SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- When the COVID-19 pandemic decimated San Francisco's vibrant queer nightlife, as it has done to arts and entertainment across the country, the inspiration for expanding the newly launched Glitter Worthy Store was born. The online boutique that launched today features the original work of an expanding line-up of LGBTQ+ artists with 20 percent of all sales going directly to those artists, the queer icons they celebrate, or a revolving group of LGBTQ+ nonprofits that is badly in need of funds due to the 2020 economic downturn.
The new Glitter Worthy Store is the brainchild of San Francisco gay couple Chris Knight and Celso Dulay, co-founders of Glitter Bomb TV – an online entertainment portal for the LGBTQ+ community. The duo originally opened the store as a way to monetize video content following alleged discrimination and censorship resulting in a class-action lawsuit vs. Google/YouTube in 2019.
"Our community has a long history of overcoming hardships and coming together to support each other," said Celso Dulay, co-founder of the Glitter Worthy Store. "During the AIDS crisis, the last major pandemic to impact us in the U.S., San Francisco led the way with the formation of organizations such as the Imperial Council of San Francisco and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence that have become two of the world's largest LGBTQ+ fundraising operations. It's in our DNA to do this."
The coronavirus crisis has caused a culture shock across the country. Along with the tourism sector, the cultural and creative sectors have been some of the hardest hit in terms of economic impact contributing to up to 5.5 percent of all jobs at risk. For queer nightlife, which was shut down in San Francisco and other U.S. cities back in March, the pandemic has led to mass unemployment for bartenders and wait staff, DJs, dancers, drag artists, producers and promoters of nightlife events and festivals, production artists, lighting designers and event photographers.
To spread the good word and help drive more product sales during the 2020 holiday shopping season to support queer artists and icons, the Glitter Worthy Store has launched a new "Shop Love. Shop Small." campaign on Facebook and Instagram that features some of San Francisco's best-known drag queens including BeBe Sweetbriar, Donna Sachet, Juanita More!, Glamamore (a.k.a. Mr. David) and MuthaChucka. The five drag performers are celebrated in the new "SF DIVAS" line, featuring the artwork of CJ Knight with LeftCoastScenes.
"Even though there was only one local queen, Honey Mahogany, ever featured on 'Ru Paul's Drag Race,' San Francisco is well known for some of the world's best drag performers," said Chris Knight, nightlife photographer and co-founder of the Glitter Worthy Store. "During December, we will continue to expand the San Francisco drag queens we are celebrating, while raising much-needed income for them while our queer nightlife remains shut down for the foreseeable future."
Other LGBTQ+ artists who have recently signed on to produce and sell original artwork with the new Glitter Worthy Store include Aquaboogie (a.k.a. Michaela Mason), East Bay photographer Scott DeVine with DeVineFocus, and mr. Pam (a.k.a. Pam Dore), an award-winning adult filmmaker, cinematographer, photographer and event host.
The first LGBTQ+ nonprofits that will benefit from the sales of Glitter Worthy Store products during November and December include: Larkin Street Youth Services, the GLBT Historical Society – Museum and Archives, and the SF Bay Area Queer Nightlife Fund.
"SF DIVAS" Images for Download:
- BeBe Sweetbriar hosts an event in the East Bay (download image)
- Donna Sachet's closing performance at "Sunday's A Drag" (download image)
- Juanita More! (left) + MuthaChucka at JM!'s SF PRIDE Party (download image)
- Juanita More! (left) + Mr. David (aka Glamamore) at JM!'s SF PRIDE Party (download image)
- MuthaChucka performs at "Some Are Camp!" in Guerneville, California (download image)
About Glitter Worthy Store:
Founded in 2020, Glitter Worthy Store™ was inspired by the strength, creativity and resilience of our LGBTQ+ community in the midst of a global pandemic. Its goal is to celebrate our queer art, beauty, humor and irreverence while raising money (20 percent of all proceeds) for LGBTQ+ artists and nonprofits. We will continue to discover and celebrate new artists over time, in addition to offering more artistic products created by Glitter Worthy Store's two co-founders.
For more information, please visit: https://www.shopglitterworthy.com
Media Contact:
Chris Knight, PR director and co-founder
Glitter Worthy Store
Based in San Francisco, Calif.
[email protected]
(415) 786-9226 c. (on WhatsApp)
Artists & Models Contact:
CJ More!, artistic director
Glitter Worthy Store
[email protected]
Media Contact
Chis Knight, Divino Group, +1 (415) 786-9226, [email protected]
SOURCE Glitter Worthy
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