Tickets are now available for the May 22nd premiere of “The Ruth Brinker Story”, a short documentary film on the life of our founder and legendary AIDS activist Ruth Brinker and her legacy of healing people through meals with love in San Francisco.
“The Ruth Brinker Story” will be premiered at the iconic Castro Theatre in San Francisco, located in one of the first neighborhoods where Ruth delivered meals during the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.

The day will include multiple screenings of “The Ruth Brinker Story” during the day, followed by a special Red Carpet Premiere Event that will include a panel discussion featuring the filmmaker, Apo W. Bazidi.

And since May 22nd is Harvey Milk Day, screenings of “The Times of Harvey Milk” will be shown at the Castro Theatre throughout this very special day of celebration.

Showtimes – Sunday, May 22nd

11am “The Times of Harvey Milk” – Free Event no RSVP required

2 pm “The Ruth Brinker Story” (approximately 25 minutes) – Use “Buy Ticket” button to RSVP – Free Event

3 pm Double Feature: “The Ruth Brinker Story” / “The Times of Harvey Milk” – Use “Buy Ticket” button to RSVP – Free Event

6 pm Red Carpet Premiere Event – Use “Buy Ticket” button to RSVP – Free Event (VIP Upgrade Available)
A premiere showing of “The Ruth Brinker Story” followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and guest speakers. The red carpet begins at 6:00 pm. The film starts at 6:45 pm. Attire: Spring Glam

About “The Times of Harvey Milk”
“92 years since Harvey Milk’s birth, we face a country much changed and yet very much similar to The Times of Harvey Milk,” shares Jeffrey Kwong of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, which has organized screenings of the documentary for years. “With a skyrocketing number of anti-LGBTQ bills filed over the past several years – from 41 in 2018 to 238 in just the first three months of 2022 – this Harvey Milk Day is a crucial moment to remember the life and to live out the words of Harvey Milk.”
The screenings of both films coincide with a full day of free community events celebrating Harvey Milk’s legacy from 12 noon to 5pm in Jane Warner Plaza immediately adjacent to the Castro Theatre.
Premiering at the Castro Theatre in 1984, The Times of Harvey Milk chronicles the political career of Harvey Milk, San Francisco’s first openly gay elected official, and his rise from a neighborhood activist to a symbol of gay political achievement, through to his assassination in November 1978. Receiving international acclaim, awards and selection into the National Film Registry in Library of Congress, the documentary later became inspiration for Gus Van Sant’s 2008 Oscar-winning biopic, Milk.

About “The Ruth Brinker Story”
At the age of 63, retired food-service worker Ruth Brinker became a pioneer of HIV care in her community and would become a legend among San Franciscans. The AIDS epidemic hit San Francisco the hardest and created a wave of fear and uncertainty that left many victims feeling hopeless and alone. Brinker, a woman whose deep compassion became a source of strength for others struggling to cope with the times, began cooking meals in her kitchen to deliver to her neighbors who were too ill to take care of themselves. Her goal was to not only provide meals but to also revitalize the city’s sense of community and spend time with HIV/AIDS patients to end the isolation they experienced. Providing meals with love became the hallmark of her mission. The work of Brinker and her growing team of volunteers led to Project Open Hand, the largest provider of nutrition to the HIV/AIDS community with sister organizations across the country. Ruth Brinker’s legacy carries on today as Project Open Hand has once again joined the frontlines in facing the crisis of the COVID19 pandemic.