Real Bad’s Margarita and Beneficiary announcement Party in The Castro. Event Chair Leff Wauters and Marketing Chair Ed Tolan ready to host one of the Bay Area’s most successful fundraisers. Photo by Rink.

On July 13, Grass Roots Gay Rights West (GRGR/West), producers of the annual Real Bad fundraising dance party that follows San Francisco’s world-renowned Folsom Street Fair, announced the beneficiaries and DJ for Real Bad XX - the twentieth installment of the legendary party. Their slogan is: “Be bad. Do good.” GRGR/West held their annual margarita party in the backyard of Steve Mueller to a huge crowd of leather aficionados. Five LGBT health and community service organizations will share 100 percent of the funds raised by ticket sales for this historically sold-out event. The DJ, chosen from more than 20 applicants, is Tim Jones of London, England. Real Bad XX takes place on Sunday, September 28.

The organizations named as this year’s Real Bad beneficiaries represent diverse causes within the LGBT community. The beneficiary organizations are as follows: AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP), a civil rights and social services organization that addresses the legal needs of people living with HIV/AIDS; Dimensions Clinic, which offers medical and mental health services to queer, transgender, and questioning youth, ages 12 to 25; GLBT Historical Society, which maintains one of the world’s largest collections of primary source materials about queer history. (It will use its grant to support the installation in Harvey Milk Plaza of a major exhibit called “History of the GLBT Community of San Francisco: Treasures from the Archives of the GLBT Historical Society”); openhouse, which is a housing, services, and advocacy organization for LGBT seniors (Its goal is to ensure safe housing and support services that are sensitive to the needs of LGBT seniors); and 360: The Positive Care Center at UCSF (360-UCSF), an HIV clinic that aims to serve all patients, including the uninsured and under-insured, in an equal access manner. (Its innovative approach includes a program that reaches out to HIV-positive men of color and another project that focuses on HIV and aging).

“People’s support of this event is really going to benefit these organizations,” Supervisor Bevan Dufty told Bay Times. “Real Bad is a signature event in San Francisco. They have made a real difference in the community.”

Leif Wauters, event chair for Real Bad XX, said, “The goal of Real Bad XX is to match the record-breaking community donation from Real Bad XIX in 2007.” Last year, Real Bad raised $150,000 for local LGBT charities.

Tim Jones, the DJ selected for Real Bad XX, has been resident DJ at several popular London venues, including The Fridge (Brixton) and Barcode (Soho). He is currently resident DJ for Tonker Club Night every Friday at The Eagle, London. He has performed at London Pride, Soho Pride, and the Edinburgh Festival, as well as at international events in Australia and Malaysia. More than 20 contestants competed for the opportunity to play at Real Bad XX. Jones was selected by a panel of judges based on a blind review of the contestants’ demo CDs. “He’s going to bring a really awesome, beefy London sound to our party,” said Wauters.

This was an occasion to unveil the hot new poster for Real Bad XX, filmed at Hot House studios, of two hunky leathermen about to get into some fierce play – with a slight reference to the St. Andrews cross of SM standing bondage for submissives.

This year there will be a chill space downstairs at 1015 Folsom club. Wauters put out a call to any chill-playing DJs. Down in the vault there will also be a place to get a relaxing massage and to relax on a dungeon bed, and a coat check for VIPs. There will also be erotic entertainment by the Men of Mr. S.
GRGR/West is committed to raising and distributing funds to grassroots organizations that strengthen the diverse populations that make up San Francisco’s LGBT community. It supports organizations that create local impact, sustainable results, and measurable change - especially in the areas of civil rights, community development, social services, HIV/AIDS, and other health-related issues.