July 13, 2023 edition of the Bay Area Reporter

life for Harvey's space

Mass arrest of teens follows chaos near Dolores Park

by John Ferrannini

California Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, left, administers the oath of office to Third District Court of Appeal Presiding Justice Laurie Earl.

Panel confirms out CA appellate justices Earl, Martinez

by Matthew S. Bajko

Ajudicial review panel has confirmed another gay man to serve on the state’s appellate courts and elevated a lesbian appeal court justice to preside over her bench. Its decisions Monday morning mean, for the moment, there are now seven known LGBTQ appellate justices in California, with three serving in presiding justices positions.

The Commission on Judicial Appointments voted 3-0 to confirm Laurie M. Earl, who sits on the state’s Third District Court of Appeal, as its presiding justice. She is the first lesbian and member of the LGBTQ community to serve in the position and only the second woman to do so.

“I enjoy court administration and look forward to getting back into that, both locally and on a statewide level,” said Earl at her July 10 confirmation hearing. She also noted that she cares “very much about access to justice, and I care very much about our court and our colleagues.”

Shortly after voting to confirm Earl in the supreme court’s San Francisco courtroom, the review panel also voted 3-0 to confirm Gonzalo Martinez, a gay man, as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Seven. He had been serving as Governor Gavin Newsom’s deputy judicial appointments secretary and becomes the second gay appellate justice in the Second District, as he is serving alongside Associate Justice Luis A. Lavin.

“It is an honor to stand here before you. This is the same courtroom where I argued my first appeal seven years ago,” noted Martinez during his confirmation hearing, which coincided with the birthday of his father who was in attendance. Newsom had nominated Martinez and Earl for their judicial posts earlier this year. A commission that evaluates judicial nominees found Earl to be exceptionally well qualified to be presiding justice of her court and found Martinez to be well qualified to become a justice.

Their confirmations follow that of gay Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One Associate Justice David Rubin in June. The former San Diego Superior Court judge will briefly serve alongside lesbian Associate Justice Marsha G. Slough, who will be retiring from the Fourth District in August.

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Over 100 people were arrested near Mission Dolores Park on Saturday after what San Francisco police characterized as a “riot” following chaos at the annual “hill bomb” skateboard event down Dolores Street.

Gunshots, smoke bombs, a stabbing, vandalism, the takeover of Muni streetcars, and fireworks led to the mass arrest around 8:30 p.m. after dispersal orders from the San Francisco Police Department, authorities said. In all, 81 juveniles and 34 adults were arrested, according to police.

Community reaction to the police’s actions has been mixed. The Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club stated it was “outraged” in a Facebook post Sunday, citing video footage that appeared on Mission Local’s website showing police pointing rifles at teenagers.

“This display highlights a clear lack of understanding and practice of de-escalation techniques within the police force,” the club stated. “We demand an immediate and comprehensive independent investigation into the arrests, as well as an explanation for the targeted deployment of riot police at the Dolores Hill Bomb event, an annual gathering.”

Debra Walker, a lesbian who serves on the Police Commission, said the commissioners are working to gather the facts.

“It is our job to be part of the conversation but I’m not going to jump ahead,” Walker said. “I

don’t want to evade the issue, but I’m not going to respond to the news reports until I see what’s presented. Our commission oversees these issues so it will be presented. The good news is we do have a department that looks at these, learns from them in any case, not like a lot of police departments. See page 2 >>

Appointment of former SF supervisor Leal made history 30 years ago

by Cynthia Laird

The historic appointment of San Francisco’s first – and so far only – Latina lesbian supervisor was put in motion after then-President Bill Clinton nominated another lesbian supervisor, Roberta Achtenberg, to a top post in the Department of Housing and Urban Development in February 1993.

Though Achtenberg wouldn’t be confirmed for several months – and after deeply homophobic comments by some U.S. senators – the impending vacancy had then-mayor Frank Jordan searching for her successor.

The Senate confirmed Achtenberg on June 2, 1993, leading to her resignation from the Board of Supervisors. Two days later, Jordan appointed Susan Leal, a Latina lesbian attorney and health care executive, to the post.

“It was a very difficult choice. I interviewed many, many well-qualified people,” Jordan said in announcing the appointment, as the Bay Area Reporter noted at the time. “Susan Leal has tremendous credentials, she’s a hardworking, bright and dedicated individual, [and] a professional businesswoman in her own right.”

Now, 30 years after that groundbreaking pick, Leal reflected on her tenure and significant legislation she helped pass in a recent phone interview with the B.A.R. Her achievements included renaming Army Street in honor of United Farm Workers union co-

founder Cesar Chavez; standing up for immigrants after California voters passed Proposition 187, which curtailed services for those not in the country legally; and, most significantly, passing the equal benefits ordinance, which mandated companies doing business with the city provide the same benefits to domestic partners, including same-sex couples, that they provided to heterosexual couples.

Leal, now 73, is a San Francisco native. At the time of her appointment she was the vice president for Health Care COMPARE Corp., a national health care cost-management firm, and a one-time consultant to the state Assembly Ways and Means Committee, where she drafted California’s health budget

in 1982 and 1983, at a time when the state was forced to reduce its health expenditures by more than 25%.

Leal joined lesbian supervisor Carole Migden on the board. Migden and Achtenberg had been the first out lesbians to serve on the city’s legislative body, and Leal was the first LGBTQ person of color.

Lesbian former supervisor Leslie Katz, who served with Leal and gay former supervisor Tom Ammiano in the 1990s and is the last lesbian to have served on the board, said that was important, particularly when it came to passing the equal benefits ordinance. (Appointed supervisor Christine Olague, who served in 2012, is a bisexual woman.)

“It was immensely important to the community to have the first open LGBTQ person of color on the board,” she said in a phone interview.

Leal, too, noted the significance and said that Jordan, a more conservative mayor, was on board when they met ahead of his selection of her.

Not only was “the whole lesbian Latina thing” seen as advantageous, recalled Leal, “they liked the fact that I was more moderate.”

David Monetta, an attorney who had attended UC Berkeley with Leal and Bevan Dufty, a gay man who would become an aide to Leal before being elected supervisor himself in 2002, had suggested Leal’s name to an associate of Jordan’s. He said in a phone interview that while Leal and Jordan might not agree about everything, “she was someone he’d be able to work with.”

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California Courts Newsroom

A hill bomb is a skateboard maneuver in which a rider goes down a big hill.

Police in riot gear attempted to disperse people from the annual Dolores Hill Bomb event on July 8.

Courtesy Underscore SF

Bevan Dufty, left, and then-supervisor Susan Leal talked in her City Hall office in 1995.

Bill Ambrunn

After B.A.R. inquiry, SFMTA removes Lech Walesa street name

by Matthew S. Bajko

Back in 2014, San Francisco officials approved renaming an alley near City Hall as Dr. Tom Waddell Place instead of Lech Walesa Street due to the former Polish president’s making homophobic and transphobic comments. Under the city’s rules regarding street name changes, the signs for the alleyway that runs between Van Ness Avenue and Polk Street had to contain both names for five years before Walesa’s could be permanently removed.

Thus, in 2019, the city’s transportation agency could have erected new signage bearing solely Dr. Tom Waddell Place, which honors the Olympic athlete and founder of the Gay Games who died of AIDS-related complications in 1987. An LGBTQ-focused health clinic named for him had been located by the Polk end of the alleyway but was renamed in 2013 the Tom Waddell Urban Health Center when it was combined with another health clinic and relocated to a nearby location on Golden Gate Avenue.

The dual street name signage, though, had remained in place. A reporter for the Bay Area Reporter noticed that Walesa’s name could still be found on the signs when walking by the alleyway in June to attend a news conference at City Hall.

It prompted an inquiry with both San Francisco Public Works and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency on if the signs would be changed. Section 701 of the city’s Public Works Code specifies “once the street name has been officially changed, the street signs must contain both names for a 5-year period.”

Yet public works spokesperson Rachel Gordon told the B.A.R. that the agency isn’t responsible for switching out the street signs. She also clarified that the five years requirement is “a minimum to satisfy state rules; there is no maximum” for having both street names remain on the signage.

“While Public Works is involved in the process of ushering through a streetname change, once that process is done, the SFMTA has jurisdiction over street signs,” wrote Gordon in an emailed reply.

In response to the B.A.R.’s questions about the street signs, SFMTA deputy spokesperson Stephen Chun informed the B.A.R. in mid-June that the agency would begin the process to install new street signs for Dr. Tom Waddell Place.

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention, our sign shop crews will remove the small parenthetical reference to the former street name as their scheduling allows; you may see some temporary signage/ coverings,” Chun wrote in a June 21 email.

Within days the words “Lech Walesa” had been taped over on the street sign at the alleyway’s Polk Street side. At the Van Ness end, a new sign was installed that simply reads Dr. Tom Waddell Place.

It currently sits atop a wooden pole that has a hose wrapped around it that

runs along a wood beam affixed to it and the fencing for a new affordable housing project being built adjacent to the alleyway. Dubbed The Kelsey Civic Center, the 112-unit development will have an address of 240 Van Ness Avenue.

In a July 6 emailed reply to additional questions from the B.A.R., Chun wrote that the new permanent street signs for Dr. Tom Waddell Place should be installed by the “end of the month, materials and scheduling permitting.” The two signs are estimated to cost around $330 for the SFMTA to produce.

Apparently, the agency had erected new signs for the alleyway with both men’s names on them in January last year for a cost of $310.26, Chun told the B.A.R. As for why those signs didn’t drop Walesa’s name since the five-year mark for doing so had long since expired, Chun chalked it up to needing a better recordkeeping system.

“Generally, we replace signs due to

maintenance needs. We are in the process of adopting new asset tracking system at the Sign Shop that can flag specific signs for future replacement dates,” he wrote.

In 2013, former supervisor Jane Kim first proposed changing the name of the alleyway, as the area back then was included in her 6th supervisorial district.

Kim, having recently returned from Ibiza, Spain, told the B.A.R. July 10 that she still fondly recalls visiting with the staff and patients of the Waddell clinic during her time in office.

“To be able to honor that street with naming it for Tom Waddell, who founded the gay Olympics and served as a health professional to the underserved during his career, is so important,” said Kim, now the state director for Working Families California, which helps to elect progressive candidates seeking public office.

She noted that who gets honored by cities with street names and public artworks has become even more of an issue in recent years, especially following the Black Lives Matter protests. Kim told the B.A.R. she remains proud of having helped bring about such an honor for Waddell.

“Here in San Francisco I have been honored to have been an ally of and partnered with the LGBTQ community to honor those who we should honor. We should respect their service and continue to emulate them,” said Kim.

As the B.A.R. noted back then, the city’s earlier decision in 1986 to drop the name Ivy for Lech Walesa Street three years after Walesa received the Nobel Peace Prize proved also controversial. Although Walesa was heralded for founding the Solidarity union and leading the battle for democracy against the then-Soviet Union, activists from Queer Nation’s

Money

I hope as a police commission and a police department that we show we are looking at it.”

Walker said that she’s confident the department will act in good faith in looking into its response.

“One of the reasons I am on the commission in the first place is that there is a commitment to reform on the part of the department,” Walker said.

The issue will likely come up during the chief’s report at Wednesday evening’s police commission meeting, she added.

Paul Henderson, a gay man who is executive director of the Department of Police Accountability, told the B.A.R. he couldn’t comment other than to confirm the existence of an investigation. His department takes into consideration SFPD rules and not just legal statutes, giving it more of an ability to redress people’s complaints.

The Milk club called for any investigation into the police’s handling of the matter to look into the detention of juveniles until 3 a.m.; the use of restraints, batons, and rifles; and how much was spent on the “show of force by police in military

affiliated group Queer Planet in August 1990 attempted to tear down the Walesa street sign because of homophobic comments he made that spring.

As reported then by the Los Angeles Times, Walesa had prompted widespread outrage with his saying that he would “eliminate” homosexuals from Polish society if elected the country’s president. Calls at the time for gay supervisor Harry Britt, who passed away in 2020, and his board colleagues to once again rename the San Francisco street had fizzled.

Similarly, the Board of Supervisors ignored a demand in 2021 made by Robert Biedroń, a Polish member of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, to see the alleyway revert to being named in honor of Walesa. Gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman had told the B.A.R. at the time that he saw no reason for doing so.

Asked last month about the street signage still referring to Walesa, Mandelman told the B.A.R. he was unaware that the signage had yet to be replaced.

“We should put up the Tom Waddell signs,” said Mandelman.

As for Kim, she told the B.A.R. she stands by her initial decision to seek to rename the alleyway.

“I want to acknowledge that the challenges of naming streets after humans is that they are a mixed bag. Lech Walesa, certainly, is well known as a revered labor leader internationally. But when he came out with his anti-LGBT comments, it didn’t make sense to honor this non-San Franciscan who was attacking members of our inclusive community,” said Kim. “I stand by our decision to rename that alley and do it with Tom Waddell’s name, who, again, used his talents to serve the underserved.” t

gear,” which it called “one of the most violent police actions in recent memory involving riot gear, batons, rifles, and the drawing of guns.”

The SFPD did not return the Bay Area Reporter’s request for a response to the club’s demand for an investigation. In a July 9 tweet, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott defended his department’s actions.

“This behavior will not be tolerated in our city and I thank our officers for taking action to hold those accountable who brazenly engaged in reckless and dangerous behavior and violated the law. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries,” wrote Scott.

Milk club members were among those out in force Sunday at the SFPD’s Mission Station protesting the department’s actions. Gay club President Jeffery Kwong was there; he told the B.A.R. that it was a grassroots protest.

“We were there to raise serious concerns about the allocation of resources and funding by the SFPD,” Kwong told the B.A.R. “They had to send out hundreds of police in riot gear, drawing guns, chasing kids, waving batons – a row of them pointing rifles across barricades at

From page 1 See page 10 >>

The new temporary signs for Dr. Tom Waddell Place show the late gay activist’s name, left, at the Van Ness end of the alley, and with tape covering the former Polish president Lech Walesa’s name at the Polk Street end.

Matthew S. Bajko

In June, the street sign for Dr. Tom Waddell Place still included former Polish president Lech Walesa’s name in smaller type underneath.

Matthew S. Bajko

Castro shop sending LGBTQ books to red states

by John Ferrannini

ACastro neighborhood bookstore is doing its part to fight homophobic and transphobic book bans by sending boxes of books with LGBTQ themes to organizations in conservative areas.

Fabulosa Books at 489 Castro Street in San Francisco’s LGBTQ neighborhood rolled out the effort during Pride Month in June and already has shipped out several boxes of books.

“I know what it’s like to grow up during a bigoted backlash,” Fabulosa Books owner Alvin Orloff stated in a news release. “I was a teenager during Anita Bryant’s anti-gay Save the Children campaign and the assassination of Harvey Milk.

“Getting through that would have been much easier with positive literary role models, but queer YA [young adult] books hadn’t been invented yet. If I can help the kids of today weather the stupidities of Ron DeSantis and Don’t Say Gay, you bet I’m going to do it,” he added, referring to the Republican Florida governor and presidential candidate who in May signed an expansion of the law prohibiting schools from teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity.

The majority of books challenged in America’s school libraries last year had LGBTQ themes, according to the American Library Association, which also reported that 2022 saw the most attempts to ban books from schools since the association started keeping track in 2001.

As the Bay Area Reporter previously reporte. d, Orloff for 21 years had worked for Dog Eared Books, which took over operations of the Castro bookstore location in 2016. He purchased the site and opened Fabulosa Books in 2021 on his 60th birthday. Dog Eared Books has long had a store on Valencia Street.

Speaking to the B.A.R. Orloff said that the idea for the banned book brigade came from events coordinator

Bex Hexagon.

“We have a lot of customers who really care and were worried kids wouldn’t have access to books,” he said. “Bex proposed the idea to me and we immediately loved it and it’s been going great.”

Hexagon, a bi/pan female, told the B.A.R. that “I can’t just watch the news, be angry and go have a drink.”

“As a bookstore we have access to community and access to books and this is a thing we can do,” she said. “It’s concrete and it’s meaningful and every single person should be able to find themes in stories that are affirming. … Books saved my fucking life.”

Hexagon said six boxes have been sent so far and, as of July 7, “there’s one in the closet that has to come out. I’m bringing it to the post office today.”

Sending each box costs about $400 in total, Fabulosa confirmed to the B.A.R. The goal is to send 500 boxes, and customers are invited to buy books for boxes that will be shipped at the store’s expense.

Beaux staff to take over shuttered Harvey’s space

by John Ferrannini

The bar and nightclub set to open next summer in the old Harvey’s restaurant space at Castro and 18th streets will undergo a complete overhaul and expansion into a vacant adjacent retail space, according to one of the new leaseholders. The new ownership group does plan to find a way to honor slain LGBTQ rights pioneer Harvey Milk in their nightlife venue.

Joshua J. Cook, a gay man who’s the general manager of the Beaux nightclub at 2344 Market Street, announced last week that he, along with Beaux bar manager Alexis Lucero and assistant manager Matthew Mello, had signed a 10-year lease with two fiveyear extensions from building owner Paul Langley.

Beaux bartender Garrett Beighton and Realtor Marco Caravajal are providing financial backing. Cook, speaking for the group, told the Bay Area Reporter the new bar and nightclub is, therefore, not owned by the same ownership group as Beaux, the Midnight Sun, and the Edge (though Cook himself owns a stake in Beaux).

“My business partners I own Beaux with will not be participating in this venture, though … they are fully supportive of our plans,” Cook said.

Cook and the new business partners had been actively looking for a space in which to open their own LGBTQ bar since before the COVID pandemic, he said. When Harvey’s abruptly closed last January, he was “immediately on the case,” he said.

“We were quickly invited to do a walkthrough of the space, and at that time is

when we realized the Puff ‘n Stuff space next door, 504 Castro [Street] – Harvey’s is 500 – was empty,” Cook said. “We increased the pitch to obtain both spaces.”

Puff ‘n Stuff, a smoke shop, has been closed since 2020.

“I think it was from the initial walkthrough that we knew we wanted that space specifically because of that epic location – being in the dead center heart of Castro with the rainbow crosswalk,” Cook said. “It couldn’t be better.”

New name soon

The name of their new business will be announced “in the next couple weeks,” he said. Cook and company are not looking to resurrect the old Harvey’s, or its storied predecessor, the Elephant Walk. Accordingly, the Milk memorabilia from Harvey’s won’t necessarily be there.

Titles include “Gender Queer,” by Maia Kobabe; “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” by George M. Johnson;  and “Heartstopper” by Alice Oseman, the release stated. Kobabe’s graphic memoir was the most banned book in 2022.

Fabulosa customer John, a gay San Francisco man who asked that his last name be withheld, paid for three boxes of books to be sent to the Ozarks, Wyoming, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Sooner State held special significance for him.

“I lived in Oklahoma for a number of years – not by choice but by my parent’s preference – and became quite aware of the extreme religious influence on the state,” he said. “These kids are going to need this because they are probably not going to find it [books] in a general [bookstore or library].”

He also agreed that books save lives.

“I’m delighted,” he said. “Perhaps I’m saving a life or two in one of these places. Next on my list is Texas but they [Fabulosa] haven’t come up with a place in Texas yet.”

Gabby Mullins, a nonbinary, genderfluid and pansexual person who is the

program coordinator for We Are Family Charleston in South Carolina, told the B.A.R. that they are grateful for a shipment of books that was sent their way.

Mullins said that the box contained 30-40 books and arrived June 14.

“It’s good to have a decent selection from different genres,” Mullins said. “It’s great to feel the community – even all the way from San Francisco. The queer community is close and tight-knit like that. … We are a small, grassroots nonprofit.”

Mullins said their organization was founded by Tom Myers, the father of a gay son. He died in 2016.

“He wanted to provide community and support to his son, which is great to see in the middle of the Deep South,” Mullins said.

Customers visiting Fabulosa often tell staff about the challenges they face in places like Alabama or Missouri, the release stated.

“We had a 15-year-old kid visiting from rural Ohio,” Hexagon stated in the news release.  “He looked at our wall of LGBT titles and his jaw hit the floor. He kind of froze for a minute, then hugged me and spent hours looking through

book after book. That kind of emotional response is not unusual.”

Fabulosa Books couldn’t find a queer youth who has benefited from this program for the B.A.R. to speak with.

The store is planning a fundraiser for the book shipments for Banned Books Week, which is October 1-7.

Richmond banned books readings

Over in the East Bay city of Richmond, efforts are planned to recognize and publicize banned books.

Richmond City Councilmember Cesar Zepeda, the first out gay man to serve on the East Bay city’s governing body, will soon host a Banned Book Reading event every Saturday through August at 1 p.m.

On July 22 the event will take place at the Multicultural Bookstore, 260 Broadway. Books will be selected from the Texas and Florida lists of banned books, a flyer stated, and Zepada will be joined by guests.

Events July 29 and August 5, 12, 19, and 26 will be held at the Richmond Main Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. Zepeda told the B.A.R. he’d be interested in working with Fabulosa on its upcoming fundraiser.

“It’s about uplifting our communities together,” he said. “Yeah, I’d be down to help. I was just there the other day. … The other reason we’re doing this is to bring awareness to our libraries, to our own bookstore in Richmond, the last one around.”

Zepeda said that people ban books because they can’t always ban people.

“The banning of books is just so crazy, and they are banning books because they want to ban certain communities and their voices,” he said. “Some of these books we read in high school – the life of Anne Frank is banned in certain areas. Why would someone want to ban that? They are trying to target minority communities and erase that history.” t

Fabulosa Books owner Alvin Orloff, shown in 2021, has launched a program to send LGBTQ-themed books to organizations in conservative parts of the country.

Courtesy Alvin Orloff

A new ownership group has signed a lease for the old Harvey’s bar and restaurant and an adjoining space.

Scott Wazlowski

Wine purveyors uncork joviality in SF SOMA district

by Matthew S. Bajko

Sommeliers and friends Cara Patricia and Simi Grewal opened their wine bar and shop DECANTsf in San Francisco’s South of Market district on May 1, 2019. They had taken over the space at 1168 Folsom Street near Eighth Street after former tenant City Beer decided to relocate elsewhere in the city.

They soon attracted a loyal customer base from nearby residents and employees of tech-focused businesses located nearby who would pop in to try the various wines the women had curated and order some nibbles from the limited food menu. Then the COVID pandemic hit in March 2020, forcing them to close their doors to on-site patrons and pivot their business plans.

“We switched to being all online shopping and local delivery,” recalled Patricia. “We had an online site for our wine club, but it was very basic. So when the virus hit Italy, we realized, ‘Oh, it is coming.’ We got our asses in gear.”

The day after city officials issued health orders that disrupted the normal operations of restaurants and bars, DECANTsf was “booming” as its customers stocked up on wines.

“We were selling cases of wine because people were ordering in a panic,” recalled Grewal in an interview this spring with the Bay Area Reporter ahead of the business marking its fourth anniversary.

Out of necessity they focused their attention on building up the retail side of the business. They added more nonalcoholic options at the request of customers and stocked food staple items people needed since there were few options to buy groceries in the immediate vicinity of them.

“We were one of the few shops in the

<< Harvey’s space

From page 3

“All of that specifically belongs to Paul Langley and the owners, so we intend to give them back their collection of art,” Cook said. “We will be doing, with a combination of the spaces, a complete overhaul remodel. The space that was Harvey’s will be unrecognizable in the future. We do not intend to replicate in design what was there before, however, we are committed to paying homage to the business of Harvey’s as well as Harvey Milk as a community icon. There will be a creative visual way to pay homage.”

Their taking over the storied location was first reported in Hoodline earlier this month.

Cook said the space will function as a bar with a “substantial bar menu” during the day. At night the space will be transformed.

“Anywhere you’re standing in the venue will be part of the dance floor at night,” Cook said, adding the capacity should be “over 200 people, very close to Beaux.”

area where you could come in to shop,” said Patricia.

They also worked to meet the requirements the city imposed on businesses like theirs in order to reopen with outdoor seating that June. One was that alcohol sales needed to be paired with food purchases. Looking back now, some of the rules the women had to navigate sound comical.

“We were told our cheese plates weren’t hearty enough, so we added pickles,” recalled Patricia, which met with city approval.

The women were already familiar with having to navigate the city’s bureaucratic maze of rules and regulations for businesses like theirs. It had taken them three years to secure a location where they could open a bottle shop and wine bar.

Part of the problem they faced was a moratorium in various neighborhoods on such a business that offered off-site retail sales. Unless they became a full restaurant, areas like the Mission and the Haight were out, they told the B.A.R.

“We looked at the Castro, upper Market Street, Cow Hollow and the Fillmore. But our business plan didn’t work there under the city’s archaic urban planning rules,” noted Patricia. “This area, with more nightclubs around, was less restrictive.”

They also lucked out in replacing a similar business that had offered beer for sale as well as on-site consumption, so they didn’t need to pursue a change in use from planning officials in order to open in the storefront. The space is sunken below the sidewalk and features the retail section in front, with a small bar and seating area in the back on the right side. The location proved fortuitous in another respect for the type of venue the women wanted DECANTsf to be.

“If you want during the day to pick up some cheese and a bottle of wine, there is not a lot of stuff on Folsom Street that caters to that. There was a need we didn’t know we were filling until we were here,” said Grewal.

That need only grew during the pandemic, with nearby residents becoming regular customers of DE CANTsf who would pop in three or more times a week. Their support helped the business survive the precarious times that led so many other businesses to shutter for good in the city.

“They sang our praises, and through a lot of word of mouth, people found out we are kind of like a fine wine department,” said Patricia. “We bring classic, well made wines at a good value to people who want to expand their palate.”

One of their customers, unbeknownst to Patricia and Grewal, nominated DECANTsf to be named the Bar & Restaurant Expo’s LGBTQIA+ Venue of the Year for 2023. Thus, their winning the award earlier this year came as a total surprise.

Gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), a former District 8 supervisor and a Castro resident himself, tweeted his approval.

“Amazing news for the Castro,” he stated. “The Beaux team has a great track record & this is great for the neighborhood – a lunch place & bar/nightclub.”

Goal of inclusivity

“Our clientele is queer as fuck,” said Patricia, 39, who is queer and hails from Chicago.

Grewal, 34, who is originally from New York, demurred when asked if she is also a member of the LGBTQ community. She told the B.A.R. that she preferred to keep such personal information private.

“We are here to give everyone a safe space,” she said.

The women met in 2011 when they both attended the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley. The following year Patricia had moved into SOMA a block away from where the wine shop is located, while Grewal has called San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood home since 2013.

Grewal first gained certification as a sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2012, while Patricia

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is a membership-based event space and LGBTQ social club in the Castro.)

Cook said gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman reached out to ensure his office’s support. The liquor license will need to be transferred and changed to be seven-days a week till 2 a.m. The entertainment license will also need to be extended until 2 a.m.

“He’s been a very valuable support

system as far as exactly what steps will need to happen to open the venue in line with our vision,” Cook said of the supervisor. Mandelman told the B.A.R. that he’s “relieved that a very talented and experienced group is taking on this project and look forward to seeing what they are able to do.”

The B.A.R. asked Cook what he plans to do to make the space inclusive for the Black community. For decades, Black LGBTQ people have critiqued the Castro scene as being exclusive and unwelcoming toward them – a point driven home by controversies over the nearby 18th Street nightclub locations Badlands, which is now shuttered, and the Pendulum, which has since been renamed Toad Hall.

A 2004 report by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission found that Badlands was discriminating against African Americans, but the findings were never official because Virginia Harmon, the HRC executive director at the time, did not sign off on the staff report.

Badlands owner Les Natali and the complainants eventually reached a confidential settlement. Natali has always denied the accusations.

Natali later opened Toad Hall on the site of what had been the Pendulum, a bar that catered to Black LGBTQs.

Cook said the ownership group of the new bar is committed to diversity.

“It’s definitely part of our mission statement – Alexis, Matthew, and I –that’s how we manage and program at Beaux already, even before, since Beaux’s inception, but we ensure an inclusive and diverse space that is safe and welcoming for all members of the community regardless of race, gender, sexuality,” Cook said, adding that The Academy SF Head Mistress Mercedez Munro, who is Black, already expressed an interest in holding an event there. (The Academy

“The Castro used to be buzzing with life, shops, and opportunities, but with so many spaces closed, it is my hope that this creates new inspiration for others to invest in the area,” Munro told the B.A.R. when asked about it. “We have three younger business persons committed to revitalizing our neighborhood because they are genuinely invested in bringing life back to the neighborhood! I can’t wait to get in there and help with their success!”

Cook said that “all will be showcased and all will be welcomed.”

“We are looking for the most diverse and underrepresented individuals and there will be employment and a space for them at our venue,” he added.

The rent for the space has been the subject of considerable speculation. The B.A.R. reported that Mandelman said owner Langley and his partner, Richard Dingman, were asking $17,000 rent a month (though this was for 500 Castro Street only).

“I don’t think we will ever disclose the rent of the space,” Cook said. “Working with Paul Langley and associates, they have worked with us to allow us to have accessibility to the space so it worked out. The owner has been accommodating and realistic and I think both sides have agreed that it’s fair.”

The Paul Langley Co. did not return a request for comment for this report.

“We’re very, very excited and overwhelmed with the positive response and feedback from the community and neighbors, and we’re very, very thankful and excited to work with the community and build a space for the residents of the Castro and the visitors and the entire LGBTQ community worldwide,” Cook said. “In time this will gain, hopefully, international recognition of a space you have to visit in the Castro.” t

Joshua J. Cook, left, Alexis Lucero, and Matthew Mello, of Beaux, announced last week they’ve signed a 10-year-lease for the old Harvey’s space at 500 Castro Street.

Courtesy Joshua J. Cook

Simi Grewal, left, and her business partner Cara Patricia opened DECANTsf in 2019.

Courtesy the shop’s Instagram

DECANTsf is located in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood.

Joseph Weaver

by John Ferrannini

The federal courts have given preliminary victories to the drag community in recent weeks in separate lawsuits against a Utah city and the state of Florida where judges ruled their anti-drag moves violate the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported last month, in Utah, the Southern Utah Drag Stars filed suit against the city of St. George on May 23 after the municipality denied it a special events permit for a family-friendly drag show at J.C. Snow Park.

In Florida, Hamburger Mary’s Orlando filed suit May 22 against the state and Republican Governor Ron DeSantis after he signed Senate Bill 1438, which restricts children from attending “lewd” performances. DeSantis is now a GOP presidential candidate.

Utah

A resolution in the Utah case came June 16. Judge David Nuffer of the United States District Court for the District of Utah issued a preliminary injunction that the City of St. George had to allow Mitski Avalōx and Southern Utah Drag Stars to host a show at J.C. Snow Park after they’d been denied a permit.

“Public spaces are not private spaces,” Nuffer ruled. “Public spaces are not majority spaces. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures that all citizens, popular or not, majority or minority, conventional or unconventional, have access to public spaces for public expression.”

The drag show was held June 30. In attendance was Aaron Welcher, the communications director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, he wrote in an email. Welcher did not return a request for additional comment by press time.

Valentina De Fex, senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Utah, hailed the decision as a major victory for drag and the

LGBTQ community across the country.

“Quite simply, drag is protected by the First Amendment. The city of St. George’s selective and discriminatory refusal to permit a family-friendly drag event impermissibly silenced LGBTQ+ Utahns and violated our client’s constitutional rights,” De Fex stated in a news release. “This ruling is a win for not just our client … but for all people in St. George and throughout Utah.

We are grateful for the court’s decisive action to disallow attempts by city officials to implement subjective viewpoints of what they deem appropriate to silence and erase LGBTQIA+ and gender diverse communities throughout the state,” De Fax added.

Welcher stated Avalōx was not available for comment for last month’s report; the B.A.R. asked Welcher July 7 to let it know if Avalōx would be available for comment now but did not hear back.

Florida

Meanwhile, in the Sunshine State, Judge Gregory Presnell of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, issued a preliminary injunction June 24 that blocked the enforcement of Senate Bill 1438, which had been signed by DeSantis in May.

SB 1438 punishes venues that admit children to performances that involve “lewd conduct, or the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts,” which critics charge is language designed to target drag performances. A similar law in Tennessee was declared unconstitutional last month.

DeSantis’ administration has gone after the liquor licenses of some draghosting venues for being a “public nuisance,” the B.A.R. has reported.

Hamburger Mary’s Orlando filed suit against the state and DeSantis. The

drag-themed restaurant claims that after DeSantis signed the adult performances law on May 17, the restaurant told customers that children won’t be allowed to attend any of its drag shows and its bookings fell 20%. In its complaint, the restaurant argued the law was “unconstitutionally vague” – which is what University of San Francisco law professor Luke Boso told the B.A.R. last month about these types of codes. Presnell seemed to agree. The word “vague” appears over a dozen times in his ruling. He ruled that it’s likely the Florida law did not take into consideration that lewdness, legally, has for decades referred to “hard core sexual conduct” as per the Supreme Court in Miller v. California obscenity criteria.

In Miller v. California, decided by the liberal Warren court in 1971, the justices ruled 5-4 that obscene materials are not protected by the First

Amendment, but lessened the definition of “obscene material.”

For something to be obscene, and thus not covered by the First Amendment, it must appeal to the “prurient interest,” that is, sexual appetites; lack “serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value;” and describe “in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law.”

All three of these prongs have to be satisfied for expression to be legally obscene.

The Florida judge determined in his preliminary injunction that the test had not been met.

“The Act’s focus on ‘prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts’ raises a host of other concerns not simply answered –what are the implications for cancer survivors with prosthetic genitals or breasts?”

Presnell asked in his ruling. “It is this vague language – dangerously susceptible to standardless, overbroad enforcement which could sweep up substantial protected speech – which … renders Plaintiff’s claim likely to succeed on the merits.”

The injunction will only last until a full trial can be heard on the matter in the federal district court.

Russell K. Robinson, a professor of law at UC Berkeley, told the B.A.R. that the Florida law attempts to go beyond what the state can legally ban.

“Nudity in front of children – that’s already banned under state law,” Robinson said. “This is trying to go further, to prevent children from being around when drag is performed. … The First Amendment is supposed to give people expansive freedom to express themselves as long as it is not obscene. The concept of lewdness doesn’t track what the courts have decided is obscene. Drag performances are not considered obscene under standard legal principles.”

Robinson said that prior restraints on speech need to be specific to withstand constitutional scrutiny.

From Drag Sisters’

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Volume 53, Number 28

July 13-19, 2023

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6th Circuit deals a blow to trans kids

The hammer came down on trans kids with a 2-1 decision by a panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that allows a state ban in Tennessee to go into effect. The decision lifts an injunction issued by a lower court blocking enforcement of the Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care. The American Civil Liberties Union noted that the law went into effect immediately following the July 8 ruling.

The lawsuit was filed by Samantha and Brian Williams of Nashville and their 15-year-old daughter, as well as two other anonymous families and Dr. Susan N. Lacy. The law prohibits medical providers from providing gender-affirming health care to transgender youth and requires trans youth currently receiving such care to stop within nine months.

The ACLU stated in a news release that this is the first federal court to allow a ban on gender-affirming care to take effect after courts have unanimously blocked such bans in Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, and Kentucky. Last month, a federal court in Arkansas struck down that state’s ban on gender-affirming care in the first ruling on the merits of such a law, finding that it violated the equal protection clause, due process clauses, and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Trans youth in Tennessee are not so fortunate.

“This ruling is beyond disappointing and a heartbreaking development for thousands of transgender youth, their doctors, and their families,” stated the ACLU, the ACLU of Tennessee, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld LLP, the legal organizations and law firm representing the plaintiffs. “As we and our clients consider our next steps, we want all transgender youth of Tennessee to know this fight is far from over and we will continue to challenge this law until it is permanently defeated and Tennessee is made a safer place to raise every family.”

The 6th Circuit, which covers Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio, is one of the most conservative in the country so, in that respect, the ruling is not a surprise. But federal courts in other red states have concluded that bans on gender-affirming care are not permissible, and we are dismayed by the decision because of the real harm it will cause trans youth and their families in that state, as well as the message it sends to trans kids and their families across the country.

Jeffrey Sutton, chief judge of the 6th Circuit, and Judge Amul Thapar were in the majority while Judge Helene White issued a partial dissent. That’s notable because White, nominated by former President George W. Bush, is conservative, as are Sutton, also nominated by Bush, and Thapar, nominated by former President Donald Trump.

In her partial dissent and partial concurrence, White wrote that she believes Tennessee’s law is “likely unconstitutional based on plaintiffs’ theory of sex discrimination.” She would not have stayed the lower court’s injunction but she would have narrowed its scope, she wrote, to apply to the plaintiffs and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. White cited the Title VII context in the Bostock v. Clayton County U.S. Supreme Court decision of 2020, which ruled that under Title VII sex discrimination occurs when an “employed intentionally penalizes a person identified as male at birth for traits or actions that it tolerates in an employee identified as female at birth.” As White noted, “that principle is directly on point here and highly persuasive.”

Applying standards in previous cases that determined government policies that place discrimination based on sex cannot stand unless the government provides “an exceedingly persuasive justification,” which requires showing that the

“classification serves ‘important government objectives’ and ... is substantially and directly related to the government’s objectives,” White wrote. She noted that she failed to see how the state can justify denying access to hormone therapies for treatment of minor plaintiffs’ gender dysphoria while permitting access to others “especially in light of the district court’s robust factual findings on the benefits of these treatments for transgender youth.”

It’s unfortunate that the other judges on the panel were not persuaded by White’s legal arguments, which, in our opinion, are on point.

It’s unclear what the next step is for the plaintiffs’ attorneys. In the meantime, trans youth and their families in Tennessee are left in a lurch, particularly those already in treatment who will have to stop soon. It’s because of laws like Tennessee’s that California passed its law last year creating a refuge for trans kids and their families. And while some families may leave the Volunteer State to find a more hospitable one, that might not be an option for others.

Studies have shown that trans kids do much better when they’re able to access gender-affirming care and have the support of their families and medical providers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Population Affairs noted in a resource paper, “Because gender-affirming care encompasses many facets of health care needs and support, it has been shown to increase positive outcomes for transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents. Gender-affirming care is patient-centered and treats individuals holistically, aligning their outward, physical traits with their gender identity. Gender diverse adolescents, in particular, face significant health disparities compared to their cisgender peers. Transgender and gender nonbinary adolescents are at increased risk for mental health issues, substance use, and suicide.”

Contrary to what conservatives think, genderaffirming care for trans youth generally is not surgery. It usually involves therapies like hormone treatment, puberty blockers, and mental health care that in most cases provide these youth with the services they need for these positive outcomes. The two judges on the 6th Circuit panel in the majority were incorrect in their decision, which could result in real harm to trans kids and their families.t

Hope and inclusion needed now more than

ever

by Toni G. Atkins

Bay area reporter

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Growing up in southwestern Virginia, in a family so poor our home had no running water, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I never had an LGBTQ+ role model to turn to or to emulate as I  tried to understand who I was. Even if stories of the Stonewall riots or the trailblazers of our movement made their way to me, there was little context for me to think I could succeed and be happy as a young lesbian in Appalachia. But I was fortunate. When I came out to my parents, who were churchgoing evangelical Christians, they surprised me with acceptance, love, and ever-increasing understanding. Then I moved to San Diego, and after knocking on doors and working as a staff member for Christine Kehoe, who would become the city’s first openly-LGBTQ+ City Council member, I found a mentor. Eventually, I worked my way up to become the first lesbian to serve as speaker of the California Assembly, and the first LGBTQ+ person and woman to lead the California State Senate.

Today, LGBTQ+ children grow up with much more access to role models, thanks in no small part to the internet and widespread access to information. Even still, 40% of LGBTQ+ youth lack role models to look up to. But with dangerous rhetoric ramping up about drag, our transgender siblings, and powerful LGBTQ+ role models, the ability for young LGBTQ+ people to not only discover their identity, but also feel validated, is increasingly at risk.

We do not have to sit idly by while others try to write our epitaph. I’m authoring Senate Bill 447, the BRIDGE Project – Building and Reinforcing Inclusive, Diverse, Gender-supportive Equality – to create a targeted marketing campaign to increase inclu-

sivity and compassion throughout America. The BRIDGE Project’s donation-driven, nonpartisan, inclusive messaging campaign will be designed to uplift and show compassion for LGBTQ+ people, and champion inclusivity in communities like the one I grew up in, where it’s needed most.

SB 447, which passed out of the Senate on a 31-8 vote and is currently moving through the legislative process in the Assembly, also removes California’s travel ban, which prevents statefunded travel to states that passed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. The idea when it was passed seven years ago was for California to draw a clear line in the sand, wielding our considerable economic influence against forces of alienation, discrimination, and hate. While the right thing to do at the time, the ban has since grown to 23 states, (https://oag.ca.gov/ab1887) and has created unintended consequences, from preventing

professors at California’s public universities from conducting research to limiting California’s ability to help people from out of state receiving abortion care to get back home.

Despite the great strides that LGBTQ+ people have made since I came out in the 1980s, we’re clearly experiencing threats to divide and “other” us again. This year alone, nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills (https://www.aclu.org/ legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights?state) have been introduced in state legislatures across the country. These bills target our civil rights, our health care, and our right to speak freely about our identities.

With the BRIDGE Project, we can elevate LGBTQ+ heroes, and share stories of compassion, love, acceptance, and inclusivity. Fostering a positive LGBTQ+ identity, creating moments when LGBTQ+ people can feel accepted and loved can be imperative for future wellbeing. It could have been life-affirming for me as a closeted teenager deep in Appalachia, to know of the strength of the LGBTQ+ icons 500 miles away at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, 2,700 miles away in the Castro in San Francisco, and maybe even within communities like mine.

By enacting the BRIDGE Project, we can ensure that those role models are accessible to LGBTQ+ people throughout our state and nation, and infuse the hope we need right now. t

Senator Toni G. Atkins is president pro tempore of the California State Senate. She is the first woman, and first openly LGBTQ+ person, to lead the Legislature’s upper house – a position she has held for more than five years. She has championed legislation on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, women, reproductive rights, climate, affordable housing, and more. She lives in San Diego with her spouse and their dogs.

State Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins

Courtesy Sen. Atkins’ office

A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has allowed a gender-affirming care ban for trans youth to take effect.

Gay SF BART director Dufty won’t seek 3rd term

by Matthew S. Bajko

T he board that oversees the regional transit agency BART will be losing at least one of its current three out members at the end of 2024. Gay San Francisco BART director Bevan Dufty has decided not to seek a third term next fall in his District 9 seat that covers the city’s eastern neighborhoods.

Dufty also told the Bay Area Reporter in a recent interview that he will not stand for reelection on the March primary ballot to his seat on the Democratic County Central Committee that oversees the San Francisco Democratic Party. The former mayoral candidate also told the B.A.R. he has no plans to enter the mayor’s race next year.

“I am in a different phase of life and think it is time for new folks to come in and do their thing,” explained Dufty, 68, who formerly served as the city’s District 8 supervisor that includes the LGBTQ Castro district where he lives.

Speculation is also building that lesbian BART director Rebecca Saltzman, 41, will depart when her term ends next year rather than seek a fourth term in her District 3 seat, which covers parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the East Bay. The El Cerrito resident had been expected to step down in 2020 but ended up running unopposed for a third term that November.

The outbreak of the COVID pandemic that year, which upended the transit service and led to a crash in its ridership numbers, had changed her mind. BART continues to struggle financially due to many workers limiting their return to their offices in downtown San Francisco and other business centers serviced by the transit agency, leaving its leadership to deal with hundreds of millions of dollars in projected lost revenues over the coming years.

Saltzman acknowledged to the B.A.R. that she is “exploring things” regarding her future plans but isn’t yet ready to make any public announcements other than to say she isn’t planning to run for a state legislative seat or for Congress. She expects to reveal her decision later this year.

“It is tremendously difficult to serve on the BART board that doesn’t pay anything near a living wage and have a full-time job and be a mom,” said Saltzman, the development director for Bike East Bay who has a young daughter with her wife, Caitlin Stone

Nonetheless, Saltzman said she had no regrets about changing her mind three years ago and remaining on the BART board for another four-year term.

“I didn’t feel like I could leave the agency in the lurch, and I am glad I did,” said Saltzman.

As for Dufty’s decision to step down when his current term ends, Saltzman told the B.A.R. he has been a “fantastic ally” on the board who brought much needed reforms and policies to the transit agency, from deploying unarmed ambassadors on trains to cleaning up stations and reopening long-locked bathrooms for BART patrons.

“We are so lucky to have him serve on the board for two terms there. He is a real leader for riders from San Francisco and for getting improvements to the system,” said Saltzman. “I am so grateful he has been there that whole time and has made the agency a lot stronger.”

Queer BART director Janice Li, currently serving as the board’s

next year.

president, told the B.A.R. it will be difficult to lose next year both Dufty and Lateefah Simon, a straight ally who holds the East Bay-centered District 7 seat on the BART board. Simon is running in 2024 to succeed Congressmember Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), who rather than seek another term in the House is running to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California).

“Bevan and Lateefah are two incredible people that I look up to and have really been incredible leaders for BART, the Bay Area, and beyond,” said Li, who represents BART’s District 8 that includes the western neighborhoods of San Francisco and was reelected to a second term last year. “I knew this was coming and it still makes me sad to talk about.”

Li and Dufty both told the B.A.R. they have yet to hear from someone intent on seeking Dufty’s BART seat. They also have not yet endorsed in the race for Simon’s seat, whereas Saltzman has endorsed Oakland resident Victor Flores, who works for the Greenbelt Alliance and announced his BART candidacy in early July.

“I think he is extremely qualified and has a unique background that is super needed on the BART board,” Saltzman said of Flores.

In terms of who may replace him on the BART board, Dufty told the B.A.R. he would like to see it be someone from the city’s LGBTQ community. He is just beginning to have conversations with people who may be interested; the filing deadline for candidates isn’t until next August.

Playing a part in Dufty’s decision to leave elective office for the foreseeable future is his son Sid, whom he is raising with co-parent, Rebecca Goldfader, is going into his senior year of high school this fall and plans to attend college, likely in New England, in the fall of 2024.

“It feels unbelievable to me, but it felt like a good point to pause and say, ‘I feel good about what I have accomplished and I am so grateful.’ I think I have won, now, seven elections and lost one big one,” said Dufty, referring to his coming up short in the 2011 mayoral race.

He has been reflecting on his near 30-year career in local government, having recently hosted a luncheon to mark the 30th anniversary of the appointment of Susan Leal to the Board of Supervisors, the first and only Latina lesbian to date to serve on the board. (See story, page 1.)

Leal had hired Dufty as one of her City Hall aides, and he later went to work for former mayor Willie Brown before his being elected a supervisor in 2002.

After stepping down in early 2011 due to term limits, Dufty went to work for the late mayor Ed Lee as his homelessness czar. He left in 2015 and five years later won election to his BART board seat.

In 2012, Dufty first won election to the local Democratic Party oversight committee. He sees it as “a really great launch pad” for those wanting to seek elected office one day so wants to step aside to allow for someone new to city politics to have a chance to serve, Dufty told the B.A.R.

“I have encouraged young candidates to consider running for central committee. I think it is good experience because you have to take stances on tough issues and raise money,” noted Dufty, in addition to voting on which candidates the local party endorses.  “It is a good finishing school for people looking to embark on a political career.”

As for the future of BART and the fiscal issues it is facing, Dufty told the B.A.R. he is confident the agency will be able to navigate a path forward. It will benefit from the $1.1 billion state leaders just budgeted for transit agencies across the state, with Bay Area transit operators slated to share in roughly $400 million over the next four years.

“We will work through these challenges,” predicted Dufty. “BART has had to resurrect itself over the years, like San Francisco has had to rise like the phoenix from the ashes, going all the way back to when it seemed like the project wasn’t going to happen … it is part of its legacy.”

A board member of LGBTQ rights organization Equality California, Dufty is hosting a meet and greet July 19 with gay freshman Assemblymember Corey Jackson, Ph.D., (D-Perris) the first out Black member of the state Legislature. Anyone interested in attending the happy hour event from 5 to 7 p.m. should email Dufty for the address at bevan.dufty@gmail.com

Correction

Last week’s column should have stated that transgender Virginia Delegate Danica Roem received help from the Sister District New York chapter for her first race in 2017. Also, while the day after her 2021 reelection a Bay Area Reporter story had reported her margin of victory as being less than 2 points, Roem ended up with a winning margin of 8.6%. While it was a larger margin than her first campaign’s margin of 7.8% in 2017, it was less than her 2019 re-election campaign’s margin of 12%.

The online version of the July 6 Political Notebook has been updated, and an editor’s note was added to the 2021 story. t

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 lesbian Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins’ historic turn as California’s acting governor this month.

Keep abreast of the latest LGBTQ political news by following the Political Notebook on Threads @ https://www.threads. net/@matthewbajko.

Got a tip on LGBTQ politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or e-mail m.bajko@ ebar.com.

Planning Ahead is Simple

Planning Ahead is Simple

The benefits are immense.

Planning Ahead is Simple

The benefits are immense.

When you plan your life celebration and lasting remembrance in advance, you can design every detail of your own unique memorial and provide your loved ones with true peace of mind. Planning ahead protects your loved ones from unnecessary stress and financial burden, allowing them to focus on what will matter most at that time—you.

The benefits are immense.

When you plan your life celebration and lasting remembrance in advance, you can design every detail of your own unique memorial and provide your loved ones with true peace of mind. Planning ahead protects your loved ones from unnecessary stress and financial burden, allowing them to focus on what will matter most at that time—you.

When you plan your life celebration and lasting remembrance in advance, you can design every detail of your own unique memorial and provide your loved ones with true peace of mind. Planning ahead protects your loved ones from unnecessary stress and financial burden, allowing them to focus on what will matter most at that time—you. Contact

Proudly

Proudly

Proudly

BART board member Bevan Dufty said he would not seek reelection

Courtesy Bevan Dufty

Casa Susanna and the mists of time

by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

The trans community has a long history, but all too often, the archives are buried, hidden behind the firmest of closet doors, and under threat of being forever lost.

Certainly, this is no truer than when Nazi party members burned the books from Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institut für Sexualwissenschaft in Berlin 90 years ago this year. An estimated 25,000 tomes were torched that day, setting back LGBTQ knowledge by decades.

Yet, today, I want to talk about the history we ourselves hide.

I recently had the good fortune of watching “Casa Susanna,” a documentary available via the Public Broadcasting Service as part of its “American Experience” series. (It’s available until July 27, according to the website.)

Casa Susanna started as the Chevalier D’Eon Resort, a bungalow camp in the Catskills of New York. There, under the tutelage of Susanna and Maria Valenti, crossdressers of the 1950s could spend the weekend as women.

OK, before I go further, I feel the need to step back a bit and clarify both the times and the terms of the era. This was contemporary with Christine Jorgensen flying home to New York City amid headlines about her landmark gender confirmation surgery – not the first such surgery, but certainly the first to capture public acclaim.

Yet it wasn’t an easy road, even with

the spotlight on Jorgensen. This was a time prior to Stonewall, Compton’s, the Dewey’s Lunch Counter Sit-In – all early actions demonstrating for LGBTQ rights – and most anything else in the postWorld War II LGBTQ rights movement. Being trans was still a crime in much of the country, and one could quickly find themselves without a job, without families, and touting a criminal record for the offense of wearing attire that didn’t somehow match their legal identity.

What’s more, this was the 1950s. Gender roles were tightly segregated in the U.S. and elsewhere, and crossing those lines was not easy even if it wasn’t considered criminal.

Even with all this in mind, the headlines around Jorgensen started to open the floodgates and many backroom

communities of transgender people of all stripes began to spring up. One of these was what would become Casa Susanna.

Like many trans-related things of the era, the expectation at the camp was that the guests be heterosexual, male-identified crossdressers. All that said, many of those who went to Casa Susanna – including Susanna Valenti – would later live their lives as women and seek gender-affirming care.

This was at a time when you often simply faded from view, and both Casa Susanna and those who frequented it wandered away, and with it, that history of the place and its time.

The “Casa Susanna” documentary includes several interviews, including with two of the past attendees, Katherine Cummings and Diana Merry-Shapiro, as well as two of the children related to other attendees, Betsy Wollheim, whose father, Donald, went there on the weekends, and Gregory Baga rozy, the grandson of Maria and Susanna Valenti. They tell the history of this place, illustrated by photos of the buildings and the people who spent those weekends in the Catskills, as well as some other brilliant period clips. (Cummings has since passed away.)

As fascinating as the tales shared by Cummings and Merry-Shapiro are –both about their time at Casa Susanna

as well as their later years as they both transitioned – it was Bagarozy and Wollheim that had some of the stronger parts of the narrative.

Bagarozy tells loving stories of his grandparents, of sneaking peeks at the shows the attendees would put on, and of both Susanna and Maria Valenti in their later years.

Wollheim’s story, in contrast to the others, is more bitter. Her father was distant and often cruel. Unlike Cummings, Merry-Shapiro, or Susanna Valenti, her father did not transition in the years following Casa Susanna. According to her, it feels like he was a very different person up in the Catskills, not the person she knew.

It is a bittersweet part of the story, one that leaves me wondering about what if the times had been different, and her father had the freedom to be himself elsewhere, outside of Casa Susanna and in a world so unlike the straitlaced, deeply divided 1950s.

When I was first coming out, I met a few contemporaries of Casa Susanna, including Virginia Prince, who had been a guest at Casa Susanna and founded an international organization for crossdressers.

By the time I came on the scene in the early 1990s, Casa Susanna had long since faded into obscurity. My local trans support group, a slightly more permissive offshoot of Prince’s crossdresser

sorority, was nevertheless the sort of place where you entered the meetings via the back entrance of a Holiday Inn, and largely avoided acknowledging members outside of the safety of the meetings. While it was no longer illegal to be trans in most places, no one was willing to take many risks.

Being trans when I was coming out still wasn’t commonplace, but it was a bit better known. You still risked your job, your family, and your life, but by this time that had freed up some; certainly, more than the 1950s. I was far more of a firebrand and wanted to see more change – so the thinking of this old group, which preferred a much more cautious approach, rankled me. The generational divide was clear.

Today, the era I came out in, those early 1990s, is nearly as far ago as Casa Susanna was to its participants back then. I am sure I live my own generational divide, as the trans community has both grown in public acceptance yet faces a political backlash that threatens to take us all back to that era, if not beyond.

I can only hope, as my own era ages out of this world, that we have left our own histories more present and visible than our forebears. t

Gwen Smith once again recommends the Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive in Vallejo and its online archive of early trans history at lltransarchive. org. You’ll find her at www.gwensmith.com

Interactive queer health exhibit launches in South Bay

compiled by Cynthia Laird

Anew interactive exhibit about queer health is launching this weekend in San Jose, with two more viewings coming up in other South Bay cities.

PRIDEnet, based out of Stanford University, has created the “Take PRIDE in Our Health Stories” exhibit. It shares more about what community-engaged health research is and why LGBTQIA+ representation is important, a news release stated. The inspiration for the exhibit came from queer community feedback about a lack of accessible education around the topic, the release noted.

In July and August, there will be popup experiences to launch the exhibit that are free and open to the public in San Jose, Palo Alto, and Morgan Hill. According to the release, the community events will also include opportunities to get involved and win prizes, a resource fair featuring local community organi-

zations, and a lineup of queer-inclusive entertainment such as dance performances, music, fitness demos, and more.

The pop-ups will take place Friday, July 14, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Qmunity District, 72 Post Street, in San Jose; Saturday, July 22, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Avenidas, 450 Bryant Street, in Palo Alto; and Saturday, August 19, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center Amphitheater, 17000 Monterey Road.

The exhibit is a collaboration between PRIDEnet, the PRIDE study, All of Us LGBTQIA+, Project MORE, the Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ Affairs, Avenidas, and Silicon Valley Pride. The release stated that the exhibit and events are made possible through a seed award from Stanford University’s Office of Community Engagement.

For more information and to register for any of the events, go to pridenet.org/ popups.

East Palo Alto to hold 1st Pride event

The city of East Palo Alto will hold its inaugural Pride event Sunday, July 23, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the East Palo Alto Boys and Girls Club, 2031 Pulgas Avenue.

According to a flyer, the event is being co-hosted by the city’s LGBTQ+ community members, the newly formed Mariposa Outreach Center, Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse, and the Boys and Girls Club. All ages and allies are welcome.

The afternoon will feature information booths, a drag show, open mic, ballroom performances, music, snacks, and more.

For updates, follow @mariposaoutreach on Instagram.

Precita Eyes youth arts festival

Precita Eyes Muralists will hold its 27th annual urban youth arts festival Saturday, July 15, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Precita Park, 3200 Folsom Street.

According to an email sent to supporters, “Frisco Fresh” is the theme for this year’s festival. There will be three 8 x 24 foot walls for spray painting, a community wall for traditional brush painting, and a black book area to share sketches. There will be Aztec dancers and rapper DJ Beast, a photo booth, and arts and crafts.

For more information, go to precitaeyes.org.

SF gears up for World Cup

San Francisco is gearing up for the Women’s World Cup with the “Sum-

mer of Soccer.” The city will partner with Street Soccer USA to host free public screenings of games, according to a news release from Mayor London Breed’s office.

A similar program during last year’s men’s World Cup drew more than 12,000 spectators. Street Soccer USA will bring livestreamed women’s matches to large pop-up screens across the city, transforming spaces into an exciting, family-friendly World Cup Village, the release stated.

Alongside the Team USA women’s soccer watch parties, the city will also welcome the return of the Street Soccer USA Cup Series to San Francisco for the first time since 2019 on August 19, the release stated.

The World Cup Village kicks off at the Crossing at East Cut, 200 Folsom Street, Friday, July 21, when Team USA faces off against Vietnam. There will be an opening celebration, live music, food trucks, and family-friendly activities beginning at 4 p.m. Other watch parties will take place Wednesday, July 26, at Embarcadero Plaza at Market and Steuart streets (USA vs. Netherlands); Saturday, August 5, at Golden Gate Park at the JFK Promenade (Round of 16); and Thursday, August 10, at the Crossing at East Cut (Quarterfinals).

The free soccer public viewings are made possible through the support of various sponsors, including San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, San Francisco

Recreation and Park Department, Yours in Soccer Foundation, SF Parks Alliance, and BART.

The events will also be supported by Bay FC, the Bay Area’s new National Women’s Soccer League franchise preparing for its inaugural season in 2024, the release stated.

For more information about the local events, visit worldcupsf.org and follow @worldcupsf on Instagram.

Job opportunities at the postal service

The U.S. Postal Service is hosting job fairs in San Francisco this month.

People can attend weekly job fairs to fill immediate openings for the summer season and beyond, a news release started. Upcoming job fairs will be held July 13, 20, and 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the main post office, 1300 Evans Street; Bryant Station, 1600 Bryant Street; Geary Station, 5654 Geary Boulevard; Marina Station, 2055 Lombard Street; Pine Street Station, 1400 Pine Street; Townsend Station, 550 Townsend Street; Excelsior Station, 15 Onondaga Avenue; Lakeshore Station, 1543 Sloat Boulevard; North Beach Station, 1640 Stockton Street; Rincon Station, 180 Steuart Street; and Steiner Station, 1849 Geary Boulevard. The release noted that the postal service has openings for mail processing, delivery, transportation, and maintenance.

At the job fairs, applicants will be guided through the online application process by USPS staff, hear from employees, and submit their application for positions posted on usps.com/careers.

People who can’t make it in person can also submit applications through the website. Applicants must be 18 or older with a high school diploma or GED. All applicants must be able to pass drug screening and a criminal background investigation, the release stated. Some positions require an exam. For positions that require driving, a valid driver’s license and clean DMV two-year driving history is required. Citizenship or permanent resident status of five years is required. t

Christine Smith

PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR GAY MEN

A new interactive exhibit about queer health will launch this weekend in San Jose.

Courtesy PRIDEnet

Discovery issues delay gay Oakland murder case

by John Ferrannini

The attorney defending the UC Berkeley employee charged in the killing of a Black gay man in Oakland earlier this year said outstanding discovery in the case may lead to further delays.

Attorney David J. Briggs told the Bay Area Reporter July 7 that he had a fever and so couldn’t appear in person for a disposition and setting hearing for defendant Sweven Waterman. Waterman, 38, of Oakland, has been charged with homicide in the March 4 stabbing death of Curtis Marsh, 53, also of Oakland. Waterman has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody.

An Alameda County Sheriff’s deputy had said Waterman “refused” to come to the hearing; Briggs said it was probably listed as such because Waterman wouldn’t be coming down to the courtroom since Briggs was absent.

Judge Kimberly Colwell of Department 11 at the René C. Davidson Courthouse, near Lake Merritt, wouldn’t let Briggs appear in court via video, so he requested the hearing be pushed back to August 4.

“Disposition and setting sounds really fancy, but it’s really just nothing,” Briggs said. “It’s ‘we need a court date.’”

But whether the case will be able to proceed after that depends on the DA’s office, Briggs said. He’d complained in April, the B.A.R. reported, that he wasn’t getting enough discovery. He said that’s still the case now.

“There’s a lot of outstanding discovery,” he said. The next hearing will “be another disposition and setting.” What happens after “depends

on whether I get discovery, so I can’t really answer the question – it’s premature.”

The Alameda County District Attorney’s office did not return a request for comment.

Briggs has told the B.A.R. in past reports that Waterman did not know Marsh, as far as he knew. Waterman is still in custody without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. Briggs also demurred when asked about his client’s sexual orientation.

“I can’t comment on that,” he said.

Marsh, who was also known as drag artist Touri Monroe, was a hair stylist and a Miss Gay Oakland emeritus who used to sing with the Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus. Originally from Iowa, friends described him as fun, helpful, and active in his church.

Police responded to the Vernon Street location in the Adams Point neighborhood just before 8 a.m.

March 4 after a report of a disturbance, Oakland Police Officer Darryl Rodgers stated in an email to the B.A.R.

The “disturbance” consisted of “reports of an individual screaming,” stated Paul Chambers, the strategic communication manager for the Oakland Police Department.

When officers arrived, Oakland firefighters were on the scene extinguishing a fire.

“Upon arrival, officers located an Oakland resident with multiple lacerations,” Oakland Police Officer Darryl Rodgers stated. “The victim succumbed to their injuries and medical units pronounced the victim deceased on scene. Investigators from the OPD Homicide Section responded to the scene to begin the follow-up investigation into the circumstances surrounding the homicide.”

Neighbors told KTVU-TV that

Hate crimes defendant may enter diversion program

by John Ferrannini

The man who faces trial in a Castro-area hate crime case may enter the state’s mental health diversion program instead, a judge indicated July 5.

Muhammed Abdullah, 20, had a court date Wednesday in Department 22 at San Francisco’s Hall of Justice, at 850 Bryant Street. The proceedings didn’t get underway for over an hour past the set start time because the regularly scheduled judge was on vacation, forcing Superior Court Judge Harry M. Dorfman to step in.

As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, Abdullah is accused of stealing a rainbow flag and then hitting a man with a “glass object” in the vicinity of 18th and Hartford streets just before noon June 5, according to police. He’d been following the man and another man “aggressively shouting anti-LGBTQ language,” the San Francisco Police Department previously stated in the news release.

In addition to hate crimes, Abdullah was also charged with misdemeanor battery, violation of a person’s civil rights, and petty theft. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

During Abdullah’s arraignment last month, he made clear his disdain for the LGBTQ community in a statement during court, saying, “what the LGBT community is doing to kids is disrespectful to everyone who stands for God.” A San Francisco sheriff’s deputy was overheard by a reporter saying Abdullah was “in the tank screaming” for some time before he was called before the judge that day.

At a June 21 preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge Patrick

Thompson ruled that the San Francisco District Attorney’s office had met its burden to move forward with the charges for a trial.

At the July 5 hearing, Dorfman announced that “I’ve got an envelope here at the bench.”

Dorfman read the letter – which had been in a sealed envelope – to himself.

“They’ve asked for additional time,” he announced. “Having read the letter, the court is invited to request an evaluation as per penal code 1001.36.”

This section of the penal code allows people to receive treatment instead of being prosecuted when charged with a crime. At the successful completion of treatment, the charges are dismissed, and the arrest record sealed.

To qualify, a defendant must have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder that played a significant role in the charges. A defendant has to agree to treatment and a qualified

the perpetrator set the fire and left the front door and gate open when running away. No motive has been given, nor the circumstances of if – or how – the two men knew one another.

Waterman is on administrative leave from his job as a senior custodian with UC Berkeley, the school told the B.A.R. on March 13. He has six prior convictions dating back to 2002, including felony evasion, forgery, robbery, and vehicle theft, ac-

cording to Berkeley Scanner.

A memorial for Marsh was held March 11 at the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center where friends remembered him.

Marsh is one of two gay Black men who were killed in Oakland this year. But, so far, no suspect has been found in the March 12 shooting death of Devonte Davis, police told the B.A.R. July 7. The two incidents are unrelated t

DISPLAY OBITUARIES & IN MEMORIAMS

The Bay Area Reporter can help members of the community reach more than 120,000 LGBT area residents each week with their display of Obituary* & In Memoriam messages.

RATES: $21.20 per column inch (black & white) $29.15 per column inch (full color)

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James (Jim) Edward “J.B.” Barker

January 12, 1950 - April 10,2023

mental health expert has to agree that treatment would be effective. The defendant waives their right to a speedy trial when they agree to diversion.

The diversion program is only in cases where the risk of endangering the public is small.

Dorfman set a return date for Abdullah to Department 22 on Wednesday, July 19. He set a pretrial conference August 1 in Department 29 for “lawyers only” and a trial start date of August 18; however, these dates are pending whether Abdullah will be undergoing diversion or not, Dorfman said.

Abdullah then pleaded not guilty to the charges again. According to Randy Quezada, the public information officer of the DA’s office, a second arraignment is required to formally acknowledge and plead to the charges that the prosecution was able to move forward with after the preliminary hearing. t

a Celebration of Life

– SATURDAY, JULY 15

–

Jim Barker was loved far and wide and was extra special to the Pilsner family. He was quick with a joke and could really take his time selling a story. Jim was born on the east coast and lived up and down it before joining the armed service.

He lived in Hawaii before setting in San Francisco in the early seventies. Jim, much like Jesus, worked as a carpenter and hung out with questionable people . Unlike Jesus, he lived old enough to feel life’s discomfort. He will be greatly missed.

A celebration of Jim’s life will take place at the Pilsner Inn, San Francisco from 2-4pm on Saturday, July 15.

The defendant in a Castro hate crime case may go into diversion.

Scott Wazlowski

Curtis Marsh was stabbed to death in March.

Courtesy Oakland LGBTQ Community Center

Earl now joins out justices James M. Humes and Therese Stewart, both San Francisco residents, as presiding justices of state appellate courts. Humes is the administrative presiding justice of the First Appellate District, while Stewart is the presiding justice of the First District Court of Appeal’s Division Two.

Passing on the gavel to Earl is Justice Ronald Robie, who had been serving as the acting presiding justice following the retirement of justice Vance W. Raye. Robie joined California Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and Attorney General Rob Bonta in voting to confirm Earl’s elevation to preside over her court where she has served since 2022 following Newsom’s nomination of her to the appellate bench.

Robie noted that Earl is “superbly qualified for this job.”

A former Sacramento County Superior Court judge, Earl is the Third District’s first known justice from the LGBTQ community. Before becoming a judge, Earl had been a senior assistant inspector general at the California Office of Inspector General from 2004 to 2005 and a deputy district attorney at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office from 1995 to 2004.

Speaking on Earl’s behalf at Monday’s hearing, lesbian former Sacramento County district attorney Anne Marie Schubert noted the women have been best friends for more than half a century.

Schubert called Earl “brilliant, thoughtful, patient, compassionate, fair and, perhaps above all, she treats everyone with dignity and respect.” She added that, “as a student of the law, Justice Earl’s insatiable desire to learn will only undoubtedly prove to be indispensable as she leads the court.”

Justice Luis R. Mauro, Earl’s colleague on the Third Appellate bench, noted a female justice hasn’t led it since the retirement of Annette Abbott Adams in 1952. Adams became the state’s first female appellate justice in 1942, “so it is time,” said Mauro, adding of Earl, “I can say, without hesitation, she will be an

<< Dolores Park

From page 2

unarmed teenagers? For vandalism and spitballs? C’mon, if they can’t prioritize de-escalation tactics with the youth –what have we been training them for?

Where’s the enhanced training and community-centered policing practices Mayor [London] Breed and Chief [William] Scott have been telling us about since the Black Lives Matter movement?”

On the other hand, gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said he’s “grateful” for the police and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency responses. He called the hill bomb “problematic” – indeed during a 2020 event, a skateboarder and a cyclist collided, leading to the cyclist’s death and raised pavement dots being installed on Dolores Street to disincentivize future use.

“The Dolores Hill Bomb has been a problematic event for many years,” Mandelman stated to the B.A.R. on Sunday.

<< 1st Amendment

From page 5

“The judge held that the law is vague and subjects organizers of drag shows to uncertainty in terms

<< Business Briefing

From page 4

earned an advanced certification from the organization in 2015. In addition to wanting to work for themselves, they opened DECANTsf in order to share their wine knowledge with others.

Classes, events

They offer different classes and events with winemakers throughout the year. They also showcase wines made by women, people of color, and

outstanding presiding justice.”

Presiding Justice Lee Smalley Edmon of the Second Appellate Court’s Division 3 said Earl was the perfect person to take on a position that, at times, can feel like “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” at Disneyland. The women had first met in 2010 when presiding over their respective district courts, Earl in Sacramento and Edmon in Los Angeles, and later served together on a working group tasked with updating how the state funds its various courts that Earl led and won an award for doing so.

“She is not just an exceptional leader and jurist but an exceptional person,” said Edmon.

Earl, who grew up in San Jose before moving to Modesto, earned her law degree from the Lincoln Law School of Sacramento. Joining her as she was sworn in as presiding justice Monday was her wife and partner for more than 30 years, Jody Cooperman, and their adult sons Josh and Sam.

Tearing up as she introduced her family, Earl thanked Cooperman for believing in her when she “didn’t know where I was going or what I was doing.” She also praised her children for teaching her “everyday the value of acceptance, honesty, and integrity.”

Then she joked to her colleagues who

“Property damage and injury to participants seems to have been reduced this year, but plainly there’s more work for the city to do to prepare for next year. I’m grateful for the work of MTA and the PD to contain the mayhem this year and wishing the injured officer a speedy recovery.”

Barricades were erected and additional officers were assigned to the area in preparation for the annual hill bomb, which agitated the largely teenage crowd attending the event, according to media reports.

Police stated in a news release that reports of vandalism and fireworks began at 6:15 p.m. “Officers responded to the area and assisted residents in accessing their homes because they were afraid for their safety,” the release stated.

Then, the release continued, at 7:10 p.m., a 16-year-old boy spat in a police sergeant’s face.

“The sergeant moved to detain the male suspect and while doing so was approached by a female who tried to interfere with the sergeant’s attempt to detain the male suspect,”

of whether their performance would be deemed lewd and banned under state law,” Robinson said. “Under the First Amendment people who speak are supposed to not be chilled and have fair notice as to what’s illegal in advance and this law is too vague in

LGBTQ vintners, as well as feature a number of wines priced under $25.

“We carry high quality stuff here at a good price. We are really proud of that,” said Patricia.

Because they carry wines from small producers, their inventory is constantly changing. They blind taste every bottle before choosing to sell it and base their pricing on if they would pay that amount for the various wines.

“It builds up trust. We are selling it because we like it,” said Grewal. They joke rather than making a hard

had come for the ceremony, “let’s get to work.”

Martinez hearing

For Martinez’s hearing Second District Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert joined Guerrero and Bonta in confirming him to the appellate bench. Gilbert lives in Oakland’s Trestle Glen neighborhood with his husband and partner of 20 years, Raul A. Escatel, a distinguished tax attorney.

Standing next to Martinez as he took his judicial oath Monday was Escatel along with Martinez’s parents and his two godsons. He succeeds retired justice Laurie D. Zelon.

“The rights and opportunities all of us enjoy in this great country and great state are not to be taken for granted,” said Martinez, adding that as a judge he plans to continue to “give back to others, to ensure the rule of law is followed, to do what is just, and to continuously strive to move our state forward.”

Manny P. Alvarez, a lawyer and founding principal of BridgeCounsel Strategies LLC, has considered Martinez a mentor and friend since they first met in 2006 over an hourslong lunch during his last year of law school and Alvarez was a junior associate at the law firm he was working for at the time.

the release stated. “The sergeant was assaulted during the incident and suffered lacerations to his face, for which he was transported to the hospital.”

The boy and a 15-year-old girl were eventually arrested; however, during this arrest “the crowd began to throw ignited fireworks, smoke bombs, glass bottles, and metal cans at officers, which struck them.”

Five minutes later, police ordered the crowd to disperse. Fireworks caused damage in Dolores Park, but the fires were extinguished by the San Francisco Fire Department, the release stated.

“The park was ordered closed to clear the crowds of the unlawful assembly.

As crowds moved out of the park at approximately 7:35 p.m. there were reports of gunshots at 18th and Church streets near an occupied Muni light rail vehicle (LRV), which was unable to move due to the crowd blocking the street,” the release stated. “Officers arrived on scene and observed the LRV being vandalized

talking about prosthetic breasts and genitals in ways that would create uncertainty.”

DeSantis and Hamburger Mary’s Orlando did not return requests for comment for this report, though they have given statements. The

sell with their customers, they make a “hand sell” with the people who walk through their doors by guiding them toward the wines that best fit their tastes.

“We try to have a conversation with everyone who comes in as their personal sommelier,” explained Patricia. “We want to get them talking and find out what they like. We hope everyone here walks away learning something new.”

Their aim, she added, is to give “people a chance to really curate their expe-

Alvarez praised Martinez for his “humility and generosity of spirit,” as well as his “commitment to the practice and rule of law.” He recalled after their first meeting “thinking to myself he is incredibly smart and humble, and I really think he should sit on the bench someday.”

Laurie J. Helper, a partner at Greines, Martin, Stein and Richland LLP who hired Martinez to work at their former law firm in 2007, called it “one of the best decisions I have made.” She described him as “unflappable, collegial, deliberate, realistic, modest, and patient. In short, he is judicious and he will make a superb addition to the Second District Court of Appeal.”

Gay California Supreme Court Justice Martin J. Jenkins, who was Martinez’s superior in the governor’s office, also praised his former colleague as being incredibly well qualified to serve as a judge. He noted that he had been hired “on the spot” to work in Newsom’s administration because of his “superb writing skills, analytical skills, superior intellect” and “broad legal experience” and adeptness at handling both civil and criminal cases in his career, which Jenkins noted is a rarity in lawyers.

“Suffice it to say Governor Newsom has made an inspired choice in nominating Gonzalo Martinez to serve on the court of appeal,” said Jenkins, who was appointed by Newsom as the first out LGBTQ member of the state’s highest court.

Alluding to the recent federal Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in college admissions, Jenkins refuted the argument that diversity shouldn’t matter, particularly when it comes to the judicial bench.

“Some people suggest that diversity is a concept whose time has gone by,” said Jenkins, who is Black. “If you look at this audience and look at his family members and see their pride in what is happening today, and the foothold they know they have in the judicial system because one of their own is going to be a member of the appellate court, you know diversity matters.”

Martinez grew up the oldest of four children in San Joaquin Valley where his non-English speaking immigrant par-

and several people climbed on top of the LRV, putting themselves at risk of falling and/or touching the high voltage electrical equipment.

“Officers attempted to move the crowds which fled in various directions,” the release stated. “A second occupied Muni vehicle was vandalized at 17th and Church streets. Officers continued to give dispersal orders throughout the area, but the crowds remained moving around Dolores Park with some people igniting fireworks and vandalizing property.”

Things came to a climax at 8:12 p.m., when 200 people began removing the barricades the police had set up earlier, the release continued. A third Muni streetcar was occupied and vandalized. Twenty minutes later “it was decided that a mass arrest of the crowd was to be conducted to stop the ongoing unlawful assembly and destruction of property.

During the arrests officers located and seized several firearms left at the scene.”

restaurant posted on Facebook to “encourage people to read the court’s injunction, every page, and understand the case, and put the politics and fear-mongering aside.”

DeSantis press secretary Jeremy Redfern told NPR that the court’s

rience. They come here because they know what we are doing.”

In addition, said Grewal, “We make an effort to meet people where they are at,” from having in depth conversations about wines with customers to offering a more hands off approach for those who prefer a more casual experience. Their lease will be up in May and they have an option to extend it another five years. While the neighborhood, and their business plan, has changed since they opened, the women told the B.A.R. they expect to remain a fixture

ents worked as farm laborers. He lost a sister to leukemia, having translated for his parents during her doctor appointments.

The first in his family to attend college, Martinez graduated from Harvard in 1998 and later earned his law degree from the Ivy League school in 2003. Accepted into the bar a year later, Martinez would go on to be a partner in the Appellate and Supreme Court Practice Group at Squire Patton Boggs from 2007 to 2017 and in 2019.

In 2019, he went to work for Newsom after spending two years as a deputy solicitor general in the California Attorney General’s office. During his time in the administration Martinez played a hand in the appointment of 400 judges in California, helping to diversify the state bench.

Bonta thanked Martinez “as you close one chapter of your life and start another chapter.” He praised him for being “part of a historic reshaping of California’s bench in a way that is needed and important.”

Having earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English, Gonzalez is known for his writing expertise in legal briefings. Guerrero made note of it in her remarks during his confirmation hearing, saying she couldn’t recall seeing letters in support of another judicial applicant include “so many glowing remarks about someone’s writing.”

She added that she is “looking forward to reading your opinions. Not that they would be appealed,” which prompted laughter from those in the courtroom.

As an attorney, Gonzalez said he made it a point to consider both sides of legal arguments in the cases he argued, as well as what the broader implications were of the arguments he made. He now looks forward to doing so as an appellate justice.

“I am excited to be able to focus the rest of my career on finding what I believe is the right result, as opposed to advocating for a particular view,” said Martinez.

Both Earl and Martinez are Democrats. The compensation for each is $264,542.t

In a statement Scott noted, “This dangerous and unlawful behavior put members of the public and our officers at risk of serious injury or worse.”

A B.A.R. reporter inquired on Facebook if anyone had any eyewitness accounts of Saturday’s events but did not get any responses.

The San Francisco District Attorney’s office issued a statement July 11 that said most of the adults arrested and booked were issued citations for misdemeanors.

“One individual arrested in possession of a gun is facing additional charges,” stated Randy Quezada, communications director for the DA’s office. “Each case will be assessed individually and all avenues to ensure there is appropriate accountability will be explored.”

When asked about the juveniles, Quezada stated to the B.A.R. that the “juvenile proceedings are confidential.”t

decision was “dead wrong.”

“It’s constitutional to prevent the sexualization of children by limiting access to adult live performances,” he stated. t

on Folsom Street for years to come.

“The business is on a good trajectory. We get good feedback and the neighborhood supports us,” said Grewal.

For those who don’t live nearby, “don’t be afraid of SOMA, come and hang out,” said Patricia.

To learn more about the store and bar, including the hours for each and upcoming events, or to order wines online and how to become a member of its Bottle Cult wine club, visit https:// decantsf.com/t

California Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, left, administers the oath of office to Gonzalo Martinez, who will serve as an associate justice on the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Seven.

Screengrab via court website

From page 1

“She’s a solid, smart gal and was very frank with Frank,” said Monetta, a straight man who’s an attorney in San Francisco. He, Leal, and Dufty served as student body officers at Cal.

“Character manifests early in life, is my personal experience,” Monetta said of Leal.

Dufty, who was living in Los Angeles at the time, later moved to San Francisco and began working for Leal at City Hall. Back then, he said, there were a lot of “big personalities” on the board, including the late Terence Hallinan, who would go on to become district attorney.

Early actions

In fact, Leal said that one of the things she did on the board was to lead an override of a Jordan veto related to anti-immigrant Proposition 187. While the state proposition was later voided, at the time, the supervisors had passed legislation stating the city would not abide by it. She was joined in the effort by then-supervisor Tom Hsieh, who died in March.

“He felt 187 was really wrong,” Leal recalled of Hsieh.

Passed in November 1994, Prop 187 sought, among other things, to require police, health care professionals, and teachers to verify and report the immigration status of all individuals, including children, the American Civil Liberties Union noted. Days after the measure passed, a federal district court judge held that it violated the United States Constitution and issued an injunction barring its implementation. A later court-approved mediation in 1999 validated that ruling, the ACLU noted.

As for the San Francisco supervisors’ resolution denouncing Prop 187, “Frank vetoed it. He talked to Tom and I, and I think Frank himself knew [Prop 187] was wrong, but he had people around him,” Leal recalled, advising him not to support the board’s legislation.

She remembered telling Hsieh in response to the mayor’s action, “let’s override this veto.”

Jordan could not be reached for comment.

Leal said she still gets choked up about it when recalling a rally on the steps of City Hall.

“I told my mom I’m going to vote against the guy who appointed me. I get out on the front stairs of City Hall and there’s my mother. She had taken Golden Gate Transit down from Santa Rosa. That was really cool,” said Leal, whose mom, Louise, died in 2006.

After her appointment, Leal wasted no time in getting to know city voters because she had to run for election in November 1994 citywide. The city had changed from district elections after gay supervisor Harvey Milk and mayor George Moscone were assassinated by disgruntled ex-supervisor Dan White.

“Everybody picked me to lose,” she recalled, “but I got just about 100,000 votes.”

Jordan’s goddaughter Annemarie Conroy, whom he had selected for another board vacancy, did not win election that year. In those days, five or six supervisors were on the ballot per elec-

tion cycle, and the one who got the most votes became board president.

One of the enjoyable aspects of Leal’s new post came later in June 1993 when she and Migden rode in the San Francisco Pride parade together, Dufty said.

“Susan, Supervisor Leal, was a quick learner and adapted well to her responsibilities on the board and did her job effectively,” Migden wrote in an email. “I asked her to ride with me in the parade to introduce her to the community and we greatly appreciated the enthusiasm of the crowd that day.”

Street renaming

The move to rename Army Street in the mid-1990s was controversial. SF Gate reported at the time that Caltrans would charge the city $900,000 for new freeway signs.

Nonetheless, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the ordinance renaming all of Army Street, from Noe Valley to the bay, in January 1995.

Leal, who had taken over the effort after former supervisor Bill Maher left the board, said that she was surprised by the pushback, since it wasn’t replacing another person’s name. “It was Army Street,” she said, adding that the old Navy Street was renamed 26th Street before the Army street dustup.

The board’s decision led to opponents placing the street renaming on the ballot that fall, but the effort to revert back to Army Street failed.

“Proposition O turned out to be one of the most intense and bitter ballot issues in years,” SFGate reported. “It pitted neighborhood leaders against City Hall and neighbors against neighbors. It called up accusations of veiled racism on one side and political correctness at the expense of tradition on the other.”

Bill Ambrunn, a gay man who served as an aide for Leal during that time, recalled the ballot fight being “super ugly.”

Ambrunn remembered vitriolic voicemails Leal received at City Hall along the lines of “go back where you came from” as well as homophobic comments.

“She was born in the Castro,” Ambrunn said. “My father was born in Munich. No one in my entire life said to go back where you came from. She was just reduced to this stereotype so easily.

“I was not naïve after that,” he added. “She handled it like a champ.”

Leal said she’s had homophobic “stuff

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as META MAGIC NEEDLE;

said to me for years.”

“Are you a lesbian?” people would ask, she recalled. “Yeah,” she would respond. “I was this Brown girl who had to explain herself.”

Equal benefits ordinance

One of the most consequential legislative battles and a highlight of Leal’s tenure came in 1996 with the push for the equal benefits ordinance, which required companies doing business with San Francisco to offer the same benefits to domestic partners that they offered to straight married workers. One major sticking point during the process was the Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco because the nonprofit Catholic Charities received millions of dollars in city funding for its various programs and would be affected by the law.

By that time, Migden had left the board and two other out supervisors –Ammiano and Katz – had joined the body, the first time it had three gay and lesbian members serving on it. Today, three gay men are on the board: Joel Engardio in District 4, Matt Dorsey (D6), and Rafael Mandelman (D8).

Leal noted that after San Francisco implemented it, “equal benefits spread like wildfire.” This was at a time before same-sex marriage was recognized in the U.S., and same-sex couples often could not receive benefits for their partners through their employer.

At one point, Leal, Ammiano, and Katz met with then-Archbishop William Levada. By that time, Katz said, the three had come up with a compromise with a closeted member of the archbishop’s staff while Levada was on vacation and allowed Levada to take credit for it. (Levada died in 2019.)

“It was intimidating for them,” Katz, who is Jewish, said of Ammiano and Leal, who both grew up Catholic. Leal attended the all-girls Catholic Presentation School.

Katz said that then Board of Supervisors President Barbara Kaufman and then-mayor Willie Brown also went to the meeting and that at first, Ammiano wasn’t going to go, but changed his mind. Known for his quick wit – Ammiano had performed as a standup comedian and was a former San Francisco school board president – Katz said he was urged not to be funny.

“Oh, no,” Katz recalled of that request, adding that the only humorous thing Ammiano said was, “Katz is right, the devil is in the details.”

Ammiano was out of town and not able to comment.

The compromise that was reached, Leal and Katz said, would allow any adult member of the household to be eligible for benefits, meaning it did not have to be a same-sex couple.

“It was a domestic partner or someone else living with you,” Leal recalled.

“Actually, that expanded health care benefits.”

Gay former supervisor Jeff Sheehy agreed. He was one of the three activists who came up with the equal benefits ordinance, along with Geoff Kors, who went on to work as an aide for Katz, and Carol Stuart. (Kors later led Equality California and then served on the Palm Springs City Council until last year.)

“Besides Susan’s considerable leadership on the Board of Supervisors in assisting in getting the equal benefits ordinance enacted, in supporting vigorous enforcement of the law by the Human Rights Commission and by backing the city attorney’s office in its historic defense of the law, Supervisor Leal played the pivotal role in crafting the skillful compromise with the Catholic Archdiocese that rescued the EBO from a huge fight,” Sheehy wrote in an email. “Since Catholic Charities was and is a contractor with the city, it was subject to the EBO. The compromise allowed Catholic Charities to be in compliance by permitting employees to designate a member of their household as the recipient of spousal benefits (health insurance, pension, etc.) if they were not married already. In effect, it allowed same-sex employees to obtain pension and health insurance benefits for their partners and the church did not have to officially recognize those relationships.

“It was a source of pride for many of us that this compromise extended needed benefits to family members in other employees’ households such as grandmothers, aunts, and uncles,” he added.

United Airlines was another major obstacle to the ordinance, delaying it while company officials fought with the city and argued it violated federal health regulations.

“I said this is not an ERISA thing,” Leal

recalled, referring to the federal Employment Retirement Income Security Act, though she added that she knew it was not easy for large employers to change health care plans for their workers.

The equal benefits ordinance had a lasting impact. As the B.A.R. reported on the occasion of its 20th anniversary in 2017, former city administrator Naomi Kelly said that in 1997 when the law was first passed, 500 companies in the country offered domestic partner benefits. Two decades later Kelly noted more than 8,000 businesses were offering domestic partner benefits, all 50 states had companies compliant with San Francisco’s law, and 19 jurisdictions in seven states had followed San Francisco’s lead.

Constituent services

Ambrunn said Leal emphasized constituent services while a supervisor.

“She took that seriously,” he said.

The door of Leal’s office was always kept open, he recalled. It was a different time because the supervisors heard from people all over the city.

“Our instructions were to provide constituent services to everyone who asked,” Ambrunn said, adding staff was instructed to pick up the phone by the fourth ring. “I did her scheduling for a year and it was amazing what she said yes to – all over the city.”

One of Leal’s other projects was the red light camera program, which she said was brought to her by a constituent who had lost his brother when someone ran a red light.

“It was a problem,” she said, before adding that she herself was hit by a car long after she left the board in 2008 when she was general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. It was not due to a red light runner but she suffered serious injury.

“Pedestrian safety is still a problem,” she said.

Leal also advocated for drug treatment funding while chair of the board’s budget committee, she said.

“And we put the first money into child care,” she said of the supervisors’ efforts. At that time there was the federal welfare-to-work program. “I talked to Barbara Kaufman, if we’re going to get women to work they need someone to look after their kids,” she said.

Life after the board

In 1997, Leal campaigned for the open city treasurer-tax collector position and won. She served in the position until 2004, when then-mayor Gavin Newsom named her as general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The SFPUC board terminated her contract four years later and voted in closed session to fire her. That was the year she’d been hit by a car and suffered a brain hemorrhage, as the B.A.R. reported. Leal ran unsuccessfully for mayor, as did Ammiano, in 2003 when Newsom won.

These days, Leal said she does some consulting work on water and climate issues. She’s also joined Harvard University as a senior fellow in its advanced leadership institute.

She’s glad her time on the Board of Supervisors was productive.

“We did great stuff,” she said. .t

JOHN TIRADO-RAFFERTY. 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 3rd of AUGUST 2023 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JUNE 22, 29, JULY 06, 13, 2023

Then-San Francisco city attorney Louise Renne, left, Supervisor Susan Leal, and her campaign consultant Scott Shafer looked at election results at Leal’s victory celebration for San Francisco treasurer on November 4, 1997.

Gerharter

Former San Francisco supervisor Susan Leal

Courtesy Susan Leal

by Jim Provenzano

It may not be the first Broadway musical about the making of a Broadway musical, but “A Chorus Line” is certainly the most prominent. When it opened in the early 1975, the musical, with a score by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante, with direction and choreography by Michael Bennett, is credited with reviving The Broadway scene in the 1970s.

This is ironic, considering that Bennett’s show –developed through extensive workshops with auditioning dancers– critiques the very structure and nature of auditions, performances and the undervalued worth of dancers in show business.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, which ran for decades at the Shubert Theater in multiple casts, in revivals, touring productions and even an anniversary staging, is given a rousing, emotional and strong new life under the direction of Bill English at San Francisco Playhouse.

‘A Chorus Line’

SF Playhouse’s production is a singular sensation

The company had a risky proposition ahead of it. Recreate a classic 1970s musical without any anachronisms or changes. Despite a few dated references to Robert Goulet and Jill St. John, the book has had

Help is on the Way 27

by David-Elijah Nahmod

Cast members from the new touring company of the classic musical “Les Miserables” will join other Broadway and cabaret stars at the Marines’ Memorial Theater on July 16 for “Help is On the Way 27: Broadway & Beyond,” the latest fundraiser from the Richmond Ermet Aid Foundation.

Founded in 1995 by Barbara Richmond and Peggy Ermet, two close friends who lost their only sons to AIDS, REAF stages annual concerts which serve as fundraisers for a variety of AIDS organizations. As always, this latest incarnation offers a mix of San Francisco and Broadway performers who will be raising funds for Project Open Hand, a non-profit which provides free, nutritious meals to

people living with HIV and other critical illnesses. REAF’s Small Emergency Grants Program, which provides small grants to people facing crisis situations, will also be a beneficiary.

One of the motivating factors in staging these fundraisers is what Barbara Richmond was told when she was visiting her son John in the hospital before he died. A nurse thanked Richmond for visiting her son, stating that many parents did not visit their sick children after finding out that the child was gay and had AIDS. Upon hearing this Richmond felt that she had to do something for those who were ill. The “Help is On the Way” concerts have proven to be particularly popular with Bay Area audiences, raising thousands upon thousands of dollars for those in need.

“When we started, we only expected to be doing these benefits for a few years and that we’d have a

no interference and retains a timeless quality.

The setup is deceptively simple. A choreographer (Keith Pinto as Zach) and his assistant (Ann Warque as Lori) line up more than a dozen dancers and give them a set of routines. Some fumble while others overdo it. The cast is soon cut down to what will become a mere eight performers chosen for the chorus of an unnamed musical in development.

But instead of just asking for their resume and headshots –possibly one of the most iconic moments in the entirety of musical theater– Zach asks personal questions of the dancers. Some bluff their way through performative monologues until the director breaks them down and asks them to be more honest.

What we get in Marvin Hamlisch’s songs, now vaunted to iconic status, are a series of absorbing personal and painful memories about what led these people to become dancers. The rotating mirrors serve not only as a reference to a dance studio, but a reflective exploration of

each dancer’s life and career.

Tony Conaty shines as Mike, the plucky macho dancer who, after following his sister to dance class, takes up the art form on his own (“I Can Do That”). His sleeveless T-shirt helps display his elegant port de bras throughout the show.

Bebe (Jillian A. Smith), Sheila (Allison Ewing), and Maggie (Danielle Cheiken) in the hauntingly beautiful  “At the Ballet” is a stand out, but so are all the other musical numbers. Comic relief is provided in “Sing” and “Dance Ten; Looks Three.”

While three other actors play (probably or openly) gay characters (Dalton Bertolone as Greg, Zeke Edmonds as Mark, Nicholas Yenson as Bobby), it is Paul (Alex Rodriguez) who is most remembered as the vulnerable one. His monologue –surprisingly bereft of a musical number–recounts his performing in drag and a final conversation with his parents before he leaves them.

See page 14 >>

cure for AIDS and get on with our normal lives,” said Ken Henderson, REAF’s executive director and events producer, in an interview with the Bay Area Reporter. “We’re actually in our 29th year but we aren’t counting the two years during COVID. We did produce some virtual events during that time using footage from our 25-year history of events, but this is our 27th annual live gala. It seems rather surreal that we’ve been doing this for so long.”

Cook and Jordan tributes

Over the years many luminaries have participated in the concerts, such as actors Carole Cook and Leslie Jordan, both of whom have recently passed on. Cook was a “Help is On the Way” stalwart who appeared year after year, making her last appearance when she was in her mid-90s.

Jordan was an openly gay actor who is fondly re-

membered for his Emmy-winning run as closet case Beverly Leslie on “Will & Grace.”

“Carole was our grand diva,” said Henderson. “Carole’s first appearance was in our third annual concert and she was such a hit we just kept bringing her back. She could go on and on a bit but her stories were always hilarious and the audience loved her.”

This year’s show will include a video tribute to Cook that will be somewhat different than what’s been shown before. There will also be a tribute to Jordan, and Henderson is delighted to report that filmmaker/playwright Del Shores, who directed Jordan in “Sordid Lives,” will be on hand. Shores will be introducing the Jordan tribute.

“Leslie was my friend, my muse, for 37 years,” Shores said. “We were family. He heard my lines

See page 15 >>

The finale of San Francisco Playhouse’s ‘A Chorus Line’

Jessica Palopoli

An REAF benefit concert finale in 2019

Steven Underhill

San Francisco Playhouse’s ‘A Chorus Line’

Feelin’ hot

by Victoria A. Brownworth

We are living through the hottest period in world history, with global temps reaching all-time highs. Much of the country has been in triple digits for weeks. And malaria is making a comeback in the states with the two most anti-LGBTQ governors, which if we had people like Pat Robertson on our side, might be commented upon as a sign of smiting from the Almighty.

While this might not add up to the literal End Times, it sure feels like a preview. The TV documentary “Climate Crisis: Drought” is well worth your time. Written and directed by Roxane Schlumberger and starring Sir David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg, Mark Ruffalo, Prince Harry and with appearances by former British Prime Minister turned environmentalist, Tony Blair and Vanessa Nakate, Ugandan climate activist, the film details the impacts of climate change and how they are being felt everywhere.

Given that there is famine throughout several nations in Africa that is completely drought related and Canadian wildfires triggered by drought are causing health hazards in the U.S. and water wars throughout a quarter of the U.S. make “Chinatown” look like a docudrama, this is a film to watch; on Amazon Prime, Tubi and Roku.

Bad news from GLAAD

The annual GLAAD “Where We Are on TV Report” is out for 20222023 and it’s not good.

This year, GLAAD counted 659 series regulars set to appear on scripted primetime broadcast series for the 2022-2023 season. Of those, 70 (10.6 percent) are LGBTQ. This is a de-

The Lavender Tube on steamy and serious viewing

crease of 22 characters and 1.3 percent from last year. There are an additional 31 LGBTQ recurring characters counted, bringing the total to 101 LGBTQ characters on broadcast, an overall decrease of 40 characters from the previous year.

Plus, of the 596 LGBTQ characters, 175 (29 percent) will not be returning due to series cancellations, endings, miniseries/anthology format, or a character dying or leaving the show!

Yikes.

On the streaming services Apple TV+, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Paramount+ and Peacock, GLAAD counted 239 series regular LGBTQ characters and 117 LGBTQ recurring characters, bringing the total to 356 LGBTQ characters. That is a decrease of two characters from the previous year’s report.

More than half of all LGBTQ characters across platforms were people of color (POC), with 304 out of 596 (51 percent of all LGBTQ characters) being POC. Of the 596 LGBTQ characters found across all platforms, there were 32 transgender characters counted in this report (5.4 percent of all LGBTQ characters). Of those, there were 16 trans women, 11 trans men, and five trans nonbinary characters.

You can download the entire report at https://glaad.org/whereweareontv22

The Idol Need a summer fling that tests your boundaries? “The Idol” is that. Queer, BDSM, hot, intriguing and immediately addictive, it’s a perfect binge for a climate crisis weekend.

The story: After a nervous breakdown derailed Jocelyn’s (Lily-Rose Depp) last tour, she’s determined to

claim her rightful status as the greatest and sexiest pop star in America. Her passions are reignited by Tedros (Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye), a nightclub impresario with a sordid past. Will her romantic awakening take her to glorious new heights or the deepest and darkest depths of her soul?

“The Idol” is co-created by Sam Levinson (“Euphoria”), Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Reza Fahim, and stars Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp. Also starring Troye Sivan, Dan Levy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Eli Roth, Hari Nef, Jane Adams, Jennie Ruby Jane, Mike Dean, Moses Sumney, Rachel Sennott, Ramsey, Suzanna Son, and Hank Azaria.

The Prank Panel

“The Prank Panel” is one of the best and most fun of the game show series we are stuck with this summer while everyone ignores the WGA writer’s strike. With co-hosts Johnny Knoxville, Eric André and Gabourey Sidibe it’s got a lot of humor, not a little meanness and plenty of queerness tossed in.

The premise: People pitch pranks targeting partners (some gay), family members, friends and co-workers to a panel of “the world’s greatest pranksters.” Knoxville is the prankster extraordinaire, having co-created and starred in the now-iconic MTV reality stunt show “Jackass.” André is a comedian and the creator, host, and co-writer of the “Adult Swim” surreal comedy series “The Eric André Show.” Oscar-nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe is also a comedian and a big surprise on this show.

The trio are the all-star panel of “pranxperts.” They take viewers behind the scenes to help to plot and plan elaborate and diabolical schemes. The panelists serve as mentors and saboteurs, with celebrity guests sometimes joining the shenanigans and hooliganism.

Not for everyone, but it has its moments of true hilarity and is a light bit of froth that demands nothing of the viewer but that they enjoy this guilty pleasure; on ABC/Hulu

Sport’s end

Iconic lesbian soccer star and activist Megan Rapinoe announced July 8 that this season will be her last world cup. The women’s national team star made the totally unexpected announcement prior to a U.S. game against Wales.

Rapinoe, who turned 38 July 5, is an Olympic gold medalist and Winner of the Ballon d’Or Féminin. She was named The Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2019, won the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and she won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. Rapinoe was included in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020 and in July 2022, Rapinoe received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden. She’s been an outspoken activist for LGBTQ rights since coming out in 2012 and has been supportive of young trans athletes.

Rapinoe has changed the sport for women in a myriad of ways. She told reporters, “I just want to say thank you to everybody. I could have never imagined where this beautiful game would have taken me.” She called playing for the national team “the greatest thing that I have ever done.”

Fugedaboudit

Michael Imperioli forbade “bigots and homophobes” from watching his work following the Supreme Court ruling. “I’ve decided to forbid bigots and homophobes from watching ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘The White Lotus,’ ‘Goodfellas’ or any movie or TV show I’ve been in,” Imperioli said in the caption of a post on his Instagram page Saturday, adding “Thank you Supreme Court for allowing me to discriminate and exclude those who I don’t agree with and am opposed to. USA! USA!”

In the comments, Imperioli added, “hate and ignorance is not a legitimate point of view” and “America is becoming dumber by the minute.”

So for the sublime and the ridiculous and because we’re losing LGBTQ characters all the time, you know you really must stay tuned.t

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<< A Chorus Line

From page 13

When Paul is injured, Zack demands that the dancers consider what they will do when they can no longer perform. This leads to the popular favorite song, “What I Did for Love.”

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And while love is never gone, something’s still painful in the distant relationship between Cassie, a onetime lead performer now relegated to auditioning for chorus, and her past relationship with Zack, as she begs for a simple small part. In the iconic

dance solo, “The Music and The Mirror,” the role of Cassie, originated by Donna McKecknie, is given a visceral emotional interpretation by choreographer Nicole Helfer.

The bare black stage transforms into a series of mirrors that accompany Cassie as she desperately tries to show off her last layback in an attempt to regain her status as worthy of a chorus job.

Helfer’s choreography throughout the show may tip a hat to Michael Bennett, but she doesn’t borrow too much. It’s amazing to see ’70s-era

Broadway-style movements recreated perfectly while still retaining a flair of originality.

This is prominently displayed in the beguiling “Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love,” a montage of adolescent angst-filled monologues and songs that could be exhausting, but under English’s direction, Helfer’s choreography, and the stellar individual performances builds into one of the most touching moments of the show. As Diana, Samantha Rose Cárdenas crushed the emotive “Nothing,” and Mike Oesch’s lighting expertly isolates multiple moments.

The only critique might be that the golden-costumed glitzy finale “One,” while giving each actor a short bow before the crowd-pleasing kickline, ends a bit abruptly without room for a curtain call, except for a nod to the accomplished musicians. There may be no curtain, but this production deserves numerous curtain calls and standing ovations.

While elaborately-staged local and touring musicals will come and go, the testament of “A Chorus Line” is that a nearly-bare stage and actors in rehearsal clothes can bring more theatrical insight and emotional impact than any special effects.t

‘A Chorus Line,’ at San Francisco Playhouse. $15-$100; thru Sept 9. 450 Post St. www.sfplayhouse.org

Megan Rapinoe Michael Imperioli

Left: ‘Climate Crisis: Drought’ Middle Left: GLAAD’s media report Middle Right: Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd in ‘The Idol’

Right: Eric André, Johnny Knoxville and Gabourey Sidibe cohost ‘The Prank Panel’

Connie (Ruri Kodama) describes her long career to the other auditioning dancers (L-R: Tony Conaty, Dalton Bertolone, Nicole Helfer, Alison Ewing, Nicholas Yenson) in San Francisco Playhouse’s ‘A Chorus Line.’

Jessica Palopoli

‘Theater Camp’s a flawed yet fun film t Film

by Brian Bromberger

For many queer students, past and present, theater was a refuge. Not only could you find other LGBTQ people involved, but it served as a hospitable place for bohemians, nonconformists, and free spirits, people open to queer artistry. Theater allowed queer kids to be themselves and find their confidence, as well as encouraging creativity in an often wonderful, insane oasis.

Theater’s gift is that it welcomes all, one of the virtues being celebrated in the new film “Theater Camp,” (Searchlight Pictures) which might make Drama Club cool in the same way “Glee” reimagined and revitalized chorus/choir.

Summer camp in general could be a nightmare scenario for many teens, but this movie goes a long way in exorcising some of those demons. Frameline audiences went wild at its debut two weeks ago as the festival’s centerpiece narrative. While not flawless, “Theater Camp” might have the makings of a breakthrough summer smash if viewers can tolerate its in-house eccentricities and references.

The movie is a feature-length version of a 2020 short of the same name that went viral. It takes place at a threeweek ramshackle summer camp called AdirondACTS in upstate New York, a training ground for future performers.

The founder, Joan (the always incredible Amy Sedaris) has a seizure during a youth production of “Bye, Bye Birdie” caused by strobe lights, landing her comatose in a hospital. Her “cryptobro” business vlogger dimwit son Troy (Jimmy Tatro) must run the camp in her absence, which he soon realizes is

facing financial ruin, weeks away from a bank foreclosure.

The nearby rival and more expensive snazzy Lakeside camp, represented by its conniving hedge fund business manager (Patti Harrison), is ready to buy it at the first opportunity.

Troy, who has no stage experience, is forced to ally with the theater aspiring teachers to mount a blockbuster show that might financially save the camp.

Plucky kids

The principal teachers and de facto leaders are the jerky Amos (Ben Platt), “a performer who is a full-time acting teacher” (“a little more stepfather,” he advises) and occasionally vicious Rebecca-Diane (Molly Gordon, “Shiva Baby”) on music theory (furiously denouncing one camper using a “tear stick” to fake-cry an emotional scene), who also conducts séances. They are

co-dependent best friends and Juilliard failures with massive egos who can be toxic to each other. Every summer they write an original finale show. This year’s production is a musical “Joan, Still,” on the life story of the camp’s comatose founder.

Other teachers include new hire Janet (Ayo Edebiri, “Bottoms”) who, having lied on her resume, knows nothing about theater; biting costume designer Gigi (Owen Thiele); imperious dance instructor Clive (Nathan Lee Graham); and overworked/underappreciated stage manager technical director Glenn (Noah Galvin, “Booksmart,”) giving the film’s standout performance.

As competent as the adult actors are (especially Gordon, but the periodically annoying Platt making some progress in atoning for last year’s “Dear Evan Hansen” debacle), it’s the child

medication to stay healthy.”

In addition to the Cook and Jordan tributes, the show will include a tribute to the recently lost Tina Turner from Billboard recording artist Debby Holiday.

“While Tina never performed for REAF, there is a musical based on her life and Debby has a whole show based on Tina’s music,” said Henderson. “We think this show has something for everyone.”

Other performers in the show include Broadway stars David Burnham, Marta Sanders, and Lisa Vroman. Cabaret artists Ava Nicole Francis and Leanne Borghesi will also be on hand. There will also be a silent auction in the Marines’ Memorial lobby prior to the show.

<< Help is On the Way

From page 13

exactly as I heard them. He elevated my work, made my life and career better. I miss him daily.”

Shores shared a particularly heartwarming story about Jordan that took place in 1995 when they were doing Shores’ first play “Cheatin’” in Kansas City. They were having a Christmas Eve breakfast at a diner where they were served by a single mom who had three kids to support. Jordan asked her if she and the kids were going to have a big Christmas. She responded with tears in her eyes, saying that there was no money for gifts that year. Jordan insisted to Shores that they tip her $50 each so she could give her kids a good Christmas. Jordan wrote on the check that she should spend every penny on the kids.

“We watched her from the car find the money,” said Shores. “She collapsed in the booth, overcome with emotion. Leslie gave back his entire life, even before he had the money to do so. That’s who he was.”

Obligation to honor

Shores himself is delighted to be giving back by participating in “Help is On the Way.” In addition to introducing the tribute to Jordan, he’ll help with the auction that will be part of the show.

“We have all been affected by HIV/

AIDS in some way,” he said. “And we have also all lost those we love to life threatening illness. Compassion, love and care are important. Until there is a cure, we must all give back, serve. It is my pleasure and my obligation to honor so many.”

Henderson also feels that it’s important to continue helping those who are affected by HIV/AIDS.

“HIV is not the death sentence it was when we started but it’s still not a disease you want to live with,” he said. “Research has shown that people with HIV tend to develop age-related illnesses earlier on than the greater population. And it still can be transmitted to others and requires life-long

The fun doesn’t end after the final curtain comes down. There will be a VIP after-party at the Beacon Grand Hotel (formerly the Sir Francis Drake) after the show.

“This is a chance for VIP ticket buyers to get to meet and mingle with the cast,” said Henderson, “get autographs and get to know them while enjoying wine, premium cocktails and wonderful desserts and savories.”t

‘Help is On the Way 27: Broadway and Beyond,’ July 16, Marines’ Memorial Theater, 609 Sutter, 6:30pm silent auction in lobby, 7:30pm performance, 9:45pm after party at Beacon Grand Hotel, $39-$250 and up. https://www.reaf-sf.org/

stars playing the precocious, plucky kid campers who shine brightest, especially Alan Kim (“Minari”) as a bossy wannabe agent and another geeky teen nervously trying to come out as straight to his two gay dads. Every pint-sized actor gets one scene to excel.

Gordon and Mark Lieberman directed and share co-writing credits with Platt and Galvin (real life fiancés), all childhood friends and former theater campers, who collaboratively draw on their vast thespian expertise and wisdom. It’s a thin script (there are some instantly quotable lines: “Only three percent of people make it. The rest end up in a mental facility or on a gogo box in Hell’s Kitchen.”

“Tear sticks are the doping of theater.”) though heavy on improvisation, one of the movie’s strengths.

Based on the description, the film’s principal inspiration is Christopher Guest’s mockumentary “Waiting for Guffman,” using its cinema verité style to imitate a documentary, gently savage drama stereotypes and poke fun at the weirdos and zany characters endemic to this premise. It wisely avoids the fourth-wall breaking or talking heads typical of this genre’s set-up.

The environment is chaotic, even incoherent, but captures the playfulness, excesses, and heightened enthusiasm of this whole enterprise. Honestly, of the 100 catty jokes and gags, only a few land as sure-fire winners, but redemption oddly comes via the silly songs of “Joan, Still” (a clever nod

to the 2014 movie “Still, Alice”) with their witty sometimes raunchy lyrics and catchy tunes, culminating in a finale that’s surprisingly heartfelt.

The film’s main drawback is its evocations of endless theatrical references, whether it be “Sweeney Todd,” Patti Lupone, or Throat Coat lozenges, often embedded in double-entendre jokes. If you’re familiar with the allusions, you can laugh along with the cast. However, those unfamiliar with the “lingo” might be cast adrift and bewildered.

Because the plot and cast focuses on misfits, the ones who don’t square with the mainstream, as well as the sacrifices needed to succeed at any career, that’s a wider net which might be more relatable to audiences.

The screenplay is primarily an underdog story about kooky characters for which everyone can root. It will be fascinating to see whether the film, with both its gay sensibility and Jewish bent (i.e. past original show: “A Hanukah Divorce Story”), will hit the jackpot at the cineplex.

All the hit-or-miss fluffy fun lays the seeds for possible future cult status.

“Theater Camp” is camp theater with a winning collaborative spirit and quirky humor featuring a cast that’s having a blast. What more could viewers ask from summer entertainment?t

www.searchlightpictures.com/ theater-camp/

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Molly Gordon and Ben Platt in ‘Theater Camp’

Searchlight Pictures

The late Carol Cook (shown at a 2019 REAF concert) and Leslie Jordan (at a recent GLAAD SF Awards gala) will be paid tribute at ‘Help is On the Way 27’

Ken Henderson, REAF’s Executive Director Playwright Del Shores

Both photos: Steven Underhill

‘Hello Yellow Brick Road’

SFGMC pays homage to Elton John and Oz

world beyond, ‘Oh I’ve finally decided that my future lies beyond the yellow brick road’ that strikes me. So it’s like that journey home isn’t about never following the path ahead. It’s about braving that wilderness and ending up at home at the same time.”

“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” remains a popular tune fifty years on, and Stensberg feels that it has achieved classic status, because like many other classic songs it possesses an incredible poetry.

“This song has it,” he said. “Bernie Taupin’s lyrics feel personally relatable to all of us, even though the song is a bit autobiographical for him, and Elton’s songwriting is almost mystic. The verses start low and conversational, then escalate to a high-pitched falsetto in the chorus. It’s brilliant and balanced songwriting.”

by David-Elijah Nahmod

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sir Elton John’s landmark album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” on July 19. The album’s title track makes subtle references to the themes explored in the classic musical fantasy “The Wizard of Oz” and so the chorus will perform songs from the 1939 Judy Garland film along with songs from “The Wiz” and the blockbuster musical “Wicked.” This concert, titled “Hello Yellow Brick Road,” marks the chorus’ return to Davies Symphony Hall, where they will be supported by the San Francisco Symphony.

The story of Dorothy’s journey down the Yellow Brick Road to the land of Oz has always resonated with the LGBT community, making this concert the perfect cap to SFGMC’s 45th season, according to chorus CEO Chris Verdugo.

“Now, with our rights and freedoms being threatened across the country, this concert serves as both comfort and a powerful rallying cry for action,” Verdugo said in a statement.

But there are other reasons that “The Wizard of Oz” means so much to the LGBT community, according to Jacob Stensberg, artistic director of the Chorus.

“Just like the SFGMC, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is an intergenerational masterpiece,” Stensberg said in an interview with the Bay Area Reporter. “The film

itself is an incredible piece of art. Its groundbreaking use of color, dynamic musical score, and instantly lovable characters make it a film that truly transcends time. Dorothy’s acceptance, inclusion and celebration of her new friends that are different from her resonates with me personally as a gay man. More people in the world like Dorothy, please.”

Some of the Oz-themed songs that the chorus will perform include “One Short Day” from Wicked,” “Home” from “The Wiz,” and a mash-up of “Over the Rainbow” and “Defying Gravity.”

“These songs capture the magic, the hope, and the resilience that we need in our lives,” said Stensberg. Stensberg admits to being a big Elton John fan and has wanted to perform a concert of his music for a long time. With the 50th anniversary of the “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” album and Sir Elton wrapping up his farewell tour, the time had come to make this dream come true. The album’s title track very much plays into the themes of “The Wizard of Oz,” such as the lyric “I should have stayed on the farm, I

Post-Pride pressings

by Gregg Shapiro

Pride month has passed but you can fly your own flag of fandom for two popular musical favorites; Cher and Pet Shop Boys, with reissued vinyl and CD collections.

Cher is a gay icon, but, no, Cher isn’t queer.

However, the expanded deluxe edition reissue of her underrated 1996 album “It’s A Man’s World” (Warner Records), available on vinyl and CD, certainly is. “It’s a Man’s World” was originally released between her late 1980s/early 1990s Geffen Records rocker chick period and her second disco diva era (following the late 1970s on Casablanca) driven by “Believe” and “Song For The Lonely” in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

It’s a singer/songwriter record on which Cher covers songs by Marc Cohn (“Walking in Memphis”), Don Henley (“Not Enough Love In the World”), Eric Kaz (“I’m Blowin’ Away”), Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon (“The Gunman”), and even James Brown (the title track).

More significantly, Cher covered songs by two extraordinary lesbian singer/songwriters, Patty Larkin (“Angels Running”) and Maia Sharp (“Don’t Come Around Tonite”).

The reissue is also significant in that it not only features the three tracks from the Japanese import edi-

tion – “Don’t Come Around Tonite,” “The Shape of Things To Come,” and “I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog (The Way You Treated Me)” – cut from the previous domestic version, but also reorders the song sequence to that of the import. But wait, there’s more! As if to hint at what was coming down the pike, the “It’s A Man’s World” reissue includes a second disc of dance remixes, including four remixes of “One By One,” four of “Paradise Is Here,” two of “Walking in Memphis,” and one of “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore.”

should have listened to my old man,” words which conjure up images of Dorothy intoning “there’s no place like home” in the movie.

Friends of Dorothy

“I think ‘there’s no place like home’ is definitely a part of it,” Stensberg said. “But I believe there’s a complex tension of opposites nestled in there as well. The lyrics definitely speak to returning to one’s roots, but it’s the

Reissues from Cher and Pet Shop Boys

There are several classic tunes on the “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” album, such as “Candle in the Wind” and “Bennie and the Jets.” As the show begins, the orchestra will perform a brief overture of themes from the concert in a Broadway-esque style, then the chorus will give the audience a taste of “Bennie and the Jets.” The chorus will then perform “Saturday Night’s Allright” and end with “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” A total of thirteen Elton John songs will make it into the concert, along with songs from the musicals.

As with most SFGMC concerts, there will be solo numbers, costumes and dancing. At one point the entire chorus will dance.

“And I’m going to make sure we find a way to get some drag into the show,” said Stensberg. “Because we’re queer and drag is not a crime.”

Stensberg was delighted to report that none other than Sir Elton himself has been made aware of the concert. His response: “Brilliant! I’ll look into it!”

“I’m still hoping for a deeper follow-up,” Stensberg said. “If you know anyone who knows anyone, let me know.”t

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus’ ‘Hello Yellow Brick Road,’ July 19, 7:30pm. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. $69-$175. www.sfsymphony.org

www.sfgmc.org

boards of “I Don’t Wanna,” Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe established themselves as creators of irresistible queer dance pop, paving the way for Erasure and countless others.

Equally important is that Pet Shop Boys achieved both commercial and critical acclaim, releasing almost a dozen major-label albums before starting its own indie label.

Also of value is the way PSB never shied away from queer subject matter on songs such as “Being Boring,” “It’s A Sin,” and “New York City Boy.”

The only complaint, if there could possibly be one, is that the disc doesn’t include the hologram found on some of the original CD releases.

Smashing

Just a few years shy of the 40th anniversary of the release of its 1986 debut album “Please,” which peaked at number seven on the US album charts, Pet Shop Boys are feted with a long overdue box set, “Smash: The Singles 1985-2020” (Parlophone/Rhino). Already the subject of decent hits

collections, including 1991’s “Discography” and 2003’s “PopArt,” the threedisc (or six LP) and two Blu-rays (of videos and video extras) “Smash” compilation (also available on cassette and digital download) covers all the bases. Even more importantly, it’s presented in chronological order, giving listeners an opportunity to (re) experience the duo’s extraordinary creative trajectory.

From the first distinctive ticking beats and subtle synths of “West End Girls” to the fat beats and buzzing key-

In addition to numerous originals, “Smash” includes PSB covers of “Always On My Mind,” the “Where The Streets Have No Name/I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” the Village People’s “Go West,” and “Somewhere” from “West Side Story.”

Guest artists include Dusty Springfield (“What Have I Done To Deserve This?” and Olly Alexander’s Years & Years (“Dreamland”).

And “Love Is A Bourgeois Construct” is one of the greatest dance songs ever written; a must-have!t

Cher’s deluxe “It’s a Man’s World” reissue Pet Shop Boys’ “Smash: The Singles 1985-2020”

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus

Gooch

Jacob Stensberg, Artistic Director of SF Gay Men’s Chorus

Elton John’s ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ album cover, designed by Ian Beck

2017 Media Kit 0 a

Mission Statement

The Los Angeles Blade covers Los Angeles and California news, politics, opinion, arts and entertainment and features national and international coverage from the Blade’s award-winning reporting team. Be part of this exciting publication serving LGBT Los Angeles from the team behind the Washington Blade, the nation’s first LGBT newspaper. From the freeway to the Beltway we’ve got you covered.

PRIDE2023

2017 Media Kit 0 a

Mission Statement

The Los Angeles Blade covers Los Angeles and California news, politics, opinion, arts and entertainment and features national and international coverage from the Blade’s award-winning reporting team. Be part of this exciting publication serving LGBT Los Angeles from the team behind the Washington Blade, the nation’s first LGBT newspaper. From the freeway to the Beltway we’ve got you covered.

Honey, I’m Homo!’

by David-Elijah Nahmod

O ne might not think of “Bewitched” when talking about queer characters on sitcoms, yet that’s exactly what Matt Baume does in his new book “Hi Honey, I’m Homo! Sitcoms, Specials and the Queering of American Culture.” Though “Bewitched” is now known to have several queer cast members, there wasn’t a single gay character on the show. (Well, maybe Uncle Arthur.) Yet Baume, who is himself gay, convincingly argues that “Bewitched” was a thinly disguised metaphor for the conditions that queers were forced to live with in the 1960s.

“Bewitched” was a light, fun show about Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery), a beautiful witch who fell in love with and married Darren, a mortal (Dick York, later Dick Sargent). Samanthan and Darren lived the American dream in their comfortable suburban house, where Samantha dutifully did housework while Darren went to his ad executive job in the city.

On the surface they were a typical married couple of the time, but they harbored a deep, dark secret. They were forced to hide the fact that Samantha was a witch, just as LGBT

people were forced to hide who they were during the more conservative, less tolerant 1960s. According to Baume, this led to the show’s deep

resonance with LGBT viewers, making “Bewitched” the first TV show to garner a sizable queer audience.

Baume’s book is divided into

twelve chapters, with each chapter focusing on a particular sitcom. The shows are presented in chronological order. As Baume journeys

through the decades, he beautifully traces the evolution of queer characters on sitcoms, from the deeply closeted Samantha and Darren to “All in the Family” and “Barney Miller,” which were the first shows to have recurring gay characters, to “Soap,” the 1970s show that featured Billy Crystal as Jodie, a gay man who fought, and won a child custody battle.

Baume documents the very public coming out of Ellen DeGeneres, both in real life and on her self-titled show “Ellen,” to the out loud and proud characters of “Will & Grace” and “Modern Family.” Twelve shows in all are examined.

Family viewing

Baume points out how ahead of their time some of these shows were, such as “All in the Family,” a show that dared to go where no show had gone before. As early as 1971, a time when coming out still wasn’t safe, “Family” presented an episode titled “Judging Books by Covers,” in which lovable bigot Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) comes to realize that his macho, beer drinking exfootball playing buddy is gay.

A few years later “Family” introduced it’s audience to Beverly LaSalle, played by San Francisco drag artist Lori Shannon (who was also a Bay Area Reporter contributor in the 1970s).

Beverly was a drag queen who didn’t always change into male attire after exiting the stage. Beverly made three appearances on “All in the Family.” In her “Family” swan song she was gay-bashed to death, which leaves Archie’s wife Edith (Jean Stapleton) so shocked and heartbroken that she refuses to go to church on Christmas Eve.

As Baume so eloquently points out, most of these shows were never afraid to approach serious topics.

Of course no study of queers on sitcoms would be complete without mentioning “The Golden Girls”, the beloved show about four women of a “certain age” sharing a home in Miami. Baume points to a groundbreaking episode in which a lesbian friend (Lois Nettleton) visits the house and develops a crush on Rose (Betty White).

Baume also writes about something we already knew, that all four “Golden Girls” actresses were staunch LGBT allies in real life. When she passed on, Golden Girl Bea Arthur left $300,000 to the Ali Forney Center, a shelter and halfway house for LGBT youth.

“Hi Honey, I’m Homo!” is a delightful book. Easy and fun to read, and documents important moments in television history that LGBT people should cherish. Baume sprinkles his history lesson with real-life incidents that tie in with the shows he’s writing about, such as the fight for marriage equality.

He also documents the efforts by right wing conservatives to block the airing of shows that presented the LGBT community in a positive light. In his introduction to the book, Baume recalls the mad anti-gay frenzy that took place before “Soap” aired its first episode. The religious right was so against the show they protested it sight unseen.

If you’re looking for something good to read, something that will educate you about queer media history, this is the book you’ve been waiting for. At a time when anti-LGBT sentiment is on the rise, Baume’s book is more important than ever. t

‘Hi

New book traces the history of queers on sitcoms

Author Matt Baume

Jackpot of information

by Gregg Shapiro

To say that gay author Boze Hadleigh is prolific is an understatement. The author of nearly 30 books (including those forthcoming), Hadleigh has made a name for himself by going where few others dare: the dark underbelly of Hollywood. In his latest book, “Game Show Confidential: The Story of An American Obsession” (Lyons Press, 2023), Hadleigh doesn’t play around, pulling back the sparkly curtain to dare to reveal truths some would never consider. Hadleigh recently took time out of his busy writing schedule to discuss his new book.

Gregg Shapiro: I know that some authors consider books they’ve written to be like their offspring, and don’t like to play favorites, but with 29 books to your credit, is there one for which you feel a particular affinity?

Boze Hadleigh: I think my seven books that focus on the LGBT-etc. presence in and contributions to the entertainment world, though “juicy” and entertaining, are quite educational, both for gay readers and especially for heterosexuals who have no idea how big and excellent the “gay world” is.

In particular I’d say my 2020 book “Inside the Hollywood Closet,” because in quotes directly from the horses’ mouths we get what being LGBT-etc. and working and living in “showbiz” is like –most gay stars have to “act” whenever they leave their house– and “IHC” shows how much has improved over the years for gay people but also how much has not improved and how some things are worse.

What’s involved in deciding on the topics for your books?

Usually, it’s what interests me. “Game Show Confidential” evolved from my being asked to write a biography of “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek (partly because I was on the show and won). But that didn’t interest me; frankly, dull, plus before I was on the show I’d seen him make three separate anti-gay comments, which as I say in the book is three too many.

A few times I’ve done a book because the topic interested me but there was no book. So, I did “Celebrity Feuds!” because at the library I only found two feud-related books. One on the Hatfields and McCoys (thrilling, right?) and one on “the writers’ wars,” meaning the fight to establish a writers’ union in Hollywood. My book includes Laverne vs. Shirley, Diana Ross leaving the Supremes, Abbott vs. Costello, also family feuds like Julia and Eric Roberts, the Jacksons, and the gay feuds between Truman Capote and Gore Vidal.

Hollywood is a prominent subject in your books with at least half of them being about movies, actors, and actresses. Would it be fair to say that your fascination with Hollywood is equaled by that of the public’s obsession?

Overall, I’d say we live in a media culture and celebrity journalism has become too prevalent. A lot about Hollywood, including reality shows and many current sitcoms plus many game shows past and present, doesn’t interest me.

Also, my interest, and my books reflect it, is in the reality behind the show of show business. Say, you see a magazine or tabloid photo of a male movie star and his wife and perhaps it includes his manager or personal trainer. The caption only mentions hubby-and-wife, not the fact that the other guy is hubby’s lover.

There is so much deception in showbiz, which is America’s basic culture, and I like to show the truth behind it. It usually boils down to catering to the average, often bigoted public so that companies (studios, networks, newspapers, etc.) can make maximum

Boze Hadleigh’s ‘Game Show Confidential’

lesbian and gay ones, in that order, because general audiences are more comfortable with a Jane or Ellen than with most openly gay males. Ironically, Charles Nelson Reilly once hosted a game show about hetero romance, and for two whole years Rip Taylor hosted “The $1.98 Beauty Show.”

Speaking of stars competing on game shows, what do you think about “Celebrity Jeopardy” and “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune”?

What makes them interesting is seeing, at least on “Celebrity Jeopardy!”, how smart certain celebs are. As Nelson Reilly said, and is quoted in “GSC,” lots of celebs and most sports figures avoided shows like “Jeopardy!” and “Password” but were glad to come on “The Match Game” (where Charles was a longtime panelist), because that show had no wrong answers.

Have you started working on or thinking about your next book project?

profits. In other words, the business end determines what is shown.

Your new book, “Game Show Confidential” is being released around the same time that ABC’s “The Game Show Show,” which features queer voices such as Margaret Cho, Patrick Gomez, and Guy Branum, is airing. Is it a coincidence that a book and TV program about game shows are arriving concurrently or is something else at work?

No, just serendipity. ABC heard about my then-upcoming book and asked me to fly to L.A. for an oncamera interview, but I was out of the country. It would have been a great tie-in. The fact is that during COVID, game shows have become much more popular, including new shows, reboots of classic shows, reruns on the Game Show Network and Buzzr, and shows about game shows. Betty White called game shows “TV’s feel-good genre.”

In “Game Show Confidential,” you mention game shows that originated in Britain and then became popular in the US. Were there many that started in the US that went on to success in other countries?

Yes, many US game shows have had foreign editions. Usually, the most popular are in Britain and Australia. Foreign-language versions are popular, too, from South America to francophone Canada to Southeast Asia. In Indonesia their version of “Tic Tac Dough” was titled “Tak Tik BOOM,” spelled that way!

In the book, you spill a lot of tea, including revealing things about Bob Barker, such as his sexism and racism, as well as Pat Sajak being sexist, racist, and homophobic. Were there people you weren’t able to mention for various reasons?

Besides Sajak, the sidebar –most of the chapters have sidebars– titled “File Under Bigotry” includes Chuck Woolery, Bob Eubanks and Steve Harvey. I also more or less answer the pertinent question, “Is Drew Carey gay?” He’s the one who kept bringing it up. As for still-taboo subjects, I didn’t include the longstanding rumors that perhaps “Password” host Allen Ludden (whose father died in 1919 at 26 from the global virus pandemic that’s still mislabeled “the Spanish flu”) and wife Betty White were basically very good friends.

Why do you think so many game show hosts, including Chuck Woolery, are right wingers?

That is, so many of the older male hosts. One journalist quoted in “GSC” says much of that derived from a

time when white male hosts held a monopoly; no women, no people of color. However, Steve Harvey is also bigoted, and I mention that fellow African American Kevin Hart lost the coveted Oscar-host gig due to his recurrent homophobia. Alas, bigotry is not limited to any one group.

Nevertheless, Merv Griffin, whose homosexuality was an open secret, created an unparalleled game show empire. Do you think his remaining closeted was the reason or was there something else?

Merv’s two big hits were “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune.” The game show giants were the ruthless Goodson-Todman empire. There’s a chapter on them [laughs]! Griffin did not need to hide behind Eva Gabor, but one reason for that was rival real estate

tycoon Donald Trump making homophobic comments about him, including the nickname “Merv the Perv.”

Griffin was his own boss, he wasn’t an actor, he was no sex symbol. I think his closetedness was due to his generation, where everything about being gay was demonized. He remained ashamed of being gay, despite the progress being affected mostly by younger generations.

Meanwhile, Jane Lynch, who is an out lesbian, currently hosts the primetime revival of “The Weakest Link,” and before that hosted “Hollywood Game Night,” cocreated by Sean Hayes, for several years. What do you think, if anything, has changed?

There’s now a diversity of game show hosts, including to some extent

Due in spring 2024 is an outrageous quotes collection currently titled “I Can’t Believe They Said That!!” Yes, two exclamation marks! Like all my books, including the two animalthemed ones –Betty White gave a lovely blurb for “Life’s a Pooch” in 2017– (it’s) very gay-inclusive. That book is complete.

I’m working on one about celebs and suicide –not just showbiz, though mostly– which includes a chapter on gay suicides. As Bea Arthur pointed out, 30 percent of teen suicides are due to homophobia. And today, with the Trump-inspired backlash against gays, lesbians, drag queens, and trans people, it’s up to all of us to actively oppose this pro-fascist bigotry and attempts to turn back the clock to a sexual Dark Ages.t

www.lyonspress.com

Asia O’Hara hosts the July 19 after-party (at Oasis) for “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werk the World” drag show (at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium). Those are just two of the many intriguing events in nightlife, theater, music and visual art, all in our weekly listings on www.ebar.com.

Going out

Author Boze Hadleigh