Known to San Franciscans as a nightlife and theater regular in the 1990s, Justin Vivian Bond has been awarded a MacArthur Grant. The performer's wacky Kiki & Herb cabaret show premiered at the former Ivy's bar, now Martuni's, back in 1993.
Since then, Bond, who also wrote a popular column for the Bay Area Reporter in the '90s, has gone on to acclaimed concerts in New York City and around the world.
Bond frequently has returned to San Francisco for sold-out shows at Feinstein's at the Nikko, and at larger venues for a few New Year's Eve specials with pianist Kenny Mellman, and even at Carnegie Hall. The duo has also released a few albums, and Mx. has two more of their own.
"Keep it pretty. Keep it shallow. Keep it Genius!," Mx. wrote in a witty Facebook post on October 1.
"Thank you to all the mystery people who advocated for this grift and thanks to The Goddess for convincing The MacArthur Foundation to fall for it. I'm incredibly honored and very overwhelmed. Blessed be."
Bond is among 22 recipients of genius grants who each will receive an $800,000 stipend. The winners are anonymously nominated. The honor is given out each year by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, recognizing individuals in a variety of fields. Since 1981, more than 1,100 people have been awarded the fellowships.
Hundreds of friends and fans of Bond responded to the news with joy.
"So happy for you!" wrote San Francisco DJ Don Baird. "I'm screaming for you. I've known since before Eichelberger's that you were performance genius, lots of us did. But every performance comes complete and no one could have anticipated the consistent ascent of your talent, the dignified, undeniable star power, the perfection of your craft, because it's goddamned uncanny and the trajectory is going higher still. There is no other star like you, danger still intact."
Stage and film actor Ann Magnuson wrote, "Amaaaaaaaaazing! Just what the gal with the ZING deserves! I'm about to cry. I am so proud of you!"
Celebrity tribute show presenter and author Marc Huestis wrote, "We always knew you were a genius. Now the world is catching up!"
Bond's memoir, "Tango: My Childhood Backwards and in High Heels" (Feminist Press) won the Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Nonfiction. Mx. is also the recipient of an Obie, a Bessie, and a Tony nomination, an Ethyl Eichelberger Award, The Peter Reed Foundation Grant, The Foundation for Contemporary Art Grant for Artists, and The Art Matters Grant.
In a later Facebook post on Oct. 6, Bond wrote, "Of course I'm overwhelmed with gratitude toward those who put me forward for the MacArthur fellowship. The "Genius" part tickles me to no end. In England some artists get to be a "Dame" here in the US, if you're lucky you get to be a Genius! As a Glorious Broad, and a Saint (thanks to The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence), I joyfully accept the title "Genius" on behalf of all of the people who have held me steady on my path, come to my shows, formed friend groups, fallen in love, gotten loaded, cried, or laughed.
"I feel like this honor is shared with my community because you are my director, my producer, and my audience. You've seen me through many changes through the years and continued to show up. "
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