It's always a big treat to work on the Besties because of all of the talent you see here. We've got comedians, performers, DJs, dancers and photographers. What an impressive roster. Congratulations to all of our winners, to the runners-up and to the community for participating in choosing them. I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoyed writing about them.
Best Comic: Marga Gomez
Runners-up: Jesus U Better Work, Lisa Geduldig
Marga Gomez returns to the top spot as the funniest person under the LGBT rainbow. This year she has been touring "Swimming with Lesbians," which is about a more than three hour tour in which Gomez morphs into a variety of hilarious characters that captured both the hearts and the funny bones of our readers.
www.margagomez.com
Best DJ: Bus Station John
Runners-up: Tie: Sergio Fedasz / Page Hodel
Bus Station John is the power behind both Tubesteak Connection at Aunt Charlie's and Disco Daddy at the Eagle. He's been called legendary by no less than the SF Chronicle, and our readers wholeheartedly concur. With an encyclopedic knowledge of obscure and tasty music all the way back to the beginnings of disco, he is an amazing DJ and is truly loved by the readers of the B.A.R.
www.facebook.com/scott.tobereal
Best Drag Queen: D'Arcy Drollinger
Runners-up: Sister Roma, Peaches Christ
D'arcy Drollinger treated us to the character Drew Buriedmore in this year's "Sqream" among many other roles. But her most prominent notoriety this past is that of being dubbed San Francisco's first Drag Laureate. The owner of the Oasis (among many other credits) has won this year's Best Drag Queen title from the B.A.R.'s readers. Congratulations on a well-deserved award to a community treasure.
www.darcydrollinger.com
Best Drag King: Tie: Madd Dogg 20/20 & Alex U. Inn
Runner-up: Leigh Crow
Well, this is cool: Best Drag King winner of 2022 and 2023 share the title in 2024! Alex U. Inn is a founding member of the hip hop drag troupe Momma's Boyz and has been co-organizer of the People's March and rally. Madd Dogg 2020 participated in Princess Pink Saturday and ruled the Ducal Court of the Golden Beaver. Let's hope for synergistic performance energy this year as we congratulate the winners.
www.shugdoggproductions.com
www.facebook.com/alex.u.inn
Best Faux Queen: Miss Shugana
Runners-up: Trixie Carr, Fauxnique
Aside from being Grand Duchess 45 (2017 -2018) and winner of the San Francisco Faux Queen pageant in 2017, Miss Shugana is co-owner and producer for Women's Weekend at the Russian River in 2024 and is the life partner of the other co-owner and producer Best Drag King co-winner Madd Dogg 2020 — how messhuggneh is that? Here's hoping that this honor is just the beginning of the fun for their upcoming events. Mazel Tov!
www.shugdoggproductions.com
Best Bartender: David Delgado (The Cinch)
Runners-up: Captain Ficcardi (The White Horse), Bernadette Fons (The Stud)
One of the driving forces behind the bar that reminds us that there is still community on Polk Street, the winner of the 2023 Best Bartender award returns for a second year (will he make it a three-peat?). Delgado has been a popular bartender in the area for more than a decade and this is a well-deserved honor. Well done, sir.
www.facebook.com/thecinchsaloon
Best Nightlife / Cabaret Performer: Katya Smirnoff-Skyy
Runners-up: Suzanne (Kitten on The Keys) Ramsey, Kippy Marks
Hardworking cabaret performer and actor Katya Smirnoff-Skyy is the monthly host of Katya Presents at Martunis (naturally) and starred in the New Conservatory Theater Center's "Ruthless!" this year, as well as Ray of Light Theatre Company's production of "Everybody's Talking About Jamie." Thanks for being a true force in keeping cabaret alive in San Francisco.
www.katyasmirnoffskyy.com
Best Live Band: Middle Aged Queers
Runners-up: Lolly Gaggers, Lipstick Conspiracy
They call themselves a "supergroup of seasoned punks" that are (in the words of Alternative Press) "fighting for the rights of underserved and marginalized people" and when they were last in New York at Bowery Electric "Full Time Aesthetic" said "When the Middle Aged Queers roll into town, you know the party is about to get started." A political band that knows how to party — our readers say hell to the yes.
www.middleagedqueers.com
Best Gogo Dancer: Emerson Silva
Runners-up: Chad Stewart, Paul William
"Resident dancer in the best clubs and circuit parties" is the tagline he uses online. As a dancer who does that with cheer and a sexy appeal, Silva also works with Broadway Bares SF/Equity Fights AIDS. Our repeat Bestie-winning hunk continues to both entertain and provide contributions to the community. Congratulations and keep up the good work.
www.instagram.com/gogoemerson
Best Nightlife Photographer: Gooch
Runners-up: Steven Underhill, Tie: Shot in The City/Kid With a Camera
Fresh off of his participation in the "Pride for The Rest Of Us" show at San Francisco Gallery and "Not Just Rainbows: The Art of Deidre DeFranceaux and Gooch" at the Minnesota Street Project, the massively talented and prolific photographer returns again as the winner of the Bestie. Keep doing what you're doing, Gooch. Our readers love it.
www.photosbygooch.com
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