By Liam P. Mayclem–
Todrick Hall defies categorization. He is an artist, choreographer, drag star, entrepreneur, performer, and producer, but also much more. He has Bay Area ties and will soon be performing at Sonoma Pride. I had the joy of interviewing him recently for the San Francisco Bay Times. And just to let you know what a sweetheart he is, I mentioned my partner Rick’s birthday, and without being prompted, Todrick sent me a special, heartfelt birthday video for Rick. Rick was thrilled!
Back to Todrick … we kicked off our chat talking about life during the pandemic and how he has stayed connected with fans.
Todrick Hall: Not being able to connect in person with fans and have a hug has been really hard. I have still performed in a way, because I’ve done so many things online and I was making videos on the internet for years. So, in a lot of ways the pandemic didn’t change the way I navigate through the entertainment industry. But as somebody who’s been dancing on stage since I was eight years old, many performers took it for granted. I miss it. The fact that I couldn’t go see a show on Broadway, which is my favorite hobby, or the ballet, or go see The Nutcracker for the holidays. This was the first year that I had to refrain from doing those types of things.
Liam P. Mayclem: You are doing Sonoma Pride soon. Have you been to the Wine Country?
Todrick Hall: I’ve never been there before, but I’m really, really excited. I know that it is The Wizard of Oz-themed event that they’re doing. I love The Wizard of Oz so much that, over quarantine, I purchased a few items for Broadway cares, Equity Fights AIDS: the original costumes from Wicked. I have a Kristin Chenoweth dress and Idina Menzel’s alphabet costume from act two. That’s how much I love The Wizard of Oz. So, [I love] anytime I get to do something to celebrate the story that really inspired me to become the person I am today. I am very stoked to be a part of Sonoma Pride and thrilled they asked me.
Liam P. Mayclem: What is Pride to you?
Todrick Hall: The meaning is changing for me over time. I think that Pride is truly being able to feel comfortable with who you are every day, not just when you’re with your community, but when you’re in your everyday life. I remember a time growing up where I would only hold my boyfriend’s hand when we were in a safe place, like backstage at Six Flags in Dallas, Texas. And now, I feel like I can just be my true, authentic self everywhere. I’m fortunate enough and privileged enough to live in Los Angeles, where being gay is so accepted, but it makes me sad that there are so many kids everywhere all over the world who are trying to figure out where and how they can be accepted. I think that, for me, Pride is getting everybody to a place where they feel comfortable, like they don’t have to shift from room to room to feel proud of whom they love.
Liam P. Mayclem: Do you have a favorite Pride memory?
Todrick Hall: I did Pride in Buffalo, New York, a couple of years ago. I think it was 2019 and I was up doing my soundcheck. I’m such a theater person that I don’t like to do soundchecks in front of audiences because I feel like it’s breaking the curtain. Part of the illusion of what we do is the anticipation about [the performance] and what your look is going to be and things like that. So, I usually don’t enjoy the whole soundcheck aspect of shows. But on this particular day, there was a family who showed up early, just to hope to see the soundcheck. They had a little girl in a stroller, holding a Pride flag. I almost started crying in the middle of my soundcheck because this is what progress looks like: kids being raised to understand that Pride is for everyone, no matter where on the rainbow spectrum they may fall. And, to me, that was just so beautiful.
Liam P. Mayclem: What is San Francisco to you?
Todrick Hall: The first thing that comes to mind when I hear San Francisco is freedom. I’ve never seen a gay community so open and so nonjudgmental. I feel like there’s so much love in San Francisco, and every time I come there, I feel so showered with love. My dad lives in the San Jose area and he’s in San Francisco a lot. So, it’s fun for me because I had a very troublesome relationship with my dad growing up. Now when I come to San Francisco, I always share a story with the audience of how far we’ve come. As a gay Black man, being out was difficult, a lot of religious issues and prejudice. Me and Dad are good now.
Liam P. Mayclem: For your “last supper” on Earth you can have two guests—from the past or present—but you also have to choose between RuPaul & Taylor Swift (two people Todrick has worked with & adores).
Todrick Hall: Okay, so I have to choose between RuPaul and Taylor Swift? I think I would take the dinner date with RuPaul. I love, love, love RuPaul. He is like my fairy Godmother and it has been like a dream come true to be around him. Every single second that I was in the room with that man I would soak up his energy. He means the world to me. The two other people that I would have there would be Judy Garland, because she’s Dorothy, and probably Whitney Houston, along with my fairy Godmother RuPaul. We’d have a lovely lunch. She’d love meeting Judy and being with Whitney. Fun!
Todrick Hall
https://www.todrickhall.com
Sonoma Pride
https://www.sonomacountypride.org
Emmy Award-winning radio and television personality Liam Mayclem is regularly featured on KPIX as well as KCBS, where he is the popular Foodie Chap. Born in London, Mayclem is now at home in the Bay Area, where he lives with his husband, photographer Rick Camargo. For more information: https://www.bookliam.com/
Sonoma County Pride 2021 includes a month packed with both in-person and virtual events. Here are just some of the highlights:
June 1 @ 11 am, Rosenberg Building in Santa Rosa
Sonoma County Pride Flag Raising
Come out (or join via Facebook Live) as Sonoma County Pride kicks off Pride Month by raising the Pride Flag on top of the Rosenberg Building at the corner of Mendocino Avenue & 4th Street in Santa Rosa.
A little history: The pride flag was first introduced in 1978 by Gilbert Baker (1951–2017). He was approached by the San Francisco Pride committee to come up with a new symbol to represent their fight for equal rights. After much deliberation, he decided on a rainbow, for its representation of diversity and of acceptance. Since then, the rainbow flag has become an internationally recognizable symbol for the gay rights movement. It is associated with love, tolerance, and peace.
https://tinyurl.com/35hbxb9u
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 @ 5:30 pm–7:30 pm, Virtual
Friends of Dorothy Community Conversations
Sonoma County Pride & Graton Resort & Casino Presents “Friends of Dorothy” Community Conversations. Each week throughout Pride month they will engage with you on trending topics facing the LGBTQI community.
Zoom Format:
5:30 pm–6 pm Social/Meet & Greet
6 pm–7 pm Guest Presenter
7 pm–7:30 pm Q&A/Audience Discussion
Weekly Topics:
June 2 – Presentation by Sonoma County LGBTQIA+ Coalition
Announcement of LGBTQIA+ Needs Assessment Survey
Introductions, Purpose, and Recent Work of Coalition
Mission: This coalition exists to advocate on behalf of all LGBTQ people in Sonoma County by coordinating services and using an intersectional approach to advocacy.
June 9 – Support & Resources for Caregivers
Group activity for LGBTQIA+ caregivers, facilitated by Rhiannon Coxon, MPA
June 10 – Chosen Families, Hosted by North Bay LGBTQI Families
June 23 – Body Dysmorphia Discussion
Presentation on body dysmorphia and its effect on the LGBTQI community. Four individuals will share their personal experiences.
June 30 – Emergency Preparedness
Presentation & Resources from the Sonoma County Fire District facilitated by Cindi Foreman, Fire Marshall
All “Friends of Dorothy” Community Conversations Zoom events are free to register!
Once you have registered, you will be sent a weekly email with the Zoom information for the workshop.
https://tinyurl.com/3ehmxtrz
June 5 @ 11 am–2 pm, Graton Resort & Casino
Beyond the Rainbow Drive-Thru Parade
Sonoma County Pride is pleased to welcome back Graton Resort & Casino as Annual Title Sponsor of this year’s Pride celebrations, and host of this year’s unique re-imagined “Beyond the Rainbow Drive Through Parade” on Saturday, June 5! A cornerstone of this year’s month of celebration, the Parade acknowledges and respects the need for COVID-19 safety and social distancing by re-imagining the event as a drive-through experience. Organizations and contingents will occupy defined spaces for their floats and celebrants, allowing attendees to drive through to experience the excitement and community of Pride in this unique, safe manner. A streaming soundtrack will be available to guide and entertain parade-goers as they make their way through the space.
There is no admission fee, but a suggested donation of $5 at the gate, or a donation of your choice, would be appreciated. Please register in advance for a time slot for the parade to help with traffic flow and safety. https://tinyurl.com/j7h4tz6t
June 6 @ 11 am–3 pm, Tudor Rose English Tea Room in Santa Rosa
‘Tea and Shade’ Drag High Tea
Grab your ruby slippers and let’s go “Beyond the Rainbow!” Santa Rosa GayDar & Tudor Rose English Tea Room present “Tea & Shade” Drag High Tea with host Luis Manzo Milla Sokavitch and her girls Vicodonia Knightingale & Charity Kase as they spill the tea and toss out the shade with an afternoon of drag, high tea & fun in downtown Santa Rosa!
Proceeds from Bottomless Mimosas & Unlimited Champagne will benefit Sonoma County Pride 2021.
Space is limited & reservations are required.
$65 per guest and suitable for all ages!
https://tinyurl.com/vsp4zxsm
June 10–13,
OutWatch Film Festival @ Virtual
OutWatch is the Wine Country’s LGBTQI film festival. Each year, it brings to Sonoma County outstanding films that explore the vast diversity of our community and celebrate our unique history. For 2021, the festival will be a four-day virtual event featuring five new documentaries:
A Sexplanation – From neuroscience labs to church pews, this documentary features provocative conversations with psychologists, sex researchers, and even a Jesuit priest. With humor and grit, the filmmaker takes audiences on his playful, personal journey from shame-filled past to a happier, healthier future. A special conversation with the filmmakers will follow the screening of the film.
Girlsboysmix – Nine-year-old Wen Long candidly describes their experience growing up intersex. Doctors regularly assign intersex newborns a gender birth, but Wen’s parents felt their child should make that decision. Wen just wants to be Wen and isn’t interested in choosing a gender identity.
Julia Scotti: Funny That Way – In the 1980s, comic Rick Scotti was appearing in clubs across the country, but he wasn’t being his authentic self. Rick’s awakening at 47 led to gender reassignment surgery. Most everyone turned away—former wives, friends, comedy world buddies, and (most painfully) children. A decade after transitioning, Julia Scotti began her journey back to the career she loves.
Unforgivable – Geovany was a ruthless hitman for the 18th Street gang now serving his sentence in an isolation cell in El Salvador. In prison, he withdrew from the gang and joined an Evangelical church that lavished God’s forgiveness on him. However, there is a sin that is not forgivable for either the gang or the church: being gay.
Kapaemahu – Long ago, four Two-spirit individuals brought the healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii. Beloved by the people for their miraculous cures, they imbued four boulders with their powers. They still stand on Waikiki Beach, but the true story behind them has been hidden. Narrated in an ancient Hawaiian dialect, this powerful legend comes to life in gorgeous animation.
5-Film Panel Bundle is $50; VIP All Festival Pass is $100. You can also purchase individual tickets for $12.
https://www.outwatchfilmfest.org/
June 19 @ 7:45 pm start time (dinner followed by movie), Sally Tomatoes in Rohnert Park
Wizard of Oz Sing-Along with Jan Wahl
Grab your ruby slippers and click your heels three times to transport yourself to Sonoma County Pride’s “Behind the Curtain” Dinner & Wizard of Oz Sing-Along! Sally Tomatoes will be transformed into a magical wonderland, and you are invited to come to watch this classic movie musical with all the words to the songs displayed on the screen for you and your friends to sing along!
Follow the Yellow Brick Road and sing along with Dorothy, Auntie Em, Toto, The Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and the rest appearing on the big screen as they make their way to Oz. Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be San Francisco Bay Times columnist Jan Wahl! Two-time Emmy Award winner, television and radio broadcaster, film critic, and Hollywood historian, Jan loves living in Emerald City with all of us.
She will lead the crowd through the evening’s audience participation activities, which will include a Wizard of Oz trivia and costume contest. The best part of the evening will be singing along with Dorothy and hissing at the Wicked Witch, while you watch the 1939 Academy Award-winning film, subtitled with words to such familiar tunes as “Over the Rainbow,” “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead!” “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” “The Lollipop Guild,” and “We’re Off to See the Wizard.” Join in community while being transported to the magical land of Oz.
https://tinyurl.com/sffez42
Published on May 20, 202
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