History was made at the September 30, 2022, Divas & Drinks @ The Academy. In attendance were Jeopardy! champions Amy Schneider and Mattea Roach, marking the first time that these LGBTQ trailblazers and game show stars were together for a queer community fundraiser. What’s more, the event was the first major public outing for Schneider and her wife Genevieve Davis following the announcement that went viral earlier in the week that they had married.
Schneider and Roach will both be contestants in the Jeopardy! “Tournament of Champions” that will be televised starting on Monday, October 31.
Bryan Dahl and Leo Alfaro from the office of Supervisor Matt Dorsey spoke eloquently about Schneider’s achievements as they presented her with a Certificate of Honor. Given the recent announcement of Schneider and Davis’ nuptials, the couple was presented with an engraved vase commemorating the evening, flowers, a cake, and a specialty cocktail by the Bacardí team led by skilled mixologist Vanessa Wright: the Amy & Genevieve Elixir (Grey Goose, ginger-orange syrup, lemon, and ginger beer).
The fundraiser’s beneficiaries—The Transgender Law Center (TLC) and CHEER SF—also made news! After their team of cheerleaders performing spirited, acrobatic routines at the venue, CHEER for Life Foundation board members Brittany Trammell, Carmen Stockberger, Katie Ho, Yuna Yi, and Executive Director Isaac Burrough announced that, during the 2021–2022 season, the Foundation raised $25,000 for TLC. A check was then presented to Tessa Lauren, Jessica Glennon Zukoff, Rufino Aguada, Chris Chavers, and Santos LaRose of the TLC.
It was further announced by the CHEER for Life Foundation board members that a total of $33,750 was raised during the 2021–2022 season, with the additional money going to other organizations including Silicon Valley Pride, the Rainbow Community Center, and the SF AIDS Foundation.
Also attending was marathon champion Cal Calamia and partner Ariel Robbins. Cal was the top nonbinary finisher of the Bay to Breakers. This year marked the first time that organizers of the iconic San Francisco race issued awards in the nonbinary category, thanks to Calamia and Robbins’ activism. On July 24, 2022, Calamia made history yet again by becoming the nonbinary+ division winner of the San Francisco Marathon. At the September fundraiser, both spoke about their nonprofit Too Hot for Hoodies (2H4H) that serves youth beyond the gender binary by providing life-saving resources, education, and celebratory community.
Suzanne Ford, Interim Executive Director of SF Pride, spoke about how the organization is already ramping up for Pride 2023 in the city. She additionally presented an item for the raffle that took place during the fundraiser that also included a live auction and the sale of Halloween “eggs” with mystery prizes announced inside of them. Deftly leading both the raffle and live auction was emcee Donna Sachet, who also entertained guests during the well-attended, sold-out event.
Sachet and DJ Rockaway presented by Olivia Travel hosted a game show-themed Name That Tune that pitted Team CHEER SF versus Team Bank of the West. Read Sachet’s “Chronicles” in this issue to see who won! Both teams played well during the lighthearted competition that, in addition to game show tunes, included songs from other popular classic TV shows.
Guests could not only sip the Amy & Genevieve Elixir, but also the TLC Martini (which many ordered with Bombay Sapphire and “extra dirty,” as recommended by a TLC member), and the CHEER SF Punch (Bacardí rum, St. Germain, pineapple, and orange juice). Divas & Drinks food sponsor Extreme Pizza provided a variety of savories and sweets for the evening that ended with guests, such as members of the San Francisco Dykes on Bikesâ, hitting the dance floor.
Special thanks to San Francisco Bay Times volunteer coordinator Juan Davila, Nate Bourg and Paul Miller of The Academy plus their very hardworking team, Beth Schnitzer of SpritzSF, and to all who made the evening such a success. The event received coverage by ABC7 News. Watch for that clip this month at the Bay Times YouTube channel and website.
Please join us for the next Divas & Drinks @ The Academy on October 27—just a few days before Halloween—featuring Frameline and a tribute to our own storied film critic, Jan Wahl, who will be dishing with Sister Roma and other special guests. Guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite film star and/or, in honor of Wahl, to wear their favorite hat.
Divas & Drinks
Published on October 6, 2022
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