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Vol. 56 • No. 25 • June 18-24, 2026

Castro vigil marks 10 years since Pulse nightclub shooting by JL Odom

Courtesy Dustin Hart

Dustin Hart, Abraham Lincoln High School’s former band and orchestra director, played the piano.

End to gay band leader contract upsets SF school by Brian Guan

and and orchestra students at San Francisco’s Abraham Lincoln High School will have a new instructor in the upcoming school year. Dustin Hart, a gay man, was not hired to return to his role as the school’s band and orchestra director following the end of his temporary contract in June, drawing protest from parents in the school community. Hart told the Bay Area Reporter that he did experience some homophobia in the classroom, but did not speculate on whether his sexuality played a role in him not being rehired. For two academic years, Hart, 41, built and led the school’s band and orchestra program, which the school had not had since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also began the school’s after-school jazz combo in the 20252026 school year, an initiative he volunteered to lead. “They didn’t have an ensemble instrumental music program,” Hart recalled in a phone interview with the B.A.R., leading him to apply for the position. Hart began working in San Francisco Unified School District under a one-year contract in 2024 under an emergency credential, which allows instructors to work at SFUSD in their progression toward a full credential. Following his first year, Hart was given another one-year temporary contract to continue teaching at the high school. In April, Hart received an email from the district that his temporary employment contract would terminate at the end of the school year, which he had similarly received the previous academic year. When Hart emailed the school’s theninterim principal in early May asking for a meeting regarding the upcoming school year, he was told that next year’s position was not currently held by him and that he could apply and interview alongside other candidates. While he applied, he stated he was not granted an interview. Then, on June 1, he received “a one-line email saying that someone else was hired for the position,” Hart said. For Hart, who claimed he received no communication throughout the spring on See page 8 >>

gainst a backdrop of fog-shrouded Twin Peaks, dozens gathered at Jane Warner Plaza in San Francisco’s Castro LGBTQ neighborhood to remember the 49 people killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, and reflect on its lasting impact. The memorial vigil, “Remembering the 49,” was held Friday, June 12, at 5 p.m., marking 10 years since the mass shooting at Pulse, an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando. On June 12, 2016, Pulse was hosting a Latin Night event when the shooting unfolded, a tragedy that reverberated throughout LGBTQ+ communities nationwide and was felt especially strongly among Latine communities. “Ten years ago, 49 innocent lives were stolen – many of whom were LGBTQI+ and Latino – in a senseless act of violence,” wrote gay Congressmember Mark Takano (D-Riverside), chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, in a statement the caucus released. “The pain of the families, the community of Orlando, and the entire LGBTQI+ community remains immeasurable,” he continued. “I will remain committed to honoring the memories of the Pulse Angels by working to end the epidemics of violence and hate so that no person ever has to live in fear of extremist violence like this ever again.”

JL Odom

Christopher Vasquez, with his dog, Ziggy Stardog, held flowers as he stood in Jane Warner Plaza June 12 during the 10th anniversary vigil for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.

In March, Pulse nightclub was demolished to make way for a permanent memorial scheduled to open in 2027. The building had remained vacant since the shooting and was still marked by

bullet holes. The city of Orlando purchased the property in 2023 for $2 million, and the memorial is projected to cost $12 million to build, as reported by the Associated Press. Speakers at Friday’s memorial vigil in the Castro included Per Sia, a trans Latina who is San Francisco’s drag laureate and Drag Story Hour pioneer; Laura Thomas, a queer woman who’s a member of the San Francisco Entertainment Commission and director of harm reduction policy for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation; Imelda Carrasco, executive director of Acción Latina; Ani Rivera, executive director of Galería de la Raza; and Stephen Torres, a queer man who’s program manager for the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, which produced the event. Christopher Vasquez, a Castro resident and founder of the annual Pulse memorial event in San Francisco, told the crowd that he was in Los Angeles for Pride 10 years ago when he learned about the tragedy in his hometown of Orlando. “Before I knew the name of the club, before I knew it was 49 people, before I knew anything, I was already crying, because I didn’t have to know the details to know what it meant,” he said. See page 8 >>

LGBTQs rally around Becerra for California governor by Matthew S. Bajko

ith former state attorney general Xavier Becerra the lone Democratic gubernatorial candidate to make the November 3 ballot, LGBTQ leaders are rallying around his candidacy. Due to the California electorate’s overwhelming tilt to the Democrats, Becerra all but has a lock on becoming the Golden State’s 41st governor come 2027. The former health and human services secretary in the Biden administration, Becerra took first place in the June 2 primary with almost 28% of the vote. He is expected to easily defeat in the fall his Republican opponent, Steve Hilton, who secured the second spot in the general election with 25% of the primary vote. He edged out wealthy progressive Democrat Tom Steyer, who landed in third place with 22.5% in the primary, according to the unofficial returns as of Wednesday. In conceding the race after the latest vote count update on June 9, Steyer endorsed Becerra to succeed termed out Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. “Donald Trump is the embodiment of the corporations’ craven, soulless, profit-first model of politics, and it is absolutely essential that his handpicked candidate does not hold the keys to California. It would be a travesty for Steve Hilton to win the governorship, and Californians must unite behind Xavier Becerra to ensure he does not,” stated Steyer.

Courtesy the campaigns

Republican Steve Hilton, left, will face Democrat Xavier Becerra in the November election for governor of California.

Various unions, political groups, and elected leaders who either backed Steyer, another candidate, or refrained from endorsing ahead of the primary have followed suit in now throwing their support behind Becerra’s candidacy. Among them is the Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee, the LGBTQ political group based in the South Bay.

Known as BAYMEC for short, it had endorsed in late May San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan for governor. But the South Bay leader netted just 3.6% of the primary vote, and on Tuesday BAYMEC quickly endorsed Becerra after it became clear he would be running against Hilton. See page 8 >>

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2 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 18-24, 2026

NAVIGATE YOUR LIFE’S JOURNEY WITH CONFIDENCE

Trans law center receives $50K from Latino foundation by Cynthia Laird

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he Transgender Law Center has received a $50,000 grant from the Latino Community Foundation in an effort to bolster its program aimed at queer and trans migrants and those seeking asylum. The funds are part of the foundation’s investment of an additional $350,000 through its Community Protection Fund, officials said. The grantmaking comes at a pivotal moment, as Congress recently advanced nearly $70 billion for immigration enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement. President Donald Trump signed the legislation June 10. A news release from the San Francisco-based Latino Community Foundation, or LCF, noted that its grants will help California organizations providing advocacy and legal defense, rapid response, and support for immigrant families. With the latest investment, LCF will have granted $600,000 to 16 grassroots organizations across five states, the release stated. Eduardo Garcia, a gay man who is LCF’s senior director of public policy, told the Bay Area Reporter that the grant to TLC is important. “TLC works at the intersection of immigrant and LGBTQ rights,” Garcia said in a phone interview. “Some face overlapping vulnerabilities. “We believe these organizations are on the frontlines and protect vulnerable communities,” he added, referring to nonprofits like TLC. Isa Loyoa, a transgender woman who is director of Oakland-based TLC’s Border Butterflies Project, told the B.A.R. the grant funds will help the organization support queer and trans immigrants and those seeking asylum in the U.S. “It means incredibly a lot,” she said in a phone interview. Noyola described a federal government that has doubled down on homophobic, transphobic, and anti-immigrant rhetoric since Trump returned to the White House last year. “Our challenge every single day is to support folks,” she said. “As a project, it is not easy. There is lots of fatigue.” She called the recent $70 billion appropriation for Trump’s immigration agenda “devastating.” Trump has cracked down on immigration over the last year and a half, but federal agents have often targeted people who are U.S. citizens or have permission to be in the country. Families have been torn apart throughout the country, as media outlets have reported. Piloted back in 2020, the Border Butterflies Project has taken on new urgency during Trump’s second term,

Courtesy the subjects

Eduardo Garcia, left, of the Latino Community Foundation, and Isa Noyola, of the Transgender Law Center, said that both communities benefit by the foundation’s philanthropic actions.

according to TLC. It started as a coordinated response to the crisis for LGBTQ+ migrants at the U.S. southern border, TLC’s website stated. It has grown to become a stable, strategic, life-saving resource with expertise about queer and trans migrants waiting in Mexico, entering the U.S., and navigating the asylum process from within the U.S., the website explained. But asylum cases are getting tougher to win. Last year the B.A.R. reported on gay makeup artist Andry Jose Hernández Romero, who had arrived in San Diego and was placed in a detention center while he pursued his case. He was then deported to an infamous prison in El Salvador. While he was eventually released and returned to his native Venezuela, an immigration judge in the U.S. dismissed his asylum case while he was in the prison. Hernández Romero was not a TLC client, but the experiences he relayed in interviews have been experienced by trans migrants, Noyola said. “Trans folks are in solitary confinement, wearing them down so they selfdeport,” Noyola explained. Noyola added that one of the reasons the LCF grant is needed is because it is harder to raise funds for LGBTQ nonprofits these days. Some of that is attributed to Trump’s rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at the federal level. In response, many companies, universities, and some large law firms have also reduced their giving. “There’s not a lot of support right now for queer, trans immigration work with philanthropy,” she said. “I hope other foundations follow suit. It’s an incredibly difficult situation.” “It’s like David and Goliath in some ways,” Noyola added. “TLC is a small organization. TLC is committed; there are systemic needs and direct advocacy.” Garcia pointed to local changes

regarding immigration. The U.S. Immigration Court in downtown San Francisco closed recently, causing all the cases being heard there to be transferred to the East Bay city of Concord. “Lots of people fell through the cracks,” he said. “We need trusted community-based organizations to help people now.” Garcia said one of the reasons TLC was selected was because of its work with the intersecting Latino and trans communities. “So many LGBTQ immigrants see San Francisco as a place to be accepted and be who they are,” Garcia noted. Hence the recent round of grants. Some of the other agencies that received funding from LCF are A La Defensa in Los Angeles, the California Immigrant Policy Center in Sacramento, and Poder in Action in Arizona. TLC was the only Bay Area agency selected, according to the release. Julián Castro, a straight ally and former Obama administration official, is the CEO of LCF. “Across the nation, we have witnessed the power of everyday people who are demanding humane, lawful treatment of their immigrant neighbors,” Castro stated. “Their voices can make a difference in holding ICE accountable, and we must remain steadfast in our collective advocacy.” Noyola reiterated her hope that other charitable giving organizations invest in the Latino and trans communities. For other philanthropic groups, this is “their moment to step up like the Latino Community Foundation,” she said. “Particularly during Pride Month,” she added. For more information about the Latino Community Foundation, visit latinocf.org. For more information about the Transgender Law Center, visit transgenderlawcenter.org. t

Latest round of planned health cuts subject of supervisors hearing by John Ferrannini

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ealth department cuts to its upcoming budgets were the subject of a hearing of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday – including a $750,036 reduction in funding to health access points. The board took no action during its June 16 meeting; it is in the process of reviewing Mayor Daniel Lurie’s proposed $16.9 billion budgets for the next two fiscal years ahead of an August 1 deadline. Health Director Daniel Tsai pointed out the cut impacting community-based health clinics won’t come until the 2027-2028 budget year. The city partners with local nonprofit service providers to operate seven health access points to

From SFGovTV

San Francisco Health Director Daniel Tsai has announced some cuts to the department’s budget that will go into effect in 2027.

address HIV and related epidemics, such as hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections. They include the San Francisco

AIDS Foundation’s Magnet at the Strut health center at 470 Castro Street, and the San Francisco Community Health Center’s TransThrive at 1460 Pine Street. These access points are geared toward gay and bisexual men, and the trans community, respectively. “There’s a 6.6% reduction in those services with our HAP partners,” Tsai told the supervisors. “We do not have those cuts go into effect until next fiscal year. We hope to work with them to do everything possible to minimize service impacts, including Medicaid billing.” Tsai told the Bay Area Reporter last week that the department is working with the CBOs seeing cuts on how they can bill Medi-Cal for See page 6 >>

Community News>>

June 18-24, 2026 • Bay Area Repor ter • 3

LGBTQs discuss improved police ties by John Ferrannini

trides San Francisco law enforcement has made in its relationship with the LGBTQ community was the focus of a presentation at the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club’s Pride Month meeting. One of the panelists, gay District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, gave a shout out to the Bay Area Reporter – crediting B.A.R. political columnist Wayne Friday’s trailblazing time at the police commission. Friday died in 2016. “I was so close to Wayne Friday, who used to be a columnist for the B.A.R., and was kind of a mentor to me in San Francisco politics,” Dorsey said at the June 15 meeting. “He stayed for a long time on the police commission. Wayne was one of what ended up being, I think, 11 police commissioners from the LGBT+ community going back to 1980 and Dianne Feinstein appointing Jo Daly.” Daly, a lesbian, was appointed by then-mayor Feinstein, and served until 1986. Daly died in 1997. Friday, also an investigator with the DA’s office, was appointed by then-mayors Frank Jordan and Willie L. Brown Jr. to the city’s police commission, a role he coveted. Dorsey worked as a civilian within the police department as a spokesperson shortly before he was tapped in 2021 by then-mayor London Breed to represent South of Market on the Board of Supervisors. He won election in 2022 and is up for reelection this November. “I’ve seen over the years how San Francisco, for all its problems, and they’re not unique to San Francisco’s Police Department, has usually led the way on LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality,” Dorsey said. Dorsey was joined as a panelist by SFPD Captain Christopher Del Gandio, who made history as the first out gay man to make that rank with the San Francisco Police Department; Debra Walker, a lesbian who served on the San

John Ferrannini

Moderator Phillip HC Wilkinson, right, asked a question to panelists, from left, San Francisco Fire Department Lieutenant Jonathan Baxter, Debra Walker, the Reverend Megan Rohrer, Supervisor Matt Dorsey, and San Francisco Police Department Captain Christopher Del Gandio.

Francisco Police Commission for nearly two years before her term expired; San Francisco Fire Department Lieutenant Jonathan Baxter, who is the spokesperson for that agency; and the Reverend Megan Rohrer, who was the first trans Lutheran minister and who previously served as an SFPD chaplain. It was moderated by attorney and Alice member Phillip HC Wilkinson. B.A.R. readers may remember del Gandio as the co-chairperson of the SFPD LGBTQ+ Forum, which seeks to connect the community with the department. He said that he has been openly gay since he was accepted in a SFPD academy class and moved to the city in 2007. “Sometimes the department has a habit, if you’re gay you go to Mission Station,” he said, referring to the police station that oversees much of the Castro LGBTQ neighborhood. “I was like, ‘What’s the assignment all new guys get? Give me that.’” Del Gandio works in the SFPD’s Central Station, which covers much of Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the Italian American North Beach neighborhood. “I wanted to know as an openly gay man I could do what everybody else can do,” he said, adding his husband is a regular around the station. “My husband comes and gives cup-

cakes for everyone – I think they like Billy [Hackenson] more than me,” he quipped, adding that he feels they are both accepted by colleagues. Del Gandio had to blink back tears at one point, saying he is living his truth on behalf of those who couldn’t. “I feel they never got that chance, that opportunity,” he said. “I want to go all the way for them.” But Del Gandio did say he has experienced pushback in the LGBTQ community for pursuing his career in law enforcement. “Sometimes people from the LGBTQ community say, ‘Take off your uniform. You’re a traitor,’” he said. “I think to myself, ‘Do you think we should only have white, straight men running the police department? You think that’d be better?’” Dorsey recalled the turbulent days in 2022 when shortly after his appointment to the board he, along with Breed, announced they wouldn’t be marching in the Pride Parade that year because the San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Celebration Committee initially banned uniformed law enforcement from the parade. SF Pride later backtracked due to public pressure. “Whatever issues there were in history … of all the leadership in SFPD, this place wouldn’t be gayer if it were musical theater,” Dorsey said. “I put out a press release,

‘I’m not marching in the Pride Parade if uniformed officers can’t.’ Then Mayor Breed came on, the fire department, sheriffs, and there was a real show of unity from the public safety community.” Baxter, a longtime public communications officer for the fire department, said that it was during this time he was “outed by the former chief” by accident – “with no ill intent,” he clarified. Baxter, who became a firefighter as a teenager, said when he was very young and wrestling with his feelings, he struggled to understand how he fit into the LGBTQ community. “My only connection to the gay community was on rabbit ears,” he said, referring to over-the-air TV. “The gay parade would come on and I would sit there and say, ‘That’s not me, but I feel this way. How come that does not reflect me? That was my introduction to the gay community.” Only later in his career did he brush up against the negative attitudes some colleagues had toward the LGBTQ community. Baxter moved to San Francisco in 2000. “I thought I was going to come into this mecca,” he said. “I was like, this is going to be great, the fire department. And it really, it was great, but there was still that external bias, if you will.” Rohrer said he did research for thenPolice Chief William Scott in advance of his famous 2019 apology to the decades of wrongs from the SFPD to the LGBTQ community, particularly the infamous 1989 Castro Sweep. “I don’t think apologizing fixes everything, nor do I think everything about policing works for everyone in the LGBT community, but I would rather have someone who could see their pastor being gay be the person who’s going to respond to LGBT folk around town, then someone who couldn’t see,” Rohrer said. “It felt very important to me to serve, and to be willing to show up in some of those spaces.”

As the B.A.R. has reported, Rohrer served as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, having been elected in 2021. He resigned in June 2022, at the request of Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA. Rohrer, as bishop, had fired a popular Latino minister, the Reverend Nelson RabellGonzalez, pastor of Misión Latina Luterana in Stockton. The firing took place on December 12, 2021, which was the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a sacred day for the congregation’s largely Latine congregants. The congregation alleged racism and started a petition to remove Rohrer as bishop. Rohrer told the B.A.R. last year that his safety was often at issue during his tenure as bishop. “In the days after my election, the Synod office was flooded with so many harassing and inappropriate calls and letters that we had to switch to an automated answering service that recorded messages,” Rohrer said. “The San Francisco Police Department helped me purchase a bulletproof vest, which I wore from time to time based on the recommendations of safety advisers.” Rohrer later filed a lawsuit against the Sierra Pacific Synod and that was settled in 2024. Walker, who now serves on the arts commission, where she was before moving over to the police commission, said activism on the outside and queer people on the inside have made SFPD “probably one of the most preferred departments in the country.” “It’s San Francisco. You know, we want to change the world from here,” Walker said. “When we have people working in the department whose leadership listens to, and who are our leadership, then when commissioners sit at discipline hearings we hear the story because the rules and regulations were clear, and deal with the issues.” t

4 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 18-24, 2026

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SF Giants strike out

he San Francisco Giants, a baseball team hovering near the bottom of the standings this season, took that mediocrity to an even lower level during their June 12 Pride Night. While most players donned Pride-themed baseball hats, a few of those who did decide to write Bible verses next to the rainbow “SF” logo. It didn’t go unnoticed. For a team that’s among the worst in the major leagues, and has a Republican donor as its major stakeholder, it’s apparently par for the course. But it’s disappointing indeed that in the gayest city on Earth, the team sided with the players instead of the LGBTQ community by condoning their actions. For Buster Posey, a former star catcher during the Giants glory days who is now in his second season as president of baseball operations, the incident says a lot about his lack of leadership. For Posey’s handpicked rookie manager Tony Vitello, it says that he has lost the clubhouse. Or, maybe Vitello, the former head coach at the University of Tennessee, encouraged it. Who knows? What we do know is that LGBTQ and many straight Giants fans are angry, and they should be. The Giants, with one lousy game – they lost 5-1 to the visiting Chicago Cubs – alienated fans and the city they’ve called home since 1958. For years, the Giants have embraced Pride Night, becoming the first Major League Baseball team to wear on-field Pride-themed hats. Now, that progress has regressed to seeing pitcher Landen Roupp’s Genesis 9:12-19 inscription on his hat that claims the rainbow was a symbol of God’s covenant. While that may be in the Bible, the LGBTQ community also made the rainbow its own global symbol of Pride decades before Roupp’s birth in 1998. Live with it, dude. One pitcher, Sam Hentges, opted not to wear the Pride hat at all, donning the team’s standard cap. But that doesn’t excuse his actions. He’s just as anti-LGBTQ as the others; the point of the Pride Night attire was to have all players participate – you know, as a team – it’s just that Hentges wasn’t so in-your-face about it. To wear the Pride hat with a verse that seeks to denigrate one of our main symbols of LGBTQ Pride is crass. And wrong. Roupp said, “There’s no hate at all … I believe in God.” That’s a false argument and an old anti-gay trope, implying that LGBTQs lack faith. A lot of LGBTQ people believe in God, as evidenced by our robust spiritual community. In fact, Christian principles seek to be inclusive, as Roupp should know. Roupp and fellow pitchers JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, who had Bible inscriptions on their hats, are obviously anti-LGBTQ, or they wouldn’t have taken the action to begin with. Part of being a good baseball manager is the ability to instill a sense of maturity in players and to develop the camaraderie that brings a team together to win games. That is especially needed when a team is doing poorly, as the Giants are at present. It’s obvious that Vitello has failed that test; the players who thought it’d be a good idea to inscribe Bible verses are immature and acting like schoolyard bullies, using part of their official uniform to wag a finger at the gays. More troublesome was the Giants’ front office response, in which officials noted the team’s participation in Pride Night but added that it “understands the players’ individual choice to alter their Pride Night hats.” We’ll point out that under no circumstances would Giants officials allow players to alter their uniforms with messages against any of the other groups – such as Jewish, Black, Mexican, or Italian Americans – that the team routinely honors with heritage days throughout the season. But being antiLGBTQ is apparently OK at Oracle Park. The Giants organization tried to clean up this mess of its own

<< Open Forum

Catholic. “But I am bothered to see biblical cherrypicking used to score political points, on a single occasion, and it’s hard to argue this was anything other than that.” Dorsey added that as a gay man, he was disappointed “that a universally recognized symbol of LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion is still seen by some as controversial in 2026.” “Major cities with major-league teams are inherently diverse,” he noted, “and if you’re uncomfortable celebrating the wide array of heritage and Pride nights for communities that make up the city on your uniform, maybe the major leagues aren’t for you.”

Moving forward

From Instagram via Fox News

San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp wrote an inscription from the Bible on his Pride Night hat.

making in its statement: “We understand that the choices by individual players have caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that. Those choices do not change our organization’s commitment to inclusion, belonging, and creating a welcoming environment for all.”

Not the 1st time

This isn’t the first time the Giants have experienced an LGBTQ-related incident. During the old Until There’s A Cure Day games, some players didn’t wear their AIDS awareness red ribbon patches. In 1996, as the Athletic reported, pitcher Mark Dewey turned his red ribbon sideways to resemble a fish. Gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) in a social media post called on the Giants organization to do better. “To be clear, these players could have cited the rainbow Bible verse on any of the other 364 days of the year. Instead, they chose to cite it only on Pride Night & only in connection with the rainbow Giants logo celebrating our LGBTQ community. There’s only one explanation for that choice – a choice the Giants tolerated,” Wiener wrote. “It’s hard to envision the Giants tolerating this kind of behavior directed at any other community.” Gay San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman was at the game and told us that before the players took the field, it was a wonderful event. He and other LGBTQ leaders carried out a queer Giants banner, he said. Drag artist Peaches Christ presided over renewal of marriage vows for several same-sex couples, including gay San Francisco Human Rights Commission Executive Director Mawuli Tugbenyoh and his husband. “It was marred by players’ unfortunate need to protest,” Mandelman said. District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey also joined in the pre-game festivities. He, too, told us he was disappointed in what transpired on the field. “First, as a sports fan, it struck me as problematically undisciplined,” he wrote in a text. “When you’re a highly paid professional athlete, your uniform isn’t a canvas for individual self-expression – especially about politics – and it’s been my observation over the years that championship-caliber teams never tolerate distractions like that. “Second, as a person of faith, I’ll be the first to defend Bible verses and prayer as sources of inspiration and strength for many athletes – I have no problem with that,” added Dorsey, who is a devout

MLB stepped in where the Giants wouldn’t and issued warnings to the players Tuesday, saying that writing on the caps violates the league’s rules, the Associated Press reported. Though the league stressed the warning had nothing to do with the content of the message, writing of any kind is prohibited on a uniform, MLB stated. The Giants’ debacle stands in stark contrast to their archrival, the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had their own anti-LGBTQ episode three years ago when controversy erupted after they disinvited the LA chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence drag nun philanthropic group to their Pride Night. (The Dodgers ended up doing the right thing and reinvited the Sisters, who accepted.) Earlier this month, as the Los Angeles Times reported, the Dodgers honored gay late former players Glenn Burke and Billy Bean with a permanent exhibit at Dodger Stadium. Burke and Bean were the first and second professional baseball players to come out as gay. Burke, who also played for the former Oakland A’s, died of AIDS-related complications in 1995. Bean, who had gone on to work in the MLB offices, died of leukemia in 2024. The Dodgers establish a permanent exhibit to recognize two gay men while the Giants can’t even get all of their players to wear a Pride-themed hat on Pride Night. This is a management failure on many levels. In the larger context of the things going on in the country right now, Mandelman had a point when he told us, “It’s a reminder of the moment we’re in – the permission of anti-LGBTQ bigotry comes from the highest level.” It certainly is the case that the homophobia and transphobia exhibited constantly by President Donald Trump, his administration, and his supporters have given license to others to lash out physically, verbally, or with Bible inscriptions on Pride hats. Dorsey refused to call the players’ actions bigoted or hateful. And though we disagree with his assessment, we’d echo his recommendation that those who were offended or hurt show the players grace. There’s a case to be made that through conversations, hearts and minds are changed, as we saw during the fight for marriage equality, when same-sex couples began sharing their stories with neighbors, co-workers, and fellow church members. Rainbow Families Action, a group of parents of trans youth and their allies, has invited the Giants to reach out to its family members and offer a meeting to listen about why the Pride hat flap was so demoralizing. One parent noted in a news release that their trans son, who was born in 2012, a World Series championship year for the team, has been a Giants fan since early childhood. “LGBTQ+ kids have enough obstacles that prevent them from participating in sports. They did not need four Giants pitchers telling them that they are not welcome,” the parent stated. See page 9 >>

Headline Show your Pride this July 4

by Brian McConnell

uly 4, 2026, will be the 250th anniversary of American independence. No matter how much President Donald Trump tries to turn it into a grotesque tribute to himself, there is something each of us can do to remind people that the U.S. flag represents all of us. Pride In The 4th (https://prideinthe4th.com/) is a national call to action for people to represent America’s diverse heritage by attending local Fourth of July events while wearing or waving their flag of identity of heritage alongside the U.S. flag. Whether your flag is a Pride flag, a Mexican flag, or a union banner, this is an opportunity for each of us to celebrate America’s diversity. The movement also has some quirky San Francisco history behind it. Back in 2004, some of the co-creators of Guerrilla Queer Bar floated the idea of moving the San Francisco Pride Parade to July 4, as it fell on a Sunday that year.

From Pride In The 4th

People are encouraged to show their Pride at July 4 activities.

At the time, states around the nation were passing constitutional amendments to deprive LGBTQ people of the right to marry. So much has changed since then, and as retrograde as the Trump administration has been, we’ve made real progress. While the move to change the parade date didn’t succeed, we realized that the

underlying idea of claiming the Fourth of July as something we can all celebrate had merit. So how can you help? We’re not trying to create an alternate event but instead are encouraging people to attend their local events to represent. First and foremost, you can help by spreading the word about this idea and encouraging your friends and co-workers to do the same. Trump may have celebrated this historic occasion early with the recent cage match on the White House lawn, but we can do something much greater by celebrating our heritage and diversity on Independence Day. P.S. “Idiocracy” was a 2006 documentary, and we would be lucky to have Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho as our president today. t Brian McConnell, a gay man, is an engineer, author, and activist. He was a co-creator of Guerrilla Queer Bar, a bar crawl/flashmob that was active from 2001-2004 and was copied in many cities.

Politics >>

t McCoy is SF LGBTQ Dem clubs’ D8 supe top pick by Mathew S. Bajko

or only the third time in the past 26 years have San Francisco’s two main LGBTQ Democratic clubs agreed on who should represent the LGBTQ Castro district and its surrounding neighborhoods as the District 8 supervisor. In this year’s race they have coalesced around Gary McCoy, a gay longtime political aide to Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), as their top choice. Tuesday night, the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club endorsed McCoy as its number one pick in the contest. The progressive political group also backed gay patent attorney Michael Trung Nguyen as its second choice in the four-person race. Under the city’s ranked-choice voting system, voters can rank candidates in first, second, third, and fourth place if they choose. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in the first round then the candidates with the least votes are successively eliminated with their voters’ other ranked choices tabulated until a winner emerges. Milk club Co-Presidents AjaiNicole Duncan and Reid Coggins told the Bay Area Reporter on Wednesday that they “are proud” by the members’ decision to approve the endorsements for District 8 Supervisor as recommended by its political action committee. “Both Gary and Michael have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to public service, the LGBTQ+ community, and the progressive values that define San Francisco. Throughout their careers, they have shown up for working people, marginalized communities, and those whose voices are too often left out of the conversation,” stated Duncan and Coggins. “Harvey Milk Democrats have always fought for the collective ‘us’ – for a city where everyone can thrive – and we are confident that both Gary and Michael will continue that tradition by championing policies that put community, equity, and justice first. Either would make an outstanding representative for District 8.” On Monday night, the more moderate Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club solely endorsed McCoy to succeed gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who is termed out of office in early January. McCoy is a former cochair of the Alice club and also served as a co-president of the Milk club. “I have spent my career leading and working alongside these clubs, and having them both in my corner means everything. It’s an honor I don’t take lightly. I look forward to working with Alice and Milk to fight for San Francisco’s LGBTQ community and for District 8,” stated McCoy, who lives in Twin Peaks with his husband Kory Powell-McCoy, who is Pelosi’s district director in her San Francisco office. Nguyen, also known as drag performer Juicy Liu, founded the Milk club’s AAPI Caucus for its Asian American Pacific Islander members. He had served alongside McCoy on its board and lives near him in Twin Peaks. “I’m honored to receive the endorsement of the Milk Club and I look forward to upholding the progressive values of its namesake, Harvey Milk,” Nguyen told the B.A.R. While Darshini Patel, a bisexual and queer woman who used to work at DoorDash, had also sought Milk’s endorsement, small business owner Emanuel “Manny” Yekutiel opted not to and didn’t fill out the club’s questionnaire unlike his trio of opponents. As seen in the ones it posted on its website at https://www.milkclub.org/ endorsements from the other three candidates, the Milk club largely inquired about local issues and eschewed from asking about such divisive matters as the

Rick Gerharter

District 8 supervisor candidate Gary McCoy, left, held his campaign kickoff event with Congressmember Nancy Pelosi last fall.

wars being waged by Israel and the U.S. in the Middle East. When asked why Yekutiel opted not to turn in Milk’s questionnaire, Yekutiel’s campaign manager Connor Skelly sent the B.A.R. the brief note the candidate had sent the club. “I have a deep respect for this Club, for all that you and the previous iterations of this board and membership have done to advance LGBTQ equality and social justice in our City and our Country,” wrote Yekutiel. “In the event that I become the next Supervisor of District 8 I intend to build a strong working relationship with the Club and its leadership. I have every expectation that we will find common ground on a number of important issues affecting our communities and that we will work together to make progress on those issues.” Yekutiel had criticized Alice’s endorsement process as being unfair, since it only voted on endorsing McCoy. But Alice co-chair Rabbi Martin RawlingsFein dismissed such criticisms, noting the club’s bylaws lay out the process for it to consider an early endorsement of a sole candidate. “You can’t say it’s unfair if it’s in our bylaws,” Rawlings-Fein, who is bisexual and a transgender father, told the B.A.R. As for why the club opted for an early endorsement of McCoy, Rawlings-Fein said it simply had to do with the fact that, “Gary is one of our leaders.” Thus, it shouldn’t come as any surprise, added Rawlings-Fein, that Alice members would want to see a former leader of the club serving “in a position of being a district supervisor.” Patel noted to the B.A.R. that endorsements by the local clubs “often reward the relationships you build over time. I’m building something newer and different, and I think that’s exactly what District 8 needs right now.” She added in regard to the Alice and Milk clubs that, “I respect both clubs and the work their members put into these endorsements. It’s a serious process, and Gary and Michael have built relationships in these clubs over many years. I’m glad to be in this race alongside them.” She stressed that her campaign is “rooted in the possibility of a city that can actually deliver on its promises, from healthcare services for the queer community to affordable housing. An endorsement is one moment in a long campaign, and between now and November I’ll continue to connect with people across District 8 – including club members – and fight for the city I know we can build.” The dual endorsement moves by the LGBTQ clubs blunt Yekutiel’s perceived frontrunner status in the race, having secured a sole endorsement last fall from Mandelman, the current board president, in the contest to represent the city’s LGBTQ Castro district along with central neighborhoods like Noe Valley, Diamond Heights, Duboce Triangle, and a part of Cole Valley. Both Alice and Milk not only send out slate cards to voters ahead of the November 3 elec-

tion touting their endorsed candidates but also marshal their memberships to phone bank and canvass for them. When Mandelman sought reelection four years ago, he secured endorsements from both the Alice and Milk clubs. An active member of Alice’s board for a decade in the early 2000s, he also formerly led the Milk club as its president. During the 2018 election for the seat, Mandelman became the first candidate in District 8 to secure the backing of the two LGBTQ political groups since supervisors in San Francisco reverted back to being elected by district in 2000, as the Political Notebook had reported at the time. Yekutiel did pick up a sole endorsement in the race from the Noe Valley Democratic Club, which had co-hosted a forum with the four candidates in the spring. As a one-time resident of the neighborhood who has his campaign headquarters on its main commercial corridor along 24th Street, Yekutiel noted the club’s backing “is really exciting, especially because every single one of their members is a District 8 resident.”

June 18-24, 2026 • Bay Area Repor ter • 5

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Fall supervisorial races set

With the filing deadline now closed for candidates to seek the even-numbered board seats this fall, it appears gay District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey and his fellow incumbents, District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong and District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill, are favored to win their races. As for the open District 10 supervisorial seat, 10 people qualified for the November 3 ballot. Dorsey, only the second known person living with HIV to serve on the board, will face one challenger, Alex Behrend, an organizer with the Neglected Voter Project, for his seat centered in the South of Market and Mission Bay neighborhoods. First appointed to fill a vacancy in the spring of 2021, Dorsey had won a full four-year term on the November 2022 ballot. “I’ve worked in politics most of my career, and if there’s one lesson I’ve learned early and often, it’s to take nothing for granted. So, I’m working hard to talk about my accomplishments so far, to compete for endorsements, and to earn every vote I can,” Dorsey told the B.A.R. “I understand I’ll have an opponent with strong objections to some of my priorities, and that’s fine – that’s what democracy is all about. I look forward to making my case to District 6 voters.” Sherrill and Wong were also appointed to fill vacancies and just won decisive victories on the June 2 primary ballot to serve out the remainder of their terms through early January. Sherrill now faces three opponents in the fall – property management company executive Nicholas Berg, restaurant manager Guy McCoy, and Monthanus Ratanapakdee, a member of the city’s Immigrant Rights Commission – none of whom he faced in this month’s race. Running again against Wong in November will be hardware store owner Albert Chow, who was eliminated in the third round of ranked-choice voting in this month’s race. Also making the fall ballot is Jeremy Julian Greco, a campus coordinator at Presidio Hill School. Among the frontrunners in the race to succeed termed-out District 10 Supervisor are Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House Executive Director Theo Ellington and attorney JR Eppler, a member of the city’s Building Inspection Commission. Also making the ballot are college graduate student Pearci “PJ” Bastiany III; community organizers Dionjay (“DJ”) Brookter, Deandra Bryant, and Jamo Muhammad; carpenter Ellsworth “Ell” M. Jennison, Jr.; small business consultant Mike Trouble Lin; nurse Jessica Pessecow; and Brothers Against Guns Executive Director Shawn M. Richard. t

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<< Community News

6 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 18-24, 2026

Touring exhibit uplifts LGBTQ youth, seeks participants compiled by Cynthia Laird

new touring exhibit and online gallery uplifts LGBTQ youth through original artwork. The Superhero Project’s “Heroes Within” is also seeking participants, a news release stated. “Heroes Within” celebrates LGBTQ youth and young adults by transforming their lived experiences, dreams, and values into fully realized superhero identities, according to the release. It’s created through a collaboration between young participants and a global league of queer and ally artists. Kids, teens, and young adults share their stories and how they hope to make a positive difference in the world. Artists then design heroic alter egos inspired by the participants’ ideas

and photos, resulting in a new pantheon of superheroes rooted in healing, resistance, imagination, and hope, the release stated. The exhibit is now on display at Urban Grace in Tacoma, Washington, and Positive Exposure Gallery in New York City, with additional venues being booked, the release stated. A virtual version of the exhibit is available on the Superhero Project website, superheroprojectkids.org/heroeswithin. The digital gallery allows youth in rural, isolated, or unsupportive communities and homes to see how young people like them are being honored for their identities, creativity, and hopes for the future, the release stated. While the exhibit is not in the Bay

Law Office of Shelley S. Feinberg

Monica Angela Lonigro, 55, of San Francisco, passed away peacefully at home on May 22, 2026, after a courageous fight with ovarian cancer, surrounded by loving family and friends who treasured her zest for life and her gift for bringing joy and laughter to everyone she knew. Monica was born November 8, 1970, in Versailles, France, and spent her early childhood in France and Italy before her family settled in the United States in 1978. She graduated from Fairmont High School in Kettering, Ohio, in 1988, then earned a BA in History and French from The Ohio State University, where she spent her junior year studying abroad in Rennes, France, at the Université de Haute Bretagne. She moved to San Francisco in the mid 1990s and made it her home for life. At Cisco Systems, she built a career in technology as a technical writer and documentation manager, valuing the engineers and colleagues she worked alongside and making many trips to India to support her teams. Monica loved San Francisco fiercely, and she loved the wider world – travelling through North America, Asia and Europe, seeking out beaches and the ocean she adored, and hiking and camping across Northern California and the National Parks. A passionate cook proud of her Italian heritage, she delivered her famous “Sauce” and meatballs to friends throughout the pandemic. She loved music, art, film, poetry and dancing in fabulous costume, and had recently begun classes at San Francisco State University to pursue a master’s degree in History. A lifelong soccer player coached early on by her father, she played for years in the Golden Gate Women’s Soccer League, known as a fearless brick wall on defense. She loved the game, attending World Cup matches and travelling to Australia in 2023 for the Women’s World Cup. Monica was baptized in 1971 at the Saint Germain Roman Catholic Church in Fontenay-le-Fleury, France. Later in life she became a devoted student of Buddhism. Monica practiced for many years at the San Francisco Zen Center and joined a beloved sangha on Bernal Hill in 2013. The night before she passed, her sangha gathered to meditate, holding Monica in their hearts. Monica was preceded in death by her father, Aldo F. Lonigro, and her sister, Laura Diana Lonigro, maternal and paternal grandparents, aunts and uncles. Monica is survived by her mother Lena (Giannini) Lonigro of Dayton, Ohio; sisters Maria (husband Bill) Sodervick of Lansing, Michigan, and Giuliana Lonigro (husband Steve Weiss) of White Plains, New York; nephew Tim Sodervick; niece Rebecca Sodervick; aunt Phyllis (Giannini) Anderson; former spouse Michelle Alcedo; and many friends and family members across the United States and Italy. Sincere gratitude goes to all of Monica’s friends, family and caregivers who gave support and comfort during this difficult period. Special thanks to her friends Kate Graves, Kelly Lockwood, Joseph Pace, Carla Richmond and cousin Giuliana Lonigro Gursky for their endless kindness, care and love for Monica. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Monica to contribute to a memorial tribute in her name in the Golden Gate Park, in the city she loved and called home for over 30 years. Donations towards Monica’s tribute may be made at https://gofund.me/858387fde Services and Celebrations of Life will be held at a later date.

SFAF’s Strut marks 10 years

Milk center exhibit

The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department has announced that the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts and Photo Center will unveil its 2026 Art + Pride exhibit, “Let’s Have a Ball!” during an opening reception Saturday, June 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. at 50 Scott Street within Duboce Park. The center is the country’s oldest community wet darkroom, and the photo center has been at its present locaServing the San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ+ Community Since 1999. tion since 1954. Milk was the late supervisor who operated his Castro Camera • Probate • Wills/Trusts shop before becoming the first gay man • Trust Admin • Estate Planning elected to office in California in 1977. FLAT FEE! Milk, along with then-mayor George Moscone, was assassinated inside San Flood Building, 870 Market St, Suite 420 Francisco City Hall by disgrunBy Appointment only! 415-421-1893 tled ex-supervisor Dan White in November www.ShelleySFeinberg.com • trust@shelleysfeinberg.com 1978. One month later, the San Francisco Recreation and Park CommisShelley_S_Feinberg_2x2_032025.indd 1 3/13/25 7:45 PM sion approved a measure to name the art and photo center for Milk, according to the center’s website. The free opening reception will feature live performances beginning at 7. The exhibition will remain on display through July 31. For more information, visit https:// tinyurl.com/2z5fa5ks.

Monica Angela Lonigro

For San Francisco residents, zoo tickets are $28 for adults; $19 for kids, and $22 for seniors. Prices are slightly higher for non-city residents. For more information and tickets, visit sfzoo.org.

Area, LGBTQ young people everywhere can apply to participate, the release stated. The project is open to queer youth ages 6-18. Youth of color, living with illnesses or disabilities, and/or from underrepresented voices are especially encouraged, the release noted. Participants receive modest stipends for their contributions. For more information and to apply, visit https://tinyurl.com/mrxt4s68.

Nonbinary photographer to have exhibit in Danville

An artist reception for queer nonbinary Korean American artist Salgu Wissmath and their photo exhibit will be held Saturday, June 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Danville Congregational Church UCC, 989 San Ramon Valley Boulevard in Danville. The exhibit, “Divine Identity,” celebrates the sacredness of queer folks of faith by transforming their portraits into icons, a news release stated. Inspired by religious iconography references and other artists’ images of modern-day saints, such as the work by Kelly Latimore Icons and Gabriel Garcia Roman, Wissmath explores and reclaims the traditional sacred art form of iconography to honor and uplift queer individuals, the release noted. “These subversive art forms are prayers. Reminding us to honor the liv-

Health cuts

From page 2

services that they provide, such as sexually transmitted infection testing, rather than relying on the city’s general fund to cover their expenses. Limits in staff capacity have prevented them in doing so to date, he explained. “Some of the services covered by the Health Access Points are MediCal reimbursable, but CBOs do not currently have the infrastructure to bill the state,” Tsai said. President Donald Trump’s HR 1, or One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is creating funding gaps for local hospitals and providers because the law reduces federal Medicaid spending, which means more care is being provided without compensation to medical institutions, which in turn creates more budgetary pressure on local governments. The effect on San Francisco is estimated to be $300 million over two years. Lurie’s proposed spending plan would cut from other agencies to bolster the DPH budget, which in the proposal is $3.5 billion for Fis-

From the Superhero Project

The “Heroes Within” traveling and digital exhibits celebrate queer youth.

ing saints among us. To bring to light those of us who are both queer and spiritual. To encourage us and others to recognize our own sacredness,” Wissmath stated. “We are all created in the image of the divine. Our identities are divine.” Wissmath is based in San Antonio, Texas and Sacramento, California. Their work has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times, and other outlets, the release stated. Wissmath won an NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists 2025 Excellence in Photojournalism Award and was a 2026 Pulitzer Prize finalist in breaking news reporting. By contemplating the icons in this series, Wissmath hopes queer folks will experience a sense of peace and comfort, feeling surrounded by their queer elders and siblings, even in moments when they are alone, according to the release. Whether or not the viewer is a person of faith, by viewing these icons, Wissmath aims to empower queer folks to embody their own sacredness. The exhibit is open through June 30 from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and Sundays during worship at 9:30 a.m. until noon.

SF Zoo Pride event

The San Francisco Zoo and Gardens will hold its Pride celebration Sunday, June 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the zoo, located at Sloat Boulevard and the Great Highway. According to a zoo spokesperson, the event will feature music; drag queen storytime with Per Sia, San Francisco’s drag laureate and co-founder of Drag Story Hour; and more. The San Francisco Pride Band, the city’s official band, will play in the zoo’s entry village at 11; followed by a parade down to the playground area for a concert. The drag storytime will begin at noon. cal Year 2026-2027, a $123 million increase from 2025-2026. In 20272028, that number goes up to $3.7 billion. Under DPH’s plan, total spending on HIV services will be the same in Fiscal Year 2026-2027 as it was in 2025-2026, at $84.1 million. The amount the city is backfilling from its general fund to offset the impact of federal cuts will increase from $28.7 million to $29 million. In Fiscal Year 2027-2028, that backfill will be $30 million, and the city’s total HIV budget $84.4 million. “With the mayor’s support, the budget ensures DPH is not forced to bear the brunt of the federal and state Medi-Cal cuts alone, which would otherwise necessitate massive cuts to the safety net and clinical services all across the city,” Tsai said. “At the same time, the DPH also has had to do belt tightening, and we must meet our obligations to ensure a balanced city budget.” Tsai confirmed to the B.A.R. that there shouldn’t be more cuts to CBOs going forward based on this proposed budget. That wasn’t the case last budget cycle, which led to

Strut, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s health and wellness center in the Castro, will mark its 10th anniversary with a tea dance Sunday, June 21, from 2 to 5 p.m. at 470 Castro Street. The event is free and open to the community. Strut opened in 2016 in order to co-locate sexual health, substance use, harm reduction, and other support and community services in one central location in the LGBTQ neighborhood. In the years since, the space has transitioned from serving gay and bi men, to being a place open and accessible to LGBTQ community members, people living with and affected by HIV, transgender and nonbinary people, and other members of the community, a news release noted. Today, Strut provides inclusive sexual health, gender-affirming care, substance health, and other support services, the release stated. “We are proud of the impact that Strut has had in our community over the past decade,” stated Tyler TerMeer, Ph.D., a Black gay man living with HIV who is CEO of the AIDS foundation. “In that time we have innovated and expanded our services to prioritize the trans community, expanded our PrEP program to serve more than 10,000 clients, offered doxy PEP as an innovation in STI prevention, supported thousands of people around their substance use, hosted hundreds of free community events, and opened a pharmacy.” In 10 years at Strut, SFAF has provided care to nearly 34,000 clients, given 121,837 HIV tests, served nearly 10,000 clients with PrEP, started more than 5,200 people on doxy PEP for STI prevention, linked 859 people to rapid HIV care, provided gender-affirming care to more than 350 transgender and nonbinary community members, and hosted more than 100 art gallery shows featuring art from queer artists, the release stated. Tom Perrault, a former chair of SFAF’s board of directors, stated that Strut was conceived when the agency was asking how San Francisco could get to zero HIV seroconversions. “It was groundbreaking when we opened and we could see the immediate impact on the community,” Perrault stated. “To see what it’s become and the incredible work it does 10 years on is deeply moving and gratifying.” t

the health department having to cut $17 million from CBOs earlier this year to balance its books. Some of those cuts impacted HIV and LGBTQ-serving organizations. The supervisors did not give remarks, and SFAF and SFCHC didn’t return requests to comment for this report. However, there was a robust public comment period after Tsai’s presentation. Laura Thomas, a queer woman who is director of harm reduction policy for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, was among those who spoke. “The San Francisco AIDS Foundation is facing substantial cuts this year, including ones up for this hearing,” said Thomas, who highlighted cuts in particular to “very longstanding HIV prevention, hepatitis prevention, overdose prevention and linkage-to-care services, and neighborhoods around the county, and without these services, neighborhoods and communities are going to be underserved. These have been lifelines to people, connecting them to treatment for decades.” t

Sports>>

June 18-24, 2026 • Bay Area Repor ter • 7

Safe space for LGBTQ sports fans opens in SF by Matthew S. Bajko

est known as drag queen Juicy Liu and for being a gay local Democratic Party leader, Michael Nguyen is also a longtime athlete. He played on the Dragons, a softball team of mostly LGBTQ Asian players, and with another team in the local gay softball league until switching to ultimate frisbee 11 years ago. A former board member for Proud Ultimate, a local queer ultimate frisbee team, Nguyen recalled how in his youth he saw sports as being for “bullies and straight people.” He associated athletics “with a lot of shame” for students like himself. Thus, his excitement for attending the opening of Pride House San Francisco Thursday at the city’s LGBTQ community center. Timed to the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, during which six games are to be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Pride House SF26 marks the first time such a space for queer and trans athletes or sports aficionados is being offered in the Bay Area. LGBTQ-focused soccer club San Francisco Spikes teamed up with the global equality group All Out and the SF LGBT center to open it. “It makes a lot of sense for San Francisco. We birth a lot of things in the LGBTQ community,” noted Nguyen, whose frisbee team took part in a bar crawl fundraiser co-hosted by the Pride House in May. Nguyen is a candidate for District 8 supervisor and was one of the nearly 100 people who came out for the Pride House’s official launch. Taking part in a panel discussion at the June 11 opening event was lesbian Mountain View resident Helen Carroll, a 2025 inductee into the Sports Equality Foundation’s LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame. A national championship basketball coach at the University of North Carolina-Asheville, Carroll went on to be the sports director of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights until 2017 and more recently has worked on the nonprofit’s Common Ground program focused on LGBTQ athletes enrolled at faith-based colleges and universities. “It is exciting to be a part of this,” Carroll told the Bay Area Reporter. She credited the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Golden State Valkyries team based in the Bay Area that began playing last year for sparking a renewed interest in sports particularly within the LGBTQ community. Embraced especially by queer and transgender women, the team has “set everybody on fire,” noted Carroll, “so the time is right” for having something like the Pride House.

She hopes it attracts interest in people not only to watch the World Cup matches but consider joining a local soccer team or another athletic club. “For me, including girls and women in sport needs to be happening,” said Carroll. Inclusion and community are key themes behind the Pride House, its organizers stated. “This is a special space with special people,” said Pride House SF Executive Director Zac Brown, who is queer and a goalkeeper with the Spikes. In thinking about how to make the Pride House about San Francisco, Brown said the organizing committee focused on creating “a radically welcoming safe queer space.” They also aim to “leave a legacy” that can be maintained going forward with Pride House events held in conjunction with future sporting events hosted in the Bay Area. “Sport has the ability to build community unlike anything else,” said Brown, who has coached soccer at various levels.

Embracing different backgrounds

At the core of athletics are also lessons in such things as camaraderie and losing graciously, said Jennifer Valles, a queer femme who took over as executive director of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center January 1. In a world with divisions, Valles said it is critical to have outlets that uplift and embrace people from different backgrounds. “Sport provides that,” said Valles. A Family Day Watch Party will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, June 19, for when Team USA plays Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle. It will be held at The Crossing at East Cut public park

at 250 Main Street in San Francisco’s South of Market district. Another gathering to watch the U.S. team play Turkey will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Yerba Buena Lane, which runs between Market and Mission streets across from Yerba Buena Gardens. Pride House SF is co-hosting the San Francisco Pride Week watch party with SF Pride and the Yerba Buena Partnership. “The San Francisco Bay Area deserves something like this as a place of innovation and the queer capital of the world,” said Charles Wollin, a gay San Francisco resident who has played on the Spikes since 2012 in various positions and is a play-by-play broadcaster for collegiate soccer with ESPN+ and the University of San Francisco, as well as for the professional Oakland Roots & Soul SC soccer teams. More than $100,000 has been raised to cover the Pride House expenses, said Wollin, who volunteered to be its director of development. Financial support has come from local professional sports teams, foundations and more than 100 individual donors, he told the B.A.R. Seeing the Pride House come to fruition has been “really phenomenal,” he added. “It is a chance to unite the LGBTQ community here around sports,” said Wollin, director of alumni relations at the UC Berkeley School of Information. Helping to market the Pride House SF26 events has been the Bay Area Host Committee, the local organizing body that has been behind bringing various large sporting competitions to the region, such as this year’s Super Bowl and last year’s NBA All-Star tournament. It also plans community events in

conjunction with them. The LGBTQfocused gatherings hosted by the Pride House are among the 90 watch parties being held in local communities across the nine Bay Area counties and in Santa Cruz during the World Cup, which will wrap in mid-July. “Our whole model is uniting the Bay Area through sports,” explained Patty Hubbard, a straight ally who is the chief marketing officer for the host committee. In her welcoming remarks to those attending the Pride House SF26 kickoff, host committee President and

CEO Zaileen “Z” Janmohamed, also a straight ally, noted its aim is to ensure that people who may think the sporting events it puts on aren’t for them know that they are. “No matter who you are or where you are from,” said Janmohamed, “you are able to be a part of something.” More information about all of the events Pride House SF26 is putting on in the coming weeks can be found at pridehouseunited2026.com/sanfrancisco. t

Rick Gerharter

Xorge Olivarex, left, Dr. Nas Mohamed, and Helen Carroll spoke on a panel about sports and queer rights during the opening of Pride House SF26 for the World Cup at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center.

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<< From the Cover

8 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 18-24, 2026

Pulse

From page 1

Vasquez, identifying himself as queer and Latino, shared that he had started going to gay bars in Orlando at age 16 because they were safe spaces, sources of refuge. “They were the only place in the world where I felt like I could breathe, where I could be exactly who I was, without apology, without performance and, most importantly, without fear, and because of that, Pulse nightclub was sacred to me,” he said. He said he had frequented Pulse often. He was there on opening night in 2004 and later returned to the nightclub during every trip back to Orlando when visiting family. “I remember the laughter and the sweat and the music and the joy that only our people know how to make in the dark – that specific, instantly recognizable kind of joy that is built precisely because the world outside those walls has tried so hard to erase us,” he said. The mass shooting abruptly upended that joy, Vasquez said. “On June 12, one evil man and his deadly guns brought that outside world into our safe space. That man took 49 of us, mostly Black and Brown, mostly young, and all of them there for the same reason I was: to be free, to feel safe,” he said.

Becerra

From page 1

“This November, Californians will choose between a leader who will defend LGBTQ+ rights and California values – or Steve Hilton’s MAGA-aligned agenda of division and extremism. With LGBTQ+ communities under attack across the country, California cannot afford to move backward. We’re all in for Xavier Becerra,” BAYMEC announced in a Facebook post. Gay San Francisco District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey had also endorsed Mahan in the primary race. On election night, with polls predicting the first-term mayor wouldn’t advance to the fall ballot, the Bay Area Reporter had asked Dorsey about his intentions in terms of endorsing ahead of the November election. “I will be with the Democrat, whoever it is,” said Dorsey, a former campaign consultant who was also the chief spokesperson for San Francisco’s previous city attorney and police chief. Of the contest to succeed Newsom, a former mayor of the city, Dorsey noted, “This has been one of the strangest governors’ races that I have ever seen in California or anywhere else, and I worked in 25 states when I was a political consultant.” As for a formal endorsement, he told the B.A.R. should Becerra reach out to him for one, he would want to ferret out where he stands on sober homeless housing. In recovery himself, and a champion locally of having drug-free policies at housing developments for people battling addiction, Dorsey noted Newsom’s vetoing a bill on the issue last fall that Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) had authored. “And I think Governor Newsom really shocked everybody when he vetoed that. So I would really like to tease out some of the issues that are personal to me. It sounds to me that the Legislature is ready to move to make some progress on recovery-oriented priorities,” said Dorsey.

Gay band leader

From page 1

problems with his performance, leaving the school has professional consequences. Enrolled in National University’s teaching credential program, Hart had originally planned to complete his credential through his work at the high school, instructing while on intern credentials next year, the next step toward full accreditation. Now, Hart said that he needs to switch to student teaching. With no position lined up for the fall, he aims to begin teaching again in the spring.

That man was Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people and injured 58 others before he was fatally shot by police. Mateen said his motive was to avenge the death of Abu Waheeb, an ISIS commander who was killed the previous month in an American airstrike. His wife, Noor Salman, was later acquitted after having been charged by federal prosecutors of supporting a terrorist group. Vasquez said he has returned to Jane Warner Plaza nearly every year since the shooting, often struggling to find the right words for what he believes the 49 victims deserve from those still living. “Ten years in, I think what they deserve is honesty,” he said, adding that in his view, “the world did not become safer for us after Pulse,” pointing to ongoing anti-trans violence and legislation targeting LGBTQ+ communities, particularly from Republican President Donald Trump and his administration. Vasquez said the toll of violence has only grown since 2016, but noted the significance of gathering in the Castro. “Here we are … in the city that has taught the world that queer people do not disappear just because someone wants us to,” he said. Alex U. Inn, an artivist, co-founder of the People’s March in San Francisco, and the Bay Area Reporter’s readers’ poll Best Drag King winner for 2026, emphasized the importance of remembering the Pulse victims beyond their names.

“Tonight, we refuse to let them be statistics,” they said to the crowd. “Every single name … was a story; every name was a distinct blinding light.” Inn spoke about Kimberly Jean “KJ” Morris, one of the Pulse victims who had only recently started working at the nightclub. When referring to Morris, Inn alternated using “they” and “she” pronouns. “They were at the door as a bouncer, not out of desire for conflict, but because she wanted to be a guardian – they wanted to be a warm, welcoming, friendly face greeting their LGBTQ+ community as they walked through the door to find safety and joy,” Inn said. Among the details Inn provided about Morris, including Morris’ basketball talents, love for mixed martial arts, and moving from Hawaii to Orlando to care for relatives, they hailed Morris’ drag performances as “Daddy K.” “When the stage lights hit Daddy K, the entire room shifted…Daddy K was pure, explosive [and] electric, standing tall and athletic. They would command the dance floor with legendary high-energy choreography,” said Inn, who referred to Morris as their “drag king brother.” Inn shared Morris’ personal story to convey a larger message about the importance of continuing to hold onto the details about those killed 10 years ago. “This tragedy, although it broke all of our hearts, was one that woke us up

as well,” Inn said. “I just want you to remember that we are the keepers of those 49 lives now.” Among the crowd at the memorial vigil were gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), gay San Francisco District 8 supervisor candidates Michael Trung Nguyen and Gary McCoy, and Andrea Aiello, a lesbian who’s executive director of the Castro Community Benefit District. Friday’s gathering, as Aiello noted, was not celebratory but rather a memorial that holds a special significance for the queer community. “It’s much more a remembrance – and remembering that we are all here together,” she said. “We’re also here to show strength and to show that we’re standing up and speaking out to honor those people who were senselessly murdered.” Aiello said that for the LGBTQ+ community, “standing up” is in itself an act of resistance toward such violent attacks. “That’s what the queer community is about: resisting with love and with joy. Just being here and making ourselves known is resisting and showing that we’re not going to stand for this,” she said. After speeches concluded in Jane Warner Plaza, attendees carrying red roses walked together down Castro Street to the memorial wall outside the Bank of America at Castro and 18th streets. The space has long served as a community memorial site, with tributes

commemorating both major tragedies and local residents who have died, as previously reported by the B.A.R. Gil Mendez, a gay Latino man who lives in the Mission neighborhood, was among those in the procession, carrying a wreath he had made to memorialize the Pulse victims. He said he has created a similar visual tribute seven or eight times since the shooting, such as for the Equality March for Unity and Pride in Washington, D.C. on June 11, 2017. “I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, so when this event happened, it really resonated,” Mendez, 58, said. “I remember trying to find refuge…[and] trying to find other people who were from my culture. It felt very personal that way.” The wreath, adorned with pink roses, took him a few days to complete. White ribbons attached to it listed the names of two Pulse victims each, representing all 49 people killed in the shooting. “There is inherent power in taking something so tragic and trying to energize it into something that is positive, creative, beautiful and life-affirming,” he said. At the memorial wall, members of the LGBTQ+ community hung the “Remembering the 49” banner and wreath and placed roses on a ledge beneath them, echoing Vasquez’s earlier message that “we come together, we show up for each other and we refuse to disappear.” t

“I was disappointed that the governor felt differently. I think that may change this year. But I do think there are some more changes that the state needs to make to help support cities on what we’re trying to do. So I would want to have some conversations with them if they ask for my endorsement, and we’ll see.” The Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, San Francisco’s more moderate political club for queer and transgender members of the party, and statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization Equality California both ended up endorsing Becerra ahead of the primary. Alice initially had endorsed former elected state controller Betty Yee for governor, but she suspended her campaign due to her low polling numbers and had backed Steyer. “You know, I think that he has been there for us, and I think that, you know, he showed up for the interview. I mean, it’s really wonderful when people actually show up and do the work,” Alice Co-Chair Rabbi Martin Rawlings-Fein, who is bisexual and a transgender father, told the B.A.R. In EQCA’s case, it had not coalesced around a gubernatorial candidate earlier in the year. Then, after then-Congressmember Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) suspended his campaign in April following two explosive news reports in which a former staffer accused him of sexual assault, EQCA revisited endorsing in the race and issued its endorsement for Becerra. (Swalwell also resigned from his House seat, with the special election to serve out the remainder of his term taking place next Tuesday.) “We are thrilled at the prospect of having our next governor be someone with an impeccable record on LGBTQ issues dating back decades to his time in Congress,” said EQCA managing director Tom Temprano, a gay San Francisco resident, referring to Becerra’s 24-year tenure on the Hill from 1993 through 2017. “He’s been a consistent champion

for LGBTQ people in the state Legislature, Congress, his time as California attorney general and his time in the Biden administration. We will be doing everything we can to make sure he is the next governor of California.” Wednesday, in an emailed pitch for donations to Becerra’s campaign coffers, Newsom argued that “Xavier Becerra has the experience and grit California needs in our next Governor. But first he has to win a general election against Trump’s endorsed candidate.” Gay GOP Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) acknowledged the rough road ahead for Hilton but, in a video he posted Wednesday afternoon, also laid out how he could score an upset over Becerra and help Republicans running in down-ballot races. “It will be an uphill battle, but here’s the game plan we made with Steve Hilton to push our endorsed candidates and measures across the finish line,” noted DeMaio, who is seeking a second term himself on the November ballot and is pushing for passage of a voter ID ballot measure. Among more progressive Democrats, there was disappointment that Steyer would not be running against Becerra over the next five months. Gay Los Angeles resident Todd Lombardo, who came up short in his primary for a House seat, told the B.A.R having an intraparty race would have been better and assisted the Democratic Party in figuring out how to be more than just “anti-MAGA” – i.e. against Trump – in its messaging to voters. “As someone who recently wrapped a congressional race in Southern California, I can tell you firsthand there is significant voter dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party and that needs to be taken seriously,” replied Lombardo in an email, adding that a governor’s race between two Democrats would have forced “a conversation on competing Democratic visions for the future of Cal-

ifornia.” Now, with it being a Democrat versus a Republican, Lombardo warned, “we risk the Democratic Party not being forced to do as much introspection in a majority-Democratic state.”

Democratic Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, who is termed out of office in January. Eight years ago, Lara became the first LGBTQ leader to win election to statewide office in the Golden State and only the second out person to serve in one of the executive branch elected positions. (The first, gay Democratic lawyer Tony Miller, was appointed to the vacant secretary of state position in 1994 but lost his bid that year for a full four-year term.) Former San Francisco supervisor Jane Kim took first place with 27.1% of the vote in the primary race to succeed Lara. In second place is state Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) with 19.4%. Kim had declared victory the day after the primary, contending her firstplace finish was “a clear mandate for a commissioner who will fight for working people.” It wasn’t until Sunday that Allen knew he had secured the other top spot. Thanking his supporters in a Facebook post, Allen wrote, “I’m so grateful for the tremendous support we received from the voters all over California in this race for Insurance Commissioner. We are proud to be advancing to the runoff election in November.” Attorney General Rob Bonta, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Ph.D., and Controller Malia Cohen, all Democrats, easily took first place in their respective primary races. The trio is expected to secure their reelections come November against their Republican opponents. And in the nonpartisan contest for the open Superintendent of Public Instruction office, Democratic San Diego Unified school board member Richard Barrera is expected to fend off Chino Valley Unified school board president Sonja Shaw, who clashed with outgoing Superintendent Tony Thurmond in 2023 over the rights of transgender students. She is in first place with 22.9% of the primary vote, while Barrera is in second with 20.1%. t

Yet this creates new uncertainties for Hart regarding his accreditation: Hart is now unclear whether he will be allowed to take a leave of absence until January from his university, or if he will have to exit and reapply. “I’ve done a lot of coursework. I worked very hard. And to have to interrupt this process and hopefully be able to complete it, but not be 100% sure, is going to be challenging,” Hart said. A union representative from the United Educators from San Francisco informed Hart that as he had not been recommended for rehire, a requirement given his temporary contract, he had been barred from all district positions.

For those on temporary contracts, Hart claimed there are “essentially no protections” regarding employment. While unable to comment on individual personnel matters due to employee privacy, the district told the B.A.R. in an email statement, “Like school districts across California, SFUSD utilizes temporary and one-year teaching contracts to address staffing needs and fluctuations in student enrollment. These types of contracts are a long-standing and common practice in public education and are established through agreements with our labor partners.

“As a standard practice, all temporary employees are released at the end of the school year when their contracts expire. Temporary employees may subsequently be rehired in either temporary or probationary positions, depending on the district’s staffing needs and available vacancies,” stated the district.

Other statewide races are set

With the latest vote count update on Tuesday, the lineups for the rest of the statewide elected positions voters will be deciding this fall were also set. In the race to succeed termed-out Democratic Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Democratic termed-out state Treasurer Fiona Ma will be running against Republican Gloria Romero, a former Democratic state senator who switched parties in 2024. Ma, a former San Francisco supervisor, took first place with 19.1% of the vote. Romero came in second with 18.1%. Despite Ma’s office paying $350,000 in taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment claim brought by a former employee who alleged her boss forced them to share hotel rooms on trips, and exposed herself and crawled into bed with her, as the San Francisco Chronicle had rehashed in a story ahead of the primary, Ma is considered the frontrunner against Romero. “I traveled across this state, sat with you, listened to your stories, and heard what matters most to your families. That is what got us here. This win belongs to all of you,” wrote Ma in a June 9 Facebook post thanking the voters who supported her in the primary. “Our grassroots coalition is growing stronger every day and there is no stopping us now. Let’s bring this home in November together.” In the race to succeed Ma as state treasurer, Kounalakis will be running against Republican Jennifer Hawks in the fall. Hawks took second in the primary with 24.3% of the vote, and Kounalakis came in first place with 36.4%. The one statewide contest where two Democrats are advancing to the November ballot is the race to succeed gay

Parents disappointed

School parents and affiliates have expressed disappointment with Hart’s departure. In an email to the school’s then-interim principal Marisol Arkin, the SFUSD school board, and members of the media,

parent Karen Solomon described Hart’s lack of return as “cruel,” demanding that his position “be reinstated in full.” (Arkin has since been named the school’s permanent principal.) Speaking with the B.A.R. in a phone interview, Solomon, who said she identifies under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, described being “blindsided” by Hart’s parting. She described how her son had been involved in the school’s band, symphonic orchestra, and jazz band, all led from the ground up by Hart. See page 9 >>

t <<

Community News>>

Gay band leader

From page 8

“I just cannot believe what he has accomplished. And I know that for my son, and he is certainly not alone in this, the arts, the music program, are what get him interested in going to school,” Solomon said. Solomon’s son Desmond Solomon Schaefer, an incoming junior, described Hart as a “largely significant figure” in his musical journey in a statement. “His teaching really allowed me to grow as a drummer,” Schaefer stated, allowing him to play in “an actual jazz ensemble.” Patricia Wallinga, a substitute teacher and a straight ally, described a “meteoric rise” in what the school’s music program was able to accomplish under Hart. A composer herself who began teaching across SFUSD in 2019, she described Hart’s new orchestra in its beginning stages, which initially “didn’t sound like the super established programs like Lowell or School of the Arts,” she said, referring

Editorial

From page 4

Short of that, Rainbow Families pointed out there will be ample time for people to stage protests outside the ballpark, starting June 23 when the Giants begin the next homestand, including

June 18-24, 2026 • Bay Area Repor ter • 9

to other schools in the district. Yet by the end of the spring 2026 semester, Wallinga recounted how struck she was by the orchestra’s immense progress. “They’re playing Beethoven. These are freshmen and sophomores that have gone from absolutely zero instruction, absolutely zero resources to bring in coaches like the other schools do,” Wallinga said. “Everything that wasn’t the bare essentials was stuff that Dustin was bringing in. And these high schoolers are playing Beethoven.” For Solomon, Hart’s presence as an openly gay teacher who “brought his whole person to work” was also a part of his importance. “It matters tremendously,” she said. “I mean, kids need to see themselves. They need to see diversity. They need to see representation. They need to see what San Francisco looks like in the classroom.” Katherine Drace, a straight ally and parent of an orchestra student, expressed a similar sentiment in a phone interview. On LGBTQ repre-

sentation, Drace said, “I think that’s always a positive thing for students who identify that way to have adult role models who also identify that way and are out in the world.” SFUSD has experienced ongoing political pressure in regard to its policies toward LGBTQ identity. On June 8, the U.S. Department of Justice began a compliance review into four California districts, including SFUSD, for their “instruction on sexual orientation and gender ideology,” according to a press release. On June 10, speaking before the House Education and Workforce Committee, SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su. Ph.D., fielded questions from conservative congressmembers on, among other subjects, drag queens and the district’s policy toward transgender identity. While he stated he was unable to comment on matters regarding individual personnel, Phil Kim, a gay man who is president of the school board, affirmed the importance of the representation of LGBTQ educa-

tors in an email statement. “SFUSD is deeply committed to creating schools where every student and educator feels safe, affirmed, and valued. We remain committed to supporting LGBTQ+ students, families, and staff and to ensuring our schools are welcoming environments for all,” Kim stated. Hart, who experienced homophobia growing up in Texas, described his sexuality as an important part of his identity. “It informs my personality, informs my moral code and how I interact with the world,” he said. On being a gay teacher, Hart described having “an extra sensitivity towards other students being othered or being otherwise not treated like they should be because of who they are.” In a later text message with the B.A.R., Hart recounted homophobic instances he experienced as a teacher, such as being called a slur and having his sex life guessed upon by students. However, he stated he didn’t think he “had enough evidence or signals to speculate” upon whether or not his sexuality played a role

in his lack of return offer. Hart does not know who his replacement will be, but hopes that his students will be “really respectful” to their new instructor. “They had no hand in all this,” he said. With uncertainty in his own professional career, Hart stated he hopes those in the music program continue “learning and being great players so they can keep furthering their own education, even if I’m not the one getting to do it.” It’s a sentiment Wallinga reflected. As a substitute, she hopes to support next year’s new band and orchestra instructor teacher, describing them as having “some very large shoes to fill.” Earlier, she characterized Hart as “one of the best music educators” she’d ever met. “I am heartbroken, and I am furious that none of my students – and I do consider all of the kids in the district my students – none of my students will have that experience,” she said, of being taught by Hart. t

three games against the Atlanta Braves over Pride weekend. We urge Posey and Vitello to have conversations with the players who thumbed their noses at the LGBTQ community, so that next year the Giants’ Pride Night can return to its joyous atmosphere during the actual game.

There’s precedent for that in San Francisco. Back in 2002, then-49ers running back Garrison Hearst said in an interview that he didn’t want any “faggots” playing on his team. At the time, Esera Tuaolo had come out as gay a few years after retiring from pro football, and reporters asked if Hearst would accept a

gay teammate. The 49ers organization was sent reeling,with team leaders issuing apologies and strongly worded statements. Hearst issued his own apology, and then-head coach Steve Mariucci addressed the issue with the players and called gay then-San Francisco supervisor Tom Ammiano. In short, it was an

example of how the leadership of a pro team should respond to anti-LGBTQ incidents. Pro athletes do have a responsibility to the cities they represent. These four Giants pitchers do not represent San Francisco, and given what officials said, they don’t represent the team either. t

grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 07, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102.

FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): DESCHAMPS-BRALY CLINIC OF PLASTIC & CRANIOFACIAL SURGERY (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/19/2026.

the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 09, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409483 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): THE PRIVATE EVENTS COMPANY; PRIVATE EVENTS CO; PRIVATEEVENTS.CO; PE.CO, 1695 BEACH ST #204, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): WORKBISTRO, INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/26/2026. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560719 Petitioner MELISSA MAI & TOMMY THEA filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name RAIDEN TAING MAI to proposed name RAIDEN MAI THEA and present name DEVIN THEA MAI to proposed name DEVIN MAI THEA. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 09, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409495 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): PEREGRINE GROWTH, 1915 BUSH ST #6, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): SILAS RODRIGUES AMARAL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/03/2025. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/27/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026

Legals>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560704 To all interested persons, the Petitioners JACOBO CRUZ RIVERA & BLANCA LILIAN DE LEON RIVAS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name GRECIA ISELA CRUZ LEON AKA GRECIA ISELA CRUZ DE LEON to proposed name GRECIA ISELA CRUZ DE LEON. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 02, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560706 To all interested persons, the Petitioner ARIANNA QUETZAL VARGAS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name ARIANNA QUETZAL VARGAS to proposed name ARIANNA QUETZAL GONZALEZ. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 02, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560699 To all interested persons, the Petitioner RAYMOND LIU & BELLA YEE filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name ARCHER YEE to proposed name ARCHER YEE LIU. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JUNE 30, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560703 To all interested persons, the Petitioner HAMIDREZA AHMADI POUR filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name HAMIDREZA AHMADI POUR to proposed name JUPIN JAM. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JUNE 30, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560709 To all interested persons, the Petitioner KENNETH KO-MYONG LIEU filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name KENNETH KO-MYONG LIEU to proposed name KO-MYONG LIEU. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 02, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560711 To all interested persons, the Petitioner NATHAN BUI filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name NATHAN BUI to proposed name NATHAN SKY HERON BUI. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may

MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560681 Petitioner BRINDA MARIA DYKES filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name BRINDA MARIA DYKES to proposed name BRENDA MARIE ENGLISH. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JUNE 23, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409425 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): DIVISADERO FLORIST, 1802 DIVISADERO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): JOSEPH E.CRESPO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/19/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/19/2026. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409437 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): SF PROVISIONS, 10 LINARES AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): CHARMAINE CURTIS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/15/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/20/2026. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409469 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): UPCYCLED CENTRAL, 1175 FOLSOM ST UNIT 2A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): JULIANE ROBERTSHANSEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/22/2026. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409485 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): KSE, 1678 KIRKWOOD AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/ Owner(s): KIMBERLY SAWYER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/26/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/26/2026. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409041 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): FLEUR LUXE SOCIAL CLUB, 1150 3RD ST #231, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94158. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): SHARIKA YL ETHEART. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/14/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/14/2026. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409412 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): TARA INDIAN CUISINE, 2217 MARKET ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): HPS BROTHERS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/15/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/15/2026. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409453 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): 2121 ART SPACE, 2203 NEWCOMB AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): EXPRESSBOOKS, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/22/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/22026. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409428 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): DESCHAMPS-BRALY CLINIC, 360 POST ST #901, SAN

MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE 2026-0408156 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as DIVISADERO FLORIST, 1802 DIVISADERO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business was conducted by a general partnership and signed by SALVADOR RODRIGUEZ PALOMINO & JOSEPH E. CRESPO. The fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/07/2026. The abandonment of fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/19/2026. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE 2025-0406253 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as LIGHT PINK STUDIO LLC, 166 GEARY ST #1500 PMB 1281, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business was conducted by a limited liability company and signed by LIGHT PINK STUDIO LLC (CA). The fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/24/2025. The abandonment of fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/19/2026. MAY 28, JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF STELLA YING NORMAN IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: CASE NUMBER PES-25-309072 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of STELLA YING NORMAN. A Petition for Probate has been filed by DRU PARKER in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Petition for Probate requests that MELISSA ENLOW be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: JUNE 30, 2026, 9:00 am, Dept. 204, Rm. 204, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. To join by Zoom: Meeting ID 160 225 4765; Password 514879. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: WOODFORD G. ROWLAND (SBN 93257), 55 PROFESSIONAL CENTER PARKWAY #A, SAN RAFAEL, CA 94903; Ph. (415) 472-3434. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560716 Petitioner CHRISTOPHER JAMES KOMATER filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name CHRISTOPHER JAMES KOMATER to proposed name CHRISTOPHER JOHN KOMATER. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before

JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026

AMENDED ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26-560509 Petitioner HUANYU ZHU filed an amended petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name JAYDEN YU to proposed name JAYDEN ZHU; present name KAYSON YU to proposed name KAYSON ZHU; present name LEON YU to proposed name LEON ZHU. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 16, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560725 Petitioner OLIVIA HORTENSE WILSON FLEMING filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name OLIVIA HORTENSE WILSON FLEMING to proposed name OLIVIA HORTENSE SCHAFFER. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 14, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560698 Petitioner BARBARA JEAN JONES filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name BARBARA JEAN JONES AKA BOBBIE JEAN JONES to proposed name BOBBIE JEAN JONES. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JUNE 30, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409482 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): HOME MANAGEMENT BY ASH, 1324 BROADWAY #12, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): ASHLYN BRAE ALLAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/22/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/26/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409493 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): HOME RESOURCE CO., 1400 SHRADER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): BRUCE YARIAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/21/2010. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/27/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409484 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): SOLIDARITY ELECTRIC, 824 MIDDLE RINCON RD, SANTA ROSA, CA 95409. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): HEBERT MORAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/26/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409496 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): BREAKOUT COMMUNICATIONS, 2030 3RD ST #15, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): SEAN PHILLIP HARRIS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/2017. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/27/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409500 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): LUNA CLEANING SERVICES, 626 POLK ST #201, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): DELMI E. LUNA BANTES. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/28/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/28/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409501 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): MAISON NEL, 28 GEARY ST #650-1863, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108-5722. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): NELLY GHASSAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/28/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/28/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409253 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): BAY RAPID NOTARY, 16 CORTLAND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): JOGINDER SINGH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/29/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/29/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409524 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): SYNTHESIS LAW, 2507 LARKIN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): LAURIE HALL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/15/2025. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/01/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409486 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): 5 STAR LEGACY & HEALING COLLECTIVE, 275 5TH ST #421, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): 5 STAR LEGACY & HEALING COLLECTIVE (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/22/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/26/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409468 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ALEMANY FAST FILL MARKET, 1798 ALEMANY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): GAWFCO ENTERPRISES, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/18/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/22/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409499 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): MERDIN, 561 COLUMBUS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

<< Classifieds

10 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 18-24, 2026

94133. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): BERMAL ASMIN, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/28/2026.

JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409464 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): GOLDEN STATE GIFTS, 500 SUTTER ST #102, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): NOVA SPARKS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/22/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409506 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): STC DISTRIBUTING CO., 1980 JERROLD AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): OSTECO INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/01/2019. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/28/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409511 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): JUSTAI, 945 MARKET ST #501, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): CHOICE AI, INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/29/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409422 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): TEENY ATELIER, 2021 FILLMORE ST #1298, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): PLYMOUTH & CO., LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/10/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/19/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409508 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): HONEYMOOD, 726 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): LUCKY PAW 222 LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/29/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409452 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): COURTOINE, 660 4TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): BEST OF CABARET, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/21/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/21/2026. JUNE 04, 11, 18, 25, 2026 SUMMONS SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: AMY LUK; AND DOES 1-10 INCLUSIVE, YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: JONATHAN JOSUE IBARRA. CASE NO. 26CV487938 NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web Site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, 191 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95113. The plaintiff’s attorney is: MOUSTAFA HARFOUSH (SBN 300186), 100 PINE ST #1250, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111; (415) 964-0040. 02/25/2026, Clerk of the Court, M. Arechiga, Deputy. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560733 Petitioner MAKELA SAOIRSE HUGHES filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name MAKELA SAOIRSE HUGHES to proposed name MAKELA SAOIRSE DEMOULLY. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 16, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560735 Petitioner JEREMY ANTHONY KUANG AKA JEREMY KUANG filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name JEREMY ANTHONY KUANG AKA JEREMY KUANG to proposed name JEREMY CHIANG KUANG. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 16, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560713 Petitioner CIERRA ARTASHA MURRAY filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name CIERRA ARTASHA MURRAY to proposed name RAE YOUNG. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 07, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560740 Petitioner JACKIE AI LING DENG AKA AI LING DENG

AKA JACKIE AILING DENG filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name JACKIE AI LING DENG AKA AI LING DENG AKA JACKIE AILING DENG to proposed name JACKIE AI LING DENG. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 21, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102.

JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560741 Petitioner ROSEANNA TSANG filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name ROSEANNA TSANG to proposed name ROSÉÁNNA ROSÉILLIENT TSANG-ETHEREAL; present name LISANNA ROSE TSANG to proposed name LISÁÁNNA ROSÉ TSANG-ETHEREAL; present name ROSEANNA LISA TSANG to proposed name ROSÉÁNNA LISÁ TSANG-ETHEREAL. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 21, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560742 Petitioner DANIEL DO HYUN KIM filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name DANIEL DO HYUN KIM to proposed name DANIEL KAYCE CHAE. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 21, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560717 Petitioner CHELSEA MARIE GANAN GOLD & SETH JORDAN GOLD filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name JORDAN TYLER GOLD to proposed name JORDAN TYLER GANAN GOLD. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 09, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409542 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): VIRTUOUS ROSE CHARMING JEWELS & GIFTS, ONE BAYSIDE VILLAGE PLACE #106, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): CAROL RENEE TIJERINO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/03/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/03/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409532 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): EXPANDING RINGS PSYCHOTHERAPY, 5758 GEARY BLVD #322, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): ELLIANA WOLNISTY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/02/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409541 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): CHARLIE ON THE SPOT, 1567 FILLMORE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): CHARLESZETTA BALDWIN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/05/2021. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/03/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409364 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): LAN’S FORMAL WEAR, 1542 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): VU THACH ANH NGUYEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/24/2025. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/12/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409512 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ONTIMEPHOTOGRAPHICS, 1223 WEBSTER ST #1225, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): TESHOME NEGUSSE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/28/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/29/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409490 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ERIGIFTS, 1223 WEBSTER ST #1225, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): TESHOME NEGUSSE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/15/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/26/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409586 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): KALONI KREATIONS, 60 OSCEOLA LN #5, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): KALONI PRICE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/08/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/08/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409575 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): GRACEFUL FOOT CARE, 2459 IRVING ST #1110, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): GRACE BAKER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/05/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/05/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409529 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): 1984 CELLARS, 1801 HAIGHT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): CHA3 HAIGHT (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/02/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/02/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409531 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): FITNESS SF POLK, 1600 JACKSON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): POLK FITNESS, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/02/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409530 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): SUNSET SAUNA, 1327 45TH AVE #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): SUNSET SAUNA LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/02/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409536 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): TLR INSPIRATIONS L.L.C.; TLR INSPIRATIONS, 58 WEST PORTAL AVE #599, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): TLR INSPIRATIONS L.L.C. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/24/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/02/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409415 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): CLUB 415 VOLLEYBALL, 165 COLON AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): YOUTH VOLLEYBALL CLUB GROUP, LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/18/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409540 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): QUINCE RESTAURANT, 470 PACIFIC AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): QUINCE & CO LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/09/2008. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/03/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409554 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): OFFICINA, 253 COLUMBUS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): QUINCE & CO LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/09/2008. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/03/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409578 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): LENORA LEE DANCE, 1255 29TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): LENORA LEE PRODUCTIONS, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/11/2020. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/08/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409569 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): MONKEY-POP KETTLE CORN AND YUMMY TREATS, 533 AIRPORT BLVD #400, BURLINGAME, CA 94010. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): MONKEY-POP KETTLE CORN AND YUMMY TREATS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/05/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE 2025-0407160 The following has abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as 415 VOLLEYBALL, 165 COLON AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business was conducted by a limited liability company and signed by YOUTH VOLLEYBALL CLUBS GROUP, LLC (DE). The fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/21/2025. The abandonment of fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/18/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 623811 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): THE WHITFORD OF DUBLIN; THE WHITFORD, 5751 ARNOLD ROAD, DUBLIN, CA 94568. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/ Owner(s): HSH DUBLIN MANAGEMENT CA, LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of Alameda, CA on 06/03/2026. JUNE 11, 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF JOHN KENT BLANCHE AKA JOHN KENT BLANCHE, JR. & KENT BLANCHE IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: CASE NUMBER PES-26-309529 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of JOHN KENT BLANCHE AKA JOHN KENT BLANCHE, JR. & KENT BLANCHE. A Petition for Probate has been filed by ELIZABETH SOLOWAY in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Petition for Probate requests that ELIZABETH SOLOWAY be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: JULY 13, 2026, 9:00 am, Dept. 204, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: LEE L. KASTER (SBN 208743), LAW OFFICES OF LEE L. KASTER, 1806 BONANZA ST, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596; Ph. (925) 280-6701. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 2026 AMENDED SUMMONS SUPERIOR COURT OF

CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: SENSEL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; CIRQUE CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; JOHN TODD, AN INDIVIDUAL; AND AARON ZARRAGA, AN INDIVIDUAL; AND DOES 1-20 INCLUSIVE, YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: ILYA ROSENBERG, AN INDIVIDUAL. CASE NO. 25CV457782 NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web Site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, 191 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95113. The plaintiff’s attorney is: CINDY G. LEE (SBN 358253), LIANG LY LLP, C/O JOHN K. LY, 601 SOUTH FIGUEROA ST #1950, LOS ANGELES, CA 90017; (213) 262-8001. 08/26/2025, Clerk of the Court, B. Roman-Antunez, Deputy. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 SUMMONS SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: ANTHONY DRAYTON; EAN HOLDINGS, LLC; CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO; AND DOES 1-25. YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: OSCAR RODRIGUEZ ZULUAGA. CASE NO. CGC23-609517 NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web Site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, 191 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95113. The plaintiff’s attorney is: MICHAEL SHEMTOUB (SBN 253948), 4929 WILSHIRE BLVD #960, LOS ANGELES, CA 90010; (310) 552-6959. 10/05/2023, Clerk of the Court, Austin Lam, Deputy. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560745 Petitioner VANESSA EMILY AGUILAR & MAYNOR JOSE ESPINAL ORTEGA filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name JOSIAH ELIAS AGUILAR to proposed name JOSIAH SINCERE ESPINAL. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 21, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560748 Petitioner RACHELLE DEROUIN & MICHAEL MANNING filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name AVA MARIE MANNING to proposed name ALEXIA MARIE MANNING. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 23, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560750 Petitioner NICOLE GALIYA RUBIN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name NICOLE GALIYA RUBIN to proposed name ANABEL GALIYA KAZAK. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 23, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560727 Petitioner SINGH SHINTO PRAISAN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name SINGH SHINTO PRAISAN to proposed name SHINTO SUEKI. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 14, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560754 Petitioner LAURA MARLEEN BRAUN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name LAURA MARLEEN BRAUN to proposed name LAURA MARLEEN SHOEMAKER. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: JULY 28, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409593 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): PARKER DESIGN, 38 MEADOW DR #4, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94130. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): JAMIE L. PARKER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/25/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/09/2026. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409626 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): CINCOTTI CHOCOLATE COMPANY, 51 EDGARDO PL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): CARMEN CINCOTTI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/12/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/12/2026. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409605 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): LUMIDA VISION INNOVATION LABS, 811 BURNETT AVE #2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): FRANK PIETRONIGRO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/10/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/10/2026. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409649 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): SAN FRANCISCO NOTES, 518 FOERSTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): BY HEART FINDS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/08/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/15/2026. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409619 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): TALLY UP! COMPLIANCE, 180 SAN ALESO, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by copartners. Registrant/Owner(s): HEDDIE L. NICHOLS & RYAN NICHOLS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/12/2026. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409400 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): BLUE PEARL NAILS, 580 UNION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): BLUE PEARL NAILS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/03/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/14/2026. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409489 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): YOUR EMPOWERMENT COACH; YOUREMPOWERMENT. COACH; 584 CASTRO ST #127, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): YOUR EMPOWERMENT COACH LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/26/2026. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409608 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): PUFFY P; SMOKIES TOKE COUTURE; PRETTY BABY SF, 1240 20TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): PEJ CREATIVE HOLDINGS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/11/2026. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0409587 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): BARE BONES, 2325 TARAVAL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): JOJOGARODA LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/08/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/08/2026. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE 2023-0399368 The following has abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as NUEVA ERA IMPORTS, 446 COLLINGWOOD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business was conducted by a limited liability company and signed by RAE VENTURES LLC (CA). The fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/30/2023. The abandonment of fictitious business name statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/10/2026. JUNE 18, 25, JULY 02, 09, 2026

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‘Drunken Noodles’

Frameline50’s favorites in focus ‘The Dads’

by Brian Bromberger

ecause it’s the 50th anniversary of Frameline, the programmers are screening some golden oldies in the queer canon, some of which played at Frameline and others that didn’t, such as “All Over the Guy,” “Cruising,” “Camp,” “Desert Hearts,” “Caravaggio,” “Paris is Burning,” “Bound,” and “Score,” among others. Allegra Madsen, Executive Director of Frameline, was asked if she saw any common themes among the films screening this year. She replied, “The films in Frameline50 are doing two things at once: they are imagining queer futures we don’t have the language for yet, and they are bearing witness, documenting a revolution as it happens in real time. Those two impulses live right next to each other this year.” Kate Bove, Frameline’s Associate Director of Programs, commented on the connections be-

tween such a diverse slate of films. “At a time when art is being censored, controlled, and consolidated, we’re proud to uplift LGBTQ+ films from all over the world that showcase a queering of convention, form, and narrative in bold and authentic ways.” If ever a time demanded boldness and questioning the status quo, that time is now. Read the second installment of film reviews on www.ebar.com, including: “The Dads” (June 19, Castro Theatre) This documentary is an expansion of an Emmy-winning 2023 Netflix short, sponsored by the Dad Foundation, about a group of fathers who in 2022 began meeting to bond over their shared experiences as parents of transgender and non-binary children. These men feel they can talk about these issues freely which can be hard when you live in Texas or Arizona.

‘In a Whisper’

“The Hockey Player” (June 20, Castro Theatre) For fans of HBO’s sensational hit series “Heated Rivalry,” going into withdrawal waiting for season 2 to debut in the fall, have we got a film for you. This documentary is the story of Luke Prokop, the real-life version of the fictional Scott Hunter, the Canadian professional defenseman, who is the first professional hockey player under contract to come out publicly in 2021 in an Instagram post.

“Drunken Noodles” (June 21, Castro Theatre) An experimental mixed-media film from Argentinian director Lucio Castro (“The End of the Century”) concerning Adnan, a young art student from upstate New York, visiting New York City in the summer to cat-sitting for his uncle. The narrative occurs over the course of two summers in non-sequential order. “La Belle Annee” (June 22, New Parkway Theater) This hybrid almost contemplative documentary on the filmmaker’s journey of mercy and desire concerns director Angelica Ruffier along with her brother Tom, returning to her recently deceased and long estranged father’s house to clear it out so it can be sold.

“In a Whisper” (June 21, Roxie Theater) A radiant gripping mystery has Lilia (outstanding newcomer Eya Bouteraa), an engineer in her early 30s living in Paris, returning to her Tunisian hometown of Sousse, for the funeral of her gay uncle Daly, who died mysteriously, being found dead and naked in the street.

See page 15 >>

People’s March & Rally @ Embarcadero Plaza This year’s People’s March, organized by drag icon Juanito MORE! and activist Alex U. Inn, shifts its focus to support the trans community. The event will prioritize Black, Brown and indigenous trans voices. March at 10:30am, Embarcadero to Civic Center, Rally 12 noon-5pm, at Civic Center. Free, June 27. juanitamore.com

doing Bette Davis, Peggy Lee and Judy Garland; featuring Snaxx and Rahni NothingMore, Tom Shaw at the piano. $20, June 26, 8pm. 222 Mason St. www.feinsteinssf.com

2017 0 Media a Kit

Kevin Smith Kirkwood as Classic Whitney @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko Broadway’s Kevin Smith Kirkwood channel’s Whitney Houston’s voice, look and spirit in this special live concert featuring Houston’s greatResistance is Welcome est hits. Featuring the Bay Area’s Jocelyn “Jojo” @ Metropolitan Community Church Thompson-Jordan as Aretha Franklin and Drew Attend a high-energy big queer praise service, Wutke on the keys. $43.49-$62, June 19 & 20 at The Los Angeles LosAll Angeles and California pizza Blade party and covers fellowship hour. are welcome, 8pm, 222 Masonnews, St. feinsteinssf.com politics, opinion,inarts features national and personand or onentertainment Zoom. Zoom ID: 203and 804 411 Password: 561981. www.mccsf.org international coverage from the Blade’s award-winning reporting Pridefest @ DNA Lounge team. Be part of this exciting publication serving LGBT Los Angeles GAYC/DC, an all-gay tribute band to AC/DC, San Francisco Pride Parade Blade, the nation’s from the team behind the Washington rst with LGBT celebrates ﬁPride Middle Aged Queers, a gay @ Market Street CivicBeltway Center we’ve got punkyou rock group. Trans musicians Niko Storment newspaper. freeway totothe covered. Arts, nightlife and community events for the queer season From the The annual SF Pride Parade will feature hunand KC Shane are also on the program. $18-$25, dreds of floats and contingents, and hundreds June 20, 8pm, all ages. 375 11th St. dnalounge.com of thousands of parade-goers. This year’s theme: Resistance in Action. June 28, 10:30am-5pm. See page 15 >> www.sfpride.org

Mission Statement

Juanita MORE!’s annual Pride party at 620 Jones

COMMUNITY

by David-Elijah Nahmod

ith plenty of events going on in the City by the Bay for Pride Month, in addition to our weekly Going Out listings, here are dozens of LGBTQ-specific selections set to bring more joy to your June. For the full roster, visit www.ebar.com.

Dyke March @ Dolores Park Thousands of lesbians will gather for the annual rally and march from Dolores Park. The rally begins at 3pm at 18th and Dolores, followed by the march at 5pm. Show your Dyke pride for Pride Weekend. Free, June 27. thedykemarch.org

Trans March @ Dolores Park Kick off your Pride Weekend by joining thousands of trans and gender-nonconforming people for the largest transgender Pride event in the world. March from Dolores Park to the Tenderloin (Turn & Taylor) for a joy-filled rally. June 26, Free, 6pm. www.transmarch.org

Heidi Alletzhauser

Gooch

Pride Guide ’26

MUSIC

Drag at the Nikko @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko Katya Smirnoff Skyy hosts this night of live singing for Pride weekend, with Matthew Martin

‘San Francisco Squares’ at the Great Star Theater

Join more than 13,324 LGBTQ readers of our FREE weekday email newsletter! Our FREE weekday email newsletter is sent each Monday through Friday at 10am and includes our most recent coverage of LGBTQ news, politics, arts, entertainment, and nightlife – plus special discounts, ticket giveaways, and more.

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<< Fine Art & Music

12 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 18-24, 2026

The Culture Keepers

$1 million dollar donor hopes to preserve art and culture in the Bay Area

by David-Elijah Nahmod

he Culture Keepers is a new project which is investing one million dollars into local artists and cultural institutions which are working to preserve the Bay Area’s unique community and culture. The multi-year initiative is backed by donor Jacob Pritzker, though the people behind Culture Keepers declined to provide more information about Pritzker and how he came to be involved in the project. The Culture Keepers is matching artists with journalists, writers and filmmakers, who will share and preserve the artists’ work and stories. “The Culture Keepers began as a question I couldn’t shake,” said Vanessa Camarena-Arredondo, Chief Curator of the Culture Keepers, in a statement sent to the Bay Area Reporter. “What would it look like if the Bay Area’s artists and culture bearers were resourced at the level of their genius and care? This project is about treating cultural work as essential infrastructure for our communities. As an act of repair, the project is our way of correcting the imbalance between who benefits from Bay Area

Shanna Strauss and Jess Sabogal are among the artists in the Culture Keepers project.

culture and who has borne the cost of creating it. This project is an invitation, asking each of us how we are tending to the culture of the Bay Area, a culture we all love.” The project came about because many artists felt that they could not create their work due to the extremely

high cost of living and working in the Bay Area. The project provides them with the critical funding they need. Jess Sabogal is a queer ColombianAmerican artist from San Francisco, now based in Oakland. Sabogal first came into their own as an artist through muralism and printmaking. For many years they have made large scale public work that centers queer and trans communities, immigrants, women of color and people whose stories are often forgotten. “Being part of the Culture Keepers has benefitted my artistic work because it gave me something artists rarely receive, freedom,” Sabogal said. “Unrestricted funds matter because they communicate trust. They tell the artist, ‘You know what you need, you

know how to move your work forward.’ That kind of support allows me to make decisions based on the work

Vanessa Camarena-Arredondo, Chief Curator of the Culture Keepers

itself, not only on what a grant application or an institution has already desired is valuable. When I am trusted to care for my practice in the way it actually needs, that support does not stop with me. It moves outward into my community, into the people my work is made for, and into the larger world I am trying to help shape.” Shanna Strauss is a TanzanianAmerican queer artist and the life partner of Sabogal. Strauss and Sabogal are collaborating on Taller SANAA, a project in which they create collaborative fine art prints and indoor installations and murals. For the past six years they’ve been working on an ongoing project called “This Woman’s Work,” a collection of work that centers and celebrates queer and trans women of color. “Receiving financial support without restrictions, expectations or deliverables is something I cannot overstate the importance of,” Strauss told the B.A.R. “This kind of resourcing is rare and profound. It is an act of trust and affirmation for a funder to communicate through their unrestricted support that they believe in your vision, value your work, and want to see you continue it. And what it gives us as artists is full freedom to create. For Jess and I, that has meant more time in the studio, support with materials, and some relief from the constant pressure of seeking work that pulls us away from creating the art we’re most passionate about.”t www.theculturekeepers.org

Q-Music: spinning on vinyl by Gregg Shapiro

ome albums are great the second time around and others are new and refreshing. Check out our reviews of music by Book of Love, Smashing Pumpkins, KulfiGirls and Scarlet Fantastic.

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Also celebrating a big anniversary – the 25th – is “Gish” (Capitol/Virgin/ UMe), the debut album by Chicago’s Smashing Pumpkins, now reissued on 180-gram vinyl. Much has been made of the fact that the album was co-produced by Butch Vig (of Fire Town, and, of course, Garbage fame), who, later in the same year, would produce Nirvana’s “Nevermind.” Aside from sharing a producer and a release year, that’s where the similarities end. On “Gish,” at least, Smashing Pumpkins were straddling the hard rock/ alternative fence. While the band would eventually greatly expand its sound (see “Siamese Dream” and “Mellon Collie…”), “Gish”

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When Book of Love’s eponymous Sire Records debut album was originally released in 1986, it was available on black vinyl, cassette, and CD (with bonus tracks!). The Noble Rot label reissued it in 2009 with a bonus disc featuring 11 tracks. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the self-titled album, “Book of Love” (Sire/Rhino/I Squared) has been reissued on crystal clear vinyl. Led by openly queer Ted Ottaviano and his unrelated art school classmate Susan Ottaviano, along with band members Lauren Roselli and Jade Lee, Book of Love made some of the most unforgettable dance and synth pop of the 1980s, many of which can be found on this initial release. Songs such as “Boy,” “Modigliani (Lost in Your Eyes),” and “I Touch Roses,” still sound as good in 2026 as when they first hit the airwaves and the turntables of DJs many years ago. The reissue also includes a lyric sheet with liner notes by queer music journalist Kurt B. Reighley. bookoflovemusic.com

4/2/26 10:11 AM

rocked as hard as any metal album, as you can hear on “Rhinoceros,” “I Am One,” “Tristessa,” “Snail,” and “Bury Me.” Conversely, the Pump-

kins also allowed listeners room to breathe with “Daydream” and “Crush.” smashingpumpkins.com Occasionally, an album is the fire combo of vivid cover art, appealing splattered vinyl, and dazzling music. Such is the case with the double-LP deluxe edition of “Divinity” (DCxPC Live) by Philadelphia-based KulfiGirls. Led by queer vocalist and veena player Abi Natesh, along with her bandmates Joan Gizzio Natesh (Abi’s wife), Adesola Ogunleye, and Stephanie Bruning, KulfiGirls create an irresistible blend of sonic worlds. One listen to album opener “Alpine” alone provides all the proof you need that this is a band comfortable with occupying multiple aural identities. Take in the pleasures of “Bite,” “Ugly,” “Highland,” and don’t be surprised if “Itch” has you scratching for more. The second LP of the set features “Melted” (acoustic) versions. www.kulfigirls.com On fantastic scarlet vinyl, “From Montreal to Rotherham” (Last Night From Glasgow) by Scarlet Fantastic is proof that it’s never too late to discover an artist from an earlier time who is still making compelling music. Maggie K de Monde, who had been one-third of the UK trio Swans Way in the early 1980s, went on to work with other bands, including Scarlet Fantastic, a name she has resurrected for this intriguing album that is worthy of joining your record collection. Not only does de Monde have brilliant taste in cover material, as can be heard on the cover of David Bowie’s “Time,” but she can also write and perform memorable originals. With a flair for the dramatic, as well as resilience, songs such as “Cowboy Guardian Angel,” “Better Day,” “Make Way For Love,” the jazzy “Injecting Thunder,” and the exotic “Berlin Room,” not only deserve repeated plays, but should be shared with others who appreciate timeless music. facebook. com/scarletfantasticofficialt

Opera>>

June 18-24, 2026 • Bay Area Repor ter • 13

SF Opera’s night of songful pride by Philip Campbell

n Friday, June 26, San Francisco Opera will celebrate the LGBTQ community with the second annual Pride Concert at the War Memorial Opera House. While other arts institutions are keeping it low-key and low-budget this year, SFO bravely continues a joyful tradition in customary lavish style. Some pre- and post-concert events available to ticketholders add personal meaning and interaction to the party. Starting at 6:30pm, “Rainbows All Around Us,” an outdoor community altar by the Marigold Project, will be on display in front of the Opera House on the Van Ness Avenue steps. From 7pm to 8pm, a pre-show Happy Hour with discounted food and drinks will enhance the mood. Other exhibits throughout the lobby and auditorium include a conversation with Rainbow Flag project creators Servane Briand, Bridget McGraw and Dominic Riley; an educational display by the GLBT Historical Society; and an AIDS Memorial Quilts display by the National AIDS

Sapphira Cristál, Melody Moore, Reginald Smith Jr. and Nikola Printz will perform at San Francisco Opera’s Pride concert.

Memorial. After the 8pm concert, San Francisco legend DJ Juanita MORE! mixes a dance party 9:30pm to 11pm. The concert features a wide range of pop, musical theatre and operatic music by gay American composer Michael Abels, jazz giant Terence Blanchard, Brandi Carlile, classical composers Giordano and Gounod, kd lang, Jacques Offenbach, Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked,” “Pippin”), San Francisco Symphony’s beloved Michael Tilson Thomas, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder and more.

Sapphira Cristál, opera singer, composer and drag queen known for histrionic lip-syncs and sixoctave range, and runner-up and Miss Congeniality of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 16, emcees the evening. Conductor Robert Mollicone, whose impressive credits include Music Director of the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony, leads the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. Former “Merolini” (Merola Opera Program: 2005 and Adler Fellow 2006, 2007) soprano Melody Moore

is one of the featured soloists. SFO has laid the groundwork for a flourishing career and she returns to the mainstage frequently. Her sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall was a great critical success. Mezzo-soprano Nikola Printz (another Merola participant and Adler Fellow), has cultivated a strong local following with memorable performances at Opera Parallèle, West Edge Opera and San Francisco Opera, which the talented artist considers their “home company.” An accom-

‘What Belongs to You’ the opera

by Tim Pfaff

he rocky road from novel to opera –the graveyard is deep– has what could ironically be deemed a happy ending by way of David T. Little’s “What Belongs to You,” based on Garth Greenwell’s acclaimed 2016 novel. Judging by a newly released live recording of the opera’s premiere at the University of Richmond’s Modlin Center of the Arts on September 26, 2024, directed by Mark Morris (Bright Shiny Things, the performing ensemble’s “house label”), the opera may well have legs. If you’ve read “What Belongs to You” as many times as you’ve watched “Heated Rivalry,” you have some adjusting to do going in. It takes patience to hear in the music a voice as clear as the author’s. In acknowledgements, Little thanks Greenwell for letting him adapt the novel, but it’s hard not to hear an echo of Maxine Kingston in the author’s praise of the librettist. The role of “the American,” the Greenwellian protagonist, was composed for the out Lebanese American gay tenor Karim Sulayman, an associate of Greenwell’s since music school. Greenwell speaks warmly about these opera collaborators as chosen family, which may be a feint but more likely a relic of Greenwell’s tendency to exuberantly love the one you’re with.

But it takes vanity to think of his adulation, sincere as it is, as everlasting. In the opera’s libretto, with its short lines, the sung music is occasionally interrupted by words straight out of the novel, and the distance between Little’s pithy, necessary reductions and the near hypertext of Greenwell’s succulent, serpentine, tail-swallowing sentences can be glaring.

Who goes there?

In both genres, the kernel of the plot is the fraught relationship between “The American,” an expat teacher in Sofia, Bulgaria with a name unpronounceable to the locals, and Mitko, whom he encounters in the nether regions of the Sofia’s National Palace of Culture, whose sticky floors and soururine air make the term “tea room” seem quaint. “We’ve all been there” does not apply. You don’t have to have had the experience of expat involvement with people whose language they do not share to appreciate both the novel and the opera squeezed out of it. But readers with that phenomenon often report a feeling that Greenwell’s novel was written just for them. Calling Mitko a “sex worker” is reductive, as Greenwell has often asserted. He’s not a standard-issue prostitute but a grindingly poor, rough-edged survivor whose real tragic flaw may well be that there still is enough heart in him to make him capable of attachments, or attachment-adjacent behaviors, and of causing attachments by others that feel real until they exhaust themselves. It’s a lot to weigh on the cords of a single tenor, but tenor Karin Sulayman excels. He masters Little’s tortured vocal writing, with its taxing unfurling of what seem tireless melisma. Best is Sulayman’s gift for putting over the text with singing covers a range of feelings from the American’s fussy self-regard to everyone’s weeping and wailing.

Settling the score

Composer David T. Little

Little’s score is a puzzle. It has things to say, particularly in percussion and drones, but no sooner have you detected its unique voice than it slips into musical costume. The opera’s final scene depicts Mitko walking away for what the

American knows will be the last time he sees him, because of Mitko’s HIV infection and the exhaustion of their unsteady connection. The scene is shot through with slivers of Schubert’s “Der Leiermann,” with its haunting picture of a man driven to madness by an uncaring, disinterested world. Somehow it feels cheap as well as derivative. Alarm Will Sound proves a crack ensemble, and Alan Pierson conducts it both vividly and sagely. An odd little chorus intrudes twice, to no apparent gain.

plished aerialist, Printz will probably not be performing on the trapeze but their appearance is guaranteed to soar. Grammy and Emmy award-winning baritone Reginald Smith Jr. returns to SFO after his well-received 2017 debut as the Count in “Rigoletto.” The openly gay star said to the B.A.R. at the time, “The nature of our business is so open, welcoming, and accepting. I found a home in opera. If you can sing and act, we don’t care who you are doing your business with.” SFO General Director Matthew Shilvock said in a press statement, “It is a joy to welcome you into this space; a gathering place for all, free of the judgment, division, or prejudice that feel so present for many today.” It is a genuine company attitude and SFO literally walks the walk on Sunday, June 28, as members of San Francisco Opera and other arts organizations join the 56th annual San Francisco Pride Parade.t San Francisco Opera Pride Concert, $30–$229, June 26, 6:30pm pre-show events, 8pm concert. 301 Van Ness Ave. www.sfopera.com

Composer David T. Little’s adaptation of Garth Greenwell’s novel

The compression of the text, mandatory of course, yields two regrettable omissions. “The Grave,” is the title of Greenwell’s celebrated 41-page paragraph about the depredations of childhood in a disapproving world. Little breaks it into vacillating subsections that indicate that personal past and the American’s troubled present, and whatever economy is gained comes at a narrative price. There would have been no dramatic gain in closing with the novel’s final chapter, a melancholy tale of the American’s post-Mitko train excur-

sion through barren Bulgaria with his American mother, from whom he had been estranged. It’s one of the most haunting episodes in Greenwell’s novel, and its evocation of the hollowing out that accompanies the end of an affair might strike a chord with a gay audience.t David T. Little, ‘What Belongs to You,’ based on Garth Greenwell’s novel, tenor Karim Sulayman, and Alarm Will Sound conducted by Alan Pierson, two CDs and streaming. brightshiny.ninja

Pride Day at the Marin County Fair

Celebrate love, community, and belonging.

Drag Performances | Marin LGBTQ Center | Free Mom Hugs Marin 9to25 | Live Music by Linda Perry & More!

JULY 3, 2026

<< Books

14 • Bay Area Repor ter • June 18-24, 2026

Pride books roundup 2026, part 4:

Graphic novels, photobooks & more

by Jim Piechota

or queer artists at Pride season, it’s time to get out there and show your individuality and your uniqueness in the most colorful ways possible. These inspirational coffee table and picture books will certainly help uplift and inspire your spirit as we spotlight some of the artistic grandeur found in these colorful, dramatic, and historically appreciative queer volumes. Enjoy! “Wicked: The Graphic Novel” by Gregory Maguire, Illus. by Scott Hampton $25.99 (HarperCollins) This new graphic adaptation of the celebrated story, the second in a twopart series, is a glorious finale piece to the first edition and a must-have for fans of any age who adore the story of Dorothy Gale and her ragtag group of newfound friends making their way through Oz. For the conclusion in the series, we find high drama in the form of the same darkly political themes related to Elphaba and other character destinies as found in Maguire’s original book. This finale moves quickly and speeds through each scene with waves of color and drama. Though much grimmer in tone and mood than the glitz and glam of the Broadway showstopper, this will still satisfy those fa-

miliar with Maguire’s book and others who have been waiting for this final series conclusion to publish. For queer families, this would make a great storybook to read altogether and comic illustrator Hampton’s flowing watercolor style makes for a dreamy interpretation of the original idea. For diehard Wicked fans, this September marks the publication of the newest addition to the Wicked family with Maguire’s newest novel “Galinda: A Charmed Childhood,” which elegantly reveals the origin story of The Good Witch before she became better known as “Glinda.” Born the child of a hardscrabble but competitive family and their risky business dealings, Galinda elegantly and determinedly dances through her youth hoping that her early

knack for graceful moves and bubbly interactions will bring her the kind of notoriety she so desperately seeks! www.harpercollins.com “Charity & Sylvia” by Tillie Walden, $30 (Drawn & Quarterly) Twenty-nine-year-old prolific cartoonist Tillie Walden has created a vividly hand-drawn historical portrait of two women, Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake, together in the 1800s and one of the earliest-recorded lesbian relationships in America. Drenched in sepia tones, the book captures the spirit of their union, how they initially met, fell in love, and spent their lives together in rural nineteenth century Vermont. While being billed as a graphic adult novel, Walden’s version elaborates on the two

women’s lives derived from artifacts, letters, diaries, poetry, and research. It expands upon Charity’s work as the first local female church deacon, the women’s tailoring business, and on through years and years of New England seasons as they both laughed, adored, struggled, and aged together, always in love and always inseparable. Gracefully told through richly imagined dialogue and drawings, Walden’s artistically moving biography of Charity and Sylvia in a time when women weren’t typically allowed to own businesses or be church deacons, is an astounding tribute to a 200-yearold lesbian romance and the early beginnings of the LGBTQ+ movement, as well as a fitting, immensely creative contribution to queer history. drawnandquarterly.com

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T H E F R E I G H T. O R G

“Fire Island Art: 100 Years” Edited by John Dempsey $69.95 (Monacelli Press/Phaidon) Movingly dramatic and gorgeously atmospheric, this photographic tour of the history of Fire Island, New York whisks readers off to a magical location epically appreciated by artists, queer communities, summer partiers, and everyone in between. Embellished with essays prefacing each pictorial section, the book features a glowing introduction by editor Dempsey where he writes lovingly about the island’s lush and melodramatic history (cinematic and otherwise) including the decimation of a community of visitors from the AIDS epidemic as “survivors recalled the shock of returning at the start of a new season to learn that entire sharehouses would not be coming back.” Today, after deadly fires, rebuilding efforts for several critical establishments, and a post-pandemic artistic renaissance, the island is alive with diversity hosting hundreds of contemporary artists “with a strong emphasis on those from diverse backgrounds, a counterweight to the historical homogeneity of white, gay men who have long made up the majority of Fire Island’s queer population.” This book is a full-color love letter to Fire Island in all its pictorial glory with sections dedicated to artists like the trio of painters who called themselves “PaJaMa” (Paul Cadmus, Jared French, and Margaret French) in the 1930s and ’40s, who spent summers together on the island creating a photographic legacy of their time there and the unique bohemian relationship they shared. Elsewhere, a profile of Fire Island’s Cherry Grove area is dramatically viewed through the lens of iconic photographer Richard Avedon. The island paradise is further adored in words through poet Frank O’Hara’s beautiful verses, Robert Mapplethorpe’s stunning photographic genius (a striking image of Peter Berlin on the boardwalk, in particular), David Hockney’s visions, Andy Warhol’s diaries, and the island’s lesbian artistic presence, as well. The man-candied “bohemian oasis” known as Fire Island is grandly appreciated here in this exquisitely crafted art book; a must-have for island lovers, art lovers, or anyone who has ever vacationed there and never forgotten it. www.phaidon.com “Desire: Straight Men in my Bedroom” by Ohm Phanphiroj, $69.99 (Salzgeber) Thai photographer Ohm Phanphiroj’s latest glossy pictorial book explores elements of desire and sexuality using a carefully curated selection of heterosexual men photographed in his home. Taken over the course of four years, each photograph tells a story and evokes an atmosphere all its own. Phanphiroj invited eleven young male friends, from European and American locations, to pose for his camera privately and intimately, to photograph them in their natural states and moods, and “to capture their beauty before time erases it.” A forewarning: there is a definite “type” running through his images: all of the men are young, physically fit, with minimal body hair, and most are uncut and smoking cigarettes. Regardless of the lack of general diversity, the photographs come alive in black and white hues and well as full color versions, visually stimulating and provocatively alluring. The artist somewhat controversially admits that he photographs straight men “because they are the missing pieces of my life, something I can never permanently have, never truly own, and never become.” In visualizing and eroticizing the heterosexual male body, Phanphiroj’s images represent beauty and carnal desire without the possibility of possession and without distraction. www.salzgeber.det

Pride 2026>>

June 18-24, 2026 • Bay Area Repor ter • 15 with special guests Marga Gomez, Peaches Christ, and more, plus culinary treats; thru June. $87-$200, 678 Green St. clubfugazisf.com ‘Goat Blood’ @ Theatre Rhinoceros West Coast premiere of MarkEugene Garcia’s play about the mix of queer desire, ancient cultural myths and truths. $25-$40, June 25-July 19, 4229 18th St. www.therhino.org

Bradley Roberge

Scott Iverson

Left: Bearracuda at Public Works Right: Castro Night Market

Pride Events

From page 11

NIGHTLIFE

Bearracuda @ Public Works The wild Pride party for Bears features DJ Tony Maran and DJ Mateo Segade. $45, June 26, 9pm-3am.161 Erie St. bearracuda.com Castro Night Market @ 18 Street at Castro Enjoy ‘Drag Race’ icons on the main stage, plus DJ Deja Skye, singer/songwriter showcase at The Neon Garden, community appearances and local drag spotlights at The Rainbow Meadow, plus 40 retail, food, beverage, and community spirit exhibitors. Free, June 19, 5pm-10pm. castronightmarket.com Judy Gold @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko Lesbian comic Judy Gold brings her powerful comedic stylings to Feinstein’s for Pride weekend. $53$82, June 25 & 27, 8pm, 222 Mason St. www.feinsteinssf.com Juanita MORE! Pride Party @ 620 Jones Benefitting the GLBT Historical Society, drag icon Juanita MORE!’s annual Pride soiree is considered by

many to be the party of the year. The indoor/outdoor event space features four bars, two levels, DJs working with an expert sound system, with a fab crowd. $60, June 28, 12pm-7pm, 620 Jones St. juanitamore.com Pink Block @ The Great Northern Show your hottest pink looks and dance the day away, with DJs Honey Dijon, Analog Soul, the Polyglamorous crew and others. $55-$100, June 27, 12pm-3am. 119 Utah St. thegreatnorthernsf.com Pride at the Pulpit: A Queer Cabaret @ Saint Joseph’s Arts Society A variety show celebrating the sanctity of queer joy includes burlesque, live singing, sexy juggling and queer standup comedy. $20 general admission, $150 VIP table for two, $300 VIP table for four. June 24, 7pm, 1401 Howard St. saintjosephsartssociety.com Pride is a Laugh Riot @ SF Eagle Celebrate Pride with a night of queer comedy, community and resistance at the famed leather bar; featuring Olivia Naidu, Marcus Williams, Gio, and Jeff Klein, with a special

drag performance by Amoura Teese. $15-$30, June 24, 7pm, 398 12th St. teamwonderdave.com Sundance Pride @ Various Locations In the Streets offers dancing in the streets of the Castro gayborhood. Two-stepping and line-dancing all afternoon, with five-minute novice lessons. Noe Street, Between Market Street and Beaver. Free, June 20, 1pm4pm. Pride Hoedown at the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House. $20 in advance, $30 at the door. 7:30pm-11pm. 4705 3rd St. sundancesaloon.org

THEATER

‘Compton’s Cafeteria Riot’ @ 835 Larkin Street A recreation of the historic showdown between trans and drag people and the police, set in a recreated diner. The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot preceded Stonewall by three years. Breakfast will be served. $75, 7pm, extended thru June. 835 Larkin St. www.tenderloinmuseum.org ‘Dear San Francisco’ @ Club Fugazi Enjoy a very special Pride edition of this delightful aerial show

body builder rugged, muscular aesthetic of the 1980s, then beefy muscle daddy of the early 2000s.

‘Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World’

Frameline50 faves

From page 11

“Bookends” (June 22, Vogue Theater) This heartfelt, bittersweet dramedy focuses on Nate (Noam Ash), a millennial (almost 30!) gay novelist, who seemingly has a fabulous city life that comes crashing down when he discovers Swiss boyfriend having an affair with his spin instructor. “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” (June 23, Roxie Theater) Second only to her fellow New Englander Robert Frost, as America’s most popular poet, this stunning documentary celebrates the life and career of Mary Oliver, the Pulitzer-Prize and National Book Award-winning writer of more than 30 collections of poems and essays. It traces her development from a lonely childhood to literary fame as a rock star author and contemporary contemplative mystic who found redemption in the natural world with almost universal appeal.

“Enzo” (June 23, Vogue Theater) This French narrative is a beautifully-shot character study from gay director Robin Campillo about 16-year-old Enzo (Eloy Pohu) who has dropped out of school to work construction, angering his wealthy parents, an engineer and a professor, for essentially rejecting their upper-middle class life and values. Enzo develops a crush on a straight co-worker Vlad (Maxim Slyvinski), a Ukrainian refugee in his 20s, trying to make money and avoid being conscripted into the war. “Mickey & Richard” (June 23, Roxie Theater) This documentary is a vulnerable portrait of 1980s Colt Studio model and gay icon Mickey Squires in his own words about his 25-year career in the gay porn industry. Now 73 and living in Palm Springs, we hear from his alter ego, real-life shy and reserved Richard Bernstein, as he reflects on his life going from lanky high school drama nerd to handsome clone to the hypermasculine

“Tiger” (June 23, Vogue Theater) An eye-opening narrative film on the difficulties of being queer in contemporary Japan, Taiga Katagiri is a 35-year-old closeted gay masseuse living in Tokyo. His love life isn’t satisfying and he seems to be drifting through life without any purpose. No longer young or in demand as the other masseuses, especially the reckless Benji, who has sex with his clients, a no-no, Taiga considers a career switch to gay porn films with a new name, Tiger. “Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders” (June 24, Roxie Theater) One of our great queer documentarians, Jeffrey Schwartz (“Vito,” “I Am Divine,” “Tab Hunter Confidential”), in a triumph brilliantly explores both the controversy surrounding the filming of the movie “Cruising” and the real-life murder that inspired director William Friedkin (“Boys in the Band,” “The Exorcist”) to write the screenplay. “Strange River” (June 24, Vogue Theater) This Spanish/German film shot on 16mm is a redefinition of the conventional coming-of-age theme. A family from Barcelona takes a biking vacation along the Danube River, camping overnight. 16-year-old Didac (Jan Monter) struggles with his sexual awakening. Didac glimpses a young man swimming naked under the water, then later spots him at night or in wooded darkness. Is he a river nymph or sprite? Is he an apparition, dream, or fantasy? The film is full of ambiguity.t www.frameline.org

Mink Stole and Peaches Christ @ Strand Theater After 25 years of sharing stages, drag superstar Peaches Christ and cult film icon Mink Stole say farewell onstage at the Strand Theater, with an intimate conversation about Stole’s legendary career, from her work with John Waters to her many years of scene-stealing onscreen and onstage, and her music. $40.50, June 20, 7:30pm, 1127 Market St. www.act-sf.org ‘Pride Cabaret: Fauxnique, So Relevant’ @ NCTC A musical evening of theatrical glamour magic and real-time real talk from the herstory-making lady fuax queen and published author whom cabaret legend Justin Vivian Bond called “the Jane Goodall of drag.” $35$40, June 18-20, 7:30pm, 25 Van Ness Ave. www.nctcsf.org

‘San Francisco Squares’ @ Great Star Theater All manner of local celebs such as State Senator Scott Weiner, SF Drag Laureate Per Sia, Kitten on the Keys, plus gay comic legend Bruce Vilanch are just some of the panelists in this parody of the game show classic ‘Hollywood Squares,’ with MC Sister Roma. $35-$100, June 18, 7pm, 636 Jackson St. greatstartheater.orgt

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