San Francisco – The GLBT Historical Society’s annual Unmasked gala, set for October 25, will bring together enthusiasts of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender history for a festive evening at the Green Room in the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in San Francisco’s Civic Center. The gala will support the public history work of the society and its world-renowned GLBT History Museum.
“Unmasked pays homage to the pioneers of the GLBT community, who have made it possible to take off the mask of secrecy and live our lives openly,” said Paul Boneberg, executive director of the GLBT Historical Society. “This year, we’re honoring in particular the great contributions that Bay Area queer filmmakers have made to creating GLBT culture and advancing understanding of GLBT people.”
The Unmasked gala will feature entertainment, food and a hosted bar. A silent auction will offer travel, fine dining, art, photography, queer memorabilia and other distinctive lots. Reflecting the special focus of the event, the auction will feature several exceptional film-related items, including a 1911 photograph of silent-movie female-impersonation star Julian Eltinge and a 1922 craftsman tile from the Castro Theatre.
Several Bay Area filmmakers will take part in the gala as honored guests, including Cheryl Dunye (The Watermelon Woman), Marc Huestis (Sex Is), Stu Maddux (Gen Silent), Travis Matthews (I Want Your Love), Glenne McElhinney (On These Shoulders We Stand), Pam Walton (Grassroots: Contesting Ohio), David Weissman (We Were Here) and Alice Wu (Saving Face).
Entertainment for the evening will be provided by baritone Zachary Gordin, a rising star of opera and the concert stage; the Cello Street Quartet, noted for blending classical tradition with contemporary pop; drag diva Glamamore; and DJs from San Francisco queer club sensation Hard French.
VIP tickets to Unmasked are $100; general admission is $60. Individual and organizational sponsorships start at $500. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (415) 777-5455 or visit the gala website at www.unmaskedgala.org.
What: GLBT Historical Society Unmasked Gala
When: Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. VIP Reception: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Gala: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Where: The Green Room, War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
Tickets: $100 (VIP); $60 (general). Available at www.unmaskedgala.org.
About the GLBT Historical Society & The GLBT History Museum
Founded in 1985, the GLBT Historical Society is an archives and research center often referred to as San Francisco’s “queer Smithsonian.” It houses one of the world’s largest collections of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender historical materials.
The GLBT History Museum opened in January 2011 as the first full-scale, stand-alone museum of its kind in the United States. Currently featured are two major exhibitions: “Our Vast Queer Past: Celebrating San Francisco’s GLBT History” and “For Love and Community: Asian Pacific Islanders Take Action, 1960s – 1990s.”
For more information on the GLBT Historical Society and The GLBT History Museum, visit www.glbthistory.org.
