Donna’s Chronicles, No Satisfaction Parade? – San Francisco Bay Instances
From Donna Sachet–
No Pride Parade? No celebration in the community center? How could we celebrate SF Pride? This community has once again proven that it can! The last week of June coincided with the modified opening of the city after over 14 months of COVID-related restrictions and our LGBTQ + community was ready to celebrate SF Pride!
On the evening of June 23, the Rainbow Honor Walk hosted the second of its Rainbow Reels series, highlighting people who have bronze plaques in their honor on the sidewalks of the Castro neighborhood by having a group at home watch relevant films. The first Rainbow Reels last December focused on Divine with the film I am divine. That evening two films were shown, No Secret Anymore and One Wedding and a Revolution, each offering unique insights into the life of. Offer Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin. Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Barbara Tannenbaum hosted a lively discussion Marcia Gallo, The films were followed by a rapid auction and thank you gifts were sent to donors. All in all, the Rainbow Honor Walk has paid well-deserved attention to Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin, and supportive donors have helped raise funds for future bronze plaques.
Don’t miss the Castro Walgreen Community Windows, now with the Rainbow Honor Walk and a big thank you to the longtime and ongoing donor Allan Baird. Without financial support like his, this project to honor LGBTQ + people could not continue.
The following night, June 24th, the San Francisco Bay Times and The Academy hosted the second Divas & Drinks event, this time live and in person at the Academy. This relatively new private club was founded by Nate Bourg and Paul Miller offers a well-appointed, intimate space for private gatherings, from book club reunions, wine tastings and cocktail parties to larger events like this one designed to highlight the women’s community at Castro. Two teams faced each other in a playful Name That Tune game, moderated by this columnist and with the help of DJ Rockaway, with Team Olivia taking home the award. Every luxurious and comfortable room at the Academy was filled with happy celebrations, suddenly stripped of masks and social distancing, stepping out onto the spacious deck with heated seating areas and fire pit and enjoying nibbles from Noe Valley Bakery, Extreme Pizza and Kokak Chocolates, and mixed cocktails a Bacardi representative Liz Thyken and curated by Bacardi VP Heide Freyer.
The show stopper of the night was Mayor’s appearance London breed! Obviously relaxed and comfortable in this club atmosphere, she stayed long after the official program and enjoyed conversations and cocktails. SF supervisors were also present Rafael Mandelmann, SF Pride Grand Marshals Melonia green, melora green, and Clair Farley, and Dion Lim from ABC-7 news. We met up with a variety of friends including Openhouse founder Dr. Marcy Adelmann, The creators of Pink Triangle Patrick & Hossein Carney, Derek Barnes, SF commissioners Debra Walker and Andrea Shorter, Kate Brown by Dykes on Bikes, Beth Schnitzer from spritz public relations and of course Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas the San Francisco Bay Times. The invitation to the Divas & Drinks of the evening was: “Where are all the women in the Castro?” Well, that evening they were in the academy and had a great time!
We happened to be back at the Academy for An Evening with Donna Sachet the next night. As COVID restrictions relaxed, it just seemed appropriate to have an intimate evening with friends, and so we did. The Academy provided and brought a blackjack table, cocktails, and nibbles Russell Deason to play the in-house piano. Needless to say, singing followed. Andrew Hirst began with his savvy voice applied to Broadway show tunes.
After some pleading, we put the crowd in the piano room and sang some of our favorite songs and shared personal stories. Were among the cozy crowd Cicero Braganca & Russ Fischella, Jeff Doney & Adam Their, David Hone, and too many others to name. In the end, it was the perfect, low-key evening with close friends and new acquaintances to share memories and create new ones.
Saturday, June 26th, was the long-awaited appointment of Gary Virginia & Donna Sachets 23rd Annual Pride Brunch! Although this was the second annual virtual event and we missed personal camaraderie, this year’s theme, “A Taste of SF Pride” took visitors on a fun tour of the San Francisco neighborhoods of special relevance to the LGBTQ + community, punctuated by video footage from SF Pride Grand Marshals and other special guests including Mayor London Breed and Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. Musical entertainment from the SF Lesbian / Gay Freedom Band and Kippy brands, a moving tribute to longtime supporters Tom Taylor, and a photographic review of 22 previous Pride Brunches rounded off the program. After all was said and done, over $ 33,000 was raised for the People’s Republic of China and this popular tradition continued.
You may have had the opportunity to watch the program on Saturday, June 26th, or afterwards on YouTube. In fact, four generous sponsors bought a King Suite at The Palace Hotel one Friday night and watched the Pride Brunch from their room the next morning before checking out. She and other premium ticket holders received delivered gift bags and DoorDash delivered brunch of their choice while they participated in a lively silent auction for excursions, dinners, gourmet baskets, and other items.
We accompanied our co-host Gary Virginia to an official viewing party in a dear friend’s beautiful Castro house! The decor was over the top, the food plentiful and tasty, the drinks galore, and the company exceptional, including the former SF Pride President Michelle Meow & Tookta, current SF Pride President Carolyn Wysinger, Briggs Hawley, Don Ho Tse, Eric Bernier & Mike Proctor, Ernie Hong & Fred Siegel, Deana Dawn, Joe Mac, Khmera Rouge, Kevin Lisle, Tyler Nelson, and Ralph Hibbs. What a great way to see the end product of months of preparation and work surrounded by a diverse group of good friends!
We ended our SF Pride weekend as we had for many years Juanita MORE!“infamous Pride party on Sunday June 27th. Over the course of 10 hours or more, some sort of SF Pride Parade marched through this sprawling space, pumped up by great music and excellent camaraderie, including Sister Roma, Celso Dulay & CJ Knight, Julian Marshburn, Suzan Revah, Dulce de Leche, Mutha Chucka, Christopher Vasquez, Acting emperor Mr. David Glamamore, and much more. We later heard that the event raised significant funds again, this year over $ 110,000 for the Imperial Council and Queer Nightlife Fund. What a fitting way to underline that this is indeed a resilient, courageous gathering of like-minded people who refuse to be handicapped by cancellations, pandemics, or other adversity!
With all that behind us, we can only imagine what an incredible SF Pride Parade & Celebration awaits us next year! But not without your commitment! Think about getting more actively involved in the planning and running of SF Pride, volunteering to help your favorite organization find its place in the celebrations, and don’t even think about heading out to town next June because SF Pride 2022 is going to be phenomenal!
Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist with over two decades of service to the San Francisco LGBTQ community. Contact them at empsachet@gmail.com
Calendar a / la sachet
Friday July 16
Investiture of the Imperial Court in San Francisco San
The incumbent Emperor Mr. David Glamamore & the incumbent Empress Juanita MORE! The establishment of the Court of More is MORE!
Coronation of the new Imperial Crown Prince & Imperial Crown Princess
Oasis, 298 11th Street
19:30 o’clock
$ 35-55
www.imperialcouncilsf.org
Friday 23rd July
Divas & drinks in the Academy: get gold
Hosted by the San Francisco Bay Times and the Academy
Japan Olympics opening ceremonies, beverage specials curated by Bacardi VP Heather Freyer, DJ Rockaway, former Olympians, Japanese food and culture, local women’s softball team celebrations, and more to be announced.
The Academy SF, 2166 Market Street
6 p.m.
$ 10
https://www.academy-sf.com/
Published on July 15, 2021
