Wednesday, August 19

Author: Juanita MORE!

Juanita MORE! is a denizen of the limelight. For almost three decades, the laudable hostess has blitzed San Francisco with high glamour, drag irreverence, and danceable beats that have illuminated the entire city. MORE! continues to be a heaping dollop of generosity and a sprinkle of nerve. She inspires those around her to make positive differences in their lives and communities — and doing it all with timeless elegance and an innovative spirit. Most recently, after her reign, Miss MORE! holds the title of Absolute Empress 56 of the Imperial Council of San Francisco –– one of the oldest non-profit organizations globally. To date, MORE! has helped raise over 1 million dollars for local charities — among them GBLT Historical Society & Archives, Our Trans Youth, Q Foundation, Queer Lifespace, Transgender Law Center, and more. In addition, MORE! tirelessly fundraises for organizations in San Francisco that are adamant about helping communities in the seven-by-seven thrive, all while shining light and offering support to those who’ve been overlooked for far too long. MORE! embodies what it means to be a conduit of connection. MORE!’ brings the people together to fundraise, celebrate community, and demand social change around San Francisco and elsewhere. Her culinary expressions are an extension of what mothers have been doing in their kitchens for generations — which, simply states, is sharing “loads of love.”
My San Francisco Love for the Ladies of Jazz
10Aug By Juanita MORE!No Comments
Essays

My San Francisco Love for the Ladies of Jazz

How nostalgia, musings, and melody have shaped my musicality (and playlist tastes). I remember being in the garage with my dad as a little kid, watching him slowly walk over to the radio and turn up the volume on the song that was playing. It made me take note of the beautiful voice coming out of the speaker. It made me think that not only did my dad love the song, but it also held some memory for him. It was Dinah Washington, one of the most popular artists of the 1950s, singing "What A Difference A Day Makes." My dad sang along, and I became captivated by Dinah's voice; the song became a fond memory for me. It was my official introduction to and love for the ladies of jazz. The first number I ever performed was one of Miss Washington's songs titled "Such A Night". It was a bi...
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San Francisco District 8 Candidate Gary McCoy Eats Out
6Aug By Juanita MORE!No Comments
Hyperlocal News + Stories

San Francisco District 8 Candidate Gary McCoy Eats Out

I'm proud to stand with Gary McCoy in his campaign for District 8 Supervisor. I've said this before: I'm just one drag queen without a political action committee or big money backing me. I've been a part of San Francisco's queer community since I was a teenager. I care about our City. Recent headlines about the District 8 Supervisor race have been extremely disturbing. What hasn't been discussed is a real conversation about who brings the proven experience and leadership that District 8 needs. Gary has spent over 15 years shaping San Francisco politics, most notably as a trusted congressional aide for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. While his journey includes challenges that might lead some to question his fitness for office, these very experiences are what make him uniquely qualif...
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In Memoriam: A Love Letter to Wig Master Rosalie Jacques of Rosalie’s New Looks
29Jan By Juanita MORE!No Comments
Essays, Hyperlocal News + Stories, Queerness

In Memoriam: A Love Letter to Wig Master Rosalie Jacques of Rosalie’s New Looks

She was a true quintessential San Francisco character I first met Rosalie in 1993, when I visited her wig and hair salon, Rosalie’s New Look's, in North Beach. After moving to San Francisco from Stockton in 1957, fresh out of beauty school, Rosalie quickly found her place doing hair. She soon opened her own shop, making wigs for the drag queens at Finnocchio’s nightclub and styling the topless dancers of North Beach. When topless entertainment became legal in the early 60s, she recalled the famous stripper Carol Doda visiting her shop and jumping into the window full of wigs and starting to strip. Rosalie also crafted merkins for dancers during that time to comply with legal restrictions. She proudly did hair for Charles Pierce, who preferred to be known as an actor rather than a femal...
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The National Guard Is Coming to San Francisco This Week. Here’s What Could Happen.
22Oct By Juanita MORE!No Comments
Editors' Picks, Hyperlocal News + Stories, News to Know, Queerness

The National Guard Is Coming to San Francisco This Week. Here’s What Could Happen.

President Trump's next city on his unsubstantiated hit-list is none other than the one I've called home for decades. UPDATE: The Frump administration has dispatched more than 100 federal agents to Coast Guard bade in Alameda. From what I am hearing among my community, it could actually happen this weekend. There will likely be some show of force — even if it's armed guardspeople driving through the City to get some attention and stir shit up.  California Governor Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced yesterday that California will immediately sue the Trump Administration if it illegally sends the National Guard into San Francisco.Mayor Daniel Lurie has stated he'd also put up stopping blocks, announcing that "[San Francisco] will always protect the people and the values that ma...
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On Signing April Fool’s Love Letters in San Francisco
26Mar By Juanita MORE!No Comments
Hyperlocal News + Stories, Queerness

On Signing April Fool’s Love Letters in San Francisco

Let’s support the USPS — one snarky piece of postage at a time. Republican Louis DeJoy has stepped down as Postmaster General after almost five years of trying to restructure the money-losing United States Postal Service. He faced much criticism, especially from Democrats, over his handling of election mail. And it sounds like his exit is what the orange-haired leader and his buddy Musky wanted anyway. Their goal is to privatize the postal service, which will significantly affect its services. I can't remember exactly when my fascination with the Post Office began. As a kid, when my family received holiday cards –– it was the envelope the card came in that I was obsessed with—the handwriting, whether blocky or elaborate script, said something about its sender. And the stamps! Those wh...
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San Francisco’s Most Painted Drag Queen to Get Four ‘More’ Murals
3Dec By Juanita MORE!1 Comment
Hyperlocal News + Stories, Queerness

San Francisco’s Most Painted Drag Queen to Get Four ‘More’ Murals

There's no shortage of public street art in SF — and odds are, you've seen my face (and my dogs) painted across more than a few of them. I took on the title of "The Most Painted Drag Queen in San Francisco" after hearing Sister Roma scream her moniker — "I'm the most photographed nun in the world— repeatedly at me over the years. I've been doing drag for over thirty years, and I've been honored to have multiple artists create their visions of me across various mediums. I am an avid art collector, curating my first multi-group show at Space Gallery on Polk Street titled "Gold Plated" in 1996. It represented a rotating exhibition of works influenced by my personae. In 1997, Catharine Clark Gallery included me in a retrospective look at the couture of Mr. David titled "Out of the Closet"....
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Gratitude, Appreciation, and Good-Doing From a San Francisco Drag Queen
28Oct By Juanita MORE!No Comments
Culture + Travel, Queerness

Gratitude, Appreciation, and Good-Doing From a San Francisco Drag Queen

Queer nonprofit LYRIC is honoring Juanita MORE! — (me!) — for collectively donating $140,000 in 2024. Earlier this year, I chose the LYRIC Center of LGBTQQ Youth (Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center) in the San Francisco Bay Area as my annual Pride Party beneficiary. I wanted to highlight the great work at LYRIC because the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community locally, nationally, and globally are serious on many levels. We see daily efforts to dismantle our rights to exist simply. I want to keep building our future by supporting our queer youth in their quest to carry on the legacy of our queer elders. LYRIC has chosen to recognize me at their annual Donor Appreciation Soirée this November for helping raise more than $140,000 through my annual Pride campaign. I'm...
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Why I’m Voting for Aaron Peskin as a Rent-Controlled Tenant in San Francisco
15Oct By Juanita MORE!No Comments
Editors' Picks, Hyperlocal News + Stories, Queerness

Why I’m Voting for Aaron Peskin as a Rent-Controlled Tenant in San Francisco

We need change, but not just any change — we need experienced change. As we gear up for the crucial mayoral election in San Francisco, I've been having insightful discussions with friends who, like many of us, feel the weight of this significant event. Politics can be exhausting and overwhelming, and it's no surprise that many of us feel burnt out. The key has been to keep the conversations respectful and connected through trust, listening, engaging, and being receptive to ideas outside of yours. As most of you, my fellow local political enthusiasts, know, I support Aaron Peskin, the President of the Board of San Francisco Supervisors for Mayor of San Francisco. This race has involved a significant amount of money, as evidenced by the barrage of campaign materials in my postbox, soc...
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On Building Queer Community in SF Amid a Housing Crisis
15Oct By Juanita MORE!No Comments
Hyperlocal News + Stories, Queerness

On Building Queer Community in SF Amid a Housing Crisis

Housing in San Francisco, and anywhere in the country and world, should be considered a human right — vote "yes" on Prop 33. 2024 marks my 32nd year as a being drag queen; a philanthropist; a civil rights activist; a community leader; and a mom to many in San Francisco (and elsewhere in the country). Each of these roles I take seriously—all of which is made easier because of my undeniable beauty. To date, my community of friends, family, and supporters has helped me raise over $1 million for local charities by supporting events that I have organized over the years. (Among them have been GBLT Historical Society & Archives, Our Trans Youth, Queer LifeSpace, Transgender Law Center, and more.) It’s a feeling of gratitude Each year in June, I plan my annual Pride Party and choose a l...
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I Only Turn 33 Once A Year. Let’s Celebrate With a Philanthropic Naked Dinner Party
4Sep By Juanita MORE!No Comments
Editors' Picks, Hyperlocal News + Stories, Queerness

I Only Turn 33 Once A Year. Let’s Celebrate With a Philanthropic Naked Dinner Party

Have you ever seen a prettier 33-year-old in San Francisco? No, the answer is no. I was that little kid who disliked all the fuss and attention a birthday brings. "Please don't sing," I would silently repeat over and over to myself. But, as the years passed, I've come to accept that those who love you want to celebrate you once a year. So, I've learned to appreciate all the fuss and excitement that another turn on Mother Earth brings. As I turn 33 (again) this year, I'm planning the biggest naked birthday party ever. The event will support the great work at Rainbow Railroad with cocktails, hors-d'oeuvres, music, and entertainment—all for $25!  If you've ever been to one of my vast events, you'll surely meet someone new. And you will quickly learn that my friends are beautiful inside an...
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