The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Crescendo Fundraising Gala: A Unique Musical Artistic Event

Conductor Timothy Seelig, Grand Duchess Kylie Minono, and executive director Teddy Witherington

A unique brunch was hosted by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus at the Four Seasons Hotel on Oct. 9:  The annual Crescendo fundraising gala in one of the city’s most stylish hotels started at noon, a time of the day on Sundays when many are nursing hangovers at home. The chorus drew an amazingly large turnout for a quiche and fruit parfait brunch, with accomplished musical performances and awards for the organization’s supporters.

Chorus guests who arrived early enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the hotel terrace that overlooks the Contemporary Jewish Museum’s huge tilted blue cube. The chorus’ two ensembles, the Lollipop Guild and the Vocal Minority, performed to kick off the party and they projected the positive mood of the party and enhanced the admiration of the gathered donors.

Board president Michael Tate, executive director Teddy Witherington, and honoree Stuart Milk

The chorus’ new Human Rights Champion Award was given to Harvey Milk’s nephew Stuart Milk by chorus board president Michael Tate and executive director Teddy Witherington for his advocacy of LGBT rights worldwide. Milk’s day job is working with at-risk youth and he founded the Harvey Milk Foundation to fight hate and discrimination. From his base near Ft. Lauderdale, Milk researches and then visits communities where he can do the most good—from Spain to Turkey to San Jose Pride.

The new link between the Chorus and Harvey Milk was revealed when a “Dear Harvey, We’ve Got Hope” project video was screened, and then described by Witherington. Young people are being asked for their feelings about Milk and their submissions will be formed into musical creations for the Chorus’ upcoming 35th anniversary season. Impressive board president Tate then spoke about funding for the organization for the future.

A unique talent, counter-tenor Jacques Snyman, then performed, and the expressions of surprise on faces around the ballroom has been seen before, when other blatantly masculine looking countertenors reach high notes. Diageo Americas’ Phillipa Jones (of subsidiary Sterling Vineyards) said that their commitment to the LGBT community is sincere when she accepted a Corporate Champion Award. The Bay Area Reporter (BAR) received a Media Champion Award, though the decade-long LGBT press boycott of the Chorus led by the BAR’s publisher after a controversial Chorus dinner incident was not mentioned.

The guests were thanked by event co-chairs Paul Olsen and Sean Livingston, and there was talk from table to table about the Chorus’ altruistic tours through small California cities that also finance their local LGBT groups. Providing role models and self-esteem is an important side benefit to areas of the state where that can be lacking.

The Gay Men’s Chorus has managed to prosper during a time of financial uncertainty and much of the credit is due to not only the staff and board, but also the advisory board which includes Molly McKay of Marriage Equality USA, Dr. Betty L. Sullivan of Betty's List and the San Francisco Bay Times, Devesh Khatu of the Horizons Foundation, and Cecilia Chung of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. Hardworking artistic operations manager Mike Holland also deserves credit for presenting professional light and sound in spaces where it never existed previously.

Artistic director and conductor for the last ten years Dr. Kathleen McGuire was remembered fondly, and her replacement Dr. Timothy Seelig has been embraced by the chorus after changes were made to the repertoire.

The Chorus is also thriving thanks to the monumental talents of Paul Saccone, the music director of the Lollipop Guild ensemble and Carl Pantle, the Chorus' associate artistic director, principal pianist, and the musical director of the Vocal Minority ensemble.

A wonderful event ended with musical interludes from the Lollipop Guild and the Vocal Minority.

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.

An Inspiring Event for LGBT Seniors on a Beautiful Day

Dr. Betty L. Sullivan with pioneering lesbian activist Phyllis Lyon

The grandeur of the St. Francis Hotel’s Alexandra Penthouse on the 32nd floor was the setting for openhouse’s 5th annual Spring Fling luncheon on April 19, 2009. Sixty-foot, floor-to-ceiling, French cut windows with magnificent San Francisco views and dramatic lighting to heighten the penthouse’s gold and cream art nouveau décor, were breathtaking. More than a few guests remarked on how the lighting (and wine) also heightened the looks of the other guests.

The Spring Fling luncheon began with co-chairs Laura Spanjian and Tim Wu warmly greeting the diners. Executive director Seth Kilbourn then welcomed everyone by thanking them for attending the event on such a beautiful Spring day. openhouse provides housing services and programs for LGBT seniors, and sets a standard on how LGBT seniors should be treated. Kilbourn discussed the current economic situation and said that the delveloper of 55 Laguna is determined to complete the project, which will house LGBT seniors.

Lesbian activist pioneer Phyllis Lyon was introduced and the sold out event’s diners erupted in applause. Other notables included Charlotte Coleman, who battled the police, the State Alcohol Beverage Control Office (ABC), and politicians to open the first lesbian-owned legal San Francisco lesbian and gay bars. She was joined by friends Robert Bobba and Mary Sager. Assemblyman Mark Leno and Supervisor Bevan Dufty stopped by to greet openhouse’s supporters, and the Sheriff Office’s Susan Fahey and political analyst Wayne Friday table-hopped to visit friends.

Honoree Carole Migden with Charlotte Coleman and Mary Sager

California State Commissioner and honoree Carole Migden was introduced and praised by executive director Seth Kilbourn for her work on behalf of seniors since she headed Operation Concern, which has evolved into New Leaf. And her efforts to strengthen domestic partnership laws were credited with the building of the same-sex marriage movement. Commissioner Migden accepted her trophy and pointed out other activists throughout the room, and how they had furthered LGBT seniors’ rights.

Founder Marcy Adelman spoke and early board members were also honored: Arthur Hurwith, Warren van Eck, Matile Rothschild, and Jan Faulkner (in memoriam). Their time and efforts in setting up tables for hours, speaking at hearings, and communicating with seniors to organize the largest survey of LGBT seniors’ needs, were appreciated.

Honoree Anne Kronenberg

Seth Kilbourn quoted Harvey Milk’s comments of contempt for people who did not respect seniors, and especially LGBT seniors, when he presented a trophy to Milk’s campaign manager Anne Kronenberg. Anne Kronenberg spoke about how much Harvey Milk cared about seniors and their rights, and how he spoke with them about their needs at community centers and nursing homes. And she playfully explained how her mother was not impressed by the stars she worked with and how she was portrayed in the “Milk” film, and how that may change with the openhouse honor and her upcoming NYC Pride grand marshal honor.

The event’s finale was a soft touch lesbian cruise fundraising auction and announcements of silent auction winners.