San Francisco Bay Times - October 23, 2025

New Conservatory Theatre Center Founding Artistic Director Ed Decker to Pass Leadership Torch to Ben Villegas Randle

After 45 years of groundbreaking leadership, New Conservatory Theatre Center’s (NCTC) Founding Artistic Director Ed Decker will step down in January 2026 and pass the torch to longtime collaborator and current Artistic Associate Ben Villegas Randle. Randle’s deep roots at NCTC as a Stage Director and former Press Manager, combined with his bold artistic vision and enduring commitment to the NCTC community, perfectly position him to lead the theatre into its next era.

“NCTC is where I first felt empowered to take risks, to tell stories from my perspective as a queer, Latine artist, and where I learned how theatre can be both deeply personal and radically communal,” said Randle. “Ed didn’t just create a theatre—he created a home. I’m not stepping into this role to only continue his legacy—I’m stepping in to serve it, to help it evolve, and reach its next promise. I’ve seen firsthand the impact this theatre can have and I believe in its power, not just to reflect the world, but to shape it.”

Decker founded NCTC in 1981, initially as a progressive arts education program for young people and has since grown the theatre into a nationally recognized and locally beloved organization. During his leadership, NCTC has produced hundreds of productions including over 40 world premieres,

served thousands of students through NCTC’s on-site and touring programs, and provided career opportunities for the many brilliant artists and educators in the Bay Area. Named a San Francisco Legacy Business, NCTC has become a home for queer and allied art that champions new work, nurtures creative souls, and provides a space where personal and societal transformation through art is not only possible, but also expected.

“This is a thrilling and poignant time for the NCTC family,” said Executive Director Barbara Hodgen. “Ed’s generous spirit infuses this entire organization, and I can’t think of a better person than Ben to carry that forward to a brave new future. Our artists, students, staff, and audience will be in good hands.”

The succession plan was set in motion in 2013, when Randle was named the company’s first Artistic Associate with hopes he might one day take over. That plan paused when Randle earned a Drama League Fellowship and moved to New York a couple years later. But, in 2024, just as NCTC’s Board of Directors launched their search, Randle was already preparing to return to San Francisco and to his artistic home.

“Our 2022–2027 Strategic Plan outlined the need for thoughtful succession,” said Board

New Conservatory Theatre Center Launches ‘Thanks a Million: The Ed Decker Legacy Campaign’

On the heels of the announcement of the upcoming leadership transition, New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) marks the historic milestone with the launch of “Thanks a Million,” a campaign anchored by the Ed Decker Legacy Fund. The goal of the campaign is to raise $1 million by August 2026 to ensure the continued success of NCTC.

As reported in this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times—after 45 years of groundbreaking leadership, NCTC’s Founding Artistic Director Ed Decker will step down in January 2026 and pass the torch to longtime collaborator and current Artistic Associate Ben Villegas Randle.

Since founding NCTC in 1981, Decker has boldly shaped the theatre into a nationally recognized home for groundbreaking stories, LGBTQ+ voices, and a vital space for young performers of the future. Today, he is entrusting the artistic direction to Ben Villegas Randle, who brings both a deep history with NCTC and a vibrant vision for what’s ahead.

The Thanks a Million campaign has been carefully crafted to honor Ed’s legacy by ensuring the future of the theatre he worked so hard to build. Half of the $1 million goal has been reached, and NCTC is calling on those who have been positively affected by his tireless work to help NCTC meet its goal by contributing to the Ed Decker Legacy Fund. NCTC is committed to developing and producing queer and allied theatre as well as educating young people and giving them a welcoming safe space for creative discovery.

Donations to the Ed Decker Legacy Fund can be made at https://nctcsf.org/thanks-a-million/

Donations may also be made by contacting NCTC’s Individual Giving Manager, Mary Beth Brown, at 415-694-6154 or at marybeth@nctcsf.org

Chair Cedric Wilson.

“We knew it would be nearly impossible to replace Ed. We needed someone who truly understood NCTC’s heart and purpose— and we found that in Ben.”

“From our first meeting, Ben impressed us with his deep knowledge of the organization and his bold vision for the future,” said Vice Chair Christopher Murriel. “During our seven-month vetting process, Ben shared his incredibly thorough plans for continuing Ed’s legacy and we can’t wait to have him step into this role.”

Randle brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position as an acclaimed director in both NYC and the Bay Area. He spent seven years directing in NYC, where he received Directing Fellowships at both the Manhattan Theatre Club and Drama League Leo Shull Musical Theatre. Highlights of his work at NCTC include the World Premiere of Salome, Dance for Me (2015), Sons of the Prophet by Stephen Karam (Bay Area Premiere, 2016), and To My Girls by JC Lee (West Coast Premiere, 2025).

“Ben is deeply connected to the queer and allied community as well as the mission, values, and culture of NCTC,” said Decker. “He has been hands-on at NCTC through both good times and rigorously challenging times and understands the inner workings of this theatre,” Decker added. “I have no doubt that Ben possesses the experience, skill, vision, and passion to carry NCTC forward in a way that balances tradition with innovation in order to write the many new chapters to come.”

As NCTC approaches its 45th anniversary in 2026, the organization remains

committed to developing and producing queer and allied theatre that gives voice to, entertains, and promotes exploration with joy, curiosity, and boldness. Simultaneously, educating young people and giving them a welcoming safe space for creative discovery will always be a cornerstone of the theatre.

“Ed built a loyal, deeply connected audience—people who return year after year because they feel seen, challenged, and welcomed,” said Randle. “I want to keep that conversation alive, to continue that trust and community. And, at the same time, my goal is to build a home that feels just as vital for the next generations—a home for decades to come.”

The official transition will begin in January 2026. This marks not an ending, but a natural evolution of Decker’s decades of leadership building community through activism, art, and education and a celebration of the exciting future ahead.

https://nctcsf.org/

Production Highlights From My 45 Years With the New Conservatory Theatre Center

By Ed Decker

(Editor’s Note: The publishers of the San Francisco Bay Times, upon learning that Ed Decker would soon step down from his nearly five decades of inspired, dedicated leadership at the New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC), asked him to provide his thoughts about some of NCTC’s most memorable, significant productions over the years. Since he has produced or directed over 500 productions for NCTC, the Bay Times asked him to look back on a select number of NCTC productions. Here’s what he shared.)

It’s almost impossible to “pick favorites,” but I’ve chosen 7 for your consideration. But first, an NCTC snapshot timeline:

1981

This year marked the founding of the New Conservatory Theatre Children’s Theatre Company and School as a progressive arts education program. In response to my and Co-Director Sue Lipton’s transition from running ACT’s Young Conservatory, a group of parents led the way to our founding, insisting that we open up our own conservatory that they then dubbed as the “New” Conservatory. Our first home was at the Unitarian Center on Franklin and Geary. We offered after-school, weekend classes, satellite in-school workshops, and family matinee performances—all of which we still do today.

1984

Production Highlights

Terrence McNally Partnership NCTC produced and I directed the West Coast Premiere of Terrence McNally’s Corpus Christi. This began my longterm friendship with McNally and NCTC became the San Francisco home for his work. All told, NCTC has produced 13 of his plays including The Ritz (2002), A Man of No Importance (musical 2004), Crucifixion (an NCTC commission in 2005), Some Men (2009), A Perfect Ganesh (2010), Lips Together Teeth Apart (2012), The Lisbon Traviata (2013), Mothers and Sons (2016), The Nance (2017), It’s Only a Play (2018), and Master Class, & Love! Valour! Compassion! (late 1990s).

We moved into 25 Van Ness as tenants shortly after the basement theatres had been constructed. Our landlord at the time was Zephyr Entertainment.

1986

When Pigs Fly by Howard Crabtree and Mark Waldrop

NCTC presented the West Coast premiere in 2003 of this zany gay musical review. It would return to the NCTC stage again 15 years later!

This Bitter Earth by Harrison David Rivers

We launched our YouthAware touring program for Northern California schools. The cornerstone program of YouthAware was our AIDS Prevention and Education program, for grades K-12. Funded by the Federal Centers for Disease Control, these plays were the first in the nation to use theatre as a teaching tool during the HIV/AIDS pandemic. There were four age-appropriate plays: A Bunny’s Tale, (K–1); Do Rappers Two (Grades 2–4), and Get Real (Grades 5–8)—all written by Doug Holsclaw; and The Inner Circle (Grades 9–12) by Patricia Loughrey.

Over the 10+ years these plays toured, they reached 500,000 Nor Cal youth and there were an additional 500,000 licensed performances around the world. A documentary of the project called Health in View was made in 1992. The Inner Circle was translated to Spanish, Dutch, German, and Afrikaans. YouthAware still tours for the San Francisco Unified School District to this day. It features scripts developed directly with young people on topics that include bullying, homophobia, Holocaust education, mindfulness, cultural awareness, health and wellbeing, to highlight a few.

1992

The New Conservatory Children’s Theatre Company & School became known as the New Conservatory Theatre Center. Shortly thereafter, NCTC acquired the master lease for our home at 25 Van Ness.

1994–1995

NCTC expanded its operation to include queer and allied storytelling for the stage.

2002

NCTC New Works/New Voices Play Lab launched to commission and develop new work that expands the canon of LGBTQIA+-themed plays.

Rights of Passage (which I co-authored with Robert Leone)

My husband and I travel the world gathering stories from the LGBTQIA+ community. This work was in partnership with Amnesty International, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Watch, and queer and allied citizens around the globe. The stories were woven into a 2012 world premiere for NCTC.

A Conversation With Lily Tomlin

NCTC hosted an evening in 2002 with the legendary star who was interviewed by author and playwright Jewelle Gomez, who is now also a San Francisco Bay Times columnist. Lily was in town on tour with The Search for Intelligent Signs of Life in the Universe.

NCTC commissioned and premiered this powerful story about love, race, and activism. It launched a continuing partnership between NCTC and the playwright Harrison David Rivers that has included the commission of Interlude (radio and stage version)—a personal reflection of a gay Black man’s experience during the transformative events of 2020—and the West Coast premiere in 2023 of We Are Continuous, which is a play that explores family, love, and identity.

Before the Sword by Andrew Alty

A 2023 world premiere commission imagined the inspiration for T.H. White’s classic The Sword in the Stone.

The Gulf by Audrey Cefaly

NCTC’s in 2024 presented the West Coast premiere of this powerful and tumultuous lesbian love story set in the Deep South.

Ed Decker is the Founding Artistic Director of the New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) in San Francisco, which he helped start in 1981. In January 2026, he will pass the leadership of NCTC to Ben Villegas Randle.

Ed and Art

Leave Signs

When Ed Decker created the New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) in 1981 in San Francisco’s Civic Center, he was focused on theatre for low-income youth. NCTC has since blossomed into a cultural icon. At the time of NCTC’s founding, I was still living in New York City and had just joined the lesbian literary magazine collective Conditions. Ed and I were traveling vastly divergent paths, but had some external elements in common.

Ronald Reagan was president and his fear of the Black Panther Party carrying guns led him to instigate the one time the U.S. wanted gun control. The Meese Commis-

sion was condemning our newly liberated female eroticism as pornography. And we were all united against two things: the Briggs Initiative, which would have forbidden queer teachers the right to teach in public schools; and HIV/AIDS, the pandemic whose name never crossed Reagan’s lips.

Despite these traumatic challenges, queer culture was blossoming across the country— from the Women’s Press Movement and the ascendence of lesbian musical talents like Tracy Chapman, Ferron, and Linda Tillery, to the curtain rising on artists such as Harvey Fierstein and Terrence McNally.

This was the tumultuous time of art and politics that helped form who Ed Decker and I are today. So, when we met in 2001, we had some common cultural points of reference, but we were also very different.

I’d just joined the staff of the San Francisco Arts Commission as a grantmaker, and my office was in a tiny basement room across the hall from NCTC. When Ed stopped by to introduce himself, we surprised each other with a deep sense of connection and lively conversation that has continued to the present day.

At an event several years later, Ed heard me read a monologue from the early stages of my play about James Baldwin, Waiting for Giovanni, which I was writing with my friend Harry Waters, Jr. He invited me to lunch to discuss it and I arrived at the Thai restaurant with a lot of scraps of paper in a folder, totally uncertain what to expect. From that conversation grew the idea of a trilogy I called Words and Music. I wasn’t sure about much beyond the title for the Baldwin piece but, for me, the magic of Ed Decker and the theatre he created has been his curiosity and encouragement.

Through the tumultuous 1980s, before we knew each other, we both came to believe that art can change the world for the better. We approached it from distinctly different backgrounds, yet we each put our faith in curiosity and creativity. At an early reading of the script for the Baldwin play, one of Ed’s board members recognized that NCTC would need to do a lot of outreach to attract the audience for an almost all-Black play. This was a departure from the usual for the theatre, and Ed was enthusiastic about my

work and the changes it might bring to the theatre.

As part of the New Voices New Work program, Ed commissioned, developed, and produced my three plays: Waiting for Giovanni; Leaving the Blues, about singer/songwriter Alberta Hunter; and Unpacking in P’town about a group of retired Vaudevillians. Through the decade in which we worked together, I came to rely on Ed for the hard questions both philosophical (What’s the role of the ghost here?) and practical (Do you really need slides here?). And he was always actually asking, which meant I needed to truly consider the answer, so it was rational for both of us. Once invited into his institutional family, I was eager for the work we would do together because whomever I worked with—my dramaturg, the press director, or technicians—the encounters led me toward being a better writer.

During the COVID lockdown, Ed brought together (virtually) a group of playwrights to create a podcast comedy, In Good Company, about (surprise) a queer theatre in lockdown. Only Ed could provide me with the opportunity to write dialogue appropriated from Tennessee Williams for a parrot.

Whether it was a detailed dissection of a scene I was writing or a quick flurry of texts bemoaning new revelations about dangers to democracy being cooked up in Washington, I understood that Ed and I shared similar values and a sense of humor. These are two key ingredients in any lasting relationship.

It’s said that we are known by the company we keep. In that case, I’ve been vastly elevated by associating with the actors, designers, directors, technicians, donors, and staff whom I’ve had the privilege of knowing at NCTC. Where else but the NCTC lobby could I have cocktails with Charles Busch,

Sara Moore, Coleman Domingo, or Marga Gomez (whose new work is about to open)?

To me, art is the lace, honey, flowers, leather boots, and roaring engine that make life worth living. Ed Decker has spent a good part of his life delivering those gifts to us with the determination of ... well ... an artist. While I’ll miss the artistic director Ed has been, I feel fortunate I get to keep the friend.

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

Bay Area ‘No Kings’ Marches and Rallies

Thousands

Participate in ‘No Kings’ Protests Throughout the Bay Area on October 18, 2025

At least 10,000 demonstrators in Oakland, 10,000 in San Jose, 50,000 in San Francisco, and many more across the Bay Area participated in the “No Kings” marches and rallies on October 18, 2025, which nationwide drew an estimated 7 million. From coast to coast, there were more than 2,700 such events that took place in all 50 states. On October 21, the No Kings organization held a mass call to discuss the protests and next steps. For updates: https://www.nokings.org/

What a Difference a Year Makes

Looking back at my columns from this time last year, they were all about the upcoming election. Like many others, I was busy warning readers about the looming threat of Project 2025, and the people behind the scenes who were envisioning a total makeover of our government and way of life. Their plans were so draconian, so anti-democratic, that it was impossible to believe anyone would vote for such ideas.

And yet they did. And here we are, one year later, with Project 2025 in full force, and our country nearly unrecognizable compared with what it was prior to Inauguration Day in January.

Any subtle, deceptive messaging they may have used to entice Americans to vote for Project 2025 and its candidates is now out the door. Each day they become bolder and more transparent, their naked greed and unbridled ambition more obvious. And, worst of all, is their absolute hatred of anyone and anything that doesn’t fit into their extremely narrow world view. The most vile, uncivil forms of bigotry, racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and misogyny are on full, unapologetic display. We are living in Bizarro World, where incompetent ideologues and sycophants are elevated to positions of power in government agencies, wreaking havoc and chaos at every turn. Our public health system and medical research facilities are irreparably damaged, endangering the lives of countless people not just in this country, but around the world.

But signs of hope and resistance are everywhere. From dancing frogs in Portland, to journalists standing in solidarity in defiance of orders from the Pentagon, to tens of millions of Americans flooding the streets of every city and town to stand up for democracy, our resistance is making a difference. Keep resisting. Keep speaking out. Keep being loud. Our voices are being heard.

Beyond the Pink Ribbon

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and pink ribbons are everywhere. Have you been to Embarcadero

Plaza lately? Even the 45-foot statue of a woman there (R-Evolution) is sporting a new accessory: a pink ribbon on her breast. I will admit that I am not a big fan of ubiquitous pink ribbon imagery, largely due to “pinkwashing” that corporations employ, using the pink ribbon for marketing, rather than meaningful support. But when a pink ribbon opens the door for actual dialogue and awareness, it can be a very useful tool.

But what do you need to be “aware” of? First, here are a few sobering statistics: 1 in 8 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. In 2024 alone, over 42,000 women died of metastatic breast cancer. It is the most prevalent form of cancer among women, and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths. And breast cancer doesn’t just affect cisgender women. Anyone can get breast cancer, no matter their sex or gender identity, so it is important for everyone to know certain basics.

Awareness starts with getting to know your own body: what your breast tissue feels and looks like. Learn how to check yourself, and understand what is normal for you, since everyone’s body is different. Then learn your family history. Is there a history of breast cancer among your closest relatives? If so, make sure your physician knows that, so they can devise a screening schedule that is appropriate for your risk level. Also, know what signs to look for, and what resources are available.

Studies have shown that LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately impacted by some types of cancer, including breast cancer, and can also face worse outcomes, due to health disparities that include increased risk, and lack of access to screenings and welcoming, quality care. There are some great resources here in the Bay Area, and also an excellent website, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, that

includes a wealth of information and support specifically for LGBTQ+ people: https://tinyurl.com/lbbcancer Sing for the Cure

Breast cancer isn’t just about statistics and clinical facts. It affects every aspect of a person’s life, and the lives of those around them. On October 30, 2025, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) will step outside their usual repertoire to do their part for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by performing the Bay Area premiere of Sing for the Cure, a powerful song cycle that brings to life through music the actual words and feelings of breast cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones, as drawn from their own writings, and from interviews. For the first time ever, the SFGMC will be performing with a mixed chorus of voices—soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, along with chamber orchestra. These moving songs, set to music by ten renowned composers, will explore the full range of emotions and experiences of those affected by breast cancer.

This historic concert will take place at the Chan Arts Center on Thursday, October 28. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Bay Area Cancer Connections, a local nonprofit that provides a wide range of support services for anyone affected by breast or ovarian cancer, all at no charge. Full disclosure: I work for Bay Area Cancer Connections, and see firsthand both the challenges that our clients face, and the healing and hope that comes from finding an organization like ours that provides caring, compassionate support.

California. Gary, who passed away on October 5, was the long-time proprietor of Marlena’s in Hayes Valley, a nightclub that became world famous for its hospitality and as a gathering place for the community.

For tickets to Sing for the Cure: https://tinyurl.com/SFGMC1028

For more about Bay Area Cancer Connections: https://www.bayareacancer.org/

The One and Only Marlena

San Francisco has a long tradition of larger-than-life characters who make this city a colorful and welcoming destination. On November 8, the city will be paying tribute to one of the true greats: Gary McLain, also known by his richly deserved titles of Absolute Empress XXV de San Francisco, Marlena the Magnificent, and Queen Mother I of

My favorite memories of Gary were the many hours we spent together as volunteers in a room above Castro Street during Castro Street Fairs, counting the cash donations as they came in from the street. Those long afternoons were filled with laughter, dish, and Gary’s great stories. I miss those times.

The Imperial State Funeral for Gary McLain will take place on Saturday, November 8, at noon at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, followed by a celebration of life at 2 pm in front of what was the location for Marlena’s, at 488 Hayes Street, and will include a return of the Hayes Valley Follies. Don’t miss this opportunity to honor Gary’s rich life and legacy.

Elections Matter

As we have seen all too clearly this past year, elections matter—which is why the far right is breaking every rule and spending obscene amounts of money to make sure they never lose another election. They are flooding the airwaves and our mailboxes with deceptive ads against Proposition 50, but please don’t fall for their lies. Proposition 50 gives California a chance to fight back against authoritarianism. I have never endorsed a specific proposition in print before, but I’m doing it now: Please vote yes on Proposition 50.

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

Raising Our Voices Against Conversion Therapy

6/26 and Beyond

Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in a conservative Christian therapist’s challenge to Colorado’s ban on LGBTQ+ conversion therapy. At issue in the case, Chiles v. Salazar, is a Colorado statute, similar to those of over 20 other states, which prohibits licensed healthcare providers from engaging in “any practice or treatment” whose purpose is to change a minor’s “gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.”

As Colorado Solicitor General Shannon Stevenson told the Court, conversion therapy is a completely discredited practice that often causes devastating and long-lasting harm to its victims namely LGBTIQ+ people and their loved ones. Common negative outcomes for those who undergo it include serious depression and suicidal ideation, particularly severe in minors subjected to it. Stephenson explained that “people have been trying to do conversion therapy for a hundred years with no record of success,” noting that “no study ... has ever shown that it has any chance of being efficacious.”

She further detailed how “all of the theories underlying conversion therapy” through the years have been proven to be false. From “homosexuality is a pathology that we need to treat” to “homosexuality is caused by trauma” to “homosexuality is caused by a relationship you had with your parents”—all have been “debunked.”

Colorado’s law is a measured response to the harms conversion therapy causes. It only prohibits the practice when performed on minors—not on consenting adults. It allows life coaches, not subject to state licensure, as well as clergy and people involved in religious ministry, to engage in the practice. It permits people to advocate freely for conversion therapy in public debate and discussion. What the law prohibits is state-licensed

healthcare professionals, who “owe fiduciary duties” to their patients and are “subject to malpractice,” just “to say whatever they want to say” in their provision of professional care to patients, instead of providing treatment that meets the professional “standard of care.” Conversion therapy unquestionably fails to meet that standard.

Despite this reality, many legal observers believe after hearing the oral argument that the Court appears poised to rule against the Colorado law when it issues its decision sometime next year. We will not discuss now the implications of various possible rulings the Court may issue, not only because predictions may prove wrong, but also because the scope and precise wording of the Court’s decision could greatly influence its effect and the wisest actions to take in response to it.

But one thing we do know now is that amplifying the voices of conversion therapy survivors, who have bravely spoken out publicly about their experiences, is invaluable to ending the practice, not only in professional settings at issue before the Supreme Court, but also in any other context it is practiced.

Colorado Springs, Colorado,” and he shares how his “parents desperately sought to ‘fix’ him by sending him to a Christian therapist.” The result of approximately 18 months of conversion therapy was, of course, no change in Kendall’s sexual orientation, but instead utter pain and suffering.

After listening to the oral argument, we sadly found that one thing lacking was the actual voices of just such people.

One of them is Ryan Kendall, who boldly stepped forward years ago to offer his story to the nation and is now one of the leading advocates in efforts to end conversion therapy.

Fifteen years ago, Kendall was a star witness in the Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco because the fact that being LGBTIQ+ is an innate aspect of who we are as people was relevant to the issue of marriage equality.

On the stand, Kendall courageously described some of the most vulnerable moments of his life, telling about his parents’ horrible reaction to discovering he was gay and about his ordeal with forced conversion therapy as a minor. We remember how some in the courtroom audibly gasped as they heard Ryan recount what he had gone through. Judge Vaughan Walker, who presided over the case and is gay, later characterized Kendall’s testimony as “the most touching testimony of the trial” going on to reveal that he himself had undergone conversion therapy as well.

After the Prop. 8 trial, Kendall testified before numerous state legislatures about the harms of conversion therapy. And when the Supreme Court decided to take the current case, Kendall stepped up once again. He, along with other conversion therapy survivors, submitted an amicus brief to the Court, detailing their real-life personal experiences.

As the brief describes, Kendall grew up “in an evangelical Christian community in

Conversion therapy left Kendall’s family in shambles and rendered Kendall “severely depressed and contemplating suicide.” At age 16, Kendall “dropped out of high school and ran away from home,” experiencing “periods of drug abuse and homelessness.” As a teen, Kendall “internalized the message from conversion therapy that he was defective and unlovable.”

But, with time, extraordinary hard work, and perseverance, as well as support from people who truly embraced him, Ryan graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University, before earning his law degree from UCLA. He is now an accomplished civil rights lawyer. Nevertheless, some negative effects of conversion therapy remain with him and his family members. Tragically, many others are never able to overcome the feeling Kendall describes of being “untethered and alone” that the practice instills in them as young people.

As the amicus brief states, Kendall “shar[ed] his experience” with our nation’s highest court in the hope that it “will help other families avoid these devastating outcomes.” Kendall’s actions represent the LGBTIQ+ community at its very best—when we do everything at our disposal to try to protect others from needlessly suffering in ways we have and to enable them to find well-being and true happiness and to flourish just as they are as queer people. Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules in the Colorado case, we must continue to do exactly that in every way we can.

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.

Don’t Be Spooked by Your Finances: Money Mindfulness in Action

Money Matters

Brandon Miller

October is full of ghosts, ghouls, and jump scares, but your money doesn’t need to be one of them. The truth is, what scares most people isn’t the balance in their bank account ... it’s the unknowns around money: Am I spending too much? Am I saving enough? Will I run out? Should I feel guilty for wanting something joyful?

That’s where financial mindfulness comes in. It’s not about restriction; it’s about awareness, intention, and aligning your money with the life you actually want to live.

Start With Your Statement of Financial Purpose

One of the most grounding tools we use

GGBA October Make Contact at Fluid510 in Oakland

The Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) held its monthly Make Contact event on October 16, 2025, at Fluid510 in Oakland. The well-attended event was a perfect kickoff to the association’s intentional effort to grow inclusion and opportunity in the East Bay. Aaron Boot-Haury, the President and CEO of the GGBA, thanked the board members and volunteers who helped make the October Make Contact such a success: Joy Baucom, Tanya Saracino, Peggy Sue, Charles Kwan, and Misha Safran. He and his team also thanked Sean Sullivan and Richard Fuentes of Fluid510, and Jerry Becera of Heffernan Barbary Insurance for being the presenting sponsor.

with clients is a simple, but incredibly clarifying, statement:

“Money’s purpose in my life is to __________.”

Most people start with something broad:

• “To help me feel secure.”

• “To give me choices.”

• “To not be a burden.”

That’s a great first layer. But a powerful Statement of Financial Purpose should be specific enough that you can hold yourself (and your decisions) accountable with a yes or no.

Here’s an example:

“Money’s purpose in my life is to make life feel longer by making more memories with my loved ones.”

That’s mine. And it changes the conversation entirely. When I think about a trip, a splurge, or a big purchase, I ask:

Does this expense create a memory I’ll cherish? Will it deepen joy or connection?

If the answer is yes, the decision gets a lot less scary.

You can do this too—just keep peeling the layers until your purpose is crystal clear.

Haunted by Hesitation?

You’re Not Alone

Here’s something you might not expect: at

(continued on page 22)

Message from Leadership

Stronger Together: Building Economic Power and Unity in the LGBTQ+ Community

By Aaron Boot-Haury

October is LGBTQ+ History Month, and as a leader of an LGBTQ+ organization, it’s one of the busiest stretches of the year. Over the past few weeks, I have attended the Castro Street Fair, the Horizons Foundation Night of Pride, the Out & Equal Workplace Summit in Seattle, and the GLBT Historical Society’s 40th Annual Reunion fundraiser. And the festivities for the queer high holy day of Halloween are just getting started!

It has been a busy month, but all of these events reaffirmed two truths for me: the attacks against our community from the current administration are real, imminent, and the worst I have seen in my lifetime; and, at the same time, our Bay Area LGBTQ+ organizations—and especially our LGBTQowned and allied businesses—are determined to resist, rebuild, and lead together.

In recent months, the threats to our rights have grown more explicit. The Supreme Court ruled in June to allow bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth and now seems likely to outlaw bans on the barbaric practice of conversion therapy. The White House has threatened and acted to revoke or withhold funding from organizations that serve LGBTQ+ people, Additionally, major corporations have been forced to reduce or eliminate their support of our organizations to avoid the financial and regulatory consequences of going against the administration. Our universities are facing intense pressure. They are having to censor, eliminate, or change curriculums to erase the LGBTQ+ community, or risk catastrophic funding cuts from the federal government.

Although many of us are spending a lot of time reading and studying what rights and protections are being taken away, it is also important to know the protections that remain. For example, the landmark Bostock v.

Clayton County (2020) decision held that employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

At the Out & Equal Summit, I had the honor of attending several talks by Kenji Yoshino, a professor of constitutional law at NYU Law and a leading scholar in anti-discrimination and civil rights law. His perspective—from both a legal and practical standpoint—on how our movement must move forward (from his new book How Equality Wins, scheduled for publication in February 2026) gave me concrete tools to engage those “in the middle” who don’t have visceral deep-rooted hate, but lack information or understanding. It is not enough to defend rights; we must retain intelligent dialogue and carry the language and tools to change hearts and minds.

Here in the Bay Area, we are fortunate to have many LGBTQ+ organizations, including those I previously mentioned and many

more. Yet I have come to realize that, although there are overlapping causes, members, and supporters, we still do not collaborate enough. I utterly reject the far-right ideology that is poisoning parts of our society, but I must acknowledge one thing: they are organized, aligned, and consistent. They built a playbook (Project 2025) and are executing it like a well-coached football game plan.

To move beyond this moment and regain momentum in the fight for equality, we must match that level of coordination. For our community, that includes recognizing the vital role LGBTQ+ and allied businesses play in driving the Bay Area economy. Our business owners create jobs, foster inclusive workplaces, and generate innovation that strengthens every sector—from technology to hospitality to finance. Economic empowerment is not separate from equality; it is one of its most effective tools.

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GGBA Member Spotlight Tanya Saracino of Execution Over Theory

Founded in Silicon Valley, Execution Over Theory revolutionizes operations for growing small to medium sized businesses through digital transformation, process automation, implementing program management practices, and more.

Its Founder and Technical Consultant, Tanya Saracino, has an impressive track record of scaling companies and driving their operational efficiency to enhance revenue and productivity.

GGBA: Tell us more about Execution Over Theory.

Tanya Saracino: Execution Over Theory (EOT) is a boutique consultancy focused on helping organizations of all sizes build scalable, efficient operations.

EOT helps companies run optimally by aligning teams with organizational goals, building bespoke infrastructures, optimizing the product/service lifecycles, automating processes, and integrating internal systems for real-time collaboration.

We specialize in:

• Digital Transformation: Architecting customized platforms, selecting new and/ or optimizing applications by departmental use case, and automating

departmental and cross-functional workflows.

• Project and Portfolio Management: Ensuring properly scoped and executed projects through standardized workflows, streamlined reporting, improved resource management, and reduced OPEX (operating expenditure).

• Organizational Alignment and Operational Excellence: Developing, refining, and tracking organizational OKRs (objectives and key results) and KPIs (key performance indicators), surfacing realtime key metrics for team, projects and programs, enabling clear Executive and Board reporting.

Our mission is to create foundations that allow companies to scale by designing systems, processes, and strategies that last.

Key values we live by:

Integrity & Transparency: Building trust through clear communication and datadriven decisions.

Sustainability: Ensuring the systems and solutions we build endure while reducing OPEX and increasing profit.

Empowerment: Enabling clients and their teams to grow and own their transformations.

Diversity & Belonging: Celebrating authenticity and supporting underrepresented voices, particularly in leadership.

GGBA: Who are some of your role models, and especially those who helped influence your business?

Tanya Saracino: I’ve been extremely fortunate to meet exceptional women throughout my career who became mentors—executives who were pioneers in tech, higher education, and advertising. I am so grateful for their love and guidance throughout the years. Each saw something in me and nurtured my growth by offering an ear or advice as I navigated my journey as a manager, an executive, entrepreneur and a woman. These women reached back and offered their hand to ensure that the progress they fought for was both maintained and expanded. They share wisdom, support, networks—

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SoulCycle Veteran Thea O’Dell Named New Studio Manager of Castro Location

SoulCycle Castro is more than just a workout. It’s a sanctuary. Each class rides together as a pack in candlelit studios to the rhythm of one-of-a-kind playlists. They’re coached by legendary instructors who aim to motivate and challenge.

SoulCycle’s signature 45-minute, indoor cycling classes are designed to strengthen the mind, body, and soul with instructors who will coach riders through distinct sections of climbs, sprints, choreography, weights, and their iconic soulful moment.

The Castro studio opened in June 2015 and celebrates their community that’s been with them from the beginning, as well as the new faces they welcome through their doors daily. Thea O’Dell, the new Studio Manager of SoulCycle Castro, is also ready to bring her energy and experience to the team and community.

Her Soul story started in 2016 when she relocated to the Bay Area to help open SoulCycle Walnut Creek›s studio and eventually assist in managing SoulCycle Union Street. Since then, she pursued a career in recruiting and talent management in the financial services vertical before finding her way back to where it all started: SoulCycle.

Her passion for community, leadership, and embracing change is something she was looking for in her career pivot, and she knew SoulCycle wouldn’t just support this but celebrate it.

O’Dell is looking forward to meeting more of the Castro community with open arms (and open studio doors) at SoulCycle—she’ll never say no to learning a new dance move in the lobby, a candid Polaroid photo opportunity, or talking to riders about why they love SoulCycle! https://www.soul-cycle.com/

Caring When It Counts: Why the ‘Culture of Care’ Program Matters for 2SLGBTQ+ Older Adults

By Carla Peña

As people age, many of us eventually rely—whether temporarily or permanently—on caregivers, long-term care facilities, adult day services, home health aides, or senior-serving organizations to help with daily tasks and support overall well-being. For two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SLGBTQ+) older adults, however, that transition can come with additional challenges. Many caregiving and senior-serving organizations are still learning how best to meet the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ older adults, including understanding their identities, histories, and experiences. The result? Too many older adults feel they must “go back into the closet” in later life to feel safe and respected.

To address this, Openhouse, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, launched Culture of Care, an educational training series designed to help caregiving organizations and their teams strengthen 2SLGBTQ+ cultural responsiveness. This program is not just timely; it’s essential.

Since 1998, Openhouse has worked to enable 2SLGBTQ+ seniors to overcome the unique challenges they face as they age by providing housing, direct services, community programs, and training to other older adult serving organizations throughout the city and beyond.

At Openhouse, we understand that many caregiving institutions were built around assumptions that clients are straight and cisgender. While staff are often well-meaning, they may not yet have had the opportunity to develop a full understanding of 2SLGBTQ+ identities, pronouns, or histories of discrimination and resilience. Without this awareness, older adults may experience missteps—from accidental misgendering to exclusion of chosen family— that can leave them feeling unseen or misunderstood.

To protect themselves, many 2SLGBTQ+ older adults hide aspects of their identity. They may avoid sharing that they have a same-sex partner, that they are transgender, or that they have children from a previous queer relationship. This self-concealment can affect relationships, decision-making, and mental well-being, and it prevents them from receiving care that truly reflects their full personhood.

Many 2SLGBTQ+ older adults also face

intersecting challenges, including health disparities, social isolation, and financial insecurity. When care does not fully acknowledge their experiences, even the most thoughtful services can unintentionally fall short.

The Solution: Culture of Care

Culture of Care was developed to help caregiving organizations provide care that is inclusive, affirming, and responsive. Its aim is not just to raise awareness but to build real skills and confidence in caring for 2SLGBTQ+ older adults.

One of the program’s strengths is that its curriculum is based on stories told by 2SLGBTQ+ older adults themselves.

Participants hear firsthand accounts of identity, resilience, and lived experiences, helping staff understand how their actions and decisions impact the people they serve.

Culture of Care offers self-paced online modules that staff can complete on their own schedule, as well as live workshops. The online program is available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Cantonese, with captions for accessibility. Organizations can select modules that match their staff’s learning goals, rather than adopting a one-sizefits-all approach.

There are three core modules:

1. Living Histories: 2SLGBTQ+ Political Identities: Covers the history of queer activism, discrimination, and resilience, providing context for understanding older adults’ experiences.

2. Containing Multitudes: GenderExpansive Stories: Explores a wide range of gender identities, including nonbinary, Indigenous, and fluid identities.

3. Adapting to Evolve: Offers practical guidance on day-to-day caregiving, helping staff respond to the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ older adults with dignity and respect.

Why Culture of Care Matters Now

The number of 2SLGBTQ+ older adults is increasing, and more people are living openly into later life. This shift makes culturally responsive care more important than ever. While visible gestures like hanging a rainbow

flag are important, inclusion is more than that. Culture of Care encourages organizations to implement lasting changes in policy, procedures, and staff practice to ensure care is genuinely inclusive.

Many 2SLGBTQ+ older adults have experienced stigma or discrimination in healthcare and social services. Culture of Care helps build trust by teaching staff how to provide affirming, respectful, and person-centered care—for all people in their care.

Older adults who feel safe, seen, and respected are more likely to engage with services, share health concerns, and maintain social and emotional well-being. Good care is about more than meeting basic needs; it’s about honoring identity, choice, and dignity.

What Culture of Care Looks Like in Practice

• Name and Pronoun Respect: Consistently asking, recording, and honoring chosen names and pronouns.

• Inclusive Documentation and Policies: Forms and procedures that recognize same-sex partners, chosen family, nonbinary identities, and privacy.

• Relational Inclusion: Understanding that support networks may include chosen family, former

partners, or community members.

• Adaptive Care: Recognizing how prior experiences, health histories, and social isolation may affect care needs.

In short, Culture of Care helps organizations bridge the “identity gap” and provide care that respects every older adult fully. Even the most well-intentioned organizations can fall short without structured support. Culture of Care offers a practical, evidence-informed pathway to better serve 2SLGBTQ+ older adults ensuring that care is safe, affirming, and always about the person in front of them and all that they bring.

The dignity, safety, and humanity of 2SLGBTQ+ older adults depend on it.

Learn more at

https://www.openhousesf.org/care

Carla Peña is a queer, non-binary facilitator and trainer, who currently leads the Strategic Partnerships and Education Department at Openhouse. With over a decade in community education and a deep commitment to equity and social justice, they bring a heart for advocacy and inclusion to all they do. The proud child of an immigrant Cuban father and a Nuyorican mother, they believe everyone has the birthright to thrive.

Dr. Marcy Adelman, a clinical psychologist and LGBTQ+ aging advocate and policy adviser oversees the Aging in Community column.

https://tinyurl.com/3me84y6d

Alegre Home Care is proud to support Dr. Marcy Adelman’s Aging in Community column in the San Francisco Bay Times.

Where Style & Inclusion Blossom: The Charles Pacific Grove

By Ryan MacCarrigan

Along California’s Monterey Peninsula, the town of Pacific Grove sits quietly between the pines and the ocean just over two hours south of San Francisco. It feels local and safe, welcoming travelers drawn by the coastline, art galleries, restaurants, and the calm that define this part of the world. It’s also home to a new kind of boutique hotel experience that blends stylish elegance with inclusion: The Charles Hotel Pacific Grove

The Charles is the creation of veteran, gay hotel designer Charles Gruwell, whose career spans four decades and more than forty boutique hotels, including work on properties such as the Four Seasons and Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, and the recently opened Stilwell Hotel in Carmel-by-theSea. After years designing for clients up and down the Monterey Peninsula, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, Gruwell wanted to build something personal.

Returning to his hometown, he reimagined a historic Victorian inn into an eleven-room property that feels intimate, stylish, and distinctly local. The result is a hotel that feels like a conversation between past and present with historic, handcrafted woodwork, rich

fabrics and textures, warm lighting, and the quiet rhythm of coastal life. Guests describe the feeling as a private-club atmosphere without the pretension.

For Gruwell and Carmel-based partners Don and Jay Desai, LGBTQ+ inclusion is not an afterthought; it’s a central part of the brand’s design. Their guiding principle, “inclusive, stylish, and artfully designed,” is visible in everything from the hotel’s curated music playlists to the way staff are trained to

anticipate guests’ needs. Guests come from around the world because they know the experience is both beautiful and safe. Whether you’re a couple on a weekend retreat or a solo gay traveler exploring the coast, you feel seen and respected here. That sense of welcome extends beyond the hotel walls. Pacific Grove has quietly become one of the most inclusive small towns on the Central Coast, with local restaurants, galleries, and wineries embracing a diverse mix of international and local visitors. A day here might include a coastal walk along Lovers Point, an afternoon tasting in Carmel Valley, and dinner at one of the Peninsula’s farm-to-table restaurants.

What makes The Charles Hotel different is its connection to community. The team partners with local, mission-aligned businesses to create meaningful guest experiences, including the award-winning Folktale Winery in nearby Carmel Valley; Fandango Restaurant, a local institution for more than four decades; contemporary Italian eatery Rudolfo’s; and the recently opened hybrid vinyl record store and bar Hiss & Pop; the latter three are located in downtown Pacific Grove, a short walking distance from the hotel.

In early 2026, the team plans to bring the model north with The Charles Napa Valley, a rebrand of the Old World Inn bed and breakfast, a few minutes’ walk from downtown Napa. This property will continue the same formula: stylish and artful design, a relentless focus on inclusive guest experience, and a strong connection to local food and wine, especially in partnership with LGBTQ-owned businesses.

Why LGBTQ+ Travelers Choose The Charles

The Charles represents a broader shift in travel behavior. Over 70 percent of LGBTQ+ travelers are willing to pay more for accommodations known to be safe and welcoming. They take more leisure trips per

year than the average traveler and show high loyalty to inclusive brands.

That loyalty is earned through authenticity. The Charles doesn’t explicitly label itself an LGBTQ+ hotel like some properties in Palm Springs or Provincetown. It simply creates an environment where everyone of any background feels they are safe and belong. Pacific Grove’s Victorian homes, expansive cypress pine groves, and picturesque ocean vistas form a backdrop that encourages reflection and calm. Staying at The Charles means becoming part of that calm. You wake to the sound of gulls, walk to the beach with a coffee, explore 17-Mile Drive, and return in the evening for a glass of local wine and intimate conversations with fellow guests.

From the hotel’s central location, it’s easy to explore the Monterey Peninsula’s highlights: the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, Carmel Beach, Pebble Beach, Point Lobos, and the wineries of Carmel Valley. Art lovers will find galleries along Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove, while food enthusiasts can enjoy everything from Michelin-recognized fine dining restaurants like Aubergine, and

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Trust Essentials for Non-U.S. LGBTQ+ Citizens Owning Bay Area Real Estate

Trust Essentials

Protect Your Bay Area Legacy: Estate Planning for LGBTQ+ Immigrants

As a non-U.S. LGBTQ+ person with a Castro home or San Francisco tech equity, your property is your legacy. International rules can complicate passing it to loved ones. October is the time to plan, using trusts to keep assets safe and private. Here’s how to protect your wishes.

Bay Area Property Challenges for LGBTQ+ Non-Citizens

Owning property here means navigating U.S. rules tied to your property’s location, plus your identity and global ties.

Why It Matters

Probate typically takes 9–18 months for standard cases but can be 6–9 months for simple estates or over 2 years for complex ones, like disputes or international issues, and for estates over $208,850 (projected April 2025, based on inflation). Fees reduce your home’s value. A 2025 $750,000 primary residence break helps, but not rentals. (Thresholds mentioned here are based on projected 2025 law.) Countries without LGBTQ+ protections may ignore your partner, causing disputes.

Action Steps

1. List assets (deeds, values).

2. Check U.S.-home country estate treaties.

3. Consult an LGBTQ+-friendly attorney.

Skipping Probate:

Trusts Tailored for You

A revocable living trust passes property directly to heirs, avoiding court.

Why It Matters

Trusts protect your chosen family’s privacy, unlike public probate. Joint ownership risks issues if your home country doesn’t recognize same-sex bonds. Extra court processes here and abroad delay your legacy.

Action Steps

1. Set up a trust and transfer your property deed.

2. Use joint ownership only with trusted

partners.

3. Align beneficiaries with your trust.

Harmonizing Global and Bay Area Rules

Create a plan that works across borders while respecting your identity.

Why It Matters

Some countries reject U.S. trusts, requiring extra steps. Forced heirship laws may exclude your chosen family. Possible visa changes demand protections.

(Visa changes are based on projected 2025 trends.)

Action Steps

1. Hire lawyers in both countries for matching documents.

2. Choose California law for local assets.

3. Gift up to $19,000 per person in 2025 (projected U.S. exclusion), tax-free in the U.S. Check home-country tax rules.

Your Complete LGBTQ+-Friendly Plan

Use trusts, wills, and safeguards for worryfree protection.

Why It Matters

It prevents stress in the Bay Area’s costly market. 2025 rules help smaller estates, but larger ones need stronger tools. (Rules based on projected 2025 trends.) Gifting now secures your wishes.

Action Steps

1. Add a catch-all will for missed assets.

2. Name a trusted friend as backup trustee.

3. Review yearly.

Bay Area Lens

San Francisco’s homes average $1.3 million, attracting LGBTQ+ immigrants. Probate fees hit hard, but the 2025 threshold eases some costs. Trusts are ideal for rentals and investments common in our community. Protect your legacy.

Claim Your Peace of Mind

Picture your loved ones inheriting without disputes or costs. Act this October—visit our website ( https://www.greenelawfirm.com/ ) or call Greene Law Firm at 415-905-0215 for a free consultation. We’re here to build your plan.

Legal Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than that of other lawyers. Viewing this material does not create an attorneyclient relationship. Laws change, so consult a qualified attorney for your situation.

Jay Greene, Esq., CPA, leads Greene Law Firm, P.C. in San Francisco, creating inclusive plans for LGBTQ+ individuals. Contact: 415-905-0215 or info@greenelawfirm.com

State Senator Scott Wiener Announces His Campaign for Congressional Seat

State Senator Scott Wiener, who represents the 11th district encompassing San Francisco and parts of San Mateo County, on October 22, 2025, announced via a campaign video that he is running for Congress. The announcement comes before the present seat holder, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, has announced her plans for 2026. As of this writing, it remains unclear if the 85-year-old veteran politician will seek reelection. If she does, it would mean that two of the most influential politicians of the Democratic Party, certainly in California, would be political rivals after decades of camaraderie and closely working together.

In the video, Senator Wiener says, in part: “I’m running for Congress to defend San Francisco, our values, our people and the Constitution of the United States with everything I have. I’ve stood up to violence and hate my entire life. Trump and his MAGA extremists don’t scare me.”

The out LGBTQ+ politician, who is 55, has been one of the nation’s most prolific legislators, authoring and seeing passed numerous measures ranging from public transportation to housing to HIV/AIDS. As for this present decision, ABC7 News Insider Phil Matier shared, “I’m not sure if it’s a good move or a bad move, but it’s the only move he feels that he can make right now. Basically, he has a choice: he either gets into the fray and takes on one of the most popular and powerful politicians in the Bay Area and in California, or he sits on the sidelines while the newcomer comes in and does it. The problem for Scott Wiener is that the window is only going to be open for so long. He’s collected a million dollars for the run. He either gets in this race or he sits on the sidelines.”

https://www.scottwiener.com/

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IN MEMORIAM

Miss Major Griffin-Gracy (1946–2025)

Pioneering transgender rights leader Miss Major Griffin-Gracy passed on October 13, 2025, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy of over five decades of nationwide advocacy for the transgender community, the overall LGBTQ+ community, and in tireless support of numerous other social and racial justice efforts. She had been in home hospice care due to complications from a urinary tract infection.

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, she lived an openly LGBTQ+ life since adolescence. With other early community leaders such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, she was present during the 1969 Stonewall riots that further galvanized the burgeoning queer community.

Over the next few decades, she worked in community services, including for trans women and for a food bank. She also did compassionate home health care during the HIV/AIDS pandemic before moving to San Francisco in the 1990s. Some of her first positions in the city were at the City of Refuge and at the Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center.

Beginning in 2005, Griffin-Gracy became a leader of the San Francisco-based Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project, and was named the organization’s first Executive Director in 2010. She retired in late 2015, the same year that a documentary film about her life, MAJOR!, was released ( https://www.missmajorfilm.com/ ). After moving to Arkansas, she founded the Griffin-Gracy Educational and Historical Center, fondly known as the House of GG.

In 2023, she co-authored (with Toshio Meronek) the book Miss Major Speaks: Conversations With a Black Trans Revolutionary. During her later years, she also was interviewed by Kin Folkz for the San Francisco Bay Times. Folkz is an artist, activist, and the Founder and Executive Director of both the Queer Healing Arts Center and Spectrum Queer Media.

When Kin Folkz asked “Mama Major” how she continued to remain focused and encouraged despite political backlash, Griffin-Gracy replied, “Oh, honey, we’ll always be the ones to survive. I’m not afraid, because I know that we’ve gone through much worse—especially us poor, Black TLGBQIA+ folks. We weren’t supposed to survive the trauma and the torture. We’re strong because they couldn’t break us; honey, we know how to bend. Our oppressors can’t. They’re hard-hearted and that makes them fragile. I know how valuable we are. They fear us—not because we’ve done anything to harm ’em—but because we’re a peek into the future, one that won’t include their dusty old asses. Their fear makes them lie to themselves, makes them pretend to be more than they actually are. They are proven, pathological liars. They’re more than weak-hearted; they’re weak-minded. They’re bullies. And there aren’t a whole bunch; they’re just very loud. They’re arrogant and stuck in time, like dinosaurs in tar pits. And, like the dinosaurs, their way of thinking is becoming more obsolete each day.”

To read the full interview, go to: https://bit.ly/4oxU005

Legacy Remembers reports that Griffin-Gracy is survived by her longtime partner, Beck Witt Major; three sons, Asaiah, Christopher, and Jonathon; her sisters; and many “daughters” and chosen family. The guestbook at Legacy may be signed at https://bit.ly/47139sd

GLBT Fortnight in Review

The Kids Are Not Okay

Like many of you, I’m becoming inured to the daily assaults on the country where I was born and grew up. Heavy machinery busting up the East Wing of the White House? Oh well. Supreme Court says it’s okay to send National Guard troops to Portland? What did we expect? Blameless officials indicted for nothing, while George Santos is pardoned? How much time do we have left? Three years and three months? Wake me when it’s over.

But one particular story this week shocked me out of my complacency, and that was the 2,900 pages of chats on Telegram between leading members of the Young Republican National Federation that were released by Politico. The chats include the vilest comments you can imagine, casually bandied about between about a dozen people over a seven-month period between young Republicans from New York, Kansas, Arizona and Vermont.

As Politico reports: “William Hendrix, the Kansas Young Republicans’ vice chair, used the words ’n—ga’ and ’n—guh,’ variations of a racial slur, more than a dozen times in the chat. Bobby Walker, the vice chair of the New York State Young Republicans at the time, referred to rape as ‘epic.’ Peter Giunta, who at the time was chair of the same organization, wrote in a message sent in June that ‘everyone that votes no is going to the gas chamber.’” Much hilarity about gas chambers ensued. Giunta was referring to an internal leadership vote, and later called his opponents: “Minnesotaf——ts ... . Arkansas—inbred cow f---ers Nebraska—revolt in our favor; blocked their bind and have a majority of their delegates Maryland—fat stinky Jew ... Rhode Island— traitorous c---s who I will eradicate from the face of this planet.”

The examples go on and on and on. And, I must say, three photos in Politico show men who are not exactly candidates for Best in Show. They look like incels, which makes you wonder what lies at the heart of their hatred of their fellow human beings. They tossed antisemitic, antigay, and anti-Black comments around to the delight of their chat buddies. They were violent, joking around about killing people, and even confessed to using party funds for their own expenses after the group’s budget went into the red. After the messages came to light, several of the participants apologized in that “sorry if I offended anyone” style. Others suggested the texts were doctored. It seemed as if the chat was released either by one of the warring factions in their various power plays, or by a good Samaritan—I can’t tell.

One of these chatters, Paul Ingrassia, is under consideration in the Senate for a job as the head of the White House Office for the Special Counsel. According to Politico, Mr. Ingrassia had remarked in January of 2024: “MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs ... . No moulignon holidays ... . From kwanza [sic] to mlk jr day to black history month to Juneteenth ... . Every single one needs to be eviscerated.” He also admitted he had a “Nazi streak” from time to time. He faces a committee hearing today, October 23.

By Ann Rostow

Reacting to this whole story, Vice President Vance said: “Kids do stupid things, especially young boys.” The Young Republicans membership includes people aged 18 to 40. For Shame!

Part of me has been assuming that our current horror show will come to an end in January 2029, much as it appeared to do in January of 2021. Trump will be gone, some nice Democrat will take office, and our healing will start to take hold. The pendulum will swing back from MAGA towards normalcy and articles will flow about learning lessons. I also recall tales of the McCarthy era, which, because I know next to nothing about it, seemed to end abruptly after someone thundered: “Have you no shame?” And that was it! Like something out of a Frank Capra movie. Hey guys! Has anyone tried that?

Another, more cynical part of me recognizes that the damage we’ve seen has been a team effort and there are a lot of people who will remain committed to a country run by white Christian men. People with no sense of history, no head for economics, a lizard-type intelligence and a deeply disordered inner life. In the chat released by Politico, we just saw some of them. There are many more.

I do think, however, that there’s a majority that supports reasonable immigration laws, which include room for Dreamers, workers, students, families, refugees, and asylum seekers. A majority that believes in the rule of law and the promise of Democracy. A majority that sees the U.S. as part of the global community, both in terms of economics and in terms of foreign aid. It may take years or decades, but if this majority—the left and the broad center—can convey a shared vision of the American future, I think we can break the hold of the far right and perhaps see some of those “young boys” hang their greying heads in shame one day.

Lost and Found

Here’s a story out of The Advocate that illustrates both sides of our divided country. In Oklahoma City, the head of the Oklahoma City University Counseling Center made a comment after Charlie Kirk’s murder:

“As a target of Charlie Kirk,” wrote Paula Schonauer, who is transgender, “I must admit there is a grudging satisfaction that one who has wielded hate and stochastic terrorism is getting a taste of his own medicine. As a citizen of the United States, I am appalled by gun violence and I send to his family thoughts and prayers.”

The backlash descended at once. “What a disgusting inhuman ... pig you are,” “You are gross and a waste of humanity,” and so forth. Schonauer wrote back: “Do not shame me for feeling a certain amount of vindication at the death of an oppressor. I certainly know that some people will rejoice at my demise.”

Schonauer, 59, had already gone through the experience of transitioning as a police officer, a former Officer of the Year in the Oklahoma City Police Department. A Gulf War veteran as well, she had to fight for her police job after transitioning in the late 1990s. She retired from the police in 2014, was named to her current post in 2023, and was recently

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Cheers to a Champion: LGBTQ+ Community Honors Rebecca Rolfe

Rebecca Rolfe, the Executive Director of the SF LGBT Center for 22 years, was celebrated at the event Cheers to a Champion at the center on October 16, 2025. Rolfe, who announced her retirement early this year, has been one of the most successful nonprofit leaders in the city’s history, having spearheaded numerous programs and other initiatives benefiting all facets of the LGBTQ+ community. They include the center’s offerings concerning employment and financial services, housing resources, arts and culture programming, and specialized support for youth and trans communities—several of which were the first of their kind in the nation.

In 2017, she led a major capital remodel that cemented the center’s Market Street building as a prominent city landmark and expanded its role as a true multiservice hub for innovative, community-rooted programming. Today, the center serves thousands of LGBTQ+ people each year, providing connection, support, and access to essential resources.

Cheers to a Champion was co-emceed by Sister Roma and Cindy Solomon and included a roast of her by community leaders such as drag legend and San Francisco Bay Times columnist Donna Sachet, as well as fellow Bay Times columnists Honey Mahogany and Rafael Mandelman, the President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. California State Senator Scott Wiener was also among the many local luminaries honoring Rolfe. A fundraising campaign named after her was announced at the event, ensuring that her legacy will live on at the center and continue to strengthen it. https://www.sfcenter.org/

TBy Donna Sachet

he Imperial Gay Pageant, on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Hotel Zeppelin, returned to an exciting, competitive contest with multiple contestants, creative presentations, and an enthusiastic audience. Sharing judging responsibilities was no easy task as competitors surprised us in every pageant category, including live singing, outlandish costumes, jaw-dropping glamor, and message-laden productions. Pageant coordinators and emcees Emperor Ashlee Blow & Empress Afrika America kept the evening moving along and the audience engaged, giving recognition to past Imperial Gay titleholders and welcoming into the Imperial Family Mr. Gay 2025 Josué Henriquez and Mx Gay 2025 Sue Trowtower. Finally, it was time for the tiaras and sashes as the winners were announced: Miss Gay San Francisco Anastasia Di’Nitta, Ms. Gay San Francisco Chi CHI!, Mx. Gay San Francisco Calliope Munro, and Mr. Gay San Francisco Ali Amaya. With this broader slate of titles, the Imperial Council welcomes a greater diversity of individuals into its historic family. Honorable mention certainly goes to Candi Mint Mercury, Luz Lips, Benji Pruitt, and Delilah Blackheart for competing so admirably,

A supportive group of friends gathered at the SF LGBT Community Center last Thursday, October 16, to thank outgoing Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe for over 22 years of dedicated service, leading this building’s team to unparalleled success. Emcees Sister Roma and former Board member Cindy Solomon struck a comical balance between praise and lighthearted roast, introducing various speakers, including Rebecca’s own sister, to amuse the audience. Among those in attendance were Frank Woo, Suzanne Ford, Winn Pham, Dr. Marcy Adelman, Dr. Tyler TerMeer, Gary Virginia, and the Bay Times’ own Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas. Rebecca gave a heartfelt speech, leaving hardly a dry eye in the house. New Executive Director Jen Valles then offered remarks and set the stage for the next chapter of leadership as the crowd cheered.

Last Saturday, October 18, proved to be one of those impossibly crowded days with multiple local events and the overarching “No Kings Day” blanketing the city. We started at the Imperial “Empress Take-Over” at Beaux, where a small group of committed Empresses supported their traveling Reigning Empress by performing and collecting donations for their charitable account. As you may know, the Reigning Monarchs raise money all during their year and then present it to various charitable causes at Imperial Coronation in February. We couldn’t miss this opportunity to help out! Co-hosting with Empress Alexis Miranda and ably assisted by Empress Cameron Stiehl-Munro, we entertained a small, but supportive audience. Performers included Emperors and Empresses, other Imperial titleholders, and even monarchs from Alameda. With donated tips, raffle ticket sales, and live auction bids combined, we raised over $1200 in a few hours! Won’t Afrika be pleased?

From there, we had to fly like the wind back home to drop off luggage and back out the door to head to the Westin St. Francis Hotel for Reunion 40, the GLBT Historical Society’s annual gala. Joining the event, already in full swing, we sat with our generous hosts, Gary Nathan & David Gin, surrounded by hundreds of people also committed to the preservation of our complete and accurate history, including Ron Morrison, David Schild, Gary Kenyon, Moxie Penn, Kailee Kling, Gary Virginia, Cleve Jones, Tom Horn, Lance Toma, John Liou, Adam Sandel, Greg Pennington, and State Senator Scott Wiener. With so much rapid change at the federal level, this task is increasingly vital. Emcees Sister Roma and Honey Mahogany guided us through the night with humor and insight, demonstrating a genuine connection with each other and their community. Awards were presented to Cheryl Dunye and Sean Dorsey for their trailblazing work and visionary leadership. Executive Director Roberto Ordeñana was greeted enthusiastically by the room and gave a stirring and inspirational speech. When it was time to raise bidding paddles to support the cause, the ballroom exploded with enthusiasm. As the GLBT Historical Society draws closer to its goal of a dedicated museum, that spirit and financial support will prove essential, providing a bulwark against those who would deny our very existence.

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

“San Francisco is a mad city, inhabited for the most part by perfectly insane people ... .” Rudyard Kipling in his 1899 book American Notes

Thursday, October 23

Rights, Resilience, Revelry!

AIDS Legal Referral’s 42nd annual reception

Honoring George Takei & David Tsai

Special guest: Varla Jean Merman Raffle, wine, silent & live auction

The Grand, 520 4th Street 5:30 pm $50 & up www.alrp.org

Tuesday, October 28

Rainbow Honor Walk Plaque Unveiling Roger Casement plaque Irish American Community dignitaries Castro & 18th Streets 4 pm Free! www.rainbowhonorwalk.org

Friday, October 31

Castro Night Market: Halloween Food, merchants, entertainment Castro & 18th Streets 5–10 pm Free! www.castronightmarket.com

Friday, October 31

Soft Launch of Cam 5 of the Castro Street Cam Ribbon cutting ceremony co-hosted by Honey Mahogany and Sister Roma 5 pm, The Castro Toast to follow at Catch 2362 Market Street

Virtual viewing of Halloween on Castro Street https://bit.ly/4ndAaGk

Friday, November 7

The Legends Awards: Cleve Jones

Hosted by Donna Sachet

Performances, awards, tributes Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market Street

Post-event reception at The Academy SF 6 pm $20 & up

https://www.academy-sf.com/

Saturday, November 8

Empress Marlena’s Imperial State Funeral

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church 1111 O’Farrell Street Noon www.imperialcouncilsf.org

Edward De Lacy Evans: The Woman With Three Wives

Faces from Our LGBT Past

Dr. Bill Lipsky

The Bendigo Advertiser was shocked, shocked by what it headlined as an “Extraordinary Case of Concealment of Sex” in its September 4, 1879, issue. Reporting the “story of local resident Edward De Lacy Evans,” the Victoria, Australia, newspaper described it as “unprecedented in the annals of the whole world.” What amazed and startled the newspaper most, however, was not that he “has for 20 years passed for a man in various parts of the colony,” but during that time he married three different women.

A month later, Melbourne’s Illustrated Australian News (October 1, 1879) was equally astonished by “one of the most extraordinary instances of successful personation ever recorded.” Although De Lacy Evans, “disguised in men’s attire, worked on various goldfields as a miner,” and although his “somewhat effeminate face and figure at times excited comment, yet [he] also contrived to evade detection all that time, and probably [his] secret might have died with

[him] so far as the public were concerned but for an accident.”

The accident occurred several months earlier, when Evans was injured at work in the mines. On July 21, 1879, his brother-inlaw, Jean Baptiste Loridan, took him to the Bendigo Hospital, claiming he had become “dangerous to others.” Refusing to take a bath, Evans left the institution and went home, but was brought before two police court magistrates the next day, who agreed with a medical evaluation that he suffered from “softening of the brain” and ordered him returned to the hospital.

Five weeks later, he was transferred to the Kew Lunatic Asylum in Melbourne, some 90 miles away. Still refusing to be bathed, he was restrained by attendants who stripped him and prepared to wash him against his will. This time, however, they made an unexpected discovery: De Lacy Evans had female anatomy, which created an issue of its own. They had no authority to detain a woman, so they sent him back to Bendigo on the next day’s morning train. By then the newspapers had the story.

Traveling under the name Ellen Tremayne, Evans arrived at Melbourne as an “assisted immigrant,” one of 242 women on the Ocean Monarch, on June 23, 1856. At sea she shared a berth with Mary Delahunty, whom she may have known before the ship departed Ireland. Whether or not she told any of the other passengers, as some of them later claimed, that she was going to marry her shipmate after they reached Australia, the two exchanged vows in Melbourne’s Saint Francis’ Church some months later.

Soon after the wedding, Evans moved to Blackwood, where he worked as a miner; Delahunty joined him there in 1858. Some who knew the couple later claimed that they “did not live comfortably together.” For whatever reason, Delahunty left Evans in 1862 to marry Lyman Oatman Hart, an American mining surveyor in Daylesford.

who died five years later.

Later, The Bendigo Advertiser thought it was “perfectly astonishing that such an imposition could have been successfully carried on in a civilized community for such a length of time and that the girl Sarah Moore could have died without the imposture being brought to light,” but apparently no one in their small community had—or shared— any suspicions. In fact, it was Moore’s sister who introduced Evans to Julia Marquand, his third wife. “The pair became enamored,” and they were married on September 18, 1868.

After ten years of matrimony, Marquand gave birth to a baby girl, Julia Mary; Evans was listed on her registry certificate as her father. Sadly, “his emotional and physical health deteriorated” over the months that followed. The diagnosis by journalists: her desire to “seem a man” and “the eventual overwhelming strain” of pursuing her “masquerade” for so many years. “The woman is evidently insane ... as no one but a mad woman would have been guilty of such egregious folly.” The cure: a forced return to femininity.

Court to accuse Loridan, her sister’s husband, of leaving “his illegitimate child without the means of support.” Wearing women’s clothes, Evans testified as a witness for the prosecution. “Yes, I have seen him at my house,” she stated, then spoke directly to the defendant: “That is a fact. You are the father of the child, and here I am.” Even so, “the court found Marquand’s case unproven.”

Knowing Evans’ birth identity, she countered charges of bigamy by telling each and all that Evans, in fact, was a woman. That same year, Evans married Sarah Moore,

After four months of hospital supervision, The Bendigo Independent reported on December 1, 1879, “She is now quite healthy in mind and body, and her appearance entirely feminine. She states that she will not again return to male clothing, and it is extremely improbable that she will ... . The shame that attended the discovery of her secret, and the constant dread that she would always be in of its repetition, afford every reason for the belief that she will not again un-sex herself.” She never did.

Only a few days later, on December 5, Marquand appeared in the Bendigo Police

Loridan left Bendigo after the trial, but Marquand stayed on, disgraced, for the rest of her life; she never remarried. Evans eventually moved into the Immigrants Home in Melbourne, where she lived for the next 21 years. Allowed to wear only women’s clothes, she refused to discuss her former life with anyone. Now known as Mrs. Edward de Lacy Evans, she ironically became her own fourth wife. When she died in 1901, The Melbourne Argus called “the deception one of the most extraordinary on record.”

The story of Edward De Lacy Evans became so well known that, for many years, whenever the newspapers wrote about other Australians identified as female at birth, but living their lives as men, they were described as “another De Lacy Evans,” or “a second De Lacy Evans,” or “emulating the bad example of De Lacy Evans.” Their reasons, like his, were almost always attributed to “misadventure,” deception, or insanity. How did he understand himself? The facts of his life are well established, but his truth may never be known.

Bill Lipsky, Ph.D., author of “LGBTQ+ Trailblazers of San Francisco” (2023) and “Gay and Lesbian San Francisco” (2006), is a member of the Rainbow Honor Walk board of directors.

GLBT Historical Society 40th Anniversary

GLBT Historical Society Annual Gala Breaks Records for Attendance, Fundraising

Reunion 40, held at The Westin St. Francis on October 18, 2025, was a record-breaking success. This annual gala of The GLBT Historical Society, now in its fourth decade, had the greatest ever attendance in the event’s history—more than 400—and raised over $355,000. The charismatic hosts were San Francisco Bay Times columnist Honey Mahogany and Sister Roma. Honored during the evening were the 2025 History Makers: filmmaker and actress Cheryl Dunye and dancer, choreographer, and transgender activist Sean Dorsey. The Bay Times congratulates Executive Director Roberto Ordeñana and his team on both the success of this event and in preparing for the new location for the museum and archives at 2280 Market Street. https://www.glbthistory.org/

(continued from pg 10)

Brio, some of our most financially stable, well-prepared clients struggle, not with saving but with spending.

They’ve worked hard. They’ve planned well. They’re on track. And yet, when it’s time to use the money for the life they envisioned, fear creeps in:

• “What if I won’t have enough later?”

• “Should I really spend this now?”

• “Is this responsible?”

That’s why mindfulness matters. When your financial purpose is clear, it gives you permission to spend intentionally, rather than anxiously or avoidantly.

How Brio Helps Banish the Fear

We don’t believe in money for money’s sake. We believe in using your wealth to design and live a meaningful life, on your terms. With our clients, we:

• clarify values and goals before ever looking at numbers;

• reconnect spending and saving habits to what actually matters;

• create plans that support both confidence and joy;

• give people language and structure to make spending feel less risky and more aligned.

BOOT-HAURY (continued from pg 11)

Financial planning isn’t a trick; it’s a tool. And it doesn’t have to feel like wandering through a dark house alone.

Your Turn: What’s Your Money For?

Take a moment and fill in that blank: “Money’s purpose in my life is to __________.”

Then ask yourself:

• Can I tell if I’m honoring that with a yes/no?

• Does my spending reflect it?

• Does my saving support it?

• Do I feel free or frightened by the answer?

If your relationship with money feels murky, overwhelming, or out of sync with who you are today, that’s not a failure; that’s an invitation.

And Brio loves nothing more than helping people rewrite their money story in alignment with their life story.

Ready to Turn the Lights on and Look Under the Financial Bed?

You don’t need to be spooked by your bank account or haunted by “what ifs.” With intention and a little guidance, your money can become a source of clarity, confidence,

The GGBA has spent 50 years helping LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs build successful, sustainable companies that uplift our community. The chamber’s mission is not only to connect members but also to ensure our collective economic influence is felt in city halls, boardrooms, and marketplaces across our region. Our organizations may have different missions and constituencies, but finding intersection points and working together is essential. The GGBA welcomes the opportunity to partner and collaborate, and this will remain a personal focus for me as I lead the organization into 2026.

In the weeks ahead I urge each of our member organizations, every board member, and every ally to reach out. Share resources, amplify one another’s events and programs, co-host panels, and collaborate across sectors in business, nonprofit, and government. Speak with one voice when we can, and act in a coordinated fashion when it matters. Our community’s future—and the economic vitality of the Bay Area— depends on this.

Together we will not simply hold ground. Together we will advance.

With Prideful Hope, Aaron Boot-Haury

Aaron Boot-Haury is the President & CEO of the Golden Gate Business Association.

MACCARRIGAN (continued from pg 14)

bustling cafés like Nora’s in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

As The Charles brand expands to Napa Valley and beyond, its core philosophy will remain the same: inclusive and stylish. Every property will be unique, but the feeling of welcome will always be consistent. For Gruwell, that’s the real reward after a lifetime in design. “It’s about creating spaces that feel genuine,” he says. “Where people can relax, connect, and see themselves reflected in the experience.”

Plan Your Visit

The Charles Hotel Pacific Grove is located at 581 Pine Avenue in the heart of town, just a few minutes’ walk from the ocean. Book directly online ( https://www.thecharlespacificgrove.com/ ) for rates and special packages.

Whether you’re exploring the Monterey Peninsula for the first time or returning to a favorite coastal escape, The Charles invites you to slow down, connect, and feel safe at home.

Ryan MacCarrigan (he/him) is the Executive Director at Queer LifeSpace ( www.queerlifespace.org ), a Castro-based nonprofit counseling agency providing affordable access to mental healthcare for the LGBTQIA+ community across the Bay Area. He is also the Founder and CEO of LEANSTUDIO ( leanstud.io ), a design and innovation consultancy, and teaches part-time in the Innovation Management program at UC Berkeley.

and joy, not fear.

When you’re ready to talk through your own Statement of Financial Purpose, and build a plan around it, we’re here. No séance required.

This material presented by Brio Financial Group (“Brio”) is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for personalized investment advice or as a recommendation or solicitation of any particular security, strategy, or investment product. Facts presented have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however Brio cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information, and certain information presented here may have been condensed or summarized from its original source. This information may contain certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those discussed. No investor should assume future performance will be profitable or equal the previous reflected performance. Any reference to an index is included for illustrative purposes only, as an index is not a security in which an invest-

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT (continued from pg 11)

ment can be made. They are unmanaged vehicles that serve as market indicators and do not account for the deduction of management fees and/or transaction costs generally associated with investable products. The S&P 500 Total Return Index represents U.S. stock returns. This includes 500 leading companies in the U.S. and is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities, where dividends are reinvested. The holdings and performance of Brio client accounts may vary widely from those of the presented indices. Brio does not provide legal or tax advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as legal or tax advice. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Brio and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Brio Financial Group unless a client service agreement is in place.

Brandon Miller, CFP®, is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals. For more information: https://www.briofg.com/

sprinkled with spirituality that’s helped me become a better leader by balancing business and nurturing spirit at the same time. I hope to be that same mentor one day for the next generation of female leaders. We need more women to take their rightful place as managers, executives, and entrepreneurs.

GGBA: Do you go to the GGBA monthly Make Contact networking events? Have they benefited you and your business, and would you recommend them to others?

Tanya Saracino: Let me start by saying that showing up matters. One of the best ways to do that is by coming to a Make Contact event (or any event that resonates with you). Personally, I never attend expecting to land new business. I arrive curious and eager to meet fellow LGBTQ+ professionals who are navigating the business world in all capacities. I go to connect with people, and, if I’m lucky, make a new friend.

That said, the networking at these events has absolutely paid off. I’ve gained new clients directly, and often get introduced to others in their networks who need my help. You get what you put in, so show up, raise your hand, get involved, and keep coming back. I raised my hand and now I’m a new Board Member of GGBA. It’s worth it.

At a time when our fundamental human rights are under constant attack, when women and trans persons are being targeted, we must come together. Community is where our strength lies, and the more people that show up, the stronger we as a community become. I hope to see you at an event soon!

GGBA: What other advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own business?

Tanya Saracino: I would say that starting your own business is not for the faint of heart but it’s worth it. You’ll have to get out of your comfort zone sometimes, learn to ask for help, and weather unique challenges. There will be ebbs and flows—some months with little or no income, and some months you’ll make more than you ever have. The freedom you gain is unmatched. There’s a confidence that comes with realizing you can make it on your own, without relying on a corporation. Here’s the reality: 80% of start-ups with successful products fail to achieve full scale-up and twothirds never deliver a positive return to investors. While many founders have brilliant ideas, profitability requires operational efficiency, a less “sexy” but critical skillset. So, be sure you have money in the bank and don’t forget to focus on back-end operations early. Many companies chase revenue, but remember: profit is where you make money, and your operations are where that profit margin lies.

GGBA: Is there anything else that you would like to share?

Tanya Saracino: Please, please, please get involved! As the first LGBTQ+ business organization in the United States, the GGBA is a piece of living history and it’s up to us to ensure it continues into the future.

As a new Board Member, I’m thrilled to announce that we’re expanding into the East Bay! I’m especially excited because it’s closer to home, and I can’t wait to see you at the next Make Contact event!

https://www.eot-consulting.com/

Horizons Foundation A Night of Pride 2025: 45 Years of Progress & Possibility

Photos by Colin Hussey/Horizons Foundation

Horizons Foundation held its annual gala, entitled A Night of Pride, on October 11, 2025, at the California Academy of Sciences. At least $129,750 was raised, helping Horizons continue to be a leader in the philanthropic sector and to fuel the fight for LGBTQ+ justice. The enthusiastic emcee and auctioneer was Michael Tate, and entertainment was provided by Veronica Klaus, Criibaby, and SNJV, who all received much deserved applause. Horizons President Roger Doughty—now in his 23rd year of leadership at the foundation—spoke eloquently about the present political challenges and efforts to overcome them.

This year’s honorees were Joe Hawkins, the CEO and Co-Founder of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, who received the Visionary Award; and the company Dolby, which received the Leadership Award. Francisco Buchting, Horizons’ Vice President of Grants, Programs & Communications, introduced Hawkins. Audrey Howard, Dolby’s Senior Perceptual Assessment Engineer, accepted the Leader ship Award on behalf of Dolby. https://www.horizonsfoundation.org/

From Silicon Valley to the World Stage

Beth Schnitzer, Raghu Shivaram and Spritz guests at the Mill Valley Film Festival

Fall sports season is in full swing, and the Bay Area continues to prove it is where athletic excellence, innovation, and cultural storytelling intersect. From world-class squash courts in Silicon Valley to cinematic spotlights at the Mill Valley Film Festival, from WNBA accolades to Olympic anticipation— the energy here feels both local and global.

What I love most about this season is how it showcases the Bay Area’s range: grassroots clubs nurturing new talent, elite athletes making history, and tech innovators reimagining how we train, compete, and recover. Whether courtside, in the stands, or behind the scenes, the common thread is unmistakable: passion, performance, and purpose.

Silicon Valley Squash Open

I spent several exhilarating days at the Silicon Valley Open, where some of the world’s best squash players took the court at Squash Zone, a state-of-the-art training facility in Redwood City. Squash Zone’s mission is to build a vibrant, inclusive community around the sport, welcoming players of all ages and skill levels to learn, stay active, and compete. You could feel that energy throughout the week—from the local volunteers to the international pros—and it was infectious.

One of my favorite parts of the tournament was watching top American women players, including Olivia Weaver and sisters Amanda

and Sabrina Sobhy. All three are among the brightest stars of U.S. squash, and seeing them compete on home soil—right here in Silicon Valley—was thrilling. Their power and precision showed just how far American squash has come on the global stage.

The final night drew a packed house, with a festive atmosphere. (A proud personal note: my sister from New Jersey, Jaimie Westley, served as arena manager and did a fantastic job welcoming guests throughout the evening.)

The women’s final was fantastic. World No. 5 Olivia Weaver, who was born in Philadelphia and is currently the top-ranked U.S. player, faced Sivasangari Subramaniam, Malaysia’s No. 1 player. Weaver showcased exceptional poise and fitness, winning in four games to capture her first title of the 2025–2026 PSA World Tour season (and back-toback titles for the SV Open!).

I’ve watched Olivia play before, and what stands out isn’t just her athleticism, but her composure. She plays with quiet confidence—tough, calm, and mature—and her post-match interview reflected that same grace as she thanked her sponsors, team, and supporters. I can’t wait to follow her through the season and into the road to LA 2028, when squash will finally make its Olympic debut.

On the men’s side, Egypt’s Karim Gawad, ranked No. 2 in his country, beat France’s Victor Crouin to close out an unforgettable 5 days of world-class play in Silicon Valley.

Golden State Valkyries: Rising Stars and League Headwinds

The Golden State Valkyries continue to make headlines even in the off-season, with players and coaches earning major league honors that affirm their breakout debut year.

Head coach Natalie Nakase was recognized as the WNBA Coach of the Year, celebrating her leadership and vision in shaping one of the most exciting new teams in professional basketball. Guard Veronica Burton had a phenomenal season, earning the WNBA Most Improved

Player Award and the Associated Press Most Improved Player of the Year, along with a spot on the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team.

Forward Janelle Salaün, one of the first French-born players in the league, was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team, a milestone for international representation and a point of pride for fans across the Bay Area and abroad. Her poise and range were exciting glimpses of what’s to come for this franchise and for the global reach of the women’s game.

It’s been inspiring to watch this team’s rapid rise and to see the individual accolades roll in. Yet, off the court, the league faces challenges. With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire on October 31, ongoing labor negotiations between the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association have dominated the headlines. I truly hope the two sides can find resolution soon. The WNBA’s athletes deserve a system that reflects their value, their impact, and the momentum they’ve helped build for women’s sports nationwide. I will be following closely along with all of the fans.

Mill Valley Film Festival: Diamond Diplomacy and the Power of Sport

October also marked the 48th Annual Mill Valley Film Festival, one of my favorite fall traditions and a shining example of the Bay Area’s creative spirit. The festival once again showcased an incredible lineup, from Hollywood premieres and global cinema to documentaries that bridge art, culture, and sport.

This year, one of those films struck close to home: Diamond Diplomacy, a beautiful and emotional documentary exploring 150 years of shared history between the United States and Japan through baseball. Spritz, the company I co-founded, was honored to help secure the San Francisco Giants as a film sponsor—the perfect fit for a story celebrating baseball’s international influence and enduring spirit of friendship. The San Francisco Bay Times also proudly served as a media sponsor of the entire festival.

Diamond Diplomacy focuses on Japanese pioneer Masanori “Mashi” Murakami, the first Japanese player in Major League Baseball, and American Warren Cromartie, weaving their experiences across decades of political

and cultural exchange. The film reveals how legends like Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, and Lefty O’Doul became unexpected ambassadors, using baseball to foster goodwill between the two nations long before official diplomacy took hold.

The seven-year production effort is evident in every frame—from the rare black-andwhite footage of early goodwill tours to the contemporary connections between Japanese players and the San Francisco Giants today. Sitting in the audience, I was moved to tears by the film’s honesty, particularly its reflections on racism, resilience, and reconciliation.

Diamond Diplomacy is more than a sports documentary; it’s a reminder that the spirit of sport can heal, connect, and inspire across generations and borders. It was one of those screenings that linger long after the credits roll, reminding us that every pitch, swing, and shared moment on the field can shape something far greater than the game itself.

Meta Vanguard:

Redefining the Athlete’s Edge

In my last column, I teased a deeper dive into athletic intelligence, and how technology is reshaping the way athletes of every level train, measure, and perform. Enter Meta’s new performance-focused AI glasses, the Oakley Meta Vanguard, which officially launched on October 21, 2025.

These smart glasses mark a new frontier in wearable tech, blending AI, athletic analytics, and immersive design into one sleek package. Built for movement, they capture every action-packed moment—whether you’re running along the windy Embarcadero or carving down Tahoe’s slopes—all hands-free.

The Meta AI built into the glasses syncs seamlessly with Garmin smartwatches, cycling computers, Strava, and other fitness apps to deliver real-time insights, performance stats, and training feedback. At the Laver Cup, which I covered in last month’s column, even Carlos Alcaraz found himself fielding questions about the Meta AI glasses. It was a perfect snapshot of where we are now: when cutting-edge tech meets center-court cool.

A personal connection makes this launch even more exciting for me; my nephew works on Meta’s wearables team in

ROSTOW (continued from pg 17)

named one of the university’s Influential Women of 2025. Nonetheless, she was fired for her Kirk remarks, her boss telling her with tears in her eyes.

By this time, Schonauer had been doxxed. Demoralized and a little crazy it sounds to me, she got in her truck and headed out to a rural area with her service revolver, ready to end it all. En route, her truck broke down near a McDonalds and a family reached out to help her, offering two bottles of coolant and some reassuring words. Whatever they said, it gave the beleaguered woman some hope for the future and moved her to abandon her suicidal mission.

I was about to decry her use of the term “stochastic terrorism,” which sounded deliberately erudite and sort of meaningless, but, when I investigated, I learned that “stochastic terrorism” is a specific phrase used to describe groups or individuals who use media to trigger acts of random violence

(continued from pg 24)

New York City, and his group helped develop both the glasses and the Meta wristbands, which can interpret subtle muscle movements into hands-free commands.

While the technology is cutting-edge, the takeaway is simple: athletic intelligence isn’t just for the pros anymore. Whether you’re a weekend runner or a competitive cyclist, tools like these are redefining what it means to train smarter, recover faster, and push performance further.

San José Sports Hall of Fame: Celebrating Legacy and Community I recently had the privilege of attending an intimate reception for the San José Sports Hall of Fame, thanks to a good friend from Heritage Bank of Commerce, one of the longtime sponsors of the San José Sports Hall of Fame.

Now celebrating its 30th year, the San José Sports Hall of Fame stands as both a source

Litquake Event

Featuring Historic Photographs of ‘Men in Love’

Photo by Rink

Authors Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell were the featured panelists on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the San Francisco Public Library for a Litquake event. Moderated by Marc Stein of San Francisco State University, the program was held in conjunction with the release of Nini and Treadwell’s book, Loving II: More Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s–1950s https://www.loving1000.org/

from their listeners. Who knew? Well, I guess Paula Schonauer, for one.

Pot Pourri

What else is new? Well, here’s a satisfying story out of Nevada, where a 62-year-old pompous ass got pulled over for using his phone while driving a state vehicle. The driver was William Scott, chief of investigations at the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, a post that he apparently thought made him above the law. Calling the traffic cop a “faggot,” however, lost him his job.

Scott was belligerent from the start, telling the officer who asked for his ID: “I am a retired police captain the Metro—and I am the chief of investigations right now with the AG’s office.”

Unimpressed, the officer noted that, given this background, Scott should know the law. Scott then threatened to call the sheriff, “Kevin,” and told “Kevin” that he was being given a hard time. Later on, The Advocate

of civic pride and an important historical record of local athletic achievement. To date, it has inducted 136 individuals who either developed their skills, played, or coached in San José or Santa Clara County—or who made extraordinary contributions to the community through sports-related programs and projects. Each inductee is permanently honored with a bronze plaque displayed on the concourse of the SAP Center, a fitting tribute within one of the Bay Area’s premier sports venues.

This year’s induction ceremony and dinner will take place on Thursday, November 6, at SAP Center. I attended the induction and reception last year and was deeply moved by the presenters and the heartfelt speeches from the inductees. It’s an evening that stays with you long after you leave. This year, I’m especially looking forward to hearing from Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston, an Independence High School alum and trailblazer in women’s wrestling. She made history as the

reports, the officer came back with a ticket and Scott tried to get out of his car.

“Sit in the car! Stop!” said the officer. “Every second I spend with you tells me there’s no way you’re a retired cop.” After more arguing, Scott said: “Bye, I have enough money to pay for mine, faggot.”

“OK, very classy,” said the officer. “I’m so glad you’re retired and not with the department anymore.”

I don’t know. I just love that story—a puffed up bully with a mediocre career that he thinks makes him a big shot gets put in his place by cool-sounding traffic cop.

We also have an Ohio pastor charged with child rape, who allegedly abused a child for over six years. Silas Shelton, who looks like a serial killer in his mug shot, once lectured everyone about a book series that “wrongly encouraged children to explore their sexuality,” reports The Enquirer in Cincinnati. “I tell you, I got sick reading that stuff,” Pastor

first American to win a world medal in women’s freestyle wrestling, later becoming an Olympic coach who won gold in 2016. At the recent reception, she shared part of her extraordinary journey—from her Iranian roots and family’s escape to America, to training with her father in their living room before achieving global success. I can’t wait to hear more when she takes the stage at the dinner.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Todd Clever, affectionately known as “Captain America,” one of the most accomplished U.S. rugby players in history and a threetime Rugby World Cup competitor. I remember watching him compete years ago when Spritz managed public relations for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco, so meeting him in person and hearing his reflections was a full-circle moment.

The Hall of Fame is a true celebration of excellence, perseverance, and pride in the South Bay, and I can’t wait to return for this year’s induction ceremony.

Silas said of the Heartstopper series at a local book fair in 2023. He also frowned that parents “aren’t allowed to talk about the health risks of being gay.”

You know what? Parents are allowed to talk about the health risks of any old thing their parents warned them about. Swimming on a full stomach! Pogo sticks for girls! Hot water from the tap! Whatever! Finally, I should mention that the Supreme Court did not look favorably on our arguments in favor of Colorado’s right to outlaw conversion therapy two weeks ago. I told you about that case, as I’m sure you recall, but in subsequent days most analysts agreed that the Court was happy with the idea that conversion therapy was protected by the therapist’s right to free speech.

Sigh.

arostow@aol.com

Olympic Buzz: Countdown to Milano Cortina and LA28

The Olympic drumbeat is getting louder on both sides of the globe. Milano Cortina 2026 is almost here—the Winter Games will take place February 6–22, 2026, followed by the Paralympic Winter Games March 6–15. General ticket sales are already open on the official site, and new ticket batches continue to roll out.

To add a little fun, I actually entered the official “Play & Win” game by voting for my favorite Winter Olympic moment— super easy to do, and you can play too for a chance to win tickets, exclusive athlete experiences, and a trip to Milano Cortina 2026. Just visit https://bit.ly/4ozFMvU Closer to home, the excitement

is building for LA28, with ticket-lottery registration opening January 2026 and purchase windows to follow. It’s incredible to think that, in just a few years, the Olympic flame will be burning right here in California. And before we get there: save the date—October 28—for Golden State Warriors Pride Night. I hope to see you there, celebrating inclusion and community right here at home.

Closing Reflection

From the slopes of Milano Cortina to the sunshine of Los Angeles, the Olympic countdown is on—and, as always, the San Francisco Bay Area remains a place where local energy connects to the global stage. Signing off from the Bay, where passion meets the play. See you next month!

Spritz: https://spritzsf.com/ Silicon Valley Open Squash Championship: https://siliconvalleyopen.com/ Professional Squash Association: https://www.psasquashtour.com/ Golden State Valkyries: https://valkyries.wnba.com/ WNBA: https://www.wnba.com/ Mill Valley Film Festival: https://www.mvff.com/ San Francisco Giants: https://www.mlb.com/giants Meta: https://www.meta.com/ San Jose Sports Authority: https://sjsa.org/

Golden State Warriors: https://www.nba.com/warriors/ IOC: https://www.olympics.com/ioc And to vote in the “Play and Win” contest: https://bit.ly/3Lm6MAn

Milano Cortina: https://bit.ly/3Ja8bJS LA 28: https://la28.org/en.html

Beth Schnitzer, the former President of WISE (Women in Sports and Events), is the Co-Founder and President of Spritz: https://spritzsf.com/

San Francisco SPCA 39th Holiday Windows at Macy’s Will Take Place

November 21–December 31, 2025

The San Francisco SPCA recently announced that it will once again fill the city with holiday cheer as it launches its 2025 holiday season celebrations. The centerpiece of the festivities, the iconic SF SPCA Holiday Windows at Macy’s Union Square, will return for its 39th year, bringing adorable, adoptable puppies and kittens to the center of San Francisco, November 21 through December 31, 2025.

The live display transforms the busiest shopping season into an opportunity to save a life and welcome a new family member. The Holiday Windows will be open from November 21 to December 31, Wednesday through Sunday, from noon to 5 pm. During these hours, the SF SPCA will staff an adoption information station on Macy’s main floor to help visitors take the next step toward adoption. Macy’s will be closed on November 27 and December 25.

To increase adoptions during the holiday season and help 500 animals find their forever homes, the SF SPCA will have Name Your Price adoptions for all animals over 5 months old throughout the entire holiday period. Those interested in adopting can also visit the SF SPCA’s Adoption Center in the Mission District, where hundreds more animals are waiting to find their forever families.

“The SF SPCA and Macy’s Holiday Windows have been bringing joy to San Francisco for nearly four decades, and each year we see the incredible impact of this tradition,” said Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, CEO of the SF SPCA. “By offering Name Your Price adoptions, we’re removing barriers and making it possible for more families to experience the unconditional love of a pet this holiday season. Every adoption creates space for us to save another life.”

For those who cannot visit in person, the magic will continue online with Holiday Live Cams streaming daily on the SF SPCA website from 9 am to 5 pm throughout the days of the activation: https://bit.ly/3KWjqGh

The SF SPCA will host a special Shelter Animal Toy Drive in partnership with KTVU & Fox Local on Saturday, December 13, at Macy’s. The event will offer a chance to bring holiday cheer to the animals at the SF SPCA shelter. Additional activations and events will be announced soon!

FITNESS SF Trainer Tip

Make Rest Days Count

By Simón Morales, Personal Trainer at FITNESS

SF

Marin

Work hard in the gym, but rest just as hard. Muscles grow during recovery, not the workout—so stretch, move for recovery, and make your rest days count.

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/

Marga Gomez’s Spanish Stew at NCTC Is a Latina Lesbian Odyssey to 1976 San Francisco

The New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) is excited to serve up the next bowl of bold and fresh queer theatre with the world premiere of Marga Gomez’s flavor-packed, autobiographical treat Spanish Stew, directed by Richard A. Mosqueda.

After being outed by her flamboyant mother, young Gomez, like a Latina Patty Hearst, escapes her New York home for 1976 San Francisco with her first love, aka her “friend from college.” When a survival restaurant job requires her to recreate a treasured family recipe, Gomez’s Spanish Stew unites her with her family of origin and her queer, punk, and avant-garde San Francisco family.

Spanish Stew is a one-woman show starring Gomez as herself. In addition to Mosqueda, the creative team includes sound and projection design by Lana Palmer, costume design by Corrida Godbold, lighting design by Nic Candito, stage management by Taylor Mendez, and set design by Ashley Méndez.

Playwright Gomez is a GLAAD Award-winning writer/performer of fifteen solo plays, which have been presented nationally, Off-Broadway, internationally, and in the Bay Area at NCTC, The Marsh, Brava Theater, Theater Rhinoceros, Playground, and The Magic Theater. Her 15th solo play, Spanish Stew, originated from an Individual Artist Grant 2024 from the San Francisco Arts Council.

Gomez’s Off-Broadway and regional acting credits include the 2025 extended engagement of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life (Aurora Theater, Berkeley). Other credits include Fefu and Her Friends (2022 American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco), Translating Selena (2020 Campo Santo, San Francisco), Dr. Ride’s American Beach House (2019 Ars Nova Theater, New York), King of Cuba (2018 Central Works, Berkeley), as well as numerous productions of The Vagina Monologues sharing the stage with Rita Moreno and Vicki Lawrence. Film and television roles include Netflix’s Sense 8, HBO’s Tracey Takes On ..., and Warner Brothers’ Batman Forever and Sphere

Gomez has stirred up plenty of acclaim from renowned fellow artists as well as publications:

“Astonishing.”—Armistead Maupin

“A Lesbian Lenny Bruce.”—Robin Williams “F---ing funny.”—Sting “Marga Gomez is a worldclass talent who continues to present captivating shows that elicit emotional responses because of her intelligence, talent, honesty, warmth, compassion, and profound ability to connect with her audiences. Gomez’s unique background—with a comedian father from Cuba and a mother who was an exotic dancer from Puerto Rico— helped set the stage early on for her creative career that continues to break boundaries and inspire others.”

and moderated by the director, will take place after the performance on Sunday, November 2. On Wednesday nights before the show, Dance Mission will help guests learn the basics of Salsa Suelta. There is no need for a partner for these informal, fun dance lessons!

San Francisco Bay Times Spanish Stew runs through November 23, 2025, and will have its Opening Night on Saturday, October 25. A Post-Show Discussion featuring the cast, including Gomez,

NCTC’s 2025–2026 Season Subscribers are eligible for discounted tickets. Tickets are $35.50–$72.50 (costs include fees) and are available at https://nctcsf.org/ You can also email boxoffice@nctcsf.org or call 415-861-8972

https://www.margagomez.com/

Blue Moon Is a Hangout Film Featuring Ethan Hawke as Broadway Lyricist Lorenz Hart

Gary M. Kramer

In the wistful, elegiac Blue Moon, opening October 24 in the Bay Area, the celebrated lyricist, Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke), is sitting in Sardi’s—an iconic restaurant in the heart of New York’s theater district— delivering a series of absorbing and occasionally amusing monologues. As he slowly gets drunk (despite claiming he is on the wagon), he quotes from Casablanca, babbles about enchantment, and even discusses the merits of a half-erect penis. He is candid, witty, and wry, but when he starts to talk about Oklahoma!, the new musical by his former collaborator Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott), he becomes vitriolic.

Hart is bitter that Rodgers is working with a new lyricist, Oscar Hammerstein II

(Samuel Delaney), because Rodgers has never worked with anyone other than Hart—until now. And while Hart walked out of the “cornpone” Oklahoma! early, he knows the show, which is having its premiere that evening, is going to be a smash hit. However, Hart claims the “inoffensive” nature of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical is most offensive to him.

When he talks about pandering to audiences, Hart’s attitude is probably a bushel of sour grapes. His glory days are certainly behind him; the film is set seven months before Hart’s death from pneumonia. What makes Blue Moon and Hart’s fading star so interesting is that it captures a specific moment in time where Hart is forced to examine his own self-worth (or lack thereof).

Hart’s professional despair extends to his personal life. A closeted homosexual—it is an open secret that “women are not his

primary interest”—he is hoping that Elizabeth Weiland (Margaret Qualley), a 20-year-old Yale student, will confirm that she has the same “irrational admiration” for him that he has for her. But he also flirts with a handsome young man he calls Sven (Giles Surridge), inviting him over to a party Hart is hosting later that night.

Blue Moon is set almost entirely at Sardi’s where Hart regales a small audience that includes Eddie (Bobby Cannavale), the bartender, Morty Rifkin (Jonah Lees), the pianist, and E.B. “Andy” White (Patrick Kennedy), the writer. He performs for them, asking Eddie, “How can so much pleasure be pressed into so small a container?” about a shot of liquor he downs, or bantering with White. Hart inspires the writer by recounting a story about catching and releasing a little mouse he calls Stuart. (White later wrote Stuart Little.)

But the real performance begins when Rodgers arrives to receive his reviews. Hart phonily praises his former collaborator, who sees through his sycophantism. When Rodgers gracefully offers Hart the chance to revive their old hit, A Connecticut Yankee, with four to five new songs, Hart pivots and pitches some idea he has about Marco Polo It is an awkward moment, but their exchanges provide this hangout film with some real drama. Shrewdly, Rodgers plays it cool, even though he can smell Hart’s flop sweat permeating out from under the top notes of alcohol.

Hawke’s showboating (read: Oscar-baiting) performance is strongest in these scenes, but he is also excellent when he is holed up in the cloakroom with Elizabeth. She treats Hart like her gay bestie but also manages his fragile emotions and her ambitions—she wants to meet Rodgers—with care. Hawke makes his character’s vulnerability palpable here, and he engenders pity like a despondent and drunk gay uncle. The actor leans into Hart’s pathos here, and later when he literally hits bottom getting down on the floor to retrieve a deck of cards he dropped. Hart may be delusional if he thinks that he can convince Rodgers to collaborate again,

or make Elizabeth love him in the way he desires, but his ego insists he has a chance with either, or both, and Hawke commits fully, recklessly, and relentlessly to Hart’s doomed hopefulness. That said, while he is entertaining holding court, in his worst moments, Hawke sounds like he is mimicking John Malkovich in both his louche cadence and line delivery.

The rest of the cast—Canavale, Scott, and Kennedy—perform well by downplaying, although Qualley steals her scenes with her blond mane, tight dress, and bravado.

Blue Moon is obviously stagey, but director Richard Linklater, working from a screenplay by Robert Kaplow that is based on Hart’s letters, never lets the pacing flag. The camera moves nimbly around the rooms and features sweet moments like a rendition of “Over There,” or a few bars from “As Time Goes By” during the Casablanca reference. Of course, there is also plenty of Rodgers and Hart’s music. The film’s title song—which was Hart’s biggest hit and one he expresses some disdain towards—is performed, along with snippets from classics including, “Bewitched,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “Manhattan,” among others.

The music is lovely, and it provides a nice respite from all the talk and melancholy. However, by the end of Blue Moon, viewers may not be as emotionally spent as Hart is after his long, wearying night.

© 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

Mesmerized by Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Revisiting Diane Keaton’s Films

Off the Wahl

Jan Wahl

Kisses for this magical film.

Kiss of the Spider Woman still lives in my head, days after seeing it: the swirling colors, deep love, survival under torture, Technicolor dreams, amazing moments of Marilyn meeting J Lo, and its gutsy art combined with heartbreaking physical connection.

This film blew my mind, but left me with a question: How did it ever get made? The movie will totally divide the audience and lose a ton of money, but those fortunate enough to get it will be rewarded by memories and emotion.

Like the 1985 film, the 2025 production tells the story of two radically different men who are in a harsh South American prison. One is a revolutionary and the other is a gay man. The latter narrates a true Hollywood musical, falling into the movies to survive. Raúl Juliá and William Hurt starred in the non-musical 1985 version inspired by the Broadway Kander and Ebb hit with the great Chita Rivera.

In this new version, Director/Writer Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters and Dreamgirls) incorporates Jennifer Lopez’s sparkling musical numbers, choreographed by Sergio Trujillo. She is brilliant in this retro glamour. Tonatiuh is this film’s deep heart, imprisoned for his sexuality. I am hoping for Oscars for this actor, Diego Luna, and the incandescent Lopez.

But, alas, few will see this film. I think its audience is the LGBTQ+ community and anyone else who is openminded. The choice of the filmmakers to beautifully portray gay lovemaking takes courage. See it on the big screen, but see it.

Remembering Diane Keaton

The moment we saw Diane Keaton as Annie Hall, we knew she was special.

She brought her quirky charm wherever she went. From rom coms to drama to comic satire, this gifted artist excelled and also wrote books, was a beloved fashion icon, and designer. Give yourself a Diane Keaton Festival. What an original, and what a character.

In addition to Annie Hall (1977), I recommend revisiting Baby Boom (1987), The First Wives Club (1996), Something’s Gotta Give (2003), Love and Death (1975), Reds (1981), and Heaven (1987), which she directed and wrote.

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

Dua Lipa: Radical Optimism in San Francisco

Dua Lipa’s two sold-out performances at Chase Center showed why she has 85 million followers on Instagram and over 40 billion downloads across various streaming platforms. She is, simply put, a fountain of talent. Her powerful vocals, catchy songwriting, myriad artistic collaborations, and dancing all meld together seamlessly. Sunday evening, October 12, 2025, was an entertainment feast for the senses, and a salve for the heart.

The new album and tour title, Radical Optimism, has a theme we can all heed. As she said in a recent statement: “[I]t struck me, the idea of going through chaos gracefully and feeling like you can weather any storm.” For almost two glorious hours, we all were able to leave a little bit of the current world chaos behind us with a wonderful dance pop vibe and firstrate production.

Dua Lipa, heard frequently on gay club dance floors, is also a strong community ally and supporter. She turned down an invitation to perform at the World Cup in Qatar due to the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

The Trevor Foundation named her Mental Health Champion of 2024 for her support

of suicide prevention amongst LGTBQ+ young people. There are many other examples, from displaying the Pride flag on stage to actively speaking out against homophobic political leaders.

Sunday’s spectacle at Chase Center was an elaborate, beautifully choreographed multi-component vehicle for her talent. The huge two-level stage had an upper area that peaked like the crest of a wave, with massive video screens, spiral stairways, hidden entry portals, and a catwalk leading out to a center-arena island. Pyrotechnics, lasers, and confetti cannons fired in synchrony to the music and dancing.

For one song, Dua sang while encircled by a ring of fire, and then later she was suspended above the stage on a circular platform while wearing a dramatic full length white “fur” robe. She danced up, down, across, out onto the catwalk, and all around the center island. Her dancers worked in shifts, with as many as 16 or so on stage at times. They deserve a shout out for their precise choreography, stamina, and energy. The songs were presented in four acts, or mini-sets, with a

Top of your stack

Alchemy Of Secrets (fiction - hardcover) by Stephanie Garber

Stephanie Garber makes her adult novel debut with Alchemy of Secrets Local legend, The Watchman, tells Holland St. James that she is going to die at midnight unless she finds the Alchemical Heart. This leads her on a fantastical hunt through Los Angeles with twists and turns that you’ll never see coming.

Chronicles of Ori (fiction - hardcover) by Harmonia Rosales

Chronicles of Ori is artist Harmonia Rosales’ debut book. In it, she retells the African myths she has cherished. Chronicles of Ori is an epic beginning with the birth of the universe and expanding all the way to modern-day colonialism. Rosales pairs the myths with her luscious art, creating a beautiful, collectible work.

Photos and Story by Jerry Parmer

generous four-song encore to close. “Training Season” from her current release was the opening number, and she closed out her 22-song show with “Houdini.”

Midway through, she brought out a surprise guest, Billie Joe Armstrong, to partner with her as she covered Green Day’s classic “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” The audience was delighted. Dua took time after the second act to come down from the stage and work the crowd at the barrier. She took selfies with her starstruck fans, and made us feel like we were her friends as much as fans.

Cil, a 23-year-old newer talent out of Los Angeles, opened the show. Backed by just a drummer and guitarist, she showed why Dua brought her along for several dates on this world tour.

https://www.dualipa.com/

Jerry Parmer is an Oakland-based photographer who has photographed some of the Bay Area’s most prominent artists in addition to internationally-known performers such as Dua Lipa. Follow his current work on Instagram @drj_oakland

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOOK PASSAGE

Workhorse (fiction - hardcover) by Caroline Palmer

Set at the turn of the millennium, Workhorse follows Clo, an editorial assistant at an acclaimed fashion magazine. Surrounded by wealthy, well-connected co-workers, Clo feels as though she is a “workhorse” surrounded by “show horses.” This is a page turner following one woman’s path to success, full of ambition, sacrifices, and the thralls of beauty.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, October 25 @ 4 pm (non-ticketedCorte Madera store) Julian Brave Noisecat, author of We Survived the Night

We Survived the Night is part memoir, part journalistic journey. Noisecat blends together his own father-son journey while also highlighting contemporary Indigenous life. Noisecat will be joined in conversation with Rebecca Solnit.

Tuesday, October 28 @ 6 pm (non-ticketedCorte Madera store) Lauren Parker, author of Spells for Success Deck and Guidebook: 40 Spells to Set Intentions and Manifest Everyday Wins

Spells for Success is the perfect guidebook and deck for novices to experience spell-crafters. A combination of self-care and witchcraft, this book will help generate magic in your everyday life. Following Parker’s presentation, there will be music, drinks, and tarot readings in the Book Passage Café.

Wednesday, October 29 @ 6 pm (ticketed - Ferry Building store) Hannah Corbin, author of Did You Stretch Tho Peloton instructor Hannah Corbin’s new book, Did You Stretch Tho, showcases her favorite 52 stretches with easy-to-follow cards along with a guidebook. This will be a meetand-greet event with a signing line including a photo opportunity with Corbin. https://www.bookpassage.com

Carly Ozard: Singing Love Into Action Across Coasts

Practice Makes Love Easy

Kippy Marks

In the philosophy of Practice Makes Love Easy (PMLE), love is not just a feeling— it’s a daily discipline, a creative force, and a communal rhythm. It is with great honor to present Carly Ozard (they/them/she) as the ninth accomplished individual featured in this column. Few embody the ethos of PMLE as fully as Ozard, who is a non-binary entertainer, educator, and activist whose voice carries across stages and communities from San Francisco to New York. Ozard’s work is a living testament to love practiced boldly, inclusively, and with deep intention.

Their musical journey began in the Bay Area, where they honed their craft with 42nd Street Moon and Lamplighters Music Theatre. Their performances—whether solo cabarets at Feinstein’s at the Nikko or ensemble work in Rocky Horror on Fire Island—are more than entertainment. They are acts of communion, healing, and resistance. Ozard’s album Chain of Love is not just a collection of songs; it’s a sonic offering to the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, weaving Broadway classics with personal truth.

At Ozard’s website, visitors find more than a résumé; they find a mission. The site showcases Ozard’s upcoming performances, vocal coaching services, and event production work, all rooted in a commitment to joy and justice. Whether consulting on vocal technique or curating benefit concerts, they use their platform to amplify underrepresented voices and foster connection.

On the West Coast, Ozard has been a fixture in San Francisco’s queer arts scene, collaborating with Oasis SF and supporting causes like The Trevor Project. On the East Coast, they’ve originated roles with the New York Theater Barn, studied at the Stella Adler School of Acting, and performed alongside icons like Shoshana Bean and Imagine Dragons. Their work bridges geography and genre, always returning to the core PMLE principle: love is a practice, and community is its canvas.

I treasure my resonant partnership with Ozard. As fellow members of Krewe de Kinque, we have co-created performances that blend theatricality with spiritual depth. My improvisational violin and Ozard’s emotive vocals form a duet of healing— whether at benefit galas or community

rituals. Our shared belief in music as a sacred practice aligns with PMLE’s ethos. “Kippy’s violin doesn’t just sing—it speaks,” they once said. “And when we perform together, it feels like we’re channeling something bigger than ourselves.”

Ozard reminds us that love—when practiced with intention—becomes a revolutionary force. Their voice carries not just melody, but also meaning. Their collaborations are living proof that music can be a sanctuary, a protest, and a prayer.

Kippy Marks: How long have you been involved with the practicing of love in your artistic life?

Carly Ozard: I’ve been involved in practicing love through music. Lots of folks get to a level where they have to be paid for everything. While that’s nice, I think being able to use your voice to raise funds or awareness for a good cause really doesn’t take very much effort. In 3 minutes, you could contribute to someone’s medical fund, special project, or non-profit, and I will always say yes if it’s a cause I care about deeply.

Carly Ozard: My advice would be to remember to be humble. We are not better than each other. We all bring something to the table. We need to make room at the table and embrace the different ideas and contributions that come from everyone. They all matter.

Kippy Marks: If you were granted two universal wishes, what would you wish for?

Carly Ozard: Stop cruelty. My goodness. that’s it. Stop cruelty to others, to animals, to people who don’t think like you, to folks of all ages, and to the environment.

Kippy Marks: Please share any current practices related to PMLE that our readers may find useful.

Carly Ozard: Even if you don’t dig it, I encourage everyone to try a set, also known as a kriya, of Kundalini yoga. While the person who brought that practice here was controversial and not the greatest person towards women and the community, the practice is fire. Literally, there’s the breath of fire, and chanting, and you can do the kriya even if you aren’t able-bodied. You don’t have to join the ashram or wear the white clothes to chant and sing.

Kippy Marks: Who or what motivated you to become the community activist/giver you are today?

Carly Ozard: Donna Sachet. I met Donna Sachet when I was 13. Read that again! I’ve known her my whole life. I met her through mutual friends. (An older gay couple in the cast of a show I was in introduced me.) Besides her being my first drag queen in real life, that’s when I started learning about what drag was and that performers sang and danced up in the city to raise money for HIV/AIDS, which was a huge focus at that time. I knew when I turned 21 and could get into bars that I was going to sing and give back to the gay men who took me under their wing when I was getting bullied at school. I started learning about the disease, and then President Reagan’s negligence. (I was a baby when he was president, so I

didn’t understand the impact of the epidemic, since I was born in 1983.) Donna and the gay men in community theater would come to shine a spotlight on the community I would want to help the most.

Kippy Marks: How old were you when you made that decision?

Carly Ozard: I made the decision even younger than 13, probably around 11, to just ... be charitable and giving because of my parents and because I was a part of A Christmas Carol in Belmont (where I met the gay couple who introduced me to Donna) and we would do a huge food and toy drive every year and I knew we were making a big difference in our community.

Kippy Marks: What advice would you give to others on how to practice love on the daily?

I invite you to support Carly Ozard’s work by visiting their website, booking a vocal coaching session, or attending an upcoming performance. Whether it’s a cabaret in San Francisco or a benefit concert in New York, Ozard’s shows are more than entertainment; they’re communal rituals of joy, healing, and transformation. And as you witness their artistry, I encourage you to reflect on your own PMLE practice:

Where in your life can love be more intentional?

What daily rituals help you connect, uplift, and honor others?

How might your own voice—spoken, sung, or written—become a tool for healing?

Let Ozard’s journey inspire your own, because when we practice love, we don’t just change ourselves—we change the world.

https://www.carlyozard.com/

Kippy Marks is a spirited solo entertainer whose shows are permeated with an infectious joy. His distinctive sound arises from his heart, through his 1822 violin consort, Izabella. Marks’ rare talent, broad smile, and radiant warmth will brighten any event to create lasting impact. He is also Grand Duke XL of The Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco. He is the first ever elected African-American Grand Duke.

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

Sister Dana sez, “HAPPY HALLOWEEN to everyone on October Thirty-One! Or maybe I should just wish y’all some very happy days, ye Hallowed Queens!!!”

And ‘tis the season to enjoy being frightened of ghosts, ghouls, and all kinds of scary critters. But we are truly scared and utterly horrified by the creatures in the White House spookhouse. Boo! And also booooo hisss!!! Because of the big U.S. Shutdown and us democracy-loving, crazy kooks craving healthcare, T-rump has promised mass layoffs will be “Democrat-oriented.” So, the following are just the first of nine agencies to be affected by the official Trump revenge admin layoffs: Interior, Homeland Security, Treasury, EPA, Commerce, Education, Energy, HHS, and HUD.

Sister Dana sez, “Hey fed folx, if you haven’t gotten in line to kiss the orange buttcheeks, you’d better get in line at the Unemployment Agency!”

But regarding much better news, the hostages and Palestinian prisoners are freed! Historic peace in the Mideast! Among the issues is whether Hamas will disarm; whether the ceasefire will hold; and who will pay to rebuild Gaza, and who will govern it. Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, Trump & Company have declared “antifa” as a domestic terror group, and threaten to target antifa funding. First of all, do these MAGA maggots realize the name means anti-fascism— which is exactly what we call the Trumpsters: fascists! And also, just how do they go after a group that is not a certified organization? And who is this supposed leader that they will attack? Say it loud and proud, “We are against the fascist federal leaders! Down with fascism!”

We can be extremely proud that all across America—in all 50 states—on October 18 (especially in San Francisco—beginning at Embarcadero Plaza and culminating at Civic Center with huge banners declaring: “NO DICTATORS!” and “Rejecting Kings Since 1776!”), we democracy-loving activists marched in the nonviolent “NO KINGS DAY” demonstration. The MAGA Repugnicans and their media had tried desperately to dub these demos as “I Hate America Day”—which couldn’t be further from the truth! We LOVE America, but not any would-be American kings. Despite the

lies by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, we Democrats are NOT “made up of terrorists, violent criminals, and illegal aliens.”

This October 18 made it the biggest day of peaceful protest in modern U.S. history. Nearly 2,500 demos nationwide had been planned. It was even more successful than the preceding one in June. And we will not stop protesting in the streets everywhere to keep proving our solidarity with democracy!

Let’s tell Speaker aka Squeaker Johnson (MAGA mouse supplicant to Rat King Trump) to immediately open up The House of Reps and properly install Adelita Grijalva as Representative in Congress in Arizona’s 7th District special election. Sneaky Johnson won’t swear her in because she would be the decisive 218th signature to force a vote on the Epstein files. Install Rep. Adelita, and Free the Files now!

Sister Dana sez, “Oh my, no! We mustn’t expose the revered name of Trump as the ‘bigly’ crook and sexual predator that we already know about—but, WOW, these files would surely be icing on the No Kings cake!”

The NOBEL Committee did NOT select Dictator Donald for the Peace Prize, which he tried so hard to snatch. Instead, the coveted “Nobel Peace Prize” went to a Venezuelan peace activist. That sounds reasonable.

Sister Dana sez, “Hey, Donnie, you and War Secretary HegsMess, you gonna go bomb their boat in retaliation?!!”

Here’s a scary story just in time for Halloween tales of terror: Warmonger Trump is now threatening to order his troops to our beloved Sanctuary City SAN FRANCISCO—despite not being asked for (and, in fact, standing up virulently against such orders). We will not militarize our sacred City by the Bay! T-rump (that dumbest of dictators) boldly lied in stating, on October 16, “San Francisco—one of our great cities ten, fifteen years ago—and now it’s a mess! So, I’d like to recommend San Francisco’s inclusion in your great support!”

Sister Dana sez, “No, thank you, Mister Mein Kampf, you can take your troops and shove ‘em!”

Fabulosa Books presented yet another in their always fascinating series of author Q&A sessions at Castro & 18th Streets at their October 18 evening fan gathering, Loving II: More Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s–1950s by Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell. This queer-loving reminder comes to us during rising, raging political and religious hostility toward LGBTQ rights. Despite greater legal recognition in recent years, there is a renewed and organized effort to roll back hard-won progress during these doomed DEI days. From anti-gay lobbying groups to a U.S. Supreme Court openly threatening marriage equality, there is a movement underway to push queer love back into the shadows. In this frightening moment, Loving II serves as both a historical witness and a gentle act of resistance.

And here’s a fun note, because at the close of that evening and the highly informative Q&A, I had to drag my broken body to THIS event directly across the street from my home—having had to miss my beloved annual Bearrison Street Fair before that— all because of these awful ongoing MGUS/ vasculitis treatments from UCSF Cancer Hospital debilitating me. But as I stopped to heap my well-deserved appreciation to authors Hugh and Neal, the couple actually insisted Sister Dana autograph my biweekly column in their copy of the San Francisco Bay Times! Well, talk about a journalistic OMG moment! You could have knocked me over

with a nom de plume—that’s a feather reference, folx.

AIDS LEGAL REFERRAL PROJECT (ALRP)’s 42nd Annual Reception is today, October 23, 5:30–8:30 pm at The Grand. Proceeds support ALRP’s vital role in advancing and protecting the rights, dignity, and health of people living with HIV/ AIDS. Actor, author, and civil rights activist George Takei will be honored for his courage in speaking out about the early days of HIV/AIDS, his philanthropic work to end the epidemic, and his decades of using his platform to consistently and

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Honoring the Past, Sustaining the Future: Mezcal, Memories, and a Mission

Cocktails With Dina by Dina Novarr

Before Stephanie Romo Flores ever unlocked the doors of Mercado 925, she was already searching, not for the spirits that dominated store shelves or carried celebrity endorsements, but for the bottles that held stories; smallbatch distillations crafted by families who had been coaxing magic from agave plants for generations.

“I found myself drawn to the bottles you don’t often see on the shelves,” Romo Flores explained. “The tequilas and mezcals that are small batch distillations, crafted by families who have passed down their techniques for generations.”

This October, as flowers begin appearing on ofrendas across the country and the veil between worlds grows thin, her vision crystallizes into something profound: a living connection between ancestral tradition and modern sustainability, between honoring the dead and protecting the future.

As a second-generation immigrant, Romo Flores carries something heavier than

inventory lists or liquor licenses. She carries responsibility. “As a woman in this space, especially as a daughter of Mexican heritage, I’ve carried both pride and responsibility,” she reflected. “My career is driven by family and fueled by the passion that was instilled in me from day one.”

At Mercado 925, that responsibility manifests in every deliberate choice. The bar is curated with intention, highlighting agave spirits that represent the soul of Mexican craftsmanship. The menu doesn’t limit itself to one regional style, but brings flavors from across the country: the complexity of Oaxacan moles, gorditas from Guadalajara, and street tacos that transport you to Mexico City’s bustling corners. But it’s in the spirits where Romo Flores’ mission becomes clearest, particularly in her fondness for Tierra de Acre mezcal.

Tierra de Acre works exclusively with multi-generational mezcaleros in Durango

and Oaxaca who choose heritage and sustainability over scale or profit. In Valle Florida, Durango, Jorge Burciaga returned home after studying in the U.S. to expand his family’s wild-Cenizo mezcal without industrial shortcuts. He still handcrushes roasted agave with an axe, which is a labor-intensive method that delivers consistent fermentation and quality. He also closes the loop by converting waste from production into adobe bricks that he donates.

In Santa Ana del Río, Oaxaca, Honorato Cruz draws on his Zapotec community, where nearly everyone has worked with agave for generations. To preserve biodiversity, he allows 50% of his agaves, especially the slow-growing Tobalá and Tepeztate, to fully flower so long-nosed bats can pollinate them. This protects genetic diversity and ensures agave for the next generations.

Tierra de Acre’s approach is simple and radical: protect the craft, protect the land, and pay producers fairly so the culture can endure.

In an era where “sustainability” has become marketing jargon, their approach illuminates its true meaning: the willingness to sacrifice immediate profit for longterm survival. This is sustainability as sacred practice, not business strategy. And this is precisely why Romo Flores chose Tierra de Acre.

As October gives way to November, her commitment to cultural preservation becomes even more visible, as Mercado 925’s menu features seasonal offerings that honor the celebration Día de los Muertos. Among the offerings is the Marigold Smoky Margarita. Inspired by cempasúchil, the marigold flowers that guide spirits home, this cocktail captures the essence of the holiday. The spirit that haunts this drink is Tierra de Acre mezcal. It’s garnished with a single marigold petal, a small golden bridge between the living and the dead. The parallel is striking: just as Tierra de Acre ensures agave plants survive for future

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Marigold Smoky Margarita (inspired by the cempasúchil flower)

2 ounces of Tierra de Acre Mezcal

1 ounce fresh lemon juice

1/2 ounce of Marigold Syrup

1 dash of orange bitters

Marigold Syrup

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup dried marigold petals

Bring water and sugar to a light simmer. Stir until dissolved. Add marigold petals and simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and let it steep for 15 minutes. Strain and cool before use.

Add mezcal, lemon juice, Marigold Syrup, and bitters into a shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled. Double strain into a glass with a large ice cube. Garnish with a marigold petal.

The Gay Gourmet

David Landis (and Lila MacKinnon, Meet Boston)

Fall is in the air in San Francisco. You can still feel a touch of summer, but chilly nights have returned and Halloween is around the corner. Yet, for most of the Bay Area, we don’t get the vivid fall

Michelin Makes Moves in Boston

colors. To do that, you have to travel back East—and specifically to New England. This makes it a great time to visit Boston. These days, it’s not just for the autumn leaves, but also for the food. I was lucky enough to meet my pal Lila MacKinnon from Meet Boston , who clued me in that Michelin is on the horizon for Bean Town. That’s good news for foodies! Here are Lila’s suggestions for where to dine and drink in that lovely New England town— and where also to support our LGBTQ+ restaurateurs.

Lila MacKinnon: For years, Boston has been the

culinary bridesmaid, but never the bride. While New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., flaunted their Michelin stars, Boston—poor thing—was left out of the red guide entirely. But all that’s changing. In April 2025, Michelin announced it would finally start reviewing Boston’s restaurants. For food lovers, it feels long overdue. And the countdown is officially on: Michelin will reveal its firstever Boston stars, alongside other Northeast cities, at a ceremony in Philadelphia on November 18, 2025. Until then, the question on everyone’s mind is simple: Who’s going to shine?

The Michelin Moment

Boston’s dining scene has matured dramatically over the past decade. Today’s chefs are mixing New England ingredients with global inspiration, creating food that feels both ambitious and rooted.

Take Mooncusser, perched above the Boston Common. Chef Carl Dooley crafts an elegant seafood tasting menu—halibut with fermented ramps, scallops with smoked caviar—that strikes a balance between refinement and approachability. If any restaurant looks primed for a star, it’s this one.

Other perennial contenders include O Ya , Tim and Nancy Cushman’s intimate and ever-changing 20-course Omakase; Oleana , where Ana Sortun’s Eastern Mediterranean flavors remain as dazzling as ever; and the South End’s Mistral , which

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has long paired French technique with Boston sophistication.

Don’t be surprised if Michelin’s inspectors venture beyond the white tablecloths. The guide has increasingly recognized intimate, personality-driven concepts. That bodes well for Boston.

Neighborhood Gems

Cambridge’s Pammy’s calls itself a “neo-trattoria,” but that undersells it. Imagine a cozy dining room lined with bookshelves, serving pastas that flirt with the unexpected (like rigatoni Bolognese kissed with gochujang, and lumache in spicy tomato cream). It’s familiar, inventive, and fun: that’s a combo Michelin often rewards.

In the North End, Table by Jen Royle disrupts the red-sauce scene with boisterous communal feasts. Multi-course Italian spreads are served at long tables where conversation is as central as the food.

Meanwhile, in Somerville, Sarma channels the energy of a bustling meze bar. It is one of the most sought-after reservations in town, and Chef Cassie Piuma’s small plates are playful and vibrant (lamb sliders here, sesame falafel there), and the room always hums. If Michelin is looking for joy, they’ll find it here.

Wine Bars with Queer Spirit Boston’s wine bar revolution deserves its own spotlight, thanks in no small part to Haley Fortier. Her haley.henry wine bar in Downtown Crossing and Nathálie in Fenway are quintessentially Boston: brainy but unpretentious, eclectic but polished. Both lean into natural wines, clever small plates, and, yes, tinned seafood (trust me, sardines can be sexy).

More importantly, Fortier has cultivated spaces that feel inclusive—places where the LGBTQ+ community can sip, snack, and celebrate. In the Michelin era, her voice matters: proof that Boston’s story isn’t just about fine dining, but also about identity and belonging.

The Queer Food Vanguard

Boston’s queer dining culture has always been vibrant, but it’s gaining new visibility.

In Back Bay, the newly opened Dani’s Queer Bar is making history as Boston’s first dedicated queer women’s bar in decades. More than cocktails and snacks, Dani’s is a statement: a joyful, affirming space where queer women and nonbinary folks finally have a home base.

In the South End, Club Café continues to blur the line between supper club and queer nightlife. It’s equal parts restaurant, cabaret, and family gathering. Over in Dorchester, Blend and dbar prove you don’t need to choose between a burger, a martini, and a night of dancing.

Queer chefs are also helping define the region’s culinary identity. Oakland’s

Tanya Holland has collaborated here, spotlighting soul food and Black culinary traditions. In Lynn, just north of Boston, Rachel Miller’s Nightshade Noodle Bar has earned rave reviews for its bold, Vietnamese and French inspired tasting menus, gaining national accolades and putting Greater Boston on the fine-dining map. And pastry chef Kate Holowchik delights with imaginative desserts like foie gras macarons and cereal-milk panna cotta. These chefs embody Boston’s spirit of creativity and inclusion, which are qualities Michelin inspectors can’t ignore.

Beyond Fine Dining

Stars or no stars, Boston’s queer food culture reminds us that dining is about more than luxury. It’s about belonging. Michelin might spotlight the Mooncussers and Oy Ya, but the city’s flavor comes just as much from wine bars, neighborhood joints, and queer gathering places. That’s why Dani’s, dbar, Club Café, Blend, and Haley Fortier’s bars matter in this moment. They tell the story of a city where excellence isn’t confined to tasting menus; instead, it’s also found in community, accessibility, and joy.

Looking Ahead

So, what happens if Boston scores its first stars? At a minimum, it will confirm what locals already know: this is a world-class food city. It could also boost tourism, putting Boston on the map for culinary pilgrims alongside San Francisco and Chicago.

The suspense won’t last forever. On November 18, 2025, Michelin will reveal its Northeast awards in Philadelphia. For Boston chefs, that night could be historic. But, in a way, the city has already won.

From Dooley’s refined seafood at Mooncusser to Fortier’s queer-friendly wine bars to Dani’s groundbreaking safe space in Back Bay, Boston is cooking with confidence, creativity, and conviction. Michelin stars may be the headline, but the real story is about a dining culture that’s inclusive, expressive, and unmistakably Boston.

Boston may be a latecomer to Michelin, but it arrives with a point of view: wicked good food, rooted in New England, open to the world, and proudly shaped by LGBTQ voices.

Meet Boston: https://www.meetboston.com/ Lila MacKinnon is Communications Coordinator for Meet Boston, a fashionista, and a foodie extraordinaire.

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

BAGGU

You know it. You love it! BAGGU makes simple, playful bags for everyday living. BAGGU started as a mother-daughter San Francisco business nearly 20 years ago and has become the ubiquitous brand in everyone’s hand.

Valfré

Mexican contemporary artist Valfré’s work blends pop culture, fashion, and fantasy. We love her ceramic home goods featuring a cast of unique female characters and charming animals.

Momma Pots

Based in San Diego, Momma Pots has become our go-to for durable garden pottery in an extraordinary range of colors at accessible prices. The Gemstone Collection features sleek and sturdy one-of-a-kind shapes that are fashioned from high-quality porcelain, which all of your plant babies will love.

Keep up with Cliff’s Variety news at Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/CliffsVariety ) and Instagram @hilario_sf

SISTER DANA (continued from pg 37)

brilliantly confront homophobia, xenophobia, racism, and so many other social justice scourges. Attorney David Tsai will be honored for his extraordinary record of selfless leadership over the past two decades—including his pro bono work on behalf of HIV+ immigrants seeking asylum, his volunteerism with numerous HIV service organizations, and his transformative work in the Asian American and LGBTQ legal communities’ fight for justice and equity.

The always entertaining Varla Jean Merman (aka Jeffery Roberson) will be guest host. Jeffery has starred in numerous films and theatrical productions, including as Mary Sunshine on Broadway in the revival of Chicago. His 27 one-woman shows have sold out cabaret venues across the globe, and have filled international concert halls including the Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall. https://www.alrp.org

Rest in Peace and Power, my dearest departed Empress Marlena, whose influence has touched more lives than most will ever realize. Also known as Absolute Empress XXV of San Francisco and Queen Mother I of California, Marlena was a cornerstone of the LGBTQ community, and one of the kindest, most generous souls I’ve ever known. Mar-

COCKTAILS WITH DINA (continued from pg 38)

generations, Romo Flores ensures Mexican traditions survive in a new context, far from their geographic origins. For her, cultural preservation is personal. It’s about honoring parents who crossed borders carrying recipes, rituals, and remembrances. It’s about ensuring their grandchildren know where they come from. She’s sacrificing the easy path of the celebrity brands, the high-margin spirits, for something that matters more: authenticity, tradition, connection. This Día de los Muertos, as families construct ofrendas adorned with marigolds, pan de muerto, and photographs of the departed, consider that Mercado 925 is itself a kind of ofrenda. It is an offering to the past that sustains the future.

And every person like Romo Flores, carrying the weight of heritage while charting their own path, proves that tradition doesn’t have to mean stagnation; that honoring the past and protect-

lena the Magnificent aka Garry McLain will be properly celebrated on November 8, noon, at Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1111 O’Farrell Street, with an after-party at 2 pm in front of Marlena’s famous old gay bar on 488 Hayes Street—where Sister Dana serially squatted on many a barstool back in the day, and occasionally performed on Marlena’s sacred stage. https://www.sfimperialcouncil.org/

There’s panic in the streets! Ghouls soar above, zombies stalk below, and psychos break down doors. Will San Francisco survive? Will the cops defeat the mutants? Will anyone come out of this terror alive and still gay? Find out on Halloween night in this little chamber of horrors when Theatre Rhinoceros presents GHOULS, ZOMBIES, & PSYCHOS! A Halloween Shocker is on October 31, 7 pm and 9 pm, 4229 18th Street. https://www.therhino.org/

Sister Dana sez, “November 4 is Election Day in California. If you haven’t already turned in your mail-in ballot, go out and vote ‘YES on 50: The ELECTION RIGGING RESPONSE ACT.’ If MAGA and Project 2025 have their way, there will be no mail-in ballots—maybe even NO elections at all! Be afraid. Be very afraid!”

ing the future aren’t opposing forces, but the same sacred work.

As you raise a Marigold Smoky Margarita this season, know you’re tasting more than mezcal and citrus. You’re tasting patience. You’re tasting the decision to let things grow. You’re tasting the radical act of believing that some things matter more than profit, more than convenience, more than speed. You’re tasting what it means to sustain a culture, one deliberate choice at a time.

Mercado 925’s pan de muerto is available at Casa Latina bakery through November 3. The Marigold Smoky Margarita and seasonal Dia de los Muertos menu items are available now.

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

What is a favorite Halloween costume? As Heard on the Street

You Are Invited!

CASTRO STREET CAM #5 ONE-NIGHT-ONLY PREVIEW FOR HALLOWEEN

In Person: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Toast Friday, October 31, 2025

Ribbon Cutting @ Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, at 5 pm

Toast @ Catch, 2362 Market Street, at 5:30 pm

Virtual: Halloween in the Castro!

On Friday evening, October 31, 2025, the San Francisco Bay Times will present a soft launch of its new Castro Street Cam #5 that will provide spectacular views of The Castro and a spooktacular look at the parade of costumes on Castro Street during Halloween. Join us for the in-person Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Toast and/or for the virtual one-night-only preview from 5 pm, October 31, to November 1, at https://sfbaytimes.com/castro-street-cam/ Leading the ceremony will be emcees Sister Roma and Honey Mahogany, and among those cutting the ribbon will be Terry Asten Bennett of Cliff’s Variety, who has supported the Castro Street Cam system since it began in 2017.

After this special preview night, watch for announcements about the permanent inclusion of Cam #5 in 2026 as part of the 24/7 livestreaming Castro Street Cam. Thanks to Another Planet Entertainment, Orphan Andy’s, SoulCycle, Catch, and other local businesses for helping support the Castro Street Cam.

Castro Street Cam is presented by the San Francisco Bay Times

With support from: Cliff’s Variety, Another Planet Entertainment, Orphan Andy’s, SoulCycle, and other Castro Street Cam community sponsors.