US Mint discloses design of Rev. Pauli Murray quarter

compiled by Cynthia Laird

The design has been released for the U.S. quarter that will posthumously honor Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray as part of the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters program. It is the latest American coin that will feature a queer female icon.

It will be released in 2024, along with a 25-cent piece for Civil War era surgeon Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a women’s rights advocate and abolitionist with an LGBTQ-focused health clinic in Washington, D.C. partly named after her, as the Bay Area Reporter’s online Political Notes column first reported in February.

Murray, as the B.A.R. noted in a 2021 LGBTQ History Month story, defied gender norms and variously identified as a woman, a man, and as neither. She was a Black civil rights activist, attorney, and much-published poet and essayist. Murray had created new feminist theory and lived a lesbian life for decades. Murray’s was a life of firsts: first Black woman law school graduate at Howard University, first Black person to earn a JSD (doctor of the science of law) degree from Yale Law School, and first Black woman ordained as an Episcopal priest.

Next year will be the third year of the four-year spe cial U.S. quarter program, which was authorized by Congress. The program features coins with reverse (tails) designs emblematic of the accomplishments

<< Out in the World

From page 8

As of July 20, 27 lesbian mothers’ names had been removed. CNN reported about 300 women protested the removal of the nonbiological parent’s names from birth certificates outside Padua’s Palace of Justice at the end of June.

The Paduan lesbian mothers were inseminated overseas and legally registered their children under Sergio Giordani’s center-left government in 2017.

Italy is one of the last countries in the European Union that does not legally recognize same-sex marriage. In 2016, the country passed civil unions. Same-sex parents cannot legally adopt children. However, there was a loophole in the law and Italian same-sex couples could go abroad for surrogacy services and register their children at home.

Letters >>

City is less livable due to mayors

Thank you for the thoughtful article about San Francisco’s past LGBTQ mayoral candidates [“With no LGBTQ SF mayoral candidate expected in 2024, past contenders recall steep hill they faced,” July 20].

I moved to San Francisco at the beginning of 1992, just as Art Agnos’ term was winding down, and Frank Jordan was inaugurated. I remember Roberta Achtenberg’s 1995 mayoral slogan, “She’ll never sell us out.” Sadly, with her later position with the hardly progressive San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and now I learn from this article, not supporting Mark Leno for mayor, that slogan is sounding questionable.

Since I’ve lived in San Francisco, the mayor’s office has been held by Jordan, Willie Brown, Gavin Newsom, Ed Lee, and London Breed; Brown’s successors have all been his cronies. [Mark Farrell, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, served as mayor for six months in 2018.] There and contributions of trailblazing American women, an U.S. Mint release noted. Five quarters are issued each year.

Murray, who died in 1985 at the age of 74, was conflicted over her gender identity. At various times in her early life, Murray identified as a man and dressed in androgynous clothing throughout most of her life. As the Pauli Murray Center details, “Murray actively used the phrase ‘he/she personality,’ during the ear-

Meloni’s government is attempting to close that loophole to limit the rights of the non-biological second parent of gay and lesbian families. Last month, the prime minister’s government approved legislation extending the national ban on surrogacy internationally. Those who break the law would face at least two years in jail and fines ranging from $651,000 to more than $1 million, reported CNN.

The laws also pose challenges for children of binational gay and lesbian parents. In some cases, the children won’t be granted Italian citizenship, reported The Conversation.

Roccella, the family minister, denied discrimination against children defending the law before Italian lawmakers, claiming the children will not lose access to education and health care.

The proposed bill would also af- have been moments of hope with the campaigns of Tom Ammiano, Matt Gonzalez (though I supported Ammiano in the primary), and Leno, but they have all been overwhelmed by the Brown machine. Don’t forget that the now-convicted Mohammed Nuru was reportedly involved 20 years ago with voting improprieties on behalf of Brown and Newsom, and he was rewarded with a patronage job by that dynasty.

The policies of those who have held executive political power (while scapegoating the legislative branch, the Board of Supervisors) have resulted in a city that has become less livable; where small business storefronts are empty from high rent blight, homeless people are a campaign chit but never given effective help, buildings built on bribes stand vacant, and hope for effective city government is scarce.

Larry Roberts San Francisco

ly years of their life. Later in journals, essays, letters and autobiographical works, Pauli employed ‘she/her/hers’ pronouns.”

Her quarter was designed by Emily Damstra and sculpted by Joseph Menna, chief engraver of the U.S. Mint, the release stated. It depicts Murray’s eyeglass-framed face within the shape of the word “Hope,” which is symbolic of Murray’s belief that significant societal reforms were possible when rooted in hope, the release noted. A line from her poem “Dark Testament” that characterizes hope as “a song in a weary throat” is featured as an additional inscription in fect straight couples seeking reproductive services in Italy and abroad to help them grow their families.

Human Rights Watch raised the alarm about discrimination and violence against lesbian, bisexual, and queer women around the world in its report, “‘This Is Why We Became Activists’: Violence Against Les- the design.

The other quarters in the 2024 series will honor Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first woman of color to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first woman from Hawaii to be elected to Congress; Cuban singer Celia Cruz, who eventually came to the U.S.; Zitkala-Sa, a Yankton Dakota writer, editor, translator, musician, educator, and political activist; and Walker, who became the first female U.S. Army surgeon during the Civil War.

On-sale dates for products containing the 2024 American Women Quar- bian, Bisexual, and Queer Women and Non-Binary People,” published in February. The report found that access to fertility treatment and the rights of non-gestational lesbian mothers were two of the top concerns for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women activists across 26 countries. t ters Program will be published on the Mint’s product schedule at https://tinyurl.com/46hnerk2. When available, the Mint will accept orders at catalog. usmint.gov/.

‘Queer-aoke’ night at San Mateo center

The San Mateo County Pride Center will hold its inaugural “Queer-aoke” karaoke event Thursday, August 10, starting at 7 p.m. at 1021 S. El Camino Real in San Mateo.

Hosted by Krystle CanSINGo, people are invited to share their vocal talents and cheer on their friends.

The event is open to all ages and is co-sponsored by Outlet, a program of Adolescent Counseling Services. stated. For more information, go to sanmateopride.org/events or call (650) 5910133.

Horizons reports on Give OUT Day

Horizons Foundation has reported that this year’s Give OUT Day was a success, with over $1.2 million raised for almost 500 LGBTQ nonprofits during Pride Month in June.

The San Francisco-based foundation operates the national program, in which people pledge funds online to their favorite queer nonprofit.

People, of course, are free to make donations to the various organizations at any time. For the results of this year’s campaign, go to https://tinyurl. com/2ft3n6ks. t

Got international LGBTQ news tips? Call or send them to Heather Cassell at WhatsApp/Signal: 415-517-7239, or oitwnews@ gmail.com

The imbroglio started July 24 when the tenants at 3991 18th Street got an email from AA Property Rentals, which had purchased their building effective August 1. The email begins by introducing the new ownership company and giving instructions for how to pay rent.

“On another note, I would like to inform you that displaying flags on our rental properties is not allowed due to safety & liability concerns. Whomever put it up please have it removed by the 1st of August or we will remove it and dispose of it,” the email concludes. “Thank you for renting with us.”

That didn’t sit well with Henry

<< Rainbow center

From page 5

“I am very excited the board of directors chose to hire Christian,” Kuslits stated. “Nobody is better at building relationships, a crucial skill needed as we pursue our strategic plan to lead with partnerships. Christian has experienced Rainbow at all levels: client, volunteer, manager, and director, and brings these perspectives to his new leadership role. His commitment to Rainbow and its mission is unmatched. I am so proud of Christian and can’t wait to see him lead Rainbow as we expand to meet the needs of our community.”

As the B.A.R. previously reported, the Concord City Council did not pro-

<< Guest Opinion

From page 6

After reviewing several other resources, two clinched it for me. The first was a vote at the 1959 convention of the Mattachine Society, a homosexual rights organization based in San Francisco. It unanimously approved a resolution recognizing Christopher’s “enlightened attitude” for making San Francisco a “wel-

From page 1 colleagues across the states where it is difficult for them to take those positions. We see ourselves at California Humanities as able to take that position for those from across the country.”

Backing him is the agency’s board, which supports Noguchi’s desire to see Cal Humanities “play a national leadership role in addition to doing the work locally,” said Daryle Williams, Ph.D., dean of UC Riverside’s College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. (Noguchi’s daughter attended the school.)

“California Humanities is there to support, create, shape, and amplify so many different experiences and voices through the tools, disciplines, and avenues of the humanities,” said Williams, “so LGBTQ voices, subject matter, and people should be in there and has been in there. Having an openness to different experiences and voices, including queer voices, is part of the approach I am drawn to in California Humanities.”

A gay man born in San Francisco and raised in the Bay Area until the age of 7, Williams, 55, returned in 1989 as a graduate student at Stanford and lived in the LGBTQ Castro and Mission districts of the City-by-the-Bay. Now living in Riverside with his husband, Williams joined the Cal Humanities board in February just as it was concluding its search to find a replacement for Julie Fry, who stepped down after leading the agency since 2015.

“Julie left things in a really strong foundation,” said Williams. “You get Rick coming in now who doesn’t have to worry how to put out a fire and clean up the mess, but how do I continue to build on and tell these stories more by using some of the tools we have through media, education, and marketing to tell stories in a more savvy way.”

Noguchi “represented a vision for the humanities in our state that was expan-

Walker, a 59-year-old gay man who has maintained the flag since moving into his unit four years ago. Walker told the B.A.R. that the flag has been up “at least 20 years.”

“Initially it was a little startling because it was a ‘safety and liability’ concern,” Walker said. “That’s vague and ambiguous – because I was not sure what safety concern there would be. … The tone was very harsh, particularly for the first communication we got from the new company.” vide any funding to the center earlier this year when it doled out $7 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to nonprofits. The center, which had applied for $270,604, was not among the 22 groups selected.

Walker said that all of the building’s tenants are LGBTQ community members and support the flag. He said he has actively maintained the flag and flagpole.

“The flag has been replaced this year and in 2020, so every three or so years,” he said.

Promoting visibility

Aguirre said during his tenure he wants to improve relationships in the community and promote the nonprofit’s visibility.

“There are still people who don’t know about Rainbow and all the work we do in the Contra Costa community and I really want to elevate all the programs we do and the great stuff we have at Rainbow with the services we provide,” Aguirre said. “Services prevent isolation.” coming place for homosexuals.” Yet, unbeknownst to society members, the resolution had been introduced by a felon working for Christopher’s mayoral opponent, Assessor Russell Wolden, as part of a smear campaign. Wolden’s smear backfired and Christopher easily won reelection. Through their unanimous vote, Mattachine members had voiced their honest perceptions of Christopher.

Christopher also recorded an oral history interview in 1990 that

Section 1940.4 of the California Civil Code protects political speech by tenants in some circumstances.

California law specifically protects tenants’ rights to place signage inside their unit related to an election, legislative vote, initiative, referendum, recall, and “issues that are before a public commission, public board, or elected local body for a vote.” The law “permits a tenant to post or display political signs in the window or on the door of the premises leased by the tenant in a multifamily dwelling,” though it doesn’t protect signage that is over six square feet.

That said, the flag is affixed to the building’s exterior, not on a door or in a window.

Landlords who don’t put an outright prohibition on signs, flags and decora-

Gay Contra Costa County Supervisor Ken Carlson is a previous president of Rainbow’s board; he said he hopes the county’s Board of Supervisors can step up where Concord’s City Council didn’t, and had nothing but fond things to say of Aguirre.

“He’s been at the center since I was over there as a board member,” Carlson said. “It’s sad in the sense that they had to go through a transition, but Christian is well suited for the job. He comes from within; he knows the programs. He has that institutional knowledge and is engaged with the people receiving services for the past decade.”

When asked about the organization’s top challenges he plans to address, Aguirre continued on the theme of outreach.

“For me, taking this position, I really is archived at the GLBT Historical Society. He shared, “Whether we’re talking about morals or art or the gay community. ... Every kind of community in San Francisco had a right to do what they had to, or wanted to do, so that everybody, regardless of who they were, had the opportunity to get a job, and to earn a living, and to be left alone, as long as they weren’t bothering somebody else.” These and other comments in his interview added much greater context to his tions in their lease agreements are on murky legal ground, according to civil rights attorney Edward Forman, who answered a similar question from a viewer in Ohio on WBNS 10-TV.

Walker and his fellow tenants decided that the situation needed mediation and reached out to Mandelman’s office.

“It was so adamant,” Walker said of the request. “There was no room to respond, so we reached out to Rafael’s office to mediate for us.” wanted to focus on bringing the community together, focusing on marginalized communities – people of color, people with HIV, transgender and nonbinary folk, and unhoused community members in Contra Costa,” Aguirre said. “That’s something I want to highlight, and involve community members, to make sure they have more engagement with what we all do on the services we provide, and how we can impact them.”

Adam Thongsavat, a legislative aide to Mandelman, told the B.A.R. that the supervisor is on vacation and so can’t provide comment, but that he shares the tenants’ concerns and is committed to ensuring the flag continues to fly outside the building.

Aguirre also has a word about the backlash against drag performers that’s led to legislation in several states.

“I think a lot of the changes that are being suggested have a broader impact with the LGBTQIA+ community, women, trans people, people of color, and also (are) not allowing for our community members to have a safe space where progressive character.

In the end, the proposal to rename Christopher Park is unfounded and unnecessary. This event highlights the importance of community collaboration and comprehensive research to ensure such critical decisions are based not only on the totality of evidence but also achieved through consensus among all community stakeholders. t results in myriad benefits.

“We have an opportunity to demonstrate what can be successful in one state and inspire another state humanities council to continue that work, or adopt that work, even in the face of legislative hostility or civic activism,” said Williams.

Telling diverse California stories

The humanities run the gamut from film, dance, and poetry to history, literature, and languages. It also encompasses a wide array of settings, from academia and large cultural institutions to regional museums and online-based archives.

The National Endowment for the Humanities awards grants directly for state-based programs and projects, announcing $3.6 million in such funding to California recipients in January. It also funds the statewide humanities agencies.

Thongsavat told the B.A.R. July 31 that he had a fruitful discussion with AA Property Rentals on July 28.

The company assured him that the issue wasn’t the content of the flag that was a concern but, rather, fears about the stability of the flagpole that led to the email, Thongsavat said.

The company pledged to Thongsavat that it would send a crew to assess the flagpole’s safety, reinforce it if necessary, and will keep the office apprised of the situation.

The company also told Thongsavat it would reach out to the tenants; as of August 1, this hasn’t happened, Walker said, and the company did not return a request for comment from the B.A.R. the same day. t they can be themselves,” Aguirre said. “I think [performing at drag story hour in 2019] forced me to experience some of the backlash myself, first-hand. … I think it’s also tough for the community to not feel safe or welcome at places we frequent.”

Aguirre did not disclose his salary; the center’s most recently available IRS Form 99 shows Johnson making $95,281 in reported compensation in Fiscal Year 2021-22. It also shows the nonprofit ran a deficit of $147,522, having taken in $1,624,379 in revenue and having expended $1,771,901.t

Evelyn Rose, a gay woman, is founder of the Glen Park Neighborhoods History Project (GlenParkHistory.org) (https://www. glenparkhistory.org/) covering Glen Park, Glen Canyon Park, Sunnyside, Fairmount Heights, and Diamond Heights. She is also chief tramping officer of TrampsofSanFrancisco.com. (http:// www.trampsofsanfrancisco.com/) Rose can be contacted at GlenParkHistory@gmail.com used by the Tongva and Chumash (tomol) peoples from present-day Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, to be launched from the National Park Service’s Aquatic Park in San Francisco, which sits on Ohlone land, during the city’s 2024 National Queer Arts Festival. The project, ‘Eyoomkuuka’ro Kokomaar (We Paddle Together), is a Two-Spirit centered collaboration between L. Frank Manriquez, the Queer Cultural Center, and Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS). sive and inclusive,” said Williams. “He was someone who had done the work and thinks about what that work means in a state of such diversity and size.”

One aspect of Noguchi’s vision for Cal Humanities that impressed Williams was his focus on not just agencies and projects in the state’s larger metropolitan regions but also in more ex-urban and rural sectors of California. Geographic diversity is critical in a state of such immense size, noted Williams.

Among Noguchi’s plans is not only continued funding for LGBTQ programs but also using Cal Humanities’ marketing prowess to take more public stands on various issues. The agency is in the process of hiring a new director of development to lead its fundraising effort to support such messaging in addition to its other work. (The deadline to apply is Friday, August 4.)

“We do see that as one of our platforms as a leadership organization, not to just be a grant maker that passively awards funds but takes positions on issues,” said Noguchi. “We are here to support the diversity of communities in California and we strongly believe in equity. Right now, when we get applications from organizations that are lifting up those voices, they will be considered in our process. We are always happy when we are able to fund something that supports those voices.”

In its July newsletter, the agency criticized the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing a Christian web designer to discriminate against engaged same-sex couples based on her faith. It called the opinion from the court’s conservative majority “a dangerous precedent that will compromise civil rights protections in the U.S.” and “inconsistent” with its own values.

The agency also highlighted its opposition to book bans and support of state leaders’ efforts to block such policies in public schools and libraries, while also providing links to resources for those interested in getting more involved in pushing back.

“A range of perspectives are core to the humanities, so when diverse voices are banned and silenced, then we must step up and call out the dangers to our democracy,” stated Noguchi. “The voices of people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals must be represented and heard.”

Noting there are “pretty dark clouds gathering” in numerous states, Williams said Cal Humanities can serve as an example that supporting diverse voices

Thus, the federal agency awarded Cal Humanities $3.5 million this year, with $1,855,000 to be regranted to various applicants from around the state. Its total budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, which ended June 30, was $4,644,660. (Noguchi’s salary is nearly $180,000.)

“Our federal tax dollars are having a direct impact in our state through Cal Humanities,” noted Williams, whose college has been a recipient of grants from the agency. “I think it is pretty important when we think about where our tax dollars go and how they benefit and enrich people’s specific lived lives.”

In June, the state agency announced $270,000 in Humanities for All Project Grant awards, with one going to Los Angeles County’s ONE Archives Foundation, the oldest active LGBTQ+ organization in the United States. The grant will help support its upcoming anniversary commemoration “70 Years as ONE: A Queer History Festival,” taking place in October during LGBTQ+ History Month.

Another grant went toward creating a ti’aat, or traditional plank-built boat

“Each of the different parts of the state have different feels and different audiences that all should be receiving support,” he said.

Katherine Fobear, Ph.D., with the Qistory program associated with Fresno’s Community Link, told the B.A.R. she hopes the grants that Cal Humanities awards to smaller organizations continue under Noguchi’s leadership. A $5,000 Humanities for All Quick Grant her volunteer-run group received last year funded its “Mapping Queer Fresno” project.

“It is one of the greatest supporters of local arts and humanities all across California. It is also very accessible in regards to applying for grants and getting money to support a wide and diverse array of programming, from individual artists to documentarians, to help supporting public history initiatives like Qistory,” said Fobear, 37, a queer cisgender woman who is the founder and coordinator of the new LGBTQ studies minor at California State University, Fresno. “Cal Humanities is incredible at supporting projects very locally based.”

See page 11 >>

Qistory’s founder, Jeffrey Robinson, died in January 2022 months before the program learned it had received the grant from the state agency. Fobear and her colleagues used the funding to host a series of public talks last fall, which helped guide the creation of the website https://qistory.org/ that went live in May.

“There are very few resources or grants out there to fund something that locally based,” said Fobear, who lives in Madera and grew up in Michigan. “Qistory is this small program under Community Link with a focus on empowering people to collect and to become public historians, as well as try to preserve as much of our local history as possible for future generations.”

Without the Cal Humanities grant, Fobear told the B.A.R. it is unlikely they would have been able to launch the online repository for Fresno’s LGBTQ history. Because the state agency didn’t re- quire it to have matching funds, Qistory was able to apply, she noted.

As the deadline draws near, it’s worth noting that PEPFAR spans more than 50 countries, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Fiscal Year 2023 spending was $7.5 billion, with approximately $5.5 billion for bilateral HIV efforts and $2 billion for U.S. contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

“It is a lower barrier for collectives of individuals, whether local historians,

Kellman and her colleagues at GAPP and its partner organizations are reaching out to lawmakers.

“PEPFAR has always been a coalition of strange bedfellows,” she said, quoting Dr. Mark Dybul, a gay man who’s the former executive director of the Global Fund. Organizations on the far left and far right, including faith-based groups, support the program.

It’s unsurprising that some fringe Republicans in Congress are trying artists or educators, to get some funds to support a project. From that, you can build,” said Fobear. “For our program to grow, we needed that website. We didn’t have space for a museum or capacity to do something like that.”

The small grants Cal Humanities awards may seem insignificant, said Fobear, but they are critically important and should continue to be offered.

“We still have to fight for a seat at the table sometimes,” Fobear said of to tie abortion to an HIV/AIDS program – they will seek any opportunity, however unrelated and unfounded, to cut spending on successful health programs like PEPFAR. The accusation that PEPFAR was being used to “prop up” abortion providers first surfaced in a conservative Heritage Foundation report in May, according to the Post. Heritage accuses the Biden administration of using PEPFAR as a “well-funded vehicle to promote its domestic radical social

LGBTQ organizations. “For me, I am very grateful for the opportunity Cal Humanities did for us. It has given us a launching pad to continue building our program.” agenda overseas, as it has done with other foreign aid programs.”

Noguchi told the B.A.R. he wants to maintain and expand the smaller grants.

To do so, he aims to increase the private dollars Cal Humanities is able to attract.

It will also provide a buffer against economic downturns that result in less government provided funding.

We haven’t seen evidence of this, but radical conservatives don’t rely on facts, as we see time and time again on numerous issues, especially those that help people of color and other vulnerable groups, such as those living with HIV/AIDS or at high risk for the disease. Not all Republican lawmakers are opposed to PEPFAR or buy into this latest version of alternative facts.

“Any organization has to have a diverse stream of revenue, so I am looking at private donations,” he said. “It will give us more flexibility in the work that we do.”

For its grantees, having the support of Cal Humanities can be leveraged to attract other funders, noted Williams. For donors, even if making a less sizable contribution, they can support projects of importance to them that may otherwise go unfunded, he added.

“It provides a more direct connection to see themselves in the endeavor of the humanities,” said Williams.

And it will assist in another goal of Noguchi’s, increasing Californians’ awareness about the humanities.

“Once people understand the power of the humanities, they will be very supportive of what we do, especially in bridging communities and developing empathy in individuals, so we can better understand each other,” he told the B.A.R. t

Kellman is hopeful that in the end, there will remain broad bipartisan support for the program and it will be reauthorized, ideally for the full five years. PEPFAR is one program that the U.S. does right, and members of Congress should see the program for what it actually does – help prevent HIV/AIDS – and not what some right-wing foundation has drummed up without evidence. t

Legals>>

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-0400707 thority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: AUGUST 14, 2023, 9:00 am, Dept. 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 later 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

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