By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Sister Dana sez, “Well, Putin’s lap dog, Trump the Chump, has been busy doing Vlad’s bidding—wanting to bring in Russia to the G7 after it was thrown out for invading the Ukraine; and then angering and alienating our six allied nations (who aptly renamed the summit as the G6 + 1). He left early, and signed nothing! Nice going, Donny Dumbbell!”
The third annual LGBTQ SENIOR PROM was a festive celebration, presented by OPENHOUSE for seniors and allies of all ages to get another chance at Prom—with none of the tradition or rules like high school. No dress code, no need for a date, no dancing required, no gender rules and no holding back! Acceptance was the only theme on June 9 in the spacious Green Room of the War Memorial building. Dr. Karyn Skultety, Director of Openhouse SF, served as emcee. The Party Monsters band entertained us and got us dancing to golden oldies from Prince to Santana to Otis Redding and more. We learned how to line dance and set the floor on fire! We got to take our prom pictures in a special photo booth (https://snapfiesta.com/) and instantly take them home as souvenirs. We had a champagne toast. Veteran drag queen Donna Personna danced her heart out and lipsynced to “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.” They held a contest for Prom Royalty. Brian was Royal Winner. Stevie Royscon was Prom King by popular vote. And after the final four had a “grueling” dance-off run-off, Sister Dana was voted Prom Queen (“by the slimmest of margins,” according to Karyn). And I thanked her for calling me “slim.” Ha! I proudly wore my silver (plastic) rainbow tiara for the rest of the evening and possibly for eternity.
PRIDE ART MONTH at the SF Castro ARTSAVESLIVES gallery of artist/curator Thomasina DeMaio was packed on June 8 with folks delighting in live performances of Larissa Archer in a salute to Bollywood in the Castro, Tribal Baroque duo of man and woman on electronic violins and voices that cut through the dark, punctuated by fierce stomping with dancer Kira. They returned to do a calypso dance with Latin fury. Art Saves Lives is a monthly exhibition of great paintings, photographs, and more. The artists on display all Pride Month at 518 Castro Street are Jerry Frost, who has left his modern art phase to do beautiful water lily scenes in oils; Michael Lawrence has a few rather disturbing little babies in possible danger; Alex Prestia has several oils and acrylics on canvas, with my favorite being the “Douche Shower;” David Wayne Floyd‘s huge 3-D bejeweled oil on wood portrait, “Cernunnos, Celtic God of Fertility, Life, Animals, Wealth, and the Underground” is a suitably long title for a very big piece taking over the entire room; Fletcher Oakes has a series of archival prints on fine art paper, “Montages and Mandelas;” Billy Douglas has a lovely B&W photo series of famous ladies including Donna Sachet and DQ Joan Crawford; Kent Anderson displays a series, “Four Months After the Revolution,” referring to the Maiden Square in Kiev, Ukraine, uprising during July 2014 when thousands of Ukrainian citizens rebelled and ousted President Viktor Yanukovych; Alan Beckstead (also seen at Spark Arts) has vivid scenes from a Gay Pride Parade); J-Wo displays rainbow colored pieces of mixed media in the window, with my favorite, “Paint the Sky” and its blazing sun and colorful clouds; Michael Lownie has his usual tiny people in boxes, but also his Kitties series and my fave being “Pocket Panthers” because “Pink Panther” is the name of my tabby; Bill Haught exhibits “Tanglewood,” a series of inkjet prints on gatorfoam; Vincent Escareno has painted various celebs, including Divine, Liza Minnelli, Boy George, and RuPaul; Alex Ray shows a series of tasteful male nude B&W photos with men and their modestly placed musical instruments; Jack Mattingly shows his recognizable mixed media teeny miniatures pasted and coated in gold; Jack Stelnicki changes into a pottery crafter with his “Vanishing Treasures of the Coral Reefs” of various fish, complete with fishing line for hanging to illustrate the fish swimming in air. Believe it or not, there are many more artists’ works on display, but I don’t have room enough to elaborate.
I gleefully attended the big election night in Jane Warner Plaza in the Castro with a glorious rally for Mark Leno for SF MAYOR. I anticipated covering it thoroughly and writing it up; but now with the results in, I am just too depressed to write anything other than my great disappointment with the queer community voter turnout for what might have been the City’s first gay mayor. [sigh]
The monthly CASTRO ART WALK featured many artists ready to discuss their art on June 7 at the following locations: Art Attack SF, 2358 Market Street; Spark Arts, 4229 18th Street; Berkshire Hathaway Properties, 2324B Market Street; Blackbird Bar, 2124 Market Street; Ruby’s Clay Studio & Gallery, 552A Noe Street; Local Take, 3979 17th Street; The Artist’s Gallery, 4406 18th Street; The Apothecarium, 2029 Market Street; Norden Living, 3618 17th Street; and Brewcade, 2200 Market Street. Most of these venues will continue to display the art for the whole Pride month of June. Sister Dana sez, “Take your own Art Walk and check these out!”
FRAMELINE42: San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival kicked off on June 14 at the Castro Theatre with the West Coast premiere of TRANSMILITARY, directed by Fiona Dawson & Gabriel Silverman, who spoke before and after the viewing. Silverman said they thought they had wrapped the project after President Obama lifted the ban; but then when Trump tried to reinstate it, they had to continue rolling with the future: a big question mark. Frameline Executive Director Frances Wallace said, “Film has always been used as a vehicle of change, and our tagline this year—Lights. Camera. Take Action.—speaks directly to our mission to change the world through the power of queer cinema.” Additional guests were producer Jamie Coughlin, and subjects who appeared prominently in the film, former trans soldier and transgender advocate Laila Ireland and her new mother-in-law, Debbie Reim, whose trans-son Logan Ireland was still active in the military. It was noted that the U.S. military is the nation’s largest employer of transgender people. But now, the careers of some 15,000 transgender military personnel are in peril. This captivating documentary—fresh off its premiere at the SXSW Film Festival where it won the Audience Award—tells the inspiring stories of four transgender troops who are the visible front lines of America’s fight for LGBTQ rights. Supported by the Frameline Completion Fund, TRANSMILITARY is also the first feature film to receive funding from GLAAD Media Institute.
KREWE DE KINQUE, SF’s Mardi Gras-themed fundraising society, held another fabulous every-third-Saturday beer bust and open show on June 16 at the Edge bar. The theme was DISCO KINGS & QUEENS UNDER THE RAINBOW, featuring past and current Krewe de Kinque kings and queens of Mardi Gras. For us, Mardi Gras is not just in February; it’s ALL the time! An extra added treat was the invasion of the Ladies in Red: about four dozen boys in red dresses, no makeup, and furry faces! Such fun!
Some of us SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE held a FATHER’S DAY BEER BUST at the Lone Star bar to benefit the grassroots documentary film about beloved activist HANK WILSON, our Patron Saint of Housing Justice, Compassionate Action, Queer Underdogs, and Plague Survivors. Hank founded or co-founded more than 20 queer organizations in SF, including the film festival, the Gay Teachers Association (with Tom Ammiano), the campaign against the Briggs Initiative (with Tom Ammiano and Harvey Milk), LYRIC, the Milk Democratic Club, the first queer comedy club, and many more. For 20 years he ran a 150-room SRO hotel in the Tenderloin as an informal, unfunded hospice for street kids, addicts, and anyone else dying of AIDS with nowhere to go. The film is entitled “Thanks to Hank.” For more info about the movie, see https://bobostertag.wordpress.com/thanks-to-hank-documentary-project/
Sister Dana sez, “Pride Month has a lot more than just our fabulous parade; here are more events of pride to check out.”
HARVEY MILK PHOTO CENTER presents 2018 LGBTQ ART+PRIDE, a fine arts celebration in a mixed media exhibit at the Center at 50 Scott Street in the Castro. This Art and Pride Exhibit is an eclectic gathering of work by notable contemporary artists from across the United States. This show is a celebration of their embrace of the creative process. Each contributed work they felt resonated with the complexity of their artistic spirit. This show includes photography, paintings, sculptures, graphic design, and textile art. This event is free and open to the public. The exhibit runs now through July 22. www. http://harveymilkphotocenter.org/
SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS presents UNBREAKABLE, June 22–23, with the world premiere of a spectacular new musical composed by and starring Tony Award-nominee Andrew Lippa. Celebrate the courage, passion, and triumph through the untold stories of the LGBTQ community over the last 120 years. Together, we are unbreakable. Three performances only at the Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes Street, Friday, June 22, 8 pm; Saturday, June 23, 2:30 pm; Saturday, June 23, 8 pm. www.sfgmc.org
15TH ANNUAL SAN FRANCISCO TRANS MARCH is on June 22, 6-7:30 pm. Transgender rights and existence have been more intensely under attack since the election, so it’s even more critical to gather this year to fight back, resist, celebrate, and create community. The 2018 march route will once again weave from Dolores Park to Market Street, then down Market Street to Taylor and 6th Streets, and turn onto Taylor towards Turk, where we honor Trans history and the landmark of the Compton’s Cafeteria Riots and Vicki Mar Lane. There are events prior to the march, and you can also enjoy a short program of speakers before dispersing to the after parties. www.transmarch.org
DYKE MARCH is June 23, starting at Dolores Park, time TBD. The mission of the San Francisco Dyke March is to bring the dyke communities together to celebrate unity, raise consciousness and be visible. Information is available about the free shuttle to the park, disabled parking, the Senior and Disabled Cable Car, and the Dyke March’s accessible, non-smoking and scent free area for senior and disabled dykes including an ADA port-a-potty, an awning for shade, seating and water. http://www.thedykemarch.org/
Gary Virginia & Donna Sachet’s 20TH ANNUAL PRIDE BRUNCH on June 23, 11 am–2 pm, Hotel Whitcomb, 1233 Market Street, honors the Grand Marshals of the SF LGBT Pride Parade and affords guests a rare opportunity to meet and hear them speak. The three-hour, spectacular benefit starts with rousing musical entertainment by the Dixieland Dykes +3, hosted bars by Barefoot Wine & Bubbly and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and the Grand Ballroom festooned with rainbow bunting, colorful balloons, and gorgeous florals. All net proceeds support the San Francisco-based health and human services agency PRC. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gary-virginia-and-donna-sachets-20th-annual-pride-brunch-tickets-44127004057
THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE invite one and all to join them in a silent meditation on Sunday, June 24, at 5 pm in the Castro Community Room of B of A building at 501 Castro Street, 2nd floor. Many of the early Sisters were Transcendental Meditation teachers and practitioners. Come in and REVIVE YOUR INNER PRIDE! A chance to cool your heels after the Pride Parade. Rest deeply and come out recreated! They will do a 20-minute silent meditation. All are welcome.
Sister Dana sez, “Have a safe and insane Pride Weekend, and look for me, the rainbow nun, waving at everyone from a “Bay Times” vehicle in the Parade. Blow me a kiss, shoot me a peace sign or gimme a thumbs-up!”
Recent Comments