August 18, 2022 edition of the Bay Area Reporter

Newsom names 1st queer female judge to CA Supreme Court

by Matthew S. Bajko

Governor Gavin Newsom has nom

inated queer Alameda County Su

perior Court Judge Kelli Evans to the state’s Supreme Court. If confirmed, she will be the first out LGBTQ woman and second out African American to serve on it.

A Black married mother, Evans would double out representation on the state’s highest court, as Newsom in 2020 named Martin J. Jenkins, a gay Black man, as an associate justice. He was confirmed November 10 that year.

Newsom had appointed Evans to the superior court in the East Bay last year. Evans and her wife, Terri Shaw, have a daughter in college and live in Oakland.

Wednesday, August 10, Newsom announced his nomination of Evans to serve as an associate justice on the California Supreme Court to fill the vacancy being created by his elevating Supreme Court Associate Justice Patricia Guerrero to be its next chief justice. Guerrero is set to succeed Chief Justice Tani CantilSakauye, who is retiring when her current term of office ends January 2.

A first-generation Californian, Guerrero was the first Latina to serve on the California Supreme Court and, if confirmed, will be the first Latina to serve as its chief justice. Curiously, Newsom’s announcement of the dual judicial picks made no mention of the historic significance of Evans being the first out LGBTQ female jurist to likely serve on the state’s highest bench.

In praising Evans, Newsom noted her lifelong dedication “to helping all Californians” access justice equally.

“Raised by her grandmother in public housing, Judge Evans was inspired from a young age to find ways to help expand justice and opportunity for everyone, especially marginalized and vulnerable communities,” stated Newsom. “I have seen firsthand her commitment to the highest ideals of public service, and her passion to protect and advance civil rights and liberties for all Californians. I have no doubt that her exemplary talent, wide-ranging knowledge and experience, strong moral compass, and work ethic will make her an outstanding Supreme Court justice.”

In the statement released by the governor’s office, Evans said she was “truly honored” by the opportunity to serve on the state’s highest court.

DJ's giving back to Oakland Drag King Contest Bodies, Bodies, Bodies

SF Latino gay men are hard hit by monkeypox outbreak

by Liz Highleyman

Latino gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men account for nearly 30% of monkeypox cases in San Francisco, almost twice their share of the population, according to the latest data from the San Francisco Department of Public Health. In Santa Clara County, Latinos make up more than 40% of cases.

This disparity is also reflected in nationwide numbers, as more than half of people with monkeypox in the United States are now Black or Latino. The shift toward gay and bisexual men of color increasingly mirrors long-standing inequities in the U.S. HIV epidemic.

“The question we should be asking is why our system continues to fail our vulnerable communities,” Jorge Roman, director of clinical services at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, told the Bay Area Reporter. “If our systems do not use equity as the lens to respond to health crises, we should not be surprised when they disproportionately affect BIPOC (Black, indigenous and people of color) individuals.”

As of August 16, DPH has reported 600 monkeypox cases in San Francisco. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified 12,689 cases in the United States and more than 38,000 cases worldwide, mostly in countries outside of Central and West Africa.

While anyone can get monkeypox through close physical contact, cases remain overwhelmingly concentrated among gay, bisexual, transgender, and other men who have sex with men. A new report from the CDC shows that 99% of cases with available data were among men, and 94% reported sex or other close intimate contact with other men.

SFAF and the Getting to Zero Consortium will hold a second monkeypox community town hall Tuesday, August 23. (More info below.)

The current monkeypox outbreak was first reported in May in the United Kingdom, with

cases soon appearing in major cities in Europe, Canada, and the United States. While many of these early cases were among white men who reported international travel, the picture has since shifted.

The latest demographic breakdown from DPH shows that among cases with available data, 46% are white, 28% are Latino, 10% are Asian, 5% are Black, and 6% are multiracial or other. For comparison, the city’s population is 40% white, 15% Latino, 35% Asian or Pacific Islander, 5% Black, and 7% multiracial.

Santa Clara County is now reporting 100 monkeypox cases. In late July, when case numbers were lower, health officials released a breakdown showing that 41% of cases were among Latinos, who make up 26% of the county’s population. Alameda County, as of August 10, had 117 confirmed cases. No racial breakdown was available.

In contrast, in Los Angeles County, with 962 reported cases, 37% are Latino, 35% are white, and 11% are Black. The county’s population is 49% Latino, 25% white, and 9% Black, so while Latinos account for the largest percentage of cases, it falls below their share of the population.

Statewide, California has identified 1,945 monkeypox cases as of August 11. Among those with available data, 40% are white, 38% are Latino, 11% are Black, and 7% are Asian. The state’s population is 35% white, 40% Latino, 7% Black and 16% Asian or Pacific Islander, so white people are somewhat overrepresented, Asians are underrepresented, and Latinos are about on par with their population percentage.

Turning to the national numbers, the CDC had received case reports with demographic data for just 1,195 of the 2,891 cases identified through July 22, highlighting major gaps in state reporting. Of the cases with available data, 41% were white, 28% were Latino and 26% were Black. For comparison, the U.S. population is 59% white, 19% Latino, and 14% Black.

The CDC report may actually understate these disparities, as some jurisdictions with greater racial and ethnic diversity have not submitted demographic data and the proportion of cases among Black people has risen in recent weeks.

The national monkeypox public health emergency announced August 4 could encourage more states to share data with the CDC. “This public health emergency will allow us to explore additional strategies to get vaccines and treatments more quickly to impacted communities, and it will allow us to get more data from jurisdictions so we can effectively track and attack this outbreak,” new national monkeypox response coordinator Bob Fenton told reporters during a media briefing.

Equitable vaccine distribution

Elsewhere in the country, some of the greatest monkeypox disparities are seen in the South. In Georgia, which now has 1,013 cases, 82% of cases with available data are Black, according to an August 8 provider webinar. What’s more, 67% are living with HIV.

See page 7 >>

Castro merchants demand beds for unhoused residents in letter to SF officials

by Eric Burkett

Aletter decrying the increasingly difficult circumstances under which small businesses in the Castro find themselves struggling has been emailed to various city officials, including Mayor London Breed. In it, the group demanded that 35 beds in the city’s unhoused system be designated for unhoused people in the Castro and offered other suggestions.

David Karraker, co-president of the Castro Merchants Association that sent the letter, told the Bay Area Reporter the situation has become untenable.

“We’ve reached a point where people feel like they can’t run a successful business in the Castro with this kind of barrier,” he said, adding that civil disobedience may be business owners’ only solution if the city doesn’t act. Castro merchants could begin withholding the fees they pay to the city until they see action, he said.

Dated August 8, the email reminds officials of the numerous efforts the group has made over the years to get help from city leaders and that the neighborhood be made “a priority area for services, given its stature as one of the most visited (and photographed) neighborhoods in the city.”

“For the past four years, we have sought city help to address the rising problem of people with behavioral health/substance use disorders

taking up residence on our sidewalks, dramatically impacting the quality of life in our neighborhood and the ability to run a successful business,” the letter begins.

Many of the people the letter describes are well known to the merchants and denizens of Castro Street and the surrounding area, and “this group of people regularly experiences psychotic episodes – screaming, acting out irrationally, vandalizing storefronts. They need

Rick Gerharter

shelter and/or services and they need them immediately,” the message continued.

The email was addressed not only to Breed, but to gay San Francisco Department of Public Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax and top DPH staffer Hillary Kunins; Police Chief William Scott; City Attorney David Chiu and Director of Executive Affairs for the City Attorney Luis Zamora; bi Department of Homelessness and

In May 2020, tents appeared on narrow Prosper Street near the Harvey Milk Branch Library. The Castro Merchants Association wrote in a recent email to city officials that problems associated with unhoused residents in the LGBTQ neighborhood have become untenable.

Jorge Roman is director of clinical services at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

Liz Highleyman

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Kelli Evans was nominated to be an associate justice on the California Supreme Court.

Courtesy Governor’s Office

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about

does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:

 dofetilide

 rifampin

 any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

 Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.

 Have any other health problems.

 Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.

 Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

 Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may a ect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.

 Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.

 Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.

 Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

 Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

 The most common side e ects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side e ects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

You are encouraged to report negative side e ects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY

Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION

 This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5

 If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

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Status meeting for project at former Nob Hill Theatre site planned

by Eric Burkett

Habitués of the late, great Nob Hill Theatre will have a chance to hear an update about the building’s future in a public meeting this week, when developers will present their plans for the former all-male strip club.

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Even before its 50-year run as a gay burlesque theater that closed in 2018, the building had been a popular jazz bar called Club Hangover. The city’s planning department has designated the site at 729 Bush Street a “historic resource” eligible for the California Register of Historic Places for its association with gay culture and history.

The presentation will be broadcast via Zoom from 5 to 6 p.m., Thursday, August 18. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback, which will be presented to the San Francisco Planning Department as the plans for a medical center and housing are finalized. This is the second such meeting. The first was held last year and can be viewed at https://vimeo. com/588903968. The Bay Area Reporter previously reported on that meeting, at which it was announced that the famous exterior sign would remain – minus the cheeky tagline.

“Thursday’s meeting is a second opportunity for the public to learn about plans to preserve the history

of the theater and to preserve some of its structure even though its use is changing,” stated Eliot Dobris, a gay man who is spokesperson for the new owner, Dr. James Chen. “We also encourage people to sign up on our website to share their memories of the theater for an upcoming personal history project.”

The site was purchased by Chen, an orthopedic surgeon, for $2.7 million from Larry Hoover and his husband, Gary Luce, who retired to Palm Springs. Chen, a straight ally, stated he plans to “be a good steward of the history of the site,” the B.A.R. reported at the time. According to his website, Chen works with the athletic departments of several local schools and is the team physician for the San Francisco City Football Club, an amateur soccer organization.

According to a news release, Hoover and Luce had tried for many months to find a buyer who would continue to operate the theater but were unsuccessful. They have donated a large collection of items to the GLBT Historical Society’s archive, including posters, performance and production ephemera, a cubicle for viewing videos, a stage set piece, a wooden sculpture of a male torso, a T-shirt, and a leather sling. These items are now part of the society’s permanent historical archive and available for researchers, the release noted.

The release stated that attendees of the meeting will be able to see the new owner’s plans to showcase the history of the site. Besides keeping the aforementioned sign and the auditorium, plans to acknowledge the building’s history include: creating a website about the history of the theater, including personal histories from former patrons and staff; installing a historical plaque on the exterior of the building; installing an interior historical display; and utilizing a nighttime sidewalk projection to highlight the building’s past uses.

The new site will maintain the facade of the original structure but will include a surgical center, with several living spaces above, in a new construction of five stories, 50 feet high. According to the presentation given last year, the proposed development includes a surgical center with two operating rooms and one minor procedure room; 3,700 square feet of medical offices; and four units of housing. These include a four-bedroom residence for Chen, two threebedroom units, and one one-bedroom unit.

To join the meeting, go to https://bit.ly/3pqwRQN. The release stated that a copy of the meeting will be available at https:// www.729bush.com/ t

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The Nob Hill Theatre marquee with its famous signage just before it closed in 2018.

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by Matthew S. Bajko

wo gay men are again seeking educational posts in San Francisco that they previously sought and lost. Both face an uphill climb in their respective races, while a queer nonbinary former community college board student representative now seeking an elected seat has support from labor groups and progressive Democrats.

William Walker, a gay Black man who previously was the student trustee on the board that oversees City College of San Francisco, is again seeking an elected seat on it. In 2014, he came up short in his bid to serve out the remaining two years of the term vacated by former Trustee Chris Jackson, who had resigned that year. Walker also lost his 2018 bid for one of the city’s two seats on the board that oversees the regional transit agency BART.

A graduate of City College, Walker has remained involved in advocating for the troubled two-year school, which faces declining enrollment and a fiscal deficit that has led to teacher and staff layoffs. He will officially kick off his candidacy in conjunction with his 43rd birthday at 7 p.m. Friday, August 26, at the Marigold Event Space, located atop the bar Churchill at 194 Church Street at the intersection with 14th and Market streets.

As Walker notes on the website to RSVP for his event, https://bit. ly/3JWi1L6, one focus of his on the college board would be increasing “enrollment for programs at the college that can land students in jobs as nurses, teachers, and software developers, fields that for the past decade have been short the workers they need.”

There is again an election for a partial term on the college board this year, but Walker is running for one of the three, full four-year terms on the November 8 ballot. Also seeking one of the seats is fellow former student trustee Vick Chung, who identifies as a gender-neutral, nonbinary femme and had worked as a paid canvasser for the political group SF Rising two years ago.

voted to endorse Chung, Martinez, and Solomon. It endorsed Velasquez in the other college board race.

SF school board

In the closely watched race for three seats on the board that oversees the San Francisco Unified School District, the election has been overshadowed by appointed member Ann Hsu’s racist comments on a candidate questionnaire that have led to calls for her resignation and recalled former member Gabriela López now attempting to be reelected to her seat.

Voters overwhelmingly recalled López, along with former school board members Alison Collins and Moliga Faauuga, in a special election last February. Parents upset with the trio’s handling of school closures and reopenings during the pandemic fueled the recall, as did anger over Collins’ anti-Asian tweets from years ago that were resurfaced by recall backers.

Breed in the spring appointed Hsu, Lainie Motamedi, and Lisa Weissman-Ward to fill the vacancies of the terms that expire this year. Thus, the trio is running for full four-year terms on the November ballot.

running unopposed. Milk did endorse appointed Assessor-Recorder Joaquín Torres, who is running unopposed for a full four-year term, and Public Defender Mano Raju’s reelection bid. Seeking to oust Raju from office is assistant district attorney and former deputy public defender Rebecca Young

In the DA’s race the club voted to endorse former police commissioner John Hamasaki. He threw his hat in the ring last week to run against appointed DA Brooke Jenkins, whom Breed named to serve out the remainder of Boudin’s term and must now seek election before the voters to remain in the position through early January 2024.

Also running to be the city’s top prosecutor are attorneys Joe Alioto Veronese and Maurice Chenier The winner of the race will need to seek a full four-year term in 2023, an election that could see Boudin run to be reelected as DA.

Out candidates secure 2nd terms

Since no one filed Friday to oppose them this year, several out leaders in the Bay Area have now secured second terms.

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All three incumbents – Trustees Brigitte Davila, John Rizzo, and Thea Selby – are seeking reelection. Also challenging them are Marie Hurabiell, who was involved in recalling former District Attorney Chesa Boudin; engineer Jason Chuyuan Zeng; Jill Yee, the college’s former dean of social sciences, behavioral sciences, ethnic studies and social justice; retired elementary school teacher Susan Solomon; and retired city college teacher Anita Martinez

In San Francisco, BART board member and current Vice President Janice Li is the sole candidate for her District 8 seat in November. It covers the city’s western and northern neighborhoods and has shared jurisdiction over the regional transit agency’s Embarcadero, Montgomery Street, Powell Street, and Glen Park stations, plus full oversight of the Balboa Park station.

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Seeking the partial term that ends in 2025 is Trustee Murrell Green, whom Mayor London Breed appointed to the college board this summer to fill the vacancy created when gay former trustee Tom Temprano resigned to become political director of the statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization Equality California. Running against Green are retired city college counselor and chair Adolfo Velasquez and arts nonprofit director Daniel Landry

The San Francisco Democratic Party August 13 endorsed Green for the shortened term and Martinez and Solomon for full terms. After several rounds of voting where Chung and Selby both came close to securing the endorsement, Chung eventually emerged with the local party’s backing of their candidacy. At its August 16 meeting the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club

Making his third attempt for a school board seat is Phil Kim, a gay man and senior director of a local charter school company. Kim, who lost his bids in 2018 and 2016, is a board member of the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club and co-chairs the board that oversees the San Francisco LGBTQ youth nonprofit LYRIC. Also running are special education advocate Alida Fisher, who also lost her 2018 bid for a school board seat, and single mom Karen Fleshman, whose two children attend the city’s public schools and who’s the founder and CEO of Racy Conversations, which focuses on workplace diversity and inclusion issues.

San Francisco Democrats endorsed Fisher, Motamedi, and Weissman-Ward over the weekend. The Milk club endorsed López, Fisher, and Fleshman at its meeting Tuesday.

Milk club endorsements

In other fall races, the progressive queer political group endorsed incumbent Supervisors Gordon Mar (District 4), Rafael Mandelman (D8), and Shamann Walton (D10), president of the Board of Supervisors, for reelection. It also backed Honey Mahogany, a queer transgender nonbinary candidate seeking the District 6 seat currently held by Supervisor Matt Dorsey, a gay man appointed to the city in the spring by Breed.

The club made no endorsement in the District 2 race, where moderate Supervisor Catherine Stefani is

The first queer woman of color and the first Asian American woman on the regional transit agency’s board, Li is the only Asian member of one of the country’s three elected transit boards. Li’s name will still appear on the November ballot, though she is now assured another four years overseeing BART as it continues to deal with the fiscal fallout brought on by the COVID pandemic and works with its Silicon Valley transit partners to bring service into downtown San Jose.

Meanwhile, gay San Leandro Unified School District board President James Aguilar no longer has to worry about mounting a reelection campaign. Because no one filed to run against him, he is one of dozens of local school board members who will be automatically seated to another term. Only educational races that are contested appear on the ballot.

“I’m honored to announce that after passing the filing deadline, my reelection campaign went unopposed and not on the ballot. With your help, I’m staying on the #SanLeandro School Board for another four years,” wrote Aguilar on his social media last Friday.

William Walker, left, is once again seeking a seat on the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees, while Phil Kim is again running for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Education.

Walker, courtesy Facebook; Kim, courtesy the candidate

CA bias bills backed by LGBTQ Asians advance

by Matthew S. Bajko

Two bias bills backed by LGBTQ Asian and Pacific Islander Californians are moving forward in the state Legislature. They come amid a yearslong rise in street harassment and attacks motivated by racial bias toward API individuals.

Collectively called the No Place for Hate Campaign, the two bills moved out of their respective suspense files overseen by the appropriations committees of the two legislative chambers Thursday. The first to do so was Senate Bill 1161, authored by state Senator Dave Min (D-Costa Mesa), which is before the state Assembly having been passed by the state Senate earlier this legislative session.

Called “Improving Public Transit Ridership Safety” it aims to protect LGBTQ+ people, cisgender women, and other vulnerable public transit riders. The legislation would require California’s 10 largest transit agencies, including LA Metro, BART, and Orange County Transportation Authority, to recognize street harassment as a rider safety concern, gather data, and create non-carceral solutions to prevent hate and harassment that occurs in their vehicles or at transit stops.

The full Assembly must now approve it before it can be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom to either sign

<< Monkeypox

From page 1

North Carolina has identified just 180 monkeypox cases, but unlike most other jurisdictions, the state has reported vaccination demographics. While 70% of cases are among Black men, this group has received less than a quarter of vaccines administered through August 8, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement. Meanwhile, white people,

into law or veto it. The deadline for sending bills to Newsom to sign is August 31.

Andy Wong, a gay Chinese American who is director of advocacy for Chinese for Affirmative Action, hailed the advancement of the bill on Twitter Thursday. He congratulated Min and “all the advocates for making this possible. And THANK YOU #CALeg leadership for championing the fight against hate & taking vital steps to keep transit riders safe.”

who account for 19% of cases, received 67% of vaccine doses.

San Francisco and Santa Clara health officials are taking steps to avoid such inequities, working with organizations that serve heavily affected communities. Focused efforts in collaboration with community partners helped San Francisco reverse the disproportionately high COVID-19 rate among Latinos early in the pandemic and led to higher COVID vaccination rates for Latinos and Black

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Wong, 42, who lives in San Francisco’s Lower Nob Hill neighborhood, has been verbally harassed due to his race over the last two years on several occasions walking near his apartment and had been subjected to homophobic slurs while riding the bus prepandemic. As the Bay Area Reporter noted in an earlier story, he didn’t bother reporting the incidents to police since he wasn’t violently attacked and verbal harassment doesn’t receive a police response.

The second piece of legislation is Assembly Bill 2448 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and is titled “Expanding Civil Rights Protections at Businesses.” If adopted, it would require large businesses to train their employees on how to protect, report, and respond to hate crimes for the safety of their customers.

It passed out of the Senate’s suspense file August 11 and will now be taken up by the full Senate to vote on passing it and sending it on to Newsom for his signature. As Ting told the B.A.R. in mid-July, he is “very optimistic” of seeing the two bills be approved by state lawmakers.

“Hate crimes, unfortunately, have been on the rise,” said Ting, as for why the legislation is needed.

Reported hate crimes in California increased 32.6% from 1,330 in 2020 to 1,763 in 2021, according to a report

people compared with white people (90%, 78%, and 74%, respectively).

As was the case with COVID vaccines in the spring of 2021, monkeypox vaccines remain in short supply, although the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center vaccine clinic has been able to serve all comers in recent days. The Jynneos vaccine is normally administered as two doses given four weeks apart, but in an effort to stretch the supply, federal officials on August 9

compiled by the California Attorney General’s office and released in late June. Anti-Asian bias events rose from 89 in 2020 to 247 in 2021, an increase of 177.5%, noted the report. But data collected over the last two years by the Chinese for Affirmative Action, AAPI Equity Alliance, and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Department suggest the number of incidents are much higher than the state’s report suggests. The groups launched the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center in March 2020 and received reports on 11,500 hate incidents across the U.S. over the last two years.

An analysis of that data released in July noted that two in three reported incidents involve harassment, such as hate speech or inappropriate gestures, and cannot be considered hate crimes. California, with 4,333 incidents, accounted for the largest number reported to the center.

“The majority of hate incidents are non-criminal behaviors that contribute to an unwelcoming environment, such as spitting or the use of racial slurs,” noted the report. “Many formal federal and state datasets often only capture hate crimes. By reporting on the broader category of hate incidents, Stop AAPI Hate is able to shed light on the non-criminal incidents that comprise the majority of hate inci-

allowed providers to use a different injection technique that lets them split a single-dose vial into five doses. That technique has not been instituted yet in San Francisco as additional training is needed before it can be introduced.

“San Francisco is building upon our successes as a city ... to inform our strategy for the current monkeypox outbreak,” DPH said in a statement sent to the B.A.R. “This includes partnering with Latinx community-based organizations to provide culturally

dents that AAPI communities face on a daily basis.”

Just this month Gregory Chew, 70, a former member of San Francisco’s arts, film and immigrants rights commissions, was punched and knocked to the ground while walking at night in the city’s South of Market neighborhood. Sunday the police arrested Derrick Yearby, who has been charged with aggravated battery and elder abuse for allegedly attacking Chew.

Police are looking into if the incident was racially motivated, while Chew and others are calling for hate crimes charges to be filed against Yearby.

“There should be no place in San Francisco for this kind of violence, which in the last couple of years is disproportionately targeting seniors in our AAPI communities,” stated gay District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who represents SOMA, after the news of Yearby’s arrest. “San Francisco police reported a 567% increase in antiAsian hate crimes in 2021. We must all do more to stop these attacks, and one way to deter violence like this is to send a strong message to wouldbe attackers that they’ll be brought to justice in San Francisco.”

For more information about the No Place for Hate Campaign, visit its website at https://www.noplaceforhateca.org/ t

sensitive information, resources, and vaccine access to those disproportionately affected. To ensure equitable access to the very limited monkeypox doses to those individuals and groups most impacted, SF DPH has a system in place to reserve vaccine appointments at our Zuckerberg San Francisco General vaccine clinic for individuals from BIPOC communities.”

DPH said it is working with

See page 15 >>

of support for our LGBTQ+ patients and employees.

Andy Wong is director of advocacy for Chinese for Affirmative Action and helped organize the #SaferPlace social media campaign.

Courtesy Andy Wong

Volume 52, Number 33

August 18-24, 2022

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Evans’ identity is important

Governor Gavin Newsom made history last week with his nominations of two women to serve on the state Supreme Court.

One, Patricia Guerrero, is already a justice on the high court and Newsom elevated her to chief justice, replacing Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye when she retires in early January.

Kelli Evans, currently a judge on the Alameda County Superior Court, was nominated to fill Guerrero’s seat as an associate justice. Evans would make history if she is confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments – she would be the first openly queer Black woman to serve on the California Supreme Court. As we reported last week, it was curious that Newsom’s news release on the two appointments omitted that fact.

Two years ago, Newsom made history when he nominated Martin Jenkins, a gay Black man and retired state appellate justice, as the first openly LGBTQ person to serve on the state Supreme Court. In his announcement back then, Newsom hailed Jenkins’ appointment and the fact that he is gay. “Justice Jenkins would be the first openly gay and third Black man to serve on the California Supreme Court,” Newsom’s 2020 release stated. It’s too bad that Newsom didn’t note the historic nature with his pick of Evans.

During her swearing-in ceremony on the Alameda bench in October 2021, Evans said that she has been “fortunate in my career to be surrounded by insightful friends.” She also recalled her late grandmother, who only had an eighth grade education. She purchased “on an installment plan,” Evans noted, a set of encyclopedias that Evans read when she was growing up.

Evans also referenced her grandmother in a story three years ago in the Los Angeles Blade about Newsom’s LGBTQ staff members. Evans married Terri Shaw, her college sweetheart, and she told the LGBTQ newspaper that she has “deep appreciation to my grandmother who raised me and to all those who came before us who made it possible for a queer Black girl from the projects to be where I am today.”

Prior to being appointed to the local bench, Evans served as Newsom’s chief deputy legal affairs secretary where she helped shape the state’s moratorium on capital punishment and advised Newsom and executive agencies on myriad issues in administrative proceedings and in state and federal trial and appellate courts. Before that, she worked for former state attorney general Xavier Becerra. Evans has the qualifications for a seat on the state’s

highest court, regardless of how she identifies.

However, we know that representation matters, and to have an out queer Black woman on the state Supreme Court is indeed something to celebrate. Evans’ nomination – and expected confirmation – sends a message to LGBTQ people whether they are young or old. It’s notice that the highest levels of state government are indeed changing and becoming more reflective of the diverse population that makes California such a great state.

State Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) marked the historic nature of Evans’ nomination. “Judge Kelli Evans’ impending appointment to serve as associate justice on the California Supreme Court also is a boon for our state,” Atkins said. “Her experience as an Alameda County Superior Court judge, combined with her legal expertise while working for an array of governmental entities, lends perspective that will undoubtedly resonate in her work on the Court. And as a member of the LGBTQ community, her ascension sends an affirming and encouraging message to our youth.”

We expect Evans and Guerrero to be confirmed by the judicial commission, allowing Newsom to further cement his legacy in terms of judicial appointments. Earlier this year he tapped Andi Mudryk as the first appointed transgender judge in the state, making her the second trans judge in California, as Alameda County Superior Court Judge Victoria Kolakowski was elected to the bench in 2010. Since taking office in 2019, Newsom has appointed LGBTQ people to the bench at the trial and appellate levels. For the state Supreme Court to soon have two out Black justices is a milestone. Newsom missed an important opportunity to highlight the historic nature of Evans’ nomination. We think he should have done so. t

Tips for parents talking to college-age students about drugs

by Michael Leach

Beginning college or university means taking on more responsibility, making adult choices, and facing the consequences of some of these decisions.

Speaking to college-age students about drugs and alcohol helps them stay informed about the risks and understand the consequences. Substance use and addiction is a significant problem in the Bay Area. Yet early prevention and education, especially for LGBTQ youth and young adults, prevent adult substance use disorders.

Here are some tips for parents living in the Bay Area to help speak to their kids about drugs and alcohol.

Ask questions, listen, and avoid long

lectures

As students head back to college, it’s important that parents talk with them about drug use, including fentanyl, which can be lethal even in small amounts.

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When children become adults, we want to impart wisdom to them, but this can often turn into long-winded lectures. The topic of drugs and alcohol is not easy to discuss, yet critical to address again, especially at this age.

Ask questions about what they know about drugs or alcohol at this age and if they have any concerns. Social media, for example, has a significant influence on young people and often fashionably depicts drugs and alcohol.

Listen to their concerns about alcohol and drugs; be an active listener. They may have heard of fentanyl, for example, and how it is found in cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine, or made to look like prescription pain medication. Fill in the gaps with factual information about drug and alcohol use in college and its dangers.

Overdose deaths, for example, in the region have significantly risen since 2019, with much of the problem due to fentanyl.

Finally, avoid lecturing them, but rather voice a loving concern for their well-being because this is what this whole conversation is all about.

Avoid casting judgment, yet know parents can influence decision making

It is easy to cast judgment when talking about drug and alcohol use, which is why discussing personal stories is critical. Provide real-life examples of personal experiences and share the result of those experiences.

The goal for any parent is to influence responsible decision-making and not cast judgment over choices already made.

The LGBTQ community, for example, and those attending college who have not yet come out, are significantly impacted by individuals casting judgment and have nowhere to turn. According to the Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQ teens are 40% less likely to have an adult in their family whom they can turn to.

Roughly three-quarters of teens in the United States have already tried alcohol, and nearly half have used marijuana. Almost one-quarter of teens have abused prescription drugs. Members of the LGBTQ community cope with stigma, rejection, and harassment, making it more likely to never ask about drug or alcohol abuse.

Set clear rules and boundaries

Parents can still set boundaries despite most college-age adults not living at home, especially if parents are paying for college, car insurance, bills, rent, or groceries. Young adults begin to learn about consequences, and parents should be clear about their rules surrounding drug and alcohol use.

“Underage drinking is a significant problem and leads to illegal drug use, especially among college-age adults,” noted Marcel Gemme of Addicted.org. (https://www.addicted.org/) “It has been our experience that young people have

a better chance at making responsible decisions when family units can establish clear boundaries and rules with prevention and education.”

It is OK to establish boundaries and rules, just as it is OK not to like some of your child’s decisions. What is important is being there for them, supporting them, listening, and guiding them along the way.

Find every opportunity for real conversation

The best way to help your child avoid drugs or alcohol when going to college or university is to maintain effective two-way communication.

While this is not always easy to accomplish, young people must have a stable individual they can turn to when questions arise about consuming alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription drugs.

Additionally, it is the responsibility of parents to initiate the conversation and make it a comfortable conversation that can be had at any time. Every step taken now prevents future problems from occurring or helps them make responsible choices.

If an opportunity to discuss drugs and alcohol does not present itself, create one, and keep that conversation going through their academic career. t

Michael Leach, a proud supporter of the LGBTQ community, has spent most of his career as a health care professional specializing in substance use disorder and addiction recovery. He is a regular contributor to the health care website Addicted.org and a certified clinical medical assistant.

Courtesy National Institute on Drug Abuse

California Supreme Court nominee Judge Kelli Evans

Courtesy Governor’s office via LA Blade

Castro Theatre fans want seats saved

by Eric Burkett

The new-ish managers of the Castro Theatre got an earful at a town hall they hosted at the beloved movie palace August 11, an event that easily drew several hundred people and went on more than an hour longer than planned.

Another Planet Entertainment, which assumed management of the Castro Theatre in January, hosted the meeting to explain its renovation plans for the cinema and to get feedback from the public. Moderated by gay former District 8 supervisor and current BART board member Bevan Dufty, the event featured a slick promotional video promoting APE’s plans for the theatre, a presentation by the lead architect, Christopher Wasney, for the renovations, and two presentations by groups opposed to some of the renovation plans. This was followed by nearly two hours of questions and answers with leading figures from APE, including Senior Vice President Mary Conde.

A lightning rod among the renovations proposed by APE are the plans to remove the current banked orchestral seating configuration, which have drawn criticism from people concerned not only about the aesthetic changes to the theater but, more significantly, from film enthusiasts and professionals.

In March, CAW Architects submitted plans to the San Francisco Planning Department that would see the complete removal of the current banked seating, designed to allow full line of sight for clear viewing of the theater’s movie screen, to be replaced with three platforms, upon which temporary seats could be placed when movies were shown. Notably, for concertgoers, the platforms would remain open, allowing patrons to stand and dance as they watch the live per-

formance on stage. The configuration would also allow the placement of tables, which would be useful for dinners, weddings, or similar events. The proposal would also allow for more access for disabled guests.

Several of the hundred or so people who lined up to ask questions during the Q&A likened the theater to a religious site, irreplaceable as a center of LGBTQ culture and heritage. The big issue for most of the people there was APE’s plans to remove the seating on the sloped ground floor. Several attendees held up signs that read, “Save the Seats,” while another group wore T-shirts that spelled out that message.

Peter Pastreich, executive director of the Castro Theatre Conservancy, which was launched in June to convince APE management to abandon its plans to replace the seating in the cinema in favor of a floor plan more favorable to live music, and Jesse Oliver Sanford, co-chair of land use for the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, both offered their arguments in presentations against the proposed

changes to the theater’s seating. Those changes, which along with what many feel is an abandonment of the theater’s focus on LGBTQ programming, have driven the opposition to APE’s plans for the past seven months.

A ‘sacred temple’ Calling it “a sacred temple,” Sanford, a gay man, argued that the “the Castro Theatre is really synonymous with this neighborhood. It’s something that is our most easily recognized landmark. If we were to choose buildings that represented LGBTQ cultural heritage in this city, this would be the one.”

Over the years, Sanford continued, the theater has become “entwined with our rights struggle, with the liberation we enjoy in this community in a way that is absolutely irreplaceable.”

Sanford called for a signed agreement from APE “before renovations begin” committing to affordable and accessible events and accommodations, with guaranteed accessibility for local producers and theater companies.

“Our hope is for an open and honest, transparent conversation with Another Planet regarding their business plan,” Sanford said. “Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet.”

Pastreich, a former executive director of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra as well as American Conservatory Theater, recounted his group’s efforts to convince the Nasser family, the owners of the theater since they built it 100 years ago, to convert it into a nonprofit organization.

“Two years ago, we told the Nasser family we could raise sufficient money to renovate together and maintain the Castro’s place at the center of the Bay Area’s fine film culture and the light of the Castro area,” Pastreich said.

With this the audience burst into applause.

“The Nassers preferred to work with APE, whose business is concerts, not film,” he added.

“Why?” cried out audience members.

“The conservancy has never suggested that the Castro could be simply a movie house. The Castro has not been that in many years. APE will bring in a lot more concerts and that’s fine,” Pastreich continued. “What’s not fine is destroying the orchestra floor of the Castro.”

Again, the audience burst into a long, enthusiastic applause.

Pastreich pointed out that numerous movie palaces around the country have been saved and converted to multi-use programming without removing the traditional banked seating, which critics of APE’s plans argue are vital to the theater’s existence as a robust movie theater and which Pastreich said was “integral to their architect’s vision of their building.”

There are two major goals he said. “To keep, in fact, the last great movie palace in San Francisco, and to ensure that the theater will remain available

to the film festivals and LGBTQrelated events that have made it their home.”

With that, the audience burst into applause again.

The evening was full of many similar moments, particularly when the Q&A began.

Most were not particularly favorable to APE’s plans to remove the seating, such as filmmaker Marc Huestis who burst out in a cri de coeur, “Taking out the seats is ripping out the heart and soul of the theater!” But some were favorable.

Mike Murray, who was among the younger people in the largely older, white, gay male crowd who addressed the panel, said he was “a gay resident of the Castro,” and told the panel how much he loved the current programming at the theater but, as a fan of live music, had attended a concert at the Castro recently and found himself wishing there were space to dance.

“I heard this news about APE with great excitement, as did many of my friends and acquaintances who couldn’t make it here today,” Murray said. “I’m not hearing their voices represented in this conversation and so I wanted to share this.”

And while a handful of other speakers also spoke in favor of the plans to change the seating, most were having none of it. One after the other, many spoke of their love of the theater, their memories, and their fears that the proposed alterations to the seating would destroy a place they cherished, as well as the programming they felt was integral not only to the theater itself, but to the surrounding community.

Gerard Koskovich, a queer historian, pulled out the big guns.

“But most importantly, under the 1947 UNESCO convention, under the standards of the secretary

Attendees at Another Planet Entertainment’s Castro Theatre town hall August 11 held up signs asking that the ground floor seats be retained under any renovation.

Rick Gerharter

Oakland’s DJ Christie helps show off city’s Pride

by Matthew S. Bajko

East Bay native Christie James is helping to showcase the local LGBTQ community next month as one of the organizers of the Pridefest Oakland 2022 celebration. It is one of the many responsibilities the well-known DJ and radio personality is juggling these days as in-person events make a comeback amid the ongoing COVID pandemic.

“Fun and music are kind of my jam; that’s me. It is fun and music and positive vibes,” said James, who identifies as pansexual and bisexual and owns a home in the city’s Fruitvale neighborhood.

James grew up in Fremont and has called Oakland home, for the most part, since she turned 18. But the Navy veteran did spend three years living in Italy, where she was stationed on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia between 2000 and 2003 and served as a petty officer 2nd class as a journalist. It instilled in her a love for media in its various formats, from radio broadcasts to printed newspapers.

“I know; it was horrible!” James joked in a recent phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter. “I worked for American Forces Network, so thank you for keeping journalism alive in any form.”

She likened it to the military’s version of CNN, for which she filed reports about entertainment news. A chance assignment saw her take over the morning radio show when the usual host went on vacation.

“Nobody wanted to get up early to do the morning show, so they said they thought I would be great. I am the least morning person of anyone,” said James, who declined to reveal her current age. “I did it begrudgingly but did it well. When the girl came back, she was sent to another department, so I was able to do the radio morning show and news.”

She ended up moving back to the Bay Area with her Italian thengirlfriend and landed a local radio internship that led to a gig with Renel Brooks-Moon, who later became the public address announcer for the San Francisco Giants. Their show “Renel & Christie in the Morning” aired on 98.1 KISS-FM.

“You just never know where life and a dream can take you! It is true, I am living proof,” said James, as she had dreamed of learning and working with Brooks-Moon while in Italy.

Her radio career took her to various local stations, from KYLD and KISQ, to most recently iHeart 80s @103.7 For the past five years James has produced former MTV VJ Martha Quinn’s radio show on the station.

She also had been helming her own weekday midday show on 103.7 F.M. but at the start of the year was promoted to having her own morning show when Quinn’s program moved to that time slot. James can now be heard weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. hosting the “Morning Drive with Christie Live.”

Meanwhile, James also has her own nighttime weekday show on Pride Radio from 7 p.m. to midnight that is heard on the iHeart radio app and stations across the country. She does it at her in-home studio.

“I can record at home and have a lot more flexibility,” explained James as for how she is able to work on three radio shows per day in addition to her non-radio career and community volunteer work.

She is also “happily dating” again, though she wouldn’t divulge the name of the woman she is seeing. Asked when she sleeps, James retorted, “Honey, I will do that later!”

She is also part of an all-woman DJ crew, going by the moniker DJ Christie, in the Bay Area known as Heart of Gold DJs. She discovered the collective about four years ago and has worked with them ever since as a DJ for hire to play at various events and celebrations.

The bookings dried up at the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020, but eventually corporate gigs turned up where she DJed business events via Zoom.

“I had to change it up, so I set up a space in my room,” said James, who also DJed at virtual Pride celebrations.

Last year, James was hired to DJ at 47 weddings. Her schedule has been just as busy this year, and James already has booked six marriage ceremonies next year.

“I love the love! Where else, number one, can you see a grown man do the worm, like literally? People cut loose at weddings like they don’t do anywhere else,” said James. “At weddings everyone is happy. Families come together for good reasons. Everyone is drinking; it’s a real party.”

There is another perk of such gigs she also enjoys, James acknowledged.

“I love the free food! To know me is to know I love a deal and some free food,” said James amid a burst of laughter.

As if her schedule couldn’t be any busier, James this year has been DJing for the Oakland A’s at their home games in Oakland. And she told the B.A.R. she would love to also work with the Golden State Warriors.

“I am the Treehouse DJ and warm up DJ for their home games. It’s been real cool,” said James of the A’s, adding of the championship basketball team that now plays in San Francisco, “I really, really want to try to work with the Warriors. I wish the Warriors will let me come do something with them! I will keep my schedule open so I have space for them! Let’s put out there our good vibes!”

A DJ for the lesbian cruise company

Olivia since 2016, James averaged three bookings a year until COVID hit. She returned to the seas last year for the first time during the pandemic with the company and will be DJing on one of its 50th anniversary cruises in early 2023.

“I went to Italy last year with them. I wasn’t nervous, I was ready to go,” said James when asked about the risk of catching COVID while onboard the ship. “It is something you have to live with eventually.”

Ever since she was a child James has wanted to be a public personality, having idolized the TV journalist Barbara Walters and game show host Pat Sajak, whom she still does to this day. It is the one job left on her bucket list, in fact.

“Ultimately, my dream is to host a game show. I would love to do that! The energy and being able to hook people up with free stuff,” said James. “I wanted to be on TV as a kid. I wanted to be around people and I like asking questions. I am curious, naturally. Some call it nosy, but I like asking questions.”

Pridefest Oakland

Her enjoyment in throwing and DJing a party led her to help organize Pridefest Oakland. As the B.A.R. has previously reported, a group of LGBTQ Oakland leaders came together after the implosion of Oakland’s Pride parade and festival last fall to organize their own daylong celebration. In February, they announced they were bringing it back this year on Sunday, September 11, with a more formal board of volunteers.

It has attracted major sponsors such as Gilead Sciences, PG&E, Amazon, Google, and the Port Bar. The gayowned downtown Oakland venue’s co-owners and life partners Sean Sullivan and Richard Fuentes serve on the Pridefest’s board along with James.

Since then a separate effort has been launched to hold an Oakland Pride parade and festival September 4 over the Labor Day weekend holiday. According to its website, the parade is

set to kick off at 10:30 a.m. that Sunday with the festival going until 7 p.m. Entry is $10 ($5 for children 12 and under), with the main gate located at Broadway & 20th Street.

James, who oversaw the Oakland Pride main stage for five years and, for seven years, helped produce the Women’s Stage at San Francisco Pride, told the B.A.R. she didn’t know anything about the competing Pride event and was solely focused on Pridefest this year. Among its headliners are performers Madame Gandhi and Crystal Waters

“I now have an opportunity to help create the festival. Not just the stage but the whole energy of the festival and vibe while still serving the community,” she said, explaining why she wanted to take on the added responsibility in addition to her paid work commitments. “I wanted to help bring a good, positive vibe to what can be kind of crazy sometimes.”

She hopes the community embraces the new event, which James sees as being a platform to put Oakland back on the map as a destination worthy of LGBTQ tourists visiting like any other major city in California.

“I just think I want to make sure that Oakland has a great community space to highlight the entire LGBTQ community in Oakland. I think Oakland is developing on such a rapid level,” said James. “I love this city. It is just as much a destination as San Francisco or Los Angeles. We definitely have a unique vibe. I feel like being able to highlight that and our LGBTQ community would be fabulous.” t

To learn more about James and to book her for events, visit her website at https://www.smilesandsounds.com/ For more information about Pridefest Oakland, visit its website at https://pridefestoakland.com/.

Got a tip on LGBTQ business news?

Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 8298836 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

SF Sisters report alleged theft of money by member

by Eric Burkett

The San Francisco chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence has reported an alleged theft by one of their own members of “a significant sum of SPI funds … taken for improper personal purposes.”

The Sisters, a long beloved drag nun troupe known for using drag and religious imagery for political theater, as well raising large amounts of money for charity, were founded in 1979. According to the website Influence Watch, as of 2016, the group has raised more than $1.5 million, which is distributed to the community in the forms of grants and other aid. The group has chapters around the United States as well as nine other countries.

Board members for the San Francisco chapter discovered the theft August 3. According to a statement from Sister Tilda NexTime, the order’s abbess, “The alleged offender was forthcoming with a written acknowledgement that ‘money that was not mine’ was taken. Immediate steps were taken to prevent any further improper use of funds, the member was immediately suspended, and legal counsel was engaged. After a demand for restitution went unanswered a police report was filed.”

San Francisco Police Department Officer Kathryn Winters responded August 12 to a request for comment and confirmed an investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made.

“On August 8, 2022 at approxi-

The San Francisco chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence has reported that one of its members allegedly took money from the drag nun order for personal use.

mately 9:05 p.m., San Francisco Police officers were contacted a Mission Station regarding an embezzlement incident,” Winters stated in an email.

“The witness told officers that the suspect in this incident had embezzled money from a nonprofit organization over the course of several months,” Winters added.

The Sisters’ announcement did not disclose the amount of money allegedly stolen or the name of the suspect. A request for comment to Sister Tilda was not returned.

Calling the money the group raises for community benefit “a sacred trust,” the statement continued, “To think that this trust may have been violated by one of our own shakes us to our core. We ask for your continued trust and support as we work vigorously to resolve this matter and

make the SPI and the community whole.”

Tilda stated that, “Upon the advice of counsel, and because law enforcement is involved, the SPI will not disclose further information or make any further comments at this time.”

The Sisters posted the announcement of the theft on their Facebook page August 11 and received numerous well wishes from the public.

“I am shocked and saddened to learn of this breach of trust by a member of the order,” commented San Francisco resident Sarah Steer. “I can only imagine the pain that is being experienced by its membership, and community partners.”

Brandon Roberts wrote, “So sad that even with the best intentions people will take unlawful advantage! I hope you recover the lost funds.”

One person – AJ Solis – remembered the Sisters for the help one nun had given them years before.

“It was an SPI member who gave me her muni fast pass once when I first got to SFO 25 years ago,” Solis wrote. “I was a broke kid and alone and couldn’t even afford to get on that damn bus at Castro and Market but that fast pass helped me eat that whole month until I found a job and eventually got on my feet. I’ve never forgot that to this day and I’m sad that this has happened.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymo t

Lambda Legal’s Pizer receives award

compiled by Cynthia Laird

Jennifer Pizer, the acting chief legal officer at Lambda Defense and Education Fund, recently received a top honor from the LGBTQ+ Bar at its conference in Los Angeles.

During a lunchtime program

July 27, Pizer, a lesbian, received the Dan Bradley Award, the LGBTQ+ Bar’s highest honor. It recognizes the efforts of a member of the LGBTQ legal community whose work has led the way in our struggle for equality under the law, according to the group’s website. Bradley was the first chair of the American Bar Association Section of Individual Rights and Responsibility’s Committee on the Rights of Gay People, now known as the Committee for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. He died of AIDS in 1988.

“Jenny has been a leading voice for family equality, including marriage, for LGBTQ people, for stopping anti-LGBTQ discrimination in employment, health care, and education, for protecting LGBTQ refugees, and against the misuse of religion to license discrimination,” the LGBTQ+ Bar stated in it notes on the awardee.

According to Lambda Legal’s website, Pizer was lead counsel in Majors v. Jeanes, the successful federal case against Arizona’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples. She also was co-counsel in the litigation that won marriage for same-sex couples in California in 2008, and then protected the marriages 18,000 lesbian and gay couples celebrated there before passage of Proposition 8.

In an email, Pizer said the award means a lot to her.

“This award is especially meaningful to me because it’s given by one of the core organizations of our profession and movement, and I hold its leadership in such esteem,” she wrote. “And in receiving the Bar’s Dan Bradley award in particular, I’m joining the company of many of my sheroes and

Obituaries >>

Kenneth Joseph Fitzharris

March 28, 1940 – July 3, 2022

Ken Fitzharris, 82, passed away on July 3, 2022. Born in Chicago March 28, 1940, he lived in the Bay Area since the 1960s.

In his last months, he was attended to by his loyal friend, Chris Murray, who Ken cared for deeply. He passed quietly with two of his sisters at his bedside.

Ken was a beloved character in the 1970s and 1980s gay community, as co-owner of the Bootcamp in San Francisco, and the Paradise Cove in Guerneville.

Ken supported several AIDS charities including Project Open Hand, plus St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Friends always knew he had their back with good advice, cash, and a place to live. He deeply impacted the lives of several individuals. As a close friend said, “He rarely criticized others and was always willing to help.”

Ken loved his garden, books, dogs and parakeets, thrift stores, and church.

Ken is predeceased by two brothers and survived by Maureen Walter, Jeannette Fitzharris, MaryAnn Fitzharris, Terrance Fitzharris and William Fitzharris.

Rest well, our friend and brother.

Actually, we think he is not resting; rather, he is happily pouring drinks under a glittering disco ball listening to Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard for the Money.”

heroes, mentors and treasured friends in this work.

“It was extra sweet to be honored together with my dear friend Mia Yamamoto, one of the most engaged social change lawyers anywhere, and one of the warmest, realest people one can have the pleasure of knowing,” Pizer added. “And, perhaps most memorably, having my brilliant former colleague and always beloved friend Jon Davidson present the award was simply the best.”

She also noted potentially rough times ahead for the LGBTQ equality movement, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion in Roe v. Wade and how that migh affect other issues like marriage equality.

“And even as we face profoundly serious threats from the Supreme Court, state legislatures, and too many other places, what we all have accomplished together during the years of the Bar’s existence – and Lambda Legal’s nearly 50 years! – fills me with pride and confidence that we will meet the challenges,” Pizer stated. “We have persevered strategically through terrible times in the past. Being reminded of that renews my optimism and deter mination about the work ahead.”

Charlie Spiegel, a gay man and attorney in San Francisco, has long been involved with Lambda Legal. While he was unable to attend the Lavender Law con ference, he nonetheless praised Pizer.

“Since we went to law school together in the 1980s, Jenny has been

a strong advocate for LGBTQ+, HIV/AIDS, abortion access, and AAPI rights,” Spiegel wrote in an email to the Bay Area Reporter.

The LGBTQ+ Bar also recognized two of Lambda Legal’s younger attorneys – Nora Huppert and Avatara Smith-Carrington

– as members of its 2022 class of Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40.

San Francisco attorney Deb Wald received the LGBTQ+ Bar’s Leading Family Practitioner Award. Wald, a lesbian, is the managing partner of the Wald Law Group, a full-service family law firm.

Another Dan Bradley Award was presented to Yamamoto, a trans woman who previously worked for the California State Public Defender’s office before going into private practice. She has received numerous awards over the years.

Diego Sanchez, a trans man who worked for gay former Congressmember Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts), received the LGBTQ+ Bar’s Frank Kameny Award.

Virtual panel on trans equality

Andrea Jenkins, president of the Minneapolis City Council, will be one of several trans leaders taking part in a virtual panel discussion titled “Trans Equality Now” hosted by the California Endowment and taking place Wednesday, August 24, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Kris Hayashi, executive director of the Oakland-based Transgender Law Center and a board member of the California Endowment, will moderate. Other panelists include Janetta Louise Johnson, executive director of the Transgender Gender-Variant and Intersex Justice Project; Bamby Salcedo, president and CEO of the Los Angeles-based TransLatin@ Coalition; and Yuan Wang, director of Lavender Phoenix, formerly known as APIENC According to the announcement, the panel will explore escalating threats to transgender people, from anti-trans laws at the state and local level to reactionary campaigns to deny trans existence. The panel will discuss how to fight back, organize for intersectionality, and celebrate the joy of the transgender community.

Jennifer Pizer

Courtesy Lambda Legal

Vote for and be entered

GRAND PRIZE: $500

EARLY BIRD DRAWING: On August 25 we will draw a winner RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq the World

FIRST: A Pair of tickets to see Lil Nas X at

SECOND: A Pair of tickets to see Jonathan Van on December 11

THIRD: A pair of season tickets to New Conservatory

FOURTH: A pair of tickets for the GLBT Historical

FIFTH: $250 worth of product from the

SIXTH: $250 gift card to Cliff’s Variety

“I have worked my entire career to promote equality and access to justice and to protect the rights of some of society’s most disenfranchised members. If confirmed, I look forward to furthering our state’s work to ensure equal justice under the law for all Californians,” stated Evans.

Tony Hoang, executive director of statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization Equality California, hailed the news in a statement.

“Representation is power, and it’s critical in our collective fight for full, lived equality. Governor Newsom’s historic appointment of Judge Evans ensures that California’s highest court better reflects the diversity of our state and sends an important message to the rest of the country at a time when LGBTQ+ people, women and communities of color are under attack,” stated Hoang. “Judge Evans is an outstanding, highly qualified jurist, and we are confident she will continue to uphold and advance equal justice under the law for all Californians.”

Lesbian Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) called the two judicial nominees “a tandem punch of both legal prowess and inspiration for California.” Of Evans in particular, having her serve on the supreme court would be “a boon for our state,” stated Atkins.

“Her experience as an Alameda County Superior Court judge, combined with her legal expertise while

<< Castro Theatre

From page 9

of the interior, intangible cultural heritage is crucial to preservation,” he said, referring to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. He added that the proposed changes to the space and the programming will bring “grave damage to the intangible cultural heritage of the Castro.”

Gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman has already initiated a proposal to enhance the theater’s landmark status, as the Bay Area Reporter previously reported. The theater’s exterior became a city landmark in 1976. Mandelman’s proposal, which the Board of Supervisors preliminarily approved in May, focuses on the interior of the structure. The planning department will now prepare a report for the Historic Preservation Commission. If it’s approved, Mandelman is expected to introduce an ordi-

Political Notebook

From page 6

Thursday, August 18, he begins his new job as a teacher in the social science department at Arroyo High School in the San Lorenzo Unified School District. At the same time, he will be working to complete his

From page 11

The event is free. To register, go to https://q42zvnls.paperform.co/ CA LGBTQ health confab goes virtual

The California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network has decided to shift all aspects of its 2022 convening to a virtual format due to the recent public health emergency declarations in California and the U.S. for the monkeypox outbreak. The conference was to have been held in Los Angeles August 29-30.

A statement from the organization noted that as a health advocacy group, it would be unethical to hold an in-person event while

working for an array of governmental entities, lends perspective that will undoubtedly resonate in her work on the Court. And as a member of the LGBTQ community, her ascension sends an affirming and encouraging message to our youth,” Atkins stated.

“The nomination of these two incredible women within the legal community maintains an incredible womenmajority on the Court, and is proof positive of the power of hard work, tenacity, and perseverance. We live in the most diverse state in the nation, and it is heartening that the bench of the California Supreme Court reflects that, and us.”

New chief justice nominated

As for Guerrero, 50, of Coronado, Newsom said she “has established herself as a widely respected jurist with a

formidable intellect and command of the law and deep commitment to equal justice and public service. A first-generation Californian from the Imperial Valley, Justice Guerrero broke barriers as California’s first Latina Supreme Court Justice, enriching our state’s highest court with her insights and deep understanding of the real-world impacts of the Court’s decisions in the lives of everyday Californians.”

He added that he thanked her for being willing “to step into this role and am confident that the people of California will continue to be well served by her leadership for years to come.”

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, called both nominees “historic appointments” who “are impeccably qualified. They will lead the California Supreme Court in using the California Constitution and California law to advance freedom and equality.”

Prior to joining the judicial bench Evans, 53, had been serving as Newsom’s chief deputy legal affairs secretary and initially was brought on as the governor’s deputy legal affairs secretary for criminal justice when Newsom took his oath of office in 2019. She had served as a special assistant to former state attorney general Xavier Becerra from 2017 to 2019.

She had left her position as senior director for the administration of justice at the California State Bar to join Becerra’s staff. Evans attended Stanford University then graduated from the UC Davis School of Law. In 1995, she went to work as an assistant public

defender at the Sacramento County Public Defender’s office. She also served as an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California from 1995 to 1998, when she became a senior trial attorney in the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

From 2001 to 2004 Evans was an associate at Relman and Associates then was a partner at Independent Assessment & Monitoring LLP from 2006 to 2010. She returned to the ACLU as an associate director until 2013. Evans also was a member of federal court-appointed monitoring teams for the Oakland and Cleveland police departments.

“Judge Kelli Evans is a brilliant choice to serve as associate justice on the California Supreme Court. Besides being an amazingly accomplished lawyer and judge, she has devoted her professional life – and her very heart and soul – to social justice for all and is ideally suited for service on the state’s highest court. I cannot imagine anybody better than Judge Evans to fill the vacancy,” stated Kevin Johnson, dean of the UC Davis School of Law.

Guerrero grew up in the Imperial Valley with immigrant parents from Mexico. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School and was hired as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California from 2002 to 2003.

She went on to become a partner at a private law firm and then became a San Diego County Superior Court

judge from 2013 to 2017. Then Guerrero joined the 4th District Court of Appeal, Division One as an associate justice until being confirmed to the state’s supreme court this year and administered her oath of office by Newsom.

“I am humbled by this nomination to lead our state’s Supreme Court and thank the governor for entrusting me with this honor,” stated Guerrero. “If confirmed, I look forward to continuing the strides the court has made under Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye to expand equal access to justice and create a fairer justice system for all Californians.”

The State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation will now review both nominations, and the Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold a hearing to vote on confirming each appointee. The Commission on Judicial Appointments consists of Cantil-Sakauye, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Senior Presiding Justice of the state Court of Appeal Manuel Ramirez.

The three-member appointing body announced August 11 it will hold a public hearing to consider Guerrero’s confirmation at 10 a.m. August 26 in the Supreme Court Courtroom at 455 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco. The hearing will also be webcast live on the California Courts Newsroom at https:// newsroom.courts.ca.gov/

Guerrero’s serving as chief justice will also go before voters for confirmation on the November 8 general election ballot. t

etmaster, a national ticket sales and distribution company, which would contribute to the higher costs of ticket sales to the consumers through its fees. And, although APE has used Ticketmaster, Conde told the audience, “We have not said we will use only Ticketmaster. We haven’t selected a ticket platform yet.”

As the town hall wound down, one man, Michael Petrelis, a gay longtime community activist, demanded to know when the next town hall would be held.

nance, which would then be heard by the supervisors’ land use committee and then the full board for final approval.

Other attendees addressed concerns about the impact the changes would have on the cost of renting the theater and producing events

teaching credential via an internship program that allows him to work full-time in the classroom.

Appointed Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Board of Trustees member Harris Mojadedi also saw no one pull papers to run against him for a full term in the district’s Trustee Area 3 seat so he

there is a surge in monkeypox cases, both in West Hollywood, where the convening was to be held, as well as the state and nation.

The Rainbow Connection and general session of the conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, August 30. There is no longer a registration fee and will be free for attendees. Those who already purchased tickets will receive a refund, organizers said.

A pre-conference is planned for August 29.

To register, go to https://bit. ly/3bXzVAO

SFO’s Milk terminal wins another award

The San Francisco International Airport announced that Harvey Milk Terminal 1 has received the Best Project Award from Engi -

and that, as a result, local producers would be priced out.

“The rental rates for the theater have been underpriced for quite some time,” Conde responded. But she added that APE was in discussion with an unnamed organization to provide help in covering the

will be automatically given another four years on the oversight body. The Union City resident was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Alameda County college district last February, becoming the first gay Afghan American to hold an elected public office in the U.S. t

neering News Record, widely considered the most authoritative publication on the construction industry worldwide. Harvey Milk Terminal 1 was awarded the 2022 Best Projects Award in the “Airport/Transit” category for the California region and will be entered for nationwide project awards announced in October, according to a news release from the airport.

“Harvey Milk Terminal 1 represents the new benchmark for what SFO can achieve,” stated airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “Every aspect of this project – construction collaboration, guest experience, sustainability features – sets the bar higher than ever before. But the greatest accomplishment is that this facility celebrates the legacy of pioneering civil rights leader Harvey Milk. My thanks go

costs for those smaller independent producers who wanted to continue using the theater. Those discussions were ongoing, she said, and she could not provide any hard numbers for the audience.

One point raised repeatedly was concern about the use of Tick-

Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check http:// www.ebar.com Monday mornings for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion. This week’s column reported on the results of a number of August LGBTQ primary races across the country.

out to the entire project team for creating something truly amazing, and to Engineering News Record for this recognition.”

The Harvey Milk Terminal 1 project is composed of four phases. The first phase opened in July 2019 with the nine departure gates, followed in April 2020 by nine additional gates, an exterior façade with Harvey Milk signage, and a new ticket counter area. The third phase opened in May 2021 with the final seven departure gates, a new post-security connector to the International Terminal, a new museum gallery, and a new display of exhibit content honoring the life and legacy of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person elected to office in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in

“I want another public meeting,” Petrelis, dressed in bright rainbow pants, demanded abruptly, as Dufty attempted to wrap things up. The activist rejected the idea of further meetings “behind closed doors” and insisted upon another public meeting in “at least a month.”

That date hasn’t yet been set. t

Keep abreast of the latest LGBTQ political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/politicalnotes.

1977. He and then-mayor George Moscone were assassinated by disgruntled ex-supervisor Dan White in November 1978.

The fourth and final phase of Harvey Milk Terminal 1, which will create a new North check-in lobby, was postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic but has now resumed. Originally scheduled for completion in spring 2023, this final phase is now expected to be completed in spring 2024.

Last year, the terminal won the Fitwel Best in Building Health Award from the Center for Active Design, as the B.A.R. reported at the time. In May, it won the People’s Choice Award for projects over $10 million from the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco. t

State Supreme Court Justice

Patricia Guerrero has been nominated as the new chief justice.

Courtesy Governor’s Office

Representatives from Another Planet Entertainment Dan Serot, left, Elisa Skaggs, architect Christopher Wasney, and Mary Conde, described their planned renovations to the Castro Theatre and answered questions posed by attendees during an August 11 town hall.

Rick Gerharter

Supportive Housing Executive Director Shireen McSpadden; and gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman.

Jen Kwart, director of communications and media relations for the city attorney, said her office was reaching out to a number of civic groups and agencies about similar issues.

“While the city attorney’s role in these situations is typically limited to supporting city departments in their efforts to address issues,” Kwart told the B.A.R. in an email, “we are in the process of setting up a meeting with representatives of the Dolores Heights Improvement Club, Castro Merchants, Castro [Community Benefit District], and Save the Castro.”

For residents and regular visitors, the telltale signs of blight on streets in the LGBTQ neighborhood are familiar. From the group of people typically camped out in

<< Monkeypox

From page 7

seven organizations that serve these communities, including AGUILAS, Instituto Familiar de la Raza, and Mission Neighborhood Health Center. In late July, DPH participated in eight events that provided monkeypox information to hundreds of people, including presentations at the Mexican consulate.

Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody echoed the

Legals>>

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE

CNC-22-557288

In the matter of the application of MARIA JOSE HERREROS ZUBIETA, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner MARIA JOSE HERREROS ZUBIETA is requesting that the name MARIA JOSE HERREROS ZUBIETA be changed to MARIA JOSE HERREROS. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 1st of SEPTEMBER 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JULY 28, AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397781

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CARDIACU; WIN SOFTWARE SALES; 2000 BROADWAY ST #517, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CATHERINE DUPONT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/20/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/20/22.

JULY 28, AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE A-0397772

The following person(s) is/are doing business as GGV BROKER, 134 MILTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALICIA VILLEGAS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/19/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/19/22.

JULY 28, AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397778

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MEDELUM COACHING AND COUNSELING, 4212 25TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BARRY LIPSCOMB. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/01/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/20/22.

JULY 28, AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397755

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SHADDAI SALON, 5524 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed WENDY Y ARGUETA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/07/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/18/22.

JULY 28, AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE A-0397760

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ARGUETA’S CELEBRATIONS, 6793 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ASTRID SIERRA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/18/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/18/22.

JULY 28, AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE A-0397761

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ARGUETA’S CLEANING, 5 OLIVER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MIRNA ARGUETA. The

front of Walgreens at 18th and Castro streets – a spot Karraker refers to as “the morgue” because of all the individuals who have passed out there and had to be resuscitated – to the petty crimes and graffiti to smashed windows “Yet, even after constant requests to city agencies, including criminal charges and restraining order requests, they remain on our streets week after week harassing residents, tourists, and business owners/employees,” the letter continues. ”Our community is struggling to recover from lost business revenue, from burglaries and never-ending vandalism/graffiti (often committed by unhoused persons) and we implore you to take action.”

As of August 16, eight days after the email was sent, the merchants group has yet to receive even an acknowledgement from any of the recipients except for Mandelman, said Karraker. Mandelman, on vacation in Provincetown, did not return a message seeking comment.

McSpadden, who oversees the

importance of community collaboration.

“We are doing all we can to vaccinate the people who need it most, with the limited vaccine supply available. We could not do this successfully without the support and collaboration of community partners and health care providers,” she said. “Public health is about equity and making sure all people have access to the health care they need.”

Those currently eligible for vaccines in SF include people who

city’s homeless services, was out of the office and unavailable to comment. Breed’s office, DPH, and SFPD did not return messages seeking comment.

Suggestions from merchants

Rather than merely lamenting the absence of what Castro Merchants members might consider concrete actions on the part of the city, the letter offered three suggestions as to how the city might move forward in helping the Castro merchants.

The group requested the city designate 35 beds, “including shelter beds, treatment beds, and locked subacute beds for the Castro that service providers can offer to those mentally ill and substance-abusing individuals who have taken up residence in the Castro.” That figure, said Karraker, comes from a list the CMA maintains naming more than 20 individuals who hang out on the streets of the Castro the organization regards as repeat offenders.

The merchants also asked that

have had close contact with a person with monkeypox, those who have attended venues or events where a case was identified, gay and bisexual men and trans people who have had more than one sex partner in the past two weeks, sex workers of any sexual orientation or gender identity, and certain clinicians and laboratory workers.

Washington, D.C., recently became the first city to expand vaccine eligibility to include people of any sexual orientation or gender who have had multiple sex part -

the city “[d]evelop a comprehensive plan on how to address people who repeatedly decline services” and “ [p]rovide clear monthly metrics on how many individuals in the Castro have been offered shelter or services and how placements have been made.”

More than 50% of those offered shelter refuse it, the email states, taking a figure from the Healthy Streets Operation Center that helps coordinate services for people sheltering in the city’s myriad encampments.

Acknowledging that many areas of San Francisco have similar problems, Karraker stressed the unique nature of the Castro, noting that it’s one of the few parts of the city that function as a residential, business, and tourism corridor.

“We should be viewed as a priority area,” he said.

The email should be viewed as a cry of desperation, said Terry Beswick, executive director of the Golden Gate Business Association, the world’s first LGBTQ chamber of commerce. Describing many

ners during the past two weeks. While monkeypox cases remain rare among cisgender women and heterosexual men, expanding eligibility – and basing it on behavior rather than identity – could help reach people who are at risk but don’t consider themselves gay or bi and those who are hesitant to disclose their orientation.

SFAF and the Getting to Zero Consortium will hold a second monkeypox town hall Tuesday, August 23, at 6 p.m. According to an email announcement, this is

of those who gather along Castro Street as “unhoused neighbors,” Beswick, a gay man who used to oversee the GLBT Historical Society and its small museum on 18th Street, said that underlying the anger and frustration people in the neighborhood feel is “heartbreak and compassion.”

“This letter from the Castro Merchants board should, I think, be looked at as a desperate plea for help after years of frustration,” Beswick told the B.A.R. in an email. “Especially in the wake of the pandemic crisis, during which neighborhood business owners and their employees have worked so hard just to survive, people are exhausted.

“People are tired of being afraid and depressed by the human tragedies they encounter in front of their places of business,” he continued. “We’re working so hard to bring back visitors to the Castro and to make it safe and inviting, especially for LGBTQ people, but it’s hard to do that when there is so much suffering with no help in sight.t

a follow-up to the July meeting. Speakers will include San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip; SFAF CEO Tyler TerMeer, Ph.D.; Dr. Hyman Scott of DPH and the Getting to Zero Steering Committee; and Dr. Brad Hare of the GTZ steering committee. There will be time set aside for questions. To register, go to https://bit.ly/3A6QDWa.

To submit a question, go to https:// bit.ly/3ppICXD. t

registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/18/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/18/22.

JULY 28, AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397762

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BETO’S HANDYMAN, 5524A MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ROBERTO GOMEZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/18/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/18/22.

JULY 28, AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397804

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SPRIGS OF HAZEL, 1983 17TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HANNAH WERTHMAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/01/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/22/22.

JULY 28, AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397786

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MADRID’S BLEU CHAMPU SALON, 1035 FILLMORE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MICHAEL MADRID JOHNSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/20/22.

JULY 28, AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397594

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LETS TALK SPORTS NATION, 1700 VAN NESS AVE #1500, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JEREMIAH KHALEQ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/29/22.

JULY 28, AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397732

The following person(s) is/are doing business as 17 REASONS ATHLETIC CLUB, 1920 BRYANT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed 17TH STREET ATHLETIC CLUB (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/13/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/13/22.

JULY 28, AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF CAROL BARBARA HICKS IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: FILE PES-22-305531

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of CAROL BARBARA HICKS. A Petition for Probate has been filed by STACIE PASCAL in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Petition for Probate requests that STACIE PASCAL be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: AUGUST 22, 2022,

9:00 am, Rm. 204, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the latter of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: MICHAEL F. WOODS (SB#277665), 395 WEST PORTAL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127; Ph. (415) 759-1900.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557295

In the matter of the application of ROZAN SOLEIMANI, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner ROZAN SOLEIMANI is requesting that the names ROZAN SOLEIMANI AKA ROUZAN SOLEIMANI AKA ROZAN SOLEYMANI be changed to ROZAN WINONA SOLEIL. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 6th of SEPTEMBER 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF

NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557306

In the matter of the application of LOUIE CHARLIZE EMATA PLANTILLA, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner LOUIE CHARLIZE EMATA PLANTILLA is requesting that the name LOUIE CHARLIZE EMATA PLANTILLA be changed to LOUISE CHARLIZE EMATA PLANTILLA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 27th of SEPTEMBER 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557318

In the matter of the application of DARIA SHESTAKOVA, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner DARIA SHESTAKOVA is requesting that the name DARIA SHESTAKOVA be changed to DARIA SHESTAKOVA MORGAN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 13th of SEPTEMBER 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557317

In the matter of the application of OMER SAKARYA, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner OMER SAKARYA is requesting that the name OMER SAKARYA be changed to VINCENT OMER SAKARYA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 13th of SEPTEMBER 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557303

In the matter of the application of ARTHUR CHAN & SHUJUAN LIN, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioners ARTHUR CHAN & SHUJUAN LIN are requesting that the name HAORUI CHEN be changed to IAN LINDEN CHAN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 6th of SEPTEMBER 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE A-0397793

The following person(s) is/are doing business as DR. AMOR SANTIAGO, 550 BATTERY ST #1405, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed AMEURPINO SANTIAGO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/10/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/21/22.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE A-0397832

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CHANLER, 1700 VAN NESS AVE #1535, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LEROY CHAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/27/22.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE A-0397851

The following person(s) is/are doing business as REAL TRUE LEADERS, 508 WEBSTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RENALDO ROWEL JR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/28/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/28/22.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE A-0397836

The following person(s) is/are doing business as AJT REALTY; TORRANO PROPERTIES, 2602 CHURCH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOSEPH TORRANO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/27/22.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397866

The following person(s) is/are doing business as NEWFIELD CONSTRUCTION, 1512 TARAVAL ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RORY

FRANZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/01/22.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397833

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BITCOIN BUYERS CLUB, 331B PAGE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed STRI LAB’S INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/27/22.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397779

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CONCENTRA ADVANCED SPECIALISTS, 2 CONNECTICUT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed OCCSPECIALISTS CORP., A MEDICAL CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/02/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/22/22.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397801

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CONCENTRA ADVANCED SPECIALISTS, 26 CALIFORNIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed OCCSPECIALISTS CORP., A MEDICAL CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/02/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/22/22.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397718

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HIMALAYAN CUISINE, 1412 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HIMALAYAN SF GROUP, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/12/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/13/22.

AUG 04, 11, 18, 25, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0397842

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SHADE NAIL SPA, 1501 WALLER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SHADE NAIL SPA, LLC

The

by David-Elijah Nahmod

All hail the kings! On Sunday, August 21, impresario Fudgie Frottage returns to Oasis with the 26th edition of the annual San Francisco Drag King Contest. Frottage will be joined by Sister Roma, who will be co-hosting the event. Among those providing entertainment will be someone who goes by the curious moniker of Klingon Vanna White.

“I’m the intergalactic CEO for the ballsack corporation,” White said in an interview with the Bay Area Reporter. “I moved to Earth after I was banned from Kronos for wearing sequins into battle. I really love sequins because you can just hose the blood off and it’s just like new. You can look at my Klingon Vanna White ‘Behind the Sequins’ video for more information.”

But don’t call her a drag king!

“Klingon Vanna White isn’t a drag king,” she said. “But Klingon John Waters is her alter ego. He’s available for all your holiday parties and big openings. He’s also a gay wedding officiant.”

Frottage is most definitely someone who calls himself a drag king. He often refers to himself as “the man with the biggest balls in show business.” He has been performing in San Francisco in one form or another since 1977, a time when drag inspiration came from Divine, Doris Fish and Sluts a GoGo, famed drag performers of that era.

“Inspiration comes from everywhere,” Frottage said. “It takes creativity and for me, humor to turn it into art, whether it’s drag or lyrics to a song, or a dance move. A look/lewk, or an attitude.”

Frottage promises that there will be some fab impersonators in this year’s show, from David Bowie, to 70s rocker Marc Bolan, to Sid Vicious, among others.

“There will be some killer numbers coming from everyone in the show,” Frottage added. “These young dragsters are on fire! They bring it with multi-media fierceness.”

Frottage adores his co-host Sister Roma, calling her one of the most talented performers he knows.

“I love her dearly,” said Frottage. “She has cohosted SFDK with me for many years and I don’t know where our community would be without her. She is like the Rock of Gibraltar, in drag that would be the tuck of Gibraltar! Either way, she is solid.”

The show’s all-star entertainment line-up includes Madd Dogg 20/20, the Rebel Kings of Oakland, Meatflap, last year’s SFDK winner Ma-

son Dixon Jars, and, directly from New York City, SFDK 20 title holder Dee Dee Luxe. So far the contestant line up includes Lotus Boy, Papi Churro, Cosimo, Hennessy Williams, Tater Tot, Helixer, Glitter Done, with more to be announced.

Sitting at the judges table will be Joan Jett Blakk (the first drag queen to run for president), Jota Mercury, Arty Fishal, and Fontaine Blue.

The evening serves as a benefit for two charities that are near and dear to Frottage’s heart: PAWS (Pets are Wonderful Support) and Rocket Dog Rescue.

“The unconditional love that we get from our fur-kids is unlike any love a human can give,” Frottage said. “We learn much about life and love from our four-legged friends. I recently al-

most had one of my orange tabbies die back in the beginning of April and it was really devastating, as we have a very strong bond. Fortunately, he pulled through and is living his best life as a survivor--fuck cancer. Cats are magical.”

Frottage noted that whatever city protocols are in effect regarding COVID will be enforced at Oasis.

“Be safe out there, people,” he said. “Get your vaccinations, wear your masks, take all the vitamins and supplements, eat well and get enough sleep. Health is wealth, as the saying goes.”t

The 26th SF Drag King Contest, $25-$50. Aug, 21, 7pm at Oasis, 298 11th St, www.sfdragkingcontest.com

David’s girlfriend Emma (Chase Sui Wonders), and Jordan (Myha’la Herrold). Missing is Max (Conner O’Malley), who took off after an altercation with David.

Sophie, recently back in circulation after a stint in rehab, comes from money, like David. The difference is that Sophie has been cut off by her family. Nevertheless, after some initial awkwardness, Sophie and Bee are welcomed by their host and the clique. There is dancing and laughter, although there is tension between David and Greg.

To break the remaining ice, Sophie suggests a game of Bodies Bodies Bodies, in which an unnamed player is the killer and, following the first “death,” the surviving players must guess the murderer’s identity. Pretty soon, around the time the power fails due to the storm, the property begins to be littered with real dead bodies. First David, whose throat is slashed. Then Greg, whom the girls think killed David. Then Emma, and so on, until only two of the young women remain.

In the lead-up to the massacre, each of the guests begins to reveal the mistrust and, in some cases, the true dislike they have for each other. Ugly words are exchanged. Infidelities are exposed. Feelings are crushed. Accusations and insults fly, and relationships are irreparably damaged.

by Gregg Shapiro

“Bodies Bodies Bodies,” the English-language directorial debut by Dutch filmmaker Halina Reijn, is everything and nothing that you expect it to be. Yes, it has a cast of (mostly) young actors romping around a mansion during an impending hurricane. Yes, cell

phones and apps are central. Yes, there are drugs and alcohol aplenty. Yes, there are hot bodies (hello, out actor Lee Pace), as well as the titular “murder” game. Yes, there is a mounting body count. But “Bodies Bodies Bodies” is much more than that, including an intense look at female friendships, petty jealousy, and how even with nearly unlimited tech at their disposal, communication still breaks down.

Sophie (queer actress Amandla Stenberg) and her significant other Bee (Maria Bakalova, of “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” renown), who have been together about six weeks, are heading to the estate owned by Sophie’s best friend David’s (Pete Davidson at his goofiest) father.

Also present are Alice (Rachel Sennott, who is straight, but played queer in “Shiva Baby”), her much older new boyfriend Greg (Pace),

The genius of Sarah DeLappe’s screenplay (based on the story by Kristen Roupenian), is that the penultimate revelation brilliantly incorporates the handheld tech on which these characters depend. It’s a conclusion that is as hilarious as it is horrifying. Rating: B+ www.a24films.com

‘Bodies, Bodies, Bodies’ plot-twists the knife

Gwen Capistran/A24

(L-R) Fontaine Blue, Fudgie Frottage, Meatflap (L-R, floor), Varla the Frenchie and DeeDee Luxe.

Q-Music: female energy

by Gregg Shapiro

It’s not necessary to quantify the musical status of Bonny Light Horseman by calling them a “folk supergroup,” when supergroup would suffice. After all, Anaïs Mitchell is a Tony Award-winner (for “Hadestown”) in addition to being a singer/ songwriter. Eric D. Johnson is the longtime leader of folk-rock outfit Fruit Bats and multi-instrumentalist Josh Kaufman is a member of the band Muzz (in addition to Bonny Light Horseman). In other words, this trio is more than just a convenient label.

For its forthcoming second album, “Rolling Golden Holy” (37d03d), Bonny Light Horseman remains faithful to the traditional sound it crafted on its eponymous 2020 debut album while enhancing the sound with modern touches, giving the al-

bum a richer sound. Standout tracks include “Sweetbread,” “Exile,” “California,” “Fleur de Los,” and “Someone to Weep for Me.”

www.bonnylighthorseman.com

Of all the musical genres bucking for a revival, how many people would have had ska-punk near the top of their list?

The second wave revival of the early-tomid 1990s was led by California bands including No Doubt (led by Gwen Stefani before she became a glam-pop diva), Rancid, and Goldfinger. This next (third?) wave is being powered by The Interrupters, a West Coast group with a female lead vocalist who goes by Aimee Interrupter.

As if to cement The Interrupters’ credibility, it enlisted ‘80s ska legend Rhoda Dakar (of the Bodysnatchers and the Specials), as well as ‘90s skapunk star Tim Armstrong (of Rancid) for its new album, “In The Wild” (Hellcat/Anti-). Aimee Interrupter’s vocal

GAPA Runway @ Herbst Theatre

photos by Steven Underhill

Glamour and gallantry filled the Herbst Theatre on August 13 at the GLBTQ Asian Pacific Alliance’s ‘Runway 2022: Harmonic Convergence’ featuring numerous contestant/performers and hosts Jezebel Patel and Sir Whitney Queers. In a shift from prior events, the competition discarded binary gender categories, with Siam Pussie and Obsidienne Obsurd both winning Mx. GAPA 2022. www.gapa.org

Enjoy more nightlife albums at facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife

And see more of Steven’s work at www.stevenunderhill.com

delivery owes more to Joan Jett than Stefani, but she gets her points across from start to finish on “As We Live,” “In the Mirror,” “The Hard Way,” “Kiss The Ground,” “Let ‘Em Go,” “Love Never Dies,” and “Burdens.” www.wearetheinterrupters.com

The Interrupters aren’t the only ones looking to the ‘90s for inspiration. On the female-fronted quartet

Momma’s third album “Household

Name” (Polyvinyl), you can hear echoes of Veruca Salt, Liz Phair, and Juliana Hatfield. Those aren’t bad influences and Momma treats them with respect while also making an effort to establish its own identity. This is best achieved on “Medicine,” “Speeding 72,” “Tall Home,” “Spider,” and “Brave.” www.mommaband.com

While we’re on the subject of the 1990s, San Francisco-based band Deerhoof hails from that distant period, and continues to make music to this very day. An experimental noisepop unit (imagine Captain Beefheart was fronted by a Japanese woman named Satomi Matsuzaki), Deerhoof is also unexpectedly accessible.

“Actually, You Can” (Joyful Noise) opener “Be Unbarred, O Ye Gates of Hell,” which poses the musical question “If we only have planted onions, how are these tomatoes all growing?”

manages to be both welcoming and off-putting simultaneously. On the other hand, the gently shuffling “We Grew, And We Are Astonished” is Deerhoof at its most restrained. “Plant Thief” is a rocker that grows on you, while “Divine Comedy” is no laughing matter. Deefhoof plays at Great American Music Hall October 21.

www.deerhoof.website

On its new album “From Capelton Hill” (Last Gang), Canadian synthpop band Stars, featuring vocalist Amy Millan, has included one of the hottest dance songs of the year, “Build A Fire” (get it?). It’s the kind of timeless bouncy and rhythmic track that could be from the ’80s or the 21st century. Just try to resist the urge to dance when you hear it. Other songs, including “Hoping,” “Palmistry,” and the funky “If I Never See London Again,” are also irresistible when it comes to moving and grooving.t www.youarestars.com

Left to Right: Bonny Light Horseman, The Interrupters, Momma

Sophie Hur

Left: Deerhoof Right: Stars

Mahler makeover

by Tim Pfaff

F rom September 29 through October 2, Esa-Pekka Salonen will lead the San Francisco Symphony in performances of Gustav Mahler’s Second Symphony, the “Resurrection,” that are sure to be as safe a ticket as the fall season has to offer. Since it’s Salonen, the only thing that can be predicted is that the music-making won’t be routine.

Meanwhile, the wild world of recordings serves up two new offthe-beaten-path readings of Mahler symphonies –Gabriel Feltz’s of the Second, Francois-Xavier Roth’s of the Fourth– guaranteed to shake loose the last cobwebs clinging to what are now the standard interpretations.

Predictably enough, most of us cut our ear-teeth, greedily and with gusto, on the Mahler of our time, very roughly from First Bernstein to Last Boulez, which rightly imprinted themselves strongly on what we used to think of as our imaginations.

These new recordings come as startling reminders that Mahler wasn’t always played that way –as sleek, homogenized sound-spectaculars, let’s say to beef up the argument– and that if the trends represented by Feltz and Roth continue (and long may they wave), we may come to think of our most treasured Mahler recordings as old-fashioned.

You say what?

If your Mahler mania has led you to investigate recordings from closer to Mahler’s lifetime –again, say, Bruno Walter, though he’s really closer to us– it’s a different, one could even say whole new, world. Without even broaching matters such as instrumental sounds (gut strings) and playing styles (portamento galore), what you encounter in these vintage recordings is a life-giving freedom with the scores, to which our “modern” interpreters have become curiously hide-bound.

What’s drawn most of us to Mahler is the depth of feeling in his music. What we find pre-Lenny is something closer to sheer abandonment to its emotional universe –not at all unlike the stunning “new” pictures we’re now getting of the “old” cosmos.

What we get in Feltz’s “Resurrection” is a melding of old and new that should go a long way toward making these “Mahler Unleashed” performances, so redolent of those from the early 20th century, more approachable, even desirable. Feltz works with an orchestra of modern instruments recorded with today’s highest professional standards. The results are frequently hair-raising.

Tempos tend to the extreme (“felt rhythms”), phrasing overall more spontaneous (“vocal”), and climaxes skewed as much to their disintegration as to their howling peaks. Here conducting the Stuttgart Philharmonic, Feltz –while in supreme control of the proceedings– lets slip the reins on this most exalted of warhorses.

It’s so far away from, say, Gilbert Kaplan’s curated, wannabe “definitive” Second, that significant stretches of the music may sound jarring to our Abbado-attuned ears (mine!). Whatever you think about the “authenticity” of such an interpretation, there’s no denying its –on its own terms–truth. And if the no-holds-barred, heaven-bent-for-leather choral finale, with its gasping pauses between passages of unalloyed joy, doesn’t raise goose-flesh, check your pulse.

It warrants saying here that Feltz’s Second is part of a full cycle with the Stuttgart orchestra and the Dortmund Philharmonic. The cycle is available on ten CDs from Dreyer Gaido– but, importantly, all the symphonies can be sampled individually on all major streaming platforms.

Historically informed performance

Usually but not always with his period-instrument band, Les Siecles, Francois-Xavier Roth has fostered the delectable habit of making everything he conducts sound new without resorting to sensational exaggeration.

His recording of Mahler’s First a few years back finally fulfilled the promise of predecessors such Nikolaus Harnonecourt and Roger Norrington (the second of whose recordings, once ubiquitous, have attained the rarity of collectors’ items), who, often in the face of ridicule early on, began the lonely trek with “original instruments” up Mount Mahler.

Roth’s new Fourth (Harmonia Mundi) is so astounding it indisputably counts as a revolution in Mahler playing. The historically appropriate instruments have their expected tang and bite, but it’s the stylistic fidelity –combined, critically, with Roth’s acute aural imagination– that make this Fourth hop out of the speakers. It’s the symphony we know and love lent a logic more likely its own and, in defiance of scholarly restraint, given its exuberant head.

Many, even most, recordings of the Fourth have fluffed with their readings of the last movement, a vehicle for solo soprano that has often had a hard time deciding if the proper sonority is angelic or instrumental. For Roth, the French soprano Sabine Devieilhe captures its essential purity simultaneously with its too-often-overlooked insouciance. The passages you always thought might reflect yodeling here sound like yodeling, albeit of a sophisticated sort. As is her wont now, Devieilhe also manages to be heart-breaking while also the most observant of musicians.

Big Ben strikes again

The Fourth was the only Mahler symphony Benjamin Britten conducted, and his recording is eminently worth seeking out. A wholly remarkable amount of Britten’s music has established itself in today’s active repertoire, though the song cycles he wrote for his longtime partner Peter Pears still require the advocacy of tenors such as Nicholas Phan. (Well, not tenors like him, but actually Nicholas Phan.)

For reasons having to do with music forces, the particularly endangered subspecies of Britten-for-Pears works are the orchestral song cycles. Once again, it’s a recording to the rescue. A new disc with tenor Andrew Staples and the Swedish Radio Symphony under Daniel Harding, another conductor who seemingly can do no wrong these days (Harmonia Mundi), flourishes.

“Les Illuminations,” featuring ten settings of poems by Arthur Rimbaud (Devieilhe’s native French was a major asset in a recent concert performance), has a diamantine brilliance underwritten by pulsating rhythms. Staples is more successful with it than any other tenor since Pears, but the real wonders come from Harding and the orchestra, who perform at white heat.

Horn soloist Christopher Parkes is a full musical partner in the “Serenade” for tenor, horn,  and strings, settings of poems by eight poets, and the otherworldly “Nocturne,” which sets salient texts by eight British poets. Renditions by committed musicians such as these could secure an audience demand that they be performed more often.t

‘Gustav Mahler, The Complete Symphonies,’ Stuttgart and Dortmund Philharmoniker, Gabriel Feltz, conductor, 10 Dreyer Gaido CDs and digitally on most streaming platforms.

Mahler, Symphony No. 4, ‘Les Siecles,’ Francois-Xavier Roth, conductor, Harmonia Mundi.

‘Benjamin Britten, Les Illuminations, Serenade, and Nocturne for tenor and orchestra,’ Andrew Staples tenor, Christopher Parkes, horn, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding, conductor, Harmonia Mundi.

Left to Right: Conductors Gabriel Feltz, Francois-Xavier Roth, and Daniel Harding

“People think dreams aren't real just because they aren't made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes.”

— Neil Gaiman, ‘The Sandman’

Raw! Uncut! Video!

photos of people who lived in the area.

To their surprise, White and Clausen were handed a pile of DVDs with titles like ‘Toilet Cigar Butt’ and ‘Cheesiest Uncut Cock in West Texas.’

“We were a bit flabbergasted at first,” White told the Bay Area Reporter. “I mean, we thought they might have an old photo or two, but we weren’t quite prepared for dick-cheese porn. Once we watched the films, we called each other up and said, ‘Uhhh ... I think there might be a story here.”

Someone’s jam

by David-Elijah Nahmod

As “Raw! Uncut! Video: The Story of Palm Drive Video” begins, a conservative-looking woman from an organization called the National Decency Forum is talking about pornography.

“America has a problem,” she says. “Her decency standards have nearly disappeared. The presence of pornography; is it a first amendment issue? Obscenity, that is hardcore pornography, is not protected speech. It is in fact unlawful. The commercial distribution of it is a crime.”

Filmmakers Ryan White and Alex Clausen then immediately cut to a scene from a Palm Drive Video production. A man in a tank top and jeans, his jeans pulled down, is on the ground outdoors in a thick puddle of mud. He literally fucks the mud.

This is but one of the scores of clips from Palm Drive Videos that are seen in the film. For twelve years beginning in 1985, Palm Drive Video produced hundreds of video scenes featuring a variety of men, gay and straight, many of them plus-sized bears, engaging in a wide array of fetishized sex.

Some of the scenes seem violent, such as one in which a man is repeatedly punched in the stomach, or another where a gentleman in a leather mask has his skin pulled by needles and threads that have been sewn into his body. It’s all consensu -

al, and we’re assured that either the models or the filmmakers can call cut at any time. Palm Drive videos were top sellers.

The company was the brainchild of former Drummer Magazine editor and Bay Area Reporter contributor Jack Fritscher and his husband Mark Hemry. The two lead an idyllic life that’s a far cry from the raunchy adult videos they produce. At their peaceful ranch in Sonoma County, they walk the countryside with their beloved dog. They kiss tenderly.

White and Clausen became acquainted with Fritscher and Hemry when they approached the couple about documenting the queer history of Sonoma County. They asked Fritscher and Hemry if they had any

Putting together a project like this took an enormous amount of work and entailed sifting through hundreds of hours of video to determine which ones they wanted to focus on. It took them five years to complete the film.

“When we started viewing the massive archive, it felt like there might not be limits to what we could find,” said Clausen. “We still haven’t viewed everything. It was so exciting to come across scenes that were outside of our own experience and think, ‘Wow, this is someone’s jam.’ That became so much of what the movie is about, finding moments in that archive that would help folks understand that sexual tastes are so wild, varied and okay, even if they’re not all for you. Jack and Mark really fostered that environment with the models, and for me that really came through their body of work.”

The seventy-three minute film indeed takes the viewer on a journey across a particular sexual spectrum. It’s a type of sexuality that is often maligned and misunderstood. Without preaching, “Raw! Uncut! Video!” brings this world into the light for the curiously open-minded to see. Very importantly, the film also teaches that Palm Drive provided a valuable service during the peak years of the AIDS crisis. At a time when sex was filled with fear, Palm Drive Video offered its audience a safe way to enjoy their fetishes.

“One major thing that came out of making the film that I hope folks take in is the importance of our queer archives,” said Clausen. “We’ve been shown time and again that our history is considered unimportant, sometimes offensive and irrelevant to the

greater human story. That’s why we must protect and preserve our queer histories. And we especially need to help our queer elders tell and share their stories.”

“I hope that ‘Raw! Uncut! Video!’ helps to open people’s minds a bit, especially in regards to the importance of kink and sexual exploration,” added White. “Exploring the uniqueness of one’s own sexuality can be a really empowering experience.” t

‘Raw! Uncut! Video! The Story of Palm Drive Video’ will screen online on August 24 as part of the San Francisco Porn Film Festival. The entire festival runs through August 27. www.sfpff.pinklabel.tv www.rawuncutvideo.com

Palm Drive Video actors Thrasher and Donnie Russo in “Rough Night at the Jockstrap Gym.”

© 1985-1995 Palm Drive Video - jackfritscher.com

Left: ‘Raw! Uncut! Video!’ co-directors/producers Ryan White and Alex Clausen

Right: Palm Drive Video’s Jack Fritscher and Mark Hemry

Footage by Palm Drive Video included in the documentary ‘Raw! Uncut! Video!.’

1985-1995 Palm Drive Video - jackfritscher.com

by Brian Bromberger

H igh heels, makeup, sparkly earrings, and an open declaration of being a member of the LGBTQ community are not the first associations that pop into your mind when contemplating Japanese Buddhist monks. But Kodo Nishimura, 33, who describes himself as both ancient and trendy, seems determined to upend any expectations or limits in his mission to promote Buddhist teachings while inspiring people with beauty and fashion.

“If I can be a monk wearing heels, you can be who you are,” he says.

Selected by Time magazine as a Next Generation Leader, his 2020 Japanese book has recently been retitled and translated into English with added content to promote his message that diversity offers hope for the world. “This Monk Wears Heels” is part memoir and part guide to selflove and self-acceptance, proclaiming unapologetically one can be who one really is.

The book succeeds best with Nishimura’s stories from his own compelling life. His father is a priest, so Nishimura grew up in a Tokyo Temple in the Pure Land Buddhist sect. As a child, he enjoyed princess role-play, as fairy godmother teaching his classmates how to pretend to be Cinderella.

At home, he’d put on a miniskirt, twirl around, proclaiming, “I’m a girl!” His favorite activity was to dance to the song “Bonjour” from the “Beauty and the Beast” movie.

Although he went to a private high school, classmates called him a “faggot.”

“I was barely able to survive,” he wrote. “I was constantly depressed and lost. I was not good at academic subjects and I was not able to make any friends. Nobody seemed to have similar interests to me.”

and trendy

He later entered Parsons School of Design in New York. Because so many of his peers were openly gay, he felt safe enough to come out. He started to work as an assistant makeup artist, with many models and celebrities as clients.

Gender-gifted

He considers himself gender-gifted, transcending the binary, “able to think and live beyond the expectations based on gender and provide new or alternative perspectives… perceiving yourself with an optimistic viewpoint.”

He seeks to liberate people from living a stereotypical lifestyle.

Much sought after in his field, Nishimura is often asked to work at the annual Miss Universe beauty pageant, as well as join the Miss USA and New York Fashion Week makeup teams. He reached the pinnacle of fame when he appeared in the Netflix series “Queer Eye: We’re in Japan.” As an LGBTQ activist, he’s spoken at Yale and Stanford Universities as well as the United Nations Population Fund. He’s also been profiled on CNN and BBC.

Despite being surrounded by glamour, Nishimura learned by meeting and listening to the stories of top models that “beauty and confidence do not always lead to happiness.”

At age 24, he summoned the courage to come out to his parents. His father, also a professor of Buddhist Studies, told him to live the life he wants. Confronting his anxiety about his roots, he “imagined himself becoming stronger as a person by knowing Buddhism,” that he needed to have some obstacles and challenges to become mentally mature. He decided as a disciplined person to train as a monk, “doing something that only I can do on the world stage.” He was ordained as a priest in 2015 and serves in his father’s temple.

A well-respected Buddhist master informed him that “everybody can be

equally liberated. Buddhism is accepting and it doesn’t deny anybody based on their sexuality, color, ethnicity, sex, or disability.” Thus, Nishimura doesn’t see any conflict between Buddhism and makeup, but rather two distinct mediums accomplishing the same goal. “Everybody should have confidence in their existence physically and mentally.”

Flip your dharma

One wishes the book was more memoir than self-help guide, because it is loaded with clichéd generic New Age bromides that have been repeated ad nauseum, such as the following section headers: “You are free to live your life however you decide,” “Don’t listen to what others say; listen to what your heart says,” “You can’t really change anybody else; the only person you can change is you,” “Flip your weaknesses into strengths,” “Every life has dark days,” etc.

This isn’t to say that some of this folk wisdom isn’t sound advice, but it is written in a bland, uninspiring style. Norman Vincent Peale and

FALLARTS PREVIEW

Louise Hay are probably rolling over in their graves.

Nishimura intersperses quotes from Buddhist texts, but they’re rarely commented on or integrated into his writing. He uses Buddhism in a similar cafeteria style that progressive Roman Catholics do with their religion: picking and choosing what teachings they want to believe. For example, one of the core concepts of Buddhism is that because everything is constantly changing, there is no permanent self or essence. Yet Nishimura’s book almost deifies the self, claiming Buddhism is about self-fulfillment, being who you really are.

It’s also a bit jarring to read sections like ‘How to apply makeup to bring symmetry to your face,’ right after a Dhammapada quote on “how the scent of people with good virtue will defy wind and spread in all directions.”

Taking the Buddhist teaching of precepts, which are rules of training as the foundation of ethics such as refraining from taking life or taking what is not given and then applying them to the five precepts of beautiful makeup (perfect foundation color and how

eyeliner/mascara can change your life), though probably unintentional, risks trivializing core spiritual tenets.

Positively, Nishimura has become a strong advocate for LGBTQ rights, especially same-sex partnerships, in this culturally conservative nation. Also, he wants to prod politicians to change laws protecting queer people from discrimination, giving youth some hope societal attitudes will change. A significant number of Japanese believe homosexuality is caused by food additives corrupting the hormones.

Although we can’t enthusiastically recommend the book, Nishimura’s generic Buddhism-inspired wisdom –that there’s no one like you and you should be your authentic self– will appeal to Gen Z millennial spiritual seekers and queer youth learning to feel comfortable freely expressing themselves, daring to be different.t

‘This Monk Wears Heels: Be Who You Are’ by Kodo Nishimura. Watkins Publishing/ Penguin-Random House $21.95 www.penguinrandomhouse.com

Midcentury maven

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PUBLICATION DATE: September 1

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Call 415 829 8937 or email advertising@ebar.com

by Gregg Shapiro

Duane Scott Cerny knows enough about buying and selling vintage artifacts to fill a book; actually, a couple of books. His first, “Selling Dead People’s Things: Inexplicably True Tales of Objectionable Estates” was published in 2018. His latest, “Vintage Confidential – Retro Rattled, Tales Tattled: Confessions of the World’s Third Oldest Profession” (Thunderground Press, 2022)

was recently released.

In “Vintage Confidential,” Cerny touches on the professional (a buying visit to the home of two brothers with an impressive board game collection) and the personal (his own family matters), all the while keeping readers engrossed, and often in stitches. On a side note, music lovers will appreciate the details about Cerny’s career in house music.

Gregg Shapiro: Personal stories are woven into the fabric of

Duane Scott Cerny

Author Kodo Nishimura

Get Out!

We’ll never keep you hanging with updated arts and nightlife event listings. Each week, we list provocative plays, delish dance parties, amazing art exhibits and more, like the thrilling Aerial Arts Festival (photo) at Fort Mason August 19-21. Read about many more events, plus listings on LGBTQ movies, TV series, and podcasts, on www.ebar.com.

Midcentury maven

From page 22

the book. From middle and high school situations to Aunt Bernice at CVS to interactions with your therapist. Did you include these “confidential” aspects of your life as a person who qualifies as MCM, or “vintage?”

Duane Scott Cerny: These are my personal vintage stories, some confessions, if you will. The example of my aunt: those are my vintage experiences as caregiver, an area that many of us are thrown into with little experience.

I thought it important to write about something that so many of us experience, the love, frustration, and yes, occasional humor. My history of caregiving was for three family members in a cancerous row, the last being my Aunt Bernice who truly deserves a book of her own. But her story is an important one. And yes, together we were tossed out of CVS.

Everyone was gone and I inherited my sister’s poodle, forcing me to move as my condo didn’t permit animals; more drama I didn’t need. I’ve often described this time as a very long, very messy, slow-motion car accident. After all of this, I learned to embrace what has become one of my favorite words: resilience.

Chapter 2 features a treasure trove of vintage board games. Have you ever encountered any mint condition versions of Hands

Down, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Mousetrap (with all the parts), Feeley Meeley, or Mystery

Date?

Games like Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots were made so you could beat the shit out of both it and your opponent. For the anally retentive collector, one minor plastic mold imperfection is one too many. Game collectors, like dinnerware or ephemera collectors, often require perfection that pushes the boundaries of belief. That said, I’ve sold “used” versions of the Robot game –if a head pops off, good enough– as well as Mousetrap and Mystery Dates of studs and plenty of duds. I’m unfamiliar with Feeley Meeley, though I can certainly see a Monkeypox game on the virtual horizon.

Have you ever come across a Mattel Thingmaker with still-usable goop?

I‘m a sticky fan of Mattel’s Thingmaker, especially the goop. I had it as a child, but my monsters always came out looking like they’d been surgically removed from someone’s kidney. To this day, I still can’t bake. Or cook. Or be able to flag down an inattentive waiter.

Chapter 3 is full of revelations about your life as both a poet as well as a house music pioneer. Have you ever come across any of your vinyl records, recorded under your pseudonym Danny Alias, at an estate sale?

I haven’t found my recordings at estate sales but rather in vintage record stores and for some pricey

resale. I’m all over Discogs (eBay for vinyl) and again, some crazy prices. I think the top price I once saw was $400 for a 12-inch. On that same note, readers have found my book in resale stores and dealers love reselling it online, which is both wonderful and weird. Reselling a book about resale; I should have seen that coming.

Chapter 9 features a tribute to early Andy Warhol superstar Paul America. Why was this book the right place for that story?

I felt very strongly that now was the time to tell this story, and this book was the place. Again, I’m divulging something personal which is always, shall we play with the word, “tricky?”

Now that I’m in my sixties with health problems of my own, I decided the full story should be told and be done with it. Paul America deserved better, and he certainly should not be forgotten. Yes, he was movie star handsome –heck, he was a Warhol movie star– but beyond that, he was a nice guy, a good egg. I found him to be a quiet, thoughtful person. I write about a brief fling we had many years ago and, tragically, mere months before his death. I know of no other stories from this time, but I do know he remains unforgettable to me. I’d like to think he will continue to be unforgettable to many, many others. Have you started working on or thinking about your next book?

I always have something in the works. I don’t have a title for the next book, yet stories seem to find me as well as moments of visual inspiration. Readers certainly seem to enjoy my book covers. I may stumble upon a single disturbing image and suddenly I know what a book will be about. It may sound odd, but the stories within me encourage my inner image hunter. Only then can they spill out in memoirs, essays, and story mediums that challenge me. “Vintage Confidential” was very much birthed in this fashion. t

sellingdeadpeoplesthings.com

Read the full interview on www.ebar.com