2012 01 12

Comedy ace Karen Williams joins the Bay Times. Page 4

Gary M. Kramer interviews‘Pariah’ filmmaker Dee Rees. Page 9

LGBT diversity on display in New Year’s Eve Parties photo spread. Pages 12-13

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

/SanFranciscoBayTimes

January 12 - 25, 2012 | www.sfbaytimes.com

/SFBayTimes

Oakland’s Revitalized Gay Scene Sizzles

PHOTO BY EL IZABETH HERREN

5 Stories to Follow in 2012

This year promises many cliff hangers for the LGBTQ community, with decisions in 2012 potentially affecting everything from the well being of our youth to our basic freedoms.

Here we spotlight 5 stories that we will be tracking for you over the coming months: 1. Presidential and Senate Elections

politics. Experts are already predicting that President Barack Obama will not push his support for gay rights much further during this critical time, due to concern over alienating independent voters. Such voters could be critical to winning closely contested states like Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Although the election is not until November, the presidential race will impact nearly every aspect of LGBTQ

Our eyes are also on the US Senate race. Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) is the first openly

gay individual in the nation’s history to run.

2. Proposition 8 Three judges from the 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals are presently reviewing a lower court’s decision from last year that struck down Proposition 8 as a violation of the civil rights of LGBTQ Californians. Even if the court upholds that ruling and lifts its injunction barring same-sex couples from marrying, either the full 9th

Circuit bench or the US Supreme Court could immediately appeal that decision. In the meantime, we remain stripped of our core rights. As National Center for Lesbian Rights executive director Kate Kendell, Esq, said, “Every day that goes by, samesex couples in California are being denied not only the basic right to marry, but the right to be treated with equal dignity and respect. Same-sex couples in California have lived under the shadow of this unfair law for far too long.” (continued on page 8)

PHOTOS BY AL M AR IO BON IFACI O

‘Tranadu’ Was Fabulous for New Year’s Eve and My Birthday

Sister Dana with friends Karen Lee Jaffe aka Kitty Tapata, Sister Hellen Wheels, and Lori

Performing artist Liz Primo surrounded by her dancers at the End Up

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

floor was sparkling with silver glitter.

Everyone dressed to the nines. Music was by DJ Cuervo.

We launched our New Year’s Eve at “Tranadu,” a special VIP event at the legendary End-Up nightclub, which was once again also a birthday party for Sister Dana. Complimentary Stolichnaya cocktails were served from 9-11pm, with delicious hors d’ oeuvres. Admission was free for whomever RSVPed, and several members of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as well as a lot of my Bay Times readers attended.

The party was produced by Patrik Gallineaux (dressed in a bazillion mirrors and a giant feather headdress) and co-hosted by Jai Rodriguez (known for his TV hit, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy for three years, and also for being in several different plays). “Tranadu” co-starred the gorgeous Cassandra Cass, who whisked us off to “Xanadu” in her roller skates. We got to explore the End-Up’s unveiling of its magical new lounge and patio. The f loors were covered in faux snow, and the dance

Jai Rodriguez was looking more handsome than ever, and was kind enough to give me a short interview.

He said it was his first time at End-Up, and he was very excited to be there.

He was thrilled to be able to give “a little gay touch” to the Maroon Five’s “Moves Like Jagger” and the theme from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Having arrived earlier than the rest of the crowd, Sister Kitty Catalyst and

I got front row seats all alone to hear him rehearse those numbers.

He had only recently returned from doing a guest appearance on TV’s How I Met Your Mother, playing the gay husband of Neil Patrick Harris’ half brother Wayne Brady on the show. He said it could be a recurring part. He is happy to be in a new gay storyline on the soap Days of Our Lives, which begins January 12. “They have never had an out gay character on Days before,” he said.

He recently guest starred on Harry’s (continued on page 16)

When The New York Times recently announced its “45 places to go in 2012” list, many people were shocked to see Oakland in the number five spot. Sandwiched between London at number 4 and Tokyo at number 6, Oakland was a surprise entry, especially given the city’s badder than bad reputation. (Panama, Helsinki and Myanmar made the NYT’s top 3, in that order.) But those of us who know and love Oakland can feel its seductive, creative and positive energy building now. The still burgeoning gay scene already includes…

Revitalized Oakland Pride- Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan and others have led efforts to re-organize an LGBTQ Roundtable in the City of Oakland. Since then, members of the Roundtable and the community decided that it was time to resuscitate Oakland Pride for the long term and advocate for rights and interests. Part of that effort has resulted in two Pride festivals. The Betty’s List team, with the Bay Times this past year, attended both and can report that the street fests were off-thechart fabulous. A few of us are still humming songs from Thelma Houston, one of the featured performers.

If you missed the festivals, plan on going in 2012!

Bench and Bar- This premiere East Bay nightclub quickly became one of our fave spots last year, with the club hosting some “Luscious Live” dances. The B&B includes 6 full bars, 2 dance floors, a billiards parlor, smoking room, VIP lounge and more. On the second Friday of every month, DJ’s Cecil and Cali start the party at 10 PM and keep it going strong well into Saturday.

Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus- Founder Dick Kramer (1930 - 2007) stood at the forefront of the gay choral movement since the day in 1978 that Harvey Milk and George (continued on page 16)

Transgender Rights Are Becoming Reality Uncles Super Seeks Super Baby We are a lesbian couple looking for a partnered gay man for a known donor relationship. superbabyseekssuperuncles@gmail.com

Transgender Law Center Executive Director Masen Davis.

By Dennis McMillan Today, legal fairness and justice for transgender Californians is a reality.

Last year, Governor Brown signed two bills that the Transgender Law Center co-sponsored, AB887 and AB433. As of now, they have become law.

AB 887, the Gender Nondiscrimination Act, authored by Assemblymember Toni Atkins, strongly clarifies the existing employment, housing, and other civil rights protections for all Californians. The law makes it clear that discrimination is not legal in California.

Trip

Out! with the 2012

Damron LGBT Travel Guides call for a free catalog

800/462-6654 or visit us online

damron.com

AB433, the Vital Statistics Modernization Act, authored by Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal, streamlines the process for Californians to obtain and update birth certificates.

In other news, the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC) has published the 2012 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), which evaluates the inclusiveness of cor porate policies towards LGBTQ people. The most striking f indings this year pertain to the huge increase in transgender inclusive policies, particularly those of fering health care coverage to transgender employees.

Liberating Experience

The Transgender Law Center is highlighting several key findings in the report: 80% of rated employers include gender identity protections in their nondiscrimination policies. Back in 2002, when the CEI began, it was only 5%. Today, over 200 major US businesses include transgender-inclusive health care coverage that provides medically necessary transitionrelated care, tripling since last year.

50% of Fortune 500 companies now include gender identity in their employment nondiscrimination policy, a dramatic growth of 1,567% since 2002.

In the last year, Transgender Law Center has worked to change laws, worked with numerous public and private employers to improve internal polices, and educated employers on obtaining equitable health benefits.

Most recently, Transgender Law Center helped Google develop and implement a comprehensive health insurance plan for transgender employees that includes transition-related care. It is considered to be a “gold standard” role model.

izing that healthy employees whose human dignity is respected make for a more motivated workplace,” said TLC Executive Director Masen Davis. “We extend our deepest thanks to all of the companies who have courageously stepped up for equality, and we applaud the Human Rights Campaign and all the other organizations who were the catalyst for this wave of equality. We feel more energized than ever to make sure 100% of companies offer equal protections and health care coverage to transgender people. An end to discrimination in the workplace will transform the lives of thousands of struggling families.”

“These laws signify a monumental shift in our movement,” Davis continued. “We are making great strides.

However, we know that we have a lot of work to do to make sure every employer, landlord, and organization knows that discrimination is not legal. We also know that there is a lot of work to do to create a society that celebrates people regardless of their gender identity or expression.

Transgender Law Center is a civil rights organization advocating for transgender communities. Transgender Law Center uses direct legal services, education, community organizing, and advocacy to create a world that recognizes and supports the needs of transgender people and their families.

Davis urged people to contact the center at (415) 865-0176 if they encounter diff iculty obtaining identity documents that accurately reflect their gender identity, or if they experience discrimination. Davis said, “We are here to help.”

“While transgender people, especially people of color, continue to face discrimination at every level of society, we are inspired to see that more than ever, businesses are realFollow us on

Do you ever ask yourself, “Can I get better organized, achieve my goals, and attain greater peace of mind?” If you answered “yes,” then you should meet Debra Baida, professional organizer and creator of Liberated Spaces, a Bay Area Green Business since 2008.

We asked Debra how she got started in this unique business. She told us, “I was ready to find a way to integrate the things I care about - community, the environment, and creativity. When I discovered “organizing” existed as a profession, I dove in. What became obvious was this work is about more than peoples’ stuff. It is about helping clients liberate spaces so they can make room for what matters most.”

Debra started banking at Circle Bank soon after the Noe Valley branch opened. “My prior bank started to initiate fees and I realized that after years, nobody there knew who I was. But at Circle Bank I am always greeted by name, like a friend. There is often laughter in the branch, something I never heard at the big bank. I share a work ethic with the bank: people matter. I’m not an entity to them. I’m a human being.”

To have a better banking experience do what Debra did. Liberate your accounts and bring your banking to Circle Bank.

12-A0004-01-04

www.circlebank.com

2 BAY TIMES JANUARY 12, 2012

Novato 415.898.5400 San Rafael 415.526.5400

Corte Madera 415.924.5000 Santa Rosa 707.303.1300

Petaluma 707.559.7200 San Francisco 415.285.7600

Debra Baida, owner of Liberated Spaces www.liberatedspaces.com • 415.902.6327

National News Briefs Chicago, IL- Rainbow Sash Movement Response to Pope’s Anti-Gay Comments- 1.9

M AP IL L UST RATON BY C H RIS W H IT E

Salt Lake City, UT- Advocate Names Salt Lake City the Gayest City in America- 1.9 The Advocate’s third annual list of the gayest cities in America looked at the “per capita queerness of some less expected locales.” As compiler Matthew Breen wrote, “…do we really need another article telling us that the homos gather in West Hollywood and Hell’s Kitchen?

That Northampton, Mass., is still Lesbianville, USA?” Of course our own San Francisco could be in that discussion, and did make the 18 spot. Oakland landed in the number 23 position.

But Salt Lake City? Breen argues that this Mormon haven is far less oppressive than it used to be and has earned some serious queer cred. He mentions that there are more than a half a dozen hot spots for men and women, including the eco-friendly nightclub Jam with its sustainable bamboo flooring. The Coffee Garden is a gay community gathering spot. There’s a lesbian-owned wine bar, Meditrina. And the Sundance Film Festival brings LGBTQ film buffs into downtown for screenings.

The rest of the top ten gayest cities are as follows: 2-Orlando, 3-Cambridge, 4-Fort Lauderdale, 5-Seattle, 6-Ann Arbor, 7-St. Paul and Minneapolis, 8-Knoxville, 9-Atlanta, 10-Grand Rapids, 11-Little Rock, 12-Portland, 13-Austin, 14-Long Beach and 15-Denver.

Approximately 180 diplomats gathered at the Vatican to hear Pope Benedict XVI declare that the education of children needs proper “settings” and that “pride of place goes to the family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman.” He continued, “This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself.”

The Vatican under the leadership of Pope Benedict XVI has waged an aggressive war against Gay Marriage. Country after country in Western Europe is embracing the notion of marriage equality and this is why he is hitting the panic button. In the United States we have recently seen the elevation of two Archbishops to level of Cardinal not based on their pastoral abilities, but rather for their aggressive public opposition to Gay Marriage.

This Papal coordinated war appears to be losing ground globally not because the pro marriage equality forces are outsmarting the Bishops at every turn, but rather because they have reason and common sense on their side. This is a war the Papacy is bound to lose.

Source: Bill O’Connor, Rainbow Sash Movement

Source: The Advocate

L o s A n g e l e s , CA- L e g a l Te a m Re p r e s e n t i n g Pr o p 8 Plaintif fs Honored- 1.5

Philadelphia, PA- Teenagers of Lesbian Moms Have Good Psychological Adjustment- 1.3

This week, the lead attorneys and law firms representing the plaintiffs in Perry v. Brown, the landmark federal lawsuit challenging California’s Proposition 8, received the highest honors in The American Lawyer’s biennial “Litigator of the Year” and “Litigation Depar tment of the Year” competitions.

Adolescent children of lesbian mothers report as good quality of life as those with heterosexual parents, reports a study in the January Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. “Adolescent offspring in planned lesbian families do not show differences in quality of life when compared with adolescents reared in heterosexual families,” concludes the new research, led by Loes van Gelderen, MSc, of University of Amsterdam.

The plaintiffs’ legal team is led by David Boies of Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, and Theodore Olson of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Boies was named “Litigator of the Year” and Gibson Dunn was named “Litigation Department of the Year.”

In selecting Boies as “Litigator of the Year,” The American Lawyer noted that he is “one of the best trial lawyers of our time.” The magazine also named Olson one of five finalists for the award, recognizing that he “is in a class by himself,” having won “75 percent of the 58 cases he has argued before the US Supreme Court.”

Source: The American Foundation for Equal Rights

In the study, 78 U.S. adolescents with lesbian mothers—39 girls and 39 boys, average age 17—completed an online sur vey regarding quality of life. The teens were drawn from a long-term follow-up study of lesbian mothers, initially enrolled when they were pregnant or planning to become pregnant via sperm donation. The adolescents’ responses were compared with those of a group of adolescents with heterosexual parents.

Atlanta, GA- Queer Justice League to Protest ‘Ex-Gay’ Conference- 1.5 On February 18, there’s to be an “ex-gay” conference in Villa Rica, GA. Hosted by religious organization Exodus International, the overall mission is “helping others to live a life that reflects the Christian faith and to encourage the global, Christian church to model Christ-like compassion to a hurting world.” The conference will have at least one uninvited guest group, however, as Atlanta’s Queer Justice League has announced its plan to protest the conference, entitled “Love Won Out- Atlanta.”

A growing body of evidence suggests that children of gay or lesbian parents have normal psychological adjustment. Most studies of this issue have looked at younger children, whereas adolescents may have a “keener awareness” that their parents’ sexual orientation puts them in a minority group.

The gathering will feature Christian “experts” on homosexuality and will debate how the church can respond to “homosexual lifestyles with the truth and grace of Christ.”

The conference will be held at Midway Church. Aside from the QJL, Act Out Savannah, GetEQUAL, Truth Wins Out and the Southern Poverty Law Center are all now seeking volunteers to protest this anti-gay conference.

Source: Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research

Source: GA Voice

Planning meetings and sign making parties will be announced in the coming weeks.

Local News Briefs Piedmont School Board Candidates Offer Views on Pro-Gay Curriculum- 1.5 The five candidates running for the Piedmont school board were recently asked this question: The law mandating a pro-gay curriculum in California schools to teach children about the contributions of homosexuals went into effect this month. What are your views on this legislation?

Andrea Swenson: I am supportive of fair, accurate, inclusive and respectful education. Learning the historical contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups helps students understand societal development and makes schools safer for those who may otherwise be ostracized.

Joe Elliott: The new act expands prohibitions against discriminatory and adverse references to provide protections against slurs based on sexual preference. I fully support the goals to add gays to the list of diverse people, consistent with district’s ongoing efforts to encourage mutual respect.

Rick Raushenbush: The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful Education Act (FAIR) requires classroom instruction and materials to include the contributions by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, persons with disabilities, Native, African- and Mexican-Americans and other ethnic groups.

The new law prohibits materials from “reflecting adversely upon persons” because of their sexual orientation. Students should learn about the contributions of all persons toward the development of California and our nation.

Sarah Pearson: Legislation leaves it to local schools to decide how to implement the requirements.

I am confident Piedmont schools can successfully achieve the law’s objectives, which are to increase tolerance, understanding and the need for mutual respect among all students.

Mayor Lee Announces $1.8 Million Budget Supplemental for HIV/AIDS Care & Treatment Services Funding Mayor Edwin M. Lee, on Tuesday, joined by Supervisors Scott Wiener, David Campos and Christina Olague, announced the introduction at the Board of Supervisors of a $1.8 million budget supplemental for HIV/AIDS care and treatment funding to protect essential services to the City’s most vulnerable despite severe budget shortfalls.

“Building upon the tremendous leadership of Leader Pelosi in Congress on the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act, San Francisco will continue to sustain investments in HIV/ AIDS care and treatment,” said Mayor Lee. “Despite continued historic budget challenges, we remain committed to funding critical care services for those living with HIV/AIDS in San Francisco.”

“For several years, I worked successfully in a bipartisan way to roll back these destabilizing cuts and their potentially devastating impacts, restoring nearly $21 million to San Francisco’s systems of care since 2007,” said Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. “Today, again San Francisco leads the way for compassionate, community-based care for people with HIV/ AIDS with this supplemental budget appropriation from Mayor Lee.” The funding restorations are from the City’s Reserve for State Budget Impacts which were previously appropriated, but were not needed.

Source: City & County of San Francisco Office of the Mayor

Nancy “Sunny” Bostrom: We are a country of laws and will do what the laws say we have to do.

Source: San Jose Mercury News

BAY T IM ES JANUARY 12, 2012 3

In Service We Trust Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

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

public arena. I mustered my courage, put forth my

I love the Bay Times, for its persevering and pio-

talents, and ventured forth into the unknown…

neering spirit, its commitment to sharing news

coming out in public, onstage, as a lesbian, as a

of the continued fight of lesbian, gay, bisexual,

comic, and as an activist.

transgender and queer peoples, as it documents

I joined a small cadre of gay and lesbian comics who performed at benefits in bars and clubs around the San Francisco Bay Area aimed to sup-

STAFF Dr. Betty L. Sullivan

port those afflicted with GRID (Gay Related Im-

Editor & Publisher

mune Deficiency Disease), later known as AIDS.

Ayana Baltrip Balagas Design Direction, Art & Production

Our presence at fund-raising events opened up

Editorial

Abby Zimberg + Melissa Walker

people’s hearts as well as their purses through the

Design

healing power of laughter. We were pioneering

Karen Williams

Karen Williams Special Ambassador & Advertising Executive Karen@sfbaytimes.com

Christine Dumke

Happy New Year! I am excited and honored to

Calendar Editor

share my thoughts about the coming year. In ad-

Liz Bell Advertising Executive Liz@sfbaytimes.com

dition to my resolutions to exercise more, eat less, and practice more loving kindness, I plan to seek

Juan Torres

more opportunities to serve, to be of service, in

Advertising Executive Juan@sfbaytimes.com

ways that resonate with my adventurous spirit.

Robert Fuggiti Operations & Circulation

In preparing for this assignment, I read the words

Manny Apolonio Assistants to the Publisher

of my mentor, world renowned philosopher Dai-

Barbara Brust / Lucille Design Webmaster & Technology Director

saku Ikeda, who commented on the high value

Kate Laws Business Manager

of personal initiative by saying that “…spontaneity underlies the spirit of autonomy and indepen-

Juan Ordonez Distribution

dence...taking action only because one is told to amounts to slavery of the spirit.” What a powerful

ADVISORY BOARD Tracy Gary Nanette Lee Miller, CPA James C. Freeman Judy Young, MPH Gary Virginia

message and how appropriate to these times when

Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Melissa Myers, Linda Ayres-Frederick, Annette Lust, Kirsten Kruse, Natalia Cornett, Teddy Witherington, Kim Corsaro, Lori Major, Christine Dumke, Alexandra Bringer, David Grabstald, Kate Kendell, Pollo del Mar, Linda Kay Silva, Albert Goodwyn, Tom W. Kelly, Heidi Beeler, Lynn Ruth Miller, Jeanie Smith, K. Cole, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Kelly Fondow, RoiAnn Phillips, Paul E. Pratt, Terry Baum Dayna Verstegen, Liz Bell.

cided to join the staff as Special Ambassador and Advertising Executive. I want to continue to work to bring our communities together, to meet and greet, engage in meaningful and spirited dialogue, and truly get to know one another. I want to contribute to the expansion and diversity of our readership. It is my personal goal to create an East Bay

ronment, with little to no government support,

Business Directory, to bring the rich diversity of

or acknowledgement, for those were the Reagan

Oakland and surrounding cities to the attention

years. I watched as gay activists took matters into

of the entire San Francisco Bay Area. I also want

our own hands -- took initiative -- to save our be-

to highlight unusual, exceptional, and innovative

leaguered community.

businesses on both sides of the Bay.

My own involvement, as the f irst act ever to

I need your adventurous spirit to do my best work.

perform stand-up comedy at the beloved Josie’s

Let me know about your business. Invite me to see

Cabaret and Juice Joint in the Castro to facilitat-

and experience what you do, to learn about your

ing “Humor and Healing” workshops for HIV/

vision, to share in your unique world view.

AIDS organizations around the country, led to the founding of the International Institute of Humor and Healing Arts, affectionately known as HaHA Institute (www.hahainstitute.com). My work with HaHA Institute continues to supply me with ample opportunities to serve and for that I am grateful.

The San Francisco Bay Times was a valuable

Writers

freedom. It is because of this spirit that I have de-

warriors, fighting for our own in a hostile envi-

many of us are questioning our values.

CONTRIBUTORS

our battles for autonomy, independence, and true

This is a new era for our community! And the San Francisco Bay Times can continue to be our voice, infused with a revitalized, adventurous, autonomous spirit. We have a rare opportunity to embrace this present moment in time, to take the initiative to create the world we envision for our-

With this quote in mind, I ref lect upon my own

community resource during that vital era. It was

selves and for future generations. I look forward

pioneering efforts. Exercising my independent

the newspaper of the day, sharing the news of our

to working with you to grow the Bay Times and

spirit, I sought ways to give voice to my life experi-

community, the happenings, and critical news

your business. Contact me by email at Karen@

ences as a black lesbian mom living in the East Bay

and views. I was often featured in the paper and

sfbaytimes.com and let’s talk…and share a laugh

in the eighties. When I surveyed the landscape of

credit its publicity with the advancement of my

or two. Let me know how I can serve you. Enjoy

that era, I neither saw nor heard my story in the

comedy career.

2012! Peace…

Photographers/ Illustrators

Rink, Dennis McMillan, Steve Underhill, Phyllis Costa, Biron.

BACK PAGE CLUB Catch Restaurant Fountaingrove Lodge Jordan, Miller & Associates Pelican Art Gallery NAPA Cellars Wines Olivia Travel Thank you to our leading advertisers.

Display Advertising Rate cards are available by calling 415-503-1386 #3 or e-mail ads@sfbaytimes.com.

Classified Advertising: Refer to the order form in The Classifieds section, which you may mail or fax in, or e-mail us at classifieds@sfbaytimes.com. Deadline is 3 p.m. the Thursday preceding publication. For display classified information, please call Display Advertising at 415-503-1386 #3.

PHOTO BY RI N K

ADVERTISING

At a City Hall press conference, Mayor Ed Lee announced a budget supplement of $1.8 million for HIV/AIDS care and treatment services funding. There were other speakers, including Supervisor Scott Wiener who praised Mayor Lee and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi for their continued support.

The “We Don’t F#*@ Around” Person of the Week - James Hormel

National Advertising: Contact Bay Times / San Francisco. Also represented

by Rivendell Media., Mountainside, NJ 908-232-2021.

“Equality can only come from acceptance, and acceptance can only happen when people know who we are,” James Hormel recently told The Washington Diplomat. The grandson of the founder of Hormel Foods learned the hard way about personal acceptance. “I had my childhood in a space where sexuality wasn’t discussed,” Hormel recalls. “There were no references to gay people in any public way. It was as if gay people didn’t exist.”

CALENDAR Calendar performers, clubs, individuals or groups who want to list events should mail, e-mail or fax notices so that they reach us by 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to publication. Please e-mail items to be considered for the Calendar to calendar@sfbaytimes.com. We cannot take listings by phone.

If you would like to write a letter to the editor with comment on an article or suggestions for the Bay Times, email us at editor@sfbaytimes.com. © 2012 Bay Times Media Co, Inc. Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas Reprints by permission only.

P H OTO BY R I NK

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

4 BAY TIMES JANUARY 12, 2012

Hon. James Hormel with the SF Public Library Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center’s Karen Sundheim,

A Minnesota native with access to wealth and privilege, Hormel could have lived a quiet life denying his sexuality and removed from the public glare. For three decades he struggled to do just that. But eventually he wound up taking the road less

traveled, and that has made all the positive difference for us.

Hormel has since devoted his life to the advocacy of basic human rights, social justice, and the well being of all individuals. His philanthropic efforts in San Francisco alone are staggering, given his tireless support for organizations such as the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Project Open Hand, AIDS Emergency Fund, and Shanti Project. At the national level, he is a member of the Board of Directors of American Foundations for AIDS Research and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

In his compelling new book, Fit to Serve: Ref lections on a Secret Life, Private Struggle, and Public Battle

to Become the First Openly Gay U.S. Ambassador (Skyhorse Publishing, 2011), Hormel focuses on one of the most challenging, yet important, times in his life. In 1997, he was nominated to be Ambassador to Luxembourg. Nearly two years of painful scrutiny followed.

A resident of San Francisco long before then, Hormel now continues to live and work here with his life partner, Michael P. Nguyen. He carries on the quest for social justice, using his business, government and academic experience to bring together people of different backgrounds and perspectives. There is little doubt that our community is much stronger and more unified, thanks to his ongoing efforts.

The Week in Review

By Ann Rostow The 2011 Annual GLBT “News” Quiz It’s that time of year again, the time of year we look back fondly on the exciting ups and downs of our community roller coaster ride to full equality and universal respect. But how closely were you following the whacky world of LGBTQ civil rights and wrongs?

Our test will reveal your diligence, or lack thereof.

As always, it was hard to isolate the most important areas for examination. The year was full of mean business people, trying to undermine our wedding days. We had the New Jersey store that refused to sell us a wedding dress, the nasty New York clerk who wouldn’t issue our marriage license, the country inn that wouldn’t host the ceremony and the Iowa bakery that declined to bake our cake. The list went on.

Then there were the harassers.

Thumbs down for the guard at the Minnesota Twins ballpark who scolded us for kissing. To hell with the Safeway clerk who used the “F” word, and the Macy’s saleswoman who wouldn’t let us use the ladies f itting room.

Boos and hisses to the rude waiter at the Sizzler, the obnoxious staffer at Dollyworld, and the swimming pool manager who evicted us for touching. And let’s not forget a sneer for the security guy at the San Francisco museum who told us to stop holding hands… at a Gertrude Stein exhibit!

So, how about our naughty - and dumb - straight politicians? Who can forget the Puerto Rican senator who sent a shot of his rear end out on Grindr because he had been “dieting” and wanted to show off his new physique? How about Phillip Hinkle, the married Indiana state rep who hustled a teenager off Craigslist for a hotel tryst, using his own name? Then there was Chris Myers, the mayor of Medford, New Jersey, who promised money to a rent boy during a business trip and never followed through. The rent boy went public.

Finally, I would like to raise a glass to a few people who didn’t make it into our quiz but deserve a nod nonetheless. Let’s toast the woman who fought the state of South Carolina for the right to dangle plastic testicles from her bumper. Let’s cheer the New York teachers, who explained that they were lying half dressed in a classroom during an evening event because one of them is diabetic and they were looking for candy. And bravo for the man who won the right to pose for his Austrian driving license while wearing a kitchen strainer as religious headgear, in tribute to the Flying Spaghetti Monster god. Finally, God love those teenage girls, who invented the technique of soaking tampons in vodka to avoid being caught with alcohol on their breath.

Now, without further introduction, here’s our quiz!

2. Which of the following rumors was reported in the press last year? a) Richard Nixon slept with H.R. Haldeman in the Lincoln bedroom. b) Gandhi had a sex session with several legal associates on a train trip to Calcutta. c) Osama Bin Laden asked a CIA aget how to get to Ripcord, a gay bar in Houston. d) Rick Perry spent a suspicious weekend alone in a mountain cabin with Dallas Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman.

3. “Elton and David” were: a) Love sick monkeys who received Valentine treats from their keepers last February. b) Penguins in the Toronto zoo who were forced to go straight to help save their sub-species. c) Deep sea squid who were observed inseminating each other because it was too dark to discern gender. d) Gay cavemen unearthed and nicknamed by archeologists in Prague who determined their sexual orientation through analyzing burial rituals.

4. Find the false statement: a) Hawaii, Delaware, Illinois and Rhode Island all passed civil union laws last year. b) Legal activists are suing to block a Tennessee law that bans local gay rights ordinances. c) Gay leaders in Maryland were blamed for bungling the effort to pass marriage equality, which was set to pass before being pulled off the floor at the last minute due to a shortage of votes. d) Michigan lawmakers voted to outlaw domestic partner benefits for all state employees.

5. Historians will say that the high point of 2011 for GLBT rights was: a) Passage of marriage rights in New York in June. b) Obama’s February decision to treat sexual orientation as a protected class in litigating gay legal issues.

Professional Services b) Having a fight with French actor Gerard Depardieu, who peed in the aisle. c) Telling “L Word” actress Leisha Hailey to stop kissing her girlfriend. d) Using the “F” word to two men who insisted on free drinks.

8. The “Top Chef” award for last year goes to: a) Zambian natives who eat dead mice as appetizers and use the dried tails to stir their cocktails. b) The folks in Columbus, Missouri, who sold ice cream made of chocolate and dead locusts from their back yards. c) The Russian cannibal who butchered a man in his tub and made sausages and meatballs from his torso. d) The Indiana grocery store clerk who ejaculated into the free yogurt samples.

9. Notable federa l appellate court victories last year included which of the following? a) A 7th Circuit ruling in favor of Wal-Mart, who fired a homophobic employee. b) An 11th Circuit ruling in favor of a Georgia transwoman, who was fired for transitioning on the job. c) A 9th Circuit ruling in favor of Arizona gay state employees, who lost benefits in a so-called “cost cutting” move. d) A 5th Circuit ruling in favor of two men who required a revised birth certificate for their adopted son.

10. Which of the following facts from last year’s columns is inaccurate? a) One out of every 200 men alive today is related to Ghengis Kahn. b) Wisconsin governor Scott Walker once worked as a farrier. c) Flamingos carry a small amount of pink dye for feather touchups in a little sac near their anuses. d) Lesbians earn 6 percent more than their straight sisters.

Answers:

c) The official end of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in September. d) The State Department’s decision to tie U.S. foreign policy to respect for GLBT rights, announced by Hillary Clinton in December.

6. Rick Santorum told a crowd in Iowa that: a) Gays saying they’re married is like saying a paper towel is a paper napkin. It doesn’t make it so.

1. Chris Birch was noteworthy for:

b) Paintings of women in Tahiti by Gaugin give him the creeps.

a) Hitting his ex-lover with his car while texting “Ha ha!”

c) Gay marriages are like belly putters. They just don’t seem right.

b) Turning from straight to gay after breaking his neck with a back flip and recovering from a coma.

d) He had a gay friend once, but he couldn’t stand the sound he made when he chewed.

c) Killing his roommate after overdosing on Mucinex DM

7. A Southwest airline pilot was accused of:

d) Losing his high school teaching job after authorities discovered his past as a porn star.

a) Talking trash about gay f light attendants over the traff ic control airwaves.

1. b) Chris, who dropped weight and became a hairdresser after the accident, is not to be confused with stalker Craig Munro of Ipswich, a Brisbane suburb, who nailed his ex in a parking lot. The Mucinex killer was Michael Anderson of Hickory, North Carolina, and I forget the name of the Florida porn entrepreneur who lost his public school job when his XXX background came to light.

2. c) Actually, it was a “Reagan aide” who was having dinner with the late terrorist, not a CIA agent. As for Nixon, he allegedly had something going with mob banker Bebe Rebozo, while a Gandhi bio was condemned for implying that the iconic civil rights leader did, um, something bad. I made up the bit about Perry and Aikman - although, you never know.

3. a) These spider monkeys live in Staffordshire, I think. The Toronto penguins were named Pedro and Buddy. The omnisexual squid never had names that we knew of. And there was only one gay caveman, not two. (continued on page 16)

Read more @www.sfbaytimes.com and check us out on Twitter and Facebook.

BAY T IM ES JANUARY 12, 2012 5

Tenderloin Health Closing Doors Due to Funding Cuts

By Dennis McMillan

“The major issue has always been the large amount of existing debt TLH faced when I came on board in November 2009,” said David Fernandez, CEO. “Despite these financial challenges, however, TLH was able to provide critical services to our clients for the past two years. This debt, combined w it h operat ing def icits and signif icant recent cuts in government funding, have made it impossible for us to keep our doors open.”

Before making the decision to close, TLH explored several other strategic options, including potential mergers, liquidating its assets (primarily real estate at 255 Golden Gate Avenue), and scaling down and reassigning some programs and services. Unfortunately, none of these other options were viable for the agency.

“The Department of Public Health (DPH) is extremely grateful to the staff and management of Tenderloin Health for providing HIV/A IDS care, compassionate case management, and stable housing for hundreds of clients. Over the past several years, we have been working very closely with TLH to try to help them recover from their historic financial problems and continue their mission,” said Barbara A. Garcia, San Francisco’s director of health. “The last

Gay Exists

Coming Out Young Elizabeth Henk Because no one else seems able to accept it in the classroom, there is something I need to get off my chest, right here, right now. So here, because all you health teachers are so incompetent, I’m going to do your job for you: Gay exists.

Amoeba b+w

Shocking, I know. I suppose you teachers are often too busy to consider gay people, as you go on about the dangers of putting male parts near female parts. We don’t fit into the rules you preach, after all.

There were other glaring issues with my sexual education classes aside from this avoidist attitude. I remember clearly that in eighth grade, our health textbook was nothing but a f limsy, paperback compendium of fictional shock stories, essays and trite little activities aimed towards enforcing the idea that no matter what anyone said or how we felt inside, sexual things were bad and would ruin our lives forever.

As far as I, as a questioning female, could tell, if there aren’t male and fe-

6 BAY TIMES JANUARY 12, 2012

P HOTO BY RIN K

Due to continued funding challenges, the board of directors at Tenderloin Health (TLH) has announced that it has voted to discontinue operations of the agency. TLH has focused on providing a continuum of care to vulnerable, poor, and homeless residents living with or at the greatest risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS in the Tenderloin and surrounding areas.

Tenderloin Health leaders at a recent event

two years saw significant changes and movement towards stability under David’s guidance. Unfortunately, the recent loss of over $500,000 in federal funding undermined all the progress they made.”

Francisco’s Human Services Agency.

“TLH has been a quality provider in HSA’s Master Lease Program for the past six years, and we are very thankful for their service to an extremely vulnerable population.”

Most importantly, services to TLH clients will continue without interruption. “Our highest priority is taking care of our clients,” added Fernandez.

“We therefore will work closely with DPH, San Francisco’s Human Services Agency (HSA), and the new providers over the next several months to ensure the same level and quality of services that Tenderloin Health has offered.”

Until a full transition plan is in place, TLH will continue to provide the same comprehensive suite of services and programs to its clients. These programs include counseling, prevention, and housing services. DPH and HSA have been working closely with TLH’s board and senior staff to create a transition plan. Both agencies are currently in negotiations with other local organizations to transition the programs. These negotiations include a commitment to opportunities for employment for many of the current TLH staff who are specialists in the needs of this client community.

An announcement of the new providers is expected to be made by the end of January.

“The Human Services Agency and Department of Public Health will continue to partner with TLH to ensure that tenants in our supportive housing buildings continue to receive the housing and services that have helped stabilize their lives,” said Trent Rhorer, director of San

male bits involved it isn’t sex, so...as it follows, homosexuality is perfectly OK. What they meant is “all sex is bad at this age,” but it didn’t occur to them to include alternate sexualities. Perhaps that’s because our sex being wrong is simply a given, perhaps it’s because they didn’t want to bring up gay sex to eighth graders even when they were on the topic anyway, but either way, their intended message didn’t match the written message, which was “straight sex is bad until marriage.”

Homosexuals had fallen through the holes, had slipped entirely off their radar without trying. Honestly, it felt like even if I’d been standing in plain sight waving my arms around like a maniac, I still would have been invisible, just an obnoxious little mosquito in their peripheral vision that they didn’t bother to see, at least in this context.

In high school, the message did, refreshingly, change. Although it was discouraged, teachers focused on teaching us how to have safe sex, instead of telling us never to do it. However, they never stopped disregarding the possibility of homosexual sex.

The topic was only brief ly acknowledged during my sophomore year health course, but only as a byproduct of the statement that anal and oral intercourse is considered sex, a topic that took a very heterosexual spin during discussion. I do understand that discussion of homosexuality would make some students in the classroom uncomfortable, but it’s not like there aren’t plenty of students al-

ready unnerved by the idea of putting someone’s private bits near their mouths, so at some point there’s really no excuse for trying to appease their sensitivity anymore. Perhaps most students in my class were probably heterosexual, and I grudgingly acknowledge that the idea was to give them a proper education so that they could be safe.

But I wasn’t, and I didn’t learn a single thing I could use.

Everything I’ve learned about lesbian sex, I’ve had to research on my own, browsing medical sites to check if STDs were a large concern or what kind of protection is available to us.

During sex units, health class was to me a daily waste of a perfectly good fifty minutes. Nothing I took notes or tested on applied to my life at all.

Perhaps learning about lesbians, for anyone who isn’t a lesbian, may seem like a non sequitur. Why should they be forced to learn something they’d never use? But going through what would probably become less than half a chapter of what I feel throughout the entire sex unit is a fair trade, I think, for the potential of teaching a homosexual student something he or she needs know about certain risks, or ways to counter those risks. It isn’t common at my age, I think, to take the time and consideration to Google the risks of certain activities beforehand, so instead of letting many students learn the hard way, health curriculums everywhere need to realize that they don’t only share in the responsibility—they are in many ways the root of the problem.

Majority of Voters Support Employment Anti-Discrimination Laws

By Dennis McMillan As another indicator that public opinion continues to shift in favor of fairness, the vast majority of Americans support employment non-discrimination laws protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from discrimination, according to a new poll released by the Human Rights Campaign in partnership with Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. In perhaps the most compelling finding, support for employment protections spans an array of demographics including the majority of Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Catholics, Protestants, weekly churchgoers, born again Christians, and across age and race. There is currently no federal non-discrimination law covering sexual orientation or gender identity and only limited state protections. Legislation to address this issue, the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), is pending in Congress. HRC is working with allies on Capitol Hill to increase the number of cosponsors and build support to pass ENDA. The poll found a vast majority (77 percent) of voters support protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination in employment. The support for employment protections defies conventional political wisdom, reaching across party and ideological lines.

Seventy percent of self-identified Republicans and 67 percent of conservatives support anti-discrimination laws. Support is strong even among groups that tend to be less supportive of LGBTQ issues, such as seniors (69 percent among voters over age 65), those with a high school degree or less (68 percent), observant Christians (77 percent), born-again Christians (74 percent), and residents of the Deep South (72 percent).

In a finding showing a need for more public outreach and education for employment non-discrimination laws, most voters believe anti-discrimination laws already exist. Eighty-seven percent of voters believe it is illegal under federal law to fire someone for being gay, and 78 percent believe it is illegal under state law. Even in states

without anti-discrimination laws, 75 percent of voters think it is illegal under state law to fire someone for being gay or lesbian.

“We are at a cultural tipping point in the fight for LGBT equality,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Support for employment protections for LGBT workers is tipping the scale even further toward fairness for all people. What is most promising is that people of all political, religious, and ideological persuasions clearly support non-discrimination laws protecting LGBT people.”

The telephone sur vey, including cell phones was conducted 11/9/11 through 11/13/11 among 800 likely voters. It has a margin of error of +/3.46 percent.

Coping with Shyness

Examined Life Tom Moon If you see yourself as a shy person, you’re not alone. A 1975 survey by a Stanford researcher found that 40% of Americans thought of themselves as shy. Interestingly, when the research was repeated in the nineties, the figure had jumped to 48%, almost half the population. Why the increase? It may be that as community life in America deteriorates and isolation becomes more common, we’re increasingly out of practice and less skilled in functioning in social situations.

Is shyness more prevalent among gay people? To my knowledge, the question hasn’t been researched, but there are some good reasons to believe that it may be so. Because we typically grew up feeling on guard and experiencing rejection at the hands of the people from whom we most wanted acceptance, many of us have learned not to feel safe in social situations. In addition, many of us are sensitive and reflective, and shyness may just be a natural part of our temperament.

That brings me to the strategy for coping with shyness most often recommended by therapists who specialize in treating it – which is simply not to make it wrong. In other words, instead of treating it as a defect of character that needs changing, see it as a

normal result of the natural modesty and social anxiety which everyone feels. When it becomes problematic, it isn’t our feelings that are the issue, but our behavior – responding to our discomfort by withdrawing so much from social contact that opportunities for relationships with other people are lost and legitimate needs for connection go unmet. If you’re suffering from this kind of avoidance, it isn’t necessary to try to make yourself feel differently than you do. Instead of beating yourself up for being uncomfortable in social situations, accept your feelings as they are, and shift your attention from how you feel to what you do.

The most common mistake that shy people make when they’re with others is to become so preoccupied with their own fear and awkwardness that they don’t pay much attention to the people around them, and consequently don’t give others much to which they can respond. The way out of this trap is to make the fundamental rule in social situations to shift your attention away from your own feelings to what’s going on around you. Focus on the goal of making contact, accept rather than fight your feelings, and then do something. The worst thing is to do nothing at all, because silence and reserve are often mistaken for lack of interest, or even hostility. Almost anything you do to reach out, even if it feels clumsy, will at least convey interest. If you don’t know what to say, just practice making eye contact with others, and smiling. Nothing more convincingly conveys friendliness and the desire to connect.

Once you do connect with someone, what do you talk about? A good rule of thumb is to talk about the situation you’re in, the other person, and yourself – in that order. If you don’t know what to say, ask questions. Use your curiosity, especially your curiosity about the person you’re talking with.

Ask open-ended questions, not yes/no

questions. And once the other person starts talking, pay attention. Resist the temptation to drift back inside to check in with how you’re feeling or to critique how you’re doing.

What do you do if you don’t make a good impression, or if the other person isn’t interested in talking with you? Shy people ty pically make the mistake of treating experiences like that as catastrophes, but in fact they’re very common in social gatherings; in fact, they happen to everyone.

The important thing is not to personalize such incidents – that is, not to see them as commentary on your worth as a human being, or as unique experiences that happen only to you.

No one is universally loved, but with practice it’s possible to learn to take that reality in stride.

Overcoming debilitating shyness is mostly a matter of patience and practice. When we stop running from social situations, and instead treat them as opportunities for practicing social skills, most find that the pain of social awkwardness begins to diminish. There is no quick fix: it can take months or years of diligent practice before social conf idence becomes strong and reliable. There are some valuable resources that can be helpful in the process. Many people have profited from reading a popular selfhelp manual called Shyness: A Bold New Approach, by Carducci and Golant. In addition, the Shyness Clinic in Los Altos, California has been offering individual and group counseling to shy people since the late ‘70’s.

Their website is shyness.com, and is very much worth reading. Whatever you do, don’t expect social anxiety to disappear completely, because it’s part of being human, and everyone experiences it to some degree. But with practice, anyone can learn to manage it so that it isn’t paralyzing.

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

BAY T IM ES JANUARY 12, 2012 7

A Memorable New Year’s Eve Bash

Brass Tacks Heidi Beeler It’s a little like being a tardy-yetmusica l Secret Santa. T he loca l Y MCA throws a New Year’s bash that the San Francisco Lesbian/ Gay Freedom ha s pl ayed at a lmost ever y year since Jimmy Carter was in of f ice, and I’ll bet you a bottle of champagne and a top hat you’ve never heard of it.

Stroll through the Tenderloin on New Year’s mor n ing, and you’l l see us dressed in tuxedos and red bowties carrying tubas, clarinets, sa xophones, d r ums, pick ing our way t h rough t he empt y bot t les, t he broken gl a s s a nd t he occ a sional spent condom that festoon Golden Gate Avenue in the early hours of A nnus Nov us. SF PD black and whites triple-park outside t he Tenderloi n st at ion a nd troll the neighborhood. Bet ween our formal dress, the urban street s et t i ng a nd t he fa c t t h at we’r e headed for t he Sa lvat ion A r my, you almost expect Guy Masterson from Guys a nd Dol ls to appea r a rou nd t he cor ner, lo ok i n g for Lady Luck.

S t e p of f t he s id e w a l k i nt o t he S a lv at ion A r my ’s K r o c C ent er and it’s like she’s been found. Se-

T h is is t he Sh i h Yu-L a ng Cent r a l Y MC A’s 34t h A n nua l New Year’s Connection, a festive luncheon for more than 200 seniors living in the neighborhood. Greg Moore, the Y’s director of senior programs and facilities, said the event brings together low income a nd soc i a l ly i sol ated sen ior s to help them get their new year of f to a positive start. Attendees are ser ved a catered lunch featuring hol id ay f a r e l i ke t u r ke y, h a m , scalloped potatoes, green beans, salad and mini cupcakes. They’re treated to goodie bags f illed with donated items like fresh fruit, generic Tupper ware, alarm clocks, blank journals and free dental kits (donated by t he Dugon i Paci f ic School of Dent istr y, Moore tells me). This year, free f lu shots were of fered to a l l comers. A nd loca l performers provide entertainment to lend a dash of music and color to the festivities.

That’s, of course, where we come i n. T he Ba nd ha s been play i ng for the Y MCA since roughly the same time the Village People immortalized it in d isco. Jay Kast, a former conductor of the Band, told me the Band f irst performed at t he second S en ior’s Con nect i o n p a r t y i n 19 8 0 , w h e n t h e s h i nd i g w a s con s ider ably more s w a n k . O r i g i n a l l y, it w a s he ld on Christmas Day at venues like the Fairmont Hotel, the Sheraton Palace and the Carnelian Room (a luxur y restaurant, now closed, at the top of the BofA building), a nd Joa n B a e z w a s a mon g t he

P HOTO BY HEIDI BEEL ER

n iors from SOM A and t he Tenderloin are l ined up outside t he door of t he g y mnasium, dressed like they’re waiting to enter some g l a mor ou s ba l l r o om of f T i me s Square.

Dancers enjoy the music of Dixieland Dykes. per for mers. By t he early 9 0s, as the Cit y became more expensive a nd f u nd i ng more compet it ive, the event moved into the Y MCA’s own g ymnasium. When the Y left its longtime home at 150 Golden G at e, Mo or e r ent e d s pa c e t wo blocks away at the Salvation A rmy’s Kroc Center.

The people who attend this bash really know how to cut a rug. The moment Assistant Conductor Eric F letcher del ivered a dow nbeat , folks were out of their chairs, in pairs and solo, waltzing, twirling and grapevining around the g ym f loor for every last note. One year, we struck up Jingle Bell Rock, and it bec a me i m med i ately obv ious we’d st u mbled onto a n aerobics class top hit when the entire room leapt up into a unison line dance, like they’d rehearsed for the show.

Watching folks laugh in each other’s a r ms a s t hey sw i ng a rou nd

t he f loor to our music is one of the most joy-inspir ing things we do a l l year. A nd when the Band f inished, the Dixieland Dykes +3 played a set of trad-jazz tunes and brought the dancers back to their feet for more.

Moore, who h a s or g a n i zed t he event for the past 9 years, is also inspiring. With a struggling economy, the Y MCA on diaspora as it builds a new, retrof itted building, a nd one of it s long t i me f under s (the A ltos Foundat ion) spent out of ex istence just this year, you’d t hin k he’d be wor r ied about t he 35t h A n nu a l Ne w Ye a r ’s C on nection. Instead he’s positive the program will grow. Despite a reduction in the number of donors for t he prog ram, he said the to ta l amount g iven has increased, and he sees the need increasing as well. This year, the event ser ved a l mo st 24 0 p e ople, t he l a r g e st

number of par t icipants since he it took over, a nd a not her 10 -15 had to be turned away. Seeing the need and the joy the party brings folks is what dr ives him to work through the holidays. “ To me , t h a t [t he pr o g r a m i s g r o w i n g ] i s j u s t w o n d e r f u l ,” M o o r e s a i d . “A n y p e n n i e s o r bucks I can scrape up, it’s worth t he st ress. T he more people we have, the more successful we can be at prov iding a br ight start in t he New Ye a r for t hes e p eople who h ave so l it t le a nd need so very much.”

It’s what gets us Bandies into our tuxes every New Year’s morning.

Send comments or your own New Year’s stor ies to He idi at BrassTacks.SF @ gmail.com.

(5 STORIES continued from page 1) 3. The Nationwide Battle Over Gay Marriage

SPEND YOUR HOLIDAY IN THE CARIBBEAN! Now – April 2012 Voyager of the Seas® Mariner of the Seas®

7-Night Western Caribbean

7-Night Western Caribbean

New Orleans, Louisiana • Cozumel, Mexico George Town, Grand Cayman • Falmouth, Jamaica New Orleans, Louisiana Starting from: $399†*

Galveston, Texas • Roatán, Honduras Belize City, Belize • Galveston, Texas Starting from: $449†*

Oasis of the Seas®

7-Night Western Caribbean

Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Labadee®, Haiti Falmouth, Jamaica • Cozumel, Mexico • Fort Lauderdale, Florida Starting from: $1,325†*

BOOK NOW AND RECEIVE A PASSPORT TO SAVINGS COUPON BOOKLET, UP TO $200 VALUE!

American Express Travel Walnut Creek 1645 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 938-0800 (800) 964-6593 walnutcreekctn@aexp.com

San Francisco 455 Market St. San Francisco, CA. 94105 (415) 536-2600 (800) 551-0210 embarcaderoctn@aexp.com

†ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL® RESERVES THE RIGHT TO IMPOSE A FUEL SUPPLEMENT OF UP TO $10 PER GUEST PER DAY ON ALL GUESTS IF THE PRICE OF WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE FUEL EXCEEDS $65.00 PER BARREL. *Prices are per person, cruise only, double occupancy, and in U.S. Dollars. All itineraries and prices are subject to change without notice. Certain restrictions apply. Government taxes and fees are additional. ©2012 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships registry: The Bahamas. American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. acts solely as sales agent for travel suppliers and is not responsible for the actions or inactions of such suppliers. We want you to be aware that certain suppliers pay us commissions and other incentives, and may also provide incentives to our travel counselors. CST#1022318-10. 11026196 • 01/05/2012

8 BAY TIMES JANUARY 12, 2012

Washington governor Chris Gregoire (D) this year announced that she is putting forward legislation to legalize gay marriage in her state. She explained that “it’s time, it’s the right thing to do.” Battlegrounds are also shaping up in states such as North Carolina, Minnesota, Mar yland, Maine and New Hampshire, where opponents of the marriage equality law say they still hope to restore “traditional” marriage.

On the federal side, the fate of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, remains in question. Although the Department of Justice last year said that it would no longer defend DOMA in court because it is unconstitutional, three lawsuits (two by the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders and one by the state of Massachusetts) are still awaiting a decision by the First Circuit. The case could then go to the Supreme Court.

A number of lawsuits hoping to turn the negative tide are pending. In Minnesota, for example, Doe v. AnokaHennepin School District No. 11 hopes to better protect against harassment. At least four LGBTQ students from that district alone have died by suicide.

5. HIV Vaccine Research Could 2012 usher in an approved vaccine against HIV? Several promising trials are underway. One was announced as 2011 came to a close. ChilYong Kang, a researcher and professor at the Western’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, shared that the US Food and Drug Administration has given him the green light to begin human clinical trials.

Kang said, “FDA approval for human clinical trials is an extremely significant milestone for our vaccine (called SAV001), which has the potential to save the lives of millions of people around the world by preventing HIV infection.”

4. Gay Teen Bullying and Suicides The headlines last year included seemingly countless stories about gay youths who committed suicide after suffering from relentless bullying. In December, for example, Tennessee resident Jacob Rogers, who was openly gay, took his own life after becoming an almost daily target for verbal abuse at his school. According to a Report to the Secretary’s Task Force on Youth Suicide, LGBTQ youths are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than other youths, and 30 percent of all completed youth suicides are related to the issue of sexual identity.

See more

Stories

@sfbaytimes.com and follow us on

Twitter, and find us on Facebook.

Arts&Entertainment

Out Filmmaker Provides Necessary New Voice with “Pariah” Film Review

Gary M. Kramer Out African American f ilmmaker Dee Rees is going to command considerable attention for her debut feature, Pariah. Based on her 2007 short—which she completed to graduate NYU—the film depicts the struggles of a Brooklyn teenager, Alike (Adepero Oduye), coming out and coming of age.

Looking back on her teenage years, Rees described herself as “quiet, and introverted. I was a bookworm.” African American women authors like Alice Walker, Toni Morrison and Toni Cade Bambara shaped her world.

Rees speaks quickly, but thoughtfully, and with enthusiasm. She continued, “Through them, I kind of came of age. I couldn’t watch a lot of things unless it was PG. But what I could read—it was carte blanche. I was reading Iceberg Slim and all these racy and feminist texts without censorship. I’m grateful for that.”

While writers inspired Rees to become a filmmaker, it was screenwriting that prompted her to develop Pariah. She explained, “It seemed like a way to bring the story to life. Writing a novel wasn’t the way I wanted to express myself.”

Her script is authentic, and full of slang, such as the use of the term “AG” for aggressive—the type of

butch character Laura is and Alike tries to be. “We really wanted to push the audience without explaining.

We know the audience is smart and they should be able to get it,” Rees commented.

All the central characters in the film get important storylines, and how the characters communicate—or don’t— is what makes the film so engaging.

“I think Pariah is about loneliness— each [character] feels like a pariah— isolated in some way. This is a film of people feeling that they don’t have a place,” the director stated.

Rees came out when she was 27. She reflects back on the experience, and observed, “Although I was independent, I still had to figure out how to be in the world. I knew that I loved women—that wasn’t the question— my question was how to be. I was feeling I wasn’t hard enough, or soft enough, I was kind of somewhere in between. I realized that respecting gender identity was a big deal for me—and also that my spirituality and my sexuality weren’t mutually exclusive. I had to get my parents to understand that I am the same person as I had been.”

Words are important in chronicling Alike’s coming out. The f ilm uses the character’s poetry to chart this.

Images of a butterf ly and a cocoon, or breaking free/open are vivid and revealing.

Rees reinforces this theme of a transformation in the film’s costumes and visuals. She explained, “I had a color

palate for Alike. She starts out being cocooned in drab. Her color palate starts out very brown and baggy; she’s hidden by what she’s wearing.

As she comes into herself, her clothes become more fitted. When she meets

Bina, color is introduced into her wardrobe. Like a butterfly, she’s coming out.”

In contrast, Rees described Alike’s butch friend Laura “as a peacock,

very bright, very bold.” The f ilmmaker insisted she is nothing like her friend. “Alike is neither of the things she’s changing into—she’s not the stud in the club, or a princess with (continued on page 16)

A Tennessee Williams Tour-de-Force For Two Actors Theater Review

Terry Baum Kudos to Theatre Rhinoceros for bringing Tennessee Williams’ The Two-Character Play to vibrant, shimmering, tormented life. This is Wil-

liams’ most autobiographical work, and his own personal favorite. On the centennial of the birth of the greatest American playwright, Rhino Artistic Director John Fisher, who also directed this production, did right to choose such a little-known gem. It’s a tour-de-force for two actors, and Alexandra Creighton and Ryan Tasker take full advantage of its possibilities.

The last performance of The TwoCharacter Play is January 15, so don’t wait to see two very fine actors in this twisted, luminous work.

Williams loved Two-Character best because it most deeply engages his relationship with his sister, Rose. Although Rose was perhaps the great love in his life, he was compelled to leave her and go out into the world.

Thus, the very troubled Rose was left in the care of their incompetent mother, who had her lobotomized.

This was the great trauma of Williams’ life, and he never got over his guilt for denying his sister at her moment of greatest need. Rose appears as a character in his work many times, most notably as Laura in The Glass Menagerie. But The Two-Character Play is the only one whose sole focus is a brother-sister relationship.

As the play opens, we’re in a theater on a shabby half-finished set, with

two actors deserted by their acting troupe in a decrepit “state theater in a state unknown.” No, we’re in a house in a small Southern town with a brother and sister, whose neighbors refer to them as “loonies.” Wait, no, we’re watching the actors argue about the play they’re performing…. We’re watching two siblings trapped by fear in their living room… performing a play… or not.. An audience has gathered to watch… or not…

There are several layers of reality, and Williams f lows from one to the other seamlessly. Pointless to try to figure out which is the “most real” layer. Better just to sit back and enjoy the ride. You are in the hands of a master.

What is certain is that these people deeply love and hate each other, and are paralyzed with fear of the world outside. Alexandra Creighton, a tall and lanky blond beauty, is wildly expressive as Clare, on the verge of alternately explosion and collapse. Ryan Tasker plays Felice – smaller, darker, much more subtle, more sane…. Or is he? Felice is the Strong Brother hoping to better their lives, trying to save his sister – until he attempts to strangle her. While Creighton and Tasker look nothing alike and manifest opposite styles and energy, we never doubt

for a moment that Clare and Felice are sister and brother, inextricably bound together by childhood trauma.

Such is the power of the play and the commitment of the actors.

Fisher directs boldly, giving the actors full rein, sometimes teetering on the edge of melodrama but never falling in, always saved by the emotional truth of the performances he elicits from Creighton and Tasker. Playing Clare in a demure lace-collared flowery dress that contrasts with a very un-demure performance, Alexandra Creighton is mesmerizing. This actress has an extravagant grace and charisma that make it difficult to take your eyes off her. Clare’s pain seems to vibrate through her body. Ryan Tasker, as her brother Felice, is nattily and conventionally dressed -- except for a bright tapestry vest that is strangely perfect. While Clare throws herself around the stage, Felice stalks.

One can see his mind working, as he desperately tries to find a way out of the emotional and physical prison they have found themselves in.

The most compelling of the story lines involves Felice’s effort to walk out the front door – specifically to go to the market to beg the grocer to once again extend them credit. Here we see Williams’ abiding theatrical ge-

nius, rooting an unreal, absurd situation in the most basic of human feelings: hunger. Clare offers her brother his coat and tie for the journey. Felice protests that the clothes are invisible, which indeed they are to the audience as well. Nevertheless, Clare insists, and Felice dons the garments in a display of precise and elegant mime. It is a rare moment of peace between brother and sister, and a beautiful moment in the theater. In real life and in Glass Menagerie, brother leaves sister in order to live his life. In The TwoCharacter Play, brother and sister remain bound together in a strange, agonizing eternity. Perhaps Williams drew some solace from imagining this alternate outcome.

Gilbert Johnson has created an evocative and useful set that reflects the ongoing dynamic of reality/absurdity in the play. Christine U’Ren is responsible for the just-right costumes. Go see this important, powerful and forgotten work by the master of American theater. And thanks to Theatre Rhinoceros, John Fisher and two exceptional actors for this New Year’s gift.

BAY T IM ES JANUARY 12, 2012 9

POP ROX

ART

San Francisco’s Best Cafe Marconi Calindas Paints Breakfast Lunch Dinner Cocktails

Full Service Bar Pastries Desserts

By K. Cole

Colors of Understanding

PORCELAIN BLACK “Naughty Naughty”

P HOTO BY RIN K

2298 Market Street • San Francisco, CA (415) 621-8579 • www.cafeflore.com

Art Exhibit Review Sister Dana Van Iquity Marconi Calindas is an accomplished Filipino painter, writer, singer and composer. His paintings are currently on display at Magnet, the gaybi men’s health and wellbeing hub in the Castro. Calindas’ exhibition is entitled, Colors of Understanding: a Tribute to Courage and Strength.

Calindas, born July 14, 1975, was a full-time reporter for four years for the Saipan Tribune, a daily newspaper in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan). He has chosen to focus his talents on his painting career. He has been called the "Britto of Micronesia," a moniker that describes his vibrant use of color and lines to convey his commitment to socially and environmentally relevant issues. He has relocated to San Francisco as an artist for Admaran International, Inc., a locally based company that promotes his artistic endeavors here in the US. He is currently collaborating on a children's book involving bullying and being different. Calindas’ several exhibition venues include Billy De Frank LGBT Center San Jose (2010-2011) and the SF City Hall Office of the Supervisors. He has been selected to exhibit and facilitate an art workshop at the San Francisco children’s museum, “Zeum,” for June 2012, which he dubbed “Rainbow Connection” in time for SF Pride month.

“My art is a hodgepodge of vibrant colors to the point that people always mistakenly believe I have been painting on glass,” he tells me. “They say it has that stained glass look. I will definitely explore that, but I started with this style way back in college when I created hand-painted greeting cards on grass and rice papers.” He immediately got positive feedback on his style and how he dealt with his subjects. Then he started exploring big canvasses for his art. Eventually he began to create big pieces and joined art festivals, which eventually landed him over 20 commissioned paintings in the island and a clothing line with his art designs.

His inspiration, in general, is the people that he has met through the years.

“I've been involved with the community back in the islands and here, heard and seen their experiences that brought ideas and the messages that I want to convey through my art,” he says. For this particular collection at Magnet, he was inspired by the wellbeing center's pursuit that is to assist and provide strengths to the LGBTQ community members that are suffering from the illness or burden they carry. This collection also was in10 BAY T IMES JANUARY 12, 2012

spired by a close friend who thought he had contracted the disease from someone who was irresponsible by not telling his sex partners that he had the disease, and yet continued to have casual sex without protection.

“We were devastated by the news, and my heart grieved because this friend is such a wonderful person and did not deserve it. Fortunately, he had quick medications for a month and tested negative, eventually.”

Calindas’ medium is acrylic paints on canvas. He started painting on skateboards and began to like the medium. “As an artist, I am very, very moody when I begin my art piece,” he confesses. “It all starts from my head; then I grab my sketchbook; then doodle. Then I face my canvas, and that's where I begin. All in my head and heart.”

His message to art viewers is that “there is more to art than its aesthetic values, and that LGBTQ artists have more to offer in our community.”

I ask him to pick five different pieces and talk about them. “Badlands San Francisco” (two panels in acrylic on canvas) is his rendition and interpretation of the famed queer club Badlands on 18th and Castro Street, across from Magnet, based on his personal experience and observation of clubbing in the “Gay Mecca.” This piece was displayed in City Hall in 2010 for four months.

He explains “Angels of San Francisco” (four panels), saying, “San Francisco is one of the best cities to live in, if not the world but at least in the US. There are different colors of people that comprise the city. These people in this art include the lonely LGBTQ men and women, the hardworking women, the innocent yet vivacious children, and the broken homeless ones. San Francisco’s angels are just next to you. Reach out!”

Pop rock diva on the rise, Procelain Black hits right in the Gaga/ Madonna gut with a catchy dance pop anthem that is already the soundtrack of 2012. Her strangely half-black half-white hair ( Manaj nod?) will be appearing with her in the upcoming f ilm “Rock of Ages.”

Best Cut: Mr. Mig Dub Remix; Location: Ruby Skye

GUINEVERE “Crazy Crazy” This 20 -year old ice hockey player, Star Trek fan and admitted Call of Duty game-playing pop songstress is doing it on her own. Cutting this debut as an independent artist and relying on her classic rock background (an avowed Stevie Nicks fan), Guinevere hits this puck of a plucky cut through the goal. Score!

Best Cut: DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Club Mix; Location: Rushing through the Bart tunnel under the Bay.

MADONNA “Give Me All Your Love” Madge would have me arrested! In fact, she called the cops on an unnamed fan that allegedly leaked this anticipated cut from her next album (coming in March, along with a tour).

If you dare mess with the goddess of pop, she will have you in jail because, after all, she must be in total control (even of her Brahim Zaibat plaything) and her claws are sharp, baby!

Best Cut: I didn’t leak it!

Location: In a very, very long line at Ticketmaster (nod to Max Berlinger of Out)

“A Long Time in the Dark” is elaborated upon, Calindas saying, “When one is fraught with worries and anxieties, and they are indeed hard to keep from within, he or she feels to be in his and her most dark place.”

“We feel our lives just ended. However, there is an angel to carry us and to help us through it. Remember, these angels are all around you.”

For this collection, Calindas wants his viewers “to bring that sense of caring and understanding to our fellow LGBTQ community members that are in the dark predicament. That they need to be understood and cared for instead of walking away from them.”

He concludes, “In general with my art, I want people to walk away with a smile.”

SCISSOR SISTERS “Shady Love” Released as a video this week is a long-awaited single from one of our favorite bands of the last decade.

Smooth, hooky, retro and modern all at once, yep, it’s so great to start of f the New Year with hope that a Scissor Sisters tour will be upon us here in Spring, yes??

Best Cut: Shady Love; Location: The Bubble Bar

HOT TICKETS Garland, Pegg y L ee, K at har ine Hepbu r n a nd ot her Hol ly wood Royalty will be conjured in tribute to their careers and the gay aud iences t h at h ave kept t hei r memor ies a l ive a nd wel l! St a r s never d ie a nd t hes e leg end a r y lad ies are t he landmarks of gay c u lt u r e! Fa sten You r S eatb elt s San Francisco; it’s going to be a bumpy night!! 8pm at The Rrazz Room 222 Mason St, SF. Therrazzroom.com.

L OV E : A l i M a c Gr aw w it h a rare appearance by the Ac ademy Awa rd® Nom i nee L i v e I n - Pe r s o n ! - W her e d o we beg in to tel l the stor y .... or better yet have one of t he most icon ic st a r s of t he 70 's tel l her ow n love stor y a s M a r c Hues t is present s L OV E: A L I M AC GR AW L i v e I n - Per s on ! T h i s e ven i n g of r om a nc e & f u n i n c ludes a r a re l ive i nter v iew by t he Academy Award nom inated star + a screening of the classic LOVE STORY & a tribute f loorshow. The festivities unfolds on 8 pm, Tuesday, Feb 14 ( Valentine's Day) at the historic Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St (@ Market), SF Evening gala tix are $25-(general orch side & balc) $45 - ( V IP orch center-reser ved row + specia l access to pre- show sig n i ng w/ MacGraw -star t ing at 6:15!)

Ticket s a re ava i lable on l i ne @ t icket f ly.com or by c a l l i ng 415 863-0611.

Voices of Latin Rock Autism Awareness Benef it - Featuring The Family Stone, Blanca, Miles o f W i l l , T h e Vo i c e s o f L a t i n Rock A ll Stars, along with many other special guests, the 8th Annual Voices of Latin Rock Autism Awareness Benef it takes place at Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco on January 26th at 6pm. Each year Latin Rock Inc. puts on this concert to help schools of special needs kids. Tickets: $150 - $75 table seats/$55 General Admission; Bimbo's 365 Club1025 Columbus Avenue (at Chest nut St reet) SF. Call 415 -285 -7719 or v isit latinrockinc.com for tickets and info.

Sw i n g D a n c e w / l e s s o n s i n Sw i ng, Ta ngo & Sa lsa - Ja m GR A N D R EOPE N I NG now F R E E 2 nd S at u r d ay s mont h ly at N EW LOCAT ION! Dance is a great way to meet new people, especia l ly i f you t a ke t he ba sic beg i n ner s lesson a s no pa r t ner a nd no ex per ience i s requ i red.

Sat u rday Ja nua r y 14 is OPE N I N G N I G H T, 7-10 p m $ 5 - $10 suggested donations for classes & dance... but, no one turned away for lack of funds. We've merged w it h ou r lon g r u n n i n g m i x e d party in the Castro. It's gay and ' s t r a i g ht ' f r i e n d l y ; a t M a g n e t 4122 18th Street, SF. Winter Ball Dance Party - Put on your best (or worst) prom dress or t ie! It's t ime for t he queerest Winter Ball at the Underground!

For t hose t hat l i ke to DA NCE , DJ Nico, DJ St a r r, a nd DJ Bad Mouth will be playing electro, indie, and your favorite 90's jams.

For those that like to DRINK, $4 spi ked punch (don't tel l mom!), a nd f ree Jel lo shot s a f ter m id night! For those that like to SOCI A L I ZE , wel l...we' l l be t here!

Friday, January 20th at 10:00pm at Underg round SF 424 Ha ight St., San Francisco. The cover is $2 (wh ich you ca n f i nd i n your couch cushions).

LitUp Wr iter s presents Wi l l It Hu r t ? Ta le s of t he Fi r s t Time - San Francisco’s premier humor reading series LitUp Writer s is back w it h “ Wi l l It Hur t?

Tales of the First Time.” Join us as six talented writers take to our st a g e to s h a r e t hei r hu mor ou s stor ies about var ious f irst t imes M AT T H E W M A RT I N : “A l l -- from f irst kisses, to f irst apartS i n g i n g , A l l D a n c i n g , A l l ments, to f irst marr iages resultDea d!” w it h T he Tom Shaw ing in f irst divorces. It will be an Tr io - Matthew Mart in returns evening jam-packed w ith hilarito The Rrazz! Bette Davis, Judy ty, awkwardness, and maybe even

a little insight as well. The show at fea stof word s.eventbr ite.com. w i l l be held on Tuesday, Ja nu- SOM Arts 934 Brannan St, SF. a r y 17t h at I ntersect ion for t he Arts 925 Mission Street (at 5th) in SOM A. The performance begins at 7:30 PM. Doors open at 7 PM. $5 cover.

Fea st O f Wor d s: A L ite r a r y Potluck - San Francisco’s tastiest literar y event welcomes poet M a r i a m a L o c k i n g t on a nd c u l i n a r y g ue st C h a rle en C a abay on Tuesday, Ja n. 17, 7pm. SO M A rts Cultural Center presents a mont h ly d i n ner pa r t y wher e writers and foodies come together to eat, wr ite, and share. Join co -hosts L ex L eif heit and Ir ina Z a d ov t o d i s c ov e r lo c a l c he f s and writers, bring a dish on the mont h ly t heme, and share your work to be entered in a drawing for edibles, books and other prizes! The poetry of January’s litera r y g uest Ma r ia ma L ock i ng ton addresses how families come together by fate and circumstance through the process of adoption.

L ock i ng ton’s w r it i ng nav ig ates multiculturalism and the search for ident it y as an adoptee. Cul i n a r y g uest Ch a rleen Ca abay, who specia l izes in Fi l ipino cuisine, joins Lockington. Lockington w ill follow her reading w ith a short, on-the-spot writing exercise for the audience. The theme “Get Luck y ” is inspired by Get Luck y: T he Culture of Chance, a v isua l a r t ex h ibit ion on v iew in SOM A r ts’ Ma in Ga l ler y through Jan. 26, which explores John Cage’s legacy of chance in the arts and across cultures. A ll guests are encouraged to bring a d ish inspired by chance. House opens at 6:30pm on Tuesday, Jan. 17, and space is limited. Tickets a re $10 i n a dv a nce, $ 5 w it h a potluck dish, or $12 at the door, cash bar. Purchase tickets online

Fa d o S i n g e r A n a M o u r a Comes to Ca l Per for ma nces - Portuguese singer Ana Moura, one of the great singers of the impassioned, un iquely Por t ug uese mu s i c a l t r a d it io n c a l l e d f a d o (wh ic h t r a n s l at e s a s “ f at e” or “destiny”), will share her smoky cont ra lto voice a nd st u n n i ng beauty with the Cal Performances audience on Saturday, February 18 at 8:00 p.m. in Zellerbach H a l l . “ T he lu s h -voic e d s i n g er br i ng s t he requ isite sou l a nd a contemporar y sensibi l it y to t he melanchol ic music f irst sung by sailors in the bars and brothels of Lisbon in the early 19th century” (Sa n Fra ncisco Chron icle). T he 32-ye a r- old Mou r a i s p er h a p s t he def i n i ng voice of t he novo fado (new fado) movement that is sweeping t he Por tug uese-spea king world and br ing ing the sent imenta l musica l genre into t he modern era. Fado singers—called fad ist as a nd now nea rly a lways female —sing about long ing, despair, drinking and love. Joining the 32-year-old Moura in Berkeley w i l l be a t rad it iona l t h reepiece fado ensemble consisting of A ngelo Freire, play ing g uitarra, a bright-sounding 12-string Port u g ue s e g u it a r ; Pe d r o S oa r e s , playing acoustic guitar; and Yuri Daniel on acoustic bass. Tickets for Ana Moura on Saturday, Februar y 18 in Zellerbach Hall are priced at $28.00, $36.00, $42.00, and $50.00. Tickets are available t h rough t he C a l Per for m a nces Ticket Of f ice at Zellerbach Hall; at (510) 6 42-9 9 8 8 to cha rge by phone; at ca lper for ma nces.org ; and at the door. Half-price tickets are available for purchase by UC Berkeley students. UC faculty and st a f f, sen ior cit i zens, ot her st udent s a nd UC A lu m n i A sso -

ciation members receive a $5 discount (Special Events excluded).

For more i n for mat ion, ca l l Ca l Performances at (510) 642-9988.

Tim Rayborn perfor ming Lycanthropos: The Werewolf in Story and Song - Tim Rayborn present s a n eer ie look i nto t he endur ing legend of werewolves, a bel ief wh ich evoked fea r a nd wonder from the Middle East, to the Balkans, to Ireland.

These shape-shifters were feared in the Classical world, objects of pity during the Middle Ages, and feared again in the Renaissance.

Us i ng s poken voice, song, a nd instruments, he will perform ancient, medieval, and Renaissance tales, from the trag ic and noble wer e wol f of t he L a i of B i s c l a veret by M a r ie de Fr a nce ( late 12th Century), to the f ierce manwolves of the Icelandic Volsunga Sa g a . T he prog r a m w i l l beg i n with an invocation by Dionysian M aenad s f rom a nc ient Greece, a nd t he c u r se of K i ng Lyk aon from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and w i l l close w it h a recou nt i ng of the terrifying true stories of Peter Stumpf in 16th Centur y Germany, and the mysterious account of 18th Century Beast of Gévaudan in the Haute-Loire of south-central France. Rayborn w ill br ing his usual arsenal of exotic instruments to this concert, including such rarities as lyres from ancient Greece, S c a nd i n av i a , a nd me d ieva l I rela nd, P ict ish a nd medieval har ps, the sistrum ratt le, and other delights.

Come a nd ex per ience a un ique mu s ic a nd s t or y- t e l l i n g e vent !

Sunday, January 29, 7:00 pm. Parish Hall, St. A lban’s Church, 1501 Washington, A lbany, CA, 94707 $30 general/$25 for seniors, student s , a nd Mu s ic S ou r c es a nd SFEMS/A RS members No one turned away due to lack of f u nd s. Adva nce t icket s f rom Music Sources: (510) 528 -1685.

Photo of The Week

Photographer: Emi Stanley The holidays may be over, but this shot of poinsettia-adorned Peaches Christ would not be ignored. A San Francisco-based drag queen with her own Wikipedia page, she wrote and starred in "The Torrance Family Revue" recently performed as a preevent spectacular at the Castro Theatre. Peaches says she's a "direct descendant of Jesus — an accomplished emcee, actress, producer and part-time cult leader." Watch for more from this force of nature and visit her site: peacheschrist.com.

BAY T IM ES JANUARY 12, 2012 11

New Year's Parties — Diverse Celebrations Friends feting Sister Dana celebrating her birthday at Stoli VIP Party Photo by Almario Bonifacio

Liz Primo at The End Up New Year's Eve Photo by Almario Bonifacio

Performers on stage celebrating a peak moment of New Year's Eve Photo by Almario Bonifacio

Patrik Gallineaux serenading Sister Dana Evening wear-clad celebrants at Castro Country Club out front on 18th Street on stage for her birthday Photo by Steven Underhill

Decked out for New Year's Eve at Castro MUNI Station Photo by Rink

Photo by Rink

Rock band Critical Bliss colleagues surround Dr. Kathleen McGuire Photo by Rink

12 BAY T IMES JANUARY 12, 2012

Party goers at the City Club enjoying the entertainment Photo by Rink

Queer rock band Critical Bliss performs “Lady Marmalade” Photo by Rink

Cassandra Cass entertains at The End Up Photo by Steven Underhill

Cast of Bring It On sharing the moment at The End Up New Year's Eve Photo by Steven Underhill

Liz Primo is all feathers in the moment at The End Up Photo by Steven Underhill

Entertaining at the Grand Ducal New Comedy diva Karen Williams welcoming crowd at The City Club Photo by Rink Year's Eve Party Photo by Rink

Renown drummer Althea Walking Tree at The City Club Photo by Rink

Big crowd of women from five states Host Eileen Hanson with Christina Olague, dancing at City Club Photo by Rink Debra Walker and Rafael Mandelman

Project Open Hand staff and volunteers on New Year's Day Photo by Rink

Photo by Rink

BAY T IM ES JANUARY 12, 2012 13

FRINGE OF MARIN 29th FESTIVAL OF ONE-ACTS with Bay Area directors, Meadowlands Hall, Dominican University, San Rafael. January 19 and 20, 2012, 5:30 pm to 9 pm. Cold read.

Five performances in April at Dominican University. Info 415-6733131, 10:30 am- 2 pm or after 8 pm, or email jeanlust@aol.com.

By Sister Dana Van Iniquity SF L D G (t he S a n Fr a nc i s c o L eat her Discussion Group) held their 15th annual celebrat ion in t he SF L GBT Commun it y Center Ceremonial Room. It featured arrival photos with Tony Hunter and Nick Moretti on the LDG red carpet by Santa Stadtmiller, Rubber Santa and the Island of Misf it Boys d iscipl i ne cor ner, escaped elves from the M inistr y of Elves pr ison sect ion, a nd Tony Veg a, Raul Isais, and Manny Gomes gogo dancing to Demetr i Moshoyannis’ mixes. Blue A ngel vodka, Cafe Flore, and BevMo provided treats served by Boy Brandon and Boy Erik. “ T h i s h a s t r u l y b e e n a not he r amazing year for SF L DG’s service to our community providing educat ion, brot herhood and sisterhood, community, and a place for us a l l to be aut hent ic,” sa id LDG President Brian James.

L eat her men's Discussion Group ( L DG) is a n i ndependent , commun it y-based, not-for-prof it org a n i z at ion of men who volu n tarily serve the educational needs of the BDSM leather community.

Founded in 1996, LDG continues its commitment toward build ing a st ronger sen se of com mu n it y through ser v ing the educat iona l ne e d s of le at her men a nd t he i r allies. Featuring informative, interest i ng, a nd prom i nent g uest s pea ker s , L D G host s nea rly 3 0

P HOTO BY RIN K

AUDITIONS

Leather Discussion Group Holds Bash

demonstrations, workshops, community forums, and expert panel d iscussions each year. Its t w icemont h ly prog ra ms cover a w ide r a nge of sex ua l it y, com mu n it y, and personal growth topics, from B D S M t e c h n ique, he a lt h , a nd safety, to relationships, fantasies, spiritualit y, and much more. A lthough L DG's reg ular programs are focused on the specif ic needs and interests of kink-minded men, adu lt s of a l l gender s a nd backgrounds are welcome to attend.

LDG also of fers special hands-on workshops with training in various areas of BDSM specialt y for all levels of experience. Depending on the appropriateness of the topic and the nature of the activities, some workshops w ill not be available to non-male genders.

Respond ing to t he a fter mat h of t he H I V/A I D S c r i s i s , L D G

strives to reinvigorate the culture of mentorship that once played a vital role in the passing down and preser vation of our communit y’s collective knowledge and wisdom.

By c r e at i n g a s a fe, s u pp or t ive and nonjudgmental environment, L DG a lso empowers ind iv idua ls to step away from silence, isolat ion, a nd st ig ma into a posit ive s t a t e of o p e n c om mu n ic a t ion , participation, and acceptance.

There are new and exciting challenges a head for L DG. Cur rent goals include the development of mor e h a nd s - on work s hop s , e xpanding outreach to those beyond our community’s frontiers, building capacit y for more leadership a nd suppor t, a nd st reng t hen ing c om mu n it y t ie s b y p a r t ner i n g more with other organizations.

Please visit www.sf ldg.org

Prolific Dustin Lance Black pills in a Mormon mother’s medicine cabinet to kill myself.”

Inspiring LGBT Prof iles Kathleen Archambeau “ T he one t h i n g we c a n’t do i s at t ack t he chu rch’s bel iefs a s a religion…some gays and lesbians still love God, even though we’ve been rejected by our cong reg ations, in our mosques and in our synagogues.”

Dustin Lance Black Oscar-winning Screenwriter (1974 – present)

Check out more

@ sfbaytimes.com.

14 BAY T IMES JANUARY 12, 2012

F a g g o t . C o c k s u c k e r. Q u e e r.

Dust in Lance Black g rew up he a r i n g t he s e t au nt s f r om h i s p e e r s i n r e fe r e n c e t o g a y s i n Sa n A nton io, T X . I n h i s Mormon Church, st a r t i ng a s you ng as f ive, he heard more. Unholy.

Unnatura l. Unwort hy. The conser v at ive Mor mon Chu rch a nd its elders intoned from the pulpit, Homosexua l it y is a sin. Next to the crime of murder comes the sin of sexual impurity. So, following his f irst crush on a boy at the age of 6 , L a nce (as he prefers to be called) feared he was condemned to hell. In response to his fears, he t hought ma ny t i mes of committing suicide, saved only by the fact t hat “t here weren’t enough

It was Harvey Milk who inspired Black as a 14 year-old teen newly t ra nspla nted to Sa l i nas, C A .

Hearing about M ilk, Black reali zed, for t he f i r st t i me, t hat he cou ld have a happy l i fe. For t unately, Black had a mot her who a l w ay s lov e d h i m “e v e n w he n t here wa s pressu re not to” a nd nur t ured h is t a lent s by send i ng h i m to su m mer t heater c a mps.

There, he “found his people.”

T hese ex per iences led Black to pursue a f i l m deg ree at UCL A .

A fter g raduat ing in 1996, Black w rote and d irected a number of gay short f ilms. San Francisco afforded Black his f irst big breakthrough. Drawn to The Life and T i me s o f H a r v e y M i l k , B l a c k t raveled to t he Cit y to conduct what became a f ive-year research s a g a t o c r e a t e a fe a t u r e f i l m , M i l k, wh ich capt ured a 20 09 Academy Award.

Black then narrated the documentary, 8: The Mormon Proposition, d et a i l i n g t he r o le o f M or mon leader s i n Ut a h i n t he pa s sa ge of Proposition 8, deny ing LGBT Californians the right to marry.

I n 2 011, B l a c k ’s n e x t s c r e e n play, J.E dga r, ex poses Hoover’s closeted homosex ua l it y, despite Hoover’s outward witchhunts and exposes of prominent gay people, put t i n g B l a c k i n t he c omp a ny of Clint East wood, L eonardo d i Caprio and Dame Judi Dench.

T he 37 ye a r- old D u st i n L a nc e Black is prol if ic. Just t his week, George Clooney announced that he w i l l be st a r r i ng i n t he West

Coast premiere of Black’s play, 8, to be directed by Rob Reiner, and playing as a benef it for Marriage Equa l it y on Sat urday, Mar. 3rd 2012, 7:30 p.m., at the Wi lshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles.

From ret ur n ing to a Homecoming Dance at North Salinas High S c ho ol a nd he a r i n g t he t hu n derous applause for a young boy who publicly came out and cried before t he a s sembly of 120 0 to joining t he Board of t he Trevor Project, Black is using his celebrity to shed light on the inequity that still exists for so many LGBT U.S. citizens.

T h ir t y years a fter Har vey M i l k d ied, a young boy in San A nto n io, T X . w a s r ea l i z i ng he w a s g ay a nd t hat com i ng out to h is parent s cou ld cost h i m h is ver y home. He wasn’t w rong: One in four LGBTQ teens who come out to their parents are “kicked out” of t hei r homes. L a nce Bl ac k i s st i l l ag itat ing for t he fu l l inclusion into the human fami ly that M i l k sought . M i l k sa id it best , “Come out. Come out, wherever you are.” That is the only way everyone will know a gay mother, a gay father, a gay daughter, a gay son, a gay co-worker, a gay minister, a gay pr iest, a gay R abbi, a gay neighbor, a gay brother or sister, a gay co -worker. It is miraculous that Black and all LGBT Americans rise above the opprobrium tacitly approved of by their churches, their synagogues, their temples, t heir schools a nd t heir g over n ment , to a c t u a l i ze t hei r full potential, bringing light and love i nto a da rkened, ig nora nt , still prejudiced American society.

compiled by Christine Dumke

CREDIT-Robyn Fryday

CALENDAR

MF11 FILM-Barber of Birmingham-

12 THURSDAY

Abracadabra!

Porchlight Storytelling Series - joins forces with the Contemporary Jewish Museum to conjure the spirit of Houdini! One night only! 7p-8:30p At the Contemporary Jewish Museum: 736 Mission Street @ 4th Street In this special, Houdini-tribute edition of San Francisco’s popular Porchlight storytelling series, hosts Beth Lisick and Arline Klatte present a cast of magicians, mentalists, and spiritualist debunkers, who will brave the audience to confess first-hand accounts of brushes with magic and mystery. Storytellers include: Magic show maestro, Stallion; Professional magician and “debunker,” the Amazing Randi; Mentalist and comedian Eric Mead; San Francisco’s own & Joe Pon, owner of Misdirections Magic Shop.

Porchlight is San Francisco’s premier live storytelling series.

Participants are invited to tell true stories without using notes or memorization. Past storytellers include some of the area’s most entertaining school bus drivers, mushroom hunters, politicians, socialites, sex workers, musicians, authors, systems analysts, and social workers. Tickets: $15 at thecjm.org.

Rhone. On a summer night, James Tyrone, Jr. (modeled on O’Neill’s brother) and Josie Hogan, daughter of his tenant, reach for one another.

This classic vibrates with moonlight, blarney, love, betrayal and truth.

Opening night gala: $30.

General/$25. Students-Seniors Thurs/Sun: $20/$15. Fri/Sat: $25/$20. Online: www.thepear.org.

13 FRIDAY

Battle For Brooklyn - is an intimate look at the very public and passionate fight waged by residents and business owners of Brooklyn’s historic Prospect Heights neighborhood facing condemnation of their property to make way for the polarizing

Atlantic Yards project, a massive plan to build 16 skyscrapers and a basketball arena for the New Jersey Nets. The film focuses on graphic designer Daniel Goldstein whose apartment sits at what would be center court of the new arena. A reluctant activist, Daniel is dragged into the fight because he can’t accept that the government should use the power of Eminent Domain to take his new apartment and hand it off to a private developer, Forest City Ratner. The effort to stop the project pits him and his neighbors against Ratner and an entourage of lawyers and public relations emissaries, the government, and other residents who want the construction jobs, the basketball team, and the additional housing that the project might produce. A film by Michael Galinsky Plays January 13 and 19 Roxie Theater 3117 16th St, SF (415) 8631087.

14 SATURDAY

Good Food Awards Marketplace 2012 - Once a year, the 99 Good Food Awards winners selected by Alice Waters, Michael Pollan and many other judges from nearly 1000 entrants come together to offer the public a unique opportunity to taste and buy foods representing the best of America’s tasty, authentic and responsible craft food. Come to the Ferry Building on Saturday, January 14 to meet the winners and taste the best of American beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, coffee, pickles, preserves and spirits. The Marketplace goes 9:00 am - 2 pm, and the new Beer & Spirits Garden will serve small pours of winning beer and cocktails made from the winning spirits 11:00am - 2 pm upstairs in the San Francisco Ferry Building. $5.00 suggested donation for the Marketplace, $12 for 5 tastes at the Beer & Spirits Garden.

Contact: info@goodfoodawards.org, 415.796.3713.

What is a Mushroom Anyway? A presentation by J. R. Blair - Join J. R. Blair, past president of the Mycological Society of San Francisco, for a presentation about mushrooms and how they fit into the scheme of things. Blair will explain what exactly mushrooms are, how they fit into the life cycle of the organism, and how fungi form relationships with other life forms. J. R. Blair is a lecturer at San Francisco State University and director of the Sierra Nevada Field Campus. 7:30pm, Randall Museum 199 Museum Way, SF; Geared for adults; All ages welcome. FREE; donations encouraged. 415.554.9600 or randallmuseum.org.

13 FRIDAY

A Moon for the Misbegotten – The Eugene O’Neill classic opens at Pear Avenue Theatre, Shoreline exit off Hwy 101, Mountain View. Directed

by Jeanie Smith and featuring Susannah Greenwood and Michael

Pear Box Office: 650-254-1148.

Concrete Blond

Texas Rose Country & Western Dance - Queer Women & their Trans & FtM friends; Texas Rose is a super no-attitude event. Making a resolution to get out and meet new people this year? Come see us and succeed. If you’re new to country we urge you to come to the 6:30 beginner’s lesson. You’ll have fun and you’ll be set up for a great night. No

partner needed, there are plenty of people to dance with. Best to wear leather-soled shoes. Great music, friendly community, our usual yummy buffet; Humanist Hall 390-27th Street, Oakland (between Broadway and Telegraph) Entrance $10, $5 with your student ID; 6:30-7:15pm Beginning 2-step; 7:15-8pm Intermediate 2-step; 8:0010:30pm Open Dancing 10:3011PM Social. FB: texasrose dance or texasrosedance.com.

Drama Queen: Owning the Stage through Embodied Presence and Grace - Explore Burlesques roots and the necessity of Melodrama in contemporary performances.

Strengthen performances by pushing our boundaries with a focus on presence, poise, and polish by being aware of our body positioning, choosing intentional walks, and facial expressions. Class is a mix of lecture, discussion, and theater exercises. Students should wear comfortable, easy to move in clothes. ** 4-6pm in SF at Center for Sex and Culture 1349 Mission Street between 9th and 10th Streets. The Shanghai Pearl is an international burlesque performer with a love of flair and panache. Her range is broad; spanning the burlesque gamut from tantalizing tongue in cheek tease to irreverent vaudevillian vignettes. Her striptease is always sweet, saucy, and sizzling! This Firecracker will blow you away with her raunchy punch and opulent burlesque accouterment. She is also featured in “A Wink And A Smile”, a burlesque documentary which premiered to sold out audiences at the Seattle International Film Festival! She will show you how to amp up your performances and leave your audience saying “wow” over and over again.

15 SUNDAY

A Toast to 2012 T-Dance Extravaganza - with Gary Virginia and Gypsy Love for The Richmond/ Ermet AIDS Fdn. DJs Mark Andrus and Drumspyder, passed hors d’oeuvres, hosted Stoli hour, astrology and keynote presentations, aerialists, go go dancers, performances

by Raquela, BeBe Sweetbriar, Gypsy Love, Kippy Marks. 11am – 4pm TIX: $30 by Jan. 6/$40 after/$50 door; $75 VIP Hosts (5-hour hosted bar in VIP lounge/name in program).

BAY T IM ES JANUARY 12, 2012 15

5. b) Absolutely no contest. This list goes to show that it was a pretty incredible year. But people still underestimate the power of having the federal government essentially announce that it will back GLB rights in every constitutional case, period.

This decision will be a turning point in GLBT history, for sure.

6. a) Maybe it was vice versa with the napkins and towels. There was a woman who attacked a Gauguin painting in homophobic fury. Donald Trump made the comment about the belly putter. And I read a Science Times article that said some people hate chewing noises.

Sistahs Steppin’ in Pride- Created in 2002 as an informal conversation between friends, Sistahs Steppin’ In Pride was organized to produce a dyke march celebrating the rich cultural landscape and herstory of the East Bay’s lesbian, bisexual and transgendered women and queer community. 2011’s March & Festival was said to be the final one, but there’s buzz about keeping this great annual event going. If so, we know where we’ll be when that date is set.

The White Horse Inn- Most establishments rise and fall in a heartbeat, but The White Horse Inn, or the ‘Ho as regulars call it, has been serving the Bay Area for 75 years. For many decades it served as a comforting refuge at a time when same-gender (TRANADU continued from page 1) Law on NBC. He elaborated, “I played a transgender woman who gets fired from her job, and I got to sing. The role was awesome, and I am hoping to get more challenging roles like that.” Rodriguez is very active in LGBTQ rights and loves doing benefits for such cabaret fundraiser shows as the Richmond-Ermet AIDS Foundation. “REAF is an organization that is very close to my heart,” he said. He confessed his New Year’s resolution was “to be a little more organized and a little less picky.”

Cassandra Cass was ecstatic to be hosting at the End-Up and was stellar in her performance to “Xanadu.”

She joked to me, “Get away from the goddamn bar and socialize more.”

Which I did.

Alternative pop princess Liz Primo and her dancers (www.lizprimo.com) brought us a mini-concert in the snow cave onstage at 11:30pm, featuring (PARIAH continued from page 9) rhinestones. She’s somewhere in between. The clothes show her becoming herself.”

Likewise, lighting and camerawork are deliberately used to express Alike’s stages of development. Rees revealed, “Alike is a chameleon; she’s painted by the lights around her. In the club, she’s purple; on the bus, she’s green; at home she’s pink; and she is in white light by the end of the film.

The size of the shots are very close as she cocooned and claustrophobic, but they open out, wider and wider when

9. a)b)c) The full 5th Circuit ruled against us in the birth certificate case and the Supreme Court refused to take review. The three victories are a few of many excellent state and federal court decisions in our favor last year.

10. b) It was actually Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee who once worked as a farrier. Interesting. Sort of. It’s a blacksmith, silly. Don’t you love the flamingo sac concept?

So I Married Abraham Lincoln at Dance Mission.

sex was a felony and being caught in a gay bar could land you in jail and cause you to lose your job. This place has History with a capital “H,” but Latin dance nights, Drag-o-licious Sundays and other events are all about the here and now.

Good Times @ The Den- A hotspot for women in the East Bay is The Den at Oakland’s Fox Theater. On Wednesday nights, DJ’s led by Olga T keep the place pumpin’ and groovin’ for hours. Aside from the great beats, you’ll also enjoy soulful treats from Kainbigan cuisine.

reaf.org; (415) 867-5004. Trigger, 2344 Market, SF.

16 MONDAY

The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of The Civil Rights Movement – In this award-wining documentary, 85-year–old Mr. Armstrong, an African American barber and civil rights activist in Birmingham, experiences the manifestation of an unimaginable dream: the election of the first African

The Laurel Book Store- Lesbian owned and operated, The Laurel Book Store is the quintessential neighborhood bookstore at a time when such welcoming destinations are unfortunately rare. We are proud that the Bay Times is available here, so please stop by, pick up your copy, and peruse the store’s featured books.

T he s e a r e ju s t a fe w of ou r Oakland favorites. Do you have others in mind? If so, let us know and we’ll add them to our East Bay Resource Guide.

her hit single “State of Amazing” and a preview of her upcoming release, “Wind Me Up.” She was dressed in feathers and eventually got all burlesque and went topless. There was a champagne toast at midnight, with giveaways, favors, and general fabulousness with a countdown with the stars. “This club is amazing,” Primo told me. “You can feel the history here!” Sister Kitty hoisted me onstage (my silver and black sequin skirt was way too tight to walk very well and definitely not allowing me to gracefully step up onstage. What I do for beauty’s sake! As if! Everyone sang and wished me a happy birthday after the clock struck midnight. I blew out the candle on my cake. I got a multiple kiss and a hug from Rodriguez, Cass, and Primo. This was the best birthday ever! My 2012 was really starting out big, big, BIG! I hope all my readers are having a great year as well!

Mia Dyson at Cafe Du Nord to Benefit Trevor Project

American president. 3:30-5pm Q&A following the screening with Co-Director, Robin Fryday and Foot Soldier Historical Researcher Shirley Gavin Floyd. At the Museum of the African Diaspora 685 Mission St (at Third) SF; 415.358.7200 or moadsf. org. Free admission to the museum and programs throughout the day in celebration of the reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.

Qcomedy Showcase - This show features Guests from L.A., Scott Backman and Laura Hayden plus the hilarious SF comediennes Ben McCoy, Natasha Muse and Cassandra Gorges. And be sure to stay for the legendary Martuni’s piano bar with Joe Wicht at no additional charge. San Francisco’s favorite spot for queer and queer friendly comedy, now at the fabulous Martunis. WHEN: Monday January 16th SHOWTIME: 8:00 pm WHERE: Martuni’s, 4 Valencia St @ Market St, SF COST: $5-15 Sliding Scale,

NOTAFLOF; Qcomedy.com.

17 TUESDAY

13Licks Ladies Night at Q Bar Grrrlz Drink HALF OFF all night Hosted by Aysha, Dana and Amberlee beats by Natalie Nuxx (voted ‘Best DJ’ SFBG Best of the Bay 2010) Pop/ HipHop/ Dance and Electro 9pm to 2am | No Cover Q Bar | 456 Castro St, SF qbarsf.com.

18 WEDNESDAY

Clair’s Drop-in, Supporting Community in Transition - 1pm to 4pm, Clair’s Drop-in is open to provide guidance to transgender community members on their personal evolution with free support services including: - An introduction to the TEEI program and services Membership into our Peer Mentoring Program - Networking opportunities - Access to Community Gatherings.

Clair will also provide comprehensive referrals for employment, housing, health care, legal issues, and more! It is recommended that you call ahead to confirm your walk-in time beforehand. To RSVP your participation contact: Clair Farley @ clairf@sfcenter.org or 415-8655632. At SF LGBT Center. 1800 Market St. 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.

6-8pm @ Larkin Street Drop-In Larkin Street Youth Services 1142 Sutter Street, SF.

19 THURSDAY

Blur- Transgender & GenderVariant Support Group - 6:30 7:30pm: Blur- Transgender & Gender-Variant Support Group.

Free Food Provided! Come and chat with other trans & gv people, facilitated by trans counselors. For 18-25 year old youth. At Dimensions Clinic, 3850 17th St. SF dimensionsclinic. org.

she’s free. I did a wardrobe bible and showed how she changed.”

Such dedication and research informs the film, and contributes to the power of Alike’s story.

Rees’ approach extends to how Alike is perceived and how she perceives others. The f ilmmaker explained, “We are showing people responding differently to Alike. Just as she is transformed by the people she meets, she’s transforming them.” Viewers who see Pariah are likely to be transformed by Alike as well. © 2011 Gary M. Kramer

1 6 BAY TIMES JANUARY 1 2 , 2 0 1 2

Free Your Mind: Queer Youth Arts & Crafts - Come get involved with a group of your queer & trans peers who are focused on creating a community voice for young LGBT people in the San Francisco area through various kinds of art & performance: painting, origami, candy beads, clay and sculpture, stenciling & spray-painting, jewelry making, bedazzling, drawing, screen-printing, fashion design, drag & music!

Free pizza, snacks, and safe sex supplies! At Free Your Mind you are free to be yourself, uncensored!

Come help us plan a benefit for the Center Youth Program. You can earn $100 for your creativity! Email beck@sfcenter.org for more info.

4-7 at Bay Positives (701 Oak @ Fillmore, MUNI 22, 71, 6, N-line)

8. d) I think you have to give it to the grocery clerk, but I suppose any answer can be considered correct.

7. a) I think he had to apologize. Depardieu peed during a City Jet flight (OAKLAND continued from page 1) Moscone were assassinated in San Francisco City Hall. He joined San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus that night and soon took over as their director. In 1999, he founded the Oakland-East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus, which performs a wide variety of music, from Classical to Broadway.

Don’t miss their spring and summer concerts.

20 FRIDAY

from Paris to Dublin. Leisha Hailey and her GF were told that Southwest is a “family” airline and proceeded to have a justifiable fit. And two guys were called fags by a United staffer who wouldn’t let them in the VIP lounge.

PHOTO BY PAK HAN

(ROSTOW continued from page 5) 4. d) Michigan’s law did not apply to all state government or university employees, just every city and county public worker as well as teachers. All the other examples are factual.

Word for Word presents Food Stories at Zspace

21 SATURDAY

Concrete Blonde with David J at Bimbo’s - Concrete Blonde grew out of the Los Angeles post-punk club circuit that produced bands like X, Wall of Voodoo, and the Go-Go’s.

The group was founded by singer/ songwriter/bassist Johnette Napolitano and guitarist Jim Mankey. Their distinct sound has a haunting edge and is urgently bleak yet passionate and catchy. The band’s grinding guitars entwine with Napolitano’s dark, lyrical imagery and husky voice. Concrete Blonde’s self-titled debut album showed the influence of the Pretenders, while 1989’s “Free” was a tighter showcase for Napolitano’s developing songwriting and produced a hit with “God Is a Bullet.” The morose, textured “Bloodletting”, a more accomplished record than both of its predecessors, broke the band to a wider audience with the Top 20 hit “Joey.”

While the critically-lauded trio took two six-year breaks since forming in 1982, they always came back around. After so long together, the band still thrills at the chance to play together. It’s this ethos - along with Napolitano’s powerfully literate songs and the band’s playful but visceral live performances - that has established Concrete Blonde as a fan’s band since their inception. $30 doors at 8pm/show at 9pm Bimbo’s 365 Club 1025 Columbus Ave SF. Bimbos365club.com.

Cockfight: At Underground SF DJs Earworm, MyKill, and DCNSTRCT Hours: 9PM - 2AM 2-for-1 happy hour from 9PM 10PM Cost: $7.00 Cover, free before 10PM Website: cockfightsf. com Location: Underground SF 424 Haight Street, San Francisco CA 94104 Phone: (415) 864-7386

22 SUNDAY

2nd Annual “Night of Live Music” Benefit for The Trevor Project featuring Mia Dyson, Hotels & Highways; Eric Himan + Bandmates.

Mia Dyson is inarguably one of Australia’s finest musical exports to the United States. With an ARIA award in hand (Grammy equivalent) for “Best Blues & Roots Album” and three nominations for”Best Female Artist”, Mia moved to Los Angeles and is gracing American audiences with soulful lyrics, extraordinary guitar playing, and her gritty, yet gorgeously haunting voice. Doors: 8 pm Show: 8:30pm; 21 & Over at Cafe Du Nord 2170 Market St. SF. 415.861.5016 or cafedunord.com.

Advanced tickets are available online via TicketWeb. Priced on sliding scale for $10 to $25 allowing individuals to pay what they can afford. Limited tickets will be available at the door the night of the event. All proceeds benefit The Trevor Project.

23 MONDAY

Pastie Making and Tassel Twirling - How do they do it?! Impress and amaze with the art of tassel twirling.

In the first hour we will go over the history of tassel twirling and you will make your very own pair of pasties with tassels. No materials fees.

Supplies will be provided, but if you have a pair of scissors and/or a hot glue gun; bring it! The second hour of class will teach you those much desired and sought out moves to get those tatas-a-twirlin’! We will go over several different methods and find which option works best for you. Be prepared to wear pasties on your body. The class is a safe and respectful environment where students should feel free to toss their inhibitions aside. 7-9pm in SF at Viracocha 998 Valencia St, SF.

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,

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.

BAY T IM ES JANUARY 12, 2012 17

CLASSIFIEDS Business Opportunities

Masters. Providing Museum Quality Custom Framing. www.pelicanart.com, 707-773-3393

Graphic & Web Designer www.imagineit-design.com lori.au3@gmail.com

House Sitting

Beauty Services Connie Cook – Colorist/Hair Artist, www.conhair.com Phone: 650-2514010 Email: conhair@comcast.net Why Me? I Stop. (Talking) I Look. (At you, not at myself in the mirror) I Listen. (To you, not my ring tones) Char’s Hair Design, Charlotte ReedPrice @ Image USA Beauty Salon, 1645 Hollenbeck Ave. Sunnyvale.

Phone: (408) 398-4892. Email: charreed2011@gmail.com

Lesbian + 2 cats Ready to house sit for you Anywhere in Bay Area 408-891-3680

Insurance COVER YOUR ASSETS: Insurance for YOUR community. Life, Disability, Final Expense. Aaron Van Arsdale 415-717-4984. aaron.insure@gmail. com. Life Agent Lic # 0G10774

Job Wanted

Gloria Swanson- Personal Chef, Cooking Demonstrations. Call 415.552.3232 to discuss your next menu! www.chefforhiresf.com, glofriasws@aol.com

Legal Services

Dating Services

Limo Service

New Free Dating Website

Financing Is a Reverse Mortgage for You? Are you at least 62 years of age and own your home? Get paid a monthly amount, line of credit or a lump sum payment. You always retain full ownership. Call Lauren Dunlap, Nova Mortgage. (510) 540-7911 / (415) 7532272.

Framing Pelican Art Gallery & Custom Framing Studio. 143 Petaluma Blvd. N, Petaluma. Presenting Today’s

Seeking Room for Rent Prefer LGBT household Unfurnished up to $600 SF or other Bay Area location plcosta@comcast.net

Parenting

Single Gay Man Desires Sunny Room up to $850. Mature, Responsible, Clean, Humorous, Meditator.

Ed 415-447-4388.

Gay Man Looking to be a Known Donor for a Lesbian/Couple. 5’10’’, excellent health, HIV neg., with high fertility numbers, educated (Masters), athletic, attractive, and descend from two loving and long-lived Spanish families. www.gayfamilyoptions.com item /221

Pets

B. Scott Levine 510-763-2300 bscottlevine@gmail.com

El Cerrito Hills-I80-Men: Info: www.rickoz2.com

Monument Markers Art of Remembering: Custom Memorial Markers in Bronze. Sigrid Herr, 510.708.9635. Sigrid@artofremembering.com

Discover the secret spots of Bahia/ Brazil with Leo. Visit www.

TravelingwithLeo.com

Real Estate Tucson, AZ Voted by The Advocate in 2007 as one of the Top Ten Cities for Gays to live. Progressive, Affordable, Beautiful. Thinking of moving or a second home? Call Lia Lopez Tierra Antigua at 520-975-4488 or email tucsonhaven@yahoo.com

Religious Services Celebrate @ Ner Shalom – Your Spirit Deserves Nourishment! Our approach to Judaism is exciting & unorthodox.

We are inclusive & LGBTQI-friendly!

Didgeridog Doggie Daycare & Overnights. Where small dogs play while you’re away! www.didgeridog. com

www.shalomevents.org, 707-6648622. Located in Sonoma County.

DOG TRAINING in Your Home Cindy Gehring, Dog Trainer 408-238-1540, DogHelpNow@gmail. com, www.cindygehring.com

Soko Joshi Judo & Self Defense Club for Women. 415-821-0303 phdshelley@sbcglobal.net

Your dog deserves to be treated with the same love whether you’re at home or away! Call 510-655-5518 for your personalized in-home dog boarding needs in the SF Bay area (Emeryville/ Oakland border) smalldogboarding. vpweb.com

Massage

Professional Concierge At Chore Service415-336-5168 manny@atchoreservicesf

Does your sex life feel out of control?

Sexual Compulsion Therapy Group for Men is now forming in Berkeley. For information regarding group time, location and fee: Contact Ivan Skolnikoff, MFT at 415-721-4527.

Travel

Shelly Crouse-Monarez. Violin Performer & Mentor. 415-244-8198.

Shellycrouse_monarez@yahoo.com, All Occasion Music, Group and Private Instruction.

SURF DOG large dog boarding at Ocean Beach. Queer Owned. sfsurfdogs.com. (415) 637-7717

Dash Limousine and Sedan Service.

Serving the San Francisco Bay Area… and the World. Meryl Kelso, Owner. info@dashlimo.com, www.dashlimo. com. Phone: 650-400-7277.

SameSexConnections.com

Room Rentals

You want children, so do I. Let’s talk.

For more information about me, visit http://sites.google.com/site/mike949h/

Seeking Buyer or Expediter Position 408-891-3680

Catering

Musicians

Self Defense

Sports San Francisco Gay Basketball Association’s Open Court Play every Sunday, 5:00 pm, Eureka Valley Recreation Center. www.gaybasketball.com

TRAVEL WITH US. Our members, gay men over 40, have been staying in each others’ homes, having good times, making new friends and saving $$$ as they travel for over 10 years.

Travel Lambda Connections Club. www.TLCclub.net

Free weekly support group forming for gay men dealing with mid-life issues.

Call Kurt for more info. 415-647-3465.

Experienced Psychologist - LGBTQ Issues - Castro - Sliding Scale - Diana Gray, PhD (PSY10607) 415-309-4729

GayDaysTampaBay.com

Therapy

Got Bay Times?

Barbara A. Adler, LMFT. Psychotherapy- ConsultationEducation- Training. barbar dlerLMFT.com, 415-990-9137.

Receive Your Copy of the Bay Times

by Mail

Soulmates, Playmates or Stalemates?

Negotiating the stages of gay relationships alone can be extremely difficult.

My experience as a gay couples therapist will help you and your partner relieve the stress of dysfunctional communication and enhance the quality and intimacy of your relationship.

Scott Balderson, MFCC (MFC34280).

415-255-6181.

Never Miss One!!!

Subscribe Today

Women: Promote great hugs and kisses from your loved ones. Learn how to be in a relationship with others without losing yourself. Profit exponentially from joining a dynamic women’s community and therapy group now. Call Dr. Gabi Kramer (510) 841-8242.

Receive Your Copy of the Bay Times by Mail Call: 415-503-1386 E-mail: Betty@sfbaytimes.com or Mail the Form Below

Gay Relationships: MEDIATOR, Fast solution to problems. One session.

Michael: 415-819-2380.

Tax Preparation

STOP SMOKING

The Lesbian Tax Mom 510-653-4323 taxmomsusan@yahoo. com

USING HYPNOSIS AND NEURO LINGUISTICS T

• See more News & Stories @ sfbaytimes.com •

Safe

T

Easy

T

Guaranteed

DeWitt A. Hoard PhD(c), LCSW, CHT

Clinical Hypnotherapist (510) 465-3148

dewitt_hoard@hotmail.com

Next Deadline for Classifieds: January 19 INSTRUCTIONS: Type or neatly print your ad exactly as you wish it to appear. Regular type is 75 cents per word, bold type is $1.50 per word.

Add up the total cost of your ad. If you wish your ad to appear in more than one issue, multiply the number of times you wish your ad to run times the cost of the ad. If you run the same ad copy for 6 consecutive issues, you can deduct a 10 percent discount from the total; 16 times deduct 15 percent; 26 times, deduct 20 percent. $10 minimum on all ads.

BT/SF CLASSIFIED REPLY BOX MAIL PICK-UP OR FORWARDING: If you do not have a PO Box and do not wish to use your name, address or phone number in your Classified ad, you may rent a BTSF Classified Reply Box for $15. Mail forwarded daily. Boxes remain active for two months.

AD COPY DEADLINE is Monday afternoon at 5pm the week of publication. All ad copy must reach us by that date. No exceptions. Ads cannot be taken over the phone.

All ads must be prepaid.

No refunds. Changes in ongoing ad copy cost $5 each in addition to any cost for extra words.

ST UCK? shift happens

Suggested Category_______________________________________________________ Ad Copy _________________________________________________________________

Certified career & life coaching by phone (anywhere)

__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

www.awayoutofnoway. info

__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

(415) 678-9597

__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ NOTE: Web addresses and phone numbers count for 2 words each

SUBSCRIBE

___Check here if you wish to order a Bay Times Classified Reply Box

Don’t miss a single copy of Bay Times!

____ number words bold type at $1.50 per word .................................................. = ________ ____ number words regular type at 75 cents per word .......................................... = ________

CHECK ONE: ____Regular Sub

(26 issues/ $50) ____Regular Sub

(18 issues/ $36) ____Disabled & Seniors

(26 issues/ $39) ____Disabled & Seniors

(18 issues/ $27) METHOD OF PAYMENT: __Check __Credit Cart Card #__________________________ Exp. Date ________ Security #______ Billing Address:

COST OF ONE INSERTION .......................................................................... = ________ ____ Number of insertions: Multiply by cost of one insertion for total cost of ad ........................................ = ________ DISCOUNTS for 6 or more insertions: subtract 10% of total cost of ad ........ = ________ for 16 or more insertions: subtract 15% of total cost of ad ........ = ________ for 26 or more insertions: subtract 20% of total cost of ad ........ = ________ TOTAL COST OF AD INCLUDING ANY DISCOUNT ............................................. = ________ ____ Enclose $15 for Classified Reply Box (includes mail forwarding).................. = ________ TOTAL ENCLOSED ................ = ________ METHOD OF PAYMENT:

___ Check

___ VISA

___ MasterCard

__________________________ City/State/Zip_________________ Signature

____AmEx

__________________________

Card # ____________-- ____________ -- ____________ -- _____________ MAIL COUPON TO: Bay Times San Francisco 2261 Market Street San Francisco CA 94114 Or Fax to 415-503-1389 Or Email information to: classifieds@ sfbaytimes.com

Card Exp. Date:______________

Card Security Code:______________

Card Name (print)________________________Auth. signature_____________________ Card Address _______________________________________________________City ____ ______________________

State/Zip ________________

Phoone __________________________________

Tom Moon,

MFT

Lic. No. MFC 12297

Psychotherapy and Consultation EMDR 415.626.1346 tommoon.net Over 30 years in service to the community

1 8 BAY TIMES JANUARY 1 2 , 2 0 1 2

All subscriptions are mailed first class in discreet envelopes. Our subscription list is confidential.

Name___________________________ Address_________________________ City____________________________ State__________Zip_____________ Mail to Bay Times, 2261 Market St, San Francisco, 94114 or fax to (415) 503-1389.

Sister Dana Says

Let’s all toast the New Year. And “A Toast To 2012” is a T-Dance Extravaganza with Gary Virginia & Gypsy Love, a brand-spanking-new concept party premiering during Martin Luther King weekend, Sunday, January 15, 11am-4pm, at Trigger, 2344 Market Street. Every detail has been planned to take you on a five-hour journey of the senses to charge your batteries and send you off with the tools and support to make a huge shift in your life. 11am-Noon: Work the runway on your way into Trigger with models and photo ops - YOU are the STAR! Enjoy a hosted Stoli bar.

Noon: Nationally known comedian Karen Williams takes the stage to get your New Year off to a hilarious start - laughter is the best medicine! Then it’s Gypsy Love’s “Astrological Forecast for 2012!” Then Gary Virginia with secrets of success, followed by DJ Mark Andrus with huge video screens to bump up the T-Dance. Passed desserts and performances by singers, musicians, aerialists, and go-go dancer s feat u r i ng record i ng a r t i st s Raquela, BeBe Sweetbriar, and LoveMarks (Gypsy Love & Kippy Marks).

Info & tix: REAF.org.

Speaking of toasts, I sure got toasted at the Krewe de Kinque’s Twelfth Night Epiphany party and bar crawl.

We elected this year’s newest King and Queen of Mardi Gras Krewe de Kinque, but the results will remain a secret until the masked ball. King VII John-John Weber and Queen VII Sister Dana have already stepped down.

King VIII Frankie and Queen VIII Garza will be stepping down. KdK is a fun fundraiser org that raises money for charities while partying like it’s Mardi Gras. It was all about eating N’Awlins cuisine (yummy jambalaya), drinking hurricane cocktails, wearing purple, gold, and green, and handing out beads in bars to promote our costumed masked ball, BAL MASQUE IX: “Occupy Bourbon Street and Party with the Naughty-Nine %!” on Feb. 21st. Browse SFKinque.com or (415) 867-5004. As they say in NOLA, Laissez les bon temps rouler: “Let the good times roll!” Find out more about KdK at our next fun benefit, “Get the Ball Rolling with Queen Garza,” January 28th, 10pm-2am, Café Flore with entertainment and drink specials.

The 10th annua l Mama’s Family Toy Drive was amazing. The community came together to donate toys for the children. $6,640 was raised to send kids affected with HIV/ AIDS to summer camp for 1 week.

Sandy “Mama” Reinhardt thanks Collette Le Grand, Mark Paladini, Sister Pat N Leather & Sister Eve Volution, and Patrick Noonan, and so many more who helped. Toys were delivered to Camp Sunburst, SFPD, Operation Dreams, SFFD, the Women’s Shelter in Livermore, Dublin FD, and more places to happy faces.

We members of “Friends of the Rootless Forest” held our annual Christmas Tree Burn at Ocean Beach late at

night, much to the dislike of the cops.

Organizers would have loved one big bonfire as usual, but we were reasonably happy with lots of smaller bonfires. The fact that we were not kicked off the beach was a big victory. Last year we were told to get off the beach or be arrested 20 minutes after the big bonfire started. Were they afraid of domestic terrorism? The event has had to change as we have had to kind of dodge the park police, but it is more of a game now. We chanted, “Whose beach? Our beach!”

While on the subject of Occupy (were we??), Homonomixxx is doing a cool action as part of the Occupy Wall Street West demo on January 20th at 8am! Too early for this night crawler, but here are the deets: Meet at the corner of California and Montgomery in downtown SF. Bring as much green yarn as you can! Wear gold, glitter, lamé, sequins, gay it up!

Check out homonomixxx.tumblr.com for updates. Join in for some low-risk mischief on this historic day of action!

There is a struggle in the Castro over the use of public space and the right of all people, housed or homeless, to occupy it. Supervisor Scott Wiener has introduced legislation to restrict the use of Harvey Milk Plaza and Jane Warner Plaza, both near Castro and Market. The proposed law would make it an offense to sit on chairs in Warner Plaza after 9pm, to have shopping carts in either plaza any time of the day or night, to sleep or camp out in either plaza or to bring any household items into the areas or alter the landscaping (some flower pots??). First citation for violating any of these prohibitions is $100, second is $200, third is $500. Meet January

23, 1pm, City Hall for a hearing on the proposed law - an obvious attack on the homeless and on Occupy protesters.

Have you noticed the gorgeous rainbow of lights emanating nightly from the Diesel clothing store building? It sure further gayifies the gayborhood!

4th Annual Power of One Celebration in the Castro, recognized as a National Day of Service, founded by Emperor John Weber, on Martin Luther King Jr. birthday weekend, celebrates the contribution each individual can make to his or her community.

As in past years, the event will feature a slate of inspirational performers, singers, dancers, and poets. Honoring legendary soul, funk and R&B DJ, Bus Station John. Monday, January 16 at Trigger nightclub, 5-9pm. Includes announcement of the recipients of the 2012 Sylvester Awards, for their singular longtime service to the community. Attendees encouraged to give a minimum $5 donation at the door. Beneficiaries: Our Love Program (stopaids.org/programs/ourlove) and HandsOn Bay Area (hoba. org). This year’s theme is from Dr. King’s final presidential address to the Southern Christian Leadership Council in 1968, where he implored his colleagues to “go out with a divine dissatisfaction” to address the challenges in the community. “Today, so many of these same challenges still imperil this nation, and King’s call rings true at this moment in time,” says Weber.

Until next time, keep active, stay activist, and Occupy your corner of the world!

More News,

Stories, and Arts & Entertainment online

@sfbaytimes.com

BAY T IM ES JANUARY 12, 2012 19

R

E

S

T

A

U

R

A

N

T

Dining Castro Style

Catch serves fresh, affordable seafood and landfare in a casual, cozy atmosphere. Since opening in October 2002, Catch has drawn a large following and is the perfect place to gather for every occasion — cocktails and appetizers at the bar, a cozy romantic dinner for two by the fireplace on the heated patio, or a birthday dinner celebration.

Relax on the heated patio with a view of Market Street, or dine inside and enjoy the live piano jazz on Friday and Saturdays. Our famous resident chef has designed a menu which highlights the freshest seafood and the best produce of the season in a clean, uncomplicated Californian style with subtle Mediterranean influences.

Located in the heart of the city on Market Street in the Castro, Catch is open seven days a week for lunch, brunch, and dinner.

Call us at 415-431-5000 or visit our delicious, award-winning website to book your visit online! www.catchsf.com.

Catch Seafood Restaurant 2362 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94114 415.431.5000 www.catchsf.com Hours of Operation Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 p.m. (Daily) Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:30 p.m. Sunday - Thursday (until 11pm Fridays & Saturdays) Brunch 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday