By Sister Dana Sez, Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun–
Sister Dana sez, “Commemorate and celebrate the history and achievements of African-Americans during BLACK HISTORY MONTH!”
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH (also known as BLACK HISTORY MONTH) is an annually observed commemorative month originating in the USA, beginning February 1st and concluding March 1st—having been observed for 55 years. This year’s theme, African-Americans and Labor, focuses on the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds—free and un-free, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary—intersect with the collective experiences of Black people. Many historical figures come to my mind, including Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, Muhammad Ali, Frederick Douglass, Alvin Ailey, Audre Lorde, Marsha P. Johnson, Minnie Riperton, Malcolm X, Bayard Rustin, and Shirley Chisholm (the first ever Black woman to serve in Congress from 1969–1983). Among your celebratory fashion choice colors are definitely red, green, and yellow.
ASALH is the acronym for the ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN LIFE AND HISTORY, an organization founded in 1915 by Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, the second African-American to earn the doctorate from Harvard University. ASALH was founded to address the dearth of information on the accomplishments of Black people and to disseminate information on Black life, history, and culture to the global community. https://asalh.org/
Congress had certified Trump’s 2024 Electoral College victory in a quick, uneventful ceremony—without a single objection from members of Congress or riots from supporters of the losing candidate. Unlike January 6, 2021, when 147 Congressional Republicans objected to Biden’s Electoral College win, and the Capitol was viciously attacked by rioters stirred up by Trump. Sister Dana sez, “And yet most of Repugnican Congressmen continue to bow down to that convicted f-word (felon) of a president!”
One day ahead of a nationwide movement in more than 70 American cities, San Francisco held a truly impressive “We Fight Back” protest march overflowing the Mission district—to blast Trump and the whole rotten system of billionaires above democracy, and to fight for human rights. And then, on the eve of inauguration, many more demonstrators rallied in the streets across from SF City Hall. Sister Dana sez, “We hope this powerful movement continues all four years of Trump’s awful administration!”
We members of the charitable Mardi Gras club KREWE DE KINQUE celebrated MLK, Jr., weekend with the I HAVE A DREAM theme on January 18 at Midnight Sun bar in the Castro. It›s the start of Mardi Gras season, so our reigning King XXI Robert Makowka and Queen XX Moxie helped us raise funds for our BAL MASQUE XXII beneficiary, RAINBOW WORLD FUND’s Los Angeles Fire Survivors campaign. We wished reigning Queen XXI Vivianne Vixen Rose speedy health. We announced our March 1st Bal Masque XXII theme, “MARDI GLOW UNDER THE SEA,” when Celebrity Grand Marshal Brian Busta aka Chickpea will lead the festivities. Mark your calendars, because Bal Masque XXII will be held at The Café in the Castro on March 1, 6–9 pm. After having enjoyed our masked ball, be sure to join our KdK annual FAT TUESDAY CASTRO BAR CRAWL on March 4, 6–11 pm. No RSVP necessary. Just come crawl in costume with us—bar to bar to bar! Parade route not yet set.
As the Republican Party continues to push measures designed to maintain a status quo that privileges straight, white, Christian men at the expense of everyone else, it is now more crucial than ever for the Democratic Party to stand up for equality and justice. As we enter this new era, under a second Trump administration, the Democratic Party faces a critical choice: whether to maintain a cautious and often timid approach to confronting the right’s push for rolling back social progress or to fully embrace its capacity and potential for advancing equality, justice, and democracy. Sister Dana sez, “Let’s not be timid! Let’s push for equality for all!”
Jim Obergefell is fighting for the survival of same-sex marriage as the new, alt-right national government takes even more power. Obergefell’s name and actions are the reason we currently have marriage equality. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of this right in Obergefell v. Hodges just days before New York City Pride on June 26, 2015. This queer activist is a board member of the LGBTQ organization, FAMILY EQUALITY; he co-founded EQUALITY VINES, which donates profits to the cause of equality; and he is an executive producer at the JUST-MARRIED PROJECT, which reinforces arguments for marriage equality through the storytelling of queer couples. If Obergefell got overturned, he said, “It would be emotionally devastating to queer couples and families. We would once again live in a country where couples could be denied the right to say ‘I Do’ to the person they love in the state they call home. Regardless of the Respect for Marriage Act—requiring all states to recognize all marriages—being forced to leave your home state to do something others do without thinking twice tells couples that they are less than others, that they don’t matter, that they don’t deserve the same rights as their neighbors.” Sister Dana sez, “I Do declare that our hero Jim is absolutely RIGHT in defending this hard-fought RIGHT!”
President Biden delivered an extremely important FAREWELL ADDRESS on January 15, including that alarming but necessary warning: “An oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms.” Bernie Sanders agreed, saying, “This is the defining issue of our time!” Sister Dana sez, “President Joe and Senator Bernie are absolutely right!” Because having already contributed over a million bucks each to T-rump’s “InAggravation” were Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Besos, Elon Musk, Apple, Google, and TikTok. This disgusting dictator had amassed over 200 million dollars from his orange butt-lickers—just for his “Inauguration Fund.”
Mere hours after being sworn-in, Donald the Despot granted blanket-pardon to all 1,500+ January 6 Capitol attack insurrection rioters—including violent criminals. He has commuted sentences and released from prison Oath Keepers and Proud Boys leaders. Political violence will now be rewarded. Sister Dana sez, “Maybe democracy activists COULD have stormed one of Trump’s big pre-election rallies, done some nonviolent damage, and been immediately pardoned by then-President Biden at the time. Am I being bitter? Oh, hell yes, I am! And that’s just ONE of the many 100+ eXtreme X-ecutive orders from that damned disgusting dictator!!!”
Just hours after taking office, terrifying Trump signed an executive order attempting to deny citizenship to babies born in the United States. Sister Dana sez, “And, within just hours afterwards, the ACLU filed a lawsuit to stop him! We will ALL overcome tyranny!”
On his first day, “King Trump” signed an additional 25 executive orders, 12 memos, and 4 proclamations; and he revoked 78 of President Biden’s executive actions.
Sister Dana sez, “With the horrible incoming Presidential Administration, GOP control of every branch of government, and an extremely conservative Supreme Court, we activists for democracy and civil rights need to unify whenever and wherever there is an opportunity!”
MODERN MILITARY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA is supporting LGBTQ Veteran Benefits. A new settlement with the Department of Defense now offers LGBTQ veterans discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” a streamlined process to upgrade their discharge status and regain access to critical benefits. https://modernmilitary.org/
CHINESE NEW YEAR is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring, this festival takes place from “Chinese New Year’s Eve” (the evening preceding the first day of the year) to “The Lantern Festival,” held on the 15th day of the year.
So, of course, Sister Dana dressed in red and gold on January 25 to celebrate local culture, art, and community at Ruth’s Table Art Gallery and Making Space, 3160 21st Street at their annual Chinese New Year’s event, YEAR OF THE SNAKE: 2025 LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION. Director Evan Johnson spoke eloquently about Ruth’s Table and introduced the live entertainment by singers, dancers, and music by the San Francisco Guqin and Xiao Music Society, performing traditional Chinese instruments—the guqin (a seven-string zither) and xiao (a bamboo flute)—to create a harmonious, reflective, and aspirational atmosphere. We enjoyed “Year of the Snake” art installations; art-making led by Teaching artists Aiko Cuneo and Monica Lee; a large-scale paper snake created by Ruth’s Table participants; and a collaborative mural inspired by the Year of the Wood Snake, created by 7th and 8th grade art students from Children’s Day School. We also experienced a double-headed lion dance symbolizing luck and resilience.
Sister Dana sez, “Happy GROUNDHOG DAY on February 2nd! But don’t these days of terrifying Trumpism feel like that same-named classic movie: each day–over and over–the same but only slightly different?!”
THE 67TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS will take place Sunday, February 2, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles—and the Recording Academy has refocused its aim to support relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires. Hosted by comedian Trevor Noah for the fifth consecutive time, it will air live on CBS at 5 pm Pacific time. Benson Boone, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Doechii, Raye, Sabrina Carpenter, Shakira, and Teddy Swims will perform.
FISHNETS AND FILM will make history in Emeryville when it presents the first queer film festival there, DRAG ME TO THE CINEMA, on February 8 at AMC Bay Street 16, 5614 Bay Street, 12 pm–9 pm. This day-long movie show will include a Red Carpet entryway, audience-driven panel Q&As, and networking opportunities for participating filmmakers. Film Festival Director and Emeryville resident Robby Kendall currently hosts “Drag Bingo” at Public Market Emeryville as his drag persona Ms. Sweet Nothing and hosts recurring small-scale queer film festivals in Oakland. https://www.amctheatres.com/
THEATRE RHINOCEROS presents DOODLER, a new one-man play by John Fisher. A serial killer known as “The Doodler” was responsible for multiple murders in the Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park areas of San Francisco. All of his victims were gay men. When he met each man, he presented him with something that charmed him. This is the story of a man who is determined to find the yet unidentified Doodler and avenge the death of one of his victims. Fifty years later, that case is still open. The show opens February 8 through March 2 at Theatre Rhinoceros, 4229 18th Street in the Castro. Previews are February 6 and 7. https://www.therhino.org/
This year’s SF CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL AND PARADE is on February 15 with Joan Chen as Parade Grand Marshal, Carrie Ann Inaba as ABC-7 Grand Marshal, and Mayor Daniel Lurie as Honorary Marshal. More info on that fabulousness will appear in my February 13 column. Sister Dana sez, “Wishing You Prosperity and Gung Hay Fat Choy!”
Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
Published on January 30, 2025
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