AN ORAL HISTORY SERIES ABOUT THE BAY AREA’S QUEER
HISTORY, HOSTED BY THE TRANSGENDER DISTRICT
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29 AT 7 PM AT THE
CHAN NATIONAL QUEER ARTS CENTER
FEATURING SHAYRON GRAYSON, ANDREA HORNE, FRESH LEV
WHITE, BREONNA MCCREE AND CARLO GOMEZ ARTEAGA
(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, February 12, 2024)—The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, the nation’s premier queer chorus, continues their exploration into local queer history with “Centering Black Trans Joy”, the second program of the Memory Keepers Initiative. Hosted by Co-Executive Directors of the Transgender District Breonna McCree and Carlo Gomez Arteaga, and featuring Shayron Grayson, Andrea Horne and Fresh Lev White, “Centering Black Trans Joy” will be presented at SFGMC’s home, The Chan National Queer Arts Center (170 Valencia Street) on Thursday, February 29th at 7 PM. In an effort to make this event accessible to all, the Memory Keepers Initiative is a “Pay What You Can” event. Tickets are available at sfgmc.org.
The Memory Keepers Initiative is an oral history project that uplifts and preserves the stories of our community’s visionary LGBTQ+ elders in order to foster intergenerational connection among LGBTQ+ communities and allies, as well as inspire a bigger, brighter future by learning and understanding of our collective history.
The evening will be moderated by Co-Executive Directors of the Transgender District Breonna McCree and Carlo Gomez Arteaga and feature Shayron Grayson, Andrea Horne and Fresh Lev White.The Transgender District is the first legally recognized transgender district in the world. Originally named the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District, after the first documented uprising of transgender and queer people in United States history, The Compton’s Cafeteria Riots of 1966, the district encompasses 6 blocks in the southeastern Tenderloin and adjacent areas.
“San Francisco’s queer history is a rich and complex tapestry that involves so many impactful icons and instances almost lost to history,” stated SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg. “Through our continuing Memory Keepers Initiative, these stories and the trail-blazing people whose stories come alive through their telling serve as reminders that the past can inform the present and that we can 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 - The Early Heroes of the Castro
February 29 - Centering Black Trans Joy
April 18 - Hosted by the GLBT Historical Society
May 16, 2024 - A History of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, hosted by Jacob Stensberg
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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.
About The Chan National Queer Arts Center
The Pansy L. Chan and Terrence D. Chan National Queer Arts Center is the nation’s first LGBTQ center for community, creativity and collaboration. This landmark space, that also serves as the home of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, is the first of its kind in the country — an artistic sanctuary for queer artists to call home, a space for audiences to share their lived experiences, and a beacon of inspiration and empowerment for queer individuals nationwide who are confronting oppression. A place for art and activism.
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
