New Drag Brunch rings in Fleet Week!
Saturday, May 25th at the Sardine, a benefit for Veterans for Equality.
Right now tickets are only $15 and include pancake breakfast and the show.
This discounted price is only for earlybirds, so buy your tickets today!
Saturday, May 25th - 11am doors, 12pm show
The Sardine, 1101 S. Pacific Ave, San Pedro
Full Bar, Mimosas and Bloody Marys!
If you know me, you know I love drag.
Not just RuPaul, I’m talking Kings, Queens and all the in-betweens.
Fleet Week seems like a natural time to launch a Drag Show here in San Pedro. Because where would we be without the armed forces?
It is said that in WWI and WWII, the military discharged service members found out to be gay, lesbian, bi and trans, and those folks stayed on where they were dropped, creating gay scenes San Francisco, San Diego and Long Beach. And surely, San Pedro.
Required watching on this topic is Scotty and The Secret History of Hollywood.
Looking at historical photos of San Pedro, I saw the phrase “Locker Club” painted on the side of buildings on Beacon. Digging in, I learned that the Navy forbade sailors from bringing their civilian clothes onboard. So folks would rent lockers in their home port and check into the locker club to change from their uniforms to civvies. This evoked an image of sailors getting into their street drag: tight denims, sophisticated slacks and shirts, or more fanciful attire, like heels and boas strutting into the night.
I toyed with naming this event “The Docktown Locker Club” or just “Docktown Drag.” Jury is still out on the name! Let’s see what catches on.
And it’s a benefit?!!
Yes!
The proceeds will go to Veterans For Equality.
VFE a volunteer group of veterans who provide overwatch services for events hosted by marginalized communities in order to stand in the gap against protestors. That means protecting trans kids, queer muslims, drag story hours, banned bookmobiles, and all manner of folks who find themselves being yelled at by people holding signs that say things like “God Hates F*gs.”
These are veterans who served our country and continue to serve the community, because they swore an oath that remains their guiding principle.
Veterans for Equality formed after The National Trans Visibility March in September 2019. I connected with a founding member, Guy, who is based out in Texas. Guy told me that they have wanted to ‘stand a unit’ in SoCal for some time now, and that he plans to travel and meet up with other veterans at our event in San Pedro, and keep the conversation going.
I’m so proud to welcome this group to our event alongside our active duty military, community, allies and friends.
Why do this show now?
Every year, our town welcomes thousands of active duty military at Fleet Week. But we don’t have an event, or even a space, that specifically welcomes LGBTQIA+ folks in San Pedro. Once the sailors fulfil their obligations in town, they likely flock to gay bars in Long Beach or Los Angeles.
So why not offer a welcoming space to meet our community and honor them here? That was the inspiration behind this drag show! Hopefully you agree that this event is “essential” and come out and support us.
Amazing Partners:
The Sardine is a punk club, the likes of which are hard to find these days (just like a good ol’ lesbian bar.) I love the atmosphere here, it reminds me of the kind of community run spaces where I came of age, shot my first videos of live bands and drag. (Ché Cafe, Brick by Brick, The Stud, The Lexington, The Garage, The Fez, Meow Mix, Metropolitan Bar, etc etc.)
Miller Butler is our favorite hometown caterer, pizzaiolo, friendly small business advocate and rising dough star. It’s actually a team of amazing people, including Ahmad, Jillana, Lilly, Michael and many others.
This is not even getting into the DRAG ARTISTS! I could devote a whole post to them. Actually, I will, when we get closer to the event. They are talented, amazing, and you will LOVE THEM!
In the meantime, I hope you will join us on May 25th at the Sardine in San Pedro, for what will be a fun and celebratory brunch and drag show.