Author: Alfredo Casuso

Media contact: David Perry / David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

MEDIA ADVISORY / REQUEST FOR COVERAGE: FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 11am PACIFIC

WHO / SPEAKERS:

• The GLBT Historical Society Board Member Tina Valentin Aguirre and Board Chair Maria Powers
• GLBT Historical Society Executive Director Terry Beswick
• San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed
• California State Senator Scott Wiener
• San Francisco Supervisor Rafael Mandelman
• Activist and author Cleve Jones
• Gilbert Baker Foundation President Charles Beal

WHAT:

The discovery and unveiling of Gilbert Baker’s 1978 original.
Rainbow Flag, returned to San Francisco and donated to the GLBT Historical Society after being lost for over 40 years

WHERE:

The GLBT Historical Society Museum

4127 18th Street (between Castro and Collingwood), San Francisco

WHEN: 

Friday, June 4 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)

• 11 a.m. press availability (B-Roll / Backgrounder interviews)
• 12 p.m.: Remarks
• 12:30 p.m.: Unveiling of original Rainbow Flag section

WEB:

glbthistory.org/rainbow-flag

WHAT WE DO:

The GLBT Historical Society collects, preserves, exhibits and makes accessible to the public materials and knowledge to support and promote understanding of LGBTQ history, culture and arts in all their diversity. Founded in 1985, we are recognized internationally as a leader in the field of LGBTQ public history. Our operations are centered at two sites: the GLBT Historical Society Museum, located since 2011 in the heart of San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood; and the Dr. John P. De Cecco Archives and Research Center, open to researchers in the Mid-Market district.

EXHIBIT SPONSORS:

Gilbert Baker Foundation, ABSOLUT® Vodka, Rythm, Big Run Studios

WHY:

In April 2021, the GLBT Historical Society received an archival donation of an extraordinary, unique piece of history, now being publicly unveiled during the Pride season: a fragment of one of the two monumental rainbow flags first raised on June 25, 1978 in San Francisco’s United Nations Plaza at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade. Displaying the original design’s eight colored stripes, it was created by Gilbert Baker (1951–2017) and hand-stitched and dyed with the help of volunteers and friends, including Lynn Segerblom (Faerie Argyle Rainbow), James McNamara, Glenne McElhinney, Joe Duran and Paul Langlotz. Thought to have been lost for over 40 years, the fragment was recently rediscovered and is the only known surviving remnant of the two inaugural rainbow flags.

“Finding the Original Rainbow Flag”

An Account by Charles Beal

President of the Gilbert Baker Foundation

On June 4, 2021, The GLBT Historical Society Museum and Archives in San Francisco will be unveiling a historic artifact, thought to be lost forever. It is a fragment of one of the two original Rainbow Flags from 1978, recently discovered. It measures 10 feet by 28 feet.

In 1978, Gilbert Baker designed and created the first LGBTQ Rainbow Flag and companion flags with the help of Lynn Segerblom, James McNamara and more than 30 volunteers. The flags flew proudly during the 1978 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day celebrations at United Nations Plaza. In June of 1979, Gilbert planned to retrieve the original flags from storage at the San Francisco Gay Community Center. He discovered that the flags, stored under a leaky roof, were badly mildewed. Gilbert Baker managed to salvage a portion of one of the original eight-color flags. This fragment remained in his possession, secretly, for decades. When Baker died unexpectedly in 2017, this original flag piece was among boxed possessions that were given to his sister Ardonna Cook.

Two years later, the Gilbert Baker Foundation was looking for a large flag to carry in the June 2019 Stonewall 50 Pride Parade in New York City. Foundation President Charles Beal asked Cook if she could loan a large flag from Baker’s belongings. She mailed the Foundation the 1978 flag fragment, not knowing its provenance. The Foundation carried the fragment proudly in the Stonewall 50 parade, also oblivious to its identity. After the parade, the flag fragment was folded up and stored in Beal’s Greenwich Village Manhattan home. It was a chance phone call from a stranger that alerted Beal to the amazing backstory to this ragged piece of cloth.

In late August of 2019, Beal was contacted by James Ferrigan, a world-renowned flag expert who had worked with Gilbert Baker in the late seventies at the Paramount Flag Company in San Francisco. During a lively conversation, Ferrigan mentioned the fragment of the original 1978 flag, asking where it now resides. The last time he had seen it was in Baker’s San Francisco apartment in the early eighties. When Ferrigan described the flag, Beal suddenly realized this artifact was gathering dust in his closet. Beal began playing detective. He reached out to people who worked with Gilbert Baker in 1978 and learned from two different sources, including veteran activist Lee Mentley, about the damaged flags in the community center.

The next task for Beal was to authenticate the fragment. He traveled in February of 2020 to San Francisco where he was scheduled to join a panel discussion about the Rainbow Flag with Ferrigan at the GLBT Historical Society Museum. Beal brought the fragment with him. Prior to the event, he invited Ferrigan to his hotel to inspect the piece. The veteran vexillologist identified the stitching and grommets done by Paramount. He declared without doubt that the Foundation was in possession of the original 1978 LGBTQ+ Rainbow Flag and prepared an official vexillological report confirming the provenance of the fragment.

This historic artifact will be added to the Gilbert Baker Collection that resides at the GLBT Historical Society Museum and Archives in San Francisco. It will be the centerpiece of the exhibition entitled “Performance, Protest and Politics: The Art of Gilbert Baker.”

Amy Blaisdell
Communications Director
City of Palm Springs
(760) 323-8250

City Council Approves July 1 return of Palm Springs VillageFest!
One-time Mini-Village Fest set for Tuesday, June 15 to celebrate “Palm
Springs Back in Business” and the re-opening of California!

May 28, 2021

Palm Springs VillageFest, the City’s wildly popular street fair which prior to the
COVID-19 pandemic, was held every Thursday night in downtown, will return on
Thursday, July 1.

With COVID-19 cases significantly down, the City Council approved re-opening
VillageFest at last night’s meeting, with a smaller footprint and safety protocols in
place. The street fair is expected to expand to its original length in the coming
months. During the summer, VillageFest hours of operation will be 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Starting July 1, Palm Canyon Drive from Amado Road to Tahquitz Canyon Way will
be closed for VillageFest. Additionally, Museum Way between Palm Canyon Drive
and Belardo Road, and Belardo Road between Andreas Road and Tahquitz
Canyon will be closed. Tahquitz Canyon Way will remain open to east and west
traffic.

And there’s more good news! The Council additionally approved a one-time mini-
Village Fest on Tahquitz Canyon Way between Palm Canyon and Indian Canyon
from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15 to celebrate “Palm Springs Back in
Business” and the re-opening of California. Join NBC Palm Springs as they go
live in the heart of downtown during their 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts.

Starting at 3 p.m. on June 15, Tahquitz Canyon Way between Palm Canyon Drive
and Indian Canyon Drive will be closed until 9 p.m.

Consistently voted the best weekly street fair in the Coachella Valley, over the last
30 years VillageFest has attracted thousands of visitors from all over the world with
vendor booths featuring eclectic art, handcrafted items and unique food. Shops,
restaurants and galleries stay open late.

Stay tuned for more details as VillageFest expands in the coming months.

Subject:*** PRESS RELEASE *** MAYOR LONDON BREED ANNOUNCES PLAN TO SUPPORT THE RETURN OF CONVENTIONS TO SAN FRANCISCO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org

*** PRESS RELEASE ***

MAYOR LONDON BREED ANNOUNCES PLAN TO SUPPORT THE RETURN OF CONVENTIONS TO SAN FRANCISCO

Mayor Breed proposes $4.6 million over two years to reduce the cost of rental rates for conventions in the Moscone Center 

San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed and City Administrator Carmen Chu today announced a plan to invest $4.6 million to support the return of conventions to San Francisco. These funds will be used to reduce the cost of renting space at Moscone Center, San Francisco’s convention center, and are intended to attract conventions, conferences, trade shows, and other large events back to San Francisco. This funding is part of Mayor Breed’s efforts to support San Francisco’s downtown and economic recovery, including community ambassadors and activations in the area.

Conventions and the business travelers that they bring to the city are a key part of San Francisco’s $10 billion tourism industry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, non-essential travel and large gatherings were suspended. With the reopening of businesses and activities, this investment demonstrates San Francisco’s commitment to welcoming and supporting the return of conventions to the city. The City’s commitment to regaining its convention industry comes as Salesforce today announced that Dreamforce, its annual convention and the world’s largest software event, is returning to San Francisco in September 2021.

“Conventions and conferences help support our downtown’s economy and tourism industry, and we’re so excited to welcome these events and their attendees back to our city,” said Mayor Breed. “Tourism and convention dollars help pay for important City services and allow us to take care of our most vulnerable residents. We’re making it even easier for organizers to host their next event in San Francisco, because bringing these activities will bring life and energy back to our downtown area and help our entire city recover.”

Mayor Breed plans to reduce the cost of rental rates for conventions at the Moscone Center with funding in her proposed City Budget, which will be introduced on June 1, 2021. The Mayor is proposing to dedicate $2.6 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 and $2 million in FY 2022-23. If approved in the budget, these funds will be available in late summer.

This support for conventions at the Moscone Center comes at a pivotal time, when the convention market is in flux as a result of COVID-19. As San Francisco focuses on confirming conventions that were postponed due to COVID-19 and reestablishing itself as a destination for conventions, it must compete with other cities that are working to attract convention business. This funding provides San Francisco with another tool to ensure this aspect of the city’s economy is supported and will help to confirm several pending conventions that are considering San Francisco and attract other conventions to the city.

“San Francisco is a dynamic and remarkable City to visit and a strong convention lineup helps anchor our tourism industry, supporting local businesses, hospitality and the entertainment industry,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu, who also served as co-chair for the City’s Economic Recovery Task Force. “Our center is ready to welcome visitors back with enhanced operating protocols and this funding only strengthens our position in the competitive national market for convention business.”

San Francisco remains a competitive destination for conventions. San Francisco has been a national leader its response to COVID-19 and has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, demonstrating the City’s commitment to doing everything possible to protect the safety of its residents and anyone who want to visit. The City’s location as the “Gateway to the West,” its world class airport with global connectivity, and robust hospitality infrastructure, combined with its world-renowned restaurants and cultural institutions, and access to nature and global regional destinations such as Napa Valley and Big Sur, make it highly desirable as a location.

“Group convention business at Moscone Center fuels our economy, provides much needed tax revenues to the city and good jobs,” said Joe D’Alessandro, President and CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association. “The convention market is highly competitive, and this Moscone Convention funding is essential in helping us attract group business and remain relevant in the aggressive convention market.”

San Francisco hosted more than 1,600 conventions and meetings in 2019, but that number dropped to a total of 29 conventions since April 2020. By drawing conventions back to San Francisco, the City is investing in the recovery of jobs and small businesses in its hospitality and entertainment industries, which bore the brunt of the economic impacts of COVID-19. Increased convention traffic brings hotel reservations, patrons to restaurants and bars and arts venues, and business to local shops and entertainment establishments. Based on the number of conventions currently considering San Francisco as a destination, the City expects the Moscone Convention funding will return approximately 140,000 to 150,000 room nights for San Francisco. This would generate almost $173 million in direct convention spending and almost $5 million in Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). The TOT tax, generated from each room night booked at a San Francisco hotel, goes into the City’s General Fund to provide essential City services.

“Bringing back conventions, meetings and hotel room nights are critical to our economic health and future sustainability and viability,” said Kevin Carroll, President & CEO of the Hotel Council of San Francisco. “Full hotels mean full restaurants and mean a full recovery for San Francisco. Full hotels mean more work not only for hospitality employees but for the tens of thousands of jobs and small businesses they support.”

The Moscone Convention Recovery Fund complements other recovery initiatives such as “SFWednesdays,” a series of activations in public space throughout downtown, the Downtown Community Ambassadors, and the Mid-Market Vibrancy and Safety Plan, all of which are aimed at increasing the return of San Francisco residents, commuters, and visitors to the downtown core of the City. A key aspect of the city’s economic recovery strategy prioritizes the return of San Francisco’s business and tourism industries – two industries that drive the city’s economy and create significant support for small businesses throughout the downtown and the city’s neighborhoods. Conventions support both these industries and advance broader economic vitality.

###

Medaglia d’Argento per “UponThisRock” di David Eugene Perry, Edizioni Pace.

Trentatreesimo Premio Annuale Benjamin Franklin, dall’Associazione Edizioni Libri Indipendenti.

Un romanzo Giallo acclamato nella categoria LGBT.

www.quilldriverbooks.com

14 Maggio 2021 – Fresno, CA: Per prima volta autore, David Eugene Perry ha portato a casa l’ambita medaglia d’argento nella categoria LGBT ieri sera, guadagnando il trentatreesimo annuale Premio Benjamin Franklin, dall’Associazione Editori Libri Indipendenti, per il suo acclamato romanzo giallo “Upon This Rock”, Edizioni Pace.

“Ben Franklin e’ sempre stato il mio patriota preferito, dunque questo premio mi emoziona”, ha confessato Perry, di anni 59. “In un anno nel quale il COVID ha invitato tutti a rivolgerci maggiormente verso i libri, la IBPA ha ricevuto il più alto numero di richieste di ogni tempo dal 2008. Sono immensamente onorato di esser stato scelto tra molti autori eccellenti e di aver ricevuto questo premio, e sono molto grato alla casa editrice Pace”.

Il premio IBPA Benjamin Franklin, che riconosce il prestigio nell’editoria e nel design, e’ considerato uno dei più grandi onori per gli autori indipendenti.

“Questo e’ un privilegio ben meritato per un romanzo eccezionale”, ha detto Kent Sorsky, editore di Pace Press/Linden Edizioni. “Upon This Rock” e’ un romanzo thriller deliziosamente intricato che i lettori hanno amato. Non abbiamo mai ricevuto una tale risposta per un nuovo romanziere”.

Upon This Rock e’ un “elegante giallo intricato” (Armistead Maupin, autore del successo internazionale Tales of the City¹ e “la versione gay di DaVinciCode²,ma una migliore” (Fenton Johnson, Guggenheim

¹Racconti di Citta’.
²Il Codice da Vinci.

Fellow, autore di The Man who Loved Birds³; Upon This Rock e’ “per quei lettori che amano l’Italia e la narrativa poliziesca (Lucinda Hawksley, pro-pro-pro nipote di Charles Dickens, autrice di Dicken’s Artistic Daughter, Katey⁴); “Il romanzo di Perry brilla per una vivacità accentuata, ma e’ scritto con toni seri che ti tengono incollato alla lettura. E, ovviamente, visto che si tratta di un giallo, c’e’ un assassino a sorpresa alla fine! Fate spazio, Sam Spade e Nick e Nora Charles. Benvenuti alle nuove voci, Lee e Adriano.” (Will Snyder, Bay Area Reporter); Upon This Rock e’ “la lettura perfetta per chiunque ami la narrativa del giallo, del mistero e quella storica, come i libri di John Grisham e Dan Brown.” (Ankita Dasgupta, The Bookworm Resort); “Questa e’ una lettura sfrenata. L’abilita’ di Perry di costruire la suspence e’ impressionante e l’epilogo di questa storia non solo vi sorprenderà, ma anche letteralmente vi scioccherà. ” (Erika Atkinson, autrice di Ode to the Castro⁵).

“Non troverete un romanzo più squisito, accattivante, ben scritto che questo primo composto da David Eugene Perry, Upon This Rock. Sono stata letteralmente catturata fin dal primo capitolo. Ambientato nella città di Orvieto in Italia, Perry ci trasporta in un alti-bassi di avventure, che iniziano con il papato di Clemente VII de Medici nel secolo XVI, per poi velocemente precipitare fino ai giorni nostri. Una storia fantastica, additiva e avvincente con personaggi brillanti e un finale che vi inviterà a controllare attentamente nella vostra libreria preferita per cecare il seguente nuovo romanzo d Perry (Dennis Koller, autore di The Rhythm of Evil⁶⁾. “Non risusciterete a metter giù questo libro. Ti fa voltare pagina dalla sua prima frase, fino all’inatteso e contorto finale.” (Lynn Ruth Miller, autrice di Getting the Last Laugh). In breve, Upon This Rock di David Eugene Perry e’ un “giallo attraente con una suspence da mangiarsi le unghie” (LewJ. Whittington, New York Journal of Books); un giallo sexy e storico (Julissa James, NobHills Gazette); “una lettera d’amore per Orvieto, come i Tales of the City lo sono per San Francisco (Eric Jansen, SF Bay Times & Out in theBay).

³ L’Uomo che amava gli uccelli.
⁴Katey, la figlia artistica di Dickens.
⁵ Ode ai Castro.
⁶Il ritmo del diavolo.

Forse il giornalista vincitore dell’Emmy Award, famoso reporter hollywoodiano Jan Wahl, lo ha descritto al meglio: “Upon this Rock e’ favoloso. Questo romanzo giallo e’ una versione sexy del Da Vinci Code.Non vedo l’ora del film”.

UponThis Rock, di David Eugene Perry/ 360 pagine/ $18.95 Quilldriver Books, Fresno, CA.