November 11, 2021 edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

Rankled over Safeway hours

Milk cafe honors namesake

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Navy christens oiler named after gay icon Milk by Matthew S. Bajko

T Courtesy Stephan Steffanides

Nonbinary veteran Stephan Steffanides

Nonbinary SF vet honored 30 years after discharge by John Ferrannini

nonbinary San Francisco Navy veteran who was “other than honorably” discharged before “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” – but who recently got their discharge upgraded – is the recipient of the Profile in Courage Award from Swords to Plowshares for the nonprofit’s Veterans Day celebrations. See page 8 >>

he first American military ship named after an LGBTQ icon is now sailing international waters and further honoring the legacy of the late gay San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk. At a November 6 ceremony in San Diego, Navy veteran and clinical program director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Transgender Health Paula Neira christened the Navy’s USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206) by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow in a time-honored naval tradition. The Navy’s Military Sealift Command will operate it. “Leaders like Harvey Milk taught us that diversity of backgrounds and experiences help contribute to the strength and resolve of our nation. There is no doubt that the future Sailors aboard this ship will be inspired by Milk’s life and legacy,” noted Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who attended and spoke at the ceremony. Neira said the ceremony was “about family and about duty. Harvey Milk represents both. This message about family is about us giving hope to the us-es, not just the LGBTQ community, all of the people who have not been welcomed to military service in our history and our country.”

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The Navy Saturday, November 6, christened its new replenishment oiler named after gay icon Harvey Milk.

Del Toro said he needed to be there “to amend the wrongs of the past” when LGBTQ people were drummed out of the military and barred from serving openly and proudly. Today, he said, “We need to give inspiration to all our LGBTQ military leaders who serve in the Navy today and civilian force and tell them we are committed to them and their future.” As for Milk, Del Toro said he set an example “for all Americans as the life he lived

in the Navy and the life he lived afterwards was truly exemplary.” He added that Milk is the sort of “Naval leaders we need.” Rear Admiral Michael Wettlaufer, commander of Military Sealift Command, called it “a remarkable day” and noted the Milk oiler will ensure the freedom of access to international seas and the rules based international order. See page 11 >>

SF DA’s truth commission pushed back, yet again by John Ferrannini

Courtesy Mark Guarino

Christopher Woitel

Gay SF man who was missing died of drug intoxication, report states by John Ferrannini

50-year-old gay man whose family traveled to San Francisco from Illinois to look for him – but whose body was eventually found in his own apartment – died accidentally of drug intoxication, a report from the medical examiner’s office states. As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, Christopher J. Woitel was discovered “in the attic in his home” in mid-February, according to the San Francisco Police Department, after having been missing for over a month. In the days before the discovery, the San Francisco Police Department sent out a news See page 11 >>

he formation of the truth, justice and reconciliation commission announced by San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin last year has been pushed back yet again. Boudin, whom the San Francisco elections department declared this week would face a recall vote on the city’s June 7 primary ballot, announced the commission July 1, 2020, in the wake of the police murder of George Floyd, as the Bay Area Reporter previously reported. The top prosecutors in Boston and Philadelphia joined him, saying they would form commissions in their own cities. Boudin’s office subsequently stated that the commission would be a “public-private initiative” between his office and the W. Haywood Burns Institute, an Oakland nonprofit that received $150,000 from the San Francisco-based Grassroots Law Project. In October, the B.A.R. was told by James Bell, the founder of the Burns institute, the commission topic and format was to have been decided upon by a design team at a September 17 meeting. However, that didn’t happen, according to attorney Fania Davis, who is involved in the project, because not enough of the design team could be present for that meeting. Davis told the B.A.R. that “people are focusing on sharing the truths about systemic disinvestment and the

Rick Gerharter

There are more delays for a truth and reconciliation commission that San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced more than a year ago.

Black disappearance we’ve seen in San Francisco since 1970,” but that this would be finalized at an October meeting. Bell previously said the design team was still figuring out what kind of format the commission should have – one based on what was formed on South Africa or Canada. The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in 1996, as the country emerged from apartheid. A court-like restorative justice body, it consisted of three committees and ended in 2003.

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The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which lasted from 2008 to 2015, looked into crimes committed against First Nations at the Indian Residential Schools. It concluded with specific calls to action to reconcile Indigenous and other Canadians. On October 27, the B.A.R. reached out to the Burns institute and the DA’s office to ask if the topic and format was finalized at the meeting that month, which was closed to the public and the date of which was not disclosed. The Burns institute never did respond to multiple requests for comment for this report, but the DA’s office did. Rachel Marshall, the office’s director of communications, stated to the B.A.R. October 28 that “These topics have not yet been decided as more community members’ input is being sought.” Marshall offered the B.A.R. the opportunity to speak with Demarris Evans, an assistant district attorney who is following the commission’s formation for the office. Due to staffing issues, Arcelia Hurtado, a bisexual woman who is the managing attorney in charge of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the DA’s office, had to be reassigned, Evans said. When the B.A.R. spoke with Evans November 5, Evans stressed that while Boudin announced the formation of the commission it is a “community-led” effort. See page 11 >>

<< Community News

2 • Bay Area Reporter • November 11-17, 2021

Castro biz members express dismay at Safeway’s cut hours by John Ferrannini

embers of the Castro Merchants Association at their November 4 meeting expressed dismay with a recent decision by Safeway to reduce hours at its Castro-area store due to increased shoplifting. Dave Karraker, a gay man who is a merchants board member and co-owner of MX3 Fitness on Market Street, was upset about the recent news that the Safeway on upper Market Street between Church and Dolores streets will no longer be open 24 hours a day due to what Safeway called “out of control” theft of its retail items. The Safeway will now be open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The reduction in hours at the Safeway comes on the heels of Walgreens’ announcement it is closing five more San Francisco locations as a result of rampant theft, though Mayor London Breed and District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston speculate it may have as much to do with cutting costs and consolidation, based on a 2019 Securities and Exchange Commission filing, as SF Gate reported. City leaders, such as Breed, suspect that organized crime is responsible for much of the retail theft – and the car break-ins that

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The Safeway on Market between Church and Duboce streets reduced its hours and now closes at 9 p.m.

have also made the headlines. “What is the full-court press to make sure Safeway doesn’t leave that location,” Karraker asked. Gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said that, first of all, the theft and property problem in San Francisco “is unquestionably real.” “There is a huge amount of shoplifting,” Mandelman said. “They [Safeway] reached out to me before they made this announcement and the stories they told are harrowing.” Mandelman said that he is going to convene a meeting with the police and the district attorney’s office to figure out a plan to address the

problem of theft at Safeway, which also affects other locations such as the Potrero Hill Safeway, which currently closes at midnight. The late night closure makes it difficult for low- and middle-income residents to find affordable grocery options at times convenient for them, Mandelman said. One potential stopgap measure currently being explored by the Board of Supervisors, Mandelman said, is allowing sheriff ’s deputies to work as 10B officers. The 10B program allows businesses, among others, to hire off-duty police officers as private security at timeand-a-half pay. Mandelman said that while it’s

unacceptable that officers would decline to take crime reports because the DA’s office may opt not to prosecute, people need to keep their eye on the whole criminal justice system to address the problem of retail theft. “What is the DA doing and what are the judges doing?” he encouraged people to ask. Mandelman said that while it’s a matter of city policy that alleged shoplifters are arrested, perhaps they should be cited, and multipletime offenders arrested. Karraker speculated that many items stolen at the upper Market Safeway are available for purchase at the 24th Street BART station, and asked why police don’t shut down the open-air markets there and at other locations. “It’s not as easy as you’d think,” San Francisco Police Department Captain Rachel Moran, who oversees Mission Station, responded, continuing that the police would have to check with Safeway to make sure the item was stolen from there, that the department might be stepping on BART’s jurisdictional area, and that SFPD is currently not enforcing laws about vending without a permit. Senate Bill 946, the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, which was signed into law by then-Governor Jerry Brown

in 2018, prohibits jurisdictions from imposing criminal penalties for sidewalk vending and from imposing regulations on the practice “within specific parts of the public right of way.”

Moran leaving Mission Station

Moran, a straight ally who started leading Mission Station February 20, announced she is departing the station. She doesn’t know where she’ll be going next but said she’s on to “bigger and better things.” Moran also introduced Castro Merchants members to Lieutenant Gavin McEachern, a 32-year veteran of the force, who was her first choice to succeed her as interim captain. “He’s very responsive,” Moran said. “He’s also not one who … [will] tell you what you want to hear.” Moran thanked the merchants for challenging her. “I wanted to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart,” Moran said. “You guys have really challenged me, and you can’t fault someone who wants to make their neighborhood better.” Moran and the SFPD did not immediately answer a request for See page 5 >>

Grants awarded by Castro cultural district

he Castro LGBTQ Cultural District distributed its first arts and small business grants Sunday, November 7, outside the shuttered Cafe Flore. Healing Cuts received $30,000 and the Queer Cultural Center received $20,000. QCC will further distribute the monies as micro-grants to individual LGBTQ artists. Grant recipients and supporters of the cultural district were present at the check distribution. According to a news release, the cultural district received the grant funds from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development. Ismael de Luna, a gay Latinx man, plans to expand his Healing Cuts barbershop business and will use the grant money to create a new parklet and purchase equipment, including barber chairs. He will also use $5,000 to provide 125 free haircuts to people with low incomes who are clients of Shanti Project, which provides services to those living with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses.

Rick Gerharter

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<< Sports

t Team SF says Spain should host 2026 Gay Games 4 • Bay Area Reporter • November 11-17, 2021

by Roger Brigham

eam San Francisco has announced that it is not waiting for final presentations to be made this week by organizations bidding to host the 2026 Gay Games: it is voting for Valencia, Spain. In a statement posted on Facebook November 2, Team SF said its internal membership poll decidedly favored Valencia. “When asked which of the three potential host cities respondents would prefer: Guadalajara in Mexico, Munich in Germany, or Valencia in Spain by a two-to-one margin, the clear preference was for Valencia in Spain,” Team SF stated. “As a membership organization therefore, our two Team San Francisco delegates to the Federation of Gay Games Annual General Assembly have been instructed to reflect the preferences of our San Francisco Bay Area athletes and cultural participants by voting for Valencia, Spain.” Site selection uses rankedchoice voting. The Team SF statement did not mention what its second choice was. Normally, some organizations and board members decide what locale they are going to vote for before the meeting even begins

– which, according to FGG protocols, they are not supposed to do – while most wait through the entire process and every opportunity to gather information before deciding how to vote. It is those uncommitted votes the bidding organizations hope to sway when they make the final presentations. In the past, those final presentations have carried crucial weight. In the 2010 Gay Games selection cycle, for example, Paris appeared to be the frontrunner going into the general assembly, but lost out to Cologne, Germany after some testy exchanges between FGG members and the Paris bid representatives. In the next cycle, what seemed to be a two-city race between Boston and Washington, D.C. turned into a runaway hit for Cleveland, Ohio’s very lively and folksy presentation. Then again, these are not normal times. COVID-19 concerns and restrictions forced the FGG’s 2020 assembly to be held virtually in early 2021 instead of in person in late 2020. It forced the FGG to cancel its plans for an in-person 2021 meeting in Hong Kong, setting up the current hybrid event in Brighton, United Kingdom with some participants attending online rather than in-person.

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Munich, Germany; Valencia, Spain; and Guadalajara, Mexico are in the running to host the 2026 Gay Games.

That limits the opportunities for FGG members to have candid side discussions about the bids to exchange thoughts and observations. Representatives from Guadalajara, Munich, and Valencia will make presentations to the assembly and answer questions Wednesday, November 10, immediately followed by a presentation from FGG site selection inspectors. On Thursday, November 11, the FGG will discuss a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats), a final question and answer session will be held with the bidders, and the selection vote will be held at the end of the day. The bidders have already presented extensive written bids, responded to rounds of questions, and been visited by site selection officials who met with host organizers and inspected proposed venues. The formal presentations tend to be fairly extensive and endlessly enthusiastic to provide each bidder with one last chance to convince voters to select them. FGG board members each have one vote in site selection. Full assembly members – regional multisport organizations and international single-sport or cultural organizations – each have two votes. The Team SF statement did not say how many members participated in the survey, what percentage of its membership that represented, or what sports provided the most or least responses. It did not indicate why its members wanted Valencia to host the Gay Games rather than Munich or Guadalajara. It did say that 53% of the respondents said inclusion of their chosen sports was a primary factor in choosing and “only 29% felt LGBTQQI+ rights or expanding the Gay Games model into new territories was a primary factor.”

That’s pretty much the opposite of what FGG member organizations are asked to do when they vote on any FGG matters. FGG voters are supposed to set aside personal or provincial concerns when they vote. They are supposed to be concerned with the growth and effectiveness of the Gay Games mission to make sports more accessible and inclusive for those who are too often blocked from the benefits of sports by other organizations and events. They are supposed to be selfless. Reality is any of the three bidders appears to be capable of putting on a successful Gay Games that will serve its participants well. Once that threshold is met, it becomes more important to step back and think in terms of broader mission goals and values. What potential host represents the best chance to fulfill and expand the mission? Heading into the final presentations, I would say that Guadalajara is strategically the best choice. Rightly or wrongly, the FGG chose Hong Kong to host Gay Games XI because it wanted to enter the vast but underserved, virtually untapped Asian market. The political climate and COVID-19 have thrown a monkey wrench into those plans and we must wait until 2023 to see how it all works out, but the concern about wanting to bring Asia into the fold was understandable.

However, there is little existing LGBTQ sports infrastructure in Asia on which to build Gay Games efforts. By contrast, there is a strong, growing LGBTQ sports infrastructure in Latin America that is attuned to the Gay Games brand and mission. Clubs and individuals have turned out in respectable numbers in past Gay Games. Representatives have attended FGG meetings and made attempts to get involved. Guadalajara represents the first best chance to tap that market and serve those potential constituents. Every Gay Games thus far has been in Western Europe or in a former British colony. Guadalajara would break that pattern and open the Gay Games experience to an entirely new language group. Valencia would also open up the Spanish-speaking market, but either it or Munich would be the fourth time the Gay Games has been in Western Europe since competitive bidding was introduced for the 1994 quadrennial, compared to three times in North America, once in Australia, once in Asia, and never in Africa, Central America, or South America. Selecting Munich would also make Germany the only country other than the United States to host the Gay Games more than once. In other business, the FGG will elect new officers, consider bylaw changes and hear reports from Hong Kong organizers. t

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50 years in 50 weeks: 2002: SF LGBT center opens

he March 7, 2002 front page of the Bay Area Reporter featured the grand opening of the Charles M. Holmes campus of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center. It was a long time coming – nine years of planning, countless delays, and millions of dollars spent. After a group of people decided the city needed an LGBT center – previous ones had closed – the 1800 Market Street location was procured, which included the old Fallon Building. Members of the center’s board battled preservationists

over the fate of the Victorian, which is now part of the center. Since its opening, the center has struggled at times to find its niche – it now provides employment services, housing resources, and services for LGBTQ youth, among others. It has had to adjust to financial challenges by refinancing its loans and securing tenants to occupy some of the former spaces open to the community. To view the issue, go to https://archive.org/details/ BAR_20020307/mode/2up

Community News>>

November 11-17, 2021 • Bay Area Reporter • 5

Old Castro Halloween could return, supe says by John Ferrannini

could figure out a way of how we can do these great parties,” Mandelman said. “There were queer kids around the Bay Area that came and those were

wonderful. For neighbors, those were challenging and also scary.” But the success of recent events such as Comfort and Joy’s Glow in the Streets fundraising event, which occurred October 30 on Noe Street between Market and Beaver streets, shows there’s hope, Mandelman said. “I am completely open and would love to have a conversation about that with regard to Halloween or Pink Saturday or both,” Mandelman said. “But when we do we have to be careful about it.” The reason for caution is so that bringing back the parties doesn’t also bring back the “neighborhood problems” that brought about their downfall, such as “the neighborhood being trashed.” Halloween festivities in the Castro, which descended from celebrations among queer people in the Tenderloin, North Beach, and Polk Gulch in the mid-20th century, became one of the premiere events of the year for the neighborhood by the turn of this century. But with the large crowds descending upon the Castro – including gay bashers – it became hard for the city

to ensure public safety at the event. In 2002, four people were stabbed on Halloween night in the Castro; but the death knell for the old-time Halloween festivities was in 2006, when nine people suffered gun-related injuries in a mass shooting while a 10th victim was trampled in the melee that marred the annual street party. A heavy police presence stopped the event from occurring again, and by 2011 stakeholders agreed that the Castro shouldn’t be the focal point of a region-wide celebration. Government policy became to direct people, as much as they’d listen, to diverse events in other neighborhoods, as well as to strictly enforce alcohol consumption and sale laws. This year’s Castro festivities were smaller than in recent years, San Francisco Police Department Captain Rachel Moran, who oversees Mission Station, said during the meeting, but were enjoyable for officers and revelers alike. Other members of the merchants group did not comment on the Halloween matter during the virtual meeting. t

the proposed site of an LGBTQ history museum, the B.A.R. reported two years ago. “To everyone who comes in and says ‘this is a great building,’ I’ll say ‘you should think about it long40 100 40 100 30 100 40 said. 40 70 40 term,’” Haney Haney’s rivals for the Assembly seat are David Campos, a gay man who is currently on leave as chief of staff to San Francisco District At30 30 100 40 100 40 40 100 40 40 torney Chesa Boudin; Thea 10Selby, a straight ally who is a City College of San Francisco trustee; and Bilal Mahmood, a straight ally who is a former Obama administration ofT:9.75" ficial. The B.A.R. contacted all three.

Campos also has his campaign office in the neighborhood, at 541 Castro Street. He will have a kickoff party Saturday, November 13, at 11 a.m., according to a campaign email. “I understand why Supervisor 70 40 40 40 70 40is 40 70 40 70 to 40 40the heart 3 10 Haney coming of the LGBTQ community to get support – but as the only openly gay candidate in this race, I can tell you that I have been involved in this 20 70 70 70 70 40 70 40 40 0000 3.1 2.2 2.2 10.2 7.4 7.4 community for decades and that’s why I have support from so many LGBTQ leaders – such as Supervisor Mandelman, former Supervisor Bevan Dufty, [former] state Senator Mark Leno and [former] state

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, as well as from the Harvey Milk [LGBTQ] Democratic Club,” Campos said. Selby told the B.A.R. November 5 that Haney and Campos opening 25 50 90 their offices in75the Castro is100good for the neighborhood. “It’s reminiscent of when I ran for supervisor in District 5, when we all lined Haight Street,” she said. 25 19 19 50 40 40 75 66 66 100 100 100 80 70 70 100 “I mean it’s good for the Castro, right? They’ll get more foot traffic and people.” Mahmood did not respond to a request for comment. t

uring a virtual meeting of the Castro Merchants Association November 4, gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said he’s “open” to considering a return to the traditional Castro Halloween celebration that was quashed by city leaders after a 2006 mass shooting. Dave Karraker, a gay man who is a merchants board member and coowner of MX3 Fitness on Market Street, broached the subject while Mandelman addressed the group. “Halloween went off without a hitch,” Karraker said, referring to last weekend’s celebration. “Nobody was stabbed or shot. Isn’t it time to think about bringing back that tradition again?” The tradition Karraker was referring to was a block party format that attracted tens of thousands of people to the Castro until 2006. Mandelman said that events such as the old Castro Halloween and Pink Saturday – a street party that occurred the night before the June Pride parade – brought LGBTQ people from around the Bay Area together, and

Steven Underhill

Halloween revelers partied in the Castro in 2018.

helped provide Castro its distinctive flavor. He said he loved to go to these events as a youth. “I’ve always felt it’d be great if we

Safeway

appointment to the office of city attorney, which occurred November 1, as the B.A.R. reported. Haney spoke because he is opencomment regarding the nature of ing a campaign office in the old PotMoran’s departure and when it is building at Market and effective. An ISO August newsDigital release 12647-7 Controltery StripBarn 2009 100 60 100 70 30 100 60 70 30 100 60 100 70 A Castro streets. A party to celebrate from the 100 department indicated the office’s opening will take place Moran had been promoted to comNovember 10. Haney subsequently mander. told the B.A.R. it starts at 5 p.m. Karraker told Haney that “your 2 Assembly candidates 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 100 100 60 100 100 first job is to 30 find a person to rent70 70 open Castro offices or buy the building you’re about The meeting had an unusual to be housed in.” The building, on guest – District 6 Supervisor Matt a prime stretch of property in the Haney, a straight ally who’s runCastro, hasn’t been a Pottery Barn ning for the state Assembly seat vasince 2017. It has been floated as cated by David Chiu following his

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<< Open Forum

6 • Bay Area Reporter • November 11-17, 2021

Volume 51, Number 45 November 11-17, 2021 www.ebar.com

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New census leader should include LGBTQ data S

tatistician Robert Santos was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 4 to lead the U.S. Census Bureau – he is the first Latino and only the second person of color to be director of the department (an African American was acting director in 1998). A bipartisan 58-35 vote in the Senate confirmed Santos as the permanent director. He is a prominent statistician who drew support from 10 Republicans, according to a New York Times article, which noted that he will oversee a department that’s been severely hampered in its efforts by the COVID-19 pandemic and the political turmoil that roiled the bureau under former President Donald Trump. As NPR reported, Santos – who is also a vice president and chief methodologist at the Urban Institute and a Mexican American who has identified as mestizo for the census – brings decades of not only professional expertise in survey design, but also personal experience that could help the census bureau mend its reputation after the Trump administration’s interference, including a failed push for a citizenship question that was likely to deter many Latino and Asian American residents from participating in the census. In January, Santos is expected to be sworn in and serve a five-year term through 2026, which will be a key period in preparation for the 2030 census. And he should quickly start examining how the decennial count of U.S. residents can do more to include sexual orientation and gender identity in its survey. As we reported in January 2020, ahead of the most recent census, people were not asked to specify if they identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. In terms of gender identity, the only choice allowed was male or female. There was a

Incoming U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Santos

question for same-sex couples to clearly mark their relationship. The 2020 census forms had the following options for those residing in the same household who are related: “same-sex husband/wife/spouse” or “same-sex unmarried partner.” In 2010 the options on the census form were the generic terms “husband or wife” or “unmarried partner.” It would not be a stretch to include SOGI questions on the 2030 census. In fact, the census bureau this year for the first time includes information about LGBTs through its Household Pulse Survey. As we previously reported in August, when the first data was released, it discussed how LGBT respondents were much more likely than non-LGBT respondents to experience economic and mental health hardships due to the COVID pandemic. This confirmed what LGBTQ organizations already discovered in their own surveys.

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According to the census bureau’s survey roughly 13.1% of LGBT adults lived in a household where there was sometimes or often not enough to eat in the past seven days, compared to 7.2% of non-LGBT adults. And 36.6% of LGBT adults lived in a household that had difficulty paying for usual household expenses in the previous seven days, compared to 26.1% of nonLGBT adults. Close to 20% of LGBT adults lived in a household with lost employment income in the past four weeks, compared to 16.8% of nonLGBT adults. Among those living in homes that were rented or owned with a mortgage or loan, 8.2% of LGBT adults said they were not at all confident that their household could make their next housing payment on time, compared to 6.0% of non-LGBT adults. The results are based on data collected between July 21 and August 2. The census bureau sent invitations to 1,042,642 households and received a total of 64,562 responses, for a weighted response rate of 6.1%. Santos has much work to do in rebuilding morale in the department. But it’s imperative that the 2030 census asks SOGI questions. As we have seen, census data is used for myriad purposes, including how agencies provide services and how local, state, and federal governments make budget decisions. It’s time that we are counted just like everyone else. As a statistician, Santos no doubt understands the critical importance numbers play, not only with redistricting, but also in ensuring that more equitable services are provided throughout the nation. The census bureau should not be a political pawn, as it was during Trump’s tenure, and we believe that Santos will return the department to its traditional apolitical mission, focused on crunching the numbers. Now, however, it’s time for those numbers to include LGBTQs. t

Guaranteed income is a queer justice issue by Maria Hadden and Brian C. Johnson

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e haven’t seen economic inequality this bad in nearly a century. In 1965, American CEOs earned on average 20 times the average worker. Today, they make nearly 300 times the average worker. Over the past 40 years, median wages for the top 1% have tripled while the bottom half of earners in our nation have seen no increase in their real wages. A few years ago, the Washington Post ran a headline “The richest 1 percent now owns more of the country’s wealth than at any time in the past 50 years.” In the face of this daunting reality, a group of innovative thinkers are proposing a suite of bold solutions to tackle this inequality and give every American more solid economic footing. Grouped together, these proposals share the common descriptor: guaranteed income. A guaranteed income is a regular payment given to individuals not tied to their labor or personal investments. Examples of these innovative proposals are taking hold across the country. The recently adopted child tax credit of the American Rescue Plan gives most American families $250 or more each month to help cover the costs of raising children. In Chicago, the City Council is currently considering a pilot universal basic income program to issue $500 checks to thousands of low-income residents each month, mirroring successful programs in Stockton, California and Jackson, Mississippi. In “Our Fair Share,” a new book recently published, author Brian C. Johnson proposes that each American should receive an annual Citizen Dividend check, paid out from a percentage of the total profits realized by American businesses that year. These guaranteed income programs have the potential to have a huge impact. Polling and research into the existing guaranteed income programs show that they have helped reduce the crushing toll of poverty. Basic bills get paid and investments in the future are made. Drug use and psychological problems go down and hope for the future goes up. The potential impact of guaranteed income programs on low-income Americans is huge. But as queer social justice leaders, we know how powerful these programs can be for LGBTQ Americans. LGBTQ people experience poverty at higher rates than our straight and cisgender peers.

Courtesy Maria Hadden and Brian C. Johnson

Chicago Alderperson Maria Hadden, left, and author Brian C. Johnson

Nearly one out of four LGBTQ people live in poverty (compared to only one out of six nonLGBTQ people). For some in our community, these poverty rates are even higher. Over 30% of Black LGBTQ people live below the poverty line (compared to 25% of Black straight/ cis people). Nearly one-third of trans people qualify as low-income. Like many social harms, economic inequality and the poverty it unleashes target the LGBTQ community more than it does straight/cisgender America. Too many of our brothers and sisters and siblings suffer the pain of poverty, teetering perilously on the edge of the widening chasm between the rich and everyone else in America. We in the LGBTQ community must be fierce advocates for guaranteed income. We know that any solution that reduces the crushing weight of poverty will also lighten the load for LGBTQ Americans. The depth of our commitment to greater economic equality must be fueled by the personal connection to poverty too many in our community have. But perhaps even more so, we can serve as living, breathing examples of the power of expanding our country’s understanding of who should benefit from our societal institutions. Today the debate around poverty reduction focuses too much on deservedness: work requirements, lifestyle policing such as drug testing, onerous restrictions, and bureaucratic hurdles put in place in the name of fraud protection. Too many believe that while the rich can hoard their wealth with impunity, the poor must prove every day their worthiness to receive basic support.

But what if instead of having such a narrow view of who should benefit from our national prosperity, we asserted that more Americans deserved some basic income simply because we are Americans? What if we said that an economic system that has been designed to exclude low-income residents from a thriving life should be fundamentally altered to allow more people to share in the benefits of our national wealth? In our lifetimes, LGBTQ people have won many benefits that had previously been denied us. The right to marry. The right to raise children together. The right to have our genders honored and recognized in basic documents. The right to serve openly in the armed forces and the workplace without fear of open discrimination. This is not to say we have arrived. There is much work to be done, especially for those of us who are people of color and for our trans siblings, as well as those who reside in states that still have discrimination and other anti-LGBTQ laws on the books. But we have begun to show America that when we broaden our collective belief of who should benefit from our country’s most fundamental institutions, the fabric of our nation brightens. That is why guaranteed income is not simply a poverty reduction issue. Guaranteed income is a queer justice issue. We as LGBTQ people must be on the front lines in our communities demanding the adoption of these programs to ensure that more Americans – LGBTQ Americans and our straight and cisgender siblings – benefit from our nation’s prosperity. We must fight for our queer siblings living in poverty. And we must use our life experiences to help light the path. Because we know that when our nation opens its arms wider to embrace more of its people more fully, we all are richer for it. t Maria Hadden is Chicago’s first Black queer alderperson representing the 49th Ward. Brian C. Johnson, a gay father, is the CEO of Equality Illinois and the author of “Our Fair Share: How One Small Change Can Create a More Equitable American Economy,” which is available online and at bookstores. (https://www.amazon.com/ Our-Fair-Share-Equitable-American/ dp/1506470750)

Politics >>

November 11-17, 2021 • Bay Area Reporter • 7

East Bay school district looks at adopting transgender student policy by Matthew S. Bajko

n East Bay school district is the latest to consider adopting a comprehensive policy to protect the rights of its transgender and nonbinary students. It comes as several hundred parents have objected to the reading of a book about LGBTQ history to a fourth grade class as part of the district’s LGBTQ History Month observance in October. At its November 9 meeting the New Haven Unified School District board took up the trans student policy, which its policy review committee had advanced in late October. The district has more than 11,000 students in Union City and part of south Hayward in Alameda County enrolled in its elementary, middle, and high schools. The policy lays out in roughly eight pages, the various rights that the district’s trans, intersex, and nonbinary students should be afforded, from the usage of their preferred names and pronouns, to access to the bathroom at school and the ability to play sports according to their gender identity. Much of it is already mandated by various California state laws that have been adopted over the years to ensure non-cisgender students throughout the Golden State have access to an education free from discrimination. Nonetheless, incidents continue to come up with district employees not adhering to the proper procedures and guidelines when it comes to the rights of trans, intersex, and nonbinary students, school board member Melissa Shuen-Mallory told the Bay Area Reporter in a phone interview ahead of the meeting November 9. A nonbinary queer femme who lives with their wife in Union City, ShuenMallory is the lone LGBTQ person on the board and worked with school district staff to draft the policy. Shuen-Mallory was motivated to do so because their friend’s child is transitioning in a nearby school district and has encountered various issues since coming out about their gender identity. And when talking to students of the New Haven Unified district in September at an event, Shuen-Mallory learned about their also having issues with their teachers addressing them by the correct names and pronouns. “The idea came to me because there were all these policies happening nationwide in many different states against transgender students competing in sports that coincide with their gender identity,” said Shuen-Mallory, referring to Republican-sponsored bills that require students to play on athletic teams based on the sex they were assigned at birth. “I knew there was a law here allowing transgender students to play on the sports team that best aligns with their gender identity, but I wanted us to have something that really lays out what our policy as a school district is to be in compliance with state law.” Doing so also makes it easy for students, parents, school staff, and district administrators to find and know what the policies and provisions are, pointed out Shuen-Mallory. “Our policy as a district is to give them a safe and affirming education,” they said. As a guiding principle, the document clearly states, “there are no medical or mental health diagnoses or treatment thresholds that students must meet in order to have their gender identity recognized and respected.” Every student has the right, it notes, “to change their name,

Courtesy KGO-TV

The New Haven Unified School District board is moving ahead with a transgender student policy.

pronoun, attire, and access to district programs, activities and facilities.” It also covers privacy concerns, so that a student’s gender identity is not inadvertently disclosed to their parent or guardian without their permission in instances where they may not be out to them. It stresses that school personnel should consider students’ “safety, health, and well-being” when deciding whether to disclose their gender identity or expression to parents. The policy also reiterates state law on updating students’ names and pronouns on their academic records once they have been legally changed. It lays out how to update school records when a student in kindergarten through 12th grade is using a different name than their legal one in class and specifies that they should be addressed by the name and pronoun corresponding to their gender identity even if they haven’t changed them via the courts. The school board is expected to vote on adopting the policy in early 2022, as district staff needs to bring it back to the policy committee for additional review when it next meets in January. As Shuen-Mallory’s colleagues unanimously voted to fly the rainbow flag at all school sites in June for Pride Month and to observe October as LGBTQ History Month, they told the B.A.R. they expect the trans student policy to also be approved on a 5-0 vote next year. Trustee Lance Nishihira spoke in favor of adopting the policy but raised several questions for staff to look at in order to fine-tune the language in it. Some issues raised by the district’s legal counsel must also be reviewed before the board can vote. “I am really in favor of having a transgender student policy,” he said. “I want to make sure this important policy is done really well and comprehensively.” Already, the school district has taken steps to ensure that students’ preferred names and pronouns are being noted on the class rosters teachers use, said Shuen-Mallory, after they alerted the superintendent about the issue earlier this fall. The district is also ensuring there is a field for such information when it updates its record-keeping system, Shuen-Mallory added. San Francisco’s public school system in 2003 was the first in the country to adopt a policy protecting its transgender students. Numerous other school districts have since followed, including ones in Los Angeles, Oakland, and Berkeley. Due to the recent laws state Legislatures have adopted restricting the rights of trans students, school districts across the country in recent months have taken up the adoption of a transgender student policy. Debates have flared up among school

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After a teacher read the book “Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag,” hundreds of parents objected.

boards in Virginia, New Hampshire, and Michigan this year over the issue. The review of such a policy at New Haven Unified comes amid a debate about a teacher at its Tom Kitayama Elementary School reading Rob Sanders’ 2018 picture book “Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag” to 8- and 9-year-old fourth graders. While the book is meant for readers age 5 to 8, some parents felt it was not age appropriate, and roughly 200 signed a petition denouncing its being read in the classroom last month, ShuenMallory told the B.A.R. Another issue is that the book is not part of the district’s recommended curriculum or approved as a supplemental material for teachers to use. Because those decisions are made by district staff and not the purview of the school board, ShuenMallory told the B.A.R. they were limited in discussing the appropriateness of the book. “As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, to me it didn’t seem controversial, but some people thought it was controversial and it became controversial because of the parents’ reactions,” they said. “Now we have to make sure everything is vetted and teachers have guidance on what is appropriate and what is not. It is just sad that this was controversial.” During this week’s board meeting Shuen-Mallory held up a copy of the book and suggested those parents objecting to it should read it for themselves. Calling it not age appropriate they argued was a straw argument for their opposing the teaching of LGBTQ topics in school. “To me that is a trigger word, that tells me you don’t have any other reasons other than your own ignorance,” said Shuen-Mallory. The district had already been moving to create an LGBTQ+ advisory group to put together approved supplemental materials for LGBTQ History Month, as it is doing for all such months it celebrates like Black History Month and Filipino History Month, said Shuen-Mallory. “This incident fast-tracked that process,” they said. t

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<< Business News

8 • Bay Area Reporter • November 11-17, 2021

Milk SF cafe honors namesake’s legacy by Matthew S. Bajko

or nearly two decades Steven Satyricon had worked at a local coffeehouse on the edge of San Francisco’s LGBTQ Castro district until the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to close its doors in March 2020. He didn’t work for 18 months, as even after the business reopened it did so with reduced staffing and didn’t bring him back. Then he happened to hear over the summer that the queer co-owners of the Milk SF cafe on Valencia Street at 14th Street were looking to hire on employees with experience in food service and the coffee sector. Queer himself, Satyricon started October 1 as its opening manager in the mornings. “I am really happy. They encourage us to play around and come up with flavors,” he said one recent November morning as he made one of his concoctions, a Nut Nog nitro coffee made with eggnog and a black walnut natural flavor extract. Working there has reminded him of when he worked for a queer-owned cyber cafe back in Atlanta that also provided a safe gathering space for queer youth, as Milk SF has already attracted a loyal clientele among local LGBTQ young people. And unlike his last job, where he constantly felt his sexual orientation was seen as problematic when issues came up with customers, Satyricon feels completely embraced and supported by his new employers. “This is a decidedly queer space that is actively courting a queer clientele. I feel free to be myself,” said Satyricon, a well-known artist and performer most recently featured among the cast of Peaches Christ’s “Terror Vault” Halloween show at the SF Mint. Working at Milk SF, he added, “feels expansive.” Fostering a business with a welcom-

Rick Gerharter

Fiancees Katey “Scoots” McKee, left, and Sharon Ratton, with their dog, Wednesday, stand outside at the entrance to their cafe, Milk SF.

ing environment for LGBTQ people and straight allies of the community was a big driving force for why Katey “Scoots” McKee and Sharon Ratton sought to open Milk SF. Its following in the footsteps of its namesake, the late gay supervisor Harvey Milk, who in the 1970s organized the city’s growing LGBTQ community into a potent political and economic bloc, particularly in the Castro where he lived and owned a camera shop that doubled as his campaign headquarters. The cafe’s name also plays up the various dairy options on offer, from cow’s milk to oat milk, as the menu specifically caters to vegans and people who are gluten free. Thus, the Milk SF name “is a cute hybrid,” explained McKee, of the dual meanings behind it. As soon as patrons walk in the door they will see a photo to their left featuring an oversized reproduction of the Milk U.S. stamp under the Rotunda of City Hall from when it was released in 2014. The walls are decorated with the works of various artists, including Bay Area Reporter photog-

rapher Gooch, whose portraits of various drag queens from Peaches Christ to Shangela and Bianca Del Rio are for sale. (An art show is being planned for 6 p.m. December 15 with ticket sales to benefit a local nonprofit.) Just as the color blue paid a prominent role in Milk’s political signage, so too does it on the facade of Milk SF. Located at 302 Valencia Street, it is next door to McKee’s hair salon Glama-Rama! Opened in 1995 by Deena Davenport, McKee took over the business in December 2016. As both retail spaces are part of the same Victorian building, which lost its facade in the 1906 earthquake, McKee was able to work out a deal with her landlord that made economic sense for opening a coffeehouse and café amid a global pandemic. “It was a liquor store called Fred’s that closed less than a decade ago,”

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said McKee, who’s 13-year-old Chihuahua Wednesday is often found in her wagon bed under the counter when at the cafe. McKee and Ratton, both 38 and together for two years, soft opened the cafe August 6 and held their grand opening August 21. They also got engaged that day, though the couple is waiting to set a wedding date. Working with the office of gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, they were able to take advantage of a newly instituted expedited permit process for local business owners. And as soon as they opened their doors, the LGBTQ Democratic political club named for Milk began holding its monthly meetings at Milk SF. The neighborhood has also embraced them from day one, said McKee, who reopened the hair salon last fall in October and joked the business never prompted such an outpouring of support as the cafe has received. “They love us. We have gotten bottles of wine and love letters,” said McKee, chalking up the response to the fact that “this city loves food.” Milk SF carries a selection of Dynamo Donuts ($4 each) on Fridays and also serves another beloved, locally based food item, Boichik Bagels ($7.50 for one made with egg salad; $8 for a tuna melt bagel). It features beans from Highwire Coffee Roasters in Oakland ($3.25 for a 12 ounce hot coffee; $3.80 for 16 ounces) and makes its nitro lattes infused with nitrogen gas ($5 for 16 oz.; $6 for 20 oz.) with a batch brewer it rents from Ground Control in Oakland. It is looking to expand its food offerings, particularly during lunch and evenings, but has to be creative in what it serves since the cafe has a limited food permit. It isn’t able to cook on a stove or with a deep fryer. “We are planning on offering something special, not just bagels and coffee,” said McKee, such as having a charcuterie plate and other light snacks. As part of its permitting it is required to have a retail section, and McKee and Ratton have stocked it with items from various businesses run by queer, female, and people of color owners. It is a great option to find unique holiday gifts this year, with the selection running the gamut from mugs featuring pop culture icons like singers Dolly Parton and Lil Nas X ($18.95) to jewelry by Golden Hour and Spotlight ($16$44 depending on the item). “I am impressed with people want-

SF vet

From page 1

“‘Profiles in Courage’ is a book written by [former president, and sailor] John F. Kennedy and in the book he talked about people who had the courage to champion a minority opinion for the greater good,” Stephan Steffanides explained to the Bay Area Reporter last week. “He talks about senators, but here we’re talking about vets who were discharged under the old policy – Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, or older policies – as I was.” Steffanides, 53, joined the United States Navy in 1988. While they were born in Florida, they grew up in San Francisco. “I grew up in a Navy family, for one thing, but I knew I was different,” Steffanides said. “Of course, in the 1980s, it was not a big deal to be in the closet, so the idea of telling the Navy I’m not gay made sense.” At the time, the U.S. military had a long-standing outright ban on “homosexuals” in the armed services. During the administration of then-President Bill Clinton, in

ing to buy what we are selling,” said McKee, who hopes to organize an event for local queer makers and artisans to show off their goods. One revenue stream McKee and Ratton are eager to increase is renting out the cafe for private events, especially with the busy holiday party season coming up. (As of now customers must wear masks when not eating or drinking under the city’s COVID rules for eateries.) They offer a sliding scale for LGBTQ event planners and nonprofits, with capacity for upward of 40 people in the space plus the ability to also use the adjacent hair salon. (A set of rainbow-colored steps by the cafe’s register leads up to a second-floor balcony space, but it’s unavailable for public use because the height of the ceiling isn’t up to today’s zoning standards.) They are also presenting their own events, with a monthly poetry reading night dubbed “Queer Bedtime Stories” and a drag brunch “Hi, Femme!” moving to the last Sunday of the month. A queer comedy show is also in the works, and an updated calendar of events will be posted to the cafe’s website once the new schedule is ironed out. McKee and Ratton are looking at obtaining a beer and wine license next year to offer adult beverages, especially during the events. But they do not want to become a de facto bar. “We can do a happy hour and it pairs well with a lot of our events,” said McKee. “We will maintain being all ages but we want to have the option to add champagne to our brunch menu or wine at night.” Ratton, who also works as a metalsmith, added, “We don’t want to be a destination to get a drink, but if you want a drink with a show then absolutely.” The cafe is currently closed Mondays, but Satyricon is working with McKee and Ratton to soon open on those days. For now, Milk SF is open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. To learn more about Milk SF, visit its website at https://www.milk-sf.com/.

Correction

Last month’s column erred in the address for Michael’s Chocolates. It is located at 3352 Grand Avenue in Oakland’s Grand Lake district. The online version has been corrected. t Got a tip on LGBTQ business news? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

1993, this was changed to a compromise ban on LGBTQ people disclosing their sexual orientation – DADT – that remained in effect until 2011, after a congressional repeal was signed by then-President Barack Obama. But the Navy, of course, had a reputation even in the pre-DADT era; immortalized by the Village People in the group’s 1979 hit “In the Navy.” “I loved ‘In the Navy,’” Steffanides said. “It was a validation. I was going down Market Street with my good friend, and thought ‘we have to go to this recruitment office’ and we signed up before we left. That song was like a recruitment ad for the Navy.” Steffanides said they didn’t think the Navy would actually care about homosexuality, since he was signing up to serve America. “I thought they aren’t going to care if I’m gay or not because I wanted to be of service and put my life on the line for the Constitution of the United States,” Steffanides said. “I took a chance and said I wanted to be a sailor.” See page 10 >>

Community News>>

t Rohrer to speak at SF Lutheran Church for TDOR

November 11-17, 2021 • Bay Area Reporter • 9

compiled by Cynthia Laird

ishop Megan Rohrer of the Sierra Pacific Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will lead worship and preach at St. Francis Lutheran Church in San Francisco Saturday, November 20, at 4 p.m. at 152 Church Street. The congregation will observe Transgender Day of Remembrance at the service. As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, (https://www.ebar.com/ news/latest_news//308846) Rohrer was installed earlier this year as the first openly transgender bishop in a mainline Christian denomination and leads 182 congregations in Northern California and Nevada. TDOR has been observed annually on November 20 to memorialize those who have been killed because of transphobia, a news release from St. Francis Lutheran Church stated. The observance is sponsored by the St. Francis Lutheran Church Endowment and will include a candlelight vigil as the names of each of the 29 trans people killed in the U.S. so far in 2021 are read. “The heartbreaking murders of these beloved children of God are attacks on every one of us and an attack on Christ as well,” stated the Reverend Bea Chun, pastor at St. Francis. “This hateful violence is unacceptable and has to stop. It is a call to action and a call to stand in solidarity with our transgender siblings.” TDOR was founded in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, who writes the B.A.R.’s Transmissions column. At the St. Francis service, members of the transgender community will be featured as speakers, and Rohrer will preach a sermon to lead the assembled guests in reflecting and remembering on this important occasion. This year, the St. Francis endowment provided a third grant of $3,000 (the first two were in 2017 and 2018) to the Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive in Vallejo. The archive’s executive director, Ms. Bob Davis, will be one of the speakers. Members of the community are welcome to attend. Space is limited. An RSVP with proof of full COVID-19 vaccination is required. Visit http://sflcsf.org/ to register by November 17. The event will be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube channel.

SF TDOR event

The trans-owned Fluid Cafe and Events will hold a Transgender Day of Remembrance event Saturday, November 20, from 2 to 5 p.m. at 332 Golden Gate Avenue. The theme is “Stronger Than Ever,” and it will be an in-person event, as well as livestreamed. At press time additional information was not available.

TDOR event in North Bay

A Transgender Day of Remembrance event will also be held Saturday, November 20, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro Road in San Rafael. In a news release, Smith, the aforementioned TDOR founder, stated, “Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people – sometimes in the most brutal ways possible – it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.”

Gooch

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Bishop Megan Rohrer breaks bread for Communion during their installation ceremony September 11 at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

The Osher Marin JCC event is sponsored in part by the Spahr Center, Marin’s community center for the LGBTQ and HIV communities. It will feature a panel of transgender people from Marin County, and a keynote speaker addressing the intersections of racism, transphobia, and misogyny that leads to Black transgender women specifically being murdered in such high numbers, the release stated. Attendees will be required to wear masks and show proof of COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the event.

Castro Art walk returning; new pizzeria to celebrate with block party

A couple of upcoming events were mentioned at the November 4 Castro Merchants Association meeting. Suzie Jennings, owner of Spunk Salon, announced that the Castro Art Walk will be returning December 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. The popular art walks used to be held monthly. The website (https:// www.castroartwalk.com/) notes that a small team of volunteers is working with Castro Merchants and the Castro Art Project to bring back the walk for the holidays. In other news at the meeting, Alessandro Raimondi, who is planning on opening the Vico Cavone restaurant at 4248 18th Street (at Diamond Street) December 5, said he wants to celebrate with a block party. “We would like to close the street that goes from Mollie Stone’s [Collingwood Street] to Vico Cavone with drag queens and singing,” Raimondi said. “It’d be nice to create this show for the grand opening for all the Castro.”

Historical society to hold town hall

The GLBT Historical Society will hold a virtual town hall Tuesday, November 16, at 5:30 p.m. In an email to supporters, the society stated that it is taking the opportunity to reflect on the past year and wants to hear from people. One recent big change was the departure of former executive director Terry Beswick, who in September announced he was resigning. He has since started as executive director of the Golden Gate Business Association. The society stated that while it’s in the midst of the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been able to reopen its museum in the LGBTQ Castro neighborhood and is processing a backlog of collections in the archives. It is also continuing its popular virtual program series. For the town hall, attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance to info@glbthistory.org

(put Town Hall in the subject line). Tickets are free and speakers will include the interim co-executive directors, Kelsi Evans and Andrew Shaffer. To register, go to https://bit. ly/3EYZXMG. See page 11 >>

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t Feds get 2nd guilty plea in state AIDS fraud scheme 10 • Bay Area Reporter • November 11-17, 2021

by John Ferrannini

wo former employees of the state Office of AIDS have pleaded guilty as part of a fraud scandal, and state officials claim they are going to take steps to prevent similar crimes from happening in the future. Most recently, Christine M. Iwamoto, 47, of Sacramento, was charged by federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of California October 13 with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. She pleaded guilty October 28. Iwamoto participated in the scheme with fellow Office of AIDS employee Schenelle M. Flores, and others, from December 2017 to November 2018, according to a criminal complaint filed by the office of Phillip A. Talbert, the acting United States attorney for the district. “As a result of the scheme, Schenelle M. Flores, Christine M. Iwamoto, Individual 1, Individual 3, Individual 6, and their families and friends obtained a total of at least approximately $2 million in personal benefits, including but not limited to cash and purchased

Courtesy state Office of AIDS

Two women have pleaded guilty to federal charges in a fraud scheme at the state Office of AIDS.

items,” the complaint states. The Office of AIDS, with a Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget of $46 million, coordinates state services, programs, and activities related to the HIV/AIDS epidemic under the aegis of the California Department of Public Health. It is headquartered in Sacramento, and one of the office’s main statutory goals is to identify “the scope and extent of HIV infection and the needs which it creates.” According to federal prosecutors, Iwamoto and Flores were part of a scheme that cost the AIDS office some $2.7 million. At least five people total were involved.

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“Flores directed a state contractor to make payments allegedly on behalf of the Office of AIDS and caused the contractor to charge those payments to the state,” a U.S. Department of Justice news release stated. “Flores caused the contractor to pay for personal expenses on its debit cards, order gift cards for personal use, and pay false invoices to shell companies for services allegedly provided to the Office of AIDS.” The invoices falsely claimed that the company provided consulting services to the Office of AIDS, for which Iwamoto received $450,000, the complaint states. “Iwamoto then gave thousands of dollars in cash and blank checks to another employee of the Office of AIDS who was participating in the scheme,” states the news release, without disclosing the name of her co-worker. “Iwamoto also participated in obtaining the gift cards from the state contractor and received hundreds of the gift cards for her personal use.” In Iwamoto’s plea agreement, she agreed to pay up to $600,000

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with law enforcement authorities and has also overhauled the fiscal management of the Office of AIDS to ensure the proper and appropriate use of state funds,” the spokeswoman continued. The B.A.R. subsequently asked how the fiscal management was overhauled and received the response that the CDPH “hired an independent contractor that made a number of recommendations to improve coordination between administrative and program entities within the office, and all of these recommendations have been completed.” These recommendations included establishing “clear roles and responsibilities of staff and establish desktop policies and procedures;” developing “a more comprehensive invoice process;” and improving “structured approval processes of contracts.” The B.A.R. subsequently asked for a copy of these recommendations and was told it would receive a response in 10-14 days in accordance with the state’s Public Records Act. t

Report: Gay SF man died of drug intoxication

28-year-old gay man whose body was discovered on fire in San Francisco’s South of Market 44 Gough Street #204, San Francisco, CA 94103 neighborhood died accidentally of (415) 829-8937 • www.ebar.com drug intoxication, a report from the San Francisco Medical Examiner’s office states. As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, Eric Michael Moren was discovered at 4:18 a.m. October 25, 2020 by San Francisco police in the area of Minna Street and Russ Alley. “The officer tried to use a fire extinguisher to suppress the flames, but the fire extinguisher was faulty and did not work,” the report states. “The officer then resorted to using personal water bottles to attempt to extinguish the flames. During this time, the officers were able to call for city paramedics with San Francisco Fire Department paramedics responding to the scene.” The paramedics extinguished the When you plan your life celebration and lasting remembrance in flames, and death was determined advance, you can design every detail of your own unique memorial on scene, the report states. and provide your loved ones with true peace of mind. Planning ahead When your celebration lasting Crime scene investigators disprotectsyou your plan loved ones fromlife unnecessary stress and and financial burden, When you remembrance plan your celebration and lasting in covered signs of drug use near the allowing themlife to focus what will matter at design that remembrance time—you. in on advance, youmost can every advance, you canofdesign every detail of your ownand unique memorial scene, including “an apparent used detail own memorial provide Contact usyour today about theunique beautiful ways to create a lasting legacy syringe” and “a disposable lighter, a atyour theloved San Francisco Columbarium. and provide loved ones with true peace mind. Planning aheadcandle and an electronic device of your ones with true peace ofof mind. Planning some kind,” the report states. protects your loved onesProudly from unnecessary stressunnecessary and financial burden, ahead protects yourserving loved onesCommunity. from the LGBT The report describes Moren as allowing them focus on whatburden, will matter most them at thattotime—you. stresstoand financial allowing being in what appeared to be a “slight pugilistic” [fighting] stance focus on what will matter most at that time—you. Contact us today about the beautiful ways to create a lasting legacy at the time of his death; and stated that “there was no evidence of soot at the San Contact FranciscousColumbarium. today about the beautiful ways to create upon visual inspection of the trachea and microscopic examination a lasting legacy at the San Francisco Columbarium. of the lungs.” One Loraine Ct. | San Francisco | 415-771-0717 Proudly serving our Community. While the death was initially inSanFranciscoColumbarium.com The

in restitution. She will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley February 24 and faces a maximum of 20 years for each count. Flores pleaded guilty to wire fraud February 11. She will be sentenced January 20 and faces a maximum of 20 years for the one count. When the Bay Area Reporter reached out to the Office of AIDS, overseen by Marisa Ramos, Ph.D., for its comment about the fraud scheme and to ask how it will seek to prevent similar schemes from occurring in the future, it received a response from a CDPH office of communications spokeswoman. “These serious allegations go against everything our department stands for and we appreciate the work of law enforcement to ensure that individuals are held accountable for criminal actions,” the spokeswoman, who did not want to be named, stated. “In late 2018, CDPH identified fiscal irregularities within the Office of AIDS and immediately launched an internal investigation and notified the state and federal authorities. “CDPH has fully cooperated

SF vet

From page 8

Steffanides served aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitzclass aircraft carrier, they said. But the honeymoon was shortlived. “There was a witch hunt,” Steffanides explained, after an explosion inside the USS Iowa killed 47 crewmen in April 1989. The Navy initially concluded that a suicidal crew member, Clay-

Courtesy Larry Ackerman

Eric Moren died October 25, 2020.

vestigated as “suspicious,” the report determined the manner of death to be an “accident” caused by “toxic effects of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.” The report determined that the fire damage occurred post-mortem. As the B.A.R. reported last year, Moren’s ex-husband, Larry Ackerman, told the B.A.R. that Moren had been homeless. Ackerman said the two were married in 2014 but Moren “ran off three months after we got married.” Moren, originally from Columbus, Ohio, was described as very creative. “He started a house cleaning business,” Ackerman said. “It was called Twinky Clean. He had posters all over the Castro and the Mission.” But the business came apart due to Moren’s “choices of employees,” Ackerman recalled, adding that Moren fell into drug addiction and eventually homelessness, “descending into delusional craziness with meth use.” ton Hartwig, deliberately caused the explosion. During the investigation, officers leaked to the media that Hartwig was having a romantic relationship with another male crew member, Kendall Truitt, and that Hartwig decided to commit a murder-suicide when it soured. The Navy was unable to conclude if these allegations were true, and eventually after a damning report later that year on CBS’s “60 Minutes” and after a third-party investigation, withdrew its initial

“In his younger days, he was quite innovative and ambitious,” Ackerman said. “He was a great guy.” Ackerman stated to the B.A.R. via email November 9 that there will be a memorial for Moren on July 18, 2022 at 7 p.m. at the intersection of Castro and 18th streets, on what would have been his 30th birthday. “I am thankful that Eric Michael died gently and not from the fire, however, he was one of the over 700 people who died in 2020 from an accidental overdose,” Ackerman stated, urging Mayor London Breed to declare a state of emergency around the drug overdose crisis and open supervised injection sites. “Eric Michael was not with his usual friends in the Castro area when he died because they had all been swept away by SFPD and [the Department of Public Works] thus disrupting their community which looked out for each other and administered Narcan when needed,” Ackerman continued. “The continual harassment of unhoused people is a significant factor leading to poor health and death. This must stop! We must recognize this epidemic in our LGBTQ+ communities and rise up to resolve the factors including lack of housing that lead to so many deaths and dysfunctionalities.” Moren’s memorial was held November 12, 2020 in Ohio, as the B.A.R. reported at that time. He was cremated. t

conclusions, expressed its regret to Hartwig’s family, and stated that the cause of the explosion could not be determined. Steffanides said that after the Iowa incident, things became more inquisitive. “They opened my locker, looked inside, and found magazines,” they said. “There were eight or nine other discharges at the same time. They’d call us in separately and say, ‘I have evidence. The other guy alSee page 12 >>

t <<

Community News>>

Milk oiler

From page 1

“Having Harvey Milk as namesake for this ship as she adds to our nation’s strategic advantage in agile logistics is absolutely awesome,” said Wettlaufer. “With enhanced capabilities for cargo storage and delivery of fuel, Harvey Milk will support our Navy in the away game as we keep our country safe far from home and protect the sea lines of communication.” In 1977, Milk became the first out LGBTQ person to win elected office in both San Francisco and California. Yet he was gunned down 11 months into his first term on the morning of November 27, 1978 inside City Hall along with then-mayor George Moscone by disgruntled former supervisor Dan White. Since then Milk has become a beloved gay luminary around the globe. The Navy had announced in 2016 that one of its fleet replenishment oilers would be named in his honor. An LGBTQ San Diego advisory group had launched a campaign in 2012 to have a naval ship named for Milk, a Navy veteran who was on active duty during the Korean War. The Imperial Court System, the philanthropic drag organization that began in San Francisco in 1965, led a letter writing campaign to convince the secretary of the navy to approve a Milk vessel.

Missing gay man

From page 1

release about Woitel’s disappearance and two of Woitel’s sisters and a brother traveled from his native Illinois to search for him. The medical examiner’s report stated that Woitel’s body was “apparently hiding in a wall cavity” when it was discovered February 15 while officers were executing a search warrant. While “multiple people had entered the residence on several occasions” – including a private investigator – after Woitel was first reported missing January 13, the body had not been

SF DA

From page 1

Evans said that nothing was decided at the October meeting. “The last meeting didn’t really happen because there were not enough community members present,” Evans said, referring to members of the design team, not the general public. When asked what date the meeting was supposed to have been held, Evans said “I don’t remember. A few weeks ago. What difference does it

News Briefs

From page 9

Covenant House to host executive sleep out

Covenant House California will hold its virtual executive sleep out Thursday, November 18, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following morning at its locations around the state, including in Oakland. Individuals

November 11-17, 2021 • Bay Area Reporter • 11

Gay San Diego city and county commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez, who as the Queen Mother I of the Americas and Nicole the Great is the titular head of the court, first thought of the proposal after the repeal of the military’s homophobic “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which marked its 10th anniversary on September 20. With the navy secretary the lone person who has final say over naval ship names, Murray Ramirez had the court’s 70 chapters across North America send letters from its members and local officials in support of a Milk ship. A naming ceremony for the Milk oiler was held on Treasure Island in San Francisco in August 2016 with Ray Mabus, at the time secretary of the Navy, and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), then the House minority leader. The vessel’s first cut ceremony took place December 13, 2019 at the San Diego shipyard. It marked the start of construction, with the cutting of the first piece of steel being used. This past May Murray Ramirez, Milk’s gay nephew Stuart Milk, gay former San Francisco supervisor Bevan Dufty, who served in what had been Milk’s board seat, and veteran Morgan Hurley were among a select group that got a sneak peak of the ship, as the B.A.R. first reported. In September the B.A.R.’s Political

Notebook column broke the news that the Milk ship would launch this month. It did so from the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company’s shipyard in San Diego where it has been under construction. Various LGBTQ dignitaries and elected leaders from across California attended the morning ceremony, as did Mabus. Among them were gay San Diego leaders Mayor Todd Gloria and City Council Pro Tem Stephen Whitburn; lesbians former state lawmaker Christine Kehoe and retired Navy Reserve Commander Zoe Dunning; Milk

campaign manager and confidant Anne Kronenberg; and San Diego Supervisor Nathan Fletcher with his son. Stuart Milk said his uncle was proud to carry on their family’s tradition of serving in the Navy. While the 2011 end to the homophobic military policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” that prevented LGBTQ people from serving openly was about “tolerance,” he said the ship naming was about honoring not only his uncle but all LGBTQ veterans and military service members. “Today, we are celebrating something much bigger than tolerance,”

discovered during those visits. “The officers obtained a ladder from the property manager to access the attic from the subject’s bathroom ceiling,” the report states. “The subject’s remains were found seated in a kitchen wall cavity located beneath the attic floorboards. “Access to the attic and the remains from inside the subject’s apartment was made with a ladder through the bathroom ceiling,” the report continues. “The attic is also accessible through a rooftop hatch. A living room fire escape allowed access to the roof. … Beneath the subject’s legs was a ‘fanny-pack’ that contained a flashlight, pliers, two empty baggies

with white residue, charred foil, and prescription medications.” There were no additional drugs discovered, or a suicide note, the report states. Toxicological blood testing discovered fentanyl, hydrocodone, methamphetamine, alcohol, and gammaHydroxybutyric acid (GHB). (The report notes that the GHB “might represent postmortem production as a result of the decomposition process, antemortem ingestion, or a combination of both.”) Ultimately, the cause of death was determined to be “toxic effects of fentanyl, hydrocodone, and methamphetamine,” and the manner was de-

termined to be accidental, the report states. According to Scott Williams of the Brisbane-based inVision private investigation company, whose services had been procured by the family, a homeless man was in possession of Woitel’s cellphone when Williams interviewed him February 2. The homeless man claimed to have purchased the phone from Woitel on January 7 – one day before the last security camera footage showing Woitel at his apartment was recorded – for $100. The homeless man claimed to know who was “responsible for doing that to Christopher” (referring to his death).

The investigator determined that “it is clear [the homeless man] suffers from mental illness and as such could be delusional.” The homeless man claimed to have psychic powers that allowed him to see that Woitel had been shot and left in the Bay. The Woitel family’s media representative, Mark Guarino – a childhood friend of Woitel’s, did not respond to a request for comment. Woitel, who grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, moved to San Francisco after he graduated from high school in 1988. Woitel’s funeral was held March 20 in Oak Park. t

make what day it was?” When asked when the theme and format will be decided, Evans said, “hopefully we’ll have another meeting in early December.” When asked if the Burns institute has a deadline to make these decisions, Evans said no. “I don’t know if we can speak for Burns,” Marshall said. Evans said that “the community is looking for healing and accountability from systemic partners,” and so therefore the systemic partners (such as

the DA’s office) shouldn’t dictate the terms to the community. “It’s really just a matter of trusting that the process is moving along,” Evans said. “Sure, we would like for it to have happened yesterday.” When asked how the wider community can find healing and accountability if the commission hasn’t been formed yet, Evans said “if you’re looking forward to this happening, there’s a lot of community members looking forward to it.” The status of the commissions in Boston and Philadelphia is unclear.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s office has not responded to multiple emails and phone calls from the B.A.R. Suffolk County (Boston) District Attorney’s Office Communications Director Matthew Brelis did, however. In October, Brelis responded to an email asking if the commission had been formed, had met, and if not, why. “The office under DA Rachael Rollins has always had a restorative justice approach in how we handle things,” he stated. “The global pandemic has required us to adapt and reallocate our attention

to deal with the disparities in health care, education, housing, and public health and public safety in some of the poorest communities in Suffolk County and in our BIPOC communities,” Brelis continued. “That said, we continue to explore how the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission may be able to help the community and we seek community input.” Brelis did not respond to a followup email asking him to clarify if there will be a commission at some point and, if so, when.t

and teams can support the effort by joining together to raise funds, and then participate on the evening of the event. Executives and other leaders and interested community members are encouraged to participate so they can hear from youth facing homelessness, such as the clients at Covenant House. According to an email, sleepers will join an interactive program that

will introduce them to young people who have overcome homelessness, inform them about issues related to youth homelessness, and connect them with other participants. To donate and sign up, go to https://bit.ly/3bTJ8X8. t

in others – often when they lost faith in themselves especially, feeling lower than the surface of the pathway they struggled to walk upon. Yet his constant desire was to help lift their spirits and next their head, followed by their eyes now directed toward the stars, causing their hearts to retain a stronger beat as their bodies became able once more to stand upright in union with their souls. Michael worked as a bartender and in retail before becoming a funeral director for Byrgan Funeral Home out of Burlingame. This position afforded him the opportunity to minister to those many individuals whose loved ones passed away from AIDS during the height

of the pandemic in the Bay Area. He next completed his B.A. at San Francisco State University, saying: “At least I graduated in the same century as my high school classmates!” He is survived by his husband of almost 31 years, Skip Anderson; sisters Judy Croom and Cathy Sapata; two brothers, James Phelan and George Phelan; along with seven nieces and nephews; several great nieces and nephews; countless friends; plus two dogs and two cats who were mesmerized in his presence. A memorial celebration will be held January 20 at the Sonora Elks Club. Remembrance donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. (https://www.cancer.org/)

Courtesy Nicole Murray Ramirez

Assembly candidate David Campos, left, joined Nicole Murray Ramirez, BART director Bevan Dufty, San Diego Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, and his son for the christening of the USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206) in San Diego November 6.

he said, it means the “Navy not only recognizes but honors those ... so this Navy ship sends an important message to the world.” Milk enlisted in the Navy in 1951 and attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. By 1954 he was a lieutenant (junior grade) stationed at what was then called the Naval Air Missile Test Center in Ventura County in Southern California. He was serving as a diving instructor. As the B.A.R. reported in February 2020, Milk was given an “other than honorable” discharge from the U.S. Navy and forced to resign on February 7, 1955 rather than face a courtmartial because of his homosexuality, according to a trove of naval records obtained by the paper. It contradicted an archival document housed in the San Francisco Public Library’s San Francisco History Center that authors of several recent biographies of Milk had used to claim that Milk was honorably discharged from the Navy. The Milk replenishment oiler is one of four that will posthumously honor civil rights leaders, with the first congressman John Lewis and the others for U.S. attorney general Robert Kennedy and U.S. Supreme Court chief justice and California governor Earl Warren. The USNS John Lewis, T-AO-205, was christened July 17. t

John Ferrannini contributed reporting.

Obituaries >> Michael Richard Phelan July 4, 1955 – October 14, 2021

A man of great value, Michael was purposeful, strong, loving and kind, generous and forgiving. His joy in living was evident to all whom he encountered. Good natured, pleasant, and entertaining, with a ready smile and a quick wit, he easily made friends of acquaintances and those new friends often became lifetime close companions. Michael’s faith was perhaps his greatest virtue. He retained such faith

Let’s talk cannabis. CASTRO • MARINA • SOMA C10-0000523-LIC; C10-0000522-LIC; C10-0000515-LIC

<< Community News

12 • Bay Area Reporter • November 11-17, 2021

SF vet

From page 10

ready confirmed and incriminated you. If you cooperate, you’ll get a lighter sentence.’ Now, nobody wants to turn in your brother for being gay.” Steffanides said they were denied the presence of a judge advocate general (JAG) attorney, and “ended up going to the brig,” at which time they were reduced in rank. After being declared “unfit for service in the Navy,” Steffanides said they had to stay at their post “to train my replacement.” They were finally kicked out months later on Christmas Eve 1993 in Norfolk, Virginia. Gay sex was still illegal in Virginia at the time, before the ban in that state and 13 others were declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court a decade later in Lawrence v. Texas. “It was completely illegal to even be a homosexual in that state,” Steffanides said, adding that they “had to go in through the back of the bar because we didn’t want people to see us.”

Family rift

Steffanides’ other than honorable discharge opened a rift between them and their family. “My family and I had a break over it,” Steffanides said. “We couldn’t talk about it. Everyone was ashamed of me.” Steffanides’ internalized shame led to them “spending 30 years in the gutter, surviving on the streets.” “I’d planned on making a career in the Navy,” Steffanides said. “I came home and became a drug addict, and at one point was turning tricks on Polk Street. I left San Francisco in shame, going from city to city.” At one point this led to Steffanides living “behind a trash can” in Los Angeles for about a year, they said. “It was horrible,” they said, adding that they smoked cigarette butts and went to an unhealthily low weight. But Steffanides started to turn things around by getting sober and meeting someone through Facebook that put him up in San Francisco. “And he’s been my partner for seven years,” Steffanides said, adding that Devon Raphael believed

that they “just needed a chance.” “When I first met him I knew something was disturbing him,” Raphael, a gay man, told the B.A.R. “I fell in love, but I knew there was this other thing, and eventually I found out it’s about the Navy. So I’ve seen him struggle for years accepting himself.” Steffanides was doing better but had relapses because they thought they were “a bad person” still. One day at a homeless shelter, Raphael introduced Steffanides to Swords to Plowshares, which had a booth there. “They were the first people who gave me any kind of dignity,” Steffanides said. “They said we don’t care about your discharge. We respect you for your service and we can help you.” Steffanides received counseling and health care from Swords to Plowshares, which also went with them through a two-and-a-half year ordeal to get their discharge status upgraded, which was finally successful last November. “For 30 years, Veterans Day has been a day I dreaded because my discharge was other than honorable,” Steffanides said, adding that now that their upgrade has been recognized by the Department of

Veterans Affairs “it makes me feel like I’m being recognized.” “It’s especially edifying and gratifying,” Steffanides continued. “The level of commitment to serve I have now is the level I had then, but for 30 years I walked around feeling like a piece of shit.” Soo Kim, the assistant director of communications and external affairs for Swords to Plowshares, said that a five-minute video about Steffanides will be shown at the Veterans Day Concert and Reception Wednesday, November 10, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in-person in the Mission Bay neighborhood, and again at the virtual Veterans Day Celebration on the following day at 5:30 p.m. “This year, Stephan’s story ended up coming to us through our legal department – we have a legal department that is very active with LGBTQ vets,” Kim told the B.A.R. “This year is the 10th anniversary of the end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ This year is the perfect year to bring to light the story of LGBTQ vets who were discharged with less than honorable status because that’s a lot of what our legal team is doing.” Steffanides was honored at the Mayor’s Salute Veterans Day pa-

rade at Fisherman’s Wharf on November 7. “To be in the parade – in particular a Veterans Day parade, which I hadn’t done since I was a kid – to be in a Veterans Day parade with my partner was scary,” Raphael said, adding he thought “we’re gay guys, we’re not supposed to be doing this.” “All of a sudden, Stephan grabbed my hand and [they] would not let go,” Raphael said. “Every time a person waved at us, Stephan raised both of our hands to wave back. I never, ever expected [them] to have that much strength.” Steffanides is now working on a video history project filming interviews with LGBTQ veterans to submit to the Smithsonian Institute. “It’s not a given you can just get your discharge overturned,” they said. “Part of my award is the courage it takes to fight the federal government.” t

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-038399700

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039522900

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039522000

/lgbtsf

Legals>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556677

In the matter of the application of CHUI YUK CHAN, 473 30TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner CHUI YUK CHAN is requesting that the name CHUI YUK CHAN AKA ALICIA CHUI YUK CHAN AKA ALICIA CHUI YUK LUI AKA ALICIA C. LUI AKA ALICIA LUI be changed to ALICIA LUI. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103 on the 30th of NOVEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039513300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as PORTOLA CLEANER, 725 PORTOLA DR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SUN-JU KIM. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/07/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039519100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as FLYLUXGLOBAL, 1971 45TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SLAVA KAPLAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/14/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/14/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039520200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SPORT TOLLIVER, 308 EDDY ST #101, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RACHEL TOLLIVER – SOLE PROPRIETOR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/14/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/15/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039521400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as ONE WITH PEACE MARTIAL ARTS, 1725 NEWCOMB AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NAYO ESTEBAN MOUTON-FUESTES. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/13/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/18/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039499400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as UNION SQUARE ENDODONTICS, 490 POST ST #1516, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DARREN MACHULE D.M.D. PHD. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/06. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/28/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039521900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as TIAR LEI, 2685 TAYLOR ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed TIAR LEI DUKE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/08/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/18/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039492700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TACO SAN BUENA, SANSOME & BUSH ST RTE #2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SANTANA ESG INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/02/05. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/22/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039492800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TACO SAN BUENA, SHOTWELL & 16TH ST RTE #62, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SANTANA ESG INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/02/05. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/22/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039492900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TACO SAN BUENA, 768 SANSOME ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SANTANA ESG INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/12/07. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/22/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039492600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TACO SAN BUENA, 2598 HARRISON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SANTANA ESG INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/15/04. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/22/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039517300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CP PARTNERS COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, 2 EMBARCADERO CENTER #1440, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed FLORIDA PETE INCORPORATED (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/13/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039520300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as KANVAS; THE CANLAS BROTHERS; 188 KING ST PH7, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed KANVAS REAL ESTATE, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/14/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/15/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039494300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CODI, 1846 TAYLOR ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed HIVEN INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/20/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/23/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039517200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LE PHENIX LIFESTYLE, 1538 PACIFIC AVE #116, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed CMO HAIR STUDIOS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/13/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039522200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HAZE VALLEY, 500 LAGUNA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MR.C’S LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/18/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/18/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039522100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as HIGH ROAD BIKE CO., 597 HAYES ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed CALILION LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/25/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/18/21.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as PACIFIC MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION, 3450 GEARY BLVD #212, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by DOLORES PEREZ HEILBRON. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/15/18.

OCT 21, 28, NOV 04, 11, 2021

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556693

In the matter of the application of SHANKAR DHAKAL & GITA PANERU, 225 HYDE ST #407, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioners SHANKAR DHAKAL & GITA PANERU is requesting that the name AROGYA DHAKAL be changed to PRANAV DHAKAL. 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 7th of DECEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556689

In the matter of the application of ALEXANDER WILLIAM MOSIAK, 163 FAIRMOUNT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner ALEXANDER WILLIAM MOSIAK is requesting that the name ALEXANDER WILLIAM MOSIAK be changed to ALEXEI OSTAPOVICH MOSIAK. 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 4th of JANUARY 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556682

In the matter of the application of MARITELL RAMIREZ VILLAVICENCIO, 1153 GENEVA AVE #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner MARITELL RAMIREZ VILLAVICENCIO is requesting that the name MARITELL RAMIREZ VILLAVICENCIO AKA MARITELL RAMIREZ be changed to MARITELL VILLAVICENCIO. 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 30th of NOVEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039523100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CAPRICHO, 829 MOULTRIE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JULIAN BILLOTTE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/94. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/19/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039523000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as GOOD REAL ESTATE TEAM, 891 BEACH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GRANT IBANA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/19/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/19/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039524200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as ERIN ELIZABETH HAIR STUDIO, 2668 GREAT HIGHWAY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ERIN ARIAS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/21/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TRES CHIC HAIR STYLE, 234 WEST PORTAL AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed AICHA ELHATTAB. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/07/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/19/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039524300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SUM IT BOOKKEEPERS, 25 SIERRA ST #W301, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed VASANTHA NAGANATHAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/21/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039526300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as APMEDIATIONSF, 576 2ND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BRUNO AUGUSTUS PEGUESE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/25/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039506100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LATIN AMERICAN WORKOUT, 1242 S. VAN NESS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JAIME MARTINEZCASTRO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/29/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/30/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039523200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BIG JOE LOGISTICS AND POWER, 1438 GREEN ST #5B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed RACKUP LOGISTICS AND LIFTS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/20/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/20/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039525400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as STUFF; AUNT BILL’S STUFF; 150 VALENCIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed STUFF INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/22/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039525100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CRATOS, 1489 WEBSTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CRATOS PORTABLE CHARGERS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/21/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/22/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039507800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as F8, 1192 FOLSOM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CITY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT GROUP INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/11/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/30/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039519400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as YO YO HAIR SALON, 4409 CALIFORNIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed CHIEN MING CHIU & WYNNIE WONG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/15/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/15/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CGL BUILDERS, 262 SUNSET PARKWAY, NOVATO, CA 94947. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed CHIRAIRO GROUP LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/15/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/18/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039524100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as TVEST FINANCE, 265 EDDY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed RACHIEROO GROUP LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/19/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/21/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039524700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as FIBEROLOGIES, 2562 SUTTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HAMERKOP LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/22/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039518700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CANIHAN FAMILY CELLARS, 1815 JONES ST #5, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed CANIHAN WINES LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/16/06. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/14/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039516400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SILVER SPUR, 1914 IRVING ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SHOTSKI LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/01/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/13/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039522300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TAILORFADE, 230 6TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed DAPPER & DETAILED LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/19/21.

OCT 28, NOV 04, 11, 18, 2021

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556698

In the matter of the application of CHERRY MARY SHEEDY, 391 ELLIS ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner CHERRY MARY SHEEDY is requesting that the name CHERRY MARY SHEEDY be changed to SHANNON MARY OBERPRILLER. 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 9th of DECEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556577

In the matter of the application of SLAWOMIR MACIEJ LIGUS, 875 VERMONT ST #101, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner SLAWOMIR MACIEJ LIGUS is requesting that the name SLAWOMIR MACIEJ LIGUS be changed to OOZIE LIGUS. 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 11th of JANUARY 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

Legals>>

November 11-17, 2021 • Bay Area Reporter • 13

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556718

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039529700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as MARKIEDOODLE, 273 SUSSEX ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed STARFISH LIBERATION ARMY (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/28/21.

In the matter of the application of RALEIGHA SAMUELLA GARCIA, 750 HARRISON ST #804, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner RALEIGHA SAMUELLA GARCIA is requesting that the name RALEIGHA SAMUELLA GARCIA be changed to MARICELLA SAMANTHA MAXWELL. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103 on the 16th of DECEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039525700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as GURUNG KITCHEN, 1033 IRVING ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SOLTI RESTAURANT INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/25/21.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039522700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as G AND G CUSTOM ART AND STUDIO, 437 CAMPBELL AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GUILLERMO FLAMENCO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/19/21.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039526100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as 380; FREE PRESS MUSIC, 850 OAK ST #5, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHRISTIE HARBINSKI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/14/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/25/21.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039527300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as LADIES FIRST NAILS, 601 TARAVAL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed THOA THI NGUYEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/14/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/26/21.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039532800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE G SPA, 490 POST ST #1703, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed OFFICE MD (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/01/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/01/21.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039512300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as D&R KITCHEN, 2368 3RD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MERAKII MANAGEMENT LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/28/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/06/21.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039524900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as NUEVO ARGENT, 5880 3RD ST #517, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed DNAP LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/11/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/22/21.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039531600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as E YE’S PLUMBING, 335 VERNON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed EUGENE JIAN WEI YE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/29/21.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039518900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as HEY BEAUTIFUL, 2500 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HEY BEAUTIFUL LCC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/14/21.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039527100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as VALE JUICE CO., 2769 BRYANT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DOMINIC ALLING. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/28/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/26/21.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-093527400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BSR EATS, 50 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BSR EATS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/26/21.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039534400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ALLUVIUM ESTATE, 201 MISSION ST #2350, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed VIGNA DEI GATTI PARTNERS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/04/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/02/21.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-039209100

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as THE NAIL PLACE, 2500 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by NGOC TUYET THUY TRAN. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/01/20.

NOV 04, 11, 18, 25, 2021

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF GARY HOIUM IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: FILE PES-21-304904

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of GARY HOIUM AKA GARY ROBERT HOIUM, C/O DIANE KAER, KAER LAW PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, 14665 GALAXIE AVE #120, APPLE VALLEY, MN 55124. A Petition for Probate has been filed by BARBARA J. KEREAKOS in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Petition for Probate requests that BARBARA J. KEREAKOS be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: December 01, 2021, 9:00 am, Rm. 204, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the latter of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: DIANE KAER, KAER LAW PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, 14665 GALAXIE AVE #120, APPLE VALLEY, MN 55124; Ph. (952) 432-4131.

NOV 11, 18, 25, 2021

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556723

In the matter of the application of HANH THI MY NGUYEN, 344 HOLLOWAY AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner HANH THI MY NGUYEN is requesting that the name HANH THI MY NGUYEN be changed to ARIEL HANH NGUYEN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 16th of DECEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

Tell the Redistricting Task Force where to draw the San Francisco Supervisorial District lines! Visit the Redistricting website for directions on how to virtually attend their meetings. Website: www.sf.gov/public-body/2020-census-redistricting-task-force

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-21-556729

In the matter of the application of SAFWAN OLAIBAH, 3122 CESAR CHAVEZ, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner SAFWAN OLAIBAH is requesting that the name SAFWAN KHALED OLAIBAH be changed to SAMMY TYRA COONEY. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 21st of DECEMBER 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039533000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as K3 FIRST AID AND CPR SERVICES, 1029 KEYS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KURA COHEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/01/21.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039535800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HOLISTIC PSYCHIC THERAPY, 631 HAIGHT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LORETTA TENNIS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/02/21.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039531900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BINGO TRAVEL, 937 HAIGHT ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOPHIE LEUNG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/16/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/29/21.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039526500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TJK AND ASSOCIATES, 501 DELANCY ST #106, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed TIMOTHY J. KORZEP. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/01/95. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/25/21.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039539500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as ON THE GROUND CATERING, 957 CONNECTICUT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOY WILLIAMS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/05/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/05/21.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039532100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CASTILLO VALTIERRA & ASSOCIATES, 1284 S VAN NESS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANTHONY VALTIERRA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/29/21.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039534700

Contact the Clerk, John Carroll, at (415) 554-4445 or rdtf@sfgov.org for more information. VACANCIES AVAILABLE! The Assessment Appeals Board resolves legal and value assessment issues between the Assessor’s office and property owners. Board vacancies are as follows: Board 1 – one; Board 2 - three; and Board 3 – five. Hearings are quasi-judicial, conducted in a manner similar to a court setting, with evidence and testimony presented by the parties. The Board then evaluates the evidence and testimony and renders its decision. To be eligible for seat appointment, you must have a minimum of five years professional experience in California as either a: (1) public accountant; (2) real estate broker; (3) attorney; or (4) property appraiser accredited by a nationally recognized organization, or certified by either the Office of Real Estate Appraiser or the State Board of Equalization. Families Grow Healthy with WIC! San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program provides healthy foods, nutrition tips, breastfeeding support, health care referrals and community information. You may qualify if you: • Are pregnant, breastfeeding, just had a baby; or • Had a recent pregnancy loss; or • Have a child or care for a child under age 5; and

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TURNING HEADS COLLECTIVE, 520 HAMPSHIRE ST #216, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed JEANETTE AU, DIOANNA DEEM & DARON SESSION. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/29/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/02/21.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as JASON’S ANTIQUES, 2157 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed CHENGJUN ZHANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/01/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/04/21.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039534100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MOSSER HOTEL, THE, 54 4TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MOSSER VICTORIAN HOTEL INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/02/07. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/02/21.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039536700

• Receive Medi-Cal, CalWORKS (TANF), or CalFresh (SNAP) benefits; and • Live in California To learn about California WIC Program, visit www.MyFamily.WIC.ca.gov or call 1-888-942-9675 To enroll in SFDPH WIC Program visit, www.sfdph.org/wic to start your application or call 628-2176890 to make an appointment. Newly pregnant individuals, working families, including military and migrant families are encouraged to apply! WIC welcomes dads, grandparents, foster parents, or guardians who care for eligible children. This institution is an equal opportunity employer. Child support matters can be complicated, stressful, and confusing. The Department of Child Support Services helps parents understand the process so they know their rights and options for making and receiving support payments. We are available to assist you in person or by phone. Call us today at (866) 901-3212 or visit us online at www.sfgov.org/dcss to learn how we can help you. Schedule an appointment to open your case at https://sfgov.org/dcss/opening-case. The City and County of San Francisco encourage public outreach. Articles are translated into several languages to provide better public access. The newspaper makes every effort to translate the articles of general interest correctly. No liability is assumed by the City and County of San Francisco or the newspapers for errors and omissions

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE FINERIE, 2591 26TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed PROJECT MO LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/03/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/03/21.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039541400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as NAMASTE SF INDIAN CUISINE, 1968 LOMBARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed NAMASTE SF INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/08/21.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039534000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MOSSER TOWERS, 350 TURK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed CENTRAL TOWERS JOINT VENTURES (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/02/07. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/02/21.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

CNSB#3525866

The following person(s) is/are doing business as RAVENPICTURES PHOTOGRAPHIC LLC, 630 EDINBURGH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed RAVENPICTURES PHOTOGRAPHIC LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/02/21.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039538900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as FIDDLE FIG CAFÉ, 790 LOMBARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed FIDDLE FIG CAFÉ LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/04/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/04/21.

NOV 11, 18, 25, DEC 02, 2021

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-039404700

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as VEO OPTICS, 1799 UNION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business was conducted by a limited liability company and signed by RESTUA VISION (CA). The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/12/21.

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Mayor Pete The coming out of American politics

Pete Buttigieg in the film Mayor Pete

by Brandon Judell

“M

y name is Pete Buttigieg, for understandable reasons, better known as Mayor Pete, and lately still better known as the husband of Chasten Buttigieg.” [Applause.] “I get a lot of questions about why I came out when I did. Whether it was designed to serve some purpose. In fact, it was designed to serve a very simple and private purpose. I wanted to start dating.” Mayor Pete, a highly moving unveiling of everyone’s favorite queer presidential candidate, debuts worldwide on Amazon on Nov. 12. This is the latest of the many offerings pro-

duced and/or directed by Jesse Moss, which include the acclaimed Boys State (2020) and Gay Chorus Deep South (2019). So why is Moss, a charming heterosexual, so gay-friendly? He was born in San Francisco, went to college here, and his father “who’s an epidemiologist, was working at UCSF and SF General sort of at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. So I sort of lived that experience with him, living part of my life in the Castro and part of my life with watching him in the AIDS world, and that was the backdrop of my life. I don’t know what that means in terms of the choices I’ve made, but that’s my life’s reality.” Moss now lives here with his wife, two

kids, and his Emmys, which –in our videochat interview– were symmetrically placed on either side of him like Buckingham Palace guards. Mayor Pete, the tale of Buttigieg’s “failed” presidential campaign, starts a year before he eventually wins the Iowa caucus. Besides the expected up-close observations of all the politics involved, here is a startlingly detailed gay love story where there’s much kissing and handholding and give-and-take chatter between Pete and Chasten, who wrote his own well-received book, I Have Something to Tell You. That Moss agreed to do this documentary so early on, a year before Buttigieg won the

Best AIDS films, part 1

David Schachter and Geoff Edholm in Buddies

by Brian Bromberger

his year is the 40th anniversary of the start of the AIDS pandemic. It is worth reflecting on how cinema has portrayed the disease and those afflicted with it. It is quite extraordinary that it took Hollywood almost thirteen years before it made its first movie to recognize AIDS, Philadelphia (1993). For many, it was too little too late. Jona-

than Demme’s film was primarily a less threatening courtroom drama concerning lawyer Andrew (splendidly played by Tom Hanks in an Oscar-winning performance) fired from his firm on fabricated charges because they found out he had AIDS and sues for punitive damages. Ultimately the film was rife with outdated stereotypes, lacking honesty and originality. Most of Philadelphia’s themes and messages had already been broadcast in far superior indie movies.

Looking back at these films, by 2021 standards they are problematic in that they often dealt only with white upper-middle-class men with AIDS, and strongly suggested AIDS was a disease affecting only gay men. Despite these shortfalls, there were some films that managed to mitigate these land mines and reveal what life was like for PWAs and queer people in general when AIDS was invariably fatal, forcing audiences to deal with the two major denials of our culture,

Iowa caucus, was a gigantic gamble. Would the campaign last a month? Six months? Could an openly gay man gain any traction in the presidential race? Would Moss even wind up with enough material for a short film? The presence of Chasten convinced him there was. “I wasn’t sure when I started the project,” Moss recalled, “how much of Pete’s relationship with Chasten would be a part of the story. It seems naïve to say that now, but I was so focused on the political narrative: this young, gay, out mayor with this unusual backstory who was going to dip his toe into the presidential campaign waters.” See page 15 >>

death and homosexuality. There are numerous excellent films that mentioned AIDS as subplot, but this article focuses on movies where AIDS was the primary concern.

Buddies

Buddies (1985) was the first and still one of the bests films to deal with AIDS, even preceding TV’s An Early Frost, Buddies (1985) was written and directed by gay filmmaker Arthur Bressan, this arthouse picture just played a handful of theaters in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco for a few weeks, including the Castro Theatre, and then disappeared until its 2K restoration screened there again at Frameline 41 in 2018. Gay 25-year-old David (David Schachter) volunteers as a buddy to visit 32-year-old politically active Robert (Geoff Edholm), who is dying alone of AIDS in a hospital bed, abandoned by family and friends. They draw closer as they share personal memories. Though very low-budget, the film is still powerful and touching in its simplicity as it conveys the fear and uncertainty surrounding the disease at that time, such that David initially wears protective gear resembling an astronaut’s space suit when he first meets Robert. The film salutes the courage of PWAs and their volunteer caregivers, applauding the LGBTQ community who had to provide services to those stricken by the disease, since there was no state or federal government support and petrified heterosexuals avoided any contact See page 15 >>

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Film>>

November 11-17, 2021 • Bay Area Reporter • 15

Left: Chasten and Pete Buttigieg in the film Mayor Pete Right: Chasten Buttigieg attends an LGBT teen camp’s Drag-tato Day in Mayor Pete

Mayor Pete

From page 14

Spousal benefits

But then Moss got to know the candidate’s spouse. He immediately saw a dynamic for the film after Pete gave a speech to the Victory Fund where he talked about being closeted in South Bend. “The fact is that when I was younger, I would have done anything to not be gay. If you had offered me a pill to make me straight, I would have swallowed it before you had time to give me a sip of water. It’s hard to face the truth, but there were times in my life when if you had shown me exactly what was inside me that made me gay, I would have cut it out with a knife.” “It was really painful,” Moss noted, and then [afterwards], Chasten sort of critiqued the speech, and I thought, ‘Wow! There’s a whole

other story here that’s about them and their relationship, and how to negotiate it both publicly and privately as this out gay couple. And it took some of the weight off the political narrative.” Moss continued, “Pete, you know,

Mayor Pete director Jesse Moss

is very reserved emotionally and hard to access. And Chasten is really different. I felt like I really had to connect with Chasten to really help me understand Pete. So that kind of opened the door for me on this journey. As the relationship moved to the foreground, and some of the politics moved to the back, it became more about their identities as gay men living this marriage in kind of an old-fashioned way, but in a totally new way on a big stage.” That stage also included Chasten’s visit to an LGBTQ camp for teens where he revealed, “I went to a high school of 1500 kids, and nobody was out. It was extremely unsafe to be out. I didn’t even know anybody who may have been remotely gay.” If only he had had someone like Mayor Pete running for political office back then, life would have been so much easier. The campers concurred, and then they all got

out their potatoes for Drag-tato Day and let loose with the makeup on the spuds. Moss hasn’t reenacted Drag-tato Day with his own kids yet, but it brought back memories of working on the documentary about the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. “I directed Second Unit. I loved it. It was so much fun to make that film. On the bus one day, there was a drag contest. It’s the only drag contest I ever participated in, and I won a small trophy. It looks like a little Oscar. They gave me the “Hair to God” award for my drag performance.” As for the queering of the tubers, “It’s a beautiful scene, that scene with Chasten and that camp, and kind of [showcases] everything that makes Chasten special, too. He’s like a great candidate in his own right. I don’t know. I love that. I went out to Chasten’s high school in Michigan with him, and he [showed

me] ‘Yeah, this was the locker I got pushed into.’ It was kind of great to be on the campaign trail with him and not Pete. Pete had 50 reporters, and Chasten had nobody, so that was kind of nice for me.” Mayor Pete leaves Pete after he endorses Joe Biden. He is at home, sitting in quiet contemplation in an overstuffed brown leather chair. What has he has accomplished? What will he accomplish? His closing words: “I don’t know what that means for my future. Taking things on and growing. But time is on my side, I hope.”t Mayor Pete debuts on Amazon Prime Nov. 12, and at Frameline’s Fall film Showcase at The Castro Theatre Nov. 11. frameline.org jessemoss.com

Read the full review on www.ebar.com with heartfelt compassion without resorting to self-pity, helped people cope with this unbearable tragedy.

Holding the Man

Campbell Scott, Stephen Caffrey and Mary Louise Parker in Longtime Companion

Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington in Philadelphia

Best AIDS films

From page 14

with them, even leaving their meals outside their hospital rooms to minimize any risk of potential infection. Bressan, who in the 1970s began his career making literate porn films with actual plots, Gay USA (about the early Pride celebrations, one of the first gay documentaries) and was progressing into mainstream cinema, died of AIDS in 1987.

1985

One of the standard plots in AIDS film was the PWA returning to his family to reveal not only that he had the disease but was also gay. The first television movie on AIDS, An Early Frost (1985), was devoted to this theme, but a recent 2018 film, 1985, a minor masterpiece, reimagines that scenario with Adrian returning to his religious parents in Fort Worth, Texas at Christmas to deliver the double whammy news, but can’t bring himself to do it. Adrian (a bravura performance by Corey Michael Smith) by withholding his coming out, underlines the disease’s devastating impact

in terms of fear, bigotry, and denial, especially upsetting since his younger brother is likely gay. When his mother (the magnificent Virginia Madsen) towards the end of the film takes him to the airport and says, “You don’t have to tell me until you’re ready, but I’ll try to be ready when you are,” and Adrian still can’t confide in her, the moment is heartbreakingly sad as the audience intuits this is probably his farewell, since his lover is already dying. The film reveals the pain of not being truly known by those you love, even as you face death, making us realize the unfathomable courage it took desperate PWAs, having no other options, to disclose their hidden lives to their families.

Longtime Companion

Probably the most anticipated gay movie ever released, Longtime Companion (1989), an independently-made film distributed by MGM, it became the first AIDS-themed wide-release picture to play in mainstream theaters, so for most LGBTQ Americans it would be their first opportunity to see on screen how the disease had affected their lives. The film chronicled the early years of AIDS year by year as it impacted a group of gay men who were friends with each other and one

Jamie Chung and Cory Michael Smith in 1985

straight woman who becomes a supporter/caregiver to them. Flawed, in that Longtime focuses only on upper middle class white men in New York and resorts to using melodramatic techniques resulting in a bona fide tearjerker. Yet the scene where Bruce Davison (in an Oscar-nominated performance) helps his dying partner in constant pain “to just let go” will break your heart. The ending imagining what life will be like once an AIDS cure is found, gave hope that the nightmare would someday end. The film became the cinematic equivalent of the AIDS Memorial Quilt as a vehicle of grief to mourn these catastrophic losses, showing that friendship and loyalty coupled

Holding the Man

This theme of relationships affected by AIDS is explored in Holding the Man (2015), an Australian drama about two students who meet at a Catholic prep school in 1976 Melbourne and fall in love. They attend university and become involved in the Gay Rights Activism club, swept into the freefall that was gay liberation in the late 1970s, each sleeping with other guys. They separate and reunited years later, they both test HIV-positive. The film shows the connection on how the ’70s sexual revolution inadvertently became the breeding ground for an epidemic, but showcases the incredible bravery and perseverance gay couples had to face when both were infected with AIDS, refusing to let imminent death tear them apart.t

Read about more of the best AIDS films in part 2, next week.

<< Film

16 • Bay Area Reporter • November 11-17, 2021

Frameline, Trans fall filmfests

Left: Tricia’s Wedding Middle: Mayor Pete Right: The Bridesman

by Brian Bromberger

rameline’s special Fall Showcase, held on November 11 and 12, will feature four in-person screenings at the Castro Theatre, which had reopened for a weekend at the end of June after a 15-month closure. Executive Director James Woolley hopes that Frameline’s Fall Showcase “will give audiences a taste of the full in-person festival we have planned for Frameline46 in 2022.” Surprisingly, it is a 50-year-old film, Tricia’s Wedding, in a brand new 4K restoration, that may be the pinnacle of the weekend. The 31-minute film is the Cockette’s outrageous reenactment of Tricia Nixon’s (daughter of you know who) White House wedding to Edward Cox on June 11, 1971. The Cockettes were an avantgarde psychedelic theater group

based in San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury who dressed in “genderfuck” drag. The film is an irreverent lampooning not only of the nuptials ceremony (which ends with an explicit orgy after the punch is spiked with LSD) but a spoof of some of the stars of the era. Intermittently funny, but historically significant since Tricia’s Wedding was one of the first drag movies. Mayor Pete, directed by filmmaker Jesse Moss (Boys State), focuses on Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 campaign to become both the youngest and the first gay president of the U.S. Moss was given intimate access to the candidate, his husband Chasten, and their ambitious election team, starting from a year before the Iowa Caucuses. Oddly, there is no background history presented about Buttigieg,

his family, childhood, education, South Bend, Indiana mayoral career, and why he decided to run for President, nor any real discussion about how the effects of being closeted until age 33 impacted his life and ambitions. The real star of Mayor Pete is his husband Chasten, who is more engaging, animated, and authentic than his spouse. In private questions asked by Moss, Buttigieg comes across as subdued, stoic with answers sounding rote, even intermittently robotic. He appears unable or unwilling to reveal himself personally beyond basic superficialities. Chasten comments at one point, “Pete keeps a lot bottled up inside.” Buttigieg has the intellect, energy, and drive to go far in politics, but Mayor Pete should have been inspirational yet seems flat, more indicative of the film’s subject than its filmmaker.

The Bridesman is the first comedy scripted web series in six episodes produced by Grindr; yes, that Grindr, the gay sex hookup app. The story revolves around selfabsorbed Terry (Jimmy Fowlie)’s mission to break up his best friend, “forever partner” Judith’s (Sydnee Washington) impending marriage, by seducing her hunky presumably straight fiancé Wyatt. Meanwhile Terry has quickie sex romps with an Uber driver. Terry justifies his boorish behavior claiming marriage and monogamy are shams anyway, as well as his mistaken belief that Wyatt really desires him. Upon reading this description, you might be asking yourself is this film as awful as it sounds, and the answer is yes it is. Fowlie (a former Groundling) tries valiantly, possessing a comic flair, but the shallow material overwhelms any creativity. The sex scenes, which you might expect to be a highlight, fizzle, more suggestive than erotic. Even arranging a flaky Grindr hookup might be a better use of one’s time than watching Bridesman. The one film not available for press review, Paris, 13th District, directed by Jacques Audiard, concerns the erotic and romantic in-

trigues of a diverse, sexually fluid foursome. The abrasive, spoiled Taiwanese Parisian Emile rents her grandmother’s apartment to Black teacher Camille and they hook up, though he isn’t interested in pursuing a romance. Shot in artsy black and white, the film boasts lots of sex scenes and candid talk about sexuality. Based on a series of comic book short stories by Adrian Tomine, the film expounds on the difficulties of 20-somethings in finding love. Reviews have been mixed, the chief criticism that there is a coldness to the proceedings with little character development, and the diverse self-absorbed characters lack passion for each other or their lives. The film poses the question whether relationships are possible in such a quickly-changing modern world. www.frameline.org

San Francisco Transgender Film Festival

Founded in 1997 as the world’s first transgender/gender-nonconforming film festival, the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival will run online from November 11-14, with a rich offering of seven new short film programs See page 17 >>

Above: Paris, 13th District Below: Alan Amaya’s JTHIII in the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival

November 11-17, 2021 • Bay Area Reporter • 17

Gooch

Did you know we’ve been listing all sorts of arts, nightlife (like Mercedez Munro kickin’ it at The Midnight Sun) and community events every week? We hope so. Find your favorite stage show, literary reading or wild nightlife event on www.ebar.com. Get out and get kickin’!

Going Out

Events>>

Filmfests

From page 16

and 42 films, featuring a range of genres. All programs are offered on a pay-what-you-can sliding scale and are close-captioned for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. Shawna Virago, SFTFF’s artistic director, commented, “This year’s festival features powerful and vibrant film works that showcase trans and gender-non-conforming communities’ resilience and strength along with their street smarts, sass, sexuality, friendship, humor, and courage.” The wide-ranging subject matter is evident in each of the seven pro-

grams, including: Boysugar: Levi, a trans-masculine drag performer, persuaded by a friend to come to the bar and perform, finds himself in a compromising situation when he is outed by another jealous drag queen. Nimzo: On the anniversary of the day his sister died, Nimzo decides to confront the retired air traffic controller responsible for the plane crash. Two Sons and a River of Blood: A queer woman is pregnant, as part of a self-made family unit of two dykes and a trans man, all of whom are imagining a kind of erotic magic that will allow for procreation based solely on desire. Sweetness: Tara, a Black trans

woman, befriends a young eccentric transfem, who sets fire to the life Tara thinks she deserves. Veni Etiam: The story of a gondola and its gondolier navigating through the canals of Venice. Gender X: Portrays the life and challenges of transgender women in Pakistan today, as they talk about self-image, vulnerability, and the fight for justice. Before Bacchae Before: A trans-queer, dance-theater takedown of gender reveal parties that culminates in a ritual for the trans kids we want futures for. www.sftff.orgt

Read the full article on www.ebar.com

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<< Music & Books

18 • Bay Area Reporter • November 11-17, 2021

Josie Cotton’s more than Johnny’s girl were gay. I grew up in a ballet studio [laughs] with a lot of male dancers who swung that way. And my father turned out to be gay. I’m immersed in it.

Josie Cotton

by Gregg Shapiro

n 1982, Josie Cotton released her debut album Convertible Music, containing the campy new wave single “Johnny, Are You Queer?” (written by Bobby and Larson Paine). Depending on where you lived, it was either a hit or just bubbling under. One thing’s for certain, it helped to put Cotton on the radar of a lot of LGBTQ folks, especially those with a good sense of humor. Of course, the fiber of Cotton’s talent is greater than that.

Over the course of her career, she released six more albums, had songs featured on movie soundtracks, and founded her own record label. As a record mogul, she’s been able to reissue previous albums, including Pussycat Babylon on vinyl, as well as see to the long-awaited CD debut of Convertible Music. Cotton, who is embarking on an autumn 2021 concert tour was gracious enough to make time for an interview before hitting the road. She performs on Nov. 13 at The

Great Northern in San Francisco with Missing Persons, Bow Wow Wow and Stacie Q. Did you have gay friends at the time that “Johnny, Are You Queer?” the hit single from Convertible Music, was released and, if so, were you concerned about how they would react to the song? I grew up with a whole gay parade of friends of my mom’s. She was very progressive, at the time, in Dallas, Texas. She had gay weddings in her house. Her best friends

Do you recall the way your friends and family reacted to the song? My friends loved it. Everyone in California was pretty elated over the fact that they had a song that they thought of as their own, which was lovely. The only people who were confused and angry [laughs], as they usually are, was the religious right, who were protesting at KROQ where I think “Johnny…” was number two (in airplay popularity). They thought I was a gay man trying to convert people to homosexuality [laughs]. Because I have an odd sense of humor, I would watch some of these crazy shows. They were playing “Johnny, Are You Queer?” at half-speed. In the androgynous New Wave days, girls were falling for boys, and you didn’t know quite what was going on. Also, I considered it an acting job on my part, because I always had great gaydar [laughs], out of the womb. The girl singing that song was dumb as a bag of rocks [laughs]. It’s like, “What? You don’t know what’s happening?” The popularity of the song, and the neglect you received from the major label, ultimately resulted in your being labeled a “one-hit wonder.” People tend to have

strong feelings about that moniker; either they see it as a badge of honor or a source of shame. Where do you stand? This is funny to me, because it wasn’t a hit. It was banned from the radio [laughs]. I never made money from it. I wonder what they mean by ‘hit’ in ‘one-hit wonder’ because I just took a bullet for that song, basically. I also had songs that charted much higher than that, so that’s not even accurate. Another part of it is that it was more like an atom bomb, that song. It actually caused seismic change in an invisible way. It seemed like a joke then. People also said that I sang “joke songs.” It was so much more than that. I just feel proud that I was a part of that because I think the right people own that word. I feel a sense of pride when I hear people so casually use the word. ‘I’m a queer artist. I’m a queer singer.’ I feel kind of good that that is in the world now and I had some small part in doing that. I’ve had so many gay men and boys come up to me and say that that was the song that gave them permission to be gay.t Josie Cotton performs on Nov. 13 at The Great Northern with Missing Persons, Bow Wow Wow and Stacie Q. $32-$42. 9pm. 119 Utah St. www.josiecotton.com www.thegreatnorthernsf.com

Read the full interview, with music clips, on www.ebar.com.

Hollywood interviews Ruthe Stein’s celebrity-filled book by David-Elijah Nahmod

uthe Stein’s new book Sitting Down With the Stars: Interviews with 100 Hollywood Legends makes for light, easy reading. Stein covered movies for the San Francisco Chronicle from 1970-2020. During the course of her career she got up close and personal with hundreds of famous actors, including a number of Oscar winners. Stein was never afraid to ask tough questions, and never worried about crossing boundaries. When she chatted with lesbian

comic Lily Tomlin in 1980, Tomlin was still smarting from Moment by Moment, a disastrous May/December romance co-starring John Travolta, which was directed by Tomlin’s longtime partner (now wife) Jane Wagner. Tomlin answered Stein’s questions about the movie’s failure, though they avoided talking about Tomlin’s sexuality. The book is divided into chapters, beginning with Hollywood Royalty, in which Tinsel town legends such as Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn and Jane Fonda are interviewed. More legends follow in What Becomes a Legend

Most, where legendary ladies like Sophia Loren, Josephine Baker, Debbie Reynolds and Lauren Bacall speak up. Other chapters include Matinee Idols, among them Robert Redford, Richard Gere, and Travolta, Couples and Exes, such as Farrow and Allen, Funny People, Oscar Winners, and The New Generation, among others. “What I loved about my job is the many opportunities it afforded me,” Stein said in an interview. “While I did the celebrity profiles throughout the years, I also wrote a syndicated singles column First Person Singular that ran is 30 newspapers. I wrote a film column for several years that I enjoyed immensely, keeping up with local actors at the time like Sean Penn. I had items on Penn for six weeks running, as I recall. I covered movie events when personalities came to town. The column was very opinionated; great fun.”

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Stein’s writing sometimes reveals the truth not only about her subjects, but about the people they were involved with. In the section on Lauren Bacall, Stein reveals that the movie great embarked on a “volcanic” love affair with crooner Frank Sinatra that became public after the death of her husband, movie tough guy Humphrey Bogart. Sinatra was furious when the affair became known and cut Bacall off. A month later, Bacall ran into Sinatra at a party and he wouldn’t even acknowledge her. “Most of the stars from the past made it into the book because it is a book about Hollywood and they helped shape it,” Stein said. “But I left some of them out because the interviews were bland; Jane Wyman, for example, who I could

Pamela Gentile

Author Ruthe Stein

not get to spill the beans on former husband Ronald Reagan.” Stein is quite happy with the stars that she chose to include in the book. “I think the mix of young and old and the categories, chapter titles, they fit into proved that I had chosen wisely,” she said. “Glenda Jackson snuck in at the last moment. I

recalled an interview I did with her when she won back to back Oscars. We talked in London and I had almost forgotten about it. So glad I thought of her, because she has had the most amazing career.” In addition to being the author of the book, Stein is also the founder and co-director of the Mostly British Film Festival, which returns February 10-17, 2022 at the Vogue Theater. As a prelude to the festival, Stein will appear at the Vogue on November 13 for free screenings of the Merchant/Ivory classics Howard’s End and Maurice at 11am and 2pm, where Stein will give a brief talks and sign copies of her book, and at a second screening at the Balboa Theater on Dec. 11 of A Room With a View and Mona Lisa. The screenings are free. Email adam@cinemasf.comt

Read the full article at www.ebar.com

Film & 50 in 50>>

November 11-17, 2021 • Bay Area Reporter • 19

Forbidden Letters Long unseen gay classic at Porn Film Festival

Robert Adams and Richard Locke in Arthur J. Bressan Jr.’s Forbidden Letters

by David-Elijah Nahmod

rthur J. Bressan Jr.’s Forbidden Letters (1979) is an X-rated mood piece whose lead actors don’t just have sex on camera, they make love. Unlike many adult films, Forbidden Letters is shamelessly romantic and lovely to look at. The long unseen gay cinema classic will screen at the Brava Theater on November 12. Robert Adams, the film’s star, will appear in person at the Brava for a live Q & A with film historian Jenni Olson. The event, which is part of the 2021 San Francisco Porn Film Festival, will also be available virtually to a worldwide audience. The Porn Film Festival will run from November 11-28 and will feature a mix of live and virtual events. While mostly screening straight films, other movies in the festival

will include the lesbian-themed Safe is Desire, with director Nan Kinney in attendance for a discussion. Score (1974), a bisexual classic, stars early gay porn superstar Casey Donavan. Made by cult erotic director Radley Metzger, it tells the story of a happily married swinging couple (Claire Wilbur, Gerald Grant) who make a bet that they can seduce a couple of newlyweds (Lynn Lowry, Donovan) during a weekend get-together at a luxury Riviera villa. The film includes an erotic encounter between the two men. There will also be a program titled Vivid/Vision, a series of experimental films that explore sex in ways that are creative and bold. How does music and sound impact sexual rhythm? What happens if performers control the camera? These playful short films promise to delight and surprise.

The cast of Score

Love ‘Letters’

More than forty years after starring in Forbidden Letters, Robert Adams recalls the film fondly. He co-starred with Richard Locke (1941-1996) who made a name for himself as a porn “daddy” in the 1970s. Locke was also celebrated for his AIDS activism. “Richard was very different from the image he portrayed in adult films,” Adams recalls. “He was masculine in his identity, very he/him/ his, as we say now. But he was really quiet and gentle, a sweetheart, really. Richard wasn’t someone I would have ordinarily hooked up with. I was more drawn to cute boys than hyper-masculine types. But I think that we both found that connection that made the onscreen relationship feel real. It kind of felt like in this other world we were deeply in love.” Forbidden Letters was Adams’ second film for Bressan, he also worked with the director in 1974’s Passing Strangers. After he stopped appearing in films, Adam had a good life. He made music videos for bands that he wanted to promote and was involved in political campaigns for Harvey Milk, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. He had two significant relationships. He bought a house in Alameda with a boyfriend and a third friend, which they remodeled and sold for a huge profit. They also operated a toy and T-shirt company. He has since moved to Austin and runs a landscape and lawn care business. This year he served as an

50 years in 50 weeks:

2002’s stages by Jim Provenzano

elebrating 40 years of presenting new and acclaimed LGBT-themed stage works for local audiences, New Conservatory Theatre Center in October 2002 premiered Mart Crowley’s The Men From the Boys, the sequel to his historic The Boys in the Band. The darkly comic look at the lives of several gay men –and one straight man– made theater history. While Crowley’s sequel didn’t gain the acclaim of his earlier play, it still offered a touching look at the five men who had survived since 1968, with a few younger new characters. In Richard Dodds’ October 24 article, Crowley said, “I think that when people write dynamic and inflammatory works, they have some inkling of what they’re doing. I speak from experience.” A few weeks earlier, NCTC premiered the commissioned stage adaptation of my 1999 debut novel, PINS, about a gay high school wrestler. Dodds also wrote the advance interview for that play. While the shows ran in adjoining theaters at NCTC, and the settings are vastly different, I like to think that many gay writers like myself owe a debt of gratitude to Crowley, who died in 2020, two years after the acclaimed Broadway revival of Boys, and only a few months before the release of the film remake with the revival’s cast.t Read more vintage B.A.R. issues at https://archive.org/details/bayareareporter

assistant director on a short film. Bressan’s last film was the groundbreaking (non-porn) AIDS-themed drama, Buddies. Adams remembers Bressan as a big, tall guy with long hair who loved to talk about movies. He describes Bressan as being full of life, gregarious and optimistic. Adams’ involvement with Bressan’s films came about simply: the director approached him in front of the St. Francis Hotel and asked him if he wanted to be in a movie. “My first job was as a ticket taker at the Downer Theater in Milwaukee, which showed indie and art house films,” he said. “Later I ran a film society there. So I was a huge movie fan and when he said ‘movie’ to me he had me. I think our relationship was mostly professional. We were friends, but it didn’t extend to hanging out much beyond shooting or meeting for dinner to discuss the film. That said, we spent a lot of time together. He had many friends. People were drawn to him.” Adams spoke of how he would like Bressan to be remembered. “I think he should be remembered as a free spirit and as a film artist whose work was cut short by AIDS,” he said. “He grew up somehow free of all the sexual mores of our time and had an almost magical ability to release everyone around him from them as well.” As he looks back upon the making of Forbidden Letters, Adams says that he feels nothing but gratitude. “I’m just grateful for all of it,” he said. “I am physically and mentally healthy and I look forward to new projects, maybe a relationship. I may find a life outside the United States if the anti-democratic forces of the right regain control. I don’t

Robert Adams

want to live under an authoritarian regime. I’m not someone who dwells on the past. I seek and live for new experiences and look forward to whatever is next.”t SF Porn Film Festival, Nov. 11 & 12, Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th St. Online access to all films is $25. In-person single tickets $15; full pass $50. www.sfpff.pinklabel.tv www.brava.org

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