San Francisco Bay Times - August 14, 2025

Rainbow Grocery at 50

The World’s Queerest Grocery Store Provides a Blueprint for Democracy

Perhaps it is the longer days, the mixture of fog and sun, or the influx of visitors, but summer in San Francisco for hundreds of years has been synonymous with influential, significant events. Examples include the very founding of the city, on June 29, 1776; LGBTQ+ Pride parades and festivals; and the explosive cultural phenomenon known as the Summer of Love that drew at least 100,000 young people into the HaightAshbury in 1967. Those individuals championed ideals of peace, love, freedom, and anti-war sentiments. Out of such values emerged a vision for a People’s Food System using food distribution as a form of community building and political education. This, in turn, led to another summer breakthrough moment in San Francisco: the founding of Rainbow Grocery Cooperative. It was in August of 1975 that the People’s Food System political group and an ashram founded what would soon become the worker-owned and operated co-op. The original store was located at 3159 16th Street near Valencia. (Gestalt Craft Beer Bar is now at that site.) On the other side of the bay, the Berkeley Co-op already had been thriving since 1939 and at one point had become one of the largest urban cooperatives in the U.S. In 1983, marking a period of growth, Rainbow moved to 1899 Mission Street.

This allowed the grocery and general store to all be under the same roof. Yet another move took place in 1996, when the cooperative packed up and headed to 1745 Folsom Street. Rainbow has been at this location ever since.

The Rainbow Grocery Cooperative Mission

The goals of the cooperative have mostly remained the same over the past five decades. They are stated as:

• providing affordable vegetarian food products, which have minimal negative impact ecologically and socially;

• buying goods from local organic farmers, collectives, bakers, dairies, and other local businesses whenever possible;

• providing our customers with the best possible service;

• donating to local nonprofit organizations and schools;

• encouraging bicycling, mass transit, and alternative transportation;

• providing Rainbow Grocery Cooperative’s workers with a livable wage;

• creating a nonhierarchical work space based upon respect, mutuality, and cooperation;

• offering low-cost health care products and resources;

• supporting other collectives and workerowned businesses;

• supporting fair labor practices;

• composting all in-store green wastes; recycling, reducing, and reusing resources whenever possible;

• and creating a diverse, non-discriminatory multilingual environment.

The cooperative adds, “We maintain an ongoing commitment to make Rainbow Grocery Cooperative an inclusive environment that is welcoming to everyone.”

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Rainbow Grocery at 50

Rainbow Grocery Timeline

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Rainbow Grocery Cooperative. Here are some noteworthy years for Rainbow over the past five decades:

August 1975 - The first Rainbow Grocery store was opened at 16th and Valencia: 3159 16th Street in the Mission.

1976 - Rainbow filed ownership status as a nonprofit corporation.

1981 - Rainbow dropped out of the People’s Food System—a network of worker-owned cooperative stores and other businesses—but the People’s Cooperating Warehouse allowed Rainbow to shop without a vote.

1983 - Rainbow, thanks to $250,000 in loans from customers, moved to a bigger location on the corner of 15th and Mission streets.

1984 - Rainbow’s sales went up by 68% in the first year at the new location.

1985 - Workers at Rainbow obtained group health insurance.

1988 - Rainbow received massive publicity from a front-page article in the San Francisco Bay Guardian. (The paper shut down in 2014,

but partially relaunched online in 2016.)

1993 - Rainbow incorporated its status as a Worker-Owned Cooperative.

1996 - Rainbow moved to its much larger, current location on Folsom Street, buying the building and securing an over onemillion-dollar loan from the First National Bank backed by the city government.

1997 - Rainbow’s sales jumped again, 55% in one year following the move and bringing in over 100 new workers.

2002 - Rainbow workers designed the Green Energy Devise by installing daylight harvesting, solar electric and solar thermal panels.

Rainbow’s 50th Anniversary Block Party

The Rainbow Grocery Cooperative on Sunday, August 17, 2025, will celebrate 50 years of being in business. As the Rainbow workers/owners said in a statement, “We are throwing a party as a thank-you to the community and customers. There will be live music, food, giveaways, vendors, art stations for kids, games, and more. This celebration is free to the public.”

The event will take place from noon–6 pm between Folsom and Trainor streets, and on Trainor between 13th and 14th. These streets will be closed off to thru-traffic from 6 am–8 pm on that day. The block party will host over 25 booths, with a range of artistic goods for sale, vendor giveaways, and community outreach programs.

Booths at the Celebration

The booths listed so far include Natural Value (canned food & sundries giveaway),

Lev Probiotic (non-alcohol drinks), Other Avenues (co-op), EWOC (co-op), USFWC (co-op), NOBAWC (co-op), Substrate Arts (local media), COYOTE Media Collective, Arizmendi Valencia (baked goods), Diaspora Spice Co (spices, information), Recchuiti Chocolate (chocolate bars, candy), Pushy Kitty (mocktails), Clarice’s Kitchen (fresh juice), Ghia (juice, non-alcohol drinks), Shaping SF (tours of San Francisco and concerning Rainbow’s history), Rainbow Grocery Cooperative booth one (tees, totes, and hats for sale), Rainbow Grocery Cooperative booth two (giveaways; totes, tees, and toys), Alkaline Family (hot food, dessert), Oakland Puzzle Co (puzzles!), SF International School (teen original artwork for sale), radio station KALX, local station KXSF, Fitness SF (flyers, pamphlets, information), Tahoe Artesian Water (sparkling and still waters), Living LoCarb (chia pudding), radio station BFF.FM, the SFMTA

2014 - Rainbow became a certified San Francisco Green Business.

2021 - The city honored Rainbow as an official Legacy Business.

2025 - Rainbow installed a new mural from AfroFuturist artist Paul Lewin, dedicated to the cooperative’s longtime co-worker Fredi D’Aguilar.

The Co-op received a Certificate of Honor for its 50th Anniversary from Supervisor Jackie Fielder.

Rainbow celebrates 50 years of being in business!

(The San Francisco Bay Times thanks Rainbow’s Jenny Feng and Gordon Edgar for their help in creating this timeline.)

(flyers, pamphlets, information), the SFPL, Dr Haushka (body care samples), Makunda Studio (chair yoga classes), Hippie Chai (beverages), Ancient Nutrition (supplements, pamphlets), Foods Alive (supplements, pamphlets), Fat & the Moon (bath & body), Yin Yang Naturals (bath & body), Juniper Ridge (sundries and bath & body care), Rize Up Bakery (bread), Volcano Kimchi (kimchi and Korean foods), Uncreamery (vegan cheese), True Delicious (biscotti), SF Herbalists (giving out herbal samples), Chef Sarah Germany (foods and her famous hot sauce), and, last but not least, the San Francisco Bay Times!

Dozens of Performers

The block party will additionally feature dozens of musicians and other performers, with The Curtis Family C-Notes headlining the event. Featured on season 16 of America’s Got Talent, this band has gained national

fame for their Bay Area-inspired funk and has played sold-out shows at the Fox Theatre in Oakland, the Blue Note in Napa, and more. It is led by a mother and father duo with their 5 children who are all multi-instrumentalists, composers, producers, and vocalists.

The lineup for the party, which will start at noon sharp, is as follows: Georgia Blues, David Diaz, Jennifer Kitchen, Squishers Band, The Gibbs, Mambolèo, and The Curtis Family C-Notes.

There will also be sets from these drag artists: Martin Vore, Elsa Touche, Obsidienne Obsurd, Artorious Cade, and Shekinah Love.

Multiple DJs (TBA) will also be spinning tunes at the block party.

https://rainbow.coop/50thparty/

Rainbow Grocery at 50 Special Cheeses Now on Sale for Rainbow Grocery’s 50th Anniversary

Over the Rainbow Cheese Counter

Gordon Edgar

In honor of our 50th Anniversary, we have some of our most special cheeses on sale all month, or until we run out! Rainbow Grocery Co-op Select Cheddar, for example, is a raw milk, three-year-aged cheese we buy from Red Barn Family Farms in Wisconsin. Why is it so special? Red Barn only uses milk bought from small-scale dairy farmers who are humane-certified. This cheddar clicks all our cheese boxes: big, sharp, fruity, and made with unpasteurized milk using some of the best dairy processes possible. Red Barn was founded by a pair of veteri-

narians who wanted to build a company that supports a dying breed: the small family farmer. In addition to requiring a limited herd-size and humane certification, Red Barn also requires that owners actually work at their farms. That’s because, in part, the founders had a vision to support traditional dairy farmers, and not hobbyists or people needing a tax write-off.

We always carry a few of their cheeses. Right now, in addition to the Rainbow Special Select, we have two others. The redwax-covered five-year Heritage Weis was clothbound before the addition of wax What this means to the cheese eater is that the cheese gets a big sharp flavor but also retains enough moisture to not crumble to pieces when you cut it. It’s my favorite cheddar for under $20/lb.

For a short time, we also have the Red Barn nine-year-aged Cheddar. This is amazingly complex—sharp, salty, earthy, fruity—so

there is a lot going on here and, considering the age, it is at a great price while it lasts.

Come down and check these out while they are here. And don’t forget to come to our block party on Sunday August 17, from 12–6 pm!

Rainbow Special Select 3-Year-Aged Cheddar

$14.99/lb. (regularly $24.89/lb.)

Red Barn Heritage Weis 5-Year-Aged Cheddar

$16.99/lb. (regularly $19.99/lb.)

Red Barn 9-Year-Aged Cheddar

$22.99/lb. (only $80 lbs. available!)

Gordon Edgar loves cheese and worker co-ops and has been combining these infatuations as the cheese buyer for Rainbow Grocery Cooperative since 1994. He serves on the American Cheese Society Judging and Competition Committee and is a member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. Edgar has written two books on cheese—”Cheesemonger” (2010) and “Cheddar” (2015)—and lives in San Francisco with his adorable white mini schnauzer named Fillmore Grumble. He writes about grief, and sometimes cheese, at https://bit.ly/42IwYf0

SF Cheese Fest to Mark 10 Years With a Celebration of CA Cheesemakers and Local Bounty

Rainbow Grocery’s cheese counter is the stuff of legend, with this 50th Anniversary year making it even more of a must-visit destination for cheese aficionados. Another destination for this summer’s culinary bucket list is the 10th Annual SF Cheese Fest, which will take place on Saturday, September 13, at the San Francisco Ferry Building Grand Hall. There, a renowned group of California’s established and indie artisan cheesemakers will showcase their creations at the Bay Area’s premier urban cheese festival.

Guests will enjoy dozens of exceptional cheeses paired with preserves, chocolates, charcuterie, local wine and beer, and more—all while savoring breathtaking views of the bay, live music by Brooke & Mike, and a bountiful grazing table, including a cheese wheel cake to mark the fest’s 10th anniversary, created by Ollie’s American Cheese + Provisions of Oakland.

Presented by the California Artisan Cheese Guild, SF Cheese Fest brings together cheese lovers, makers, and mongers for an evening that celebrates craftsmanship, community, and California’s rich dairy heritage.

cheesemongers, and passionate cheese lovers,”

said Candace Allen, President of the California Artisan Cheese Guild and Sales Queen Bee at Beehive Cheese. “This year marks the festival’s 10th anniversary, and we’re planning something truly special. It’ll be a memorable evening brimming with camaraderie, and, of course, incredible cheese!”

“Last year, nearly 300 cheese lovers from 18 states attended, with most coming from across California—especially San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area,” said Valerie Miller, Executive Director of the California Artisan Cheese Guild. “Guests sampled over 75 varieties of cheese, including several making their consumer debut. SF Cheese Fest offers a rare chance to taste and explore seasonal and small-batch creations in a beautiful setting surrounded by cheese enthusiasts.”

“SF Cheese Fest is a celebration of California’s vibrant cheese community and the connection between rural cheesemakers, urban

The festival will start at 5 pm for those with VIP tickets and 6 pm for General Admission. The California Artisan Cheese Guild is a 501c6, and serves as the event’s primary fundraiser. Its mission is to celebrate the quality and diversity of artisan cheeses produced in California through partnerships, outreach, and education.

For more information and tickets to the fest, visit: https://sfcheesefest.com/tickets/

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Application information found on the SF Housing PortalDAHLIA at housing.sfgov.org Applications due by 5pm on Friday, September 5, 2025. Please contact the Chinatown Community Development Center for building information at (415) 821-8950 or TB2W@chinatowncdc.org.

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Visit sf.gov/mohcd for program information.

Whom Can You Trust?

I am not a scientist, but I’ve always placed great faith in scientists, and in the scientific method, for which one standard definition is “the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and definition of a problem; the collection of data through observation and experimentation; analysis of the data; the formulation, evaluation and testing of hypotheses; and, where possible, the selection of a final hypothesis.”

Rigorous application of the scientific method has led humankind to remarkable accomplishments, from eradicating or controlling deadly diseases to exploring the outermost frontiers of our galaxy. While there will always be some disagreement within the scientific community—scientists, after all, come with their own biases and interpretations of

data—most people can agree that the scientific method has overall been a huge plus for humanity.

Until now.

One of the most dangerous tactics of the current administration is that they have made it a priority to attack science, and to cast doubt on everything we thought we knew. Huge swaths of the government’s scientific programs have been destroyed— departments gutted, life-saving research abruptly ended, scientists discredited, disinformation disseminated. Programs that have saved countless lives, and made not just Americans, but also people around the world safer and healthier have been cast aside. With funding for research abruptly ended, we are seeing a massive brain drain of the best and the brightest researchers leaving the U.S. to continue their work in other countries.

Bottom line: they want us to distrust the government. They want to destroy everything we have relied upon for so many years, burning it to the ground and replacing it with their own agenda. I discovered one bone-chilling example of this recently, as I was researching a government website for data on health disparities among marginalized populations. On a Health & Human Services Department page about health disparities experienced by LGBT people, the government placed a prominent disclaimer reading:

“Per a court order, HHS is required to restore this website as of 11:59 pm, February

14, 2025. Any information on this page promoting gender ideology is extremely inaccurate and disconnected from the immutable biological reality that there are two sexes, male and female. The Trump Administration rejects gender ideology and condemns the harms it causes to children, by promoting their chemical and surgical mutilation, and to women, by depriving them of their dignity, safety, well-being, and opportunities. This page does not reflect biological reality and therefore the Administration and this Department rejects it.”

This is not a joke. This is from an official government website. This is the agenda that the current administration is promoting. They are waging an all-out war on truth; a tried-and-true tactic of authoritarian dictators throughout history. They are hell-bent on destroying our faith in the institutions— whether it be government departments (like the Bureau of Labor Statistics or the National Institute of Health) or media like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting— that we have always turned to for objective facts. If they don’t like a particular fact, they simply deny its truth.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. The administration has been strong-arming universities and medical facilities to conform to their agenda as well. In recent weeks, Stanford University, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Kaiser Permanente have all taken steps to limit gender-affirming care for anyone under the age of 19, citing political pressure from Washington, and the threat of losing federal funding. At a rally at Kaiser San Francisco on July 25 protesting these service cuts, many expressed concerns that the cuts wouldn’t stop there—that, before long, these medical facilities will be forced to discontinue gender-affirming care for people of any age.

So, the question is stark: Whom and what can you trust? Our government institutions have been taken over by dangerous ideologues who most definitely do not have our best interests at heart. They have pressured educational institutions, medical facilities, and more to bend a knee to their agenda or be destroyed. Mainstream media has been forced to compromise. They are politicizing institutions that should remain apolitical and trustworthy (ask anyone who received the July 3rd email from the Social Security Administration gloating over the passage of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill”). They are gleefully taking a sledgehammer to the pillars of our society that have sustained us and are dancing in the rubble.

Many of our country’s best investigative journalists are finding new homes in nonprofit media outlets, and news sources from outside the U.S. can also provide excellent reportage and perspective. Read them and support them; they need our help in getting reliable news out to others. Help discourage the spread of disinformation by vetting sources of information before you share them (watch out for those memes and viral videos!). Help to amplify the voices of trusted leaders in your own community. And become a source that others can rely on. It is going to take all of us working together to counter the tsunami of lies, and rebuild trust in each other, and in our country.

Harvey Milk Photo Center Show

It’s time again for the Harvey Milk Photo Center’s annual Member, Staff & Volunteer Show. The show runs from August 15 through October 4, 2025, with an opening reception on Friday, August 15, from 4–7. This show is always worth visiting. Check their website for gallery hours and more info: https://tinyurl.com/HMPC25

Roma is Everywhere!

Our beloved Sister Roma is everything everywhere all at once! While checking out the new San Francisco heart sculpture at the Drumm Street terminus of the California Street cable car line, I noticed that Roma was featured on one of the new informational plaques promoting San Francisco. A few minutes later, I looked up and saw a Muni bus go by with a big advertisement featuring Roma and her fellow Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence promoting their “Safety First, Sexy Second” campaign. Well done, Roma!

The task is now for each of us who still give a damn about our country and are willing to fight for it to do our homework. We must find sources of information and voices we can rely on to keep us informed, to tell us what is really happening, and to encourage and inspire us to act. With legacy media like The New York Times, Washington Post, CBS News, and others giving way to pressure from Washington, we must find alternative news sources that are not beholden to stockholders.

Final Thoughts

Yes, there is a lot of craziness going on around us right now, and a lot of deliberate cruelty. Remember that most people are kind, most people are peaceful, and most people want to help. Please hold fast to your values, your faith, your friends, your loved ones, and your community. Keep modeling the behavior you want to see in the world. We will get through this ... together.

Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Who Is ‘Qualified to Pray for Peace’?

6/26 and Beyond

Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis

This week in Japan is Obon, the millennia-old festival based on the traditional belief that the spirits of the ancestors return to Earth each year to visit their relatives. It’s a time when many Japanese go home to visit family, clean the graves of lost loved ones, or simply take a restorative summer break. This year and every other since 1945, those ancestral spirits have included the victims of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 80 years ago this month.

We’ve visited the Hiroshima historic site a number of times and traveled to Nagasaki a decade ago, by chance just days before the anniversary of the bombing. We’ll never forget standing in the August midday heat and humidity in front of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, enveloped by the pulsating buzz of countless cicadas humming and chirping in nearby trees. We wondered if residents of Nagasaki experienced something similar late in the morning of August 9, 1945 when, as recounted by a survivor, at 11:02 am, suddenly “there was a roar in the distance” and then “in the next instant an incredible blast threw my body through the air.” The explosion killed thousands of people instantly, from infants to elders, and the effects of the blast, both short and long term, resulted in mass devastation and the demise of many others. As another survivor described: “The skin would peel right off when you touched it.”

nuclear weapons but also touches more broadly on war itself.

In Nagasaki, we visited a small museum located next to the simple home of the late Japanese physician and writer, Takashi Nagai, who survived the Nagasaki bomb with serious injuries, but still devoted himself to treating others. A converted Catholic, Nagai lived the last years of his life at the house, often contemplating and writing poetically about his reflections on the bombing and its aftermath. Nagai was unequivocal: “Nuclear war ... is the most disappointing, most brutal, and most complete form of destruction. Only ashes and bones remain; nothing touches the heart.”

From that day on, people in the United States, Japan, and around the world have discussed and debated the morality of dropping the bombs and who was responsible for the death and destruction that took place 80 years ago in both cities. The debate centers on the use of

To him, “true peace is brought about by pure love, not by complicated meetings or ideologies.” With ink brush in hand, Nagai penned one thousand cards sent to friends and others around the world, stating simply: “Peace Forever.”

In searching for blame for war, many Americans and Japanese, like their counterparts in other past and present wars, may tend to find fault in the other. We were struck when we learned at the museum that Nagai, in fact, did not blame the Americans for the bombing. He asked: “Who turned the beautiful city of Nagasaki into ashes?” and “Who turned this bustling city into a huge crematorium and cemetery?” His answer looked inward: “We did.” He asserted that “we started the foolish war ourselves” and “we let the words, ‘Who takes a knife will die by a knife,’ go through one ear and out of the other” and “busily made warships and torpedoes.”

We don’t think Nagai was letting the Americans off the hook; we believe he was pointing to something deeper. His words reminded us of the writings of the French writer Marguerite Duras. Duras, a member of the French Resistance during the Nazi occupation of France, published, among many works, portions of the personal diary she kept during the war. Shortly before the end of the war in Europe, she took note of how the Nazi regime had “just systematically murdered eleven million human beings with the utter efficiency of a state industry.” She observed that a “new

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Strengthening Divorce Protections for California Families

When families go through a divorce, the legal system should protect the people involved, especially children and financially vulnerable spouses. That’s why I introduced AB 1297, and I’m proud that it was the very first bill signed into law during my time in the State Assembly. Before AB 1297, divorcing spouses could exploit a gap in the law by simply not paying premiums or refusing to renew insurance policies, leaving children or their former partner suddenly without coverage. That risk is now gone.

Delivering Real Protections

My bill makes it the law that, when a divorce petition is filed, all existing health, auto, and life insurance policies must remain in place for the duration of the proceedings. Whether by cancellation, nonpayment, or failure to renew, one party can no longer strip away this safety net.

In practical terms, this means a child will not lose their health insurance in the middle of a custody battle. A spouse will not wake up to find their car insurance has vanished. Families will not be forced into crisis because of a technical loophole.

AB 1297 delivers what Californians deserve: certainty, fairness, and protection at one of the most difficult times in their lives.

This is a meaningful milestone—not just for me, but for the countless California families who now have stronger protections when they need them most.

AB 1297 is a major step forward for family law in California. It ensures our system puts people first, reduces unnecessary conflict in the courts, and holds both parties accountable to act in good faith.

Most importantly, it keeps families protected when they are at their most vulnerable.

I’m proud that my first signed bill reflects the values I’ve always fought for: fairness, accountability, and compassion. This is a win, not just for those facing divorce today, but for every Californian who believes our legal system should provide protection when it’s needed most.

Continuing the Work on Public Safety

While AB 1297 is an important victory, I’m not stopping there. I remain laser-focused on keeping Californians safe in their homes, neighborhoods, and on our streets. Several of my public safety bills are already advancing in the State Senate:

AB 1363 - Wyland’s Law

Named for 10-year-old Wyland Thomas Gomes, who was tragically killed by his father after a restraining order was never properly transmitted to the Department of Justice, this bill strengthens firearm prohibition enforcement. It requires courts to provide proof that restraining orders are sent to the DOJ and creates a system that allows survivors to confirm their orders are on file and enforceable. No one should ever have to question whether the law is protecting them when their safety is at stake.

AB 1085Obstructed License Plates

This bill targets drivers who deliberately obscure their license plates to evade tolls, red-light cameras, or law enforcement. By making enforcement easier and penalties stronger, AB 1085 helps curb reckless behavior, hold bad actors accountable, and keep our roads safer for everyone.

AB 824Protective Order Reform

Protective orders must truly protect. AB 824 requires abusers to surrender

both firearms and ammunition and ensures survivors are informed of their right to appear remotely in restraining order hearings. The bill was inspired by the tragic case of a San Diego couple murdered by their abuser just blocks from a courthouse where they had a hearing that same morning. AB 824 makes protective orders safer, stronger, and survivor-centered. AB 1213 - Restitution First Act

Too often, crime victims are left waiting for justice while offenders’ fines and fees pile up elsewhere. Authored with District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, this bill changes that by ensuring court-ordered restitution is prioritized above other financial penalties. With AB 1213, we put victims first—making sure they receive the compensation they are owed to help rebuild their lives.

These bills build on the same principle as AB 1297: government should work for people, not against them.

As your Assemblymember, I will keep delivering results that make our laws stronger, our families safer, and our communities more secure. With AB 1297, we’ve set the tone—and we’re just getting started.

Assemblymember Catherine Stefani represents California’s 19th Assembly District, which includes the west side of San Francisco and northern San Mateo County. With a background as a prosecutor, policy analyst, and San Francisco Supervisor, she has long been a champion for public safety, affordable healthcare access, and government accountability. She can be reached at 415-557-2312 or at Assemblymember.Stefani@assembly.ca.gov

GLBT Fortnight in Review

Les Temps Perdus

I just found a forgotten file from late June full of bits and pieces of news about our vibrant community. It’s too late to use any of it. I mean, the Million Moms were fixated on a Dove commercial that featured a transwoman showing off her glossy hair, but the Moms are in a constant state of anxiety so if we start rehashing what they were all up about in June and July, we’ll drown. Good for Dove for “pushing an agenda of sexual confusion,” as the Moms explained it.

There was a Pew poll showing a small (but sad) loss of support for GLBTs. I may have covered that, but I don’t think so. And a number of sports teams celebrated Pride in some way, while a number of others didn’t. Oh, and lots of law. Sorry if I shortchanged you on the Oklahoma Charter School case that split 4–4 on the Supreme Court after Justice Barrett recused herself. The tie in this case went to our side, since the Oklahoma Supreme Court had ruled that giving taxpayer money to a religious school was unconstitutional. But before you ask, the ruling arrived as a one-page order with no indication who provided that fourth vote. If I had covered this at the time, I would have found out what the heck was going on there. (It had to be Roberts, right?)

And the ACLU reported the status of another gigantic number of anti-GLBT state laws, noting that many of them define “women

By Ann Rostow

and girls” as people who can produce eggs. I haven’t been able to do that since my hysterectomy many years ago, and I imagine the same is true for all girls under the age of whatever and all women over the age of something something. So, the guys in the state legislatures had better come up with a new definition, such as: “People who were once able to produce eggs or who will someday be able to produce eggs.” That should cover it.

And before we return to August, I accidentally found myself on a Fox News page that was criticizing New York City mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, for going to Uganda. To be honest, I was taken aback when I heard about this trip since you can’t get more anti-gay than Uganda in this world. But Mamdani was born in Uganda so I gave him a break. I haven’t delved into the New York race. I’m not a fan of Cuomo but I generally look for candidates with more experience than the 30-something Mamdani, who has served just four years in the state assembly. Running New York City is a massive job, requiring far more than idealism. That said, I do think we’ve had enough of the Baby Boomers. Give me a tough 45-year-old with some executive experience. The Canicula Is Here!

It’s mid-August, so I’m inclined to lethargy. A discussion may be in order, perhaps, concerning where Meghan Marple’s blush wine ranked on a blind tasting of celebrity rosés

(fourth out of ten), or why we will not be seeing a lesbian romance between Wednesday Addams and her werewolf gal pal, Enid Sinclair (it’s just not in the script). Or we could go off topic. Did you read about the big game hunter from Texas who got gored to death by a Capetown Buffalo? Reports said the buffalo was “unprovoked,” as if the creature was particularly liable for its action. And speaking of safaris, how about the dentist who was convicted of murdering his wife during an African trek? I think there’s a show about him coming up and I believe his paramour was convicted as well. To be honest, I didn’t follow up on the details here. I don’t want to spoil my enjoyment of the screen version.

Before we get out of Africa, check out this New York Post headline: “British mom sexually violated by parasailing operator while midair in Tunisia.” Say what?!

Michelle Wilson, 52, was strapped into her harness with this jackwad who manhandled her and tried to pull off her bikini bottoms. “He was groping me and moving back and forth into me and talking to me in Arabic,” she told the Post. “I felt him pressing against me. I kept arching my back. I felt violated and dirty and was scared.” Wilson reported him as soon as she hit the ground and the 20-something idiot was arrested. What exactly did he think was going to happen once they landed? I won’t pursue what the Post told me to “Read Next” because it was

about a little dog being killed by a mountain lion. Really, Post editors? You had to go there?

It’s the Economy, Stupid

Before that section devolved, I was going to discuss a Washington Post piece about how some Democratic politicians are starting to abandon certain nuggets of political correctness in an effort to construct their own “Sister Souljah” moments. (Bill Clinton’s “Sister Souljah” moment was a rhetorical attack on a Black activist in the run-up to the 1992 election meant to burnish his centrist credentials.)

Now, we find Gavin Newsom admiring guns and dissing transgender athletes. We see Josh Shapiro talking about hunting on Sunday (is that not allowed in Pennsylvania?). And we hear Rahm Emanuel tell Megyn Kelly that a man cannot become a woman. I get where they’re coming from. They’ve watched the Democratic party take all-or-nothing positions on issues that are much more complicated than they seem to an electorate that spends no time at all thinking about gender identity or multiculturalism.

I’ve written about this in the context of transgender rights. We (transgender advocates) have found ourselves metaphorically being asked, “When did you stop beating your wife?” And we stumble and fumble to reply. Because if we point out that the (continued on page 15)

World’s Top Wildlife and Nature Photographers Are Selling Prints to Benefit Conservation International

Prints for Wildlife, an acclaimed fundraising initiative that unites the world’s leading wildlife and nature photographers, will return on August 21, 2025, with “Edition Hope.”

Building on the success of previous editions, which have raised over $2.1 million for conservation since 2020, Edition Hope responds to a new, urgent threat: the global shift away from environmental protection. Conservation programs around the world are facing abrupt funding cuts and a possible future where nature is undervalued, threatening years of progress to protect biodiversity, ecosystems, and the communities that depend on them for their livelihoods.

“In 2025, the crisis isn’t a virus—it’s a withdrawal of critical funding for wildlife and conservation,” said Pie Aerts, one of the co-founders of Prints for Wildlife. “Prints for Wildlife is more than a fundraiser; it’s a platform for connection, consciousness, and hope in a time of crisis.”

“We’ve witnessed how art can spark action,” said Marion Payr, co-founder of Prints for Wildlife.

“We know many people feel powerless in the face of these changes. But there is power in photography. There is power in community. And above all there is still hope.”

One of the largest print sale fundraisers ever, this year’s collection will feature stunning, limited-edition prints donated by more than 200 renowned wildlife and nature photographers, including Joel Sartore, Suzi Eszterhas, Florian Ledoux, Michael Poliza, Gurcharan Roopra, Björn Persson, Vicki

Jauron, and David Lloyd, along with new, emerging voices to expand the movement’s reach and foster greater inclusion.

“We need to reestablish our frayed connection to nature in order to value and protect it. This is where imagery is so powerful,” said Conservation International CEO Dr. M. Sanjayan. “These stunning, unique prints from world-renowned and deeply committed photographers offer us a chance to bring nature into our homes, while contributing meaningfully to its protection for the benefit of all life on our planet.”

Each print is priced at $125 and all net proceeds (after printing and handling) will directly benefit Conservation International, a global nonprofit working to protect nature for the benefit of people and the planet.

Working in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, businesses, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to restore forests, protect oceans, conserve biodiversity, and secure sustainable livelihoods for communities living closest to nature. In the face of escalating climate change and biodiversity loss, its work is more vital than ever.

To learn more about Prints for Wildlife, follow the fundraiser on Instagram @printsforwildlife, sign up for the newsletter ( https://www.printsforwildlife.org/ ) and visit the online shop on launch day, Thursday, August 21, 2025.

Celebration of Dion Lim for 20 Years of Advocacy Through Storytelling

Television news anchor, author, and racial and social justice rights activist Dion Lim was honored on July 31, 2025, for 20 years of advocacy through storytelling, and to celebrate her next chapter to come. Over 450 people attended the event, which was held at Harborview Restaurant in San Francisco.

Those in attendance included San Francisco Chief of Police Paul Yep, who presented Lim with honors on behalf of the city, and State Senator Scott Wiener. Assemblymember and San Francisco Bay Times columnist Catherine Stefani also attended, as did the Bay Times publishers Dr. Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas along with multiple San Francisco Supervisors including President Rafael Mandelman and Matt Dorsey. Leaders from the City and County of San Mateo declared it to be Dion Lim Day, and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown shared words of praise about Lim.

LGBTQ+ community leaders who were at the event included San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Artistic Director and Conductor Jacob Stensberg; Michelle Meow of The Michelle Meow Show; and her wife, performer, singer, and musician Tookta Topline.

Bay Times sports columnist Beth Schnitzer, who is also a colleague of Lim’s through Schnitzer’s firm SpritzSF, was in Europe at the time but was represented by friend Carol Batte of Batte Event Management & Brand Promotion. Special thanks to Batte from the Bay Times for helping with the event and coverage. The celebration was sponsored by Ken Fong, Garry Tan, Austin & Vanita Louie, Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, and the San Francisco Association of Realtors.

Following the evening, Lim said, “It was a night I will never forget. Thank you, Bay Area, for the honor of a lifetime. This wasn’t just my celebration—but for all of us. We’re just getting started!” https://dionlim.com/

GROCERY (continued from pg 2)

racial, and social justice. The cooperative was symbolized by a rainbow three years before Gilbert Baker created the first rainbow Pride flag and likely influenced Baker’s decision about the image and what it represents, especially in terms of diversity.

Many members of the cooperative are openly LGBTQ+. How many grocery stores actually close for Pride because so many workers and shoppers attend the parade and festival?

For Rainbow, Pride merits that level of importance, which puts community gains over the day’s potential financial profits.

Think of any major LGBTQ+ nonprofit and small business in the Bay Area, and there is a good chance that Rainbow has helped to support them in some way. In just the past few months, the co-op has supported the San Francisco LGBT Center’s Pride Well Being Fair, the San Francisco Dyke March, and much more.

And then there are the products that Rainbow carries. Many come from LGBTQ+ owned small farms and businesses. Here is just a partial list:

• Diaspora Co.;

• Equator Coffee;

• Queer Wave Coffee;

• Hey Boo;

• Rancho Gordo;

• Pipcorn;

• Humphry Slocombe;

• Firefly Cheese;

• Nuts for Cheese;

• Uncreamery;

• Cowgirl Creamery;

• Dr. Brew Kombucha;

• Transfigure Print Co.;

• The Found;

• Tom Of Finland Spirits;

• Almanac Beer;

• Eco Terreno;

• Terah sparkling wine.

Environmental Stewardship

The cooperative has extremely high standards in selecting products to carry, and those outweigh limiting factors such as whether or not a business is LGBTQ+ owned. Sustainability is incorporated into every aspect of the business. This includes the products, receipts, packaging, and anything else that might add to the ecological footprint.

In terms of products, some of our San Francisco Bay Times team members are big fans of Kalona Supernatural dairy goods. (No, Kalona doesn’t advertise with us. We wish!) These items used to be widely available in markets, but then Whole Foods and others stopped selling them or reduced the selection. At the heart of Kalona are about 60 family farms with an average of 35 cows per herd and the farms are owned mostly by Amish and Mennonite families for generations. The farmers help to rejuvenate soil, protect watersheds, and store carbon. Because of this, they are considered to be Verified Regenerative by Land to Market ( https://www.landtomarket.com/ ).

Kalona’s gentle, small-batch pasteurization process leads to milks, cheeses, yogurts, and more that preserve the beneficial bacteria, enzymes, and protein—and the flavor. These products are incredibly delicious and Rainbow carries the largest line of them in the entire Bay Area. Rainbow is at the center of a vast ecosystem of businesses like Kalona, helping keep them financially afloat and creating a more direct farm to table connection for consumers. Regarding receipts, Rainbow uses BPA and BPS-free register receipts. BPA and BPS are endocrine-disrupting substances that can be easily absorbed into the skin. Rainbow even has phenol-free receipts that are manufactured using vitamin C instead of phenols, and therefore have a natural yellow tint. Digital receipts are, of course, always an option too.

And it almost goes without saying that Rainbow has been at the forefront of advocating for environmentally-friendly bags, when bags are needed. Thankfully, consumers in general have gotten better about reducing the need for bags and now often bring in their own reusable bags for their hauls. For when bags are needed,

Rainbow offers compostable Biobags that are mostly made out of nonGMO plant-based materials like bamboo and corn. The bags even “breathe,” permitting ethylene gas released by produce to be released and thereby improving storage.

Lessons for Democracy

Democracy at its root is a system where power is held by the people. Many political analysts believe the U.S. has been shifting more to an oligarchy or plutocracy, where mostly wealthy people call the shots. On a more personal scale, individual workers often feel powerless and stressed as they may lack autonomy and experience unfair and biased treatment. Rainbow is one of a handful of local longstanding successful cooperatives—the Cheeseboard Collective in Berkeley is another—that is inherently democratic because it puts control and decision-making into the hands of workers, promotes the “one member, one vote” principle, and fosters the values of self-help and solidarity. It serves as a model for economic democracy that can lead to better wages, greater employee empowerment, enhanced job satisfaction, and community wealth.

Does that model always work? Definitely not. Like the Summer of Love, many cooperatives such as the aforementioned Berkeley Co-op (not to be confused with the still-thriving Cheeseboard) ended because of political infighting, expansion that was too rapid, failure to come to a consensus, and other problems. The members of the Rainbow collective over the years have faced similar difficult challenges but, with great tenacity and hard work, managed to overcome them.

Since Rainbow Grocery helps strengthen small businesses and the entire local community, its success goes far beyond 1745 Folsom Street. It gives hope and possibly even a blueprint for a near-timeless approach to better reaching democratic ideals. At the very least, Rainbow has some of the tastiest food around that nourishes both the body and soul.

And where else under one roof can you find Lesbian feta cheese (made from cows on the island of Lesbos), chocolate bars festooned with prancing unicorns (Omnom from Iceland), and a rosé (Eco Terreno) celebrating Pride? We therefore invite you to join us in giving an enthusiastic queer cheer to Rainbow Grocery for its big “five-oh!” and invite you to visit the San Francisco Bay Times booth at the upcoming 50th Anniversary Block Party on Sunday, August 17, 2025.

https://rainbow.coop/

GAFFNEY/LEWIS (continued from pg 7)

face of death that has been discovered in Germany organized, rationalized produces bewilderment before it arouses indignation. You’re amazed.”

Duras then asked rhetorically: “How can anyone still be a German?” Her answer was startling: “If you give a German and not a collective interpretation to the Nazi horror, you reduce [it] to regional dimensions. The only possible answer to this crime is to turn it into a crime committed by everyone. To share it.”

Perhaps, words similar to Duras’ could be used to describe the effect of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki a “new face of death” that “produces bewilderment before it arouses indignation.” Maybe Nagai’s perspective also mirrored that of Duras when he described Japan’s role in creating the conditions that led to the atomic bombings.

Another of Nagai’s writings on display at the museum admonishes: “The person who prays for peace must not hide even a needle, for a person who possesses weapons is not qualified to pray for peace.” Perhaps Nagai too viewed war as a human crime we must “share” as perpetrators, victims, and those in between.

The issues that Nagai and Duras articulated decades ago pertain to today’s wars and threats of the use of nuclear weapons, and indeed more broadly to human conflict on any level, even between just two people or within ourselves. We offer this piece, not to provide answers, but to spur reflection. Another Nagasaki survivor featured in the museum described in the bomb’s aftermath: “From a blackened body came a faint voice: Water, water, water ... .” Do we still hear their plea today?

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

OBy Donna Sachet

ne of the most amazing opportunities our life in San Francisco presents is meeting celebrities. But, as the old saying goes, “Never meet your heroes,” meaning those celebrities don’t always live up to our expectations. Granted, they may be tired after a performance or surrounded by demanding fans, but any celebrity should be mindful that their fame and success are due to the public who often want a moment or a photograph. We have our share of stories, many pleasant, some less than that, but it is those with tremendous success who take the time to greet their admirers warmly whom we remember most fondly.

Bruce Vilanch certainly fits into that category. Even with decades of success in television, film, Broadway, and live performances, Bruce genuinely appreciates his public attention and enjoys spending time with his fans. He has often appeared gratis for fundraising events here in San Francisco, including for Krewe de Kinque social club, SF Pride, our own Roast of Donna Sachet, and many times for The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation. When we sat down with him in July for a formal interview for the San Francisco Bay Times, scheduled by our friend Mark Rhoades, who also interviewed Bruce on stage at Oasis before a sold-out house, our history stretched back over 20 years, so it was more like a chat between friends.

Actually, we may not realize the full extent of Bruce’s influence on modern culture, since he writes material for so many public figures. He shared with us that he continues to write for Cher We knew that he had involvement in her television shows, both with Sonny Bono and on her own, but he still enjoys working with her. In her blockbuster concerts that may last for nearly two hours, Cher is actually on stage for about half that time, repeatedly exiting for elaborate costume changes and dramatic entrances. And between songs and production numbers, she wants to have some witty banter at hand for her adoring public. Who suggests those sly comments and sharp retorts? Her trusted friend, Bruce Vilanch. Pick up his new book, It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time, for more behindthe-scenes stories and juicy gossip.

On Thursday, July 24, Rainbow Honor Walk honored outgoing Consul General of Italy Sergio Strozzi and his husband Simone Mazzetto with a seated dinner at Poesia in the Castro. This was their last official event in San Francisco and we were so pleased to gather friends and supporters, many of them of Italian descent, together for a delicious Italian dinner. The Rainbow Honor Walk will soon be installing a bronze plaque in a Castro neighborhood sidewalk, honoring Mario Mieli, brought to our attention by Sergio and Simone as an honored pioneer in the Gay movement in Italy. They also brought their precocious son Matteo along, much to the delight of all in attendance, including President Emeritus of the Rainbow Honor Walk (RHW) David Perry, Johnathan Moscone and his husband Ralph Hibbs, Elizabeth Creely, and nearly every member of the RHW Board of Directors.

The Academy SF, whose events often appear in this column, celebrated the venue’s 8-year anniversary on Friday, July 25, and members and many guests packed the club from 7 pm well into the night. Business partners Nate Bourg and Paul Miller rolled out the red carpet. They really created something our community did not have: a low-key, relaxed environment for like-minded people to gather and enjoy each other’s company, very different from the crowded, often loud, and sometimes overly cruise-intense bar scene. Activities there now span from book clubs to game nights, sketch classes to community forums, wine-tastings to musical programs, always expanding in response to member input. And what a great facility for private events! Who wouldn’t want a backyard like theirs with lush landscaping, comfortable seating, fire pits, and privacy? Membership continues to grow. Check it out soon.

We finally made it to Hotel Zeppelin for Downtown Divas, a lively new drag brunch and show, co-starring Alexis Miranda and Queen Cougar Just past the lobby, you’ll take a short flight of stairs down to a sprawling room featuring a gourmet brunch buffet, followed by a drag show with something for everyone. Guest stars for this show were Galilea and Linda Summers, offering classic drag and high energy dramatic dance moves. Alexis emcees with proven flare and performs with a nod to her Latin roots, while Cougar introduces unusual musical selections with a flavor of blues and jazz, all sung live. This is not the typical drag brunch; watch for another show in August and more to come in September.

Finally, we lost one of San Francisco’s Emperors, Jerry Coletti, recently, and Aunt Charlie’s Lounge hosted an intimate celebration of his life and contributions on Saturday, August 2. Empress Galilea organized the program, which included comments from Reverend Lyle Beckman and musical numbers by Empresses Tiger Lily and Alexis Miranda, Emperor Steven Dorsey, and Queen Cougar. The reign and

“It is not the years in your life that count; it is the life in your years.”

Abraham Lincoln

Monday, August 18

Chain of Love

Album Release Concert

Carly Ozard’s live album GTNHS Gallery, 864 Folsom 7 pm Free!

Thursday, September 4

Rainbow Honor Walk fundraiser Celebrating Roger Casement plaque

Irish music, food, & drink Casement’s, 2351 Mission Street 5–8 pm Free! www.rainbowhonorwalk.org

Friday, September 12

2025 Hand to Hand Gala Project Open Hand celebrates 40 years SF Design Center Galleria 101 Henry Adams Street 6–10 pm $300 www.openhand.org

on July 22, 2025

step-down of Emperor Jerry Coletti and Empress Pat Montclaire, over 30 years ago, will always be remembered as a high point in the history of the Imperial Court of San Francisco.

Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com

Transgender History Month

2025 Transgender Flag Raising at San Francisco City Hall

August is Transgender History Month, and to mark the observance, the trans flag was raised at San Francisco City Hall during a ceremony on Thursday, August 1, 2025.

The team at the SF Office of Transgender Initiatives shared, “San Francisco’s 5th annual Transgender History Month has officially commenced! The flag raising ceremony at City Hall included a moving performance by renowned opera singer Lucia Lucas and powerful remarks from Mayor Daniel Lurie, Transgender District Co-Executive Directors Breonna McCree and Carlo Arteaga Gomez, Trans History Month founder Jupiter Peraza, Immigrants Rights Commissioner Jessy Ruiz, and Parivar Bay Area founder Anjali Rimi.”

They added, “This year’s honorees, Jenna Rapues and Peaches Banks, were presented with Certificates of Honor in recognition of their contributions to the community and their years of service to the City and County of San Francisco. Amidst ongoing attacks on the trans community, [the] event served as a statement that San Francisco remains steadfast in honoring our city’s history and the legacy of trans activism and leadership that has made the city what it is today. Happy Transgender History Month, San Francisco!”

The Transgender District, which provided the photos from the flag raising ceremony, also included other images shown here from Transgender History Month events that have happened so far in San Francisco.

SF Office of Transgender Initiatives https://bit.ly/4ft13DQ

The Transgender District https://transgenderdistrictsf.com/

Transgender Leader Morey Riordan Named New Openhouse Executive Director

Morey Riordan, founder of the Transgender Strategy Center and an out transgender man, on August 4, 2025, was named the new Executive Director of Openhouse, the senior-serving nonprofit co-founded by San Francisco Bay Times columnist and senior advocate Dr. Marcy Adelman in 1998. Riordan will assume the role on September 16 of this year.

Riordan has managed teams that provide HIV care and prevention programming, and has overseen grantmaking portfolios that improved health outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS nationally. He also served as the Executive Director of The Sperm Bank of California, a feminist-founded nonprofit assisting LGBTQ+ families and individuals with

ROSTOW (continued from pg 9)

research on puberty blockers is relatively new, or that there’s a difference between college athletes and kids on the playground, or that there’s any gray area whatsoever in the science of gender identity, then we get creamed by absolutism on the other side. We can’t say, “I don’t know,” to anything, because the answer will be, “Well, we know,” followed by a simplistic and dangerous prejudice.

But the solution is not to stand our ground and become absolutists as we have in the past. Nor is to feign political courage by throwing transpeople under the bus. The solution is to campaign on the issues that used to matter to the electorate and will again. The economy, modernization, infrastructure, ideas to improve people’s lives, fairer taxes, child care, and so forth. Transgender issues are important to our community, but they don’t have to be front and center in a Senate race, let alone a presidential one. Neither do GLBT issues for that matter. Not front and center.

No, the Court Will Not Be Revisiting Marriage Equality

I recently encountered an ABC News headline that read: “Supreme Court formally asked to overturn landmark same-sex marriage ruling.” The link leads to a story, plus a two-minute video of an ABC anchorwoman interviewing a reporter who purports to have the lowdown on the looming showdown.

It’s a jaw dropping piece of misinformation, starting with the unlikely idea that a petition from nutball former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis would be accepted for review by a Court that accepts only roughly 1% of all cases that come its way. Davis is trying to challenge a jury decision that awarded six

family building. He additionally has served on the boards of multiple nonprofits, including the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, Openhouse, and ETR, which is a national health equity organization.

“I am thrilled to be joining Openhouse,” Riordan said. “In these uncertain times, I look forward to providing steady and trusted leadership while helping the organization meet this moment strategically. With an eye on sustainability, I am focused on strengthening the collective voice of LGBTQ+ older adults on issues that directly impact their health and well-being.”

“As a 63-year-old transgender man, I think a lot about what kinds of support are available to me and my community as we age,” he added. “I’ve wondered where I will be safe, cared for with my unique needs in mind, and treated with dignity and respect as I age. When I first came into the Openhouse community, I began to breathe easier; I could see the path forward. This is the kind of support that every LGBTQ+ older adult deserves.”

https://www.openhousesf.org

figure damages to two men who were denied marriage licenses by Davis back in the day in violation of the High Court’s 2015 marriage equality ruling. She herself may be seeking an additional 15 minutes of fame, but her lawyers at the Liberty Counsel, an antigay Christian advocacy group, are trying to overturn marriage equality using the same rationale that destroyed Roe v Wade. That’s their long-term agenda, and it’s the reasoning that was embraced by Justice Thomas in a concurring opinion in 2022 when Roe v Wade was overturned.

Thomas’ notion is that the Court made a legal error when it decided that the Due Process Clause guaranteed that certain substantial freedoms would not be abridged even though they were not specified in the Constitution. These are freedoms like the right to buy contraceptives, the right to an abortion, the right to have sex in your home with your gay lover, the right to marry a same-sex partner. Even as Sam Alito recognized that the issue of abortion was different than these other substantial due process cases, Thomas went further, urging that decades of precedent be dismantled, beginning with the 1965 ruling in Griswald v Connecticut, establishing a right to martial privacy.

Farfetched doesn’t begin to describe this effort, and although Sam Alito is indeed capable of all sorts of horrific behaviors, I can’t imagine that anyone else on this conservative bench would follow Sam and Clarence into this dangerous terrain. It takes four justices to agree to hear a case; it takes five to win a majority. No reputable legal analyst on either side of the political divide thinks this tenuous challenge will advance.

Meanwhile, the ABC piece tells us that the Court “is expected to consider the Davis

Healthcare Executive Dr. Deborah Hawkes Appointed as New CEO of PRC

Dr. Deborah Hawkes, formerly the CEO and Executive Vice President of the national network CAN Community Health, has been appointed the new CEO of PRC, the San Francisco-based nonprofit serving individuals living with HIV/AIDS, substance use disorder, homelessness, and mental illness. Dr. Hawkes will bring almost three decades of transformative leadership in health systems, behavioral health, and community services to PRC. There, she will guide the nonprofit’s financial and overall direction, finalize its new five-year strategic plan, and ensure strong governance and compliance. Her leadership is expected to deepen PRC’s impact and expand access to holistic, integrated care for the city’s most vulnerable communities.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Hawkes to PRC,” said Board Chair Darren Smith. “Her unparalleled experience in nonprofit health leadership, combined with a deep understanding of complex funding streams and community-based care, make her the ideal leader for this moment. She has the expertise, heart, and vision to elevate PRC’s work.”

“PRC’s legacy inspires me,” said Dr. Hawkes. “I am honored to lead an organization so deeply rooted in community, advocacy, and healing. My focus will be on integrating medical and social care through wraparound services that promote long-term wellness and true equity for all.”

https://prcsf.org/

case this fall during a private conference,” and, if accepted, “it would likely be scheduled for oral argument next spring and decided in June 2026.” Please! The Court will consider hundreds of petitions at their regular conferences once they return to work in October. And as discussed just now, they are not going to take this case. This is the kind of “journalism” that manages to present a completely skewed version of events without actually stating a lie. It’s infuriating, and although I could go on, I will spare you.

On the Road

Did I ever mention that I used to work for ABC News? I was kicked out of college for a year because I got three “permanent incompletes,” so I got a job as a minion on the assignment desk. One of the assignment editors was a falling down drunk who would go into an office around 6:30 in the evening and fall asleep, leaving me alone to answer all the phones until midnight. The minion on the midnight to eight shift was flaky, so I often got the double shift and the overtime pay, which I loved. We competed with NBC and CBS, so, for years, I’ve felt a certain solidarity with ABC News, but I think my loyalty is waning.

What else is new, you ask? Well, do you remember a big heehaw over the airport initials for the Gaya International Airport in India? The authorities over there tried and failed to get their designation changed from “GAY” to something else, and now they’re trying again after some mucky muck called the abbreviation “socially and culturally offensive.” It looks as if the latest effort is not going well, as the Indian government said changes in these codes are only allowed under “exceptional circumstances.”

I learned in this same article that Fukuaka, Japan, is FUK; Dickinson, North Dakota is DIK; Pocos de Caldas, Brazil, is POO; Perm, Russia, is PEE; and Butler Memorial, Missouri, is BUM. My younger grandchildren would have a field day with these airport codes. They’d probably decide to become air traffic controllers. My favorite airport is the one in Sioux City, Iowa, where there was an unsuccessful attempt to get rid of SUX. When this failed, the authorities decided to lean in, and turned SUX into a brand, complete with lots of fun airport merchandise

Finally, I’m writing from the road and I have to move out of this nice hotel where Mel and I watched back-to-back episodes of Law and Order SVU last night complete with lots of commercials. Two in particular annoyed me: first, the one where a teenaged boy saunters down the street window shopping. His parents are monitoring his spending through some app as they wait for him on a sidewalk bench. “He’s still on budget,” Mom tells Dad proudly. But we just watched him spend at least $500, if not more, on an expensive looking jacket, cool sneakers, a beret, and I forget what else! So, yes, this app might keep your kid on budget, assuming he has a $1,000 daily limit.

The other offender was a bunch of belligerent people with a medical problem in their hands who barged around proclaiming that they wanted their hands fixed without surgery pronto, or else! Okay, okay. Cool your jets, guys! No one’s forcing you under the knife.

arostow@aol.com

Thoughts on My New Release: Chain of Love: A Broadway Album

By Carly Ozard

(Editor’s Note: When the publishers of the San Francisco Bay Times first saw Carly Ozard perform, at Pride Brunches formerly held each year by Gary Virginia and Donna Sachet, they were blown away by her talent, professionalism, and powerful voice. Few can hit all of the notes of songs like Streisand’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” but Ozard does so with ease. When they saw that she has a new album coming out, Chain of Love, they asked her to share thoughts on her song selections, which are some of their favorites as well.)

I’ve fallen in love with musical theatre over and over again throughout my life. Every lyric, every melody, every role and story— they’ve each become a link in my chain of love for Broadway.

As a kid, I would check out stacks of cast albums from the library and devour every show I could find. It was always the music that drew me in first. I didn’t always know the context or the full plot, but the songs—they reached me instantly.

Over the years, I’ve had the incredible honor of working with some truly inspiring people who introduced me to the next song, the next show, the next unforgettable moment I had to sing. Greg MacKellan at 42nd Street Moon, Baker Peeples at Lamplighters, Craig Jessup and Barry Lloyd ... these brilliant minds led me to so many hidden gems and Broadway classics alike.

“Falling Out of Love Can Be Fun” (Track 10) from Miss Liberty is one of my all-time favorites—a song I discovered through Greg MacKellan. Thanks to him, I not only found that tune, but I also got to share the stage with Broadway legends and even sing for Charles Strouse, the genius behind Annie and Bye Bye Birdie, two shows that were the soundtrack to my childhood.

of a non-binary identity. I’ve spent time playing men onstage more successfully than I’ve been allowed to play women; and oddly, that’s where I’ve found the most visibility and resonance. It’s complicated. But it’s also where I’ve found truth. And I hope one day, I get to play the Beast. That would be full circle.

Then there’s “Chain of Love” from The Grass Harp —a song I didn’t even know existed until the late, great Jay Binder brought it into a class I took. Jay, a legendary casting director and teacher, gave us Cockeyed Optimist (Track 1), and introduced this hidden gem with such enthusiasm. When our soprano classmate tried it out, Jay jumped out of his seat, threw his arms up like an orchestra conductor, and conducted the whole number with joy like he was 20 years old again. I was undone.

But it wasn’t until I discovered Rags —a powerful, underrated show by Charles Strouse and Wicked ’s Stephen Schwartz —that I felt truly ignited by a score. That show led me to the voice and artistry of Terrence Mann , my favorite Broadway baritone. Tracks like “Children of the Wind” (Track 2), “Wanting” (Track 8), and “If I Can’t Love Her” (Track 13)—which Mann originated—are now part of my story too. “If I Can’t Love Her” is especially personal. It’s my goodbye to being female, and my claiming

That joy — that is what this album is about. We should all be so lucky to have that kind of joy for what we do. And if we lose it, we have to find it again. Through new songs. New stories. New links in the chain.

Come be part of the journey. Join me for an immersive album listening and live performance experience: Monday, August 18, 2025 at 7:30 pm (doors at 7 pm) in San Francisco For tickets and more information: https://bit.ly/3Js8aAt

And if you miss this one, we’ll be back for another celebration in late October. Hear the album performed live, discover the stories behind the songs, and pick up a copy to take home with you.

Let’s make new links in the chain— together.

With love and showtunes, Carly Ozard

Non-binary entertainer Carly Ozard (They/Them/She) is an actor, musician, and theater educator. As a songwriter, Ozard’s original EDM has garnered collaborations from DJs around the world, and gained radio airplay in France and Mexico with Denar RCRDS. Their nightclub work has been revered on multiple stages, including Feinstein’s 54 Below, Feinstein’s at the Nikko, The Richmond Ermet AID Foundation, The Rrazz Room, Fire Island, Oasis SF, and The Friars Club.

https://www.carlyozard.com/

New Documentary Offers Gelato and Happiness

Out gay filmmaker Jay Arnold went all the way to San Gimignano, Italy, for his tasty new documentary, Sergio Dondoli’s Happy Life, available on demand August 19. Arnold co-wrote and co-produced this portrait of the titular jovial gelato maker with out gay actor Matt Dallas (of Kyle XY fame; Dallas also starred in Arnold’s previous film, Shoulder Dance).

The award-winning Dondoli is a genial subject who recounts how he got started in the business, his success and setbacks, as well as his secrets to making good gelato. (It’s the milk from happy cows.)

Arnold and Dallas chatted with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about Sergio Dondoli and their sweet and cool new documentary.

Gary M. Kramer: How did you meet Sergio and what made you decide to tell his story?

Jay Arnold: I was on a family vacation in Tuscany. I saw on the itinerary there was a gelato class and was like, “I’m not doing that.” But I went, and there were 8 of us in a private class, and he was a remarkable storyteller. Something about Sergio and his presence—he had so much joy—it was overwhelming. He instructed us about

gelato and told stories of the history of gelato. He kind of glossed over his upbringing, which I learned about later. He was the poorest kid, but he had a spirit of life, and being in his presence you feel a big shadow. That’s what he radiates. It was love. I was clear at the end of the class it was not about gelato. He drew me right in. And I never tasted anything like his gelato in my life. I’m just glad we glad we got there before Stanley Tucci did.

Gary M. Kramer: Matt, you seem to be moving into producing with this film and a few other features. What sparked your interest in this project, in particular, and producing in general?

Matt Dallas: Jay and I had just worked together, and I was working on another film I was producing. Jay told me he was working on this film about this gelato maestro, and it sounded intriguing. I threw it out there: Do you need a producer? A year before this, I was in San Gimignano and stood in line at Gelateria Dondoli. We were there with a group and the guide said, “If you are going to have gelato, in Italy, it must be this place. The line is going to look long, but it moves fast, and it was worth the time.” We tasted all the flavors, and it was unlike any gelato that I have experienced. He has some true artisanal flavors.

Jay Arnold: 12 of them are trademarked.

Matt Dallas: Shooting the documentary, we went out to the farmers’ market, and he was picking the ripest fruits of the day. He grabbed a cantaloupe, and he made gelato for us. There were only a handful of ingredients. When it is so pure and organic and untouched, the flavor is at its absolute peak. This cantaloupe gelato blew my mind. It was interesting to work on a documentary. What is appealing to an actor about working on a documentary is the excitement of not knowing what you might stumble upon each day. In a narrative film, you

want things to happen as much as possible according to the plan. But with the documentary, we had an idea about what the story was, but did not know what we’d get. It was truly an exciting experience.

Gary M. Kramer: What decisions did you make about what stories to include?

Jay Arnold: I wanted it to be observational style. Sergio is the storyteller. One of the things I wanted to spend time on was his discovery of the biodynamic farm. Nothing comes into the farm. Sergio knew all the cows by name. They eat what they want. When it’s hot, they have a ventilated covered area where they can cool off. His reverence for the animals and the humanity and the earth moved me to tears.

Matt Dallas: That philosophy carries over to all aspects of their life. It’s seen in how they treat the world around us to packaging up his passion and his love into a scoop of gelato. When you eat it, you can feel it. It is truly like a warm hug, a smile, and a ray of sunshine. We could use a little positivity and love right now in the world. Here we are to deliver some happiness.

Gary M. Kramer: Sergio’s optimism is inspiring. What lessons did he impart to you while making the film?

Jay Arnold: Many things. The first thing was to follow your dream. He says in the film, “Your life is like a train, and it keeps moving, and if it stays still, you get old in two minutes.” There is nothing more precious than realizing a dream—and he did that. He demonstrated you can achieve a dream even if it seems impossible. And he taught me, “It all matters.”

Matt Dallas: Putting love into the world and following your dreams are lessons that

stick with me, but I would add remaining steadfast in who you are and staying true to your inner guiding light. He did that through everything. He could have taken an easy way, but his true belief was to use the purest and best ingredients and he did it with love and sacrifice.

Jay Arnold: One perk was that we could have as much gelato as we wanted. There were moments when we were in silence eating gelato and absorbing that love. There is something about gelato in the texture; it’s cold and sweet, but not too sweet. Sergio said, in his career, he never saw once saw a person cry with gelato in their mouth.

Gary M. Kramer: Sergio offers dozens of flavors including rosemary and raspberry; ricotta cheese and blueberry; and blackberry and lavender. Which was your favorite, and were there any you didn’t like?

Jay Arnod: There weren’t any I didn’t like. My favorite was the Crema di Santa Fina®. It has saffron, which comes from the town, and pine nuts. The flavor is native to the town and reminiscent of flavor moments in life. I also loved the Champelmo®, which was fruit sorbet made with local wine (Vernaccia di San Gimignano) and pink grapefruit.

Matt Dallas: I love the pistachio, and my second favorite is gorgonzola and walnuts.

© 2025 Gary M. Kramer

Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” He teaches Short Attention Span Cinema at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute and is the moderator for Cinema Salon, a weekly film discussion group. Follow him on X @garymkramer

The Joy of Relaxing

Off the Wahl

Jan Wahl

My mother said brilliant things to me, like, “Always draw outside the lines.” And, “What people think of you is none of your business.”

But she also said one really weird thing: “Relaxation is a waste of time.” She wanted me to get into my career and put all my energy into climbing that treacherous ladder of showbiz dreams.

Fast forward about 50 years, I’m always trying to learn how to relax. The other night, I was watching Top Hat on Turner Classic Movies.

This was 1935’s Top Hat, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It has the usual dumb romance, but amazing songs by Irving Berlin. This was a movie that personified Art Deco, both in sets and in costumes. The feather ballgown by Bernard Newman, while they dance “Cheek to Cheek,” almost cost Astaire his eye. Her heavily beaded, sequined sleeve kept slapping him in the face, easily seen in the film. Ginger always got her way with costumes, and many designers hated working with her.

casting is just unparalleled with John Travolta, Christopher Walken, and Queen Latifah stealing the show.

It has also been time for my favorite lesbian writer, Patricia Highsmith. Her movie that Alfred Hitchcock directed is called Strangers on a Train (1951). It is also my favorite Hitchcock movie ever. A hunky tennis star (Farley Granger) meets Hitchcock’s greatest villain, Robert Walker. And the thrills never stop. This movie has one of the greatest climaxes in film history, as a children’s carousel goes out of control. Again, I was overtaken, but this time a psychological thriller did the job.

I realized that, while I was watching Top Hat, I had no problems, no overthinking, no nervousness. So, then it turns out Hairspray (2007) was playing on Netflix. This story of a 1960s Baltimore, dance-loving teen, took my heart away, and once again I relaxed. This movie musical, based on the Broadway show, combines the story of racial segregation, sizeism, and great rock and roll. The

If you have a movie that takes you out of your head and into your heart, helping you forget all your troubles, please send me your title and your reason for loving it so much. Let’s accentuate the positive and celebrate relaxation.

Jan Wahl is a Hollywood historian and film critic on various broadcast outlets. She has two Emmys and many awards for her longtime work on behalf of film buffs and the LGBTQ community. Contact her at www.janwahl.com

Leave Signs

I love discovering historical facts, especially those that reveal how powerful women and lesbians have always been— despite being disappeared, tortured, and humiliated into silence. I don’t care if another Superman movie is ever made in my lifetime, but here’s a movie I want to see: Madeleine and the Doctor starring Caitriona Balfe and Nicola Coughlin. Not Doctor Who, one of my faves, but about Madeleine ffrench-Mullen (1880–1944) and Doctor Kathleen Lynn (1874–1955), two heroic activists for Irish independence and women’s suffrage.

Jewelle Gomez

Madeleine and the Doctor and the Valkyries

I can’t make definitive statements about the complicated history of “the Troubles” in Ireland or even about the Great Hunger (or Famine), which lasted almost a decade, except to say that, wherever there’s discord, war, and hunger historically, look for

the British. And I say that as an Anglophile with sincere appreciation for the not-bad things for which they are responsible.

Despite British oppression, Madeleine and the Doctor (which is what Madeleine called Kathleen) managed to make a life for themselves as lesbians, living together for thirty years in Dublin. They advocated for women’s rights early in the 20th century, when

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RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOOK PASSAGE

women did not wear cute pink hats while they were being force fed in prison. They participated in the 1916 Easter Rising, a revolt against British subjugation, for which they were imprisoned along with many other “matriots” fighting for independence for the Irish.

Their most impressive legacy may be the establishment of St Ultan’s Children’s Hospital in Dublin in 1919. Against the rigid opposition of the Catholic Church and their government, they established a vaccination project saving thousands of children from dying of tuberculosis. It’s fortunate that RFK, Jr., wasn’t in the Irish government at the time!

I’m thrilled to remind folks of their amazing work that laid the groundwork for so many accomplishments for women around the world. And I want to remind us that women’s work is never done.

We are assaulted and killed by men at an alarming rate. Women who have killed their rapists in self-defense or the men who’ve sex trafficked them are still routinely sent to prison. In one case, a teenager

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Lit Snax

Indian Country (fiction - hardcover) by Shobha Rao

An Indian couple, brought together through an arranged marriage, leave their home country for the strange land of Montana. They are not welcomed when they arrive in a predominantly white community. Along with the couple’s story, there are historical stories of settlers conquering the land and the ongoing ramifications.

The Sisterhood of Ravensbrück (non-fiction - hardcover) by Lynne Olson

The New York Times best-selling author, Lynne Olson, returns with a gut-wrenching true story set in the concentration camp, Ravensbrück. The Sisterhood of Ravensbrück , is about a group of French women, once members of the resistance, who banded together to defy their SS captors at every opportunity.

My Train Leaves at Three (fictionhardcover) by Natalie Guerrero

My Train Leaves at Three is Natalie Guerrero’s debut novel. The novel follows a young Afro-Latina woman, Xiomara, grieving her sister’s death and trying to make her Broadway dreams come true. It is a coming-of-age novel full of love, hope, and ambition.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, August 20 @ 6 pm

(non-ticketed - Corte Madera store) Samantha Downing, author of Too Old for This

Local author Samantha Downing’s new novel follows a retired serial killer minding her own business until an investigative reporter comes knocking on her door. As old crimes resurface, she’s going to have to figure out how to get away with murder, again. Downing will be joined in conversation with Luisa Smith.

Saturday, August 23 @ 4 pm

(non-ticketed - Corte Madera store) Sonia Daccarett, author of The Roots of The Guava Tree

The Roots of the Guava Tree is Sonia Daccarett’s debut memoir about growing up Jewish and Arab in Colombia. This is perfect for fans of coming-of-age memoirs and family identity. Daccarett will be joined in conversation with Marc Dollinger.

Sunday, August 24 @ 2 pm (non-ticketedSF Ferry Building store) Emma Sloley, author of The Island of Last Things

The Island of Last Things follows two zookeepers working at the last zoo in the world on Alcatraz Island. A crazed plan takes shape to smuggle one of the animals off the island, which could end with devastating consequences. Sloley will be joined in conversation with Jon Hickey. https://www.bookpassage.com

Magic and Mystery in Tibet by

The first western woman to gain an audience with the Dalai Lama was Alexandra David-Neel, who wrote about the occult practices and daily lives of Tibetan lamas (spiritual teachers) as well as her own experiences living in Tibet for 14 years. Prepare to be fascinated ... maybe even spellbound!

Glitz, Glam and a Damn Good Time: How Mamie Fish, Queen of the Gilded Age, Partied Her Way to Power by

This is a champagne-soaked story of excess and decadence (monkeys in tuxedos!) among the robber barons and socialites of late 19th century high society.

Pirate Queens Coloring Book: Notorious Women of The Sea by John Green Children of all ages (that means adults, too) will be thrilled by the chance to color legendary lady outlaws of the high seas like Grace O’Malley, Huang P’ei-mei, and the notorious Viking shieldmaiden, Lagertha!

https://www.fabulosabooks.com/

TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation

A few weeks ago, I jumped out of an airplane at 14,500 feet.

I know. Crazy. Everyone was surprised (shocked). There were so many questions. “Why?” “Was it on your bucket list?” My response to the first was, “Because.” To the second, “Duh. Isn’t skydiving on everyone’s list?”

That made me focus on the whole concept of bucket list. It’s probably obvious that it is directly related to the phrase, “kick the bucket.” The origin is not pretty. The earliest mention had to do with a yoke used in the slaughter of pigs. I’ll stop there. It is more often related to people standing on a bucket with a noose around their neck. Either they kick the bucket away or someone else does. The kicker is sometimes not determined. These days, we use it for less dramatic things such as, “My iPad kicked the bucket.” Kicker still not apparent.

Bucket List = Hope!

When you have nothing to dream about or plan, hope is gone. One of the biggest dangers is to “kick the can (bucket) down the road.” How many people have you heard of who waited until they retired to do the things on their list, only to kick the bucket before getting to the whole bucket thing? The time is now.

Bucket List Equals Hope

The concept gained huge popularity with the 2007 movie, The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

If you don’t know where to start, here are six great tips:

1. Give it a name. “Life List.” “Dream List.”

2. Write it down. People who do this are 33% more likely to do it.

3. Start with 25 short- and long-term things.

4. Find ideas with no limits. Create categories.

5. Share your list with close friends or family.

6. Make it a party game asking questions of everyone.

When you are 40, you believe you have all the time in the world. You can spread the list out. You can have a small bucket for the short-term items that you can empty quickly. You can have a big old dream bucket list you can check off from for the next 35 years.

When you’re almost 75, you don’t have time to spread that stuff out over time. You’ve got to get crackin’.

There are primary themes for most bucket lists and I’ve got most of them covered:

• travel;

• accomplish a personal goal or milestone;

• spend quality time with friends and family;

• achieve financial stability;

• do a daring activity.

Spending time with friends and family is top of the list. This past weekend, my granddaughter, who is 13, took her first solo flight to spend a weekend with me in Portland. I’ll be visiting my other three grand girls in Dallas in a few weeks. This is priceless.

goal of one day trading in choirs for kittens and puppies. I’m doing that at the local humane society a minimum of three days a week. I love it so much. They meow, purr, bark, whine, and howl. Music to my ears. I’m still working on getting them to do it together.

Milestones are more elusive at this age, but I am going to wave my arms at Lincoln Center in November performing the life-changing Sing for the Cure for its 25th Anniversary.

When my kids were growing up, it was important for them to love animals. We had them all. They both grew up to be animal lovers, as have the grand girls. I’ve had a life-long

I’m not sure any of us knows about financial security these days. I am very lucky to still be conducting and consulting on the side to make life comfortable. Just when I thought I could check conducting a choir off the list, it popped back up. I am waving my arms every week at Portland Sage Singers: Q+ Elders and Allies.

Travel is at the top of my list. Most of you know I had a troubled relationship with my son for years after I came out. We fixed that. Time healed that. I turn 75 in January and in March we are celebrating with a Father/Son trip. To Bali. Did he say Bali? Yup. My son purchased the trip at a Turtle Creek Chorale auction! Little did I know Bali was on the opposite side of the globe! We will be there for the annual celebration, Nyepi. The entire island goes completely dark for

24 hours. Of course, Bobby Jo is coming along as are our dear friends Robert and Bryan. We’ll precede that will 5 days in Hong Kong. That’s a big ass bucket. There is an entire section of the list that no one ever thinks about, but it impacts all of the above. The reason it is not on there is because no one wants to think it will happen to them. After a hundred years of conducting, I had rotator cuff surgery on retirement. I am sandwiching my first knee replacement between Lincoln Center and Bali. I’ll get the second knee done when the season with my choir is done. It leaves no time for my face or butt lift.

As you can see, my hope bucket is alive and well. Writing this, I am reminded how very lucky I have been in my life. I am humbled at the opportunities I’ve been given. I am grateful every single day. More like every hour of every day. I am grateful to and for you. I am a very blessed man. I do know one thing. As for the suggestion to do something daring? That’s nice, but I won’t be jumping out of a plane again! Ever.

Dr. Tim Seelig is the Conductor Laureate of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. http://www.timseelig.com/

Times Dines

Last Call Before the Stars Go Out

Cocktails With Dina by Dina

Novarr

Sometimes the universe shows us exactly what we need to see, when we need to see it. Last week, three black holes were caught red-handed devouring massive stars from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. I mentioned this while talking to Laura Sanfilippo, who has spent 27 years perfecting the art of hospitality while the universe perfects the art of cosmic annihilation. In a way, we are witnessing both cosmic and societal black holes consuming brilliant stars: restaurant workers who bring flavor and culture to our communities, academics whose research could unlock tomorrow’s solutions, artists and dreamers whose contributions make life richer; all being pulled into systems that don’t value their light. Those black holes were observed just as NASA’s proposed 2026 budget would slash the agency by nearly 25% in one year, cutting funding to its lowest level since Alan Shepard became the first American in space on May 5, 1961. Who was the first person in space? Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who made his flight 23 days earlier. We’re not just watching our scientific capacity diminish; we’re watching it retreat to the exact historical moment when America discovered we were second place.

Here’s the beautiful irony: NASA discovered these “extreme nuclear transients” that represent “the most energetic type of cosmic explosion since the big bang,” while simultaneously experiencing their own form of explosion right here on Earth. And for Laura, she is seeing this firsthand as she watches her industry devoured by forces equally invisible and equally destructive. In a way, Laura gets it. She’s watched difficult guests lose their minds over “insignificant details.” But here’s the cosmic joke: those difficult guests are actually perfect preparation for living under an administration that treats human rights like a happy hour special—available for a limited time and subject to change without notice.

“The hospitality industry can be a black hole for a lot of people,” Laura observes. Lo & Behold opened in January 2022 as “an unpretentious, warm, welcoming, accepting space,” everything America used to masquerade as before deciding fascism was more efficient than democracy. Laura’s bar became “the official after work bar of the industry” in Healdsburg, where exhausted hospitality workers decompress from shifts of emotional labor that would break most humans.

Her Dr. Feel Good cocktail, originally crafted by Marilin Rodriguez, as “a crushable, yet complex and bitter libation for our amaro loving industry crew”—suddenly becomes the perfect metaphor for survival in multiple collapsing systems. Laura’s version is bitter by design, because sweetness doesn’t last when you’re orbiting a collapsing black hole.

The real Dr. Feel Good isn’t the cocktail; it’s Laura’s refusal to let the darkness win.

“We have the power to go right up to the event horizon and stand in our power and fight,” Laura declares. She should know because she’s been serving cocktails at the edge of the abyss for 27 years, perfecting recipes that make even a supernova palatable. Cheers to the bartenders holding the line while the stars go out. They really know how to make anything bitter taste good.

San Francisco-based Dina Novarr enjoys sharing her passion for fine wines, spirits, non-alcoholic craft beverages, and more with others.

Dr. Feel Good

.75 oz Fernet Branca (medicinal bitterness for bitter times)

.5 oz Montenegro (Italian for “black mountain,” because green is just another color disappearing from Earth)

.25 oz Giffard Apricot (a whisper of fruit before the void)

.5 oz Tempus Fugit Crème de Banane (bananas are the ultimate representation of systematic exploitation of Latin nations, so every sip tastes faintly of military coups and economic imperialism)

.25 oz Carpano Dry Vermouth (dry like our tears)

6 drops allspice tincture (because everything is spiced with chaos now)

4 drops salt tincture (more tears, crystallized)

Splash of soda water (effervescence, while it lasts)

Shake everything but the soda for 5 seconds. Add the splash of soda and pour into a tumbler. Garnish with fresh lime zest, because even despair needs a citrus twist.

The Gay Gourmet

David Landis

Many folks judge a restaurant solely on food and service. I certainly agree that those two qualities should be the main priority. That said, I also judge a great restaurant on its dedication to the community. We’re lucky that, in the Bay Area, there’s a spirit of philanthropy that is embraced by our restaurant community. But when you see it in action, as I did a couple of months ago, it’s inspiring.

In that vein, I’m proud to announce that Izzy’s Steaks and Chops is reborn— and once again, serving the community. This time, among others, they’re helping the LGBTQ+ community.

The beloved Steiner Street steakhouse in San Francisco that was a throwback

Paving the Way to a New Life: Izzy’s and Rainbow Railroad Help LGBTQ+ Refugees

to yesteryear has reopened, bringing a taste of New York sophistication to the Marina.

I used to hang out there in the 1980s, when owner Sam Duvall reigned supreme. The old-fashioned mahogany booths with a signature shelf of condiments provided privacy—either for those intimate romantic moments or flirtatious flings—all while sipping dry martinis and gobbling up yummy steaks.

The good news? Izzy’s is just as good as I remember it. More on that later.

The reason why I was at Izzy’s is perhaps an even more important story. For years, thanks to my buddy (and former boyfriend) Stephen Johnson in Toronto, I’ve supported a nonprofit called the Rainbow Railroad. The organization is, in their own words, “a global charitable organization that helps at-risk LGBTQ+ people get to safety. More than 60 countries criminalize homosexuality—12 of which impose the death penalty— and LGBTQI+ people are uniquely vulnerable to systemic, state-enabled homophobia and transphobia, persecution, and violence. These factors often displace them in their own country or prevent their ability to escape harm. Rainbow Railroad has assisted more than 19,000 individuals in finding safety through emergency relocation, crisis response, and other support.”

In simple terms, Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ folks

escape their native countries where oppression is rampant. They provide a route to safety, while assisting clients in relocation to places like Canada. They used to relocate to the United States, but because the outlook is uncertain and bleak for many queer and trans people in this country, they are concentrating those efforts now to our neighbor to the north.

I was practically moved to tears when Rainbow Railroad client Cabrel spoke to a group of us in Izzy’s refurbished and gorgeous upstairs private dining room (complete with a fireplace!). He spoke of being imprisoned in his native Cameroon solely because he is gay, and then being abandoned by his family as well. Fleeing both to Algeria and Tunisia, he finally hooked up with the Rainbow Railroad and made his way safely to San Francisco, where his sponsor met him with a rainbow flag and a sign that said, “Welcome, Cabrel.” “I’ll never forget that day,” he says. “I was so happy to see them.” Cabrel is now rebuilding his life here and explains, “I have a job. I’m going back to school. I can walk in the street with my boyfriend without anyone insulting us or troubling us.”

I applaud the efforts of the Rainbow Railroad and all those who support them, and I encourage people to learn more about this worthwhile and important LGBTQ+ charity.

Back to Izzy’s. You walk in the front door, and you realize you might have been

transported to a chic New York supper club. New owner Samantha Bechtel, who happens to be Duvall’s daughter, has mastered a ravishing renovation with the help of design firm Gachot Studios. It’s reminiscent of one of my favorites, the famed Monkey Bar in New York. A captivating mural by artist Matthew Benedict wraps around the firstfloor dining room, with characters from William Saroyan’s The Time of Your Life front and center. Why Saroyan? He was a favorite author of the original Izzy Gomez, the long-lost Barbary Coast saloonkeeper for whom the chophouse is named.

And how’s the food? Surprisingly good! Izzy’s has had its ups and downs throughout the years, but it’s back on track. Elegant glassware, mini table lamps, and white tablecloths set the stage for a special evening. The meal begins with crunchy Tartine levain bread and butter. A rarity in San Francisco, it’s served tableside at no additional cost.

Toasting the spirit of Izzy Gomez, my husband and I started with retro cocktails. These included a Beefeater gin martini for me and a “Vitamin V,” (former San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen’s favorite drink, vodka with a slice of orange) for him. We continued with a Midwest, corn-fed filet mignon au poivre, cooked a proper “medium”: perfectly pink and juicy. Izzy’s accompaniments on the menu might just be the stars. Their famous Izzy’s own

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potatoes, a kind of creamy potatoes au gratin, are back on the menu; and the creamed spinach is some of the best in town. My husband also opted for the broccoli di ciccio, a zesty presentation with lemon, fried onions, and pepper flakes. The key lime pie called to us, but our stretchy pants told us to forego dessert.

Besides steaks, the menu also includes salmon, halibut, a double smash burger, chicken piccata, and prime rib ravioli. The service is impeccable, with well-trained staff there when you need them, while providing time alone with your date when you want that. Admirably, much of the old memorabilia has been saved in the restaurant’s new iteration. Many of the old booths have been restored on the first level, but additional booths have been added in front as well. Thankfully, this makes for a pleasant dining experience, where one can hear one’s dining partner without shouting across the table.

San Francisco’s warm weather. Called the “Sonoma Spritz,” it’s a refreshingly different take on an Aperol Spritz. The ingredients? 1 teaspoon fig syrup, 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice, 3/4 ounce simple syrup, 3 ounces Anaba Rosé of Grenache, and soda water. Stir gently and garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a slice of lemon. It’s scrumptious!

All in all, Izzy’s makes for a special evening out. It’s time to return and enjoy an homage to an earlier era.

Bits and Bites

I had the chance to try plant-based Prime Roots Deli Meats made from a mycelium called koji—and they’re surprisingly delicious! The company’s young founders studied at UC Berkeley and decided to create “the first and only plant-based protein company focused on the deli counter.” The company claims that its products use 89% less water and 91% less land than conventional meats. Their offerings include products that simulate ham, turkey, and salami—but are 100% plant-based. They’re available at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, through Instacart, and online, as well as numerous other outlets.

Sonoma-based Anaba Wines has a fun summertime spritz idea, just in time for

And some sad news: Amaryll Schwertner and Lori Regis, partners in business as well as life, are two of my favorite industry people. Unfortunately, they have closed the doors to their beloved Boulettes Larder and Bar Bouli in the Ferry Building. I first met them when they took over the famed Stars restaurant and refashioned that destination with their own creative signature. When they opened downtown on the bay, I followed them there, even having a private 50th birthday party for a dear friend. The food was always clean and exquisite, yet surprising. Their warmth and welcoming spirit will be remembered forever. These amazing women gave San Francisco a sophisticated bistro and culinary approach for more than 20 years. I say, “Congratulations, we can’t wait to see your next chapter.”

Izzy’s Steak and Chops: https://www.izzyssanfrancisco.com/ Rainbow Railroad: https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/

Prime Roots: https://www.primeroots.com/ Anaba Wines: https://www.anabawines.com/

David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a retired PR maven. You can email him at: davidlandissf@gmail.com Or visit him online at: www.gaygourmetsf.com

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

Sister Dana sez, “So, Mister Twister Trump, how are those ‘draining the swamp’ promises you’ve made over and over and over? How’s THAT going—now that you’ve become the Center of The Coverup?!”

A very recent WAPO poll has found that 58% of Americans no longer approve and strongly disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Epstein files. They want ALL the files revealed—Trump included (sans the terribly abused teenage victims and other women—whose names should be the ONLY ones redacted to protect their legal and emotional rights. Epstein’s and Maxwell’s pedophiles should be clearly named. Coming after that revelation, Trump’s five-day stupid trip to Scotland was thankfully met with protests by hundreds of demonstrators in several different

Scottish cities over the July 25–29 weekend. Myself—being of proudly Irish-Scottish heritage—I am so proud of the perfect protesters throughout Scotland when they boldly, cleverly, proudly demonstrated against Trump hosting that orange butt-kissing, sycophantic British Prime Minister Keir Starmer near one of grifter Trump’s three money-making golf courses and resorts in Scotland (needlessly costing U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars for his travel and security). Many of these sweet Scottish activists gloriously waved in the air such homemade placards that read all the way from being cleverly, practically poetic sing-song (“TRUMP AND STARMER SITTING IN A TREE … K.I.L.L.I.N.G. INNOCENT PEOPLE!”); to giving the awesomely current critique (“Scotland Hated Trump Before It Was Fashionable!”); and ingeniously getting the lying attempts of dumpster Trumpster and his unqualified administration regarding false, re-written, anti-DEI history to be completely corrected—right down to the historically accurate, fact-checking commentary (“King George III Never Was!” placards held high for all to see and compared to King Trump III). One musical protest utilized loud bagpipes to drown out the sound of all of tyrant Trump’s trumpeting terrorism. Two witty demonstrators stood right next to each other: one woman playing on bagpipes had a sign in another hand with her funny cartoon orange baby in diapers being the direct opposite to her musical

accompaniment of activism on bagpipes— the card’s printed statement: “At least THIS bag of hot air serves a purpose”; while another protester’s sign—with a big arrow pointing laughingly and lovingly at her bagpipe musical statement to Trump—gave his most insincere regrets: “Sorry, I can’t hear your b.s. over her bagpipes!”Scotts-Irish Sister Dana sez, “Begorrah, Braw Bonnie Lad & Lassie, and Tidy Laud to ye Scottivists (Scotland Activists) for yer darlin’ demonstrations! I might add, ‘Glay Va,’ which is Scottish Gaelic for ‘Very Good’! Trump the troll, as you swell Scotts say so often, is such a ‘bawbag’—an ignorant, obnoxious, or otherwise debatable person.”

Sister Dana has never been very concerned about maps. So why is he practically “setting his veil on fire” over these upcoming maps? It’s because of these illegal, immoral Congressional Redistricting Gerrymandering maps that Texas Republicans and other Repugnican states keep trying to do to cheat the mid-term vote, push racist math, and gain at least five more seats in Congress. Trump said “the part out loud” that he wanted this in Texas and five other red states. Much like he said back before the Big Election (where much of the GOP still insists was illegally electing President Joe Biden). During a phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on January 2, 2021, thenPresident Trump had pressured Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes” to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Fortunately, Brad refused to commit such an awful, unlawful, criminal act. Democrats (we who believe in democracy) are fighting this scheme. We say The Department of “In”Justice should intervene to stop such a partisan political agenda effort. Democrats are calling for an investigation. I’m so proud of Texas Democrats who fled the state to stop the vote by Republican’ts. And California Governor Gavin Newsom

threatened to call Trump’s bluff and properly redistrict California! Sister Dana sez, ‘Let’s stop being nice guys, and let’s play dirty like the GOP (Grifting Oligarchic Punks) does during these terrible Trumpian times!”

TMIM Emperor Ashlé Blow and Empress Afrika America in conjunction with The Diamond Court of Diversity, Excellence, and Joy will present TENDERLOIN TESSIE FUNDRAISER on August 16, 4:30–7:30 pm at Beaux, 2344 Market Street. Empress 15 Tessie began serving meals to members of the Tenderloin community over 50 years ago—a godsend to many in need. Then and now and how! https://www.sfimperialcouncil.org/

CHAIN OF LOVE , a Broadway Album Release Party and Concert with CARLY OZARD and Friends will happen on August 18, 7:30 pm, 864 Folsom Street, between 4th & 5th streets. See the related separate story in this issue.

https://www.carlyozard.com/chain-of-love

Downtown San Francisco will be abuzz with free music and dance once again when ANOTHER PLANET ENTERTAINMENT will rock the city with its final two concerts of their summer series. On September 7, Union Square will groove to the Daytime Disco vibes from Poolside, the nu-disco brand created by Jeffrey Paradise. Following this, Civic Center Plaza invites attendees to the Empire 15 concert on September 13 featuring Shaboozey, known for his crossover hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Nigerian sensation Fireboy DML , and local talent Red Leather jointly celebrating global pop music. Free RSVPs via Empire 15 ( https://www.empire15.com/ ) and https://bit.ly/4ltKqtf

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has removed references to Trump’s two impeachments from an exhibit

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FITNESS SF Trainer Tip

Overhead Press

By Ryan Datlag of FITNESS SF

In the overhead press, always brace your core and squeeze your glutes. This keeps your spine stable, prevents lower back strain, and helps you press more efficiently.

Troy Macfarland at FITNESS SF shares monthly tips that he has learned from colleagues, fellow professional trainers, and more. For additional information: https://fitnesssf.com/

(continued from pg 22)

was forced to pay reparation to the family of her rapist. In the most widely known human trafficking case currently in the news and involving #47, the trafficker’s girlfriend is in jail; no men.

The internet keeps posting secret code words to alert bartenders when women feel endangered, and devices to protect women’s drinks from being spiked with drugs. But nobody ever arrests the guys who are the perpetrators.

We are still dismissed professionally whether in an office or in sports. At a recent WNBA basketball game played by the Golden State Valkyries, a man in the stands threw what the press delicately calls a “sex toy” or euphemistically an NSFW (not safe for work) on the court during play. This was one of apparently at least six incidents when a green dildo was thrown at the female players. They were all gracious and didn’t let the adolescent disruption interfere with their work ... and it is work they are doing just like Steph Curry and LeBron James, even though women don’t get paid nearly as much.

As I watched the assault, I recognized it as that old-fashioned declaration: “Mine is bigger than yours.” And if we listen to history, the accusation behind the “toy” is that, if they’re playing sports, they must be dykes. That has been used to shut down women athletes for more than a hundred years and it’s alarming that men still think that’ll work.

Only two of the perpetrators have been arrested so far, probably because the media is acting like it’s just a prank. If an NSFW had been thrown on the court at a Warriors or Lakers game, I imagine the perpetrators would be, not in the jail, but under it. A dildo thrown at WNBA players isn’t a joke; it is an attempt to silence the amazing women athletes who are making history. Let’s make a movie about that.

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

STREET CAM

http://sfbaytimes.com/

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display. A person familiar with the exhibit plans said the change came about as part of a content review that the Smithsonian agreed to undertake following pressure from the White House to remove an art museum director. This is yet another act of rewriting history and succumbing to authoritarian influence. And the beat goes on.

SF Supervisor Matt Dorsey wants to end SF’s EQUAL BENEFITS ORDINANCE and repeal our Domestic Partner Benefit Law—saying “it’s a principle that ended ten years ago, costs San Francisco residents, is bad for business, and it’s time to take a look at this. We have a responsibility to our taxpayers.” But we in the LGBTQ community vehemently disagree, and believe that EBO is a safeguard and protection for us. Gwenn Craig, former President of the HARVEY MILK LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CLUB, helped form this vital ordinance back in the 1990s. “Leave things in place—for the possibility that they may be all that you have to rely on in the future,” Craig argued. “Don’t strip away rights that you know might be needed.”

She noted that there are also elderly couples and hetero partners who have taken good advantage of the EBO.

The former 1960s-era Birkenstock Building in Novato—known for its midcentury design—will soon become the new ART & DESIGN MUSEUM celebrating the works of California designers Ray and Charles Eames (famous for their fairly modern Eames chairs). The nonprofit, EAMES INSTITUTE OF INFINITE CURIOSITY, hopes to bring that vision to life. “We want to make this a global destination, and we believe some icons like Ray and Charles and some of their contemporaries deserve that kind of support,” said EIOIC President John Cary. “We are also looking to make space for emerging artists that have not yet made their big mark.”

On August 2 at FABULOSA BOOKS, 489 Castro Street, I had the extremely inspiring, motivating, activist heart-pumping experience of attending BE THE REVOLUTION: Book Reading with author JAY PONTI & two-person panel on Building Grassroots Power Through Solidarity. Ponti read from his debut book, Be

the Revolution (How Occupy Wall Street and th e Bernie Sanders Movement Reshaped American Politics), which has been praised by Noam Chomsky, Dr. Cornel West, Mark Ruffalo, and other influential leaders. Jay has played key roles in movements such as “Occupy Wall Street” and was a top surrogate wrangler for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 campaigns. Jay was joined in a lively Q&A with Michael Rouppet , Co-founder and President of “Marty’s Place”—the only self-governing affordable housing co-op for people with HIV/AIDS in the U.S.—as well as Co-Vice President of Political Affairs for the Latino Democratic Club of San Francisco. In addition, Rouppet is founder of the HIV/AIDS and Anti-Corruption Caucus for the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club. He is also a co-author of The San Francisco Principles 2020, developed by and for long-term HIV survivors, advocating for the well-being and rights of this community. Michael and Jay conversed with Shanti Singh, Legislative & Communications Director for Tenants Together, where she leads state-level housing justice policy and strategy work with over 60 grassroots member organizations. She also served as California Deputy Data Director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign. What a stimulating evening for this activist nun (I, who also participated in San Francisco’s various versions of “Occupy” protests wearing special veil material printed sarcastically in gold bars and hundred dollar bills)! Anyway, please go to Fabulosa Books and buy this informative, inspirational, amusing BE THE REVOLUTION by Jay Ponti! Let’s keep Being the Revolution!!!

AUGUST is officially recognized as TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH in California. We need to recognize trans trailblazers, and share how we can get involved in uplifting our vibrant transgender community. Sister Dana sez, “All year long we’ve been hammering home the message that, when it comes to fighting for our rights, our dignity, and our respect: The GLOVES Are OFF! Unless you’re a drag queen—in which case, you might want to wear a nice pair of fancy opera gloves!”