I am an actress, producer, mommy and activist. I have recently taken on the challenge of making one of my dreams come true. I am making a short film that I wrote. The amazing Cheryl Dunye (“Watermelon Woman,” “Stranger Inside,” “Mommy is Coming”) is directing, and Darryl Stephens (“Noah’s Arc,” “Private Practice,” “Big Gay Movie”) is starring with me.

The film is a funny, sexy, delightful short film about a mother and daughter who discover through a comedy of errors the secrets they have been keeping from each other. It’s fun, touching and shows some lovely diverse images of queer people of color. I would love your support in getting it made.

For many years I have spent most of my time mommy-ing my incredible daughter and giving the rest of my free hours to creating change in the world either through opportunities like Sweet’s voluntourism or by fighting for our equal rights as an activist. This is the first time I’m really stepping forward full tilt to do something that fulfills one of my dreams personally.

I would be honored to have your support of my film. It would mean so much to me. Partially from a very personal place where my two-year-old self always dreamed of doing this, and partially from a place of knowing how incredibly important visibility is, especially for queer people of color.

I was blessed to have a great support system of friends during my coming out process, but still found most of the media and even LGBT film lacking people who looked like me. Help me make a fun film that adds to the diverse stories of women in our community. For more information, please visit SecretsAndToys.com.

When did you start acting?
I’ve wanted to be an actress for as long as I (or anyone else) can remember. I must have come out of the womb singing show tunes. I always loved losing myself in a character or feeling the gaze of an audience on me. I lived for the excitement I felt backstage while doing a play or while performing self-choreographed dances and skits with my siblings.

What’s your favorite role so far?
I’m not sure I can say I absolutely have a favorite role, but my role on “Shameless” sticks out because it was the first time I got to do something a little less over the top. Most of my roles are in broad comedy or kids shows, so my performances have to be big. But in “Shameless,” I felt like I got to be myself. And I’m still getting a lot of compliments on that performance, so it’s special to me.

How often do you audition? What’s it like for you to face rejection regularly?
There are months when I audition 40 times and others without ONE. It’s a super roller coaster and when it rains it pours and when it’s dry, it’s the damn desert.

Facing rejection is a daily reality in my life. I don’t really take rejection well, so it’s kind of ironic that this is my chosen profession. It’s hard to go out there, every day, dressed up like someone else, memorize lines and then never hear from the casting director. But as Mary always reminds me, it just wasn’t my role. I’m learning that all it takes is to show up, be on time, pay attention and have no stake in the outcome.

You played Adam Sandler’s proboscis challenged sister in “Just Go With It,” what was he like to work with? Did you get to meet Jennifer Aniston?
Adam is SO cool and very fun to work with. I was a little overwhelmed by the whole experience, but it was one of my favorites. He is actually quite serious on set and takes the whole movie making process very seriously as well. But the set was always fun and relaxed. The NCAA championships were on the day we shot my last scene and he had a HUGE flat screen set up with the game on and in between takes the whole cast and crew were watching and cheering. It was surreal. When I met Jennifer, she thought my nose was real. She was really sweet and hugged me and told me she loved my dress. She was always smiling and really nice to have around on set.

Is it more fun to work on “iCarly” or “Superbad”? Why?
I can’t really say one was more fun than the other. I worked on both projects for a full week. On “iCarly,” I was the main guest star and it was the first time I had a whole episode dedicated to my character’s storyline. In “Superbad,” I only had a couple lines and the rest of the time I was mostly a glorified extra, but “Superbad” was the first big movie I worked on and hanging around Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill and Michael Cera was pretty amazing. I’ve even been invited to a couple of Seth’s parties!

How many Sweet vacations have you taken? What’s your favorite thing about them?
I’ve only taken one Sweet vacation SO FAR, but we are also signed up to be at Cozumel this year. I met the most amazing people on our trip to Isla Mujeres. Most of whom I consider to be friends for life. Both debauchery and do-goodery on ONE vacation? It really doesn’t get any better than that.

How long have you and Mary been together? What’s the secret to your longevity?
Mary and I have been together for 10 years. We were married under the Chupah on July 7, 2007, then legally married on June 18, 2008, the day it was legalized in California. I think our biggest “secret” is honesty. We are always honest with each other. We allow each other to be ourselves and always love each other, faults and all. There is a respect we share for each other and a friendship closer than any other I’ve ever had in my life. Plus she’s hot.

Pitch me a movie about Sweet starring Rakefet Abergel.
Fade In on a gorgeous beach in Mexico. The air is humid and wet. Thousands of lesbians are sprinkled and sprawled around a giant pool. Some playing pool volleyball, some drinking at the pool bar and some making out on lounge chairs. Enter SHANNON WENTWORTH (played by Rakefet Abergel in a career defining performance), the CEO of Sweet. She is the grand pooh-ba of lesbians. On her arm is the beautiful ANNE MARTIN EVANS (played, not surprisingly, by Angelina Jolie). Together, with the help of their friends, they lead a resort full of women into debauchery and do-goodery. Will CANDY’s (played by Kirstie Alley) injured head heal? Will FRANCO (played by Melissa Ferrick) start a new magazine? Will RAKEFET (played by Melissa McCarthy) offend people with her standup? Will MARY (played by Pink) keep her woman in check? Will CRYSTAL’s (played by Queen Latifah) dress ever be found? Will SHERESE (played by Denzel Washington) ever be let back into her room? Will DARCIE (played by Lucy Liu) ever be able to get that tool shed built? Will BABS (played by Helen Mirren) ever find her cougar? Will Shannon and JEN RAININ (played by Jane Lynch) be able to hold off the corporate lesbians of OLDlivia Travel? All these questions (and more!) will be answered in the fall of 2020 when we release “SWEETIES: THE MOVIE”

Rakefet’s credits:
TV
“Bad Girls”
“Shameless”
“The New Girl”
“iCarly”
“Zeke & Luther”
“Gigantic”
“I’m in the Band”
“ER”
“Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh”
“My Name is Earl”
“The Tyra Banks Show”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live”

FILM
“Just Go With It”
“Superbad”
“Drillbit Taylor”
“A Thousand Words”
“Borat”
“My Best Friend’s Girl”
“Shrink”
“Kids in America”
“Hollywoo…” – French film
“Love in Bulk” – Award-winning short
“Cessation”
“Daddy’s Big Girl” – Short that played at over 30 Film Festivals winning two audience awards

COMMERCIAL
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While Sweet’s sold out Cozumel resort five months away, the Sweeties, led by 2012 Sweetie of the Year nominee Candy Parker, are cooking up a project to benefit the Cozumel Humane Society, literally.

Between now and April 30, Candy is collecting recipes for everything from beverages to desserts for Sweet’s cookbook. The proceeds will be donated to the Cozumel Humane Society during Sweet’s visit in September.

The project combines two of Sweet’s core values — debauchery and do-goodery — allowing Sweeties and Sweeties-to-be (that means you) to share recipes for their favorite enticing entrees and tasty treats to benefit a great cause.

Comedians Suzanne Westenhoefer, Bridget McManus, Fortune Feimster, Jenny McNulty, Jackie Monahan, and film director Gabrielle Lindau have also signed on to submit their culinary concoctions.

For more information on how you can participate in this mouthwatering mission, email Candy at candyparker13 [at] gmail.com.

Celebrate Earth Day by planting 2 trees for $2 and getting 1 free. That’s a 3 for 2! Whoo hoo. Good for you, good for the planet.

In other good news, CarbonFund.org is going to plant the trees for you. You don’t even have to get dirty!

Deforestation globally is responsible for about 20 percent of global warming. Reforestation has to be part of the solution if we are going to turn the tide of climate change. Supporting a tree planting project sequesters CO2 from the atmosphere, prevents erosion, protects biodiversity and provides renewable resources for local communities.

Tree planting, particularly in the developing world, is of critical importance because trees provide essential ecosystem services.

• Flood control by minimizing runoff and the loss of top soil;
• Providing habitat and nutrition for wildlife and nurseries for local fish populations;
• Alternative economic livelihoods for local communities in the form of managing tree nurseries and planting, assisting with regulation of the water and nutrient cycle.

Earth Day provides a perfect celebration for you to be a part of this collaborative, global effort.

Since 2003, Carbonfund.org has had the pleasure of working with over 2000 business and 750,000 individuals on climate solutions.

Enter “Sweet loves trees” in the comments section at check out so we can track our impact. Plant now!

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The community volunteer workday goes from 9am to 1:30pm, Saturday, April 21. It is important to arrive at the Aids Memorial Grove by 8:30am to get signed in and registered with Sweetie of the Year and Sweet project leader Darcie Takeuchi.

You can enjoy coffee and bagels before we get started. The program manager explains work plan promptly at 9am. At noon we stop work and gather for a circle ceremony where announcements are read, the group observes a moment of silence for those we have lost, acknowledges the sponsors of the day, and plants a memorial tree as a group. The Grove will also provide lunch to all volunteers at 12:30pm.

Gloves and tools are provided, although many volunteers bring their own gloves. Wear sturdy shoes, long sleeved shirts and jeans. Bring sunscreen, insect repellent, and a hat or cap. No open toe shoes will be permitted.

All participants under the age of 18 must have a consent form signed by a parent/guardian prior to working at the Grove.

RSVP via Facebook now!

Yeah, we know you love Sweet. But we had no idea how much until you said you wanted to get some Sweet ink. Here are high-resolution versions of our logo to take to your local tattoo artist. More cool designs are coming.

We’d love to see your ink when you get it so send us photos at info [at] discoversweet.com. Happy tattooing!

Friday, March 23
9am-5pm
Join the Sweeties as we explore the gorgeous Napa Valley Wine Country.
Transportation from the host hotel, tastings and tours are included. We’re visiting Chateau Montelena, V. Sattui and Frog’s Leap! Lunch is on own.

6.30-8.30pm
THE SWEETIE AWARDS
Trigger, 2344 Market St (between 16th St & Noe St)
$10 cover for non-passholders
First 100 in the door receive a free drink (your choice of wine, vodka or gin) and a Sweet gift bag.

8.30pm to whenever
Dinner and dancing with Sweeties in San Francisco’s Castro District. Dinner, drinks and cover charges not included.

Saturday, March 24
10am to 2pm
SWEET COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT: It’s going to be a habitat
restoration project in Golden Gate Park with box lunch in the gorgeous
AIDS Memorial Grove.

6pm
Group dinner with Sweeties. Cost of dinner is on own.

8.30pm
San Francisco LGBT Center’s Soiree 10 at the San Francisco Design Center Galleria, 101 Henry Adams St. All cocktails included.

Sunday, March 25, noon to 3pm
Sweet dot429 women’s brunch
Our farewell event offers the opportunity to say goodbye friends new and old as well as rub elbows with San Francisco’s most successful businesswomen. Benefits NCLR. Brunch and sponsored cocktails included. Destination TBD.

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