Shot on location at 814 Grove St. courtesy of Mike Finn
Director of Photography Dominick Hildebrand
Production Assistants Ben Wong, Allie Stevens & Duane Quintana
BEAR WITH A HEART OF GOLD
Leandro Gonzales: Emperor of the San Francisco Imperial Court
■ INTERVIEW BY DOMINICK HILDEBRAND
Leandro Gonzales is one of Bay Area’s most prominent servants for the LGBTQ and POC communities with his dedication to give back to our most vulnerable groups. Representing a kingdom that fundraises for charitable organizations, Leandro wants to focus on addressing issues that affect POCs, immigrants, and the youth. His campaign It’s Tamale Time! truly is timely in this age of the POC Revolution.
What’s going on this year during your reign? How different is your reign going to be compared to other Emperors? The Court of Tamales con Pollo has been doing amazing things as our titleholders raise money for different causes. This year, we want to focus on fighting hunger, safety, and immigrant rights. Personally, my motivation to fight for immigrant rights came from the person we have in the White House, so I am focusing on charities that protect our immigrant communities in the Bay Area.
Looking good in your Mariachi outfit! My campaign It’s Tamale Time!, with my face imprinted on a bottle of hot sauce and my attire, is a tribute to my Mexican heritage and immigrant father.
Before becoming Emperor, what encouraged you to be of service to the SF LGBTQ community? I have always been involved with volunteering ever since I was a kid. Particularly, giving back and putting a smile on someone’s face is something I have always treasured. I got involved in our LGTBQ community when I started playing rugby with the San Francisco Fog and feeding the homeless at Tenderloin Tessie in 2006. I wanted to influence change within our rugby team and be of service to the community to prove that not all rugby players spend all their time in a bar or the field. Then I got to learn more about Mama José Sarria, a drag queen and Latinx activist in San Francisco. I wanted to learn more about the Imperial Court and its amazing work for the past 53 years, went to a few fundraisers, and I was hooked.
I have never directly encountered obstacles because of the color of my skin, but I have heard comments about me wearing my Mariachi suit that it was offensive at a fundraiser I attended.
As a POC in the LGBTQ community, were there any obstacles that you encountered because you were not white? I have never directly encountered obstacles because of the color of my skin, but I have heard comments about me wearing my Mariachi suit that it was offensive at a fundraiser I attended. I didn’t let it bother me because I am proud of my heritage.
Now about Grindr, Scruff, Gay.com, whatever. LOL! (Is that still around?) What’s your experience with those apps as a man with needs? I did have those and the hook ups were nice, but I had a few stalkers and ended up deleting my accounts when the same people were at the same locations I was day in day out.
If I had $10 to spare, which non-profits should I give it to? My favorite non-profits are a few I volunteer and fundraise for. LGBTQ Asylum Project. Aguilas. Tenderloin Tessie’s. Castro Community on Patrol. And of course, The Imperial Council of San Francisco.
Don’t forget about MXD Magazine! We’re a registered non-profit media organization, y’know?! Yes, Mister! I’ll be giving you guys a little something.
What is your role in The POC Revolution as we strive to achieve racial equality? I want to be able to inspire other POCs, young people coming out, and immigrants coming and to our city. You never know whom your words will touch on any given day. So every message (no matter how short, how much community involvement you are in, how much you fundraise) should have an inspirational component and be in the community for the right reasons.
