REAL BAD In the Press

ANNOUNCEMENTS

GRGR/West DONATES $150,000 TO SF CHARITIES

San Francisco, CA - (November 8, 2007) - Grassroots Gay Rights West (GRGR/West) announced today during a gathering of supporters at the Eureka Valley Community Center the donation of record proceeds from REAL BAD XIX. Ticket sales from this year's nine-hour leather celebration allowed for the beneficiaries, STOP AIDS Project and Lavender Youth Recreation & Information Center (LYRIC), to equally share a total of $150,000 to support their respective work for the community. REAL BAD, produced by GRGR/West, operates through its Circle of Friends ritual: friends inspiring friends to gather in celebration to benefit community. Hosts and the generosity of sponsors provide the funding required to produce REAL BAD, allowing 100 percent of ticket proceeds to be donated to its beneficiaries. This tradition of grassroots fundraising has allowed REAL BAD, the longest running, most successful fundraising event of its kind in San Francisco, to donate to Bay Area LGBT civil rights, community services, and/or HIV/health-related organizations.

Long Beach DJ Cary Stringfellow, a 15-year veteran of the national club scene, played to the sold-out crowd of 2,300 at REAL BAD XIX which took place immediately following Folsom Street Fair at 1015 Folsom Sunday, September 30, 2007. DJ Stringfellow was chosen by GRGR/West from numerous entries in the tradition of REAL BAD spotlighting previously under-promoted DJs.

The success of REAL BAD XIX is attributed not only to the efforts of GRGR/WEST and performance of the world-class DJ selected for the event but to the beneficiaries that provided volunteers to help ensure a safe and smoothly run party.

REAL BAD will be celebrating its 20th year in 2008, which will take place immediately following the Folsom Street Fair on Sunday, September 28, 2008.

REAL BAD SETS ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING YEAR!

After another fantastic leather holiday in San Francisco, Grass Roots Gay Rights West and the Working Group of REAL BAD XIX are proud to have added to many wonderful memories from the 2007 Folsom Street Fair weekend.

The twenty-one men of this year’s Working Group focused for nine months on continuing the tradition of creating a joyous dance celebration while raising as much as possible for our chosen beneficiaries, this year being Lavender Youth Recreation & Information Center (LYRIC) and STOP AIDS Project. We could not have met these worthy goals, however, without the many partners who made it possible.

Our greatest thanks must go to the owner and staff of 1015 Folsom who, once again, provided REAL BAD with a world-class setting for our Circle of Friends to gather. Along with our venue, this year’s event could not have succeeded without the financial and community support of our sponsors. We invite everyone to patronize year-round the companies who, once again, stood so strongly behind making our party a reality.

The gifted DJs Cary Stringfellow and Jeff Stallings deserve passionate accolades for setting a fantastic tone all evening in the main club and chill-out Vault space. Accented for the first time by volunteer flagging and bondage performances this year’s REAL BAD shined with more entertainment than ever.

Although many loyal members of the community worked hard to produce REAL BAD XIX, it is our sexy and fun-loving hosts and guests who this event is dedicated to. The Circle of Friends who gather their extended family in celebration each year are the heart and soul of REAL BAD and the Working Group cannot thank them enough for their continued love for this little fundraising dance party and the deserving organizations it supports.

© Copyright 2008, GRGR/West. All Rights Reserved.