By Donna Sachet—
If you really want to take stock of your friendships, both in quantity and quality, then celebrate your birthday on a Monday night. That’s right! Organizing a birthday celebration is never a small feat, but ask your friends to support a great cause on a Monday night event and you may be surprised who makes the extra effort to get all gussied up for you after a typically busy weekend. Kiki Krunch had no trouble at all filling Midnight Sun on Monday, August 10, 2026, resulting in a lively party, great entertainment, happy bartenders, and a nice sum raised for the San Francisco Community Health Center.
Kiki has held several community titles, including Imperial Crown Princess and Miss GAPA, and she is very visible with her work with the Health Center, so the crowd definitely reflected her contributions. We saw three Empresses and three Emperors in attendance, as well as several GAPA titleholders. In addition, political personalities were coming out of the woodwork, including US Congressional candidate Connie Chan, SF City Supervisor candidate Michael Nguyen/Juicy Liu, and Mayor of Daly City Juslyn Manalo.The drag show entertainment was top notch with eye-popping performances by Ehra Amaya, Fia Monay Krunch, Nikita Vega, and an incredibly costumed Lady Gaga look-alike, Miss GAPA 2025 Quinn Amann Krunch. Kiki knows how to celebrate her birthday!
We were honored to be at Casement’s bar in the Mission for A Rainbow Bridge: Celebrating Pride from San Francisco to Cork, the official send-off of Gilbert’s Baker’s original rainbow flag from San Francisco to Cork, Ireland. The LGBT Historical Society partnered with the Irish Consulate on this first-ever loan and exhibit as part of San Francisco’s Sister Cityprogram. As frequent readers of this column will remember, the Rainbow Honor Walk (RHW) had worked with the Irish Consulate on Roger Casement’s plaque, now installed on Castro Street, so many familiar faces were in the crowd, including Bill Lipsky, Charlotte Ruffner, Elizabeth Creely, Maire P. Walsh, Laura Thomas, Peggy Sue, Gerard Koskovich, and David Landis & Sean Dowdall. In a brief program, Vice Consul General Naoise Kenny demonstrated a clear knowledge of the history of the rainbow flag and reminded us that Ireland has a long and dignified history with the LGBTQ+ Community. We can think of no better place to start an international tour for this iconic symbol of our early movement.
Mr. Imperial Leather Matty Zamora hosted Therapy at Lonestar Saloon benefiting Queer LifeSpace and we were there. Matty enlisted the support of the models of the Bare Chest calendar to sell raffle tickets, Jell-O shots, and their own calendars. A small silent auction of unusual items garnered generous bids as attendees mingled, enjoying free pizza and each other. The event ended with a single, but worth-waiting-for and well-tipped drag performance by Pup Lynn. When all was said and done, Matty had raised over $4000 for his beneficiary.
Saturday, August 15, found us first at Twin Peaks for the annual High Tea in honor of José Sarria. Five hat-bedecked Empresses, several supportive Emperors, and a number of other Imperial courtiers attended, toasting Our Beloved Founder at 4 pm. We then headed down the street to Beaux for a monthly show, this time themed Motown Summer Fun and full of appropriate music, instantly recognized and appreciated by all. Reigning Emperor John Brett and Regent Empress Queen Cougar dressed in theme and kept the energy going for a fun afternoon in the Castro.
On August 21 at the Castro Night Market, we celebrated all that is the Castro, most especially Orphan Andy’s, and honored the recently retired owners Dennis Ziebell & Bill Pung. We appeared with them on the 18th Street stage to introduce State Senator Scott Wiener, State Assemblymember Matt Haney, and Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, all with certificates of appreciation in hand. Following them were representative from the Castro Merchants, Castro Community Benefit District, and the Bay Times. Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas presented Dennis and Bill with flowers and we then serenaded them with “It Had to Be You,”lyrics slightly adjusted for the moment. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, led by the tireless Sister Roma, paraded up to Orphan Andy’s to officially saint Dennis and Bill after nearly 50 years of feeding the community with joy and heart. What an evening!
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
Saturday, August 29
Serenade: Unity in Song
A live music cabaret with
Imperial Court members
Live singing and live piano accompaniment
Hosted by Midas M. Munro
Benefits Queer LifeSpace
Beaux, 2344 Market Street
5–8 pm
$11
www.imperialcouncilsf.org
Saturday, Sept. 12
Opening Night of SF Opera
War Memorial Opera House,
301 Van Ness
5 pm
$100 & up
www.sfopera.com
Saturday, September 19
Back to the Future:
The Return of the Gays
Reunion of former titleholders
2026 Pageant
Beaux, 2344 Market Street
5–8 pm
www.imperialcouncilsf.org
Donna’s Chronicles
Published on August 27, 2026
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