During the week of San Francisco Pride, I received an email invitation to a Pride Reception by Vice President Kamala Harris at her residence. To say I was surprised would be a great understatement. Indeed, I do know Kamala Harris and I was involved in her campaigns for San Francisco District Attorney, California Attorney General, U.S. Senator, and Vice President, and I happily attended each of her victory parties at Delancey Street, but I am sure many others did more. We have run into each other at many events over the years and she has been in my home for social occasions.
But, to be honest, I was so surprised that I called my good friend Mark Leno, asking if he knew anything about this event and why I might have made the guest list. Gentleman and friend that he is, he said, “Donna, your modesty is showing.” Thank you, Mark. So, I made some fast phone calls, carefully covering some local commitments, most notably the Comcast screening of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, (read all about it elsewhere in this issue), cobbled together the funds to finance the trip, and made my reservations for Washington, D.C.
Of course, I had myriad questions about the details of the event and was unsure how to get answers with so little time to prepare. The reception was being co-hosted by GLAAD; maybe that was my connection, since I had co-chaired three GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco many years ago. How many people are going? What is the program of the event? What does “smart casual” mean? And most importantly, will drag be welcomed? Accepting the invitation required answering a list of security questions with clear warnings that the personal identification used must match perfectly with the guest invited. Within a few days, the Social Secretary for the Vice President had answered my questions and quelled my fears. “Arriving in your drag persona is not an issue at all,” she wrote. Now, I could pack for the trip.
As I prepared, I didn’t make a very public announcement about my invitation, not wanting to upset any who might not be invited or be unable to attend. I waited until I was in D.C. before posting it on Facebook, in the hope that friends who were also there might reach out. Something about arriving at the heavily guarded residence of the Vice President by myself seemed quite daunting. I was amazed at the many comments on my post, congratulating me on this honor and declaring me to be a great representative of our city.
And if there was anything on my mind before going, it was that I would symbolically take our entire community with me. One of my few regrets was having to explain that this particular invitation did not include any plus one. I’ve had the pleasure of bringing along so many wonderful friends to so many events, truly sharing the experiences with them; but this was a solo trip and breaking that news to Michael Loftis, Richard Sablatura, Bob Brunson, Brian Benamati, and so many others was not an easy task.
I arrived in D.C. the day before the reception scheduled for Wednesday, June 28, giving me time to settle into the Dupont Circle Hotel. Remarkably, I identified no one else I knew who had been invited or was attending. In preparation, I carefully reviewed the email invitation and answers to my questions and discovered an unread email from that day! I was requested to arrive a bit earlier and to enter through a slightly different entrance as part of a VIP group who would enjoy individual one-on-ones with the Vice President and Second Gentleman inside the residence, while the main event began around the pool outside.
How could there be anything more special than simply attending? Now, I would be welcomed inside their home, have a personal moment with the hosts, and get an official photo of my visit. Suddenly, I was glad that I had packed three different outfits so that I would have options. The only clue I had about what to wear was that phrase “smart casual” on the invitation. My classic St. John suit seemed too buttoned up and probably too warm. The black cocktail dress was too dressy and serious. I would wear the short red summer dress with lace shoulders and sleeves with simple pearls.
That night reminded me of so many other nights when I have questioned my right to be attending an event. When you do drag as much as I do, the process becomes fairly routine, but in this case every glance in the mirror threw back a question at me. Why me? Would I fit in? Was it too late to turn back? That last question was only fleeting, but climbing into an Uber all by myself and giving the driver the address of the Naval Observatory—which is the official home of the Vice President of the United States—was a unique experience.
After a short drive, we pulled up to a tree-covered estate with Secret Service everywhere and a line of colorfully dressed people snaking down the street. A little uncertain, especially about the most recent request to arrive early and take a different entrance, I exited the car cautiously. Within seconds, a guardian angel appeared; Matthew Rothschild, a friend from San Francisco, dressed in the perfect pastel seersucker suit, took me under his wing. We quickly cleared security, gained our identifying bracelets, and passed through the wrought iron gate, kindly assisted by friendly Vice-Presidential staff.
We followed a wandering path up to the main house and entered what looked like a side door down a couple of hallways and into a rather small reception room where wine and iced water were being served in new glassware, purchased especially for the occasion, in rainbow colors. There, I began to see some others I knew, including Susan Leal & Susan Hirsch, Santa Clara Assemblymember Evan Low, Russell Roybal, Robert Camacho, some GLAAD Board members, and the amazing Manny Yekutiel.
Matthew generously introduced me to several others familiar to him. At some point, we were guided into a loose line and directed towards a door where the official photo would be taken. As we had entered the residence, we were given an index-sized card with our names and a brief description, which we would then hand to the person who announced us for the photo moment. With little time to check my lips or hair, I heard, “Donna Sachet, singer, fundraiser, activist.” We were surrounded by maybe a dozen staffers and suddenly standing next to the Vice President and Second Gentleman. For a moment, the gravity of the situation disappeared as I gave Kamala a quick hug, thanked her for the invitation, and chatted with her like an old girlfriend. On cue, we turned to the official photographer and we were captured on film. As I left her, I thanked her again, awkwardly saying I didn’t know how I got on the guest list, and she said very calmly, “I put you on the list.” Imagine.
We were ushered through a different door into a waiting room where I admit having to sit down for a second to gather my wits. An aide thanked us and handed us each a commemorative fan bearing the seal of the Vice President and her autograph on a field of rainbow colors. Then another door opened and we were in the yard headed to the poolside gathering. About 300 guests milled around the pool as waiters passed hors d’oeuvres and bartenders served refreshing gin cocktails. What a diverse group from the LGBTQ+ Community it was, including familiar faces like White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Bobby Berk of Queer Eye, Sandy Stier & Kris Perry, Admiral Rachel L. Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health & Human Services, in uniform, and Ariana DeBose.
Conversation was animated, knowing glances of recognition abounded, and the program began. Sasha Colby, winner of last season’s RuPaul’s Drag Race, emceed and a handful of speakers addressed the crowd, including GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis, young student Sam Charney, and Douglas Emhoff, who playfully introduced himself as the First Second Gentleman. (Think about it.) Then followed a crowd-pleasing song delivered by Alex Newell. Finally, Vice President Kamala Harris took the microphone and spoke as I have heard her speak so many times, genuinely, courageously, and personally. You can easily imagine the content, but suffice it to say, her theme was that we have work ahead of us, but we are a resilient, creative group and Pride is patriotism. The assemblage was ecstatic! With the formal program over, she and her husband greeted a few and gradually disappeared into their home. Conversations became even more animated, many contacts were made, and a happy crowd began to disperse. As the sunset gleamed through tree branches, the pool and its surrounding patio lit up, and the night of so much preparation came to a close.
Some will read this account with amusement at my penchant for drama and childish entrancement with celebrity, but it is my intention to share my feelings and the actual experience that this event was. In the absence of many other San Franciscans, I truly felt like a chosen emissary, reuniting with a friend, but also there to demonstrate San Francisco’s support and encouragement. If you are reading this, you were there with me in the nation’s Capital.
We’ve all been places that amazed us, met people who thrilled us, and experienced things we might never have conceived, but Kamala Harris has always made me feel at ease, talking directly with me, often with humor and personal vulnerability. She has led a life of remarkable achievement and I feel like I have shared some part of that journey. To be included in this very special Pride Reception was a significant and greatly appreciated gesture and she welcomed me into her home and into her tremendously elevated position with warmth and graciousness. I will cherish the evening of June 28, 2023, for a very long time. Thank you, Kamala!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
Donna Sachet’s beloved Sunday’s a Drag will return, for the first time since 2020, to Sundays in August (Aug. 6, 13, 20 and 27) at a new location for the popular brunch & show:
Club Fugazi
678 Green Street
http://www.clubfugazisf.com
Cover Story
Published on July 12, 2023
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