For Karyn Skultety, Executive Director of Openhouse, San Francisco’s LGBTQ senior housing community, the idea to produce a socially-distanced drag show for its residents all started with a window overlooking the courtyard. “I had seen some of the videos online of people performing from balconies all over the country, and thought about our buildings with Mercy Housing—LGBTQ-welcoming, affordable senior housing.”
Similarly, Katie Conry, Tenderloin Museum Executive Director, saw a literal window of opportunity while visiting Donna Personna (before the pandemic), Openhouse resident and longtime collaborator of the museum. Nearly simultaneously, Conry and Skultety both thought, why not produce a socially-distanced, outdoor drag performance for some of our most vulnerable community members?
On May 22, Openhouse, SF Queer Nightlife Fund, and the Tenderloin Museum are proud to present: Live Drag for our LGBTQ Elders, a live drag show where powerhouse drag queens Dulce De Leche, Per Sia, Princess Panocha, Mary Vice, and Shane Zaldivar will perform in the courtyard of Openhouse. This performance will be virtually hosted by the one and only Juanita MORE!, and will be safely viewed by its LGBTQ seniors, as well as live streamed to the general public.
A way to both connect with seniors and build an intergenerational community of support, Skultety describes drag as a bonding force within the LGBTQ community—and a way to exalt its elders, many of whom may feel isolated and invisible during the ongoing pandemic. “Drag is powerful in that way—it thrives on audience connection and interaction—and so this is us saying nothing can stop us from connecting with our seniors and we will do it in the most meaningful way,” she says.
Paying homage to the LGBTQ pioneer who helped shape the world for younger generations—and who would have been part of the vulnerable community of LGBTQ elders—This special show will kick off Harvey Milk's 90th birthday celebration, a series of events celebrating Harvey's legacy. Openhouse is encouraging everyone to consider a gift of $9, $90, or $900 in honor of Harvey's 90th.
“When we demonstrate to our community that elders matter, it makes all of us better. Younger LGBTQ [generations] live better lives when they are connected to the elders who helped create the world they live in today,” says Skultety. An opportunity to financially support drag performers who have lost income due to the crisis, as well as bring visibility and safe, in-person entertainment to LGBTQ elders, Live Drag for our LGBTQ Elders is an opportunity to reflect upon—and unify with—intergenerational LGBTQ community members.
This event is part Harvey Milk's 90th Birthday Block Party: https://www.facebook.com/events/625647098031154/
Harvey Milk’s 90th Birthday Block Party
Friday, May 22, 2020; 6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
Join the party via Zoom here: https://zoom.queernightlifefund.org/
Join the party via Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/sfqueernightlifefund/
Openhouse and the Tenderloin Museum are asking you to contribute to the Live Drag for Our Queer Elders fundraiser here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/231605168281729/
Of course, a hero to many near and far, Harvey was and always will be, "The Mayor of Castro Street" to us here in San Francisco. For this reason, even as Castro Street shelters in place, his birthday block party will go on "virtually” in the second half of a two-part event. This collaborative effort is organized by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman's office, the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, the Castro Community Benefit District, “Windows For Harvey” presented by the Castro Merchants Association, the Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza, Open House, the GLBT Historical Society, the Tenderloin Museum, the Golden Gate Business Association, and the SF Bay Area Queer Nightlife Fund.
About the queens:
Juanita MORE!
Juanita MORE! is a denizen of the limelight. For almost three decades, the tireless hostess has blitzed San Francisco with high glamour, drag irreverence, danceable beats, culinary delectables, political activism and a philanthropic heart that has illuminated the entire city. Juanita remains a creation of fashion and glamour, generosity and nerve, inspiring those around her to make a positive difference in their lives and in their communities, doing it all with a timeless elegance and an innovative spirit.
Shane Zaldivar
Shane is originally from Florida and moved to California for school and the pursuit of an authentic lifestyle. Since moving in 2014, she has thrived as an artist and activist. Shane acted as a lead role in the immersive play, The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot. This play is a collaboration with The Tenderloin Museum and depicts events leading to the historic riot of 1966, which marked the beginning of transgender activism in San Francisco. The play premiered in February 2018 and is looking to return sometime in 2021. Shane also performs as the Pop Up Drag Queen, where she brings smiles and drag to the streets of San Francisco (on select weekends). This performance-project began in 2017, and Shane has since collaborated with local San Francisco bands and toured internationally with the project.
Shane is currently working as a Training Coordinator for The Office of Transgender Initiatives, the first and only trans-led city government office, where she trains City and County employees on topics relevant to transgender & gender non-conforming (TGNC) and/or LGBQ+ populations. She also coordinates a Fellowship for TGNC and/or LGBQ+ immigrants.
Per Sia
With a pedigree from performances at the late, iconic Esta Noche, Per Sia's trajectory has gone on to include art curation, stand-up, television, modeling, and maybe a quinceañera or two, in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and México. Currently, she is a regular performer in the nationally acclaimed "Drag Queen Story Hour" as well as an educator in residence at the Children's After School Arts (CASA) program in the San Francisco Unified School District recently profiled on KQED Arts and National Public Radio.
Dulce De Leche
Dulce De Leche is a multifaceted drag performer best known for her powerful, soulful voice. Inspired by 50’s & 60's soul divas and her childhood icon, Bette Midler, she is a ballsy and brassy broad who is a proud member of one of SF’s most respected drag houses, The House of MORE! Dulce has appeared on-stage with Peaches Christ Productions; on-screen in Adrian Anchondo’s Beyonce parody “In N Out Mission,” as the Cowardly Lion for the FRAMELINE29 promo video, and on HBO’s LOOKING. She has performed at Daytime Realness, WOMAN, Dragula SF, Honey Sound System, Hard French, Blow Pony and many other events. She was crowned the 2013 Miss Tiara Sensation and is the reigning Hard French Winter Ball Queen.
Princess Panocha
Princess Panocha is an Irish Mexican San Francisco native, where her drag resides on the corner of sex appeal and camp.
Mary Vice
Mary Vice has been part of the drag scene in Soma and the Tenderloin for the last 4 years. Pre-quarantine she was a regular fixture at Aunt Charlie’s, Powerhouse and The Stud, where she hosted a monthly party, Lip Service. She works closely with her drag mother, Mr. David Glamamore, sewing gowns for some of the biggest names in town like Juanita MORE! and projects like Levi’s 2019 Pride campaign. During shelter-in-place she can be found hosting an online drag show, Glama’s Pillows, every Monday night at 9 PM and Girl Talk, a current events drag talk show every Friday at 3 PM. Both shows air at twitch.tv/CashMonetDrag.
About the organizations:
Openhouse
Founded in 1998, Openhouse works to center the voices and experiences of LGBTQ older adults by providing opportunities to make social connections and build community. Openhouse is committed to creating a safe environment to encourage and support community members to share our diverse perspectives and identities to foster dynamic community engagement. We recognize and affirm that LGBTQ older adults live at intersections of race, ethnicity, class, culture, HIV status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, spirituality and ability. At Openhouse, everyone is a community member.
SF Queer Nightlife Fund
The SF Bay Area Queer Nightlife Fund provides relief to LGBTQ nightlife workers and entertainers affected by COVID-19. Nightlife is central to the Bay Area’s queer culture. Those whose primary source of income is in nightlife are currently experiencing economic insecurity as a result of bar closures and event cancellations in light of the COVID19 pandemic. The purpose of the San Francisco Bay Area Queer Nightlife Fund (QNF) is to provide financial relief to workers in the nightlife industry for as long as the current crisis continues.
Tenderloin Museum
Tenderloin Museum celebrates the rich history of one of San Francisco's most overlooked neighborhoods. Through history exhibitions, resident-led walking tours, community programs, and the presentation of original artwork, the Tenderloin Museum invites all to learn about the roots of our dynamic neighborhood, and reclaim our city's past and future. All are welcome to join us in telling its story.
