Arts & Entertainment
Santa Skivvies Run returns to SF
It’s almost that time of year again, when stripping down to your underwear and running or walking around San Francisco’s Castro district half naked you can help you raise awareness and funds for HIV services in the Bay Area.
It’s almost that time of year again, when you can help raise awareness and funds for HIV services by stripping down to your underwear and running or walking around half naked.
If you’re unfamiliar with that particular holiday tradition, you’ve obviously never heard of the Annual Santa Skivvies Run.
Now celebrating its 11th year, Santa Skivvies Run takes place in San Francisco’s Castro DIstrict, where year, hundreds of participants don their finest gay (under) apparel – or holiday costume, for those who are a bit more modest – for a one-mile fun run through the Castro to support the life-saving services offered in the Bay Area by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
Since it started in 2008, the Santa Skivvies Run has raised an impressive $500,000 for the foundation.
Event founder Chris Hastings says, “For a lot of people, it’s become an annual tradition. It allows people to bust out and do something that’s really positive in a way that is a little out of the ordinary.”
Hastings owns the popular Castro bar Lookout, which is also a Santa Skivvies Run event partner.
Besides getting an opportunity to flaunt their finest and most festive undergarments, participants can also earn fundraising awards; a camping mug, a robe, and (of course) some fun skivvies are among the perks and premiums being offered for high-performing fundraisers.
Past participant Alex Locust a past participant, says he has made the Santa Skivvies Run a tradition because he loves seeing “an amazing cross-section of different communities within the Bay Area who want to come out, break down stigma, and help support the foundation.”
Alex is currently the second-highest fundraiser among this year’s registered participants – but you still have a chance to beat him. If you live in the San Francisco area, or just want to make the trip so you can strip down on the street, you can still register for the Santa Skivvies run, which takes place on Sunday, December 8, right here.
Alex is currently the second-highest fundraiser among this year’s registered participants – but you still have a chance to beat him. If you live in the San Francisco area, or just want to make the trip so you can strip down on the street, you can still register for the Santa Skivvies run, which takes place on Sunday, December 8, right here.
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Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
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(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Photos
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(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
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