July 15–28, 2021 http://sfbaytimes.com
Visionary Artistic Director’s Lasting Legacy See Pages 2–4
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Dr. Tim Seelig, Artistic Director/Conductor San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
Dr. Tim Seelig: Music and Mission Measured in Love
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Artistic Director & Conductor Dr. Tim Seelig to Retire After Season 44
Spcial thanks to photographers Gareth Gooch, JP Lor, Dave Earl, Rink, and others who contributed.
singers or dollars, but in the lives and hearts moved by the music we have made together.” “San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will forever be indebted to Tim for his many years of service and contributions to the chorus and our community,” said Verdugo. “During his tenure, the organization has seen an overwhelming increase in chorus members— expanding to over 300 singers—and he’s created an artistic product to rival some of the best men’s choral ensembles in the country. He helped elevate SFGMC to the global stage while also transforming the chorus into a worldwide leader in the LGBTQ+ choral movement. He’s been a partner, friend and leader.” “Anyone who has ever attended one of our concerts will agree that Tim is an incredible artistic visionary who has created a men’s chorus that is among the best in the world,” added DeSandre. “Arguably though, his biggest legacy are the thousands of singers and audience members who have been galvanized to take up the mantle of social justice by Tim’s artistry, musical commissions, and inspirational words. More than just a conductor he is a mentor, coach, father, brother, and friend to all of us and he will be greatly missed.” Considered one of the nation’s most prolific choral directors, Seelig has had an accomplished 10 seasons at SFGMC marked by several distinguished achievements, including:
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• the Lavender Pen Tour, the groundbreaking tour that took the chorus through five southern states in the fall of 2017; • the subsequent release of Gay Chorus Deep South, the award-winning documentary chronicling the Lavender Pen Tour; • the creation of the Artists Portal at San Francisco’s National AIDS Memorial Grove; • the purchase of 170 Valencia, the new home of San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and The Chan National Queer Arts Center; • the launch of RHYTHM, SFGMC’s educational outreach program to youth that has stretched nationwide; • and much more.
Following 10 seasons as Artistic Director and Conductor of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC), Dr. Tim Seelig will retire at the conclusion of SFGMC’s Season 44 in 2022, Executive Director Chris Verdugo and Board Chair Glenn DeSandre recently announced.
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“As I look back over the last decade with the chorus, the milestones are humbling,” said Seelig, who is also a San Francisco Bay Times columnist. “The chorus has been able to honor its commitment to music and mission. The music, new and old, has been glorious. The mission continues to stand as a beacon guiding this chorus through what is now 43 years. For me, the successes of these 10 seasons with SFGMC are not counted in numbers of
Throughout his tenure, Seelig forged intimate and important working collaborations with distinguished composers and musicians that have resulted in six major commissioned pieces of works. They include Testimony by Stephen Schwartz; I Am Harvey Milk by Andrew Lippa; Tyler’s Suite, featuring the work of nine celebrated composers including Jake Heggie, Ann Hampton Callaway, John Corigliano, Stephen Flaherty, and more; #twitterlieder by James Eakin; Unbreakable by Andrew Lippa; @queerz by Julian Hornik; and the upcoming Songs of the Phoenix. Many of these works have since been performed by other choral ensembles around the world. Known for his enthusiasm and humor, Seelig has secured his place as an in-demand guest conductor and teacher across the U.S. and the globe. For 25 years, Seelig conducted annually at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Other guest conducting highlights include conducting 700+ singers plus orchestra in I Am Harvey Milk in Denver; conducting the Guinness Book of World Record’s Longest Choral Concert; conducting the Canadian premiere of Tyler’s Suite in Ottawa; and being the first openly gay man to conduct the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Prior to joining SFGMC, Seelig was Artistic Director and Conductor of Dallas’ Turtle Creek Chorale for 20 years, where he is currently Conductor Emeritus, and he served on the faculty at Southern Methodist University for 14 years. Seelig’s early training was as a singer. He made his European operatic debut at the Staatsoper in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and his solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall. He appeared as soloist in world premieres of composers including John Corigliano, Conrad Susa, and Peter Schikele. Dr. Seelig holds four degrees, including the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas and the Diploma from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He has authored numerous books and DVDs on choral technique including best-sellers The Perfect Blend and The Perfect Rehearsal, as well as The Perfect Choral Workbook, Quick Choral Fixes, and The Music Within. In 2020, Seelig released his memoir, Tale of Two Tims: Big Ol’ Baptist, Big Ol’ Gay.
Dr Tim Seelig with (clockwise from top left) legendary activist Holly Near; SF Symphony's Michael Tilson Thomas at an SF Pride March; a youngster at a community event at the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy; the late Ryan Nunez at an SFGMC concert 2
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In 2022, Dr. Seelig will have been conducting LGBTQ+ choruses for 35 years. A committee led by Paul Saccone and Maren Amdal will formally launch the search for SFGMC’s next Artistic Director on August 1.
Tim performing with his mother, Virginia Garrett Seelig
Tim with Dan England (left), Bobby Jo Valentine, and canine pals
Tim with his father, John Earl Seelig
Tim with his daughter, Corianna Kai SeeligGustafson
Corianna with her daughter, Clara Skye Gustafson Dr. Tim Seelig's close ties with family and friends date back to his early years and experience as a musician and minister of music. Photos courtesy of Dr. Tim Seelig
Honoring the Remarkable CareerBAY of Dr. Tim Seelig TIMES S
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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area
CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2021)
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Tim Seelig Reflects on the Past Decade with SFGMC and Reveals Future Plans
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Dr. Tim Seelig with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus at the historic Stonewall Inn in New York City
Dr. Tim Seelig’s talent, charisma, and sheer life force are unmistakable, immeasurable. When he steps in front of the mighty San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus to conduct, the impact on audiences as the chorus’ members realize his creative vision can be transformative, going far beyond that shared moment in time. Wielding his baton like a magic wand, he takes listeners on an emotional ride that may lead to quiet contemplation and flowing tears one minute, followed by joy so immense that many audience members spontaneously leap out of their seats to applaud and plead for encores.
Noted achievements of Dr. Tim Seelig's career in recent years have included (clockwise from top left) the debut of his memoir published in 2020; the Frameline Film Festival premiere of the film Gay Chorus Deep South; leading the Chorus in crossing the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama, during the Lavender Pen Tour in 2019; with SFGMC executive director Christopher Verdogo at the opening of the Chan National Queer Arts Center; conducting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir; and opening the Artists Portal at The National AIDS Memorial in Golden Gate Park.
Colleagues, Friends, and Admirers Share Thoughts About Dr. Tim Seelig “Tim has been a driving force in the evolution of our movement. His passion for artistic excellence has driven our choruses to new heights and his connections outside the LGBTQ choral world have enhanced our visibility. Under Tim’s leadership, the Turtle Creek Chorale and San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus have commissioned new music and films that eloquently tell our stories to millions around the world. New talent will appear on the scene, but Tim’s imprint on the LGBT choral movement will live on for generations.” Robin L. Godfrey, Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) Executive Director “For the past decade, Tim brought and shared his passion for music and mission to the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus in dramatic ways. He is a master storyteller and deftly takes the audience on a journey at every concert evoking his signature TLC: ‘tears, laughter and chill bumps.’ With his unique combination of good humor and unparalleled mastery of choral pedagogy, he has raised the musical bar for SFGMC to heights of which we had only dreamed.” Michael Tate, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Member and President of the Board of GALA Choruses “Anyone who’s seen Tim Seelig in concert with his chorus knows that he has the soul of a musician, the sass of a true activist, and the flawless timing of a standup comic.” Armistead Maupin, Author of the Tales of the City series
“No life is easy, and Tim Seelig’s amazing life has had more than its share of vicissitudes and tragedies, as well as triumphs ... Tim is someone I feel fortunate to know and proud to have worked with.” Stephen Schwartz, Musical Theater Lyricist and Composer “[Tim Seelig reminds us] that it’s never too late to be who you are. He reminds us that in this discovery there is only the truth of real happiness. As Tim discovers who he is, we begin to celebrate who we truly are.” Sheila Nevins, Television Producer and Head of MTV Documentary Films division of MTV Studios “Spanning seven decades, his story is a powerful account of personal struggle, complicated love, and spiritual liberation.” Cleve Jones, Activist, Lecturer, Author, and Conceiver of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt “The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will flourish after Tim’s mighty leadership concludes. The sign of all great leaders is exactly this: leave things better than when you started, influence the organization to keep growing in your absence, be proud and know you taught them and helped them reach their goals so they can set new, higher ones. This is the legacy of Dr. Timothy Seelig. He is friend, mentor, teacher, leader, and forever, musician.” Andrew Lippa, Composer, Lyricist, Performer, Author, and Producer
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In the rare instances in which Tim sings solo, his beautiful voice reminds listeners that they are in the presence of a world-class performer—in addition to his being a highly acclaimed conductor, educator, and activist. We are beyond grateful that Tim is a San Francisco Bay Times columnist. He is a consummate professional and a considerate team player. Even during his busiest weeks, he has never missed a deadline and is always watching out for others. He somehow packs what seems like 48 hours or more of work into a single day. It is therefore little wonder that when he and colleagues speak of his forthcoming retirement, they frequently mention that it will be done “Seelig-style,” referring not only to his drive and productivity, but also to his generosity in helping and mentoring others. This interview, as an example, took place at 4:30 am on a very hectic work day as Tim and other SFGMC members fended off a barrage of homophobic attacks from the far-right. He could have said no to the interview, but in typical, thoughtful Tim fashion, he was there for us ... and for you. San Francisco Bay Times: What are some of the most memorable moments for you with SFGMC, looking back over the past decade? Tim Seelig: The most memorable moments have been both small and large. One of those moments came early on when a sweet mom of a student at Harvey Milk Academy showed up at our office. She described the huge need the parents club had raising money for things the kids needed that were not in the SFUSD budget. We told her if she could get the volunteers, they could stand outside our concerts and collect money. The most memorable moment came when one of our staff members handed me the slip of paper at the final holiday concert at the Castro with the total raised. It was over $35,000! I almost fainted. Another of the most memorable moments was definitely my very first concert with SFGMC, titled “Words.” As is always the case, there was great anticipation of a change of artistic leadership and what that would look, feel, and, most importantly, sound like. It was magic. I truly think that first concert out of the chute (as we say in Texas) set the tone for the ten years to follow. The third simply had to be our 40th Anniversary concert at St. Ignatius. It was filled with incredible emotion as we remembered those lost, and looked to the future. San Francisco Bay Times: How do you feel that SFGMC has evolved and changed since the time when you first started with the chorus as Artistic Director? Tim Seelig: This decade has been incredible—for the chorus, and for our LGBTQ+ community. In the big picture, we all benefited from huge strides in our work toward equality. Set against that backdrop, the chorus found itself on the fast track as well. I feel it was ready when I got here to do even more big things. I didn’t know they were going to be huge things. One of the biggest things that has happened is not visible to our patrons, but certainly is to the membership. We could not have sustained 300 members without huge internal processes. We developed a massive committee structure to make the family work in order to make singing a joy. Today, over 100 singers serve on committees, everything from the Leadership Team to the Easy Bake Coven! San Francisco Bay Times: Your incredible career extends far beyond what you have achieved with the SFGMC. What are some highlights for you, outside of your work here in San Francisco? (continued on page 4) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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SFGMC Battles Discrimination, Bigotry Following Recent Attacks Against Chorus
TIM SEELIG REFLECTS (continued from page 3)
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Tim Seelig: I was lucky very early on in my conducting to have been asked to write a book on choral technique by the world’s largest music publisher, Hal Leonard Corporation. It went on to be a best seller and was followed by 8 more books and DVDs. This put me in a position to be able to conduct and teach to straight choruses all over the country. I have been incredibly lucky to be able to conduct at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center for the last 25 years. One of my last conducting gigs 3 weeks before the pandemic was the national women’s honor choir at Carnegie Hall. The other, and perhaps most enriching for me, is conducting high school students at AllState Choirs around the country. Fourteen hours of rehearsal in 3 days leading to a performance. One that stands out is South Dakota. Their All-State Choir has 1,000 singers in it! The concert draws about 5,000 people from all over the state. The real exciting thing about all of that is the introduction of me as conductor and my bio in the program. Tens of thousands of straight folks from coast to coast are introduced to a big old gay conductor—maybe for the first time.
Tim Seelig: When I went to college to study music, I proudly announced that I wanted to be an opera singer. I truly had no idea what that meant, but once I said it there was no turning back. With single-minded focus, I set out to make that happen. Fifteen years and 4 college degrees later (one from Austria), at 33, I made it with a full-time opera job in Switzerland. At 35, I came out and the opera career turned into waving my arms at gays! When I came to the act of conducting and teaching a chorus how to sing, I just didn’t know better than to use my own training as the model for the chorus. What resulted was a chorus with a big male choral sound. I used to play recordings of Russian choruses for my own choir to emulate. From the very beginning with the Turtle Creek Chorale, the sound was unique. We recently celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the 1981 National Tour. In preparation for that tour, the brand-new chorus made a recording to sell along the way. It is gorgeous. Once again, that first group of men set the trajectory of the chorus: extraordinary music. Each of the subsequent conductors has put his or her mark on that music-making. San Francisco Bay Times: You’ve mentioned that “music is not an end in itself. It’s a means to an end.” Please explain more about that. Tim Seelig: This is a broad brush, but in the straight choral world, the goal is musical perfection (that is, for the most part, unattainable). The choruses chosen to perform at conventions are excellent and boring. The one exception is church choirs and, since that was my experience, I naturally saw the music was used in the church service to warm peoples’ hearts to get them ready for the sermon—or the offering plate! When I moved to conducting LGBTQ+ choruses, that idea that music could move people's hearts stuck with me. There is always an end in mind when making music. We want to touch people. We also want to move the needle of acceptance. San Francisco Bay Times: What are your hopes for SFGMC moving into the next decade? Tim Seelig: Toward the end of this past decade with the chorus, the world has completely changed. We have had the trifecta of Trump, COVID, and massive social unrest. All three of these have changed how we will look at the next decade and what will happen. The chorus is on the precipice of huge change as it responds to all the things happening in our world. Most importantly, the chorus is undergoing a complete DEI study—from top to bottom. I don’t have to hope, because I know that the chorus is going to look different and will absolutely remain on the very forefront of music and mission. San Francisco Bay Times: We are excited about the 2021–2022 season, your final one with the chorus. 4
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San Francisco Bay Times: We agree with others that there is a “signature Tim Seelig sound.” How do you describe it, and what do you think led to it?
Dr. Tim Seelig's enjoyment of music and the performing arts are on full display at concert events, including (top to bottom) at Davies Symphony Hall, the Chorus' concert featuring music made famous by rock icon Elton John, and the annual SFGMC Holiday Concert series held at multiple locations throughout December.
Please share more about what is being planned for this important season. Tim Seelig: There is one great thing about conducting your final season—ever! I get to program some best of moments. Holidays are just insane, one blockbuster after another. The spring brings my final huge world premiere: Songs of the Phoenix. Our friend and Broadway composer Andrew Lippa has curated a list of 12 lyricists and composers from every possible cultural background, orientation, and age diversity. There are voices new and familiar. There are some just waiting to be discovered. And then there are the tried-and-true friends Stephen Schwartz, Andrew Lippa, and Stephen Sondheim. The final blowout will include the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and BARS (Bay Area Symphony Orchestra). Then, breathe. San Francisco Bay Times: We loved hearing that you plan to do freelance conducting gigs once your time with the chorus ends. What would be some dream gigs for you in future? Tim Seelig: This part of my future is something I’ve been doing “on the side” for these past 34 years. I look forward to conducting “the kids” in things such as the All-State Choirs and teaching the teachers at conventions and workshops. San Francisco Bay Times: What else do you hope to do once the 2021–2022 season ends? We’re thrilled and grateful that you’ll be continuing your column for the San Francisco Bay Times. Tim Seelig: I keep saying I am going to just sit somewhere pretty and breathe for maybe 6 months. I just got my first invitation to do a weekend workshop in Kansas in the fall of 2022, so that sitting and relaxing will have to be Seelig-style ... short and sweet. The decade has been staggering—from my most proud accomplishment, the Artists Portal at the National AIDS Memorial Grove, to the new building, and from the Lavender Pen Tour to Gay Chorus Deep South. We created six major new choral works. But, to be really cheesy and quote a gay anthem, the decade, for me, is truly “measured in love.” It’s the friendships, the community of the chorus, the joys, and the heartaches we have all shared. The music facilitates that for us. That is what I will miss most.
On July 1, not long after the forthcoming retirement of Dr. Tim Seelig was announced, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus posted a “Message from the Gay Community” to SFGMC TV and across social media. It was chosen because of how much it was enjoyed when the chorus performed it live in San Francisco at Pride, at SingOuts, in South Carolina, and at the Pride Showcase. The piece was commissioned by the Oakland Symphony, which shared it with the chorus. “The far-right conservative media found our ‘Message’ video and have taken it as their cause,” Dr. Tim Seelig, Chris Verdugo, and Glenn DeSandre wrote in a statement released on July 9. “They have taken the lyrics out of context to support a narrative that suits their intolerant and hateful needs. It is obvious the tongue-in-cheek humor is lost on many. As a result, we have seen the user comments on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram become increasingly alarming. Emails to individuals and the chorus office are vitriolic—including threats of harm.” They continued: “We feel the first action we must take to keep everyone involved with the chorus and the making of this video safe is to turn the video to private. We are communicating with law-enforcement both locally and nationally. We will not be threatened and we follow legal steps to act on those threats. We will always accept others who may hold different values, but when violence is their choice of expression, since 1969 we have not backed down. After decades of children being indoctrinated and taught intolerance for anyone who is ‘other,’ from using the Bible as a weapon to reparative therapy, it’s our turn. We have dedicated ourselves to being role models, teaching, and spreading the message of love, tolerance, and celebration through our music.” “Our second action is to work to control the narrative,” they added. “The video is being illegally copied and placed on YouTube, Instagram and other websites. Others have the right to follow Fair Use laws, but that is not what is happening here. Therefore, our social media and marketing staff are working around the clock to alert moderators at YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and to file DMCA’s (take down of websites featuring stolen content). So far, this has been very successful ... Thank you for your love and support and for believing in the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and its mission. We are proud of who we are. We are proud of what we sing.” GLAAD’s President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis issued a statement in support of the SFGMC: “The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performed a tongue-in-cheek song commissioned by an external arts organization which ironically had a simple message around teaching young people to speak out against anti-LGBTQ hate. The chorus sings in harmony, ‘Someone’s got to teach them not to hate.’ As a result of manipulation from anti-LGBTQ media figures, the chorus is now facing uncalled-for and disgusting threats of violence, as well as hate and harassment, across social media. As GLAAD’s Social Media Safety Index reported, hate and harassment too often goes unchecked on social media and the platforms need to act swiftly to address the hateful content directed at the chorus, especially the threats of violence. The ugly anti-LGBTQ rhetoric just reinforces the need for LGBTQ visibility, community, and advocacy, all of which the SFGMC has exemplified in its 40+ year history.”
California Travel Ban - Adding 5 More Naughty States response to North Carolina’s House Bill 2, or “bathroom bill,” which prevented transgender people from using bathrooms that aligned with their gender identity.
Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History Louise “Lou” Fischer Recently at my day job, I received an email detailing an update to Assembly Bill 1887, which enacted California’s travel ban to states that uphold anti-LGBTQ laws, or as I call them, “LGBTQ-hating Republican states.” On June 28, 2021, Attorney General Rob Bonta added 5 more states to the current 12, for a total of 17. My first thought was, “It doesn’t affect me. I never leave the state for work, but yay, AG Bonta, go get ‘em!” Then I wondered how badly a state has to behave to be told by California, “You are the axis of evil and therefore are not getting any shekels from our taxpayers.” Assembly Bill 1887, approved in 2016, prohibits employees from state agencies from traveling to any state that has enacted a law that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. It was approved in
Thankfully, the bill in NC went down in flames. The NCAA and NBA moved tournaments in acts of protest, performers refused to play in the state, and the economic damage was so dire that the state’s Republican governor was defeated by Democrat Roy Cooper. However, CA’s ban was not rescinded because NC and the other 16 states are still trying to figure out how to attack the fundamental civil rights of LGBTQ people. Bonta’s office said there have been more than 250 “anti-LGBTQ+ bills” introduced in other stwig deal about a song parody by the SF Gay Men’s chorus referenced in this issue of the Bay Times), the banned states will have to stand in the corner and think about what they’ve done until they are ready to behave themselves and stop their bigoted assaults on the LGBTQ community. The latest winners of the “AB 1887 discrimination sweepstakes” include Arkansas, Florida, Montana, North Dakota, and West Virginia. The previous anti-gay gaggle of states are: Idaho (I miss the potatoes), Iowa (I gave up corn), Kansas (no one goes there anyhow), Kentucky (I do miss the bourbon), Mississippi (do not try to marry a member of your same gender, adopt a child, or change your gender assigned at birth because the Legislature has deemed your sex at birth to be immutable, in
fact, if you are LGBTQ, just leave the state now and move to one of the 33 that are not banned by CA), North Carolina (where it all began), Oklahoma (never liked the musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein could have done better), South Dakota (Governor Kristi Noem, Trump acolyte, runs the place; need I say more?), Tennessee (Nashville, Music City ... sigh), and Texas (you’re just mad because you recruited California companies to move there and now the employees of said companies are turning your state Blue; joke’s on you!). That said, we’re not indifferent to the suffering of others. While activities such as conferences or workshops are prohibited, assisting with disasters is not. So yeah, Florida, even though you discriminate against us, we’re still sending our first responders to help you recover from hurricanes and collapsed buildings. Some of the disaster workers are LGBTQ, so you might want to reconsider the laws you are trying to pass, because next time you need help, we might be too busy dealing with our own wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and mudslides and won’t be able to take your call. Some crybaby states are pushing back because they haven’t figured out the difference between victim and perpetrator (note to banned states—you are the perpetrators). In 2017, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a resolution complaining about California’s “unfounded moral judgment” (as if TN is the great bastion of morality, sheesh) and maintained
that the 10th Amendment of the Constitution grants the states sovereignty in addressing issues solely within their jurisdiction, and that other states should respect this basic precept of American government. Hey, Tennessee, read a little further; the 14th Amendment, Equal Protection Clause, says “... nor shall any State ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Hang on to those stones, TN, because you’re living in glass houses. While the ban is largely symbolic, businesses desperately need people to support tourism and travel; conferences/conventions that depend on large numbers of public employees may have to shift their business elsewhere. Hopefully this will be enough for businesses in those states to push back against republican leadership, and if not, CA state workers will be spending more time in 33 other states. 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 community-based organizations.
The latest winners of the “AB 1887 discrimination sweepstakes”
Arkansas Florida Montana North Dakota West Virginia The previous anti-gay gaggle of states are:
Idaho Kansas Kentucky Mississippi North Carolina Oklahoma South Dakota Tennessee Texas
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The Fight for Voter Rights Is for ‘We, the People,’ and That Includes Us
Cross Currents Andrea Shorter “Earlier today, we heard the beginning of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States: ‘We, the people.’ It’s a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed on the seventeenth of September in 1787, I was not included in that ‘We, the people.’ I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision, I have finally been included in ‘We, the people.’ Today I am an inquisitor. An hyperbole would not be fictional and would not overstate the solemnness that I feel right now. My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total. And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution.” These words were spoken by the late, legendary U.S. Representative Barbara Jordan, of the state of Texas on June 24, 1974, in her statement to the House Judiciary Committee regarding the impeachment of President Richard Nixon. In the Congressional record of history, these words reverberate in the annals of great oratory history, forged as forever pertinent, and immediate to the ongoing discourse about whom, why, and how we are each included—or excluded—in the American democratic franchise. Herself an African American woman, and, according to some historical accounts quite possibly LGBTQ, Jordan from her southern Congressional seat declared in eloquent force that while the privileged rule of white male founders apparently did not see her as being anywhere near materially, spiritually, or ideally included in the sweeping grandeur of “We, the People,” it was by adherence to Constitutional charge itself by which she was eventually and rightfully included in “We, the People,” and, ideally all of the rights and privileges granted as such. The right to vote is and should always be central to the rights and privileges of the idea, notion, and realities of what it means to be “We, the People.” Now, 47 years and one month after Barbara Jordan’s indelible statement before the congress, we see in her home state of Texas and at least 13 other states, state legislators and Republican governors working round the clock to convene, pass, and sign into law some of the most restrictive and subversive bills clearly targeting historically disenfranchised voters, essentially attempting to dilute, degrade, and deter their place in “We, the People.” With literally hundreds of bills in play in different states and at different stages of legislative review and passage, aiming to either restrict or expand voter-by-mail usage, in-person voting hours, voter identification, mail ballot drop boxes, the ability to drink or snack while waiting in line to vote, etc., it’s difficult to keep up with 8
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Protesters carrying signs at the 1963 March on Washington
what’s what and where. As a helpful and up-to-date resource, the Brennan Center for Justice provides one of the most easy to understand tracking sites ( https://www.brennancenter.org/ ). It maps state-bystate legislation and stages and impacts of both efforts to restrict and expand voter rights and access. Perhaps not surprisingly as those engaging in the American democratic franchise grow more diverse as people of color, as women, as non-Anglo immigrants, as LGBTQ identified, and more Democratic partisan represent more of “We, the People” than ever possibly imagined (or desired) by the Anglo-male framers of the 16th Century—especially the backlash after the election of the first Black president, and perhaps to some extent the first Black Asian female vice president— do we see such aggressive, overt legislative movements afoot to restrict the voter rights, access, and representation of this growing non-white, non-authoritarian leaning majority-minority in the idea of free and open elections. It should go without saying that LGBTQ identified and concerned voters have a stake in this episode of dangerous absurdity to restrict voter rights. While we are yet to be granted full federal protections against discrimination. we do have the right to vote. Restrictions relative to voter identification for transgender voters are perhaps the most salient obstruction of all. Obviously, passage of the For the People Act would help to supersede state-enacted laws that seek to blunt the various forms of voter restrictions and discrimination underway. We know that we can count on our California congressional and senatorial leaders to continue fighting for passage of the For the People Act, which has expectedly passed through the Congress, but is stuck or blocked in the Senate. Meantime, in response to this perilous threat to voter rights, Vice President Kamala Harris is helping to spearhead the Democratic National Committee’s “I Will Vote” campaign, a $25 million investment to support efforts to protect voting access in advance of the 2022 midterm elections, which could upset the Democratic majorities of the House and Senate. The $25 million will be invested in the tools and technology to register voters, educate, and protect voters, mostly in those states with Republican dominant legislators sponsoring the slew of voter restriction bills. After the recent Supreme Court ruling to uphold restrictive voting laws in Arizona, it is of utmost urgency that the DNC and the offices of the president and vice president do what they can to help protect voters. Foreign interference in American elections might have nothing on the hell hath no fury manipulation of voting and representational rights of the historically disenfranchised by those hell bent on preserving their diminishing currency at all costs. For all of their whining and crying about “cancel culture” and “leftist plots” to censor conservative, conspiracy-laden free speech in social and mainstream media, state-by-state legislative movements to subvert voter rights would be the ultimate cancelation plot. While we can enjoy California as a state that seeks expansive voting rights for a vastly diverse population, staying abreast of the status of voter rights across the country has become a part and parcel duty of voters, and civil rights activists everywhere. Without unfettered voter rights and access, the inclusion of historically disenfranchised people, including LGBTQ people, in the idea of “We, the People” will be as initially elusive as Barbara Jordan alluded to in her famous words, in another famously perilous time of crisis in our history. Andrea Shorter is a longtime Commissioner for the City and County of San Francisco, now serving on the Juvenile Probation Commission after 21 years as a Commissioner on the Status of Women. She is a longtime advocate for gender and LGBTQ equity, voter rights, and criminal and juvenile justice reform. She is a co-founder of the Bayard Rustin LGBTQ Coalition, and was a David Bohnett LGBT Leaders Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Joseph Beam: ‘In the Life’ A leading authority on both the history of the Black press and Black Pentecostalism, he was deeply spiritual from an early age. He began preaching at Pentecostal revivals when he was 14 years old, became an ordained minister at age 18, and pastored churches in Arkansas and Missouri during his 20s.
Faces from Our LGBT Past Dr. Bill Lipsky When Joseph Beam published In the Life: A Black Gay Antholog y in 1986, the visionary writer and gay rights activist hoped to provide Black gay men “with crucial affirmations of their identities, their aspirations, and their desires.” With the stories, poems, and essays he collected for the work, he sought “to alleviate the alienation of Black homosexuals and help [them] create a community of their own.” For 35 years it has been that rarest of tomes: a book that changes lives.
Joseph Beam
Tinney never abandoned his Pentecostal beliefs. In 1982, when he was a professor of journalism at Howard University, he organized a threeday revival for lesbians and gays in Washington, D.C., “to reaffirm their faith and salvation in the church.” Soon after, he was excommunicated by the pastor of the church where he had been serving as a lay minister. The pastor stated publicly that Tinney “cannot be both Christian and gay.” Only if he denounced “the sin of homosexuality” could he be readmitted to church membership. Tinney refused.
In the introduction to his groundbreaking anthology, Beam explained the need for the book in no uncertain terms. “More and more each day,” he wrote, “as I looked around the well-stocked shelves of Giovanni’s Room, Philadelphia’s gay, lesbian, and feminist bookstore where I worked, I wondered where was the work of Black gay men.” They and their concerns were largely invisible to the larger Black and gay communities. Beam simply “had grown weary of reading literature by white gay men who fell, quite easily, into three camps: the incestuous literati of Manhattan and Fire Island, the San Francisco cropped-moustacheclones, and the Boston-to-Cambridge politically correct radical faggots. None of them spoke to me as a Black gay man.” Out and proud to be both Black and gay, he wanted nothing less than create to a literature that brought “into the light the lives we have led in the shadows.”
Instead, he founded the Pentecostal Coalition for Human Rights and the Faith Temple Christian Church in Washington, D.C., a nondenominational congregation that he described as a “Third World lesbian/ gay Christian church,” although all were welcome. Only some 12 people attended the first worship service in September 1982, but Tinney’s vision grew and endured as “a place to believe, belong, and become.” He died in 1988 of complications related to HIV/AIDS. He was 46 years old.
Joseph Beam ca 1986
Essex Hemphill
In the Life did exactly that. “The words and images here—by, for, and about Black gay men—are for us as we begin to end the silence that has surrounded our lives, as we begin creating ourselves, as we begin to come to power,” Beam wrote. “The bottom line is this: We are Black men who are proudly gay. What we offer is our lives, our love, our visions ... . We are coming home with our heads held up high.” For Beam, the need was serious and immediate, even threatening. “We are the poor relations,” he wrote, “the proverbial black sheep, without a history, a literature, a religion, or a community. Our already tenuous position as Black men in white America is exacerbated because we are gay.” It was vital, he believed, for Black gay men to affirm their lives and share their truth with others because, “Visibility is survival.”
James S. Tinney
Dennis Carney(l) and Essex Hemphill, 1988
A showcase for new literary talent, a source of inspiration for its readers, and a literary and cultural milestone for the gay community, In the Life advanced that visibility. “For the first time,” wrote James Charles Roberts, a contributor, “Black gay men got to tell about their lives and experiences in their own words.” African American Studies Professor Charles Nero later described it as “the first collective expression of African American gay identity.” When James Tinney responded to Beam’s request for contributions, he was acutely aware of the need for Black gay community as well as the consequences of becoming visible.
After he married in 1962 and had two daughters, Tinney came to accept that he was gay. Partly because he wished to live in truth and partly because, according to The Washington Blade, “he found he loved a man he was secretly seeing,” he told “his wife and their minister.” They “rejected him and cut him off from family, children, and church.” The couple divorced in 1971. Tinney came out publicly in an address to the first National Third World Lesbian and Gay Conference in 1979.
Beam also died of the consequences of HIV/AIDS in 1988, three days before his 34th birthday. His unfinished manuscript for a second anthology was completed by his close friend Essex Hemphill, “one of the most celebrated Black, openly gay performance poets of his generation.” Published in 1991, Brother to Brother: New Writing by Black Gay Men “is a community of voices,” Hemphill wrote. “Listen in because you’re family and these aren’t secrets—not to us, so why should they be secrets to you? Just listen. Your brother is speaking.” One of only a handful of contemporaries to consider openly what it meant to be both Black and gay, Hemphill candidly examined race, identity, and sexuality in his work. He refused to be defined by his orientation, however. “Homo sex did not constitute a whole life nor did it negate my racial identity,” he wrote. He preferred to “integrate all of my identities into a functioning self, instead of accepting a dysfunctional existence as the consequence of my homosexual desires.” Like Beam and Tinney before him, Hemphill too was lost to the ravages of HIV/AIDS. He died in 1995, only 38 years old. Like that of Beam and Tinney, his work is a testament to the power of words to change lives. As for them, his life is a testament to the personal liberation that comes to those who are their own true selves.
James Tinney
Essex Hemphill Identity Tour
Bill Lipsky, Ph.D., author of “Gay and Lesbian San Francisco” (2006), is a member of the Rainbow Honor Walk board of directors.
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How to Stay Ahead of Rising Inflation one—depending on which side of the aisle they caucus with.
Money Matters Brandon Miller, CFP Nothing says we’re back from pandemic isolation quite like ... bounce houses. Given how the contagion spreads, it’s not surprising that families avoided jumping in enclosed spaces like, well, the plague. But the other day, my neighbor’s yard suddenly filled with a lovely pink-andpurple princess castle. And it dawned on me that the bounce house business owner probably sees inflation as a good thing. That’s a view shared by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. She thinks that a little bit of inflation— the kind where prices go up so your money buys less—might be just what we need right now. But why is it better to pay $10.30 cents tomorrow for the 12-pack that only cost you $10 today? Prevailing wisdom says that moderate inflation is needed to drive consumption, which is the driving force behind economic growth. Prices rise steadily to avoid stalling or shrinking an economy. In theory, higher prices allow employers to pay higher wages, though that extra profit too often seems to get sucked up when it should trickle down. Prices that rise over time also keep consumers from delaying purchases to wait for lower prices. Without the constant consumption of goods and services, production would shrink, layoffs would become rampant, and the economy would fall into a deep slump. With that as the alternative, paying a little extra for what we want and need seems to be the better option. Secretary Yellen thinks inflation will stay around 3% for the rest of this year, a percentage point higher than what the Feds aim for annually. Politicians say this is proof of a reviving economy—or an overheated
Year-over-year comparisons are skewed by the pandemic. By that measure, gas and airfare costs have gone through the roof—up 56% and 24% respectively—but mostly because nobody was leaving their homes last year. On the other hand, food prices averaged 1% higher between May 2020 and May 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Secretary Yellen believes the higher numbers are due to “transitory factors.” What she’s referring to here is basic supply and demand. As we re-emerge into life, there is pentup demand for goods and services. Manufacturers haven’t quite caught up, leading to temporary shortages. High demand coupled with low supply results in higher prices. Once factories and supply chains get up to speed, prices should drop as supply meets demand. The big question is, how long will that take? Regardless of the cause or duration, the following suggestions may help you stay ahead of inflation in your financial life. Borrow now. Debtors win with rising inflation because they’re paying off loans with money that is less valuable than when they borrowed. With rates at lows that may not hold for much longer, maybe now is the time to buy a home or boat or whatever you dreamed of during the pandemic. Lock in long-term arrangements. Today’s rent or mortgage payment may seem a mere pittance if rates climb steadily, so securing a multi-year lease or 30-year mortgage could make sense. Cash in rewards points. These will be worth much less when prices are higher, so stop hoarding them. Plus, the credit card, airline, etc. issuing the points can change their terms at any time, so enjoy your rewards now while they’ll still buy you something. Factor inf lation into your financial planning. Let’s say you’ll need $10k a month during retirement based on today’s dollars. Over the years, inflation will diminish the amount that $10k can buy. In your later years, you may need $12k to keep pace. Planning for inflation can better prepare you for what’s ahead.
Consider longevity annuities. This supplemental retirement investment has you deposit a large chunk of money into an account with the agreement that you’ll get a guaranteed income stream for life. Unlike regular annuities, these don’t start paying out until you reach age 80+ to help keep you from outliving your savings. With some foresight and planning, inflation doesn’t have to be something to dread. In fact, as the kids bouncing around in my neighbor’s yard found out, it can help them get the party started. Perhaps a bit of financial inflation will help pump up the economy and wages in the coming months, giving us all something to jump around about. Brio does not provide tax or legal advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as such. The opinions expressed in this article are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security. It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results. Any indices referenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional. Brio Financial Group is a registered investment adviser. SEC Registration does not constitute an endorsement of Brio by the SEC nor does it indicate that Brio has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Brio Financial Group and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Brio Financial Group unless a client service agreement is in place. Brandon Miller, CFP®, is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.
Buick Then Competes with Mazda Now As usual, we’re measuring across market segments. The Buick Envision is a compact SUV, while the Mazda CX-30 occupies its own space between the recently canceled subcompact CX-3 and the CX-5, which aligns more closely with the Envision.
Auto Philip Ruth “Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick?” That jingle debuted in the mid-Sixties. Mazda’s equally sticky slogan debuted about 15 years later: “The more you look, the more you like.” Today, those promotions mean different things. Modern-times Buick is nothing like what Generation X and earlier generations remember about it, while the Mazda slogan still holds true—for both vehicles in this month’s comparison. 10
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Exterior dimensions flesh out the differences. Driving in San Francisco places a higher value on narrow cars that can slice through traffic. The CX-30’s 70.7-inch width cuts a finer path than the Envision’s 74.1, and the Mazda’s 173-inch length makes it more parkable than the Buick’s 182.5-inch stretch. Ten inches is a lot in urban parking, but the Envision is still within the footprint of a Corolla or Civic compact sedan, so either could potentially be your effective city errand runner. Inside, the CX-30 has more front legroom, and the other dimensions fall as you’d expect, with the Envision posting grade-higher capacities. Both kill it with rear-seat legroom—more than 36 inches in the Mazda, and more than 39 in the Buick. Those are mid-size to large-car numbers. Both the Envision and CX-30 can be had, as my test cars came, with
Buick Envision
Mazda CX-30
a styling vibe best characterized as “glossy blackout.” The Envision’s “Ebony Twilight Metallic” amped up the drama with full-midnight impact. The Buicks in the band-camp carpool were bulky affairs with mashedpotato suspensions. This Envision is the opposite, with a platform originally designed for European markets. This places Buick in the realm of Audi and BMW in terms of providing a communicative Teutonic feel. Drive the Envision with spirit, and the steering wheel talks back with (continued on page 28)
Sharing Our Expertise By Steven HT Wong In the early 2000s I was a junior Interaction Designer at Digitas, a hot marketing agency, working on the designs for an online wedding registry for Williams-Sonoma. It was pretty heady times for web designers, and it was the most luxe brand I’d worked on.
Inclusive Design Is Good for Business and Requires Inclusive Teams— What We Learned Making Wedding Registries Gay-Friendly Before Same-Sex Marriage Was Legal
I remember being nervous as I checked into W-S’s HQ by Aquatic Park, because I was going to show them something they hadn’t asked for. I followed my team through their corporate museum displays of brightly colored Le Creuset cast iron cookware and pastel colored chocolate Easter eggs, and passed out my printouts of the wireframes for a new registration page.
Marketing as a barometer of culture can be both a mirror of real life and an aspirational lens through which brands want their customers to see an idealized version of themselves. Often the intent of the marketer is to blur the two.
I began with a design that showed the historical fields for “Bride” and “Groom,” with the bride being the default. Then, on the following page, I showed the same wireframe, but with “Registrant” and “Co-registrant.” Because you know what? I thought that if and when I got married, I too wanted a registry full of beautiful cookware and treats, but there was not going to be a bride in the picture.
Aspiration-oriented marketing has perpetuated some of the worst stereotypes in our culture: think of the unrealistic images of waist size, skin tone, disposable income, smoking, etc. All of this makes it very important that marketers respect the responsibility that comes with our access to people’s hearts and minds.
My clients didn’t flinch. They knew exactly what this meant and approved it on the spot.
When we think about diversity, equity, and inclusion, we often think of who is in the room. But we don’t often think about what DEI means for the workflows. At Ready State, we like to look for better ways to do things, and have been rethinking our design process to make it more inclusive.
No big deal, right? But it was and it is still a big deal, because we design best when we are designing for an audience we understand. That’s not to say we can only design for ourselves, or that we can’t ever create good products and experiences for others. But it does mean that we are much more likely to consistently deliver good products and services when we build in a diversity of experiences and perspectives into our design process. And by extension, inclusive design will draw in new users, and open new markets. How Representation Creates Change K.R. Liu, the Head of Brand Accessibility at Google, is a champion for LGBTQ+ rights, and has worn a hearing aid since she was two and a half years old. Her experience helped Google develop their Live Caption product. This technology automatically generates real-time captions for media with audio. It’s game changing for the 466 million people in the world who are deaf or hard of hearing, but also incredibly valuable for people with the power of hearing. I have used it on a noisy commute and in bed when I just want to keep the volume down. “Everyone will experience disability at some point in their lifetime; whether temporary or permanent. It’s important to design with and for people with disabilities because everyone will benefit,” K.R. explains.
GGBA Member Spotlight
Friday, September 3 2021 Twitter Supplier Inclusion & Diversity Events: Twitter 101: The Basics Starts 9 am online What is a Tweet? What is Twitter? Why Why Why?? Have you asked these questions? Then this is the event for you. We will review the basics, including how and why to get started. Meeting link will be provided to those registered 48 hours in advance. https://tinyurl.com/4zpb2yyy
Jodi Wing, Creative Director at Ready State, says, “It validates our approach to having more designers pitch the work so our clients hear from everyone in the room.”
Wednesday, September 22 GGBA New Member Orientation 12:30 pm–1:15 pm via Zoom Whether you’re a brand-new member or a seasoned networker, you may attend this event! This session will help you: • learn more about the history of the GGBA; • introduce you to new members in your cohort; • learn simple ways to get involved to grow your business and relationships. https://tinyurl.com/6kb8h5j
“It keeps both sides engaged in open dialogue and it encourages people to be comfortable sharing their point of view. Sometimes clients may not understand or like the concept, but are willing to go along with it because others did. Our approach attempts to explore these perspectives.” We no longer say, “This is the best way forward because I’m the Creative Director,” Jodi says. It’s not just the leader’s voice that matters. Rather, it is having design leaders that excel at listening to and lifting up their team members. To quote K.R., “It’s not about designing for someone. It’s about designing with someone.” GGBA member Steven HT Wong is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of the digital marketing agency Ready State, which has worked with brands such as Airbnb, Torani, Google, HPE, and Cisco. https://readystate.com/
Skyler Brady of Ginger Armor
with a plant-based, lightweight moisturizer formula that provides vital protection against sun-related damage. GGBA: What inspired you to create your business and this product? Skyler Brady: I started my professional
ents, it became clear I would have to search for alternative protection. Several of the “healthy” sunscreen options didn’t look, smell, or feel just right for me (no to the white-cast look). GGBA: Who are some of your role models, and especially those who helped to inf luence your business? Skyler Brady: My mom, who taught me that mankind is my brethren, Earth is my country, and love is my religion.
Skyler Brady: Ginger Armor is a plant & mineral-based SPF 50+ moisturizer for your face and sensitive skin. Ginger Armor values healthy skin and a healthy planet. Our formula is reef safe, vegan, and uses 100% recyclable materials. The aluminum bottle, paper tubing, and mailer are all carefully chosen to reflect our zero-waste consciousness! Another major focus of our product is value. There are 250+ uses per bottle. The feature pump-spray allows for acute dose application. Just $0.20 per use provides the wearer
Wednesday, August 4 StartOut - Upgrading the Inner World of the Entrepreneur After Burnout 4 pm–5:30 pm online Burnout doesn’t only occur when things aren’t going well. Many entrepreneurs running very successful businesses can be, and are, just as susceptible to burnout. Learn from coaches on how to build a blueprint for your personal and professional success in the first event of this 4-part Wellness Series led by professional development and transformation coach Anthony Catalino and Jem Millett. https://tinyurl.com/pmasn5tf
In working with C-level executives, we’ve found that they really appreciate it when we can help them break through their own cognitive biases—their entrenched ways of thinking.
GGBA: Please tell us more about Ginger Armor.
Its mission is to protect and nourish your skin.
Thursday, July 15 Inclusive Government Procurement: Fostering LGBT Business Certification in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Noon–3 pm via Zoom For more information email Evelyn Cermeño: evelynce@iadb.org https://tinyurl.com/wuv8urhm
And most of us are already familiar with how representation in marketing makes a difference.
Sam Haskin, the Inclusive Marketing practice lead at Firewood Marketing, says, “As marketers, the work we do contributes to the projection of culture back on itself. It’s really important both for ourselves and for our clients that we see that as a responsibility and do everything we can to make sure that everybody feels included and positively represented in that projection.”
The wireframes showed the layout of the fields we were going to collect so that soon-to-be newlyweds could set up their gift registries, full of the aforementioned cookware and treats.
Ginger Armor—created by a ginger, Skyler Brady—is an incredible new sunscreen that is unscented, dries clear, and comes in an ultralightweight container that still has over 250 uses per bottle. What’s more, it is made with ingredients that are safe for your skin and not damaging to the environment. As an athletic redhead, Skyler experienced years of sunburns and concerns about ingredients, sustainability, and uncomfortable products before formulating the new sunscreen.
GGBA CALENDAR
career building a landscaping business. Spending countless hours exposed to the sun as a fair-skinned ginger was a recipe for potential skin damage. I had no choice but often to settle for other flawed sunscreen products that you see in the market. I had more than a few reservations about the quality and questionable substances I was exposing myself to every morning with big-brand sunscreen. As I researched more about the toxicity of common ingredi-
My dad, who reminded me: “Don’t mix the product with the process.” In other words, it’s not just about what you do or the end result; it’s how you do it. Steve Irwin; he taught me that nature is precious and that we need to respect and protect it from people who have lost sight of what matters. Clair Patterson; he was responsible for getting lead out of gasoline and improving the health of billions of people and our planet. (continued on page 28) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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An Essential Service Workspaces and homes were instantly merged and continue to function this way for those who are able to work remotely—allowing workers to preserve their income.
Social Philanthropreneur Derek Barnes Most Californians know that the state has a severe housing problem. We see it everywhere. Over a decade of under-development with a rapidly growing population has created a housing shortage that we’ve never seen before. By some estimates, the state is short as much as two million housing units, and it’s not likely that we can build our way out of this gap any time soon without significant transformative vision. This piece isn’t about California’s housing shortage or affordability issues. I’d like to challenge how we think about housing as a service and who actually provides over 12M rental units in California. Through the pandemic, these spaces were critical when continued shelterin-place mandates were imposed.
When people think of the owners or operators of rental properties, it’s easy to overlook or take for granted those who provide this essential service. Hint: It isn’t just big investors or corporate conglomerates that have million or billion-dollar portfolios. They aren’t the stereotypical “greedy landlords” who make money hand over fist by overcharging renters to provide basic shelter, evict tenants (the consumer) to chase more profit and drive down affordability. It may be a big surprise for some, but many rental property owners/ operators in the Bay Area own less than ten (10) rental units. The vast majority are small family businesses, women, people of color, and are often retirees who rely on income from their rental property investments. Any disruption to rental income, inequitable or unbalanced legislative mandates, gaps in insurance coverage, or higher material and labor expenses (costs of doing business) have devasting consequences for small rental housing businesses. Many have seen all of these scenarios due to COVID-19’s lingering impact on our economy. And now they also face impending threats from lenders
to foreclose or call in a note due to rent nonpayment. As last year revealed, shocks and stresses to the system impact communities and business sectors differently. Some businesses like online retailers thrived during the pandemic, while others like hospitality and travel were decimated. The same is true for areas of rental housing, which is a tale of two cities. Thankfully, most people could pay their rent or work out terms with property owners/operators if there was a legitimate loss of income due to COVID-19. However, a significant number of property owners/operators are suffering economically as their renters couldn’t or wouldn’t pay rent in some instances. One in 5 households needed/need some form of rental assistance through this pandemic. The ongoing eviction moratorium mandates and inadequate Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) funds in hard-hit municipalities, coupled with the slow distribution of ERAP relief, subject the community of housing providers in desperate need of relief to continued economic stress and keep them on high alert. Additionally, what if business environments are too obstructive or burdensome? It can feel like the deck is stacked against rental business owners. Nothing has been made this more apparent than seeing legislative priorities unfold over the last 16
months. They revealed real vulnerabilities for those who provide housing. Who’s fighting for them (or not) in this struggle? Miraculously, many small rental housing owners/operators have adapted well since the onset of the pandemic, and most residents have been able to pay rent; some, though, with great sacrifice. But many owners/operators have also decided to divest entirely to get out of the rental business or sell to reinvest in more business-friendly geographies. There will always be a cycle of incoming and outgoing investors in desirable markets like the Bay Area. If you are a housing provider, there are two key questions you must ask yourself in determining your risk tolerance. What are you willing to let go of and adopt as market conditions continue to change? What are
you ready to fight for to protect your business and property rights? One thing is clear. Rental property owners have played an instrumental role in keeping people sheltered, safe, and productive, even when it hasn’t been in their economic interest. A renter’s loss of income has a severe impact on the entire housing ecosystem. It’s time for our legislators and municipal leaders to fix what is clearly broken to get these rent assistance programs functional so renters and housing providers can emerge successfully in the wake of this terrible pandemic. Derek Barnes is CEO of East Bay Rental Housing Association ( www.EBRHA.com ). He currently serves on the boards of Horizons Foundation and Homebridge CA. Follow him on Twitter @ DerekBarnesSF or on Instagram at DerekBarnes.SF
Castro LGBTQ Cultural District Announces New Community Survey Regarding Pride Flag Statement Issued by the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District The Castro LGBTQ Cultural District (CQCD) strives to preserve, sustain, and promote the queer history and legacy of the Castro District of San Francisco. With this in the forefront of our minds, we believe it is absolutely time for us to show our Black, Brown, and Trans siblings how much representation matters to us on this board by raising a contemporary pride flag that prioritizes and highlights diversity & inclusivity, atop Harvey Milk Plaza.
Just as the term “Gay” was coined within our community to showcase varied historically marginalized queer populations, time and awareness called queer leaders and community stakeholders to envision an acronym that builds us all up as members of a powerful LGBTQ+ coalition. In that vein, the future flag we seek to fly proudly at the gateway of Castro’s Main Street does not take away from the legacy of Gilbert Baker and the Gay Rights movement of our queer predecessors, but honors that legacy
by affirming our emerging and intersecting racial and sexual, gender and non-binary identities, while acutely addressing the current realities we collectively face today. We all have the opportunity not only to remember the words of Harvey Milk but also to embody the work and lives of countless lesbian, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, and/or QTPOC peoples that make this neighborhood and our movement all the more dynamic. What starts here is only the beginning; this neighborhood, with all its diverse and varied people, has the capabilities of shifting the narrative here and beyond. “The Castro LGBTQ Cultural District recognizes the importance of representation and visibility for our LGBTQ+ communities in the neighborhood and across the City. As the LGBTQ movement continues to evolve, we will do our part to be sure every LGBTQ person who comes to the Castro knows they are safe, celebrated, and welcome. We are eager to hear from you, our neighbors, business owners, visitors, and friends, about what this means and how we can be part of an inclusive and thriving Castro,” stated Elizabeth Lanyon, Co-Chair of the CQCD Advisory Board. PHOTO COURTESY OF CASTRO MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
We are committed to celebrating the trailblazing culture of art and to
share a vision of hope that helps build resilience as we continue to deal with COVID-19 and the racial reckoning that has been long overdue, for LGBTQ+ people in the Castro using an inclusive and empowering racial and gender equity lens.
Castro Merchants: “This temporary installation of the 2018 Progress Flag design by Daniel Quesetar is presented by the Castro Merchants to demonstrate our full commitment to representation, inclusion, and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community’s BIPOC and Trans bodies. We look forward to finding an honorable, majestic location for a second flagpole to permanently display the Progress Flag.” https://www.castromerchants.com/ 12
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The CQCD will be releasing a community survey on Monday, July 26, through its social media platforms and to their networks and community partners. Responses to the community survey will inform a community forum to be held in August or September 2021 and hosted by the CQCD and other community stakeholders. https://castrolgbtq.org/
GLBT Fortnight in Review Breyer Beware Writing in The Atlantic, Emma Green delves into the disturbing rightward tilt of the federal judiciary in an article entitled “How Democrats Lost the Courts.” “The possible explanations are many,” she writes. “Democratic voters don’t care as much about courts as Republicans do; donors on the left didn’t invest in the courts the same way as those on the right have. But some Democrats are starting to suspect that the story is simpler: They’ve been chumps.” In their defense, few could have anticipated the outcome of the 2016 election. Most people were looking forward to a four or eight-year Democratic administration, beginning with a nomination to replace one of the Court’s most conservative members with a center or center-left justice. After that, Clinton would have been expected to replace Ginsburg and maybe others. Well, you know what happened instead. Now, to the horror of many, 82-yearold Justice Breyer has ignored calls to retire while Democrats hold the Senate and the presidency, blowing them off and hiring a group of clerks for the next session. It’s hard to imagine how the Supreme Court could get even more conservative, but, um, no it’s not! All it takes is for Mitch McConnell to get his hands back on the majority, which could happen in a hot minute if one of our ancient Senators kicks the bucket. Meanwhile, as the current High Court session came to an end, we saw a barrage of stories trying to make sense of some of the more curious machinations. Is there a conservative split between the Roberts group and the Alito group? Do those groups exist? Is Barrett more cautious than everyone feared? Adding to the mystery as far as our community is concerned are two big late developments. First, the Court declined to review a trans rights victory out of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and second, the justices waved off one of the most high-profile wedding services cases: the antigay florist who refused to do business with two Washington men. It’s tempting to see these as hopeful signs. The Court agrees that transgender youth should be free of discrimination in schools! Yay! The Court doesn’t want to defend a super Christian business owner who hates us! Yay! But it’s more likely that the Court is wary, and, yes, that Barrett is more cautious than everyone feared. As you know, it takes four votes to agree to review, and in the case of Arlene’s Flowers, Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch all said they would have accepted the appeal. Arlene’s Flowers was a fairly clear-cut matter of discrimination against gay clients in violation of state law. But dollars to donuts says that someday we’ll see a public accommodations case with facts that favor the Christian employer, and that when that case reaches the High Court, we will see another justice or two vote to hear it. I’m also guessing that Amy Barrett won’t stay cautious for long. Court Watching Among the experts parsing the Court’s whys and wherefores was Linda Greenhouse, writing in The New York Times about religious freedom. We felt like we dodged a bullet last month in Fulton v City of Philadelphia when the High Court declined to overturn the 1990 precedent that said religious freedom can’t serve as an all-purpose excuse to evade generally applicable laws.
We like that precedent! And particularly when those generally applicable laws include rules and regulations forbidding GLBT discrimination. In our case, however, the Court went on to rule that the city of Philadelphia’s law against discrimination was not generally applicable as applied to foster care, giving the antigay Catholic plaintiffs what looked like a technical knockout. But as Greenhouse points out, the Court may gradually be managing to gut the heart out of the precedent without triggering the negative publicity that a flat overrule might generate. It’s rare to find a law or policy that operates with no exceptions and applies smoothly to every situation. So, as long as there’s a case to be made that an exception was carved out for this or that, the Court seems to argue that religious actors should be given the same opportunity—or maybe even a larger one. Recall that, with Ginsburg on the bench, the 5–4 High Court upheld the right of states to limit church services for public health reasons. With Barrett, the 5–4 Court went the other way, ruling that as long as, let’s say, stores were operating, then churches should be allowed to hold services without interference. This even though there’s no comparison between running into a store for ten minutes and spending an hour or more, unmasked, singing in church. I know I belabor this subject, but it’s annoying to watch sanctimonious people give us the middle finger while the courts shower them in sentimental smarm and unquestioningly elevate their “deeply felt” religious faith. And it’s just getting worse. Mean Season Moving on, among the various unpleasant state-level policies, there’s a new one in Tennessee that requires restaurants and other places that let transgender people use the bathrooms to post a sign “warning” the public that God knows what might happen to them if they dare to visit the facilities under these circumstances. One restaurant sued under the First Amendment, arguing that its free speech rights were violated by this forced nastiness that flew in the face of the restaurant’s own branding. On July 9, a federal judge blocked the law from taking effect in the lawsuit, which was litigated by the ACLU. “The plaintiffs have presented evidence that they have strived to be welcoming spaces for communities that include transgender individuals and that the signage required by the Act would disrupt the welcoming environments that they wish to provide,” wrote U.S. District Court Judge Aleta Trauger. “That harm would be real, and it is not a harm that could simply be remedied by some award at the end of litigation.” Unlike in previous years when the state legislatures were basically all talk, this year they seem to be enacting horrible things right and left, including the above bathroom sign bill that was passed in late April. The law mandates that any “private entity or business that operates a building or facility open to the general public and that, as a matter of formal or informal policy, allows a member of either biological sex to use any public restroom within the building or facility shall post notice of the policy at the entrance of each public restroom in the building or facility.” Who thinks this stuff up? Who has time for this? I could fill this column with gratuitously cruel proposals from around the country that serve no public purpose whatsoever. In fact, the Human Rights Campaign
By Ann Rostow says that over 250 anti-GLBT bills have been offered in over 30 states so far, and I have no idea how many have wormed their way through the process and into the sausage. I should know, sorry. I did see that the governor of Ohio just signed budget language that allowed medical providers and insurers to “decline to perform, participate in, or pay for any health care service which violates the practitioner’s, institution’s, or payer’s conscience as informed by the moral, ethical, or religious beliefs or principles held by the practitioner, institution, or payer.” What the hell does that mean? It’s supposed to apply to specific procedures like abortion, which I don’t imagine any disapproving doctors are obliged to perform to begin with, but it sure sounds as if it could be used to reject classes of patients as well. Mike DeWine, who could have used a line-item veto on this little gem, said something to the effect that people could just go to other providers if they have a problem. Hmmm. Tell that to the transgender man in the one-hospital town. Bits and Pieces I guess California added a bunch of states to its 2016 ban on state-sponsored business travel to places that allow discrimination against GLBTs. New to the list are Florida, Montana, West Virginia, Arkansas, and North Dakota, bringing the total to 17. The travel ban, which is mostly symbolic, was nonetheless challenged by Texas in a complaint that was ignored by the Supreme Court earlier this year. (See Lou Fischer’s column in this issue for updated information on the travel ban.) And God know what is happening in Eastern Europe. Bad things, ladies and gentlemen, particularly in Georgia, where efforts to pull off a Pride celebration ended in chaos and antigay attacks. A cameraman just died from being beaten up in the melee, but activists nonetheless insist that the whole situation has increased public sympathy for the GLBT community. In Zagreb, Pride marchers were attacked and a rainbow flag was burned. Meanwhile, the European Union continues to struggle with member state Hungary’s anti-GLBT laws and policies, in particularly the recent ban on the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools. Discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation is technically illegal in the EU, but don’t mention that to Hungary or Poland. It’s possible that the Union could sue Hungary before the European Court of Justice, and/or withhold some funds. There’s also a really despicable evil priest, who will face a church trial for many counts of sexual abuse of many men over many years. Msgr. Tony Anatrella, a Vatican advisor and psychotherapist from France, claimed to be able to “heal” homosexuality through his innovative “treatments,” which consisted of forcing men and boys to put up with his sexual assaults. And yes, he’s had several disciplinary scrapes and “reprimands,” although the man is evidently not in jail right now, so it sounds like more of the same, n’estce pas? Oh, and not only does the good Monseigneur deny all the accusations, but he is also vociferously opposed to gay rights and same-sex marriage, which he called “simply ridiculous,” and “disastrous.” A Good Note (continued on page 28) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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Aging in Community Dr. Marcy Adelman At the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, the city of San Francisco mandated that residents shelter-in-place. It was a stressful time, but some communities and parts of communities were more challenged than others. The LGBTQ Aging Research Partnership, Tom Nolan, Dr. Karyn Skultety, Jesus Guillen, and I joined with Health Management Associates to develop and implement an online survey in February 2021 to understand how LGBTQ older adults were faring during this time in the pandemic. The survey focused on physical health, emotional well-being, and accessibility of needed services and was funded by the San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging, the Horizons Foundation, and the Bob Ross Foundation. Five hundred San Francisco LGBTQ adults over the age of 50 responded to the survey. Nearly 3/4 of respondents identified as white. Over 8% identified as Latino, Latinx or Hispanic; five percent identified as Asian; and 4.6% identified as Black or African American. A smaller percentage of respondents, 2.8%, identified as American Indian or Alaska Native. Almost 20% of all respondents said they were able to meet their basic needs with some help and 9% reported they didn’t have enough income to meet their needs. The survey found that while most LGBTQ older adults were managing well in the stressful time of the pandemic and the imposed isolation of the stay-at-home orders, many felt challenged by mental distress and the lack of access to mental health services. During this time, depression, feelings of loneliness, isolation, and post-traumatic stress symptoms significantly increased. Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) LGBTQ older adults reported the highest rates of depression, stress, and post traumatic symptoms as well as greater lack of access to mental health services. The percentage of LGBTQ older adults with self-reported symptoms of depression increased to
13.5%, almost 3 times more than during the pre-pandemic experience. Isolation increased, as 11% of LGBTQ older adults reported they had three or more days with no contact with another person during the pandemic, compared to less than 4% beforehand. Loneliness and the degree of loneliness also increased, with 20% of all respondents scoring at the highest rate possible on the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Over 43% of all LGBTQ respondents self-reported post-traumatic stress symptoms. BIPOC LGBTQ older adults reported the highest percentage of people with post-traumatic stress symptoms, 52.3%, followed by LGBTQ older adults with a disability at 52%, HIV+ respondents at 50%, and Transgender Non-Conforming (TGNC) older adults at 46.3%. More than 40% of cisgender and white respondents self-reported post-traumatic stress symptoms. By comparison, the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the general adult population pre-COVID ranges from 6 to 7% and increased to 15% during the pandemic. Disparities in the mental and physical health of sexual and racial/ ethnic minorities has been well documented. These disparities can be understood as a consequence of minority stress from multiple negative experiences and traumas encountered over the course of their lifetime, for example, stigma, discrimination, sexism, heterosexism, and rejection from family, etc. BIPOC LGBTQ older adults and BIPOC TGNC older adults, in particular, report higher rates of both historical and current traumatic experiences of transphobia, racism, and violence, and are more likely to have poorer health and to experience more mental distress than white cisgender LGBTQ older adults. Most survey respondents were able to access services needed, such as medical care, help with chores, help securing medication, economic assistance, and technology assistance, but many were not able to access needed mental health services. Almost 17% of all survey participants reported they wanted counseling services but were unable to access these services. The most common reasons for not accessing counseling services were lack of affordability and not knowing how to go about finding a therapist. More than 18% of TGNC respondents and slightly more than one in four BIPOC LGBTQ respondents, HIV+ respondents, and LGBTQ people with disabilities reported they wanted counseling services during the pandemic and shelter-in-place, but were unable to access these services. This is a
PHOTO BY BLAKE EDWARDS
Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor 1978 Kim Corsaro, Publisher 1981-2011
LGBTQ Older Adult Survey During COVID-19 and the Stay-at-Home Mandate
significant and concerning gap in LGBTQ senior services. Shireen McSpadden, Director of the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Services and former Executive Director of the Department of Disability and Aging, remarked: “This survey provides unsurprising yet valuable information about the need for culturally appropriate mental health services for LGBTQ+ older adults, especially those who identify as Black Indigenous People of Color.” A majority of all respondents, 83%, increased their use of virtual communications during the pandemic. More than 75% of respondents who received telehealth services during COVID-19 and the stay-athome mandate said they are likely or somewhat likely to use these services again in the future. These results affirm the viability of telehealth as a means of delivering services. Respondents were asked to rate their physical health both now and a year ago, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of respondents rated their health from good, to very good, to excellent (75%), and one fourth rated their health from poor to fair. A little over half of all respondents (53%) reported their health had not changed in the past year. One third of respondents reported their health as somewhat worse and much worse than a year ago. During shelter-in-place, half of all respondents reported they ate more, 1/3 slept more, and 2/3 exercised less. All of these behaviors can have a negative impact on long-term health. In April 2021, when most older adults in San Francisco were eligible to be vaccinated, a follow up survey was conducted to ask how people were doing and what had changed for them in terms of mood and stress. One hundred respondents from the previous study partic-
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Artist Serge Gay Jr. has completed a new “Greetings from the Castro” mural at the former Pottery Barn site at the intersection of Market and Castro Streets. Additional images on the Castro Street side of the building acknowledge the neighborhood’s heritage of social and political activism.
Photos by Rink 14
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ipated. Ninety-four percent reported having been vaccinated. Although almost one in four said they experienced no change since the vaccine roll out, 68% of respondents reported feeling better. They reported positive takeaways from their experience such as a desire for deeper connections, a commitment to live more authentically, and a desire to enjoy life more and have more appreciation for everyday joys. Dave Knego, Executive Director of Curry Senior Service, said, “Service providers need this survey data to see how we can best respond to the needs of our clients. At Curry Senior Center, that means responding to the mental distress and isolation that LGBTQ+ older adults are experiencing by designing a city-wide program that will connect community members with culturally competent mental health providers to reduce emotional distress as well as to provide referral to LGBTQ senior serving community-based nonprofits to offer other supports as needed. The pandemic may be on the decline in San Francisco, but the long-term psychological impact is likely to be here for some time. The results of this survey provide a road map for reducing the city’s gap in mental health services for LGBTQ older adults.” 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 Board of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California, the California Master Plan on Aging Equity Advisory Committee, 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 wellbeing of LGBTQ+ older adults.
Alegre Home Care is proud to support Dr. Marcy Adelman’s Aging in Community column in the San Francisco Bay Times.
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No License to Discriminate
6/26 and Beyond Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia that Catholic Social Services could openly discriminate against same-sex couples while receiving taxpayer money to certify foster parents and place children. It was a setback for LGBTIQ people, but the Court largely limited its decision to the particularities of the case without issuing a broad decision with sweeping implications. As the ACLU said, the decision fortunately “does not create a license to discriminate” against LGBTIQ people based on religion. Stepping back from the formal legal analysis and potential implications of the decision going forward, we were particularly disturbed by something else as we read the majority opinion and concurrences: the Court’s characterization of religion itself. As an initial matter, the Court was highly selective in its recounting of the Catholic Church’s history regarding care and respect for children. At the beginning of the majority opinion, the Court baldly proclaimed that “the Catholic Church has served the needy children of Philadelphia for over two centuries.” The Court made no mention of a scathing 2018 grand jury report that found that Catholic priests in Pennsylvania had sexually abused over 1,000 children and likely thousands more, while the Church covered up the crimes for 70 years. Neither did the Court note that even as it was drafting its decision praising the Catholic Church, mass graves containing the remains of 1,000 Indigenous Canadians were found near state-funded Catholic residential schools that housed Indigenous children taken by the Canadian government from their families from the 19th Century to the 1970s. Many of these children were physically and sexually abused at these schools. And the decision said nothing about the deleterious effect on children of the Church’s ongoing condemnation of being gay as sinful. What also troubled us was the degree to which Justice Alito in his concurrence, joined by Thomas and Gorsuch, seemed to consider anger and hatred toward others to be part and parcel of holding religious beliefs. Alito asserted that members of one religion don’t just have different perspectives on religion than members of other faiths; they harbor vitriol towards others’ beliefs, finding them “hateful,” “offensive,” and “insulting.” For example, Alito posited that “declaring that Jesus was the Son of God is offensive to Judaism and Islam, and stating that Jesus was not the Son of God is insulting to Christian belief.” When we were growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, we weren’t taught that religious beliefs different from our own were offensive or insulting; they were simply different. “Love your enemies,” “love your neighbor as yourself,” and “forgive and be forgiven”—not anger and hatred— were religious dicta we remember.
It’s important to understand that Alito’s purpose in describing religion the way he does is to liken it to speech, including political speech, with its broad protections under the First Amendment. In an earlier speech case, Justice Kagan criticized the Court for “weaponizing the First Amendment” and “wield[ing]” it in “an aggressive way.” Alito seems to want to weaponize religion in a similarly aggressive way to allow religiously affiliated organizations, like Catholic Social Services, to discriminate against LGBTIQ people, women, and other people in ways that would otherwise violate the law. Unfortunately, Alito, along with Thomas and Gorsuch, hold enormous power in our country. But so far, their extreme views as expressed in their Fulton concurrence appear not to be fully shared by a majority of the Court, not even by the three other very conservative Catholic Justices. We believe that’s because our movement for marriage equality and LGBTIQ rights have embraced something far different: love, common humanity, human connection, and empathy. We know that our religious LGBTIQ friends and allies embrace these values as well. They have refused to allow unwelcoming leaders and members of their own denominations to rob them of their faith, and many of them work tirelessly for LGBTIQ equality within hostile religious institutions. They and many other people of faith do not consider religion to be a political slugfest. Our message is getting through. According to the Pew Research Center, 61% of American Catholics favored marriage equality in 2019, compared to only 36% just 15 years before in 2004. Similarly, white Evangelical support for same-sex marriage rose from 11% to 29% during that same time. A May 2021 Gallop poll showed a whopping 70% of Americans overall in favor of marriage equality. It’s hard-won progress, achieved through education and advocacy, forged by dedication, determination, and bravery, and grounded in love. As the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote as he prepared for the 1963 Birmingham Campaign: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” The deepest foundations of the LGBTIQ movement lie in our self-respect, love, and coming out about the truth of our lives. When Dr. King accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, the year after the Birmingham Campaign and the March on Washington, he proclaimed: “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.” In other words: “Love Wins.” Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, together for over three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. Their leadership in the grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed in 2015 to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide. S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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Divas & Drinks Pride Party for Women @ The Academy
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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2021)
Where are the women in the Castro? On Thursday, June 24, many along with allies were at 2166 Market Street for the newly launched Divas & Drinks @ The Academy women’s-themed event series. Co-presented by the San Francisco Bay Times and The Academy and hosted by Donna Sachet, the series had a soft virtual launch in the spring followed by this special celebration for Pride. At the event, Mayor London Breed waved a Bay Times rainbow flag presented by Sachet, and spoke to the standing-room-only crowd about the reopening of San Francisco and some of her administration’s LGBTQ-directed initiatives. ABC 7’s Dion Lim introduced Mayor Breed and later reported that the event was the largest Pride party this year for women in the Bay Area. Supervisor and former Bay Times columnist Rafael Mandelman also thoughtfully spoke about the City’s LGBTQrelated work. Pride Grand Marshals attending included Melonie Green and Melorra Green, Co-Executive Directors of the African American Art & Culture Complex; and Clair Farley, Senior Advisor to Mayor Breed and Executive Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives.
Mayor Breed received a Pride Cake from Noe Valley Bakery and designer chocolates from Kokak Chocolates handcrafted by owner Carol Gancia—in attendance—and her team. The San Francisco Bay Times thanks them as well as Nate Bourg and Paul Miller at The Academy, La Méditerranée Castro for appetizers, Extreme Pizza for desserts, and ellaprint for creating the special event banner. Thanks also to volunteers Juan R. Davila, Letitia Lopez, and Maribel Rodriguez. We additionally are grateful for contributions to the event goodie bags made by the San Francisco Federal Credit Union, Bacardi, Olivia Travel, Noe Valley Bakery, and ellaprint. Special thanks also to Spritz PR!
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CHLOE JACKMAN PHOTOGRAPHY CHLOE JACKMAN PHOTOGRAPHY DARRYL PELLETIER PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO COURTESY OF BETH SCHNITZER CHLOE JACKMAN PHOTOGRAPHY DARRYL PELLETIER PHOTOGRAPHY
CHLOE JACKMAN PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN PUENTE
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Please join us for the next Divas & Drinks @ The Academy on July 23 to cheer on Olympians—on the big screen and in person—for the first night of the Summer Olympics! https://tinyurl.com/jnz58vwd
DARRYL PELLETIER PHOTOGRAPHY
Celebrants, including Mayor Breed, joined in a Name That Tune contest deftly led by Sachet and talented DJ Rockaway, who is known for her popular “Play” events for women and her DJ work and more for Olivia Travel. The contest pitted Team MECCA 2.0 led by Kelly Gilliam and Team Olivia Travel led by Anna Chase. A demonstration of cocktails, curated by Bacardi Vice President Heather Freyer, was presented by Liz Thyken and the Bacardi team.
“It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” –President Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
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o Pride Parade? No Civic Center Celebration? How could we celebrate SF Pride? Once again, this community proved that it knows how! The last week of June coincided with the modified opening up of the City after over 14 months of COVID-inflicted restrictions and our LGBTQ+ Community was ready to celebrate SF Pride!
On the evening of June 23, Rainbow Honor Walk hosted the second of its Rainbow Reels series, highlighting individuals who have bronze plaques honoring them in the Castro neighborhood sidewalks by offering a group at-home viewing of pertinent films. The first Rainbow Reels last December focused on Divine with the film I Am Divine. This evening featured two films, No Secret Anymore and One Wedding and a Revolution, each offering unique glimpses into the lives of Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin. Board of Directors Vice-President Barbara Tannenbaum hosted a lively discussion with Marcia Gallo, a fast-paced auction followed the films, and thank you gifts were sent to donors. All in all, Rainbow Honor Walk brought well-deserved attention to Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin and supportive donors helped raise money for future bronze plaques. Don’t miss the Castro Walgreen’s community windows, now featuring Rainbow Honor Walk and a big thank you to long-time and ongoing donor Allan Baird. Without financial support like his, this project honoring LGBTQ+ individuals could not continue. The following night, June 24, the San Francisco Bay Times and The Academy hosted the second Divas & Drinks event, this time live and in-person at The Academy. This relatively new private club created by Nate Bourg and Paul Miller offers a wellappointed, intimate space for private gatherings, ranging from book club meetings, wine tastings, and cocktail parties to larger events like this one, designed to highlight the women’s community in the Castro. Two teams faced off in a playful Name That Tune game, emceed by this columnist and with the help of DJ Rockaway, with Team Olivia taking home the prize. Every luxurious and comfortable room of The Academy was full of happy celebrants, suddenly freed from masks and social distancing, spilling out onto the spacious patio with heated seating areas and firepit, and enjoying nibbles from Noe Valley Bakery, Extreme Pizza, and Kokak chocolates and specialty cocktails mixed by Bacardi representative Liz Thyken and curated by Bacardi VP Heather Freyer. The showstopper of the night was the appearance of Mayor London Breed! Obviously in a relaxed mood and comfortable in this club setting, she stayed long after the formal program, enjoying conversation and cocktails. Also in attendance were SF Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, SF Pride Grand Marshals Melonie Green, Melorra Green, and Clair Farley, and Dion Lim of ABC-7 News. We caught up with a multitude of friends, including Openhouse Founder Dr. Marcy Adelman, Pink Triangle creators Patrick & Hossein Carney, Derek Barnes, SF Commissioners Debra Walker and Andrea Shorter, Kate Brown of Dykes on Bikes, Beth Schnitzer of Spritz Public Relations, and of course, Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas of the San Francisco Bay Times. The invitation to the night’s Divas & Drinks asked: “Where are all the women in the Castro?” Well, that night, they were at The Academy having a splendid time! Coincidentally, we were back at The Academy the next night for An Evening with Donna Sachet. It just seemed appropriate, as COVID restrictions were relaxing, to host an intimate evening with friends and so we did. The Academy provided a blackjack table, cocktails, and nibbles, and brought in Russell Deason to play the in-house piano. Needless to say, singing ensued. Andrew Hirst got things started with his accomplished voice applied to Broadway showtunes. After some pleading, we accommodated those gathered in the piano room and sang a few favorites of our own, sharing personal stories along the way. Among the cozy crowd were Cicero Braganca & Russ Fischella, Jeff Doney & Adam Their, David Hone, and too many others to name. It ended up being the perfect low-key evening with close friends and new acquaintances, sharing memories and creating new ones. Saturday, June 26, was the long-awaited date of Gary Virginia & Donna Sachet’s 23rd annual Pride Brunch! Although this was the second virtual annual event and we missed the in-person camaraderie, this year’s theme of A Taste of SF Pride took viewing guests on a rollicking tour of neighborhoods in San Francisco with special significance to the LGBTQ+ Community, interspersed with videotaped remarks from SF Pride Grand Marshals and other special guests, including Mayor London Breed and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. Musical entertainment from the SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band and Kippy Marks, a moving tribute to long-time supporter Tom Taylor, and a photographic look back on 22 previous Pride Brunches rounded out the program. After all was said and done, over $33,000 was raised for PRC and this popular tradition continued. Perhaps you had a chance to watch the broadcast on Saturday, June 26, or on YouTube afterwards. As a matter of fact, four generous sponsors purchased a Friday night stay in a King Suite at The Palace Hotel, watching Pride Brunch from their room the next morning before checking out. They and other premium ticketholders received delivered gift bags and DoorDash delivered brunches of their choice, while participating in a lively silent auction for trips, dinners, gourmet baskets, and other items. We joined our co-host Gary Virginia at the beautiful Castro home of a dear PHOTO BY SHAWN NORTHCUTT
Friday, July 16 San Francisco Imperial Court Investiture Reigning Emperor Mr. David Glamamore & Reigning Empress Juanita MORE! Formation of Court of More is MORE! Crowning of new Imperial Crown Prince & Imperial Crown Princess Oasis, 298 11th Street 7:30 pm $35–55 www.imperialcouncilsf.org Friday, July 23 Divas & Drinks at The Academy: Go for Gold Hosted by the San Francisco Bay Times and The Academy Opening Ceremonies of Olympics in Japan, drink specials curated by Bacardi VP Heather Freyer, DJ Rockaway, former Olympians, Japanese food and culture, celebration of local women’s softball teams, and more to be announced The Academy SF, 2166 Market Street 6 pm $10 https://www.academy-sf.com/
friend for an official viewing party! The décor was over the top, the food bountiful and delicious, the drinks free-flowing, and the company extraordinary, including past SF Pride President Michelle Meow & Tookta, current SF Pride President Carolyn Wysinger, Briggs Hawley, Don Ho Tse, Eric Bernier & Mike Proctor, Ernie Hong & Fred Siegel, Deana Dawn, Joe Mac, Khmera Rouge, Kevin Lisle, Tyler Nelson, and Ralph Hibbs. What a great way to watch the end product of months of preparation and work, surrounded by a diverse group of good friends! We ended our SF Pride weekend as we have for many years at Juanita MORE!’s infamous Pride party on Sunday, June 27. Over the course of 10 or more hours, a sort of SF Pride Parade marched through this sprawling space, pumped up by great music and excellent companionship, including Sister Roma, Celso Dulay & CJ Knight, Julian Marshburn, Suzan Revah, Dulce de Leche, Mutha Chucka, Christopher Vasquez, Reigning Emperor Mr. David Glamamore, and so many more. We later heard that the event again raised significant funds, over $110,000 this year for the Imperial Council and the Queer Nightlife Fund. What a fitting way to reinforce that this is indeed a resilient, courageous assemblage of likeminded people who refuse to be hindered by cancellations, pandemics, or any other adversity! With all this behind us, we can only imagine what an incredible SF Pride Parade & Celebration awaits us next year! But not without your involvement! Think about participating more actively in the planning and execution of SF Pride, volunteer to help your favorite organization find its place in the festivities, and don’t even think about leaving town next June, because SF Pride 2022 is going to be phenomenal! Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com
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People’s March and Rally - Unite to Fight! Photos by Rink Sunday, June 27 On Pride Sunday, June 27, Alex U. Inn and Juanita MORE! led the People’s March and Rally, which started at 11 am at 1800 Polk Street. The march ended at Civic Center in front of San Francisco City Hall, where speakers included the organizers as well as Gia Love, who is the Associate Director of Gender Justice Leadership Programs at the Trans Law Center and GSA Network, and others. Breanna Sinclairé, Ariel, and DJ Black were among the performers. The march took place on the route of the first gay liberation march in San Francisco. The organizers wrote, “We stand in protest of transgender and racial injustice, police violence and killings, unjust healthcare, the fight for gun control, and let’s not forget reparations to Black People. We demand changes!” They added that the march advocated for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. It denounced and condemned police violence, and raised “awareness for the need to defund police departments, which will allow for funds to be reallocated to social services, mental healthcare providers, and social justice organizations.” The organizers added: “After losing 600,000 lives to COVID-19, most of which are Black, Latinx, and Indigenous, we insist on consistent universal healthcare for everyone and support the continuance of the Affordable Care Act, along with fair and just voting for all! We INSIST on a Biden Administration-led investigation into the killings of Black, Brown, and Indigenous Trans Women and Men. ENOUGH!” This was the second such march and rally, following the first that took place last year after the SF Pride Parade and related Pride public events had been canceled due to COVID-19.
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Coming Out Stories
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CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2021)
Photos courtesy of Jason Brock
Coming Out as Bi in Hopes of Preventing Family Backlash Against ‘Gay’ By Jason Brock
I was born in a small town in East Texas, and it wasn’t very gayfriendly. I was gay, so that didn’t work out too well. However, somehow miraculously, my mom never knew I was gay—or so she says. Raised as a Christian, I was told that God didn’t like homosexuality; it was a sin in the Bible. So, believing the church, like my parents taught me to believe, I thought something was wrong with me when I started feeling attracted to the same sex at around twelve years old. I kept my sexuality a secret throughout my teen years, until I got into college. In fact, I had never even had sex with a man until I was nineteen years old. So, when I started dating and hooking up with guys (which was much more difficult to do back then without bars, by the way), I think my mom overheard a conversation I was having on the phone. This is because just a few minutes after I hung up the phone, my mom asked me to go on a walk with her. I thought this walk was no big deal, just us talking as usual.
I was wrong. As we were walking, she directly asked me if I was gay or not. I was rather shocked and scared, and I wasn’t ready to tell her I was gay. I didn’t know if I ever would be at that point. I hadn’t really come out to many people, and to no one in my family at all. So, I told her I was “bi” (although I was really gay). I thought it would somehow soften the blow. I felt that saying I was bi would partially acknowledge my “abnormal” sexual orientation while also making her feel like there was hope for me somehow. She still didn’t react positively, though. She said, “How can you do this to your family, Jason?!” And I was like, “Well, I’m not doing it to anyone. It’s just me.” After that, my mom never accepted my sexual orientation, and it’s been over twenty years since I told her. But I have maintained a relationship with her, although it’s strained and difficult at times. I don’t regret coming out, and I know she’s doing
Performing for “Live in the Castro” at Jane Warner Plaza with Dr. Dee Spencer and George Hearst
Jason with Honey Mahogany and Sister Roma
as well as she can do within her own understanding of life. Fortunately, I don’t need her to tell me it’s okay anymore. I have to know that for myself. Plus, I have the amazing LGBTQ+ community that helped me find the strength I have today. Television, film, and stage star Jason Brock was seen in homes all over the world as a finalist on the “X-Factor.” He is also a popular YouTuber and podcaster. https://tinyurl.com/5b3vd789
Jason with Franco Finn at an SF Pride Parade
Jason showing a peace sign with Bevan Dufty
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Photos Courtesy of Yoga Garden SF
PHOTO BY WILL ZANG
Flexibility on the Mat and in Life
Out of Left Field Robert Holgate & Jennifer Kroot Roy Gan is a popular yoga teacher at the Yoga Garden, one of San Francisco’s independent yoga studios. While yoga studios were already having trouble staying open prior to the pandemic, many closed during the shutdown and haven’t reopened. Even the Yoga Works/Yoga Tree franchise, which dominated the San Francisco yoga scene, has closed their doors. As yoga enthusiasts, we’re longtime fans of Roy’s vigorous but mindful vinyasa classes, and wanted to hear more about Roy’s personal story and how the Yoga Garden survived the pandemic. Jennifer Kroot & Robert Holgate: What was your path to becoming a yoga teacher? Roy Gan: I used to be a ballet dancer ... but let me back up. I’m from Singapore, and tried the whole pleasing my parents thing, so I went to law school. But I grew up watching old Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films, and loved dance since I was nine. Something deep within me wanted to pursue dance as a vocation, but there weren’t many opportunities in Singapore. I was lamenting that I was too late, because by the time I started ballet I was in my 20s. I just fell in love with the mechanical expression of it. In Singapore I had to join the army, and three years passed before I had an opportunity to train in the U.S. with a ballet coach. My first professional contract didn’t happen until I was 28! I danced in companies in Denver, Charleston, the Dakotas, and, finally, in Sacramento. After ten years of dancing professionally, it was no longer a joy. My body was hurting and I was done, yet I still wanted to do something physical. So, I took my first yoga class, and I realized I could teach. I wasn’t very familiar with yogic philosophy then, but I was studying A Course in Miracles, and saw many similarities between the two. I’ve always been a spirituality junkie! Jennifer Kroot & Robert Holgate: Were you out in Singapore? Roy Gan: I was in denial of my sexuality for a long time. Singapore was very conservative when I was growing up. I knew I enjoyed being in the
(left to right) DJ Rockaway, Annicia Jones, Lisa Williams and John Weber staffed the Soul of Pride Dance Party held on 18th Street during the Shared Spaces on Saturday, June 26. Soul of Pride sponsors a stage at the annual Pride Festival held annually in Civic Center on Pride Weekend. Photos by Rink 20
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Roy Gan demonstrating the “Cow Face Pose”
company of men, but I didn’t know whom to talk to about my feelings. America was the beacon of freedom, which, of course, isn’t entirely true, right? America has its problems, like racism and bigotry, and I’ve experienced some of that. But being away from my culture and my parents gave me the opportunity to be myself. It took me a couple years to get comfortable and learn to trust. When I came out to my coach, he said, “Yeah, we know!” It was like so obvious that I’m gay, but it was nice to no longer hide that aspect of myself. As a child I couldn’t process the emotions. I call it a “tsunami of emotions”—to feel such shame and guilt over something you are in this incarnation. For much of my life, I felt like a fraud, which is a common human experience. It’s like living with a mask on. My coach would say, “You have an alien on your face,” and I’d say, “What alien?” because I just didn’t see it. So, I decided I needed to take charge of the rest of my life. Jennifer Kroot & Robert Holgate: Many yoga studios have closed, but the Yoga Garden recently reopened. How did they adapt to Covid? Roy Gan: We talk a lot about flexibility in yoga, and flexibility means you can mold yourself into any situation. The owner, David Nelson, knew it was a time to shift, and has a great new vision for the company, offering live classes, live-streaming classes, and recorded classes. Now our classes are available to people anywhere in the world. There’s a beauty to that inclusivity, to connect with people from all walks of life.
Several students moved away during the pandemic, and I love seeing them again online. Jennifer Kroot & Robert Holgate: How do you come up with the philosophical themes for your classes? Roy Gan: I don’t overthink yoga philosophy. I used to plan a theme for each class, but now I let it happen naturally. I pull from my life experience. I’m turning 48 this year, and you know, s--t happens! I’ve faced massive tragedies in my life, in terms of illnesses and finances. So, I talk about how yoga helped me overcome these experiences. People appreciate that. We all carry wounds. We all want to heal and connect to the part of ourselves that is loving and accepting. For More Information https://www.yogagardensf.com/ https://roygan.com/ 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/
He paid my brother $5 to mow the lawn, who then ‘hired’ me to go dump out the clippings for a penny a bag. I wanted to run that mower so bad it hurt, not to mention make my own money. But I was a girl, fated to sit on the sidelines and settle for pennies.
The Centered Way Jamie Leno Zimron As part of Women’s History Month this past March, Evo Sports held a Zoom meeting with women athletes that left all the men hushed, some in tears. One woman at a time, we simply told stories of our lifelong love of sports—and all the ways that sexism has tried to shut us down and out from playing. Let’s just face and say it. White people have next to no comprehension of what it’s like to move in this world as a person of color; and boys and men don’t really get how gender stereotypes have been limiting girls and women in sports, and life. My little jock-self shined through by age 3. Dad took the training wheels off my bike, and I romped around in topless swim trunks. Growing up in Wisconsin, this little girl was a huge fan of Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers. The Braves were in Milwaukee and Henry Aaron was my homerun hero. I can’t convey just how much I loved baseball. My brain tracked every RBI, ERA, stat, and standing as if containing a notyet-invented computer chip. I was a southpaw like Warren Spahn, and the Dodger’s Sandy Koufax, and dreamed of pitching in the Majors. Except for one catch: I was a girl. There was to be no baseball career for me. I had no hope or prayer to play even Little League. Girls weren’t allowed, period. None of my talent or desire made any difference. It made matters worse that I could throw, field, and bat with the best of the boys, and beat them. Once, playing catcher at school recess, a mean boy slid into me on purpose and broke my front tooth. The playground teacher and principal banned me from playing, not that boy—for my supposed girlish good. I tried joining the boys’ games down the block, but never felt welcome. One day I missed a catch, like any boy could and did. That’s all it took for my parents and the other adults to send me home, permanently. They never looked or tried to see me. And so, I was relegated to bouncing and batting balls against the garage door by my lonesome, my baseball dreams dashed into melancholy and dust. Dad played catch when I begged enough, and I collected baseball cards of all those lucky guys who got to play. Why could they follow their dreams, get rich and famous, and not me? The pro sports world wasn’t much friendlier to Jews than to women, but Sandy Koufax made it to the World Series and Hall of Fame. Being Jewish didn’t stop his talented left arm the way my mere gender did. I was Jewish too, and gay, so my prospects appeared dim indeed. Another consuming passion was driving things, starting with bumper cars at the State Fair. I salivated at our local Dairy Queen not only for the creamy ice cream but also for the super-cool mini-Model T on display. When my brother was 12, Dad got him a go-cart. I was 10 and literally ached, body and soul, to drive it. We lived on a safe, quiet cul-de-sac, but nope. I was a girl and could only pine away, watching the guys have all the fun. When we were teenagers, Dad bought a Toro power mower.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE LENO ZIMRON
On Being an Athletic Girl and Sportswoman
Our parents took up golf when I was 7. Jamie Leno Zimron and her father (right) with a trainer at the exerSummer lasted just cise facility where her father participated in mobility classes. 3 months, but that en’s dojo. No men? Lesbians on the didn’t stop me from being a girl mat? Raising uncomfortable gender, golf prodigy, a wunderkind in local sexuality, and power issues? How headlines. I was shooting in the 80s dare we. How dare I. by age 10, before junior programs existed, beating mom and dad, their There has been a steep price to pay, friends, and every kid around. Golf in terms of rank promotion and fallwas acceptable because Mom adored ing out of official favor despite my it, also excelled, and we totally decades of dedicated training, teachbonded. It was okay that she played ing, and ongoing worldwide conbetter than Dad, because “ladies tributions to and through Aikido. golf” wasn’t threatening and he liked I and so many others have worked having a ringer for “couples golf.” our asses off believing in merit above privilege. But there is so much At 13 I won the first of three State Junior Girls championships, besting hypocrisy and inequity inherent in the 17-year-olds. One sportswriter all the isms. For no real or good reasaid I played like a “mechanical son, all kinds of people get marginaldoll,” while another described me ized, trivialized, and traumatized. as “stocky,” which I wasn’t but morTo understand how a girl like me tally dreaded as teenage girls are could be so gung-ho and good in taught to do. Those words, in print, sports, I know some have attribkilled all my joy in my skills and vicuted it to my being gay—as if women tories. When I took the trophy in a couldn’t be fine athletes, and lesbi6th grade tennis tournament, Mom ans aren’t really women. Rather than flat-out told me to stop winning. Let others be first, she said, else nobody playing my heart out, I’ve had to cry would like me, in yet another silly but my eyes out in therapy over basedastardly dose of sexist conditioning: ball, go-carts, and the injustices and Make yourself smaller than you are, absurdities of it all. No doubt many be deferential, and aim to be liked readers here have similar unfair tales rather than your best. to tell. It is clear that the pain of our personal experiences originates in I made it to the semi-finals at the shortcomings of our badly biased Nationals, on Pinehurst #2, barely societies. And it is no accident that, losing in sudden death (to a future along with so many other women, LPGA Tour star). That got me LGBTQ and non-white athletes, I ranked in the Top Ten nationally, am an activist. but even that and being a Stanfordbound honors student didn’t get me a Oppressive status quos need to be golf scholarship. I was a quintessenand are being changed by our prestial student-athlete, the very definience, participation, and speaking tion of recruitable. But again, sorry, out—more and more and at long last! wrong sex. Thankfully, through Title IX and This was 1972, just before Title IX the years, opportunities for girls and mandated equal funding for womwomen have come a long way since en’s athletics, so there were no sports my childhood. Yet, despite equalscholarships no matter how talented ity being the law, sexist prejudices or deserving girls might be. and disparities continue their impact Losing interest in golf, I poured all on us. It is impossible to say how my my athletic energies into martial life’s journey may have been differarts. I could get Stanford PE credent, had there been more supportits for Aikido classes, the Japanese ive roads to take. I will say that it is Art of Peace, with an amazing senrarely easy, but always an adventure. sei/instructor. I hung up my golf Every day I work hard, doing what I clubs for a gi and dove in totally. can teaching and speaking across the Golf had prepared me for Aikido’s U.S., Canada, in places like Russia, circular energy flows, and sharp Israel, Palestine, Ethiopia, from refuon-target sword work. Aikido congee camps to corporate boardrooms, cepts of centering, balance, and inteand now virtually. I am proud to be grated movement explained what making my own way as an integrathis tomgirl seemed to know natutive martial arts, golf, and leadership rally. Training happily and fervently, educator, activist, and innovator. within four years I reached black belt. Years later I would spiral back Every girl, boy, differently-abled and to golf through Aikido, developing non-”normative” person deserves to KiAi Golf, joining the LPGA as a teaching pro, and polishing my game be in the game/s of their choosing. holistically to compete again and win What is most important to me is to make meaningful differences. I am several senior titles. profoundly grateful to be part of a But back to the late 1970s and the rising tide of brave, talented female heydays of the Women’s, Black, and queer athletes who are challengand Gay Liberation movements. ing entrenched patriarchal attitudes, I met women doing other martial gender norms, and power structures. arts, teaching self-defense, marchTogether, we are making progressive ing to Take Back the Night and stop strides and shifting the playing field violence against women. We orgatowards equity and inclusivity. nized women›s martial arts camps and founded our own organizations. Everyone is equally here to share New friends asked me to open what their unique gifts and realize their became the Women›s Aikido School potential. Now is the time for us all of San Francisco, a much-needed to be freed from ridiculous biases empowering space for women. Many and restrictions, and fully engaging of my students had been drawn to our awesome authentic selves as we Aikido but felt intimidated or out of work, love—and play! place at traditional male-led dojos. Jamie Leno Zimron is an LPGA Our training was intense, joyful, and extremely high-quality. But the patri- Golf Pro, Sensei, Aikido 6th Dan, Somatic Psychologist, and Trainer. archal powers-that-be in the Aikido https://www.thecenteredway.com/ world looked askance upon my wom-
Is someone else’s drug use making you crazy? Nar-Anon family groups are 12-step support groups for friends and loved ones of addicts. Our San Francisco group meets virtually every week: Tuesdays, 7:00–8:15 pm.
For more information, please visit:
www.gganfg.org/~sfbt2106
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The first recorded citrus orchard in California dates to 1804 at the San Gabriel Mission, east of Los Angeles. Lisbon, Eureka, and Meyer lemons are the most popular varieties in California now. Here in the Bay Area, citrus trees grow particularly well in warmer microclimates, such as those found in the East Bay. If you are lucky enough to have a Rangpur lime tree (actually a sour mandarin), it makes a flavorful and beautifullyhued beverage. And what’s more summery than a citrus-based cocktail? Bring out the Bacardí Lime-Flavored Rum, lemonade, and soda when you’re hanging out with friends.
Cocktails With Heather Heather Freyer
SUMMER SPLASH 1 1/2 ounces Bacardí Lime-Flavored Rum 1 1/2 ounces lemonade 1 1/2 ounces lemon-lime soda or club soda lime wedge Fill a highball glass with ice and pour in all of the ingredients. Stir gently to combine. Garnish with the lime wedge. https://www.bacardi.com/us/en/where-to-buy/ Heather Freyer is a beverage expert who is the Vice President and General Manager for Open West States at Bacardí USA. Previously she was with Trinchero Wine Estates, Castle Rock Winery, Cost Plus World Market, and more.
This Month at the Castro Farmers’ Market Eight Ways with Avocados
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CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2021)
By Debra Morris Avocados, the quintessential California fruit, are in season! Creamy, versatile, and delicious, they’re one of the state’s most identifiable agricultural products and a summer favorite. In 1871, avocados were introduced to the U.S. with trees from Mexico. Enthusiasm for this remarkable fruit grew to become one of the most ubiquitous crops associated with California. The Fuerte and Hass varieties are the most commonly grown with the Sir Prize and Bacon varieties not far behind in popularity. All four can be found at your local farmers’ market, but the Hass is the true California native, planted by Rudolph Hass in the 1920s. No one knows the origins of this “mother tree,” but everyone is grateful to Hass for finding and planting his orchards in the California hills. Considered one of nature’s superfoods, the avocado is a heart-healthy, nutrientdense fruit with fiber, minerals, and vitamins, and no trans-fats. Here are some tasty ways to enjoy California’s most flavorful and popular fruit:
Guacamole Bring out the tortilla chips and scoop up some of California’s favorite appetizer!
Toast Top your toast with avocado, and add an egg or tomato slice for a quick and delicious snack or breakfast.
Stuffed Fill avocado halves with crab or shrimp salad, or tomato and corn relish, or whatever filling you wish.
Salads Slice and dice to add creamy texture and mild flavor to any type of salad.
Sandwiches There’s nothing tastier than a BLTA sandwich— Bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado! Or make a lettuce wrap, a stuffed pita pocket, or tuna melt with avocado.
Grilled Yes, you can grill avocados! Brush the grill with olive oil and place avocado halves right on the grill for about 5 minutes. So good!
Toppings Add to tacos, omelets, salmon, burgers.
Salad Dressings Whip up some Green Goddess or other avocado salad dressing. Just get out the blender and add oil, spices, lemon juice or vinegar. Your local farmers bring some of the best just-picked avocados there are and you can be assured they are grown right here in California. Shoup Farms brings some marvelous Hass avocados to the Castro Farmers’ Market each week through the season. Stop by and pick up some of these creamy California wonders!
CARROT AVOCADO SALAD 1 tablespoon tahini 2 tablespoons boiling water 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 scallions, roots and dark greens trimmed, thinly sliced 3/4 pound carrots, sliced thin on a diagonal, or peeled for carrot “noodles” 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh cilantro (optional) 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds 1 ripe avocado Salt to taste Whisk together tahini, boiling water, olive oil, and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt. Transfer dressing to a pouring cup and use the bowl to season and serve the salad. Wash vegetables, including the avocado. Thinly slice, or peel carrots into strands. Toss the carrots in 1/2 of your dressing. Cut open and pit your avocado. Then season generously with salt. Scoop chunks of the avocado and place on top of the carrots. Sprinkle with scallions, toasted sesame seed, and cilantro. Drizzle with remaining dressing and enjoy!
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/ 22
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proudly flying included with the six-color rainbow!”
By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “Now that Pride Month is over, should we stop being proud of being LGBTQ? Absolutely NOT! Queer Pride is 24/7 nonstop!” QUEERTY presented PRIDE50: A VIRTUAL CELEBRATION on June 22 hosted by Dan Tracer honoring 50 individuals who have positively impacted the LGBTQ community over the last year. The event featured conversations with proud out queers: actor Haaz Sleiman, comedian Margaret Cho, country singer TJ Osborne, NBA star Jason Collins, PA State Representative Brian Sims, actor Sherry Cola, TikTok star José Rolón, actor Alexandra Billings, Drag Race star Gottmik, and with a special performance by current reigning RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Symone doing a gorge Janet Jackson “Love Will Never Do Without You.” Sister Dana sez, “Let’s push for a second, huge Pride Flag in the Castro! We need another big flagpole to fly the PROGRESS FLAG including the Transgender colors and Black and Brown
On June 23, I attended the glorious VINE’S 5TH ANNUAL PRIDE MASS at Grace Cathedral along with several fellow nuns—as I had the great privilege of reading in full rainbow nun habit from the pulpit the scripture in which I got to shout, “Come Out, Lazarus!” The proud congregation as God’s queerly beloved sang all kinds of Pride songs including “I’m Coming Out,” “Born This Way,” and “I Want to Break Free.” Hallelujah! SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS and Artistic Director Dr. Timothy Seelig presented WIRED: Virtual Pride 2021 on June 24. We sang and danced and generally raised the (Zoom) roof with the Chorus and special appearances by Todrick Hall, Billy Porter, actor Laura Benanti, actor Kristin Chenowith, actor Wilson Cruz, opera singer Breanna Sinclairé, Secretary Pete and Chasten Buttigieg, plus LeAnn Rimes singing “Imagine with Love” with SFGMC. We celebrated with SFGMC with a “Celebration Medley” including the rousing “Let the Sunshine In.” Two Chorus ensembles guest starred. HomoPhonics sang the “Trebles Finals” from the movie Pitch Perfect. The Lollipop Guild gave us “Seasons of Love” from Rent. World premieres included the hilarious and pointed “Message from the Gay Community” (yes, be afraid, but they’re recruiting with love) and “28 Barbary Lane” (referencing the imaginary fairyland in Tales of the City). We learned the history of the June 1981
nine-cities national tour of the very young, very well received SFGMC. Interspersed throughout were historical pieces about the first telegraph, phonograph, radio, etc. referring to the show’s theme, Wired, of course. Following 10 seasons as SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS Artistic Director & Conductor, Dr. Tim Seelig will retire at the conclusion of SFGMC’s Season 44 in 2022. (See cover and pages 2–4 of this issue.) But I will let him tell you all about it in his column. Meanwhile “Message from the Gay Community,” a tongue-in-cheek humor piece, has been used extremely negatively by far right-wing conservative media. Shame! PROM was a very special Pride Celebration with us Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence on June 25 under the Historic Dome of Westfield San Francisco Center. We went back in time to our high school gymnasium (it was even decorated to resemble a school basketball gym with court, hoops, and all) to relive a much better time for most of us than we may have had at our original prom. I mean, did YOU wear a wig at YOUR prom?! Did the nuns boogie to the beat with you? There was a dynamic DJ, dancing, photo moments, a cafeteria (and really good food, not the slop your high school dished out), not to mention an open bar (did YOUR prom offer that? I doubt it). As an added treat, CHEER SF took to the dance floor to floor us with amazing acrobatic cheer. It was also a fun fundraiser to help us nuns raise funds for our many worthy beneficiaries. On June 26, RAINBOW WORLD FUND’s glorious RAINBOW
BUS was parked in the Castro from 10 am to 6 pm. The Bus had a lovely lounge interior and was open up for visitors. RWF was raising funds for the many programs it supports that helps LGBTQ+ refugees. You can always donate for this tremendous cause. https://www.rainbowfund.org/
We enjoyed the SAN FRANCISCO LESBIAN/ GAY FREEDOM BAND conducted by Artistic Sister Dana (top right) and friends celebrating Pride on Director Pete Nowlen as Friday, June 25. they joined virtually with 12 eral health benefits system equitably additional Pride Bands from across serves LGBTQ+ employees and their America on June 26 for LOUD dependents,” meaning they will addi& PROUD: A Celebration of tionally look to “expanding access Pride Bands from Coast to to comprehensive gender-affirming Coast! They covered musical genres health care” in federal government including pop, symphonic, classical, sectors where employees may not modern, soundtrack, and more. My receive equitable health care. top three fave numbers were “This https://tinyurl.com/ecxkaknu Is Me,” “Raise Your Glass,” and of President Joe Biden also course our own SFL/GFB’s “Sure declared “Pride is back at the White on This Shining Night.” As a grand House” after designating PULSE a finale, LGBTQ and ally musicians who did not know each other, plucked national monument. President Biden signed H.R. 49, the bill desthrough technology, virtually perignating the site of the 2016 Pulse formed a specially commissioned piece, “Deus Ex Machina.” Thrilling! Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, as a national monument, https://loudandproudconcert.sflgfb.org/ into law. Afterward, Biden comPresident Joe Biden has signed an memorated Pride Month with extensive executive order aiming to remarks made alongside Secretary of advance diversity, equity, inclusion, Transportation Pete Buttigieg, the and accessibility in the federal govfirst publicly out person confirmed ernment. Biden’s order specifito a Cabinet position. Biden signed cally includes directives that the that historic legislation as he was surPresident believes “advances equity rounded by the victims’ families and in the workplace for LGBTQ+ pubother modern-day trailblazers. He lic servants” because “for too long, then spoke about his administration’s LGBTQ+ employees have faced dispro-LGBTQ record and his deceased crimination and harassment in the son Beau’s desire to advocate for workplace.” The executive order’s LGBTQ people. “Just over five years directives include tasking this ini(continued on page 28) tiative with “ensuring that the fed-
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PHOTO COURTESY OF MILK WOOLSON (SISTER VINA SINFURRS)
Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
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Golden Gate Park Helped Me Fall in Love with San Francisco All Over Again Liam’s LGBTQI List Liam P. Mayclem As we come out from our quarantine bubbles and breathe the fresh San Francisco air, maskless, once again we are rediscovering the city we love to call home. While San Francisco has many challenges, there is incredible beauty here and much of it lies in the third most visited park in America: San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The park has also hit a major milestone with its 150th anniversary this year. There are 1017 acres to explore, by foot or by bike, skateboard or by car. Even if you spent an entire week in the park, there may still be things you would not discover. The park is so very special to me. I’ve enjoyed concerts with the likes of Paul McCartney & Neil Young at Outside Lands. I’ve been to dozens of exhibitions at the de Young, and I have spent hours reflecting and remembering in the National AIDS Memorial Grove. I’ve enjoyed hours whizzing around by bike with pals, and I recently spent a day loafing in the park with Yolanda, my partner Rick’s Mom who is also a Mom to me. Our visit that day had me falling in love with the 415 and GGP all over again as we walked and talked, smelling flowers and plants along the way. Golden Gate Park is a park for everyone and here are a few reasons I love it so: The National AIDS Memorial Grove
lost too young and too soon to HIV/ AIDS. It’s a humbling experience being here, and knowing many of the names etched on the ground makes it very real. It’s a place to come and reflect and pay respects to those we lost, but also to celebrate those living and thriving with HIV. https://www.aidsmemorial.org
The revolving exhibits are also always inspiring. A current exhibition by Hung Liu highlights international and domestic narratives of migration. Reimagining some of her most iconic paintings, such as Resident
San Francisco Botanical Gardens I am a glutton for a lovely garden, but this is the garden of all gardens, boasting 55 acres of jaw-dropping botanical beauty, showcasing more than 8,000 different kinds of plants from around the world. Allow yourself a few hours to explore the entire garden. You’ll find plants and flowers you’ve never seen before. The oversized waterlilies always take my breath away. Locals get complimentary admission.
ferris wheel boasts unrivaled views, and the wheel moves slowly enough for you to take it all in. The $18 fee for the million-dollar views is worth every cent. There is also a VIP experience worth booking for a special occasion.
Bay united in their love for disco & skating. It’s always a step back in time and an opportunity to don your disco diva attire.
https://www.skystarwheel.com
This is where the kids and kids in all of us come to discover & learn. The special event nights “after dark” are always a blast. Reconnect with favorite faces (we’re looking at you, Claude!) while exploring new and familiar spaces. With nearly 40,000 live animals, two new exhibits, the iconic Shake House, fourstory Rainforest, and outdoor dining beneath the stars, the night is sure to be wild. For adults 21+.
https://tinyurl.com/s9cncb4b Academy of Sciences
https://www.sfbg.org de Young Museum This is the place to visit for one of the world’s largest collections of African art. Most of the collection dates from the 19th century through the mid20th century, when tremendous political, economic, and religious change impacted art and culture in many societies through colonialism, imperialism, war, and globalism.
https://www.calacademy.org No Car Streets
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There is immediate quiet the moment you enter the grove with just the chorus of chirping birds to be heard. This is the place we come to remember the many friends we
QUEER POP QUIZ
Alien, through the lens of her personal trajectory, she celebrates and places herself among the people who arrived in California from both land and sea. My fave spot at the museum is the top floor viewing deck that allows for some of the most wonderful 360-degree views of the city to downtown, to the beach and all corners of SF.
Japanese Tea Garden
https://tinyurl.com/trjswcjk
https://www.japaneseteagardensf.com
Ferris Wheel
Roller Skate Disco Party
This is the new kid on the block that gives visitors a great way to view the park and beyond. Standing high, the
This Noon–5 pm Sunday disco party is as San Francisco as it gets with all manner of people from all over the
This is a special place for me. I recall visiting as a tourist when on vacation in SF in 1992. I was charmed by the servers in traditional dress in the tea-house and warmed by the delish jasmine tea during a cold, foggy summer day. The wishing bridge, the koi-filled pond, and the perfectly appointed benches all around add to the allure here. Note to locals: bring your ID for a discounted entrance fee.
During the pandemic we had the joy of walking through a park mostly free of cars. On weekends especially, boarders, bikers, skaters, and walkers ruled the streets. Many hope these carless streets will remain. I can’t say enough good things about Golden Gate Park—it’s our urban oasis for us to enjoy, and what a gift to us all it is. Now if we would only all take more time to enjoy it. Happy birthday, Golden Gate Park! 150 years young and still thriving. https://tinyurl.com/h6dv7s9d Emmy Award-winning radio and television personality Liam Mayclem is regularly featured on KPIX as well as KCBS, where he is the popular Foodie Chap. Born in London, Mayclem is now at home in the Bay Area, where he lives with his husband, photographer Rick Camargo. For more information: https://www.bookliam.com/
NFL ROLE MODEL When Carl Nassib released a statement on his Instagram account stating that he is gay, he pledged to donate $100,000 to this LGBTQ-serving nonprofit: A) PFLAG
B) GLAAD
C) Human Rights Campaign
D) The Trevor Project
ANSWER ON PAGE 28
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Hot Summer Reads and the Jewish Film Festival
Off the Wahl Jan Wahl How fabulous to be able to kick back and enjoy a juicy summer read. I tend toward non-fiction, stories about real people and really big, outrageous lives. Let’s begin with a guy who brings classic Hollywood alive, from Elizabeth Montgomery to Carolyn Jones (two of my favorite TV actresses) to how a top agent survives in “the business” then and now. Budd Burton Moss’s two books, Presenting Hollywood: Sometimes the Reality Is Better Than the Dream and All I Got Was Ten Per Cent, are a fun ride through Hollywood from the fifties to now, giving a sense of business and the world at that time. Moss is a vibrant ninety-year-old today, but was smart enough to do what I should have done: keep notes from his encounters with the greats. He meets kings and ambassadors, especially in Spain and South America on a trip with Rita Hayworth, while hobnobbing at every glamorous event from Cannes to the Oscars with former wife Ruth Roman, costar of the wonderful Hitchcock film Strangers on a Train and survivor of the Andrea Doria disaster. The stories tell us how movies are packaged and cast to this day, and the people who didn’t get the parts (Melvin Belli as the Don in The Godfather?). Details about Rita Hayworth’s headline-making challenges, originally referred to as alcoholism but finally diagnosed as Alzheimer’s Disease in 1980, make us feel we are there with her as Budd was. Sally Kellerman, an underrated jazz singer, had to be practically forced to play Hot Lips Houlihan in M*A*S*H, while many of Budd’s clients made decisions that made one wonder how agents live through temper tantrums and insane demands. Any would-be agents out there, or just people that love Hollywood dish and details? These are for you, from Amazon.
from Marlene Dietrich to Rock Hudson, designers from Adrian to Bob Mackie, and colorful characters from Clifton Webb to Cole Porter and the great Miss Bankhead. Some struggled, some sashayed; all were interesting and terrific to read about. After this one, check out Mann’s Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood. Growing up in West Los Angeles, there were so many famous people and movie stars at my synagogue that people faced the door instead of the Rabbi to see who was coming in. From Sammy Davis, Jr., to Edward G. Robinson, from Michael Landon to Don Rickles, it was great fun. Another way to celebrate not only Judaism but culture, humor, and genre-bending madness is the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, the first and largest in the country. Now in its 41st year, it has a remarkable rundown of films, tributes, shorts, and documentaries. According to its Executive Director, Lexi Leban, “This is a year like no other. We are back in the Castro for two days and cannot wait to see everybody live in person! For those who still are indoors, they can screen all but two films at home. As a proud LBGTQ person, I am proud to once again have some great movies for our communities. Our centerpiece documentary The Conductor is a wonderful tribute to a groundbreaking lesbian. Prognosis: Notes on Living is about the Bay Area’s Debra Chasnoff (1957–2017). [It’s] a brave film where she turns the camera on herself. We have
It took seven years of research, combing through personal correspondence, unpublished manuscripts, and scrapbooks, but talented writer William J. Mann has proven that the LBGTQ community was one of the most influential forces in Hollywood history. In Behind the Screen: How Gays and Lesbians Shaped Hollywood 1910 to 1969, Mann highlights directors from Dorothy Arzner (let’s get her name on the Rainbow Honor Walk!) to George Cukor, stars 26
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movies big and small about the Holocaust, Jews of color, music of the Jewish community, and, of course, the ubiquitous Jewish Palestinian conflict. Whatever subject floats your boat is there!” Lexi added something that had me thinking about what movies my parents exposed me to that had me loving motion pictures. Lexi told me: “The Sting, Gallipoli, Ragtime, Reds ... my parents exposed me to every kind of movie. My love of the cinema is bound to my love of them.” I’d say Auntie Mame, My Fair Lady, Judgement at Nuremburg, and Some Like it Hot. How about you? Our love of cinema began somewhere for us, so let’s connect and celebrate that we found the movies! For more information about the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival: https://jfi.org/film-festival 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
That’s Entertainment!
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Opposites Connect in Eytan Fox's Gay Israeli Drama Sublet
Film Gary M. Kramer Out gay filmmaker Eytan Fox’s poignant dramady Sublet, now out on DVD, has The New York Times travel writer Michael ( John Benjamin Hickey) arriving in Tel Aviv on assignment “to write about the city as it is.” He sublets an apartment from Tomer (Niv Nissim), a student who makes “artistic horror” films. As Michael settles in to soak up the city, he allows Tomer to stay and act as his guide. While they come to know each other over five days, the very different men exchange impassioned thoughts about monogamy (Michael appreciates it, Tomer resists it); musicals (Michael loves them, Tomer loathes them); and even attitudes about Germany (Michael reflects on the history, whereas Tomer sees a new opportunity). But Sublet is best when Michael gets out of his comfort zone. This happens a few times, yet it is most affecting during a meal at a Kibbutz with Tomer’s mother (Miki Kam). Hickey gives a wonderfully understated performance, while screen newcomer Niv Nissim exudes charisma. Fox chatted about the film with me for the San Francisco Bay Times in a post-screening conversation last November. Here are excerpts from that conversation. Gary M. Kramer: Many of your films put contrasting characters together. What decisions did you make regarding Michael and Tomer and their characteristics? Eytan Fox: It makes good drama when you put together two seemingly different characters. When I started working on Sublet, I turned fifty. I’m not a young man anymore. I wanted to examine and understand that. So, I thought the best way to do that was
to put me together with a young man who is from a different generation, a different world. [Tomer] is a gay, Israeli young man, 25, and very different from [Michael], a 50-year-old gay Israeli man. That would be an interesting way for me to examine who I am, what issues I care about, and to redefine who I am as a man and as a filmmaker. I put “me” [Michael] opposite a young man who is not me anymore and see what happens. Gary M. Kramer: And what did you learn about yourself doing that? Eytan Fox: Well ... that I’m not 25 anymore. [Laughs] And I’m kind of happy not being 25 anymore. And there is a lot to learn from the younger generation, but there is also a lot to teach them. I tried to be nonjudgmental but also to say I have all this wisdom and history and I can introduce these things to you and teach you. This meeting of ideas and energies. Gary M. Kramer: Speaking of which, who do you see having the power in the relationship between Tomer and Michael? They both see something they want in the other—it shifts back and forth over the course of the film—but who is in control? Eytan Fox: You are right to say it shifts throughout the film. Michael is the father to Tomer, and at some points, Tomer is a father to Michael. Relationships are complicated. People take roles and reverse roles, and dynamics change. Gary M. Kramer: On that same point, let’s talk about sex. What were your thoughts about the sexual nature of these two characters and their relationship, which is not a full-blown romance despite some affection between the men? Eytan Fox: Relationships are complicated and layered. Sex comes in and is part of our relationships. It’s where I think physical and emotional [connections] come together. Tomer has many encounters that are only physical, but he doesn’t know how to connect the emotional with the physical. This may be the first time in his life they come together, which is why it [is] so powerful and strong, and meaningful. (continued on page 28)
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GGBA: Why did you decide to join the GGBA, and how long have you been a member? Skyler Brady: I was a guest at an event and met some really passionate and focused people who were also down to earth. I felt like it would be a good group of people to surround myself with. I’ve been a member for over a year. Although, I’m not sure if 2020 should be classified as a single year or a decade. GGBA: How has being a member of GGBA helped your business so far? Skyler Brady: This opportunity to be spotlighted is really exciting and could help my business. I’m grateful for this opportunity to get the word out about Ginger Armor. It truly is my passion to educate others about the importance of daily skin protection. With skin cancer remaining the most prevalent form of cancer diagnosis, we have an opportunity to elevate millions of lives with a simple and effective solution! I’m looking forward to being able to meet and network with GGBA members more in the near future. GGBA: Do you go to the GGBA monthly Make Contact networking events? Have they benefited you and your business, and would you recommend them to others? Skyler Brady: I went to 2 events last year as a guest and have met some members outside of the events. I’d love to get more involved with other inspiring
LGBTIA+ members, now that we are allowed to mingle again. The GGBA community has benefited my business and I would recommend them to others. GGBA: What other advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own business? Skyler Brady: Believe in your product or service. And remember, it is a constant process of revising, improving, and learning more about your own product and services. First with the head, then with the heart. Give yourself room to make “mistakes” and learn. Slow and steady “ wins” the race. GGBA: Is there anything else that you would like to share? Skyler Brady: Please wear a mineral sunscreen every day, whether it’s Ginger Armor or not! Also, a pro-tip from a “sun-ceptible” ginger: check the UV index before prolonged skin exposure. A current UV index widget is available at our website. Just type in your city or zip code and the EPA link will tell you anything past a 5 and you had better protect your beautiful skin! I’m grateful for the opportunity to be spotlighted by GGBA! Thank you. For more information and to purchase Ginger Armor, go to https://gingerarmor.com/
SISTER DANA (continued from page 23) ago, the Pulse nightclub, a place of acceptance and joy, became a place of unspeakable pain and loss,” Biden said at the signing ceremony. He added, “We’ll never fully recover, but we’ll remember.” With over 134 film screenings, which included 16 world premieres, nine international premieres, 10 North American premieres, and eight U.S. premieres, FRAMELINE45—the world’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival—wrapped its record-breaking 18-day festival with record-breaking attendance, a hybrid of in-person and virtual offerings, a series of thought-provoking talks, and a host of award winners. http://www.frameline.org/ Queen Latifah, receiving the BET LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, was honored for her one-of-a-kind 35-year career as a rapper, performer, actress, and more. MC Lyte, Rapsody, Lil’ Kim, and Monie Love performed together and thanked her for being their peer or paving the way for them. But her closing remarks drew the most attention, after the star mentioned her longtime partner, Eboni Nichols, and their son, Rebel. She ended her speech by wishing viewers a “Happy Pride!” So now we know what we have hoped we knew for so long: Queen is on our team!!! At a June 28 press conference with Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Senator Scott Wiener, and Assemblymember Evan Low, it was announced that California will be expanding its ban on state-funded travel to states that openly discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. “I’m so proud that California continues to lead the way in ensuring LGBTQ+ people can experience full, lived equality,” says EQUALITY CALIFORNIA Executive Director Tony Hoang. “Today we are ... letting every other state know that passing hate into law will have real, financial ramifications.” Sister Dana sez, “It’s about time that finally SF minimum wage workers’ pay has increased to $16.32 an hour!”
During Pride Month a 30-second commercial furthered the NFL’s support of the LGBTQ+ community and began with the bold statement: “Football is gay.” The entire spot (behind dramatic drum rolls and cymbals) stated: “Football is lesbian. Football is beautiful. Football is queer. Football is life. Football is exciting. Football is culture. Football is transgender. Football is queer. Football is heart. Football is power. Football is tough. Football is bisexual. Football is strong. Football is freedom.” THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRAWFORD is a wacky new comedy written by Michael Phillis (playing typical handsome male lead), starring Matthew Martin as nasty ol’ Joan C. Everybody’s favorite Mommie Dearest is thrust into all the female-driven thrillers she was born to play. Martin leads a cast of SF’s finest drag comedians in a madcap farce that just might kill you (with laughter). BYO wire hangers! Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 7 pm, July 22–August 7 at the Oasis. https://tinyurl.com/cw83endj His Most Imperial Majesty Mr. David Glamamore & Her Most Imperial Majesty Juanita MORE! welcome everyone to FAMILY, the INVESTITURE of The Court of More is MORE! on July 16, 7:30 pm, Oasis, 298 11th Street. Investiture is the first major event for the new court, investing the community with unique titles and roles to support our LGBTQ+ family and their allies in the San Francisco Bay Area. https://tinyurl.com/yejusnry The next Lockdown Comedy ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW is July 15, 6 pm. Featuring comedians: Marga Gomez (SF), Shazia Mirza (Lon don), Jim Short (Australia), and Lisa & Mother Ged uldig (Florida). https://tinyurl.com/ahuec47c Sister Dana sez, “I know he’s busy living his life, but wouldn’t President Barack Obama make an incredible Supreme Court Justice?!”
QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on pg 25)
D) The Trevor Project The Trevor Project is an organization dedicated to crisis intervention and suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
road feel, and the engine, transmission, and brakes all work well while still adhering to an enthusiastic sensibility. It’s capable and satisfying, and the Envision never mutes out. There were times I felt the Envision expressed more to me than some recent BMWs I’ve driven. The Mazda is also fun to drive, in this case because it’s so deliciously refined. Everything you do in the CX-30 seems to have been already dialed in, to thread the needle more cleanly than you could anticipate. Supreme confidence and gratifying silkiness move the CX-30 forward. Both the Envision and CX-30 were among the rare crossovers I actually looked forward to driving. Pricing will fall in line with competitors: this mid-level Envision Essence started below $36,000 and after options climbed just over $41,000. The CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus had fewer features and a correspondingly lower ask of $34,120. Both charged exactly $495 for their premium paint jobs. In the past, Buick and Mazda were dissimilar; now their products have mirrored appeal, with different executions. Both are worth a look. Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant with an automotive staging service.
ROSTOW (continued from page 13) I was wrong earlier to drop the news of our transgender rights court victory into the beginning of this column and then abandon the story as if there was nothing more to be said. As the ACLU’s James Esseks writes in a piece on the Court for The Advocate, the fact that the High Court left intact our Fourth Circuit victory in the Gavin Grimm high school case means that three federal appellate circuits, representing 13 states, have all ruled in favor of transgender students fighting for the right to use the school facilities. You remember Gavin Grimm, I’m sure, the Gloucester, Virginia, high school kid who sued successfully for the right to use the school bathrooms, in a case that was then picked for Supreme Court review back in the day. That’s never a good sign, but as mentioned earlier in this column, this was a time when we all thought Clinton would be our next president. Who cares if the High Court takes a second look at one of our victories, we chuckled to ourselves! With Clinton’s new justice, we’ll just add another great precedent to our collection! Well, the Trump administration took office. The Department of Education changed its transgender rights policy. The High Court sent the Grimm case back to the lower courts with instructions to review the case from scratch without the benefit of the Obama Education Department’s trans-friendly guidance. Fast forward a couple of years, however, and high school alumnus Gavin Grimm won his second goround at the Fourth Circuit, this time purely on the merits of his case. It was this, his second, victory that the High Court has now let stand, in a move that is undoubtedly significant and perhaps a lasting testament to the future of transgender rights cases. This is the third time in three years that the Court has rejected one of these petitions, although not surprisingly, Justices Thomas and Alito would have liked to have taken the case. It’s noteworthy, perhaps, that Justice Gorsuch was not mentioned in the decision to reject review. It was Gorsuch, as you know, who ruled that transgender discrimination is a subset of sex discrimination, which itself is outlawed in the workplace under Title VII of the Civil Right Act. Sex discrimination, of course, is also outlawed in public schools under Title IX of the Education Amendments, so Gorsuch’s reasoning should translate from the office to the high school. Yet Gorsuch himself noted that in his decision (in the 2020 Bostock case) “under Title VII ... we do not purport to address bathrooms, locker rooms, or anything else of the kind.” That may have been true, but just because the majority did not “purport” to address bathrooms and locker rooms does not mean that bathrooms and locker rooms weren’t addressed. Arguably, they were. Cheers to that! arostow@aol.com
KRAMER (continued from page 27) Gary M. Kramer: Sublet features writers and books, film scenes, an art gallery, a museum, dance, food, and music. What can you say about incorporating all this Israeli culture in the film? Tomer and Michael could have bonded over anything, but you resist tourism—despite Michael’s job—for something that has more of a personal connection for the characters. Can you discuss this? Eytan Fox: I try in all my films, but even more specifically in Sublet, to be as close as possible to my world. So, culture—dance, theater, books, galleries, museums, food—are very much a part of my life and life in Tel Aviv. I wanted to incorporate that in the film That’s what people do when they travel abroad; you get to do all these things. The film gives you the opportunity to experience all these things. © 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
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With Drills Tip of the Week By Julie Peri
Artshot Abby Zimberg
Sawzall Like its name sounds, the sawzall saws all! This is a great tool to have in your demolition tool box. Its reciprocating saw blade can cut through metal and wood and get into hard-to-reach places. It’s a key tool for fixing mistakes.
At Soda Rock Winery in Sonoma County, photos taken post fire in 2019 (Top) Streaming sunlight creates patterns on the barn floor. (Left) A sculpture in the yard constructed of a batch of wine barrel bands. 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/
Here is what we have coming up next!
Introduction to Tools, July 10, San Francisco
Take Me Home with You!
Overnight Carpentry Camp, July 25–31, Walnut Creek
“Hi there, my name is Princess Dusk! I’m 10-years-old and people still tell me I’m the life of the party. I’m a social butterfly who loves to meet new people. There’s no need to play hard to get with me. If you come to visit, I’ll immediately greet you and ask for pets. My ideal adopter is someone who likes to cuddle and be affectionate, because I’ve got a lot of love to give!”
Introduction to Tools, August 14, San Francisco Construction Workshop Series, Fall 2021, Walnut Creek
Princess Dusk is presented to San Francisco Bay Times readers by Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, the SF SPCA’s Co-President. Our thanks also go to Krista Maloney for helping to get the word out about lovable pets like Princess Dusk. To apply to meet Princess Dusk, visit https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/
As with most tools, we recommend using the sawzall with safety glasses, and ear protection. It can be loud and throw bits of wood and metal towards your face! Also, this is a two-handed tool. To learn how to use a sawzall, join us for our rough carpentry construction workshop series this fall.
For more information about these and other events, go to: https://www.dykeswithdrills.com/workshops
Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup
Julie Peri is the Founder and Director of Dykes With Drills. https://www.dykeswithdrills.com/ S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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Round About - All Over Town
Photos by Rink
Framline’s Peter Stein, senior programmer, and Allegra Madsen, director of programming, spoke on stage at the Castro Theatre on June 26, introducing the “Fun in Shorts” screening.
Frameline’s Nguyen Pham (right) welcomed guests to the “Fun in Shorts” screening.
The Castro Theatre temporarily reopened in June 2021 for Frameline45.
Volunteers, including Simon Kong (right), welcomed guests to the “Fun in Shorts” screening on June 26.
Paul Miller (left), co-owner of The Academy, and founding member Steve Adams welcomed guests to the opening reception for the Pride photography exhibit by Sandra Hoover and Saul Bromberger. Harvey Milk Democratic Club members and friends celebrated at the organization’s annual Pride Party held at the Cinch Saloon on Polk Street.
(Left to Right) Michael Hoff, Rob, Chris Robledo and Jeffery Senac enjoyed the photography exhibit opening for Sandra Hoover and Saul Bromberger at The Academy social club on June 23.
10,000 Dresses, a story by Marcus Ewart with illustrations by Rex Ray, was included in the Dog Earned Books Castro window display on June 25.
Former Harvey Milk Club president Kevin Bard (right) was joined by friends, including former Supervisor David Campos, at the Club’s Pride Party held on June 21 at Cinch Saloon.
The corner street sign at Harvey’s bar and restaurant declared “Happy Pride.”
A window sign at Out in the Closet on Polk Street expressed the shop’s commitment to diversity. Cliff’s Variety included the store’s popular t-shirt in the front window during Pride Month.
A rainbow wave sculpture promoting White Claw Hard Seltzer was on display in front of Rossi’s Deli on Castro Street on June 23. 30
SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S
J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 2 1
Round About - All Over Town
Photos by Rink
CASTRO STREETCAM presented by
The flag display in the San Francisco City Hall rotunda on Wednesday, June 23
The Castro Theatre marquee announced the landmark’s 99th birthday.
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The front window at Does Your Mother Know, prepared by designer Hugo, featured Pride season related merchandise.
The Pink Triangle display atop Twin Peaks, as viewed here from Harvey Milk Plaza, was lit up each night throughout June.
Get ready for a picnic at Dolores Park or a Stern Grove Festival concert with these fabulous outdoor Oniva blankets from Picnic Time. They are available in two sizes: 59” x 51” for $21.99 and 70” x 80” for $34.99.
Westfield Mall’s main entrance on Market Street included rainbow images during pride Month. The Port of San Francisco’s rainbow flag returned on display again this year at the entrance to Pier 1.
Pier 39’s flagpoles included rainbow flags in celebration of Pride Month.
Rink Remembers
Photo by Rink
After a long year and a half, are you ready to start planning your next international adventure? Play cards and start learning a new language with Lingo Playing Cards for $12.99.
Jerry Douglas San Francisco Bay Times photographer Rink provided his image taken on July 1 of the memorial tribute for Jerry Douglas (1935-2021) placed on the Hibernia Beach grill on the outside of the bank building at the intersection of 18th and Castro Streets. Douglas was remembered as an author, playwright, journalist and filmmaker whose works were featured by Frameline.
W
e want to express our continuous gratitude to our community for supporting us for the last 85 years. Without you we wouldn’t be here and we are here for you. It is our sense of community that helps us keep going even on those days when we would rather hide under the covers. Thank you!
As Heard on the Street . . . What are you looking forward to this summer? compiled by Rink
Aria Sa’id
Paul Hogarth
Cristina Rivera
Benjamin Pattison
Sumiko Saulson
“Being ready for a good time and getting it.”
“Getting out and looking forward to performing.”
“Staying in the wonderful neighborhood of Manny’s in the Mission.”
“An overdue visit to Hawaii to see friends.”
“The Bearrison Street Fair and the Folsom Street Market.”
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DIVAS & DRINKS @ The Academy
GO for GOLD party for women Friday, July 23, 6pm–10pm
The Academy 2166 Market Street Tickets are required (1 ticket per admission) for this limited-capacity, general admission indoor-outdoor event.
About the Event As an encore to the largest Pride party for women in the Bay Area we will be celebrating the Summer Olympics on the opening night of the Tokyo Olympic Games! Come watch on the big screen with your host for the evening, Donna Sachet, while enjoying delicious foods and specialty cocktails curated by Bacardi VP Heather Freyer. Cheer on our winning women’s gay softball league teams as we toast to the highly anticipated return of softball to the Olympics and hold a mini Games. Guests will be announced soon, and this event will mark the launch of a limitededition collectible series honoring legendary lesbian bars of San Francisco. Where are the women in the Castro? Come to Divas & Drinks @ The Academy!
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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area
CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2021)