2023 Season of Events (Press Release)
Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation Announces 2023 Season of Events, Non-Profit Beneficiaries, and DJs for REAL BAD 34
SAN FRANCISCO, CA. May 22, 2023 — The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation announced their 2023 DJs and non-profit beneficiaries. The all-volunteer Foundation produces the annual REAL BAD fundraising event that follows San Francisco’s world-renowned Folsom Street Fair on Sunday, September 25th at 1015 Folsom. The Foundation also throws RITUAL After Hours featuring DJ Juanma Escudero during Up Your Alley Weekend on Sunday, July 30th, 2023 at 1015 Folsom—tickets available now at ritualafterhours.com. Following tradition, the Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation committed to donating 100 percent of the general admission ticket price of the historically sold-out REAL BAD, as well as 100 percent of the net proceeds generated by RITUAL After Hours to six worthy LGBTQ nonprofits. Last year, the Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation donated $230,000, and has given back more than $3.6 million to the community since 1989.
Non-Profit Beneficiaries
The four LGBTQ non-profit organizations named as Tier A 2023 beneficiaries of the Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation represent diverse causes within the community. The beneficiary organizations selected to receive new or continued unrestricted Tier A grant funding this year are:
Bay Area Girls Rock Camp (2023 & 2024)
Bay Area Girls Rock Camp is a nonprofit organization that empowers young people through music, promoting an environment that fosters self-confidence, creativity and teamwork. The camp centers the experiences of girls, trans and/or non-binary youth in their explicit commitment to gender justice and creating an inclusive environment that supports a wide range of marginalized gender identities and expressions.
Give Us The Floor (2023 & 2024)
Give Us The Floor (GUTF) is a San Francisco-based non-profit organization. GUTF provides LGBTQ+ teens in distress with the peer-positive human connection that they are too often missing. GUTF helps LGBTQ+ teens deal with distress through inclusive, innovative and unique online peer Supportive Group Chats that provide constant contact and anonymity in a safe teen-only community, breaking the isolation and shame cycles they are experiencing.
Larkin Street Youth Services (2022 & 2023)
Larkin Street serves the more than 1,100 youth (ages 12-24) who sleep on San Francisco’s streets on any given night. Larkin Street’s integrated model of care includes housing, healthcare, education, and employment services to help youth achieve stability, self-sufficiency, and improved lifelong health outcomes.
Queer LifeSpace’s mission is to provide evidence-based training & mental health services for the LGBTQ+ community for Queer People by Queer People.
Brian Abascal, Beneficiary Committee Chair said, “We were fortunate this year to have an outstanding group of finalist organizations to choose from. We wish we could award them all! We are thrilled to have awarded Bay Area Girls Rock Camp and Give Us The Floor this year, two organizations reaching the queer community at their most vulnerable stage in life–in their youth. Providing a safe space for queer youth to explore their own gender and sexual identities helps build belonging and fosters a thriving and healthy Bay Area LGBTQ+ community for the future.”
REAL BAD 34 DJs
Moussa (Barcelona) - Main Room Headlining DJ
Coming from a European background, Moussa was born and raised in Germany with a Turkish heritage. Having lived for 13 years in Barcelona, Moussa’s European background embraces its multicultural influence, which also defines his musical diversity. During his musical education and career of almost 20 years, he holds various primary residencies throughout Europe at brands like Matinee Group and Circuit Festival in Barcelona, and Revolver in Berlin - to mention only a few. Moussa is not only headlining significant parties in Europe but also being regularly booked in North- and South America and even in Africa. His sound reflects a more techy spectrum of Circuit House and covers Techno and Progressive, which he says his roots are based on. Whatever he plays, his sets never lose the Moussa-Twist and capture the crowd wherever he plays.
Alfonso Tan (Seattle) - Main Room Opening DJ
Alfonso Tan is a DJ and Producer specializing in house and adjacent forms of dance music. He can frequently be found crushing the dance floor at one of Seattle's largest LGBTQ clubs, the Cuff Complex, where he's a resident DJ. Alfonso has rocked parties for Polyglamorous, TrophyDad, DILF, HustlaBall, travelled far to events like Darklands, and more. He is hyper-focused on providing the proper groove for his audience, whether it be bright and happy or dark and dirty. His productions are known for heavy-hitting kicks, groovy drums, and classic house music elements.
Simon Harrison (Los Angeles) - Underground DJ
Simon Harrison, coming to us from Los Angeles, is a self-taught music producer and DJ known for his deep, melodic, and ethereal soundscapes. His music, a compelling blend of current Progressive House, Melodic Techno, and Tech House, has quickly gained him recognition in the industry along with his performances at iconic events such as Halloweenie, Burning Man, and Lightning in a Bottle. Simon's talent transcends the boundaries of live performances, producing tracks that echo his own distinctive sound.
REAL BAD 34 will also feature world-class lighting, laser, and video production. The lighting and laser show will be designed and operated by Robert Sanders of RAGERLAZER; visuals by Kristen Violet.
From Our 2023 Events Committee Chairperson
Tom Tarn, 2023’s Events Chair for REAL BAD 34 and RITUAL said, “I am honored to be entrusted with executing another season of exciting events for which this organization is renowned. For thirty four years, this community–a circle of friends–has delivered joy and connection while raising funds for life-saving services. Aware of the times we live in, I hope the message sent in our 2023 beneficiary selections is received: That every vulnerable, young queer person’s life must be protected and allowed to freely flourish.”
Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation Mission
The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation changes lives by supporting organizations that promote a happy, healthy, and connected LGBTQ community. For more information, visit www.realbad.org and www.grgrf.org