2011 11 17

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November 17-30, 2011 | www.sfbaytimes.com

The LGBTQ Newspaper and Events Calendar for the San Francisco Bay Area | July 28 2011

Baldwin Respect for Marriage Act Passes Senate Committee Feds Ramp Up Campaign Picking War on Medical Up Steam Marijuana

Openly gay Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is running for the U.S. Senate in Wisconsin.

By Kirsten Kruse Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), is running for the U.S. Senate and her numbers are looking good. Her campaign raised $738,000 in the 3rd quarter, and now has $1.5 million cash-on-hand. More than $625,000 of those Q3 contributions came after she announced that she was running.

91 percent of donors contributed less than $100, indicating that she has large grassroots support among the middle class Americans she has fought for during her political career.

Mother Jones estimates that it takes $8.5 million to finance a senate race, but it is still early in the campaign.

Baldwin’s top donors are Emily’s List, the employees of the University of Wisconsin, and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, closely followed by an array of unions.

The Respect for Marriage Act, which will repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee.

By Dennis McMillan After about two hours of discussion, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-8 along party lines to approve the “Respect for Marriage Act,” which would repeal the “Defense of Marriage Act” (also known as “DOMA”) of 1996 that banned federal recognition of same-sex marriage.

In addition to repealing DOMA, the Respect for Marriage Act would add a provision in law to guarantee that the federal government would recognize the marriage of any couple “valid in the state where the marriage was entered into” - even if the couple moves to a state where the marriage is not recognized.

“This historic vote moves us one step closer to doing away with the injustice of the Defense of Marriage Act,” said Equality California Chair Clarissa Filgioun. “Each day that loving, committed same-sex couples in this country are denied the freedom to marry, these couples and their families experience real harms that can have devastating consequences.” She emphasized, “It’s time for Congress to end this cruel exclusion and ensure that all couples who have made a commitment to care for one another and share their lives together are treated with dignity and respect.”

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said, “We

thank the members of the Judiciary Committee who stood up for LGBT families and part icularly thank Chairman Leahy and Senator Feinstein for their leadership in fighting this unjust law.” He added, “It was a huge step in our fight to end this discriminatory law.” He noted that just before the debate, HRC handdelivered 135,000 petitions calling for repeal.

It is no surprise that every committee Democrat favored appeal, and every Republican opposed it. This means that the only immediate effect is political, whereby Democrats can show part of their liberal base of backers (continued on page 4}

Barbara Grier, 1933 - 2011

Baldwin, who is openly gay, was recently endorsed by liberal icon and former Senator Russ Feingold, who lost his seat in the 2010 election. Feingold announced this summer that he would not run and split the democratic vote in the primary. With his endorsement, she has the united support of Wisconsin democrats, and will therefore be more likely to optimize fundraising.

Baldwin has also been endorsed by Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), who is the second woman and the first AfricanAmerican elected to Congress from Wisconsin, as well as the Human Rights Campaign, NOW and Emily’s List, an organization dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women to every level of office. Emily’s list has historically been Baldwin’s number one contributor.

Although she has no serious contenders within her own party, she will face a huge challenge from a Republican candidate next in November 2012.

Wisconsin voters are almost evenly divided between the two parties and is considered a blue swing state.

When asked by Rachel Maddow why she thought she had a chance at a Senate win, Baldwin said that this country is engulfed in an “epic struggle for the survival of the middle class.” She added that “people need a voice in (continued on page 9)

Grier with other founders of NAIAD press, including her Barbara Grier donated her massive collection of lesbian-themed books partner Donna McBride. to San Francisco Public Library.

By Dayna Verstegen Barbara Grier was born in Cincinnati and came out of the closet at the age of 12. When she told her mother that she was a homosexual, her mother, who came from a theatrical family and therefore took a more enlightened view of sexuality than most at the time, said “No, because you are a woman, you’re a lesbian. And since 12 years old is too young to make such a decision, let’s wait six months before we tell the newspapers.”

In their remembrance of Grier, Lambda Literary wrote, “She had a f lamboyant upbringing with an actress mother and a ne’re-do-well doctor father. Her younger sister, Diane, was also a lesbian, a fact Barbara sometimes attributed to how strongly feminist her mother was and other

times to genetics. Barbara said of Diane, ‘She’s just like me, except nice.

I’m the evil twin.’”

Grier was a ferocious reader and book collector. In fact, The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall was the first book of her lesbian book collection.

By 1992, the collection totaled 14,000 books worth $400,000 and Grier donated it to the San Francisco Public Library.

She began her writing career in 1957 with book reviews for the Daughters of Bilitis’ magazine The Ladder. She wrote under various pen names including Gene Damon, Lennox Strong and Vern Niven. She became the editor of The Ladder in 1968 and publisher in 1970. Lambda Literary reported that “The Ladder started with a mailing list of 175 friends and cohorts

of the five women – Martin, Lyon, Grier, Helen Sandoz and Barbara Gittings – who had built what was the first lesbian magazine in the U.S. After Grier took the helm, the publication expanded. She nearly doubled the content and page count–from less than 30 pages to 48. By the time she and The Ladder parted company in 1972, the mailing list had expanded to 3,800 names. Grier made the magazine more newsy, more feminist and, some said, more controversial.”

According to the LA Times, “when she tried to give the magazine a more feminist orientation, its benefactor withdrew funding and the publication closed in 1972.”

Grier and her partner Donna McBride, as well as Ladder editors Anyda Marchant and Muriel Crawford, founded Naiad Press in 1973 with (continued on page 21

Dale Gieringer is the Executive Director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

By Dennis McMillan In yet another attack by the Obama administration on medical marijuana, US attorneys in California have sent out a series of letters threatening landlords with property forfeiture for renting their property to dispensaries deemed too close to “sensitive areas” such as schools and parks. Prominent among the targets is the state’s longest-operating dispensary, the Marin A lliance for Medical Marijuana (MAMM) in Fairfax, which enjoys official support from the city and has been operating without complaint since July 3, 1996. In a threatening letter to MAMM’s landlord, the US Attorney for Northern California warned that MAMM was operating within a “prohibited distance of a park.” It goes on to warn the landlord that he could be liable for imprisonment of up to 40 years, forfeiture of the property, and forfeiture of all rental proceeds from the last 15 years for violating federal law if MAMM isn’t evicted.

Other dispensary landlords in the state have received threatening federal letters for operating too close to schools, even though they are abiding with state regulations. Under state law, dispensaries are forbidden to operate within 600 feet of schools, the same distance as liquor stores.

However, a federal law, Title 21 USC 860, imposes additional penalties for sales or distribution of controlled substances within 1,000 feet of schools, colleges, playgrounds, and a host of other areas. The law was originally intended to prevent drug dealing at schools, but is being used by US attorneys to harass otherwise inoffensive collectives. The Marin Alliance is sited within 1,000 feet of Bolinas Park, where there is a little league playground. But the dispensary closes during little league games.

“This is nuts,” said Greg Anton, attorney for the Marin Alliance and its director, Lynnette Shaw. “There’s a dispensary near where I live that sells guns, narcotics, alcohol, and tobacco - and it’s full of children. It’s called Walmart, and it’s safe. So is Lynnette’s place. She’s proven that over 15 years.” (continued on page 9)

LIVE!

Project Inform Dons Condom Couture & Announces Advancements in HIV-AIDS

You do love to dance?

Join us for Luscious Live!

Featuring live music by the best of the Bay Area's performers.

Featuring Stephanie Teel & the Average Dyke Band

P HOTO BY RIN K

on Saturday November 19, 2011 at Rooster’s Road House, Alameda, CA Pre-Event: $11.00 / Door: $15.00 - Online Pre-Event Tickets Available Now at bettyslist.com

By Dennis McMillan Project Inform presented “Evening of Hope: a Night of Lifesaving Fashion” at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. This San Francisco must-attend fête featured cocktails, culinary delights, live auction by Lenny Broberg, music by dj DCM and Kidd Sysko, and gorgeous models wearing one-ofa-kind condom couture showcasing designers’ signature pieces made partially of condom and condom wrappers. The fabulous Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, star of the Bravo TV hit series, The Real Housewives of New York, was celebrity hostess.

Contributing to the Care & Wellbeing Of Our Community for 30 Years

Congratulations to Doc Misha Cohen

on her 60th

Birthday!

A Life Well-Lived www.docmisha.com

The Countess introduced the designers and their models showing off clever condom couture. This reporter’s favorites were those that utilized a lot of condoms and/or wrappers in their fashions, because one can never have too many condoms. For this reason, my favorite designer was Cana Klabenoff and his handsome male model Sukh wearing a coat and short pants ENTIRELY of yellow and blue Lifestyle condom wrappers. The electric blue wrappers of KYNG condoms were the most utilized during this show. Apparently that is the de rigueur condom for this season. You heard it here, fashionistas!

During the “Evening of Hope,” Project Inform honored Steven Deeks, M.D. and Michael McCune, M.D., Ph.D with the Thomas M. Kelley Leadership Award for their pivotal

Honoree Dr. Joseph McCune, Project Inform ED Dana Van Gorder, and honoree Dr. Steven Deeks at Project Inform’s Evening of Hope event at Yerba Center for the Arts.

In addition, PI celebrates the results of two studies released this year “with the thrilling and unmistakable opportunity to gain almost total control over HIV – if we commit sufficient imagination and resources to seize upon that opportunity,” Van Gorder stated. The HPTNO52 study has proven two things PI has been arguing for three years – that if HIVpositive persons start treatment early, and their treatment is effective, it improves their health outcomes more surely than if they wait to be treated; and it makes it up to 96% less likely that they will transmit HIV to others.

Secondly, the iPrEx study has demonstrated that a gay or bisexual man engaging in unsafe sex can be up to 73% less likely to become infected with HIV if he takes a daily HIV medication coupled with condom counseling – a strategy called Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP.

roles in the promising search for a cure for HIV-AIDS. PI also acknowledged the presence of veteran AIDS activist Thomas Kelley, after whom the award is named.

“As the world marks 30 years of the losses and triumphs that have char-

Chaka Khan Sings for American Foundation for AIDS Research when Kahn stated, “San Francisco is my favorite city!” Oh, I bet she says that to all her cities; but we still felt special.

Chaka Khan performed “I’m Every Woman” and other hits for an enthusiastic audience at the amfAR event entitled “Violet Eyes in the Red City.”

By Dennis McMillan The American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) put on a festive Moroccan themed fundraiser at the Ken Fulk Studio entitled, “Violet Eyes in the Red City,” after those very famous peepers of amfAR founder and Dame Elizabeth Taylor. The event featured a special performance

by Chaka Khan.

A plush red carpet welcomed guests as they entered the ornate red and gold tents to an elaborate Moroccan décor within. Many an A-list socialite attended, but my favorites by far were Donna Sachet, Sister Roma, and amfAR event publicist Mark Rhoades.

2 BAY TIMES NOVEM BER 17, 2011

acterized this epidemic, we celebrate three recent and game-changing developments in the f ight against HIV,” said Project Inform Executive Director Dana Van Gorder. “Project Inform believes they finally present the world with the opportunity to end AIDS within the next decade.” He said they also celebrate their decision to add advocacy to end the “massive and shamefully under-addressed” hepatitis C epidemic to their mission.

Encouraged principally by their founder and named for him, the Martin Delaney Collaboratory received $60 million dollars this year from the National Institutes of Health to support promising research to cure HIV infection. Deeks and McCune of the University of California were recipients of that funding.

Condom couture on beautiful models gave the Evening of Hope special color.

PHOTO BY RIN K

“Luscious Live!” is a new East Bay music dance event featuring leading performers of the Bay Area's LGBT Community and friends. All are welcome.

PHOTO BY RI N K

m

LUSCIOUS

GOOD DEEDS

Chaka Khan, winner of ten Grammy awards, offered a fabulous set of her hits, including “I Feel for You,” “Through the Fire,” “Tell Me Something Good,” and my absolute favorite, “I’m Every Woman.”

In 1978, Warner Bros. records released Khan’s solo debut album, which featured the crossover disco hit, “I’m Every Woman,” written for her by songwriters Ashford & Simpson. The success of the single helped the album go platinum, selling over a million copies.

This night, the assembled crowd went wild upon hearing “I’m Every Woman,” as most of us fondly recalled the day we first heard that winner. And everyone clapped and hooted more

Andy Cohen introduced Khan. Cohen is Bravo’s executive vice president of Original Programming and Development, a position he has held since December, 2010. He is responsible for overseeing the network’s current development and production slate of over two dozen shows.

Cohen spoke to Bay Times during the party. He said he was not responsible for Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, “but I was in charge of the back half of the series of episodes.

“I don’t take credit for that, but Top Chef was mine.” He said they shot the first season in San Francisco, “so I always have a special place in my heart for San Francisco.” He said, “I love coming here, and I got to spend ten days here with the greatest group of people, and it was such fun. I used to go running by the water, and it was right when Madonna’s “Confessions on the Dance Floor” came out. It was a very fun time.”

Cohen said he supports amfAR “because it’s the leading organization dedicated to finding a cure and doing research for AIDS.” He added, “I think as a gay man, it’s our responsibility to find a cure.” He said, like (continued on page 21)

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BAY T IM ES NOV EM BER 17, 2011 3 10/31/11 8:52 PM

From the Editor — CityVille Lessons for Mayor Quan Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

2261 Market Street, No. 309 San Francisco CA 94114 Phone: 415-503-1386 Fax: 415-503-1389 www.sfbaytimes.com E-mail: editor@sfbaytimes.com www.sfbaytimes.com STAFF Dr. Betty Sullivan Publisher

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I am a casual gamer. For those of you not familiar with that industry, that means that I play a variety of short card and simulation games when I have a few minutes for a break. One of my current addictions, is a Zynga game called CityVille: Hometown. The object of the game is to build a big, profitable city. Players build businesses and raise crops to fund their growing city, and build houses for the employees that work there. CityVille is a “social game” in that you invite your Facebook friends to become your neighbors and then you can help each other out with goods and energy. I have been playing for more than a month and even got my wife hooked.

A lot of my friends play this popular game, but last week I was surprised to see one friend in particular sign up: Oakland Mayor Jean Quan. I laughed when I saw the name, imagining this embattled mayor in the middle of multiple crises, stopping to play CityVille.

A couple caveats: one, Jean Quan and I are not personal friends - she has thousands of “friends” on her Facebook page; and two, I have not verified that Jean herself is playing the game, it very well may be one of her staffers. None the less, it is an intriguing possibility and so I thought I would take this occasion to provide her with some advice for the game that she could well use for her troubled city (her real city).

First, small business is the heart and soul of a city.

When these businesses are successful, you have

a community of employed people and business owners that are invested in their community. If they are successful, they attract home owners and larger businesses. The interests of small businesses owners must be a top priority and in Oakland that means better public safety and securing a compromise with the Occupy protestors.

Third, in order to attract a diverse citizenry, a city must provide a variety of housing options from lower to highest income. No city in America seems to have enough safe low-income housing, Oakland included, but Oakland also lacks sufficient options for middle-class families as well. A strong middle class will invest in their community and create a lasting legacy.

Second, investing in parks and green space increases the value of homes and the attractiveness

Lastly, investing in educational institutions is the best way to ensure a better future. According to California’s base Academic Performance Index (API), the Oakland Unified School District currently ranks as the worst urban district in California (even below L.A!). Let’s grow kids that can get into college and then return home to invest in Oakland’s future.

“The interests of small businesses owners must be a top priority and in Oakland that means better public safety and securing a compromise with the Occupy protestors.” of a city. Oakland has a remarkable “green” center with Lake Merritt, but very few parks in the poorer areas. Driving around Oakland, I see too many empty lots and long abandoned buildings that could be torn down to create green space and better neighborhoods.

(RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT continued from page 1) that they strongly support equality in that the bill would create federal benfederal benefits for gay couples. efits for all lawfully married couples.”

He added, “In reality, it would create The repeal bill would need 60 votes in federal benefits for many same-sex the 100-member Senate, and unfor- couples who are not lawfully martunately sponsors acknowledged the ried.” votes simply are not there, according to an AP report. It is a given that the Grassley said he was referring to the measure would have no chance in the repeal bill’s federal recognition of a House, as it is firmly controlled by same-sex marriage, even if the legally conservative Republicans. married couple moves to a state where gay marriage is illegal.

“Thousands of American families are now being treated unfairly by The Respect for Marriage Act main their federal government [because of sponsor, Senator Dianne Feinstein, DOMA],” said the committee chair- said DOMA “is discriminatory and man, Senator Patrick Leahy, Ver- should be stricken.” She said many mont Democrat. “They are shunted businesses have supported repeal beaside - singled out from all other mar- cause they need to maintain a sepriages recognized by their states.” arate set of books when calculating health and retirement benefits.

Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, the committee’s top Republican, coun- Senator John Cornyn, Texas Repubtered that it is “simply wrong to claim lican, said Senate Majority Leader

Mayor Quan, did you ever think that you would be trying to manage such a hot mess when you were running for office? I have been watching the news and your public comments carefully and you seem to be overwhelmed and even confused at times.

You have one of the toughest jobs in the world right now, and as an East Bay resident, I implore you to avoid distractions and stay focused on your most important charters: education, safety and jobs.

May I suggest a little less CityVille and a bit more Oakland?

Dayna Verstegen is the editor of the Bay Times newspaper.

Write to her at dayna@sfbaytimes.com.

Harry Reid, Democrat from Nevada, “has no intention of bringing this bill up this year or next,” because Sen. Reid “would face a revolution in his own caucus” if he followed through.

Cornyn argued that the Democrats were only trying to satisfy their gay marriage supporters for the 2012 election.

Prior to the vote, Leahy had defended the timing, emphasizing, “It is never the wrong time to right an injustice.”

Majority Whip Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat from Illinois, had voted for DOMA in 1996. But now he says he was wrong and does support the Respect for Marriage Act. “If this is brought to the floor, and only the 30 cosponsors vote for it, it is worth it,” he concluded.

AP said it is likely that the issue will be debated right up to the 2012 elections, while challenges to the law take place in several federal appeals courts. Conservatives pledged to make it a top agenda issue after President Barack Obama decided in February that his administration would cease to defend the law. After the Act passed the committee, a spokesman for Obama stated, “The President has long believed that DOMA is discriminatory and has called for its repeal.

We should all work towards taking this law off the books. The federal government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections afforded to straight couples.”

The bill now goes to the full Senate.

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she refused to march in the Pride Parade and vetoed domestic partner legislation in 1983. During the intervening years, Feinstein’s position on gay rights has improved dramatically and she is now one of our most powerful allies.

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Dianne Feinstein is the senior Senator from California, having been elected in 1992. She won her first elective office, a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, in 1970. She became the board’s female president in 1978, during which time Harvey

© 2011 Sullivan Communications, Inc. Reprints by permission only.

4 BAY TIMES NOVEM BER 17, 2011

Milk and George Moscone were assassinated. She then succeeded Moscone to become the first female mayor of San Francisco, serving in that position until 1987.

Feinstein was not always the LGBTQ proponent that she is now. As mayor,

fair and equal rights for our community. Currently, same sex couples are denied more than 1,100 federal rights, benefits and responsibilities because of it. The Respect for Marriage Act is huge.

During her 20 years in the U.S. Senate, Feinstein has amassed tremendous power and is the Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, overseeing 16 intelligence agencies. She is also a member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Appropriations Committee, for which she chairs the Subcommittee on Energy and Water.

“DOMA was wrong when it passed in 1996 and it is wrong now. There are 131,000 legally married, samesex couples in this country who are denied more than 1,100 federal rights and protections because of this discriminatory law,” Feinstein said. “I don’t know how long the battle for full equality will take, but we are on the cusp of change, and today’s historic vote in the committee is an important step forward.”

Earlier this year, Feinstein authored the Respect for Marriage Act, which if passed, will repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. DOMA is one of the major road blocks remaining to the

For learning from your mistakes. For using your great power to help the powerless. For fighting for as long as it takes. We name you, Senator Dianne Feinstein, our Person of the Week.

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vote, but short of a miracle it will go no further.

California Supremes to Rule Thursday on Prop 8 Standing At last, our long trek through the wilderness is coming to an end. On Thursday, Nov. 17, the California Supreme Court will issue a decision on the technicality that has stalled the Prop 8 lawsuit for nearly a year.

Still, it’s preferable to make some progress on the national legislative level than none. I’ll bet dollars to dimes that DOMA will be declared unconstitutional by the courts before Congress ever takes a stand in our favor. But at least the issue is on the side burner over there.

In August of 2009, Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that Prop 8, the law that rolled back marriage rights for California’s same-sex couples, was unconstitutional. Perhaps you remember our excitement at the time. Or perhaps the moment has receded into the misty haze of bygone days.

Speaking of DOMA and the courts, there have been a ton of friend of the court briefs f lying around our various lawsuits. I haven’t read any of them, but it seems as if I’m in good company. According to the New York Times, the Supreme Court justices don’t read amicus briefs either, leav-

“Lesbian publisher Barbara Grier died of cancer the other day at 78. Baby boomer lesbians owe a debt to the founder of Naiad Press, who delivered romantic fiction that didn’t end with suicide or heartbreak. ”

After Judge Walker’s ruling, the lawsuit advanced to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. But there was a hitch. Since the State of California had refused to defend Prop 8 from the start, Judge Walker had allowed the initiative’s proponents to fight for their marriage ban in court.

ing the unwieldy task to their law clerks. As Justice Scalia put it, the clerks can always recommend a brief if it contains “a hidden truffle.”

But having lost, did these proponents have the legal standing to appeal their defeat under federal law? The Ninth Circuit wasn’t sure.

RIP Barbara Grier

For that matter, the Ninth Circuit wasn’t sure if proponents had any standing under state law, which might shed some light on their standing under federal law. Hmmm. What to do?

How about sending the whole question of standing under state law over to the California Supreme Court for an analysis? Indeed, that’s what the Ninth Circuit did, and now, after many months, it seems the California court is about to answer.

The good news is that whatever the outcome, the ball now returns to the Ninth Circuit’s court, where the real action takes place. The bad news is that the question of standing under federal law could, in theory, consume a great deal more time. It could even go up to the U.S. Supreme Court and back down to the Ninth Circuit before we even reach the main issue of whether Prop 8 is constitutional.

Indeed, if standing is denied, we many never reach that issue through the mechanism of this particular lawsuit. We could simply see Judge Walker’s ruling finally take effect, ending marriage discrimination (again) in the Golden State.

Who Moved My Truff le I suppose we should all raise a glass to the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, who voted to advance the Respect for Marriage Act last Thursday. The bill, which repeals the Defense of Marriage Act, passed the committee by a 10-8 party line

I’m not a Scalia fan, but you’ve got to admit that the man can handle a metaphor.

Lesbian publisher Barbara Grier died of cancer the other day at 78. Baby boomer lesbians owe a debt to the founder of Naiad Press, who delivered romantic fiction that didn’t end with suicide or heartbreak.

Back in the day, in addition to regular discrimination, gay men and women endured pervasive cultural damage to the psyche delivered through the tragic gay characters in f ilm and print. Strangely, it was some small comfort to read The Well of Loneliness or watch Boys in the Band, just for a glimpse of gay life midway through the book or movie. Then came the inevitable denouement. It came when the “heroine” came to her senses and ran off with the farmhand.

Or when the “hero” turned on his friends in disgust and went back to his wife. Or maybe when the gay person just committed suicide.

Let me be clear. Every fictional account ended this way, bar none. And we all watched and read this stuff anyway! Because it was all there was.

And something was better than nothing. Weird, when you think about it.

Grier helped put an end to this sad, sick depiction of homosexuality. I don’t remember any particular titles, save one. She had a real best seller in Lesbian Nuns, Breaking Silence, which I suspect became a must read for many in the straight community as well. I mean, who doesn’t love the idea of lesbian nuns? The book, based on true accounts, was condemned by the Catholic Church and according to Grier’s obituary, sold several hundred thousand copies.

I was just dutifully reading about Catholic bishops and their argument that religious exemptions need to be attached to gay rights laws, when my concentration lapsed and I caught a glimpse of a headline reading: “Vodka soaked tampons are everywhere!”

I’m ashamed to say that I immediately stopped reading about the bishops and clicked onto the revelatory link.

They’re everywhere? Who knew?

Kids these days!

Apparently, a super tampon can soak up a whole shot of vodka, which one can then “enjoy,” if that’s the right word for it, without risking the scent of alcohol on one’s breath. There’s a guys’ version of this unusual delivery system called “butt chugging.”

Hmmmm. The news story indicated that urban legend researchers have been checking to see if this is a real phenomenon, and the results are “inconclusive.” But a CBS report out of Arizona, which said it had “ jaws dropping throughout our newsroom,” quoted some school and medical officials confirming the trend.

The “danger” is that you can overdose on alcohol without knowing it in this fashion, but come on, you’d have to have a dozen tampons, right? So surely you’d know that you might get caught. And teenagers are wily, if I recall my own high school days.

Everything kids do is possibly dangerous, which is why these early years comprise a crucible of teaching moments which we look back on with a mixture of fondness and astonishment at our own idiocy. Why should this generation be any different?

It may not have occurred to us to soak tampons in alcohol, but we did take fistfuls of caffeine pills for a speedy thrill, and I remember when Nanette Navarre sprained her arm and wound up with a prescription for some mega painkillers that we all shared. Then there was the time my friends and I went through my parents’ medicine cabinet and just tried a few items at random to see what happened. For your information, gout remedies and estrogen supplements have no effect in small quantities. Hell, it was worth a try.

Mainly, we just drank and smoked stuff and chewed pine needles to disguise our breath. Old fashioned, perhaps. More fun than butt chugging for sure.

Bad Lesbians, No Cake Where were we? The Catholic bishops? Let’s all pause for a group sigh.

My plan was to launch another essay on the perils of religious exemptions to civil rights laws. For example, you’ll be pleased to know that the Michigan lawmakers have dropped the egregious loophole that they tore out of a proposed bullying law. The loophole would have allowed harassers to drive truckloads of bigotry through the concept of protecting kids, simply by announcing that their conduct was based on a sincere (religious) belief that the victim was, um, a sinful pervert. Please.

Then, I also had an antigay bakery out of Iowa where the owner refused to make a wedding cake for two women based on her “Christian” beliefs.

You know the story. This particular do-gooder insisted that she was not against gay people and loved everyone. Nonetheless, her faith demanded that she refuse to do business with a lesbian couple. Huh? How can you say that with a straight face? (continued on page 21)

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BAY T IM ES NOV EM BER 17, 2011 5

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understood since time immemorial,” are wrongly being treated as if they harmed society, and somehow constituted a form of evil equal to racism.

He insists, “DOMA represents an essential protection against such threats to faith and conscience.”

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The US Conf. of Catholic Bishops have officially rejected the Respect for Marriage Act.

By Dennis McMillan Catholic bishops are again attempting to off icially destroy marriage equality. Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of Oakland is now urging the US Senate, along with the entire United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), to reject the Respect for Marriage Act - a measure that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which became law in 1996 and thereby outlaws same-sex marriage.

“DOMA recognizes for federal purposes that marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman,” notes Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of Oakland, chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. “It also prevents the redefinition of marriage in any one state from forcing other states to follow suit.”

“DOMA is rational, and its repeal would be unjust,” he continued. “It takes into account the distinguishing properties of unity and procreation that mark the relationship of husband and wife.”

“Redefining marriage to mean simply an arrangement of consenting

adults violates justice because it interferes with basic human rights,” he added. “Changing the institution of marriage by making it indifferent to the absence of one sex or the other denies that children have the fundamental human right to be cared by both their mother and father. Such revision transforms marriage from a child-centered to an adult-centered status to the detriment of children.”

“Redefining marriage also threatens the fundamental human right of religious freedom,” Bishop Cordileone claimed. “Those who refuse on moral and religious grounds to accept or accommodate the redefinition of legal marriage are already being wrongly accused of bigotry and hatred, bias and prejudice. They are being stigmatized and marginalized precisely because they are exercising their religious freedom to teach and practice their values.”

He argued that in places where marriage’s core meaning has been altered through legal action, officials are beginning to target for punishment those believers and churches that refuse to adapt. He believes any non-conforming conduct and even expressions of disagreement, “based simply on support for marriage as

However, the sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, Senator Dianne Feinstein, feels quite differently, especially since it has now passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. “The Defense of Marriage Act may be the one law on the books whose express aim is to force second class citizenship on a group of Americans,” said Senator Feinstein. “DOMA is an enormous obstacle to equality for same-sex couples and their families, denying them key marriage benefits and imposing harsh, unfair economic burdens.” She noted a same-sex couple is deprived of crucial Social Security survivor benefits after a spouse passes away. Samesex partners cannot file joint federal income taxes, and they cannot take unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Some couples are torn apart by the deportation of a non-citizen spouse forced to return to his or her home country.

“Because of DOMA, gay or lesbian service members – who finally serve openly because we repealed ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ – will lose veterans spousal benefits, including the right of the spouse to be buried in a national cemetery,” Feinstein said. She summed up, “The law insists on treating lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans as inferior. The Respect for Marriage Act would erase this inequity by sending DOMA to join other discriminatory statutes like ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and segregation-era policies.”

GLAAD’s Joan Garry to Help With EQCA Transition Finance Committee for Obama for America, 2008.

Since 1998, Equality California has transformed this state from one with very few legal protections for LGBT people to one with some of the most comprehensive civil rights laws in the nation. In the past decade, EQCA has successfully passed 85 pieces of civil rights legislation for the LGBT community – more than any other statewide LGBT organization in the nation.

Joan Garry will take over as chief strategy and transition consultant to assess EQCA and create an interim management plan.

By Dennis McMillan Equality California has seen a lot of change over the past year, most recently with the unexpected departure of Executive Director Roland Palencia. “As board presidents for Equality California and the Equality California Institute, we believe it is our responsibility to seize opportunities and use this transition time to carefully take stock of the organization at every level - from structure to programs to fundraising - to ensure that Equality California is well-positioned to continue to lead the LGBT equality movement in California,” said Clarissa Filgioun, board president for Equality California.

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“Thanks to a generous leadership grant from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, we have engaged veteran LGBT civil rights leader and nonprof it advisor, Joan Garry, to serve as EQCA’s chief strategy and

transition consultant over the next few months to conduct a focused assessment of the organization; create an interim management plan; and develop a short-term strategic plan that will serve as a roadmap for a new executive director search,” added Cathy Schwamberger, board president for the Equality California Institute.

“Joan will be joined in this effort by Dr. Julie Anderson.”

Together, Garry and Anderson bring decades of tested leadership and experience advising LGBT advocacy organizations - most notably from their days at GLAAD where Garry served as executive director for eight years and Anderson served as development director for eleven years.

They have guided clients such as The Matthew Shepard Foundation, Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, Lambda Legal, and The Trevor Project through challenges and transitions. Garry was also the co-chair of the LGBT

This year, EQCA has already made history by passing more pro-LGBT bills than in any other year in California history - two of which are the first of their kind in the nation.

In the coming year, EQCA says it is prepared to protect these gains from attacks by opponents of equality and preserve the pro-equality majority in the legislature in next year’s election.

EQCA just released its 2011 Legislative Scorecard and will soon begin its first wave of candidate endorsements for 2012.

Garry also commented, “Equality California is such an important organization, and I truly believe that a strong, robust EQCA is essential not only to continued progress in California, but also to the strength of our entire movement. I am a real believer in seeing organizational transitions as an opportunity to really take stock and to develop a roadmap that can set up an incoming leader for success.”

National News Briefs Salt Lake City, Utah - Gay Mormons Address Challenges at Utah Conference - 11.6

Kingston, New York - Lou Maletta, Gay-Television Pioneer, Dies at 74 - 11.9

Experts weighed in on the unique challenges confronting gay Mormons during a threeday conference in Salt Lake City that ended Sunday. About 300 people heard testimony at the First Baptist Church during the gathering, the Deseret News reported.

Lou Maletta, who founded the Gay Cable Network in 1982, when the gay rights movement was not receiving broad media attention, died on Nov. 2nd, he was 74.

The conference was sponsored by the group Mormon Stories, which has no affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the organization’s goals is to “build bridges between all who identify as Mormon.”

The network had its roots as a weekly program called “Men & Film” on Channel 35 on Manhattan Cable Television. Mr. Maletta showed gay pornographic movies that he had edited to make less explicit, and the programming grew to become a forum for the range of issues facing the LGBTQ community.

Source: Associated Press

Source: The New York Times

Colorado- Colorado Transgender Student Claims She Was Suspended For Using Women’s Restroom - 11.11

Mississippi - “Personhood” Anti-Abortion Activists Lose Fight - 11.9

A Colorado teen says she feels that she is being punished by her high school for identifying as transgender. Dionne Malikowski, 16, claims she was told she would be suspended for three days from Fort Collins High School when she was caught using the women’s restroom. At present, she is required to use the staff bathrooms instead of the students’ bathrooms.

On Election night, Mississippi voters voted down a proposed personhood constitutional amendment by a 58 percent to 42 percent margin. Prior to that day, movement leaders had cautiously predicted victory. They said the southern state’s plentiful Baptist, Pentecostal and evangelical churches received them warmly.

Source: The Huffington Post

But afterward, voters expressed concerns that the language of the amendment -- declaring that the right to life begins when a human egg is fertilized - could result in the banning of certain types of contraception and make illegal an abortion to save a woman’s life, among other ramifications.

Source: Reuters

Local News Briefs Governor, S.F. Mayor Ed Lee Push for DOMA Repeal 11.15 Gov. Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee are urging Congress to repeal the federal law that denies marital benefits to same-sex spouses.

The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act “is a stain on our common values,” Lee and 14 other mayors and governors from around the nation said in a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which voted last week to repeal the law.

In a separate letter, Brown noted that 18,000 gay and lesbian couples were legally wed in California in the five months before November 2008, when voters reinstated the ban on same-sex marriage by passing Proposition 8. Those marriages remain valid despite a state Supreme Court ruling upholding Prop. 8, which is now being challenged in federal court.

“Californians in these marriages deserve to be treated the same by the federal government and other states as Californians in other legal marriages,” Brown told the Senate committee.

Election Wrap-Up - LGBT Candidates Around the Nation Last Tuesday was a very good day for openly LGBT candidates around the country, with three out of four of more than 60 won, including Annise Parker, who secured a second term as mayor of Houston. Data collected independently by Keen News Service and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund indicates there were at least 63 openly LGBT candidates on the ballot Tuesday: 47 of them won, 14 lost, and two outcomes remain uncertain.

HIGHLIGHTS California - Steve Pougnet: Mayor of Palm Springs Indiana - Zach Adamson: Indianapolis City Council Massachusetts - Alex Morse: Mayor of Holyoke Montana - Caitlin Copple: Missoula City Council North Carolina - LaWana Mayfield, Charlotte City Council Ohio - Chris Seelbach: Cincinnati City Council Texas - Mike Laster: Houston City Council Source: South Florida Gay Newsr

Gay Groups Oppose Challenge to Prop. 8 Judge - 11.8 Four gay rights and civil liberties groups urged a federal appeals court Tuesday in San Francisco to reject a claim that the gay judge who overturned Proposition 8 should have disqualified himself. The groups filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals opposing a challenge by the sponsors of Proposition 8 to U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker.

Walker, who is now retired, struck down California’s voterapproved ban on same-sex marriage last year. The sponsors of the measure contend Walker should have stepped down from handling the case because he is in a long-term gay relationship and may have wanted to marry. They have asked the appeals court to nullify his ruling on the ground that Walker’s situation created either a conflict of interest or an appearance that he might not have been impartial.

Source: SF Examiner

Judge: Prop. 8 Donors Have No Right to Anonymity - 11.8 A federal judge says donors to the $40 million campaign that banned same-sex marriage in California aren’t entitled to the anonymity that the U.S. Supreme Court has granted to minor parties operating in a hostile climate. Only organizations like the Socialist Workers Party during the Cold War and the NAACP in the segregated South - “small, persecuted groups whose very existence depended on some manner of anonymity” - have been exempted from laws requiring that members and contributors be disclosed, U.S. District Judge Morrison England said Friday.

England said there is no evidence that the 7 million Californians who voted for Proposition 8 in 2008 could be considered a “fringe organization” with unpopular or unorthodox views, or that leaving donors in the public record would frighten away contributors to future campaigns.

Source: SFGate

Source: SFGate BAY T IM ES NOV EM BER 17, 2011 7

Professional Services

Coming Out in the Midwest despite the wonderful people around me. I wondered if my parents would be disappointed or if I’d lose friends, and above all else, I was utterly terrified of my closest gal-pal refusing me any sort of physical contact for the rest of our lives out of some sort of misguided fear for her chastity.

Retrospectively, none of them were based on reason or logic whatsoever.

Growing Up Gay Elizabeth Henk “I’m a lesbian.”

For some reason, those three structurally simple words were impossibly difficult for me to say out loud. I tried, but I just couldn’t manage it. I probably posted somewhere in the vicinity of twenty to thirty advice threads on several different forums and accounts, begging complete strangers for advice. But in the end, the immense weight of having to state my sexual tendency to intimate friends and family (it sounds awkward enough in theory) fell completely on my shoulders, and that’s because when it comes to coming out, one size does not fit all.

The process of coming out to friends and family is different for everyone.

Unfortunately, it is true that some people face bullying on a daily basis with no support from friends or family. However, others are accepted and embraced by those they love and care about. There are those who come out with ease and grace, and those who are forced to slowly tell one friend at a time, as though the process is physically draining and a brief recharging period is needed after each step towards the goal of complete out-ness.

I personally struggled with doubts,

I know now that my mom has nothing but a bottomless pit of pride and support to offer me. Every last one of my friends were great, whether I broke the news sitting in a booth at McDonalds during a lengthy conversation about butts (no, really, female butts are superior) or through a game of hangman, and each and every one of them supported me in their own way. Aside from the occasional wellmeant lesbian joke thrown my way, I’m treated just the same as I always was, and my best friend hasn’t refused me a single hug since the day I came out.

I could write a full novel describing how much happier I am being out to friends and being openly lesbian in situations which concern other (really cute) open lesbians. But no matter how elaborately I describe where I am now and how dreamlike it is, it won’t read as anything but tales of a possible future for closeted readers, a hazy spot way out there on the horizon, fogged up with doubts and worries and endless possibilities. I was there once, after all, and I remember reading LGBT testimonials like they were inspirational prose. Because really, that’s what they are: I know for a fact that no matter what you do, you won’t have the exact same experience I had.

mine, out there waiting to be had.

Not to parrot the words of every well intentioned support forum advice giver, but if there’s any one role you suit best as a person, it’s yourself. There may be people that won’t accept you, that much is true. But for every one person who turns their back on you, there’s a huge mass of supportive LGBT friends out in the world waiting to welcome you with open arms.

If you want to come out, then you should do it.

And no, there is no one way to do it.

I used to delude myself into thinking that it’d just happen one day, or that I could get a girlfriend first and then worry about introducing her to friends, effectively outing myself in the process. I came up with elaborate shortcuts around the problem and I continued confusing myself and backtracking progress for two years—it may sound like a trif le of time, but these are two years of my teenage life I spent stressing out and really, seriously wanting to chase skirts. You wouldn’t be surprised to know, either, that after all those silly plans hatched in my head, I still came out the simplest way, telling each of my closest friends face-to-face and then changing my Facebook status.

It was uncomplicated, but it wasn’t easy. It helped setting a deadline for myself, but other than that, I have no advice to give, other than: do it. Although my face was drenched in tears of relief and pent-up anxiety, I left my closest friend’s house after coming out happy and ready to face the world.

You’ll have a moment like that too, if you search for it. I can’t hand you a roadmap, but I can promise you at least that much.

That’s not the end of it, though.

There’s an experience, even if it’s not

Elizabeth Henk is a high school senior living in Northern Illinois.

deed already know all of this. Once we got through the dictionary definition portion of the discussion her real concern emerged. “Emma says that she doesn’t want to be gay just because her moms are.” Emma, the daughter of good friends of ours, is in 3rd grade – a year older than Eva.

that gives me some satisfaction. We are doing our best to raise Eva in an openly gay family, where she learns by example that there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about when it comes to having gay parents. With that said, it is becoming clear that our carefully hatched family plan will most definitely come up against some heavy artillery. Apparently a kid can’t even get through half of 3rd grade before the gay taunting starts.

The Talk

Parenting

I had “the talk” with Eva last week.

She was sitting at the island in the kitchen while I was chopping away at what would become one of my less inspired dinners. Halfway through the onion that was making a valiant effort to blind me, Eva drops the G bomb. “What’s Gay?” Now, let me be clear. Eva knows what gay is. We haven’t been raising her in a barn – although I have had many a daydream about turning a barn into an amazing house – Nor have we been raising her from the confines of the closet. We are as openly gay as a family can be.

So it begins. We have made a lot of very deliberate decisions about how to raise Eva. One of the most significant of them was to raise her in Oak Park, Illinois. It is as politically progressive a place as they come. The children who attend our elementary school are diverse in every sense of the word, ranging from ethnicity to wealth or lack of it, to the sexual orientation of their parents. Kids of gay parents are not a rare thing in this school. And yet… here we have a 3rd grader slinging his best insult at another 3rd grader by suggesting she’ll grow up to be gay. Apparently gay bashing, at least in its more quiet forms, will not be avoided, even here in our little utopia.

My immediate reaction would not have won me mother of the year. I did though manage to bite my tongue and refrain from blurting out “what do you mean what is gay?!?” Using the evil onion as a stall tactic I wipe my eyes, washed my hands, took a breath and answered her. The answer was predictable and straightforward.

Gay is when a girl loves a girl, etcetera blah blah. I gave her a dozen examples, including her very own parents.

No doubt, by her reaction, she did in-

Eva and I had a good chat. We talked about the fact that one’s parent’s sexual orientation has no bearing on their child’s sexual orientation. Again, I was armed with some examples here, including myself – I can assure you that neither of my parents is gay. Interestingly, Eva seemed not at all concerned about whether she will grow up to be gay. She was most definitely intrigued by Emma’s worry, but she didn’t appear to understand what there was to worry about. For now,

Kelly Fondow

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Apparently some boy in Emma’s class has been taunting her by telling her that she will grow up to be gay because she has two moms.

There is a not-so-subtle lesson buried here. We as parents cannot become too comfortable. No one in this community would dare insult me for being gay. I suppose that if they did I would simply laugh in their face. Our kids though, have not yet built that muscle. For many kids being even the slightest bit different can be an incredibly painful thing. Our kids will always be different where their parents are concerned. So how do we arm them?

I am an optimist. I would much prefer to walk through my days assuming that all is well here. We live in a friendly place, surrounded by friendly people. We’re raising a beautiful daughter. We are as welcome as anyone. Having just had “the talk” though, my optimistic blinders have been removed. No matter where we live, we are all raising our kids in a society where some factions continue to believe that it is OK to ridicule gay people. So I soldier on. I have “the talk”. I turn the insult on its head. I hug my daughter. I talk to my partner about whether to have a chat with the school. I tuck my blinders safely in the back of my sock drawer, not quite ready to dispose of them completely.

Who’s in Charge of Your Holidays? cally going through the same rituals every year: buying presents we can’t af ford for people we hardly know; getting too little sleep and exercise while partying too much, getting too frantic, drink ing too much, eating too much, etc. If, in the v ital area of sexualit y, we’re able to swim against the current of the dominant culture and claim for ourselves the sexualit y that’s natural to us, then we can also do t he sa me w it h t he hol idays. It’s surely w it h in our power to perceive the dif ference between what we do because we love doi ng it and what we do because we’ll feel guilty or out of step if we don’t.

a nd u ncom for t able f l ight s to cold places to spend the holidays w ith their families - - separately.

B ot h of t hei r i m med i at e fa m i l ies “accept” t heir relat ionsh ip, but in each family “the relatives wou ld n’t u nder s t a nd ,” s o t he y avoid scenes or emba r r a s sment by spending Christmas and New Year’s apart.

Examined Life Tom Moon The holiday season is a time of fun and celebration for many people, but for t hose who a re su f fer i ng grief or other forms of emotional pain, it can be a time of deepened sadness. For many in the LGBT com mu n it y it’s i s a n es pec ia l ly challeng ing time, partly because the images of family togetherness cla sh w it h t he rea l it ies of fa mily estrangement in many of our lives. But I believe that this can be a peaceful, even a joyful, time for us if we respond to the season with authenticity and integrity.

Here’s an example of how not to do the holidays. I know a couple, whom I’l l ca l l Henr y a nd Ca rl, who have been together for twelve yea r s. Ever y w i nter, t hey dut ifu l ly pack up and ta ke crowded

A s ou r c o m mu n it y g r ow s a n d st reng t hens, fewer a nd fewer of us are willing to accept that kind of disrespect for our relationships anymore. But subtle forms of homophobia still emerge every year i n t he l ives of too ma ny L GBT p e o p l e . W h e n s t r a i g ht p e o p l e m a r r y, t hei r loy a lt ies a r e sup posed to sh ift from t he or ig ina l to t he new home, a nd t he new fami lies they’re about to create.

But the families of gay sons and daughters often t reat t hem as if t hey’re per petua l ly away at college rather than as mature adults w it h t he i r ow n l ive s a nd r e l a t ionsh ips. Is it rea l ly your dut y to ma ke t h is a t ime of enforced t o g et her ne s s w it h p e o ple w it h w hom you a r en’t r e a l l y c lo s e?

Our real families are the people who are genuinely impor tant in our lives, and if we don’t feel like goi ng “ home” for t he hol iday s, m aybe t h at ’s bec au se we’re a l ready home.

For some people, for instance, the best treatment for holiday depression is just to slow down. As the w i nter sol st ice approaches , t he da rkest a nd coldest t i me of t he year, a lot of us feel a natural tendency for the body to hibernate, for the mind to become ref lective, for the heart to turn inward, and for moods to be more melancholy.

But i n ou r compu l s ively ex t ro verted societ y, where almost everyone is afraid of turning inward and blue moods are all but illegal, most of us run the other way and b ec ome even bu s ier, a nd mor e soc i a l ly act ive. But i f you f i nd t he celebr at ion t read m i l l more ex haust ing t ha n enjoyable, why not make a deliberate ef fort this month to spend t ime a lone w ith yourself to ref lect on your life, be

Many of us unthinkingly comply with old conditioning by mechani-

(continued on page 21) (TAMMY BALDWIN continued from page 1) Washington. The middle class needs a voice and a fighter in Washington.”

Baldwin has in fact, during her seven terms in Congress been an effective champion for the middle class. For example, according to the Huffington Post, Baldwin will “introduce a resolution in Congress this week calling on the Obama administration and state attorneys general to ensure that any deal reached with the nation’s biggest banks on foreclosure abuses includes full investigations into what happened, awards proper compensation to victims and provides no immunity for potential wrongdoing.” Baldwin points out that the potential $20 million settlement that would grant banks immunity from state lawsuits about such foreclosure abuse would not do much for the estimated 14.6 million underwater homeowners, who owe roughly $750 million more than their homes are worth.

Baldwin’s race against three potential GOP opponents who range from moderately conservative to very conservative will mirror the nation’s increased divisiveness and the clash of extreme politics. Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson leads the field in a new state wide poll, but 51% of voters would prefer “someone more conservative.” Enter contender Mark Neumann, who is going for the support of ultra-conservative Club for Growth and has pledged to work to overturn the Obama healthcare reform. In 1997, Neumann called “the gay and lesbian lifestyle unacceptable” and said he would never hire a gay person. According to Emily’s List, “most frightening, however, is Mark Neumann’s stance on a woman’s right to choose. Neumann was endorsed

by Pro-Life Wisconsin which “opposes abortion even in the case of rape, incest and for the mother’s life.”

The third viable Republican opponent is State Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, who told the Associated Press that “his campaign’s best asset was the move at the State Capitol to limit the collective bargaining rights of most public service workers and the huge protests that arose because of the legislation.”

In stark contrast, Baldwin is probably the most progressive member of Congress. She cofounded the LGBT Equality Caucus, is Vice-Chair of the Progressive Caucus and appeared in an “It Gets Better” video this week.

She has been open about her sexual orientation since the beginning of her political career and her election to Congress in 1999 was considered a great win to the LGBTQ community around the country.

(MEDICAL MARIJUANA continued from page 1) California NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) denounced the DOJ action as an example of unwarranted federal overregulation. “It’s an outrageous abuse of law enforcement resources for the DOJ to use property forfeiture to enforce meddlesome, nanny-state regulations,” said Cal NORML Director Dale Gieringer. “The federal government has no business dictating local zoning decisions. No one has any problems with the Marin Alliance except the bureaucrats in Washington.”

The federal crackdown is the latest of a series of actions by the Obama administration aimed at harassing and crippling state-recognized medical marijuana distributors. The IRS has assessed crippling penalties on tax-paying dispensaries by denying standard expense deductions; the Department of Treasury has browbeaten banks into closing accounts of medical marijuana clients; and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms has warned firearms dealers to treat medical marijuana patients like drug addicts and forbid them from buying guns.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration has continued to block federal approval of medical marijuana. The DEA recently rejected a nine-yearold petition to reschedule marijuana for medical use, disregarding scores of scientific studies that have shown marijuana’s eff icacy. In its reply, the DEA claimed that it would only accept large-scale, controlled FDA trials. In a Catch-22, however, the DEA has deliberately blocked such trials from happening by refusing to approve the licensing of a private production facility to supply marijuana for medical research and development at the University of Massachusetts. The only existing legal source for research marijuana in the country is the National Institute for Drug Abuse, which recently blocked a request to study marijuana for treatment of PTSD and has said that it has no intention of developing its marijuana for medical use.

Gieringer said that the federal government’s failure to allow medical use of marijuana remains an unwarranted source of confusion, frustration, and legal problems for patients, providers, public officials, and law en-

forcement alike. The administration’s war on dispensaries also threatens to have an adverse economic impact on jobs and tax revenues. Cal NORML estimates that the state’s medical marijuana industry now accounts for some $1.5 - 4.5 billion in sales; tens of thousands jobs; and over $100 million in taxes. “In this time of economic hardship, it makes absolutely no sense to drive legal medical marijuana providers out of business, force consumers onto the criminal market, and suppress this economical alternative to more costly but less efficacious prescription medicines,” Gieringer said.

Cal NORML urges supporters to call on the administration to end the federal attack on state medical marijuana laws and reschedule marijuana for medical use. The White House hotline is 202-456-1111. Congressional bills to fix medical marijuana laws include the States’ Medical Marijuana Protection Act, HR 1983 (Rep. Frank); the Ending Prohibition Act, HR 2306 (Frank); the Small Business Banking Improvement Act, HR 1984 (Polis); and the Small Business Equity Tax Act, HR 1985 (Stark).

In related news, Assembly member Tom Ammiano and Senator Mark Leno have joined medical marijuana patients, dispensary operators, and advocates from Americans for Safe Access and California NORML to call for an immediate end to the federal government’s broad crackdown on dispensaries in California.

“With national polls showing support for marijuana at an all-time high, it def ies common sense that the Department of Justice would return to the failed policies of the past. Instead of supporting state efforts to effectively regulate medical marijuana in accordance with Prop 215, the Obama administration seems committed to re-criminalizing it,” said Ammiano.

“This destructive attack on medical marijuana patients is a waste of limited law enforcement resources and will cost the state millions in tax revenue and harm countless lives. I urge President Obama to reconsider this bad policy decision and respect California’s right to provide medicine to its residents.”

Write to Dennis McMillan at BayTimesDennis@juno.com.

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Academy of Friends Oscar Fundraiser Will Launch the Gala Season

Board member Matthew Denckla, supporter Donna Sachet, and Board Chair Howard Edelman presented the theme poster for the Academy of Friends at their launch party at the Hotel Monaco on Oct. 13.

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Academy of Friends was founded in 1980 by Kile Ozier as a small, private Oscar Night party - 25 friends, some great food, lots of champagne, and plenty of glamour. Over subsequent years, the party became an

HIV/AIDS fundraiser, a reaction to the toll HIV was taking on the local community. Today, AOF is one of the largest contributors to HIV/ AIDS services organizations in the Bay Area. Through the generosity of individual underwriters, gala ticket buyers, volunteers, and corporate do-

nors, Academy of Friends supports the vital work of organizations providing critical services to those living with HIV and AIDS.

and logo. The 32nd annual Academy of Friends Awards Night Gala will be held at the San Francisco Design Center.

In 1984 the organization was called “Friends of Oscar” and raised $400 for St. Anthony’s dining room, which was the beginning of a long legacy of giving. Later on the name was changed to “Academy of Friends” to avoid trademark infringement. It became an official nonprofit charitable organization. During the last 32 years, they have raised over $8.5 million through this event to support more than 70 HIV/AIDS service organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

During the event at the Hotel Monaco, the 2012 Academy of Friends beneficiaries were revealed: Huckleberry Youth Programs - educate, inspire, and support underserved youth in San Francisco and Marin to develop healthy life choices, to maximize their potential, and to realize their dreams; Maitri - the only residential California facility offering comprehensive end-of-life care exclusively to those living with AIDS; Shanti a continuum of services designed to meet the practical and emotional support needs of people living with HIV/ AIDS; Tenderloin Health - works to improve the health of the Tenderloin’s homeless, poor, and most vulnerable residents, people who are at the greatest risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS; and Women’s HIV Program at UCSF comprehensive health and social services to over 200 women, transgen-

The Academy of Friends Academy Awards Night Gala is the crown jewel of their fundraising efforts. AOF recently held a launch party in the Paris Ballroom of Hotel Monaco to gather underwriters, donors, and purchasers of tickets; to announce the 2012 beneficiaries; and to unveil the theme

ders, and families living with HIV/ AIDS in the San Francisco Bay Area.

It was among the first programs in the country dedicated to HIV-positive women and is a national model of care for this vulnerable population.

Edelman proudly pointed out Kyle Ozier, AOF founder, in the audience.

Edelman spoke of the hard times that exist for most nonprof it charitable organizations during this economic downturn. “Academy of Friends found that we had a business model that no longer works, and we struggled to f ix it,” said Edelman. “We were facing our own financial crisis, and have since taken a big step back – conducting a thoughtful and careful inventory.” He said, “We made some really tough decisions and have come up with a plan – scaling down.

We tightened our belts; reduced our expenses.”

For tickets or more information, check out academyoffriends.org or call (415) 995-9890.

BAY T IM ES NOV EM BER 17, 2011 9

Ding Dong, DADT Is Dead!

Brass Tacks Heidi Beeler Ev e r s i n c e O b a m a s i g n e d t he Don’t A s k , Don’t Tel l ( DA DT ) Repea l Act l a st December, t he n a st y l it t le C l i nt on - er a de v i l’s dea l has been dy ing a slow, bur e auc r at ic de at h . E n for c ement of DA DT was f inally shut down September 20, 18 yea r s a f ter it was launched. For roughly eight weeks now, gay and lesbian serv ice member s ca n ser ve open ly for the f irst time since Harry Truman was president.

Includ ing LGBT fol k in t he parade was more of an It’s-AboutT i me -You - C au ght- Up -W it h - Us moment t ha n a t r ue brea k w it h h i s t o r y. O u r c i t y ’s Ve t e r a n s Day Pa r a de h a s we lc ome d t he L GBT com mu n it y for dec ades , even when the militar y has not.

Thanks to longtime parade coordinator Renie Champagne, himsel f a W W I I vetera n, t he Ba nd was invited to march in every San Francisco cit y parade includ ing t h is one si nce it s st a r t i n 1978 .

C on s ider i n g L GB T g roups a r e s t i l l b a r r e d f r om m a r c h i n g i n N YC’s St. Pat r ick’s Day Parade today, that’s a remarkable testament to the prog ressive spir it of this city.

on this issue and wonder what all the fuss was about.”

The Band has marched in this parade many times… as has A lexander Hamilton Post 448, the only American Legion post comprised of L GBT veter a ns, f ight i ng for their rights since 1984… as have r e pr e s e nt at i v e s of t he S er v ic e Members Legal Defense Network, l i ke C om m a nder Zoe D u n n i ng who has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the damage caused

by DA DT and to ra ise funds to legally defend people harmed by it… a s have L GBT pol it ic i a n s , like Senator Mark Leno. So this pa r ade ha s done Gay for yea r s now. Still, the organizers wanted to send a clear, rainbow-festooned message of support for lifting the ba n, a nd t hey tossed t he g roup with the most rainbows out front to send it.

A ppa r ent ly, t he med i a g ot t he message. A s we lined up for t he parade, we were swar med by “It’s just t he r ight t hing to do,” news cameras and microphones.

Lt. Colonel Wa l lace L ev in, t his Three of the Band’s military vetT h i s b ei n g S a n Fr a nc i s c o, t he year’s parade coordinator, said of erans – Steven Keys ( U.S. Nav y baytimes_ad_print_dancealongnutcracker_6x7-1/4.pdf 1 11/6/11 9:48 PM Veterans Af fairs Commission de- dropping the ban to the San Fran- ’6 6 -’69), Ga r y Spon holt z ( U. S . cided to mark the occasion with a cisco Chronicle. “Future genera- Nav y ’78 -’84) and Nei la Waters gay marching band. At their in- tions of Americans will look back ( U. S . A r my ’77-’ 81) – ma rched

P HOTO BY M ART I P H IL L IP S

vitation, we San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band members pulled out our rainbow f lags and ou r r a i nbow-t r i m med u n i for ms and led last Friday’s Veterans Day Parade, the f irst time an openly LGBT group has done so.

Drum Major Mike Wong salutes the troops during the Veterans Day Parade. t h is yea r. Not on ly wa s it t hei r d ay to be honored , t hey ’d a l so had combat training, so we threw them to the media. Seriously, we march in this parade to honor our veter a n s a nd to suppor t L GBT service people in the larger commun it y, so it mea nt a lot to see them receive the attention.

O n c e t he p a r a d e s t e p p e d of f , we lef t t he new s crew s beh i nd , and t he crowd t h inned to sma l l g r oups to ed up to c u rb s a lon g

a G y / Freedom Ba n a i b s e L o c s i c nd’s 2 n a r F 011 San

g N n o u l t c A r a e c c k n a D the music! You do the d er

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Market Street. Throwing a military parade in a town with pacif i s t r o ot s l i ke S a n Fr a nc i s c o’s must be a tough job. L ast yea r, L ev in noted that crowds four to f ive p eople dee p l i ne d M a rket Street to see the SF Giants parade up Market Street, while folks who r isk their lives through militar y service are lucky to attract a tiny fraction of that. This year for the f irst time in years, the parade was held on true Veterans Day, Friday and a work day for many people.

T hat cou ld n’t have helped, nor did the gray drizzle. There were long stretches of empty sidewalks where I rea l ized we were rea l ly marching for each ot her, rat her than an external audience.

Then we discovered our audience.

A woman in a Universit y of Oregon anorak stopped us at the end of t he parade for a picture. She and her partner had followed us t he ent ire parade route. Markel H a r r i s t old u s s he’d b e en d i s charged from the A r my in 1994 dur i ng t he ea rly w itch hunt s of DA DT. In an email the next day, Markel wrote after having her life turned upside down for years by the harassment that followed her com i ng out to her super ior s , it was hard to believe in her heart that DA DT was done. When she read that a gay group was leading the Veterans Day Parade, she decided she wanted to see that piece of history herself.

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“I hoped seeing the rainbow f lag lead a Veterans Day parade would prov ide closure,” Ha r r is w rote. “ I ’m g r atef u l i n my l i fet i me to see a Veterans’ Day when gay and straight ser v ice women and men can feel our appreciation for their ser vice to our nation. A moment I w i l l never forget and t r u ly an honor to witness.”

As we celebrate the end of DA DT, it’s easy to want to slap high-f ives a nd head for t he showers. Wit h t ra nsgender persons excluded from any anti-bias language related to militar y service, with legal partners and spouses of LGBTQ service members not granted the sa me r ight s as t hose of st ra ight service members, and with a full s l ate of Republ ic a n c a nd id ates pled g i ng to rei n st ate DA DT i f t hey’re elected, M a rkel’s unsettled feeling about DA DT not being f inished could be prophetic.

Markel Harris and Zoe Dunning a nd Da n Choi stood w it h a l l of us when they risked their careers to cha l lenge t he d iscr im inator y pr act ices DA DT protected. We need to stand with them to make sure DA DT stays dead.

10 BAY TIMES NOVEM BER 17, 2011

Arts&Entertainment Fringe of Marin’s 28th Festival of One-Act Plays Linda Ayres-Frederick Part I A panoply of Bay Area Playwrights, Directors and Actors showcase new short plays at the 28th season of Fringe of Marin at Dominican University.

The first of the two programs starts with Bill Chessman’s Who is Who?, a delightful whodunit farce of mistaken identities set in the English countryside. Not only are the characters not who they pretend to be, but even the location comes under question.

The theme of identity continues through the second piece, Louisville

by Joe Amato when a burglar is discovered in the midst of his burglary and is surprised further when offered a second job as a hit man by the man he has come to burgle. Further twists unfold to complete this dark tale.

Third on Program One is Michael Belitsos delightful Why We Travel: A Magical Mystery Tour. Truly magical and well crafted, Maestro Belitsos engages all our senses while he enlightens us about the differences between a tourist and a traveler. His journey to the jungles of Peru is both fascinating and entertaining.

Joseph J. O’Loughlin’s The Psychic involves the confession of guilt by a con man psychic who seeks absolution from a priest for pretending to communicate with the dead. What follows is an even more surprising twist when

The stakes are high in Justine Kaltenbach’s dramatic Stay With Me, a wellcrafted moving encounter between a suicidal young man struggling with his sexual identity and the lifeline operator who is trying to save his life.

Sharing the struggle and consequences of telling the truth about themselves is both inspiring and heartbreaking in this very moving piece, Next, Susan Little’s It Don’t Have to Hurt is an intriguing monologue that delves into surviving an abusive marriage which is ably performed by Diane Rodrigues.

The final piece of Program One is a translation of a saucy French farce by noted Parisian playwright Benoit Vitse’s. In Can One Make Love Wrapped Up in the French Flag? a couple wrapped in a French flag mock their country’s patriotism as they wonder whether they will be punished by French law.

As they sing the Marseillaise, their witty repartee about French chauvinism has spectators cheering them on.

Part II Though not quite as consistent as Program One, The Fringe of Marin's Program Two moves easily from one act to monologue, vaudeville to sketch comedy, romantic situation comedy to tongue-in-cheek musical - and finally, from a pre-op medical melodrama with a social twist to burlesquing the swami on the mountain.

Waiting to Go, Michael Ferguson's character sketch of an old married couple, played by Maureen Coyne

PHOTO BY C AROL EGGERS

Theater

the young man’s true psychic powers reveal the priest’s sins as well.

Claudia Rosa as Marcia and Rick Roitinger as George in Love Birds by Rod McFadden and directed by Carol Eggers at Fringe of Marin.

and Al Badger, poised uneasily on the verge of visiting the husband's difficult family, features funny, nonchalant bickering over every little detail.

Steve North's wry monologue is titled A Tail ... - but "Tail" is crossed out, replaced by Tale - A Tale of Two Dogs, oscillating between failing as a stock broker and becoming a school teacher, and between two stories: what falls out of windows on Market Street and a shaggy dog soap opera set on a military base ... North somehow weaves it all together into an off beat urban folktale.

Saturday in the Park with Vic, by Suzanne Birrell, opens with vaudeville, but gets into focus with two birdwatchers and a near-fatal case of mistaken identity - funny performances by Flora Lynn Isaacson and Maureen Coyne. Rod McFadden's The Love Birds features sensitive acting (with Carol Eggers' direction) by silent reader Claudia Rosa and by Rick Roitinger, feeding pigeons while endlessly talking ...

The Perfect Step, by Melinda Lopez, is the exception that proves the rule: a homemade production too home-

made, its deliberate daytime TV awkwardness enlivened by a song "Dr. Dave" Rogers wrote, strutted with nerdy style by David Moltzen.

Kenneth J. Nugent's The Finger profits from the presence of the same troupers of The Love Birds, as a famous surgeon and as the mother of an emergency room patient with a strange request, directed by Tim Guigni.

And George Dykstra's No Kidding, the Meaning of Life! lives up to its own pretense, as Borscht Belt Guru Burl Lampert jovially showers an earnest (continued on page 14)

Cirque du Soleil’s TOTEM is Totally Terrific Theater

Sister Dana Van Iquity Written and directed by Robert Lepage, TOTEM traces the fascinating

journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to f ly. The characters evolve on a stage resembling a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations.

Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates, through a visual

Cirque du Soleil never fails to dazzle and amaze. Here, two performers court on the trapeze in the production of TOTEM, running through December 11 at AT&T Park.

and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species. But don’t try to follow this as a story, because there really is not much continuity. It is loosely a colorful (sometimes iridescent and day-glo through blacklight) illustration of evolution, with lots of circus acts and clowns thrown in willy-nilly for no reason other than to interrupt the f low. Nevertheless, the show is fantastic. A glowing silver ball high overhead slowly spins downward, becomes a silver being, and hits the earth’s crust to indicate the Big Bang theory of creation ( just my personal theory). Then amphibians emerge to do acrobatics and evolve into lizards, then land creatures, and eventually apes going through all the stages of evolution to cave man, and finally modern man fully upright and carrying a cell phone.

the trapeze for the partner. There is a lot of extraordinary aerial work. Native Americans spin hoops upon hoops into bigger hoops. Two lady jugglers in colorful costumes spin shimmering squares of cloth on their feet. A pair of surfer dudes works magic on the rings. An Alaskan couple roller skates on a tiny drum surface, and the man whirls the woman around in a dangerous “airplane” stunt. A team of muscled men put together pipe upon pipe reaching over 30 feet up into the air, climbing the pipe towers and leaping from one to another tower. An old man scientist turns into a young man in a clear funnel cone, juggling color-changing balls swirling around his body like a charged atom.

People balance on very thin, flexible planks - going uphill, downhill, and ascending into pyramids.

Part of the time we are in Italy with gondolas sweeping the canal. At other times we are in Spain with a matador sweeping his red cape against a bull.

Sometimes we are on another planet, looking out at Earth.

A large reedy marsh is the backdrop, hiding the orchestra. The lighting effects are astonishing. A huge, elliptical, upwardly raked screen constantly changes realistic scenery from earth to lake with fish swimming, to rocks, sandy beach, roaring ocean waves, lily pond, volcanic island, and babbling brook – and a totem pole of mirrors occasionally ref lects scenes.

A movable bridge becomes a plane, a boat, and a rocket ship. People appear

Asian lady unicyclists impressively f lip stacks of bowls onto each others’ heads while maintaining perfect balance. A couple courts one another midair on a trapeze, where sometimes only their outstretched body serves as

and disappear through holes on the stage that magically open and shut.

I’ve said it before; and I’ll say it again: I just don’t understand French clowns – of which there are several that occasionally annoyed me. But not so much as to tarnish the show.

I was especially impressed that Cirque du Soleil was sponsoring ONE DROP, a charitable organization that develops integrated, innovative projects with an international scope, in which water plays a central role as a creative force in generating positive, sustainable effects for local and foreign populations and in the fight against poverty. More specifically, ONE DROP Canada, in cooperation with partner Oxfam and others, develops access-to-water and sanitation projects in countries where access to this vital resource is lacking water provision (see onedrop.org).

TOTEM is now playing through December 11 under the blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) located at AT&T Park. Tickets: adults: $55 $100; children: $38.50 - $70; seniors/ student/ military: $49.50 - $90. Premium packages are also available. For more info, check out cirquedusoleil. com/totem. Go enjoy a very French interpretation of the circus!

BAY T IM ES NOV EM BER 17, 2011 11

Bay Times Education Program with Use the News Fo Finalists

First Place: Lauren Parks I entered the Through These Eyes exhibit not knowing exactly where I was going to be sent, or what I would be taking pictures of.

The contest was essentially something I did on a whim. It was the first photography competition I had ever entered; for the past four years I have been studying Business and Economics — maniacally taking pictures on the side.

Anne Brice for Paws

The foot with bed duo is a reoccurring theme in all rooms at Maitri, my first assignment. My knowledge of the facility was at first limited. All I knew is that it is an AIDS-specific residence that provided care for lowincome people dying or debilitated by AIDS. I was nervous to go in there with a camera. I became an unhealthy and uncomfortable combination of self-conscious and empathetic when I pictured myself in their position, irritated by an artsy photography student coming into my room asking to take my picture. And, I wanted to make sure that what I did capture was not my own perception of someone with AIDS, but instead the feel I got while I was actually there.

Allison E. Kevara for Shanti

The air was light, everyone in a mood that was leaning towards chipper not at all morose, which is maybe what I was expecting. I went into three rooms total. This picture was taken in the second room, which was home to the most enthusiastic and photogenic of the bunch. Ironic, since my favorite photograph turned out to be only of his foot, slippers, and bed. He was clearly thrilled to have landed a corner room with by far the best light in the house, and I think the picture captures the relaxed, comfortable, and happy feeling emanating from every person that I met there.

Second Place: Noa Grant When I was notified that I was assigned to photograph a Shanti Breast Cancer patient I missed a heartbeat. My mom died of breast cancer at the young age of 51, and facing this task has really hit home for me. The first memory that sprang to my mind was going with my mom to find a wig as she was going through chemotherapy.

With these memories I went to photograph Ms. Li, a woman in her sixties, originally from Hong Kong, who has just completed her chemotherapy treatment. I met her at her cozy Shanti-provided room. I spent the majority of our time together photographing Ms. Li looking beautiful, wearing a hat and a wig, smiling. When I felt that she was trusting me and feeling at ease, I asked her to remove the facade and show me her cancer-iconic scalp. I wanted to show that she was a dignified person with real life outside the disease, but at the same time show the elements that the disease brought into her life.

As I processed the photos at home, I was angry at the disease that took away my mom, that invaded into precious Ms. Li's life. I thought about how cancer attacks at random, and that the bald head could be mine, it could be yours, it could be just about anyone's. To make this point, I used Photoshop to remove Ms. Li's facial features from her portrait to create Cancer Has No Face.

Cancer Has No Face

12 BAY T IMES NOVEM BER 17, 2011

oundation: "Through These Eyes" Finalist

Laura Hautala for Shanti

About "Through These Eyes" "Through These Eyes" is a juried student exhibition of photography supporting the mission of the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation (REAF). The competition and exhibition was organized by Jordan, Miller & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial. All proceeds were donated to five agencies that are represented by REAF: Shanti, Pets are Wonderful (PAWS), Larkin Street Youth Services, Maitri, and Positive Resource Cener. Jordan, Miller & Associates created the program in order to raise awareness of the work of REAF and its agencies.

Corner Room

Third Place: Shan Lee

Each student contestant was assigned a REAF agency to photograph. The work was judged based on ability to sell at auction, relevancy to the mission of the agency, and creative interpretation of the story. A dozen finalists were chosen, from which three winners were selected. All work from the finalists was exhibited and auctioned at an event at the McLoughlin Gallery October 27. The Bay Times, in conjunction with the Use the News Foundation, also sponsored the program.

I’ve read and heard so much about Barbara before I even found out I had my chance to photograph her, and of course, I told Jim, the business operations manager of Jordan, Miller & Associates, that I would be more than excited if I could photograph the cofounder of REAF, Barbara Richmond. The shoot was exactly a week after, and I was told that Barbara would only want to be photographed at her house, therefore; I didn’t have any idea how the lighting at her house would be, or what location I could shoot at. On the day of, I brought all my gear with me: tripod, reflector, speed light in case if there were no natural light coming in from the window.

For my first piece called "Barbara" - the image that was the 3rd placed in the show - I had Ms. Richmond sit on one of her many couches in the living room, which had a good amount of window light coming in. I was a bit nervous at the beginning because this was such a once-in-a-life time experience. During the photo shoot, I asked Ms. Richmond if she could read a book or do whatever she usually does at the time, just so she could feel more relaxed or even just imagine if I wasn’t there photographing her. She chose a crime novel.

Barbara

Ms. Richmond has a big heart and through my images of her, I thought it definitely illustrated how strong and powerful she is through her facial expression.

BAY T IM ES NOV EM BER 17, 2011 13

MUSIC

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Music

Ornaments & Décor Holidays Cards Gift ideas for everyone … and support HIV/AIDS service organizations.

Suzanne Birrell The electronic indie pop duo Uh huh Her recently came through San Francisco headlining the first ever Keep A BREAST music tour. Stopping in at Slims on their twenty city tour promoting breast cancer prevention and awareness, Leisha Hailey (keyboards, bass, and vocals) and Camila Grey (keyboards, guitar, and vocals) finally climbed onto the stage to a crowd that was simply waiting en mass on the dance f loor for them to appear.

A guest speaker, a long wait; a video about breast cancer, a long wait. Finally! Uh Huh Her took the stage, said hello, and started playing.

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Good energy. Balanced harmonies.

Great songs. The guitar player, quite a performer, played his guitar down around his knees with impressive virtuosity and never missed a note.

Drummer Bobby Alt was loud and solid. He and the unnamed guitar player ably backed the duo and added much to the stage show. However, it was the ladies the crowd came to see. Uh Huh Her. Leisha Hailey and Camila Grey. Their harmonies and songs mesmerized an audience mostly made up of folks in their 20’s to 40’s, but also with a fair number of men and woman in their 50’s and 60’s.

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Two laptops provided the rich electronic color that the duo is famous for. The performance was delicious, but no one danced. The audience collectively stood on the dance floor and watched. I asked around after the

show if this was the norm. I was told that Uh Huh Her audiences always seem strangely sedate even though the music is rocking. I noted that the bass parts do not rock. Leisha Hailey’s bass playing lacks the virtuosity demonstrated by Camila Grey and the accompanying musicians. It’s the groove of a bass that gets a crowd dancing; it’s the only thing Uh Huh Her is lacking. But then again, maybe they don’t want to be just another dance band.

The ladies did not play in close proximity so there is not much in the way of on-stage chemistry between them.

But still the audience just watched.

The endings were always crispy clean and the applause enthusiastic. The harmonies - ah, the harmonies. Passion was there in operatic type energy although the words could not be understood; probably because the reverb was high. The best song all evening was when Leisha Hailey played keys instead of bass and focused on her voice - then magic happened.

Then the crowd swayed to the music.

Some began to dance. It was the best musical moment in the evening.

Uh Huh Her is a relatively new group that started their career playing along with electronic backing on an iPod. Their music is truly artistic in that it doesn’t fit any preconceived mold in style. They have magic in their song writing. Since adding a backing band their music has gone in a pop direction and they have acquired a solid and loyal fan base. They might send it further that way if they added a dynamo bass player to the mix, and focused on the magic of their blended voices.

My musical opinion aside, the crowd was enthusiastic. The applause long and Uh Huh Her did grace us with an encore. Do check out Uh Huh Her when they come back to The Bay Area. We hope it's soon.

Glee Season Three Last Friday Night So the Glee sitcom has spun of f over a dozen CD releases but if you want to hear some great songs done most-times better than the originals, this string of sugar pop tunes will wet your whistle.

Best Cut: Waiting for a Girl Like You Location: Doing your laundry

R.E.M. Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage For those of us who bemoaned the September end of one of the top bands of the alt-rock era, have no fear for this 40 -song (that’s right, 40) ultimate greatest hits release, including cuts f inished after their last studio album, puts Stipe and company directly in our hands to turn over and over again like a rare gem.

Best Cut: We All Go Back to Where We Belong Location: Ear bulbs, 16 -hour f light to London

Ricky Martin M.A.S.: Musica + Alma + Sexo CD Ricky’s last album release was back in 2005 before he came out of the closet. Now a free man, Martin seems still to be straddling two worlds in this ‘almost all latin’ collection with only two songs in English. He still looks great in those pants, btw.

Best Cut: Frio Location: Casa Cupula, Puerto Vallarta cocktails

(FRINGE OF MARIN continued from page 11) young seeker (Keshuv Prasad) with wry words of wisdom sans rim-shots, under the gaze of a big snowman's stoic demeanor.

The Fringe of Marin's 28th season proves to be a rebound, after a year or two of mostly middling shows, back to its old scrappiness and diversity. Founder Annette Lust and production manager Suzanne Birrell deserve congratulations - and the Fringe deserves an audience!

Kudos to producer Professor Annette Lust for continuing to produce such a valuable event for both Bay Area playwrights, directors, actors and audiences to appreciate new work.

Fringe of Marin continues thru November 20th, Fri. & Sat. 7:30pm, Sun 2pm, & Sat. Nov. 12 at 2pm.

Meadowlands Hall, Dominican University, 50 Acacia Ave, San Rafael.

Tickets: $15 to $17. Seniors, Students $10; Children $5 (415) 673-3131, jeanlust@aol.com, www.Fringeof Marin. com.

Part II reporting provided by Ken Bullock.

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Riccardo Chailly Beethoven: T he Symphonies Here’s the scene: The Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig and Chailly, perhaps its best conductor ever and a purist of Beethoven’s original tempos. Put them together and the result is pure orgasmic delight.

Best Cut: Symphony No. 3 Location: Sprawled on f loor, headphones, no interruptions

HOT TICKETS duce t hem to t he t ime-honored t rad it ion of a n elegant hol iday tea. Face painting, activities, and some spec ia l cost u med fr iend s w i l l be pa r t of t h is f u n fa m i ly event! For more informat ion or to purchase t ickets, please v isit ht t ps://sfcapc.ejoi n me.org 7t h A n nua l St a n ford P r ide Sk i Trip - Stanford is continuing its successful tradition of hosting a ski week-end for its LGBT alums Veronica Klaus will play three shows at and t heir par tners and fr iends.

The Rrazz Room in November.

Sk i i ng i s opt ion a l , but h av i ng Veronica K laus: A f ter Da rk fun is mandatory and is assured.

- A n even i ng of moon l it music When: Friday to Monday, Janua nd t w i l ight t unes from voca l- ar y 13 -16, 2012. W here: Luxui s t Ve r on ic a K l a u s a c c o m p a - r y rented lodges in Tahoe Cit y nied by the Tammy Hall Trio! A Cost: $18 0 to $26 0 per per son dark starlit evening of romance, for a l l t hree n ight s (depend i ng he a r t a c he a nd s ou l s e a r c h i n g on comfort level). RSVP: Claude music from a caba ret a nd ja zz Baudoin (cbaudoin@gmail.com). ar t ist at her pr ime. Night song has cast its spell through generations and this show will explore the many moods of the midnight hours. Tickets are $29.50 playi ng 3 Big Night s! November 21st - 23rd at The Rrazz Room at The Nik ko Hotel 222 Mason St. and O'Farrell for tickets visit: therrazzroom.com.

Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa Potluck - Annual Holiday Potluck on Sunday, November 20! Whether you celebrate Har vest Day or Thanksgiving, come by RCC and enjoy a festive event with your community! And don't forget to bring a dish to share! If your last name begins with the letters A-I, bring a side dish; J-R, bring a entree; S - Z , br i n g d e s s e r t ! I f y ou' v e got a specia l d ish you'd l i ke to share with others, go for it! For more infor mat ion, ca l l RCC at 925.692.0090.

The Winter Wonderland Tea - Benef it ing t he San Fra ncisco Child Abuse Prevention Center will take place Sunday, November 27 from 1pm to 3pm at A lexa nd ra’s on t he 32nd f loor of the Westin St. Francis in Union Square. Enjoy a festive afternoon as you share the spirit of the season w it h loved ones a nd i nt ro -

Mary Wilson will perform during Help is on the Way on December 5.

Help is on the Way 10th Anniversary Holiday Gala - The R ic h mond / E r met A id s Fou n dat ion present s Help I s on t he Way for t he Hol id ay s X . T h i s star-studded A IDS Benef it Concert & Gala is the kick-of f event heralding the holiday season in San Francisco. Benef iciar ies of t h is year’s concer t are Posit ive Resource Center a nd Sunburst Projects. This year’s annual allstar holiday benef it concert features Mar y Wilson, Susan A nton, Sher yl Lee Ralph, La Toya London, David Burnham, Loretta Devine, Sally Struthers This one-night only gala benef it concert w il l take place on Sunday, December 5th at the Mar ines

Memorial Theatre 609 Sutter St. SF. Star-studded A I DS Benef it Concert: 7:30 – 9:45pm. Underwriter Dessert & Wine After Party with the cast: 9:45 - 11:45pm.

Tickets $40 and $60 at helpisontheway.org or 415 -273 -1620 for more info: reaf.org.

ber 29 & Wednesday, November 3 0 - 8pm, joi n t he per for mer s for a post show gat her ing w it h champag ne sponsored by Barefoot Wine & Bubbly. Tickets for Tu e s d a y a n d We d n e s d a y a r e $50. Add it iona l i n for mat ion & Tickets: songsoftheseason.net.

The GLIDE Annual Holiday Jam at The Warfield on December 1 will feature a tribute to Nick Ashford.

Donna Sachet will perform the songs of the season on November 29 and 30 and The Rrazz Room.

Donna Sachet’s Songs of the Season - It's been said that the Holidays don't begin until you've seen D on n a Sa chet 's S ong s of t he Season! Produced by R icha rd Sablat ura, Don na Sachet 's Songs of the Season returns for it s 19 t h y e a r t o t he i nt i m a t e Rrazz Room. It will be a magical evening f illed with a variety of spir ited entertainers, includi n g Sh a r on Mc N i g ht , A bi g a i l Zsiga, Val Diamond, and more, all determined to usher you into t he joy a nd exc itement of t he hol iday season. O pening Night R e c e pt ion - Mond ay, Novem ber 28 - 6:30pm when Lu Conrad presents a ver y special preshow soiree. Join Donna and the per for mer s for hor s d'oeuv res, champagne (sponsored by Barefoot W i ne & Bubbly) a nd a no host bar. Tickets for the opening night are $75. Tuesday, Novem-

GLIDE Annual Holiday Jam, “T he Love G roove” - L ive Jams in a Tr ibute to Nick A shfo r d w it h S p e c i a l G u e s t A p p e a r a nc e by Va ler ie S i mp s on a nd Per for ma nces by Shei la E ., Pete E scovedo, Tom Joh nston from the Doobie Brothers, P OP LY F E , GL I DE E n s emble a nd C h a n g e B a nd , a nd ot her surprise guests. The Mistress of Ceremonies is San Francisco Gia nt s a n nouncer a nd rad io pers on a l it y, Renel Br o ok s - Mo on.

T he G L I DE A n nu a l Ho l i d ay Jam is a benef it concert for Mo’s K itchen, the heart and soul behind GL I DE’s daily mea ls pro gram which serves up more than a m i l l ion free mea ls each yea r to San Francisco’s neediest residents. “The L ove Groove” w i l l be held at the Warf ield Theatre in San Francisco. Doors open at 6pm. T he December 1 concer t w i l l be fol lowed by a recept ion at 8:30 pm w it h hor s d’oeuv res and l ibat ions from some of t he B ay A r e a’s f i ne s t r e s t au r a nt s and beverage compan ies. I nd iv idua l t icket s st a r t at $65 a nd V I P Tic ket s a nd s pon sor s h ips start at $500. At The Warf ield-

Theatre.com, via phone at (800) 745-3000 or (866) 448 -7849 or at the Warf ield Theatre Box Of f ice (Sundays 10am - 4 pm, and show nights). Tickets and information about sponsorship are also available at glide.org.

The Oa kland -East Bay Gay Men’s Chor us Presents PACE M! - Under t he d irect ion of Interim Artistic Director Stephanie Lynne Smith, the OaklandE a s t B a y G a y M e n' s C h o r u s proudly presents its 11th annual Holiday Concert Pacem. For one weekend on ly, OE BGMC presents eclectic and multi-cultural wor k s r a n g i n g f r om G r a m m y Award w inner Joseph Jenning's a r r a n g e m e n t o f " H a r a m b e e" to t he si mple Spa n ish carol "A L a Na n it a Na na." OE BGMC 's small ensemble On Q also participates in the fun with hysterical original compositions by Seatt le-resident Er ic Lane Barnes of C apt a i n Sm a r t y pa nt s fa me wittily choreographed by Vivian Sa m of t he A mer ic a n C on servator y Theater. December 2nd, at 8pm Clay ton Va l ley Presbyterian Church 1578 K irker Pass Road , Concord , C A a nd Oa kland; December 3rd, at 2pm and 7:30 pm, December 4th, at 7pm Lake Merr itt United Method ist Church 1330 Lakeshore Avenue Oa k land. Pr icing: $15 Genera l | $20 Premier $12 Students and Seniors. Tickets available online at : oebg mc.or g or c a l l 1- 8 0 0 -

Stephanie Lynne Smith is the Interim Artistic Director for the Oakland - East Bay Gay Men's Chorus performing several dates in December.

Photo of The Week

Steve Underhill Miss Ra hni a nd R ica rdo Tellez, winners of “Dancing with the Drag Sta rs” competition, a f und raiser for R ichmond / Er met A IDS Foundation held at Ruby Skye, emceed by producer Pat r ik Ga llineaux a nd Donna Sachet. Judges were professiona l inter nationa l da nce tea m, Jurga & Vaidas, American Idol's LaToya London, Bebe Sweetbriar, comic Shann Carr, comic Ali Maf i, and Sister Roma. Other contestants were Anya Munro, Gillette Thebestamancanget (runner-up), drag king Kit Tapata (3rd place), Lychee Minnelli, Patty McGroin, Cockatielia, and Victoria Balenciaga.

BAY T IM ES NOV EM BER 17, 2011 15

FOOD

Canela Offers Life's Simple Pleasures

Food David Grabstalds There are certain things in life I would prefer not to live without.

Gucci loafers, a cashmere sweater or t wo, a nd cof fee ice crea m to name a few. High on my list would also be tapas, the delightful small plates t hat are an essent ia l par t of Spanish cuisine. I’m crazy for a l l t h i ng s Spa n i sh. A r r iv i ng i n San Francisco in 1998, my f irst e n c o u nt e r w it h t h e d e l i g ht f u l sma l ler por t ions from Spa in included the now-closed Timos and Esper pento, bot h located in t he Mission.

Of a l l of l ife’s simple pleasures, none feels so right as sitting at a table with good friends and family, a glass or two of Sangria, and sever a l sha red t apa s. I n Spa i n, they’re served in bars, cafes, and rest au r a nt s , a nd prov ide suste n a nc e for pat r on s b efor e t hei r m idday mea l or wh i le ba r hop ping before d inner, usua l ly ver y l at e i n t he e ven i n g. E xe c ut i ve Chef M at Schuster a nd pa r t ner Paco Ci fuentes have t ur ned t he for mer C apr i pi z zer i a i nto t he elegant Canela Bist ro Bar. T h is welcome little bit of Spain in the Castro Distr ict, w ith some Califor n ia i n f luences t h row n i n for good measure, works beautifully.

A fter f inishing college at Emor y Un iver sit y i n At la nt a, S chuster r e a l i z e d he love d t o c o ok a nd dec ided to pu r sue h i s c u l i n a r y studies at the Culinar y Academy

C ol leg e of Food i n Sa n D iego.

A fter moving to the Bay Area in 2000, stints at Whole Foods Market, Draeger’s Markets, t he San Francisco Bay Club, and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy soon fol lowed. Earlier this year, S chu ster dec ided he w a nted to open a restaurant. “Paco and I go to Spain twice a year to visit his family in Madrid,” he says. “I’m always following his mom around in the kitchen watching her cook a nd goi ng to t he loc a l ma rket s to buy lot s of fresh ing red ient s.

That really inspired me as we developed the restaurant.” Schuster adds the restaurant’s location really came down to wanting to live and work in the community they live.

V i s it s t o C a n e l a ( “c i n n a mo n” in Spanish) bot h for d inner and brunch, service has been attentive w it hout bei ng i nt r usive. D i ner s have many areas to sit, including a few tables outdoors, a counter at the bar, a lower dining level, or a ra ised area upsta irs for larger groups and parties. But of course even t he best of ser v ice and t he most exciting décor don’t mean a thing if the food fails to inspire.

“The menu is rea l ly a combinat ion of d ishes we bot h l i ke, and what’s great about food is if something isn’t working on the menu, you take it of f,” says Schuster. “A lot of ou r produce, meat s , a nd cheeses are grown or made locally in add it ion to some of the items we import from Spain.”

One of my favorite things at Canela to drink is the pepino y menta, a refresh ing combinat ion of cucumber, mint, lime juice, simple s y r u p, s o d a , a nd s we et p ot at o alcohol ($7). On my f irst brunch visit, I was given a small glass to sample this tasty cocktail, and at my second brunch v isit, one was whipped up by a very sympathetic bar tender who heeded my pleas for one after I discovered it wasn’t on the menu that day. A lso to die

for is a per fect sa lad of roasted red pepper s , apples , m a nchego cheese, walnuts, lemon, olive oil, egg and whole-lea f parsley ($8).

The f lavors worked ver y well together through every bite. Another favorite was a seared white f ish on saf fron risotto with olive tapanade ($12). Schuster mentioned that they have since replaced the saf fron risotto with lentil and red rice risotto.

Luckily, at dinner, I’d arrived before the crowds, which ended up having a small line out the door, which for a new restaurant, is always a good sign. A glass of Rioja ($8) started the meal of f well, as you really can’t go wrong with a nice glass of Spanish red wine. A nice touch on the menu is that one can order wine by the half glass, fu l l glass, ha l f bott le, or bott le.

For the meal, the coca f latbreads, f rom M ajorca , were a t h i n a nd crispy treat, especially with Spani s h meatba l l s a nd ch ives ($15), followed by an order of the garlicky gambas consisting of shrimp w ith papr ika, sherr y, and lemon ($9 tapa or $15 plate). Be sure to ask you ser ver for extra bread to dip into the spicy sauce once the shrimp have been devoured! Don’t sk ip t he meat a nd cheese board eit her w it h it s luscious blend of Spa n i sh meat s a nd cheeses , olives, and bread ($9 small or $20 large). Soup lovers will rejoice at the gazpacho and its fresh chilled puree of tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, garlic, and olive oil ($5 cup or $7 bowl). Simply wonderful.

O f cour se, a l l good mea ls must come to a n end , a nd si nce I ’ve been watch ing my sugar inta ke, passed on the rich chocolate cake, d e s s er t e m p a n a d a s , a nd a r r o z con leche for desser t. T hat, I’m afraid, will have to wait until my next visit to a bit of Spain in San Francisco…Canela.

COMEDY Suzanne Westenhoefer is the Funniest. Lesbian. Ever.

I was going to be a comic and do my ow n word s, t here is no way that I am going to act like I am straight." In fact, she started her career on a dare and began playing to most ly stra ight aud iences around New York City.

Comedy Dayna Verstegen

(EXTRA JUMP continued from page X)

16 BAY T IMES NOVEM BER 17, 2011

I didn't write that headline; Westenhoefer's publicist did, but I am inclined to agree. This woman is rea l ly d a m n f u n ny. O u r phone conver sat ion had ba rely beg u n and she was of f and running, aski n g me to P hoto s hop her he a d on one of the Victor ia's Secrets' "angels." She said that when she watches that ad that she "doesn't even feel like a girl. I know that I have a l l the same parts as these girls walking down the aisle with t hei r w i ng s on, but I 'm watching it and it's like I'm not even a woman."

It is the f irst of many examples of Westen hoefer's sel f- deprecat i ng a nd dow n-to - ea r t h hu mor. She has fed a h igh ly successf u l 20+ yea r c a reer i n comed y by tel l ing stories of her life - break-ups, new loves, pets, family, and life in L . A . W hen I asked her why she shares so much of herself with her audience, she said, "The way that I get my message across through comedy is that I tell my truth, because it t ur ns out t hat my t ur n is EVERYONE's truth. Everyone has been broken up with. Ever y-

Suzanne Westenhoefer will play the Rrazz Room on November 25 - 27.

one has had to come out to parent s. A l most ever yone h a s h ad their heartbroken. A lmost ever yone has been cheated on. It's OK to laugh at these things."

We s t e n h o e fe r, w h o r e c e nt l y tur ned 50, has been open about her sexuality since the start of her comedy career. "I started standup as an activ ist. I was never in t he c lo s et ... I w a s a w a n n a - b e actor, work ing as a bartender in New York...and I decided that if

S he h a s a p p e a r e d on C ome d y Central's Short Attention Span T heater and Stand-up Stand-up. Westenhoefer was the f irst openly gay comic to host her own HBO Comedy Spec ia l i n 19 9 4, for wh ich she ea r ned a Cable Ace Awa rd nomination. In 2003, she was the f irstly openly gay comic to appear on T he Late Show with David Letterman. Cur ve magazine recently vot e d her “A mer ic a’s Fu n n ie st Lesbian.”

Westen hoefer bel ieves i n u s i ng her big m icrophone to educ ate and inspire saying, "When I have a straight audience, I want them to understand who we are, laugh at our foibles, see that we are similar to them, and the things that we have t hat a re d i f ferent , a re funny... just change the way that people feel about gay, make them com for t able. T hen i f I have a n all gay audience, my agenda, and I do have an agenda, is to make (continued on page 21)

FILM

Sister Dana Says . . .

Lady Looks Like a Dude in Superb Tomboy

Sister Dana Van Iquity is Talkin’ Turkey

Jeanne Disson and Zoé Heran in Tomboy about a young girl passing as a boy.

on “him.” Before Laure is able to wash it of f at home, her mot her catches her, and tells Laure that it looks good.

Film Gary Kramer O ut Fr e n c h f i l m m a k e r C é l i ne S c i a m m a s c or e d a h it i n 2 0 07 with her drama, Water Lilies about female teenagers explor ing their sexuality. With her new f ilm Tomboy, Scia m ma ex plores a d i f ferent kind of young female sexuality - t hat of a 10 -yea r old g i rl who passes herself of f as a boy.

T h is absorbi ng cha r acter st udy open s w it h L au re ( Zoé Hér a n), st a nd i ng i n a c a r a s her fat her drives. She is enjoying the breeze a nd her f r e edom . He s o on h a s her sit her in h is lap so she can “ d r ive.” L au re obv iou s ly h a s a close relationship with her family, and this becomes more evident as L aure’s fa m i ly set t les i nto t hei r new home in a new neighborhood.

Wit h her butch ha ircut, a nd her pencha nt for wea r i ng boy ’s c lot he s , L au r e c a r e f u l l y c u lt i v ates her a nd rog y nou s appea ra nc e. Meet i n g a nei ghb orho o d girl named Lisa ( Jeanne Disson), L au r e r ei nvent s her s e l f a s M i chaël. Lisa soon introduces “him” to the other neighborhood boys.

A s L i s a i s t he on l y g i rl i n t he g r oup, t h i s h a nd s ome st r a n g er intr ig ues her. She ack nowledges to Michaël that she likes him because he is “not like the others.”

As the group of boys play soccer, M ichaël st a nd s on t he sidel i nes with Lisa and watches them. He/ she obser ves t hem sh i r t less a nd s pit t i ng. L ater, at home, L au re emulates the boys’ behavior. She t a kes of f her sh i r t, poses i n t he m i r ror, a nd s pit s i nto t he si n k .

T he next day, at anot her soccer g a me, she removes her top a nd executes the moves she rehearsed.

Tomboy uses this and various other episodes to shrewd ly add ress of how L au re/ M ichaël’s gender identity is formed and developed.

H o w o t h e r s r e a c t /r e s p o n d t o Laure’s deception are what make the f ilm so engaging.

Laure’s mother (Sophie Cattani) is unaware of her daughter’s double life. After Laure’s f irst day of play i ng out side w it h t he neighborhood kids, mom is pleased that her daughter has made a fema le f r iend - b ec au s e L au r e u su a l ly ha ng s out w it h t he boys. L ater, when L isa inv ites “ M ichaël” over to pl ay, she put s m a ke up

S c i a m m a f i l m s t hese revea l i ng s c enes w it h a ver y n at u r a l ap proach t hat d raws v iewers in to the action. Because Laure is so eager to f it in and pass as a boy her deliberate, d ishonest behav ior is credible. Sciamma’s obser vational style and focus on maintaining Laure’s point of view, helps make her character sympathetic.

Of course Tomboy generates it s d ra mat ic tension out of L aure’s secret being discovered. A scene where Michaël needs to pee - and goes into the woods for some privacy - causes “him” some embarr a s s ment . L at er, when L au r e’s sister Jeanne ( Malonn Lévana) is aware of the secret, she is forced to play along with her “ brother” until an incident with one of the other kids threatens the situation.

T he d y n a m ic b et we en t he t wo s i ster s i s i nterest i ng. Wat ch i ng the girls f ight physically, or share a bed toget her i l lu st r ates t hei r closeness, and their love for each other. In a pair of nice scenes of the sisters a lone together, Laure poses for Jea nne’s d raw ing, and pl ay s mu s ic for her s i s t er who dances to it. When Jeanne is with the other children, she is quick to tell them that her “brother” protects her. This suggests Laure has passed herself of f as a boy before, and that Jeanne has been her enabler.

In the f ilm’s f inal reel, Laure must confront the truth of her identity, and the f ilm generates some potent emotional moments in these scenes. Viewers will no doubt feel L aure’s a n x iet y as she wa it s for Lisa to return home to confess her masquerade to her friend.

Thanksg iv ing is coming up, and it a lways gets me t hink ing what I am thank ful for. My answer is def initely: I’m thankful I’m gay.

I n f a c t , I ’d l i ke t o c h a n g e t he name of the holiday to ThanksG AYi ng! T ha n k G od I’m Gay. TGIG for shor t . We g ay s ( L G B T Q i nc lu s ive) h ave st y le a nd grace and soul and spirit and all around good company. We are a lov i ng people. We a re t a lented and witty and wise (well, most of us), and our social circle is fabyou-luss! For instance, my fellow Sister s of Per pet ua l I ndu lgence got to be in the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) Parade in the M i s s ion a nd c reate a gor g eou s a lt ar in Gar f ield Park for Sa int Mysteria, a beautiful way my sisters and friends could memorialize our recent loss of a beautiful nun.

Then before I could dry my tears, I w a s of f t o a d e l i g ht f u l 5 0 t h birthday party for one of EssEf f ’s g reat queer publ icist s, Dav id Perry, at Rooftop on Fisherman’s Wharf. David’s theme (clever gay that he is) was “The Greatest Sea Drama in Living Memory” – apropos of being next to the water.

Cruise ship posters were plastered ever y where. Film clips of dozens of fa mous sh ip scenes screened: Titanic, Now Voyager, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and even (gawd help us) Speed 2. There was a karaoke room where I totally nailed it with “Ebb Tide.” Later I dirty danced to “It’s Raining Men” with movie maven Jan Wahl.

Last Sunday, Metropolitan Community Church held a dedication ceremony for t heir Yel low Br ick Road fundraising installation, in which The Sisters have contributed to their own brick. Great stuf f l i ke a l l t hat keeps happening in our wonderful queer community, and I am so thankful for it! Now

here are some more of those opportunities coming up.

turns department. Holiday store hours at underoneroof.org.

SING-A LONG SOUND OF MUSIC at the Castro Theatre will be preceded by a 30 m i nute orga n c onc er t of R o d g er s a nd H a m merstei n’s most memorable music, feat ur i ng Dav id Hega r t y at the mighty Wurlitzer organ. Follow ing the concert, hosts Laurie Bu sh ma n, Sa r a Moore, D’A rc y Drol l i nger, a nd Dav id Hawk i ns w ill g uide the aud ience through all the special parts of the movie for aud ience pa r t ic ipat ion. Ever yone will receive a “ fun pack” loaded with all the props needed to become part of the action. Feel free to dress up in your favor ite character’s costumes to add some visual f lavor to the performances.

Nun d rag is a lways popu lar. So get ready to boo t he Nazis, hiss the Baroness, and sing your heart out. Nov. 25 - Dec. 4, box of f ice open s at 6 pm, concer t at 6:3 0, f i l m at 7. M at i nees on Nov. 25 and on Sat urdays and Sundays.

More i n fo at (415) 621- 6350 or castrotheatre.com.

B RO K E B A C H M O U N TA I N : No, that is not a typo for the cowboy f l ic k ; it’s t he L esbia n/Gay Chor us of SF ’s sensat iona l season opening w ith a program ent it led “BrokeBACH Mount a in.”

This show features music by J.S. Bach, P.D.Q. Bach, a nd O f fenbach. T he hea r t of t h is humorou s a nd en l ightened concer t i s “Oedipus Tex,” an opera in one cat har t ic act, starr ing Dr. Timot hy Seel ig, music d irector a nd conductor of t he Sa n Fra ncisco Gay Men’s Chor us. Members of t he Sa n Fra ncisco L esbia n/Gay Freedom Band and the Freedom Ba nd’s A r t ist ic D i rector Jad i ne L ou ie w i l l pr ov ide a s m a l l i n st r ument a l g roup for t h is exciting and collaborative production. “ B r ok e B AC H Mou nt a i n” r u n s Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18 and 19, 8pm at Mission Cultural Center, 2868 M ission Street at 25th Street. Tix and info for all of the concerts in LGCSF’s 32nd season are available at lgcsf.org. Cowboy drag is not mandatory.

UNDER ONE ROOF HOLIDAY PREMIER kicks of f on Thursday, Nov. 17, 6 -9pm. The Sisters have decorated a specia l f und ra isi ng tree w ith ornaments for the dog a nd/or cat lover. M a ma’s Fa mily (of which I am “Mama’s Nun”) has also decorated a tree for fund r a i s i n g. Under O ne Ro of h a s sold over $11 MILLION in retail merchand ise on beha lf of A I DS service organizations. Since 1990, through UOR, community volunteers, donors, staf f, sponsors, and merchant supporters have joined forces to fundraise in support of those living with HIV/A IDS. The mission of UOR is to generate unrestricted funds for agencies that pr o v i d e H I V/A I D S e d u c a t i o n a nd suppor t ser v ices. T he pre m ier par t y is ent it led, “A L itt le Naught y, A L itt le Nice,” hosted

by Pollo Del Mar to celebrate the opening of their holiday store – a fantastic, fun way to start the holidaze shopping. There will be entertainment, complimentar y nibbles, wine, and champagne – plus: you will be giving gifts that keep on giving, and so clever that they w i l l not l ikely end up in t he re-

TR A NSGEN DER DAY OF R E MEMBR A NCE: on a much more s er iou s not e, t he Tr a n s g e nd er Day of Remembr a nce w i l l t a ke pl ace Su nd ay, Nov. 20, 5pm at the Ark of Refuge, 1025 Howard Street between 6th & 7th Streets.

S i nc e 19 9 9 , Nov e mb er 2 0 h a s been set aside in cities across the cou nt r y a s Tra nsgender Day of R e me m br a nc e t o me mor i a l i z e those who were killed due to antitransgender hatred or prejudice.

H igh rates of murder and ot her v iolence cont i nues to be one of the most critical issues facing our t r a n s g ender c om mu n it ie s ; a nd more and more people, trans and non-trans, are raising their voices i n com memorat ion a nd protest.

This event is open to everyone in the trans communities including a l l fa m i l ies, fr iend s, a nd a l l ies.

Food and beverages w ill be provided.

So there you have a whole bunch of events to be thankful for. And don’t forget to say TGIG at your Thanksgiving table!

S c i a m m a w i s e ly c e lebr at es her c ent r a l c h a r a c ter, who t r ies to live her life in a way that makes her happy and comfortable - even i f t her e a r e s t r e s s f u l moment s along the way. It is also refreshing t hat L aure’s mot her accepts her daughter’s masculine look and behavior - albeit up to a point. Trying to get her daughter to wear a dress is one of the few real battles between them.

For a l l it s asset s, t he rea l backb one of To m bo y i s Z o é Hér a n’s fearless per for mance as t he t it le character. She is completely convincing as “Michaël” and gets his mannerisms down cold. Her reactions to - and attraction for - Lisa a re rema rk able, a nd t hey spea k volumes about her character Tomboy is a superb f ilm that should resonate w it h a nyone who g rew up wanting to be - or playing with friends of - the opposite gender.

BAY T IM ES NOV EM BER 17, 2011 17

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR

compiled by Christine Dumke

Fela! The Musical, a tribute to Nigerian political hero and musical visionary Fela Kuti, was written and choreographed by Bill T. Jones and runs at the Curren Theatre until Dec. 11.

18 Friday

Q u e e r O p e n M i c - of fe r s a wide mix of open mic per formances and kick-ass features.

A ll ag es a n d k in d s of q ue er are welcome. Five minute max with comedian Morgan Ruzzo.

Sign up at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm at Modern Times Bookstore 2919 24th St SF. $3 -$5 donation.

Red Hots Burlesque - Come with your sense of humor and g et r ea d y t o o g l e, h o ot a n d h o l l e r. Eve r y s h o w f e a t u r e s hot bods, pasties, outrageous costumes, a lot of humor and, of c our se, bumpin’ and grin din’! Performing with a rotating cast of over 500 people from all over the world. This show includes local and visiting talent! A show without boundaries including bizarre beauties and senseless sideshow; not for the faint of hear t or weak of humor. 7- 9pm, $5 -10 at El Rio ‘a neighborhood bar with a heck of a lot to offer’ - 3158 Mission St, SF - 415-282-3325.

Always 21 & Over.

19 Saturday

ments and your senses of adventure and humor. Other than that, Admission Is Free! (But d o n a t i o n s a r e e n c o u r a g e d .)

8 p m. Te m e s c a l A r t C e nter 511 48th Street Oakland. Info: 510-526-7858 or eroplay.com.

Bobby Ashton! Showtime is always 10pm at Kimo’s corner of Polk and Pine SF. NO COVER C H A R G E! R e s e r va t i o n s a r e r e c o m m e n d e d , a n d m ay b e made at 415- 695-1239, or online at fauxgirls.com.

An Evening with Miryam Kab a kov - R e c o n c i l i n g q u e e rness with religion has always been an enormous challenge.

When the religion is Orthodox Judaism, the task is even more daunting. Kabakov’s anthology, Kee p Your Wives Away from Them tells the stor y of those who have come out, who are still closeted, living double lives, or struggling to maintain an integrated “single life” in relationship to traditional Judaism. 7:30pm at Temple Beth El Aptos. Info: http://www.tbeaptos.org or 831-479-3444.

New Que er Guys & Dolls dance in Foster City at Boogie Woogie Ballroom! - Come dance and play! 8pm to 8:30: Beginning Salsa; 8:30 to 9pm: Beginning East Coast Swing; 9 to Midnight: Fabulous Dance Par ty with yummy snacks! No experience or partner needed.

All are welcome. $12 for one or both lessons and dance party $10 for dance only. Hope to see you there! 551 Foster City Blvd, Suite G Foster Cit y, CA 650 627-4854.

Fauxgirls! USO Night - Pre s e n t i n g D r a g Ca b a r e t a t i t s best, showcasing both glamour and camp! The Fauxgirls! Revue features San Francisco’s finest female imper s onator s: V i c t o r i a S e c r e t , A l exa n d r i a , Chanel, Davida Ashton, Tiger L i l y, M a r i a G a r z a , M i n i M i nerva and special guest stars, plus our ver y own “ b oy toy,”

Red Meat Is Returning! - After a 3 month break and preparation for the Folsom Street Fa ir we are exc i te d to b r in g back Red Meat. Kick of f your Thanks giving early with Red Meat! Redheads get in FREE a l l n i g h t! - 2 D J ’s! 2 D a n c e Floors! 3 Bars! 2-4-1 drinks before 10:00pm! $6 drink specials all night long! Par t y with the hottest men in SF until 3am! $5 Cover ALL proceeds benefits

Luscious Live! East Bay Live B a n d D a n c e H o li d ay S p iri t D a n c e P a r t y - G et i n t o t h e holiday spirit with your dancing shoes on! Luscious Live! East Bay Live Band Dance returns on for a big Holiday Par t y in Oakland at Roosters. Our band for the evening will be the Average Dyke Band with the fabulous Stephanie Teel. The very f u n ny Ca r r i e Av r i t t w i l l p r o vide a brief comedy segment just before the dance begins at 8pm. If you love to dance, join us at Roosters 1700 Clement Avenue Alameda, 510-3379190. $11 Pre-Event / $15 Door bettyslist.com..

The Uncomfortable Zones of Fun - E x p er iment s in experience/par ticipation per forma n c e; Frank M o ore, wor l d k n ow n s ha m a n p e r fo r m a n c e artist, will conduct improvised passions of musicians, actors, dancers, and audience members in a laboratory setting to create altered realities of fusion beyond taboos. Bring your passions and musical instru-

F o l s o m S t r e e t Ev e n t s C l u b 8 1151 Folsom St SF .

20 Sunday

Mix tre ss Page Hode l at the Starlight Room - Come Celebrate Page Hodel’s 30 years A n n i ve r s a r y a s a B ay A r e a D J o n t h e 21s t f l o o r o f t h e Sir Franc is Drake Hotel. Old School Funk and Soul, Sweet R&B, Classic House and a retrospect of Hip Hop and all the music you love. This will be a night of dancing for Everyone: Gay and Straight. All c olors.

All ages. All sizes. Harry Denton’s Starlight Room 21st Floor of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel.

450 Powell Street SF. Doors at 8:30pm No Cover!

Thanksgiving T- D ance - Al ways the best way to start the holidays....come see your family b4 you go see your family - Thanksgiving FRESH with DJ Phil. B welcoming you to your R u by S k ye l i v i n g r o o m ....# 4 and counting!!! 430 Mason St @ Geary SF $20 before 10pm $25 af ter; benefiting the Human Rights Campaign.

S unD ay z a t B e a t B ox - J oin Our Radical Drinking and Dancing Agenda SunDayz - Booze Bust + Tea Danc e + Fundraiser an Official Sister’s of Perpetual Indulgence event.

Cheap drinks, great music, a s un l i t d a n c e f l o o r a n d c o m munit y fundraising! Gather at the Beatbox starting at 3:00pm and demand an uninhibited Sunday afternoon of fun. SUNDAYZ features SF’s “nex t top DJs” - Russ Rich, Byron Bonsall, Brian Maier, Christopher B, and Kevin Lee. $ 5 Cover.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Folsom Street Events, AIDS Emergency Fund, Project Open Hand, and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. beatboxsf.com/sundayz.

21 Monday Cherie Lily and her Dancerobics will host Houserobics at Rebel on November 23.

1 8 BAY TIMES NOVEM B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 1

Twe rk *Boot y Clappin Af te r Hours Lesbian Party - Droppin All The Booty Clappin Hits* D i r t y H i p H o p / H y p h y / Tw e r k / DubStep/Electro DeeJay Andre (Faded) *Droppin That ASS On The Stripper Poles* B*TCHIN

G oG o DANCERS Dr ink Sp e cials $4 Wells, $4 Absolut SF Shots, $7 for Jameson with a S i e r r a 10 PM - 3 A M F R EE B 4 Midnight $5 After Midnight $7 Af ter 2am Rebel 1760 Market St. (Octavia St.) SF djandresf. com & yearofthepeach.com.

22 Tuesday

SmartyPants Tuesday Trivia with Miss Kitty Tapata - Free to p lay! Free fres h p o p c or n!

Pr i ze s! D r i n k s p e c i a l s! A n d trust us that with Kit t y at the helm, this is not your “average” pub quiz - we turn trivia into a contact spor t! 8:30p-10:30p a t S t r a y B a r, 3 0 9 C o r t l a n d Ave,SF.

23 Wednesday

Werk! Featuring Cherie Lily a n d H e r D a n c e r o b i c s M a kin g T h e ir S F D e b ut - M ove your feet before you eat to a T h a n k s g i v i n g Eve s m o r g a s bord with drag, dancing and the San Francisco debut of Cherie Lily, the first female to combine c ut t in g e d ge fitnes s & or i gi nal dance music, called Houserobics, into a fun, flamboyant, high-energy, performance party for everyone everywhere!

With your hosts Dj Carnita ( H a r d Fr e n c h) a n d H e k l i n a (Trannyshack) Featuring: Lady Bear, Lil’ Miss Hot Mess and Karma Zabetch. 10pm-3am at Rebel 1760 Market Street $8.

24 Thursday

Forbidden - Where ladies are 4bidden to play nice! We have D J SAR ATO NI N fo r t h e f ir s t time at the Cellar to come rock it for all the 4b i d den ladies!

She has worked with all the LA lesbian clubs, and also the Bay Area’s SHE SAID... A L ady’s Affair Tuesday Nights! Opening up for her will be one of Cellar’s favorites, DJ B.M.F.J!!! We have gogo’s for you to make you do 4bidden things! $4 wells $4 Beers $4 Jameson $4 4Bidden Shots $4 Cover (af ter 10pm).

The Cellar 685 Sutter, SF.

LGBT Center, 1800 Market at Octavia, SF. Families with Child(ren) ages 0-5 meets 2nd & 4th Saturdays.

Childcare and kids activities begin at 9:30a, adult discussion begins at 10a. Families with Child(ren) ages 5-12 meets 3rd week of the month.

Info: www.ourfamily.org/events/calendar for dates.

COLAGE - Children of Lesbians & Gays Everywhere, Community and Activism by and for kids, youth, and adults with LGBTQ parents. 1550 Bryant Street, Suite 830, SF. Info: 861-KIDS. Info: colage.org

es tailored to LGBTQ parents at a highly-participatory monthly discussion group providing candid perspectives and opinions. At the SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market St., SF. Info: ourfamily.org

Transracial Adoption Support Group - Relevant and living resourc-

Transgender Parent Support Group - An opportunity to connect

Adoption SF/Family Builders By Adoption - Informational gatherings every 2nd Wednesday of every other month about adopting a waiting child from the SF Foster Care system. Free pre/post adoption support. 6:30p at the LGBT Center, 1800 Market St., SF. Info: 970-9601

with your peers and get mutual support. This group meets every third Saturday of the month and is comprised of a time for socializing and a group discussion. Drop-ins welcome but ongoing attendance is important to establish group rapport. 10a-12p at the LGBT Center, 1800 Market St., SF. Info: RSVP for childcare: 415-865-5553 Support Group for Pregnant Lesbians - An on-going group for pregnant queers, lesbians, dykes, bisexuals, genderqueer people and their partners led by Laura Goldberger, MFT. This group costs $45 per session (sliding scale may

See more Stories @sfbaytimes.com

Stones in His Pockets plays at Dragon Theatre from November 10 - December 4..

25 Friday

Red Hots Burlesque - Come with your sense of humor and g et r ea d y to o g l e, h o ot a n d h o l l e r. Eve r y s h o w fe a t u r e s hot bods, pasties, outrageous costumes, a lot of humor and, of c ourse, bumpin’ and grin din’! Performing with a rotating cast of over 500 people from all over the world. This show includes local and visiting talent! A show without boundaries including bizarre beauties and senseless sideshow; not for the faint of hear t or weak of humor. 7- 9pm, $5 -10 at El Rio ‘a neighborhood bar with a heck of a lot to of fer’ 3158 Mission St (@ Cesar Chavez), SF (415 -282- 3 325 Always 21 & Over.

26 Saturday

G o BAN G! Turns 3! Atomic D anc e floor D isco Ac t ion! San Francisc o has a diverse disco scene that often crosses over but not often enough! The goal of Go BANG! is to bring the c rews an d their d evote d dancers together in a mixed, diverse, exciting environment, with a nod to the diversity and freedom of the 70’s/80’s San Franc isc o/ New York /Chicago disc o nightlife! Disc o freaks, ar t school boys & girls, drag queens & kings, boogie-heads, fierce dancers, flashy dressers, sexy girls, hot boys, DJs, dancers, photographers, ar tists, fashionistas; gay/straight/ bi/tri/whateva!

OMG! Karaoke - Gay men in uniform, tutu’d dogs and little ladies with guns- Karaoke El Ri o St y l e!!!! 8 p m t il l we g et tired! FREE!

On Stage

H ov e r S p a c e - T h i s s i n g l e themed evening length show will investigate what takes place in the rich, chaotic, risky, intimate, in-between spaces of life. It will utilize a large integrated set piec e dub bed the “ hover floor ”, a 12 by 16 foot stage space suspended from the c eilin g of the theater on four chain motors. This stagewithin -a-stage can raise and lower, but also tilt to extreme angles, affording dancers multiple planes to dance on and new ways to execute contemporar y dance. The piece will unfold in 12 vignettes thereby creating spac e for the danc ers to utilize the set both on and under and hanging off the “hover floor”. Wednesday, November 30 - Sunday, December 3, 2011. All performances are at 8pm; Z Space at Theater Artaud, 450 Florida Street (between 17th & Mariposa) SF. Tickets: $25 general/$22 students/seniors at brownpapertickets.com Info: printzdance. org.

Fela! The Musical is on tour - The phenomenal story of Nigerian political hero and musical visionary Fela Kuti. Fela! is currently playing at The Curran Theatre in San Francisco.

Limited seating, tickets available here: felaonbroadway.com Fela! is co-written and choreographed by gay choreographer Bill T. Jones, known for such modern dance pieces as Last Supper at Uncle Tom’s Cabin/ T h e Pr o m i s e d L an d, an d h e also won the Tony award for Best Choreography for Spring Awakening. For a limited time, d i s c o u n t c o d e 4Y E A H Y E A H snags you tickets for $39. 11/16 2pm and 8pm 11/17 8pm, 11/22 8pm and 11/23 2pm and 8pm.

Select Orchestra and Mezzan i n e Seat i n g. N ove m b er 15, 2011 to December 11, 2011.

Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones - Combine a Hollywood film crew, a small Irish town, fif teen characters, and only t wo talented actors, and you have Stones In His Pockets, a funny and moving play that explores sadness, the dangerous allure of Hollywood, and the goodness of real life.

N ove m b er 10 t h – De c e m b er 4t h , T h u r s d ay s – Sat ur d ay s @ 8pm, Sundays @ 2pm.PayWhat-You-Can Preview, Thursday, November 10th. Opening Night Gala, Friday, November 11t h . O p e n i n g N i g h t s i n g l e tickets (Friday) $30 general / $25 s eni or/ $2 0 students. A ll other nights $25 general / $18 senior/$16 students. General s eat in g (42 s eat s). For 24 / 7 b ox o f f i c e h e l p, p l e a s e c a l l 1-800-838-3006. To purchase tic kets online dragonproduc tions.net Info: 650-493-2006.

Miryam Kabakov, author of the anthology called Keep Your Wives Away From Them, will appear at Temple Beth El in Aptos on November 19.

Gallery

Bolinas Stinson Beach Open S t u d i o s - Aga i n t h i s year a group of talented and diverse artists will be opening their studios to visitors this holiday weeken d. Twent y-t wo ar tists working in a variet y of media including painting, watercolor, sculpture, ceramics, tex tiles, photography and mixed media are par ticipating. A brochure which illustrates each ar tist is available at the studios an d l o c al b us ines s es. Si gns will guide visitors to individual studios. For complete information and maps please visit our website: c oastalmarinar tists. com. Enjoy a drive to beautiful Coastal Marin for a special oppor tunit y to view ar t in the studi o where it is made an d perhaps pick up a treasure or t wo; the per fec t holiday outing! A creative alternative to the malls! Friday, Saturday & Sunday, November 25, 26 & 27, from 11am to 5pm.

Parents & Kids

Mamas & Papas - San Francisco Families: Expand your circle of LGBTQ parents, swap parenting tips, and explore concerns shared by all parents as well as those of special interest to our families. RSVP to Julia at julia@ourfamily.org or 415-981-1960, and please indicate if you need free childcare. At The

BAY T IM ES NOVEM BER 17, 2011 19

ONGOING EVENTS - NEW & UPDATED Thursdays

week at the Unitarian Church at 1187 Franklin at Geary, SF. 7-9 pm.

The East Bay Butch Group - Meets the 1st Thursday of every month in Berkeley, 7-9pm, to discuss and explore butch identity, to honor and preserve butch culture, and to share our common experiences. There’s a topic for each meeting that acts as a starting point or catalyst for our conversation. Meet at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists (1924 Cedar Street (at Bonita), Berkeley, CA) at 7 pm. The entrance to meeting space is on Bonita - come in through the gate and go to the second floor. Unfortunately, there is no elevator.

Sundance Saloon Thursdays - The fun is on THURSDAYS! Line-dancing and two-steppin twice a week, every Sunday and Thursday for the queer communities! Every Thursday 6:3010:30 pm $5 at 550 Barneveld Ave, SF.

Generations: A ‘20s to ‘80s Salon A group of men who enjoy each other’s company, discuss ideas about life, literature, art and culture, and share their insights and experiences with one another. Generations takes place the 3rd Thursday of each month, 7-9pm at The Center, 1800 Market at Octavia, Room Q11, SF. Positive Force Adventure Group Program by and for HIV positive bi-, gay and transgender men. Its Urban Adventures program meets once a month to keep you connected with the poz community. See http://stopaids. org/programs/positive-force for more details..

Fridays

Last Word Poetry Series - On the 2nd Friday of the month at Nefeli Café, join hosts Dale Jensen, Tim Donnelly and Diana Q at 1854 Euclid @ Hearst, Berkeley. 7-9pm. Info: 510-841-6374.

Lavender Seniors Lunch Bunch Lavender Seniors of the East Bay holds a catered lunch every 3rd Friday of the month featuring presentations on topics pertinent to LGBT seniors. FREE. 12:30-2:30pm at North Oakland Senior Center, 5714 Martin Luther King Jr. Way at 58th St, Oakland. Info: 510-6679655.

Blur - Transgender & Gender-Variant Support Group Every Thursday 6:30p-7:30p Free food! Come and chat with other trans & gv people, facilitated by trans counselors. For 18-25 y.o. youth. At Dimensions Clinic, 3850 17th St. SF. www.dimensionsclinic.org.

SNAP Talk! - A free group every Thursday where young gay and bi men who are new to San Francisco can talk about sex, jobs, boyfriends, roommates, STDs, and anything else about getting settled in S.F. SNAP Talk! is a drop-in group specifically for gay and bi men in their 20s and 30s who are new to San Francisco. Come to get support, some to talk, come to just meet people. The group is facilitated

by David Gonzalez of SNAP!, and Ryan Horvath, a counselor from the REACH Program of the UCSF AIDS Health Project. Show up at The LGBT Center (1800 Market at Octavia, SF) and look for the sign for the SNAP Talk! group, or, call 415-865-5614 to learn more.

L.O.C. (lesbians of color) - A peersupport group for women 21 years of age and older. L.O.C meets every Thursday at Pacific Center 7p-8:30p.

Join them to carry on the tradition of providing a positive space for women of color to engage in pertinent lively discussions, exchange support and information, and to have fun and celebrate each other! Info: contact Randy Page, L.O.C. primary facilitator, at rap1on1@sbcglobal.net, or leave a message for her at (510) 595-8294.

Out of respect for people with environmental illnesses, please do not wear fragrance or scented products of any kind at L.O.C. See you there!

One Struggle, One Fight General Meeting - One Struggle, One Fight is an anti-oppression direct action group with two missions: Organize peaceful escalation of the LGBTQ movement by participating in and supporting direct action and civil disobedience. And to raise awareness of where our struggles intersect within the LGBTQ community and other oppressed groups. http://onestruggleonefight.com. Every

Writing Group for Senior Women - All women are invited to join an ongoing writers group presented by New Leaf Outreach to Elders for self-expression, creativity, supportive feedback and great company. Drop-ins welcome. The group meets every 2nd and 4th Saturday, 11am-1pm at the LGBT Center, 1800 Market St., Rm 305, SF. Info: newleafservices.org or ligaletto@ earthlink.net.

Sunday’s A Drag - Harry Denton’s Starlight Room hosts a weekly brunch featuring San Francisco’s finest drag performers and hosts Donna Sachet and Harry Denton. Two shows every Sunday, 12p and 2:30p. $30 for brunch and show at Sir Francis Drake Hotel, 450 Powell St., SF. Info/res: 395-8595.

Faerie Coffee East Bay - Every Saturday from 12 PM - 2:30 PM. Casa Vesperus hosts East Bay Faerie Coffee, a drop in community for fae in the East Bay and beyond! Just getting into town and wanna meet more Fae kin? Come by to meet and greet!

Where We Meet: Revolution Café, 1612 Seventh Street, Oakland, CA, 94607.

Faerie Coffee - Radical Faeries get together for a nice brunch and delightful conversation. Around noon every Saturday and Sunday at the Celtic Coffee Company, 142 McAllister btw Leavenworth and Hyde. Info: www. radfae.org.

The Exiles - Workshops and events for women interested in S&M between women. Meets the 3rd Friday of every month at the Women’s Building Auditorium, 3543 18th St., SF. Donation requested. 8-10pm. Latecomers are only admitted at the break, around 9pm. Info: 835-4739.

Same-Sex Ballroom Dance - 4:305:30pm mixed level Salsa. 5:30p-6:30p beginning American Rumba. At Cheryl Burke Dance, 1830 17th St. @ De Haro, SF. $15 per person drop-in, cheaper when you buy in bulk!

Instructor: Emily Coles, www.emilycolesdance.com. These classes are geared toward the LGBTQ community.

No partner or experience needed! A variety of ongoing classes. 415-3058242 balboabattle.com.

Shake: America’s LGBTQ Talk Show - a live weekly call in show about the LGBTQ community. 9-11pm on Green 960 AM (The Quake) This used to be known as Queer Channel Radio. Info and podcasts at www.queerchannelradio.com.

Third Thursday Open Mic - 3rd Thursday of the Month. Women’s Open Mic. Call Janet Rachel 510654-4088. Email Janet at janetrac@ berkeley.edu to sign up in advance for open mic. Doors 7pm, Show 7:30 pm.

September - June.

Out In The Bay and This Way Out Weekly program of LGBTQ issues, includes a weekly AIDS update. Every Thursday, 7:30p on KALW, 91.7.

Followed by This Way Out, the international lesbian and gay newsmagazine.

Info: www.kalw.org.

strippers and good tippers(hopefully) At The Deco Lounge, 510 Larkin St., SF. Every Sunday, sign ups at 9p, showtime at 10p. No cover. Info: decosf. com.

WTF? - WTF is open to all women & transfolks, Genderqueer folk, femmes, and other people who have had gender bias, homophobia, or transphobia keep them away from the wrenches! The Bike Kitchen is a do-it-yourself bicycle resource run by volunteers where you can get help to fix your bike, use tools, find used parts, or build up a bike from scratch! 6-9pm at the Bike Kitchen’s new home at 650H Florida St, SF. Now on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month. www.bikekitchen.org.

Transgender Support Group - For anyone who is transgendered, transsexual, or has gender issues. Beginners welcome. Fridays from 8-9:30pm Pacific Center, Berkeley. Info: 510-5488283.

Same Sex Ballroom Dance - 8 9.30pm Ballroom Dance Variety (No partner/experience needed). Varying monthly with different Ballroom & Social dance each month. Enter through Live Art Gallery, 151 Potrero Ave. at 15th St. SF, CA 94104.

Body and Soul. 9 a.m. to Lunch (lunch provided) BCA – 2800 Third Street @24th, SF, CA 94107. For more information contact Mark Matthews at (415) 615-9945, ext. 115.

Saturday Dance & Weekly Classes Dance is 1st & 3rd Saturday at ODC 351 Shotwell Street in the Mission between 17th/18th and Folsom/South Van Ness. Jam Dance (bi-weekly) & Series Class (weekly).

Hayes Valley Follies - Marlena’s hosts a weekly revue of the most titillating Bay Area talent featuring drag, singers, syncers, dancers, impersonators and more. 10p at 488 Hayes St., SF. Info: marlenasbarsf.com or 864- 6672.

LGBTQ Self Protection classes for the LGBTQ community - Gain survival skills, security, confidence and peace of mind in a supportive learning environment for people of all sexual orientations, genders, ethnicities, and nationalities. Ju Trap Boxing is an effective blend of Small Circle Jujitsu, boxing, Contemporary Jeet Kune Do, and Filipino martial arts. Rapid Assault Tactics is a no nonsense approach to street survival. Every 4th Friday from 6:30pm - 7:30pm UMAA Defensive Tactics Training Academy 4348 Third St., SF, (415) 671-2055, umaacademy. info/content/lgbt-self-protection.

Pledge: Fraternal Fridays at LOOKOUT - The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBT and questioning young people. With this event, Pledge continues to encourage the spirit of camaraderie with which the Castro has long been associated, while bringing attention to important issues challenging the LBGT community. Funds will be raised through a raffle, offering bottomless draft “Kegger Cups,” and Pledge paddle photo ops. Pledge parties are held on the 3rd Friday of each month at LOOKOUT. 9pm to 2am. LOOKOUT, 3600 16th Street, SF. Info: lookout. com.

Saturdays

The Audre and Langston Salon - First Saturday Health Party. A neighborhood health party that’s good for the Mind,

2 0 BAY TIMES NOVEM B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 1

Bay Area Young Positives drop-in group - Drop-in support group for young HIV positive people. 701 Oak St., SF, 7p – 9p. Info baypositives.org, (415) 487-1616.

Ten Percent, LGBT-TV for Northern California - Mondays – Fridays, 11:30am & 10:30pm and Saturdays & Sundays at 10:30pm on Comcast Hometown Station 104. Join David Perry for in depth discussions with interesting people doing interesting things of interest to your community. www.comcasthometown.com.

er than talk about solutions and answers to problems, the idea is to expand on the days topic by analyzing it and breaking it up into other questions. The discussions typically focus on the hidden/unspoken assumptions, generalities and concepts that we as gay men make, and the differences that our various points of reference imply.

Every Saturday 10.30am- 12pm at Sweet Inspirations, 2239 Market St. between Sanchez and Noe.

Sundays

Bad Movie Night - Every Sunday, come on out to The Dark Room in the Mission to see a crummy movie, scarf down popcorn, and listen to the hilarious ravings of special rotating hosts chosen from the brilliant comedic flock of freaks circling our fair city. $5, 8p at The Dark Room Theatre, 2263 Mission St., SF. Info: darkroomsf.com.

Jock Sundays @ Lookout - A weekly Sunday afternoon/ early evening, highenergy jump fueled by a rotating cast of superstar DJs, including: Stefanie Phillips, Luke Fry, Pornstar, Joseph Lee and Pam Hubbuck. Packed every Sunday with hot, sweaty, jocular boys - and girls - JOCK is ALL-STAR! Every week proceeds benefit an LGBTQ sports group. 3p, $2 door. At Lookout, 3600 16th St. at Market, SF. Info: 415431-0306 or lookoutsf.com.

DECO’s Amateur Strip Night - The audience at the Deco Lounge every Sunday will vote to award one lucky amateur stripper a CASH PRIZE. Join emcee Nick Parker, DJ Lambchop, hot

Weight Watchers LGBTQ Meeting registration and weigh-in starts at 6p, discussion at 6:30p. At the Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St., Berkeley. Questions? jeanne.obrien@ weightwatchers.com .

St. James Infirmary for Sex Workers Free, confidential, non-judgmental medical care, massage, acupuncture, peer and substance use counseling, legal and social service referrals and a food/clothing bank. You can check your email, get a chair massage, or face acupuncture while you wait and talk to other sex workers. If you get a treatment, its not just a clinic, you can hang out with all your friends who you never knew were hookers, too! Tuesday 12p3p, Wednesday night from 6p-9p, Thursday 6p-9p. Transgender Health Clinic. Current and former sex workers as well as their partners and families are welcome to drop in. Donations of food, money and clothing welcome.

Info: 554-8494.

Harvey’s Funny Tuesdays - Ronn Vigh and Nick Leonard present the best in Gay and Gay friendly comedy in the heart of the Castro. 9p sharp at Harvey’s, 500 Castro Street (at 18th), SF. FREE Admission, one drink minimum. Every week new funny acts!

Cockfight at Underground SF – First and third Sat. DJs Earworm, MyKill, and DCNSTRCT. $7,9p-2a.

Underground SF, 424 Haight Street, SF, (415) 864-7386.

Wilde Chats – A loosely structured community-driven group get together every Saturday morning to discuss specific issues affecting us as gay men and our gay community. The group is lead following a “Socratic” model; rath-

Free Your Mind - Queer Youth Arts and Crafts Fridays from 4pm - 7pm The Center’s Youth Program fosters a weekly arts and crafts night for LGBTQ youth ages 24 and under. Come and get involved in planning our “Free Your Mind” art exhibit that aims to deconstruct stigmas around homeless and transient LGBTQ youth. Oil painting, wood burning, origami, stenciling and spray painting, jewelry making, stitch ‘n’ bitch, screen printing and fashion fun! Free pizza and snacks provided.

Earn $150 stipend for your time (space is limited). If you are interested please feel free to drop in and should you have any questions, contact Beck at 415.865.5560 or beck@sfcenter.org.

The Center, 1800 Market at Octavia, SF.

Mondays

group of gay guys - friendly, supportive and non-competitive - who loves drawing the male nude in gay male company. The group is open to men and women of all persuasions . To reserve space, call day of the group that you want to attend: Mark - 415- 621-6294.

Wednesdays

Duplicate Bridge - QuickTricks Bridge Club, 7p, ACBL duplicate open and 299’er events. Meets in Ellard Hall of Most Holy Redeemer Church, thru gate on Diamond St. at 18th Street. Lesson series too. Info: www.quicktricks.org.

Tuesdays 13 Licks at Q Bar - Every Tuesday this is the hottest dance party in the Castro!

NOW featuring photo backdrops by Closet Riots, photos by LISF blog (Lesbians in San Francisco) and music

by DJ Nuxx, who was voted San Francisco Bay Guardian’s Best DJ in SF for 2010. We’re “Queer” because we LOVE YOU! Ladies Night Mixed 456 Castro St. SF. Feminist reading circle: Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State - A roundtable discussion of Frederick Engels’ classic work on the persistent problem of women’s inequality and how it can be overcome. On Tuesdays beginning November 1,7pm - 8:30pm, 747 Polk St, SF, $2 suggested donation per session. Everyone welcome. Sponsor: Radical Women.

For more information, call (415)8641278 or email baradicalwomen@earthlink.net.

New FTM/transmasculine group @ TRANS THRIVE - Groups are open to female-to-male (FTM) people, transguys, butches, studs, genderqueers, two-spirited, third-gendered, questioning folks, trannyfags, trannyboys, boydykes, transmen, papis, transmasculine folks and whatever else you call yourself. About once a month we have a special event. Every Tuesday from 6p-7:30p Check online calendar for details. TRANS: THRIVE, 815 Hyde St., 2nd Floor/ Info http://www.transthrive.org.

Clair’s Drop-in - Free, one-on-one counseling to help transgender community members on their personal evolution, including an overview of TEEI services. It is recommended that you call ahead to verify your walk-in time beforehand. Contact Clair Farley at clairf@sfcenter.org or call 415-8655632. Visit the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative (TEEI) website teeisf.org - Matching dynamic people with sustainable jobs in safe workplaces - for more info. Wednesday 1p-4p at the SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market at Octavia St., SF. Fruity Wednesdays - Queer Youth space at Larkin Street. Drop-in Larkin Street Youth Services offers a safe space to Queer Youth every Wednesday. Each week, youth are served a meal, offered showers, peer counseling and a structured program meant to keep the focus on community building. The First Wednesday of the month kicks off with an Open Mic event for youth to perform and get tested for HIV. The second and third Wednesdays are for cultivating the creative process, with the help of Larkin’s Art Department.

The last Wednesday youth are offered workshops on relevant and important issues peers in their community currently face. Drop-In. Larkin Street Youth Services, 1142 Sutter St., SF, 6p-8p.

Flyers www.facebook.com/pages/ Fruity-Wednesdays.

Erotic Reading Circle with Carol Queen - Join readers and share your erotic writing! Bring something to read

SF/Ladies Night Foreplay @ Lime It’s ladies night Tuesday’s 50% off Food. 6:00 pm to10:00 pm for ladies.

Ladies get 50% off food, $4 champagne and well drinksStart your night off with us, every Tuesday 6pm-10pm. $4 well drinks/champagne. Also see our Fabulous Happy hour. http://www. lime-sf.com Lime 2247 Market St SF 415.621.5256.

Youth Meal Night - Tuesdays from 5 p-8:30p at The Center (1800 Market at Octavia, SF) - this weekly program provides homeless, marginally housed and foster care youth up to 24 years with a nourishing meal, welcoming environment, film screenings, art projects, discussions and a wide array of different community building activities.

For more info please contact Beck at 415-865- 5560 or beck@sfcenter.org Buddhist Meditation - Drop-in Meditation Classes in Downtown San Francisco. Tuesdays in Downtown S.F./ Lunchtime classes. 12:15-1:00pm Saint Mary’s Church in the Paulist Bookstore, Room 3. 614 Grant Ave. (cross street California). With Buddhist Teacher Alise Halbert.

Gay Men’s Sketch - Weekly male figure drawing group. Professional, yet intimate and relaxed. Classical nude modeling by a gay male model. Five 2min gestures, one 15-min pose & four 20-min. poses. 6:30p - 9:30p. Intimate South of Market home studio, open drawing session, no instruction. A nice

or just be part of the appreciative circle of listeners. This is a great place to try out new work (ask for comments if you like), or get more comfortable reading for other people. Longtime writers will bring their latest, newly inspired writers; bring that vignette you scrawled on BART while daydreaming on your way to work! Non-judgmental listening guaranteed; all orientations welcome. Carol Queen and Jennifer Cross host/facilitate this space every 4th Wednesday of the month. Dedicated to erotic writers and readers! $5-up sliding scale, 7:309:30pm, at The Center for Sex & Culture, 1519 Mission St., (btw S. Van Ness & 11th), SF. Info: sexandculture. org.

Leathermen’s Discussion Group Discussions and presentations by and for the leather community. Free and open to all adults. Held on the 4th Wednesday of every month, 7:309:30pm at Blow Buddies - Upstairs Community Room, 933 Harrison St, SF. Info: sfldg.org.

Seniors

(ROSTOW continued from page 5)

Mission/Noe LGBTQ Issues Forum - Every 2nd Thursday of the month, 10 am at 30th Street Senior Center located at 225- 30th Street (at Dolores), 3rd Floor conference room. Bernal Heights LGBTQ Discussion Group, Every 4th Thursday of the month, 1 pm at Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center located at 515 Cortland Avenue (across from the library). *NEW* South of Market LGBTQ Discussion Group, Every 2nd Friday of the month, 10a at Canon Kip Senior Center located at 705 Natoma Street (@ 8th St. across from Harvest Market). Hope to see you there!

Franklin @ Geary, SF. Info:5526641

Old Lesbians Organizing for Change - A network of lesbians over age 60 organizing against ageism and for social change. For more information call 415-3885001.

Acting & Storytelling Classes for Seniors - offered by Stage. All classes held at First Congregational Church, 2501 Harrison at 27th, Oak. Info: 510-444-4755.

San Francisco Prime Timers Local chapter of Prime Timers Worldwide, an international organization of older gay and bi men and younger men who admire them.

Usually there is a featured speaker and refreshments following the meeting. Meets 2-4p on the first and third Sundays of each month at First Unitarian Church, 1187

50+ Support Group for Men - A discussion and support group for gay men on life’s aging issues.

Meets on the 2nd Thurs of every month, 4p - 5:30p, at the DeFrank Center, 938 The Alameda, San Jose. Info: 408-293-2429 or defrank.org Project Open Hand Senior Lunch - Come out to lunch at the Castro Senior Center Mon-Fri at 11:45 a!

100 Diamond St. @ 18th St., SF. $1.50 suggested donation. Info: 863-3507

Lavender Seniors Monthly Potluck - Bring food to share with other LGBTQ folks over 55. This only happens once a month, people!! And eating with friends is fierce. These events happen in or around the East Bay. Call Peggy at 510-667- 9655.

Group raises awareness about the needs of older lesbians and gay men and encourages multidisciplinary dialogue among service providers, policymakers, researchers and other professionals. 9749600.

Senior’s Support Group Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday - Discuss issues around senior relationships, feelings of isolation and feelings of aloneness. The group is facilitated by two seniors and is specially structured to provide emotional support for your peers in your journey through the LGBTQ community. A good place to make new friendships and participate in affirming emotional support. All seniors welcome.

The Lighthouse Community Center, 1217 A Street, Hayward. 510- 881-8167.

Senior Men’s Group - A support and conversation group for gay men. 2nd & 4th Thurs, 1:30-3:30 pm. Pacific Center, 2712 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. Info: 510-548-8283 or pcseniormen@sbcglobal. Net

Lesbian & Gay Aging Issues Network of the American Society

Senior Men’s HIV Support Group For gay/bi men 55+. Process allencompassing issues with HIV and being older. Fri, 11a-12:30p. 103 Hayes St., SF. Info: 626-7000 x415.

stars the hip-hop chef who attempts to “conquer the catering world with his innovative cuisine and style” from his Brooklyn loft by throwing “worldclass events for New York socialites to media moguls” with the help of a “ragtag crew of old friends and unique characters.”

fAR, we believe that if we harness the right resources, and marshal the right political will, we will see an end to the AIDS epidemic in our lifetime.

We wouldn’t be in the position we are today without the tremendous courage and leadership of the Bay Area community.”

CHAKA KHAN continued from page 2) every other gay man, he adores Liz Taylor. “Sure, of course I do!”

Cohen said he has several projects in the works, including some fashion themed TV programs such as Mad Fashion and Fashion Hunters, which are brand new on Tuesday nights.

He announced a new show, entitled Roblé and Company about Chef Roblé Ali who is opening a business with his sister Jasmine, “and it’s amazing.” It

“The Bay Area’s support of amfAR has been extraordinary,” said amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost. “At am-

(BARBARA GRIER continued from page 1) only $3000. They said at the time that Naiad would publish books that were “about lesbians who love lesbians, where the girl is not just going through a phase.” The first book they published was called The Latecomer by Sarah Aldridge (aka Marchant). Over the years, they published books by Katherine V. Forrest, Jane Rule, Ann Bannon, and Valerie Taylor.

and Nancy Manahan and published in 1985. It was banned in Boston and criticized by the Catholic Church.

The controversy catapulted Naiad to international fame and the book sold 500,000 copies. “This is crazy,” Ms. Grier told The New York Times, scrambling in ensuing weeks to fill new orders for the book. “I’m a mouse giving birth to an elephant.”

“She created Naiad Press because the mainstream would not publish any of our books,” Forrest, whose career was launched by Naiad in 1983 with the publication of her novel, Curious Wine, told The LA Times on Friday. “Her accomplishments are just monumental, given the obstacles she faced. There was such virulent homophobia. Barbara was nothing if not fearless.”

By 1994, Naiad had a staff of eight people and sales of $1.8 million in the US. Under Grier’s direction, Naiad published over 500 books of romance, history, poetry, erotica, and science fiction, including poetry by Gertrude Stein and Renee Vivien, considered seminal works in the lesbian canon.

“Her goal in publishing,” Ms. McBride added, “was to make lesbians happy about themselves.”

Among the most controversial of their books was a work of non-fiction called Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence written by two former nuns, Rosemary Curb

“I have always believed that the best thing I might leave behind is a world in which any woman, anywhere,

might say to herself ‘I am a lesbian’ and be able to go to a nearby store or library and find a book that will say to her, ‘Yes, you are a lesbian, and you are wonderful,’ “ she told gay historian Jim Kepner some years ago.

In 1985 Grier earned the President’s Award for Lifetime Service from the Gay Academic Union. In 1991, Naiad Press won the Lambda Literary Award for Publisher’s Service. Grier and McBride won the Lambda Literary Pioneer Award in 2002.

When Grier and McBride retired in 2003, Bella Books bought Naiad’s book list.

Grier died of lung cancer on November 10 in Tallahassee, Florida. She is survived by her partner Donna McBride and two sisters, Diane Grier of Willard, MO and Penni Martin of Denton, Texas.

(WESTENHOEFER continued from page 16) gay people think that they can be proud, that they can be out. We are great people.”

During her last visit to San Franc isco ea rl ier t h i s yea r, she told stories of her recent break-up (her ex girlfriend cheated on her with a n unna med top ra n ked profes siona l vol leyba l l player). It wa s both painful and hilarious. When I asked for if her personal life had

improved, I got a breathless and enthusiastic, “YES”.

When I asked what her audience should expect from her Thanksg i v i n g We e k e nd s how s i n S a n Francisco, she said, “I have NO idea. It’s a l l ver y extempora neous. You m ight hear updates on t he r el at ion s h ip, t he d ivor c e... did I meet someone new? I don’t k now... I don’t k now what’s go -

ing to happen this weekend. That could be in my show by the time I get there.”

Westen hoefer play s T he R R a zz Room on November 25 a nd 26 (9:3 0 pm) a nd November 27 (7 pm). Purchase tickets at therrazzroom.com/events.

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was not against gay people and loved everyone. Nonetheless, her faith demanded that she refuse to do business with a lesbian couple. Huh? How can you say that with a straight face?

don’t have to confront the adorable animals who give their lives for a nice rare bone-in ribeye.

Good news, if you’ll excuse the expression. I just deleted several paragraphs about the false connection between faith and gay bias because I think we’ve discussed this ad nauseum.

But I digress. Reading closely, I noted that the “study,” published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, was based on a survey of 118 men with penis cancer and 374 healthy ones. So exactly how many of these men actually had sex with an animal? One? Three?

From Sea to Shining Sea

Guys? Play it safe, OK?

Let’s see what else. It looks as if state lawmakers in Washington plan to go for a marriage equality bill in 2012. It may or may not have the votes to pass the state senate, but they’re giving it a shot.

Shaun Donovan, the aforementioned HUD Secretary, delivered a great speech at the National Center for Transgender Equality dinner confirming the administration’s commitment to trans rights, in addition to LGBT rights in general.

I already told you that activists in Maine are putting a marriage equality measure on the 2012 ballot. And things are looking up in Maryland, where the conventional wisdom says that our side bungled the unsuccessful attempt to pass marriage equality earlier this year. The head of Equality Maryland resigned under a cloud at the time, but they’ve just installed a new director, veteran state activist Carrie Evans, who says “the stars are aligned” for a marriage bill to pass next year.

Donovan highlighted new proposed regulations that would make sure transpeople and transgender couples will be eligible for public housing voucher programs without having to jump through hoops. One woman, Donovan said, tried to add her transman partner to her housing voucher only to be flatly denied. The housing authority told her to apply instead to a neighborhood organization, because they accept everyone, “even Martians.”

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Marylanders for Marriage Equality, the umbrella group fighting for same-sex couples, announced it has hired Democratic Party activist Travis Tazelaar to oversee the field operations for the upcoming effort.

There’s some good news as well in Massachusetts, where a trans rights bill is one small step away from becoming law. The bill has one more pro-forma vote in the legislature, and Governor Deval Patrick has pledged to sign it.

While we’re at it, Basic Oregon has determined that they lack the support and resources to fight for marriage at the ballot box, so the Duck State will stay out of the limelight next year.

And in North Carolina, a transwoman has won a lengthy fight with her insurance company, with the help of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. Lina Kok, 47, was denied salary compensation for a short medical leave based on the notion that her facial reconstruction surgery was a cosmetic procedure.

After several appeals, the company finally acknowledged that the surgery was indeed a crucial part of her medical transition.

Why name a sports team after a nonviolent water fowl? And why a “duck” in particular, which conjures up a cowardly effort to avoid injury?

Trans Progress Before we discuss the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, I have a friend, who shall go unnamed, to thank for news that sex with animals can double your chances of getting penis cancer.

The story was illustrated with a close up of a very sweet looking cow, which made me feel bad. Poor cow. If not headed for rape, then probably off to the slaughterhouse. It’s a good thing for most of us that we can compartmentalize our love for steaks and

Finally, I was about to indulge in a little Bachmann bashing to end this column, but I have run out of space and can’t tell you about how Marcus Bachmann (Michele’s hubby) called up a gay activist to threaten him about an unpaid bill at the family’s Christian counseling clinic. Check out the Truth Wins Out website for the details. Me? I’m going to fix myself a gin and tonic tampon.

(EXAMINED LIFE continued from page 9) in nature, have some quiet walks, meditate – whatever soothes and quiets you.

to act on those values before the end of the year. You can, for instance:

For the majority in this countr y, “the holidays” means Christmas.

I’m not a Christian myself, but I do feel love for Jesus as a g reat bei ng, a nd wou ld per sona l ly be happy to participate in a holiday honor i ng h i s bi r t h i f I t hought t he celebrat ion had any t hing to do w it h ma n i fest i ng t he va lues for which he lived and died. The fact t hat Chr ist mas has become a fe s t i v a l of g r e e d a nd e xc e s s must get a lot of people dow n, because every year we hear complaints about the commercialization of the holiday. On the other ha nd, cr it ic i zi ng t he hy pocr i s y and shallowness of “society” is a t i me-honored but cheap way to feel smug a nd mora l ly super ior w it hout ever hav i ng to do a nything oneself. So, if you’re one of those people who want to have a holiday which ref lects your spirituality, you might make the season more rich and meaningful by resolving to take specif ic actions

Write a “gratitude letter” to someone who is important to you, expressing all the ways in which you appreciate him or her, especially including those things you’ve never said.

Initiate one act of peacemaking within the circle of people you love.

Give a “gift” to at least one person that doesn’t involve spending any money.

If you can afford to do it, you can give a gift to someone you love of something that they really need – but make sure they never know you are the gift-giver.

The fundamental question here is really “Who’s in charge?” A ll we really need to make the holidays a reward ing t ime in our l ives is t he imag inat ion and courage to def ine for ourselves what they are and what they mean.

Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. His website is www. tommoon.net.

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Upcoming Events Saturday, December 3rd Singles Holiday Brunch & Mingle - Noe Valley Location Co-hosted by Irene Hendrick & Chef Gloria Swanson 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Saturday, November 19th Luscious Live! Welcoming the Holiday Season Dance Stephanie Teel & Average Dyke Band @ Roosters, 1700 Clement Ave, Alameda. Preevent tickets onsale now: bettylist.com.

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Sunday, November 27th Ladies Night Special @ Yoshi’s Oakland - Montclair Women’s Big Band - 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, 5:30 PM Happy Hour / 7:00 PM Performance.

Wednesday, December 7th Smart Women / East Bay @ The Bellevue Club, Oakland Featuring the Bay Times Holiday Gift Guide Recommendations. 5:30 PM 7:30 PM. Dancing @ Luscious Live.

Wednesday, December 14th Smart Women Holiday Party Co-hosted by Katharine Holland @ Coldwell Banker, 2355 Market Street, SF. Benefit for One Warm Coat and Canned Food Drive. 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM.

Thursday, November 24th Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 26th Holiday Singles Brunch & Mingle - Noe Valley Location co-hosted by Irene Hendrick and Chef Gloria Swanson 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Sunday, November 27th Montclair Women’s Big Band @ Yoshi’s Oakland - Ladies Night Special - Hosted by Betty & Jen - Discount Code “Betty” - 5:30 PM Happy Hour; 7:00 PM Performance.

Thursday, December 15th Smart Women / North Bay @ Pelican Art Gallery, 143 Petaluma Blvd., Petaluma.

Featuring Tracey Mason of Goelet Wine Estates with wine tasting. 5:30 - 7:30 PM.

SF Lesbian & Gay Freedom Band trumpets performing @ Luscious Live.

Information: www.bettyslist.com or 415-503-1375

More News, Stories, and Arts & Entertainment online

@sfbaytimes.com

montclair women’s

big band Ellen Seeling, director

SUNday

november 27 get $3 off tickets with promo code BETTY

510 Embarcadero West @ Washington • For tickets and dinner reservations go to yoshis.com or call 510-238-9200 All shows are all ages. Open for dinner nightly.

There’s waaaay more...

Lesbian Vegetarians, San Francisco Boys of Leather, Gay Men’s Basketball, Queer Armenians, Women Poets, Sex Addicts, Dykes on Hikes East Bay, Questioning Youth, Au Cercle des Amis Franco phones, Creative Philosopher’s Club, Let It All Hang Out, MAX (Men’s Associated Exchange), Barbary Coast Boating Club, LGBTQ Alcoholics Anonymous, Bodybuilding Group, Freewheelers Car Club, Nudes In Art, QuickTricks EasyBridge! Gay Architects Publication: Bay Times & Designers, Lesbian Entrepreneur Club, Rainbow Toastmasters, All Girls Roller Derby Training, Heart of San Francisco Aikido, Crystal Meth Size: 6” x 6” Anonymous, Caring Kinksters Munch, and much, much more!

Run Date: 11/??

sfbaytimes.com - click on Resource Guide Design: Miles Stegall 503-432-0044

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