San Francisco Bay Times - November 17, 2022

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICK BOWN-CRAWFORD AND THE FOGGY BOTTOMS BOYS

Election Season Continues

Election fatigue is real. It has been an exhausting year, including four elections in San Francisco alone, cul minating in the all-important mid terms on November 8. But our work is not done. Important elections that were too close to call on election night remain unresolved, and are headed into run-off elections com ing up soon that may determine the balance of power in Congress. While the races may be far from the Bay Area and we continue to celebrate Democrats retaining control of the Senate, the remaining results could affect the basic rights of all of us. Dig deep if you can to help the GOTV efforts in these campaigns by donat ing or volunteering. From voter out reach to funding rides to the polls, we can all help. To help fund rides to the polls in Georgia for the 12/6 run-off election between Sen. Warnock and Herschel Walker, support the New Georgia Project: https://tinyurl.com/NGPDec6

On the plus side, history was made as LGBTQ+ candidates prevailed in races both local and statewide

around the country. A record num ber of young voters helped turn the tide in numerous races, electing an historically diverse and progres sive slate of candidates. This turn out and this diversity give us hope for the future.

Transgender Day of Remembrance

While the midterm elections pro vided many signs of progress, with more than 350 LGBTQ+ candi dates winning elected offices from governor to school boards, states like Texas, Florida, and others remain in the hands of right-wing extremists whose policies are a very real threat to the health and safety of LGBTQ+ people. Instead of using their power to help improve the lives of all their citizens, they spend an inordinate amount of effort demonizing and attacking LGBTQ+ people in gen eral, and transgender people in par ticular.

three-quarters of the known victims were Black trans women. The toll so far in 2022 is at least 32; misgender ing on police reports and underre porting makes it difficult to pin down a number. The American Medical Association in 2019 recognized “an epidemic of violence against the transgender community,” noting that they are over 2.5 times more likely than cisgender people to experience violence.

How can we honor them? Working to ensure their safety is a good start. Advocate for stricter gun laws, and speak out against the avalanche of anti-LGBTQ+ laws that have sprung up across the country. Let’s all work to break this cycle of hate and vio lence.

Free L Word Premiere at the Castro

Have you heard the news? Frameline is holding a free screening of the season premiere of The L Word: Generation Q at the Castro Theatre on November 17 at 7 pm, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Michelle Meow. Spread the word. https://tinyurl.com/LWordCastro

Proceeds will benefit the San Francisco Empresses Fund—and the Empresses benefit many great local causes.

https://tinyurl.com/ThxPie

Help Decorate the World Tree of Hope

to acknowledge, memorialize, take a break, and take action.

Here are some of local events that are being planned to commemorate World AIDS Day in San Francisco:

The National AIDS Memorial will hold its annual gala, Light in the Grove, in the AIDS Memorial Grove on the evening of 11/30. This is a ticketed event.

https://tinyurl.com/WADLight

The next day, on 12/1, from 12–2 pm, the Memorial will hold its 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 pro vided a way for people to com memorate 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, 12/1, 9 am–9 pm.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance, on November 20, is a day for remembering and honoring those we have lost to anti-transgen der hatred and violence. According to data released in October by the non-profit Everytown for Gun Safety, there was a 93% increase in homi cides of trans and gender-noncon forming people in the U.S. and Puerto Rico in the four years from 2017 to 2021; 73% of them were killed with a gun. And while only 13% of the transgender commu nity is estimated to be Black, nearly

Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions

Over the past year, fans of Jeopardy! have been dazzled by the talent of some of the best, and most diverse, players to ever play the game. These record-breaking winners are now going head-to-head in the annual Tournament of Champions. Oakland’s own Amy Schneider, the first transgender champion in the show’s history, and Mattea Roach, a lesbian from Canada, were among the recent competitors playing at this rarified level. (As of this writ ing, Mattea was eliminated from the competition, but was one of only three players to have earned an auto matic semifinal berth.) During the course of the past year, both of them shattered barriers and opened hearts and minds not only by their brilliant play, but also by simply being their authentic and true selves, on a net work game show that has been a fam ily favorite for generations.

8th Annual Empresses ThanksGayving Bake Sale

Tempting treats with a royal flair will be available for your holi day get-togethers at the 8th Annual Empresses ThanksGayving Bake Sale. The Sisterhood of Absolute Empresses of San Francisco with

Since 2006, the Rainbow World Fund World Tree of Hope has stood in San Francisco as a symbol of global unity, promoting peace, love, and humanitarianism. Displayed in Grace Cathedral, it is the largest ori gami holiday tree in the world, dec orated with over 17,000 origami cranes and stars, each hand folded and inscribed with wishes for the future of the world. The tree is a project of the Rainbow World Fund, an LGBTQ+-based humanitarian organization. Although it is displayed at Grace Cathedral, the tree is meant as a non-sectarian symbol of one human family, and is open to every one, regardless of belief or nonbelief.

Volunteers are needed to help dec orate the tree through November 27, and the tree will be on display in Grace Cathedral November 28 through January 6, with a lighting party on December 5 at 6 pm. To sign up for a volunteer shift: https://tinyurl.com/RWF2022

Annual Milk-Moscone Vigil Announced

https://tinyurl.com/Inscribe2022

Grace Cathedral commemo rates World AIDS Day with a Choral Evensong. Evensong includes psalms, canticles, and prayers, ranging from meditative to jubilant, sung by the choir and an officiant. 12/1, 5:30–6:15 pm at Grace Cathedral.

https://tinyurl.com/WADGrace

The SF AIDS Foundation will commemorate World AIDS Day with two events:

11/29, 7–9 pm at Strut: Protest Art & Screen-Printing Workshop; sharing historical examples from the HIV/ AIDS movement.

12/1, 5–6 pm: World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil and March. Meet on steps of SF City Hall. For info: email astone@sfaf.org

It has been 44 years since Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated at San Francisco City Hall, but the leg acy of hope that they brought to the city will never be forgotten. They envisioned a city that welcomed all, and fought for the disenfranchised. Every year we gather on the anniver sary of that day to honor their mem ory and rededicate ourselves to their vision. The Harvey Milk LGBTQ+ Democratic Club will once again be hosting the vigil, on Sunday, 11/27, from 7–8 pm. Meet at Harvey Milk Plaza.

https://tinyurl.com/3656xscs

December 1: World AIDS Day Events

World AIDS Day is a day of remem brance, but it is also so much more.

It is a day to acknowledge that AIDS isn’t over; that there are millions of people around the globe still living with HIV and AIDS, and new peo ple getting infected every day. There are millions of people who don’t have easy access to prevention or treat ment. And there is a whole genera tion of people now aging with HIV whose needs have yet to be fully met.

As local AIDS activist Paul Aguilar told me, World AIDS Day is a day

Honoring Our Experience will hold “Gathering in Community to Grieve Loss & Celebrate Life,” an evening of sharing stories, a meal, and dancing, at the Episcopal Church of St. John the

12/1 from 5–9 pm.

By the way, thank you to everyone who voted, and an extra shout-out to anyone who donated, text-banked, phone-banked, knocked on doors, wrote postcards, or helped get out the vote in any other way. As the say ing goes, this is what democracy looks like.

Joanie Juster is a long-time commu nity volunteer, activist, and ally.

HIM Empress Ehra Amaya, in Conjunction with The Imperial Council of San Francisco, will be hosting the annual holiday sale fea turing baked goods made by the Empresses themselves on Wednesday, 11/23, from 6–9 pm, at the Lookout.

In Case You Missed It

Joanie Juster

Evangelist,

PHOTO BY RINK

Historic Wins for LGBTQ, Diversity in 2022 General Election

As of this writing, 436 openly LGBTQ candidates won their races during the 2022 General Election, surpassing the previous record of 336 set in 2020.

Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, said: “This Rainbow Wave was fueled by a record number of LGBTQ candidates who defied the odds by running—and winning— in the face of extraordinary antiLGBTQ rhetoric and attacks. Bigots underestimated our power and deter mination as they’ve done through out history. While this election has given us much to be optimistic about, such as a historic number of victori ous trans and nonbinary candidates, we still have a long way to go before we achieve equitable representation in government. LGBTQ people have never been fully represented in gov ernment and until that day, we will not stop organizing, we will not stop fighting and we will not stop running for office. Because when we run, we win.”

She and the Victory Fund hold that, to reach equitable representation, the U.S. must elect over 35,000 more out LGBTQ people to office.

The organization shared these key trends:

• Of the 714 out LGBTQ candi dates who appeared on the General Election ballot, 436 won—a 61% win rate.

• Of the 250 out LGBTQ women who ran, 160 won—a 64% win rate.

• Of the 353 out LGBTQ men who appeared on the ballot, 221 won races—a 63% win rate.

• Of the 37 out trans candidates who appeared on the ballot, 18 won their races—a 49% win rate.

• Of the 24 out non-binary candi dates who ran, 13 won their races—a 54% win rate.

And these key wins:

• Tina Kotek of Oregon and Maura Healey of Massachusetts—the nation’s first lesbian governors;

• Erick Russell of Connecticut (State Treasurer): the first Black out LGBTQ person ever elected statewide;

• James Roesener of New Hampshire: the first trans man elected to a state legislature in U.S. history;

• Leigh Finke: the first trans person ever elected to the Minnesota state legis lature;

• Zooey Zephyr and SJ Howell: the first trans person and first non-binary per son elected to the Montana state legis lature;

The 118th Congress, though, is on the path to becoming the most racially diverse in history. While the 2022 General Election was not as noteworthy in this area as the 2020 elections were (they created the most racially diverse Senate and House of Representatives the U.S. has ever seen), political analysists still see a promising upward trend.

In particular, more people of color have been running for office, even as Republicans. The politics of the Republican Party are therefore pro jected to change. As Katherine Tate, a Professor of Political Science at Brown University, said: “What’s striking about 2022 [is that] a record number of Blacks ran as Republicans, even if only a few have won. The new diversity could move us away from Trumpism.”

San Francisco Bay Times

Columnist

and Supporter Wins

Here at home, several Bay Times col umnists, former columnists, and supporters won their races. They include:

Carolyn Wysinger - A current Bay Times columnist, Wysinger is the Past President of SF Pride.

Although votes are still being tabulated as of this writing, it appears that she was elected to the El Cerrito City Council.

Mahogany

-

He previously ran for Supervisor of District 7 in 2020 and won the most first-choice votes, but lost after the ranked choice reallocation of votes. He has long been endorsed by the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, where he serves on the Field Committee.

For updated results on all races that were on the November 8 ballot in San Francisco, go to: https://tinyurl.com/yxcm777u

Election Night

Nancy Pelosi - Yet another decisive win was earned by Pelosi, who handily won reelection as U.S.

• and Jennie Armstrong and Andrew Gray: the first out LGBTQ people ever elected to the Alaska state leg islature.

Louisiana and Mississippi are now the only U.S. states never to have elected an out LGBTQ state law maker.

Phil Ting - Bay Times columnist Ting deci sively won his bid for a 6th term as State Assemblymember for District 19.

Representative for District 11. She was a friend of former Bay Times pub lisher, the late Kim Corsaro, and has remained a supporter of the paper. Some political analysts predict that Pelosi may retire before long, espe cially given the recent violent attack on her husband Paul. If she does, that could open the door for openly LGBTQ state Senator Scott Wiener, who is a trusted and admired col league of hers. Politico recently ran an interesting piece about “the quiet race to succeed Pelosi”: https://tinyurl.com/udpmcpce

Joel Engardio - Former Bay Times colum nist Engardio as of this writ ing appears to have won his race for Supervisor of District 4.

Rafael Mandelman - Former Bay Times columnist and long-time Bay

Times supporter Mandelman also deci sively won his race, with voters reelecting him as Supervisor of District 8.

Matt Dorsey

Bay Times supporter Dorsey won as well, holding on to his role as Supervisor of District 6. The race included other important LGBTQ community leaders, Honey Mahogany and Ms. Billie Cooper.

has also been a Bay Times supporter and remains the Chair of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee.

Photos by Rink

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman with friends, including Christopher Vasquez and his dog Ziggy, at The Detour in the Castro.

Campaigners staffed a table at Manny’s for the California State Proposition 1 concerning women’s right to choose.

Host Manny Yekutiel was on stage with entertainer Afrika Amerika at the Election Night party held at Manny’s in the Mission.

Claiming Your Lost Property Will Get Easier

Thousands, if not millions, of peo ple could have money or valuables in state custody that they may not realize is theirs. The California Controller’s Office is holding more than 70 million unclaimed proper ties worth nearly $12 billion, waiting for their rightful owners to get them. The assets could be from forgot ten bank, stock, and bond accounts; wages owed; insurance benefits; or contents of an abandoned safe deposit box.

Could you be one of them? While the state makes an effort to find peo ple, they’re not always successful. Luckily, you can search the database yourself.

Visit: https://tinyurl.com/4b7mnb75

Then enter your information and see what steps you need to take for submitting a claim, if you find something under your name. Documentation is required. It’s understandable how we can lose track of things. We move around and change addresses, or we just forget. That’s why California’s Unclaimed Property Program was created in 1959. It protects consumers by pre venting businesses from keeping property that belongs to custom ers they’re no longer in contact with. State law mandates they hand the items over to the Controller’s Office until the owners are found. In the 2021–22 fiscal year alone, more than a billion dollars had been turned in.

As recently as September, 22,000 people were reconnected with their valuables, totaling $41 million. But, it’s not an easy process to reclaim property because of the amount of paperwork needed, and in some cases, a notary is required.

In fact, the Legislative Analyst Office found many owners give up on filing a claim midway through because the steps are overly bur densome and time-consuming. The report also noted that much of the documentation was unnecessary.

The good news is my bill, AB 1208, will make it easier starting on

When the People Decide

January 1, 2023, for Californians to be reunited with their long-lost money or valuables. There’s no rea son for the system to be complicated, especially since 75 percent of the claims are under $1,000 and belong to just one owner. I thank the gover nor for signing the proposal.

My legislation directs the State Controller’s Office to streamline the claims process by:

• requiring less extensive documen tation for claims under $5,000; • allowing for electronic sub mission of documentation for all claims;

• permitting direct deposit for monetary claims.

Nearly one in three visitors to the ClaimIt website finds property, and the average payout last year was $433. With global inflation squeez ing our wallets these days, it may be worth a few minutes of your time to check if the state is safeguarding something for you. You can also call the Controller’s Office at 1-800-9924647, Monday through Friday from 8 am–5 pm, except on holidays.

Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the Westside of San Francisco and portions of South San Francisco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma, and Daly City.

Out of the Closet and into City Hall

On Election Day 2022, reproductive rights were on the minds of voters as they went to the polls. In the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Services U.S. Supreme Court deci sion that overturned Roe v. Wade, the future of reproductive rights, health, and choice—and all the privacy issues they impact, including LGBT rights—have been a source of uncer tainty and extreme concern. This is especially true since abortion trigger laws went into effect in over a dozen states within weeks of the Dobbs deci sion. Abortion trigger laws are stat utes implemented in anticipation of the overturning of Roe, which would go into effect once that occurred. Some laws went into effect immedi

ately, while others went into effect 30 days after Roe was overturned.

The courts and the state legislatures, which are, despite strides, predom inantly male and against repro ductive freedoms, are not willing to pay attention to the majority of Americans who are pro-reproduc tive health and choice. The peo ple needed to find a way to let their voices be heard. This past Election Day, this idea was put to the test. In three states, California, Michigan, and Vermont, voters decided to enshrine abortion rights in their respective state constitutions. In Montana and Kentucky, two states that are considered unshakably con servative states, anti-abortion ballot measures failed.

Propositions that enshrined abortion rights in state constitutions will allow individuals and families to continue to have the freedom to determine what is best for them and their fami lies, giving people the ability to plan their lives and make important repro ductive decisions without government interference. By expressly stating the right to choose to have an abortion or to carry a child is a fundamental right in a state constitution, the bal lot measures that protected reproduc tive rights will help protect against potential future attacks. California’s Proposition 1, which I strongly sup ported, including cosponsoring a successful Oakland City Council res olution in support of Prop 1, was backed by an overwhelming number of California voters.

Reproductive freedom is intertwined with many issues of social justice, such as economic, gender, and racial equity, and LGBT rights; therefore, a strong support system for repro ductive freedom is vital for many needs. We know access to reproduc tive healthcare should not depend on your zip code, and people should be able to access reproductive health care without medically unnecessary barriers or restrictions.

Since Roe has been overturned, this recent election shows that the public wants to protect reproductive rights. So far, we the people have done a

Assemblymember Phil Ting

Oakland City Councilmember At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan

A Queer Kaleidoscope of Japan

movement to achieve legal and social equality by presenting ourselves to the world as we truly are.

6/26 and Beyond

Being “just as you are” and presenting it to the world is complicated for many Japanese LGBTIQ people today because of immense social pressure to conform to perceived norms and a shared social ethic that prizes privacy in one’s personal life. But over the past few weeks, we’ve witnessed a beautiful queer kaleidoscope of Japan.

“Taking what is there just as it is and presenting it ‘just as it is.’” That’s how the masterful modern artist Lee Ufan describes the purpose of his sculpture and painting in a stunning recent exhibition of his work at Tokyo’s National Art Center. Ufan pursues his goals through austere works composed of natural elements that embody both profound stillness and dynamic movement simultaneously. We perceive LGBTIQ people as attempting to realize Ufan’s mission in our own way: to be free to be who we are just as we are, to love as we love, and to participate in a

Most prominently, Tokyo, the world’s most populous metropolis, made international news when it began legally recognizing LGBTIQ couples by instituting a same-sex partnership system on November 1. Although these certificates are a far cry from the freedom to marry, the victory in Tokyo represents a vital step forward in the march to marriage equality in Japan. Now, over 62% of Japan’s population live in places that offer partnership certificates that provide some form of recognition and very limited rights to same-sex couples.

We were honored on the first day of partnerships to join in events with pioneering Japanese queer activists who had worked for years to achieve this goal. One of those activists, Soyoka Yamamoto, who along with her partner of many years Yoriko received a certificate, explained that creation of the partnerships sends a powerful message to young LGBTIQ Japanese that you can “be yourself” and “love whomever you want” and that Tokyo “has your back” in doing so.

Also seeking to make LGBTIQ history in Tokyo is the amazing Karen Yoda, who is

running to become Mayor of Shinjuku City within metropolitan Tokyo. If successful, Yoda would make history as the first transgender mayor in Japan. We met Yoda three years ago when she was a city council member and will never forget her energetic presence and infectious smile. It was a joy to reconnect with Yoda and her longtime partner the evening the towering Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building was illuminated in rainbow colors to celebrate the beginning of Tokyo partnerships. We hope Yoda soon becomes Shinjuku’s mayor.

In the mountains 250 miles from Tokyo, the LGBTIQ community in Yamagata Prefecture was making history of its own when it held its first ever Pride march and celebration just days before Tokyo partnerships began. Interestingly, the event, named the “Yamagata Colorful Parade,” was organized primarily by allies and people who did not identify openly as LGBTIQ because of the social pressure and risk of discrimination that LGBTIQ people face in this conservative mountainous region. However, many LGBTIQ people attended and marched. One was Mai Kato, a lesbian city council member in her 20s from Morioka, the capital city of nearby Iwate Prefecture. Attending Stonewall 50 in New York three years ago inspired Kato to run for office herself, and she along with her partner Ai (which means love in Japanese) are a compelling new presence in Japanese politics, representing the future of the queer movement.

Also present was the self-described “Wafuku Anarchist” (wafuku refers to traditional Japanese clothing), an extraordinary fashion designer who

sports a mohawk, beard, red nail polish, and kimono styling. Meeting the Wafuku Anarchist was the perfect complement to our visit the week before to the pathbreaking art exhibition at the Shoto Museum of Art in Tokyo, entitled The Power of Clothing: History of Cross-Dressing in Japan. https://tinyurl.com/9msy43zz

The exhibition documents the 1,300-year-old tradition of crossdressing in Japan that continues today. It invites viewers to “consider ‘the power of clothing’’ and “its ability to transcend the sexes” in the context of the recent movement to “dismantle the binary stipulation of male/female” and “recognize that human beings do not have any fixed gender.” The museum can “envision the very term ‘cross-dressing’ falling out of use” because “the term ‘crossdressing’ itself is based on the premise” of illusory notions of “gender dichotomy” and “incontrovertible gender differences.”

In the final installation of the Ufan exhibition, a large “stone sits facing a blank white canvas on the wall.” In the words of Ufan, “the way the two face each other gives a sense of something organic and dynamic occurring. We envisioned a tabula rasa, a blank slate, something that

existed before painting and before words or will exist after them.”

Can we as LGBTIQ people be an organic and dynamic blank slate as well? Can we simply be ourselves and love as we love without external interference of any form?

After the Ufan exhibition, John stopped by the 138-year-old Kanda Matsuya soba shop to slurp noodles. As he did, he watched the soba master meticulously hand cut each noodle from the carefully rolled dough. Can we as LGBTIQ people demonstrate that same quality of care for ourselves and each other?

Our experiences in Japan over the past few weeks give us hope for the future.

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for over three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. Their leadership in the grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed in 2015 to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.

Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney with Soyoka Yamamoto at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis at the Yamagata Colorful Parade

Photos courtesy of Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis

Fumino Sugiyama (Co-Chair, Tokyo Rainbow Pride), Soyoka Yamamoto, Gon Matsunaka (President Pride House Tokyo Consortium)—all are Tokyo LGBTQ Leaders and Co-Founders of the Association for Tokyo Partnership System

Kanda Matsuya Nameko Mushroom Soba Noodles

John Lewis & Stuart Gaffney with Karen Yoda and her partner Kenji

Karen Yoda with a Japanese Parliament Member

Tokyo Press Conference: Front: L-R Soyoka Yamamoto & partner Yoriko, Satoko Nagamura & Mamiko Moda and their son Ittan, Katsuto Takeuchi & partner Ricky Back: L-R Gon Matsunaka, John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, Tokyo Rainbow Pride Co-Chair Fumino Sugiyama

Property Listings

Steve Gallagher

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Listed by Steve Gallagher DRD#01193002

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Lorraine Bannister

1089 Grand Teton Dr Pacifica, CA 94044 3 bed 2 bth 1450 sq ft $1,498,000. Backyard with view/bonus room d/strs. For more info, contact Lorraine Bannister http://www.LorraineBRealEstate.com

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Laura Martell

766 Guerrero St, Mission Dolores Park, chef’s kitchen, hdwd fls, sunlight, private bkyd, in/out living, lg deck, garden

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Listed by Laura Martell DRE #01401840

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Jeff Ploucher

36 Collingwood Street, Castro Village, Victorian condo, granite kitchen, dining and living rms, bay window, 2 bd, 2 ba, high ceilings, landscaped bkyd, storage rm, 1-car garage. $1,895,000 http://www.vanguardproperties.com

Listed by Jeffrey Ploucher DRE #01248348

Vanguard

Angels in America

Before I started this column today, I was checking a list of ideas that I posted on my “notes” iPhone file. Usually, I delete the ideas after I mention them or decide not to use them, but sometimes I keep older ones around if they’re not time sen sitive. For several years, I’ve had the notation “717!” on this list and I’ve never erased it because I have no clue what it means and I still want to remember what the hell it referenced.

The exclamation point suggests I obviously thought it was interesting at some point. Yet other than the 717 airplane, the number is now mean ingless to me.

Or is it? I just read that the num ber 717 might be a blessing from angels, or a hint that you’re going through a spiritual awakening. Alrighty then! And speaking of spiri tual awakenings, what just happened last Tuesday? Did we actually win something? Did we keep the Senate? Did democracy as we know it sur vive a showdown with history? Are Republican leaders pulling away from Trump? If we’re dreaming, let’s pull up the covers and sleep a little longer.

Mel and I are faithful watchers of MSNBC, but we were switching around the other night and hit CNN just in time to watch their numbers guy, John King, explain some new votes out of Arizona or Nevada, the two states that I kept confusing for each other all week. After King gave a lucid and brief report, we quickly went back to MSNBC because, to us, nothing is real unless Steve Kornacki tells us so.

To my distress, Kornacki preceded to deliver the same information in a muddled barrage of hems, haws, and paper shuffling, descending into the weeds for no reason and leaving us less informed than we had been two minutes before. Could it be, I wondered, that the whole Kornacki hype was just that? Hype? Surely not; he’s such a nice guy! At one point, someone asked Steve the sta tus of the House races, and he pro ceeded to run through some 15 races in a row, throwing in distracting bursts of information like fireworks to the extent that we could no longer assess which party had an advantage overall. If John King was drinking cognac, Steve Kornacki was mixing Red Bull and meth.

To be fair, many of the problems were not Steve’s fault. And we have to wonder why the vast majority of states can count votes within 24 hours of polls closing, while a hand ful of others seem to be relying on a backroom filled with senior citi zens using abaci. Then there were the befuddling different categories of ballots.

“So, Steve, when will we find out who won the Attorney General’s seat in Nevadizona?”

“Well, Nicole, tonight at 6:35 Eastern Time, we’re expecting 12,435 votes out of Jambalaya County, but those will be from military personnel who sent their ballots using red ink prior to November 1st, but have since ‘cured’ their votes by returning affi davits in black ink that arrived by midnight Thursday.”

“Hmmm. Do we know whether those votes are Democratic or Republican?”

“No, we don’t Nicole! And that’s the big question. Because in 2018 the same kind of votes went Republican big time. But those votes were absen tee ballots written in green ink , turned in on Election Day, and allowed to be counted without needing a cure by court order. On the other hand, Jambalaya is a Democratic County, and voted for Biden by 4 points in 2020 when these same votes were marked provisional and not counted until June of 2021.”

“Gosh, Rachel, what would we do without Steve Kornacki!”

“You said it! I think there’s a rule that he has to stay at his desk all night, even if he sleeps here at the studio!”

I also wonder why all these Congressional races in California seem to be counted by that character on The Carol Burnett Show who moves at a snail’s pace. Tim Conway! I know many of you weren’t born then, but at the rate he moved, Conway’s act is still in progress. Actually, he’s dead, so he’s slowed down even further.

Say My Name

I know there’s important news this week. Lots of GLBT people were elected to various offices around the land, including lesbian governors in Massachusetts and Oregon, our incumbent gay governor reelected in Colorado, and Mel and my favor ite lesbian Congresswoman reelected out of Kansas City, Kansas. Yay, team!

Speaking of teams, the U.S. soccer team has a rainbow logo it intends to use frequently during the World Cup in Qatar, where male homosex

uality is outlawed. I am also hearing the old pronunciation, “CA-TAR ,” more often than the new cool pro nunciation, “cutter.” Which is right? After much research I can tell you that the local pronunciation is a gut tural sound that few English speakers can reproduce. And yes, CA-TAR is quite acceptable. After all, no normal English speaker says “Pahr-EEE.”

We say “Paris” because, just as we are not locals living in Doha, we are not French speakers living in the Ile de France.

It’s like people who say “N’awrlins” or “Looville,” instead of “New Orleans or Louisville.” Since when do we all have to mimic the residents of these localities? We sound like pre tentious idiots, n’est-ce pas? I’m consid ering going back to “Key-Yev” rather than “Keeve.”

RESPECT, Find Out What It Means to Me

As we go to press, the Senate is pre paring to vote on the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would for mally repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and require the fed eral government and all states to recognize all marriages legally con tracted in the U.S. and elsewhere. The bill will prevent the High Court from summarily reversing the impact of its 2015 legalization of same-sex marriages. That kind of reversal was most unlikely, but given some bizarre comments by Clarence Thomas, and in light of the Dobbs decision, an act of Congress will give all of us some peace of mind.

Keep in mind that, unlike the Supreme Court decision, the new bill doesn’t force any state to perform same-sex marriages. In theory, there fore, some right-wing state could

vote to stop performing gay weddings, although under this new law they would be required to honor them.

Gay residents who want to wed in this ugly fantasy state would a) have to go get married in another state, and b) likely ask the courts to enforce the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision and force the mean state officials to license gay marriages once more.

If somehow the justices refused and overturned their own precedent, the Respect for Marriage Act would act as a safety net, ensuring that every one stays married and has some abil ity to marry going forward. That said, I can’t imagine a state would go back to what is now a very unpopu lar antigay policy. And I can’t imag ine the High Court would screw with fundamental rights a second time.

But never say never. Also, if the Respect for Marriage Act passes with a 60-plus vote majority in the Senate, it will send a nice signal to the gay and lesbian community to indicate how far we’ve come in the last 20 years. Now it’s the outliers who dis approve of our unions, and the vast, not so silent, majorities who sup port us.

The first procedural vote is tak ing place as we go to press on Wednesday. The final vote is expected “in coming weeks,” according to majority leader Chuck Schumer. The House had already passed a version of the bill before the midterms, but the Senate was waiting to get all its lame ducks in a row.

Grave Mistakes

Before we leave the subject of samesex marriage, I was just reading about a widower, Darrell Frye, of

Thanksgiving with The Foggy Bottoms Boys

The Foggy Bottoms Boys and The Tiny Farmer: Our Story

By Thomas and Cody Nicholson Stratton

Our 6th generation working organic dairy farm has operated since the 1860s in the foggy bottoms of the Eel River Valley on the North Coast of California. Now focused on diversifying to operate as a multi-species regenerative demonstration farm, we look forward to supporting your educational journey and connection with local nutritionally dense food. Nicknamed the Foggy Bottoms Boys by other local farmers, we are two fabulously gay farm ers, Thomas & Cody Nicholson Stratton, along with the new addition of our son, Silas the Tiny Farmer.

The Foggy Bottoms Boys evolved out of our passion for diversified livestock and local food systems when we returned to Cody’s family’s organic jersey dairy in 2014. It was originally developed from our social media platform presence with con sistent nuggets of fun agricultural edu cation and insights into the daily life of farming and dedication to our motto of “Slow Organic Growth.” We continue to produce a daily dose of social content while providing our customers with the highest quality pasture-raised fiber and

protein available with chicken eggs, beef, lamb, and cheese!

The Nicholson family has been partners with the Rumiano Cheese Company, the old est family-owned cheese com pany in California, for three generations. All our cows’ milk is shipped to the Rumiano Crescent City manufactur ing facility. The Foggy Bottoms Jersey dairy is certified humane, non-GMO, and organic, with cows enjoying 365 days on lush green pastures under the fog cover of the cool Humboldt County weather.

Our diverse family dairy farm promotes the regeneration of the soil community. We pride ourselves in delivering our cus tomers food and fiber that have been ethi cally raised, promoting climate beneficial regenerative healthy soils systems while providing nutrient-dense protein, luxuri ous fiber, and preserving open landscapes for future generations.

Our farming stories began to blend in 2007. A Humboldt County native, Cody attended Eastern Oregon University (EOU) in La Grande Oregon a few miles away from Thomas’ hometown of Union.

During Cody’s freshman year at EOU, Thomas was finishing his senior year of high school and we were aptly introduced at Starbucks by a mutual friend.

Thomas gained his Bachelors in Business Administration & Marketing while liv ing in Denver, engaging with non-profit work in food systems education, while

Inspired by our original motivation to share the importance of a thriving local agricultural economy, the farm’s diversification, and focus on regenerative practices, we are now excited to pro vide hands on educational tours, allowing others to engage in farm opportunities to connect with and us as agriculturalists: https://tinyurl.com/5x4ydsp7

In terms of this holiday time, for us, Thanksgiving is spent with family. We have lunch with the entire clan of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends at Cody’s grandparents’ house. Traditionally we eat at noon so that we are done by 2:30 pm to start the evening milking and chores. Then everyone returns after chores to enjoy leftovers together.

While we have many things to be grateful for this year, the top of our list is that Silas’ adoption finalized after three years of waiting. https://www.foggybottomsboys.com/

Holiday Goodies from The Foggy Bottoms Boys

Bring some rural farm goodness to your home this holiday season, or better yet, treat yourself and loved ones to “The Barnyard Experience” at The Foggy Bottoms Boys farm in the Eel River Valley just outside of Ferndale in Humboldt County. The scenic 4.5 hour or so coastal road trip up north from San Francisco will lead you to this bucolic destina tion.

There you can enjoy various experiences, including “The Full Barnyard Experience”: a three-hour opportunity including a tour and brunch or lunch. Participants will create a dining experience on the farm through the preparation of a meal with ingredients from a selection of local and seasonally available products from not only the Foggy Bottoms Boys farm but also several other local surrounding farms.

Guests will additionally enjoy conversation over a Rumiano cheese board and sweets from Dick Taylor Chocolate (owned by Adam Dick and Dustin Taylor) made from the region’s milk. These and the meal will be paired with a selection of local wines. After indulging in the meal, guests will top off the evening with the best s’more fire pit action in the valley!

This Barnyard Experience comes with options for several customizations and addons including live art creations via chucking paint-filled eggs onto a canvas that can be yours to keep as a fun reminder. Participants might also get to bottle feed calves and lambs, release white doves (they fly back home afterwards!), learn how to save seeds, and much more.

https://tinyurl.com/5x4ydsp7

Those who just visit the farm can also order some of the highest quality milk, meat boxes, beef, lamb, and eggs in the state. If you cannot visit, you can also order products online, such as:

The Foggy Bottoms Boys dryer balls: https://tinyurl.com/bdzzav8a

• beautiful yarns: https://tinyurl.com/yvhycpbh

• home decor, including pillows decorated with farm animals full of character: https://tinyurl.com/yc4s979d

• and a selection of standout hoodies and t-shirts, such as the “Always Horny” shirt emblazoned with a Horned Dorset sheep: https://tinyurl.com/bdzfw26v

The Rumiano Cheese Company also has a great online shop featuring cheeses made from milk produced at The Foggy Bottoms Boys farm and other family-owned small farms: https://tinyurl.com/ms4wdky3

Humboldt Made was

Nick Bown-Crawford is now the

and is a close family

issue of the San Francisco

He ect was a labor of love that shines through Bown-Crawford told the Bay Times: “I but recently moved back after spending over the reins Humboldt Made this past organization’s reach and membership

If you go on a road trip to visit The Foggy places in the area, check out the Brands to learn about some of the many amazing Several are LGBTQ owned and operated!

https://www.humboldtmade.com/

Cody earned his Bachelors in Range Land Management and started his career on a private label organic meat company manag ing their poultry division. Years after explor ing the world, Cody and Thomas finally married in 2016. The farm has been growing ever since!

initiated by the the growth of a diverse array of makers bring entrepreneurs together, identify nesses, and through networking and collaboration, achieve great things together. Creating sales beyond Humboldt’s borders was able, local economy.

Executive

friend of The Foggy

Bay Times.

Thomas and Cody Nicholson Stratton with their son and other family members

Cody, Silas and Thomas

Award-winning Sheep

Wool Dryer Balls

County of Humboldt in 2010 to spur makers and producers. The idea was to their common strengths and weak collaboration, overcome obstacles and Creating brand awareness and increased key, the end result being a sustain

Executive Director of Humboldt Made Foggy Bottoms Boys featured in this He took the photos of them, so that proj through the images.

“I was born and raised in Humboldt, spending about 16 years in Atlanta. I took past spring, and am expanding the collective.”

Foggy Bottoms Boys’ farm or other Brands section of the Humboldt Made site amazing businesses in Humboldt County. operated!

The gay-owned and operated Foggy Bottoms Boys farm is one of several small farms that supplies organic milk to the Rumiano Cheese Company, which is California’s oldest family-owned cheese company. Before discovering the Foggy Bottoms Boys, members of our San Francisco Bay Times team knew about Rumiano—seeing and buying it from time to time at popular local stores such as the Rainbow Grocery, Safeway, Nob Hill Foods, and more—but did not really think about how it is made.

It was interesting to learn, for example, that all the dairies providing milk to Rumiano are within a 100-mile radius, thereby reducing the carbon dioxide output from milk trucks and limiting the use of fossil fuels. Rumiano’s entire organic cheese line, organic butter, and organic whey protein were the first in the world to achieve Non-GMO Project Verification!

Rumiano additionally goes the extra mile for grass-fed milk production. The mild Northwestern coast of California has prime weather for grazing and pasture time. Year-round access to pastures and naturally growing coastal grasses are imperative to the company’s def inition of grass-fed feeding. Open pasture time and natural grazing allow the cows to roam freely and make high-quality milk. Haylage and silage are used for feed when the weather is too wet and cold for pasture time, which is seldom. The grass-feeding methodology benefits the animals and consumers by helping produce healthy and humane dairy products.

Grass-fed and pasture-raised cows allowed to move freely and eat a natural diversified diet are much healthier, but farmers note that the cows seem much happier, too. Small-scale farmers often name their cows and recognize that they are social beings who are happi est when they have room to roam and socialize with others in their herd, which in the end produces a much healthier end product.

Rumiano and others in this section do not advertise with the Bay Times —we wish they did!—but we are proud to promote companies and small farms and businesses like this that produce very high quality products and are committed to the health of both the planet and future generations.

https://rumianocheese.com/

Directions

1. In a large cast iron skil let, sauté onion and bell peppers along with all the spices and herbs until softened.

2. Add tomatoes to skillet, tomato sauce, and sugar and simmer for 10 minutes until the mixture begins to reduce.

3. Create six wells with a wooden spoon and crack one farm fresh egg into each.

4. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover to cook until the egg whites set.

5. Remove from stove top and garnish with chevre, parsley, and mint.

6. Serve hot with challah or pita.

Bottoms Boys

Directions

The evening prior: 1. Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water. 2. Dissolve sugar and salt in milk and add to yeast. 3. Blend yeast mixture with sifted flour and beat until smooth.

Add egg yolks and beat again.

Blend in shortening.

6. Cover and allow to rise over night.

In the morning:

1. Beat egg whites until they peak; fold them into the batter.

2. Heat an aebleskiver pan over medium heat until hot. (Note: You can also cook them in a skillet or other type of pan.)

Rumiano Easy and Airy Cheese Soufflé

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375° F. Grease one 16-ounce or two 8-ounce rame kins with 1 tablespoon of Rumiano Organic Butter. Coat with Rumiano Organic Grated Parmesan, then tap out the excess. Set aside.

2. In a small saucepan, over medium heat, melt the remaining butter. Stir in the flour and cook 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and cook, stirring con stantly, until the sauce boils, 1 min ute. Remove from heat and stir in the Rumiano Organic Medium Cheddar cheese until melted. Blend in the cay enne and nutmeg. Whisk in the yolks one at a time. Set aside.

3. In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites with the salt until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Stir 1/4 of the egg whites into the cheese sauce to loosen it. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites. Spoon into the ramekins.

4. Bake until puffed and browned, 40 minutes for a 16-ounce soufflé, 20 minutes for two smaller ones. Serve immediately.

3. Brush holes with butter and nearly fill each with batter (about 2 Tbsp of bat ter per hole).

4. When the batter bubbles around edges, use a fork or skewer to flip and cook until both sides are golden brown.

5. Top with desired topping(s) and serve.

Sriracha Jack Tacos

corn tortillas

shredded Redwood Coast Sriracha Jack Cheese

chopped tomatoes

shredded lettuce

to taste

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over mediumhigh heat. Add onion and cook for 1–2 minutes, until softened. Add ground beef, breaking up with a spatula as it cooks, until browned. 2. Add water, chili powder, and cumin to meat. Stir, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. 3. To assemble, warm corn tortillas. Fill with beef, lettuce, and tomatoes. Top with salsa and shredded Redwood Coast Sriracha Jack cheese.

Rumiano

The Foggy Bottoms Boys Aebleskivers (Danish Pancake Balls)

Rumiano Perky and Peppery Stovetop Mac & Cheese

Photos courtesy of NIck Bown-Crawford and The Foggy Bottoms Boys

Thomas Nicholson Stratton

Poet in Residence

A Poem for Thanksgiving 2022 Harvesting Gratitude

Spring may be sexy, but Fall is sassy: grapes, gourds, persimmons, brisk air, falling leaves. I think of each falling leaf as a kiss. Those we smooch in real time and those we kiss only in memory. While remembering, let us cherish this moment on Mother Earth: rainbows, clouds and especially food.

Shared meals unite love and story. Ah! the tales imbedded within each family recipe. Who knew, Aunt Maud put a drop of vodka in the potatoes. We chuckle at what we no longer endure: soggy green bean casseroles, gelatin salads, dishes showcasing marshmallows.

Sometimes the remembering is bittersweet. One less friend at the table. May the empty chair be a blessing to her memory. In this and every season, let us share abundantly our gifts, talents, smiles. May we harvest gratitude daily.

Kit Kennedy

Photographer Stacy Boorn

Kit Kennedy is the Poet-inResidence of the “San Francisco Bay Times” and at herchurch Ebenezer Lutheran http://www.herchurch.org/ She has published 5 poetry collections, and for several years hosted the poetry series at Gallery Café.

For more information, please visit her blog: http://poetrybites.blogspot.com

TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation

Dr. Tim Seelig

If you are an occasional reader of this column, you know I love telling stories and sometimes wacky anal ogies. Two months ago, I regaled you with the joys of Portlandia, my new home (not the TV show.) Last month, my article was all about transitions (not the lenses). It was all about those in between times, wait ing, pondering, preparing for what ever is next. Those are the times of uncomfortable limbo, not a restful vacation.

We know it’s time to get out of our chairs and start the next part of the journey—movin’ on. As I thought about it, I found lots of colorful analogies to describe the “change of life.” I thought about travel, of course, taking the first step of a journey. I thought about getting into the game, i.e. sportsball. But, unlike Lay’s Potato Chips, I actu ally can have just one. Therefore, for today’s sermon, I’ve narrowed it down to caches! I’ll save sportsball and travel for another day.

We’ve all been in situations where the next steps are unclear or com pletely unknown. I know from firsthand experience that there are moments of panic. I have certainly had them over the last year since deciding to make a huge change in my own life. Even with all the plan ning, most life changes still include moments of staring out into space wondering if this new adventure will work or not. You look ahead, of course, and back. Looking back is most definitely not all it’s cracked up to be. It most definitely takes unnecessary focus away from the movin’ on required.

In that semi-frozen state, things are just unclear and messy. There are still a few things you need to take care of to move out with a clear focus and mind. Wrapping up this stage can be confusing. It feels like the times I get frustrated with my computer and don’t know what’s wrong. I push all the buttons and keys—a lot. Finally, my I.T. guy, Dan, comes to the rescue with a solution that should have seemed simple: “When was the last time you restarted your computer?” I’m either too embarrassed to answer or have no idea. Nine times out of ten, it works. It needed a break (from me!). In these times, I know I also need to restart my brain.

But things are still clogged. The next instruction comes my way. “When was the last time you cleared out the cache?” My what? Well, apparently this is a hugely important step. Apparently, we are carrying around a lot of hidden baggage from past interweb interac tions that are keeping us from see ing clearly. We have no space for the new adventure if we don’t clear

out the cache. This applies to every area of life.

We can do this. We can let go of the baggage we’ve been carrying that we no longer need. Here are the instructions. Go to brain settings. Go to tools. Select Preferences. Choose the one that says, “My pref erence is to start with a clean slate, thank you.” It is hilarious that, as I wrote this, I received an email from Google One, “We partnered with tidying expert Marie Kondo to help you easily organize your emails and files.” It’s obviously something everyone experiences.

Marie would be so proud. If the jumble in your cache doesn’t spark joy, get rid of it. Breathe. Delete.

Years ago, before I moved to San Francisco, I was going through a period when I was forgetting things—really normal things. I was freaked out. I was so concerned; my physician suggested a full neuro psych evaluation. It lasted over 2 days. I found it fascinating. When I arrived, the evaluator said, “You’re going to the store. You are going to get milk, cherries, pants, lettuce, shampoo, and a hammer.” Repeat that back to me. That was that and off we went to the other tests. Periodically during the sessions, the evaluator would randomly ask what I was getting at the store. I nailed the grocery list every time.

After a few weeks, I went to the doctor’s office for the report. I was sweating like a you know what in church. I was just certain he was

going to describe a terrible irrevers ible malady. He immediately set my mind at ease by telling me I was not crazy. (Well, not according to his tests!) and I was pretty smart. I was also not suffering any damage or deterioration of my brain func tions. In my session, the doctor who was sharing the results described it as overload.

Out of protection of too much input, my brain had put things in folders and filed some of the infor mation away—in folders that were not easily accessible. Maybe they had been filed away in the dark recesses of my brain cache. Looking back, I can’t imagine why I was overloaded. I was the Artistic Director for the Turtle Creek Chorale, The Women’s Chorus of Dallas, adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University, on book tours with several books and guest-conducting. I had a home, partner, and 3 dogs to boot. As I was leaving the doctor’s office, he asked what I needed to get at the store. I remembered. Still do.

Based on his diagnosis, his prescrip tion was either to cut something out of my crazy life or keep forgetting insignificant things that were sig nificant to me. I heard, “Girl, stop trying to be all things to all people. Someone else can do some of those jobs.” What? Now he was con fused! About this same time, I had sought professional help from a psy chiatrist for my workaholism. After finding out what I did, he basically endorsed my work ethic. “You’re

doing good for the world.” We did, of course, discuss the origins of my “problem” and the question, “When is enough, enough?” As you might expect, it dated back to my father’s German work ethos and the little gay boy inside who kept trying to overachieve to gain approval.

There’s the old saying, “No one ever gets to the pearly gates wish ing they had worked one more day.” Wrong. I’ll be that person. I love to work. I live to work. You can’t tell me it’s wrong. Many have tried. That being said, several things in the last years sat me down and forced me to narrow the things I was doing—chief among them was COVID. Coming out of that period absolutely informed me not to pick up the crazy again.

I feel quite certain you have had to reinvent yourself in your life. I have shifted gears many, many time and many of those shifts have been huge. I went from graduating from college as a single man at 10 am to married man at 2 pm the same day (lest I stray). I transitioned from an opera singer in Europe, which had been my lifelong dream, to a pro fessor and minister in Houston (Houston is kind of like the Swiss Alps, but different). I transitioned from married to single, hetero (ish) to gay. When that happened, I tran sitioned to “waving my arms at the gays” for the next 35 years.

Now I am at what is surely the final big change—no more waving my

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The Bay Times was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men. We honor our history and the paper’s ability to build and strengthen unity in our community.

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

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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 PhOTOgRaPheRS Rink, Phyllis Costa, Sparks, Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Joanie Juster

Ph.D.

With the holiday season upon us, I am reminded how my mother first reacted to the story of Santa Claus. My sister is the one who first told her about the bearded fellow in a bright red suit and hat. Our family, new to the U.S. from Puerto Rico, was then living in New York City.

Upon hearing about Santa Claus, my mother grew very concerned, since she thought that he was a real man who might take advantage of inno cent children! It took a while for my sister to assure her that Santa is now a mythical figure, whose leg end has been integrated into Western Christmas observances.

Latin American countries have their own range of customs, traditions, and ways to celebrate this holiday season. For those of Christian faiths, nativity scene displays or nacimien

tos are very common. Many Latinx families do not display the baby Jesus in these scenes until Christmas night. Starting December 16, it is common in Latin America for people to go caroling, known as participating in posa das. In Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, the posadas or parrandas usually occur on Christmas Eve, with carolers going from house to house with musical and percussion instruments and being invited, in return, to share a beverage with the homeowners and other residents.

In Mexico and Guatemala, groups parade through towns, knocking on doors and asking for lodging through their singing and chants. Some posa das are very elaborate and may include Mary riding a donkey and people playing musical instruments while going door to door. The Novena of Aquinaldos is a tradition for many families in Columbia, Ecuador, and parts of Venezuela. It involves gath ering for nine days of prayer, feast ing, and singing religious songs.

La Misa del Gallo or midnight mass on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) is com monly practiced throughout Latin America. Many celebrate beforehand with piñatas made of papier-mâché that blindfolded chil dren try to break with a stick until the candy and treats inside fall, symbol izing God’s blessings.

The types of food for this holiday season vary greatly depend ing on the country. For Puerto Ricans, Christmas is celebrated with their traditional Pasteles de Masa

made out of puréed tropical root veg etables, such as yuca and plantains, formed into a masa dough that is filled with a meat stew and wrapped in banana leaves, tied in parchment paper, and boiled until the masa is cooked through. This is accompa nied with savory roasted pork ( per nil ) or chicken and yellow rice with pigeon peas ( gandules).

Cocoquito, a form of eggnog made of coconut milk with rum, is com monly shared among Puerto Ricans. Tamales are common among Mexicans for the holiday season as well as their soup pozole made of hominy and pork. A steak dish (el asado Argentino) is common for Argentineans. In Guatemala, el panche de frutas (fruit punch) is a common beverage. In Chile, cola de mono or colemano is an adult bever age of the holidays. Buñuelos (dough nuts) are sweetened with honey and sugar shaped as a small ball for dessert. Arroz con leche, or rice pudding, is very common, with some using coconut milk to flavor this dessert. Flan, natilla (a Columbian cus tard), and tres leches cake are other popular Latinx holiday desserts.

People in Latin America ring in the new year with food, fireworks, and fun. Pyrotechnic displays are quite common in public squares in Chile,

Guatemala, Brazil, and Mexico. In Brazil, wear ing white clothing is expected because it sym bolizes a new beginning. White-clad individu als then often dance the night away to samba music and enjoy the fire works. In other coun tries, wearing yellow underwear is believed to bring prosperity while red underwear is said to bring love. In Ecuador, some men wear drag, symbolizing the widows of the past. In other Latin American countries, life-size dolls or dummies made of papier-mâché are displayed in parades.

The Christmas season in Latin American countries extends through January 6, which is Día de Los Reyes, a celebration of the three wise men who visited Christ. Although Christmas is a time to exchange gifts, Día de Los Reyes is the day when children receive toys. So even with out “scary” Santa Claus, Latinx kids look forward to being happily sur prised by gifts that day.

Eduardo Morales, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus, retired Distinguished Professor, and cur rent 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 dis tinguished awards and citations, including being named a Fellow of 12 divisions of the American Psychological Association.

Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor 1978

Nuestra Voz

Eduardo Morales,

Nacimiento

Piñata

Tamales

(Editor’s Note: This issue of the San Francisco Bay Times launches a new col umn by musician Kippy Marks con cerning the Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco, which is a non-profit, predominantly LGBTQ fundraising organization. It was formed in 1973 as a more camp-oriented response to San Francisco’s Imperial Court System.

Grand Duchess I, H.L. Perry

Over the next several months, Marks—who previously authored another column for the Bay Times and is a Grand Ducal Council member— will highlight individuals and moments in the Council’s history leading up to the organization’s 50th Anniversary Gala on September 22, 2023. For this first entry, Marks spot lights H.L. Perry, the Council’s found er. While Perry died in 2021, his great legacy lives on.)

“Oath of Office:

Grand Duke ______, do you solemnly swear

to maintain and keep honorable the title of Grand Duke of San Francisco; To conduct yourself with Dignity and in the Spirit of CAMP during the year of your reign; To support the Community and the Board of Directors and Trustees whenever needed. Do you swear to uphold and be governed by the Rules and Regulations of your office and the

Corporation, which owns your title? So help you.”

These are the words that each mon arch must swear to and adhere to in their year of community service to the Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco (GDCSF) that H.L. Perry founded in 1973. Prior to the found ing of the GDCSF, Perry was already a dedicated community activist and supporter and gave 10% of all fund raising efforts to the MCC (Metropolitan Community Church).

Perry owned the Blue & Gold and Frisco Disco bars in the 1970s. He served on the Board of Directors for the Tavern Guild, which was founded by the League of Civil Education that became the structure of the gay rights movement, helping to create such organizations as the Society of Individual Rights in addition to the Guild, which was the first gay

business association in the country. It quickly became a political entity that protected bartenders, patrons, and bar owners from unfair treatment by the Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC). It helped to set drink prices and even established a phone networking system to track the ABC and unfair police raids. The Guild was also known for fundraising that included dances, auctions, day trips, social gatherings, and drag entertainment.

Perry attempted three times to become Empress of San Francisco, but each effort was unsuc cessful. During his time serving on the board of the Guild, Perry estab lished the underwear event Mr. Gay San Francisco in 1971. Later, Mr. Gay San Francisco would become the Mister and Miss Gay San Francisco pageant that he trademarked. Eventually, he passed it to the bar Kimo’s in 1984. Three years later, Remy Martin, who was part of the MCC, bought it and gifted it to the Imperial Court.

In 1972, Perry placed an

ad in the Gay Crusader announcing a new contest through the Helping Hands gay community center, which was then on Turk Street. The contest had voting done by the public with ballots printed and available at cooperating businesses and gay centers. Perry won the contest easily, became the first Grand Duchess of San Francisco, and formed the new “rebel” organization to be known as the Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco. It was the first time that two courts would share the same territory. Perry trademarked the titles in 1973 and issued the Council’s first official Proclamation on September 20 of that year.

Perry reigned as Grand Duchess I under the title of “The House of Cinderfella” with the colors of blue and silver as the official royal colors until step down in 1974. These colors still remain, and every new monarch has branded these colors at all Ducal Ball Coronations henceforth.

During this first reign, Perry created

Celebrating 50 Years of the Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco

Kippy Marks

(left to right) Czarina de Miracle Mile Luscious Lorelei; Then SF Reigning Empress VI Cristal; Empress I José; Empress of Canada Ted North; Grand Duchess I H.L. Perry, and Richard

Grand Duchess I, H.L. Perry

PHOTO BY KIM CHIDESTER

Tenderloin Tessie Free Thanksgiving Dinner 2022 Will Include Music, Hair Cuts

For over 40 years, Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners has fed the community of San Francisco on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Volunteers work hard to prepare a bountiful meal and a gift bag for all patrons in a wel coming environment. The dinners average a thousand people each holiday and take place at the First Unitarian Universalist Church at the corner of Franklin Street and Geary Boulevard. Everyone is welcome!

This year’s Tenderloin Tessie Thanksgiving Dinner will take place on November 24 from 1–4 pm. Patrons are asked to bring their ID and proof of COVID-19 vaccina tion, but no one will be turned away.

“Tenderloin Tessie is an all-volunteer organization that includes the Board Members,” President Michael Gagne told the San Francisco Bay Times. “Not only do we feed those in need, but we also provide them with a gift bag and clothing when they leave.”

He added, “We also provide them with live entertain ment. This year that will be from The Songstress of Tenderloin Tessie, Vanessa Bousay!”

And, he said, “For Thanksgiving 2022, we will be providing free haircuts.”

Tessie was the drag name of Perry Spink, a local per former/bartender who was very famil iar with the people and character of the Tenderloin District in San Francisco during the 1960s and ‘70s.

Legend has it that on Thanksgiving in 1974, he received sev eral turkeys and was inspired to cook and serve them to the local Tenderloin residents (with the help of lessthan-sober bar bud dies). It was a gesture that showed the San Francisco community that no matter who you were, there was someone who cared.

The dinners contin ued on a monthly basis for a while. “It was a Godsend for the little blue-haired women of the neigh borhood who were trying to live off meager social security checks,” the Tenderloin Tessie website holds.

These dinners, served on the last Thursdays of the month, garnered Tessie many honors and she earned the title of Empress 15 in 1980.

Along with the dinners, Tessie started the tradition of giving gift bags with the meals, a tradition that lives on today. These bags con tain donated items such as toiletries, socks, gloves, and an assortment of non-perishable food.

Sadly, Tessie died in 1984, but the meals continued on an uneven basis. Three years later, the name Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners was created and the meals became a holiday tradition three times a year. They were served at a church on the

The meals were a very satisfy ing way to help the community, but were becoming very large and were a great deal of work and stress for the few volunteers who loosely made up the board at the time. The pro gram suffered a severe blow when the church burned to the ground in 1995. With the board in limbo and no place to stage the meals, many members felt it was time to move on.

A new board came together and the meals were moved to the pres ent location, the First Unitarian Universalist Church on Franklin and Geary. Since that time, the organi zation has become a non-profit and is stronger than ever and always mindful of the original mission of Tenderloin Tessie to help anyone in need.

corner of Eddy and Gough and began focusing on the needs of the growing num ber of homeless and those suffering from AIDS.

Servers David and Michelle assist with bringing food to tables.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TENDERLOIN TESSIE

PHOTO COURTESY OF TENDERLOIN TESSIE

By Donna Sachet

As many of our readers undoubtedly know, thanks to Facebook and other social media tools, we recently spent a week in sunny Palm Springs for their Pride Celebration. Since this column is devoted to the happenings closer to home, we won’t go into great detail about that trip, but will simply mention three things. First, the sheer number of transplanted San Franciscans now residing in the Palm Springs area is astounding, resulting in frequent reunions with friends and memories shared. Second, if you do find yourself there, please make a point of visiting the pop-up museum dedicated to the late José Sarria, one of our true pioneers, visionaries, and trail blazers. The collection of memorabilia, largely made possible by Gene Brake of the Imperial Court of San Antonio, will amaze you and certainly confirm José’s rightful place in the California Hall of Fame, an honor still not confirmed, but indisputably deserved. And third, as much as we enjoyed our trip, loved being spoiled by our generous host Tom Ray, and marveled at the variety and energy of nightlife there, we remain a San Franciscan, confident that even more wonders, excitement, and fulfillment are right around the corner!

Last Saturday night, The Academy continued its tradition of Legends Awards, recognizing a variety of individuals within our communi ty who are doing important work that benefits us all. The ceremony itself was more professional than ever, held in the adjacent Swedish American Hall and featuring hostess Sister Roma, performances by Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, Andrew Bundy, and Katy Stephen, and an enthusiastic audience that reflected the rich diversity The Academy includes. We were honored to present the Diane Jones Solidarity Award to Race Bannon; Debra Walker gave the Architect Award to the artists who created the stunning mural outside Oasis, J. Manuel Carmona, Simon Malvas, Serge Gay Jr, Elliot C. Nathan, and Xtopher J. McCutcheon; and Mercedez

Munro gave Kochina Rude the Exemplar Award. Finally, State Senator Scott Wiener recognized this year’s Legend Award recipient Graylin Thornton, who gave a humble and gracious acceptance speech. Most attendees then adjourned to The Academy next door for an after-party hosted by this columnist, where cocktails and conversa tions continued into the night. Next time you are at The Academy, look for the latest Legend symbol, a handsome leather Drummer vest, donated by Graylin.

The next day, we were back to full swing with three events, starting at Patricia’s Green on Octavia Boulevard for Absolute Empress XXV Marlena’s birthday celebration. For the past sev eral years, Emperor William Bulkley has organized this mid-day al fresco gathering of friends with Champagne and cake honoring Marlena, right in front of the building that used to be home to her eponymous bar. The sun was shining, her friends were smiling, and Marlena was showered with love.

We then dashed to OMG on Sixth Street for the “Out of This World” themed Investiture of recently elected Grand Duke Gregg Starr and Grand Duchess Kelly Rose. The club was packed with local and visiting supporters who enjoyed several performances, including a sweet duet with the Monarchs, and received titles and recognitions. The chosen charities for the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess are La Casa de las Madres, Castro Country Club, and SF Night Ministry. This couple is off to a great start and we look forward to seeing them all over, raising money and spreading fun wherever they go.

Our final official stop was Beaux for Mama G’s Drag Night with host ess Ruby Red Munro. This girl knows how to pull a show together and raise some money! The entertainment was amazing, including Mercedez Munro, Alexis Miranda, Black Opal Munro, Natalie Ray, Sage Sanchez Munro, and more. Rarely do we see such a diverse crowd, such a variety of entertainers, and such a warm and welcoming feel ing at an event. Mama G’s 14th annual Thanksgiving Dinner for those in need will certainly welcome the nearly $1000 raised that night.

Of course, being right there in the Castro, we felt obligated to check out a couple of other establishments, so we joined Alexis for a quick bar tour, running into friends all along the way, including CoCo Butter, Jon Folmsbee, and Jose Serna at Midnight Sun and Dan O’Leary at Twin Peaks.

Finally, although it is not included yet in the adja cent calendar of upcoming events, we are happy to announce that Brian Kent is again producing Songs of the Season at Feinstein’s, Tuesday and Wednesday, December 6 and 7, 7 pm. You won’t believe the cavalcade of singers he has assembled! You won’t believe the incredible music you will hear! And you won’t believe what we’ll be wearing! See for yourself in December, as always, benefiting PRC. Yes, the holiday season is closer than you think!

Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activ ist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.

Saturday, November 19

Klassy vs. Trashy: The Final Chapter 13th & final annual drag battle

Benefits Kippy Marks Recovery Fund Midnight Sun, 4067 18th St. 4–7 pm Free! But tips encouraged

Saturday, November 19

Golden Gate Guards Retirement Ceremony

Celebrating 36 years with food, drinks & friends Final charitable disbursements SF Eagle Tavern, 398 12th St. 6–8 pm Free!

Sunday, November 20

FIFA LGBT Protest: Love Is Not a Crime Soccer-themed event highlighting Qatar’s criminality Dr. Nas Mohamed of Qatar Lookout, 3600 16th St. 2–7 pm Free!

Sunday, November 27

Giving Thanks for Steve Cabaret tribute to Stephen Sondheim Carly Ozard, Donna Sachet, Jennifer Martinelli & more Barry Lloyd on piano Martuni’s, 4 Valencia St. 7 pm $20–25

Monday, November 28

Castro Holiday Tree Lighting Annual tradition w/Donna Sachet, Freedom Band, SFGMC & more Bank of America Castro 6 pm Free!

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”

–John C. Maxwell

Donna Sachet with entertainer Katya Smirnoff Skyy and City of San Francisco Police Commissioner Debra Walker at The Academy’s Legends Awards 2022 held at the Swedish American Hall on Saturday, November 12

PHOTO BY RINK

better job of upholding and protecting the reproductive rights of women than the courts or state legislatures.

Councilmember At-Large and Council President Rebecca Kaplan, who is the Vice Mayor of Oakland, was elected in 2008 to serve as Oakland’s citywide Councilmember; she was re-elected in 2016 and 2020. She also serves on the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC).

Follow Councilmember Kaplan on Twitter @Kaplan4Oakland ( https://tinyurl.com/2p974fmk ) and Facebook ( https://tinyurl.com/34c3zkrv ).

MARKS (continued from pg 15)

“The Royal Bunny Contest” and on October 12, Duchess Perry announced a “Gay Social Service Day” and started the annual canned food drive that would acquaint queer San Francisco with the many social services available to them that are fun and campy, and also encouraged greater community participation in these services. Perry additionally founded Atlantis House in 1973. It was a halfway house for gay ex-cons. In 2006, Perry was recognized by the California State Senate as a “gay icon.”

Perry gave so much back through service and love for his beloved commu nity and fellow humankind. He gave us all something honorable to aspire to, and with five generations of community service, we celebrate and honor the continued growth of this prestigious organization within the LGBTQI+ communities. From now through September 22, 2023, we will highlight these five generations of our College of Monarchs and the com munity service that each did.

We encourage all San Franciscans to attend the 50th Anniversary Gala on September 22, 2023, at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Join the GDCSF for an evening of fun and campy celebration of its legacy of raising funds for all San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties.

Please consider becoming a sponsor. Inquiries: 50thanniversary@sfducal.org https://www.sfducal.org/

Kippy Marks is Grand Duke XL of The Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco. He is the first ever elected African-American Grand Duke.

Dayton, Ohio, who lost his husband, Jason Neto, at a young age. According to LGBTQ Nation, Frye bought a double plot in Catholic Calvary Cemetery, since Jason, who died of a heart attack in 2020, was Catholic. Frye also installed a double headstone with both their names, and the line: “Married 23 July, 2016.”

Frye had checked with the cemetery people to make sure two gay men were allowed to be bur ied together, and he was told it was no problem. Yet when he returned a few months after the headstone was erected, he found it was missing. The cemetery told him the stone was removed “for maintenance,” but when it returned, the line with the marriage was simply gone. Someone had literally chiseled it out and smoothed over the stone.

At first, Frye got no explanation from the author ities at Calvary, but after hiring a lawyer, the tune changed. Earlier this month, Frye told the local TV. station that Calvary “offered a full and uncondi tional apology for their mistake and expressed a sin cere interest in making amends and in restoring the memorial boulder to its original state or an accept able equivalent.”

Cavalry confirmed, adding: “We will be working with the engraver to restore the memorial immedi ately.”

Nothing like lawyers and the local news cameras to get the ball rolling back in the right direction. But what were they thinking?

Peppa Pig to The Dark Side

Have you noticed that they’re starting to air those disturbing commercials with cold stray dogs shiver ing through a winter night because (your name here, you self-centered skinflint!) refused to send money to the SPCA? The sad creatures are curled up behind the dumpster in an alley, abandoned by humankind like the little match girl who froze to death in front of the cheerful bakery window. Can’t you help?

What? You have to buy Christmas presents, pay your rent, buy a plane ticket to Chicago, and donate to the Warnock campaign? But the animals!

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but to my shame I have no problem watching the ad about the old peo ple with no money for food, yet I have to mute the sound on the hungry dogs.

In other animal news, albeit animated animals, One Million Moms has come out from under a rock to send an “alert” to parents:

“Many parents have found the prominent animated children’s program Peppa Pig to be a clean show,” they began. “One Million Moms has recently found this to be no longer true. Peppa Pig has added a samesex polar bear couple to the program.”

SEELIG (continued from pg 13)

Oh, no!

“In the Peppa Pig episode titled ‘Families,’” Moms inform us, “a polar bear cub speaks about her les bian parents to her class.”

“‘I’m Penny Polar Bear. I live with my mommy and my other mommy,’ the cartoon character explains to her classmates. ‘One mommy is a doctor, and one mommy cooks spaghetti. I love spaghetti.’”

“So, beware,” warn the Moms. “Peppa Pig is now boldly glorifying gay marriage.”

Bad pig! No slop.

More Information, Please

I intended to skip the fraught subject of puberty blockers this week. Did any of you read that lengthy article in The New York Times the other day? It seems that puberty blockers may in some cases have a neg ative impact on bone health, depending on when they are administered, how long they’re taken, and how quickly hormones are started after the block ers are halted. That negative impact, in turn, can be mild and reversible, or quite severe and harmful. It all depends on a number of other factors.

Of course, the decision to use puberty blockers depends on many factors as well. How confident is your child about his or her gender identity at, let’s say, age 10 or 11? How much do you trust your med ical and psychiatric experts? Bone health is put at risk by many cancer treatments, which are still pur sued when it seems the risk to bones is outweighed by the positive aspects of the treatments. It may well be the case that the risk to bone health is worth tak ing, given the value of puberty blockers to the life of a transgender tween.

Or not. Maybe your child is experimenting with gender and can’t articulate to themselves or to you what the future will hold. Let’s just say that osteo porosis at age 15 is not on anyone’s list of good out comes for that future.

The problem is that politicians, particularly rightwingers, don’t deal in gray areas or uncertainties. And yet that is exactly where we are in terms of transgender care for pre-teen children, an area that is growing not only because more trans kids are rec ognizing themselves in society, but also because more kids in general look at their identities more broadly.

At any rate, I decided not to bring up the subject because I thought I’d find it hard to limit the topic to a few paragraphs. And voila, I was right. More on this, I’m sure.

arostow@aol.com

arms for a living! As you know, Chapter #1 was Big Ol’ Baptist. Chapter #2 was Big Ol’ Gay. Chapter #3 is Big Ol’ Gay Retiree!

That final chapter is still a mystery. I haven’t figured out the details, but some of the components are coming into focus (along with my cataract surgery!) I do know at the core of Chapter 3 is my life’s mis sion of making a difference in peoples’ lives in whatever medium I am given. I’m not ready to sit in my rocking chair and wonder. Stay tuned for Chapter #3. I’m pretty sure it’s going to have something to do with speaking. Now I just have to find folks to talk at! But my mental cache is at least clear. I’ve made room for new things to fill those spaces. No more excuses. Off we go into the wild blue yonder. If you look both ways, you’ll be just fine when you take that first step!

Dr. Tim Seelig is the Conductor Laureate of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. http://www.timseelig.com/

SNAPSHOTS

(Left to Right) Sparks and Sierra with Kathy Levinson and Naomi Fine, longtime supporters of NCLR, who launched a $25,000 chal lenge match during the NCLR Dinner program.

Nationally known author, playwright and poet Jewelle Gomez, who is a columnist for San Francisco Bay Times, with Sparks at the Marriott Marquis Hotel ballroom. See the article by Gomez in this issue on page 29.

San Francisco Bay Times welcomes contributing photographer Sparks, whose images will capture special moments in the Bay Area’s LGBTQ community, such as these from the NCLR 45th Anniversary Dinner on Friday, November 11.

NCLR

“NCLR @ 45.”

Honorees

https://www.nclrights.org/

NCLR Gala Dinner & Party - 45th Anniversary

Known

“Champions

Photos by Rink

by many as the “Top Lesbian Party of the Year,” NCLR’s annual gala and dinner took place for 2022 on Friday, November 11, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel and City View at Metreon in San Francisco.

for Justice” was the theme of the program introduced by emcee Cameron Esposito and Board Co-Chair Dr. Elisa Huerta with Michael Tate serving as the live auctioneer.

Executive Director Imani Rupert-Gordon presented the keynote address,

included recording artist Gina Chávez, Voice & Visibility Award; filmmaker and star Abbi Jacobson (Broad City and A League of Their Own), Voice & Visibility Award; and Courage Awards were presented to Cameron Wright, Texas student and activist; and University of Alabama professors of pediatrics Dr. Morissa Landinsky, MD, and Hussein Abdullatif, MD.

As You Like It: A Musical Love Letter to the SF Queer Community

Bay Times. “I really love Shaina Taub’s take on As You Like It. Taking a play that is already fundamentally queer (men playing women playing men, women falling in love with women playing men), and making it explicitly queer is really exciting.”

“All gender is a performance in some way or another,” added River Navaille.

alter-ego, they explore their own true identity and long for Orlando to see them for who they truly are.

During the rehearsal process, Reaves is exploring how his identity as a trans male actor influences his character, who falls in love with the male clown Touchstone, played by actor Nicholas Yenson. “I think the fact that I am a trans actor plays more deeply into the play’s themes of ‘love beyond gender.’

In the world of the play, there’s no gay or straight; there are just people and stories of how they find and fall in love, regardless of gender.”

Reaves also works with director Bill English and Yenson to further investigate the characters’ love story: “Audrey was written as a woman who is passionately pursuing Touchstone, and is meant as comedic relief, at the expense of women. Audrey is supposed to be the butt of the joke because she is nagging Touchstone into commitment, and he is trying to

escape. We tried to find ways to flesh out Andy into a living breathing person with a deep well of emotions, who is in love with Touchstone, yes, but is self-confident enough to walk away. We are making choices with the delivery of the text that better reflects the communities we are a part of and the kinds of queer relationships we see.”

Reaves encourages theatre lovers from the Bay Area’s queer communities and beyond to see the show. “This is an electric explosion of queer love and joy, which we see far too little of! This production is feel-good, familyfriendly, and queer community-oriented! What more could you ask for?”

San Francisco Playhouse presents a new musical adaptation of As You Like It November 17, 2022, through January 14, 2023. Tickets and information can be found by calling the box office at 415-677-9596 or visiting https://www.sfplayhouse.org

Starting performances tonight, San Francisco Playhouse breathes new life into the Bard’s beloved play As You Like It as an imaginative musical, perfect for audiences of all ages this holiday season.

Presented in hit productions by The Public Theater’s Public Works program, the exhilarating musical features an original folk-pop score by one of theatre’s most exciting new voices, Shaina Taub, whose work includes Off-Broadway’s Suffs, Twelfth Night seen at the San Francisco Playhouse last season, and The Devil Wears Prada musical with Sir Elton John. Taub teamed up with Laurie Woolery to transform this tale of exiles finding community in the idyllic woods into an exuberant testament to acceptance and diversity, serving as an apt reminder of what’s possible in today’s divisive era.

The radical inclusion spotlighted in this new version of As You Like It includes bringing gender exploration and queer relationships centerstage. It subverts the heteronormative relationships typically found in productions of Shakespeare’s work with genderbent characters (Audrey becomes Andy and Sylvius becomes Sylvia),

providing fresh new layers and spotlighting the universality of these love stories.

Trans male actor Ezra Reaves, who plays the part of Andy in the Playhouse’s production, exclaimed, “This is by far the queerest Shakespeare show I’ve ever done and a true love letter to the San Francisco Queer community!”

The examination of gender identity is not new when looking at Shakespeare’s work. “Queerness and Shakespeare are intrinsically linked for me,” Reaves told the San Francisco

“Shakespeare corroborates this with As You Like It’s timeless phrase, ‘All the world’s a stage.’”

Navaille, a nonbinary actor, plays Rosalind in San Francisco Playhouse’s production. Even in Shakespeare’s original play, Rosalind disguises herself as a man named Ganymede for safety when the character faces exile, experimenting with gender expression. “Rosalind’s story is one I completely relate to,” said Navaille. “No one ever transitions gender expression without undertaking enormous risk. Physical safety and basic needs are primary and never guaranteed.”

This new musical version of As You Like It takes Rosalind’s journey with gender expression a step further, with Taub’s lyrics allowing Navaille to delve deeper. “Early in the show, I sing, ‘Rosalind, just play the girl that you’re supposed to be ... but if they only knew what’s dying to come out from underneath this costume,’” said Navaille. “For this Rosalind, the performance of prescribed femininity, as well as the restrictive conditions for women in the court, is an oppressive ‘costume’ that just doesn’t fit the bright and multi-faceted being underneath.” When Rosalind (as Ganymede) meets their crush Orlando in the woods as this

Photos by Jessica Palopoli

Touchstone (Nicholas Yenson) and Andy (Ezra Reaves)

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

Sister Dana sez, “HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone! But I prefer to call it ‘ThanksGAYing,’ because I am thankful to be Gay! T.G.I.G.!

Thank God I’m Gay!”

MIGHTY REAL, PRC’s annual celebration of hope, resilience, and pride, returned to the elegant Four Seasons Hotel on November 4. The event raises vital funds in support of PRC’s essential services for San Franciscans struggling with homelessness, substance use disorder, mental illness, and HIV/AIDS. PRC Board President Brian Schneider elaborated on the theme, “Mighty Real,” being named after Queen of Disco Sylvester’s signature song, “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).”

After two decades under the inspirational guidance of Brett Andrews, PRC is experiencing its own set of changes as they usher in a new era of leadership. They are delighted to announce the passing of the leadership torch to Interim Chief Executive Officer Chuan Teng. She has been a part of the PRC family for more than ten years, initially as a staff attorney helping clients access public benefits, and most recently as Chief Operating Officer.

“This year we celebrate new

beginnings by honoring the past while looking to the future,” said Teng. PRC honored its retiring Chief Executive Officer, now CEO Emeritus, Brett Andrews, with the inaugural “PRC Lifetime Achievement Award,” presented to Brett for being a visionary leader who has made a true mark on the organization, and who has dedicated his life to the care of others for nearly 20 years of service. My dear friend Staf ford Hemmer gave a truly moving testimonial of his healing experience through PRC.

I am particularly proud that we Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were honored with the Keystone Service Award for “their commitment to improving the quality of life for people living with HIV/ AIDS and showing us that, through dedication of spirit, hard work, and sheer determination, we can envision a brighter future. We honor their pioneering work, their community service to the LGBTQ community, and their mission to promulgate joy and expiate guilt.” Senator Scott Wiener presented Certificates of Honor to other awardees:

Outstanding Corporate Partner Award to Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, and the Sylvester Community Pillar Award to Latrice Royale. Patrice accepted in full drag to belt out the gay anthem “I Will Survive” and got us all standing on our feet and dancing!

Sister Dana sez, “Special congratulations to Supervisor Rafael Mandelman for winning overwhelmingly in the District 8 Election!”

Also, thanks to San Francisco voters who tremendously approved Prop F, the renewal of the LIBRARY PRESERVATION FUND (LPF),

which secures funding for SF Public Library services and materials as well as operations of facilities and capital projects for the next 25 years. Last July, in addition to an endorsement from Mayor Breed, all eleven district supervisors signed on as co-sponsors to support the LPF renewal and voted unanimously to place it on the November ballot.

Sister Dana sez, “Marjorie Taylor Greene has filed Articles of Impeachment against Attorney General Merrick Garland. Is this officially Opposite Day—when it’s actually vice versa? Garland should IMPEACH GREENE for her overt insurrection!”

NCLR (The National Center for Lesbian Rights) held the CHAMPIONS FOR JUSTICE DINNER at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on November 11. Noting that the gala fell on Veterans Day, NCLR began the night’s celebration by welcoming LGBTQ members of the United States Armed Forces on stage to honor them for their service. This was the first in-person event since 2019—and celebrated NCLR’s 45th anniversary, as well as serving as the organization’s inaugural annual gathering for Imani Rupert-Gordon, who joined NCLR as their new Executive Director in March 2020.

“Despite the many challenges we have faced over the past few years, we still have much to celebrate, including our historic wins this year on behalf of transgender youth in Alabama and Utah,” she said. “Even though it is clear there is still much work to be done—including defeating laws like ‘Don’t Say Gay or Trans’ in Florida,” continued Rupert-Gordon, “we know that our fight for justice puts us on the

right side of history. We will lead with the bravery in our heart that is written into the DNA of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.”

Dinner was hosted by actor and comedian Cameron Esposito NCLR bestowed their “Justice Award” to Kansas Representative Sharice Davids, “Voice & Visibility Awards” to actress and producer Abbi Jacobson and philanthropist and award-winning independent musician Gina Chávez, and “Courage Awards” to Doctors Morissa Ladinsky and Hussein Abdul-Latif, and Cameron Wright

Sister Dana sez, “Whose brilliant (NOT) idea was it to remove the newsstand from its longstanding Castro Station location? This was GAY CENTRAL for the queer readers of magazines. Not cool!”

Works of HeART was a lovely fundraising art auction for MAITRI held on November 12 at Art Attack

SF in the Castro. “Maitri” is Sanskrit for “compassionate friendship.” They provide compassionate residential care for people in need of hospice, respite, or 24-hour medical care. Exhibiting more than 50 pieces by local artists, they had the perfect piece of art to fill that space on your wall. Alas—here in my little Castro studio—there is not one square inch of room to add more art to what I like to call my “nun museum” of art and photos. It was just so gratifying to see that the proceeds went directly towards Maitri’s compassionate care for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS and those affirming their gender. https://www.maitrisf.org/

Sister Dana sez, “President Biden should award Liz Cheney with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It’s because of courageous Americans like Cheney that our Democracy is still intact!”

FABULOSA BOOKS at 489 Castro Street on November 22, 7 pm

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun

Sister Nova, Sister Tilda NexTime, and Sister Dana Van Iquity at the annual PRC Mighty Real Gala held at the Four Seasons Hotel on Friday, November 4

PHOTO BY SISTER NOVA

Happy Holidays from Castro Merchants!

By Dave Karraker and Terrance Alan

The holidays are upon us, and the Castro is ready for another bright, joyful, and busy season as we greet residents and tourists to the city’s most famous neighborhood for shopping, drinking, dining, and unbridled merriment, including scores of events:

• Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony - Monday, November 28, at 6 pm;

• Castro Art Mart - Sunday, December 4, from 12 pm–5 pm;

• Winter Wonderland - Sunday, December 18, from 11 am–5 pm;

• Castro Hanukkah Menorah Lighting - Monday, December 19, 6 pm.

At the heart of all the festivities will be our traditional 20-foot-tall holiday tree, resplendent in twinkling lights and vibrant decorations, welcoming everyone to the Castro to celebrate. The official tree lighting ceremony, hosted by Mayor London Breed, will take place on Monday, November 28, at 6 pm. The Mayor will be joined by other dignitaries and musical guests, including our hostess with the mostest, the incomparable Donna Sachet, leading everyone in holiday songs. The tree is located at the corner of 18th and Castro Streets. Just look for the tree (obviously) and our giant banner on the side of Bank of America featuring our welcome message and all the amazing sponsors who made this possible. The tree will remain lit through New Year’s Day.

This year’s tree is dedicated to the memory of long-time Castro Merchants administrator Richard Magary, who passed away in December 2021.

The fun doesn’t end there! Be sure to join us at our monthly Castro Art Mart on Sunday, December 4, on Noe Street at Market Street, where we close down the block and feature LGBTQ artists and allies presenting gifts for anyone on your shopping list. The Castro Art Marts are the first Sunday of every month from noon to 5 pm.

On Sunday, December 18, Castro Merchants will be hosting its second-annual Castro Winter Wonderland, also on Noe Street at Market, from 11 am to 5 pm. This event has something for the whole family, including free photos with Santa, activities for the kiddos, and amazing drag and live performances for everyone.

The very next night, on December 19, we will be co-hosting with Sha’ar Zahav (our local Congregation that welcomes all) the Castro Hanukkah Menorah Lighting starting at 6 pm at Jane Warner Plaza (Castro at 17th/Market Streets).

The Castro will sparkle brightly this year, greeting everyone with our new market lights strung throughout the neighborhood, providing a warm glow on a chilly night as folks stroll the neighborhood.

From fashion, to housewares, to plants, to wine, to books, to art, to gift certificates, the Castro truly has something for everyone on your mailing list. All of the small businesses in San Francisco were hit hard during the pandemic, so we encourage folks to get off their computer screens and Buy Local.

With tons of great restaurants, cafés, watering holes, bakeries, spas, salons, and a legendary theatre, what could possibly be more fun than making an entire day of it in the Castro? There are so many new businesses in the neighborhood since last holiday, along with long-time favorites, so you are sure to find plenty to do.

We truly hope to see you in the Castro this holiday to spread some holiday cheer with us and to support all our small businesses. Come out and play in the Castro!

Dave Karraker and Terrance Alan are the Co-Presidents of Castro Merchants: www.castromerchants.com

Dave Karraker, Co-President

Terrance Alan, Co-President

Scenes from previous years at the Castro Holiday Tree Lighting

PRC’s Mighty Real Gala 2022

PRC’s

Photos by Rink

annual Mighty Real Gala, often described as a yearly cel ebration of hope, resilience, and pride, returned to an inperson event on Friday eve ning, November 4, at the Four Seasons Hotel. The evening included a cocktail reception, dinner, and program and after party.

Honorees included PRC Chief Executive Officer Emeritus Brett Andrews, Lifetime Achievement Award; Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Outstanding Corporate Partner Award; Latrice Royale, Sylvester Community Pillar Award; and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Keystone Service Award. Kelly Russell served as the master of ceremonies. A highlight of the evening was a live performance by honoree Royale from RuPaul’s Drag Race. https://prcsf.org/

Interview with Jean Fineberg of JAZZphoria Ahead

of November 20 Show at The Freight

(Editor’s Note: In this piece, music business photographer Irene Young and saxophonist/flutist/composer Jean Fineberg discuss the release of an exciting new album with Fineberg’s seven-women, one-man, four-horn octet, JAZZphoria. You can catch them live at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley on Sunday, November 20, at 7 pm.)

Irene Young: Jean, you and I started working together in NYC early in our careers. You and Ellen Seeling were leaders of DEUCE, one of my favorite bands to hear live. As a matter of fact, two early photos of DEUCE are in my upcoming retrospective book, Something About The Women. Take us back to your early days and tell us what inspired you to play tenor saxophone and pursue a career in music.

Jean Fineberg: I started piano lessons when I was 6, recorder at 9, flute at 12, guitar at 14, and played in the orchestra, symphonic band, and marching band. I loved going to music camp every summer. After grad school at Penn State, I wanted to play with rock bands, but they weren’t interested in a flute player! So, someone lent me their old tenor sax, I fell in love, and it became my true voice. I studied post-grad jazz at Indiana University, and by then, a career in music was a no-brainer!

Irene Young: Who are some of the other musicians and groups you’ve played or recorded with?

Jean Fineberg: I’ve been fortunate to record with David Bowie (Young Americans), Laura Nyro (Season of Lights), Luther Vandross and Chic (“Good Times,” “Le Freak”), Sister Sledge (“We Are Family”), and to tour

with the iconic trombonist Melba Liston, the Montclair Women’s Big Band, Linda Tillery, Holly Near, Teresa Trull, Ferron, June Millington, Margie Adam, and many others.

Irene Young: Let’s talk about your smokin’ hot octet, JAZZphoria, and how it came to be. It was such a pleasure for Tina (DJ Rockaway) and me to film the band for you last year.

Jean Fineberg: I had been composing for the 18-piece Montclair Women’s Big Band, directed by Ellen Seeling, when I had the idea of trying to capture the powerful sound of the three horn sections (trumpets, trombones, and saxes) in a smaller ensemble. I settled on two trumpets and two saxes, plus a 4-person rhythm section, and formed JAZZphoria.

Irene Young: How would you describe JAZZphoria’s alloriginal music?

Jean Fineberg: My music is very eclectic, including blues, R&B, funk, salsa, reggae, swing, ballads, and the kitchen sink! I love rhythm and dancing—I also work as a drummer—so I choose a genre, start with the rhythm, and then craft the arrangements as vehicles for exploratory improvisation by the soloists.

Irene Young: Is JAZZphoria seven women and one man by design?

Jean Fineberg: I sought musicians who were accomplished readers, improvisers,

team players, and multi-instrumentalists, providing me with a wide combination of timbres for composition. If I found two equally excellent players, one male and one female, I chose the woman, because women are so unfairly underrepresented as jazz instrumentalists. I ended up with seven women and one man!

Irene Young: Who are the JAZZphoria musicians?

Jean Fineberg: Tiffany Carrico plays lead trumpet and flugelhorn; Marina Garza plays solo trumpet and flugelhorn; Carolyn Walter plays baritone sax, doubling on bass clarinet and flute; I play tenor sax and flute; Nancy Wenstrom is on guitar; our bassist Jodi Durst plays both electric

and acoustic basses; Erika Oba plays keyboards and flute; and Jeremy Steinkoler plays drums and percussion. Additional musicians on the album are Susanne DiVincenzo (bassist with Alive), pianist Jennifer Jolly, trumpet player Ellen Seeling, percussionist Michaelle Goerlitz, and drummer Lance dresser.

Irene Young: Are all the compositions new? When did you write and arrange the music for JAZZphoria?

Jean Fineberg: For the past few years, I have served as composer-inresidence at nine art centers around the country, which provided the time and space to concentrate on

Jeane Fineberg and Ellen Seeling of DEUCE (1984)

Jean Fineberg

PHOTO BY IRENE YOUNG

PHOTO BY IRENE YOUNG

By Irene Young

Film

M. Kramer

It is not easy to love People We Hate at the Wedding—a broad comedy out November 18 on Amazon Prime, about a dysfunctional family gathering for one member’s nuptials. The characters and their situations are mostly cringeworthy. The awkwardness is meant to be funny, but mostly the film’s comedy falls flat.

A narrator (Adam Godley) provides the clan’s backstory. The American Donna (Allison Janney) married the

People We Hate at the Wedding Is a Nuptials ‘Comedy’ You Can Skip

French Henrique (Isaach de Bankolé) and had Eloise (Cynthia AddaiRobinson) in England. However, when Henrique cheated on her, Donna left him and returned to the States, where she met Bill (Andy Daly) and had Alice (Kristen Bell) and Paul (out gay Ben Platt). Now Eloise is getting married to Ollie (John Macmillan) and has asked her estranged family to attend the wedding.

The reunion is important to Eloise, who feels shut out of the family. She and Alice have an unresolved issue, but there are other tensions. Paul has not been very nice to his mother since Bill died and she threw out all of her late husband’s stuff.

People We Hate at the Wedding wants these high-strung characters to be endearing and gives them

embarrassing comic moments to show them and their foibles, but much of the humor is uninspired. Donna tries to wrestle herself out a dress in a fitting room and—in an unfunny bit of physical comedy—clocks the dressing room attendant (Evelyn Mok) who is trying to help her. When Paul clumsily spills wine all over his pants, his boyfriend Dominic (out gay Karan Soni) pretends not to know him.

Meanwhile, Alice gets caught trying to leave her panties for her marriedwith-new-baby boss, Jonathan (Jorma Taccone), in a scene that is more strained than amusing.

Romantic complications ensue for Donna, Paul, and Alice as they travel to England, but these conflicts are mostly frustrating. Donna rekindles her relationship with Henrique, but she doesn’t want the kids to know.

Dominic arranges for him and Paul to stay with Alcott (Julian Ovenden), as a passive-aggressive way of initiating a threesome. And Alice meets a charming and handsome guy, Dennis (Dustin Milligan from Schitt’s Creek), but is so distracted by Jonathan’s potential arrival that she treats this stranger poorly after sleeping with him.

People We Hate at the Wedding continues to spiral out of control. There is bad behavior at a family dinner where Eloise tries to bring the family together but ends up causing a scene. Paul makes a big deal out of Donna not fully recognizing Dominic as his

boyfriend, which creates an unpleasant and uncomfortable moment. A “hen do” for Eloise the next day involves five women drinking in a tiny boat until a fight between the bride and her sister lands everyone in the river. But little to none of it is funny.

A sequence involving Paul, Dominic, and Alcott trying to have a threesome is as forced as Paul drunkenly recounting what transpired to Ollie’s parents at the rehearsal dinner.

Ollie’s mom (Sandra James-Young), however, does generate a laugh with her response to Paul’s wild recitation.

The film wants to embrace the messiness of its characters, but what they say or do is more inappropriate than outrageous. People We Hate at the Wedding is best when the characters reveal why they behave the way they do. When Eloise explains to Paul why Donna threw out Bill’s stuff, it makes sense. That his mother did not explain her reasoning to him was her way of protecting him from an ugly truth about his father. Likewise, when Alice and Eloise have a heart to heart

about why Eloise could not visit Alice during a time of need, it was because Eloise did not know the whole story, and Alice wasn’t aware of something Eloise was grappling with at the time. Unfortunately, these few touching moments about the importance of family connecting are buried under slap-sticky humor. A farcical incident that occurs at the rehearsal dinner lands Alice, Paul, and Donna in jail. And there is a juvenile running gag about a character’s last name being “Bottoms.” These episodes lessen a film that may start out silly but scores

Gary

Sex in the Movies: When Less Is More

how to run it were my favorite moments. Its basic premise, concerning fear of commitment that can be so profound for nearly everyone, and showing how people now often text instead of speak to each other, are perfect for our weird tech times.

Off the Wahl

Jan Wahl

The film Bros is a good satire that is also fresh and funny. The scenes with the LBGTQ Museum grand opening and the people voting on

The leading actors are engaging, although Billy Eichner’s character wove in and out of total obnoxiousness. But Billy’s neurotic behavior made the differences between our two lovers real, revealing that opposites do often attract. I found myself rooting for their success, which is always good for a romcom.

When I heard the film was not doing well across the country (of course, it has been killing box office here and in other happening cities), I felt a sense of frustration.

I fully appreciate that it was the movie the filmmakers wanted to make, and I applaud their courage and creativity. If the sex had not been so graphic, though, it would have done better with the people who need the important messages the most.

I understand how multi partners keep our superb leading man Luke Macfarlane from commitment, but seeing the actual shots of it all was not necessary. There! I’ve said it.

Sorry, but we all are entitled to our opinions, and for me, it would have been possible for the filmmakers to show almost all of the sex partners

without the graphic imagery. The same goes for a bit of the sex language itself. We all know the physiology of it, but hearing it suddenly takes us out of the story and characters. I know that to many of you this sounds conservative—I am so not!—but the film would have been easier to market without these two elements. Still, it is a smart, good romantic comedy that will find a strong cult following—and arguably it already has.

I had a similar reaction to Blonde on Netflix this year; it presents a

deep dive into the life of Marilyn Monroe. There is an excellent performance by Ana de Armas, who is way too thin for the role but has the voice down perfectly. Two of my all-time favorite actors, Adrian Brody and Bobby Cannavale, are excellent as Arthur Miller and Joe DiMaggio. I write this as not only a stone-cold Monroe fan, but also as someone who is quite knowledgeable about her. So why is it that, after viewing this very long, intense film, the image of her nightmarish sex with Darryl Zanuck remains at the forefront? Yes, Marilyn went through those experiences on her way to stardom, but to show them so graphically was itself exploitive. A fade out would have been more effective. We don’t need to see her humiliation to feel it. Therein lies the art of filmmaking.

Alfred Hitchcock used to complain about what he referred to as “today’s sink to sink movies. You are home washing dishes in the sink, then you go out to the cinema and watch people wash dishes in the sink. Where is the art?”

Here are a few movies that got the sex on cinema just right, in my opinion:

Brokeback Mountain is one of the all-time great romances; it reveals the intense attraction of men who fight their desire for each other until they can’t. The relationship of Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger is what we are left with, not being able to quit each other while fighting with repression and fear.

Their sex scenes are filled with desire, and we get to fill in the rest. The film builds us up to their lovemaking and then does not show

Michele Karlsberg: This month

I i nvited Reginald Harris—author, activist, and Africanist raised in Brooklyn—to interview Cary Alan Johnson, who is currently living in Central Africa, about Johnson’s debut novel, Desire Lines. In Desire Lines, a Black teenager growing up gay in Brooklyn is captivated by a vision of life on the other side of the river, where the sparkle and glitter of Manhattan beckon. Coming into adulthood, he finds himself living in a five-floor walk-up in Hell’s Kitchen just as the AIDS epidemic is hitting the city. We follow him and his group of friends as they experience the first wave of illness and death, and then accompany him on a two-year journey to Zaire, Central Africa, where he must confront corruption and homophobia in new and unexpected ways

Reginald Harris: Tell me about the genesis of your book. What led you to write Desire Lines?

Cary Alan Johnson: It took me ten years to write it. I’d worked on several essays and shorter pieces over the last fifteen years, some of them about the AIDS crisis and the response of the Black gay community and Black gay men’s survival strategies. I started out writing a series of essays but that felt too preachy. I worked on a memoir for a while,

then said no, I’m not that interesting; there’s nothing linear about my experience. There was not the rise and fall that I think even a memoir has to have.

Then I said, you know what, you need to do this thing that you want to do. You need to write the full-length, fully-articulated story of that expe rience. Not that there’s one experience; there are many stories. But in the story I wrote, I tried to pull in enough diversity of characters that there’s a little bit for everyone who lived through that period to find themselves. So, I said, “Let me take the journey and write a novel, and make up people and make up their stories.” Amalgamate some char acters, like Regina. She’s a perfect example, [because] she’s an amalgam of a number of women who were part of my life, who played critical roles in my life. And I think for many gay men, we often have these primary relationships with one woman, often a straight woman, and I thought those relationships were so critical and risky and important that they needed to have some exploration.

Reginald Harris: Desire Lines also deals very vividly with addiction.

Cary Alan Johnson: I felt there had been some pretty good books about cocaine and crack addiction. Crack to me was an experience—plenty of white people smoked crack—but it was really an experience of the African-American community. It was marketed to us, we accepted it wholeheartedly, and it

destroyed lives and families and futures and careers. And almost destroyed mine personally. So, I felt that story also needed to be told. Maybe I needed to unearth it for myself as a person and put it on paper, and expel some of the shame around it and talk about the awfulness of it, the truth and the awfulness of it, for other people that may have gone through it, or those who had friends and family that went through it, which most of us didn’t.

W hat I’m realizing is that I wrote Desire Lines to heal. Many of us who were coming of age in the 1980s—we came out of that era damaged as f--k, hurting. And all you could do—maybe some people were smarter about themselves—but all you could do was stuff it down, stuff it down. You couldn’t go crazy. You couldn’t run out into the streets

screaming. You had to just keep showing up for your friends, for your people who were dying, for yourself. Keep showing up.

I remember that, before the test for seroprevalence came out, it was a total question mark. And, for many of us, it was not a question mark; it was pretty much a fait accompli: I’m seeing people dying, so what possible hope could I have that I’m gonna survive into my thirties? But still, you have to show up. And some of us didn’t. Some of us went off the deep end. But we were the best and the brightest. Many of us were the first generation of Black boys to go off to college, the first generation that could kind of be “out,” or at least not hiding their sexuality. That’s why that scene in the novel in the Paradise Garage is so important to me. The narrator and a

thousand other men are in this arena and they’re like, “This is our moment. We’re young, gifted, and Black—and queer. And what could possibly stop us? What could possibly stop us?” And ... guess what?

For more information: https://www.caryalanjohnson.com

Reginald Harris, a writer and poet based in Brooklyn, is the author of “Ten Tongues” (2003) and “Autogeography” (2013).

Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBTQ+ community. This year, Karlsberg celebrates 33 years of successful marketing campaigns. For more information: https://www.michelekarlsberg.com

Lit Snax

This is a feel-good novel about a fangirl, Angel, and her favorite band, The Ark. It touches upon every individual’s struggles and how not so different we all are, despite what we may believe. Plus it includes a rainbow of sexuality and gender fluidity.

Fascination by Kevin Killian, edited by Andrew Durbin

A pioneer of the New Narrative movement and a longtime fixture of the San Francisco literary scene, Killian has become a cult figure for good reason: his writing is phenomenal. Read these memoirs of life as a young gay man living amidst the “sexed-up, boozy, drug-ridden” world of 1970s Long Island and prepare to be surprised.

Several events are scheduled at Fabulosa over the next few weeks, ranging from subjects as diverse as the Pink Triangle to the world of dance. Check out the events section at our website for dates and details! https://www.fabulosabooks.com/

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOOK PASSAGE

Now is Not the Time to Panic (fiction - hardbound) by Kevin Wilson

This is a bold coming-of-age story, written with Wilson’s trademark wit and blazing prose. Now Is Not The Time to Panic is a nuanced exploration of young love, identity, and the power of art. It’s also about the secrets that haunt us—and, ultimately, what the truth will set free.

Stay True (nonfiction/memoir- hardbound) by Hua Hsu

Despite Hsu’s negative first impressions of a classmate, Ken, the two become friends. It is a friendship built of late-night conversations over cigarettes and long drives along the California coast. And then, violently, senselessly, Ken is killed a few years later. Determined to hold on to all that was left of one of his closest friends, Hsu turned to writing. Stay True is the book he’s been working on ever since. It is a bracing memoir about growing up, and about moving through the world in search of meaning and belonging

The Sentence (fiction-paperback) by Louise Erdrich

Now in paperback just in time to commemorate Native Heritage Month (November) is The Sentence The story it tells begins on All Souls’ Day 2019 and ends on All Souls’ Day 2020, with most of the characters interacting at the real Birchbark Bookstore in Minneapolis. Its mystery and proliferating ghost stories during this one year propel a narrative as rich, emotional, and profound as anything Erdrich has written. It’s as fun as it is compelling.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, November 16 @ 6 pm (free-in-store/ Corte Madera) Rabia Chaudry, author of Fatty Fatty Boom Boom

From the bestselling author and host of the wildly popular Undisclosed podcast comes a warm, intimate memoir about food, body image, and growing up in a loving but sometimes oppressively concerned Pakistani immigrant family.

Wednesday, November 30 @ 7 pm (ticketed/ Dominican University) Patti Smith, author of A Book of Days

This is a deeply moving and brilliantly idiosyncratic visual book of days by the National Book Award–winning author of Just Kids and M Train. It features more than 365 images and reflections that chart Smith’s singular aesthetic, inspired by her wildly popular Instagram presence.

Thursday, December 1 @ 5:30 pm (free/online) Tim Marzullo, author of How Your Brain Works

Discover the hidden electrical world inside your nervous system using DIY, hands-on experiments for all ages. No M.D. or Ph.D. required! The workings of the brain are mysterious: What are neural signals? What do they mean? How do our senses really sense? How does our brain control our movements? What happens when we meditate? How Your Brain Works offers fascinat ing reading for students at any level, curious readers, and scientists interested in using electrophysiology in their research or teaching.

https://www.bookpassage.com/

Words

Michele Karlsberg

I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman

Leave Signs

I grew up around bars. My father was a bartender; when I visited him on weekends, his patrons greeted me with open arms though my head barely cleared the bar stools. Trick or treating always garnered me more dollars than candy. So, when I moved to New York City in the 1970s, I

Bar None

assumed I’d find (what they call in England) “my local.” It would be like the bar in the TV show Cheers, “where everybody knows your name.”

I was shy, so it took a while to make friends and discover a hangout spot. But finally, around 1979, I landed at the Duchess. Legendary, it was centrally located in the West Village around the corner from the historic Stonewall Inn as well as A Different Light Bookstore. It was the heart of queerness!

I took a deep breath before opening the door for the first time, realizing that my life as a lesbian would never be the same. Mine wasn’t the earlier generation when young lesbians had few places to meet except in bars. No women’s bookstores, no cruises, no internet. In 1979, the danger of being seen and having your reputation and life ruined was not as acute as it had been in 1949 or 1959. Back then, the community epidemic was alcoholism, in part because of the isolation and loneliness, and because lesbians were left with only bars in which find each other. Nevertheless, so many lesbians remember those bars as vital to our survival, education, and sense of community.

Dr. Marie Cartier ( https:// tinyurl.com/3n99wnsf ) points out in her lively book, Baby You Are My Religion: “Pre-Stonewall gay bars [that includes lesbian] functioned as centers of communities ... . The bar was the only space in which these women could actually be ... .”

Cartier interviews a lot of women, including some from Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) (of which I’m a member), who found themselves “saved” by the bars. The stories are varied, but most tap into the sense of revival that bars offered, even when women wouldn’t have framed it as a religious experience.

I approached the door of the Duchess that first time with some trepidation along with my sense of holiness. Once through this door I didn’t have to guess. I didn’t have to interpret endless clues that were often misleading and dangerous—even if we had nothing as obvious as the handkerchief code the boys on Christopher Street embraced.

I met friends there after work, or blind dates (because I knew I’d be safe) or fellow writers. I had my first book party at the Duchess for my selfpublished collection of poetry. I had to perch precariously on a ladder to read over people’s heads while my girlfriend held my legs so I didn’t fall.

I spent so much time in the Duchess that I still exchange holiday cards with Pat, my favorite bartender.

Recently I was interviewed by Elena Rosa, who is creating a website called Lesbian Bars: https://www.lbar.co/

It offers an immersive trip through lesbian history using bars from around the world. She’s done extensive research into music as well as the interior details of older bars now closed, and the few that are still hanging on. You click and enter (with much more ease than I did the first time) and hear Joan Nestle talk about hanging out at Mona’s when it was

the place to be. Or listen to the raw stories of the poet Chrystos or Kitty Tsui or my bartender Pat King! I love revisiting the ebb and flow of customers from my perch at the Duchess. Or you can visit The Lexington Club in the Mission and see the pool table atop which I did a reading for LitQuake before that beloved spot closed.

The racism is not glossed over nor is the domination by organized crime and abuse by police. If the bars assert anything it’s that lesbians know how to make a space bring light out of the darkness. Drop into the online “bar” and listen to the stories; sign up, before it migrates to a new location after December 31. Our community

Jewelle Gomez is a lesbian/feminist activist, novelist, poet, and playwright. She’s written for “The Advocate,” “Ms. Magazine,” “Black Scholar,” “The San Francisco Chronicle,” “The New York Times,” and “The Village Voice.” Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @VampyreVamp

After an Exciting Summer and Fall, SF Dykes on Bikes® Looks Ahead to 2023

By Kate Brown, Ph.D.

Dykes on Bikes

The San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® (SFDOB) Women’s Motorcycle Contingent (WMC) had an exciting summer and fall that included new adventures, old traditions, and, most importantly, the welcoming of new members as Active Patch Holders.

August saw us riding north to attend The Dream Roll camping trip in the Seattle area. We took a few days to have a glorious swoopy ride up the coast to join so many likeminded people, including our Dykes on Bikes Portland chapter, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

After The Dream Roll, we held our fundraiser to park motorcycles at the Folsom Street Fair, elected new Officers and members of our Board of Directors, enjoyed more group rides, successfully navigated a corn maze, and went on another Southern California camping trip that included a visit to Ostrich Land in Solvang.

In our April column for the San Francisco Bay Times, I provided an overview of our SFDOB organizational structure that includes Officers, a Board of Directors, Emeritus Patch Holders, Active Patch Holders, non-Active Patch Holders, Prospects, and Participants. Each designation represents a different level of engagement. Our Prospects who are interested in becoming Patch Holders go through a process that involves rides, attending our meetings, and most importantly, allows enough time for both the individual and our organization to get to know each other. To earn and be awarded Active Patch Holder status with the San Francisco Dykes on Bikes WMC is an honor, connecting a rider with more than 45 years of history of the Dykes on Bikes that

began in San Francisco and has spread around the world.

In September we welcomed our newest Active Patch Holders: Barb, Clara, and Stephanie. Over the course of 8–9 months, each of them in their own way showed their dedication to SFDOB and our mission that demonstrated a good fit for our organization—whether it was to enthusiastically participate in, help plan, and even lead rides, join us on longer overnight and weekend trips, volunteer to execute our first in-person Pride ride down Market Street since 2019, drive support vehicles, or bring in new Participants eager to Prospect and become Active Patch Holders in their own right. On behalf of SFDOB, I would like to once again say congratulations to Barb, Clara,

and Stephanie.

In December, we will hold an all-day “meeting” to jointly determine the focus for 2023. This past year was a great one for SFDOB, with five new Active Patch Holders and an exciting group of Prospects already planning their Prospect ride. I’m excited to see what our group will accomplish in the year to come.

Kate Brown, Ph.D., is the President of San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® Women’s Motorcycle Contingent. https://www.dykesonbikes.org/

resilience still inspires me when I go on the website. I’m going “where everybody knows your name.”

Jewelle Gomez

®

Tales From Two Wheels

Elena Rosa and Jewelle Gomez

Photos courtesy of Jewelle Gomez

Photos courtesy of San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® WMC

Duchess Club

Welcoming new Patch Holders (from left to right) Clara, Stephanie, and Barb at a pool party hosted by Melissa at her “Diable Casita” digs

San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® WMC (left of motorcycle) and the Portland chapter of Dykes on Bikes® (right of motorcycle) at The Dream Roll in Shelton, WA

Savoring Southeast Asia

their delicious tableside flambés (think chateaubriand and Crepes Suzette), Claudine also has an intimate lounge/bar area with one of the best Negronis in Southeast Asia.

The Gay Gourmet

Landis

Rereading Somerset Maugham’s great novels (thank you, Tommy Bonk) reignited my passion for the South Seas. How fortuitous that my husband had a business meeting in Singapore—it gave us a chance to explore the cultures and savor the cuisines of that exotic region.

Our adventure began in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; then took us to Singapore; and finally, to Bangkok, Thailand. What we found was an explosion of tastes, spices, and culi-

The Tiffin Room, Raffles Hotel: This is a perfect lunch spot and is in the historic Raffles Hotel (yes, Somerset Maugham stayed here), featuring authentic Indian cuisine. The chandelier-lit room has an airy century-old feel as well as a beautifully landscaped patio, and the Jhinga Kebab (tiger prawn with Indian spices and mango salsa) is a winner.

The Long Bar, Raffles Hotel: In this historic spot, it’s said that the Singapore Sling was invented. It has a publike atmosphere and is a bit touristy, but it is still fun with peanut shells on the floor. And yes, you have to try the Sling.

the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. It’s a bit of a scene, and you have to reserve in advance, but the vistas over the water and the “Gardens By The Bay” are to-die for. Plus, their cocktail menu even sports the original Trader Vic mai tai!

Bangkok

Our favorite city of the three by far has got character, kind people,

nary approaches that ran the gamut from regional to international, and everything in-between.

So, if you’re ever visiting that part of the world, here are my top dining and drinking choices:

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Alexis Bistro and Wine Bar: They have several locations and all have a contemporary feel, plus, best of all, a well-curated wine selection. Since Malaysia is a Muslim country, finding a place with good food that also offers wine is a plus. Alexis has a nice smattering of both Asian and Western dishes, but I highly recommend Malaysia’s national dish, Nasi Lemak, made with coconut milkinfused rice and pandan leaves, often served for breakfast. Alexis’ version includes free range ayam berempah (fried chicken), sambal ikin bilis (fried anchovies with chili paste and peanuts), fried egg, cucumber, and, of course, rice.

Singapore

Claudine: This is the stepsister of hard-to-reserve, Michelin-starred Odette (also great), but is just as good in a cozy, more casual bistro setting. The restaurant is housed in a renovated old chapel, and thankfully kept the stunning stained-glass windows (go at sunset). Known for

Violet Oon: With several locations in Singapore (including the ION Orchard shopping center and Changi airport), this is a restaurant where you can sample Nyonya and Peranakan (Chinese/Singaporean) cuisines. The vibe is a Southeast Asian version of an upscale English tea room. I loved the gado gado (fried tempeh with long beans, cucumber, and cabbage in a peanut sauce) and Tauhu Goreng (a similar dish, with fried bean curd and bean sprouts in a sweet/tangy peanut sauce). For dessert, try the Gula Melaka (palm sugar) tea cake with coconut ice cream. All their tasty cakes are on stylish display, and you can purchase them to-go.

Labyrinth: Here you will find inventive, Michelin-star fixed price dining at its best. Think elevated hawker street fare cuisine in a refined setting. Located in a shopping mall (like many other Singaporean restaurants, since it’s so hot), Labyrinth surprises and delights along its six-course way. It is not cheap at $175 per person, but is worth every penny. You even get to shave your own shave ice with their personal machine!

Cé La Vi: Made famous by the movie Crazy Rich Asians, this is the outdoor panoramic view bar atop

numerous “ladyboys” (transgender folks) all over town, a series of beautiful canals, creative and affordable street food, stupendous temples, and tasty cuisine. Here are some of my favorite Bangkok restaurants.

Hong Sieng Kong: This is a 150-year-old neighborhood “retrostyle” Thai-Chinese restaurant in the artsy Chareonkrong district near Chinatown. You order at the counter, and then are surprised by antiques filling the loft-like indoor space. That extends to a landscaped courtyard opening up to a

spectacular river view terrace. I’d recommend the Thai and Chinese dishes—go for lunch when you can soak up the atmosphere and sit by the river. Here you will find al fresco dining at its best.

Eat Me: Who doesn’t love a restaurant where the male waitstaff wear red lipstick? Besides its cheeky name, this modern California-style indooroutdoor eatery delivers on the culinary front, offering contemporary approaches to American-focused offerings with a global twist. Gayowned, the restaurant has a founder from Australia and his (also gay) chef

hails from New York. Go for the food, and stay for the fun.

Nahm: San Franciscans who are fans of Thai cuisine will know Nari and the recently reopened Michelinstarred Kin Khao (which means “to eat rice”), owned by chef Pim Techamuanvivit. Nahm is her signature restaurant in her native Bangkok. It’s chic and classy, with modern Thai offerings like curries and stir fries that won’t burn your tongue (unless you opt for that). Plus, it also has a Michelin star.

Suhring: We had probably the best meal of our trip here. Suhring is a

David

Cé la Vi SkyBar, Singapore

Cetara Pizza at Raffles Singapore

Claudine Restaurant, Singapore

Eat Me (restaurant), Singapore

Nahm at Como Metropolitan, Bangkok

Pandan Gula Melaka Cake, Violet Oon, Singapore

German-inspired restaurant set in a garden where every morsel is a piece of art. Go for the three-course lunch, sit in the glass-enclosed terrace to enjoy the view, and savor such creative combinations as bluefin tuna with eisbeinsulze (ham hock), spatzle with crispy onion and black truffle, and duck liver wafer with apricot. The twin chefs even personally signed a tailor-made birthday card for me!

Silk Café at Jim Thompson House: The former diplomat turned silk trader (who mysteriously disappeared in the jungle) has a beautiful museum of artifacts and antiques on a sequestered canal. But don’t just tour the house. Go for lunch in the open-air courtyard overlooking a koi pond for a relaxing meal of specialty Thai dishes, with a decent wine list to match.

Floral Café: Coffee culture is extremely popular in Bangkok and local cafes can be found literally on almost every corner. Owned by one of the popular “ladyboys” in town who is a favorite of the society set, this intimate coffee and sweet shop is located near the flower market. The proprietor decorates the café seasonally with whatever is in bloom, so it bursts with design originality. And the coffee is good and strong.

Sky Bar: Outdoors atop the 63rd floor in the Lebua Hotel, the Sky Bar reigns supreme as the best of the rooftop sky bars in the city (for which there are several). You may recall the venue from its star appearance in the Hollywood film Hangover 2. Savor the view and the drinks at this classy bar. We were there during a thunderstorm, yikes, but it was still spectacular. P.S.—There’s no need to dine here; the price of drinks here equals the cost of a normal dinner, so save your money for a dining excursion elsewhere.

Bamboo Bar: This was my favorite gathering place of the whole trip. Housed in the historic, first-class Mandarin Oriental hotel (where Somerset Maugham and Noel Coward stayed), the vibe of this bar evokes the roaring ‘20s, just like Bemelman’s Bar at the Café Carlyle in New York. Cool live jazz with Montreal-based songstress Shirley Murray and her band complements speakeasy-type drinks and bar food (think martinis and Negronis). And Shirley’s rendition of “Route 66” is one for the ages.

Some readers wanted to know: how does the food in Southeast Asia compare to similar restaurants here in the Bay Area? The simple answer is that the spices are different in Asia and the food here delivers on California’s bounty. But both are delicious. So, definitely put Southeast Asia on your destination list and compare for yourself.

P.S. I’m also happy to announce that once again The Taste Awards (“the Oscars of food, fashion and lifestyle media”) has tapped The Gay Gourmet to be a judge for its annual culinary awards program. Stay tuned! (Editor’s Note: Congratulations as well to The Gay Gourmet for being honored with a San Francisco Press Club Journalism award! It was for his piece about Poesia in the Castro that ran in the September 23, 2021, issue of the San Francisco Bay Times. Further details will be announced by the Club on December 8.)

Alexis Bistro and Wine Bar: https://tinyurl.com/2s4ca65r

Claudine: https://www.claudinerestaurant.com/

The Raffles Hotel, Singapore: https://tinyurl.com/55w7bar9

Violet Oon: https://violetoon.com/

Labyrinth: https://www.restaurantlabyrinth.com/

Cé La Vi: https://tinyurl.com/78cmbxna

Hong Sieng Kong: https://tinyurl.com/5c4yy6zm

Eat Me: https://eatmerestaurant.com/

Nahm: https://tinyurl.com/33fvvv4c

Suhring: https://restaurantsuhring.com/

Silk Café at Jim Thompson House: https://tinyurl.com/ms7wtfjj

Floral Café: https://tinyurl.com/ycx3eeyu

Sky Bar, Lebua Hotel: https://tinyurl.com/yw6ssnx7

Mandarin Oriental Hotel: https://tinyurl.com/49pbpc46

Bamboo Bar: https://tinyurl.com/ymb68tvz

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

Sbrocco Sips

Words and Wine

I f you’re looking for a fascinating read while enjoying a glass of wine, reach for the new book, Crushed (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers). Penned by wine and spirits consultant, writ er, and author Brian Freedman, the tome is sub-titled, “How a Changing Climate Is Altering the Way We Drink.”

Climate plays a huge role in not only wine and vineyards but also how grain is grown for spirits production. The exceptionally engaging story is told through tales of winemakers

and distillers who deal with everything from fires to hailstorms to floods to get their drinks into the bottle and onto our tables.

Freedman travels the world in the pages of Crushed to see the way global climate change is impacting what we drink now and in the future. For those interested in exploring more through tasting, the book’s chapter on the “Bright Future for Overcast England” is the place to start. Some of the hottest sparkling wines are those hailing from the cool southern coast of England. With soil and climate like northern France’s Cham pagne region, this is one spot benefiting from warming temperatures and a changing wine world.

Nyetimber Classic Cuvee, England $65 https://nyetimber. com

English fizz can be fabulous as demonstrat ed by this wine from the bucolic property, Nyetimber. The producer is iconic on the English wine scene and leads the country in sparkling wine quality. Their Head

Leslie Sbrocco

Alexis Bistro & Wine Bar, Malaysia

Butcher’s Block at Raffles Singapore

Tempesta Siciliana at Raffles Singapore

(continued on page 36)

Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii

In all my years of playing, competing, coaching, managing, and lead ing LGBTQ+ sports, some of my fondest memories have come from traveling to gay national championships representing San Francisco/ Bay Area in the largest tournaments, such as the Gay Softball World Series, the North American Gay Volleyball Association (NAGVA) Championships, and the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL) Gay Bowl. Altogether, I’ve competed in 15 nationals hosted in 15 different amazing cities in a span of 10 years. However, in 2013 I “officially” retired a la Tom Brady and/or “evolved” like Serena Williams from compet ing on the national level.

But against all odds, I decided to come out of retirement or evolvement in October 2022 and traveled to Hawaii for Gay Bowl XXII. Why did I take the Tom Brady path (Serena hasn’t made a comeback yet but publicly stated she may play again)? Well, financial incentive was certainly not a factor. Competing for history seemed a bit of a stretch. For the pure love of the game managed a few eye rolls and chuckles, mainly because I am older and broken.

The main reason I participated in Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii was for the love of our gay football community, which I helped, in a small role, build. It has been nearly 10 years since my last Gay Bowl in 2013. I remembered all the great people I’ve met from all over the U.S. and Canada, all the amazing leaders who put NGFFL on the map, and the strong camaraderie forged among the pioneer teams that competed.

It also occurred to me that I can chronicle for my readers what it’s like to attend a national gay sports championship with all the excitement, pageantry, thrills, and fun that make these tournaments an unforgettable and lasting experience. Additionally, I can give you an inside view of what it takes to run a large-scale LGBTQ+ sports national championship.

Like most sports tournaments, the Gay Bowl returned after a two-year absence due to the pandemic. The buildup to the tournament reached near fever pitch for the majority of the competing teams, including our two San Francisco teams: the Dragons and the Seals. We couldn’t wait to get to Hawaii, not just for the tournament but also for the destination.

The Seals Team Captain Marti Davis echoed everyone’s excitement and anticipation. “This will be the first Gay Bowl for many of our players, including myself,” Davis told me for the San Francisco Bay Times “We couldn’t wait to get to Hawaii and represent our magical city, San Francisco. Our team was ready to showcase our skills and diversity of players, including talented women

who oftentimes get overlooked. Just as importantly, whether we are men or women or non-binary, we are the same on the field, competitors playing to win and have fun while doing it.”

The Making of Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii

Born and raised in Hawaii, Alvin Ty Law, a long-time footballer and friend (and a fellow UCLA alumnus), is the Chair of Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii. Affectionally known just as Ty, Law played gay flag football in various leagues around the country and represented several cities in past Gay Bowls.

“I went to Kahuku High School, a big powerhouse football program here in Hawaii,” he said. “I always loved football, collected cards and stats, and was a big [Troy] Aikman fan since he went to UCLA. In high school, I was very skinny, especially compared to the Polynesian boys, but wound up starting my sophomore year as a receiver.”

He added, “At UCLA I got into gay flag football my senior year when I came out and started looking for people ‘like me.’ Basically, sporty gays outside the stereotype that I was shown. After college, I sought to play gay flag football wherever I landed.”

Upon his return from the mainland, Law founded the Hawaii Gay Flag Football League (HIGFFL) and an annual fun and social tournament, The Aloha Classic, drawing LGBTQ players from as far as New York City and Toronto. Law and his enthusiastic team of leaders, players, and volunteers rallied tremendous support from not just the Honolulu LGBTQ+ community and businesses, but the city and state governing bodies as well.

After several successful years of running and hosting the Aloha Classic, Law and his fellow HIGFFL leaders

decided it was time to bring the biggest and the most prestigious gay flag football tournament, the Gay Bowl, to Hawaii. Law intimated, “[Our leadership] thought we were ready to host a Gay Bowl and do it well. Aside from the tournament itself, we also wanted to focus on the social and player connection aspect of the tournament.

Logistically, the host hotel and LGBTQ+ businesses are located within a few blocks of the playing fields [Kapi’olani Park with Diamond Head Volcano in the backdrop], and world-renowned Waikiki, which would be amazing for all the players and guests.”

Law continued, “While I’m the driver behind the logistics of the tournament, the success of the [championships] really rested on an amazing and tireless team of leaders and volunteers. Together, we raised approximately $125K to cover all the expenses. My best friend, John Ledwith, the Creative Director (and Co-Chair), was the driving force behind the vision and branding of Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii and elevated [the tournament] with a level of professionalism that took the experience for players from a good one to a great one!”

“Darrin Kaneshiro, a connected producer, was huge in getting all our contracts together and enabling [our leadership] to smoothly do business on Oahu,” he added. “Butch Merideth managed our finances and helped us with sponsorships. He’s been great in keeping our books in line and making sure things are accounted for.”

“Our local LGBTQ+ community is small, but very tightly knit and highly motivated to take on tasks to ensure we welcome players and guests with our legendary Hawaiian hospitality. [Gay Bowl XXII] was a unique event and experience here on the island. Although not everyone’s a player, our community, including businesses (too many to mention) were eager to partake in what we hope to be the first of many major LGBTQ+ sports events.”

He added, “Our Volunteer Coordinators, Wendy Jackson and Corey George, did an amazing job managing and assigning tasks to well over 100 volunteers. We kept our volunteers engaged because all of their tasks mattered. They were instrumental and monumental to running a seamless major sporting event. I am proud to say that several longtime tournament players told me that Hawaii had more volunteers than the past several Gay bowls combined.”

“In addition to all the peoplepower, the Community Enrichment Program of Hawaii Tourism Authority granted Gay Bowl XXII $25,000 because they strongly believed in what we were doing for our LGBTQ+ community and tourism. Furthermore, Waikiki Health also stepped up as a sponsor

with financial assistance and essential first aid. Finally, the city of Honolulu also contrib uted greatly to the success of Gay Bowl XXII.

For example, Mayor Blangiardi reduced the cost of security provided by the Honolulu Police Department as well as any additional park and recreation fees.”

The Gay Bowl XXII and Hawaii Experience Day 1: Arrival in Honolulu

5:30 pm My flight finally arrived at Honolulu International Airport, and I was greeted immediately with joy, excitement, and “Alohas.” Heading to my Waikiki Airbnb in a rental car, I chuckled at the dirt cheap, compared to California (near $7), $5 per gallon gas stations and wondered why Hawaii even has an Interstate Highway. Think about that! Since Day 1 is all about settling in, I headed to the “one on every block” ABC Convenient Store and got drinks, snacks, sundries, and reef safe sunblock. I also got musubi, a must in Hawaii, to-go for a late dinner. Don’t forget, Honolulu is three hours behind California, so by 8:30 pm I am essentially having a midnight meal.

Day 2: Gay Bowl Registration and Kickoff Party

I woke up to a magnificent sunrise as I walked onto my 28th floor balcony overlooking crystal blue Waikiki Beach to my left, skyscrapers just ahead, and lush green Ko’olau Mountain Range on the right. Hawaii is indeed stunning!

Since Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii registration at the host hotel, Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, began at 9 am, I meticulously embarked on all necessary preparation for the long journey to the host hotel one block away. As the area was decorated with tournament posters and banners, it was evident that this was the Gay Bowl epic center. At 9:15 am, the hotel lobby was already buzzing with hundreds of excited players and enthusiastic volunteers ready to greet and assist us.

According to Law, the tournament Chair, there were 50 teams, 1,000+ players, and guests from 23 cities participating in Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii.

Immediately, I ran into several San Francisco teammates and old football friends from the

first Gay Bowls, many of whom had been in town for a couple of days already taking advantage of everything Oahu has to offer. After 10 years away from the nationals, I was glad to see a few of the original players still competing. The best thing other than seeing fabulous, friendly, and familiar faces at registration was all the free giveaways and coupons from and for local LGBTQ businesses.

In the evening, the tournament Kickoff Party was the first major social gathering of all the players and guests. Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii instituted an ingenious and fun social game for players to meet competitors from other cities: exchange jerseys. But not simply handing jerseys to another. Players were asked to wear their team jersey and when meeting and connecting with an unfamiliar player from another league, take off the jersey, give it to that player to wear, and vice versa.

Touring Oahu North Shore

In between the early morning registration and the evening Kickoff Party, I took my buddy and teammate, Scott Kennon, who had never

Sports

John Chen

Danny Tyrrell, a Gay Bowl Hawaii XXII Official, SFGFFL Player, and NGFFL Hall of Fame Inductee

Ty Law and John Ledwith

SF Seals Team Captain Marti Davis at Gay Bowl XXII

Day 1: Waikiki Sunset View from Airbnb

Day 2: San Francisco Teams at Kickoff Party

Day 2: Scott Kennon touring Dole Plantation

been to Hawaii, on a power tour of Oahu’s famous North Shore. Our first stop was the Dole Plantation, where once upon a time, pineapples were a major crop on the island. We took an abbreviated whirlwind tour on the history and significance of how crops such as pineapples and sugar cane helped built and shape the economic growth of Hawaii before tourism became the moneyma ker.

Next, we stopped at Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck to sample delectable North Shore garlic shrimp featured on many, many TV shows and foodies Tik Toks and Instagram. A little further down Kamehameha Hwy we indulged on Masumoto’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice with condensed milk, mochi, red beans and many other toppings.

With all that sugar, we smartly utilized our abundance of stored energy and hiked to and swam at the Waimea Valley Waterfall. As far as

honeymoon. Picture it, two buddies enjoying a Hawaiian inspired and locally sourced meal while the sun ever so gently caressed and rested on the edge of infinity until the sky quickly filled with a palette of deep orange, then magenta, followed by purple lavender. Who said you have to hold hands, embrace, kiss, and look into one another’s eyes to romanticize the moment? Not us! Eeewwww! Gag!

Barf!

Day 3: Tournament Pool Play and Official Team Dinner

The first day of the tournament is always the most exciting. During pool play, teams are placed into small groups where they will play other teams in the same group using a round robin format. At Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii, each team will play three pool play games. At the end of pool play, teams will be seeded and placed into a single elimination bracket tournament where, once the team loses, it is out of the tournament.

Flag football is different than some of the sports such as softball, volleyball, and tennis, where the national championship tournament format is double elimination. Should the team lose for the first time at any point in the tournament, the team still has the opportunity to compete for the championship if it can win the Loser’s or consolation bracket.

Toronto and host Honolulu, while the Dragons dropped two close heartbreaking contests against South Florida and Austin. Immediately after the games, many of the players headed straight to a Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii sponsored beach party just across the street from the fields to mingle, cool off, and relax in sunkissed paradise. It just doesn’t get any better than this!

In the evening, the San Francisco teams got together for an official dinner to celebrate their play, bonding, and camaraderie. The Dragons and the Seals scarfed down Hawaiian fusion delectables such as Kalbi, Kim Chee Fried Rice, and Spicy Garlic Chicken at the Side Street Inn in Ala Moana.

San Francisco Represented in Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii Officiating Crew

I’d like to take a moment to recognize a very important part of any sports tournament’s success: the officiating crew. In football, these hardworking mediators are often referred to as zebras due to their distinctive vertical stripe uniforms. Officiating is a very challenging and thankless job. One must possess the ability to make instantaneous and decisive calls based on judgements that are not always popular. One must also endure the constant complaining and whining, and even abusive language and behaviors from coaches and players. I know this all too well.

I have officiated enough volleyball matches, softball games, and football leagues.

I know, it is the only waterfall where visitors are allowed and encouraged to swim to and from the base of the fall. On our return hike, we met a Waimea Valley staff member, Asher Alves, who enthusiastically talked about the geographic makeup of Oahu and the indigenous cultures and traditions that are deeply rooted within the true Hawaiians.

Right across the highway from Waimea Valley is the beautiful Waimea Bay Beach. Since the park ing gods opened up a space in the limited parking lot, who were we not to accept and appreciate the gift?

My buddy Scott took this opportunity to get started with his tanning regimen and I covered myself with the warmth of the turquoise Pacific Ocean.

As the sun was starting to set, we decided to find one of the many romantic outdoor waterfront dining experiences as if we were on a

Both San Francisco teams competed in two physical pool play games on day one, with the Seals winning both of its games against

Meet Danny Tyrrell, a current San Francisco Gay Flag Football League (SFGFFL) member, who officiated (continued on page 34)

Day 2: Scott Kennon going for swim at Waimea Valley Falls

Day 2: John Chen and Scott Kennon at Matsumoto Hawaiian Shaved Ice

Day 3: SF Dragon Alex Arballo going deep against South Florida

Day 3: SF Dragon Eugene Bibbs making a one-handed catch against Austin Capitols

Day 3: SF Seal Michele Ta’a against Honolulu Riptide

Day 3:

SF Seals Filipino Players (left to right) Michael Umbay, Len Gonzales, Alan Cannon, Darrel Bayani, Michele Ta’a, and Andrew Aquino

numerous games at Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii and was just recently inducted into the NGFFL Hall of Fame as a player, an official, and a local leader.

Tyrrell shared his road to officiating at Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii: “I first learned about [officiating] as a player in Boston’s local gay flag football league and was able to learn the art of officiating at the local level. Officiating is both fun and intense and enables you to see the whole field from a more objective perspective.”

He added, “The number one challenge of being an official is making sure to keep your cool when some of the more competitive players as well as [overzealous fans] yell in your ear making you question yourself. Also, the last thing you ever want to do is make a questionable call that may change the outcome of a game knowing how hard all the players worked to do well and win [the Gay Bowl]. The officials not only uphold the integrity of the game, but also have a responsibility to the players to be fair, impartial, and accurate.”

Tyrrell is not just a gay football player and a national championship tournament caliber zebra; he is an accomplished LGBTQ+ community leader and a NGFFL Hall of Fame Inductee. Tyrrell had been either coaching and competing or offici ating at every Gay Bowl since 2010. He was an integral leader on the Board of FLAG (Friends, Lesbians, and Gays) Flag Football Boston that created a college scholarship for LGBTQ+ athletes, hosted the Gay Bowl 17 in Boston, and negotiated a lead sponsor, The New England Patriots.

Day 4: Tournament Pool Play and Single Elimination Championships

The fourth day of Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii began with final pool play games for both the Dragons and the Seals. Although the Dragons succumbed to a talented team from San Diego, the Seals continued their determined play and came back from a half time deficit to edge Minnesota.

After the completion of all pool play games, based on results, teams were placed in their respective divisional

bracket to compete for the coveted title of gay flag football national champion or Gay Bowl XXII Champion. The Seals received a bye into the second round due their stellar pool play and got the rest of the day off. The Dragons in the first round, engaged in a hard-fought battle against the eventual divisional champion from Utah, but ultimately fell in the face of their more experienced opponent. Disappointed with their results, the Dragons vowed to return to next year’s Gay Bowl in Seattle more ready to compete!

Arturo Spell, a member of the Dragons, concluded his first ever Gay Bowl experience with a univer-

sal glowing sentiment. “Gay Bowl Hawaii was incredible and the best way to describe it is that the experience was indescribable! I was immediately impressed by the level of competition, the beauty of the venue, and how organized and energized the event was. My best buddy Noah [Zepponi] and I are football nerds. We love to play. We love to watch. We love to stat. And we do Madden. He brought me into the San Francisco gay league and the people are just so great, like the ones here in Hawaii! We were having so much fun in the league, we had to come play

the Gay Bowl! We are already planning to play the next Gay Bowl in Seattle because we wanted to again experience that special indescribable feeling!”

Given the rest of the day and evening off, San Francisco players got to enjoy Waikiki, dined out at a highly rated and LGBTQ+ sup portive Hawaiian fusion restaurant, Uncle Bo’s, and partied like it’s 1999 at Upstairs Waikiki, a Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii spon sored event.

The San Francisco Seals began the day challenging the Washington, D.C., team for a spot in the national semi-finals. Despite their best efforts, the Seals could not seize the momentum gained from pool play and were eliminated from contention. No mat ter the result, both San Francisco teams competed hard, had a blast, and represented our city with great class and sportsmanship.

After the final whistle, all the divisional champions were crowned, and wild celebrations took place, a large contingent of players naturally gravitated to the beach, especially after a long day of flag pulling, jousting, and rolling in the grass and dirt. Some of the San Francisco players, who shall remain nameless, lingered at the beach and frolicked in the water a little too long and were a tad late to the Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii Closing Ceremony at the Hawaii Convention Center.

The open-air Closing Ceremony with downtown Honolulu in the backdrop, was a festive affair where players, friends both new and old, and foes gathered for an evening commemorating the great success of Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii. The evening was highlighted by Tihati Productions telling the story of various Pacific Island nations through beautiful and interpretive native dances and rituals.

For most, the celebration poured over to Scarlet Honolulu for a final hurrah where midnight celebrations appropriately ended Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii.

Day 6: Touring East Oahu

After a whirlwind three days of tournament play, activities, and parties, it was time to wind down, pack up, and head home. Since my flight wasn’t (continued on page 35)

Day 5: Gay Flag Football National Champions Crowned and Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii Closing Celebration

Day 3: SF Players cooling down at Waikiki Beach

Day 4: Utah Fire Offensive Line vs SF Dragons

Day 4: SF Seal Tim Smith

Day 4: SF Players with Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii Volunteers including Darrin Kaneshiro (first right)

Day 3:

SF Seals Marti Davis, Andrew Aquino with Honolulu’s Elliot Dimacali, Steve Brennan, and Officiating Crew: Danny Tyrrell, Rod Kratovil, Mike Letendre, and John Erickson

Day 4: SF Dragon Eugene Bibbs vs. Utah Fire Defenders

Day 4: John Chen and Phoenix Badbombers Howie Whippe and Alex Cadenas

Day 5: Football with Diamond Head in the background

Day 5: SF Dragons and Seals with family and friends

Day 5: Honolulu Riptide Vincent Aguilar celebrating after a great play

Next,

swimming carefreely in and around the corrals.

Further down Kalaniana’Ole Highway, I made several scenic view pitstops such as the Lana’i, the Halona Blowhole, and the Makapu’u Lookouts. The Halona Blowhole is a natural marine geyser drawing force and strength from the waves crashing into porous geological lava formations connecting to the Pacific.

Near the Makapu’u Lookout, there are several short hiking trails that take you to several viewpoints, natural tidepools, and the Makapu’u Lighthouse.

Alas, my brief but action-packed stay in Hawaii had come to an end. After a few hundred photos, I headed to the airport looking forward to going home.

Final Thoughts

Attending an LGBTQ+ sports national championship such as Gay Bowl XXII Hawaii was an amazing and “indescribable” experience as Spell so eloquently stated earlier. Joey Wittlake, another first-time San Francisco competitor at a Gay Bowl, offered great compliments and praise: “Everyone at the gay football nationals was so proud and dedicated and passionate about competing. It didn’t matter if they were LGBTQ+ or an ally like me, we all had the same common goals, to do well as a team, to compete well as an individual, to have fun, and to support, build, and grow the gay football community as a whole. Plus, [the tournament] was in Hawaii!”

At the end of the trip, the competitive friendships and camaraderie formed can’t be understated.

The excitement of being one of hundreds and thousands of passionate LGBTQ+ athletes evoked a great sense of pride and validation. The sportsmanship displayed outweighed any wins or losses, and the memories, the bond, the shared smiles and laughter last a lifetime.

In the words of Davis, “Being a team captain and representing San Francisco on a national stage was so rewarding! It was amazing and fun to see so many gay athletes come together forging friendships and building a community. The Gay Bowl experience was truly magical! I can’t wait to do it all over again next year!”

John Chen, a UCLA alumnus and an avid sports fan, has competed as well as coached tennis, volleyball, softball, and football teams.

Day 5: Closing Ceremony at Hawaii Convention Center

Day 6: Cliff jumping at China Walls

until the late afternoon, I went for a scenic coastal drive on Kalaniana’ole Highway from East Honolulu to East Oahu before heading to the airport. My first stop was China Walls, a more “recent” green lava formation ending with a cliff or wall-like drop into the Pacific Ocean. China Walls is famous for unsurpassed colorful sunsets, and adventure thrillseekers cliff jumping into the vast waves of blue water.

just down the highway, I turned into the stunning Hanauma Bay, home to some of the best snorkeling on the island. Before heading down to the bay, I savored the breathtaking view from above at the Lookout. I didn’t have time to get in the water, but should you get the chance to snorkel here on a calm sunny day, you will be rewarded with scores of bright and colorful tropical fish

Day 6: Hanauma Bay

presents a reading from author Jake Newsome of his PINK TRIANGLE LEGACIES, telling the dynamic and inspiring history of the LGBTQ community’s original pride symbol by tracing the transformation of the pink triangle from a Nazi concentration camp badge into a widespread emblem of queer liberation, pride, and community. Drawing from unexplored archival sources and original interviews, this historian showcases the voices of LGBTQ Holocaust victims and a rich tapestry of queer lives who found meaning in the pink triangle in a post-Holocaust world. https://www.fabulosabooks.com/ Cast members from the Broadway touring cast of Ain’t Too Proud will present a special cabaret production, “LOVE’S IN NEED OF LOVE

TODAY,” featuring Motown, holiday, and more music on November 28, 7:30 pm at the Strand Theater, 1127 Market. Jazz icon Paula West will be a special guest for this special benefit cabaret show. Proceeds will benefit

The RICHMOND/ERMET AID FOUNDATION (REAF) and BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS https://www.reaf-sf.org/

Mayor London Breed and Santa will officially kickoff the famous CASTRO HOLIDAY TREE

LIGHTING—a fun, festive ceremony with sing-alongs, SF GAY MEN’S CHORUS, SF LESBIAN/GAY

FREEDOM BAND, and much, much more—on November 28,

6 pm, outside 501 Castro Street. https://bit.ly/3tsQucN

LIGHT IN THE GROVE will return on the evening of November 30, 6–9:30 pm as a tented, indoor magical celebration of Reunion, Remembrance, and Renewal in the NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE. Held annually on the eve of WORLD AIDS DAY, it is the Grove’s largest annual fundraising event, with all proceeds directly supporting the mission and programs of the National AIDS Memorial.

https://www.aidsmemorial.org/grove WORLD AIDS DAY takes place every December first each year. It’s an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.

Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day. Globally, there are an estimated 38 million people who have the virus. Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS related illnesses, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history. https://www.worldaidsday.org/

THEATRE RHINOCEROS

presents A SLICE OF LIFE, a comicdrama written and directed by John Fisher, now through November 27 at 4229 18th Street, (formerly Spark Arts). Roxanne and Jordy have absolutely nothing in

common, except that they are daughter and father. They are also both storytellers, with some stories true and others complete fantasies. https://therhino.org/ The JANUARY 6TH COMMITTEE have held their FINAL scheduled Public Hearing. So right-wing outlets are DESPERATE to stop the January 6th Committee from holding more hearings! Sister Dana sez, “We must DEMAND more meetings and more truth-telling!”

After a successful San Francisco run, the hilarious, clever, kooky COCKETTES are storming Oakland with the ETERNAL EMISSIONS cabaret show at PianoFight Oakland (1540 Broadway) on December 3 & 4 at 7:30 pm. (This was just a tease, and I’ll tell you more in my December 1 column.) https://rb.gy/wqxvfd A.C.T.’s “A CHRISTMAS CAROL” will return to the stage for the first time in three years.

AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER will usher in the holiday season with the in-person return of its celebrated production of the Charles Dickens’ classic. It will stay true to the heart of Dickens’s timeless story of redemption, and will bring a playful sensibility to his rich language. A Christmas Carol is a cornerstone of the A.C.T. repertory and has become a holiday tradition for families all around the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly 50 years. Staged at A.C.T.’s Toni Rembe Theater (formerly the Geary Theater) 415 Geary Street, November 30–December 24. Tickets at Box Office, 415-749-2228 or online at https://tinyurl.com/24jrb8x5

Sister Dana sez, “Congratulations to Maura Healey and Tina Kotek making history, winning elections to be the first OPENLY LESBIAN U.S. Governors!”

composition. I initially wrote big band tunes at those residencies, and then wrote all the music for the octet. Our guitarist, Nancy Wenstrom, also contributed one beautiful tune for the album.

Irene Young: Where has JAZZphoria performed?

Jean Fineberg: We’ve had a very busy 2022 so far, with concerts at Bird & Beckett in San Francisco, The California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, San Francisco Music Day, Albany Move ‘n’ Groove, the Livermore Jazz Society Series, The Suisun Jazz Concert Series, and the Solano County Fair.

Irene Young: What intention do you set for your performances?

Jean Fineberg: I view our concerts as serious entertainment, showcasing our soloists on a panoply of deep grooves, from funk to salsa to swing. We pump our energy out from the stage, and the audience completes the circle by throwing it back to us. For me, that is the thrill of performing! I love to include humor, and sometimes incorporate things like reading an appropriate poem from my poetry book, A Mobius Path, having the horns march out into the audience, or featuring special guests.

Irene Young: By the way, I have read much of your poetry and I love it. That’s a chat we could have all on its own another time. I see you have had extensive radio play and interviews around this album. Can you tell me a bit about that?

Jean Fineberg: Yes, we’re very fortunate to be in rotation on more than 50 radio stations across the country. I’ve been taping interviews on many of those stations, including one with the great Jesse Chuy Varela on KCSM, the Bay Area’s jazz station, and upcoming interviews on KPFA.

KRAMER (continued from pg 26)

points when it gets sentimental and serious. Instead, People We Hate at the Wedding always settles for the cheap joke, rather than the smart one.

The performances are also uneven. Allison Janney may be overplaying her scenes where she is high on CBD gummies, but she does give a terrific speech to Henrique and is very moving when she is caring for her adult children. In support, Ben Platt tries way too hard in his scenes, especially when he is having a spat with Dominic and crying in public. Platt can deliver a few droll lines, but he feels miscast here. Kristen Bell also goes large as Alice, but she makes her reckless behavior, such as her plan to eat her way through a table full of room service, appealing. Alas, Cynthia AddaiRobinson is slightly underused as Eloise, but she provides real moments of grace in this otherwise uncouth comedy.

In support, Dustin Milligan steals his every scene as Dennis, and is terrific in a scene where he sizes up Alice. And Isaach de Bankolé, still the coolest man in movies, makes his cad Henrique charming, even when Paul pisses on his shoes.

People We Hate at the Wedding has a few good moments, but by and large, this frantic comedy is unmemorable.

© 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

every detail, which actually heightens the sexiness and romance.

Winemaker, Cherie Spriggs, and her Winemaker husband, Brad Greatrix, craft numerous styles of sparkling that rival the best in the world. Their flagship Classic Cuvée blends Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier (the noted grapes grown in Champagne and England). The cuvée is sleek and elegant with fine bubbles, rich, toasty aromas, and a creamy yet crisp fin ish. It is a unique beauty to uncork for the holidays.

Author, speaker, wine consultant, and television host Leslie Sbrocco is known for her entertaining approach to wine and food. She has won multiple Emmy Awards for her work on PBS, which includes hosting the series “Check, Please! Bay Area,” “Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!” and “100 Days, Drinks, Dishes & Destinations.” www.LeslieSbrocco.com

QUEER POP QUIZ

ANSWER (Question on pg 21)

A) New York

The song, “Autumn in New York,” does not directly mention Thanksgiving, but it captures the mood of the holiday and season. It was written by Vernon Duke (1903–1969), who also penned another well-known homage to a season in a city: “April in Paris.”

Irene Young: Is the Freight and Salvage show your next Bay Area concert?

Jean Fineberg: Yes, our big fall show is at The Freight in Berkeley coming up on Sunday, November 20, at 7 pm. In these tumultuous times, we’re very excited at the prospect of gathering together with community, having a ball performing, dancing, and just experiencing a great evening out together.

Irene Young: I agree that we need to nourish ourselves with occasional infusions of positive energy! How can readers find out more information? What is your website?

Jean Fineberg: Yes, it’s https://jeanfineberg.com

The JAZZphoria promo video you made is there, listenable album tracks, our upcoming gigs, and contact info. I also have a Facebook page under Jean Fineberg, and I welcome interested friends.

Irene Young: Thanks, Jean. I really look forward to the show on November 20. I assume tickets are now on sale via The Freight and Salvage website.

Jean Fineberg: Tickets and lots of info are here: https://tinyurl.com/y9z6nkma

Or you can just Google “Freight Jean Fineberg” you’ll see the link.

Photographer, videographer, and poet Irene Young has over 600 CD covers and thousands of promo photos to her credit.

https://ireneyoungfoto.com/

Sometimes a moment of film dialogue stays in my life permanently. One example is from Lawrence Kasdan’s script for Body Heat. Kath leen Turner’s sultry vixen says to befuddled William Hurt, “You’re not very bright. I like that in a man.” But his character is compelling, such that Turner becomes engulfed in his passion. Their red-hot heat of desire leaves the rest to our imaginations, which is often where the hottest moments happen.

1996’s Bound uses sexuality to create one of the greatest shots ever of lovemaking. Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly are part of one continuous shot taken from a camera on a crane. Tilly later said in an interview that they did the scene eight times, with the camera set ups using closeups of different body parts. Whatever the technology, it is one beautiful sequence in a classic romantic drama.

When done artistically, even the most unusual sexual scenes are brilliant.

In Boogie Nights, porn star Amber Waves (Julianne Moore) guides her clueless but famously hung costar Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) in a steamy copulation scene. She demonstrates a certain caring for him, a kindness, which gives the scene gravitas. It goes beyond what would be expected, but also focuses on something other than the physical act.

So, there are many wonderful sex moments that give us desire and depth rather than the physical alone. Find your favorites. It is not a bad homework assignment, right?

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

SISTER DANA (continued from pg 22)

FINEBERG (continued from pg 25)

WAHL (continued from pg 27)

SBROCCO (continued from pg 31)

Astrology

Nietzsche said, “Whoever is dissatisfied with himself is continually ready for revenge.” It is a natural principle that as we feel good, we tend toward generosity. So, it appears very important to feel good.

Merriam-Webster defines “magnanimous” as “very kind and generous toward an enemy or someone you defeated”— the Latin root of which means “Great Soul.” There is a through-line then between living at the frequency of the eternal soul, trust, feeling good, and generosity. The cosmic wave that washes over us now wants to pull us up into fresh breezes and starrier skies. As our soul is fed by a brighter outlook, magnanimity becomes our primary mode of expression, restoring each other’s faith in the fundamental goodness of life.

Soul

ARIES (March 21–April 19)

The best thing you can do is have faith in your future. As you cultivate positivity in your thoughts, feelings, and actions, you literally signal universal forces to line up your life in a better way. Say yes to invitations and situations you might have previously refused and do your best to surrender control so life can surprise you with more good than you were imagining.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20)

With a tendency toward identifying strongly with the comforts and pleasures of life, it can be challenging to the ego to feel powerless over anything. Yet the discovery of a bigger power than our ego is the very realization that can soothe our soul, and make us remember we are one. Welcome everything. Attach to nothing.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Lindsey Brigman in the 1989 James Cameron film The Abyss says, “We all see what we want to see. Coffey looks and he sees Russians. He sees hate and fear. We have to look with better eyes than that.” Trusted allies show up as you notice them. There is a direct correlation between what you believe and what you see and experience.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

By humbly seeking to improve, you invite teachers in who expand your understanding of yourself. The potential for growth is significant. Treasures await those who chip away at that which stands in the way of their discovery. Renew your everyday immediate environment to reflect order and beauty.

LEO (July 23–August 22)

Permission to feel joy is granted. Of all the signs, you are the most innately wired to feel good. Ruled by the bright, warm, lifegiving sun, your nature is pure light. You possess perhaps the greatest gift to the world—innocence. Insist on maintaining the freshness of your gaze, and the world will reward you with its soul-stirring beauty.

VIRGO (August 23–September 22)

Your conflicted interests can keep you off balance. Freedom of choice arises from a stable center. Trust the earth beneath your feet that you belong to. Wherever your leap of faith leads, you will always land at home.

Take Me Home with You!

“My name is Messi! I am a three-year-old, male, German Shepherd Mix looking for my forever family! Although I can be wary of the spotlight, I strut my stuff for my circle of friends. I prefer to be in a quiet, low dog traffic area, as I am still adjusting to the volume of some of San Francisco’s busier streets. (SF SPCA volunteer Lotta said, “Messi loves his toys, and especially his favorite balls, and wants to be chased. He loves fetch too and gives a sit before each throw, if asked to do so.”) If you think we might be a match, come say hello!”

Check out Messi in action as he recently had fun during an SF SPCA “Speed Dating” session: https://tinyurl.com/2paakhcr

If you wish to meet Messi, you can do so virtually before choosing to adopt. For more information, please email adoptions@sfspca.org

Messi 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 Messi.

To meet Messi 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://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/

As Heard on the Street

What is

LIBRA (September 23–October 22)

Your neighbors could use some of your famous charm and diplomacy right about now. If you yourself have given in to a cavedwelling kind of existence, break with tradition and leave the house. Catch eyes with strangers, say hello, and notice what in you either opens or closes according to your thoughts. As you open yourself up, blessings make their way in. Curiosity reaps rewards.

SCORPIO (October 23–November 21)

It is a tenet of 12-step recovery programs that, within the context of relationship, the person with the program is responsible for acting responsibly. Loosely translated, this means magnanimity will get us everywhere. Scorpio’s intensity is meant to make an impact, so it is essential you channel your power wisely. Rather than hold grudges, it serves you to move on from feelings of victimization, and fully embody the liberating power of trust.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21)

Sagittarians press further the boundaries of our cultural expectations. We need your wild spirits to tease us out of the sticky limited thoughts that would hold us back. Stay true to your vision of what’s possible and keep the faith that our giant ship is slowly turning in that direction.

CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19)

Your inner mystic wants attention and has messages for you. Stay open to receiving them and follow the breadcrumbs out of the maze of endless suffering. Your strength is meant for greater contribution than simply bearing the weight of the world. Consider the question, “How good can it get?”

AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18)

Faith in the future is the call to duty now. If your outlook has crystalized, it’s time to break out of the old paradigm and plug back into eternal, universal truths. As you trust your knowing, you meet more and more people who vibe with you.

PISCES (February 19–March 20)

Pisces is well-aware of soul, and as such, is one of the more naturally magnanimous signs. You’ve been going through a makeover and giving off a more comfortable and confident vibe that is magnetic. Refresh and clarify your vision in life. You can have, do, and be more.

Tore Kelly, Director of Creative & Social Me dia for Fitness SF, provides monthly tips that he has learned from professional trainers. For more information: https://fitnesssf.com/

favorite holiday, and why?

Elisa Quinzi

Elisa Quinzi is a certified professional astrologer who brings a strong spiritual perspective, as well as over 20 years of experience, to her work with clients. Contact her at futureselfnow@gmail.com or at 818-530-3366 with your exact birth time to schedule or to ask questions.

your

compiled by Rink

. . .

Tina D’Elia

“The Trans March of Pride, with this year’s chants, ‘Trans + Choice,’ ‘Here to Stay,’ and ‘Solidarity’”

Patrice Williams

“Christmas, since that is when I can go to Christmas dinner and see family and friends again”

Sister Amor Ah’Quality

“Thanksgiving, because it can be both traditional and nontraditional. The focus for me is being with people I love.”

Eli Kind

“Halloween, since it is the holiday that people can express themselves in a way society isn’t always keen on seeing”

Melissa Cherry

“Christmas. I just love that holiday.”

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Louie

Messi

Steven Luibrand at Fitness SF Mid-Market

“Diet and training are like a handshake. One without the other is usually self-defeating.”

Fitness SF Trainer Tip of the Month

Maitri’s Works of HeART Exhibit & Auction

Maitri’s annual Works of HeART exhibit and auction was held on Saturday, November 12, at Art Attack on Market Street in San Francisco. The

event featured works by more than 20 artists. Proceeds from the auction help Maitri and its efforts in providing residential care to low-income people living with HIV/ AIDS and those affirming their gender. “Up Your Alley Fair,” an historic photograph by San Francisco Bay Times photographer Rink, was included among the items sold.

The Maitri 2023 calendar, Mutts & Meows, is now for sale and benefits the organization’s work: http://www.maitrisf.org/maitripets/

Rink Remembers

Photos by Rink

On November 14, tributes to Crispin Hollings continued to grow as neighbors and friends made their way to Hibernia Beach.

Photos by Rink

November Castro Art Mart

Photos by Rink

CASTRO

STREET CAM

December 4, 11–5 pm. https://tinyurl.com/mrxeznh2

December’s

Rink Remembers

Longtime Castro neighborhood resi dent and community leader Crispin Hollings died unexpected on Thursday, November 10. An outpouring of sad ness and acknowledge ments of his volunteer work with LGBTQ+ community organi zations followed from friends and colleagues at organizations including the Castro Country Club, Sundance Saloon, Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District, and others.

The Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club issued this statement:

“Crispin Hollings was a champion for equality, a relentless advocate for his beloved Castro neigh borhood, and a longtime friend and leader on the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club’s Board of Directors. We are devastated, grieving, and reflecting on his quiet joy and kind soul.

We remember Crispin for his activism through LGBTQ orgs since the 1970s and the progress he made through organizations such as the Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association, Castro CBD, and Castro Country Club. As a member of ‘United at United’ in the 1990s, a gay airline employee group, he was credited for testifying against his employer on behalf of the city, and forcing United Airlines to offer domestic partner benefits in 1999. His financial expertise has served our City, our Club, and the com munity. But perhaps his greatest impact was on the lives of those around him, in and out of our Club. From Folsom to Castro, his loss will be felt by many in our community. Our hearts are with his family and loved ones.

To our Treasurer and friend, you will be missed.”

Rink knew Hollings for many years and recalls their conversations concerning Harvey Milk, issues affecting the city and the LGBTQ community, the history of the Alice Club, and much more.

“There was a big surprise from many of Crispin’s contacts when they saw him smiling in a red dress on Castro Street in one of my San Francisco Bay Times photographs (of him),” Rink said. “They had thought that he was too butch to join that Annual Red Dress Tour. His fine sense of humor propelled him to do it, and not tak ing himself too seriously. He will be missed.”

Originally from Alexandria, Virginia, Hollings earned mas ter’s degrees from the University of Virginia and the University of California, Berkeley. His varied career interests included air line mechanics, civil service, law enforcement, and finance. He served as Chief Financial Officer of the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department from 2016 until his death. He is survived by his hus band, Luis Hollings Casillas.

he season for sparkly things and giving has arrived! This year we have curated two amazing color palettes for your sparkling pleasure: a traditional rainbow one and another featuring sophisticated precious metals. And no, it isn’t too early to start thinking about Christmas. Did you know that we purchase over 90% of our holiday items in January?!

Monday, November 21, through Friday, December 15, we will collect new unwrapped toys to support the San Francisco Police Department’s Mission Station Toy Drive.

And, speaking of giving, we will have our 15th annual Give & Receive Fundraiser on Friday, November 25, through Sunday, November 27. Make a $5 or greater donation to the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy and we will give you 20% off your purchase! (This excludes power tools, ladders, appliances, Legos, and labor.)

Please join us in making these two events successful and put a little sparkle in your life.

Crispin Hollings

presented by http://sfbaytimes.com/

Photos by Rink

Noe Street was filled with pre-holiday shoppers perusing the diverse offerings on display during the Castro Art Mart held on Sunday, November 6. Organized by the Artyhood network and the Castro Merchants Association and held on the first Sunday of each month, the Art Mart has become a popular community event in the Castro. Per Sia served as emcee. Nicco Tyson and the jazz-reggae ensemble Byrds of a Feather Trio were among the entertainers.

Castro Art Mart will be held on Sunday,

PHOTO FROM SFSHERIFF.COM

The Nicco Tyson Band

Artist Oscar Gallegos

Sam Johnstone and David Faulk

Photographer JB Higgins