The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Historical Society will host San Francisco’s most prominent gay Valentine’s party on Friday, Feb. 11. The “Cupid’s Back” extravaganza will take place in a private party at Trigger in the heart of the Castro. Three hundred cute single guys will be wearing a big heart-shaped nametag, to make it easier to mix and mingle. The decor will be red and pink lighting with red pillows and table tops draped in red tablecloths with vases full of red roses. All the guests will be wearing something red. It will be hosted by Mark Rhoades and hostess Juanita More, who will be spinning later in the evening. The crowd will be drinking Ketel One vodka, Don Julio tequila, and Stella Artois beer in an open bar all throughout the night.

“PG&E has a long history of supporting the LGBT community, including support for marriage equality and partnerships with Project Open Hand, NCLR, EQCA, amFar and the LGBT Community Center,” Brandon Hernandez of PG&E tells Bay Times. “By sponsoring this fundraiser, they again show their commitment to our community and the importance of knowing our history.”

This very upscale cocktail event started five years ago in a private home as a grassroots fundraiser, which now has a corporate sponsor, allowing the organizers to make it into a five-star event that raises a large amount of money for the GLBT Historical Society.

“I remember its humble beginnings as a rowdy house party,” says Don Romesburg, a GLBT Historical Society curator. “With its fifth anniversary, ‘Cupid’s Back’ is making its own history as an annual celebration all the boys and their friends love to love. Everyone should come toast the launch of the nation’s first GLBT History Museum, right here in the heart of the Castro!”

“I love this event, because Valentine’s Day celebrates love, and I feel that gay men and women move to San Francisco to live an open lifestyle and possibly find someone to fall in love with,” Rhoades tells Bay Times. “So you can say, love is what brings us here.”  He adds,
“This is a heartfelt event, because I make it a Valentine’s Day party to ensure that our friends would have something exciting to do on a day that can be pretty lonely.” He concludes, “We are so lucky to have PG&E to make this event happen this year.” 

Tickets are $30 online in advance at glbthistory.org or $35 at the door. It is anticipated to sell out, so people are encouraged to buy in advance. All proceeds will benefit the GLBT Historical Society. This festive party will raise funds to support their world-class archives of queer history and its celebrated exhibits of GLBT history and culture.