Tribute to José Julio Sarria pages 10 and 11
September 5-18, 2013 | www.sfbaytimes.com
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The Bay Times joins with many this week who are pausing to remember José Julio Sarria, Absolute Empress I, The Widow Norton, storied founder of the international Imperial Court System who died on August 19. His life was joyous and his accomplishments were many. In Sarria’s memory, our front page presents Absolute Empress XXV Marlena and Absolute Empress XXX & Heir Apparent Donna Sachet as they appeared at the Empresses’ High Tea honoring Sarria and held in the Castro earlier this year. Please see the featured centerfold on the Imperial Court System, Pages 10-11, presenting a remembrance of Sarria, special to the Bay Times, by Empress Donna Sachet.
PHOTO BY RINK
Where We Are Spending Our Time and Money A few months ago, we invited you to participate in the 2013 LGBT Community Survey report created by Community Market & Insights (CMI). Thanks to all Bay Times readers who participated. Our group was among 30,000 individuals worldwide, representing more than 100 countries. The results of the survey are in. Here are some of the findings:
• 75% of LGBTs are actively boycotting Chick-fil-A.
• In the annual write-in brand recall section, Starbucks moved to the number one position of brands perceived as most supportive of the LGBT community. JCPenney, Target, Apple and Amazon round out the top five.
• The LGBT community demonstrates strong support of the performing arts, with over 60% having purchased tickets in the past 12 months.
• The term “LGBT” has strengthened its lead as the preferred term to describe our community. “GLBT” is continuing to lose favor, even among gay men. Bisexual men and women and the transgender community strongly prefer the term LGBT.
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Helping Tenants During Challenging Times Editor’s Note: Last month, LGBT leaders in San Francisco told the Bay Times that housing was at the top of the list of concerns for our community here in the Bay Area. Many readers have also expressed this directly to us. You spoke, and we listened! Today we launch a new column authored by noted tenant rights attorney Nancy M. Conway. She and her partner Mischelle Mandel head up a legal firm based in San Francisco, where housing problems can be particularly challenging.
Tenant Law Nancy M. Conway, Attorney at Law
The San Francisco Bay Area real estate market is hot, with housing in high demand and short supply. Property prices rose over 25% since last year and rents are off the charts. This volatile combination pressurizes landlord-tenant relations. As market rents rise, my practice gets busier. As a former SF Rent Board Hearing Officer and an experienced tenant rights attorney, I have observed (continued on page 18)
Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Marriages, Anniversaries & Occasions section. Inquire how your social announcement can appear free of charge, or how your wedding services ad can be included at a special rate: Publisher@sfbaytimes.com or 415-601-2113.
PHOTO BY GEORG LESTER PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO BY ANITA BOWEN
Wolfe Video founder and owner Kathy Wolfe, and Barbara Verhage, her partner of 21 years, were married at SF City Hall on August 23rd. This summer, Kathy spearheaded a crowdfunding campaign to support the national marriage equality organization, Freedom To Marry, by pulling together rewards from four LGBTowned companies: Wolfe Video, OneGoodLove.com, Sweet and Lesbian.com.
Peggy Moore, candidate for California State Assembly District 14, and Hope Wood were married in a high noon wedding on the shoreline of Lake Merritt in Oakland on July 29th. The happy couple, along with family members and friends, enjoyed a happy hour reception with dancing and cake cutting.
Herth Real Estate owners Larry Stebbins and Adrian Toscano were married in the SF City Hall rotunda. The couple has been together for a decade. In addition to their local business, they own and operate a Sotheby’s International Realty exclusive franchise in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Forging a New Destiny How do we discuss marriage with people who continue to think that same sex marriage is wrong? I don’t believe that explaining the historic facts around the biblical injunction would sway them. Nor would common sense rebuttals against “marriage being for the sole purpose of procreation.” What about couples, for example, who marry past their childbearing years, or who have no intention to have children? No matter how scholarly or well grounded the arguments for gay marriage may be, I don’t think this will help some people become more comfortable with it. And I think I know the reason for this…it has to do with The Yuck Factor.
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Most people outside of the LGBT community are used to heteronormative behaviors. For people who haven’t experienced love between two people of the same gender, it can be easy to consider same sex marriage as weird, abnormal and wrong. Intellectually, I can empathize with discomfort around gay marriage due to discomfort I have experienced in my own life. The thing that caused me to exclaim ‘yuck’ was snakes. Slimy, scaly, slippery do-ers of evil. The legend tells that a snake tricked Eve
to take a bite of the forbidden fruit. She tricked Adam, resulting in them (and by extension us) being thrown out of the Garden of Eden.
Weddings Howard Steiermann One day I took my then three-yearold nephew to the zoo. We saw the lions, the tigers and bears (oh my!). I’d never visited the children’s petting zoo until that day. It was just my luck that directly blocking the exit path was a teenage docent holding a snake, writhing up and down her left arm. Here I was, face to hissing face with one of my life’s nemeses. But damn if I was going to act like a wimp in front of my nephew, in front of the smiling docent, and in front of all these kids, eager to touch
the snake. So I cautiously moved my hand off my nephew’s stroller and toward the reptile. Wow, it wasn’t slimy! The scales felt kinda neat, and I realized that my fears were unfounded. Here was one of God’s creations, one that I could probably admire, since the docent said it could do something I had always wanted to do: ingest an entire chocolate chip cookie at once! Perhaps the analogy in being comfortable with gay marriage is as simple. While most people are attracted to the opposite gender, there are those of us who aren’t. I don’t know why. I doubt science will be able to provide an answer. And I won’t look in the bible for the answer. It simply is. How then do we get people past their unfounded fears and learn that there’s little, if no, substantive basis for The Yuck Factor? I believe it’s by us living our authentic lives…and by fighting for the rights to live our authentic lives based on the same (not similar, but the same) laws as the rest of the land. I am confident that one day in the not distant future, domestic partnerships will be a relic of the past and same sex marriage will be allowed in all 50 States. And one day even in Russia! So I offer my Mazel tov to those couples who plan on marrying. And for those of us who aren’t interested in, or are at a point in a relationship to consider, marriage, we can advocate to others why this is important and right for society. I look forward to wishing many, many couples “Best Wishes,” whether I am their Officiant or whether I am watching them celebrate their nuptials. Howard M Steiermann is an Ordained Ritual Facilitator based in San Francisco.
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State of Celebration A ll summer long, it has been amazing to see the marriage map changing day by day as weddings performed by county clerks in New Mexico and Pennsylvania have proven once again that the marriage equality landscape has completely changed since the landmark U.S. Supreme Court rulings this June. Watching joyful couples lining up in county after county has been a wonderful reminder of the power we have on the local level to create national change – a lesson we learned almost a decade ago on the steps of San Francisco City Hall. I n Febr uar y 20 04, when San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom opened the doors of City Hall to marry all loving couples regardless of gender, it jump-started a movement and began the journey that led up to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling this June that restored marriage equality in California. Mayor Newsom stated, “Laws are made to be broken at times to find out if they are really legit or not.” San Francisco also maintained in court that it was enforcing the California constitution’s guarantees of equal protection, and thus answering a higher call when it defied the state statute restricting marriage to oppositesex couples. Opponents of equality worried that the freedom to marry was spreading ‘like wildf ire,’ as 2004 saw marriage licenses granted in places as diverse as New Paltz, New York; Multnomah County, Oregon; Sandoval County, New Mexico; and in Massachusetts. The New Mexico marriages of 2013 began with an echo of the words of Gavin Newsom, as Doña Ana County Clerk Lynn Ellins declared, “I took an oath to uphold the Constitution.” Yet unlike in 2004, the marriages being performed in New Mexico today are not in defiance of state law; indeed, many of these marriages are taking place as a result of court orders finding it unconstitutional to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples. In fact, New Mexico marriage law does not specify gender – so rather than acts of defiance, these weddings are acts of compliance with the state constitution, which prohibits this discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the words of one
Marriage Equality John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, Marriage Equality USA court: “Gay and lesbian citizens of New Mexico have endured a long history of discrimination. Denial of the right to marry continues this unfortunate, intolerable pattern and establishes irreparable injury on plaintiff’s part.” Nat iona l ly, t he ma r r iages of 2013 are taking place in a transformed legal landscape thanks to the Windsor decision overturning Section 3 of DOMA – the U.S. Supreme Court holding that laws discriminating against married same-sex couples “have no legitimate purpose” and serve only to express “animus and disapproval,” which is not a constitutionally appropriate reason to make law. Justice Kennedy described couples with equal marriage rights as living “with pride in themselves and their union and in a status of equality with all other married persons.” All across the country, echoes of Windsor are reverberating at the local level. In Pennsylvania, Montgomery County Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples, with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in mind, saying “I decided to come down on the right side of
history and the law....” In Ohio, a federal judge ordered that state to honor the legal marriage of James Obergefell and John Arthur, who is dying of ALS, when the couple returned from their wedding in Maryland: “The purpose served by treating same-sex married couples differently than opposite-sex married couples is the same improper purpose that failed in Windsor and in Romer: ‘to impose inequality’ and to make gay citizens unequal under the law. It is beyond cavil that it is unconstitutionally prohibited to single out and disadvantage an unpopular group.” County by county, and wedding by wedding, we are seeing couples and clerks and judges bringing to life in their actions the words of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Windsor decision “to protect in personhood and dignity,” not just in marriage, but also in all aspects of our lives. Justice Kennedy wrote: “Responsibilities, as well as rights, enhance the dignity and integrity of the person.” How f itting that almost exactly two months later, a New Mexico judge wrote: “There is no benefit to the parties or the public interest in having this matter progress through a lengthy path of litigation while basic constitutional rights are being compromised or denied on a daily basis.” What a wonderful reminder that as we celebrate love and marriage in more states than ever before, in the end, the marriage cases are about so much more than marriage – they are about our full humanity. John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for nearly three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. They are leaders in the nationwide grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA. Pam Grey and Bay Times columnist Zoe Dunning celebrated the anniversary of their wedding on August 31. They enjoyed messages from a multitude of friends and well-wishers.
PHOTO COURRTESY OF LORNA STURGEON
Laila Svendsen—born June 16th, 1933, in Norway—celebrates her 80th birthday with friends at the Lookout Club House atop Mount Tamalpais. Laila arrived in the Bay Area in 1959 and, with her spirit and warm personality, has amassed a wonderful group of friends.
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November Elections, Dennis Herrera and the Fight to Save City College The November elections are fast approaching, and with all four local office holders—City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Treasurer Jose Cisneros, Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu and District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang— running essentially unopposed, the main event for San Francisco politics junkies will be the two (that’s right, TWO) ballot measures dealing with the proposed 8 Washington luxury condo development on the Embarcadero.
A San Francisco Kind of Democrat
You may recall that the project’s opponents scored a major victory earlier this year when they secured the local Democratic Party’s endorsement of the referendum seeking to overturn the Board of Supervisor’s previous approval of the project. In August, the opponents scored a second victory when the Democratic Party weighed in against a separate developer-sponsored initiative supporting the project.
Dennis Herrera may be running unopposed, but that has not kept him out of the news over the summer. Of course in June, the Supreme Court gave him, and the excellent lawyers in his of-
fice that had worked so hard on the marriage equality cases, a sweet and well-deserved victory. But there’s no evidence of his slacking off since then, with his office ensuring the payout of nearly $8 million to more than 10,000 victims of payday lending scams, taking on the State of Nevada over the practice of illegally dumping homeless psychiatric patients in California and, on August 22, filing a lawsuit to keep City College from closing.
PHOTO BY RINK
The 8 Washington developer is sure to throw a ton of money at the voters (get your mailbox ready for the pre-election paper explosion), but with the Democratic Party now on record—twice—opposing the project, and with the public increasingly skeptical about the pace and scale of new development in the City, I still think there is a good chance the project will go down.
Rafael Mandelman
H e r r e r a ’s c o m plaint against the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), which announced July 3 its intention to terminate City College’s accreditation in July 2014, tells an alarming tale of conf licts of interest, political vendettas and un-
fair practices at the ACCJC. The City Attorney’s lawsuit came within a week of the Department of Education’s announcement that the ACCJC was in violation of the Department’s Criteria for Recognition of regional accreditors and a day after the State Legislature’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee ( JLAC) voted 10-1 to initiate an investigation of the ACCJC. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano spoke strongly in support of City College and of the audit, but the most memorable quote of the hearing may have been Republican State Senator Jim Nielsen’s statement that, in his entire public career, he had “never dealt with a more arrogant, condescending and dismissive individual” than ACCJC President Barbara Beno. Although some have argued that Herrera’s lawsuit somehow undermines the efforts of the State Chancellor and his appointed Special Trustee to fix the very real problems at City College, these critics have it exactly wrong. Herrera’s lawsuit in no way hinders the needed reforms of the College. What it does do, however, is make it more likely that as those reforms proceed, the ultimate decisions about whether or not City College will survive (and the form in which it will survive) will not be left solely in the hands of an increasingly discredited accreditor. Thank you, Dennis Herrera! Rafael Mandelman is a member of the San Francisco Community College Board of Trustees. He is also a partner at Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP.
One Soldier’s Legacy This past week brought some incredibly sad news - former Army Sergeant Darren Manzella passed away Thursday, August 29, in a tragic roadside accident in upstate New York. He was only 36 years old. An Army combat medic, he was the national face of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) during a particularly critical time in the fight to repeal the law. In December, 2007, in a CBS 60 Minutes interview from Kuwait, Sergeant Manzella told his personal story. He told millions of viewers what it was like to hide who you are while trying to serve the country you love. His act of courage immediately received national coverage, and the attention of military authorities. As a result of his honesty, he was discharged from the military. Even after his discharge, Darren continued to advocate for the repeal of the law and serve as a spokesperson, showing first hand the cost of DADT – a trained combat medic’s skills and experience lost for no good reason.
Do Ask, Do Tell Zoe Dunning I am particularly moved by Darren’s courage because he came out proactively, putting his career at risk to help make a difference. He didn’t come out after he was safely retired or had left the service, or because he was being investigated or charged with violating the policy. He stepped forward and told his story because he was tired of living a lie. He told it before President Obama was elected, during the George W. Bush Administration that strongly fought at the time for discharges of LGBT service men and women. His actions and his record made a powerful statement, to demonstrate that he and thousands of other LGBT men and women in uniform serve honorably every day, worried they will lose their jobs if discovered. I had the honor of meeting Darren on a number of occasions. He had dimples and a cleft chin and beautiful blue eyes that twinkled with
warmth and a little bit of mischief. He was an eloquent spokesperson – unassuming, with a calm strength and warm humor. He was the kind of guy you wished were your son, your best friend, your brother, your fellow soldier. He went from relative obscurity to the blazing lights of 60 Minutes with dignity and professionalism. Our community could not have asked for a more effective spokesperson. His death is a huge loss to his family, particularly his husband Javier LapeiraSoto, whom he had just married the month before. But it is also a painful loss for those in the DADT repeal community that got to know and love him these past several years. He may not be with us in person, but his work and his legacy live on. May we all strive to tell our story the way Darren did. Darren was a big part of the history of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). To find out more about how SLDN came to be, as well as other major LGBT organizations, please join me for a big LGBT History night at the Old Mint on Thursday, September 5. Presented with Project Open Hand, the evening features great talks (Stuart Milk, Donna Sachet, Jose Cisneros, and many more), performances (Cheer SF, Gay Men’s Chorus, SF Lesbian/ Gay Freedom Band), AIDS Quilt exhibit, and DJ/dancing for a great nonprofit cause. All proceeds from this nonprofit event benefit Project Open Hand and the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society. For tickets and information, go to http:// outofthepast.eventbrite.com/ I hope to see you there!
Darren Manzella (right) with his husband Javier Lapeira 4
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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.
Money Don’t Let Divorce Derail Your Financial Security Divorce is rarely a life event that one plans for, but while many couples live happily ever after, some will undoubtedly go their separate ways. A divorce can be emotionally devastating, but it doesn’t have to derail your long-term financial security. If you’re facing a divorce, consider these steps to protect and claim what’s yours.
tirement account. Make sure that you discuss preparation of such an instrument with your attorney. Update your financial accounts.
Understand your assets. A divorce can be expensive, especially if you fail to spend the appropriate amount of time reviewing and discussing your finances as you go through the process. Educate yourself by examining investment and bank statements, qualified plan and pension information, tax returns, mortgage information and insurance policies. Before you can begin to split the assets you’ve accumulated as a couple, you should know your total net worth so that you’ll be able to assess how the divorce will impact your financial goals. Consider the big picture. When deciding how to split the nest egg, it helps to look into the future and think about how your lives will look post-divorce. Will you have shortterm needs – like buying a home and furniture, new or continued childcare costs or paying a lawyer – that require immediate funding? Will you be able to replenish your retirement assets if you must use them to pay for these unexpected expenses? Develop a detailed written financial plan as a soon-to-be single so that you may act in your best interest when deciding which assets will best fit your needs. Think about tax consequences. Most retirement plans are made up of pre-tax dollars, meaning your contri-
Money Matters Brandon Miller and Joanne Jordan butions won’t be taxed until you withdraw them. This can be beneficial if you believe your income and tax rate will be lower in retirement – but it also means the amount of cash you’ll be able to use to meet your day-to-day expenses will be less than what you actually withdraw. Be sure you’re aware of how taxes may affect your retirement income as you divide assets with your former spouse. Trusted financial, tax and legal advisors are especially valuable as you make such important decisions. Follow the rules. If you decide that it makes sense to divide funds from you and your former spouse’s 401(k) plans and IRAs, it’s important to carefully follow state and local guidelines. This process is complicated, so be sure that your divorce settlement states specifically how assets are to be divided and transferred. Dividing a pension or 401(k) plan may require a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), which allows funds to be withdrawn without penalty and deposited into a separate re-
Round About - Oakland Pride
Once your divorce is f inal, revise the beneficiaries on your checking and savings accounts, investments, retirement plans and life insurance. Also, reevaluate your insurance policies and confirm that you still have adequate coverage for you and any dependents. Nothing can undermine your financial security faster than an uninsured accident or illness. Once the dust has settled on your divorce, create a new will or update the existing document to ref lect your new marital status. Seek expert advice. It’s no doubt that your attorney will play an essential role in your divorce proceedings, but don’t assume that he or she is a financial expert. Consider working with a financial advisor who can help you with all aspects of your financial life before, during and after your divorce. Let’s face it…there’s no sure thing when it comes to marriage. But even if you end up going at it alone, it doesn’t have to mean the end of your financial security. With the help of trusted professionals and determination, you can face the new financial situation that your single life will bring. Brandon Miller, CFP and Joanne Jordan, CFP are financial consultants at Jordan Miller & Associates, A Private Wealth Advisory Practice of Ameriprise Financial Inc. in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.
Photos by Kirsten Kruse
Thousands filled the downtown streets on Sunday, September 1, for the annual Oakland Pride celebration. Headliners included recording artists En Vogue on the Pride Stage and Oakland native LaToya London on the Womyn’s Stage. Kirsten Kruse, on special photography assignment for the Bay Times, captured images depicting attendees and exhibitors who enjoyed this popular annual festival.
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National News Briefs
compiled by Dennis McMillan
Virginia Beach, VA - Pat Robertson Believes Gays with AIDS Wear Rings to Cut, Infect Others - 8.27
New York, NY - New Story Center Launched to Show Unfair Patchwork of Discrimination - 8.29
Homophobic Pat Robertson launched into more idiotic discussion about AIDS during a recent episode of The 700 Club, when he indicated that infected individuals in cities like San Francisco purposefully infect others by cutting them with special rings. Whaaat?!
With continuing momentum for marriage from legislative wins earlier this year and the Supreme Court’s historic freedom to marry decisions in June, Freedom to Marry has launched a new online Story Center to gather and showcase compelling voices from across America, making the case for ending marriage discrimination. The stories highlight the house divided created by the denial of marriage - with those in freedom to marry states now respected for federal and state marriage protections, while those living in discriminating states are denied respect, state protections and even some federal protections.
Robertson responded to a question about the disclosure of AIDS status. A viewer had been driving a nursing home patient to church and came to find out he has AIDS and was angry no one disclosed that. Robertson said he “used to think it was transmitted by saliva and other things; now they say it may be sexual contact.” So, he advised the woman not have sex with the man. “There are laws now... I think the homosexual community has put these draconian laws on the books that prohibit people from discussing this particular affliction,” Robertson blathered on. “You know what they do in San Francisco? Some in the gay community there, they want to get people. So if they got the stuff, they’ll have a ring: you shake hands, and the ring’s got a little thing where you cut your finger.” He added, “Really. It’s that kind of vicious stuff, which would be the equivalent of murder.”
“The house divided created by marriage discrimination cannot stand. All couples should have the freedom to marry, and all marriages should be fully respected under the law, throughout our country,” said Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry. “By telling our stories and reaching out to the reachable, we can continue growing the majority for marriage and create the climate for the next wave of decision-makers lawmakers, judges, and, in time, justices - to end this untenable and unfair patchwork of denial, and secure the freedom to marry nationwide.”
Robertson’s foolishness was filled with fallacies. Fluids must either come in contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or be directly injected into the bloodstream for someone to be infected. In addition, the gay community has not put “draconian” laws on the books. In fact, many states have partner notification laws that make an HIVpositive person legally obligated to tell his or her partner. In some states, the omission of this information could result in a criminal charge.
The Story Center is one element of Freedom to Marry’s “Roadmap to Victory - Finishing the Job,” which calls for setting the stage for a successful return to the Supreme Court by ensuring that by the end of 2016, a majority of Americans live in a marriage state; polls show public support for the freedom to marry above 60%; and federal marriage discrimination has been eliminated through passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.
Finally, HIV/AIDS is not a “gay” thing! Now where did I put my magic infectioncausing ring pricker?
Freedom to Marry also released a video featuring a NYC couple together more than 25 years and married in 2011. They can now get a green card just like any other American spouse.
Source: huffingtonpost.com
Next stop: total equality! Source: freedomtomarry.org
Cheyenne, WY - Mary Cheney Disses Her Sister on Same-Sex Marriage - 8.31
Albuquerque, NM - New Mexico Judge Orders County Clerks to Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses - 8.26
Washington, D.C. - Big IRS News for LGBTQ Taxpayers and LGBTQ Seniors - 8.30
Mary Cheney, the younger sister of Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Senate candidate, sharply criticized her sister’s stance on same-sex marriage and urged her own Facebook friends to share the message. Mary, who is gay and married her longtime partner last year, wrote: “For the record, I love my sister, but she is dead wrong on the issue of marriage.” Their father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, supports same-sex marriage, and the younger Cheney echoed some of his language when she added, “Freedom means freedom for everyone.”
Judge Alan Malott of the Second Judicial District Court of the State of New Mexico ordered the county clerks of Bernalillo and Santa Fe Counties to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Ruling in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of New Mexico, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), and local attorneys on behalf of same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry in New Mexico, Judge Malott said that denying same-sex couples access to civil marriage violates the New Mexico Constitution. The court issued a judgment against the two county clerks and the State of New Mexico declaring that, to the extent New Mexico law prevents same-sex couples from marrying, “those prohibitions are unconstitutional and unenforceable.”
The IRS will now fully recognize marriage equality for all married LGBTQ taxpayers – even married couples living in states without marriage equality. This decision has an enormous financial impact on queer married couples. It means that many married LGBTQ couples will see a larger tax return at the end of the year and a bigger paycheck at the end of the month. For one example, spouses’ health insurance benefits through their employers will no longer be counted as income for federal tax purposes.
“That means that all families - regardless of how they look or how they are made - all families are entitled to the same rights, privileges and protections as every other,” Mary wrote. Earlier, Liz Cheney revealed her position on same-sex marriage, a topic she has kept relatively quiet about since declaring her candidacy in July against incumbent Senator Mike Enzi, Wyoming anti-equality Republican. “I am not pro-gay marriage,” Liz said. “I believe the issue of marriage must be decided by the states, and by the people in the states, not by judges and not even by legislators.” Mary wrote, “It’s not something to be decided by a show of hands.” Less than a decade after Bush-Cheney won reelection, in part, thanks to conservative enthusiasm over enshrining traditional marriage into law, some in the party believe they are losing voters, particularly younger ones, over an issue on which public opinion has changed rapidly. But other Republicans believe traditional marriage is a pillar of family values, and are reluctant to abandon their social conservative base. Liz Cheney’s stance underlines the degree to which support for same-sex marriage, even in a libertarian-leaning state like Wyoming, still poses a political risk. Two out of three Cheneys are politically correct! Source: nytimes.com
“Today was yet another powerful reminder that the march to justice is unstoppable and gaining momentum,” said NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell. “We are joyful for our client couples and for every same-sex couple in New Mexico. The freedom to marry is about love, commitment, family and security. These are universal values, and they are center stage today.” “This is a great day to be a resident of New Mexico,” said ACLU-NM Executive Director Peter Simonson. “Our state is now on the brink of joining the growing list of states who live and honor the values of family, liberty and love. Every family in this state is made richer by this step toward justice for all.” The plaintiff couples were represented by ACLU, ACLU-NM, NCLR, and the Sutin Law Firm and Albuquerque attorneys. In related news, Republican Senator Bill Sharer of Farmington, New Mexico, has called gay men “whores” and stated that marriage equality bills allow “any two things” to get married. Hey Billy-boy, quit calling us “things!” Source: nclr.com
Local News Briefs
And that’s not all! The Department of Health and Human Services announced that married LGBTQ elders enrolled in the Medicare Advantage program will now be able to access important benefits for their spouses in skilled nursing facilities, even if they live in states that do not recognize their marriages. Previously, many LGBTQ seniors had to choose between being in a nursing home away from their spouse and paying more money to be with their loved one - but not anymore. These are huge wins we’re seeing thanks to the Supreme Court ruling that struck down a key component of DOMA. The Task Force along with other LGBTQ organizations recently met with Obama administration officials and urged them to move as quickly as possible to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling - and we’re now seeing those benefits quickly come to fruition. In fact, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius even said, “Today’s announcement is the first of many steps that we will be taking over the coming months.” Naturally, National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown denounced the policy change, claiming it is yet another government attempt to force same-sex marriage “on an unwilling public,” and adding, “The Treasury Department is grossly overstepping its authority. Only Congress has the authority to change the law.” Ho hum. Source: thetaskforce.org
Ninth Circuit Upholds Law Banning “Ex-Gay Therapy” for California Minors
Bill to Protect LGBTQ Youth in Foster System Goes to Governor
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling on Aug. 29 upholding SB 1172 - the California law prohibiting state-licensed mental health providers from using dangerous efforts to change sexual orientation - sometimes referred to as “ex-gay therapy” - with minors. The law was co-sponsored by Lambda Legal, EQCA, NCLR, Mental Health America of Northern California and Gaylesta.
Assemblymember Tom Ammiano’s AB 868, on LGBTQ cultural competency in the judicial system, has gone to Governor Jerry Brown for his signature.
“With this ruling, LGBTQ youth across California are protected from the trauma of so-called ‘ex-gay therapy’ and the devastation these discredited methods cause youth and their families,” said Lambda Legal Deputy Legal Director Hayley Gorenberg. Efforts to change a young person’s sexual orientation pose critical health risks, including depression, shame, decreased self-esteem, social withdrawal, substance abuse, self-harm and suicide. For minors, who are often subjected to these practices at the insistence of parents who don’t know or don’t believe that the efforts are harmful, the risks of long-term mental and physical health consequences are particularly severe. In addition, when these efforts ‘fail,’ many LGBTQ children are kicked out of their homes. “I have met men and women who were subjected to these dangerous practices,” said NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell. “I have seen the scars they bear - and they are the lucky ones. In some cases, young people who were told that they were sick and needed to change did not feel their lives were worth living.” “It is now open season on conversion therapy across America,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “This monumental victory in California means that we can turn our attention to stopping child abuse disguised as therapy wherever this practice rears its ugly head. We are fully committed to protecting LGBT youth from an archaic form of therapy that confuses stigma with legitimate science.” Story by Dennis McMillan
The bill was introduced to aid the disproportionate number of LGBTQ youth who find themselves in the foster care system. It requires that training programs already in existence incorporate information on the effects of gender identity and sexual orientation on juvenile law and family court proceedings. In addition, training would include cultural competency and sensitivity related to providing adequate care for LGBTQ youth in the child welfare system. Existing law requires the Judicial Council to perform various duties designed to assist the judiciary, including establishing judicial training programs for judges, referees, commissioners, mediators, and others who perform duties in family law matters. Existing law requires this training to include instruction in all aspects of family law, including the effects of gender on family law proceedings. Additionally, existing law requires the Judicial Council to establish a planning and advisory group to recommend on the development of program guidelines and funding procedures for court-appointed special advocates (CASAs) and to establish a request-for-proposal process to establish, maintain or expand local CASA programs. Recent studies suggest that 18 percent, and perhaps more, of the foster youth population are LGBTQ youth. High percentages of these youth have reported running away from foster home placement because of harassment or attacks. The bill would require the training necessary for court employees who work with such youth to understand the experiences of LGBTQ youth in the judicial system. AB 868 follows a law signed in 2012 to provide similar training to foster youth caregivers and service providers. AB 868 was sent to the Governor on August 29. He has until September 10 to sign the bill. Story by Dennis McMillan
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BAY TIMES Se ptembe r 5 , 2 0 1 3
Worry Isn’t Preparation Many of us have a lot in common with these men. Excessive, unproductive worry is one of the most common sources of day-to-day stress, and stress-related health problems (low back pain, hypertension, digestive problems, headaches, insomnia, etc.). It’s often also a root problem in our social anxieties and phobias, our addictions and depressions.
Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT Ron is well paid and valued at his job, but he constantly worries that he’s about to be fired and will wind up on the street. George is HIV positive, but although his lab numbers are excellent and he’s energetic and in good shape, he’s constantly terrified that he’s about to get sick and die. Mike has been in a happy relationship for years, but worries almost daily that his partner is about to lose interest and leave him. All of these men understand that they’re poisoning their happiness today by dwelling on what might happen tomorrow, but none of them can stop worrying obsessively.
The first step in overcoming worry is to understand that the problem is the worrying, not what we worry about. This step is crucial, but difficult, because worry is hypnotic and self-sustaining. When we worry excessively about tomorrow’s danger, we forget that things are okay today, and scare ourselves into believing we’re in an emergency now. And since we can’t do anything about an emergency that isn’t real in the first place, we feel weak and helpless, which causes us to worry even more. We begin to break the vicious cycle and awaken from this trance state when we realize that what causes our fear is what the mind is doing today, not what might happen tomorrow. The next step is to get re-acquainted with the present. Most of us spend so much time leaning into the future that we’ve completely forgotten one
of the great “secrets” of life – that the present moment is usually safe and uncomplicated. When I traveled in India and Asia, I noticed that everywhere I went, ordinary people were adept at abiding in the moment, and lived in a calm contentment, even when their outward circumstances seemed dire. In the East, this simple sanity is mere common sense; only Americans seem to think of it as exotic and mystical. For us, the habit of future-tripping is deeply ingrained, and most of us can’t loosen its grip unless we practice some form of mind training. Most “spiritual” practices, such as yoga, meditation, Qigong, and tai chi, are in fact mind-training disciplines, whose basic purpose is to teach the mind to stay grounded in the present. Those who are serious about decreasing the amount of worry in their lives can profit greatly by practicing any of these disciplines. Another helpful resource is Eckhart Tolle’s book, The Power of Now. This modern classic explains the importance of present focus with unmatched clarity, and offers practical advice on how to achieve it. Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. His website is www.tommoon.net.
Ditties to play. What I get to do as the grandmother is encourage them to play outside.
Speak Up! Speak Out! Laugh Often! Karen Williams “Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold.” “Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day...” “Ring around the rosies, a pocket full of posies...we all fall down...” Okay so that last one doesn’t make much sense. Yet, I recall singing all kinds of silly ditties from my childhood that didn’t have deep meaning; they simply made us kids feel good.
Things are very different today. It took my mom and I many days to convince my grandchildren, eight and ten years of age, to play outside in my huge back yard. Every time we asked them to play outside, they held hands and shook their sweet heads “No!” One day, my mother simply sat outside on the deck, reading, eat-
Well, that certainly makes it worthwhile for me to continue paying the mortgage! Grown-ups can sit idly and lament days gone by when children could freely play in parks and on playgrounds. Yet, I prefer to share in their fun, create safe spaces for play, and provide opportunities for children to use their imaginations. I especially love sharing in the silly songs and rhythmic ditties. After all, we’re grown up and we still love ditties, like “We’re here, we’re queer, we’re everywhere...get used to it!” The last part has some attitude but we need it. It comes with being queer and playful. And we grown up kids need to feel good too! Karen Williams loves to play. Share how you play...karen@sf baytimes.com
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I am happy to report that while I had my two granddaughters with me for a spell this summer, they played some of the same hand-slapping games with silly songs I remember from my Southeast Bronx childhood. I am relieved that their parents -- both school teachers -- believe that children need
Although I grew up in a densely populated urban area, it was unheard of for kids to stay indoors. My friends and I laugh when we reminisce about the favorite word of our childhoods: OUTSIDE! We lived to go outside. It did not take a great deal of parental coaxing to get us to play outdoors. When we had chores to do -- which is another article -- we were miserable because it delayed our opportunities to play outside.
ing her sandwich, doing search word puzzles, and the curiosity of the girls drove them to peek at her from the rear doorway. Gradually, they inched their way to the deck and sat outdoors in the radiant sunlight playing their hand games and singing ditties like “Miss Mary Mack.” The next day, I bought a couple of large balls for them to play with and they made it to the back yard. Then, one of them asked if they could play in the front yard too. When it was time for the girls to return home to Chicago, they both remarked that the best part of being at Grandma Karen’s house is that they get to play outside any time they like.
Out lesbian Diana Nyad, at age 64, recently became the f irst person to swim from Cuba to Florida without the use of swim f ins and without the protection of a shark cage. She is an inspiration to all of us. As Nyad said, “We should never, ever give up. You never are too old to chase your dreams.”
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Bayard Rustin Owned His Power As a Black, Openly Gay Man their own lives to enr iching ours. This year’s honorees have been blessed w it h extraordinary ta lent, but what sets them apart is their gift for sharing that talent with the world. It will be my honor to present them with a token of our nation’s gratitude.”
Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011
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Mandy Carter and Sharon Lettman-Hicks On August 28, 2013, we witnessed history in the making on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was the first time ever that a sitting president, let alone the first-ever AfricanAmerican president, spoke at a commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Two former U.S. presidents, President Jimmy Carter and President Bill Clinton, were also in attendance. Earlier that month, on August 8, the White House released the names of the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. This is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the president. We applaud President Barack Obama for including civil rights icon Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) on the list. As one of the chief architects of the Civil Rights Movement and the brilliance behind the 1963 March on Washington, Rustin’s indispensable contributions to the ethos of our country continue to reverberate and push us toward a more just and fair society. America is indebted to Rustin, and our nation is right to finally honor him for his stalwart courage and leadership. President Obama said, “The Presidential Medal of Freedom goes to men and women who have dedicated
T he award presentations will take place in November at the White House. Rustin’s surviving partner, Walter Naegle, will receive the award. Walter is the Executor/Archivist of the Estate of Bayard Rustin and is the Executive Directo of the Bayard Rustin Fund. Rustin was a radical visionary--a Black gay activist for freedom and peace during a time when the conditions of both of these identities were perilous. The fact that he lived at the intersection of these identities while
Profiles of Compassion and Courage: Joshua Klipp
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Rustin dedicated his life to the pursuit of human rights and justice for all in a dynamic and self less way, and has verily earned his space in the history books. Words cannot express how elated we are to see Bayard Rustin given his just due. We again thank President Obama for lifting up this important piece of our nation’s history, and look forward to working with the White House and other allies, like the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI), American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU), to continue sharing the significance of Rustin’s life and work through this prestigious national honor. Our dream is that more will come to know of the late, great Bayard Rustin, and will use the lessons of his life to make the world a more just and welcoming place for all people
Mandy Carter co-founded the National Black Justice Coalition and is director of the organization’s 2013 Bayard Rustin Commemoration Project. Sharon LettmanHicks is the coalition’s executive director and CEO.
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him from our history books and stymying the proper celebration of his contributions to our country. We are proud that the National Black Justice Coalition has remained dedicated to giving voice to Mr. Rustin’s history of social justice organizing and strategy. Our work at NBJC is a testament to the spirit of Bayard Rustin’s life, inspiring Black LGBT people to own their power and teaching others how Black LGBT people navigate space at the intersection of their identities.
We also wish to give special thanks to the Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition in San Francisco. They collaborated with our NBJC Bayard Rustin Commemoration Project this year.
came in, and he’d sit down at the piano and teach me songs. He played; I sang. Years later, I learned these were mostly jazz standards. That’s how I got involved with music, and specifically jazz.
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However, in spite of all that Rustin was able to achieve on behalf of justice and equality, racism and homophobia have long clouded the narrative of Rustin’s work, erasing
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The Bay Times was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men. We honor our history and the paper’s ability to build and strengthen unity in our community.
f i ght i n g for the freedoms of all oppressed people is even more revolutionary. Rustin owned his power as a Black, openly g ay m a n to f iercely challenge the status quo and f ight on behalf of the oppressed and marginalized, while at the same time refusing to be def ined by any single aspect of his identity. Rustin was as unapologetically Black as he was gay, and by his very presence challenged the evils of homophobia and racism throughout his life. His legacy leaves a salient lesson for us on the power of living authentically.
Stu Smith Jazz vocalist Joshua Klipp believes that life’s length is measured in breath, but it’s depth is measured in love. This talented transgender role model adds with passion, “I love life!” His coolness factor is off the charts as he continues to impress audiences both locally and nationwide. You can catch him and the Klipptones swinging the Palace Hotel in San Francisco this and most Fridays, from 8 PM to midnight. No cover! SS: How did you become involved in your work? JK: I was raised in a musical family. My parents met singing at a wedding and music was always a part of my home life. During many holiday seasons my family sang at Christmas Eve mass and my friends called us the “Von Klipps,” which was super embarrassing. My dad played the piano and subscribed to Sheet Music Magazine. Every month, a new edition
BAY TIMES Se ptembe r 5 , 2 0 1 3
JK: I don’t feel like I have mentors; I feel like I have heroes. My mom is one of my heroes. She sings like a bird. Growing up, the sound of her singing was like home to me: comforting, familiar and grounding. She became disabled through polio at a young age, though, and because of that, and the times in which she grew up, no one would put her on stage. She also wasn’t included in a lot of social activities, like dancing, which she loves. Despite this, she found, and continues to find, ways to survive and thrive and live a life full of love and music. And when she dances, she is vibrant. My Mom’s life instructs me and how I approach my music – that no matter what, I have to sing, I have to do this in this life, and do it with all my heart. She’s my hero. SS: If you could fix or solve one major problem in the Bay Area, what would it be and why? JK: San Francisco has a rich history of live music. Population growth and gentrif ication, though, have really crowded it out. Back in the mid 20th century and earlier, you couldn’t walk down the streets without live music pouring out of bars and restaurants.
Joshua Klipp
There was the Fillmore and Tenderloin, as well as North Beach establishments and the “Harlem of the West.” But before that there was the Barbary Coast, and all those buildings downtown that now house fancy design firms were rollicking piano and cabaret joints. Somewhere along the way, live music got the reputation of being a nuisance, probably blacklisted as devaluing property. As a musician who sees the impact my music has on the people who come and listen, I know the opposite is true. Live music brings people together. It creates community, connection and possibility. People dance, talk, and laugh together. People are moved. People meet each other and sometimes even fall in love over a song. So if I could solve one major problem in the Bay Area, it would be to have beautiful live music in every imaginable space. SS: Among your many achievements, which one are you most proud of and why? JK: I’m most proud of being able to sing. As a transgender person, this
isn’t a given. In order to transition and live authentically, I had to be at peace with the possibility that my voice might not be there on the other side. I’m almost nine years into transition now, and my voice still has its issues. What’s changed is my attitude. I learn and relearn to love myself just the way I am, with all my flaws, and realize that this honesty is more beautiful on stage than even the most perfect voice. And hey, my voice isn’t too bad. I never take it for granted. In fact, there are so many times when I’m on stage singing and can’t believe what a fortunate life I’ve had and continue to lead. SS: What are your future goals and aspirations? JK: I want to keep doing what I’m doing. I’d like to help others do what they love, and generally leave this world a better place. For a complete list of Joshua’s gigs and for more information, please visit www.joshuaklipp.com. Stu S mith is board chair emer itus of S h a nt i P roject , boa rd ch a ir of T h e Paratransit Coordinating Council , a me mbe r of the Ca stro C ountr y Club Advisory Board and the LGBT Senior Task Force, and producer and host of the public access T V prog ra m “ T he Drag Show.” KQED has honored Stu as a 2013 LGBT Hero.
The Week in Review By Ann Rostow Discrimination: The Next Big Deal It sure looks as if we will eventually win the right to marry, and that we’ll do so with the support of most Americans. Even our opponents have switched strategies, and no longer attack gay men and women as deviant. Instead, they promote traditional values and string out a tenuous argument on behalf of children. Those rationales aren’t going very far, however, since marriage equality has no impact on the kids of straight couples, while our kids suffer in its absence. But there’s another dialogue building decibels around the country. That’s the insistence on the Christian right that gay equality poses a threat to religious freedom, particularly the freedom of Christian business owners to deny service to GLBT clients. Even as we hail the new majorities that back our right to marry, we overlook, to some extent, the even larger majorities that unthinkingly support the “right” of a Christian entrepreneur to close his or her doors to gay customers. It seems only fair, right? After all, would you expect a Jewish merchant to serve a Nazi? Would you demand that an African American caterer host a Klan wedding? And why would a gay couple want a hostile photographer hanging around muttering under her breath while taking deliberately bad photos of their wedding? First of all, you don’t compare the gay client to the Klansman or the Nazi. I mean, come on. Quite frankly, I’m not sure if or how a Jewish photographer could refuse to serve a Nazi bride, but unlike gays, Nazis are not protected under antidiscrimination law. But apart from that, the analogies have to be presented in reverse. Can the Klansman refuse the African American? Can the Nazi refuse the Jew? We are not the evil death squads here, folks. We are the minorities under attack. We have not spent our history hanging Christians from tree limbs or tossing them in gas chambers, and yet we hear these outrageous comparisons tossed into the public square whenever a Christian merchant feels threatened. I had to get that beef out of the way, but more profoundly, Americans have a deep respect for religion, and an even deeper respect for the Constitutional principles that protect our right to practice our faith. We instinctively, and rightly, believe that the government may never compel a citizen to act against his or her deeply held religious beliefs. No wonder that so many of our gay rights bills have included loopholes for churches and religious organizations. But where do we draw the line between legitimate religious principles and illegal bias? Can someone just “announce” their faith requires them to discriminate? We would not accept that in a racial context. Why does everyone accept this idea where we’re concerned? The answer is that up until recently, a religious denunciation of homosexuality was accepted, normal and taken for granted. The assumption that disapproval of gays is part and parcel of Christianity has not been seriously disputed, even as this attitude has been relegated to the far right as mainstream Christianity rethinks its stance. Meanwhile, over 80 percent of Americans (you read that right) still believe a Christian business should be allowed to discriminate. And here is the new hook that our adversaries are starting to emphasize
in their continuing and losing battle against our progress. Gay rights and marriage equality are a threat to religious freedom, they say. Gays are no longer the butt of discrimination. Now the real victims are Christian businesses like Elane Photography, the company that has been battling the state of New Mexico for the right to refuse a job at a lesbian wedding. In Washington, it’s a f lorist who is fighting to deny service to two men. In Oregon, an antigay bakery has just closed its shop over the same issue. We’ve read about biased bridal shops, country inns and caterers. And each of these cases is trumpeted throughout the far right as a fund raising alert. Your rights are being taken away! The legal principles, meanwhile, are simple. Governments may not pass or enforce laws that target religions. But they can pass a law that has a general and legitimate purpose, even if a religious practice is inadvertently affected in the process. For example, a law against drug use that prohibits religious peyote rituals can stand. Likewise, a statute that prohibits discrimination in public accommodation, even if it includes sexual orientation, is a general law that serves an important public purpose. If you don’t like gays and lesbians, fine. But you still have to do business with them, just as a racist restaurant owner has to accept all comers. In New Mexico last week, the state Supreme Court issued a powerful ruling upholding this basic premise. Photography business owners Elaine and Jonathan Huguenin made a range of arguments, to no avail. In his masterful concurring opinion, Justice Richard C. Bosson was more forgiving than I, acknowledging that Elaine Huguenin and her husband “are now compelled by law to compromise the very religious beliefs that inspire their lives. Though the rule of law requires it, the result is sobering. It will no doubt leave a tangible mark on the Huguenins and others of similar views.” “On a larger scale,” he continued, “this case provokes reflection on what this nation is all about, its promise of fairness, liberty, equality of opportunity, and justice. At its heart, this case teaches that at some point in our lives, all of us must compromise, if only a little, to accommodate the contrasting values of others….The Huguenins are free to think, to say, to believe as they wish; they may pray to the God of their choice and follow those commandments in their personal lives wherever they lead. The Constitutional protects the Huguenins in that respect and much more. But there is a price, one that we all have to pay somewhere in our civic life.” “In the smaller, more focused world of the marketplace, of commerce, of public accommodation, the Huguenins have to channel their conduct, not their beliefs, so as to leave space for other Americans who believe something different. That compromise is part of the glue that holds us together as a nation, the tolerance that lubricates the varied moving parts of us as a people. That sense of respect we owe others, whether or not we believe as they do, illuminates this country, setting it apart from the discord that afflicts much of the rest of the world. In short, I would say to the Huguenins, it is the price of citizenship.” Believe me when I tell you that this case has fired up the religious right, indeed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is possible. Among other things, some people (including my favorite Republican lawyer Dale Carpenter) have argued that a photography business has a particular
Professional Services claim to freedom of expression that would not be the case for a florist or baker. That said, not only do I disagree, but I don’t see why a florist or baker would not be able to make a similar appeal to artistry, but this is a side issue. This case is the first of many that may make headlines in the near term, and although it has nothing to do with marriage equality, there’s still a connection. As I said, the far right is starting to use the avenue of antidiscrimination law as a new route to flank our troops. And for obvious reasons, wedding businesses have emerged at the forefront of these faith-based complaints. I have another point to make. I was moved by what Justice Bosson had to say about the Huguenins. I have no patience for the idea that Christianity compels an antigay attitude. But you know what? If you truly believe that your faith rejects homosexuality, if you truly believe this regardless of how wrong you are, I can understand why you would go to any lengths to avoid being forced to effectively support what you see as a crime against God. As I said before, our movement has been fast and furious. Left behind by the pace have been millions of Christians who have been raised on the notion that our relationships are sinful. They have spent years immersed in this fact of faith. Not everyone can change overnight. And twenty years from now, there will be no excuse for the Huguenins of this world. But right now there is. They are wrong, but I understand where they’re coming from, and I agree with Justice Bosson that it is sobering to require them and their like-minded cohorts to act against their faith. I also agree with Bosson that this is the price of doing business in our remarkable country. I have always found it useful to imagine myself in the shoes of our adversaries. If you truly believe homosexuality is a sin, a perversion, a gross mutation of nature, then of course you oppose marriage equality. Of course you recoil at gays on TV. You wouldn’t want a gay man or lesbian teaching your kids, or even driving the school bus. So what do we say? Do we argue that gay men and women should marry and teach? Well yes, of course. But in the long run, we argue that homosexuality is not sinful, that gay relationships are not perverted, that these embedded ideas are wrong, that our adversaries should rethink--not their political views--- but their underlying assumptions. The good news is that our national debate is getting to this crucial stage, the stage where we wrangle with the root cause of homophobia that lies beneath our policy confrontations. This is where the debate over discrimination lies, and this of course is the only debate that really matters. The Taxman Cometh Well, you have to forgive that long essay in a column that purports to summarize the news of the last two weeks. Personally, I thought that New Mexico ruling eclipsed the other GLBT news, so there you go. But you may disagree. You may think, for example, that the top story is the news that the IRS will recognize all married couples, even if they live in a state that bans gay weddings. I have to agree, that’s pretty big news, and now, Mel and I will file a joint return. I don’t care if we pay more. I only care that the IRS loves us and respects our marriage! Furthermore, it’s a sharp stick in the eye of Texas. Instead of Mel and me being the rebellious married couple, now it’s Texas that (continued on page 19)
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Donna Sachet, Absolute Empress XXX, Reme
PHOTO COURTESY OF QUEERMUSICHERITAGE.US PHOTO COURTESY OF SAN DIEGO GAY AND LESBIAN NEWS
Plaque at José Sarria Court The Butterfly Cruise celebrating Empress I José’s anniversary of performing Madame Butterfly at The Black Cat
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Empress I José crowned and seated
Empress I José with Harvey Milk and Diva Mavis, 1978
PHOTO BY RINK
PHOTO BY BILL WILSON
PHOTO BY RINK
PHOTO COURTESY OF QUEERMUSICHERITAGE.US
PHOTO COURTESY OF QUEERMUSICHERITAGE.US
PHOTO COURTESY OF QUEERMUSICHERITAGE.US
PHOTO BY LEE SUZUKI PHOTO COURTESY OF QUEERMUSICHERITAGE.US PHOTO COURTESY OF QUEERMUSICHERITAGE.US
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Popular support and political savvy led José to enter the race for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1961, the first run for public office ever by an openly Gay person in the United States. Wearing a borrowed suit for appearances, but never backing down from his bold opposition to unfair per-
A greeting card signed by Dowager Empress Jose I
Debutanate Ball, 1969
José Sarria dancing at The Black Cat
Having suffered at the hands of a corrupt justice system, José gradually became a stalwart defender of Gay customers and friends who were routinely rounded up by the police with trumped up charges. His anthem became “God Save Us Nelly Queens,” sung to the tune of “God Save the
José Sarria with mirror
The Emperor Norton
Empress José I at the Dance Along Nutcracker
Queen,” and his mantra was “United we stand; divided they catch us one by one.” To counteract police arrests under the law against wearing clothing of the opposite sex with the intent to deceive, José distributed to drag queens pieces of paper with the words “I am a man” written plainly on them. No intent to deceive meant no basis for arrest!
PHOTO BY BILL WILSON
Charlotte Coleman with Empress I José Sarria
After the war, José entered college with an eye on teaching as a career, but at the same time began frequenting a bohemian club in North Beach called The Black Cat. When he was arrested for solicitation,
a charge he denied, but for which he was convicted and fined, his dream of teaching was dashed by preponderant prejudices of the day. The Black Cat became his home and his livelihood, where he used his training to sing and dance, often in female costume, to become the “Nightingale of Montgomery Street” to many raucous patrons.
PHOTO BY RINK
PHOTO COURTESY OF QUEERMUSICHERITAGE.US
Born in 1922, in humble surroundings to an unwed mother, José showed no immediate promise of his life to come, other than an early interest in,
Although jostled from home to home and school to school, José nevertheless was an avid student whose facility with languages led him to tutoring and to his first romantic relationship with a man, an Austrian baron, displaced by Nazi Germany. Outraged by Pearl Harbor and despite height
restrictions, José found his way into the military and honorably served in the US Army until 1945. Back in the United States, the baron was killed in a tragic accident, ending José’s first true romance. As was often the case in those days, specific provisions by the baron for José were rejected, leaving José out of the inheritance.
PHOTO BY RINK
The world has lost a unique individual, but not without our feeling the powerful effects of his long life far and wide.
and affinity for, languages and theatricality. Childhood lessons in ballet, tap dancing, and singing, combined with parental indulgence of his enjoyment in wearing girls’ clothing, may have laid the groundwork for later performances.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BANCROFT LIBRARY. BERKELEY
Editor’s Note: José Julio Sarria (December 12, 1922-August 19, 2013), founder of the Imperial Court System and a beloved member of our community, will be laid to rest tomorrow. The Widow Norton, aka Sarria, will be buried next to celebrated 19th century San Franciscan, Emperor Norton, in Colma. Donna Sachet, Absolute Empress XXX, pays tribute here to Sarria.
Empress I José viewing his plaque, 2006
members Absolute Empress I, José Julio Sarria secution of homosexuals, he surprisingly garnered 6000 votes citywide, finally waking the political establishment up to the legitimate voice of a beaten-down minority. Shortly thereafter, he joined bar owners and employees in forming the Tavern Guild, designed to protect Gay businesses and patrons. He was also instrumental in the formation of the League for Civil Education and Society for Individual Rights, ground-breaking early organizations dedicated to ensuring civil rights for homosexuals. In 1964, surrounded by admirers and still clinging to his theatrical roots, José turned down the offered title of
Queen at the annual Beaux Arts Ball and declared himself Empress of San Francisco, the Widow of Emperor Joshua Norton, the historical 19th century eccentric figure, long celebrated by the City. And so was born the Imperial Court of San Francisco, quickly duplicated in various cities and eventually expanding to the International Court System, now with nearly 70 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. José took great pride in this organization, traveling to many cities to encourage their members, always staying true to his convictions, always ready to share a story, and always anxious to hear of
new leaders, fresh ideas, and battles won. In order to ensure the vibrant continuation of the International Court System, José appointed as its leader Nicole Murray-Ramirez, Empress of San Diego and now Queen Mother of the Americas. The José Honors Award is presented biannually to distinguished members of this organization, keeping José’s name and legacy alive. Back in San Francisco, José supported Harvey Milk’s political aspirations and took great pride in Milk’s election to the Board of Supervisors in 1977. José was named Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal of the 2005 Pride Pa-
rade and a block of 16th Street was christened for him in 2006. He recently donated his extensive collection of papers and memorabilia to the GLBT Historical Society. He relocated several times, eventually residing with dear friends in a charming cottage in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Remember this towering pioneer of the Gay rights movement. Go to the plaque in the sidewalk in front of the Harvey Milk Branch Library at 1 José Sarria Court. Leave some flowers or mementos at the corner of 18th and Castro where a large photo of him waves in the breeze. Attend his Imperial State Funeral at Grace Cathedral,
followed by a motorcade to Colma, where he will be interred in Woodlawn Cemetery, right beside his beloved Emperor Joshua Norton. And when you vote for a Gay candidate, legally marry your partner, attend a fundraiser, contribute to a charitable cause, don some fantastic drag outfit, walk through the door of a Gay bar, or simply take the hand of your partner as you stroll down the street, please remember why you are able to do so with pride… because of the life, the work, and the passion of José Sarria.
ALL PHOTOS PAGE 11 BY RINK UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
Logo of the International Court System
IMPERIAL COURT PHOTO
Coat of Arms of the Imperial Council of San Francisco
Empress I José at the 2007 Imperial Coronation
Empress Nicole the Great with Empress I José
Tribute at Castro and 18th Streets
Empress Nicole the Great of San Diego and Empress Donna Sachet at the José Awards
Coronation of reigning Empress Patti McGroin and Emperor Drew Cutler
Coronation of Emperor John Carrillo and Empress Suzy Wong in 2000
Empress Saybeline and Emperor Frankie Fernandez at the 2011 Grand Ducal Party
Emperor John Carrillo and Empress Cher at the 2011 Academy of Friends
PHOTO BY HEIDI BEELER
Empress Barbie LaChoy and Emperor Berlin at the 2002 Coronation
Empress I José presides at the grave of the Emperor Norton
Grand Duke candidate Kippy Marks with Emperor John Weber
Imperials attending the High Tea honoring Empress José in early 2013
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Round About: REAF’s Help Is On The Way XIX Before, during and after the show at the Palace of Fine Arts, Bay Times photographers Rink and Steven Underhill documented the evening’s receptions, performances and dessert party. Stars included Jim Bailey, Jason Brock, David Burnham, Carole Cook, Spencer Day, Loretta Devine, Alex Newell, Maureen McGovern, Donna McKechnie, Jake Simpson, Paula West, Lisa Forman,
SF Gay Men’s Chorus, Bay Times columnist Gypsy Love and many more. Congratulations to the entire Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation team, and beneficiaries Project Open Hand, AIDS Housing Alliance, Shanti, and Aguilas. Special thanks to REAF’s Ken Henderson, executive director/CEO and PR guru Lawrence Helman.
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BAY TIMES Septembe r 5 , 2 0 1 3
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Arts&Entertainment Rare Screenings of Pier Paolo Pasolini Films in SF This Month
Film
Gary M. Kramer Moviegoers have a tremendous opportunity to see several great works by gay filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini on the big screen this month. A miniretrospective offers early films such as Mamma Rosa, Madea, and The Decameron at the Castro Theatre on Saturday, September 14, while the Roxie will screen Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, Arabian Nights, and The Canterbury Tales on Sunday, September 15. After the 4:00 pm show of Mamma Rosa, actor Ninetto Davoli will introduce Medea at 6:30 pm at the Castro. He will also introduce the 9:30 pm
show of The Decameron, which is the f irst f ilm in Pasolini’s “Trilogy of Life.” This is an adaption of stories by Bocaccio, with Davoli appearing in an early sequence as Andreucchio, a rich horse buyer duped by a woman into thinking she’s his sister. When he spends the night, her trick is revealed, and he escapes broke, covered in feces, and nearly naked. When he is “rescued” by thieves promising to help him regain the wealth he lost, Andreucchio gets into another scrape, before a satisfying ending. Most of the comic-ironic tales in The Decameron have the characters employing trickery—from a wife who dupes her husband to be serviced by her lover, to a young woman who lies to her parents to spend the night with her boyfriend. In addition, many episodes satirize the church. A segment about a man posing as a deaf mute to f inagle his way into a convent, where he has sex with all of the nuns, is arguably the best. Pasolini seems to be in a playful mood here, and the filmmaker, who appears as the painter Giotto in one vignette, creates vivid imagery with bold costumes and splendid art design/direction.
Pasolini’s last and most notorious film, Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, screens at 2:00 pm and 9:45 pm on Sunday at the Roxie. Barth David Schwartz, author of Pasolini Requiem, will introduce the evening show. The film is set in northern Italy in 1944 during the Nazi/Fascist era. It is based on the works of the Marquis de Sade, and is as shocking and unsettling today as it was upon release. Four unnamed libertines/off icials capture various young men and women and imprison them in a house where they strip them of all rights and clothes and use them as props in lewd acts (urophilia), humiliating contests (to see who has the perfect derriere), before severely mutilating them. A series of well-dressed older women recount crude tales of sexual abuse, scatology, and prostitution, while accompanied by a piano. As the stories unfold, the male officials rape the youths, force them to eat excrement, and eventually burn and cut their bodies and faces. While the officials are all aroused and/or amused by the behavior—one man tells a bad joke whenever a character dies—Salò is obviously neither sexy nor funny. This depravity on display is still appalling and hard to watch, particularly the “Circle of S--t” sequence, which involves extensive coprophag ia, and the finale in which many of the youths are subjected to torture. But these episodes resonate and emphasize Pasolini’s overarching statements about power corrupting absolutely. Furthermore, his commentary and depiction of voyeurism and deviance in society—from extreme religious worship and national allegiance, to
lent locations, and in various countries, the erotic Arabian Nights is a fantastic film, in all senses of the word.
fetishism and sadomasochistic practices—remain as powerful as ever. Although Arabian Nights is the third film in Pasolini’s “Trilogy of Life,” it shows first on Sunday at the Roxie, at 4:30pm. Actor Ninetto Davoli, who will do a post-screening Q&A, has a key role in the film as Aziz, a man who is engaged to his cousin, but finds love with other women, only to be betrayed. Arabian Nights is a series of interconnected love stories with either horrific or happy endings. The main plot concerns Zumurrud (Ines Pellegrini), a slave who chooses Nur ed Din (Farnco Merli) as her master at an auction. Their romance, however, is short-lived, as he ignores her advice to avoid a blue-eyed man. Separated from his love/master, he seeks to reunite with Zumurrud, while various tales of fate unfold. There is magical realism—from cursed rice to a man who turns into a monkey—as well as stories featuring women posing as men, characters being corrupted, and individuals who meet their destiny despite efforts to protect themselves. Beautifully filmed in opu-
Davoli will also introduce the 7:15 pm screening of The Canterbury Tales, Pasolini’s earthy (re)-telling of eight of Chaucer’s t went y-fou r mor a l fables about g reed and betrayal, sex and death. Davoli plays Perk in, a Chaplinesque f ig ure in an amusing slapstick segment that is a highlight in the film. The second tale is notable for feat u r i ng sodomites, one of whom, because he is poor, is burned for his “crime.” While this is a dark story, most of the tales are bawdy and humorous. The naughtiest episode features a deceptive carpenter who suffers a painful revenge when his lover tricks a suitor with a “misplaced” kiss. The last vignette, about a friar, features Satan’s rear end literally defecating priests into Hell. It is among Pasolini’s most visually striking and satiric episodes. The filmmaker—who plays Chaucer here with a suitably wry smile—makes these erotic tales both enjoyable and memorable Tickets to each day’s screenings are available at the box office or online at w w w.cast rot heat re.com w w w. roxie.com. For more information, visit pasolinif ilm.com. © 2013 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Ind e pe n d e n t Q u e e r C i n e m a : R e v i e ws and Inter views,” and the co-editor of “D irectory of World Cinema: Argentina.” You can follow him on Twitter @garymkramer.
Grammy-Nominated Violist Keith Lawrence Keith was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to parents Valerie and Ronald Lawrence. He is the youngest of 3 brothers. Keith’s passion for music started at the age of eight. In the public school systems in Pittsburgh, every student was required either to take a singing class or to learn to play a musical instrument. Keith chose to play the clarinet, which he excelled at.
Gems of The Bay Kippy Marks I am extremely honored to introduce to you a powerhouse of a musician: Mr. Keith Lawrence. Keith is an accomplished violist with talent, style and presence that earn him large crowds of adoring fans. You might know him from the Grammy-nominated group Quartet San Francisco, for which he played for several years.
At age 11, Keith began to play in the school orchestra. Keith recalls, “All of my friends played musical instruments in the orchestra, and I was the class clown and would cut up for them all the time, so I decided to play in the orchestra to be closer to them.” Keith first tried playing the violin and then the cello, neither of which suited him. Finally he decided that the viola was the instrument for him. Keith dedicated himself to music and education for the next several years, maintaining a challenging, but rewarding, schedule. During his sum-
mer mont hs Keith would attend Interlochen A r t s Academy i n I nterlochen, MI. He also attended the pre-college music prep pr o g r a m a t Duquesne U n i v e r s i t y. He later attended prestigious Oberlin Conservatory, where he earned his undergraduate degree. His graduate degree was earned at DePaul University School of Music. Keith has also traveled extensively. While based in Chicago, he toured with his Oberlin University quartet in Denmark, Australia and Italy. He performed and taught master classes for about 2½ years. While Keith was on a tour, his older brother became sick. Keith decided to return
to Ch icago and care for him. In Chicago, Keit h w a s i nv it ed to participate at the Henry Mancini Institute in Los A ngeles. He won a scholarship and did a month long intensive program focusing on film and alternative music styles. In December 2007, Keith received a call from Jeremy Cohen, who invited him to audition for the viola position in Quartet San Francisco. This proved to be a successful audition and within several months, Keith found himself thrust into the limelight in San Francisco. Keith performed with Quartet San Francisco until January of 2013.
You can see Keith perform September 5, 6, 7 with the Berkeley Symphony and renowned opera singer Placido Domingo at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. You can also catch him playing with The California Symphony, The Santa Rosa Symphony and The Berkeley Symphony this season. You can additionally watch Keith play with Synchronicity Strings and Quartet San Francisco on YouTube. Keith’s music is for sale online at iTunes, CDBaby, and Amazon. Keith is also a bartender at the Edge Bar in San Francisco! For more information about Keith and his work, please visit his Facebook page: www.facebook/ keithlawrence. Violinist Kippy Marks entertains audi e nces worl dw i de w ith hi s in spirational compositions and lively performances that draw from classical, jazz, blues and dance . ht tp://www.k ippy marks.us
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PH OTO B Y R I N K
Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “We just had the 50th anniversary of the 1963 civil rights March on Washington, returning amidst a newly reinvigorated fight for civil rights that has grown rapidly to include LGBTQ Americans. After all, queer rights are civil rights.” And Chairman Emeritus, NAACP Julian Bond, who stands with the Human Rights Campaign in endorsing marriage equality, stated, “No parallel between movements is exact. But like race, our sexuality and gender identity aren’t preferences. They are immutable, unchangeable – and the constitution protects us all against discrimination based on immutable differences.” Sister Dana sez, “Amen!” Helping to eliminate LGBTQ disc r i m i n a t i o n , t h e R A I N B OW WORLD FUND rainbow bus (aka THE BUS OF HOPE) was in the Castro last weekend, parked at Jane Warner Plaza. Founded in 2000, Rainbow World Fund is an all-volunteer international humanitarian service agency based in the LGBTQ and friends communities. RWF is the first to promote queer philanthropy in the area of global humanitarian relief. Along with raising our community’s consciousness, RWF raises funds to support humanitarian relief projects focusing on HIV/AIDS, safe water, land mine eradication, hunger, education, and disaster relief in Africa, Asia, Central America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and the United States. RWF creates a platform and united voice for LGBTQ compassion and concern to be seen throughout the world, changing how the world sees queer people. They take gay giving to the next level.
In the past, the bus has been used to deliver humanitarian aid to Mexico. They recently converted the interior into a lounge and bar, where a lovely reception was held. “We live in a time in which our survival on this planet depends on each of us giving more to each other,” said RWF Executive Director Jeff Cotter. “The philosophy is that we are all one human family. Together we can heal the world.” The bus was originally created as a colorful float for the 2007 SF Pride Parade, in which RWF was an Organizational Grand Marshal. The bus has since delivered thousands of pounds of medicines, medical equipment, educational materials, and more to needy nations. To volunteer, see rainbowfund.org. CUMMING UP BEYOND IT is the latest way-kewl nonprofit charitable organization to pop up. Founded by newly out, loud, proud soccer star Olympian, ROBBIE ROGERS, who signed with the LA Galaxy in May 2013, the Beyond It mission is to serve as “a global platform of support for people and initiatives to invite our culture to move beyond the labels & stereotypes that limit us from reaching our full potential,” including eradication of homophobia, racism, and other prejudices. Check out beyondit.org as the website develops, and enjoy beautiful photos of this cutie! I just caught writer/director PEDRO ALMODÓVAR’s newest naughty comedy, I’M SO EXCITED at the Castro Theatre. It runs September 9th and 10th at the Castro. It’s his most joyous and colorful since Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown – where passengers are put in hilarious, preca r ious sit uat ions aboa rd a plane f lying from Spain to Mexico City, when a landing gear failure endangers their lives. Flamboyant f light attendants and straight (but possibly bi) pilots use sleeping pills to calm those in economy class and make them passed out passengers; while first class clientele are treated to mescaline martinis to calm their nerves and stir up their libidos. It seems most
everyone in business class has some kind of dark secret (hired assassin, dominatrix, embezzler, adulterer, clairvoyant, closet queen, and more) that gradually emerges when all are faced with imminent death. Add to this colorful chaos the side-splitting antics of a trio of gay steward «sisters» dancing, camping, and lip-synching to The Pointer Sisters’ title song. This ain’t no disaster movie, sister! Oh, and it’s subtitled from Spanish, so don’t go hung-over. Show-times (2:30 bargain matinee), 4:45, 7, 9:15pm. castrotheatre.com DRINK AND DRAW is every Monday night at MOBY DICK bar, between 7:30 and 10:30pm. Male models pose for life drawing sessions - an opportunity for first-timers to learn how to draw or for experienced artists to improve their technique. “Thank you, Joe Cappelletti and Scot Riffe of Moby Dick for Drink and Draw. We all love it so much, and Brandon’s music and expertly made drinks,” says organizer/ well known artist Thomasina DeMaio. “A lot of us are making mini breakthroughs with our growth, and we thank you for providing this model for free to the community. It has become church for several of us.” SEX & THE CITY - LIVE is the latest smash hit from director D’Arcy in the form of new episodes now showing every Wednesday night, 7 and 9pm, Rebel, 1760 Market Street @ Octavia. Order a Cosmo and get ready for the raunchy sex! The always hilarious stage adaptation stars drag regulars Heklina, D’A rcy Drollinger, Lady Bear, Trixxie Carr, Leigh Crow, Pristine Condition, and Cookie Dough. Tickets at sexandthecitylive.eventbrite.com. I threw on my pearl necklace (no, not THAT kind, you perv), slipped into a pair of Manolo Blahniks (not really - they were Vans), and downed a Cosmo to catch The Girls (Carrie Bradshaw, Sa m a nt ha Jones, Cha rlot te York, and Miranda Hobbes with the eponymous Mr. Big) once again (continued on page 18)
Pete Nowlen: New Artistic Director of the SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band Although Nowlen brings more than 20 as well as Clifton Williams’ Symphonic years’ professional conducting and performance experience to the band, he says his number one job is to hear from the Freedom Band’s musicians.
Brass Tacks Heidi Beeler White smoke wafts from the concert hall. After a year-long search and a finalists’ concert series, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band has chosen Pete Nowlen, director of concert bands at UC Davis, as its new artistic director. Nowlen takes the podium as the 11th conductor of the Freedom Band since it first marched up Market Street behind Harvey Milk’s convertible 35 years ago. Nowlen is a professional French horn player, whose music experience extends beyond the world of band geekery. Opera, orchestra, chorus, and, yes, band and wind symphony are all in the mix. Along with being UC Davis’ director of concert bands, he is also opera musical director at CSU Sacramento and artistic director of Sacramento›s VITA [Vocal & Instrumental Teaching Artists] Academy, Camerata California (a chamber chorus) and the Rancho Cordova Civic Light Orchestra. He performed with the Sacramento Symphony from 1987 to 1996 and is active as an orchestral and chamber musician. 14
BAY TIMES Septembe r 5 , 2 0 1 3
“I think the most important thing for me for the first year is to LISTEN,” Nowlen emailed last week, “to learn about the organization and then to work with the leadership to develop a vision. Inside the rehearsal room and concert hall, we’ll work to develop some consistent patterns of style, sound and articulation, which will give the band a ‘sound.’ This provides a foundation to allow us to aim for an even higher artistic standard.” At his first rehearsal last Tuesday, listening was pretty much Nowlen’s first task right out of the shoot. With a short rehearsal set before its season opener on Friday, September 20, the Band is presenting a concert of ensembles (A Festival of Ensembles), and Nowlen listened to last week’s auditions. Brass quintet, clarinet choir, saxophone ensemble, tuba quartet, flute dectet and trumpet nontet have prepared music ranging from classical fanfare to pastoral fantasia to pop tunes and even music that’s piratical. Following the ensemble performances, the full band will reassemble under Nowlen’s baton to perform that perennial favorite, Holst’s Second Suite in F,
Dance No. 3, Fiesta! As Nowlen settles into his job as leader of the first openly LGBT music organization in the world, he’s considering ideas for reaching out to new audiences as the Freedom Band enters its 36th concert season. “One great way to build audience is through partnerships that can link us to new communities,” Nowlen wrote. “Those can be performing partnerships - perhaps with high school or college bands - or social/political partnerships.” Nowlen’s audition concert last May, Through Seneca Falls and Selma and Stonewall, did just that, involving LGBT rights activists Zoe Dunning, Stuart Gaffney, John Lewis and Christopher Bakes in a concert paying tribute to civil rights pioneers. It was a powerful concert and an honor to celebrate our modern heroes, but Nowlen is considering ways the Band can send its message beyond the Bay Area “One thing I’d like to explore in pursuit of our social mission are streaming concerts - to widen our potential audience,” Nowlen wrote. “That way a concert like last May’s - and any of our others - can reach a wider audience and in places less LGBT friendly than San Francisco.” Nowlen noted that one of the most important parts of the band’s mission is to nurture its own musical community. “Some of the time we really just want to have FUN performing together and reaching for our highest level.” Trumpet player Heidi Beeler has been a member of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band since 1991.
Simplicity Sometimes Requires Work ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Don’t get stuck spinning in circles, Aries. Big change is brewing, and you must commune with the cosmos to navigate the next steps in your new awakening. Stop, look, and listen.
LEO (July 23 – August 22) Planetary patterns push you to promote your point of view now. Hone how you leave your mark, and assert yourself peacefully. Remember, Leo – you’re a lover, not a fighter.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21) Start with a clean slate, Sagittarius. A spiritual “spring cleaning” is underway. Clear cobwebs from your consciousness by releasing foolish fears and allowing hidden desires to take shape.
better.
Astrology Gypsy Love Steve Jobs once said, “Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work to make it simple...But once you get there, you can move mountains.” Currently, the cosmos calls us to clarify that which constitutes our core. Strip away superficialities that smother your inner strength. Untangle long-standing snags in your spirit by paring down to your purest state of power. In other words – less is more, lovers.
www.AstrologyByGypsyLove.com
TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Take it down a notch, Taurus. Peeling back pointless anxiety will help guide you toward paths of least resistance. Worrying will wear you down. Productive partners are eager to help.
VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) Shake it up, Virgo. If variety is the spice of life, you’re about to feast on every flavor. Parlay palatal pleasures into long-term returns by tasting outside your comfort zone.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Unlock your potential, Gemini. Confusion in your public sector could cause you to question career motives and restructure daily routines. Focus on sharpening talents that play to your strengths.
LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) Get back to basics, Libra. The cosmos compels you to create stronger connections between your roots and your rewards. Take inventory to ensure your vocation stems from a reliable source.
CANCER (June 21 – July 22) The sky’s the limit, Cancer. Creative insights and intense collaborations are looking to launch you into an exciting stage of self-discovery. Your frame of reference is flourishing. Have fun!
SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21) Be softer on your self-image, Scorpio. Nit-picking every nook and cranny is needless now. Restore your swagger by dissolving delusions that don’t really define you. Dare to see yourself clearly
CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) Boost bonds and build bridges, Capricorn. External forces are intensifying intimate relationships and uniting you with kindred counterparts in your community. Say goodbye to insincere accessories in your social circle. AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) Ask yourself, Aquarius... Do you sacrifice soulful satisfaction for the sake of success? Facing facts will help furnish a clearer framework for integrating precious passions with professional pursuits.
PISCES (February 19 – March 20) Perfection’s overrated, Pisces. Principles are more important that precision now. When it comes to goal attainment, your most admirable asset is knowing where you stand. Integrity trumps accuracy any day.
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’s your favorite memory of going over or under the Bay Bridge?
Alex Rivera
Chablis
Anthony Cianciolo
Jimmy McConnell
Keith Waltrip
“Running across during the SF Marathon and sailing beneath while celebrating a friend’s birthday.”
“It’s wonderful to ride back to San Francisco and see the holiday lights on the Embarcadero.”
“I was walking inder the bridge a day after the 1991 East Bay fire, stepping on cinders that had been roof shingles.”
“My favorite memory of the Bay Bridge is riding over it at night returning from the East Bay”
“Just awe when I moved here in 2008 from Chicago.”
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compiled by Robert Fuggiti
See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com
“Mephistopheles” will be at the San Francisco Opera through October 2 (Photo: Marty Sohl).
Out of the Past – Old Mint. $20. 6 pm to 11 pm (88 5th St.) www.openhand.org. Join Project Open Hand supporters, and history enthusiasts for an evening of cocktails and stories about LGBT history in San Francisco. Bear Coffee – Café Flore. Free. 6 pm to 8 pm. (2298 Market St.) www.cafeflore.com. A monthly meet-up and social for bears in the Castro. Comedy Bodega – Esta Noche. Free. 8 pm. (3079 16th St.) www.
estanocheclub.com. Enjoy the weekly comedy variety show happening every Thursday.
Friday Live – El Rio. Free. 6 pm to 10 pm. (3158 Mission St.) www. liquidgirlfriend.com. Queer band “Liquid Girlfriend” performs live, along with DJ Emotions. Some Thing – The Stud. $5. 10 pm. (399 9th St.) www.studsf.com. A uniquely themed party on Fridays, with drag performances at 11 pm. Mephistopheles – SF Opera.
$28-$285. 8 pm. (301 Van Ness Ave.) www.sfopera.com. An impressive production of Arrigo Boito’s Mephistopheles, with internationally renowned Ildar Abdrazakov, Patricia Racette, and Ramon Vargas.
Essence of the Average Dyke Band – La Peña Cultural Center. Free. 8 pm to 10:30 pm. (3105 Shatuck Ave., Berkeley) www.lapena.org. Get your funk on a dance the night away. 2013 LGBT Caucus Pride Honorees – Eureka Valley Recreation Center. Free. 3 pm to 5 pm. (100 Collingwood St.) 415557-1300. Join Senator Mark Leno for an evening to celebrate marriage equality. Jalwa – Club OMG. Free. 10 pm to 2 am. (43 6th St.) www.clubomgsf.com. Enjoy a night of dancing at this unique, Bollywood themed gay bar.
Lady Windermere’s Fan – Bruns Amphitheater. $20-$72. 4 pm. (100 California St.) www.calshakes. org. Enjoy California Shakespeare Theater’s production of Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan.
asthometown.com. David Perry speaks with Jim Gabbert, legendary broadcast executive and TV personality for over five decades. Mahogany Mondays – Midnight Sun. Free. 8 pm. (4067 18th St.) www.midnightsunsf.com. A live drag variety show with $5 drink specials all evening. Karaoke Night – Toad Hall. Free. 8 pm. (4146 18th St.) www. toadhallbar.com. Sing your heart out on stage at Toad Hall’s weekly karaoke night.
Doing it For Ourselves – San Francisco LGBT Community Center. Free. 7 pm to 9 pm. (1800 Market St.) 510-717-3382. An interactive workshop to focus on the use of inspirational readings and writings with the purpose of understanding health. Switch – Q Bar. $5. 10 pm to 2 am. (456 Castro St.) www.qbarsf. com. A weekly lesbian dance party. Beach Blanket Babylon – Club Fugiazi. $25-$48. 8 pm. (678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd.) www.beachblanketbabylon.com. Beach Blanket Babylon, the world’s longest running musical revue, is a high energy pop
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Candlelight Flow Community Yoga – LGBT Center. Free. 7 pm to 8 pm. (1800 Market St.) www.sfcenter.org. Replenish your energy level with a weekly “Candlelight Flow” class. Smack Dab Open Mic Night – Magnet. Free. 8 pm. (4122 18th St.) www.magnetsf.org. An open mic night for all, with special guest Randy Alfred of Wired magazine. Hosted by Larry-bob Roberts.
Legacy Planning with Charitable Intent – Merrill Lynch. Free. 6 pm to 8 pm. (600 California St.) 415-398-2333. Horizons Foundation and Merrill Lynch host an evening to explore the challenges and opportunities for LGBT estate planning.
Underwear After Party – Powerhouse. Free. 10 pm. (1347 Folsom St.) www.powerhouse-sf. com. A weekly underwear party with $1 drink specials and free clothing check.
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.
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Castro Farmers Market – Noe St. at Market. Free. 4 pm to 8 pm. www.pcfma.com. Enjoy fresh produce and local made foods and delicacies. Happening every Wednesday.
4Bidden – The Cellar. $10. 10 pm to 2am. (685 Sutter St.) www.cellarsf.com. A fun lesbian dance night playing your favorite throwback songs.
Glamazone – The Café. Free. 9 pm to 2 am. (2369 Market St.) www.cafesf.com. Enjoy drink specials during the day and drag performances through the evening.
David Perry’s Ten Percent – Comcast “On Demand.” Free. 11:30 am & 10:30 pm. (Comcast Cable Network) www.comc-
culture satire and is the perfect night out with friends.
David Perry interviews Jim Gabbert in his weekly broadcast, “Ten Percent.”
Other Desert Cities – TheatreWorks. $19-$73. 7 pm. (500 Castro St., Mountain View) www.theatreworks.org. TheatreWorks’ regional premiere of the gripping Broadway hit
“Other Cities” by Jon Robin Baitz. Through September 15. Spamalot – Hillbarn Theatre. $23$40. 8 pm. (1285 East Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City) www.hillbarntheatre.org. An outrageously funny musical adaptation of the legendary comedy, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Through September 22. Cubcake – Lonestar. Free. 9 pm. (1354 Harrison St.) www.lonestarsf.com. A monthly bear dance party happening second Fridays.
Faux Queen Pageant 2013 – Slim’s. $20. 7 pm. (333 11th St.) www.slimspresents.com. The original contest for drag queens trapped in women’s bodies. Shakespeare in the Park – San Francisco’s Presidio. Free. 2 pm. (Main Post Parade Ground Lawn) www.sfshakes.org. For the first time in their 31 year history, the SF Shakes stage a free production of Macbetch. Through September 15. 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.
18th Annual Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival – Ghiradelli Square. $20-$125. 10 am to 5 pm. Ghirardelli Chocolate Company partners with Project Open Hand to host a fabulous event filled with premium chocolate and wine. Bingo and Silent Auction – The African American Arts and Culture Center. $20. 2 pm. (762 Fulton St.) www.aaacc.org. Join the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for a Bingo event to benefit the Pacific Institute. Jock – Lookout. $2. 3 pm to 9 pm. (3600 16th St.) www.lookoutsf. com. A weekly fundraising party for Bay Area LGBT sports groups.
Motown Monday – Madrone
Art Bar. Free. 6 pm. (500 Divisadero St.) www.madroneartbar.com. Dance the night away to favorite Motown songs and remixes. Piano Bar 101 – Martuni’s. Free. 9 pm. (4 Valencia St.) www.dragatmartunis.com. Sing along to your favorite songs with friends. 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.
Trivia Night – Hi Tops. Free. 10 pm. (2247 Market St.) www.hitopssf. com. Test your trivia knowledge at this popular sports bar. Camelot – SF Playhouse. $30$100. 8 pm. (450 Post St.) www. sfplayhouse.org. Camelot is the
timeless and powerful love triangle between legendary King Arthur, his Queen Guinevere and his best friend Lancelot. Through September 14. Meow Mix – The Stud. Free. 9 pm. (399 9th St.) www.studsf.com. A weekly cabaret variety show with drink specials.
Karen Black Tribute – Castro Theatre. $11. 7 pm. (429 Castro St.) www.castrotheatre.com. The Castro Theatre presents an evening double feature program celebrating the life and work of Academy Award nominee Karen Black. Meditation Group – San Francisco Public Library. Free. 12 pm to 12:45 pm. (100 Larkin St.) www.sfpl.org. A weekly meditation group to find inner peace. Last Drag – SF LGBT Community Center. Free. 7 pm to 9 pm. (1800 Market St.) www.lastdrag.org. A free class to quit smoking for LGBT smokers. Every Wednesday through September 11.
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(SURVEY continued from page 1) • Nearly half of all gay/bi men and lesbian/bi women surveyed make financial contributions to a charity or non-profit at least annually, while those in the transgender community are more likely (54%) than LGBs to perform volunteer work. • Lesbian and bisexual women are far more likely (44%) to purchase spa services than gay and bisexual men (32%). • Lesbians consume beer on similar levels as gay men, but are far less likely to drink spirits. 59% of gay men under age 30 have consumed a spirits drink in the past week. Community members identifying as transgender drink far less alcohol than those who identify as a gay man or lesbian. Canadian LGBTs drink more wine than USA LGBTs. • Facebook is a dominant media force within the LGBT community. However, LGBT-specific websites are showing notable growth in LGBT readership.
ness on Facebook, 28% of gay/bi men “checked in” at a business to get deals or discounts and 17% of lesbian/bi women purchased a deal from Groupon, Living Social, etc. • 56% of lesbians watched an NFL game on television in the past year, compared to 40% of gay men. Lesbians widely support the WNBA with 34% watching a game on television and 12% attending a game. The media consumption, purchasing patterns and motivations of a 25-yearold lesbian living in San Francisco are likely to be completely different than those of an elderly gay male couple living in Sedona, Arizona. The survey therefore isn’t meant to create a profile of any one “typical” LGBT individual. Instead, it’s meant to help organizations understand how our community sometimes responds as one voice, or when demographic differences such as gender, age and geographic residence are far more important.
certain demographic. It’s hard to predict what the response might be, however. The business might try to cater all the more to its known supporters, or it could try to strengthen outreach to other groups. (We’re not holding our breath over Chick-fil-A, though.) In this case, CMI’s research clients include leaders from a wide range of industries. Custom CMI studies have been produced for Wells Fargo Bank, SunTrust Bank, ABSOLUT Vodka, E&J Gallo Wineries, Prudential Financial, MetLife, WNBA, Esurance, Target Brands, Digitas, Travelocity, American Cancer Society, Kaiser Family Foundation, Hyatt Hotels, Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, Canadian Tourism Commission, Stockholm Tourism Board, Japan National Tourism Organization, The U.S. Census and numerous other corporations and organizations across North America and around the world.
Businesses def initely pay attention to such surveys when attempting to draw more customers or to target a
You can view all of the survey results by going to http://app.streamsend. c o m /p u b l i c / X B Z j / H r O/s u b scr ibe, and f i l l ing out t he shor t form on that page.
that there is a correlation between rising real estate prices and landlordtenants’ problems, including reduction of services, notices to terminate tenancies, verbal threats of impending eviction and harassment.
In San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland, rents and evictions are regulated and tenants cannot be evicted except for just cause. Just causes include failure to pay the rent, habitual late payment of rent, and nuisance.
advise tenants to seek out advice early, when there’s the first indication of a problem. That gives the upper hand to the tenant, and puts them in the best position to protect his/her home, buy time, or get paid to vacate.
As the stakes increase, more landlords are willing to take previously unthought-of risks. A lot of rental property is changing hands as longterm owners see this window of opportunity to sell. New owners want to recoup their expenditures, often leading to efforts to vacate the units.
During the past soft market, a landlord might have tolerated late/missed payments. Now it only takes one or two late payments, and a tenant may come to a rude awakening, such as a three-day notice to pay rent or quit. In the past, the landlord told a tenant to keep the noise down. Now a noise complaint may form grounds for eviction, especially when complaints are coming from a newly arrived tenant paying double what the long-term tenant is paying.
This column is my inaugural article in a monthly series for the Bay Times intended as a guide to help tenant readers navigate these challenging times. As a brief introduction, I am a civil litigator with an emphasis on landlord tenant law for the past 25 years. I graduated from Golden Gate University School of Law, and have taught at SF State and the University of Texas, Arlington. I served as a mediator for the SF Bar Association and served on the Board of Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (Gay Bar Association). I have obtained multiple settlements and jury verdicts in the six and seven figure range for tenant clients, and have also successfully defended many unlawful detainers.
• During the past week, 42% of lesbian/bi women “liked” a busi(CONWAY continued from page 1)
Many evictions are defensible; others can lead to negotiated buy out. A landlord might be unwilling to carry out an eviction through a jury trial, due to the combined expense of lost rents and the expenses associated with litigation, including attorneys’ fees. I have recently observed an increase in complaints about bogus entries to tenants’ units, repeated verbal suggestions that tenants move out, and terminations of tenancies without just cause. Vacancies are valued at the fair market rent for purposes of financing.
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New lawyers on both sides of the field eager to cash in on this volatile period are jumping into the rent Gold Rush. Luckily for tenants, the Bay Area has plenty of resources for tenants and many excellent tenant attorneys. Getting a consultation with a professional will not only alleviate fears, but it will also allow tenants to create a plan and strategy for handling the situation. I
(SISTER DANA SEZ continued from page 14) in all their Manhattan madness. That ing! The Faux Queen Pageant night, Steven LeMay subbed for Trixx- comes out of the woods and onto the ie. It was all about potential mother- stage at Slim’s - a world of fractured in-law problems with a Mama’s boy, fairy tales where the princess rescues exes popping up, improper proposals, herself. Contestants compete in two funky spunk, bee-jays, vajayjays, fash- categories: the Fairy Tale Couion faux pas (fashion kills - especially ture fashion walk and the Talent in high high heels), narcissism, bare- Competition. Audience members ass nudity, and dating don’ts (fixing up can pick their favorite performer for GBF Stanford with an ill fit, for ex- a special Audience Favorite Prize ample). As usual, the show opens with with points granted with each dollar a video takeoff of the TV classic, with tipped. Femcees are Heklina and Carrie/Heklina getting splashed by a FQP 2000 Winner Windy Plains. passing vehicle. The HBO soundtrack is used frequently, and there are many PANDORA BOXX: LICK THIS inner monologue voiceovers by Carrie BOXX! is an evening of comedy, to move the plot along. You don’t have stories, and song. It runs September to love the TV series to appreciate this 6th-8th, 7:30 & 10 pm at Rebel, live show, but it doesn’t hurt. Feel free 1760 Market. The show includes Ms. to hoot and holler and yell at the play- Boxx’s tales of life after RuPaul’s ers - who are most definitely true blue Drag Race, shocking confessions about her shameful addiction, details drama queens. about her sordid sexual encounters, Bea Dazzler & L. Ron Hubby pres- salacious behind-the-scenes dish on ent (in association with the KLUB- RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, STiTUTE KOLLECTiVE) FAUX and even a taste of her acclaimed QUEEN PAGEANT 2013: SIS - Carol Channing impersonation. DeTERS GRIMM, a fun fundraiser as spite not winning, Pandora proved to the original contest for Drag Queens be the breakout star and was named Trapped in Women’s Bodies. This on- by Entertainment Weekly as “America’s ly-in-EssEff event happens Saturday, Next Drag Superstar.” Her popularSeptember 14, doors 7 pm; Pie Eating ity led to a gig as a drag professor on Contest 7:30 pm, Pageant 8pm; Win- the spin-off show RuPaul’s Drag U. Lick ner’s Circle 10 pm at Slim’s, 333 - 11th This Boxx! combines glitter, music, Street, slimspresents.com. Tix: $15 in video, and Pandora’s sarcastic wit into advance; $20 at the door, fauxqueen- one big ball of congealed polyester pageant.brownpapertickets.com. hysterical goodness. brownpapertickets.com, pandoraboxx.com. Once upon a time, in a city by a bay, the fiercest faux queens in the king- SING-ALONG MARY POPPINS dom vied for their own happy end- is back by popular demand. The Cas-
San Francisco-based attorney Nancy M. Conway specializes in civil litigation, tenant rights litigation, bankruptcy, family law, real estate and personal injury. tro Theatre brings back a sing-along experience to one of the finest Disney movies of all time - MARY POPPINS. The first full weekend of September - Friday, September 6 at 7 pm and Saturday & Sunday, September 8 & 9 at 2 & 7 pm - fans are invited to warm up their vocal cords and participate in the Castro Theatre’s much beloved sing-along tradition. Winner of five Oscars including Best Actress and Best Original Song, Mary Poppins tells the story of the titular English governess ( Julie Andrews) who comes to work for a stuffy banker (David Tomlinson) at the behest of his unhappy children. They soon discover that Mary is not simply a kind caretaker, but that she possesses enchanting magical powers. Tix are $15 for adults; $10 for children (12 and below) and seniors (62+). castrotheatre.com. Finally, it’s here: the long-awaited sequel and adult flick pick, Sexo en Barcelona 2, ragingstallion.com. Sister Dana sez, “Starting on October 1, America will take a huge step towards universal health care - when 22 million uninsured Americans will be able to start getting affordable health insurance under Obamacare. But right-wing groups have launched a multi-million-dollar campaign to torpedo Obamacare before it even gets started. Their plan: mislead young people about how the law works so they get scared and don’t enroll. The problem is that it really could work, because if younger, healthier people don’t participate, then costs will skyrocket, and Obamacare will fail. Period.”
Round About – Meet the Cast of “Priscilla” Photos by Steven Underhill
Bay Times photographer Steven Underhill met up at the Orpheum’s Stage Door with popular stars of SHN’s Priscilla – Queen of the Desert. Some of the lucky guys in the cast, including Scott Willis, Wade McCullom and Taurean Everett, enjoyed Steven’s personal tour and hospitality around and about in the Castro and other favorite spots shared with special friends and visitors. Steven was treated to a backstage tour that included up close access to the costumes, props and other Priscilla secrets.
(ROSTOW continued from page 9) rebels against federal policy by refusing to acknowledge us. The tables are turned, which albeit symbolic, feels huge to me. Plus, now we can stuff all our tax stuff in one box and my tax problems will be hers as well You should also know that a foreign butter substitute called Flora has managed to annoy the international gay community with what Unilever insists was an unauthorized commercial. The ad showed a kid coming out to his parents, which sent a bullet heading to the father’s heart. The upshot was that the father was advised to use Flora as
a heart healthy shield against the various cardiac threats that life might send his way. Unilever promptly apologized and pulled the ad, which was running in South Africa. Again, the moral of the story is that corporations can no longer get away with the slightest slight to our community, which is a good thing. Finally, Mel and I were going to go see The Butler last night, but instead we stayed home and became hooked on a rerun of Sharknado, which is quickly becoming a cult classic. I’m not sure you can call it a classic, since it was
first aired this summer. But honestly, you have to see it. Not since The Legend of Bogg y Creek have I enjoyed a movie for its sheer absurdity. Sorry for the spoiler, but the scene where the hero gets eaten by a shark, but fights his way out of the shark’s stomach with a chain saw, was unforgettable. That said, it’s been years since I saw The Legend of Bogg y Creek, but I highly recommend it. My favorite scene is the montage of the changing seasons that illustrates the heartbreaking loneliness of the deadly swamp creature. arostow@aol.com
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