A Queer Evening in May was May 29 at Kuumbwaa
A sold out crowd listened to local talent that included:
DIANE SYRCLE, a mezzo-soprano with choral and solo singing credits that include the SC Opera Project, Ensemble Monterey, Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, and Houston Grand Opera and was also the co-emcee.
AKINDELE BANKOLE, owner of Veg on the Edge, is a composer, musician, and tenor soloist.
PATTI MAXINE is a lap steel virtuoso, vocal stylist and household name in Santa Cruz area and performed at the first Pride event in 1975.
D. RILEY NICHOLSON is the Executive Director of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. As a composer, pianist and performer, he creates ambitious and collaborative new works that are innovative and inviting.
CHRISTIE McCARTHY is an American singer-songwriter and a soul poet with a fresh take on a ‘70’s vibe.
JORGE TORREZ, a teacher at both Santa Cruz and Soquel High, is a tenor who enjoys performing classical choral music.
RED KEENER is a recent UCSC graduate and an independent audio designer, musician, and music producer, singer and songwriter.
SANDY STONE is an author, performer, theoretician, Banff Centre Senior Artist, UC Humanities Research Fellow and National Women’s Hall of Fame inductee in 2024. She provided the trans benediction.
NIC LAFLIN is the Lead Program Specialist at the Diversity Center and also a visual artist, community organizer and former gay theater kid and was the co-emcee.
A TRIBUTE TO GILBERT MORENO with Gail Thornton Borkowski and Jim Schultz as narrators, singers Ana Bogren, Sarah Mitchler, Tom Graves, and Jesse McMilin on the piano.
In the Good Times: “When queer folks couldn’t find a stage, they built one—and turned it into a 2,000-seat celebration filled with creativity and fun.
In the mid-1980s, a group of gay and lesbian people began A Gay Evening in May. Within a few years, the event gained popularity and was hosted at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. The variety show featured musical performances and skits. Many performers were new to the stage, but this event gave them the support they needed to slay the day.”