New space for Parivar
Reexamining 'Halloween Letter'
ARTS
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B.A.R.
Since 1971 Imperial Teen
The
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Serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities since 1971
55
Vol. 56 • No. 40 • October 1-7, 2026
Courtesy the Governor’s Office
Governor Gavin Newsom
From LinkedIn
Jonathan McKinsey was allegedly shot to death by his in-laws at a Dublin park.
Trans man allegedly killed by in-laws at Dublin park by John Ferrannini
T
wo elderly Dubliners have been arrested and will be arraigned Wednesday after prosecutors claim they fatally shot their son-in-law, a transgender man, at a local park in the middle of the day. See page 13 >>
Newsom enacts batch of LGBTQ bills by Matthew S. Bajko
Rick Gerharter
A smackin’ good time at Folsom
T
he 43rd annual Folsom Street Fair brought together thousands of people who celebrate the leather and kink communities Sunday, September 27, in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. One of those attendees was Kevin Bice, left,
who made a couple happy with his whips made from balloons. Attendees enjoyed live entertainment, kinky demonstrations, and all manner of sexy fun. For more photos, visit the Bay Area Reporter’s BARtab Facebook page.
S
aying it was an answer to “recent direct attacks on LGBTQ individuals by the Trump administration,” Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law September 26 six bills aimed at strengthening protections for queer and transgender Californians. One ensures transgender service members being drummed out by the Republican president can still access state programs, while another allows the state’s attorney general to take steps to thwart subpoenas for private information about reproductive or gender-affirming health care provided in the Golden State. See page 14 >>
Liz Highleyman
Dr. Susan Buchbinder of the San Francisco Department of Public Health
2025 HIV cases in SF fall 8% by Liz Highleyman
N
ew HIV diagnoses in San Francisco fell by 8% last year, from 148 to 136 cases, reversing a small uptick seen in 2024, according to the latest HIV epidemiology annual report from the city’s Department of Public Health, released September 24. Latino people account for the largest share of new diagnoses, as was the case several years ago, according to the report “We’re still striving towards our Getting to Zero goals,” Dr. Susan Buchbinder, director of DPH’s Bridge HIV, told the Bay Area Reporter in an interview. “We’ve seen a 30% decline in new diagnoses since pre-pandemic, but we want the progress to move much more rapidly.” Buchbinder presented an overview of the findings at the Getting to Zero Consortium meeting September 24. The Getting to Zero initiative aims to eliminate new HIV infections, deaths due to HIV/AIDS, and stigma against people living with HIV. It relies on a three-prong strategy of expanded access to PrEP, rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and retaining HIVpositive people in care. San Francisco Health Director Daniel Tsai noted the reduction in diagnoses. “From 545 HIV diagnoses reported in 2006 to 136 in 2025, today’s report shows that San Francisco is moving in the right direction in reducing new HIV infections,” he stated in a news release. “The ultimate goal is to get to zero HIV infections and there is still work to be done to get us there. See page 14 >>
Changes accompany new leadership at Castro Street Fair by John Ferrannini
T
he Castro Street Fair is seeing a number of adjustments as it returns for its 52nd iteration Sunday, October 4. There have been changes in leadership that has led to renewed attention on families, organizers said. The fair, founded in 1974 by gay small businessman Harvey Milk before he became a city supervisor, continues to draw friends, neighbors, and visitors to the LGBTQ neighborhood for an afternoon of people-watching, music, and fun. Milk, who was elected to the Board of Supervisors in November 1977, tragically died a year later after he and former mayor George Moscone were assassinated in City Hall by disgruntled ex-supervisor Dan White. Arturo Nájera, a gay Latino man, replaced longtime Castro fair board member Fred Lopez, also gay and Latino, as the director of the fair’s entertainment after Lopez wrapped up his service last year. Nájera, a board member who is also the treasurer and a member of the sponsorship committee, told the Bay Area Reporter that there will be an increased emphasis on family-friendly activities. “With new leadership there are a lot of new changes,” Nájera said. “We’re doing a family zone, and that’s going to be near the Mollie Stone’s stage [around the intersection of 18th and Collingwood streets]. That includes a drag story hour with Per Sia.” Per Sia, a Latina trans drag performer, is San Francisco’s second drag laureate. She cofounded San Francisco’s Drag Story Hour and said when she was appointed to the laureate position last year that she wanted to focus her tenure on that same mission of storytelling. “I’m over the moon to be back at the Castro Street Fair with Drag Story Hour,” Per Sia stated. “I’m looking forward to reading stories that make you think, make you smile, and invite you to take a moment to simply experience joy. Won’t you come share a little joy with me?” The family zone will run from around noon
Bill Wilson
People enjoyed the 2025 Castro Street Fair.
to 3:30 p.m., Nájera said, and is “a space for families and children, allies, everyone so they can access that space.” There will also be a showcase by SF Black Pride, and the Lowell High School Drum Corps will perform at Castro and Market streets at the start of the fair, which begins at 11 a.m. Gyasi “LBXX” Curry, a queer Black man, is the executive director and founder of SF Black Pride, which had its festivities in August. “San Francisco Black Pride is very excited to partner with Castro Street Fair this Sunday, and we look forward to more opportunities for partnership,” Curry stated. Lowell Principal Jan Bautista stated, “It is always great to hear and see the amazing Lowell student performers out in the community sharing their skills and passion. At Lowell, we continuously strive to improve every student’s sense of belonging, and we are very proud of
the Lowell Drum Corps supporting the Castro community.” There will continue to be performances by the San Francisco Pride Band, the city’s official band, as well as the pop-up country dancing by Sundance Saloon and cheerleading provided by Cheer SF. “The San Francisco Pride Band will be bringing music, joy, and Pride to the Castro Street Fair! Look for the Band as we march through the fair with pop-up performances at various locations,” stated Jimmy Santosa, the band’s director of marketing. “Stop by our band booth to say hello, learn more about who we are, and sign up to join us! Whether you’re a longtime musician or ready to pick up your instrument again, there’s a place for you in the San Francisco Pride Band. Come march, dance, and make some music with us!” See page 15 >>
<< State News
t Newsom signs school bill, vetoes condom measure 2 • Bay Area Repor ter • October 1-7, 2026
by Matthew S. Bajko
I
ncreasing access to condoms in middle and high school health centers will fall to California’s next governor, as outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Sunday that would have made it easier for students to obtain the prophylactics. It marked the third time the Democratic leader had junked such a bill. He also spiked legislation that aimed to ensure young adults ages 18 to 21 are not blocked from extended foster care when they are no longer receiving support and are at risk of hoGovernor Gavin Newsom. bill’s intent was “laudable” in his veto message. Two bills addressing LGBTQ school matters did survive the governor’s veto pen. Newsom also signed into law a bill allowing employees to take bereavement leave due to the death of a chosen family member. With Newsom termed out as governor and eying a 2028 presidential bid, there has been increased speculation this year over which bills he will sign and those he won’t due to his ambitions to lead the country. Last weekend, he vetoed another bill related to reproductive issues backed by LGBTQ advocates. As the B.A.R. previously reported, that legislation aimed to protect providers of gender-affirming care and abortion services from being extradited to face charges for doing so by another state. Newsom cited concerns over executive authority for jettisoning Assembly Bill 2164 authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda). As for Senate Bill 608, it was lesbian state Senator Caroline Menjivar’s (D-San Fernando Valley) latest attempt to expand youth access to condoms. In 2023, and again in 2024, Newsom vetoed bills she carried that aimed to do so due to their high price tag, even after state lawmakers had allocated $5 million in funding over three years for providing free condoms to ninth through
Bill Wilson
Governor Gavin Newsom
12th graders in California public schools. Menjivar came back during last year’s legislative session with a tweaked approach to the issue. Among the provisions of her SB 608 was a ban on public schools serving grades 7-12 from prohibiting school-based health centers from making internal and external condoms available and easily accessible to pupils. It would also have restricted public school officials from prohibiting condom distribution in the context of educational and public health program initiatives, such as sex education, classes by community partners, peer health programs, campus health fairs, or distributed by school-based health staff. She had wanted to grant authority to the California Department of Education for monitoring schools’ compliance with the bill as part of the California Healthy Youth Act. It took effect in 2016 and required that all comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention instruction and materials in grades K-12 be inclusive of LGBTQ students. And SB 608 would also have prohibited pharmacies and retailers from requiring customers to present identification of their age when purchasing condoms or nonprescription contraception unless required to do so by federal law. But it failed to make it out of the Senate
Appropriations Committee last year, so Menjivar turned it into a two-year bill and was able to shepherd it out of the Legislature this year. It was all for naught, though, as Newsom rejected the bill. In a September 27 veto message, the father of four children cited parental concerns in doing so. “The implementation decisions required by this legislation are best made locally, in consultation with educators, health professionals, students, parents, families and based on the needs and circumstances of each community,” wrote Newsom. “For this reason, I cannot sign this bill.” Menjivar has yet to comment on Newsom’s vetoing the legislation. Her office has yet to respond to the Bay Area Reporter’s request for comment. Gay Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D–Hollywood) authored Assembly Bill 1967, which would have required county social workers to immediately review petitions filed by LGBTQ or straight youth seeking to enter the state’s foster care system due to being abused or neglected at home and determine whether to open a juvenile dependency case within 21 days. In his veto message Newsom noted, “I deeply appreciate the author’s effort to address unacceptable delays in assistance to vulnerable young adults who find themselves in need of renewed support from the child-welfare system.” Yet, Newsom criticized the bill’s provisions, contending the “proposed changes to the eligibility standards or reentry into foster care would actually exacerbate, rather than mitigate, these delays.” He also argued “it would only allow reentry for youth who are receiving no support at all – a far higher bar to clear than is currently in place, and one which would turn away youth who are receiving very little support and still need foster care services.” He encouraged legislators and advocates to work with county child welfare agencies and the California
Department of Social Services on improvements for the foster care reentry process that will “effectively promote our shared goal of seeing disadvantaged former foster youth receive the services and support that they need.” Zbur has yet to comment about the governor’s veto of the bill. Contacted for a response, his office told the B.A.R. Monday he is at a conference and only intermittently checking his phone. On Saturday, Newsom did sign into law a batch of LGBTQ-related bills. Among the six was legislation ensuring transgender service members drummed out by the Trump administration can still access state programs, while another allows the state’s attorney general to take steps to thwart subpoenas for private information about reproductive or gender-affirming health care provided in the Golden State.
Bill requires antihate training
On Sunday, he did sign into law AB 1578 authored by gay Assemblymember Corey A. Jackson, Ph.D., (D-Moreno Valley) that requires elected school board members and other public office holders across California to complete at least one hour of antihate speech training and education within six months of taking office and subsequently every four years thereafter. It takes effect on January 1, 2028. Newsom also enacted SB 998 by Senators Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) requiring the state’s Office of Civil Rights to appoint an LGBTQ+ discrimination prevention coordinator to develop educational materials for school teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel so they can identify and proactively prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination at their school sites. And he signed SB 1149 authored by Senator María Elena Durazo (D-
Los Angeles) to allow workers to take bereavement leave for chosen and extended family members, similar to previous legislation Durazo saw become law that extended paid family leave provisions to workers in need of caring for chosen or extended family members, not merely their immediate family. Under current law, employees can take up to five days of job protected bereavement leave following the death of a child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, domestic partner or parent-in-law. “This is good news for California’s diverse families,” stated Durazo. “When someone we love dies, we all need time to grieve. California law allows workers to care for seriously ill chosen and extended family members and those workers should also be able to take time to grieve, if their loved one dies.” Under Durazo’s bill, they will now be able to do so for chosen and extended family members, which will benefit LGBTQ people who may be estranged from their biological relatives and consider close friends as family members. As Durazo noted while pushing for her bill, the “leave must be taken within three months of the death of the family member and while on leave the employee can use their earned but unused leave (vacation, personal, sick or compensatory time off ) to make up for lost wages.” There remains one bill related to LGBTQ concerns that the B.A.R. tracked this legislative session for Newsom to either sign into law or veto. AB 1876 authored by Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) would protect intersex youth and adults by clarifying that intersex traits, as well as gender identity and other characteristics, are included under state law prohibiting sex discrimination by health plans and insurers. Newsom has until September 30 to sign the remaining legislation before him. t
2 charged with hate crime after SJSU attack, DA says by John Ferrannini
T
wo young men have been charged with hate crimes after using homophobic language while allegedly pummeling a San Jose State University
student and also attacking his female friend, according to a September 23 news release from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office. Josue Medina Flores, 19, of Sunnyvale, and Christian Gabriel Nunez
Petty, 20, of Fremont, are charged with felony assault with hate crime allegations, and were arraigned Wednesday at the Hall of Justice at 191 N. First Street in San Jose. The case was continued for a motion to review bail on October 7, and for plea on October 8. They would face prison time if convicted. “If you hurt someone because of their race, religion, gender, or sexuality, you will be arrested and prosecuted,” stated District Attorney Jeff Rosen. “Tolerance and diversity are cherished values in this community. We back them up with one voice – and the full might of the law.” The attack was caught on security camera footage, according to the release. The case marks the 14th hate crime prosecution in the county this year, according to the DA’s office. The incident happened at 3:44 a.m. Saturday, September 19, when, according to the release, “the victim and two female friends were on campus when they walked past the two defendants. The two men asked the student if he was gay and yelled anti-gay slurs. The victim and his friends ignored them and continued walking. The two men then ran up to the victim and attacked him, punching him in the head more than two dozen times and kicking him.” As the attack proceeded, the assailants continued using the slurs, according to the release. “When one of the student’s friends jumped on top of the victim to shield
Courtesy SJSU
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office has charged two people with a hate crime after they allegedly yelled anti-gay slurs at a student before beating him and attacking a female friend.
him from the blows, the defendants struck her, too,” the release continued. “San Jose State University police officers responded during the attack and quickly arrested the fleeing suspects before they could get off campus. The victim was treated at a local hospital for his injuries and released.” San Jose City Councilmember Anthony Tordillos, a gay man who represents District 3 that includes the university, told the B.A.R. September 24 that it was an “appalling and hateful attack.” “I live near SJSU and walk through the university every day to get to City Hall,” he continued. “I stand with the survivors and wish them all a speedy recovery. Let me be clear: homopho-
bic violence has no place in San Jose and as a city we are committed to safety and inclusion for all. I applaud DA Rosen’s comments and I hope individuals responsible are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” The university didn’t immediately return a request for comment. The Santa Clara County Public Defender’s office confirmed it’s representing Medina Flores, and will not be representing Nunez Petty. A permanent attorney had not been appointed for Medina Flores as of September 24. Nunez Petty should be represented by the Santa Clara County Alternate Defender’s office, which didn’t immediately return comment. t
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<< Election 2026
t D8 supe candidates address HIV issues at forum 4 • Bay Area Repor ter • October 1-7, 2026
by John Ferrannini
T
he candidates running for District 8 supervisor agreed to fight against cuts to HIV/AIDS services and to continue the progress against new infections at a forum held in San Francisco’s LGBTQ Castro district. They also discussed efforts to reopen gay bathhouses and how to get to zero new HIV infections. The September 24 forum, held at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s Strut health center, was hosted by the HIV/ AIDS Provider Network, and took place the same day that the San Francisco Department of Public Health released its 2025 HIV epidemiology report showing an 8% drop in new infections to 136 cases last year. The standing-room-only candidate forum was moderated by Equality California’s Tom Temprano, a gay man who used to work for gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who is termed out of office in early January. Four candidates, three gay men and one queer woman, are seeking Mandelman’s District 8 seat, which spans from Cole Valley to Glen Park and includes Twin Peaks, Corona Heights, Duboce Triangle, the Castro, and Diamond Heights. Candidate Emanuel “Manny” Yekutiel, a Mission district cafe owner and former member of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency board, mentioned the health department’s 2025 numbers during his remarks. “I would like to be the first supervisor that brings that number to zero, and I think we can be the first city that gets new infections to zero.” The city’s Getting to Zero initiative aims to eliminate new HIV infections, deaths due to HIV/AIDS, and stigma against people living with HIV. It relies on a three-prong strategy of expanded access to PrEP, rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and retaining HIVpositive people in care. Yekutiel said that he’d work to increase access to PrEP, which refers to the use of antiviral drugs to prevent people exposed to HIV from becoming infected. The pill Truvada was first approved for PrEP use in 2012 by the federal Food and Drug Administration; since then,
John Ferrannini
District 8 supervisor candidate Gary McCoy, left, answered a question at the San Francisco HIV/AIDS Provider Network’s September 24 forum, where he was joined by candidates Michael Trung Nguyen, Darshini Patel, and Emanuel “Manny” Yekutiel.
the agency has also approved the pill Descovy for some groups, and injectables Apretude and Yeztugo. “I still remember what it felt like to worry if having sex would kill me and life before PrEP,” he said. “Coming out was not easy, and that fear in my heart and in my body hit me hard and PrEP changed the game, and I remember getting PrEP through Strut.” He didn’t end up mentioning it again but alluded to the fact it was a “long journey to get a Yeztugo shot.” Fellow candidate Gary McCoy, a longtime political aide to Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), said that Yekutiel was working at cross purposes with his stated goal, however, in opposing harm reduction methods such as safe consumption sites for drug users. Though he opposes drug consumption sites per se, Yekutiel voiced support for a 24-hour drop-in center for people struggling with addiction. “I know how hard this is, and how difficult it is, and that relapse is a part of recovery,” he said. “There needs to be a 24-hour drop-in center in our district to get treatment ... there needs to be a place people any hour of the day or night you can go and get the help you need.” McCoy, who is HIV-positive, had a history of vagrancy and drug use before getting sober – but sobriety didn’t happen all at once, he pointed out.
“We will never get to zero new infections if we are not funding harm reduction, as long as there is drug use in San Francisco streets, drug use happening under roofs,” he said. McCoy discussed his own journey with HIV, saying that at one point he was down to four T cells and weighed 110 pounds. He seroconverted in 2002. “I found out I was HIV-positive by going to the Seventh Street clinic for an STI check,” McCoy recalled, referring to sexually transmitted infections. He added that later on he’d developed Kaposi sarcoma internally, on the roof of his mouth and in his esophagus. “I immediately qualified for disability,” he said. “That’s how HIV has impacted me. … Because of my personal experience, I will fight tooth and nail. I will be with you. I have been with you.” Among the ways McCoy said he had been with the community was in his 2022 work at Pelosi’s office fighting the mpox outbreak among gay and bisexual men. “Many of you in this room did the work with us on that,” he said, looking out at the crowd.
Bathhouses, SF budget
Candidate Darshini Patel, who the next day announced a ranked-choice campaign strategy with McCoy, questioned whether it should be a priority to reopen gay bathhouses.
The bathhouses were closed in the 1980s as part of the city’s efforts to fight AIDS, and as the B.A.R. has reported, creating a legal pathway for their return has proved byzantine.Advocates say that in the age of PrEP, bathhouses no longer present as much of the public health challenge they once did, and argue they could be a good place to facilitate sexual health education. “I don’t know how many women are hanging out at these bathhouses. There are a lot of gay locations, gay male locations, in the Castro already,” she said, referring to other places for gay men to gather. “Not to be a Debbie downer … but I feel like I want to know where this bathhouse is going to go, and if the space exists, can we not make something that’s also open and available to queer women, trans people, to a broader section of the gay community? Also, as the Castro ages, and people are getting older, whether it’s because you’re a senior or because you have family, I think the dynamics of the Castro are changing.” Patel noted, “The only women’s space that’s now open isn’t even a lesbian bar. It’s a bar for women who like women’s sports,” referring to Rikki’s at 2223 Market Street. McCoy rejoined Patel, saying there are several identified proposed gay bathhouse sites (such as at 40 12th Street, which is in District 6 in the South of Market area) and people interested in opening bathhouses already. “There are actually a couple folks looking at opening bathhouses that are very inclusive and diverse,” McCoy said. “And for women. They’re working on it. I’ve had a number of conversations with folks who want to open up in District 8 and some other parts of the city. It seems like every other month, there’s another hurdle. So I have been following it.” Patent attorney and drag performer Michael Trung Nguyen got cheers as he expressed how appalled he was at proposed HIV service-related budget cuts from the office of Mayor Daniel Lurie. The cuts were ultimately averted by the Board of Supervisors. Many of the people and organizations involved with the HIV provider network were heavily involved in the campaign to stave off those cuts.
“I’m going to be that drag queen who fights with the tenacity of a drag queen, and says don’t mess with my community,” said Nguyen, known as drag artist Juicy Liu. “This is not the mayor’s best friend’s race. We are not playing games here. We need to be standing up and fighting against this mayor – this mayor who didn’t even mention LGBTQ people in his State of the City address. It’s like he doesn’t think we exist. We need to be loud, a thorn in his side, but work where we can with him, and I will be the fighter in this crisis who demands that.” The previously reported 2020 sexual assault allegation against Yekutiel, which he denies, did not surface directly, though his opponents made references to believing survivors when asked about sexual assault, and Yekutiel’s accuser, a gay man named Brad Chapin, was in attendance. Patel said a culture of denial around these issues has downstream impacts on public health, facilitating drug use and HIV infection. “We’ve built this culture where we have a really hard time believing survivors, and so they end up questioning themselves, if they should have come forward,” she said. “Until we can change that, other parts of this are a little bit moot, frankly.” After the event, the B.A.R. caught up with attendee Homer Hobi, an 80-year-old gay queer man who lives in the district and has been in the city for 30 years, to ask him his thoughts. “I would have liked to ask a question,” he said regarding the format of the event, in which Temprano asked questions submitted to him in advance. Hobi added, “Overall, I think Gary McCoy came across very well, and so did Michael Nguyen. He really showed how good he could be at rocking the boat in City Hall. He has the qualifications as a patent attorney and as a drag queen.” Hobi said that since he is HIVpositive and receives subsidies for his housing, the forum was especially relevant to him. Asked how he will vote, Hobi said he has not yet decided. t
McCoy, Patel announce ranked-choice team-up by Matthew S. Bajko
I
n the race for the District 8 seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors,
candidates Gary McCoy and Darshini Patel are teaming up on a ranked-choice strategy. They will be asking their supporters to select the other candidate as
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their second pick on their ballot among the quartet running. Under the city’s instant-runoff 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. Patel and McCoy announced their electoral strategy September 25 at an event they held in the Noe Valley Town Square, a city-owned open-air piazza. They spoke with the Bay Area Reporter the day prior about their decision to form a ballot alliance. McCoy, a gay man and longtime political aide to Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), noted how he got to know Patel over the summer as they took part in various candidate forums and other events and saw that she has “just been a great candidate on the campaign trail.” He’s also been impressed with her push to use data to improve city services, such as increasing the reliability of Muni arrival times for its bus routes and subway lines. “She is about getting back to basics in San Francisco and making sure the city is working for folks. That is something true to my heart since I started working for Scott Wiener at City Hall,” said McCoy, who helped address constituent concerns and complaints as a volunteer in Wiener’s office when he was the District 8 supervisor.
Courtesy the candidates
San Francisco District 8 supervisor candidates Gary McCoy, left, and Darshini Patel have formed a ranked-choice strategy ahead of the November 3 election.
(Wiener, a gay man now serving in the state Senate, is running for Pelosi’s seat in the U.S. House and has not endorsed in the supervisorial race. Pelosi endorsed McCoy in his contest and District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan to succeed her on Capitol Hill.) Forming an alliance with the better-known McCoy is sure to boost Patel’s name recognition with voters throughout the supervisorial district. A queer woman who used to work at DoorDash, Patel lives in Noe Valley and has been focused full-time on her candidacy since jumping into the race relatively late in the game in the spring.
“I respect Gary a lot; I like Gary a lot. He has deep roots in the community and he knows from his own lived experience what our constituents need,” said Patel. “At a time when I think we need to find and elect leaders who have our community’s best interest at heart, I think Gary is a strong person for that. So, at the end of the day when I look at the field and think if not me who else it can be, I think Gary and I share a lot of the same values.” See page 15 >>
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<< Community News
t With city payment OK’ed, Parivar looks to regroup 6 • Bay Area Repor ter • October 1-7, 2026
by Matthew S. Bajko
S
et to receive an infusion of cash from the city, and about to move into new office space atop San Francisco’s Cathedral Hill, Parivar Bay Area no longer is at immediate risk of shuttering its doors. It has been given some breathing room to regroup as it charts a new fiscal path for itself less reliant on government grants. Parivar is the nation’s first and only Hijra, Kinnar, and Global South transgender immigrant-led organization. After it was left out of San Francisco’s budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, leaders of the nonprofit went public with the dire financial situation they were in and warned over the summer they might have to shut down. As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, Parivar cut its planned $1.1 million budget to $493,000. About 70% of Parivar’s historical funding has been public, rising to more than 90% since COVID. Parivar has had no full-time staff since last year, and its co-founder and president, Anjali Rimi, has never taken a full-time salary. A transgender Kinnar woman, Rimi in April stopped being paid as a part-time consultant for the agency. Founded in 2018, Parivar offers various “culturally responsive” services, programs and support to transgender, gender-diverse and intersex (TGNCI) immigrants and asylees, according to its website.
Matthew S. Bajko
Parivar Bay Area plans to move into offices at the Urban Life Center atop San Francisco’s Cathedral Hill.
In September, the nonprofit ended its lease at 837 Turk Street in order to reduce its costs amid searching for a new location in the city for its community programs. On Thursday, October 1, Parivar will begin moving into its new offices at the Urban Life Center, part of St. Mark’s Square situated between Franklin and Gough streets at the intersection with Geary Boulevard. The building is overseen by St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and shares a courtyard with it. Sometime in mid-October Parivar plans to restart its immigration relief services, such as pro bono and no bono legal consultation and case retention, once it settles in at 1031 Franklin Street. The agency is planning an opening reception on Sunday, November 8, to coincide with Diwali, the Festival of Lights. “We plan to bring one staff member in part time when we can open back up slowly,” Rimi told the B.A.R. in late September.
Helping to cover its expenses will be $150,000 unanimously approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors 11-0 Tuesday, September 29. It is for services Parivar rendered under a grant it had been awarded by the Human Rights Commission, known now as the Agency of Human Rights, that was to expire on December 31, 2024. According to city officials, the city had continued its contractual relationship with Parivar past that date under the expectation that the grant agreement would be extended. The resolution adopted by the supervisors retroactively amended Parivar’s grant agreement to end on June 30, 2025, and be for an amount not to exceed $450,000. It allows for the agency to be reimbursed for the “capacity building, advocacy, and culturally grounded community programs” it had provided during the first six months of 2025. Gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, currently president of the board, and District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, who stepped down as budget chair in August amid her bid for a congressional seat in the November election, co-sponsored the resolution. Current budget chair, gay District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, joined as a cosponsor when it came before the budget committee in early September. “They’ve been successful in creating a sense of community and support for queer South Asian folks, especially trans folks. I think their work is important,
and I would like to see it continue,” Mandelman had told the B.A.R. for why he sought the funds for Parivar. The nonprofit also launched a “Save Parivar” fundraising campaign to help it stabilize and rebuild. It set an immediate goal of $15,000 for its relocation costs and a larger goal of $50,000. Visit r to contribute toward it online. “We are pretty aware of the difficult budget climate, so right now me and the board feel like we can’t ask for all support from the city. We have to diversify our revenue stream,” said Rimi, who is employed by the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing as an equity officer. Rimi said it remains to be seen if Parivar will seek funding from the city during next year’s budget talks. Officially recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as its own nonprofit last year in July, though it wasn’t notified about the decision until this past January, Parivar has been applying for grants and other fiscal support from various foundations and funding sources. So far, Rimi noted, many have rejected their application. “They don’t really want to support a trans organization, especially when those foundations are not in California,” she said. It did receive support from other nonprofits as it sought the emergency funding via the supervisors’ resolution. Angel Jaimes, the statewide policy initiatives organizer at The TransLatin@ Coalition in Los Angeles noted in a letter to the board that “Parivar Bay Area
is a crucial support to TGI South Asian immigrant community. Their programs, events, and community support provide much needed sanctuary, community connection, and system navigation. They are a crucial resource to Kinnar Hijrah people residing in San Francisco.” Gay San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO Tyler TerMeer, Ph.D., also wrote the supervisors, informing them that his agency has had “a long history of collaboration” with Parivar over the past eight years. “Through cultural and educational events held at our health center Strut, Parivar fostered community, belonging, and connection to health services for the LGBTQ+ South Asian communities they serve,” noted TerMeer, adding that the work it does “provides meaningful support to individuals and families who may otherwise face barriers to belonging, opportunity, and access to resources.” Miraaj, an artist who uses one name professionally, had worked on Parivar’s cultural and immigrant resettlement engagements. Addressing the supervisors’ budget committee, he also noted the importance of the support artists and performers had received via the nonprofit. “We created spaces to move beyond isolation and build relationships across cultures, identities and generations,” said Miraaj, a South Asian cisgender gay man. “I have watched people come looking for community and gradually find their confidence, their voice and opportunities to lead themselves.” t
Castro Nail Salon reopens after delays by John Ferrannini
T
he Castro Nail Salon reopened at long last in a new location still in San Francisco’s LGBTQ neighborhood. The move brought to a close the saga that saw it and a related business having to vacate their old storefronts adjacent to the Castro Theatre. As the Bay Area Reporter extensively reported, the Castro Coffee Co. and the Castro Nail Salon, which previously flanked the Castro Theatre at 427 Castro Street and 431 Castro Street, respectively, were asked to move when their lease with the theater-owning Nasser family expired.
New theater operator Another Planet Entertainment had expressed it wanted the storefront spaces. The coffee company and nail salon are owned by brothers Ken and Riyad Khoury, respectively. They are straight allies in their 70s who are immigrants from Palestine. They had been in the storefronts that were part of the theater building for decades. Initially, APE had disavowed involvement in the non-renewal of the brothers’ leases, saying it was between the Nassers and the Khourys. APE declined to comment, and the Nasser family didn’t return a request to comment.
Eventually, gay Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, who as District 8 supervisor represents the Castro, and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie got involved in the negotiations between all the parties. Lurie spokesperson Shelby Weiss stated, “Small businesses like the Castro Nail Salon are so essential to the success and vitality of the neighborhood, and we are celebrating the news that their business will continue its next chapter.” The Khourys’ relatives owned the adjacent building, including 421 Castro Street, where the coffee company
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relocated in June. The nail salon is now at 4359 18th Street. Riyad Khoury had told the B.A.R. at the time that the nail salon would be open within six weeks, as an accessory dwelling unit already at the site had to be retroactively OK’d by the city for the move to proceed. However, it took until September 18 for the reopening to occur. “I thought it would not be as much delayed,” Riyad Khoury said in a phone interview. “We were delayed three months – some permitting in terms of doing precise stuff the city had us do. So it took three months and a week. The last day we were open on Castro [Street] was June 10, and we opened September 18.” Khoury went into further detail about the specifics of the renovations required in the space, which had been Big Cleaners laundromat that shuttered in 2020. “We had to do [an] ADA[-compliant] bathroom – the city insisted on that – and an ADA door opener,” Khoury said. “We had to change the electrical wiring. The old wiring was no longer applicable to the city standards. That was more money, and more time-wise.” However, “The city did what they can do to support our process,” he added. The Office of Small Business assisted him, and he was able to utilize the city’s First Year Free program, according to Mandelman. First Year Free waives the cost of initial registration fees, initial license fees, first-year
permit, and other applicable fees for qualifying businesses. “It’s been a very long saga, but I’m glad to see them reopen,” Mandelman said in a phone interview. “I’m grateful for the Office of Small Business for all they did to help, particularly Katy Tang. First Year Free – very important to me – was preserved in this year’s budget, and was available for them.” Tang, a former interim president of the Board of Supervisors, is the executive director of the small business office. “I am grateful that through the Office of Small Business, we can provide businesses comprehensive services – including permitting and leasing support,” Tang stated. “This type of help can be especially impactful for businesses navigating urgent or unexpected challenges, such as what the salon faced when needing to relocate quickly. We extend our congratulations to Castro Nail Salon on their reopening.” Riyad Khoury said that the salon will remain open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. “I like the area,” Khoury said of the new location. “I like where we’re sitting, on a corner street. [Eureka Street] Most of our clients live in that area. … It’s cleaner, more bright.” He also thanked the support he got from the community before the situation was resolved. “I want to thank the city for their support – these 15 months of hard pushback,” he said. t
Applications and information available on DAHLIA, the San Francisco Housing Portal, at housing.sfgov.org. The applications’ deadline is 5PM on October 13, 2026. Lottery applications must be submitted online at housing.sfgov.org from September 22 to October 13, 2026. For assistance, contact one of the housing counseling agencies listed at housing.sfgov.org/housing-counselors. This property has some units with special features for mobility-impaired or sensory-impaired households. Several preferences apply; learn more at housing.sfgov.org. Income and other restrictions apply. Section 8 welcome. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Courtesy Castro Nail Salon
The Castro Nail Salon has reopened in its new location on 18th Street.
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<< Open Forum
8 • Bay Area Repor ter • October 1-7, 2026
Volume Volume 56, 56, Number Number XX 40 Month October XX-XX, 1-7, 2026 2026 www.ebar.com
PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) Bob Ross, Founder (1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird
The B.A.R. makes its supervisor choices S
an Francisco residents living in even numbered Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 will vote for supervisor November 3. District 8, which includes the Castro, will see a new representative elected as Rafael Mandelman, a gay man currently serving as board president, is termed out of office. District 10, centered in Bayview-Hunters Point, will also choose a new member of the board as Supervisor Shamann Walton is termed out. Incumbents are running for reelection against challengers in Districts 2, 4, and 6. Below are the Bay Area Reporter’s recommendations.
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t
Courtesy the candidates
Gary McCoy, left, and Michael Trung Nguyen are the Bay Area Reporter’s first and second choices, respectively, in the race for District 8 supervisor.
District 8: Gary McCoy, first choice Michael Trung Nguyen, second choice
The B.A.R.’s first choice for the District 8 supervisor seat is Gary McCoy, a gay man who is HIVpositive and is in recovery from addiction. In his candidate questionnaire and a virtual editorial board meeting, McCoy demonstrated he has the experience and policy chops to represent District 8, which includes the Castro, Noe Valley, Twin Peaks, Glen Park, and other neighborhoods. McCoy previously served as political director for Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), and is on leave from running her national Save Our Health Care campaign. Pelosi has endorsed McCoy, as have former D8 supervisors Jeff Sheehy and Mark Leno, who made a dual endorsement in the race. One of the things that stood out to us in talking to McCoy is his dedication to constituent services. He noted that he got his start in politics by volunteering in gay then-supervisor Scott Wiener’s City Hall office and did similar work for Pelosi. Responding to constituents’ concerns is a big part of being a supervisor. On the issue of commercial vacancies in the Castro, McCoy wants to cut red tape and put teeth into the city’s vacancy tax program by looking at and addressing current loopholes in the system. On housing, McCoy has mentioned using eminent domain, which is a cumbersome and expensive process that gave us pause when we first heard about it, mostly because it’s rarely used, and was used to disastrous results in the Western Addition and Fillmore decades ago. But during the interview, McCoy was more realistic. “It is certainly something I plan to use as leverage,” he said. McCoy acknowledged that new housing would not be subject to rent control, unless it’s an accessory dwelling unit on property that is already rent controlled. Instead, the projects McCoy is talking about would largely be 100% affordable, he said, or a mix of affordable and market rate units. “My housing plan is based on the current housing legislation we have available to us, you know, at the state [level],” said McCoy. “It’s based on the current family zoning plan as it was passed.” He added that he supports Mayor Daniel Lurie’s family zoning plan, “as long as it was not on the backs of our longtime workers, tenants, people that live in rent-controlled units, our aging and older adult populations.” On Flock Safety cameras, McCoy recently unveiled his platform that calls for introducing legislation to end the city’s contract within his first 90 days in office; it would direct the San Francisco Police Department not to renew its contract with Flock. “SFPD says Flock solves crimes. I will request a public accounting of every District 8 investigation in which Flock data was material to an arrest or charge, so that we can get a meaningful sense of how [automatic license plate reader] data is actually being used to solve crimes,” McCoy stated on his campaign website. “It’s not the cameras in general that I have an issue with. It’s the way that Flock model operates right now, the fact that they have such long retention rates for their data and information. The fact that there have been a lot of unauthorized people (who) have been accessing it, accessing it unauthorized. You know, to the tune of over 1.6 million times. So my issue with Flock is that,” McCoy told us, referring to unauthorized access publicized in cases across the country. In his interview, McCoy came back to the importance of serving district residents.
“And so I intend to have a solid plan that’s around those basics, around the bread and butter issues in terms of constituent services, neighborhood vibrancy, and all of that,” he said. “And we’ll be very responsive on that.” San Francisco uses ranked-choice voting for city races, so we’re also endorsing Michael Trung Nguyen as our second choice in District 8. Nguyen impressed us with his commitment to social housing. While he did not support Lurie’s family zoning plan, Nguyen, who’s a patent attorney, said he would follow the law or pass new legislation. A longtime city resident, Nguyen knows his way around city processes. One of his priorities would be to negotiate strong benefits for the community when dealing with developers on projects. Nguyen supports full staffing for SFPD, but stated in his candidate questionnaire that “staffing isn’t the whole conversation.” Real public safety, he stated, includes well-lit, active commercial corridors, the co-responder and street crisis response models handling mental health and substance use calls, and neighborhood investment. Nguyen told us that he would take bold stances when it comes to finding solutions to various issues. “That’s the kind of energy I bring,” he said. McCoy and Nguyen are both strong candidates, and we endorse them in that order for District 8 supervisor.
District 6: Matt Dorsey
Supervisor Matt Dorsey, a gay man, is running to retain his seat on the board. District 6 includes portions of Hayes Valley, Civic Center and Mid-Market, along with South of Courtesy the candidate Market, South Beach, Supervisor Mission Bay, Rincon Matt Dorsey Hill, Treasure Island, and Yerba Buena Island. First appointed in May 2022, Dorsey ran that fall and won a full term. This will be his last term on the board. Currently the board’s only openly HIV-positive member, Dorsey is also the only current member to acknowledge his history with substance use disorder. Dorsey has devoted substantial efforts on recovery-oriented drug policy. “My lived experience in recovery from addiction has shaped an outcomesfocused approach to my work on public health and drug policy that is starting to make a difference citywide,” he wrote in his B.A.R. questionnaire. One of the most significant is his drug-free supportive housing law to “finally deliver long-overdue drugfree alternatives to mandatory drug-tolerant permanent supportive housing models for those exiting homelessness.” While some advocates are critical of his approach, we believe all types of supportive housing models play an important role in the city’s efforts to combat substance use disorders and homelessness. In September, Dorsey introduced his Sober Spaces Program and Fund, that if passed will assure low- or no-cost access to cityowned community spaces for abstinence-based recovery meetings, 365 days a year citywide, and provides grants and workforce support to help community-based sober spaces, such as the Castro Country Club in the city’s LGBTQ neighborhood. Dorsey is aligned with Mayor Daniel Lurie’s public safety goals and continues to call for a fully-staffed San Francisco Police Department. (Before he was appointed to the board, Dorsey served as a spokesperson for SFPD and the city attorney’s office.) Dorsey stated that he will continue to fight to backfill federal cuts to HIV/AIDS programs. He has interesting ideas for the old San Francisco Centre mall, and stated he will hold a hearing to explore options to revitalize the Market Street corridor. One idea for the mall that he floated is for a “Mall of Justice” in one of the two buildings SF Centre now occupies, where state courts and public safety offices could be housed. The current Hall of Justice has been identified as a serious seismic hazard going back to the administration of former mayor Art Agnos, Dorsey noted. Additionally, relocating criminal courts to the Market Street site could make it easier for people to access, as it would be along a transit corridor as opposed to near a freeway like the Hall of Justice is at present, he stated. “It’s worth noting that the Emporium side of the San Francisco Center housed the California Supreme Court 120 years ago,” Dorsey stated. “So, its reactivation as a judicial destination for state courts would bring its historical use full-circle.” Dorsey supports aggressive up-zoning along transitrich corridors, though he stated he’d be cautious about eliminating all zoning restrictions and mandates along upper Market Street as a blanket approach.
In District 6, Dorsey has championed historic markers for the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District and worked to protect the bars, institutions, and small businesses that give SOMA’s queer history ongoing meaning, not just historical significance. He’s worked with District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood regarding the Transgender District, which is largely in D5. Overall, Dorsey has been effective on the Board of Supervisors. While we were critical of his plan to drastically change the historic equal benefits ordinance, Dorsey has since worked on ways to improve the city’s contracting processes and supports Lurie’s ballot measures. We endorse Dorsey for reelection.
District 10: Theo Ellington
We came close to endorsing Theo Ellington eight years ago, and are glad he’s running for this open seat that includes BayviewHunters Point, Potrero Courtesy the candidate Hill, Sunnydale, and the surrounding neighTheo Ellington borhoods. Ellington, a straight ally, noted in his candidate questionnaire that “LGBTQ+ San Franciscans live on every block in District 10 … .” A former member of the city’s Human Rights Commission, Ellington pointed out that he defended the city’s anti-discrimination and sanctuary city policies when they were under attack. Currently the executive director of the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House, Ellington touted his work with the Golden State Warriors that delivered Chase Center and “more than 3,000 good-paying jobs with local hiring.” Ellington stated that if elected, he will fight to fill the roughly 500-officer shortage in SFPD so that foot and bike patrols can return to commercial corridors such as the Castro in D8 and Third Street in D10. “Full staffing, community policing, violence prevention for the young people most at risk, and oversight that cannot be fired for doing its job,” he wrote. “That is the vision we need, and I will vote for budgets that deliver it.” As for backfilling federal cuts to HIV/AIDS services, Ellington stated that he supports it. He also supports revitalizing downtown, and noted it matters to D10 residents because they “ride the transit and work the jobs that a living downtown funds.” On housing, Ellington supports upzoning on transit corridors. For middle-income housing, his plan is to see the approximately 20,000 approved homes be built along the waterfront in D10; streamline permitting “and put a shot clock on approvals. Pull every cost lever from fees to locally built modular construction; use density so land cost spreads across more homes; and expand the certificate of preference with downpayment help, so families this city displaced once before have a path to own here.” Overall, we think Ellington would be a good supervisor. He was born and raised in the Bayview, and counts himself a strong ally to the LGBTQ community. We endorse Ellington for D10 supervisor.
District 4: Alan Wong
We endorsed District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong, a straight ally, this spring. Wong was on the ballot in June to complete the term of former supervisor Joel Engardio, a gay man who was recalled in 2025. Wong decisively won that race, and we continue to support him, though we disagree with his support for Proposition G, which would reopen a portion of the Great Highway to vehicles on weekdays. But Wong is listening to his constituents, and that’s a priority for a district supervisor. We recommend Wong in District 4.
District 2: Stephen Sherrill
We endorsed District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill, a straight ally, this spring, as he, too, was on the June ballot to complete the term of former supervisor Catherine Stefani, who was elected to the state Assembly. Sherrill easily won that race and is now seeking a full term. Sherrill wrote in his B.A.R. questionnaire earlier this year that he’s focused on the basics: safe streets, clean neighborhoods, thriving small businesses, and city services that actually work. “That approach matters for LGBTQ residents across San Francisco,” he stated. We continue to recommend Sherrill in District 2t
Politics >>
t Among D8 supe candidates, Nguyen lone backer of Castro historic district
October 1-7, 2026 • Bay Area Repor ter • 9
by Matthew S. Bajko
E
stablishing a historic district in the heart of San Francisco’s LGBTQ Castro neighborhood may not have as enthusiastic a supporter of it once gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman leaves office in January. Of the four candidates seeking to succeed him at City Hall, just one has come out in full support of the creation of the historic district. Gay Twin Peaks resident Michael Trung Nguyen, a patent attorney also known as drag queen Juicy Liu, told the Bay Area Reporter “absolutely, absolutely” when asked if he would support the designation for the Castro. As the B.A.R. was first to report last week, Mandelman introduced a resolution September 22 to initiate the process to incorporate the 400 and 500 blocks of Castro Street and several blocks on adjoining streets into a Eureka Valley Commercial & Castro Village LGBTQ+ Historic District. It must first move out of the supervisors’ land use committee then be brought up for a full vote at the board before taken up by the city’s historic preservation and planning commissions. Once those oversight bodies weigh in, then an ordinance to officially establish the historic district will need to be introduced at the board and be approved by the supervisors. With just three months left to get anything adopted by the board this year, it is likely it will fall to Mandelman’s successor to designate the 93 parcels identified by planning officials as part of the city’s 15th historic district. It would be the first centered around an underserved community. Yet, the two candidates seen as leading in the race were noncommittal about doing so when asked about it in recent days by the B.A.R. Perceived frontrunner Emanuel “Manny” Yekutiel, a gay Castro resident, said he would wait until being elected the next supervisor for District 8 to say what his legislative plans would be. “I’m not going to commit to anything, any piece of legislation I would introduce as a supervisor before the election. I’m focused on getting to November 3rd at 8 o’clock and knocking on the doors I need to knock on and to winning,” said Yekutiel, the owner of an eponymously named café and event space in the Mission. “If, God willing, I’m the supervisor then I’d be happy to talk about legislation.” Gary McCoy, a gay Twin Peaks resident and longtime political aide to Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (DSan Francisco), would only say that he’ll “look into that more for sure.” Noe Valley resident Darshini Patel, a queer woman who used to work at DoorDash, told the B.A.R. she supports the “concept” of a Castro historic district “but not the format” and would want to take a closer look at the buildings selected as contributing to it. “I would commit to doing it if we name the contributing buildings directly,” she said. “The Castro in itself as a district isn’t really a monument to who we are; it is the home to who the queer community is and there is a rich history here. But it will only continue to be this place if the people who live its values can afford to live here and afford to continue to be here.” The idea has been derided by pro-housing advocates as creating “a theme park” in the center of the city that will block construction of new domicile units. That characterization prompted pushback from Castro community leaders at a recent meet-
Let’s talk cannabis. Matthew S. Bajko
Candidates for the San Francisco District 8 supervisor seat offered differing views on the creation of a Eureka Valley Commercial & Castro Village LGBTQ+ Historic District.
ing held to discuss the concept, with gay former planning commissioner Dennis Richards denouncing it as a “homophobic” attack. Leaders of the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District are among those backing the historic district designation. It had included its creation as part of the Cultural History, Housing, and Economic Sustainability Strategies (CHHESS) Report it generated last year, which w a s approved by the supervisors and Mayor Daniel Lurie. Nguyen told the B.A.R. he believes protecting what makes the Castro unique, and a beloved gayborhood the world over, can be accomplished while also seeing more housing be built in the neighborhood. He noted that visitors coming to see the Castro have a positive impact on the city’s fiscal picture via their spending adding to local tax revenues. “The idea of place and neighborhoods, we need to protect that … I would want to be the neighborhood supervisor. I want to protect our communities. I am also not like a NIMBY, you know, but I’m definitely in favor of protecting the charm that makes San Francisco so magical,” said Nguyen. “And to be honest, like, tourism has brought in more dollars than AI has to San Francisco. So I don’t understand why we would be demolishing the historical landmarks that people travel from across the world to come here and see. So … we should be showcasing this, you know, we should be celebrating this. We should be, you know, honoring the legacy of those who came before us and fought so hard to have what we have now. That’s kind of where I sit.” While the facades of local landmarked sites need to be preserved, the designation doesn’t bar any development from taking place on the parcel. It does trigger closer scrutiny of any proposed plans by planning staff, which pro-housing advocates complain adds to the cost to build new housing and results in delays via the city’s approval process. Like Nguyen, McCoy told the B.A.R. he agrees on the importance of landmarking individual sites of historical significance to the LGBTQ community. He wants to see the citywide survey of historic properties be completed, but expressed concern about the plan pushed by Mandelman and Lurie to landmark 2,500 new individual sites and increase the number of historic districts by 2031. “Our actual historic landmarks are important and critical, and we should be doing everything we can to make sure that we’re preserving these spaces, especially for our community. I also want to balance the concerns of affordability to the community,” said McCoy. “So we want to make sure that when we’re looking at these sites, and
first and foremost, the city completes its full citywide evaluation that it’s doing right now, that we’re not making it harder to live in the Castro and in other neighborhoods. I want my community to be able to live in the Castro, so I want to make sure we have the housing.” He added when it comes to individual landmarks, “I just want to know that we’re landmarking the things that need to be landmarked, that are important to the community, and not just our community, but to other communities, but it’s just not done in a blanket, sort of arbitrary number.” Supportive of landmarking individual sites important to LGBTQ history, Patel said she would approach doing so with the same eye toward the establishment of a Castro historic district in terms of not wanting to impede the construction of new housing in the neighborhood. Having homes for queer residents to move into is what will ensure the Castro remains an LGBTQ district going forward, contended Patel. “We should protect the buildings that made this neighborhood who it is. But I don’t want a historic district to be used in a way to block homes that allow us to keep it queer. I would want to be more specific about why these buildings and what do we plan to do with it,” said Patel, adding that if elected the next supervisor, she would “want to make sure we are preserving the character of the neighborhood by preserving the ability of people who made that neighborhood to live there and move there.” While not opposed to doing so, Yekutiel told the B.A.R. he would have a high bar when it comes to selecting properties to landmark. “I like the spirit of wanting to make sure that historic spaces in the Castro are preserved. But to me, it’s a pretty high bar of what can be considered historic, and I would want to make sure that it’s not being used as a tool just to stop housing development,” he said, noting that he lives on Castro Street and knows many places in his neighborhood have ties to the birth of the city’s LGBTQ community. “It is a balance between wanting to preserve the places that are important to our community and not allowing for there to be more housing so that more people in our community can live in the place that is historic. There is not enough housing in the Castro.” What does exist, added Yekutiel, is “way too expensive and so, I’m enthusiastically pro-housing for the Castro because I want more people to be able to choose it, and so that’s my perspective in general. So the bar has to be high for us to make it hard to develop. But absolutely, for places that have deep significance to the community, that have a history in the community, I have no issue with making it easy to landmark it.” t
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10 • Bay Area Repor ter • October 1-7, 2026
<< LGBTQ History Month
t
Vatican’s anti-gay letter to be examined 40 years later by Brian Bromberger
sary of the Halloween Letter, DignityUSA announced a Zoom series of four GBTQ Catholics will have an opconversations. The first one was held portunity to revisit one of the darker September 29. days in their fraught relationship with The second and third sessions (Octhe church as an affinity group holds ontober 13 and 27, respectively) focus on line sessions timed with the 40th anni“The Impact on Dignity Chapters and versary of what’s known as the “HallowDignityUSA” with primarily pastoral een Letter.” The document, written by ministers who were working when the then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, called letter was released, sharing the stories homosexuality an “objective disorder” of eight different Dignity chapters who and gay sex “intrinsically disordered.” represent the range of experiences of Ratzinger, who later became Pope the community, including Dignity/SF in Benedict XVI, at the time was the prepart 1 (among others) and Dignity/New fect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the York in part 2 (among others). Doctrine of the Faith, or CDF, a powerThe final session on November 10 ful position in church leadership. He centers on “How the Letter’s Impact died in 2022. Continues Today” with panelists Craig CNS/Paul Haring It was on October 30, 1986, that the Ford, a gay theologian, ethicist, author, Before he became Pope letter was publicly released. The “Letter and assistant professor of ethics at the Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph to the Bishops of the Catholic Church Candler School of Theology at Emory Ratzinger issued the Roman on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual University; Yunuen Trujillo, a lesbian Catholic Church’s infamous Persons,” was issued by the CDF and who’s an immigration attorney, lay min“Halloween Letter” in 1986. approved by the late Pope John Paul ister, community organizer and author II. Its intent was to clarify the Catholic of “LGBTQ Catholics: A Guide for Infor being “overly harsh and damaging to Church’s moral and theological posiclusive Ministry;” Tom Yates, a gay man the psychological pastoral well-being” of tions on homosexuality for all bishops who is vice president of DignityUSA, a queer Catholics as well as its insensitivaround the world. Due to its late Octoformer president of Dignity Washingity to be released during the height of the ber release, it has come to be known inton, and part of the community expelled AIDS crisis where a diagnosis of the disfamously as the “Halloween Letter.” from Georgetown University; and Ish ease was a virtual death sentence. The letter stated that while a homoRuiz, Ph.D., a gay man and author and The Vatican’s main target in the sexual inclination or orientation was assistant professor of queer and anti-coUnited States was DignityUSA, an ornot itself a sin, it was still considered lonial theology at Pacific School of Religanization and faith community that an “objective disorder” because it is digion, will facilitate this last conversation. champions causes relevant to LGBTQrected toward behavior that is contrary All of the sessions start at 5 p.m. PaIA Catholics and their allies through to the procreative and unitive design of cific time. spiritual development, education, social human sexuality. Furthermore, homoCo-sponsors include LGBTQ+ Rejustice advocacy, equality issues, and sexual acts are “intrinsically disordered,” ligious Archives Network, New Ways social events. The group had been alare morally wrong and “under no cirMinistry, Pacific School of Religion lowed to hold special masses in many cumstances can they be approved or Center for LGBTQ+ and Gender Studdioceses, but after the letter’s release, diocondoned,” the letter stated. The letter ies, Call to Action, and FutureChurch, ceses banished Dignity meetings from directed all homosexual persons, like among others. church premises. Dignity San Francisco unmarried Catholics, to live a chaste Marianne Duddy-Burke, 66, a marwas one of the last chapters to be evicted, (meaning no sex) life with the support of ried lesbian Catholic mother, is the main but once the 1987 Dignity national conGod’s grace and one’s self-mastery. organizer of these conversations. She vention declared that “gay and lesbian The CDF explicitly instructed bishhas been executive director of Dignipeople can express their sexuality physiops to withhold or withdraw church tyUSA for almost 19 years and last week cally, in a unitive manner that is loving, support from organizations that did announced her retirement, stating she life-giving, and life-affirming,” then-San not clearly state that homosexual acts will step down once a successor is choFrancisco Archbishop John Quinn in are immoral, as allowing them to meet sen. In an email interview, the Bay Area 1988 informed archdiocesan priests in Catholic churches or schools was Reporter asked what led her to want to they could no longer celebrate Dignity deemed “misleading and often scandalreexamine the Halloween Letter. Masses in any church location. In Deous.” On the plus side, the letter con“There were really two inspirations cember 1988, Dignity/SF members demned anti-gay violence in speech, for this series,” stated Duddy-Burke. marched out of their home at St. Boniaction, and prejudice, however, the letter “The first was talking with many of face Catholic Church in the Tenderloin also says that when homosexual activity our younger members. We have memin protest and completed their Mass is condoned or civil legislation protects bers whose parents weren’t born when inside their new home, Dolores Street behavior that “no one has any conceivthis document was released, who have Baptist Community Church, which in able right, neither the Church nor sogrown up in a society where LGBTQ+ 1993 was set on fire by an arsonist. ciety at large should be surprised when people are very visible, and for whom Today, Dignity/SF meets at Seventh other distorted notions and practices HIV/AIDS is mostly preventable, or Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1329 Sevgain ground, and irrational and violent ‘simply’ a chronic illness. Many have had enth Avenue in San Francisco. reactions increase.” The document was positive experiences of Catholicism, in highly controversial, with conservative their parishes, in Catholic schools, and Commemorating groups applauding its clear doctrinal among Catholic family members. Many the anniversary boundaries, while LGBTQ organizaof them are also hungry to learn about To commemorate the 40th annivertions and advocacy groups critiqued it the experience of the folks who were impacted by the realities of the 1950s1990s that can seem unimaginable to younger people. “It feels important to capture the testimonies of those who were directly imServing the San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ+ Community Since 1999. pacted by this Letter and what followed, and for all of us to wrestle with its con• Probate • Wills/Trusts tinuing impact,” she added. • Trust Admin • Estate Planning Duddy-Burke continued with her FLAT FEE! second inspiration for the conversaFlood Building, 870 Market St, Suite 420 tions. By Appointment only! 415-421-1893 “The Catholic Church has changed tremendously in the past 40 years. We www.ShelleySFeinberg.com • trust@shelleysfeinberg.com have experienced our church being led by two very dogmatic and authoritarian popes,” she noted, referring to John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Shelley_S_Feinberg_2x2_032025.indd 1 3/13/25 7:45 PM The more progressive Pope Francis was elected to lead the Catholic Church in 2013, following the retirement of Benedict, who cited declining health. Following his election in 2025, Pope Leo XIV has continued to lead the church in a less hardline manner than their predecessors. “Francis’ style was very different, and his emphasis was much more pastoral and engaging,” Duddy-Burke stated. “There is a freedom in the church to speak more openly about many things, including the lives of LGBTQ+ people. There are many more LGBTQ+-supportive ministries in the church, and for the first time, a LGBTQ+ pilgrimage as part of the recent Jubilee/Holy Year. And yet, we are still very clearly not full and equal members of our church, and our
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church remains a perpetrator of discrimination against our community in human rights, health care, family support, access to sacraments, and more.” Emmanuel Romero, 42, who’s gay and is co-chair of Dignity/SF, noted why it’s important to discuss the Halloween Letter after all these years. “The man who wrote this letter eventually became Pope Benedict; it’s not ancient history,” Romero stated to the B.A.R. “For those who may be too young to remember, this letter was the Catholic embodiment of the infamous cliche to ‘Hate the sin, but love the sinner,’ and we all know that is thinly veiled permission to strip queer people of their dignity and reduce them to the behavior that takes place in their bedrooms. Dissecting this letter and its impact is our way of publicly reclaiming our God-given identities as the Creator’s children.”
Letter seen as turning point
Duddy-Burke maintains that the Halloween Letter marked a pivotal turning point for Dignity, and it altered the organization with the institutional church. “Most obviously, the letter led to the expulsions of dozens of our chapters from the Catholic spaces in which they were meeting in the late 1980s. People forget that there was tremendous support for the lesbian and gay community and for Dignity’s work in the post-Vatican II era. This letter’s release changed that very quickly. The expulsions were traumatizing in many ways. Some of our members chose to stay in the parish, believing that was the only way to remain Catholic. For many others, being forced from their faith home was the final straw in their struggle to remain part of the church.” Duddy-Burke remembers how members were irrevocably wounded by the cruelty of having this “pastoral letter” released as AIDS was devastating the community, but there were other hurdles too. “Lots of us had to wrestle with questions about how to remain Catholic while gathering in another tradition’s space,” she noted. “We truly lived the reality that the church is the people of God, not a building. Some bishops also forbade priests in their diocese from presiding for Dignity, making access to pastoral care and the Eucharist a challenge. Some religious communities and their members (women and men) became fearful of having anything to do with Dignity.” Duddy-Burke noted that for those who remained, there were challenges. “We understood that what we had thought was an often-cordial relationship with the institutional church, with priests and bishops getting to know us, was not going to lead to quick recognition of LGBTQ+ people and lives as blessed, gifted, and entitled to the same role in the church as other people,” Duddy-Burke stated. “Dignity did not go quietly from the churches we were forced to leave, and we became more committed to advocating for full equality within the church, as well as in civil society. When we held our national House of Delegates meeting near Miami in 1987, there was a nearly unanimous vote to add language that explicitly supported intimate same-sex relationships as ‘loving, life-giving, and life-affirming.’ This was a huge move for us. We were now absolutely honest about who we were, and openly challenging official doctrine. We’ve never backed down from that prophetic stance.” At the same time as the letter appeared, AIDS was having a catastrophic impact on Dignity. “We lost approximately one-third of our members in about a two-year period,” recalled Duddy-Burke. “Some of our chapters did not survive, and others were severely weakened. Priests, pastoral counselors, college chaplains, and spiritual directors became fearful of referring people to Dignity, sometimes resorting to just hoping people might pick up a brochure placed among other resources in their waiting rooms.”
Duddy-Burke asserted that the letter still has a continuing impact on Dignity 40 years later. “The language and content of the Ratzinger letter have never been rescinded,” she stated. “This means that gay and lesbian people, and by extension, LGBTQI+ people, are still considered ‘objectively disordered,’ and same-sex intimacy ‘intrinsically evil.’ It is still official Catholic policy to work against civil rights legislation, and not to extend employment protections to people who identify as LGBTQI+. “Catholic healthcare centers are not permitted to distribute condoms, no matter how many lives could be saved by doing so,” Duddy-Burke added. “Some families still believe that they must choose between supporting their children, grandchildren, and other relatives who come out and being true to their faith. The letter fuels much of the radical Catholic right-wing work.” Duddy-Burke noted how queer relationships, and not even the relationships but just the two people in them, are given a grudgingly second-class non-liturgical blessing, yet the letter led to permanent changes. “The vast majority of people who attend Dignity liturgies and events still do so in non-Catholic space. While some religious communities have slowly begun to welcome us back for retreats, there are still many members and communities that are totally reliant on resources unaffiliated with institutional Catholicism,” Duddy-Burke stated. “We can marry same-sex couples, and offer name-change rituals for transgender, nonbinary, and nonconforming people. We have learned how to connect discrimination against homosexual and gender-expansive people with other forms of oppression and have broadened our ministry to be more inclusive. We tend to have strong interfaith relationships. We have experienced liberation in our exile.” The anti-gay language used in the letter was then formalized in the Catechism. Duddy-Burke stated that Dignity has called for the language to be changed. This has taken on new life since the selection last year of Pope Leo XIV, known as the American Pope having been born outside Chicago. “We have to keep calling for the language and doctrine to be changed,” Duddy-Burke stated. “Leo may be pope for a long time. Getting these structural changes to be made during his papacy is a tangible goal. I would hope that this series will help people understand why this is needed.” When the series was announced, there was some criticism that because the letter had such devastating consequences, Dignity shouldn’t rehash it or give it any publicity. It was better to forget it and move on, some believed. Duddy-Burke responded, “No one should be forced to relive trauma. I fully support people’s wisdom in knowing whether or when they are ready to reexamine a time that caused pain and upheaval in their lives. So, this program is not for everyone. At the same time, for many, seeing what has happened in their lives offers an opportunity to celebrate their resilience, and to remember how heroic so many were in resisting one of the most powerful institutions on Earth. “And we cannot let those who maintain the strictures and cruelty of this document off the hook,” she continued. “Papal willingness to use ‘LGBT’ instead of slurs, to meet with transgender, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, to admit that the church needs to acknowledge that LGBTQ+ people are part of the church, are all welcome. But there has not been any structural change, no apology, no atonement for the harm done to so many LGBTQ+ people and our families. We hope this series will help fuel the ongoing work.” To register for the conversations, visit https://dignityusa.app.neoncrm.com/ event-detail?event=218. To read the Halloween Letter, visit www.tinyurl. com/1986VaticanLetter. t
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t 1st Queer American Memorials set for San Jose 12 • Bay Area Repor ter • October 1-7, 2026
compiled by Cynthia Laird
T
he first in a series of Queer American Memorials will be unveiled at the Institute of Contemporary Art in San Jose Friday, October 2. The opening runs from 5 to 9 p.m. at 560 South First Street and is being held in conjunction with the First Friday event. The Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus will perform at 7:30, an email stated. Queer American Memorials is a project of Sean Fader, a queer man who’s an artist and assistant professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. The project aims to place permanent memorials, in the form of a brick, where LGBTQ people were killed in anti-LGBTQ hate crimes between 1999 and 2009, Fader explained in an email. The memorial in San Jose will honor Alina Marie Barragan, a Latine transgender woman and San Jose native who was killed in 2000. In a follow-up email to the Bay Area Reporter, Fader stated that he and cocreator Maureen Towey did speak with San Jose city officials. However, the memorial will ultimately be at the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center, where Barragan once volunteered, so additional municipal permission was not needed, he stated. The DeFrank center did not respond to a request for comment. The installation at the Institute of Contemporary Art will run through February 21. The gallery will feature Fader’s photograph of the site where Barragan lost her life from his project “Insufficient Memory;” an interactive Google Earth artwork that travels site by site through a decade of anti-queer violence and the lives behind it; and the memorial taking shape now: the ceramic brick that will be permanently placed in San Jose for Barragan, alongside a video interview with Fader and Towey introducing the work. Fader’s earlier project, “Insufficient
Courtesy Queer American Memorials
A rendering of a Queer American Memorials brick; the first one is set to be unveiled in San Jose.
Memory,” is now in the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum and the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. While San Jose is the site for the first Queer Americans Memorial, Fader stated that there will be memorials at other Bay Area locations. On a map at queeramericanmemorials.com, seven people are listed for San Francisco: Simone, Clay Whitmire, and trans women Tony “Delicious” Green, Daxi Arredondo, Ruby Rodriguez, Caprice Curry, and Mariah Malina Qualls. Additionally, trans man Emmon Bodfish is listed in Orinda, as is trans teenager Gwen Araujo in the East Bay city of Newark. Fader noted that the California LGBTQ Legislative Caucus has pledged to back the project at every California site. A spokesperson for the caucus did not respond to a request for comment. Nationally, there are hundreds of planned sites. “There are over 300 locations so this will take some time,” Fader stated. Fader explained that Queer American Memorials is fiscally sponsored by the New York Foundation for the Arts. “We’re supported by foundation grants and individual donors, including the Pop Culture Collaborative, the Couch Family Foundation, and the
Stardust Fund, along with support from NYU,” stated Fader. Each memorial is the size of a standard building brick, to honor the legendary first brick thrown at the Stonewall Inn in June 1969. The ensuing riots there are considered the birth of the modern LGBTQ rights movement. “It’s made of layers of dyed ceramic, so even if it’s ever broken open, it bleeds rainbows,” Fader explained. The bricks will also hold an interactive Augmented Reality community archive of images and videos and interviews with friends and family telling stories about the person’s life. For more information about the project, and to donate, visit queeramericanmemorials.com. To RSVP for the San Jose event, visit https://tinyurl.com/4kayywf9.
Memorial service for animal companions
A multi-faith memorial service for animal companions will be held Sunday, October 4, at 2:30 p.m. at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 101 Gold Mine Drive in San Francisco’s Diamond Heights neighborhood. Dr. Ken Gorczyca, a gay man and Bay Area veterinary death doula, will be a participant in the community gathering, he shared in an email to the B.A.R.
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According to the church, the service is a time to remember, celebrate, and say “thank you” to beloved animal companions. Participants are encouraged to bring mementos to add to the altar of honor that will be created. Prior to the memorial service, the church will hold a blessing of the animals at the nearby Upper Douglass Dog Park, located at Douglass and 27th streets, from noon to 1 p.m.
Walking events in SF
Walktober comes to San Francisco in October, and SF Crosstown Trails is promoting various events for it all month long. On Saturday, October 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., SF Crosstown Trails will host a Muni History Walk. The six-mile trek through Potrero Hill, the Mission, Noe Valley, and the Castro will highlight the history of San Francisco transit.
The event is free. Interested people should meet in front of Farley’s Coffeehouse, 1315 18th Street. They will then walk along the routes of three former, now-defunct Muni lines, with some tidbits of local transit history offered along the way, an email announcement noted. Also on October 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nature in the City will host Nature Delights on the Crosstown and Double Cross Trails. This is described as an invigorating hike over San Francisco’s iconic hills from Duboce Park to the Inner Sunset and highlights Nature in the City’s beloved habitat sites – Adah’s Stairway and the Green Hairstreak Corridor. It starts at Duboce Park on the Double Cross Trail and ends at 16th and Kirkham streets on the Crosstown Trail. For more information and a complete listing of events, visit crosstowntrail.org. t
Obituaries >> Bill W. Jones July 12, 1928 – September 20, 2026
Bill W. Jones, age 98, died September 20, 2026, at his home in San Rafael, California. A gay activist, he became the first single man in the United States to adopt a child. His adoption of Aaron Hunter Jones opened doors for single-parent and gay couple adoption in America. Bill raised Aaron with love, devotion, and the support of dear friends. They shared almost 30 years before Aaron’s death in 1996. A University of the Pacific graduate, Bill was a teacher, model, actor, and owner of a co-ed bathhouse called Sutro Baths in San Francisco. He was the subject of a documentary film, “A Family of My Own.” Bill and Aaron appeared on Mike Douglas, Phil Donahue, and other nationally televised programs. He led Gay Fathers of Northern California, helped found the Freewheelers gay vintage car club, and created an LGBTQ+ Resource Center at UOP. He joyfully officiated at over 500 same-sex marriages at San Francisco City Hall. His 2022 memoir, “Bachelor Father,” celebrated the devotion at the heart of parenthood. His generosity, humor, and adventurous spirit inspired everyone who knew him. Bill was the subject of a Guest Opinion in the Bay Area Reporter last November. https:// www.ebar.com/story/160625 A memorial will be held Sunday, October 18, at 2 p.m. at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street. Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to the GLBT Historical Society Museum (glbthistory.org).
Peter Benjamin Goldblum, Ph.D., MPH April 16, 1946 – August 1, 2026
Peter Benjamin Goldblum, Ph.D., MPH, a pioneering psychologist and public health advocate, died on August 1, 2026, at the age of 80 at his home in San Francisco after a four-month illness, surrounded by his husband and friends. The couple was about to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Goldblum was born in 1946 in Port Arthur, Texas, to Tina Jankelson Goldblum, a Radcliffe-educated social worker, and Dr. Helmut Goldblum, a refugee from Nazi Germany. Growing up in a liberal Jewish family during the Jim Crow era, Goldblum developed a lifelong commitment to civil rights and public health driven by his early exposure to institutional segregation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at
Austin, a master’s from Teachers College, Columbia University, an MPH from UC Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (now Palo Alto University). He moved to San Francisco in 1972 to champion affirmative psychology for gay men and lesbians during an era when homosexuality was still pathologized. Goldblum helped launch the San Francisco Resource Foundation for gay men with hepatitis B in 1980. In 1984, as the AIDS crisis emerged, he co-founded the UCSF AIDS Health Project (now the Alliance Health Project), serving as its first deputy director. Around this time, he and the late Martin Delaney co-authored “Strategies for Survival: A Gay Men’s Health Manual for the Age of AIDS,” an influential text utilized across the United States and the Netherlands. After stepping down to care for his partner, Kenneth Payne, who died of AIDS, Goldblum directed his clinical focus toward AIDS-related grief. He led the Stanford AIDS Caregiving and Bereavement Study and wrote his second book, “Working with AIDS Bereavement.” As treatments improved, he returned to UCSF to develop the Considering Work Project for HIVpositive individuals re-entering the workforce. Goldblum later returned to Palo Alto University to advance his dream of LGBTQ+ affirmative psychotherapy, creating the LGBTQ+ Area of Emphasis, the Center for LGBTQ Evidence-Based Applied Research (CLEAR), and the Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic (SGIC). These programs have trained hundreds of clinicians and researchers and provided vital care to marginalized clients, earning Goldblum an APA Presidential Citation, Division 44 honors, and an honorary doctorate. In retirement, he co-edited “Youth Suicide and Bullying” (Oxford University Press). Through Project Trust, he, the Reverend Floyd Thompkins, and others collaborated with Black pastors to advance LGBTQ+ acceptance, address the mental health of LGBTQ+ people of color, and expand COVID-19 vaccination efforts. At the time of his death, he was establishing an initiative to bridge LGBTQ+ and queer generational divides. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Goldblum and his husband amassed an art collection spotlighting another historically marginalized group, which is featured in the current de Young Museum exhibition “A Gallery of Their Own: Women Artists from the Carr and Goldblum Promised Gift.” He leaves behind his husband, Michael Carr; a brother and sister; two brothers-in-law; three nieces and three nephews; six great-nieces and two great-nephews; a wide circle of chosen family; and generations of students who continue to carry on his work.
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Commentary>>
October 1-7, 2026 • Bay Area Repor ter • 13
Change is a constant by Gwendolyn Ann Smith
lenges of finding each other at a critical mass means that we are still trying to hammer out how to even describe ourselves to each other and, perhaps more critically, to those outside our own community. That we are also living through a time where the non-trans majority has set its sights on our eradication does not help things. Today, if one reads some of the dominant narratives in the mainstream media, one might think that transgender people are devious creatures, trying to assault people in restrooms and steal the meager awards offered via women’s sports. You might be led to believe that trans men are simply coerced into transition, and lack agency. That evidence in any of this is
scant to nonexistent doesn’t matter to this dominant narrative. On top of that, so few of us are afforded a voice within the media. Transgender rights are often debated without a single trans voice included within such a discussion. This, too, causes the language to become obscured and distorted. We are painted as shrill activists screaming about pronouns, or linebackers in dresses and poorly applied makeup, demanding access to women’s spaces. Meanwhile, there are countless scores of transgender people who are given no voice to show what our reality actually is. Consider, as a single example, the use of “biological male” to describe transgender women. To the uninitiat-
ed, this might sound like a convenient way to describe someone for whom a doctor wrote “male” on a birth certificate when they spotted a penis, and who has since taken steps to present as a woman. Biology, however, is all sorts of squishy. It doesn’t like to fit in such distinct categories, and is not as constant as some may wish you to believe. When I was born, they also wrote down male – but that doesn’t define my biological sex today. Thirty or so years of hormone treatments, among other bodily changes, has led to some very different biology than what I may have expressed as an infant. I’m also not the same weight I was back then, either. This becomes even more troubling in a country whose government insists, thanks to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14168, that there are only two fixed and unchanging sexes. This makes as much sense as deciding that there are only two hair colors in this world, and that any person whose hair isn’t, say, blonde or black doesn’t exist. It would be ridiculous. The notion that there are two fixed and unchanging genders should be just as equally viewed with skepticism, but in doing so, it throws off a lot of assumptions that serve as a foundational bedrock for a whole lot of people. It might make people question if men
At the time of his death, McKinsey was in the midst of a custody dispute and divorce proceedings with his wife, Candice Jang, the daughter of Chen and Zhang. Dublin Police didn’t return a request to comment for this report by press time, though the department’s
X account indicates that McKinsey was killed at the Dublin Sports Grounds at 6700 Dublin Boulevard. The Alameda County District Attorney’s office didn’t return a request for comment as to whether a hate crime would be charged, and whether the office
would ask the couple be held without bail. McKinsey was director of engineering for The New York Times Games, according to his LinkedIn account. Chen and Zhang were set to appear at the East County Hall of Justice on September 30. They are facing
I
t can be frustratingly difficult to explain what it means to be transgender to people who do not exist within transgender spaces. Heck, even within our community, you’ll find a complex web of ways to describe our sex, our gender, and our sexuality that can vary in deeply nuanced ways from person to person. While what we may label transgender has existed for untold millennia, the language for the same is much newer. Earl Lind, otherwise known as Jennie June, described herself as an androgyne, third-sexed, and as a female impersonator in her own books a century ago, while Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld in the early 20th century put transgender people under the term transvestite. Each term sounds either crudely quaint – or downright offensive – in 2026. Transgender history since the days of Lind or Hirschfeld is deeply fragmented, and not only due to the Nazi Holocaust and the AIDS crisis, but a large number of changes in societal acceptance and a world that was not nearly as connected as we are today. We hid in backrooms and distant, hard-to-locate places for our own safety, before we moved to the internet to find others like us. Even during the sexual liberation of the 1960s and 1970s, we remained a largely unseen minority. Only now are we recovering history long buried and, with that, learning more of who we are. Until this century, the chal-
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Trans man
From page 1
Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, both 77, are the parents-in-law of Jonathan McKinsey, 40, of Dublin, who was killed around 3 p.m. Saturday, September 26.
Illustration: Christine Smith
and women are not so distinct, and that means that men are not somehow the “natural leaders” they insist they are. It can call into question sexual orientations in ways that make anyone who ever uttered the phrase “no homo” feel deeply uncomfortable. Accepting that transgender people exist, for some, tears down the very underpinnings of their reality – and they need to do all they can to defend it. Meanwhile, those of us who are transgender just want the space to understand ourselves without worrying about keeping a roof over our heads, a meal in our stomachs, and a beating heart in our chests. A century ago, explaining what it meant to be trans was imperfect in ways that seem strange today. Then again, you would have to crank up a gramophone to listen to recorded music, and a flight from Los Angeles to New York might take you two days to complete. We should expect that the language we use today will sound just as imperfect in 100 years, and understand that the certainties of today are not what they will always be, any more than what an obstetrician declared me to be when he first saw my body has relevance to who I am today. t
charges of murder in the first degree, grossly negligent willful discharge of a firearm, child abuse or endangerment with the possibility of great bodily injury or death, and conspiracy to fraudulently obtain money.
Gwen Smith imagines a better world. You’ll find her at www. gwensmith.com
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14 • Bay Area Repor ter • October 1-7, 2026
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LGBTQ bills
From page 1
“The Trump administration has launched an all-out assault on the LGBTQ community, using medical records to target U.S. servicemembers and civilians alike, hurting countless people and betraying hard-won trust. California will not stand for it,” stated Newsom. The bill signings come as the termedout Newsom eyes a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 and looks to shore up support among the LGBTQ community in light of the criticism he has received over his unsupportive remarks concerning trans female athletes. He also received flack for his veto last weekend of legislation aimed at protecting providers of genderaffirming care and abortion services from being extradited to face charges for doing so by another state. He cited concerns over executive authority for jettisoning the bill, as the Bay Area Reporter reported. Newsom announced he had signed into law Assembly Bill 1930 authored by gay Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D–Hollywood) that strengthens state privacy protections for confidential medical information regarding abortion or gender-affirming health care services. It comes amid politically motivated investigations being initiated by the Trump administration and Republican officials in other states who are targeting providers of abortion and gender-affirming care in California and other states. The legislation requires business entities in the Golden State to notify the California attorney general before responding to a subpoena or inquiry regarding health care they provide that is legally protected under state law. The attorney general will be allowed to intervene in any civil action brought by a state business entity that faces a legal inquiry or summons related to the care they provide. Gay state Senator Christopher Cabaldon (D-Yolo) saw Newsom sign his Senate Bill 1114 that strengthens privacy protections for sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex data by limiting when state agencies can share
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HIV cases
From page 1
SFDPH remains committed to providing a strong network of HIV prevention, treatment, and care services.” According to the report, Latino people accounted for the largest share of new diagnoses, at 39%, more than double their 17% share of the city’s population. Black people (5% of the population) and non-Hispanic white people (39% of the population) both accounted for 23% of new HIV cases. Asians and Pacific Islanders accounted for just 11% of new diagnoses despite making up more than a third of the population. New cases rose among Latinos but fell in all other groups. “In San Francisco, there has been an overall downward trend in new HIV diagnoses among most racial and ethnic groups since 2016, but we must continue to break down barriers to reduce disparities,” San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip stated in the release. “It is essential that we continue to collaborate with community, healthcare, and academic partners to meet people where they are and build awareness of all of the effective HIV prevention tools available.” With this goal in mind, DPH funds Health Access Points designed to reduce disparities by providing equity-focused, stigma-free, low barrier HIV, sexually
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Trans man
From page 13
McKinsey and Jang had competing claims of abuse against one another and were also battling for custody of their children. According to records reviewed by the East Bay Times, McKinsey had petitioned for divorce in December 2025. The same month he began the divorce process, McKinsey sought
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the SOGI information. Under the legislation, LGBTQ data can’t be disclosed outside of California state government, except under limited circumstances. Also signed by Newsom was AB 1775 by gay Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) that ensures veterans impacted by Trump’s executive order last year that banned trans people from serving in the military still qualify for housing assistance and professional licensing support afforded to them by the state. They will also be able to utilize discharge upgrade services provided by the state as they transition back to civilian life. “California continues to show what it means to stand with LGBTQ+ people and protect the dignity, safety, and freedom of every Californian,” stated Ward, the outgoing chair of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. “I’m grateful to Governor Newsom for signing this year’s LGBTQ Caucus priority legislation and for his partnership in turning our commitment to equality into meaningful action.” Trans Army veteran Katherine “Kat” Koehlmoos, a San Francisco resident honorably discharged under the Biden administration, hailed the enactment of AB 1775, saying it “once again shows California as a leader in standing up for equal rights, that veterans should not be discriminated against for being transgender. SPARTA Pride looks forward to other states following California in the fight for military transgender rights.” And Luke Schleusener, the gay CEO of Out In National Security, which cosponsored the legislation, stated, “We’re thrilled that California is stepping up to help keep our promises to all those who served. While brave servicemembers are being targeted by their own government simply because of who they are, we strongly support the leadership of Governor Newsom and Assemblymember Ward. We encourage other states to follow California’s example to support veterans, and commit to staying at that table with our allies and partners for the hard work ahead to implement these historic programs.” Newsom also enacted SB 934 authored by gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) that allows people more time to bring a civil suit against a
practitioner who subjected them to the debunked practice of conversion therapy to try to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. Plaintiffs will be able to cite scientific principles and consensus around proper medical care to demonstrate conversion therapy’s harm in bringing forward a malpractice claim. Anyone under 18 when they were subjected to the therapy will be able to file a claim before age 40. Those older when they underwent conversion therapy must file a claim within 10 years of their last session. A person can also bring a claim within five years of their discovering an injury or illness due to the efforts to change their being LGBTQ. The enactment of SB 934 comes as litigation continues to move through the federal courts over state bans against the homophobic and transphobic therapy following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 8-1 decision striking Colorado’s ban of the practice based on free speech grounds. It also ordered lower federal courts to review if similar bans like the one adopted by California are also unconstitutional. The Golden State in 2012 was the first to ban the use of conversion therapy in minors for the purpose of changing their sexual orientation, with two dozen states following suit. Various medical groups have denounced it as a harmful intervention. In thanking Newsom for signing his bill, Wiener called the discredited therapy “psychological torture where a therapist tries to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Conversion therapy has caused incalculable harm to LGBTQ young people over the years. The Supreme Court recently – and ridiculously – ruled that youth conversion therapy can qualify as ‘free speech,’ and SB 934 increases our odds of defending California’s ban in court. We must stick up for kids and ensure they aren’t subjected to this abusive therapy.” A bill that was a main priority of AIDS advocates signed Saturday by Newsom, SB 1023, ensures nonprofit service providers that furnish an injectable form of the HIV prevention medication PrEP via their own pharmacies can recoup their costs for doing. As the B.A.R. has previously reported, some in-
surance policies restrict injectable PrEP coverage to their medical benefit for policyholders, which can cause problems for agencies like the San Francisco AIDS Foundation in being reimbursed. Gay state Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) authored SB 1023, which was among the LGBTQ caucus’ priority bills this session. Co-sponsors of it included gay outgoing Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and the Department of Insurance, statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization Equality California, and nonprofit healthcare providers the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, AIDS Project LA Health and LA LGBT Center. “PrEP is proven to prevent HIV, but it only works if people can get it,” stated Laird. “This new law removes an unnecessary barrier that has made it harder for community clinics and smaller providers to offer injectable PrEP. I’m grateful to the Governor for signing SB 1023 and helping make this important prevention tool more accessible to Californians.” APLA Health CEO Craig E. Thompson called the enactment of SB 1023 “a major step forward for HIV prevention in California. This law expands access to PrEP and empowers more healthcare professionals than ever to provide it, putting a proven, life-changing tool within reach of far more people who need it.” The sixth LGBTQ-related bill Newsom signed Saturday was SB 1328 authored by lesbian state Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) that requires California’s colleges and universities to designate a confidential employee at satellite campuses, branch campuses, and outreach centers to support the needs of LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff. It follows on a bill passed in 2024 that required such a person on the main campuses of higher education institutions. “Every LGBTQ+ Californian deserves to feel valued in all aspects of their life – from the classroom and the workplace to their home and community,” stated Cervantes, the chair-elect of the affinity group for LGBTQ legislators in Sacramento. “I’m proud of the work our Caucus has done to advance legislation that meets the real needs of our community, and I thank Governor Newsom for signing these important bills. This
progress reflects what we can accomplish when we work together to build a California where LGBTQ+ people and their families can live with greater safety, opportunity, and dignity.” Under legislation Newsom signed September 25, outdoor LGBTQ community events like Pride festivals will now have access to a state program that provides funding to help pay for security measures. Safety concerns for such public gatherings have increased over the years due to the rise seen in anti-LGBTQ hate, as the B.A.R. noted in its coverage. Over the summer he signed into law legislation to make permanent an online suicide prevention training program the state had piloted for middle through high school students. Ward praised Newsom for being a “steadfast ally to our community” during his gubernatorial tenure the last eight years. He added as the governor “enters his final year in office, these signatures are another lasting testament to that commitment. I’m proud that this final chapter of his administration’s LGBTQ+ record will include legislation that makes a real difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ Californians and their loved ones, and helps carry forward California’s legacy of leading with equality, dignity, and compassion.” There remain six bills related to LGBTQ concerns that the B.A.R. tracked this legislative session and await Newsom to either sign into law or veto. He has until September 30 to do so. Reacting to the bills Newsom signed Saturday, gay EQCA Executive Director Tony Hoang noted, “At a moment when the Trump administration is attacking transgender people, dismantling LGBTQ+ protections and threatening access to health care and critical services, these new laws provide real protections for people across our state. They will help transgender veterans rebuild their lives after being forced out of the military, protect private health information from hostile investigations, safeguard sensitive LGBTQ+ data, expand access to HIV prevention, support LGBTQ+ students and ensure survivors of conversion therapy have a meaningful path to justice.” t
transmitted infection and hepatitis C prevention, care, and treatment services to priority populations, including Latino and Black people. Such communitybased clinics were the subject of a fierce budget battle earlier this year, as Tsai and Mayor Daniel Lurie had proposed reducing their funding by 6.6%. Ultimately, the Board of Supervisors reversed those cuts, as the B.A.R. reported, but access to culturally appropriate services remains an issue in the city. A longtime San Francisco HIV/AIDS Latino-focused nonprofit, AGUILAS, closed two years ago after it lost city funding. Cisgender men accounted for 80% of new HIV diagnoses in 2025, and 65% were men who have sex with men. Cisgender women made up 11% of new cases, and transgender women accounted for 7%. No trans men were newly diagnosed last year. One bright spot in the report is that the spike in cases among cisgender women seen in 2024 has reversed. Fifteen cisgender women were diagnosed in 2025, compared with 26 in 2024 and 14 in 2023. Many newly diagnosed women have “intersecting vulnerabilities” and are at risk for both HIV and sexually transmitted infections, Buchbinder noted. “We’ve been trying really hard to work on both our HIV prevention and syphilis prevention programs to make sure that
those who are vulnerable have services,” she said. “It’s hard to know why it’s gone back down, but we’re grateful that it has.”
Boosting prevention
A total of 15,238 San Francisco residents were living with diagnosed HIV by the end of 2025, according to the report. By neighborhood, the Castro had the highest HIV prevalence, followed by the Tenderloin, South of Market, the Western Addition, and the Mission. Thanks to effective treatment that enables HIV-positive people to live longer, 76% are now 50 or older, and 51% are 60 or older. “We need to be sure that we’re providing services for an aging population who are more likely to have other kinds of comorbidities,” Buchbinder told the B.A.R. As the population has aged, the annual number of deaths among people with HIV has exceeded the number of new HIV diagnoses since 2018. Drug overdose was the second-leading cause of death for HIV-positive people between 2021 and 2024, at 21%, approaching the proportion who die from HIV-related causes. Heart disease and non-AIDS cancer each accounted for about 14% of deaths in this population, the report noted. Also of concern, 103 people had already progressed to AIDS at the time of their HIV diagnosis in 2025 – a 26% increase in one year. Late-stage diagno-
sis was highest among Latino people, at 22%. The Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants may be contributing to a reluctance to seek health services in this population. “I think there’s no question that the national scene is having an impact locally,” Buchbinder said. “[Late diagnosis] is another signal that we really need to ramp up all of our services for the Latino community, and we will continue to keep our foot on the gas.” In 2025, 92% of people newly diagnosed with HIV were linked to care within one month. Among those diagnosed in 2024, 81% achieved viral suppression (a viral load below 200) within 12 months, down from 87% the previous year. But 80% of those diagnosed in 2025 have already achieved viral suppression within six months. “Our hope is that we’ll bump that number back up” during the remainder of the year, Buchbinder said. People experiencing homelessness accounted for 15% of new HIV cases in 2025. The number of new diagnoses in this group fell from 30 in 2023 to 23 in 2024 to 20 in 2025 – “a trend in the right direction,” Buchbinder said. However, among people enrolled in DPH’s Linkage, Integration, Navigation and Comprehensive Services (LINCS) program during 2024, only 43% of homeless clients had viral suppression, compared with 74% of those who were housed.
a restraining order against Jang, alleging she had been abusive during medical procedures related to his transition and since before they were married; he alleged she beat him with a frying pan, and verbally degraded him in front of their children. McKinsey also alleged Chen used anti-LGBTQ slurs against him and one of the children, and
that she raised objections about the child’s clothing. Chen referred to them both with the terms “pervert” and “disgusting queer,” according to documents reviewed by the East Bay Times. McKinsey accused Zhang of punching him while recovering from a double mastectomy. For her part, Jang accused McKinsey of domestic abuse, saying
he’d been violent with her when he grabbed her wrist and left bruises, the newspaper reported. Dublin police found one of the children, a toddler, alone in the house while McKinsey was out shopping. As a result, he was charged with the misdemeanors of cruelty to a child by endangering health and corporal injury to a child. He was freed on $50,000 bail and was seeking to en-
ter mental health diversion so that the charges would be dismissed, according to the East Bay Times. The dispute between the couple was to be heard in court October 2; but on September 26, prosecutors allege Chen and Zheng shot McKinsey, and that video after the shooting showed McKinsey lying behind a white SUV while shocked parkgoers stood nearby. t
HIV care
With an eye toward reducing new infections even further, Buchbinder said that DPH is focused on increasing PrEP services across the city. She praised City Clinic and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s Magnet clinic for “doing a really fabulous job of getting PrEP to a large community of people.” In June 2025, the federal Food and Drug Administration approved lenacapavir (brand name Yeztugo), Gilead Sciences’ twice-yearly PrEP injections. Although uptake is rising, injectable lenacapavir and ViiV Healthcare’s injectable cabotegravir (Apretude), which is administered every other month, still make up only a small share of PrEP use. A weekly oral version of lenacapavir PrEP is expected in February, and a monthly PrEP pill from Merck (alimatravir) could be approved in late 2027 or early 2028. “We’ve now got these incredible prevention tools to drive down new infections, and we also have increased ability to suppress the virus in people living with HIV,” Buchbinder said. “What we really need to be doing is making sure that everyone has access and that we make them as desirable as possible, so we’ve been working on a variety of strategies to help support people in their PrEP use.” t
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Community News >>
Ranked-choice
From page 4
This marks the first time in 16 years that a ranked-choice strategy is being utilized by candidates seeking to represent District 8, which spans from Cole Valley to Glen Park and includes Twin Peaks, Corona Heights, Duboce Triangle, the LGBTQ Castro district, and Diamond Heights. During the 2010 contest, one of the trailing candidates had encouraged his supporters to select one of his opponents as their second choice, though both lost to Wiener that November. Also running this year on the November 3 ballot for the District 8 supervisor seat are gay contenders Michael Trung Nguyen, a patent attorney also known as drag queen Juicy Liu, and Emanuel “Manny” Yekutiel, the owner of an eponymously named cafe and event space in the Mission. McCoy’s forming an alliance with Patel could
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Castro Street Fair
From page 1
Ingu Yun of Sundance Saloon stated, “Sundance Saloon will be twostepping and line dancing all day in the parking lot behind the Castro Theatre, featuring free five-minute novice-level lessons throughout the afternoon, no boots or partner required. Sundance Saloon has been a fixture at the Castro Street Fair for decades, and one of the most joyous places to be at the fair.” Nájera was also excited to share that there will be “a lot of new DJs,” including Stanley Frank Sensation, who will be closing out the fair at the Market and Castro street intersection. The fair ends at 6 p.m. There will also be an official afterparty at the Castro Theatre, hosted by Polyglamorous, which starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at the theater’s
October 1-7, 2026 • Bay Area Repor ter • 15
help catapult him ahead of Yekutiel, who has long been perceived as the frontrunner in the race. Yekutiel’s campaign didn’t immediately comment when reached by the B.A.R. Friday morning, while Nguyen didn’t rule out also teaming up with the other candidates under the rankedchoice system. “I am open to a ranked-choice strategy but haven’t discussed it with either of them,” he told the B.A.R. Later in the day Yekutiel said he had “no news to make at this time” about a forming a ranked-choice strategy. In his candidate questionnaire returned to the B.A.R., Yekutiel said he would choose Patel as his second choice, and he said that hadn’t changed. (Nguyen told the B.A.R. he plans to select McCoy as his second choice.) “It doesn’t change my strategy at all,” Yekutiel said of seeing his two opponents form an alliance, as his focus remains on knocking “on as many doors as possible.
Talk to as many voters as possible. Listen to as many voters as possible in the next 40 days. Let them know and show them that I care.” Yekutiel, who lives in the Castro, late last year had nabbed the sole endorsement of gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who is termed out of office as of early January. More recently, the San Francisco Democratic Party and Mayor Daniel Lurie also solely endorsed Yekutiel. They did so despite his being accused of sexual assault at a 2020 party by Brad Chapin, a gay man and city gardener. Yekutiel contends it didn’t happen and no charges have been filed, with San Francisco police saying earlier this year the case was open but inactive. Prior to Chapin coming forward publicly this summer via a story in the SF Standard, the city’s two main LGBTQ political groups had both endorsed McCoy in the race. The Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club solely endorsed McCoy, while
the more progressive Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club gave McCoy its number one endorsement and a secondchoice endorsement to Nguyen. McCoy is one of a few people who led both the clubs, while Nguyen founded the Milk club’s AAPI Caucus for its Asian American Pacific Islander members. They live near each other on Twin Peaks. Patel told the B.A.R. she has reached out to Nguyen about doing “some fun events together” and “would love to partner with Michael as well” when asked about also doing a ranked-choice voting strategy with him. Asked about perceptions that McCoy will see the bigger boost from their forming an alliance, as he is the better known of the two, Patel pushed back on such reasoning, noting that since announcing her candidacy she’s been “underestimated this entire campaign.” She did allow it could result in voters taking a closer look at her candidacy and, for the first time since supervisors reverted
back to being elected by district more than two dozen years ago, deciding to elect a woman in District 8. “Just because it has not happened yet doesn’t mean it can’t happen,” said Patel, who worked for the Obama administration and on former vice president Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign. “I don’t view this as something that only lifts up Gary.” In forming a candidate alliance, Patel told the B.A.R. she hopes it brings more media attention to her own candidacy going forward. “I have been, frankly, struggling to get PR, media, press attention because I am perceived as being the underdog in this race. So, for me, I think I will be getting much more awareness through this and visibility,” said Patel. “When I can get in front of voters and talk to them about my platform and ideas, I can convert them and that is what I am looking for.”t
website for $35.25.Sensation told the B.A.R., “Castro Street Fair is a special marker in the community’s calendar, when summer is ending and the first taste of fall is upon us. I love playing for this decidedly more intimate street fair in one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city.” The footprint will retain the expanded boundaries from 2023, which means the fair will be closing Market Street from Noe to Castro streets, Castro Street from Market to 19th streets, 18th Street from Diamond to Noe streets, and 17th Street from Castro to Noe streets. Fairgoers may be used to food stands on upper Market Street; Nájera said this will remain the case but that “we might be moving some food into other areas to meet participant needs. We have a lot more food
options coming down the pipeline, and we might be placing them in our entertainment zones, where we have sponsor bars in the footprint.” When the Castro entertainment zone is activated, as it will be Sunday, bars can sell alcohol for purchase in their establishments to be consumed outside. The entertainment zone was first activated for the Castro Street Fair last year, and it’s more regularly used for the Civic Joy Fund’s Castro Night Market events that are monthly on third Fridays for about half of the year. Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, a gay man who is the outgoing District 8 representative of the Castro on the board, sponsored the legislation creating the entertainment zone. He told the B.A.R. in a phone interview September 25, “Castro Street Fair is one of my favorite events of the year, and
has been since before I became a supervisor, and I want to thank all the volunteers for all they’ve done to make it again each year. As with last year, we are hopeful activating the entertainment zone will help the businesses in the neighborhood benefit from the economic activity on that day.” Among those hoping to benefit, members of the Castro Merchants Association. President Nate Bourg, a gay man, stated to the B.A.R., “We’re excited to once again be helping sponsor the Castro Street Fair, one of the best days of the year in San Francisco! We can’t wait to see everyone out in the neighborhood. Congratulations to all of the volunteers and folks who help put on this tremendous event.” Nájera said the merchants are a direct economic beneficiary, as some of the money raised at the fair
goes toward the maintenance of the landmarked rainbow flag on Market Street near the Muni station, which the merchants group replaces from time to time. Select nonprofits get half the fair entrance donations and were announced in August. Among the new nonprofits is the San Francisco Spikes soccer team. The suggested donation is $10$20 at the entrances, and Nájera said fairgoers can use their credit or debit cards to donate or bring cash. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, according to the fair’s website. People who donate will get a sticker that allows them $1 off drinks at the bars in the footprint who are official sponsors – Q Bar at 456 Castro Street and Copper Bar Kitchen and Microbrewery at 4092 18th Street. For more information, visit castrostreetfair.org. t
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410281 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ROBOTICS CENTER OF SILICON VALLEY; ROBOTICS CENTER, 90 WELSH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): DEEPAWARE, INC. (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 San Francisco, CA on 08/31/2026. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410328 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): CALIFORNIA WATER AND FIRE, 454 A ST, DALY CITY, CA 94014. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): CALIFORNIA WATER & FIRE RESTORATION, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/04/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/04/2026. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410343 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): SKY TOWN CONSTRUCTION, 513 VIENNA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): ZHIMIN LIANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/02/2010. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/08/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410300 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): US RAILWAYS; AMERICAN RAILWAYS; AUTRAI; AMIDAC INTERNATIONAL, 50 CALIFORNIA ST, FL 15, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): US HIGH SPEED RAIL (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/2007. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/02/2026. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410228 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): CAFE JAROCHA, 2948 FOLSOM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): CAFE JAROCHA 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 08/26/2026. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560934 Petitioner KATHERINE JANE ASHBOLT & DAVID JAMES BELL filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name EZRA RAPHAEL BELL to proposed name EZRA ROBERT BELL. 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: OCTOBER 27, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026
Fair footprint
Legals>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560922 Petitioner ANGELINA MASCHELLE MYERS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name ANTHONY MICHAEL MYERS AKA ANGELINA MASCHELL MYERS to proposed name ANGELINA MASCHELLE MYERS. 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: OCTOBER 15, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560919 Petitioner FIONA STEVENS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name FIONA STEVENS AKA FIONA DOROTHY MARY STEVENS to proposed name FIONA DOROTHY MARY STEVENS. 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: OCTOBER 15, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560917 Petitioner YING YING CHEUNG filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name YING YING CHEUNG AKA LESLIE CHEUNG AKA LESLIE Y CHEUNG AKA LESLIE YING CHEUNG AKA LESLIE YINGYING CHEUNG to proposed name LESLIE YING YING CHEUNG. 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: OCTOBER 15, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410265 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE CONSTRUCTION, 1379 THOMAS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/ Owner(s): GUOLIAN YE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/28/2026. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410327 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): PAST CORPORATION; PAST CORP., 211 GOUGH ST #201, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): REVO, 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 09/04/2026. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410331 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): GEORGE ROSENFIELD CAPITAL GROUP, 2460 WASHINGTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): GEORGE ROSENFIELD CAPITAL GROUP INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/2027. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/04/2026. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410288 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): MAJESTIA EDUCATION CONSULTANCY, 280 10TH AVE #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/ Owner(s): SAGARMATHA NEXUS VENTURES 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 09/01/2026. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410295 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): LUCANIA, 1 FERRY BUILDING, SUITE 36, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): LUCANIA HOSPITALITY 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 09/02/2026. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410296 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): A16, 2355 CHESTNUT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): D.O.C. RESTAURANT GROUP, 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 09/02/2026. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410233 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): BEST CHOICE CLEANERS, 2459 POLK ST #A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): DHOBI LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/26/2026. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410336 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): PENNY ROYAL, 1160 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): 1160 POLK 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 09/04/2026. SEP 10, 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF MARGUERITE VAN ZWOL IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: CASE NUMBER PES-26-309778 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of MARGUERITE VAN ZWOL. A Petition for Probate has been filed by TOM VAN ZWOL in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Petition for Probate requests that TOM VAN ZWOL 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: OCTOBER 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: JEFF KLINK (SBN 200801), KLINK LAW OFFICE, 3200 L ST, SACRAMENTO, CA 95816; Ph. (916) 455-5575. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 2026
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560931 Petitioner RANDY MICHAEL FILKINS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name RANDY MICHAEL FILKINS to proposed name RANDY MICHAEL CARDOZA. 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: OCTOBER 27, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560936 Petitioner ROTHTHIDA JANNECA SOK filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name ROTHTHIDA JANNECA SOK to proposed name ROTHTHIDA JANNECA SOK NOLASCO. 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: OCTOBER 27, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560937 Petitioner DANIEL JAMES WALINSKY filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name DANIEL JAMES WALINSKY to proposed name DANIEL JAMES MUNSON. 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: OCTOBER 27, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410057 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): HAYES ST MANAGEMENT, 320 HAYES ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): RICHARD SANDER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/05/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/05/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410148 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ZEBRAWOOD PSYCHOTHERAPY, 2607 38TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): DAMIAN KEITH BARTON. 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 08/18/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410344 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): LUTSY STUDIO, 471 29TH ST UNIT A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): ALESSIA DOMENICA NOBILE. 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 09/08/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410276 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): MY SWEET ANGEL JEWELRY, 333 12TH ST #G16, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/ Owner(s): MILAGRITOS M. LOPEZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/31/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/31/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410305 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): JANFLAN PRINTS, 2110 JACKSON ST #202, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): JANELLE FLANAGAN. 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 09/02/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410316 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): CLEARPATH CIVIC, 608 44TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): MARK RUSSELL GELADE. 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 09/03/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410333 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ONCALL LOCKSMITH CA, 2415 ALEMANY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): AYMEN ZITOUNI. 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 09/04/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410358 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): SKETCHXERIC, 1777 PACIFIC AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): ERIC BLUMENTHAL. 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 09/09/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026
<< Classifieds
16 • Bay Area Repor ter • October 1-7, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410355 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): PIXI ROSE, 1912 MARKET ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): NOELLE JEAN AVERY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/03/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/09/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410313 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): KAORU MICHELLE STUDIO, 364 PAGE ST #4, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): KAORU HUDACHEK. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/17/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/03/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410248 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): DU LA LA LA, 277 THRIFT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/ Owner(s): JULIA ANNETTE CODY. 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 08/27/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410385 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): NU LOOK REFINISHING, 272 FOLSOM ST #220, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): STEVEN AMERICA STANLEY. 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 09/14/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410320 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): FILIPINO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER, 122 9TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): FILIPINO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/03/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410357 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): EDUCATIONAL MEDIA ARTS, INC.; MAREA MEDIA INSTITUTE; ART OF TECH, 2261 MARKET ST #317, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): EDUCATIONAL MEDIA ARTS, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/11/2016. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/09/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410351 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): AEROBICOS YO PUEDO, 4519 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): EL GIGANTE CORPORATION (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 09/09/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410359 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ROCKO’S CAFE, 3141 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): ROCKO Y JENNY CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/08/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/09/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410309 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ALLIANCE OF SOUTH ASIANS TAKING ACTION POWER; CHINESE FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POWER; HMONG INNOVATING POLITICS ACTION FUND; STOP AAPI HATE ACTION; AAPI HOUSE CALLS, 17 WALTER U. LUM PL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): ASIAN AMERICANS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUALITY ACTION FUND (CA). 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 09/03/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410374 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): LIPS CLUB BAR, 4461 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): CORPORACION DE ISABELLA INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/10/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/11/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410330 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): FINANCIAL DISTRICT HARDWARE INC., 140 PINE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): FUNK KAY HARDWARE INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/18/2003. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/04/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410345 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): BABY PRIME NUTRITION, 2040 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): BABY PRIME LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/08/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/08/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410338 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): REEDIE P TRUCKING AND CARGO, 1190 MISSION ST #1119, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/ Owner(s): LADEESHA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/03/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/04/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410349 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ZELLI PHOTOBOOTH, 5432 GEARY BLVD #663, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): REMORA CREATIVE 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 09/09/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410319 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): GIGI’S HUT, FORT MASON CULTURAL CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): CHES BOBO LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious busi-
ness name or names on 09/03/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/03/2026.
SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410384 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): OMNI PRECISION CONSULTING, 1309 COFFEEN AVE #1200, SHERIDAN, WY 82801. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/ Owner(s): AVANTI VENTURES EXCHANGE LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/14/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410369 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): STARBELLY RESTAURANT, 3583 16TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): VAL 22 RI, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/15/2009. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/10/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410377 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): CLOUD SOURCED, 455 MARKET ST #1940, PMB 922291, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-2448. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/ Owner(s): DARKSHORE SOLUTIONS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/21/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/11/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE FBN730134 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): CALIFORNIA WATER AND FIRE, 454 A ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94014. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): CALIFORNIA WATER AND FIRE RESTORATION 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 Santa Clara, CA on 09/04/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 161772 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): CALIFORNIA WATER AND FIRE, 454 A ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94014. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): CALIFORNIA WATER AND FIRE RESTORATION 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 Marin, CA on 09/04/2026. SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560925 Petitioner NIKKI BOLDEN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name NIKKI BOLDEN to proposed name ATTRENITY VANDORFIN. 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: OCTOBER 20, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560926 Petitioner MARVIN FINKLEY JR. filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name MARVIN FINKLEY JR. to proposed name UMOYA VANDORFIN. 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: OCTOBER 22, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560938 Petitioner SYDNEY ANNE SUNDELL filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name SYDNEY ANNE SUNDELL to proposed name SYDNEY SUNDELL CORBISIERO. 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: OCTOBER 27, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560940 Petitioner ERIKA ANNE SCHRADER filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name ERIKA ANNE SCHRADER to proposed name ERIKA SHINING CEDAR ROSE. 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: NOVEMBER 03, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560943 Petitioner CLIFFORD DEVILLENA filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name CLIFFORD DEVILLENA to proposed name CLIFFORD DEVILLENA VIRAY. 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: NOVEMBER 03, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560939 Petitioner GEORGINA MICHELLE SANTILLAN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name GEORGINA MICHELLE SANTILLAN to proposed name GEORGINA MICHELLE HERNANDEZ GOMEZ. 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: NOVEMBER 03, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410422 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA):
MOON RABBIT COLLECTIVE, 1285 GUERRERO ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): HENRY PERYER. 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 09/17/2026.
SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410401 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): PRESIDIO FRIGHTS; FRISCO FRIGHTS, 2405 FOLSOM ST #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): JONATHAN SHAFRAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/16/2026. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410448 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): EMI JANITORIAL SERVICE, 2070 TOMALES BAY DR, PITTSBURG, CA 94565. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): EMNET ADANE KIDANEMARIAM. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/21/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/21/2026. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410202 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): SOMOS FRIENDS DAYCARE, 88 HOWARD ST #1512, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): NATHALIA BEDOYA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/18/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/24/2026. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410420 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): RISO; FANFAN; NOON F&B SERVICES; RISO F&B SERVICES, 90 CHARTER OAK AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124-1907. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): JLSF INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/19/2026. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410426 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): XIN YI TIAN PIN, 909 GRANT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): SWEETHEART CAFE (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/15/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/17/202. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410431 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): REPUBLIC BUILDING MAINTENANCE, 2261 MARKET ST #5173, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): REPUBLIC ENTERPRISES, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/2021. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/18/2026. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410322 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): TSURU FOR SOLIDARITY; VINCENT CHIN INSTITUTE, 17 WALTER U. LUM PL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94018. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/ Owner(s): CHINESE FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/06/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/04/2026. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410450 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ARABICANO, 170A S VAN NESS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): F & A COFFEE CO (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 08/21/2026. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410394 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): JC’S, 3917 NORIEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): JC’S SF LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/09/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/15/2026. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410400 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): THE KITCHEN SINK, 1650 CHESTNUT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): THE KITCHEN SINK GF 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 09/16/2026. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410434 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): LAUNDRE, 1233 DIVISADERO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): PRAKA LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/16/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/18/2026. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410435 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): LAUNDRE, 3487 20TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): PRAKA LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/16/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/18/2026. SEP 24, OCT 01, 08, 15, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560950 Petitioner CAROLYN HORNE WESLEY filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name CAROLYN HORNE WESLEY AKA CAROLYN LA VERNE SMITH AKA CAROLYN LA VERNE HORNE AKA CAROLYN SMITH AKA CAROLYN HORNE to proposed name CAROLYN LA VERNE HORNE. 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: NOVEMBER 10, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560952 Petitioner JENNA DWORAK BOOTH filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name JENNA DWORAK BOOTH to proposed name JENNA LINNAEA DWORAK. 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: NOVEMBER 03, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102.
OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560953 Petitioner MAXINE ORITA JONES filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name MAXINE ORITA JONES AKA MAXINE ORTHIA JONES to proposed name MAXINE ORTHIA 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: NOVEMBER 10, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560958 Petitioner IAN LASIC-ELLIS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name IAN LASIC-ELLIS to proposed name IAN LASIC. 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: NOVEMBER 10, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560954 Petitioner REGINA RUTH HOLCOMB filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name REGINA RUTH HOLCOMB AKA FEMALE HOLCOMB AKA REGINA HOLCOMB to proposed name REGINA RUTH HOLCOMB. 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: NOVEMBER 10, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NUMBER CNC-26560960 Petitioner SAMUEL MAPALO GOITIA-ANCHETA filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: present name SAMUEL MAPALO GOITIAANCHETA to proposed name SAMUEL NAZARIO GOITIA. 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: NOVEMBER 12, 2026, 9:00am, Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410454 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): DESIGN4VENTURE, 3418 26TH ST #7, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): YAN LIANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/22/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/22/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410421 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ENVIOS JIREH CARGO, 2276 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): JOSE LEONIDAS ZALDANA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/19/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/17/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410332 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): OROZCOʻS FAMILY DAYCARE, 206 ELMIRA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): MONICA J. OROZCO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/16/2023. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/04/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410497 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): GRAIN STUDIOS, 1703 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): EVAN FOK. 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 09/25/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026
t
2026-0410479
Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): SOLAIRE SURGICAL SPECIALISTS, 77 VAN NESS AVE #101, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): ELLIE ZARA LEY MD A PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL CORPORATION (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 09/24/2026.
OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410483 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): AVORA, 576 SACRAMENTO ST. FL 5, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): SHOWANDTELL, INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/2025. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/24/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410160 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): BEAT DROP FITNESS, 2001 VAN NESS AVE #100, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): THE ELECTRONIC DANCE MOVEMENT STUDIO LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/17/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/19/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410459 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): YOUR NEW BARBER, 500 SUTTER ST #103, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): DAPPER & DETAILED LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/13/2021. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/22/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410423 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): ZZAN, 643 POST ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): SEVENDOUBLETWO2014 LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/17/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410485 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): TOWER ICE CREAM CAKES AND SCOOPS, 691 PORTOLA DR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/ Owner(s): SEPAL ICE CREAM SCOOPS AND CAKES (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 09/25/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410499 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): DIANARTEMIS CONSULTING; MANIFESTING MINIMALISM, 95 WOODLAND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 941173814. This business is conducted by a limited liability company. Registrant/Owner(s): MELISSA DOERKEN 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 09/28/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE M-304980 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): WRIGHT AND DAVIS HAULING, 1521 ALCAZAR AVE, HAYWARD, CA 94544. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): LEANDRE WRIGHTDAVIS. 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 Mateo, CA on 09/21/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026
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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410467 Untitled-5 1 9/23/26 6:34 AM Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): THE FRAME & EYE OPTICAL, 319 JUDAH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant/Owner(s): RICHARD NELSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on Mobile notary, Apostille and Fin07/13/1980. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/23/2026. gerprinting Services. On-site and OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026
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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410391 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): SF NANNIES, 274 12TH AVE #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a general partnership. Registrant/Owner(s): EVA KANTOK & EMESE VARFA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/15/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410453 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): POINT ENERGY, 220 SANSOME ST FL 14, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): POINT ENERGY INNOVATIONS (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 09/22/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 2026-0410462 Fictitious Business Name(s)/Trade Name (DBA): OPENGAME, 3333 OCTAVIA ST #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123-2299. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant/Owner(s): VESPER TECH, INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/23/2026. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/23/2026. OCT 01, 08, 15, 22, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE
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by Gregg Shapiro
Roddy Bottum and Will Schwartz on their new music and old faves
Gregg Shapiro: “All Over You” is Imperial Teen’s seventh studio album since 1996. What’s the secret to the band remaining a musical unit for 30 years? Will Schwartz: That we like/love each other and have a mutual respect for our legacy as a band. When we play (our own) shows there’s an intense relationship with us and our fans that’s very fulfilling and moving. Like being part of a secret club that anyone is welcome into. Also, we just laugh a lot together; so, you just want to feel that over and over. Roddy Bottum: We’ve made records every six years for the past thirty or something. It’s not perfect, the time gap, but it’s worked for us. How rare is it to have these kinds of relationships? I will constantly pay attention to interactions of this weight, know what I mean? I love long-term relationships.
Jonathan Grassi
I
mperial Teen fans are a dedicated and, above all, patient bunch. They must be because the quartet, whose debut album, “Seasick,” came out 30 years ago (!), have only released seven albums, including its latest, “All Over You” (Merge), during that time. It’s safe to say that each album was well worth the wait, including the new one which begins with the irresistible “Overdrive,” a song that has all Imperial Teen’s trademark qualities – sassy lyrics and hooks, as well first-rate musicianship, and then some. Roddy Bottum and Will Schwartz, the two queer men who make up half of Imperial Teen were gracious enough to make time for an interview in advance of the band’s multi-city tour. They’ll perform in San Francisco on October 15 at Bottom of the Hill.
The gap between Imperial Teen albums – seven years – was longer this time than in the past. Is the song “Hands All Up,” with the lines “Don’t take too long…Just write the song,” a comment on that? RB: Yes, it is. It always takes too long. I think that line came from Will. He was probably most determined going through the recording process and was a total victor in pushing it forward. We were all onboard, but he was particularly encouraging about getting it done. It happens like that, usually there’s one of us pushing hard. We work well as a team. WS: We all live in different cities or states, and it can be really hard to come together with everyone’s lives being so busy and varied. We really have to be intentional to finish a record together. This time I was laser focused on finishing and sometimes it can feel like herding cats with the others. It also has to do with a feeling of running out of time like we’re in a race against ourselves and our projected sense of mortality as artists.
I love the video for “Overdrive.” How was it decided that Will would be the one, “Walking through the mall with a baseball bat”? WS: I sing the lead vocal, so it seemed to make sense that I’m playing that character. The concept was to be in a kind of abandoned mall, and the band members are searching for each other but also living out our individual experiences. Like the world has kind of ended or is crumbling around us but we’re still searching and vital and being cheeky and stylish and dancing with attitude. That’s a bit what it feels like to me lately making art or playing shows or doing things that are supposed to be fun. Like the outside world is kind of horrible but we still need to let off steam and dance with each other. RB: It was the line in the song that encouraged the prop. The lyric came first. I wrote that line thinking about the destruction of the American mall and how it was failing and flailing and a dying institution. The video was an attempt at referencing this sentiment, do you feel it?
We had originally intended to recreate the “running in the mall” scene from the Dutch movie “Christiane F,” where “Heroes” by David Bowie plays. We didn’t get that shot; we tried. The symbolism of the loss of the American mall is heavy for me. Album closer “Bringing It Down” might be my favorite song on the album, beginning with the way it refers to aging with the line, “We used to not wear glasses.” Am I on the right track in that regard? WS: [Laughs] I’ll let Lynn (Truell), the drummer/vocals/bassist, know that because she didn’t like that line. We tend to feel kind of like bad asses when it comes to aging because we still feel sexy and vital and kind of take good care of ourselves. But we do make references to getting older sometimes in lyrics. Lately, I feel like older people are making vital See page 20 >>
Time warp
20th Century Fox
81, whose stage credits include his Tony-winning role in “The Robber Bridegroom” and creating Adapted from Richard O’Brien’s hit musical that the role of Danny Zuko in “Grease.” had lengthy runs in London and West Hollywood “I mean you really have to think this through, in the 1970s, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” unless you’re an actor who can improv on the gained full cult status after flopping in cinemas, but spot. In New York where they’re doing it now, being resurrected at midnight screenings, starting they didn’t want anybody to shout back, but they at the Waverly Theater in New York City. gave that up after a week or two because people That’s also where audience members started were. That’s just what it is. I haven’t seen it in New talking back to their beloved film and the trend York, but I think they kept it to just the few that spread quickly throughout the country. It remains the most continually-screened film of the 20th are good and classic.” century, and was recently the subject of a documentary, “Strange Journey” directed by the son of Creature of the night The Los Angeles Blade Los Angeles and California Richard O’Brien,covers Linus O’Brien, in which BostWe discussednews, the role of Brad Majors (inpolitics, opinion,wick arts entertainment and features national and andand other surviving cast members appeared. cluding my brief few months in college as Brad international coverage from Blade’s award-winning reporting At the mention of the the audience participation in a shadow cast), about Brad Majors being the at screenings, Bostwick said, “It still works as a LGBT team. Be part of this exciting publication serving Los straight guyAngeles in a very queer show. film. Butthe I always encourage people s been that way for 51 years,” from the team behind Washington Blade, the nation’s first “It’ LGBT ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’s Brad Majors to come to the theater with aBeltway shadsaid Bostwick. “He does have some reminisces on the film’s 50th anniversary newspaper. From the freeway to the we’ve got you covered. ow cast, because what are you gojourney in it. He just doesn’t have the ing to do? Throw rice at your TV? excitement that everybody else has.” Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon It doesn’t work. Although the San Francisco visit in ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ “But I do encourage people to will be solo, Bostwick said he’s enwatch it at home or with a group, bejoys doing shows and fan convencause the first time you see it, you’re tions with his cast members. at the theater, you don’t hear it. And 51 years later,” said Bostwick in a phone interview “I had fun when we made it and by Jim Provenzano you’re so caught up in the mayhem from his home in Mount Dora, Florida where he we’ve all stayed friends for all these and the craziness that’s going on lives with his wife Sherri. “We did this last year years,” he said. “It’s been one of the elebratory screenings for the 50th anaround you that you don’t really get a too, but this time we’re doing individual ones and highlights of my life, of my career, to sense of the whole movie. You just get niversary of “The Rocky Horror Picture then we come together for shows with the three have found myself in groups of peopeople who are acting out because it’s Show” continue across the country and of us or two of us.” ple that I probably wouldn’t have a safe place for them to do that.” around the world. Some of the surviving cast communicated with in my lifetime Bostwick was reminded of his last visits to Barry Bostwick We discussed the question of aumembers, including Nell Campbell and Patricia if I just had my normal TV, movies; San Francisco for film screenings, where in one dience participation at live performaybe theater things. But I have Quinn, are touring theaters around the nation instance, with Peaches Christ hosting, he arrived mances of “The Rocky Horror Show,” become part of a community. I’m for informative Q&As at the screenings. One of onstage in full ‘floor show’ drag, as in the film. including the currently running Broadway revival. thought of as Uncle Barry, and I’m there whenthem, Barry Bostwick, who played Brad Majors, “But yeah, no, that was the last time with “If you’re an actor on stage with it, you have to ever they need me. will be at the Curran Theater October 11. Peaches that I went into the full thing. I don’t have another script in your mind,” said Bostwick, “I just think it’s amazing that we’re still doing it See page 23 >> think I’ll be doing that again.”
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<< Theater
18 • Bay Area Repor ter • October 1-7, 2026
‘Slashed: Return to Hellville’
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Terror Vault’s new experience celebrates slasher flicks
by David-Elijah Nahmod
T
error Vault’s annual immersive shows have become an annual tradition in San Francisco. The brainchild of Joshua Grannell, aka drag artist Peaches Christ, and David Flower, the events draw thousands of horror fans to the San Francisco Mint for a journey through a maze of fear. The set-up is impressive. Guests walk through a doorway and literally enter another world. It’s an interactive show where guests wander from room to room through a netherworld of dread where they meet a variety of characters, some living, some not. The characters tell a story designed to thrill and chill the audience. The evening will include several special attractions, such as The Escape Tomb, which invites guests to spend five minutes completely alone. It’s a fear challenge created for those who want to push their night to its absolute limit. Tarot readings will also be offered and there will be a full Goth bar and a “Creepshop” where people can buy horrific mementos. This year’s shows run from October 1 until November 1 and will pay homage to the ever-popular slasher films from the 1970s and 1980s. In “Slashed: Return to Hellville,” guests are invited to enter the world of a slasher movie that has already started. According to Grannell, there’s a masked killer named Darren on the loose, bodies are piling up, and as you travel through the town you begin piecing together what happened and why. In an interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Grannell spoke about the show and about what attendees can expect. David-Elijah Nahmod: Please tell me to what do you attribute the continued success of Terror Vault? Joshua Grannell: I think it’s our uniqueness. When we started Terror Vault in 2018, there really wasn’t a model for the kind of haunted attraction we wanted to create. We were mashing up a haunted house and immersive theater and creating a fully scripted show with a real story that has a beginning, middle and end, while still delivering all the jump scares, illusions, monsters and spectacle you expect from a great haunted house attraction.
Jenna Gable & Camillo Kearns
A scene from ‘Slashed: Return to Hellville’
At the beginning, we were really experimenting. We didn’t know if the audience would go along with us or how all these different elements would work together. Now it’s worked well enough that we have imitators, which I always think is a good sign. Every year I write an entirely new show, and I approach it like we’re making a new horror movie that our guests get to actually live inside. Did you and David Flower cowrite and co-direct the show? David and I co-create the story together. We spend a lot of time figuring out the world, the characters, the locations and the story we want the audience to experience. Then I write the script and direct the actors, while David designs the sets and oversees the enormous undertaking of actually building the world we’ve dreamed up. It’s very much a collaboration because the writing and the physical design constantly inform each other. How many actors will appear in “Slashed?” What are the chal-
lenges of directing so many actors when most are in different rooms not interacting with each other? We’ll have more than 60 actors working on any given show night, and over the course of the season we employ around 150 Bay Area artists and performers. The biggest challenge with a show like this is flow. Unlike a traditional play, where everyone sits down and the curtain goes up, our audience is physically moving through the show while dozens of scenes are happening simultaneously. Please tell me about the Wainwright Family Carnival. The Wainwright Family Carnival is part of our VIP experience this year. It’s this bizarre, sinister traveling carnival that exists within the world of Hellville, hosted by our resident clown Pinwheel and populated by members of the very strange Wainwright family. The idea is to give VIP guests another fully immersive environment to explore beyond the main show.
‘North by Northwest’ by Jim Gladstone
“N
orth by Northwest” goes south fast. The superfluous stage adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s winking Cold War spy caper, now on stage at American Conservatory Theatre’s Toni Rembe Theater, is promising before it starts and for its first few minutes. Designer Rob Howell’s curtainless set is handsome, with three giant brass revolving doors, shelves of gleaming liquor bottles, and a stage-wide wardrobe rod packed with natty 1950s menswear. And the eight-member cast’s tightly choreographed movement, with knee joints swinging in sync, is initially delightful. But after a few scenes, the show
nosedives into silliness (The film’s satire is replaced by slapstick) and sleepiness (The production is overlong and irksomely repetitive). That endless pendulation of jitterbug limbs wears out its welcome quickly, becoming as pointedly anti-amusing as the swaying tail on a googly-eyed cat clock. Writer/director/conceptualist Emma Rice rationalizes her work with some intellectual folderol in a program essay, but what’s on stage will leave most audience members scratching their noggins and asking, “Why?”
Drawing a blank
Repeatedly recognized as one of the 50 best films of all time, Hitchcock’s 1959 “North by Northwest,” starring a macho-yet-mystified Cary Grant as an adman mistaken for a spy, and a
Why is the show for people over 18 only? Is it really that scary and is there nudity? Yes, it really can be that scary! But the 18+ restriction is about more than just jump scares. Terror Vault is made specifically for adults. There’s graphic horror, gore, intense situations, strobe effects, adult language and humor, that we simply don’t think is appropriate for children. And yes, there is full-frontal frat boy nudity. I’ve never been very family-friendly. We think of “Terror Vault” as adult immersive horror rather than a family Halloween attraction. If you want to get chased through the San Francisco Mint by a homicidal maniac, that’s where we come in.t Both photos: Jenna Gable & Camillo Kearns
Above: A frat boy massacre in ‘Slashed: Return to Hellville’ Below: A scene from ‘Slashed: Return to Hellville’
Terror Vault presents ‘Slashed: Return to Hellville,’ $60-$80, Oct. 1-Nov. 1, shows begin every fifteen minutes. San Francisco Mint, 88 5th Street. www.terrorvault.com
Adaptation of the Hitchcock classic runs in place at A.C.T.
bracingly aggressive Eva-Marie Saint laying traps for his capture, is quintessentially cinematic. Three quarters of its run time is a wild chase. And as chase scenes go, this one’s especially scenic: a headlong rush by car, train, and shoe leather from New York to Chicago to the Black Hills of South Dakota. To call it a ‘motion picture’ is to accurately describe its pleasures. Rice’s impulse to transform this particular film for the stage seems perverse, like vowing to climb a mountain “because it’s there” (And then having the gumption to have folks pay for the privilege of watching you flail). The second signature move of the show’s choreography is running in place, and that’s what the whole production does. Those revolving doors start to feel like a treadmill. What is “North by Northwest” without its sweeping views of Plaza Hotel, Grand Central Station, the United Nations, and Mount Rushmore? The movie’s signature move is visual grandeur. The play is much ado about nothing.
A case of missing personalities
For the most part, this production’s skilled cast members do the thankless work of cogs in Rice’s machine,
Rich Soublet II
Danny Collins in ‘North by Northwest’
executing quick costume changes, sharp dance moves, rat-a-tat patter (much of it lifted directly from the film), and –Wait! What? – genderswitched lip-syncs of golden age pop tunes. The gimmick adds nothing. It’s gilding the nil. There’s one exceptional performance, by Katy Owen who plays The Professor, a fourth-wall-free narrator added to the film’s personae to help the audience follow an espionage plot that was never intended be fully coherent. Short of stature and ambiguously
gendered in a manner that recalls former City Arts & Lectures radio host Linda Hunt, Owen squirts a welcome citric critique into the proceedings from time to time, mocking the other characters’ daft automaton behavior and giving the show an occasional spark of humanity. Otherwise, it’s a snooze, interrupted by restless leg syndrome.t ‘North by Northwest,’ through Oct. 18. $25-$126. Toni Rembe Theater, 415 Geary St. www.act-sf.org
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Film>>
October 1-7, 2026 • Bay Area Repor ter • 19
‘Bea Arthur: the Documentary’
CAFE | RESTAURANT | CATERING
by Adam Sandel
noe since 1981
Y
ou undoubtedly know Bea Arthur for her legendary roles on the TV classics “The Golden Girls” and “Maude.” Before breaking through on the small screen, she was already a Broadway star, having created the role of Vera Charles in the musical (and later the film) “Mame,” and the role of Yenta the matchmaker in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Producer and director Dan Watt was Arthur’s personal assistant for six years. He developed a previously unseen interview that he did with her into a documentary that goes beyond her public persona to reveal a sensitive, vulnerable woman who was passionate about supporting the LGBTQ community. The film will screen on October 10 and 11 at the Orinda Theater, and on October 12 at the Balboa Theater in San Francisco, with Q&As with the filmmaker following each screening. In a recent phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Watt discussed his friendship with the beloved star, and his inspiration for creating a film to honor her. Adam Sandel: How did you first meet Bea Arthur? Dan Watt: I’d started a nonprofit to offer scholarships in performing arts. I needed a headliner for a gala, so I cold called her and asked her to do her onewoman show. She liked the mission statement, so she did it. We booked one show that sold out in three days, then another one that sold out. She said to her manager, “He’s good, why don’t you ask him if he’ll work for me?” He said, “He’s right there, why don’t you ask him?” She said, “What if he says no?” Then she turned to me, offered me the job, I said yes and she said, “I’ll see you on Saturday.” Then she pivoted and left. She wasn’t on a series, but they were about to release “The Golden Girls” on DVD, so there were huge events around that, which I helped organize. She was getting 200-300 fan letters a week and I sorted them out. I helped organize her life. How did your relationship develop after that? A year and a half in, it became more of a friendship. We’d have lunch together. She was very sensitive and compassionate and a true friend. She always asked what was going on in my life and with my family. I used to be dancer, so I was very interested in her theatre background. Her son was named Dan and she said, “I already have one of those,” so she called me “Dancin.” I’d studied in Cleveland, then my teacher took me to New York. Liza was in my class a few times and I was like, what? I realized that I couldn’t do Broadway because I can’t sing. Then I moved to L.A., started teaching, then choreographing, then producing stage musicals, then film and TV.
Dan Watt and Bea Arthur
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Bea Arthur on stage
to be remembered for, she said, “As a classically trained actress who left something behind that I hope people enjoyed.” That sentence really clicked for me, and it made sense as a theme. Tell me about approaching the other people you interviewed for the documentary. I reached out to every person she mentioned in the interview, and they all said yes. They all had great stories, including Renee Taylor, Chita Rivera, Sab Shimono (her costar in the original Broadway production of “Mame”), Austin Pendleton, Millicent Martin (her friend of 40 years), and Rosie O’Donnell, who’d become a good friend. What inspired you to film the interview with Bea? I said we should film one of our lunches, it would be amazing. She said, “You can interview me. Let’s do it next Saturday.” I worked at Colombia Pictures, so I set up a crew and we did an 80-minute conversation at her kitchen table. What came out of your interview that most people don’t know about her? She’s vulnerable and she wears her emotions on her sleeve. I was able to see that in her personal life. The audience may have seen glimpses of that in her characters, but she didn’t do many interviews, so you may not have seen that until now. When did you decide to turn the interview into a documentary? I didn’t start the process until about three years ago. She meant so much to me, I thought I had to do it right or not at all. I hadn’t listened to the interview in forever. It had been in a lock box. I rewatched it 18 years later, and when I asked her what she wanted
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She must’ve had a lot of longterm friendships over the course of her career. When she made her Off-Broadway debut in the 1955 “Shoestring Revue,” Norman Lear, who was a young writer, came backstage and said, “One day I’m going to write a role for you.” In 1971, he offered her the guest role of Maude Findlay on “All in the Family” and said, “Here it is.” She said, “What took you so you long?” That of course spun off into her hit series, “Maude.” Although she’d had a successful stage career, TV put her on a much different level of visibility. Beyond the upcoming screenings in Orinda and San Francisco, what’s next for the documentary? This mini-tour is only nine cities, where she has a fan base and where she did her one-woman show. The film has footage of that. I wanted to do something special for her fans. After each screening, we’ll do a Q&A and I’m excited to hear stories from her fans as well. I’m also eager to pass on her legacy as a philanthropist and a huge ally of LGBTQ community. In each city, we’re donating proceeds to LGBTQ organizations. In San Francisco, we’re donating them to LYRIC. In her will, she quietly left $300,000 to the Ali Forney Center in New York City, which houses and supports LGBTQ kids who’ve been kicked out of their homes for being gay. That’s the quiet, behind-the-scenes Bea Arthur that I knew.t ‘Bea Arthur: The Documentary’ at the Orinda Theater, 2 Orinda Theater Square. $15. Oct. 10 at 6:30pm & Oct. 11 at 1:15pm. At the Balboa Theater, 3630 Balboa St., SF. $12.50-$15. Oct. 12 at 7:30pm Q&A with filmmaker Dan Watt to follow all screenings. www.beaarthurdocumentary.com
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20 • Bay Area Repor ter • October 1-7, 2026
Other Minds Festival by Stephen J. LeBlanc
T
he San Francisco nonprofit Other Minds has supported and presented accomplished musical composers who work outside the classical mainstream for the past 30 years. Its 30th festival runs Oct. 8 through 11 at Brava Theater in the Mission. The festival features four nights and four concerts, each preceded by a panel discussion with the artists. Other Minds Festival this year welcomes back to San Francisco groundbreaking queer composer and vocalist Kristin Norderval, who returns for two world premieres of her compositions on Oct. 10. Norderval will perform “We Demand Justice” and “Volutions,” both written this year, for voice, live electronics, and traditional Norwegian Hardanger fiddle, played by Elizabeth Gaver. “The two compositions were built around the 200th anniversary of Norwegian immigration to the United States, and set 250-year-old Norwegian folk Hardanger music against newly composed and improvised material,” explained Norderval in a phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter. Norderval was in Vienna for the premiere of her new opera, “The Sailmaker’s Wife.”
Musical invention
Norderval and Gaver are Americans who built their careers in Norway. Norderval earned her master’s degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the 1980s, During that time, she composed for the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Chorus, founded in 1980 by Jon Reed Sims. The chorus sings today as the Queer Chorus of San Francisco. The electronic system Norderval performs with is her own invention. The Expanded Vocal Improvising Instrument, or EVII, is a gestural vocal processing system controlled by wire-
less MIDI rings, which allows Norderval to shape her processed voice by moving her hands. Norderval’s voice and performance with EVII make for a unique and at times haunting musical experience. Norderval developed EVII between 2019 and 2023 as a doctoral research fellow at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, and her own term for the mediated voices the EVII produces is “Queer Sonic Avatars.” When asked what makes the sonic avatars queer, Norderval explained that the EVII uses variable changing delays and feedbacks controlled with her hand gestures. The repeated loops from the EVII can be short or long, with Norderval controlling the shapes of the loops during the performance. The modulated sounds are not entirely determined and therefore can create interesting overlaps, chords, or interference. The EVII works mostly with time stretch and compression instead of pitch shift. In performance, her hand gestures can look a bit like playing a theremin, with her gestures having an effect on the live music. Norderval demonstrates the instrument in a short video, “EVII and me!” “It is queer in that it is relational,” Norderval told the B.A.R. “EVII is an improvising partner because I can’t exactly control what I get back. The singing is coming from me and then back to me through EVII and therefore not entirely me anymore. It is risky like same-sex relationships are risky and that makes it very queer. Also, I’m queer, therefore my music is queer.” Social engagement and activism have been constant in Norderval’s catalog. Her 2016 opera, “The Trials of Patricia Isasa,” with a libretto by Naomi Wallace, follows the Argentine architect who was abducted and tortured at 16 under the junta and who later prosecuted her torturers. It won Quebec’s Opus Prize for both best contemporary music and best production. Her
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Composer Kristin Norderval and many musicians to perform at Brava Theater
Fin Serck-Hanssen
Rodrigo Bussad
Left: Composer Kristin Norderval Middle: Other Minds Associate Director and composer Joseph Bohigian Right: Ensemble Decipher Chicago is among the musicians at the Other Minds festival
film project “m/y much desired one...” sets text by the lesbian feminist writer Monique Wittig, whose split pronoun supplies the title’s spelling.
Note-ables
This year’s Other Minds Festival is notable as the last programmed by Charles Amirkhanian, who co-founded Other Minds with Jim Newman in 1992 and has curated every festival since. On July 30 the organization announced that he will step down as executive and artistic director and become director emeritus. Joseph Bohigian, the composer who has served as associate director since 2022, becomes artistic director on Jan. 1, 2027. Opening night is the world premiere of Bohigian’s largest work, “I Am He Whose Life and Soul Are Torment,” which is a multimedia work about Soviet Armenian filmmaker Sergei Parajanov. Parajanov was arrested in Kyiv in December 1973 and charged under the Soviet antisodomy statute as a pretext for silencing a nonconformist artist. Sentenced to five years, he was released in 1977 after an international
campaign that included notable artists such as Tarkovsky, Fellini, Godard, and Truffaut. Ukraine’s National Commission for Rehabilitation formally exonerated Parajanov in December 2023. According to Bohigian, Parajanov’s bisexuality was an open secret. “I have always been drawn to his films,” Bohigian told the B.A.R. “I am Armenian and very invested in Armenian culture. Parajanov’s films, especially ‘The Color of Pomegranates’ (1969), use sound and music in profound ways to enhance his cinematic art. My piece explores the inner world of Parajanov, who lived a fascinating and tumultuous life, and uses the songs of 18th-century bard Sayat Nova, the subject of ‘The Color of Pomegranates.’” Bohigian’s composition is sung in Armenian, Azeri, and Georgian, with live electronic manipulation of recordings by folk musicians of the South Caucasus. Khatchadour Khatchadourian sings and plays duduk, with Ensemble Decipher on electronics, scenic design by Tara Baghdassarian, and costumes by Karo Yagjian. The Oct. 9 concert brings Swiss pianist Sylvie Courvoisier in an improvised solo set drawn from her album “To Be Other-Wise,” three pieces by Princeton composer Juri Seo, and the Iranian singer Mahsa Vahdat performing “My Voice is My Home” with
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Imperial Teen
From page 17
music and just still stylish and sexy so that inspires me even though I’m not too old. I’m 54, which sounds crazy to me, but ok. Like I love the way Kim Deal and Kim Gordon look and sound with their solo records. Also, Madonna’s album has been a big inspiration to me and the short film that she made with my former Hey Willpower backup dancer Solomon Chase and his partner David Toro (aka TORSO) is genius. RB: Yes, for sure. That line is a little bit on the nose, but yeah. I love that line, I love our lyrics. I was particularly proud of the line in that song. “Let’s stitch it up with a needle,” really speaks to me. It’s my favorite song on the record, too. It’s gut wrenching for me. We sing about aging a lot. Doesn’t everybody? We’re meant to feel so bad about it. I like to think that through our record making, we’re embracing aging. I’m never gonna get Botox!
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“Gotta Get You Home,” with the lines “We learn to be more scandalous/We’re turning into anarchists” and “Bringing It Down,” which includes the lines “They’ve ripped the wings off an eagle/Let’s stitch it up with a needle,” feel like political statements. Does that sound correct to you? WS: Yes, we’re very political in our personal lives but it’s more like we try to live our politics than overt political activism. Lynn and I keep up with the news a lot and get ourselves all worked up and Jone and Roddy maybe less so but they’re living their lives in a political way in their communities just being themselves and being outspoken advocates for anyone considered weird
Atabak Elyasi on setar. Vahdat is an exiled Iranian singer and a central figure in Iranian women’s fight for artistic freedom, and she now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Norderval shares Oct. 10 with the improvising duo Foreign/Domestic, guitarist Zachary James Watkins and drummer John Diaz, and with King Britt, the Pew fellow and UC San Diego professor who was Digable Planets’ original DJ, performing “Moksha Black” with visuals by Alingo Loh. The Oct. 11 matinee closes the festival, with outgoing director Amirkhanian’s “Sonatina for Four Bass Drums,” Op. 4 (1963, rev. 1965), written when he was a teenager, Dutch sound poet Jaap Blonk, and Charlemagne Palestine, 79, improvising at the piano on his early 1970s “Strumming Music.” The Oct. 11 matinee closes the festival with Dutch sound poet Jaap Blonk and with Charlemagne Palestine, 79, improvising at the piano on his early 1970s “Strumming Music.”t Other Minds Festival 30 at Brava Theater, $23-$66 individual concerts, $71-$209 festival pass. 2781 24th St., Oct. 8-11. Panels begin at 7pm, concerts 8pm; Sunday panel at 3pm, concert 4pm. www.otherminds.org www.kristinnorderval.com
by the mainstream. Together, we want to represent ourselves as progressive, inclusive and open and it’s important to be louder and more direct about it these days with the country being taken over by an authoritarian party. RB: The past seven years have been so overtly political, how can we not sing about it? COVID happened. BLM happened. So many revolutions. Palestine. There are so many horrors continuing to happen. We, I should say I, am a wreck. The country we live in is threatening to kill me. I feel it every day. Roddy, while we’re talking about “Bringing It Down,” your partner Joey Holman, with whom you perform as the musical duo Man On Man, can be heard playing guitar on that song with Imperial Teen. What does it mean to you to have him performing with the band? RB: He’s simply a better guitar player than me. Will is pretty good with noise, but Joey is real adept at getting a particular noise. We did a lot of the guitar tracking in Provincetown at my house there and when we record, we tend to use things that are close by. That feels like a cold explanation. Let me try again. We asked Joey to play guitar because he’s special and he’s the most pertinent heart in my life.t
Read the full interview, with music videos, on www.ebar.com. Imperial Teen, October 15 at Bottom of the Hill; Kids on a Crime Spree and Crows open; $20-$25, 8pm, 1233 17th St. www.bottomofthehill.com www.imperialteen.com
<< Books
22 • Bay Area Repor ter • October 1-7, 2026
Lisa M. Stulberg
Author discusses ‘How to Win a Culture War’
by Michele Karlsberg
most difficult to sustain in today’s political climate? The six strategies I highlight are: become visible; use available platforms; change your workplace; overachieve; become normal; and stay queer. Right now, I think changing the workplace is especially difficult. We have seen pressure to scale back or abandon DEI efforts, and, in Hollywood, the creative opportunities that opened up during the streaming boom have narrowed. Storytelling increasingly leans toward what is considered the “safe” gamble. Anything outside that middle is often labeled too “risky,” too “political,” or too “niche.” As the political right continues to attack efforts to embrace diversity and inclusion, it becomes increasingly difficult to move workplaces toward full LGBTQ+ inclusion in labor, storytelling, and representation.
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isa M. Stulberg’s work approaches LGBTQ+ culture and social change with the kind of thoughtful, expansive thinking that is so often missing from today’s conversations. Her ability to look beyond the headlines asks how change actually happens, how stories, visibility, artists, athletes, television, film, and popular culture can slowly reshape the way people see themselves and one another. In “How to Win a Culture War: LGBTQ+ Social Change Through Pop Culture,” she brings together fourteen years of research. Interviews with people working across entertainment, sports, and activism, create a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the people and moments that have helped move LGBTQ+ culture forward. Her work reminds us that the cultural changes we sometimes take for granted did not happen by accident; they were built by people willing to be visible, take risks, challenge institutions, and create something new. Michele Karlsberg: Your book argues that pop culture has been one of the most powerful engines of LGBTQ+ social change. Why do television, film, music, and sports sometimes succeed in changing hearts and minds where politics often fails? Lisa M. Stulberg: This is definitely a paradox: the politics of the past few years have become increasingly anti-LGBTQ+ while pop culture has generally become more LGBTQ+inclusive. I think the answer lies in the
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Author Lisa M. Stulberg
reach of pop culture and the intimate way we relate to it. We feel closely connected to the characters we love on TV, the athletes we root for, and the musicians we listen to. We let them into our homes and our lives, and in the process we may come to care about people who are different from us. While we are being entertained, we may not even realize that we are learning and letting something new in. You interviewed 170 actors, writers, athletes, musicians, and activists over fourteen years. Was there one story or interview that fundamentally changed how you think about social change? More than any one interview, I
think the cumulative impact of talking with so many people who are excellent at what they do reminded me of the importance of art and pop culture. I was also surprised by how many people did not think of their culture work as explicitly political. They simply wanted to excel at their art or sport, and were happy if that work also contributed to social change. That changed how I think about social change: it is important to devote yourself to social justice, but it is also important to do what you love and what you are good at in a way that contributes good to the world. One of your central ideas is that culture workers use six strategies to create change. Which is the
You use the late-2025 television phenomenon “Heated Rivalry” as an example of how much has changed. What does its success tell us about where American culture is today, and where it still has room to grow? I’m a huge fan of the show and have been fascinated by the public response. Its success shows that queer stories can sell. We already knew this, but in a moment when Hollywood decision-makers have pulled back, it is an important reminder that what is good for business can also be good for social justice. The show’s success also demonstrates that many people needed a story about queer joy and love. I was
especially moved seeing an online video of a bar full of people cheering when Scott and Kip kissed on the ice. It was a collective moment of joy and cheering for love, a striking contrast to today’s political effort to dehumanize queer people. But there is still enormous room to grow. Queer people remain underrepresented in mainstream media, especially women, trans and nonbinary people, and queer people of color. Heated Rivalry is one great example of how an unexpected queer story can shatter expectations and hopefully make room for the next one. You’ve written that progress often comes through storytelling rather than arguments. What makes a compelling story more persuasive than statistics or political debate? Stories build connection and empathy. When we become immersed in a good story, we grow to love its characters and understand their experiences, often across differences that might otherwise divide us. Several people I interviewed described comedy as a kind of “spoonful of sugar” or “Trojan horse,” a way of bringing an idea to audiences who might resist a direct political message. The goal is usually not to preach; it is to tell a good story. But that storytelling can open hearts and minds through laughter and connection.t
Read the full interview on www.ebar.com. www.press.uchicago.edu
‘Behind the Salute: A Cadet’s Journey’ by Laura Moreno
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uthor Mauricio Lucho’s gripping semi-fictionalized literary novel “Behind the Salute: A Cadet’s Journey” gives readers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the way the military implemented its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy. The policy was a political compromise intended to be progressive, but its implementation ended up being unintentionally punitive. This book documents Mauricio’s harrowing freshman year in 1995 at an elite Texas military university, a time when the DADT policy suddenly made his sexual identity a dangerous secret.
Squad leader Ari Strait, perhaps sensing Mauricio was different, soon targeted him for hazing, cruelty, and isolation. The blatant psychological and physical abuse was spurred on by Brittany, a cruel and jealous Texas debutante. In this toxic environment, Mauricio’s friendship with Justin, a courageous cadet, as well as his mother’s Mexican dichos, or sayings, give him the strength he needs to endure. But then sudden tragedy shatters Mauricio’s world and he must dig deep inside himself to find a way to keep going. This is a beautifully written book that military culture buffs and readers of LGBTQ and coming of age literature will not want to miss. In our in-
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terview, Lucho discussed the real-life experiences that shaped his novel.
Laura Moreno: You initially began writing this project over two decades ago as a memoir. What made you decide to write it as a novel instead, and how did this change the way you told your story? Mauricio Lucho: When I first began writing this project, I intended it to be a memoir. I relied heavily on my journals and photographs, and I even filled two poster boards with Post-it notes to storyboard the people and events I wanted to include. Like many long-term projects, life and my career caused me to pause and restart several times. Around 2015, a colleague read my first few chapters and gave me some of the most valuable feedback I’ve ever received. He told me it read like a journal rather than a story. There were too many characters, the structure was weak, and I needed to learn the craft of storytelling. He handed me two books that changed my approach: “On Writing” by Stephen King and “Story” by Robert McKee. As I rewrote the manuscript, I began merging characters, blending real experiences, and introducing fictional elements. Eventually, I realized I was no longer writing my memoir. I was writing a novel centered on a fictional character named Mauricio. That shift gave me far more creative freedom. It allowed me to create distance between my own life and the story. I didn’t want my family and friends to assume that every event in the novel had happened to me. Creating Mauricio gave me the opportunity to tell a more compelling story while making it clear that “Behind the Salute” is a work of fiction inspired by lived experiences. The book captures a powerful irony: while your protagonist is perceived as weak due to his sexuality, he ultimately proves to be one of the strongest and most re-
Author Mauricio Lucho
silient men in the unit. How does this book challenge traditional definitions of “strength” and “masculinity” in the military? “Behind the Salute” follows Mauricio through his freshman year in a corps of cadets at an elite Texas university. Mental and physical strength were required to survive the relentless hazing that Mauricio and his classmates endured in an all-male unit where women were not allowed. Many who started didn’t finish. Mauricio’s struggle was unique because he was hiding his sexual orientation during the DADT era, making him especially vulnerable in an already unforgiving environment. Mauricio was simply fighting a battle that no one else could see. “Behind the Salute” paints a vivid picture of the constant selfsurveillance and isolation required to survive the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era. For readers too young to remember that period, what do you hope they take away about it? Many younger readers may have heard about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, but
they may not fully appreciate what it meant to live under the policy every day. The rule wasn’t just about remaining in the closet. It required constant self-surveillance. Every conversation, every friendship, every glance, and every relationship had to be filtered through the fear of being discovered. Living two lives –one authentic and one acceptable– was exhausting. I hope younger readers never have to experience what it feels like to earn the right to serve or pursue their dreams only by pretending to be someone else. At the same time, my wish is that they recognize the resilience of those who served their country with honor while carrying an invisible burden that many of their fellow service members never had to bear.t
Read the full interview on www.ebar.com ‘Behind the Salute: A Cadet’s Journey’ by Mauricio Lucho, 248 pages, Kindle edition $4.99, paperback $14.99. www.mlucho.com
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Books>>
October 1-7, 2026 • Bay Area Repor ter • 23
Fall into books, 2026 roundup part 4
by Jim Piechota
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n the fourth edition of our autumnal literary reviews, we’ve discovered some great reads that will reintroduce you to the lives of Vincent Price and much-overlooked dancer and choreographer Jack Cole. Are you a homo homeowner? Get tips on how to become the fix-it fanatic. Then cozy up with an outstanding collection of poetry from a talented local writer. “Diabolically Good: The Movie Career and Afterlife of Horror Icon Vincent Price” by Drew Pisarra $17 (Anxiety Press) Author, poet, and playwright Drew Pisarra’s latest book is a curious and wildly inventive reimagining of Vincent Price’s (1911-1993) fictional afterlife adventures fused with pages spotlighting his rich film and performance history. For those who only recognize Price’s work casually, Pisarra is more than happy to reintroduce readers to the mustachioed, deeply debonair, 6’4” framed actor known for much more than the chilling voice lurking behind Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” track. With five decades of film credits and more than 200 roles in movies and voiceovers, Price was a legend and his work iconic (and unmistakably campy and queer) within the horror genre, specifically. Pisarra’s book employs several different media styles, including an opening script for a radio play entitled “Price in Purgatory” depicting Price as a resurrected spirit in Purgatory who must reconsider his former life and
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career. This is followed by an extensive filmography of Price’s numerous film roles, and clever commentary on everything from his first movie appearance in “Service De Luxe” in 1938 to a late career role as an elderly inventor in Tim Burton’s masterful “Edward Scissorhands” in 1990. While Price was at times enigmatic and other times boldly theatrical, Pisarra refamiliarizes audiences with his life and grand legacy in a humorous, thoughtful, and uniquely honorable way. This one’s a devilish delight. www.drewpisarra.net “Lost and Found: A Compassionate Guide to Homeownership” by Mercury Stardust $29.99 (Penguin/Random House) Transgender activist, media star, author, and effervescent home maintenance technician better known as the “Trans Handy Ma’am,” Mercury Stardust follows up her 2023 #1 New York Times bestseller “Safe and Sound: A Renter-Friendly Guide to Home Repair” with this full-color DIY gem targeting new homeowners. For those who seek to purchase a house but are terrified by the search and acquisition process (especially finding a reliable realtor) as well as the daunting prospect of regular home maintenance and upkeep, Stardust takes the guesswork out of a wide range of homestead dilemmas beginning with getting the most out of your house hunting experience and how to remain a vigilant consumer when selecting, appraising, and purchasing a home. The book’s index itself might seem overwhelming, but the author feels
your pain and imparts her own experiences (with her partner, ZZ) as homebuyers and homeowners directly into the text. Her conclusions are sunny as she reflects that “being a homeowner has been the adventure of a lifetime; it has brought more joy and bigger smiles to my face than I have ever had in my entire life.” This is a must-read for anyone considering a new home purchase or in the throes of a major home renovation. penguinrandomhouse.com www.mercurystardust.com “Another Anthem of Fabulous Survival: Poems” by T.S. Leonard $19.95 (Fordham Univ.) Local San Francisco-based educator, performer, and poet T.S. Leonard collects his best and most moving poetry into this debut volume of queer wit and wonder. Five sections offer a variety of themes and moods circling around the event of a time traveler who crash lands into a gay bar. The traveler must now evaluate the landscape and the atmosphere through “decades and geographies” and in places where music to the traveler sounds like “sex with the angels.” Scattered in between the time traveler’s adventures are nostalgic histories like his teenaged role in a school play where he felt the first velvety pangs of queer desire, the first time the traveler ever got in drag, the empowerment he felt after being called a faggot, and bathhouse shenanigans enjoyed with the kind of close friend who only needs a brisk glance to understand the other friend’s situation and mood. The annals of San Francisco’s gay
“Jazzed: Jack Cole and Twentieth Century American Dance” by Debra Levine $40 (Univ. Press of Kentucky) Dance critic Debra Levine’s impeccable biography of queer American dancer, choreographer, and theatre director Jack Cole (1911-1974) charts his life as an underrecognized and misunderstood behind-the-scenes performance impresario. Known as the flamboyant “Father of Theatrical Jazz Dance,” Cole began his career as a modern dance performer in the 1930s and eventually became a dance teacher and a highly influential and sought-after choreographer. At the height of his career, he was best known for integrating African American jazz dance styles into theatre productions ranging from the boards of Broadway to big-name Hollywood film sets to the iconic dance numbers featuring Marilyn Monroe. Intensively researched and written with passion, Levine became obsessed with her subject after seeing
“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” in 2008 and then having a discussion with experimental filmmaker Kenneth Anger who acknowledged that it was Cole who choreographed Monroe’s dance arrangements exclusively and with whom they shared a six-picture creative relationship. This profile of an unmatched pioneer in theatrical dance and performance is exceptional. www.kentuckypress.com “The Living Realm” by Jordan Tannahill $25 (Macmillan) At under 200 pages, Canadian author and playwright Jordan Tannahill’s latest novel might seem like a fleeting entertainment, but it’s a quiet storm packed with the complexities of love, friendship, death, and the magic of everyday life. The story follows an unnamed British archaeologist in Berlin who frequents the sprawling woodlands of Grunewald Forest’s southern bank in search of sex and connection. Flanked by his friends Gabor and Birgit, the trio escapes a stifling local summer heat wave in the waters of Teufelssee Lake, embedded deep within the forest, then partaking in anonymous sexual adventures cloaked within Grunewald’s dense pine glades. When the narrator begins seeing visions of his past deceased lovers in the woods, he considers it to be mystical magic, or psychosis, or some manifestation of unfinished desire. None of his friends believe him, but he knows what he sees and feels and listens to as his conversations with the dead are, to him, palpable and emotionally crushing. www.us.macmillan.comt
Proudly Celebrating our 49th Year!
Barry Bostwick
1977 – 2025
From page 17
Of the recent death of his costar Tim Curry, said Bostwick, “I know there’s going to be a lot of questions about that and there’s been so much in the press about him and his history and his personal life. Even with his close friends; he kept everything very close to his chest. He was very smart. He wanted to just disappear. I think he maybe even talks about that in his book (“Vagabond”). He wanted to disappear into the parts that he was playing. He didn’t really have that need to stand up and shout, ‘Look at me!’ as Tim Curry.” Bostwick referenced the many diverse roles that Curry performed in stage, TV and film. “He just had such a prolific, varied career that, for somebody like myself who tries to do as much as I can in different genres, he was always an inspiration to me.” Yet “Rocky” remains a favorite. “When you look back, I’ve talked to Richard O’Brien and I asked, ‘Did you have any idea about how it was going to affect anybody?’ He said, ‘No, I was just writing a fairy tale.’ He was just writing Hansel and Gretel, or Adam and Eve’s loss of innocence. It’s as much of a surprise to him as it is to the rest of us that, 51 years later, people still want to talk about it and are enthused.”
community shine in the poem “Like a Prayer” where bars, drag queens, AIDS, AZT, missing friends, and community ruminations converge into one gloriously “divine thread that runs like a velvet rope, keeping all of us in a line with our ancestors who came before and wept.” Powerful, meaningful, relevant, and artistic, T.S. Leonard’s works of poetry are dazzling as this luminous artist conveys his experience and his love of life (and the San Francisco Bay Area) to the page with vulnerability and charm to spare. Poetry fans: don’t miss this one! www.fordhampress.com
Barry Bostwick at a recent fan convention
When he’s not traveling for the “Rocky Horror” tour, Bostwick has taken up pottery in the arts-oriented community where he lives. He said he’s looking forward to visiting San Francisco yet again and encouraged “Rocky Horror” fans to bring out their best. “I love this movie and I love what it says, and I love the fans of it,” said Bostwick. “It’s something that should never be forgotten or put on the back burner, particularly in this day and age.”t
Read the full interview on www.ebar.com. ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ with Barry Bostwick at the Curran Theater, with a Q&A, the Barely Legal shadow cast, a costume contest, memorabilia display, a VIP meet & greet, $73-$219, Oct. 11, 7:30pm, 445 Geary St. www.us.atgtickets.com
Monday 8am (last seating 9:45pm) Tuesday Open 24 Hours Wednesday Open 24 Hours Thursday Open 24 Hours Friday Open 24 Hours Saturday Open 24 Hours Sunday 7am (last seating 9:45pm)
3991-A 17th Street at Market & Castro (415) 864-9795
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Extraordinary. Fearless. Live.
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Join us for performances as wide-ranging as your curiosity! Coming this season: Best-selling author Michael Pollan and neuroscientist Christof Koch (Oct 13) in a wide-ranging conversation about psychedelics and consciousness.
Leading cultural critic and commentator Angela Davis (Oct 28) reflects on enduring visions of freedom. William Kentridge’s The Head & the Load (Nov 12–15), declared by The New York Times as a “fiercely beautiful historical pageant.”
Judy Collins (Oct 18) celebrates her remarkable six-decade career—“a lovely trip down memory lane” (Toronto Guardian).
Lise Davidsen (Nov 19), “the greatest soprano in the world” (Telegraph) sings Bach, Wagner, and more. Cirque Kalabanté (Nov 28–29) in a high energy spectacle featuring mind-blowing acrobatics for the whole family.
WILLIAM KENTRIDGE’S THE HEAD & THE LOAD
calperformances.org The official source for Cal Performances’ tickets.