Radio Station Energy 92.7 has spent months planning and promoting its inaugural Pride party, Queen, set for Saturday, June 23 at a pier along the city's waterfront. The star-studded lineup includes Peaches, Superstar Princess, and openly gay Ricardo Torres Ortiz, a.k.a. DJ Ricardo.
The party is a fundraiser for Equality California and is expected to net more than $7,000 for the statewide LGBT lobbying group. In promotional materials station owner Joe Bayliss states, "You need a big party for Pride," claiming Queen "will be the biggest the city has ever seen."
But two HIV-positive DJs are pushing for people not to attend. Last week they launched an online boycott against Energy, which bills itself as the gay community's radio station, after Daniel Mason, who spins as DJ Dann Edmond, was fired.
In an e-mail Mason sent to both the station and his friends, he urged people not to buy tickets. Mason claims another employee "made negative AIDS and HIV comments" to him and urged the station to explore why he was fired because "I am being discriminated by your company."
According to the e-mail, the station terminated Mason for "taking an extended break, longer then [sic] permissible by law" and that at an event he worked at Mason "was record shopping." Mason refutes both as being untrue, adding, "I do understand you find this hard to believe that this is happening in your place of employment but it has and there is no excuse for this."
Matt Consola, a local DJ and owner of Redzone Records, in turn forwarded Mason's e-mail to his own contact list, as well as news outlets, and added his backing to the boycott of the party.
"While many might think Energy is a 'gay station' they are not. And having two token gays on as a morning show doesn't make your station gay either," wrote Consola, referring to Greg "the gay sportscaster" Sherrell and Fernando Ventura. "They cash in on the gay dollar, but make it very clear to their workers that they are not a 'gay station' which, as it's been explained to me by quite a few employees, is why they stay clear of playing the current gay divas."
Bayliss, in turn, expressed outrage this week after learning about the boycott and that e-mails attacking his station had been sent not only to the media but also party sponsor Gay.com.
"It's disgusting. I don't know what to tell you," Bayliss told the Bay Area Reporter. "For somebody to say that we are not a friendly place to work for someone who is gay or lesbian or to have the audacity to say we are not a friendly place for someone with HIV or AIDS not only is it unfounded and untrue, but it is offensive."
Mason, reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, said he was on his way to meet with an attorney and would call back later. He had yet to do so by press time Wednesday. Consola responded to requests for comment by e-mail Tuesday, in which he said he spent the weekend in the hospital fighting an infection and had nothing more to add than what was in his original e-mails.
Supporters of the station pointed out that Energy has numerous gay employees, both on air and behind the scenes, and has donated thousands of dollars to numerous local LGBT groups. Sherrell, who joined the board of New Leaf: Services for Our Community, said he was stunned by the criticisms lodged against his employer.
"We do nothing but support HIV and AIDS causes. Fernando is running the San Francisco AIDS Marathon for God's sake. He raised $3,000 on his own, part of that money was donated by Bayliss," said Sherrell, who received e-mails from listeners about the boycott. "I can't imagine any prejudices toward anybody with HIV or AIDS."
Consola, a promoter of bear-themed dance parties and the resident Friday night DJ at the Cafe's Boy Bar events, also took issue with the station's promotion of the Queen event.
"I personally feel they have been insulting our community with back-handed comments about their Gay Pride event 'Queen' ... as if the events that Audrey Joseph, Gus Bean, and countless other gay promoters have thrown in the past were small and unattended, and finally they are going to save us with their 'Huge Event,'" wrote Consola.
Bayliss, who is straight, said his staff had reached out to both Bean and Joseph months ago about his station's event. With 1 million people expected to attend the city's Pride weekend, he said there is room for more than just one party.
"We don't see it in going into competition with anybody in this city," he said. "There probably is not enough things going on in town for Pride."
The station's manager of special events, Juan Garcia, formerly worked for Bean, who is hosting his annual Colossus party Saturday night. Bean said he has talked to Garcia about the two events and insisted his party isn't being negatively impacted by Energy's event.
He pointed to the radio station having to end its party by 2 a.m. whereas Colossus goes till 6 a.m. Sunday morning.
"I am well aware of their event. I personally and professionally am not threatened by it at all," said Bean, who produces the Boy Bar party and hired Consola to also spin at his Underworld party Friday night. "I have shit loads of people coming from all over the world, particularly to go to Colossus."
Bean said the controversy is "much ado about nothing." Former Energy DJ Matthew Baker agreed. Despite being let go by the station he still maintains ties to his former employer and plans to attend its Queen party.
"No. I do not support calling for a boycott," said Baker, who is friends with Consola and now works for KFOG. "I strongly support Energy. I think what Matt is doing is a little retarded, but we are all entitled to our opinion."
Jim Carroll, EQCA managing director, said his organization sees no problem partnering with the radio station.
"I can't think of a radio station that is more friendly to the community," he said.