San Francisco Bay Times - December 1, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS/STEFAN COHEN

PHOTO BY BETTY L. SULLIVAN

Chorus members singing at a vigil for the Transgender Day of Remembrance and for the victims of the Club Q shootings, November 20, 2022

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg in rehearsal for the Chorus’ Holiday Spectacular

Singing for Our Lives

Interview with New SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg Ahead of Holiday Season Debut

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) Holiday Spectacular at the Sydney Goldstein Theater in San Francisco on December 2 (8 pm) and December 3 (3:30 pm and 8 pm) will mark the first holiday shows led by new Artistic Director Jacob “Jake” Stensberg. There is always excitement ahead of SFGMC’s holiday season of performances, but that anticipatory vibe is even more so this year given the return to in-person events after the long pandemic shutdowns and slowdowns, and curiosity over Stensberg and this year’s SFGMC program.

In an interview with the San Francisco Bay Times, Stensberg shared that classics like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” will be mixed in with songs in different languages such as Hebrew, Tagalog, and Swedish, as well as with classical works like “Sure On This Shining Night” by California composer Morten Lauridsen. There will also surely be plenty of high-energy showstoppers with cre ative choreography by the mighty Chorus.

Stensberg additionally told us about his new life here in California, after moving to the city from Purdue University in Indiana to take over the role held for over a decade by Dr. Tim Seelig, who is now a San Francisco Bay Times columnist.

San Francisco Bay Times: You moved here just five months ago. How are you adjusting to your new life in San Francisco?

Jacob Stensberg : The adjustment period could not have gone any better. I love the apartment and neigh borhood I’ve landed in. I live five blocks from our SFGMC home at 170 Valencia and near public tran sit. Coming from Indiana, where I’ve lived most of my life, you can’t go see world class opera or ballet or music or dining on a Wednesday or Thursday night. So, to be here and have those opportunities has been a real joy and a fast adjustment. It’s a life that soaks up art and culture and community and a life that I have really loved creating in these last five months.

San Francisco Bay Times: What are some of your favorite places in the Bay Area so far?

Jacob Stensberg: I love walking down Fillmore Street all the way from my apartment to the water, stopping at the coffee truck and sitting and looking at the bridge. It’s one of my favorite morning routines. But I love get ting out and enjoying the parts of the city that are grand and spacious with water and bridges and trees, as well as the parts of the city that have that big city feel, like going downtown and going out to dinner and seeing a show.

I love seeing everything that comes through Broadway SF. There’s nothing like a good musical! Oh, wait, there’s also wine country! Musicals and wine. I have read wine books for years and have only really had access to supermarket wine labels in the Midwest. Being able to drive an hour north and taste with the wine maker and talk about oak profiles and aging processes has been something that I have dreamed of doing for years and get to now!

San Francisco Bay Times: You are busy now, though, preparing for the opening of the SFGMC Holiday Spectacular. How are you get ting ready for that pivotal moment, marking your official start with an SFGMC season?

Jacob Stensberg: I am so blessed to spend every Monday night with 250 of the kindest, most tal ented, singers in the Bay Area as we rehearse with the SFGMC. When we all come together with a shared goal of performing, I feel like anything can happen. I really lean into the support I feel from the community. And it’s even beyond the singers. We have an incredi ble volunteer group, staff, board of directors, and most important, loyal supporters who show up and buy tick ets to our events. I feel so supported walking up to the podium.

I don’t know that there really is a way to fully prepare for that moment of starting the first song of this first concert. I don’t think I’ll know what it feels like until it happens. But I know that the support and the love com ing from the audience, the singers, the backstage crew, and front of house staff—everyone has put in countless hours into creating this production. That support will really propel me forward.

San Francisco Bay Times: What can audiences expect from SFGMC’s holiday concerts?

Jacob Stensberg: The Chorus will deliver powerful moments of inspiration, joy, laughter, chills, and holiday warmth. We’ll have an incredible band of 8 musicians, some of the best players around town. We’ll perform music that’s upbeat that’ll get you tapping your toes, dancing in your seat, and humming on your way out. And we’ll perform music that makes you think. Music that makes you feel. Music that makes you wonder a lit tle differently about the topics we care so much about. It’s a concert that I’m deeply proud of. I think that audi ences will fall in love with the music that we sing, as well as the singers who are singing it!

San Francisco Bay Times: How has creating this holiday concert helped to shape your artis tic vision for SFGMC?

Jacob Stensberg: We went in with certain goals, ask ing ourselves, “What do we want? Why do we per form? Where are we doing it? Who’s coming?” Then we set some parameters of what we wanted to deliver. One thing I’m passionate about is supporting new art ists. So, we started the inaugural composition competi tion where composers from around California are able to submit their work.

This has enabled us to support Ryan Garrett, who has done some work in film scoring previously, but never written choral music before. He has written a beautiful, dramatic, theatrical setting of poetry about snow.

Supporting new artists and creating new, fresh work by living composers is a vision I have for the Chorus, and a vision that the Chorus has held for a long time with commissions like I Am Harvey Milk , Unbreakable, and Songs of the Phoenix. I really look forward to continu ing that trajectory of supporting a diverse group of new music and new artists.

San Francisco Bay Times: How are you spend ing the holidays?

Jacob Stensberg: One of the reasons I love being here in San Francisco is that San Diego is a 90-minute flight away. My brother’s family is there. In Indiana, it was a five-hour flight with a three-hour time change. It was just impossible to get out here very often. I have a new born niece who’s just about five weeks old and a two-yearold nephew whom I could play with every day for the rest of my life and I hope I get to. So, I will be down in San Diego with my brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew.

But on December 24, I’ll be in San Francisco conduct ing at the traditional Home for the Holidays show at the Castro Theatre. We do three high energy, best of the best, fast shows at 5 pm, 7 pm, and 9 pm. There will be about 150 sing ing members on stage with our band. I expect we’ll be rocking to a full house!

We cannot wait to celebrate in this community that I am so proud of and am honored to call home.

About Our Cover, December 1, 2022

The first public performance of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) took place on November 27, 1978, at an impromptu memorial at San Francisco City Hall for Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone, who had been assassinated earlier that day by former Supervisor Dan White. SFGMC per formed “Thou, Lord, hast been our refuge” (“Herr Gott, du bist unsre Zuflucht”) by Mendelssohn at the event.

It was attended by at least 25,000–40,000 mourners who had marched to City Hall from the Castro, which was represented by Milk in the Board of Supervisors.

One of those attending was singer and activist Holly Near. While in a car on the way to the memorial, she penned the now iconic song “Singing for Our Lives”:

“We are a gentle, angry people

And we are singing, singing for our lives

We are a justice-seeking people

And we are singing, singing for our lives

We are young and old together

And we are singing, singing for our lives

We are a land of many colors

And we are singing, singing for our lives

We are gay and straight together

And we are singing, singing for our lives

We are a gentle, loving people

And we are singing, singing for our lives.”

Recently, on November 20 for the Transgender Day of Remembrance, SFGMC again performed during a period of mourning, this time with thoughts of the victims of violence against transgender individuals and of the 5 people who were killed at Club Q in Colorado that same weekend. Both the Chorus and Near con tinue “singing for our lives,” seeking justice and basic rights for LGBTQ individuals and marginalized others.

The events remind how important music and SFGMC are—always, but particularly during times of mourning, and also of celebration, such as during this holiday season that has seen a return to in-person events after the COVID shutdowns. 2022 marks the first year for the Chorus with Jacob Stensberg as SFGMC’s new Artistic Director. He is highlighted both on the Bay Times cover and in this issue.

Jacob Stensberg, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Artistic Director

The San Francisco Bay Times thanks Andrew Barrett for his help with SFGMC coverage

Singing for Our Lives

Castro Vigil for Club Q Victims November 20, 2022

Pulse Memorial to Be Unveiled at the SF LGBT Center on December 7

On the eve of the Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20, a mass shoot ing occurred at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Five people were killed and 25 were injured. On the evening of November 20 in the Castro, community members gathered to memorialize the victims as well as transgender and non-conforming victims of fatal violence. Participants lit candles, listened to speakers, and remembered those who were lost.

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus sang, just as they have at similar events since 1978. Community leaders, elected officials, and activ ists took their turn at the microphone.

Speakers included Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, State Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, activists Alex U. Inn and Di’ara Reid, and others. Many spoke of their memories attending yet another vigil—on the evening of June 12, 2016—following the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.

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The SF LGBT Center and AGUILAS will unveil a new sculpture, Aegis, created to memorialize the 49 victims murdered in a mass shooting at the Orlando, Florida, gay nightclub Pulse; the massacre occurred on June 12, 2016. The memorial unveiling will take place at the SF LGBT Center on Wednesday, December 7, 2022.

The memorial project was spearheaded by AGUILAS after San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors initially set aside $10,000 for a memorial to be produced back in 2017. After planning and developing the project over the last five years, gay, immigrant, Latinx, Brazilian, and SF-based artist Wilson Ferreira’s design proposal was selected.

“We’re honored to lead the creation of this memorial for community members we lost at Pulse, as intended by the survivors,” said San Francisco Bay Times columnist Dr. Eduardo Morales, who is the Executive Director of AGUILAS. “This was a significant moment for our community, as most of the people murdered during the shooting were Latinx. It felt important for AGUILAS to take a leadership role in

Transgender Day

Remembrance rally and march also took place on November 20 at San Francisco City Hall with a pro gram held at La Cocina Municipal Marketplace.

In Case You Missed It

“Fasten your seatbelts: It’s going to be a bumpy night,” Bette Davis famously growled in All About Eve Which is my way of saying this week’s column is all over the map. Buckle up and read on.

Club Q and Beyond

Waking up on the morn ing of November 20 to the news of the trag edy at Club Q was a wrenching mirror of another Sunday morn ing in June 2016, waking to the news from Pulse Orlando. News of the lives lost, and the lives forever altered by injury, trauma, and loss, hit the community like a gut punch, espe cially falling on the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

The LGBTQ+ community knows what to do at times like these; we’ve been down this road too many times. Vigils were organized. GoFundMe’s were created to assist the victims. The community came together to mourn, to cry, to support one another. In person and on social

media people shared their grief and horror, but also their fury and rage at yet another vicious attack on peo ple like them—people who were sim ply out for a fun night at a seemingly safe place where they could relax and be themselves.

People were grieving, they were enraged, they were scared. But they weren’t surprised.

It would be disingenuous to be sur prised when lawmakers, faith leaders, media, and too many others on the far right are doing everything in their power to attack, slander, misrepre sent, and criminalize anyone who doesn’t fit their extremely narrow definition of what they consider “nor mal.” And they have only ratcheted up the hateful rhetoric in the wake of the Club Q shooting. They are shamelessly spreading lies and hate speech, and passing anti-LGBTQ+ laws at an alarming pace, and making sure that no one feels safe, even in spaces, like Club Q, which were designed to be safe havens.

And, ultimately, they are inciting, encourag ing, and condoning vio lence against LGBTQ+ people. They are bludgeoning the commu nity with homophobic and transphobic words and laws, so it’s no surprise when vio lence follows. It has become normal ized. It has become accepted by too many.

Enough already. Call out the hate when you see it. And don’t let the haters dim your light. The haters are trying to squeeze all the life and joy out of you, but don’t let ‘em. We have to believe that love wins.

A True Champion

Congratulations to Amy Schneider, who prevailed over fierce competi tion to win the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions. It has been quite a year for Amy, as she became the most successful woman to ever play Jeopardy!, one of the top players ever (winning 40 consecutive games), the first transgender person to make it to the elite Tournament of Champions, and now this year’s top winner.

These are truly impressive achieve ments. But Amy is a champion in more ways than one. Throughout her many appearances on the popular game show, she has changed hearts and minds throughout the coun try by simply being her true authen tic self. She has become a role model to young trans people everywhere who see themselves in her and now aspire to new dreams. When I inter viewed her almost a year ago, during her first winning streak, she was pon dering where her newfound visibility would lead.

Amy has found her voice, and is using her new platform for good. While the Tournament of Champions was being broadcast, she learned that her home state of Ohio was trying to pass SB 434, leg islation that would deny genderaffirming medical care to trans kids. So, she flew back to Ohio to tes

tify before the state legislature on their behalf. She wrote to her 143K+ Twitter followers: “If you are a young trans person that sees these bills being proposed, and feeling fright ened, or hopeless, know that you are not alone. The hearing was packed far beyond overflowing with people who came here to fight for you. And I know that, eventually, we’re going to win.”

Spoken like a true champion. Thank you, Amy.

Motherly Love in Latin America

I promised you a roller-coaster ride, so here is some heartwarming news.

traditionally very socially conserva tive and religious, they are working to change hearts and minds, and pro vide unconditional love and support to those whose own families are not supportive.

These mothers give us hope, and something to be grateful for.

December 15 Deadline: Guaranteed Income for Trans Citizens

Mothers throughout Latin America have been joining together to provide safe haven and love to those most in need of love and support. The Latin American Movement of Mothers of LGTB+ Children, founded in 2017, has members in 14 countries. They held their first in-person meeting in Buenos Aires in November, and attended the huge gay pride march. Representing countries whose laws and customs vary widely in their sup port of LGBTQ+ citizens, the moth ers lobby to counteract homophobic and transphobic laws, and reinforce existing bans on violence and dis crimination. In countries that are

Applications are being accepted until December 15 for San Francisco’s pilot program, Guaranteed Income for Trans People (GIFT). Announced in 2021 by Mayor Breed, the pro gram will provide 55 low-income transgender San Franciscans with $1,200 per month for up to 18 months, to help them achieve finan cial security. GIFT is one of three pilot programs that target specific populations that experience pov erty and economic instability at dis proportionate rates. According to a statement from the Mayor’s Office, “In 2015, when the U.S. Trans Survey was last conducted, 33% of trans Californians were living in pov erty, compared to 12% of people in the general population. The percent age among trans people who are also Black, Indigenous, and people of color is even higher.”

More info: https://www.giftincome.org/ Horizons Foundation’s Annual State of the Movement

The LGBTQ+ community has faced significant challenges during the past year, including a bruising midterm season and an avalanche of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Movement leaders will be taking (continued on page 14)

Joanie Juster

Ms. Smith Goes to Washington

Has this ever happened to you? You have six hours to write a 2,000-word column about GLBT law and poli tics. The Supreme Court is about to hear arguments on a big gay case, the U.S. Congress is about to pass a Respect for Marriage Act, a gun man has just shot up a GLBT bar in Colorado Springs—but you’re not in the mood to write about gay stuff. You’d rather binge-watch Britbox, day drink, or maybe pick up the Lincoln biography you’re in the pro cess of reading. Or do all three! Why not?

Since you have to write something, maybe you can write about cute ani mals or the money-grubbing bozo who just crashed the crypto market. But no. These other subjects call to you, insisting on your attention like the seminar professor who makes eye contact with all five students and asks thought-provoking questions when you least expect it.

“Ann, can you tell us why 303 Creative v Elenis is different from the Masterpiece Cakeshop case that also involved a Christian business owner in Colorado who sought to avoid the state’s law against GLBT discrimina tion in the public square?”

“Uh, could you repeat the question?”

Okay, okay. I do know that one, as do you if you’ve been a loyal reader.

Web designer Lorie Smith is ask ing the court whether she will have to abide by Colorado’s civil rights code once she starts offering web designs for heterosexual weddings.

For one thing, unlike the cake baker in Masterpiece (who won on a techni cality), she has not yet encountered a same-sex couple, let alone rejected their business. In fact, she hasn’t even

begun her wedding service since she has decided to preemptively test the civil rights law in court.

That’s one difference and normally I’d say it would be a dealbreaker for Smith. You’re not supposed to liti gate hypothetical situations. You’re supposed to wait until you have an actual controversy. But there’s clearly a loophole here that eludes the San Francisco Bay Times legal expert, because why would the High Court have accepted the case if they weren’t prepared to give it a go?

Second, unlike the baker, who argued that his freedom of religious expression was under attack, the Supreme Court has determined that Lorie Smith’s case will only concern her freedom of speech. Yes, her anti gay views stem from her religion, but in theory that will be reduced to a factual detail. The Court is examin ing whether or not the Colorado law forces her to describe her business as open to all comers, and prevents her from expressing her opinions to the public. As far as Colorado is con cerned, however, the law governs her actions, not her speech. She can say anything she likes, as long as she does not discriminate against gay and les bian couples.

That does sound dodgy. Can she really say something like, “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman,” in her presentations and simultaneously meet Colorado’s stan dard of non-discrimination? If so, can she advertise that she believes interracial marriages “upset nature’s balance” and still avoid racial bias in practice? For that matter, if we take religion out of it, which we are doing, what’s the difference between a race-based prohibition and an anti gay policy? If one’s okay, then surely

both should stand. Keep in mind that Colorado can, and will, argue it has a compelling interest in protecting its citizens against bias that will trump Smith’s constitutional rights in this instance.

Arguments in this case are scheduled for Monday, December 5, and I think you can follow them on some web site somewhere. They will likely last a couple of hours. Oh, and if you’re wondering, Aubrey Elenis is the head of the Colorado Civil Rights Division and first in the alphabet of the appel lees.

Better Safe Than Sorry

What else is out there? The Respect for Marriage Act! This bill, which was about to pass the lame duck Congress as the Bay Times went to press, was supposed to be a politi cal maneuver to force Republicans into an awkward antigay vote before the midterms. Same-sex marriage is extremely popular these days. And there’s a sentence I couldn’t imagine writing when I started this column in the mid-1990s.

Instead, the bill passed with so many House Republicans that its Senate sponsors soon realized it could win 60-plus votes in the upper cham ber. First planned for October, it got moved to the lame duck session to shore up these votes. Last Tuesday, the Senate was expected to pass the Act, which must return to the House for confirmation before heading to President Biden.

One of the reasons our community won this rare nod from lawmakers lies in the fact that the bill is redun dant. As you may have noticed over the last seven years, we already have the right to marry. The Respect for Marriage Act was designed as a fail-

safe to prevent a rogue Supreme Court from overturning its own 2015 marriage equality precedent, but since that prospect is extremely unlikely, the Act is more of a symbol. It also builds in the right to object to our marriages on religious grounds, which again, has always been an option.

Nevertheless, we’ll take it, assum ing some unexpectedly weird amend ment has not been tacked on at the last minute.

Do We Care?

So, I’m having a hard time investing my mental energies into the World Cup given the barbarism of its homo phobic and misogynistic host coun try. That said, I want France to win, since I lived there for many years and I don’t think my other favor ites, Mexico and the U.S., are good enough to advance. I still won’t watch the games, but that’s mainly because I shrink from the monotony of it all. Kick the ball down the field. Kick the ball back up the field. Kick the ball around and back down the field. Kick the ball around and back up the field. Repeat ad nauseam for ninety-plus minutes punctuated, if you’re lucky, by a goal or two. Please, somebody turn on the NFL.

Speaking of the NFL, I guess Stephen Smith used the word “homosexual” instead of “gay” on his ESPN show First Take the other day while talking about a crude comment from Raven’s quarterback Lamar Jackson. I won’t report on Jackson’s remark only because the context is too confusing and I don’t want to spend half an hour figuring out what the hell he was taking about. I’m more interested in how we as a community feel when someone says

“homosexual.” Personally, I dislike it intensely, but consider it a matter of ignorance rather than hostility.

“I’m not a homosexual so I’m not going to define what’s offensive to them or not,” said Smith. “It looked to me like [Jackson] was cussing the dude out ... that’s how I read that, cussing somebody out as opposed to going where folks might go with that. But again, I’m, not a homosexual, so the homosexual community, the gay community gets to define that better than me.”

Smith later apologized for the term. “The LGBTQ community prefers that over other words because obvi ously other words are believed to be derogatory in their eyes. So as a result of that, my apologies. I should have used the word gay.”

That’s enough for me. Homosexual and heterosexual could be used in a formal discussion of specific sex ual orientations, but to call gay men or women “homosexual” in general reduces our identities to sexual ones and evokes the bygone days of per vasive shame and loathing. What do you think?

Bad Air Over Georgia

There’s a really good Warnock ad featuring Georgia voters in head phones listening to Hershel Walker’s incoherent discussion of vampires and werewolves, as well as his the ory that “bad air” from China was replacing the “good air” over North America and should be sent back. The ad was embedded in an article on the runoff, and in one of the reac tions to that article, I saw Walker quoted as follows:

Vigil Commemorating the 44th Anniversary of the Assassinations of Harvey Milk and George Moscone

Photos by Rink

In remembrance of the assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone at San Francisco City Hall 44 years ago, the Harvey Milk Democratic Club held its annual vigil at Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro on the evening of November 27, 2022.

A large crowd gathered to hear remarks by former and current Harvey Milk Club officers and colleagues and friends of Harvey Milk, including Gwenn Craig, a former San Francisco Police Commissioner who held other city roles; and former San Francisco Supervisor Carol Ruth Silver, who served with Milk. Additional speakers included the Castro Historical District’s Stephen Torres, transgender activist Per Sia, State Senator Scott Wiener, BART board of directors member Bevan Dufty, and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman.

Following the vigil, participants carried signs and marched on Castro Street to the site that formerly housed Milk’s camera shop. The location now houses Queer Arts Featured (Queer AF). Co-owner Devlin Shand hosted a reception, welcoming vigil participants.

6/26 and Beyond

Gaffney and John Lewis

“Regressive,” “outdated,” and “abu sive.” These are three of the words that Human Rights Watch has used to describe Japan’s requirements for transgender people to be able to change their legal gender. For trans gender Japanese to legally be their true gender, they must not only be sterilized, have alternative genital construction surgery, and receive a psychiatric diagnosis, but also they must not be married nor have chil dren under age 18. These draconian requirements violate transgender Japanese basic rights to physical and personal dignity, autonomy, and privacy, as well as reinforce social prejudice and foster personal selfrepression.

Thus, thousands of transgender and other LGBTIQ people along with many allies made a bold statement when they took to the streets for the second annual Tokyo Transgender March, which began at a central location in Tokyo and proceeded to Shinjuku Station, the world’s busiest railway station with over 3.5 million people using the station daily. The marchers carried signs such as “I am who I say I am,” “I, not the state nor religion, decide,” “smash the binary ‘cistem,’” and “refugee + trans soli darity,” and held a rally with speak ers at Shinjuku station.

During the event, marchers dis played determination and forceful ness more than anger, and above all a sense of joy, pride, and commu nity. At a large festival held before the march, numerous organiza tions offered resources and informa tion for community members and the general public. Together, partic ipants created an atmosphere of wel come, safety, and belonging for each other.

The same sort of power in selfexpression and community was on full display at avant-garde photogra pher Nagi Yoshida’s stunning exhibi tion Hero & Queen, which just closed in Tokyo. The provocative show jux taposed photos of indigenous peoples from around the globe in tradi tional makeup and clothing with those of drag queens from New York to Hong Kong to Osaka decked out in their latest creations. The exhi bition invited the viewer to ponder what commonality two seemingly divergent types of people—indig enous peoples living in geographi cally remote locales and drag queens living in the heart of some of the world’s largest cities—may have.

One drag queen who was inter viewed for a video component of the exhibition opined that “life sucks, but there’s a lot that’s really good in it, if you know where to look for it.” As the industrialized world encroaches upon indigenous people’s lands and the climate crisis threatens their survival, many drag queens face or have faced societal or familial rejection, as well as dis crimination or violence, just for being themselves. For both, their striking personal presenta tions through their hair, makeup, attire, and personalities exude vibrancy, strength, creativity, and celebration of life to all who see them through Yoshida’s bril liant photography.

The need to protect both the world’s indigenous people’s lives and to defend the human rights of transgender and other queer people in Japan and elsewhere is urgent. Indeed, a recent survey conducted by the Japanese edu cational non-profit Rebit found that nearly half—48.1 percent— of LGBTIQ respondents aged 12 to 20 had thought of killing themselves over the past year, with approximately 14% actually attempting to do so. The beau tiful human images in Yoshida’s photography exhibition and the courageous joy of all those who participated in the Tokyo Transgender March provide rea son and inspiration to continue forward in the global movement to make the world a better place for all.

Stuart

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 mak ing same-sex marriage legal nationwide.

Bororo, an indigenous person of Niger, from the Hero & Queen exhibit

Osaka drag queen Baby Vaggy from the Hero & Queen exhibit

Osaka drag queen Vivi from the Hero & Queen exhibit

Hong Kong drag queen Lucky Lee from the Hero & Queen exhibit

Participants at the 2022 Tokyo Transgender March

Shirt from a participant at the 2022 Tokyo Transgender March

An indigenous Suri individual depicted in the Hero & Queen exhibit

Rising Inflation Got You Worried? Here’s Why It Could Be a Good Thing

1. Use online high-yield savings accounts.

Money Matters

Brandon Miller

When I was a kid, we’d gather around the big table for our extended family Thanksgivings. Older rela tives would inevitably lament “back in my day” while comparing the prices of yesteryear to the cost of the bird and fixings. They’d similarly bemoan the prices of whatever was on the little ones’ Christmas lists that year. These gripes were followed, of course, by their stories of walking back from some mythical store—in the snow and uphill both ways. Or, they were sitting astride Mom in the station wagon’s front bench seat with no seat belts.

Times change but some things are constant, like taxes and rising prices. And now we have the high est inflation in decades sending prices even higher. It seems like a gloomy end of the year with higher interest rates hitting the econ omy. Purchasing power is decreas ing, mortgage rates are spiking, and credit card debt is becoming more expensive, triggering recession fears. However, inflationary environments don’t have to be awful. In fact, they can help you make more money. The key is reframing what rising rates can do for you.

Here are four ways that inflation can help rather than hurt your financial strategies.

The

Do you have savings sitting in a lowyield wasteland doing nothing for you? Then move that money into an online high-yield savings account to help you keep up with inflation. Right now, you can make 2.5–3% annual percentage yields on these accounts, versus around 0.2% for the average savings account. Plus, the money is liquid. So, if you want to take advantage of another finan cial opportunity at some point, you have that cash available to you—and growing along the way.

2. Invest in long-term CDs. Right now, you can get long-term CDs at 4%—these are some of the highest rates we’ve seen in a decade. When you open a CD, you keep your rate for as long as you have the CD. This means that directing some of your money into a CD could mean that you enjoy today’s high returns for months or years, even if rates drop down the road. Further, you can use a ladder when invest ing to help increase your liquidity. Just remember: Once you invest in a CD, you can’t access it until the term ends, which can work well for some one who doesn’t need the money now.

3. Invest in bonds.

Bonds are debt securities you can purchase from a borrower like corpo rations and governments. Treasury bills, municipal bonds, and other similar debt securities are starting to pay attractive yields right now due to rising interest rates. Further, when interest rates rise, the cost of bonds drops, making them an affordable way to boost your investments.

4. Explore annuities.

For many, “annuity” is as evil a word as “Karen.” But not everyone who looks like a Karen is one—and nei ther are annuities inherently bad. In fact, with interest rates rising, both fixed and variable annuities can be an attractive option. When you buy an annuity, you lock in interest rates,

Gift of Estate Planning

we might have exactly what you are looking for.

An estate plan is an all-encompass ing gift that is sure to please you and your loved ones. There are count less benefits to an estate plan such as having a plan for your assets, choos ing people to make important life decisions should you need help, and peace of mind for everyone involved.

which affects the amount of your monthly payment once you withdraw the income. So, when interest rates are high, you also will create big ger monthly payments than you oth erwise would in lower interest-rate environments.

While being safe when investing is important, being too safe can cost you in the long run. The more your money sits there idling, the less value it holds for you tomorrow.

By finding opportunities that higher rates open up, you have a prime way to keep your money working for you. But you’re still going to have to endure those “back in the day” sto ries at family gatherings.

Brio does not provide tax or legal advice, and nothing contained in these materi als should be taken as such. The opin ions expressed in this article are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or rec ommendations for any individual or on any specific security. It is only intended to pro vide education about the financial indus try. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past perfor mance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results. Any indices ref erenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional.

Brio Financial Group is a registered invest ment adviser. SEC Registration does not constitute an endorsement of Brio by the SEC nor does it indicate that Brio has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Brio Financial Group and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Brio Financial Group unless a client service agreement is in place.

Brandon Miller, CFP®, is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.

you pass away. So, how do you gift the estate plan?

Trust Essentials

Jay Greene, Esq., CPA

What is the best gift you have ever received? Did that gift make you feel happy and appreciated? Gifts are a great way to show someone that they are important to you, and they even have the ability to change someone’s life.

Finding the perfect gift usually requires more effort than ordering online with a two-day shipping guar antee. Gifting is not the easiest task, however, there is one universally appreciated gift that has stood the test of time.

The Ultimate Gift

The expectation with all gifts is to provide some emotional value. As with most things, the gift will likely have real-world value as well. If you want to capture all these features,

Creating an estate plan will set you up for success. An estate plan will ensure you have a plan during your lifetime, and for after your death. While you will benefit from the ini tial planning stages, the true bene ficiaries will be the loved ones you designate in your plan.

How to Gift Estate Planning

Gifting an estate plan will be differ ent than the conventional method of giving gifts. You can’t stuff it in a stocking, it won’t show up in a car board box, and you probably won’t wrap it with a bow on top. In fact, gifting an estate plan is much easier than you might expect.

The estate plan is created for you and the benefit of your loved ones involved in your plan. When creat ing an estate plan, you must care fully consider which people you wish to include, such as choosing who will make the important financial and health decisions for you when you are unable to make them yourself. Similarly, you will need to designate who will receive your assets when

This holiday season is an opportu nity to share your goals and concerns with loved ones. Holiday dinners are the perfect time to inform your loved ones and agents of your wishes. You can share your intentions and request them to take part in your plan. This is often a flattering gesture for those who will serve as one of your agents. It shows that you trust them and want them to be there for you when needed. The beneficiaries to your assets will also feel appreciated that you want them to receive a poten tially life-changing amount of wealth that you worked hard to accumulate.

The next step is to get started with your estate plan. This is as simple as contacting an experienced estate planning attorney and sharing your goals. Our office offers free initial assessments for all estate planning matters. You may reach us by calling our phone number, 415-905-0215, or by scanning the QR code in our ad. We are able to offer suggestions on the best planning options for you, and give a reasonable timeline to ensure your plan is completed when you need it to be. We look forward to hearing from you!

Statements In Compliance with California Rules of Professional Conduct: The materials in this article have been prepared by Attorney Jay Greene, with contributions by Paralegal Andreas Altamirano, for

Message from Leadership

It’s that time of year to pause and give thanks for all that we have. While we may count our many blessings, our community continues to be under attack from those who spread hurtful and divisive rhetoric. Our families, our com munities, our people have rights that must be protected. We must talk and listen so that we discover more of what we have in common rather than that which others use to divide us. Our hearts go out to the families in Colorado Springs. At the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA), we will continue to reach out to help our members be seen and heard by our community.

Tony Archuleta-Perkins, GGBA Board President, and I attended the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) National Dinner in Washington, D.C., which was the final event in a week-long celebration of the National Business Inclusion Consortium (NBIC).

NBIC Unity Week is a celebration of diversity, opportunity, equity, and collaboration in part nership with Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), Women Enterprise National Council, and other NBIC members. NBIC attend ees received access to exclusive program ming focused on building economic success

Practice the Platinum Rule

as diverse suppliers to private and govern ment entities.

NBIC Unity Week culminates in the National Dinner that celebrates the Best of the Best Corporations for outstand ing achievement in promoting cross-seg ment diversity and inclusion. These Best of the Best Corporations have committed themselves to supplier diversity, intersec tionality, and LGBT inclusion in the work place. Tony and I connected directly with the leadership team at NGLCC to dis cuss our programming events for 2023 and the growth of our membership in the San Francisco Bay Area. We spent time with representatives from many of the Best of the Best Corporations, including PepsiCo (who hosted us at their table), Johnson & Johnson, Wells Fargo Bank, WIPP, and WBENC.

As we continue into the holiday sea son and move toward 2023, let’s focus on belonging instead of othering. Belonging is being accepted and invited to participate. Practice the Platinum Rule as opposed to the Golden Rule. Treat others as they want to be treated. Choose empathy, rather than

GGBA Member Spotlight

Azúcar Lounge is a premiere SoMa spot for Mezcal, cocktails, and delicious Mexican-style street snacks and entrées. Its loungelike setting with sofas and dim lighting creates a comfortable, cozy atmosphere. Tables are also available for larger groups, and for those who like to order a lot, which is easy to do with options such as tasty Azúcar Tots (tater tots smothered in queso blanco, cilantro, and your choice of veggies and/or meat) and Chile Rellenos made with pasilla peppers.

Owner and Operator Jonathan Ojinaga made the move from corporate America to entrepreneur and has applied many of his business skills in running the bus tling, environmentally conscious restau rant, which has been a San Francisco staple for over a decade. He shares more here.

GGBA: Please describe your busi ness and its mission and values

Jonathan Ojinaga: The mission of Azúcar Lounge has always been cen tered on honoring and celebrating Mexican spirits, cuisine, and culture. One way we are committed to doing this is through sustainable and environmen tally friendly methods that respect the integrity of the agave from which the spirit is derived, all levels of production, and the wider environmental health in general. We want our patrons (and our selves) to be able to enjoy Mexican food and spirit for years to come. With that in mind, we are committed to working with ethically processed agave distilleries that use sustainable methods that support the

GGBA CALENDAR

Tuesday, December 13

GGBA Holiday Party with the San Francisco Bay Times

6–10 pm

The Academy SF, 2166 Market Street

Welcome by GGBA Board President Tony Archuleta-Perkins and GGBA Ambassador Olga Garcia Emcees Liam Mayclem and Donna Sachet Performer Kippy Marks

Music by DJ Rockaway presented by Olivia

Travel Register: https://tinyurl.com/e633m8pf

reciprocity. We all want, need, to thrive uniquely. We all know what it feels like to belong. Share that experience.

Jonathan Ojinaga, Owner and Operator of Azúcar Lounge

health of the land, the people, and the process.

In house, we have also made a commit ment to do our part to support the envi ronment we live in. We are a certified Green Business and we use environmen tally friendly cleaning products, com postable packaging, and reusable or compostable straws. We are always on the lookout for ways to minimize our footprint. For the last 18 months we have worked closely with Dispatch Goods, a local company that provides reusable to-go packaging. We have relied on this system of packaging for to-go orders completely for the last year.

As someone who believes in every person and company doing their part to main tain the health of the planet and its valu able resources, I am proud of the steps we have taken not only to maintain the integrity of our product through sustain able practices but also the broader envi ronment as a whole.

Lastly, I am a firm believer in being an active member of our community—we have partnered with many charities such as the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Night Ministries, Bare Chest Calendar, Casa de las Madres, Shanti Project, and PRC, to name a few.

GGBA: Why did you decide to cre ate your business?

Jonathan Ojinaga: After graduat ing from college, I was employed in cor porate retail for a little over seven years before I decided to leave it all behind me.

I found myself on a career path that I did not feel was my calling or the least bit fulfilling.

Friends and family were taken aback when they found out I was aban doning a position with a lot of growth poten tial for less lucrative ven tures, but it felt right.

I worked as a bartender in various bars across San Francisco and even tually made friends with a couple who needed help managing their

bars & restau rants. The expe rience led to other manage ment positions in the food and beverage indus try and the expe riences were one of two things that kindled the con cept for Azúcar Lounge.

The second was my grandfather, who owned and operated small-town bars many years ago in Southwestern New Mexico.

After years of saving, and with the aid of friends and family, I was able to open the business in November of 2011.

GGBA: Who are some of your role models, and especially those who helped to influence your business?

Jonathan Ojinaga: My Grandfather was one of my biggest role models. When I was growing up he would tell me sto ries about when he used to own a bar. He would always talk longingly about his bar days. He’s no longer with us, but I still fondly remember sitting down and having coffee and pan dulce with him in the morning as he would talk about sto ries from his younger days.

GGBA: Why did you decide to join the GGBA, and how long have you been a member?

Jonathan Ojinaga: I’ve been a mem ber since 2021. Being a member of the GGBA has opened up the door to a whole new network of like-minded busi nesses. I appreciate that the organization advocates on behalf of the members and pushes for social, economic, and politi cal change.

GGBA: How has being a member of GGBA helped your business so far?

Jonathan Ojinaga: Since joining the GGBA I was able to complete our certifi cation as an LGBT Business Enterprise. A benefit to joining the association was the perk of waved application fees for

tage

has

As more businesses return to their physical offices, I’m hopeful that our LGBT BE certification will help us be more competitive with companies who are looking to increase their supply chain diversity targets.

GGBA: Do you go to the GGBA monthly Make Contact networking events? Have they benefited you and your business, and would you recom mend them to others?

Jonathan Ojinaga: I honestly haven’t participated in many Make Contact networking events. Since the world turned upside down a few years ago, we’ve been running on a skeleton crew. I’m often times working floor shifts by tending bar, assisting our guests at their tables, or even making tacos in the kitchen, which has left me with very little time to break away to attend these networking events. It’s one of my goals to attend Make Connect networking events more frequently in 2023.

GGBA: What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own business?

Jonathan Ojinaga: The two things I always tell oth ers who are looking to start their own business is 1) Talk to other entrepreneurs in the same industry, and 2) Do your market research to make sure there is a need for your offer ing. These seem like super basic tips, but you’d be surprised how many people have approached me through the years thinking it would be a quick and easy side gig to have a bar, restaurant, or café. I always tell people that “you have to be a special kind of crazy to start a food and beverage business in San Francisco.” It is a fun business to be a part of, but I often times compare it to a toddler—it always needs some thing!

https://www.azucarsf.com/

By Nancy Geenen

Nancy Geenen with GGBA President Tony Archuleta-Perkins at the The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) National Dinner and Awards Ceremony

Nancy Geenen is a member of the GGBA Board of Directors and is the association’s Secretary and Chair of Partnerships. She is the CEO of Flexability, LLC, a workplace equity & inclu sion consulting firm.

this certification, which

helped by giving us an advan

in the grant application process. This past summer we were awarded a Community Impact Grant from NGLCC and Grubhub.

Jonathan Ojinaga

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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.

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Beth greeNe, Michael delgado, JohN SigNer, aBBy ZiMBerg deSigN & ProductioN

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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

Nuestra Voz

Eduardo Morales, Ph.D.

As 2022 draws to a close, many of us are making plans for the year ahead. Doing so gives us things to look for ward to and, in terms of planning finances, allows us to create a budget that can help ensure our goals are met. One resolution may be to travel more—it is for me—and I encourage you to think outside of the box when making such plans.

For example, consider traveling to other countries when they are holding celebrations that are not traditionally observed in the U.S. Scheduling these sorts of trips throughout the year helps to prevent burnout and can keep your curiosity and inspiration elevated. The cultural diversity within the San Francisco Bay Area can inspire your wish to travel internation ally. Just take necessary precautions,

Measuring Concerns Over LGBTQ Safety with Travel Plans for the New Year

given that the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us, along with RSV and other health threats.

Unfortunately, as LGBTQ individuals, we must also keep in mind how our rights are protected—or not—both here in the U.S. and in other coun tries.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation notes that LGBTQ+ murder rates are at alarmingly high levels in Latin America. The report estimates that four LGBTQ+ people are murdered every day in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the past five years, 1,300 LGBTQ+ people were reported to have been murdered in these regions, with the highest rates being in Columbia, Mexico, and Honduras. Most of the victims were young gay men aged 18 to 25 and who were most likely murdered in their homes, while transgender women were more often killed in the streets.

An FBI report concerning hate crimes towards LGBTQ+ individuals here in the states noted an increase from 2.2% in 2018 to 2.7% in 2019. The reported data can be found in the Uniform Crime Reporting Program’s Hate Crime Statistics Data Collection.

Fatal violence was found to be more prevalent against transgender and gender non-conforming people in the U.S., particularly against Black and Brown transgender women.

Since hate crimes are not always reported, the data appears to repre sent a fraction of such violent inci dences. A publication by the Bureau of Justice Statistics entitled “Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2018–2020” supports the vast evidence obtained about violence toward LGBTQ+ peo ple in the U.S. Data from other coun tries varies and is compromised by their methods of reporting.

Weighing on our minds is the recent nightclub shooting in Colorado Springs on November 20, 2022. Five individuals were murdered and 25 were injured at Club Q. Although this club was thought to be a safe haven for members of our community, it was vulnerable to attack. Similarly, Pulse in Florida was also viewed as a safe place for members of our community. In June of 2016, 49 people were mur dered there and 53 were wounded. Most who died during the massacre were Latinx LGBTQ+ individuals.

While these tragic events and reports documenting other violence are of great concern for our community, we need to balance our need for safety with our need for human connection, socializing, exploration, and much more. These activities are important for our physical and mental health as well.

I plan to attend many events and to travel in the upcoming year and to do so as safely as possible. I hope you will do so too, staying vigilant and informed, but also staying curious and hopeful for better days ahead for all of us.

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 distin guished awards and citations, including being named a Fellow of 12 divisions of the American Psychological Association.

Into Africa: Lessons on Safari (Part 1)

research and development process. Understanding this process can be the secret to our survival and thriving as humans. There is a universal order of things that is constantly interrogated. Nature produces variants and devia tions routinely to respond to possible environmental threats or disruptions. These divergent responses are tested routinely to determine lasting value— the essence of biomimicry.

trees to turn them back to fertile soil but are also a food source. Aardvarks are a form of ter mite control.

On a recent trip to South Africa, I was captivated by the continent’s rich history, divergent cultures, extensive resources, irrefutable beauty, and infi nite wisdom of its people. It is truly the cradle of knowledge, civilization, and humanity that continues propa gating treasures across the globe.

CaLeNDaR

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© 2022 Bay Times Media Company

Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas

The continent remains vital after being plundered and mined of its resources—land, metals, stones, min erals, wildlife, people, knowledge, and history. Africa has given up its pre cious resources for centuries without equitable exchange with a renewed interest by the world’s current super powers to take even more. There’s abundance in Africa. However, the rampant extraction of resources needs to be offset by sustained investments and philanthropy to ensure a future for its people. Universally speaking, rampant extraction of value is an interminable problem that humanity faces today that needs immediate cor rection globally.

Mother nature has fixes for many problems that humanity currently faces. She has already determined what works or does not for over 3.7B years of life on Earth. Things evolve and become antiquated or obsolete through a long-standing organic

While on safari during one of many walks in Kruger National Park, I had a revelation. Despite their apparent differences and size, termites and aardvarks have a critical role in the vast biological ecosystem of Africa. Termite mounds or spires are 10 feet on average but can be over 25 feet tall and take up to 80 years to construct. They are the ventilation and cooling system for the underground colony that can extend up to 100 feet from the mound. Queens, created after birth, lead the colony. In succession, they live up to 5 years each and direct an intricate network of worker ter mites that cooperatively build and maintain the colony. It’s remarkable engineering and orchestration. The process of passing blueprint informa tion from one queen to the next is extraordinary.

Aardvarks are larger nocturnal mam mals that have powerful digging capa bilities using their claws. They love feeding on termites and will burrow around the radius of the mound, looking for food. I asked one of our guides why aardvarks don’t go directly after the termite mounds for a meal bonanza. Our guide indicated that aardvarks wouldn’t fatally disrupt the colony’s heart because it would kill its food source. Of course, that makes sense. Termites help decompose dead

Their burrowed holes, looking for food (termites and ants), create a safe shelter for other wildlife. Both con tribute, but only take what is neces sary to sustain bal ance.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the applications when studying the sym biotic relationship between termites and aardvarks— building sustain ably, energy con servation, revolutionizing agriculture, and efficient transportation. Biomimicry is the design and production of materi als, structures, and systems—modeled on biological objects and processes (nature). Redesign and innovation are essential for durability and sustain ability. Simply put, it’s a technologi cal-oriented approach focused on examining life in various forms with reverence and putting nature’s wis dom into practice. By examining its biological ecosystem, Africa can teach us a lot about giving abundantly and taking only what we need.

Moreover, if we study and apply nature’s ecological models to advance philanthropy (love of humankind), we could inspire designs and engage solu

tions that solve some of humanity’s greatest problems. The approach favors choices tested by nature over time—thousands or even millions of years—to determine what works best. It’s the ultimate iterative, agile meth odology. The outcomes would allow communities and human production to be more efficient, cooperative, resil ient, and sustainable.

Derek Barnes is the CEO of the East Bay Rental Housing Association ( www.EBRHA.com ).

He currently serves on the boards of Horizons Foundation and Homebridge CA. Follow him on Twitter @DerekBarnesSF or on Instagram at DerekBarnes.SF

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

Social Philanthropreneur

Derek Barnes

WILD RAINBOW AFRICAN SAFARI | JODY COLE, FOUNDER | WWW.WILDRAINBOWSAFARIS.COM

DEREK BARNES

A termite mound in Makuleke, South Africa

It was a Monday afternoon in February of 2016, and I met up with the other volunteer running coaches of the 1000 Mile Club out side the East Gate of San Quentin State Prison in Marin County. This was my first day and I was ner vous as I had never been inside a prison before. The coaches reassured me and put me at ease. We signed in, showed our ID, then made our way through the gate and past the prison administrative buildings to the highly-secured main entryway. We signed in again, had our ID’s run through the prison database to ensure we were cleared to go in, had our belongings checked, then pro ceeded through two heavy iron gates that each clanged shut behind us. We were now inside the prison. We made our way past a beautifully manicured garden, turned right at the medical building, then left down the asphalt roadway and into the prison yard. It was a chilly evening and the wind swept in from the Bay. Hundreds of incarcerated men were milling about and involved in all sorts of activities, including running

along the white-lined track that navigates the perimeter of the yard.

The men in the club were gathered at the far end of the prison yard next to the base ball field. I found them to be open and welcoming, and I proceeded to shake hands and introduce myself to them one by one, which worked to put me at ease. I was frankly surprised by how cordial and kind they were to me.

San Quentin State Prison is the oldest prison in California. It was built in 1854 by convicts from San Francisco and has been in continuous opera tion since. The prison has a storied and notorious past and houses all the incarcerated men of California’s Death Row. Today the prison is con sidered a model of innovative reha bilitative programming. The 1000 Mile Running Club is an example of one of those innovative programs.

The Club was inspired by for mer incarcerated runner, Ronnie Goodman, who grew up in (and was later paroled to) San Francisco. Goodman was an avid runner and wanted to receive proper coaching, and approached prison programs director Laura Bowman for support.

Bowman contacted Ruona, thenpresident of the Tamalpa Runners Club in Marin County, asking if they would send in volunteers to coach the inmates. Frank sent an email to the membership soliciting volunteers, got zero responses, then told Bowman: “Ok, I’ll do it myself.” Ruona, a vet eran marathoner, ultra-runner, and running coach, proceeded to create

the 1000 Mile Club with Goodman as its first, and sole, runner in 2003.

The name “1000 Mile Club” was inspired by the Lao Tzu quote: “A journey of 1000 miles starts with the first step.” The Club inspired others to take that first step into believing that running could be one pathway toward wellbeing, rehabilitation and personal transformation, and soon many others joined. A goal of mem bers is to complete 1000 miles of run ning while incarcerated, and the men dutifully log their miles to document their progress.

I learned about the 1000 Mile Club by chance through a friend who is a long-distance trail runner and vol

unteer coach for the club. I was touched by his sharing of how much he enjoyed the coaching, to the point he felt he got as much or more out of it than the incarcerated men did. I would come to understand what he meant. Inspired to learn more, I researched the club’s web site where I discovered a photograph of Goodman, then paroled, running alongside me during a Dipsea Race in Marin in 2013. Wow, I thought this photograph was perhaps another sign that I should go for it. Though I had no idea what I was getting myself

Jim Maloney

PHOTO BY WILL ZANG

Jennifer Kroot and Robert Holgate curate the “Out of Left Field” column for the San Francisco Bay Times. Kroot is a filmmaker, known for her award-winning LGBTQ themed documentaries, including The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin and To Be Takei. She studied filmmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute, where she has also taught. She is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Holgate, a humanitarian as well as a designer, is dedicated to critical social issues. With his hands-on approach to philanthropy and social justice, he supports the advancement of local and national social causes. For more informa tion: https://www.rhdsf.com/

Mile Club

Dipsea Race

Rockefeller Center in New York has a legendary Christmas tree that brightens the city every year. The White House in our Capitol has a tree each year that reflects the cur rent administration. And the Castro of San Francisco has a holiday tree that has appeared every December for as long as most of us can remem ber. Attempts to date its origin have been unsuccessful, but for at least the past 10 years, we have had the privi lege of overseeing the official lighting of that tree, as we most recently did this past Monday night.

Over the years, the tree has taken different forms. Some remember a natural pine strewn with paper dec orations whose bows unfortunately quickly dried out and whose orna ments melted in an unexpected rain fall. For at least the last 20 years, the Castro Merchants Association has assembled an artificial, but no less attractive, tree in front of Bank of America on Castro Street. The cur rent decorations reflect the six colors of our rainbow flag and a large ban ner at the corner of 18th and Castro lists the merchants and individuals who make this tradition possible each year with financial contributions. Be sure to check it out and to support those businesses who make sure this annual tradition continues.

Who remembers the year the tree popped up in a different location?

For a single year, a holiday tree was placed in Harvey Milk Plaza.

Because of the tight quarters, the tree had to be reshaped to hug the wall of the building, but somehow its blazing lights below the beloved rainbow flag seemed quite appropriate. As much as we have come to expect the tree to be in its current location, who is to say where it may appear next year?

The official lighting of the tree is truly a neighborhood event, includ ing appearances by the Mayor, City Supervisors, State legislators, and other dignitaries. When Masood

Samereie organized the event, he was always careful not only to invite us to officiate, but also to reserve a parking place right in front so that we could be whisked off to our next holiday event! What would such a gathering be without music? Natu rally the Official Band of San Fran cisco, none other than the Lesbian/ Gay Freedom Band, provides lively music as the Gay Men’s Chorus, the Lesbian/Gay Chorus (now named Queer Chorus SF), and other choral groups lead the singing.

There aren’t very many events in the Castro that specifically include children, but the lighting of the Holiday Tree is certainly one. Typ ically, 20–30 kids appear, not just to observe the magical lighting, but also to witness the arrival of Santa Claus! Yes, somehow, even with all his preparations for the impending delivery of gifts to every home in the world, Santa takes time to drop by the Castro and say hello to the chil dren. Watching those faces light up at his arrival is a sight to behold!

And no history of the Castro Holi day Tree would be complete with out mentioning the name Richard McGarry, who passed away earlier this year. He will always be remem bered for his dedication to getting that tree lit and keeping it lit, often in difficult circumstances. Each year, when we did the countdown to the official lighting, Richard could be

found buried under branches or atop the building’s roof, making sure that those twinkling lights activated at the perfect moment.

Next time you are strolling down Castro Street, take a moment to enjoy the Castro Holiday Tree. It is the product of many hands and its lighting each year officially marks the beginning of the holiday season. While you are in the neighborhood, be sure to eat, drink, and shop in the many unique places there. Take in the magical allure of the Castro, dressed up a bit more than usual. Relish in its history, commemorated by Rainbow Honor Walk plaques and the Gilbert Baker -created rainbow flag. And may your holiday season be full of friends, excitement, and newly created memories!

Donna Sachet is a celebrated per former, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Con tact her at empsachet@gmail.com

By Donna Sachet

As we all know, drag can take many forms. Historically, it has been a staple of the LGBTQ+ Community, offering individuals a way to explore other parts of their personality, while sometimes injecting humor into darker days, providing a visible rallying point, and simply entertaining us with their gender reversals. RuPaul’s Drag Race has put drag in every living room across America, but only a thin slice of drag is presented during this hugely successful competitive and ostensibly unscripted television show. We are not all so competitive, nor as skilled in the art of gender illusion, much less as vicious or manipulative. San Francisco is the perfect place to witness the panoply of drag expression, which ranges from dressing up to shock and amuse to serving on Boards of Directors, producing quality events, and raising tons of money for charitable causes.

During a recent visit from Florida, our good friend and former SF resident Skye Paterson told us a story from our visit with him a couple of years ago. He recounted that many local friends in the LGBTQ+ Community in his Florida town had been asking about my impending visit. They were anxious to meet someone he had taken about extensively and some wanted to know if we would be doing splits, cartwheels, or maybe a death drop. Skye simply shook his head and said, “She’s not that kind of drag queen! I doubt that she’ll perform any of those antics, but she just might help change the world.”

You can imagine the impact that had on us. Here was a friend who truly got it. For most of us who pursue drag as a public image, we discover things about ourselves and gradually find the power of our own drag. There are fabulous performers, internationally known personalities, politically active individuals, excellent emcees, hilarious comedians, social media stars, sage busi ness professionals, and much more. Somewhere along the way, we have found our role, and San Francisco and indeed the larger community have encouraged us enthusiastically. Changing the world? Maybe that’s a bit ambitious. But we are convinced that we are constantly presented with opportuni ties to change minds, change hearts, and change directions.

All that brings us to Krewe de Kinque’s Klassy vs. Trashy show at Mid night Sun last weekend. Don Ho Tse and Mark Paladini have been producing this event for years, encouraging friends to find their inner drag, whether it be elegant or down-to-earth, and show up to raise money for a good cause while having fun.

Over the years, we’ve watched Little Kim Chi (aka Ho) develop into a gorgeous drag queen, while Mark has rallied the less glamor ous gals. Promoted as the last time the event would occur and that money was being raised to help Kippy Marks with the expenses of his recent medical emergency and loss of income, how could we say no?

So, we revived our rendition of “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” with lyr ics changed to reflect our love of San Francisco and strode onto the stage in a sparkling white gown with hooded, faux fur trimmed cape. At the peak of the song, our tiara lit up, courtesy of a carefully concealed battery pack. But this was only our contribution to the event!

Thursday, December 1

Drag Queens on Ice!

Performances by Khmera Rouge, Mahlae Balenciaga, Dusty Porn, Jubilee, Tara Lipsincki, and more with emcee Donna Sachet Union Square Safeway Ice Rink 7 pm Free!

Friday & Saturday, December 2 & 3:

Holiday Spectacular

SF Gay Men’s Chorus

New Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg Sydney Goldstein Theater, 2755 Hayes Street 8 pm Fri., 3:30 & 8 pm Sat. $25 & up https://www.sfgmc.org/

Saturday, December 3

100: The Story of Mama José Sarriaa 100th Birthday Celebration

Emperor William Bulkley produces Celebrity emcees and performers Oasis, 298 11th Street 6:30 pm $15–50

https://www.sfimperialcouncil.org/

Monday, December 5 Rainbow World Fund’s Tree of Hope Lighting Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street Donna Sachet, Tammy Hall, Jeff Cotter, & more 5:30 pm Free!

https://www.rainbowfund.org/

Tuesday & Wednesday, December 6 & 7

Brian

Feinstein’s at Hotel Nikko 7 pm $60–100

https://tinyurl.com/j23nzf9b

Tuesday, December 13

GGBA

The bar was packed to the rafters as performer after per former, including someone who vaguely resembled Mr. SF Leather Mark Hankins, Jr., dazzled the crowd, garner ing tips dispersed into buckets marked for Team Klassy and Team Trashy, and raffle ticket winners collected numerous prizes. When all was said and done, $2700 was raised and smiles abounded. Did we change the world? Not really. But we helped a dear friend in need, encouraged a variety of gender expressions to entertain us, and probably opened some eyes to a greater variety of drag than they might have ever witnessed. What a night!

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

Hilarious

Throughout December

Golden Girls Live

Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street Showtime varies $35–65

https://www.eventbrite.com/

“The holidays don’t begin until you’ve seen Songs of the Season!” Anonymous

Kent presents Songs of the Season Holiday cabaret benefit with Kenny Nelson, Leanne Borghesi, Donna Sachet, Russell Deason, & more

Holiday Party with the San Francisco Bay Times The Academy SF, 2166 Market Street Welcome by GGBA Board President Tony Archuleta-Perkins and GGBA Ambassador Olga Garcia Emcees Liam Mayclem and Donna Sachet Performer Kippy Marks Music by DJ Rockaway presented by Olivia Travel Register for $25: https://tinyurl.com/e633m8pf

drag parody with Holotta Tymes, Heklina, D’Arcy Drollinger, & Matthew Martin

KRON-4 Live in the Bay host Olivia Horton interviewed Donna Sachet on November 28 about the upcoming Drag Queens on Ice show at Union Square Ice Rink on Thursday, December 1, 7 pm. The 2022 show will mark the 13th year for Donna Sachet to serve as the event’s host/emcee.

commemorating community members we lost while instilling hope and pride in who we are through Aegis.”

Aegis also serves as a cultural milestone for Ferreira, who is the first gay Brazilian artist to create a public memorial in San Francisco. “I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity to pay my respects and homage to our fallen Pulse siblings,” said Ferreira. “I believe that art breaks barriers and can convey powerful community messages. So, it’s with great pride that, as a gay and Brazilian artist, I can offer Aegis to our beautiful LGBTQ+ community with a message of protection and resilience for our people against the daily prejudice we continue to grapple with all over the world.”

Aegis’ design consists of a V-shaped shield engraved with the victims’ names. The 49 markings embedded in the metal shield that dissipates on its two sides also represent the victims murdered at Pulse. According to Ferreira, “They are integrated, creating a distinct web on two sides for complete protection. They symbolize our inner pulse radiating with love and solidarity.”

He developed the sculpture’s title as an iconographic response of protection in the spirit of AGUILAS’ mission. He shared that “Aegis also symbolizes how much we must protect ourselves. Symbolically, the shield cannot be destroyed because it protects you against all evil. It gives us the protection to move forward despite resistance, challenges, and battles.”

The sculpture will be housed in the Center’s second-floor lobby area and will be permanently installed within the bright purple building for years to come.

“We’re incredibly proud of our longstanding partnership with AGUILAS and their dedication to the community members we lost amid the Pulse tragedy,” said Rebecca Rolfe, the Executive Director at the SF LGBT Center. “For 20 years, the Center has served as a home for impactful and meaningful art created by and for LGBTQ+ artists. We’re humbled to have Aegis at a sanctuary dedicated to celebrating, commemorating, and honoring our community.”

GREENE (continued from pg 8)

educational purposes only and are not legal advice. This information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Individuals should consult with an estate planning and elder law attorney for up-to-date information for their individual plans.

Jay Greene, Attorney, CPA, is the founder of Greene Estate, Probate, & Elder Law Firm based in San Francisco, and is focused on helping LGBT individuals, couples, and families plan for their future, protect their assets, and preserve their wealth. For more information and to schedule an assessment, visit: https://assetprotectionbayarea.com/

(continued from pg 11)

into, I was motivated to check it out and I was soon going into the prison to help coach.

Club activities consist of Monday evening training workouts and monthly Friday morning races of ever-increasing distances. Race season begins with a mile run in February and concludes in November with the annual San Quentin Prison Marathon—105 laps around the prison yard. A documentary of the marathon by filmmaker Christine Yoo, 26.2 to Life, premiered November 11 at the NYC DOC film festival to critical acclaim and features the stories of several of the runners.

To win release from prison, the incarcerated men have to demonstrate personal transformation. The running club and the marathon training offer a vehicle for self-improvement, a chance to be defined by more than their crime, and build and experience community. Many of our members join the club simply to get in shape and shed a few pounds, and then surprise themselves by going on to run a marathon—a feat that less than 1% of the population, incarcerated or free, ever accom plishes.

Of the 45 members of the club who have left prison, none have reoff ended. The general reoffend rate in California prisons is roughly 65%. While there are many reasons for that perfect record, including their participation in a wealth of other programs at the prison, I believe the running club is a powerful force in helping the men challenge their beliefs about themselves and to set healthy goals and achieve things they never thought they were capable of. That belief in themselves and a reckoning that they are more than their crime offer a path toward personal healing and redemption.

The coaching experience has been deeply satisfying for me. I feel I’m contributing something special to these guys and they are incredibly appreciative of us being there. I do understand they committed seri ous crimes, and they were convicted and are now serving time for what they did. I don’t feel a need to revisit that. I focus on the fact that most of them will eventually get out of prison and how running can play an important role in their rehabilitation process.

Inspired by the work with the running club, I’ve since become a facil itator of a restorative justice-based men’s healing and rehabilitation program at the prison called Victim-Offender Education Group run by Insight Prison Project. I truly do get as much out of these programs as the men do.

Jim Maloney is a long-time member of the LGBTQ running clubs San Francisco Frontrunners and San Francisco Track & Field Club. He competes regularly in the Gay Games and in track and distance races in the Bay Area. He lives in San Francisco with his husband Andrew Nance.

part in a virtual discussion hosted annually by Horizons Foundation, “State of the Movement.” Speakers from the ACLU National LGBTQ Rights Project, National LGBTQ Task Force, and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund will be joined by Evan Low, Assemblymember for California’s 26th District.

The State of the Movement will take place online on December 6 from 5–6:30 pm.

Registration is free: https://tinyurl.com/HSTM22

One More Rant: WTF FIFA?

While doing research for a future column about how professional sports teams have been working to make sports more welcoming and inclusive for LGBTQ+ play ers and fans, I keep stumbling over the hot mess that is the World Cup. The travesty that is playing out in Qatar is sportswashing at its most egregious. There is no way to condone the behind-the-scenes machinations that led FIFA to allow the most popular sporting event in the world to be held in a country with such an abysmal record on human rights: as usual, it’s all about money.

And while the Qatari government has mouthed hollow platitudes about welcoming LGBTQ+ players and fans, reports from the ground tell quite a different story. One can only hope that the spotlight on Qatar during the World Cup will bring more awareness to the country’s abuses, and create enough international pressure to bring about change. Let’s keep the pressure on.

Wither Twitter?

It has been one crazy ride in the Twitterverse this past month, as Elon Musk has taken one of the largest pub lic forums in the world and, basically, trashed it. And yes, I know many folks out there have been down on Twitter from the beginning. But I have to say that Twitter, like any other part of the internet, is a tool that can be used in many ways. I’ve grown to depend upon it for break ing news, for information, for access to publications and writers around the world that I might not otherwise have found, and, yes, for community—I’ve built real-world friendships with many wonderful people through Twitter. And I will miss all that if it indeed collapses under the weight of Elon’s ego.

Like many, I have been trying out an alternative plat form, Mastodon. Unlike Twitter, Mastodon is not owned by anyone: it is an open-source platform. It looks and functions similarly to Twitter, but seems to be striving to be a kinder, more welcoming place. If any of you have

(continued from page 5)

“There are no bones in ice cream, as I have said, religious or otherwise, regardless of shoe size. In fact, I like toasters.”

My wife and literally could not deter mine whether this was a satiric “cita tion” or an actual quote. I had to check it out, and indeed this was sat ire and not a real comment. But it’s astonishing that neither of us were confident enough to make a judg ment. I mean, read that quote! And yet, we weren’t sure that it wasn’t a thing. This man, who is capable of spouting absolute nonsense and who spends his early morning hours watching Fright Nite horror movies while running for the U.S. Senate, was very nearly elected to repre sent the state of Georgia and will still have a good chance of winning a Senate seat on December 6. How is this possible?

For the love of God, please spare us this outcome.

New Subject!

In another attempt to avoid seri ous topics, I was just cruising around cyberspace and noticed an arti cle titled: “Tips for surviving a bear attack.”

First, you should stay calm. (Okay, I guess.) Second, you should not run away, rather make yourself as big as possible and yell at the bear. Yes, I’ve heard of this “don’t run away from the bear” advice, but I’ve also heard of the “flight or fight” instinct, and my personal instinct would be “flight.” I can’t picture myself yell ing at the bear or provoking it in any way. Particularly if I have already failed to follow the “stay calm” sug gestion.

If the bear persists in a menacing posture, even after your provocative

tried it, I’d be curious to hear your thoughts. You can find me there at @jjinsf@sfba.social

Now for the Fun Stuff

The holidays are here, with a whirlwind of events and opportunities to celebrate being together again after a couple of years of keeping our distance. That said, please remember to stay safe: keep washing your hands, wear a mask when advisable, and if you’re sick, stay home and don’t infect others—all common-sense precautions that never go out of style. Here are just a few of the events I’m looking forward to in the next couple of weeks. Hoping to see you all there!

12/1 - World AIDS Day events (see listings https://tinyurl.com/JJINSF1117 )

12/3 - Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Krampus Pageant https://tinyurl.com/Krampus2022

12/3 - Mama Sarria’s 100th Birthday Celebration https://tinyurl.com/Sarria100

12/6 - World Tree of Hope Lighting Party https://tinyurl.com/RWFTree22

12/6–7 - Donna Sachet’s Songs of the Season https://tinyurl.com/DSSOS2022

12/11 - Santa Skivvies https://tinyurl.com/SantaSkivvies

12/14 - Sister Roma’s Diamond Birthday Party https://tinyurl.com/Roma60

... and there are so many more!

One Last Word: What the World Needs Now As we continue in the season of festive gatherings, we cannot forget our neighbors in our cities, country, and the world who lack access to the very basics of food and water. War is still raging in Ukraine, Yemen, and else where, and climate change-related drought and floods have destroyed the ability of countless people around the world to be able to access even the barest of necessi ties. We can all help. Even small donations go a long way, especially if you pledge them monthly. Your local food bank is a great place to start. On a global level, World Central Kitchen ( www.wckitchen.org ) and the United Nations’ World Food Program ( www.wfp.org ) save lives daily around the world, wherever the need is greatest. Thank you for helping.

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

behavior, you are told to play dead. “If you lie still and pretend to be dead, the bear may lose interest and move on. In addition, playing dead can help prevent you from being seriously injured. Bears have been known to attack humans who fight back, but they typically only bite and claw victims who are already lying down. As a result, playing dead is often the best way to survive an encounter.”

What? Does that make any sense to you?

Presumably “playing dead” involves lying down, right? And we were just told to yell at the bear, which sounds like “fighting back.” So, two key pieces of advice would seem to invite attacks, biting, and clawing.

“To protect your vital organs, curl up into a ball with your hands over your neck and head,” the experts con tinue. “Tuck your chin down to pro tect your throat, and keep your legs close together to make it harder for the bear to injure you. If possible, try to cover yourself with anything you have near, like a backpack or a coat. It will help protect your vital organs further and make the bear less likely to continue attacking you.”

Why would it stop? The bear has already started to mess around with you. It’s obviously pissed off, and ear lier in the article we were informed that bears are very strong and pow erful. You’re pretty much dead by now.

“If you are ever unlucky enough to find yourself in a bear attack, remember to stay calm and follow these simple guidelines,” the tipsters conclude. “If you cannot move once the bear stops attacking, call for help immediately.”

Call for help? That implies you had a bunch of friends nearby who did nothing to save you in the first place. They probably panicked and ran away while you stood your ground, screamed at the bear, and then curled up and let it maul you until you couldn’t move. They ignored all the tips and yet they’re fine and talk ing to the park rangers while you’re headed for a toe tag.

We’re Not Always Special

I guess we didn’t need eight para graphs on the bear thing, but what’s done is done. I’m avoiding reports on Club Q, because while the GLBT community is one target for young violent white men with automatic weapons, we are just one of many targets in their sights.

Our community is the special tar get of lawmakers. We are the special target of rightwing lawyers suing for religious dominance in public affairs. But we are not the special target of these deadly madmen. They will just as happily kill Jews, women, immi grants, Blacks, and children.

Meanwhile, I greatly admire the straight hero soldier who took down the Club Q freak. At first I thought some gay guy was the patron that subdued the gunman, which sounded like a stereotype-busting scenario. But here’s even more of a stereotypebuster: the image of a decorated spe cial forces veteran taking his wife and family out to a GLBT bar to enjoy an evening drag show.

I guess the shooter is non-binary. Fine. But he’s not part of our com munity as far as I’m concerned. Richard Fierro, on the other hand, is a very welcome ally.

ROSTOW

MALONEY

When a candidate campaigns to become a Grand Duke or Grand Duchess, there is always a representa tion of colors that allows voters to know who they are voting for. In most cases, candidates will also have a “catchphrase” and a Coronation theme for their step-down. Here is a look back at what those were from 1974–1977:

1974–1975

“The Second Royal House of the Lithuanian Steed and Love Eternal” Grand Duke I Joe Raymond (deceased)

Grand Duchess II Lee Raymond (deceased)

The first Grand Duke elected was Joe Roland. Joe’s colors were red, yellow, and green. His symbol was a Knight on a white steed.

The second Grand Duchess elected was Lee Raymond. Lee’s colors were white, green, and gold, and her sym bol was a cockatoo, with a heart and a crown. Lee was often heard saying, “Whatever works.”

Their corona tion theme was “A Grand Duke for the Grand Duchess.”

Lee wrote “A Brief History of the Ducal Court” for his step-down at Coronation II. This history is now archived at the GLBT Historical Society. It lays out the frustration of H.L. Perry as a self-made entrepre neur who rose from serfdom to the level of Grand Duchess. Lee also explains the scandal that arose from his own election. The scandal was that the House of Eugene was announced as the winner of the elec tion, but it was revealed that the bal lots were tampered with and stuffed, which made Lee the actual legitimate winner. When confronted about the allegations, the House of Eugene skipped town and took the Crown Jewels with them, and left their credi tors and the newly created organiza tion in the dust.

From then on, the Grand Ducal Court created rules and regulations to ensure that all votes were fair and that nothing like this would ever happen again. Grand Duchess Lee supported the Society of Individual Rights and the Old Folks Defense League. In honor of Lee’s contributions to the Ducal Court, the Court created the Lee Raymond Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given out every year at the Ducal Gala. At the annual Gala, the reigning Court distributes funds that were raised during each reign.

1975–1976

“The

Grand Duke II Lenny Mollet (deceased)

Grand Duchess III Charlie (deceased)

The second Grand Duke elected was Lenny Mollet. His colors were black and red. His symbol was the Lion. Lenny was often heard saying, “Hey, that cost money, you know.”

The third Grand Duchess elected was Charlie. Charlie’s colors were yellow and white. Her symbol was Three Crowns. Charlie was often heard say ing, “Meet me at the Starlight Room.”

Their Coronation theme was “A Royal Grand Ducal Ball”

Grand Duke II Lenny Mollet was an out gay business owner of several gay bars and restaurants.

One business was known as “The Godfather” and Lenny would use this title during his reign and beyond.

Lenny was also a long-time member of the Tavern Guild and would become president of the Guild in 1977. In this presidential role, Lenny spearheaded the boycott of the Florida Citrus Commission. The Commission was publicly represented by Anita Bryant, who ran the “Save Our Children” campaign that advo cated for discriminatory laws against homosexuals. Lenny rallied all the bars to stop using Florida orange juice and instead to use fresh-squeezed California OJ or pineapple juice in their cocktails. Lenny also ran for the District 5 Board of Supervisors seat but was defeated by Harvey Milk.

Lenny was one of the longest-owning gay bar owners in history, having owned “Lennie’s” in 1954 and his last bar, “The Club 527,” in 1994.

The Third Royal House’s Coronation featured surprise guests Anne Bancroft, Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, and Dom DeLuise.

1976–1977

coronation

During the racially difficult times in our American history, Grand Duchess IV Connie is noted as being the first African American Grand Duchess elected to the organization, paving the way for The Grand Ducal Court to embrace a long line of racial diversity within its LGBTQI+ communities.

On September 22, 2023, the Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco will celebrate 50 years of Camp and Fundraising. The celebration will take place at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Please consider becoming a sponsor.

Inquiries: 50thanniversary@sfducal.org

Tickets ($80) will go on sale from March 1, 2023–August 25, 2023, with a hard stop on that final date. Save the dates then both for your ticket purchases and for this once-in-a-life time historic event!

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.

Third Royal House of the Godfather and the Yellow Rose”

“The Fourth Royal House of The Griffin and the Black Pearl” Grand Duke III Lee Dow Grand Duchess IV Connie

The

theme: “A Royal Black and White Ball”

Celebrating 50 Years of the Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco

Kippy Marks

Grand Duchess 3, Charlie

Grand Duchess IV, Connie

Lady Camden Hosts Rip-Roaring LGBTQ+ Night for Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet

set dances to all different types of holiday songs, from popular melodies to multi-denominational songs.

Each year, fans of The Christmas Ballet can look forward to pieces such as the slinky “Santa Baby” trailing the world’s longest feather boa, or “La Calandria,” a lively folk danceinspired solo with a show-stopping finale. The lineup changes year to year, with new numbers unveiled every season (this year unwraps two world premieres by Amy Seiwert and Nicole Haskins).

For the LGBTQ+ Night performance of Smuin’s irrepressible holiday show, the company has created special programming and casting that celebrates the vibrant LGBTQ+ community. Plus, Lady Camden will step into the red-hot heels of the iconic “Santa Baby” role, which was originated by Smuin Artistic Director Celia Fushille and has been passed on to other dancers every year since.

Can you hear the “slay” bells ringing?

Smuin Contemporary Ballet is kicking off the holidays in San Francisco with The Christmas Ballet, December 14–24 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts!

This annual holiday tradition featuring everything from ballet to tap, jazz, and swing gets a twist with special guest Lady Camden for its annual LGBTQ+ Night performance on Tuesday, December 20.

A fan favorite and first runner-up on the most recent season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Lady Camden is the drag alter ego of former Smuin artist Rex Wheeler—a dancer, actor, and choreographer who previously performed with and choreographed for Smuin. Hailing from across the pond, Wheeler attended the Royal Ballet School and devoted his early career to mastering classical repertoire. However, he changed his mind about his classical focus after seeing Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet, declaring: “It

looked like such fun. I thought, ‘To hell with my preconceptions, I want to dance like that!’”

After leaving Smuin, Wheeler began performing as Lady Camden around San Francisco at mainstays such as Hamburger Mary’s, Oasis, and Beaux. She rose to worldwide acclaim following her appearance on season 14 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, before embarking on a worldwide tour as a featured performer on RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq the World Now San Francisco’s very own British Queen is home for the holidays! Offering an irresistible combo of British grit and American charm— plus tons of talent to boot—Lady Camden will host and “werk” the stage in this extra-special edition of The Christmas Ballet. The festive alternative to The Nutcracker was created more than 25 years ago by company founder Michael Smuin, who declared he was going to

Each ticket purchased for LGBTQ+ Night will provide a donation to two community organizations. “I think it’s important for us to support local organizations each year, to raise funds and spread awareness about the amazing work they do,” says Fushille. This year’s beneficiaries include LYRIC, a San Francisco-based lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth organization that inspires positive social change with LGBTQQ youth, their families, and allies.

The second benefiting organization is Project Open Hand, which was originally founded in 1985 to feed people with HIV/AIDS, and now serves lifesaving nutrition to community members experiencing critical health conditions throughout San Francisco and Alameda counties. Says Wheeler from Perth, having just wrapped up an Australian tour, “Celebrating Christmas is a wonderful tradition that brings people together—and is also a fabulous time to share with those in need. I can’t wait to

Shield

reconnect with my San Francisco community at this show!”

Lady Camden’s sizzling “Santa Baby” performance will headline the LGBTQ+ Night performance of Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet 7:30 pm, Tuesday, December 20, at the Blue

of California Theater at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (700 Howard St, San Francisco). The full run of Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet is December 14–24. Tickets and information are available by calling 415912-1899 or at https://www.smuinballet.org/

Lady Camden

Lady Camden

Photos courtesy of Smuin Ballet

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

Sister Dana sez, “Every December First is always WORLD AIDS DAY. And every day we must realize that AIDS is NOT OVER!”

For the eighth consecutive year the public is invited to come to San Francisco’s Castro Street on December 1, WORLD AIDS DAY, to participate in INSCRIBE, a community sidewalk chalk art event. Created and coordinated by community activist George Kelly, INSCRIBE is The Castro’s colorful celebration of life, love, and memories honoring the millions of people who died of AIDS globally, and paying special tribute to the men and women who died of AIDS who called The Castro home. 400 and 500 Castro Street blocks, 9 am–9 pm.

I was privileged to see the special preview screening of SPOILER ALERT at the Castro Theatre on November 14. What a treat to see the movie’s costars Jim Parson and Ben Aldridge, along with the author of his memoir book, SPOILER ALERT: THE HERO DIES, Michael Ausiellio. The evening was hosted by FRAMELINE. For this special showing, we were given little packages of tissues—because YES, you will cry! This amazing film is a heartwrenching, heartwarming, funny, tear-jerking, and life-affirming story of how two gay men’s relationship is transformed and deepened when one of them falls ill. It features the incredible Sally Field as the mother and eventual mother-in-law. The movie screens in select theaters on December 2, and goes nationwide on December 16. This is the slogan telling it all: “Love never stops surprising you, Even when you know how it ends.” Do not miss this! And do take a hankie!

THE COCKETTES are storming Oakland with their delicious ETERNAL EMISSIONS cabaret show at PianoFight Oakland (1540 Broadway) on Saturday, December 3, and Sunday, December 4, at 7:30 pm. Featuring witty, naughty, marvelous musical numbers made famous by the Cockettes drag troupe. Members of the Original Cockettes in Person! https://tinyurl.com/y9rywf8e

The Senate took a crucial step on November 16 toward protecting SAME-SEX MARRIAGE RIGHTS, with 12 Republicans joining all the Democrats to advance a landmark bill. The 62–37 vote showed an incredible shift in American politics and culture, demonstrating how same-sex marriage—once a politically divisive issue, has been so widely accepted. Sister Dana sez, “I fantasize the House passing this by a huge majority. Yeah, I know—it’s only a fantasy!”

Congratulations to Karen Bass, a veteran California congresswoman, who won the mayoral race, becoming the first woman and second AfricanAmerican elected to lead the nation’s second-largest city, Los Angeles. She survived a bruising race against Rick Caruso—a billionaire real estate developer—that had remained too close to call for more than a week after the election. Bass promises quick action on homelessness in L.A.

As the song goes: “Make your yuletide gay!” This December, SFGMC (SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS) rings in the holiday season with its much-anticipated annual tradition, HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR. ‘Tis the season for the warm, familiar traditions of years gone by—and for resolutions new and more hopeful. Expect the entertaining flair, fun, and heart that the Chorus always delivers with holiday favorites, including “Jingle Bells” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (the most depressing carol I’ve ever known); lighthearted originals, including a holiday-themed Cher medley (yes, I said CHER!); and classical choral works including “Sure on this Shining Night.” December 2 and 3 at Sydney Goldstein Theatre; and in addition on December 24 for Christmas Eve (three times) at the Castro Theatre. https://www.sfgmc.org/

Where are we headed in the LGBTQ movement? Join movement leaders in this important virtual discussion, hosted annually by HORIZONS FOUNDATION, moderated by Horizons President Roger Doughty on December 6, 5–6:30 pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3kcwzmzw

SONGS OF THE SEASON is back and in-person at Feinstein,s at the Nikko. It’s a magical, merry, and mirthful evening celebrating the holiday season with sass on Tuesday, December 6, and Wednesday, December 7, 7 pm. Now in its 30th year, this benefit supporting PRC returns with star-studded talent, curated and hosted by Billboard Recording Artist Brian Kent and emceed by the fabulous Donna Sachet https://prcsf.org/

PROJECT OPEN HAND’s mission is to improve health outcomes and

quality of life by providing nutritious meals to the sick and vulnerable in San Francisco and Alameda counties. Their food is like medicine, helping their clients recover from illness, get stronger, and lead healthier lives. Every day they prepare 2,500 nutritious meals and 200 bags of healthy groceries to help sustain their clients as they battle serious illnesses, isolation, or the health challenges of aging. They are celebrating 30 YEARS OF HAND TO HAND on December 9, 7–10 pm at The Hibernia, 1 Jones Street. Among the honorees recognized will be “Ruth Brinker Visionary Award” to Bill Hirsh and “Most Outstanding Community Partner Award” to the (organization) Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF) and (individual) Bau Ky. https://www.openhand.org/

Sister Dana sez, “House Republicans have made it quite clear that they will refuse to lift the debt ceiling unless they can force cuts to SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. It’s not an idle threat: They mean it, and have reiterated it multiple times.”

The Good News is that the nearly 17-million-member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—also known as the Mormon church— announced that it supports the RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT, a bill that would codify the recognition of same-sex marriages performed in any state by other states and the federal government. The Bad News is that the church said in a statement that it continues to oppose same-sex relationships. But it cited religious freedom protections in the Senate version of the bill as “the way forward.” Sister Dana sez, “No, it’s backwards, and thanks for nothing, Morms!”

Take four San Francisco drag legends, cast them in two parody Xmas episodes of the uproarious TV show, The Golden Girls, and you have the perfect holiday event, THE GOLDEN GIRLS LIVE! In what has become a yearly tradition, this drag send-up and heartfelt tribute to the characters the entire world has come to know and love, features local drag stars: Heklina (Dorothy), Matthew Mart in (Blanche), D’Arcy Drollinger (Rose), and Holotta Tymes (Sophia). Also featuring Manuel Caneri and Michael Phillis with Tom Shaw on the piano. Now through December 23 at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street. “Thank you for being a friend.”

https://www.thegoldengirlslive.com/

Sister Dana sez, “Since Elon ‘Muck’ is allowing Trump back on Twitter, we can expect to

(Left to Right) Dennis McMillan (aka Sister Dana) with Juanita MORE! and Tom Boyer at the Friendsgiving Extravaganza held on Thursday, November 17, at Casements in the Mission. Hosted by 21 Seeds Tequila, the event was a benefit supporting the annual Mama G’s Thanksgiving Street Dinner held at UN Plaza in San Francisco on Thanksgiving Day. http://www.mamagstreetdinner.org

PHOTO BY FRED ROWE

The Dance-Along Nutcracker is Back!

After a 3-year absence due to COVID, the beloved, only-in-San Francisco Dance-Along Nutcracker ® will return live and in-person on December 17 & 18. The community will gather once again for four shows at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts featuring two shows each day.

Each year, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band (SFLGFB)—the Official Band of San Francisco—blends Tchaikovsky’s classic The Nutcracker ballet with a new entertaining theme and storyline. The result is a funfilled original musical production brimming with wit, artistry, and ingenuity. When the “Dance Along!” sign flashes, the audience is invited to get out of their seats and sashay around the theater. Even audience members who don’t want to dance have a blast!

This year’s show, SNOWBOUND, sees the audience invited to the Stahlbaum family’s home for their traditional Christmas Eve party. But a freak polar vortex brings a huge snowstorm to the Bay Area, closing the streets and stranding the guests, and the audience, inside!

What is the Dance-Along Nutcracker?

Although the Dance-Along Nutcracker has been around since 1985, many first-timers discover it every year. Even those who’ve attended the show many times come back since no two shows are the same. In past years, the show has mashed-up the traditional Nutcracker story with such themes as: superheroes, pirates, summer of love, outer space, cowboys, Hollywood, The Wizard of Oz, fairytales, Frosty the Snowman (in Hawaii, no less), The Polar Express, I Love Lucy, and more.

The event website features a gallery of program covers spanning all the way back to 1985, showcasing the evolution of the show over the past

37 years. For more than ten years, the creative mind behind many of those wacky themes was band member and former San Francisco Bay Times columnist Heidi Beeler. More recently, Heidi has passed the Sugar Plum Fairy Wand onto a team of other Band members, showcasing the deep talent that exists within this group.

Celebrating the Return to In-Person Events

After the success of the 2019 show Nutcrackers in Space, planning immediately started for 2020. Unsurprisingly, an in-person DanceAlong Nutcracker was shelved, but the Band still wanted to provide some in-person holiday cheer, so they created a virtual Dance-Along Nutcracker. The show featured Clara and Fritz traveling through time, visiting destinations from Dance-Along Nutcrackers past, thanks to archival footage woven in with new musical performances from several partner groups, including a sing-along with the San Francisco Bay Times carolers!

The Band looked to 2021 as the grand return of an in-person DanceAlong Nutcracker. “SNOWBOUND was originally written to be the 2021 Dance-Along Nutcracker,” said Brandon Moss, writer of the 2022 show and President of SFLGFB. “Unfortunately, it took another year for us to be able to return in person. So, I’m extremely excited to finally get the opportunity to again celebrate the holidays with the San Francisco community in our favorite way—by dancing along together!”

Fun for Young & Young at Heart

When the Dance-Along Nutcracker first started, it was a way for the adult LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco to let their hair down, release their inner child, and enjoy The Nutcracker as never before by joining in the dancing. For a community being ravaged by AIDS,

this show was the perfect antidote in a very dark time in San Francisco.

By the mid-1990s, a strange thing happened: more and more children were appearing in the audience, led by parents of all persuasions and gender identities. Noting the evolution of the Dance-Along Nutcracker audience, the Band pivoted to offering more daytime shows and crafting the storylines and the jokes to appeal to all audiences. Nowadays, the audiences are an exciting mix of children dragging their parents onto the floor and adult couples and singles twirling under the mirrored ball. After all, where else can anyone enjoy The Nutcracker and be a part of the show instead of having to sit passively and watch for two hours?

Great Artistic Minds Behind the Show

Dance-Along Nutcracker 2022: SNOWBOUND is under the leadership of Artistic Director Pete Nowlen and Cast Director Allen Sawyer. Said Nowlen, “This will be my 9th year directing this show and I’m really excited about the SNOWBOUND theme. Having grown up and lived in Montana and Chicago, I know all about snow. I’m so glad that in this show, the blizzard that hits San Francisco is confined to what’s in the script!”

Allen Sawyer, who also works at the San Francisco Opera House, observed, “I've seen kids grow out of the traditional Nutcracker. Because we,re always changing our themes and additional music, audiences keep coming back year after year to see what ,s new. Folks who were brought to the Dance-Along Nutcracker when they were children are now bringing their own kids!”

25 Years of Support from the

San

Francisco Bay Times

The 2022 Dance-Along Nutcracker marks a real milestone: the 25-year relationship between the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band and the San Francisco Bay Times & “Betty’s List.” Since 1997, Betty Sullivan and her associates have been stalwart supporters of this annual show, providing more than $100,000 in media and promotional support. Needless to say, the Band cherishes this long-term relationship. Thank you so much, Betty!

Don’t Miss the Show. Get Tickets Now!

Be there at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on December 17 and 18 for the Dance-Along Nutcracker 2022. It will be a blizzard of a good time! To get into the spirit of the show, audiences are encouraged to wear their gaudiest

Christmas sweater or their warmest pajamas. They’ll fit right in!

The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band presents Dance-Along Nutcracker ® 2022: SNOWBOUND

Dates: Saturday, December 17, 3 pm and 7 pm Sunday, December 18, 11 am and 3 pm

Place: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts—Forum 701 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94103

Tickets start at $25 for children/ students & seniors and $40 for adults. Individual sponsor packages are also available.

Information & tickets: https://dance-along-nutcracker.sflgfb.org/ Doug Litwin is a long-time volunteer musician and Board member in the SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band and has the distinction of performing in every "Dance-Along Nutcracker" since the show premiered in 1985.

By Doug Litwin

PHOTO BY LEE SUZUKI

Photos from previous years’ Dance-Along Nutcracker performances.

PHOTO BY RICH STADTMILLER

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

SFLGFB PHOTO

Shop Local in the Castro for the Holidays and Beyond

When you shop local, such as right here in the Castro where the San Francisco Bay Times is based, you can accomplish more than just finding great, unique gifts for yourself and loved ones. Shopping local reduces your carbon footprint, supports local jobs, and helps the community by strengthening local businesses that can add security, character, and better service with a more personalized approach.

Make a day of it, if you can, stopping for breaks at cafés, restaurants, a walk to see homes decorated for the holidays, and much more. Here are just a few recommendations:

Fabulosa Books

4121 19th Street, SF https://www.castrowine.com/

This boutique seller of California wines carries blockbuster reds from Napa Valley, small production hidden gems from Sonoma, exciting blends from Paso Robles, and great new offerings from up-and-coming winemakers across the state. In business since 1980, Castro Village Wine Company is a go-to for hostess gifts, wines for your own home entertaining, and gifts for all budgets for your vino-loving pals. There are well over 180 wines here for less than $25!

Cliff’s Variety 479 Castro Street, SF https://cliffsvariety.com/

We cannot imagine the Castro without Cliff’s. It is part of the heart and soul of the neighborhood because of its mixture of quirky, elegant, and functional items, but more importantly, because of its dedicated team led by Terry Asten Bennett, who deeply cares about her staff, the Castro, and Cliff’s customers. The store is like an extension of her family and home and that resonates warmly throughout.

Crossroads Trading Company 2123 Market Street, SF, and multiple locations https://crossroadstrading.com/

At Crossroads, customers sell their current, on-trend clothing and accessories for cash or trade credit. If you need more $ for holiday shopping, consider doing a closet clean-out and heading to Crossroads. You can also find stylish items there for yourself and others at great prices.

Crystal Way 2335 Market Street, SF https://crystalwaysf.com/

It is little wonder that Crystal Way has a near-perfect rating at Yelp. From one review shared by “Audrey H.”: “This is by far my favorite shop. John and Patrick are so friendly and helped my friend and I understand different properties of stones and how they can be combined together for an elevated experience. I was so happy to find some new pieces to add into my collection and work with. Their shop has a welcoming ambiance with soft music and an aroma that is so soothing. I especially loved how Patrick carefully wrapped each stone, and even added a clay piece to protect the point of my bloodstone pillar. It’s the little details that make this shop stand out among the rest. Crystal Way is a true gem! Pun intended. Thank you for a wonderful learning experience and playing a part in my spiritual journey!”

489 Castro Street, SF https://www.fabulosabooks.com/

Step into a great neighborhood bookstore such as Fabulosa and you can feel the stress melt away. Browsing their offerings is a pleasant pastime in and of itself, and then there is the anticipation of reading your purchases, and then the actual act of reading, which several studies show can reduce stress levels by up to 68%. Buying books as gifts is also a worthwhile pursuit, leading to happy recipients as well as gift givers, since books are easy to wrap!

Owner and Proprietor Alvin Orloff is an out gay man who has worked hard with his team to keep a bookstore going in the Castro. Check out his column in each issue of the San Francisco Bay Times

Kokak Chocolates

3901 18th Street, SF http://kokakchocolates.com

A favorite of The Gay Gourmet (David Landis) of the San Francisco Bay Times and other members of our team, Kokak Chocolates offers beautiful and delicious candies made with chocolate that is single origin, sustainable, and fair trade. Owner and Head Chocolatier Carol Gancia shared with the Bay Times : “Our Kokak Chocolates Merry Holiday Tree Tradition is a six-inch Chocolate Tree Centerpiece made from a rare cacao variety from Ecuador called Nacional. It comes with a wooden mallet. You can start a fun family tradition ringing in the holidays by cracking open your Merry Holiday Tree on Christmas Eve or morning!

Also, our Merry x 3 Lolly is a single origin 65% chocolate lolly with yummy 64% ganache filling inside and cocoa nib inclusions on the back. A set of 4, 6, or 8 is a perfect edible insert for your holiday place setting. Thank you for supporting our LGBTQ Asian woman-owned and operated business.”

Local Take 4122 18th Street, SF http://www.localtakesf.com

Owner Jennifer Meyer shared with the Bay Times : “Local Take is a gallery gift store featuring all local artists and designers. With an ever-changing collection of products, Local Take currently showcases over 130 Bay Area artists and designers.

Local Take is our love letter to San Francisco. All the beauty and creativity naturally occurring in the Bay Area is forever captured in the many creations of our amazing local artists and designers.”

ZGO Perfumery 600 Castro Street, SF http://www.ZGOperfumery.com

Lesbian-owned Equator Coffees was the first-ever LGBTQ business to be named a Small Business of the Year in the U.S. (2016). Co-owner Helen Russell told the San Francisco Bay Times :

“It’s important to gather with loved ones during these dark winter months. Holidays give us an excuse for this connection. We hope that coffee can be a part of shared meals at home, sweet mornings on vacation, and meeting up with old friends at our cafés.

Our holiday blend is a celebration of the art of roasting and made to pair with rich winter meals and desserts. This year’s holiday collection design is an expression of local artist Ayca Kilicoglu and I love the joyful way she’s represented our tiger, café, and baristas.

We are donating a portion of proceeds (5% of all sales) from the holiday collection to the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA(. As a woman-owned and led company, we want to do everything we can to lift up and support women along the supply line. IWCA does this through their international chapters.”

From owner Claude Gratianne: “At ZGO Perfumery, we are all about scent journeys. And there’s no better time than the holidays to give a gift that sets the right fragrant tone. The two featured gifts here are perfect for the holiday season and are sure to be pleasing to that special someone. Come by and let us help you find that perfect scent.

The Marriage Freres Holiday calendar sends a message of Peace and Love with a journey of 25 tea sachets for each day leading up to Christmas.

The Boy Smells Broken Rosary candle sets the mood with its warm light and fragrance notes that recall an old-world monastery. Notes of cinnamon, rose, oakmoss, and cedar arouse a sense of spiritual reawakening and grounded mindfulness.”

Castro Village Wine Company

Crystal Way’s team shared that they wish Bay Times readers “Deep Peace and Uncontainable Joy in the New Year. Check out our sales on Instagram #CrystalwaySF.”

Equator Coffees Multiple locations http://www.equatorcoffees.com

Karl the Fog ornament

Spoiler Alert Is a Three-Hanky Romantic Drama

A feel-good tearjerker, Spoiler Alert, chronicles Michael Ausiello’s (Jim Parsons) relationship with Kit Cowan (Ben Aldridge), his partner of 14 years, who is diagnosed with cancer.

The film, directed by Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) and co-written by David Marshall Grant and Dan Savage, is based Ausiello’s memoir of the same name, is life-affirming in that it recounts how Michael, a journalist for TV Guide, and Kit, a photographer, meet at a bar, fall in love, have difficulties in their relationship, and then grapple with terminal illness.

Spoiler Alert handles the couple’s relationship and the narrative with sensitivity but also with humor. Scenes depict Michael remembering his childhood in the form of a sitcom, complete with a laugh track.

Grant, who has a cameo in the film as a therapist for the couple, spoke with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about turning Ausiello’s life story from page to screen.

Gary M. Kramer: Michael and Kit are vulnerable and confident at different times but also childish, flawed, and loveable. What observations do you have about them?

David Marshall Grant: The characters were an incredible couple who stayed together through years through a lot of complications. Their love is so profound, and what is so beautiful about the memoir is seeing these two people realize and define the love they always had; to own and understand the value it had for both people. That’s not always the case. They realize that in their lives. I was so moved by that conceit. Kit is so funny, and his outlook on life is so adventurous and atypical. It’s fun to watch Michael’s character, who is so attached to tropes of television and the ways stories are told in films and TV, and when he applies that algorithm to his life, it’s fun to watch him try to connect things that are coming from very different places—a television story and a real-life story.

Gary M. Kramer: Can you describe how you “make real life make sense?” This is a line from the film and one that relates to how Michael and Kit process their experiences.

David Marshall Grant: I do try to make real life make sense through stories. I’ve been writing for television for 16 years. That’s a lot of episodes. And every episode has an A, B, and C story and the C stories come from a part of you. They may be 2 scenes, 3 pages each, but they are speaking to something the writer wants to process. A lot is revealed to me about how to make sense of my world through writing and even through acting.

When I was married, I always wanted to have a child.

I never thought I could, but I eked it out, and

was probably too old to do it, but I did, and so much of the world comes into focus and is illuminated when you look into the eyes of your child. Watching her grow up is sort of a miracle in so many ways. In terms of giving my life and the world at large context, parenthood is a big factor there. It’s a lot, but it gives you a sense of the hugeness of whole experience of life.

Gary M. Kramer: There are awkward moments and sad moments in the film, but also a comment about taking a moment to appreciate beauty. What moment spoke to you or affected you most in the film?

David Marshall Grant: This is all Michael’s memoir on the screen. I was moved by so many things, but the scene that always makes me cry the most is on the deck and when he asks to marry him. They lay bare the things they wish they had said a long time ago. Watching them be there, honestly, and the love that comes from being honest with another human being, and the forgiveness and the love, that is always the place I go to in the memoir and the film. It was a great aspirational moment about what it means to love somebody.

Gary M. Kramer: Why do you, in particular, and gay men, in general, find tragic stories life affirming?

David Marshall Grant: I don’t think it’s exclusive to gay men, or women, or anyone. It’s a human reaction to stories that may be tragic, but in order for them to be tragic, they have to be about great love, great connection, and people struggling to find each other and other people, to do the right thing. All those stories are what we all long to be in life and connect in life. Why humans are attracted to tragic stories is about what makes us cry, not the tragedy. They are about the love and connection and how hard we fight to keep those we love close by. We all are going to die. We all will end in tragedy. I think facing that end is the beautiful way to really experience how much we appreciate what came before us.

© 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

Film

Gary M. Kramer

Hollywood Does the Holidays

Off the Wahl

George Bailey finally realizes it’s a wonderful life. The glamorous Mame Dennis knows she needs a little Christmas, right this very minute. Humble Tevye extols the virtues of traditions! Buddy the Elf finds the true meaning of the season. Dorothy discovers there is no place like home. Bing Crosby is dreaming of a white Christmas.

Holiday movies give us the once-a-year gift of escapism, a throwback to a simpler time, a lack of politics, or head-scratching complication. They often take us on a sleigh ride of hope and the promise of a kinder world.

All right, maybe not Bad Santa (featuring an incredibly vulgar, drunk Santa) or Tim Burton’s scary The

Nightmare Before Christmas, but even those recent cult favorites take us to the celebration of the season. So, in the words of my favorite lyricist Johnny Mercer, let’s “accentuate the positive” with some cinematic holiday magic.

People get confused this time of year with Holiday Inn and White Christmas. If this were Jeopardy!, the correct response would be, “What is a partial remake?” 1942’s Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn takes a crooner and a hoofer (Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire) to a rural inn reinventing itself as a holiday live entertainment venue. This is when the song “White Christmas” took home Oscar gold, beating out the popular favorite “I’ve Got a Girl in Kalamazoo” from Orchestra Wives. Another holiday classic beat out Holiday Inn for Best Score of the Year: Yankee Doodle Dandy. But I digress.

1954’s beloved White Christmas has a crooner and a hoofer (Crosby again, this time with Danny Kaye, stepping in at the last minute for Donald O’Connor) joining up with a sister act to perform in rural Vermont.

Our boys plan a yuletide miracle to save the place, with some of the best musical numbers an uncredited Bob

Fosse could put together. My own favorite is Kaye and Vera Ellen doing the smooth “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing.” It also marks the only time on film when prolific Crosby breaks up, laughing so hard at Danny Kaye in their “Sisters” partial drag number that director Michael Curtiz could not get a straight take from him, so he left in the shot of Crosby completely cracking up with laughter. This was from the crooner who could play it straight in all those “road” movies with Hope!

Let’s go to modern times with a fabulous film about the emotion that connects all of us: Love Actually (2003). From the British prime minister to a fading rock star, from a young boy to a philandering husband, we meet a varied group approaching Christmastime. There is an all-star cast that vies with It’s

about Scrooge being a cruel television executive. In the film, Scrooged, he is visited by three ghosts who give him a chance to reevaluate himself. This movie reminds us of the subjective nature of comedy and drama. The late Roger Ebert told me it was his idea of the worst Christmas movie ever made. Bill Murray made this after Ghostbusters, so it was the beginning of him going on to become a leading man. Groundhog Day, anyone?

Pass the kugel, spring rolls, tamales, and outrageous conversation for a look at four ethnic groups celebrating the holidays. 2000’s What’s Cooking? takes us to Los Angeles with African American, Jewish, Latino, and Asian families, with each group preparing food. There are tricky, sometimes hilarious, family togetherness situations. Not enough people know this spicy, smart, and succulent film.

We’re back to Christmas classics with two good ones for the family: 1947’s The Bishop’s Wife and 1996’s The Preacher’s Wife Then there is the all-time great A Christmas Story, and All I Want for Christmas has cinematic fun with our obsession for material goods this time of year. Other favorites include An American Tale and the fabulously extravagant Oliver!

Meet Me in St. Louis and Fiddler on the Roof take us to another time, while Miracle on 34th Street just might convince us there really is a Santa Claus. The list is as unending as holiday joy itself!

There are three fun and amazing activities in our Emerald City to get you in the most festive of holiday spirits. I always head to the gorgeous lobby at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill.

The immense gingerbread castle is 22 feet high and 23 feet wide with 8,000 gingerbread bricks. It is filled with detail and delight. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is immersive holiday history and a blast at the Cow Palace. The Golden Girls Live: The Christmas Episodes is at the Victoria Theatre, done with respect and great fun.

a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World as one that could not be put together today. Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Kiera Knightley, and Alan Rickman portray just a few of the characters who touch our hearts in this irresistible romantic comedy drama. It also contains that rarity: an enormously happy ending reminding us that love is all around.

I’ve spent a life in broadcasting, so of course I would enjoy a movie

Have a holly jolly San Francisco holiday!

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

Jan Wahl

Top of your stack

A Girlhood (nonfiction/memoir - hardbound) by Carolyn Hays

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOOK PASSAGE

This is a parent’s love letter to a daughter who has always known exactly who she is. One ordinary day, a caseworker from the Department of Children and Families knocked on the Hays family’s door to investigate an anonymous complaint about the upbringing of their transgender child. It was this knock, this threat, which began the family’s journey out of the Bible Belt but never far from the hate and fear resting at the nation’s core.

T he Rabbit Hutch (fiction - hardbound) by Tess Gunty Blandine isn’t like the other residents of her building: an online obituary writer, a young mother with a dark secret, and a woman waging a solo campaign against rodents. These are neighbors who are separated only by the thin walls of a low-cost housing complex in the once bustling industrial center of Vacca Vale, Indiana. Welcome to The Rabbit Hutch.

California Soul: Recipes from a Culinary Journey West (cook book) by Tanya Holland

This is a great gift for the holidays for the food lover and/or home cook on your list! Through more than 80 seasonally inspired recipes, Holland’s California Soul showcases modern soul food from the acclaimed chef of Brown Sugar Kitchen and host of Tanya’s Kitchen Table. Her inventive cuisine—rooted in a Black Southern cultural repertoire with a twenty-first-century sensibility using local, sustainable, chefdriven, seasonal ingredients—is showcased in recipes for every season.

Lit Snax

Upcoming Events

Sunday, December 4 @ 4 pm (free in store/Corte Madera) - Emil DeAndreis, author of Tell Us When to Go The post-recession Bay Area is a land fertile for world-changers and dreamers. This is the setting for Tell Us When to Go, a millennial coming-ofage story, part Silicon Valley satire, and part urgent glimpse into the darker sides of privilege, troll culture, and class disparity. It asks the question, what comes of a friendship, or a city, with so much splitting it apart? Can it be saved?

Saturday, December 10 @ 1 pm (Meet & Greet Book Signing - SF Ferry Building) Tanya Holland, author of California Soul cookbook

Through more than 80 seasonally inspired, comforting recipes, Holland’s California Soul traces the roots of modern California soul food to the Great Migration, with phenomenal recipes from the acclaimed Bay Area chef, author, and media personality.

Tuesday, December 13 @ 7 pm (SF Calvary Presbyterian Church - free in-person & online) Carolyn Chin, author of Work Pray Code

Silicon Valley is known for its lavish perks, intense work culture, and spiritual gurus. Work Pray Code explores how tech companies are

(continued on page 32)

The Dawn of Everything, A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow

Every page is full of rich details about civilizations that thrived and created complex cultures without extreme inequality. Thoroughly researched and beautifully written, this is a must for anyone arguing for a better future.

Working Girls: Trixie & Katya’s Guide to Professional Womanhood by Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova

Drag’s dynamic duo are back with another hilarious how-to book. Please note that Fabulosa will not be held accountable should you actually follow any of their advice.

https://www.fabulosabooks.com/

2022 Transgender Day of Remembrance, San Francisco

On Sunday, November 20, San Francisco’s observance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance included a program held at La Cocina Municipal Marketplace in the Tenderloin. Among the speakers and entertainers were activists Old Man Bull and Cecilia Chung, SF Pride Vice President Janelle Luster and emcees Santana Tapia and Pearl Teese.

Live performances included those by funk and soul vocalist Tory Teasley and the New Voices Bay Area TIGQ (Transgender, Intersex, Gender-Queer) Chorus. The program also featured a memorial acknowledgment of recently passed community leader Garza and a reading of names and slideshow honoring the memory of murdered transgender persons. http://www.tdorsf.org

LGBTQ Community Interest in FIFA World Cup 2022

The 2022 FIFA World Cup, which began on November 20 and continues through December 18, has garnered both support for teams representing member nations and concern for host country Qatar’s policies and cultural mores adversely impacting LGBTQ individuals. The Qatari government, for example, does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil partnerships, nor does it allow people in Qatar to campaign for LGBT rights.

A “OneLove” armband, which features the outline of a heart striped in different colors, was scheduled to have been worn by captains from England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Wales at the World Cup with the goal of promoting inclusion and to show solidarity with the LGBTQ community. FIFA, however, established regulations holding that team captains must wear armbands provided by the governing body. While players have been refraining from wearing the “OneLove” armband as a result, officials from countries such as Germany and Belgium have been spotted wearing them.

FIFA, founded in 1904, is the international governing body comprised of 211 national soccer (football) associations.

Qatari Nasser Mohamed, M.D., now based in San Francisco, has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights and helped to establish The Proud Maroons (#ProudMaroons), a queersupporting soccer group. Dr. Mohamed has emerged as a significant activist through appearances at live events and in media interviews both nationally and internationally. Here in San Francisco, Lookout owner Chris Hastings welcomed Dr. Mohamed and others on November 20 for a protest as well as a benefit for Alwan Foundation, a Quatari LGBT support organization.

Dr. Mohamed also shared more about The Proud Maroons on Friday, November 25, at a World Cup live screening held at Union Square. Sponsored by Street Soccer U.S.A. and the SF Department of Parks and Recreation, the outdoor event was attended by a large audience of soccer enthusiasts who viewed an official competition between teams representing the U.S. and England. The SF Parks and Recreation’s Phil Ginsberg, Department Director, introduced Dr. Mohamed. https://www.proudmaroons.com/

Photos by Rink

Holidays for the Foodie in Your Life

chocolate tree sculpture centerpiece complete with a wooden mallet; and a “Holiday Fun Basket” featuring five-piece chocolate cosmic robots and a “Goin’ Bananas Lolly” in the shape of a monkey.

The Gay Gourmet

David Landis

It’s hard to believe that the holidays are upon us once again. This year has flown by and now it’s time for those holiday dinners, gatherings, present exchanges, and more. But what to give the foodie in your life?

Luckily, the Gay Gourmet has some answers! Here are some of my top picks:

DecantSF: This is one of San Francisco’s few wine bars and bottle shops helmed by two lesbian owners, Cara Patricia and Simi Grewal.

The South-of-Market venue is hosting a “Winter Fete” on December 9 to taste their favorite bubbles for the season, accompanied by caviar from The Caviar Company. For a perfect holiday gift for that wine snob pal of yours, they also have a “December Sommelier’s Selection Holiday Box,” and a “Not-So-Dry January Box” for purchase.

Tamalitoz: Skip the candy canes and try Tamalitoz, a fiery, fierce candy inspired by the sweet taste of Mexico. It’s a fruity ribbon-style hard candy filled with mild chili lime seasoning, and is the only candy on the market to put seasoning inside. It started in a tiny candy store in Mexico City and is gayowned by the husband & husband team of Jack and Dec. The couple wanted to come up with a unique blend of flavors from Mexico and Britain that represented both of them.

K okak Chocolates: It’s always nice to support a local Castro merchant and Kokak Chocolates are perfect for the holidays. In keeping with owner Carol’s dedication to creating new varieties, the 2023 holiday offerings include: a “Holiday fun chocolate tower” with tropical fruit, caramel, and Pride chocolates; the “Merry Holiday Tree Tradition,” a six-inch

Neptunia Gin from Hendrick’s: As a Negroni lover, this one speaks to me. Launched in March 2022 from master distiller Ms. Lesley Gracie’s Cabinet of Curiosities, this limited release gin uses a blend of Scottish coastal botanicals eliciting a crisp citrus finish that captures the magic of the sea, and is “as refreshing as Scotland’s ocean breeze.” The bottle design is eye-catching too, showcasing Hendrick’s classic shape with a seafoam green label.

MYX Fusions Watermelon

Moscato: Who isn’t a sucker for a celebrity-endorsed holiday gift? Rapper, singer, and songwriter Nicki Minaj is now making a splash for the holidays with her new watermelon Moscato by MYX Fusions. It’s a fresh watermeloninfused wine, with none of the seeds, and is perfect for holiday entertaining.

Sammy Hagar’s New Rum, Lost Cask: Here is another fun celebrity product. Bay Area rocker Sammy Hagar has a new, limited-edition spirit offering called Lost Cask rum, as part of his 75th birthday celebration. He’s just released an exclusive batch of this version of Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum. The exclusive 500 numbered bottles include 75 unique bottles hand-signed by the Red Rocker—a much-desired holiday gift for collectors and fans.

Hot N Saucy: Whether they’ve been naughty or nice this year, hot sauce is a perfect stocking stuffer. An Amazon’s Choice, Hot N Saucy is expertly handcrafted for hot sauce lovers who enjoy indulging in spices and flavors like “Collards N Ghost” and “Beet N Fresno” that add flavor to any meal.

Magical Teas at the Top of the Mark, InterContinental San Francisco: Kids and kids at heart can take part in seasonal fun at

one of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins’ Magical Teas at the Top of the Mark. Delicacies served include tea sandwiches such as cucumber and salmon roe, freshly baked homemade scones with Devonshire cream, and a dessert bar with everything from Oreo cookie gingerbread men to assorted mini-cupcakes. You can also sample the family-friendly array of dishes from the chef’s table, including mac and cheese, a makeyour-own sliders station, load-themup French fry station, and much more. Activities include Cookie Decorating with the Pastry Chef, Balloon Art with Raul The Master Balloonatic, and Face Painting with Fire Pixie. Magical Teas are Saturdays and Sundays in December up until Christmas Day.

Spice Tribe: This is a Bay Areabased online spice shop that showcases Owner Trent Blodgett’s global food adventures through an array of single origin and unique custom spice blends that he created from memory. His blends are much like a travelogue of his journeys. Some of his offerings include: “The Marrakesh Sitar,” an exotic mix of ginger, cinnamon, and rose that creates a rich aroma that reminds Blodgett of a sitar player he shared a meal with on the streets of Marrakesh; and also the “long-tail sunset,” a spice cocktail of Thai chile, tamarind, and coconut inspired by fishermen friends in Southern Thailand. Other blends include a one-of-a-kind espresso-citrus adobo from Nicaragua, named for his adventure through Mombacho Volcano’s coffee plantation, as well as his treks through Mexico, Japan, and more.

Up On the Rooftop at the Archer Hotel Napa: The third annual holiday pop-up at the hotel’s Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar has an allnew menu and cheeky cocktails crafted by the resident barkeeps. The installation features cozy igloos that seat up to four guests, plus sparkling trees and shimmering lights. Look for holiday-themed cocktails like Not Your Average Nog, shareable plates like Grinch’s Crabby Artichoke Dip, and Cheerful Churros with apple cider caramel and dulce de leche.

International Smoke’s Christmas Eve: Chefs Michael Mina and Ayesha Curry present a globally inspired buffet this Christmas Eve. Enjoy chilled shellfish, snow shell crab claws, oysters, butternut squash soup, roasted cauliflower with tahina, pomegranate, and pistachio, and Ayesha’s signature fresh-baked corn bread to start. Favorite holiday main dishes follow from International Smoke’s carving stations, including cedar-smoked salmon, honey-glazed ham, and

International Smoke’s Chef Michael Mina

Magical Teas at the Top of the Mark, InterContinental Hotel SF

International Smoke’s Crab & Thai Coconut Soup

International Smoke’s Hot Shellfish Platter

wagyu prime rib with sides like truffle mac & cheese and potato puree. End on a sweet note with gingerbread sans rival cake—a Filipinoinspired layer cake with meringue and cashew caramel buttercream and dark chocolate eggnog cream parfait.

Truboy BBQ: From a barbecue lover: “There’s nothing better than “fresh off the fire” smoked Texas BBQ. Anyone can enjoy an authentic Texas BBQ experience at home with Truboy BBQ, which delivers fully smoked and ready-to-heat Texas BBQ straight to your doorstep nationwide. This is premium BBQ with only the finest cuts of USDA Prime grass-fed all-natural meats

ethically sourced from local Texas farms. Truboy BBQ selections include brisket, beef and pork ribs, pulled pork, lamb shoulder, sausages, turkey, and more—all infused with mouth-watering Texas flavors.”

From Scratch: This is a new book by the producers of the popular Netflix series (David and Jon Moscow) from Permuted Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster. It promises “adventures in harvesting, hunting, fishing, and foraging for a fragile planet,” and includes ten chapters focusing on specific foods harvested from a particular region. Throughout, the book (as the publisher says) “helps us understand the history of food and how it sustains

culture and community, seeing the people behind the production of our food and the issues we face.”

Serendipity: Did you know that your morning coffee is due to a herd of energetic goats? A new book from Apollo Publishers written by Oscar Farinetti, founder of the high-end global food chain Eataly, shares fifty remarkable stories of how some of the greatest successes in the food world came about by chance.

Happy holidays!

DecantSF: https://decantsf.com/ Tamalitoz: https://tamalitoz.com/ Kokak Chocolates: https://www.kokakchocolates.com/ Neptunia Gin from Hendrick’s: https://tinyurl.com/488n3rd8

MYX Fusions Watermelon Moscato: https://tinyurl.com/yhyad3uk

Sammy Hagar’s Lost Cask Rum: https://tinyurl.com/3hryu3xp

Hot N Saucy: https://www.hotnsaucy.co/ Magical Teas at the Top of the Mark: https://tinyurl.com/4t2u459t Spice Tribe: https://www.spicetribe.com/ Archer Hotel Napa Sky & Vine: https://tinyurl.com/2p8t333y

International Smoke: https://internationalsmoke.com/ Truboy BBQ: https://truboybbq.com/ From Scratch: https://tinyurl.com/3svrpm2w Serendipity: https://tinyurl.com/p7nfudxc

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

International Smoke’s Chef Ayesha Curry

Magical Teas at the Top of the Mark, InterContinental Hotel SF

Cara Patricia, DecantSF

Simi Grewal, DecantSF

AGUILAS Thanksgiving Holiday Party 2022

Members and friends of AGUILAS, the non-profit supporting gay and bisexual Latinx men, gathered at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center on November 18 for the organization’s Thanksgiving Party.

Co-emcees Gustavo Ordonez and entertainer Betty Fresas welcomed guests who enjoyed a menu of traditional holiday dishes and entertainment led by Brazilian Idol singer Alex Costa and accompanying musician Guillerme Hoppe. The dance team duo Leandro Morais and Leo Guida performed and led participants in line dancing.

Awards for service were presented by AGUILAS to Elisa Santillan, Fabio Cantelli, and Giancarlo Francischini.

https://www.sfaguilas.org/

Photos by Rink

This Month at the Castro Farmers’ Market Cooking with Winter Greens

When you’re craving a big green salad, look no further than the leafy robust flavor of winter greens. These are green leafy vegetables that are seasonably available in winter and early spring. Common vegetables described as winter greens are chard, collards, spinach, rapini, mustard, beet, and kale. They include several different vegetable families and are categorized under “winter greens” because of their availability during the cold months.

Of course, in California they can be grown almost year-round, but most are at their peak of flavor during the winter months and are a hardy, prolific crop. They are a popular row crop for farmers to grow because the same plant can

produce multiple bunches and it continues to produce leaves even after several cuttings. The fresher the greens, the better their flavor. When you purchase winter greens at your local farmers’ market, their just-picked flavor is intense, well-rounded, and ready for any recipes you want.

Their hearty flavors can range from lemony sorrel and mild chard, to peppery turnip greens and strong collards. Purchase them as baby greens for milder flavor or fully mature for a more robust taste in your recipes.

Winter greens are highly nutritious and flavorful ingredients to supplement your recipes during the winter months when other vegetables might not be in season. Mix them with winter root vegetables like roasted carrots and beets, tuck the leaves into a sandwich, add them to soups and stews, combine into casseroles, mix them in pasta dishes, or make a leafy winter salad with winter squash and pomegranate seeds.

Here are some tips before cooking with winter greens:

1. Most winter greens have thick, fibrous stems that are not inedible but tough and should be removed. Use your hands or a sharp knife to remove them. Tear with your hands or cut the leaves away from the stems. Don’t throw away the stems but blanch them and use in stir fry dishes, pesto, and salads.

2. With their hearty flavors and thicker textures, it is best to pair them with vigorous companion ingredients. Mix them with bacon or sausage, dried fruit, acidic liquids like vinegar or citrus juice, and hefty winter vegetables like winter squash.

3. Use collard green leaves or chard leaves in place of tortillas or bread if you are avoiding carbs. They don’t need to be cooked, and can be rolled around your favorite filling like chicken or tuna salad.

4. Have an overabundance of greens? Freeze them for later. Prep and blanch the leaves and then freeze them on a baking sheet before storing them in a freezer bag for up to a few months. Use them later for

By Debra Morris (continued

soups, stews, salads, smoothies, braises, and stir-fries.

5. To tame the bitterness associated with winter greens, blanch them before using in dishes like pastas and casseroles. Most tender greens, such as spinach, can be simply sautéed. Salt and acid can both lessen the bitterness.

Enjoy winter greens direct from the farm at your farmers’ market this winter. Most farmers’ market vegetable vendors offer a variety of delicious winter greens!

Debra Morris is a spokesperson for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA). Check out the PCFMA website for recipes, information about farmers’ markets throughout the region and for much more: https://www.pcfma.org/

BOOKS

SISTER DANA (continued from pg 18)

again be bombarded with the constant squawks of that hateful, racist, narcissistic orange autocrat. They’re both a pair of twits (purposely NOT a typo for ‘tweets’)!

control Congresspeople and radical right-wingers who stoke this violence every day! THEY are killing us!

I really enjoyed the 21 SEEDS infused tequila DRAG

FRIENDSGIVING

(continued from pg 26)

bringing religion into the workplace in ways that are replacing traditional places of worship, blurring the line between work and religion and transforming the very nature of spiritual experience in modern life. Work Pray Code reveals what can happen when work becomes religion, and when the workplace becomes the institution that shapes our souls. https://www.bookpassage.com/

Queers and friends of queers everywhere are mourning and raging at the senseless, horrendous, hateful murder of five LBGTQ people shot dead and more than two dozen injured overnight November 20, of all times TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE at Club Q in Colorado Springs. Huge thanks to the two heroic customers for stopping the shooter from committing any more violence! The U.S.’s first openly gay Governor Jared Polis called this as “horrific, sickening, and devastating.” He exhorted, “Colorado stands with our LGBTQ community and everyone impacted by this tragedy as we mourn together!” The shooting brought back memories of the 2016 massacre at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which killed 49 people. And it occurred in a state that has experienced several notorious mass killings, including at Columbine High School in 1999, a movie theater in suburban Denver in 2012, and at a Boulder supermarket last year.

HARVEY MILK LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CLUB held a powerful candlelight vigil for Club Q in Harvey Milk Plaza on November 20: STAND UP AGAINST HATE and STOP ANTI-LGBTQ VIOLENCE were the themes. Milk Club Vice President Jeffrey Kwong welcomed us. SF GAY MEN’S CHORUS emotionally sang “May God Hold You in the Palm of His Hand.” Among the fiery speakers were Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, and Drag King activist Alex U. Inn. We dispersed properly engaged to fight!

Sister Dana sez, “Let’s include together with the murderer those anti-LGBTQ and anti-gun

EXTRAVAGANZA with the always awesome Juanita MORE! on November 17 at Casements bar as a benefit for Mama G’s Thanksgiving Street Dinner Sipping on specialty tequila cocktails, I delighted in the lively, talented drag performances of Dulce De Leche, Mary Vice, and Mojo.

We joined the HARVEY MILK LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CLUB for its annual MILK/MOSCONE vigil at Harvey Milk Plaza on November 27. Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were the brightest beacons of hope for San Francisco’s disenfranchised and displaced. But more than that, they represented the spirit of San Francisco, a city for anyone and everyone, meant to be welcoming to all, with justice for all. They were both assassinated 44 years ago. Part of the vigil was also a dedication to the five victims of CLUB Q with Milk Club members reading their eulogies. Banners had been hung from the railing with black and white photos of Harvey Milk and George Moscone with the words: “Forever in Our Hearts,” as well as “Act now to stop anti-LGBTQ hate!” We listened awe-struck to the recording of Milk’s chilling premonition of his violent death. Among the many emotional speakers were Milk Club Vice President Jeffrey Kwong, Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, BART Director Bevan Dufty, story hour reader to children Drag Queen Per Sia, and veteran activists Supervisor Carol Ruth Silver and Gwenn Craig

Sister Dana sez, “In California, more than 10% of Legislature now identifies as LGBTQ. That’s something to be really proud of!”

The display window at Magic Johnson’s Out of the Closet store on Polk Street

The Macy’s holiday tree above the Geary Street entrance across from Union Square A rotating castle and moving train set on display in the lobby of the St. Francis Hotel at Union Square

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

Problems and Pleasures of Being Home for the Holidays

who was definitely a quarterback and a glasses-sporting University of Chicago student doing math that looked like a foreign language, I couldn’t help but wonder what everyone’s respective Thanksgiving would look like.

suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ youth, the holiday season may be associated with increased crisis levels among LGBTQ+ youth.

Fitness SF Trainer Tip

As I sat in the Uber from Northwestern’s campus to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, I was shocked at the number of college students I saw climbing out of cars and milling about the terminals. Home Alone had taught me that the holidays were a terrible time for travel (hence why I arrived at the airport a full four hours before my flight), but I hadn’t realized that perhaps the painfully long lines, appalling traffic, and lack of Ubers were created almost exclusively by students attempting to make their way home for the holiday.

I made my way down the aisle of the plane (which, of course, was slightly delayed—thanks, O’Hare), surrounded by a sea of colorful college sweatshirts on all sides. I’d forgotten how many Midwestern colleges used O’Hare as their travel base, but the vibrant array of college sweatshirts was a very good visual reminder.

Notre Dame students, in particular, were heavily decked out in green and blue gear; I guess they treat holiday travel like a football game, too.

A s I settled into the 36th row (coach is a popular seating choice with the broke college students), sandwiched between a burly University of Indiana sweatshirt-wearing kid

My Thanksgivings and Christmases are always an affair—a word that severely understates the production value of a Parent Family Thanksgiving. Family members from across the country make their way to California for a 20+ person gathering that usually takes place at my cousins’ house in Tiburon. It’s chaotic and loud, a little bit stressful, and completely magical. It’s full of love and I love it. My excitement before the day is always uncontainable.

Of course, as with any family, there will be some tensions (brought on by a day spent organizing, cooking, and making last minute trips to Whole Foods because someone forgot the gravy). But the tensions never overshadow the day itself, and I always leave my cousins’ feeling uncomfort ably full of both food and love.

But sitting on the plane, as one of many college students frantically writing last minute essays so we could properly enjoy our breaks with out the threat of a deadline looming in the distance, I couldn’t help but wonder about those who would leave their holiday celebrations feeling empty.

For young LGBTQ+ individuals, the holiday season can be particularly painful. Uncle Joe’s drunken homophobic jab at the dinner table might go unnoticed by the rest of the family, but for a young LGBTQ+identifying person, the holiday table becomes just another place where they feel unsafe in the world.

According to a summary of holiday crisis trends from The Trevor Project, a non-profit that focuses on

Two Sporty Family Rides

up to the headlights. I wouldn’t want either the Camry’s or Outlander’s front end on my wall, but they fall right in line with current design trends.

While youth reached out to The Trevor Project at 20%–40% lower rates around on the actual holiday itself compared to usual call rates, The Trevor Project found that call rates increased by 20% in the two days following the holiday.

If this tells us anything, it’s that the holidays bring their own unique set of stressors for LGBTQ+ youth, in particular.

I wish I could say to take a load off, eat some pie, drink some eggnog, and try to ignore the relatives who love to make problematic comments to poke fun around the dinner table. But saying that would fully dismiss just how painful it is to suppress a part of your identity, even if it is just for one holiday meal.

The holidays can be a cornucopia of mixed emotions for LGBTQ+ youth.

If you’re struggling to feel at home with a family that feels less than supportive of who you are, then you are not alone.

Because the holidays are about giving, I would encourage you to think about one thing in the face of Uncle Joe’s dinner table remarks: there is so much that you give to the world. Don’t let someone’s hatred stop you from giving your light to the world.

Tabitha Parent was born and raised in San Francisco and is currently a sophomore at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Having spent time in three major international cities this year, Parent has observed how dif ferent regions of the country welcome LGBTQ+ individuals. In her f ree time, Parent spends time look ing out over Lake Michigan (the v iew rivals that of the Bay).

These days, you don’t have to buy a sports car to get a sporty look, and even family cars are now routinely shaped and styled to appear as if they are ready to dominate the roads around them.

Case in point: this week’s Mitsubishi Outlander SEL S-AWD and Toyota Camry SE Nightshade. The Outlander is a three-row SUV, while the Camry is a mid-sized sedan, so they are fundamentally different. However, they do have some parallels, with aggressive styling being the most obvious.

B oth the Outlander and Camry look fierce in any color or trim. The Outlander’s schnoz is stacked like a semi truck’s, with slit headlights on top and thick rectangular lenses beneath. The grille is thick and black, and it’s framed by shiny boomerang-shaped accents. It’s like a linebacker giving you the evil eye.

T he Camry’s is more angled, with a horizontal-tined grille providing the basis for an upper tier that draws

This extroversion contin ues to the sides, with the Outlander’s pincer-like contours contrasting the Camry’s strongly-defined center accent line bridging soft shaping at either end. It’s very easy for a car a decade older to look double that when parked next to them, though the less-faceted shaping of yore can seem serene by comparison.

T he tested Camry SE goes a step further with its Nightshade trim, which adds bronze alloy wheels, black trim, sport-tuned suspension, and $1,000 to the price. The bronze wheels give it a slightly aftermarket look, as if they were procured by the buyer. Both can be ordered with trendy black wheels and trim, with the Outlander Black Edition and Camry TRD.

T he Outlander and Camry can be bought in more efficient versions than the ones I drove—the plug-in Outlander PHEV boasts a 38-mile electric-only range, while the evergreen Camry Hybrid posts gas mileage figures in the mid-40s. Nonelectric versions of the Camry and Outlander show only slightly higher prices for the Outlander, in the range of mid-$20,000 to the upper $30,000s. Though they aren’t in the same vehicle class, they hit their mar kets with very similar playbooks.

T he more mainstream trim levels I drove each had a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine, with 181 horses in the Outlander and 203 in the Camry. The Outlander had enough juice for the daily grind, while the Camry felt powerful enough to be a V6. Handling is competent and loweffort in both, with the edge going to the Camry Nightshade’s firmer dampers.

I nside, the Camry Nightshade has bolstered front seats swathed in leather-like SofTex. I like how pliable SofTex is, but I dislike how sweaty my back gets against it. The Outlander’s buckets are big and broad and can be had with diamond stitching down the center.

Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant with an automotive staging service.

Bi-Coastal

Tabitha Parent

Auto

Philip Ruth

Toyota Camry SE Nightshade

Mitsubishi Outlander SEL S-AWD

Steven Luibrand at Fitness SF Mid-Market

“Training is difficult, challenging, and sometimes uncomfortable. But if you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong!”

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

The Castro Theatre’s marquee declared “Love Over Hate” in the aftermath of the shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs.

The Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club cochairs Gary McCoy and Iowayna Peña welcomed California State Controller Elect Malia Cohen to their meeting held at Congresswoman Pelosi’s campaign headquarters in the Castro. Cohen participated in a panel discussion with Alice Club board member Jane Natoli and political consultant Maggie Muir.

A protest was held outside of Starbucks on 18th Street by employees and supporters who are calling for a union contract. Chants and signs declared “No Contract, No Coffee!”

On November 10, friends and supporters of musician Kippy Marks, including organizer Gary Virginia, Empress Ehra Amaya, and Emperor Brent Munro, held a fundraiser for his Recovery Fund at Midnight Sun on 18th Street. Marks performed and the bar’s annual Klassy v. Trashy contest was also held during the event.

Friends and supporters of DJ Prince Wolf held a benefit, We Love Prince Wolf, at the Cinch Saloon on Polk Street. Funds raised will support the DJ’s medical and other expenses.

Native American History Month was acknowledged with a display of related books in the window at Fabulosa Books on Castro Street.

Members of the Lion Dance Me troupe performed on Grant Avenue on November 19. Streets were closed off for the opening of the new MUNI station serving Chinatown.

A celebration was held on November 15 at the San Francisco Main Library, where actress Anna Mae Wong (Shanghai Express) was interviewed and a new U.S. quarter dollar coin was unveiled.

CASTRO

STREET CAM

Items of the week

Rink Remembers

Best known for coining the phrase “sex work,” Carol Leigh was the co-founder with Margo St. James of the Bay Area Sex Worker Advocacy Network. Founding San Francisco Bay Times editor Priscilla Alexander, who also advocated for sex workers for decades, posted upon learning of Leigh’s passing: “In my work at the World Health Organization, I helped to promote that term to emphasize that sex work is a form of labor, appropriate to labor not criminal law.”

In 1997, Leigh worked with dancers at the Lusty Lady—a strip club that operated in North Beach from the 1970s until 2013—to establish their first labor union. She collaborated on numerous film projects with sex educator Annie Sprinkle.

In 1999, she founded the San Francisco Sex Worker Film & Arts Festival. Her books include Unrepentant Whore: The Collected Writing of Scarlot Harlot (2004) and Inventing Sex Work (2010). Harvard University’s Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America will house the archive of her papers.

Bay Times photographer Rink photographed Leigh in her role as Scarlot Harlot in 2013, and in 2017 at the Roxie Theatre with Kent State University professor Molly Merryman, a featured speaker at the 10th Biennial SF Bay Area Sex Worker Film and Art Festival.

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?!

Through December 15, we will collect new unwrapped toys to support the San Francisco Police Department’s Mission Station Toy Drive.

Carol Leigh (1951-2022)

presented by http://sfbaytimes.com/

Photos by Rink

Union Square is ablaze in lights that are on holiday trees, store windows, and at the Holiday Ice Rink, where the popular Drag Queens on Ice perfor mance

compiled by Rink

Iowayna Peña

Tom Lucas

“Frances restaurant, because I love the food and the emphasis on that it is locally sourced”

Gustavo Ordoñez

“Gracias Madre–the whole menu is amazing”

Betty Fresas

“Pulpo Asada has the best Spanish tapas”

Bandi Collins

“Mandalay Burmese, where they have wonderful taste combinations”

Holiday characters in a window at Teuscher Chocolate of Switzerland at 307 Sutter

Window and in-store displays are decorated for the holiday season at businesses in the Castro including Cliff’s Variety, P.O. Plus, and others.

Holiday-themed food and beverage service items in the window of William Sonoma at 340 Post Street FILE PHOTO