Queer love scores big as Netflix and Pride take over San Francisco's new women's sports bar
What better place to watch a reality show that turns queer dating into a sporting event than at San Francisco's newest women's sports bar?
In one of the most unique events at Frameline's 49th San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Netflix took over Rikki's in the Castro District to the Season 2 premiere of 'The Ultimatum: Queer Love.'
The sold-out event on Tuesday, June 24, drew 160 fans of the series. The dating show centers six lesbian and nonbinary couples who face an ultimatum: get married or break up. During the breakup period, they date others on the show.
At Rikki's, there were free drinks and sliders, and the conversation flowed.
'We were big fans of Kyle and Bridget,' enthused Violet Daar, who was in a group of six who sat near the bar. 'Very hot!'
Alex Ebrahimi, who was part of Daar's group, added that while she was happy with the show because 'It represents diverse voices,' she thought 'there could be more gender and body type diversity.'
Meanwhile Kate Whitney, who sat at a table watching with three friends, observed, 'I hope that we get to see people really find themselves and find love.'
Claire Markham, who sat in Whitney's group, added, 'If they're going on a reality show to solve their relationship issues, they're probably not going to end up together, but it's going to be entertaining.'
The first seven of 10 episodes of the second season of 'The Ultimatum: Queer Love' began streaming on Netflix on Wednesday, June 25. The final three will drop Wednesday, July 2. To mark the occasion, Netflix flew in one of the stars of Season 1, Lexi Goldberg, to host the event.
'Hopefully, Season 2 steps it up and makes me look less messy than I did on Season 1,' Goldberg told the crowd to laughter.
Afterward, Goldberg, who lives in Miami, told the Chronicle that she was surprised by the show's popularity, noting that she has been approached by fans from all walks of life.
'Something about our cast really resonated with audiences where, be it straight people, gay people and queer people in general, they were like, 'Holy sh—. The problems that they have and their relationship I relate to. And it doesn't matter whether they're lesbians or bisexual or nonbinary or whatever. It's like relationship problems are linear and they exist across whoever you're dating.'
Savannah Schulze, who was in the group with Whitney and Markham, added that the setting made it especially memorable.
'There are very few queer shows in general, but even less for lesbians or for queer women,' Schulze said. 'So the fact that a women's bar is hosting this space in the Castro during Pride Month for queer women to watch and get their own visibility on a TV screen is not something that we get really ever.'
Rikki's opened for business on June 11, and owners Sara Yergovich and Danielle Thoe said business has been exceeding expectations, especially during Golden State Valkyries WNBA games. But for the Frameline/Netflix event, they were more than happy to shut off sports for one night.
'There's a lot of really serious and important work that comes out through Frameline,' said Yergovich of the nonprofit that operates the festival. 'I think this is one of the more fun, whimsical kinds of things to go watch and laugh and have a good time. I think it's really important to have some fun during Pride, as well as kind of reflecting on the work that still needs to be done.'
Among the attendees were Film SF Executive Director Manijeh Fata, film director Alice Wu and, of course, Frameline Executive Director Allegra Madsen, who said she has found the festival 'cathartic' after the Supreme Court's decision to uphold a Tennessee law that prohibits certain medical treatments for transgender minors, a 'gut punch,' as Madsen put it, that came down hours before the festival opened on Wednesday, June 18.
'(Tonight) was a nice night to celebrate some of the positive things that are happening in San Francisco,' Madsen said. 'We have the (WNBA's) Valkyries now, we have a brand new lesbian sports bar, so let's all get together. … Having silly good times with one another, that's how you build community. Going through hard times, but also creating space for the good times.'
Asked which couple on 'The Ultimatum' was her favorite, Madsen smiled.
'It's too early to tell, so if I have to do my fantasy league tonight, I'm not ready to put money anywhere, but talk to me next week and I might be able to fill you in.'
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