By Kippy Marks—
Some champions lead with volume. Others lead with velocity. But Patrick Gallineaux leads with presence—steady, intentional, and deeply rooted in love for his community. The fifteenth individual to be highlighted in this column, Patrik embodies the PMLE (Practice Makes Love Easy) truth that love is not a theory; it is a practice shaped by consistency, compassion, and the courage to show up even when no one is watching.
His impact stretches across decades of LGBTQ+ cultural preservation, nightlife stewardship, and community advocacy. He has been a bridgebuilder, a memorykeeper, and a quiet architect of spaces where people feel seen, safe, and celebrated. Whether he is uplifting queer artists, supporting grassroots organizers, or honoring the legacy of those who came before us, Patrik practices love as a form of service—never performative, always purposeful.
He reminds us that love does not have to be loud to be powerful. It can be gentle. It can be steady. It can be the quiet hand that keeps the door open for the next generation. His work reflects the PMLE philosophy at its core: when we practice love intentionally, we make it easier for others to practice it too.
Here we honor, not just what he has done, but also who he has always been—a custodian of culture, a champion of connection, and a living example of love in motion.
Kippy Marks: How long have you been involved with the practicing of PMLE values in your work?
Patrik Gallineaux: I believe [that I have done this] for most of my life. I come from a long line of teachers of academia and the arts at all levels, from working with the specially abled to pre-school through higher education (my mother had me onstage at the age of 5, and owns a dance studio in Western New York today, still teaching at 83!). I grew up witnessing what it means to have patience and compassion for others, plus the joy of uplifting via the arts, from a young age.
I remember at the age of 12 being in a locker room in junior high with dozens of boys yelling at me with a gym teacher trying to rip my clothes off because I refused to disrobe publicly. I always used a bathroom stall. I was holding onto a steel pole with both hands as tightly as I could with my eyes closed, and I heard a voice say, “Hold on, Patrik. Who you are is correct. Just hold on.” I believe that was the voice of our universal higher power that can be heard when one has a sense of compassion and love for others from a young age.
I ended up being sent to the school psychiatrist as well as the school principal to determine what was wrong with me, and, in fact, I was completely befuddled as to what was wrong with all these adults around me. Ultimately, while my father did not yet have the language to necessarily understand LGBTQ+ oppression, in his teacherly way he advised me to pen a letter to a liberal state senator about what was happening … and I did. About 3 weeks later, I was called into the principal’s office and led to an old, seldom-used locker room that was mine alone for the rest of that school year. Not every kid is so blessed as to hear the voice I did (and have continued to hear, especially during challenging times, throughout my life), and this is the foundation of what I know as a universal love that has uplifted me and I try my hardest through my work to impart to others.
Kippy Marks: Who or what motivated you to become the community activist you are today?
Patrik Gallineaux: Honestly, it is my San Francisco journey that sparked my initial awareness of true activism. Like so many of us, we spend immense energy in our lives searching for our community and safe spaces after growing up in a world telling us we don’t belong … and San Francisco is a beacon that needed to come into my life. But the city tests one along the way, as was no exception for me, experiencing at one point homelessness and struggle through which I persevered as I navigated work within ballroom dance and the arts.
Having had the chance to be a small part of the first same-gender ballroom dance competition in North America, called April Follies, when I first moved in 2003 (The National Dance Council of America had banned same-gender couples in sanctioned competitive events until 2019) was a start to this. As I navigated the next few years twirling on ballroom dance studio floors by day and dance clubs at night, I started to become more aware of those around who were keeping our community strong and safe, such as Donna Sachet, one of my role models to this day; Sister Roma; and many more including bartenders, promoters, activists like Gary Virginia, musicians like Gypsy Love and so many drag warriors. One day, a remarkable 72-year-old man in leather pants, vest, and hat named Reverend Jim Johnson walked into my tap class at the amazing former Metronome Ballroom in Potrero Hill and student became the teacher over the next years as I learned about the power of manifestation (“what you see is what will be”).
I developed a sense of wanting to use the lessons and skills San Francisco had given me to do more for my community. One day, at the end of 2008, I closed my eyes and spoke to that universal voice, asking to be given the guidance to do great work for my LGBTQ+ community, to let that work involve travel globally, and for these wished to be enabled by some sort of work vehicle. And, almost immediately, I entered into a true “Golden Magic Zone” of manifestation, which resulted in creating Dancing With the Drag Stars, a 3-year live DWTS spin-off at Cheryl Burke Dance Studio, as a way to fuse ballroom dance and nightlife while showcasing the immense talents of our drag + ballroom communities. A new show called RuPaul’s Drag Race went on the air at the same time, and this helped gain attention of a couple of production companies in Los Angeles that began filming to pitch as a potential new reality show.
As opportunities continued to come my way, I had to make a hard decision in 2010 as to which door to choose, and ultimately I chose the one that was the most outside of my comfort zone and hardest for me personally: a role that would become Global LGBTQ+ Ambassador for a well-known company—but it was clearly the one that would give me the biggest guarantee to do work for our community far beyond my San Francisco dance floor bubble of safety as I had wished for not that long beforehand.
Over the next 16 years, I took that title more seriously than anyone likely expected, always putting our community first, believing that is how one builds brands. I was able to use budgets to employ our nightlife, drag, and artistic communities wherever possible, and to get to connect with and support nonprofits and organizations locally and around the world such as The Richmond-Ermet Aid Foundation, The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, and The Harvey Milk Foundation (Harvey’s nephew Stuart remains a role model and friend to this day).
I was able to create multi-national programs (always modeled on national musical theatre tours) uplifting out LGBTQ+ bartenders, community members, and, of course, our drag and trans communities. Creating Safe Spaces for others has become such a personal mission to me, whether for one night or long-term. I credit all those in the Bay Area who have inspired and supported my journey with any good I have been able to do, with gratitude of PMLE throughout my life for reasons mentioned further previously. This permitted me to endure the worst of corporate culture—and sometimes even my own community—while learning the skills necessary to act almost as something as an “inside activist,” never losing my sense of true self and always looking out for us first. I believe that, when a city like San Francisco gives one their wings, it is one’s duty to take them and fly—and to remain as unapologetically glittery and outspoken at every opportunity, whether onstage, in a boardroom, or within the media. Visibility is crucial for our activism, and to do so with joy is sometimes one of the greatest acts of defiance.
Kippy Marks: How old were you when you made that decision?
Patrik Gallineaux: Nice try, Kippy! Now, that would be revealing my true age, wouldn’t it LOL. But let’s just say that, in my 30s, I found a sense of self that today many likely find much sooner; I finally experienced a powerful sense of belonging and coming into my own power thanks to my San Francisco experience.
Kippy Marks: What advice would you give to others on how to practice love on the daily?
Patrik Gallineaux: Cowardice is contagious, but so is courage. That one thought, word, action you do in a day that might seem small can have a tremendous ripple effect for the world; never underestimate your power. Know that adversity can often be a gift; get knocked down nine times, stand up 10. The lessons learned gift empathy to be able to connect better to help others and build an inner strength able to help manifest greater joy in life by contrast.
And, it is none of your business what anyone else says about you!
Kippy Marks: If you were granted two universal wishes, what would you wish for?
Patrik Gallineaux: 1 – That every person in the United States (and all countries, really), especially those who harbor fear of the “other” and have never left their area of birth, be empowered (required) to travel to another global destination at least once in their early lives, where they might get to experience the beauty and wonder of a foreign culture and understand that we are all just passengers on this big blue ball together. 2 – For every person who disparages and tries to harm our trans community to instantly be able to see the error of their ways and instead clearly know the resilience, magic, and beauty that is this remarkable community around the world.
Kippy Marks: Please share any current practices that our readers may find useful, and update us on what you are doing now.
Patrik Gallineaux: A practice I have learned is that one should remember that they are their own brand no matter who they work for. Recently, my 16-year company role as Global LGBTQ+ Ambassador for a major brand came to an end, but I have decided I will forever retain the title of “Global LGBTQ+ Ambassador” for our community and continue to use all I have learned to advance equality and opportunity with sparkle and joy.
I am currently serving as PR/Media Director (plus stage host and Captain of Parade Judges) for amazing Miami Beach Pride, which I have worked with since about 2016 in one capacity or another and am excited for many independent upcoming projects. I will be back in California at the end of this month to emcee a ballroom dance competition called Dance Stars Festival in San Jose (where April Follies actually began), and in Key West mid-May to host iconic Island House Key West’s official 50-year anniversary celebration weekend.
June 7 I am emceeing a brand-new Tony Awards Extravaganza at the glorious new Gray Box Theater in Wilton Manors, Florida, and then in New York City for Pride June 28 to co-produce and emcee a block party stage for the Gay Officers Action League and Boxers NYC, something I have collaborated on annually since 2019 with another one of your PMLE interviewees Leanne Borghesi, who herself has been a major part of my journey, along with her amazing wife Sharon.
Later this year, I plan to help bring back and host year 2 of If the Shoe Fits new national drag touring competition to find the new “Queen of New Year’s Eve” who will be the star of the iconic Key West Drag Queen High Heel Shoe Drop (I would love to bring this to San Francisco). I am working to bring back my website from years ago (www.patrikpresents.com), and, above all, will keep on dancing.
Dubbed San Francisco’s “King of Strings”, Kippy Marks is a spirited solo entertainer whose shows are permeated with an infectious joy. His distinctive sound arises from his heart, through his 1822 violin consort, Izabella. Marks’ rare talent, broad smile, and radiant warmth will brighten any event to create lasting impact. He is also Grand Duke XL of The Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco. He is the first ever elected African-American Grand Duke.
Practice Make Love Easy
Published on April 23, 2026
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