Academy of Friends 2010 Oscars Party

Last Sunday, during the Oscars, I had the privilege of attending another iconic event in San Francisco: The Academy of Friends Annual Gala. "Behind the Seams: A Salute to Fashion In Film" took place on Sunday, March 7, 2010 in the Festival Pavilion at the Fort Mason Center. AOF's annual gala is a black tie event that I was excited to finally witness first hand.

This is Derek volunteering to be a gold Oscars statue.

This is the group that I attended the event with. David Miranda, to the left of the women in the gold dress, was this year's Gala Chair. Well done David!

This was the entrance to the VIP lounge. Winslow & Associates (www.winslowevents.com) was the production company that executed the event on site. I don't know whose idea the zipper was...but job well done!

Consistent with the theme, mannequins in vintage clothing showed off different outfits used in films throughout history.

I don't who this person is, but he's attractive and worth capturing on a blog.

So glamorous!

Me with the Macy's team -- post and present. I have a feeling there's going to be a lot of these...

For more information and to donate to The Academy of Friends: www.academyoffriends.org

I’m gay, but I still want to go to church.

Why would a gay man attend church on a Sunday morning in San Francisco? Like the generations that came before us, I'm entertaining the idea of a possible higher power and hopefully a source of strength. I'm not sure exactly what "spiritual" feels like, but being the emotional thrill seeker that I am, it's worth exploring -- if anything for one hour on a Sunday morning. There's that, and also that going home with random attractive men you meet at a gay bar in the Castro is emotionally limiting at best.

This past Sunday I attended the morning worship service at Cornerstone Church on 17th Street. The religious experience at Cornerstone felt like a progressive high school social studies class. The sanctuary has movie theatre style seating, easy to read flat screens and fun lighting. The service begins with a five-person band (complete with a drummer) that sing contemporary Christian worship music. Singing is totally optional, but after a song or two, if you’re like me, you join the group because it's fun to sing out loud. What's more, the spiritual leader utilizes Google maps and satellite images of Israel to bring the whole interactive experience full circle.

It’s difficult to textualize where I am today in my spiritual walk with a higher power. However, I am trying, exploring, and looking for something that I can’t quite define. I’ll know when I’ve found what it is I’m looking for; until then, I remain open minded and open to suggestions.