Over $45,000 Raised for Nonprofit Rainbow Honor Walk

It was an artful experience for San Francisco’s Rainbow Honor Walk (RHW), the nonprofit that highlights the contributions of LGBTQ pioneers with sidewalk plaques in the city’s Castro district, when an exhibit of works by the late acclaimed artist Beth Van Hoesen raised over $45,000. The exhibit, Beth Van Hoesen: Punks & Sisters, was held earlier this year at the Altman Siegel Gallery. When longtime Castro resident Van Hoesen died in 2010, her estate donated a significant number of her works to the RHW for sale to benefit its work.

“Thank you, Beth Van Hoesen,” said RHW President and San Francisco Bay Times columnist Donna Sachet. “Thank you to Diane Roby, who administered her artistic estate. Thank you, Altman Siegel Gallery, and especially thank you, Peter Goss, our longtime supporter and board member who helped to facilitate the sale of the Rainbow Honor Walk’s Beth Van Hoesen artworks. The work of the Rainbow Honor Walk, celebrating with members of our LGBTQ family who walked the walk before us, has never been more important than now, in a time when, sadly, our values, and our lives, are under threat.”

To date, the RHW organization—in conjunction with the San Francisco Department of Public Works—has installed 44 plaques along Market, Castro, and 19th Streets, as well as Collingwood Avenue. The Walk will eventually extend from the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy on 19th Street at Diamond down to Castro Street, and will continue up Market with additional extensions on 18th Street. On Market, it will continue to the LGBT Center at Octavia Boulevard.

Each plaque costs approximately $6000, with all funds raised privately. For more information and to make a donation, visit: www.rainbowhonorwalk.org

By Donna Sachet

ride Month started early and hasn’t stopped since! Come with us for a whirlwind tour of events over the past couple weeks.

On June 9, we attended the first full-scale fashion show benefiting the Transgender District at The Academy, the private LGBTQ+ club that continues to broaden its offering of events for every taste. This Queer/Trans fashion show showcased local creators, models, and stylists with a far-reaching assemblage of looks, punctuated by creative performances, as about 100 people took it all in. One never knows where the next break-out fashion designer will arise!

The next day, the SF Giants hosted their Pride Day, preceded by a salute to the memory of Heklina, organized by good friends Sister Roma and Peaches Christ. Although we were unable to attend, all reports indicate a well-attended game and lots of LGBTQ+ visibility.

On Sunday, June 11, we joined a small group at the Mission Cultural Center for a long-awaited screening of Joe Castel’s Nelly

Queen: The Life and Times of José Sarria. If there were ever a doubt about the significant contributions of this man to our civil rights movement and to the vibrant life of San Francisco, this movie puts that to rest. Even as a friend of José for years, we learned new facts and gained an even greater appreciation for him. Make sure you see it when it goes into wide release. Among the attendees were three Emperors and three Empresses, other good friends of José, and even the son of the owner of The Black Cat, where José made his performing debut. In addition, this was our first visit to the Mission Cultural Center and we under- stand it is in financial distress. With so many urgent needs around us, it is hard to single out individual opportunities, but check it out before it closes for retrofitting and other improvements; maybe you will be moved to help out.

Manny Yekutiel had a dream and his coffee shop in the Mission has exceeded even his expectations. Here you have a place for people to linger, sometimes over coffee or books or public readings or political actions or lectures and the list goes on and on. Most prominent local and national politicians, at least Democratic ones, have appeared there, as have various writers, performers, and other activists. But Tuesday, June 13, broke new ground when Manny hosted First Lady Jill Biden, making various appearances across town, campaigning for her husband. That alone would be exciting, but in addition, Manny invited five drag queens to be the first to welcome her to San Francisco! We joined Honey Mahogany, Dulce de Leche, Grace Towers, and Juanita MORE! and ushered the First Lady into Manny’s. She was gracious and enthusiastic. Following that, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis introduced the First Lady to hundreds of well-wishers and she gave a rousing campaign speech. Don’t worry; photo evidence will follow.

Wednesday night’s Opening Night of the Frameline Film Festival was triumphant ... the perfect film, Fairyland (a moving, sensitive story of parenthood, lovingly set in San Francisco) , a packed house at the Castro Theatre (when have we seen that for years?), and the Castro neighborhood teeming with excitement (with bars, restaurants, and other businesses reaping rewards). If any recent event has put the COVID disaster in the background, it was this one. The roar of appreciation from the attending crowd must have given renewed energy to the Frameline team and film aficionados everywhere. The after-party at Terra Gallery was a terrific celebration, mixing the people behind films and those in front of them for cocktails, bites, and animated conversation. We had a quick moment with Frameline Executive Director James Woolley, who glowed with satisfaction.

The Pink Triangle once again is visible all over the city, thanks to Patrick Carney and his team of tireless volunteers, rising very early atop Twin Peaks annually to remember those shamed and imprisoned by Nazi Germany and turning this symbol into an emblem of resilience and strength. Last Saturday’s opening ceremony, attended by Mayor London Breed, State Senator Scott Wiener, Assemblymembers Phil Ting and Matt Haney, Supervisors Rafael Mandelman and Joel Engardio, and several other elected officials, offered spectacular vistas as the morning fog dispersed. Additional speakers D’Arcy Drollinger, Gary Virginia, Dr. Michelle Kraus, Joe Rodriguez, and Suzanne Ford gave a historical perspective to the Pink Triangle and its relevance to today. Pink balloons, pink fabric, and bottles of pink Champagne completed the picture.

Thursday, June 22

Divas & Drinks Bay Times party at The Academy

DJ Rockaway, Bacardí cocktails, Extreme Pizza Pride Party & celebration

Featuring Rhonda Benin and the All Stars

Name That Tune ongoing competition The Academy, 2166 Market Street $20 https://tinyurl.com/yyzsmtrn

Saturday, June 24

Gary Virginia & Donna Sachet’s 25th Pride Brunch

Annual benefit for PRC, honoring SF Pride Parade Grand Marshals 3-course brunch, drinks, program, entertainment Westin St. Francis Hotel, 335 Powell Street 11 am–2 pm $150 & up www.prc-sf.org

Sunday, June 25 SF Pride Parade and Festival Market Street & Civic Center www.sfpride.org

Wednesday, June 28

Comcast presents To Wong Foo screening Co-Emcees Khmera Rouge & Jan Wahl with John Newmeyer

Personal video message from Julie Newmar Dress as your favorite character Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street 6 pm Door, 6:30 pm Film Free movie & concessions with reservation! https://tinyurl.com/47ypysec

Sunday, July 9 Broadway Drag Show

Hosted by Renita Valdez Benefits Monarchs’ Charity Fund Aunt Charlie’s Lounge, 133 Turk Street 4–7 pm Free! www.sfimperialcouncil.org

Wednesday, July 19

Hello, Yellow Brick Road: Elton, Wicked, & Oz ... Oh My! SF Gay Men’s Chorus Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue 7:30 pm $59–175 www.sfgmc.org

The final weekend leading up to SF Pride Week ended with the Red Dress Bar Crawl, when every kind of red dress imaginable appeared on every male body type imaginable for unimaginable display throughout the Castro. Must we reconsider our nature color? Perhaps.

Regardless, we anxiously await the many events of Pride Week, leading up to the extraordinary demonstration of the rich variof the LGBTQ+ Community that is the Pride Parade & Celbration. So many places around the globe cannot envision having this freedom of expression and will be looking on envy. Be visible! Be out! And be proud!

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

DEARMAN (continued from pg 14) resources they need to remain in their community. Through these essential supports, we help to ensure adults with disabilities and older people can thrive and, in turn, continue to add vibrancy and diversity to our neighborhoods and city.

The vast majority of our community services are available to San Francisco seniors and people with disabilities of all income levels.

Our DAS Benefits & Resource Hub is a one-stop shop to learn about and get connected to a wide range of services for all older people, adults with disabilities, veterans, and caregivers. Please do not hesitate to reach out, either by calling 415-355-6700 or by visiting us in person at 2 Gough Street. You may also visit https://tinyurl.com/3xtzzzbs

Please help by getting involved and spreading the word about these critical programs to our queer and trans elders and those who experience disabilities. These supports are vital not only to them but also to our entire community.

On behalf of the Department of Disability and Aging Services, I want to wish all a Happy Pride Month!

As Executive Director of the Department of Disability and Aging Services, Kelly Dearman coordinates services to veterans, older adults, adults with disabilities, and their families to maximize health, safety, and independence so that they can remain active in their community for as long as possible and maintain the highest quality of life. She has more than 15 years of experience developing policies and services to help ensure San Franciscans thrive as they age. Dearman was born and raised in San Francisco. She lives in the Cole Valley neighborhood with her family, living in the same house she grew up in. She lives with her husband, two children, and her parents.

BARNES (continued from pg 16) stand against injustice whenever we see it—silence equals death. As a community, we must hold our political leaders accountable for the change we want and demand more from businesses that commercialize Pride Month without fully engaging their philanthropic responsibility and commitments.

Derek Barnes is the CEO of the East Bay Rental Housing Association ( www.EBRHA.com ). He currently serves on the board of Homebridge CA. Follow him on Twitter @DerekBarnesSF and on Instagram at DerekBarnes.SF

Terry Asten Bennett, whose family has been running Cliff’s Variety since 1936, continues to be a tireless and dedicated ally for the LGBTQ community. She recently, for example, served as a Roadie for the 2023 AIDS Life/Cycle where bike riders rode 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

“It was an amazing week filled with hard work and so much love,” Asten Bennett told the San Francisco Bay Times. “It takes me a few days to recover after the ride, but it is all worth it. The work I do to give back to my community pays me back tenfold in love and joy.”

She shared photos showing how she and others during the ride “build and breakdown a moving city down the coast,” such as when they create the Lifecycle Village. The Captain of the Village she said was Raoni, who with others worked side by side with Asten Bennett’s team.

On day 4, Asten Bennett and the other participants arrived in Santa Maria, which is just past the halfway point to Los Angeles. There is a park in the city with a well-known Pirate Ship Play Structure that inspires plenty of pirate-themed antics. Asten Bennett said, “My small but mighty info services team celebrated [there].”

She also shared photos of her Bus Liaison, Tom, as he drove to the Santa Monica Pier. His birthday festivities took place during the event. Asten Bennett said, “Tom has participated in every AIDS/LifeCycle as either a cyclist or a Roadie.”

When she reached the finish line, Asten Bennett was full of emotion. “[I felt] so happy and sad, all at the same time,” she said. Thanks to her efforts and those of the other riders, volunteers, donors, and more, AIDS/LifeCycle 2023 raised $11,711,785 to support the San

Francisco AIDS Foundation and The Los Angeles LGBT Center.

Since its founding in 1994, the ride has raised more than $300 million for HIV and AIDS-related services. It raises awareness about the ongoing epidemic and the need for continuing HIV testing, prevention education, care, and more.

The San Francisco Bay Times is proud to support the fundraising efforts of Roadie Terry Asten Bennett, who serves as President of the Castro Merchants Association in addition to her work at Cliff’s. As of this writing, she has raised $9,244 this year with a goal of $10,000. You can help her to reach that goal by contributing any amount: https://tinyurl.com/bdev3he2 https://www.aidslifecycle.org/

When a candidate campaigns to become a Grand Duke or Grand Duchess, there is always a representation of colors that allows voters to know whom they are voting for. In most cases, candidates will also have a “catchphrase” and a coronation theme for their step-down. We have taken a look at the last 40 Royal Houses and have gotten to know a little about each of them. Now, I will feature the remaining 9 Royal Houses, one at a time and each leading us to the current Reigning Monarchs and to the candidates of The Grand Ducal Council’s 50th Reign. Here is a spotlight on the 42nd Royal House: