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Serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities since 1971
Vol. 53 • No. 14 • April 6-12, 2023
In Sacramento, LGBTQ bills largely focus on youth, health issues by Matthew S. Bajko
I Heklina performed at her final show at Oasis before moving to Palm Springs – “Mother - The Final” – on February 8, 2020.
Drag artist Stefan Grygelko, aka Heklina, dies by Cynthia Laird
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tefan Grygelko, better known as her drag persona Heklina, has died, her longtime friend Joshua Grannell (Peaches Christ) wrote on Facebook April 3. The two were in London where they were appearing in the “Mommie Queerest” show there, Grannell wrote, adding that she had gone to pick up Heklina that day. “I do not know the cause of death yet,” Grannell wrote. “I know this is shocking news and I am beyond stunned, but I wanted to let folks know what has happened. Heklina is not just my best friend, but a beloved icon of our community.” The news shocked and saddened her friends back in San Francisco, with fellow drag queen Sister Roma writing on their Twitter account that she was “absolutely devastated” to learn of the passing of his friend and collaborator for two-plus decades. “She is one of the funniest people I’ve ever known. This is a nightmare,” wrote Roma, a member of the drag philanthropy group the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, in a tweet. On Tuesday, Roma posted on Facebook that she’d spoken to Peaches and that an autopsy on Heklina is scheduled for Thursday. Heklina was found dead on the living room floor of the flat she and Peaches shared, Roma wrote. “Peaches immediately called for emergency assistance and is pleased to report that everyone who responded and everyone she has been working with in London has been completely professional and supportive,” Roma added. Oasis, the LGBTQ nightclub in which Heklina was once a part owner, expressed its sadness. See page 12 >>
Tia Gemmell
Assemblymember Evan Low
Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins
Another bill generating nationwide attention is state Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins’ (D-San Diego) Senate Bill 447 called the BRIDGE Act, which stands for Building and Reinforcing Inclusive, Diverse, Gender-Supportive Equality. As the B.A.R. reported last week, it would scrap the state’s ban on using taxpayer money for travel to 23 states that have passed anti-LGBTQ legislation over the past eight years. In its place would be a marketing program in those states aimed at making their lawmakers and residents rethink their attacks on LGBTQ rights.
Atkins’ bill doesn’t specify how much money would be allotted for the ad campaigns or where the funding would come from to pay for them. Low, who authored the bill in 2015 that established the travel ban policy, has come out against doing away with it. He did express support for the “general concept” of Atkins’ bill on Twitter last Wednesday following her public rollout of it. “We shouldn’t completely end California’s state-funded travel ban without having an alterSee page 4 >>
Peskin issues ultimatum to Another Planet on Castro Theatre by John Ferrannini
both raked seating and tiered standing arrangements possible. Some Castro neighborhood, LGBTQ and film groups – such as the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District and the Castro Theatre Conservancy – formed the Friends of the Castro Theatre Coalition in opposition to the proposed changes, which would allow the theater to sometimes operate as a concert venue. At issue at Monday’s hearing was whether the supervisors should change the historic preservation commission’s recommended interior landmarking to give further protection to the current seats – protection that could effectively halt APE’s plans. (The exterior of the theater was designated a city landmark in 1977.) In February, as the B.A.R. previously reported, the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission approved recommending expanded interior landmarking for the Castro Theatre but stopped short of specifically stating the orchestra seats were part of that. Instead, the commission recommended to the Board of Supervisors that the “character defining features” for the orchestra level include the raked floor, aisles and “presence of seating.” It did recommend landmark status for 1920s seats in the balcony. Those advocating keeping the orchestra seats
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an Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin handed down a powerful ultimatum to Another Planet Entertainment at a committee meeting Monday, saying that the Castro Theatre operator has two weeks to compromise with the community. “I have to say [APE CEO] Mr. [Gregg] Perloff: you got to walk the walk and talk the talk a little bit faster here,” said Peskin, a straight ally who represents much of downtown on the board. “You can show the community more, sooner, and if you don’t, don’t be surprised. APE walked into this like the 300 pound gorilla and that’s why you haven’t gotten anything finished yet.” Peskin’s remarks came just before the supervisors’ land use and transportation committee, on which he sits, voted to push consideration of the historic preservation commission’s recommended updated interior landmarking of the movie palace back two weeks. The 2-0 vote (chair District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar had left by then) to push back consideration was made on the advice of gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. Mandelman said he is “hopeful that we can get to the win-win-win I have described elsewhere, but we’re not there yet,” and that two more weeks of negotiations
Scott Wazlowski
A San Francisco Board of Supervisors committee continued its discussion on landmarking the interior of the Castro Theatre for two weeks.
could make the difference. The imbroglio over the theater began in January 2022, when APE – which runs the Outside Lands music festival in Golden Gate Park and the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium downtown – was announced as the new operators of the 101-yearold Castro Theatre. APE wants to make significant changes to the theater’s interior, including replacing the current fixed seating with a motorized floor that’d make
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ssues related to health and transgender individuals, particularly youth, are the main focus of the LGBTQ bills making their way through the legislative process in Sacramento this year. A flurry of hearings about the legislation is expected in the coming weeks, as lawmakers race to meet their first deadline later this month to pass on the various bills with fiscal implications. Many of the 18 LGBTQ bills the Bay Area Reporter is tracking this legislative session build on LGBTQ laws previously enacted by state lawmakers that focused on issues impacting public schools and foster youth. Several relate to protecting HIV prevention efforts. Among the marquee LGBTQ bills this year are one’s aimed at repealing state laws. Lawmakers are expected to adopt Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5 by gay Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Cupertino), which would place on the 2024 general election ballot a repeal of Proposition 8 that defines marriage in the California constitution as being between a man and a woman. Voters adopted it in 2008, and though a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2013 invalidated it, there is concern that the current conservative majority on the court could issue a new decision once again outlawing same-sex marriage as a federal right.
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Rick Gerhar