By Donna Sachet –
Our efforts to attend as many annual galas as possible continued with Rights, Resilience, Revelry!, the AIDS Legal Referral Panel’s (ALRP) 42nd annual reception, with Ralph Hibbs as charming escort. For several years, the Julia Morgan Ballroom provided an elegant setting for this event, but, this year, ALRP really ramped up with one of our favorite entertainers as fabulous guest emcee, Varla Jean Merman, at The Grand, formerly the famous Trocadero. One could easily envision the iconic Sylvester magically emerging from the dizzying lighting onto that mirrored stage, surrounded by a dancing throng! And this was a large, supportive crowd, enthusiastically bidding during the live and silent auction, resulting in a record-breaking result of over $300,000 raised for ALRP’s life-changing work. Attorney David Tsai won the Clint Hockenberry Award and actor and activist George Takei received the Bill Hirsch Award, presented by our friend and senior statesman Mark Leno. Who knew that George and Mark have been friends for years? We applaud ALRP for trying some new things during this thoroughly delightful evening and we thank Executive Director Matt Foreman for making sure we were there.
Congratulations to the team at Beaux on its twelfth anniversary, celebrated in style last Sunday, October 26, with great spirit and in great numbers! Beaux has become the go-to bar for drag, dancing, and special events, as the long line out front often demonstrates.
Tuesday, October 28, was a special day for the Rainbow Honor Walk (RHW) with the formal unveiling ceremony for the bronze plaque for civil rights champion Roger Casement. This is a name that deserves your attention and a bit of research. The Irish American community really rallied around this event, attended by Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond, Consul General of Ireland to San Francisco Michael Smith, Mayor Daniel Lurie, members of the Board of Directors of RHW, Executive Director of the GLBT Historical Society Roberto Ordeñana, Castro Country Club Executive Director Billy Lemon, and a crowd of Castro residents. Even the contractor who installed this plaque is Irish; Mark Gorman, Grand Marshal of the Irish American Parade this year, donated the services of his company. After the unveiling, a lively reception followed at Bar 49 on Market Street. It has been some time since RHW President Emeritus David Perry unveiled the original set of memorial plaques and additional plaques appeared up and down Market Street, but watch the neighborhood sidewalks for new additions in the coming weeks, including ones for Bob Ross, Del Martin, Gilbert Baker, Marsha P. Johnson, and Mario Mieli.
Not content to attend a single event on a Tuesday night, we then headed to Oasis for Performance With Purpose: Right to Remain, a fundraiser for the LGBT Asylum Project, produced by Mr. Golden Gate 2025 Mirac L and hosted by Sister Roma and Xochitll. Now, we’ve seen more than our share of drag shows, but this cast all brought their A-game, resulting in an extraordinary display of creativity, spectacle, and talent! Among the amazing cast were Melanie Sparks, Linda Summers, Saiyohni Gray, Jackie Juarez, Juannina Million, Averaii Chanel, Inna Crisis, and Bobby Friday, each presenting sharp performances with special effects and video enhancements, a show worthy of recognition. At last report, over $11,000 was raised in a couple of hours!
Then, we were off to Palm Springs for International Imperial Court celebrations on the 60th anniversary of this incredible organization. What other charitable LGBTQ+ organization has been active for 60 years and continues to produce popular events, develop tomorrow’s leadership, and raise much-needed money for worthy causes? Many thanks to my dear friend Lenny Broberg for hosting me in his lovely Palm Desert home. If you find yourself in Palm Springs soon, don’t miss the display at the Welwood Murray Memorial Library, featuring memorabilia of Our Beloved Founder José Sarria and highlights from the International Imperial Court’s fabulous 60-year history.
Friday, November 7
The Legends Awards: Cleve Jones
Hosted by Donna Sachet Awards to Suzanne Ford,
Alex U. Inn, and Sara Yergovich & Danielle Thoe
Performances, awards, tributes Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market Street Post-event reception at
The Academy SF
2166 Market Street 6 pm $20 & up
www.academy-sf.com
Saturday, November 8
Empress Marlena’s Imperial State Funeral
The Imperial Court
of San Francisco
bids farewell to Marlena
the Magnificent
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1111 O’Farrell Street Noon Reception in Hayes Valley’s Patricia’s Green afterwards
www.imperialcouncilsf.org
Sunday, November 9
Ruby Red Munro’s Show
Benefits Mama G’s Helps to feed those in need
Beaux, 2344 Market Street
5–8 pm Free!
www.beauxsf.com
Saturday, November 15
Winter Onesies Party
Shenanigans galore
Lookout
3600 16th Street
9 pm Free!
www.lookoutsf.com
Friday, November 21
Wicked: For Good
Part 2 of the smashingly successful film
Movie theaters only
Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com
Published on November 6, 2025
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