LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area
CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES Est . 1978
Countdown to Rikki’s
Danielle Thoe and Sara Yergovich, the Co-Founders of Rikki’s
Rikki’s—the First SF Bar Dedicated to Women’s Sports— Set to Open in Early June 2025 ‘Courage Is Contagious’ Sports Inclusivity
San Francisco’s sports scene is about to get a major upgrade with the arrival of Rikki’s Women’s Sports Bar. Slated to open its doors in early June 2025 during Pride Month in San Francisco, Rikki’s will be the city’s first-ever sports bar dedicated to celebrating the achievements and excellence of women’s athletics. It will be located at 2223 Market Street, where the San Francisco Bay Times and “Betty’s List” regularly used to hold events at what was then 2223 Restaurant & Bar, followed by Jake’s.
More than just a place to watch a game, Rikki’s aspires to foster a vibrant and inclusive community for women’s sports enthusiasts. Inspired by the success of similar establishments across the nation, such as Seattle’s Rough and Tumble and Portland’s The Sports Bra, Rikki’s aims to build a welcom-
ing atmosphere where fans can connect, cheer on their favorite athletes, and enjoy delicious food and drinks.
“With the additions of Bay Football Club (Bay FC) to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in 2024, and the Valkyries to the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) in 2025, this is a critical time of growth in women’s professional sports in the Bay Area and we’re excited for Rikki’s to be part of it,” said Sara Yergovich, Co-Founder of Rikki’s.
The Rikki’s team organized watch parties at locations such as Standard Deviant Brewing in San Francisco while their space at 2223 Market Street was being readied for the anticipated grand opening in early June 2025.
This intention to highlight inclusivity and build the space with community is in keeping with the work and life of Rikki Streicher,
for whom the bar is named. She was the owner of the lesbian bars Maud’s and Amelia’s, a founder of the Federation of Gay Games, and a community leader in San Francisco’s women’s sports and queer communities. Her bars provided a gathering place for people to come together in a welcoming space, plan events to support and improve their community, and to let down their guard and have a really great time.
Rikki’s and the Community
While Rikki’s will undoubtedly become San Francisco’s destination for catching WNBA, NWSL, college athletics, and a wide range of women’s sports, the experience will extend far beyond the television screens. Regular programming will include watch parties, engaging game nights, trivia focused on women’s sports history and figures, and events specifically designed to celebrate and empower female athletes and sports leaders.
Danielle Thoe, also a Co-Founder of Rikki’s, shared, “We are opening Rikki’s because we can’t find a consistent place to watch the
The Valkyries Historic Season Opener at Chase Center
A sold-out crowd of 18,064 fans packed Chase Center on May 16, 2025, for the Golden State Valkyries
historic season opener. As the first WNBA expansion team since 2008 and during a time of growth in interest in women’s sports, the Valkyries already have many devoted Bay Area fans. The mood at the stadium was electrifying even though the Valkyries lost against the Los Angeles Sparks 84–67.
Despite the loss, Tiffany Hayes scored 19 points, the most for the Valkyries that night. Temi Fagbenle followed with 15, and Julie Vanloo with 14. Valkyries fans shouted “Beat LA” frequently throughout the evening, and loved the striking lavender shirts that were folded over every chair. Each of the shirts had emblazoned on the front, “First of a Lifetime.” https://valkyries.wnba.com/
women’s sports we love. We are building this space with and for the local community of women’s sports fans. Sara and I met while playing soccer with the San Francisco Spikes and want to make sure other teammates have a place to watch women’s sports.”
Fully Funded
On May 3, Yergovich and Thoe announced that Rikki’s had reached its fundraising goal, with over $425,000 raised via WeFunder and the generosity of more than 235 total investors. In a joint statement they said, “We are so proud to be part of this wonderful
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Photos courtesy of Rikki’s
Danielle Thoe and Sara Yergovich
2223 Market Street, where Rikki’s is located, is remembered by Castro neighbors as the former home of a popular lesbian-owned restaurant led by Chef Melinda Randolph.
‘Courage Is Contagious’ Sports Inclusivity
Trans Women in Sports: Facts Over Fear
Trans athletes, especially trans women and girls, have come under fire over the last few years, but trans women have been openly playing in women’s sports for decades. Trans women continue to be massively underrepresented in high school, college, and professional sports; moreover, those who do compete aren’t usually dominating their fields.
Despite these facts, the issue has proven to be an effective scapegoat for politicians even though many Americans are more directly impacted by issues such as rising costs and lack of affordable housing. This bizarre focus on trans people, who make up approxi-
mately 1% of the population, is demonstrated by the fact that as of March 15, there have already been over 745 anti-trans bills introduced in state legislatures across the country in 2025 alone.
Unfortunately, the reality is that even those who consider themselves allies to the trans community can have a hard time talking about trans participation in sports, so we’ve put together some information we hope will help.
Trans people are estimated to make up 1–2% of the population of the United States; however, trans people make up less than 0.002% of U.S. college athletes, and even fewer of recent Olympians (0.001%) identify as trans.
The participation of trans women in women’s sports is not new. There are many examples over the last several decades of transwomen competing in sports.
In 1977, for example, Renée Richards competed in women’s tennis as a trans woman and reached the doubles
final in the U.S. Open; however, she did not win. Richards and her doubles partner Betty Ann Stuart lost the finals to Martina Navratilova and Betty Stove. Stuart, Navratilova, and Stove were all cisgender women.
In 2018, Veronica Ivy became the first transgender world track cycling champion, winning first place in the UCI Women’s Masters Track World Championship for the 35–44 age bracket.
In 2021, Laurel Hubbard competed in weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Despite widespread media attention, she won no medals.
When trans people do participate in professional and competitive sports, their participation is carefully regulated by national and international standards to ensure it is fair. We should not be looking to politicians or pundits—many of whom have never been to a women’s sporting event—for guidance on how to regulate women’s sports. It’s important that we consider the opinions of experts and, more importantly, follow the science. There is decades of research and precedent from medical journals and sports governing bodies that have helped establish clear guidelines to ensure both inclusion and fairness in sports.
A 2021 study published in the journal Sports Medicine ( https://bit.ly/3Fegd2o ) has found that there is no scientific evidence to support policymakers’ attempts to ban transgender women in sports.
In November 2021, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) released its Framework on Fairness, Inclusion, and NonDiscrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations. This framework was developed after a two-year consultation process with over 250 athletes and stakeholders.
More recently, a 2024 study ( https://bit.ly/4msIuDa ), funded in part by the IOC and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, concluded that transgender women athletes may actually have several physical disadvantages when competing with cisgender women. Some of the study’s key findings:
• Transgender women performed worse than cisgender women in tests measuring lower-body strength.
• Transgender women performed worse than cisgender women in tests measuring lung function.
• Transgender women had a higher percentage of fat mass, lower fat-free mass, and weaker handgrip strength compared to cisgender men.
• Transgender women’s bone density was found to be equivalent to that of cisgender women, which is linked to muscle strength.
• There were no meaningful differences found between the two groups’ hemoglo-
bin profiles (a key factor in athletic performance).
Despite all this evidence, some policymakers continue to scapegoat trans women athletes, prioritizing what they perceive to be winning political narratives over the facts.
Unfortunately, the truth is that these attacks on trans athletes endanger all women by creating an environment of fear, encouraging false allegations, and laying the groundwork for invasive and discriminatory screenings that open the door to abuse—and it’s already happening.
Several cisgender women athletes have been accused of being trans by fellow athletes, the media, and policymakers. Transphobia continues to be weaponized to undermine cisgender women, especially women of color, subjecting them to ridicule, false accusations, and invasive medical examinations. Some of these cisgender women are even banned from competing because they do not conform enough to the ideal.
Caster Semenya is a South African cisgender woman and middle-distance runner who, following her gold medal victory at the 2009 World Athletics Championship, was asked to undergo sex verification tests by World Athletics due to her appearance and prowess. She later was cleared to compete in women’s competitions and won a gold medal in the 2016 Olympics.
In 2019, new World Athletics rules required Semenya to take medication to suppress her naturally occurring high levels of testosterone in order for her to continue to compete. Semenya refused to undergo treatment and sued World Athletics for discrimination.
Similarly, Imane Khelif, a cisgender Algerian professional female boxer, was disqualified from the 2023 IBA Women›s World Boxing Championships shortly after completing her gold medal in the final round for unspecified medical reasons relating to her gender. She later competed in the 2024 Olympics, and despite being cleared by the International Olympic Federation (IOF) to compete in women’s competitions, was falsely accused of being trans following a match with Italian boxer Angela Carini. Carini withdrew 46 seconds after the match commenced, claiming that the match was unfair, sparking a baseless controversy over Khelif’s gender.
In June 2014, Dutee Chand, an Indian athlete, was investigated and subsequently excluded from selection for the Indian team over accusations of her gender
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Trans Action with Honey Mahogany
Renée Richards (1976)
Caster Semenya (2010)
Dutee Chand (2017)
‘Courage Is Contagious’ Sports Inclusivity
Valkyries Take Flight, Major League Cricket, and Olympics Buzz
Beth’s Bay Area Sports Beat
(Editor’s Note: This issue marks the launch of a new sports column by longtime San Francisco Bay Times supporter and contributor Beth Schnitzer, who is the Co-Founder and President of SpritzSF. Just over 20% of all sports reporters nationwide are women, according to recent surveys, so we are happy to increase that statistic.
We are also honored that Beth Schnitzer, in particular, will be at the helm of our sports coverage. Her mother Bette Schnitzer started the girls’ track and field program at Union Catholic High School back in the 1960s, and was such a beloved instructor, coach, and mentor that students knew her just as “S”—a one-letter nickname, a/la James Bond’s “M” and “Q.” Beth’s niece Alexa “Lexi” Westley is now one of the youngest professional women coaches in college sports. She is a Cross Country Assistant Coach at Rutgers University and a possible future Olympics contender.
Beth herself is no slouch when it comes to fitness and sports as we learned during her coverage for the Bay Times of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She and Lexi probably walked more miles during that trip than the distance of multiple Bay to Breakers.
Look for her column each month in the San Francisco Bay Times.)
Welcome to the debut of Beth’s Bay Area Sports Beat.
If you’ve ever sat in a stadium, stood on a sideline, or found yourself glued to a screen cheering for your favorite team, you are in the right place. I’m thrilled to launch Beth’s Bay Area Sports Beat, a new monthly column for the San Francisco Bay Times that brings you the stories, highlights, and heart of sports from around the Bay Area—and beyond.
Sports have always been a part of my DNA. I come from a sports-loving family: my siblings are athletes; my niece, Lexi Westley, is a former star student athlete at the University of Wisconsin and is now an Assistant Coach for Cross Country/Track & Field at Rutgers University; and my parents were deeply
involved in coaching and supporting sports at both the high school and collegiate levels. I’ve turned that lifelong passion into working with sports clients at Spritz—serving as the official local PR agency for Super Bowl 50, World Cup Rugby 7’s, The Tournament of Champions Squash Championships in NYC, the 49ers Foundation, and others. Now it is particularly exciting to have a platform to share what’s happening on the field, court, track, pitch, and more!
You may have read my coverage of the Paris Olympics last summer here in the Bay Times, and I’m excited to continue bringing you my perspective—starting with the debut of the Golden State Valkyries, the rise of Major League Cricket, and some Olympic buzz. Expect insights, a little commentary, and plenty of love for the game.
Let’s play!
The Valkyries Take Flight: A New Era of Bay Area Basketball
I was honored to attend the inaugural preseason game for the Golden State Valkyries and witness history in the making.
From the moment I stepped into Thrive City outside of Chase Center, the energy was electric. Fans in purple jerseys and creative attire filled the plaza—men, women, families, couples, kids, and solo attendees—all buzzing with excitement. Activations, music, and entertainment added to the hype, creating a true festival atmosphere before tipoff. I grabbed a glass of champagne at one of the outdoor bars and proceeded to the entrance.
Inside the arena, the Valkyries violet lights lit up the stands, and the crowd was on fire. The emcee kept the energy high with dynamic commentary and fun in-game activations—even walking us through how to cheer for the team. I was watching alongside my sister, Christine, who is a devoted NBA and WNBA fan, and we found it impossible to sit still; we were cheering all throughout the game.
The coaching staff rotated players throughout the night as the team began building chemistry. Leading them is Head Coach Natalie Nakase, who is the first Asian
American head coach in the WNBA’s 29-year history. Her presence on the sidelines is powerful—not just for what she brings strategically, but also for what she represents in terms of leadership, representation, and breaking barriers.
Though the Valkyries lost the game by just one point, the entire arena was on its feet with a standing ovation at the buzzer. The passion, energy, and spirit were undeniable. This isn’t just a team; it’s a movement. Now I can’t wait for the rest of their regular season home games, with the next one happening on June 1 to help kickoff Pride Month. The Valkyries then will be taking on the Minnesota Lynx.
One of the most exciting parts of this new franchise is the globally diverse roster. In addition to standout U.S. talent, the Valkyries feature players from France,
Australia, the U.K., Belgium, Italy, and Lithuania. This international flavor adds even more color to the team.
Before the game, I had to brush up on the meaning of “Valkyries.” In Norse mythology, Valkyries are fierce warrior women who guide slain warriors to Valhalla. It’s a powerful symbol of strength, leadership, and fearlessness—perfect for this historic WNBA expansion team.
The branding is equally meaningful: the logo features the Bay Bridge, with its cables forming wings and the tower doubling as a
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FITNESS SF Trainer Tip
Stretch Your Chest, Fix Your Posture
By Michael Cockrum, Personal Trainer at FITNESS SF Castro
Long hours at a desk can tighten your chest muscles, pulling your shoulders forward and affecting posture, breathing, and back tension.
Try this quick fix: Stand beside a wall, raise your arm to shoulder height, and press your forearm and palm flat against the wall. Gently turn your chest away until you feel a stretch. Hold for 20–30 seconds on each side.
Stretching regularly improves posture, circulation, and mental clarity—especially during long workdays.
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/
Beth Schnitzer attended the 2025 Big Ten NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. (Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon)
Beth Schnitzer
(left) Beth Schnitzer and Christine Schnitzer at the Golden State Valkyries pre season WNBA game at Chase Arena
‘Courage Is Contagious’ Sports Inclusivity
Two New Cycling Fundraisers to Launch in 2026 Following This Year’s Final AIDS/LifeCycle Ride
2025 marks the final year of AIDS/ LifeCycle, which for over three decades has raised more than $300 million for the life-saving work of the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF). Coming in 2026 and helping fill the void are two new cycling fundraising events for the queer community and allies. The Castro Country Club will host the Recovery Ride to support the LGBTQ recovery com munity in September 2026. The SFAF, in turn, will host a 3-day cycling event in spring 2026. Funds raised by each event will support the programs and services of each respective agency.
“We are excited to share with our communities the news of a series of SFAF endurance events that answer the long-awaited
question of ‘what’s next’ after the final AIDS/ LifeCycle. And, we are thrilled to make our announcement in tandem with a beloved community partner,” said Tyler TerMeer, PhD, CEO of SFAF. “As funding for HIV, LGBTQ+, and equity-based prevention work continues to be at risk—or to be abruptly cut—it is more important than ever before for us to come together in partnership to support and protect the programs, services, and needs of our community.”
Lemon, Executive Director of the Castro Country Club. “From the Stonewall uprising, to examples of community care and mutual aid during the HIV crisis, we are inspired by the resilience and strength of our queer community and allies. Together, we will continue to fight for the lives, and the health, of us all.”
the event will be spent off of bikes, in a day of fellowship with meetings, speakers, and other activities.
“There are so many inspiring examples from LGBTQ+ history of how our communities achieve more when we come together to lift one another up and fight to protect each other,” said Billy
The Recovery Ride by Castro Country Club, September 11–13, 2026, will be a round-trip bike ride from Sausalito to Guerneville. The event will be fully-supported with rest stops and meals provided, camping overnight in Guerneville, and a fundraising minimum of $1,500. The second day of
The SFAF fully supported 3-day spring ride will start in San Francisco, include a day of riding through Sonoma, and will end back in San Francisco. The community is encouraged to vote on the event’s name–or submit their own idea. SFAF will also produce a one-day ride event in fall 2026 and will bring back the Big Gay 10K run in spring 2027. Community members may indicate interest in SFAF’s event and vote on the event’s name at https://bit.ly/438kzBj
BUSINESS OF PRIDE
Annual Celebration & Awards Ceremony
Join the SF Business Times in celebrating the Business of Pride, on Wednesday, June 4, at the Westin St. Francis honoring the 2025 OUTstanding Voices—leaders paving the way for the LGBTQ equality in the workplace along with one leader and one corporation with special awards for their impact on the LGBTQ business community.
We will also be honoring the Top 40 LGBTQ-Owned Businesses in the Bay Area.
Selisse Berry Legacy Leadership Award
Andy Cramer, Founder, Caregiving Network; Founder, Gay.net
Corporate Pride Award
2025 OUTstanding Voices
Akash Bakshi, CEO, YourChoice Therapeutics
Aaron M. Boot-Haury, Vice President, PNC Bank
Sean Dowdall, President, Landis Communications Inc.
Andrew Freeman, CEO, af&co
Juan G Herrera, Vice President, Bank of America
Sara Lentz, DPN, MSN, RN, CNL, Director, UCSF Health Saint Francis Hospital
Travis Mitchell, Legal Council, Benchling
Kevin Parker, CEO, Cartography Biosciences
Disney Petit, CEO, LiquiDonate
Christal Wang, CEO, Shimmer
Tickets: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/event/171568/2025/the-business-of-pride
Dear Mayor Lurie ...
In Case You Missed It
In 1983, AIDS activist Roger Gail Lyon testified before Congress, pleading so passionately that his friend Gert McMullin sewed his words into his panel for the AIDS Memorial Quilt: “I came here today to ask that this nation with all its resources and compassion not let my epitaph read he died of red tape.”
Lyon’s words have been on my mind while watching the chaos, corruption, and cruelty continuing to reign in Washington, while the
effects of their shenanigans are being felt right here. The massive funding cuts are hitting every sector, but particularly those organizations that provide essential care for some of the most vulnerable among us. Medical care, food, shelter, mental health care, gender-affirming care, and more are on the chopping block. And in a particularly cruel move, millions of Americans could lose their Medicaid coverage and healthcare access due to proposed changes that would make it exponentially more difficult to apply for and access services.
includes robust funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. As mayor, I will continue to backfill any federal funding cuts driven by Republican agendas and invest in our City Clinic’s modernization and relocation to better serve our community.”
interviews with both those who acquired HIV at birth or as young children (lifetime survivors), and those who acquired the virus before the availability of effective treatments in the mid1990s.
The attack on Medicaid will be particularly devastating for people with HIV and those seeking to prevent HIV, as Medicaid is the top provider of coverage for people living with HIV, and is also a major contributor to equitable PrEP access.
Local activists are working hard to mitigate the damage, but they need our help to avoid catastrophic collapse of the network of services that support this community. For decades, San Francisco has helped local agencies during difficult budget years by backfilling any cuts in federal or state funding. During his campaign last year, Mayor Lurie made this direct promise: “I commit to backfilling federal funding cuts to maintain San Francisco’s HIV safety net. Access to culturally-competent health care is a fundamental right. This
Let’s hold Mayor Lurie accountable to his bold promise. Mayor Lurie has a deadline of May 31–June 1 to submit his proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors, so now is the time to speak up! The HIV Action Network (HAN) has been working overtime to help save local HIV programs, and has developed tools to help you make your voice heard. Use this link, and share it with others: https://tinyurl.com/HANtool
Surviving Voices Premieres June 5
On June 5, 1981, The Centers for Disease Control published a report of five young gay men in Los Angeles who were suffering from a mysterious illness. That report later became recognized as the first record of what became known as the AIDS pandemic. In 2014, June 5 was established as HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day, to honor those who have lived with HIV for decades—the first people in history to do so. Shining a spotlight on this group of individuals raises awareness of the unique challenges they face, and the courage and resilience they draw on to face them.
Some of those individuals have shared their stories in a new film, Surviving Voices: HIV Lifetime and Long-Term Survivors, the tenth chapter in the National AIDS Memorial’s oral history and documentary series, Surviving Voices. The film, produced and directed by Jörg Fockele, features
In commemoration of HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day, Surviving Voices: HIV Lifetime and Long-Term Survivors will premiere at the Roxie Theatre on June 5, 2025. The screening will also include three of the documentary’s 22 filmed interviews, and a post-screening panel discussion featuring five of the people featured in the film.
This film comes at a time when the people featured in the film, who have managed to beat all odds by surviving and thriving with HIV for decades, are having their lives threatened again by something even more dangerous than a virus: politics. Politically-motivated budget cuts are threatening their access to the lifesaving medications and care they depend on for their survival. Come see the film, hear their stories, witness their courage and resilience, then help us fight for them. They have earned our support. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/NAMLTS65
Painting the Castro
In a time when the very words diversity, equity, and inclusion are being banned and stigmatized by our government, one man is working to make sure that San Francisco’s Castro Street remains a welcoming beacon for all—and especially in time for Pride Month.
Harry Breaux is an artist and a visionary, with deep roots in this community. He had a vision of creating a visual symbol of welcome to the neighborhood at Jane Warner Plaza (at Castro, 17th and Market streets) that would not only be visible to people at street level, but would also be visible around the world thanks to the San
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Horizons Foundation Announces Recipients of Funding Through New Trans POC Initiative
Horizons Foundation has announced that four Transgender People of Color (Trans POC) organizations based in the Bay Area will receive funding totaling $1 million over three years via Horizons’ new Trans POC Initiative. It provides funding towards transformative, multi-year infrastructure improvement and capacity-building grants. “Trans-led organizations are a vital part of the vibrant and diverse LGBTQ community in the San Francisco Bay Area,” said Roger Doughty, President of Horizons Foundation. “Given today’s political climate, this initiative reflects our deep commitment to ensuring not just the survival, but the strength of these organizations. Horizons is proud to partner with them as they secure the future for Trans POC communities with vision, resilience, and power.”
The four Trans POC grantee organizations are:
• El/La Para TransLatinas, which advocates for the rights of TransLatinx individuals and operates one of the few safe spaces for the trans/intersex/ gender diverse Latinx community in Northern California. “Our community right now is barely surviving,” said Nicole Santamaria, El/La’s Executive Director. “The lack of funding is pushing us more into the margins. El/La is a ray of hope, a mother to our community. This funding will help us not only weather this storm, but become stronger.”
• Lavender Phoenix, which works to build transgender, nonbinary, and queer Asian Pacific Islander (API) power through organizing and training grassroots leaders in the Bay Area. “Facing hundreds of anti-trans bills across the country, a lot of people in our community are terrified,” said Yuan Wang, Lavender Phoenix’s Executive Director. “Organizations like Lavender Phoenix need to be around longer than the four years of this administration, and this
funding is a big step in helping us get there.”
• The Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP), which works to build voice, power, and leadership among Black trans people affected by the criminal justice system. “This grant from Horizons helps us cover many of the things that other funders don’t want to fund,” said Janetta Johnson, TGIJP’s CEO. “Trans-led organizations are under attack. The time is now to build, expand, and create a space that is for us, by us, and with us.”
• The Transgender District, which works to create an urban environment that fosters the rich history, culture, legacy, and empowerment of transgender people in the Tenderloin. “This grant is an investment in our capacity to uplift trans futures,” said Belen Meza, The Transgender District’s Development &
Partnerships Associate. “This funding will allow us to finally build the stable, sustainable infrastructure to continue delivering impactful services.”
For 45 years, Horizons Foundation has been at the forefront of providing funding to help the San Francisco Bay Area’s LGBTQ organizations strategically grow and solidify their infrastructure.
“The Trans POC Initiative is part of Horizons’ comprehensive funding strategy and our commitment to supporting the full breadth of the LGBTQ nonprofit ecosystem and the communities it serves,” said Francisco Buchting, Horizons Foundation’s Vice President of Grants, Programs, and Communications. “It reflects what we’ve always stood for as a community foundation—not just supporting services, but investing in sustainability, leadership, and longterm impact.”
https://www.horizonsfoundation.org/
Joanie Juster
Roger Doughty PHOTO BY RINK
Exploring End-of-Life Options With Heart, Intention, and a Little Bit of Earthy Magic
Money Matters
Brandon Miller
At Brio, we believe financial planning should embrace your whole life—right up to its final act. End-of-life conversations can be tough, but they don’t have to be grim. With intention and care, planning can become an empowering part of your legacy, reflecting your values, identity, and the people who matter most.
Whether you’re just getting curious or you’re ready to dive in, there’s a growing movement toward more personal, sustainable, and thoughtful end-of-life options—from green burials and living urns to human com-
posting (yes, really!). Think of this as one last act of love for your future self and the people who’ll carry your memory forward. Planning ahead means fewer question marks and more peace of mind for your chosen family—especially important for LGBTQ+ individuals and those in non-traditional households, where legal protections can vary or lag behind reality.
If you don’t have these basics in place yet, start here:
• Living Trust and Will, Durable Power of Attorney;
• Advance Healthcare Directive;
• Beneficiary Designations (especially critical for those without legal spouses);
• Letter of Intent;
• Digital Legacy Plan (name a digital executor, set up legacy contacts, secure your online accounts).
Sure, burial and cremation are still common—but they’re no longer the only routes. Here are some meaningful alternatives gaining momentum:
Green Burials: No chemicals, no caskets— just you and the earth.
• Aquamation: Also called water cremation, this gentle process uses water instead of flame.
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Empowering Mothers: The Gift of an Estate Plan This Mother’s Day Month
Trust Essentials
Jay Greene, Esq., CPA
Although Mother’s Day 2025 is now in the rearview mirror, it is never too late to honor the incredible women who shape our lives with their love, strength, and care. Before this month draws to a close, imagine giving a gift that goes beyond flowers or brunch—a gift that ensures a mother’s legacy and protects her family for years to come. An estate plan may not come wrapped in a bow, but it’s a powerful way to empower mothers, offering peace of mind and security. It’s more than just documents; it’s a heartfelt promise to care for loved ones, even in the toughest times.
Why Estate Planning Matters for Mothers
Estate planning is especially meaningful for mothers, who often hold their families together. It’s a way to extend their nurturing beyond their lifetime. Here’s why it’s a perfect gift for any time of year:
Guardianship for Minor Children: For mothers with young kids, an estate plan lets them name a trusted guardian, ensuring their children are raised by someone they choose if the unthinkable happens.
Financial Security Through Asset Management: Mothers can direct how their assets—like savings, homes, or heirlooms— are distributed, securing their family’s future exactly as they envision.
Avoiding Probate Delays: By setting up tools like living trusts, mothers can help their families skip lengthy probate processes, making transitions smoother during emotional times. Planning for Incapacity: Estate plans include powers of attorney, so if a mother can’t make decisions due to illness, someone she trusts steps in—keeping her wishes front and center.
Privacy and Conflict Prevention: A clear plan keeps family matters private and
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Message from Leadership
Where GGBA Is Today, and My Vision for Moving This LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce Forward
by Aaron Boot-Haury
Dear GGBA Members,
It is with deep gratitude and tremendous excitement that I write to you as the 39th President of the Golden Gate Business Association.
First, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Nancy Geenen, our most recent past-president, for her exemplary leadership during one of the most challenging periods in our organization’s history. Nancy stepped in during an abrupt leadership change immediately following our historic 50th Anniversary Gala. She handled difficult conversations
with compassion and resolve, supported our operations with resources from her own company, and recruited an extraordinary slate of new board members. I had the privilege of spending three full days with Nancy at a recent NGLCC (National LGBT Chamber of Commerce) conference, and I am beyond grateful that, although she has stepped down as President due to her relocation to New York City, she will continue to serve on the board and remain a close advisor to me. Her commitment to our mission and community is inspiring.
In the spirit of transparency, a value I hold dear, and you can expect from me, I’d like to share where we are today and my vision for moving forward:
1. Financial Health: Our finances are now fully current, with no outstanding expenses from the 50th Anniversary Gala. I’m proud to report that, while operating very lean, we are in the black!
2. Operational Stability: We’ve engaged a part-time project management consultant who has been instrumental in organizing our historical records and implementing best practices for greater operational efficiency and business resilience, regardless of any unexpected events.
3. Community Engagement: Our monthly Make Contact events are back and stronger than ever. Attendance has surged at each of the last three gatherings and we’ve
GGBA Member Spotlight Joe Solis of Northwestern Mutual
Joe Solis, the Director of Marketing and Diversity & Inclusion at Northwestern Mutual, is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of managing large, high-performing teams across nonprofit and consumer service industries. He is known for driving impactful change through strategic leadership, process improvement, and a strong commitment to developing inclusive workplaces. With deep expertise in team building, coaching, and Diversity &
Inclusion initiatives, he specializes in creating cultures where people—and businesses— thrive.
GGBA: Tell us about Northwestern Mutual and its connection to the Bay Area.
Joe Solis: San Francisco Bay Area Group is a Northwestern Mutual office that provides comprehensive financial planning services tailored to the needs of individuals, families, and businesses. Our mission is to create a safe space where everyone can participate and thrive.
seen many long-time members make connections with first-time participants.
4. Board Leadership: As of April 22, 2025, we have a robust 13-member volunteer board of directors, each with unique backgrounds, skills, and passions that will help guide us into this exciting next chapter. So, what comes next? Now that we’ve stabilized the organization, it’s time to build!
1. Member-Driven Strategic Planning: We will actively seek your feedback through multiple forums as we embark on a strategic planning process. GGBA exists to serve you, our members, and your input will be the
(continued on page 19)
We embrace a culture of change, open communication, and diverse perspectives. Our goal is to support clients with resources that strengthen inclusion strategies for both business and personal growth.
We recognized the importance of offering inclusive, values-driven financial guidance that reflects the diversity of the Bay Area. Our vision is to have a space where clients, advisors, and team members feel seen, supported, and empowered to make informed decisions that shape their futures.
GGBA: Who or what has inspired your approach to business, leadership, or community impact?
Joe Solis: We are inspired by leaders who model authenticity, equity, and vision—both within and outside the financial services industry. Our leaders, advisors, and team members at Northwestern Mutual have helped us create a culture of collaboration and trust. We also look up to changemakers in the LGBTQ+ and DEI spaces whose work drives impact and inclusion in meaningful ways.
GGBA: Why did you decide to join the GGBA, and how long have you been a member?
Joe Solis: We joined GGBA because we believe in the power of community and visibility. GGBA provides a platform to connect
with other LGBTQ+ professionals and allies who are equally committed to equity and excellence. We’re new members and have found it to be a truly empowering network.
GGBA: How has being a member of GGBA helped your business so far?
Joe Solis: Being part of the GGBA has helped us expand our reach and deepen our community engagement. We’ve been able to meet clients, collaborators, and friends who align with our values. It has also enhanced our visibility as an inclusive financial planning firm that welcomes all backgrounds and life journeys.
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?
Joe Solis: Yes, you can easily find many of our advisors at Make Contact events. They’ve been an amazing resource for us, and the connections we’ve made have led to some really cool partnerships and business opportunities. We highly recommend these events; they’re a great way to meet people who genuinely want to help and support each other.
(continued on page 19)
Joe Solis
The GGBA page is sponsored by Anne Sterling Dorman
Mohsen Mahdawi: Unfettered by Fear
6/26 and Beyond
John Lewis & Stuart Gaffney
We have closely followed the cases of students and immigrants, arrested and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents since Trump took office again in January. On the morning of April 30, 2025, we awoke to a glimmer of hope amid the burgeoning authoritarianism: one student activist, Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia undergraduate and lawful permanent resident of the U.S. living in Vermont, had just been released on bail by order of a federal judge. Our ears particularly perked up as we heard Mahdawi just moments after his release boldly, but calmly, declare outside the detention facility: “I am saying it clear and loud to President Trump and his Cabinet: I am not afraid of you.”
His words conveyed courage, clarity, and conviction, free of fear, hostility, or anger. This simple, grounded, and forthright confidence seemed to us to be exactly what is needed and has been lacking from far too many ostensible leaders in response to the Trump
administration’s brazen actions and belligerent rhetoric over the last four months. We were intrigued to know more about this person who appeared to possess such a remarkably brave and composed presence. When we learned that Mahdawi practiced Buddhism, we realized that we shared a common interest.
Mahdawi, now 34 years old, first encountered Buddhist practice as part of his healing process in the U.S. from childhood trauma he experienced growing up in the Far’a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank. His connection to Buddhist practice grew from there.
time in prison to meditate and make heaven for himself there.”
In an article in the Buddhist journal Tricycle, former Theravadan Buddhist monk Michael Santi Keezing recounted the personal warmth with which Mahdawi greeted him when he was invited to lead a meditation session at the Columbia University Buddhist Association, of which Mahdawi served as
President. One of Mahdawi’s classmates described his experience of sitting in meditation with Mahdawi on an ongoing basis: “When you interact with people who are irritated or angry, you can become irritated or angry. When you’d interact with Mohsen, he’d be so centered, so grounded and present, you would feel centered and grounded and present.”
And that appears to be exactly what Mahdawi did. In an op-ed he authored the weekend after his release, he reported that he maintained his composure and connection to his meditation practice even as he was being handcuffed and shackled by ICE agents. “I jokingly said, while taking short steps [because of the shackles], ‘This is how I do walking meditation.’” As the ICE van whisked him away, Mahdawi told himself: “Breathe in love, breathe out love.’” He later described to the VTDigger podcast: “Even though I was in prison, I was not imprisoned. I was able to imagine myself when I was in the cell, walking, hiking the forest, laying in a hammock, hearing this beautiful sound of water.”
NPR interviewed Mahdawi shortly before his release, and described that, just before the interview, he had been doing his daily meditation. He told the reporter, “I am centered internally. I am at peace.” And this foundation enabled him to have hope: “While I still know deeply that this is a level of injustice that I am facing, I have faith. I have faith that justice will prevail.”
Mahdawi’s mindfulness practice is not confined to time on his meditation cushion; it actively pervades his life, even when he was arrested and imprisoned. Mahdawi applied for U.S. citizenship a period of time ago. When he received notice to appear for his citizenship interview in midApril, he feared that it was just a ruse to entrap and arrest him. But he decided to go anyway in the hope that the interview would actually be real.
According to The New York Times, Mahdawi met before his interview with his attorney and supportive friends, just in case anything went wrong. Mahdawi assured them he would be alright even if they arrested and detained him, because if they did, he would “use his
Mahdawi is both a strong supporter of Palestinians as well as an outspoken advocate for peace for everyone and mutual understanding. Bridge building and empathy for everyone lie at the heart of his message but not in an unrealistic and idealistic way. Mahdawi told 60 Minutes: “To empathize is to understand the root cause and to not look at any event or situation in a vacuum. This is for me the path moving forward.”
On many occasions, Mahdawi has (continued on page 13)
Mohsen Mahdawi speaking at an evening rally
Mohsen Mahdawi
Mohsen Mahdawi at Columbia University’s Alma Mater bronze sculpture
Mohsen Mahdawi being interviewed on 60 Minutes
Mohsen Mahdawi speaking at a rally
GAFFNEY & LEWIS
(continued from page 12)
recounted how, as an 11-year-old, he witnessed his best friend killed by the Israeli military, and as he held his young friend, he felt intense pain and rage and vowed to avenge his death. Years later, Mahdawi explained that little did he know as a child that his revenge would be “to have empathy and love and compassion to all beings, including Israelis.” His many conversations with Israeli and other Jewish Americans led him to a profound understanding: “the human being is not the enemy; the enemy is fear, segregation, and ignorance.”
Such an insight accords deeply with Buddhist teaching as a path to the alleviation of human suffering. For a person to manifest this wisdom, embody peace as one advocates for it, and live not necessarily without fear, but unfettered by fear—as Mahdawi appears to aspire—is a gift to the world, no matter what path leads a person to it.
John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for over three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. Their leadership in the grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed in 2015 to making samesex marriage legal nationwide.
Help Save the California Warm Line
The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time we promote mental well-being and advocate for improvements to mental health care systems.
Many members of the LGBTQ+ community are experiencing stress and anxiety now because of some of the actions the Trump administration has taken so far this year. Transgender rights are under attack. Federal research grants for HIV and other diseases impacting sexual and gender minority groups are being cancelled. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies are under attack. They can all be too much.
One invaluable resource available to our residents is the California Peer-Run Warm Line, which provides free, non-emergency emotional support via phone, text, or chat 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s available in several languages to support a wide range of communities.
But it’s in jeopardy of closing because the current state budget proposal will barely fund our services, which have been open to all Californians since 2019, thanks to our Governor and legislative leaders who prioritized mental health and allocated state funding to our organization.
This scenario is real. Imagine that it’s 2 am. You can’t sleep because of a problem that you keep thinking about. You reach out to us, and no one answers. We’ll have to shut down
if Sacramento doesn’t continue funding our program at current levels. That also means the CalHOPE and Spanish Warm Lines will be impacted.
By Mark Salazar
California’s timing could not have been worse. The White House is proposing to eliminate the part of the 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline that serves LGBTQ+ youth. People will have to find other ways to get help. We’re afraid they’ll overwhelm the 911 system or turn to egregiously more expensive hospital emergency rooms. Warm lines not only save lives, but they’re also financially smart, potentially saving millions of dollars a year in ER visits.
Our counselors have helped hundreds of thousands of Californians through some major struggles, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of homes in the Los Angeles Wildfires. They’ve also heard from people with more common issues, like a job loss, family turmoil, or loneliness. Nearly 25% of all callers, texters, and online chatters identify as LGBTQ+.
The goal of a warm line is to intervene early by getting people the emotional support they need before they reach a crisis stage when a hotline, like 988, is more appropriate. On average, the California Warm Line had been contacted 20,000 times a month. In each of the last two couple months, however, that number nearly doubled, which is a testament to the need and growing demand for this kind
of help. We can barely keep up with all of them as it is. Our model for providing care is very effective. When people reach us, they get a peer counselor, someone who has had their own mental health challenges. This lived experience means they can be compassionate, empathetic, and provide the emotional support people are looking for. In fact, their work with the California Warm Line helps turn their own recovery into someone else’s lifeline.
You can help save the California Warm Line by signing our petition, urging the Governor and the State Legislature to renew our funding. To add your name, go to https://savethewarmline.org/
You can also call or email your own State Assemblymember or State Senator who represents your district. Please ask your friends, family, and neighbors to join in before the budget plan is voted on in mid-June.
For now, if you need someone to talk to or need emotional support, please call or text us at 1-855-600-WARM (9276) or to chat online with someone, go to https://www.mentalhealthsf.org/
Mark Salazar is President and CEO of the Mental Health Association of San Francisco, which oversees the California Warm Line, CalHOPE Warm Line, and the Spanish Warm Line.
Mark Salazar
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Reflections on the 2025 EL*C Lesbian Conference in Rome
by Selisse Berry
I was delighted to spend my birthday this year with good friends in Rome, Italy, as nearly 800 lesbians gathered for the EL*C (Europe and Central Asia) Conference Rome 2025. It was an incredible time to reflect on the power of lesbian visibility and the unity we share across borders.
I flew in from California and landed the very day Pope Francis passed away. It felt like an auspicious time to be in the Eternal City, under the looming presence of the Vatican. But as the week unfolded, it became clear: we were the eternal ones—lesbians from around the world, coming together to share stories, strategies, and strength.
Throughout the conference, we had many opportunities to exchange ideas in workshops, side conversations, and spontaneous hallway meetups. We listened to lesbians who continue to resist patriarchal and repressive systems in their home countries— some who have fled for safety, others who have stayed to fight. All of them are courageous. All of them deserve our support.
I was proud to represent LesbianGlobal at the conference, alongside my colleagues Kathy Levinson and Naomi Fine. We also had the pleasure of spending time with Lee Badgett of Koppa, the LGBTI+ economic power lab. Together, we discussed ways our organizations might collaborate to advance economic empowerment, systemic change, and lesbian philanthropy.
There were powerful conversations throughout the week about the need for greater lesbian visibility—not just in policy spaces, but in funding, community-building, and narrative leadership. We shared how vital it is that we show up for each other, boldly and unapologetically.
As the conference neared its end, plans for the first-ever Dyke March in Rome began taking shape. I found myself reflecting on a very different day—April 24, 1993—also my birthday and the day of the First Ever Dyke March in Washington, D.C. I was part of the group that planned it. We met in my friend Jennifer’s apartment here in San Francisco, using landlines to call our networks in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and D.C. We knew we needed to make lesbians visible at the March on Washington. As we brainstormed names for the event, someone called out, “Let’s call it the Dyke March!” We knew, instantly, that the Dyke March was born.
And now, here we were in Rome, 33 years later, planning another first. Another march. Another moment. On the same day the Pope was laid to rest, we held hope—hope for a better, more inclusive world; one where every lesbian, everywhere, has the right to thrive.
Lesbians will continue to gather—in cities, villages, conferences, and communities—and we will continue to strategize, support, and build because we are strong. We are invincible.
We are lesbians, eternal and powerful. Lesbians unite.
Selisse Berry is the Founder and former CEO of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. She is now a Strategic Advisor at the organization LesbianGlobal ( https://www.lesbianglobal.org/ ) and serves as a consultant and nonprofit leader who continues to drive change through advocacy and mentorship.
Left–right: Dragana Todorovic, Selisse Berry, Naomi Fine, Kathy Levinson, Lee Badgett
‘Queer Joy Is Resistance’: A Rallying Cry Reminding Us That Our Solidarity Can Lead to Progress
By Suzanne Ford
As we prepare to celebrate the 55th Annual San Francisco LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration and Parade, I want to take a moment to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are, and what this historic event continues to mean—not just for San Francisco, but for the global LGBTQ+ community.
This year’s theme, “Queer Joy Is
Resistance,” could not be timelier. It’s a rallying cry that reminds us: our joy is strength. Our visibility is power. And our solidarity—particularly in moments of uncertainty—is the building block of progress we still fight for.
San Francisco Pride is committed to being a welcoming space for all queer people. We recognize the complex and sensitive discussions
GLBT Fortnight in Review
He’s Sort of Heavy
I’ve noticed that whenever a Pope makes even the most anodyne remark, a host of GLBT commentators jubilantly pounce on his words in an effort to manufacture a gay-friendly trend in Church law. Remember when the late Pope Francis said something like, “Who am I to judge?” Not judging is technically a top commandment in Christianity, and the Pope’s genial expression revealed next to nothing about his views on GLBT Catholics. Nonetheless, you would have thought the man cruised into a gay nightclub, ordered a frivolous cocktail, scanned the crowd, and then waved his scepter with a Latin blessing before hitting the dance floor.
The bottom line is that the Pope is elected to preserve tradition and history, tweaking the evolution of Catholicism perhaps, but not tossing it all out in a Trumpy fashion. So, an Associated Press report that Leo XIV said the family “is founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman” does not seem that disappointing. What do you think he’d say? He’s not the head of the ACLU. He’s the head of the Catholic Church!
Of course, I wasn’t raised Catholic, or anything for that matter, so I tend not to give a damn what the Pope has to say. But I have many more-or-less lapsed Catholic friends, some of whom seem a bit desperate for his unlikely embrace. That’s like waiting years for the vegan restaurant around the corner from you to put a ribeye on the menu. Meanwhile, have you encountered the Pope’s brother? As The Advocate reports, “Louis Martin ‘Lou’ Prevost reportedly shared a post on social media that used an objectifying slur to attack U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and falsely labeled her a drunk. The post also fed into conspiracy theories that her husband had Grindr hookups.”
Say what?
Lou moved his Facebook account to private and confirmed that these were his own views, not those of the Pope. He then told Piers Morgan: “I wouldn’t have posted it if I didn’t kind of believe it.” Kind of?
The Advocate continued its rundown of posts from this moronic sibling. One comment suggested Barack Obama was “a racist who destroyed the country,” The Advocate wrote, while another used a “transphobic meme.” And it goes without saying that Pre-
surrounding current global events, particularly regarding Gaza.
SF Pride believes that our event should be the one place where people with differing perspectives can come together, set aside their differences, and unite in support of the
By Ann Rostow
vost frere is a Trump fan. Trump likes to “stir the pot,” he told the Guardian. “He says things just to stir the pot, cause it’s fun to like get into some of these debates with people sometimes from the other side.”
What a buffoon! We assume Leo XIV does not share his brother’s infantile sensibilities, but you should know that the Pope has long been registered as a Republican in his county clerk’s office in Illinois.
Trans Troops Dismissed by High Court Conservatives
I just reviewed my previous column to see whether or not I covered the High Court’s anti-transgender military ruling. I guess that column was submitted just before the decision was handed down, so the answer was no.
However, I was chagrined to see that I wrongly assumed that the Republican Lt. Governor of Virginia, Winsome Earle-Sears, was white. “She sounds like a character out of someone’s first novel, set in the low country, and covering four generations of two different families, one Black and one white,” I wrote in my usual amusing fashion. “Winsome is the matriarch, who hides a racist heart under kind platitudes and sweet tea. I need a title with the word “Tide” or “Tides” in it.”
Oops. Sticking with stereotypes, I now assume that a Black woman does not harbor such prejudice, even if she’s a Republican. But who knows? It would be a good plot twist for High Tide at Newport News were she self-loathing. Earle-Sears is running for Governor this November, while a gay MAGA guy, John Reid, is running for Lt. Governor. Reid was accused of posting racy photos back in the day, and though Gov. Glenn Youngkin tried to make him drop out, Reid defiantly refused, much to the delight of his fellow Trumpers. Earle-Sears, in turn, backed Reid, albeit tepidly.
So, now that that’s cleared up, you’ve probably already seen the news that the Supreme Court will allow Trump and company to oust transgender troops while our legal challenges work their way through the courts. Courts in the Ninth Circuit and the D.C. Circuit have both put a hold on the transgender ban in cases we’ll nickname Shilling and Talbott, respectively. Talbott is pending in the D.C. appellate court, while Shilling’s trans-friendly ruling was upheld by the Ninth Circuit. Trump appealed the Shilling hold to the High Court, and on May 6, the
six conservatives overturned the Ninth Circuit and gave the administration a green light to dismiss transgender troops during litigation that could take a year or so.
Two days later, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that “TRANS is out at the DOD,” and called for trans troops to leave within 30 days. Reservists have 60 days. It’s not clear what Pete and his wife will do if people don’t resign, however. Nick Talbott, the named plaintiff in the D.C. case, says he won’t go and many other transgender soldiers are flying under the radar.
I mentioned Pete’s wife because I’ve read several articles about how he doesn’t do anything without his wife’s approval and how she accompanies him to meetings and work events. According to CNN, a former Pentagon spokesman, Chris Meagher, said the Hegseth situation is bewildering. “Not only is it unlikely that his wife has a security clearance, but she definitely does not have a need to know the sensitive classified information that Pete Hegseth is apparently sharing with several different text chains,” he said.
I guess Jennifer Hegseth used to be a producer on Fox, where Pete was a talk show person. She is Pete’s third wife, and came into the media spotlight as her husband was being accused of being a falling down drunk and an adulterous sleaze bag.
What Else Is New?
I’ve been skipping through the internet, trolling for GLBT stories, but I can’t focus on the ones I’ve seen so far. There’s a BDSM movie about a handsome gay motorcycle guy and his submissive sidekick that’s all the rage in Cannes. Pillion includes lots of graphic gay action and full-frontal nude shots of Alexander Skarsgard, so guys ... we’ll meet you at the theater.
There’s a temporary block on an anti-GLBT law in Iowa. We’ll see where that goes. And Romania has overtaken Poland as the most anti-gay country in the European Union. I thought I saw that a centrist guy just upset a rightwing, nationalist Trump admirer in a presidential runoff last week, and I was wondering if the close election changed the pessimistic view. Unfortunately, I don’t have the emotional strength to probe the nuances of Romanian politics at the moment, and you probably don’t feel like reading about it either.
I can, however, tell you about the time my colleague and I went on a business trip to
LGBTQ+ community. All queer people and their allies—including all queer Jewish people—are welcome at SF Pride. We aim to create a space of understanding, respect, and solidarity.
Our goal is to provide a platform where diverse voices can coexist peacefully, focusing on our shared commitment to equality, dignity, and mutual respect.
Suzanne Ford is the Executive Director of San Francisco Pride ( https://sfpride.org/ ).
discuss technical specifications for a computer system (we ran a newswire in the late 1980s). We asked our hotel clerk where we could conduct a working dinner, and he sent us on a ten-minute walk into town. We were very pleased under the circumstances to find a restaurant right next door to the hotel, even though it specialized in Romanian food and was filled with Romanian ex-patriots. We settled in with the notebooks of specs that IBM had provided, but we were soon derailed by pitchers of Romanian wine, weird heavy delicious food that we couldn’t identify, and a violinist who came over and played right in my ear for an extended period of time. We persevered with our notes and questions for a while but eventually gave ourselves over to inebriation, serenades, and a tour of our waiter’s collection of icons, recently smuggled out of the country.
The next day, I tried to follow along with our tech experts. After a few pages, my notebook was stained with red wine and I had apparently begun to make big circles and question marks. Under a sentence warning users to turn off their systems when not in use, for example, I had written, “WHY??,” in heavy letters. The IBM experts kept glimpsing these notations and asking if I understood. Oh, and both of us were barely able to keep our eyes open. Ah, the misadventures of youth. It was the closest I’ll ever get to Romania.
I guess I could write about the continuing fight over a GLBT club at Yeshiva University, but that scenario has been dragging on for years. Been there, done that! Suffice it to say that the conservative university has found a way to clamp down on the gay student club despite court rulings, while the club will no doubt send the mess back to a judge somewhere and the merry-go-round can spin on. I don’t know. But it’s like the runoff election in Romania. Do we really want to understand more of the story? Or will a superficial glance at the headlines suffice?
I couldn’t agree more!
Paging Hannibal Lector
Speaking of headlines, here are two juicy items I stumbled over in my research: “French Pizza Chef Accused of Killing Man Before Dismembering and Cooking Body Parts in Pot of Vegetables: Reports,” from People, quoting Le Parisien. And “Men Killed and Eaten by Dog-Killing Arsonist,”
(continued on page 20)
PHOTO BY RINK
DBy Donna Sachet
r. Jerome Goldstein & Tom Taylor will long be remembered for their legendary house parties for the SF Gay Men’s Chorus, the Pride Band, and many other organizations, where food and drink were always in abundance. Their annual Christmas tree extravaganza on 21st Street became a world-famous tourist stop. And some groups will remember their more private financial contributions over the years to causes local and national, small and large. But many did not know of their personal dedication to the late Gilbert Baker and his iconic rainbow flag creation.
Jerome and Tommy were friends of Gilbert’s for many years, providing him encouragement and often financial help, even after he moved to New York. Their warehouse on Isis Street contained sewing machines, fabric, and a huge collection of rainbow flags, as well as a bed upon which Gilbert often flopped when exhausted. When Gilbert created the rainbow flag in 1978 at the request of Harvey Milk, he considered it a gift to the burgeoning LGBT community, forgoing any financial compensation or future rights. Many friends counseled him otherwise, but his mind was made up. As the flag grew in popularity, soon to be seen flying all over the world, some saw this as a missed financial opportunity; but Gilbert was an artist and had created a symbol and rallying point for his community as a gift.
As we look around at the few remaining pioneers of the early LGBTQ+ movement still active, we see many in a similar situation, living paycheck to paycheck, even after monumental contributions to our progress. Sometimes, we organize major events upon their passing to memorialize their place in the movement, as we did at the Castro Theatre when Gilbert died in 2017; but many times, their senior years are spent in isolation, privately concerned about day-to-day expenses, and feeling left behind. Jerome and Tommy were great friends to Gilbert and made every effort to assist him personally and to ensure that his rainbow flag would forever be properly remembered. Today, the Gilbert Baker Foundation continues to protect and defend the legacy of this man and his phenomenal gift.
Late in his life, Jerome Goldstein shared with us a personal dream of his to memorialize Gilbert with a life-size statue. He envisioned a park bench with Gilbert seated and the rainbow flag spread across his lap. He also wanted to represent their long friendship by including representations of both Tom Taylor and himself. This was to be an individual project, personally financed, sculpted by a respected artist, and placed in view of the public. Not many people we have spoken to even knew of Jerome’s dream. But, before he died in 2023, a bronze statue had been created.
Finding a home for it in San Francisco became problematic. Because of its size, legal and maintenance issues, including necessary approvals from the Arts Commission, this labor of love could not find a home ... until Napa Valley College came forward.
Through a series of circumstances and a friendship with Greg Miraglia, Dean Emeritus and Pride Learning Community Coordinator there, this iconic statue was unveiled and dedicated in the lobby of the McCarthy Library on the campus of Napa Valley College on Friday, May 9, 2025, and we were there. We were joined by Ralph Hibbs for the short program, including remarks by College President Dr. Torence Powell, niece of Tom Taylor Angela Traeger, and the artist who created the statue, Dina Angel Wing
We were honored to be asked to speak as well, as one of the few who personally knew all three people represented in the statue. We learned so much about this dynamic college offering four-year degrees, including studies in LGBTQ+ history and culture, and spent some time in the student Pride Room. It is heartwarming to know that this reminder of the history of the creator of the rainbow flag and his devoted friends will greet students, faculty, and visitors to the lobby of the library of Napa Valley College for years to come.
Never forget that you are living in what will one day be our history. Are you an observer, a participant, or a leader? What are we doing now to ensure key people and events will be remembered accurately? One day, we will look back on our actions or inactions with pride or regret. Don’t miss the opportunity to participate fully and dynamically. If not you, who?
Erratum: The annual Cinco de Meow Imperial event pays tribute to the late Emperor Fernando Robles, not Emperor Frankie Fernandez, as reported in our last column. Fernando is Emperor XXXII, After Norton, and died in 2015; Frankie is Emperor XXXIX, After Norton, and continues to live in San Francisco and participate in Imperial events. We deeply regret this egregious error.
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
“I finally reached the point where I knew I had to become involved or shut up.”
Thursday, May 22
Harvey Milk Day
A Protest of Joy SF Pride Band, speeches, performances Cast of Harvey Milk Reimagined Jane Warner Plaza, Castro & Market March to Roxie Theater 4:30 pm Free!
Friday, May 30
Pride Renaissance Gala Benefits Queer Life Space Dinner, auction, program
Bobby Friday & Donna Sachet Carly Ozard, Kippy Marks, Mahlae Balenciaga Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market Street
5:30 pm $80, $250 & up www.queerlifespace.org
Friday & Saturday, May 9–July 26
Compton Cafeteria Riot Written by Colette LeGrande, Donna Personna, & Mark Nassar Immersive theatrical experience 835 Larkin Street 7 pm $75 www.tickettailor.com
Sunday, June 8
Sunday’s a Drag Featuring Donna Sachet & Friends With Holotta Tymes, Nikki Jizz, and Evian Drag, pride, and community on the 21st floor of the Beacon Grand! 4:30 pm $25
https://bit.ly/4mqFJSz
Harvey Milk
Donna Sachet and her pup Peanut with the Freedom to Love by Dina Angel Wing, depicting Gilbert Baker, Jerry Goldstein, and Tom Taylor
and appearance.
At the 2020 Olympics, 6 African runners—Christine Mboma (Namibia, 400m), Beatrice Masilingi (Namibia, 400m), Aminatou Seyni (Niger, 400m), Caster Semenya (South Africa, 800m), Margaret Wambui (Kenya, 800m), and Francine Niyonsaba (Burundi, 800m)—were all withdrawn from their events because they did not meet the eligibility regulations due to their naturally occurring testosterone levels and appearance.
This list of cisgender women athletes accused of being trans is by no means exhaustive, but it highlights the harmful impacts of anti-trans policies on all women.
The trans-panic around women’s sports is also impacting children. Florida implemented a law in 2021 banning trans children from playing sports that align with their gender and permitting schools to subject minors to genital inspections. New Jersey and New Hampshire followed suit in 2022 and Kansas in 2023. Ohio enacted a similar ban that same year, though the state’s Senate revised the enforcement method to replace potential genital checks with birth certificate verification. At the federal level, a bill was introduced and passed in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year that would have instituted a national ban and set a dangerous precedent. Fortunately, U.S. Senate Democrats were able to block the bill that would have banned trans youth from playing sports across the country and would have exposed countless women and girls to invasive investigations and potential abuse.
To be clear, there are real, pervasive threats to women and girls in sports that have nothing to do with trans people’s participation—threats that are being largely ignored by those who call themselves champions of women’s sports. A 2016 USA Today investigation ( https://bit.ly/4mljLjQ ) found that at least 368 young gymnasts reported being victims of sexual abuse over the past 20 years. More than 100 coaches and gym officials were accused of abuse, yet USA Gymnastics failed to track predatory coaches, allowing them to move between gyms unchecked and exposing more young girls to harm. Requiring athletes to undergo genital inspections or other invasive methods of verification puts young athletes at even higher risk of abuse.
In 2023, UN Women, UNESCO, and the Global Spotlight Initiative released the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in Sport handbook ( https://bit.ly/4k2y7Eh ) highlighting key issues and strategies to combat violence in sports. Key findings from the handbook:
• 21% of women and girls globally have experienced sexual abuse in sports, nearly twice the rate of male athletes; this includes harassment, assault, and “sextortion” (misuse of authority for sexual gain).
• 31.8% of female athletes have endured excessive punitive training, while 10.6% have suffered physical beatings; the violence experienced extends to include neglect, assault, and denial of medical care.
• Athletes face mistreatment from coaches, peers, and spectators, including demeaning language, hazing, and verbal abuse at events.
• During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 87% of abusive tweets targeted women, with Black female athletes facing the worst harassment; the online abuse women experience is often sexualized.
The report underscores the urgent need for protecting all women athletes from violence and discrimination in sports, and yet, none of the bills claiming to protect women and girls sports address any of these concerns.
Rather than protecting women’s sports, bans on trans athletes encourage bullying, discrimination, and even violence against women and girls. These bans can lead to invasive screenings that violate privacy and increase the risk of abuse. History has shown that sports institutions continue to fail to protect young athletes from predatory conduct, as seen in the USA Gymnastics scandal, and identified in the 2023 UNESCO, UN Women, and Global Spotlight Initiative report. Trans exclusionary policies do not address the real threats to women athletes like sexual violence and harassment, and, in fact, expose all women to more harm.
Good policy is based on the facts and should be written with the goal of making us all safer. Trans women are not a threat to cis women. Trans women have long been a part of women’s sports, and their inclusion has been analyzed and supported by scientific research and the expertise of international sporting bodies. It’s time we acknowledged the truth, so that we can do the work of supporting all women and girls.
Honey Mahogany, a San Francisco native with a Master’s in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley, is a performer, small business owner, and activist. Her work has earned recognition from the City of San Francisco and various organizations. Mahogany co-founded the San Francisco Transgender District, is a founding queen of Drag Story Hour, co-owner of the Stud Bar, and a singer with nu-metal group Commando. She currently serves as Director of the Office of Trans Initiatives, Chair-Emerita of the San Francisco Democratic Party, and Delegate to the Democratic National Committee.
MILLER (continued from pg 10)
• Human Composting: Turn your remains into rich soil to nourish new life.
• Mushroom Burial Suits: For the ecoconscious with a flair for the futuristic.
• Memorial Reefs: Support marine ecosystems with a coral tribute.
• Living Urns: Grow a tree from your ashes and live on in the branches.
• Body Donation: Help advance science—and sometimes reduce funeral costs.
In California and a few other states, medical aid in dying is a legal, compassionate choice for qualifying individuals. It’s not for everyone, but understanding what’s required— medically and legally—can help ensure your wishes are known and respected.
From Jewish customs that favor simplicity and prompt burial, to Catholic last rites, to secular rituals of remembrance—how we say goodbye should be as personal as how we lived. For LGBTQ+ individuals, it’s also important to ensure your identity and chosen family are honored without interference. Including explicit instructions in your plan can safeguard your legacy.
So much of life lives online now; don’t leave your digital legacy up in the air. Think about:
• Appointing a digital executor;
• Including online accounts in your will;
• Setting up legacy contacts (Apple and Google both offer them);
• Curating your digital footprint.
Starting the conversation is often the hardest part. One client recently shared how relieved they felt when a Brio advisor helped navigate an emotional conversation with their aging parents. Talking about death didn’t feel scary anymore; it felt like a plan.
GREENE (continued from pg 10)
reduces the chance of disputes, preserving harmony when it’s needed most.
Did you know that 70% of Americans don’t have a will? That leaves countless families vulnerable, especially during grief. For mothers, who often juggle so much, estate planning is a practical and loving step to protect what matters most and to take one item off your to-do list.
Heartwarming Examples
Here are a few real stories that show how estate planning becomes a gift of love:
A Mother’s Love Note: One attorney shared how her mother’s estate plan—complete with a will, financial and medical powers of attorney, and end-of-life wishes—acted as a “love note” after her passing. It spared the family stress and guesswork, letting them grieve together instead of grappling with each other because of uncertainty.
Bonding Through a Cancer Diagnosis:
Another mother, diagnosed with cancer, had her estate plan ready with a will, durable power of attorney, and advance directive. For 19 months, her family focused on precious time together, free from conflicts over her care or wishes—her plan ensured peace and clarity.
We’re here to help you start wherever you are, whether that’s writing a will, funding your final wishes, or figuring out what eco-conscious burial options feel right for you.
Curiosity is a great place to begin. And planning? That’s a powerful act of love.
The opinions expressed in this article are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security. It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results. Any indices referenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional.
Brio Financial Group is a registered investment adviser. SEC Registration does not constitute an endorsement of Brio by the SEC nor does it indicate that Brio has attained a particular level of skill or ability Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Brio Financial Group 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/
These examples highlight how estate planning isn’t just preparation; it’s an act of care that echoes a mother’s devotion.
Take Charge of Your Legacy Today
This Mother’s Day Month, consider giving—or encouraging—an estate plan. It’s a gift that empowers mothers to safeguard their children, secure their assets, and maintain family unity. Consult an estate planning attorney to explore options like wills, trusts, or powers of attorney tailored to her needs. The peace of mind it brings is priceless, letting mothers rest easy knowing their love endures.
Celebrate your mother with a gift that truly lasts, because every mother deserves to feel empowered and secure.
Statements In Compliance With California Rules of Professional Conduct: The materials in this article are for educational purposes only and are not legal advice. Consult an estate planning attorney for personalized guidance.
Jay Greene, Esq., CPA, is the founder of Greene Estate, Probate, & Elder Law Firm in San Francisco, helping LGBT individuals, couples, and families secure their future. For more information, visit: https://assetprotectionbayarea.com
Freedom to Love Sculpture Depicts Rainbow Flag Visionary Gilbert Baker and Supporters Tom Taylor and Jerry Goldstein
“First Lady of the Castro” Donna Sachet welcomed guests to the unveiling at Napa Valley College on Friday, May 9, 2025, of the Freedom to Love bronze sculpture by artist Dina Angel Wing. The sculpture is in the form of a functional bench with rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker depicted on one side and his patrons Tom Taylor and Jerome Goldstein together on the other. The sculpture is now in the lobby at the McCarthy Library. It is a little-known fact that Baker refused to patent or trademark the rainbow flag, saying that it instead was a gift to the world. Certain others who have since created different pride-themed and LGBTQ+ community flags, such as the progress pride flag, have registered copyrights for commercial use.
A new documentary at YouTube by Richard Gutierrez shares more about Gilbert, the sculpture, and Tom & Jerry: https://bit.ly/3Saan4Z
BOOT-HAURY (continued from pg 11)
foundation of our direction.
2. Visioning Our Future: In July, our board will convene for a visioning and strategic planning retreat to create the framework for our 5-year plan.
3. Revitalizing Corporate Partnerships: We will focus on engaging past and new corporate sponsors, ensuring their support directly fuels programming that benefits you.
4. Strengthening Regional Collaborations: We will reinvigorate our collaborations with other LGBTQ+ nonprofits, other diverse business organizations, and government entities in the region, because in a challenging political and economic climate, partnership is power. I believe our future lies at the intersection of legacy and innovation. We honor our past, not by standing still, but by moving forward with intention, adapting to the environment we face (which is complicated, to say the least) and remaining nimble. There is undeniable momentum, fresh energy on the board, ideas flowing for revitalized programming, and a renewed commitment to community.
The GGBA is your chamber, your place to grow, your place to lead, your place to connect with others who believe that business and community go hand in hand. Thank you for trusting me with this role. Together, we will elevate GGBA as a beacon of economic strength, advocacy, and pride for the LGBTQ+ business community of the Bay Area and beyond.
With purpose and pride, Aaron Boot-Haury (he/him)
President/CEO Golden Gate Business Association
https://www.ggba.com/
JUSTER (continued from pg 8)
Francisco Bay Times Castro Street Cam, which actually consists of four and soon to be five cams showing different parts of the neighborhood. Breaux researched a variety of symbols, and chose the Intersex Progress Pride Flag as the most inclusive. He set to work by figuring out the logistical challenges of painting this symbol onto the street, and then talked with community groups and city officials to gain both community support and logistical assistance. It was a long process, but the good news is that his vision is on track to become reality.
The Grand Kick-Off is scheduled for Monday, June 2, at 10 am, weather permitting, with a grand opening to be announced soon. The street painting will take place in stages from June 2–11, thanks to generous support and professional guidance from SherwinWilliams Paint Company and the Castro Community Benefit District. You can watch the progress on the San Francisco Bay Times Castro Street Cam (#4): https://bit.ly/3WGonVE
Free Andry José Hernández Romero
In April, Andry José Hernández Romero was forcibly disappeared to the CECOT prison in El Salvador. Activist Cleve Jones has been working to secure his freedom, and shared this plea publicly: “The case of Andry José Hernández Romero, now before a Federal Court, stands at the intersection of the struggle for immigrant rights, LGBTQ rights, and the effort to preserve due process under law. As Pride Month approaches, please do whatever you can, wherever you are, to shine a light on Andry’s illegal and unjust imprisonment. His family and defense team believe that publicity about his case may keep him alive, and eventually win his freedom.” https://www.freeandry.org
Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.
SOLIS (continued from pg 11)
GGBA: What other advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own business?
Joe Solis: Lead with purpose and make sure your values shine through in everything you do. Surround yourself with a diverse group of people who support you; stay curious, and don’t be afraid to change and grow. Building a business takes a lot of hard work and determination, but with the right mindset and community, it’s totally worth it!
GGBA: Is there anything else that you would like to share?
Joe Solis: We’re thrilled to be serving the Bay Area and honored to be part of the GGBA community. We’re not just about creating financial planning; we’re about creating inclusive success for our clients, team, and the whole community.
For More Information
Northwestern Mutual: https://www.northwesternmutual.com/ Joe Solis: https://www.jasolis.com/
Photos courtesy of Gilbert Baker Foundation
sword. The five-wing segments represent the 10 players on the court, and the overall shape of the logo forms a “V” for Valkyries. The color—Valkyrie Violet—reminded me of the lavender track and branding at the Paris Olympics track and field stadium. It’s bold, elegant, and absolutely unforgettable. While the energy surrounding the Valkyries has been overwhelmingly positive, sadly, just a week after the game, news broke that Caitlin Chen—the 30th overall draft pick and the first Taiwanese American player in WNBA history—was waived by the team.
Chen, a Princeton graduate who transferred to UConn and won an NCAA championship, brought a lot of excitement with her. She was honored at Taiwanese Heritage Night at a recent San Francisco Giants game, throwing out the first pitch. At the preseason game I attended, fans cheered loudly for her; her presence clearly resonated with many. Her release is surprising and it stings.
Still, the spirit of this team remains powerful.
One of the most fun and memorable moments of the night came when the jumbotron flashed the word “BALLhalla”—a clever play on Valhalla, in Norse mythology. It was a playful nod to the Valkyries’ roots. The crowd loved it, and it instantly gave the game a sense of identity and spirit that felt uniquely Bay Area. I loved it too.
Go Valkyries!
Golden State Valkyries: https://valkyries.wnba.com/
Cricket Comes to Oakland: A Global Game Hits the Bay
This June, the Oakland Coliseum will host something it’s never seen before—top-tier
RIKKI’S (continued from pg 3)
community and to create a space for women’s sports fans in San Francisco—can’t wait to open our doors for you all soon!”
professional cricket. From June 12 to 18, Major League Cricket (MLC) will stage a seven-day, nine-match showcase that will mark the sport’s West Coast debut and the official kickoff of the MLC’s third season. This isn’t just another sporting event; it’s a major milestone. Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world (yes, really), with more than 2.5 billion fans globally, and it’s finally finding a foothold in the U.S. MLC, America’s first professional Twenty20 cricket league, is taking bold steps, and this summer’s launch at the Coliseum is a big one.
The week of games in Oakland is the first leg of a three-city tour that will continue in Texas and Florida and will conclude with a championship match in July. It’s also part of a record-breaking 34-match season, the largest top-tier cricket schedule ever hosted in the U.S.
Why does this matter? Because it’s a much-needed win for Oakland—a city that’s seen three major sports teams leave in recent years. With a strong South Asian community and international fanbase already here in the Bay Area, cricket’s arrival feels less like a gamble and more like a long-overdue homecoming. Nearby San Ramon has become a local hotbed for youth and amateur cricket, with leagues, tournaments, and a growing fanbase fueling the sport’s regional rise.
Several top cricketers are from San Ramon, where my business partner Raghu Shivaram lives!
Cricket is set to make its Olympic return at the LA 2028 Games (one of five new sports added), giving this summer’s matches added momentum as the U.S. begins to build out its national presence on the world stage.
The San Francisco Unicorns, one of the MLC’s six teams, will be in the mix, and the
They originally planned to open Rikki’s later this month, May, but additional work has been needed to ready the site. During conversations with the co-founders, the San Francisco Bay Times publishers heard the sounds of hammering, drilling, and more in the background as workers continued to complete this anticipated project. Page Hodel, a noted longtime Bay Area DJ and talented craftswoman, built a counter for the bar’s interior that will be a focal point. Rikki’s will likely open in early June just ahead of San Francisco Pride’s major events. Thoe and Yergovich have not publicly announced the specific date yet, but their progress is evident at Rikki’s on social media where in early May they announced that they are putting together their inaugural team.
Rikki’s will be the first of other significant additions to the Castro in the coming months. The newly renovated Castro Theatre will be another. As for Rikki’s, no specific date for reopening has been set yet, with the earliest possible time for the theatre said to be this coming fall.
Follow Rikki’s here, at Instagram ( @rikkisbarsf ) and on the web at https://www.rikkisbarsf.com/
Coliseum will be specially retrofitted for the matches, including new drop-in turf wickets that meet international standards. Tickets start at just $20, and the event is expected to generate a $3 million economic boost for Oakland.
June’s going to be a fascinating time to step up to the crease and see what all the buzz is about. I plan to go!
Cricket tickets: https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/ Olympic Buzz: From Jeopardy! to Milano Cortina 2026 to LA 2028
As we look ahead to Milano-Cortina 2026 and LA 2028, Olympic momentum is building, and not just on the field. From venue shifts to global politics and potential surprises, I’ll be dropping insider tidbits you won’t find in the headlines.
One of the most exciting additions to the LA 2028 Olympic Games is squash: a fastpaced, fiercely athletic sport finally getting its Olympic moment. Squash recently got a splash of mainstream attention when it was featured on Jeopardy! in a category called “Courts.” The clue showed an image of the iconic glass court inside Grand Central Terminal, asking: “What sport is played on this court at Grand Central Terminal?” The correct response: “What is squash?” That very court hosts the Tournament of Champions, now in its 28th year and one of the most prestigious events in the sport. As the U.S. builds toward LA 2028, squash is gaining visibility—and we’re proud to call the Tournament of Champions one of our longtime Spritz clients.
If you’re already thinking ahead to the Winter Games next year, mark your calendars. Milano Cortina 2026 will bring the Olympic Winter Games to the breathtaking
ROSTOW (continued from pg 15)
from Truthfully
Neither story has anything to do with our beloved GLBT community, but then again, both seem worthy of our attention nonetheless, because, well, just because! According to Le Parisien, pizza chef Phillippe Schneider, has confessed to killing 60-year-old Georges Meichler in what he claims was a burglary gone wrong. Then he allegedly dismembered the man and cooked his limbs in a pot of vegetables to “mask the odor,” according to The Telegraph (via Le Parisien).
Meichler lived in an “isolated home in the village of Brasc,” so I wonder why the odor would pose a problem. But moving beyond that question, Chef Schneider was also joined in this escapade by “his partner and an alleged gravedigger, who have both denied involvement in the crimes,” The Telegraph continued. Why “alleged” gravedigger? Does that mean that the third person was the one who (allegedly) dug a grave to dispose of the uneaten residue? Or does this person claim to be a gravedigger by trade, but might be lying?
I can’t rest without finding some more information, particularly since the story seems to have caught the attention of editors around the world. An account in The New York Post, always a reputable source, tells us that the killer chef was 69, and his partner was 45-year-old Nathalie Caboubassy, who is also on trial now even as she claims to be innocent. According to The Sun (via The Post), Schneider said that his attempt to poach body parts in a vegetable stew was based on “a religious ritual he learned about in Nepal and to cover the smell.”
“Another man on trial, a 25-year-old gravedigger allegedly roped in as an accomplice, said Schneider ordered him to cook
Italian Alps from February 6–22, 2026. Tickets are officially on sale as of April 8, 2025. The ticketing process operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Each account can purchase up to 25 tickets total, with a max of 10 tickets per session—and for high-demand events like the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, it’s 4 tickets per session. Whether you’re eyeing ski jumps or figure skating, now’s the time to start planning your Olympic adventure. I went to the winter Olympics in Salt Lake City 2002 and became a bobsled and curling fan!
Closer to home, LA28 recently announced new venue updates that bring the Olympic action to the iconic coastline of Long Beach where they will host beach volleyball, water polo, sport climbing, sailing, rowing, canoe sprint, triathlon, marathon swimming, handball, target shooting, and artistic swimming. The announcement, made in April, perfectly blends our California natural beauty with Olympic energy.
Tournament of Champions Squash: https://tocsquash.com/ Winter 2026 Olympics: https://milanocortina2026.olympics.com/it Summer Olympics LA 2028: https://la28.org/
Thanks for joining me on the very first beat. I’m just getting started, so stick with me as we follow the action, the energy, and everything in between. Signing off from the Bay, where passion meets the play. See you next month—and yes, I’m already counting down to LA28!
Beth Schnitzer, the former President of WISE (Women in Sports and Events), is the Co-Founder and President of Spritz: https://spritzsf.com/
the meat until it ‘falls off the bone’ and to tell anyone who asked questions that it was ‘food for the dog,’” we learn from The Sun. And a verdict is expected May 22, so you can discover what the jury thinks right now!
Honestly, I don’t have the stomach for the dog-killing arsonist. Perhaps we can explore that story next time.
Um, No
I have two complaints from our friends at One Million Moms. First, I see the Moms are bent out of shape by an Arm and Hammer commercial for Power Sheets laundry detergent, which uses the expression, “Get Your Sheet Together.”
But I was even more drawn to the Moms disdain for a Dude Wipes ad, titled, “Best Clean Pants Down.”
“In this ad,” the Moms warn, “several men are shown pulling down their pants and underwear in various public settings [which is] never appropriate.” Further, they go on, “the paint splatter used later in the ad grossly mimics another situation needing Dude Wipes.”
I have to admit that this is one of the few times I agree with the Moms. I may have written this before, but as a fairly easily grossed out person, I have problems with the ads for toilet paper, deodorants for your genitals, and some other commercial that showed women on the toilet getting their sheets together, if you will. We can’t unsee some of these images. Get them off the air!
arostow@aol.com
Honoring LGBTQ+ AAPI Women Leaders
Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
The San Francisco Bay Times extends special thanks and appreciation to all those who contributed their time, expertise, and funding support for the “Celebrating LGBTQ+ AAPI Women Leaders and Allies” event held at Catch in the Castro on Sunday, May 18, 2025, during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
The event allowed for a reunion of community friends and included both unexpected and meaningful moments within a tightly scheduled time frame.
Volunteers Steve Scheitlin, Karen Bardsley, Juan Davila, and Susan Berston teamed with venue personnel including Catch owner Mina Habil and mangers Amy Daboussi, Alberto Garia-Sosa, and others. Bay Times columnist Beth Schnitzer helped with the programming and ABC7 News coverage.
Contributing live auction and raffle prizes were artist Debra Walker, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Pride, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, The Freight, Opera Parallélle, Fresh Meat Festival, Olivia Travel, Big Bus Tours, NAPA Cellars and Menage a Trois Wines, Jay Greene Law Firm, and QTAPI.
Official event sponsors, with presenting sponsor Kaiser, were displayed on an official banner (see below) produced for the event by Fran Herman and Audry deLucia of ellaprint.
San Francisco Bay Times extends a special “Thank You!” to A. Sparks, Madeleine Lim, Amy Sueyoshi, and Crystal Jang.
BAY TIMES
Celebration of AAPI LGBTQ+ and Allies at Catch on May
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage 18, 2025, its first ever Celebration of AAPI LGBTQ+ Women Mimosa brunch event series for women and their friends, Madeleine Lim, the Founder of the Queer Women of Color also one of the honorees, co-emceed the event with Nguyen cisco Pride and the current President of the Mensa Education Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford, whose included a live auction and raffle, was a benefit for QWOCMAP
Taiko master Tiffany Tamaribuchi, also honored at the event, formance that started on Market Street before moving inside Spencer, who played her iconic red piano. The featured vocalist Bandy.
Anh Ha, a Legislative Aide in the office San Francisco Board of Supervisors, anchor Dion Lim, Madeleine Lim, ored by Frankie Falzon, District Director fani, as well as by Luis Zamora on behalf of Dion Lim’s segment ran on ABC7 about the 14:31 point here: https://bit.ly/43oRIHJ
Nineteen other accomplished AAPI ers and allies representing multiple were additionally honored at the event that concluded with an After Party sented by Olivia Travel. DJ Izzy is a scene—mentored by DJ Lamont of Arts—and by day is a Stanford healthcare Whether by music or medicine, her There were so many nominations for year that plans are already in the works Celebration of AAPI LGBTQ+ Women to take place in May 2026.
Sunday Brunch for Women & Their Friends
LGBTQ+ Women Leaders
May 18, 2025
Heritage Month, the San Francisco Bay Times presented on May Women Leaders and Allies. The celebration, part of the took place at Catch in the Castro from noon–5 pm.
Color Media Arts Project (QWOCMAP) and Nguyen Pham, the President Emeritus of San FranEducation and Research Foundation; and with San whose wife Beverly also attended. The event, which QWOCMAP and the Use The News Foundation.
event, began the program with a powerful perinside at Catch. The music director was Dr. Dee vocalist was talented recording artist Allegra
office of Rafael Mandelman, President of the Supervisors, presented special honors to ABC7 News and Tamaribuchi. These three were also honDirector for Assemblymember Catherine Stebehalf of City Attorney David Chiu. A portion ABC7 News on May 18, 2025. It can be viewed at https://bit.ly/43oRIHJ
AAPI LGBTQ+ women leadgenerations and fields event (see pages 24–25) spotlighting DJ Izzy prea rising star on the events Fingersnaps Media healthcare professional! work benefits others. for worthy honorees this works for the second annual Women Leaders and Allies,
Honoring LGBTQ+ AAPI Women Leaders
Honorees of the Inaugural Celebration of AAPI LGBTQ+ Women Leaders and Allies
The first ever Celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) LGBTQ+ Women Leaders and Allies produced by the San Francisco Bay Times was held at Catch in the Castro on May 18, 2025, during AAPI Heritage Month. Here are the inaugural honorees of the celebration, which was part of the ongoing Mimosa event series:
Madeleine Lim
Madeleine Lim, is the Executive and Artistic Director of the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project. She has nearly three decades of experience as a producer, director, cinematographer, and editor. At the age of 23, Lim escaped persecution by the Singaporean government for her organizing work as a young lesbian artist-activist. Ten years later, she created the award-winning documentary Sambal Belacan in San Francisco (1997), a film that is still banned in Singapore for its exploration of race, sexuality, and nationality. As one of a small number of queer women of color filmmakers on the international film festival circuit in the late 1990s, she supported other such women so that they too could tell their own authentic stories. The Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project is the result of her vision and she founded the organization in 2000 with the belief that a community of artist-activist filmmakers could change the face of filmmaking and the social justice movement. Since 2004, she has also been an Adjunct Professor in the Film/Media Studies Department at the University of San Francisco.
Adell Hanson-Kahn
Adell Hanson-Kahn is the Treasurer of San Francisco Pride and the CEO of an AI startup, Interpersonal, Inc. At San Francisco Pride they improved financial segregation of duties, streamlined the board’s standing agenda to reduce average meeting time by half, and championed and co-authored core values to guide the staff and board in values-driven crisis response.
Alice Wu
Alice Wu is a Bay Areabased multidisciplinary artist, designer, and arts worker of Taiwanese heritage whose practice explores self-presentation, identity, and belonging. She holds an MFA in Sculpture from Yale University, has exhibited widely including via Southern Exposure, Your Mood Projects, SOMArts, and MAG Galleries in the Castro, and co-founded the sustainability-driven fashion line Feral Childe. Wu has collaborated with organizations such as the San Francisco Arts Commission, NIAD, Kala, Edge on the Square, and the Chinese Culture Center, serving as a guest curator to support AAPI and underrepresented artists while also working as a creative business coach and educator.
Dion Lim
Emmy Award-winning TV news anchor and reporter Dion Lim is passionate about amplifying voices of color and led the charge worldwide in shedding light on hate crimes targeting Asian Americans in the Bay Area. Such coverage resonated across the country on ABC News Live, Nightline, World News Now, Good Morning America, and 20/20 She is also a steadfast ally of the LGBTQ+ community, with her network being the exclusive broadcast sponsor of San Francisco Pride. She is the author of Make Your Moment: The Savvy Woman’s Communication Playbook to Getting the Success You Want (McGraw-Hill) based on her experiences as the first Asian American woman to be at the helm of a weekday newscast in three major markets including Kansas City, Charlotte, and Tampa Bay. In 2021, she, then Vice President Kamala Harris, and other prominent AAPI leaders were recognized as being among the most impactful individuals in the midst of the #StopAsianHate movement.
Tiffany Tamaribuchi
Trailblazing taiko master Tiffany Tamaribuchi, the Artistic Director of Portland Taiko in Oregon, has toured as a teacher, performer, and competitor for nearly four decades. In 1988 she founded Jodaiko, the first dedicated all-women taiko group in North America. The following year she founded Sacramento Taiko Dan, a community-based school and cultural arts organization that provides a variety of classes and programs. She has toured with Japan’s premiere internationally renowned wadaiko ensemble, Za Ondekoza. In 2002, after garnering a solo position in SF Taiko Dojo’s signature piece, Tsunami, she was the first non-native Japanese woman to win an All-Japan Odaiko competition. At that event, she was the only woman in a field of 23 competitors. In 2019, she co-created the HerBeat project that united multiple women and non-binary taiko artists from throughout North America and Japan. This led to the production of the multiple award-winning documentary, Finding Her Beat, which is currently available for streaming on PBS and Amazon Prime.
Amy Sueyoshi
Amy Sueyoshi is the Provost at San Francisco State University, where they previously served as the dean and associate dean of the College of Ethnic Studies. They hold a Ph.D. in history from UCLA and a B.A. from Barnard College. They have authored two books titled Queer Compulsions and Discriminating Sex, and are currently finishing up a third book on queer and trans APA history. Sueyoshi is also the founding co-curator of the GLBT History Museum in San Francisco.
Canyon Sam
Canyon Sam is described as being “Ground Zero” of the Asian Lesbian Community. She was among the first AAPI out lesbian community organizers and in 1979 co-founded the groundbreaking Unbound Feet Collective of Asian feminist writers and performance artists. In 1982, she became the first Asian American main stage honorary emcee in the history of the San Francisco Pride Parade. The author, performer, and activist is the subject of the 2011 documentary A Woman Named Canyon Sam and remains an influential leader within her multiple fields and communities.
Cecilia Chung
Cecilia Chung, the Senior Advisor at the Transgender Law Center, is an internationally-recognized leader in LGBT Health, HIV/AIDS, and human rights. She was the first transgender woman and Asian to be elected to lead the San Francisco Pride Board of Directors. She was also the first person living openly with HIV to chair the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. Former President Barack Obama appointed her to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, where she served two full terms before resigning before the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Her life story was a main storyline of the 2017 ABC miniseries When We Rise about LGBTQ+ rights.
Crystal Jang
Crystal Jang is a proud AAPI queer Activist Auntie who is passionate about promoting the visibility and inclusion of elder members of our community. She is a co-founder of the Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women and Transgender Community, as well as the organization Older Asian Sisters in Solidarity. She was the first Asian Pacific Islander in the San
Francisco Unified School District to publicly identify as LGBTQ+.
Elizabeth Seja Min
Elizabeth Seja Min is a tone-setter, leadership coach, infrastructure geek, problem solver, strategic designer, decision-making guide, documenter, partner, and shepherd-atlarge. She has helped hundreds of leaders and teams across the globe focused on rights and justice, climate, philanthropy, media, and documentary film. She cut her leadership teeth as founding music director and conductor of The Women’s Philharmonic and artistic director of Redwood Records, where her work was nominated for two Grammy awards. Recently, she completed several years as Board Chair for Berkeley’s venerable music house, The Freight.
Gisele Pohan
Gisele Pohan is a San Francisco native who spent her junior high and high school years working weekends at her grandma’s restaurant Indonesia Satay House at 18th and Castro. Having received the best queer education early on, she enjoyed a colorful young adulthood that included
Honoring LGBTQ+ AAPI Women Leaders
community organizing, marches and protests, nightclubbing, and chasing a career. Along the way she co-founded Phoenix Rising, one of the first publications in the world for and by Asian lesbians. After a two-decade career in Silicon Valley, she retired and is now living the good life by the bay, spending time with fabulous family and beautiful friends.
Hediana Utarti
Hediana Utarti moved across the sea in 2000, from Honolulu to San Francisco, after completing her doctorate in political science to join the San Francisco Asian Women’s Shelter. This year marks her 25th year in the organization where she has been involved in anti-trafficking, community building, and supporting LGBTQIA+ survivors of violence.
Helen Zia
Helen Zia is a journalist and activist for Asian American and LGBTQ rights. After the racially motivated killing of draftsman Vincent Chin in 1982, she helped found American Citizens for Justice, which successfully lobbied for a federal trial. The political actions of this civil rights group helped coalesce growing Asian-American activism in the Midwest. After this incident, she has remained an outspoken advocate and activist for a wide range of causes, from women’s rights to gay rights. She testified at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on the racial impact of the news media. She is an accomplished author and has published multiple books about Asian American histories and experiences. She and partner Lia Shigemura were one of the first same-sex couples to legally marry in the state of California.
Hoi Leung
Hoi Leung is the Curator of the Chinese Culture Center, where she leads programs centering Asian diasporic contemporary art alongside queer and immigrant narratives. Notable projects include WOMEN我們: From Her to Here (2021), highlighting queer Asian diasporic sensibilities; the first
Chinese queer museum prototype at San Francisco’s Chinatown with Xiangqi Chen; and Interior Garden (2022) by Cathy Lu, exploring Asian American dreams and dystopias. Leung champions emerging artists and cultivates sustainable, community-rooted arts ecosystems.
Jasmine Gee
Jasmine Gee is a beloved leader in the transgender community, having co-led, with the late great Felicia Elizondo, the Trans March during its earliest years. For many other years, she was on the Trans March planning committee. She has served as a transgender committee officer of the Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco, and has amplified her activist voice through the Toastmasters. 75 years young, Gee is famous for her spirited clarinet solos and 40 years ago organized the band Winds of the Spirit, for which she was the musical director.
Koko Lin
Koko Lin was born in Taiwan and came to the United States when she was 16. After graduating from UC Berkeley, she became progressively more involved with the AAPI and LGBTQ community—specifically with the Asian Pacific Sisters, the Asian Pacific Lesbian Bisexual Network, API Family Pride, and also the Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women & Transgender Community. When her daughter Megan was born 21 years ago, she joined the board of Our Family Coalition and devoted more of her activism to supporting LGBTQ families through education and advocacy. Although Lin and her partner Margot are still living in Oakland, they now travel a lot to Asia to help pay it back by taking care of their aging parents.
Lenore Chinn
Lenore Chinn is a local artist and activist, founding member of Lesbians in the Visual Arts and Queer Cultural Center, and a former member of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. Her work and archives are in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Smithsonian
Archives of American Art. She is currently one of eight women featured in the new Castro district mural, Living Lesbian Legends by Tanya Wischerath.
Lia Shigemura
Lia Shigemura and her wife Helen Zia, another 2025 honoree, are longtime activists for social justice, equity, human rights, and dignity of all. Zia’s work as a feminist writer and organizer, and Shigemura’s work in the field of diversity & equity, have touched generations of activists across the country. As soulmates and spouses, they have fought for visibility and full personhood especially for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, LGBTQI folk, people of color, women and girls, and other vulnerable communities. For several years, Shigemura served as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at PG&E and has held other important DEI positions. She is passionate about being a catalyst for positive change.
Marion Abdullah
Marion Abdullah has been such a tireless, longstanding member of the LGBTQ+ community that she was featured in the GLBT Historical Society and Museum exhibit For Love and Community: Queer Asian Pacific Islanders Take Action. A former Women’s Army Corps member, Abdullah has always fought for the basic human rights of others. She is a recipient of an Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women & Transgender Community Phoenix Award. Exemplifying her dedication, when she was diagnosed with cancer several years ago and successfully went through treatments, she attended an American Cancer Society support group for LGBTQ+ individuals. She then helped strengthen the group and create its first ever Cancer in Our Lives conference for LGBTQ+ community members, researchers, and health professionals.
Sammie Wills
Sammie Ablaza Wills is an organizer and community archivist who has worked in transgender, queer, and racial justice movements for over a decade. Serving
as Executive Director of the Lavender Phoenix from 2016–2021, Wills led the organization to focus its efforts on intergenerational connection, trans justice, and community safety. Currently the Membership Director at Grassroots Asians Rising, Wills continues to train hundreds of people on queer and trans history, direct action strategy, and grassroots organizing.
Trinity Ordona
Dr. Rev. Trinity A. Ordona is an award-winning scholar, historian, activist, and spiritual adviser with a 60-year history of civil rights activism in people of color, women’s, and LGBTQ communities here and abroad. Ordona now lives in Seattle and volunteers her spiritual skills in a “Sound and Spirit Healing” practice at Mother Nation, a nonprofit organization that delivers cultural healing services for Native women and families.
TT Takemoto
TT Takemoto is an artist, filmmaker, and scholar exploring hidden dimensions of same-sex intimacy and trauma in Asian and Asian American history. Takemoto conjures up immersive queer historical fantasies by manipulating found footage and engaging with tactile dimensions of the archive. Takemoto is interim Provost at the California College of the Arts, where they have worked for over two decades.
Benito Skinner Talks About Overcompensating
him to lie about himself and to others. He also seeks belonging in a secret club that tests him in unexpected ways.
Despite being too old to pass as a teenager, Skinner is immensely appealing as Benny, whose need to “be perfect” has him overcompensating. Skinner spoke with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about Overcompensating
Gary M. Kramer: How much of what is shown in Overcompensating stems from your real-life experience? What is true, what is fake, and what is exaggerated?
Now available on Prime Video is the addictive new series Overcompensating, which chronicles a year of change in the life of Benny Scanlon (creator Benito Skinner), a closeted freshman at Yates University. Benny tries to deny his same-sex desires by “dating” Carmen (Wally Baram), but he realizes they are better as friends—especially when Benny finds himself attracted to Miles (Rish Shah), a film student. But Benny’s fears about coming out prompt
Benito Skinner: Quite a bit is exaggerated, but as far as coming out, I tried to be as true to my story as possible. I was inspired by the relationships I had in college and this one girlfriend, in particular. We did steal a golf cart, and I did come out to her before I came out to anyone else. But you start with, “This is my story,” and it is not that interesting; you can only pull from it so much. Any moment I felt was specific
to my queer experience. I wanted that to be as honest and true on screen, so that people could feel that.
Gary M. Kramer: Benny lies to please others. Benny’s looking for a sense of belonging, in part, because he doesn’t know who he is. Can you talk about developing and expressing the idea about overcompensating and being “perfect”?
Benito Skinner: That felt so core to my experience as a gay man. My parents had made me feel so loved and so supported, but the second I got to school, I was like, “Oh, something’s different about me.” In order to make up for that difference, which to me felt so like bad and gross, I thought, “I have to get straight A’s, because if I don’t, then not only am I gay, but also I am imperfect and even more unlovable. And then there’s just no hope for me.” So, for me, it was how many hats can I put on? How many performances can I really do to finally feel like I’m accepted and loved and safe? And unfortunately, when you do that—the more and more you try to cover this thing—the more it consumes you. I think the beauty of the show is this moment where Benny meets Carmen, and he feels it is so strange to do this “performance.” Benny makes a decision that will get him out of this vicious cycle of self-hatred and being told over and over again that they’re not enough that all queer people experience. But that extends to everyone in the show.
way home naked, to taking Viagra, and more. What observations do you have about creating moments and playing them for comedy?
Benito Skinner: It’s funny, hearing them all listed. I’ve kind of done it all on camera. I think college felt like that, naked and raw and animalistic and scary, so any moment we could do it, we just went for it. Each setting allowed for a new version of performative masculinity and feral-ness. I mean, I literally lick a condom I find in the trashcan. So, you know, we did it all.
Gary M. Kramer: Benny often behaves badly. How did you keep his character likable even when he makes a series of increasingly bad and hurtful decisions?
Gary M. Kramer: Let’s talk about all the humiliating moments that Benny experiences, from rapping Nikki Minoj, to having to find his
Benito Skinner: That moment where Benny says, “What if people don’t love me anymore?” I think we know exactly why he’s been doing all of this [overcompensating]. Hopefully the audience can see themselves in that. Now I find the coming out
Film
Gary M. Kramer
Frameline49 Launch Party
Frameline photography by Pat Mazzera
The theme “The World Is Watching” and the full schedule for Frameline49 were announced during a release party held at Oasis on Tuesday, May 13. Representing the San Francisco Bay Times were columnist Dennis McMillan (aka Sister Dana Van Iquity) and lead photographer Rink. Festival leaders, including Executive Director Allegra Madsen, acknowledged challenges posed by Trump administration policies, but confirmed without hesitation that the festival will continue. The festival this year will feature nearly 150 films from almost 40 nations.
Screenings for 2025 will take place at the Roxie Theater, Herbst Theatre, Toni Rembe Theatre, Vogue Theatre, KQED, Oasis, Rikki’s Bar, and PROXY in San Francisco, and at The New Parkway Theater in Oakland. https://www.frameline.org
The Road to Tender Hearts (fiction - hardcover) by
Annie Hartnett
After PJ Halliday discovers his high school sweetheart is single again, he decides to embark on a cross-country adventure to win her back. His plan hits a snag, and he has to add some passengers to his caravan. They include his adult daughter, two orphaned kids, and a cat.
We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions (non-fiction - hardcover) by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle
We Can Do Hard Things is a collection of essays from the bestselling authors and podcasters Glennon Doyle, Amanda Doyle, and Abby Wombach. When feeling hopeless and alone, you can turn to this book to find clarity and answers to the 20 questions everyone circles around throughout life.
When the Tides Held the Moon (fiction - hardcover) by Venessa Vida Kelley
A queer historical cozy fantasy, When the Tides Held the Moon follows Benny, an orphaned Boricua blacksmith, who ends up joining a group of performers at the Coney Island Playground. Benny creates a beautiful ironwork tank for the newest exhibit: a living, breathing merman. Despite their differences, Benny falls in love with the merman and must decide if he can betray his newfound family in order to give the merman a life free of captivity.
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Lit Snax
Einstein of Sex: Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, Visionary of Weimar Berlin
Decades before the Stonewall riots or even the Homophile movement, Magnus Hirschfeld crusaded for the rights of queer people in Germany. His efforts were erased by the Nazis, but his career offers a fascinating and inspiring story.
Harriet Tubman Live in Concert by Bob The Drag Queen
This is probably a very different Bob than most of his fans are aware of: driven, impassioned, and urgent, as befits the mighty title character. Harriet Tubman has come back from the dead, and landed in our times. And now, she wants to record a hip-hop album that will encapsulate all of her reflections on Black history.
Strange Pictures by Uketsu
A who-done-it hit from Japan, this slim volume collects three unrelated mysteries that revolve around hand-drawn pictures. Turns out they’re not unrelated, and the shared backstory is exquisitely moving.
https://www.fabulosabooks.com/
May 2025 Castro Night Market
“Pet Party” was the theme of the Castro Night Market’s May event held on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 5–10 pm at the intersection of 18th and Castro streets.
At the Rainbow Meadow Stage, with DJ Jimmy DePre, an actual Pet Parade was held with emcee Mx Kiki Krunch, followed by an AAPI Drag Showcase.
The Neon Garden Stage, with DJ Zaym, featured a singer/songwriter showcase, and a Pub Mosh, hosted by San Francisco’s K-9 Unit. DJ Pup Paws brought the evening to a close by presenting the final set.
Follow the Castro Night Market @castro.nightmarket to find out more.
Photos by Rink and Juan R. Davila
Michaiel Patrick Bovenes Creates Safe Spaces Where Gay Men Can Build Meaningful Connections
Practice Makes Love Easy
Sir Kippy Marks
In every community, love manifests through gatherings, performances, fundraisers, protests, and countless unseen acts of kindness. These daily expressions of love often go unnoticed, yet they are essential in fostering connection and resilience. Thanks to the continued support of the San Francisco Bay Times, I am honored to shine a light on the unsung heroes who embody love in action. Our fourth PMLE (Practice Makes Love Easy) Champion is a leader whose unwavering commitment to building meaningful connections has uplifted countless lives. It is with great joy that we celebrate Michaiel Patrick Bovenes, a true beacon of love, empowerment, and community.
Through his dedication to fostering genuine relationships among middle-aged gay men, he has created spaces where vulnerability is met with support, where shared stories strengthen bonds, and where love is practiced in its most authentic form. As the founder of Gay Community Circles, Michaiel has built a nurturing environment where men can find not just camaraderie but a chosen family—a place beyond fleeting interactions, rooted in true understanding. His philosophy of love unbound reflects a commitment to dismantling isolation and reinforcing the beauty of meaningful human connection. By encouraging openness, confidence, and the willingness to show up fully, Michaiel has become a beacon of light for countless individuals seeking deeper friendships and a richer sense of belonging.
Sir Kippy Marks: How long have you been involved with the practice of making love easy and sharing presence and empowerment with our community?
Michaiel Patrick Bovenes: I originally launched Gay Community Circles (GCC) in 2011–12, at the SF LGBT Center, but unfortunately had to pause it due to work demands. Then, after the pandemic in 2023, I felt a strong desire to bring it back—recognizing how gay men craved real, in-person intimacy and connection. I relaunched the group at The Academy SF and have been facilitating it ever since. I love creating a space where gay men,
especially those 45 and up, can laugh, tell their stories, share openly, and build meaningful friendships in a positive supportive community. So many middle-aged men are tired of empty hookups and long for a chosen family of true community. Community work is rooted in love: the kind that genuinely listens, honors our differences, and nurtures growth through connection.
Sir Kippy Marks: What motivated you to become the community leader that you are today?
Michaiel Patrick Bovenes: When I moved to San Francisco in 2006, I quickly made friends, but by 2012, most had moved away. It’s a very transient city and l found myself burned out on the noisy bar scene that isn’t conducive to conversations. I had joined and attended various men’s groups, but often left feeling more drained than inspired. I didn’t want to start a “pity group’” where people only talked about their problems. I also wanted to share what l’d learned about creating authentic connections—how to find new friends, be more approachable, and show up with confidence and openness. My motivation came from witnessing so many kind-hearted gay men locally who felt isolated or unseen, especially as they grew older. After decades of coaching personal transformation on a oneto-one basis, I saw the power of blending social skills and confidence-building strategies in an emotionally supportive men’s group setting; thus, being able to help more men at the same time and address their unique challenges of socializing as we grow older. Gay Community Circles became an opportunity where men could not only meet other like-minded men, but also practice their social skills in real time, with real men, and immediately reap thebenefits.
Sir Kippy Marks: How old were you when you made the decision that building community was a part of your life purpose?
Michaiel Patrick Bovenes: I was in my mid-50s when the idea really crystallized. After decades of teaching personal development and coaching clients on how to awaken their inner power, l noticed a unique need in our community: gay and bisexual men with incredible stories, wisdom, and life experience, all bottled up
(continued on page 40)
Michaiel Patrick Bovenes
Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
By Sister Dana Van Iquity
Sister Dana sez, “Happy MEMORIAL DAY 2025 to everyone! This will be a solemn occasion dedicated to honoring the men and women who gave their lives while serving in the U.S. military—but Trump has called these heroes ‘suckers and losers’! Remember that during your observance on May 26!”
“And Happy HARVEY MILK DAY!”
On July 30, 2009, the White House posthumously honored Harvey Milk with the Medal of Freedom for his work and leadership in advancing LGBTQ civil rights. HARVEY MILK DAY is May 22. Honor our queer hero! https://milkfoundation.org/
Today, May 22, 4:30–6 pm, come enjoy the HARVEY MILK DAY CELEBRATION & RALLY at Jane Warner Plaza (Castro & 17th Street) to celebrate Harvey’s birthday. This event will feature live musical performances from Opera Parallèle’s Harvey Milk Reimagined, the Sacred and Profane Chamber Chorus, and the San Francisco Pride Band. Then walk to the Roxie Theatre to watch THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK Rob Epstein , the film’s director, is expected to be in attendance for this special event. https://roxie.com/
Since May is ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, come march with GAPA at the first-ever CHINATOWN PRIDE PROCESSION on May 24, 6 pm, 800 Grant Street, with GAPA headlining and leading the parade. Featuring GAPA Royals and Rice Rockettes, this vibrant procession will visit Chinatown’s queer landmarks—teaching dance moves at each stop before culminating in an Immortal Runway performance at Portsmouth Square Pedestrian Bridge. The celebration will continue through the night with art activities, fabulous performances, and a Silent Disco at the Chinese Cultural Center. https://www.gapa.org/
CARNAVAL SAN FRANCISCO is a free, two-day family festival held annually in San Francisco›s Mission District over Memorial Day weekend. It›s a large multicultural celebration featuring global cuisine, international music, dance, arts & crafts, and entertainment. The festival is located on Harrison Street between 16th and 24th Streets. The 46th annual CARNAVAL PARADE is on Sunday, May 25, starting at 10 am. The parade route runs
from 24th and Bryant Streets toward 15th and Mission Streets. This year’s Carnaval theme is “AfroMundo,” celebrating the strength, unity, and pride of people of African descent in the Americas.
Trump has made it clear that refugees aren’t welcome in America—unless they’re white. Despite suspending all refugee admissions into the country as soon as he was sworn in this past January, the prez and his butt-smooching State Department made an exception when welcoming a plane full of 59 white Afrikaners on May 12, many of whom are farmers of Dutch descent who settled in South Africa. Why this exception? Because the false narrative claims that white settlers in South Africa have been enduring racial discrimination and even violence from the government and Black South Africans. Sister Dana sez, “Tell another lie, Trump, and keep going with those marvelous mass deportations of people of color—who are obviously gang members because they are not white! As if.”
On May 17 at Strut in the Castro we attended the “COLLECTING CREATING & CURATING” artist talk and a Q&A session with Oscar Zamora Graves. His clever collage art (now on display all May at 470 Castro Street) embraces the bold spirit of the 1960s by placing scantily clad beefcake models and vintage drag queens in vibrant, psychedelic, fantasy fairytale settings.
I know we are all eagerly anticipating this annual Pride Month cultural event. The 49th San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (FRAMELINE49) is almost here! This year, the festival will run June 18–28, welcoming audiences to attend programs at theaters in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Rafael. To be among the first to learn about Frameline49’s slate of programs, some of us were invited to a special launch event on May 13 at Oasis nightclub led by Allegra Madsen , Frameline’s Executive Director, and members of the Programming Team, including Frameline’s new Director of Partnerships & Development, Matthew Ramsey. They announced the full lineup for the largest and longest-running queer film festival in the world. The theme this year is: “The World Is Watching! ” We got to view clips and hear vital background information about these 11 days of programming featuring nearly 150 films from 40 countries. There will be many notable premieres to the Bay Area, including 17 World Premieres, 2 International Premieres, 12 North American Premieres, and 11 U.S. Premieres, and numerous West Coast, California, and Bay Area Premieres. It’s gonna be fabulous! We were also privileged to see the gorgeous festival trailer that will air the whole month of June. I will have much more to say in my next June 12 column. “I want to emphasize how deeply I value the extraordinary work of our filmmakers this year. Their vision and courage are truly remarkable,” said Madsen. “All of us are weathering challenges that threaten
our identities, our histories, and our everyday lives. Like many of you, I’m exhausted and angry. With Frameline49, I want us to examine our past of LGBTQ+ activism and art, and I want to honor the powerful stories of this moment—to remind us all that Frameline is both a celebration and a statement.” She assured, “We’ll still engage in difficult conversations and recognize the realities reflected in our films, but we’ll also create spaces where we can un-tense our shoulders and laugh together— without having to defend our existence.” https://www.frameline.org/
Offering LGBTQ+ mental health services, nonprofit counseling agency QUEER LIFESPACE (designed by queer people for queer people) will hold their annual fundraising gala, “PRIDE RENAISSANCE: CELEBRATING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE ,” at the Swedish-American Hall, 2174 Market
Street, on May 30, 5:30–10 pm. It will feature Co-hosts Donna Sachet and Bobby Friday with entertainment by Kippy Marks, Carly Ozard, DJ Stanley Frank Sensation, Mahlae Balenciaga, Oliver Branch , and Keith Lawrence https://www.queerlifespace.org/
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Dennis McMillan (aka Sister Dana) at the Show of Hope Gala 2025 on Friday, April 18, at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero, with the organization’s CEO Lance Toma
Tales of Serpents and Second Chances
Cocktails With Dina by Dina
Nothing says “the universe hates you” quite like a snake in your cocktail. Just ask Carletta Andrews, who experienced nature’s most twisted bartending trick when a baby snake fell from the ceiling, bounced off her forehead, and landed in her margarita at Patron Mexican Restaurant in Virginia.
“I leaned in to take a sip and noticed something hit me in the forehead,” Andrews told reporters, describing what might be the worst garnish in culinary history. The snake, who seemingly was unimpressed with the establishment’s mixology skills, proceeded to wrap itself around her straw— the serpentine equivalent of a drink review.
Novarr
((Full story here: https://bit.ly/43EfBfC )
My coworker Rafa didn’t need a reptile intervention to embrace sobriety, though arguably it might have accelerated his timeline. His wake-up call was less theatrical but equally effective. No snakes required—just the slow, crushing realization that his relationship with alcohol had all the unhealthy characteristics of a boa constrictor’s hug.
Rafa describes sobriety like a whiplash: a cold turkey approach to lucidity.
“Every social situation becomes a fascinating study when you’re the only sober person in the room,” he notes.
“You realize human communication after 10 pm is just increasingly loud nonsense punctuated by
laughter at jokes no one actually made.”
The universe speaks to us in mysterious ways. For some, it’s a snake in a margarita. For others, it’s waking up with a hangover that feels like your brain is attempting to escape through your eye sockets. Tomayto, tomahto.
In his post-alcoholic renaissance, Rafa has become that most terrifying of creatures: the sober non-alcoholic beer connoisseur who has the wiring of a master mixologist. He exclusively drinks Brewdog Hazy AF, describing its taste with the reverent detail of a sommelier: “It’s got notes of citrus, tropical fruit ... ,” without the lingering smugness. And while drinking his beverage, he comes up with delectable drink recipes like Trade Secret, a delicious Thai-inspired tequila beverage.
While Rafa no longer drinks alcohol, he still maintains his reputation as the mixologist, doling out his infamous “Trade Secret” recipe to colleagues with the zealotry of a reformed sinner turned evangelist. The cocktail—a complex concoction involving ingredients that would make both a bartender and an exorcist raise their eyebrows—is reportedly “life-changing.” It is much like finding a snake in your margarita, though with less screaming and imbibing. The fact that he crafts these liquid masterpieces without sampling them himself is either admirable discipline or the bartending equivalent of a bomb technician cutting wires with their eyes closed. Maybe a little bit of both.
San Francisco-based Dina Novarr enjoys sharing her passion for fine wines, spirits, non-alcoholic craft beverages, and more with others.
Trade Secret
1.5 oz Don Fulano Reposado
.75 oz Thai Shrub (see recipe)
.25 oz lime juice
.5 oz egg white bitters to taste
edible flower such as pansy, marigold, or rose for garnish
Thai Shrub
1 quart rice wine vinegar (unsweetened)
2 oz jalapeño, cut into pieces
4 oz dry coconut
4 oz ginger, cut into pieces
4 oz lemongrass
sugar (see instructions)
Add all shrub ingredients and store in the refrigerator for 5 days. Strain remaining liquid. Measure remaining liquid and add 3/4 sugar to liquid (100 oz infused vinegar to 75 oz sugar, as an example of ratio) and bring to quick boil and shut off.
Cool sweetened shrub mixture. Combine with the Don Fulano Reposado, lime juice, and egg white in a cocktail shaker. Shake hard and double strain over a coupe glass. Garnish with bitters and a flower.
Rafa
Wooden Spoon: An Urbane, Urban Diner
The Gay Gourmet
In the words of Sir Paul McCartney, “It’s good to be back!”
For those of you who may not have heard, I’ve been recovering from total shoulder replacement surgery, so the Gay Gourmet was on a bit of a hiatus. It all went well, and for those
considering the procedure, I say, “Go for it!” Thanks to Dr. Brian Feeley and my stellar healthcare team at UCSF for helping me get back to normal. I’ll be playing doubles with Andre Agassi any day now! Thanks also to my talented pals and colleagues Andrew Freeman and Beth Schnitzer for filling in for me so beautifully, with restaurant columns that were delicious, delightful, and de-lovely.
On to more tantalizing issues, like where to dine in the Castro. Of course, there are many yummy options (dozens of which I’ve written about, like Canela, Poesia, Fable, Catch French Bistro, Anchor Oyster Bar, and more). But it wasn’t until I read a recent missive from the ubiquitous Manny Yekutiel of Manny’s in the Mission that I knew about Wooden Spoon. He had dined there recently with Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman and declared it his favorite place for breakfast in the Castro. Yet, I had never heard of it. Turns out, it’s been around for years; who knew? I guess sometimes I miss the boat.
Well, I’m telling everyone to climb aboard this winning watercraft. My father often told me not to take any wooden nickels; but if you’re offered an opportunity to visit Wooden Spoon, take it with gusto. Wooden Spoon is among the best bistros in the Castro—and the city, for that matter.
Longtime San Francisco residents might remember the now-gone It’s Tops diner at the corner of Octavia and
Market. It was one of my favorites: an historic, old-timey coffee shop with great waffles and hot cakes, vinyl booths, a jukebox, wood paneling, and more. I’d say that Wooden Spoon is a modern interpretation of that kind of traditional diner: it’s urbane and urban, but still comfy, delish, approachable, and affordable.
That feeling envelops you the minute you walk inside; Wooden Spoon is located next to the Swedish American Hall on Market Street. A marble countertop with dozens of barstools wraps around a curated (full!) bar, where you can dine and/ or enjoy a libation. Wines by the can, which are actually decent, along with a selection of tequilas, gins, vodkas, and more, are available at this full-service diner.
Wooden spoons adorn the walls as you approach the main dining room, reminding you that this from-the-scratch eatery doesn’t just serve pre-mixed concoctions. The floor-to-ceiling windows bring shafts of light in from the outside, making the restaurant cheery and welcoming. Service is casual but helpful. Once you’re seated, you’ll see a selection of breakfast items, bowls, salads, sandwiches, and more to tempt.
So, what to order? I’ve been there several times now for lunch. I loved the patty melt, with plenty of American cheese (you can take the boy out of the Midwest, but you can’t take the Midwest out of the boy), grilled onions, and a “special sauce” that make this as good as it gets. Accompaniments include healthy pickled carrots and turnips, instead of the usual fries. I also sampled the Chinese chicken salad, which is huge and big enough for two. It’s dressed
with a complex, tasty cashew/soy vinaigrette, plenty of grilled-to-order chicken, crispy wontons, napa cabbage, fragrant cara-cara oranges, and cilantro. This salad is the perfect mix of crunchy and savory, as well as sweet and sour. It’s healthy to boot.
My loyal hubby ordered the curried chicken salad sandwich (with pear chutney and pickled onions); he declared it “delectable.” Next time, I want to try the Swedish Society Pancakes with a culturally-appropriate topping of lingonberry jam, powdered sugar, and lemon curd. A friend of mine ordered the grilled haloumi salad with arugula, butternut squash, pomegranate, garbanzo beans, and a Dijonherb dressing: it looked delicious to me. But if you have the yen, Wooden Spoon also serves up a breakfast panini with rosemary ham, scrambled egg, mascarpone,
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David Landis
and fontina cheese. Or perhaps a morning bowl with farro, butternut squash, vadouvan roasted carrots, mushrooms, cashew crema, and pistachio-basil pesto might be to your liking?
Wooden Spoon is open daily from 8 am to 3 pm and doesn’t take reservations (except for large groups). I’ve only been during the week, when it’s easy enough to walk in. But I’ve heard that, on the weekends, the throngs line up, so you may wait awhile. Either way, it’s the culinary and delectable ticket for breakfast, lunch, and brunch at a reasonable price in the Castro.
https://www.woodenspoonsf.com/
Bits and Bites
It’s great to dine well on a budget. I haven’t been there yet, but the new Saluhall on Market Street is a “one-stop shop for your dining needs—with two full bars and a variety of merchants, there’s something for everyone.” For a deal, how about the Smish Smash “Lue” box, which includes a burger of your choice, fries, and a dipping sauce for under $20? Cheezy’s Artisan Pizza offers $8 slices and whole pies starting at $23. And, there are generous portions for an affordable price at Curry Up Now, Casa Borinqueña , and Momo Noodle
https://www.saluhallmarket.com/
Another newcomer I need to try is Fifty Vara , “a welcoming new brewpub in the Sunset, where hearty portions and wallet-friendly prices reign supreme.”
Local industry veteran and owner Brian Reccow built this bright, bustling spot around approachable, easy-drinking beers like their $6 house lager and $7 Pilsner, served alongside comforting plates like orecchiette with pork sugo and crispy calamari. The vibe is relaxed and family-friendly (yes, there’s a kids’ menu and crayons!), with a full cocktail list and a Sunday happy hour program to keep the good times rolling.
https://www.fiftyvarasf.com/
There are so many new dining options at The Ferry Building, including the soon-to-open and much-anticipated Arquet in the former Slanted Door space, from Sorrel’s Alex Hong and Joel Wilkerson. Until then, if you’re craving burgers, noodles, pizza, or sushi and can’t decide where to eat, the Ferry Building has you covered. You can browse many food vendors and order a full meal for under $25 regardless of cuisine. Gott’s Roadside is serving its classic cheeseburger for $10.99 while Lunette’s full bowl of noodles or Somlaw Curi is $21.00. Stop into Acme Bread for a pizza slice, or pick up a Jamaican Patty Meal for $16.50 at Peaches Patties, which includes a choice of one patty, a side of vegetables, and fried plantains. Delica’s $17, 9-item sushi bento box hits the spot with sushi, salad, and a deli item.
https://tinyurl.com/45ywemb4
Chef Matthew Accarrino’s casual Pacific Heights Italian bistro, Mattina , just celebrated its two-year anniversary, and I say “Bravissimo!” I returned for lunch after a long absence, and the pastas, wines, and salads are every bit as good as I remember. I returned soon after that for a celebration of new Italian wines that are just hitting the market, thanks to importer and distributor Skurnik Wines and Spirits. They were all terrific, with a couple of standouts: Benito Ferrara’s Greco Di Tufo Vigna Cicogna , a clean and bright, mineral-driven white wine from southern Italy; and Giacomo Mori’s smooth and easyto-drink Chianti (red wine) from Palazzone near Siena. Delizioso!
https://www.mattinasf.com/
David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a retired PR maven. Email him at: davidlandissf@gmail.com Or visit him online at: www.gaygourmetsf.com
experience funny at times, but also so sad and complicated. And I think that that’s what we’re trying to show. You don’t just come out to one woman and then, Boom! I’m out. I’m so happy and all the internalized homophobia that was indoctrinated in me is gone. I am good to go. There is going to be backslide, especially in college. I think these are kids trying to figure themselves out, so maybe I can be out in one room, but I’m not going to be out in the next room in front of these guys.
Gary M. Kramer: It’s codeswitching.
Benito Skinner: Yeah, exactly.
Gary M. Kramer: The show features various fantasy sequences, such as Benny having sex or talking to Megan Fox. Can you talk about juggling the fantasies, the lies, and the reality of the Benny experiences?
Benito Skinner: I felt like so much of my experience in the closet and developing my sexuality was in my head because I wasn’t out in the world experiencing it. All my fears felt so big in my body. One of the first scenes I wrote for the show was the scene between me and [the gay and out] George (Owen Thiele). Benny feels like George is going to [out] him, so Benny is scared to be around George. I thought it should be Hitchcockian and subtitled because there is so much said, and we can’t say it in the scene. This is what it feels like when there is a whole conversation happening even though we don’t say anything.
The Megan Fox element was inspired by me being in these frat room bathrooms, and I’m surrounded by these like female icons, and they’re in there for the wrong reasons. In college, sometimes you’re so alone, and then you’re in your head. And these worlds feel so big in your head. I also didn’t want to shy away from it because it feels so true to my humor.
Gary M. Kramer: What can you say about the depiction of gender roles and gay stereotypes? The montage of Benny learning gay culture is playing into the gay stereotype. Can you talk about that?
Benito Skinner: I think we walked the line because he is a college student. The
BOOK PASSAGE (continued from pg 30)
Upcoming Events
Saturday, May 31 @ 6 pm (ticketedCorte Madera store) Ocean Vuong, author of The Emperor of Gladness
Ocean Vuong returns with a novel full of heart. Hai is saved from potential suicide by an elderly woman suffering from dementia. They form a life-altering bond when Hai becomes her caretaker. The Emperor of Gladness is an epic about existing on the fringes of society and second chances.
Wednesday, June 4 @ 5:30 pm (ticketed - SF Ferry Building store) Beth Le Manach, author of Entertaining 101
Entertaining 101 is the go-to guide for hosting and entertaining. Le Manach has her
first Google search that Carmen does is her doing the best she can. It’s coming from a good place, but it is stereotypical and kind of inconsistent that Carmen would tell Benny to wear a harness to his first hookup. That was us playing with these things. But you can get it wrong even if your heart is in the right place. You do want to accept someone and celebrate them and tell them: “Be gay. Be yourself.” Shying away from that, or being angry at them, just didn’t feel right for these kids. Benny and Carmen are learning together. This is a college student’s understanding. I wanted to make a satire of it: This is the only thing you think gay people are. And to be clear. I really love Drag Race. I’ve done poppers. I love Brokeback Mountain. These things are a part of my gay experience, but thinking they’re the only part is what felt really funny to us.
Gary M. Kramer: Benny’s friendship with his ride or die Carmen is, as you said, the core of the series. Can you talk about their dynamic? She keeps him honest.
Benito Skinner: In writing the show, I just thought, when did I stop overcompensating so much? And it was when I met this woman in college who created this safe space for me outside of my home that made me feel like I could start to be out or reveal who I actually am. Anytime Benny is in a scene with Carmen, you can see Benny just relax a little bit. My shoulders come down from my ears, and I’m like, “Okay. I can show you a little bit of myself.” I think that the whole core of the show is about finding that person, which is true for so many queer people. It’s like these women who have all of their own s---t going on, but still manage to create this first safe space for us. That’s the love story of the show, and my favorite part of it.
© 2025 Gary M. Kramer
Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” He teaches Short Attention Span Cinema at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute and is the moderator for Cinema Salon, a weekly film discussion group. Follow him on X @garymkramer
Come to the iconic purple building for the SF LGBT CENTER’s 2nd annual kickoff to the 2025 PRIDE season, BUILDING THE BLOCK: HOUSE PARTY! This event at 1800 Market Street on May 31, 12–6 pm, will offer valuable resources and community connections through Queer & Well programming, live entertainment, a clothing closet, an art exhibit, and more. Following last year’s victorious Purple Pride Party, where they welcomed more than 1,500 community members into their space and on Waller Street, they’re excited to bring the event back with a House Party theme. Each floor of the Center will be activated to create an engaging space where the LGBTQ community can connect with essential resources, deepen connections with one another, and celebrate Pride! https://www.sfcenter.org/
Some departments fight waste, but fighting bad taste is the DEPARTMENT OF GAY EXCELLENCE (D.O.G.E). Inspired by Bob the Drag Queen’s iconic moment at the 2025 Queerties when she anointed herself the head of the Department of Gay Excellence, this satirical government agency is now a fully wearable act of resistance and representation. You can even buy the progressive rainbow- decorated t-shirt online.
A $400 million “palace in the sky” from Qatar is just “plane” awful, as is a cryptocurrency scheme that could bring billions in “tribute” to billionaires, and a lavish birthday parade complete with tanks on D.C. streets on the taxpayers’ dime. The scale of Trump’s corruption and lawlessness are astounding, so the scale of our resistance has to be even greater. We can still rebel, because June 14, Flag Day, will be NO KINGS DAY—the biggest mass protest yet. As Trump hosts his self-serving military parade in D.C., democracy-lovers are rising up everywhere else—at 650 protests and counting, all across America—to reject his tyrannical power-grab. No thrones! No crowns! No kings! It needs to be a reminder to every lawmaker, judge, civic leader, and private citizen that they are not powerless, that we carry on the legacy of generation after generation of Americans who fought tyranny before us, and now is our time to step up. https://www.nokings.org/
Sister Dana sez, “Trump and his Repugnican Congress keep trying to kick millions of needy people off Medicaid by passing the tyrannical ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ which, in reality, is the ‘Bogus Billionaire Bonus’!”
own YouTube channel and years of experience as an expert hostess. It’s the perfect book for first-time hosts and veterans alike.
Monday, June 9 @ 6 pm (non-ticketed - Corte Madera store) John B. King, Jr., author of Teacher by Teacher
Former U.S. Secretary of Education, John B. King, Jr., tells the inspiring story of his path to President Obama’s cabinet and the teachers who helped him along the way. King will be joined in conversation with Kim Mazzuca, the President and CEO of 10,000 Degrees. https://www.bookpassage.com/
inside of them. They lacked the opportunities to share in an intimate setting. It felt natural for me to bridge that gap. It wasn’t so much a “calling” as it was a deep desire to connect more meaningfully with other local middle-aged gay men and build a stronger sense of community.
Sir Kippy Marks: What advice would you give to others on how to practice love on a daily basis?
Michaiel Patrick Bovenes: Start by knowing that you matter, and that your story has the ability to help others. Practice listening without trying to fix, be more curious than critical, and offer kindness without an agenda. Love isn’t about grand gestures; it lives in the small, everyday moments of genuine community connection. When you help someone feel seen or valued, that’s love in action. Your connection with your local community can become a daily act of love that enriches everyone involved and the world at large.
Sir Kippy Marks: lf you were granted 2 Universal wishes, what would you wish for?
Michaiel Patrick Bovenes: My first wish would be for humanity to truly accept, celebrate, and respect our differences, instead of fearing, judging, or trying to control what we don’t understand. As gay men and women, I believe we came here to be different so we could make a difference. My second wish would be for every person to recognize their inherent worth and spiritual beauty. We are each unique expressions of life, yet so many struggle to see and own their own goodness. God-Goddess doesn’t make junk—every soul has value. We just need to remember that truth within ourselves.
Sir Kippy Marks: Please share any current practices that our readers will find useful, and let us know where we can find and see you.
Michaiel Patrick Bovenes: When you’re out and about—remember Mary Tyler Moore’s theme song, “Love Is All Around”?—our challenge as gay men is to recognize it and be willing to let it in. Be open to others, acknowledge people with eye contact and a nod or smile. Then, look for the beauty and innocence we all share. When your heart is open, you’ll naturally start to attract and connect with other gay men who are similar to you and who want to build new friendships.
I have recently published a powerful fast action guide ebook titled Seven Secrets to Meet New Like-Minded Gay Men in Your Neighborhood ( www.FastActionGuide.com ), which you can read in 30 minutes and that reveals what you can do immediately to improve your social life. For less than the price of a cocktail, it covers many powerful methods gay men can start using to build real connections in their community. If anyone is interested in attending my live in-person men’s group, you can learn more details and register online at www.gaycommunitycircles.com
Sir 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.
SIR KIPPY MARKS (continued from pg 34)
Indie Food Fest 2025 at Rockridge Market Hall
The second annual Indie Food Fest took place at Rockridge Market Hall in Oakland on May 10, 2025. The sidewalks surrounding the hall—directly across the street from the Rockridge BART Station—were packed with both indie producers and hungry guests who noshed their way down the impressive lineup of booths.
Several of the small businesses—such as the fabulous Terah Wine Co. owned by a queer Palestinian woman, and Rancho Gordo, owned by out Steve Sando—were proudly LGBTQ+ supporting. Other quality producers included Diaspora Co., Temescal Brewing, Line 51 Brewing, Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. Jasper Hill Farm, Luna Rice, Chico Rice. Mama Teav’s. Feve Chocolates. Date Better, YES Bar, Happy Moose Juice, The Pasta Shop, Uplands Apiary, Enzo Olive Oil Company, Like Family, Bondolio, Campodonico, Olivaia, SCOLA, Smoking Goose, Spotted Trotter, Il Porcellino. Lottie’s Meats, Andante Dairy, Nettle Meadow Farm & Artisan Cheese, Fiscalini Cheese, FireFly Farms, the kind team at Acre restaurant selling their namesake wine and olive oil, and much more. The staff at Market Hall was also in force, handing out samples of a special spring season ravioli and then readying for the grand opening of the new and expanded cheese section.
Katie Reicher, the Executive Chef at Greens, where The Gay Gourmet (David Landis) recently dined with his husband Sean, was signing copies of her new book Seasons of Greens. She was next to Georgia Freedman, the author of another great new cookbook, Snacking Dinners. Our team purchased both and had them dedicated to Elaine Viegas, the mother of San Francisco Bay Times co-publisher/co-editor Jennifer Viegas. Elaine used to write food features for the San Francisco Bay Times and recently passed. Also remembering Elaine was culinary legend Roberta Klugman, who invited the Bay Times to the event and warmly welcomed us and many others.
https://rockridgemarkethall.com/
Take Me Home with You!
Pokey the Golden Boy
Meet Pokey, our resident golden boy in every sense of the word. At 14 years young, Pokey may be visually impaired, but he doesn’t let that slow him down. With his halo harness gently guiding his way, he navigates the world like a seasoned pro. Whether sniffing out the softest blanket or enjoying a leisurely stroll when the mood strikes, Pokey often savors such moments and will have you relishing them too.
He’s not just wise; he’s wonderfully adaptable. Pokey has been thriving in his foster home, where he gets along beautifully with other dogs and adjusts easily to new routines. He’s the kind of companion who brings calm, comfort, and just the right amount of sass to your day.
Pokey may be retired from fetch, but he’s still a champion cuddle buddy, expert napper, and world-class listener. He’s ready to live out his golden years in a loving home—could it be yours?
Pokey is currently in foster care while he waits to meet his forever family. If you’re interested, click “How to Adopt Me” at his page: https://bit.ly/43GhqZq
There, you can schedule a virtual meet-and-greet. And good news: Pokey’s adoption fee has been generously sponsored!
https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/
Pokey
Terah Bajjalieh of Terah Wine Co.
Mama Teav’s Hot Garlic booth
Rockridge Market Hall photos
Rancho Gordo (heirloom beans) booth
Greens Chef Katie Reicher and Georgia Freeman holding up their new cookbooks
Annie Sprinkle
“Today the spirit of Harvey Milk is a guiding light for all of us queers. He was so courageous and passionate. I love that there is a beautiful airport terminal named for him, a gay rights activist.”
“His
“If
“That Harvey would say that we need to work together to solve problems”
compiled by Rink
Cal Callahan
Diva
