By Sister Dana Van Iquity, Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun–
Sister Dana sez, “Happy EARTH DAY, everyone! Be kind to your Mother Earth!”
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by the organization Earth Day including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official theme for 2023 is “INVEST IN OUR PLANET.” But please don’t use bitcoin!
Sister Dana sez, “Remember that April 20 is a time to honor my favorite weed and time, 4:20!”
The Tennessee GOP-led House expelled two Black Democrats, Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, over a peaceful protest they made on the floor against gun violence, following the deadly shooting in Nashville. This was blatant racism and fascism. Tennessee does not see at all, when it comes to gun violence. According to the GUN VIOLENCE ARCHIVE, extremely alarming statistics nationwide so far show 4,686 deaths, 141 mass shootings, 65 children killed, 147 children injured, 383 teenagers killed, and 922 teenagers injured. But never mind all that, because drag queens are the real danger to kids!
Thankfully, days later the Tennessee council voted unanimously to re-instate Jones and Pearson.
Libraries are under attack by Republicans. That includes a Missouri bill that removes all state funding for libraries, and the superintendent of a Virginia school district moving to eliminate school libraries completely. This is the second stage of the assault on information that Republicans opened with a wave of bills making it easier to ban books both in school libraries and public libraries. Sister Dana sez, “Were their mothers perhaps frightened by particularly graphic novels?!”
We Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence celebrated EASTER IN DOLORES PARK, “Peep Show,” on Easter Sunday, April 9. Easter also marks the 44th anniversary of The Sisters. After the children enjoyed a visit from the Easter Bunny, the Easter egg hunt, and story-time, the day became more adult oriented. At noon, San Francisco trans activist, performer, and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Honey Mahogany graced the Main Stage to host a variety show full of fierce performers, surprise guests, and sister miracles. Senator Scott Wiener addressed the many challenges faced by trans people and LGB folx as well. This year’s lineup featured San Francisco favorites Connie Champagne, Kitten on the Keys, Polesexual, Baloney, The Cockettes featuring Steven Satyricon, Trixxie Carr, and a Drag Revue starring Linda Summers, Christina Ashton, Nikita Vega, and Theresa Giudcoochie.Throughout the day, members of the audience got to show off their Easter spirit competing in contests. The colorful Easter Bonnet contest winner was Carmen Miranda. And of course, Easter in Dolores Park would not be complete without the world-famous Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary contests. The contests (traditionally judged by Sister Roma, Honey Mahogany, and yours truly) were open to all. But the winner of Foxy Mary was Free Choice Mary (holding a baby and a sign stating: “I Had A Choice”) and the winner of Hunky Jesus was Haus of Jesus (the Savior with his group of scantily-clad “apostles”).
ART IGNITES SF is an ArtSavesLives project on April 23, 1 pm–9 pm, SFFD (San Francisco Fire Department) Union Hall, 325 Newhall Street. Enjoy an immersive afternoon of live entertainment, speakers, photography, and painting (over 20 artists!) in SFFD’s mini-museum! Stroll through historical remnants of the city’s past and future, enjoy live dance performances curated and choreographed by Jes DeVille, Openhaus Athletics. “I decided to invite the group of artists that draw regularly with me and the wonderful photographer Ben Illii to join in and make this a lasting documentation of SFFD,” said co-creator Thomasina DeMaio. “We are planning on creating a book of the work. It will be sold to help Tony Stefani’s SFFD Firefighters Cancer Fund and raise awareness of the extremely hard work these firefighters do for us the public, and to the risks they take daily for us. We do this for them.”
We members of KREWE DE KINQUE (the social, charitable Mardi Gras-themed club) held our anniversary celebration, BAL MASQUE XX on April 15 at The Café in the Castro. Our masked ball theme was The 415, the beloved area code of our origin. And our traditional slogan was “Let the Good Times Roll!” Costumes, masks, and beads were everywhere. KDK King & Queen XIX, Mark Hankins, Jr. and Tawdry Hepburnn, hosted this year’s Masked Ball—with a spectacular San Francisco-themed, costumed tableaux show, state-of-the-art lights and sound, and festive décor. Celebrants earned some beads and showed off their stuff on the dance floor with DJ Sergio Fedasz and hot Go-Go dancers in the center ring. Founder of Krewe de Kinque and KdK King I Gary Virginia welcomed us. Proceeds benefited the LGBTQ+ Ukraine Emergency Fund managed by locally-based RAINBOW WORLD FUND assisting LGBTQ Ukrainians in and out of the country. RWF Executive Director Jeff Cotter spoke of the ongoing mission for Ukraine.
We were thrilled to have Bay Area cabaret chanteuse Connie Champagne singing the iconic song “San Francisco” as Judy Garland! Other fabulous performers included KdK members Queen Tawdry, Robert Parker, chanteuse Carly Ozard, King II Mark Paladini and his delightful Village People getting us all to do the famous hand gestures of “YMCA,” Donna Sachet belting out “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” King X Kippy Marks giving us Sylvester “Mighty Real” realness on electric violin, adorable Candi Mint, Queen XVIII Christina Ashton giving us the inimitable Cher, Leandro Gonzales and his marvelous rope tricks, and Vivianne Vixen, with her song to succinctly sum up the fun, “We Like to Party.” The Celebrity Grand Marshal Tory Teasely (dynamic singer, songwriter, music teacher, and more) led us in a lively Second Line Parade. And for the climax of the night: the new King XX Mez and Queen XX Moxie were crowned and sashed. We know they will do amazing things for Krewe de Kinque and the entire queer and kink community!
‘LOVE YOUR UGLY’ will be an awesome artist talk with Clint Frederic Wiater on April 27 at 2358MRKT gallery. Doors at 6 pm, talk at 7 pm, 2358 Market Street. The artist will talk about his work, queer identity & CPTSD. Along with a Q&A at the end. https://clintfredericwiater.com/
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) Chief Executive Officer Chris Verdugo andArtistic Director Jacob Stensberg have announced CRESCENDO, SFGMC’s annual benefit honoring champions who support the LGBTQ community and advance LGBTQ equality through their commitment to change, their leadership, and their actions. Now in its 17th year, Crescendo will take place on Saturday, April 22, 5:30 pmat San Francisco’s Four Seasons Hotel, 757 Market Street. https://www.sfgmc.org
FRAMELINE47 is just a few months away! Ahead of this queer cinema extravaganza, join emcee Donna Sachet and many others to celebrate the longest-running, largest, and most widely recognized LGBTQ film exhibition event in the world. This month’s DIVAS & DRINKS will be on April 28, 6 pm at The Academy SF, 2166 Market Street. The event, benefiting Frameline, will feature Allegra Madsen and Nguyen Pham of Frameline as well as San Francisco Film Commission Executive Director Manijeh Fata and Roxie Theater Executive Director Lex Sloan. This will be the birthday week of both Donna and Bay Times co-publisher and “Betty’s List” founder Dr. Betty Sullivan. Milestone birthdays, no less! https://www.academy-sf.com/
For this year’s SAN FRANCISCO EQUALITY AWARDS, EQUALITY CALIFORNIA (EQCA) will honor two incredible pillars of community service: Stop AAPI Hate, formed to combat anti-Asian violence and harassment, and one of the most important political figures of our time, San Francisco’s own Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. The Awards ceremony will honor inspirational leaders and outstanding allied organizations working tirelessly to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. The mission statement says, “The annual Equality Awards are a time to celebrate the achievements taking place in our communities while renewing our collective commitment in the fight for full, lived equality—until the work is done.” Come celebrate on Saturday April 29, 6 pm at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel. www.eqca.org
STRUT will soon present their MAY ART OPENING celebrating the work of Megan Levine. On Friday, May 5(Cinco de Mayo, by the way) 8 pm at 470 Castro Street, they invite you to come learn all about “Tribadometry!” Get your advance free ticket at https://www.sfaf.org/
May first is known internationally as MAY DAY. May Day, also called “Workers’ Day” or “International Workers’ Day,” is the day that commemorates the struggles and gains made by workers and the labor movement. It is observed in many countries on May 1. But as a call for help by sailors lost at sea (such as S.O.S.), the distress call, “Mayday!” comes from the French phrase, M’aidez!, which means “Help me!”
But also on May Day, pagans and other fun folx celebrate by making flower crowns and baskets, planting flowers for the spring, decorating their homes in bright colors to embrace the change, going on nature walks, picnics, and enjoying the outdoors! And the seriously fun people erect a maypole, which is a tall wooden pole with long, colorful ribbons extended, around which a maypole dance often takes place. Très gay!
Sister Dana sez, “May I be the first to wish everyone a HAPPY MAY DAY! And however you wish to celebrate (but hopefully not distressed on a ship), have a good one!”
Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
Published on April 20, 2023
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