS Memorial’s annual gala will take place on November 30. Sister Roma will emcee, and Race Bannon will receive the Lifetime of Commitment Award. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/LITG2025
Inscribe: The 11th annual Inscribe will take place on Castro between 17th & 19th streets, all day on December 1, beginning at 9 am at 18th & Castro. Everyone is welcome to help inscribe onto the sidewalks the names of those who have died of AIDS. The event is free & open to all: https://tinyurl.com/Inscribe11
National AIDS Memorial World AIDS Day
National Observance: This powerful annual observance will take place in the AIDS Memorial Grove from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Emceed by ABC-7 anchor Dan Ashley, the event will include presentations of the Thom
Weyand Unsung Hero Award to tireless community volunteer Troy Brunet, and the National Leadership Recognition Award to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. It will be free and open to all, but RSVPs are recommended: https://tinyurl.com/WADnam25
World AIDS Day: Are We Winning the Fight?: At 6 pm on World AIDS Day, the Commonwealth Club will hold a panel hosted by Michelle Meow. It will feature doctors Moupali Das, Demetre Daskalakis, Monica Gandhi, and Nas Mohamed. This will be a hybrid event, in person or online: https://tinyurl.com/WADCWC
World AIDS Day Open House: Project Open Hand will celebrate their 40th anniversary on World AIDS Day, 5–7 pm. Guests will be able to take a tour of their kitchen, enjoy tasty treats, and celebrate their 40 years of providing vital care for people with HIV/AIDS. Free, but space is limited; register here: https://tinyurl.com/POH40
Holding HIV: Poems of Hope Book Launch: The San Francisco AIDS Foundation will host a
GGBA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT (continued from pg 9)
mostly did Republican-based political polling, so we were on the opposite side of the political spectrum. But he was very successful, and when my time with him was up (I was working on a six-month contract), he gave me a bonus of $1,000, which was a lot of money for me at the time. From him, I learned the importance of kindness. So, to sum it up, be yourself, stand up for your principles and what’s right, be prepared to pivot, if necessary, but, in all cases, do your best to be kind.
GGBA: Why did you decide to join the GGBA?
Jeff Henne: As an LGBTQ+-owned business, I believe it’s important to support our
book launch for Holding HIV: Poems of Hope, a book of poems written by the HOPE for HIV Cure Community. 6–8 pm at Strut, 470 Castro Street.
https://tinyurl.com/WADHopeBk
Horizons Foundation: State of the Movement on 12/4
From day one of the current administration, the LGBTQ+ community has been under nonstop attack. Not only have over 70 antiLGBTQ+ laws been enacted in 22 states, but also organizations and programs that support and uplift diverse communities have faced existential threats from lawsuits, devastating funding cuts, and political threats. It’s exhausting.
Yet the community keeps rising to the challenges. On December 4, the Horizons Foundation will present its annual State of the Movement, a panel discussion featuring Horizons President Roger Doughty and four LGBTQ+ leaders who are on the frontlines of these battles: Shelby Chestnut (Transgender Law Center), Kevin Jennings (LAMBDA Legal), Kierra Johnson (National LGBTQ Task Force), and
community and our business owners.
GGBA: How has being a member of GGBA helped your business so far?
Jeff Henne: I appreciate the fact that we have a local chapter to advocate for the needs of our community and promote our collective commitment to doing business with integrity and delivering excellent service.
GGBA: Do you go to the GGBA monthly Make Contact Networking events? Have they benefited you and your business, and would you recommend them to others?
Jeff Henne: Unfortunately, my busy travel schedule often makes it challenging for me to attend events personally, but I do appreciate the opportunities for networking and education that GGBA offers.
GGBA: What other advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own business?
Jeff Henne: Start with a clear purpose. For me, it wasn’t just about starting a business; it was about solving a real problem I cared deeply about. Back in the 1980s, I saw how traditional research ignored marginalized voices during the AIDS crisis, and that drove me to create something better. So, my advice is: Find the gap you’re passionate about, commit to integrity and innovation, and be
from pg 9)
biological, chosen, or something in between, I hope you can carve out a moment to honor your own journey. Think about the risks you have taken, the barriers you have overcome, and the people who pulled up a chair for you when you needed it most. Then consider whose chair you can pull up next.
On behalf of the GGBA Board of Directors and our entire leadership team, thank you.
Kate Kendell (Gill Foundation). This is a conversation you won’t want to miss. The event will be free and virtual:
https://tinyurl.com/HFSoM25
Thank You, Nancy
Nancy Pelosi’s accomplishments are legendary. But what has endeared her forever to this community is her stalwart support for people with HIV & AIDS. Since her first day in Congress, when she announced she was there to fight AIDS, Nancy Pelosi has been a champion for the LGBTQ+ community, for people with HIV/AIDS, for the elderly and the vulnerable, for women’s rights, for children, immigrants, and so much more. Her passion, power, and advocacy have earned her some powerful adversaries, but she has never backed down from her core values. Thank you, Nancy. You’ve earned some rest.
Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.
ready to adapt. Building a business takes resilience, but if your mission truly matters, it will keep you moving forward.
GGBA: Is there anything else that you would like to share?
Jeff Henne: Please understand that The Henne Group isn’t just based in San Francisco; we were born from its history. We reflect our community through our research efforts to connect with hard-to-reach groups, including LGBTQ+ communities, ethnic minorities, and people living with HIV. Three years ago, we moved our offices to the historic Russ Building, a beautiful LEEDcertified space that supports our commitment to sustainability and it provides a healthy environment for our team. This new location on Montgomery Street also gave us the opportunity to be HUBZone certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration that recognizes our commitment to stimulating growth in economically disadvantaged areas. We welcome anyone interested in learning more about our work or partnering with us—whether on a project based in San Francisco or beyond—to visit us online ( https://www.thehennegroup.com/ ), contact us via email ( info@thehennegroup.com ), or call us at 415-348-1700.
Thank you for your perseverance. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for continuing to believe in this community, in this city, and in one another.
From our GGBA family to yours, I wish you a safe, restorative, and meaningful Thanksgiving.
Aaron Boot-Haury is the President & CEO of the Golden Gate Business Association.
GGBA LEADERSHIP (continued
Tenderloin
Tessie to Serve Free Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 27
Tenderloin Tessie will once again serve up a free Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings on Thursday, November 27, 2025, from 1–4 pm at the First Unitarian Church at 1187 Franklin Street at Geary Boulevard. There will also be live entertainment, free haircuts by the popup barber shop LoveCuts, a free gift bag for guests, and free clothing from Tenderloin Tessie partner St. Anthony’s.
Volunteer shifts are available on that day (11/27) from 9 am–noon, noon–4 pm, and 3–6 pm. Volunteers are also needed on Wednesday, November 26, from 10:30 am–3 pm, and on Saturday, November 29, from 10 am–2 pm. Those latter two shifts are for truck workers to load (Wednesday) and unload (Saturday) groceries and other items at Bayshore Storage. The Saturday work will not only help wrap up Thanksgiving 2025, but also will help with advance preparations for the 7th Annual Christmas Spectacular, which will take place on December 5, and this year’s free Christmas dinner, which will be served on Thursday, December 25, from 1–4 pm, also at the First Unitarian Church.
To volunteer, call Michael at 415-584-3252 (landline - no text). For more information, including how this important tradition started in 1974 via generous performer and bartender Perry Spink (drag name Tessie): https://www.tenderlointessie.com/
Toast to theSeason
SAVE THE DATE!
to come ... A holiday celebration @ San Francisco LGBT Center 1800 Market Street Friday, December 12 6 pm–10 pm
Complimentary wine bar and no-host full bar available, featured menu items, entertainment, and more Silent Auction benefiting GGBA Foundation & Use The News Foundation
Donna Sachet Juan Torres Aaron Boot-Haury
Kippy Marks
DJ Lady Ryan Mike Wong & the SF Pride Band
charities are now deductible up to 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). That limit is up from the prior 50% level.
“Bunching” can boost benefits. For itemizers, consider combining two years’ worth of charitable gifts into 2025 to maximize deductions before the rules shift.
Consider a donor-advised fund.
If you’re planning a large contribution but want to take your time deciding which organizations to support, you can contribute to a donor-advised fund this year and distribute grants over time.
Benefit from qualified charitable distributions (QCDs).
If you’re over 70½, you can donate directly from your IRA—reducing taxable income while supporting a cause you love.
Be aware of upcoming 2026 changes. For itemizers, beginning in 2026, only the portion of your charitable giving that exceeds 0.5% of your AGI will be tax deductible. For non-itemizers, you’ll be able to deduct up to $1,000 (single filers) or $2,000 (married filing jointly) for qualified cash donations. For itemizers in the top tax bracket, the tax benefit of deductions will be capped at 35% of the amount instead of the full marginal rate (previously 37%).
The takeaway: if charitable giving is part of your financial plan, acting before year-end 2025 could mean a larger deduction and greater flexibility.
At Brio, we believe money’s greatest purpose is to bring more meaning, joy, and connection into your life. The holidays are a reminder that giving is not just a financial decision; it’s a reflection of what you value most.
So, this season, consider how you can be both mindful and grateful: give intentionally, support what speaks to your heart, and make sure your generosity works as hard for your community as it does for your financial plan. If you’d like to explore strategies for yearend charitable giving or learn how upcoming tax changes may affect you, Brio can help you make a plan that feels both purposeful and practical.
This material presented by Brio Financial Group (“Brio”) is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for personalized investment advice or as a recommendation or solicitation of any particular security, strategy, or investment product. Facts presented have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however Brio cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information, and certain information presented here may have been condensed or summarized from its original source. This information may contain certain statements that may be deemed forwardlooking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those discussed. No investor should assume future performance will be profitable or equal the previous reflected
performance. Any reference to an index is included for illustrative purposes only, as an index is not a security in which an investment can be made. They are unmanaged vehicles that serve as market indicators and do not account for the deduction of management fees and/or transaction costs generally associated with investable products. The S&P 500 Total Return Index represents U.S. stock returns. This includes 500 leading companies in the U.S. and is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities, where dividends are reinvested. The holdings and performance of Brio client accounts may vary widely from those of the presented indices. Brio does not provide legal or tax advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as legal or tax advice. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Brio and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Brio Financial Group unless a client service agreement is in place.
Brandon Miller, CFP®, is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals. For more information: https://www.briofg.com/
Power of Attorney: Financial Backup for Your Journey
A durable Power of Attorney authorizes agents for money matters during absences. This will make sure you will have access to your money when you need it the most.
Why It Matters:
• Can be activated immediately, protecting you during detentions or immigration delays.
• No Financial Agent means stalled payments on your properties and potentially no access to your bank accounts.
• Changes in laws mean that we want to act quickly for our loved ones to meet our own and their needs.
Action Steps
1. Opt for an immediate Power of Attorney authorization to protect yourself in the event of your unavailability due to government action.
2. Include queer-savvy backups that have legal authority to act as your agent.
3. Distribute copies of your signed and notarized Power of Attorney to your agent so they can act in your absence.
Trustees: Asset Guardians for Your World
Successor trustees manage trusts holding your most precious asset treasures. They step up immediately so that you always have access to your estate.
Why It Matters:
• Handles sales or upkeep amid travel or unplanned absences, vital for immigrants.
• U.S.-based avoids global glitches in taxation and control.
• Avoids high probate fees on your legacy.
Action Steps
1. Fund your trust; name a successor trustee.
2. Consider who should have control of your assets in your absence and how the assets should be spent.
3. Have triggers in your document based on your availability to actually manage the trust.
Guardians: Family-First Choices
Wills provide the opportunity to name the individual(s) you want to be a guardian for your kids instead of just letting the government decide.
Why It Matters:
• A Power of Attorney only handles financial assets and misses important topics like custody of children in blended queer families. Wills help address this issue.
• Can make sure your assets go to whom you wish instead of adhering to what the government decides.
• Prevents state overreach in agents and heirs, preserving the bonds of your “chosen” family whom you maintained during your life.
Action Steps
1. In your will, nominate guardians to protect your minor children.
2. Pick inclusive loved ones who support your family values.
Take Action Now: Secure Your Future
Envision your chosen family thriving. See your assets protected in the future. Use estate planning to appoint fiduciaries. Include family, friends, or professionals. Doing so now will help you meet your goals during uncertain times.
To learn more, visit our website ( https://www.greenelawfirm.com/ ) or call 415-905-0215. Schedule a complimentary initial assessment for the LGBTQ+ community. Your loved ones will benefit, and you will enjoy greater peace of mind.
Legal Disclaimer
This is for informational purposes only. It is educational content. It does not constitute legal advice. The information is not a substitute for professional counsel. Tailor advice to your circumstances. Laws and policies can change. Applications vary by facts. Consult a qualified attorney for your needs. Greene Law Firm, P.C. makes no guarantees. We offer no warranties on outcomes.
Jay Greene, Esq., CPA, leads Greene Law Firm, P.C. in San Francisco, creating inclusive plans for LGBTQ+ individuals. Contact: 415-905-0215 or info@greenelawfirm.com
Transgender Day of Remembrance 2025
The date of this publication, November 20, 2025, is the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors those we have lost and builds momentum to end the ever-increasing violence against trans and GNC communities. It will be marked by a gathering on the steps of San Francisco City Hall, followed by a march to the SF LGBT Center, and a program starting there at 7 pm.
According to the organization Trans Europe and Central Asia (TGEU), there have been at least 281 reported murders of transgender people worldwide so far this year. In the United States, there were at least 10 deaths from violent attacks targeting the LGBTQ+ community, according to the Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD. These occurred between May 1, 2024, and May 1, 2025, and predominantly were trans individuals.
Other advocacy groups report that Black and Brown transgender people, especially women of color, are disproportionately affected by fatal violence. In cases where a killer is identified, a significant portion of victims were killed by an acquaintance, intimate partner, or a family member.
GLAAD provides resources on Transgender Awareness Week (November 13–19), the Transgender Day of Remembrance, and how to become a better ally: https://bit.ly/3LGCngx
Beyond the Rainbow Premiere at The Roxie Theater
Antonio’s Closet Productions and San Francisco Pride presented the world premiere of Beyond the Rainbow: The Intersection of Pride on November 8, 2025, at The Roxie Theater. The film is a visually arresting and emotionally resonant short documentary directed and produced by Antonio Contreras, a 12-time International Fashion Film Award winner. It explores identity, leadership, and legacy within the LGBTQ+ movement through the stories of Suzanne Ford, the first openly transgender Executive Director of San Francisco Pride, and Nguyen Pham, the first gay Vietnamese American to serve as the organization’s Board President.
The documentary blends compelling personal interviews with archival footage, capturing the spirit of activism and community in one of the world’s most iconic Pride celebrations. The film features a powerful soundtrack by global house music icon Miguel Migs, with vocals by Jason Brock, deepening its emotional resonance. Marking the 55th anniversary of San Francisco Pride, the documentary stands as both a tribute to its history and a beacon for its future. Contreras’ work—previously featured at ASVOFF (Paris) and the La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival—brings cinematic artistry to LGBTQ+ storytelling.
Following the screening, there was a Q&A with Contreras, Ford, Pham, and Honey Mahogany, who is the Director of the San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiatives and is a San Francisco Bay Times columnist. All proceeds from ticket sales benefited The Forever Roxie Campaign to help support the Roxie Theater.
Beyond the Rainbow: The Intersection of Pride may now be viewed at https://vimeo.com/1076947142
To follow the work of Contreras: https://bit.ly/3K1hj3H TRANSGENDER
Photos by Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography
Just Following Orders: Timeline for an Assault
By Jerome Parmer
(Editor’s Note: The November 6, 2025, issue of the San Francisco Bay Times featured a powerful photo by Jerome Parmer on the cover showing federal agents shooting LGBTQ+ advocate Reverend Jorge Bautista during a protest that took place on the morning of October 23, 2025, in front of the entrance to Coast Guard Base Alameda. Here, Parmer shares more, both in words and images, about what happened.)
On October 23, two weeks after a federal judge ordered the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency to stop using less-lethal projectiles, chemical irritants, and violent force against protestors exercising their first amendment rights, we saw yet another preplanned assault unfold right here in the Bay Area. As previously reported in the San Francisco Bay Times, the CBP attacked a local LGBTQ advocate, Reverend Jorge Bautista, as well as others gathered in front of the Alameda Coast Guard Island station to protest the deployment of ICE agents.
What happened over the ensuing three minutes was an egregious violation of constitutional rights, and a disregard of federal law. It was a mere three minutes from the moment the caravan arrived until the assaults began. Agents used
munitions including flash bang grenades, chemical weapons (bear spray, pepper spray), and pepper projectiles fired from a modified M320 grenade launcher.
Earlier federal judicial action intended to prevent further crimes by government agents was set in motion after an Illinois pastor was shot in the face with a pepper ball munition. The CBP gave no heed to the preliminary injunction. This injunction has been upheld very recently by Federal Judge Sarah Lewis. The court additionally determined that Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino lied during a prior court hearing about being hit by a rock prior to tossing a tear gas canister into a crowd of local residents in a suburb of Chicago. Perjury charges have yet to be filed.
Numerous criminal cases brought against protestors by federal prosecutors were dismissed due to video and photographic evidence proving agents lied about the circumstances. Recent video clips have emerged showing a federal ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agent pointing a gun at peaceful protestors in Chicago, which is illegal and constitutes assault. The ability to enforce laws and hold federal agents accountable is limited. How long will the criminal actions of these federal agencies continue?
The following series of timestamped images show the violence and assaults play out in a span of roughly four minutes, consistent with prior intent and planning.
Did the protests play a part in the apparent deal brokered by Silicon Valley tech titans to keep Trump from deploying ICE in the Bay Area? Not likely, as the prevailing consensus is their big money was the driver. Yet the lawlessness perpetrated by Trump’s modern-day Gestapo continues unabated in our country. How long will it be before it resurfaces here in our community? How long will it take before they turn their attention from those with different color skin, to those with different lifestyles? How long will it be before they point their weapons at the rest of us, and use them with lethal rounds?
Members of the Bay Area LGBTQ community need to be aware, informed, vigilant, and active in working peacefully against these dark forces.
Jerome Parmer is an Oakland-based photographer who has photographed political, LGBTQ+, music, and other events in the Bay Area. Follow his current work on Instagram @drj_oakland
1 2 3 4
7:13:27 am - A Border Patrol caravan of 11 vehicles arrived, gunning engines and with windows up, and stopped just short of the pedestrians/ protestors in the
6:56:50 am - Protestors walked along the Embarcadero Street crosswalk in front of the entrance to the Coast Guard Base Alameda.
7:03:24 am - Coast Guard security detail remained calm throughout the morning events, directing traffic through and around the protestors.
7:08:44 am - Reverend Bautista and other clergy stood vigil across the street from the Coast Guard base entrance.
crosswalk.
7:13:57 am - A CBP agent in the lead vehicle engaged with protestors briefly, and did not warn that use of force would ensue.
7:14:34 am - The lead CBP agent retrieved a chemical weapon (bear spray). 6
7:16:43 am - The CBP agent advanced towards Reverend Bautista, moving onto the public right-of-way from federal property marked by the blue boundary line.
7:16:45 am - Reverend Bautista turned away in pain, bleeding from the face due to the impact of the munitions’ projectile.
7:16:37 am - Multiple flash bang grenades were deployed in the middle of the crowd; visible smoke clouds hung in the air.
7:16:44 am - A
7:17:18 am - Smoke from various deployed munitions lingered in the air as the last of the caravan passed through the crowd.
7:39:16 am - Coast Guard security detail calmly observed continued protest activity about twenty minutes after the violence perpetrated by the federal agents had ended.
pepper cloud was released as the grenade launcher projectile struck Reverend Bautista on the face from point-blank range.
The 2025 Legends Awards Presented by The Academy SF
The 2025 Legends Awards ceremony, presented by The Academy SF, took place at the Swedish American Hall on November 7, 2025. Visionary activist and San Francisco Bay Times founding contributor Cleve Jones was named the 2025 Legends Archive Inductee. He received the honor from Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in her first major public event since announcing, the day prior, that she would be retiring in 2027 at the end of her present term in Congress.
“I can’t think of anyone more deserving of ‘Legend’ status than Cleve Jones,” said Nate Bourg, who co-founded The Academy SF with Paul Miller. “His courage and vision have changed the course of our community’s history, and his work has touched so many of our lives in deeply personal ways. For me, this isn’t just about honoring an icon; it’s about honoring someone whose legacy reminds us why we fight, why we gather, and why we continue to believe in the power of love and solidarity. To have Cleve join the Legends Archive feels profoundly meaningful, both for The Academy and for everyone who calls this community home.”
Each year, since 2019, The Academy SF selects an individual who has become a legend, and invites them to contribute a personal artifact that symbolizes their impact to be enshrined in the permanent Legends Archive collection, located throughout the interior of the venue’s social club at 2166 Market Street. Past honorees include Sister Roma (2019), Juanita MORE! (2020), Dr. Tim Seelig (2021), Graylin Thornton (2022), Peter Berlin (2023), and Donna Sachet (2024). Sachet and Dr. Seelig are San Francisco Bay Times columnists.
In addition to the Legends Archive induction, The Academy SF honored several members of the community with awards that recognize leadership, solidarity, and innovation:
Exemplar Award: Alex U. Inn, activist, performer, and community leader (Recognizing individuals whose lived example inspires others, not just through achievements, but through character, integrity, and everyday leadership);
Diane Jones Solidarity Award: Suzanne Ford, Executive Director, San Francisco Pride (Honoring those who demonstrate profound capacity for recognizing and nurturing shared humanity across differences—building bridges, fostering empathy, and strengthening community bonds);
Architect Award: Sara Yergovich and Danielle Thoe, Co-Founders, Rikki’s Women’s Sports Bar (Celebrating those who have played key roles in building community: creating spaces, structures, institutions, or programs that uplift LGBTQ+ life).
The emcee for the evening was Donna Sachet, who shares more about the event in her column in this issue. All of us at the Bay Times congratulate this year’s Legends Awards recipients, and thank Bourg and Miller for creating this awards program. Additional information, images, and a video from the event are also at https://bit.ly/3JQ0ZCZ
The Academy SF: https://www.academy-sf.com/
The Academy SF presented the 2025 Legends Awards ceremony on Friday, November 7, and the Swedish American Hall was packed to the rafters in support of all the awardees. After cocktails and conversation, the evening formally opened with the rousing music of the San Francisco Pride Band under the direction of Mike Wong. We were then proud to step in as emcee for Sister Roma, who was serving as Grand Marshal of the Pride Parade in Palm Springs. Roma was kind enough to send a lovely video greeting. Music continued with vocalist Verne Smith, the Queer Chorus, and soloist Courtney Merrell. The first award of the night, the Architect Award, was presented by Dr. Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas, co-publishers of this publication, to Sara Yergovich and Danielle Thoe, business owners of the new Rikki’s bar at 2223 Market Street, named after the legendary Rikki Streicher. President of the SF Pride Board, Joshua Smith, presented the Diane Jones Solidarity Award to SF Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford, who deserves so much credit for the proud continuation of our San Francisco Pride events. And SF Legend Juanita MORE! presented the Exemplar Award to tireless community activist Alex U. Inn.
By Donna Sachet
“They say the holidays can’t begin until you’ve seen Songs of the Season!”
At last, it was time to announce the newest member of the Academy’s Legends Archive and a video from Race Bannon set the stage. You could hardly contain the excitement in the room as Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi then took the microphone and shared personal stories of admiration and friendship before presenting the Legends Award to Cleve Jones. What an honor it was to introduce Pelosi, a true American hero and loyal friend to our community. And Cleve’s brief and humble acceptance speech left the audience in tears, followed by a fabulous standing ovation. Congratulations to all the awardees and to Nate Bourg and Paul Miller of The Academy SF for another stellar evening.
The next day, we turned our attention in an entirely different direction at the Imperial State Funeral of Absolute Empress XXV Marlena at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. The Reverend Lyle Beckman, who has a long history of friendship with the Imperial Court, led the ceremony with solemnity and respect. The formal procession of 11 Emperors and 18 Empresses was a demonstration of authentic significance and genuine affection for one of our own. For 60 years, the Imperial Court has supported the LGBTQ+ community and its rich history and undeniable connection was on full display. A group of direct family members filled a full pew and Marlena’s daughter spoke through tears. Other speakers included Queen Mother Nicole the Great; Emperor XXVIII John Carrillo, who organized the entire event; and Jay Harcourt, one of Marlena’s closest friends.
The room melted as Sharon McNight appeared through a side door to honor Marlena with a single song, delivered with emotion and purpose. In less than an hour, the formal event concluded and the crowd made their way to Hayes Valley and the green park in front of the bar formerly known as Marlena’s, once a beacon of drag entertainment and charitable fundraising. A festive show in Marlena’s honor sprang up on the pavement in the sunlight, featuring San Francisco Monarchs, to the boisterous approval of bystanders. That space will always hold special meaning for many of us, and, for that afternoon, Marlena’s bar was a vivid memory and so was Marlena herself. Long may she be remembered as the generous, caring, courageous leader she was.
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
Sunday, November 30
Light in the Grove 35th Annual Gala
Candlelight installations, music, speakers
Emceed by Sister Roma Lifetime of Commitment
Award to Race Bannon
AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park
6–9:30 pm $300 & up www.aidsmemorial.org
Monday, December 1
Castro Holiday Tree Lighting
Hosted by Donna Sachet Music, cheer, celebrity guests Castro Bank of America 6 pm, Free!
Wednesday, December 3
A Season’s Greetings Serenade
Imperial Crown Prince Nathan D’Aguiar’s fundraiser
Music, toy drive, raffle Midnight Sun 4067 18th Street 5 pm Doors, 6 pm Show, Free! www.sfimperialcouncil.org
Thursday, December 4
Drag Queens on Ice Union Square Ice Rink 6:30 pm, Free!
Saturday, December 6
Last Call at Maud’s Award-winning film Roxie Theater 3117 16th Street 3:30 pm
Reception at Rikki’s, 2223 Market Street $15 & up www.roxie.com
Monday, December 8
Tree of Hope Lighting Rainbow World Fund Grace Cathedral, Nob Hill
Hosted by Donna Sachet
SF Boy’s Choir, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence 6:30 pm, Free! www.rainbowfund.org
Tuesday & Wednesday, December 9 & 10
Songs of the Season
Produced by Brian Kent & Donna Sachet Holiday cabaret benefiting PRC Feinstein’s at Hotel Nikko 222 Mason Street
7:30 pm $50 & up www.prcsf.org/songs
Friday, December 12
Toast to the Season
San Francisco Bay Times & Golden Gate
Business Association
Hosted by Donna Sachet, Aaron Boot-Haury, & Juan Torres
LGBT Community Center 1800 Market Street
Bar, food, entertainment, silent auction 6–10 pm Free! www.sfbaytimes.com
Friday & Saturday, December 12 & 13
Holiday Spectacular SF Gay Men’s Chorus concerts Golden Gate Theatre 1 Taylor Street 7:30 pm & 1 pm $35 & up www.sfgmc.org
Saturday, December 13
Emperor Bill’s José Sarria Birthday Party
Hosted by Donna Sachet & John Weber The Cafe 2369 Market Street 5–9 pm www.sfimperialcouncil.org
Saturday, December 13
Naughty or Nice
Annual Holiday Party
The Academy SF 2166 Market Street
7 pm–midnight $45 or free for members www.academy-sf.com
Donna Sachet
PHOTO
IN MEMORIAM
Remembering Dr. Shelley Fernandez: 95 Years of Fierce Love and Unstoppable Justice
By Susan Berston
Dr. Joan Shelley Wilks Fernandez (Shelley Fernandez) understood that true empowerment required both sanctuary—building shelters for women in crisis—and strength—self-defense through judo. She built institutions that provided both—co-founding La Casa de las Madres, San Francisco’s pioneering shelter for survivors of domestic violence; establishing Our Lady of Guadalupe Health Center, a free medical clinic to serve low-income women; and serving as President of San Francisco and National NOW (National Organization for Women); and this barely scratches the surface.
On November 7, 2025, at age 95, the world lost one of its most tireless defenders for those who suffered—women, Latines, African Americans, Asian Americans, Soviet Jews, Native Americans, those impacted by HIV, Cubans in need, and gays and lesbians. Fernandez spent decades building institutions that would endure beyond her lifetime—each embodying her belief that women’s liberation required both political power and personal empowerment.
Fearlessly leading numerous demonstrations, including one alongside Cesar Chavez, Fernandez fought for the Equal Rights Amendment and abortion rights. She sued to integrate women and people of color into the San Francisco Police Department and advocated for the historic ordination of the first eleven Episcopal women priests. On national television, she debated anti-feminist activist Phyllis Schlafly. In a 2021 interview with The Noe Valley Voice, she vowed: “Until my last breath, I will do all that I can to help women.”
Born in 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, to a former chorus line dancer turned bookkeeper mother and a mostly unemployed vaudeville father, Fernandez had a relentless determination to alleviate those who suffered, which was revealed to her when her mother surrendered the family’s only bed. In 1939, as described in a May 2025 oral history interview ( https://bit.ly/48kvU3y ), a blind man, recently released from Auschwitz, along with his wife and two children, arrived to occupy the family’s next-door apartment. She vividly recalled: “My mother turned to my father and said, ‘We’re giving them our bed.’ And my father said, ‘What are you talking about? All we have is our bed.’ And she said, ‘I said, we’re giving them our bed. And that’s it.’ I never heard her talk like that to my father. And he was sort of taken aback. Next thing I know, they moved their bed in there.” Fernandez and her brother shared the sofa.
I decided, even though I was involved in theater, that I was going to do something about people who were suffering and had hardships in life, and my life did take that course.”
After her father declared, “No woman in this family will ever go to college,” 16-year-old Fernandez finished high school early and left for New York with $11. She worked as an usherette at the Royale Theater with the likes of Lee Strasberg, Anthony Franciosa, and Erwin Piscator, and studied theater—with the hope of someday becoming a director. “That’s the only thing in my life I have not been able to achieve; my greatest passion and my greatest ability is in theater directing,” she reflected.
Next, Fernandez found herself at Dumont Television as a floor manager of a space adventure show, Captain Video. After grueling hours setting the stage and cuing actors, Fernandez recalled: “In 1939, that was the time
With the help of a former high school teacher who raised funds, Fernandez landed in Oakland, CA, at Mills College, where she earned a degree in theater directing in 1955. In 1957, she earned her teaching credential and master’s degree at San Francisco State College, and, in 1978, a PhD in health administration from Walden University. While working as a Vice Principal in Daly City, Fernandez also taught at Stanford University throughout the 1970s, developing Chicano studies curriculum when ethnic studies programs first emerged.
Along with Keiko Fukuda—a tenth-degree black belt and the highest-ranking woman in judo history, with whom Fernandez shared a 47-year partnership—they co-founded what became the only women-only judo school at 1622 Castro Street in San Francisco. Upon Fukuda’s death in 2013, the Keiko Fukuda and Shelley Fernandez Judo and Self Defense Foundation for Girls and Women was established. Fernandez tirelessly worked to ensure that Fukuda’s legacy—and the tradition of women’s self-defense they built together—would endure. Fernandez traveled to Patiala, India, five times in order to establish fifteen judo schools in the lowest caste system.
She was an educator, director, organizer, animal lover, priestess, activist, humanitarian,
for
loyal friend, and more. That nine-year-old girl who watched her mother’s fierce compassion grew into a warrior who changed the world through a script that she wrote on her very own.
Deep gratitude to Openhouse SF and the San Francisco Village Del & Phyllis posse, who surrounded Shelley with support, learning, and community in her final years.
Susan Berston teaches business at City College of San Francisco and documents oral histories on video. She treasures Susan Sunderland for introducing her to “The Infamous and Notorious Shelley Fernandez,” as Berston affectionately referred to Shelley.
ROBYN KENKEL
warrior
justice,
Shelley Fernandez won a baby photo contest. SHELLEY
In 1975, Shelley Fernandez fearlessly ran against Harvey Milk for District 5 supervisor.
Shelley Fernandez and her beloved German Shepard, Hachiko. May 3, 2025
Shelley Fernandez in Patiala, India, 2017
A Shelley Fernandez badge from the 1975 Philadelphia NOW
SUSAN BERSTON
Shelley Fernandez and Keiko Fukuda
SHELLEY
Shelley Fernandez held a picture of the late Keiko Fukuda, August 2025.
Shelley Fernandez and Cesar Chavez (1975)
SHELLEY
Shelley Fernandez at ABC TV in New York (1949)
The San Francisco Pride Band Gears Up for This Year’s Wicked ly Good Dance-Along Nutcracker
By Brian Trimboli
In a crowded field of holiday activ ities and shows, the San Francisco Pride Band’s Dance-Along Nutcracker stands out as an only-in-San Francisco tradition: It’s part comedy musical, part danceit-yourself ballet, and part symphonic concert.
Each year, the DanceAlong Nutcracker blends Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet with a unique theme to create an original musical production. This year, a Wicked Dance-Along Nutcracker takes its inspiration from Wicked, the beloved musical (and, since last fall, widely lauded feature film).
The band is under the direction of Guest Conductor Michael J. Wong, who will encourage audience members to experience what happens when the beloved music and stories from Wicked, The Wizard of Oz, and The Wiz come together with Tchaikovsky’s most famous work. In the show, Uncle Drosselmeyer tells Clara and Fritz a fantastical bedtime story about a school for holiday magic where the wicked Sugar Plum Fairy and her Great and Powerful Nutcracker control the student body with holiday rules that stifle all creativity and originality. With the help of a magical rat, the students rally to overcome the domineering rules they’ve been subjected to.
“As the longtime artistic director of the band’s Marching & Pep program, I’ve always been passionate about all of the visible ways the band gives back to its community, and the Dance-Along Nutcracker is no exception. This is my first time as guest conductor for the DanceAlong, and I can say pretty confidently that you’ll love this year’s show.” said Wong. “Not to mention that I’ve been performing in the Dance-Along Nutcracker as a musician for decades. It’s truly a dream come true to conduct the band for this year’s show.”
classic spy tales.
This is not the first time that the Dance-Along Nutcracker has taken inspiration from The Wizard of Oz and its legacy. Ten years ago, for the 30th anniversary, the show also brought audiences down the yellow brick road for The Nutcracker of Oz.
Alongside Wong, Cast Director Allen Sawyer, Music Director Steve Bolinger, and Choreographer Marilynn Fowler are leading this year’s troupe of performers. Sawyer, who also works at the San Francisco Opera House, is directing local talents Alix Feinsod Guerrero, Landyn Endo, Zelda Koznofski, Angelo Giusti, Evan Kaminsky, and Remi Sunshine. The cast brings together Bay Area performers who have deep experience as actors, musicians, and performers and have previously starred in musicals, drag shows, films, and more. Famed local crafter-of-all-things Todd Young will again be fabricating masterful props and set pieces. “This may be the 40th Anniversary of the first DanceAlong Nutcracker, but it’s only my fourth one,” said Sara Harris, Producer of the show. Harris, also a member of the band, draws on their production experience to make many moving pieces of the show run smoothly. “I couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this production to four
audiences of so many young people. Everyone in the Official Band of San Francisco shares my enthusiasm about this ‘Wickedly Good’ show.”
The Dance-Along Nutcracker was the brainchild of a few band members in 1985 who thought it would be great to have an audience participation version of the ballet for an LGBTQ+ adult audience. The show was an instant hit, although “it was challenging in the early years to persuade people to leave their seats and dance-along,” said a band member who has participated in each of the 40 shows. They further remembered that “in the early 1990s, we noticed the audience began to change from mostly LGBTQ+ adults to more and more families with small children. This organic shift was fascinating to witness, and the show began to change accordingly. Some of the adult humor was removed, the story lines became more kidfriendly, and show times changed from mostly evening performances to today, where 3 of the 4 shows are matinees.”
The show is written by members of the band, which ensures that it stays true to the band’s values of creating a community where music, education, and visibility converge to promote understanding and inclusivity. It also ensures that the show is unique each year—in the past, the show has been inspired by themes as varied and far flung as The Nightmare Before Christmas, the Wild West (Blazing Nutcrackers),
The story of The Wizard of Oz has always been near and dear to many members of the LGBTQ+ community, so much so that “Friend of Dorothy” has long served as an if-you-know-you-know epithet for a queer person. The story of Wicked— as told in Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel—draws on feelings of “otherness” that are familiar to many members of the LGBTQ+ community. For that reason, the musical, and now movies, have always resonated with many queer viewers. Many viewers and critics have even read a queer subtext into the relationship between Galinda and Elphaba, especially in last year’s Wicked movie.
As the first openly gay music organization in the world, San Francisco Pride Band has inspired the formation of lesbian and gay bands, choruses, and performing troupes worldwide. In 2018, in honor of its 40th anniversary, the group was named the Official Band of the City and County of San Francisco.
The San Francisco Pride Band is proud to have worked with the San Francisco Bay Times and “Betty’s List” for over 25 years running. Since 1997, they and their teams have been stalwart supporters of this annual show.
When: Saturday December 6 (3 pm and 7 pm) and Sunday December 7 (11 am and 3 pm)
Where: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum (701 Mission Street, San Francisco), walking distance from the Powell & Montgomery Street Muni and BART stations
Tickets: General admission: $28 for children, students, and seniors; $48 for adults
Find more information and tickets at https://bit.ly/4r85sS7
Brian Trimboli plays euphonium in the San Francisco Pride Band and serves on the Board of Directors. He is excited about performing in his sixth Dance-Along Nutcracker.
Director Lucas Santa Ana Discusses His Film #300Letters, Which Charts a Breakup
Film
Gary M. Kramer
Writer/director Lucas Santa Ana’s clever romantic comedy, #300Letters, which played at Frameline earlier this summer, is now available on demand. The film has Jero (Cristian Mariani) coming home from a workout to find his partner Tom (Gastón Frías) is gone and ghosting him on their anniversary. Jero soon experiences the five stages of grief. As a way of explanation, Tom has left a box of 300 letters recounting his side of their relationship. As Jero starts reading Tom’s missives, he learns that his ex thinks he is childish and superficial. He also learns that Tom was no saint, lying to him and cheating on him (at least once).
#300 Letters cannily lets viewers process Jero’s breakup in ways that illuminate the relationship, from the irresistible sex to the first “I love you,” to moving in, and other milestones. The filmmaker spoke with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about his new romance.
Gary M. Kramer: What inspired this film? Did you go through a breakup and need to understand it?
Lucas Santa Ana: Not really. I did have a breakup, which was the start of the idea.
A boyfriend of mine left me. He was an artist, singer, and writer. [His ex authored the novel, Memories of a Teenager, which Santa Ana adapted for a 2019 film; it’s available on Netflix.] When he broke up with me, he just left home. He was going to leave me with “a performance.” That idea gave me the idea of someone leaving with “a performance.” I also wanted to show how the gay community in Argentina is divided—the queens and jocks talk about each other with prejudice and discrimination. The poets don’t go where the jocks go. Poets think that the jocks are hollow, which is not true. I’ve been going back and forth between both tribes and the prejudices each have are sad.
Gary M. Kramer: Jero, the jock, and Tom, the poet, are attractive opposites, but they can’t seem to stay together. What observations do you have about their characters and their relationship?
Lucas Santa Ana: The flashbacks show Tom’s side of the relationship—what he thinks and sees. Sometimes you can see what Jero thinks or remembers, but it’s tainted by Tom’s side of the story. Everyone wants to like Tom, but he’s not a good guy. We always see the jock being the asshole, but poets can be assholes too. Jero looks confident, but when you see him, you realize he is not that confident. When he speaks with his friend Esteban (Bruno Giganti), he says, “Maybe I did something wrong,” but he didn’t do anything wrong in the relationship. Tom is the one who is crazy. I do think they have real chemistry. They like each other’s bodies. I think that they can be together, but Tom doesn’t allow himself to do that because of his prejudice about Jero. Whenever Tom’s friend Q (Jorge Tefs) asks Tom, “What do you feel about Jero?” Tom doesn’t give a straight answer. He doesn’t
(continued on page 42)
Missing Judgement at Nuremberg
Off the Wahl
Jan Wahl
I couldn’t wait to see Nuremberg ; I am fascinated by the topic of the trials of the high-ranking Nazis and I’m also a Russell Crowe fan. Nuremberg is a new film based on a 2013 book, The Nazi and the Psychologist, which is a true story I never knew about. I say that as someone who reads up on everything possible about the Nuremberg trials.
A psychiatrist is tasked with analyzing Hermann Göring and other Nazis as they fight for their lives during the Nuremberg trials. These men orchestrated the deaths of over 6 million Jews, homosexuals, Gypsies, and political opponents. Did they feel remorse, guilt, or nothing at all? It is such a great concept for a story and plot, but, in Nuremberg, they really blew it.
If Göring, as played by Crowe, was as boring and one-dimensional as he is portrayed in the movie, we would have had nothing to worry about from the man who orchestrated the “Final Solution.” The psychiatrist played by Rami Malek had more close-ups than Bette Davis in All About Eve, but close-ups don’t make it on their own.
At least we get a break from all the talking when the footage from liberated concentration camps is shown as a key part of the evidence presented at the trials.
This movie is so wordy that it becomes boring. It’s as if director and writer James Vanderbilt wanted nothing more than to hear his own words. Even though the script is beautifully written, I just couldn’t get the emotional depth of anything that was going on in the film.
My heart broke when I realized the missed opportunity in this movie to educate and enlighten. This is not just about learning the lessons of history. This is about learning so we don’t repeat something like this in our Trumpian world.
For that, we go back to 1961 to the remarkable movie Judgment at Nuremberg, a Stanley Kramer production starring Montgomery Clift, Judy Garland, and Oscar winner Maximilian Schell. Schell won the Oscar for Best Actor, and I’ll never forget my mother jumping up and down because his acting was so good that she believed he really was a Nazi. This film, unlike Nuremberg, is a powerful depiction of the trials that took place starting at around this time of year, November 20, in 1945, and that ended on October 1, 1946.
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. Contact her at www.janwahl.com
Top of your stack
Cursed Daughters (fiction - hardcover) by Oyinkan Braithwaite
In Cursed Daughters, a young woman, Eniiyi, is burdened with a family curse and the belief that her family considers her the reincarnation of her deceased aunt. The curse has caused heartache for generations. Eniiyi seeks out answers in the dark, spiritual corners of Lagos to finally break the family curse, avoid heartbreak, and set herself free.
Bread Of Angels (non-fiction - hardcover) by Patti Smith
Artist and writer Patti Smith brings us a new memoir, Bread of Angels, which takes us on a journey through Smith’s life. Bread of Angels begins with her upbringing and how she got started with her writing and artistry, providing readers with an even more intimate understanding of this “punk poet laureate.”
Let’s Go Home!
A Big, Strong Dobie and a Sweet and Gentle Kitty
Here are two of the many pets now available for adoption at Oakland Animal Services (OAS):
Teriyaki is a 2-year-old, 88-pound Doberman mix with a confident, curious personality. He enjoys exploring and taking in new environments, often following his nose and checking out sights and sounds. He knows sit, takes treats fairly gently, and seeks out reassurance and attention during outings. Teriyaki will do best with an adopter who has experience with large, strong dogs and who can provide structure, positive reinforcement training, and consistent guidance.
The Keeper of Magical Things (fiction - paperback) by Julie Leong
Local author Julie Leong’s second novel, The Keeper of Magical Things, is a cozy fantasy with a touch of sapphic romance. When Certainty gets the chance to earn her magehood, she jumps on the opportunity. Her assignment has her transporting magical objects with the overachieving Mage Aurelia. Are there magical mishaps? Read this one and find out!
Upcoming Events
Sunday, November 23 @ 2 pm (ticketed - Ferry Building store) Alyson Stoner, author of Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything Alyson Stoner’s new memoir documents their life and all the accompanying turmoil and trauma of child stardom Stoner provides insight to life in Hollywood, their family, and discovering their identity. Tickets to this event include the opportunity to take a candid photo with Stoner.
Meet Pebbles, a sweet and gentle senior kitty with a soft heart. While she often enjoys napping under her bedding, don’t be fooled; she’s no shrinking violet! Pebbles loves attention and will lean into your hand for pets, especially when you scratch the base of her tail—she’ll lift her little butt and purr with pure delight. Pebbles would thrive in a quiet home where she can soak up the love and care she truly deserves.
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
Monday, December 1 @ 6 pm (non-ticketed - Corte Madera Store) Megha Majumdar, author of A Guardian and a Thief
A Guardian and a Thief is set in the not-sodistant future where climate change is ravaging and food scarcity runs rampant. The story takes place during a week’s time and follows two stories: a family trying to flee, and a thief who steals their immigration papers. Majumdar will be joined in conversation with Luisa Smith. Wednesday, December 3 @ 5:30 pm (non-ticketed - Ferry Building store)
Suzannah Weiss, author of Eve’s Blessing Eve’s Blessing offers a look into women’s pain and pleasure. This empowering book intertwines personal stories with history and psychology. Women will feel liberated as they reclaim the joy and pleasure in their lives. Weiss will be joined in conversation with Dr. Carol Queen.
https://www.bookpassage.com
Take Me Home with You!
Tulip: The Underbite Queen Ready to Bloom Looking for fresh flowers this fall? Meet Tulip, the underbite queen of the San Francisco SPCA: a gorgeous, goofy, and utterly lovable dog whose adoption fee has been generously sponsored. Tulip takes a few days to warm up, but once she feels comfortable, she truly blooms. Beneath that adorable underbite is a total cuddle bug who adores attention, tasty treats, and cozy naps. While she can be a bit sensitive to loud noises, her food motivation makes her easy to comfort; one biscuit and she’s back to smiling! Tulip has also been working hard on her leash manners and now strolls calmly past other dogs, though she’d prefer to be the only pet in her forever home. A favorite note from her foster family sums her up perfectly: “She loves rosemary bushes! She rubbed on one so much the other day that she ran around smelling like focaccia for the rest of the day.”
Sweet, silly, and eager to please, Tulip is ready to blossom in a home filled with patience, love, and snacks.
Come meet this special flower girl today at the SF SPCA Mission Campus, 201 Alabama Street. We’ll continue to be closed to the public on Mondays, but our open hours have been updated! You can now visit us Tuesday through Thursday from 1 pm to 7 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 7 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm.
https://www.sfspca.org/
Teriyaki
Pebbles
Tulip
Poet in Residence
Kit Kennedy
Kit Kennedy is the Poet-inResidence of the “San Francisco Bay Times” and at herchurch Ebenezer Lutheran ( http://www.herchurch.org/ ). She has published 5 poetry collections, and for several years hosted the poetry series at Gallery Café. For more information, please visit her blog: http://poetrybites.blogspot.com
Gratitude – one grape and one pebble at a time
By Kit Kennedy
Did you know, gratitude’s favorite word is “and” and gratitude’s kin is abundance? Try this out: before tasting, really notice that bunch of rotund purple grapes. Immediately, your mind imagines its complementary colors of fruit, leaf, and azure sky. Or walking you suddenly really do see a few pebbles. Their petite, uncanny beauty and the stories they hold stop you as quickly as a fragment of a favorite song. You smile.
Sometimes, a thought like an image crystalizes the essence of a moment. In the foreground a row of grapevines is home to the bare and the lavish. In the background a stately oak looms engraining memory. You ask, who are gratitude’s running buddies? “Thanks” and “giving.” Now, perhaps you will do me the honor and peel me a grape.
Photographer
Stacy Boorn
Imported Spirits, Domestic Chaos: The New American Feast
Cocktails With Dina by
Dina Novarr
You know what’s more American than Thanksgiving with family? It is the miracle of mismatched chosen families gathering around the table to eat food cooked with inconsistent skill and commitment. It’s a table where people, flavors, and spirits from all corners of the world come together to celebrate what really matters: good company, great food, and cocktails that complement your turkey instead of competing with it. Welcome to the Friendsgiving table, where every bottle has a passport stamp and every cocktail tells a story about belonging.
I picture this as starting the evening with Avèze, the French Alpine aperitif “welcome.” Before the turkey even hits the table, your guests need something to do with their hands besides doom-scrolling the family group chat. Avèze is a bold, herbaceous gentian liqueur born in the mountains of Cantal, France. Avèze doesn’t posture, pander, or apologize. Serve it over crushed ice, let it open up, and enjoy every sip till the glass is empty.
Next, we move on to “The Dragonfly’s Dance,” a celebration of duality and the official drink of managing Friendsgiving chaos.
——
The Dragonfly’s Dance Ingredients
2 oz Libélula Joven Tequila
1 oz Combier Triple Sec
1 oz fresh lime juice
0.5 oz cranberry syrup (yes, from the can— this is a judgment-free zone)
Preparation
Shake, strain over fresh ice, and garnish with sugared cranberries.
——
Libélula, named for the dragonfly, blends bright blanco with gently oaked reposado, giving you a tequila that exists beautifully in between worlds. Pair it with Combier Triple Sec, the Loire Valley’s gift to cocktail history and the world’s first triple sec, and suddenly that wobbly cylinder of cranberry sauce has found its soulmate. Sometimes matches can be made across oceans and borders.
Slowly you move on to the “Rosé Cooler,” the perfect Friendsgiving pairing for turkey and stuffing.
——
Rosé Cooler
Ingredients
0.75 oz Combier Elderflower Liqueur
1.25 oz dry vermouth
4 oz AVAL Rosé
Preparation
Combine elderflower liqueur and vermouth in a wine glass. Add ice. Top with AVAL Rosé. Stir gently. Garnish with a lemon twist. ——
This cocktail is your Friendsgiving diplomat: light, floral, crisp, and structured enough to elevate turkey instead of fighting it. The AVAL Rosé (hailing from Brittany) brings minerality; the elderflower adds lift; the vermouth adds backbone. Together, they cut through gravy, brighten stuffing, and keep you from slipping into a 4 pm food coma. It’s essentially the “I brought my new partner to Thanksgiving and they’re actually delightful” cocktail.
And, to end the feast, we will have, “Smoke & Mûre.” It’s an evening nightcap that is earthy, smoky, and lush.
——
Smoke & Mûre
Ingredients
1.5 oz Banhez Mezcal
0.5 oz Combier Liqueur de Mûre (blackberry liqueur)
0.5 oz fresh lime juice
Ginger beer
Preparation
Add Banhez, lime, and Combier Mûre to a shaker. Shake lightly. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wheel or blackberry.
Banhez is crafted by a co-op of families in Oaxaca and brings smoke, minerality, and soul. Combier Mûre adds deep, velvety blackberry richness. Together, topped with ginger beer, it becomes the ideal after-dinner drink: grounding, comforting, and a little mysterious ... like the kind of conversation that only happens when everyone is too full to pretend anymore. This is the cocktail you sip when the lights dim, the pie crust flakes onto the tablecloth, and someone says, “Okay, real talk ... .”
Lastly, a pure expression to end the night: Control C Pisco served neat in a small glass. Nothing added, nothing needed. Elegant, clean, floral, and expressive, Control C is distilled in the Elqui Valley of Chile, where the climate swings give grapes their unmistakable aromatics. It’s bright enough to keep the night alive and soft enough to let it land. It’s the kind of spirit that quiets the room, slows the breath, and lets everyone settle into that warm, reflective stillness that only happens at the very end of a great night. It’s not just a digestif; it’s a benediction.
Look around this Friendsgiving table. You’ve got spirits from Saumur and Oaxaca, Jalisco and Brittany, Auvergne and
Elqui. You’ve got co-op farmers, multigenerational distillers, winemakers, granddaughters protecting family legacies, and even a retired hockey player who found his calling in the Loire. You have a world of spirits at a table, but it is the kind of American story worth celebrating. These bottles aren’t “imports.” They’re immigrants. They crossed borders. They carried traditions. They brought identity, craftsmanship, and centuries-old techniques. And now they’re here, mixing with
each other, creating something new while honoring something old.
Here’s to keeping families together, chosen or otherwise. Here’s to keeping spirits flowing. Here’s to a table where everyone belongs.
Salud. Santé. Cheers. San Francisco-based Dina Novarr enjoys sharing her passion for fine wines, spirits, non-alcoholic craft beverages, and more with others.
The Dragonfly’s Dance Rosé Cooler Smoke & Mˆure
The Gay Gourmet
David Landis
“When you’re alone, and life is making you lonely, you can always go—downtown.”
—Petula Clark
Those lyrics were humming through my head as I prepared to interview Giovanni Liguoro, the talented pastry chef at Poesia Café in the Castro. Why? His successful 18th Street pastry, sandwich, and salad café will be expanding to 1 Post Street, where he’ll be opening a second location, hopefully in late November. The new enterprise is complete with a huge chef’s kitchen, a retail operation, space for cooking classes, and outdoor plaza seating. The avuncular, charming, and handsome chef will be presiding over the entire operation. So, The Gay Gourmet recently sat with him virtually to preview the new space and talk about downtown as the next location for expansion.
David Landis: Buon Giorno! Are you in the new kitchen?
Giovanni Liguoro: Yes, I’m at the new location at 1 Post Street.
Poesia Café Expands Downtown
David Landis: Wow. So, are the new location and kitchen together? And you’re in that big plaza where Post meets Montgomery and Market, with outdoor seating?
Giovanni Liguoro: Yes, they are together. I’m standing now right on the plaza with outdoor seating.
David Landis: Fantastic! What’s your projected opening date?
Giovanni Liguoro: We’re supposed to open at the end of November.
David Landis: Tell me about your background, Giovanni.
Giovanni Liguoro: I’m a second-generation pastry chef because my family has a pastry shop in Italy. I started mixing dough when I was a kid. After graduation from high school, I went to Milan to work as a teacher’s assistant. But I’m from Naples originally.
David Landis: How long have you been with Poesia, and how has your role expanded?
Giovanni Liguoro: I’ve been with Poesia here in the United States for 3 years. We started from the Castro location, then moved to a bigger facility in the Twitter building. Now we moved to this kitchen. It’s a great addition to have the kitchen close to the street where everyone walking by can totally smell us baking all day long.
David Landis: Do you think downtown San Francisco is coming back?
Giovanni Liguoro: Yes, I see with my eyes every day that downtown is totally coming back. Yesterday was the first
Thursday of the month when there’s always a party, and the city was crowded. Plus, there are conventions and events coming back, especially next year. I see the city is much cleaner than years before, and I know it’s going to keep growing.
David Landis: Tell me about your philosophy behind baking.
Giovanni Liguoro: Every time someone eats my pastries, I’m very honored because every single person trusts you with what you did with your hands. That’s why I really care to use healthy ingredients like Italian flour, organic eggs. I try to use only natural colors, not artificial colors. We don’t have any preservatives in our production, and everything we sell is something we make with our hands. We make simple things in-house—the mayonnaise, and, for drinks, we make our own chai, our own matcha, our own pumpkin spice latte. We have a recipe for everything. We try not to buy anything. Also, since five months ago, we selected and are roasting our own espresso beans. We have our own blend with Mr. Espresso in Oakland that helped us with this pro -
cess. It was a lot of tasting coffee every day, like 20 coffees every tasting. But I think it’s worth it; we have our own recipe, and we’re planning to make it so people can grind their coffee at home.
David Landis: Is it medium, light, or dark roast?
Giovanni Liguoro: Medium dark roast. This comes from our espresso tradition in the south of Italy, where we roast a lot of beans.
David Landis: What is a typical day like?
Giovanni Liguoro: Normally I start around 5 am. We come here (to the kitchen) for baking for our café in the Castro, plus other customers like the Ferry Building and the de Young Museum, to provide pastries to them. Once we finish all the baking, we have breakfast all together as a team-building activity. Then we start production. We have different natural fermentations that we start early in the morning, and we go through the process until noon, 1 pm. Then we close the kitchen, and I stay another couple hours to do my quality control. I spend a couple hours by myself in the bakery. Normally I get my lunch around 3 pm at Poesia in the Castro. I really like to have lunch with random customers—I sit with them. It’s part of my daily routine, hanging out with someone. That’s why Poesia makes me feel very comfortable. After lunch, I take care of office stuff, meeting with (the owner) Francesco. We meet
(continued on page 37)
Giovanni Liguoro
every day. By 5 pm, I’m done with my day.
David Landis: Yeah, except I see you in the restaurant sometimes at night.
Giovanni Liguoro: Yeah, (laughing) that’s hanging out!
David Landis: Are all the pastries made fresh daily?
Giovanni Liguoro: Yes, they are fresh daily, 7 days a week.
David Landis: Wow. And how big is your team?
Giovanni Liguoro: Right now, we are 6 people.
David Landis: What’s the secret to a proper cornetto?
Giovanni Liguoro: The secret is caring for the mother dough, the sourdough that we use for the panettone. That’s one of the differences that makes the cornetto different from a croissant. We have this sourdough, this baby that needs to be fed every 3 hours. Even if I’m not working with the sourdough that day, this baby needs to be fed like 6 am, 9 am, 12 pm.
David Landis: How old is the sourdough?
Giovanni Liguoro: I think it’s from my dad and it started more than 20 years ago. But, to be honest, it’s a legend, because every day you feed a sourdough, the bacteria are new. So more than how old it is, I can say my sourdough will be someone else’s sourdough with the change of the environment, the temperature, the smell. It’s totally different in each place that it goes. Normally I also bring a piece of dough from Italy every time I visit my dad in his bakery. We know that his sourdough is different than mine, but, after one week, you can totally see the difference.
David Landis: How is Lievito Madre different from what people
in San Francisco might think of as sourdough?
Giovanni Liguoro: The Lievito Madre works with different pH, different acidity. The consistency is very different. Lievito Madre is harder. When you cut it and smell the acidity, the acidity is sweeter, milder than a normal sourdough. In sourdough you can totally taste that something is sour, a little acid. In cornetto, it’s not. Plus, we use it in the cornetto because it’s a natural preservative when the croissant goes in the freezer. Freezing the cornetto is the last process of production.
David Landis: Oh, they’re frozen?
Giovanni Liguoro: Yeah, they need to be frozen because we want to keep the acidity on the same level. We freeze it for 12 hours just to stop the fermentation.
David Landis: My favorite menu item at Poesia Café is your mortadella sandwich on focaccia. I just love it. The pastries are a close second. Do you have a favorite?
Giovanni Liguoro: The mortadella is my favorite. Since I moved here, I’ve never tasted a different mortadella slice better than the one I have. Every time they’re like, oh, we are running out, I’m like, give me all the mortadella because I don’t want any other brand. This mortadella, together with the pistachio pesto, the olive oil, and sun-dried tomatoes, makes it very special. For your information, it’s the most popular item.
David Landis: So, I’m in the majority! Are you offering panettone during the holiday season again, and do customers need to pre-order it?
Giovanni Liguoro: Yeah, we started the pre-order for Thanksgiving and will continue offering it through the (continued on page 42)
Poesia in 2025 was honored as a top Italian restaurant in San Francisco by Gambero Rosso International.
Bay Times Dines
Cheers to 20 Years of Check, Please! Bay Area
2025 marks the 20th Anniversary of Check, Please! Bay Area, which made its debut on KQED on November 3, 2005. Some of us here at the San Francisco Bay Times fondly remember that day and the first episode, which featured these three restaurants: Old Krakow, Incanto, and Hard Knox Cafe. You can watch it online at https://bit.ly/49rvSYS
Of the three restaurants, Hard Knox Cafe is still open and now has two locations (one in SoMa and the other in the Richmond)! It provides “food for the soul,” while Check, Please! continues to serve up soul-satisfying viewing. We are honored that the series’ longtime host, Leslie Sbrocco, is a San Francisco Bay Times columnist.
She has had her own hard knocks over the years, such as a stage-4 cancer diagnosis in March 2021 during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. But she is now a cancer thriver and going strong, both with the series and her many other projects. Recently, for example, she gave one of the most popular presentations at the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, South Carolina, which was held from November 14–16, 2025. Nationally, she is known for her PBS series 100 Days, Drinks, Dishes, and Destinations, appearances on NBC’s Today Show, her best-selling books, seminars, and much more.
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Check, Please! Bay Area, here are just some of the reasons why this KQED series remains a favorite:
(It’s hard to write an article about cheese, or any food, while SNAP benefits are still in jeopardy for millions of people nationwide. While this piece will celebrate the special seasonal cheeses that we only get for a few months a year—some of which were pre-ordered months ago—remember that we also keep our prices low on California Mild Cheddar and Monterey Jack, have a dedicated sale area we fondly refer to as the “Good Deal Grotto,” and the store has given a discount on EBT purchases for years. Hang in there, friends.)
There is no more exciting time of the year for cheese lovers than right now. A
Leslie Sbrocco - Warm, charismatic, intelligent, and with a sharp and often saucy sense of humor, Sbrocco makes everyone feel welcome at her table.
Queer Friendly - Check, Please! Bay Area was one of the first major series to feature out gay individuals speaking openly about their partners and families.
Positive Impact on Local BusinessesNumerous small businesses have benefited from the exposure provided to them by the series. Some even credit the series for keeping them in the black during very challenging times.
Memorable Guests - From the quirky to the sentimental, guests on the series often make a lasting impression.
Talented Production Team - Series Producer Lori Halloran, Coordinating Producer and
Reporter Cecilia Phillips, Associate Producer Candice Yung, Audience Engagement and Content Producer Josh Decolongon, and interns such as Kyla Tan constitute the small yet mighty core team that help make the series such a success.
David Manilow - The brilliant, yet deceptively simple, concept behind the series— locals review and discuss their favorite Bay Area restaurants—was conceived by Producer David Manilow with help from Joel Cohen. The two, with film director Joe Angio, had started a weekly dining club where participants tried to outdo each other in selecting unique places. Check, Please! began in Chicago in 2001 before launching in other regions, including the Bay Area. When Barack Obama was an Illinois state senator, he appeared as a guest on one of the programs. Watch a clip from that here: https://bit.ly/4pmXOSu
The Seasonals Are Here!
whole bunch of rare and seasonal cheeses are arriving this month that you only have a chance to eat for a short time. The food holidays are on the horizon so it’s time to start thinking about what you are going to serve to friends and family, or just eat in bed by yourself while avoiding friends and family. These cheeses work for any occasion. I’m not gonna lie; most of these are super expensive. But they are among the best cheeses in the world.
Rush Creek - We wait all year for our two deliveries of Rush Creek (one in November, one in December). Rush Creek is one of the
two main raw milk Vacherin Mont d’or-style cheeses made in the U.S. (Jasper Hill Winnimere, November–April is the other). And, seriously, if you haven’t tried it, do yourself a favor. This is one of the best cheeses of the year and one of the best cheeses made in the United States: rich, buttery, earthy, woodsy, dank, slightly pungent, grassy, and bacony. Yes, those are a lot of words, but Rush Creek is one of the most complex and tasty cheeses you will ever try.
Winnimere - This is just another one of the best cheeses made in the U.S. from Jasper Hill in Vermont. It is a seasonal, raw milk, bark-wrapped circle of awesomeness. An old Rainbow cheese worker used
Special Episodes - Shows themed around the Golden State Warriors, Hamilton, Harry Potter, and visits to other locations such as the Central Coast add to the fun mix of shows as part of the series.
Reality TV That’s Actually RealWhile the bread on the set may be fake—see the episode with BeBe Sweetbriar, Sister Roma, and Chef Ryan Scott; plus the 20th Anniversary Special reunion of BeBe and Sister Roma for more about this—everything else about Check, Please! Bay Area rings true. Watching the series evokes hanging out with friends, and carries over into real life as many viewers are inspired to try out the featured restaurants.
Long before Sbrocco became a San Francisco Bay Times columnist, several members of our team, both past and present, appeared as guests on the series. They include the late great Stu Smith, David Landis, Gypsy Love, Liam Mayclem, and others. Perhaps you have even been on the show? If not, and if you are not already a fan of this now iconic series, we highly recommend that you check it out: https://bit.ly/47Lox56
Cheers to 20 years, Check, Please! Bay Area!
to describe it as “brie if it were dragged through the bacon forest.” It is rich, creamy, earthy, woodsy, meaty, and amazing. It’s usually not here until January, but Winnimere came in early this year.
Brabender Reserve - Betty Koster runs a cheese shop in Amsterdam and oversees the aging of the L’amuse Gouda. Because of the limited quantity of goat milk, once a year (November and December) they release the Brabender Reserve. Sweet, tangy, and big, this is a cheese that people wait for all year. We even keep a call-list to let people know it’s in. This cheese used to be known as “Black Betty” because it is aged by Betty Koster and enrobed in black wax.
Rogue River Blue - This is the first American-made cheese ever to win Grand Champion at the World Cheese Awards (2020). We have been carrying RRB since the very beginning and eagerly await the fall equinox every year when this cheese is released. It is Oregon organic milk blue cheese wrapped in grape leaves that are soaked in pear
Over the Rainbow Cheese Counter
Gordon Edgar
For its 20th Anniversary Season, Check, Please! Bay Area featured a Golden State Warriors-themed episode.
Beth’s Bay Area Sports Beat
November has a way of bringing sports to life in every corner of the Bay Area. This month took me courtside and community-side—from Pride Night at Chase Center to a powerful San Jose Sports Hall of Fame celebration and major news from the Bay Area Host Committee as we prepare to welcome Super Bowl LX. And that was just the beginning.
Golden State Warriors Pride Night: Above the Rim, Beyond the Moment
This Pride Night was especially meaningful— it was my first time covering the Golden State Warriors as accredited media, and I couldn’t have asked for a more moving introduction.
Before tip-off, I attended Above the Rim, a panel sponsored by Accenture and led by their Chief Diversity Officer. The panelists were remarkable trailblazers:
• Danielle Thoe, cofounder of Rikki’s Women’s Sports Bar;
• Jonathan Romer, the first male member of the 49ers Gold Rush cheerleading squad;
• Chris Mosier, groundbreaking transgender athlete and advocate.
Their insights were heartfelt and deeply resonant.
Chris spoke about “resistance through joy,” which struck a chord amid the heaviness of the world today—that joy itself can be activism, community care, and forward
November Has Brought Pride, Legacy, and Big Bay Area Headlines
motion. Jonathan shared that he grew up with no role models in cheerleading, yet through courage and authenticity he has now become one, opening doors for a new generation of young male cheerleaders.
Danielle emphasized sustaining a movement beyond the moment, and the importance of taking up space with confidence. “Reward yourself for showing up,” she reminded us— whether for yourself or someone you love.
After the panel, I had the chance to meet all three. I even learned that there will be an LGBTQ-focused USA House during the FIFA World Cup next July, an exciting milestone for global inclusivity.
San Jose Sports Hall of Fame:
Celebrating 30 Years of Legacy
I was honored to attend the 30th Annual San Jose Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at SAP Center, a sold-out evening overflowing with pride and emotion. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan opened the evening honoring the city’s sports legacy and the incredible athletes who helped shape it.
The inductees’ stories were heartfelt and moving, powerful reminders of how sports can transform lives. A highlight was the recognition of the Special Olympics Northern California Athlete of the Year, whose presence added depth and inspiration to an already special night.
I met the inductees as they stood beside their newly unveiled bronze busts, soon to be permanently placed inside SAP Center—a touching tribute to their legacies and impact on the community.
Super Bowl LX:
Bay Area Host Committee Reveals the Regional Lineup
The NFL and the Bay Area Host Committee expanded the excitement with the official announcement of major event venues for Super Bowl LX in February 2026.
San Francisco – Command Center of Super Bowl Week
• NFL Honors, Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Palace of Fine Arts
• Super Bowl Experience, February 3–7, 2026, at Moscone Center North & South
• BAHC LIVE! Fan Zone, February 3–7, 2026, at Yerba Buena Gardens & YBCA Forum
• NFL Culture Club, February 4–7, 2026, at The Pearl
• BAHC LIVE! Concert Series, February 5–7, 2026, at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Innovation & Entertainment
• Innovation Summit, Friday, February 6, 2026, at SFMOMA
• On Location’s Studio 60 Concert Series, February 6–7, 2026, at the Palace of Fine Arts
• Taste of the NFL, Saturday, February 7, 2026, at The Hibernia
• Super Bowl LX Flag Football Game (YouTube), Moscone Center South
San Jose
• Super Bowl Opening Night, Monday, February 2, 2026, at the San Jose Convention Center
Game Day
• Super Bowl LX, Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara Wisconsin Football Weekend: A Cold, Snowy, Unforgettable Upset in Madison
From the Bay Area bustle to Big Ten country—I took a Friday-night redeye to Madison, Wisconsin, where my sister Kris lives, ready for a football-filled weekend that would span both college and the NFL.
The forecast for the Badgers vs. No. 24 Washington matchup called for rain, snow, wind, and temperatures in the 30s. And Mother Nature delivered on all fronts. Thankfully, Kris and I had access to the Touchdown Club, which offered a bit of overhead protection—but we were still very much outdoors, bundled to the max, navigating the elements with hand warmers tucked everywhere.
And it was worth every frozen fingertip. Wisconsin pulled off a thrilling upset, a tight game that went right down to the wire. What struck me most was the crowd— the Badger faithful stayed from kickoff to the final whistle, refusing to abandon their team despite the snow swirling around
them. When the game ended, fans stormed the field, erupting into pure joy. And, yes, in true Wisconsin fashion, they did “Jump Around” again, but this time with fans covering the field, snowflakes falling, and the entire stadium (Camp Randall) bouncing in unison. Kris and I are still smiling about it. It was cold, chaotic, joyous, and a completely unforgettable celebration. Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field:
Tailgates, Traditions, and Pure NFL Magic
As if one wild game weren’t enough, we stepped things up with an epic NFL pilgrimage to Green Bay for Monday Night Football. This was our third straight year seeing the Packers; what originally began as a bucket list trip has turned into a cherished sister tradition. Now, Kris and I are officially hooked; at least one Lambeau game a year feels like a must.
Thanks to a childhood friend from New Jersey who connected us with a colleague who is a Packers season ticket holder (and team owner), we secured fantastic club-level seats with access to a warm indoor concourse—key for November in Wisconsin.
We drove the two hours from Madison to Appleton and arrived at an Airbnb that can only be described as Packers paradise. Packers memorabilia was everywhere: décor, blankets, art, and, yes, even Packers pillows and bed sheets. The host left greenand-gold necklaces and game day gear, which we wore proudly.
We pre-booked a bus from a local bar to take us straight to Lambeau, and the ride itself felt like a party. Fans in full regalia were already hyped, singing, cheering, and welcoming everyone aboard. The Packers
(continued on page 41)
Beth Schnitzer and Kris Schnitzer, Camp Randall, Madison, WI
Lambeau Field, Green Bay
Beth Schnitzer
spirit is real—and contagious. The fans are truly some of the warmest you’ll ever meet. Once at the stadium, Kris and I bundled up with hand warmers, toe warmers, and layers upon layers. We joined a tailgate hosted by our friend that featured grilled pizzas, shrimp skewers, endless snacks, a Packers tent, and even a portable heater. Tailgating in the Lambeau parking lot is like stepping into a football time capsule: history, tradition, and community all wrapped together. Fans from across the country were there, including plenty of Philadelphia Eagles supporters. And, in a moment that made us laugh hysterically, we spotted not only Wisconsin cheeseheads ... but also Philadelphia cream cheeseheads. Yes, there were Eagles fans wearing giant blocks of cream cheese boxes on their heads! I do love cheese and enjoyed the classic Wisconsin cheese curds. Inside the stadium, the energy was powerful. Even though the Packers didn’t win, the experience was unforgettable, especially as the team honored Veterans Day the following day. Lambeau Field carries a reverence, a history, a heartbeat that every NFL fan should feel at least once.
For me, the best part was sharing it all with my sister—the cold, the food, the laughs, the memories, the Packers spirit. Football may be the reason to go, but family/sisterhood and tradition are what make Lambeau magic.
Baseball Diplomacy Continues: A World Series for the Ages
The 2025 World Series delivered one of the most exciting matchups in recent memory,
highlighted by the brilliance of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu “Yoshi” Yamamoto, who earned World Series MVP honors and showcased the powerful Japanese connection energizing Major League Baseball.
I watched all of Game 7, texting with friends who were watching, many rooting for the Toronto Blue Jays. I simply wanted to watch an incredible game and it was. The series drew its largest global audience since 1992, and Game 7 became the most-watched MLB game in more than 30 years—a testament to how deeply it resonated across the U.S., Canada, and Japan.
For me, the most heartwarming part of this World Series was seeing baseball once again become a bridge between nations, a theme I wrote about in last month’s Diamond Diplomacy section. These shared global moments remind us that sports carry a unique ability to connect us through joy, competition, and humanity.
That feeling of connection leads me to something I’m especially proud of this season: Spritz is working with the Rainbow World Fund on the Tree of Hope lighting ceremony on Monday, December 8, 2025, at Grace Cathedral. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, it’s the largest origami-decorated tree in the world—a living monument to peace, love, unity, and global compassion.
It is a gift from the LGBTQ+ community to the world, honoring diversity and our shared human connection—much like the way this year’s World Series brought fans together across borders and continents.
FITNESS SF Trainer Tip
Quality Over Quantity
By Nora at FITNESS SF Marin
“Quality over quantity: focus on strict reps to reach form failure (when you can no longer perform a repetition with correct, safe form) instead of ego lifting. This will help prevent injury while promoting longevity.”
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/
A New Era for Women’s Baseball: WPBL Launches
A milestone worth celebrating: the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) announced its first four franchise cities: San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, and New York. This is a groundbreaking moment for women’s pro sports, and I’m confident the Bay Area will build an incredible fan base for its newest home team.
Milano Cortina 2026: Olympic Torch Relay Begins
On the Olympic front, Milano Cortina announced details for the 2026 Winter Olympics torch relay, which begins November 26, 2025, in Olympia, Greece. After a traditional ceremony, the flame will be handed to the Italian delegation on December 4 in Athens, then begin a 63-day journey through 60 Italian cities, celebrating the nation’s cultural and natural heritage. The relay will culminate in Milan on February 6, 2026, for the Opening Ceremony.
LA28: 1000 Days Out, a New Google
Partnership, and Volunteer Applications
Now Open
LA28 celebrated being 1,000 days out from the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They also announced a founding partnership with Google, which will enhance the fan journey through integrated technology and immersive experiences. Volunteer applications are officially open, inviting people worldwide to be part of this historic moment.
Save the Date: Bay Area Women’s Classic at Chase Center
Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 21, 2025, when the Bay Area Women’s Classic will return to Chase Center:
• 3 pm - Stanford vs. Oregon
• 5:30 pm - Cal vs. USC
This doubleheader will showcase elite West Coast programs and future WNBA stars— a perfect celebration of women’s college basketball.
Closing Reflection
From Pride Night to global viewership moments, from Olympic flames to football snowstorms, November reminded me of the incredible ways sports connect us—across cities, across nations, and across communities. The Bay Area remains a vibrant front row to it all. Signing off from the Bay, where passion meets the play.
Beth Schnitzer, the former President of WISE (Women in Sports and Events), is the Co-Founder and President of Spritz: https://spritzsf.com/
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allow himself to like Jero. If he would be more open to what other people feel, they could be together.
Gary M. Kramer: Can you talk about your visual approach to making a film about loss, isolation, and connection? You use split screens and you shoot Jero in a way that has viewers “sitting” with him as he reads the letters.
Lucas Santa Ana: I didn’t want for the audience to be “over” or “under” the character, but at the same level so they can relate to him—except in the end when he is reading all the letters and the camera moves to the side, to show what is a breaking point for him.
Gary M. Kramer: The film features many scenes of Jero shirtless. Was this objectification deliberate?
Lucas Santa Ana: Christian [Mariani] is objectified because it is Tom’s side of the story, and Tom objectifies Jero. That is why he is always shirtless.
Gary M. Kramer: This film is an anti-valentine, and the characters debate about being romantics. Do you consider yourself a romantic?
Lucas Santa Ana: I have not been in love for so long I wouldn’t remember what “romantic” is. [Laughs] Before I did this
film, I was alone for 15 years. I don’t know why. No one fell in love with me, and I wasn’t in love with anyone. I forgot what it is to be romantic. I feel a lot like Tom in the film at some points. But I do feel like Jero sometimes, too. Romance is thinking about the other person and trying to make the other person feel loved. That can take any form. I try to be a good companion and want the same thing for me.
Gary M. Kramer: How would you react if your “ex” left you 300 letters about your relationship? Or would you be the one writing the letters?
Lucas Santa Ana: At some point, I’d probably be the one leaving the letters. If someone did that to me, I would just throw them away. I wouldn’t read them. I’m lying. I would definitely read them in one night. It wouldn’t take me 10 days to read them like Jero does.
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 X @garymkramer
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LANDIS (continued from pg 37)
Christmas holidays. This year, the news is that we can also ship the panettone throughout the United States.
David Landis: It used to be that locally made panettone was really hard to find. I think there was one guy named Roy in California who made it. Now you can get it at Eataly in San Jose, and now you have it.
Giovanni Liguoro: I think that, in general, panettone in the world is becoming very popular, and there are other good bakers. I would say that Roy is one of the best panettone makers we have in the world. I’ve ordered from him in the past. Also, I just want to add that, last week we started a collaboration with Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma by Giovanni Liguoro, in which we developed a recipe to ship our croissants ready-to-eat throughout the United States. Basically, people are buying the croissants, and within two days they have the croissants in their house.
David Landis: And are those shipped frozen, or how do you make sure they’re fresh?
Giovanni Liguoro: No, they’re fresh— we make them and ship quickly. The Lievito Madre, as I said, is a natural preservative and keeps the cornetto very moist. I wasn’t believing it, but we made so many
tests, we shipped back and forth from New York. It works!
David Landis: Anything else you’d like to say?
Giovanni Liguoro: What I feel about this new Poesia Café is that it’s in the center of the city, and we are going to make it our main flagship store. We are going to have a huge showcase for pastries that is going to be very beautiful—a big expanse. We will have some Italians coming to help here with the panettone. That’s why we hope to open in November, because panettone season is magic. We make them all day long; it’s a whole atmosphere, like living in a bubble. I’m just excited that this is going to happen in this new location. I also like the idea of the plaza because I find it cozier than the parklets on the street, and safer. That’s why I’m totally amazed. This is going to be a café in a plaza, just like in Italy. It’s also crowded because of the BART station. I’m very excited about it.
David Landis: I wish you all the best. Poesia Café: https://www.poesiacafesf.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
(continued from pg 38)
brandy. Aged 9–11 months, Rogue River Blue is a complex, sweet, fruity, crystalline, well-balanced blue. This is truly an amazing cheese and one of America’s best. Warning: This is the most expensive cheese we carry.
Big Sky Grana - Willi Lehner is a Wisconsin cheesemaking genius. He makes cheese in other people’s factories and then brings the cheese back to high solar/wind powered caves built into the hillsides of Blue Monds, Wisconisn. The Big Sky Grana is his rarest cheese: we usually only get one or two wheels a year! This is the only American cheese we cut with Parmigiano Reggiano knives, because Big Sky is aged and hard like a parmesan but it is sweeter and saltier. Just crumble it and eat it. You will love it.
Pleasant Ridge Reserve - This is available all year long, so I am cheating a little here, but we sell about five times as much as usual in November and December. It is a grass-based Wisconsin cheese by the same producer who makes the Rush Creek. Pleasant Ridge is a three-time winner of Best in Show at the American Cheese Society.
Gruyere de Savoie - Finally, a bargain cheese! This cheese makes the Swiss all mad because they control the name “Gruyere,” but if you go to the French side of the mountains, locally all the cheese is called “Gruyere de Comte” or “Gruyere de Savoie.” Anyway, this aged cheese is great for all your cooking needs and it’s the best deal we can get from the Alps in these tariffy times. We have about 300 pounds, but that will have to do for the rest of 2025.
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Keep up with Cliff’s Variety news at Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/CliffsVariety ) and Instagram @hilario_sf
Hudson Valley Camembert - Not a rare cheese on the East Coast, this camembert is a sheep and cow milk blend that was a staple in our department for years. Unfortunately, they lost local distribution so we haven’t had it in a long time. We recently got in a few wheels—with no more on the horizon—so come and get it!
Alpha Tolman Black Label - Jasper Hill grades all their batches of cheese. Only batches that score a perfect ten out of ten carry their Black Label and they never know there will be enough to sell out here on the West Coast. They call this Black Label “Spruce Juice” because it is so woodsy and earthy. Alpha Tolman, even when not the Black Label, is a great Alpstyle cheese from Vermont, getting better every year. We only have one wheel of the Black Label, so get it while you can.
More surprises, rarities, and fun one-off cheeses are due in every week, so be sure to ask the monger at the counter what is special when you come in.
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
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RAINBOW CHEESE COUNTER
Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
By Sister Dana Van Iquity
Sister Dana sez, “Celebrate TRANSGENDER AWARENESS DAY—not just on November 20, but on every day!”
The Trans Caucus members welcome you to join them in marching from City Hall to the LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street, on Thursday November 20, in honor of Trans Day of Remembrance. Speakers start at 5 pm. The march steps off at 6 pm. Come hold space for the friends and community we lost this year. Our trans siblings need our support now more than ever with their identities continuing to be political pawns for right wing policies. Your presence is one of the first steps to resistance. Allies are always welcome.
A new exhibition at the GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 4127 18th Street, honors the legacy and impact of transgender people of color. I Live the Life I Love Because I Love the Life I Live: A Celebration of Trans People of Color, a new exhibition co-presented with the Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive, is now on view at the GLBT Historical Society Museum. The exhibition, launched during this Transgender Awareness Month, celebrates Black, Latinx, Asian, and Pacific Islander trans and gender-nonconforming people who lived authentically in the face of racism, homophobia, transphobia, and class prejudice. It highlights both performance and everyday expressions of identity, featuring studio portraits from Finocchio’s and the
Jewel Box Revue alongside personal ephemera, candid photographs, activist materials, and more.
Featured in this groundbreaking exhibition are important historical figures such as Stormé DeLarverie, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, David de Alba, Li-Kar, and Red Jordan Arobateau, along with community organizers like Brenda Lee and members of the Filipino Task Force on AIDS, who fought for access to care and dignity during the HIV/ AIDS crisis. Ms Bob Davis, curator, is the director and founder of the Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive. She served two terms on the GLBT Historical Society board of directors, one as secretary, and has presented at the Moving Trans History Forward conferences in 2014, 2018, and 2020 at the University of Victoria. “The exhibit presents 100 years of trans history depicting the universality and diversity of the trans experience,” said Ms. Bob. “We hope visitors will leave with a greater understanding and appreciation of Asian, Black, and Latinx trans lives and culture.”
Countering all the aforementioned, last week, Trump basically admitted his tariffs were hiking grocery prices and tried to rally his way out of a collapsing economy. He tossed out wild, made-up tariff numbers, floated trillion-dollar fantasies, asked the Supreme Court to make his sexual abuse verdict disappear, and even pushed to slap his name on a new stadium. And he wants donors to give to his museum! As if!
Sister Dana sez, “But, hey, surprise with good news from the Supremes: they actually passed on the chance to cancel our same-sex marriage rights! Is the Supreme Court actually following the rule of law? Am I dreaming?!”
On November 6 at Fabulosa Books, I had the ghoulish delight of attending another of their deliciously informative Q&A author sessions—this time with Lindsay Merbaum, author of Vampires at Sea. Immortal
beloved ones Hugh and Rebekah are on vacation at a sea cruise. This pair of chic emotional vampires from San Francisco are not the blood-sucking type, but rather the emotional vampires that will suck the air out of a conversation—or worse yet— one’s life! But they’re here to relax, on a little vacay, maybe join an orgy with fellow passengers, feast on their desires, sorrows, and fears. But Hugh becomes enchanted by an alluring, possibly magical, nonbinary
social media influencer named Heaven. All hell breaks loose! A smutty horror-comedy ensues, and all are suddenly at sea! Buy this beauty of a book at Fabulosa Books, 489 Castro Street!
After four decades of leadership, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has announced her retirement from Congress. She made history as the first woman House speaker.
(continued on page 44)
Dennis McMillan (aka Sister Dana) with Lindsay Merbaum, author of Vampires at Sea, at Fabulousa Books on Thursday, November 6
Dennis McMillan (Sister Dana Van Iquity) with GLBT Historical Society Executive Director Roberto Ordeñana (left) and Ms. Bob Davis posing with a dress that once belonged to singer Sylvester at the I Live the Life I Love Because I Love the Life I Live: A Celebration of
I can recall in 1987 being so proud when she announced she was there to represent San Francisco and the people with AIDS. This was the first time the epidemic had been addressed in Congress. And now I am hoping she will be replaced by openly gay state Senator Scott Wiener
On November 18 on the steps of the California Supreme Court, Senator Wiener and advocates announced the No Kings Act, new legislation to hold federal officials and agents accountable for violating constitutional rights. In the face of the Trump Administration’s
Sandy’s Sketches
By Sandy Morris
dangerous crusade to illegally harass and deport people during immigration enforcement, target political opponents for investigations, and cut off university funding, California will stand up for civil rights and the rule of law.
Governor Gavin Newsom at his “Yes on 50” inspirational victory speech in Houston, Texas, exclaimed, “I get why you say, ‘Don’t mess with Texas’; but also, ‘Don’t poke the Bear!’” He added, “Thank you not only for showing up for yourselves, but also for your state, for our nation, for the world, for not giving in to cynicism, for not giving in to the fear and
Happy Holidays
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.”
anxiety that fills so many people, thank you for inspiring the state of California, and thank you for Proposition 50!”
Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) pledged to fight on behalf of LGBTQ Americans during a speech she made on November 12 after finally being sworn into Congress. She had waited 50 days to be sworn in after winning a special election, and immediately promised to sign a discharge petition to release government files about the high-profile clients of convicted and deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. “It’s past time for Congress to restore its role as a check and balance on this administration and fight for we the American people,” Grijalva said in her speech. “We need to fight for our immigrant communities and our veterans. We need to stand up for our public schools, children, and educators. We need to respect tribal sovereignty and our environment. We need to stand up for LGBTQ rights, because that’s what the American people expect us to do—fight for them.”
The government shutdown is over, and I hear a lot of Democrats are angry— believing that their lawmakers caved and should have held out longer to force Republicans to extend health care subsidies to ensure millions of Americans don’t lose their health insurance or see their premiums skyrocket. But I think we won the shutdown war! Let’s face facts, folx! Those cold-hearted Repugnicans were never going to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies no matter how long the shutdown dragged on. The shutdown ended with polls showing voters blamed Republicans over Democrats for the whole ordeal. In fact, Trump’s average approval rating is now under 40%—an utterly dismal number that, if held, will tank Republicans in the 2026 midterms. Who can forget the images of a smiling Trump at a “Great Gatsby”-themed Halloween party, while he was cutting off food stamps to the poorest Americans. Or the images of Trump demolishing the East Wing of the White House to build an ostentatious $300 million ballroom, while Americans went unpaid, and food stamp money was running dry.
Sister Dana sez, “Stop all the useless whining and handwringing! The shutdown gave Democrats a ton of material to work with for the midterms! We are winning!”
For the month of November, Strut, 470 Castro Street, is exhibiting the incredibly sexy black and white manly photography of Stuart Goldstein Stuart is a San Francisco-based photographer, born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island. After spending 30 years living in Manhattan—25 of those with weekends on Fire Island Pines—he has built a life rooted in art, connection, and observation. A graduate of the University at Buffalo with a BFA, Stuart has traveled the world, yet finds his greatest inspiration in the intimacy of photographing people. Whether capturing a headshot,
portrait, or candid moment on the street, the personal connection with his subject is vital to a successful image. When a story begins to unfold within a frame—that’s when the photograph becomes magic. Call Strut at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation to make sure they are welcoming visitors, and go to the second floor to enjoy Stuart’s gorgeous art! https://www.sfaf.org
San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post Street, is thrilled to announce the opening of Into the Woods. A baker’s quest to fulfill a witch’s demands entangles him in a dark web of wishes and consequences in a twisted mashup of fairy tales. This Stephen Sondheim classic Tony award-winning musical is now playing through January 17. https://www.sfplayhouse.org
The 47th annual Milk/Moscone Vigil will occur on November 27 (Thanksgiving night) at 7 pm where participants will gather at Harvey Milk Plaza to hear inspirational speeches from outstanding community members. We celebrate Milk’s living legacy by renewing his (and our) commitment to resistance, queer joy, and community care, organizing for a more just and accepting world, and building one another up despite the division promoted by our federal government. As tradition, after the memorial we will walk down Castro Street to what was once Harvey’s camera shop, now QAF (Queer Arts Featured).
https://www.milkclub.org
Get ready for a night of laughter, wit, and local star power as the Great Star Theater presents San Francisco Squares —a Bay Area spin on the legendary TV game show, The Hollywood Squares! Hosted by the fabulous Sister Roma , and featuring Lady Camden (RuPaul’s Drag Race) in the coveted center square, along with Wayne Justmann, Broke-Ass Stuart, Scrumbly Koldewyn, JR Topdog, Leigh Crow, Shane Zal Diva, Shanti Charan and Juicy Liu. November 29, 7 pm, 636 Jackson Street.
https://www.spectrumtheatresf.org
Google wrote massive checks to fund Trump’s new ballroom. Days after, the administration greenlit Google’s $32 billion merger with cybersecurity firm Wiz—a deal experts say never should’ve passed antitrust review. The timing is too perfect to ignore. Big Tech funneled millions into Trump’s political machine this fall, and Google’s merger approval came right after donations hit Trump’s accounts. Trump’s ballroom isn’t just a White House expansion; it’s a pay-toplay marketplace, and Congress must investigate.
Sister Dana sez, “Tell Congress to closely examine Google’s golden ballroom bribe. Subpoena DOJ officials, Google executives, and Trump operatives now! As the line from the classic musical ‘Three Sisters’ might emphasize: ‘We won’t dance; don’t ask us!’”
Happy Holidays (Pen/Ink/Pencil)
Practice Makes Love Easy
Kippy Marks
He turned a smile into a movement. His iconic symbol invites HIV dialogue, reduces stigma, and builds community. Through design, empathy, and fearless love, he embodies PMLE: Practice Makes Love Easy, and I am therefore proud to celebrate Dave Watt as the 10th individual spotlighted in this column.
In a world where silence still surrounds HIV, Watt chose to speak—with a smile. During his run for Mr. Michigan Leather in 2008, he introduced a symbol that would become a movement: a simple, friendly face that said, “I’m poz-friendly.” That symbol became Mr. Friendly, now Team Friendly—a grassroots campaign that transformed HIV stigma into connection, conversation, and care.
Watt’s genius wasn’t just in the design. It was in the philosophy: visibility without assumption, friendliness without fear. He wanted people to know they could talk about HIV without shame, without guessing someone’s status, and without the silence that stigma breeds. That’s PMLE
Dave Watt and the Friendly Revolution: Love in Action, One
in action, when love is practiced through openness, empathy, and everyday courage. Before founding Mr. Friendly, Watt had spent years distributing condoms and safe sex materials. But he realized the real impact came from dialogue, from sitting down and saying, “Let’s talk,” and from creating spaces where HIV-positive individuals weren’t treated as second-class citizens, but as full, vibrant members of the community. That’s where the Friendly face came in—a visual cue that said, “You’re safe here.”
The movement grew. Chapters formed across the U.S. and Canada. Hotel lobby brainstorms turned into national campaigns. And, in 2015, Mr. Friendly evolved into Team Friendly, reflecting a broader coalition of allies, advocates, and educators, but the heart remained the same: reduce stigma one conversation at a time. He didn’t just create a logo. He created a language of love; a way for people to say, “I see you. I honor you. Let’s talk.” And, in doing so, he exemplified the PMLE philosophy: that love, when practiced consistently and courageously, becomes not just easy but also revolutionary.
Kippy Marks: How long have you been involved with the practicing of PMLE values in your work?
Dave Watt: The Team Friendly campaign was born from a simple belief: everyone deserves love. That message first took shape in September 2008 during a speech I gave while competing in the Mr. Michigan Leather contest. At its heart, the speech was a call to treat every person with dignity and respect, regardless of HIV status. Since then, the campaign has grown through a tremendous collective effort, but I’m proud to hold the title of founder.
Kippy Marks: Who or what motivated you to become the community activist you are today?
Dave Watt: For years, I was known
Smile at a Time
as “the condom guy,” handing out countless condoms everywhere I went. But over time, I realized that wasn’t the conversation I truly wanted to be having. During my outreach, I saw people living with HIV being judged, excluded, and pushed aside, often because of simple misinformation. Once people were given accurate information, that fear shifted into understanding—and sometimes even genuine love. I wanted a symbol that could spark a different kind of conversation, one that said, “I’m here for you, whether you’re HIV-positive or HIV-negative,” and that could spread awareness with a smile. The idea became the foundation for the Team Friendly concept, including the amazing team here in the Bay Area.
Kippy Marks: How old were you when you made that decision?
Dave Watt: I was in my mid-forties when my husband and I first launched the campaign. Back then, it was called “Mr. Friendly,” a name tailored to the gay and trans leather events where it first took root.
Kippy Marks: What advice would you give to others on how to practice love on the daily?
Dave Watt: Let’s be slower to judge one another. Whenever possible, choose to believe that people are acting with positive intent, even when their words or actions miss the mark. Too often, I see folks jump to the worst conclusion when they feel hurt or frustrated. Instead of responding with anger, try approaching the moment with compassion and say, “Help me understand.” Lead with love. And if you see a need in your community, step up and meet it. Use your skills, your connections, and the passion in your heart to make things better. I’m always happy to support and collaborate. Let’s do good together.
Kippy Marks: If you were granted two universal wishes, what would you wish for?
Dave Watt: A future where HIV is cured; and free, high-quality healthcare is available to everyone. I know—it’s a big wish!
Kippy Marks: Please share any current practices that our readers may find useful, and update us on what you are doing now.
Dave Watt: I work across Arizona as a sexual health educator and travel nationwide to speak at conferences and fetish
events. You can find Team Friendly on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky. We focus on creating events and social media campaigns that raise awareness one Friendly conversation at a time. Together, let’s keep the Friendly conversations going until the world is truly stigma-free of HIV! Want to be part of the change and join the movement? Visit Watt and his team’s website ( www.teamfriendly.org ) to learn more, start a chapter, or support the mission. Their merchandise—shirts, pins, and banners—aren’t just stylish. They’re conversation starters. They’re symbols of solidarity. They’re tools of love.
And if you’re in San Francisco, you’ve already felt the fire. In 2016, I became the first Mr. Friendly titleholder to compete at International Mr. Leather (IML), representing Mr. Friendly SF/Bay. My original song and video, “Stoke The Fire Mr. FRIENDLY,” became an anthem for the movement. In a gesture of pure PMLE spirit, I gifted the copyright to Watt and Team Friendly for life, ensuring the music of love and visibility would never fade.
So, whether you wear the pin, share the smile, or play the song (more streams = more $ to Team Friendly)—know this: You’re stoking the fire. You’re practicing love. You’re part of the revolution.
As we celebrate community builders and unsung heroes in this column, let Watt’s legacy remind us: a single smile can shift a culture. Team Friendly isn’t just a campaign. It’s a practice. It’s a promise. It’s love made visible.
Kippy Marks is a spirited solo entertainer whose shows are permeated with an infectious joy. His distinctive sound arises from his heart, through his 1822 violin consort, Izabella. Marks’ rare talent, broad smile, and radiant warmth will brighten any event to create lasting impact. He is also Grand Duke XL of The Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco. He is the first ever elected African-American Grand Duke.
