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NCLR’s Mathew Shurka, Imani Rupert-Gordon, and Julianna Gonen at The White House for the President’s Pride celebration (2022)
NCLR - 45 Years Fighting for LGBTQ Equality The arc of history is long, but NCLR continues to bend it towards justice and equity for the LGBTQ community and our families. Since 1977, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) has been fighting for justice and equity for LGBTQ people and making history along the way. As NCLR celebrates 45 years, we know we are standing on the shoulders of giants who gave their all to make our successes possible. Giants like Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, who helped spark our movement for equality in 1969 at Stonewall Inn. History makers like Harvey Milk, who inspired LGBTQ folks around the world to come out and run for office, and Governors Kate Brown and Jared Polis who carry on that legacy. Outspoken activists like Bayard Rustin and Aimee Stephens, who understood the importance of standing up for what’s right, no matter what the cost. And sports icons like Sue Bird, Billie Jean King, Carl Nassib, and Chris Mosier, who have shaped history both on and off the field. As NCLR celebrates its anniversary, let’s look back on some of the great moments in the organization’s 45 years of historymaking for the LGBTQ community and our families: • 1977 - The Beginning In 1977 lesbian legal pioneer Donna Hitchens founded the Lesbian Rights Project, later renamed the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Hitchens later went on to become the first out lesbian to be elected to the bench in U.S. history. • 1980s - History of Legal Firsts Family Law is at the heart of NCLR’s mission. In 1980, NCLR won a landmark victory in California for Denise Kreps, who was denied a job as County Sheriff because of her sexual orientation. In 1986, NCLR also successfully represented Annie Affleck and Rebecca Smith as they became one of the first same-sex couples to jointly adopt in the U.S. In 1988, NCLR won one of the nation’s first court custody battles for a parent with AIDS on behalf of Artie Wallace, a gay dad whose son was kidnapped by his ex-wife. And in 2009, NCLR won a landmark case requiring Florida to recognize second parent adoptions from other states. • 1993 - Advocates for LGBTQ Youth NCLR became the first LGBTQ legal organization in the country to launch a project dedicated to advocating for LGBTQ youth. In 2020, NCLR won a historic U.S. Supreme Court case upholding the right of colleges and universities to enforce non-discrimination policies that protect LGBTQ students. Directly following in 2011, NCLR successfully represented two LGBTQ students in Minnesota in one of the first cases allowing a same-sex couple to attend a school dance. • 1994 - Protecting Immigrants NCLR was the first national LGBTQ legal organization to create a program for LGBTQ immigrants and asylum seekers. The organization’s Immigration Project has helped thousands of LGBTQ immigrants obtain legal status in the U.S. NCLR has represented more than 450 asylum seekers and, to date, has never lost an asylum case. In 2012, NCLR helped a lesbian couple from the United Arab Emirates when they arrived in the U.S. to escape death threats from their families. • 1999 - Guarding Our Elders NCLR is the first LGBT legal organization to launch a permanent Elder Law Project as the first wave of baby boomers became senior citizens. In 2020, NCLR won a settlement from a senior housing facility on behalf of Mary Walsh and Bev Nance who had faced discrimination because they were a lesbian couple. Then in 2010, NCLR represented Clay Greene, an elderly man forcefully removed from the Northern California home he shared with his long-time partner after he was hospitalized, eventually settling the case for $600,000. • 2001 - Trans Safeguards NCLR was also the first national LGBTQ legal organization to launch a Transgender Law Project. This project has won many vital cases—including stopping Trump’s cruel Trans Military Ban in 2017—and continues fighting for trans rights, such as winning injunctions in 2022 against laws criminalizing essential medical care for transgender children in Alabama and banning transgender girls from school sports in Utah.
Many Reasons to Celebrate 45 Years - Many More to Keep Fighting By Imani Rupert-Gordon When I joined the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) as the organization’s new Executive Director nearly three years ago, I did so knowing that there were many seemingly insurmountable obstacles that faced the LGBTQ community. In many ways, it’s easy to see why those challenges seem even bigger today. From the existential threats of COVID-19, MPOX, and climate change, to the racist, sexist, and anti-LGBTQ policies, to the unrelenting attacks from hateful politicians aimed at the most vulnerable members of our community, 2022 does not look the way that what many of us would have hoped for after the years of hard-fought victories like marriage equality and the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Instead, we’ve seen a record number of anti-LGBTQ legislation introduced over the past two years. We’ve seen the Supreme Court overturn Roe vs. Wade, which, for the first time, leaves us with fewer rights than we had before. So, we have work to do. Not only are we working to shut down and dismantle the anti-LGBTQ laws, poliNCLR Executive Director Imani Rupertcies, and sentiments of our Gordon is a frequent speaker at LGBTQ+ community events. opponents, but we have to win back hard-earned rights taken away by the Supreme Court. Our work will be to win the hearts and minds of every person in this country so that we are all treated with the love, safety, and respect that everyone deserves. This has never been more important. And while the last few years may seem like a tidal wave of defeats, they have not come without their share of incredible victories as well. From the Supreme Court’s Bostock ruling that guaranteed LGBTQ Americans the right to go to work without the constant fear of discrimination, to the BidenHarris Administration ending the hateful Transgender Military Ban, to the many states and localities that have worked to dismantle the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy, there are many ways that we continue to see the arc bending toward justice.
• 2001 - LGBTQ Athletic Defenders 2001 also became the first national LGBTQ organization to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sports with the launch of the Sports Project led for a long time by LGBTQ sports pioneer Helen Carroll. In 2005, NCLR filed a lawsuit against Penn State on behalf of lesbian players who claimed they were discriminated against by their coach. • 2008 - Love Is Love NCLR’s Legal Director Shannon Minter was lead counsel for several same-sex couples in the landmark California marriage equality case. In 2014, NCLR helped win a lawsuit that allowed the first same-sex couples to marry in Miami-Date County, FL. NCLR went on to litigate marriage equality cases in Alabama, Florida, Idaho, New Mexico, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Wyoming. In 2015, NCLR’s Tennessee case was part of the historic U.S. Supreme Court victory that established marriage equality nationwide. • 2013 - #BornPerfect NCLR’s Born Perfect is the first national legal campaign to end the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy. A priority of NCLR’s efforts since the early 1990s, Born Perfect has worked to ban this deadly practice in more than 20 states and 100+ municipalities in the U.S. In 2022, the Ninth Circuit unanimously upheld Washington state’s law protecting LGBTQ minors from conversion therapy. • 2019 to the present - A Bright Future NCLR embarked on the next chapter in its history by naming Imani Rupert-Gordon as the organization’s Executive Director, succeeding Kate Kendell after 22 years. Rupert-Gordon’s leadership on LGBTQ justice and its intersection with economic, gender, racial, and disability justice is changing the scope and trajectory of our movement. In September 2022, she was invited to join Vice President Kamala Harris and other civil rights leaders for a meeting at the White House to stress the urgency to protect reproductive and voting rights. On November 11, Rupert-Gordon will speak at her first in-person Dinner and Party since joining NCLR as Executive Director. As has been said, the arc of history is long but bends towards justice, and after 45 years of fighting for justice and equity for everyone in our LGBTQ community, NCLR’s commitment to that goal is steadfast and unshakable. As the organization embarks on the next 45 years, we know there will be many more struggles while NCLR’s history continues to be written. No matter the struggles we will face together in the coming days, years, and decades, NCLR will be here for you—fighting for historic wins, dismantling hatred and bias, and working for a day when every person in our community can be their full self. Today we celebrate NCLR’s 45th Anniversary—and tomorrow, continue the fight for a more just and equitable future for everyone. 2
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Imani Rupert-Gordon was a featured guest during KPIX-5’s San Francisco Pride 2022 coverage.
In fact, just this past year, NCLR has won important cases in Alabama and Utah that struck down laws that criminalized medically-necessary health care for transgender youth and banned transgender girls from playing sports. And while we saw a setback in the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, we also have states like Kansas fighting back for abortion access and courts across the country halting laws that further seek to erode our rights to reproductive healthcare and bodily autonomy. While it is clear there is still much work to be done—including defeating laws like “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” in Florida that seek to erase the mere mention of LGBTQ people in schools, we know that our fight for justice puts us on the right side of history. And though our opponents would like us to forget, we know that the vast majority of people in this country agree with us. Together, we will keep forging forward—toward the promised brighter future when every person, regardless of their race, sex, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, or economic status is guaranteed the justice and equity that they deserve. When I think about what the next 45 years will look like, I know we will lead with the bravery in our heart that is written in the DNA of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Imani Rupert-Gordon is the Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
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NCLR’s Dinner and Party Return in Person for First Time Since 2019
Renewed. For the First time since 2019, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is bringing back the Champions for Justice Dinner + Party—in person! On Friday, November 11, 2022, friends and supporters of NCLR will gather for an evening of inspiration, activism, and community. The dinner will be followed by NCLR’s signature party—affectionately nicknamed “Lesbian Prom”— including DJs, dancing, cocktails, mocktails, food, games, entertainment, and more. The NCLR party will be a magical and much-needed departure from the real and mounting hard work of fighting for LGBTQ+ justice every day. This event will bring joy, and we deserve some joy! Historic. For the first time since being named Executive Director, Imani RupertGordon will get the chance to encourage and inspire hope at NCLR’s gala. After 22 years of leadership under the incredible Kate Kendell, Imani will lay out how the LGBTQ movement moves forward during a time of unre-
lenting attacks against our community and our families. Imani’s leadership on LGBTQ justice and its intersection with economic, gender, racial, and disability justice is changing the scope and trajectory of our movement and her first in-person speech at an in-person NCLR gala will share, among other things, what NCLR has been doing to protect youth from the harmful practice of “conversion therapy” as well as anti-LGBTQ legislation in states like Alabama and Utah. Imani will be joined on stage by NCLR staff and clients who have been at the frontlines of the fight for justice and equity for the entire LGBTQ community and our families. Entertainment and Inspiration. With the incredible standup comic, actor, writer, and podcaster Cameron Esposito as host, NCLR will present its Justice, Courage, and Voice + Visibility Awards to incredible leaders who have worked tirelessly for LGBTQ+ justice + equity. This year NCLR will be honoring Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids with the Justice Award. When she was sworn into the 116th Congress, Rep. Davids became one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress, as well as the first openly
TRISH TUNNEY PHOTOGRAPHY
After 3 long years, NCLR welcomes friends and family back to the organization’s San Francisco gala to celebrate victories and share how NCLR continues its forward momentum.
NCLR supporters at The Metreon during the gala’s after-party held in 2019
LGBTQ Native American elected to Congress and the first openly lesbian to represent Kansas in Congress. The Voice & Visibility Awards this year will be presented to Abbi Jacobson and Gina Chávez. Jacobson wrote and executive produced the new Amazon series, A League of Their Own—a more queer-inclusive retelling of the 1992 movie of the same name that is a fictional account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Chávez is a wife, philanthropist, and an award-winning independent musician who was nominated for a 2020 Latin Grammy for Best Pop/ Rock Album. She is also a cultural ambassador with the U.S. State (continued on page 5)
(Top) NCLR Director of Racial and Economic Justice Initiatives Tyrone Hanley speaks at the 2019 Gala. (Middle) Danny, a trans youth, addresses the crowd during the 2019 NCLR Gala. (Bottom) U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland at the 2019 NCLR Gala TRISH TUNNEY PHOTOGRAPHY
#BornPerfect - More than a Hashtag, a Movement The 45th anniversary of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) was a year of stellar progress for Born Perfect, our survivor-led campaign launched in 2014 to end the dangerous Michael Airhart and discredited practice of “conversion therapy.” In 2022 alone, we worked to pass ordinances in 11 municipalities and advanced prohibitions in two states. We also partnered with the Biden Administration to enact a sweeping Executive Order, and represented survivors filing regulatory complaints against conversion therapists in Kentucky and Texas. Here’s a look back at the year of successes for Born Perfect: Pennsylvania Conversion therapy survivors and their families won a huge victory in August, when Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed Executive Order 2022-2 launching statewide action to curtail conversion therapy. The order prohibits the use of state funds and other resources for conversion therapy. State agencies will instead promote evidence-based best medical practices for LGBTQ individ-
uals and update their procedures to better support LGBTQIA+ state employees and Pennsylvanians. Washington State and the 9th Circuit In a major legal victory for NCLR, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in September upheld Washington state’s law protecting LGBTQ youths from conversion therapy. We were proud to represent our client Equal Rights Washington in court, defeating conversion therapists’ false argument that their abuse of professional licensing constitutes protected free speech. This was the fifth federal case to uphold our defense of conversion therapy prohibitions on professional and ethical grounds. The Ninth Circuit ruling reinforces laws against conversion therapy throughout the western United States. Municipal Actions Over the course of 2022, we helped local advocates in 11 cities enact ordinances prohibiting conversion therapy against minors by licensed professionals. Two additional cities passed resolutions urging their state governments to halt conversion therapy statewide. Born Perfect provides municipal leaders and local LGBTQ advocates not only with legal expertise, but also data on conversion therapists in their region, and survivor insights to help inform policy-making decisions. Importantly, we achieved many of these measures in states where much work remains to be done to build statewide legislative support for LGBTQ youth and their families.
Federal Action In June, after months of consulBorn Perfect advocates at the New York Premiere for the film The Miseducation of Cameron tation with NCLR, Post
By Michael Airhart
Born Perfect Co-Founder Mathew Shurka was among the survivors of conversion therapy who were present when the Maryland legislature passed a ban on this harmful practice.
Born Perfect and Love Loud advocates met with Rep. Ted Lieu and. Rep. Sean Maloney to discuss a federal law to ban conversion therapy.
President Joe Biden signed a courageous and unprecedented executive order that takes comprehensive measures to protect the American people from conversion therapy. President Biden’s executive order: • Instructs the Federal Trade Commission “to consider whether socalled conversion therapy constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice, and to issue such consumer warnings or notices as may be appropriate.” • Addresses discriminatory legislative attacks against LGBTQ children and their families, directing key agencies to protect families and children. • Prevents so-called “conversion therapy” by directing the Department of Health and Human Services to prevent federally funded programs from offering conversion therapy. HHS will also raise public awareness about the harms of conversion therapy, assist health care providers, and expand services to help survivors.
• Addresses the barriers in health care that LGBTQ individuals and families face in accessing care. HHS will help prevent LGBTQ suicide by expanding youth access to suicide prevention resources, and issue new guidance on evidence-informed mental health care for LGBTQ youth. • Addresses the barriers in foster care and child welfare systems to LGBTQ youth, parents, caretakers, and families. • Supports families with LGBTQ youth with voluntary family counseling and support programs, and research into the impacts of family rejection on the mental health and long-term wellbeing of LGBTQ individuals. Early in the process, Born Perfect and NCLR were at the table with the Biden administration, ensuring that this executive order would address systemic injustices that drive LGBTQ people and their families toward conversion therapy. The executive order accommodated our concerns, including measures to address equitable access to federal programs and benefits, LGBTQ homelessness and housing equity, access to gender affirmative care, safe and inclusive schools, and LGBTQ youth in juvenile justice systems. (continued on page 5)
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Photos courtesy of NCLR Special thanks to Christopher Vasquez, NCLR Director of Communications
On the Frontlines for Transgender Youth By Asaf Orr NCLR has been on the forefront of the fight against laws that discrimination against transgender youth, and we always will be. Widespread misinformation and fear have made transgender youth an easy political target for many years. Since 2016, however, the anti-LGBTQ movement has capitalized on that misinformation and fear to mount a sustained attack on transgender youth on many different fronts. The extreme political polarization across the United States has caused this latest iteration of the “culture wars” to reach a fever pitch and is only becoming more intense, threatening to undermine bedrock legal protections that safeguard the health and wellbeing of transgender youth. The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) has been there at every turn to stop politicians from using their power to harm transgender youth and deny them the opportunity to thrive. In 2021, state legislatures across the country considered over 100 anti-transgender bills. They covered the gamut from participation in sports and use of sex-separated facilities to banning LGBTQ-inclusive school curriculum and access to medical treatment. NCLR has worked with local organizations, medical providers, and families and supported their efforts to organize and oppose this slate of hateful bills.
Shannon Minter with trans youth and NCLR client Daniel Trujillo at The White House.
NCLR assisted with drafting testimony for state legislative hearings, helped prepare spokespeople for media interviews, and provided strategic support to local coalitions and organizations. Because of those efforts—combined with the unmatched energy and resilience of transgender youth across the country—many of those bills were defeated before they could become enshrined into law. Equally important was the significant media coverage those transgender youth garnered, dispelling the myths and misinformation that led to these bills being introduced in the first place. There were a number of bills that nevertheless made it through the legislative process and were signed into law. NCLR was prepared and immediately challenged those laws in court—succeeding in getting the courts to stop several of them from going into effect.
NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter with transgender youth at The White House Transgender Day of Visibility gathering.
For example, Alabama politicians enacted a law that made it a felony for doctors and parents to provide transgender adolescents with medically necessary treatments for gender dysphoria–medications that have long been considered the standard of care by every major medical and mental health association in the United States. Working with several legal organizations, law firms, and local advocates, NCLR spearheaded a challenge to that law on behalf of providers and families across the state. After listening to two days of testimony, a federal judge in Alabama found that the law violated the right of parents to consent to the treatment of their children and discriminated against transgender youth. Because that law is unconstitutional, the judge entered an order that prohibits
Alabama from enforcing that law. Likewise, overriding the governor’s veto, the Utah Legislature chose to enact a law that prohibits transgender girls from playing girls’ sports in K–12 schools. NCLR, along with several local partners, challenged that Transgender youth and their parents gathered in Washington, D.C., for the law on behalf of three transgender female ath- Transgender Day of Visibility letes who would have in the courts and the hearts and minds of our been prevented from playing on their school neighbors and communities is far from over. teams if this law was allowed to go into effect. State legislators are already gearing up to Again, after reviewing testimony from these reintroduce many of the same anti-transgenathletes and the experts, a der bills that were defeated in the prior sesstate court judge ruled that sion and have vowed to add new—but just as the law violated the Utah discriminatory—anti-transgender bills in this Constitution, the first rulsession. ing of its kind based on state law. Specifically, the NCLR is already preparing too. We will concourt concluded that the tinue to work tirelessly to defeat these unlawUtah legislature had no ful bills and, if they are signed into law, legitimate basis for excludprevent them from ever being enforced. We ing transgender girls from have always, and will always, fight for transgirls’ sports and for refusgender kids to live the life free from discrimiing to treat them as the nation that they deserve. other girls.
Asaf Orr spoke at an NCLR event about the importance of advocating for transgender youth.
Despite securing these crucial victories, the fight against these harmful bills
Asaf Orr is a Senior Staff Attorney and the Transgender Youth Project Director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
Legislative Success to Protect LGBTQ Youth in CA By Danielle (Danny) King, Esq. (he/she/they) Leveraging NCLR’s long history of policy and advocacy, we saw great wins for LGBTQ youth and youth of color in the CA Legislature this year. At the heart of NCLR’s work is advocation for LGBTQ and other individuals on the margins—those who are most often overlooked or treated unfairly by the legal system. As part of that commitment to justice and equity for everyone, NCLR engaged in advocacy and support of many child welfare and juvenile justice related bills in the California Legislature this year that were recently signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.
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Here are some of the legislative victories that NCLR worked to achieve for LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color in California this year: AB 2417: Youth Bill of Rights This bill will empower youth who are locked up in California to know what their rights are while in juvenile settings such as the right to clean clothing, the right to post-secondary education, and the right to be free from discrimination or harassment based on their race, sexual orientation, and gender identity, among others. NCLR served as a co-sponsor of this bill.
This advocacy is crucial because LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color are disproportionally affected by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. LGBTQ+ youth make up 35 percent of the youth in foster care—many of whom are children of color. LGBTQ+ youth make up approximately 20% of the youth in juvenile facilities. Of the percentage of LGBTQ+ youth in juvenile facilities, 85% are youth of color.
AB 2085: Mandated Reporters This bill limits the definition of general neglect and provides that a parent’s economic disadvantage not be considered general neglect under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) as a step towards addressing the overreporting and over-representation of people of color and low-income families in the child welfare system. NCLR served as a co-sponsor of this bill.
Throughout our legislative efforts this year, we engaged in legal research, composed advocacy letters, attended virtual hearings, participated in legislative meetings and communications with Assembly and Senate staffers, and conducted social media outreach to encourage support of these bills.
AB-2361: Juveniles: Transfer to Court of Criminal Jurisdiction This bill requires juvenile courts to make a finding that a youth is not amenable to the rehabilitation of the juvenile court before they can transfer a youth to the adult crimi-
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nal court system and improves the standard for the Court of Appeal when reviewing juvenile court transfer decisions. AB-2644: Youth Custodial Interrogation This bill prohibits threats, physical harm, and deceptive interrogation practices by law enforcement to be used against youth (including prohibiting psychologically manipulative interrogation tactics). With the passage of this legislation, California is the third state (behind Illinois and Oregon) to ban deceptive tactics in juvenile interrogation. AB 2658: Youth Electronic Monitoring This bill provides custody credits for time youth spend on electronic monitoring (EM) and requires more frequent court review of youth being monitored, which will allow these youth to get their EMs removed faster and their terms of punishment to end sooner. This bill also allows for collection of data that will be crucial in addressing racial justice disparities in the juvenile justice system. AB 2629 Juvenile Dismissals This bill gives much needed guidance on how California courts can exercise their discretion to dismiss Juvenile Delinquency petitions in the interest of justice and welfare of the person. Danielle (Danny) King, Esq., is the Senior Youth Policy Counsel at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
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Reclaiming Liberty: Our Common Struggle for Reproductive Justice By Julianna S. Gonen January 22 will be the 50th anniversary of the decision in Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark case in which the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Constitution protects the right to end a pregnancy. But sadly, Roe did not live to see its 50th birthday. In June, in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court overturned Roe and held that the Constitution does not protect the right to abortion. Although not unexpected, this outcome was nonetheless shocking. While the Court overruling itself is not unheard of, this is first time in history it has reversed itself to take away, rather than expand, individual rights. The harm from this decision is already being felt, and threats to other fundamental rights are looming.
Coalition Building Is at the Heart of NCLR’s Advocacy
Or at least we thought they did.
By Misa Ridgway
It is no coincidence that we are witnessing the disappearance of reproductive autonomy at the same time that we are seeing a wave of hostile policies across the nation targeting LGBTQI+ people. Our common opponents are emboldened at a time when the Supreme Court has abandoned any NCLR Federal Policy Director Julianna Gonen participated in the 2017 Women’s pretense of protect- March in Washington, D.C. ing individual freetheir sexual orientation or gender identity, dom and when democracy itself is under no one should be forced to undergo preggrave threat. The Dobbs decision showed nancy and childbirth against their will. If with terrible clarity that even bedrock U.S. liberty means anything, it means the freeSupreme Court precedents are subject to dom to love, share intimacy with and Forced pregnancy is now a reality in a reversal when political fortunes shift. marry whom you want, and decide whether dozen states—and more will surely follow The next wave of draconian restrictions on, or not to become a parent. That’s why we suit. This is of grave concern to LGBTQI+ and outright bans of, abortion care will— show up in every way we can in the fight people. We need abortion care ourselves. like those enacted over prior decades— for abortion rights and reproductive justice Many of the clinics that provide abortion fall hardest on those with fewer financial care also provide culturally competent care more broadly. resources, including, disproportionately, to the LGBTQI+ community, and state people of color. And the core reasoning For years we’ve filed amicus briefs in aborlaws banning abortion will force them to that the Court’s majority used to scuttle Roe tion rights cases at the Supreme Court, close. could easily be applied to the precedents submitted testimony for congressional hearAs LGBTQI+ people, we understand that our community holds dear, including those ings, filed comments with federal agenthe freedom to end a pregnancy, to access guaranteeing the right to sexual intimacy cies, and marched in the streets demanding contraception, and to help our bodies align and to marriage equality. reproductive justice. Across multiple venwith our gender identity are essential to our ues, NCLR carries the message that the While most of the justices in the majorhealth, dignity and autonomy, and to freemovements for LGBTQI+ equality and ity swatted away those concerns, we should dom from discrimination based on sex. reproductive freedom are one and the not be sanguine. As the dissenting jusAnd the Constitution’s stated promises tices emphatically stated: “Either the mass same. of liberty and equality serve as the origin of the majority’s opinion is hypocrisy, or not only of the right to abortion, but also Regardless of one’s own personal feeladditional constitutional rights are under the rights to sexual privacy and to marry ings about abortion, making it impossithreat. It is one or the other.” whom we love. ble to access through barriers and bans LGBTQ families have always undermines other people’s basic right of been a core part of NCLR’s self-determination. That should be deeply (National Center for Lesbian unsettling to everyone, and LGBTQI+ Rights) mission and work. We people in particular. Forcing anyone to be were founded 45 years ago to pregnant against their will—denying anyfight for the rights of lesbians to one the medical care they need—is the very parent, and pursuing legal proantithesis of the liberty guaranteed by our tections for LGBTQ people to Constitution. But the very meaning of that be secure in their families has word, liberty, is up for grabs right now. We been our passion ever since. must reclaim it, and we must do it together. That’s why reproductive justice is central to our work today. Julianna S. Gonen is the Federal Policy Director at the National Center for Just as no one should be denied Tyrone Hanley attended a post-Roe vs. Wade rally at the United States Lesbian Rights. the ability to parent because of
The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) has engaged in federal advocacy nearly since our founding 45 years ago, but the establishment of our D.C. office made participation in federal spaces—such as Congress and the White House—much more regular. As NCLR showed up in these spaces more frequently, the organization became more widely known among federal policymakers. NCLR routinely joins LGBTQ partner organizations for bi-weekly calls with the White House, engages in regular meetings with other federal agencies, and collaborates directly with policymakers as a result of our federal advocacy. Our legal and policy expertise creates spaces for our clients’ voices to be heard by thhosewhom they would normally have limited access to. Coalition building is at the heart of NCLR’s policy work. NCLR’s Federal Policy Director, Julie Gonen, regularly participates in numerous LGBTQ and reproductive justice coalitions and is frequently asked to speak on the intersections of our movements. In 2020, NCLR was approached to co-create and lead the Religious Equality and Liberty (REAL) Coalition, a cross-movement space to share information on religious liberty/exemption issues. NCLR is proud that Julie shares her expertise on the frontlines of reproductive justice movements. Julie’s work includes writing amicus briefs in abortion rights cases, congressional testimony in support of federal legislation to ensure abortion access, and regulatory comments on federal administrative policy on reproductive health care. The unique position that Julie plays allows her to explore the intersections between LGBTQ equality and reproductive health, rights, and justice. NCLR began with fighting for the right to build a family in 1977. Now, 45 years later in a time where access to reproductive health services is being stripped away, NCLR is committed to—and leading—the fight against legislation that will force pregnancies against people’s will. Misa Ridgway is the Philanthropy Coordinator at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
Supreme Court.
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Department and runs Niñas Arriba, a college fund she co-founded with her wife for young women in El Salvador.
Informing Our Services with Data In 2022, Born Perfect tripled its tracking of conversion therapy activity at the local level. We now track 4,800 counselors and 1,200 organizations that conduct or promote conversion therapy. Some 770 of these counselors are licensed professionals who will be subject to any legal restrictions enacted in their locality.
The 2022 Courage Awards will honor Drs. Morissa Ladinsky and Hussein Abdul-Latif (Alabama) and Cameron Wright. Dr. Ladinsky co-leads the Youth Multidisciplinary Gender Team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham while Dr. Abdul-Latif is a pediatric endocrinologist in Birmingham, Alabama. Both doctors have been providing medically-necessary care for transgender youth in the South and have been at the forefront fighting against a bill in Alabama that would criminalize that care and charge parents and doctors with a felony for providing the care that these youth need to survive and thrive as who they are. Wright is an inspiration and courageous trans youth who was welcomed to the White House earlier this year by Vice President Kamala Harris to mark the Transgender Day of Visibility with other trans youth. The Details. Friday, November 11, 2022 Champions for Justice Dinner Marriott Marquis Hotel - San Francisco, CA 5:30–9 pm Champions for Justice Party Metreon Cityview - San Francisco Friday, November 11, 2022, 8:30 pm–12:00 am To buy a party ticket, go to http://www.nclrights.org/CFJ2022
This data has proven vital to municipal and state lawmakers in documenting that conversion therapy is happening locally, and therefore the need to stop these harmful practices is equally real. Survivor Strength in Action Late last year, our national public service announcement, Bobby’s Big Problem ( https://tinyurl.com/4zu87ftp ), offered a promising glimpse of things to come. Co-created by Born Perfect and Enfranchisement Productions and directed by the award-winning queer artist Carly Usdin, Bobby’s Big Problem exposes the absurdity of conversion therapy. The short film also includes an all-star cast including Patton Oswalt, D’Arcy Carden, Jasika Nicole, and RB Butcher. In 2022, Born Perfect and NCLR filed state regulatory complaints against Kentucky thera-
pist Joseph A. Williams on behalf of survivor Curtis Galloway, and against Mary Damkroger, a licensed psychologist in Plano, Texas, on behalf of Jessica Ritter. We won substantial sanctions against the counselor in Kentucky, and closer scrutiny of disturbing practices in Texas. More to Come Looking forward to 2023, Born Perfect is strengthening its network of 395 survivors of conversion therapy. Many of them support other survivors while courageously advocating to stop conversion therapy through legislation, outreach to religious communities, public education, and regulatory action against counselors. At NCLR, we have been fighting to end the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy even before we launched our Born Perfect campaign in 2014. Since then, we have passed laws in 20 states and more than 100 localities protecting LGBTQ youth from this harmful practice. And we won’t stop until we finally end the serious harms caused by these dangerous practices. Michael Airhart is the Born Perfect Program Associate at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
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LGBTQ Liberation Means Economic Justice for All
My Journey from Donor to the Board of NCLR By A. Sparks
In these times of fear and division, we have many reasons to be doubtful about the future. And yet I feel incredibly hopeful. As NCLR’s (National Center for Lesbian Rights) Director of Racial and Economic Justice Initiatives, I am often inspired by organizers, service providers, artists, and others around the country who are cultivating a beautiful new world for everyone. This past June, NCLR and The Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement & Research (CLEAR), a San Francisco-based LGBTQ financial inclusion organization, led efforts to mobilize the LGBTQ+ community for the Poor People’s Campaign’s national gathering in Washington, D.C. The event brought together diverse communities and issues to call attention to the struggles of poor people and to build a unified movement around economic justice. As someone who once was more ashamed of being poor than being queer, I was honored to have the opportunity to speak before thousands of attendees to express how queer and trans liberation means economic justice for all. Being a part of the event was particularly restorative after the passing of queer icon Urvashi Vaid. Urvashi was a colleague, mentor, and friend who supported my life’s work to make ending poverty a central issue of the LGBTQ+ movement. As a cofounder of the LGBTQ Poverty Collaborative and The National LGBTQ AntiPoverty Action Network, she understood and organized based on the principle that our destinies our bound together. She believed in me and my purpose when so many did not—and I will be forever grateful for her life. I started working with Urvashi on poverty issues when NCLR joined the LGBTQ Poverty Collaborative, which was an un-funded and self-organized coalition to develop the first national LGBTQ poverty agenda. The agenda calls for universal healthcare, living wages, and the decriminalization of poverty, among many other solutions to address LGBTQ+ poverty. After its release on May Day 2018, I reached out to Urvashi because I wanted to start a group to advocate for the agenda. In October of the same year, we founded The National LGBTQ Anti-Poverty Action Network to advocate, educate the public, and organize research around LGBTQ+ poverty issues.
NCLR’s focus on justice and equity for everyone in the LGBTQ community led me to take a more active role in the organization’s future. I first heard of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) when I was in high school, closeted and alone with no connection to the LGBTQ+ community. Finding out that an organization like NCLR even existed immediately gave me hope. I was inspired by the “out and proud” activism happening in San Francisco, led by incredNCLR’s Pride in the Park event in June, 2022. ible women who were fighting for a future that I hope to one day live.
STEPHANIE MYERS PHOTOGRAPHY
By Tyrone Hanley
Initially I was drawn to the inclusivity that NCLR promoted, rooted in queer women’s values, charged by incredible women taking a stand and advocating fearlessly for their community. NCLR has spent the last 45 years combating homophobia and transphobia through the U.S. legal system and fighting against laws and policies that discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community and our families. NCLR believes that when we are all able to live our lives free from persecution and discrimination, we will truly achieve full justice and equity for everyone. When I eventually made my way to San Francisco, I began to get involved with local LGBTQ+ organizations; joining boards, launching giving circles, organizing donors, and participating in advocacy work. Along the way, it seemed that everywhere I turned, NCLR was always there. Not only was NCLR collaborating in the fight for marriage equality and LGBTQ adoptions, supporting immigrants through direct legal services, and educating the public and policymakers, but they were also consistently raising issues that others were hesitant to touch like conversion therapy as a human rights violation and recognizing the inherent intersectionality between LGBTQ and economic, gender, racial, and disability justice. I knew I wanted to be a part of NCLR’s work, so I started giving and have consistently supported the organization since 2012. When Kate Kendell, NCLR’s charismatic and courageous Executive Director for 22 years, announced she would be stepping down, I was initially worried about what would happen to NCLR’s legacy. However, when I learned that the charge would be taken up by Imani RupertGordon, I couldn’t have felt more relieved. I first met Imani in 2015 and was inspired by her work in Chicago supporting the leadership of Black LGBTQ+ women and gender-expansive folks at Affinity Community Services. Instantly, I felt confident that not only would NCLR’s legacy be in good hands, but also that under Imani’s leadership NCLR would be best poised to tackle the unprecedented challenges to come. I decided to further support NCLR by joining the organization’s Board of Directors in June 2021 and quickly took on the role of chairing the Development Committee. My service on the NCLR Board has given me the privilege of learning about the intentionality and inclusivity that NCLR takes to protect the most vulnerable members of the community. Despite following NCLR’s work over the last 24 years, I’m still astounded by the incredible victories, hard-fought cases, and lofty campaigns that NCLR spearheads. We’ve continued to fight against unjust laws like the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law in Florida and anti-transgender youth legislation in states across the country.
NCLR Director of Racial and Economic Justice Initiatives Tyrone Hanley with other advocates at the Poor People’s March in Washington, D.C., in 2022.
Both projects were founded on the principle that LGBTQ+ liberation means we must not only focus on the unique ways LGBTQ+ folks experience poverty but also ultimately take on the very economic system that creates and thrives off of the existence of poverty. In essence, we were united in the belief that queer and trans liberation is not possible as long poverty exists. While Urvashi is not with us in physical form, her spirit lives on in me and the many lives she touched. As I said at the June march and rally, in the end there is only one liberation movement and that’s the one to liberate all humans and the planet from violent oppressive systems that tear us down and apart. Being part of this movement brings me hope, because together anything is possible. We only have to believe in it first before doing the work to make it a reality. Tyrone Hanley is the Director of Racial and Economic Justice Initiatives at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
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Through our Born Perfect campaign, we have worked to pass laws in more than 20 states and hundreds of localities to ban conversion therapy, saving countless LGBTQ youth from depression and suicide. Our Immigration Project, started in 1994 and the first in the country led by an LGBTQ+ organization, has helped more than 450 clients fleeing persecution in their countries of origin and our skilled legal team has never lost an asylum case. Consistently, NCLR’s legal, policy, and legislative victories have set important precedents that improve the lives of LGBTQ people and better ensure justice for all. This year, we will be coming together on November 11 for the Champions for Justice Dinner + Party in San Francisco to be in community, celebrate queer joy, and honor NCLR’s 45 years of service. I hope if you are in the Bay Area, you can join us for our first in-person gala since 2019. For further details: https://tinyurl.com/9vfkdk9v NCLR has always advocated for radical inclusivity to meet the challenges of an unjust legal system and exceeded expectations in the spirit of LGBTQ+ social justice work. I am proud to be one of the many donors and volunteers who support NCLR’s work—and I invite you to join us so NCLR can keep fighting for justice and equity for everyone. A. Sparks is the Development Chair for the National Center for Lesbian Rights Board of Directors.
2022 World AIDS Day Commemorations, U.S. Trans Survey
In Case You Missed It Joanie Juster Recently I basked in the warm sunshine at the Fillmore Farmers’ Market, enjoying the sunny fall weather. But now, the sky is overcast, there’s a chill in the air, the wind is kicking up, and I’m watching leaves falling from the trees. Fall brings to mind love, and loss, and what means the most to us. There is work to be done to protect those we love; here are some reminders of ways to help.
wide range of areas, such as education, employment, family life, health, housing, and interactions with police and prisons. The USTS is an important resource for use in public education and advocacy about transgender people.
Each year, World AIDS Day focuses on a specific theme. This year it is Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility. It is a pointed reminder that we all share the responsibility of making sure everyone—no matter their zip code, their country, their continent, their income, their sex, their skin color— can receive life-saving treatment.
Get Out the Vote There are a lot of dire predictions out there as pundits try to handicap the midterm elections on November 8. They are dire for darned good reason. It sounds ridiculously melodramatic to say it, but seriously: our democracy, and the very nature of our country, are at stake. And it is up to us—yes, you and me, and every other citizen—to get to the polls to save it.
We are now just days before Election Day. The endless barrage of fundraising emails, texts, and calls should have slowed down, as ad time will have already been purchased. What can you still do at this late date to make a difference? It’s all about getting out the vote: • Vote. It all starts with you. • Reach out to friends, family, co-workers, strangers on Muni, the clerk at the grocery store, to remind them to vote. Wear a button; it can start conversations. Ask them if they have made a plan to vote, and provide information on how to vote if they need it. Spread the word via your social media networks. Set an example of engaged citizenship, and use peer pressure as a force for good. If people need help figuring out how or where to vote, send them here: https://lwvsf.org/vote Or here: https://www.vote.org/ • Help get out the vote. Do you have friends, family, neighbors who need assistance getting to the polls? Offer to help them. And support organizations around the country that are doing an outstanding job of getting voters to the polls. No sitting on the sidelines for this one, folks. Let’s not have any regrets on November 9. Reminder: U.S. Trans Survey Open Through November 21 In our previous issue of the San Francisco Bay Times, I wrote about the 2022 U.S. Trans Survey (USTS), which launched October 18. The 2022 USTS will provide an updated and expanded view of the experiences of transgender people across a 8
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States, and people of color still bear a disproportionate burden of new infections, and less access to treatment. These inequalities are not, and should not, be seen as inevitable; we need to fix them. This year UNAIDS is shining a light on the inequalities that keep us from ending AIDS, using the “Equalize” slogan as a call to action.
Here are some of the local events that are being planned to commemorate World AIDS Day. Add them to your calendar now; more details and links to follow will be in the next issue of the San Francisco Bay Times:
Taking part in the survey is an opportunity for transgender people to provide vital information that can bring to light the patterns of discrimination many transgender people face, and affect policy and social change to improve their lives. The survey ends November 21, so stand up and be counted now.
The National AIDS Memorial will hold their annual gala, Light in the Grove, in the AIDS Memorial Grove on the evening of November 30. Highlights from Light in the Grove 2021: https://tinyurl.com/ytx75r3w This is a ticketed event.
https://www.ustranssurvey.org/ Save the Date: World AIDS Day Is December 1 World AIDS Day is coming on December 1. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first-ever international day for global health, and is still commemorated worldwide to draw attention to this ongoing health crisis. Why do we commemorate World AIDS Day? Because AIDS is not over. It is a day to take the time to bring awareness to the continued need for help, to acknowledge what we have been through both individually and as a community, to remember and memorialize those we have lost, and to recommit ourselves to taking action. While tremendous progress has been made in the fight against AIDS since 1988, there is still a great deal of work to be done. HIV and AIDS still carry a stigma that leads to inequalities in prevention, treatment, and outcomes. Across the world, fewer than half of those with HIV or AIDS have access to life-saving anti-retroviral treatment. Poorer countries, and poorer communities within the United
The next day, on December 1, they will hold their World AIDS Day program in the Grove for the first time since 2019. The World AIDS Day program is free and open to the public. Since 2017, INSCRIBE has provided a way for people to commemorate World AIDS Day on San Francisco’s Castro Street. INSCRIBE creator George Kelly provides sidewalk chalk along Castro Street from 17th to 19th Streets. Everyone is welcome to inscribe in chalk on the sidewalk the names of those who have died of AIDS. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation Candlelight Vigil and March: For many years, the SF AIDS Foundation has held a candlelight vigil on the evening of World AIDS Day. Details of this year’s vigil and march will be coming soon. Know of any other local commemorations? Email me and I’ll list them in our next issue: jjbaytimes@gmail.com Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.
Derek Barnes 2022 is almost a wrap, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 8. There’s so much on the line with governor, senate, congressional, mayoral, county supervisors, city council, and other candidate races statewide, as well as many state bills, propositions, and local ballot measures in California for voters to figure out. It has been a busy legislative year in Sacramento with over 100 bills just related to housing.
elected or have infiltrated many municipal positions with little to no working knowledge of business, property rights, or economic policy. If we don’t hold elected officials accountable, our cities will continue to languish as residents see more violent crime, business exodus, erosion of public education, degradation of city services and infrastructure, and homelessness. Public apathy and little-to-no government accountability are a dangerous cocktail.
Another interesting data point is that people in the U.S. aren’t moving around as much today—mainly for socio-economic reasons. According to census data, move migration rates hit an all-time low in 2020 (at 8.4%) since first tracked in 1947 (at 20%+). For areas with a growing population, people entering the housing market (buying or renting) may find it challenging to find affordable places to live. This is because current residents in more affordable homes aren’t moving to free up the older housing stock—especially those in rent-controlled or stabilized units, even though their household income would allow them to lease up-market rentals or even buy a home.
Fear not because there is an antidote to this plight. The power is in your vote November 8. But beware. Many propositions and ballot measures may sound like the right thing to do. Please read them carefully. Some are nothing more than band-aids and shortterm fixes that do not address core problems or the long-term needs within our communities. They can be diversions from government accountability to meet strategic objectives, develop fair and equitable policy, and ensure fiscal responsibility.
A strong correlation exists between the cost of living, taxes, schools, crime, quality of life, and where people choose or can afford to live. Arguably, policy and legislation considerably impact the above mentioned areas as well, but the pandemic’s effects turbo-charged decisions for many people. Should I stay or should I go?
Most understand that attracting new businesses and different industries can increase household incomes, and producing affordable (low-moderate income) housing in Bay Area cities must be a priority for legislators. But we cannot build enough new affordable housing at $600–$800 a square foot either. Unfortunately, the economics stunt the natural housing movement due to increased market regulations and insufficient production to accommodate lower to moderateincome household growth.
We’ve heard throughout the pandemic that California is losing its population, and people are fleeing the Bay Area. However, many suburban and rural regions outside of
An unchecked pseudo-progressive agenda also continues to destabilize small businesses, property owners, and housing markets, thus impacting the quality of life for everyone in a community. Idealogues are
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Finally, scrutinize candidates up and down the ballot, especially those with grand ideas and big talk but no practical business experience or track record of getting things done. Ask yourself whose policies are attracting new businesses, solving homelessness, reducing crime, and producing affordable housing. If incumbents are not performing or doing the hard work, vote them out. Experience, empathetic listening, and tough leadership matter to bring forth the meaningful and enduring change we need for our Bay Area cities. Derek Barnes is the CEO of the East Bay Rental Housing Association ( www.EBRHA.com ). He currently serves on the boards of Horizons Foundation and Homebridge CA. Follow him on Twitter @DerekBarnesSF or on Instagram at DerekBarnes.SF
Carolyn Wysinger for El Cerrito City Council Photos courtesy of The Academy SF Civic leaders, politicians, elected officials, friends, and supporters were in attendance on Saturday, October 22, at The Academy SF to support former San Francisco Pride president Carolyn Wysinger’s campaign for El Cerrito City Council. With Mayor London Breed as special guest host, the campaign event took on a party atmosphere in the outdoor Terrace Garden at The Academy located in the Castro. Wysinger, a longtime West Contra Costa County resident, is also a San Francisco Bay Times columnist and community activist. http://www.carolynwysinger.com/
WYSINGER CAMPAIGN PHOTO
Social Philanthropreneur
larger metro areas have been the beneficiaries (gaining residents) because of the exodus from high-density cities like San Francisco. The movement is primarily due to the lower cost of housing and residents seeking more habitable space—a quality of life gain. Despite a robust economic recovery, rents in some East Bay cities haven’t skyrocketed like in other metro areas. In some cases, for cities like Oakland, they may be slightly lower than pre-pandemic levels.
PHOTO BY SPARKS
Voter, Please ...
The Academy Legends Awards 2022 Honorees Announced
Photos courtesy of The Academy SF
The Academy Legends Awards have finally announced this year’s honorees. Selected to celebrate their unique and enduring impact on the LGBT community, the Legends Archive inductee joins an elite group of iconic San Franciscans, boasting the likes of Sister Roma, Juanita MORE!, and Tim Seelig. Once selected they are asked to donate a unique personal item to go on permanent display at The Academy Social Club. This year’s event, to be held at The Swedish American Hall on November 12 from 6:30 pm–9 pm, will be the 4th annual award celebration. The 2022 Legends Awards will be hosted by Sister Roma and will feature live music and local dignitaries such as Senator Scott Wiener and Commissioner Debra Walker presenting the awards. This year’s ceremony promises to be the most attended to date with some particularly beloved honorees. The 2022 Academy Legends Archive Inductee Graylin Thornton Named International Mr. Drummer in 1993, he is still the only man of color to ever hold that title. As co-founder of Onyx Northwest, Graylin currently serves as President and Education Coordinator for the organization that represents men of color within the Graylin Thornton leather lifestyle. As he is an active member of The Leather Cultural District, a founding national board member of the Leather Leadership Conference, and Selection Committee Member for the Ringold Alley Leather History Walk, Graylin’s impact in the community is widely felt. The Supporting Community Awards are given in 3 categories honoring inspiration, bridge building, and community development. Diane Jones Solidarity Award This award is given to those who are instrumental in bridg-
Race Bannon
Serge Gay Jr.
ing divides between one or more demographic groups within the LGBTQ+ community. Race Bannon Race has been an organizer, writer, educator, speaker, and activist in the LGBTQ, leather/kink, polyamory, and HIV/STI prevention realms since 1973. He is an author, widely published writer, active speaker, community organizer, and project leader, and has received numerous national and local awards, the latest of which was the Palm Springs Pride 2021 Spirit of Stonewall Lifetime Achievement Award. You can currently see him in a new online series, On Guard Cigar Salon. He does all this with a charm and openness that invites people of all ages to get engaged, making him one J. Manuel Carmona of the most recognized members across the community. Architect Award This is awarded to people who are instrumental in creating something new that adds to the overall LGBTQ+ community. J Manuel Carmona, Simón Malvaez, Serge Gay Jr., Elliott C Nathan, Xtopher J. McCutcheon These artists have created numerous murals throughout Castro and SoMa. Their contributions to public art are defining this era as one of artistic richness and are being rec- Simón Malvaez
Elliott C. Nathan
ognized specifically for the masterpiece established @ 298 11th Street, San Francisco (The Oasis). The Exemplar Award This is a unique honor awarded not just because of what they have done, but also because of how they inspire others to do better, and be better versions of themselves. Xtopher J. McCutcheon Kochina Rude They provide harm reduction education and overdose prevention training independently as a consultant, as a professional entertainer, and as a peer. Their partnerships include the Drug Overdose Prevention & Education Project, the SF Entertainment Commission, the SF Leather & LGBT Cultural District, the National Harm Reduction Coalition, Fentcheck, the SF Kochina Rude Transgender Pilot Program, and the SF Department of Public Health. Their work championing the increased availability of Narcan overdose reversal treatment has become the model of community engagement in San Francisco and beyond. Tickets Available $25 https://www.academy-sf.com
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When Investment Risk Goes from Friend to Foe risk more money for the possibility of a better return whereas a conservative investor may seek investments with guaranteed returns.
Money Matters Brandon Miller There’s a National Geographic show about people who take whatever sport they do to the extreme and get caught in life-or-death situations. That might be kayaking through crocodile-infested waters, climbing a frozen falls, kite skiing the Northwest Passage, or any number of other wild feats that test the limits of human endurance. In the kite-skiing episode, a brother and sister were stalked by polar bears when they had to camp for the night. I don’t know about you, but that experience would make me mighty reluctant to strap on skis or camp ever again. Obviously, we all have different levels of comfort with risk. And like so many other things in life, there is no right or wrong way to deal with it, just what’s right for you. If you’re going to invest, risk is inherent. As I’ve written before, a smart asset allocation strategy is one of the best ways to help balance the market’s highs and lows. But that doesn’t mean that you won’t still suffer losses. Assessing how comfortable you are with your portfolio hemorrhaging money at times is an important part of investing because it helps dictate the type of investments that might be appropriate for you. The industry uses three pretty self-explanatory levels for measuring risk—aggressive, moderate, and conservative—plus ranges within each level. An aggressive investor is generally willing to
So, how do you define your personal risk level? A quick online search offers many useful tools to assess your tolerance. The issue with these is that they rely on self-reporting and sometimes it’s hard to be self-aware. It’s easy to think you’re a moderately aggressive investor when stocks are on a winning streak. But what happens when the market tanks? How do you feel about your investments then? My advice is to use those online tools as a guide, but pay more attention to your gut—especially how you feel during downturns. Your reaction to the wild swings the market has been undergoing these past few months is a great starting place. It’s important to acknowledge that losing money is always painful. In fact, research shows that losses loom larger than gains, perhaps by twice as much.1 This helps explain why watching your balance go from $1 million to $1.5, only to fall back to $1.3 feels like a $200,000 loss, not a $300,000 gain. The question then is how do you internalize those losses? When you open your statement and see your account balances have plunged, do you pick your jaw up off the desk and continue with your day? Or does that loss consume your thinking to the point of distraction? If uncertainty leaves you uneasy, you might want to seek out some lower-risk investments. The upside of recent rate hikes is that they have made several conservative instruments more attractive. Remember, conservative investments are not bad, they just offer a different path to get you to your goals. Rounding out your portfolio with some less-than-sexy investments—CDs, high-yield savings accounts, and fixed or indexed annuities—could help bring down your overall risk profile. If trading out crypto for CDs helps you sleep better at night, then it may be
well worth the sacrifice of potential return. As far as when to act on any new strategy, I would suggest making plans now for how you want to shift your asset allocation, but wait to implement it until the market recovers. History shows us that is likely to happen now that the mid-term elections are over.2 Remember too, that your tolerance levels will probably change over time due to age, time horizons for needing the money, political or natural events that reshape your thinking or circumstances, and regulatory changes. In general, as you age, you want to take on less risk because there’s less time to replace losses. Of course, you might be someone who thrills to kite-skiing in polar bear country and will embrace greater investment risk throughout your life. Hey, we’re all different. Best to find an investment strategy with a risk level that makes you feel confident, not apprehensive. 1 Source: Kahneman, Daniel; Tversky, Amos (1979. Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk https://tinyurl.com/2p8jkju6 2
Source: CFRA, S&P Global. Past performance is not guarantee of future results. Data as of 6/30/22.
Brio does not provide tax or legal advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as such. The opinions expressed in this article are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security. It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results. Any indices referenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested (continued on page 18)
Estate Planning During the Holidays includes writing down your goals, determining which people you wish to include in your plan, and identifying all your assets. This may seem like a lot of information to gather, but all you need to do is take it one step at a time. Talk with Loved Ones
Trust Essentials Jay Greene, Esq., CPA The holiday season is already here. Many of us will spend the coming months sitting around dinner tables and eating festive meals with family, friends, loved ones, and even some not so loved ones. Regardless of whom you spend the holidays with, there seems to be one topic that always comes up: have you started planning for your future? This question is inevitable since you will be around the people who care for you. In many cases, these are the people you would also include in your planning. So, how do you take the first step to start planning for your future? Prepare Your Goals The best thing you can do is be prepared to start your estate plan. This 12
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It is so important to inform your loved ones of your wishes. Use the holiday season as an opportunity to share your wishes with those who matter most. This could be asking them to be your agent for your health or financial matters if you are not able to make these decisions on your own. You can share your intentions for who will receive your assets. Perhaps you have specific burial instructions in mind. All these goals can be accomplished by creating an estate plan, and sharing this information will give you and your loved ones assurance of your wishes. Creating your own estate plan should be your priority. But this can be a priority for others as well. As you share your goals with loved ones this holiday season, be sure to ask others if they have started their estate plan. In many cases, people will be further behind than you. Other times, people would have made their estate plan many years ago, and likely require updates due to updates in the law or to change the people in their plan. We are a multijurisdictional practice and we work with attorneys from other states. If someone
has an estate plan from back in the day, we can review their documents and advise as necessary. Getting Started The first step is always the most challenging when it comes to starting an estate plan. The truth is that most people are not aware of everything they need prior to starting their estate plan. That is why we are here. Getting started is as simple as contacting an experienced estate planning attorney. Our office offers FREE initial assessments for all estate planning matters. You may reach us by calling our phone number (415) 905-0215, or by scanning the QR code in our ad. We are able to offer suggestions on the best planning options for you, and give a reasonable timeline to ensure your plan is completed when you need it to be. It is common to start your planning journey without knowing every detail you wish to include. This is why it is so important to start the process so you can share your goals with loved ones. After all, what could be better than sitting around the dinner table these next couple months and letting everyone know your estate planning process has already begun? We look forward to hearing from you! Statements In Compliance with California Rules of Professional Conduct: The materials in (continued on page 18)
Message from Leadership By Dr. Krystal Drwencke One common question I get asked is, “Why should I become a member of the Golden Gate Business Association, the Dr. Krystal nation’s first LGBTQ+ chamDrwencke ber of commerce?” I have been on the Board of Directors for the GGBA for over 6 years and a member for 7 years. The simple answer to join is for the connections. When I moved here 7 years ago, I had no clients and no friends. Through the GGBA not only have I found both clients and community, but also business skills, confidence, and professional development. The GGBA community is diverse in sexual orientation, gender identity, race, and lived experience, also in different stages of business as well. When I joined as a member, I was an employee of another business. Having the opportunity to rub shoulders and spend quality time with people who were CEOs of their businesses and have them offer their mentorship helped to propel me to open my own business and feel supported every step of the way. Even in the pandemic, when most people would have understood if I closed my business or took months (or years) off, I had mentors all around me who helped me look inwardly and find another way. Even as the GGBA turned our events virtual for many months, people signed onto Zoom and together we shared information, referrals, programming, and opportunities.
Why Join the Bay Area’s LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce? And an invitation to our Holiday Party! The GGBA is also under the umbrella of a National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. This enables the GGBA to offer certification to become a certified LGBT Business Enterprise. Being a certified gay-owned business helps businesses stand out to corporations who are looking to diversify their pipeline for suppliers. This also puts the GGBA in touch with Supplier Diversity reps and Employee Resource Groups at local and national companies. So, when it comes down to it, there are more connections. The relationships I have been able to form are long lasting and something I cherish very much. One of those relationships is with Betty and Jen of the San Francisco Bay Times. The Bay Times has had a working relationship with the GGBA for 27 years. They help us promote our members with the membership spotlight, and they help showcase the history of not only the GGBA, but also the LGBTQ+ history of the Bay Area and beyond. Their work is so important and I feel very fortunate to work closely with the Bay Times over the years as we join efforts to lift up and celebrate our community. Betty and Jen are so giving of their time, resources, and network with people who share that vision. (Editor’s Note: Thank you from all of us at the San Francisco Bay Times! Having met Krystal when she first arrived in the
GGBA Member Spotlight
GGBA CALENDAR
Bay Area, we can vouch for everything that she writes here about her personal story. She is one of the hardest working, dedicated members of the GGBA. That, plus her other work skills, has made her a successful business owner and trusted chiropractor. Please consider joining the GGBA, just as she did, to increase the profile of your own business, find new opportunities, meet likeminded others, and for additional reasons too numerous to list here.) Join Us for the Holiday Party! It is in the spirit of making connections that I invite you to take part in the Bay Times and GGBA joint holiday party coming up on Tuesday, December 13, at The Academy SF in the Castro. There will be networking, music, food, and a group of people ready to show up and be a part of a welcoming and inclusive community. With everyone being able to live more fully in the last year, we have much to celebrate! Details to come. Dr. Krystal Drwencke is the Past Vice President of the Golden Gate Business Association Board of Directors and the founder of Ascent Sports Chiropractic. As a chiropractor, she has worked with members of the U.S. Open and U.S.A. Rugby teams. https://www.ascentsportschiro.com/
Thursday, November 3 Marketing in a Digital World 10:30 am–12 pm Virtual via Zoom https://tinyurl.com/yckuahme Monday, November 7 Accor Diverse Procurement Connections 9 am–12 pm Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason Street, SF https://tinyurl.com/mu7zu9ut Tuesday, November 8 November 2022 Make Contact: Bring a Friend and Boast Your Vote 6 pm–8 pm Wallbeds ‘N’ More, 2675 Mission Street, SF https://tinyurl.com/2kbjdcu4 Wednesday, November 9 12th Annual California Cable Supplier Diversity Symposium 9 am–2 pm Virtual https://tinyurl.com/3jf88jj2 Thursday, November 10 Asset Protection for Business Owners 12 pm–1 pm Wells Fargo Connection Center, 333 Market Street, SF and Virtual https://tinyurl.com/yc88ubst
Eric Partridge, CEO & Owner of Wallbeds ‘N’ More Photos courtesy of Eric Partridge
There are many benefits to buying a wallbed, including freeing up extra floor space, having a multi-purpose piece of furniture (some wallbeds include built-in shelves, tables, and/or desks), and comfort. Futons, air mattresses, and pull-out sofas often do not offer the comfortable, highquality mattresses that wallbeds do. When speaking with Eric Partridge, the CEO and Owner of Wallbeds ‘N’ More, we are obviously preaching to the chorus, as he has been a strong advocate for wallbeds for years, with his company offering the largest selection of Murphy wallbeds in the entire country, with stores in the Bay Area located in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Burlingame. GGBA: What is the ‘More’ in Wallbeds N’More? Eric Partridge: We help consumers make the best use of their valuable space at home or work by providing beautiful, mul-
tifunctional wallbeds, cabinetbeds, and accessories.
mission, which is more than business.
GGBA: Why did you decide to create your business?
GGBA: Do you go to the GGBA monthly Make Contact networking events? Have they benefited you and your business, and would you recommend them to others?
Eric Partridge: I opened Wallbeds ‘N’ More after my partner and I were searching for our first home in San Francisco. When I saw just how much each square foot of property was worth here, I realized that these products can help people be more productive and use their spaces for multiple purposes. This gained renewed purpose during the pandemic, when more people are spending more time at home and now need not only living space, but also office space, meeting space, and exercise space at the same time. GGBA: Who are some of your role models, and especially those who helped to inf luence your business? Eric Partridge: My friend Ed, who helped me start my first business some 17 years ago now. He took me on as a client, even though for the first couple of years he most likely lost money on me because we were so small. He showed me that there is more to business than just making money. GGBA: Why did you decide to join the GGBA, and how long have you been a member? Eric Partridge: We have been members of the
GGBA now for, I believe, 3–4 years. We want to support our community and community resources.
Eric Partridge
GGBA: How has being a member of GGBA helped your business so far? Eric Partridge: I think the best thing that has come from our GGBA membership is not only the networking opportunities and exposure to the other businesses in the association, but also exposure to community events and nonprofit organizations that give us a
Eric Partridge: I will be very honest. I don’t attend nearly as many Make Contact events as I believe I could benefit from. During the pandemic, we went through a bit of a growth phase that, when combined with the difficulties of staffing, have taken up more of my time that previously. That being said, we are rapidly moving toward being fully staffed and I will be clearing my schedule more for the future. The events I have been able to attend have helped me to find resources for my own business within the GGBA so that I keep more and more of our spending local. GGBA: What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own business? Eric Partridge: When you make the move to start your own business, give yourself room to recognize the things that you don’t know or don’t do well and find the people who do have the expertise in those areas. It doesn’t seem like it’s worth the investment when money is tight and everything is just starting, but it is ultimately what will give you the best chance of a long running and successful business in the end. https://wallbedsnmore.com/
S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
NOVEM BER 3, 2022
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A Time to Give Thanks ories, and to reach out to connections from our distant past just to say hello.
Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor 1978 Kim Corsaro, Publisher 1981-2011
2261 Market Street, No. 309 San Francisco CA 94114 Phone: 415-601-2113 525 Bellevue Avenue Oakland CA 94610
Nuestra Voz
E-mail: editor@sfbaytimes.com www.sfbaytimes.com The Bay Times was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men. We honor our history and the paper’s ability to build and strengthen unity in our community. The Bay Times is proud to be the first and only LGBTQ newspaper in San Francisco to be named a Legacy Business, recognizing that it is a longstanding, community-serving business that is a valuable cultural asset to the city. Dr. Betty L. Sullivan Jennifer L. Viegas Co-Publishers & Co-Editors
Beth Greene, Michael Delgado, John Signer, Abby Zimberg Design & Production
Kate Laws Business Manager Blake Dillon Calendar Editor
Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence J.H. Herren Technology Director Carla Ramos
Web Coordinator
Mario Ordonez
Eduardo Morales, Ph.D. During this month of November, we give thanks for those who have positively impacted our lives, for events that have helped us to celebrate ourselves, and for support in maintaining our health and well-being. Although we are experiencing difficult health challenges as a result of COVID-19, the MPX virus, and various respiratory ailments that are most impacting children and youth currently, many have taken advantage of vaccines to minimize exposure and reduce symptoms. This combined with using masks is a strategy that merits gratitude, since we at least have ways to maintain our health during this long stretch of time. Reconnecting with past friends can also be helpful for our well-being. I find this to be a good time to reflect on our good fortunes and fond mem-
I am hopeful that we can re-engage and return to favorite social experiences, making our lives more exciting and joyful. Think about doing one deed each day to help others while also having it be fulfilling for you. I like to use this month of November to celebrate and acknowledge the value of others, with the dinner gathering—Thanksgiving—serving as the penultimate extension of gratitude. This is a month where we also recognize and express gratitude to our veterans who have served our country. Veterans Day this year will be on Friday, November 11. Thanksgiving Latinx Food Traditions While Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Latin America, many Latinx individuals in the U.S. feel a special connection to the holiday. Apart from the usual turkey and ham options, Latinx people usually incorporate traditional dishes from their native cultures into the holiday. They tend to tailor their Thanksgiving meals to meet the duality of their culture in the U.S. while paying tribute to their roots. Cubans and Puerto Ricans, for example, often have platanos maduros, or plainly called maduros by Dominicans (fried sweet plantains), and yucca dishes accompanied by various preparations of savory yellow rice. Cubans commonly have
black beans while Puerto Ricans and Dominicans may have mofongo, which is mashed green plantains that are seasoned with garlic and pork, shaped into a ball, and served in a cup or ramekin with a sauce. Puerto Ricans may have pastelón, which is a classic dish made of layers of thinly sliced sweet plantains, ground beef, and cheese—commonly referred to as Puerto Rican Plantain Lasagna. Argentinians usually have Milanesa, an array of breaded meats, on their Thanksgiving tables. For Venezuelans, ensalada de gallina (hen), a type of chicken salad, is common at a Thanksgiving feast. Mexicans may include pozole, a hominy and meat soup, and dishes with mole, an unsweetened chocolate and chile-flavored sauce. For desserts, one can expect in Latinx dinners flan, tres leches cake that can be up to cinco leches cake depending on the cook’s recipe, and rice pudding preferably made with coconut milk, flavored with cinnamon and sometimes raisins. On November 17 from 6 pm to 8 pm, AGUILAS will have its annual Thanksgiving event with food and celebration at the SF LGBT Center. Check the AGUILAS website for details: https://www.sfaguilas.org/ Update on Pulse Memorial in San Francisco San Francisco has finally completed its own memorial to the Florida Pulse nightclub victims: 49 individuals
killed on the night of June 29, 2016. This was considered the worse mass shooting in our recent history with many of the victims being Latinx LGBTQ. It is expected that the official unveiling of the San Francisco Pulse Memorial will take place at 5 pm on Wednesday, December 7, at the SF LGBT Center. The staff of AGUILAS, together with the staff of the SF LGBT Center, have worked very hard to make this memorial a reality through funds provided by the SF Board of Supervisors. Stay tuned for more details. There are many people who participated in making this San Francisco Pulse Memorial possible. We wish to thank them for their dedication, and will do so more in the coming weeks. In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving— Feliz día de acción de gracias! Eduardo Morales, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus, retired Distinguished Professor, and current adjunct professor at Alliant International University. He is also a licensed psychologist and a founder and current Executive Director of AGUILAS, an awardwinning program for Latinx LGBTQ+. Of Puerto Rican decent, he has received numerous distinguished awards and citations, including being named a Fellow of 12 divisions of the American Psychological Association.
Distribution
Juan R. Davila
Volunteer Coordinator
Tabitha Parent Special Assignment 2022
IN MEMORIAM
CONTRIBUTORS Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Patrick Carney, Carolyn Wysinger, Leslie Sbrocco, Heather Freyer, Kate Kendell, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Joanie Juster, Julie Peri, Jennifer Kroot, Robert Holgate, Eduardo Morales, Dennis McMillan, Tim Seelig, John Chen, Rafael Mandelman, Tabitha Parent, Jewelle Gomez, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Bill Lipsky, Elisa Quinzi, Liam Mayclem, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Derek Barnes, Marcy Adelman, Jan Wahl, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron, Michele Karlsberg, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Howard Steiermann, Andrea Shorter, Lou Fischer, Brett Andrews, David Landis
Leslie Allen Jordan (1955–2022)
Photos by Rink & Bill Wilson
Beloved openly gay actor, comedian, writer, and singer Leslie Jordan died on October 24, 2022, while driving to film scenes for the sitcom Call Me Kat. The diminutive Jordan had a sweet-natured presence that radiated from his 4’11” frame. He was well-known not only for performances in television series such as Will & Grace and Hearts Afire, but also for his often humorous social media posts that helped many during the worst moments of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of his passing, he had over 5.8 million Instagram followers.
Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Sparks, Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Joanie Juster
PHOTO BY BILL WILSON
His career also spanned other media, from theatre, to film, to music. Just last year, Jordan released the gospel music album Company’s Comin’. His last known social media post was a clip of him singing a gospel song. Over the past several decades, Jordan often visited the San Francisco Bay Area to attend fundraisers benefiting the LGBTQ community. Local photographer Bill Wilson, for example, captured images of Jordan at the 2006 Pink Triangle ceremony at Twin Peaks during June Pride. San Francisco Bay Times lead photographer Rink also took photos of Jordan at San Francisco events throughout the years.
ADVERTISING Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards http://sfbaytimes.com/ or 415-503-1375 Custom ad sizes are available. Ads are reviewed by the publishers. National Advertising: Contact Bay Times / San Francisco. Represented by Rivendell Media: 908-232-2021 Circulation is verified by an independent agency Reprints by permission only.
PHOTO BY RINK
PHOTO BY BILL WILSON
https://thelesliejordan.com/
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PHOTO BY BILL WILSON
PHOTO BY RINK
PHOTO BY RINK
© 2022 Bay Times Media Company Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas
GLBT Fortnight in Review Family Values Whenever I have a deadline, I find myself surprisingly absorbed by arcane newspaper articles and websites. So far this morning, I’ve read about the effects of creatine, the possibility that there’s a secret room behind King Tut’s tomb, and the alarming news from Nextdoor that a mean stranger tailgated one of my neighbors. And there’s much more. I don’t normally wade through Paul Krugman’s economic essays, but I did today. I also finished four crossword puzzles, the Wordle, and The New Yorker “name drop” quiz, which I failed, as usual. Colson Whitehead? Not even The Nickel Boys helped me, even though I read it earlier this year. One time I got the “name drop” answer after one clue, but it was Martina Navratilova. I suppose now is the time to start my column, which despite my procrastinations, I actually enjoy writing. I see on a Christian news website that the Petit Robert French dictionary is changing its definition of “family,” which up to now has read (in translation obviously): “Related persons living under the same roof, and especially, the father, the mother, and the children.” After a gay group objected, the publishers came up with the more inclusive: “one parent or two, with their children,” drawing the ire of rightwing watchdogs who insisted the Petit Robert is “disconnecting words from their meaning in reality.” It’s one thing to disapprove of gay parents, but it’s another to decide that a same-sex couple with kids is not a “family.” Webster has eight entries for the noun, beginning with “the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children,” and we have yet to hear of Christians objecting to this definition on this side of the Atlantic, let alone calling it divorced from reality. Maybe, unlike their French co-religionists, they haven’t thought it through. Cake Wars A state court judge in Bakersfield has ruled in favor of Cathy Miller, yet another Christian baker who declined to make a plain white threetiered cake for two lesbians renewing their vows. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued Miller on behalf of the women, arguing that the denial of services violated the state’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which bans sexual orientation discrimination in public accommodations (among other things). Miller mitigated her rejection by sending the women to a gayfriendly bakery, but according to the opinion, the women found the cakes over there were too sweet. Plus, I imagine they sued as a matter of principle. These cases are anything but cut and dried, and it’s clear that Miller has every right to refuse custom-made cakes that include designs she doesn’t like. She can even refuse to make a cake that reads “Congratulations, Beth and Sue!” What she can’t do, in my view, is refuse to make a plain cake based on her right not to be associated with a same-sex wedding. According to the opinion, the cake service includes setting up the cake and presenting it at the wedding. But Miller could easily make the cake and require the women to take possession of it at the bakery. She could even disassociate herself by making sure that her name and company were not revealed to the guests. But please don’t tell me that baking a generic unmarked cake violates your religious freedom when it is served at a gay event. It doesn’t. Nor is it forced speech. It’s just a cake. As a general rule, employers and businesses must make reason-
able accommodations to respect religious freedoms. Yet these reasonable accommodations seem only to travel in one direction. In the “Statement of Facts,” Judge Eric Bradshaw fairly swooned with appreciation for the defendant: “Miller is a married woman of sincere Christian faith. She and her husband of over 40 years met at church, where her husband was formerly a church youth director,” the opinion tells us. “Miller was a school teacher for approximately 30 years while she raised a family and also pursued interests in floral arranging, event planning, and baking. In 2013, she started ‘Tastries.’” Forgive my cynicism, but the legal issues here are not in the least influenced by Miller’s long marriage, interest in flower arranging, or the “sincerity” of her faith. I couldn’t help but notice the lack of biographical data on the two women, Eileen Rodriguez-dol Rio and Mireya Rodriguez-del Rio. What hobbies do they have? Are they nice people too? The opinion goes on to tell us that the introductory question for all Tastries bakery designs asks: “Is it lovely, praiseworthy, or of good report?” Tastries will not design cakes with sexual content, portrayals of violence, gore, witches, or demonic content. And wedding cakes “must not contradict God’s sacrament of marriage between a man and a woman.” Again, there’s nothing discriminatory in these prudish standards. If I ran a bakery, I wouldn’t make Nazi cakes or anything with carrots. But the word “design” has a meaning. And the “design” of an unmarked white cake does not “contradict God’s sacrament of marriage between a man and a woman.” The customers are the problem for Miller, not the cake. I could go on. There’s the transgender cake case that brings up a more nuanced set of issues, and, of course, we will see oral arguments on the Colorado web designer’s Free Speech case before the High Court next month. But before we leave the subject, it’s worth reviewing the words of Justice Kennedy in Masterpiece Cakeshop, cited here by Judge Bradshaw in seeming contradiction to his eventual ruling: “The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths. Nevertheless, while those religious and philosophical objections are protected, it is a general rule that such objections do not allow business owners and other actors in the economy and in society to deny protected persons equal access to goods and services under a neutral and generally applicable public accommodations law.” “When it comes to weddings, it can be assumed that a member of the clergy who objects to gay marriage on moral and religious grounds could not be compelled to perform the ceremony without denial of his or her right to the free exercise of religion ... . Yet if that exception were not confined, then a long list of persons who provide goods and services for marriages and weddings might refuse to do so for gay persons, thus resulting in a community-wide stigma inconsistent with the history and dynamics of civil rights laws that ensure equal access to goods, services, and public accommodations.” Emphasis mine. No Promo Porno As we last went to press, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana introduced a lovely little gem called the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act,” aimed at removing federal funding from any “sexually oriented” program or event aimed at kids under
By Ann Rostow ten “and for other purposes.” If you put it that way, none of us are opposed to keeping kids away from porn, although all they have to do these days is memorize Dad’s iPhone password and locate Pornhub. That said, by all means let them discover the seedy underpinnings of the adult world on their own time, just like we had to. Why should tax payers help them out? However, the objective here has little to do with “sexually oriented” programs and everything to do with outlawing public references to the GLBT community. While heterosexuality is an anodyne adjective, homosexuality seems by definition to refer to sex acts of some sort rather than regular people going about their lives. But if GLBT topics are “sexually oriented,” then so are heterosexual topics, ergo let’s all limit our talks with small children to their established areas of expertise: dinosaurs and snacks. “The Democrat Party and their cultural allies are on a misguided crusade to immerse young children in sexual imagery and radical gender ideology,” Lee said in a statement. You know, a few years ago a comment like this would provoke ridicule. Now it’s just routine political discourse. Meanwhile, it’s unclear what the “other purposes” might include. Everything under the sun, I’m guessing. Guys ... Don’t Try This at Home Here’s an item I thought was about a gay man, but on closer inspection has nothing to do with our demographic whatsoever. It’s about a straight plastic surgeon in Germany who killed his female lover by covering his penis with cocaine, getting oral sex from her, and thus triggering an overdose. I’m not sure I follow the logistics here. Wouldn’t most of the coke fall off? How did she ingest a fatal amount in this fashion? However it transpired, she died in 2018, but the doctor, Andreas David Niederbichler, has just now been ordered to settle the dead woman’s medical bills and funeral expenses. According to The Daily Mail, Niederbichler drugged a number of other women with cocaine (a crime which some legal experts refer to as “partying”), but they apparently suffered no ill effects, let alone death. The doctor was handed a nine-year sentence for his role in the overdose. He claimed the woman knew about the coke. I’m no expert in fellatio but I think you’d notice a bunch of white powder all over the targeted area. What Do You Say? I guess Kroger created a colorful logo for its uniforms, featuring a heart with a blue, red, and yellow stripe. The obligatory outfit looked too much like a rainbow for two employees in Arkansas, who refused to wear it based on their religious beliefs. Kroger, in turn, pointed out that it was not a rainbow, had nothing to do with pride, and disciplined both women in 2019. When the pair continued to defy the dress code, they were fired and sued with the help of our friends at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Now, Kroger has settled the case, paying the women a total of $180,000 and pledging to train workers to avoid religious discrimination. “A lot of people may look at this story and think Ms. Lawson, Ms. Rickerd, and myself, that we are these LGBTQ haters,” the women’s lawyer David Hogue told The Washington Post. “But we all have friends and loved ones—even family members— that fall into that category.” Hmmm, if you say so. (continued on page 18) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
NOVEM BER 3, 2022
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DIVAS & DRINKS
@ The Academy A Tribute to Jan Wahl October 27, 2022
Double Emmy Award winning producer, director, and writer Jan Wahl, who is also a San Francisco Bay Times columnist, was honored at the October 27th Divas & Drinks @ The Academy event emceed by fellow Bay Times columnist Donna Sachet, who sang a heartfelt version of “It Had to Be You” to the guest of honor. A Certificate of Honor from Mayor London Breed was presented to Wahl by Coma Te, Director of Communications for the San Francisco Arts Commission. It noted that Wahl: • was the youngest woman ever to be inducted into the Directors Guild of America; • is a member of the Alumnae Hall of Fame at San Francisco State University; • is a well-known radio and television personality who, famous for her iconic hats, has educated viewers about films and all things showbiz; • has, in addition to the Bay Times, worked for KRON 4, KCBS, KNBR, ABC Los Angeles, and KGO-TV; • for years was the iconic interviewer at major film events presented at the Castro Theatre and produced by Marc Huestis; • and has always been a vocal supporter of the Bay Area LGBTQ community, regularly helping nonprofits such as the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and Frameline. Nguyen Pham, Director of Philanthropy for Frameline, praised Wahl during the event, which was a fundraiser for Frameline. Sachet led a live auction for a private lunch at The Trident in Sausalito with Wahl. Two bidders—Mary Conde of Another Planet Entertainment and Bay Times food columnist David Landis—won, earning $1050 for Frameline from that item alone (doubled, thanks to the restaurant). Elizabeth Lanyon, Associate Director of Philanthropy for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, also spoke, inviting all to attend NCLR’s Champions for Justice gala on November 11. Central to the event was Sister Roma, who skillfully interviewed Wahl about her formative years, connection to the LGBTQ community, favorite films, and more. Wahl spoke of her family’s early support of gays and lesbians, going back to at least the 1940s when a gay male couple lived as boarders in a relative’s house. She was overcome with emotion describing her acceptance by the LGBTQ community, which she likened to her feelings of happiness and home during Passover. DJ Rockaway presented by Olivia Travel created a special playlist for the evening, inspired by Wahl, and that carried over into the “Name That Tune” competition pitting Team Bank of the West vs. Team Another Planet Entertainment. Both teams played well, but Team Bank of the West, under the leadership of Madeleine Bronstone, proved victorious. Special thanks to Nate Bourg and Paul Miller of The Academy SF, The Academy’s hardworking staff, the Bacardí Team led by Vanessa Wright, food sponsor Extreme Pizza, and to all others who helped with the tribute and came in support of Wahl. Please join us for the Bay Times holiday party with the Golden Gate Business Association and the SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band on December 13 at The Academy. Additional details will be announced soon. https://www.academy-sf.com/
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Photos by Rink
By Donna Sachet
“You don’t always have to take the bait.” – Pete Buttigieg
T
he Golden State Warriors once again saluted the LGBTQ+ Community with a Pride Night early in their season on Friday, October 21. We joined our good friend Rusty Best at the Accenture-sponsored dinner at STEM first, where local ABC-TV anchor Reggie Aqui emceed a short program, highlighting the youth programs of the LGBT Community Center. The actual NBA trophy was on prominent display. Among those dining were Carolyn Wysinger, Suzanne Ford, and Nguyen Pham. A short walk then took us to Chase Center where the crowds poured in for the game, as the SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band played in the plaza. Included in the entertainment on the court was a half-time performance by CHEER SF and frequent visual displays all around the court saluted our community. Although a competitive and exciting game, our team missed the win. We hope that the next Pride Night at Chase Center will feature more talent from our creative community and will be announced with more notice so that more people can plan to attend. This month’s Divas & Drinks at the Academy celebrated local film expert and our long-time friend Jan Wahl. From the moment she arrived, she was surrounded by supporters, admirers, and just plain fans, anxious to glean her take on the current motion picture business. Coma Te of the San Francisco Arts Commission, Elizabeth Lanyon of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), and Nguyen Pham representing Frameline all had special presentations, concluding with our own short musical tribute. Since we wore a hat decorated with musical notes that was a gift from Jan, it only seemed right to add our own voice to the others. But the heart of the program was a brisk interview of the guest of honor by the most photographed nun in the world Sister Roma. Her natural skills in front of an audience never cease to amaze us and this interview gave Jan every opportunity to share her love of film, her wealth of cinematic knowledge, and her long and sincere affiliation with the LGBTQ+ Community. We all learned more about this local legend and came to love her more. The highest bidders in the live auction benefiting Frameline, Mary Conde and David Landis each won a private lunch at the legendary Trident in Sausalito with Jan, who promises to dish the Hollywood dirty, as only she can. After a quick break, it was time for Name That Tune, this time between Team Another Planet and Team Bank of the West. DJ Rockaway preselected tunes with connections to film, adding a particular challenge to the game, but Team Bank of the West emerged victorious, thanks to a few carefully permitted hints from Jan herself. The crowd danced into the night, enjoying Bacardí cocktails in the lovely and welcoming atmosphere of The Academy. Halloween is not always a holiday we celebrate, especially after the sad demise of the spectacular Castro Street parties of some time ago, but feeling the relief of emerging from the pandemic and in the excellent company of visiting Michael Loftis, we donned costumes and hit the town. First stop on Friday was Juanita MORE!’s birthday bash at her exhibit at the War Memorial Building, where she and Mr. David held court over a bustling group of celebrants, many in costume. For the purposes of this column, Halloween costumes present a particular
Friday, November 4 Mighty Real: PRC’s annual gala Cocktails, dinner, awards, auction Latrice Royal, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and Brett Andrews Four Seasons Hotel Ballroom 6 pm–10:30 pm $100 & up https://prcsf.org/ Saturday, November 12 The Academy’s Legends Awards Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market Street Awarding Graylin Thornton, emcee Sister Roma 6:30 pm $25 & up https://www.academy-sf.com/ Through November 12 Juanita: 30 Years of MORE! Fashion & History Exhibit SF Art Commission Main Gallery, War Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness Noon–5 pm Free! https://www.sfartscommission.org/ Sunday, November 13 SF Grand Ducal Council Investiture: Out of This World Grand Duke Gregg Starr & Grand Duchess Kelly Rose OMG Club, 43 6th Street 3 pm $25 https://www.sfducal.org/
was hard not to compare the scene to former heydays with solid blocks of outlandish and creative outfits, but we relished the celebration nonetheless.
Donna Sachet and Randy Best posed with the Golden State Warriors' 2022 NBA Championship Trophy displayed at Chase Center during Warriors Pride Night pre-game activities on Friday, October 21.
challenge since the identities of many are hard to determine. Even we confused some who know us quite well by departing from our customary red and sporting neon green! From there, we headed back to The Academy for their pirate-themed party. Nearly half the guests there had followed host Paul Miller’s suggestion and evoked pirate-related themes. The momentum carried us on to the Castro, where more costumes and cocktails awaited. The following night, we changed into different costumes and started at a private party at the historic home of John Newmeyer. Again, nearly half the guests wore some form of costume and John offered his always perfect hospitality. By the time we got to the bars in the Castro, the streets had exploded with Halloween garb, as SF Police patrolled carefully. It PHOTO BY SHAWN NORTHCUTT
Sunday night found us in the charming company of Erika Atkinson at the storied Venetian Room of the Fairmont Hotel for the first in the Bay Area Cabaret series, now in its seventh year under the careful direction of creator Marilyn Levinson. In the lobby, we caught up with our host Jon Finck, Carolyne Zinko, Joel Goodrich, Don Berger, Patrick & Hossein Carney, David Landis, and several other music lovers. We anxiously awaited the performance of singer Meow Meow, formerly with Pink Martini and now enjoying widespread popularity across the country, as well as in Berlin, London, and Paris, with an unusual repertoire of original songs and rarely performed gems. Uniquely suited to this Halloween weekend, she conjured a mesmerizing set of song, physical comedy, and audience-engaging entertainment. Beyond her glamorous image and amusing props, she demonstrated an amazingly versatile voice and rare stage presence. We left thoroughly charmed by a very talented performer, new to us, and can’t wait for the rest of the Bay Area Cabaret series though 2023, featuring Carole J. Bufford in January, Catherine Russell in February, Julie Benko and Jason Yeager in April, and John Pizzarelli in May. Outstanding entertainment in a luxurious, historic setting? How can one go wrong? Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com
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MILLER (continued from pg 12) into directly. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional. Brio Financial Group is a registered investment adviser. SEC Registration does not constitute an endorsement of Brio by the SEC nor does it indicate that Brio has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Brio Financial Group and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Brio Financial Group unless a client service agreement is in place. Brandon Miller, CFP®, is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.
GREENE (continued from pg 12) this article have been prepared by Attorney Jay Greene, with contributions by Paralegal Andreas Altamirano, for educational purposes only and are not legal advice. This information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Individuals should consult with an estate planning and elder law attorney for up-to-date information for their individual plans.
75th Anniversary of Saving the Cable Cars
Photos by Rink
“Empowering Women Who Empowered San Francisco” was the theme of the 75th Anniversary of Saving the Cable Cars held on Wednesday, October 26, at the Powell and Market Cable Car Turnaround. Along with emcee Marisa Rodrigues of the Union Square Alliance, SFMTA’s Gwyneth Borden, and SFCTA’s Tilly Chang, Mayor London Breed spoke about the role of pioneering civic activist Friedel Klussmann. Klussmann is credited with “saving the cable cars” through a grassroots campaign in 1947 she led in opposition to the proposed closure of San Francisco’s cable car system. In conjunction with the celebration, the city’s newest cable car—painted to match the 1947 fleet that was originally scheduled to replace the cable cars—was launched. Members of Neely’s Rhythm Aces band performed. Following the ceremony at Powell & Market, Mayor Breed led participants in a ride to Aquatic Park where the turnaround was renamed the Friedel Klussmann Memorial Turnaround. https://www.streetcar.org/
Jay Greene, Attorney, CPA, is the founder of Greene Estate, Probate, & Elder Law Firm based in San Francisco, and is focused on helping LGBT individuals, couples, and families plan for their future, protect their assets, and preserve their wealth. For more information and to schedule an assessment, visit: https://assetprotectionbayarea.com/
ROSTOW (continued from page 13) Speaking of LGBTQ, I sort of agreed with a New York Times op-ed the other day, and my smile turned to a frown when I realized it was written by Pamela Paul, a conservative commentator who has the irritating habit of treating an obvious and well-hashed point as if it were a fresh spin on an intriguing idea. I wrote about her a few months ago when she exaggerated the use of politically correct vocabulary under the thesis that “women” were being erased by super woke leftists who insist on terms like “people who menstruate.” I mean, yes, it does happen, but not too often. It can be eye-rolling, but no, it’s not a problem.
Two Extra-Outdoorsy SUVs interpretation of the oak-bodied utility vehicles some still remembered from their childhoods.
This time, Paul wrote a piece titled (by the Times editors, I assume) as “Let’s Say Gay,” which decries the use of “queer” or “LGBTQ” to encompass gay men and lesbians. Who decides what words are used, when, she wonders? What happens when gay people disagree? Hey, I far prefer “gay” to “queer” myself, and for many of the reasons Paul notes. “Queer” has a much wider meaning, includes many categories, and evokes weirdness. “Gay” just includes men and women, and its secondary meanings include fun and happiness. I’m also not fond of “lesbian,” but that’s my own prejudice and I think it’s a generational quirk. As for acronyms, they are a necessary evil, but at one point I picked “GLBT” and I’m sticking with it when discussing our community as a whole. The problem with her essay is that no one has abandoned the words “gay” or “lesbian.” Instead, people use “queer” or “LGBTQ” as a catchall. Like the trans-inclusive nomenclature of her earlier essay, this is simply not a problem. As for who decides, well, there is no decision, there is only the gradual evolution of language. That said, sometimes columnists have to generate their own controversies in order to fill space, but I wouldn’t know anything about that. arostow@aol.com
Auto Philip Ruth If you were to assess the course of automotive trends, you’d go through a great many tangents in design and aspirations. For instance, station wagons with wood-patterned panels stuck to the sides seem absurd now, but they were the contemporary
SUVs as we currently know them have been around long enough for many in the younger generations to have grown up in the backs of Explorers and Pathfinders. It doesn’t seem absurd to buy a vehicle that’s mostly used on blacktop to be named and styled as if it’s ready to drive up the side of Mount Tam. The two we’re checking out this week—the Honda Passport Trailsport and Subaru Outback Wilderness—are right in line with that. One tends to think of the Outback as a wagon, as it is two inches longer than the Passport but five inches shorter, yet it’s EPAclassified as an SUV. The Passport’s Trailsport guise is the mid-level trim, and mine came to just over $44,000. You could spend that much on an Outback, but the Wilderness is also a mid-level trim that came in about $6,000 less than the tested Passport Trailsport. With two “sports” in its name, you’d expect some fizzy performance from the Passport Trailsport, and that might occur off-road. On road, it’s a 4,200-pound SUV with 280 horsepower on tap from its V6 engine. The nine-speed transmission sometimes had its hands full on San Francisco’s hills, and the button-activated selector is still not my preference, but otherwise, the Passport Trailsport is as nimble as vehicles of this type can get, with particularly pleasing steering response. The Outback Wilderness takes a different approach, with the 260 horsepower from its turbocharged four-cylinder matched to a gearless CVT transmission. It weighs about 300 pounds less than the Honda and is EPA rated at a three-mpg advantage. Over the road, the Outback Wilderness’ pluses were strong throttle response and an uncommonly comfortable ride. While the Passport Trailsport’s additions are mostly cosmetic, the Outback Wilderness includes
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upgrades that raise the ground clearance to nearly 10 inches. While you would think it would turn the Wilderness into a stiffly-sprung coal cart, it’s quite the opposite, as it exhibited a rare suppleness even as it digested the ruts and bumps on Folsom Street. Inside, both have warm-colored accents to differentiate them from other Passports and Outbacks— orange in the former, and copper in the latter. This includes the stitching in both, and they each have front headrests embossed with the Trailsport or Wilderness logos. You’d be forgiven for thinking they came from different divisions of the same company. Space is one big advantage for the Passport Trailsport, with its boxy body holding 100.8 cubic feet of stuff with all the seats folded down. That’s 25 cubic feet more than the Outback Wilderness. So, while the Passport Trailsport and Outback Wilderness share the same climb-every-mountain style, they each have distinct advantages. Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant with an automotive staging service.
Bye, Bye, Bi-Coastal, and Hello, Chicago! tions—landlocked in the middle of America.
Bi-Coastal Tabitha Parent San Francisco? Check. Boston? Check. If you’ve followed along this summer, you’ll know that I’m now adding yet another international, cosmopolitan city to the list of places I’ve lived in this year. Hello, Chicago! Of course, I must be truthful. I’m not technically Chicago. I’m actually in Evanston, Illinois. And last year, I lived in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, which, as you can imagine, doesn’t have quite the same effect as saying I lived in Boston. So, for all intents and purposes, I’m in Chicago. So, here I am, just a train ride away (a train that actually comes on time, mind you; I look pointedly at Boston’s T line when I say this) from The Windy City. When we imagine Chicago, I don’t think we tend to associate it with the Midwest. At least for me, personally, when I think about the Midwest, I think of corn, cows, and football. And yet, there is no denying that Chicago is about as Midwest of a city as they come. Once again, this coastcraving California gal has found herself in the most unlikely of posi-
I will be the first to admit that I am one of the largest proponents of the coastal superiority that our country subscribes to. How could you not believe that coastal cities are better when you come from the literal “Golden Coast?” But having spent just about a month and a half living in the Midwest now and growing up visiting family who live out here my whole life, I propose that we reexamine some tenets of our coastal superiority mindset. People in big, coast cities like to think of themselves as the pinnacle of culture and the epitome of worldliness (yes, I admit, we have big heads). However, from what I have seen so far of the small Midwestern town that is my new home, they score much higher on the scale of acceptance (there it is again, folks—the ultimate quality by which I judge a city). With family in the Midwest, I am one of those few coastal city dwellers who has been privy to the unwavering kindness of America’s landlocked citizens. Coastal dwellers, I think, often have this view of Midwesterners as ignorant and isolated from the rest of the country. And, I’ll admit, I was wary that the slightly suburban setting of my new college town would breed some of this ignorance that people at the coasts have come to expect of the Midwest. But, the beauty of my proximity to Chicago and my attendance at a university that attracts students from all over the world, is that it becomes increasingly difficult to sow exclusion and hate. I see this in the way that my Canvas (a learning management platform for those of you who
are not familiar with the power that this website has over the students of America) is set up so that I can input my pronouns for my classmates and professors to view. I saw it on my first day of classes, when students voluntarily added their pronouns into their introductions before the professor asked them to. I see it when I take walks in the neighborhoods surrounding campus, and rainbow Pride flags hanging fearlessly next to purple Northwestern flags. I see it in my studies where I’m taking a class that literally covers same-sex relationships in early modern England; did you know that King James I had a known romantic relationship with the Duke of Buckingham? Perhaps most striking (and most unlike my former college) is the presence of the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center on campus. There are physical spaces for LGBTQ+ students to exist on campus that are provided and sanctioned by the university. My introduction to the Midwest has surprised me, I will not lie. As someone who has a big head because I come from the best city in the world—I sincerely hope that the Midwest humbles me. I will be disappointed if it doesn’t. Tabitha Parent was born and raised in San Francisco and is currently a sophomore at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Having spent time in three major international cities this year, Parent has observed how different regions of the country welcome LGBTQ+ individuals. In her free time, Parent spends time looking out over Lake Michigan (the view rivals that of the Bay).
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Sean Dorsey Dance Invites Audiences to Dream
Photos courtesy of Sean Dorsey Dance
The show features a multilayered soundscore with original and commissioned music composed by: Jesse Olsen Bay, Anomie Belle, LD Brown, Frida Ibarra, Alex Kelly, Ben Kessler, and Kelsey Lu.
San Francisco’s all-queer/trans dance company Sean Dorsey Dance premieres their highlyanticipated new show The Lost Art of Dreaming—November 18–20 at Z Space. (ASL interpretation will be provided at the November 20th 2 pm matinee and 7 pm performance.)
Project composer Anomie Belle shares, “Sean and his dancers create space for our identities to thrive within the holistic, connected, and immersive experience that is his work. Sean Dorsey Dance creates art and dance that is intersectional and intimate, layered with poetry.”
With 4 performances only, these performances will sell out quickly: advance tickets are highly recommended. The Lost Art of Dreaming invites audiences to reconnect with longing, embrace expansive imagination, connect with joy and pleasure, and move toward loving futures.
The dancers will perform in intricate costumes by Krystal Harfert and Melissa Castaneda, and stunning original couture gowns designed by Tiffany Amundson.
This April, audiences were treated to a “sneak-peek” of the new show at the company’s home season; it revealed The Lost Art of Dreaming to be a lush meditation on longing, and a raucous, sensual celebration of our right to joy and pleasure ... all performed exquisitely by a stellar cast of dancers.
After each performance, audiences will be treated to lobby experiences of two side projects of The Lost Art of Dreaming: audiences will get to take home free copies of The Futurist Pledge and Postcards from the Future (for more details, see the website at the end of this feature).
The Lost Art of Dreaming is a fusion of full-throttle dance, intimate storytelling, original music, humor, and gorgeous queer partnering—all performed with Sean Dorsey Dance’s signature technical precision and deep humanity.
Following the world premiere of The Lost Art of Dreaming, Sean Dorsey Dance will launch a 10+ city national tour to cities including: Seattle; Maui; Washington, D.C.; Reston, VA; Martha’s Vineyard American Dance Festival; and Atlanta. COVID safety measures at all performances will include: wearing KN95 masks (which will be provided at the door), showing proof of vaccination, and limited tickets per performance.
Artistic Director Sean Dorsey is an internationallycelebrated transgender and queer choreographer and activist.
Dorsey explains, “COVID isn’t over! Our company supports the wisdom and truth of Disability Justice leaders and activists, who urge us to keep each other safe by continuing to mask up and maintain other safety practices.”
He explains, “At a time when America is experiencing escalating, hate-fueled violence, increasing attacks on trans and LGBTQ+ communities, and a clamp-down on civil rights and liberties, The Lost Art of Dreaming expansively imagines our futures, disrupting fatalist constructs that deny our communities the space to dream.”
Indeed, there couldn’t be a more urgent and necessary time for our LGBTQI2S+ communities to dream, and to gather together to claim our right to joy and freedom.
The Lost Art of Dreaming is performed by a powerhouse ensemble of five queer, trans, and gender-nonconforming dancers: Sean Dorsey, Brandon Graham, Héctor Jaime, David Le, and Nol Simonse.
The venue (Z Space) is wheelchair accessible and has all-gender bathrooms. For full access info, COVID safety info, and show info, visit: https://seandorseydance.com/ The Lost Art of Dreaming by Sean Dorsey Dance
Company dancer Héctor Jaime shares, “This work is an act of revolution being shared onstage ... dreaming connects us all as human beings.”
November 18–20, 2022 (Friday 7 pm + Saturday 7 pm + Sunday 2 pm and 7 pm)
Company dancer Brandon Graham adds, “I love that in The Lost Art of Dreaming I am able to express every facet of myself as a queer, Black dancer. I am able to share my struggles and show that I’m still strong and thriving, even through the turbulence of life.”
QUEER POP QUIZ
Z Space (450 Florida Street, San Francisco, 94110) ASL Interpretation at both November 20 performances Ticket Pricing: $0–50 sliding scale Tickets/Info: https://tinyurl.com/bdzy5pst
PALM SPRINGS PRIDE Which well-known Bay Area-based member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be featured at this year’s Greater Palm Springs Pride: A) Sister Dana Van Iquity C) Sister Roma
B) Sister Tilda NexTime D) A and C S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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The San Francisco Transgender Film Festival Returns for 2022 Celebrating Its 25th Anniversary
Photos courtesy of San Francisco Transgender Film Festival
The San Francisco Transgender Film Festival (SFTFF) will celebrate its 25th Anniversary this November 10–20, with a special expanded festival. Founded in 1997, SFTFF is the world’s longest running film festival of its kind, and highlights innovative, experimental, and outside-the-box films.
SFTFF - 2022 Festival Highlights
SFTFF 2022 will be a hybrid festival, both in person and online from November 10–20, with a rich offering of seven new short film programs, featuring a range of genres from documentaries and politics to animation, dance, music, romance, coming-of-age tales, and thrillers. All tickets start at $0+ sliding scale (donations are welcome)! All films will be closed captioned for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing audiences.
In 1992, at the height of the AIDS pandemic, activist Terence Alan Smith made a historic bid for president of the United States as his drag queen persona Joan Jett Blakk. Today, Smith reflects back on his seminal civil rights campaign and its place in American history.
Artistic Director Shawna Virago says, “This is our Silver Anniversary and I think that’s a big deal. When we started in 1997 by my friends Christopher Less and Alex Austin, who knew we’d still be here 25 years later. Also, when I became Artistic Director in 2003, I didn’t know if we’d last more than a couple years because funding was a real challenge then.”
A catastrophizing postal worker obsessed with murder podcasts discovers a potential serial killer while on their daily route.
Since 1997, SFTFF has been a haven for Trans and Gender NonConforming filmmakers to assert their wisdom and artistic brilliance. It has allowed Trans and Gender Non-Conforming communities to safely gather and watch films that challenge transphobic representation and in film. Founded with radical queer values, the annual festival remains intentionally anti-assimilationist and centers works that challenge transphobia, racism, sexism, ableism, anti-migrant hate, and homophobia.
Some of the 2022 SFTFF film offerings include (in alphabetical order): The Beauty President Directed by Whitney Skauge
Gone Postal - Directed by Megan Mead
M(other)hood Directed by Bea Goddard This film, from the U.K., shows an unfiltered but fragmentary perspective of a trans nonbinary, transmasculine parent, using the children’s art, cinematography, and words to gain privileged access to their domestic sphere.
The Seeker
Prayers for Sweet Waters - Directed by Elijah Ndoumbe This film provides a submergence into the vivid realities of three Transgender sex workers living in Cape Town, South Africa, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Beauty President
Ro & Shirelle - Directed by Adelina Anthony
SFTFF’s Managing Director Eric Garcia says, “We’re proud of our festival and what’s remained constant from 1997: we continue embracing underrepresented voices, showcasing truly brave filmmaking, and films with lots of innovation.”
On their way from NorCal to SoCal, trans best friends Ro & Shirelle search for safe places to rest, fill up gas, and relieve themselves, but sometimes going to the bathroom in peace is the hardest feat to accomplish. Starring D’Lo. The Seeker - Directed by Héctor Jaime, Omar Ramirez In this experimental film, The Seeker arrives on Earth and remembers who they are.
Special Note: Program 1 (November 10) & Program 2 (November 11) will be held at the Roxie Theater (San Francisco). FrankenDivine Both Programs are ASL interpreted and closed-captioned. Programs 3–7 are online only; and all 7 festival programs will be presented on-demand online beginning November 12. Films, as mentioned, will be closed captioned for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing audiences. (Note: Program 5 is for audiences 18+.)
The 25th Anniversary San Francisco Transgender Film Festival (SFTFF) November 10–20 Tix: $0–$50, sliding scale/donation-based Info/Tix: https://sftff.org/ Ro & Shirelle
Gone Postal
Lonely Road Shirtless I Am Leo (Weil Ich Leo Bin)
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Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
Sister Dana sez, “November 8 is the GENERAL ELECTION. Let’s ‘Queer the Vote’ or ‘Drag Out the Vote’ or ‘Rock the Vote’ or any other way we can make our vote count!” The best thing we can do to stop Trump in 2024 is to get out the Democratic vote in 2022. Click to find all the volunteer opportunities available: http://www.dailykos.com/gotv Sister Dana sez, Vote BLUE in ’22!” On October 19, AIDS LEGAL REFERRAL PANEL (ALRP) commemorated 39 years of serving the legal needs of people living with HIV/AIDS with their FROM THE HEART Reception at the historic Julia Morgan Ballroom. Their mission is to help people living with HIV/ AIDS maintain or improve their health by resolving their legal issues. ALRP represents the legal community’s caring response to AIDS and is the only institution in the San Francisco Bay Area whose sole mission is dedicated to providing free and low-cost legal services. Since its beginnings in 1983, ALRP has handled over 85,000 legal matters for people living with HIV/AIDS. Executive Director Bill Hirsh wel-
If the GOP regains the House, four of the leading Republican contenders for the House Budget Committee chair have all vowed to demand cuts to SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE in return for their cooperation in raising the debt ceiling next year. Sister Dana sez, “This would be the ultimate in senior citizen cruelty!” A world leader in the Pride movement, SF PRIDE is also a grantgiving organization, and since 1997 has granted more than $3 million dollars from proceeds of the PRIDE CELEBRATION AND PARADE to local nonprofit LGBTQ organizations and those organizations working on issues related to HIV/AIDS, cancer, homelessness, and animal welfare. SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE proudly hosted THE 2ND ANNUAL KEN
JONES AWARD RECEPTION on October 20, Spirit Day (when some of us wore purple to support LGBTQ youth), at the SF Hilton’s Cityscape Bar and Lounge. I can’t think of a better place to honor some of the incredible achievements of our communities’ finest advocates. So many honors were bestowed. The “10 Years of Service Award” for those organizations, individuals, or other entities that have contributed ten years of consecutive service to the LGBTQ community was received by Grant Colfax & Paul Henderson; the “Pride Freedom Award” for outstanding contributions to advancing civil rights and freedoms for LGBTQ people went to Olaywa Austin; the “Pride Community Award” for outstanding service to LGBTQ communities went to Bill Hirsch; the “Gilbert Baker Pride Founder’s Award” honoring those who have made a significant and historical impact on the LGBTQ community and the movement for LGBTQ rights was given to Pau Crego; the “Audrey Joseph LGBTQ Entertainment Award” to recognize those who have made a significant and historical impact or left an indelible impression on the LGBTQ community and the movement for LGBTQ rights, through their artistic expression, or through their contribution within the entertainment industry, was given to D’arcy Drollinger; the “José Julio Sarria History Maker Award” to Bay Area people who make extraordinary changes in the way society views the LGBTQ community was presented to Greg Cassin; and the “Pride Creativity Award” for outstanding artistic contribution to the LGBTQ communities was awarded to Guerilla Pump. And the “Teddy Witherington Award”—bestowed by
the current City of San Francisco Mayor, recognizing those individuals who have contributed a longstanding, large body of work to the LGBTQ community—was presented to Michelle Meow.
DENNIS MCMILLAN/FACEBOOK
By Sister Dana Van Iquity
comed us and reminded us over and over that “AIDS is not over!” This year’s special guest host was City Attorney David Chiu. ALRP was proud to honor the tremendous contributions of long-time supporter and ALRP former Board Co-Chair Karl Christiansen with their ALRP 2022 Clint Hockenberry Leadership Award in recognition of his exemplary leadership and advocacy. ALRP also recognized ALRP Panel Attorney Nancy Lofdahl, Esq., with the ALRP 2022 Attorney of the Year Award (with her favorite client, Marty Carls); and the law firm, Jose Marin Law, with ALRP’s 2022 Firm of the Year Award. The firm now has seven attorneys on staff, working 550 cases, helping immigrants, the economically disadvantaged, people with HIV, and others. LGBTQ people and others seeking asylum come to the firm full of heartbreaking stories and heartfelt hopes.
We celebrated 46 years of Looking dapper in his blue jacket, Sister Dana (aka Dennis McMillan) joined Terry queer progres- Beswick (left) in a fun photo with Leslie Jordan (center) at one of many San sive politics in Francisco LGBTQ+ community events where Jordan was a featured entertainer. San Francisco See the In Memoriam piece about Jordan on page 14 of this issue. at THE Zander spoke inspirationally and HARVEY accepted the “Bill Krause Award.” MILK LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CLUB’s Annual Dinner & GAYLA The Milk Club honored LGBTQ pioon October 22 at Congregation neer, labor activist, and progressive Sherith Israel. Spread across the stage icon Cleve Jones with the “Lifetime was a picture of a grinning Harvey Achievement” Award. Cleve’s lifetime Milk and his famous slogan: “Hope in the gay liberation movement Will Never Be Silent!” Milk Club started in the early 1970s. Mentored President Edward Wright gave us by Harvey Milk and having worked in hope when he shouted, “We are NOT Milk’s City Hall office as a student going backwards!” intern until Milk’s assassination in 1978, Cleve Jones was a friend of, and Zander Moricz was the keynote collaborator with, Harvey. Event chair speaker. After Florida Governor Ron Jeffrey Kwong stated, “For almost DeSantis passed theDON’T SAY half a century, Cleve Jones has GAY bill, Florida teens have worked ceaselessly to realize Harvey advocated against the law. One of Milk’s agenda for queer liberation. those teens is Zander Moricz, the Cleve has lived out the words of 18-year-old class president of Pine Harvey Milk—never compromising View School, who is one of the plainand never staying quiet when it comes tiffs in the lawsuit against the state of to the rights of the most marginalFlorida relating to the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation. Moricz said his prin- ized.” San Francisco Rising— building the political power of cipal told him not to talk about his working-class communities of color— queer identity and opposition to (continued on page 36) “Don’t Say Gay” in his speech.
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Queer Highlights of the 2022 Arab Film Festival By Joel Shepard 11 at the Castro Theatre, followed by an afterparty at the Slate Bar. Another highlight is the always popular “Queer Lens” shorts program, on November 12 at the New Parkway Theater in Oakland. This year’s “Queer Lens” program focuses on the theme of diaspora and displacement and features award-winning short films that highlight the experiences of Queer Arabs around the globe. The characters in these stories all find themselves at the intersection of their identities. Some must reconcile the reality of their sexuality with a family who loves but does not understand. Others work towards a life lived authentically in a society that does not accept them, and a few explore leaving a place that is not safe, even though it means letting go of those they care about. In this collection, audiences will find stories that may be unique in their details, but are deeply relatable at their core, and despite the difficulties, celebrate honesty and love over all.
Joel Shepard
The 2022 Arab Film Festival (AFF2022) returns from November 11 to 20, with a hybrid program of in-person and virtual events. The festival runs throughout the San Francisco Bay Area at the Castro Theatre (San Francisco), Roxie Theater (San Francisco), and the New Parkway Theater (Oakland). The program spans 10 days, presenting 60 films from 18 countries. The festival is North America’s oldest and largest event celebrating Arab cinema.
Other highlights include Miguel’s War (November 12 at the New Parkway Theater), a portrait of a gay man who confronts the ghosts of his past. After fleeing war and repression 37 years ago, Miguel returns to Lebanon where he traces hidden longings, unrequited love, and tormenting feelings of guilt. Shall I Compare You to a Summer’s Day? (November 18 at the Roxie Theater), is a contemporary queer musical taking Arab folktales as its formal reference, and Egyptian pop music as its primary sonic material. It is based on the filmmaker’s personal love diary and told in the form of a “One Thousand and One Nights” tale, where stories playfully unfold through conversations between Scheherazade, a narrator who never comes into view, and ghosts of former lovers.
The festival offers special programming to local audiences, and unprecedented access to the diversity and range of authentic Arab experiences. It has gained an international reputation for excellence and offers its audiences access to media that reflects the lives of underrepresented and provocative themes and groups on a cultural and societal level. AFF2022 includes opening and closing parties, filmmaker mixers, classical films, industry and community panels, as well as filmmaking workshops. Select programs will also be simultaneously presented online. “This year’s festival was truly a labor of love. With a record-breaking number of submissions, the decision of what to showcase was a difficult one but we’re proud of the decisions we made,” Yasmina Tawil, AFMI’s Head of Programming and the festival’s curator, told me for the San Francisco Bay Times. “This year’s program features some of the most beautiful, engaging, and unique films out of the Arab world in the last few years. Their stories go beyond the boundaries of culture, religion, and sexuality, and tap into themes that are universal and deeply human. I hope audiences of all kinds will walk away from these films moved, inspired, and, of course, entertained.”
For the full lineup, schedule, and ticket information please visit: https://tinyurl.com/2p8ppecwe
Habib & The Thief
Warsha
The Window
Joel Shepard is a San Franciscobased publicist and freelance film curator. As film curator at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts until 2018, Shepard programmed many influential series including an annual New Filipino Cinema showcase, “Fearless: Chinese Independent Documentary,” and “Smut Capital of America.” He recently curated “Blazing and Blasted: Post-Punk Pre-Tech Underground Film in 1990s San Francisco” for the McEvoy Foundation for the Arts. Shepard received an “Essential SF” award from SFFILM for his contribution to local film culture.
A special highlight this year is Morocco’s gay-themed entry to the 2023 Academy Awards, The Blue Caftan, directed by Maryam Touzani. Halim and Mina run a traditional caftan store in one of Morocco’s oldest medinas. In order to keep up with the commands of the demanding customers, they hire Youssef. The talented apprentice shows an utmost dedication in learning the art of embroidery and tailoring from Halim. Slowly Mina realizes how much her husband is moved by the presence of the young man. The Blue Caftan screens on November
PHOTO BY WILL ZANG
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Jennifer Kroot and Robert Holgate curate the “Out of Left Field” column for the San Francisco Bay Times. Kroot is a filmmaker, known for her award-winning LGBTQ themed documentaries, including The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin and To Be Takei. She studied filmmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute, where she has also taught. She is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Holgate, a humanitarian as well as a designer, is dedicated to critical social issues. With his hands-on approach to philanthropy and social justice, he supports the advancement of local and national social causes. For more information: https://www.rhdsf.com/ NOVE MB E R 3 , 2 0 2 2
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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2022)
New Works of HeART Exhibit at Art Attack to Benefit Maitri on November 12 By Michael Armentrout When we were thinking of a way to celebrate 35 years of Maitri, we knew that an art show would encapsulate the community-powered work we do to serve people living with HIV/AIDS or recovering from gender affirming procedures. Works of HeART will be an art exhibit and auction November 12 from 2 pm to 5 pm at Art Attack SF to benefit Maitri’s mission that no one should have to suffer, transition, or die alone. Works of HeART will feature local artists and artwork themed around the meaning of Maitri, “loving kindness.” Join us as we cheer 35 years of Maitri and enjoy the artwork of some of San Francisco’s best artists including: Serge Gay Jr., Jun Yang, Allex Saavedra, Michael McConnell, Shrey Purohit, Nathalie Lendermann, Oscar Gallegos Zamora, Adriana Malavé, Joseph Abbati, Jennifer Banzaca, Watson Brown, JD Wade, Gordon Silveria, Ferris Martinez, Kristofer Zieb, and Alan Vietze, among many more. In the last three decades, art has been a mainstay as people come to Maitri to receive compassionate end-of-life care, respite, or gender affirming care.
Michael Armentrout
Serge Gay Jr.
Earlier this year, Serge Gay Jr. completed an incredible twostory mural on the side of Maitri. The Never Alone mural depicts a community of caregivers and neighbors who have lovingly cared for people with HIV/AIDS through the years. Artists have been lining Maitri’s walls with beautiful, donated pieces since we opened our doors in 1987. All you have to do is walk around the facility with one of our staff who has been here for more than 20 years to get a grand tour of art made by former residents or family members of people compassionately cared for at Maitri. I know it is Wednesday art days at Maitri when glitter lines the path to the kitchen, or the sound of laughter and old school tunes fill the room. Volunteers from our community think up genius ways to get our clients to express themselves through art. We hope to see you November 12 so that we can welcome you to this creative, loving, and compassionate community.
SFMAITRI.ORG
Art Attack SF is located at 2358 Market Street, San Francisco. Michael Armentrout is the Executive Director of Maitri. https://www.maitrisf.org/
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Bay Area Cabaret’s 2022–23 Season: Meow Meow As the Opening Act of the Series By Patrick Carney You know you are putting the COVID-19 funk aside (at least temporarily) when you find yourself all dressed up and passing through the elegant lobby of the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill as you make your way toward the posh and historic Venetian Room for the first time in three years. Little did my spouse and I know what was in store for us.
Patrick Carney (left) and his husband Hossein in the lobby of the San Franicsco Fairmont Hotel on the opening night of Bay Area Cabaret’s ’22–’23 season.
It was a one-woman extravaganza, not just a solo singer on a stage with piano accompaniment. Indeed, Meow Meow is a gifted singer—plus she sings in three languages sometimes within the same song: English, German, and French. However, she is much more than a terrific singer; she is a comedienne—and a zany one at that—a glamorous clown. She can also weave a tale that keeps the audience quiet as a mouse when she sometimes whisper-sings with vivid, crisp enunciation as the audience waits with bated breath for each syllable to be sung. Long pauses don’t work in most shows, but they sure did here.
Meow Meow
Considering some of her tunes date back to the freewheeling days of the Weimar Republic in Germany’s socially unconstrained capital of Berlin, I expected this show was going to be in the mold of the movie Cabaret, with similar musical numbers as well as a subtle education thrown in about the atrocities that were to about come. (This assumption came from my 27 years of spearheading a giant Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks.) At the show’s beginning, she suggested we need to go back in time to go forward, but insisted we mustn’t ever repeat the past. Her show was a repeat of nothing; it was an all-new brilliant web of storytelling, songs, and comedy—all of which came with a few subtle reminders rolled in to hint at the general cruelty and sometimes despair in the world with a bit of passion and pain thrown in. She even brought her own props: • She came with her own flowers to hand out to front row audience members so they could shower her with adulation by tossing flowers at her during ovations. • She came with her own fog machine to add “ambiance to the room.”
2/26/23 – Catherine Russell
• She came with her own mini spotlight to make sure she was lit correctly and often proceeded to direct the lighting crew on where and when to shine their spotlights.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICK CARNEY
LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2022)
Bay Area Cabaret Roars Back with Meow Meow By David Landis
Photos courtesy of Bay Area Cabaret
The venerable Bay Area Cabaret at the Fairmont’s historic Venetian Room is back—with a roar. That roar, of course, being the sultry Australian chanteuse Meow Meow, who took San Francisco by storm in a show that amused, enthralled, captivated, and surprised an audience with her sold-out October 30 show. Bay Area audiences will remember Meow Meow’s successful run at Berkeley Rep 8 years ago or her San Francisco Symphony SoundBox cabaret performance with conductor Edwin Outwater the following year. She’s back, after playing the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), the Sydney Opera House, and with the London Philharmonic. The recent show that played San Francisco was anything but typical. My friend Lenore Naxon described it as “a mixture of Lotte Lenya and Lucille Ball.” “Think of this show as dinner theatre without the dinner,” proclaimed the ebullient Meow Meow (aka Melissa Madden Gray) at the start of the show in her silver-spangled, decadently-deco gown. After chastising patrons for not throwing flowers to welcome her (and then supplying them herself), she supplied props including a life-like mannequin alter-ego double, a self-made revolving 11/20/22 – Carole J. Bufford stage, and her own smoke machine. A post-modern diva (think the female drag queen you know and love), she has no use for theatre’s fourth wall—and that is a very good thing. She even invited some very amusing onstage audience participation with two patrons, admittedly one of whom included my husband.
• She came with a mannequin dressed in a matching wig and similar sparkling dress to her own, which she dragged onstage so she could take a rest while sitting down on the stage’s edge while singing as the mannequin stood in her place at the mic. • She later had the stage crew slowly spin her while she stood on a tiny round disc she brought since the Fairmont’s stage could not rotate at the flip of a switch.
4/16/23 – Julie Benko & Jason Yeager
• To highlight her physical comedic talents, she picked two audience members to help support her body in some very unusual positions, but first she had them wrap in COVID-prevention gear including plastic smocks, gloves, and masks— all the while making fun of the default positions (sexual) they automatically revert to. In preparation for her final number, she exclaimed: “I want to be completely honest with you,” as she reached into her extremely low-cut strapless gown and pulled out her falsies and gave them to an audience member. She then held her fog machine again in one hand and the mic with her other as she belted out one last sultry song surrounded by a cloud of swirling smoky steam coming from her fog 5/14/23 – John Pizzarelli machine. The crowd roared with laughter as well as admiration and appreciation for this unique comedian who can also skillfully tell clever tales while singing spectacularly. If this is any indication of the kinds of performances coming our way during the Bay Area Cabaret’s 2022–23 Season, it is going to be a glorious run. Break out your fancy clothes because Cabaret is back in San Francisco.
The performance didn’t resort to the easy Broadway bang of audience favorites, but slowly and seductively combined some lesserknown and more popular Weimar songs of Berlin, Kurt Weill, Jacques Brel, Michel Legrand, her own compositions, and those of her Pink Martini partnerin-crime Thomas Lauderdale. She even performed “On Broadway” in French. Along the way, her magical approach slowly but surely enchanted the audience, who suddenly realized the ride they were on was something special. The real test, of course, was when she sang. Commanding the room, Meow Meow gave one of the best performances of “SurabayaJohnny” I’ve ever heard—in German no less, and holding the pauses for what seemed like eternity. She mesmerized the audience: you understood every word, and could have heard a pin drop.
Emmy-award winning musical director Lance Horne was her talented accompanist extraordinaire, making one piano sound like an entire band. Plus, he’s adorable to boot.
For more information about Bay Area Cabaret and to purchase tickets to upcoming shows: https://bayareacabaret.org/
In one of her songs, Meow Meow sang the lyric, “I lost myself when you switched off the light.” That adeptly described what happened to us. In short, this cat is definitely out of the bag. Let’s hope that producer Marilyn Levinson invites Meow Meow back immediately, if not sooner.
Patrick Carney is the founder of The Pink Triangle project and a member of the San Francisco Arts Commission. As an architect, he participated in numerous complex renovations and historic preservation projects including being on the renovation team for San Francisco City Hall, serving as a project architectural designer for the San Francisco Columbarium master plan, and volunteering for 23 years on the award-winning Hamilton Building restoration.
David Landis studied piano at Northwestern University, worked at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre and Ravinia Festival, and also at the San Francisco Symphony. He even once played Lysander in Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” A lifelong theatre and cabaret enthusiast, he spends his spare time playing Sondheim songs for himself at home. In his other life, he writes The Gay Gourmet column for the “San Francisco Bay Times.”
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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2022)
Salvatore Showcases Ferragamo and Fabulous Shoes
Film Gary M. Kramer Gay filmmaker Luca Guadagnino’s affectionate documentary, Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams, narrated by Michael Stuhlbarg, presents the life and work of Salvatore Ferragamo (1898–1960) through interviews, archival footage, and fabulous, fabulous shoes. The film, opening November 18, traces the production of a Ferragamo shoe, but it also chronicles how the designer became successful, studying under a shoemaker in his hometown of Bonito, Italy, before travelling to America while still a youth. He ended up going to California and working for movie studios—first in Santa Barbara, then in Hollywood. Returning to Florence, he opened a shop but soon went bankrupt before rebuilding and becoming the household name he is today. Guadagnino presents all of this—and plenty of shoes!—with commentary by everyone from Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin, as well as Martin Scorsese, Grace Coddington, and Deborah Nadoolman Landis.
Luca Guadagnino: Because Ferragamo’s life was so dense, and he did so much, we had to look for a lot of people to tell us about him. We had historians of Hollywood, film critics, historians of fashion, and costume designers and creators of shoes like Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik, and histori- Salvatore Ferragamo ans of Florence, and an anthropologist. We had to meet so many people to convey the very profound and deep kind of personality that Mr. Ferragamo had. Gary M. Kramer: How did you build your film around the images and anecdotes? Luca Guadagnino: That is the editorial strategy. We wanted to get all of the threads of his life and legacy together in a texture and a fabric that could be as rich as possible. I worked with [editor] Walter Fasano for so long we have a shorthand on how to create things. The editing took a long time. Gary M. Kramer: You also feature the making of a Ferragamo shoe, which is fascinating. Luca Guadagnino: The question is: What is an object? What is behind a simple object? [Holds up his cell phone as an example.] To deconstruct the way it is built is a good way into the process that goes, eventually, to the actual creative act of one person, Salvatore Ferragamo, in this case.
Luca Guadagnino: Ferragamo went to Hollywood in a moment when Hollywood was invented, and he participated in the creation of Hollywood. He understood, more and more consciously, the importance of the creation of the star system. There is a learning curve in his experiences there, but Hollywood gave him more of an understanding of the symbolic nature of business and how much the imagery deals with consumption. Gary M. Kramer: Family is often a key element in your films, such as in I Am Love and Call Me by Your Name. Can you talk about the importance of family for Ferragamo? Luca Guadagnino: In his case, he really needed, and he created, a family. He was an inventor. He invented his own self by becoming a shoemaker. He invented the idea of shoes as a product and tool of empowerment and beauty. He was part of the invention of the star system in Hollywood. In Italy, he looked for a wife and found one in his own village. He made a beautiful family out of neces-
Ferragamo with his table of film star-labeled shoe molds
The filmmaker spoke with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about Salvatore Ferragamo and his new documentary. Gary M. Kramer: What inspired you about Ferragamo that you needed to make this film? Luca Guadagnino: What I was attracted to in Ferragamo’s legacy was the nature of the maverick—someone who was so convinced of an individual path that he created a cannon from the sheer strength and his talent and will. He was someone who always pursued new ground. All of this was testament to very beautiful determination and finding his own way and in an individual way. Gary M. Kramer: The film is an oral history. Can you talk about the amazing folks you interviewed? 28
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Gary M. Kramer: There is considerable talk about shoes and feet. What is so appealing about shoes? Luca Guadagnino: One of the interviewees says the shoemaker is like a magician. The shoe has power. It is holding our feet, bringing us to the ground, and giving us a sense of who we are. You can be completely plain in the way you are dressed, but with the shoe, you are identified with what you want to be identified with. It is a talisman and there is something archetypical about it. Gary M. Kramer: Likewise, Cinema is such an important part of Ferragamo’s career, and you use the clips well to tell the story. What observations do you have about how movies helped Ferragamo’s career?
sity of having a family. He must have been a control freak in a good sense. Gary M. Kramer: How was making this documentary different for you from telling narrative stories? Luca Guadagnino: At the end of the day, it’s a different approach to craft; there is more archival footage, and less footage you shoot. There is not a dramatic representation, but there is testimony. But at the end of day, there is a story of an individual. It’s different and the same. © 2022 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer
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From Ethel Merman to Harvey Fierstein, Julie Andrews to Hugh Jackman, Patrick Hoffman spends his days viewing and filming great Broadway performances of the past and present. He combs through archives of live performances, as classic as Richard Burton’s Hamlet and Brando’s A Streetcar Named Desire and as current as A Strange Loop or Six. A star will arrive at his Lincoln Center office for research, hoping to study an iconic performance. Bette Midler did this when she was preparing for Hello Dolly. Barbra Streisand and Meryl Streep came in for their own possible projects, Schmigadoon! and The Prom, respectively. By night, he is off to the latest Broadway or offBroadway production. Hoffman is the Curator and Director of the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. It is located between the Metropolitan Opera House and the Vivian Beaumont Theater. Head for that gorgeous fountain at Lincoln Center and you will think you are Cher in Moonstruck! Getting a chance to hang with the flamboyant, fun, and extremely articulate Hoffman remains one of the joys of my interviewing life. “I’ve been here for 29 years, loving every minute of it,” he told me for the San Francisco Bay Times. “My parents began taking me to the theatre when I was five years old. Not children’s theatre, but the adult theatre that was touring through Kansas City, Missouri. Big stars would tour back then, and I saw Ethel Merman in Call Me Madam, Mame with Gretchen Wyler, so many. I would come home and recreate sets and
Walking with Hoffman through the galleries showing these productions, I was thrilled to see how cutting edge and current they are.
Patrick Hoffman
“We have what we call social movements,” he said. “We have wonderful LBGTQ productions, going back to Michael Bennett’s one night of bringing all the casts of A Chorus Line together, and the recent production of Company where they gender switch the role of Bobby (Bobbie). The gay community has excellent taste and a very deep connection, history, and love for the performing arts. We have other areas that feature Hispanic, Black, and Disabled. Everything possible is in the theatre.” He continued, “Recently, people have been coming in to reappreciate Angela Lansbury in Blythe Spirit, Sweeney Todd, and Mame.” He added that those outside of the area can peruse some of the offerings at: https://www.nypl.org/ “Go out and experience live performance with other human beings,” Hoffman shared. “Seeing it on your laptop can only do so much; we crave other people experiencing the magic with us. Your local productions are waiting for you, or come see us here. The theatre will always welcome you.” Let’s go local and beautifully cinema graphic with Derek Zemrak, owner and operator of the gorgeous art deco Orinda Theatre. This classic movie theatre is so gorgeous it will take your breath away. It was built in 1941 and retains its original designs, murals, and lighting. Zemrak found the theatre’s original drawings during the pandemic and poured passion and money into putting everything back to its original gorgeousness. The theatre’s muralist, Anthony
Derek Zemrak
Heinsbergen, was famed for his works at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the Oakland Paramount Theatre, and many classic movie palaces. The lighting is now back to photo fluorescent, incredible in the darkness. Zemrak and I have worked together for many years. We did events at the Orinda with Cloris Leachman, Richard Dreyfuss, Rich Little, Burt Young, Talia Shire, and many more. He is always doing something creative and often crazy there, aside from the latest in Hollywood movies. The California Independent Film Festival will be starting soon. I’ll be there for a big presentation of It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World with Barrie Chase and the Grease singalong with Grease director Randal Kleiser. See you there! https://www.caiff.org/ Jan Wahl is a Hollywood historian, film critic on various broadcast outlets, and has her own YouTube channel series, “Jan Wahl Showbiz.” She has two Emmys and many awards for her longtime work on behalf of film buffs and the LGBTQ community. Contact her at www.janwahl.com
ORINDA THEATRE/FACEBOOK
Jan Wahl
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEREK ZEMRAK
Off the Wahl
scenes with colored paper or whatever I could find. I eventually found my way to the Museum of the City of New York and became Acting Curator there. Then I was recruited by this amazing place. The late, great Betty Corwin came up with the idea of putting performances that would be lost on tape, and the rest is Tony Award winning history.”
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY PHOTO
Patrick Hoffman Helps Preserve Broadway Performances of the Past and Present
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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2022)
Jan Wahl’s Birthday Celebration Cruise: Spain, France & Italy Onboard the Celebrity Edge Emmy Award-winning film critic Jan Wahl of the San Francisco Bay Times will be celebrating her birthday aboard the Celebrity Edge from May 1–13, 2023, and you are invited to join her! The special 12 night/10 ports cruise will go to Spain, France, and Italy. It will include a Welcome Cocktail Reception, Birthday Dinner, Private Birthday Excursion in the South of France, and a Private Guest Presentation by Wahl. The Mediterranean journey will start in Barcelona, a city known for its eclectic architecture and avant-garde cuisine. Guests can lounge on a golden stretch of sand in Palma de Mallorca before visiting the fragrant lavender fields of Provence. Experience the joys of the French Riviera in Nice and discover the beauty of the Italian coast in Santa Margherita. Spend a night in Florence, admiring Renaissance masterpieces by da Vinci and Michelangelo. Savor fresh seafood in Sardinia and walk around ancient ruins in Sicily. Visit historic sites and archaeological sites in Naples, before ending the journey in the always alluring eternal city of Rome. Infinite Veranda, Concierge Veranda, and Aqua Class Veranda staterooms are available. For additional details, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/2cmmw5ry
Lit Snax Diary of a Misfit by Casey Parks Casey Parks’ new memoir investigates queer identity, Southern (as in Louisiana) identity, familial identity, and the intersections between them. It is beautifully written and complex. Army of Lovers by K.M. Soehnlein Soehnlein has written what may well be the definitive ACT-UP novel—a hyper-vivid coming-of-age story set during the height of the AIDS crisis. Anyone interested in queer activism will love this, as will anyone who enjoys a good story. https://www.fabulosabooks.com/
Top of your stack I’m Glad My Mom Died (nonfiction/memoir hardbound) by Jennette McCurdy This is a heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor— including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life. McCurdy tells her story in a refreshingly candid voice, laced with humor. Inciting Joy (nonfiction - hardbound) by Ross Gay In gorgeously written and timely pieces, prizewinning poet and author Ross Gay considers the joy we incite when we care for each other, especially during life’s inevitable hardships. Throughout Inciting Joy, he explores how we can practice recognizing that connection, and also, crucially, how we expand it. Mistakes Were Made (fiction - paperback) by Meryl Wilsner From the critically acclaimed author of Something to Talk About comes a sharp and sexy rom-com about a college senior who accidentally hooks up with her best friend’s mom. What should have been a onetime fling quickly proves impossible to ignore, and soon Cassie and Erin are sneaking around. Worst of all, they start to realize they have something real. But is being honest about the love between them worth the cost?
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RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOOK PASSAGE Upcoming Events Sunday, November 6 @ 1 pm (free in store/Corte Madera) Dani Shapiro, author of Signal Fires, in conversation with Sylvia Boorstein This is a “gripping” new novel (People) from the best-selling author of Inheritance. Signal Fires opens on a summer night in 1985. Three teenagers have been drinking. One of them gets behind the wheel of a car, and, in an instant, everything on Division Street changes. Each of their lives, and that of Ben Wilf, a young doctor who arrives on the scene, is shattered. For the Wilf family, the circumstances of that fatal accident will become the deepest kind of secret, one so dangerous it can never be spoken. Thursday, November 10 @ 5:30 pm (free - online) Joan Baranow, author of A Slight Thing, Happiness, in conversation with Amy Crider In A Slight Thing, Happiness, readers gain a look into reproductive experiences that are rarely found in poems and are rewarded with the miracle of ordinary family life. As the title poem suggests, the sight of a red squirrel toppling into a bird feeder—slight as that may be—can be enough for happiness. Saturday, November 12 @ 12 pm (ticketed hybrid event/online & in-person) 34th Annual Author Kidney Foundation Luncheon (SF Palace Hotel) The National Kidney Foundation’s Authors Luncheon is the largest literary event of its kind in the Bay Area, allowing those who are passionate about literature to join with the NKF in the effort to transform kidney care and improve the lives of millions through education, advocacy, and research. Featured authors include, Billy Collins, former Poet Laureate of the United States; novelists Michael Connelly, Jennifer Eagan, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, and Siddhartha Mukherjee. https://www.bookpassage.com/
Wakefield Poole: ‘No More Closets’
Dr. Bill Lipsky Wakefield Poole created the modern gay adult film in 1971 when he was living in New York. Made on a budget of $4,000, Boys in the Sand was the first feature-length XXX motion picture ever produced with an all-male cast and the first to present interracial male-male intimacy. It was the first to include on-screen credits for its cast and crew, although many used noms de porn. It was the first to be reviewed by Variety, the entertainment industry’s “journal of record,” and the first to gain mainstream credibility.
Hot Flash of America
Poole directed two more adult films in New York before moving to San Francisco with his lover Peter Schneckenburger, who appeared in Boys in the Sand as Peter Fisk; a friend from New York, Harvey Milk, helped them find their first apartment. In 1975, they opened Hot Flash of America at 2351 Market Street as “a totally gay-owned enterprise.” Located half a block from 17th and Castro streets in what had been a hardware store, Poole “wanted to make sure it represented a truly complex view of the homosexual world.”
“I wanted [to make] a film that gay people could look at and say, ‘I don’t mind being gay—it’s beautiful to see those people do what they’re doing,’” Poole said some years later. Whatever their motivation, gays, straight couples, and women went to see the movie in record numbers; it made back its production cost in a single theater the day it opened. Unlike most gay adult films, which have a limited appeal of months or weeks, Boys is still in distribution after more than 50 years.
The view was indeed complex, although limited only to some in the LGBT community. Poole wrote in his autobiography that, on display and available for purchase, were “antique French marble candy counters beneath Lalique mirrors, next to San Francisco street lamps, beside a wicker chair, covered with Mao silk pillows, alongside a rubber chicken.” The inventory also included coffee mugs made to resemble a pair of cutoff Levi’s, erotic cloisonne jewelry, sterling silver joint holders, novelty
PHOTO BY JAMES ARMSTRONG
Faces from Our LGBT Past
Variety announced the film’s popularity meant that “there are no more closets,” and Boys helped to bring about the era of “porno chic”: a brief period of open cultural acceptance of hardcore pornography. It also helped to change stereotypes of gay men by presenting its star, Casey Donovan (né Calvin Culver), as a clean-cut all American boy next door, although he certainly was less sexually reserved both on and off screen. Donovan became gay porn’s first celebrity superstar.
Wakefield Poole
items that cost a dollar, and original art costing thousands. Living up to its motto— “Everything You Want But Nothing You Need!”—it was described by California Hotline as being “a supercreative store that is both an art gallery and a store with antiques and whatever—all distinctive.” The Advocate thought so, too. “A walk into Hot Flash can brighten even the bluest spirit,” it wrote. “They raise the concept of gift shops almost to an art form.” All of this was a bit too much for the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Yes, Hot Flash was “easily the area’s arbiter, incontestably Castro Street’s pacesetter and benchmark, the apotheosis of what a gift shop can aspire to.” Ultimately, however, “Just like its mirrored bathroom, there’s too much paradox going on here.” Even “delineating what’s sold here is irrelevant because it changes constantly. This change is its real product ... . This place has rhythm, the measure of now; its fingers firmly counting the pulse of the public’s pocket.” Whether Hot Flash set trends or followed them, it became a very popular destination. The inventory changed every six weeks, then
previewed with an invitation-only reception that included an exhibit of work by a local artist. It also had a hair salon in the rear of the store, so customers could get all prettified for their Saturday date in the back, then buy their beau a gift—anything from a t-shirt to an original artwork—in the front, all in one stop. The t-shirt, emboldened with a logo that was modeled after Arm & Hammer’s famous trademark, soon became an essential item in every Castro clone’s wardrobe, which also included tennis shoes or boots, snug 501s, a flannel shirt for cooler days, a polo shirt for dressier occasions, and a hooded jogging jacket (affectionately known as a “fag wrap”) or bomber jacket (green or black). Unfortunately, the clones bought more t-shirts than antiques, making it finally unprofitable. It closed in 1979. Just behind Hot Flash, facing 17th Street, was the Beau Geste Cinema. It opened in May 1976 with a screening of This Is the Army starring Ronald Reagan, but its life as a revival house (continued on page 36)
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Bay Times Dines
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Button, shiitake, oyster, cremini, portobello, and many varieties of mushrooms can be found at your local farmers’ market. Mushrooms are a fungus, not a vegetable, even though they are universally used as a vegetable. They are unique, delicious, and often just weird! Edible mushrooms are a most prized culinary ingredient because of their versatility, diversity, and special earthy “umami” flavor. Here are a few of our favorite varieties of mushrooms. Be sure to purchase them at your farmers’ market, where you know they are just picked, very fresh, and safe to eat. Many of these varieties you will only find at your local farmers’ market. • Button: Good raw, but more flavorful when cooked. The most commonly used mushroom. • Cremini: A more mature version of the button mushroom, but a bit more flavorful with a meaty texture. • Portobello: A fully mature version of cremini and button mushrooms; good for roasting and grilling, or in place of meat products. They’re great for stuffing because of their large size.
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By Debra Morris
matic, woodsy flavor. Perfect in pasta and rice dishes. • Morel: Only grown in the wild, they are highly prized for their strong, nutty flavor and earthy aroma. Be sure to purchase these from a reputable forager because there are “false” morels that look the same but are poisonous! You can be assured mushrooms found at your farmers’ market are safe to eat. • Chanterelle: Highly prized for exquisite flavor, color, and texture. Their rich flavor pairs well with eggs and cream sauces and they make your dish look beautiful because of their bright yellow to orange color. • Oyster: Smooth texture and subtle, oyster-like flavor. They work beautifully in stir fry, ramens, or sautées. • Shiitake: Earthy flavor like wild mushrooms, large, and meaty. Another mushroom that is good for stir frying and soups.
• Porcini: Prized and sought out for their smooth texture and aro-
When shopping for mushrooms,
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This Month at the Castro Farmers’ Market
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look for those that are firm and clean, with no dry or moldy patches. Do not keep mushrooms in plastic bags because lack of airflow will cause them to deteriorate faster. Wrap mushrooms in cloth or place them in a paper bag and store them in the refrigerator. Use as soon as possible. You’ve probably seen contradictory information on how to properly clean mushrooms. There are arguments for both sides: brushing them off or rinsing them. Both are considered viable ways to clean them. First, mushrooms purchased at the farmers’ market are grown in sterile soil. This dirt is not at all harmful, but it’s still dirt and who wants to eat dirt? Brushing them clean is the way to go. Use a mushroom brush specifically made for this use, or you can use a clean toothbrush. (continued on page 36)
Bay Times Dines
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David Landis When it comes to dining, outdoor courtyards always beckon. There’s something about an off-street hidden hideaway, sheltered from the elements, that promises a whimsical surprise. It’s even better when that courtyard, like the covered one at Fable Restaurant in the Castro, is a tropical paradise. From the minute you walk in the door at Fable, the lush, landscaped patio catches your eye. That’s not to say that Fable’s lovely street level parklets aren’t floral and beautiful, too. They’re great for café sitting and watching Castro Street passersby. But given a choice, I’ll pick the backyard terrace every time. Those of us who call ourselves San Franciscans know that the best time to enjoy an outdoor repast is during the middle of the day, when the sun is bright and before the fog rolls in. That’s why I recommend brunch or lunch at Fable: to glean the most of the experience and pretend that you’re taking a mini-vacation to the tropics. Proprietor Jon is the caretaker of this magical garden, which boasts mid-century décor, a water feature and fountain, birds of paradise, cannas, banana trees, palm trees, and more. Needless to say, Fable is uber dogfriendly, too. For a moment, Gaston and Alphonse thought they’d just taken a quick trip to Hawaii. I could go on and on about the beautiful landscaped garden, but Fable is also about tasty California cuisine at an affordable price. For our brunch starter, my husband and I split a bottle of Kurtatsch Pinot Grigio white wine from Italy’s Alto Adige—dry, clean, and mineral-driven. But the restaurant also is famous for its blood orange margaritas, Bloody Marys, mimosas, white wine spritzers, and Palomas. For our mains, the Cobb salad was calling my name. Did you know that these garden greens are a California creation? According to Wikipedia, “(Numerous) stories recount how the salad was invented. One says that it came about in 1938 at Hollywood’s Brown Derby restaurant, where it became a signature dish. It is named after the restaurant’s owner, Robert Howard Cobb. Stories vary whether the salad was invented by Cobb or by his chef, Paul J. Posti. The legend is that Cobb had not eaten until near midnight, and so he mixed together leftovers he found in the kitchen, along with some bacon cooked by the line cook, and tossed it with their French dressing.” At Fable, the Cobb is a standout. Their version uses little gem lettuce with a champagne vinaigrette,
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cherry tomato, avocado, hardboiled egg, bacon, red onion, and bleu cheese. I added grilled chicken, which came with a light pesto sauce. Everything was fresh and the portion was big enough for two. My husband Sean selected another winner—the fried Rocky Junior chicken sandwich, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Fable serves it on a torpedo roll with chipotle, savoy cabbage, and sweet pepper slaw. Accompanying the sandwich were delicious thick-cut French fries cooked to a crisp. The brunch menu also has traditional offerings like omelets, Eggs Benedict, chilaquiles, pancakes, and a good-looking burger. Also, a big shoutout to our knowledgeable and friendly server, Nipun, who expertly took great care of us. I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention that Fable is a favorite of my trusted edi-
tors/publishers, Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas. Here’s what Jen had to say about a recent visit. “Betty and I enjoyed a business lunch at Fable yesterday. We both loved our dishes: tuna niçoise for her and the fish tacos for me. It was packed and it was good to see locals supporting the neighborhood restaurants. The beer-battered crispy rock cod tacos are made with house-made corn tortillas, which were delicious, and really brought this dish together. They were light and moist, with a smokiness from the comal grill marks. The beer batter on the fish also added a distinctive savory note that was well complemented by the slaw and natural spiciness from the crispy watermelon radish slices. The dish came with an ample serving of salad featuring sliced, sweet heirloom tomatoes, and a healthy mix of greens.” “The indoor/outdoor garden first drew Betty and me to this restaurant due to COVID concerns, and thinking of the welfare of our guests, too,” she added. “Going from the urban busyness of streets like Castro and Market and stepping into a tranquil garden setting with plants that improve air quality and mindset is like entering an NOVE MB E R 3 , 2 0 2 2
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Fable Restaurant: Dining Al Fresco at Its Finest
The Gay Gourmet
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oasis. Fable’s atmosphere is uplifting, with its greenery and water features, but the food alone would have us coming back. There are many unexpected touches that show the chef and team are striving for excellence with every dish, while also keeping the menu as affordable and approachable as possible.” Well said! (And I’m not just saying that because they’re my bosses!) Fable is magical, a delight for the eyes and senses, and most of all, a tasty tropical paradise. Bits and Bites I had the pleasure of meeting the other night with my good pal Kevin Blum (of The Marin Dish fame) at Tiburon’s gorgeous The Caprice. Dining on the water with the
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brasserie chain, has just opened in downtown Tiburon, down the street from another Gay Gourmet favorite, Sam’s Anchor Café. Expect traditional French bistro fare, including: escargot en croute, roasted half chicken, and moules frites.
panoramic view of San Francisco Bay and Angel Island, the restaurant is a gem: the contemporary, upscale, beachy design makes me think “Malibu by the Bay.” From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted warmly by owner Jerry (who also owns The Stinking Rose in San Francisco). Kevin liked his tasty watermelon margarita, but I, of course, opted for their Negroni: perfectly balanced and a great way to start the meal. Since we were dining with friends, we decided to share. Braided fresh epi bread followed, along with a yummy, spicy tuna carpaccio with ponzu sauce, and then a homemade asparagus soup (with no cream, where you really taste the vegetable). Spicy Italian pot stickers also hit the spot as did the Caesar salad with a surprising pesto base. For our mains, we split a fresh-fromthe-sea branzino in a lemon herb oil sauce. We ordered the creamed spinach (one of the Bay Area’s best)
and cremini mushrooms as sides. Our vegetarian friends split haricot verts and an assortment of grilled vegetables that looked divine. Kevin, Sean, and I also tucked into the restaurant’s Omaha Angus ribeye steak, cooked perfectly and better tasting than many of the San Francisco steakhouses that specialize in beef. Blueberry pancakes and a dense, creamy cheesecake were the perfect cap to a glorious meal. Ask for Sean, our server: from start to finish, he choreographed the evening superbly. Put The Caprice on your go-to list: it’s only a 30-minute drive over the bridge, and a world away. As a trained pianist, this item sings to me: The Vault Steakhouse just debuted its new Piano Bar, a swanky venue to enjoy classic cocktails as well as the likes of Kyle Athayde, George Glover, and Cullen Luper tickling the ivories. Petite Left Bank, a spinoff of Roland Passot’s popular Left Bank
Michelin-starred Marlena restaurant just re-opened at its original Bernal Heights location, and it’s a stunner. Gorgeous contemporary décor, but a deal at $65/person for a seasonal four-course tasting menu. The wife-and-husband chef team of Serena Chow Fisher and David Fisher continue to turn out some of the best meals in the city. Yours truly celebrated his birthday there recently (don’t ask how old!), and the “fig newton” with Osetra caviar and duck terrine was a knockout. Fable Restaurant: https://www.fablesf.com/ The Caprice: https://thecaprice.com/ Piano Bar at the Vault Steakhouse: https://tinyurl.com/yc3frj7f Petite Left Bank: https://tinyurl.com/3t8yknvp Marlena: https://tinyurl.com/2p68p2je David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a retired PR maven. Follow him on Instagram @GayGourmetSF or email him at: davidlandissf@ gmail.com Or visit him online at: www.gaygourmetsf.com
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Sister Dana sez, “We should be alarmed that 33 House Republicans are introducing a new bill to restrict LGBTQ programs, literature, and sexual orientation in federal facilities—essentially fortifying Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill NATIONWIDE!” PRC’s annual celebration of hope, resilience, and pride is returning to the elegant Four Seasons hotel on Friday, November 4, 6 pm, 757 Market Street. Join them for an inspirational and electrifying evening of incredible cuisine, wine, entertainment, and fun! All proceeds support PRC’s lifesaving, integrated social, legal, and behavioral health services to help the city’s most vulnerable populations. https://prcsf.org/ A California judge has ruled in favor of a bakery owner who refused to make wedding cakes for a samesex couple because it violated her Christian beliefs. Sister Dana sez, “Riiight, because cakes are just too gay!” Gay comedy icon Leslie Jordan went too soon to Gay Heaven at 67 years. Jordan first came to fame in Sordid Lives playing Earl “Brother Boy” Ingram in Del Shores’ stage comedy, a role he repeated in the film version that has gone onto cult status. He came to national fame as Karen Walker’s adversary Beverly Leslie on Will & Grace, for which he won a Guest Actor in Comedy series Emmy. He was everywhere—including the time when he came to SF and I got to interview him. RIP Leslie, and keep making the angels in Heaven laugh! The mission of SAN FRANCISCO NIGHT MINISTRY is to provide emotional support and care for people
on the streets of San Francisco as well as on the phones worldwide. They are hosting a drag show fundraiser “SF CELEBRITY KNOCKOUTS” with friends from all over the SF community performing in a battle for the crown on Saturday, November 5, 5 pm at Azúcar Lounge, 299 9th Street. MC Olivia Hart will greet and lead attendees through the evening’s performances, all centered around a battle royale between SF celebrities from The Imperial Court, The Ducal Court, Krewe De Kinque, and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. www.sfnightministry.org The Russian Parliament has moved to further expand anti-LGBTQ laws. This bill would impose tough new restrictions on the promotion of LGBTQ rights in Russia, on top of a 2013 law concerning LGBTQ “propaganda.” And it is suspected that some of the members of Parliament are closeted LGBTQ people. Sister Dana sez, “NYET!” Hateful Lindsey Graham tweeted: “I want every liberal to be miserable come election night.” He also added, “There are gonna be people jumping off bridges in San Francisco by the thousands.” Wow. Can you feel the love?! Me neither. NEW FARM SHOW presented by ARTSAVESLIVES is on November 13, noon–6 pm, 10 Cargo Way when music and art will come together on a lovely Sunday afternoon. https://www.thenewfarmsf.org/ Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is horrified (as are most of us) regarding the vicious assault on Paul Pelosi, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband. “This attack is terrifying, and the direct result of toxic right-wing rhetoric and incitement against Speaker Pelosi and so many other progressive leaders,” Wiener said. “Paul Pelosi was brutally attacked for being married to one of the strongest Democratic leaders in our nation’s history. Paul is a fantastic person, and I’m rooting for his recovery.” Sister Dana sez, “Our wonderful FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA has hit mightily along the campaign trail to address Repugnican hate and violence with just two powerful commands: GO VOTE!”
did not last long. By October it was showing gay adult films exclusively, the only XXX movie theater ever in the neighborhood. It became the East of Castro Club in 1979, its films now projected on the walls above the private booths on the first floor and the holed partitions in the balcony. Clif Newman, who managed the new enterprise, also managed the Nob Hill Cinema, which previously had been a jazz club. He and Poole were good friends, so perhaps it was inevitable that the Nob Hill became the location for Take One, as well as its world premiere in 1977. Using documentary, performance art, and observational cinema techniques, Poole presented a series of interviews with gay San Franciscans, who discussed their lives and sexual fantasies before living them out in front of his camera. Poole moved back to New York in 1980, where he had been a dancer and choreographer on Broadway and television before making Boys. He directed five more XXX features, then left the adult industry in 1985 to become a trained chef. After working as manager of food services for Calvin Klein Cosmetics in Manhattan from 1989 until 2003, he retired and moved to Florida, his childhood home. He died in 2021, exactly 50 years after his “little porno movie,” as he described it, began a revolution in gay adult film. Bill Lipsky, Ph.D., author of “Gay and Lesbian San Francisco” (2006), is a member of the Rainbow Honor Walk board of directors.
Costumed Halloween revelers on Castro Street on October 31.
FARMER’S MARKET (continued from pg 32) Another way to clean them is to run them quickly under cold water. You can also fill a bowl with water and place mushrooms in it. Rinse them around for no more than 8 to 10 seconds to remove grit. Then quickly dry them thoroughly. It’s important to note that mushrooms are like sponges, so any water you use will be absorbed into them. Do not clean mushrooms until you are ready to use them. They mold quite easily.
Either way you clean them is fine. Just be sure to purchase them at your farmers’ market. As we say—fresh is best! You’ll find the freshest, tastiest mushrooms at your Castro Farmers’ Market from E&H Farms in Oakdale. Reminder: The Castro Farmers’ Market will be closing for the season on November 16. Please visit the Pacific Coast Farmers’
Market Association website (link at the end) for other markets in your area until we return in the spring. Debra Morris is a spokesperson for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA). Check out the PCFMA website for recipes, information about farmers’ markets throughout the region and for much more: https://www.pcfma.org/
QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on pg 21)
C) Sister Roma Greater Palm Springs Pride 2022, to be held November 4–November 6, will feature Sister Roma and Friends at the Oscar’s Pride Stage on November 6 from 2:30–3:30 pm. Sister Roma with co-host Ethylina Canne will be joined by Deven & Ned, Mutha Chucka, Cee Cee Russell, and Evora Baden. https://apps.pspride.org/
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Celebrants of all ages enjoyed Halloween in the Castro on October 31, 2022.
PHOTO BY RINK
received the “Eileen Hanson Social Justice Hero Award.” Nicky Jizz, for her years of working to create events that uplift and center QTBIPOC performers and experiences in nightlife, accepted the “Sylvester James Award” in fabulous drag. Juicy Liu was fullon drag to sing live “Over the Rainbow.” The place went crazy over her amazing singing! Jupiter Peraza, an undocumented transgender activist, organizer, DACA recipient, and more, gave us a stunning transgender history lesson, spoke of the difficulty trans people struggle to get documented, and received “The Activist Award.”
LIPSKY (continued from pg 31)
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SISTER DANA (continued from pg 23)
Take Me Home with You! “My name is Cowboy! If I look familiar to you, it’s because I was featured in an earlier issue of this paper. I’m still seeking my forever home and sure hope some kind folks will adopt me soon. I am a two-year-old male, Great Dane Retriever/Labrador mix and am good-natured and active. I love daily walks and playing fetch with my toys. Ideally, I’d like a home in a quiet neighborhood. (Hey, wouldn’t most of us?) Every day I learn new training cues from my SF SPCA team, and am a very “good boy,” as I often hear. If you think we are a match, please come say hello and rustle up my adoption papers!”
Fitness SF Trainer Tip of the Month Steven Luibrand at Fitness SF Mid-Market “The number 2 mistake people make in the gym is not training with a program. A program is essentially a plan that tells you how to accomplish your desired goal.” (See the previous issue of the Bay Times for the number 1 mistake people make in the gym, according to Luibrand.)
If you wish to meet Cowboy, you can do so virtually before choosing to adopt. For more information, please email adoptions@sfspca.org Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Louie
Cowboy is presented to San Francisco Bay Times readers by Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, the SF SPCA’s CEO. Our thanks also go to Paradise Osorio for helping to get the word out about lovable pets like Cowboy. To meet Cowboy in person, visit the SF SPCA Mission Campus @ 201 Alabama Street. It is open for appointments from 10 am–6 pm (Monday–Wednesday, Friday– Sunday) and 1 pm–6 pm on Thursdays. For more information: https://tinyurl.com/y3dtnjk3
Tore Kelly, Director of Creative & Social Media for Fitness SF, provides monthly tips that he has learned from professional trainers. For more information: https://fitnesssf.com/
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HALLOWEEN 2022 Castro Family Halloween Block Party The Castro Merchants Association, with co-sponsors Another Planet Entertainment and the Duboce Triangle Association, held the Castro Family Halloween Block Party & Costume Contest on Sunday, October 30, on Noe Street between Beaver and Market Streets. Activities included trick or treating; costume contests for children, adults, and pets; drag performances; free photos with a wicked witch; and more. Emcees included Per Sia and San Francisco Bay Times columnist Sister Dana Van Iquity, who was joined by Sister Eva Lynn Goode, also of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. https://www.castromerchants.com/
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HALLOWEEN 2022 Halloween in the Castro
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Halloween 2022 in the Castro was more like a week-long event, given that the actual holiday was on a Monday that was preceded by the busy Thursday-Sunday nightlife scene. As revealed to those present as well as watching via the 24/7 live-streaming Castro Street Cam, there were many outstanding costumes, dancers, and revelers along Castro Street, in Jane Warner Plaza, at Harvey Milk Plaza, along the Rainbow Crosswalks, and more. Many of the participants could be admired by those looking at the Cam’s four different views.
CASTRO STREETCAM presented by
Favorites included the “Pope,” who shows up every year to bless everyone, and a Mr. Pumpkin Head dressed in a green suit and with a very large gourd for his head. https://sfbaytimes.com/castro-street-cam/
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Items of the week
Le Creuset Pumpkin-shaped Baker New this year is Le Creuset’s autumn line. This pumpkinshaped baker comes in three different colors: Sea Salt, Persimmon, and Meringue. $124.99
Le Creuset Dutch Oven: Introducing a newly released color from Le Creuset, Sea Salt, in several new items like this 5.5 quart Dutch Oven. $419.99
As Heard on the Street . . . What was your first job?
compiled by Rink
Janelle Luster
Anjali Rimi
Hossein Carney
Marion Abdullah
Daniel Cherry
“Peer advocate”
“Call center as Jason Nash (as a male)”
“I was required to serve in the Iranian army to fight against the Iraqi invasion, but was given a desk job rather than serving as a gun-toting soldier on the frontline.”
“I was in the Army. I was a WAC.”
“Working at a newspaper agency for 10 years, in freezing Chicago winters and hot summer nights”
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