Oakland family attorney and out lesbian Tara M. Flanagan will not be in a runoff for judge after all. Unofficial final election returns released by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters Monday, June 11 had Flanagan winning the open Alameda County Superior Court seat outright with 50.75 percent of the vote. She will therefore avoid a runoff with attorney Andrew Wiener, who placed second with 29.87 percent. A third candidate, attorney Catherine Haley, was out of the running last week with 18.61 percent of the vote.

In an email statement late Monday afternoon, Flanagan thanked her supporters who "helped me through this great, amazing adventure." She also thanked the people of Alameda County who talked with her during the campaign and those who voted for her.

"I look forward to serving you all as your judge."

Flanagan also thanked her two opponents.

 

B.A.R. editor wins Lammy Award

Bay Area Reporter assistant editor Jim Provenzano won first place in the gay romance category at the recent 24th annual Lambda Literary Awards in New York City.

The June 2 sold-out event saw Provenzano take the prize for his new novel, Every Time I Think of You, which was released last December.

Provenzano said he was surprised when his name was called.

"It was amazing to win," he said. "I truly wasn't expecting it, and although my acceptance speech was a bit flustered, I'm told that people enjoyed my enthusiasm."

B.A.R. publisher Thomas E. Horn praised the author.

"We are very proud of Jim and his well deserved honor," Horn said.

As an independently published author, Provenzano said the award is important.

"Winning a Lambda Literary Award means a lot to me," he said. "But also, many independently published authors said that it's a good sign; a historically traditional organization is seeing the merit in self-published works."

The awards in a variety of categories are presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation. This year's event also honored San Francisco author Armistead Maupin and feminist writer and activist Kate Millett.

 

Nolan hired for LGBT seniors initiative

The city has hired Project Open Hand's former executive director to help oversee a working group that will examine issues affecting LGBT seniors.

Tom Nolan, 67, is working part-time for the Department of Aging and Adult Services as it convenes the new LGBT Seniors Task Force, expected to begin meeting this fall. He started work June 11 and will earn approximately $54,000.

The openly gay Nolan is a former San Mateo County supervisor and currently chairs the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's board of directors. He stepped down from Open Hand in January.

At its meeting Tuesday the Board of Supervisors signed off on the creation of the 11-member LGBT seniors panel, which will be given 18 months to draft a plan on how the city can meet the needs of a growing LGBT seniors population.

After Mayor Ed Lee approves the measure – he has 30 days to do so – the board's Rules Committee later this summer will vet applicants interested in serving on the panel. It is hoped the task force's first meeting will take place by October.

In addition to staffing the task force, Nolan is also assisting the aging agency with the creation of a 10-year plan to address Alzheimer's and dementia. He will also work on a new initiative aimed at older church parishioners the agency wants to roll out.

 

AHP to hold open house

Six months after undergoing a name change, the UCSF Alliance Health Project: Services for the LGBTQ and HIV Communities, will hold an open house Friday, June 15 to celebrate its collaborations and the community.

The event, at 1930 Market Street (at Laguna) in San Francisco, begins with a reception at 4:30 p.m. followed by a program at 5:30. Dr. James Dilley, executive director of AHP, will be honored by the Levi Strauss Foundation for his 28 years of leadership.

AHP, formerly the AIDS Health Project, decided to change its name late last year in a nod to the fact that the agency has expanded its services to people with substance abuse and mental health issues. Those expanded services started in 2010 when AHP started seeing patients of New Leaf: Services for Our Community, which closed.

 

Physicians' group presents awards

Bay Area Physicians for Human Rights has announced that five awardees have been selected for honors that will be presented to them at a Pride celebration Friday, June 15 at the LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street in San Francisco. The reception runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Individual honorees include Dr. Bill Owen, who will receive the Visionary of the Decades Award for recognizing problems and the leadership to bring about changes benefitting the health of LGBTQ people, and Dr. Steve Follensbee, who will receive the Educator of the Decades Award for his long-standing contributions to education.

In addition, three organizations will be honored: Project Open Hand will receive the Humanitarian of the Decades Award for service to the community, especially underserved populations; the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association will receive the Impact of the Decades Award for actions that have improved the health and wellness of the LGBTQ community; and the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus will receive the Healer of Hurting Award that honors the special skills the chorus has to identify the many types of hurt within the community and to create healing changes.

Each honoree will be presented with a plaque and be granted $1,000 that they can give to the nonprofit of their choice.

 

East Bay AIDS Walk Saturday

The sixth annual East Bay AIDS Walk will be held Saturday, June 16 at Lake Merritt in Oakland. The walk is an all-volunteer effort where every dollar raised by walkers is donated to AIDS service organizations in the East Bay for education, testing, and treatment. According to walk organizers, over 8,000 people in the East Bay are living with HIV/AIDS.

Free HIV tests will be offered at the walk. People can walk as individuals or join a team.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the walk starts at 10. People should go to the Gazebo. For more information or to join a team, visit www.eastbayaidswalk.org.

 

Fundraiser for housing group

Hearth Homes, an organization that works to address the urgent need for inclusive, green, universally-designed affordable housing for all, is having a bingo (Building Inclusivity Now Generates Opportunity) fundraiser Saturday, June 16 at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin Street (at Geary) in San Francisco. Doors open at 2 p.m.

Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation-award winner Marilyn Pittman will serve as emcee of this unique benefit. Her award-winning solo show, "It's All the Rage," is currently on a national tour.

Tickets are $65 plus online fee ($35 plus fee for students with valid ID). Snacks will be provided and there will be a cash bar on site. There will be special prizes for bingo winners. For more information, visit www.hearthhomes.org. To purchase tickets, visit http://hearthhomesbingo.eventbrite.com.

 

Pre-Pride safety seminar

The San Francisco Safety Coalition has announced that interested people are welcome to attend a pre-Pride safety seminar Saturday, June 16 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. in the main gym at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center, 100 Collingwood Street in the Castro. The free seminar is presented by Ken Craig of Community Patrol USA and will include helpful information so that people safely enjoy all the festivities associated with Pride weekend.

In related news, Craig received a special Pride award from San Francisco District Attorney George Gasc—n during a June 13 ceremony. Craig is involved with Castro Community on Patrol and the Stop the Violence Project.

 

Castro Lions drag-a-thon

The Castro Lions will hold its ninth annual drag-a-thon Sunday, June 17 from noon to 8 p.m. at Marlena's, 488 Hayes Street (at Octavia).

Additionally, Castro Lions President Troy Brunet wants to remind people that the group's annual dinner and installation of officers is coming up on June 20. That event takes place at Patio Espanol, 2850 Alemany Boulevard in San Francisco. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 7. The cost is $65. To RSVP, call (415) 90-LIONS.

 

Rainbow flag creator returns to SF

Gilbert Baker, creator of the rainbow flag and a longtime gay rights activist, will be back in San Francisco next week to do a living history talk at the GLBT History Museum.

Baker, who will be receiving a special award this year from the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee, will be in conversation with Cleve Jones on Tuesday, June 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the museum, 4127 18th Street in the Castro.

Baker created the flag for the San Francisco Pride Parade in 1978 – a momentous year in city politics that included the inauguration of Harvey Milk as a member of the Board of Supervisors, the defeat of the anti-gay Briggs initiative, and Milk's assassination just 11 months after he took office.

The suggested donation for Baker's talk is $5. For more information and a calendar of museum activities, visit www.glbthistory.org.

 

Stonewall Dems to host movie night

The East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club will hold its general membership meeting Wednesday, June 20 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Organizing for America office, 1714 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland.

In celebration of Pride Month, the club will host a special screening of Jumpin' the Broom: The New Covenant. This 30-minute documentary shares the stories of four black couples and analyzes their views on love, commitment, relationships, marriage, and religion. Award-winning filmmaker Debra A. Wilson will be on hand for questions afterwards. Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information about the club, visit www.eastbaystonewalldemocrats.com.

 

Memorial for SF activist

A memorial for Larry Wisch, who died May 5 after a long battle against AIDS, will be held Saturday, June 23 at 3 p.m. at Three Stone Hearth, 1581 University Avenue in Berkeley.

Mr. Wisch, who was 59, was a co-founder of Three Stone Hearth. He is survived by his partner and caregiver Giamcarlo (John) Calabrese.

Friends are welcome to attend the memorial.