Massen Nassar, MC Michal medema, Carlo mandacaro, Mrs. Vera and Mr. Tina at the LGBT Center’s Soiree 8. Photo by Rink.

On April 10, “SoireĂ© 8” celebrated the San Francisco LGBT Community Center’s eighth anniversary at Terra Gallery. The theme was an evening of earthly delights for gods and goddesses, where attendees rubbed elbows and brushed wings with roaming Cupids while indulging in decadent gourmet morsels and libations from San Francisco’s best restaurants. They also enjoyed mythically-inspired performances by San Francisco’s leading queer artists and performers. This year’s event’s honorary co-hosts were veteran transgender activist Theresa Sparks and Supervisor David Campos. Event co-chair Michael Medema (festively dressed in an outfit made entirely of giant colorful straws) took the main stage to introduce special guest emcees drag persona Jackie Beat and actor/comic Bruce Vilanch. “Don’t worry, the stage has been reinforced,” quipped Beat, regarding their rather large girths. “If you feel any shaking, it’s not us,” said Vilanch. Beat performed her original dirty Dreamgirls lyrics: “and I am telling you, I’m not blowing that big dick; and you and you and you ain’t gonna fuck me.” 

Taiko Ren is a close-knit collaborative bringing the ancient art of Japanese percussion to new audiences, such as the “Soiree 8” attendees that night. Lotsa loudness! Award-winning blues chanteuse and all-around class act, Veronica Klaus, performs every Tuesday at Enrico’s and always provides a sexy set.  

Then it was time for speeches. Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe has been a community activist for social justice for over 28 years. “The Center is stronger today than we have ever been before,” she said. “And we will be here to celebrate our ninth anniversary, and our 10th anniversary and our 20th anniversary!” She said, “Every day we bring people, ideas, and resources together to create a stronger, healthier, and more just world.” She continued, “We inspire and strengthen our community by providing opportunities for individuals to come together and find common vision and common voice. We build both tangible and intangible assets and enhance social, cultural, and political networks through leadership, volunteerism, and civic engagement.” She made the commitment that no one in the community should be left behind. Rolfe lauded the board co-chairs, James Williamson and Debbie Chaw for their hard work and dedication. They both thanked US Bank for being the main sponsor. 

The Academy of Art University was established in 1929 by artists for artists and is one of the newest partners with the Center. They will co-sponsor the Center’s 5th annual Pride Party on June 19. One hundred percent of $25 ticket sales will benefit the Center’s critical safety net of community services, including hot meals for homeless youth, job seeking support for unemployed adults, and resources for city newcomers.

“For the transgender community, the Center is an anchor and was one of the first of its kind in the country to truly support transgender people,” said Sparks. She pointed out the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative of the Center is the first program of its kind that provides training and employment for transgender people. Last month the Center placed its one hundredth transgender applicant into sustainable employment in San Francisco. 

“As a Latino gay man, I am proud to help support the Center,” said Campos. “The reality is that the Center is a center for all of us. We are a diverse community from all backgrounds and are truly representative of what San Francisco is about.”

Supervisor Bevan Dufty instructed that the number “8” is good luck in Chinese lore, “and this is a very lucky year we are having.” He said he has loved serving as supervisor, which journey will end in January, and he has hopes of becoming mayor. “As I step off the board, I know we are going to elect great queer candidates,” he said. 

Senator Mark Leno brought along a certificate of recognition from the California Senate for the Center and urged everyone to become regular monthly donors to keep the Center alive and thriving. 

To continue the entertainment, Trixxie Carr (creator of the original show, “Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dionysus”) did a performance art piece as a goddess while a hunky guy stripped to her singing her composition, “How Juicy My Booty.” Then Southern belle Miss Rahni appeared in goddess form, lip-synching “Heads Will Roll,” working her shimmery gauze cape while executing high kicks and tricky choreography, ending with a dramatic splits and two cannons firing rainbow confetti. “Wow, shooting so early in the evening,” Vilanch joked. Suppositori Spelling and Trixxie Carr joined faux drag queen Fauxnique (who just completed sold-out runs of her one-woman show, “Luxury Items”) in a FANtastic number, with an actual electric fan blowing her purple cape and eventually ending in a small snowstorm. She flawlessly lipped “Go to Hell” by Nina Simone, the story of Demeter and Persephone. 

Then it was time for the world’s first burlesque act that is all men, sfBoylesque, with ringmaster Barnaby. Three hot guys did three-way chair dances, stomping, flexing, and carrying on as a tribute to the Greek goddess of war, loosely interpreted as in Nazi Germany war days. The three boys eventually stripped down to pink triangles hastily sewn onto their undershirts. Next a pair of same-sex female dancers took the stage to do a sensual rumba to “The Black and Tan Fantasy” with Citabria Phillips as the femme in feathers and Zoe Balfour dressed as her drag king partner in sleek black tuxedo tails. The couple took the gold medal at the recent OutGames and currently rank 6th in the world. 

Suppositori Spelling went solo in a tribute to the underworld, strutting around in lascivious black outfit and her wig teased into two tall black evil ears, crawling around the stage and leaping out into the audience occasionally to lip-synch “My name is Lucifer; please take my hand,” then returning to the stage to writhe about and eventually die. Very demonic and very dramatic. Drag queen porn star Precious Moments sort of channeled Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, with a variety of fruits and feathers stuffed in her wig, frantically chewing gum and trying to recite “The Wisdom Song” by Demetri Martin; but she could barely hear the lyrics, so it came out more like the lazy drag queen’s “watermelon watermelon peas and carrots peas and carrots” mouthing. I could swear she was doing the lip synch badly on purpose for a laugh, but she claimed not so, when I spoke to her afterwards, and said she could barely hear the lyrics. Anyway, the act was a total hoot. 

Just before the dancing portion for everyone came on, courtesy of DJs China Girl, Honey Soundsystem, and DJ Nuxx, the House of Salad presented a vivid tableau of the Trojan War with Zeus, Helen, Achilles, Odysseus, and the whole gang, including the Trojan Horse breaking down the walls so the soldiers could rape, kill, and pillage. It was a total spectacle of epic proportions – so fitting for the Center’s god and goddess theme. What did we learn? We are ALL gods and goddesses in the queer community, and the San Francisco LGBT Community Center is our palace!