By Donna Sachet–
The recent flurry of exciting events has certainly helped to turn our attention away from gloomy national news and back to the powerful and inspiring local picture. Our community is vibrant and resilient and there’s no turning back!
We joined Juanita MORE!’s and Alex U. Inn’s People’s Rally & March on Saturday, April 12, filling Justin Herman Plaza with a beautiful spectrum of our LGBTQ+ Community and allies. We don’t often actively participate in such public gatherings, wondering whether they really have any substantive impact, but sometimes a sense of frustration and powerlessness impels us to action. We saw so many friends who must be feeling similar emotions and we were encouraged by a group of speakers, most notably former Supervisor Aaron Peskin and Director of Transgender Initiatives Honey Mahogany. We applaud those who put in the hard work to organize such a massive display of outrage and encourage all of you to find a way to join this movement of visible opposition to cherished civil liberties.
Friday morning, April 18, 4:30 am: Where were you? We were at Lotta Crabtree’s Fountain, the downtown gathering spot where, 119 years ago, San Francisco was still reeling from the Great Earthquake and Fire and stunned citizens searched for loved ones and surveyed the damage. Yes, we joined the annual commemoration for the 10th time, a truly “only in San Francisco” event. The hour is ungodly, but the ceremony is very special, including a handful of speeches from our elected officials, always including Da Mayor Willie Brown and this year the new Mayor Daniel Lurie, Fire Chief Dean Crispen, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, and Police Chief Bill Scott. This unique event is attended by many in period costume, including Emperor Joshua Norton and Countess Lola Montez, some attending every year and many for the first time, summoning up their heartiest demeanor and taking a moment to remember the tragic loss of life and property and the brave efforts of so many against such implacable odds. This was Donna Ewald Huggins 50th and final year helping to organize the event and she was appropriately honored with flowers and praise. We were pleased to see so many Imperial friends among the crowd, adding our special dramatic flair. And at precisely 5:12 am, like every year, the sirens of multiple fire trucks began to blare, creating an echoing cacophony throughout downtown and causing our little puppy Peanut to howl, bringing this bizarre, but beloved, ceremony to an end.
The rest of our weekend was spent in the always attentive company of Gary Virginia at a series of events small and large. Friday night, we first popped into Lookout to celebrate with their staff and regulars the amazing announcement that this popular bar has lent its support to events raising over 2 million dollars over the past 17 years. That’s what we call a supportive community business.
From there, we dashed to the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero for SF Community Health Center’s Show of Hope Gala. Forget your presumptions about staid and formal galas! Chief Executive Officer Lance Toma makes sure his attendees are swept up in a dizzying setting, amazing crowd, and riveting program. After a lively cocktail hour, emcee ABC7’s Reggie Aqui got things going in the main ballroom festooned with yellow roses and circles of white light. Awards went to Toni Newman of Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements, Code Tenderloin, and the inimitable Juanita MORE! and Mr. David Glamamore. A fast-paced live auction raised significant sums, even more so with the Fund-a-Need, leading to the announcement that the evening had resulted in over half a million dollars raised for SF Community Health Center. Of the hundreds of guests, we were only able to chat personally with a handful, but among them were SF Pride’s Suzanne Ford, Larry Hashbarger, Tita Aida, Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, Cammy Blackstone, LGBT Asylum Project’s Dinora Gonzalez, and Miguel Bustos & Alexander Rivera. Rounding out the night was the crowd-pleasing dynamic vocalist Ada Vox; what a voice and what a delivery!
The following night was Soirée 2025, the LGBT Community Center’s annual gala, another fresh take on such events with delicious food, wines, and cocktails at City View at the Metreon. During the cocktail hour, we were able to socialize with Mayor Daniel Lurie, Mark Leno, Frank Woo, D’Arcy Drollinger, Katya Smirnoff Skye, Horizon’s Roger Doughty, GLBT Historical Society’s Roberto Ordenana, and The Academy’s Nate Bourg. Our hosts were long-time friends David Gin & Gary Nathan with a prominent table full of entertaining guests. People make an event engaging and the right people were on stage with co-emcees Sister Roma and Honey Mahogany, inspiring, energetic, and funny! Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe spoke passionately of the need for ongoing support and announced that, after 22 years, she will be leaving at the end of the year. Her steady and determined leadership will be greatly missed. Michael Tate once again brought his considerable auctioning talents to the event, even doubling the original goal during the Fund-a-Need portion. After dinner, the crowd moved to a dancing area with music and entertainment, curated by Juanita MORE! The crowd spilled out onto the open-air patio with spacious city views.
This very busy weekend wrapped up with Easter Sunday and we found ourselves basking in sparkling sunshine surrounded by thousands of the very people whom some say don’t even exist. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence once again invited our community to commune with them in Dolores Park and we filled it to capacity. Entertainment on and off the stage kept the party going. Festive spring hats and complete outfits were everywhere. There was none of the rude and impatient behavior often associated with such crowds; we saw smiles, hugs, and sharing all around. After soaking up a couple of hours of this annual tradition, we adjourned to 440 to catch up with friends and enjoy Gary Virginia’s witty banter at his Easter party. The Castro remained active well into the night, as the hundreds of park denizens streamed into their favorite watering holes.
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
Friday, April 25
26th annual EQCA Gala Dinner & Awards
The Conservatory at
One Sansome Street
6–10 pm
$250 & up
www.eqca.org
Saturday, April 26
All the Tea: Disco Birthday Party for Donna Sachet
Another year around the sun with the old girl
DJ Sergio Fedasz
Go-go dancers & flaggers
Midnight Sun, 4067 18th Street
5–9 pm
$5
www.midnightsunsf.com
Sunday, April 27
Mimosa: Benefit for Dyke March 2025
Support our Dyke Community, emceed by Alex U. Inn
Celebrating
Betty Sullivan’s Birthday
Singer Nadirah Shakoor
& pianist Dee Spencer
DJ Lady Ryan
Catch French Bistro,
2362 Market Street
Noon–5 pm
$15
www.catchfrenchbistro.com
Donna’s Chronicles
Published on April 24, 2025
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