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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area
CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2020) December 3–16, 2020 http://sfbaytimes.com
Santa Skivvies DIY for 2020 December 13!
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAN FRANCISCO AIDS FOUNDATION
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Electoral Bang for the Buck, the 2020 Edition number of votes received—which answers the question, “How much did every vote cost?” In 2020, not only did the pandemic significantly disrupt daily life, but it also completely obliterated electoral campaigning. San Francisco’s traditional strategy, which is heavy on door-to-door canvassing, hand-shaking, baby-kissing and in-person events, was out of the question. Campaign managers had to pivot to different forms of outreach such as TV/internet advertising, social media, direct mail, phone/text-banking and the dreaded Zoom gatherings that were brutal for “day-job” workers like me. The last thing I wanted to do after a whole day of working over video conference was to do more video conferencing.
Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History Louise “Lou” Fischer Over 80 million people will exhale in sheer relief and leap in paroxysms of glee when the current Commander Cheeto-in-Chief exits the White House for the last time in January, but boy howdy, it sure didn’t come cheaply. CNN labeled the amount spent on the 2020 federal election an “absolutely stunning price tag.” According to the Center for Responsive Politics (a research group that tracks money in politics), almost $14 billion was spent; the breakdown was approximately $6.6 billion on the presidential campaign and an estimated $7.2 billion on Congressional races. In comparison, that is more than double the cost of the 2016 election cycle, which was $6.5 billion total for presidential and Congressional races (adjusted for inflation). With the most important Election Day in our lives mercifully behind us, there is nothing for local campaign junkies to do. However, for electoral data junkies, this is “Festivus” but with number crunching instead of an “unadorned pole” or “feats of strength.” Armed with a fresh spreadsheet and data from the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) and the Fair Political Practice Commission (FPPC), a political nerd could spend hours of pandemic-induced isolation poring over numbers. I wrote about this topic two years ago for the 2018 election, when I deemed the theme song to be “Money, Money, Money” by ABBA. This year, a more appropriate song, at least for the presidential election, is Warren Zevon’s 1978 hit “Lawyers, Guns and Money.” There is a wide discrepancy in the amount of money raised (and spent) in federal versus local elections, and the figures vary greatly depending on the race. Aggregate numbers without a reference point seem meaningless, which is why, after every election, I like to calculate “per-vote-spending”—the amount spent divided by
San Francisco’s 11 supervisorial districts each represent a smaller electorate, and when races are open or contested, the cost per vote (CPV) tends to run high. In the 2020 election, of the 6 “odd” districts, D1 and D7 were completely open, D5 and D11 had serious challenges to incumbents, D3 had a challenger (to Aaron Peskin) that did surprisingly well against a 3-termer, and D9 was so uncontested that the incumbent seems not to have even bothered to raise or spend any funds. The calculations below represent total expenditures by the campaign (not including “Independent Expenditure” or 3rd party spending) divided by the total of 1st choice votes, because even though supervisor races are ranked choice (RCV), 2nd and 3rd choices are consolation prizes. It’s like watching the opening band for The Beatles; they were OK, but you came to Shea Stadium to see The Beatles, not The Young Rascals. The results below are from the candidates’ October 30 Form 460 financial filings (available at https:// sfethics.org/ ) and supplements where applicable.
Results of District 7 (St. Francis Wood, Monterey Heights, Mt. Davidson, Balboa Terrace, Ingleside Terrace, West Portal, and a total of 26 neighborhoods, most of which you have never heard of) Candidate Amount Spent Total 1st choice votes Cost per vote (CPV) JOEL ENGARDIO $428,206 9,215 $46.47 VILASKA NGUYEN $422,085
8,195
$51.51
MYRNA MELGAR $439,060
7,852
$55.92
Chalk this one up to another crazy district election in the wacky madcap world of SF politics. It was an open and highly contested race, and as expected, CPV numbers were higher than the other five districts, but not as high as the D2 race in 2018 where the CPV of the challenger was a whopping $91. While both Joel and Vilaska received more 1st choice votes than Myrna, through the miracle of RCV and shared ideologies, Myrna scooped up enough of the challengers’ votes to win. I think Joel said it best after the election with this quote to the press: “An open seat with multiple candidates and the dynamic of ranked choice voting makes things complicated.” Results of District 9 (Mission, Bernal Heights, Portola) Candidate Amount Spent Total 1st choice votes Cost per vote (CPV) HILLARY RONEN Who knows? 27,478 unknown
Results of District 1 (Inner/Central/Outer Richmond) Candidate Amount Spent Total 1st choice votes Cost per vote (CPV) CONNIE CHAN $287,353 13,420 $21.41 MARJAN PHILHOUR $410,769
12,196
$33.68
This was a tough one. Marjan did spend more than Connie, but she engaged in as much in-person outreach as was possible during a pandemic. This race still bewilders me; I guess D1 is still a progressive bastion. While Connie had a lower CPV than Marjan, this race had some nastiness from an IE supporting Connie that may have pushed Connie over the edge by a mere 124 votes at the end of RCV. Results of top 2 finishers in District 3 (Chinatown, North Beach, Telegraph Hill, Nob Hill)
10,449
$28.61
Peskin should not have had to spend so much against a political newcomer with no name recognition who was referred to as “Danny Who?” Clearly Danny got in the game, and while he did spend more per vote than a THIRD TERM SUPERVISOR, it’s the norm for a challenger. Still, Danny kept his CPV low, so maybe in 4 years he can try again. Results of District 5 (Inner Sunset, Haight Ashbury, Lower Haight, Fillmore, Western Addition, Japantown, Hayes Valley, and more) Candidate Amount Spent Total 1st choice votes Cost per vote (CPV) DEAN PRESTON $478,534 21,427 $22.33 VALLIE BROWN $420,999
16,727
Results of District 11 (Excelsior, Ingleside, Oceanview, Outer Mission, Crocker Amazon, and others) Candidate Amount Spent Total 1st choice votes Cost per vote (CPV) AHSHA SAFAI $319.093 15,032 $21.23 JOHN AVALOS $355,423
Candidate Amount Spent Total 1st choice votes Cost per vote (CPV) AARON PESKIN $308,262 15,290 $20.16 DANNY SAUTER $298,914
I’m perplexed by this, but I can’t find any filings for her 2020 supervisor campaign, and if I wasn’t already past deadline, I would call Supervisor Ronen and ask. Either the name of the candidate’s committee is something really obscure or Hillary opted to spend less than $1000 on this race and therefore didn’t have to file. I live in District 9 and I don’t remember receiving any literature, but she was unopposed, so even if she joined an underground biosphere community before the election, she’d still be the winner.
$25.17
This race was disappointing; I wrote about it extensively in two earlier columns, so you can read about it there. Vallie spent a little more per vote than Dean as expected, but overall, the CPV was pretty modest and in the same range as the other districts except for D7.
The Memorial for Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone, observed each year at Harvey Milk Plaza on November 27, is among the most revered annual events held in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood. As with so many of our community’s important occasions this year, the 2020 Memorial was conducted virtually by the Harvey Milk Club, organizer of the event. With credits to photographer Dan Nicoletta for his images, and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus for sharing their performances of “Never Ever” and “Truly Brave,” the Memorial can be viewed in its entirety at https://tinyurl.com/y5n8h6dg
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$26.66
This race followed the traditional pattern: the incumbent kept his CPV lower than the challenger, a former 2-term Supervisor who tried to pull an “Aaron Peskin” and come back to the Board (or a “Grover Cleveland” if you are a presidential history buff). Peskin won easily in 2016 because his opponent was an appointed incumbent who was barely in office long enough to find the women’s restroom before she had to run against a former two-term elected official. Ahsha is a popular incumbent who was elected in his own right, so this race had a higher degree of difficulty. Overall, the CPVs for the “class of 2020” weren’t particularly Earth-shattering and returned consistent and expected results. So, now that you know how much you have to spend to run for elected office, start saving now! By the Numbers SF votes cast on Election Day - 38,452 SF vote-by-mail ballots - 411,373 Total votes submitted - 449,825 Registered voters - 521,099 Voter turnout - 86.32% Louise (Lou) Fischer is a Former Co-chair of the Board of Directors of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and has served as an appointed and elected Delegate for the State Democratic Party. She is a proud graduate of the Emerge California Women’s Democratic Leadership program, was a San Francisco Commissioner, and has served in leadership positions in multiple nonprofit and community-based organizations.
42nd Milk and Moscone Memorial Goes Virtual for 2020 Photos by Paul Margolis
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I Confess: The Case for a Trump Self-Pardon
Cross Currents Andrea Shorter Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution grants the President of the United States the power to pardon any person convicted for or accused of federal crimes, except in cases of impeachment. The President may not pardon persons convicted for or accused of violating state or local laws. — The United States Constitution As President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris begin to form a new government and cabinet closer to the image of the diverse American demographic, Trump tweets out teases and taunts about which next of his fellow criminal enterprising grifter buddies to wave his magic pardon wand over during this final series episode of Reality Bites Back Bigly. I must confess something: I’d actually like to see this man try to pardon himself. Yes, we’ve totally had enough of the gaudy orange spectacular disaster on his way from the White House and possibly soon to the Big House. We relish his exit from the world’s stage without pro-
Of course, as no person can stand as judge and jury in their own trial before a court of law—the closest absurdity one can conspire in court maybe to either serve as one’s own attorney or hire Rudy Giuliani—the president, therefore, technically, cannot pardon him or herself. In two hundred plus years, self-pardon has never been tried by an exiting president of the United States. Why not? Let’s see. Probably because no one ever imagined we would have an impeached, treasonous, and delusional president facing real life taxrelated New York state civil and criminal indictments, charges, and a boatload of convictions once he steps off of Marine One for the last time, and touches toe onto the gated manicured grounds of civilian life at Mara-Largo. The president’s pardon power cannot be used to: (1) pardon state crimes, (2) remove federal civil liability, (3) pardon impeachment, or (4) pardon crimes that have not already occurred. While pardons only apply to federal offenses, and not state or local matters, the Trump pathology suggest that since it became apparent that he just might win his long shot at the presidency, he has long banked on
WHITE HOUSE PHOTO
Obviously, such a final act would be par for course for Trump. No one would put it past him to at least try. That’s his brand. He’s proven fiendishly immoral, unethical, desperate, and just plain crazy enough to do it, right? No surprises here.
PHOTO SOURCE: NATION.COM
longed voter suppression schemes, spew of lies, cult-crazed conspiracy theories, board stiff combovers, and crazy antics. Still, to pardon himself? Come on—who wouldn’t want to see that?
self-pardon as the ultimate reward, benefit, if not purpose of his presidency. Self-pardon, then maybe exile. Before he was sworn in, bets were on for how long it would take before he would be impeached. Impeachment definitely happened mid-term. Still, he can’t pardon his own impeachment. I would like to see Trump attempt self-pardon for one reason: it would require that he describe the federal offenses and crimes committed for which pardon can be granted. From what federal offense could he possibly attempt to self-pardon? At the very least, maybe for violation of election laws, vis a vis his hush money payouts to one Miss Stormy Daniels as arranged by his once loyal and trusty attorney turned fall guy and newly released from federal pen, Michael Cohen. Could it be use of federal property for election campaigning when he took the hatchet to the Hatch Act to commandeer the White House as backdrop, stage, Trump brand promo, and worldwide broadcast of his re-election campaign extravaganza? Surely there are at least two dozen federal violations for which he would be eager to absolve himself in the waning days of his failed one term as the once elected
and now not elected leader of the free world.
endured of his pathology of narcissism and self-interest alone.
The Trump pathology would also suggest that, even if he knows that self-pardon would not stick, he could at least put into the minds of his followers that a special gold-plated Trump pardon extends to absolve him of any forthcoming allegations, charges, convictions in any state, any town. After all, that’s more or less in the same vein of recent scammy schemes he’s been hustling per mailin ballots, rigged elections where he lost—telegraph out what you want people to believe, come up with shady, flimsy tactics to make your projections seem prophetic and true, blame, blame, and cry wolf as loud as possible that you’ve been done wrong by somebody somewhere somehow.
Above all else, a presidential self-pardon would be confessional. Much like appropriately offering concession in clear defeat, offering confession is the ultimate un-Trump—confession would signify defeat. Based on the facts about pardon, and observations over four years of the dangers of Trump pathologies on full display, I concede and confess: a self-pardoning President #45 seems less likely. Then again, with Rudy Giuliani as his personal attorney and chief exit strategist, who knows? Maybe they’ll be foolish enough to give it a try before the last moving van is packed at the White House and rolls out onto Black Lives Matter Way and onto Florida or ... .
I would like to see in real writing— not a tweet—exactly what committed offenses soon to be citizen Trump would warrant or fancy a president’s self-pardon. But wait ... a self-pardon would essentially require an admission of offense, possibly an admission of guilt. Trump’s pathology doesn’t allow for admission of offense, let alone guilt. Therefore, the probability of a Trump self-pardon should diminish to a one in a million long shot just based on what we’ve
Andrea Shorter is a Commissioner and the former President of the historic San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women. She is a longtime advocate for criminal and juvenile justice reform, voter rights and marriage equality. A Co-Founder of the Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, she was a 2009 David Bohnett LGBT Leadership Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
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Mitch McConnell’s Neighborhood included big tech and SF’s Chamber of Commerce. An estimated $3.4 million was donated to NFBSF. Three top donors each gave $300k. One donor, William Oberndorf, is also a major Republican donor, who has donated $1 million to Mitch McConnell— yes, that Mitch McConnell.
Out of Left Field Robert Holgate & Jennifer Kroot (Editor’s Note: This issue marks the launch of a new column jointly authored by Jennifer Kroot and Robert Holgate. Both are extremely successful in their respective fields: Kroot is a well-known filmmaker whose documentary The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin is currently streaming on Netflix; Holgate is one of the city’s top interior designers who for years has supported such LGBTQ nonprofits as the National AIDS Memorial Grove, Keshet, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and more. As longtime friends, the two have enjoyed many conversations about politics, local issues, and much more. This column brings just some of these thought-provoking topics to the San Francisco Bay Times.) San Francisco residents needed extra recycling cans this fall because of a barrage of vicious political mailers dumped on the city by a massive super PAC with Republican billionaire backers. That’s right, this was the SF election, not national politics. The negative, misleading mailers—along with door-hangers, online ads, texts and TV ads— came from a super PAC with the folksy name “Neighbors for a Better San Francisco” (NFBSF), aimed at defeating progressive supervisor candidates and influencing two local measures. NFBSF was a “mother” super PAC shepherding another layer of propaganda entities, making it a challenge to follow the money. The child entities included: another super PAC, eight slate mailer organizations, and two single purpose committees (one pro Measure H and one anti Measure I). All these entities had treasurers associated with real estate interests. Other supporters
Political consultant Jim Stearns, who worked for Dean Preston’s D5 supervisor campaign, told us for the San Francisco Bay Times: “The scale of this was significantly larger than is normal for SF.” He continued, “They attempted to paint an apocalyptic picture of District 5, with homeless encampments on every block. However, people could walk outside and see that this was a total fabrication. In fact, Dean and his team have worked overtime to get the unhoused into sleeping villages, hotels, and other places, so there are fewer homeless in D5 now then there were before the pandemic.” Despite the malicious attacks, Dean defeated his opponent Vallie Brown decisively. Leo Wallach, a campaign consultant for Brown, said via email: “Vallie does find it disturbing that a donor supporting Senate Republicans was involved in a super PAC that had a position in District 5 ... . Of course, she has no control over that because it’s illegal to communicate or coordinate with outside independent expenditure groups.” Preston, however, questions that there was no coordination. “Vallie’s campaign messaging was often identical to the super PAC messaging,” he says. “One day I would get a mailer from her campaign claiming that I was recklessly giving out thousands of tents and also blocking affordable housing. The next day, a mailer from the super PAC would say the same lines, with the exact same photos. If this wasn’t coordination, it was certainly one hell of a coincidence.” Wallach notes that Brown “supported the local Democratic Party resolution this year that called for this type of money to stay out of San Francisco races and, in fact, she wanted to go further in condemning outside spending in races.” Regarding Oberndorf, Wallach writes, “Vallie has never met the PAC donor ... . He’s given to Republican party causes (plenty of bad ones), but also gave to support Hillary Clinton ... .”
Proposition I, authored by Preston, was also under attack. Prop I increases tax on real estate sales over $10 million, and it passed by a wide margin. Preston explains that NFBSF spent millions to defeat the Prop I. “They wasted an incredible amount of money on their lies, then they doubled down on their lies, but it backfired.” Stearns says spurious attacks on local candidates are unacceptable: “They were brutal, fact-free, smear campaigns and, in the case of D7 supervisor candidate Vilaska Nguyen, racist.” Nguyen is Filipino American, and one mailer attached his head on a lion, calling him ‘The Lyin’ King.’ We all know the ugly history of depicting people of color as animals, so that was particularly disturbing.” Nguyen was defeated my Myrna Melgar. Stearns had never heard of Oberndorf before October. “It’s an outrage that this guy pulls $300k out of his wallet, the way that you and I would pull out 30 bucks. He’s basically saying, ‘You are little people, but I am a rich, white, powerful man, and my voice is 300 times more powerful than anybody, and I’m going to destroy you with my power and wealth.’” Thankfully, Mitch McConnell’s neighborhood is not in our backyard! Jennifer Kroot is a filmmaker, known for her LGBTQ themed documentaries, including “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin” and “To Be Takei.” Kroot is a Bay Area native, and has lived in San Francisco for 31 years (15 years in District 5). She studied filmmaking at SFAI, where she has also taught. She is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. A humanitarian, as well as a designer, Robert Holgate is dedicated to critical social issues. With his hands-on approach to philanthropy and social justice, he supports the advancement of local and national social causes. For more information: https://www.rhdsf.com/
About Our Cover This year’s pandemic has led to the cancellation of so many anticipated holiday events, but we are happy to report that the Santa Skivvies tradition is continuing, albeit in a different format for 2020. The Santa Skivvies Challenge for this year is a do-it-yourself holiday fundraiser benefiting the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF). Challenge yourself to go the distance, raise funds, and tune in on December 13 for a festive virtual award ceremony and show! When you sign up, you will be sent a free pair of the event’s iconic red underwear to incorporate into your fundraising. Whether you choose to walk, run, scooter, swim, roll, or skate, the organizers will have you covered—well, almost! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the usual one-mile underwear fun run fundraiser, along with Santa’s block party, is on hold until it is safe to gather in large groups again. The 2020 event may look different, but the need to fund HIV prevention and care services for our community is still the same. It will take the holiday spirit in all of us to go the distance for health justice. And don’t forget to show your best holiday lewk in the Santa Skivvies Photo Booth! https://virtual.giggleandriot.com/santaskivvies Thanks to SFAF, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and the event partner, the Lookout, for again helping to keep this festive fundraiser going. 6
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GLBT Fortnight in Review Dangerous Times The prospect of a Supreme Court ruling in our favor once shone in the distance like the bright light at the end of the dark tunnel through which our community was suffering this or that constitutional indignity. Sodomy laws? We can see how they’ll end! Federal marriage recognition? It’s coming! Marriage equality? Just you wait! When we saw Gorsuch take the place of the late Antonin Scalia, the balance of the Court stayed much the same. When Kavanaugh took over from Kennedy, however, our reluctant champion retired in favor of a youngish conservative who showed little interest in our cause. Now, well, now we’re screwed. Trading Ginsburg for Barrett was like replacing Thurgood Marshall with Clarence Thomas. Not even swapping O’Connor for Alito fully compares. Now, the Court is toying with the notion of revisiting what seemed to be a settled side issue of marriage rights. To wit: when two married women have a child, must they both be listed by the state as parents on the child’s birth certificate? No state examines whether or not a husband is the biological father of his wife’s child before listing him as a parent on official paperwork. The guy could have been doing lab research at the North Pole for a year and, absent some formal challenge, he’d still be considered the dad. The couple could even have used donor sperm and it wouldn’t make a difference. So, why on Earth would a lesbian wife be treated any differently? Indeed, this question arose in the immediate aftermath of the mar-
riage equality ruling in a case out of Arkansas, where the state supreme court ruled that the state’s interest in determining biological ties allowed it to reject automatic parenthood for a lesbian wife. If she wanted, the state argued, she could just adopt her wife’s child. First of all, not having what amounts to a certificate of parenthood leads to all kinds of complicated bureaucratic problems throughout childhood, including difficulties with school authorities or even life or death decisions in a hospital. Second, an adoption is an expensive and time-consuming remedy. Third, as mentioned above, husbands are not required to prove biological ties to their wife’s children, ergo the “biological records” excuse doesn’t wash. The High Court rejected Arkansas’ rationales in 2017, issuing an unsigned opinion to that effect without bothering with arguments. The marriage equality ruling, noted the Court, applied to the entire constellation of marriage benefits. And both birth and death certificates were specifically mentioned in that 2015 opinion. As many on our side noted with alarm at the time, the Arkansas decision came with a tarnished lining. Writing for the first time on an issue dear to our hearts, Justice Gorsuch dissented, opining that Arkansas’ commitment to biological ties made perfect sense, and was not really a question of marriage equality. Why attack the entire policy, he wondered, when the plaintiffs could have focused exclusively on the treatment of donor insemination, and left the rest of the state law unchallenged? Justices Thomas and Alito joined him in this objection.
By Ann Rostow I am slowly getting to my point, Rachel Maddow-style, because now, another married lesbian birth certificate case has floated up to the High Court, this time from Indiana and a victory for us at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Given the previous decision of just a few years ago, one would think Indiana would fold its hand. Instead, the state has appealed the pro-gay appellate ruling, and the High Court has asked the lesbians to respond to the state’s petition. It takes four votes to agree to hear a case, and, of course, it takes five votes to win one. You might think a question of state forms and certificates a minor glitch. But the issue is far deeper. As we’ve said, the newly anti-GLBT Court is not going to reverse marriage equality. But it could easily undermine it, with exceptions for birth certificates, with open windows for religious discrimination, with added red tape, with sympathy for Christian bakers and photographers. For the most part, we’ve emerged from our various tunnels into the sunlight. But now, the Supreme Court looms ahead as a black entry to yet another dark journey. And we’re being pushed towards the event horizon.
ways until I find myself screaming at her screen image: “We get it Rachel!” I was shaken by Rachel’s emotional account of the terrifying experience of seeing her partner Susan nearly die of COVID-19. Mel and I watch her so often and have done so for so long that it feels as if she’s a friend. How easily we could all go fishing together, make cocktails, or stay up late talking about the invention of the printing press! For all the discussion about how Fox News distorts its viewers’ sense of reality, we are ourselves immersed in MSNBC, beginning with Stephanie Ruhle, pausing until Nicole Wallace, and finally picking up again with Rachel. That said, we have long since abandoned the self-satisfied Morning Joe contingent, who at some point became insufferably smug, as well as the oftincoherent Chuck Todd.
This Is Who We Are
Yet for all its leftist leanings, MSNBC is reliably mainstream. There are no left-wing conspiracy cults to my knowledge, at least none with pedophiles, aliens, lizard people, or whatever in God’s name is going on with the far right. We on the left are rooted in the complexities of the real world, in the grey areas, the histories of global relationships, the difficulties of a diverse society. If we “demonize” our adversaries, we do so as metaphor, not literally.
I love Rachel, but you know what I mean by “Rachel Maddow-style,” right? We start off learning about the invention of the printing press and after half an hour we’re finally discussing, I don’t know, the Voice of America. I really don’t mind that. What bothers me more is her habit at times of repeating the same information over and over again in different
Going forward into a country led by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, I don’t know what will happen to the crazies and the QAnons, but I pray they’ll dissipate into disconnected blocs of malcontents, who may gradually return to the fringes of sanity and then merge back into the body politic with their minds intact. We’ll see. We’ll see in a while just
how much damage Trump has done to our country and how much of it is reparable. Unidentified Standing Object Speaking of cults and aliens, what’s the deal with the monolith that appeared in the middle of nowhere and then vanished? I love this mystery, right out of Star Trek. I imagine the chaos on the Enterprise. “Captain! Ensign Lewis has accidentally transported the dilithium regenerator casing onto the planet surface!” “Transport it back, Number One. At once!” “We can’t do that, Sir! It’s traveled through a rift in space-time back to the 21st Century!” “Can we get a shuttle through that rift?” “Yes, but we have to act fast. The rift is closing!” The crew busies itself with preparations. Lieutenant Mason and Ensign Carter take the shuttle into 21st century Earth orbit. “Can you get a lock on the casing?” “On it ... Lieutenant! It looks as if the lizard people have returned to the Northern Continent and are trying to reelect a despotic ruler. That will destabilize the ancient governments and disrupt the timeline!” “Computer: Lock on to all intelligent reptilian species on the surface and beam them into space.” “But, sir!” “Transport complete.”
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How to Turn Investment Losses into Gains value to offset the gains you’re making on other investments. This lowers your tax bill, essentially putting more money in your pocket. Plus, any amount of loss you don’t write off one year can be carried forward indefinitely until it is finally exhausted.
Money Matters Brandon Miller Uncle Sam and Santa both have white beards, but no one really confuses the two. So, it may surprise you that the skinnier guy delivers gifts this time of year, too. One of these presents is known as tax-loss harvesting, also called taxloss selling. Both sound like something awful, but it’s actually a brilliant way to benefit from investment losses. And while you can implement it at any time, many people use the strategy at the end of the calendar year. Basically, tax-loss harvesting is when you sell investments that have lost
Investment losses can help you in two ways. One is to offset the money you are making with your winning investments. The second way is if you have more losses than gains, including no gains at all. Then you use any excess amount of loss to offset up to $3,000 of your income each year (on a single or joint tax return). Remember, you don’t generally pay taxes on your investments until you sell them (except for dividends and interest). Investments you sell for more than you paid are capital gains, and those that have lost value when you sell are capital losses. The gains you owe taxes on. The losses, well, we’re getting to that. The amount of tax you owe on your gains is based on how long you have had the investment. More than one year is considered long-term, while less than 12 months is shortterm. Short-term gains are taxed at your ordinary tax rate while longterm gains are taxed at much lower
rates—0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your income.
stantially identical”—within 30 days before or after the sale.
The IRS mandates that your capital losses have to offset the same type of capital gains first. For example, short-term losses have to first offset short-term gains. Any excess can then be used for long-term capital gains and income.
Also, tax avoidance shouldn’t control your investment strategy. Rather than sell something that is working well in your portfolio or you believe has growth potential, look for other assets that don’t fit your strategy or that you have lost faith in. Investments that are easily replaced—I’m looking at you, mutual funds—are also good choices.
Let me give you an example. Say you sell a long-term investment at a loss of $20,000. You also sell another long-term investment for $7,000 more than you paid for it, as well as a short-term investment that added up to a gain of $3,000. So, the $20k tax loss that you are harvesting is first applied to your $7k long-term gain. Since you have excess, you can also offset your $3k short-term gain. That leaves you with another $10k to harvest. You can now make $3k of your income for the year disappear tax wise, and carry over the remaining $7k in future years. Pretty cool, eh?
Tax-loss harvesting also comes in handy for rebalancing your portfolio. Say you exercised some company stock options and now your asset allocation is off because too much of your money is in one investment. You could sell some at a profit and sell off an investment that has lost money. Maybe your Ford stock is down currently, but you still believe in the auto industry. Sell it at a loss and buy some GM stock. You rebalance your portfolio and get a tax break at the same time.
Of course, this is the IRS, so there are some restrictions. This only applies to taxable investments, not tax-deferred investments such as an IRA or 401(k). And there’s a wash sale rule that says that you can’t harvest a loss if you buy the same stock or security—or one deemed “sub-
Using losses to offset gains and cut your tax bill through tax-loss harvesting can help you get to your goals faster. Maybe it’s not enough to make you want to run out and get Uncle Sam ornaments for your Christmas tree, but it’s still a pretty great gift for investors.
The opinions expressed in this article are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security. Brio does not provide tax or legal advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as such. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional. Brio Financial Group is a registered investment adviser. SEC Registration does not constitute an endorsement of Brio by the SEC nor does it indicate that Brio has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Brio Financial Group and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Brio Financial Group unless a client service agreement is in place. Brandon Miller, CFP®, is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.
Unpretentious but Still Premium Prices are what you’d expect for peak feature sets from these mainstream brands. My loaded Forte GT started at just less than $23,000, and with the $2,200 GT2 Package including sunroof, forward pedestrian collision warning, heated and cooled front seats, along with other options, the total was just over $26,000. Not bad for a host of features previously reserved for more expensive offerings.
Auto Philip Ruth An unpretentious image is generally seen as desirable, but it’s an elusive one in car marketing. Brands and sub-brands, model names, and corporate identities all aim to align with your aspirations, with luxury brands at the top. But what if you want premium features without the pretension? Enter this week’s two testers: the Kia Forte GT and the Toyota Venza Limited. If you covered up the badges, you might be lost for a moment as to where they land on the status scale, emphasizing either sport or luxury.
Kia Forte GT
My $43,100 Venza Limited continued that thread with a “Star Gaze” panoramic sunroof, a feature Toyota has been slower than Kia to adopt in its crossToyota Venza Limited overs. A downside is that you cannot open it since the glass is fixed. However, it does allow you to switch it between clear and frosted glass, which filters UV light. It defaults to frosted when parked. Neat stuff, and a feature we will likely see much more of, both in cars and buildings. The Forte’s price is about right for a jazzy compact sedan, while the Venza’s creeps into the segment above. That’s partly justified by the almost-Lexus look and feel, inside and out. The interior feels a cut above, with thick padding on the doors and console. The seats are broad and tall, with the aggressive sculpting of a gaming chair. The Venza’s instrument panel follows the trend of plunking a tablet-like center screen atop a curvy base, and the materials and stitching are eye-catching yet tastefully done. The Forte GT’s interior goes from luxury to sport, with red lighting and upholstery accents. The front seats are supportive with ample side bolsters, and they hold you in place with angled thigh support. The center screen is also tablet-like, and it sits on a familiar Kia dashboard, with broad horizontal contours making it seem wider than it is. If styling indicates the missions of the Venza and Forte, then the driving is the clincher. All three Venza trim levels are 219-horsepower hybrids, and my tester drove with pleasant sedateness. The CVT transmission ballooned its response on San Francisco’s steeper hills, and handling seemed geared toward reaffirming the vehicle’s size and mass rather than prompting you to probe the suspension’s limits. It’s the opposite for the Forte GT, which rocks out with a turbocharged engine making 201 horsepower. A seven-speed transmission delivers quick shifts with a dual-clutch setup, and the dual exhaust is augmented by a sound box that’s activated when you hit Sport mode. Lots of stimulation for sure. Either await if you’re looking for a premium experience without the badge. Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant with an automotive staging service.
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Message from Leadership
A Time to be Thankful
By Michael Gunther What a year this has been! We’ve seen ups and downs in the ever-changing economy, challenges in growing businesses during the pandemic, a never-ending election cycle, and impacts on our communities from the housing and health crises as well as business closures. The list of ups and downs could go on, but the list of things to be thankful for should be even longer— and can be the list that shapes our attitudes as we approach a new year. This holiday season I encourage you to take a few moments to acknowledge the individuals and situations that have assisted you in achieving your goals this year. I would like to share my list: 1. The Economy – No, I’m not thankful that we are experiencing the existing economic situation, but I am grateful for the associated challenges that have made me and others better business people. We have had to go back to the basics of earning business. We have had to be innovative in creating new approaches, services, products, etc. We have had to work hard to pare down our debts and expenses. I’m grateful that these economic times have allowed businesses to rethink and reenergize their organizations first to survive and then to thrive. 2. The Community – It is amazing how in a crisis people band together. We are fortunate that we live in a community that relies heavily on small businesses, because our needs
GGBA Member Spotlight
have created many organizations and individuals dedicated to supporting the success of businesses. I know the GGBA has been focused on providing resources and tools to help our member businesses succeed.
7. My Family – Being the 14th of 17 children has provided me a large support network. Add in my husband Steve, and I have the balance I need to stay focused even during the most stressful days.
3. My Team – I am fortunate to have business partners who share my passion for helping businesses be profitable and sustainable. Their drive and dedication inspired me through many challenges this year and continue to motivate me to be better at what I do.
Is it cliché that during this post-Thanksgiving period I am writing a list of things that I am thankful for? Maybe. But writing this list has reminded me that no matter how large the challenges I face, I have strong connections that provide me the inspiration, motivation, balance, and grounding to support me in achieving my goals.
4. Our Strategic Partners – At the GGBA, we have a remarkable group of strategic partners (PG&E, SoCal Edison, Comcast, AT&T, to name a few) who not only support the GGBA but also provide support and resources to our members. 5. My Board Members – Having a group of business leaders volunteering their time to improve the life of our members and community is remarkable, especially during these stress-filled times. I am thankful for the volunteers whom I collaborate with on a regular basis who help me stay grounded and inspire me to drive towards achieving our mission at the GGBA. 6. Our Members – I am very grateful to have the opportunity every day to assist passionate people to build their businesses. I am inspired by their commitment and determination to make their dreams a reality. Every time I work with our members, I am confident our economy will grow. They truly are the backbone of our economy!
The Bottom Line Writing out a list of what you are thankful for allows you to see past your challenges to what matters most. Start your list today: Who inspired you? What have you learned about yourself or your business from this pandemic era? Then, make your list the foundation for setting higher goals for your business next year. Michael Gunther is the President of the Board of the Golden Gate Business Association as well as the Founder and President of Collaboration LLC, a team of highly skilled business professionals who are dedicated to assisting proactive business owners to build profitable, sustainable businesses through results-oriented education, coaching, and consulting services.
Karla Campbell of 4 Directions Consulting & Coaching Photos courtesy of Karla Campbell
Karla Campbell, Founder of 4 Directions Consulting and Coaching LLC, helps leaders create a new definition of leadership for themselves and their organizations. That definition accounts for the emerging challenges that arise from a workforce containing new technology, low employee engagement, and multiple generations working together. Leaders become lost because current leadership models do not account for these complicated times—made all the more challenging due to the pandemic. Here, Campbell shares more about her work and offers valuable advice to those thinking of starting a business of their own. GGBA: What inspired you to create your business? Karla Campbell: I created 4 Directions Consulting and Coaching to provide the tools, support, and guidance existing and emerging leaders need to demonstrate their best every day while facing an ever-changing workforce landscape. I believe that one, “the answers are always in the room,” and two, “the magic is in the mess.” The answers can be hard— or impossible—to see, and the mess can be overwhelming; that’s why a neutral third party is necessary. My services include Executive and Emerging Leaders Coaching, Emotional Intelligence; Conflict Resolution Mediation and Training, Change Management with Facilitation. In combination, I can help people and organizations identify the “true” problems, find the ideal solution, and create a plan to achieve success for their current and future situations. GGBA: What did you do prior to founding your business, and how did that lead to your present work? Karla Campbell: I worked for a large organization and finally reached a level where I thought, “This is it.” The thing is, I was unsatisfied with the “it” I obtained. I realized that I had so much more value to add and have a broader impact. The next day I began my exit strategy. GGBA: Who are some of your role models, and especially those who helped to inf luence your business? Karla Campbell: My father was an entrepreneur for most of his life. He showed me how to figure out what is working well and what may need to change. He could find an opportunity in any difficult situation; he would be a great coach or teacher today on “how to shift” your business. Unfortunately, he passed away when I was in my early 20s. However, I chose the start day of my business on his birthday to honor him and our relationship. I know he would have been proud and happy with what I have created. GGBA: Why did you decide to join the GGBA, and how long have you been a member?
Karla Campbell
Karla Campbell: I have been with the GGBA for two years and was introduced by a current member, Elizabeth Bachman. I went to one meeting and was so impressed with how they balanced networking with highlighting a business and having a learning opportunity all in a couple of hours. GGBA: How has being a member of GGBA helped your business so far?
Karla Campbell: Early this year, before the COVID-19 lockdown, the GGBA put on a pitch contest where they provided coaching on presentation and speaking. I was honored to be chosen to present at this event. The coaching and support have changed how I pitch my business, and I have received new business. GGBA: Do you go to the GGBA monthly Make Contact networking events, which are now virtual? Have they benefited you and your business, and would you recommend them to others? Karla Campbell: Yes, I attend. I have made many connections and found these events professional, caring, giving, and supporting. For example, when COVID-19 began, GGBA immediately offered services and support to business owners. I was impressed when I received a phone call from a Board member, just checking on me to see how I was doing. The networking is excellent, and that is just one piece of the authentic guidance and support the GGBA offers. GGBA: What other advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own business? Karla Campbell: When you are thinking about starting your own business, what are you feeling? Excited or scared, or a little of both? Know this: the difference between excitement and fear is breathing. First, breathe, second begin a business plan, and explore where you may need some help and guidance. Thirdly, try not to do everything; pace yourself. Finally, if you are looking for people who can support, guide, mentor, laugh, and cry with you, come to the GGBA. If this year has taught us all something, it is together we can make it through. I love what I do because it helps people achieve their goals, wants, and needs. Finally, the genuine,
Karla with ABC 7’s Cheryl Jennings
supportive community that GGBA provides is a necessary break from those who cannot, or will not, appreciate entrepreneurship. I find my membership is aligned with my business’ beliefs. For More Information: https://bit.ly/3qbO0g1 https://tinyurl.com/y4tmfc6w https://tinyurl.com/yxdanr96
GGBA CALENDAR December Make Contact Celebrate Community and Legacy Tuesday, December 8 5:30 pm–6:30 pm The GGBA invites you to its annual holiday party to celebrate together during this holiday season. Joan Kerr of PG&E will be honored for a lifetime of commitment to furthering the GGBA and the LGBTQ+ community. Zoom: Link sent 1 hour before event start Register here: https://tinyurl.com/yxkvz4fx
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Supporting Small Businesses in the Castro & Beyond
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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area
CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2020)
Photos by Juan R. Davila
Poesia
5–10 pm Tuesday–Saturday; Noon–10 pm Sunday; Closed Monday 4072 18th Street Contact: Francesco D’Ippolito 415-252-9325 posiarestaurant@gmail.com http://www.posiasf.com Poesia is Italian for poetry, a fitting name for this romantic, intimate restaurant that serves authentic Sicilian and other regional Italian cuisines with European flair. It is little wonder that when Oprah Winfrey was seeking such a place in San Francisco, she chose to dine here after a preview screening of her film Selma. Restauranteur Francesco D’Ippolito’s brings the magic of the Italian coast to the heart of the Castro. Adapting and changing with COVID-19 restrictions, Poesia offers takeout, delivery, and dining in the back patio.
Dog Eared Books Castro
10 am–8 pm Daily 489 Castro Street Contacts: Raso and Alvin 415-658-7015 castro@dogearedbooks.com http://www.dogearedbookscastro.com Book lovers celebrated when word came that Dog Eared Books would, in June of 2016, be opening in the Castro. Founder Kate Rosenberger, who is a legend in her own time, also owns Dog Earned Books Valencia and Alley Cat Book on 24th Street in Noe Valley. She and her team have many heartwarming stories to tell about what has happened at the stores, from awkward first dates to engagement photos to student films and much more. The store sells new, used, and discounted books, and the helpful staff is available to assist with suggestions about what to read as well as gift selections.
Below Market Rate (BMR) Rental Apartments Available
In the interest of safety first, the store follows pandemic regulations, limiting the number of customers inside and requiring social distancing, masks, and sanitizing hands on entry. Using the online form to order for delivery by mail is encouraged: https://www.dogearedbooks.com/email-orders-page
Konrad on the Park at 971 Eddy St, San Francisco CA 94109
1 Studio at $1,228 a month; 8 One-Bedrooms at $1,357 a month; 2 Two-Bedrooms at $1,494 month. Seven parking spaces available to BMR renters for an additional $100 a month and will be offered to households in lottery rank order. Must be income eligible and must not own a home. Households must earn no more than the maximum income levels below:
60% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME One person $53,800 2 persons $61,500 3 persons $69,200
4 persons 5 persons
$76,850 $83,000
Applications must be received by 5pm on January 1, 2020. Apply online through DAHLIA, the SF Housing Portal at https://housing. sfgov.org. Contact a housing counselor for assistance with your application:housing.sfgov.org/get-assistance. Please contact the Konrad on the Park leasing team for more information at 415-636-5097 or bmr@rentkonrad.com. Units available through the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and are subject to monitoring and other restrictions. Visit www.sfmohcd.org for housing preferences and program information.
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Twin Peaks Tavern
11:30 am–6:30 pm Sunday–Thursday; 1 pm–9 pm Friday and Saturday 401 Castro Street Contacts: Jeff and George 415-864-9470 http://www.twinpeakstavern.com Can anything possibly be said about this historic and beloved tavern that hasn’t already been spoken or written? “Gateway to the Castro,” “legend in its own time,” “first ever windows in a gay bar to watch the world go by,” and so much more come to mind. Everyone knows the oscillating rainbow arrows pointing to the door and the iconic logo at this essential Castro stop. It is a home away from home where all are welcome. In collaboration with Orphan Andy’s, Twin Peaks is offering food service along with its famous bar selection. Plans are underway to install heaters and a parklet. To view the documentary Through the Windows by filmmakers Bret Parker and Petey Barma with proceeds supporting Twin Peaks, go to: https://www.throughthewindows.com/ You can also support Twin Peaks by contributing to their Go Fund Me campaign: https://tinyurl.com/y5j2rsmh
Advice for Caregivers and People Living with Dementia ing with dementia and their caregivers.
Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor 1978 Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011
2261 Market Street, No. 309 San Francisco CA 94114 Phone: 415-601-2113 525 Bellevue Avenue Oakland CA 94610 E-mail: editor@sfbaytimes.com www.sfbaytimes.com The Bay Times was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men. We honor our history and the paper’s ability to build and strengthen unity in our community. The Bay Times is proud to be the only newspaper for the LGBT community in San Francisco that is 100% owned and operated by LGBT individuals. Dr. Betty L. Sullivan Jennifer L. Viegas Co-Publishers & Co-Editors
Beth Greene, Michael Delgado, John Signer, Abby Zimberg Design & Production
Kate Laws Business Manager Blake Dillon Calendar Editor
Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence J.H. Herren Technology Director Carla Ramos Web Coordinator Mario Ordonez Distribution
CONTRIBUTORS Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Patrick Carney, Kate Kendell, Alex Randolph, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Jennifer Kroot, Robert Holgate, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Tim Seelig, Cinder Ernst, John Chen Rafael Mandelman, Jewelle Gomez, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Kin Folkz, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Peter Gallotta, Bill Lipsky, Elisa Quinzi, Liam Mayclem, Karen Williams, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Derek Barnes, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron Michele Karlsberg Lyndsey Schlax, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Howard Steiermann, Andrea Shorter, Lou Fischer, Karin Jaffie, Brett Andrews, Karen E. Bardsley, David Landis, Jan Wahl
Aging in Community Dr. Marcy Adelman Shelly has been living with Alzheimer’s for several years now. Her wife Joan is her caregiver. Joan emailed me in search of a referral to someone who could advise her about Shelly’s sleep medications, which are no long working effectively. Shelly used to sleep through the night, but now Joan often finds Shelly standing by the front door in the middle of night. Joan has secured the door in such a way that Shelly cannot open it by herself. She is not worried about Shelly opening the door and wandering off, a common occurrence in Shelly’s stage of Alzheimer’s. But she is worried that Shelly’s lack of sleep will affect her quality of life and hasten her cognitive decline. Without hesitation I knew exactly whom to refer her to. Stephanie is an LGBTQ ally and an Alzheimer’s Association (ALZ) Family Support Manager who knows about all things concerning dementia. Having worked with the LGBTQ community for more than a few years, she is deeply knowledgeable about LGBTQ older adults liv-
Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Deborah Svoboda, Devlin Shand, Kristopher Acevedo, Morgan Shidler, JP Lor ADVERTISING Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards http://sfbaytimes.com/ or 415-503-1375 Custom ad sizes are available. Ads are reviewed by the publishers. National Advertising: Contact Bay Times / San Francisco. Represented by Rivendell Media: 908-232-2021 Circulation is verified by an independent agency Reprints by permission only. CALENDAR Submit events for consideration by e-mail to: calendar@sfbaytimes.com © 2020 Bay Times Media Company Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas
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This quick hand-off didn’t just happen. In the last six years, LGBTQ advocates, national organizations like SAGE, and local LGBTQ senior serving community organizations have partnered with the ALZ to make dementia services more inclusive and culturally informed, and in return, have helped to make LGBTQ senior services more dementia competent. These partnerships have developed and created LGBTQ dementia informed resources where previously there had been none. There has been much progress to be thankful for.
Dr. Marcy Adelman Honored as Woman of the Year San Francisco Bay Times columnist and Openhouse Co-Founder Dr. Marcy Adelman was named “Woman of the Year” by Assemblymember David Chiu in March of this year. On November 27, she was presented with a framed certificate, although the previously planned ceremony in Sacramento was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
If you are a caregiver and/or someone living with dementia, and you need to speak with someone for advice during the holidays, there are several places you can turn to for help. The ALZ has a 24/7 advisory line: 800-272-3900 If you are looking for caregiving tips during this COVID-19 pandemic time, visit: https://tinyurl.com/y4opnumo https://tinyurl.com/y5ysrqkd LGBTQ senior serving nonprofits that are part of the ALZ LGBTQ partnership in San Francisco can also answer your questions or help you find someone that can: Openhouse: https://www.openhousesf.org/ Family Caregiver Alliance: https://www.caregiver.org/
Chiu shared: “Dr. Adelman has spent her career caring and advocating for our LGBTQ+ seniors. I’m proud to honor someone caring for and serving our seniors during this difficult time.” Please join all of us here at the Bay Times in congratulating Dr. Adelman on the welldeserved honor.
Curry Senior Center: https://curryseniorcenter.org/ Shanti: https://www.shanti.org/ Dr. Marcy Adelman, a psychologist and LGBTQ+ longevity advocate and policy adviser, oversees the Aging in Community column. She serves on the California Commission on Aging, the Governor’s
Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force, the Board of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California, and the San Francisco Dignity Fund Oversight and Advisory Committee. She is the Co-Founder of Openhouse, the only San Francisco nonprofit exclusively focused on the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ older adults.
Alegre Home Care is proud to support Dr. Marcy Adelman’s Aging in Community column in the San Francisco Bay Times.
2020: A Teachable Moment intrinsic error-correction system is trying to tell us today.
Social Philanthropreneur Derek Barnes As we begin this holiday season and bring the year to a close, many may be asking why we were immersed in so many challenges this year. What did 2020 teach us, and what were we supposed to learn through so much struggle, sacrifice, and loss? If we’re mildly enlightened and selfaware, we intellectually understand the value of teachable moments. They are often delivered in doses that are commensurate with lessons we haven’t learned yet. In other words, a more powerful lesson or repeated and failed attempts to get our attention may require more dramatic intervention. So often, these moments are not delivered to us on our own terms either. And more broadly applied to 2020, I wondered what this type of
There’s not one single answer. Some of our underlying attitudes and selfinflicted conditions have been prevalent for decades. It just took a global pandemic to shake and wake us— confirming the link between the scale of the problem that needs resolution and the dramatic intervention that is required to get our attention. In a culture that is so selfobsessed and driven by immediate gratification, we needed something so extraordinary to grab our attention long enough so we can examine our core values and move into cohesive action. But our 2020 teachable moment is far from over as we find ourselves entering a new phase of fighting a global pandemic. It continues its assault on many in our families and communities. The impact and losses are immeasurable. Yet, there is still hope and so much we can do in the months ahead to mitigate harm. Perhaps the recent election is a good reminder of the continued fight necessary when so much is at stake, including our core values as a nation. Do we continue to support systems that don’t serve more diverse social interests in our country, the economic inter-operability of a global community, and changing environ-
mental needs? What set of values are most important to us when we know there’s so much need in many parts of the country? I am deeply struck by the persuasive conditions of U.S. food, housing, and employment insecurity. This holiday season, over 50 million people in the United States are hungry and seek food assistance. Due to the surge of COVID-19 and an economy that remains unstable, many will find themselves without permanent shelter or safe housing. The loss of business and jobs due to the pandemic has pushed the “real” unemployment rate over 12%. This number doesn’t account for workers who have stopped looking for employment, and it doesn’t consider those who need to work multiple jobs in our gig-based economy just to make ends meet. For a country that prides itself on American exceptionalism, innovation, and wealth, we are failing to provide the basic needs for many of our citizens—especially people of color, the working class (“essential workers”), and rural and metropolitan communities. There are specific reasons for this, and we need to wake up and disengage from illusion and propaganda. Being curious, informed, critical, involved, and knowledgeable about history are more great lessons in 2020.
We can’t claim to be the wealthiest nation in the world when we can’t balance our annual budget, over 40M people live in poverty, over 80% of Americans are in debt, and the U.S. accounts for 30% of the $270T in total global debt. These dire conditions are deeply rooted in pervasive power and economic structures that keep people uneducated, distracted, and in debt. The U.S. still has access to vast resources, and a prime directive is to figure out how to unlock enormous amounts of untapped value in a fair, equitable, and distributive way. This is what a moment like 2020 can ultimately teach us. Most understand the role that philanthropy and charitable giving play in providing essential services to many people, especially during bad economic times. People who feel the constant burden and threats should be able to rely on strong social safety nets and philanthropic networks. To individuals and corporations, who have the means to offer resources and support, please continue helping those in your communities who may need just a little more assistance to meet the tough challenges ahead. The year genuinely exposed inequitable education and job opportunities, eroding social safety nets, and
economic systems that are not sustainable. However, we shouldn’t lose sight of our collective strength, resilience, and compassion through one of the most challenging years in modern history. 2020 has also activated civic responsibility, renewed social contracts centered around racial justice and gender parity, and revealed broader philanthropic goals. Advances in these areas continue to strengthen our humanity while providing hope and opportunity to so many people. Derek Barnes is CEO of East Bay Rental Housing Association ( www.EBRHA.com ) and a Co-Founder at g-dii Enterprises ( https://www.g-dii.com/ ). He currently serves on the boards of Horizons Foundation and Homebridge CA. Follow him on Twitter @DerekBarnesSF or on Instagram at DerekBarnes.SF
San Francisco Bay Times Wishes You & Yours a Happy and Safe Holiday Season!
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A Queer Pandemic Metamorphosis overnight in a way Gregor might recognize. As millions of us “sheltered in place” and spent more time alone than ever before, we experienced isolation that recalls the painful separation from others that Gregor experienced when he became a big bug. Just as Gregor struggled to find the way forward when his life was turned upside down, so have we.
6/26 and Beyond John Lewis “Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams to find he had been transformed into a gigantic cockroach.” So reads the first sentence of Franz Kafka’s 1915 masterpiece The Metamorphosis. Kafka and The Metamorphosis immediately enthralled me as soon as I encountered the book in my high school German class. Why was Gregor transformed overnight? What were his “uneasy dreams” that night? How in the world was Gregor going to get out of his most unfortunate predicament? As a teenager thirsting to understand the nature, meaning, and purpose of life (and sexuality), I felt as if Kafka was speaking to me and we shared a common path. The events of 2020 reveal the enduring relevance of the story of Gregor Samsa. Although we weren’t turned into cockroaches this year, COVID19 dramatically altered our lives
I also began to wonder whether my struggles with being gay back in high school were another reason I had found the story so compelling. In high school and college, I understood the book as an allegory about the human condition and our apparently fruitless efforts to find or ascertain spiritual truth. Gregor’s plight as a cockroach and his efforts to survive and liberate himself are a metaphor for people’s search for freedom from suffering, isolation, and the apparent futility of life. Like any timeless tale, this work can be interpreted in many ways. This year, I learned that The Metamorphosis can also be viewed as the Jewish writer Kafka’s cautionary tale about the precarious position of European Jews in the early 20th century. Scholars have read Gregor’s predicament as a metaphor for the anxiety European Jews experienced as Europe began to allow their assimilation into the broader society. Gregor’s struggle symbolized both Jewish concerns about maintaining
culture and identity amidst assimilation, and fear of ongoing antiJewish hatred and scapegoating. It seems no accident that Gregor was transformed not into a benign butterfly but, in fact, according to some translations a “monstrous vermin,” a well-known anti-Semitic trope. Gregor’s initially caring sister Greta eventually turns on him, saying they must get rid of “it.” Tragically, the Holocaust proves Kafka’s apparent fears to have been prescient.
transgender people, the political fear tactics characterizing LGBTIQ people as fundamentally dangerous to others sadly retains some of its force today, especially among politically conservative Christians. Gregor died alone of starvation after even his sister and parents abandoned him. We know all too well the continuing devastating effect of familial, religious, and societal homo-transphobia on too many LGBITQ people today.
The Metamorphosis speaks to me now as a queer parable as well. As a queer youth in 1970s Kansas City, I felt unable not only to express my sexuality and gender but also to come into touch with it internally. Even as I had positive experiences growing up and in high school, I felt enormous internalized pressure to conform to others’ expectations. Being different in any significant way was inconceivable to me. I had unknowingly donned an emotional, spiritual, and sexual straitjacket that resembled the large exoskeleton that trapped Gregor. I didn’t even know it, but I was emotionally isolated and struggling to become free without any idea of how to do it. Gregor and I faced similar problems.
Although The Metamorphosis does not have a feel-good ending of love and acceptance, one scholar commented that Gregor underwent a second transformation in the book—coming to embrace “his true form.” So too have millions of LGBTIQ people. Just as The Metamorphosis is a story about the search for freedom, our movement was originally known as Gay Liberation and we marched in Freedom Day parades.
Of course, back in the 1970s, much of American society viewed LGBTIQ people as menacing objects of disgust like cockroaches. From the Lavender Scare to Anita Bryant’s “Save the Children” campaigns, to Prop. 8, to stigmatizing
Gregor never sacrificed his own heart and lost empathy and the desire to connect meaningfully with others even as they rejected him. Paradoxically, Kafka’s fictional tale of Gregor’s isolation, which we know reflects the writer’s own actual experience, reminds us that none of us are actually alone in our struggle to find peace, freedom, and happiness. Indeed, being reminded during the current pandemic that we are all struggling in different ways has helped me breathe easier.
Perhaps the genius of The Metamorphosis is its presentation of the human predicament for which we all must find solutions. Does Kafka point us to love? The marriage equality movement’s celebratory declaration that “Love Wins” brought a divided nation closer together by striking to the heart. It also may be a hope that sustains as we go forward. Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, together for over three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. Their leadership in the grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed in 2015 to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.
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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2020)
Sister Roma, Tanum Davis Bohen, David Rak & Oren Henry
Photos by Mark Rhoades
In June 2020, LGBT community leader and PR strategist Mark Rhoades contacted popular artist fnnch and suggested that he paint rainbow honey bears all over the Castro. Fnnch loved the idea, and added that he would like to honor Pride by painting one specific wall, with one dynamic focus: the SF LGBT Center. Rebecca Rolfe and Roberto Ordeñana of the Center approved the mural, which is dedicated to fnnch’s late gay uncle. Now Rhoades is taking photos of LGBT leaders, well-known artists, and others in order to support the Center. In this column the San Francisco Bay Times is featuring highlights from the colorful collection of images that will be exhibited at the Center for SF Pride 2021. For More Information Mark Rhoades PR https://www.markrhoadespr.com/ fnnch https://fnnch.com/ SF LGBT Center https://www.sfcenter.org/
Sister Roma
Tanum Davis Bohen, Founder & Principal of The Bohen Group, LLC, a Silicon Valley-based consulting firm that focuses on Personal & Professional Leadership Development
Oren Henry and David Rak 14
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A Rainy Night in Paris Photos courtesy of Page Hodel
Coming Out Stories
I can almost remember the exact moment that I realized I might be one of “those” people. I was driving shotgun in the red Morris Minor of my best friend in high school. I remember I looked over at her behind the wheel as she was wearing a very short miniskirt and I caught myself looking at her thighs and felt my eyes stay a little longer than “normal.” For the first time, I felt that magnetic unmistakable flush of longing and realized something definitely undeniable. I wanted to be more than her friend. I had the typical tomboy young life. Red wagons, skateboards, slingshots, balsa gliders. I even stole my neighbor’s Tonka truck and careened down the neighbor’s driveway. Yes, my parents tried to steer the boat in the pink direction, but all proved to be futile attempts. I got the requisite dolls and tea sets that just gathered dust as I raced out the door in my blue jeans and ratty sneakers to build another fort or climb a new tree.
DJ Page Hodel at the controls, spinning tunes for an LGBT community event
As I entered puberty and started the “dating” scene, it was at best awkward, somewhat clumsy, and I definitely couldn’t pull it off. I had boyfriends but they were the gentle soft types. Really wonderful guys, but I definitely had already begun my gravitation to girls. I grew up in Marin and although everyone thinks California is so free and forward, in 1969 early 70s, in my high school, there was not one gay person who was out. And the gym teacher who was suspected to be gay, with her shortcropped manly haircut and powerful strong confident demeanor, well, it was NOT respectful what was said about her. And I was terrified to be one of “those” people.
Hodel was inspired to create the hearts for Madalene Louise Rodriguez, whom she met in 2005. Just a year later, Rodriguez passed away. As Hodel writes, “All of our lives have never been the same.” The heart images are featured in her book, Monday Hearts for Madalene.
In 1972, I wrote a cryptic poem proclaiming to myself that, in fact, I was gay. Then quickly stashed it in a suitcase and packed my bags to get as far as I could from anyone I knew and went to study music in Paris. When I stepped out of my apartment that first day there at the ripe age of 16, I wandered the streets knowing that I was completely free to be whoever I wanted to be. As one inevitably does after a long walk in Paris, I landed in a corner café and stood at the bar with all the Parisians smoking fat little French cigarettes and swirling tiny spoons, stirring the sugar cube wrapped in pretty paper, in their dark espressos.
By Page Hodel
I stood at the steel covered bar, and in walked an astoundingly beautiful and dapper young woman dressed in a threepiece perfectly tailored suit. Very handsome boyish haircut. Not one hair out of place. The French, as we all know, can put themselves together like no one I have ever seen. She was like a statue. I was dumbstruck as I watched her while sipping my tiny little cup of coffee, staring in lust and wonder. I went immediately later that day and cut off all my hippy California long hair to a cute little boyish cut. In my own way, I think that day I came out. I was free, I was alone, finally able to express myself without the blaring gaze and crushing scrutiny of my friends and family. With my new haircut and this seismic explosion of the fluidity of gender raging through me, I walked down the Champs Elysée that day and stopped in a perfume store to experience the famous “French perfume.” There, with my newfound “I’m a boy now” confidence, I walked to the counter with my imaginary three-piece suit on and met the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, Tatiana, who proceeded to squirt little sweet scents all over me. I was drenched in the sweet flirtatious pampering touch of a woman. With the aromatic cacophony of what felt like an orchestra of aromas, we landed on my favorite of all, Eau Sauvage, which I wore most of my perfume life. Delighted with my choice, she called me aside, then opened her purse and produced an adorable miniature little bottle and said, “This is also my favorite. Please have this as a gift. I carry it everywhere.” I floated out of the store, and, of course, never saw her again, but alas, Tatiana, I never forgot you. My apartment was on a small alley on the left bank, and I lived across the street from what turned out to be a lesbian couple, one American from Berkeley, one French from Paris. I was on the 7th floor and they on the 6th. We would holler across the street in English, and I quickly began spending lots of time with my new first gay friends. They were considerably older than me and, recognizing my young age, they kind of took me under their wing and introduced me to feminism and the arts with lots of women from all over the world. Most of their friends were in the arts— some clowns and theater students, filmmakers, writers and photographers. One night at one of their parties, I met my
first love, a performance artist from New York, who was studying mime at Marcel Marceau’s teacher’s school. We all made plans to meet the following weekend to go dancing at a lesbian bar. It was a rainy night, and we all piled into the car of one of their friends. It was so packed full of girls giggling, with everyone (probably seven of us) sitting on laps, bouncing in her Renault on the rainy cobblestone streets. We got to the front door of Jeaux de Dammes, Paris’ only lesbian bar in 1972. It had a dark, seedy little entrance. If you didn’t know it was there you would have walked right by. It had a little trap door opening peephole where the door person would look you up and down and decide on your correct “look” for entry. Apparently, we failed. Too many jeans and t-shirts. She said something to the effect of, “We all like to look like women here,” so we piled back into the Renault and returned home to get our raincoats to cover our garb. We were let in on take two. We danced all night and I somehow conveniently lost my keys, so I had to stay at my first love’s little studio apartment, where we talked into the morning light, made love for the first time, and, if you can stand it, fell asleep to the sound of the choirboys’ singing, echoing throughout the courtyard. That was 48 years ago ... . Page Hodel is an internationally renowned DJ and nightclub promoter in the LGBTQ community who has worked with major dance venues in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Paris. She is also an artist and author, who wrote the best-selling “Monday Hearts for Madalene” (Stewart, Tabori and Change, 2010). A talented carpenter, she converted a school bus into a tiny home in the 80s, and recently built another tiny home: a wood-paneled beauty named “Mazine.”
SF Sketch Randy Coleman Randy Coleman hails from New York, but has lived in San Francisco since 1975. Coleman shares that before moving to the Bay Area, he studied Art History and Architecture at Boston University while working as a resident artist for architectural rendering at a Massachusetts historical society. “All of my life I’ve been an artist,” Coleman says. “To know me is to know that I have a passion for art and architecture. I love this project for the San Francisco Bay Times, and hope that you enjoy my sketches.” © Randy Coleman, 2020
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The Castro’s Holiday Display in 2020 Photos by Rink and Juan R. Davila The current pandemic could not stop the holiday spirit in the Castro, as our home neighborhood’s beautiful tree, adorned with rainbow decorations, has returned once more. In lieu of the festive program held each year at the plaza near the intersection of 18th and Castro Streets, a small gathering of community leaders and City of San Francisco officials were on hand Monday evening, November 30, to welcome the season. Led by legendary entertainer, activist, and San Francisco Bay Times columnist Donna Sachet, the 2020 tree lighting ceremony was colorful and spirited, even though it was smaller than we are accustomed to seeing and was without joyous live music. Joining Donna for the ceremony were Castro Merchants Association President Masood Samereie and District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. Representatives of SFPD’s Mission District also attended, along with local merchants and neighbors.
PHOTO BY RINK
Donna and Masood
Donna waving goodbye! 16
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PHOTO BY JUAN R. DAVILA
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Juan, Richard and Masood
PHOTO BY RINK
Terry and Rich of Cliff's Variety
PHOTO BY RINK
PHOTO BY JUAN R. DAVILA
PHOTO BY JUAN R. DAVILA
Contributions are welcomed in support the Castro Holiday Display, sponsored by the Castro Merchants Association: https://bit.ly/3mxMUZZ
Donna’s Chronicles
By Donna Sachet
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s this year comes to a close, our cherished traditions are being challenged right and left. How many of you spent every Christmas Eve for many years at the Castro Theatre enjoying one of the SF Gay Men’s Chorus’ three concerts there? How many of you giddily hopped onto a plane, eagerly anticipating a reunion with family members and the comfort of familiar foods, conversation, and atmosphere? And how many of you simply donned your gayest apparel before heading South of Market or to the Castro to spend some time with your favorite bartender at a local bar? Few of us will spend this holiday season as we have in the past and many of us may not see easy alternatives. It has indeed been (to borrow the phrase of dear Queen Elizabeth II) an annus horribilis, Latin for horrible year. Yet, in the LGBTQ Community, we know how to face challenges, seeing new possibilities and finding creative alternatives. The SF Gay Men’s Chorus presents (At) Home for the Holidays, an online program of holiday music on Christmas Eve. Zoom and Facebook Live chats will have to suffice this year instead of large family gatherings. And believe us, the bars and businesses of SOMA and the Castro will welcome you in your festive attire, only in parklets, socially distanced, and safely masked. No, it may not be exactly what we would prefer, but try something different and you may be surprised at how many of the same nostalgic feelings will come to the surface. We’ll miss many of the events for which we have happily served as emcee, hostess, or simply ribbon-cutter, but that doesn’t mean we’ll stay home all month! We’ll be safe and festive! Even without a big official in-person lighting, the lovely origami tree sponsored by the Rainbow World Fund will still appear at Grace Cathedral and the Castro Holiday Tree still glitters in the Castro. Online programs abound with music, dance, theatre, and other art forms, including Donna Sachet’s Songs of the Season produced by Brian Kent on Monday, December 14, at 7 pm. In the spirit of this radically different holiday season, we hope you enjoy this poem, penned by us, with apologies to Clement Moore.
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the ‘hood Not a creature was stirring, not even Masood. The merchants in the Castro had decorated with care, At least the businesses that were still there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, The Castro Holiday Tree only a memory in their heads. When out on the street there arose such a clatter, A drag queen in red said, “That tree, it still matters!” So down to the B of A a small group flew With a tree, some lights, and decorations too. They spoke not a word, but went straight to work, And set up a holiday tree, then turned with a jerk. No chorus this year, no children, no band, But elected officials, sisters, and a few others on hand. And so once again the Castro Holiday Tree arose, A place for residents and visitors to pose. The Castro still offers this tree to remind us That isolation and gloom will soon be behind us. Masks and gloves will be a thing of the past. Let hugs and parties return to the Castro at last! Picture streets that are crowded with folks having fun, Busy restaurants, shops, and bars in 2021! And I heard that drag queen exclaim, as she headed out of sight, “Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night!”
Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com
“The holidays can’t begin until you’ve seen Donna Sachet’s Songs of the Season.” –Donna Sachet
Calendar
a/la Sachet Wednesday, December 4 The Academy Legends Award Night Honoring Juanita MORE!, hosted by Liam Mayclem & Donna Sachet Facebook and YouTube online event 7 pm, Free! www.academy-sf.com/club Saturday, December 5 DIVALICIOUS Brunch: Holidays are a DRAG! Hosted by Afrika America & BeBe Sweetbriar With Princess Poppy, Amora Dior Black, Connie Hung Beaux, 2243 Market Street Noon $5 cover www.beauxsf.com Thursday, December 10 I Am Divine movie virtual group viewing Documentary about the legendary entertainer & honoree Hosted by and benefiting Rainbow Honor Walk 7 pm $10 www.rainbowhonorwalk.org Saturday, December 12; Sunday December 13 The Nutcracker Express, SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band Dance Along Nutcracker reimagined online Special guests, great music, comedy 7 pm Saturday, 11 am Sunday Free! $15 suggested donation www.sflgfb.org Sunday, December 13 Help Is on the Way for the Holidays XIX Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation’s virtual gala Featuring clips from 18 past concerts 6 pm $25 & up www.reaf-sf.org Monday, Dec. 14 Donna Sachet’s Songs of the Season produced by Brian Kent Virtual cabaret of holiday music with Frenchie Davis, Leanne Borghesi, Russell Deason, Roberta Drake, Kippy Marks, Kenny Nelson, Dan O’Leary, Effie Passero, Breanna Sinclaire, Sister Roma Benefits PRC 7 pm & 3 pm on Sunday Free! But donations welcome and appreciated www.prcsf.org Thursday–Sunday, December 17–20 The Golden Girls LIVE!: The Christmas Episodes Featuring Heklina, Matthew Martin, D’Arcy Drollinger, Holotta Tymes Virtual show with new episodes $30 & up www.stellartickets.com Thursday, December 24 (At) Home for the Holidays, SF Gay Men’s Chorus Legendary Xmas Eve concert goes virtual 5 pm Details coming soon www.sfgmc.org
PHOTO BY SHAWN NORTHCUTT
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Sports Are Back!
Sports John Chen The vast majority of the California counties are now in the purple tier and under curfew. To compound the bleak situation, winter is coming, greatly hampering outdoor activities. What do sports oriented people like me do now that the pandemic appears to be more widespread and dangerous than ever before? Well, the answer is simple: watch lots of sports on TV and various media.
Take Me Home with You! “My name is Catkin! I’m four months old and full of kitten energy. I’m ready for a home full of snuggles and lots of kitten love! My ideal adopter would be someone who enjoys lots of playtime sessions. I would love to attend the SF SPCA’s Kitten Kindergarten class with you, where you can help me learn clicker training and how to walk on a leash. If that sounds like fun, please make an appointment to meet me!” Catkin is presented to San Francisco Bay Times readers by Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, the SF SPCA’s Co-President. Our thanks also go to Krista Maloney for helping to get the word out about lovable pets like Catkin.
Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup
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To apply to meet Catkin, visit https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/
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Thank goodness professional sports and select college sports are back, providing much stress relief for “COVID fatigue.” I don’t have to watch Korean professional baseball well past midnight, and I don’t have to pretend that the National Corn Hole Championships is an actual major sporting event coveted by ESPN. No offense to all the corn hole fans around the world. With the success of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) “bubbles,” fans all over the world can root and cheer for their teams, or against a much-hated team, like the Dodgers, or a love to hate player such as LeBron James. By the way, congratulations to the Dodgers and
LeBron for winning their respective championships during one of the most challenging years. Their championships provided great drama, storylines, and entertainment for us sports fans while we are stuck at home. At one point, there was so much sports on TV I felt like a kid in a candy store. I have never changed channels so fast and so many times in such a short period of time going back and forth between games and matches from different sports. The National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs were pitted against the U.S. Open Tennis Championships. The Masters golf championships went up against Major League Soccer (MLS). And now there is pro football competing alongside college football. Pretty soon, college basketball will start and a new season of pro basketball will commence when our beloved Warriors will finally take the court and begin their quest for another title. What’s odd, however, is the lack of live fans and the energy and pageantry that come with competing in front of a rowdy, knowledgeable, and
passionate crowd. Measuring the decibels of fans collectively roaring or groaning is the backbone of competitive sports at all levels. It’s rather strange to hear the mute of empty, or near empty, stadiums, courts, and fields when there’s an amazing dunk, a homerun, a gooooooaaaaaal, or a touchdown. Despite the oddity, I am thankful there’s sports to watch, to cheer, and to entertain. Yes, winter is fast approaching and we are looking at a far less festive holiday season. But us sports fans have a lot to look forward to. Several vaccines appear to be ready for distribution in phases as early as later this month, which is great news for everyone. College football championships, the Super Bowl, and the NCAA Basketball Tournament are all just around the corner in 2021. Before you know it, we’ll be watching the first pitch of MLB opening day and the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Cross our collective fingers! John Chen, a UCLA alumnus and an avid sports fan, has competed as well as coached tennis, volleyball, softball, and football teams.
GLIDE Holiday Jam: Rise Up for Change The uplifting virtual program for GLIDE’s Holiday Jam 2020 featured India.Arie, Joan Baez, Renel Brooks-Moon, Lisa Fischer, Michael Franti, Goapele, Tom Johnson of the Doobie Brothers, and more. GLIDE’s own Marvin K. White and the GLIDE Ensemble and The Change Band also performed. Among the luminaries who appeared were Governor Gavin Newsom, Mayor London Breed, GLIDE Foundation President & CEO Karen Hanrahan, Board Chair Kaye Foster, and Co-Founders Janice Mirikitani and Rev. Cecil Williams. If you missed the live event or want to relive the evening: https://vimeo.com/481897286 There is also still time to donate at www.glide.org/holidayjam
This Month at the Castro Farmers’ Market
Holiday Gifting Is Easy at Your Farmers’ Market
By Debra Morris
Start your holiday shopping at a place where you know quality and freshness come first. From baking ingredients to delicious gifts to meal planning, the farmers’ market is the place to come for the best ingredients. You’re making it easy on yourself while still helping your farmers feed their families during a difficult year. The holidays will be a bit different this year, but there are traditions you can still carry on.
The Castro Farmers’ Market is closed for the season, but the Divisadero market is nearby in the DMV parking lot at 1375 Fell Street in San Francisco. They have a fantastic selection of gift items and wonderful fresh produce for all your holiday needs. Holiday baking will be a breeze with crunchy almonds and walnuts from Inzana Ranch in Hughson
Make yourself some hot apple cider to fully enjoy the season. This recipe takes a while, but it will make your home smell like the holidays!
HOT APPLE CIDER 10 sweet apples, quartered (Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Jonagold) 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar, depending on how sweet you like it 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon ground allspice Whole cinnamon sticks (optional) Place apples in a large stockpot and add enough water to cover them by at least 2 inches, about a gallon. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover pot, reduce heat, and simmer for 2 to 2-1/2 hours. Taste to see if you want more spice. Strain the apple mixture through a fine mesh sieve and discard solids, saving the liquid. Drain the cider again through cheesecloth-lined sieve—or use coffee filters if you don’t have cheesecloth. Serve warm with a cinnamon stick. Refrigerate remainder. Makes about one gallon of cider.
and fresh eggs from Great Valley Poultry in Manteca. Allard Farms out of Westley has wonderful citrus and Rainbow Orchards in Camino has delicious apples and cider. Lemon cookies, almond crescents, nut bars, and more will disappear as fast as you can bake them! Looking for holiday gift baskets ideas? Fill them at the market with fresh citrus, nuts, bakery items from Beckmann’s Bakery in Santa Cruz or Native Baking Co. out of San Francisco, artisan cheeses from Stepladder Creamery in Cambria, or handmade chocolates from the California Chocolate Cooperative from San Francisco. Don’t forget the fresh cut flowers from Sunrise Nursery in Watsonville for gifts and table décor. Visit your farmers’ market each week throughout the season and enjoy the ease of safe outdoor shop-
ping while you select the freshest, locally-grown products. We wish you a healthy holiday season! Please note: The Castro Farmers’ Market is closed for the season. Until we return in the spring, please visit the nearby Divisadero Farmers’ Market at the DMV parking lot, 1375 Fell Street in San Francisco. 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/
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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2020)
Three Decembers: A Musical Masterpiece for Home Viewing Last March the theater world suffered a crippling loss when four-time Tony Awardwinning playwright, librettist, and screenwriter Terrence McNally (Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime, The Full Monty, among others) succumbed to COVID-19. Over five decades, McNally brought mainstream theater audiences along into a world that humanized and universalized LGBTQ lives and challenges. One of McNally’s close collaborators was San Francisco-based composer Jake Heggie. After teaming up on the megahit opera Dead Man Walking, Heggie asked McNally if he had any other stories that could be set to music. McNally handed Heggie a script he had written for a 1999 AIDS benefit at Carnegie Hall, entitled Some Christmas Letters. Heggie, who knew a brilliant dramatic story when he read it, enlisted his long-time libretto partner Gene Scheer to create the modern chamber opera Three Decembers. Spanning three decades, Three Decembers opens in 1986 with a gay son struggling with the AIDS epidemic, and an alcoholic daughter, trying to
find connection with their famous actress mother. Offering more than a little musical theatre razzle dazzle, Three Decembers follows self-absorbed actress Madeline Mitchell— played here by internationally renowned mezzo soprano Susan Graham—and her two adult children Beatrice and Charlie over three Decembers, each a tumultuous decade apart. Hidden truths are revealed as the family struggles to connect as a family and come to terms with long buried secrets. The vibrant work conjures hints of Sondheim, in its overlapping melodic cadences, witty dialogue, and deep emotional wellsprings. Celebrated Opera San José (OSJ) Resident Artists soprano Maya Kherani (Beatrice) and baritone Efraín Solís (Charlie) join Graham in this world-class digital production. Heggie, who resides in San Francisco with his husband Curt Branom, is the composer of a string of internationally acclaimed modern operas, including the aforementioned Dead Man Walking, along with Moby
World-renowned mezzo-soprano Susan Graham as actress “Madeline Mitchell” in Opera San José’s production of Jake Heggie’s chamber opera Three Decembers
L-R: Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham is “Madeline Mitchell,” a famed actress trying to connect with her children “Beatrice” (soprano Maya Kherani) and “Charlie” (baritone Efraín Solís) in Opera San José’s production of Jake Heggie’s chamber opera Three Decembers.
Dick, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Great Scott, among others. Heggie’s If I Were You, commissioned by San Francisco’s acclaimed Merola Program in 2019, played to sold-out houses. He has also composed nearly 300 songs, as well as chamber, choral, and orchestral works, and was awarded the Champion Award from the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. After OSJ’s brilliant re-staging of Heggie’s Moby Dick last season, the company eagerly invited Heggie to reunite with OSJ for this deeply personal piece. The parallel of today’s COVID-19 pandemic with the terrible devastation of the AIDs epidemic made its timing uncanny and Heggie happily allowed OSJ to produce the work, where it was staged and recorded last month under strict COVID protocols. Susan Graham—for whom Heggie wrote Sister Prejean in Dead Man Walking—accepted the leading role reuniting the pair, who were delighted to collaborate on this complex and deeply rewarding work.
Susan Graham
Determined to support its artists and continue presenting art during this pandemic, OSJ General Director Khori Dastoor envisioned this pioneering production as an opportunity to utilize the know-how of the company’s Silicon Valley environs to make music performances available during this crisis. The company assembled an outstanding team to create a safe performance space, adhering to the strictest safety protocols to achieve a world-class digital capture. The participating artists quarantined and created a social pod, allowing them to safely interact during the process.
L-R: Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham is “Madeline Mitchell,” a famed actress who is confronted by her adult children “Charlie” (baritone Efraín Solís) and “Beatrice” (soprano Maya Kherani) in Opera San José’s production of Jake Heggie’s chamber opera Three Decembers.
KIT’N KITTY’S
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MAKE THE YULETIDE GAY At least 74 holiday movies are premiering this season on channels such as Hallmark and Lifetime. How many of them feature LGBTQ couples? A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5
All cast and crew underwent frequent COVID testing and temperature checks, wore PPE, and observed social distancing protocols. The filming space was cleaned/disinfected continually, and divided by clear plexiglass barriers, isolating musicians/conductors from singers. A dedicated COVID-19 safety officer remained on-site throughout the entire process, enabling the company to proceed with the creation of this extraordinary production. Sung in English, viewers are offered the option of Spanish or Vietnamese subtitles (in addition to English), welcoming two of San Jose’s largest communities to experience this local art. OSJ is a making a national name for itself as a company dedicated to producing accessible, affordable, world-class performance, for long-time opera lovers and newcomers alike. During this pandemic, the company has led the charge in creating and providing programming to enrich its audiences, keep its artists at work, and make the opera-going experience easily available to all. Three Decembers Available via streaming beginning December 3 For more information or to purchase tickets, which also make an excellent gift for any family member or loved one who enjoys opera or musical theatre, visit OSJ online ( https://www.operasj.org/ ) or call 408-437-4450 (open Monday through Friday, 9 am–5 pm).
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Karin Jaffie, aka Kit/Kitty Tapata, won the title of Mr. Gay San Francisco in 2011 and has earned many other honors since. Connect with Jaffie via Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pg/ktapata
Keshet’s Annual Awards Gala: OUTstanding! 2020 Photos by Paul Margolis On Wednesday, November 18, Keshet’s annual gala, OUTstanding!, was presented as an online experience with emcee S. Bear Bergman. The annual event raises funds to support Keshet’s mission throughout the year. Honorees, embodying the Torah’s concept that head and heart are necessary to accomplish enormous tasks and holy work, included Rabbi Sandra Lawson, Hachamet Lev Award; Rabbi Mike Moskowitz, Landres Courage for Dignity Award; and Abby Stein, Hachamet Lev Award. Find out more about Keshet: http://www.keshetonline.org
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Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet Goes Virtual!
PHOTO BY CHRIS HARDY
Program B is a festive and innovative program that will include the world premiere of “Snow Day” by Smuin alum Rex Wheeler set to Johnny Mathis’ classic “Sleigh Ride.” Born in London, Wheeler joined Smuin as a dancer in 2015 and has presented several original works during his time with the Company. (Wheeler also made a riotous guest appearance as “Lady Camden” performing “Santa Baby” in a special LGBTQ night last season that will ne’er be forgot!) The bill also includes a fresh new version of “White Christmas” choreographed by the dancers
PHOTO BY KEITH SUTTER
Created by Michael Smuin in 1995 after looking for an alternative to The Nutcracker in holiday dance entertainment, The Christmas Ballet celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2020. Smuin artists returned to the studio ear-
Program A features Smuin artists Brandon Alexander, Cassidy Isaacson, Terez Dean Orr, and John Speed Orr in a thrilling program that unveils the world premiere of Kacey Musgraves’ “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” choreographed by Imagery Artistic Director and former Smuin Choreographer in Residence Amy Seiwert, a protégé of founder Michael Smuin. Program A will also unveil a contemporary new work by Isaacson set to indie artist Harry Hudson’s “‘Zat You Santa Claus?” plus Rex Wheeler’s “Silver Bells,” Nicole Haskins’ playful “J-I-N-G-L-E Bells,” and “Domine” and “La Virgen” by Michael Smuin.
of this pod: Ian Buchanan, Maggie Carey, Tess Lane, and Max van der Sterre. Michael Smuin’s feisty “Riu, riu, chiu,” and “Hodie Cristus Natus Est” return in Program B, as well as the sprightly “Zither Carol” and a beautiful pas de deux set to Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper.”
PHOTO BY CHRIS HARDY
For the very first time, Smuin will warm hearts and homes virtually this holiday season when this favorite annual dance tradition, featuring everything from tap and jazz, to swing and sock-hopping, can be viewed from the comfort of your home. We suggest you grab your favorite grog, don your gay apparel, and enjoy this showcase of beautiful dances set to popular melodies, traditional holiday songs, and offbeat Christmas tunes. Along with a return to Michael Smuin’s original pieces such as the sultry “Christmas in New Orleans” and iconic, crowdfavorite “Santa Baby” (featuring the world’s longest feather boa), the company will unwrap new surprises from Smuin’s multi-talented dancers and guest choreographers.
lier this fall and began working safely in small “pods” on solos and duets. Three different programs will be presented, one by each “pod,” offering a delightful mélange of live performance followed by full-cast recorded highlights from past Christmas Ballet presentations.
Program C features Smuin artists Tessa Barbour, Mengjun Chen, Ricardo Dyer, Lauren Pschirrer, and Brennan Wall. A not-tobe-missed world premiere set to Queen’s “Thank God It’s Christmas” from Ben Needham-Wood will be unwrapped. Former dancer and Emmy Award-winning choreographer Needham-Wood joined the company in 2013 and has created a number of memorable works including an off-kilter “Frosty the Snowman” for The Christmas Ballet. Program B will also feature a beautiful new piece created by Barbour set to “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” a duet by Wall set to Arcangelo Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto,” and works from Smuin’s holiday repertoire including Michael Smuin’s spirited crowd-pleasers “Drummer Boy,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” and the lively tap dance “Bells of Dublin.” All programs will include exclusive looks at dances from previous Christmas Ballet performances, including Smuin’s iconic “Santa Baby.” Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet
PHOTO BY CHRIS HARDY
Queen’s “Thank God It’s Christmas” (“it’s been a long hard year”) will resonate even deeper this year. Now imagine a ballet set to this driving tune. Or to Eartha Kitt’s sexy, purring “Santa Baby” (“I want a yacht and really that’s not a lot!”). The feisty, multi-talented dancers at Smuin Contemporary Ballet bring these offbeat holiday hits and other modern and classic tunes to joyous life in their riotous annual confection—and if you haven’t ventured out to see Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet in the past, the good news is this year it will come to you.
Performances will be streamed December 11–24. All-access passes and gift pack options are available, bundling tickets with Smuin-branded masks, dancer trading cards, and even a packet of “snow” to bring home Smuin’s favorite Christmas Ballet tradition of sprinkling snow over audiences at the end of every performance. Fun to enjoy, great to share as a gift. For tickets ($49–$139) and more information: www.smuinballet.org S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2020)
Great Interviews, Movies, and Stars Argo
Contact
Off the Wahl Jan Wahl It’s been a fabulous career of not only movies, but also interviewing stars from Cary Grant to Johnny Depp (Grant was dry and funny, Depp deep and poetic). I like to pair these interviews with my favorites of their films: Depp was beyond wonderful in Don Juan DeMarco, and Grant lit up in Holiday. One all-time favorite interview was with the articulate, underrated Ben Affleck. Sitting on an aircraft carrier during the Pearl Harbor junket, he was the most outspoken star I have spent time with. Instead of just sticking with the movie promotion, he went off about the entire Hollywood system of giving leading men too much power: “They can never be wrong, have the power to control casting and the director himself.” Fortunately, Affleck went on to make and star in my favorite of his films: Argo. His Good Will Hunting cowriter Matt Damon was a satisfying interview also, asking me to write down a few classic movies to round out his own cinematic education. The Talented Mr. Ripley is arguably Damon’s best. To tear up during an interview is completely unusual, but it happened to both of us when I was with the inspired Jodie Foster. She had made the film Contact, and there is a theme about fathers and daughters. I lost my own father and the idea of putting my life on the line to see him again touched my heart. I was honest with her and she responded with emotions of her own. Foster is also so smart. My thought as I left was, “She should be teaching at Harvard.” Sometimes the image and the reality match. Kim Novak was in town to promote a reissue of Vertigo. She was soft spoken, but I could sense the steel will underneath the cool exterior. After all, she survived the shark-infested waters of Hollywood. She indulged me to ask about Picnic and Bell, Book and Candle.
bit about my own background. This never happens. Also, I somehow had the courage to ask him to remove his sunglasses. It was worth it. When a star has had a big life outside of show business, it is exciting. Joan Fontaine was an aviatrix, cordon bleu chef, fashionista, and conservationist. She dated fascinating men, including cartoonist Charles Addams and Adlai Stevenson, and was open to talking about each of them. Kitty Kelly’s book on Nancy Reagan had just come out and Fontaine was willing to give an opinion, since they were both at the studio at the same time. I wish I could share her off color response here! Thankfully, it was said to me in the limo and not on live television. My own favorites of Fontaine films are Jane Eyre and Rebecca; her own is The Constant Nymph. Ian McKellen gave me an unforgettable experience. Live on the six o’clock news, his handlers had told me not to mention he was gay. McKellen had just been given the title “Sir,” so, of course, I asked what that honor was like. He answered, “Well, an old queen knighted an old queen.” From the bright Natalie Portman to the rude Matt LeBlanc, from Lassie’s warm and wonderful Jon Provost to Atticus Finch himself Gregory Peck, stars can shine as brightly as their films ... when I’m lucky! Emmy Award-winner Jan Wahl is a renowned entertainment reporter, producer, and teacher. A member of the prestigious Directors Guild of America, she is regularly featured on KPIX television (every Monday morning starting at 6:15 am) and on KGO Radio 810 and other media outlets. For more info about her remarkable life and career: http://www.janwahl.com/ Check out her new podcast “Jan Wahl Showbiz” at https://tinyurl.com/y5tlxdg4 The Talented Mr. Ripley
Novak left me with the impression that she had an affair with William Holden (you go, girl!) and truly loved her dual role in Vertigo. But I was most interested to know how she survived the world of Harry Cohn and pressures of objectification. She replied that it was animals and art that always save her, reminding her of a bigger life. I have met up with her since at two art shows and she is calm, patient, and as magical as she was in Bell, Book and Candle.
Vertigo
Remember columnist Herb Caen? He was kind enough to write up my interview with Paul Newman. I was impressed that Newman was far more interested in current politics than his film, Nobody’s Fool. He wanted to know the current political players around the Bay Area and a 24
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Ready for More - Miss Juanita MORE! This week, the San Francisco drag icon is being honored with the Legend Award and is being inducted into the Legends Archive by The Academy SF. I recently spoke with her for the San Francisco Bay Times.
Fashion, food, philanthropy, and furious beats were all in a day’s work for San Francisco icon Juanita MORE! ... and then COVID-19 hit. She still cooks delish eats and creates knockout drag costumes from her SF Tender-Nob home, but the parties and gatherings she is famous for producing have come to a record scratching halt. Nevertheless, as a celebrated drag performer, fashion muse, fundraiser, and gourmand, Juanita has been a force of creativity in her hometown of San Francisco for almost thirty years. JM parties like Juanita are legendary, and especially her annual SF Pride party held for many years at The Phoenix Hotel, and in recent years at 620 Jones. I have not missed one of those fab and fierce parties in some 25 years. More than the fun there is the fundraising; JM parties have raised more than six hundred thousand dollars for all manner of LQBTQ+ nonprofits. (see list at the end).
Juanita MORE!: I’m sort of surprised by it and, of course, honored and happy. I am always looking forward, so this stops me in my tracks and it makes me turn around Juanita MORE! and Liam as co-emcees of the SF LGBT Community Center Soiree 2019 and look back and say, Liam P. Mayclem: Do you have any new hobbies, started dur‘Okay, yeah, you’ve done a lot, but still have much to do.’” ing this pandemic time?
PHOTO BY RICK CAMARGO
Liam P. Mayclem
PHOTO BY RICK CAMARGO
Liam’s LGBTQI List
Liam P. Mayclem: You have received many community awards over the years. This one is a well-deserved Legend Award. What does it mean to you?
Liam P. Mayclem: Please tell us about Mr. David and when you started to perform in drag.
Juanita MORE!: I got some wood, got a glue gun out, and I built a shelf. That was something new!
Juanita MORE!: Well, it wasn’t until I came back to San Francisco after a few years in New York in 1992 that I started doing drag. Mr. David came here to visit me and that’s when that started. I knew that he was someone super special in my life. And for drag especially, there was no one else whom I really wanted to have as a drag mother. I admire and look up to David and respect and love him. He’s my family, like my MORE! boys, of course, and my brother, sister, mother, daughter, father. The whole bit. I loved his presence on stage. I soaked it all up. I saw all the things I wanted to do as a performer through him.
Liam P. Mayclem: As an avid home cook, have you been cooking more these days?
Liam P. Mayclem: Talk me through the timeline on an event day when you transition to Juanita MORE! Juanita MORE!: My day is super detail oriented. I want everything to be perfect. Not only perfect for myself, but also perfect for everyone else. I want everyone else to enjoy it. I strive for perfection. If I have an event at 6 pm, I start to put on my makeup at 3.30 pm. It takes almost two hours exactly from doing my makeup to putting on my last nail. It’s two hours to complete that process. Once that process is complete—wig, heels, nails, and all—I’ll consider having my first cocktail, and get ready to call a car so that I can be where I need to be on time. Earlier in the day I lay out my clothes.
PHOTO BY RICK CAMARGO
Liam P. Mayclem: What inspires a Juanita MORE! costume or outfit?
Juanita MORE! gives Liam a kiss.
Juanita MORE!: I’ll go through my day and I’ll see ... I could see a flower, a piece of art, or even a piece of garbage on the ground, just the way it’s wrapped or thrown. That inspires me. I am also inspired by current fashion. I also love a certain era of style, the sixties and the fifties. I love those eras and those shapes for me. I can be inspired by a lot of things; sometimes just simply going to the fabric store and browsing.
Juanita MORE!: I am always cooking. It’s always been a big part of my life, my daily routine. My passion for cooking remains as strong as ever. Liam P. Mayclem: What’s always in your fridge at home? Juanita MORE!: Staples in my fridge? On the bottom shelf, in the back, there is a row with clarified butter, fat, and lard. Healthy stuff (laughs). Liam P. Mayclem: Have you enjoyed any meals to go during the pandemic, any favorites? Juanita MORE!: One of my favorite restaurants, Slanted Door, closed at the start of the pandemic. That was tough. I am someone who cooks all the time, so when I order out, it is cuisine I don’t usually cook, like Vietnamese or Japanese food. So those are the places that I support for food to pick up in my little neighborhood. Liam P. Mayclem: What are your hopes for our community in 2021? Juanita MORE!: Well, that we can weather through this winter. The restaurant parklets have been an awesome extension of being able to keep restaurants and bars open. I hope we can survive this and thrive once again. It’s hard to make plans for the future, and that’s been the most difficult part. It’s hard. Everything changes every other day. So, it’s about being present and making sure you’re comfortable in that. Liam P. Mayclem: Imagine if you could plan and produce your dream party in the future, when we are beyond COVID-19. You can have anyone performing, dead or alive. Who would make the cut? Juanita MORE!: I’d want to see all of my drag family performing. I just want to see it all happen in such a big, extreme, over-the-top way, but maintain that sense of connection and intimacy. As for performers, I’d love Divine to return for one night. And I would love Sylvester to perform again. Sylvester loved his audience so much. I would love to see my drag mother, MOTHER MORE!, perform. And there’s a group called Moon Boots out of Los Angeles, and I would have them perform their song “Juanita”! The Legends Awards Join me and Co-Host Donna Sachet with previous inductee Sister Roma on Friday, December 4, at 7 pm live (Facebook & YouTube) for The Academy Legends Awards Night when Juanita MORE! is celebrated for making San Francisco legendary!
Juanita MORE! eats pizza during the Williams-Sonoma Pizza Contest.
First drag night (1992)
PHOTO COURTESY OF JUANITA MORE!
PHOTO COURTESY OF JUANITA MORE!
For More Information https://academy-sf.com/events https://juanitamore.com LGBTQ+ Nonprofits Supported by JM Events https://www.glbthistory.org https://ourtranstruth.org https://theqfoundation.org https://www.sfcenter.org Emmy Award-winning radio and television personality Liam Mayclem is regularly featured on KPIX as well as KCBS, where he is the popular Foodie Chap. Born in London, Mayclem is now at home in the Bay Area, where he lives with his husband, photographer Rick Camargo. For more information: https://www.bookliam.com/
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Lesbian Filmmaker Talks About Her First and Latest Movies
Film Gary M. Kramer Out lesbian filmmaker Jamie Babbit’s first feature, But I’m a Cheerleader, is being reissued in a Digital 4K Ultra HD Director’s Cut on December 8. The campy, colorful film, is about Megan (Natasha Lyonne), a teenager, being sent to True Directions, a gay conversion therapy program to “cure” her of her homosexuality. The comedy was ahead of its time when it received its original theatrical release in the summer of 2000. It has since been embraced as a queer cinema classic. Babbit also has a new film, The Stand In, getting a virtual release December 11. The comedy features Drew Barrymore playing both Candy Black, an actress known for making pratfall comedies, and her stand in, Paula, who agrees to go to rehab for Candy in exchange for rebooting her career. Of course, the situation gets complicated when Paula manipulates things—including Candy’s boyfriend—to her advantage. The filmmaker chatted me for the San Francisco Bay Times about both her “new” movies in a recent phone interview.
director’s cut release was that I got to look back on some of the scenes I deleted 20 years ago. The ‘90s were a different time in the queer movement—the legacy of AIDS and the horrors of this plague in the gay community meant a lot of people weren’t willing to laugh. But Cheerleader makes fun of straight and gender non-conformity, but also the queer community. And I don’t want to be part of a community I can’t make fun of. I was poking fun from the inside. If you want to make fun of a community, you better be part of it. Gary M. Kramer: It has a very distinctive tone—not just the broad humor and campiness or the bright color palette. It’s the gay power vibe that will win against all oppression. Jamie Babbit: I was interested in gender politics at the time, which people weren’t really talking about. As a femme lesbian, I felt I wasn’t allowed to be a lesbian because I’m not butch. There was an invisibility of femme lesbians. I was interested in the construct of gender and how ridiculous it is; this idea of men doing less girly/women doing less boyish things makes you less gay. A toy store shows how gender is and what boys and girls should be. We bought the Barbie Dream House, and I said this is what the movies should look like.
Gary M. Kramer: Looking back on this film after 20 years, what can you say about making Cheerleader?
Gary M. Kramer: Your film was a comic response to the rebellious New Queer Cinema films of the time. What observations do you have about that?
Jamie Babbit: It’s all about the long game! The fun thing about the
Jamie Babbit: I was younger, and a woman, so I had a different view.
I was a newer generation coming up after the queer new wave. Every 5 years makes a difference, and I was on the cusp of all of that stuff. I have always had a wry sense of humor. I was involved in the Riot Grrl movement, and they were great at empowering girls like me to make queer art however you want, and not copy others. I was pure to myself and own instincts. Gregg Araki saw my film and said it was the gayest movie he’d ever seen. I wasn’t sure if it was a compliment or a dis. He was taken aback by how out and gay it was. Gary M. Kramer: Like Cheerleader, The Stand In is also about finding your true identity. Can you talk about this theme of identity and reinvention, which is integral to all of your films? Jamie Babbit: I definitely think part of my artistic influences and reason for being a filmmaker is my love for diving into a different world emotionally. I live more in my head than in reality, so I try on new identities to help actors and make shot decisions from the point of view of the characters. One way I’m able to tell each story is that I climb inside each character. In Cheerleader, the characters are told to be one way, but they reinvent themselves as who they are, not as society tells them to be. I (continued on page 29)
Today’s ‘Cancel Culture’ and Why Censorship Never Works sexual misconduct (he had not yet been tried). At Barnard, where I was a Fellow, a student-posted banner showed a map of pre-1948 Palestine; it was removed at the President’s direction when other students complained that it made them—yes— “uncomfortable.”
Words Michele Karlsberg Michele Karlsberg: This month’s column features Dr Naomi Wolf, who has penned an exclusive piece for the San Francisco Bay Times. Naomi is a liberal, progressive feminist author, journalist, and former political advisor to Al Gore and Bill Clinton. Her latest book, Outrages: Sex, Censorship, and the Criminalization of Love, is published by Chelsea Green Publishers. Dr. Naomi Wolf: Twitter today featured calls to ban the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, because its depiction of racism made students uncomfortable. The Oxford student union, when I was last there, called for Julian Assange to be “de-platformed”— that is, denied a chance to speak— due to accusations against him of 26
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Calls are rife to close down various commentators for sins ranging from allegedly being mean to staff (talk show hostess Ellen DeGeneres) to inappropriate comments. These calls have a new term: “cancel culture.” MerriamWebster defines this as withdrawing support for a public figure due to something problematic he or she said or did. https://tinyurl.com/y34xl3qv I want to warn about “cancel culture,” and draw a bright line distinguishing boycotts from censorship, as the two notions are being dangerously blurred. I believe in boycotts; I called for them in my 1990s book about feminism, Fire with Fire. Boycotts are great for speech: you call attention to what you oppose—including racist, sexist, homophobic, or transphobic practices—and withdraw consumer
support. You meet bad speech with more speech. What’s happening now goes far past calls to boycott. Today’s “cancel culture” cracks down on speech; or seeks to crush people’s chances to use language. Sadly, this new censorship, dressed in “woke” clothing, is more often levied from the left than from the right (I say that with regret, as a member of the left). Students today on the left often quail at blanket support for the First Amendment when it comes to speech that may be “offensive.” This is a shameful abdication of the historical role of the left of championing freedoms of speech. It was the left that supported banned books such as D H Lawrence’s Women in Love, and Allen Ginsberg’s (continued on page 29)
Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun countries, to spread remembrance of them across the city’s waterways. Any comments left online were printed and added to the boats, so that remote voices could also be heard. https://seattletransvisibility.org
Sister Dana sez, "Thank you, my dear diva idol Dolly Parton, for giving one million dollars to Moderna for COVID-19 vaccine research! I say to you, as you have sung all these years long: ‘I Will Always Love You!’” Will President-Elect Joe Biden choose a transgender woman as the next U.S. Surgeon General? There is a possibility. Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health, is being considered as a potential nominee. Dr. Levine has expertly navigated the coronavirus pandemic in her state while withstanding a deluge of far-right attacks and transphobic insults from both citizens and Republican politicians. GLIDE took us all to church when they held their Annual Holiday Jam: RISE UP FOR CHANGE! virtually on November 19. They opened with the Glide ensemble singing “Say Their Names” as a tribute to all the LGBTQ and BLM people who have given their lives through violence. Dr. Renel Brooks-Moon addressed our divided country with hope for the future. Mayor London Breed lauded the founders of Glide Methodist, Pastor Cecil Williams & Janice Mirikitani. Mayor Gavin Newsom praised Glide for its social justice programs. The evening featured performers and speakers such as India.Arie, Joan Baez, Lisa Fischer, Roberta Flack, Michael Franti, Goapele, Tom Johnston, Ledisi, Valerie Simpson, D’Wayne Wiggins, and more. The Choir closed the show with everyone (including us at home) dancing and singing “Oh Happy Day!” Sister Dana sez, "I am thrilled to report that MSNBC TV news’ openly gay reporter Steve Kornacki has been declared ‘People’ magazine’s Sexiest Man of 2020. I agree wholeheartedly because of his adorable nerd looks and his expert reporting. Meanwhile, his Kornacki khakis are blowing up the internet! Oh yeah, baby!”
Each year, the SAN FRANCISCO LESBIAN/GAY FREEDOM BAND blends Tchaikovsky’s classic The Nutcracker Ballet with an entertaining theme and a lively cast of amazing actors. And when the “Dance Along!” sign flashes, the audience is invited to put on their tutus and sashay along with the cast. The 2020 DANCEALONG NUTCRACKER is an online free gift to our community, but you need to join the guest list to come aboard! There will be two showings (Saturday December 12, 7 pm and Sunday December 13, 11 am). Register here: https://dance-along-nutcracker.sflgfb.org/ Sister Dana sez, "Did you know that the state of California was named after Calafia, a fictional Black lesbian queen who ruled over a mythic all-female island of Black women just off the coast of Asia? Pretty cool!” On November 27, 1978, Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were murdered in cold blood. Every year, the HARVEY MILK LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CLUB remembers the movement these men created and how their tragic and senseless deaths galvanized our communities to fight. Instead of the usual MILK/MOSCONE CANDLELIGHT MARCH, the Milk Club hosted a virtual commemoration on Zoom on November 27. The evening began with the SF GAY MEN’S CHORUS singing “Never Ever” and “Truly Brave” to a video memorial to Supervisor Milk and Mayor Moscone of amazing B&W photos by Daniel Nicoletta. This was also projected onto the wall at Soul Cycle in the Castro. Then we witnessed various speeches by the two, including Milk’s famous “You gotta give them hope” and Milk’s “burst out of the closet” plea. Vice President of Events and Fundraising Jackie Thor nhill hosted the program. Emotional
On November 20, in partnership with the Seattle HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN and GENDER JUSTICE LEAGUE, and hosted by Astro Pittman, TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE 2020 featured via Zoom several speakers representing diverse aspects of this wonderful community. They shared their stories, discussed their activism, and created an opportunity to celebrate the work they are doing while also mourn(continued on page 28) ing those who have been lost. Both the event and the website have the full list of 38 individuals gone, with opportunities to leave a note or otherwise honor their lives. Following the speakers, they held a candlelight vigil to read the names and show slides of those who’ve lost their lives to anti-trans hate crimes and violence in the United States and elsewhere. As an added touch, In this Sister Dana throwback photo from the annual Castro Tree Lightthey built a floating ing Ceremony held on December 19, 2019, Dennis McMillan (aka Sister shrine in honor of Dana) was with Donna Sachet and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman followthe victims in other ing the Blessing of the tree by Sister Dana and Sister Kitty.
PHOTO BY RINK
By Sister Dana Van Iquity
HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS XIX is online on Sunday, December 13, 6 pm, presented by RICHMOND/ERMET AID FOUNDATION (REAF). This 19th annual holiday gala benefits Raphael House and REAF. While they had hoped to be back in theaters by now to present an entirely new holiday extravaganza, this year’s show will feature performance clips by such stars as Susan Anton, Adam Lambert & Catte Adams, Carol Channing, Latoya London, Stephanie Powers, Leslie Jordan, Justin Guarini, Mary Wilson, Sally Struthers, Shawn Ryan, Nancy Sinatra, Jason Brock, cast members from Book of Mormon, and more. I’ve seen ‘em all, having attended every REAF extravaganza, and they are fabulous! https://www.reaf-sf.org/home.html
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SISTER DANA (continued from page 27) memories were cited, including short talks by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, Supervisor Carol Ruth Silver, veteran activist Gwenn Craig, Danny Nicoletta, historian Gerard Koskovich, Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, and Castro LGBTQ Cultural District Advisory Board’s Stephen Torres. Co-President Kevin Bard spoke of BLM and LGBTQ civil rights, summing up with an invitation to join the Milk Club, using Milk’s famous phrase: “I’m here to recruit you!” THE TRANSGENDER DISTRICT and House of Tulip’s VIRTUAL WINTER GALA is free to the public, and will be held on Friday, December 11, 5:30 pm and streamed on YouTube via: https://tinyurl.com/y69op4yj The annual SANTA CON— with hundreds of SF festive folx in Santa drag—that was scheduled for December 12 has been can-
celled. I sure will miss being Elfis the XXXmas Elf as I usually appear that time of year. Ho ho ho humbug! Sister Dana sez, "Proudly gay Pete Buttigieg is an outstanding member of the Democratic party. We know he’s more than capable of being an incredible member of Biden’s cabinet!" Mime on Radio??? While unable to perform their signature style of Free Political Musicals in Bay Area parks, the SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE continues to offer New Radio Plays—free. Tony Award-winning SFMT debuts a new Activist Adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol as a Radio Play, A RED CAROL. This is a story not of the redemption of one bad man (Scrooge), but as the never-ending story of all of us making the world a more progressive place. Beginning December 11. https://www.sfmt.org/ SFMTA has approved the Castro Merchants’ request to close Noe
Street between 16th and Market Streets and Beaver Street. Castro residents will be familiar with the footprint as it›s the same one used for the Castro Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays when it is in season. Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases and in accordance with state and city health and safety directives, the ASIAN ART MUSEUM is now closed to the public until further notice. Sister Dana sez, "Don’t you hate when you are watching one of your favorite TV shows and a BREAKING NEWS alert suddenly interrupts to announce that a zillion more people have died from COVID? Well, yeah duh, thanks for that depressing news; but could I please just have one more hour of distraction on my show? Puhleeze?” WORLD AIDS DAY 2020–A NATIONAL CONVERSATION was presented virtually on December 1, World AIDS Day. Award-
KIT’N KITTY’S QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on pg 20) D) 5 Of the new holiday movies with LGBTQ themes, The Christmas House is a groundbreaker. It is the first Hallmark Christmas movie with an LGBTQ storyline as the focus. Three of Hallmark’s other new holiday releases have minor LGBTQ storylines.
winning actor and long-time AIDS advocate, Judith Light, hosted the event that featured Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and David D. Ho, M.D., Director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center at Columbia University. They were honored with the memorial’s National Leadership Recognition Award. ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, moderated the conversation. Featured speakers included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Mayors Bill de Blasio (New York City); Lori E. Lightfoot (Chicago); Robert Garcia (Long Beach); Keisha Lance Bottoms (Atlanta); and social justice activists Alicia Garza, Cleve Jones, and Kristin Urquiza. During the event, the National AIDS Memorial officially unveiled the first-ever virtual exhibition of the AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT on its website that features nearly 10,000 Quilt panels representing all 50 states and
“It had to be done, Carter. Now let’s get out of here.” Goodbye, 2020 I have another major legal story for you, but I’d rather write about Holiday Season, that Kristen Stewart lesbian Christmas movie that just came out on Hulu. Of course, I forced Mel to watch it with me, even though for some strange reason she’s not a big fan of these sorts of films.
It’s a little strange that we’ve come to the final chapter of this long, strange year. We have piles of Halloween candy. Thanksgiving is over and done with. College football is a bust. Christmas looms ahead with another round of Zoom calls and Amazon packages. As does New Year’s Day, which can’t come soon enough, and the Georgia Senate elections. Finally, regardless of what happens on January 5, we will at last reach January 20, the last day of the Trump administration. Then what? A few more months and we can all get vaccinated and start to breathe again. We can look forward to the headlines; the return of EPA guidelines, the transgender military ban reversed, dreamers back in business, civil rights once again written into the American bureaucracy. And if we win those seats in Georgia, the sky’s the limit. Thanks, Mitch Speaking of Georgia, without the Senate, we can look forward to the dismal prospect of fighting the odious Mitch McConnell on every judicial nominee that Biden proposes. That other legal story I mentioned earlier? It was a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, where two Trump judges just ruled against two Florida counties that tried to ban conversion therapy. The two-one majority sent the case back to the lower court with instructions to issue a preliminary injunction against the county laws based on the notion that such laws interfere with the Free Speech rights of antigay therapists. This is the first time a federal appellate court has ruled in favor of conversion therapy, which is banned in 20 states and many more localities. Trying to twist someone’s sexual oriSA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S
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Ryan Murphy’s glorious THE PROM is on Netflix starting December 11. Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman ( James Corden) are New York City stage stars with a crisis on their hands: their expensive new Broadway show is a major flop. Meanwhile, in small-town Indiana, high school student Emma Nolan is experiencing a very different kind of heartbreak: despite the support of the high school principal (KeeganMichael Key), the head of the PTA (Kerry Washington) has banned her from attending the prom with her girlfriend, Alyssa. This is a heartwarming, gay-positive, star-studded musical you absolutely must enjoy! Sister Dana sez, "Thank you, Mister Trump, for your very graceful concession. Ha! I›m kidding. Could you possibly be more of an oaf, oh Orange One?!"
ROSTOW (continued from page 7)
The show was exactly the same as every other Christmas movie you’ve ever seen, complete with the hometown visit, the buried family issues, the reappearance of the high school boyfriend/girlfriend (in this case, both) and the scene at the ice-skating rink. And, spoiler alert, it has a happy ending. I loved it. Mel was bored out of her mind, but very nice about the whole thing.
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U.S. territories, using the power and beauty of the Quilt to help the nation heal during these difficult times.
entation into heterosexuality against their will is considered dangerous, possibly leading to suicidal thoughts, despair, and depression. It’s considered harmful to minors, and courts have ruled that the public interest in protecting children from such “therapy” outweighs any Free Speech considerations. But the Eleventh Circuit, which is now 50 percent composed of Trumpappointed judges, disagrees, creating a tough choice for the gay-friendly Florida counties on the other side. If they appeal to the full Eleventh Circuit, they may well lose again. If they appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, who knows? For now, they will likely return to the lower court, accept the injunction, argue the merits of the case, and see what happens. ’Til Unreasonable Behavior Us Do Part Here’s something. I’m reading about a study from England and Wales that showed lesbians were only slightly more likely to marry than gay men (accounting for 56 percent of samesex marriages), but much more likely to divorce (accounting for over 70 percent of all same-sex divorces every year since 2016). The Office of National Statistics that produced the numbers took no position on why the lesbians were quicker to untie the knot, but various observers speculated that women are less likely to tolerate adultery than men. Hmmm. By my calculations, if this is the case, they seem just as likely to indulge in the practice, don’t they? It also might be true that two women are more likely to marry without considering all the pros and cons, given our reputation for bringing a U-Haul to the second date. But if that’s the case, why don’t we have far more marriages than men to begin with? Marriage equality has been the rule in England and Wales since 2014, and it’s taken a few years for divorce rates to form a pattern. Last year, some 822 same-sex couples divorced, including 589 female couples and 233 male couples. Some 63 percent of women and 70 percent of men cited “unreasonable behavior,” which includes adultery, as the cause of their decision to split. According to an article in The Economist, women might simply be less tolerant of marital imperfections than their male counterparts. Roughly two thirds of straight divorces are initiated by the wives. Ladies, what’s up with that? arostow@aol.com
KRAMER (continued from page 26)
KARLSBERG (continued from page 26)
relate to both of Drew’s characters in The Stand In who have valid, interesting ways of looking at the world.
homoerotic poem Howl; it has been the right that sought to censor in the name of “family values” or religion. The censor’s traditional political stance is disastrously reversed.
Gary M. Kramer: On that same topic, can you address the idea of passing in The Stand In? All the major characters are living some kind of double life, which is a good metaphor for closeted people. Jamie Babbit: Maybe only a queer person would be interested in telling this story of characters living in different realities. I do think that everyone lives a double life and creates who they want to be. Gary M. Kramer: Of course, I have to ask: if you had a double who could allow you to do what you wanted, what would you do instead? Jamie Babbit: I have dreams of living a quiet life in a cabin and having creative pursuits, like handcrafting, knitting, making furniture. That film The Social Dilemma highlights the destructive nature of technology that siphons us into tunnels so that we stop talking to each other and understanding how people think. We have to express our creativity and talk to people. © 2020 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
My new book, Outrages: Sex, Censorship, and the Criminalization of Love—which, ironically enough, librarians were asked to destroy last spring—explains how modern censorship was invented. Having documented the history of censorship, I assure you: censorship never works. It’s an atavistic instinct, to deal with speech we don’t like by trying to snuff it out, choke it, murder it. But ideas simply cannot be killed that way. In the 19th century, the British state, inspired by the French state’s prosecution of Madame Bovary for “offending public mores,” passed the 1857 Obscene Publications Act; ideas that had been salacious, marginal, or challenging could now send the writer, publisher, and bookseller to prison at hard labor. Who faced legal actions? Algernon Charles Swinburne, the iconic poet; and feminists informing women about contraception, such as Annie Besant. America copied Britain, with the Comstock Act of 1873; legendary poet Walt Whitman was threatened; his print run destroyed. Censorship never prevailed to kill an idea. Though discussion of same-sex love and sexuality was targeted by Victorian censors in both Britain and the U.S., this did not end homosexuality or lesbianism. Nazis burned “decadent” books; we still read Freud and Jung. Eight of 10 of the most banned books on the American Library
Association’s list show LGBTQ relationships in a positive light to younger readers. That censorship isn’t making any fewer young readers gay, lesbian, or transgender. What is seen as objectionable by the censor changes from generation to generation, leaving tragedy and ruined lives and careers in its wake. “Sunlight is the best disinfectant,” cliché though it is, is the right approach in dealing with what we see as toxic speech. We need to insist on free speech when educating young people, and champion its primacy in public debate, as tempting as “cancel culture” is, short-term. If we don’t, “cancel culture” will, as it always does, eat its young; that is, silencing others always eventually silences everyone. You simply can’t kill ideas by starving them of listeners. But you can kill democracy. From “New York Times” bestselling author Naomi Wolf, “Outrages: Sex, Censorship, and the Criminalization of Love” explores the history of state-sponsored censorship and violations of personal freedoms through the inspiring, forgotten history of one writer’s refusal to stay silenced. Newly updated, the work represents the first North American edition—a paperback original. https://www.chelseagreen.com/ Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBTQ+ community. This year, Karlsberg celebrates 32 years of successful book campaigns. For more information: https://www.michelekarlsberg.com
ENJOY THE VIEW! CASTRO STREET CAM Live-streaming 24/7 http://sfbaytimes.com/castro-street-cam/
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Round About - Holiday Season
Sidewalk diners enjoyed drinks while awaiting orders in the parklet at Café Mystique on Castro Street.
Customers enjoyed the outdoor service at Lark restaurant on 18th Street in the Castro.
The parklet and sidewalk tables were busy out front of The Sausage Factory on Saturday, November 14.
Nicole Whitten of NW Design offered plants for sale during the first Shared Spaces event on Noe Street.
Photos by Rink
Acclaimed writer James Baldwin is depicted on a tarot card mural by Tanya Wischerath in the Castro.
Colorful fruit and flowers are for sale at the Castro’s popular Buffalo Whole Food & Grain Co.
Sidewalk servers delivered orders to diners at the outdoor tables at Wasabi Bistro on Castro Street.
Community College Board member Tom Temprano (center) and friends enjoyed the first Shared Spaces day for Noe Street in the Castro on Sunday, November 29.
Neighbors and friends enjoyed the first Share Spaces event on Noe Street in the Castro.
Chloe Miller, Chloe Lor and Rachel Ryan offered t-shirts at the Stud Bar Collective’s booth on Noe Street during Shared Spaces on November 29.
As Heard on the Street . . .
What is a memorable gift that you received? compiled by Rink
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SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S
DE C E MB E R 3 , 2 0 2 0
Tina D’Elia
William Coghill
Morningstar Vancil
“A Frida Kahlo doll that my mother gave me”
“When my 13-year-old nephew said that the only thing that he wanted for Christmas was for me to be there with him and my family in Florida”
“When my friend cooked paella for me when I went through cancer treatment, with my then wife at my side. It lifted my spirits.”
Round About - Holiday Season
Photos by Rink
CASTRO STREETCAM presented by
Toy figurines on display in the window at Cliff’s Variety
http://sfbaytimes.com/ A colorful Christmas tree is on display at Cliff’s Variety on Castro Street.
Father Christmas in the holiday window at One Half Store on Polk Street
Sister Goulda and Guard Free Queen DDD Lite paused for a photo in front of the Castro Merchants Association’s holiday tree at the Bank of America near 18th and Castro Streets.
A collection of holiday wreaths is for sale at the Not Just Flowers shop on 18th Street. A large Grinch and an array of popular toys in the window at Cliff’s A close-up image focuses on the colorful pomegranate and eucalyptus wreath for sale at Not Just Flowers.
Deana Dawn, wearing a pine cone mask, presented the holiday trees for sale at the Mask Shop on 18th Street in the Castro.
Performer Camille Tow (standing) with customers at the Sunday Brunch Show held at Beaux on Sunday, November 29.
Barack Obama’s A Promised Land is displayed among the selection of books suggested as gifts in the window at Dog Eared Books Castro.
The Betrayal of Liliuokalani Last Queen of Hawaii 1838-1917 by Helena G. Allen is among the suggested gifts at Dog Earned Books Castro.
Michael, modeling a mask that includes a warm neck cover, welcomed customers to the Mask Shop on 18th Street.
REAF producers Joe Seiler and Ken Henderson were in the audience during the Beaux Sunday Brunch Show on November 29.
Customers, waiting in a long line in front of The Original Tommy’s Joynt, reported they were delighted that this historic restaurant was open for its renowned Thanksgiving Day service. S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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