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The Chan National Queer Arts Center | 170 Valencia St. San Franicsco
Cost: FREE*
Bay Area’s LGBTQ+ History “Memory Keepers Initiative” (SF)
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Thursday, January 11, 2024 - 7:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
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*Suggested donation of $20 but Pay As You Can with no minimum
The Chan National Queer Arts Center | 170 Valencia St. San Franicsco
Event Details
Submitted by the Event Organizer
San Francisco Gay Men’S Chorus Presents
Memory Keepers Initiative
An Oral History Series About The Bay Area’S LGBTQ+
History
Inaugural Program On Thursday, January 11 At 7 Pm
Features Legendary Queer Icons Donna Sachet,
Derek Barnes, Selisse Berry And Alexis Miranda
At The Chan National Queer Arts Center
(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, January 3, 2023)—The San Francisco Gay Men’s
Chorus, the nation’s premier queer chorus, starts 2024 with a brand new
addition to their programming MEMORY KEEPERS INITIATIVE, presented
at their new home, The Chan National Queer Arts Center (170 Valencia
Street). Legendary San Francisco drag ico Donna Sachet will host a panel
discussion about the history of the Castro neighborhood on Thursday,
January 11 at 7 PM. A donation of $30 is recommended, but in an effort to
make this event accessible to all, it is “Pay What You Can”. Tickets are
available at sfgmc.org.
Memory Keepers Initiative
An Oral History Series About The Bay Area’S LGBTQ+
History
Inaugural Program On Thursday, January 11 At 7 Pm
Features Legendary Queer Icons Donna Sachet,
Derek Barnes, Selisse Berry And Alexis Miranda
At The Chan National Queer Arts Center
(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, January 3, 2023)—The San Francisco Gay Men’s
Chorus, the nation’s premier queer chorus, starts 2024 with a brand new
addition to their programming MEMORY KEEPERS INITIATIVE, presented
at their new home, The Chan National Queer Arts Center (170 Valencia
Street). Legendary San Francisco drag ico Donna Sachet will host a panel
discussion about the history of the Castro neighborhood on Thursday,
January 11 at 7 PM. A donation of $30 is recommended, but in an effort to
make this event accessible to all, it is “Pay What You Can”. Tickets are
available at sfgmc.org.
The Memory Keepers Initiative is an oral history project intended to uplift and
preserve the stories of our visionary LGBTQ+ elders. By doing so, we hope to
foster intergenerational connection among LGBTQ+ communities and our
allies, as well as inspire a bigger, brighter future by learning and
understanding our history.
The evening will be moderated by Donna Sachet, who is affectionately
known as the First Lady of the Castro. Donna is joined by Derek Barnes, a
local activist, media columnist and member of several LGBTQ+ Boards of
Directors; Selisse Berry, the lesbian activist and founder of Out and Equal;
and SF Empress Alexis Miranda, the entertainer and Latino activist.
“Stories have transformational power, and we keep legacies alive by sharing
them,” stated SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg. “The purpose of oral
history projects is to capture and record our heritage as to not become a
community of forgetters; rather, to learn from the strength, courage, and
wisdom of those who came before us.”
In addition to the 90-minute interactive panel discussion, attendees are
encouraged to remain afterwards and record their own stories about queer
history in the Bay Area. Volunteers will be on hand to audio or video record
anyone with a story to tell and a desire to share it for posterity.
Presented at The Chan National Queer Arts Center in San Francisco, the
Memory Keepers Initiative will include four programs in 2024: January 11,
February 29, April 18, and May 16, 2024. Additional topics will be announced
and will feature up to two co-moderators guiding a discussion with 3-4
panelists on a given topic.
About Donna Sachet
Donna Sachet arrived in San Francisco 30 years ago from New York City,
quickly joining the SF Gay Men’s Chorus and discovering the drag personality
that won the titles of Miss Gay San Francisco and Absolute Empress XXX and
she continues to emcee, entertain, fund-raise, and support her beloved city
and LGBTQ+ Community. She co-chaired the SF GLAAD Media Awards and
the 50th Anniversary of the Imperial Court at City Hall and has served on the
Boards of Directors of the AIDS Emergency Fund, Positive Resource Center
(now PRC), SF LGBT Community Center, State Board of EqualityCalifornia,
LGBT Advisory Committee to the SF Human Rights Commission, Imperial
Council of SF, International Court Council, and Rainbow Honor Walk. She is
preserve the stories of our visionary LGBTQ+ elders. By doing so, we hope to
foster intergenerational connection among LGBTQ+ communities and our
allies, as well as inspire a bigger, brighter future by learning and
understanding our history.
The evening will be moderated by Donna Sachet, who is affectionately
known as the First Lady of the Castro. Donna is joined by Derek Barnes, a
local activist, media columnist and member of several LGBTQ+ Boards of
Directors; Selisse Berry, the lesbian activist and founder of Out and Equal;
and SF Empress Alexis Miranda, the entertainer and Latino activist.
“Stories have transformational power, and we keep legacies alive by sharing
them,” stated SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg. “The purpose of oral
history projects is to capture and record our heritage as to not become a
community of forgetters; rather, to learn from the strength, courage, and
wisdom of those who came before us.”
In addition to the 90-minute interactive panel discussion, attendees are
encouraged to remain afterwards and record their own stories about queer
history in the Bay Area. Volunteers will be on hand to audio or video record
anyone with a story to tell and a desire to share it for posterity.
Presented at The Chan National Queer Arts Center in San Francisco, the
Memory Keepers Initiative will include four programs in 2024: January 11,
February 29, April 18, and May 16, 2024. Additional topics will be announced
and will feature up to two co-moderators guiding a discussion with 3-4
panelists on a given topic.
About Donna Sachet
Donna Sachet arrived in San Francisco 30 years ago from New York City,
quickly joining the SF Gay Men’s Chorus and discovering the drag personality
that won the titles of Miss Gay San Francisco and Absolute Empress XXX and
she continues to emcee, entertain, fund-raise, and support her beloved city
and LGBTQ+ Community. She co-chaired the SF GLAAD Media Awards and
the 50th Anniversary of the Imperial Court at City Hall and has served on the
Boards of Directors of the AIDS Emergency Fund, Positive Resource Center
(now PRC), SF LGBT Community Center, State Board of EqualityCalifornia,
LGBT Advisory Committee to the SF Human Rights Commission, Imperial
Council of SF, International Court Council, and Rainbow Honor Walk. She is
most proud of the annual Pride Brunch, benefiting PRC and
honoring the Grand Marshals of the SF Pride Parade, which
she co-founded with Gary Virginia, and her annual Songs of
the Season, benefiting PRC and now produced by Brian Kent.
Donna’s schedule of charitable work has brought her
many awards and recognition from elected officials, earning
her the nickname of First Lady of the Castro. Vice President
Kamala Harris included Donna Sachet among the guests for
her Pride Celebration at the Vice-Presidential Residence this year. Donna
currently writes a biweekly column for the Bay Times, provides LGBTQ+
content to SF Travel (formerly SF Convention & Visitors Bureau), and recently
revived the successful Sunday’s a Drag brunch show from the Starlight Room
to Club Fugazi in North Beach.
Other Participants bios TK
###
About SFGMC
Founded in 1978, SFGMC sparked a nationwide LGBTQ choral movement after
its first public performance at a vigil on the steps of City Hall following the
assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. Since
then, SFGMC has been embedded in the fabric of San Francisco. It has soothed
souls in pain, lifted spirits in triumph, and has remained a steadfast beacon of
hope.
Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Chris Verdugo and Artistic
Director Jacob Stensberg, SFGMC has established a heightened level of
performance standards bringing renewed audience and choral industry
acclaim. Recent touring schedules, recordings, and outreach programs have
broadened its impact and reputation in the community while maintaining its
signature blend of humor, personality and ground-breaking performances. In
2019, SFGMC acquired a historic facility that has become its permanent home
for rehearsals and offices. The building also serves as The Chan National Queer
Arts Center, the first-ever community space for LGBTQ artists and arts
organizations.
For more information on SFGMC, visit www.sfgmc.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sfgmc
honoring the Grand Marshals of the SF Pride Parade, which
she co-founded with Gary Virginia, and her annual Songs of
the Season, benefiting PRC and now produced by Brian Kent.
Donna’s schedule of charitable work has brought her
many awards and recognition from elected officials, earning
her the nickname of First Lady of the Castro. Vice President
Kamala Harris included Donna Sachet among the guests for
her Pride Celebration at the Vice-Presidential Residence this year. Donna
currently writes a biweekly column for the Bay Times, provides LGBTQ+
content to SF Travel (formerly SF Convention & Visitors Bureau), and recently
revived the successful Sunday’s a Drag brunch show from the Starlight Room
to Club Fugazi in North Beach.
Other Participants bios TK
###
About SFGMC
Founded in 1978, SFGMC sparked a nationwide LGBTQ choral movement after
its first public performance at a vigil on the steps of City Hall following the
assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. Since
then, SFGMC has been embedded in the fabric of San Francisco. It has soothed
souls in pain, lifted spirits in triumph, and has remained a steadfast beacon of
hope.
Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Chris Verdugo and Artistic
Director Jacob Stensberg, SFGMC has established a heightened level of
performance standards bringing renewed audience and choral industry
acclaim. Recent touring schedules, recordings, and outreach programs have
broadened its impact and reputation in the community while maintaining its
signature blend of humor, personality and ground-breaking performances. In
2019, SFGMC acquired a historic facility that has become its permanent home
for rehearsals and offices. The building also serves as The Chan National Queer
Arts Center, the first-ever community space for LGBTQ artists and arts
organizations.
For more information on SFGMC, visit www.sfgmc.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sfgmc
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sfgmc
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sfgaymenschorus
YouTube: www.youtube.com/sfgmcvideo
X (formally ‘Twitter’): www.twitter.com/sfgmc
Visit SFGMC TV: www.sfgmc.org/sfgmctv
SFGMC Archive contact: archive@sfgmc.org
SFGMC MEDIA CONTACT:
Scott Walton 415.350.5195/scottwaltonsf@gmail.com
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sfgaymenschorus
YouTube: www.youtube.com/sfgmcvideo
X (formally ‘Twitter’): www.twitter.com/sfgmc
Visit SFGMC TV: www.sfgmc.org/sfgmctv
SFGMC Archive contact: archive@sfgmc.org
SFGMC MEDIA CONTACT:
Scott Walton 415.350.5195/scottwaltonsf@gmail.com
Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.
Cost: FREE*
*Suggested donation of $20 but Pay As You Can with no minimum
Categories: In Person, Lectures & Workshops, LGBTQ+, Other, PrideVenue: The Chan National Queer Arts Center
Address: 170 Valencia St. San Franicsco
