By Donna Sachet–
Consider the Castro Farmers’ Market officially open, 4–7 pm every Wednesday, after we led the ribbon-cutting on April 6, accompanied by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Castro Merchants Association President Masood Samerie, Sister Jezabelle of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and Reigning Emperor Brent Daddy Munro. We love this campy ceremony welcoming fresh produce back to the corner of Market and Noe Streets and we are honored to have participated in the ribbon-cutting for 12 years.
Afterwards, the Emperor escorted us down the block to The Academy for an evening with Jim Obergefell, lead litigant in the landmark Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, who is now running for a seat in the Ohio legislature. Since winning that case, Jim co-founded Equality Vine, a collaborative project with various wineries, dedicating part of their proceeds to LGBTQ+ civil rights causes. A small, but enthusiastic crowd, led by Michael Volpatt of Big Bottom Market in Guerneville, showed support for Jim’s campaign for public office with applause and financial contributions.
If you are noticing this column covers multiple events in a single day, you are right! Not only are we witnessing an increasing number of events returning to live and in-person settings, but we find ourselves stretched to cover several in a single day, reminiscent of pre-COVID days. Last Saturday was an example, starting with the retirement party at Don Ramon’s for SF Police Lieutenant Lisa Frazer. She packed the place with fellow police officers, family and friends, and community representatives, certainly a tribute to her decades of service and personal commitment making the city a better place for all. As the cake was cut, camera flashes lit the room and tears fell all around.
From there, we dashed over to City View at The Metreon for the SF LGBT Community Center’s Soirée, co-hosted by Honey Mahogany and Sister Roma, which started with a seated dinner, live auction, and speeches, followed by a free-flowing cocktail party with entertainment curated by Juanita MORE! Having served on their Board of Directors years ago, we have a special place in our heart for The Center and the evening was a reunion with many friends. For many, dancing lasted into the night.
The next day was Imperial Investiture, Genesis: Dawn of the Ethereal Empire, of the new Emperor Brent Daddy Munro & Empress Ehra Amaya at The Midway. It was a well-produced event with great entertainment, comfortable ambiance, tempting silent auction, and all the familiar traditions of this event.At the risk of sounding like Lady Whistledown from a certain television series, we must wonder at the conspicuous absence of so many San Francisco Emperors and Empresses. While they are the first to expect regal recognition after their own reigns, why don’t they support the ongoing events of the Imperial Court that gave them so many opportunities? Come now!
The same night, we enjoyed with Lawrence Helman the SF Gay Men’s Chorus concert Voicing Rising at Davies Symphony Hall. To hear this accomplished chorus of hundreds of talented voices present the music of Andrew Lippa, Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Sondheim, and so many others in this gorgeous setting was an extraordinary experience. Only one concert remains under the helm of retiring Artistic Director Tim Seelig; get your tickets now for Final Words at Davies Symphony Hall, July 13.
As a definitive proof of the resurgence of multiple events, we awoke last Saturday to four commitments! From Joe Mac’s whimsical Easter Bonnet sale at 440 (forty sold in 30 minutes), to John Newmeyer’s birthday party at his lovely Gough Street home (guests from the many facets of his well-lived life), to Krewe de Kinque’s benefit at Midnight Sun (the first in a series of monthly events there), to a casual gathering of Adam Sandel’s friends to celebrate his birthday at Toad Hall, we successfully appeared as scheduled. It seems this two-year hiatus has not ravaged this columnist’s stamina entirely.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence triumphantly returned to Dolores Park for Easter Sunday and their devotees arrived in throngs. The skies were clear, even if the temperature was less than ideal, and the antics on stage, including the legendary Foxy Mary and Hunky Jesus contests, combined with the energy of friends separated for too long, made for a stupendous celebration.
Loyal readers know how much we relish those “only in San Francisco” events, e.g. the Imperial Court’s annual Pilgrimage to Colma, the SF Gay Men’s Chorus Christmas Eve concerts at the Castro Theatre, rainbow flag raising at City Hall, etc. With that in mind, we roused ourselves before dawn on Monday, donned a warm, but fashionable ensemble, and headed to the corner of Kearny and Market Streets for the annual commemoration at Lotta’s Fountain of the April 18, 1906, Earthquake and Fire at 5:18 am. 116 years after this historic tragedy took place, a band of San Franciscans assembled at this spot to remember the lives of those lost and the catastrophic upheaval of our beloved city. This year’s ceremony was dedicated to the late SF Chief of Protocol Charlotte Shultz and Ron Ross,Founder of the San Francisco History Association and Mr. Gay SF 1974 and Imperial Czar of the Golden Gate Empire, awarded in 1976. A beautiful photographic display at Lotta’s Fountain this year acknowledged Ron’s long support of the event.
Speakers included Mayor Willie Brown (who has attended every one of these events since becoming Mayor of the city), Mayor London Breed (showing her lighter side, dressed in period costume and hat and looking fabulous), SF Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson, SF Police Chief Bill Scott, and SF Department of Emergency Management Executive Director Mary Ellen Carroll. Although no survivors of the original event are around to attend as in the past, nearly 75 people joined in the remembrance, some in period costumes, including E. Clampus Vitus’ omnipresent Emperor Joshua Norton, and all joining in the singing of the iconic song “San Francisco.”We caught up with Lee Housekeeper, Scott Seligman, Steve Adams, Debra Walker, Khmera Rouge, and Karen Clopton, Chair of the SF Human Rights Commission. Indeed, we consider the annual commemorative gathering to be a rite of passage for any true San Franciscan. We encourage you to experience this tradition at least once in your life. If we can set the alarm and rise at that unbelievable hour and be presentable, anyone can do so.
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 April 21, 2022
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