San Francisco Bay Times - October 6, 2022

Dream Cruises for LGBTQ Travelers

Dream Cruises for LGBTQ Travelers

Tips for LGBTQ Travelers Based on My Journeys, Including a Recent Cruise to Spain

cruise ship; and 3) partying like it’s 1999 with thousands of like-minded travelers!

*John’s Tip #1: Fly Non-stop.

Traveling today is unlike that of prepandemic days. I highly recommend direct flights, with no connections, if possible. The pandemic has caused major travel headaches with last min ute flight cancellations around the world. Several of my friends nearly missed the cruise because of this.

We met up with our friends from Palm Springs in the early evening and had drinks at a popular and iconic gay bar, Priscilla Café, before dining outdoors for our first of many Spanish tapas meals at Lexi’s. Later that night, we toured Barcelona’s gay borhood on foot visiting several “busi nesses as such.”

because testing positive would spell disaster. Fortunately, we all took tre mendous precautions weeks before the trip and while visiting businesses in Barcelona and tested negative.

delectable sweets were sold in the shape of a very large penis!

Almost everyone has a bucket list. My bucket list has but one item: to see the world. This, however, is a catch-22 because it is virtually impossible to see the world given our limited time. My modified bucket list is now to see as much as I can before my time is up

*John’s Tip #2: Reserve tests and fill out required forms in advance.

Weeks before the trip, my husband and I reserved rapid antigen COVID “fit to fly” tests at an approved cruise

*John’s Tip #3: Have an idea of transportation (e.g., taxi and public transport), customs (e.g., tipping), advisories (e.g., scams) and costs before you travel, and have some

Around noon, we met up with our private Barcelona tour guide, Milena, for a seven-hour walk to the most his toric and cultural landmarks, includ ing whimsical structures created by Antoni Gaudí, an internationally renowned Catalan architect for his “nature of animals” style. Originally

Zig-zagging through the picturesque alleyways of Barcelona, Milena explained that a recent law prohibited tourist groups over 12 people due to congestion in the highly visited nar row stone paved streets. We navigated the labyrinth and admired the Catalan structures of Güell Palace, the Cathedral de Barcelona, the Picaso Museum and Casa Batlló, and Milà. Oh, and we ate more tapas.

and an excellent way to do so is going on cruises. In the last 15 years, I have cruised to the islands of Hawaii and the Caribbean, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and the West Coast of Canada including Southern Alaska.

Today I would like to take you on my most recent “see the world” journey on a cruise through five beautiful and historic port cities in Spain on the ship Virgin Valiant Lady. I would also like to share with you some pertinent travel tips, pointers, information, and recommendations.

For those of you who don’t know, the majority of the cruises I’ve taken thus far have been with LGBTQ cruise companies. Some major advantages of going on a “gay” cruise or with a known gay-supportive company are: 1) traveling in a safe, non-judgmental environment surrounded by friends, loved ones, and supporters; 2) travel ing with minimal mainstream societal restrictions and mores while on the

ship travel test ing clinic in Barcelona. We also had to regis ter and clear health checks through the Spanish Health Portal three days before getting on our flight. These inconveniences are the norm of traveling internationally nowadays, but worth the effort.

Day 1: Tapas and Barcelona LGBTQ Scene

After a 12-hour non-stop flight from SFO, we were ready to kiss the ground in Barcelona. From the air port, we took a taxi to the Cram Hotel, one of two LGBTQ hotels (the other one is Axel) in the heart of the gay district where we were greeted by streets, buildings, and businesses lined with rainbow and the various LGBTQ community flags. Barcelona is definitely a very LGBTQ friendly city!

destination goals such as what to do, see, and eat.

Although the thrill of an impromptu trip with no agenda can be alluring, no matter the type of trip you plan to take, I recommend that you do some basic research and preparatory work prior to your trip. You definitely don’t want to be caught blind, especially in a foreign country.

Day 2: COVID Test and Private Tour of Historic Barcelona

Our other cruise friends from Los Angeles and Houston arrived in the early, early morning hours and joined us at Schbelta Clinic Centro Medico to receive our rapid antigen COVID test. The six of us were very nervous

from Argentina, Milena was well versed in the history and the people of Barcelona, especially Spanish national hero Christopher Columbus and the region’s Catalonian roots. Milena also warned us about pick pocketers who run rampant in tourist destinations all over Spain.

*John’s Tip #4: Think about going on an introductory/overview tour to acquaint yourself with the destina tion. Use a reputable tour agency with reviews, contact info, and cancel lation policy. I almost always use Viator/Trip Advisor.

Our tour began in La Rambla, a treelined street designed for tourism. We then visited Placa Reial in the famed Gothic Quarter, tasted Iberian cured meats and fresh exotic fruit juices at the ever-popular Mercat de la Boqueria, followed by a visit to Dick Waffle, where ice cream and many

Finally, we spent several hours at the pièce de résistance, Gaudí ’s architectural masterpieces Sagrada Família and Park Güell. By now, even in writing if you haven’t noticed, I sound extra sophisticated, cultured, and so Catalonian and French!

After a long day of walking and feel ing like an erudite snob, we were starving! Back at our hotel, our con cierge worked his magic and got us a last seating at the hotel’s 2 Michelin Star restaurant, Angle. It took us nearly four hours to complete an “18 course” meal accompanied by a tast ing wine/liquor option!

Day 3: All Aboard Virgin Valiant Lady

After a late night, we slept in until checkout at noon. Leaving our bags at the hotel, we went in search of the

Dream Cruises for LGBTQ Travelers

most excellent brunch and found the Cremat Lounge, a brunch place that hung six large rainbow flags and showcased a diva drink menu. Did you know that a Spanish breakfast plate comes with two poached eggs, always? When I asked for over easy, the wait staff looked at me like I was some crazy American tourist. Oh, and the Spanish pancakes are smaller, but thicker, meatier, and more sub stantial than American pancakes. Two thumbs up from this crazy American tourist!

After filling our bellies, we taxied to

as the 1,000 bars on board, the pool and spa, the “dick deck,” and the gym. The gym is especially important to the gays because it’s not just about health; it’s about displaying the most brilliant peacock plume to attract many, and I mean many, potential suitors. The voyage may be called Virgin, but I can’t imagine a single virgin among 1,400 gay men.

*John’s Tip #5: Reserve popular shows and premium/specialty restau rants in advance.

Every cruise ship has a number of

spots as soon as available for you, yours, and friends so that you are not left outside looking in.

Day 4: Valiant Lady at Sea and Dog Tag Tea Dance

A day on a cruise ship with no dock ing port is commonly referred to as a sea day. The Valiant Lady glided effort lessly through the Balearic and Alboran Seas, then the Strait of Gibraltar before finally entering the Atlantic Ocean to Southwest Spain.

The cruise line that we chose is wellknown for onboard mega and some times wild theme parties where attendees dress up in extravagant costumes.

Generally speaking, the first big party is the afternoon dog tag tea dance where many party goers sport ultra-sexy and rather reveal

tion is that all cruise companies offer many onshore excursion options at every port. Excursions, in my opinion, are the best ways to get the most out of every port destination, especially if it is your first time there. Excursions can be cultural (UNESCO World Heritage Sites), scenic (National Parks), sporty (biking, hiking, or kaya king), relaxing (beach), or educational (cooking class, wine tasting, craft/art making). I recommend that cruisers go with excursions offered on the ship. They are trustworthy, use reputable travel agencies, and if something hap pens, the cruise ship will not leave you behind. This will save you lots of headaches!

Of course, you may choose to go out and explore on your own and that’s perfectly fine. Just be cognizant of the local customs, language, advisories, and when the ship leaves port. Do not be late, because the ship will not wait for you. You are not that special!

goat cheese and cheese making pro cesses are documented. The curator informed us that the species of goats used to make the cheeses were not only indigenous to the area, but also endangered, with a mere several thousand left. Moreover, we were able to get our hands dirty and learn to make and mold cheese and sample the best cheeses the region has to offer including the 3rd best voted cheese in the world, Oveja Emborrade.

Our second and final stop was Zahara de la Sierra, a painting-like, white, mountainside village 3,600 feet high in the hills of Andalusia. This munici pality was once a castle fortress quell ing enemy attacks, with only remnants of the castle still standing today. In Zahara, we strolled through the many narrow stone paved streets, visited the Church of Santa Mária de la Meza and the Plaza Mayor, where we shopped and dined (tapas, what else?) in the heart of the pueblo blanco

the cruise port and proceeded to board the Virgin Valiant Lady with 1,400 enthusiastic and energized gay men of all ages, shapes, sizes, and col ors from all over the world ... and 10 women! Immediately, we met a young “Abbot and Castello” couple from New York City, an interracial couple from San Francisco, and a trio of “ready to party” singles from Italy, England, and the country Georgia.

First day on board is all about getting to know the ship. Get to know where all the restaurants and eateries are, when the available entertainment and activities (translation: themed dance parties) are, and all the amenities such

“premium or specialty” restaurants where the food is levels above the oth ers (and all you can eat). On this trip, premium restaurants were free, whereas most cruise lines charge a set fee for their specialty restaurants. If you love food, you absolutely must dine at these restaurants. Although walk-ins are welcome, due to their popularity, you really should reserve your space in advance or risk not get ting seated.

This cruise line generally has several shows that are extremely popular, such as the headline performer, drag bingo, and comedy shows—but with limited capacity. If allowable, reserve

ing military style camo “uniforms.” Although the Valiant Lady could not house a full capaci ty of passengers due to COVID restrictions, still several hundred near-naked men packed the pool deck under the sunkissed sky gyrating and thrusting to the latest house music.

If big “circuit” like parties aren’t your thing, there are a plethora of other activities such as sunbathing, spa, bingo, arcade, basketball, trivia, casi no, board games, live entertainment, shopping, and restaurants for cruisers with various interests. There’s some thing for everyone onboard.

*John’s Tip #6: For less experienced travelers or those who are first time to a destination, go on the cruise compa ny’s onshore excursions for security, reliability, and safety.

One thing about cruising I must men

Day 5: Cádiz, El Bosque, and Zahara

We woke up to the Valiant Lady already docked at Cádiz, the south western most city as well as province in Spain. A major advantage of being on a cruise ship is that Valiant Lady towers over most structures giving cruisers stunning panoramic views of the landscape. In Cádiz, we ate break fast with the beautiful Catedral de Cádiz in the background!

For Cádiz, we selected an excursion that took us deep into the province to learn about the Moorish origins and why the region is famous for its cheese and picturesque white mountainside villages. Our bus ride took us through the golden Spanish countryside, can vassed with field after field of bloom ing sunflowers.

Our first stop was El Bosque, home to the Queso (Cheese) Museum where the history of world-famous Cádiz

Arriving back at the cruise port with a few hours to spare, we ventured into the heart of Cádiz, where modern shops, restaurants, and residences are built on top of a defunct castle. Naturally, we toured yet another his torically significant cathedral, the Catedral de Cádiz.

Back on the Valiant Lady, we attended a very adult comedy show, “All About Sex with Dr. Anya,” where anything goes—and ordered everything on the menu at Pink Agave, a premium Mexican restaurant onboard.

Day 6: Málaga, Alhambra, Granada, and Scarlet Party

At Málaga, we signed up for an allday excursion to UNESCO World Heritage Sites Alhambra and Granada. The bus ride to Alhambra was long (2 hours!) but fairly comfort able. Unlike the sunflower-drenched Cádiz, miles and miles of olive trees

Dream Cruises for LGBTQ Travelers

on rolling hills lined the Málaga coun tryside all the way to the province and city of Granada.

Alhambra, the best representation of ancient Islamic architecture, is one of the most visited tourist attractions in all of Spain. Once an Islamic palace, the Alhambra became a complex with subsequent additions and modifica tions through Christian Reconquista and the Renaissance, but fell to neglect and squatting until its redis covery and restoration since the 1800s.

From Sabika Hill where Alhambra sits, our tour descended to the city of Granada down below and best known for its medieval architecture, Catholic influence, and historical significance to the division and unification of Spain. At the city center, we visited the Cathedral of Granada (yes, yet

remains docked until 7 pm the next day. After a long tour of Granada, we slept in but did manage to roll out of bed for lunch and some afternoon sun before the third theme party, the Eurovision afternoon Tea Dance.

With scores of men wearing Eurovision inspired fashion, minus some body coverings, the party fash ionably announced Valiant Lady’s entrance into Ibiza, a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea famous for wild late-night clubs and parties.

This night, instead of partying in Ibiza like many of our fellow ship mates, our friends joined us for my husband’s birthday celebration onboard at The Wake, a premium steakhouse. After a 2-pound toma hawk steak, five 7-ounce filets, three fried polenta steaks, a bowl of shrimp and grits, a plate of seafood pasta, a grilled salmon entrée, enough side

cathedral), and the historic land marks, structures, and shops of the Old Town (Dalt Vila). The near 360-degree view of Ibiza from the top of the castle alone was worth the price of admission. From the top, we zig-zagged down the narrow streets through the heart of Old Town to the main entrance under the Renaissance wall, and finally, into Eivissa.

At 7 pm, Valiant Lady left port leaving behind a magnificent sunset with Ibiza in the distance. After another amazing dinner at the premium res taurant Razzle Dazzle, we got a little rest before heading to the iconic White Party, where it seemed as if

his lover and French writer George Sand at the Carthusian Monastery.

The monastery was once a royal char terhouse that was yielded to the Carthusian monks until their expul sion. At the monastery, we toured the Chopin Museum and were treated to a piano recital of the music Chopin wrote inspired by his time spent in Valldemossa.

Our excursion ended at Castell de Bellver, one of the largest and few cir cular castles remaining in the world.

The castle has a moat outside of the castle walls as well as a moat inside the castle walls. The outer moat was used to defend against attackers. The inner moat was used to capture the attackers.

Typical of this cruise

including a trailblazing gay couple who courageously challenged and fought the state of Florida on mar riage rights and equality 20 some years ago.

This trip was no different as we met several remarkable and accomplished LGBTQ leaders including a former Naval officer, a major corporate exec utive, an accountant to drag queens who successfully competed on Ru Paul’s Drag Race, a professor of medi cine, and a young fitness entrepre neur.

another cathedral) and the Royal Chapel, where many Catholic mon archs were buried.

After a tapas break (is there another type in Spain?), our tour moved to modern Granada, where shops and restaurants dotted the plazas and bou levards. Almost immediately, we noticed pride flags were prominently displayed on several buildings and streets. Apparently, we missed the Granada Pride Celebration by just a week. The sight of support and acceptance made our little LGBTQ tour group felt very welcome.

Back on the Valiant Lady, we caught a fun variety show followed by dinner before heading to the next theme cel ebration, the Scarlet Party, where everyone dresses in red. This was truly a long day that started at 7 am and finally ended at 2 am after 20,000+ steps.

Day 7: Eurovision Tea Dance, Ibiza, and Birthday Celebration

Day 7 is mostly a sea day. Valiant Lady doesn’t dock in Ibiza until 7 pm and

dishes to feed a small army, three chocolate mousse tarts, three panna cottas, two chocolate ganache cakes, and two cheesecakes, the six of us were stuffed and had to be carted out of the res taurant!

Day 8: Citadel Dalt Vila, Eivissa (Ibiza Town), Castell de Eivissa (Castle of Ibiza), and White Party

Although Ibiza is well known for its late-night party scene and electronic dance music, the vast majority of des tinations on the island are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the fortress citadel Dalt Vila and the surrounding Renaissance walls. Our excursion took us deep inside the citadel where we toured the Castle of Ibiza, Catedral de Santa María de les Neus (our 100th

everyone was wearing nothing but a white jock strap.

Day 9: Palma de Mallorca, Castell de Bellver, Valldemossa, and Deborah Cox

At 8 am, the Valiant Lady arrived in Palma, the capitol of Mallorca and a cosmopolitan resort city. From the upper decks of our ship, we were treated to a spectacular view of Palma Centre and the Gothic Roman Catholic Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca.

From Palma, our excursion took us to Valldemossa, a small mountain village and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Serra de Tramuntana where Frédéric Chopin spent a winter with

line, the entertainer on the final night of the cruise is the headliner. On the Valiant Lady, it was Canadian Music Hall of Fame Inductee Deborah Cox.

If you are gay and you don’t know who she was, you may now give your membership card back. One of the biggest dance music chart toppers ever, Cox has also starred on Broadway’s Aida and The Bodyguard

We had to reserve our seats as soon as they were available. Cox’s perfor mance was electrifying, and she worked the crowd into a frenzy! My quick-thinking friend Luke Nield was able to get a selfie with her in the middle of a song!

Day 10: Valiant Lady in Barcelona and Friendships

At 8 am, we were all packed and ready to disembark. With a little extra time on our hands, we headed to the main dining area called The Galley to have a final meal knowing we most likely would see many of the new friends we met and could say good bye. One perk of traveling on gay cruises and gay-friendly lines is meet ing amazing LGBTQ people, and over the years, we have had the honor of befriending many outstanding men

One of my new friends in particular, Andy Green, stood out. Green argu ably was the first person to successful ly negotiate public access to private networks, thus, giving birth to the internet as we know it today. Green is a successful technology innovator and recently developed the potentially lifesaving app, MyRadar, which tracks and informs in real-time local severe and dangerous weather patterns.

After 11 days, including flight time, I can check coastal Spain off my bucket list. I feel very fortunate to experience firsthand the history, culture, and peo ple of this beautiful country. I am also glad that we chose to do so through a gay cruise company. And, of course, the Virgin Valiant Lady provided com fort, style, amenities, and activities as well as amazing food.

*John’s Final Tip: If you haven’t already done so, try cruising to your next destination, and perhaps sail with an LGBTQ cruise company or one that is known for being supportive of the LGBTQ community. You never know whom you are going to meet!

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

Dream Cruises for LGBTQ Travelers

Highlights from My Recent Cruise to Ireland, Amsterdam, and London

ter, syrup, and powdered sugar. I like mayonnaise okay, but might never have it again since it was everywhere on French fries, meatballs, and fish.

The flower mart showed the love of the Dutch for bulbs of all kinds, with more colors of tulips possible. Because we had a small car with a guide, it was easy to discover new wonders of this ancient, never bombed city.

civilians. There are words in the film; none are needed.

Off the Wahl

Amsterdam is one hip city. There are rainbow flags everywhere. The smell of pot wafts around cafés. There are gorgeous canals and funky barges with liveaboards tending attached gardens. People of all ages dress cool and eat rich. The local cuisine includes pancakes, dripping with but

This was part of a cruise I just took on a fabulous ship, The Voyager. It was my favorite combination: chic and comfortable. It had an ultimate desti nation of the Beaches at Normandy. It is no surprise that thoughts of World War II and other battles were in my mind.

In Amsterdam, I thought of the Jews rounded up and destroyed by the Nazis. I had visited the Anne Frank House before, an experience that always gives a human face to the evil. Seeing the Beaches of Normandy was a searing reminder of the courage and calamity as the Allies fought. The fine lecturer onboard gave a salute to Saving Private Ryan and The Longest Day. At one of the beaches are metal art sculptures of soldiers made from the rusty landing craft. There is a movie that surrounds them, showing various parts of the events that took place on and around June 6, 1944, from the soldiers to the

We moved on to Ireland, which has long been a favorite place of mine. It’s the people, their stories, the Emerald Isle filled with beauty and culture. It is the home of Oscar Wilde, my hero. His likeness is to be found all over shops in Dublin, Waterford, and Belfast. I purchased a set of his quotations on playing cards and two illustrated signs of one of many quips: “All of us are in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

There are two very popular sights for Dublin tourists: The Book of Kells and the Library at Oscar’s Trinity College (breathtaking); and the polit ical prison that makes our Alcatraz look like Disneyland: Kilmainham Gaol. The tour through the latter was worth it, sharing stories of both men and women who were held for insisting on a free Ireland and some times for stealing bread (very Les Misérables). I wouldn’t be me if I hadn’t reminded everyone of Parnell, the classic film starring Clark Gable and Myrna Loy about Irish politician Charles Stewart Parnell, who was imprisoned at Kilmainham Gaol. Everyone, even the guide, thought I was mad. It’s a good thing I’m used to that!

Considering the famine, coffin ships, political prisons, and The Troubles (an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted nearly three decades), the Irish survive and thrive. They are spirited and wonderous people.

If anyone needs to know how Waterford Crystal is made, I’m

Top 10 Tips When Booking Your Olivia Cruise

self in case of lost baggage, missed flights, or medical emergencies while traveling. It’s worth the peace of mind.

3. Make sure your passport isn’t expired.

your girl. Though no longer owned by the old Irish family, Waterford Crystal still offers a terrific tour, filled with examples of this delicate craft, in the lovely town Waterford.

Another engrossing tour was unex pected. Ever since Robert Ballard dis covered the wreck of the Titanic in 1985, I have been fascinated to see everything possible, from artifacts to historical photos. The Titanic Museum in Belfast has put it all together. With typical Irish humor, the locals like to say: “Hey, the Titanic was fine when she left here!”

Many of our cruisers missed this museum, thinking it showcased just more stuff on a subject they already knew. I am so glad we visited there. This is a deep dive into the ship, from its very beginnings (it was built in Belfast), through the sailing, the ice berg, the sinking and the trial after. Get ready to go through the forging of the steel and the workers memo ries, archival movies and dramatic recreations, details of every class, as well as actual letters from staff and passengers. The end of this detailed and immense experience is a com fortable surround sound theatre with Ballard’s discovery film. Of course, there’s the gift shop, but like the crys tal in Waterford, nobody pressures you into buying. They know you will.

A private guide was a very good idea in Belfast, since the official ones do not talk of The Troubles. According to our wonderful local, The Troubles between the Catholics and the Protestants are still alive and on fire in Belfast. I asked him about Kenneth Branagh’s recent film Belfast and he said everyone has seen it. But he did not like it. “It did

not go far enough,” he told me.

“There was much more violence.” He went on to show us the iron gates dividing the neighborhoods, still closed and locked at nine at night. There is still an ongoing bat tle, he said, and that will continue as the children are also taught it. The good news, he shared, is that within five years there will be independence for Ireland. Then two or three years later, Scotland.

People are beginning to travel again. See you on the road.

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

An Olivia cruise ship at sea

For nearly five decades, Olivia’s mis sion has been to provide safe and cel ebrating spaces for lesbians and LGBTQ+ women. And today, that mission continues. Olivia is the lead ing travel company for lesbians and LGBTQ+ women, having produced well over 300 trips for more than 350,000 women.

From large cruises to resorts, intimate riverboats to adventure vacations, the company always charters the entire ship or resort so that guests can always feel free to be themselves. Exceptional entertainment, friendly personalized service from Team Olivia, bucket list destinations, and friendships that last a lifetime are just some of the highlights guests will find on an Olivia vacation.

Follow these tips to make the most out of your Olivia trip:

1. Talk to an Olivia Travel Consultant.

You can book online at any time, but you can also talk to an Olivia Travel Consultant who will be happy to answer any questions. They can help you select the cabin that best fits your needs and your budget. They can also set you up with a payment plan and recommend which travel insurance coverage is best for you. Not ready to book just yet? Your consultant can put a courtesy hold on a cabin so you can talk it over with your partner ... or better yet, if it’s a surprise, they can make sure we keep it a secret (at least until embarkation day).

2. Buy travel insurance.

You’ve earned your vacation. Safeguard your investment, whether you buy travel insurance through Olivia or on your own. Protect your

If you’re sailing to an international destination, it’s always a good idea to bring a passport, even if it’s not required for the ports you’ll be visit ing. If you ever need an emergency flight home, it will be much easier to book if you have your passport on hand. Also make sure that it hasn’t expired and is valid for at least six months after your cruise ends.

4. Pack smart.

Olivia cruisers have all sorts of tips and tricks to share. Some favorites include bringing magnets to attach Olivia’s daily program to your cabin wall or decorations to spruce up your door with pictures and other memen tos. Towel clips will stop your beach towel from flying off your lounger on a breezy day. Packing cubes are per fect for squeezing one more theme night outfit into your luggage. Hanging shoe bags store toiletries vertically and keep your bathroom clutter free.

5. Put medications in your carry-on and important

documents in a folder

Stay prepared and organized by packing your medications (including an extra week’s supply) and valuables in your carry-on and your important documents all in one folder. Keep your cruise ticket and passport close at hand as you may have to show them a few times during embarka tion. Depending on your itinerary, you may also need to carry your pass port or other documents with you when you go ashore.

6. Join the Olivia Facebook Group for your cruise.

Every Olivia trip has a Facebook group. Be sure to join as it’s a great way to make new friends even before you step on board. Stay connected, get insider tips from seasoned Olivia travelers, and share in the excitement of your upcoming vacation!

7. Arrive a day or two ahead of your cruise departure.

Plan to arrive at least a day ahead of the sail date, especially if you are

flying. Arriving early helps ensure that you don’t miss the boat (literally). Plus, it allows you to shake off any jet lag and rest up before embarkation day. Olivia provides host hotels with preferential rates for our guests. Be sure to book early since Olivia room blocks can sell out quickly.

8. Get to know your ship.

Familiarize yourself with the deck layout and take a virtual tour. On embarkation day, walk along the decks and take yourself on a tour of the ship. Scout out some favorite spots, including any quiet corners in case you need some downtime or a private space to soak in all of the Olivia excitement around you.

9. Be prepared to celebrate.

Come as you are and indulge in the entire Olivia experience—from incredible entertainment and signa ture programming to community and camaraderie 24/7. Be prepared to

Dream Cruises for LGBTQ Travelers

Celebrity Cruises for

Pride Party at Sea, LGBTQ+ Caribbean Cruise, Same-Sex Weddings

Celebrity Cruises has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ+ commu nity. Celebrity, for example, has been the presenting sponsor for Miami Beach Pride for several years. In January 2018, Celebrity became the first major cruise line to host the first ever legal same-sex marriage at sea: the wedding of Francisco Vargas and Benjamin Gray. The fleet’s captains officiate such ceremonies, creating an unforgettable experience for couples and their guests alike.

Celebrity has won an LGBTQ+ Friendly Travel Company of the year honor at the TTG Travel Awards, and has frequently won the Best Large Ship Cruise Line for LGBTQ+ Passengers at the Cruizie Awards. It has also won the Gold Award for Best Cruise Line for LGBTQ Passengers at the Travvy Awards.

Next year promises to be another award-worthy one for Celebrity in terms of LGBTQ offerings. Here are just a few:

VACAYA Caribbean Cruise on the Celebrity Reflection

Sailing February 12–19, 2023, for 7 nights from convenient and gay friendly Fort Lauderdale on the beau tifully appointed Celebrity Reflection, VACAYA is taking guests to 5 differ ent countries to celebrate their 5th Birthday! In honor of 5 years, guests will experience the very best of the U.S., Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Grand Cayman.

VACAYA charters the entire ship for LGBT+ guests and dazzles with starstudded onboard entertainment that has been called out in other press for being “packed with top-tier entertain ers—a hallmark of the brand, which has quickly risen to best-in-class for queer travelers. With this charter cruise, VACAYA and Celebrity will offer the sale of unlimited beverage packages.

Pride Party at Sea 2023

The Pride Party at Sea Flagship, Celebrity Edge, will kick-off the Fifth annual Pride Party at Sea during its June 10, 2023, sailing. The party will take place in tandem across the award-winning Celebrity fleet, with each ship “handing off the party baton” to the next to keep the festivi ties running across hemispheres and time zones.

A variety of multi-generational LGBTQ+ focused programming will take place throughout the month of June. Together, Celebrity officers,

staff, and guests around the world will participate in the cruise line’s signa ture Pride programming.

To learn more about what is in store at Celebrity for 2023, the San Francisco Bay Times reached out to LaTonya Lawson, a Regional Marketing Leader for the company.

San Francisco Bay Times: We have been hearing a lot of buzz about Celebrity’s sailings to the Mexican Riviera that continue through April 21, 2023. What is new about them?

LaTonya Lawson: For the first time, Celebrity’s stunning Solstice ship is coming to California—departing Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera. This is such a great opportunity to experience destinations including Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlán. Right now, we have incred ible rates starting at just $399 per per son—based on double occupancy.

San Francisco Bay Times: For those who have never been on a Celebrity Cruise, what can they expect?

LaTonya Lawson: We sail to amaz ing destinations including Europe, Asia, South America, Alaska, the Caribbean, and, of course, the afore mentioned Mexican Riviera. Our ships are impeccably designed. Every space, every view—created for the ultimate onboard experience— all brought to you by a

team of world-class interior designers, stylists, and landscape artists.

We serve exquisite culinary experi ences. Our menus are inspired by our destinations and crafted with locally sourced ingredients by our Michelinstarred Chef Cornelius Gallagher.

Casual or fancier, from the main din ing to the themed restaurants, your experience will be so much more than a meal.

For the past 9 years, Celebrity Cruises has received the coveted Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence—a first in the industry, making us the most awarded wine collection at sea.

San Francisco Bay Times: What about Celebrity’s entertainment and service?

LaTonya Lawson: Our entertain ment onboard is transformative.

Unpredictable. The kind of experi ences that keep you on the edge of your seat or at the top of your game: casinos, art galleries, a theater that is a technological masterpiece. Bars, lounges, and world-class shopping— all await you!

Our service is unrivaled—and world renown. From our stateroom atten dants and waiters to our certified sommeliers, our onboard team’s mis sion is to spoil you with their attentive service.

We are focused on the well-being of our guests and have incorporated des tination-inspired treatments from some of the world’s most influential wellness leaders. Onboard, you will

find many next-level experiences to help you relax and rejuvenate.

When it comes to your accommoda tions, we pride ourselves with creating luxurious living spaces and a dreamy coziness including our signature bed ding, eco-friendly bath products, and sumptuous towels.

Your journey can be effortless and even more enjoyable with drinks, WiFi, and tips all included. Book the Retreat and enjoy the most spectacu lar suites where our best amenities are always included: premium drinks, premium WiFi, prepaid tips, credit for shore excursions, and an onboard credit to spend on anything more you’d like.

San Francisco Bay Times: You mentioned the impeccable design of Celebrity’s ships. What’s new in this regard?

LaTonya Lawson: Celebrity intro duced a new series of ships that marked the turning point of design. Starting with Celebrity Edge, our new ships have revolutionized how a ship can move you ... not only to from one destination to another but move your soul. Give you goosebumps. From the incredible Magic Carpet to the unique outward facing design, these ships break from tradition, the status quo, and any preconceived notion about cruising.

Created by a team of world-renown designers, the ships have elements that have been taken to the edge of possibilities. With sailings to Europe and Caribbean itineraries, our new series includes Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, and the highly anticipated Celebrity Ascent https://www.celebritycruises.com/

Falling into Fall

In Case You Missed It

(Editor’s Note: As Joanie Juster shares, this article marks the oneyear anniversary of her column. Her dedication to the LGBTQ community and the ongoing fight for social justice has already made a significant positive difference. She is a skilled journalist who genuinely cares about the people and subjects she writes about. We are grateful that she is a member of the San Francisco Bay Times team. To learn more about just some of her many achievements, read this resolution issued by the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women: https://tinyurl.com/msasaasw )

I’m taking a break this week from rants against those who would under mine our democracy, take away our rights and freedoms, and stifle the open exchange of ideas. Instead, it’s time to get out the vote, go see Juanita: 30 Years of MORE!, enjoy the last of the season’s street fairs, and hey, I’m celebrating the first anniver sary of this column!

Countdown to Election Day: GOTV

Election Day is less than four weeks away, and, as you have probably heard, everything is at stake. Everything.

Francisco’s own Juanita MORE!’s work throughout the decades, truly is a must-see event: a fabu lously colorful, gloriously abundant, jaw-droppingly glamorous collec tion, stunningly presented, at the San Francisco Art Commission’s Main Gallery in the War Memorial Building (401 Van Ness Ave.) through November 12. Go see it, and enjoy this extravagant, elegant, thoughtprovoking celebration of a largerthan-life icon in our community.

celled—it was merely rescheduled to Sunday, October 15. And more good news: the route will now culminate at the 2nd Annual Bearrison Street Fair, bringing together two wellloved community events.

LeatherWalk 2022, which benefits the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District’s mission of keeping South of Market queer and kinky, is nor mally the official kick-off for San Francisco’s Leather Week, which cul minates one week later at the Folsom Street Fair. But the rain necessitated a change of plans.

Instead, LeatherWalk will be held on Sunday, October 15, commencing at 11 am in Civic Center Plaza, directly across from City Hall. Participants will stop at several historic locations and watering holes along the route, culminating at the second annual Bearrison Street Fair at Harrison and 11th Streets, which will take place from 12 to 6 pm.

I’m not going to tell you how to vote. But I am telling you that you must vote! And not just vote, but know what you are voting for (and against), and why.

Do your homework. Research the candidates and the issues. Find out what issues and candidates align most closely with your values. Learn which candidates are out there fight ing for your rights, and support them in any way you can. The Victory Fund is one good place to start; they provide support for LGBTQ+ candi dates across the country: https://victoryfund.org/

And if you can, help others to vote. There are organizations out there fighting hard against the disenfran chisement of voters, by challeng ing laws that limit access to the polls, and by, quite literally, helping voters get to the polls. One such organiza tion is Vote Riders. Since every state has different rules for voter identi fication, and means of voting, Vote Riders helps voters make sure they have the tools to vote in their state: https://www.voteriders.org/

Let’s all pitch in and help. There is too much at stake to sit this one out.

MORE!

The term “must-see” may have become a cliche, but sometimes it really is justified, as in the case of Juanita: 30 Years of MORE! The exhibit, which celebrates San

Thirty years ago, the persona we have come to know as Juanita MORE! was born when renowned New York City drag queen, Glamamore (aka “Mr. David”), put Juanita in drag for the first time. Glamamore’s work is well-repre sented in this exhibit, as he has been the exclusive designer of all of Juanita’s gorgeous, distinctive gowns since 1992. The exhibit includes gowns, over 40 commissioned art works, photographs, posters, jewelry (oh, the jewelry!), and other artifacts from the three decades of Juanita’s career as an activist, drag persona, fashion icon, community leader, phi lanthropist, DJ, chef, and mentor.

Thoughtfully curated by trans art ist and educator Marcel Pardo Ariza, the exhibit isn’t just eye candy. It is also a celebration and examina tion of Juanita’s work as an outspo ken and tireless advocate for queer and trans rights who has raised over $1 million over the years for orga nizations including the GLBT Historical Society, Our Trans Youth, Q Foundation, Queer Lifespace, the Transgender Law Center, and more. Other projects include Juanita’s List on Facebook, an inclusive group that helps members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community find rental housing opportunities in the Bay Area, and her email newsletters are thoughtful, informative sources of news pertinent to the community, and often contain well-chosen calls to action. The list of good works goes on and on, but Juanita gives credit to the members of her chosen family for who she is and what she accom plishes: “I’ve never claimed complete ownership of Juanita’s realization or activism. Instead, I’ve been the vehi cle that brought her to life through the work of many talented artists, nonprofits, and a community I con sider my chosen family. And this exhibition is my loads of love letters to all of them.”

Several ancillary events are planned in connection with the exhibit, including a Juanita MORE! Birthday Bash on Friday, October 28, 7 pm, in the SFAC Main Gallery. Halloween attire is required. Come celebrate 30 Years of MORE!

https://tinyurl.com/JuanitaM

October 15 = LeatherWalk + Bearrison

The badly-needed rainstorm of September 18 washed out many planned events. But the good news is that LeatherWalk 2022, which was scheduled for that day, wasn’t can

Bearrison Street Fair is a collabo ration between two beloved orga nizations: The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the Bears of San Francisco. Billed as “a fair for every Bear,” Bearrison Street Fair creates a fun, creative event meant to be inclu sive, supportive, and welcoming for all members of the adult LGBTQ+ community. Bearrison promotes body positivity for all and builds a bear scene by representing a diverse arena of cultures.

Sounds like quite a party, so enjoy both events!

For LeatherWalk info: https://sfleatherdistrict.org/

For Bearrison info: https://www.bearrison.org/

A Milestone

This time last year I started getting calls from the publishers of the San Francisco Bay Times, Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas. They had this crazy idea that they wanted me—a straight ally—to write for their paper. I kept deflecting them, argu ing that I was not a trained journal ist, that I was not a writer, that I had never done anything even remotely like writing a column for publication.

But since they are exceedingly per suasive, and basically wouldn’t take no for an answer, I sat down and started writing. The column title I inherited was “In the News,” so I tried looking around the commu nity, seeking information on news and events. After a couple of months, I threw my hands up in the air and exclaimed, “I’m not a reporter! I don’t know how to do this!” But they wouldn’t let me quit.

Property Listings

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A Prediction for Post-Election Markets, No Tea Leaves Required

Two years in, folks have had enough time to form an opinion about the President and they generally don’t like what they see so give the out-ofoffice party more seats. Of course, the telenovela-worthy plot twists of the last few months might mean this midterm goes against the grain.

Republican party takes one or both houses?

Money Matters

Just outside Placerville when you’re heading up to South Lake Tahoe is a hard-to-miss Paul Bunyan statue towering over a tiny enclave of busi nesses. Cool as that is, I’m more intrigued by the psychic advertised on a big white sign with red lettering. I’ve always wonder about the cus tomers. Are they mostly townspeople seeking clarity about beaus, life deci sions, and lost loved ones? Or tourists wondering if they should buy an Epic ski pass this year?

It’s human nature to want answers to questions that weigh on us. And a big unknown right now is what the mid term elections will bring. How will the markets react and how does that impact your portfolio?

Rather than turn to a crystal ball, I think it’s more apt to look at the past to predict what generally happens in midterm years. It’s well known that the markets hate uncertainty and the months prior to an election are full of anxiety and conjecture. That could be why Year 2 of a president’s term has proven over the years to create greater variability of returns than in other years.1 And that market volatil ity makes sense when you think about everything that goes on.

Not much legislation gets done in the lead-up to an election. Twoyear terms mean House representa tives are back home campaigning for their re-election, and there are also 35 Senate seats up for grabs this year. With the current 50–50 split in the upper chamber, each race takes on greater importance.

The sidetracked legislation in mid term years includes federal spend ing bills that fund things such as research, military budgets, and more. That can also mean less money fun neling into businesses from gov ernment contracts. So, everybody’s preoccupied and nobody’s happy during this time, which helps explain why Qs 2 and 3 in midterm years are historically the only two quar ters that the market shows negative returns out of the 16 in a presiden tial cycle.1

After the election results are known, the markets typically calm down and legislation and spending begin to flow again. Organizations can now prepare for the congressional makeup that will rule the next two years and what they might be able to accomplish. Not surprisingly, the fourth quarter of Year 2 and the first quarter of Year 3 are historically the best-performing quarters out of a president’s 16.1

Which leads us to, what do the results potentially mean for you and your portfolio? What will likely hap pen if the Democratic party keeps complete control of Congress? Alternatively, what about if the

Who Gets Your Money?

You would need to work with the bank, get the beneficiary’s relevant information, and any other require ments of the institution. This can be stressful for you, and for your bene ficiary. It may even be difficult for them to receive the funds later on.

In all likelihood, neither your bank accounts nor investment accounts have a beneficiary option for the account. If you ever sat on hold with a bank, you know they are not the easiest to work with, let alone to con vince that you are entitled to some one else’s funds.

Here again, history gives us a pos sible likely answer. Since World War II, we have had a divided gov ernment 60% of the time, a united Republican administration 11% of the time, and a united Democratic administration 29% of the time. On average during these years, the S&P 500 has delivered a 7.9% return with a divided government, a 12.9% return with all Republicans and a 9.9% return with all Democrats. 2

Of course, the stock market is dif ferent from Main Street, so GDP is probably better than stocks for dem onstrating what’s really happen ing, particularly because it takes employment and hiring trends into account. Again, since WWII, GDP consistently shows an upward trend, growing an average of 2.7% with divided administrations, 2.8% with Republican control, and 4.0% with Democratic control. 2

So really what history shows us is that, regardless of who is in control of the executive and legislative branches of government in Washington, the stock market and GDP typically still grow.

I hope this knowledge frees you from ever thinking about how a candi date can beef up your portfolio and instead lets you focus on supporting those who advance the social issues you care about most. Because history demonstrates that it’s likely you will win economically whoever wins the election. But socially, legislative con trol can have more impact on your life.

So stop worrying about the election. There, now you can use your psychic reading for more important issues.

Have you ever counted how many accounts you have? These may include bank accounts, brokerage accounts, insurance policies, 401k, pension, crypto, and more. Do you have all the statements?

The chances are high that you have many accounts, and even higher that those accounts do not have an up-todate beneficiary designated. Perhaps you want to change a beneficiary designated? What does a beneficiary designated even mean?

Beneficiary Designated

If you have opened a retirement account, then you have probably des ignated a beneficiary. This is the per son who ultimately receives your account funds after you pass away. If you have designated someone, do you still want them to receive everything one day? You may also consider what happens if they pass before you, or if they have already deceased, whom you would name next.

Don’t Lose Easy Access to Your Money

Our firm has experienced too many cases of beneficiaries searching for lost bank accounts. “I think there was an account at ... ” and, “I saw a statement from ... ” are amongst the most used phrases we hear.

The original owner of those accounts worked hard for those funds, and they probably had plans to give it away one day. Failure to identify, des ignate, and notify by the owner can result in lost funds, money sent to the state, and even frustrated loved ones.

If someone passes away with a Last Will, but doesn’t provide instruc tions about assets, the beneficiaries may miss out on those assets. This is in addition to the probate that will ensue. Probate occurs even if there is a Will, and it will take an average of at least 9 months to complete and with costs of 5–7% of the total value of the estate.

Whom Do You Choose?

The obvious answer is that choos ing someone saves everyone a lot

of stress, and money. But whom do you choose, and how do you choose them?

A popular option to plan for your assets is to create a Revocable Living Trust. This Trust allows you to name beneficiaries to all of your assets and easily change them if needed. You will also avoid probate! Best of all, it minimizes stress to you, your loved ones, and ensures your wishes are met.

Your next step is to contact a quali fied estate planning attorney for an initial consultation about trusts and beneficiary designations. Our office can be reached by calling our phone number—415-905-0215—or by scanning the QR code in our ad in this paper. Our firm is offering free initial assessments with our staff for all estate planning matters! We want you to be prepared, and have a plan that works for your future.

Statements In Compliance with California Rules of Professional Conduct: The materi als in this article have been prepared by Jay Greene for educational purposes only and are not legal advice. This information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Individuals should consult with an estate planning and elder law attorney for up-todate information for their individual plans.

Jay Greene, Esq., CPA, is the founder of Greene Estate, Probate, & Elder Law Firm based in San Francisco, and is focused on help ing LGBT individuals, couples, and families plan for their future, pro tect their assets, and preserve their wealth. The firm, with scheduling available online, can be reached at www.AssetProtectionBayArea.com

Message from Leadership

More and more orga nizations in the United States have started introducing gender pro nouns into the simple, everyday but highly visible parts of their work-life such as email signatures and LinkedIn profiles. Why is this important?

Pronouns are what we use daily to selfidentify and signal our identity to oth ers. We use gender pronouns to shift the emphasis from a biological focus, which says “this person is a male or a female,” toward a gender-based identity, which says “man, woman, neither, both—or some where in between.”

This notion isn’t always easy to grasp, but it can be done. For example, I am a baby boomer who can be traditional in my thinking. I remember having a conversa tion with one of my daughters about the way she wrote her papers without specific pronouns. I said to her, “You can’t write ‘they is’ in your paper—it’s grammatically incorrect,” and she quickly responded with, “Yes, we write this way now, and here’s why.”

That moment symbolizes that we are all constantly learning. Although I spend much of my time educating others on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) prin ciples, I don’t get it right all the time. We all need to be open to consistently learning and trying again when we make a mistake or cause harm.

Using gender pronouns is a great signal to the world (internally in the workplace and externally to clients and stakeholders) that this workplace recognizes and acknowl

Using Gender Pronouns in the Workplace: It Matters

edges people’s identities. At the core, peo ple want to be seen and heard. Especially in the workplace, employees want to know that they work for organizations that rec ognize who they are and that they matter.

It’s that simple.

Recently, I had a conversation with some one about DEI strategies and implemen tation because the company she works for decided that it was not going to use gen der pronouns in its email signatures, nor allow individuals to make changes them selves. Why? They said it would be too dif ficult to manage the individual preferences throughout the company. Seeing iden tity as just an individual preference is trou bling. Systemic change often starts with the individual. This reluctance to cor rect systemic harm is the type of attitude that holds back positive cultural change in workplaces across America.

A better response, “Yes, let’s do the small things to signal change is possible. Yes, transformation takes time and some changes take more effort than others. But eventually, it will become so natural we won’t even think about it.”

After all, “everything seems impossible until it isn’t.”

I believe it’s our responsibility as employ ers to shoulder the burden of gender iden tification and systemic change. The power of mattering and belonging is seeing our employees as they want to be seen, not as we want to see them. If we collectively care about our workplaces, our colleagues, and the culture of our organizations, we need to work on educating ourselves about gen der pronouns and why they are important.

GGBA Member Spotlight

Greg Wieting, the founder of PRISMA, helps clients heal the anxiety, depres sion, chronic pain, and trauma they can’t think or talk their way out of. He developed the PRISMA framework while recovering from his own chronic pain and more rooted in trauma.

GGBA: Please tell us about PRISMA.

Greg Wieting: I help leaders, entre preneurs, and founders heal the anxiety, depression, and chronic pain that is often symptomatic of unresolved trauma. For two decades I’ve helped hundreds of cli ents reduce or eliminate their dependence on antidepressants, anxiety, pain, and sleep meds. We address the unique caus ative factors at play beneath your pain— namely the unresolved trauma that causes

How do we introduce gender pronouns in the workplace?

There are several ways to introduce gender pronouns in the workplace.

Asking a new colleague, “What pronouns do you use?” is an invitation. It says, “I see you for who you are, not how I expect you to show up.” When making introduc tions, say, “This is Chris; Chris uses they and theirs for pronouns.” That’s powerful. Allowing employees to use preferred gen der pronouns in email signatures, in Zoom names, or LinkedIn profiles is a simple change. These external signals indicate an inclusive and equitable workplace.

A workplace where colleagues make the effort to be inclusive is a place that pro vides psychological safety for every indi vidual in the organization. It is a place that is open and honest and allows every indi vidual to bring their whole selves to work every day.

With this in mind, I urge organizations to be open about gender identification, to work towards being more equitable and inclusive, and to create an environment that allows individuals to show up every day at their best.

Nancy Geenen (she/her/hers) is Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Golden Gate Business Association, the SF Bay Area’s LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. Geenen is also Principal of Flexability, a workplace equity & inclusion consult ing firm. Flexability is a certified LGBT Business Enterprise and can be reached at https://www.flexability.com/

Greg Wieting, Founder of PRISMA

inflammation, compromises immune func tion, stagnates emotion, fogs thought, and creates hormonal imbalance.

I am the founder of PRISMA—a frame work overlaying trauma, neuroscience, and energy medicine with somatic and mindfulness-based practices. I developed PRISMA while healing my own anxi ety, depression, and chronic pain rooted in trauma. This included unraveling a severe spinal curvature and standing three inches taller today!

I help leaders reclaim the fulfillment inside their purpose by resolving the emp tiness and overwhelm of burnout so they can lead with more courage, freedom, and aliveness.

GGBA: Why did you decide to create PRISMA and your business?

Greg Wieting: The world is hungry for healing. Trauma can debilitate us and make us feel empty and hollow. It can spi ral us into overwhelm and tie us up in knots of alienation. Trauma can suffocate and swallow us whole. It can strangle us in unexplained pain and rob us of a sense of hope and possibility.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. I help you mine the gold of unresolved trauma and transmute pain into a life of purpose, place, and meaning.

Tuesday, October 11

LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance - Fall Ice Cream Social 4– 6 pm

The Castro Fountain, 554 Castro Street, SF https://tinyurl.com/bdhw62je

Tuesday, October 11 October 2022 Make Contact 6–8 pm

Brio Financial Group, 19 Sutter Street, SF https://tinyurl.com/2nyt9bfd

Monday, October 17 New Member Orientation

6 pm Virtual via Zoom https://tinyurl.com/3jhc3k46

Tuesday, October 25 How to Do Business with Corporate America 12–1:30 pm Virtual via Zoom https://tinyurl.com/475fxh44

Thursday, November 3 Marketing in a Digital World 10:30 am–12 pm Virtual via Zoom https://tinyurl.com/yckuahme

Monday, November 7 Accor Diverse Procurement Connections 9 am–12 pm Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason Street, SF https://tinyurl.com/mu7zu9ut

Wednesday, November 9 12th Annual California Cable Supplier Diversity Symposium 9 am–2 pm Virtual https://tinyurl.com/3jf88jj2

Many of my clients find me after years (sometimes decades) of western medicine, talk therapy, and try ing every other treatment under the sun without get ting better. I want you to get better and I know that you can.

It’s time to stop suppressing symptoms so your body can express health. This is where I come in. If you’ve exhausted yourself chasing symptoms and you’re done with cookie-cutter approaches, I’m here to help. Healing is a commitment to defy odds. Healing helps you expand the aperture of possibility so you can break through the upper limits of anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.

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

Greg Wieting: My friend, mentor, and colleague Amy Cooper was a tremendous influence in both the development of my craft and my business. She had advanced training in trauma treatment and mental health and studied somatic, developmental, and psy chodynamic approaches as well as the mindful prac tice of qigong.

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

Greg Wieting: I’m new to the GGBA. I’m excited to be a part of the world’s first LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.

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

Greg Wieting: Big vision needs big support. Get support from other industry experts. Don’t go it alone. Stay connected to your values. Don’t lose sight of your why.

2261 Market Street, No. 309

SaN FraNciSco ca 94114

PhoNe: 415-601-2113

525 Bellevue aveNue oaklaNd ca 94610

e Mail: editor@sfbaytimes.com www.sfbaytimes.com

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

The Bay Times is proud to be the first and only LGBTQ newspaper in San Francisco to be named a Legacy Business, recognizing that it is a longstanding, community-serving business that is a valuable cultural asset to the city.

dr. Betty l. SullivaN

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Beth greeNe, Michael delgado, JohN SigNer, aBBy ZiMBerg

kate lawS BuSiNeSS MaNager

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J.h herreN techNology director

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CONTRIBUTORS

WRITeRS

Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Patrick Carney, Carolyn Wysinger, Leslie Sbrocco, Heather Freyer, Kate Kendell, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Joanie Juster, Julie Peri, Jennifer Kroot, Robert Holgate, Eduardo Morales, Dennis McMillan, Tim Seelig, John Chen, Rafael Mandelman, Tabitha Parent, Jewelle Gomez, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Bill Lipsky, Elisa Quinzi, Liam Mayclem, Karen Williams, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Derek Barnes, Marcy Adelman, Jan Wahl, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron, Michele Karlsberg, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Howard Steiermann, Andrea Shorter, Lou Fischer, Brett Andrews, David Landis

PhOTOgRaPheRS

Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Joanie Juster, Darryl Pelletier, Vincent Marcel

aDVeRTISINg

The Status of Older Latinx LGBTQ+ Individuals in the U.S.

their ability to cope and manage the social injustices they face.

Nuestra Voz

Little is written about older Latinx LGBTQ+ individuals in the U.S. The serious omissions foster a sense of invisibility that, in turn, nega tively impact this community and its access to resources. While some older Latinx LGBTQ+ people were born in the U.S. and developed their pri mary identities here, others migrated to the U.S. under varying conditions of obtaining documentation or of being undocumented.

Many migrants were in situations that were life-threatening, necessi tating their leaving their countries of origin. The cultural characteristics and acculturation that affect Latinx individuals in general also apply to Latinx LGBTQ+ elders, with them being less likely to have social sup port and more likely to experience victimization and neglect for not only being Latinx but also for being LGBTQ+. This facilitates conditions and symptoms of trauma, affecting

Additionally, Latinx LGBTQ+ elders face challenges impact ing the general aging U.S. popula tion, such as concerns over health needs, affordable living conditions, and finances. Many Latinx LGBT seniors lose friends and support sys tems while having limited resources to manage problems faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, monkey pox (MPX) outbreak, and ongoing long-term HIV/AIDS epidemic. Selfidentification as LGBTQ+ can itself pose difficulties for those who would prefer such information to remain personal and private.

Historical events can be triggers that shape preferred coping styles in addressing trauma. The major ity of reported LGBTQ+ mur ders in the world occur in Latin America (IACHR, 2015). According to Heartland Alliance, over 90% of acts of violence are directed toward gay males. Hence, those who migrate to the U.S. seeking political asylum are, in fact, trying to stay alive and avoiding being killed in their places of origin.

Recent traumatic events impacting Latinx LGBTQ+ individuals often cause such seniors to recollect their own personal past traumas and expe riences, leading to distress and great anxiety. A recent example of an his torical triggering event is the imple mentation of federal immigration policies that have mistreated Latin Americans who are seeking asy

IN MEMORIAM

José Carlos Ascencio - M Garza

Longtime activist José Carlos Acencio, better known as M Garza, passed away on September 27, 2022, at 4:30 pm. Many knew her as Mama Garza and head of the House of Garza in San Francisco. She was very active in the city’s movement for LGBTQ+ rights and made herself avail able to raise funds through her entertainment talents.

Originally from Lima, Peru, she worked at the Ballet Municipal de Lima, the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and Bridge HIV. As the founder of the House of Garza, she frequently fought for LGBTQ+ rights while being a proud member of the Latinx LGBTQ+ community. She will be sorely missed. May she rest in peace.

Eduardo Morales, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus, retired Distinguished Professor, and current adjunct professor at Alliant International University. He is a licensed psychologist and the Executive Director of AGUILAS, which he helped to found. AGUILAS is an award-win ning program for Latinx LGBTQ+. Of Puerto Rican decent, Morales has received numerous honors including being named a Fellow of 12 Divisions of the American Psychological Association.

lum in the U.S. Another example is the mass shooting that occurred on June 12, 2016, at the Pulse night club in Orlando, Florida, and consid ered the worst in U.S. history at that time. This mass shooting resulted in 49 being killed and 53 being wounded, most of whom were Latinx LGBTQ+. Many foreign-born Latinx people fled their countries seeking safety and fleeing persecu tion in societies that overlook their rights and social justice for those who are LGBTQ+.

Despite changes in policy by the U.S. Surgeon General, Immigration and Naturalization Service officials con tinue to harass suspected LGBTQ+ people at the border. The situations can be traumatic and are usually unaddressed when migrants arrive and settle in the U.S. For Latinx LGBTQ+ elders, the sense of alien ation due to ethnicity and age is therefore very marked. Many find themselves alone and feeling isolated, with many friends having moved away or died. Numerous services for the elderly in general—where one can find new friends, support, and participate in activities—have little to no training on issues facing elderly Latinx LGBTQ+ people.

In the 2013 National Hispanic Council on Aging report, a focus group participant was quoted as say ing, “I think there is a huge prob lem with older persons, aside from rejection. Nobody wants to get near or talk to an LGBT person, even if they are in the same place ... . There

is a great deal of rejection of old per sons. That is why those old men and women do not have support groups even among themselves.” Another participant said, “One of the great challenges that we have here is that you have the factor of being invisible in Los Angeles because ... of ageism ... and being old is not looked upon well, especially among men.”

San Francisco is fortunate to have the pioneering Openhouse nonprofit, which recently joined forces with On Lok for community day services. On October 12, a social event is planned and entitled Music from Mariachi Nueva Generación at 75 Laguna Courtyard in San Francisco from 2 to 3 pm. Openhouse ( https://www.openhousesf.org/ ) offers many other activities as well as social services. AGUILAS also warmly welcomes Latinx LGBTQ+ seniors to all of its program offerings: https://www.sfaguilas.org/

Eduardo Morales, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus, retired Distinguished Professor, and cur rent adjunct professor at Alliant International University. He is a licensed psychologist and the Executive Director of AGUILAS, which he helped to found. AGUILAS is an award-winning program for Latinx LGBTQ+. Of Puerto Rican decent, Morales has received numerous honors including being named a Fellow of 12 Divisions of the American Psychological Association.

GLBT Fortnight in Review

She’s Back!

Do you remember Kim Davis? Yes, you’re right. She’s the county clerk from somewhere in Kentucky who refused to conduct same-sex mar riages after the High Court ruled in our favor back in June, 2015. That’s over seven years ago, and that’s how long her various court cases have been meandering back and forth through our legal system thanks to her obsessive attorneys from the Liberty Counsel. On Thursday, September 29, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that Davis, who was sued for reject ing the marriage of two men, did not have qualified immunity from the lawsuit, since she should have been aware her actions were illegal.

Say what? Of course, she didn’t have qualified immunity—that’s the shield against personal liability quite rightly enjoyed by public servants who might inadvertently trespass on some one’s constitutional rights. But wasn’t that detail resolved many years ago?

After all, she has long since lost the original lawsuit, or at least I thought she had. Qualified immunity does not apply to a public servant who knowingly breaks the law, and in this case, Davis had been repeatedly told she was obliged to conduct same-sex marriages.

According to the Lexington Herald Leader, this is the second time that the Sixth Circuit delivered the bad news about qualified immunity. Normally, I would delve into such an anomaly. After all, most courts don’t allow you to raise the same issue after it has already been liti gated as part of the same case. Here, however, a wave of ennui compels me to ignore the inner workings of the

Davis case. It’s enough to know that she has lost whatever it was, and that she still awaits a jury trial on punitive damages. Oh, and Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel says he will ask the full Sixth Circuit to reconsider their recent ruling. Somehow, I doubt they’ll be up for that.

Fun Times

Before we leave the enthralling topic of qualified immunity, I was just noticing a petition for Supreme Court review in a case against the Parma, Ohio, police department.

The top cops over in Parma put a man in jail for three days after he created a Facebook page that made fun of the actual Parma police page.

The man, Anthony Novak, was charged with a felony, but eventu ally, he was acquitted by a jury and sued the police. However, the cops involved have successfully argued that they cannot be sued, because they believed their actions were legal, and Novak is now asking the High Court to decide the matter.

Novak had been charged with dis rupting the functions of the police department after several peo ple had phoned a (nonemergency) police number to complain about his Facebook page. It was later discov ered that none of the callers thought Novak’s page was the real deal, even though the grand jury was told that they were all confused by it. In other words, the Cuyahoga County pros ecutor lied in order to get an indict ment, and Novak arguably did not violate the statute against “disrupt ing” the police.

Novak’s page was only up for twelve hours before he recognized that the Parma authorities were coming after him, and he took it down. He only

posted six items, all of which were patently absurd and could not possi bly have been taken seriously by cit izens.

“Tuesday will be our official stay inside and catch up with the fam ily day in Parma!” one post read.

“The Parma Police Department has set this day to allow families to come together in an effort to reduce future crime by having children have well balanced communication with their families. Anyone’s [sic] seen out side their home from the hours of 12 pm–9 pm will be arrested. Thank you.”

Another suggested that restrictions against feeding homeless people were designed: “to have the homeless pop ulation eventually leave our city due to starvation.”

After the aforementioned U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit first ruled that the police lacked quali fied immunity in this case, the mat ter went back to federal court and came back to the Sixth Circuit on some other issue. At that point the appellate court ruled that the cops did, in fact, have immunity. (Please check out my earlier annoyance at the Sixth Circuit in the Davis case discussed above to understand why we will not be getting to the bot tom of this discrepancy.) Among the interested friends of the court was The Onion satiric newspaper, which wrote a pretty funny, but also serious, brief in support of Novak’s petition. Describing themselves as “the world’s leading news publication,” with a “daily readership of 4.3 trillion” that has “grown into the single most pow erful and influential organization in human history,” The Onion goes on to defend the First Amendment’s pro

tections for parody, and particularly for parody that targets governments or groups in authority, like the police.

Full of Foolish Song

So, what’s new this week, you ask? Well, I hadn’t realized that Herschel Walker has a conservative gay son, who supported him for a time but has recently turned against his wan nabe Senator father. In truth, there are a lot of things I hadn’t real ized about Herschel Walker before his candidacy, and I very much hope Mr. Walker will lose the elec tion and slip back into the shadows where I won’t have to learn any thing new about him ever again. The headline that grabbed me this time around read: “Gay Influencer Says GOP Candidate Dad Threatened to Kill Him and His Mom as Abortion News Breaks.” Okay then!

I see as well that a Catholic school in Indianapolis has gotten thumbs up from a district court after firing a lesbian guidance counselor, Shelly Fitzgerald, who had worked for the Roncalli High School for 15 years.

According to the judge’s ruling, during these 15 years, “Fitzgerald received overwhelmingly positive performance reviews ... [the prin cipal] did not believe he had ‘ever received more positive comments about an employee when seeking feedback than [he] did when getting feedback from folks about their work ... with Fitzgerald.’”

Nor did any of these performance reviews ever mention any religious or ministry activities associated with Fitzgerald’s work. Nonetheless, the court relied on a number of stock religious lines in Roncalli’s employ ment contracts to determine that

Fitzgerald was legally fired under the “ministerial exception.” That’s the exception, beefed up by the 7–2 High Court in 2020, that lets churches and religious organizations make hiring decisions based on faith. You don’t want to hire a Jewish guy to teach your Christian Sunday school class? Fine. But should you be allowed to fire your gay organist or your lesbian guidance counselor? Sam Alito says that’s fine too.

Oh, and Cuba has voted to legal ize same-sex marriage, which is nice. Are we allowed to go to Cuba these days? I’ve never been to many Caribbean islands, but Cuba seems particularly enticing just because it’s been off limits for my entire life time. I also can’t help thinking of those scenes in Guys and Dolls when Sky Masterson gets Sister Sarah to go to dinner with him, takes her to Havana and gets her drunk on what he calls milk punch. It comes in a coconut, so the audience knows it’s the Runyonesque version of a roofie, but because it’s a musical, it’s all fine with us. Plus, that girl needed to loosen up! There was a reason she’d “never been in love before.” She’d never gotten sloshed in Cuba with a handsome gambler before. Anyway, I’d like to go have dinner in Havana and drink something out of a coconut.

Kids These Days

Here’s another survey that shows the percentage of people who call them selves LGBTQ+ is continuing to rise, although part of me wonders whether or not that’s because we keep expanding our community acro nym. Also, once you stick a plus sign

Is Now the Law’ in Cuba!

ography Before Night Falls, which was also adapted into an opera and feature film.

6/26 and Beyond

“Love is now the law” was the jubi lant declaration of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on September 25 when Cuban voters overwhelm ingly approved marriage equality as part of a larger revision of the coun try’s family law in a national refer endum. The island nation is now the 34th in the world with the freedom to marry.

It’s difficult to overstate the sig nificance of this LGBTIQ rights victory. Years ago, in the first decades of the Fidel Castro regime, LGBTIQ Cubans faced widespread persecution and were forced into work camps for supposed “re-edu cation.” The massive 1980 Mariel Boatlift, in which thousands of gay people fled as the Castro regime sought to rid Cuba of gay people, brought international attention to the repression. The personal experi ence of the boatlift was documented in famed gay Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas’ acclaimed 1992 autobi

Following the recent vote, President DíazCanel proclaimed that “justice has been done,” and that passage of the new law helped “pay a debt to various generations of Cubans whose domestic plans had been waiting years for this law.” Díaz-Canel first supported marriage equality publicly four years ago in 2018 as “part of eliminating any type of discrimination in society,” not ing that Cuban society had undergone a “massive evolution of thought.” He led the charge to pass the referendum, which in addition to marriage equality authorizes LGBTIQ couples’ adoption of children, provides for surrogacy, strengthens rights of women and elders, and calls for household gender equality.

Fidel Castro’s niece Mariela Castro, a prominent queer rights supporter and director of the National Center for Sex Education, was also instrumental in mar riage equality and LGBTIQ adop tion rights becoming a reality in Cuba.

On election night, Castro echoed DíazCanel in a tweet: “Now love is law on the island of freedom ... . Long live the Cuban Revolution! Ratification of the most eman cipatory, fair, and beautiful law in the world, which regulates family law.”

Indeed, the victory makes Cuba the first communist country in the world with mar riage equality, evincing that the freedom to marry and LGBTIQ rights do not depend on any particular political or economic sys tem. They are a universal human right. Amendments to the Cuban Constitution in 2019 outlawed discrimination of any kind on the basis of gender, gender iden tity, or sexual orientation. Cuba is now one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to formal LGBTIQ legal rights.

Horizons Foundation Gala 2022

One of the highlights of the annual schedule of major LGBTQ nonprofit organizations, the Horizons Foundation Gala is known for its uplifting program, outstanding enter tainment, and meaningful socializing. For 2022, the gala was no exception as attendees enjoyed the elegant Fairmont and were inspired by the words of honorees Olga Talamante and Levi Strauss Foundation representatives. Artists from the Lak’ech Dance Academy presented a live performance, and auctioneer Michael Tate conducted the live auction and raffle. Congratulations to Executive Director Roger Doughty and the entire team of staff and volunteers.

We are cog nizant that Cubans, including LGBTIQ Cubans, do not enjoy free dom in all aspects of their lives, and recently crack downs on politi cal dissent have intensified in the face of widespread antigovernment protests. Some activists accuse the government of using the referendum in a cynical ploy to burnish Cuba’s interna tional image on human rights at a time of increased political repression.

We deplore political persecution in any form, but the notion that Cuba would use enactment of marriage equality and LGBTIQ adoption rights in a major break through for queer rights to improve its international reputation illuminates how far we have come as a movement. We wish more nations would do the same.

Some news outlets have also noted that gov ernment referenda in Cuba usually pass with 90 percent of the vote, indicating that 33 percent opposition was unusually high. Analysts attribute the opposition vote to evangelical Christians, Catholics, and some Cubans who simply wanted to register dis content with the government overall. But the fact that 33 percent of voters opposed the referendum suggests that the citizens felt free to vote their conscience and that a resounding two-thirds of Cubans truly embraced the historic change in favor of queer rights.

Today, we salute all LGBTIQ Cubans and their supporters, some of whom gave their lives for freedom. We honor their strength and perseverance. There are few sweeter words to a marriage equality activist than “love is now the law.”

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

GLBT Historical Society Incoming Executive Director Roberto Ordeñana Shares Priorities and Goals

Anyone who says there’s no future in the past hasn’t met Roberto Ordeñana, the incoming Executive Director of the GLBT Historical Society. We can learn from the past, he said, to build the future we want. History, as he put it, “inspires us to move for ward.”

Born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District, Ordeñana received his Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from San Francisco State University, where he majored in Human Sexuality Studies.

Soon after graduating, he joined the STOP AIDS Project, creating HIV prevention programs and working with Latinx gay, bisexual, and trans youth to effect change.

He continued his work at the SF LGBT Center, where he developed

arts and cultural programs while serving as director of community programs, direc tor of development and mar keting, and most recently as deputy executive director.

Now, in his new role, Ordeñana believes that we are at a pivotal moment in our history. He told me for the San Francisco Bay Times :

“Our hard-fought gains are under attack by political extremists who wish to force us back into the closet, lock us up in cages, or make us disappear altogether.”

The attacks on our community, par ticularly those who are most margin alized, mean that “now more than ever it is vital that we preserve and exhibit our queer history and our contributions to culture and society,” he added.

How do we do that? Ordeñana believes that one way our community

can “create a strong path forward” is to uncover, safeguard, and “share the histories of our movement for liberation.” Among his goals for the Historical Society is to establish a permanent, safe space for its collections, exhibits, and public programs: “a home for our history.”

Ordeñana also believes it is vital that we understand our history in all its diversity. He especially wants to determine “whose histories are we missing and how to fill in the gaps.” He intends to “work hard and dig deep” so the stories of marginalized groups, a vital part of our shared legacy, are preserved and that their “histories and experiences are widely heard and never forgotten.”

Whose history is it? Ordeñana plans to engage with the “broadest swath of community” he can, strengthen current relationships, build new ones and “do a lot of listening” in the days to come. He intends to have a “sustained engagement with the community” going forward.

Recognizing the work that has gone before, he has among his priorities the continuation of the capi tal campaign to create a permanent home for the GLBT’s archive, museum, and public forums and other events. He explained: “Now more than ever it is vital that we preserve and exhibit our queer history and our contri butions to culture and society.”

What about the future? Ordeñana believes the work of the GLBT Historical Society is vital because we need “to pre serve our history,” of course, but not only for its own sake. It is also important because we “learn and grow from our his tory” and we “learn from the past to build the future we want.”

Bill Lipsky, Ph.D., author of “Gay and Lesbian San Francisco” (2006), is a mem ber of the Rainbow Honor Walk board of directors.

Brett Andrews Reflects on His Decades of Service at PRC Following the Announcement of His Retirement

Positive Resource Center (PRC) has evolved from years of dedicated volunteers and professionals, try ing to address some of the problems that still confront our LGBTQ+ Community and City. From its earliest days as AIDS Benefits Counselors, through its merger with the AIDS Emergency Fund, PRC has served a vital role for those facing an AIDS diagnosis and needing to navigate the complex disability pro grams available.

More recently it has branched out to address the whole spectrum of challenges within homelessness, mental health, and/or drug addic

tion. Leading that organization has been the familiar and welcoming face of Brett Andrews, CEO for decades, who can often be seen at City Hall and wherever important decisions are being made that affect our LGBTQ+ Community, People of Color, and other important social causes. Brett just announced his retirement, so we posed some ques tions, asking him to reflect on his years of service at PRC and to share lessons learned along the way.

Donna Sachet: What are your memories of your first years at PRC?

Brett Andrews: In the first years of PRC, some of my fondest memo ries were attending the many grass roots fundraisers like the Bare Chest Calendar semi-finals at Powerhouse bar, Pride Brunch at Hotel Whitcomb, Dore Alley/Folsom Street Fair, and the Big Basket con test at the Edge. Yes, of course, there was often a sexy and titillat ing dynamic to the event, but it was

embedded in a shared commitment to raise money for PRC and many other deserving nonprofits. I had never experienced anything like it, and likely never will. I’m glad to have made those memories. A more difficult memory was based on my terrible sense of direction. Not only was I new to PRC, but I was new to San Francisco, as well. I was late for many-a-meeting around town. I apologize to all those I kept wait ing. I’ve gotten demonstrably bet ter (which still may not be saying much).

Donna Sachet: As you grew in this job, who were your men tors or guides along the way?

Brett Andrews: As for many, my mentors are a blend of those who have been in my life for as long as I can remember like my mom and my high school teacher, Ms. Underwood, who went the extra mile in pushing me to sign up for her British Literature class because she thought I would enjoy it, and I did. I learned to challenge myself to do something out side of my comfort zone. Along the way, at PRC, I had the opportunity to meet individuals like Robert Sass and the late Ambassador James C. Hormel. Over the years, they have served as mentors and real inspirations in my life. To me, they are shining examples of decent human beings and kindhearted gentleman.

Donna Sachet: What do you consider your finest accomplishments in these 20 years?

Brett Andrews: I would first have to say any of PRC’s accomplishments over that past 20 years are not mine—that would be quite an incomplete and inaccurate story. I can say that together, with a dedicated staff, committed board, and longstanding funders and volunteers, we have much in which to be proud. On a most fundamental level, we are still here— through recessions, pandemics, shifting political winds— consistently serving individuals who are most in need. We

The Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco continued a long and worthy tradition with Coronation XLVIII, The Black & White Ball at Grand Peterhof on Saturday, September 24, at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway on Van Ness. Grand Duke Scott Rice & Grand Duchess Bobby Friday carried out the color theme beautifully and inspired others as well, most notably Grand Duke Madd Dogg & Grand Duchess Miss Shugana in their coordinated checkerboard print ensembles, Grand Duchess MGM Grande in swirling zebra stripes, completed with matching gloves and jewelry, Empress Alexis Miranda in a black & white print and black & white hair, and Reigning Empress Ehra Amaya in an explosion of white organza dotted with black. Courts visiting from as far as Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada, as well as Queen Mother I of the Americas Nicole the Great, attended by a number of Heirs Apparent, were treated to lively entertainment, fantasy costumes, and all the usual pomp and circumstance. Many commented on the feeling of unity within the room and were awed by the $100,000 raised for charitable causes by the court. At long last, the results of the previous Saturday’s public vote were announced, followed by the crowning of the new Grand Duke Gregory Starr & Grand Duchess Kelly Rose. Watch these newest monarchs in the coming months for public appearances, hosted events, and busy fundraising.

Make plans now to check out Juanita: 30 Years of MORE!, a fabulous display of Mr. David couture creations for Juanita MORE! over the past three decades. The exhibit runs through November 12 and also includes photographs, awards, letters, and other memora bilia, truly a fitting tribute to the work of these two San Francisco icons. We got a sneak glimpse at the Press Preview, but Friday night’s Opening Night was packed so tight one could barely move! We applaud Curator Marcel Pardo Ariza and the San Francisco Art Commission’s Main Gallery for creating this display and demonstrating once again the leadership of this City in recognizing its out

standing citizens and their remarkable achievements. Special eve nings are scattered through the length of the exhibit, so plan your viewing accordingly.

Friday’s Divas & Drinks at The Academy again stretched the capacity restraints of the club as we celebrated CHEER SF, the Transgender Law Center, and Jeopardy! stars as specialty Bacard í cocktails flowed, Extreme Pizza was devoured, and the crowd grew. First, recent cover model and run ner Cal Calamia and Ariel Robbins shared informa tion about their work with transgender children through their organization 2 Hot 4 Hoodies (2H4H). The individual stars of the night were Amy Schneider, the second longest player on ABCTV’s Jeopardy!, her recently wed wife Genevieve Davis, and Mattea Roach, the fifth longest player, truly making this a historic night. Recogni tion and gifts came from many directions, including the Office of Supervi sor Matt Dorsey. The organization star was CHEER SF and they did not disappoint, offering a couple of spirited cheers complete with acro batic displays and the presentation of a check to their primary benefi ciary for the past year, Transgender Law Center. In total, CHEER SF raised $33,750 during the 2021–2022 season. During the evening, Hal loween eggs, raffle tickets, and a short live auction generated funds for CHEER SF’s new efforts. Wherever this group appears, you are bound to leave uplifted and smiling. The program part of the evening ended, as always, with a Name That Tune competition, this time between Team CHEER SF and Team Bank of the West, but with a special twist, asking that the answers be put in the form of a question, an obvious nod to our Jeopardy! friends. DJ Rockaway presented by Olivia played tunes from TV and game shows, but even with that twist, both teams played admira bly and Team Bank of the West emerged victorious.

The following night, the Emperors of San Francisco celebrated their 50th Anniversary at Oasis with cocktails, food, a silent auction, and an informa tive program of history, tributes, and entertainment. Emcees Queen Cou gar, looking resplendent in silver lame, and Emperor J. P. Soto kept the evening moving smoothly. Queen Mother I of the Americas, Nicole the Great, back in town for the second weekend in a row, spoke authoritatively of the early days and presented special pins to each attending Emperor. The Emperors out did themselves with entertainment drawn from various sources, most notably BeBe Sweetbriar performing with incredible energy and an eye-popping cos tume that brought down the house, Emperor John Weber performing a medley with back-up dancers from Sacramento, and Katya Smirnoff Skye serv ing up a fitting assembly of San Francisco tunes. After the incomparable gala seven years ago at City Hall marking 50 years of the Imperial Court, this wellattended, well-produced, and entertaining event gave appropriate attention to the later founding and subsequent success of the Emperors of San Francisco. What followed that rollicking event can only be described as a labor of love for a much-loved individual, as the crowd moved over to The Eagle for a fun draiser for Prince Wolf, who recently suffered a sudden health emergency. This was a rare gathering of drag and leather, men and women, all ages, gen ders, and backgrounds, rallying for their friend. We hope the door charge, passed buckets, and brief show’s tips will all serve to help Prince Wolf in this unexpected time of need.

A special treat at both of these events was visiting Emperor Brian Benamati, who reigned with us many years ago and now lives in Portland, Oregon, with his husband Tony Onorati. How won derful it felt to be on the arm of our official Imperial partner once again, strolling the streets of our old haunts, catching up with friends, and exchanging news!

Our weekend ended with the much-anticipated return of a full-fledged Castro Street Fair. Hundreds gathered in the sparkling sunshine to continue a tradition started by Harvey Milk himself, and the fair stretched from 18th Street, up Castro, and further up Market to Noe. Food booths abounded, businesses were packed, and people laughed and smiled in the beautiful weather. Per haps this will be remembered as the final emer gence from our long pandemic concerns and self-isolation. This vibrant LGBTQ+ Commu nity has shown resilience before and we are ready for an exciting future.

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

Through November 12

Juanita: 30 Years of MORE! Fashion & History Exhibit SF Art Commission Main Gallery, War Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness Noon–5 pm

Free!

https://www.sfartscommission.org/

Thursday, October 13

Compassion Is Universal: Shanti’s 48th Anniversary Dinner Honoring Tom Horn and Dr. Monica Gandhi Palace Hotel 6 pm $300

https://www.shanti.org/

“If we don’t know where we’ve been, how can we possibly know where we are going?

Queen Mother I of the Americas, Nicole the Great

T he Academy

Divas & Drinks @ The Academy: CHEER SF, Transgender Law Center, Jeopardy! Stars, and a Marathon Champion

History was made at the September 30, 2022, Divas & Drinks @ The Academy. In attendance were Jeopardy! champions Amy Schneider and Mattea Roach, marking the first time that these LGBTQ trailblazers and game show stars were together for a queer community fundraiser. What’s more, the event was the first major public outing for Schneider and her wife Genevieve Davis following the announcement that went viral earlier in the week that they had married. Schneider and Roach will both be contestants in the Jeopardy! “Tournament of Champions” that will be televised starting on Monday, October 31. Bryan Dahl and Leo Alfaro from the office of Supervisor Matt Dorsey spoke eloquently about Schneider’s achievements as they presented her with a Certificate of Honor. Given the recent announcement of Schneider and Davis’ nuptials, the couple was presented with an engraved vase commemorating the evening, flowers, a cake, and a specialty cocktail by the Bacardí team led by skilled mixologist Vanessa Wright: the Amy & Genevieve Elixir (Grey Goose, ginger-orange syrup, lemon, and ginger beer).

The fundraiser’s beneficiaries—The Transgender Law Center (TLC) and CHEER SF—also made news! After their team of cheerleaders performing spirited, acrobatic routines at the venue, CHEER for Life Foundation board members Brittany Trammell, Carmen Stockberger, Katie Ho, Yuna Yi, and Executive Director Isaac Burrough announced that, during the 2021–2022 season, the Foundation raised $25,000 for TLC. A check was then presented to Tessa Lauren, Jessica Glennon Zukoff, Rufino Aguada, Chris Chavers, and Santos LaRose of the TLC.

It was further announced by the CHEER for Life Foundation board mem bers that a total of $33,750 was raised during the 2021–2022 season, with the additional money going to other organizations including Silicon Valley Pride, the Rainbow Community Center, and the SF AIDS Foundation.

Also attending was marathon champion Cal Calamia and partner Ariel Robbins. Cal was the top nonbinary finisher of the Bay to Breakers. This year marked the first time that organizers of the iconic San Francisco race issued awards in the nonbinary cat egory, thanks to Calamia and Robbins’ activism. On July 24, 2022, Calamia made history yet again by becoming the nonbinary+ division winner of the San Francisco Marathon. At the September fundraiser, both spoke about their nonprofit Too Hot for Hoodies (2H4H) that serves youth beyond the gender binary by providing life-saving resources, education, and celebra tory community.

Suzanne Ford, Interim Executive Director of SF Pride, spoke about how the organization is already ramping up for Pride 2023 in the city. She additionally present ed an item for the raffle that took place during the fun draiser that also included a live auction and the sale of Halloween “eggs” with mystery prizes announced inside of them. Deftly leading both the raffle and live auction was emcee Donna Sachet, who also enter tained guests during the well-attended, sold-out event.

Sachet and DJ Rockaway presented by Olivia Travel hosted a game show-themed Name That Tune that pitted Team CHEER SF versus Team Bank of the West. Read Sachet’s “Chronicles” in this issue to see who won! Both teams played well during the lighthearted competition that, in addition to game show tunes, included songs from other popular clas sic TV shows.

Guests could not only sip the Amy & Genevieve Elixir, but also the TLC Martini (which many ordered with Bombay Sapphire and “extra dirty,” as recommended by a TLC member), and the CHEER SF Punch (Bacardí rum, St. Germain, pineapple, and orange juice). Divas & Drinks food sponsor Extreme Pizza provided a variety of savories and sweets for the evening that ended with guests, such as members of the San Francisco Dykes on Bikes®, hitting the dance floor.

Special thanks to San Francisco Bay Times vol unteer coordinator Juan Davila, Nate Bourg and Paul Miller of The Academy plus their very hardworking team, Beth Schnitzer of SpritzSF, and to all who made the evening such a success. The event received coverage by ABC7 News. Watch for that clip this month at the Bay Times YouTube channel and website.

Please join us for the next Divas & Drinks @ The Academy on October 27—just a few days before Halloween—featuring Frameline and a tribute to our own storied film critic, Jan Wahl, who will be dishing with Sister Roma and other special guests. Guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite film star and/or, in honor of Wahl, to wear their favorite hat.

he

1Source: CFRA, S&P Global. Past per formance is not guarantee of future results. Data as of 6/30/22.

2Source: FactSet, Office of the President, J.P.Morgan Asset Management; Standard & Poors’s; percentages reflect S&P 500 price returns.Returns are year-to-date as of March 31, 2022. Guide to the Markets—U.S. Data are as of May 31, 2022.

Brio does not provide tax or legal advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as such.

The opinions expressed in this arti cle are for general informational pur poses only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommen dations for any individual or on any specific security. It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry. To determine which invest ments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no

JUSTER (continued from pg 8)

guarantee of future results. Any indi ces referenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capi tal; 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 ser vices are only offered to clients or pro spective 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 cli ent 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.

I retitled the column “In Case You Missed It,” focusing on issues, people, and organizations that might be flying under the radar. I started writing more from my heart, and try with each edition to encourage readers to find ways they can be of service to others, and help make the world—or even just our tiny corner of it—a kinder, more inclusive and supportive place. I am grateful to Betty and Jen for believing in me and giving me a platform, and I’m grateful to readers who have been so encouraging and patient. Thank you all for this past year!

Have news to share? I’d love to hear it. Drop me a line at jjbaytimes@gmail.com Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.

OLIVIA (continued from pg 5)

make friendships that will last a lifetime.

10. Don’t feel like you have to do it all.

With so many exciting events happening all week—including solo traveler meet and greets, Sisters at Play mixers for BIPOC guests, Gen-O gatherings for Olivians under 40, OWL trivia (for Older Wiser Lesbians), alumni parties, nightly entertain ment, theme nights with incredible DJs, and so much more—you just might need a vacation after your vacation. But remember, you can do as much or as little as you’d like. This is your time, and you’ll want to find moments just to chill, relax, and watch the world sail by.

Maggie Beaumier and Kelly McMahon are proud members of the Olivia Travel team. https://www.olivia.com/

on there, it’s like anything goes, right? How about our straight allies? I love those guys! C’mon over and stand under the plus sign everyone. Soon we’ll have well over 50 percent of Americans covered by our designation and we won’t even be a minority anymore.

But I’m being unpleasant. More than half of the LGBTQ+ gang are bisexuals, and the increase is led by the kids from Gen Z, indeed 15 percent of Gen Z adults are bisexual.

I just looked them up and Gen Zs were born between 1997 and 2012, so they are now between the ages of 10 and 25. Who comes up with these rules anyway, and why did the Silent Generation and Boomers get a full 20 years (the Greatest got 25) while other generations are whittled down to 15? Oh, and what are we going to name the generation that comes after Z? They’re already here!

Where was I? Oh yes, the proliferation of bisexuals. I’m thinking that if I were in my late teens or early twenties and I wasn’t gay, I’m not sure I would want to think of myself as “straight.” It’s boring. Bisexual gives you a lot more options, and it doesn’t really cost any thing in terms of social status. According to this survey (from the Williams Institute, if you must know) bisex ual workers are more likely to be in the closet than gay men or lesbians. And non-trans bisexual workers had the least amount of antigay workplace discrimination, I’m guessing because they were all pretending to be straight.

The report included Captain Obvious statements like the following:

“LGBTQ+ employees overall are more likely to expe rience workplace discrimination than straight peo ple, and within those identities ... transgender people are significantly more vulnerable to being fired or not hired based on their identity, as well as LGBTQ+ peo ple of color.”

Thought provoking!

Oh, before I go, I was just closing a tab that included all the years of the various generations, and I couldn’t help noticing the “Lost Generation” born from 1893 to 1900. Only seven years! No wonder they were lost, poor devils. I didn’t know that we had official “genera tions” back then anyway.

What Would Kennedy Do?

As the first Monday in October rolled around, much was made of the start of the Supreme Court’s 2022–2023 session, God help us. And as everyone is happy to point out, the Court is poised to deal with a range

Modern Cars with Retro Performance Appeal

The Integra has historically grown from the Civic platform, and that’s still the case. These two share the same turbocharged 1.5-liter engine with 200 horsepower, along with the same six-speed manual transmis sion. They felt equally powerful both in city driving and highway passing. The manual shifter is smooth with short throws, and the burly exhaust notes round out their focus on being speedy.

As we tip into fall, my mind goes to coastal trips—maybe Bolinas or Sea Ranch—and finding a fun car for the twisty roads that lead there. The two we’re examining this time, the Honda Civic Si and Acura Integra A-Spec Tech, are modern versions of models that burn brightly in my memory.

A new 1999 Civic Si got me from the East Coast to the middle of dot-combubble San Francisco, and out of the many cars I’ve owned, it’s the only new car I’ve ever bought. Then at a press event at the Willow Springs racetrack, I landed the keys to an Integra Type R, the hottest and light est version.

I wouldn’t say I hogged that car—I did my three laps and would respect fully pass it on—but every time it sat for more than 10 seconds or so, I was back in it, nailing apexes and sending the revs soaring. Could have done it all day.

Both handle with more than enough reserve for public roads. They resist running wide of your intended path through a curve, and steering is com municative, with a firm response. Though even with the dynamic variations with Acura’s Adaptive Damping System (ADS), this Civic Si and Integra A-Spec drove much alike.

The Integra’s styling has lit up the internet, with people questioning whether it was an appropriate suc cessor for the iconic ‘90s version. A fellow car enthusiast said something to that effect when I pulled up. He said he really wanted to like it, but even with the edgy headlights and grille that express the Acura brand, he said, “The profile still looks too much like a Civic.”

That’s less true inside, where despite the identical control layouts, the instrument panels are sculpted differ ently. The Integra’s molds a central focus, while the Civic has a fulllength vent panel that adds the right touch of ritz. Both had supportive front bucket seats, and the Integra A-Spec Tech had gloriously grippy

microsuede inserts, which are part of the Tech package.

Who would buy the Acura, or the Honda? Price is a good place to start, with the tested Civic Si add ing the $395 Blazing Orange paint option for a $29,190 bottom line.

The Integra A-Spec Tech’s $500 Liquid Carbon finish, along with fea tures like power moonroof, rain-sens ing wipers, and a head-up display, boosted the final tally to $37,395.

So, the answer lies in how much modern car you want with your retro performance. The Civic Si neatly covers the bases, while the Integra A-Spec Tech adds items that appeal to the premium-car buyer. Which would you choose?

Philip Ruth is a Castro-based auto motive photojournalist and con sultant with an automotive staging service.

of controversial issues, including our favorite subject, GLBT civil rights.

Ironically, we will soon find ourselves back in Colorado, scene of the horrific Amendment 2 that we defeated in Romer v Evans as well as home to the Masterpiece Cakeshop, where some allegedly tact less commissioners caused the High Court to issue a one-time pass to an antigay Christian baker. Colorado is also the former home of Justice Neil Gorsuch, the quirky textualist who loves religious freedom yet wrote a major GLBT rights opinion two years ago in Bostock v Clayton County

Neil Gorsuch is also a former clerk of Anthony Kennedy, the man who penned our four major GLBT victories beginning with Romer in 1996, con tinuing with Lawrence in 2003 (ending sodomy laws), Windsor in 2013 (striking the Defense of Marriage Act), and Obergefell in 2015 (legalizing marriage). From what I gather, Gorsuch is very respectful and fond of Kennedy. And as we just noted, he recently wrote a very strong civil rights opinion, ruling that gay and transgender employees were by definition included under Title VII’s ban on sex discrimination in the workplace.

Then there are his religious freedom votes, which are uniformly in favor of the various religious actors who have come before the High Court during his tenure.

This time around, the question is specifically about speech and does not technically involve the right to religious freedom.

The plaintiff is a Christian web designer who objects to Colorado’s GLBT civil rights law, which would prevent her from discriminating against gay cou ples who might want websites for their weddings. But the Supreme Court has stated that it will not examine whether or not her religion should allow her to avoid state law. Nor will it consider whether or not to over turn a 1990 decision that says faith cannot be used as an excuse to ignore generally applicable laws.

Instead, the High Court will be reviewing whether or not civil rights laws like the one in Colorado can trespass on an artist’s First Amendment right to free speech. I’m sure her religion will enter into this review, but it’s time now to sharpen up our description of this litigation, which is wrongly being presented in the press as a run-of-the-mill religious freedom case. It’s not. It’s a free speech case, where the speech happens to be religious.

So, what will Gorsuch do?

arostow@aol.com

SACHET (continued from page 18)

successfully expanded our mission to serve those with mental health and substance use disorders, and we headed straight into the policy discussion and community action to address Black/African American injustice, racism, and discrimina tion. With intention, throughout all levels of the agency we have committed ourselves to the values of honesty, mutual respect, diversity, accountability, and transparency. I invite all of us to celebrate and share in those successes.

Donna Sachet: Where do you see PRC in 10 years from now? Unfinished business?

Brett Andrews: On many levels, in 10 years, I see PRC exactly where it is right now; positioned as one of the estab lished, important anchor organizations in San Francisco. PRC’s storied history tells a tale of what a group of commit ted individuals can do when they come together around a common cause. We understand there is critical work to do as we take a hard look at restructuring our programs, with an eye towards long-term agency sustainability. I am confident in the success of that work because we have been here before and came out the other side stronger and more resolved. Our durable mission is to provide clients with resources and guid ance so they can address their issues, acquire the essential skills they need, and move further along the path to rebuild ing their lives, claiming the opportunities due to them, and realizing their full potential.

Donna Sachet: Do you plan to stay in San Francisco?

Brett Andrews: Beyond the work of leading PRC, over the years I have had the opportunity to be involved with other community initiatives that are very important to me like combatting the social and economic issues that face Black/African Americans and helping to preserve the Castro Theater/District. So, for now, I’m staying put, but there is something to be said for the rolling green hills and hot sum mers of Pennsylvania, or the seemingly endless vineyards of Sonoma.

https://prcsf.org/

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

Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com

DIVAS & DRINKS @ T he Academy

Welcoming Jeopardy! Champions, CHEER SF and TLC Leaders

The San Francisco Bay Times wishes to thank Divas & Drinks co-producer The Academy and ongoing sponsors Olivia Travel, Extreme Pizza, Bacardí, and the SF Federal Credit Union.

We are very grateful to every person, business, and organization that contributed items and services for the fundraising activities supporting the philanthropic work of CHEER SF through the Cheer for Life Foundation and the Transgender Law Center.

Special thanks to Jeopardy! champions Amy Schneider and Mattea Roach, Brittany Trammell of CHEER SF and the Cheer for Life Foundation, Jessica Glennon-Zukoff of the Trans gender Law Center, and to all who assisted in raising funds at The Academy on the evening of Friday, 20. Thanks also to San Francisco Bay Times team members Karen Bardsley, War ren Alderson, Steve Scheitlin, and Juan R. Davila.

Contribute to the Cheer for Life Foundation ( http://www.cheerforlife.org ) and the Transgender Law Center ( http://www.transgenderlawcenter.org)

with Reyes’ Bad Hombres

For longtime patrons and supporters of Theatre Rhinoceros, it is well understood that sub tlety is not the company’s main concern. And for recent passersby of 4229 18th Street in the Castro, the bold visual messages of the world’s longest-running LGBTQ+ theatre are more inyour-face than ever. Under a weathered sign still bearing the former leaseholder’s name is a pair of three-foot-tall posters greeting onlook ers: one poster features drag performers beam ing delightedly through the street front window, and the other advertises the first show of the theatre’s 46th season. This season is aptly titled “LIVE IN THE CASTRO,” which sounds superficial but discloses a much deeper signifi cance: as of August 2022, Theatre Rhinoceros is the formal leaseholder of 4229 18th Street (formerly known as SparkArts, a gallery and community arts center), making it the only resi dent live theatre company in the Castro.

Theatre Rhinoceros (or “The Rhino” for short) already left clear footprints in the neighbor hood last year, when their production of At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen by Terry Guest, directed by Tanika Baptiste, garnered so much positive attention that Mayor London Breed and District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman attended a performance in person, praising the company for adapting to create live art in a time of national crisis. Indeed, such a stripped down, intimate theatre space demands that focus be rooted in strong storytelling and the craft of performance, both of which are exem plified in the first production of The Rhino’s 2022–23 Season: Bad Hombres

Bad Hombres by Guillermo Reyes (sometimes presented with the poetically confrontational subtitle Date Me or Deport Me) is an often darkly comedic character study in various Latinx, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ identities and inter sections. The play’s seven characters—among them a Lucha Libre-obsessed father, a melo dramatic drag queen in desperate, forbidden “trans-border” love, and Ulysses, our neurotic guide down a spiral of gay male anxiety—drip with satire, monologuing in tones that evoke bitterness, hilarity, and empathy.

Through these over-the-top fictional characters recounting the over-the-top circumstances of their lives, Reyes, a Chilean-born, highly pro lific writer iconic to the Phoenix, AZ, theatre scene, sets fire to hypermasculinity, hookup apps, assimilation, aspirations to whiteness, and the closet, revealing complexities of queer love, (non)monogamy, and power dynamics at

the intersection of Latinx and LGBTQ+ expe riences. Reyes both invites and dares audiences to laugh at the current American reality as seen through a kaleidoscope of historically stereo typed and targeted identities, here embodied and performed entirely by a single actor, Rudy Guerrero.

Last seen as Macduff in The Rhino’s Salesforce Park production of Macbeth, Guerrero now truly demonstrates his broad acting range through this spectrum of characters.

Bringing the play to The Rhino was, in fact, Guerrero’s idea—he came across Bad Hombres while researching solo pieces, already familiar with Reyes’ hilariouslytitled Men on the Verge of a His-Panic Breakdown:

“When I learned [Reyes] had written a simi lar play rooted in a more contemporary setting

of American politics and the social struggles of Latinx gay and queer-identified characters, it was a no-brainer.” John Fisher, The Rhino’s Executive Artistic Director, looked at the script and agreed: “It’s a fabulous piece of writing.” Guerrero also hopes the play’s comic com plexities pierce through to perhaps challenge some theatergoers’ perspectives: “I would like audience members to leave the theater laugh ing (after all, it is a comedy) but also carry with them empathy for people who identify as gay or queer in the Latinx communities. I’d like them to have a better understanding of the unique political and social struggles inherent within this particular subculture. I’m honored to be the opening show for The Rhino’s 22/23 Season.”

Bad Hombres is directed by River Bermudez Sanders and performs at Theatre Rhinoceros, 4229 18th Street, San Francisco, Thursday, October 6, through Sunday, October 30.

Playwright Reyes plans to attend the soldout opening night performance on Saturday, October 8. Tickets can be purchased at http://therhino.org/

Theatre Rhinoceros’s 2022–23 season also includes the following presentations: A Slice of Life written and directed by John Fisher (November 5–27, 2022); A Guide for the Homesick by Ken Urban, directed by Alan Quismorio (February 25–March 19, 2023); The Rita Hayworth of this Generation by Tina D’Elia, directed by Mary Guzmán (April 8–23, 2023); and a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello (May 27–29, 2023). Fisher’s ongoing solo series, Essential Service Project, performs in person and virtually most Thursdays at 8 pm. Visit The Rhino website ( http://therhino.org/ ) and follow @theatrerhinoceros on Instagram and Facebook for more details.

Crystal Liu has performed with, worked backstage for, and held administrative posi tions in theater companies all over the Bay Area. She holds degrees in theater and anthro pology from Yale University and was recently seen onstage in The Rhino’s “Sister Act” as Curtis Jackson. She is particularly interested in theatre with emphasis on education, youth, and marginalized communities.

Grammy Winners Marcy Marxer and Cathy Fink on Their Life Partnership and New Film All Wigged Out

For the San Francisco Bay Times I recently interviewed Grammywinning musi cians Marcy Marxer and Cathy Fink on their life partner ship and their musical theatrical film All Wigged Out, about Marcy’s breast cancer journey.

Irene Young: Cathy, how and when did you and Marcy meet?

Cathy Fink: We met in July of 1980 at the Toronto Folk Festival. Marcy was playing in an all-female string band from Michigan, The Bosom Buddies String Band. I was performing solo. The story is fully told in this piece called “Remembering Elizabeth Cotten or When Cathy Met Marcy.” ( https://tinyurl.com/3fjmau9v ) It’s now been 40 years!

Irene Young: Marcy, what year did you and I meet, and what was our first photo project?

Marcy Marxer: I met you, Irene, in about 1982 or ‘83 when I was playing with the Robin Flower Band in NYC. We came to your apartment on Bleecker Street before our Folk City gig. When we got to Folk City, I could see your photos on the walls. You later met Cathy through me.

Cathy Fink: I know that our first photo project was the first Cathy & Marcy album on Sugar Hill Records, simply called Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer. You took stunning duo photos. You also took the latenight photo that became the cover of Blue Rose on Sugar Hill with Cathy & Marcy, Laurie Lewis, Sally Van Meter, and Molly Mason. We have photos you’ve taken in every decade!

Irene Young: How did it feel to be in the public eye with your fanbase and community aware of Marcy’s diagnosis? Did you

step back and take time alone together and focus only on Marcy’s health and treatment?

Cathy Fink: Our main focus was Marcy’s health and treatment. I let her decide how public she wanted to be. We had been firstline caregivers for several friends who had cancer diagnoses. We did not know exactly what we were in for, but we had a good idea. We had plenty of time alone, and larger celebrations for every milestone; the “End of Chemo Party,” the “End of Radiation and 60th Birthday Party,” and five years later, the “End of Chemo Pills Party.” Meantime, Marcy kept folks posted via her Facebook page with humorous photos, cartoons, and thoughts about the whole thing.

Marcy Marxer: I told neighbors and friends about my initial diag nosis. We live in a great neighbor hood and many people have young children. I knew that I would look different for a while and that gave people a chance to explain it to their kids in their own way. Initially, the process seemed straightforward. It gradually became a problem because every time I talked with the doctor my diagnosis was worse. My story kept changing. I started to consider not taking my doctor’s calls. Instead,

I started making cryptic Facebook posts gently letting friends know what was happening.

Irene Young: Did you write All Wigged Out during or after Marcy’s treatment?

Cathy Fink: The idea was ger minating as Marcy posted hilari ous things on Facebook. We also videotaped some really funny, but very helpful videos. Like one that Marcy did with her holding a bottle of moonshine to get peoples’ atten tion, then pivoting to an infomer cial on head coverings for cancer patients. There was another about a hair growth remedy I heard about using onion juice. Marcy was both inspiring and honest at the same time and that made both good comedy and good communication. That was the real inspiration for “All Wigged Out.”

Marcy Marxer: Cathy encouraged me to write down as many questions and physical feelings as possible to give reports to my medical team. My brain doesn’t really work in a linear way, so documenting symptoms isn’t what happened. One day the Head Nurse said, “This treatment can cause leukemia, diabetes, and tooth loss. But don’t be worried unless you feel tired.” How is that possible when you’re in chemo? I asked, “Have you ever considered being a motivational speaker?” She smiled and answered with a yes! Woah! That’s what I wrote about that day.

Irene Young: How did COVID impact your music and the cre ation of All Wigged Out?

Cathy Fink: COVID was another “pivot” for our musical career. Since we had dealt with cancer, we were experienced with “pivots,” and we found more silver linings than any one ever thought possible. We actu ally appreciated the time off the road, though would have preferred not to have missed out on some won derful gigs. We organized and codi rected 18 online music festivals. We filmed and edited at least 500 instructional videos on banjo, guitar, mandolin, and ukulele. We had fin ished cowriting All Wigged Out with Andy Offutt Irwin and had done about 5 in person readings. One of our canceled shows was the Capital

Fringe Festival, which would have been the play’s debut. We gave that idea a rest, and a few months into lock down, I real ized that theaters would now be backed up for years in present ing new works. That’s when the idea of film ing came to me. I immedi ately reached out to Scott Silberstein from HMS Media in Chicago. He was “in” and helped shepherd the project with Tracy Walsh as director.

Irene Young: Did either of you have pre vious acting experience?

Cathy Fink: Well, I did play Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady in the 6th grade. I have always loved theater, but this would be my first acting expe rience. And I was dragged into it. Scott, Tracy, Marcy, Andy— everyone was convinced that since I was in the story anyway, I should be in the story on stage. After much convincing, I agreed. I just didn’t want to take anything away from Marcy’s story.

Marcy Marxer: I was a model for Hudson’s in Detroit before kinder garten. I was a kid who could sit or stand still for a long time. From there I was asked to model for art classes at Ohio State and Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. By the 4th grade I became the kid they would call when

they needed someone for the col lege plays. I loved acting and jumped in with both feet in high school. I received scholarships to summer workshops and eventually to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena.

Then, there came a crossroads between acting and music. I chose music because I didn’t have to wait for a production. I could work every

The gay romcom Bros, about gay history museum executive Bobby Leiber (co-writer Billy Eichner) meet ing probate lawyer Aaron Shepard (Luke Macfarlane), is a queer throw back to films like When Harry Met Sally. This very funny comedy fea tures two characters who keep love at arms’ length. They could be perfect together if they just got out of their own way.

Eichner and Macfarlane are two of the many out gay actors in the queerinclusive Bros. It is the first gay rom com from a major studio. The guys met with me for the San Francisco Bay Times to talk about Bros

Gary M. Kramer: It was great to see such a large and diverse queer cast. What can you say about leaning into or away from queer and straight stereo types?

Billy Eichner: I made the movie with Judd Apatow and Nick Stoller, two very accomplished straight men. They have made some of the funni est movies of all time—Bridesmaids, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Superbad, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. They are straight; I am gay. We collaborated on this together, and every step of the way we said, “Let’s make it as funny as possible and let’s make it as hon est as possible.” I don’t know much, but I know the experience of what it means to be an openly gay man my whole life and having many LGBTQ friends and navigating gay culture. Sometimes there is truth in stereo types. But the point is to show a ste reotype and then be able to reveal that it is not a stereotype. That the person is so much more than the cartoon character that gay people have often been asked to play. A lot of straight audiences, who have not

been exposed to independent queer cinema and the things they have access to, think they understand what it is like to be a gay man and gay cul ture because they have seen wacky sitcom characters, or sidekicks, but we are so much more than that.

That doesn’t mean we can’t be funny.

Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane Talk About Being Bros Film

A lot of us are funny, and we pride ourselves on being quick with a quip, but the point of Bros was to show both these men as much more complicated and emotionally messy than they ini tially seem.

Luke Macfarlane: It’s a particu larly hard sort of thing to put on top of the movie. No one watched When Harry Met Sally and said, “That isn’t straight representation.” We do have the queer audience that comes at us and says, “We’re finally going to see my life. Is it going to be accurate to my specific life?” And it’s not going to be accurate to the entire queer experience.

But it is a challenge. We’re finally here. We’re finally in the multiplex. We’re opening in 3000 theaters, and everyone wants to see them selves because it’s the first time. But you can’t please all the people all the time, as Bob Marley says. [Laughs] Billy Eichner: Thank you for bringing up Bob Marley.

Luke Macfarlane: Queer ally.

Billy Eichner: Apparently a bisex ual. If I read the history ... .

Luke Macfarlane: Is that true?

Billy Eichner: Maybe I’m making that up. Now I’m being very Bobby Leiber.

Gary M. Kramer: I appreciated the film’s discussions about confidence and vulnerability. What observations do you have about being self-reliant but also able to expose yourself to others as Bobby and Aaron do?

Billy Eichner: I think a lot of the self-reliance and self-possession at the beginning of the film are admi rable qualities to have, but taken to the extreme, you’re shutting yourself

Lit Snax

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Fans of intellectual brilliance, rejoice! Tasmyn Muir is back with the next book in her wildly inventive, sexily sapphic, and action-packed Locked Tomb series. So far, each novel has reinvented the universe this series is set in, and Nona the Ninth is no exception.

Bite Hard by Justin Chin

If you have yet to encounter the work of queer Malaysian-American poet Justin Chin, now is the time to remedy that! Torn from the world all too soon, the beloved, SF-residing author fashioned queer BIPOC jewelry out of all of the odds and ends of contemporary speech.

A Kiss Across the Ocean: Transatlantic Intimacies of British Post-Punk & U.S. Latinidad by Richard T. Rodríguez

This book is a love letter to and mem oir of the post punk and goth scene in the 1980s, writ ten by a queer Latino author who was there, and about the connection between his two cultures: the one he was born into, and the one he chose. Rodríguez will be reading at Fabulosa books on Thursday, October 6, at 7 pm.

https://www.fabulosabooks.com/

Top

your

The Book of Goose (fiction - hardbound) by Yiyun Li

This is a magnificent, beguiling tale winding from the postwar rural provinces to Paris, from an English boarding school to the quiet Pennsylvania home where Agnès can live without her past. The Book of Goose is a story of disturbing intimacy and obsession, of exploita tion and strength of will. At its subtle core is a lesbian love story and it exemplifies why so many feel Yi’s use of queeness in all her novels is laudable and to be expe rienced.

Brown and Gay in LA (nonfiction/memoir - hardbound) by Anthony Christian Ocampo

These are the stories of second-generation immigrant gay men coming of age in Los Angeles. Growing up in the shadow of Hollwood, the gay sons of immigrants fea tured in Brown and Gay in LA could not have felt further removed from a world where queerness was accepted and celebrated. Instead, the men profiled here maneuver through family and friendship circles where masculinity dominates, gay sexuality is unspoken, and heterosexual ity is strictly enforced.

One Person, No Vote (nonfiction - paperback) by Carol Anderson

Just in time for the highly anticipated, anxiety inducing Midterm Elections, this important book about voter sup pression is available in paperback. With One Person, No Vote, Carol Anderson chronicles the rollbacks to African American participation in the vote since the 2013 Supreme Court decision that eviscerated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Known as the Shelby ruling, this decision effectively allowed districts with a demonstrated history of racial discrimination to change voting require ments without approval from the Department of Justice.

Upcoming Events

Sunday, October 9 @ 4 pm (free in store/Corte Madera & online) Ingrid Rojas Contreras, author of The Man Who Could Move Clouds, in conversation with Carolina de Robertis

Interweaving family stories more enchanting than those in any novel, resur rected Colombian history, and her own deeply personal reckonings with the bounds of reality, Rojas Contreras writes her way through the incomprehensi ble and into her inheritance. The result is a luminous testament to the power of storytelling as a healing art and an invitation to embrace the extraor dinary.

Thursday, October 13 @ 5 pm (free in store/Ferry Building) Anthony Christian Ocampo, author of Brown and Gay in LA Brown and Gay in LA is an homage to second-generation gay men and their radical redefinition of what it means to be gay, to be a man, to be a person of color, and, ultimately, what it means to be an American. Anthony Christian Ocampo is a professor of sociology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He is the author of The Latinos of Asia: How Filipino Americans Break the Rules of Race a nd coeditor of Contemporary Asian America, 3rd edition.

Tuesday, October 18 @ 5:30 pm (free online) Fall panel special event- Midterm Elections 2022: Voting Rights and Defending Democracy

The event will feature a deep dive discussion about what’s at stake for the upcoming election and how you can get involved. It will fea ture renowned scholar Carol Anderson, author of One Person, No Vote ; Professor Joshua Douglas, author of Vote for Us ; and writer and voting rights advocate, Anita Gail Jones. She is a Bay Area resident from Albany, GA, who started Anita’s Peach Corps, an effort to get Californians involved in helping Georgia democratic candidates get elected. https://www.bookpassage.com/

Coming Out of the Coffin

Jewelle Gomez

Leave Signs

Lesbians have been thinking about eternal life ever since Sheridan

Le Fanu’s vampire novella Carmilla was published in 1872. Then Anne Rice’s 1976 novel, Interview with the Vampire, introduced the queer male vampire and noth ing has ever been the same. When I started writing my own vampire novel, The Gilda Stories, I read and re-read all of the classics from Bram Stoker’s Dracula to Chelsea Quinn

Yarbro’s Count Saint Germaine series and Stephen King; as well non-fiction explorations of interna tional vampire myths. My novel was a response to wanting to see a lesbian of color embark on the adventure of eternal life. Interview with the Vampire still stands out boldly as an epic hor ror tale of queer desire and danger.

One of my first friends in San Francisco, the late writer/editor Eric Garber, organized a queer trip to the movies for the 1994 open ing of the film version of Interview with the Vampire We were excited to see the iconic story on screen, but, alas, there was something distinctly missing. It was like the heart of the narrative had been ripped out, and not in a good way!

Sensuality, the propulsion for Rice’s story on the page, was strangely absent on the screen. Chemistry between actors and how it’s captured on film (or video) is a unique and mysterious thing. Sometimes even directors like Neil Jordan (The Crying Game), who did that version of Interview with the Vampire, might not have been able to fan a flame. Even the still shots featuring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt look like the actors are discuss

ing golf scores rather than deciding which coffin they’ll sleep in tonight.

With Halloween on the horizon, I’m excited to say that a new version of Rice’s book will soon be stream ing. It’s cool and it’s hot! The cre ators have taken full advantage of the locale of the novel, New Orleans, by exploring the milieu of honkytonks and bordellos where music and peo ple pulsed through the night. The heat and danger of the city in the early 20th century are palpable.

The creators also don’t ignore its international flavor: free people of color, those who were still enslaved, creoles, and Irish immigrants are all a part of the teeming masses on screen, as they were historically. This gives the series a vibrant texture and underpins the casting of Jacob Anderson, a man of color, as Louis.

A casting departure from the earlier version, it will no doubt rankle some purists. (Insert my shrug here.)

The sensuality of vampire life, equally important, is highlighted rather than muted as it was in the earlier film version. For beings whose senses are exorbitantly heightened once they are transformed from mor tal to immortal, the flame of a sin gle candle can become an absorbing epic. This series captures all of the sensory sensations in the casting of Anderson and of Sam Reid as Lestat.

The chemistry between them is com

bustible as befits two of the most exciting queer characters in literature.

I imagine it wasn’t easy for a mainstream film to be as definitive about their desire in the early 1990s. This streaming version makes up for that tepid temperature by more than a few degrees.

Compulsion, love, lust, and blood are all gleam ing in Lestat’s eyes as he seduces Louis with some thing we all want: to live without shame.

The horror genre holds a fascination for many of us because it is so per fectly suited for telling queer stories. The char acters can embody both outsider status and at the same time strive for and gain personal power. A new streaming docuse ries called Queer for Fear ( https://tinyurl.com/ykhxmtzh ) explores just how much we love our spooky stories.

Given the regressive direction pol iticians are taking, we might need Lestat and other supernaturals on our side in this century. Just remem ber you have to invite the vampire in first!

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

Juanita: 30 Years of MORE! Celebrates the Iconic San Francisco Drag Queen’s 30th Anniversary

The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) Main Gallery is proudly pre senting Juanita: 30 Years of MORE!, an exhibition that highlights and cele brates the groundbreaking and rad ical work of San Francisco drag icon and denizen of the limelight, phi lanthropist, fashionista, DJ, activ ist, community leader, chef, and drag mom to many, Juanita MORE!

Nearly thirty years ago on Halloween in 1992, famed New York City drag queen Glamamore, also known as “Mr. David,” a longtime collaborator, friend, drag mother, and exclusive designer of every dress she has ever worn since, put MORE! in drag for the very first time. Before he painted her face he said, “You’re gonna be hideous!” In retelling this story, MORE! always follows with, “Well, I wasn’t and I’m not. I have loved it all and I haven’t stopped since.”

Juanita: 30 Years of MORE! is now on view at the SFAC Main Gallery in the War Memorial Veterans Building through November 12, 2022, and features a curated selec tion of photographs, posters, over 40 original commissioned artworks, and dresses that offer a rare glimpse into MORE!’s extraordinary and fabu lous life, representing just a fraction of the thousands of objects from her personal archives.

“When I think about the past thirty years, it all plays like a movie rewind ing at high speed—full of detail, sto ries, and characters, rich with visuals that are full of vivid colors and tex tures that blur together like a kalei doscope,” says MORE! “Yet, I’ve never claimed complete owner ship of Juanita’s realization or activ ism. Instead, I’ve been the vehicle that brought her to life through the work of many talented artists, non profits, and a community I consider my chosen family. And this exhibi tion is my loads of love letters to all of them.”

Juanita: 30 Years of MORE! is curated by Oakland-based trans contempo rary artist, curator, and educator, Marcel Pardo Ariza, whose practice celebrates intergenerational connec tion and image making while push ing against the boundaries of visual culture and media representation.

“Juanita’s practice embodies so many things we need more of right now—collective care, bringing peo ple together, valuing and uplift ing artists’ work, centering pleasure, friendship, and collaboration,” says Pardo Ariza. “She’s a fierce advo cate for queer and trans rights, a true San Francisco icon, and a deeply loved member of

the LGBTQIA+ community.

Curating this exhibition has been an absolute honor.”

“We are thrilled to partner and work with artist and cura tor, Marcel Pardo Ariza, to showcase the art and legacy of Juanita MORE!,” said Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs for the SFAC. “Over the past three decades, Juanita has worked tirelessly to not only advocate for and give back to San Francisco’s communities in need, but has also worked to sup

port and uplift local artists across multiple disciplines, creating a more vibrant and inclusive arts scene in San Francisco.”

An avid supporter of the arts, MORE! has regularly commissioned other artists to create work inspired by and depicting her. To welcome visitors as they enter the Main Gallery, the exhibition showcases a selection of over 40 original com missioned artworks that are installed “salon-style,” recreating the cozy entrance of MORE!’s Tenderloin home. Included in this installation are works by Matthew Benedict,

Simon Malvaez, Aaron Plant, and Jim Winters, among many others.

As visitors continue into the gallery, they enter a “drag closet” like no other and find a selection of MORE!’s most iconic San Francisco Pride dresses designed by Mr. David, along with all the accessories needed to complete her iconic looks, including hats,

Since 2005, MORE! has hosted an annual San Francisco Pride party and fundraiser, welcoming thousands of revelers into a fun and carefree safe space to dance and celebrate. Over the years, this event, along with numerous other fundraising ini tiatives hosted by her, has helped raised over an estimated one mil lion dollars for local organizations advocating for the queer and trans community, including the GLBT Historical Society & Archives, Our Trans Youth, Q Foundation, Queer Lifespace, and Transgender Law Center, just to name a few.

MORE! has touched many lives with her work and advocacy over the years, and this exhibition fea tures, for the first time ever, a wall showcasing the many awards of recognition MORE! has received from local, state, and federal gov ernment officials, as well as acco lades from numerous beneficiaries she has raised funds for. To show the impact MORE! has had on individ ual lives, a wall is also dedicated to the hundreds of love letters MORE! has received from people whose lives she’s changed. Postcards are avail able for gallery visitors to leave MORE! a love letter of their own.

And finally, it wouldn’t be a true MORE! exhibition without showcasing her “MOREboys,”

who are featured in a special room in the gallery, fondly referred to as the Smut Room, in two bodies of photographic work by MORE! called Naked Dinner Party and Booty Call. Also in this room is a backdrop of MORE!’s closet and a glowing pink neon sign with her famous sign off “Loads of Love.” MORE! selfies are highly encouraged!

Times Dines

Gin Is ‘In’: Bay Area-Based Gin Producers Are on the Rise

The Gay Gourmet

Gin: the mere mention of it divides cocktail enthusiasts into two groups—those who love it (me included), and those who don’t.

Trust me, I know. I used to be in the latter group, thinking it would give me a headache. Turns out, I was just drinking the wrong kinds of gin. Now, the gin-based Negroni is my daily cocktail of choice.

Thankfully, in the Bay Area, gin is “in,” and more popular than ever. Even better, there is a new breed of local Bay Area craft producers that are making gins well worth imbibing.

But, let’s take a step back. While the Bay Area is well-known for wines, it’s not always been the cen ter for producing spirits. And gins historically tended to hail primar ily from England. According to Wikipedia, “Gin originated as a

medicinal liquor made by monks and alchemists across Europe, par ticularly in southern Italy (Salerno), Flanders, and the Netherlands, to provide aqua vita from distillates of grapes and grains. It then became an object of commerce in the spirits industry. It became popular in Eng land after the introduction of jenev er, a Dutch and Belgian liquor that was originally a medicine. Although this development had been tak ing place since the early 17th cen tury, gin became widespread after the 1688 Glorious Revolution led by William of Orange, and subsequent import restrictions on French brandy. Gin then emerged as the

national alcoholic drink of Eng land.”

Gin today is produced in a variety of ways utilizing numerous herb al ingredients, which now have re sulted in many different approach es and brands. Three of the best are made right here in the Bay Area: namely, Gray Whale Gin from Sebastopol, Loch & Union Gin from American Canyon in the Napa Valley, and Junipero Gin from Anchor Distilling (now Hotaling & Co.) in San Francisco.

How do each of these brands taste?

Let’s start with Gray Whale Gin from Sebastopol. I love the story of how this gin was created: the found ers were on a camping trip overlook ing Big Sur’s majestic cliffs and spot ted a gray whale. That was the inspiration for creating a locally-pro duced and sourced California gin.

The bottle is a bright blue color, reminiscent of the ocean. In my opinion, this gin is the lightest and smoothest of the local three I’ve sampled. It’s a corn-based spirit that is distilled seven times. Besides the requisite juniper (from Big Sur), it has 5 additional botanicals from our Golden State, sourced from the path that gray whales take when they migrate (and some a bit further inland): kombu (from the Mendocino coast), almonds (from the Capay val ley), limes (from Temecula), fir (from Sonoma), and mint (from Santa Cruz). Because of the semi-sweet overtones, this is an excellent sipping

gin. You can also feel good about partaking because Gray Whale donates 1% of its profits to Oceana to help preserve the oceans.

Next up? Loch & Union Gin from American Canyon in the Napa Valley. It’s bolder and more com plex, in an American dry spirit manner that is more traditional.

Bottled in a modern, rectangularbased bottle, it also has definite notes of orange and spice, with just enough juniper for that gin zing. It’s a grain-based spirit that also includes

such botanicals as: angelica, chamo mile, and coriander. Because of the citrus piquancy and its gentle warmth, this gin is my favorite for my go-to daily Negroni cocktails.

Finally, we have the original craft gin, Junipero. Made by Anchor Distilling (now Hotaling & Co.) right here in San Francisco, it’s the most like a traditional London drystyle gin: classic, bold, a bit sharper, and packing a punch. The gin has structure complemented by a solid juniper core. It’s also grain-based, made with 12 botanicals: juniper, angelica root, aniseed, bitter orange peel, cardamom, cassia bark, orris root, orange peel, lemon peel, grains of paradise, cubeb, and coriander. Junipero’s stylish cobalt blue bottle and pear-shaped design only add to its sophistication. Because of its time-honored production process, this gin has my vote for the classic cocktails, like a martini.

Speaking of martinis and in honor of this column’s theme, I’m re-shar ing one of my favorite recipes for that revered cocktail (which some say was invented in Martinez). This version is from Emmy-awardwinning actor and foodie Stanley Tucci (star of CNN’s great Italian food show, Searching for Italy):

The Perfect Martini (from Stanley Tucci)

Ingredients:

l/2 ounce dry ver mouth

2–3 ounces high quali ty gin (or vodka)

Lemon twist or olives (for serving)

Preparation:

In Mr. Tucci’s own words: “Fill a glass beaker or cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the vermouth.

Stir 15 seconds, then let sit 30 seconds. Stir again, then strain out and discard the ver mouth. Pour the gin into the beaker and stir 30 seconds. Let sit 30 seconds, then stir again 30 seconds. Let it sit another 30 seconds, then stir again quickly. Strain the cocktail into a chilled glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or olives. Drink it. Become a new person.”

Bits and Bites

One of the Gay Gourmet’s favor ites, STK Steakhouse (with out posts all over the country), is now open in San Francisco in the former space occupied by Rosa Mexicano. The address is One Market, but the actual entrance is on Spear Street (at Mission). The splashy and chic new restaurant describes itself as “vibe dining” and has an expansive outdoor patio, waterfront views, and even a DJ. The menu features every thing from the much-loved filet mignon to a Wagyu flatiron steak, as well as jumbo lump crab cakes, crispy calamari, and ahi tuna tar tare. STK Steakhouse is open for lunch, dinner, brunch, and happy hour.

Park Chalet Coastal Beer Garden in San Francisco hosts a “Parktoberfest” celebration on Friday, October 7, from 6–9 pm. Guests will be able to enjoy authen tic live German music by Alpine Sound, a Steinholding contest (with

a prize), dirndl and lederhosen clad partygoers, Oktoberfest t-shirts, and a full menu plus specials, in cluding a Bavarian onion tart, sau erbraten sliders, bratwurst, and chocolate stout brownies.

The Mill Valley Film Festival pres ents the world premiere of The Art of Eating: The Life of M.F.K. Fisher. It’s a feature documenta ry that traces the life of iconic Cal ifornia food writer Mary Fran ces Kennedy Fisher and explores the impact of her ideas on food, its meaning in our lives, and how her writing laid the foundation for modern food writing. The premiere takes place on October 11 at the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.

Vital Farms’ new True Blues eggs (yup, they are pastel bluecolored!) come from hens that are pasture-raised with year-round outdoor access. They’re now avail able at local Whole Foods Markets throughout Northern California. Besides being festive, they have rich yolks, which make them tasty, too. Laid by an heirloom breed called Azur hens, they add a pop of color to brunch.

Local author Yvonne Michie Horn’s new book, Unique Eats and Eateries of Sonoma County, is a food-centered journey into the nooks and crannies of the entire county. Along the way, you’ll get to know some of the best chefs, restau rants, and culinary treats, as well as the stories that made them so popular.

Gray Whale Gin: https://www.graywhalegin.com/ Loch and Union Gin: https://lochandunion.com/ Junipero Gin: https://juniperogin.com/ STK Steakhouse: https://tinyurl.com/3tpn99nc

Park Chalet: https://www.parkchalet.com/ Mill Valley Film Festival: https://www.mvff.com/

Vital Farms True Blues eggs: https://tinyurl.com/mpw9rhsa

Unique Eats and Eateries of Sonoma County: https://tinyurl.com/bdz7v9sj

David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a free lance writer, and a retired PR maven. Follow him on Instagram @GayGourmetSF or email him at: davidlandissf@ gmail.com Or visit him online at: www.gaygourmetsf.com

Sbrocco Sips

2018 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California $60 https://tinyurl.com/4nczwax2

When talking about California classics, Jordan ranks among my top-tier list of producers. Since 1972, they have consistently produced not only world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, but also have proven to be one of the best spots to visit in the world of wine.

A tour to this northern Sonoma winery can range from seated tastings on the terrace to an exploration of their 1,200-acre estate, and delectable culinary offerings that make a statement. The best place, however, to begin any Jordan journey is by sipping their iconic Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2018 bottling is stunning. Exploding with herbal and smoky aro mas, its sultry texture is saturated with dark berry flavors and silky smoothness. This is a wine to enjoy now or cellar for up to a decade.

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

This Month at the Castro Farmers’ Market

Five Ways to Enjoy Persimmons

When the seasons change from summer to fall, persimmon trees begin to burst with gorgeous, bright orange fruit. Their autumn colors just shout, “Fall is here!”

Your farmers’ market booths will begin to fill with this beautiful and delicious fruit this month.

Stroll through the market and you’ll see two distinct shapes and varieties of per simmons. Although there are hundreds of varieties, only two principal types are well known here in California, the Hachiya and Fuyu:

• Hachiya persimmons are a beau tiful fruit about the size of a medium peach, acorn-shaped with a shiny, bright orange skin and pale green papery leafy cap. As the fruit ripens, the skin dulls and takes on the texture of a water bal loon. The astringent tannin evaporates and the fruit becomes sweeter with an apricot-like flavor, although some liken the flavor to plums, even pumpkins.

• Fuyu persimmons are squatter and rounder than the Hachiya. The color is a yellow-orange and not as brilliant as the Hachiya. It almost looks like a tiny pumpkin or perhaps a slightly flattened tomato, but unlike the Hachiya, the Fuyu can be consumed immediately. It is crisp, lightly sweet, and crunchy, like a Fuji apple.

Both varieties are honey-like, sweet, rich, and taste somewhat like a cross between apricot and pumpkin when ripe and the peels are edible. Once you get them home, store both varieties at room temperature and eat them within a few days. You can store them in a paper bag to ripen them

These tasty bites have all the holiday spice smells, and the sweet tang only a persimmon could give.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup shortening (or butter)

1 cup ripe persimmon pulp

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups flour

faster. Purchasing them at your local farm ers’ markets assures you that they are of the highest quality and flavor. You will also be supporting local farmers and the communities in which they grow their fab ulous produce.

Here are some ways to enjoy this lovely fall fruit.

• Persimmon cookies (see recipe) or persimmon bread. The Hachiya variety is best for this because they soften nicely and are easily incorporated into your recipe.

• Persimmon salad made with slice able Fuyu persimmons. Use just as you would an apple.

• Persimmon jam or persimmon butter is made with Hachiya persim mons.

• Roasted persimmons for a tasty side dish or accompaniment to roasts or as a side dish. Use Fuyu persimmons for this because they hold up under roasting conditions.

• Persimmon crostini with brie or goat cheese. Slice Fuyu persimmons and place them on a toasted baguette with cheese.

You’ll find Hachiya and Fuyu persimmons at your farmers’ market from growers like

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg 1 cup raisins

1/2 cup walnuts

PREPARATION:

Blend sugar, shortening, persim mon pulp, and baking soda until smooth. Add the dry ingredients sifted together. Blend in the egg and add the raisins and nuts last. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased pan. Bake at 375° F for 15 minutes.

Allard Farms in Westley, Ken’s Top Notch out of Fresno, and Rodin Farms from Oakdale. Your farmers’ market is the best place to find fresh-from-the-farm produce that you can’t find elsewhere!

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/

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

everyone wore leather or some kind of costume or nothing at all. The weather was perfect for wearing just your “birthday suit.” California State Senator Scott Wiener enjoyed the Fair, but unfortunately had to defend his attendance after some homophobic people online took offense over a shirtless photo he posted with leathermen. Well, I give props to Senator Scott!

Sister Dana sez, “Everybuddy of mine (whether I know ya or not) please come to the 2nd ANNUAL BEARRISON STREET FAIR on October 15. Ya don’t gotta be a bear or be a friend of a bear—but just be a care bear and be aware!”

BEARRISON STREET FAIR , produced by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence & The Bears of San Francisco, seeks to provide an inclusive community event for all members of the adult LGBTQ+ community that promotes body positivity for all and builds a more supportive, welcoming, and inclusive bear scene by representing a diverse arena of cultures. October 15, noon to 6 pm, Harrison and 11th Streets. Come get a bear hug! Visit us on Facebook!

Sadly, the leathered folx have to wait a few more weeks for LEATHERWALK 2022, which was rained out this time. The rescheduled parade and bar-crawl will begin at City Hall on October 15 and arrive at the 11th Street BEARRISON STREET FAIR for a celebration of body positivity.

THE FOLSOM STREET FAIR , SoMa’s 39th celebration of kink and alternative sexuality, took over the blocks between Eighth and 13th Streets all day Sunday, September 24, making room for a matrix of dungeons and dance par ties that form what is often identi fied as the world’s largest outdoor fetish festival. Produced by non profit FOLSOM STREET EVENTS, the Fair raises money for a variety of charities, including the PRC AIDS EMERGENCY FUND, DOLORES STREET COMMUNITY SERVICES, and THE TRANSGENDER LAW CENTER . Last year, Folsom found itself at a pandemic crossroads. Having lost 89% of the fair’s revenue in 2020, part of the proceeds from 2021 paid off debts from 2020. This year, Folsom has fully restored its grantmaking program.

Alas, I have nothing very unusual to report about this year’s Folsom Fair, except one concept that upset me: a vendor’s booth offered “vegan toys.” What’s next then? A Pleather Fair?! Are we to feel somehow superior that we did not skin our cowhide to wear leather? Anyway, most

One of my fave games offered at all the leather fairs is Steamworks’ lively version of TWISTER , where a spinner tells players where they have to place their hand or foot. The game promotes itself as “the game that ties you up in knots,” and it is such fun seeing half-naked folx doing exactly that! And it was so heart warming to see the BARE CHEST CALENDAR guys autographing their datebook wares for charity. Special kudos to the Fair produc ers for providing free MPX and COVID-19 vaccines. Great plan! Sister Dana sez, “Vax to the max!”

October is LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH in the United States. It was first observed in 1994. October was selected because it coincides with NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY on October 11, and because it is the month of the first “March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights” in 1979. Sister Dana sez, “Try as I might, I just cannot get any further OUT!”

Meanwhile, Republican lawmak ers in Pennsylvania are trying to pass a bill that goes further than Florida’s DON’T SAY GAY bill.

And if Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano wins in November, it could become law. “It is patterned after the Florida bill, but mine goes further,” boasted state Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R), the prime sponsor of H.B. 2813. Her bill would ban any instruction about sex ual orientation and gender identity up through fifth grade. Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill only bans such conversations up through third grade. But that’s apparently NOT not gay enough, because she added, “It really needs to be protected up through 12th grade; we need to go all the way.” And I say, “No Way!”

President Biden surprised Elton John at the White House with the NATIONAL HUMANITIES MEDAL . The singer said he was “flabbergasted” by the honor for his work in HIV/AIDS advocacy. Congratulations to both Joe and Elton!

One of the world’s first commu nity foundations of, by, and for LGBTQ people is HORIZONS FOUNDATION, which invests in LGBTQ nonprofits, strengthens a culture of LGBTQ giving, and builds a permanent endowment to secure our community’s future for

generations to come. HORIZONS GALA 2022 was held both vir tually live-streamed and in per son on October 1 at the Fairmont Hotel where fierce Chicana activ ist and Board Chair Emerita Olga Talamante was honored with the Visionary Award, and Levi Strauss Foundation received the Leadership Award. The eve ning opened with a special perfor mance by Horizons’ grantee partner, In Lak’ech Dance Academy Horizons President Roger Doughty inspired us by speaking of what has been accomplished and what is yet to be done.

COMPASSION IS UNIVERSAL is SHANTI’s annual dinner and bene fit on Thursday, October 13, 6–9 pm at The Palace Hotel. This year, they will celebrate 48 years of Shanti’s work in the community. The event will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and a program to recognize those in the community who best embody Shanti’s values of volunteerism and service. https://www.shanti.org/ Sister Dana sez, “With all these lawsuits pending, Trump will play a very special game of MONOPOLY and ‘Go directly to jail: do not pass Mar-a-La GO!’”

The mission of AIDS LEGAL REFERRAL PANEL (ALRP) is to help people living with HIV/AIDS maintain or improve their health by resolving their legal issues. ALRP represents the legal community’s caring response to AIDS and is the only institution in the Bay Area whose sole mission is dedicated to providing free and low-cost legal services. On October 19, ALRP will commemorate 39 years of serving the legal needs of people living with HIV/AIDS with their FROM THE HEART Reception & Auction, 6–9 pm at the historic Julia Morgan Ballroom, 465 California Street, 15th Floor. This year’s special guest host will be David Chiu. Since its beginnings in 1983, ALRP has han dled over 85,000 legal matters for people living with HIV/AIDS. The agency currently leverages almost $1 Million each year in donated legal services to serve over 1,300 clients annually. https://www.alrp.org/

ARTSAVESLIVES, produced by Thomasina DeMaio, presents NEW FARM SHOW on October 16, noon to 6 pm, 10 Cargo Way. 15 Local artists, spoken word, and 4 bands. https://tinyurl.com/3st7h7ra

LOCKDOWN COMEDY on Zoom, now in its 3rd year, will be on Thursday, October 20, 7 pm fea turing Candy Shaw (SF), Nick Leonard (SF), Ying Vigilan (Spokane via China), and “The Geduldig Sisters”—producer/comic Lisa Geduldig with her 91-yearsyoung mother, Arline Geduldig (both in Florida). https://www.koshercomedy.com/

THE SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION is currently presenting JUANITA: 30 YEARS OF MORE!, showcasing the life and work of Juanita MORE!, the grande dame of the San Francisco drag scene. The exhibition is avail able to the public at the SFAC main gallery in the War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness, now through November 12. It was a joy hugging Juanita with congratu lations—among all her other admir ers—on September 30 at the festive Opening Reception. The impres sive exhibition features over 40 pieces of commissioned artwork, a room ful of photos, gorgeous gowns dis played, and gobs of jewelry fit for a queen collected in a glass case. These

items offer a glimpse into the fabu lous, purpose-driven life of Juanita and the thousands of artifacts that she has accumulated throughout the course of her career.

An entire wall is devoted to dis play the multitudes of awards and certificates of honor given Juanita, including those from various city supervisors, boards, and even one from then- District Attorney Kamala Harris. Of course, being a nun, I most appreciated the time we Sisters sainted Juanita in 2006. A

framed certificate gives proof, and the admission into Sainthood came with a declaration: “St. MORE is Better, Our Lady of Boundless Lashes and Bottomless Boys— Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Be it decreed that from this day forward—that your good works shall be remembered in honor and perpe tuity. You shall forever stand as a pil lar of strength in The Community. You are hereby perpetually allied

off from having vulnerable, intimate relationships with people.

Gary M. Kramer: Why do we do that? Is that just insecurity?

Billy Eichner: Being vulnerable, you’re opening yourself up to potential hurt and criticism as much as you’re opening yourself up to potential love and comfort.

Gary M. Kramer: But your film shows that, when you don’t do that, you can still feel hurt and pain.

Luke Macfarlane: I actually think that’s a uni versal thing. Yes, we have the Velvet Rage and the Best Boy syndrome, but I think that many of the people you look at in the world who have been highly successful have done it because they thought they did it all by themselves, and that is the only thing they can focus on, which is their own private life. I don’t know if that is specifically singular to the gay community.

Gary M. Kramer: Given that you are play ing these characters, what influences did you have?

Billy Eicher: I mostly did base it on my own life. I did grow up in a time when there were really great romantic comedies being released in movie theaters, which we don’t get anymore. They were always about straight people and never included any LGBTQ folks, barely included any marginalized group. But I did love When Harry Met Sally and Annie Hall, and Moonstruck and Broadcast News, which is my favorite movie of all time, and Tootsie. We barely get movies like those about straight people anymore and we never get them about gay people.

They are not avant garde or subversive indie films with a sad ending. There’s a place for that. I love avant garde movies, and independent queer cinema. I think Bros is able to exist because of the decades of indie queer romcoms that we got, but I was thinking about Nora Ephron, James L. Brooks, and Woody Allen movies I grew up with but never saw myself in. I love how funny and witty the characters are, Bros has its more subversive moments. But I wanted to do something that ended on an uplifting note, that gave people hope.

So much of what gets released in movie theaters now is dark and gritty. We get a lot of action mov ies, and superhero movies, and horror movies, and it seems like comedies are something people watch at home alone, but for me, it’s much more satisfy ing to watch with hundreds of people in a theater and laugh out loud. That was my guiding inspira tion. Making a movie like the ones I grew up with, but with a gay couple with LGBTQ characters and LGBTQ actors.

Luke Macfarlane: I wept at Brokeback Mountain, and Power of the Dog, and Philadelphia. Those are all incredibly moving pieces of queer cinema, but it never occurred to me that we could have a romantic comedy. Because I really have not seen that. Even in the indie space, a movie I really connected with was Beach Rats. I love that movie. But that movie was not in the multiplex.

© 2022 Gary M. Kramer

Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.”

Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer

with the Order of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc.”

Sister Dana sez, “Amen to all that!”

The 48th CASTRO STREET FAIR happened all day Sunday, October 2. The Fair has been celebrating the vibrant Castro District since its founding by Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1974. Producers have been able to give back more than $1.5 Million to their beneficiaries through the years. I was thrilled to see that Kaiser Permanente held a drop-in combination MPX (monkeypox)/updated COVID booster/flu vaccination clinic at STRUT during the Fair. At the SF BAY TIMES booth, the eternally rain bow-costumed Juan R. Davila gave fairgoers rainbow-col ored bubble wands. We cheered on cheerleaders CHEER SAN FRANCISCO. And what joy seeing the SAN FRANCISCO LESBIAN/GAY FREEDOM BAND proudly marching right down the middle of Castro Street!

THE CASTRO ART MART was that same Sunday— full of LGBTQ artists, live music, and drag performances. “Castro Art Mart” occurs every 1st Sunday of the month on Noe Street & Market, 11 am to 5 pm.

Sister Dana sez, “I am enraged that the awful QAnon creeps have stolen my favorite alphabet let ter (‘Q’ is for Queer) for their horrible, dangerous, anti-democratic conspiracies!”

day and practice any time. You might say I started acting like a musician.

Irene Young: I understand you have received sev eral awards from film festivals. Being Grammy winners, is it gratifying to garnish accolades in an additional art form?

Cathy Fink: We’re always excited to artistically push our selves in new directions. All Wigged Out was a totally new direction for us. We still pinch ourselves that we actually did it! We actually raised $85K via GoFundMe and private donations. We wrote and rewrote with Tracy in Zoom ses sions; we rehearsed for a month in Evanston, IL. We made a band happen with Stacy McMichael (bass) and Janet Cramer (drums). Todd L. Clark built a set in a dance stu dio since there were no theaters open during COVID lock down. There was so much hard work by us and others. We paid everyone a fair and decent wage when there wasn’t much artistic work going around.

Being selected for film festivals and getting awards from fes tivals is incredibly amazing. It means that what we have to say in our story is valuable to others, and that means the world to us. Just as rewarding is the fact that the American Association of Nurses is making the film available to their members during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

It’s meaningful that venues like the Freight & Salvage are screening the film and that three local cancer support com munities are coming together at the Freight to spread the word and extend community. The film makes it easier for people to talk about cancer instead of hide it or hide from it.

There are nuggets for patients about self-care and advocacy.

And while there’s nothing funny about cancer itself, Marcy is charming, hilarious, and poignant at the same time.

Marcy Marxer: One thing I’ve always loved about your work, Irene, is the way you honor the people you pho tograph. You capture their spirit as only Irene Young can. Thank you for shining a light on All Wigged Out and for our wonderful long relationship.

Irene Young: Marcy, being a two-time breast can cer survivor myself, I was touched by your experi ence, and how you transformed it into art. And the songs are fabulous! Do you have an album avail able?

October 16 Freight & Salvage

Wigged

QUEER POP QUIZ

ANSWER (Question on pg 25) D) witch

It is estimated that 5.3 million adults will dress as witches for Halloween this year. Rounding out the top five most popular costumes for 2022, according to Rent., are vampire, ghost, pirate and cat/Batman (tied).

Take Me Home with You!

“My name is Cowboy! I am a two-year-old male, Great Dane Retriever/Labrador mix looking for my forever home! I am a charming, active young fellow who loves daily walks and playing fetch with my toys. I need a home in a quiet neighborhood, ideally with out loud noises. Every day I learn new training cues from my SF SPCA team, and am a very “good boy,” as I often hear. If you think we are a match, please come say hello!

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

Cowboy is presented to San Francisco Bay Times read ers by Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, the SF SPCA’s CEO. Our thanks also go to Paradise Osorio for helping to get the word out about lovable pets like Cowboy.

As Heard on the Street

To meet Cowboy in person, visit the SF SPCA Mission Campus @ 201 Alabama Street. It is open for appointments from 10 am–6 pm (Monday–Wednesday, Friday–Sunday) and 1 pm–6 pm on Thursdays.

For more information: https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/

Fitness SF Trainer Tip of the Month

Steven Luibrand at Fitness SF Mid-Market

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

What is a favorite Castro business and why do you like them?

Tawdry Hepburnn

“If you want to feel good, focus on mobility and cardio. If you want to look good and perform well, focus on strength.”

Miss Shugana

“The Castro Country Club”

Diana Wheeler

“The Beaux Lounge, since they are generous hosts of benefits there”

Mark Paladini

“Double Rainbow Ice Cream because they’re back!”

Miss Chief “Harvey’s and the Stitchery”

“Cliff’s Variety because not only can you find items you really need, but you can also create memories from them”

Castro Street Fair 2022

The 48th Annual Castro Street Fair was held on Sunday, October 3, keeping alive the annual tra dition launched by Harvey Milk in 1974. Following a new plan created by the organizers, this year’s fair was pre sented in a smaller “footprint” or total area of space occupied during the event.

As in previous years, the Castro Street Fair included food vendors, information and merchandise booths and tables, entertainment stages, and street performances by performing arts groups including the historic San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band and the CHEER SF squad of highly skilled cheerleaders.

Congratulations to Executive Director Fred Lopez and the entire Board of Directors on the fair’s success this year as the sunny early fall day included an enthusiastic, sizable crowd of attendees who, by all accounts, enjoyed the now-iconic event.

https://castrostreetfair.org/

Appreciating Our Volunteers

Photos courtesy of Juan R. Davila

We can never say thank you enough to those who contribute their time, skills, expertise, products, services, and resources in support of San Francisco Bay Times projects as well as to events and services of many LGBTQ nonprofit groups and agencies comprising the fab ric of our community. Join us in expressing appreciation every time there is an opportunity to do so.

Particular thanks go to San Francisco Bay Times volunteer team leader Juan R. Davila along with Leticia Lopezz, Blas Lopez, Noemy Perdomo, Miguel Lopez, and all others who have helped in so many ways. Most recently, the Bay Times team was represented at Oakland Pride, Oakland Pridefest, and the Castro Street Fair. Thank you again to all who have come forward to help and be of service to others.

Rink Remembers

News of the passing of Ken Hamai was on the minds of many at this year’s Castro Street Fair, indicated Rink, who spoke of their tributes that have also been on social media. Hamai was a longtime supporter of LGBTQ-serving non profits, including the GLBTQ+ Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA), the Imperial Council of San Francisco, the Richmond Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF), and more. He was often featured in San Francisco Bay Times stories, given his long standing dedication to the local LGBTQ community.

With partner Jack Henyon, Hamai co-owned the Bay Winds Lighting Company, formerly at 2261 Market Street. Hamai was also known for his devotion to a large circle of friends as well as to many organizations. Before his passing, he donated a collection of papers to the GLBT Historical Society: https://tinyurl.com/46mk763z

Michael Ritter

On Friday, September 30, Rink visited Hibernia Beach and found memorial items posted in remembrance of Michael Carl Ritter (1954–2022), who died of hypothermia on Friday, September 16, fol lowing a treacherous swim in San Francisco Bay. He was a very experienced swimmer and athlete who was a member of the Dolphin Club and regularly swam in the Bay over the past decade. A strong current, however, impacted Ritter and two other swimmers, prevent ing them from returning to shore at the time they had planned. The other two individuals also sustained hypothermia, but survived.

Originally from South Carolina, Ritter traveled to San Francisco in the 1970s and decided to make his home here. He was a faculty member at San Francisco State University for more than 30 years. There he taught counseling and provided mental health services. He founded the AIDS Coordinating Committee during the heart of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and was a social justice activist. He is greatly missed by his many friends and colleagues, as well as his husband and partner for more than 35 years, Peter Toscani.