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PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF OAKL AN D

February 21-March 6, 2013 | www.sfbaytimes.com

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PA IN T I N G BY: T RAVI S J. DO W

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The San F ncisco Gay Men’s Ch us is joined by e cast of

Beach Blanket Babylon in

2 BAY TIM ES F EBRUARY 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

Milk-SFO: Is the time right?

The recent Charter amendment proposal by Supervisor David Campos to rename San Francisco International Airport after Harvey Milk is a different situation. Conceptually, I am fully in support of recognizing Harvey in such a grand fashion. But I do not support it going forward at this time for two primary reasons.

Do Ask, Do Tell Zoe Dunning I love Harvey Milk. I love his courage, his leadership, his irreverence. I want his name and his legacy to live on in San Francisco, in the U.S. and all over the world. When the Board of Supervisors last May considered a resolution urging the Secretary of the Navy to christen a ship the USS Harvey Milk, I went down to City Hall to testify in support of it. Harvey was a Navy veteran and I believe he would have loved having a ship full of sailors traveling the world with the USS Harvey Milk on their shoulder insignia. And it would not cost a single tax dollar. They have to name the ship after someone, so why not Harvey?!

First, there is the cost. SFO administrators estimate it will cost slightly over $4 million to change highway signs, airport signage, maps and directions. That doesn’t include the expense of changing logos and paperwork, reprinting airline schedules and maps and redoing signs on BART, Caltrain and SamTrans. I would rather see that money go to help our schools, fix Muni, and improve affordable housing options for San Franciscans.

Secondly, if this measure is put on the ballot, the LGBT community will be expected to put time and resources to help get it passed, which by all indications is a long shot. I would rather spend our community’s valuable energy and money on DOMA repeal, transgender issues, anti-bullying efforts and other priorities – things that will make a tangible difference in

Professional Services people’s lives rather than a feel-good objective like Milk-SFO. It just reminds me of when I worked at Webvan, the online grocer. I ran a major part of the Bay Area warehouse for a while. We were struggling every day to meet demand – conveyors would stall, orders would fail to download from the system and staff would fail to show up. In the middle of all of this, corporate headquarters announced they were spending several million dollars on a new logo in an effort to rebrand the company as an Internet retailer, not just a grocer.

The money was spent, the new logo was revealed with great fanfare, and six months later the company declared bankruptcy.

If Supervisor Campos can secure private funding for the renaming of SFO, I would be more open to the proposal.

But I don’t believe using precious tax dollars and LGBT resources to fight for it is the right priority at this time.

Zoe Dunning is a retired Navy Commander and was a lead activist in the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. She currently serves as the 1st Vice Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party.

A Tribute to Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan (1964-2013)

Our community and our country lost a true hero recently.

On February 10, 2013, Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan passed away after a long battle with breast cancer. Some of you may remember I wrote about Charlie in my very first Bay Times column nearly a year ago.

I f irst met Charlie in October 2011 at the OutServe Armed Forces Leadership Summit in Las Vegas. She was upbeat, warm, professional and down to earth. It was later that weekend that I learned she had just recently been diagnosed with stage 4, incurable breast cancer.

Originally diagnosed in 2008, she had already undergone several rounds of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy. Declared cancer free by an oncologist in 2010, she deployed to Kuwait for one year. Upon her return she learned of the reoccurrence of her cancer, and was facing certain death.

She publicly came out as a lesbian on national television on September 20, 2011, the day the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal took effect. She came out not for herself, but because she was worried what would happen to her wife Karen, and their 4-year old daughter, Casey Elena, upon

her death. She and her family had the courage to put faces to the injustice of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and military policies that prohibited her wife and daughter from receiving the same benefits heterosexual military spouses and families are entitled to. Her hope was that DOMA would die before she did. She told Andrea Stone in the Washington Post last November, “It’s my motivation for staying alive. I really need to be alive when they actually do overturn DOMA, otherwise Karen is not guaranteed anything.”

Unfortunately, due to Speaker Boehner’s deaf ears and foot-dragging by the Pentagon, her wish did not come true. She was a joy to know and an inspiration to all who met her or heard her story. Her legacy reminds us of the urgency of action, that nothing is guaranteed, and that every day our community experiences inequality is one day too many. People’s lives, health, happiness and financial security hang in the balance. We must not let Charlie’s efforts end in vain. DOMA must end. Now.

City by the Gay? eral decades ago, were those new arrivals now being evicted and forced to leave the City they helped make. Notwithstanding the thousands of new market-rate units rising up across our skyline, San Francisco’s housing crisis appears only to be deepening and begs a basic question: Can San Francisco be a queer mecca if the queers cannot afford to live here?

A San Francisco Kind of Democrat Rafael Mandelman I am a San Franciscan. I grew up here, moved back here after college, rented and then bought a home here.

I cannot imagine living anywhere else. And so I will confess to being unnerved by the Advocate’s 2013 Gayest Cities in America, which ranks San Francisco 17th. Of course I love Oakland, ranked 11th, but the Advocate’s ranking was troubling to me precisely because it reflected an anxiety about our City by the Gay that I suspect many of us share.

We have all by now heard too many stories about young queers arriving here to build a new life, as young queers have been doing for decades, but now they are unable to find a place to live. And we have heard too many stories about LGBT seniors who, sev-

And for those of us lucky enough to be sharing in San Francisco’s real estate boom, there are other questions: How much longer will we want to stay when those others – the young people, the old people, the artists, the poets, the rabble-rousers – cannot? How much are our own lives diminished by their absence?

One institution working hard to keep San Francisco queer and to keep the queers in San Francisco is our Community Center. In the early days, the Center was a somewhat controversial project, with some questioning whether a place as gay as San Francisco really needed an LGBT community center in the first place. Now entering its second decade, the Center has long since demonstrated that it has a critical role to play, by welcoming thousands of community members and visitors each month, hosting over 3,000 meetings or events each year, pioneering the first-ever LGBT economic development program, and developing programs to support homeless and marginally housed

LGBT youth as well as LGBT and allied students in the public schools.

These are just a few of the ways in which the Center enriches San Francisco’s queer life.

By way of disclosure, I serve as cochair of the Center’s Board of Directors. In that capacity, I have been privileged to see up close the excellent work the Center does. Under the extremely able, and more than occasionally heroic, leadership of Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe, the Center has survived in tough economic times, and more importantly, helped the most vulnerable members of our community survive those times.

I hope that you will consider supporting the Center’s great work by attending our annual soiree, Studio 11 on Saturday, March 23 from 7 to 11 pm, at the SF Design Center, 101 Henry Adams Street.

The Center’s parties are always tons of fun, and this year’s promises to be the best ever. Plus, the cause is a great one.

For more information or, better yet, to purchase tickets, go to: w w w.sfcenter.org/studio11.

R afa el Ma n d el m a n i s a m e mbe r of the San Francisco Community College Board of Trustees. He is also a partner at Burke, Williams & Sorensen, L LP.

Read more @ www.sfbaytimes.com BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 21, 2013 3

National News Briefs compiled by Dennis McMillan

St. Paul, MN - Bill to Legalize Same-sex Marriage Introduced in Minnesota - 2.18

Poughkeepsie, NY - Vassar raises $76G for LGBTQ Support Group after Church Plans Protest - 2.16

It appears the battle over same-sex marriage in Minnesota may start to heat up earlier than expected. While talking on radio WCCO, Minnesota Senator Scott Dibble said he plans to introduce a bill this week to legalize gay marriage. Dibble believes this legislation has the momentum to pass after voters defeated a constitutional amendment that would’ve strengthened the existing gay marriage ban.

Plans by a Kansas group to protest Vassar College over support of LGBTQ rights sparked an immediate reaction from the Vassar community that resulted in more than $70,000 raised to support youth facing sexual intolerance. Students, staff and alumni took action after learning of a planned protest of the college by wacky Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas. Church members said they will picket Feb. 28 in Poughkeepsie to warn against what they called Vassar’s support of the LGBTQ community, according to the church’s website. The church is known for protesting organizations perceived to support queer rights.

“It’s just simply an amendment that removes the restriction that disallows some couples from getting married,” Dibble said. “My strong sense, even from folks in greater Minnesota, is that they’re comfortable with this, they know that Minnesota has changed a lot and is continuing to change at a very rapid pace.”

Students formed “Do Something VC,” a group to encourage tolerance, while the college created a committee to promote compassion. On Facebook, Vassar graduate Josh de Leeuw asked supporters to join in a peaceful counter-protest by donating to a fundraising page set up on crowdrise.com. Proceeds will benefit the Trevor Project, providing crisis-intervention and suicide-prevention services to LGBTQ youth. At first, de Leeuw’s goal was to raise $4,500, or $100 per minute the Westboro bigots say they will protest Vassar. By Friday, de Leeuw’s post had been shared 56 times on Facebook and $76,957 was raised. The page had nearly 3,000 donors.

State Representative Karen Clark is expected to introduce a similar bill in the House. Neither she nor Dibble expect a vote on their bills until later this session after the Minnesota Legislature passes budget bills. Governor Mark Dayton has said he will sign a bill legalizing same-sex marriage if it reaches his desk.

“It’s been so incredible to watch,” de Leeuw said. “I have never been more proud to be a member of the Vassar community.” Christopher Roellke, dean of the college and a professor of education, said, “The response has been absolutely extraordinary.”

But Minnesota for Marriage, the group against the legalization of same-sex marriage, plans to rally at the State Capitol on March 7.

Source: minnesota.cbslocal.com

Do Something VC is divided into several subcommittees designed to encourage discussion and thoughtful action, junior Deborah Steinberg said. The committees have different roles in creating events that advocate for equality and peace, said Steinberg, vice president of the Vassar Student Association.

Source: poughkeepsiejournal.com

Santa Fe, NM - New Mexico Church Takes Unique Stand on Marriage - 2.5 Unitarian Universalist Church, which was also involved in the civil rights and feminist movements, has openly embraced same-sex marriage since 1984. “It is a big issue within our church; we’re just way ahead of the curve,” says Rev. Gail Marriner. Since taking the reins as head of Santa Fe’s congregation in May 2011, however, Marriner has eschewed signing marriage licenses for any unions - same-sex or otherwise.

“I’ve been in ministry 18 years,” Marriner says, “and the full time that I’ve been in ministry, my association has been doing rites of passage for gay and lesbian peoples and transgender and bisexual folks when they have wanted to marry,” she explains.

Though Marriner describes those ceremonies as “wonderful and joyful,” she decided to take a defiant stance until the word “marriage” applies to everyone in her flock. “The place that I get tangled, in this point in time, is that as a Unitarian Universalist minister, when I sign a marriage license for a mixedsex couple, I give them access to 1,400 benefits under the law,” she says. “I have not signed a single marriage certificate since I’ve been here, and I won’t - until I can do that for any couple in my congregation that chooses to marry.”

Instead, the Harvard Divinity School grad refers couples from outside the congregation who wish to marry to other local UU clergy. Those from within her congregation who long to do so get a sit-down talk with the Minister explaining her motives. “They’ve been willing to go along. It’s not that they can’t get married; it’s a statement of conscience,” Marriner says, adding that granting heterosexual couples those rights not available to their same-sex counterparts would be “playing favorites.”

Source: sfreporter.com

Sikeston, MO - Gay Teen Wins Right to Attend Prom with Boyfriend - 2.15 Dallas, TX - Gay Carnival “Triumph” Passengers Finally Arrive Back in Dallas - 2.16 Four gay men from Dallas were among the 4,000 people stranded on the Carnival Triumph. Three arrived back in Dallas. The fourth man in their group, Earl Rodriguez, traveled from Mobile to New Orleans by bus, flew to Hobby Airport in Houston and then traveled by bus to Galveston to pick up his car.

Craig Quinonez said he evacuated his cabin, which had filled with smoke. The ship drifted 90 miles before the Coast Guard reached them. He said the captain didn’t acknowledge there was a fire, only calling it a “situation” until after the fire was out.

Matt Spire blamed the lack of maintenance on the quick turnaround in port that allows no time for major repairs. The ship remains docked in Galveston only hours between cruises. Spire said he was afraid of the food that was being served, which sat out on trays in the heat for hours. He didn’t mention the raw sewage on deck. Ew. Food was served on the top deck so passengers had to walk up nine flights to eat. They said there were a number of disabled passengers, and they didn’t know how those passengers got anything to eat. While there were some news reports of fights on board, all saw nothing worse than some bad tempers at times.

“We became like a family,” said Spire. And they said the gays kept the middle-aged women camping out on deck around them entertained. One woman told them they kept her laughing instead of crying the first night.

An openly gay Missouri teenager has won the right to attend high school prom with his boyfriend after threatening legal action. Stacy Dawson, a 17-year-old senior at Scott County Central High School in Sikeston, Missouri, had been told last year that he couldn’t bring his boyfriend due to a line in the school’s handbook that said “students will be permitted to invite one guest - girls invite boys and boys invite girls.”

When Dawson questioned the policy, a school administrator told him that the school board would not consider revising it, according to The Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit civil rights organization representing Dawson. So on Valentine’s Day, Dawson had SPLC send a letter to Scott County Central High and the school district threatening legal action.

One day later, the district had good news for Dawson: They were removing the offending line from their handbook, and said the line was never meant to be exclusive in the first place.

School District Superintendent Alvin McFerren said Dawson would be allowed to go to prom with his boyfriend. “It was never intended to be a discriminatory thing,” McFerren said.

“We want an educational environment for all of our kids, and we’re not ever going to discriminate as to whether or not the board has the policy, and we don’t do that based on sexual orientation. Period.”

Quinonez said, “I’m going back.” The others weren’t so sure and are considering a lawsuit. Dare we comment, “That ship has sailed”?

McFerren said he felt the community, which has just over 360 students in the entire district, would take the change well. “We are a family,” McFerren said. “We’re such a small school that I don’t feel as if there will be any negative reactions whatsoever.

It was never intended to be a policy that would create any controversy in the first place.”

Source: dallasvoice.com

Source: usnews.nbcnews.com

Local News Briefs Project Open Hand to Raise $22,000 for Indoor Greenhouse

Under One Roof and Others to Open New Store in Crocker Galleria

Project Open Hand [POH] uses organic produce whenever possible and the freshest ingredients to prepare nutritious meals for the sick and the elderly. POH has kicked off a crowd-funding campaign to raise $22,000 for the construction of an indoor greenhouse – a “Room to Grow” – in its building at 730 Polk Street, in the Tenderloin neighborhood.

Under One Roof’s last day at the 518A Castro Street store was January 31. On April 1, UOR will open a new store in the Crocker Galleria mall in the Financial District.

“We’re really excited about building a greenhouse, which will enable us to grow organic herbs and greens most used by our chefs to prepare nutritious meals for our clients,” said Executive Director Kevin Winge. “It advances our commitment to provide our clients with the freshest, healthiest food, sourced as locally as possible. And, it’s a wonderful way to engage volunteers and attract new donors to our cause of ‘Meals with Love.’”

PwC US consulting services has generously kick-started fundraising for the project, providing $10,000 in seed money. “PwC has deep roots within the Bay Area community and extensive relationships with local business leaders and philanthropic organizations,” said Mike Dillon, PwC SF market assurance leader and POH board member. “We recognize that we have a social obligation to provide support to our community, and we’re proud to help Open Hand jumpstart this great greenhouse initiative.”

Make a donation to POH’s “Room to Grow” campaign online at indiegogo.com/projectopenhand. Alternatively, checks payable to “Project Open Hand” can be mailed to 730 Polk Street, 94109; write “greenhouse” in the memo section.

The greenhouse is one of several “green” initiatives at POH, which recently installed solar panels on its roof that provide energy to heat approximately half the agency’s hot water and generate 1015% of its electricity. “We continually strive to innovate and run our operations efficiently and cost-effectively,” said Steve Hunter, director of building operations. He will lead construction of the greenhouse.

Story by Dennis McMillan 4 BAY TIM ES F EBRUARY 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

Crocker is aiming to become a sort of microcosm of San Francisco, or hub for a multitude of vibrant, local, independent merchants representative of our City’s colorful neighborhoods. As part of this initiative, Crocker recently launched a weekly Farmer’s Market that has become very popular. Effectively, Crocker is bringing the best of many San Francisco neighborhoods to the center of the City.

They have also confirmed Tomboy Tailors, the first clothier specializing in custom-made suits for women and trans-masculine individuals. Crocker is in the midst of confirming several other merchants from various SF neighborhoods. UOR has been chosen as Crocker’s Castro merchant. They are offering a beautiful space on the first floor of the mall at a fraction of what they were paying in the Castro, so it allows UOR to maintain a physical, retail presence – and generate revenue to support their partners - while they continue to focus on their restructuring plan.

They are still 100% focused on the goals of that plan, which includes a Castro Holiday Store, hosting pop-up shops throughout the City (and within corporations) while pursuing eCommerce and new social enterprise opportunities, as well as an expanded focus on education and awareness about HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ issues. News about a new Speaker’s Series in the Castro will be coming soon.

“We can’t wait to show you our new space and have you join us as we start a new chapter in Under One Roof’s iconic history here in San Francisco,” said Board Chairman Tony H. Hart.

Story by Dennis McMillan

Brass Tacks Heidi Beeler

It’s like a great, quirky scene stolen from Harold and Maude, and it happens 8 am this Sunday morning at Woodlawn Cemeter y in Colma .

(Transportation available from Hotel Whitcomb at 7 am and Marlena’s at 7:30 am.)

In the dewy morning hours, winding up the green lawns between headstones and memorial statuary, a rainbow-plumed marching band blasts “California, Here I Come.” In their Sousa-esque wake follows an entourage of veiled drag queens in black dresses, bears in formal black suits, leathermen with rifles, veterans with flags, clergy in Easter-crisp robes and politicians and singers and dancers and friends and visiting royalty and photographers.

S F IM PE RIAL COURT P HOTO

This is the annual pilgrimage to Emperor Norton’s grave. Like swallows to San Juan Capistrano, the San Francisco Imperial Court returns to Emperor Norton’s grave site each year to introduce their newly elected Emperor and Empress to its chosen patron (non)saint where he lies. It’s a tradition that hearkens back to the earliest days of San Francisco gay rights activism, when our community called themselves homofiles. At its center, less than 5 feet tall, clad in

P H OTO B Y: ST E VE N UN DE R H I LL

Tiptoe Through the Tombstones

black lace any Spanish royalty would kill for, stands a man who 45 years ago renamed himself the “Widow Norton.”

To call the nonagenarian Widow Norton (neé José Sarria) a pioneer and a hero is accurate, but those titles miss the humor Sarria has always whipped up to make a point. Sarria first locked horns with the SFPD in the late 40s and 50s as a drag performer at the Black Cat Café. At a time when it was illegal to sell a homosexual a drink or wear the clothing of the opposite sex and vice squads regularly hauled entire barrooms off to jail, Sarria performed operas dressed as Carmen and Madame Butterf ly, adding lines to the regular libretto that warned patrons about police sting activity. She encouraged her audience to fight their arrests and stand together, incanting “United we stand, divided they catch us one by one.” And she’d end each night’s performance by corralling the house onto the sidewalk outside the café to sing “God Save Us Nelly Queens” (to the tune of “God Save the Queen”) to the men incarcerated at the precinct across the street.

In 1961, when police harassment at the Black Cat escalated, Sarria ran for City Supervisor, becoming the first openly Gay political candidate in the country. He came in ninth of 34 candidates, winning almost 6,000 votes. Though he wasn’t elected, he proved that a gay vote existed. In 1964, at the Beaux Arts Ball, one of the first LGBT-organized public dances, Sarria was named Queen of the Ball. Sarria scoffed that he’d been a queen for years and instead declared himself Empress. He later learned that San Francisco eccentric

Joshua Norton had similarly declared himself Emperor in 1859 and decided he must be Joshua’s long-lost widow.

Thus was born the Widow Norton, matriarch of an ever-lengthening line of Empresses and Emperors who are each crowned at a coronation ball directly descended from that f irst, defiant Beaux Arts Ball. They call Sarria “Mama José,” and Sarria’s always been serious about family. As the LGBT community grew, Sarria rolled new groups into the event and marched them up to Joshua’s grave with the expanding imperial family.

Alexander Hamilton Post 448 carried the f lags. Leather titleholders f ired the 21-gun salute. When the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band came on the scene in 1978, she threw us in front of the procession.

At the gravesite, performances honor that same wit Sarria loves to f launt.

At past ceremonies, pianist David Kelsey played “Climb Every Mountain” as the procession huffed up the hill. Vocalist Gail Wilson sang “The Norton Family” to the tune of the “Addams Family.” A group called the Vestal Virgins danced on the grave plot purchased for Sarria beside Joshua Norton. Choruses, dancers, singers and comics all find their place at this graveside cabaret. Emceed in recent years by Empress Donna Sachet, the ceremony is capped off with a monologue from the Widow Norton herself as she introduces the new Empress and Emperor and recounts for her Joshua the past year’s highlights in classic Black Cat style.

“I’ve never been a second rate citizen,” Sarria said in an interview with outhistory.org. Thank you, Mama José, for leading us all home.

Sister Dana Sez entertainment. Terra Gallery, 511 Harrison Street on February 24. Tix at aofriends/2013galaticketpurchase.

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “I am really anticipating the Oscars - our Gay Super Bowl - especially since Babs Streisand will be singing. That will truly punch my Gay Card!”

And the best way to experience the Academy Awards is with ACADEMY OF FRIENDS’ AIDS fundraiser in tribute to the style and glamour of the Roaring 20’s and the beginning of Hollywood’s Golden Age at BOAS, BOWTIES & BUBBLY! with live telecast of the Oscars on super-sized video screens, champagne, and live

Founded in 2004, K R EW E DE K INQUE is a social/charitable Mardi Gras club that raises awareness and funds for incredible causes.

This year we pulled out all the stops for BIG X BALL - A DECADE OF DECADENCE raising funds for Transgender Law Center. The Arc was decked out in balloons, fabric, and masks - all in the Mardi Gras colors of purple, gold, and green. The Dixieland Dykes +3 performed New Orleans jazz as celebrants entered and received their beads. Ball Captain Gary Virginia emceed the Bal Masque Tableaux with a bevy of talented KdK members and royalty. Aaron Priskorn blew horn with our “National Anthem.” Bobby Barnaby and Charley Gauxdown of the Bohemian Brethren performed sexy burlesque to “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” Deana Dawn did “Feelin’ Good” in a gorgeous six-foot wide costume. Cockatielia choreographed the vivacious chorus line and soloed splendidly in the production number, “Rue de Kinque.”

Kippy Marks played electric violin like a virtuoso with “Locked Out of Heaven.” Mark Paladini sang the hell outta “Proud Mary.” Sasha Stephane did Cher doing “Woman’s World.”

Celebrity Grand Marshal Cassandra Cass gave us curvaceous choreography with “Born This Way.” Queen IX Bebe Sweetbriar was decadence in diamonds singing “Diamonds” by Rihanna and “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” with King IX Tony Leo. Donna Sachet sang a sizzling “Le Jazz Hot.” John Weber danced divinely and sang “Ninth Ward Thrift Shop.” Garza gave us fierce attitude with “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show.” Ilona Turner, Transgender Law Center legal director, spoke of the tenaciousness of TLC, continuing to push boundaries to achieve authenticity. And all the KdK members participated in the finale, “Let’s Have a Kiki” by Scissor Sisters. We crowned the newest royalty, King X Kippy Marks and Queen X Kitty Tapata, who led us in a conga line.

Three nights later for Fat Tuesday, we boarded a chartered bus arranged (continued on page 18) BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 21, 2013 5

A Toolbox to Find Your Way in an Expensive City L GB T com mu n it y memb er s h ave u su a l ly underrepresented as participants, which the Center is working to change.

Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

2261 Market Street, No. 309 San Francisco CA 94114 Phone: 415-503-1375

On that website you will f ind a chart that lets you know if you qualify for BMR opportunities between 55% and 120% of Area Median Income (A MI ). For an individual, that ranges from $39,650 to $86,500 or for a couple combined income of $45,300 and $98,900.

525 Bellevue Avenue Oakland CA 94610 Phone: 510-846-8158 E-mail: editor@sfbaytimes.com www.sfbaytimes.com STAFF Dr. Betty L. Sullivan Jennifer L. Viegas

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

As required by city law, owners of certain private, for prof it rental housing set aside some apa r t ment s i n t hei r bu i ld i ng s a nd cha rge rents for these units that are below market rate. The rents range according to each unit and the specif ic income requirements for the

Bevan Dufty While San Francisco remains one of the most expensive real estate and rental markets in the country, there are some ways to mitigate that.

When I was a Supervisor, one of my accomplishments was partnering with the Center (sfcenter. org) to create the f irst-ever economic development programs in the LGBT Community.

The f irst program focused on small business loans and then expanded to include f inancial empowerment and f irst-t ime homebuyers. I encourage individuals to get a f inancial tune up with the Center’s help and to learn about both f irst-time homebuyer and below-market rate ( BM R) oppor t un it ies eit her to rent or own.

particular unit. There were several projects entitled during my time that are now under construction along Market Street from Octavia to Noe. These projects either have on-site BMRs or the developer was required to contribute to the City af fordable housing fund.

The Mayor’s Of f ice of Housing (sf-moh.org) over sees b ot h of t hese prog r a m s a nd t he

If your household income falls below 60% of area median you may be eligible to apply for

an af fordable unit at a nonprof it agency. One ex a mple wou ld be t he One Church St reet apartments built by Bridge Housing. There are waiting lists at most developments, but it makes sense to get on lists for those developments you like, as well as those being built.

You can work with the Center to make sure that your applications are suf f icient so they don’t get dinged, which can leave you out of the running.

Shannon Way leads the housing programs for the LGBT Center and you can reach her at (415) 865-5658.

I also encourage you to sign up for the Mayor’s Of f ice of Housing Email A lert System (http:// www.sf-moh.org/index.aspx?page=267).

Mayor Edwin Lee led the ef fort to establish a n A f fordable Housi ng Tr ust Fund i n la st November’s election. This provides an ongoing stream of revenue from propert y transfer ta xes on bui ld ings sold va lued bet ween $1 m i l l ion to ju st u nder $5 m i l l ion. T h i s is an impor tant step toward bui ld ing more housing for lower and middle-income households. Given this new funding, it’s more important than ever that LGBT San Franciscans who do not have housing stability learn and participate in these programs.

B e van D uf t y i s the director of HOPE ( Hou s ing Opportunity, Partnerships and Engagement) for the City and County of San Francisco. A former Supervisor, Dufty is also a member of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee.

CONTRIBUTORS Writers

Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Kirsten Kruse, Teddy Witherington, David Grabstald, Kate Kendell, Pollo del Mar, Heidi Beeler, K. Cole, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Paul E. Pratt, Terry Baum, Gypsy Love, Joel Engardio, Rafael Mandelman, Scott Wiener, Shelley MacKay, Kit Kennedy, Leslie Katz, Karen Williams, Gary Virginia, Stu Smith, Zoe Dunning, Kathleen Archambeau Photographers/ Illustrators

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Suzanne Swan, daughter of PFLAG founder Jeanne Manford, accepted the Presidential Citizens Medal on behalf of her mother at the White House ceremony on Friday, February 15th.

Profiles of Compassion and Courage: Heklina Small theater groups, the San Francisco punk scene, artists like David Bowie, Divine, Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Taylor and Lady Bunny were primary influences that sparked Heklina’s emergence into a self-made drag phenomenon that played for more than 12 years at The Stud. Then, exhausted, from those intense weekly shows, she decided to slow down and branch out.

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Stu Smith Legend has it that Trannyshack was born when Heklina was a bartender at The Stud and staff there wanted something new to feature on Tuesday nights. A star was born.

Conceived and delivered in Minneapolis in 1967 and a graduate of the ‘School of Hard Knocks,’ there was never any doubt this hugely talented and self-made artist and performer was going places in show business.

With a birth name that sounds like a marble mash up, Stefan Grygelko moved west and found the perfect foil and recipient for the talent that had to get out of Minneapolis and create cutting edge performance art.

6 BAY TIM ES F EBRUARY 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

Not interested in becoming a SOMA Finocchio’s or a ‘hip’ Beach Blanket Babylon, Trannyshack paused and became more focused on theme and creativity. The shows became monthly and moved to The DNA Lounge where the crowds swelled again and became even more popular with an expanded fan base that truly includes just about any form of life known to exist.

Proud and fiercely independent, Heklina is not a gay man intent on ‘fitting in’ to the mainstream straight life style and thinks the contemporary drag that she produces and supports is the emerging alternative social reality. Inclusion is the perception of the one included or excluded and she finds that type of thinking irrelevant and comatose.

Going from those early Tuesday nights at The Stud to a year-round calendar that includes annual theat-

rical shows like “The Golden Girls” and “Sex and The City” performances with other drag Divas would exhaust most mere mortals, but that’s just the breakfast course for Heklina.

Somewhere along the line it was time to make a choice between madcap artistic fun and partying and earning a decent living as a drag performer.

Blessed with business savvy along with abundant talent, Heklina became a trademark that fights hard for every success she has. (Asked where the name Heklina came from, one learns that she’s half Icelandic and that independent nation is home to a volcano named Hekla.)

The annual Miss Trannyshack Pageant has become another enormous event that is to drag what the Miss America Contest is to Middle America. It has launched the careers of almost all the known drag performance artists working the planks here and around the country. Unfortunately, there have been half a dozen times when other clubs or artists around the country and world have attempted to usurp the Trannyshack name.

Armed with a trademark and the willingness to fight for what she’s earned, Heklina has protected her legacy and continues producing vibrant theater that’s widely embraced and sells out with every show. Heklina has taken Trannyshack on the road from Reno

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BACK PAGE CLUB Catch Restaurant Fountaingrove Lodge Jordan, Miller & Associates Pelican Art Gallery NAPA Cellars Wines Olivia Travel

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Rink, Dennis McMillan, Steven Underhill, Phyllis Costa, Cathy Blackstone, Robert Fuggiti

Heklina with Margaret Cho

and Honolulu to Palm Springs, Seattle, the East Coast and even London, the one City that escaped her trademark infringement actions because she’s performed there several times.

She may ask that they brand themselves Trannyshack UK, since she learned her trademark is universal.

When I asked who some of her local heroes are, she quickly said Cecilia Chung, Tita Aida, Tom Temprano and Matthew Martin all come to mind, but there are so many to admire and respect. Talking about her love life, she reveals that her primary commitment has been to her work and that’s marriage enough. Politically, Heklina is at home here in San (continued on page 18)

The Week in Review GLBT Fortnight in Review: February 21, 2013

By Ann Rostow Bad Form Maybe it’s because I’ve been a news writer for the last couple decades, but of all the stories I’ve encountered in the last two weeks, I was most astonished by the style martinets at the Associated Press who (according to an internal memo) have decided to use the word “partners” or “couple” to describe legally married gay spouses.

You may know that we’re all supposed to consult the AP style guide for correct usage, although many of us just wing it. Today, I am proud to be a member of the latter category. Is the AP waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on the Defense of Marriage Act before deigning to refer to married gay couples as husbands or wives? Or “married?” Or “spouses?”

Maybe five years ago they could be excused for a little confusion. Back then, you could only get married abroad, in Massachusetts, or brief ly in California. With many civil union partners and others calling themselves married or using marital terms, the mavens could well have decided to err on the side of ambiguity.

But we are living in country where you can legally marry in nine states.

The policy should be simple. You refer to couples as married, domestic partners or civil union partners. And how can you tell which category is correct? You’re a reporter for God’s sake! It’s your job to find out.

The AP makes an exception for people who refer to themselves as married, or who use the terms “husband” or “wife” in a quote. But this seems doubly odd. First, it calls into question the general rule that obliges reporters to use non-marital terms for everyone else. Second, it allows people who are not legally married to self-identify as married even when they’re not.

I am guessing that the AP doesn’t want to embed a political viewpoint into its style guidance, but with this outrageous move that’s exactly what they have done. They have determined that married gay couples are not really as married as everyone else.

You may recall that the AP pedants recently came out against the use of the term “homophobic,” based on the notion that “homophobia” is not a psychiatric disorder and/or that people who dislike gays do not do so out of “fear,” which is of course the meaning of “phobia.” You know what, AP? The meaning of words evolve. Homophobia means dislike of gays. And yes, it’s often based in fear.

What next? Banning the word “gay,” because it really means “lighthearted and carefree?” Who’s in charge over there?

Viva La Vida The Mexican Supreme Court ruled in favor of three gay couples trying to marry in the state of Oaxaca back in December. But the other day, the Court issued its sweeping written opinion in these cases, making clear where it stands on matters of gay rights in general. And like our neighbors to the north, our neighbors to the south are way ahead of us. (Perhaps we can close the gap this summer.)

The Mexican high court cannot rule on a nationwide basis, and can only change law in the states after ruling on five cases ( J. Lester Feder at Buzzfeed tells me). Since the most recent ruling involved three cases, the folks in Oaxaca are getting close to marriage rights. But more important-

ly, the decision will pave the way for other state activists to make marriage claims. Marriage rights are available to gay couples in Mexico City and in the state of Quintana Roo on the Yucatan peninsula (think Cancun and Cozumel). Those marriages, as well as the civil unions allowed in the U.S. border state of Coahuila, are recognized throughout the country.

Mr. Feder also noted that the recent ruling took strength from a 2012 gay rights victory from the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights, suggesting that the road is paved for other Latin American countries to make progress. Marriage equality is already the law in Argentina and Uruguay.

By the way, while I was cruising on Buzzfeed I learned that a pair of gay penguins in a Danish zoo have become parents. Sadly, the zookeepers in Odense have failed to name the birds, which takes some of the color out of the story, don’t you think? We do know, however, that in their desperation to create a family, the penguins tried to steal eggs from other couples and also tried to hatch a dead herring. Happily, one of the zoo’s females produced two eggs and abandoned the extra. The egg was given to the boy penguins, and they successfully nurtured it to chickhood. We will know its sex in a few months when it grows feathers. And I trust we’ll have some awww-inspiring nicknames for the whole family by then.

Bu-Bye Pope Was I the only one who thought, and still thinks, that the media hoopla surrounding the Pope’s resignation was a bit smarmy? Fine, the Pope is always going to be an international figure, but enough is enough. Is there some rule that all popes are to be treated as saintly father figures one step down from Christ himself? And was it a heroic gesture of some sort for a frail man in his mid-eighties to resign from a demanding public job?

I, for one, could not have cared less.

But then, there are many things I don’t care about. For example, I didn’t care about the killer in L.A. who died in a burning cabin the other day. Why did we have split screen coverage of the f lames when we were minutes away from the State of the Union speech?

It would have made sense if the cabin had been surrounded and the guy was about to emerge. But all we saw was some woods and something on fire in the distance. There was no “breaking” news.

Indeed, it is truly a shame that the nation’s assignment editors do not consult me personally in advance of every key decision.

Moving right along, I left my list of stories in my car and although the car is sitting in my driveway, it feels very very far away. I know that I was supposed to cover the Valentine’s Day vote for marriage equality in the Illinois senate. And indeed, I was intending to lead this column with Illinois politics. After all, there’s a good chance that equality will pass the house, although the vote count is reportedly close. And unlike the situation in Rhode Island, where we will probably be waiting weeks or months for the state senate to take up the house bill on marriage, it sounds as if the Illinois house will debate marriage fairly soon. Maybe this week.

Maybe starting today.

So, if all goes well, the Windy State will become the tenth bastion of freedom in the nation. But the emphasis is on “if all goes well.” Here’s the situation. If I were to start this column with Illinois news, crowing about how close we are to marriage rights,

Professional Services overf lowing with optimism, things would go south. The house would delay debate. We’d lose a close vote.

Something bad would happen. But if I bury this exciting development in the middle of an item in the middle of the column, then the sky’s the limit!

First Illinois, maybe in a matter of days. Then we’ll see if our adversary, Rhode Island senate president Teresa Paiva Weed, eventually allows debate on the bill that has already passed the house. If that bill noses through, we’ll have eleven states on our side. And keep in mind that Delaware activists are set to push marriage through the Corporate Headquarter State legislature like a knife through butter. We could have an even dozen by May Day!

Leaders in providing LGBT accounting and tax specific services.

By the way, the ease in which knives go through butter depends entirely on the knife and whether or not the butter has been refrigerated. Let’s hope that Delaware activists have a ginzo knife and the butter’s been sitting on the counter all day.

Beyond Basic Rights There are marriage efforts underway in other states too, albeit with dimmer prospects. Believe it or not, we even have a bill in the Texas legislature to strip the constitution of its ban on recognizing gay couples. True, the bill has a snowball’s chance in Austin in August, but you have to start somewhere. I read that Mississippi just ratified the 13th Amendment a few days ago, so I think we can expect Texas to allow same-sex marriage by the end of this century at the latest. (Lawmakers in Mississippi reportedly had not realized that theirs was the only state that had yet to formally abolish slavery until they saw “Lincoln.”)

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In Oregon, where prospects are not dim, just a bit far away, activists have announced plans to take an equality amendment to the 2014 ballot.

Oregon voters condemned marriage rights back in 2004, but they did so by a relatively small margin for the times. Plus, that was ten years ago.

Basic Rights Oregon thinks the time is right to bring the issue back before the voters, and if they are successful, Oregon would become the first state to repeal an anti-marriage constitutional amendment. Think about it.

We went through years of statewide votes. We’re not going to reverse those votes in the deep red states, but we may well be in store for a raft of new statewide elections in places like Oregon, where we have a solid chance for success.

Over at the Supreme Court, meanwhile, I think we have something like 58 hostile friend of the court briefs now piling up for both the Prop 8 and the Windsor case. Soon they will be joined by dozens of briefs on our side, and without going on and on about it, I just want to remind you again to watch to see if the U.S. Justice Department files an amicus brief in the Prop 8 case in the next day or so. This is the most newsworthy possible event between now and the oral arguments in late March.

And, before we leave our favorite subject, have any of you seen the marriage equality ads now airing nationally? Freedom to Marry and the Human Rights Campaign have put together an impressive spot, featuring clips from Laura Bush, Colin Powell, Dick Cheney and Barack Obama all calling for marriage rights. Truly, we are on the offensive.

It Won’t Get Better Should I go out to my car? Or should I just blather on for a few more lines (continued on page 8)

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BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 21, 2013 7

Repeal the Fifth Commandment pain and chronic gastritis. He suffers from depression, panic attacks, and insomnia. Periodically, he goes on drinking binges. When he does – just like his father – he sometimes flies into uncontrollable rages.

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT In his first session, Andy told me a horrif ic story of abandonment by his mother and regular beatings and verbal abuse by his alcoholic father.

He told this story with a bland nonchalance that I found chilling. I asked him what happened to his hurt and rage. He responded with clichés.

“That was a long time ago,” he said.

“I’ve learned to forgive them. They did the best they could. The past is the past. I’ve moved on.”

His body and feelings tell a different story. His rage and hurt, denied and banished from awareness, seethe in his body. He’s young, but he already takes daily medication for low back

Genuine forgiveness arrives at the end of the process of recovery from abuse, not at the beginning, and it never involves denying or minimizing the reality of what happened. Andy’s faux forgiveness is an attempt to bypass the pain of his actual experience and preserve the connection with his parents, at the immense personal cost of losing contact with his own history and emotional experience. If he is to recover from his symptoms, he’ll have to reconnect with the hurt child he once was.

But currently, layers of denial, shame, and guilt block his path back into himself. These are reinforced by powerful cultural, psychological and religious resistances to speaking the truth that his parents didn’t permit him to acknowledge. He “knows” he’s supposed to forgive and forget; he “knows” that it’s an act of betrayal to “air the family’s dirty laundry” to outsiders; and he’s the heir of five thousand years of adherence to the Fifth Commandment, which demands that he honor his parents,

without conditions, no matter how they’ve treated him.

I sometimes wonder how different human history might have been if the Good Lord, in His infinite wisdom, had directed the Fifth Commandment to parents, not their offspring.

What if he had sided with the weak instead of the strong? What if He’d commanded to Moses: “Thou shalt not harm thy children”? How different might history have been if, right at the beginning of history, humanity had learned that children aren’t livestock; that they have neither the duty nor the power to make their parents happy; that authentic love and respect can never be given on command, but only in response to love and respect; and that when parents abuse a child, the moral obligation lies with them to acknowledge and stop their wrongdoing, not with the children to forgive.

But even today, in too many places all over the world, these principles are subversive and blasphemous. Child abuse will continue, and adult survivors of it will remain locked in confusion and suffering, until these truths become mere common sense.

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

The new “American Stories” exh ibit at t he Sm it hson ia n’s Mus eu m of A mer ic a n H i st or y i n Washington, DC, features America’s f irst nationally-distr ibuted lesbian publ icat ion. “T he L adder ” w a s l au nc he d by P hy l l i s Lyon and Del Martin in 1956 as t he pr i ma r y publ icat ion of t he Daughters of Bilitis, the f irst lesbian organization in the US.

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San Francisco Ballet in Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour (© Erik Tomasson)

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(ROSTOW continued from page 7) at random? I agree, dear readers! You can read about the European court ruling on gay adoption somewhere else. Maybe there was also a gay soccer player somewhere. I can’t remember.

So, I just read that the “It Gets Better” video project is about to launch a version in South Africa. One of its star presenters was to have been Oscar Pistorius, the legless track star who recently shot his girlfriend to death “by accident.” Pistorius has now been dropped from the anti-bullying campaign.

“Just remember that you’re special,” Pistorius said in the now-abandoned clip. “ You don’t have to worr y.

You don’t have to change. Take a deep breath and remember; ‘It will get better.’”

Newsflash. It’s only going to get worse for Oscar, unless he manages to convince the court that he fired several rounds through a locked bathroom door because he thought an intruder was hiding out in the john.

I’ve never had an intruder in my house, and I have no doubt that it

would be terrifying. That said, I’d feel much better about it if the dangerous criminal was locked in the bathroom rather than running around loose in the house. Further, if I were the type to shoot someone, I think I’d wait until the person emerged, if only to verify that the supposed intruder was not my dog, my former roommate, a confused bum, a distant cousin, a drunk neighbor, or the love of my life. Hell, I might even ask who’s there in a loud voice before unleashing the firepower. Then again, I’m special. arostow@aol.com

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Honoring LGBT African Americans February is Black History Month, a time to recognize the many accomplishments and contributions of African Americans.

LGBT people have often been left out of that picture. To turn the tide, several powerful organizations have joined forces to remind us of noteworthy LGBT African Americans, both past and present. These organizations include GLAAD, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the Black AIDS Institute, the Audre Lorde Project (ALP), Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), Black Men›s XChange, African Ancestral Lesbians United for Societal Change (AALUSC), Southerners On New Ground (SONG), and LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent.

From civil rights leader Bayard Rustin to community advocate Mandy Carter to renowned inventor George Washington Carver, black LGBT people have enriched our nation and our lives. All of us have benefitted from the work of these gifted individuals.

The following are just a few of the many famous and notable LGBT African Americans highlighted by GLAAD and the other organizations this month:

Alice Walker author, poet, and advocate Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) Choreographer and activist

André Leon Talley editor-at-large for Vogue magazine, current contributing editor Angela Davis political advocate, scholar, and author Audre Lorde (1937-1992) author and advocate

Darryl Stevens actor Don Lemon reporter for CNN and news anchor Doug Spearman actor E. Denise Simmons mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, during the 2008-2009 term, first openly lesbian African American mayor in the United States E. Lyn Harris author Emil Wilbekin openly gay former managing editor of Essence.com Felicia “Snoop” Pearson actress Frenchie Davis musician Frank Ocean musician Glen Burke Major League Baseball player Isis King America’s Next Top Model contestant James Baldwin (1924-1987) author

Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. Janet Mock, activist, author Jasika Nicole actress Jean-Michel Basquiat (19601988) artist

Bessie Smith blues singer Bill T. Jones artistic director, choreographer and dancer Countee Cullen (1903-1946) poet John Amaechi former NBA player

Josephine Baker (1906-1975) dancer, singer, and actress

June Jordan author Kevin Aviance female impressionist and entertainer Kylar Broadus lawyer, first trans-identified person to testify before Congress LZ Granderson ESPN.com columnist Langston Hughes (1902-1967) poet and social advocate

Laverne Cox actress, producer and transgender advocate Lee Daniels film producer and director Linda Villaros author, journalist and public speaker Ma Rainey blues singer

Mabel Hampton (1902-1989) dancer, activist and archivist

Maurice Jamal filmmaker and director Meshell Ndegeocello singer Paris Barclay television director and producer Patrik-Ian Polk director, producer, screenwriter, singer and actor Roy Simmons former NFL player RuPaul actor, drag queen and singer-songwriter Sheryl Swoopes WNBA player Stacy Ann Chin author and poet Sylvester James (1947-1988) singer

Tracy Chapman singer Wade Davis former NFL player Wanda Sykes actress and comedian

BAY T IM ES JANUARY 1, 2013 9

Photo Source: CIty of Oakland

T he Advocate recently named California’s second largest city, Oakland, as the 11th gayest city in America.

(San Francisco wound up number 17 on the list, while Tacoma, Washington, earned the top spot.) According to journalist Matthew Breen, “while it’s seriously hard to compete with San Francisco’s LGBT cred, Oakland is no less vibrant yet more diverse and af fordable. In fact, it boasts more lesbian couples per capit a t han any other major American city and ranks third in gay and lesbian-headed households, after San Francisco and Seattle.” He continued, “This cit y has students, families, funky gays, an annual Black Pride and Black

LGBT Film Festival ( Black LGBTFilmFest.com), and t he East Bay Front Runners ( East BayFront Runners. org), so you can see the scenic bay while burning of f the calories consumed at the super-popular White Horse Bar ( WhiteHorseBar.com) the night before.”

The Bay Times loves Oakland, and we walk the talk, having established an off ice there in addition to our SF Castro base. Other media seem to forever gloat on any East Bay problem, as if doing so will somehow make their operation look better. It’s like criticizing your best friend instead of looking in the mirror at your own problems.

Photo Source: activerain.com

Photo Source: City of Oakland

10 BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

T here’s no doubt Oa k la nd faces cha l lenges, but it s numerous beautiful parks (that put the “Oak” in Oakland), incredible diversity, vibrant arts scene and other t reasures reig n supreme. Ta ke a wa l k a round L a ke Merritt on a sunny day and you’ll see what we mean by diversity. You’ll likely see gays and straights, people of all nationalities, age groups and interests. It’s a microcosm of America.

In this issue, we present the city in the words of some of its leaders, residents and business owners:

Photo Source: engageoakland.com

Photo Source: Oakland Zoo

Photo Source: bringfido.com

By Rebecca Kaplan Oa k land is home to o n e o f o u r n a t i o n ’s highest concentrations of art ists, and relig ious cong regat ions – a nd lesbia n couples – i n A mer ica. We a re a city working to unite around common needs for publ ic s a fet y, e xpanded economic oppor t un it y and an i nclusive, t hr iv ing future. Oakland has a strong history of innovation fueled by diverse and active communities.

As Oakland’s f irst openly lesbian elected of f icial, I am proud that we have been recognized by T he Advocate as a lead ing cit y t hat is welcoming to our LBGT commun it y member s – honor i ng Oa kland as #11. To me, this recognition for Oakland is not just about st at ist ics, but it’s a lso t he spir it of mutua l respect t hat def ines a place almost half a million people call home.

Naming 15 cities across the countr y to be recognized in this way, i nc lud i n g ou r n at ion’s c apit a l , we’re in great company.

Jonathan Hutchison, Oakland Resident: I moved to Oakland because the weather is better – a big consideration. It’s warmer! Buying a house with a yard is easier in the East Bay, and I don’t think it is distinctively different from San Francisco in terms of acceptance and accessibility. I do think Oakland can be misunderstood due to lack of awareness, but there are many options here and it’s easy to bike around.

Dan Ashbrook, Development Director, Lavender Seniors: The reason Oakland is so LGBT friendly is the proximity to San Francisco. If you’re looking for an affordable place to live, you’re not going to stay in San Francisco. The migration is a pattern that hasn’t stopped for decades. There’s also the diversity. Oakland is diverse all the way around – Asian, African American, LGBT – every kind of community is here and welcoming.

Oakland is inclusive and has a lot of art and culture. It’s recreation-friendly and adjacent to Berkeley. We’ve got Oakland Pride now, which is familyfriendly, senior-friendly and fun to attend.

Lake Merritt is a great place to go and take a walk or rent a boat or have lunch. We have great restaurants in all the little districts of Oakland plus the Paramount and Fox Theaters.

It’s a fascinating list that includes big cities like Seattle and St. Louis and intriguing f inalists like Salt Lake City and Spokane.

T he Advocate must enjoy Oa k land’s fr iend ly r ivalry with San Francisco, g iv i ng t hem ‘ hono r a b l e m e n t i o n’ a n d bestowing upon us the well-deser ved kudos t h a t “ O a k l a n d i s no less v ibra nt, yet more d iver se a nd a f for d able.” We’r e c e r t a i n l y p r o u d t o b e L B GTfr iend ly, artist-fr iendly, welcoming to people of a l l races, backg r ou nd s a nd r el i g ion s , a nd we are expanding smart growth and busi ness oppor t u n it y. O u r bu rgeon i ng a r t s a nd enter t a inment d ist r ict i ncludes v ibra nt d i n i ng and nightlife, and is home to LG BT- ow ned venues l i ke B ench & Bar and Club 21. And our LGBTowned small businesses go beyond n ight l ife, of fer ing reta i l opt ions like the sex-positive Feelmore 510 and neighborhood bookstore Laurel Books.

T he Advocate notes that a big part of why 15 cities uniquely caught their eye has to do with welcoming Nathalie Huerta, President & CEO, The Perfect Sidekick: I love being a lesbian in Oakland because I feel embraced. I can rock my Mohawk and get compliments instead of complaints.

The women are hot and they have depth...and they’re everywhere.

What’s this talk that women don’t really have anywhere to go??? We’re all over the damn city! I spy lesbians everywhere I go in Oakland. And even those “straight” ones are...hmm, well, not so straight! Oh, and let me not forget... the 10 degree increase in weather in Oakland. Higher quantity of women, plus better weather...buh-bye San Francisco. I’ll see you for my yearly pilgrimage to SF Pride!

Kristie Y., Owner, Fresh Fuel: Oakland is known for its grassroots history and that opens the door for those who want to start something.

That means it’s good for entrepreneurs and my business partner and I have a new sandwich shop. It’s a small café called Fresh Fuel that’s right in Oakland City Center.

I definitely see Oakland as the new next big city. There are so many great restaurants and cafes and people who are different cohabitating in the same neighborhood. It works!

all aspects of our lives. “Being a great LGBT city doesn’t just mean having a raucous nightlife,” they w r ite. It’s an impor tant d ist inct ion, because Oa k land suppor ts a n L GBT com mu n it y made up of people of all races and classes, includ ing many who are ra ising children, and supporting interests f rom med it at ion to com mu n it y gardening, business networking to different kinds of dance.

So when we worked with communit y leaders to re-star t Oa k land PR IDE in 2010, we intentionally sought to create a space that has c h a r a c t e r a n d t r u l y w e l c o me s O a k l a nd . A nd we s uc c e s s f u l l y created a fest iva l t hat wa s f u n, a l l-ages -fr iend ly a nd now i n it s third year. It will take place again i n 2013 (st ay i n for med at Oa klandPride.org).

But it’s not the social or consumer opportunities for the LGBT community alone that make Oakland friendly.

T h i s n e w ho nor fo l l o w s g r e a t press we’ve received recently that notes not only the potential of our city, but also its promise and what we’ve achieved together already.

Michael LeBlanc, Founder/ Principal of Picán restaurant: Oakland is for those who are a bit hipper and more soulful. This city has so much to offer. We are like a coupe versus San Francisco’s sedan. And right now, people just seem to want to drive that coupe or convertible more.

Peggy Moore, Organizing for America: For me, Oakland is deeply rooted in lesbian history. Oakland also is a place that’s friendly. Many of us come from different places, and it reminds me of home. It’s a place you want to be. It’s cozy and it exudes great energy.

I love Oakland and have always been a champion for it. Among my favorite places are Sidebar restaurant at Lake Merritt where I go for cocktails with my girlfriend, Z Café, Brown Sugar Kitchen, and Peet’s Coffee on Lake Shore Drive is my special place – where Sistahs Steppin’ in Pride began and where we went every morning for seven years. I also recommend The Perfect Sidekick, a new lesbian gym and fitness center.

L a s t ye a r, T h e N e w Yo r k T i m e s named Oakland the 5 th most desirable cit y to v isit in the world.

L ondon wa s # 4 a nd Tok yo wa s #6. From boating on the lake to rooting for our sports teams, our city is harnessing our natural surroundings with great community energ y to build a stronger future.

Oa k land’s leaders a nd residents a l i ke a re more com m it ted t ha n ever to expanding economic oppor t un it y for a l l. A nd, just la st week , ou r C it y C ou nc i l u n a n imously approved three important measures to improve public safety in our community.

We a r e a l so a com mu n it y t h at knows our work is not complete, i nc lud i n g t he ne e d t o s u p p or t st r uggl ing LGBT yout h, including the homeless, and continuing to ex pand econom ic and educat ion a l op p or t u n it y t h r ou g hout O a k l a nd . T he s e g o a l s r e qu i r e t h at we wor k t o g et her for ou r common future.

Mov ing for ward w it h major development projects like Coliseum Cit y, for ex a mple, w i l l i mprove the fan experience at our sporting and entertainment events, create t housa nd s of jobs a nd gener ate funds to improve impor tant ser-

vices like public safety. And transformat ive rev italizat ion of areas like the Army Base will create the kinds of jobs that will strengthen our community’s middle class.

W hen I ra n for re- elect ion la st year, our theme was “Oakland on the Rise.” It was meant to represent the type of commitment to a stronger future and depth of purpose that we must share in order to shepherd our success. When we’re not iced for bei ng a cit y t hat is friendly to members of the LGBT communit y, it’s fundamentally a positive ref lection on the incredible quality of the people who live here and work to move us forward.

R ebecca Kaplan represents the entire City of Oakland as its Councilmember At-Large and serves as Council President Pro Tempore. She was elected in November 2008 and became Oakland’s f irst out lesbian elected of f icial . Reelected in 2012, Rebecca is committed to improving quality of life by restoring public safety, expanding economic opportunity and rebuilding trust in gove r nme nt . S he hol d s a B .S . f rom the Massachusetts Institute of Technolog y, a M. A. from Tufts University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School.

Tamara Chukes, Owner/ Operator, Lulamae Bakes and 1014 Coffee House & Beer Garden:

Cindie Leitman, Financial Planner, LPL Financial: Oakland has a large LGBT community, mostly coupled up. It is a draw to our community because it has great restaurants, great weather, good theater and cinemas. It is centrally located with an easy commute to the airports, SF, the mountains and the sea.

My favorite neighborhood is Montclair Village, where I live with my partner, Vicky. We have been here since 1997 when we bought our home together. We can see the bay from our patio, which is shaded by our wonderful oak tree named Siri.

There is a great Farmer’s market every Sunday in the Village All of the restaurants in Oakland’s Uptown are worth visiting, as well as the The Bistro in Montclair for a special occasion. Jack London Square is a great place to have a meal and walk along the estuary between Oakland and Alameda. It’s just beautiful. Perhaps the best thing about Oakland is its cultural diversity and all that brings in terms of ethnic food, clothing, and traditions. One of our very favorite places in Oakland is the Center for Spiritual Living, a spiritual community that celebrates all of the world’s great religious traditions and joins them all together in a place of love and joy.

There’s such a great sense of community in Oakland. Everyone helps each other. You can really feel the love.

Everyone wants you to succeed. The networking is great and I feel so welcomed. Everyone is proud and you know who we are in the LGBT community. It feels good.

Barbara Zoloth, Founder, North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association: Oakland is delightfully queer friendly.

Our primary recreational activity is partner dancing, and Oakland is the epicenter in the Bay Area for same-sex partner dance.

The Lake Merritt Dance Center, owned by the City of Oakland, hosts more same-sex queer friendly dance events than any other dance venue I know of in the Bay Area. Oakland has hosted Sistahs Steppin in Pride. We have no fear of being queer in this town. For lesbians, we recommend the Laurel district, Montclair, and Park Blvd as especially welcoming neighborhoods. We just moved to a home off of Golf Links, and our neighbors never missed a beat in welcoming us.

Lake Photo Source: Brad Greenlee BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 21, 2013 11

Individual Actions Can Produce Indivisible Treasures ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Succumb to your subconscious, Aries. Secrets that once lived behind the scenes are revealing themselves subtly but surely. Set aside space to receive messages that are sounding from your soul.

LEO (July 23 – August 22) Intense changes have shaken you to the core. Don’t wait for the dust to settle, Leo. Embrace useful remnants of your past in order to build bedrock for your future.

better.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Your charm factor is off the charts now, and the social scene has taken notice. There’s no need to exaggerate expectations now, Taurus. It’s best to under-commit and over-deliver.

Astrology Gypsy Love The art of quilting dates back centuries, serving many important purposes across various cultures.

Women – and sometimes men – would gather in communion, crafting colorful creations to clothe their families, adorn their homes, generate income, and capture precious stories passed down through generations. Astro-rhythms currently emphasize our duties as cosmic quilters. Consider how your heartfelt expression contributes to a collective masterpiece. Sewn together, our individual actions produce indivisible treasures.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) As frustrating as it can be, current career discontentment could be just the catalyst you need to launch positive changes in the workplace. Are you up to the challenge, Gemini?

CANCER (June 21 – July 22) The time is ripe for refining your creative process.

Break free from barricades that smother your senses, and set the stage for imagination to shine through. Value your vision, Cancer. .

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) Authority figures and intimate partners must respect guidelines if they’re to benefit from your good deeds, Virgo. Enrich important relationships by being selective about where you invest precious energy.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) Rewire your daily routine to increase your efficiency proficiency. Minor tweaks could yield major peaks, Libra. Reinforce your finances and enhance harmony at the office by working smarter, not harder.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21) Self-expression assumes a whole new meaning now, Scorpio. Playful impulses and artistic flair make way for profound personal discovery. Your supersonic powers of attraction are just an added bonus.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21) Racked by restlessness, Sagittarius? Take on a new a home improvement project. There’s a dreamy designer inside who’s yearning to activate your chi.

Even rearranging your furniture could prove uplifting.

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) This is an ideal time to pitch your most innovative ideas, Capricorn. Others are intrigued by what’s packed in your bandwagon, and they’ll willingly hop onboard. Choose your words tactfully.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) Your career environment is evolving, Aquarius.

Quiet your nerves by taking the time to re-stitch minor holes in your safety net. The universe will take it from there.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20) As waves of change wash on, you’re anxious to stay afloat. There’s no need to remain above sea level, Pisces. Your state of being longs for new beginnings.

Take a swim.

www.AstrologyByGypsyLove.com

Gypsy Love’s astrology readings have helped 1000’s of people attract what they authentically desire.

As Heard on the Street . . .

compiled by Rink

AL L PHOTOS BY RIN K

What do you think is the gayest thing about Oakland? Do you have recommendations of places and things to enjoy in Oakland?

Brad Niess

Billy Lawley

Brett Vaughn

Tim Tait

“The Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus. Lake Merritt for people watching.”

“Oakland is a diverse city where gay and straight are not seen as different but simply as people.”

“Oakland is the most diverse city in America. Lake Merritt!”

“The Bench and Bar!”

12 BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

Arts&Entertainment “Side Effects” Irresponsibly Equates Lesbianism with Villainy ters. Their crimes have nothing to do with their passions.

Film

Gary M. Kramer It’s a bit of a spoiler to reveal that the film Side Effects contains a surprise queer twist in which a lesbian couple tries to outwit the law. The revelation is really so Deathtrap, and it has a more damaging side effect than the film’s “Will they or won’t they get away with it?” plot.

The lesbians are venal. Their relationship is more about financial benefit than any hint of actual love. When one character guesses that another woman “likes girls,” she uses that information to her advantage, seducing the closeted gal and embroiling her in multiple crimes. She never acknowledges being queer herself. She uses sexuality to lure her coconspirator.

It’s irresponsible that Side Effects writer Scott Z. Burns and director Steven Soderbergh equate sexuality with villainy.

Moreover, the film’s lesbian scenes generate unintentional laughs. A f lashback shows one of the women posing seductively, while other scenes feature teasing near-lip-locks that come across as ludicrous. When the women do embrace and start to undress, their impending coitus is interrupted — but not before a few kisses and clinches are actually shown. The scene wreaks of exploitation without any true exploration of the charac-

Rooney Mara, who stars in Side Effects, received considerable exposure and recognition and an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of bisexual Lisbeth Salander in the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. In that film, Rooney played a morally challenged character, but Lisbeth’s violent behavior — which included exacting a nasty revenge on her rapist — was gratifying because the punishment she meted out fit the crime. Her sexuality was part of what informed her view of what she suffered as well as how she reacted; it was not simply dropped into the plot as a device to sensationalize the story.

There is no reason gay and lesbian characters, of course, cannot or should not be evil on screen. In fact, some of the best queer films feature villains. The lesbian classic Bound, directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski — Lana then still living as Larry — had lesbian lovers outwitting the mob, and it was sexy, stylish, and satisfying as hell.

New Queer Cinema also offered great killer gay couples. Gregg Araki’s The Living End featured two angry HIVpositive lovers on the lam who go on a murderous crime spree to act up and lash out in an anarchic “f--- you” to the world. Tom Kalin’s Swoon was a vivid reimagining of the Leopold and Loeb “thrill-kill” case (also portrayed in Compulsion and loosely, as well, in Rope), where the lovers bond over their murder of a young boy only to have the crime undo them.

And as recently as 2009, there was the fabulous screwball conman comedy I Love You Phillip Morris that chronicled the great — albeit illegal — lengths a gay man ( Jim Carrey) would go to be with the man he loves (Ewan McGregor). For some queer villains, like

Side E ffect s: Roon ey Mara

the gay couple in the muy caliente Argentine drama Burnt Money, the best way to show how much you love your partner is to break the law.

But love is not the issue in Side Effects, which will remind many viewers of the brouhaha 20 years ago when Paul Verhoeven’s Basic Instinct portrayed bisexual Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone) as a murderous sociopath.

The principle is the same with Soderbergh’s film. The LGBT community should be asking, “Why are the villainous characters lesbian?” In 2010, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Biutiful featured gay Asian characters trafficking in humans. The villains’ sexuality was not developed beyond being a symbol of their bad behavior, yet that issue went largely un-discussed.

Side Effects might well similarly skate by without the scrutiny it deserves on this point.

When protests do happen, as when gay groups responded to Buffalo Billthe serial killer in Silence of the Lambs, they can be effective in raising awareness of how queer characters are too often treated in film. William Friedkin’s Cruising also drew harsh criticism for the way the gay leather scene was portrayed.

Even queer f ilmmakers can f ind themselves on the receiving end of a backlash. Todd Verow’s daring and provocative 1995 adaptation of Dennis Cooper’s Frisk provoked controversy, protest, and, at a queer festival in San Francisco, a near riot, which is perhaps what a queer film about killing should do. But the outrage was directed more at the film’s realistic, fetishized sexual violence, not its same-sex nature per se. And remember, Charlize Theron won an Oscar for playing lesbian serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, proving

there can be great portrayals, done with artistic integrity, of bad queers.

Hollywood has long featured queer villains. Hitchcock had plenty of gay killers (often played by gay actors) in films ranging from North By Northwest and Psycho to Strangers on a Train and Rope. And like the memorable queer villain George Macready played in Gilda, the sexuality of these characters was evident, but not determinative. It may have informed or enhanced their sinister nature, but it was not the reason for their bad behavior. The same could be said about one of the more noteworthy queer villains in recent film, Javier Bardem’s fey, gay Bond bad guy, Silva, in Skyfall.

If only Side Effects had developed its femme fatales better, maybe viewers would root for them, rather than boo them. © 2013 Gary M. Kramer

Do You Dream in Color? – Laurie Rubin

Inspiring LGBTQ Prof iles Kathleen Archambeau “I dream of the red gown I’ll wear on stage … I dream of my lover’s black hair. I dream in all the colors of the rainbow.”

Laurie Rubin (1979- ) Blind Lesbian Mezzo Soprano Author and Co-Founder of Ohana Arts Festival & School

Born blind, L.A. native Laurie Rubin hasn’t had the easiest path to stardom. Supported by beloved grandparents and parents, Rubin did go to Oberlin College, and then on to Yale for degrees in music and English. But many opera directors in New York City wouldn’t consider her, fearing she could not navigate the stage or that it would be too much trouble to direct a blind opera singer. Mentors and champions, like local opera singer and world-renowned mezzo soprano Frederica Von Stade, encouraged Rubin to stay the course and it has paid off with solo performances at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall in London and the White House.

Composer Bruce Adolphe said that when he “first heard Laurie Rubin sing, I immediately realized we have a world-class artist here.” NY Times chief classical music critic Anthony Tommasini says that Rubin possesses “compelling artistry” and “communicative power.” L.A. Times critic Josef

Woodard has lauded Rubin’s “charismatic, multi-textured performance.”

out in October of 2012. It traces Laurie Rubin’s extraordinary life.

Opera and music provided the doorways to connectedness. In college, she found with her fellow music students that “we are all connected because we have this mutual love of music and opera.”

Rubin is feisty and that has helped the 33 year-old transcend many potential barriers –being a lesbian, blind and a woman. Her guide dog, a Labradoodle named Popeye, accompanies her everywhere. The independent Rubin and her former guide dog Mark traversed all over New York City, navigating busy streets and subways.

Impertinent gawkers assumed that, because Rubin was blind, she was also helpless, which she is not. Rubin applies her own make-up and makes her own jewelry.

Rubin and her partner of 10 years, fellow classical musician and native Hawaiian Jenny Taira, co-founded Ohana Arts, a performing arts festival and school in Honolulu. Ohana means “family” in Hawaiian, and the co-founders want to promote peace and world friendship through the universal language of the arts.

Rubin and Taira wrote a song called “The Girl I Am,” which urges girls to believe “in yourself so much...dream big and always pursue your dream.”

Rubin’s memoir Do You Dream in Color: Insights From a Girl Without Sight came

Her gay older brother paved the way to parental acceptance. Her mother thought her lesbianism just a phase and worried that it would negatively impact her appearances and opportunity to perform. Clearly, that has not happened. Rubin is now in residence at the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, CA, until March 17th

2013. Soon, San Francisco Bay Area opera buffs and music lovers will be able to see Laurie Rubin perform at the very affordable Smith Center, Ohlone College, Fremont, for under $20. The performance is on Saturday, March 9th, 8 p.m. Run, don’t walk, to order your tickets.

And yes. She does dream in color.

BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 21, 2013 13

Round About in Photos

Bay Times Design Director Ayana Baltrip Balagas with sculptor and jewelry designer Javier Perez at the Hamburg Ballet performance of Nijinsky at LGBT Nite Out at the SF Ballet. (Photo by Karolina Fido/karolinafido.com)

Hamburg Ballet principal dancer Sasha Alexander and Hamburg Ballet stylist and dresser Karolina Fido at the Hamburg Ballet performance of Nijinsky at LGBT Nite Out at the SF Ballet. (Photos by Ayana Baltrip Balagas)

Celebrate Art school founders Kate Denis and Gin Langan at the Hamburg Ballet performance of Nijinsky at LGBT Nite Out at the SF Ballet.

(Photo by Ayana Baltrip Balagas)

Husbands Joe Alfano and Frank Capley, together for 13 years, at the Marriage Equality Valentine’s Day rally and protest. (Photo by Rink)

Opera House Concierge Martin Dias at the Hamburg Ballet performance of Nijinsky at LGBT Nite Out at the SF Ballet.

(Photo by Ayana Baltrip Balagas)

More than 100 participants joined in the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day March from City Hall to Glide Memorial Church.

(Photo by Rink)

The global “Rise! Rally to Walk Out, Dance, Rise Up and Demand an End to Vlolence Against Women and Girls,” a worldwide protest with more than a billion participants, attracted hundreds of women to City Hall on Valentine’s Day. (Photo by Rink)

Betty Yamaguchi and Lynda Gates from Los Banos attended the Marriage Equality rally and protest at City Hall on Valentine’s Day. (Photo by Rink)

Love Bites, the annual Lesbian/Gay Chorus’ hilarious anti-Valentines show at the Mission Cultural Center on February 8. (Photo by Rink) 14 BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

Assemblyman Phil Ting, with Equality California’s Alice Kessler and Supervisor Mark Farrell, speaking at a press conference announcing AB 362, legislation that, if passed, will provide tax relief for employees who receive reimbursement from employers for federal taxes they pay on healthcare benefits for their same-sex partner and dependents.

(Photo courtesy of Colleen Beamish)

Round About in Photos

Newly crowned Kipppy Marks and Queen Tita Tipata of Krewe de Kinque with event founder Gary Virginia at the Masked Ball at the Arc. (Photo by Rink)

Candidate for Empress Danielle Logan with supporters campaigning in the Castro. (Photo by Steven Underhill)

A scene from Love Bites, the annual Lesbian/Gay Chorus of SF’s anti-Valentines show at the Mission Cultural Center. (Photo by Rink)

Cajun Saybeline with Donna Sachet at the Krewe de Kinque Masked Ball. (Photo by Rink)

Patti McGroin, candidate for Empress, and supporters campaigning for votes near the intersection of Market and Castro. (Photo by Steven Underhill) Bartenders Zaq, Sofonda Boyz and Ginger Snap at the Krew de Kinque Masked Ball. (Photo by Rink)

Bevan Dufty, honoree Stu Smith (Bay Times columnist) and Smith’s partner Dave Earl at the Shanti Project Tribute to Stu hosted by Donna Sachet. (Photo by Rink)

AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF) and Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF) executive director Mike Smith with BECF development manager Juliana Cochnar at the AEF/BCEF Volunteer Appreciation Party at Eureka Valley Rec Center. (Photo by Rink)

Lazy Bear Weekend celebrants in The Castro.

(Photo by Rink)

Volunteer Kelly Hart and AEF board member Lance Holman at the AEF/BCEF Volunteer Appreciation Party.

(Photo by Rink)

Derek Brockhurst, Jonathan Foulk and Stachaun at the AEF/BCEF Volunteer Appreciation Party.

(Photo by Rink)

BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 21, 2013 15

compiled by Robert Fuggiti

See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com

The Color Run will take place at Candlestick Park on Saturday, March 2. (Photo: www.thecolorrun.com)

Gym Class – Hi Tops. Free. 10 pm. (2247 Market St.) www. hitopssf.com. Enjoy a night of fun at Castro’s only gay sports bar.

Women’s Open Mic Night –

Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club. $10. 7:30 pm. (1650 Mountain Blvd., Oakland) www.voiceslce.org.

A showcase of all types of female talent with this month’s feature, “Voices Lesbian Choral Ensemble.”

Noise Pop Nightlife – California Academy of Sciences.

$12. 6 pm to 10 pm. (55 Music Concourse Dr.) www.noisepop. com. In honor of Noise Pop’s 21st birthday, NightLife presents “Now that You’re 21, Let’s Talk Liquor,” an in-depth look at the origins behind the booze behind the bar, and the botany that goes into it.

Flashback Fridays – Bench and Bar. $5. 9 pm to 2 am. (510 17th St., Oakland) www.bench-and-bar.com.

Playing the best of old school music, fourth Friday of the month.

pm. (Chinatown, San Francisco) www.sanfranciscochinatown.com.

Enjoy one of the best parades in the world and celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Napa Valley Gala – Robert Mondavi Winery. $99. 5 pm. (7801 St. Helena Highway, Oakville, Napa Valley) www.napatelecast.com. The Napa Valley will present a Silver Salute to the Silver Screen at the

25th Anniversary of the Napa Valley Academy Awards Telecast Viewing Party.

Salsa Sundays – El Rio. $10. 3 pm to 8 pm. (3158 Mission St.) www.elriosf.com. Enjoy live music and dancing every second and fourth Sunday.

Shangri-La – Endup. $20. 10 pm to 6 am. (401 6th St.) www.theendup.com. Keep the party going late into the night at this monthly dance party.

Sissy Strut – Underground SF. Free. 10 pm to 2 am. (424 Haight St.) www.undergroundsf.com. A dance party playing jams from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

Cassandra Wilson – Yoshi’s. $45. 8 pm. (1330 Fillmore St.) www.yoshis.com. Cassandra Wilson is a jazz musician and vocalist famous for incorporating blues, country and folk music into her work.

2013 Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt – Justin Herman Plaza. $45. 4:30 pm to 9 pm. (Justin Herman Plaza) www.sftreasurehunts.com. A challenging treasure hunt played on the streets of Chinatown, North Beach, and Telegraph Hill.

Enjoy the annual Chinese New Year Parade afterwards.

La Bota Loca – Club 21. $5. 9 pm to 4 am. (2111 Franklin St.) www.club21oakland.com. A weekly latino dance party with hot go-go dancers and strong drinks.

Chinese New Year Parade – San Francisco’s Chinatown. Free. 5 16 BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

“Pageant the Musical” will be at the Victoria Theatre through March 9. (Photo: Kent Taylor)

Mahogany: Drag Variety Show – Midnight Sun. Free. 9 pm.

(4067 18th St.) www.midnightsunsf. com. Enjoy $5 Absolut cocktails and exciting drag shows every Monday.

The Creation of a Classic: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – The Walt Disney Family Museum. $10. 10 am to 5 pm. (104 Montgomery St.) www.waltdisney. org. An exhibit that celebrates the creation of Disney’s first featuredlength animated film.

LGBTQ Support Group – Petaluma Health Center. Free. 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. (1179 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma) www.phealthcenter.org. A positive support group for the LGBTQ community in Petaluma. Meetings every Monday.

Wright discusses “Going Clear” with Mark Danner.

RuPaul’s Drag Race Viewing Party – Toad Hall. Free. 9:30 pm.

(4146 St.) www.toadhallbar.com.

Enjoy the return of Drag Mondays at Toad Hall and watch RuPaul’s Drag Race every Monday evening.

The News – SomArts. $5. 7:30 pm to 9 pm. (934 Brannan St.) www.somarts.org. A monthly spotlight of queer performances and artists.

How I Came Out – Rebel. $10. 8 pm to 10 pm. (1760 Market St.) www.rebel-sf.com. The Hella Gay Comedy Show series presents a variety of monologues featuring LGBT performers sharing their coming out stories.

Cock and Bull Mondays – Hole in the Wall Saloon. Free. 8 pm to 2 am. (1369 Folsom St.) www. holeinthewallsaloon.com. Enjoy an easy-going crowd and drink specials all night.

Easy – The Edge SF. Free. 7 pm to 2 am. (4149 18th St.) www.edgesf. com. Enjoy $1 well drink specials and a fun-loving crowd.

March Make Contact – Under One Roof. Free for members/$10 for non-members. 6 pm to 8 pm.

(595 Castro St.) www.ggba.com. A monthly networking event for LGBT and allied professionals.

Sticky Wednesdays – The Café. Free. 8 pm. (2369 Market St.) www.cafesf.com. A new weekly party with drag performances, themed photo shoot and go-go boys.

BHP: Bernal History Group – Bernal Heights Library. Free. 7 pm to 8:30 pm. (500 Cortland Ave.) www.sfpl.org. Discuss and share information about the history of Bernal Heights.

Stay Gold – Public Works. $5. 10 pm to 2 am. (161 Erie St.) www. publicsf.com. Get down on the dance floor with music from resident DJ Pink Lightning and DJ Rapid Fire.

Shanti Winter Happy Hour Social – Triptych. Free. 5:30 pm to 8 pm. (1155 Folsom St.) www.shanti.org. Join Shanti volunteers, staff, and supporters for our Winter Happy Hour Social.

Wish – OMG! Club. Free. 9 pm.

(43 6th St.) www.clubomgsf.com.

DJ DrewBad plays top 40’s and Hip Hop beats long into the night.

Movie Night at the Center – LGBT Community Center. Free. 4 pm. (1800 Market St.) www.sfcenter.org. Enjoy a free LGBT-themed movie screening on the last Thursday of every month.

From Foreign Lands – War Memorial Opera House. $20-$325.

8 pm. (301 Van Ness Ave.) www. sfballet.org. The SF Ballet’s LGBT Nite Out Series presents “From Foreign Lands,” a world premiere

by Alexei Ratmansky. Use promo code “Nite2013” for a discount.

Pageant the Musical – The Victoria Theatre. $25. 8 pm. (1961 16th St.) www.robbie-wayne-productions.com. A cheeky, drag-tastic adventure through the hilarious world of beauty contests.

The 2013 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon will begin at Marina Green on March 3. (Photo: Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon) 2013 Leather Alliance Weekend – Mr. S Leather. $79. 5 pm to 7 pm. (385 8th St.) www.

2013 Escape from Alcatraz leatheralliance.org. Kick off the Triathlon – Marina Green. $20.

Leather Alliance Weekend with a 7:30 am. (Marina Green) www. contestant meet and greet. Enjoy escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com. other ongoing festivities at particiHundreds of top athletes from pating locations through March 3. around the world will take over the streets and bay waters of San Francisco for the 33rd Annual Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.

The Color Run 5k – Jock – Lookout. $2. 3 pm to 9 pm.

Candlestick Park. $50. 10 am.

(3600 16th St.) www.lookoutsf.

(Candlestick Park) www.thecolorcom. A weekly fundraising party for run.com. The Color Run is a one-of Bay Area LGBT sports groups.

-a-kind experience that is less Free Yoga Flow – Dolores Park. about speed and more about a colFree. 11 am. (Dolores Park) www. orful day with friends and family. facebook.com/ Mark Etheredge and Band – 216863765075745. A weekly free Metropolitan Community Church. class in support of the Purusha $15. 7:30 pm. (150 Eureka St.) Seva Project, a non-profit www.marketheredge.com. San organization based in San Francisco Francisco resident and Adult that offers yoga, life skills, mindful Contemporary recording artist Mark eating and holistic health education Etheredge will appear in concert.

Toro Y Moi – The Independent. $22. 7:30 pm. (628 Divisadero) www.theindependentsf.com. Singersongwriter Toro Y Moi delivers his unique sound in a captivating performance. Also March 1.

Meow Mix – The Stud. Free. 9 pm. (399 9th St.) www.studsf.com.

A weekly cabaret variety show with drink specials.

LGBT Delegates From Collections Around the World – GLBT History Museum. $5. 6 pm to 8 pm. (4127 18th St.) www.glbhistory.org. Graphic panels and videos of materials from around the world come together to tell vivid stories of both LGBT lives and the archival collections

honoring them. Through May 2013.

Sex and the City: Live! – Rebel. $20. 7 pm and 9 pm. (1760 Market St.) www.trannyshack.com. Enjoy two live performances featuring episodes from the iconic TV show.

Staring Heklina, D’Arcy Drollinger, Lady Bear, Trixxie Carr.

BINGO – The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center. $15 to play. 7 pm. (938 Alameda, San Jose) www.defrank.org. Early game starts at 6:30 pm.

Play with BeBe – Harvey’s.

Free. 8 pm. (500 Castro St.) www. harveyssf.com. BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly trivia game with drink specials and prizes.

Lawrence Wright – Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Free. 7 pm.

(2025 Addison St.) www.berkeleyrep.com. Pulitzer-winner Lawrence

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BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 21, 2013 17

(HEKLINA continued from page 6) Reflecting momentarily as we parted, she said, “I think that drag queens are still the eunuch clown that’s safe to laugh at. It’s definitely not shocking anymore, so I don’t know if America’s really embraced it. The early 90’s was when RuPaul emerged and it was the first time any drag queen had mainstream exposure. I don’t really see a drag queen breaking through like that again.”

Francisco and half jokingly says that given the power, she would jail Tea Bag Republicans for kidnapping and holding hostage the majority of America.

Her enduring colleagues on stage locally include Peaches Christ, Matthew Martin, Pollo Del Mar, Cookie Dough, Mike Finn, Lady Bear, Trixie Carr, Putanesca, D’Arcy Drollinger, Leigh Crow, Jordan Wheeler and countless other talented performers.

I have a feeling that statement is way too premature. Heklina is an enduring and emerging talent that will continue bringing drag to the sea of social change, ensuring that audiences won’t soon be dumbed down by the predictable and safe. Thanks to artists like Heklina, drag will continue shining a light toward the future.

Asked for a favorite quote, Heklina shot back without pause: “I don’t want to go to heaven. None of my friends are there.” (Oscar Wilde) She quickly followed that with another Wilde quote: “Be yourself. Everybody else is already taken.”

(SISTER DANA continued from page 5)

by King Kippy for a boisterous bar crawl throughout the City. If you want to become a KdK member, check out sf k inque.com! Tell ‘em Queen VII Sister Dana sent ya!

For a nyone who had a Va len t i n e ’s D a y t h a t s u c k e d (a n d not i n t he good w ay), L E SBI A N/G AY C HORU S OF S A N F R A NCISCO of fered t he 10t h annual LOVE BITES at the Mission Cultural Center. Emceed by the naively pro-romance LGCSF Artistic and Music Director William Sauerland and the cynically a nt i - r o m a n c e for me r d i r e c t or Stepha n ie Ly n ne Sm it h, it wa s a c a b a r e t o f s n e e r i n g , s c or n ful anti-sentimental soloists and chor isters w it h “ Dow n w it h Love,” “Shadenfreude,” “Beauty S c ho ol D r o p out ,” “ My Fu n k y Va lent ine,” Scott Turco soloing “Closer,” Joh n Gu l lot to crooning “Cruel to Be K ind,” “These B o ot s A r e M a de for Wa l k i ng ” stomped by Rachyl Under wood, “Taylor t he L at te Boy ” in h igh tenor by Howard M iller, “P imp You Out” w ith Mark Etheridge, a nd t he Chor us i n t hei r colorf u l beachwea r i n a k idd ie pool s i n g i n g “ G o n n a Wa s h T h a t Man Right Outta My Hair” and “Stacy’s Mom” w it h Jen Brow n soloing.

Act 2 began w ith Shane K rol l’s s olo of L i z a M i n ne l l i’s “ R i n g Them Bells” - dressed in a jinglebel l sh i r t , t hen C h i ca go’s “C el l B l o c k Ta n g o ” w i t h c e l l m a t e s A a r on B r e wer, A nd r e w F ie ld , John Gullotto, Ellen Miller, Howa rd M i l ler, a nd Ja n ice P lac ido pleading their murder cases. “In Short,” Wendy Tobias summed up a bad af fair, Noam Szoke soloed Joh n ny Ca sh’s “ F lu shed Dow n t he Toi let of You r Hea r t ,” L i z Kennedy was anything but sensitive in “Sensitive Song,” Fernando Ruelos soloed with Jack Curtis Dubowsky’s hilarious “Your New St upid Boy fr iend,” fol lowed by Tom McE l roy a nd S cot t Turco bemoa n ing t heir sex less “Relat ion sh- - .” Jen Brow n t he Hol iday Hot Dog growled Marianne Faithfull’s gruf f “Why’d You Do It?” Aaron Brewer - dateless on V-Day - soloed “A lone,” and the whole Chor us summed it a l l up with Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name.” A ll in all it was a fun poison arrow aimed at stupid Cupid and a perfect trashing of the usua l schma lt zy Ha l lmark card Valentine’s Day! The SH A NTI PROJECT’s volu nteer s a nd st a f f prov ide emo t iona l a nd pract ica l suppor t to S a n Fr a n c i s c o › s mo s t v u l n e r able individuals living with lifethreatening illness. Shant i and Don n a Sachet i nv ited fr iend s to A N EVENING CELEBR ATI NG S T U S M I T H a s we honored him with the title of Shanti B oa rd Cha i r E mer it us at Donna’s Imperial Palace. For over 20 years, Smith has been an invaluable member of the Shanti fami ly - as a volunteer, st a f f member, c l ient a nd boa rd member.

From 2010 to 2012, he served as 18 BAY TIM ES FEBRUA RY 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

Shanti’s tireless board chair, and as their leader, guided them with strength and conf idence through some of the most turbulent times for all nonprof its in SF and nat ionw ide. Present to laud Smith among many were Shanti Execut ive Director K aush i k Roy, Supervisor Scott Wiener, and Anna D a m i a n i a p p e a r i n g fo r S t a t e Senator Mark Leno. Congratulations, Stu! (Read Stu’s Bay Times column on page 6.)

PAGE A N T - THE M USICA L! plays Februar y 28 – March 9, 8 pm – ( T hur s., Fr i. & Sat.) l i mit e d e n g a g e me nt – t wo w e e k s on l y - T he V ic t or i a T he a t r e , 2961 16th Street and Capp. It’s a drag-tastic adventure through the bizarre world of beauty contest s . C heer for you r f avor ites as M iss West Coast, M iss Great P l a i n s , M i s s I ndu st r i a l Nor t heast, Miss Bible Belt, Miss Texas, a nd M i ss Deep S out h (a l l portrayed by men) sing, dance, and s c r at c h t hei r w ay t ow a r d s t he prest ig ious t it le of “M iss Glamou res se 2013.” Ti x (415) 4 077131. br ow npap er t ic ket s .c om / event/316620.

NEW CONSERVATORY THE AT R E C E N T E R i s pr ou d t o present the revival of THE LIS BON TR AVIATA by Terrence McNally, running Februar y 22 – March 24 at Decker Theatre, 25 Van Ness, Wednesdays - Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm.

M c N a l l y ’s w i t t y p i e c e p l a c e s t he t wo faces of cla ssic t heater - comedy and tragedy - in stark r e l ief. Mend y, a f l a mb oy a nt l y bitchy and v iciously w icked op era queen is on a quest for a very special recording of Maria Callas wh i le h is fr iend Stephen, a depressed literary editor and opera fanatic, is on the verge of losing h i s doctor lover to a con s iderably younger Columbia University student. Tix nctcsf.org, (415) 861-8972.

POP ROX

By K. Cole

BLUEMOR BLAZE “Free to Live” Sweet acoustic pop from this duo from Holland found its way to our Facebook page last week. The guitar work is exceptional, the vocal harmonies satisfying and the songs refreshing and frank. Yes, it does have that European feel, but it keeps this album from falling into that sad folk category so many American artists find themselves thrown into.

Best Cut: “Reopen the Road” Location: Happy dog walk at Funston

JANIS IAN “Society’s Child: My Autobiography” At seventeen she learned the truth and now in 2013, Janis Ian wins the Grammy this year for best spoken word album. Reading her autobiography for the audiobook released in 2012, hearing the stories of the generation that had no name for AIDS, no political rights, and virtual invisibility are invaluable.

Best Cut: “Chapter One” Location: Long drive on 5 to West Hollywood

MARK ORTEGA “Boystown” Chicago’s best electronic pop artist, Ortega, has released a single about coming out, naming local clubs and streets where the boys are many and the men are pretty. It’s a bit on the sugary side, but why not lean back and enjoy?

Best Cut: “Boystown” Location: Parking at Twin Peaks parking lot, midnight

I f you’r e a n e qu a l it y a c t i v i s t , don’t miss the SA N F R A NCIS C O E Q UA L I T Y AWA R D S at the Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St reet , Sat u rd ay, Febr ua r y 23,

by EQUA LITY CA LIFORNI A , 6pm reception, 7:30 dinner, 9:30 after-party. Tix eqcaawards.org.

SA N FR A NCISCO LIGHTS T H E WAY T O J U S T IC E: O n M a r c h 26 a nd 27, t he US Supreme Cour t w i l l hea r ora l a rg u ment s on t he const it ut iona lit y of t he Defense of M a r r iage Act ( DOM A) and Proposition 8.

From Seneca to Selma to Stonewall, our civil rights are tied together w ith the common thread of s o c i a l ju s t ic e. B e for e t h a t , there is a public meeting on Saturday, March 2 at MCC Church, 150 Eureka, 2pm - 4pm to brainstorm ideas for the SF Bay Area.

A ll are welcome.

Sister Dana sez, “I was disappointed with the President’s State of the Onion speech, with nary a mention of onions, shallots, or let alone White House leeks.”

JANINE JANSEN “Vivaldi: Four Seasons” We of the classical bend know this piece as overdone, and bombastically performed as if written in stone. Jansen has taken the scores, limited them to one player, one part, and whallah! Fresh and clean, all four seasons feel brand new. Thank you!

Best Cut: “Third Movement” Location: Get that vacuuming done!

- K Cole has been reviewing music for major publications since it came via snail mail on cassettes. Submissions to Pop Rox by local LGBT artists encouraged. Join on Facebook.com/Pop-Rox-Bay-Times-San Francisco or send it in to: K Cole, Attn: Pop Rox, 308 Jones Street, Ukiah, CA 95482. Katharinecole@yahoo.com.

Round About - Joey Arias’ “Love Swings” Photos by Steven Underhill Producer Marc Huestis invited New York superstar Joey Arias to perform

special g uest stars. A host of fashion models, some sporting st yles by

a unique show for Valentine’s Day at the Castro Theatre. Bay Times pho-

designer Mr. David, joined Joey on stage to congratulate the designer.

tographer Steven Underhill was there to capture images of the evening’s

Among other celebs at the VIP reception were digital artist A lejandro

festivities. Veronica K laus and Connie Champagne also performed as

Francheschi and partner Joel Leggett.

BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 21, 2013 19