BeBe Sweetbriar

BeBe’s sweet and strong support of the LGBTQ+ community shines bright.

In addition to being one of the most recognized and lauded personalities in San Francisco’s prolific drag scene, BeBe Sweetbriar is an artist and advocate using her influence to build and strengthen community. From claiming her spot as a Top 25 Billboard Chart recording artist to hosting amazing parties and events throughout the city, BeBe’s work promotes voice and visibility for members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as supporting the fight against HIV/ AIDS stigma. When you see BeBe on stage, on screen, or simply showing up at your favorite nightlife event in SF, you’re seeing someone whose unwavering dedication to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality is interwoven into everything that she does.

Terrance Wilder

Terrance’s heart is as big as the family he’s built in San Francisco.

Creating events where community members feel free to enjoy and express themselves is what Terrance’s work at the DREAAM Project is all about. By encouraging a family atmosphere of mutual respect, genuine affection, and constant education, Terrance has facilitated a space in the DREAAM Project drop-in center that affirms individuals and allows life-long friendships to bloom effortlessly. The folks who visit this unique and necessary environment receive the benefit of Terrance’s enduring commitment to bringing moments of unbridled joy to those who need it most.

Fu-Sung Elizabeth Cookye

Fu-Sung manifests imagery showcasing underrepresented members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The founder of Goddess Media, a company giving visibility to the cosplay and gaming subculture within LGBTQ+ communities, Fu-Sung takes pride in highlighting aspects of both cultures that are rarely given a platform. His/Her ability to blend elements of Japanese anime, Chinese fashion, comic book/manga characters, and digital media has resulted in a wholly unique experience of acceptance and networking for his/her followers and fans. As he/she build bridges and fosters community, Fu-Sung also promotes inner peace, self-acceptance, and a sense of adventure in those who look to him/ her for inspiration.

Shawn Purcell-
Davenport

Shawn projects pride and power in tribute to those who came before him.

A native Bay Area resident, student, and activist, Shawn uses fashion to declare an emphatic love for his cultural roots. Whether on the set of a commercial photo shoot or simply going to the grocery store, his look is fly - by his own standards - in homage to the powerful, courageous Black people who paved the way for his success. Self-expression and pride are important aspects to Shawn’s personality that transcend and inform his style; by loving and improving himself, he hopes to empower all those who follow in his footsteps.

Lee fashions prosperous Bay Area futures by sharing his skills with students.

Although Lee’s hard work has afforded him opportunities to work with artists such as P. Diddy, Dwele, Erykah Badu, Morris Chestnut, and others, it’s his efforts to empower youth through programming in fashion and design that spark the most pride. By partnering with the Berkeley Unified School District, Lee has been able to teach local students the basic skills of sewing, sketching, and textile work that evolve into increased self-confidence and potential careers in a rewarding field. It’s this example of giving back to his community that proves a generous heart like Lee’s will never go out of style.

Akeem develops images that reveal the remarkable in San Francisco communities.

With roots stretching from the Cape Verde Islands of Africa all the way to San Francisco, Akeem has cultivated a lens that captures and celebrates diverse stories in The Bay area. As a first generation Black American in the LGBTQ+ community, his intersectional perspective allows him to see and honor the differences that make his subjects remarkable. Akeem’s specialties are portraiture, events, and travel, and the business he’s developing in SF promises to establish him a force in the world of photography.

Edwin-Geovani shows his love for community by connecting San Franciscans with necessary resources.

After experiencing a tough, but relatable, start in life - including growing up in a single-parent, immigrant household in San Francisco’s low-income housing - Geovani has cultivated a sense of gratitude and resilience rooted in his reverence for community. A deep love for the people who support each other through hard times and a commitment to self-care despite one’s circumstances are sentiments he nurtures and seeks to pass on to all disenfranchised communities in San Francisco. His work now as a PrEP Program Coordinator allows him to pass along information about PrEP while disseminating information about healthy sexual practices, productively challenging Latino cultural stigmas, and linking all people to services that range from housing, counseling/psychiatry, and many other services that Latinos don’t always even know exist to serve them.