The Elizabeth Taylor Party at the Lookout: A Spectacle Benefit to Honor a Great Star

There was a spectacle to honor actress Elizabeth Taylor at the Lookout bar on May 27 that rivaled their other raucous events. The Lookout is not a part of the Castro Triangle of bars that rarely allow fundraisers, and their tempting bartenders sometimes leap from behind the bar to become pageant contestants.

The party was a benefit for AIDS/LifeCycle and Project Inform, and both are worthy charities that need support. AIDS/LifeCycle is an event sponsored by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and their Executive Director Neil Giuliano conferred with co-host Donna Sachet, while the other co-host Sister Pat N Leather MC’ed. The event was sponsored by Stoli Vodka and the Lookout and a large crowd yelled enthusiastically for the performers. Sachet wowed the audience with a dance in a shimmering golden gown and a Pharaoh’s flail and shepard’s crook, that echoed dancing scenes in Taylor’s monumental film "Cleopatra."

Hunky bare-chested Stoli Men Brandon, Devin, Chad, Evan, and Bunny were persuasive at selling Jello-O shots and raffle tickets. DJ John LePage put out cools sounds and the drink specials were popular. Guests gathered around champion fundraiser Deana Dawn in awe, because of her convincing illusion of Taylor when she was at the height of her beauty. Stunning Dawn wore a faux diamond-studded white gown, with glittering bracelets on her long white gloves, with more sparkles around her neck and dangling from her ears. Café Flore manager Gary Virginia hovered nearby to protect Dawn from possibly infatuated straight men, and gay men approached reverentially to compliment her for her total effect, from her silver heels to her Hollywood fluff hairdo. Former Empress Cockatelia came out of her usual exquisite drag, as if in a tribute to Dawn, and he also commented on the fine impersonation.

Lots of much needed funds were raised for the two beneficiaries and it was an all around good time for everyone.

A White Diamond Tribute for Elizabeth Taylor at the Castro Theatre

Elizabeth Taylor had not received much in the way of thanks from the HIV/AIDS community in San Francisco that she helped so much until the night of May 27 at the Castro Theatre. Taylor Juel conceived of the benefit for Project Inform and Aaron Baldwin worked with him to coordinate the stage presentation to honor Taylor and commemorate the 30th year of AIDS.

Usually shirtless with muscles bared at street fairs and leather parties, Baldwin causes almost pathological staring by gay men and the air pressure around him seems to triple.

Project Inform works to find better treatments and a cure for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, and helps people access information to make decisions about their health care.

The event was called a White Diamonds Tribute for Elizabeth Taylor, which referred to her White Diamonds perfume. Ads for the scent featuring Taylor in moody tropical scenes are shown in TV ads every December holiday season for the last couple years. Juel let some guests know that love was in the air at the event. His new lover was pouring the champagne that was raised in toasts to actress Taylor and he was taking Juel away to live in a Seattle love nest the next day.

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Pat N Leather spoke about his despair when he found out that he had AIDS. His despair changed to hope when Elizabeth Taylor spoke out for a cure for AIDS and for compassion for infected people. Leather challenged the large audience to be the activist that Taylor was and make a difference. Then Project Inform Executive Director Dana Van Gorder spoke about an upcoming concentrated drive to find cures for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C in the next ten years. He said that the infections that enter 59,000 people's bodies in the U.S., and 1,000 in San Francisco every year, have to be stopped and the technology to do that is becoming possible.

Openhouse Executive Director Seth Kilbourn spoke about the overwhelming persuasive power of Eliabeth Taylor at his organization’s recent luncheon. He was a young Capitol Hill intern who watched Taylor approach curmudgeon homophobic legislators in the early 1980s and saw that their opposition to her requests for AIDS melt as she shook their hands and smiled at them. That is the kind of personal attention that Pat N Leather and Dana Van Gorder expressed when they looked out into the theater throng and spoke optimistically of a better future.

The Project Inform Spring Brunch at the Federal Building: A Dramatic Observation of AIDS at 30 Years

Project Inform is the non-profit agency that provides information for people with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C to keep them alive through awareness of drug treatments, monitor funding for health needs, and alleviate suffering. Their commemoration of the 30th year of AIDS was observed at the San Francisco Federal Building Sky Garden on May 22nd, Harvey Milk’s Birthday. The Sky Garden is a huge 3 floor maw of an opening in the structure that is keyed into the building’s green technology that uses natural light and solar power to use less fossil fuel than buildings of comparable size. The agency prefers to choose unusual and outstanding venues for their events, and the second annual Spring Brunch was at a dramatic locale with spectacular North and South views.

Project Inform’s Executive Director Dan Van Gorder and Deputy Executive Director for Development Henry Lucero greeted early guests in the immense lobby where the agency’s name and radiating spoons and forks party symbol was backlit on a wall panel. Development Manager Taylor Juel, who made a provocative fashion statement at the recent Suzan Revah-sponsored Nasty Party at the Powerhouse to benefit Project Inform, welcomed party-goers at the venue foyer.

The bright Sunday morning light combined with many of the guests’ memories of over-indulgence on Saturday night drew them to order stiff Bloody Mary cocktails. Global Gourmet Catering provided delicious made-to-order South of the Border cuisine that had diners coming back for seconds.

Executive Director Van Gorder spoke about the expansion of the agency’s mission from HIV/AIDS to include Hepatitis C and that the goal is not only to devise treatment for the two infections, but also find cures. This tied in with the people who were being honored at the event.

There was a surprise change in the program when Van Gorder introduced special guest Cleve Jones, who founded the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and co-founded the Names Project.

Jones had met with Van Gorder at Supervisor Harry Britt’s office in 1981 to tell him about a new disease that had been observed infecting gay men in Los Angeles, and that an alarm needed to be sounded. This was the beginning of the AIDS epidemic that has ended so many lives and dominated so many others for three decades. Shortly afterwards it was observed in San Francisco, and a Black Dawn bacchanal benefit was staged for GRID (what AIDS was called then) to help raise funds for men who had become ill with something that doctors knew little about.

Jones stated that Project Inform had kept him alive, and he thanked the agency’s founder Martin Delaney, John James and others, and said that his position at Leo McCarthy’s Sacramento office in 1981 helped him to access Centers for Disease Control documents to try to understand what was happening. Jones passionately described the huge number of deaths and the despair that it caused when the epidemic appeared to be a pandemic in the mid 1980s, and how men and women in the LGBT community and its allies rose to the occasion to help the suffering and try to treat the manifestations of the HIV/AIDS. People were falling to the ground with convulsions from brain tumors, dying days after a diagnosis of lung congestion in terrible pain, and making a last visit to a favorite café in a wheelchair while other coffee drinkers quietly noticed the Kaposi Sarcoma lesions on their faces and hands. He also said that after all of the horrors that the community has endured, no one should dare to deny equal rights of same-sex marriage and military service to LGBT citizens.

The honorees chosen by Project Inform were the San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force and its members Alex Randolph, Dominique Leslie, and Emalie Huriaux.

Alex Randolph founded the Hepatitis C Task Force while he was Mayor Gavin Newsom's Special Assistant of LGBT Affairs. He is now the Deputy Director of Community Affairs in the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. Randolph brought his devoted lover Trevor Nguyen who is active with the Berlin and Beyond Film Festival and the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance.

Dominique Leslie is the Task Force’s co-chair and a secretary at their meetings. She has worked on a program for new inventive awareness and treatments for Hepatitis C.

Emalie Huriaux has worked for a decade as a public health educator and is an expert on reproductive and sexual health, HIV, drugs, and homeless needs. She is involved with street outreach to homeless women and she set up a needle exchange for women.

There was detailed information throughout the event for guests, and many are generous donors. The only factor that seemed to be missing was a mention of what is a leading cause of HIV and Hepatitis C infection, which is the continuing scourge of crystal meth addiction.

Project Inform’s Director of Public Policy Ryan Clary is greatly admired for his work. He spoke about the growing need to add Hepatitis C to HIV/AIDS as a target for better treatments and eventual cures. Many clients have both HIV and Hepatitis C and the combined treatments are a devastating anguish for many of them. There is to be a narrowing of focus with medical and research experts toward cures, though the results so far have been discouraging.

The non-profit’s Director of Health Care Policy Anne Donnelly recently received a well-deserved honor at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation Dinner and it was made clear that she is effective while drawing the best from her co-workers. 

Prominent guests included donor Bob Dockendorff, former San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty with his mayoral campaign communications director Roby Chavez, Hothouse Entertainment’s Sister Roma and her smiling entourage, and the Drug Policy Alliance’s Laura Thomas who was a vision in a dress, jewelry, and buccaneer boots out of a Johnny Depp film in shades of bronze.

The next event to benefit Project Inform is A White Diamond Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor at the Castro Theatre on May 27. Taylor is being honored for her strong advocacy for AIDS awareness, funding, and compassion.

For more information: www.projectinform.org

The Imperial Court Investiture at the Infusion Lounge: The Beginning of a Glorious Reign

More than 100 elegantly dressed Imperial Court members and supporters appeared at the futuristic Infusion Lounge on April 3 to celebrate the investiture of the new Empress Saybeline and Emperor Frankie. Colorful, rich brocades competed with shimmering satins and organza for attention.

Infusion has been the striking site of many recent remarkable LGBT community events thanks to Michael Costa, who helps manage the venue. There was a bountiful buffet and guests enjoyed meeting the attractive young man who surprisingly directs traffic in the ultra modern unisex bathroom.

Former Empress China Silk kept track of the performers list and graciously introduced MCs Jason Ladd and Collette Le Grande. Former Emperor Berlin sang the national anthem in his own unique style—he and former Emperor John Weber are well known for singing professionally from the back of the annual Leatherwalk truck. Rev. Lyle Beckman gave a blessing for the new empress and emperor. Weber was dressed in grand Mardi Gras style in a brocade frock coat and bowler.

The Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco was represented by their new cute artistic director William Sauerland and hunky board member Jim Oerther, and they were quick to promote their upcoming concerts and future musical creations.

Chanel Cologne was surrounded by her escorts George Langford and David Newberg. Mr. Golden Gate State Gay Rodeo John Paul Soto arrived with his Baron Chris Benson. Besotted couple Grand Duke Jason Husted and Christopher Humphreys spent much of the evening wrapped around each other as the enjoyed their first year together, and took breaks to greet friends.

Grand Duchess Cookie Dough and performer Steven Satyricon were on stage with Bebe Sweetbriar in a hooker and john drama, as was Landa Lakes with Miso Hornay, U-Phoria, and Becky Motor Lodge, in a stylish and animalistic high-energy dance.

Sleek Patty McGroin paraded through the afternoon fête in a red and silver sparkled gown, and Stockton’s Empress Uneke Chanel joined China Silk at her stage show command table. Former Emperor Stephen Dorsey and former Empress Renita Valdez spoke with fans and enjoyed the stage show.

A high point of the show was when young shirtless stud Maxwell Lynch danced gracefully with ostrich plumes while former Empress Chablis lip-synched. Elaborately dressed Empress Saybeline and Emperor Frankie bestowed certificates of honor on their subjects throughout the afternoon, and all were appreciative of being recognized.

The next big Imperial event is the Sacramento Coronation on April 16, and that will give anyone who feels that they were short-changed because they have not received an invitation to the British Royal Wedding a chance to be submerged in pomp. Gold crowns, velvet robes, Elizabeth Taylor-sized jewels, beautiful men dressed in glamorous drag, handsome men dressed in heavily-medaled uniforms, and stunning women wearing drag and uniforms await guests to an event that will have a sizable San Francisco Imperial presence.

Information is at: www.imperialcouncilsf.org

Dan Savage and Husband Terry Miller at SF State University: The Climactic It Gets Better Anti-Bullying Event

Terry Miller and Dan Savage

Controversial sex advice columnist Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller attracted a crowd of more than 300 enthusiastic students and curious visitors to the César Chavez Student Center at San Francisco State University on March 25. It was unique in many ways. Savage is loved and hated for his sometimes black-and-white take on hot-button issues. He baits the far right whenever he can, but his appearance was to promote his new book "It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living."

Savage walked out onto the stage smiling and wearing his customary T-shirt and dark jeans. His charismatic personality and pumped-up arm muscles took over. He is a trouper since he has been on a grueling book tour while inflicted with influenza.

Savage told the audience how he was horrified by the surge of reported LGBT teen suicides last summer. Realizing that parents would not let him speak to middle school and high school students, he decided to use YouTube to contact at risk LGBT youth. He used an edgy tone of voice and grinned when he said that some parents wanted to keep him away from their daughters, but the young women could check out the videos under their bed covers on their iPads.

The first It Gets Better video was posted on Sept. 2010. It was a message from Savage and Miller telling queer and questioning youth that things will get better, that they should be patient and, if possible, move to a larger, more liberal locale. Numerous youth have messaged that the videos have given them hope and deterred their suicides. The campaign has become a huge phenomenon with more than 10,000 videos reaching over 15 million viewers.

The campaign has been profiled in Time Magazine ("10 Questions for Dan Savage"), on TV’s Nightline ("Savage Love"), in the New York Times ("Campaign Offers Help to Gay Youths"), on CNN ("Gays targeted for hate crimes"), and on NPR ("For Gay Teens, Life 'Gets Better'").

President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, Neil Patrick Harris, and Tim Gunn, as well as diverse individuals, groups, schools, businesses and non-profits have all produced It Gets Better videos.

Terry Miller, Savage’s rarely seen partner, was a revelation with biblical blond good looks that rival idealized actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar during his period of flowing golden locks. Miller wore a plaid shirt and a whimsical bow tie surprisingly matched with a hunky physique inside tight, worn, fantasy-inducing jeans. Miller had a strong command of the serious nature of the project. There was low-level guttural murmuring about him and some appreciative growling later during the book signing.

The agreement between Savage and Miller was that Miller be kept out of Savage’s career, but Miller made an exception for the It Gets Better campaign. They were married in Canada, but since they live in Seattle there is noticeable resentment throughout Savage’s nationally syndicated column Savage Love that he cannot marry in the State of Washington.

Savage is increasingly relentless in his disgust for people who continue to say that they “Love gays but hate their sin.” The columnist says that such an attitude is a source of potential suicides. He is widely known for linking the messy residue of a sex act with rabidly homophobic former senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), and it is believed to have helped defeat the bigot at the ballot box.

The production of a book version of the It Gets Better campaign is important since some reactionary parents place the family computer in the living room and monitor it closely. And like some schools, some parents block YouTube videos. Savage said that students could do what he did in the library when he secretly looked at gay books by hiding them inside another book.

A video produced at SF State was shown, and then Equality California (EQCA) Executive Director Geoff Kors spoke eloquently about three anti-bullying bills being placed before the California state legislature by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, State Senator Mark Leno, and the EQCA. Kors also announced two lobbying days in Sacramento. The one on April 4 traditionally draws a huge turnout of high-energy queer youth who eagerly walk the Capitol corridors and offices.

Then contributors to the It Gets Better book read from their portions. Anthony Antoine flew in from Atlanta, and Taylor Bailey, Joe Mastro, Kristen Rivers, and Tamsyn Waterhouse also read and spoke about how they became involved in the campaign to save lives. The profits from the book go to the Trevor Project, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), and the ACLU's LGBT Rights | Youth & Schools project.

A potential flash point occurred at the beginning of the Q&A when a sarcastic voice yelled out the common criticisms of Savage’s sometimes outrageous column, led by his alleged bi-phobia. The columnist acknowledged the accusation and said that he thought that he was a bisexual before he accepted his homosexuality after a few years. He thought that other men who say that they are bisexual will eventually accept their gayness just as he did. It was mentioned later that Savage could spend some time in San Francisco and meet some happy bisexual men who have alternated in their dating between the genders for decades.

And it was repeated that Savage could spend some time in therapy in the Bay Area to overcome his Catholic guilt and need for punishment, which he spoke about. But this need for punishment wonderfully demolishes any pleasure his critics could seek when they've attacked him with hate mail over the course of his 20-year career. And his critics are ferocious because he can criticize them in his column and it can involve their sex lives.

Young people can be seen around town on Wednesdays reading the latest column of Savage Love in the SF Weekly aloud to friends and laughing, gagging, or staring at each other in amazement depending on the subject.

Savage is despised for announcing that if men want oral sex, then their female partners should receive equal oral sex. The reported increasing need of men to try anal sex with women not only has Savage suggesting that the men be equally penetrated with dildos, but also with strap-on dildos, as seen in Good Vibrations’ iconic hit film Bend Over Boyfriend. Messages seething with anxiety pour in to the columnist from men begging him to say that such acts will not make them gay.

One of Savage's most admirable messages is to his straight readers warning them that the authoritarian far right not only opposes queer sex, but also alternative non-queer sex. Savage has even fearlessly taken on possibly the most fanatical group in our culture — the anti-circumcision crew who threatened his life when he said that maybe his son would be circumcised since there is a perceived “ick” factor from many people who are prejudiced against foreskins.

Savage is a sexual liberationist in the tradition of gay rights founder Harry Hay and the 1970’s Gay Liberation Front, and he is carrying on a valuable tradition.

Links:
YouTube It Gets Better Project
It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living
Savage Love

The Lyon-Martin Academy Awards Benefit Party: Glamor and Caring at Trigger

Phyllis Lyon, Rebecca Prozan, Dr. Betty L. Sullivan, and Scott Wiener

Some of the glamor on the Academy Awards’ red carpet was matched, but with a uniquely San Francisco edge and lesbian-chic flavoring at the Lyon-Martin Clinic Academy Awards benefit at the Trigger Lounge in the Castro on Feb. 27. The event drew a large, diverse group of lesbians and their friends to a sumptuous setting to insure the future of the treasured community clinic, which is a source of low cost and free health care for women and transgender clients.

Lyon-Martin board chair Lauren Winter favored a Lara Croft: Tomb Raider ensemble and the clinic’s interim executive director Dawn Harbatkin matched her with a slinky Gilda-inspired gown and long gloves.

Dr. Betty L. Sullivan of Betty’s List and Greg Bronstein of Flavors You Crave presented the second annual awards that coincide with the overwrought Hollywood event. Bronstein owns Trigger and the nearby Lime Lounge and is known throughout the Bay Area for his attractive, friendly employees, and especially his smiling, attentive bartenders.

Betty’s List is a leading information source and promotional aid for thousands of subscribers and businesses. Sullivan and her crew are not only bringing together a broad range of supporters to save Lyon-Martin Health Services, but they also joined with Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, Jody Cole, Chris Carnes, and others to make the San Francisco LGBT Community Center possible. They made it clear that women would be a large part of that long-overdue building’s operation.

Trigger's giant projection screen loomed over the guests who enjoyed champagne and stiff drinks. Large quantities of luscious mini-sliders and succulent deviled eggs were served by eye-catching Taylor Perry. She worked smoothly with bartenders Chris Nguyen and Jason Oscara, while sexy dancers Manuel and Crystal were poised to celebrate the gathering of caring donors to a good cause.

Sexy dancers Manuel and Crystal

A guest of honor was lesbian pioneer Phyllis Lyon, and her friend Pan Haskins was thanked for making Lyon’s appearances possible. Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Prozan, activist-philanthropist Jody Cole, San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener, former Supervisor Bevan Dufty, and Sullivan's partner Jennifer Viegas mingled and enjoyed the hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Donna Sachet showed up to host in a white gown seemingly writhing with red flames. Transgender activist Jamison Green performed spoken word with his wife Dawn looking on. And comic Marga Gomez was over the top and had everyone laughing until it hurt.

Betty (center) and her party guests

Olivia Cruises provided the starring raffle prize of a $1,500 voyage. Commander Zoe Dunning energized the room and had people laughing uproariously as she raised $550 for two vials of sperm from Pacific Reproductive Services. Olivia also featured popular DJ Rockaway whose sounds enhanced the party.

Dr. Sullivan summed up the evening with a message to her family of friends and supporters: “More than $7,500 total in in-kind and cash donations were raised for the Lyon-Martin Clinic. It was a fine evening for all involved and letters and notes of appreciation and praise are continuing to flow in from supporters of our community’s storied clinic providing services for the uninsured and under-insured patients.”

More photos can be seen at flickr.com/rinkfoto.

High LGBT Culture for Black History Month

Marvin K. White, Jewelle Gomez, and Brian Freeman

Three masters of this era’s Black LGBT culture appeared at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center for a Black History Month event on Feb. 18. Jewelle Gomez, Marvin K. White, and Brian Freeman are accomplished writers and performers who were on stage for a full house of mostly African Americans on a rainy night. Over 100 people from local groups enjoyed “Generations: Black LGBT Experiences” to celebrate those who came before and paved the way for our present society and the ads promised “food, art, entertainment, and much more.” There was artwork that featured popular Black LGBT icons such as Sylvester and Angela Davis along the wall where a buffet at such events is usually provided. Instead of a buffet there was a sparse food offering for people who depend on such meals and for others who work hard and sometimes forget to eat lunch.

Jewelle Gomez performed a scene from her book “The Gilda Stories” that entranced the audience. The book is celebrating its 20th anniversary in print and is the only black lesbian vampire character in the world of literature. Gomez is a writer and activist and was a litigant with her wife Diane Sabin, who attended the reading, in the Proposition 8 court case that ended successfully in marriage equality. Gomez has also taken on the enormous tasks of President of the San Francisco Library Commission and dispersing much-needed grants at the Horizons Foundation.

Marvin K. White is a playwright, poet, visual artist, performer, and community arts coordinator. He is a former member of Pomo Afro Homos troupe, who performed at the Castro’s Josie’s Cabaret and Juice Joint and all over the U.S. He powerfully read from his spine tingling and affirming spoken word poem “I Want to Make Black History with You” and it drew resounding yells of approval from the audience.

Brian Freeman is a co-founder and director of Pomo Afro Homos. His work “Civil Sex” is based on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s openly-gay strategist Bayard Rustin and is highly regarded. He assumed the voice of Rustin’s event piano accompanist to tell a hilarious story about Coretta Scott King’s attempt to sing at a rally.

All three of the evening’s performers are fine actors and they convincingly portrayed the characters from their work and mesmerized the crowd, drawing rounds of applause.

Free rapid HIV and STD tests were available and the event was sponsored by Black Brothers Esteem of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, African American Health Disparities Project, AfroSolo Theatre Company, Black Coalition on AIDS, HIV Prevention and HIV Research Sections of the SFDPH, Our Love of the Stop AIDS Project, the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, Shanti, Trans:Thrive of the Asian Pacific Islander Wellness Center, and Walden House.

Activist Steve Ibarra, who works at City College battling HIV/AIDS and STDs, said that he was at the party to represent Blatinos. It was an extremely successful event and next year’s Generations is bound to be even bigger.