Visit Oakland has announced the return of Oakland Restaurant Week, which will take place March 14–24, 2024. From neighborhood gems and food trucks to Michelin-rated restaurants, diners are invited to explore the city’s global culinary offerings. Participating restaurants will offer specially-created lunch and dinner menus to showcase the best their restaurant has to offer. This year, Visit Oakland is encouraging locals and visitors to dine out and support the 100+ participating restaurants, and Eat. Drink. Stay. Repeat.
Launched in 2010, Oakland Restaurant Week is an annual dining promotion presented by Visit Oakland, a nonprofit organization marketing Oakland, California, as a travel destination. Those of us here at the San Francisco Bay Times who live in Oakland echo that it is a welcoming, rewarding place both to live in and to visit. Oakland Restaurant Week is a perfect excuse to sample just some of what is on offer.
The 10-day celebration will highlight the flavors of Oakland and is designed to support local establishments, enticing diners with menu offerings and experiences made
Cocobreeze Caribbean Restaurant and Bakery
Chef Anna Goodridge takes you on an instant vacation to Trinidad where love & soul steer the menu. https://cocobreezeco.myshopify.com
Farm to Table
ACRE Kitchen and Bar
Chef Dirk Tolsma has created an inviting space where local and sustainable are the order of the day. The wood-fired chicken is worth making the trip for from anywhere in the Bay Area. The convivial bar has a killer cocktail list.
https://www.acrekitchenandbar.com
Where Wines Shine
CoCo Noir Wine Shop & Bar
Alicia Kidd showcases distinctive wines by African American & female producers.
https://www.coconoirwine.com
An LGBTQ+ Hot Spot
Shakewell
Near the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, Shakewell was co-founded by chefs Jen Biesty and Ted Nugent—two former Top Chef contestants. This popular restaurant serves a taste of the Mediterranean and also boasts a bar of diverse offerings.
https://www.shakewelloakland.com
Liam’s Favorite Dishes in Oakland
Escargot at Left Bank Brasserie - The delicious escargot at Left Bank Brasserie in Jack London Square is served in a Pernod and garlic butter sauce. https://www.leftbank.com/
available only during this part of March.
“Oakland restaurant week is an amazing time to experience The Town’s vibrant culinary scene,” commented Peter Gamez, President and CEO of Visit Oakland. “With talented chefs creating award-winning global cuisine, visitors and locals can definitely satisfy their appetite in Oakland. We encourage people to take advantage of our hotel offers, stay awhile, and enjoy all there is to do in The Town.”
For the first time, Visit Oakland is launching the Oakland Restaurant Week Challenge in partnership with the app, VibeMap. While visiting one of the participating bars or restaurants, diners can check in to earn badges and points. The more restaurants visited, the more points earned, entering diners with the chance to win prizes including gift cards to local restaurants and an Oakland getaway. To participate— and the offer is only available during Oakland Restaurant Week—complete the form and download the VibeMap app: https://tinyurl.com/bddsae8d
Oakland is made up of culturallydistinct neighborhoods, inspiring an incredibly creative food scene. Favorite foodie hot-spots include Jack London Square and Temescal to Uptown, and Fruitvale. Featured restaurants include: alaMar Dominican Kitchen, Burdell Soul Food, The Cook and Her Farmer, Crumble & Whisk, Dokkaebier, Kitchen Story, MAMA Oakland, Odin Mezcalería, Parche, Snail Bar, Town Fare Café, and more.
All restaurants participating in Oakland Restaurant Week will feature new and unique offerings from family-style dinners, special menu items, prix fixe menus, ingredientdriven tastings and more. There is no cost for Oakland restaurants wishing to join the promotion.
Participating restaurants will be organized by neighborhood, cuisine and meal type. Through a partnership with OpenTable, reservations (recommended) can be made directly from the Oakland Restaurant Week page.
In partnership with Visit Oakland, Amtrak Capitol Corridor is offering a “BOGO Weekends Plus”—
Cheesecakes at Crumble & Whisk - These are simply the best sweet & fruity cheesecakes on Earth. Chef Charles Farriér finally opened his own brick & mortar after years at Bay Area farmers’ markets.
https://www.crumbleandwhisk.com/
Albondigas de Res at Duende - Duende’s modern Spanish take on meatballs includes Piemontese beef meatballs served with grilled escarole, salsa verde, and a Yukon Gold pu rée.
https://www.duendeoakland.com
Matty’s Burger at Matty’s BBQ - It’s a doublepatty smashburger with a sweet honey BBQ aioli and caramelized onions in a black sesame bun— the creation of James Beard-nominated pitmaster & restauranteur Matt Horn. Don’t leave without one of Matty’s massive milkshakes.
https://tinyurl.com/2hnykxmp
Trucha a la Plancha at Parche - A whole McFarland trout is wrapped in plantain leaf with achiote & citrus and is served with patacones (hand-smashed crispy potatoes) & accompaniments. https://www.parcheoak.com
to double the fun during Oakland Restaurant Week or any other Oakland getaway. The promotion allows riders to bring a guest to ride free, on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. The promotion runs now through September 2, 2024, encouraging riders to make any weekend a long weekend.
Amtrak Capitol Corridor BOGO details: Buy one full-fare ticket for travel from now until September 2, 2024, and you will get another companion fare absolutely free. Tickets must be booked one day in advance. To receive this discount, please select
at least two adult passenger types and use the promotion code "V405": https://tinyurl.com/5cuvc32c
Complete lists of participating hotels, restaurants, menus, special events, and reservations are available at: https://tinyurl.com/b4zm27nn
View local hotel offers at https://www.visitoakland.com/stay/deals/
Polls and surveys consistently show that Oakland, California, has one of the highest concentrations of LGBTQ people in the nation. It also has one of the largest populations of lesbian-headed households, and is among the most integrated cities in the U.S. The White Horse Bar, which has been serving the LGBTQ community since 1933, is the oldest operating gay bar in the country. Back in the day, former places like Mary’s First and Last Chance—a popular lesbian bar not far from The White Horse—legally fought and won rights for the LGBTQ community.
Oakland’s LGBTQ history is therefore long and noteworthy, but only recently did it lead to an officially recognized district. As Oakland Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan wrote in the San Francisco Bay Times: “On November 7, 2023, Mayor Sheng Thao, several elected officials, Oakland LGBTQ leaders, and Jeopardy! champ Amy Schneider gathered to celebrate the opening of The Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District. The organizing of community leaders and a resolution I wrote along with Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas and Councilmembers Fife and Kalb came together to make this district a reality.”
• to promote local businesses and create spaces for them to thrive; • and to uplift and preserve the legacy of Oakland’s rich LGBTQ history, including the struggle for justice and equity.
Bay-Made (gift shop) 3295 Lakeshore Avenue
https://www.bay-made.com/ Galleria Scola (picture framing & art restoration services) 3646 Grand Avenue
https://galleriascola.com/ Kinetic Chiropractic 3645 Grand Avenue, #305
The Sanctuary (boutique) 3344 Grand Avenue
https://www.thesanctuary.energy/ Shakewell (restaurant with a prominent LGBTQ past since it was co-founded by acclaimed out and proud Chef Jennifer Biesty) 3407 Lakeshore Avenue
https://www.shakewelloakland.com/ Slick & Dapper on Grand (barber shop) 3619 Grand Avenue
https://www.slickanddapper.com/ United Grooming (barber shop) 3351 Grand Avenue
https://unitedgrooming.com/
VT Nails Spa
3423 Lakeshore Avenue
https://vtnailspaoakland.com/
The mission of the new district, which not only includes Lakeshore Avenue but also much of Grand Avenue, is:
• to provide Oakland’s LGBTQ individuals, families, business owners, allies, and the general community with a historically identifiable LGBTQ+ neighborhood;
• to create a safe, welcoming, vibrant, and all-inclusive community;
• to foster a community where every Oakland resident and visitor can feel safe to exist free and proud;
Oakland City Councilmember
At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan
Every day is Black History Day, so just because Black History Month is over doesn’t mean that we should stop celebrating Black culture.
Oakland has a rich history of Black businesses making significant contributions to the community. This tradition is still taking place today. These enterprises are not just places to shop or dine but pillars of resilience, creativity, and cultural heritage. Let’s explore why supporting these businesses is essential:
Economic Resilience: Blackowned businesses face unique challenges, including historical disparities in access to capital. By supporting them, we contribute to their financial resilience. When these businesses thrive, they create jobs, foster innovation, and strengthen not only Oakland’s economy, but also the entire Bay Area’s as well.
Community Empowerment: Black-owned businesses are often deeply connected to our neighborhoods. When we patronize them, we invest in our
The Chair of the district’s Committee is Jeffrey Myers, who with Joe Hawkins cofounded the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center in 2017. The center is at the heart of the new district. Including the center, Myers told the Bay Times that the following businesses within the district are LGBTQ owned and operated:
Alkali Rye - Oakland’s Beverage Shop 3256 Grand Avenue
https://sipalkalirye.com/
Arizmendi Bakery 3265 Lakeshore Avenue
https://arizmendilakeshore.com/
community’s well-being. These businesses sponsor local events, mentor youth, and provide spaces for cultural expression.
Cultural Preservation: Black-owned businesses preserve cultural traditions. the arts, and cuisine. They celebrate diversity and contribute to the rich tapestry of Oakland’s identity. From soul food restaurants to Afrocentric boutiques, each establishment tells a story.
We are sharing a list of Black-owned restaurants in Oakland. By spending our dollars intentionally, we uplift communities and promote equity. Let’s celebrate Black excellence and history and support building a brighter future together.
alaMar Dominican Kitchen 100 Grand Ave #111
https://www.alamaroakland.com/
Asmara Restaurant
5020 Telegraph Avenue
https://asmararestaurantoakland.com/
Blackberry Soul: Chef Rene Johnson
https://www.blackberrysoul.net/
Calabash
2300 Valdez Street Suite A
https://calabasheats.com/
Caña Cuban Parlor & Café 530 Lake Park Avenue
https://canaoakland.com/
Coco Breeze Restaurant and Catering Service 2370 High Street
https://cocobreezeco.myshopify.com/
Crumble and Whisk Pâtisserie 4104 MacArthur Blvd
https://www.crumbleandwhisk.com/
Enssaro Ethiopian Cuisine 357-A Grand Avenue
https://www.enssarooakland.com/
Everett and Jones BBQ 126 Broadway
https://www.eandjbbq.com/
https://www.kineticchiropractics.com/ Michael’s Chocolates 3352 Grand Avenue
https://www.michaelschocolates.com/ Modigliani Café 3208–3210 Grand Avenue
https://www.modiglianicafe.com/ Oakland LGBTQ Community Center 3207 Lakeshore Avenue
https://www.oaklandlgbtqcenter.org/ Queer Arts Center 3411 Lakeshore Avenue
https://www.queerartscenter.com/
Falafal Boy Inc. 1924 Franklin Street
https://falafelboyonline.com/
Geoffrey’s Inner Circle 410 14th Street
https://geoffreyslive.com/
Graffiti Pizza
719 Washington Street
https://graffitipizza.square.site/
Gregory’s Gourmet Desserts 285 23rd St
https://gregorysgourmetdesserts.com/
Home of Chicken and Waffles 247 4th Street
https://homeofchickenandwaffles.com/
Hook You Up Catering & BBQ Services 2420 Renwick Street
https://tinyurl.com/4erepkyu
Jusla Eats and Catering 1955 Broadway
https://www.eat-black.com/
Oeste Bar & Kitchen 722 Clay Street
https://www.eat-black.com/
Red Door Catering 2925 Adeline Street
https://reddoorcatering.com/ Red Bay Coffee Headquarters & Café 3136 International Boulevard https://www.redbaycoffee.com/
Robert Dorsey Catering and Events 344 20th Street
https://chefrobertdorsey.com/
Roderick’s BBQ 2708 98th Avenue
https://www.rodericksbbq.com/ Teni East Kitchen 4015 Broadway
https://www.tenieastkitchen.com/ The Cook and Her Farmer 510 9th Street
https://www.thecookandherfarmer.com/
We encourage you to support these and the many other small businesses in and around the district. As for the Castro, The Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District is not just a tourist destination or a shopping district, but a thriving community. Investments in our communities make such a big difference in terms of safety, employment, quality of life, and more. By helping bring individuals together, the district will also help to identify both problems and opportunities for the local LGBTQ community and those who proudly reside in the area.
It has been a grey, rainy winter, so for those of you reading this from San Francisco or the North or South Bay, consider heading to the sunnier side of the Bay Area—to Oakland. It is forever an underdog, and yet it has some of the most magical and rewarding destinations, including The Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District.
https://www.lakeshorelgbtqculturaldistrict.org/
Town Fare by Chef Michele McQueen 1000 Oak Street
https://townfarecafe.com/
Willows & Pine Restaurant and Catering 3525 Fruitvale Avenue
https://www.willowsandpine-restaurant.com/
Cat Town in 2024 is celebrating its 10th Anniversary as America’s first cat café, where visitors can not only enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea and a nosh, but also do so in a spacious “free-roaming room” in the company of felines. Cat Town, located at 2869 Broadway in Oakland, is so much more, though, than a relaxing space to hang out with cool cats. It is a pet adoption service focused on trans forming the approach to saving shelter cats, reducing euthanasia nationwide. Its focus is to find loving homes for cats who are considered unadoptable in the traditional rescue model.
Cat Town provides specialized support for cats with more complex needs. This includes seniors, scared older kittens, and cats requiring emergency medical care. It was the vision of founder Ann Dunn, who is now the Director of Oakland Animal Services. (The San Francisco Bay Times shared her story recently: https://tinyurl.com/3pf4he2h ) Executive Director Andrew Dorman (no relation to Anne Dorman, acknowledged in this section) since 2020 has been at the helm of Cat Town. He has a passion for animal welfare that is shared by his dedicated, hard-working staff. A member of our Bay Times team recently visited Cat Town and learned more about it from Quinn White, the organization’s Development & Deputy Director.
San Francisco Bay Times: There are so many beautiful, sweet felines at Cat Town. How many cats are in the Oakland space now, and how do you determine which ones go into the RAWR Coffee Bar?
Quinn White: About half of Cat Town’s cats reside in foster homes around the East Bay while they wait to get adopted, and the other half live at our Adoption Center on 29th and Broadway. None of our cats enter the food area of the café, but guests are wel-
come to bring their food and drinks in during their visit! We typically limit cats in our free-roaming room to those between 5 months and 5 years old. Kittens younger than this won’t have the necessary vaccines to keep them healthy in a group setting, and cats older than 5 tend to feel overwhelmed by the commotion of the space. Between those ages, we’ve observed that cats are good at sharing resources like food, litter boxes, and attention from guests—and the shy cats tend to learn from the braver cats in the room, eventually becoming confident role models themselves.
If a cat isn’t a good candidate for the free-roaming room, they’ve always got a spot in our Studios, which are little private rooms we use to support cats who don’t like other cats, cats who might be sick or very shy, and cats who need extra support from our trained volunteers to get ready to adopt. We have about 30 cats on site at any given time, but not all of them are available to visit.
San Francisco Bay Times: We appreciate that you take in senior cats, scared older kittens, and cats requiring significant medical care. Do you also sometimes take in cats that have been at Oakland Animal Services (OAS) for a long time? When a member of our team recently visited OAS, there were so many incredible cats up for adoption.
Quinn White: Yes! We do a weekly walkthrough with their team to identify which cats need our support the most, so we can jointly prioritize how we allocate our resources. That includes cats who’ve been up for adoption, or who haven’t had any interest from other transfer partners for one reason or another. If a cat stays in a cage for too long, they can become stressed, so getting those cats out of cages and into a foster home or our cage-free adoption center really helps those cats be their best selves, so they can get adopted.
San Francisco Bay Times: Do all of the cats at Cat Town come there through OAS?
Quinn White: Most of the time, they do! Oakland Animal Services has been an incredible partner since our inception, and they’re our main partner when it comes to taking new cats into our programs. We also take cats from other local shelters and other rescues whenever we have the capacity to do so.
San Francisco Bay Times: Describe some particular cats who are at Cat Town now, either in the Oakland facility or being fostered. We love how each has a unique personality, look, and more.
Quinn White: We’ve always got special cats in our care! Here are just a few:
Carmen Sandiego is a 10-year-old gray and white cat with a little pink nose who loves people. We’re helping her with some reported litter box issues (and have seen no problems in our care) and got her dental care. Now that she’s feeling better, she makes marching biscuits and sky biscuits, and loves to curl up in a lap (where she continues to make biscuits).
Five-year-old Neeson will become your shadow once he gets to know you, and he can’t be beat when it comes to playing with wand toys. He loves leaping in the
air for them, scrambling after them, hunting them, and parading with them in his mouth. You’ll be so proud of him when you see his skills in action, and your heart will melt when he sleeps at the foot of your bed every night.
Cosette and Marius are a sweet pair of 10-month-old tabbies. They start off shy, but are always sweet. Like his namesake, Marius really watches over Cosette, checking on her after playing with other cats, and cuddling her in her hidey-bed. He even seems to have a white shield on his chest fur. Cosette is a gentle little lady, but if you can find her while she’s hiding, she’ll let you softly pet her cheeks.
Ollivander and Pip are in foster care, and are on the lookout for an extra-patient, extra caring adopter. They’re a little older at 8 and 11 years, and they’re shy cats who haven’t had a ton of stability in their lives. Ollie’s a big sweetie once he feels safe, and Pippin becomes a silly, playful little cat once he trusts you. He also might be obsessed with treats. These two really love each other, which will just melt your heart.
San Francisco Bay Times: You have a section on your website for “cats building confidence.” Please share how those cats are socialized.
Quinn White: Socialization is a spectrum: on one end, you have super friendly cats and
on the other end, you have cats who want nothing to do with humans. We have a variety of techniques we can use to help them build trust. Our trained volunteers can bribe them with food or play, and by consistently pairing those positive experiences with proximity to people, or even touch, we get them to let their guard down a little. Once they do that, it’s often just a matter of time before they realize they actually like it when we pet them. We use positive reinforcement to
encourage (or discourage) behaviors, and we treat each cat as an individual, reading their cues to help them feel safe on their own terms.
We’re also quite lucky to have an incredible behaviorist on our team—Dilara Göksel Parry, our Program Director. If a cat needs to unlearn old habits, she creates special plans for them that work wonders. She helped us develop our Forgotten Kitten Program, and last year, led a pilot program at Cat Town to help us discern if a cat is actually a feral cat, or just incredibly fearful ( https://tinyurl.com/2zb76bc9 ).
San Francisco Bay Times: How did you first become involved in Cat Town?
Quinn White: I got involved as a volunteer in 2014! My husband and I recently had our cat pass away, and were beyond heartbroken, so one of my coworkers suggested that I try volunteering at Cat Town to help mend my heart. I did, and it was love at first sight for me. I fostered, I fundraised, I wrote newsletters, I helped guests visit cats, and more. There’s just something electric about this work and the community behind it. Cat Town’s culture of trying new approaches, taking care of one another, and celebrating incremental wins is something I’ll never get tired of. Once you see it up close, it’s obvious this community is really special. I became part of the amazing team of staff here six years ago, and I never looked back!
San Francisco Bay Times: What happened to the Cat Man of West Oakland, Adam Myatt?
Quinn White: Adam is a great friend to Cat Town, and is working on other cool projects these days. He opened America’s first cat café with Ann, our founder, and a lot of heart and hard work went into making it a success. We’re grateful for his friendship and proud to have that shared history. We love the Cat Man!
San Francisco Bay Times: One of many reasons that we at the San Francisco Bay Times love Cat Town is that your organization scores highly in terms of support of the LGBTQ community and overall diversity. How does your organization connect with the LGBTQ+ community?
Quinn White: Cat Town has always prioritized being a welcoming space for everyone—staff, volunteers, fosters, adopters, guests, donors, and our online followers as well. As a result, we have a pretty diverse community! In our most recent volunteer survey, a little more than a quarter of respondents identified as LGBTQ+.
Part of how we ensure that we welcome everyone is taking a low-barrier approach to adoptions. We start from a place of trust, believing that everyone seeking to adopt from us has good intentions. We match individual people with individual cats. We also have a case manager program to offer extra support to our adopters after they bring cats home, so that we can give families of every experience level their best chance at success. More people adopting cats means more love in our community, and that’s a win for everyone.
San Francisco Bay Times: Cat Town launched the first cat café in the U.S. in 2014. Are there now other such places in the U.S., or internationally?
Quinn White: Our team always seems to make a point of visiting other cafés when we travel, and collectively we’ve been to cat cafés in New York, Montana, Oregon, North Carolina, France, Scotland, Japan, and more! Cat cafés seem to be everywhere now. It’s great! Since we were the first in America, we still get a lot of questions from folks hoping to open up a cat café in their own communities, and we love helping with advice.
Cat Town’s version of a cat café is a spin on Japan’s cat cafés, which offer guests a chance to de-stress with friendly resident cats. With our model, and many others across the country, the goal is adoption—more focused on the comfort of our cats. When that’s the focus, cat cafés are a lower-stress option for cats than waiting in a shelter cage. That makes it easier for adopters to picture the cat in their home, and gives them a better sense of what they’ll be like when they get there. Of course, we’re still a shelter—housing lots of animals means we keep it extremely clean to prevent the spread of disease. A café really doesn’t compare to a home, so that’s where we want our cats to land.
That said, part of the magic of a cat café is that it is a low-pressure place to meet cats! When people think of going to a shelter, it’s not necessarily a cheery place they picture. Some people will just avoid going altogether for that reason—but a cat café? The cats are clearly having fun. You can visit and feel good about leaving without adopting, or luck out and make a new best friend!
San Francisco Bay Times: The events that you hold sound amazing—everything from Paw n Draw to Meditation With Cats. What events are you planning for the months to come?
Quinn White: Thank you! We took a bit of a hiatus on events with COVID-19, but we’re working on building them back up this year. We’re hoping to do more yoga, more educational workshops, and more private parties to start! Our recent Trap-Neuter-Return workshop with Feral Change had a lot of demand, so we’ll do more of those for sure.
San Francisco Bay Times: What are the greatest challenges that you are now facing at Cat Town, and how might our readers help you with them?
Quinn White: Right now, we’re seeing a greater need for our work than ever— it really feels like Oakland’s cats are at a crossroads. Cat Town’s work has helped decrease the euthanasia rate for shelter cats in Oakland dramatically—from 42% in 2011 to less than 10% since 2018. We’ve helped (continued on page 18)
By now the ballots from the March 5 election should have been tallied and the results announced. The flood of political ads on our airwaves, in our social media, and in our mailboxes may subside for a short time before they gear up again for the November elections. The level of deception and gaslighting in the ads for the primary election was off the charts, and with AI and deepfakes becoming normalized, it behooves all of us to be hypervigilant about our news sources. Be careful out there, folks. Elections have consequences.
Nex
The news that a young nonbinary student had died after being severely beaten by three older girls in a school bathroom sent shockwaves across the country. While a specific cause of death has
not been announced as of this writing, the bullying and violence to which Nex Benedict was subjected was horrific, and shouldn’t happen to anyone.
But it did happen. And it is no coincidence that it happened in a state with some of the most virulent anti-trans laws and atmosphere. When news of Nex’s death broke, Republican Governor Kevin Stitt issued the kind of generic statement expected from elected officials: “Sarah and I are saddened to learn of the death of Nex Benedict, and our hearts go out to Nex’s family, classmates, and the Owasso community. The death of any child in an Oklahoma school is a tragedy—and bullies must be held accountable.”
But his words meant nothing, considering that in August 2023, Governor Stitt signed an executive order that directed state agencies to use narrow definitions of “male” and “female.”
At that time, he showed his true feelings, claiming, “Today we’re taking a stand against this out-of-control gender ideology that is eroding the very foundation of our society. We’re going to be safeguarding the very essence of what it means to be a woman.”
While we mourn the death of Nex Benedict, we should honor their memory by continuing to fight for a more just and equitable society where they could have lived openly, freely, and safely.
Two respected trans organizations are forming a more powerful alliance at a time when trans rights are
under extreme attack. The National Center for Transgender Equality and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund are merging. Together with the Trans Formations Project, they have also created an online State Action Center to facilitate taking action on bills that impact the trans community.
The State Action Center makes it easy to track bills as they move through state legislatures, and provides links to contact your state legislators. Also, by looking through the bills being brought up in the various state houses, it’s clear that there are bigger forces at play, to criminalize, marginalize, and basically erase LGBTQ+ people, and particularly trans people. They are leading a coordinated effort, with bill after bill, in state after state, being practically identical. For example, ten states are currently considering a bill described as follows: “Requires commercial entities that publish material considered ‘harmful to minors’ (people under 18) to verify that anyone accessing their site is 18 or older. This could be used to apply to queer and trans content.”
Other anti-LGBTQ+ bills include attacks on marriage equality, bathroom bans, bills denying affirming health care to trans students, bills limiting trans students’ ability to participate in school sports, and so on and so on. Most of the bills are aimed at trans students—a very small,
Representative Adam Schiff (Democrat, California) visited the Castro before, along with Republican Steve Garvey, winning the California Senate primary election. Representative Schiff and Garvey will now advance to the general election in November.
On the evening of March 3, 2024, Representative Schiff held a “get out to vote” event at The Pearl in Dogpatch at 601 19th Street. (Representative Katie Porter also held a similar event that evening in San Francisco, at Manny’s in the Mission.) During his stay in San Francisco, Schiff was guided through the Castro by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. They visited various locations, including the Castro Country Club.
Representative Schiff later commented, “The Castro Country Club does incredible work, providing a safe space—as well as programs and services— for LGBTQ+ folks recovering from addiction. Thanks to Supervisor Rafael Mandelman for showing me around.”
Although Representative Schiff decisively won his place in the November general election, his victory speech on the night of March 5 was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protestors. Perhaps even more concerning for Democrats is that only just over 19% of all registered Democratic voters in San Francisco cast their ballot for the primary, as the Bay Times went to press. At least 5% more registered Republican voters in the city, up to nearly 25%, voted in the election.
Follow all of the election results at https://tinyurl.com/3yevw9y7
but particularly vulnerable, demographic.
State legislators need to hear from us. Take a look at the State Action Center, use the tool to speak up to your state legislators, and share it with your out-of-state friends and family. Lawmakers in West Virginia, Utah, Alabama, Ohio, and so many other states need to hear our voices:
https://tinyurl.com/StAcCtr
Your Voice Is Needed:
Survey of LGBTQ+ Seniors
We’re all getting older, every day, and at a certain point you starting realizing, “Yeah, I should really start thinking about this, and what it means for me.” One thing we know is that LGBTQ+ people tend to face significant barriers to timely, affordable, supportive health care, and that those barriers have an adverse effect on their health outcomes.
In order to address those disparities, it is important to learn about the community, and determine what this community needs and wants. To that end, the California Department of Aging is funding a study conducted by researchers from CITRIS Health at UC Berkeley, UCSF, and Openhouse. The survey will provide valuable insights that policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers can use to help improve both access to health care and the quality of care available to LGBTQ+ seniors.
But a study is only as good as the data it collects, so that’s where you (and your older friends) come in. Please take the survey. Your answers will remain anonymous, and you will be providing a valuable service. Any California resident who is over 50 years old and identifies as LGBTQ+ is qualified to participate. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Chinese.
The deadline for participating in the survey is March 31, so please don’t wait: take the survey now, and share
the link with your friends:
https://tinyurl.com/CaAging24
The Sisters Are Putting Out Again
It’s that time of year again, when The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence solicit grant applications for worthy projects and organizations to fund. While the grants may seem small—typically $250 to $1,000—those amounts can make all the difference to people who are doing good work on a shoestring. Knowing that funding sources for off-the-beaten-path projects can be hard to find, the Sisters tend to fund “progressive grassroots projects that promote wellness, joy, tolerance, and diversity within our communities. We have a vision that encompasses diverse communities and groups that
(continued on page 18)
Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis
There was Philolaus & Diocles, Achilles & Patroclus, Alexander the Great & Hephaestion—and the Sacred Band of Thebes, the elite 4th century BCE army troop of 150 pairs of male lovers. And, of course, Sappho from Lesbos, who wrote countless lines of poetry about her love for women. The list goes on and on, and indeed the ancient Greek ideal of same-sex love helped inspire the start of the modern LGBTIQ movement, which began in Berlin, Germany, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Now, finally, the freedom of LGBTQ+ people to marry the person they love came home to Greece three weeks ago, when the nation became the 37th in the world with
marriage equality. It was a victory for love and equality over 2,700 years in the making.
Attainment of marriage equality in Greece was also particularly significant because it marked the first time that an Orthodox Christian nation embraced the freedom to marry. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of the center-right New Democracy party, who engineered passage of the legislation, declared last month that there should be no “’second-class’ citizens and certainly no ‘children of a lesser God.’” He also reminded opposition church leaders of the fact that marriage equality had been “already implemented in 36 countries across five continents without apparent harm to social cohesion or government harmony.”
A coalition of parliamentarians from the ruling center-right and opposition left came together to pass the legislation by a decisive 176–76 vote. And in another sign of progress for the Greek LGBTIQ community, the main opposition party Syriza is, in fact, led by the openly gay Greek American Stefanos Kasselakis. The photogenic Kasselakis and his husband American Tyler McBeth became instant Greek celebrities when Kasselakis out of the blue
skyrocketed to leadership of his party last fall.
The marriage equality bill also advances the rights of same-sex parents, providing that married same-sex spouses automatically have legal recognition as parents of children they adopt or to which one of them gives birth. Prime Minister Mitsotakis proclaimed during the legislative debate that “[p]eople who have been invisible will finally be made visible around us, and with them, many children will finally find their rightful place.”
Yet more work remains to be done because the new law stops short of full equality. The law does not extend to same-sex couples the right to use surrogacy or other means of assisted reproduction that remain exclusively available to heterosexual married and unmarried couples and single women who cannot bear children for health reasons. Nor does the law provide transgender parents the ability to change their names and genders on their children’s birth certificates. Still, Stella Belia of Rainbow Families declared the new legislation “a major victory that we’ve been fighting for for years.”
Greece also became the first county in Southeast Europe to
achieve marriage equality. It’s fitting that while celebrations broke out in Athens, LGBTIQ couples over 1,700 miles to the north in Tartu, Estonia, had become the first to wed in a former Soviet republic two weeks before. The Northeast European country Estonia, which borders Russia, made history of its own last summer when it passed marriage equality legislation that took effect at the beginning of this year.
As soon as the news broke about the Greek victory, a close friend of ours emailed us in whimsical jubilance: “Break out the Baklava!” Her message had special meaning to us because, at our 2008 wedding, instead of a traditional wedding cake we cele-
brated with baklava. Just before the Greek marriage equality victory, Netflix by fortuity premiered Alexander: The Making of a God, featuring a steamy kiss scene between the disrobed Alexander and Hephaestion. Now modern-day Alexanders and Hephaestions in Greece can legally wed and break out the baklava in celebration.
John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for over three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. Their leadership in the grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed in 2015 to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.
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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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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, Holly Near, 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
Since AGUILAS began providing services in 1994, the staff has mentored numerous individuals in a variety of roles so that those receiving this care and guidance can better serve the Latinx LGBTQI+ community. The mentoring process is part of AGUILAS’ volunteer program and participants are treated as respected equals. Some mentees have also enrolled in academic programs, such as through the La Academia de AGUILAS leadership development workshops, to further develop their skills and obtain a coveted degree
upon successful completion of their respective program.
The mentoring program is a great asset to workforce development and has resulted in participants securing positions at numerous local businesses and nonprofits. The range of learned skills and roles is broad, from senior administrative work to business leadership positions.
The mentoring program engages a small number of individuals so that the staff can provide them with ample, detailed proper atten-
tion. Discussion of career options is included in the mentoring process; mentees have access to all AGUILAS personnel to obtain an array of perspectives and consultation. The selection process involves submitting a letter of interest describing the type of mentoring that is desired along with a résumé
The mentoring efforts at AGUILAS continue to be extremely successful, such that nearly all participants have been able to obtain employment in the career path of their choice. We are proud that this longstanding service at AGUILAS continues, and our team looks forward to meeting the next group of mentees.
Eduardo Morales, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus, retired Distinguished Professor, and current adjunct professor at Alliant International University. He is also a licensed psychologist and a founder and current Executive Director of AGUILAS, an awardwinning program for Latinx LGBTQ+. Of Puerto Rican decent, he has received numerous distinguished awards and citations, including being named a Fellow of 12 divisions of the American Psychological Association.
By Yanir “Yan” Dekel
In what is by now a San Francisco tradition, on March 22–24, 2024, the nonprofit Men Having Babies (MHB) is teaming up with Our Family Coalition to bring to California its internationally acclaimed Surrogacy Conference & Gay Parenting Expo.
Hundreds of gay men are expected to gather at the Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel to learn how they can have children through egg donation and surrogacy. The organization’s renowned conferences, which now are held in locations such as Chicago, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale,
Brussels, and Berlin, are modeled on a program that started at New York’s LGBT Center 18 years ago. They evolved into a three-day event where the organization’s staff and board members, the majority of whom are fathers or former surrogates, share a wealth of knowledge with gay men aspiring to become fathers.
Attendees benefit from peer guidance, expert advice, information about financing, grants and resources, inspirational testimonies, and an opportunity to meet dozens of reputable surrogacy providers. Other sessions include specific guidance for single dads-to-be, and shared per-
spectives of gay dads, surrogates, an egg donor, and a discussion panel of fathers, surrogates, and children who were born via surrogacy.
With extensive education, financial assistance, and advocacy outreach, MHB is a leading voice for equality and equity for gay fathers in the United States and beyond. The organization champions an Ethical Framework to ensure that the rights and long-term wellbeing of all involved parties are safeguarded. MHB also strives to broaden legal and financial accessibility to ethical parenting options for gay men through a robust financial assistance program, and advocacy for legislation and other initiatives to remove discriminatory practices and advance Fertility Equity
( https://tinyurl.com/yc7hjecn ).
In California, MHB is working to advance legislation along with a coalition of other nonprofits such as RESOLVE, Equality California, and Our Family Coalition, which could make the cost of building a family for gay men considerably lower. The bill (SB 729) would mandate the coverage of IVF treatments for large group health plans, using an updated definition of infertility that includes not just reference to a medical disease or condition, but also a personal status. The bill passed the California State Senate by an overwhelming majority and is now pending before the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and the coalition is working hard to generate public support to help its passage.
MHB’s advocacy will be reflected
in a session entitled “Social Attitudes Towards Surrogacy,” which will examine surrogacy ethics and cultural biases that currently allow legislation and practices that discriminate against gay fathers. Other sessions will be dedicated to ways in which prospective fathers can make the process more affordable. Topics will include how to budget smartly, how to take advantage of financial assistance and member discounts by MHB, and opportunities that are available to receive coverage of surrogacy-related medical costs as a part
of employee benefits or state-mandated insurance.
The Men Having Babies Surrogacy Conference and Expo is in San Francisco, March 22–24, at the Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel. For more information and tickets: https://menhavingbabies.org/
Yanir “Yan” Dekel is the founder, producer, and co-host of the podcast “Daddy Squared: The Gay Dads Podcast.” He is the Community & Communications Coordinator at Men Having Babies.
Assemblymember Phil Ting
California residents who are 60-years-old and above are part of an age group that is projected to diversify and grow faster than any other. In fact, the state’s Master Plan for Aging (MPA) estimates there will
be eleven million older adults living here by 2030. That’s about one-quarter of the state’s population.
California has already begun planning for this demographic change.
But it’s become clear we must also come up with a blueprint for the LGBTQ+ community as they age. They likely have unique needs and challenges that will need to be addressed.
That’s why a collaborative group of organizations and institutions, including the state Department of Aging and University of California San Francisco, have created a groundbreaking survey to find out how to prepare for the road ahead.
Data on what the LGBTQ+ aging experience is like has never really been documented by the state.
The questionnaire aims to help leaders and advocates better understand, even quantify, what LGBTQ+ seniors require to live out their golden years in the Golden State. Is it difficult to find assisted living facilities that are queer-friendly?
Are there grief counselors who can help someone who has lost a samesex partner? Do HIV survivors have care available equally throughout the state?
That’s just a small sample of what you can help the state figure out by spending twenty minutes of your time filling out this first-of-its kind statewide survey. It’s available in multiple languages. If you are aged 50 and above and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you can weigh in by visiting (by March 31, 2024): https://tinyurl.com/ecv9sdcu
Respondents are asked about a variety of issues, such as insurance coverage, social activities, living arrangements, and end-of-life matters. Answers are completely confidential. As an extra incentive, survey participants will be eligible to win a $25 gift card. Forty winners will be chosen by a random drawing and will be notified by June 1, 2024.
Preliminary findings are expected to be released this summer, possibly shedding light on gaps in services and identifying priorities for lawmakers in Sacramento. The survey results will also likely have an influence on resources, services, and policies to better support the wellbeing of California’s aging LGBTQ+ community.
Past studies have revealed aging LGBTQ+ adults live alone and don’t have extended family to support them as they grow older. They also tend to struggle with mental health.
As Californians, we can create communities where people of all ages and abilities are engaged, valued, and afforded equitable opportunities to thrive. But that goal can’t be reached unless more people speak up. Surveys are one way to be heard.
Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the west side of San Francisco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma, and Daly City, as well as part of South San Francisco and San Bruno.
So, Norway is doing something with its policy on transgender youth, maybe. I don’t know. I read a translation of an article in Verdens Gang that seemed to say that four main regional health authorities urged the national health mucky mucks to reserve youth trans treatments, including puberty blockers and hormones, for experimental clinic-based services. It doesn’t seem like a major shift in national policy, but it does seem like a continuation of a relatively new Western European-wide caution towards transgender health for kids 18 and under.
My best assessment is that, over the last year or so, the western bloc of Scandinavia, France, U.K., etc. has become less convinced that hormones and blockers are risk-free enough for widespread use or that medical experts can establish a clearcut benefit. The growing consensus over there is that health professionals need to take a step back and proceed slowly enough to let the research catch up. Western Europe, in general, is not against trans treatment, and the issue is not politically charged in the same way as it is in our country. The discussion over there also seems much more based on scientific findings. Here, by contrast, we are living in a black and white country. Our adversaries on the far right believe transgender kids (and adults) are freaks. They are legislating bans on changing one’s driver’s license and birth certificates. They are trying to exclude transgender men and women from public restrooms. As for health care, they are enacting flat out laws against treating transgender minors, who are at their most vulnerable as they enter puberty.
Naturally, our side argues the exact opposite policies with matching ferocity. It’s easy to justify the civil rights case for respecting identity and use of the public square with full voice. However, we wind up defending transgender youth health care with the same passion, because it’s almost impossible not to do so in this political context. Imagine if we, the GLBT community and our allies, told lawmakers that, um, well, we probably need better research. Hmm, we might muse in public, maybe there are still unanswered questions—after all, transgender youth is a relatively new phenomenon. Let’s keep studying the issues while we maintain healthcare within sensible guidelines.
Can you see our dilemma? There are no grey areas in their rhetoric. If we start shading our positions, the antitrans and anti-gay and anti-immigrant and anti-female forces will grab the undefended territory and push us back from hard-earned ground. Europe has the luxury of nuance. We don’t. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to start a dialogue on youth health that transcends the political divide. How about a federal statute that sets interim standards, preempts state laws, and creates a bipartisan trans youth health initiative to consolidate worldwide medical findings within two years? Not sure that’s constitutional, let alone doable. Sooner or Later
The Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights has opened an investigation into the death of a non-binary student in Oklahoma’s Owasso Public School District. The 16-year-old student, Nex Benedict, died the day after a fight in the bathroom. Nex was briefly knocked unconscious after the fight on February 7 and went to the hospital that day. They were rushed back to the hospital after collapsing on February 8, and died there.
The investigation was opened after a complaint from the Human Rights Campaign. Although the details of
By Ann Rostowthe fight were unclear, it looks as if Nex was on the receiving end of taunts and bullying throughout the school year. A preliminary autopsy released February 21 said Nex “did not die as a result of trauma,” which frankly sounds pretty suspicious considering they blacked out during the original incident. Sudden death a day or so following a head injury is not uncommon. Actually, I don’t know how common it is, but it’s not unheard of. One of my friends died that way, having brunch a week or so after an accident.
The school district issued a statement on February 20, warning of “misinformation” in the press, which by then was awash with outrage from the GLBT community and allies.
“We are reaching out to you today to address some of that misinformation,” the school wrote, “particularly statements that call into question the district’s commitment to student safety and security.” The letter, however, added nothing much to our understanding of what happened, telling us only that there was a brief fight, that everyone was checked by the medical staff, and that one student (presumably Nex) was advised to go get “further evaluation.”
According to The New York Times write up, Oklahoma bans students from using bathrooms or facilities that don’t match their birth gender, the state bans gender neutral markers on birth certificates, and, of course, Oklahoma allows no transition treatment for minors. Lawmakers are currently working on prohibiting changing gender on birth certificates or drivers’ licenses, and another measure to outlaw the use of names or pronouns that vary from whatever is actually printed on a person’s birth certificate.
Moby Dick
And what else is new, you ask? Well, we are seeing some images of gay whales having sex off the coast of Maui, or as The New York Post headline put it: “Humpback whales caught enjoying gay sex romp in first documented photos of whale humping.” The frisky sea mammals “put the ‘hump’ in ‘humpback,” the Post quipped, before warning us that the less dominant whale appeared to be injured. It wasn’t clear whether this was an aggressive act by the stronger whale, or if the other one had perhaps been hurt in an earlier engagement.
According to the Post, there was one previous report of gay whale sex that also involved an injured party, and that whale died shortly afterwards.
A study about this was just released, which explains why the cetacean tryst (or sexual assault) from January 2022 has just now hit the press. But honestly, are you really surprised? We have already noticed gay and lesbian shenanigans among dolphins and between orcas. And who could forget the sad tale of the brother manatees in Sarasota, only one of whom survived their incestuous escapades? We won’t even start on penguins.
Maybe some of the red state legislatures should consider enacting some statutes to outlaw same-sex activity in the animal world. Why not?
I Am Sam I Am
I’d like to ignore the Supreme Court for one issue, if that’s possible. Um, it’s not! Why? Because Sam Alito once again trumpeted his hostility towards GLBT Americans in a gratuitous five-page comment after the Court declined to review a gay-related case. The case involved a lesbian workplace discrimination complaint out of the Missouri prison system, in which two prospective jurors were excused for cause during the voir dire (preliminary) questioning when they told lawyers they held conservative Christian beliefs. Although both individuals
said their religious sentiments would not interfere with their judgment, the trial court judge allowed them to be removed over the objections of the state defendants.
If you watch as many crime shows as some of us do, you’ll know that both sides of a trial are allowed to strike a certain number of jurors for no reason at all. In this situation, the lawyers for the lesbian employee did not have to use their “free” quota, but argued successfully that the religious convictions of these individuals were automatically disqualifying. The state of Missouri appealed, insisting that the trial judge was mistaken and that barring the religious jurors constituted viewpoint discrimination.
The High Court decided not to hear the case based on some technicality that I have not bothered to pin down. But Justice Alito could not help himself, remarking that the (pro-lesbian) lower court ruling “exemplifies the danger that I anticipated in Obergefell v. Hodges, namely, that Americans who do not hide their adherence to traditional religious beliefs about homosexual conduct will be ‘labeled as bigots and treated as such’ by the government.”
It’s infuriating. What if Americans “who do not hide their adherence to traditional religious views about patriarchy” were “labeled as sexist and treated as such by the government?” Newsflash. They are and rightly so. Sex discrimination in the workplace, in education, and elsewhere is against the law. A man who is asked his opinions for a sexual harassment jury and tells the court that his religion teaches him that women are subservient to men would be excused without question. What Alito is actually saying is that, unlike racism or sexism, disdain for gays and lesbians is an understandable and respected religious position, because he himself holds this view
While we’re on the subject of Alito, it fell to Sam to block the horrendous U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which recently ruled that Texas could control troops along its Mexican border regardless of federal authority. A lower court had blocked Greg Abbot from his insane attempts to militarize Eagle Pass, Texas, on his own initiative, but the Fifth Circuit had unblocked that block, forcing the Biden Administration to ask the Supreme Court to intervene. Alito had little choice but to put an emergency stop to the Texas publicity stunt while the full Court decides what to do. One hopes they will put a permanent hold in place while ludicrous litigation ensues. You don’t need a law degree to recognize that the U.S. Government controls border policy and cannot be ordered about at gunpoint by state troopers.
Isn’t That Special?
Here’s a familiar scenario, but one that we never tire of: the arch conservative “Christian” anti-gay nutcase who turns out—surprise!—to be sending shirtless photos of himself at the gym to numerous other guys. I thought, at first, I could lay this one at the door of the Catholic Church, but Michael Voris, who has been running a YouTube show and organization called Church Militant sounds like a lapsed Catholic. When I say “lapsed,” I don’t mean that he no longer adheres to church teaching; I mean that he thinks the Catholic Church is run by a secret cabal of gay men and that Pope Francis is, I don’t know, at the very least a major ally of the GLBT community. His website used to be called “Real Catholic TV,” but the Archdiocese of Detroit made him take the name of the church out of his production.
(continued on page 18)
TBy Donna Sachet
he 59-year-old tradition that is the Imperial Court of San Francisco continued on February 24, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency SOMA, as Emperor Michael Anthony Chua and Empress Cameron Stiehl-Munro completed their reign in a burst of color and pageantry. Imperial Coronation 59: Seasons of Love attracted courtiers from across the continent where the International Court System that started right here in San Francisco now has over 70 chapters in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. We admired elaborate gowns, intricately decorated jackets, ornate jewelry, and all the requisite finery that these occasions demand. As the Absolute Empress XXX of the Imperial Court of San Francisco, we attended a week of activities leading up to the grand finale on Saturday night, attended by more and more friends arriving from out of town, both former San Franciscans and visitors from other courts.
Attendance at all the events was boosted by San Francisco’s hosting of the International Court Council, a group of nearly 60 who represent member courts all over the continent and are most recognizable by their red capes. They made a dashing statement at the beginning of Imperial Coronation, led by Queen Mother of the Americas Nicole Murray-Ramirez, who recently attended the induction of Our Beloved Founder José Sarria posthumously into the California Hall of Fame. State Senator Scott Wiener and City Supervisor Rafael Mandelman dashed from the Lunar New Year Parade to make a brief appearance and BART Board President Bevan Dufty accompanied recently announced gubernatorial hopeful Toni Atkins, who received a warm welcome.
“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.”
—Ambrose BierceThe evening was filled with special awards, anniversary celebrations, entertainment, court presentations, and the awarding of funds raised during the year to worthy organizations. Of particular note were the Act II opening act choreographed by Empress XXXI Cockatielia, 30-year anniversary presentation by Empress XXIX Anita Martini, 25-year by Empress XXXIV Sheba, 20-year by Empress XXXIX China Silk, 15-year by Empress XLIV Angelina Josephina Manicotti, and the welldeserved Emperors’ Award to photographer Rink. Candidate for Emperor Bob Glas did a simple, but heartfelt, number and candidate for Empress Linda Summers pulled out all the stops with back-up dancers, a tear-away outfit, and dynamic choreography. Michael and Cameron chose very personal messages for their last walks and, without further delay, the new Emperor and Empress were crowned with all the accompanying regalia and many of the members of the San Francisco Imperial Family on stage.
The Imperial Week is not complete until one attends the Pilgrimage to Colma on Sunday, an annual event started by the Emperors of San Francisco and emceed by this columnist at the specific request of the late José Sarria. Attendance was outstanding with two buses leaving the host hotel at 8 am sharp in cooperative weather. First stop was the Rainbow Honor Walk bronze plaque in Jane Warner Plaza for the ceremonial cleaning and formal presentation of the Empress veil. Once in Colma, the whimsical program included music by the SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band and the Queer Chorus of SF, remarks from the Queen Mother, traditional ceremonies, and lots of laughter and shared memories from our Emperor Brian Benamati and ourself. As long as we are involved, this event will reflect both the solemnity and humor for which José Sarria was known.
Amid all the Imperial events was February’s Divas & Drinks, the Bay Times’ monthly party at The Academy SF. We celebrated Black History Month by introducing and recognizing scores of LGBTQ+ Black women leaders and allies, making a difference in San Francisco and beyond. In addition to our usual components, including Extreme Pizza, Bacardí cocktails, and DJ Christie James, courtesy of Olivia Travel, Orphan Andy’s provided a beautiful cake for the occasion and La Méditerranée Noe offered a selection of delicious favorite items. The second part of the evening was a crowd-pleasing set of music, many songs by Black women composers, performed by Renée Lubin and Dr. Dee Spencer.
The second in the Memory Keepers Initiative series of the SF Gay Men’s Chorus took place last Thursday at the Chan National Queer Arts Center and centered on Black Trans Joy on the final day of Black History Month. Breonna McCree and Carlo Gomez Arteaga hosted panelists Sharyn Grayson, Andrea Horne, and Fresh Lev White for a lively and joyful discussion. All the speakers kept the audience engaged with memories of past struggles, stories of current challenges, and triumphs along the way. Personal testimonials emphasized the unique journey of Black trans individuals in San Francisco, home of the nation’s first Transgender Cultural District. This series, created by SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg, continues on April 18, spotlighting the GLBT Historical Society, and May 16, sharing the history of SFGMC itself. We encourage our readers to check it out.
Drag brunches seem to be all the rage these days, don’t they? We’ve certainly enjoyed performing in them, especially for 15 years at The Starlight Room in Union Square and more recently at Club Fugazi in North Beach. (Watch this column for the latest news about upcoming 2024 Sunday’s a Drag shows at Club Fugazi, to be announced soon.) Well, Alexis Miranda brings her considerable talent and energy to a new drag brunch taking place every first Sunday of the month at Pescatore Trattoria, 2455 Mason Street, at Hotel Zoe, near Fisherman’s Wharf. We checked it out and highly recommend you
Friday, March 8
Happy Aloha Friday
Rita Rocket returns to San Francisco
Hosted by Gary Virginia & Deana Dawn
440 Castro 4–8 pm
Free!
http://www.the440.com/
Sunday, March 17
St. Patrick’s Day Party Wear green & act Irish, raffle & auction
Alexander Hamilton American Legion Post 448
Hosted by Gary Virginia & Donna Sachet
440 Castro 3–7 pm Free!
http://www.the440.com/
Friday, March 29
Divas & Drinks @ The Academy SF
“A Night to Empower the Legacy of Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon”
Featuring a first look at the documentary-in-progress
The Day the Curtains Came Down Guest host Kate Kendell plus Mandy Carter, Sarah Bush Dance Project, emcee Donna Sachet, DJ Rockaway, and special guests!
The Academy SF, 2166 Market Street 6–10 pm $15
https://tinyurl.com/mw3cts45
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
The San Francisco Bay Times and The Academy SF on February 23, 2024, honored numerous local LGBTQ+ Black women leaders and allies for Black History Month. Helping to present the honorees at the event were Imani Rupert-Gordon, the Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Dr. Tyler TerMeer, who is the CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Here are just some of those whose accomplishments were recognized:
Alex U. Inn
Activist, drag king, and performer Alex U. Inn was a San Francisco Pride People’s Choice Community Grand Marshal in 2017. Also named to sainthood by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Alex has been a critical force for LGBTQI+ groups including the SF LGBT Center and the Committee for Queer Justice.
Joy Baucom
The CEO and Founder of Diligence Security Group, Joy is a dynamic and innovative professional who is a specialist in safeguarding businesses and communities. She is a former Army intelligence analyst who was deployed twice to Iraq in support of U.S. interests and missions.
Angela Berry
A Workplace Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, Angela has a distinguished background that also includes work at JP Morgan Chase Bank, Merrill Edge, and Citibank.
Aisha Brown
Professional stylist Aisha Brown is a creative colorist and curl wizard who helps empower women clients so that they feel beautiful both inside and out. She has helped make her workplace both successful and a safe, comforting space for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Aarin Burch
The President and Founder of Laurel Burch Studios, Aa rin carries on her mother’s artistic and charitable vision.
Aarin is also an award-winning filmmaker whose works continue to receive international recognition.
Tosca
Comvalius
Tosca is a multitalented woman who, after years of service at FedEx, now mentors youth about health and wellness. She is also a motorcycle enthusiast and international traveler who breaks gender barriers wherever she goes.
Brendalynn Goodall
Brendalynn Goodall is an out and proud 72-year-old Black Lesbian experienced as an administrator and a social worker, who is passionate about social justice, civil rights, and equality. Appointed by Governor Newsom, she serves on the California Commission on Aging.
Ebony Gordon
Ebony Gordon has for more than a decade served in various capacities on staff at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Currently she is coordinator of the Foundation’s Aging Services and HUES (Helping and Uniting Every Sister) program.
Ericka Huggins
As an activist, former political prisoner, and leader in the Black Panther Party, Ericka Huggins has devoted her life to the equitable treatment of all human beings— beyond the boundaries of race, age, culture, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and status associated with citizenship.
NaNoshka “Nosh” Johnson
NaNoshka “Nosh”
Johnson is a skilled business strategist and data technologist with a practice as a business consultant and coach. In our community, she is noted as the first Black woman to serve as president of the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) and is the owner/operator of Nosh’s Dirty Popcorn.
Shauna Madison, Esq.
Shauna Madison is the Director of People, Culture & Equity and Compliance Counsel at the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Her extensive experience in the legal field includes serving as a law firm executive and as a public defender.
Honey
Mahogany
Honey Mahogany is the first openly transgender person to serve on the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, for which she was elected Chair—a position she currently holds. She is a Co-Founder of the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District, the first legally recognized transgender district in the world. Also a talented performer, she was a RuPaul’s Drag Race star and is now part of the queer metal band Commando.
Linda MartleyJordon
Linda Martley-Jordan is an equity advocate for youth who works with community-based organizations with the goal of helping students complete high school, setting them on a path for future education and success. She is the founding and current chairperson of the Historically Black College and University Network and has had a role in Bay Area students gaining admission and scholarships to more than 51 HBCU colleges and universities.
Iowayna Peña
Iowayna Peña has held a number of leadership positions in government for both the City and County of San Francisco and the City of Oakland, and has served as District Director and Senior Legislative Aide of Malia Cohen both with the city and the California State Board of Equalization. In 2022, she accepted a position as director of real estate and development for the San Francisco Giants.
Dr. Sonya
Richardson
With more than 30 years of service, Sonya Richardson is
a martial arts specialist, physical therapy expert, and a community leader. She serves as Head Instructor and Executive Director of the Hand to Hand Kajukenbo Self Defense Center in Oakland. She was inducted into the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors Hall of Fame.
Pat Robinson
Pat Robinson is a highly respected volunteer at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation with responsibility for the HUES program, which they co-founded. As a survivor of HIV/AIDS, they tell their powerful story on a YouTube video produced by the National AIDS Memorial Grove ( https://tinyurl.com/4jvzjdwn ).
Dr. April Silas
A longtime advocate for children, youth, and families, Dr. April Silas is the Executive Director of the Homeless Children’s Network of the City of San Francisco and is a member of the city’s LGBTQI+ Advisory Committee. She is well-known as an activist and powerful speaker.
Lisbet Tellefsen
Lisbet Tellefsen is a well-known archivist, collector, and curator who is based in Oakland where she curated the Black Panther Museum at the Oakland Museum of California. She is known for her archival and exhibit work based on activist Angela Davis. A current project in development is The Lisbet Tellefsen Papers at Yale University.
Jilchristina “Jil” Vest
A celebrated veteran activist, Jil made history by organizing the first-ever public art installation honoring the women of the Black Panther Party. She holds the title of Curator of the Women in Black Panther Party Mural as part of the West Oakland Mural Project.
Stephanie Rae
Wilburn
Stephanie Rae
Wilburn is an activist, teacher, educator, community connector and community arts advocate. She has worked to empower youth through her roles with organizations, including the Pacific Center, the LYRIC Center for LGBTQQ Youth, and the American Conservatory Theatre. She holds the position of Education and Training Manager at the Oakland LGBTQ Center.
Lisa Williams
A beloved community leader, Lisa serves as the Executive Director of the Soul of Pride, is a former President of the San Francisco Pride Board of Directors, and is an active member of the Bayard Rustin Coalition, the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, Black Women Organized for Political Action, the Homeless Children’s Network, the Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness, and more. She owns and operates her own company, One Source Consulting.
Shanelle Williams
Shanelle Williams is an elected official, healthcare equity leader, government and community relations adviser, and public speaker. She is a member of the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees, a Board Member of the Ella Baer Center for Human Rights, and serves as Interim Executive Director of the Rafiki Coalition. She is also a member of the San Francisco Democratic Central Committee.
Anitra Winder
Anitra Winder has a diverse nonprofit background in managed care, reproductive/sexual health, maternal/child health, public speaking, and housing. She has said that Pride centers have played a key role in her life, and she is now proud to serve as Associate Director of Youth Services for the San Francisco LGBT Community Center.
One of the largest gatherings of LGBTQ+ Black women leaders and allies in the state took place on February 23, 2024, when the San Francisco Bay Times and The Academy SF honored leaders from throughout the Bay Area—and Wine Country too—for Black History Month. In addition to the honorees mentioned on page 15 of this issue, special honors were presented to Theodora Lee, Esq., and to Jewelle Gomez.
Theodora Lee
Known as Theo-patra, Queen of the Vineyards, Lee is the first Black woman to own and manage a vineyard in Northern California: Theopolis Vineyards. This trailblazer is also a senior partner at Littler Mendelson, Co-Board Chairperson of the Dallas Post Tribune (one of the nation’s oldest Black newspapers), a member of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of San Francisco, and is the Past President of Bay Area Black United Fund and the Alameda County Community Food Bank.
Jewelle Gomez
Gomez is an author, poet, playwright, and activist whose double Lambda Award-winning novel The Gilda Stories is a groundbreaking work of Afrofuturism; it helped to forge that genre even before the term was coined. Her latest play Unpacking in P’town, which will have its world premiere this month at the New Conservatory Theatre, will mark the final chapter in her decade-long Words and Music trilogy. Critical to the fight for marriage equality, remembered this year during the Winter of Love 20th anniversary, Gomez and her partner Dr. Diane Sabin were among the litigants against the state of California suing for the right to legal marriage.
Both Lee and Gomez received Certificates of Honor from Supervisor Rafael Mandelman.
Helping with all of the night’s honorees were Imani Rupert-Gordon, the Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Dr. Tyler TerMeer, the CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
Renée Lubin, a renowned singer, actress, and educator who is wellknown for her prior longstanding role in Beach Blanket Babylon, performed a selection of incredible songs—all written by Black women composers. Accompanying her was Dr. Dee Spencer, who founded the program in Jazz Studies at San Francisco State University.
Celebrated performer, fundraiser, and activist Donna Sachet served as emcee, and the After Party was led by iHeartRadio DJ Christie James, who was presented by Olivia Travel.
In addition to Olivia, the Divas & Drinks event series is sponsored by The Academy SF, Bacardí, Extreme Pizza, and the San Francisco Federal Credit Union. Special event sponsors for the evening included the UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, San Francisco Pride, and the Soul of Pride.
See Page 15 for more about the LGBTQ+ Black women leaders and allies recognized by the San Francisco Bay Times and Divas & Drinks sponsors.
MAYCLEM (continued from pg 2)
Tostones at Sobre Mesa - The dish includes fried green plantains, pork salchichon, ‘nduja, two-year-aged cheddar, and anchovy. Sobre Mesa’s cocktails are a knockout too. https://www.sobremesaoak.com
I could keep going on here, as I am getting hungry just thinking of these and many other dishes enjoyed in Oakland. Hopefully you will head over to Oakland soon too, including for Oakland Restaurant Week from March 14–24. All Oakland Restaurant Week participating restaurants will feature lunch and/or dinner menus at six different price points: lunch at $15, $25, $35 and/or dinner: $35, $45, $65. I’ll see you around The Town! For a list of participating ORW restaurants: https://tinyurl.com/m5hvjzdw
Emmy Award-winning radio and television personality Liam Mayclem is regularly featured on KPIX as well as KCBS, where he is the popular Foodie Chap. Born in London, Mayclem is now at home in the Bay Area. For more information: https://www.bookliam.com/
CAT TOWN (continued from pg 5)
maintain a no-kill status for more than six years, but the shelter’s cat population rose by 55% from what we were seeing just two years ago. We focus on helping the city’s most vulnerable shelter cats: seniors, those with treatable conditions, and critically ill cats. Those cats can also be the costliest to care for.
Making a donation today, or becoming a monthly donor, means we can do more to keep up with the increased need for our services. And if you’ve been on the fence about adopting? Now is a great time to take that leap! We have so many wonderful cats, and each of them has a special story—a unique life they’ve lived. They’re all waiting to keep that story going, and by adopting a cat, or a pair, you can make your life so much richer while also helping make space for another cat in need!
San Francisco Bay Times: What are your plans for the future with Cat Town?
Quinn White: This year, we’re celebrating 10 years as America’s first cat café, and our 13-year anniversary as a nonprofit in just a
few days (March 19!), but we haven’t spent those years idly. We’ve tried new approaches and found new ways to support the cats who need us most. Socializing scared older kittens in our Forgotten Kitten Project. Making extra space for all these incoming shelter cats by helping younger kittens find homes at Pet Food Express. Doing more to support fearful adult cats with our Feral or Fearful program. Teaching nonprofits across the nation how to help these same cats in their own communities with our Apprenticeship program at Maddie’s University.
When we look to the future, we want to keep doing more. We’d like to help more cats with ringworm, which is so simple to treat outside of a shelter setting! We’d like to expand our cat behavior services, and maybe even create programs that help people keep their cats during hard times. With the experience we have working with cats, there’s a lot we can do to help them in our community, and doing all we can is the dream.
https://www.cattownoakland.org/
ROSTOW (continued from pg 13)
Voris has been a MAGA supporter, winning praise from the likes of Steve Bannon, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Matt Schlapp (the head of the American Conservative Union who has been accused of hitting on a young man).
Back in 2016, Voris admitted he had strayed on the wild side and had affairs with men, but not only did he renounce his sordid past, he also evolved into a super-homophobe, railing against gays and accusing everyone and his brother of various evildoings.
Then, last year, something happened. In November, Voris was forced to resign his post at Church Militant for a vague breach of the organization’s morality code. Church Militant was forced to sell two buildings in December, and seems to be in financial hot water. The operation is also facing a defamation lawsuit from a priest in New Hampshire.
Now, The Washington Post reports, we are learning that the aforementioned shirtless photos were accidentally scattered in with Church Militant records on its cloud storage account. Oops!
JUSTER (continued from pg 8)
“On a Dropbox account typically reserved for matters such as the syllabus for an online class about the book of Ephesians,” the Post reports, “these new images stood out. Employees speculated that they had been uploaded unintentionally from Voris’ phone along with business documents meant for staff viewing.”
It’s not clear what else may have been inadvertently Dropbox-ed into public view, but, suffice it to say, Mr. Voris’ colleagues and fellow board members were not amused. The company, which as recently as 2022 had 300,000 subscribers and $3.6 million in revenue, is now pressing its base for donations.
“In its December fundraising email,” the Post tells us, “the board said that ‘the Evil One’ had taken a ‘huge bite’ out of the company.”
“We would hate to lose this place to the Devil,” the fundraising email read.
I think that ship has sailed, don’t you?
arostow@aol.com
have a common interest in human rights, people of every gender, gender identity, race, class, age, and sexual orientation.”
The application deadline is March 17 at 11:59 pm, and awardees will be announced on March 31—coincidentally (or not), the day the Sisters celebrate Easter in the Park. Read the grant guidelines carefully, and take a look at all the marvelous, life-affirming projects they funded in 2023. https://tinyurl.com/SPIgrants
Kindness
Nex Benedict, Gaza, Ukraine, Uganda, Alabama ... the news is filled with examples of violence and cruelty that can shatter your heart if you let it. But don’t’ let it. Be the example of kindness this world needs. Open your heart and your mind, and let us help each other through these challenging times.
Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.
Dr. Tim Seelig
Many of us grew up singing “This Land Is Your Land” throughout our formative years. It made us feel good about our country and how generous and inclusive we were. We sang it at school and church and camp. More on that.
The year was 1958. It was a hot summer night in Texas.
Duh. But it didn’t matter because hot summer night meant camp! Of course, it was church camp. My brother and I basically went all summer because Mom and Dad were on staff and working. Dad was a Baptist minister. Mom a gospel singer. My brother and I were being “groomed” to follow in those footsteps.
Church camp was the perfect grooming salon.
Mornings were for Bible study and classes. In the afternoon, we had segregated swimming. It’s not what you might think. It was segregated boys and girls. It was important to do that. I had been “saved” at the age of six when it first dawned on me that I was a terrible sinner. Here I was at the age of eight. The camp organizers were correct. What I didn’t need was to be in a swimming pool with girls around my age—all wearing one-piece bathing suits, most with little “modesty” skirts. That was apparently just too much temptation. So, we swam separately. Little did they know, that would have been my first choice anyway.
to war.” Today’s right-wing fundies have taken that one to heart.
Then there was one of my favorites, “This Land Is Your Land.” It was perky and, because we were all white, we clapped along on beats one and three. It was decades later that I learned about the genesis of the song and that it was composed as a subversive, angry protest.
As you all know, I was a good soldier for 35 years. I did all the “right” things. Then, I came out. For the first time in my life, I realized the hard truth. This land may have been made for you, but it was not made for me. For the first time, I was the “other.”
As it turns out, Woody Guthrie composed “This Land Is Your Land” as an anthem for us “others.”
In 1939, Irving Berlin composed “God Bless America.” It was played non-stop on the radio. Guthrie grew up dirt poor. He hopped trains and befriended what we called hobos
We were by far not the only ones ignoring the composer’s intention.
A few years back, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus got an email at the office asking if we would like to perform with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. We thought it was a joke. Turns out it wasn’t. The invitation was for 20 or 30 singers to attend an afternoon rehearsal and sing with the MOTAB Choir. We did it, wearing fabulous purple t-shirts with rainbow swoop. Many of the singers who went were FOMO’s, Former Mormons. I wrote an entire article about it in July 2018:
https://tinyurl.com/2899akb2
On Saturday before the big day on Monday, my phone rang. “Hello, my name is Elder Smith from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Would you be interested in conducting the encore with the choir and orchestra?” Was this a joke? It wasn’t.
along the way. He chronicled their struggles and sorrows in his songs.
At the afternoon rehearsal, I faced the perfectly coifed 300-voice choir and 80-piece orchestra. Before singing, it was important for me to speak to the elephant in the room: the damage the Mormon religion has done to their LGBTQ+ family over the years. As I spoke, many wiped away tears. That night, the host introduced me to the 2,000 mostly Mormons in the audience. Would you welcome Dr. Tim Seelig, Artistic Director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus? To me, the “gay” word seemed as if it had been yelled into an enormous cavern with an echo ... gay, gay, gay, gay.
After supper, we had worship in what we called the tabernacle. The hellfire that spewed from the pulpit eclipsed the temperature outside! It was the ‘50s, so the message was about the woe that would befall those little lambs who strayed. “I don’t smoke, and I don’t chew, and I do go with girls that do!” We were warned about smoking and drinking and “heavy petting.” We were a long way from homosexuality. We had to get through divorce first. Once church was over, it had dipped below 100. We took the short hike down to the small pond for three of my favorite things: campfire, singing, and s’mores!
After s’mores, we sang. These songs were ingrained in us. I am certain if you went to church camp, you could sing along with all of them and remember all the words. Groomed much? We sang “Kum bah yah.” We weren’t clear why we were singing in a foreign language, but we were told it meant “Come By Here.” It’s not a happy song. It has verses about people praying, crying, and probably sinning. We sang the rousing “Onward Christian Soldiers.” That one encouraged us to view our faith as a battle, “marching off
In February 1940, Guthrie decided to fight back with an alternative song to Berlin’s. It was about the American landscape and pointed out that a lot of Americans weren’t feeling blessed at all. The Great Depression was dragging on into its 10th year. Before he released it to the public, he cut two controversial verses that accused the American system of greed and disregarding the needy. These two verses are sung often today. Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen performed them at President Obama’s Inauguration. Here they are.
As I went walking, I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said, “No Trespassing.”
But on the other side it didn’t say nothing, That side was made for you and me.
In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?
With those indicting verses out, everyone could blindly embrace the song as patriotic. Well, everyone except Indigenous peoples. They felt the song played into America’s continual erasure of their culture. They knew this land does not belong to the people singing the song. It was stolen.
That back story was never shared with the little children around the campfire. They just sat there with Hershey’s chocolate and charred marshmallows smeared on their mouths, clapping along ignorantly.
I stepped on the podium, took a deep breath, and lifted the baton to conduct the most famous choir in the world. They had chosen the song. They sang it at the end of every performance! “This land is your land.” What history does the song have for Mormons? None. For them, it was a rousing encore to an evening of sacred and patriotic music. One for the audience to clap along.
The piece crescendoed to a fevered pitch and ended fortissississimo (that’s very, very loud for non-musicians) with the huge orchestra and chorus giving their all—harps and timpani and cymbals, oh my. When I cut them off, the moment was suspended in complete silence. The magnitude of that moment was lost on no one—a big open gay conducting a bunch of Mormons. Then, the audience erupted into a standing ovation.
I am not naïve enough to think this one event moved the needle for us as a people. But it was a start. Baby steps.
We live in a terrible time in our country. We have never had more people screaming, “This land is NOT your land. This land is my land.” We must wake up. “Our” land is, once again, being taken away from us. We must not allow it to be taken. We must affirm our rights and be able to sing, “This land IS my land!”
I’ve spent almost four decades using music to make a difference. We must keep fighting. We must keep singing. And, maybe more s’mores, too.
Dr. Tim Seelig is the Conductor Laureate of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.
http://www.timseelig.com/
There are a half dozen features and documentaries with local and/or queer content being released this month. Here is a rundown of what to watch in Bay Area theaters, on VOD and streaming services, as well as on DVD.
Newly available on DVD is Gay USA , a celebration of queer history, featuring a handful of shorts— including Freedom Day Parade (1974), by director Wakefield Poole, about San Francisco’s Gay Pride March—and the seminal titular documentary directed by Arthur Bressan, Jr. Chronicling gay pride parades held on June 26, 1977, in San Francisco, New York, San Diego, and Chicago, Gay USA (Bressan’s film) offers a snapshot of attitudes and experiences of lesbians and gays, straight allies, drag queens, and homophobes. Bressan conducts a series of onthe-street interviews conducted by various camera crews that, in some cases, involve the interviewers asking, “Are you gay?”— a question that generates a number of interesting responses. Some interviewees recount the empowerment they feel being out, while others describe the harassment they have encountered as a result of being identified as gay. It is a fascinating film and Bressan assembles a cross-section of humanity, featuring men and women, old and young, gay and straight, from various religious and racial backgrounds. The result makes queer lives visible.
Silver Haze, on VOD March 12, is a gritty and grim drama from Britain about Franky (Vicky Knight) who still has unresolved trauma issues fifteen years after an incident where she was burned in a fire. At her job as a nurse, she meets Florence (Esme Creed-Miles), a mercurial young woman who winks at her one day. They soon begin a passionate affair that prompts Franky to move out of her family home and in with Florence, who lives with Alice (Angela Bruce) and Jack (Archie Brigden). But tensions between Franky and Florence boil over, leading to a reckless act of violence. Franky is a raw ball of anger and watching Knight’s emotional performance—
Kahlo’s bisexuality is a remark that her philandering husband Diego Rivera “approved of her relationships with women.” The film explores the
Borrowed, now available on DVD, is a two-hander, based on a stage play, about David (Jonathan Del Arco), who invites Justin (Héctor Medina of Viva) to model for him at his house in the Florida Keys. Their initial conversation is flirtatious, but as David paints and dines with his guest, Justin feels uncomfortable and tries to leave. David, however, wants him to spend the night—and he locks him in, and handcuffs him to ensure this will happen. Borrowed shifts gears here as David feeds, dances with, and bathes Justin, who may be experiencing a kind of Stockholm Syndrome for his captor. As each man tells stories about their past, they bond—but is it real? The actors are best during the scenes where the characters’ motives are ambiguous, and Héctor Medina is captivating telling stories about his sexual experiences from his youth.
which alternates between seething and being soothed—is what makes Silver Haze so arresting.
Frida, streaming on Amazon starting March 14, uses painter Frida Kahlo’s letters, writings, and illustrated diaries to provide a documentary portrait of the artist. While photographs, her artwork, archival footage, and animation are used to illustrate her life and career, the only examination of
inspiration for her work and recounts her numerous health difficulties. Alas, there is too little made of Kahlo’s thoughts on gender and sexuality— she dressed “like a man” as a rebellious youth and she felt that her career was hampered because she was a woman. As such, Frida feels like an unfinished sketch. But at least the images are great.
Carol Doda Topless at the Condor, in area theaters March 22, is an affectionate and nostalgic look at the San Francisco performer who, back in 1964, was the “Star of North Beach.” She danced at the historic strip club the Condor, making headlines—and heads turn—as she performed topless on a piano that dropped from the ceiling. Her acts grew in popularity, in part, because she “grew”—getting silicone injected into her breasts to augment them. As film clips and footage show, Doda was very witty and self-possessed, empowered in the pre-women’s liberation era. Still, she struggled to earn money, and when she worked in venues other than the Condor. This eyeopening (wink, wink) documentary also briefly includes footage of out gay designer Rudi Gernreich, who designed “The Monokini,” a topless bathing suit that Doda danced in. (Gernriech was also an activist and early member of the Mattachine Society.)
Carnal Sins, out on
DVD March 26, by writer/director Juan Sebastián Torales, is a compelling story about Nino (Nicolás Díaz), a gay teen who is first seen kissing a boy and next seen being bullied and beaten up. His parents take him to live in the countryside where he is forced to attend a church youth group. But the quiet Nino is more interested in the Almamula, a “monster” that has reportedly disappeared young boys, like Maria’s (Luisa Lucía Paz) grandson Panchito. And Nino tries to summon Almamula by having impure thoughts—one with a male friend of his sister’s, and another about Jesus. While the film addresses issues of sexuality and sin, a pair of scenes between Nino and Malevo (Beto Frágo), a handyman, throb with erotic tension. Carnal Sins shifts between fantasy and reality as Nino determines how he can live in the world he is in. Torales’ film is a bit elusive, but it exacts a hypnotic pull on viewers.
© 2024 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.” He teaches Short Attention Span Cinema at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute and is the moderator for Cinema Salon, a weekly film discussion group. Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer
Jan Wahl
We celebrate women in March, though most of us appreciate women every day! Each year there are one or two actresses that knock me out with brilliant performances. Of course, it helps when they get roles that demonstrate their talent, but no matter what, these girls rock.
Greta Lee tops the bill for me this year. She is the star of a truly beautiful movie called Past Lives. I became aware of her in an Apple TV series called The Morning Show. Underneath the bitterness and seriousness of her character in that series there is wisdom and strength. But I had no idea this actress could completely shift to starring as a woman reunited with a childhood best friend in The Morning Show to a person confronting choices and destiny in Past Lives Celine Song’s melancholy, elegant indie film hits every emotional beat with clarity. It’s a romcom without being a rom com, giving us a story and characters to invest in. Because of its many award nominations so far this year, including being nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, this small but wonderful film will receive a wider audience.
As Nora in Past Lives —a writer who emigrates from South Korea to Manhattan—Lee is connected back to her childhood friend (Teo Yoo). The film takes us through a Manhattan that Woody Allen showed us in his Manhattan. We go deep into hidden emotions and moments of grace. If we didn’t fall for the characters, none of this would count. But unless you have a heart of stone, you will join me in feeling immersed in the film’s
relatable dreams and its story about the reality of destiny.
Lee, known for playing side characters such as the cool and confident best friend, is a lead and hopefully will continue to be as she takes on new film projects. I will never forget her performance in Past Lives, becoming someone who makes peace with life’s unknowable forces.
The lack of an Academy Award Best Actress nomination for her is another example of Oscar disappointment (no nod for Gerwig for Barbie?), but her gorgeous performance in Past Lives will take her into great roles.
Another fine performance this year was overlooked as much as the marvelous movie was. The Color Purple should have been retitled and given an earlier release. Few saw it and many missed out on one of the best movies ever. Fantasia Barrino plays Celie, an unforgettable girl and woman, in a film that was beautifully directed by Blitz Bazawule (who should have been nominated as Best Director for the Academy Awards).
Based on the novel by
Alice Walker, The Color Purple’s story of love, redemption, and forgiveness is brought to life through singing, dancing, a magnificent ending, and Barrino’s lead performance. She is extraordinary in this challenging role, going from victim to freedom. This vibrant film gives Fantasia a chance to show depth and gut-wrenching pain, as well as the ability to belt a number in the best Garland tradition. Danielle Brooks is nominated for Best Supporting Actress, the only part of the film to be Oscar recognized. She gives feisty depth to Sofia, a woman who tears into those who get in her way. I love this movie, and love these performances. I hope you all will seek it out.
Jan Wahl is a Hollywood historian and film critic on various broadcast outlets. 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
By Sister Dana Van Iquity
Sister Dana sez, “Happy SAINT PATRICK’S DAY! Be sure to wear green (unless you enjoy getting pinched). And ask your bartender to add green color to your beer or cocktail or soda. Also beware of leprechauns!”
ST. PATRICK’S DAY is officially observed on March 17 each year. The significance of March 17 is that it’s said to be the date of St. Patrick’s death in the late 5th century (circa A.D. 493). Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. He is credited with spreading Christianity throughout Ireland—hence the Christian celebration of his life and name. There are many legends about him that mix with the truth. Did he really drive all the snakes out of Ireland?
Probably not, since snakes weren’t native to Ireland to begin with!
Although some Christians already lived in Ireland at the time, the country was largely pagan (snakes?), so spreading a foreign religion was not an easy task. He traveled from village to village to share Christian teachings and was eventually successful enough to found many churches there. Note: Sister Dana is not Irish; but his birth name, Dennis McMillan, is very very Irish! Faith and begorrah!
Sister Dana sez, “The four-time indicted Trump is once again selling absurd items online— ranging from a $99 ‘gold’ stinky perfume with his ugly head as the stopper topper—to $400 gold sneakers with a big ‘T’ emblazoned. Did those unfortunate online shoppers not recall Trump vodka, Trump steaks, Trump University, and countless more fraudulent gimmicks?!”
THE IMPERIAL COUNCIL OF SAN FRANCISCO held CORONATION 59 on February 24 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. This year’s theme was “Seasons of Love.” This was a perfect celebration of the amazing year and accomplishments of Emperor Michael Anthony Chua and Empress Cameron Stiehl-Munro with their “Unifying Court of Love and Transformation.”
Congratulations to the new Most Imperial Majesties Empress Linda Summers and Emperor Bob
Glas! Their court will be called “El Gran Sol of Passion, Resilience, and Universality.”
On February 24 at the Medicine for Nightmares bookstore, we joined Bucky Sinister and Alvin Orloff for a delightfully informing evening of reading and conversation about Bucky’s new book “TO FEAR AND LOVE BAMBI LAKE.” I thought I knew the late, great Bambi, a talented Transgender chanteuse, determined to make this city fall in love with her through her heartfelt stage performances; but I learned so much more from Bucky’s (now eighth) book. This also turned into a lively discussion about Fabulosa Books owner Orloff’s tell-all, “Bulgarian Rhapsody.” Leave it to iconic playwright/actor John Fisher to write an actionpacked play about the Russian attack on Ukraine and espionage! I happily attended closing night on February 25 of BILLY at Theatre Rhino in the Castro. Every character in the play was openly queer. The sound and light effects were astonishing! There was even nudity! But since it is over now, I will not continue raving—lest I make my readers who did not have the good fortune to see it become jealous.
Sister Dana sez, “Has anyone else noticed the lack of appearances of Melania Trump at Donald’s many trials and campaign events? She has gotta be the WORST First Lady in history!”
A note to clock watchers: DAY LIGHT SAVING TIME begins March 10, Sunday at 2 am—when you must move all clocks ahead (“spring forward”) an hour local time. We will lose an hour of sleep because of this unusual practice. March 10 is also the 96th ACADEMY AWARDS. Guess which March 10 date Sister Dana prefers? You would be correct in knowing this nun, a friend of Dorothy, is also a “friend of Oscar.”
Sister Dana sez, “On this second anniversary of War in Ukraine, I hope you Republican Congress people had ‘lovely’ vacations—while Russia advances and U.S. can’t send badly needed aid and defense weaponry to the Ukraine. I hope you all got extremely painful sunburns! You’re burnt!”
SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE presented the annual KEN JONES AWARDS Ceremony on February 29 at Hilton Union Square in luxurious Cityscape Lounge. Ken Jones (1950–2021) was an instrumental figure in the integration of the San Francisco LGBTQ movement beginning in the early 1970s. This lifelong LGBTQ activist was known as “The Father of Diversity”
in San Francisco, where he worked tirelessly to desegregate the LGBTQ movement. He became (the first Black) President of the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade committee in 1980, and was with the organization for over a decade before leaving to focus on police reform work following the Rodney King beating. In 2017, he served as a vital consultant on the dramatic, historic miniseries, When We Rise
At the ceremony, we heard truly inspirational speeches by current (first ever Vietnamese) Pride Board President Nguyen Pham (wearing his gorgeous pink high heels) and current (first ever transgender) Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford. Together, the entire team of Pride-dedicated individuals brings the SAN FRANCISCO LGBTQ PRIDE CELEBRATION AND PARADE to life, creating a vibrant and powerful celebration of LGBTQ identity and community.
The eight recipients of the Ken Jones Awards were as follows: 10 Years of Service Award for those organizations, individuals, or other entities that have contributed ten years of consecutive service to the LGBTQ community—to Michelle Alcedo— former Openhouse Director, advocate for Senior LGBT services; Pride Freedom Award for outstanding contributions to advancing civil rights and freedoms for LGBTQ people—to Yoseñio V. Lewis—Trans masculine activist, educator, and writer; Pride Community Award for outstanding service to LGBTQ communities— to Stephen John Torres— journalist, activist, cultural promoter; Gilbert Baker Pride Founder’s Award honoring those who have made a significant and historical impact on the LGBTQ community and the movement for LGBTQ rights—to Zwazzi Sowö— social services professional, social justice activist; Audrey Joseph LGBTQ Entertainment Award to honor those who have made a significant and historical impact or left an indelible impression on the LGBTQ community and the movement for LGBTQ rights, through their artistic expression, or through their contribution within the entertainment industry—to Dennis McMillan (Sister Dana Van Iquity)— journalist, writer, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence since 1985 (Sister Dana had the additional honor of Sister Roma introducing me); José Julio Sarria History Maker Award to Bay Area people who make extraordinary changes in the way society views the LGBTQ community—to Adela Vázquez— Cuban-born trans woman, TransLatina advocate and community leader; Teddy
Witherington(continued on page 36)
Thank goddess for Armistead Maupin. Thank goodness there’s another Tale to treasure. Mona of the Manor is a loving, literary amber that preserves all the warmth, wit, and fragile, fractured humanity of Maupin’s original Tales of the City while giving birth to several new residents of his universe. His latest work is time travel to an era of homophobia battling love, of hatred on the ramparts trying to hold back humanity. Of course, actually, it’s not time travel at all: Mona of the Manor may be set 30 years in the past, but its parallels are right in the moment. The locale may be Thatcherite England, but the lessons are of Trumpian America.
Not so much a resurrection of one of Maupin’s most beloved characters, Mona Ramsey, Mona of the Manner is a renaissance of the same: a feisty red head very much her mother’s daughter. Though Maupin has said that “this is the last Tales of the City novel, and this time I mean it,” if ever a book, or a character, was set to pick up her mother’s joints, this is it. But until, or if then, pick up Mona of the Manor and get ready for a rollicking good read. Whether you’re a Maupin regular or are coming to his beautifully and gracefully crafted characters for the first time, you’ll love Mona.
Welcome to Mona’s Easley House, the English Barbary Lane, and very worthy of the legacy. It’s something to dance around the bonfire about with a bottle of scrumpy.
David Eugene Perry is the best-selling author of the award-winning mystery thriller “Upon This Rock” from Pace Press, currently being developed as a screenplay with a sequel, “Thorns of the 15 Roses” underway. He is also a journalist with hundreds of articles in print for such outlets as the “San Francisco Bay Times,” “The Advocate,” “The Desert Sun,” “The Utne Reader,” and “The San Francisco Examiner.”
Leave Signs
Jewelle Gomez
I’m going to the dress rehearsal tonight for my new play, Unpacking in P’town, and I realize how strongly I lean away from superstition. Theatre folk are probably the one group with as many superstitions as baseball players. Do players raise their hands
to heaven when they make a run because they really believe God favors their team over their opponents? Really?
In theatre we only say “the Scottish play” out loud rather than Macbeth, and there are even a series of actions (one is to turn counterclockwise three times and spit!) prescribed for countering the curse if you slip. You’re not supposed to whistle backstage. Well-wishers aren’t ever supposed to say “good luck” but rather “break a leg!”
We even leave a light on stage all night to make sure ghosts can find their way around. Most theatre artists believe that if the final dress rehearsal before the play opens goes
poorly then the run of the play will be a huge success. Even I used to believe I had to start each new theatre project by bringing Entenmann’s pastries to the first rehearsal. I don’t feel that way at all anymore. I’d much rather feel like everyone does all they can to prepare and things will line up as they should when the
Oh, Mary! This ancient artifact of pre-Stonewall camp is an actual book of recipes, chock full of whimsical illustrations, and full of humor that relies on hilariously dated queer stereotypes and corny/naughty double entendres. It’s pretty much the perfect gag gift for swish-y gourmets.
The Women of The Left Bank, Paris 1900–1940 by
Shari Benstock
Early 20th century Paris was chock full of lesbians (and straight female allies) contributing to literature, the arts, and culture, and this fascinating compendium of pocket biographies is perfect for anyone who wants a good history of the era.
https://www.fabulosabooks.com/
I Heard Her Call My Name: A Memoir of Transition by Lucy Sante With candor and crystal-clear prose, Sante intertwines her life story (immigration, difficult family, etc.) with the story of transition. Along the way, she offers a fascinating glimpse into the last several decades of NYC’s hyper-hip intelligentsia.
Burn Book: A Tech
Love Story (nonfiction - hardbound) by Kara Swisher
Part memoir, part history, Burn Book is a necessary chronicle of tech’s most powerful players. From award-winning journalist Kara Swisher comes this witty, scathing, but fair accounting of the tech industry and its founders.
Our Hidden Conversation (nonfiction- hardbound) by Michele Norris NPR journalist Michele Norris offers a transformative dialogue on race and identity in America, unearthed through her decade-long work at The Race Card Project. The prompt seemed simple: “Race. Your Thoughts. Six Words. Please Send.” The answers though, have been challenging and complicated. This unexpected panorama provides a rare 360-degree view of how Americans see themselves and others.
It’s a Good Day to Change the World (nonfiction- hardbound) by Lauren Schiller & Hadley Dynak
Just in time for Women’s History Month, buy this book for yourself or gift to others! The award-winning team behind the syndicated Inflection Point podcast about women’s power in the modern world has created the essential guide for action drawn from their interviews with authors, activists, and visionaries. As you read It’s a Good Day to Change the World, you will discover how to push new ideas forward and advance social change.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, March 9 @ 2 pm (free - Book Passage Corte Madera) Women’s History Month Panel Event featuring Margo Candela, Linda Gonzalez, Anita Gail Jones, Priscilla Wathington, and moderated by Paula Farmer
In honor of Women’s History Month 2024, Book Passage is proud to present a special panel event celebrating the impact of women writers, past and present. The panel is made up of authors of diverse backgrounds and writing in different genres. We will
(continued on page 36)
received the Bob Cramer Humanitarian Award.
Previously, in 2009, Rink was named “Prince to the Council of Emperors” by the Imperial Council.
Rink has been photographing events in San Francisco, nearly every day and night, since the late 1960s. His focus from the beginning has been on the LGBTQ+ community, with his archive including some of the region’s most iconic historic images.
The late Bob Cramer, for whom the award was named, served as Emperor III After Norton, 1974–1975. He was known for being charitable and caring. Colleagues at the Bay Times and beyond note that Rink shares these qualities in ways both big and small, from helping volunteers deliver food to those in need, to distributing life-saving Narcan, to supporting countless fundraisers and much more.
“Bob Cramer was a friend whom I knew as an Emperor, a Co-Founder of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT
Democratic Club, and the Cable Car Awards,” Rink said.
He added, “The Imperial Coronation program is a yearly pleasure, where I see the names of court members, and I knew and know over two thirds of the people listed. It is also painful since so many of them passed away from HIV/AIDS. I have covered all of the Empresses and Emperors, and their Courts, with their ups and downs and ins and outs.”
“Court founder José Sarria and I were close since we met in 1970,” Rink added. “We met to discuss
The V Foundation for Cancer Research has announced that 4-time Emmy and James Beard Award-winning television personality, acclaimed author, and wine, food, and travel authority Leslie Sbrocco is the 2024 Event Honoree for the 3rd Annual Sonoma Epicurean weekend, being held March 21–24, 2024. Held in Sonoma County’s renowned wine country, Sonoma Epicurean is a signature series of events featuring curated and hands-on experiences with award-winning chefs, local artisans, and world-class vintners, focusing on lifestyle, wellness, and sustainability. This year’s event is proudly presented by Weather Wines and proceeds raised during the weekend will fund cancer research and related programs to benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
An award-winning author, speaker, consultant, and television host, Leslie Sbrocco—who also writes the column “Sbrocco Sips” for the San Francisco Bay Times —is known for her entertaining approach to wine and food, as well as inspiring
others to live a life of passion. Voted as one of the Top 100 most influential people in the American wine business, Sbrocco’s engaging personality, humor, and ability to connect with the audience—whether on screen or on stage—are her trademarks. A colorectal cancer survivor, Sbrocco is using her recent cancer journey to help spread awareness and hope, as well as support for the fight against all cancers.
“My cancer journey began in March of 2021 with a late-stage colon cancer diagnosis after nearly two years of misdiagnoses. I was able to assemble an amazing medical team who supported my unwavering commitment to Victory Over Cancer®,” Sbrocco said. “I’ve endured 40 procedures to date and am currently disease free. My motto is, ‘I am the CAN in CANcer!’ But I wouldn’t be here without cutting edge research. I’m full of pride and purpose to work with the V Foundation to help raise funds to keep people like myself alive and thriving.”
“Leslie is a genuine inspiration and a wonderful catalyst in raising critical funds for colorectal cancer research,” stated Jessica Kilcullen, 2024 Co-Chair of
Sonoma Epicurean. “Her fighting spirit paired with her indelible sense of humor will shine and add to the positive energy of advocacy and wellness. Much like her motto, I believe together we CAN make a difference to declare Victory Over Cancer.”
In addition, ESPN Sports Center host Shae Cornette and Devon Still, former NFL standout defensive end, will host the Epic Feast & Gala Auction on Saturday, March 23, at Montage Healdsburg. Celebrity auctioneer, Emmy Award winning radio & TV personality and the Foodie Chap on KCBS Radio (plus another San Francisco Bay Times columnist!), Liam Mayclem will lead the bidding to raise much-needed funds for the V Foundation to continue its work in the fight against colorectal cancer.
Shae Cornette is a television host for ESPN’s flagship program Sports Center, covering the most up-todate sports news across the world.
Since joining ESPN in 2020, Shae has frequently hosted many of ESPN’s top programs such as First Take, NFL Live, and Get Up. Prior to moving to Sports Center fulltime, Shae co-hosted ESPN Radio’s GameDay alongside her husband, Jordan Cornette.
Devon Still is an author, renowned speaker, top podcast host, former NFL Professional Athlete, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and a Penn State University AllAmerican. Perhaps most importantly, Still is father to Leah, who publicly “beat up cancer,” embarking on a pediatric cancer-fighting journey that inspired the world.
San Francisco and Court his tory, and he met Harvey Milk when I brought him as my plus one to numerous court events. José said at his High Tea event: ‘Ask Rink about gay history. And he has the photographs.’”
We are grateful that many of those photographs have been published in the San Francisco Bay Times over the decades. Rink continues to be an important contributor to the paper, and is said to be one of the most published photographers in the entire Bay Area.
“We are thrilled that Shae and Devon have agreed to join us this year as hosts, helping us to continue our support of the vital work of the V Foundation,” added Stuart Bryan, 2024 Co-Chair of Sonoma Epicurean.
From 1971 to 2021, colorectal cancer mortality rates have dropped by 56%, however, it remains the leading cause of cancer death for men and second for women under the age of 50. In 2024, it is estimated that over 150,000 colorectal cases will be diagnosed. Early detection through screenings, and improvements in treatment—which is tied to the impact of cancer research— are key contributors in the continuation of mortality rates declining. To date, the Foundation has given
39 grants totaling over $8.9 million in colon and rectum cancer research. The V Foundation fuels the creativity of scientists and the bold ideas they have in pursuit of game-changing breakthroughs and saving lives.
The V Foundation’s wine country events have raised over $165 million for cancer research over the last 25 years. The V Foundation for Cancer Research has funded over $310 million in cancer research grants nationwide.
Registration for Sonoma Epicurean is now open. For more information, and to register for the event, please visit https://sonomaepicurean.v.org/
ceremony was held at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square.
The award is linked not only to the late great activist Ken Jones—the first Black President of SF Pride—but also to Audrey Joseph, the dynamic record executive, nightclub owner and manager, and LGBTQ rights activist who is still active in the San Francisco community and now lives in Palm Springs.
San Francisco Pride shared this about McMillan:
Dennis (he/him) started writing his own “comic book” at age six and a half—because the official readers they gave him were just too
boring: “See Jane Run. See Spot Run.” Hardly real page-turners! Later in high school he was a news editor for the school newspaper. At UCLA he wrote for the SDS society (Students for a Democratic Society) newsletter.
After he came out, he wrote gay porn stories for a multitude of men’s magazines—he called it “entertainment for one.” He always used only part of his true name or backwards (he feared he might regret a true byline someday in politics. As if.) Two porn tales were published in book forms: “How to Succeed in Business” in Rogues of San Francisco 1993 and “Country Carryings On” in Country Rogues 1995 by Reid Dennis (both by middle name first and first name second).
He became “Sister Dana Van Iquity” with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence on SF Gay Pride Day 1985. He’s still “Sister Dana!”
Sister Dana was a syndicated entertainment columnist for 36 different nationwide LGBT newspapers and magazines from 1985 until he wrote for the Bay Area Reporter. He then wrote legit news and reviews weekly for the B.A.R. He was on-staff Publication Chair for many years for the annual SF LGBTQ Pride Parade magazine. There he met the fabulous Audrey Joseph dealing with editing and attending general meetings, as well as dancing at her glorious gay club, Pleasuredome. He never met Ken Jones, but greatly admired his being “The Father of Diversity”
and the first African-American President of Pride.
He next wrote weekly news and reviews for the San Francisco Sentinel, until it closed down in 1995. He reported for the SF Spectrum news after the SF Sentinel closed He began writing biweekly everythingbut-sports news for the San Francisco Bay Times with former publisher Kim Corsaro. Friends jokingly called it the Dennis Times, because he was then writing several articles for the paper. At the Bay Times he currently composes the “Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun” column that runs in each issue.
The picturesque Cityscape Lounge atop the Hilton Union Square was where San Francisco Pride’s 2024 Ken Jones awardees were celebrated on the night of Thursday, February 29.
Recipients included Michelle Alcedo, 10 Years of Service Award; Marcel Pardo Ariza, Pride Creativity Award; Marsha H. Levine, Teddy Witherington Award; Yoseñio V. Lewis, Pride Freedom Award; Dennis McMillan (Sister Dana Van Iquity), Audrey Joseph LGBTQ Entertainment Award; Zwazzi Sowo, Gilbert Baker Pride Founder’s Award; Stephan John Torres, Pride Community Award; and Adela Vázquez, José Julio Sarria History Maker Award.
The awards are named after the late Ken Jones, a longtime local leader who was essential to spearheading racial and social justice efforts within the LGBTQ community. Serving as President of the SF Pride board in the early 1980s—a pivotal time in the movement—he remained an active and beloved community figure until his passing in 2021.
Congratulations to SF Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford and to the entire SF Pride team of staff and volunteers on producing an inspiring and elegant occasion in memory of Ken Jones.
https://sfpride.org/
Men have been lovers of men and women have loved women at least since the beginnings of recorded history. From the story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu 47 centuries ago, through the days of the Roman Empire, the Renaissance, and to modern times, people have enjoyed same-sex relationships and celebrated them in stories, poetry, art, and gossip. We have always been here. Only the ways we understand
ourselves and the ways others understand us have changed.
The women and men of long ago did not regard either the world or themselves as we do. No one considered herself to be lesbian or himself to be gay, not only because the words did not yet exist, but also because they had no idea of sexual orientation.
People believed sexual interaction was a behavior, not an expression of identity. It was something someone “did” and not something someone “was.”
Human nature does not change.
Only the concepts we create to understand it and the rules we construct to regulate it change. The ancient codes of law, which had severe penalties for almost everything, were mostly silent on sexual intimacy between two people of the same gender. The Code of Ur-Nammu, ca. 2100–2050 BCE, the world’s oldest known set of legal rules and regulations, says nothing
about it. (Perhaps that tablet has yet to be discovered.)
The more famous Code of Hammurabi, ca. 1780 BCE, one of the earliest complete and most influential collections of laws before the Ten Commandants, lists hundreds of specific misdeeds and their punishments, but does not mention samesex intimacy at all. The edicts of ancient Egypt also are silent on the subject. The Hittites made it illegal only between close relatives as part of a general rule against incest, not sexuality.
Was same-sex intimacy in those days so rare that it went unnoticed— which seems impossible—or so common that nobody cared? When mentioned at all, male-male experiences are never condemned as immoral and “homosexuality itself carries no implications.” What was important was the class, the status, the ages of the lovers, and the socalled roles they took when enjoying each other. Sexual relations between women were almost never mentioned and never forbidden.
The ancients, it seems, were much more concerned about divining the future than tut-tutting the present. A vast work entitled the Šumma alû and dated to sometime during the seventh century BCE contains a list of more than 10,000 prophecies. Only five explicitly mention the consequences of male-male sexual relations—none allude to women pleasuring each other—foretelling what was to come, given the social standing of the men involved and who did what with whom:
“A man who enjoys a man of equal status will become foremost among his brothers and colleagues. If a man enjoys an assinnu (a male cult prostitute), trouble will leave him.”
“A man who allows other men to enjoy him in prison as if he were an assinnu will experience evil.”
“If a man enjoys a gerseqqu (a male courtier or royal attendant), worry will plague him will for one whole year, then vanish.”
“If a man enjoys a (male) slave, care will seize him.”
The ancient Greeks and Romans also had strict social guidelines for same-sex intimacy, but no legal statutes forbidding it. Like the Sumerians and Babylonians, they required their citizens to accept specific so-called sexual roles when they were with each other— but what they did in private is unknown. As the historian John Boswell wrote, “If there was a law against homosexual relations, no one in Cicero’s day knew anything about it.”
Not until the Greek and Roman empires had been gone for hundreds of years and kingdoms and caliphates had replaced the empires where they once ruled were same-sex relationships commonly seen as being sinful. Many of the world’s great religions disapproved and punished them for moral reasons, so their followers eventually codified prohibitions against homosexuality into secular law that they then imposed on the lands they would conquer and colonize.
Only when the Darwinians began classifying everyone and the Freudians began analyzing them did anybody begin to consider why some men sought
other men and some women sought other women for emotional and sexual intimacy; previously, possession by demons and corruption by foreigners were among the more popular explanations. No one considered that they were simply expressing what was natural and normal for them. Now they needed their own categories and reasons for being “different from the others.”
As early as 1862, Karl Heinrich Ulrichs created the term “uranian” to describe women and men whom he was convinced belonged to an intermediate or “third sex.” Early advocates of sexual liberty, including John Addington Symonds and Edward Carpenter, adopted and popularized the term in the Englishspeaking world. They and others believed that men who were uranian possessed a male body and a female temperament and that women who loved women were females with a male temperament.
The term “temperamental” became widely used during the first half of the 20th century, when it was overtaken by “homosexual,” a word created in 1869 by Karl Maria Kertbeny, who also invented the designation “heterosexual.” Now criticized as too narrow and clinical, it was replaced by “lesbian” and “gay.” Even those became wanting when people began to recognize and understand themselves in many different ways. We are so much more complicated than the so-called experts once thought.
For a long time, the conversation was about causation, nature vs. nurture. Now it is about identity, as Donald Hall writes, between those who believe that our sense of self is “natural, fundamental, and historically constant” and those who believe that “there were no discursive means by which sexual activity alone could lead to an identification of the self that would ... allow us to responsibly analyze it as ‘homosexuality.’”
Does any of this really matter? Does any of this really help us to understand that across time women have desired other women and men have sought to be with other men for physical and emotional intimacy, even when they did not know about sexual orientation or sexual identity? As Gertrude Stein said, “A rose is a rose is a rose.” However we see ourselves today, and however others define us in the future, we will always be here.
Bill Lipsky, Ph.D., author of “LGBTQ+ Trailblazers of San Francisco” (2023) and “Gay and Lesbian San Francisco” (2006), is a member of the Rainbow Honor Walk board of directors.
After a winter of dense stews and carb-heavy recipes, it’s time to lighten up your meals with fresh and delicious spring greens and baby vegetables. You’ll find spring lettuce and baby spinach, fat spring leeks, fragrant spring garlic and green onions, big stalks of asparagus, and the new spring crop of artichokes. Toward the end of the month into April you’ll discover the arrival of sweet green peas, flavorful fava beans, and tasty spring herbs.
a small, round, white bulb at their base. They have a slightly stronger flavor than scallions. Use to add moderate onion flavor to any savory dish.
• Yam (sweet potato) leaves: Grown yearround, yam leaves are particularly good in the spring. They are brightly colored green and have heart-shaped leaves. They taste similar to spinach and can be eaten raw or cooked. Try them in soups, salads, or sandwiches.
The seasonal return of the Castro Farmers’ Market will take place on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, with Northern California’s freshest fruits and vegetables, live music, and a lively atmosphere for customers not just in the heart of the Castro but also in the Duboce Triangle, Eureka Valley, Corona Heights, and Lower Haight neighborhoods—and any others who enjoy coming to this convivial market.
selling their products at the market on opening day. Mia Simmans, manager of the Castro Farmers’ Market, said, “We are looking forward to kicking off the season with a bang. We have a lot of great things planned and we will offer a terrific selection of California-grown produce.”
March also brings some unusual spring greens to try. Find these delicious but unusual greens at the farmers’ market because you will seldom find them anywhere else. Enjoy something different this spring in salads, soups, pastas, eggs, and casseroles.
• Amaranth leaves (also called pigweed): These are grown and harvested in the summer months, and we’re talking about the leaves, not the grain amaranth. The leaves taste a bit like spinach. They are best when simply sautéed, but are good in salads, soups, and casseroles or with eggs.
• Green garlic or spring garlic: Best in the early spring, this type of garlic does not produce the large bulbs like regular garlic. It has a mild garlic flavor. The entire plant, from greens to bulb, can be consumed. Use it as you would any garlic with added greens.
• Spring onions: Good throughout the spring months and compared to green onions, they have
• Pea greens or shoots: Available throughout the spring months, young pea vines or shoots and leaves are tender and mild with an herbal flavor. They typically come from snow or snap peas. Add raw pea greens to salads, sandwiches, bowls, pasta, and soups for crunch and textural variety.
• Ramps: Early spring is best for these. They are a species of wild onion and have a flavor similar to garlic and onions. They look like scallions but have broad leaves and a purplish stem. Use them in any recipes calling for onions or garlic. Both the bulb and greens can be eaten.
• Mustard greens: These grow year-round. These peppery and spicy greens have ruffled small leaves and can be used in a variety of ways, from salads to soups. They’re used in both traditional Southern dishes as well as in Asian recipes.
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This season marks the 15th year of the Castro Farmers’ Market on Noe Street! It is a well-loved and strongly supported community event that brings many San Franciscans from different neighborhoods together on a weekly basis. It has an uplifting atmosphere and is where many people habitually do their weekly food shopping and visit with the vendors as well as with neighborhood friends.
The market, located on Noe Street between Market and Beaver, will be open every Wednesday from 3 pm to 7 pm, and will run through November 20. The entire Castro community is invited to join the opening day ceremonies that will be emceed by drag legend and San Francisco Bay Times columnist Donna Sachet and District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. Terry Asten Bennet will speak for the Castro Merchants followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30 pm by Sachet to conclude the festivities. Acoustic guitar maestro Andy Drake will entertain the assembled group.
More than a dozen California farmers and other local food producers will be
The market, which is sponsored by the Castro Merchants, provides a convenient way to support local California farmers. This season, the market will welcome several new producers, as well as favorite producers from past seasons. These local farms will offer a constantly changing variety of seasonal California produce, including tasty vegetables, juicy strawberries and citrus, and fresh eggs. In addition, the market will feature locally grown cut flowers, artisan cheeses, local grass-fed meat, fresh seafood, honey, delicious locally made bakery items, and prepared gourmet foods. The market will have everything you need to check off your food needs for the week.
Based in Concord, CA, the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association is a nonprofit organization that establishes and operates community-supported certified farmers’ markets and other direct marketing outlets throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. All PCFMA farmers’ markets accept WICFMNP (Woman, Infants, and Children Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program) coupons and CalFresh EBT.
https://www.pcfma.org/
With the sad news of retail giant Macy’s announcing the intent to vacate its anchor West Coast flagship store at Union Square, many have bemoaned the demise of that iconic retail district. But there’s no doubt that Union Square still is one of San Francisco’s most visited, beautiful, and beloved neighborhoods. Luxury boutiques continue to tempt shoppers, while theatres, cabarets, and good restaurants beckon. The square itself, with its signature cornerstone Canary palms, exudes a tropical and distinctive magnetism.
It got me thinking about many memorable lunches and dinners I’ve had visiting the square in the past.
Yes, Macy’s has the Cheesecake Factory; Neiman Marcus has its glamorous Rotunda; and the historic John’s Grill is right around the corner. What about less-visited places?
As my pal Laura told me recently, “Hidden gems in Union Square might sound like an oxymoron to locals.” But beyond the square, if you look hard enough,
there are places that aren’t apparent to the naked eye. I thought, it’s high time to promote some of these sequestered haunts. Beyond that fourblock or so area are some hidden culinary and cocktail gems that deserve a shout out. The Gay Gourmet is willing to oblige.
Redwood Room at the Royal Sonesta Clift
The Royal Sonesta has taken over ownership of the historic Clift Hotel on Geary, and the Redwood Room is in a quiet corner at the back of the main lobby. The bar still sports the original redwood paneling, which according to legend is “carved from a single 800-yearold redwood tree.”
Thankfully, the new owners have returned the replicas of Klimtstyle paintings, painted by Klimt’s apprentices; they’re original to the gorgeous room. The bar/restaurant is elegant, chic, and offers art deco era and modern cocktails (a bit on the pricey side, but excellent), opening at 5 pm. Ask for waitress Debbie, who is thoughtful and helpful, and makes you feel like part of the family.
I had a perfect Botanist gin martini straight up (shaken, not stirred, just like James Bond). My husband Sean ordered the Irish Bee Sting, a perky combination of Jameson’s whisky, lemon juice, honey syrup
from the hotel’s own rooftop beehives, ginger syrup, and a lemon twist. Dulcet pipedin jazz music completes the atmosphere with a sophisticated touch, plus there’s live jazz every Thursday from 8:30 pm–11:30 pm. Even though we didn’t try them, Michelin star Executive Chef Daniel Corey has created what looks to be a perfect complement of elevated small bar bites (think fried calamari with jalapeño, yellowfin tuna burger, and pork cheek tostadas) to this celebrated room. Go back now!
Jeanne d’Arc at the Cornell Hotel de France
Hidden downstairs in the Cornell Hotel de France on Bush Street is the initial entrance to Jeanne d’Arc, which involves taking the fourth oldest San Francisco elevator, reminiscent of the Gilded Age. Once inside, you’re transported to Provence or perhaps the Loire Valley—a cozy, stucco-lined grotto that somehow still feels airy.
The traditional French boite began its history in 1966 before shutting down during COVID-19, but recently reopened.
The romantic restaurant sports its original décor with stained-glass
windows painted in France, along with one-of-a-kind artworks dotting the walls throughout. Server Talia is professional and efficient, and manager Mark and Executive Chef Bernard Moutal extend the warmest of welcomes. Speaking of Chef Moutal, he has quite a résumé He started his career in his teens in Bourdeaux, worked at New York’s original Le Pavillion, and then headed west to open his own San Francisco restaurant, La Boucane. He first came to Jeanne d’Arc in 2000, left to helm the kitchen at the Metropolitan Club, and recently got lured back.
Gladly, the menu tends toward classic French regional cuisine, which sadly seems to be disappearing from San Francisco menus these days. We started our evening with a lovely Louis Latour Macon-Village “Chameroy” white wine from France, which hit the spot with its dry, crisp, and mineral tones. Without asking, server Talia brought crunchy homemade sourdough rolls and butter at no extra cost (another oddity these days).
I began the meal with the most delectable, creamy mushroom soup, and my husband ordered an exquisite “Jeanne d’Arc salad” with butter lettuce and Roquefort cheese. One of my favorites, the time-honored Coquilles St. Jacques (with scallops and prawns), is a welcome addition to the offerings. We guessed that the portions would be sizeable, so sadly we passed it up, but there’s always a next time! For me, the true test of any legitimate French restaurant is the Coq Au Vin (also my husband’s favorite), so he had to sample it. The verdict? Perfectly executed, juicy, and accented with bacon lardon, as well as a traditional red wine mushroom sauce. I chose the halibut special, again as a test, because most eateries overcook it. This version was moist and tender, served with an appropriate beurre blanc and caper sauce. Both dishes came with sides that you almost never see anymore: a mashed potato with grated carrot; a baked tomato au gratin that effused sweetness; and tender and
fresh broccolini. Insider’s Note: One of the restaurant’s specials is the phenomenal Grand Marnier soufflé. It takes 25 or so minutes, so you need to order it at the start of the meal. The soufflé is light and airy, and served with an accompanying not-to-sweet vanilla sauce. All in all, I say put Jeanne d’Arc on your dining list. It’s a great pre-theatre choice, but it’s also perfect for a graceful, all-evening event. Vive la France!
Mastro’s
Home to the city’s best and biggest martini (with a shaker as a sidecar), as well as live music most nights, this steakhouse-oriented restaurant is secluded on the second floor above bustling Geary Street near Mason. It’s part of a chain, but a good one. Mastro’s is a dress-up kind of place which in these days of hoodies and t-shirts is a welcome respite. It’s also the kind of scene where you can see people from all different walks of life. Go for the cocktails and beef (or seafood), don’t forget the French fries, and then stay and hang out at the bar to listen to the sultry vocalist tickling the ivories.
Anzu
Another restaurant that’s not visible from street, Anzu is located upstairs in the Nikko Hotel, with an entrance on Mason Street. It’s famous for its superb sushi bar (much of the fish is flown in directly from the famous fish market in Japan), but offers a variety of Japanese, California, and other culinary-inspired delights. The wine and cocktail list is extensive. The best part? If you dine at Anzu and are going to the great Broadway shows at Feinstein’s Cabaret downstairs, they reserve seats for you.
Felix
The hidden speakeasy below the popular Vietnamese restaurant Bodega SF (also on Mason Street) is called Felix and welcomes you (if you know the password) with a neon sign of a grinning “Felix The Cat.” It’s got a retro Asian theme: dark, red, and moody. Cocktails include the Bohemian Rhapsody with
Vietnamese gin, chrysanthemum syrup, and a Crème de Cassis float; and also feature the Pho Wimme, a fat-washed whiskey made with beef fat from Bodega’s pho broth. This gem also serves some small bites like house-made tom yum-flavored Chex mix and shrimp chips. There are only 36 seats, so get there early!
Bits and Bites
Elena’s Mexican
There’s a new, buzzy and luxe Mexican restaurant in town from the folks behind Original Joe’s, and it’s a winner! Called Elena’s (after Elena Duggan, one of the coowners of OJ’s), the restaurant honors her two daughters, Catherine and Julia, whose father is Mexican.
When you walk into the airy, two-story space, you think you’re in Beverly Hills instead of West Portal. But the food is, as my colleague Michael Bauer said (and I’m paraphrasing), “some of the best Mexican food in the city since Cala closed.” Start with Elena’s Margarita and ask for it served up, with salt, with the extra Grand Marnier float. One of my pals ordered The Skinny, a less caloric version of their homemade margarita; and my husband had the effervescent slushy Aperol Margarita, a great new take on an old classic.
Main menu highlights included: thin, homemade chips and salsa, among the best in town; the Dungeness crab, avocado, and grapefruit tostada (perfectly fresh, because it’s local and thankfully still crab season); a just-enoughspicy chile con queso (we ordered the succulent ground chorizo on the side); tasty grilled cod tacos; a yummy chile relleno; a pork tamale (homemade, of course); and “Gracie’s ground beef crispy tacos,” so satisfying that I ate almost all 3 of them! “It’s like visiting someone’s Mexican home,” exclaimed my husband, while the rest of us were too busy chowing down. The capper on the evening is a light-as-air Carlota di Lemon, a several layer Mexican lemon cake that’s simply to die for. Make your reservations now, as Elena’s is the hottest new ticket in town.
Ready Pac Bistro
Meal Kits From Bonduelle Fresh Americas
I just tried some tasty new at-home meals
that are worth sampling. Ready Pac Bistro Meal Kits from Bonduelle Fresh Americas are currently available in California supermarkets before a larger national rollout. According to the manufacturers, “Each meal kit has the ingredients for a nutritious, delicious plant-rich meal made with real food that is not ultra-processed and takes the guess work out of healthy meal prep. Every kit includes generous portions of fresh vegetables and rice, quinoa or pasta, along with a rich and flavorful sauce, and a topping to add the final touch. They’re available in three varieties (basil pesto & pasta, teriyaki & rice, and chipotle & quinoa), and are a convenient way to enjoy a quick and tasty plant-rich meal, bursting with delicious flavors. They’re available on Instacart or at select local California supermarkets.”
Make Me Gorgeous
I just returned from the Big Apple, and one of the theatrical highlights was the one-person show Make Me Gorgeous, all about the Hollywood makeup artist to the stars, Kenneth Marlowe. It stars the uber-talented Jackie Cox (of RuPaul fame), who plays dozens of different characters in one 90-minute show filled with comedy, poignance, and heart. It’s a true story about an “oft-overlooked trailblazer in LGBTQ history, who took on many roles in life, finally transitioning to become Kate Marlow.”
In a local twist, Kenneth ends up living in a fabulous Polk Street apartment in San Francisco (which, becomes the stage set for the evening). Jackie even singled out my husband for a flirty audience engagement portion of the show.
(How is it that my husband Sean always is singled out by performers?) The play is performed at the intimate theatre/ cabaret Playhouse
46 at St. Luke’s on 46th Street, just down the street from the famed Joe Allen (where you can get a great burger at the bar before or after the show, and maybe see a celebrity or two). The show is extended by popular demand through March 24, so get your cute butts off to New York to see this marvelous gem before it’s too late!
Redwood Room at the Royal Sonesta Clift:
https://redwoodroomsf.com/
Jeanne d’Arc:
https://restaurantjeannedarc.com/ Mastro’s:
https://tinyurl.com/5an89s88
Anzu:
https://www.restaurantanzu.com/
Felix:
https://tinyurl.com/3n9yw3aa
Elena’s:
https://www.elenasmexican.com/ Ready Pac Meal Kits from Bonduelle Fresh Americas: http://tinyurl.com/yck3fttz
Make Me Gorgeous: https://gorgeousplay.com/
Joe Allen:
https://joeallenrestaurant.com/ Cheesecake Factory at Macy’s: https://tinyurl.com/4th8kbbu
The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus: https://tinyurl.com/ty57rnhs
John’s Grill: https://www.johnsgrill.com/
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
Led by Drum Major Mike Wong, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band (SFLGFB) represented the Bay Area’s LGBTQ+ community, as it has for decades, marching proudly in the 2024 Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, February 24. The weather, always a factor, was excellent this year and a record-breaking crowd lined the parade route.
From the parade launch point at 2nd and Market Streets, the SFLGFB marched around Union Square, ending at Kearny Street and Columbus Avenue, a distance of approximately 1.3 miles. Band members marched proudly in the parade celebrating the Year of the Dragon.
Named one of the top ten parades in the world by International Festivals & Events Association, the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is one of the few remaining night illuminated parades in North America.
Serving as Grand Marshal for the 2024 parade was award-winning performing artist Awkwafina, who is of Chinese and Korean heritage. (Margaret Cho a few years ago told the San Francisco Bay Times that Awkwafina is one of her favorite performers! We agree that she is first rate.)
View the entire parade, via the KTVU broadcast, at https://tinyurl.com/3nw2auda
What does “sporty” mean to you?
I can answer that, as much to the bemusement of my friends, I’m on a Spice Girls YouTube kick. And so Sporty Spice comes to mind.
In “Wannabe,” Sporty is in sweatpants and doing backflips. In “Stop”—a well-intentioned video that encourages visiting with and engaging the seniors among us— she’s in black and oxblood leather as she skips rope with the neighborhood kids.
These personifications reflect the sensibilities of our two SUVs this time: the $24,525 Hyundai Venue Limited and $53,190 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line. They’re vastly different in size and segment, but they do effectively sum up the sweatpants-versusoxblood question in buying a new sporty car in our current environment.
Sweatpants can imply a fast-andloose way of going through the world, and the Venue is down with
that. At less than 71 inches in width, the Venue slips through traffic gaps while sitting you up high to see everyone you’re passing.
The Venue is responsive. Step into the accelerator, and there’s instant go from the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. It is not a muscle car, but that power is there in the clutch. I’d like to say that hostility among San Francisco drivers has abated following the pandemic, but I can’t, and so having a compact under your command that is immediately responsive is a measurable plus.
Beyond these basics, the Venue Limited is a tidier and cheaper Mini Cooper, incorporating the white roof and zippy sensibility without the pretension and expense. The Venue shows up strong in a market that GM and Ford and Stellantis have pointedly ignored.
Volkswagen has also departed from the Venue-level market, with its cheapest Taos S listing $4,000 above the $19,900 Venue SE.
I can’t blame a corporation for pursuing greater profits, and so the 78-inch-width Atlas Cross Sport is a two-row, slant-backed version of the three-row Atlas. It’s where we get the oxblood interpretation of sportiness. A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is the only engine, and you can imagine the many computations that would go into grunting a heavy SUV up San Francisco’s hills with four cylinders. There’s massive thinking happening while you patiently wait for smooth thrust.
Atlas steering is too light, whether in standard form or Cross Sport, to where I beg VW’s engineers if they’re reading this to please firm it up and add more tactile feel. The Atlas driver can feel as if they’re along for the ride, which is far from the ‘90s spirit of Volkswagen Fahrvergnügen.
OK, but the Atlas Cross Sport’s interior is immediately impressive, with rich materials and vibrant color accents. This VW is wide and broad and pointed and, yes, macho. If you’re buying it for presence, then the Atlas is mission accomplished.
The Venue has a different trajectory that may speak more directly to a buyer’s needs, and I found it to be the more impressive one. I may most identify with Posh Spice, but I’m a practical gal, after all.
Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant with an automotive staging service.
Imagine a real-life friendship as heartwarming as Pooh and Piglet’s with Piglet, a charming 4-year-old Chihuahua whose spirit is as bright as any storybook character’s. We offer a special chance to foster Piglet for a week, allowing a glimpse into life with him, hoping for a forever bond but understanding if adjustments are needed.
Piglet, with wisdom and spunk beyond his years, has a heart as wide as the Hundred Acre Wood. He’s a tiny adventurer seeking his Christopher Robin—a companion for life’s simple joys and comforting silences. His mix of bravery and gentle spirit promises to make every day an adventure filled with laughter, love, and sweetness.
Are you ready to welcome a friend who brings the magic of the Hundred Acre Wood into your life? Piglet is waiting to fill your days with happiness and your heart with love.
Embrace this heartwarming journey of companionship and meet Piglet at the SF SPCA Mission Campus, 201 Alabama Street. Visit us Wednesday to Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm, and Tuesday, 1 pm to 6 pm; we’re closed on Mondays.
For more information: https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/
Here are two of the many pets now available for adoption at Oakland Animal Services (OAS):
Odelia is a sweet 5-year-old girl looking for her forever home. She sits politely for treats and has a cute little hop in her step when you praise her. She can’t wait to go home with you!
—
Aaron
for
Two-year-old Bill enjoys coming to say hello to you and will respond to pets with gentle head bonks. He’s curious about the things going on around him, and though he’s fully grown, he still has lots of kitten in him and loves playing with toys. Come on by to adopt Bill!
The OAS adoption process focuses on matching you with a pet who is a good fit for you and your family. Come by during open adoption hours Thursdays 12–7 pm and Fridays/Saturdays/ Sundays 12–3 pm to adopt your new best friend, or to learn more about the OAS adoption process. Please see the OAS website to learn more about how you can help by adopting, fostering, volunteering, and donating: www.oaklandanimalservices.org
FARMERS’ MARKET (continued from pg 31)
• Mâche: Good in late winter to early spring and also called lamb’s lettuce, this tender salad green grows in bunches and has small, delicate leaves. Mâche (pronounced “mosh”) has a nutty taste and can be eaten raw in salads—or cooked, steamed, or sautéed and served as a vegetable. Lighten up your meals this spring and add some exciting new tastes to your recipes! Greens are full of healthy nutrients, offer interesting textures, and fill your plate with flavor. Find them at your local farmers’ market!
The Castro Farmers’ Market is closed for the season and is scheduled to reopen on April 3, 2024. In the meantime, please visit the Divisadero Farmers’ Market at 1377 Fell Street or the Inner Sunset Farmers’ Market at 1315 8th Street. Both are in San Francisco on Sundays year-round from 9 am–1 pm. For information about additional local farmers’ markets, as well as on recipes and more, visit the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association website: https://www.pcfma.org/
Debra Morris is a spokesperson for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association.
SISTER DANA (continued from pg 24)
Award recognizing those individuals who have contributed a longstanding, large body of work to the LGBTQ community—to Marsha H. Levine —longtime leader with Boston Pride, San Francisco Pride, and InterPride; and Pride Creativity Award for outstanding artistic contribution to the LGBTQ communities—to Marcel Pardo Ariza—non-binary artist, educator, and curator. For all the photos and fascinating biographies of all eight awardees, be sure to click onto https://sfpride.org/ken-jones-2024
Sister Dana sez, “So we thought overturning Roe vs Wade with anti-abortion laws was awful. But there’s more! The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that FROZEN EMBRYOS are CHILDREN! And to throw one away (which happens often with IVF patients trying to have children) is the same as WRONGFUL DEATH!”
Sister Dana sez, “So what’s next? Arresting married couples for using a condom— because every sperm is sacred?!”
To anyone and everyone who might question President Biden’s ability to serve a second term: allow me to quote California Governor Gavin Newsom : “I revere his record. What he’s done in three years has been a master-class—close to 15 million jobs, that’s eight times more than the last three Republican presidents combined.” He continued, “The economy is booming, inflation is cooling, we have American manufacturing coming back home—all because of Biden’s wisdom, because of his temperance, his capacity to lead in a bipartisan manner, which is an underrepresented point. And so, I have great confidence moving
forward ... in terms of the next four years!”
Adding to all that praise, after Biden’s annual physical on February 28, Kevin C. O’Connor, Physician to the President, declared Biden is “a healthy, active, robust 81-yearold male, who remains fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency.” O’Connor also assured that Biden does not need a mental fitness test. The White House officially stated that the President proves his cognitive abilities every single day by doing his job.
Sister Dana sez, “The Budgetary ‘Soap Opera’ continues. Will Republican ‘Kick the Can’ Congress people meet the March 8 deadline and avoid partial government shutdown, or will they keep kicking the can down the road?
Stay tuned!”
SQREAM is a hysterical drag horror parody (like the Scream —but queer—movie series) set to all our favorite hit songs of the 1990s. Join the gang as they navigate a super queer who-dunnit musical that spans the entire OASIS nightclub. Who will survive? Who is the killer behind the gay Ghost-face mask? Find out this and more in a night of singing, dancing, blood-drenched comedy that is campy, sexy, and also gory. They’re ready to slay ... are you? Terror strikes the Oasis, 298 11th Street, now through March 23. https://www.sfoasis.com
On February 26, Manhattan prosecutors requested a gag order on terrible Trump to protect jurors and witnesses in the first criminal trial of a former president. The filings noted Trump’s “longstanding history of attacking witnesses, investigators, prosecutors, judges,
GOMEZ (continued from pg 27)
lights go up and the audience settles.
And I’d prefer to eat better pastries.
It’s not surprising that superstition is threaded through theatre events since the earliest theatre practices began as religious ritual. And I’m all for creating new rituals as ways of remembering things that are important: people we’ve loved, moments that were turning points in our lives, great sadness. The problem for me is when it becomes a requirement to adhere to the rituals to prevent something bad from happening.
Who decides when the pleasant observing of an event has to be rigidly followed or you die, or lose your hair, or go to hell, or your horse comes in last?
Creating new rituals can be invigorating and inspiring. I have a wooden bowl in which I keep slips of paper with quotes from Audre Lorde. On her birthday, I grab one of the pieces of paper every time I pass by the bowl and read out loud something
she’s written. It’s a ritual, not for good luck, but to remind me of how effective her work has been and to put her energy back into the world.
In my play, one of the characters observes that many people make resolutions to improve their lives on New Year’s Eve. It’s become a cottage industry including silly hats, outlandish glasses, and the hope that deciding on December 31 to lose weight will be more successful than making the decision on May 15 or October 2.
But my character announces that his group of friends makes their resolutions at the beginning of each summer because, he says, they are more realistic when they’re half naked and holding umbrella drinks. In other words, why not be honest when you fulfill that ritual? Commit to something that is a possibility rather than a wild card.
In this play, as in most of my writing, I try to squeeze in the names of peo -
BOOK PASSAGES (continued from pg 27)
discuss, among many things, the importance of women’s voices and stories in the still male dominated literary landscape.
Tuesday, March 12 @ 5 pm (free - SF Ferry Building store) Qian Liu, author of The Little Book of Robo Investing Qian Liu is the Chief Data Officer at Guideline, an online investment platform. She will bring her expertise to this special event, featuring a conversation with moderator and finance writer Elizabeth MacBride. The Little Book of Robo Investing explores easy, automated, and lowcost ways to invest using online platforms. It’s a gem of a guide book that is perfect for working professionals, and people beginning to think about their retirement.
and others involved in legal proceedings against him.” Sister Dana sez, “If you or I violated a gag order, would we not be sent directly to jail? There is absolutely NO ‘magic immunity’ for a former president!”
FALSETTOS is celebrated as a defining work in the canon of American musical theater. With its blend of humor, heartache, and musical ingenuity, Falsettos captures the essence of human connection. This show, which has garnered Tony Awards for Best Book and Original Score, invites audiences to explore the complexities of love, identity, and the beauty of chosen families. Through March 17 at the Gateway Theatre, 215 Jackson Street. https://42ndstmoon.org
Sister Dana sez, “Regarding the Supreme Court’s 5 to 4 decision for Trump to remain on all the states’ ballots, this should be renamed the WORST Court!”
March 19, 7 pm at Fabulosa Books, 489 Castro Street, hear author Nathan Tavares read from his latest novel, WELCOME TO FOREVER . This is a sweeping, psychedelic romance of two men caught in a looping world of artificial realities, edited memories, secretive cabals, and conspiracies to push humanity to the next step in its evolution.
Sister Dana sez, “To ex-prez and Narcissist-in-Chief Trump, I quote the wisdom of sit-com genius writer Chuck Lorre:
‘The problem with being a narcissist is you’re too selfinvolved to notice narcissism in others. On the bright side, when you do, it’s a sign of personal growth.’ I dare you to experience personal growth, Donald!”
ple I’ve known and loved as a way of honoring them. I don’t need to bow my head when their names are spoken or believe they will bring my work good luck. I just like to remember them with a smile.
We all need things to hold on to for hope and “luck.” But I find it more uplifting and long lasting if my wishes are grounded in the real— like words or music or memory. I do believe our ancestors are with us if we keep them in our minds, but I don’t need to leave a ghost light on for them.
Jewelle Gomez is a lesbian/feminist activist, novelist, poet, and playwright. She’s written for “The Advocate,” “Ms. Magazine,” “Black Scholar,” “The San Francisco Chronicle,” “The New York Times,” and “The Village Voice.” Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @ VampyreVamp
Thursday, March 14 @ 7:30 pm (ticketed - Curran Theater SF) RuPaul, author of The House of Hidden Meanings
From international drag superstar and pop culture icon RuPaul comes his most revealing and personal work to date. It is a surprisingly poignant memoir of growing up Black, poor, and queer in a broken home to discovering the power of performance, found family, and self-acceptance. As powerful and life-affirming as it is to read this unique story, expect an even more dynamic presentation, which will include readings from the book and fielding audience questions.
https://www.bookpassage.com/
San Francisco Bay Times contributor Fernando Camino, who is based in New York City, created the YouTube channel SuperFriends NYC and regularly livestreams from midtown Manhattan and beyond. Camino’s account of his livestream on New Year’s Eve of the annual Ball Drop in Times Square remains among the most widely read of Bay Times features ( https://tinyurl.com/yp6eju25 ).
So far in 2024 he has presented weekly Saturday night livecasts of the Midnight Moment in Times Square, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and through Central Park during snow storms, and much more. Here are just a few of the NYC events he has spotlighted.
Cupid’s Undie Run New York
On Saturday, February 20, SuperFriends NYC presented live the 2024 Cupid’s Undie Run supporting those affected by neurofibromatosis (NF) through a benefit for the Make NF Visible Children’s Tumor Foundation. Camino interviewed top fundraiser Michael Morris Mason and other runners.
https://tinyurl.com/3xfpswty
Polar Bear Paint
Streamed live on Saturday, February 24, the Polar Bear Paint 2024 event included more than 30 volunteers who were body painted by artists at an indoor studio in Greenwich Village, followed by a walk to Washington Square Park for a group photo shoot. https://tinyurl.com/dsxhewar
St. Pat’s for All
On Sunday, March 3, SuperFriends NYC presented a livecast of the St. Pat’s for All Parade’s 25th Anniversary. From the starting point at 43rd Street and Skillman Avenue and continuing through the Sunnyside and Woodside neighborhoods in Queens, parade organizers, participants, and spectators combined efforts to “turn Queens green.”
The St. Pat’s for All Parade is an annual event, established on March 5, 2000, that honors Irish culture and promotes inclusivity. The parade was initiated by Brendan Fay, a gay Irish immigrant, in response to the exclusion of LGBTQ+ groups like the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization from the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manhattan.
https://tinyurl.com/bdhy89zw
Visit SuperFriends NYC on YouTube every Saturday night at 8 pm (Pacific)/11 pm (Eastern) to view SuperFriends NYC and join the live chat.
https://www.youtube.com/@SuperFriendsNYC
The Imperial Council of San Francisco’s leadership, members, and friends welcomed guests from locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and beyond to the Coronation gala that was held this year on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco.
Marking the culmination of a week-long schedule of events, the Coronation is a tradition observed annually when the outgoing Emperor and Empress are celebrated and the incoming royals are introduced and crowned.
The Coronation each year is attended by Queen Mother I of the Americas, Empress Nicole the Great of San Diego, who is the leader of the International Imperial Court system. Affiliates in 27 states, 4 Canadian provinces, and the nation of Mexico participate. Empress Misty Blue, head of the Council in San Francisco, led the organizing process for the 2024 event.
Reigning monarchs Emperor Bob Glas and Empress Linda Summers were crowned and celebrated by a host of monarchs from prior years, including out-going monarchs Emperor Michael Anthony Chua and Empress Cameron Stiehl-Munro.
Among the elected officials and dignitaries attending was featured speaker California Senator Toni G. Atkins, President Pro Tempore Emeritus, who was preparing, as an announced candidate, for her campaign seeking election as the next Governor of California.
Additional details about the event are included in the Donna’s Chronicles column in this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times, as reported by Donna Sachet, Absolute Empress XXX, who has served in various Imperial Council leadership roles.
San Francisco Bay Times photographer Rink was honored at the Coronation with the Bob Cramer Humanitarian Award for his services in encouraging diversity and also promoting and documenting the Council’s activities and charities for more than half a century.
On Sunday, February 25, the annual Pilgrimage to Colma ceremonies, emceed by Empress Sachet, included a ceremonial visit to the resting place of the Council’s beloved founder, Empress I José Sarria. The program included music by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, the Official Band of the City of San Francisco.
Photos by Rink
Come to Cliff’s Annex and find Cartonic 3-D puzzles, the easy and eco way to create a genuine piece of cardboard art. The kit consists of pre-cut cardboard pieces that are easily assembled. During creation, you will literally witness the piece’s formation layer by layer. Assorted styles at $39.99.
Brighten your home with vibrantly colored, 10-inch Le Murrine Bowls by Guzzini. Build a collection of these dishwasher-safe and sturdy Italian bowls that radiate style while standing up to everyday use. $55.99 ince our founding in 1936, Cliff’s Variety has been constantly growing and evolving in response to the needs of our customers. Our buyers strive to keep our selection fresh, on-trend, and competitive. We carry the best of everything from hardware & tools to cookware, garden supplies, toys, crafts, and gifts. We also offer re-keying and lock repair, knife sharpening, glass, acrylic & wood cutting. Light fabrication, pipe threading, and cable crimping are among the many other services we offer at Cliff’s Variety. If your project has gone a little beyond your abilities, we’re here to help.
https://cliffsvariety.com/
