2013 11 28 by San Francisco Bay Times

November 28-December 4, 2013 | www.sfbaytimes.com

World AIDS Day 2013 pages 23-25

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PHOTO BY JOHN VA JDA

San Francisco Gay Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chorus pages 15-18

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National News Briefs compiled by Dennis McMillan

Delta, CO - Colorado School Board Member Believes Transgender Students Should Be Castrated - 11.25

NYC, NY - High School Cancels Talk by “Pray Away the Gay” Preacher - 11.19 A Catholic high school has postponed a talk by a controversial priest who encourages teens to “pray away the gay;” but the president of the Bronx school defied angry gay groups by saying the lecturer will be invited back.

A school board member from Colorado made headlines after she said that transgender students should be castrated if they want to use the bathrooms that fit their gender identity, Colorado’s CBS-affiliated station KREX-TV reported. Delta County School Board member Katherine Svenson had remarked, “I would like to pass out something that shows people what is going on in the rest of the country.” She continued, “Massachusetts and California have passed laws relating to calling a student, irrespective of his biological gender, letting him perform as the gender he thinks he is, or she is. I just want to emphasize: not in this district. Not until the plumbing’s changed. There would have to be castration in order to pass something like that around here.”

Father Donald Timone was scheduled to speak at Cardinal Spellman High School about the Catholic group called Courage - which encourages teens “struggling with same-sex attraction” to lead chaste lives. After outrage by queer alumni, and some staffers, school President Trevor Nicholls scrubbed the event. But this battle is not over. “The idea that this is the end of the matter is incorrect,” Father Nicholls said, and added that Timone would likely be invited back after the school’s board of trustees weighs in, which is a formality. Opponents of Timone - who say he treats queers like addicts in a 12-step program - will continue their fight too.

Svenson cited the bill that California Governor Jerry Brown recently signed, which allows transgender youth to use the bathroom and play on sports teams that correspond to their gender identity.

“It’s hard enough being a teenager,” said Spellman grad Clinton Leupp. “I look back at all of the suffering I did. All of the bullying. And something like this just fosters that environment.” Leupp, better known by his drag persona Miss Coco Peru, used social media to draw attention to the Timone lecture, causing its cancelation, however temporary.

When questioned if her comments were insensitive, Svenson said she still supports her statements: “I don’t have a problem if some boys think they are girls. I’m just saying as long as they can impregnate a woman, they’re not going to go in the girls’ locker-room.” She added she brought the matter up so other board members could be aware of the issues, and that it could impact their Colorado school district soon.

The cancellation did little to appease some staffers, who cited new Pope Francis’ attempt to get church leaders to move beyond divisive issues such as gay marriage, homosexuality and abortion. “A lot of people are really pissed off (at the school for hosting Timone),” said an anonymous employee. “With the Pope urging people to back off on this issue, the whole thing seems a little out of place.”

Other district officials say they respect Svenson’s views on the issue, but do not agree with her. Superintendent Kurt Clay was asked if castration is something the district would consider, and answered. “Absolutely not, I mean, that’s an opinion of hers. We truly believe in Delta County School District, that every student has different needs, and that we are here to address those individual needs.”

“We desire to open a constructive dialogue with the school to talk about LGBTQ issues in ways that won’t cause harm,” Tym Moss, president of the Bronx LGBTQ Center, concluded. We say, “Go, Coco, Go!”

Maybe we should consider castration or similar radical treatment for transphobic folks!

Source: nydailynews.com

Source: edgeonthenet.com

Washington D.C. - Thousands of Activists Demand Boehner Bring ENDA to the Floor - 11.14 Fargo, ND - Look Out, SFGMC! North Dakota Has New Gay Men’s Chorus! - 11.24

Honolulu, HI - Naughty Lawmakers Who Opposed Same-Sex Marriage Get Lump of Coal - 11.22

For a lot of people in Fargo, North Dakota, Sunday mornings mean church. But, for a group of about 15 area men, Sunday evenings mean going back to church – to First Congregational United Church of Christ in Fargo for weekly rehearsals of the new Fargo-Moorhead Gay Men’s Chorus.

Perhaps it was an early Christmas gift or a mean message, but all 19 Hawaii House lawmakers who voted no on same-sex marriage got an unusual delivery in the mail. The black box had green tissue paper and a red pouch with a hard black substance. At first it was thought to be a lava rock and the person was sending bad luck, as the superstition goes. But upon further review, it was a lump of coal.

“Gay men have been singing forever,” chuckled Jon Landre, the director of the chorus. “Consider this. If all gay men were immediately visible, if we pulled out of all the choral programs in the churches, do you know how dead those programs would be?”

The typed message on the card stated, “You left a piece of your heart at the State Building when you voted on SB-1. Your lifestyle choice of judging others and ignorance is very unfortunate. Good luck in the next election.”

The chorus started just a few months ago and hasn’t performed in public yet. So it’s in the same state as the first gay men’s chorus was when it got its start in 1978 in San Francisco. In the 35 years since, gay men’s choruses have burst into existence, and into song, across the country.

“Yeah, I think the message is that I have not been a good boy this year; I have been naughty, not nice. Well, I’m afraid some people feel that way about me right now,” said Representative Marcus Oshiro (Democrat), who voted against same-sex marriage. Some of the 19 lawmakers returned it to the House Sergeant at Arms for him to dispose of. “It’s not the right way to go, and unfortunately it happens more often than not,” said Kevin Kuroda, House Sergeant at Arms, referring to negative mail sent to lawmakers. “I feel sad for this person. That’s what it tells me. This individual I hope gets some kind of help or assistance. There is something missing in their life,” said Representative Richard Fale. Yeah. What’s missing is equality. Representative Oshiro answered sarcasm with sarcasm: “It is very unusual. It made its point, and for me it’s a keepsake that I will hold on to for a long time.” The boxes were not sent to the four State Senators who voted no - or at least they haven’t arrived yet if they were. Well, they’re all Grinches to me! Source: hawaiinewsnow.com

Gay choruses formed in some large cities quickly. The Twin Cities group, whose director is mentoring Landre, is in its 33rd year. But according to the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA), only a handful of smaller cities have gay men’s choruses. Among them are Las Cruces, New Mexico, which has a metro population of 214,700, and Iowa City, Iowa, with a metro population of 152,586. Landre said one of the challenges for his chorus is its accompanist, who has arthritis, which tends to kick in after an hour of steady piano playing.

Following the Senate passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act by a vote of 64-32, CREDO Action launched a campaign urging Speaker John Boehner to put ENDA up for a vote in the House. The campaign comes on the heels of Speaker Boehner claiming that there is “no need” for ENDA - even though it is legal in twenty states for employers to discriminate against and even fire LGBT Americans on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. In just a couple hours after CREDO launched the campaign, nearly 2,000 people had already signed the petition urging Speaker Boehner to, “Stop blocking an up-or-down vote, and let all members of the House go on the record about where they stand on equal rights in the workplace.” “You shouldn’t be able to fire someone just because they’re gay,” said Becky Bond, CREDO’s political director. “The Senate just passed a landmark anti-discrimination bill. Now it’s time to find out if Speaker Boehner is going to allow his members to go on record for or against equality - or if he’ll take the coward’s way out and refuse to call a vote.” Earlier, hundreds of CREDO activists called their Republican Senators urging them to pass ENDA, and more than 49,000 people signed CREDO’s petition urging Senate Republicans to pass the bill.

But one of the fledging group’s biggest hurdles is geography. Fargo and the surrounding region are far more conservative than cities like San Francisco or Minneapolis. One member from Valley City, for instance, isn’t out in his home community. “He’ll have to deal with that,” Landre said. “We all decide on our level of comfort.”

Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore, sponsored the bill and helped guide it to Senate passage. He called on queer activists to continue their efforts to get the House to vote. Merkley encouraged supporters to discuss the issue in terms of protecting the freedoms of LGBTQ employees. He emphasized, “You say it’s all about liberty. That’s the magical word. That is a word that is deeply embedded in our national DNA.”

We’re just glad the guys made this decision.

DNA, by the way, are three of the letters in ENDA.

Source: inforum.com

Source: news@meltwaterpress.com

Local News Briefs Beware the Latest Crime in the City Regarding License Plates

Ellis Act Evictions Continue to Displace Disadvantaged Renters

Castro Community on Patrol (CCOP), the queer volunteer watchdog group in the Castro district, has become aware of a vehicle crime that may go unnoticed until the situation worsens. This involves the theft of one or both license plates. Often, the criminal replaces the stolen plates with another set, so one might not notice anything is unusual until he or she is pulled over by the police. Why would you get pulled over?

A new city report finds that evictions, especially those related to taking units off the rental market, have skyrocketed in recent years. Under local law, landlords may evict tenants when they want to move into their units or move a family member in. But this is often a sham used to evict someone covered by rent control in order to jack up the rent. The report by the city’s budget and legislative analyst was requested by openly gay and openly outraged Supervisor David Campos showing that such Ellis Act evictions leaped by 170% from the year ending February 2010 to the year ending February 2013. During the same period, there was a 38% increase in all evictions.

In a “normal” traffic stop, the incorrect plate on your car might not match your paper registration or the VIN (vehicle identification number) in the computer files. Or if the plate placed on your car is from a stolen vehicle, you may find yourself at gunpoint as the officer has every reason to suspect that you are in possession of a stolen vehicle and may be armed. Some crooks replace the plates twice, so the plates on your car might NOT be the “stolen vehicle” plate on record, but belong to yet another person; so it might take some time with the police on their radio to try to straighten things out. You could also begin getting bills for various parking or driving infractions, because the plates stolen from your car are now on another vehicle being driven by someone who is already known as a criminal (after all, they did steal your license plate for some reason). The Department of Parking and Traffic does now enter the VIN on some parking tickets, but depending on the government computer systems to untangle a mess like this may not be reliable. Check your license plate from time to time. If you notice that it is the incorrect plate number, immediately report it to the police as a stolen plate. Use the non-emergency number (415) 553-0123 unless you are witnessing a crime in progress. CCOP Director Greggy Carey says, “Take care of yourself; take care of your friends; take care of your neighbors.” Story by Dennis McMillan

The report finds that Ellis Act evictions were up 145% between September 2012 and September 2013, compared with the prior 12-month period. Activists held a press conference in Harvey Milk Plaza on Nov. 25 regarding Ellis Act evictions. “The pace of evictions has gone beyond what is acceptable, and it is time to do something to control it,” stated Assemblymember Tom Ammiano. “What we are seeing is a very diverse group of tenants being evicted or pressured to leave their homes – sometimes where they have lived for decades. This threatens the diversity that San Franciscans have always treasured.” Ammiano said he has been working with Supervisor Campos, holding discussions about what can be done in Sacramento. “I support his efforts to get fair compensation for people who are dislodged from their homes at a time when they are unlikely to find new affordable options in the city,” Ammiano said. “However, the problem goes beyond that, because the hardest hit communities – the Mission, the Castro and the Haight – include specific populations that will not only lose their homes, but also lose reliable access to nearby resources that serve their specific linguistic, medical or housing needs. Ammiano said he is “eager to introduce a bill in January.” Story by Dennis McMillan

BAY T IM ES NOVEM BER 28, 2013

Global, National, State and Local Happenings

Do Ask, Do Tell Zoe Dunning As we enter the holiday season, there is a lot happening at global, national, state and local levels that I want to share with you this month. On the global stage, December 1st marks the 26th annual observance of World AIDS Day. Although we live in this terrible pandemic 365 days a year, World AIDS Day singles out one day for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. In San Francisco, there will be a World AIDS Day Forum titled Getting to Zero in San Francisco: How Close are We? This event will be taking place at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center on Monday, December 2nd from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. I hope many Bay Times readers will attend to get the latest news on the city’s progress against HIV/AIDS and learn about innovative programs aimed at getting us to zero new HIV infections. Experts from UCSF, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Project Inform, SFGH and community members will participate in this interactive Town Hall Forum.

In national news, the Governor of Oklahoma would rather deny straight military spouses the opportunity to sign up for federal benefits than allow same-sex military spouses the same benefits. Sounds crazy, right? Well, the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the Defense of Marriage Act DOMA resulted in service members with same-sex spouses becoming eligible for federal benefits. Gov. Mary Fallin (R) announced in November that state-owned National Guard facilities would no longer allow any married couples to apply for spousal benefits, regardless of whether they are same-sex or opposite-sex. Now, all couples must apply for benef its at federal National Guard installations rather than Oklahoma National Guard bases - a trip that could be hundreds of miles for some families. This seems to me like the ultimate cutting off of the (straight) nose to spite the (gay) face. At a state level, there is a storm abrewing over the recently signed AB1266, the School Success and Opportunity Act, allowing transgender students in California K-12 schools to use the facilities and play on the sports teams that correspond with their gender identity. San Francisco has had such a policy in place for over ten years, but this would be the first time a state enshrined these protections into state law. Right-wing activists and key Proposition 8 backer Frank Schubert have been collecting signatures to put an initiative to repeal the law via a ballot measure in 2014. To qualify the repeal measure for the ballot, supporters needed to submit 504,760 valid signatures from currently registered California voters from a majority of the state’s counties. Shubert’s group, Privacy for All Students (sic), said the coalition turned in

620,000 signatures to the secretary of state’s office in early November. That seemed like a pretty safe margin for error, but an initial assessment of a random sampling of signatures is returning just 75 percent authenticity, which is “significantly below the average needed to qualify,” according to the Washington Blade. If fewer than 95 percent of the needed signatures gathered are deemed valid in the random sample, the measure will not appear on the 2014 ballot. Even if that becomes the case, the fight will not end there. Experiencing a series of defeats on same-sex marriage in CA and many other states, these homophobic groups have made the vilification of transgender youth their raison d’etre (and fundraising) not just here in CA but across the country. This issue will not go away, and we as a community need to f ight off these attacks head on. You can stay up to date on this issue thru Equality California’s website w w w.eqca.org and the National Center for Lesbian Rights www.nclrights.org. A nd f inally, on a local front, an a n nua l t rad it ion is com i ng ou r way on December 14t h & 15t h – the Dance-Along Nutcracker: Nutc ra ck e rs of t h e C a r i bbe a n, put on by t he Sa n Fra ncisco L esbia n/ Gay Freedom Band! This annual San Francisco tradition will take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts - details for times and tickets can be found at www.tickets.ybca.org. I am excited to be a n honora r y host for t h is event and hope you can come join the fun! Zoe D unning 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.

8 Washington Reflections and City College Update 8 Washington would have been, two 105 feet hotel towers and more than 100,000-square-feet of retail space. As Agnos has said, “That’s not a basketball arena. That is a mega real estate project that threatens to build a much bigger wall that blocks the waterfront.”

A San Francisco Kind of Democrat Rafael Mandelman

PH OTO SO UR C E:

G O L DEN S TATE WARR IOR S

The November election is f inally done, but the reverberations from the sinking of Propositions B and C are surely just beginning to be felt. Certainly, the boosters for the proposed Warriors development could not have been particularly happy to see the 8 Washington project go down.

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As former Mayor Art Agnos has been explaining to neighborhood groups and Democratic Clubs across the City, the Warriors project is not just a sports arena; it also includes a 175-foot condominium complex -- which is, by the way, taller than

Only time will tell whether San Franciscans will decide this is a deal they can live with. But by rejecting 8 Washington, the voters have all but ensured three things: 1) the Warriors deal will be put to a popular vote in the near future; 2) the Warriors and City Hall will have to sweeten the deal a good bit to win the votes they will need; and 3) if we do end up with a Warriors arena on the waterfront, it will be a better project for the voters having shown their continued willingness to kill a project at the ballot box. Meanwhile, over at City College… Congresswoman Jackie Speier has been showing up big time. On November 7, she, along with co-hosts Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, San Jose State Senator Jim Beall, and our own Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, convened a town hall in the packed Diego Rivera auditorium at the main campus to shine a bright light on the growing concerns about the Accrediting Commission of Community or Junior Colleges (ACCJC). You may remember the ACCJC is the outfit that, back in July, decided it would be a good idea to announce its intention to terminate City College’s accreditation effective in one year. Most folks in the know seem to believe the College will avoid that fate, but the threat of it has already thrown the institution and its partners in the business and nonprofit communities into a tailspin.

Speier’s panel included Alisa Messer, the president of the local faculty union, Josh Pechthalt, the head of the California Federation of Teachers, and several faculty leaders from other community colleges around the State. I offered my perspective as a close observer of and, since my election to the College Board last November, a participant in, the City College drama. The most compelling speaker was the Chancellor of the College of San Mateo, Ron Galatolo, a longtime critic of the ACCJC who has marshaled an impressive set of facts and f igures comparing the ACCJC to other national accreditors and showing the unequal and biased treatment it metes out to California community colleges. “Before delving into this issue I was like everyone else, reading the newspaper, wringing my hands, concerned but not informed,” Speier observed. But after having taken a closer look, she had concluded, “The ACCJC is a travesty . . . an institution run amuck.” Speier pledged, along with Congresswoman Eshoo, to meet with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to talk about what went wrong here, while Senator Beall and Assemblyman Ammiano pledged to pursue State legislation to reform community college accreditation in California. Lots for this suspended City College Trustee to be grateful for on Thanksgiving. Happy Holiday Friends! Rafael Mandelman was elected to the San Francisco Community College Board of Trustees in 2012. He is a partner at Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP.

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Coming Out for Marriage Equality in Japan coming out can lead to significant social isolation and loneliness.

As we commemorate the 35th anniversary of the assassination of Harvey Milk, our recent trip to Japan to speak about marriage equality made clear how Harvey’s call to come out is just as important as ever. Significantly fewer LGBT Japanese have come out than their American counterparts, and LGBT Japanese are a much less visible part of society and the media than in the U.S. The Japanese people we met gave us insight into how coming out in Japan is similar to, and different from, America. One Japanese activist told us that he came out to his parents in high school after his first date with a boy, because he did not want to keep a secret within himself and wanted his parents to know him as he really was. His parents were very accepting. But another activist described how 20 years ago, his father and brother beat him when he came out and threw him out of the house. He found his way to the office of a Tokyo LGBT activist organization that let him sleep on their floor until he could get on his feet. He has now worked for that organization for over 10 years and is a leading advocate for people with HIV/ AIDS in Japan. We met a bisexual student who wants to design LGBT manga car-

However, our speaking about Harvey Milk’s call to come out – both for one’s personal well being and for the benefit of the movement – seemed to resonate everywhere we went. Activists believed that more Japanese LGBT people coming out was critical to advancing legal, social, and political change, including marriage equality.

Marriage Equality Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, Marriage Equality USA toons to support the movement, but was afraid to come out to her father. We encouraged her to come out if it was safe, so that she could lead a life that was true to who she was and contribute her creativity and talent to help others. Coming out appears to be particularly diff icult for many Japanese LGBT people because of the importance of social conformity in Japan. Many college students told us that they had known perhaps only one openly LGBT person in their entire lives. We were the first openly LGBT people some had ever met. Activists told us that the pressure for conformity can lead to greater internalized homophobia, and that

After hearing our marriage and coming stories, one student decided it was time for him to come out, too -- but not as LGBT (he was straight) but as a Japanese person of Korean ethnicity, a group that faces significant discrimination. When he came out as Korean-Japanese and told his personal story of exclusion and discrimination, he received enormous support from his classmates. In so doing, we hope he made his own life better and, at the same time, took an important step to help the movement for human dignity and equality for all – an act with which we believe Harvey would have been very pleased. 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.

Ginny Brown, beloved restaurant and bar manager, and Jamie Cavener have announced that they are engaged. Newlyweds Diego Dias and Max Alt were married on the Mayor’s Balcony at City Hall and afterwards headed to Napa County for a weekend of celebration. Wedding photography by Steven Underhill (stevenunderhill.com)

Cynthia Lee Katona (right), winner of tickets to the Montclair Women’s Big Band Thanksgiving Concert at Yoshi’s Oakland, with Brenda Usher-Carpino (left) and trombonist Mara Fox at the event.

Wedding cakes can reflect the season, such as this elegant one, adorned with pumpkins and foliage, featured by cakecentral.com. 6

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BAY T IM ES NOVEM BER 28, 2013

Science and Thanksgiving ery. Yet, despite the fact that it has long been understood as highly valuable, gratitude didn’t become the focus of empirical psychological research until the beginning of this century.

Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

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Tom Moon, MFT Since 1863, Thanksgiving Day has been set aside as a national holiday for expressing and celebrating our collective gratitude for our abundance. It’s perhaps an auspicious time to think about how gratitude fits into our lives. The value of cultivating gratitude has been understood for millennia by philosophers and by virtually all of the world’s spiritual traditions. In the twelve step programs, cultivating “an attitude of gratitude” is routinely practiced as an antidote to the negative thinking that often characterizes alcoholics and addicts in early recov-

Dr. Robert Emmons- a University of California, Davis, professor- has spent much of his professional life researching gratitude, and is nationally recognized as one of the leading experts on the subject. He describes what he’s learned in his best-selling book, Thanks! How The New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier. “Without gratitude, life can be lonely, depressing and impoverished,” he contends. “Gratitude enriches human life. It elevates, energizes, inspires and transforms. People are moved, opened and humbled through expressions of gratitude.” Emmons found that when people make a daily, long-term commitment to focusing attention on the aspects of their lives for which they are grateful, they experience measurable and substantial improvements in their well being. In one experimental comparison, for instance, those who kept gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercised more regularly, reported fewer physi-

cal symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events. A related benefit was observed in personal goal attainment. Participants who kept gratitude lists were more likely to have made progress toward important personal goals (academic, interpersonal and health-based) over a two-month period compared to subjects who didn’t keep the lists. Subjects who focused on gratitude experienced decreased stress in their lives. They reported increased levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness, vitality and life satisfaction, and lower levels of depression and stress. Perhaps most importantly, those who felt grateful were more likely to help others and to feel loved themselves. Apparently gratitude encouraged a positive cycle of reciprocal kindness among people, because one act based on gratitude encouraged another. But cultivating gratitude requires work. It is, according to Emmons, a “chosen attitude.” To learn to live in gratitude, we must be willing to let go

of the seductions of the victim mentality, overcome habits of focusing on what we don’t have, and instead, develop the habit of learning to “want what we have” and to see life as an unearned benefit. In my experience in the LGBT community, some people are highly resistant to doing practices to cultivate gratitude because it reminds them too much of religion, to which many of us are understandably allergic. That’s why it’s important to emphasize that this work can be done as an entirely secular, psychological practice, whose purpose is to increase subjective well being. It doesn’t have to be based on any kind of religious beliefs. In his book, Emmons offers ten practical methods for cultivating the capacity for gratitude. He believes that, for those who are willing to roll up their sleeves and commit to the work, solid research demonstrates that there are enduring benefits, including increased happiness, improved health, and stronger relationships. Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. His website it www.tommoon.net.

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Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Kirsten Kruse, Kate Kendell, Pollo del Mar, Heidi Beeler, K. Cole, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Paul E. Pratt, Terry Baum, Gypsy Love, Rafael Mandelman, Shelley MacKay, Kit Kennedy, Leslie Katz, Karen Williams, Gary Virginia, Stu Smith, Zoe Dunning, Jim Tibbs, Mark Penn, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller & Joanne Jordan, Kippy Marks, Naomi Jay, Jamie Leno Zimron Photographers Rink, Dennis McMillan, Steven Underhill, Phyllis Costa, Cathy Blackstone, Robert Fuggiti, Bill Wilson

Be sure to visit the Macy’s holiday windows at Union Square where adoptable cats and dogs are showcased thanks to a unique partnership between the SF SPCA and Macy’s 27th Annual Holiday Windows. (Photo by Nora Stratton)

Profiles of Compassion and Courage: Rafael Mandelman ernment and UC Berkeley, where he earned his law degree. He served on the City’s Building Inspection Commission and Board of Appeals, before getting elected to the Democratic County Central Committee in 2006. He serves on a number of nonprofit boards, and currently co-chairs the board of the LGBT Community Center.

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Bay Times columnist Rafael Mandelman, elected in 2012 to be a member of the Board of Trustees for City College of San Francisco, is an attorney who primarily represents local governments and nonprofit housing developers. He specializes in matters related to land use, real estate, economic development and affordable housing. Given the importance of these issues and his compassionate nature, we are so lucky to have him here in the Bay Area! Rafael moved to San Francisco in 1985 at the age of 11. He attended Brandeis-Hillel Day School and Lick-Wilmerding High School before heading east to Yale College. Yale, known at the time as the “Gay Ivy,” was a great place for him to come out and begin to def ine his adult identity. After college, he attended Harvard’s Kennedy School of Gov-

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RM: My professional work has reflected my desire to combine and use my legal and policy training in a way that serves local communities. I feel lucky that I have been able to do that. I am passionate about my extracurricular civic work as well – politics, public service, volunteering. Sometimes it feels like I have two jobs, at least, but I really do get a lot of satisfaction out of my community involvement. SS: Who have been your key mentors? RM: I have been lucky to have known and learned from some very strong women. One was my grandmother, a holocaust survivor who saved my father and then built a new life for herself and him in the United States. She was one tough lady and an incredibly loving one as well. I miss her a lot, but I feel so privileged to have known her. Another tough lady who has taught me a lot is former Senator Carole Migden. Carole and her queer contemporaries in politics bust-

ed through glass ceilings and opened new worlds of possibility for those who would follow. She taught me the value of pure stubbornness, of simply not giving in when you are right. SS: If you could solve or fix a community problem, what would it be? RM: Right now, of course, I am singularly focused on the problem of keeping City College open and accredited. It really is an absolutely critical institution, vital to lots of local businesses, not to mention the tens of thousands of people who have been able to pursue their educational and vocational dreams there. The thought that anyone could think it would be a good or acceptable idea to shut this institution down is absolutely infuriating to me. SS: What achievement are you most proud of? RM: I say that running for Supervisor in 2010 was the most fun thing I have done as a grownup. Of course, I would like to have won that race, but I feel proud of our accomplishments in the campaign nonetheless. At the start of the campaign, I think I was the least well known of the candidates, and I really had so much to learn about how to run a campaign. But in the end, we gave Scott a run for his money, and offered the voters of District 8 a real choice. And I really felt spectacularly proud to have been able to give voice to the progressive values of so many District 8 residents. I think that’s one of the most reward-

Rafael Mandelman

ing things about politics – being able to express the ideals and aspirations of people who are able to use you and your campaign as their megaphone. It was a great honor. SS: What are your goals for the future? RM: Over the short term, I will focus my energies on defending and strengthening City College. I am cautiously optimistic that the ACCJC’s death sentence will be rescinded (either through the appeal process or through the courts), but even after that happens, there will be a ton of work to heal the wounds at City College and set it on a path to a better future. Over the long term, I hope to continue to find ways to serve our community. Stu Smith is board chair emeritus of Shanti Project, board chair of The Paratransit Coordinating Council, a member of the Castro Country Club Advisory Board and the LGBT Senior Task Force, and producer and host of the public access TV program “The Drag Show.” KQED has honored Stu as a 2013 LGBT Hero.

Fortnight in Review By Ann Rostow Sister Sold Ya Where would you place Liz Cheney on your list of “Reviled Public Figures?” I suppose if you exclude overtly racist politicians and dead people, I’d have to put her in the top ten. The carpet bagging, I can excuse. But to proclaim a profound commitment to traditional marriage in this day and age? After spending many an allegedly warm and loving holiday with her lesbian sister and sister-in-law and their kids? Cheney, who as you know is running for the U.S. Senate in her brand new home state of Wyoming, is one of the most rigid ideologues of her generation; a woman who puts the “con” in neocon and makes her dad look like a Teddy Bear. Now, at a moment in history when even the most conservative voter would likely give her a pass if she simply ducked the subject of marriage equality, she has chosen instead to come out, talons unsheathed, as an antigay hawk. A decade ago, when public majorities frowned on our unions, her father managed to put family first by refusing to support a federal amendment to def ine marriage in the U.S. Constitution. Freedom means freedom for everyone, he said. Or something like that. And his colleagues acknowledged that his gay daughter gave him a legitimate excuse to defy GOP convention. And that was years ago! Now, Republicans don’t even need an excuse to support marriage, or at the very least to dismiss the subject as “a difficult controversy.” Liz Cheney could likely have demurred without costing herself a vote. Instead, she chose to stun her sister’s family with outspoken opposition to their marriage, and by extension, their life, their home, their relationship, their very selves. Who does that? If I were a GOP primary voter in Wyoming, I’d condemn this heartless candidate. And I’d wonder…did she don this position like a new suit for no reason other than perceived political expediency? Or did she manage to witness her sister’s longterm partnership and come away completely unmoved, content in the embrace of unexamined dogma? I don’t know which is worse. Unfortunately, I think Cheney’s opponent is even more draconian than Liz (who says she supports civil unions) so I suppose I’d have to switch parties if I lived in Laramie. That said, the other guy might be a bigger bigot, but I’m assuming his sister’s not married to a woman. They’re back! Mean Photographers Petition High Court Now that I’ve got that off my chest, shall we move on to the case of the antigay commercial photographer in New Mexico who refused to shoot a same-sex commitment ceremony? I know what you’re thinking! Ann! We already covered that case. The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state a couple of months ago! Actually, you have no memory of this case whatsoever because you don’t pay attention to legal news, but that’s OK. Because the case has now been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. You can still catch up! New Mexico, like almost half the states, bans sexual orientation discrimination in public accommodation. Businesses may not pick and choose their clientele based on characteristics like race or gayness. Nor

Professional Services

can an assertion of religious freedom trump a state’s right to keep its commercial arenas free of bias. As such, we are seeing more and more of these bogus claims as various “Christian” butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers try desperately to avoid having to work gay weddings or parties.

ed that married gay couples can file joint state income taxes. This pragmatic policy shift will spare Slave State couples from having to file a joint federal return, fill out two single federal returns for the purposes of calculating a number for the state, and then fill out two single state returns.

Now, the owners of Elane Photography, having lost in state court, are asking the nine justices to review their suit, insisting this time as well that their particular métier involves artistic expression that should be protected under the First Amendment.

Yet even this crumb of marriage recognition drew howls from the hard right, as outraged antigay holdouts wailed about the assault on Missouri’s state constitution. There were even calls to impeach the governor, whose name I’m sure I could report if I only had a hot spot.

You know what? Wedding cake bakers are artists as well. So are florists and caterers. Elane Photography gets paid for pix, period. If Elane is hired to shoot a straight wedding, do you think the staff is allowed to take nothing but “artistic” close ups of the groom’s great aunt because her face has such character? Answer: no. We’ll see, of course, if the High Court takes the case. Considering they accept one out of every ten zillion petitions, it’s probably a long shot. But the fabricated tension between religion and gay rights is not going away, and it’s possible that the Supremes will hear this dispute eventually. The other day I was reading about some snake charmers down in Tennessee who have been ordered to get rid of their unholy reptile collection, even though said snakes are ostensibly part of their religious rites. Here again we hear the pious bleating, the wounded cries of the constitutional victim, the insane insistence that the state is trampling on religious freedom. But, as in our gay cases, it comes down to a simple question. Does the state have a legitimate interest in protecting its citizens from deadly animals or discrimination? Um, yes. Gay with Dick and Jane Have you heard about the Hallmark tree ornament that reads: “Don we now our fun apparel?” Yes, they switched out the “g” word, and caught a bit of guff from our community watchdogs in return for their efforts. I’m not so sure I object to the synonym. Why? Because in this day and age, an ornament, card or sweater that reads: “Don we now our gay apparel,” is something that has to be bought by or given to a gay person. It’s one thing to change the lyric if you’re singing the song. There’s no need for that and it would be strange to do so. But when you pull the line out of context and string it up the flagpole, you have to change the word unless you want to make a cute gay Christmas joke. Under the circumstances, one wonders why Hallmark picked this particular phrase with its compromised semantics to begin with. Why not “deck the halls,” or “hark the herald angels sing?” Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga So, I confess that I’m writing from a train, and using a new and untrustworthy piece of equipment: a small tablet and a stand-alone keyboard. I can’t go online at the moment, so I am forced to extract interesting news topics from the recesses of my near term memory, deliver them through the rattle of the compartment into the screen, and hope that the keyboard doesn’t suddenly print an unending succession of garbage characters like the Sorcerer’s apprentice with a term paper due. I recall, for example, that the Democratic governor of Missouri has decid-

Meanwhile, President Obama awarded posthumous medals of freedom to lesbian astronaut Sally Ride and gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. The cool thing is that Obama gave the medals, our highest civilian honor, to their partners, Tam O’Shaughnessy and Walter Naegle. I can also tell you off the top of my head that the National Organization for Marriage is up to its neck in red ink, to the tune of a million dollars. And I know that Alec Baldwin got caught calling someone a faggot, a photographer if I’m not mistaken, and was promptly fired from his new anchor job at MSNBC. This is the sort of thing I’d usually confirm, but this afternoon we’re living dangerously. I haven’t been on a train in a long time, and I’ve forgotten that train tracks take you places that cars can’t go. We’re traveling up the northeastern seaboard, rolling past lakes and inlets, icy streams, bare trees and red brown leaves covering the ground. Every now and then a picturesque little house flies by. It’s all very Hudson River School. No sign of the 21st century whatsoever. Oh wait. We just pulled into New London. I take it all back. No News is Not Good Thanksgiving is upon us, and I can sense the beginning of the dry spell that sweeps up the bits and pieces of GLBT news every year at around this time, leaving nothing but a barren plain. Already I have exhausted the interesting news at my disposal, and yet a significant space sits empty. Hmmm. It’s partly my fault. I lose patience with stories of our sad communal hardships. I become insular, turning my back on our travails in Uganda and Sochi. Just now I have skipped yet another story about a gay server who got a nasty note instead of a tip. And here’s news of a D.C. woman who ordered an anniversary cake that was supposed to say: “Happy Anniversary Lindsey! Love Sarah.” When Sarah came to pick it up, however, she was given a cake with a scrawled message in icing that read: “Lesbian Anniv. No ballons.” “Ballons” refer to balloons, a signature design feature on the cakes in this establishment that Sarah had asked them to omit. To make matters worse, the cake included the unwanted balloons, and instead of the carrot cake Sarah ordered, this one was chocolate. At any rate, the manager apologized for the messy scribbling, but not for the weird text. I suppose it’s possible that someone thought the instructions were meant to be displayed on the cake. But probably not, right? Sarah and Lindsay got the cake for free, unless you count the currency of humiliation. (Cue film noir soundtrack crescendo.) Now, do you want to hear about the teenager who murdered his older gay (continued on page 30)

Read more @www.sfbaytimes.com and check us out on Twitter and Facebook. BAY T IM ES NOVEM BER 28, 2013

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Think Futuristic Fantasy: “Use The Force” LEO (July 23 – August 22) Link up, Leo. Cosmic couriers can help connect soulful desires with real results now. Zoom in on the vitality of your values. Guides and gurus are eager to assist you.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21) Surf your subconscious, Sagittarius. Important ideas are bubbling behind the scenes now. Set aside some private time to dive more deeply and dabble in the dark. Summon your spirit guides.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Try something new, Taurus. Expansive boosts in your house of higher learning compel you to add more colors to your creative spectrum. Nurturing neighbors are here to enhance your efforts.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) Venture outside the box, Virgo. Long-term longings gain livelier momentum when you team up with more troupes in your tribe. A wider network welcomes you now. Walk forth willingly.

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) Come hither, Capricorn. You’ve been refining the rougher edges around your sense of self, and now it’s time to put that fresh face forward. Others find you irresistible. Own it.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Your social synergy is jiving now, Gemini. Current planetary positions point to pleasureful unions and positive personal interactions. Even the snarkiest situations will smooth over if you lean into love.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) Prepare for lift-off, Libra! Your public persona is progressing quite nicely now. As you ride this tide of societal success, remember to utilize your gift of good judgment. Seek truth.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) Surrender to your senses, Aquarius. Celestial signals are serving to harmonize your health now. Attune yourself to palpable precursors whose wistful warnings are designed to renew your well being.

ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Get a grip on your goals, Aries. Career-wise, your charm-o-meter is climbing off the charts. Favorable circumstances fan the flourishing flames of your rep now. Ask, and you shall receive. better.

Astrology Gypsy Love In the epic Star Wars series created by George Lucas, “The Force” is described as a binding, ubiquitous energy field flowing through all living things. When harnessed, its power can enhance physical strength, heighten mental abilities, and transcend any obstacle. Real-life parallels, such as Chi, Prana, and Anima Mundi are evidenced across countless cultures worldwide. The astral atmosphere is advocating for our futuristic fantasies now. “Use The Force.”

www.AstrologyByGypsyLove.com

CANCER (June 21 – July 22) Counterbalance your commitments, Cancer. A tense “tug of war” is brewing between your own needs and those of intimate partners now. Explore alternative methods of moderating the emotional equilibrium.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21) Stand by your standards, Scorpio. Astro-trends are tying loose ends between responsible choices and recognizable rewards. Strides may seem subtle now, but big benefits are blossoming. Set conscious intentions.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20) Honor the importance of playtime, Pisces. By committing to opportunities that accentuate your adventurous side, you’ll discover new dimensions of your hopes and dreams. Have more faith in fun.

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 song would you like to hear the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Sing?

Heidi Beeler

Tommy Netzband

Kari Kendzerski

Mike Mehr

Edward Mycue

“Good King Wenceslas”

“Silver Bells”

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

“Good King Wenceslas”

“Winter Wonderland”

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Use the News Education Program

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Provides the Soundtrack for Our Lives Both the San Francisco Bay Times and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus were born in 1978. We at the Bay Times are proud to share our birth year with such a venerable, treasured group. For 35 years, SFGMC has courageously served as the international standard bearer for a powerful and accomplished mix of high-caliber performance, human rights, community activism, empowerment and inclusiveness, establishing it as an icon among LGBT organizations. SFGMC was the first organization of its kind. It is credited with starting the LGBT choral movement, which galva-

nized and changed the course of our history. It continues to rally and inspire other arts-based community organizations around the world. Under the skillful leadership of Dr. Timothy Seelig, SFGMC continues to establish a heightened level of performance standards receiving audience and choral acclaim. He and the Chorus are hardly resting on their laurels! SFGMC has increased its touring and recording profile, broadening its impact and reputation in the community while maintaining its signature blend of humor, personality and high-voltage performances.

Not Just a Choir, but a Family By Dr. Timothy Seelig

palpable as the men rousingly sang “If They Could See Me Now” and “Stouthearted Men!”

The year 1986 was huge for me. My entire life changed from being a married man with children and a Southern Baptist minister of music to an out gay man. There is not time to share how that went, but you can imagine.

Suggested names for the group (seriously) were “Men About Town,” “Foggy City Chorus” and “Homosexual Choir” (“gay” was still considered denigrating). They ultimately settled on the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. It turned out to be a fortuitous decision.

Let’s back up a bit – not in my life story, but how there came to be such a thing as a gay men’s chorus. Eight years prior to my coming out, during the fall of 1978, word went out to men in the Castro who liked to sing. The dream was to start a chorus. The driving force was Jon Sims, the conductor of the “San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps.” October 30 was chosen as the date for the first “re-

PHOTO BY JOHN VA JDA

A year later, I heard there was this thing called a gay men’s chorus. I had no idea. In fact, there was a struggling one in Dallas, Texas, looking for a conductor. I applied, got the job, and started work with 37 singers. My entire life changed. In fact, it saved my life. I remained the conductor of that chorus as its conductor for the next 20 years.

hearsal” and Everett Middle School the location. Interest mounted leading up to that first gathering. By the time the date arrived, around 100 men showed up. The atmosphere of excitement was

At the 4th rehearsal, on November 27, having spent the day with the news of Harvey Milk and George Moscone’s assassinations, the singers showed up to rehearsal grief-stricken and in shock. They went from there to City Hall steps for the candlelight vigil where they performed publicly for the very first time. In 1981, the Chorus took an historic national tour with stops from coast to coast – including Dallas Texas! Those concerts inspired hundreds to come out, share their stories and even start their own gay choruses. Little did the men know they were actually giving birth to a worldwide LGBT choral phenomenon that now boasts hundreds of choruses around the globe.

The Chorus’ milestones and mountaintop experiences have been countless. Three years ago this January, I got the opportunity of a lifetime. I applied for, and was offered, the position of Artistic Director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. It was a long way from Dallas, Texas. I literally jumped at the chance. It has been incredible. The f irst 35 years of Chorus life culminated in an absolute blaze of glory with the world premiere of “I Am Harvey Milk.” This incredible work by Broadway composer Andrew Lippa had its premiere on June 26, the very day of the Supreme Court’s astounding decisions regarding gay marriage. It was a momentous day and concert series. It also garnered the Chorus worldwide attention. The recording reached #2 on the iTunes Classical chart. Now, we are taking the very first steps into the “next 35 years.” Like those men who gathered in 1978, we do not know exactly what lies ahead. We do know it is going to be glorious.

We k now w ithout a doubt that SFGMC will continue to make the glorious music it has made for 35 years. It will continue its tireless efforts to touch the hearts of all who hear our music. The Chorus will continue to be a voice of community, activism and compassion. Embarking on the next 35, we chose a season theme of “Illuminate” for many reasons. The chorus has certainly helped make the world a brighter place for 35 years. But this amazing journey has also brought light to the lives of the singers themselves. The Chorus is not just a choir. It is a family. It is a light in sometimes dark times. It is a force of nature in its music-making. We may not know exactly what the next 35 will look like, but based on the phenomenal journey of the last 35 and with your help and support, we do know the future is incredibly bright. Dr. Timothy Seelig is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.

PHOTO BY JOHN VA JDA

PHOTOS BY JOHN VA JDA

PHOTO BY JOHN VA JDA

SantaCon Concert, 2012

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PHOTO BY JOHN VA JDA

Use the News Education Program

Michael Levy, former SFGMC Board President

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus: Celebrating 35 Years 1970s On Monday, October 30, 1978, a hundred-plus gay men gathered for the f irst rehearsal of a new chorus. On November 27, 1978, shortly before SFGMC members began assembling for their f ifth rehearsal, San Francisco’s mayor, George Moscone, and the first openly gay man to be 1986 elected to public office in the United States, Supervisor Harvey Milk, were murdered by Dan White, who served with Milk on the Board of Supervisors. 1980s The AIDS pandemic would eventually take the lives of hundreds of chorus members, including founder Jon Sims, and at one point cut the number of singers to the lowest ever, 96. Today the chorus memorializes its departed members in its “Fifth Section,” a list highlighted in every program. San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein presented the chorus with the Key to the City — the first time that this honor had ever been bestowed on a gay group.

formed in nine cities across the US: Dallas, Minneapolis, Lincoln (Nebraska), Detroit, New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Seattle and, upon their return home, San Francisco. The chorus commissioned severa l pieces of music descr ibing t he impact of A IDS on t he LGBT community. Two of these that are still sung today are “Invocation and Dance” by David Conti, a professor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Mu- 1988 sic, and “Naked Man,” by SFGMC composer-in-residence Robert Seeley and librettist Philip Littell. 1990s-2012 AIDS patients began taking triplecombo therapy and the chorus began a focus on human rights, community activism, empowerment, inclusiveness and the power of music to heal and transform.

During the San Francisco Gay Men’s Tour of America in 1981, the chorus per16

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Under the artist ic d i r ec t ion of Dr. Kathleen Mc- 1981 Guire, and w ith the passage of Proposition 8 in 2008, which blocked further same-sex marriages, the

ing an unprecedented number of youth worldwide with a message of hope.

chorus embarked on a California Freedom Tour, giving concerts in Fresno, Bakersfield, Redding and Vallejo. SFGMC released nine CDs out of the 29 CDs total the chorus has released of their heart-driven performances. 2012-Today

1995

SFGMC performed at the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) in Denver. SFGMC also traveled to Laramie, Wyoming, to sing a benef it concert for the Matthew Shephard Foundation. San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus joined with journalist and author Dan Savage and renowned Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz to bring the “It Gets Better” project to life in a new way — through a collaboration that led to the widely 1997 released musical piece known as Testimony. Stephen generously gifted the chorus with Testimony, which the Chorus recorded at SkyWalker Sound with Leslie Ann Jones, a multiple Grammy Award-winning recording engineer. The Testimony video went viral, reach-

Sa nt a C onC er t delivered 300 singing and dancing men in ful l Santa suits and, as they have done for the past 25 years, the chorus performed at the Castro Theatre on Christmas Eve with the yearly tradition of Home for the Holidays, which 2006 was originally created to bring together those that could not go home for Christmas. In 2013, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chor us sold out Dav ies Symphony Hall with a first ever show with famed Beach Blanket Babylon in “Snow White & Her Merry Men,” in support of the Make a Wish Foundation. In June of 2013, the SFGMC performed its 35th Anniversary Concert “Harvey Milk 2013,” which presented the world premiere of I Am Harvey Milk, a new choral work with music and words by Tony and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa. It was presented at newly opened Nourse Theatre. The 2004

recently released original cast recording hit #2 on iTunes within hours. Under the baton of artistic director Dr. Timothy Seelig, the chorus has entered an exciting new phase in its 35th year. With more than 300 singing members, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus now performs in iconic San Francisco venues such as Davies Symphony Hall, Nourse Theatre, The Castro Theatre and, this December 2013, at The War Memorial Opera House. Looking Ahead to 2014+ Coming this Spring – In collaboration with the Tyler Clementi Foundation, SFGMC will present the world premiere of “Tyler’s Suite,” by seven of America’s most celebrated composers: Stephen Schwartz, Jake Heggie, John Corigliano, Lance Horne, John Bucchino, Ann Hampton Callaway and Craig Carnelia. “Tyler’s Suite” is a choral song-cycle that pays tribute to Tyler Clementi, the 18-year-old Rutgers University student who took his life three years ago. Continuing its mission, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will strive to create extraordinary musical experiences to inspire community, activism, and compassion.

Use the News Education Program SFGMC Artistic Directors and Conductors Jon Reed Sims (October - December 1978) Dick Kramer (December 1978 January 1982) Robin Kay (Guest Conductor, February - March 1982) Robert Erickson, Dale Richard, Claude Zetty (Interim Conductors, 1982) Ernie Veniegas (1982–1985) Charles Baker, Dennis Coleman, Vance George (Guest Conductors, 1985) Greg Tallman (August 1985 - June 1989)

The Lollipop Guild, formed in 1979, and Vocal Minority are SFGMC small ensembles SFGMC’s first appearance in Pride Parade and an early rehearsal in 1979

Dr. Stan Hill, Conductor Emeritus ( July 1989 - July 2000) Joseph Jennings (Guest Conductor, September - December 1998) Dr. Kathleen McGuire, Conductor Laureate (August 2000 - December 2010) Dr. Timothy Seelig ( January 2011 – Present; Guest Conductor, February - June 2009) SFGMC Discography SFGMC Tours America ‘81 (Golden Gate Records LP 1981, CD 1992) How Fair This Place (1991) Brahms, Bernstein, & the Boys! (1993)

Sing Me to Heaven ( July 2000)

Why We Sing (DVD June 2007)

Exile ( June 2000)

USS Metaphor (DVD, May 2008)

Best of SFGMC ( June 2001)

Creating Harmony: 30th Season Highlights and New World Waking (double CD, Dec. 2008)

I Dream of a Time (November 2001) SFGMC Does Queen ( June 2002)

Our Gay Apparel (September 1995, December 2003)

Closer Than Ever, 25th Anniversary Concert (May 2004)

NakedMan ( July 1996)

Oh, Happy Day! ( July 2004)

ExtrABBAganza! (April 1997)

Home for the Holidays - Live at the Castro Theatre ( June 2005)

Q (1998) Misbehavin’ (with Nell Carter, May 1999)

Cowboys, Boas and Bears! Oh, My! ( June 2006)

Tune In, Turn Up, Sing Out ( June 2009) California Freedom Tour 2010 (May 2010) Words (April 2011) Testimony (March 2012) Enchantingly Wicked ( June 2012) I Am Harvey Milk (October 2013)

PHOTO BY JOHN VA JDA

Our Boys Will Shine (1998)

Divas’ Revenge: Opera & Broadway Our Way (November 2005)

A Few Licks (February 2009)

PHOTO COURTSY OF SFGMC

Drag celebrity Donna Sachet’s career began at an SFGMC retreat in the 1990s.

SFGMC Conductor Laureate, Dr. Kathleen McGuire, and the Chorus at Carnegie Hall in 2001 BAY T IM ES NOVEM BER 28, 2013

SFGMC Upcoming Performances December 2013 “Shine”- Celebrate the holidays with the men of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus in its first ever holiday show at the stunning War Memorial Opera House. It will be a fun-filled evening packed with joyous holiday favorites, breathtaking classics and outrageous surprises. Guest Artists: SF Opera soprano Marina Harris and vocalist Matt Alber March 2014

Dr. Timothy Seelig with Michael Tilson Thomas

“Luster”- Cabaret star Ann Hampton Callaway joins the Chorus for a celebration of 20th Century American music. “Luster” will include timeless classics from George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and Irving Berlin. Presented in collaboration with the Tyler Clementi Foundation. May 2014 “Glitter”- It couldn’t possibly get any gayer than this! SFGMC’s amazing three small ensembles- The Lollipop Guild, Vocal Minority, and SWAG- will storm the stage in their very own show. Following on the huge success of last season’s “Harvey’s Soundtrack,” “Glitter” is a chance to get up close and personal with 50 of the Chorus’ most irresistible men. June 2014

PHOTO BY JOHN VA JDA

“Dazzle”- What do you get when 300 gay men are joined on stage by Tony award-winner Laura Benanti? The most fabulous Broadway review ever! The Great White Way heads west for our lavish spectacle of Broadway show tunes, performed as only SFGMC can do. “Dazzle” features Carl Plante, principal accompanist and Vocal Minority music director

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beloved songs and popular hits from shows like South Pacif ic, Oklahoma!, Kinky Boots, Big Fish and more. For more information and to buy tickets, please visit www.sfgmc.org. Follow SFGMC on facebook.com/sfgmc and twitter @sfgmc.

Bay Times would like to thank SFGMC’s Dr. Timothy Seelig, John Alecca, Cynthia Cooper and photographer John Vajda.

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Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb From a Fun Nun

Sister Dana sez, “It’s Thanksgiving, or what I like to call ‘ThanksGAYing,’ because I am thankful I am gay. Thank God I’m Gay: TGIG!” Because being gay is something to celebrate, I attended W E CEL EBRATE!, the opening of the 34th season of THE LESBI A N/GAY CHORUS OF SAN FRANCISCO (LGCSF), the nation’s oldest selfidentif ied LGBTQ mixed chorus. This was a glorious classical concert under the direction of William Sauerland honoring the lives of Matthew Shepard and Harvey Milk through the work of living composers David Conte and Jack Curtis Dubowsky. Both worked closely with the choruses in preparation for this concert. This performance featured the choirs of Lick-Wilmerding High School and the University of San Francisco alongside LGCSF. Held at First Unitarian Universalist Church, the show included six songs of joyful celebration, including “Jubilante Deo” by Benjamin Britten and “Celebration from Standing Stone” by Paul McCartney. “Elegischer Gesang” by Beethoven featured the lyrics, “Let no eye shed tears for the spirit’s heavenly homecoming.” Also a celebration is the latest version of CIRQUE DU SOLEIL with AMALUNA under the blue-and-yellow Big Top at AT&T Park. Directed by Tony award-winning Broadway director Diane Paulus, Amaluna had its world-premiere in Montreal in April 2012 and is now touring North America. Info and tix are available at cirquedusoleil.com. Amaluna invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony in a rite that honors femininity, renewal, rebirth, and balance - which marks the passing of these insights and values from one generation to the next. This celebration of womanhood (with 75% female performers) features a giant bowl of water in which sensual swimmers immerse themselves, f lickering fire, and a springboard for acrobats to leap high into the air. There are awesome aerialists, clever contortionists, gravity-defying pole workers, serious spinners, and breathtaking balance acts. Prehistoric creatures roam among fair damsels and bare-chested beefcake. There are even two female clowns. The costumes are elaborate and the music is astounding. The title means “mother” and “moon,” evoking both the mother-daughter relationship and the idea of goddess and protector of the planet. Amaluna is also the name of the mysterious island where this magical story unfolds. Go visit it! Celebrating queer heroes was the second annual BOLD AWARDS at the LGBT Community Center, raising over $18,000. “We honor individuals who embody the mission of the Center through acts of kindness, inspirational thought, and bold actions,” said Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe. This year’s Vanguard Award went to the institutional partners who helped start the Center’s Trans Employment Program (TEEI). In collaboration with the trans community, these awardees started TEEI in 2007 to address the high rates of unemployment and discrimination impacting transgender 24

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PEACHES CHRIST PRODUCTIONS presented the classic ‘80s comedy NI NE TO F I V E st a rring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton, along with the world premiere of the live, stageshow WORK! at the Castro Theatre, which starred the fabulous Peaches Christ doing Fonda’s role, EssEff legend Heklina doing Lily, and Rupaul’s Drag Race/Rupaul’s Drag U sensation, Pandora Boxx doing Dolly. The show opened with a chorus line of workers dancing their asses off to the movie theme song. The three “ladies” took on their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot boss at the company, ConDRAGulations, in fine style. This original, written by Joshua Grannell, also featured Manuel Caneri in the Dabney Coleman role as Mister Fart, Midnight Mass Players’ original cast-member Jen Taher (“Troll Girl”) as Roz Queef, San Francisco’s most flawed and tragic drag queen Martiny as Margaret Foster-Child, a secretary who likes the booze, and D’Arcy Drollinger as the hot Latina who got fired, who also led the chorus line in a Work number a la Britney’s “Work, Bitch,” and ended with Pandora doing Dolly doing “Best Little Whorehouse” with the whore-us line dancing along. There was even the fantasy scene with Heklina dressed as Snow White, murdering the bad boss with rat poison while cartoony forest animals danced about in an anti-Disney number. Fierce! The Board of Directors of FOLSOM ST R EET EV ENTS announced charitable giving in the amount of $358,779 at The Armory, home of Kink.com. Demetri Moshoyannis, Executive Director, said, “Given the ongoing struggles in the middle class economy, we feel that this check is an impressive feat. This year’s amount is equivalent to nearly $1,000 per day for a full year. Not quite, but close.” This demonstrates the strength and spirit of the leather/fetish community. The vast share of this check will support 17 major and supporting beneficiaries, including AIDS Legal Referral Panel, Frameline, PAWS, Queer Cultural Center, Castro Country Club, SF LGBT Center, and many others. Combined, they are supporting nearly 75 great charities in San Francisco and around the nation.

documentary has played at the Castro since the film’s two hugely successful week-long runs in 2011. 20TH ANNUAL WORLD AIDS DAY OBSERVANCE is December 1st, 11:30am -1:30pm (program begins at noon sharp) in National AIDS Memorial Grove, Golden Gate Park. Honoring Phill Wilson, President & CEO, Black AIDS Institute, and others. Free event, open to the public. aidsmemorial.org. HO NO R I NG O U R E X P E R I ENCE is a retreat for positive and negative gay men of the “AIDS generation,” facilitated by Gregg Cassin and friends. The gathering is Friday, December 6 - Sunday, December 8, Saratoga Springs Retreat Center, 10243 Saratoga Springs Road, Upper Lake, CA. Questions about retreat? Gr eg g C a s s i n A M M @ g m a i l .c om or call (707) 275-9503. ACA DEMY OF FRIENDS (AoF ) ha s it a n nua l hol iday recept ion sponsored by Gu mp’s a nd Cave to Cellar Wines at the downtown San Francisco reta i l inst it ut ion, Gump’s. AoF w i l l feature an after work happy hour w ith drinks a nd bit e s . T ic ket s a r e $2 0 p er p er s on at a of s f.e ventbr it e.c om . Fu nd s r a i s ed he lp supp or t Bay Area HIV/A IDS services. December 4th, 6:30 - 8:30pm at 135 Post Street. At this event, AoF will also g ive you a n update on t he 2014 Gala Oscar Party, “Return to the Emera ld Cit y ” i n M a rch. academyof friends.org. Even t hough I hate to brea k my p e r s on a l r u le of N O T t a l k i n g ab out C h r i st m a s u nt i l A F T E R Thanksg iv ing, I need to let y’all k now t he a n nua l C HR I ST M A S T R E E L IGH T I NG at t he Ca s tro & 18th Street Bank of America is December 2nd, 6 -7pm. Should we ex pect Sa r a h Pa l i n to come rant about the liberals’ WAR ON CHRISTMAS?! A nd whi le we’re brea k ing X mas r u les, I just wa nt to ment ion t he u p c om i n g a n nu a l a l l - d r a g GOL DEN GIR L S L IVE coming to V ictor i a T heat re, December 5th - 22nd, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 7pm. I will wr ite more in the December 5th Bay Times, once I’ve seen this holidaze treat. Season’s greetings from DONNA S AC H E T ’ S S O N G S O F T H E SE ASON on December 2nd and 3rd, 8pm, Starlight Room at Sir Francis Drake Hotel, 450 Powell. Donna’s 21st annual festive celebration benef iting A IDS EMERGENCY FUND is always delightful. songsoftheseason.net. Pornucopia: this week’s f lick pick is a t ie bet ween Ma g net i s m from hardfriction.com and Plays Together from falconstudios.com. S i st e r D a n a sez , “B e s ure t o honor WOR L D A IDS DAY in your own way, because AIDS is far from over!”

After years of unprecedented abuse of Senate rules by the Repugnicans, Senator Reid followed the petition signed by 285,402 Americans and pulled the trigger on the “Reid Rule” - reforming the filibuster so that the President can f inally appoint judges, cabinet members, and other executive-level positions without obstruction. Take THAT, you blustery filibuster!!! CUMMING UP! WE WERE HERE, David Weissman’s Emmy-nominated documentary about the coming of AIDS to San Francisco will make a triumphant return to the Castro Theatre for WOR L D A I D S DAY for one show only on Sunday, December 1, 7pm. This will be the first time the

PH OTO B Y S TE VE N UN DE RH I LL

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

people in San Francisco. Today, these services are being replicated throughout the country and helping thousands of trans and gender nonconforming people get back to work in safe and equal workplaces. Vanguard Awardees were Bevan Dufty, Cecilia Chung, Kate Howard, Tony Lugo, and Abby Snay. Also honored were Bertie Brouhard with Good Neighbor Award, presented by State Farm; Loren Brown with Community Spirit Award, presented by Grass Roots Gay Rights/West (GRGR/ West), producers of “REAL BAD” Folsom Fair dance fundraisers; and Special Recognition to both Inaugural Center Youth Council for helping to expand services for homeless youth at the Center and to Leadership Circle Members for their investment in the Center.

Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna

World AIDS Day 2013

The Global Tragedy of AIDS Will Never Be Forgotten World AIDS Day is held on December 1 of each year. It provides an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show their support for individuals living with the virus, and to commemorate friends, family members, coworkers and others who have died as a result of HIV/AIDS. Globally, an estimated 34 million people now have HIV. We have all been touched in some way by this virus. Today, we benefit from many scientific advances in HIV treatment. There are laws to protect people living with HIV, and we understand so much more about the condition. In spite of this, new infections still happen, and stigma and discrimination remain a reality for many people living with HIV. World AIDS Day reminds us that there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NAT IONAL AIDS MEMOR IAL GROVE

San Francisco remains at the forefront of HIV/AIDS care. In SF alone, close to 30,000 residents currently live with HIV. By the end of 2013, the caseload likely will have increased by 800-1000. The holidays can be an especially hard time due to concerns over health, finances, family and more. Countering that is a year-round gift for us: the National AIDS Memorial Grove. In this beautiful, vibrant space within San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, all of us who have been affected directly or indirectly by AIDS can gather to heal, hope and remember. The National AIDS Memorial Grove, like World AIDS Day itself, signifies that the global tragedy of AIDS will never be forgotten.

Hope, Healing and Remembrance at the National AIDS Memorial Grove By John Cunningham

On November 30 at Light in the Grove, Tim Hanlon, president of the Wells Fargo Foundation, will receive the 2013 Lifetime of Commitment award. On December 1 during the 20th Annual World AIDS Day observance, Phill Wilson, president and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute, will receive the National Leadership Recognition Award, and Franco Beneduce, will posthumously be awarded the Local Unsung, for his lifetime of service to the HIV/AIDS service community. And with an eye toward the future, the Grove’s Young Leaders Scholarship Program, sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, will recognize the educational efforts of young people committed to active roles of public service and leadership in the struggle against HIV/AIDS. This year’s honorees symbolize the spirit of the Grove, and our collective efforts in the fight against AIDS. More than twenty-two years ago, when the

PHOTO BY SCOT T FINSWAITH

part of the park, forever planting the National AIDS Memorial Grove.

HIV/AIDS epidemic was at its worst in San Francisco, volunteers gathered

to form the Grove, seeking out a place to create a setting where those impacted by AIDS could both grieve and begin the process of healing. As I personally ref lect, I can’t help but think of the National AIDS Memorial Grove, which was born out of the desire to always cherish, value, and, most important ly, remember all those we have loved and lost to the AIDS pandemic. The Grove was created as a sacred space for survivors to gather, and begin the healing process.

PHOTO BY R INK

As we approach this year’s World AIDS Day observance on December 1, it is a time to ref lect on our past, with a vision of hope for a future free of AIDS. This year, the National A I DS Memo rial Grove (“the Grove”) will hold the 20th annual World AIDS Day obser vance at the Grove, preceded the night before w it h it s John Cunningham annual fundraising gala, Light in the G rove. This year’s theme is “ C om mu n it ie s G r o w i n g To g e t h e r.” T h i s year we will be recognizing the contributions of several esteemed individuals for their tireless work over the past 30 years. We invite you to join us at the Grove for the weekend of events and remembrances.

Visitors searching for familiar names at the AIDS Grove’s Circle of Friends

Twenty-two years later, the Grove stands as a testament to both the individual and the community’s will to persevere through pain, loss and tragedy. Three key themes run throughout

the Grove: hope, healing and remembrance. While the treatment advances that became available in 1996 forever changed the future of the pandemic, they did little to alter the two previous decades of the epidemic. The Grove is a sacred, beautiful site of respite, created by those who were suffering great pain out of great loss. Built on the wreckage of neglect, the Grove transformed part of Golden Gate Park from a spot of dereliction and debris into a healing sanctuary, a place where we heal from the losses we suffered because of AIDS. Everywhere in the Grove are places with names, sites dedicated to men, women, children, brothers, sisters, lovers, neighbours, co -workers, friends who are no longer with us. Every corner of the Grove tells a story, several stories, all of them personal, unique, and yet, similar, shared. Because of the love and dedication and unbelievable support of thousands upon thousands of individuals, we have reclaimed and repaired and restored

At the western end of the National AIDS Memorial Grove sits the Circle of Peace, dedicated to all those individuals who have been forgotten by the AIDS epidemic, those names and those struggles and those lives that have vanished from memory. In this broken circle you can f ind a piece of poem that was written by Thom Gunn. It reads: Walker within this circle, pause. Although they all died of one cause, Remember how their lives were dense With fine, compacted difference.

Like the Circle of Peace, Gunn’s poem resounds with echoes of stories never told, of people whose sole connection to each other was AIDS. The Circle of Peace asks us to remember, and by remembering, give meaning. Please join our community of supporters for this year’s World AIDS Day weekend events as we remember all those we have lost, and recommit to ourselves – and our community that the story of AIDS will be known by future generations. John Cunningham is the executive director of the National AIDS Memorial Grove. To learn more about Light in the Grove and World AIDS Day ceremonies at the National AIDS Memorial Grove, visit www. aidsmemorial.org or call (415) 765-0497.

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World AIDS Day 2013 National AIDS Memorial Grove 2013 Honorees LIFETIME OF COMMITMENT AWARD: Tim Hanlon

informing future generations of the American story of AIDS.

Tim Hanlon helped change the direction of corporate philanthropy in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, leading Wells Fargo to become a strong advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and education programs. His powerful voice set a path for others to follow, making support for AIDS funding mainstream in corporate philanthropy. Tim has helped lead Wells Fargo to provide more than $17.8 million to local AIDS-related causes around the country during the last decade, with more than $575,000 donated to The Grove. Wells Fargo and its employees have also given more than 5,000 volunteer hours to support The Grove and helped secure critical funding to ensure that The Grove remains an important part of the national landscape,

“Tim’s vision and leadership have made a significant impact on such an important issue,” said John Stumpf, Chairman, President and CEO of Wells Fargo & Company. “He has been a driving force advocating for HIV/ AIDS prevention and awareness programs, helping Wells Fargo and other corporations dedicate critical resources to raise awareness and help individuals, families and communities impacted by the disease across the country.”

cacy work, Phill is a well-known a nd r e s p e c t e d national leader and HIV/AIDS expert. For f ive years, Phill was Cha ir of t he R y a n W h i t e Phill Wilson Planning Council and was instrumentally involved in the crafting of the Ryan White CARE Act. He was also a member of the HRSA Advisory Council, the Board of Directors for AIDS Action, Co-Chair of the Los Angeles County HIV Health Commission and Director of Policy and Planning at AIDS Project Los Angeles. More recently, Phill was an opening-day plenary speaker at the XIX International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. Phill is actively involved with other local and national community-based and AIDS service organizations, including the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

NAT IONA L L E A DE R SH I P R E C O G N I T ION AWA R D : Phill Wilson Phill Wilson is the founder, President and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute, the only national HIV/AIDS think tank focused exclusively on Black people. With a long history of advo-

“Phill is an exceptional leader in HIV/AIDS education and awareness, particularly among at-risk populations and the Black community,” said Tom Jensen, Co-Chair of the National AIDS Memorial Grove’s Board of Directors. “He has been an instrumental advocate in shaping public policy that has helped save lives and prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATIONAL AIDS MEMOR IAL GROVE

LOC A L U NSU NG H ERO AWARD: Franco Beneduce

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Franco Beneduce will be awarded the Local Unsung Hero Award posthumously on World AIDS Day. Throughout his life, Franco was involved in LGBT causes and issues. He was the visionary creator and producer behind the annual Light in the Grove event at The Grove and the Folsom Street Fair’s Magnitude after-hours dance party. He lived by the motto, “Go big or go home.” In the mid 90’s, Franco co-hosted ClosetFree Radio, one of the first commercial gay/lesbian radio talk shows in the country. He Franco Beneduce also produced Rhode Island’s AIDS Walk. He lived in the Bay Area for two decades, where he raised funds for, and supported, various LGBT nonprofits, including the Folsom Street Fair and The Grove. Franco was a creative genius, whose love of beauty was matched only by the magnificence of his heart. Besides his numerous creative achievements, Franco’s proudest accomplishment was the two boys he was helping to raise, and his extensive community of friends.

PHOTO BY R INK

“Franco’s impact, presence and legacy will always be felt here at The Grove and for generations to come in the many lives he touched,” said Gina Gatta, former Co-Chair of Grove’s Board of Directors and last year’s recipient of the Local Unsung Hero Award. “Franco was a part of our community for so many years, making a positive difference with his kindness, generosity, love and creativity.”

The Quilt on display for World AIDS Day at the Grove 26

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“The National AIDS Memorial Grove is honored to celebrate the tireless and passionate work of Tim, Phill and Franco and their life-long commitment to the AIDS community and our mission,” said Executive Director John Cunningham. “Their collective leadership has made a tremendous difference for our cause and in the lives of so many people and organizations who have been touched and inspired by their pioneering spirit.”

World AIDS Day 2013 Grant-Making Crusader Tim Hanlon Is a True Angel in America Tim Hanlon, President of the Wells Fargo Foundation and recipient of this year’s National AIDS Memorial Grove Lifetime of Commitment Award, has helped to provide more than $17.8 million to HIV/ A IDS -related causes. It would, however, be impossible to put a dollar value on his lifelong personal commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS. Like the Bay Times and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, which both began in 1978, Hanlon’s San Francisco experience took root in the late 70s. Fresh out of the University of Detroit, the young English major was drawn to our city. By 1980, Hanlon had moved here, buoyed mostly by his

dreams. “I had no job and no place to stay,” he recalls. He eventually got a job as a typist in the human resources department at Wells Fargo, and fell in love with then partner, Scott Cleaver. All seemed to be on the upswing, until HIV took hold.

demic, when most people were afraid of infected individuals and of even discussing HIV/AIDS. “Keeping secrets doesn’t work for me, though,” Hanlon explains. “Secrets stop personal progress. You have to be honest with yourself and others.”

Cleaver’s health deteriorated rapidly. “I would work all day and then go home and stay up with him half the night,” Hanlon says. “We didn’t know what to expect. I was scared out of my mind.” Hanlon spoke to the head of his department at Wells Fargo about the situation. The company’s initial reaction was driven by curiosity, from which a level of understanding and empathy grew. Hanlon was advised to contact The Shanti Project, where he met many other men facing similar challenges. Cleaver died, but Hanlon’s dedication to battling HIV/AIDS through philanthropy came to life.

That honesty, mixed with passion, talent and sheer willpower, turned Hanlon into a grant-making crusader for organizations dedicated to HIV/ AIDS-related efforts. One such project is the National AIDS Memorial Grove. “It could have been a big marble monument or the wing of some large building,” he says. “Instead, the Grove is outdoors with grass, flowers, trees, fog and rain. It’s alive.” As he rose up the ranks at Wells Fargo, he would speak personally with colleagues and potential funders. This was at a time, early in the epi-

As for the award bestowed upon him by the Grove, Hanlon is characteristically humble. “If there is anything special in what I’ve done, it’s that I’ve stayed with it for so many years,” he

says, quickly adding that he hopes women will also be credited for their work in battling HIV/AIDS. “A model of care was put into place in San Francisco, largely by lesbians,” he shares. “Lesbians at Shanti and other organizations did so much work for what was then viewed mostly as a gay male disease.” Hanlon could easily rest on his achievements, but the years have not dampened his drive. “The infection rate of younger people and people of color continues to grow,” he says. “We now think of HIV/AIDS as being manageable, and I hear some people ask, ‘So why bother?’ But that scares the hell out of me. This is a virus that knows how to adapt, change and morph. We need to keep paying attention to it. We need to remain committed.”

Light in the Grove 2013

Light in the Grove is a celebration of love and life. Brilliant displays of light shine brightly throughout the Grove. The 2013 event will be held on the eve of World Aids Day, Saturday, November 30, 6-9 PM at the National AIDS Memorial Grove, Nancy Pelosi Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Co-chairs for the event are Larry Hashbarger, Laura Hef fron and Patrick Smith. They are the original creators of Macy’s Passport and their work has resulted in raising more than $28 million for HIV/A IDS charities and research projects.

It has been described as an iconic event offering a nighttime journey through darkness and light, loss and hope. For 2013, the 4th year for Light in the Grove, the experience promises music, performance, art and brilliantly evocative, surreal displays of light.

Light in the Grove is held inside a transparent tent. Warm clothing is advised, and a coat check will be available. For additional information and to purchase tickets, please go to: w w w.a id smemor ia l.org/event s/ light-in-the-grove-2013.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NAT IONAL AIDS MEMOR IAL GROVE

Light in the Grove is a magical experience that promotes remembrance, renewal and reunion. This annual fundraising event benefits the National AIDS Memorial Grove and features imaginative lighting, unique performances, inspiring art installations and a sumptuous buffet.

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Arts&Entertainment Q&A with Dirk Burns, Executive Director of California Revels DB: Our Artistic Director David Parr was asked this question recently, and I think he says it best: “Revels is people coming together to celebrate the season. It’s musical theatre that holds something special for the whole family. You don’t just ‘go to’ Revels; you are Revels. You will hear music and make music, see dancing and have the chance to dance yourself, and be part of ceremonies and traditions that people have used to celebrate the seasons for hundreds, or even thousands, of years.” Theater

Interview with Dirk Burns Crossing religious, ethnic and other boundaries, California Revels is a Bay Times favorite. Its productions blend traditional music, dance, ritual and folk plays in magical, dream-like shows. They are performed by a large volunteer chorus of children and adults, plus a number of highly talented professional actors, musicians, artists, directors, and bearers of tradition from many cultures. Each December, California Revels produces The Christmas Revels, a joyous show welcoming the return of the light back from the darkness of winter. Bay Times recently spoke with Dirk Burns, Executive Director of California Revels, about the organization and its latest production. BT: For someone who has never been to The Christmas Revels before, please explain what’s in store for them.

“Oddly enough, we draw on tradition to create a holiday celebration that is non-traditional; one that moves people in deep and special ways and keeps them coming back, season after season. For many families, the holiday season begins with The Christmas Revels, and for many more, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without us. The audience forms a wonderful community, joyous and inviting. Once you’ve Reveled, chances are you’ll be back to Revel again and again.” BT: What’s new this year? DB: The twentieth century is new this year! This year is post World-War I for the first time ever. The show is set in the year 1925 at Haddon Hall. Haddon is a real place, located on the banks of the river Wye near the town of Bakewell in Derbyshire, England. Currently occupied by the family of the Duke of Rutland, the hall has witnessed a lot of history in the more than nine hundred years of its existence. Our production showcases the music, dance, ritual, stories and holiday traditions that likely played out at the castle since its 12th century beginnings. As the show opens, the spirits of the past ages have gathered to celebrate the annual winter solstice. There’s a knock at the door, and in comes John Manners, 9th Duke of Rutland and landlord of the premises. Manners wants everybody out because the Hall is about to

Hadden Hall Family fall, a victim of progress and the demands of economics. What will happen to Haddon? What will be the fate of the Spirits that inhabit it, not to mention their annual Revels? Will the joy of celebration, community and madcap revelry be enough to deter the Duke from his plan? The battle is joined and just as the outcome seems apparent, there is another knock at the door… BT: Since Revels programs happen across the country, is there anything particularly unique about California Revels and the productions here in Northern California? DB: Yes, but it’s subtle. Having grown up in the Midwest before moving to the deep South, then New York and finally landing in San Francisco just after the Loma Prieta earthquake, I find that those of us in the Bay Area perceive

‘family traditions,’ ritual and fellowship differently than in other parts of the country and that is subtly reflected in our Revels productions. For one thing, we are a more secular community here. Although I am sure that many of our cast and audience members may be active in an organized religious community, many of us are not. The audience at probably every Christmas Revels production in the nine states across the country will sing Dona Nobis Pacem (“Give Us Peace”) at some point in the show every year, and whereas in most cities it is sung as a prayer, here I think it becomes almost a ritual chant aff irming that it is us, the people, who must create the change for peace on Earth. BT: Are there any direct connections between the Revels- either past or present- and the gay community? The productions themselves strike us as having

a very inclusive mindset, incorporating all sorts of traditions, lifestyles and beliefs. DB: Exactly. Thank you for saying that. We try very hard to be inclusive of everyone while staying true to historical traditions surrounding the winter holidays. Our chorus members form onstage families each year. You will see the same two or three people onstage together throughout the production. If you look closely you will almost always see at least one or two families that contain same-sex adult partners. We don’t showcase it. It’s not a big deal. We are all the same when it comes to the holidays. BT: Please share a bit about yourself and why you were drawn to the Revels. DB: As a gay man and an agnostic now nearing sixty (groan), the Christ(continued on page 30)

Philomena Disappoints, But See It Anyway for Judi Dench and Steve Coogan’s Performances Martin has agreed to perform this service as he is writing a “human interest” story on Philomena. However, this Oscar-baiting film is only mildly interesting for the first hour as the odd couple seeks answers to the questions raised about Philomena’s son’s identity. The mystery becomes engaging only when (not because) the film introduces a queer twist.

Film

Gary M. Kramer Dame Judi Dench plays the title role in Philomena, a film “inspired by true events.” Her character is a workingclass Irish woman who was sent to a convent as a pregnant teen. Philomena’s young son is suddenly taken away from her when he is adopted by an American couple. Now, 50 years later, Philomena enlists the aid of Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan, who co-wrote the screenplay), a disgraced journalist, to find the child she never knew. 28

One of the problems with Philomena is that it is not very subtle in its depiction of the two main characters. Martin is a snobbish Champagne compared to romance-novel reader Philomena’s diluted Bucks Fizz. He is rude where she is polite. Martin makes things happen; Philomena is not particularly savvy with how the world works. They rub each other the wrong way, and eventually rub off on each other. Thankfully, there are a few graceful moments in the film’s end that show how the characters have transformed as a result of their experiences together. While Dench often plays elegant, smart ladies, in Philomena she plays against type. Her unsophisticated character shocks Martin by saying the word “clitoris,” knowing what a

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gay man’s “beard” is, and wanting to watch Martin Lawrence crossdressing in Big Momma’s House 2 on the American hotel TV. Viewers amused by the estimable actress making all of this sound convincing will perhaps enjoy Philomena, but really, it is as dreadful as it sounds. Coogan’s Martin tries to contain his exasperation, and some viewers may f ind themselves doing the same thing. Dench does have a few strong moments. Reflecting back on her quickie romance that produced her son, Philomena admits that the sex, however sinful it was, was amazing. The regret and joy in her voice registers clearly. Similarly, her reaction shot to various bits of news about her son are quite poignant. The storytelling, however, seems to underscore much of the emotional moments for heightened effect. Director Stephen Frears insists on creating high melodrama in the sequence of Philomena’s child being taken from her. The syrupy music swells as mother is prevented from saying goodbye to her son. He looks out the car’s back window. This cliché moment never achieves the emotional payoff Frears

intends. Likewise, when Philomena returns to the convent and the window and gate where she last saw her son, the “haunted by the awful past” feeling seems contrived. As Philomena wends its way from Ireland to the U.S. and through a variety of characters that lead the investigative pair to some truths, Martin and Philomena discuss their beliefs in God and sin. But the passion they exude in these exchanges feels forced.

Both performers are very good actors, and yet their chemistry does not quite work here. It may be because Dench is capital-A Acting in her role, exaggerating Philomena’s quirks, like enjoying the little squares of toast — croutons, the sophisticated Martin would call them — at the salad bar. What both the film and Dench do get right is the regret that Philomena has about burying her experience in the (continued on page 30)

compiled by Robert Fuggiti

See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com

www.slate-sf.com. Mix, mingle and socialize with women who love tech.

Amaluna – Grand Chapiteau at AT&T Park. $92-$165. 8 pm. (24 Willie Mays Plaza) www.cirquedusoleil.com. Cirque du Soleil, right, presents an alluring performance about a mysterious island governed by a goddess. Through January 12, 2014.

The News – SOMArts Cultural Center. $5. 7:30 pm to 9 pm. (934 Brannan St.) www.somarts.org. A monthly offering of new and experimental performances.

Sound of Music Sing-a-long – Castro Theatre. $15. 7 pm. (429 Castro St.) www.castrotheatre. com. Enjoy a screening of the 1965 original film with the Castro’s Mighty Wurlitzer before each show.

Academy of Friends’ Holiday Party – GUMP’s. $20. 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. (135 Post St.)

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

Peter and the Starcatcher – Curran Theatre. $40-$160. 8 pm. (445 Geary St.) www.peterandthestarcatcher.com. A hilarious romp through the Neverland you never knew. Through December 1. Some Thing – The Stud. $5. 10 pm. (399 9th St.) www.studsf.com. A uniquely themed party every Friday night, with drag performances at 11 pm. Friday Nights at the de Young – De Young Museum. $11. 6 pm to 8:45 pm. (50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr.) www.deyoung.famsf. org. Enjoy the museum in a fun and dynamic atmosphere with live music and cocktails.

Ladies Go Biking – Cavallo Point. Free. 10:30 am. (Cavallo Point/Point Baker) Adriennebettyslistcycling@comcast.net. Join the fun at the 4th Annual Shed the Turkey & Trimmings Ride. Tristan & Yseult – Berkeley Repertory Theatre. $29-$48. 8 pm. (2015 Addison St., Berkeley) www. berkeleyrep.org. Director Emma Rice and designer Bill Mitchell reunite to create must-see theatre, blending gorgeous music and ingenious staging. Through January 6.

LAURENCE LABAT

www.academyoffriends.org. Shop in style and good company at the Academy of Friends’ holiday party. Book Discussion – Commonwealth Club. Free for member/$5 for guests. 5:30 pm. (595 Market St.) www.commonwealthclub.org. Join a discussion of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce. Sex and the City Live – Rebel. $20. 7 pm. (1760 Market St.) www. velvetrageproductions.com. Hilarious renditions of you favorite episodes, in drag.

Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna, see November 28th listing. friends as she is appointed a Poet in Residence.

Lesbians Who Tech – Slate Bar. Free. 6:30 pm to 9 pm. (2925 16th St.)

Holiday Fitness Workshop – Fitness SF Castro. $12-$29. 5:45 pm to 8 pm. (2301 Market St.) 760492-4653. A special community evening designed to keep you in good physical, mental and emotional health this holiday season.

Holiday ICE RINK – Union Square. $11. 10 am to 11:30 pm. (Union Square) www.unionsquareicerink.com. Kick off the 2013 holiday season at the Safeway Ice Rink at Union Square. Wanted – Q Bar. Free. 10 pm to 2 am. (456 Castro St.) www.sfwanted.com. Enjoy dance and electronic music along with $2 drink specials. Mahogany Mondays – Midnight Sun. Free. 8 pm. (4067 18th St.) www.midnightsunsf.com. A live drag variety show with $5 drink specials.

GGBA December Make Contact – Hotel Kabuki. Free for members/$20 for guests. 6 pm to 8 pm. (1625 Post St.) www.ggba. chambermaster.com. A monthly networking event.

LGBT Family Day – Novellus Theater. $20-$75. 2 pm. (700 Howard St.) www.tickets.ybca.org. Enjoy a special performance of The Velveteen Rabbit, with festive costumes, madcap characters and the perfect amount of holiday cheer.

World AIDS Day – Castro Theatre. $11. 7 pm. (429 Castro St.) www.castrotheatre.com. Join the community at the Castro Theatre for a screening of We Were Here. National AIDS Memorial – Golden Gate Park. Free. 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. (Bowling Green and Nancy Pelosi Dr., Golden Gate Park) www.aidsmemorial.org. In observance of World AIDS Day, The National AIDS Memorial Grove will host a program and light lunch open to the public. Kit Kennedy – The Purple Church. Free. 10:30 am. (678 Portola St.) www.poetrybites. blogspot.com. Join Kit Kennedy and BAY T IM ES DEC EM BER 6, 2012 29

Macklemore and Lewis are Equality Champions By Dennis McMillan Today, United Nations Free & Equal – the UN human rights office’s public information campaign for lesbian, g ay, bi sex ua l a nd t r a n sgender (LGBT) equality – announced that hip hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are joining the campaign as equality champions. U.S.-born rapper Macklemore and music producer Ryan Lewis are the latest artists to pledge their support for Free & Equal by helping to spread campaign messages and materials via social media. They join pop star Ricky Martin, South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Bollywood actress Celina Jaitly, and Brazilian singer Daniela Mercury. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have been collaborating since 2008, releasing the highly acclaimed, bestselling album “The Heist” in 2012. So far this year, the duo has been recognized with three MTV Video Music Awards, two American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award and a YouTube Music Award. Their lead single “Thrift Shop” reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and the video for the song has been watched by more than 450 million people on YouTube. Another single, “Same Love,” become an an-

them for LGBT equality in several countries, and won an MTV Video Music Award for ‘Best Video with a Social Message.’ “We›re so honored to be working with the United Nations and Free & Equal to help spread a message of equality and respect. Ryan and I have always believed that human rights are for everyone - no exceptions,” Macklemore said. Commenting on the announcement, Charles Radcliffe of the UN human rights off ice said: “Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are probably the biggest duo in music today. Their music is enjoyed by hundreds of millions of

people but it’s also brought a human rights message to a massive new, global audience. We are thrilled to have their support for the Free & Equal campaign.” The Free & Equal campaign aims to raise awareness of homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination, and encourages greater respect for the rights of LGBT people everywhere. The campaign was launched by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay in Cape Town, South Africa, on July 27, 2013, at an event featuring Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, and South Africa Constitutional Court Justice Edwin Cameron.

(ROSTOW continued from page 9) lover? Me neither. How about the hate crime in Tennessee? No. We already discussed the snake handlers in the Volunteer State and that’s quite enough. Oh, and I gather the city of Portland, Maine, had a long talk with its Russian sister city regarding the now infamous antigay laws now thriving throughout our erstwhile cold war foe. Portland decided to stick with its sister city of Archangel (population 350,000). But I read that other American cities have severed their ties with Russian siblings. In a meeting with Archangel off icials, Portland city

leaders discussed gay rights in Archangel, as well as Portland’s ban on hanging out in the median begging for cash. Look, in the absence of fun, gay, shiny news, let’s give it up for the week. My latest indulgence is to curl up with a glass of wine and watch a Made for TV Christmas movie. You know the ones. The divorcee comes home to her old small town for Christmas with her adorable six-year-old son, and guess who she meets? It’s her old high school boyfriend who now works at the Sheriff’s Office! Or, how about the go-getter corporate executive who

has no time for Christmas, until… her car breaks down in a snow storm and she’s rescued by a handsome widower with an adorable six-year-old son? And let’s not forget the Santa rubric, particularly the subset starring one of Santa’s kids who a) doesn’t like Christmas, or b) wants to modernize the toy workshop. At any rate, there’s nothing like wasting a cold wintry afternoon on one or two of these classics. Glass in hand of course. arostow@aol.com

(REVELS continued from page 28) mas holiday was always a very difficult time for me. I didn’t have traditions and rituals that I could use to bring special meaning to my life. Revels, at least for me, filled that void. It’s all of the joy of the holidays without any of the baggage. It’s grandma’s not quite forgotten gingerbread cookies and a warm cup of cocoa with good friends without the hassle and hustle of shopping at Macy’s for my brother-in-law that I don’t actually know much about. (Editor’s Note: Warm cookies and other goodies really are served at the productions.) Every Revels is quite different from the previous one, but some things remain the same each year. Singing Dona Nobis

Pacem is one. Another is an old English ritual dance called the “Abbots Bromley Horn Dance.” I remember the first time I saw a Revels production, there came a point in the evening where the stage lights were turned down very low. Out of the darkness appeared six men wearing deer antlers followed by a fully bearded bear of a man dressed as a medieval woman, another man in a hobbyhorse costume, a teen boy dressed as Robin Hood, a fool and a piper. The hush in the crowd was palpable as these performers danced a four-minute ritual dance to the tune of a single flute. It took my breath away. Here was an ancient ritual that I didn’t know, yet somehow by just by witnessing it, I became part

of the larger community. Twelve years later, I still don’t know what the ritual means, but I never miss a single performance of it. I’m a high stress kind of guy and the “Abbots Bromley” never fails to fill me with serenity. I’ve probably seen it a hundred times.

and this actually has the effect of redeeming the f ilm despite its many f laws. It is just a shame Frears took so long to reach such an inspired moment.

is a much better actor here than he is a screenwriter. The story itself is ultimately quite compelling. If only it had been told better.

In the meantime, there are some curious issues raised, albeit briefly, about what constitutes a family. But most of the film is spent showcasing the odd couple antics of Dench and Coogan. The performers are a valid reason to see Philomena — though one can wait for it to play on cable — and Coogan

The 28th annual Christmas Revels runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays December 1322 at the beautiful and historic Scottish Rite Theater on Oakland’s Lake Merritt. It’s a five minute walk from the 19th street BART Station. For tickets and information see www.californiarevels.org or call 510-452-8800. Tickets start at only $20. (Use price code BAYTIMES for a 10% discount.) Welcome Yule!

(PHILOMENA continued from page 28) convent and keeping the memory of her son a secret for fifty years. The actress duly conveys the inner pain of her life. When she struggles with the decision to go public with her story by having Martin publish it, there is real anxiety there. The film needs more emotional scenes like this, as when Philomena performs an act that is surprisingly powerful and oddly transcendent in the film’s end. Suddenly, in its closing moments, Philomena becomes a redemption tale,

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Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” You can follow him on Twitter @garymkramer.

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Round About - All Over Town Photos by Rink

A memorial tribute to disability activist Bryan Goodwin was placed in the Castro at the 18th Street “Hibernia Beach.” Goodwin died recently in an accident at one of SF’s most dangerous intersections Market at Octavia.

Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club co-chairs and former co-chairs Paul Hogan, Reese Isbel, Bentrish Satarzadeh, Martha Knutzen, Fran Kipnis, Ron Flynn, Charles Sheehan and Dean Goodwin at the Club’s awards event.

Pulp writer Monica Nolan, historian Jenny Worley, pulp writer F. Allen Sawyer, and pulp writer icon Ann Bannon at The Fabulous World of Queer Pulp Yesterday and Today at the SF Main Library.

Facing History and Ourselves’ Milton Reynolds (left) moderated a conversation with filmmakers Michele Josue and Liam McNiff at the screening of Matthew Shepard Is a Friend of Mine at the Sundance Kabuki Cinema.

SF Gay Men’s Chorus artistic director Tim Seelig accepted a contribution for SFGMC at the Folsom Street Events’ Check Giveaway Party.

Regina Wurst, Oona Alexandra, Marc Lipschutz and Laura Trupin at the Philippines Typhoon Relief benefit dinner at Sha’ar Zahav Temple.

Robert Bucayu and Angelique Forbes from the SF Department of Health provided free STD testing at the Powerhouse Bar.

Show curator Felicia Elizondo and museum curator Don Romesburg at the Vicki Marlane: I’m Your Lady exhibit opening at the GLBT Historical Society Museum. BAY T IM ES NOVEM BER 28, 2013