Gays Acknowledge Queen, Too (Press, 5 March 1983)

On 5 March 1983, San Francisco hosted various events coinciding with the Queen's visit that highlighted the city's diverse and often contentious spirit. One of the most notable events was a "Royal Family look-alike" contest held at The Elephant Walk, a gay bar located in a less glamorous district of the city. The event was complemented by performances from Charles Pierce, who entertained crowds at the York Hotel with his impersonations of the Queen. Additionally, the Rev. Cecil Williams, the pastor of Glide Memorial Church, distributed vibrant dinner jackets to 600 homeless individuals to allow them to participate in an "alternative dinner." This event was aimed at contrasting the high-cost Royal dinner with a more modest meal of hot dogs and salad, reflecting the disparity between the lavish feast prepared for the Queen—featuring delicacies like scallop, salmon, lobster, and specially made strawberry dessert—and the simpler fare usually consumed by the less fortunate. The Queen's visit spurred a significant protest in San Francisco, where a coalition of organisations rallied against British policy in Northern Ireland, among other issues. The massive demonstration saw participation from a variety of groups, including the city's large gay community, which took offense at the dismissal of a homosexual detective in the Queen’s service the previous year. Other groups, such as the All Peoples Congress and the Grey Panthers, joined in, resulting in a diverse protest that expressed multiple grievances. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Golden Gate Park carrying anti-British signs and an effigy of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, with some chants focusing on economic inequality. A lengthy procession of protesters marched near the venue of the official state dinner, advocating for various causes, while riot police monitored the situation. Despite the potential for a larger turnout, the number of protesters was fewer than anticipated. The state dinner, hosted at the M. H. De Young Memorial Museum—which underwent significant refurbishment for the event—invited more than 200 guests, showcasing the formality of the occasion amid the backdrop of protest. Earlier in the day, the Queen engaged with the local culture, attending a zany revue and visiting the electronics sector of "Silicon Valley." The Royal couple was serenaded at the Davies Symphony Hall by renowned singer Tony Bennett, who performed “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” alongside Mary Martin. Thus, San Francisco's celebration of the Royal visit was marked by extravagance but also by the city's characteristic activism, reflecting its complex social landscape and the diverse voices within it.

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