San Francisco Bay Times - April 8, 2021 by San Francisco Bay Times

BAY TIMES S

LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2021) April 8–21, 2021 http://sfbaytimes.com

A Life Well Lived

Al Baum See pages

4–6

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT HOLGATE

“The reason I fell deeply in love with Al was his generosity and compassion for all who were in need. He taught me the meaning of giving back and supporting those in many diverse communities. It’s my honor to continue his legacy.” —Robert Holgate

Honoring the Life & Legacy of

Al Baum

In Memoriam: Alvin H. Baum, Jr. (1930–2021) Alvin (Al) was born September 7, 1930, in Chicago’s Hyde Park, but grew up in Highland Park, a Chicago suburb, with his younger brother, David. Precocious at a young age, he was told he could identify car models at the age of two. Al struggled with a severe speech disability as a young child, but was always accomplished in school, ranking in the top three of his class at Highland Park High School. In advanced English, he wrote papers for his friend (which invariably received A’s, higher grades than even his own essays). He also began a lifelong passion for history and the humanities. Al attended Harvard University from 1948–1952. During his undergraduate years, Al became fluent in French and went on the first of what were to be many international trips to London, Amsterdam, and Paris. After graduating magna cum laude, he remained in Cambridge, attending Harvard Law School, graduating cum laude in 1955.

about the Bay, one of his proudest accomplishments given his difficulties stuttering as a young boy. Al inadvertently came “out of the closet” in the mid1970s when, well into his 40s, he was prominently featured in a San Francisco Chronicle article about a short-lived LGBT venture called Lavender University, a continuing education institute. Although he knew that being an openly gay man 45 years ago had repercussions, Al had the courage to reveal his true identity and dedicated his life to LGBTQ+ inclusivity. He left BCDC in 1972; for the next 12 years, Al led a small private firm practicing city planning. Somehow, he managed to also spend four months as a Peace Corps trainer in Botswana, and developed a sideline real estate investment and renovation business. After two successful careers as lawyer and city planner, Al retired, spent four months in France perfecting his French, and travelled with a group to Israel who would later become the founders of the New Israel Fund.

PORTRAIT PHOTO BY SAUL BROMBERGER AND SANDRA HOOVER PHOTOGRAPHY

Alvin H. Baum, Jr., passed away on March 28, 2021. He was 90 years old, and died of natural causes in his sleep.

But Al stepped back into work in 1984. In the midst of the AIDS epidemic, Al felt his calling was to become a psychotherapist. A natural-born listener, Al was often the one to whom friends turned to for a compassionAl was drafted into the U.S. army in 1955 and was ate ear. He returned to UC Berkeley and obtained a stationed in Berlin, with responsibilities for secumaster’s degree in social welfare. As a licensed clinrity records. Al resolved to learn German after ical social worker, Al built a successful private prachis German exchange friend from Harvard told tice, seeing clients until he was well into his 80s. Al also raised significant funds to help provide long-term him that German middle-aged housewives were insulting them. In Berlin he discovered symphony, outpatient psychotherapy and was a founding board member of the Access Institute for Psychological Seropera, museums, and—though not yet openly vices (2002–2004). gay—the plaza where “the boys hang out.” Honorably discharged in January 1958, he moved to San Francisco. He was hired by Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe, where he spent five years as a young associate lawyer. Al always preferred maps and architecture over law and decided in 1963 to leave law practice and attend UC Berkeley to obtain a master’s degree in city & regional planning. Upon graduating, he joined the newly-created SF Bay Conservation & Development Commission (BCDC) and in his 6½ years there became its deputy director and wrote the regulations that to this day protect the Bay. From 1962–1964, he was a member of the San Francisco Planning Commission and hosted a talk show Jewelle Gomez, author, poet, critic, playwright, and a San Francisco Bay Times columnist I first met Al when I moved to San Francisco in 1993 and I have an enduring image of him riding down the street on his Vespa motor scooter with the jauntiness of a much younger man. For me it matched his sparkling spirit and dedication to his communities and his friends. I’ll always have the picture of him with me in my heart. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Al Baum was a profound force for good, who advocated, organized, and mobilized to advance historic change for the LGBTQ community, Jewish community, and so many others in the Bay Area and across the nation. His great spirit of generosity, compassion, and kindness inspired countless people and will be deeply missed. May it be a comfort to his husband Robert and all his loved ones that so many mourn with and pray for them at this sad time. Mark Leno, former supervisor and state legislator Al was a man of many talents and interests whose generosity was limitless. As a dear friend, he was always present and loving. As an activist, philanthropist, and civic leader, Al was impassioned, focused, and determined. He was the embodiment of the term “mensch.” We’re all beneficiaries of Al’s remarkably accomplished life. 4

SA N F RANCISCO BAY T I ME S

Al will be most remembered as a brilliant and strategic philanthropist. Although for years he resisted the label of philanthropist, and fondly recalled being shamed into the world of philanthropy by a Catholic gay friend, he emerged as a pillar in the Jewish, civil rights, and gay communities. Given his background in law, Al’s initiation into advocating for the rights and liberties of others began with joining the board of the ACLU of Northern California in 1976. Al brought his illimitable energy, compassionate heart, sage advice, and charitable contributions to every endeavor. Appreciative of his heritage, Al worked tirelessly within the Jewish community for over 50 years, and inspired many others to be generous in spirit and pocketbook. He was the founding board member of the New Israel Fund, advocating for equality and democracy in Israel, and traveled to Israel fourteen times. In 1984, while serving as the only out gay board member of Jewish Family & Children’s Service of San Francisco, Al established an endowment committed to educational and therapeutic outreach to children, the alienated, and the aged. Deepening his roots in the Jewish community, he became director of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, and was a longtime member of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ Congregation Sha'ar Zahav. Al emphasized his dual identity as both a gay and Jewish man and broke barriers in both worlds. “When I decided to come to San Francisco after the army, I had no idea that I would ever have any role as a gay person, or as a gay Jewish person. I feel so lucky that I’ve been able to express those aspects of my identity, and to help bridge those two communities.” Self-described “Gay Jew in Chief,” Al fought passionately for inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the Jewish community and in the broader society. His background in law inspired him to become director of Lambda Legal (1994–2000), dedicated to achieving full equality for lesbian and gay people. Having personally lived through the climate of prejudice toward gay people, Al actively championed those fighting discrimination, and was the founding chair of the LGBT Alliance in 1975. Importantly, Al nurtured many grassroots and progressive LGBTQ+ organizations, providing advice to their leaders and consistent philanthropic support. Activist, legal, and service organizations, local and national, all benefited from Al’s wisdom and generosity, including benchmark groups such as the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), and San Francisco’s Openhouse, providing LGBTQ+ seniors housing and other community services. In 2013, at the age of 82, Al was given the Lifetime Achievement Award and served as Grand Marshal of the San Francisco Pride Parade, one of the highlights of his life. Consistently droll, he remarked to friends he received the award simply for being around so long, but deeply cherished the honor. For his activism, community service, and philanthropy, Al has been the recipient of numerous awards acknowledging his invaluable contributions, including the Silver SPUR (San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association) Award (1996), the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s Community Service Award (2006), the Human Rights Campaign’s James C. Hormel Community Service Award (1996) and Charles M. Holmes Award (2006), the Adelman-Gurevitch Founders Award given by Openhouse (2012), and the Jewish Community Federation’s Robert Sinton Award For Distinguished Leadership (2019). In addition to his work in the community, Al had a lifelong passion for art. Although he eschewed the title “collector,” he filled his home with well-renowned paintings, photographs, sculpture, and artifacts from around the world. One of his most beloved pieces, a ten-foot sculptural

A PR I L 8 , 2 0 2 1

piece by Viola Frey he affectionately named “Doris,” greeted visitors as they entered his home. As an ardent supporter of the arts, he served as Director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and as a member of its executive committee (1996–2006). Al was also passionate about theatre and contributed to the New Conservatory Theatre Center and Berkeley Repertory Theatre. For many years, beginning in the 1960s until the early 2000s, Al had a home on Green Street and was a familiar sight zipping around town on his iconic red scooter. It is in these years that Al, gregarious, sharp-witted, and affable, entertained at his home and developed his many lifelong friendships. A bachelor for many years, in 1977 he wrote to the members of the Harvard class of 1952, “I have become more open, more accepting, less ‘uptight,’ in both my professional and my personal life ... if I were ever to have what I’d thought I wanted—the house ‘with the white picket fence’—the partner there would be a man rather than a woman.” In May 2004, in connection with moving from the Green Street house where he had lived for 40 years, Al met that man, his true love Robert Holgate, an interior designer, who was helping Al on his project. Al loved to recount that, after five minutes, he decided he wanted to work with Robert; after five weeks he realized he was in love with him; and after five months Robert succumbed to his entreaties. Their relationship endured and grew in the seventeen years since that first encounter. They were legally married on their tenth anniversary in 2014, and enjoyed worldwide traveling, collecting art, and working side-by-side on philanthropic endeavors in the LGBTQ+ community. In a 2017 interview, when Al was 86, he said, “It would be very nice if 100 years from now, my name isn’t going to be on a building, it could be, but I’ve decided not to do that. So, it would be very nice if somebody had something that would remind them of me, of my existence.” His many loved ones will cherish wonderful memories of this amazing man and dearly miss him. He is survived by his husband, Robert. A virtual Celebration of Al’s Life will be held on April 13th at 4 pm Pacific Time followed by a virtual Faux Shiva the next afternoon, April 14th at 4 pm Pacific Time. More information regarding both services can be found on his memorial page at https://tinyurl.com/3zr6k9vw Al loved a good party so all are welcome to attend one or both events. Charitable donations can be made in Al’s honor to any of the following organizations: New Israel Fund, ACLU, Openhouse and/or the New Conservatory Theatre Center.

Honoring the Life & Legacy of

Al Baum Photos courtesy of Robert Holgate

Letting Go

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman May. I had a Buddhist minister, and Al had a rabbi.

Jewish tradition tells us that at any given time there are 36 righteous individuals among us who by their goodness keep the world going. For several decades, Al Baum was such an indispensable human for San Francisco, and, of course, especially our LGBTQ and Jewish communities. He was one of our leading philanthropists for a host of worthy charitable endeavors and political campaigns. He was also a sweet, sweet man and a dear friend. I will miss him very much, and extend my deepest condolences to his husband Robert and all those who loved Al and mourn his loss (a long list indeed). May his memory be for a blessing.

PHOTO BY WILL ZANG

JK: So, Al was an extrovert and you’re an introvert?

Out of Left Field Jennifer Kroot On March 28th, philanthropist Al Baum passed away at home. His husband Robert Holgate was by his side, along with dear friends Brigette Scheel and Steve Shimmon. Robert is my writing partner for this column, and longtime friend. Just before the pandemic, Robert and Al took me and my partner to dinner and the theatre. We went to Zuni, which was Al’s favorite, and, of course, we had the famous Zuni chicken, also Al’s favorite. Then we went to The New Conservatory Theatre Center—which Al and Robert have supported for many years. We saw Head Over Heels, the Go-Go’s musical. It was a magical evening, and the last time we saw Al.

RH: Yeah. In my work, I’ve had to sell stuff, and so, I had to be good with people and communication. It was never easy for me. I did it for survival. Al, on the other hand, was just a natural. He would get invites to all kinds of events, and would never miss one. He’d literally do four or five events in a day, and ride this little red scooter, because he could park right in front of all of the events. He’d go in for 20 minutes, then zip off to the next event.

RH: Ten days after I was born, on January 14th, 1958. I was born on January 4th. Al was 28.

JK: How did you meet?

JK: Is it hard when you’re in an intergenerational relationship to have to make rules like taking the scooter away?

But, I say it was when we finished our project, because I didn’t mix business with pleasure, which drove him crazy! JK: How long have you been together? RH: We were together 10 years before we got married, and we’ve been married seven years. We had a small wedding in February, 2014, officiated by former CA State Senator Mark Leno, whom we admired and supported over the years. We had a big wedding in the Presidio in

Al Baum was generosity incarnate. He took extraordinary joy in giving, and gave not only generously but also consistently, investing in LGBTQ and other nonprofits for the long run. Al understood what it takes to build strong organizations, and that strong organizations form the backbone of our community. While Al was never showy, what he—together with Robert for the last 15 years or more—did do was to show up, again and again and again. And there’s so much he did beyond donating money: Al became a source of wisdom, support, and insight to countless community leaders.

JK: When did Al come to San Francisco?

I sat with Robert in the living room that he and Al designed together. Amidst laughs and tears, Robert reminisced about his life with Al. RH: In 2004, our mutual friend, Joe Gillach, mentioned that he’d referred me to a wonderful man, Al Baum, who was looking for an interior designer. Joe said, “Don’t be afraid of him. He’s cheap as hell, and he has more money than God, but you’ll love working with him.” The way that Al told the story was that in five minutes he knew he wanted to work with me. Then in five weeks he knew he was in love with me. Then, it was five months before I succumbed.

Roger Doughty, President of Horizons Foundation

Well, we’d been together a few years, and Al was at least 75, and I noticed a huge bruise down the side of his body. I Robert and Al on their wedding day (2014) said, “Al, what happened?” and he said, “Nothing.” I said, “B.S., what happened?” He finally told me that when racing from one event to the next, he’d fallen off of his scooter, and slid across Market Street! I said, “That’s it. You’re getting rid of the scooter.” He wasn’t happy, but he realized that it was time.

Above and Below: Al enjoying the company of friends and family

Al Baum loved San Francisco, and he simply loved the LGBTQ community. He has left a profound mark—the evidence is everywhere. And perhaps his very greatest contribution—his greatest gift—was the inspiration he provided to thousands of others. Through them and through his own enormous gifts, Al Baum will keep making life better for LGBTQ people for generations to come.

RH: Yes. It was never easy. Years after the scooter, we argued about hearing aids. Oh, my god, did we have a fight about that! Years later he had to stop driving. The next was the walker, and then the wheelchair. He wanted to be self-reliant, but couldn’t be anymore. It really wasn’t in his nature to Robert's selfie of Al and friends at New Conservatory Theatre Center let go. I was always so proud was because he knew that I would stand up to him of him when he could, and even during the week when he was insensitive. when he passed. It had been a really hard couple of The last thing Al told the rabbi before he passed months, and he finally just let go. was that I made him a better person. I think Al RH: May I go on a tangent here? realized he didn’t have to feel like he controlled everything. JK: Sure! RH: Nobody ever called Al out on anything. Everybody just went along with him, and for good reason, for the most part. He was a brilliant man. But there were some quirky, sometimes insensitive, things he would say that were not always okay. Remember, he was born in 1930, so he was from a different time. Anyway, I started calling him on it. Eventually, we both laughed about it. We even joked about the fact that the only reason we lasted as long as we did

And I learned so much from Al. His warmth and generosity were contagious and inspiring. JK: So, you’ve confided that this year with COVID-19 was pretty tough for Al. What was it like for him? RH: Like so many people, he felt trapped. He turned 90 in September and he’d planned to have a huge party, but that wasn’t possible. He was also hoping to officiate his second cousin’s wedding, but that was postponed. I took him on drives a lot. That cheered him up. He loved geography and architecture. We’d wander and look at buildings. When we saw one in disrepair I’d say, “What would you do to make that one look better?” He always had the same answer: “I’d put shutters on it.” Didn’t matter if it was Victorian or modern. JK: You mentioned you wanted to talk about Al’s caretaker. RH: Yes. Eric has been with us for over six years. He truly loved Al.

Robert and Al on vacation

Robert and Al at home with their dog Buddy

The most beautiful thing happened after Al died. Eric and I sat on the bed with Al

Al admiring a waterfall view

and we decided to pick out a wonderful outfit for Al, so when he left the house to be cremated, he’d be in something that he loved. Eric made sure that his buttons were lined up, and that everything was right; not a belt loop was missed. He had socks on that had pictures of our dog Buddy, who had died in February 2020. He wore his favorite slippers. The finishing touch was a strand of beads that we’d bought in Africa. Al would’ve loved the outfit. Jennifer Kroot is a filmmaker, known for her award-winning LGBTQ themed documentaries, including “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin” and “To Be Takei.” She studied filmmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute, where she has also taught. She is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. A humanitarian, as well as a designer, Robert Holgate is dedicated to critical social issues. With his hands-on approach to philanthropy and social justice, he supports the advancement of local and national social causes. For more information: https://www.rhdsf.com/

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

APR IL 8, 2021

Honoring the Life & Legacy of

Al Baum

To Al Baum, With Gratitude and Love

Dr. Marcy Adelman I first met Al in 2001 when he attended Openhouse’s inaugural event. I remember how gracious Al was when Jeanette ( Jeanette Gurevitch, 1948–2003) and I spoke to him about the need to build a community infrastructure of senior housing and services. He said, “I’m very interested in what you are trying to do here. Why don’t you keep me informed over the next few months and we will see where we go from there?” I didn’t know it then, but it was the start of a relationship that would last almost two decades, and would deepen into a close, loving, and cherished friendship. Al wasn’t like any other philanthropic leader I had ever met. He took the time to get to know us. For Al, philanthropy wasn’t just about funding a project; it was about building meaningful and trusting relationships while working together on a

Over the next few years, Al became Openhouse’s lead donor and ambassador at large. He encouraged the community to support us and introduced us to his friends. He attended every event and hosted a few himself. He wanted to hear all about our efforts to acquire a site for our campus; our successes and failures in navigating City Hall, the Planning Department, and neighborhood nimby politics; and our search to secure a housing developer partner. He seemed to thrive on these challenges as much as we did. When he could, he offered sage advice, but sometimes would just say, “I don’t know that I would have anything to add to that,” and would break out in that huge, warm, and joyous smile of his. Al, Jeanette, and I discovered we shared much in common. The three of us were psychotherapists and lifelong advocates, and shared back-

Al Baum and his partner Robert received the Adelman-Gurevitch Founders Award in 2012. SAUL BROMBERGER AND SANDRA HOOVER PHOTOGRAPHY

Aging in Community

Once Al committed to Openhouse, he was all in and never wavered. I know, though, there were times, especially during the early years of the organization, when Al wasn’t entirely sure we could overcome some of the challenges we faced. It takes an extraordinary, visionary, strategic, generous, and courageous community leader to take on a pivotal role with a grassroots housing and service organization with no money, no land, and no experience.

Pam David and then State Senator Mark Leno with Al Baum at Openhouse for the unveiling ceremony of the Adelman-Gurevitch mural in the 55 Laguna building.

With Openhouse executive direc- Robert and Al with Openhouse co-founder Dr. Marcy Adelman at the Four Seasons Hotel (2012) Photo by Rink tor Karyn Skultety (2018)

grounds of Jewish culture and values that influenced and shaped our politics and our choices in life. But it was only after my beloved Jeanette died in 2003 that Al and I became really close. His gentle and kind spirit was a comfort. His wisdom and humor made me laugh even when I was sad. How could I not love him? In 2004, Al met the love of his life, Robert. Al’s great and generous heart had finally met his equal. Together

they created the most wonderful partnership. Their love and passion for life, community, and service were magical to behold and a joy to be around. For 17 years Al and Robert have been an integral part of my life and the Openhouse family. Al once said he didn’t want to have a building named after him. He would rather people remembered what he gave them. The next time you attend an Openhouse event or drive by the Openhouse campus, remember Al

Baum and thank him for giving our community the gift of Openhouse. Dr. Marcy Adelman, a psychologist and LGBTQ+ longevity advocate and policy adviser, oversees the Aging in Community column. She serves on the California Commission on Aging, the Governor’s Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force, the Board of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California, and the San Francisco Dignity Fund Oversight and Advisory Committee. She is the Co-Founder of Openhouse, the only San Francisco nonprofit exclusively focused on the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ older adults.

There Will Never Be Another Alvin Baum as a member of the SF Pride Board. This was no easy feat; my nomination was met with resistance and a chorus of, “Who?” and, “Why?” because Al was not a showman. He was humble and worked behind the scenes and shunned the limelight.

Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History Louise “Lou” Fischer When I heard that Alvin Baum had died, it took a while to sink in because the Al Baum whom I knew for almost 20 years seemed immortal; a man capable of reinventing himself so many times that surely he was just going to morph into some form of eternal being and continue his legacy as a hero to the many communities he served and supported. If my mother were still alive, she’d say, “They broke the mold when they made Al Baum.” He was a true renaissance man who not only had three successful careers, but also made his mark in the LGBT and Jewish communities and additionally supported a broad range of causes including the arts, theatre, and civil liberties. I’m proud to have known Al and am thankful to him for his mentorship and support when we first met in ... let’s call it the early 2000s. One of my proudest achievements during my time in public service was honoring him with the 2013 SF Pride Lifetime Achievement Award when I served 6

SA N F RANCISCO BAY T I ME S

Knowing that I needed a bigger (and louder) voice than mine to get this done, I enlisted the help of the indefatigable Audrey Joseph who agreed, “It has to be Al,” and that she’d “take care of it.” To this day, I have images of Audrey wagging her finger in the face of my adversaries while saying in her mellifluous Brooklyn accent, “Now you listen here. Al Baum is this year’s Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal or else.” One of my happiest moments was the day I finally connected with Al via phone and gave him the good news in real-time; in his inimitable style he responded, “Why me?” and, “Can Robert (then partner, now husband) ride in the car with me?” I first met Al when I joined the Board of the LGBT Jewish Alliance of the Jewish Community Federation ( JCF), which was an affinity task force within the JCF. The Alliance was the first of its kind, an LGBT-focused group within the Federation dedicated to growing, sustaining, and inspiring the diverse LGBT community and ensuring representation within the powerful organization. Al founded the group and spearheaded change by demanding that the needs of the LGBT community be represented within the Jewish community. Al’s tireless campaign was the equivalent of “we’re here, we’re queer, get used to it,” with the addendum of “but we’re also Jewish so we brought coffee and cake, let’s have a nosh and talk while you get used to it.” My A PR I L 8 , 2 0 2 1

favorite memory of Al’s involvement with the Alliance is from 2007 when he invited all the board members to his beautiful home to welcome the new director. While I’ve driven by the stately homes and apartment buildings of Pacific Heights, I’d never actually been invited inside any of them, so for two hours I got to pretend that I was the scion of an old-money San Francisco family. Al, being the mensch that he was, indulged my fantasy while reminding me that his home “wasn’t really a big deal”—yes, Al, it was, because you made it warm and welcoming. Another “yup, that’s Al Baum” story involves the morning of the 2013 Pride March. At the time, I was on the board of both the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club and the Pride Board, so Pride weekend was doubly stressful and busy. I hosted Al at my table at the Alice Breakfast and arranged for one of our interns to “staff” him for the duration of the breakfast. This involved keeping him company, making sure he got enough to eat (we may have been in a Chinese restaurant, but we’re still Jews!) before his husband Robert could take him to the staging area of the parade to wait around in the blazing heat or freezing cold before being whisked up Market Street for the biggest moment of his life (well, for Al, one of many “biggest moments”). Robert, however, needed to rush away at the last minute to fetch a friend who was joining them, and I had no one to accompany Al from the breakfast through the phalanx of chaos that is the Pride staging area and safely deliver him to his waiting car. In a moment of panic, I approached the handsome and soonto-be shirtless 20-year-old intern whose “staffing shift” was effectively

Al Baum was known for his insatiable love of art and visiting art museums locally and during his travels abroad.

ing any time with Al Baum: “Are you kidding? This is the most interesting man I’ve ever met. I can spend the whole day with him if you need me to.” Farewell, Al Baum. Your legacy will live on through your hard work and philanthropic gifts to so many organizations. I’ll miss seeing you at the New Conservatory Theatre, but without your benevolence, the theatre might not have existed for so long (going on 40 years!). May your memory be for a blessing. over and who most likely had a go-go dancing platform on a float waiting for him. How was I going to ask this hot go-go boy to spend another hour or two with a kind elderly man? Granted this is a Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal and an historical icon, but still ... hot go-go boy and elderly man; they don’t exactly go together like peanut butter and chocolate. The response matched what most people said after spend-

Louise (Lou) Fischer is a Former Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and has served as an appointed and elected Delegate for the State Democratic Party. She is a proud graduate of the Emerge California Women’s Democratic Leadership program, was a San Francisco Commissioner, and has served in leadership positions in multiple nonprofit and communitybased organizations.

PHOTO BY SAUL BROMBERGER AND SANDRA HOOVER PHOTOGRAPHY

community project of mutual interest and concern.

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

APR IL 8, 2021

Four Ways to Counteract Proposed Tax Law Changes sively higher the more you earn (i.e., the first roughly $1k of earnings gets taxed at 10%, the next $3.7k at 12%, the next $10k at 22%, and so on). So, the uber rich reaped the benefit of all the lower-bracket rate reductions, as well as getting a 2.6% cut on any earnings above the highest threshold. The Biden tax plan is looking to return the top tax bracket to the preTCJA rate of 39.6%.

Money Matters Brandon Miller If you’ve ever played chess—or watched The Queen’s Gambit—you know that the game is all about forethought and reaction. You strategize what you want to do and try to execute your plan, while at the same time countering any moves your opponent makes. What takes place on the board makes you constantly revise your thinking. Financial planning requires a similar flexibility. Tax laws and financial regulations are always changing. The best “players” pay attention to what new legislation does and make their moves based on their own goals and the changed landscape. Right now, the Biden administration is considering four significant tax changes that may alter how you manage your money. Here are the proposed changes, and my suggested strategies for not sacrificing too many of your pawns. Government Move: Raising the Highest Tax Bracket The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 reduced the top marginal tax rate to 37%. Most workers got a tax cut, but the wealthiest got a greater share. In our marginal tax rate system, the first dollars you earn are taxed at lower rates that get progres-

Suggested Countermove: Shift Income If you are in that top-tier tax bracket and have the ability to control when you receive salary or bonuses, see if you can shift more of your earnings to 2021 when you know your tax rate will be 37% max. Government Move: Capital Gains Tax Increase The Biden tax plan also proposes taxing capital gains—the profit you make from selling property or other investments—as ordinary income for people who make a million or more a year. Currently, capital gains are taxed at rates of 0, 15, and 20%. Suggested Countermove: Sell Now Knowing that your tax hit might be about to get worse, this could be the year to sell, sell, sell. Especially if you have a whole lot of one stock that has appreciated greatly. Government Move: Estate Tax Threshold Reduction Quick sidebar here: Estates, not heirs, pay estate tax, but only on the portion of the cash, real estate, retirement accounts, and other assets that exceed the exemption level. The TCJA doubled the exemption level and indexed it for inflation. The threshold for 2021 is $11.7 million for individuals and $23.4 million if married at the time of death. That’s a pretty big estate to shelter from taxes, which may be why the Biden tax plan

is looking at possibly decreasing the threshold in coming years. Suggested Countermove: Play Santa You can easily reduce the size of your estate by giving portions of it away while you’re still alive. How fun is that? Government Move: Elimination of Step-Up Basis This one impacts all heirs, regardless of the value of the estate. Cost basis refers to the amount paid for an investment when it was originally purchased. Inherit someone else’s property and you get a step-up in basis, making your new basis the fair market value of the property when you inherit it. Sell it immediately and you won’t owe any capital gains. Or keep it until you die and your heirs get a new step-up basis. This rule obviously allows families to shield lots of wealth by holding onto property generation after generation. But eliminating the step-up basis, as the Biden tax plan suggests, could increase the tax burden on investments, making this a more controversial proposal. Suggested Countermove: Life Insurance A policy worth the estimated tax bill on your estate may allow your heirs to pay off the debt without dipping into the fortune you want to leave to them. Building and protecting your wealth can be easier when you know what the government has in store, and can make moves to counteract the impact of legislation. Now that’s a game worthy of your time. The opinions expressed in this article are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or (continued on page 28)

Big Abilities and Style HST. Both are way more than you’d ever need, although the experiences they provide might be just what you want. The tested Dodge rang in at $51,570, and the Range Rover doubled it at $105,170. These are chic fees for a family sedan and a mid-sized SUV, but, of course, that’s not really what we’re examining here.

Auto Philip Ruth When is too much too much? It’s a subjective question with a highly personalized answer. In terms of cars, the response has no baseline. Pretty much any vehicle owner can point to another car or truck that is faster, bigger, or more capable than theirs. It’s like the gym: no matter how lean and buff you get, there is always someone leaner and buffer. There is a certain relief in accepting that. It’s OK not to be top dog all the time, and it can be the sanest choice to let someone else drive for a while. But when competitive juices flow, a powerful tool could be just the thing. The satisfaction it can provide might make it right for your daily transportation. That’s pretty much the justification behind both our subjects this week: the Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Plus, and the Range Rover Sport 8

SA N F RANCISCO BAY T I ME S

A PR I L 8 , 2 0 2 1

Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Plus

Instead, the Dodge is a manifestation of brute force, and the Range Rover effectively mixes youthful vigor with old-school prestige. The first interior feature listed on the Dodge’s window sticker is its 180mph speedometer, which cues you to the 6.4-liter V8 engine and its 485 horsepower. It’s shunted through an eight-speed automatic that teams up with the Hemi engine to purr around town and then unleash the hounds at a moment’s notice. Particularly satisfying was the Charger’s throttle response from a stop; power is parsed out in fine gradations to prevent you from over-driving a car that begs for it. That response lags by comparison in the Range Rover Sport. While it is also an eight-speed automatic, the Sport’s engine is a more modern interpretation of internal-combustion brawn, with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 propelling this truck with 395 horsepower. But, the hat-tip to the Range Rover’s considerable off-road skill is acceleration that lags a second or two before really coming on. That’s the deliberate response you need off-road, but it’s less useful when you’re at city

Range Rover Sport HST

intersections opposite time-pressed Amazon Prime trucks. Interior quality is an obvious reason for the Range Rover’s doubling of price over this top-shelf Dodge. The latter is improved over the Charger’s predecessors with attractive stitching around the instrument panel, but similarly-priced sedans like the Nissan Maxima feel better to the touch. The tested Range Rover Sport is in another class entirely, at a price point where the supple “Suedecloth” that wraps the steering wheel and seat bolsters could be from the hide of a magical animal spoken of only by young-adult authors. Above all else, both of these vehicles are like none other on the road. That distinction, along with abilities relatively few others possess, affirms their appeal. Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant with an automotive staging service.

Message from Leadership

Ways to Celebrate the Transgender and Non-Binary Communities

By Krystal Drwencke Showing up, being seen, making connections, creating bonds. This is how small business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, CEOs, students, and family members create lives, careers, and purpose. We celebrated the Transgender Day of Visibility (or TDOV) on March 31, but honoring our transgender and non-binary community is important year-round. TDOV was founded in 2009 by Rachel Crandall, a Michigan-based transgender activist. It was started as a day of awareness to celebrate the successes of transgender and gender-nonconforming people. The Transgender Day of Remembrance is recognized on November 20th and was founded in 1999 as a way to memorialize the murder of a transgender woman, Rita Hester, in Allston, Massachusetts. Since then, it has slowly morphed into a day of action against transphobia.

How do we celebrate our transgender and non-binary communities? Educate yourself. Elevate and promote organizations that promote trans equality. Respect trans friendly pronouns and consider adding your pronouns to your Zoom name, social media profile, or email signature. Recognize intersectionality and that individuals may be grappling with and expressing different parts of not only their race and gender, but also class, sexuality, religion, disability, physical appearance, caste, and height. Seek out people who are sharing their stories online. Look up hashtags to hear people express themselves through #TransResistance, #TDOV, #TransDayOf Visibility, and #transrightshumanrights. Celebrate recent wins. As we have seen from the social movements that have been developing for

GGBA Member Spotlight

decades and gained momentum in 2020, the space for recognition and value in our diversity can not only save lives, but also should be cause for celebration. There is hope when the mouthpiece of our nation issues a formal presidential proclamation recognizing the TDOV, and when the Associated Press reports: “The Pentagon will sweep away Trump-era policies that largely banned transgender people from serving in the military, issuing new rules that offer them wider access to medical care and assistance with gender transition.” Remember that everyone may not be ready to share certain parts of their story, but be ready to listen when they are. Celebrate and love those willing to be seen and lift them up. Krystal Drwencke is the Vice President of the Golden Gate Business Association. She is also the founder of Ascent Sports Chiropractic: http://www.ascentsportschiro.com/

Eric Randall of Route Fitness Photos courtesy of Eric Randall

Experience, education, and close attention to detail when working with clients are what set Route Fitness apart from other fitness businesses. Owner Eric Randall had many years of experience in the fitness industry before he opened Route Fitness. That expertise shows in the many five-star reviews at Yelp, ranging from a 69-year-old MS patient to a formerly overweight client who is now enjoying his exercise program and eating healthy. Here, Randall shares more about his business and membership in the GGBA. GGBA: Please tell us more about Route Fitness. Eric Randall: Route Fitness is a health and wellness company that helps its clients who are in need of strength gain, endurance development, weight management, sport improvement, and injury/disease prevention. We provide personal 1-on-1 fitness instruction to people of all levels of fitness. The facility, which is conveniently located in the SoMa district, provides a clean, safe space, without judgement or distractions, so clients can focus on their performance as they improve session to session. We are passionate about the work we do. It truly is our goal to help each client reach their maximum potential. We make the path to good health a route that our clients want to take. GGBA: Why did you decide to create your business? Eric Randall: In 2009, I smoked almost two packs of cigarettes a day. I had severe shoulder, knee, and back pain. I was overweight, depressed, with unhealthy cholesterol and blood pressure. I was addicted to sugar and drank coffee every day. My doctor wanted to put me on 5 different daily medications. I didn’t want to be on drugs daily so I started to eat healthier and exercise. I was in the gym exercising and I noticed a few trainers. They seemed distracted, out of shape, and unfriendly. I felt bad for their clients. I know I needed a career change but I didn’t know what I was going to do. By those trainers’ performances, I was convinced that we needed better trainers. I went to the National Personal Training Institute (NPTI) to become a certified personal trainer. In

the process of becoming a trainer, I stopped smoking, all my pain was gone, I wasn’t as depressed, and my blood pressure and cholesterol improved. I worked in a commercial gym since 2010. Most commercial gyms push supplements. I became a skilled medical Eric Randall fitness professional to help people get stronger, manage their weight, and avoid injury, not push supplements. I didn’t like the impersonal sales-like environment. It inspired me to create my own business, which includes a more authentic relationship with each client. GGBA: Who are some of your role models, and especially those who helped to inf luence your business? Eric Randall: My father inspired me by how he started his own business. It was a lot of hard work and at times we struggled harder than most. However, it provided me with the confidence to start my own business later on in life. I would have to thank my father for instilling his entrepreneurship genes in me. The instructor at NPTI, Chris Hitchko, taught me how to design a gym and later, because he had a kinesiology degree, I was inspired to obtain the same science degree with honors. Dr. Darryl Jackson was my supervisor and hired me at my first personal training job over 11 years ago. Some of the things he taught me, I still use today. My clients also helped to influence my business. They gave me an extra push I needed to open my own facility. I was frightened to leave a commercial gym because leasing my own spot in San Francisco is pretty pricy. However, even through the recent

GGBA CALENDAR April Make Contact - Finding Financial Happiness in Good Times and Bad Tuesday, April 13 5:30 pm–6:30 pm The pandemic has made people recalibrate and reevaluate their measure of success. Join us for guided networking breakout sessions as members share how they have shifted intention in their businesses and thrived in the last year. We’ll also explore ways to get more involved and make some connections that keep our community so vibrant. We’ll hear from member Pamela Schmitz of Brio Financial Group as she explores how planning can create a road map for financial freedom and success! Register: https://tinyurl.com/ab2w9k4n GGBA Volunteer Orientation Wednesday, April 21 5 pm–6 pm GGBA Members can get involved with general volunteer events. This includes signing up to help at events, dedicating a few hours to phone outreach, or assisting with other GGBA activities. Register: https://tinyurl.com/yhn9ffpx Power Lunch 2021 Virtual Experience Wednesday, May 26 11:30 am–1 pm $75 All GGBA members will receive a free booth at the Power Expo valued at $500. Once a year, we have an opportunity to experience the power of connecting, the power of learning and the power of our diverse community coming together. Our Power Lunch event this year is even more important in laying a solid foundation in building resilience and strength in our GGBA community. Join us for an elevated, interactive virtual experience that will provide opportunities to network with other businesses, pitch your business to our corporate partners, have an online exhibit space with your own company video, be inspired by leaders, and learn from the experts. Register: https://tinyurl.com/4scb5ymz

events, now virtual? Have they benefited you and your business, and would you recommend them to others?

COVID-19 pandemic, my clients have stayed with me. When they reach a new goal, it inspires me to work harder as well. GGBA: Why did you decide to join the GGBA, and how long have you been a member? Eric Randall: As a gay man of color, I need to be a part of a supportive organization. I became a member in 2019 after a client of mine suggested I start reading the San Francisco Business Times. I saw this organization in the pride issue.

Eric Randall: I work mostly when other 9 am–5 pm, M–F folks do not. So that means some of my clients need to see me after 5 pm and on weekends, which is when the Make Contact networking events take place. However, I have been able to attend some of them. Having that moral support during the COVID-19 pandemic helped to restore my morale and allowed me to keep fighting to save my business from closing. GGBA: What other advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own business?

Eric Randall: Other members are very approachable with any questions. Having that moral support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, is priceless.

Eric Randall: Share your vision with potential customers. Create a business plan that sets you apart from other competitors. Be willing to work long hours and become adaptable to change. Place fear on the back burner and let your passion lead the way. Stay humble and make sure to commit a day out of the week for rejuvenation to avoid burnout.

GGBA: Do you go to the GGBA monthly Make Contact networking

For more information about Route Fitness: http://www.routefitness.com/about.html

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

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

APR IL 8, 2021

We Hear You Knocking, Sister Park Cannon

Cross Currents Andrea Shorter With the opening of the trial of the century underway, including the emotional testimonials of affected, traumatized witnesses to the horrific homicide of George Floyd at the hands and literally under the knee of defendant Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, social media, texts, and even old-fashioned phone calling were connecting millions of viewers in real-time to process with friends and families the proceedings as prosecutors presented even more, lengthier, and different angled multiple video exhibits related to, or of, the actual murderous excessive force that ended George Floyd’s life first seen ‘round the world in May of 2020. “Just checking in. How are you doing? I’m having a hard time.” “It’s hard to see video over and over again. I can only imagine what it is like for the witnesses.” “If Chauvin isn’t found guilty, or if there is a mistrial, there is no justice, no peace.” These are just bits of the sentiment, caution, and hopes for justice in what should be a clear-cut case. Three days before the trial began in Minneapolis, a less overwhelming but nevertheless significant flurry of texts poured out concerning the evening news video capture of another troubled moment in the making at the Georgia State Capitol: state troopers arrested a young Black woman knocking on the door for

room where it was hapentry into the governor’s pening—not as a violocked conference room lent insurrectionist—was as he signed voter supapparently enough cause pression into law, cerfor state troopers to immeemoniously flanked by diately accost her, put her a clan of all white male in handcuffs, and place legislators, all perfectly her under arrest. State staged in front of a Representative Cannon painting of a grand old now faces up to eight years plantation of times past, yet still very present. Georgia State Representative in prison for allegedly disrupting a General AssemThere was not a single Park Cannon bly session, and for threats woman, person of color, of violence (stumbled on, stepped on or LGBTQ person in that room. his feet) against one of the arresting Staged as much of a lock out as a lock officers. in, the moment of exclusion of such The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Aladiverse others was undeniably by bama is some 225 miles away from design, to sport the very purpose of the George State Capitol in Atlanta. the Jim Crow-era revival law itself. Whether by design or happenGovernor Kemp’s signature wasn’t stance, Cannon’s incident was capa deadly force of a knee on a neck, tured on video for all the world to but, make no mistake, the law aims see. As shocking as her arrest was, it to place a stranglehold on the voting was by no means as horrifying as the rights of Black and other non-white, painful footage of the state troopers’ non-Republican voters in the Peach brutal attack and assault on peaceState. ful marchers for African AmeriWhen the video went viral, social can voting rights as the marchers media and texts responded: “Did you attempted to cross over the bridge on see this? Who is she?” “WTH—she the Bloody Sunday of March 7, 1965. was arrested for knocking on a door?! Cannon suffered injuries to her left No way.” arm and shoulder, apparently from the force of the officers’ accosting She is Park Cannon. In 2016, at age and restraints, but these injuries were 24, she became the youngest person certainly not the bloody head bashever elected to the Georgia House of ing from police billy clubs suffered by Representatives. State RepresentaJohn Lewis on the Pettus Bridge. tive Cannon is Black. Like the late Congressman John Lewis, she is also a member of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, once led by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr., his son Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr., and currently recently elected U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock. State Representative Cannon is also queer. Yes, it was a young, openly gay Black lawmaker who knocked on the governor’s door attempting to gain entry to witness and record the bill signing as she has routinely done as a minority caucus secretary at other legislative happenings and bill signings. Her attempt to gain entry into the

Chinatown Pride

The first ever Chinatown Pride was held virtually on March 25, marking a collaboration between San Francisco Pride and the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco. Artists, activists, chefs, performers, and more were featured during the hour-long engaging event that celebrated Asian LGBTQ community members while also taking a stand against hate and racism. https://www.cccsf.us/

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

A PR I L 8 , 2 0 2 1

Thankfully, no blood was spilt by Cannon in the cause of protecting voting rights on March 26, 2021. The fearful feeling that Cannon’s arrest could have gone down as brutally, violently, and bloody at the hands of the Georgia state troopers in the year 2021 remains as fresh, as present, and as terrifying as it might have in 1965. That’s just the way things are in 2021—massive, violent, murderous insurrection on the U.S. Capitol by a majority white mob incited by former president Trump with little accountability for either the mob or the president (continued on page 28)

BAY TIMES S

HONEY BEARS

LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2021)

Nunny Honey Bear Suddenly Appears at Power House By Sister Dana Van Iquity The Sister Honey Bear Mural appeared on the Power House wall in the SoMa neighborhood on the day before Easter Sunday. A flock of nuns of the San Francisco Order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence assembled to bless the huge, glorious, wondrous mural of renowned artist fnnch’s honey bear donned in wimple, veil, and long fake eyelashes to forever bless the leather ‘hood. The Sister Honey Bear Painting and Print went on sale Easter Sunday during our 42nd Anniversary Virtual Celebration, “Rise Up with the Sisters.” And 50% of sales went to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to fund our grants cycle. The painting is 11” x 19”, spray paint on cut maple plywood, signed, and numbered from an edition of 50. The print is 18” x 24”, archival pigment on archival cotton rag, signed, and numbered from an edition of 150. After the sale went online at fnnch’s website, the Sister Bear’s 50 paintings and 150 prints sold out in 60 seconds raising $24,375! fnnch believes art is for everyone. He notes that only about 5% of a city’s residents and visitors tour its art museums. He believes street art and murals are art for the other 95%, inspiring and engaging them with the arts. And the honey bear just makes people feel warm inside.

PHOTO BY GOOCH

When I confessed my discomfort as a former English professor and current journalist in fnnch not capitalizing a proper noun, especially at the start of a sentence, he held no remorse. But he did explain his nickname. He said in middle school he was very short and very small and was called the little finch. Added to that, his mother’s family was artistic and used birds somewhat thematically—so it all came together for this artist. He also likes to joke that he’s “too poor to buy vowels.” Referring to The Sisters always helping out at the gates during Leather Fairs, Power House Manager Scott Peterson said, “Working with The Sisters again feels like a return to normalcy.” He added, “We’re not sure what the future holds, but we’re certainly hoping to get back to it ... let’s hope the honey bear here changes everything!”

PHOTO BY GOOCH

His art can be found in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago, St. Louis, Tel Aviv, and Hong Kong. And lucky for you kinky leather folx and friends and sister fans: now at 1347 Folsom in SF South of Market!

PHOTO BY GOOCH

fnnch creates street art and murals using multi-layered stencils and spray paint. He calls his work “contemporary pop art,” depicting objects from both nature and everyday life. Over time his work has gained a strong following on social media and has been featured by The New York Times, Washington Post, and The San Francisco Chronicle. When you go to his website, you will note that he has dozens upon dozens of different versions of honey bears with different themes, hats, accoutrements, props, etc.—and mostly all sold out, unfortunately. They are extremely popular. ( https://fnnch.com/ )

PHOTO BY GOOCH

“To me, The Sisters represents super-grass roots, supercool people allowing people to be themselves, and is the sort of organization I wanted to partner with,” fnnch told me for the San Francisco Bay Times. “I wanted to help support their work.”

“This is a merger of three San Francisco institutions: The Sisters, the Power House, and fnnch,” said Senator Scott Wiener. “Three great things coming together to make beautiful art.” The glorious afternoon concluded with a blessing of the honey nun mural by Sister Celine and Sister Lilith (everyone spraying the crowd with “holy” water from honey bears) followed by a sainting of fnnch as “St. phoenxx, Guardian of the Joyous Bears, Provider of the Honey of Hope, Champion of Resiliency.” Amen! For More Information

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence https://www.thesisters.org/

PHOTO BY GOOCH

fnnch https://fnnch.com/

PHOTO BY GOOCH

Mark Rhoades PR https://www.markrhoadespr.com/

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

APR IL 8, 2021

Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor 1978 Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

2261 Market Street, No. 309 San Francisco CA 94114 Phone: 415-601-2113 525 Bellevue Avenue Oakland CA 94610 E-mail: editor@sfbaytimes.com www.sfbaytimes.com The Bay Times was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men. We honor our history and the paper’s ability to build and strengthen unity in our community. The Bay Times is proud to be the only newspaper for the LGBT community in San Francisco that is 100% owned and operated by LGBT individuals. Dr. Betty L. Sullivan Jennifer L. Viegas Co-Publishers & Co-Editors

Beth Greene, Michael Delgado, John Signer, Abby Zimberg Design & Production

Kate Laws Business Manager Blake Dillon Calendar Editor

Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence J.H. Herren

Technology Director

Carla Ramos Web Coordinator Mario Ordonez Distribution

CONTRIBUTORS Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Patrick Carney, Kate Kendell, Alex Randolph, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Jennifer Kroot, Robert Holgate, Dennis McMillan, Julie Peri,Tom Moon, Tim Seelig, Cinder Ernst, John Chen Rafael Mandelman, Jewelle Gomez, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Kin Folkz, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Peter Gallotta, Bill Lipsky, Elisa Quinzi, Liam Mayclem, Karen Williams, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Derek Barnes, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron Michele Karlsberg Lyndsey Schlax, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Howard Steiermann, Andrea Shorter, Lou Fischer, Karin Jaffie, Brett Andrews, Karen E. Bardsley, David Landis, Jan Wahl Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Deborah Svoboda, Devlin Shand, Kristopher Acevedo, Darryl Pelletier, Morgan Shidler, JP Lor ADVERTISING Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards http://sfbaytimes.com/ or 415-503-1375 Custom ad sizes are available. Ads are reviewed by the publishers. National Advertising: Contact Bay Times / San Francisco. Represented by Rivendell Media: 908-232-2021 Circulation is verified by an independent agency Reprints by permission only.

Supporting Mayor Breed’s Highly Qualified Nominee for Highly Specialized Commission Seat By Sophia Andary, Louise Fischer, Lisa Williams, and Cyn Wang As diverse colleagues who work individually and collaboratively for representation, diversity, and inclusion, we support Mayor London Breed’s nomination of architectural historian Christina Dikas to the Historic Preservation Commission. Dikas is exceptionally qualified for the job, a standout nominee as a woman in a traditionally straight white male-dominated field of architectural historians. The Commission advises the City on historic preservation matters, approves Certificates of Appropriateness for landmarks or for resources located in historic districts. Each seat on the Commission is highly specialized. The seat Dikas would fill must be held by an architectural historian. This particular seat was previously long held by one of two gay men on the Commission, neither of whom will be reappointed by the Mayor. Prior to Dika’s nomination, the seven-member Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) consisted of four men and three women. This year, with two pending re-appointments to the Historic Preservation Commission, the Mayor chose to nominate two women to fill those seats. This will be the first, if not rare, occasion this Commission will be majority women. Mayor Breed’s recent nomination of Ruchira Nageswaran received unanimous approval by the

Board of Supervisors. Dikas is her second nomination.

ommendations from industry professionals and colleagues.

It is understandable that with exception of one at large seat, six seats of the HPC require specialized training, credentials, and experience in real estate, architecture, and architectural history. However, as these occupations and pursuits have been historically and are still dominated by straight white men, women and diverse groups have been consequently, if not systemically, excluded.

In fact, Dikas’ colleague, a gay man, was initially approached to either fill or recommend a candidate for the Commission post. However, he did not fully meet the qualifications, and instead recommended Dikas, who meets, if not exceeds, the requirements of the appointment.

The fact remains that the field of professional, trained architectural historians is remarkably and notably limited. Traditionally dominated by straight white men, locating LGBTQ, women, and/or people of color within the field proves highly challenging. It is also understandable that there is keen interest in maintaining longtime LGBTQ representation on this Commission. As LGBTQ identified women, we, too, have highly valued LGBTQ representation. In consideration of the value of this long-standing representation on the Commission, before selecting Dikas, the Mayor’s office did a comprehensive search for qualified LGBTQ identified San Francisco residents to nominate who meet the specialized qualifications as an architectural historian, including securing rec-

Dikas is an associate principal and senior architectural historian in San Francisco, and is from the Bay Area. She holds a Master of Architectural History with a Certificate of Historic Preservation from the University of Virginia and has extensive experience in the field of historic preservation. She has conducted numerous historic resource surveys and has extensive experience preparing Historic Resource Evaluations, CEQA and Section 106 Technical Reports, Historic Context Statements, Preservation Design Guidelines, and other preservation planning services. Dikas has also been a volunteer for the California Preservation Foundation for a number of years. We all believe that LGBTQ representation is important, and we will always continue to advocate for queer representation in government, politics, business, education—everywhere. Mayor Breed has always supported the LGBTQ community and has

appointed more LGBTQ Commissioners than any other Mayor and continues to fund a myriad of LGBTQ initiatives. The Mayor has also appointed members of the LGBTQ community to head some of the City’s most powerful agencies including Jeff Tumlin, Director of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency; Carol Isen, nominated to lead San Francisco’s Department of Human Resources; Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson; and the Director of Housing and Community Development, Eric Shaw. Following extensive outreach to locate a qualified LGBTQ identified candidate for this specialized seat, Dikas might have become Mayor Breed’s second nominee for the two open seats. However, it is clear that she is a top-notch choice to serve as an architectural historian. We are proud to support her nomination. Sophia Andary is a Commissioner on the Commission on the Status of Women. “San Francisco Bay Times” columnist Louise Fischer is a Program and Project Supervisor at the California Public Utilities Commission. Lisa Williams is a consultant who is the Community Advisory Board Coordinator for SF Pride. Cyn Wang is a Commissioner on the Entertainment Commission in San Francisco.

SF Sketch Randy Coleman Randy Coleman hails from New York, but has lived in San Francisco since 1975. Coleman shares that before moving to the Bay Area, he studied Art History and Architecture at Boston University while working as a resident artist for architectural rendering at a Massachusetts historical society. “All of my life I’ve been an artist,” Coleman says. “To know me is to know that I have a passion for art and architecture. I love this project for the San Francisco Bay Times, and hope that you enjoy my sketches.”

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

A PR I L 8 , 2 0 2 1

GLBT Fortnight in Review Slip Slidin’ Away Adam Liptak, who covers the High Court for The New York Times, recently called attention to the Roberts Court’s significant shift in favor of Christian litigants. A report on the subject, “The Roberts Court and the Transformation of Constitutional Protections for Religion: A Statistical Portrait,” was just published by Lee Epstein and Eric A. Posner, and although mine is a lazy approach, I can explain it most clearly by simply regurgitating the official abstract: “The Roberts Court has ruled in favor of religious organizations far more frequently than its predecessors—over 81% of the time, compared to about 50% for all previous eras since 1953. In most of these cases, the winning religion was a mainstream Christian organization, whereas in the past pro-religion outcomes more frequently favored minority or marginal religious organizations. A statistical analysis suggests that this transformation is largely the result of changes in the Court’s personnel: a majority of Roberts Court justices are ideologically conservative and religiously devout— a significant break from the past.” Keep in mind that this trend developed while Justice Ginsburg was on the Court and Justice Barrett was not. In other words, it can only get worse, and unless Roberts himself starts to worry about his legacy, it may well do so. And here’s the most disturbing aspect of the whole situation. As the abstract notes, we’re no longer defending the rights of faithful religious minorities. Instead, we’re elevating vague

aspects of Christianity above the rights of everyone else who happens to get in the way. And what tenets of Christianity are earning the protection of the federal courts? Well, they’re whatever someone says they are. Let’s say you’re a trans student and I’m your professor. And let’s say I don’t like transgender students, I don’t respect your gender identity, and even though you’re a woman, I’m going to call you “Robert” and “he” and use any other male terminology that I can come up with. As you may guess, this scenario is based on an actual case, and just the other day, three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that the professor’s Christian beliefs likely gave him the First Amendment right to defy his student’s identity based in large part on his right to freedom of religious expression, sending the case back to the lower court so advised. Really? Since when is a disdain for transgender men and women a Christian value required by devout church members? One of the panel judges was appointed by George W. Bush. And guess who appointed the other two? Ding! You are correct. The impact of McConnell’s race to confirm Trump’s list of hard right judges is just beginning to be felt, and few on said list are more odious than the author of the Sixth Circuit opinion, Amul Thapar. Among other things, Thapar sidestepped the Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling that banned gay and transgender discrimination in the workplace, but logically extends to a ban on such discrimination in public edu-

By Ann Rostow cation. Ohio-based Shawnee State, where Professor Nicholas Meriwether worked, is federally funded and thus under the jurisdiction of Title IX. But Thapar insisted that Meriwether’s actions were not “discriminatory” and did not create a hostile environment for the student. Speaking of that 2020 case, the Department of Justice has just released a memo to federal agencies advising them that, indeed, Bostock v Clayton County applies to Title IX violations, even though it was written for a Title VII (workplace) case. Bostock, as you may recall, says that gay and trans discrimination is a subset of sex discrimination, which, in turn, is a violation of numerous federal laws including Title IX’s ban on sex bias in public schools and colleges. Meanwhile, some 30 students of religious colleges that rely on federal funds have recently sued the Department of Education, asking that Title IX be enforced against their schools despite religious loopholes in the law. One of the schools in this lawsuit is Baylor, which is so well known for rejecting our community that I picked Houston to beat them in the Final Four, even though I knew in my heart that this was unlikely. At any rate, I dropped out of first place in my March Madness bracket pool thanks to those bozos, while my wife (who ignored their anti-gay credentials and picked them to win it all) leapfrogged into the number one spot. Hmmm. Coffee Break Well, enough of all that, I suppose. It’s depressing. And irritating. And since I’m now irritated, can I com-

plain about coffee packaging? In the last few years, coffee companies have started putting coffee in a bag with two plastic arms that partially detach from the bag and I guess are designed to close the coffee after it’s opened. The consumer is expected to then open the bag by pulling it apart with brute strength, but if you don’t approach this task in the right way, it’s impossible. I just rip the whole thing open, which renders the plastic arms useless and means I must either put the coffee in a second sealed container, or tie it up with a rubber band. The situation has bothered me for some time, but this is the first time it has occurred to me to put my distress into words. Moving right along, my inbox is full of praise for frigging Asa Hutchinson, the governor of Arkansas, who has just vetoed a bill that outlaws a range of medical treatments for transgender youth. Since the bill passed by huge majorities in both houses of hog heaven, we’ll just have to see whether or not the state legislature overrides the veto. But listen! Last month, Hutchinson signed a ban on transgender girls’ sports participation, as well as another bill that lets health care practitioners deny care based on religious faith. So, um, thanks for the veto, I guess. Oh, and in unrelated news, did you catch the “senior male” with some “old fashioned views” who wrote to Dear Abby after having a fight over the phone with his gay younger brother? “A couple of months ago while we were talking, the subject of sexuality came up, and I told him I find the fact that he is gay ‘disgusting.’ I

know it was a poor choice of words. I merely meant to say that I, myself, am and always have been totally heterosexual. I have never had any sexual interest in members of my own sex. I never meant my comment to be judgmental of my brother or anyone else.” Abby wrote back that the gay brother “would have to be a saint to forgive you.” Free Brandi! Do you remember the case of the foul-mouthed cheerleader? I know I’ve covered it because I felt an instant affection for Brandi Levy, the ninth-grade girl who posted an obscenity-laced tirade against the sources of her trials and tribulations in a video after she missed qualifying for the varsity cheerleading squad. She made the announcement with a one-finger salute on Snapchat while hanging with her friends on a Saturday afternoon back in 2017. She was promptly disciplined by the school and banned from cheerleading for a year. But she filed suit and won in a decision that her Pennsylvania-based school district appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The High Court will hear oral arguments later this month to decide the extent to which a public school can restrict student speech off campus and outside of school hours. I know I recently defended a school district’s right to control the content of a school-sponsored publication. But here, I think you’d agree that Big Teacher has to be stopped. The cheerleading squad had some

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

(continued on page 28)

APR IL 8, 2021

Spring California Flower-Viewing Road Tri

Sports John Chen Spring 2021 has officially arrived, and we all know too well that spring ushers in a new, fresh start, and the beginning of something promising, and something full of excitement and potential. After a dark winter, rooted in stagnation and hibernation, it is time for the next chapter. It is time to take advantage of the virility of life, treasure the vitality of hope, and see the vibrant colors of spring. Go outside and revel in the beauty of our mighty springtime Mother Earth. Get out and get a dose of vaccine for our mental and emotional strength and health. Although not a connoisseur of spring blossoms, in particular wildflowers, I have learned to appreciate how fields and orchards of colors calm me, make me smile both inside and out, and make me genuinely feel good about life along with all its hopes and promises. Go outside with me. See, feel, and smell what I am talking about.

CA HWY 1 Half Moon Bay Descanso Gardens

Although there are numerous excellent places to view and appreciate the colors of spring, allow me to take you on a flower-viewing road trip to some of the places I have enjoyed over the years, some well-known, others hidden gems.

CA I-5 Central Valley orchard blossoms

Our road trip starts at the Presidio in San Francisco. Walk along the coastal cliffs from mid spring to early summer and you will be rewarded with vibrant native wildflower blossoms that canvas the clifftop meadows and drape the rocky cliffsides. This relatively easy stroll, including dramatic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean, is one of the most picturesque sites I have ever seen, especially during spring with wildflowers covering every square inch of the landscape. Continue down CA HWY 1 (California State Highway 1) from the Presidio past Half Moon Bay and you will encounter enormous fields of spectacular bright yellow wildflowers on both sides of the highway. It is as if someone took a giant brush and painted many of the coastal fields yellow. One important note when stopping for photos and that all important selfie: some of the fields are on private property and may require an entrance fee. Not too far south on CA HWY 1 are several local and state beaches such as San Gregorio that sport clusters of colorful wild sand flowers along the coast. These flower ground coverings and bushes come in yellow, white, violet, purple, orange, lavender, and pink. Set up your beach gear and listen to the waves crashing while enjoying all the surrounding bright colors. Next, take U.S. Hwy 101 south, then CA Hwy 152 east and head inland to I-5 (Interstate 5) going towards Central California where acres and

Los Angeles Arboretum

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

acres of orchards run parallel to the major throughway. If you have never driven on I-5 and other nearby highways in the Central Valley during late winter and early spring, this is a must! We have all seen a single or maybe a small group of cherry and plum blossom trees. Their beauty is certainly striking. Now imagine orchards upon orchards of similarly vibrant walnut, apricot, and peach trees all sporting plumes of white, pink, and magenta sprawled over hundreds of acres. I guarantee this brilliant display will put a smile in your heart. Keep heading south on I-5 until you hit the infamous “Grapevine.” On the top of the mountain range at Fort Tejon, from mid to late spring, you will see thousands of golden to orange poppies covering the mountainside, especially the spring following a particularly wet winter. It is quite a sight to behold driving on the interstate. Staying with the poppy theme, from I-5 in the Grapevine take CA HWY 138 east and you will come to the grandaddy of poppy viewing, the Antelope

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S A PR I L 8 , 2 0 2 1

Valley Poppy Reserve. This little-known state park is stunning every spring. The easy hike takes you up and down several lazy hills completely covered in our Golden State flower. But be aware that poppies only open when there is direct sunlight, so choose your visit day and San Gabriel Mountains agave blossoms time wisely. Follow CA Hwy 134 east and then head south on CA Hwy 14. In a mere 30 minutes, you have arrived at the outer skirts of our southern megalopolis, Los Angeles. On this drive and on other highways in the San Gabriel Mountains you should see hundreds of stunning blooming agave plants, some towering over 10 feet in height! Once in Los Angeles, head east on I-210 towards the San Gabriel Valley and stop at the Descanso Garden, the Los Angeles Arboretum, and the unparalleled Huntington Library and Gardens. Both the Descanso and the Arboretum house thousands of flowering plants that bloom magnificently during spring all the way into fall. The Arboretum, in particular, is home to dozens of wild peacocks sometimes running amok in the street of its host city, Arcadia.

BAY TIMES S

LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

Photos by John Chen

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2021)

Presidio, San Francisco

CA I-5 orchard blossoms

CA I-5 Fort Tejon

CA HWY 18 Big Bear Lake

Huntington Chinese Garden

San Gregorio Beach

The crown jewel of flowering gardens, in my opinion, is the Huntington Library and Gardens with hundreds of thousands of flowering plants, bushes, and trees blooming year-round. The colors are most spectacular from early spring to mid-summer. With 16 themed gardens covering 120 acres, the Huntington is a flower lover’s dream come true. My personal favorites are the Japanese, the Chinese, the desert, and the rose gardens. Did you know that, during spring, the desert garden is a sea of competing bright colors courting pollinators across many species? If you are in the Los Angeles area, check out the Huntington. You just might fall in love!

Diamond Valley Lake

Continue east from the Huntington on I-210 past San Bernardino. Drive north on CA HWY 18 and head up the mountains towards Big Bear Lake. On this road trip, the highway is the destination, not the lake. You will see, from elevation 2,000 to 4,000 feet, hundreds of small to giant tree-like plumes of ultra-bright wild yellow flowering bushes lining the sides of the road. They are impossible to miss and impossible to ignore. Drive down the mountain back to I-210 west and then take I-215 south to your final destination, Diamond Valley Lake Wildflower Trail. This trail is extremely popular during spring because it takes visitors on a wildflower journey through rolling hills and lakeside. Here you will feel compelled to take selfies and share them all over your social media. Now that you have completed my recommended spring California flower-viewing road trip, I hope your mind is invigorated. I hope your senses receive a jolt of fresh beginning and a renewed clarity. And I hope your heart is filled with hope and promise this spring after our long struggle with, and imprisonment from, a pandemic. Most importantly, please don’t forget to vaccinate your body and vaccinate your spirit.

Huntington Japanese Garden

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

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

APR IL 8, 2021

Bal Masque XVIII

BAY TIMES S

Rink and Darryl Pelletier

LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2021)

Krewe de Kinque, the social/charitable club founded in 2004 by Gary Virginia, raises funds in the spirit of Mardi Gras benefiting LGBTQIAA community organizations and causes. For 2021, the Q Foundation is the beneficiary of the organization’s annual Bal Masque, which was held on Saturday, March 27.

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

A PR I L 8 , 2 0 2 1

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY DARRYL PELLETIER

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY DARRYL PELLETIER

PHOTO BY DARRYL PELLETIER PHOTO BY DARRYL PELLETIER PHOTO BY DARRYL PELLETIER

PHOTO BY DARRYL PELLETIER

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY DARRYL PELLETIER

PHOTO BY RINK

Presented as a combined virtual and in-person event based at The Castro Stitchery (Mask Shop) and Poesia restaurant with a procession on 18th Street, Bal Masque XVIII featured San Francisco Giants announcer Renel Brooks-Moon as Celebrity Grand Marshal. King & Queen XVII Omar Kubian & Diana Wheeler presided and the new King and Queen, Colby Michaels and Christina Ashton, were crowned. Songwriter Carly Ozard was on hand to perform her dance hit “Let Love Rain Down” and the tableaux theme “On the Radio.” The next day, Deana Dawn’s birthday was celebrated with a festive, one-of-a-kind cake!

Donna’s Chronicles

“I still believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and true love. Don’t even try to tell me different.”

By Donna Sachet

–Dolly Parton

hat promising glint of light at the end of this long and winding tunnel of COVID-19 was on full display in the Castro over the past few weeks. Krewe de Kinque’s Bal Masque XVIII, On the Radio, brought the color, magic, and revelry of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras to San Francisco on Saturday, March 27. In the sparkling sunshine, Grand Marshal Renel Brooks-Moon, Voice of the SF Giants, led a rollicking parade of costumed members up and down 18th Street and a dazzling show inside The Castro Stichery broadcast online included Deana Dawn, Christina Ashton, Olivia Hart, Kippy Marks, Miss Chief, Tawdry Hepburnn, John Weber, Kelly Rose, Garza, and in a triumphant return from New York, Carly Ozard. KdK King Omar Kubian and Queen Diana Wheeler stepped down and new King Colby Michaels and Queen Christina Ashton were crowned with all the associated pageantry. Proceeds from the event benefited Q Foundation. For at least one afternoon, the Castro glistened with purple, green, and gold, the colors of New Orleans Mardi Gras!

Calendar

a/la Sachet

The following Saturday, Joe Mac hosted his annual and always well-supported Easter bonnet street sale in front of 440 Castro. The combination of warm weather, reopening businesses, and zany millinery brought out a bevy of celebrants, restless from cabin fever and anxious for human contact. Among the crowd, we greeted Mark Abramson, Leah Garchik, Matt McClelland & Ken Ferraris, Linda Lee, Lucy Mears, Darwin Bell, Terry Penn, Bruce Beaudette, Mike Lowden, Patrick Noonan, and many others. The bonnet carefully selected for us by Joe accented our red ensemble perfectly!

Thursday, April 8 Nelly Queen: The Life & Times of José Sarria Online screening of the new film by Joe Castel 7 pm Panel Discussion 8 pm Screening $10 for pre-registered guests Free for GLBT Historical Society members www.glbthistory.org

And on Sunday, the unstoppable Deana Dawn greeted hordes of friends for her street fair birthday celebration, also at 440 Castro. CoCo Butter outdid himself with a gorgeous cake topped with a remarkable likeness of Deana, from wig and eyelashes to gown and jewelry. Gary Virginia delivered a heartfelt and rhyming toast, joined by Kevin Lisle, Dustin Lee, Tyler Nelson, Leandro Gonzales, Kelly Houston, Gordy Boe, Deana’s sister Debra Hemrich, and even our faithful companion Peanut. You could feel the love!

Saturday, April 10 Night Shift with Nurse Ehra Amaya (Empress candidate) Online variety show, sale, and auction Benefits Imperial Council of SF 6 pm–8 pm Donations encouraged www.imperialcouncilsf.org

Meanwhile, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence produced Rising Up with the Sisters online, hosted by Honey Mahogany and Alex U. Inn, including their crowd-pleasing Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary Easter contests, opening them up to international competition. Hunky Jesus 2021 ... Steven Satyricon, who produced and submitted a richly creative video with his friend Suzan Revah. Please don’t tell the Pope! We hope our readers are watching the campaign for Emperor and Empress of San Francisco with as much interest as we are! Three final fundraising events appear in this column’s calendar, followed by Voting Day on Saturday, April 17. Consider your options, make your choice, and vote for your next Emperor and Empress!

Saturday, April 10 SF LGBT Center’s Virtual Soirée Inspiration, entertainment, community Hosted by Liam Mayclem & Sister Roma Entertainment by Juanita MORE! 6 pm Sponsorships available, donations welcomed www.sfcenter.org

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

PHOTO BY RINK

Monday, April 12 Pillows with Mr. David Glamamore (Emperor candidate) Co-hosted by Mary Vice on twitch.tv Benefits Imperial Council of SF 9 pm Donations encouraged www.imperialcouncilsf.org

City officials and neighborhood leaders joined Donna Sachet at Harvey Milk Plaza on Saturday, April 2, for the Rainbow Flag Raising Ceremony in a partnership of the Castro Merchants Association and the Greenlight Initiative. Left to Right: Masood Samereie, Castro Merchants President; Greenlight Community Initiative’s Chris Larsen; Maryo Mogannam, SF Council of District Merchants Associations President; Donna Sachet; SF Assessor Joaquin Torres; and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman.

Friday, April 16 Beatpig with Juanita MORE! (Empress candidate) Online at twitch Benefits SF Queer Nightlife Fund 8 pm–9:30 pm Donations encouraged www.imperialcouncilsf.org Saturday, April 17 Voting Day for Emperor & Empress Details to follow Residents of San Francisco, San Mateo, & Marin Counties www.imperialcouncilsf.org Friday, April 23 Imperial In & Out of Town Show Online performances by local and international entertainers 6 pm Free, donations welcomed www.imperialcouncilsf.org

PHOTO BY RINK

Saturday, April 24 Imperial Coronation 56, online Step-down of Reigning Emperor William Bulkley & Empress Mimi Osa Crowning of new Emperor & Empress of San Francisco Special recognition of anniversary Monarchs 4 pm Free, donations welcomed www.imperialcouncilsf.org

A new rainbow flag was raised during the ceremony. PHOTO BY SHAWN NORTHCUTT

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

APR IL 8, 2021

Xulhaz Mannan: ‘We Belong to This World’ and their human rights are guaranteed,” but he found that the legal, social, and cultural barriers to change were daunting. As Human Rights Watch stated in 2015, “Discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people is pervasive in Bangladesh.” Even Dhaka, the largest city in the country, with more than 9 million residents, does not provide them with the anonymity they find in other major urban areas.

Faces from Our LGBT Past Dr. Bill Lipsky Five years ago this month, on April 25, 2016, terrorists disguised as deliverymen arrived at the apartment of LGBT activist Xulhaz Mannan in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. They removed the machetes hidden within the package they carried, then in front of his mother, hacked him and his friend Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy to death. His affront to their fanatic righteousness? Being an openly gay man working to gain human rights for LGBT people in a country where legal codes, religious dogma, and social convention marginalize their existence.

million people, those involved quickly faced both criticism and threats. The second issue, with a print run of 700, appeared in August 2014. Soon after, “receiving death threats if collaborations continued,” the printers cancelled their contract. There

The country’s laws against homosexuality were inherited from the British, who first imposed them in 1860 when Bangladesh was a part of colonial India. “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature ... shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment [at] hard labor or simple for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.” The secular government does not recognize marriage equality, civil unions, or domestic partnership between same-sex couples.

celebration of the Bengali New Year, to show that they not only existed, but also that they were like anybody else. However, with same-sex intimacy illegal under the country’s secular and religious canon—as well as rejected by its long-established mores and conventions—those who joined in this first “Rainbow Rally” would not only be making a personal statement, but also a dangerous public appearance. To keep participants feeling both welcomed and protected, Mannan thought of a

community showed up anyway, four men were arrested. They were released only after police called their parents to out their sons as gay. No rally has been held since. All of Xulhaz’s efforts for the LGBT community were in his spare time. He had been the Protocol Specialist for the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka for nine years, where he was a founding member of the Embassy’s Diversity Committee, before joining the Office of Democracy and Governance at the Mission of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2015; there he worked on key programs to combat trafficking in persons, address gender-based violence, and promote human rights. During the two years following the Rainbow Rally 2014

Xulhaz Mannan with second issue of Roopbaan

Xulhaz was 39 years old, Tonoy even younger. As the journalist Raad Rahman wrote after his assassination, “Bangladesh was never a safe place for a queer person, but for someone as out as he was it was especially dangerous.” Many advised him to leave the country. He refused. “He Xulhaz Mannan and idea tree

Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy (in yellow) leading the way (April 2015)

had the option of living anywhere in the world,” his niece explained, “but he chose to live in dangerous Dhaka, standing up to what he believed in, and gave a voice to the voiceless.” Even when fanatics threatened his life he persisted. He was not naive Xulhaz and Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy with copies of about the treRoopongti, Februry 2015 mendous challenges he faced and the very real To effect change, dangers he brought to himself, but Mannan was inhe still believed change was possible. strumental in “In a country where the whole conhelping to found cept of sex and sexuality is a taboo,” Roopbaan, he said, “we are learning to navimeaning “Fabgate our ways by highlighting ‘love’ ulous and Beauas the center of all, as a human right tiful Person,” Xulhaz Mannan at the Dragon Ball 2015 that can’t be denied, hoping for betwhich published ter, and maybe ‘faster,’ acceptance ... Bangladesh’s first and only LGBT would not be a third issue. some day!” magazine in January 2014, a major The same year that Roopbaan apaccomplishment for the communiMannan envisioned “a world where ty. Although a mere 600 copies were peared, Xulhaz decided that LGBTs the Bangladeshi LGBT community’s printed for a country of some 160 freedom to love is socially accepted should participate in Dhaka’s annual 20

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

A PR I L 8, 2 0 2 1

Cover of the first issue of Roopbaan, January 2014

first Rainbow Rally, Xulhaz worked both to empower and organize Dhaka’s LGBT community. He promoted HIV awareness and testing; managed to publish Roopongti, a book of Bengali LGBT poetry; and organized an LGBT film festival, youth leadership program, and even a genderbending fashion show. In addition to hosting countless smaller community meetings and events, he made his apartment available for what he thought was a safe space Bangladeshi demonstrators for human rights for people to gather and to enjoy each other’s compasolution as ingenious as it was colorny. It was not. ful. First, he asked everyone to wear a kurta dyed a single color of the The assault shocked civilized peorainbow. Then he organized them ple everywhere, although their urto create a stunning, living rainbow bane and enlightened world could flag that not celebrated “friendship, not protect them as they believed it love, and diversity,” but also protestdid. On June 19, 2016, less than two ed the discrimination they faced. For months after Xulhaz and Tonoy were observers who understood, it was murdered for wanting to be thema wonder to behold, a bold, daring public expression of self. For others, it selves, a terrorist executed 50 people and wounded 53 others at Pulse, was simply another colorful group of a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. celebrants. As Clarence Darrow warned in 1925, Xulhaz organized a second Rainnot quite a hundred years ago, “Ignobow Rally in 2015. He planned a rance and fanaticism is ever busy and third for 2016, but on the night beneeds feeding.” Even here. Even now. fore the event, police told him and his Bill Lipsky, Ph.D., author of “Gay friends not to participate in the New and Lesbian San Francisco” (2006), Year celebrations, fearing disruptive is a member of the Rainbow Honor protests and violence against them. Walk board of directors. When some members of the LGBT

Tulips, Calla Lilies & Hope: The Journey Homeward for Frida Kahlo

Poet in Residence Kit Kennedy Kit Kennedy is the Poet-in-Residence of the “San Francisco Bay Times” and at herchurch Ebenezer Lutheran, (http:// www.herchurch.org/ ). She has published 5 poetry collections, and for the past several years she has hosted the poetry series at Gallery Café. For more information, please visit her blog: http:// poetrybites.blogspot.com

Neither desire nor greed brings a bee to the tulip. Simply, survival. Yet, even tulips have a shadow-side: stark, still, resolute. Flowers have a polar opposite, too. Calla lilies, in particular, weave sorrow & joy. The journey homeward is rarely easy or direct. Often circuitous. May each of us find a golden bridge with the top rung peeking through cloud like a Spring bulb bursting with bloom. Should you, on your journey, meet a single butterfly outlined against a sun-splashed door, be heartened. Against all odds, that heavy door will spring open to home & again, to hope.

Photographer Stacy Boorn

Haiku

DIVAS & DRINKS @ The Academy VIRTUAL EDITION

from the Comfort of Your Home FREE! Thursday, April 29, 6pm–7pm via Zoom The San Francisco Bay Times presents a new live game show hosted by Donna Sachet! Put some sass in your glass and play along as two teams test their knowledge of women’s history, culture, and more.

In this matchup, Team Mecca 2.0 led by Captain Kelly Gilliam will take on Team Olivia led by Captain Tisha Floratos!

MECCA 2.0

Enjoy music from favorite Olivia artists while learning how to make delicious cocktails. And don’t miss the big reveal at the end: the unveiling of our internationally renowned DJ ROCKAWAY mystery guest who shares thoughts about the women who have helped and inspired her throughout her amazing life. More information to come, but save the date and be sure to check out other events this month at The Academy in the Castro! https://www.academy-sf.com/

BAY TIMES S

LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2021)

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

APR IL 8 , 2021

Betrayal, Healing, and a Life Now Dedicated to Helping Queer and Trans Youth By Bishop Howard

Coming Out Stories

Bishop Howard

Coming out for me really happened in stages. There was coming out to myself, coming out to those close to me, and the last stage is one that I feel like I’m always kind of reliving all the time, and that’s coming out to the world and living authentically. My story began in December of 2008. I was 17 and in my senior year of high school and it was during Christmas break.

I have an aunt whom I’ve always been very close with, and I spent most of my Christmas break in 2008 staying with her, away from my mother and two older sisters. Also, during that Christmas break I spent a solid week watching nothing but coming out stories on YouTube. I had been wrestling with this question of my sexuality for a while now, and it honestly wasn’t much of a question because I always knew I was queer, and it was more of me trying to figure out how I could be queer and be actually happy in life and not Bishop and his roommate (right) who was a end up going to hell. dear friend and chosen family member

Growing up Black and having a very Christian family, I was always taught to believe that being queer meant I was a sinner and that meant I wasn’t going to be able to go to heaven after I died. And when you’re a teen with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder, you tend only to replay the worst outcomes in your head. I was also raised to believe that being gay made you soft and if there was one other thing it was drilled into me that I couldn’t be other than being queer, it was being a soft Black man.

Bishop Howard’s former teacher (left) provided important support and encouragement.

By the time 2008 Christmas break rolled around, I was in a deep depression, I knew that I had attraction to boys and I’d even had a few sexual encounters with boys at this point, but I was still so scared.

I was away from all my friends and my aunt worked, so I spent a lot of that break alone. I spent that time looking at literally hours of coming out stories on YouTube: the good, the bad, the horrible. As a whole I found some joy, but I also found more fear.

liked boys. Knowing I couldn’t hold it in any more I told her yes and asked her not to tell mom before I had the chance to. An hour later, while I was in school, my sister texted me to tell me that she had told our other sister, and our other sister had told our mother.

One morning, the day I was going home to my mom and sisters, my aunt found me lying in bed. I had not slept and I was just lying there staring off into space. She didn’t say anything, but she absolutely knew something was wrong. A few hours later she told me to come sit down to have breakfast with her. Now, my aunt was never much of a cook, so I really should have known something was up the moment she told me she’d cooked breakfast and wanted us to eat together.

I felt like my whole world had ended, and I felt betrayed like I’d never felt before. Minutes later my mother was calling me on my cell phone. Thinking back, I know that cellphones weren’t allowed in school and the fact that I was openly using it in class really showed how much of a mess this all was. My mother arrived at the school shortly after that to take me home so we could talk about this. On my way out of the building, I ran into one of the teachers who had been a great support to me and she told me words that have stuck with me to this day. She said, “No matter what she or anyone else thinks, no one can change who you are.”

We sat down and she told me she had a “theory” that she wanted to discuss with me. She told me she thought I was having some confusion about my sexuality and she wanted me to know that if I wanted to, I could talk to her about it. What she did not know at the time is that the night before, I had messaged my closest friend then and told him that I was interested in boys. I didn’t say anything to my aunt. Part of it was shock that she brought this to me, and part of it was pure fear because, if she’d figured it out, who else had? On the ride home that time I finally spoke up and told her I was no longer confused and that I knew I liked boys. She told me she loved me, and then immediately told me to wait until I moved away to college and no longer lived with my mother before telling her. I only wish it had worked out that way. Fast forward to April 2009. I was almost completely out to my friends and school and a few very supportive teachers, but my sisters and mom still did not know. One morning before school, after my mom had freaked out the day before because one of my obviously gay friends had come over, one of my sisters asked if I

It’s been over 10 years since I started this coming out journey, and through the journey I’ve found some of the most valuable friendships and relationships I’ve ever experienced. Through my journey I also found the work that I love. There are tons of sad and depressed kids who feel alone like I once did, who feel like there is no place for them in this world. I work my ass off every day to ensure that there is a space for Queer and Trans young people to come and to be their authentic selves. I’m very grateful for the work I’ve done and the youth I’ve been able to support, and I’m incredibly grateful to my current organizational home LYRIC for allowing me to continue that work. Coming out is never easy, and for some it will never be safe for them to come out. But it is up to us to do so and to pave the way for a world where we can all live and feel loved, celebrated and protected. Bishop Howard is the Program Director of LYRIC, www.lyric.org

Mission Food Hub’s Volunteer Team

Mission Food Hub Update, Including the San Francisco Bay Times ‘Bunny’

The Bunny visited the team at Castro Barber Lounge.

Juan R. Davila as the “Bay Times Bunny” 22

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

Volunteers, supporters, and patrons at the Mission Food Hub, led by organizer Roberto Hernández, were even busier than usual earlier this month getting ready for the Easter holiday weekend. Bundles of nutritious foods were available along with special items for youngsters, including candy bunnies, filled eggs, and colorful buckets. All were made possible through donated funds and product contributions from food distributors. Hundreds of residents are benefiting from the offerings at Mission Food Hub’s resources each week. Founded in 2020 in response to the food insecurity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hub takes care to provide culturally appropriate foods. A PR I L 8 , 2 0 2 1

Photos courtesy of Juan R. Davila and Leticia Lopez, Special to the San Francisco Bay Times

We are grateful to the large team of volunteers whose dedication and hard work continue the Hub’s services helping those affected by the ongoing health crisis. Find out more by visiting the Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/nm9hh7fu Text the word “Comida” to 202-858-1233 for directions on how to give. Mailed donations are also accepted. Please make checks to CANA/Mission Food Hub and mail to 1333 Florida Street, San Francisco CA 94110. The San Francisco Bay Times team was represented by our very own spring bunny, who delighted children and adults alike. After helping out at the Mission Food Hub, the good-natured (and amazingly tall) rabbit hippity hopped to the Castro and continued to bring similes to neighbors, visitors and small business owners along Market and Castro Streets.

Mission Food Hub founders Mariana and Roberto Hernández with the Bunny

Making his way on Castro Street, the Bunny visited hairdresser Lisa at the Lisa Hair Design salon.

This Month at the Castro Farmers’ Market Brighten Up Your Meals with Spring’s Soft Herbs By Debra Morris Spring’s soft herbs are soon to appear at your farmers’ market. Soft herbs are some of the most flavorful available. They are leafy and tender and most often used fresh, rather than dried. Basil, parsley, chervil, chives, cilantro, tarragon, coriander, mint, and dill are examples of soft herbs, whereas hard herbs are the ones with woody stems, like rosemary, oregano, marjoram, and thyme.

BLUEBERRY LEMONADE WITH MINT

12 cups bluebe rries (plus a ha ndful frozen for garn ish) 1 mint sprig (p lus 4 more for garnish) ¼ cup honey In many cultures, herbs are respected for their medicinal ½ cup lemon ju properties as well as their culinary uses. Herbal remedies ice (juice from include mint for digestive issues, parsley for kidney and 3– 4 small lemons) bladder problems, dill for digestive difficulties, and oreg3 cups water (o ano for respiratory issues. These herbs are usually used r sparkling wat er) in hot teas and essential oils to be most effective. A generous pinc h of salt In the culinary world, soft herbs are easily recognized Muddle berrie s, honey, salt , an and available. They are also the most reliable source d mint until all the blue for adding depth and flavor to your recipes. They’re berries are squa shed. Scrape the mix a cook’s secret weapon when it comes to changing a ture through a dull dish to an extraordinary one, full of freshness and fine mesh strainer with a rubber vitality. spatula, leaving only th e skins and min t sprig. Common Uses for Fresh Spring Herbs Be sure to scra pe the undersid e of the strainer. Combi Parsley: As a garnish for color, added to soups, or ne the blueberr y juice made into pesto or chimichurri sauce. Parsley pairs mixture, lemon juice, and water perfectly with lemon, butter, pasta, and eggs. and stir. Serve over ice and garnish w ith a Chives: Wonderful in quiche, sautéed dishes, potato mint sprig and some frozen bl salad, and blue cheese dressing or dip because of its ue berries in each of four glasses. mild, garlicky-onion flavor. Also good for chive butFor an adult beverage , add 1 jig ger o ter and on garlic bread. f gin per glass. Serves 4. Dill: Make your own dill pickles, add to sauces for salmon, creamy dips, and tzatziki sauce. Used widely in both Scandinavian and German cuisine. Good for poultry and a complement to lemon, yogurt, and seafood dishes.

Cilantro (coriander leaf): Add to Mexican dishes, tomato sauce, Asian soups like pho, and salsa. Mint: Use in fresh fruit salads, cucumber salad, teas, desserts, or a mojito! Mint works well in beverages, with spring vegetables, and in cocktails. How to Keep Soft Herbs Fresh Once purchased, treat soft herbs as you would a vase of fresh flowers. Snip the base of the stems and put them in a glass of fresh water, changing out the water every day or two if it starts to cloud. Store them in the refrigerator. When these herbs are cooked, add at the end of the cooking process so they don’t lose their delicate flavor. Use as garnishes and toppings.

At your Castro Farmers’ Market, you’ll find the freshest herbs from Happy Boy Farms out of Watsonville with some lovely spring herbs like dill, parsley, and cilantro. Purchase at your farmers’ market for that just-picked flavor. The fresher the herbs, the better the flavor, which is why the farmers’ market is the best place to purchase them! Debra Morris is a spokesperson for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA). Check out the PCFMA website for recipes, information about farmers’ markets throughout the region and for much more: https://www.pcfma.org/

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

APR IL 8, 2021 23

BAY TIMES S

LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2021)

Sean Dorsey Dance Performs for You ‘AT-HOME’ April 16–18 Indeed, Dorsey intends to do just that in a myriad of ways: in coming months, Dorsey and his company will host “DREAM LABS”: free, supportive workshop gatherings where participants are supported to dance, write, and creatively express what it is they most dream of. Dorsey will also teach his popular trans-supportive dance classes and workshops.

The Arts, like all aspects of American life, have been turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. “For dancers, our body is our instrument—as are touch, partnering, and sharing breath,” explains San Francisco-based transgender choreographer Sean Dorsey. Last March, Dorsey and his award-winning all-queer ensemble Sean Dorsey Dance were in the rehearsal studio four days a week, creating a new full-length production The Lost Art Of Dreaming. When the pandemic hit, their entire project (and livelihood) was thrown into question.

And, last but not least, Sean Dorsey Dance will return to the studio to create a new full-length dance-theater work for stage: The Lost Art Of Dreaming. The company plans to perform the world premiere performances in April 2022 at San Francisco’s Z Space before taking the work on tour across the U.S.

“It felt like bitter irony,” says Dorsey. “Our new project The Lost Art Of Dreaming investigates and imagines expansive Futures. Shelter in place hit, we were on lockdown and living in fear, and we were asking ourselves, ‘What’s this about expansive Futures?’”

“When our communities are safer, and have had supported access to the vaccine—when it is truly safe to gather in person,” says Dorsey, “then we’ll return to these community engagement elements of the project, and get to return to the rehearsal studio.”

From day one of shelter in place, however, Dorsey continued employing his dancers—and the company has met and rehearsed on Zoom every single week since. This April 16–18, the company will share the fruits of their creative labor with an online weekend event they call Sean Dorsey Dance’s AT-HOME Season—and they’re offering it for free with closedcaptions for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing audiences.

Dorsey continues, “I can’t wait to be with my collaborators and our audiences in person again.” PHOTO BY LYDIA DANILLER

A Dream Consortium

Over the last year, the pressure to feel creative and productive was intense. Dorsey says, “I’d see artists on Instagram posting things like, ‘Gosh, isn’t the pandemic great for catching up on things and starting new projects?’ ... to which my internal answer was, ‘Ummmmm, no, the pandemic decidedly isn’t great for trans and queer communities.’”

PHOTO BY ANNALISEOPHELIAN

Since rehearsing or performing in person is off the table until the Bay Area reaches herd immunity, or at least until the dancers are all vaccinated, Dorsey had to take another approach to his choreography.

Each of these presenters will support the project during its creation, and will present the work on tour. PHOTO BY ANNALISEOPHELIAN

Dorsey continues, “Sometimes we’d meet [on Zoom] and just needed to share space and conversation, sometimes we felt super creative, sometimes we felt awful and super un-creative. We’re like a family that way—being present and showing up as our true selves, however we feel. I am so blessed by my incredible dancers/collaborators.”

A consortium of 5 prestigious presenters co-commissioned The Lost Art Of Dreaming: American Dance Festival (Durham, NC), Dance Place (Washington, D.C.), 7 Stages (Atlanta, GA), Velocity Dance Center (Seattle, WA), and San Francisco’s own Queer Cultural Center (San Francisco, CA; producers of the National Queer Arts Festival). The work is also being developed through residencies with the National Choreography Center in Akron (Akron, OH).

Dance Place, a multi-faceted dance venue in Washington, D.C., has supported and presented Dorsey several times since 2014, including hosting Dorsey in Creation Residencies. Associate Curator & Producer Sarah Greenbaum shares, “Sean is an incredible artistic partner, a thoughtful community organizer, and an exceptional dancemaker and teacher. Each time Sean Dorsey Dance comes to D.C., Sean and his collaborators fill our theater (and our community!) with care and joy.” Heidi Howard, Artistic Director of Atlanta’s 7 Stages theater, has also commissioned Dorsey multiple times and supported his work with creation residencies (including Dorsey’s acclaimed The Missing Generation about the early AIDS epidemic).

“Over the last year, we’ve met on Zoom to plan and choreograph a series of outdoor dance films,” he says. “I was interested in exploring the Body as a portal between the present moment and the Future—taking ourselves outdoors and putting our bodies in relationship with the earth, Time, the sky, and the sun.” PHOTO BY ANNALISEOPHELIAN

Dorsey started a collaboration with acclaimed Bay Area cinematographer Annalise Ophelian (who directed the MAJOR! documentary about pioneering Black transwoman activist Miss Major, and the groundbreaking FX series Looking for Leia). Following strict COVID protocols, Ophelian filmed the company in various outdoor locations. The result is a series of eight stunning dance films, featuring the company in a host of outdoor locations: on hillsides, under trees, along shorelines, and more. These films are exquisite, intimate, and radiate with Dorsey’s gesture-rich choreography. Dorsey and his dancers Nol Simonse, Will Woodward, and Raul Torres-Bonilla are magnificent in costumes designed by longtime artistic collaborator, Costume Designer Tiffany Amundson.

PHOTO BY SHAWNA VIRAGO

These dance films will premiere—along with a special message from Dorsey, and a sneak-peek of upcoming events that are part of The Lost Art Of Dreaming project—at Sean Dorsey Dance’s AT-HOME Season this April 16–18. Tickets are free (donations are welcome), and the program will be Closed-Captioned for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing audiences. Dorsey himself is Hard-of-hearing, and has a passion for disability justice.

PHOTO BY ANNALISEOPHELIAN

Dorsey continues, “In the face of a deadly global pandemic, continued state violence against Black communities, escalating anti-trans legislation across the country, and a powerful civil rights movement for Black Lives—we know that more than ever before, our communities need supportive spaces to dream and imagine our expansive, liberated Futures.”

POP QUIZ

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

A PR I L 8, 2 0 2 1

Erin Johnson, Interim Artistic Director and Managing Director of Velocity Dance Space in Seattle, WA, joins the list of presenters who have brought Sean Dorsey Dance back again and again. Johnson says, “Sean Dorsey is a hug on a mission. He is fiercely passionate about sharing stories and celebrating human-ness through dance, and his work, from dance moves to emails to our staff, is lovingly done and thoughtfully crafted.” Johnson adds, “Dorsey is a change-maker whose vision will have a lasting impact.” Sean Dorsey Dance will visit Velocity, Dance Place, and 7 Stages as part of a planned 10+ city tour across the U.S., touring the work on and off through 2024.

“And Sweden! We’re going back to Stockholm!” adds Dorsey exuberantly.

When the COVI9-19 pandemic hit, says Dorsey, it brought an unforeseen urgency to the project. “As a company, we had to grapple with what it means now, of all times, for trans and queer communities to try to dream and imagine expansive Futures.”

QUEER

Howard explains, “We really feel that, now more than ever, we need artists to dream a new reality—so we can break down the binary systems of a broken old norm. Sean is a visionary who we know will take us on this journey in the most beautiful way. We can’t wait to share his new work with Atlanta audiences.”

Imagining expansive, joyful, and liberated Futures feels like just the balm we all need right now: but be sure to register in advance for your free ticket, since you’ll need a special web link to access the free ATHOME program! Sean Dorsey Dance’s AT-HOME Season April 16–18, 2021 April 16 @ 5 pm; April 17 @ 5 pm; April 18 all-day on-demand www.seandorseydance.com

LAVERNE COX ROX

Laverne Cox is the first transgender person to: A) be on the cover of Time magazine B) be nominated for a primetime Emmy & win a daytime Emmy as Executive Producer C) have a wax work in Madame Tussauds D) all of the above

ANSWER ON PAGE 29

BAY TIMES S

LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2021)

Who Says There’s Nothing to Watch?

Off the Wahl Jan Wahl From theatrical releases to Netflix to everything available by asking YouTube or Google, there are wonderful choices for quality, fun, or incredibly cool entertainment. Here are just a few on various platforms that I’ve enjoyed and want to recommend to you. I follow everything Eddie Izzard does. From the first time I saw his one-man show in San Francisco to his amazing portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in the under-rated Peter Bogdanovich film The Cat’s Meow, this gifted and highly original actor and comedian is amazing. Now he has co-written and stars in Six Minutes to Midnight, acting alongside another heavy hitter: Judi Dench. We go to the year 1939. The movie is based on a true story of a British seaside boarding school where top Nazi officials have sent their daughters. Who knew? It is well-paced, exciting, tense, and enough to send me to the computer to find the actual place. It fits with Izzard’s passion for world history, and in it he reminds us of his talent and range as an actor. Once in a while a movie fills us with wonder and lessons to hold on to the rest of our lives. It happens with Audrey, a documentary recently released by Netflix. This is not your standard biopic of a movie star. Audrey Hepburn had a complicated life, with the best by far her final chapter. Many of us are aware of her upbringing during the war, her Oscar-winning role in her first movie, her relationship with clothes, and image. But this film goes deeper, taking us inside the memories and nightmares. I found the lesson to be learned from this wonderful documentary is that it is by giving back that one often finds joy and release from the past. It is not only for movie fans, but also for anyone interested in a life well lived. Well, here’s an admission: I loved The Book of Mormon. Everything about this musical worked for me and I saw it a number of times. But I also am interested in the church itself, its beliefs and stories. I am a fan of comparative religion in general, and it doesn’t get more dramatic than this one! So, along comes a three-part series (again from Netflix) called Murder Among the Mormons. It’s a true crime documentary about a rather brilliant man obsessed with Mormon documents and historical artifacts. I wish reviewers and my colleagues would not give away too much about the story, since the surprise elements of what this man accomplished is important to the enjoyment of this wild ride. Let’s visit the Wild West with News of the World. Directed and cowritten by Paul Greengrass, the film stars Tom Hanks as a war veteran determined to take the news to small towns in the West, from Texas to Missouri

and beyond. He reads the newspaper to these towns and as a lifelong journalist I love the expressions on the folks hungry for information. He is forced to take care of a young, abandoned girl (Helena Zengel), and what happens with her is one of the many reasons I like this movie. The other is Hanks, and also the villains and chases as we root for our leading players. This film has a very satisfying ending, something we don’t experience often enough. In 2015 Women He’s Undressed came out and the world got to know one of the great costume designers in cinema history. His name was Orry-Kelly. He won three Oscars, but should’ve won more for films like Auntie Mame, The Seven Year Itch, Now Voyager, and Some Like It Hot (to name a few.) Director Gillian Armstrong lends her own unique touches to this story of an Australian man who moves to New York and lives with the young Cary Grant. Orry-Kelly ends up in Hollywood and his career goes from normal to remarkable. Once you see this imaginative film, find the OrryKelly book of the same title. It has great details, including sketches. Thank you, Australia, for this immense talent. There are always classic movies or YouTube moments to see ... too much to watch is actually what’s happening!

Now, Voyager

Jan Wahl is a Hollywood historian, film critic on various broadcast outlets, and has her own YouTube channel series, “Jan Wahl Showbiz.” She has two Emmys and many awards for her longtime work on behalf of film buffs and the LGBTQ community. Contact her at www.janwahl.com

Six Minutes to Midnight S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

APR IL 8 , 2021

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, "Thoughts and prayers are lovely after mass shootings, but 65% of Americans want stricter gun controls; and for heaven›s sake, no one needs a military assault weapon to protect themselves!" The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence celebrated our 42nd anniversary, RISE UP WITH THE SISTERS, virtually from the Folsom Street Event studio on Easter Sunday with glorious entertainment co-emceed by the dynamic duo of Honey Mahogany & Alex U. Inn. Performances were by Fudgie Frottage, Mutha Chucka, Kylie Minono, KaiKai Bee Michaels, Rexy MariaAlicia Tapia, Madd Dogg 20/20 & Miss Shugana, Nick Marshall, and BeBe Sweetbriar. That wrapped up with our three cherished contests judged by Sisters Roma, Celine Dionysus, Vina Sinfurrs, and me. MASK winner was Julie Frey, “Dirty Mask” lady with the phallic carrot and bunny face. FOXY MARY winner was “Mary Blessed F**ker of COVID.” HUNKY JESUS winner was “Oh Sweet Jesus!” On March 21, the IMPERIAL COUNCIL OF SAN FRANCISCO, INC. with TMIM Emperor William Bulkley and Empress Mimi Osa presented virtually the ANNUAL IMPERIAL GALA. We were introduced to the official candidates for the office of Emperor and Empress of San Francisco: Ehra Amaya and Juanita MORE! for Empress and Mr. David Glamamore unopposed for Emperor. To date, I know that Juanita has helped to raise over $900,000 for local charities—among them GBLT Historical Society & Archives, Our Trans Youth, Q Foundation, Queer Lifespace, Transgender Law Center, and more. The Gala was hosted by the always delightful Absolute Empress 54 de San Francisco, Baby Shaques Munro. There were supreme performances by the reigning titleholders of the Court of the Majestic Golden Gate, and FiveYear Anniversary Monarch Celebrants, with a special shout-out from me to Empress 51 Emma Peel singing live “Cabaret” with such flair and gusto! Emperor William Bulkley explained the theme of CORONATION 56, “Get Lit,” as the power of great literature (and here you thought it meant “get drunk”! Ha.). Actually, the entire theme is “Get Lit: A Novel Idea.” He read dramatic passages from Shakespeare and Giovovanni’s Room to show a bit of lit class. And Empress Mimi Osa gave us a humorous purposely very bad Zoom edition of a screwed-up video greeting— complete with blips, pixilation, and out-of-sync production values. However, Drand Duchess Katherine Rose pulled off the entire Gala production to perfection behind the scenes. Voting day will be April 17. You must be a resident of SF, Marin, or San Mateo County with valid photo ID as proof of residency to vote. Not quite as restrictive as the Repugnicans. One vote per person. Results revealed at Coronation 56 on Saturday, April 24. http://www.imperialcouncilsf.org/ It should be noted that the 21-year-old Colorado man (I refuse to acknowl26

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

A PR I L 8 , 2 0 2 1

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM and the 36th anniversary of the GLBT Sister Dana and his friend William Bulkley were dressed up HISTORICAL SOCIfor the occasion at Krewe de Kinque's Bal Masque XVIII, held ETY’s foundation, the as a part virtual and in-person event benefiting the Q society hosted a chalFoundation, on Saturday, March 27. lenging LGBTQ history trivia evening on Act 3 began with the official Step March 26. A brain-boggling game Down of KDK King XVII Omar was co-hosted by Nick Large (in Kubian & KDK Queen XVII Diana an impressive amount of costume Wheeler and the Crowning of KDK changes), member of the GLBT HisKing XVIII & Queen XVIII: All torical Society Board of Directors, Hail the King and Queen! There was and Andrew Shaffer, director of a second Command Performance by development and communications. Carly Ozard with our theme, “On Special guests included Senator The Radio.” And the Tableaux Finale Scott Wiener (speaking of the muse- was led by KDK King X Kippy um’s very earliest beginnings), Isaac Marks with what else but Donna Fellman, Nalini Elias, and ExecSummer’s “Last Dance.” Everyutive Director Terry Beswick (givone was anticipating the secret long ing us the history of the history held and now is revealed as the museum). We participants got to mix new Krewe de Kinque Queen and mingle with other queer history XVIII Christina Ashton & buffs and show off our knowledge (or Krewe de Kinque King XVIII lack thereof) of our vast queer past. Colby Michaels. King Colby later The top-scoring teams won fabulous told me, “This KDK reign will be prizes, including a private museum about love, compassion, and stirring tour, complimentary memberships, up ‘good trouble’.” and limited-edition merchandise. My Sister Dana sez, "If President team did not win. But we certainly Biden is gonna accomplish his had a ball! agenda, we gotta bust the filihttps://tinyurl.com/ywkb38bd buster!” It was our annual KREWE DE MUSEUM OF BAD ART KINQUE’s BAL MASQUE XVIII, (MOBA) has over 600 pieces of “art with the theme, “On The Radio,” too bad to be ignored.” The museum held in front of Poesia cafe and TilI checked out was “MOBA Zoo” on ly’s Castro Stitchery in the CasMarch 24, which was all about the tro. This was also a fundraiser for Q animals. Mike Frank was our clever FOUNDATION, providing houscurator and narrator. Added to his ing help to seniors, disabled adults, extremely humorous patter were the HIV+ renters, families, and those bizarre sound effects. Go browse this impacted by COVID-19. I had the awful awesome art! honor of being in the VIP section http://museumofbadart.org/ seated alongside Donna Sachet; headliner singer/songwriter Carly Sister Dana sez, "The massive Ozard; the newly sainted by the Sisship that blocked the Suez ters of Perpetual Indulgence and Canal should be renamed the current reigning Emperor WilSS Senator McConnell, because liam Bulkley; and his husband, no other has blocked so much the incredible photographer Garaje passage for so long!" Gooch (the latter two graciously THEATRE RHINOCEROS gave escorting this drunken nun safely to us perfect PANDEMIC PERFORhis domicile). Beginning Act I, we MANCES on April 2, Good Friwere welcomed by founder, Krewe day, hosted by Jesús U. Bettawork de Kinque I & Ball Captain and Kim Larsen. This was a really Gary Virginia, who introduced entertaining evening of short video reigning Krewe de Kinque King clips celebrating the creative output XVII Omar Kubian & Queen of Bay Area LGBTQ talent typical of XVII Diana Wheeler. KDK memTheatre Rhino. The fun fundraiser ber Aaron Priskorn performed had an amazing lineup including (in the “National Anthem.” We were alphabetical order) Lili Argüello, given a command performance by Tanika Baptiste, Leanne Borheadliner Ozard of “Let Love Rain ghesi, Cookie Cutter, Robby Down.” Grand Marshal Renel Kendall, Gino Lucas & William Brooks-Moon (P.A. announcer Hester, Matthew Martin, Jerry for SF Giants) proudly led us kooky Metager/Ms. Vicky, Nitrix krazed krewe in the Second Line Oxide, Peaches Christ, PiraParade up and down and up and nha, The Quarantine Singers, down again 18th Street. Raya Light, Tom Shaw, Stan ACT 2 began with KDK Queen Stone, Michael Vega, and ErinII Deana Dawn doing “Lovely Kate Whitcomb. With special Day”; KDK Member Christina appearances by Lea DeLaria (Orange Ashton with “Take Me Home”; Is the New Black), Supervisor Rafael KDK Member Olivia Hart with Mandelman, Marga Gomez, «MacArthur Park”; KDK King X Danny Scheie (Rhinoceros at ACT), Kippy Marks on electric violin and Darryl Stephens (Noah on with «Dancing Queen”; KDK Noah’s Arc, Boy Culture). It was a blast Queen XV Miss Chief doing “ I being in the chat room and getting Rise Up”; KDK Member Tawdry shout-outs. Hepburnn with “Young Hearts The hatred that has permeated Run Free”; KDK King VII John the global community in 2020 has Weber (who reigned gloriously with increased to unprecedented numbers. moi, Queen VII Sister Dana) doing a Amidst the continuing pandemic, medley of “Cold, Cold World”, “Get violence against Asian and Pacific Up, Get Down,” and “Get Funky, Islanders has increased nearly by Get Loose”; KDK Queen XVI Kelly Rose with “Knock On Wood” 150% this year—and we’re not even to the halfway point. These attacks and “I’m Coming Out”; and KDK have targeted largely the community’s Queen XIII Garza summing up the motto of Krewe de Kinque to per- most vulnerable members: the elderly fection with “We Are Family!” (continued on page 28)

PHOTO BY DARRYL PELLETIER

edge this monster’s name) who opened fire inside a Boulder King Soopers supermarket posted homophobic content on social media in the years leading up to his murderous rampage.

LGBT Highlights from the SF Film Fest

Film

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street

Gary M. Kramer The San Francisco International Film Festival opens April 9 with a screening of the dramatic thriller Naked Singularity, and closes on April 18 with a screening of the documentary Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street. In between, the legendary Rita Moreno will introduce her documentary Rita Morena: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It. There are also a number of LGBTQ shorts, features, and documentaries available for screening online or at the Fort Mason Flix drive-in theater. Here is a rundown of the queer films playing at this year’s fest. A centerpiece film at this year’s festival is Bo McGuire’s bold documentary Socks on Fire, which recounts an ugly chapter in the gay filmmaker’s northeast Alabama family’s history. When his beloved grandmother dies without a will, Bo’s aunt Sharon tries to force her drag queen brother out of his grandmother’s house because, “She

Ma Belle, My Beauty

didn’t like his lifestyle.” This navelgazing film, however, is tweedious— intermittently engaging and often too precious and personal to be fully involving. Socks on Fire will be presented online and at a live drive-in event on April 10 where McGuire will emcee a drag performance following the screening. The intoxicating Ma Belle, My Beauty has Lane (Hannah Pepper-Cunningham) visiting her former lovers Bertie (Idella Johnson) and Fred (Lucien Guignard), who are

now married to each other. Lane hopes to win Bertie back, but she also takes up with Noa (Sivan Noam Shimon). The magic of writerdirector Marion Hill’s charming film is that everyone’s desires and motivations are clear. Hill also offers some keen insights about relationships along with beautiful people in a beautiful setting. Tove is a handsome period drama chronicling the life of the bisexual artist and author of the Moomin books, Tove Jansson (Alma Pöysti). The film details Jansson’s personal and professional ups and downs as she ekes out a career and manages her relationships with Atos Wirtanen (Shanti Roney), as well as Vivica Bandler (Krista Kosonen), a woman who becomes her muse and lover. Pöysti makes the artist’s search for love, happiness, and success affecting. Nudo Mixteco is a potent drama set mainly in the small Mexican village of San Mateo. Maria (Sonia Couoh) is returning home to attend the funeral for her mother. Her father (Sabel Sánchez Sánchez), whom she is estranged from, does not welcome her with open arms. In fact, he sends her away from a ceremony when she arrives. However, Piedad (Eileen Yañez), embraces Maria; they are former lovers. Rekindling their passions, Maria implores Piedad to leave with her. Nudo Mixteco creates an authentic portrait of these lives that are caught between family, tradition, and desire. The lesbian storyline forms only a third of this superb film’s triptych. The other overlapping tales concern Esteban (Noé

Hernández), who returns to discover his wife Chabela (Aida López) is having an affair, and Toña (Myriam Bravo), who is trying to end a cycle of abuse. Nudo Mixteco is wonderfully filmed and acted as it portrays stories of female empowerment. Seyran Ates: Sex, Revolution, and Islam is an inspiring profile of the controversial bisexual, feminist lawyer who advocates against gender discrimination. A female Imam of a liberal mosque in Berlin—it accepts men and women, as well as members of the LGBTQI community—Ates is under police protection

because of two fatwas. When she wonders aloud, “Why do you want to kill me?” Ates enumerates the reasons her work is so important for ending hate and promoting dignity and equality. She may be called names by haters (and admits many liberals disagree with her), but Nefise Özkal Lorentzen’s affectionate documentary shows Ates to be a kind, thoughtful woman. She travels to Madrid and Oslo to combat Islamophobia and extremism, meets with sex workers in a German brothel, and LGBT youth in Beijing to address issues of shame and discrimination. One of the most moving stories in the film involves her nephew, who comes out as gay, and talks about his homophobic father. Seyran Ates introduces viewers to a pioneering woman who deserves

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

(continued on page 28)

APR IL 8, 2021

MILLER (continued from page 8)

SISTER DANA SEZ (continued from page 26)

recommendations for any individual or on any specific security. It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results. Any indices referenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional. Brio does not provide tax or legal advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as such.

and the poor. To this end, a coalition of API nonprofits, including GAPA and inspired by Mocha Fapalatte, banded together to increase awareness of the issue. On April 3 at 1 pm in Jane Warner Plaza in San Francisco’s Castro District, the coalition gathered for RALLY AGAINST AAPI HATE, a lively demonstration to speak out against the violence plaguing the country.

Brio Financial Group is a registered investment adviser. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Brio Financial Group and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Brio Financial Group unless a client service agreement is in place. Brandon Miller, CFP®, is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.

ROSTOW (continued from page 13) rule against disparaging the team online, but Levy’s expansive eruption against a wide range of youthful miseries must not be nitpicked by the rah-rah school Mandarins. And why do we care? We care about all major public school First Amendment litigation because GLBTfriendly or unfriendly speech and behavior is so often at issue. Likewise, we care about religious freedom cases, even when they involve the right to grow a beard in prison or eat a hamster in the staff kitchen because the principles in question may apply to a GLBT case in due time. And no, of course no one has ever sued for the right to eat a hamster. The beard case is a real one. Bar None Do you realize there are only 15 lesbian bars left in the United States? According to NBC News, there remain about 1,000 men’s and mixed bars, but your classic women’s bar is apparently a thing of the past. Covid hasn’t helped, but I have to assume that the real culprit is, well, progress. It’s not just the internet and dating apps. It’s that we’re no longer a marginalized community. I hear you screaming out there, but I’m speaking in relative terms. I’m remembering a bar where we had to knock three times to be admitted. I’m remembering the Italian bouncers at the Mafia-owned bars of the 1970s and 1980s in New York. I’m remembering “Partners,” my college gay bar; the black lights that made us all look tan, the blaring disco music, the line dancing, the cruising. I’m remembering the Katmandou from my years in Paris and the little cabinets where you kept your personal bottles of gin or vodka. Even the now infamous La Champmesle, a tiny neighborhood bar with no particular reputation not far from the stock exchange in the area where I used to work. These were hideaways, the lairs of an underground community of gay women escaping from the myriad ways we had to hide ourselves in public. I recall taking for granted that many of my friends were in the closet, had fake boyfriends, were lying to their parents and their bosses. Gradually, such deceits became less necessary; they became unusual, they became downright odd, and then eventually we started to wonder what’s wrong with X that she has to pretend to be straight in this day and age. Really?

Those bars are outposts of a different century. I’m not saying homophobia is a thing of the past. I’m saying that the type of homophobia that herded us into these secret spaces is a thing of the past. And, yes, at times I have a bit of nostalgia for some of those spaces. But I have no nostalgia for the society that created them. A Man Scorned Speaking of progress, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire just ruled unanimously that “adultery” applies to a same-sex spouse and is not legally limited to intercourse outside of a marriage. According to the Union Leader, the decision arose from a heterosexual divorce case, where the husband accused his wife of having an affair with another woman and was seeking a ruling that the divorce was her fault. Sounds as if he was right about that. And in other random GLBT news, a county lawmaker in upstate New York named George Langdon IV has stepped down after someone passed around a video of his remarks at the “Return to Liberty Under the Constitution” retreat. “Everything God does is sustainable, it’s sustainable. It’s perpetual,” he said. “Sorry, when you have homosexual relationships, it’s not perpetual. Give them an island, they’ll be gone in 40 years. Because God created us this way. There’s so much common sense that needs to be applied to our policies, our procedures that we do in our government.” A little research indicates that George has been working for “Crystal Clear Finances,” a Christian finance group founded by his wife, Crystal Langdon, who touts herself as a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA). A CKA, in turn, is defined online as “a principled class of Christian financial advisors who have been trained in biblically wise financial advice to men and women seeking biblically wise financial counsel (SIC).” It looks as if George’s introduction page has been removed from the Crystal Clear website, but his son George Langdon V is listed and apparently goes by the nickname “V.” I can’t tell if that means they call him “Vee” or “Five.” But I do know there’s something weird about that many generations of men with the same name. There just is. arostow@aol.com

SF LGBT CENTER will be holding its annual (but this year virtual) SOIRÉE on April 10, 6 pm. Join me and us Center fans for an extraordinary evening celebrating community! Together we will uplift the impact of the Center’s work and raise funds to expand its programs and services virtually. The SF LGBT Center connects our diverse community to opportunities, resources, and each other to achieve our vision of a stronger, healthier, and more equitable world for LGBTQ people and our allies. Co-hosted by Sister Roma & Liam Mayclem—featuring Juanita MORE!, Voodonna, Effervesence Jackson, and Tito Soto. https://www.sfcenter.org/ Sister Dana sez, "If FDR were alive today, every Republican Congress person would vote NO on his New Deal! What’s the deal with today’s RepubliCAN’Ts?!” KRAMER (continued from page 27) attention and respect. This film shows why her efforts to rethink sexuality and Islam are critical for improving the world. Shorts Program 2 features two LGBT-themed films. Freezerburn, by Sarah Rattay-Maloney, is a comic story about Lou (Sonia Mena), who announces something relationship-killing during sex with her boyfriend, Sam (Ben Lorenz). And once that cat is out of the bag, a literal CAT, ( Julius Powell), shows up in their apartment in all his glittery fabulousness. When Sam and Lou meet to talk openly and honestly, Ray ( John Wollman) turns up looking for his lost cat. Can these two couples survive? Freezerburn’s delights in providing a playful answer. The Night Train, written and directed by Jerry Carlsson is a fantastic short about Oskar (Erik Nilsson), who is travelling home after an interview. He spies Ahmad (Khalil Ben Gharbia) sitting opposite him in the train car, and the two young men cannot stop looking at one another. Their silent seduction, which brims with sexual tension, is irresistible and it comes to a head when they meet in the train’s bathroom for some passionate kissing. Carlsson captures this encounter with minimal dialogue. The actors express everything they need to with their eyes and body language. Moreover, the symbolism of a juicy orange slice Ahmad offers Oskar speaks volumes. This short is highly satisfying. Kapaemahu, by gay filmmakers Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson, who worked with Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, will screen in Shorts program 6. This hypnotic animated film, which was shortlisted for this year’s Oscar, concerns two-spirits in Tahiti and Hawai’i. Also of gay interest, but not available for preview, is Dance of the 41, about a scandalous party in 1901 Mexico where men dressed as women. For more information about tickets, films, and events, visit https://sffilm.org/ © 2021 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer SHORTER (continued from page 10) versus highly possible use of excessive police force ending in severe injury or even death of a single Black person for peacefully attempting to gain entry to witness, not disrupt, a major legislative event. It’s hard to tell if her identification as an elected state representative, and not just a young Black woman knocking at the governor’s door while he was restricting her voting rights as a young Black woman, might have saved her from excessive aggression or force. Whether Georgia State Representative Cannon set out to make some good trouble that day or just arrived to carry out her duties to record the dirty deed in her role as minority caucus secretary or both, her moment will go down in Black, LGBTQ, and women’s histories. While it is not likely to represent a major flashpoint, it still merits notice, reference, and gratitude. After all, her very existence as a young Black queer woman, no matter where she stood—near, far, or within that state capitol building—is the disruption to the status quo Governor Kemp and his legislation conspire to prevent, suppress, and exclude. Cannon as an elected Black openly queer woman working against discrimination and fighting for equality, civil rights, and the right to vote is the status keepers worst nightmare come true. To others for whom she fights for, Cannon is the dream come true. We hear you knocking, Park Cannon. We see and thank you for the good troubles you have already caused, and for the good troubles you will expectedly cause in the fight for voter rights yet to come in Georgia and beyond.

STAY SAFE. WEAR A MASK. 28

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

A PR I L 8 , 2 0 2 1

Andrea Shorter is a Commissioner and the former President of the historic San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women. She is a longtime advocate for criminal and juvenile justice reform, voter rights and marriage equality. A Co-Founder of the Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, she was a 2009 David Bohnett LGBT Leadership Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Dykes

With Drills Tip of the Week By Julie Peri

Artshot Abby Zimberg

Abby Zimberg is a licensed California Marriage Family Therapist with training in art therapy. She formerly worked as a graphic designer and has always been a photographer. https://theartoftherapysf.com/

How to Make Straight Cuts Using a Circular Saw When cutting with a circular saw it can be hard to keep your hand steady. That is why it is great to use a guide to help you make straight cuts. If you are working on a jobsite, or don’t have a jig readily available to you, you can use a speed square (available at hardware stores) as a straight edge. First, line up your saw blade to where you want to make your cut. Then, place your speed square next to the table of your circular saw. Hold or clamp the speed square in place and slide the table of your circular saw along the edge of the speed square. Once you are done cutting, you will have a very precise cut! You can also use a level, or any other straight edge, as a guide for your circular saw. Learn more about woodworking with us in person in San Francisco, or online from the comfort of your own home. Here is what we have coming up next!

Gnomes in Noe Valley

Build your own Loom and Weaving workshop, April 10 & 17, Online Build at Home: Mid-Century Modern Plant Stand, April 18, Online Build at Home: Live Edge Charcuterie Board, May 8 & 29, Online

Take Me Home with You!

Learn Advanced Wood Burning, May 22, Online Learn Finish Carpentry while building a Tiny House, June 2021, Walnut Creek For more information about these and other events, go to: https://www.dykeswithdrills.com/workshops Julie Peri is the Founder and Director of Dykes With Drills. https://www.dykeswithdrills.com/

Whiskey

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

“My name is Whiskey! I’m a 2-year-old who’s full of energy, so I’m hoping to find an

active adopter who likes to romp and play as much as I do! I’m a happy-go-lucky pup with a big smile and tail that never stops wagging. My ideal adopter would be someone who will keep me mentally stimulated by teaching me tricks and building on my education—I’m already pretty good on a leash and with the basic training cues, but I’m a curious pup who's ready to learn more!” Whiskey is presented to San Francisco Bay Times readers by Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, the SF SPCA’s CoPresident. Our thanks also go to Krista Maloney for helping to get the word out about lovable pets like Whiskey. To apply to meet Whiskey, visit https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/

QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on pg 24)

D) all of the above Even more historic firsts could be listed for Laverne Cox, who will be celebrating her 49th birthday on May 29. S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

APR IL 8, 2021

Round About - All Over Town - Spring Has Sprung! Photos by Rink

Jeff Carnie’s mural promoting the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit is at SVN West located at Van Ness and Market Streets. The exhibit includes interpretations of the Dutch artist’s work by local artists.

A large mural by artist Jeff Carnie welcomes visitors to the Immersive Van Gogh Show at SVN West.

Colorfall of Hope is the title of the newly installed artwork by Deirdre Weinberg located in front of the Castro Bank of America. The piece is one in the ongoing Hearts in San Francisco series benefiting SF General Hospital.

A diverse set of personalities adorns the votive candles for sale at PO Plus on Castro Street.

Gilded LIndt chocolate bunnies for sale at the Castro Safeway

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

A PR I L 8 , 2 0 2 1

An Easter display in the window of the One Half store on Polk Street

An Easter display in the window at the One Half store on Polk Street

An Easter display in the window at Cliff’s Variety on Castro Street

A red double layer red velvet cake with a bunny on top at Mollie Stone’s in the Castro

Davares Robinson displays a t-shirt for sale at the HRC Store on Castro Street that is scheduled in close in mid-April.

Everything is on sale, according to manager John Winter at the HRC store on Market that will close in mid April.

The HRC store that has occupied the site where Harvey Milk’s Castro Camera shop was located

Round About - All Over Town - Spring Has Sprung! Photos by Rink

CASTRO STREETCAM presented by

Joe Mac presented his annual Easter Bonnet Sale, benefiting AIDS Walk 2021, in front of Cafe Mystique.

Castro Merchants president Masood Samereie shared a hug in front of Twin Peaks bar with newly appointed SFPD Mission Station Captain Rachel Moran on Saturday, April 2.

Customers, wearing Joe Mac Easter bonnets, enjoyed the parklet service at Cafe Mystique on Saturday, April 3.

http://sfbaytimes.com/

Sisters, arriving from throughout the U.S. and other nations for the annual Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Easter Party, visited the Castro on Saturday, April 3.

Photographer J.B. Higgins displayed his images of entertainer Divine and the Doggie Diner heads at his booth in the Noe Art Mart during the Shared Spaces on Sunday, March 28.

Bare Chest Calendar men offered pastries for sale at their table in Harvey Milk Plaza on April 3. The calendar and related sales benefit PRC.

Honey Bear murals were visible just beyond the busy parklet shared by the Lookout and Jeffrey’s on Noe Street on March 27.

Tables along the sidewalk were fully occupied as were the adjacent parklets on Noe Street near the intersection at Market Street on March 27.

For those of you who have spent the last year battling foggy lenses, we finally found something that works really well. Anti-fog lens cloths are good for 200 wipes and come with their own resealable storage pouch for just $5.99

Air plants are back in stock! We have a cheerful assortment of small Tillandsia for $4.99 each, plus a wide variety of terrariums and plant holders to give them just the right home.

Jason Dana, Corbin Campbell and Elizabeth Defelice displayed their art, jewelry and plant hangers on sale at the Noe Art Mart on March 28.

A server received orders from customers in the sidewalk seating area in front of Harvey’s bar and restaurant during the Shared Spaces on March 27.

Natalie McKean and Donald Arrodondo offered their original artwork in prints and on t-shirts at their booth on Noe Street.

Visitors waiting for a table stood outside the crowded Edge bar on 18th Street on March 27.

A friendly, busy server at The Cove on Castro delivered a plate of hearty fare to customers in an adjacent parklet.

pring has sprung and life is starting to bloom in the Castro again. I took an extra day off work and nothing catastrophic happened! I am feeling cautiously optimistic. By the end of the month, most of our staff will be fully vaccinated. Everything is moving in the right direction. But we all have to work to keep it that way. Wear your mask (properly), keep washing your hands and don’t go to Florida for spring break. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t let it be a mirage. Make it a reality.

As Heard on the Street . . . What virtual event have you enjoyed over the past year? compiled by Rink

Diva D

Lizzi Dierken

Tre Allen

Speros Mykons

Joe Mac

“The Krewe De Kinque Twelfth Night Party, where the new King and Queen were secretly chosen”

“My Sunday brunch group and flagging”

“A meeting of the San Francisco Interfaith Council on April 9, which will feature Senator Scott Wiener and Assemblymembers Phil Ting and David Chiu”

“Surfing!”

“Seeing and talking with my friends”

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

APR IL 8, 2021 31